South Africa: President Ramaphosa calls for unity of African continent President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the African continent to continue to unite in the spirit of the founding charter of the African Union. The President was speaking at the Africa Day celebrations at the Cradle of Humankind on Thursday. The day is a commemoration of the founding of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) in 1963. We observe Africa Day to remind ourselves of the resilience we possess as Africans, which has taken us from where we have come into the future. We observe Africa Day to celebrate our unity as Africans, and to remind ourselves of the responsibility we all share to bring about an Africa that is peaceful, prosperous and united, he said. President Ramaphosa highlighted that the founding charter of the OAU still bears relevance to modern day Africa. The charter called for the harnessing of the natural and human resources of our continent for the total advancement of Africans. It called for the building of understanding and solidarity between African countries, to build a larger unity transcending ethnic and national differences". It called on African countries to safeguard and consolidate their hard-won independence, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for resistance against neocolonialism in all its forms, he said. The President cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a trauma for Africa but also as an example of what the continent can achieve when resources are mobilised for the greater good of Africa. But this worst health emergency in living memory did not destroy Africa, because Africans came together and acted as one. The African Union developed a continental response and implemented it with urgency across all the regions of the continent. Our collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic gave new momentum to the cause of African integration. We learned as Africans that we have the means, the capacity and the political will to develop and implement solutions to Africas challenges, President Ramaphosa said. The President spoke out strongly against xenophobia and discrimination in South Africa. Even as we South Africans exercise our national pride, this can never be an excuse to turn against other Africans who live in our midst or have sought refuge in our country. Let us find strength in our diversity. Let us forever strive to find the common ground that unites us as Africans, instead of seeking out what divides us. In the words of the African Union Anthem: let us unite and celebrate together the victories won, let us defend our liberty and unity, and let us uphold the bonds that frame our destiny, he said. Turning to conflicts on the continent and abroad, President Ramaphosa once again called for the resolution of conflicts by negotiation and dialogue. He said the continent is being dragged into conflicts far beyond our own border. Some countries, including our own, are being threatened with penalties for pursuing an independent foreign policy and for adopting a position of non-alignment. As African countries, we have painful memories of a time when proxy wars were waged on the soils of Africa by foreign superpowers. We have not forgotten the terrible, brutal legacy of first having our continent carved up and colonised by European countries, only to find ourselves once more pawns on a chessboard during the Cold War. We are not going back to that period in history. That is why I will say it again today. South Africa has not been, and will not be, drawn into a contest between global powers. We will maintain our position on the peaceful resolution of conflict wherever those conflicts occur. Guided by the lessons of our history, we will continue to resist calls to abandon our independent and non-aligned foreign policy, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-05-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China, CEECs advances toward high-quality economic, trade cooperation 13:49, May 24, 2023 By Yang Xun, Gu Chun, Luo Shanshan, Liu Junguo ( People's Daily The third China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair was held in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province from May 16 to 20. The expo has become a major platform that displays featured CEEC products and expands China's imports from these countries. It is steering the two sides toward high-quality economic and trade cooperation. People visit the third China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province, May 16, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Hu Xuejun) Hungarian noble rot wine, ouzo from Greece and a series of other commodities under the EU geographical indications system were exhibited at the expo. Dazzling exhibits including foldable Slovenian skis and fragrant Bulgarian rose essential oil attracted visitors' attention. It is reported that over 5,000 kinds of commodities from CEECs joined the exhibition, up 25 percent from a year ago. About 3,000 exhibitors participated in the event, a record high in history. "These are biscuits and chocolate candies that have been accompanying us since childhood. Please have a try," said Dominik Pekalski, import-export manager of a trading company that has been engaged in China-Poland trade for over 15 years, when introducing commodities to visitors at the booth of Polish pastry brand Skawa during the China-CEEC Expo. He said the Chinese consumer market is highly open and energetic, and his company is currently working to introduce more Polish products to the Chinese market. "Through e-commerce platforms and other channels, we have already achieved remarkable performance. We are here at the expo to seek more opportunities in the Chinese market," Pekalski told People's Daily. A total of 62 foreign-funded projects were signed during the expo, with a total investment of $17.78 billion, up 17.7 percent year-on-year. Among all the projects, 17 were invested by Fortune Global 500 companies and industry-leading enterprises, covering high-end equipment manufacturing, biomedicine, digital economy and other frontier areas. Exhibitors from Slovakia promote wine to a Chinese visitor at the third China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province, May 16, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Hu Xuejun) The expo was also attended by 15,000 professional purchasers and received 126,000 visits, and 10.53 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) of purchase orders for CEEC goods were reached, hitting historical highs. This year marks the beginning of the second decade of China-CEEC cooperation. Under joint efforts from relevant parties, the two sides have achieved fruitful results in their economic and trade cooperation. According to statistics released by China's Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade between China and CEECs has grown at an average annual rate of 8.1 percent since the founding of the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism in 2012. China's imports from CEECs have increased at an average rate of 9.2 percent annually during the same period. Jiang Yu, special representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for China-CEEC Cooperation Affairs, noted that China will firmly pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, comprehensively promote high-quality development and high-level opening up, and keep sharing new opportunities of China's development with CEEC. China and CEEC, assisted by infrastructure connectivity, are seeing more efficient logistics between the two sides. The Zhoushan Port in Ningbo has established cooperation mechanisms with five ports from CEECs, including the Piraeus port in Greece, the port of Gdansk in Poland, the Constanta port in Romania, the port of Koper in Slovenia and the Croatian Rijeka port. Fourteen container shipping routes have opened in total. Last year, 769,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of containers were shipped between the Zhoushan Port and the five CEEC ports, up 16.5 percent year-on-year. Foreign exhibitors promote skincare products to a Chinese visitor at the third China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province, May 16, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Hu Xuejun) The China-Europe freight train service, hailed as an artery of freight transportation between China and Europe, was a hot topic during the China-CEEC Expo. Lin Huihuan, general manager of a logistics company based in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, told People's Daily that more and more clients of his company are willing to ship cargo to China through the Yixin'ou (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe) route, thanks to its low cost and stable capacity. According to Lin, Yiwu has launched 18 point-to-point international lines to Central Asia and other regions, on which 1,569 trips were made last year. "It is believed that the number will keep growing as the trade volume between China and CEECs continues to expand," Lin said. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past 10 years, China-CEEC cooperation on infrastructure has achieved new heights. A series of projects have been implemented and completed under this initiative, including Montenegro's Bar-Boljare Highway and the Belgrade-Budapest railway. Croatian official Ranko Ostojic said the BRI has brought drastic changes to his hometown, citing the Peljesac Bridge as an example. The bridge facilitates local transport and creates a better life for the community, he explained. Marko Selakovic, advisor to mayor of Kragujevac, Serbia, said the China-CEEC Expo was a high-standard, high-quality and high-level economic and trade event. He hopes the potential of China-CEEC cooperation could be constantly released. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A major meeting of computer hackers planned for this summer is to include an event that will test the limits of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The event, in August, will be held as part of the yearly DEF CON hacker meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to hackers, the gathering draws computer security experts, students, federal government officials and others. Organizers say this years event is expected to include thousands of hackers. The meeting provides a chance for hackers to hear from leading industry officials about the latest developments in computer security. It also includes hacking competitions. This year, several major AI developers will take part in DEF CON. Among them will be OpenAI, which launched its latest AI model, ChatGPT-4, in March. American software maker Microsoft has invested heavily in OpenAI. Google also released an AI system called Bard earlier this year. The administration of President Joe Biden has said it will support the hacking event as part of efforts to study the latest AI tools. Administration officials said the government is aiming to ensure that the fast-developing systems will continue to improve without putting peoples rights and safety at risk. Recently released AI tools are built by feeding huge amounts of information into machine learning computer systems. The data trains the AI systems to develop complex skills and produce human-like results. Experts have warned that such systems may bring major changes to many different jobs and industries. They also fear the tools, known as chatbots, could greatly increase the amount of misinformation in the news media and on social media. Organizers of the DEF CON event say some of the questions attendees will try to answer include: How can chatbots be changed by hackers to cause harm? Will they share private data meant to be secret with other users? And why do the systems get easily confused when processing information about gender and race? This is why we need thousands of people," Rumman Chowdhury told The Associated Press. She is an organizer of the hacking event and co-founder of AI accountability nonprofit Humane Intelligence. Chowdhury added, "We need a lot of people with a wide range of lived experiences, subject matter expertise and backgrounds hacking at these models and trying to find problems that can then go be fixed. Chowdhury said results of the event can provide helpful information to companies looking at ways to safely use the fast-developing AI systems. She noted that the hackers work will not end after the gathering. They will spend months afterward creating reports on their findings and identifying specific system vulnerabilities. Alexandr Wang is the chief executive of AI developer Scale AI. He told the AP, As these foundation models become more and more widespread, its really critical that we do everything we can to ensure their safety. Wang said he especially worries about chatbots giving out unbelievably bad medical advice or other misinformation that can cause serious harm. Jack Clark is the co-founder of AI developer Anthropic. He said he hopes the DEF CON event will lead to deeper commitments from AI developers to measure and test the safety of their systems. For this to happen, though, Clark said AI systems will need to be examined by third parties both before and after deployment. We need to get practice at figuring out how to do this. It hasn't really been done before, he said. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Quiz - Computer Hackers to Test Limits of AI Tools at Las Vegas Meeting Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story hacker n. someone who illegally, or for research purposes, gets into someone elses computer system artificial intelligence n. the development of computer systems that have the ability to perform work that normally requires human intelligence confused adj. unable to think clearly or understand something vulnerable adj. easy to hurt or attack physically or emotionally foundation n. the idea or principle something is based on commitment n. a firm decision to do something figure out v. (phrasal) to discover something by thinking __________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. Norways armed forces welcomed a nuclear American aircraft carrier on Wednesday. Norway called the U.S. its most important ally on the arrival of the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford. The huge warship entered a narrow Oslo waterway along with Norwegian military boats. Norways armed forces said all boats must stay about half a kilometer away from the aircraft carrier. The U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford is known as the largest aircraft carrier and largest warship in the world. It will stay in Oslo for almost one week before leaving to take part in drills with the Norwegian military in the Arctic. That is the area where Norway and Russia share a nearly 200-kilometer land border. A Norwegian broadcaster showed the ships arrival and many people watched from land. Laila Wilhelmsen watched the large ship move through the small town of Droebak. She said she remembered seeing large ships in the area during the Cold War in the 1950s. She spoke with the Norwegian broadcaster NRK and said: Now we have teased Putin even more. Its scary, I think. Wilhelmsen was referring to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Norways Prime Minister is Jonas Gahr Store. He told a Norwegian news agency that he expected a reaction from Russia, but his country has long planned allied exercises in Norwegian waters. The Russian embassy in Oslo said, Such demonstrations of power look illogical and harmful. The relationship between Russia and Norway has been tense since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Norwegian pilots were aboard the American ship to help navigate the narrow waterway, called a fjord. The main concern was the size of the ship and the depth of the fjord. It is the first combat deployment for the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford. The aircraft carrier left Norfolk, Virginia, earlier in May. The ship is the first of three new aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy. Two are still being built. The ships are nuclear powered and have 2,600 sailors, about 600 fewer than aircraft carriers of the past. Im Caty Weaver. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tease v. to laugh at and criticize in a way that is either playful or unpleasant illogical adj. not showing good judgement; not thinking effectively navigate v. to sail through waters using a planned path; the act of directing a ship, airplane or land vehicle along a planned path ___________________________________________________________________ We want to hear from you. Do you think the aircraft carrier will prompt a response from Russia? Here is how our comment system works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. Petro Nikitin is the lead trauma surgeon at a military hospital in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. The 59-year-old doctor works to repair the bodies of some of the most badly injured soldiers. I only operate, Nikitin said as his team continued surgery on a patient. I do nothing else in my life now. Nikitin said he lives by himself because his wife and children have left the country. Experts estimate more than 100,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed or wounded since Russia invaded the country almost 15 months ago. Fighting has been very fierce in recent weeks around the eastern city of Bakhmut. It is the war's longest and bloodiest battle. Ukrainian forces recently took back more territory from the Russians. A major Ukrainian counteroffensive is expected in coming weeks. More people are likely to end up in Nikitins hospital. Like other Ukrainian military hospitals, it lacks enough workers because doctors were pulled away to work in field hospitals closer to the fighting. The Associated Press agreed not to identify the Kyiv hospital for security reasons. The day after Russian troops invaded, Nikitin organized an online training on combat-related injuries. Every one of us had relevant experience before the invasion, but not in such volume, Nikitin said. But during the war, he has become familiar with a range of serious injuries. Explosive weapons often harm many parts of the body at the same time. We receive people with damaged legs, chests, stomachs and arms all at once, Nikitin said. In such cases, we have to decide what part of the injury should be our priority. The military hospital is one of several in Kyiv. As a top-level trauma center, it receives the most complex cases. We dont save lives. That's done by the medics, he said. What we try to do is return these people to a normal life. The most difficult wounds are ones that involve damage to soft tissue, bone and the structures that connect nerves and veins, Nikitin said. Sometimes they are forced to remove a soldier's arm or leg. He said the decision to remove a body part is always very difficult. Nikitin usually gets to the hospital at 7:45 in the morning. He stays until the work is done. Sometimes he does not leave until 11 at night. Russian and Ukrainian armies are both preparing for possible spring offensives. So Nikitin's work schedule has lightened to about three surgeries a day. Nikitin recently operated on a soldier named Mykyta. He is from Bakhmut. He was wounded in the lower leg while fighting for his hometown. It's the city where I spent my childhood, and the city is destroyed, he said from his hospital bed. Compared with the trauma suffered by some patients, Mykyta's wound did not look so severe. But he still might lose his lower leg, Nikitin said. Attempts to graft skin over the wound were unsuccessful. Doctors recently tried again. Nikitin said he felt hopeful after Mykyta's surgery. But he added it would take three weeks to know whether the latest skin graft worked. Mykyta is also missing 20 centimeters of bone, which Nikitin will need to deal with if the graft is successful. The bone treatment will take more than half a year. In seven months, I can tell you if he will ever walk again, Nikitin said. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. _________________________________________________________ Words in This Story trauma n. a serious injury to a person's body surgeon n. a doctor who performs operations that involve cutting into someone's body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts combat n. active fighting especially in a war relevant adj. relating to a subject in an appropriate way volume n. an amount of something priority n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first medic n. a member of the military whose job is to provide emergency medical care to soldiers who have been wounded in battle schedule n. a plan of things that will be done and the times when they will be done graft n. a piece of skin, muscle, or bone that is attached to a part of the body to repair a damaged area Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. COZAD The Cozad School Board of Education accepted the resignation of Board Member Judy Eggleston at the May 23rd Special Board meeting. Eggleston filed a letter with board president Michele Starman on May 16 stating that she was resigning effective immediately. I thank the voters of our school district for the opportunity to do community service work to improve the facilities and education for the youth of the Cozad community, Eggleston wrote. In accordance with state law, the Board will begin the process of appointing an individual to complete the remainder of Judy Egglestons term in the 2026 calendar year. The Cozad Community School Board of Education is encouraging community members to consider this volunteer position in support of public education and the students of Cozad Community Schools. Patrons interested in being considered for the appointment must be a resident of the school district and a qualified registered voter. Contact the Cozad District Office for an application. Access the PDF application on the district website listed under Documents > District > District Documents or pick up a copy of the application at the District Office. Applications will be available from May 29 until June 9. The Board will interview applicants during the regular June 12th board meeting selecting the candidate following the interviews. The newly appointed board member will take the oath of office at the July Board Meeting. Application Deadline: June 9, 2023, at 12 p.m. Submit applications to: James Ford, Interim Superintendent Cozad Community Schools 1910 Meridian Ave. Cozad NE 69130 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A visitor at Yellowstone National Park disturbed a bison calf that was struggling in the Lamar River on Saturday, resulting in the decision by park rangers to euthanize the animal. Park authorities are now seeking information from the public about the incident, which took place Saturday evening in the Lamar Valley. In the aftermath, the park defended its decision to destroy the calf, which could not be reunited with its herd, rather than take it to an animal sanctuary, saying federal and state laws would have required the calf to be quarantined first. But a calf that is unable to care for itself is not a good candidate for quarantine. "We made the choice not because we are lazy, uncaring or inexpert in our understanding of bison biology," the park wrote in a follow up statement. "We made the choice we did because national parks preserve the natural processes." The newborn calf had become separated from its mother as its herd crossed the Lamar River near the confluence with Soda Butte Creek, the park said. As the calf struggled, the man pushed it up from the river and onto the road. Other visitors later saw the calf walk up to and follow cars and people, according to the park. Park rangers tried to reunite the newborn with its herd, but those efforts failed. Interference by people can sometimes cause wildlife to reject offspring, the park said. Yellowstone staff later killed the calf when it became evident that it had been abandoned by its herd and was creating a hazardous situation by approaching cars and people. Park rules require people to stay at least 25 yards from all wildlife and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves. People who get too close are sometimes hurt or injured. Even if they aren't, they can face fines. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Yellowstone National Park tip line at 307-344-2132 or YELL_tip@nps.gov. 22 animals to look for in Yellowstone (and your odds of spotting them) Rocky Mountain elk Northwestern gray wolf American bison Grizzly bear Black bear Bighorn sheep Bobcat Canada lynx Coyote Shiras Moose Red fox North American beaver Snowshoe hare White-tailed jackrabbit Jackalope North American porcupine Bald Eagle Golden eagle Great horned owl Trumpeter swan Sandhill Crane Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. As it marks its 25th anniversary, the European Central Bank is readying a proposed design for a digital version of the euro, responding to pressure from developing technology that could change how money is used over the banks next decades. ECB President Christine Lagarde says a digital euro could offer a way for people to buy things without depending on payment service providers controlled by non-European companies. Those could include Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The European Unions executive Commission is expected to come up with proposed legislation on the idea in the next several weeks, ECB officials say, while the central bank will publish a detailed proposal for the design of a digital currency in October. Central banks worldwide, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, are cautiously studying digital currencies as cash increasingly gives way to electronic payments. Some smaller economies such as Nigeria, the Bahamas and Jamaica already have introduced digital currencies, while China is holding trial runs. Central banks also are responding to the emergence of cryptocurrencies, which have raised concerns that someday people could turn to rival forms of digital money that would undercut national currencies. Digital currency backed by a central bank would be a safe and stable means of payment unlike voltatile crypto, whose price crashes over the past year and collapses of exchanges like FTX have spurred calls for regulation. The EU became a global leader by giving final approval last week to rules for the freewheeling crypto sector. As Europe considers its own central bank-based digital currency, the biggest question is: How would it improve on whats already available for consumers? Nobody is able to answer this question, not even the ECB, said Philipp Sandner, head of the Blockchain Center at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. As the user I ask myself, What is the benefit, why do we need another solution? he said. Apple Pay, for instance, allows people to buy their morning coffee and anything else by tapping twice on their phones, a seamless experience the digital euro would have to match. You have to be at least as good as Apple Pay and Mastercard, which is difficult, otherwise people will not use it, he said. The goal of a digital euro would be Europes autonomy and resilience when it comes to the largely unseen but critical systems that move money from consumers to merchants through banks and payment services providers, Lagarde said in a recent panel discussion. She drew an analogy to Europes previous reliance on Russian oil and natural gas, which led to an energy crisis when the invasion of Ukraine disrupted that supply. Its very unhealthy to rely on one single source of energy, its very unhealthy to rely on one single source of payment, she said. A digital euro also could help people who dont have bank accounts, the thinking goes, because they could hold money on their phones. The move toward increased digitalization comes as the ECB marks 25 years since its creation on June 1, 1998, seven months ahead of the introduction of the euro currency. An anniversary ceremony with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former ECB Presidents Mario Draghi and Jean-Claude Trichet is planned today [Macau time] at the banks Frankfurt headquarters. The ECB envisions a digital euro for retail use that could even be transferred offline using a digital wallet on peoples phones. Early designs call for a standard app, along with use through existing online banking apps. It wouldnt replace cash but add another way to hold euros. Even after the proposal is made, there would be three years of testing. A decision to actually introduce the digital euro would only come after that and require EU approval. Fabio Panetta, a member of the ECBs executive board and head of the digital euro task force, says it wouldnt replace cash and people would have the option, not the requirement, to use it. It would reduce dependence on a few dominant providers, increasing competition and resilience, he told European lawmakers last month. Europes banks have greeted the proposal with caution. They warn that without strict limits, digital euros could draw deposits out of commercial banks depriving them of funding for things like business loans and mortgages. Panetta has indicated holdings could be limited to the value of banknotes in circulation, around 3,000 to 4,000 euros per person. The European Banking Federation supports payment autonomy but said a digital euro alone would not accomplish that without banks and payment services companies creating new and better ways to handle payments themselves. A retail digital euro, particularly if not able to offer a concrete value-added compared to existing electronic payments, is not an appropriate or sufficient tool to meet all the goals that have been put forward, the group said. Merchants, in theory, could push for greater adoption if they find taking payment in digital euros helps them avoid the fees charged by credit card companies, said Sandner of the Frankfurt School. DAVID McHUGH, FRANKFURT, MDT/AP A group of Chinese citizens living and working in Florida sued the state earlier this week over a new law that bans Chinese nationals from purchasing property in large swaths of the state. The law applies to properties within 10 miles of military installations and other critical infrastructure and also affects citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. But Chinese citizens and those selling property to them face the harshest penalties. The prohibition also applies to agricultural land. The American Civil Liberties Union says the law will have a substantial chilling effect on sales to Chinese and Asian people who can legally buy property. The suit says the law unfairly equates Chinese people with the actions of their government and there is no evidence of national security risk from Chinese citizens buying Florida property. The law will codify and expand housing discrimination against people of Asian descent in violation of the Constitution and the Fair Housing Act, the ACLU said in a news release announcing the suit. It will also cast an undue burden of suspicion on anyone seeking to buy property whose name sounds remotely Asian, Russian, Iranian, Cuban, Venezuelan, or Syrian. U.S.-China ties are strained amid growing tensions over security and trade. In nearly a dozen statehouses and Congress, a decades-old worry about foreign land ownership has spiked since a Chinese spy balloon traversed the skies from Alaska to South Carolina last month. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to launch a presidential campaign today [Macau time], signed the bill May 8. His office didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The law is set to take affect July 1. It will be a felony for Chinese people to buy property in restricted areas or for any person or real estate company to knowingly sell to restricted people. For the other targeted nations, the penalty is a misdemeanor for buyers and sellers. It applies to military instillations as well as infrastructure like airports and seaports, water and wastewater treatment plants, natural gas and oil processing facilities, power plants, spaceports, and telecommunications central switching offices. The ACLU says the law will have the net effect of creating Chinese exclusion zones that will cover immense portions of Florida, including many of the states most densely populated and developed areas. This impact is exactly what laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the California Alien Land Law of 1913 did more than a hundred years ago, the lawsuit says. Those on the restricted list that already own property near critical infrastructure must register with the state or face fines of up to $1,000 a day. Theyre also prohibited from acquiring additional property. The law has provisions to allow the state to seize property from violators. The number of states restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land has risen by 50% this year. Heading into 2023, 14 states had laws restricting foreign ownership or investments in private agricultural land. So far this year, restrictive laws also have been enacted in Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia. Foreign land ownership has become a political flashpoint, said Micah Brown, a staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas. Brown said the recent surge in state laws targeting land ownership by foreign entities stems from some highly publicized cases of Chinese-connected companies purchasing land near military bases. Earlier this year, the U.S. Air Force said that the Fufeng Groups planned $700 million wet corn milling plant near a base in Grand Forks, North Dakota, poses a significant threat to national security. After a Chinese army veteran and real estate tycoon bought a wind farm near an Air Force base in Texas, that state responded in 2021 by banning infrastructure deals with individuals tied to hostile governments, including China. BRENDAN FARRINGTON, TALLAHASSEE (Fla.), MDT/AP Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the 41st edition of the Macau Young Musicians Competition will take place from late July to mid-August and will be dedicated to the piano category. Participants must register on the competition website through their personal Macao One Account from June 1 to 7. In addition, three different talks, to be given only in Mandarin, will occur in early July, during which three competition judges will discuss the performance skills of composers from different periods, memorization skills and four-hand playing techniques. Related Three Cambodian land rights activists who were arrested on charges of plotting against the government planned to provoke a peasant revolution by teaching farmers about class divisions between rich and poor, an official said this week. Theng Savoeun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community, and his colleagues Nhel Pheap and Than Hach were charged Monday by a court in the countrys northeast with plotting against the state and incitement to commit a felony, said Am Sam Ath of the local rights group Licadho. He said plotting against the government carries a possible prison term of five to 10 years, while incitement to commit a felony is punishable by six months to two years. He described the charges as sending a message of intimidation to civil society groups. The three suspects were not available for comment and their lawyers were not immediately reachable. A senior government official likened their nonviolent activities to what the communist Khmer Rouge taught peasants five decades ago before carrying out their bloody revolution. The arrests in Ratanakiri province came as Cambodia prepares for a general election in July that is certain to return to power the governing Cambodian Peoples Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has led the country for 38 years with little tolerance for dissent. The opposition Candlelight Party, the sole group posing a credible challenge to the governing party, was not allowed by the National Election Committee to contest the polls and expects a ruling this week on its appeal of that decision. The three activists were arrested on May 17 after hosting a workshop in Ratanakiri province about land rights and other issues affecting farmers. The police detained 17 of the workshops 39 participants but released all but the three, who were charged and placed in pre-trial detention on Monday. Interior Ministry spokesperson Gen. Khieu Sopheak said the three were arrested because their activities violated the law and were outside the main goals of their organization, which he said were to teach farmers more productive agricultural techniques. He said the workshop instead discussed political issues such as the division between rich and poor and how to incite farmers to hate the rich. Their lecture was to teach about peasant revolution, about the class divide in society, Khieu Sopheak said. He said such language mirrored the ideology taught by the communist Khmer Rouge to poor farmers, especially in Ratanakiri province, in the early days of their revolutionary struggle before taking power in April 1975. The brutal Khmer Rouge regime, which was ousted in 1979, is blamed for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians from starvation, illness and killing. Hun Sen joined the Khmer Rouge in 1970 when it was fighting against a pro-American government but defected from the group in 1977 and allied himself with a resistance movement backed by neighboring Vietnam. Fabricating these bogus charges against prominent civil society leaders shows how far the government is willing to go to silence critics in advance of the Cambodia elections in July, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement issued yesterday. There needs to be a chorus of international condemnation targeting Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government to demand an end to these intimidating tactics. Land grabs by wealthy and influential people have been a major problem for many years in Cambodia. Land ownership was abolished during the rule of the Khmer Rouge and land titles were lost, making ownership a free-for-all when the communist group lost power. Under Hun Sens government, much land that had been resettled was declared state land and sold or leased to wealthy investors, many of whom critics said were cronies of the governing party. Security forces have been employed to help evict tenants from such areas. Khieu Sopheak said the three land activists admitted their crimes during police interrogation and that the authorities had found evidence of their activities on a computer and in documents from the groups training workshop. However, according to the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, They were initially denied access to legal representation, before their lawyer was eventually allowed to be present as they were being interrogated by the prosecutor on May 22. A statement on Theng Savoeuns Facebook page said, In this life, we have tasted all sorts of flavors, but we remain firmly strong because our daily work is not what they have accused of us, rather we work at basic humanitarian tasks, helping the victims, helping farmers, helping the community, to make them understand their rights and obligations, and to help them find a solution. Farmers from other provinces who support the three activists have defied official harassment to travel to Phnom Penh to stage protests in front of the Interior Ministry demanding their release. Rights worker Am Sam Ath expressed his concern that the three face such serious charges for working for the benefit of farmers and their communities. He said it might make it harder to help farmers in the future. SOPHENG CHEANG & GRANT PECK, PHNOM PENH, MDT/AP The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is continuing its tours through several mainland cities to promote Macau as a travel destination. From June 8 to 12, the caravan of MGTO will tour Qingdao in Shandong province. This is the seventh mainland city the MGTO promotions have targeted under the Macao Week program after Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing. The MGTO has said the five-day event will promote Tourism+ elements to attract more mainland visitors to Macau. The Macao Week in Qingdao program includes a seminar on tourism promotion and networking as well as other tourism promotion activities, the MGTO said. Related Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck new agreements yesterday with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on migration and green hydrogen, while raising concerns about attacks on Hindu temples in Sydney. Modi was welcomed Tuesday by around 20,000 cheering fans, many chanting Modi, at a Sydney stadium for his second visit to Australia as Indias leader. But his visit has also been protested by activists who accuse his government of restricting Muslim and other minorities rights, as well as press freedom. Anti-Modi posters appeared around Sydney, and Hindu temples in Sydneys west were recently vandalized. Sikhs have also used the visit to demand a separate state. Modi, a Hindu, said he had raised the issue of attacks on temples with Albanese, who assured him that authorities would take strict actions against the culprits. We will not accept any elements that harm the friendly and warm ties between India and Australia by their actions or thoughts, Modi told reporters through an interpreter in a joint press conference with Albanese. Neither leader took questions. The Indian diaspora accounts for only 3% of Australias population but is the nations fastest growing ethnic minority. Modi described the diaspora as the real strength in the growing bilateral relationship. Modi is the only leader of the Quad nations to continue with his scheduled visit to Australia after U.S. President Joe Biden pulled out of a planned meeting of the group in Sydney to return to Washington to focus on debt limit talks. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who hosted a Group of Seven summit last week, later canceled his Australia trip as well. Modi arrived Monday night in Sydney from Papua New Guinea, where he hosted a meeting with Pacific Island leaders to discuss ways to better cooperate. Modi and Albaneses meeting yesterday reinforced their commitment to an open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region, the Australian prime ministers office said in a statement. The prime ministers announced a new migration agreement that will promote two-way mobility of students, graduates, academic researchers and business people. MDT/AP Chinas new ambassador to the U.S. is taking office amid disputes over trade, access to computer chips and Washingtons support for self-governing Taiwan. Xie Feng arrived in New York yesterday [Macau time] and told reporters at JFK Airport that relations between the worlds two largest economies face serious difficulties and challenges. We hope that the United States will work together with China to increase dialogue, to manage differences and also to expand our cooperation, so that our relationship will be back to the right track, Xie said in remarks delivered in English. The Taiwan question would be among the sensitive issues at the top of his agenda, Xie said. Exchanges took a downturn after the Trump administration raised tariffs on key Chinese imports that President Jospeh Biden has since maintained, while blocking Chinese companies from accessing the most cutting-edge computer chip technology. China has meanwhile raised its threats to attack Taiwan with regular incursions by ships and fighter jets into airspace and waters near the island that have drawn concerns about a crisis imperiling the global economy. Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, the U.S. is the islands main source of defense cooperation and political support, drawing frequent protests from Beijing. A visit last August by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prompted Beijing to fire missiles into the Pacific and stage send its forces into a rehearsal of a blockade in the Taiwan Strait. Large-scale exercises were also launched after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the U.S. in April, during which she met with Pelosis successor, Kevin McCarthy. The shootdown in February of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the U.S. led to the U.S. canceling a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pushing back a resumption of visits interrupted by Chinas strict COVID-19 travel restrictions. Dialogue has been maintained on neutral territory, however, with top Communist Party diplomat Wang Yi holding talks with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in Vienna earlier this month. Economic and person-to-person ties also remain robust, with bilateral trade last year also topped $690 billion, while an estimated 295,000 Chinese students are enrolled in American colleges and universities. MDT/AP * The six key areas of Xia National high official Xia Baolong pinpointed six key areas of governance during a meeting with Macau officials and heads of the legislature and judiciary * Big Ben to sound in Cotai As The Londoner celebrates its grand opening this evening, Wilfred Wong says Macau should set the standard in hospitality in the region, being the city with more 5-star hotels worldwide * President Xi Jinping congratulates MUST faculty and students on the launch of Macao Science 1 Satellite into space exploration * Public works: DSAT to improve transport-related apps, traffic lights * Cathay sacks crew members accused of discriminating against non-English speakers DOWNLOAD PDF Thursday, May 25, 2023 edition no. 4253 National official Xia Baolong, currently in Macau, has pinpointed six key areas of governance during a meeting with local officials and heads of the legislature and judiciary. Xia is the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. The first area is to make greater achievements in completely, accurately and unwaveringly upholding One country, two systems. Xia said the successful practice of One country, two systems in Macau tells us that as long as we firmly believe in and practice One country, two systems, the vitality and excellence of One country, two systems will be fully revealed. He hoped the majority of compatriots in Macau would cherish [the policy], better and organically combine the maintenance of the central governments overall governance power with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy, defend the bottom line of the One country principle and always maintain the constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Basic Law. His second area was about defending national security. Safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests are the highest principles of One country, two systems, he said, adding that safeguarding national security is a constant task. Macaus entire leadership and the local National Security Commission should accurately implement the amended National Security Law. Supportive legislation should also be developed. Education on national security should be promoted to construct a defence line for national security, Xia said. The third area was about the construction of patriotic power. Xia said the foremost reason behind the successful implementation of One country, two systems in Macau is that people in Macau have long possessed patriotic traditions, as well as a strong sense of national recognition, belonging and ethnic pride. He demanded further work be done in committing to and promoting patriotism and implementing patriots governing Macau, which should be crystal clear at all times, in addition to supporting the refinement of Macaus electoral system to ensure that the power of governance is firmly in the grip of patriots. The fourth area was about doing more to adequately diversify Macaus economy. The way to Macaus long-term prosperity and stability is by diversifying its economy, Xia said. It is also necessary to improve Macaus economic durability and ability to withstand risks. He said the Macau government should refine and strengthen Macaus role as the center, the platform and the base. Innovative industries should be nurtured and a sustainable structure of industries that fit Macaus reality should be constructed. The business environment should be constantly enhanced to attract professionals, techniques, technologies, innovation, research and improvements in competitiveness. The fifth was to improve exploration on Hengqin. Xia said Macau should firmly grip the opportunities from the construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the key in innovations of systems and mechanisms. Effort should be exerted with focus and power to eradicate hurdles, while negotiations should be timely conducted, so as to turn Hengqin into the new platform for Macaus economic diversification. Sixth, the government should strive for greater achievements in improving its governance. Xia said governance should be streamlined to meet the new requirements of modern society. Science, precision and efficiency should be introduced in policy-making, social administration and public services respectively. He made special remarks on helping young people resolve actual difficulties. The national official also commended Hos government in five areas, including refining national security and laws, strengthening management of the casino industry, taking new steps toward adequate economic diversification, succeeding in disease control and integrating into national development. In response, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng pledged the government would from top to bottom implement Xias six requirements. He said that by far in this year, with the strong support of the central government and mainland provinces and cities, [] the majority of Macau residents have seized the opportunity and forged ahead together. The overall economic development situation has stabilized and improved, and the overall social situation has remained harmonious and stable. The government will work with Macau residents to make persistent efforts to comprehensively promote new progress in various undertakings and strive to lay a solid foundation for next years celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macaus return to the motherland, Ho added. The five Secretaries have also issued respective statements on their firm stances in following Central Peoples Governments leadership. Xia provides guidance to AL, says president The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, Xia Baolong, visited the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday to provide guidance, the ALs president, Kou Hoi In, said in a media briefing after the visit. Xia, who is currently touring Macau and meeting with several high-ranked government officials and governmental institutions, visited the AL yesterday morning. In the media briefing that followed, Kou said that during the visit, Xia learned about the ALs operation, the legislative process and the role of supervision over the governments work. He was also briefed on ongoing and upcoming legislative work. Xia continued to express the central governments support to the local government and institutions, saying lawmakers have been performing their duties diligently to support the executives work according to the law. Xia also thanked the lawmakers for voting unanimously to pass the National Security Law, which he said contributed to the stability of China and Macau. Kou noted the AL is supporting the government and its institutions to maintain a long-term prosperity and stability for Macau and to promote a steady and long-term development of the One country, two systems concept in Macau. Without providing any examples, the ALs president said Xias visit has provided the AL and its members guidance for future work. RM Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Two southcentral and southwest regional butchers and the state senator representing the area are objecting to recalls issued for non-product safety reasons. Prem Meats in Spring Green and Wisconsin River Meats in rural Mauston both have claimed unnecessary recalls of their products by the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. They say these recalls are unfair; 17th District State Sen. Howard Marklein, a Republican from Spring Green, agrees and issued a release on April 21 critical of DATCP and its handling of butcher shop product recalls. Any time a meat establishment or inspection personnel identify product with reason to believe that it is adulterated or misbranded and is available to consumers in commerce, it must be recalled, said DATCP Public Information Officer Kevin Hoffman in an email. Marty Prem, the co-owner of Prem Meats with his brother, Terry, said that the main frustration with the recent bacon-wrapped tenderloin recall was that meat plants have next to no input when it comes to issuing recalls, despite it being labeled as a voluntary recall. He added that voluntary recalls indicate that a processor is directed by the state to release them. There was no issue with the product, said Prem. There was a misprint on the label. It did show that it was an inspected product, which there was no approved formula or recipe on file for us wrapping a piece of pork with a piece of bacon. Markleins release cited as an example Prem Meats. The companys bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin was not allowed to be sold as an inspected product because the two meats were not inspected together, but rather separately. Prem confirmed that each meat has its own recipe and is inspected. That product is completely fine for us to sell within our retail market, to consumers out front, said Prem, adding that the product, due to its recalled status, could not be sold at other stores such as grocery stores or gas stations. David Mauer, co-owner of Wisconsin River Meats in rural Mauston, said that current DATCP regulations are cumbersome and that inspectors in his and co-owner John Hamms facilities have a difficult time making sense of them. It makes us as respected producers feel like we are always guilty of something, said Mauer in an email. Mauer said that inspectors-in-training are told that they are the regulatory authority in a business and that there is not as much working together between inspection services and meat businesses. He said that inspection services could have simply reminded butchers of the errors relating to the bacon-wrapped tenderloin and lard instead of issuing recalls. In response to the issue at Prem Meats, Mauer added that Wisconsin River Meats submitted official formulations to DATCP that describes combinations such as bacon-wrapped tenderloins. Mauer also discussed a recall of lard at four separate Wisconsin meat businesses last August. I have received several of these calls from frustrated, small, family-owned businesses who have never had a problem before, said Marklein in the April 21 document. The department seems to have taken an aggressive approach to inspection and recall, rather than inspection and education. Hoffman said that the departments approach to recalls is to educate while we regulate. Recalls issued are meant to inform the public about adulterated and/or misbranded products in the interest of public health, according to Hoffman. DATCP has taken several steps to educate state-inspected meat establishments of regulatory requirements related to recalls, including email newsletters, communications through the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors, and DATCPs virtual office hours, which gives industry an opportunity to ask questions and hear updates from Bureau of Meat and Poultry Businesses staff, said Hoffman in an email. Other educational opportunities for local food business owners include training in hazard analysis and critical control points at the Humane Handling Institute in conjunction with UW-River Falls. HHI, according to Hoffman, is a first of its kind program aimed at hands-on training for pre-slaughter handling and transport for meat providers. Prem said that after the recall was issued, DATCP was no longer willing to work with us as a plant and said their approach was more investigative. He said the recall informed the public that the bacon-wrapped tenderloin had a product safety issue, which was not the case. DATCP said that the recall issued was part of standard practice, according to Prem. Markleins letter said that there is a massive difference between inspecting and educating versus inspecting and recalling. He noted that there were 20 recalls issued in 2022 as opposed to 11 total between 2019 and 2021. When a business is spotlighted for a recall like this, customers become worried that the meat in their freezer is tainted, said Marklein in the letter. A recall casts doubt and creates fear when it may have nothing to do with quality or safety. A statement from Marklein indicated that he is not currently exploring policy legislation during current state budget negotiations, but may do so after the budget is passed. Another area butcher, The Meat Market, which operates stores in Baraboo and Lake Delton, said that it has had no issues with DATCP recalls unrelated to product safety. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Brooklyn man who struck and killed a man who was jogging last year along a town of Oregon road was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison for homicide by negligent driving. Dane County Circuit Judge Josann Reynolds said that had Timothy W. Pritchett, 39, not taken steps after the crash the night of June 7 to avoid being discovered as the driver who struck Logan Gueths, 30, she might have sentenced Pritchett to probation. If it werent for the cover-up, Id be looking at probation, Reynolds said. But the cover-up is gnawing at me. The prison sentence, after which Pritchett will serve three years of extended supervision, came at the end of an emotional two-hour hearing in a packed courtroom in which members of Gueths family explained to Reynolds how insurmountable his loss has been to them, and unleashed their wrath at Pritchett. They also took shots at the legal system, frustrated that the more serious of the two charges that had been filed against Pritchett hit-and-run causing death was dismissed as part of a plea agreement in February. The negligent driving conviction carried up to five years in prison followed by five years of extended supervision. The hit-and-run charge carried up to 25 years of combined prison and extended supervision. Assistant District Attorney Lexi Keyes, who asked for the maximum five-year prison sentence, said prosecutors had to dismiss the hit-and-run charge after receiving a statement from a witness who lives across the road from where the crash occurred, near highways MM and A. Keyes said the witness saw someone with a van stop and use a flashlight to look all around the van, then go into the ditch and look around there. The timing, she said, was such that the person who was seen could have been Pritchett, stopping to look around after striking Gueths, which would have called into question the hit-and-run charge. Instead, Pritchett was convicted of homicide by negligent driving after admitting he was using his phone to make a FaceTime call while he was driving when he crashed into something. Pritchett would later tell investigators he thought he had struck a deer. But he waited to speak to investigators until after he took the van he had been driving to Rockford to have its broken windshield replaced. When he did come to meet with investigators, they noticed an odor that smelled like fresh paint. Defense stance Pritchetts attorneys, assistant public defenders Crystal Vera and Matthew Giesfeldt, who asked for probation, argued that it was too dark for Pritchett to know that he had hit a human. Vera also argued that neglectful driving is common. Weve all done it, Vera said. It could have happened to any one of us. The difference, in this case, is that someone took someones life away, Vera said. That could have been any of us. I repeat, that could have been any of us. She said Pritchett looked, to no avail, for what he had struck, and argued that nobody would have been able to see Gueths because it was dark and the grass into which he fell was tall enough to conceal him from the road. A truck driver spotted Gueths early the next morning. Family mourns But members of Gueths family said they believe Pritchett lied and instead left Gueths to die where he lay, instead of seeking immediate help. Mr. Pritchett, I hope that someday we can talk, because you need to tell me the truth, Gueths mother, Joellen Graef, said. She said her son was struck and then left to die a long, slow death, a thought that she said constantly awakens her at night. Gueths father, Jeff Gueths, said the thought of his son and the pain he endured for as long as four hours will haunt me until I die. Gueths brother, Beau Gueths, told Reynolds of a time that his brother was driving and saw what appeared to be someone down in a ditch but kept going, only to circle back minutes later and discover the person was a badly injured motorcyclist. He said his brother was able to resuscitate him until an ambulance arrived. He always put others before himself, Beau Gueths said. Pritchett apologized to Gueths family and said that if he had seen Gueths, he would have done something. I just want you all to know Im deeply sorry, Pritchett said. I cant bring him back, and it will haunt me for the rest of my life. Photos: Notable Deaths in 2023 Harry Belafonte Raquel Welch David Crosby Lance Reddick Richard Belzer Cindy Williams Lisa Marie Presley Gordon Lightfoot Jeff Beck Bobby Caldwell Gary Rossington Wayne Shorter Jerry Springer Robert Blake Willis Reed Michael Lerner Tom Sizemore Charles Kimbrough Chaim Topol Len Goodman Tim McCarver Billy Packer Barry Humphries Burt Bacharach Stella Stevens Annie Wersching Dave Hollis David Jude Jolicoeur Barrett Strong Lloyd Morrisett Robbie Knievel Gina Lollobrigida Lynette Hardaway ("Diamond") Adam Rich Bobby Hull Charles White Jerry Richardson Sister Andre Tatjana Patitz Russell Banks Cardinal George Pell Ken Block Walter Cunningham Anton Walkes Pat Schroeder Seymour Stein Klaus Teuber Ginnie Newhart Vida Blue Martin Amis Doyle Brunson Hodding Carter III Jacklyn Zeman Jim Brown Tina Turner Ray Stevenson Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Most University of Wisconsin System schools will fall millions of dollars short of the money needed to maintain operations by the end of 2023-24 without additional state support, System President Jay Rothman warned Thursday. Financial forecasts released Thursday show all universities except UW-Madison, UW-La Crosse and UW-Stout are projected to have tuition fund balances in the red by summer 2024 due to planned one-time expenses and the cost to continue current operations. Most of the structural deficits hover between just under $3 million to $6.5 million, with UW-Milwaukee being an outlier with a projected $18.8 million deficit. Projected deficits total $60.1 million across the 10 schools facing shortfalls. Shoring up finances will be difficult without more investment from Legislature, Rothman said. UW System projected end balances UW-Madison: $2,858,979 UW-Milwaukee: ($18,811,666) UW-Eau Claire: ($5,662,460) UW-Green Bay: ($6,358,828) UW-La Crosse: $1,123,457 UW-Oshkosh: ($5,381,929) UW-Parkside: ($3,645,509) UW-Platteville: ($6,520,360) UW-River Falls: ($2,950,824) UW-Stevens Point: ($5,618,318) UW-Stout: $283,899 UW-Superior: ($400,107) UW-Whitewater: ($4,784,006) Universities are spending down their reserves to balance their budgets, which Rothman said is unsustainable in the long run. He didnt rule out closing campuses in the future, stating the System needs to face economic reality while keeping closures as a last resort. At the end of the day, you never cut your way to success. You just cant do that, Rothman said. So I remain hopeful that we can find other avenues, while still being good financial stewards and looking at the expense line, and cut where we can, and be efficient about it. But we also need to get that further investment, and lifting us up from being 42nd in the nation (for taxpayer funding). Wisconsin deserves better than that. Wisconsin currently ranks in the bottom 20% nationwide in funding for its public four-year universities, a report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum last month said. The System falls below the national average for four-year university funding, with $15,079 per student in comparison to the U.S. average of $17,733. Wisconsin is also the only state that spends more per full-time student on technical colleges than four-year universities. Ranking seventh in the nation for technical college funding, technical colleges received $17,153 per-student in state, local tax and tuition funding per full-time student, compared to the national average of $11,714. Support for the System has either stayed relatively flat or decreased by millions in the last decade. In 2021, the Republican-controlled Legislature approved an $8.25 million increase to the Systems budget, despite the System asking for $96 million; in 2019, the System got an additional $58 million, less than half of what it asked for. While the System asked for a $435.6 million increase in the next budget, Gov. Tony Everss budget calls for spending an additional $305.9 million, leaving the door open to future tuition increases. The UW Board of Regents approved a 4.5% base increase in in-state undergraduate tuition in March the first following a decade of tuition freezes that will add $38 million to the Systems bottom line but will be eaten up by increases in employee pay. DEI programs In the last month, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has threatened to reduce System spending on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), claiming such programs sow more division and workers in those positions are burrowed in like a tick on every single college campus. The System spends $13.6 million, about 0.2% of its $6.875 billion budget, on DEI offices each year. Rothman has since announced plans to ban diversity questions from written job applications across the System to in an effort to eliminate political litmus tests that may prevent hiring of more conservative faculty. During hearings held in the last two months, Republican lawmakers have bemoaned the perceived lack of conservative faculty on System campuses, equating it to a lack of free speech. Representatives from the offices of Evers, Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, did not return requests for comment. Universities with more expenses than revenue and declining enrollment are in high danger of closure. UW-Platteville at Richland was the Systems first casualty as classes there ceased this month after enrollment this fall dropped to 60. Elsewhere in the state, Cardinal Stritch University graduated its last class this spring after 85 years due to a projected $6 million structural deficit. Last week, Upper Iowa University announced it was closing six of its Wisconsin regional centers including ones in Milwaukee, Prairie du Chien and the Racine and Kenosha area over declining enrollment. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. COLUMBUS Embers from a controlled burn are believed to be the cause of a barn fire on Tuesday night that destroyed a barn and resulted in one firefighter being hospitalized briefly. Columbus Deputy Fire Chief Jerrod Fox said Wednesday that the firefighter, who had been taken to Prairie Ridge Hospital in Columbus, was released Tuesday night after being checked out and is doing well. The Columbus Fire Department was called to W12271 Highway 16/60 for a barn fire Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. There were no animals at the property and old hay had been left in the barn with some other items. Thick black smoke could be seen from miles away, Fox said in the press release. The barn was fully engulfed within minutes of the page, and a box alarm was called in for more departments while Columbus fire crews protected other nearby structures. There was no extension to either of the homes but they did suffer some outside siding damage. More than 40,000 gallons of water was used on the fire. Crews did a fabulous job at protecting structures nearby and making an aggressive attack on the barn fire, Columbus Fire Chief Scott Hazeltine said in the press release. The following fire departments assisted: Waterloo, Fall River, CLR, Marshall, Beaver Dam, Reeseville, Doylestown, and Lake Mills. Columbus Police Department, Dodge County Sheriff, Lifestar EMS, Waterloo EMS, and Beaver Dam EMS. Beaver Dam and Sun Prairie had rigs stationed at the Columbus Fire Station in the event of another call. Columbus celebrates Red Bud Day Red Bud001.jpg Red Bud002.jpg Red Bud003.jpg Red Bud004.jpg Red Bud005.jpg Red Bud006.jpg Red Bud007.jpg Red Bud008.jpg Red Bud009.jpg Red Bud010.jpg Red Bud011.jpg Red Bud012.jpg Red Bud013.jpg Red Bud014.jpg Red Bud015.jpg Red Bud016.jpg Red Bud017.jpg Red Bud018.jpg Red Bud019.jpg Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MADISON, Wis. (AP) The Wisconsin Legislature's finance committee inserted language into the state budget Thursday that creates a $10 million endowment for the state's C-SPAN-style public affairs network. The Joint Finance Committee voted unanimously to place the money in a fund for WisconsinEye, a nonprofit that broadcasts gavel-to-gavel coverage of legislative sessions, hearings, news conferences and other government-focused activities in Madison. The network began broadcasting in 2007. It relies heavily on private fundraising and revenue generated by a paywall that protects archived footage. The network's website says it employs seven people full time, and its budget is about $1.2 million annually. The finance committee gave the network $450,000 in the last state budget, marking the first time the network sought taxpayer support. The committee on Thursday inserted language into the 2023-2025 state budget that calls for placing the $10 million into a fund for WisconsinEye. The network would have to match every dollar it requests from the fund. The endowment would dissolve on June 30, 2025. The network also would have to do away with its archive paywall. Brandon Scholz, a member of the network's board, said in a telephone interview that the fund doesn't equate to free money because of the matching requirement. But its existence could help motivate donors because their contributions will unlock more money from the state, Scholz said. The finance committee is expected to spend at least several more weeks revising the budget before forwarding it to the full Assembly and Senate for approval. From there it will go to Gov. Tony Evers, who can use his partial veto powers to rewrite the document. This story has been updated to correct style to C-SPAN. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A bill that would require Hmong and Asian American history lessons in K-12 schools received a public hearing Thursday, the first hearing for the measure in the three legislative sessions in which it has been introduced with bipartisan support. The occasion brought dozens of Asian Wisconsinites from Oshkosh, Eau Claire, the Milwaukee area and other regions around the state to a packed room in the Capitol, where many said the bill would provide Wisconsin students with critical lessons that they themselves lacked in school, making them feel excluded. One must know ones roots to be able to thrive, and we must nourish our roots, said Zon Moua, who works for the Madison-based social justice organization Freedom Inc. This is why the passing of (the bill) is so important. Its going to make it possible for hundreds of Hmong students to learn about their history and celebrate the heroes in our community. Many supporters also spoke of the bills urgency: There were around 11,000 documented hate crimes against Asian Americans between March 2020 and December 2021, according to a report by Stop AAPI Hate, a group that tracks and responds to hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This staggering statistic highlights the urgent need for visibility of the Asian American community as valued members of our community and vital contributors to our shared history, said Kabby Hong, a Verona teacher who represented Wisconsin in the 2022 National Teacher of the Year Program. Asian American history is American history, Hong continued, highlighting an Asian American World War II regiment that was the most decorated in U.S. history and former U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, the first Asian American woman elected to Congress. You cant tell the story of this great nation without the contributions of the AAPI community. Growing community Wisconsin has around 200,000 people of Asian descent, an 80% increase since 2000, the organization Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote found. Over a quarter of Asian Wisconsinites are Hmong, making it the third-largest Hmong population in the U.S. after Minnesota and California. Yet, many Asian speakers Thursday said they didnt feel comfortable in their surroundings. A seventh grader, Rayyang Gorman, said he had wanted to change his name because his peers and teachers couldnt pronounce it correctly. But when he read the legislation, he said, I realized that I have to embrace my culture and my beautiful name. The bill, AB 232, would amend an existing state law, which requires schools to teach students about American Indians, Black Americans and Hispanics, to also teach youth about Hmong Americans and Asian Americans. A number of states, including Florida, Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey, have passed legislation to ensure Asian American history is taught in K-12 schools, while other state legislatures, including California and New York, have introduced similar initiatives. I didnt learn in school the heritage of my Hmong friends, whose elders fought for our democracy, Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, who has fought for the bills passage for years but wasnt present at Thursdays hearing, said in written testimony. And I couldnt tell you as a young student why the month of May is Asian American Heritage Month, or who Vincent Chin was. With AB 232, we are taking a critical step in remedying these gaps in our education system. Bipartisan bill In his testimony in support of the proposal, bill author Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Schofield, highlighted Hmong soldiers support for Americans in the Vietnam War. Each year fewer Hmong veterans remain to tell this important story, which is one of many reasons that I think AB 232 is important it is essential that this story is relayed to future generations, he said. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who previously urged the bills passage, would almost certainly sign it into law. A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, didnt respond to a request for comment on whether hed give the measure a floor vote. Several groups, including the ACLU of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Education Association Council, registered in favor of the bill. No groups registered against it. Past opposition to the bill came primarily from Republicans who did not want to mandate more courses in school. The Republican former representative who chaired the Assembly Education Committee, Jeremy Thiesfeldt, said last year it was burdensome to mandate small courses. The committee has, however, recently passed several measures requiring different courses in school. On Thursday, the committee approved AB 109, which would require high schoolers to take a half-credit personal financial literacy course to graduate. Additionally, Snyder previously told the Wisconsin State Journal that some legislators opposed continuing to increase the number of ethnic and religious groups students are required to learn about. I want to more than anything, to extend my thanks that this bill was brought to a public hearing, Hong said in her testimony. Today is the history itself that I hope my son gets to learn in school. And I hope this session will finally be the one where we can make that happen. Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, said hes hopeful the bill will get passed by the Legislature this session. He said he hasnt spoken to Vos about the bill yet. I think it was a big deal for them to get a hearing, Kitchens said about the bill supporters. Theyve been asking for it for a long time. Im not sure why the previous chairman would never give it a hearing. Getting dairy from farm to table is a complex process and farmers are adapting to get it there A different way to farm: Using agritourism to bolster dairy operations Getting dairy from farm cow to your fridge is more complex than you think Technology is reinventing dairy production and its helping farmers keep pace Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DANE COUNTY | CASE OF FAKE ELECTORS A trial in the case against the 10 Republicans who signed paperwork attempting to hand Wisconsin's 2020 Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump is tentatively slated to wrap up weeks before the 2024 presidential election. Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington on Wednesday scheduled the trial to begin on Sept. 3, 2024. He estimated the trial could take as long as four weeks and conclude before Republican and Democratic electors are selected in October for the next presidential election. Attorneys for the plaintiffs, who have sought to bar the 10 Republicans from being presidential electors in the future, have asked to have the case concluded before the next slate of electors is chosen. 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. Remington earlier this month ruled that the case would proceed in Dane County by denying a request from the defendants in the case to have the matter split up and brought before individual courts in their counties of residence. 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 are seeking 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 state's 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 earlier this month 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. The slate of 10 Republicans met at the Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign official-looking documents asserting that Trump won Wisconsin. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON An Arkansas man who propped his feet on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office in a widely circulated photo from the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced Wednesday to more than four years in prison. Richard "Bigo" Barnett, 63, became one of the faces of the Jan. 6 riot of then-President Donald Trump's supporters. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said at sentencing that Barnett seemed at times to enjoy the notoriety. "All the folks who follow 'Bigo' need to know the actions of Jan. 6 cannot be repeated without some serious repercussions," Cooper said, alluding to the media attention and social media following Barnett attracted after the riot. The 54-month sentence for Barnett, a retired firefighter from Gravette, Arkansas, comes after he was convicted at trial on eight counts, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, in this case a Jan. 6, 2021, session of Congress to certify Joe Biden's victory over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Also Wednesday, Robert Morss of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to five years in prison after he was convicted of assault and other charges in the riot. Prosecutors say he tried to take a baton from an officer and stole a riot shield from another as he worked to organize rioters to push past Capitol guards. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Department of Education has proposed new regulations to protect students enrolled in for-profit institutions and certificate programs from being saddled with debt they cant afford to repay. The public has until June 20 to comment on the proposal. "We cannot turn a blind eye to the college programs that are leaving students with mountains of unaffordable debts," said Undersecretary of Education James Kvaal in a press release from May 17. According to Kvaal, for-profit and career colleges are at the center of the problem, and the latest proposals offer the strongest protection yet for students and others involved against what he called low value, debt-fueled colleges. These provisions would put metrics in place for institutions that fall under gainful employment regulations targeted primarily at nondegree programs or any for-profit educational program to decrease the number of students left with excessive debt compared to earnings. Low-performing institutions could lose access to federal financial aid. These programs disproportionately target many of the lowest-income students, in many cases leaving them financially worse off than if they never attended, Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, a nonprofit organization of public education advocates, said in an email response. The proposal also aims to increase the transparency of out-of-pocket costs and student outcomes for all educational institutions (public, private and for-profit) by collecting and publicizing more detailed college-level data. This is especially noteworthy, Pringle said, as its the first time students and their families will have access to this program-level data, empowering their decision making. Cost of attendance, nonfederal aid and average debt and earnings are just a few data points that could be collected. Students would have to acknowledge this information before receiving federal financial aid from colleges not meeting the standards. According to the Department of Education, proposed changes could affect nearly 1,800 underperforming programs, impacting over 700,000 students. Here are the proposal details. Programs must achieve metrics to access federal financial aid For-profit institutions and public or private nondegree programs are required to adequately prepare students for gainful employment to access federal financial aid, according to the Higher Education Act. To hold programs accountable, the Department of Education will require institutions to meet performance standards in two areas: Debt to earnings. The share of a graduates annual income needed to make their student debt payments cannot exceed 8%. For graduates on income-based repayment plans, their debt-to-earnings ratio must be less than 20% of their discretionary income defined as income above the 150% federal poverty guideline. Earnings compared to high school graduates. An institution must have at least half of its graduates earning more than the typical high school graduate with no postsecondary education. Graduate income is compared to the labor force of the colleges state. Failing one metric would force the institution to alert students that the program may lose access to federal aid. If a program fails to achieve both metrics twice within three years, the program will completely lose access to federal aid. Public access to more detailed college-level data The department is also pushing for greater consistency in reporting the cost and return of postsecondary education. By collecting more detailed data on the cost of attendance, potential earnings and typical debt, the federal government wants to help students and families avoid impossible debt burdens. New data collected could include the following: Cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies. Licensing requirements and exam passage rates (if applicable). Nonfederal aid amounts per student. Amount borrowed for federal and private loans per student. Earnings per student. Information will be made public on a department-run website, requiring students to acknowledge theyve reviewed the data points before they can receive loans for a program that does not meet federal standards. These metrics will also feed a watch list of institutions that leave students with high debt and poor earnings. Additional provisions Proposed regulations also include changes to other government-defined regulatory areas that will better equip the agency to hold institutions accountable both proactively and once standards have not been met. They are: Financial responsibility. Institutions would report behavior that could indicate a higher risk of closing suddenly such as failing to make debt payments for more than 90 days. Certain financial triggers could lead to the Department of Education requiring a letter of credit from the institution to guarantee payment. Administrative capability. There would be greater requirements for college administration programs, like career services and financial aid offices. Proposals would also include preventing administrators with previous misconduct around federal financial aid programs from being hired. Certification procedures. The Department of Education would like to be able to more easily adjust its agreements with institutions receiving federal financial aid. The regulations would also make adjustments to Ability to Benefit a provision of the Higher Education Act allowing students without a high school diploma to have access to federal financial aid. Comment on the proposal before June 20 This proposed rule is currently open for public comment. Submit comments at Regulations.gov before June 20. The Education Department expects to finalize the rule by the end of 2023. Rules finalized by Nov. 1, 2023, will go into effect on July 1, 2024. Trea Branch writes for NerdWallet. Email: tbranch@nerdwallet.com. The article For-Profit Colleges May Soon Be Accountable for Student Outcomes originally appeared on NerdWallet. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. In the United States, 6.8 million adults struggle with generalized anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. This means they experience a sense of worry most days, and these feelings can creep into their personal, social and working life. If youre part of this group, the thought of securing life insurance might feel overwhelming. While an anxiety diagnosis can make it trickier to navigate the buying process, it doesnt disqualify you from getting coverage. How life insurers view anxiety From diabetes to depression, all health conditions are seen to present some degree of risk. An insurers job is to answer the question: How risky are you to cover? To calculate risk, companies typically ask about your health and lifestyle as part of the life insurance underwriting process. They then use this information to determine whether youre eligible for coverage and set your rates. If youre living with generalized anxiety disorder, you can expect to answer questions about the date of your diagnosis and last anxiety episode, as well as prescriptions and treatments. You might be asked if you have any other medical conditions and whether youve been hospitalized or had suicidal thoughts or attempts. Finally, insurers may request medical records to get a more complete picture of your diagnosis, just as they would with other health conditions. The questions may feel intrusive, but if you can prove your anxiety is well-controlled, youll be in a position to get the best possible coverage. Landing in a life insurance rating class Insurers wrap up underwriting by placing you into a risk class and there are about 20 to choose from, Natasha Cornelius, a Minneapolis-based chartered life underwriter, said in an email. Life insurance rating classes fall into three main categories: Preferred. This tier is reserved for the healthiest applicants who pose the least risk to insurers. This tier is reserved for the healthiest applicants who pose the least risk to insurers. Standard. A standard rating is for applicants in generally good health, but who may have a medical or lifestyle issue such as a hazardous job preventing them from getting the lowest rates. A standard rating is for applicants in generally good health, but who may have a medical or lifestyle issue such as a hazardous job preventing them from getting the lowest rates. Table-rated. Applicants with the highest risk may receive this rating, which can drive up premiums by 25% or more. Many companies use numbers, such as 1, 2 and 3, to mark different levels. Looking at a Table 2 rating, a 40-year-old woman applying for a $500,000, 20-year term life policy might pay $91.44 a month for coverage, according to Quotacy, a life insurance brokerage. To compare, a woman who lands in the Preferred Plus class could pay $24.02 for the same coverage. The good news? The best risk classes are within reach for many people with anxiety. Individuals with well-managed anxiety can often qualify for preferred ratings. But if you have other health factors in addition to anxiety, preferred ratings can be more challenging to come by, Cornelius said. An independent life insurance agent or broker can help you navigate your options. These professionals partner with multiple companies, making it easier to comparison shop. Brokers work for you and can informally inquire with carriers on your behalf, says John Hansbrough, a Los Angeles-based licensed life insurance agent. The goal for the underwriter is to understand the worst-case scenario for someone with anxiety. On the broker side, its about presenting the best possible story for that person, Hansbrough says. Boosting your application Most types of life insurance are open to people with anxiety. These include term life insurance, which lasts a set number of years, and permanent life insurance, which usually covers you for your entire life. To speed up your application: Be prepared. Know the names, dosages and frequency of any medications youre taking to manage your anxiety. Have your doctors names and contact information handy, too. Know the names, dosages and frequency of any medications youre taking to manage your anxiety. Have your doctors names and contact information handy, too. Disclose current and past treatments. If youre seeing a therapist or psychiatrist, let the insurer know. The same goes for past hospitalizations. If youre seeing a therapist or psychiatrist, let the insurer know. The same goes for past hospitalizations. Get ready for the medical exam. If youre applying for a policy that requires a life insurance medical exam, try to book a morning slot. Avoid alcohol the night before and strenuous workouts, caffeine and nicotine in the morning as these may elevate test measurements. Stick to a healthy breakfast and water to get optimal results. If youre applying for a policy that requires a life insurance medical exam, try to book a morning slot. Avoid alcohol the night before and strenuous workouts, caffeine and nicotine in the morning as these may elevate test measurements. Stick to a healthy breakfast and water to get optimal results. Shop around. Some insurers are more lenient than others when it comes to anxiety. Compare quotes from a handful of insurers to get the most competitively priced coverage. Above all, be upfront with your insurer. Hiding your mental health history can delay the underwriting process or mean your beneficiaries are denied the payout when you die. A broker experienced in finding life insurance for high-risk applicants can help you submit an application with the best chances of approval. Hansbrough likens brokers to defense attorneys. I need to know all the details and skeletons in your closet, he says. Im not the one making the decision of whether you can get coverage, but Im going to do everything I can. If youre struggling with anxiety or have thoughts of suicide, please seek help immediately. Call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. Both services are free, confidential and available 24/7. Katia Iervasi writes for NerdWallet. Email: kiervasi@nerdwallet.com. The article Living With Anxiety? What to Know When Buying Life Insurance originally appeared on NerdWallet. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Editors note: This feature first ran Dec. 10, 2020, in the Times-News and at magicvalley.com. Dworshak Elementary School in Burley sits as a reminder of one of the towns most famous residents, Henry Clarence Dworshak, editor and publisher of the Burley Bulletin from 1924 to 1944. Never heard of him? Perhaps youve heard of the Dworshak Dam on the North Fork of the Clearwater River near Orofino, also named for the man who served overseas in an anti-aircraft machine gun battalion in World War I. Still doesnt ring a bell? Dworshak, a staunch Republican and friend of U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy, was a member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations during the Army-McCarthy Hearings, which former Times-News columnist Steve Crump once called the highest drama on Capitol Hill between the League of Nations debate of 1919 and the Bill Clinton impeachment trial of 1999. The 1954 hearings ended the political career of McCarthy, who made reckless and unsubstantiated claims of communists and traitors in the federal government. Dworshak won a seat in the House in 1938 and was re-elected three times. He was later elected to the Senate and, despite his ties to the disgraced McCarthy, served until his death in 1962. Dworshak died of a heart attack at the age of 67 in his apartment in Washington. U.S. Sen. Frank Church had lunch with Dworshak the day he died. He seemed well and hearty and in fine spirits, the Democrat from Idaho told the Spokane Daily Chronicle. I am appalled at the sad news of his passing. He was ever a gentleman who served his state honorably for many years. Dworshak is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Fort Myer, Virginia, along with his wife, Georgia. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Twin Falls man faces burglary charges after multiple vehicles were broken into Monday morning, police say. Carlos Jose Lopez, 21, was apprehended when a Twin Falls Police Department officer responded to a call of two males casing vehicles on the 1200 block of Park Meadows Drive, along with spray-painting a garage and car. The officer found men matching their description on the 300 block of Crestview. The other individual fled. Lopez was carrying items determined to have been stolen from other vehicles in the same location, on the 500 block of Parkway Circle, 1000 block of Twin Parks Drive, and the 600 block of North Pointe Drive, including a bottle of prescription pills, sandals, pocket knives and sunflower seeds. He was also in possession of a glass pipe. Video from security cameras helped police identify Lopez as the suspect, according to the police report. In addition to three burglary charges and one attempted burglary charge, Lopez also faces charges relating to him being in possession of the prescription drug and two misdemeanor counts of theft by receiving, possessing or disposing of stolen property, and being a pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the report. He faces a June 2 preliminary hearing. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Twin Falls man has been charged with threatening another man with a handgun in February after an argument at a Twin Falls bar, police say. Twin Falls police said James Rollins, 60, hit the man over the shoulder with a pool cue at about 11:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Klover Klub, 402 Main Ave. N., and when the man pursued Rollins out of the bar, Rollins took a shooting-style stance while holding a handgun, causing the man to retreat inside, according to a police report. Police used security footage from the bar to track Rollins, who was arrested this month. Rollins, who is charged with aggravated assault and battery, is being held on $10,000 bond and faces a June 2 preliminary hearing. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Recently, I was talking with a Democratic state legislator who represents a purple district in southeast Idaho. We were discussing the dynamics of his district when he said something that struck me: He noted that his appearance helped him persuade right-wing people to vote for him because he doesnt look like a Democrat. Ive been thinking about that remark ever since. This guy is a burly, union-working man with a very firm handshake and callouses all over. Definitely the kind a guy you want on your side in a bar fight. At first, I wanted to dismiss what he said. But the more I thought about it, I realized that I make political judgments about people all the time based on their appearance, and Im almost always right. Once youve knocked on a few thousand doors all over Idaho, you get a sense about folks. Not just by how they look, but how they talk, whether they lock their doors in the middle of the day, what their yard looks like, what kind of vehicles they drive everythings a tell. I also remembered when I was collecting signatures for Reclaim Idahos education initiative in conservative neighborhoods, I often wore a collared-shirt and a tie. And, I hate to admit it, but it worked. I got a ton of signatures. The art of reading people is fascinating to me, which is why Ive become frustrated as of late by people who not only make it painfully obvious where they fall on the political spectrum, but insist on you knowing exactly where they stand. Its political pageantry and I just wish Idahoans would stop with the drama and either shut up about it, or do something constructive to further their political ideology. Right-Wing Party people are certainly most at fault. Recently, Radical Right-Wingers have been posting videos of them shooting cases of Bud Light with shotguns because Anheuser-Busch had the audacity to partner with a transgender influencer. Good God. I get it. You hate transgender people. But, does taking a 12-gauge to a 12-pack make you tough somehow? Aside from that specific issue, there are plenty of Radical Right-Wingers driving around Idaho with flags flying from the back of their pickups showing their Right-Wings leanings. I suspect they think the flags make their rigs look more like military vehicles rather than a Toyota Tacoma (they dont). Incidentally, flying a Dont Tread on Me flag from a Japanese truck just makes you look stupid. Idahoans on the left tend to be more subtle, but not much better. I live in one of the most liberal neighborhoods in the state, so Im constantly bombarded with yard signs and flags declaring Love is Everywhere, Black Lives Matter, and Never Abide Any Hate. While I whole-heartedly agree with all of those sentiments, I also know for a fact these same people have never knocked on a door in a red district in their lives and probably never will. Sure, they support Democratic candidates, but those candidates are going to win 90-10 in my neighborhood anyway regardless of what signs people post in their yards. The point of all of this is to encourage Idahoans regardless of your part affiliation to knock it off with the pageantry and actually do something thats going to further your political agenda. Flying a flag from your foreign vehicle is not going to get Trump elected again to the presidency. Volunteering will. Posting a Refugees are Welcome Here sign is not going to flip seats in Idaho. Volunteering will. And, if youre not willing to do the real work of campaigning, then put your money where your mouth is and donate to candidates who either agree with your ideology, or who are working to flip seats. Enough with the pageantry. It doesnt make you interesting. Its boring. So, either get to work or get lost. As I was writing this column, an email came over from the Idaho Democratic Party asking me to sign a petition urging Idaho Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher to vote to raise the debt ceiling. Ugh. While you all do that, I have to phone-bank for a Democratic candidate who actually serves all her constituents. I support her because shes not into political pageantry. She acts. Thats someone I can get behind. You may want to follow suit. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has received the commemorative stamp marking the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the landmark convention that was the basis of the Philippines arbitral win over China. The stamp was issued by the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhilPost) days after a fire gutted the historic Manila Central Post Office. Grateful to receive the commemorative stamp honoring the 40th anniversary of UNCLOS, especially in the aftermath of the devastating fire that engulfed @PostOfficePH, the countrys top diplomat said on Twitter. This symbolic gesture reaffirms PH commitment to #UNCLOS & serves as a reminder of the resilience of our postal service, he added. Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz Meanwhile, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte on Thursday expressed hope that the impending joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) by the Philippines and the United States will evolve into a multilateral security arrangement with like-minded allies like Australia and Japan. A multilateral maritime security setup in the WPS involving Australia and more allies other than the US has become a probability following last weeks elevation of Manila-Canberra defense and economic ties from a comprehensive to a strategic partnership, in support of a stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific Region, Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party, said. Manalos post was accompanied by a photo of him holding the framed commemorative stamp with the words, UNCLOS @ 40. Known as the constitution of the oceans, UNCLOS was the foundation of the 2016 Hague ruling that invalidated Chinas sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines, led by then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario during the Aquino III administration, took Beijing to the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration and won the monumental arbitration case that empowered nations to call on China to cease its aggressive actions in the resource-rich region. A strong backer of joint patrols in the WPS to check Beijings increasingly aggressive incursions into our legitimate territory and exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Villafuerte is bullish about the inclusion of Australia in the planned joint WPS patrols involving the US and the Philippines. Visiting Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong conveyed last May 18 that Canberra is open to cooperation with the Philippines on ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific region. There are clear signs indeed that joint maritime patrols in Philippine waters with the US, and possibly with other like-minded allies like Australia and Japan that are aspiring for a stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific region, are happening sooner than later against the backdrop of incessant, increasingly aggressive incursions by Chinese vessels into our territory and EEZ, Villafuerte said. He noted that during a courtesy call in Malacanan Palace last Thursday, Wong had informed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. about the commitment of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Norman Albanese to enhance ties to a strategic partnership between the two countries. For his part, President Marcos said during the courtesy call by Wong that amid the current situation, security partnerships have become extremely important and it might be the key to maintaining the peace not only in the Asia Pacific but the Indo-Pacific region. Villafuerte added there is a better chance that Japan might take part in the planned joint patrols. The DFAs Manalo himself said last week that trilateral military cooperation among Manila, Canberra and Tokyo are certainly under consideration. We look forward to discussing with Australia and our other partners, Japan, and even with perhaps the US, on possible modes of cooperation we are certainly planning to take forward these discussions in the very near future, the Foreign Affairs chief said Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The Philippines and the United States are eyeing 14 projects on the four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Thursday. On the new sites, identified na rin yung mga projects to be constructed in those areas. So were looking (at) mess hall, rehabilitation of runway, construction of additional billeting facilities, acquisition of generators, installation of electrical system, (and) construction of pier with water supply, AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said in an interview. The four additional EDCA locations were the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan. Also included in the proposed projects are the construction of humanitarian and assistance disaster relief (HADR) warehouses, hangars with electrical and water facilities, billeting or barracks complete with amenities for personnel, and a command and control fusion system. However, Aguilar did not disclose any details on the proposed projects to be implemented in the four new locations. Last week, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said she was willing to meet with Philippine governors who have expressed concern about the opening of four additional sites that the US military would have access to under the EDCA. Carlson made the statement after Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba expressed apprehensions over his province being the site of one of the new EDCA sites. Last month, 5,000 Cagayanos joined a prayer vigil against EDCA. At the same time, Carlson declared that Washingtons commitment to support the Philippines is not about any other country, saying bilateral ties can stand on their own. The Mutual Defense Treaty dates back to 1951. Our commitment to the Philippines stands on its own. Our relationship stands on its own, its not about a third country, its not about a single challenge. But we certainly have global challenges when it comes to climate change, when it comes to cybersecurity, when it comes to environmental degradation of our surrounding seas and climate, Carlson said in an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel. Asked to comment on Chinas statement that the increased presence of the US in the Philippines through the EDCA sites affects regional stability, Carlson said; Theres so much that were working together. Its not about China. It certainly is not about China alone, its about what we do together It dates back decades. I understand that that argument is out there but thats not why were committed to the Philippines, she said. Carlson also said the EDCA sites can be used for whatever the Philippine government invites the United States to do. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The worlds biggest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, arrived in Oslo on Wednesday for a stopover criticised by neighbouring Russia as an illogical and harmful show of force. The 337-metre (1,106-foot) nuclear-powered ship sailed into the Oslo Fjord under escort, where it will stay for several days before heading to the Arctic for military exercises, according to Norwegian media. Norway is a strategic partner in the continued efforts to maintain a secure and stable Arctic and North Atlantic region that benefits global order, Erik J. Eslich, commander of US Carrier Strike Group 12, said in a statement. The Norwegian military said in a statement the aircraft carriers visit and presence provides a unique opportunity to develop our cooperation and work closely together with our most important ally, the United States. Norwegian Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said this is the concrete expression of our close relationship with the United States and demonstrates the will for collective defence and deterrence. The highly publicised visit, which comes amid heightened tensions between the West and Russia over the war in Ukraine, was denounced by the Russian embassy. There are no issues in the North that require a military solution, nor issues that require outside intervention, Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov told AFP by email. Considering that Oslo admits that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such shows of force seem illogical and harmful, he added. NATO member Norway shares a land border with Russia as well as a maritime border in the Barents Sea. The USS Gerald R. Ford, which can transport up to 90 aircraft and helicopters, is expected to remain moored in the Norwegian capital for several days. A vast airspace and sea ban has been implemented around the vessel. According to online daily Barents Observer, the ship is expected to head for the Arctic in several days ahead of the May 29 start of the Arctic Challenge Exercise, gathering 150 aircraft from 14 Western countries. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Six million people in southwest Colombia are without access to natural gas as of Wednesday, due to what authorities are calling a thermal anomaly possibly affecting pipelines. Since midday, there had been a total restriction on the natural gas service in the western departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, utility Gases de Occidente said. The crisis also affects five other departments in the center and southwest of the country, according to the mines ministry. According to the pipeline company, Transportadora de Gas Internacional, the anomaly that shut down the gas pipelines could be the product of an underground fire in the area near a volcano and it could take a week to restore service. Two-thirds of Colombias 50 million people depend on the fuel for cooking and other uses. This brings a crisis that we had not experienced for a long time, Jorge Ivan Ospina, the mayor of Cali, Colombias third largest city, where more than 1.3 million users are affected, told the media. Some residents switched to cooking with firewood and others stood in long lines to buy electric stoves, according to images shared on social media. In addition, several gas-powered public transportation vehicles have stopped working. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The queens of Aliwan Fiesta Aliwan Fiesta is making a comeback in the streets of Pasay and Manila from July 13 to 15, as officially announced by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). The grand cultural showcase, known as the Festival of Champions, is being relaunched with great enthusiasm. MBC President Ruperto Nicdao, Jr. signed the memorandum of agreement alongside Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano and Dennis Marasigan, Vice President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Since its inception in 2003, Aliwan Fiesta has gathered participants from the north to the south of our festive islands, capturing regional pride through a vibrant showcase of their socio-cultural and economic profiles encompassing music, dance, pageantry, and physical theater. However, due to the circumstances brought about by the pandemic, the festival was put on hold, and the Manila Broadcasting Company turned to its digital platforms to sustain the excitement and fervor. The online search for Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen (AFDQ) introduced charming young ladies from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, who exemplified social responsibility and community leadership. This virtual search, which included the prestigious Pride of Place award, also provided an opportunity for young filmmakers who were confined to working from home during the lockdown to present the cultural traditions, eco-tourism, and one-town-one product campaigns of their respective regions. During the recent press launch, MBC unveiled the new Aliwan Fiesta logo, characterized by its multi-colored hues and shapes, while employing the Kagitingan font designed by Edsel Pingol, paying tribute to the courageous stance Filipinos took during the pandemic years. Former Reynas ng Aliwan Jamie Herrell (2013) and Marla Alforque (2017) along with AFDQ winners Jannarie Zarzoso (2020) and Marikit Manaois (2022) were present to witness this momentous occasion. When Aliwan Fiesta returns to the streets, albeit on a smaller scale due to road repairs along Roxas Boulevard, the nightly festivities and grand parade will be held within the CCP Complex. Nonetheless, it is a highly anticipated comeback that regional festivals all over the country have been preparing for since the government initiated the easing of public restrictions. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Heres what happened locally on May 25 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: 100 years ago: The local post of the American Legion held its regular semi-monthly meeting last Monday night, at eight p.m. in the Club room. The meeting of Assembly Week which is being observed throughout the department of Virginia is an extensive effort to get all ex-service men of the state acquainted with the activities of the Legion. 75 years ago: Contractor John W. Daniel, of Danville, is making preparations to begin construction of an eight-room colored elementary school about four miles south of Irisburg. The contract was awarded April 6 by the Henry County School Board, subject to approval by the supervisors who authorized the project at their last meeting. Also 1948: At a meeting of the Henry County Tuberculosis Association last night, constitution and bylaws as submitted by a committee made up of J.S. Smith, chairman, Edgar Hollandswirth of Bassett, and W. Grady Moore, were adopted. The Henry County Tuberculosis Association is a voluntary health agency composed of interested medical and lay persons who give their time and energy in order to promote a general program of tuberculosis control ... 50 years ago: Construction on the first leg of the $30 million US 220-58 bypass should begin within the next six weeks, the State Department said today. The four-mile stretch of road from Bassett Forks to Rt. 609 west of Fieldale should be completed by October 1975. 25 years ago: Sandy Level residents hope to cope with crime problems by improving youth opportunity with a grant from a program called Bridging the Gap of Isolation. Sandy Level was selected last summer as one of 10 communities nationwide to share a $1.5 million, three-year grant from the DeWitt Wallace-Readers Digest Fund to the National 4-H Council. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. City Council has approved on first reading a budget that reduces the tax rate, increases utility charges and provides for two additional police officers and two additional school teachers. At a regular meeting in Council Chambers Tuesday night, Council approved a reduction in the real estate tax rate from $1.04 per $100 of assessed value to 99 cents per $100, added 8% to the cost of electricity and includes an additional $3 to the sewer fee and $3 to the cost of water. While preserving most of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, arrangement were made for the employment of two additional police officers and two additional school teachers through the transfer of funds between various accounts and a reduction in the original budget proposal by outgoing City Manager Leon Towarnicki. What weve done is eliminate ARPA funds of $1.1 million, reduced the real estate tax by five cents with a total reduction of over $1.5 million, said Towarnicki. This was accomplished through transfers and revised figures. A 30-cents cigarette tax will rise to 45 cents, producing an expected additional revenue of $50,000. A temporary law clerk requested by Judge Carter Greer will be covered with ARPA funding, unfilled positions in public works and engineering will be combined into one and an assistant city manager position will be frozen until a new city manager is hired. Towarnicki will retire at the end of July. This budget is totally unfair. Its time yall quit playing patty cake with the County. We need that $13 million, said Stuart Street resident Ural Harris during a public hearing. Harris was referring to a dispute over a degraded sewer line the County uses to provide sewer that the City treats for the County through an agreement with the Henry County Public Service Authority. The City paid to repair the line but maintains the County is liable for a portion of the cost. Its not $13 million, its more like $9 million and it has a court date, said Vice Mayor Aaron Rawls. I want it as bad as you do. The deal was written about 50 years ago, so its hard to say Ttrust me and give me 8 million bucks. Harris argued that the police should not be cut by 5% as all other departments were, and no part of a $750,000 reduction to the school system should be restored. You keep throwing money at them, Harris said about the school system. If they are not performing, you need to fire the administration and get someone else in there. Harris then attacked Mayor LC Jones for having his children attend Carlisle School instead of Martinsville City Public Schools. You cant question my loyalty to this community, said Jones. Im just telling you what Im hearing on the street, and its not nice, Harris responded. Rawls and Harris digressed into a lengthy debate over what Rawls described as misinformation that causes a lot of harm. Harris was the only person to speak at the hearing on the budget and when the hearing was closed, Council voted to approve the budget on first reading with the changes and modifications. In other matters, Council: Recognized Martinsville Middle School student William Wall, the fourth MMS student to win the seventh-grade class Virginia Municipal Leagues Region 2 If I were Mayor essay contest. Set a public hearing for Councils June 13 meeting to receive the names of citizens interested in appointments for two 3-year terms and one unexpired 3-year term on the Martinsville City School Board. School board members Chair Donna Dillard and Tony Jones have terms that expire on June 30, and Jim Woods recently submitted his resignation serving the unexpired term of Jay Dickens, who also resigned, which expires on June 30, 2024. Only those citizens whose names are brought up during the Public Hearing can be considered for appointment. Heard from Douglas Sharpe of the Transportation Safety Commission recommend Council authorize a study to be made concerning the possibility of making Cleveland Avenue a one-way street. Heard from Clifton Barrow, owner of Rooskys Bar and Grill at 54 W. Church Street. Barrow apologized for a recent incident when a patron of his restaurant was shot and killed in the parking lot. Barrow, whose business is across the street from the police department, suggested the City create a greater police presence uptown. Heard Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher discredit an article naming Martinsville the second most dangerous city in America. They got it wrong, said Fincher. Reappointed Jean Odachowski to the Social Services Board and Brittany Freeland to the West Piedmont Technical Advisory Committee. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. FOREST CITY King Law Offices, a leading law firm driven by its core values of compassion, innovation, trust and advocacy, is pleased to announce the commencement of its highly anticipated Summer Law Clerk Internship Program. Headquartered in Forest City, King Law Offices extends its reach through western North Carolina, offering comprehensive legal representation and a clear client experience. The Summer Law Clerk Internship Program kicked off May 15 with a two-day orientation led by attorneys Brian King, John Crotts, Frank McFarland and Morgan Stacy, alongside Carson Bland, coordinator of training and development, and Debbie Gettys, technology director. A total of 30 interns began their journey, with additional interns joining from Elon University in July. Brian King, founder and managing partner of King Law Offices, expressed his excitement for the incoming class, stating, I am thrilled to welcome our incoming internship class for the summer. This remarkable group of interns hails from 12 esteemed schools across seven states, bringing a wealth of talent and diverse perspectives to our firm. I am genuinely excited to witness the synergy that will emerge as this exceptional team collaborates, learns and contributes to our shared success. Together, we will foster an inclusive and empowering environment where everyones unique backgrounds and experiences are celebrated, propelling us toward our goals of sustained growth and helping our clients in the communities where we live. I am confident that this vibrant and diverse workforce will not only shape the future of our firm, but also leave a lasting impact on the legal profession as a whole. The Marion location of King Law Offices is pleased to welcome Alayna English, a 2L student the Tennessee College of Law, among their summer law clerk intern team. The King Law Summer Internship Program offers a paid, 10-week opportunity for law students to gain practical legal experience, explore different areas of law, develop research and writing skills, network with professionals, and prepare for a successful career in law. Throughout the program, interns will work closely with experienced attorneys on various cases, including civil litigation, criminal defense, family law and estate planning. They will have the chance to attend depositions, mediations and trials, and sit in on consultations, gaining valuable insights into the legal profession. As a firm that values both hard work and a good sense of humor, King Law Offices is dedicated to providing a comprehensive summer experience for its interns. Interns will have the opportunity to engage with their colleagues, share knowledge, collaborate on projects and develop practical skills with guidance from experienced attorneys and staff members. We want to ensure that our interns are fully prepared for a summer of work and fun. Our team will be here to guide them, helping them develop practical skills and providing valuable mentorship as they embark on their legal careers. We encourage them to engage with their colleagues, share their knowledge and collaborate on projects. The Summer Law Clerk Internship Program at King Law Offices promises to be a valuable opportunity for law students interested in a career in law. The firm remains committed to providing interns with the resources and support necessary for their success. The company Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique (CFM) recorded losses of over 20 million meticais (290 thousand euros) due to theft and vandalism of equipment, over the last five months, in the central region, the company announced. The head of the safety and health area of CFM in the center, Luis Gamboa, cited Wednesday by the Mozambique Information Agency (AIM), said that thefts and vandalism of railway material have mainly targeted rails, metal sleepers, ballast and coupling pumps. L. Gamboa pointed to the discovery of stolen railway material at a company owned by a Chinese citizen, who had already lost his business license, in Sofala province, as proof of the frequency with which the companys equipment is being stolen. The company in question had previously lost its operating license due to the registration of this type of case. We therefore want to appeal to the organs of the administration of justice to help us fight these crimes, said the official. A steel production company also seized stolen railway equipment on a section between the city of Beira and Zimbabwe, said the leader. In 2021, CFM recorded losses amounting to 60 million meticais (871 thousand euros) in the central region due to theft and vandalization of railroad material. Today Thursday, at the London Court of Appeal, Polisario and the pro-separatist NGO WSC were slammed by the irrevocable rejection of a request against Morocco-Great Britain Association Agreement. In fact, the London Court of Appeal irrevocably rejected the appeal of the pro-separatist NGO WSC against a previous decision of the Administrative Court, rejecting its request which attempted to question the association agreement linking Morocco to the United Kingdom. This third setback since last December for Polisario, confirms the validity of the association agreement linking the two Kingdoms, which benefits Moroccos territorial integrity and development of all regions, from north to south. According to analysts, the courts decision also highlights the repeated failures of the real instigator of the conflict over the Moroccan Sahara, who, despite his malicious intentions, is failing in his attempts to persuade the British judiciary to re-examine the post-Brexit trade agreement concluded and supported by the two Kingdoms. Indeed, trade between the two countries has grown steadily since the agreement was signed, with bilateral flows peaking at 2.9 billion in Q3 2022, up 1 billion on the same period last year. The Association Agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom, signed in London on October 26, 2019, has been in force since January 1, 2021. It restores, in the context of bilateral relations, all the effects that the two countries granted each other, within the framework of the Morocco-EU Association Agreement. It thus ensures the continuity of trade between Morocco and the UK after December 31, 2020. Enabling the two Kingdoms to establish a structured partnership on a long-term basis, with operational and institutionalized cooperation instruments, and driven by a shared ambition, the Agreement constitutes a guarantee for Moroccan and British companies undertaking economic and commercial relations in all sectors of cooperation. 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 American population is older than it used to be, according to new U.S. Census data. With fewer young children, more baby boomers and even more centenarians, the country's median age is higherat 38.8and the share of people aged 65 and up more substantial, the report showed. Among the most notable numbers is that the share of people 65 and older grew by more than one-third between the 2010 census and the 2020 census, and that the number of people reaching age 100 grew from more than 53,000 to more than 80,000. Meanwhile, millennials became adults or aged into their 30s, and fewer children were born between 2010 and 2020. What does that all mean? "Many more people who have the genetic makeup and environmental exposures that increase one's chances of getting to 100, but who would have otherwise died of what are now readily reversible problems, are able to fulfill their survival destiny," Thomas Perls, a longevity expert and professor of medicine at Boston University, told the Associated Press. The share of men living into old age is also larger, which can be attributed to improvements in medical care. Some of the declines in younger people are attributed to women having babies later and to birth rates slowing during the 2007 to 2009 Great Recession and not recovering. "In the short run, the crisis of work-family balance, the lack of affordable child care, stresses associated with health care, housing and employment stability, all put a damper on birth rates by increasing uncertainty and making it harder to decide to have and raise children," Philip Cohen, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, told the AP. The 2020 data was delayed by nearly two years as the Census Bureau began a new privacy protection method that obscures respondent identity. The agency also had some trouble gathering information because of the pandemic, the AP reported. The United States now has 331 million people. Those aged 65 and up comprised 16.8% of the U.S. population in 2020, a share that is still lower than other countries like Japan, Greece and Italy. White people are the oldest cohort, with a median age of 44.5. Median age for Asian people was 37.2. Black Americans had a median age of 35.5. The youngest were Hispanic people with a median age of 30. Age also varied by state, with Maine showing a median age of 45.1. Puerto Rico had a median of 45.2. These facts are attributed to baby boomers aging out of the workforce and people leaving Puerto Rico because of hurricanes and government mismanagement, the AP reported. It matters that the country is getting older because there will be fewer working-age adults to support older Americans on Social Security and Medicare. "In the long run, immigration is the only way the United States is going to avoid population decline," Cohen said. More information: The Urban Institute has more on the aging U.S. population. Copyright 2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved. 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: Lopolo/Shutterstock Suicide rarely happens in the absence of severe mental health problems. Research indicates that psychiatric disorders are prevalent in up to 90% of adolescents who die from suicide. In particular, what are known as affective disorders, such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, are present in 44%-76% of cases. This means that severe mental illness is the most influential and preventable predictor of death by suicide. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by recurring, alternating episodes of elevated (manic) and depressed moods. It underlies roughly 5% of all suicides among young people. The majority of adults with bipolar disorder start having mood symptoms in their youth. But there is often a long delay between the onset of symptoms and correct diagnosis and treatment. So the question is whether this gap puts vulnerable young people at risk of suicide. Our new research, published in in JAMA Psychiatry, hints this may be the case. We found fewer suicides among boys in Swedish regions with more bipolar diagnoses. National registry data suggests that severe mental disorders in Swedish adolescents are unequally recognized and treated in general. And despite national treatment guidelines advocating for their use, our research appears to suggest that major academic hospitals do not consistently prioritize evidence-based treatments such as the mood stabilizer lithium or electroconvulsive therapy for adolescents. Conversely, smaller counties with hospitals that are not affiliated with universities seem to be leading providers of such treatments. These findings suggest there is a potential gap in knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illness in youth at Swedish universities. And such unequal access is likely to exist in many places beyond Sweden. Importantly, we recently demonstrated that Swedish regions with higher implementation rates of evidence-based psychiatric treatments in Swedish 15-19-year-old males also had substantial reductions in excess suicide deaths in adolescents. This indicates that early diagnosis and treatment for severe mental illness may be key for successful suicide prevention in male adolescents across the world. Bipolar diagnosis We know that the onset of bipolar disorder in youth is associated with more recurrences, greater rates of substance abuse and a greater likelihood of suicide attempts and violence. But there are good treatments, with lithium being the most effective at reducing suicide in adults. Treatments for adolescents have been less researched. There is compelling evidence that lithium is associated with decreased suicide attempts, less depression and better psychological and social functioning, compared to other mood-stabilizing medication. However, the specific potential for lithium treatment to prevent suicide deaths in adolescent bipolar disorder has not been extensively investigated. Despite retrospective studies showing that more than half of adults with bipolar disorder experience their first mood disorder symptoms before 18, practices of diagnosing the disorder in youth have been controversial. Doctors may be hesitant to diagnose and treat youth in case they are wrong. There are also indications of widespread clinical misattribution of severe mental illness symptoms to alternative causes, such as autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder or pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (Pans). International clinical guidelines therefore have different recommendations for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. For example, the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines posit substantially stricter criteria for diagnosing bipolar disorder in adolescents than in adults. It requires the presence of mania) for a diagnosis, which isn't always a symptom at the start. This isn't the case for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. It recommends sticking with the standard classification system, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), for both children and adults. We know that early pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder have been shown to be effective in improving long-term outcomes. But effective treatment relies on a correct diagnosis. And this is often delayed for bipolar disorder. In fact, research suggests an average time to diagnosis is about 6.7 years from disease onset. New research Our latest reseach was based on cross-sectional Swedish national registry data covering the years 20082021. This included 585 confirmed suicide deaths. There were substantial regional variations. Some regions reported rates up to six times higher than the national average, while others did not report any cases at all. Notably, 87.5% of the regions with the highest diagnosis rates were not affiliated with medical research universities. Among the university-affiliated regions, Uppsala stood out by diagnosing approximately five times more adolescents with bipolar disorder compared to other major Swedish regions such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Skane. We demonstrated that regional diagnosis rates of bipolar disorder in adolescent males were strongly linked to lower suicide death ratesabout 4.7% lower than the national average. Psychiatric care and the prevalence of depression and schizophrenia rates, on the other hand, had no impact on suicides. This association could not be confirmed in girls. This could be down to statistical problems or the potential widespread misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder in females. Female adolescents were about three times more often diagnosed with bipolar disorder compared to males. And males were also nearly twice as likely to die by suicide. The picture of how to prevent suicide in young people is becoming increasingly clear. Not only have we shown that evidence-based treatment can help prevent suicide young people, but now also that early diagnosis of bipolar disorder may play a role. This is probably data that health authorities across the world needs to take seriously. There may be more insights soon. Our research group remains committed to investigating the full extent and consequences of health inequities in the diagnosis and treatment of youth with severe mental illness. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Motorists pay toll at Gateway International Bridge, March 6, 2023, in Brownsville, Texas, to cross into Matamoros, Mexico. Federal officials say more than 200 patients could be at risk of fungal meningitis after having surgical procedures at clinics in a Mexico border city. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday, May 24, 2023 it is collaborating with the Mexican Ministry of Health and U.S. state and local health departments to respond to the outbreak among patients who traveled to Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. Credit: Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP, File Federal officials say more than 200 patients could be at risk of fungal meningitis after having surgical procedures at clinics in a Mexico border city. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday it is collaborating with the Mexican Ministry of Health and U.S. state and local health departments to respond to the outbreak among patients who traveled to Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. Officials have identified and closed two clinics linked to the outbreak, River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3. The Mexican Ministry of Health sent the CDC a list of 221 U.S. patients who might be at risk for meningitis based on their recorded surgical procedures at either clinic from January to May 13. Three additional patients not on the list have also been identified, bringing the total of people in the United States known to have potential exposure to 224, the CDC said. The CDC is working with more than two dozen state and local health departments to contact people with potential exposure and urge them to go to their nearest medical facility for testing. Meningitis testing includes an MRI and a lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap. Last week, the CDC issued a warning to U.S. residents to cancel surgeries in Matamoros, saying five people from Texas who had procedures there developed suspected cases of fungal meningitis. One of them died. A second person with a suspected case has also died, the CDC said Wednesday. Meningitis is the swelling of the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord and should be treated urgently. Symptoms include fever, headache, a stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion and sensitivity to light. Cases of meningitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, trauma or fungi. Patients in the Texas cases started showing symptoms three days to six weeks after surgery in Matamoros. People leaving the U.S. for prescription drugs, dental procedures, surgeries and other medical treatmentalso known as medical tourismis common, experts say. Mexico, Canada, India and Thailand are all popular destinations. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Many young people regularly post photos of themselves with a glass of beer or wine in their hand. But such "alcohol posts" could lead to more youngsters drinking alcohol. In a new study, communications scientist Hanneke Hendriks asked students for their ideas on potential solutions. According to Hendriks, many young people publish posts in which alcohol plays a role. "They say that alcohol is depicted unintentionally and they do not see it as a problem. Only 17% of the respondents found such posts problematic. But when we then told them that such posts could lead to greater alcohol consumption among their peers, they often changed their minds." For their study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Hendriks and her fellow researchers interviewed close to 300 young people aged between 16 and 28, including school pupils and students of various educational levels. "The young people were found to be in particular need of warnings about alcohol posts on social media. They often scroll and post on auto-pilot, and they would like to be pulled away from this," says Hendriks. Alcohol posts Around 60% of young people post photos featuring alcohol now and then. These photos often conjure positive associations with drinking. They are frequently taken at parties or dinner parties and depict a group of young people standing or sitting together with glasses of alcohol in their hands or on the table. On Instagram, some posts also feature close-ups of cocktails, for instance. In Hendrik's previous research, it appeared that young people who viewed such photos were more inclined to drink more. A clear causal link was shown: if young people saw an "alcohol post" on a Friday, they were more likely to drink on Saturdayand also to drink more than they would have otherwise. Interventions In this follow-up study, the researchers interviewed these young people. Through questionnaires and focus groups, the youngsters indicated which interventions most appealed to them. Hendriks says, "They did not think that awareness-raising campaigns would work very well. But they did advocate for automatic warnings. Machine learning could recognize and issue warnings about alcohol featured in posts, for instance: 'This post features content about alcohol,' or 'Are you sure that you'd like to publish a post featuring alcohol?' In this way, they would think more carefully about their social media behavior." In addition to warnings on social media itself, young people would also like to be reminded about how their posts might come across to future employers. "Then they would be less tempted to post photos of themselves drinking, in fear of gaining a bad reputation." An automatic warning seems promising, but it also has snags, according to Hendriks. "Then Facebook and Instagram would have to implement such warnings. You could develop a browser plug-in for this, but young people would have to install it themselves. The question is whether they would do that. Another option is to give training sessions at schools, similar to the ones already being held on media literacy; alcohol posts could be included in these. Ultimately, we hope that young people become more aware of the possible consequences of their posting behavior." More information: Hanneke Hendriks et al, Dealing with Alcohol-Related Posts on Social Media: Using a Mixed-Method Approach to Understand Young Peoples' Problem Awareness and Evaluations of Intervention Ideas, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105820 Journal information: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 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 ice bridge on the St. Lawrence river between Quebec and Levis, Quebec, Canada, in 1892. Credit: Bibliotheque et Archives nationales du Quebec Though we all share common ancestors ranging from a few generations to hundreds of thousands of years, genealogies that relate all of us are often forgotten over time. A new McGill University-led study published in Science is now providing insight into the complex relationship between human migration and genetic variation, using a unique genealogical dataset of over five million records spanning 400 years to unravel the genetic structure of French Canadian populations. The team, including researchers from Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi and the Big Data Institute at the University of Oxford, developed a new method to simulate genomes based on a population scale genealogy dating back to the arrival of the first French settlers. By comparing the simulations to real genetic data, they were able to prove that the genetic structure of this population was encoded within its genealogy. "It is the first genetic study, in any worldwide population, that incorporates genealogical records to provide a strikingly accurate map of genetic relatedness at the population scale," explains Simon Gravel, Assistant Professor in McGill's Department Human Genetics and one of the study's authors. How rivers and mountains influenced population structure The dataset was used in part to investigate how certain historical events and landscapes have influenced the genomes of French Canadians today. The study highlights the relationship between river networks and genetic similarity, as European colonial history was marked by a rapid expansion of borders along the banks of the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries. "This study tells the genetic story of French Canadians, showing that their population structure today is not a result of ancestral French population structure, but rather one that has been shaped by events in North America over the past four centuries," says Prof. Gravel. "We were even able to tie a meteor impact crater in the region of Charlevoix, to the appearance of a founder effect observed in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region." Using ancestral data to help identify genetic diseases and treatments By tracing the ancestry of millions of individuals over space and time, the study bridges the gaps between family pedigrees and continental population structure, providing valuable insights into the complex tapestry of human genetic history. "Beyond mapping the rich genetic history of French Canadians, the findings have significant implications for understanding the impact of migration on genetic variation and the broader history of humanity," adds Prof. Gravel. The researchers are hoping that the large, freely-available simulated dataset with realistic population structure and mating patterns will help improve genetic risk prediction, historical inference, and genealogical inference, which could have potential implications for identifying genetic diseases and improving medical treatments. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Health experts in Nigeria say the country's president-elect, who will be inaugurated on 29 May, must focus on health care. During the election campaign, incoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress (APC) party released an 80-page campaign manifesto which promised to scale up the country's national health insurance policy. "Our government will scale-up the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act with the objective of implementing a mandatory health insurance scheme to cover at least 40% of the population within two years," the manifesto stated. Only about 20 million Nigerians10% of its 200 million populationcurrently have health insurance, according to the NHIA's Strategic Plan 20202030. About 70% lack access to health care, most of them in the informal sector. While Nigeria committed to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, its National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) established in 2005 makes health insurance coverage voluntary. This was widely criticized as being a major impediment to the attainment of UHC. However, in May 2022, after two decades of sustained calls by health professionals, a new Act was passed which aimed to provide health insurance for all Nigerians, through a mandatory mechanism and in collaboration with state health insurance agencies. Hollow promises? Goke Akinrogunde, a public health specialist and lead doctor at GTAK Health, a clinic in Lagos, Nigeria, told SciDev.Net that the incoming president's promise to scale up the National Health Insurance Scheme might be a political gimmick. "This is rather ambitious with respect to making 40% of the Nigerian population key into the health insurance within two years," Akinrogunde explained, highlighting the difficulty of achieving this in less structured rural Nigeria. Akinrogunde wants to see the government prioritize increasing access to health care for vulnerable groups. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo, chairman of the Lagos State committee on national health insurance, said, "What is key is a mechanism with which you can mobilize around 70% of Nigerians who are in the informal sector, who are not covered [and] bundle them properly in the world-best practice of health insurance." He also stressed the importance of a strong health workforce, adding: "Human resource in health is very key. "With the migration of health workers, if we don't create a magnetic attraction to retain our health workers, it will have an effect on our level of coverage." Doyin Odubanjo, executive secretary of the Nigerian Academy of Science, says it is possible to scale up the national health insurance scheme to cover at least 40% of the population within two years if there is strong political will, as seen in the Ebola and COVID-19 responses. "When there is a political will, you get a lot done more easily and very quickly," he told SciDev.Net. "When there was political will, for instance, with Ebola in the country, COVID-19, everybody was seriousfrom the federal to state and even the private sector. "This is the kind of will we need." Out-of-pocket costs A lack of insurance cover also means people have to bear the financial costs of health care themselves, creating a huge barrier to accessing services. The 2021 global monitoring report on financial protection in health, released by the WHO and World Bank, shows that health spending, including out-of-pocket health payments, pushes many households below the poverty line. A 2017 World Bank study revealed that 100 million people globally are pushed into poverty each year by out-of-pocket health expenditure. A study published in The Lancet in 2018 also showed that 8.6 million people a year die because they have no health insurance. The APC manifesto pledges to increase the health budget, upgrade all local hospitals, and build a network of static and mobile clinics "so that no person lives more than three kilometers or a 30-minute walk from a primary facility." Health worker exodus But Odubanjo doubts the capacity to staff and equip such facilities. "If you want to have a health post at every three kilometers, who is going to be there?" he asked. "If I go there, will there be drugs? It's going to be difficult especially with the current migration of health workers." On International Nurses Day (12 May), the president of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Michael Ekuma Nnachi, said more than 75,000 nurses and midwives had migrated from Nigeria within the last five years as a result of poor wages and working conditions. "Tackling the emigration of the health workers is going to be a daunting task for a Tinubu-led government," Akinrogunde said. "To retain health workers would require defining the fundamentals of the crisis of exodus of Nigerian health workers across the board." Nigeria's current budgetary allocation to health is less than 6%well below the pledge by Nigeria and other African countries in the 2001 Abuja Declaration to devote at least 15% of national budgets to health. "Cutting costs of governance and re-ordering the priorities should create allowances for this to be achieved," Akinrogunde added. 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: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain New animal research is helping explain why at least five people have become HIV-free after receiving a stem cell transplant. The study's insights may bring scientists closer to developing what they hope will become a widespread cure for the virus that causes AIDS, which has infected about 38 million people worldwide. Published in the journal Immunity, the Oregon Health & Science University-led study describes how two nonhuman primates were cured of the monkey form of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant. It also reveals that two circumstances must co-exist for a cure to occur and documents the order in which HIV is cleared from the bodydetails that can inform efforts to make this cure applicable to more people. "Five patients have already demonstrated that HIV can be cured," said the study's lead researcher, Jonah Sacha, Ph.D., a professor at OHSU's Oregon National Primate Research Center and Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute. " "This study is helping us home in on the mechanisms involved in making that cure happen," Sacha continued. "We hope our discoveries will help to make this cure work for anyoneand ideally through a single injection instead of a stem cell transplant." The first known case of HIV being cured through a stem cell transplant was reported in 2009. A man who was living with HIV was also diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer, and underwent a stem cell transplant in Berlin, Germany. Stem cell transplants, which are also known as bone marrow transplants, are used to treat some forms of cancer. Known as the Berlin patient, he received donated stem cells from someone with a mutated CCR5 gene, which normally codes for a receptor on the surface of white blood cells that HIV uses to infect new cells. A CCR5 mutation makes it difficult for the virus to infect cells, and can make people resistant to HIV. Since the Berlin patient, four more people have been similarly cured. This study was conducted with a species of monkey known as Mauritian cynomolgus macaques, which the research team previously demonstrated can successfully receive stem cell transplants. While all of the study's eight animals had HIV, four of them underwent a transplant with stem cells from HIV-negative donors, and the other half served as the study's controls and went without transplants. Of the four animals that received transplants, two were cured of HIVafter successfully being treated for graft-versus-host disease, which is commonly associated with stem cell transplants. Other researchers have tried to cure nonhuman primates of HIV using similar methods, but this study marks the first time that HIV-cured research animals have survived long term. Both animals remain alive and HIV-free today, about four years after transplantation. Sacha attributes their survival to exceptional care from Oregon National Primate Research Center veterinarians and the support of two study co-authors, OHSU clinicians who care for people who undergo stem cell transplants: Richard T. Maziarz, M.D., and Gabrielle Meyers, M.D. "These results highlight the power of linking human clinical studies with preclinical macaque experiments to answer questions that would be almost impossible to do otherwise, as well as demonstrate a path forward to curing human disease," said Maziarz, a professor of medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine and medical director of the adult blood and marrow stem cell transplant and cellular therapy program in the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. " Although Sacha said it was gratifying to confirm stem cell transplantation cured the monkeys, he and his fellow scientists also wanted to understand how it worked. While evaluating samples from the cured monkeys, the scientists determined there were two different, but equally important, ways the animals beat HIV. First, the transplanted donor stem cells helped kill the recipients' HIV-infected cells by recognizing them as foreign invaders and attacking them, similar to the process of graft-versus-leukemia that can cure people of cancer. Secondly, in the two animals that were not cured, the virus managed to jump into the transplanted donor cells. A subsequent experiment verified that HIV was able to infect the donor cells while they were attacking HIV. This led the researchers to determine that stopping HIV from using the CCR5 receptor to infect donor cells is also needed for a cure to occur. The researchers also discovered that HIV was cleared from the animals' bodies in a series of steps. First, the scientists saw that HIV was no longer detectable in blood circulating in the animals' arms and legs. Next, they couldn't find HIV in lymph nodes, or lumps of immune tissue that contain white blood cells and fight infection. Lymph nodes in the limbs were the first to be HIV-free, followed by lymph nodes in the abdomen. The step-wise fashion by which the scientists observed HIV being cleared could help physicians as they evaluate the effectiveness of potential HIV cures. For example, clinicians could focus on analyzing blood collected from both peripheral veins and lymph nodes. This knowledge may also help explain why some patients who have received transplants initially have appeared to be cured, but HIV was later detected. Sacha hypothesizes that those patients may have had a small reservoir of HIV in their abdominal lymph nodes that enabled the virus to persist and spread again throughout the body. Sacha and colleagues continue to study the two surviving animals. Next, they plan to dig deeper into the monkeys' immune responses, including identifying all of the specific immune cells involved and which specific cells or molecules were targeted by the immune system. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain An early advocate for the electronic health records now found in hospitals across the country has developed a plan to improve their use, lighten clinicians' workload and enhance patient care. The University of Virginia School of Medicine's Don Detmer, MD, MA, designed the improvement plan in collaboration with Andrew Gettinger, MD, of Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine. Detmer oversaw UVA's adoption of electronic physician order entry in the early 1990s while vice president for health sciences. That move made UVA one of the first academic health centers in the country to embrace electronic records. In the new proposal, published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), Detmer and Gettinger outline what they are calling "essential electronic health reforms for this decade." Electronic health records, commonly called EHRs or EMRs, were introduced to improve record-keeping and assist doctors and other health professionals in providing the best care possible. But with their implementation came increased documentation responsibilities that added to an already heavily workload for clinicians and that can contribute to provider burnout. Further, many argue that the required documentation can distract from focusing on patients during visits. Detmer and Gettinger seek to tackle these problems head-on. "Lack of action by national leaders saps the energy and motivation of health workers," Detmer said. "Health and safety should count for more, and action on our recommendations could improve both." Enhancing electronic health records The authors call for three key changes they say could be implemented fairly easily: Removing all administrative and regulatory documentation obligations for care providers during their "clinical time" with patients, except for matters pertaining directly to the reason for the patient's visit. This would effectively separate care provision from payment and billing, cutting through red tape. For example, Detmer and Gettinger suggest streamlining all insurance approval and authorization practices to eliminate, as much as possible, the need to get "pre-approval" from insurers for treatments. Adding the ability for patients to enter information in their electronic health record, making them more active participants in their care. Reinventing the "clinical note," one of the most common records providers create, to better support patient care. These notes, Detmer and Gettinger say, should directly address expected or desired results from each visit and could include timelines, when possible. "What will be the effect of these interventions?" the authors ask in their article. "A major move in these directions will allow far greater creativity and innovation between clinicians and patients to transcend the traditional boundaries of what constitutes care. The focus of care can broaden to consider all the social determinants of health [the external factors that affect outcomes] that may be relevant to a particular patient." In addition to those proposals, Detmer and Gettinger argue that the most urgently needed change is the least likely to be implemented. They say there is a desperate need for "unique personal safety identifiers" that would let hospitals, employers, health plans, insurance companies and other healthcare organizations streamline operations by jointly identifying individual patients. That idea was originally mandated in 1996's Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) but has not been implemented at the national level because of concerns about patient privacy and other issues. The lack of such consistent identifiers, Detmer and Gettinger maintain, "presents a continuing threat to privacy, safety, cost reduction and administrative errors." Next steps While the doctors acknowledge that national identifiers are likely off the table, they say that enacting the other changes they suggest could make a big difference for both care providers and patients. "Although addressing shortcomings in EHRs will not cure all that ails our current health care system, implementing these recommendations should positively affect patients and clinicians and move us toward the original vision of a patient-centered, technology-enhanced health care ecosystem that is designed to significantly improve outcomes at a lower cost, with more satisfied patients and clinicians," the authors conclude. 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 While human papilloma virus (HPV) is common in pregnant women, transmission from mother to baby is infrequent and the virus does not persist in infected newborns beyond six months. These are the findings of a study led by Helen Trottier, a researcher at Sainte-Justine hospital and a professor in UdeM's School of Public Health, and Dr. Marie-Helene Mayrand, a researcher at the CHUM Research Center and a professor in UdeM's Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, with support from Pranamika Khayargoli, a master's student in epidemiology. Their results were recently published in JAMA Pediatrics. The study examined data for 1,050 pregnant women enrolled in the HERITAGE cohort study at three Montreal hospitalsSainte-Justine, CHUM and St. Mary's. The researchers found a high prevalence of vaginal HPV in the pregnant women (40%) but low prevalence in newborns (7%). Furthermore, none of the infections detected in newborns at birth persisted beyond six months. HPV was also detected in 3.9% of placental biopsies (from the fetal side of the placental membrane), which suggests that placental infection is possible but infrequent. "These results are encouraging, especially since increasing numbers of pregnant women are expected to test positive as HPV testing becomes widespread for cervical cancer screening," said Mayrand. "Our findings will reassure mothers that the risk of transmitting HPV to their baby is low." Prevention is still the best protection Although this is good news, Trottier continues to emphasize the importance of vaccinating young people before they become sexually active in order to protect against HPV-related diseases, in particular cervical, anogenital and oral cancers. Furthermore, persistent infection by certain types of HPV increases the risk of premature birth, which is "a major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity," noted Trottier. Fortunately, recent studies in Australia and Denmark show that mass vaccination of pre-teens and teens significantly reduces this risk, she added. Trottier also believes that 5-year follow-up data are needed to determine whether the HPV detected in newborns was indeed completely eliminated or if some remained undetected in basal cells and could reactivate later in childhood. More information: Pranamika Khayargoli et al, Human Papillomavirus Transmission and Persistence in Pregnant Women and Neonates, JAMA Pediatrics (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.1283 Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics 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: Study overview. This study included TOPMed WGS and whole transcriptome data generated from whole-blood samples of SAGE AA and GALA II Latino individuals (n = 2,733). We compared elements of the genetic architecture gene expression, such as cis-heritability and genetic variance, across participant groups defined based on self-identified race/ethnicity and genetic ancestry. We performed eQTL mapping and identified eQTLs that were specific to AFR or IAM ancestry. Finally, we developed genetic prediction models of whole-blood transcriptomes and performed comparative TWASs using GWAS summary statistics generated from the PAGE study and the UKB. Credit: Nature Genetics (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01377-z Exploring diverse ancestry is a critical factor in furthering medical research. A new study published in Nature Genetics from researchers in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, in partnership with the University of California San Francisco and Stanford University, is the largest of its kind that focuses on ancestry correlations with biomedical traits and the first study to examine the role of genetic variants across diverse ancestries in regulating gene expression. "We're trying to understand how genetic variability around the world allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between genetics and RNA levels and then protein levels and physiology," says DBMI associate professor and study co-senior author Chris Gignoux, Ph.D. "The genome and gene expression each on their own only tells us so much. Having these layers coming together helps us a lot more." Gignoux describes the genetic control of gene expression as a dial that controls the amount of the gene that gets transcribed into RNA and protein levels, ultimately impacting function in various ways. The study analyzed whole genome and RNA sequencing from African American and Latino children. Researchers say their findings demonstrate the importance of measuring gene expression across multiple populations because those gene expressions can vary greatly depending on ancestry and enable new discoveries that may also reduce health care disparities for historically underrepresented populations. Gignoux's lab used data from The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) consortium and the National Human Genome Research Institute-funded Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE) Study. They analyzed whole genome and RNA sequencing data from 2,733 African American and Hispanic/Latino children, exploring ancestry and heterozygosity-related differences in the genetic architecture of whole blood gene expression. "The ultimate goal was that we learn by looking at gene expression patterns in populations that came from the same ethnic group," Gignoux explains. "Individuals from across Latin America do not reflect one homogeneous population, so that was part of the reason why it was important to not just look at Hispanics in one group, but to highlight what we can learn from studying Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans, specifically. We're able to leverage some of that diversity to understand some of these patterns." Because ethnicity is a sociopolitical identity, understanding the relationship between genetics and ancestry is quite complex and can vary greatly between individuals. This is true even within certain populations such as individuals of Puerto Rican descent. Historically, there's been a deficit in genetics research focused on people of non-European descent, but knowing more about the relationship between genetic variability and gene expression can inform deeper research into many different health issues. That's been proven true in examples such as the medical community's knowledge of heart attacks, which for decades only focused on men. With more research, it became apparent that risk factors and symptoms look much different in women. Without studying diverse populations, it's nearly impossible to know a disease might present in another group of people. The work done by Gignoux and his fellow researchers, including researchers from the various communities represented, may help inform more discoveries that are significant to diverse populations, just like identifying different risk factors women face with heart attacks. "We're not going to know what we don't know unless we look, and that has the potential to impact how we think about individuals' risk factors for a number of different conditions and traits," Gignoux says. "It's also important to look in the right kind of ways and develop the methodologies so that we can leverage these kinds of diversity-focused efforts. The hope is that as these kinds of initiatives move forward in genetic and non-genetic disciplines there's an opportunity to improve our understanding of biomedical traits for anyone who walks into the clinic." More information: Christopher Gignoux, Gene expression in African Americans, Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans reveals ancestry-specific patterns of genetic architecture, Nature Genetics (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01377-z. www.nature.com/articles/s41588-023-01377-z Journal information: Nature Genetics 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: Relying on a drug against schizophrenia in the fight against dementia: Professor Dr. Evgeni Ponimaskin and Dr. Josephine Labus Credit: Karin Kaiser / MHH A common feature of many neurodegenerative diseases are pathological protein deposits in the brain. These protein aggregates cause nerve cells to die and, as a result, entire brain areas to shrink, which manifests in affected individuals as progressive dementia. The so-called tau protein in particular is involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia. A research team led by Professor Dr. Evgeni Ponimaskin, a scientist at the MHH Institute of Neurophysiology, has already discovered that signal transmission through a specific serotonin receptor called 5-HT7R plays a crucial role in this process. Now, in collaboration with international scientists, the MHH team has investigated the effect of the antipsychotic amisulpride on the receptor. The drug, which is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, can block the 5-HT7R and thus prevent the pathological accumulation of the tau protein. The effect of amisulpride has been successfully tested in various cellular models as well as in animal models of dementia. The results have now been published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia. Sustained basic activity stimulates protein deposition Serotonin is a messenger substance that controls a number of vital processes, such as blood clotting, learning processes or the sleep-wake rhythm. Since it also influences our mood, it is known as the "happiness hormone." The messenger substance mediates its effects by activating certain receptors that are bound to the cell membrane. These serotonin receptors occur in different variants and are increasingly found in brain regions that are affected in dementia. For the receptor 5-HT7R, Professor Ponimaskin has already found a high basal activity in previous studies. "This means that the receptor is permanently active, even without serotonin binding to it," explains the neurophysiologist. Through its high activity, 5-HT7R stimulates a chemical change in tau proteins that promotes pathological accumulation in the cell. However, the pathological overactivity can be stopped by using counterparts, so-called inverse agonists, to block the receptor's signal transmission. Antipsychotic as a possible therapy The research team had already patented the substance class of inverse agonists for the treatment of dementia. However, the known inverse receptor agonists could so far only be used in the laboratory and not clinically. Therefore, in their current publication, the researchers carried out a broad pharmacological screening of already approved drugs and investigated whether they could influence the serotonin receptor as a "side effect," so to speak. "The antipsychotic amisulpride was found to be a potent inverse 5-HT7R receptor agonist," notes Dr. Josephine Labus, who conducted this study with Professor Ponimaskin. It is true that dead nerve cells could not be repaired. However, in the early stages of the disease, the drug could stop dementia or even prevent it altogether. The therapeutic effect of amisulpride was also shown, among other things, in nerve cells differentiated from human stem cells with disease-relevant mutations. "Now, in cooperation with the Neurological Clinic of the LMU Munich and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Magdeburg, we are preparing a Phase II clinical trial to test the effect of amisulpride in the treatment of patients with dementia," explains Professor Ponimaskin. The study is to start before the end of this year. More information: Kathrin Jahreis et al, Amisulpride as a potential diseasemodifying drug in the treatment of tauopathies, Alzheimer's & Dementia (2023). DOI: 10.1002/alz.13090 Provided by Medizinische Hochschule Hannover 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: Robert Weymouth, 58, of Portland, Maine, died this year because of a tick bite. You've likely heard of Lyme disease and the problems it can cause when passed to a human through the bite of a deer tick. But Lyme isn't the only tick-borne illness in the woods. Powassan virusa rare and untreatable infectionis also transmitted by ticks. That's the bite that led to fatal complications in the case of this Maine truck driver. Weymouththe third Powassan death since 2015 in Maine and the first this yearlikely contracted the virus in the state, according to Maine's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He developed neurological symptoms and died in the hospital. His widow, Annemarie Weymouth, is now warning others about protecting themselves from the illness. "He was in there, but he couldn't move his body. He could point to words on a board. He pointed to 'scared,' 'afraid,' 'frustrated,'" Weymouth told CBS News. True case numbers unknown "Because it's relatively rare to make the diagnosis, there's a lot we don't know," said Dr. Eugene Shapiro, a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at Yale School of Medicine. But here's what is known: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received 189 reports of Powassan infection between 2012 and 2021. Most U.S. cases of Powassan virus happen in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. Maine had four cases last year alone. Though ticks are arachnids like spiders, the virus is not so different from some viruses in which a mosquito is the vector, such as dengue and Zika. Other than its transmission by a tick, Powassan virus is "in no way, shape or form anything like Lyme disease," Shapiro said. Powassan virus is closely related to something called tick-borne encephalitis, which is a virus particularly seen in Central Eastern Europe and Eurasia, Shapiro said. The Powassan virus severely affects only a small number of people each year. But it's possible many others are asymptomatic or have minor or flu-like symptoms and aren't diagnosed. The virus got its name from its discovery in a 5-year-old boy who died of the virus in the late 1950s in Powassan, Ontario, Canada. Experts think it used to be transmitted primarily by the groundhog tick, which typically did not feed on humans. Instead, it fed mostly on skunks, groundhogs and squirrels, Shapiro said. At some point, it moved to deer ticks, and those are ticks that commonly bite humans. Brain inflammation There are still many mysteries to unravel concerning Powassan virus. For example, although some research has suggested that as many as 5% of deer ticks in some areas of Connecticut are positive for the virus, that's not showing up in high numbers of Powassan human infection, Shapiro said. But cases are rising, according to CDC numbers, said Dr. Nicole Baumgarth, an immunologist at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Yet it's not clear whether there are actually more people becoming infected or if doctors are testing for it more frequently, she said. "There is no treatment, other than sort of general support of an individual who has the disease," Baumgarth said. "The most serious illness associated with Powassan is inflammation of the brain, or encephalitis, but not everybody who gets infected with this virus will develop these very severe cases." Other symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, rash on trunk of the body, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and neck stiffness, according to Yale Medicine. However, the vast majority of those infected likely will have no symptoms or minor symptoms and not be diagnosed. For those who do have symptoms severe enough to be diagnosed, typically with encephalitis, the death rate is somewhere between 10% and 30%, Shapiro said. Keep in mind, however, it is rare. "It is a little scary, but it is a rare disease," Baumgarth said. With Lyme disease, the tick has to be attached for about a day or so to transmit its infection. Pulling the tick off promptly puts you at low risk of infection. If it's been longer, a single dose of doxycycline is moderately effective in preventing infection. However, Baumgarth noted that the Powassan pathogen can be transmitted faster than Lyme bacteria, "so it's hard to outrun that." Prevention is the best cure You can take some precautions to limit tick exposure when spending time in grassy or wooded areas that can harbor ticks, Baumgarth and Shapiro said. Wear long sleeves and long pants, with the bottoms of the pants tucked inside socks. Wear light-colored clothing so that any ticks might be visible. Remove them right away. Use an insect repellent that has 30% DEET. Another repellent, permethrin, is meant to be applied to clothing. After you return from hiking, wash clothes and place in a hot dryer. If it's hot enough, that will kill ticks. Check yourself for ticks after you return, shower immediately and have someone else check in places you can't see, if possible. More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the Powassan virus. Copyright 2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved. 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: Box plots representing statistical comparison of AFM1 level in artisanal mozzarella (AM, n = 7), manufactured mozzarella (MM, n = 7), artisanal coalho (AC, n = 7), and manufactured coalho (MC, n = 7) cheeses. The black line inside each box, represents median. Credit: Toxins (2023). DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030182 Strictly speaking, cheese should be completely free of aflatoxins, a class of toxic compounds that are produced by certain molds found in food, and can cause liver damage and cancer. In practice, however, the technology used to produce milk and cheese is unable to guarantee the total absence of aflatoxins, as demonstrated by research performed in several countries. In the latest study conducted in Brazil on this subject, a team of researchers analyzed 28 samples of curd cheese and mozzarella produced in Araripe, a subhumid area within the semi-arid region of Pernambuco State (Northeast Brazil). The samples were collected between March and May 2022. The results are reported in an article published in the journal Toxins. The analysis revealed the presence of aflatoxins in all samples. The highest levels were found in artisan mozzarella, but none had more than 0.25 g/kg (micrograms per kilogram). This is the upper limit permitted by the European Union and was chosen by the researchers as their parameter as well. In Brazil, the limit for AFM1 is 2.5 g/kg, ten times the maximum acceptable level in the EU. "If this study had been conducted three decades ago, it would probably have found aflatoxins in less than half of the samples. Technological progress has lowered the detection threshold, so we were able to be more rigorous," said Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira, last author of the article. His research interests include the study of mycotoxin contamination, and he is a professor at the University of Sao Paulo's School of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA-USP) in Pirassununga. The institution has one of Brazil's most advanced laboratories in this field and was able to analyze the samples using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), an analytical chemistry technique used to separate, identify and quantify each component in a mixture. Aflatoxins become fluorescent when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. According to the authors, although the samples complied with the applicable legislation in Brazil, and the cheeses in question can be regularly sold and consumed, the findings should ring alarm bells. "The presence of aflatoxin M1 in all of the samples shows that each stage of the production chain needs to be improved, from the milking of cows to product finishing. The dairy industry has developed significantly in the last 20 years and has worked hard in this direction, but society needs to demand best practices in agriculture, dairy farming and cheese production," Oliveira said. The scientists are concerned because aflatoxins are a health hazard. They are monitored by the Ministry of Agriculture in Brazil. Aflatoxin B1 may be present in milk if cattle feed or forage is contaminated by fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus (particularly abundant in the tropics), as can happen if storage conditions are improper. If ingested in feed, the substance is processed by the liver and converted into equally harmful aflatoxin M1, which is soluble in water and finds its way into cow's milk. It is resilient and is not eliminated by heat or cold during pasteurization and other processing steps. Aflatoxin M1 does not bind to tissue or internal organs. "If a person doesn't ingest any other contaminated matter, in about 72 hours there will be none of it left in the organism," Oliveira said. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), aflatoxin M1 increases the risk of alterations in DNA and is classified as carcinogenic. "It can affect our genes in theory, but it can also be excreted without causing problems. The FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] recommends that countries set the lowest limit technologically possible for aflatoxins," Oliveira said. This helps understand why the Brazilian limit is higher than the EU's. Oliveira believes studies like this should not discourage consumers who, like him, love cheese. "My advice is to choose products from trustworthy sources that undertake to follow the Brazilian Health Ministry's recommendations," he said. In response to our inquiries, the Brazilian Cheese Industry Association (ABIQ) said it had no knowledge to date of any mention of aflatoxins in Brazilian cheese and would discuss the matter at its next meeting, as well as requesting inclusion of curd cheese in the regulatory legislation. It also said it does not represent artisan cheese makers. More information: Isabela Maria de Moura Silva et al, Incidence and Levels of Aflatoxin M1 in Artisanal and Manufactured Cheese in Pernambuco State, Brazil, Toxins (2023). DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030182 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: Overview of study design and overall genomic landscape (A) Study overview. The study comprised 11 741 patients with prostate cancer who underwent CGP to assess ancestry-based genomic patterns and an independent metastatic prostate cancer cohort of 1234 patients (including 1017 patients of European ancestry and 130 patients of African ancestry) in the Flatiron HealthFoundation Medicine clinicogenomic database to assess CGP utilization and treatment patterns. (B) Oncoplot showing the most frequently altered genes in the overall prostate cancer CGP cohort, with annotations for the tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability status, and predicted ancestry. The gene alterations identified in each sample are denoted based on their variant type. CGP=comprehensive genomic profiling. SNP=single nucleotide polymorphism. Credit: The Lancet Digital Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00053-5 Why do men of African ancestry die from prostate cancer more frequently than other men and experience the greatest burden of advanced prostate disease globally? A large-scale retrospective analysis by researchers with the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, suggests that differences in care, rather than genetics, likely explain disparities in advanced prostate cancer between men of African and European ancestry. The study of almost 13,000 men with advanced prostate cancer, published in The Lancet Digital Health is one of the most comprehensive studies to date of prostate cancer disparities between men of these ethnicities. "I believe this is the largest and most representative genomic study of advanced prostate cancer in men of African and European ancestry," said Dr. Brandon Mahal, assistant professor of radiation oncology at Sylvester and the study's senior author. "The data," he continued, "clearly show no notable differences in genetic mutations between the ancestries that we would target for treatment, which suggests these mutations probably are not driving disparities in advanced prostate cancer." Mahal and co-authors found that men of African ancestrydespite being at higher risk for developing aggressive prostate diseaseare less likely to get comprehensive genetic profiling of their tumors early in treatment. That means they do not benefit as often as their European counterparts from sophisticated testing that can guide genetically targeted therapy and lead to improved patient outcomes. Instead, they may endure other, sometimes less-effective treatments as their cancer progresses. African ancestry men also were less likely than European ancestry men to go into clinical trials for prostate cancer, which typically involve newer, more effective treatments for aggressive disease, Mahal noted. "We've known for a couple of decades that prostate cancer disparities are some of the largest disparities we see across all cancer types. This research can help focus our efforts on what's needed to address these disparities," he said, adding that future studies should not ignore examining genomics. "While this study looked at advanced prostate cancer and diminished the focus on genomics as the reason for disparities, there is still a reason to study the role of genomics in men's risk for developing prostate cancer," Mahal concluded. More information: Smruthy Sivakumar et al, Comprehensive genomic profiling and treatment patterns across ancestries in advanced prostate cancer: a large-scale retrospective analysis, The Lancet Digital Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00053-5 Provided by Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Word choice mattersa lot when it comes to research. That's the main takeaway from a new article co-authored by Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation Assistant Professor Angel Algarin and published in Health Communication. "Researchers in any field should be cognizant of the language they're using to describe the people they study so they don't inadvertently add to the use of stigmatizing language," said Algarin. For the article, Algarin and his co-authors performed a content analysis of HIV-related stigmatizing language published in scientific literature from 2010 to 2020. They found 26,476 peer-reviewed articles that used variations of the stigmatizing term "HIV/AIDS-infected." More than a third of these articles came from the United States. And the journal that used the stigmatizing language the most was one that focused on general science and medicine. "The use of stigmatizing language in science is concerning as the words we use are read by health care professionals, policymakers and journalists, who in turn, use this same language when discussing topics surrounding HIV because they trust that we are the experts," Algarin said. The consequences of using terms that stigmatize entire groups of people are well documented. As a social epidemiologist and interventionist, Algarin's previous work has focused on the impact of stigma on people living with HIV. In his 2020 articles published in AIDS and Behavior and AIDS patient care and STDs, he found that people living with HIV who experienced higher levels of stigma experienced poorer mental health and HIV care outcomes. Elijah Palles has experienced stigmatizing language firsthand in peer-to-peer conversations and in health care settings. Shortly after he was diagnosed with HIV he said he encountered a case manager who was "shocked" that someone "like him" with a job and a car and a house could be living with HIV. "I felt stupid because I do have resources and I do know better but I beat myself up for a while thinking she's right, I'm not the typical person who would contract this, and then I had to say, well no, I'm just like every other person who contracts this. So that interaction fed into my own internalized stigma for a while," Palles said. As a Valleywise Health Voices of Hope Speakers Bureau member and Maricopa County Department of Public Health Positively You! Ambassador, Palles regularly shares his story to help raise awareness about resources available, combat misinformation and reduce HIV-related stigma. Recently, he spoke with students at Edson College as part of a public health presentation by the county. He says Algarin's work on this issue is important and much needed. "They are in the driver's seat of the conversation, and if you're using a term like "HIV infected," that is very stigmatizing because you're saying someone is infected and that goes back to this idea of clean vs. dirty," Palles said. The point of Algarin's article wasn't to call anyone out, but instead, to highlight the real-world impact of researchers' work and more specifically how the words they use affect people. "I understand that people engaged in research may not intentionally be using stigmatizing language, but we should see this as an opportunity to do better," said Algarin. Indeed, Edson College Associate Dean of Research Initiatives Support and Engagement, David Coon, says there is always room for improvement. And one of the key ways to avoid harmful terminology is to connect with the community and population you research. "At ASU and Edson College, we take our commitment to social embeddedness seriously. So it's imperative that we listen to the voices of the communities we work with and do our best at every step in terms of the language we use in how we communicate with them and about them. In doing so we respect their choices about how they self-identify and want to be represented in research," Coon said. Raising the issue has resulted in some positive changes. According to the article, the use of stigmatizing language specific to HIV/AIDS started to decrease after the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS released an update to HIV terminology guidelines. In addition to referencing language guides on appropriate terms to use, Algarin says there are three specific actions researchers can take to reduce the stigma in scientific literature: Ensure the use of appropriate terms in the manuscripts you're writing. Suggest the use of non-stigmatizing terms when serving as a peer reviewer. If you are an editor, implement a non-stigmatizing terminology policy in the instructions for authors. "Implementing these practices can show the communities that we work with that we are not only listening, but we are actively making changes to respect preferred, non-stigmatizing terminology. It is my hope that making these changes bring us one step closer to ending the perpetuation of stigma in science," Algarin said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Theres no art or culture without tools, Paul Lewing said. You can sing and clap, but for anything more complicated, youll need some gadgets and implements. You have to have tools to do that, he said. The University of Montana alumnus, now based in Seattle, spent two days earlier this week putting a reminder of those sentiments onto the exterior wall of the new Montana Museum of Art and Culture. Since 1986, Lewing has worked as a custom tile artist, a hybrid of his interest in painting and ceramics. His mural, called The Artists Tool Belt, features two rows of tiles, each decorated with arrays of tools in varied designs. The murals will greet visitors to the west entrance of the building, slated to open on Homecoming weekend in September, finally offering a dedicated showcase for the museums permanent collection of more than 10,000 objects. Rafael Chacon, the MMACs director, said the murals concept and location really does introduce the visitor to what that building will contain and the richness of that collection. *** Lewing studied art at UM, receiving a BFA in 1969 and an MFA in 1972. The full circle with the mural came about later. In 2018, Lewing received a Distinguished Alumni Award. As an artist, he couldnt make a donation of money, but he said he was interested in making art. What I do have is tile work, so I told them if they could find a place on the campus for a good-sized tile mural, that I would donate it to the U, he said. Rafael Chacon, the MMACs director, contacted him about doing a piece for the museum, and gave him free rein for his ideas. Ive been making tile murals since 1986, and Ive done probably a couple thousand of them, and this is the only time in that entire time where Ive had someone say, you can do anything you want, he said. He found the freedom really exciting and really terrifying, he said. The tool concept arose after talks with Chacon about the contents of the collection, including rumors of a brush thats thousands of years old. (It hasnt been located.) They do have brushes owned by Henry Meloy, the celebrated Montana-born modernist painter, that Lewing drew on. He also included a masonry trowel owned by ceramicist Rudy Autio, whom Lewing took classes from. The tools, which he designed in a repeated quilt pattern, include a Neolithic stone hammer, tools from Native American tribes like a Chinook basketry awl and a Tlingit brush. Or a jewelry clamp from Victorian England, or Japanese brushes. Theyre from all over the world, all different cultures, he said. To Chacon, the imagery will transmit an important reminder. Craftsmanship is an important value in the art world, sometimes dismissed because we take it for granted, but its important. A work of art that relates the importance of craftsmanship and its tools is perfect for us, he said. It wont be the only permanent work installed at the new MMAC. Future commissions for other parts of the building are planned. *** Lewings family moved to Missoula from Ohio in 1965. He originally enrolled at UM with intentions of becoming a landscape painter in oil, a medium hed started out in when he was 8. After arriving, he became interested in ceramics among other reasons, he wanted to make a living as an artist, and thought he could as a potter. I stumbled into something extraordinary here, because I had never heard of clay as an art medium before I got here, he said. Of his time at UM, he said Autio attracted a really amazing group of grad students around himself. And he answered all your questions and gave you everything you need. He took drawing and printmaking courses from Don Bunse. His ceramics, jewelry and design courses were taught by Maxine Blackmer, who he said was the best teacher on the faculty. I dont think she got near the credit she deserved, probably because she was the only woman on the faculty, he said. He attributes most of his use of design concepts like repetition, positive and negative space, line quality and color theory to her course. After graduation, he moved to Seattle and spent years living and working as a potter. The painting came back to his surfaces, which he covered with landscape imagery in glaze. Eventually, he wanted to work larger but he could only make the pots so big. After a move in 1986, he decided to work exclusively in tile, since he could make his canvas as big as he liked. He works in the China painting technique, which is not as popular as it once was. It's the most painterly kind of ceramic decorative medium you can do. And I never had any training, I just made it up. So I do things that are wildly different from traditional China painters, he said. He wrote a book on the technique, China Paint and Overglaze, at the invitation of the American Ceramic Society. Returning to Missoula has been meaningful for him on a few levels. I think this is the best thing Ive ever made, and it was such a treat to have someone say you can do anything you want, he said. Its a dream come true for an artist. Working on campus, too, has carried meaning for everything he got out of his time. He studied with mentors, took a short course on how to pack a mule and spent three summers working in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He met his wife, Ruth Ashley Lewing, here, since hed come here to study ceramics. I got basically a complete life out of the University of Montana, he said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A pair of Hamilton-based attorneys have called on the U.S. Forest Service to remove Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele as the decision-maker on a deeply unpopular proposed expansion of Holland Lake Lodge. The attorneys, George Corn and Daniel Browder, argued in a May 17 memo to Region 1 Forester Leanne Marten that Steele has shown clear bias toward POWDR, the Utah-based ski resort corporation that took control of Holland Lake Lodge and hopes to dramatically expand it. In internal emails obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, Steele wrote that he is "biased." Such bias, they wrote, violates federal ethics standards. Steele's handling of POWDR's initial expansion proposal, announced last September, has been the target of criticism from opponents of the expansion, particularly the group Save Holland Lake. The memo, which was also addressed to Steele, called on Marten to remove Steele as the "authorized officer" with decision-making authority over proposals for Holland Lake Lodge. It requested that Marten make herself or someone else the authorized officer. A centerpiece of last week's memo is an email Steele sent to other Forest Service officials on Feb. 11, 2021, after receiving some of POWDR's initial plans: "Some exciting potential from an interested buyer (POWDR) for purchasing Holland Lake Lodge and some ideas for expansion. If this works out, this could be one of, if not 'the' premier place in the region. I am biased of course. Figured I would share. Nothing is official yet, but it's a pretty cool idea that would be a great addition to our forest in providing an expanded opportunity for the public. Worth a quick glance." Corn and Browder note in the memo that federal ethical standards for Forest Service officials state that "Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual involved in any way in the decision." Steele sent the email more than a year and a half before the Forest Service made the proposal public. Steele's favoritism of the proposal also biased Forest Service employees working under him, the attorneys wrote, because the email predated the Forest Service's receipt and initial internal processing of further details from POWDR about what the company hoped to achieve at Holland Lake Lodge. On Wednesday, Forest Service Region 1 Press Officer Dan Hottle said that the agency had yet to receive the memo and therefore had no comment. Steele and Tami MacKenzie, the Flathead National Forest's deputy supervisor and former public information officer, did not reply to a request for comment by press time Wednesday. Save Holland Lake spokesperson Bill Lombardi lauded the memo after it was released last week: "We couldnt agree more with George Corns and Daniel Browders analysis. The regional forester has a duty, responsibility and obligation to remove Kurt Steele as the decision maker on the Holland Lake Lodge boondoggle because Steele flatly admits that he is 'biased' for the giant expansion plans." Groups threaten to sue as POWDR seeks new Holland Lake permit Environmental groups are threatening to sue the U.S. Forest Service after Utah ski resort corporation POWDR applied for a new permit to take over Holland Lake Lodge. Corn and Browder previously issued a memo in November arguing that the Forest Service should terminate the special-use permit that allows Holland Lake Lodge to operate a private business on public land, because the permit's terms prohibit a change in control or ownership of the business. The Forest Service stated at the time that it was looking into whether POWDR's taking control of the business affected the permit. Now, rather than seeking to take over the existing permit, POWDR applied earlier this year for its own new permit for Holland Lake Lodge via E3 Destinations, a subsidiary POWDR recently created. POWDR's initial proposal envisioned 32 new buildings including a 28-room lodge, a restaurant and 26 cabins and the removal of 10 structures around the lodge. As proposed, the expansion would have increased the size of the lodge's current special-use permit from 10.53 acres to about 15 acres. The Forest Service rejected POWDR's proposal in late November, but the company is free to submit another proposal. Shortly after the rejection which the company characterized as a request to correct inconsistencies, rather than a rejection POWDR posted on a website for the proposal that "we plan to resubmit our plan for future investment and infrastructure improvements at Holland Lake Lodge that is very much in line with our previously submitted Master Development Plan." The memo states that the Forest Service spent 19 months in 2021 and '22 receiving, considering and ultimately accepting POWDR's original Master Development Plan (MDP) for the lodge without notifying the public. An MDP is a document that lays out a permit holder's long-term future plans. Special-use permits generally require a permit holder to keep a current MDP on file with the Forest Service. The receipt and acceptance of an MDP is generally an internal process between the agency and a permit holder that doesn't entail a public process. An MDP isn't a specific project proposal it's essentially a preview of projects a permit holder may propose in the future. Many permit holders, such as downhill ski areas, tackle parts of their MDPs as individual projects over many years each of which must go through a public process and environmental analysis and some elements of a permit holder's MDP may never come to fruition as project proposals. But POWDR's MDP was not as merely aspirational as other ski companies' plans. Alongside submitting its MDP, POWDR also proposed to accomplish almost all of it at once. That proposal was brought to the public on Sept. 1, 2022. The memo noted that the Forest Service took 19 months to intake POWDR's MDP but initially gave the public just three weeks to digest and comment on the accompanying proposal. Tester grills Forest Service chief over Holland Lake Lodge Montana's senior senator, a Democrat, zeroed in on the Flathead National Forest's intent to shepherd a massive expansion to the historic Condon-area lodge via a categorical exclusion. Steele's bias toward POWDR's proposal, the memo states, is further evidenced by his initial intent to shepherd the proposal through the public process and environmental analysis via a categorical exclusion the least rigorous and most expedient form of environmental analysis, generally reserved for small projects such as building a vault toilet at a trailhead. Shortly before it rejected the proposal, the Forest Service announced in mid-November that it would move the proposal through the public process via an environmental assessment (EA), if it continued at all. An EA is the middle level of analysis, more rigorous than a categorical exclusion and with greater opportunity for public involvement. But even with an EA or the most rigorous analysis, an environmental impact statement, under Forest Service rules Steele would still be the default official with decision-making authority over whether to approve or deny proposals from POWDR. In the memo, Corn and Browder asked Marten to remove Steele from decision-making authority over Holland Lake Lodge because "Steele has disqualified himself from that role, and his actions have already caused members of the public to suspect that the USFS is simply doing POWDR's bidding. Steele has already seriously damaged the USFS's credibility." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Phillip Small-Ray, Dolores Gibson and William Gratz were cleaning up around Gibsons camp near downtown Missoula in the Clark Fork Natural Park on Wednesday morning. All three are living unsheltered, and Gibson has a large tent set up near the riverbank. They were going about their business a few hours before a city council committee debated and approved a proposed emergency ordinance that would allow city staff to remove camps in public park areas in certain cases if the camp is deemed to pose a public safety threat or is interfering with infrastructure maintenance. Gibson and Small-Ray readily acknowledge that theyre living unsheltered mainly due to battles with addiction and substance abuse. But, they say, theres not really any other options besides camping in public parks. I dont blame the city for thinking that way, Small-Ray said, when asked how he would feel if he were camping in a public park and asked to move. But it would kind of feel like the community has let us down. Like theyre against us, Gibson agreed. Yes, were homeless, but were part of the community, too. Small-Ray said that if camps in public parks are removed, more people will just camp farther out of the inner core of the city, maybe along the Kim Williams Trail. Some people will go along with it, but some people are gonna stand their ground, Small-Ray said. And that will give everyone (whos camping) a bad name in the community. Emergency ordinance Theres been a noticeable and drastic rise in the number of unsheltered people camping in public areas in Missoula this spring. On Wednesday, Missoula Mayor Jordan Hess announced that he recently formed an Urban Camping Policy Advisory Team and is working on a way to bring its work to the public. Also, Eran Pehan, the citys director of community planning, development and innovation, said she and her staff and other partners are looking at ways to open the Johnson Street Emergency Winter Shelter for homeless people year-round instead of just during the cold months. And finally, the city councils Climate, Conservation and Parks Committee voted 8-1 to approve an emergency ordinance clarifying that not all city lands are closed to overnight camping and declaring an emergency to protect public health, safety and welfare. In my time on council there has not been an issue that has been brought up that has risen to this level of public comment both in voicemails and in emails," said city council member Amber Sherrill. "So everyone around this (city council meeting desk) understands the level of emergency and crisis were dealing with, a humanitarian crisis, a crisis for our community, a social crisis. This change would bring us into compliance with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision and also allow us to move people along in the instances where there are kids camps, needed cleanups, safety risks, maintenance, things like that. The federal court decision Sherrill was referring to means cities cant criminalize camping in public spaces if theres nowhere else for homeless individuals to go. Donna Gaukler, the director of the citys Parks and Recreation Department, said the minor but important change is just one part of a slate of tools the city is working on. It leaves intact a useful tool in maintaining a level of decorum, safety and security for all our residents, Gaukler said. Just like the general population, almost everybody is a really great person, but sometimes people are challenged, and we need ways within parks in particular that all camps, the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA camps, the Montana Natural History Centers camps, all our daycare providers, that we continue to provide the level of safety that people expect. Gaukler said that urban camping does at times pose a public safety and health threat. We do at times have situations of encampments where we are experiencing, observing. hypodermic needles, human waste, potentially dangerous situations, Gaukler said. We cant expect our kids to have experience to say this is a dangerous situation. This is a surgical approach to maintain safety while at the same time knowing every human being needs to be treated with dignity and respect. Shannone Hart, the vice president of the board of Youth Homes, said the organization's Shirley Miller Attention Home is a shelter for youth who have experienced trauma. She said the staff have repeatedly had to call police because of issues with urban camping in the park behind the shelter. She told the council that the kids often see fights, fires and other forms of violence at the public city park behind the shelter. "I know you have a really tough job but we have some really serious, serious health and safety issues," Hart said. "I dont want anybody to be criminally charged for being homeless but there is a fraction of that population that is very dangerous to society as well." Gaukler said that the new ordinance simply codifies something that Parks has already been enforcing. Mayor Hess said the city is encumbered by the federal court decisions that it is cruel and unusual punishment to criminalize camping in urban parks if theres nowhere else to go and we dont have enough shelter beds. Missoula is not in the business of criminalizing homelessness, Hess said. Thats not our intent. Hess said the emergency ordinance is one action of many that the city is taking with regard to the escalated urban camping in the community. As I outlined on Monday night, this is an issue that the city continues to take very seriously, he said. And I think we have two obligations. We first off have an obligation to have a compassionate response to those in our community who are living without shelter. We have an obligation to take care of folks in our community. We have an obligation to do that humanely, to do that with compassion and to achieve the best outcomes we can for folks in our community. "We also have an obligation to protect the health, safety and welfare of our community and to address problematic behaviors to address aspects of urban camping that are dangerous and unsafe. He said the citys code is currently antiquated, and the city attorneys staff have recommended this motion. We simply don't have the resources at the city of Missoula to address urban camping and to address the root causes, the upstream causes of homelessness and untreated mental health issues and untreated addiction issues and all of the other issues that come together to put us in the position that we're in right now, Hess said. So we find that we are spending city resources dealing with a very downstream effect of a failure at the state and federal level to address the upstream causes of homelessness. So we're in an unfortunate situation, we're doing the best we can with limited resources. The emergency ordinance will have to be passed by the full city council on Monday, June 5 and is effective for 90 days. The council may consider making it permanent. City council member Daniel Carlino wanted an amendment to the proposed ordinance. Essentially, Carlino wanted it to not be criminal to be in a park between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., as is prohibited currently. Carlinos amendment was voted down 9-1. Gaukler said that anytime a camp is removed, the residents are given two days of notice and other precautions are taken to make sure they dont lose their belongings. She said that the new ordinance will address issues like people "erecting structures, digging in the park or depositing refuse or creating a health and safety hazard." "One criticism that we've received, that I think is unfounded, is we're not doing anything about urban camping," Gaukler said. She noted that 27 employees recently cleaned up two dump truck loads of trash from encampments. "This is a targeted amendment to give us another tool in the tool box in the event that parks employees identify people as being in conflict with programs or recreational programming or kids' programming or maintenance infrastructure that needs addressed," Gaukler said. She said the city's goal is "compliance, not fines." She said the Poverello Center's Homeless Outreach Team does phenomenal work in making people aware of new city regulations. Gaukler said that many people often move on when asked to do so, but others simply "double down" and refuse. Nowhere to go Everyone seemed to agree that the city will simply be asking people to move from one place to another rather than into permanent, stable housing. Carlino noted that the city recently closed the Authorized Camping Site and the Johnson Street Emergency Winter Shelter. Where are we expecting people to go after we forcibly remove them? Carlino asked. He said it is not a solution at all to tell people they have to move without giving them any options. Pehan said that Carlino asked a great question. We know that until we can expand shelter capacity in the community, we know we are just moving people from one place to another, Pehan said. The intent here isnt moving these folks out of these locations to move them into shelters." However the city has efforts in the works to provide more shelter beds to help get folks who want to off the street, she said, adding they're working on an extension of the Winter Emergency Shelter. Pehan noted that there was a significant increase in urban camping after the Winter Shelter closed. Council member Kristen Jordan said she was having cognitive dissonance because she doesnt want to criminalize homelessness, but her constituents have repeatedly and consistently urged her to do something. So, she said, she was mainly voting yes on the ordinance because she had vowed to represent her constituents. At the end of the committee meeting, Carlino said he was disappointed in the committees decision and said he would be reaching out to the ACLU to sue over decisions like this. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. It's official. Well, kind of. Depending on whether the fickle weather of Memorial Day weekend cooperates, the Beartooth Highway (US-212), located east of Yellowstone National Parks Northeast Entrance between Red Lodge and Cooke City will open on Friday, May 26, at 8 a.m. The weather forecast calls for an even chance of rain on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with temperatures topping out in the mid-50s at lower elevations. So, as always, the Park Service is urging travelers to watch for quickly changing weather, including winter conditions with heavy snow and hazardous driving conditions. The agency, which is responsible for plowing the highway between Cooke City and the Wyoming state line atop the pass, also noted temporary road closures due to winter weather can occur any time on the highway given its high elevation close to 11,000 feet. Plan to have alternate routes for travel should the highway close. To be safe, travelers should check the Montana and Wyoming departments of transportation websites for road updates and status throughout the summer. Weather-permitting, the Beartooth Highway (US-212), located east of the parks Northeast Entrance between Red Lodge, Montana, and Cooke City, Montana, will open Friday, May 26 at 8 a.m. Watch for quickly changing weather, including winter conditions with heavy snow and hazardous driving conditions. Temporary road closures due to winter weather can occur any time on the highway given its high elevation. Plan to have alternate routes for travel should the highway close. Montana and Wyoming departments of transportation websites for road updates and status throughout the summer. Check theanddepartments of transportation websites for road updates and status throughout the summer. Photo: Pixabay When you recruit for your organization, do you avoid selfish volunteers? Should you? Can self-interest drive positive change? Id like to challenge you to start looking at how people with personal agendas can actually help make an impact in our communities. Confession time. I have to admit there have been a few times when I volunteered for purely selfish reasons. The first time, I volunteered to serve on a board of directors it was because I thought the experience would help me gain an elected position (I still didnt win). Then there was the time I volunteered so I could get close to a guy I liked. That didnt work out, either. Whats interesting is I continued volunteering for those organizations long after the reasons I originally started were no longer valid, which just means we need to shift our perspective. Volunteering tends to be associated with acts of pure altruism. While selflessness is undoubtedly admirable, it's essential to recognize that self-interest can coexist alongside acts of service. When people engage in volunteer activities driven by self-interest, they often bring a dedication, focus and drive that they might not otherwise have offered, resulting in a more committed and impactful contribution. Ann is a good example. She was a lawyer who wanted to become a partner in her firm. It was a big practice and there wasnt much to help her stand out from the crowd. She started doing pro bono work for a charity in her city that the founding partner of the firm supported. She gained experience in aspects of her field of law that had rarely crossed her desk in her paid work, and she came to be seen as an expert in those areas. Ann ended up catching the eye of the founder and she was eventually made a partner. She still volunteers at that charity because, she says Its not often I can advance my career and feel good about it. That commitment is a key benefit of having selfish volunteers. Volunteers who find their needs and desires met while volunteering are more likely to sustain their involvement over the long term. So long as they are making progress toward their goals, they will be motivated to continue pushing toward the organizations goals. Even when theyre faced with setbacks or challenges, they will have concrete reasons to persevere. Mahmoud started working at a local food bank shortly after he immigrated to Canada. He was a chef in his country of origin, but hadnt been able to find work since hed arrived. The concept of volunteering was fairly new to him. He worried about his poor language skills, and he was hesitant to waste his time working for nothing. But once his sponsor listed the benefits he could gain (local experience, networking, language practice, etc), he tried it. Over the next few months he gained a thorough understanding of Canadian food safety practices, a greater fluency in English and lots and lots of new friends. At the end of three months, one of those friends recommended him to a local high-end restaurant, and the rest, as they say, is history. Now, more than 10 years later, he not only still works at the food bank himself, he encourages all new immigrants he meets to volunteer there, too. And thats not the only ripple effect. There are a number of stereotypes about volunteers and volunteering that prevent some people from stepping forward. There are a lot of people who feel that they should volunteer, that its all about giving back and sacrificing their time for others. And people dont really want to do what theyre supposed to do. So, what if we could change their perceptions, and have them see the benefit to themselves in volunteering? If people could see others volunteering for selfish reasons, and being appreciated and even celebrated for doing so, wouldnt that be a better way to get them to try it for themselves? Selfish volunteers are walking billboards for the positive personal results to be gained. I think we actually do our organizations a disservice when we perpetuate the view of volunteering as a purely altruistic activity. Volunteer engagement thats driven purely by self-interest shouldnt be undervalued. Ultimately, when someones personal interest aligns with the needs of society, the result benefits everyone. And theres always the chance that, like me, the people who volunteer for selfish reasons will stick around even after those reasons are past. So lets embrace our selfish volunteers. They can be a powerful force for good. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Cathedral of St. Helena is set to undergo a comprehensive repair project to restore and preserve its architectural integrity, the Center for Catholic Life announced Wednesday. Following the damage caused by winds in November 2021, which resulted in the displacement of clay tiles and the loosening of many others on the South steeple, a temporary stabilization repair was completed by a specialty contractor using a high-lift bucket. "To ensure the long-term stability and aesthetic appeal of the Cathedral, plans have been put in motion for a more permanent repair of the South Steeple," a news release states. "The team is really looking forward to getting the work done and preserving the cathedral for multiple generations," church representative and repair steering committee member Peter Baker said in an interview Wednesday. Baker said the church is not disclosing the amount of money it is spending on the project, but that some of the funding is coming from Omaha, Nebraska-based Catholic Mutual, the church's insurance provider. The project will involve the installation of scaffolding to aid worker access. Scheduled to begin in June, the repair is expected to be completed by the fall. Baker said no disruptions to services are anticipated and that the church and contractor will put in place protective measures to keep members of the congregation and the public safe while the project is underway. "In a testament to their commitment to the preservation of the Cathedral, the Cathedral Advisory Council has decided to expand the repair project to encompass the North Steeple as well as masonry repairs on the west side of the Cathedral," the news release states. "Additionally, the west exterior of the Cathedral will undergo a thorough cleaning." The repair of the north steeple is scheduled for 2024. As part of future phases of the project, the great stairs on the westside of the cathedral will be repaired or replaced, with anticipated completion in 2024. The church said repair efforts are being closely coordinated with the city of Helena, "ensuring that all necessary permits are obtained to support the project." The proposed plans have been presented to the city's historical preservation team, according to the news release, who confirmed that no substantive changes will be made to the appearance of the cathedral or the stairs, preserving their historical significance. The church states it is prioritizing local contractors for the repair work whenever possible, "promoting community involvement and supporting the local economy," but that "no such contractors are available in Montana," due to the specialized nature of the project. Baker said Ohio-based Durable Slate Co. has been hired to make the repairs. The company asserts on its website that it is an "award-winning slate and historic roofing company," that specializes in "premium historic roofing services, including slate, copper and clay tile." The church also states efforts are underway to secure funding for the work from both the Cathedral Parish and the Diocese of Helena. "These organizations recognize the importance of preserving the Cathedral of St. Helena and are actively involved in ensuring its restoration," the news release states. "The repair project at the Cathedral of St. Helena is a testament to the community's dedication to preserving its historical heritage. By undertaking these vital repairs, the Cathedral will continue to stand as a symbol of faith, culture, and architectural excellence for future generations." The Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N. Ewing St., held its first mass on Christmas Day, 1914, after 10 years of construction. According to the church's website, European architect A.O. Von Herbulis drew inspiration for Helena's cathedral from the Votivkirche of Vienna, another neo-Gothic cathedral. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Two successful applicants for this year's American Prairie bison hunt lottery will have the opportunity to take a bison of any age and sex. "Our herd is healthy and diverse in age, so we feel comfortable allowing two older animals being taken, said Scott Heidebrink, director of Bison Restoration for American Prairie. Twenty public hunts will be allowed on the nonprofit conservation group's Sun Prairie property. The permission is awarded with preference to people who live and work in Montana and the communities surrounding the reserve. Weve been offering bison harvests to the public since 2018, and typically harvesters are restricted to bison less than two years in age," Heidebrink said. The bison harvest opportunities are awarded through an online drawing that is free to enter. Registrants awarded the opportunity are required to pay a nonrefundable fee of $300. Eligible individuals must fill out and submit the form by 11:59 p.m. on June 30. The recipients will be randomly selected on July 7. Every year we see more and more interest from the public in harvesting a bison, Heidebrink said. We know what a very unique opportunity this is, and weve consistently received positive feedback from hunters who say it is a terrific experience. Harvests will be designated as follows: Montana residents age 18 and older of Blaine, Chouteau, Fergus, Garfield, Petroleum, Phillips and Valley counties can enter the drawing for one of five local opportunities to harvest a bison. Montana residents age 18 and older can to enter a drawing for one of eight opportunities. Residents age 18 and older of any of Montanas indigenous communities are welcome to enter a drawing for one of three opportunities to harvest a bison. Out of respect for the historical and cultural importance of this tribal tradition, the harvest fees are waived for the these drawings. Anyone age 18 and older is welcome to enter a drawing for one opportunity to harvest a bison from American Prairie. Three additional harvest opportunities are being donated to three central Montana charities to benefit the organizations. Complete details, terms, rules and a link to enter the drawing are available online at americanprairie.org/bison-harvest. In addition to the annual bison harvest, American Prairie offers nearly 80,000 acres of its private land in Montanas Block Management Program for hunting, including upland birds, migratory birds, deer, elk and antelope. The nonprofit also offers access points to public lands through all of its deeded lands. Visit americanprairie.org/hunting for the most up-to-date hunting information. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Montana is forecast to have normal wildfire risk this summer amid above-average temperatures and about normal precipitation, with little change to current drought conditions. The fire season forecast comes from the National Interagency Fire Center's Predictive Services unit. It follows an unusually cold and long winter that saw snow accumulate more than normal at low and middle elevations. That left a normal, or slightly deeper than normal, snowpack across much of the state into spring. Drought conditions are considerably better across the state than a year ago, but are not expected to improve any further. Fire season so far this year has been relatively quiet across the United States, despite devastating wildfires ravaging the Canadian province of Alberta to the north. Now, much of Montana's snow has melted and the land is experiencing its annual spring green-up, as soil moisture powers plant growth. In the past few weeks, sweltering record-high temperatures have rapidly melted off the snowpack and swollen rivers around the state but so far nothing like last year's devastating floods around Yellowstone National Park and the Beartooth Mountains. Carl Seielstad, an associate professor of fire at the University of Montana and the fuels program manager at the National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis, said on Tuesday that the prediction of normal wildfire risk in Montana this year "aligns with what I see and think." But, he explained, springtime predictions can only foresee so much a major determining factor in a given year's fire activity is what actually happens during fire season. "When I think about fire seasons," he said, "really the fire season is mostly determined by what happens in the fire season, so it's really hard to forecast what a fire season's going to be like. My rule of thumb is, if we get to the Fourth of July and fireworks are being lit on the Fourth of July without fear of starting large fires, then we're shaping up for a pretty normal fire season." But "if the base of (Mount) Sentinel is crispy brown by Fourth of July," he cautioned, then the fire season may be "shaping up to be extraordinary." Whether that happens is determined in large part by temperature and precipitation and Montana is likely to be hot this summer. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center forecasts that Montana will experience above average temperatures at least through the end of August. The agency predicts a 50% to 60% chance that western and central Montana will have above normal temperatures next week. The Hi-Line, eastern Montana and northeastern Montana have a 70% to 90% chance of above-average temperatures. For the first half of June, the state has a 50% to 70% chance of above average temps. There's about a 30% to 50% chance of above average temps for the rest of the summer, with the higher probabilities in western Montana. Precipitation, meanwhile, is predicted to be about normal, although some parts of the state have a slight chance of above-average precipitation through the last few weeks of spring. The agency predicted a 33% to 40% chance of above-average precipitation next week for all of Montana except the northwest corner. The southern three-quarters of the state retains that chance of above-average precipitation through the first week of June. But after that, the entire state is forecast to have about normal precipitation through the end of August. A far-west strip of Montana, from the Bitterroot Mountains through to Yaak, has a 33% to 40% chance of below-average precipitation. This has drought conditions across the state likely to remain unchanged, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. On Monday, 35% of Montana's area was not in drought at all, a significant increase in drought-free area from one year ago, when only 4.67% of the state was not experiencing drought. About 39% of the state was experiencing abnormally dry conditions Monday; 22% was in moderate drought; 3.61% was in severe drought. A year ago, 42% of the state was in severe drought and nearly 20% was in extreme drought. At the start of May, the Bitterroot River basin held 103% of its median snow-water equivalent. The Lower Clark Fork basin had 93% normal SWE; the Upper Clark Fork basin had 123% of normal SWE. The Jefferson basin in Montana's southwest corner was at 127%; the Madison and Gallatin basins were at 127% and 135% respectively. The Helena Valley held 155% normal SWE, and the Rocky Mountain Front was at about normal. Eastern Montana ranged from 113% across the Interstate 90 corridor to 135% in the Smith-Judith-Musselshell basin. But in the northwest corner of the state, the Flathead and Kootenai river basins were at 88% and 81% of normal, respectively the driest in the state. Wildfire risk Montana falls within the National Interagency Fire Center's Northern Rockies Geographic Area. The area stretches from northern Idaho through North Dakota. Earlier this month, the center issued a seasonal outlook predicting that significant wildfire potential in the area "is expected to be normal" through August. Overall, the center determined, the Northern Rockies area "does not have strong signals to support a deviation from normal fire season forecasts. Northwest Montana and north Idaho have been drier than normal recently, which could align with expected summer weather patterns to enhance fire potential, but May moisture could reduce this concern, resulting in a lack of confidence to move away from normal for this area." But, the outlook cautioned, "The northwestern portion of the NRGA is an area of concern as drought has developed, but conditions are not extreme enough to warrant elevating the outlook. If May storms fail to deliver at least average precipitation to northwest portions of the NRGA, there may be a need to elevate (wildfire) potential in the next outlook." Over the past 20 years, wildfires burned an average of about 395,000 acres annually in Montana, according to data compiled by the National Interagency Situation Reporting Program. Last year, 137,509 acres burned in Montana. But in 2021, 747,678 acres burned. According to data from 19992010, Montana's fire season doesn't begin in earnest until July and becomes even more active in August. Most fires in Montana that decade occurred in the far western part of the state, the data show. It's difficult to divine in May what might happen during the fire season, Seielstad said, noting that "a couple of well-timed precipitation events can just choke the fire season." "We look at general trends and trajectories ... but what really matters is the couple events that occur or don't occur, and we don't know how that's going to shake out," he said. "These are things that are very difficult to predict." He recalled 2003, when western Montana experienced "a normal summer, and during fair week (had) tremendous convective activity in two or three days. We went from no fires to 60 or 70 fires with teams overwhelmed in just a few days. And I think it was Aug. 28 we got a big rain event and fire season was over, effectively." Even though Montana's fire season doesn't normally pick up until July, fires have already popped up around the state. So far this year, 279 wildfires had burned a total of 793 acres in Montana, as of Monday morning. Only 16 of those fires were caused by lightning. The lightning-caused fires burned 17 acres. The remaining 263 fires so far this year were human-caused and burned 776 acres. Overall, the U.S. has experienced a quiet start to fire season this year. As of Monday, 16,317 fires had burned 487,867 acres well below the 10-year average for number of fires and area burned by May 22. On average over the past 10 years, 931,879 acres burned each year by May 22. Last year, more than 1.6 million acres had burned already by May 22. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds, picnic areas and visitor centers will open with full services for the 2023 visitor season on Memorial Day Weekend, and National Park Service managers want to take the opportunity to remind visitors of the important role they play in keeping the park a safe and welcoming place for everyone who visits this season and for years to come. The Parkways varied landscape and diverse experiences invite everyone who visits this park to enjoy something that matches their personal interests. said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout in a news release. To help everyone find the Parkway experience that most excites them requires planning ahead for a safe and memorable visit. We are also excited for the historic investments in road maintenance visitors will see this year; we are pleased that while these projects are underway, visitors will still have access to popular visitor areas even if from a different direction than originally thought. Multiple road projects are underway along with Parkway, and as with any projects, motorists and park visitors must exercise caution and observe closures. The Parkway operated website lists statuses of road projects daily and is an important planning tool for tourists who will visit the region. In addition to previously announced projects for a major paving project in northwest North Carolina and repairs to Price Lake dam bridge, visitors may experience intermittent or one-lane closures related to paving projects in some N.C. overlooks, parking areas and picnic areas. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the largest designed landscapes in the country, providing visitors with a wide variety of opportunities to experience southern Appalachian nature, history and culture. The parks drive-a-while, stop-a-while design enhances the experience and requires extra attention while driving. Whether at Milepost 0 or 469, driving the scenic route, hiking a trail or taking in a concert or ranger program, visitors are reminded to recreate responsibly and safely. A complete schedule of open facilities, road work projects and more are available on the Blue Ridge Parkways website, www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Even though the school board election isnt until next year, another Burke County resident has made it known he plans to be a candidate. Jeffrey Beck opened a campaign committee Tuesday for the eastern board of education seat, said Debbie Mace, director of elections for Burke County. Burke County Board of Education Chair Wendi Craven currently holds that seat. Beck isnt the only one who has opened a campaign committee to run for school board. Jamey Wycoff opened a campaign committee on April 13 to run for the at-large seat of the board of education, The News Herald previously reported. Wycoff applied last year to fill the unexpired term on the school board of R.L. Icard, who died on Nov. 27, 2021. The school board chose Seth Hunt to serve out the term for the at-large seat. Opening a campaign committee allows candidates to accept and spend campaign contributions. The Burke County Board of Education has traditionally held its election during odd years but that wont be the case moving forward. The legislature, through a local bill in 2021, moved the board of education election to even-numbered years and also made the board partisan. That same bill also changed the school board elections in Caldwell County from nonpartisan to partisan. The school board election, because it will be partisan, will hold its next primary election in March 2024, according to election officials. As for the municipal elections this year, two people have indicated they plan to run for election. Laura Melott opened a campaign committee in early April in preparation for filing and running for a seat on the Drexel Board of Aldermen, The News Herald previously reported. And, as previously reported, Morganton Mayor Ronnie Thompson opened a campaign committee in early January to run for re-election. Filing for municipal elections this year starts at noon on July 7. The towns of Rutherford College and Hildebran will not hold elections this year but will be on the ballot next year with the school board elections. Those towns, through state legislation, chose to move their elections to even-numbered years. Because Rutherford College and Hildebran elections wont be on the ballot this year, there will be 13 precincts that wont be open this year because they dont contain any municipality voters, according to election officials. The precincts that will be closed on Election Day this year are: Drexel No. 3 precinct (High Peak Baptist Church) Icard No. 2 (George Hildebran Fire Department) Icard No. 3 (Hildebran Municipal Gym) Jonas Ridge (Jonas Ridge Fire Department) Linville No. 1 (Longtown Fire Department) Linville No. 2 (Lake James Fire Department) Quaker Meadows 1B (Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church) Silvercreek No. 2 (West End Fire Department) Upper Creek (Smyrna Baptist Church) Upper Fork (Enola Fire Department) Chesterfield Ruritan Club Lower Fork (South Mountain Fire Department) Pilot Mountain For more information about seats up for election or filing a campaign committee, call the Burke County Board of Elections at 828-764-9010. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Editors note: Calendar items must be submitted at least five days before an event. Email all items to news@morganton.com. TODAY Disabled American Veterans meeting Chapter 43 of the Disabled American Veterans, 2779 DAV Ave., Morganton, will gather at 5 p.m. for the social hour, 6 p.m. for dinner and 7 p.m. for its meeting. Officer installation and pins will be provided to anyone who missed last months meeting. Anyone with questions should call Dave at 828-437-0177. 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. NAACP meeting The Burke County Branch of the NAACP will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Mountain View Recreation Center, 111 Alphabet Lane, Morganton. All members are invited to attend, and COVID-19 protocols will still be followed. FRIDAY, JUNE 2 2023 Legislative Breakfast The Burke County Chamber of Commerce will host the 2023 Legislative Breakfast from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Morganton Community House, 120 N. King St., Morganton. Visit www.burkecountychamber.org for more information. 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, Dont 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. THURSDAY, JUNE 8 Business 4 Breakfast Burke County Chamber of Commerce will host Business 4 Breakfast- Protecting Your Business from Financial Fraud from 7:30-9 a.m. at First Citizens Bank downstairs conference room, 217 N. Sterling St., Morganton. Visit www.burkecountychamber.org for more information FRIDAY, JUNE 9 Fundraiser The Burke County Literacy Council will host a fundraiser Literacy on Tap at Hillman Beer, 301 S. Sterling St., Morganton. Live music will be performed by Justin Clyde Williams from 5-7 p.m. Come join us, celebrate summer, and the last day of school while supporting the summer programs at the Burke Literacy Council. Hillman will donate a portion of sales to the Literacy Council. SATURDAY, JUNE 17 Summer Pop-Up Shop The Burke County Chamber of Commerce, 110 E. Meeting St., will host its Summer Pop-Up Shop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit www.burkecountychamber.org for more information. Juneteenth Brunch First United Methodist Church, 200 N. King St., Morganton, will host the third annual Juneteenth brunch at 10 a.m. Rev. Dr. James E. Hunt will be the speaker, along with multi-cultural performances. Jay Alexander, program/music director for 107.9 The Beat, WGTF.FM out of Kentucky is the master of ceremony. Other participants include Malik Harris, Dylan O'Neil, Kevin Hunt and Cory Lovelace. "The Journey Continues." Limited seating is available, and tickets are $20 each. Call 828-433-6797 or 828-430-0304. MONDAY, JUNE 19 Fire department meeting The Lake James Fire and Rescue Department will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m. at the fire department. Prior to the meeting, elections for vacancies on the board of directors will be held from 4-6 p.m. The results of the election as well as a financial report and any necessary business will be discussed during the meeting. Anyone living in the Lake James Fire District and interested in serving on the board of directors should notify the president of the board no later than June 1. Two board vacancies will be filled at this election. All residents 18 years or older residing in the Lake James Fire District are encouraged to vote in the election of board members between 4-6 p.m. and attend the annual meeting at 6 p.m. Board President Jim Powers can be reached by email at jimpowers5137@gmail.com. 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. THURSDAY, JUNE 22 Board of directors meeting Burke County Smart Starts board of directors meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Partnership offices located at 304 W. Union St. Board meetings are open to the public and are held in handicapped accessible facilities. COVID, flu and other health restrictions will be observed for in-person attendance. For anyone with a hearing impairment who may require the assistance of an interpreter or have other special needs, call the Partnership at 828-439-2326 or us the NC Relay System at 1-800-735-8262. 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. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Morganton man was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon of mass destruction Wednesday. Joshua Phillip Steffey, 41, received the charges after probation officers searched his home on Morehead Street and found the weapons, according to a news release from the Morganton Department of Public Safety. A rifle and a shotgun were seized, said Capt. Josiah Brown. Steffey was on probation for a felony conviction of carrying a concealed weapon, Brown said. In North Carolina, carrying a concealed weapon becomes a felony charge if a person has been convicted of it two or more times. MDPS investigators responded to the scene and determined the two firearms had been modified, the release said. Steffeys bond was set at $25,000 secured, and he was due to appear in court Thursday. More charges are possible in the case. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Dog and cat owners in Burke County whose furry friends need a rabies vaccine will soon get a chance to take advantage of a low-cost rabies clinic. Burke County Animal Services is holding a rabies clinic on Saturday, June 10, at Belle Farm at 3851 Kathy Road, Morganton. The clinic will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and rabies vaccines will be $10, paid by cash or check only. Thats cheaper than the typical $15 to $25, said Kaitlin Settlemyre, director of Burke County Animal Services. For safety reasons, the clinic is for dogs-only but cat owners can buy vouchers for a rabies vaccination that can be redeemed at Burke County Animal Services, according to information from Animal Services. Rabies vaccines are required by the state of North Carolina for cats, dogs and ferrets that are over the age of 4 months old, Settlemyre said. Its not just about following the law but protecting the fur babies. Settlemyre said the county had a dog test positive for rabies several weeks ago. She said it came into Animal Services on a bite hold and then its health started deteriorated within 72 hours. Animal Services was closed at the time and the evening cleaning crew entered and found the dog having a seizure, Settlemyre said. Settlemyre said there were 11 more stray dogs on the same property and they had to be trapped and euthanized because none of them had ever had a vaccine. The repercussions for not having your animal vaccinated could be fatal, she said. Animal Services and the Burke Animal Services Foundation, the fundraising arm of the shelter, have several events and fundraisers coming up. Those include: June 3 from 8:30-11 a.m. will be the Strut Your Mutt fun walk at Valdese Lakeside Park, at 1149 Lake Rhodhiss Drive NE, Valdese, as a fundraiser to support the shelter. There will be adoptable dogs there if people want to check one out to take for a walk by the park. Participants are asked to get sponsors for their walk to raise money for the animals at Burke County Animal Services. Sponsorship and registration forms are available online at tinyurl.com/strutyourmutt2023, at bcpls.org, any Burke County Public Library location, or register on-site. June 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Raise the Woof at Silver Fork Winery, 5000 Patton Road, Morganton. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate and children under 18 get in for free. Tickets come with a complementary glass of wine, food and goodie bag, according to event organizers. Sponsorships of the event start at $250 and include special recognition on Facebook, event posters, handouts and free admission. All donations will go directly to the Burke County Animal Services Foundation. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A woman told Butte-Silver Bow commissioners Wednesday night that county Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher yelled and pointed fingers at her in an intimidating manner outside a recent council meeting. Trudy Healy said Gallagher lashed out in the hallway outside Council chambers on April 26, just after a neighbor of Healys told commissioners about their continuing concerns about blight, and the meeting adjourned. Chief Executive Gallagher is standing in front of us, and he starts yelling, red-faced and finger pointing, You two are the reason nothing is getting done, Healy said. The behavior of the chief executive was out of line, she said. He is an official in a power position and I a private citizen. I am a good citizen. To call me out like a criminal was humiliating. Healys neighbor, Kayla Ortiz, also said Gallagher was yelling and out of line. Healy said she ultimately began yelling back to defend herself. Ortiz also acknowledged yelling. There is no give-and-take between county officials and citizens during public comment periods, so Gallagher could not respond during Wednesday nights meeting. But he spoke to The Montana Standard afterward. I understand emotion. We have it, too, he said. But I think there was a little bit of dramatization about what really happened that day. It was probably above normal conversation tone, but it was definitely not yelling, he said. I dont have that. As you see when you leave here, theres echoing in the halls and things like that. But there was no time that I was yelling at her. There was no time that I was pointing at her. Healy is among several residents who have expressed frustrations and anger in recent months about abandoned and dangerous houses. They say squatters get into the houses repeatedly, use and deal drugs and commit crimes and mayhem in their neighborhoods. Healy organized a group called Citizens Against Urban Decay and though frustrations remain, she has previously credited and thanked Gallagher for trying to address the problem. He has made departmental code-enforcement changes and got a demolition assistance program started, among other things. But Gallagher has noted often that people have property rights that restrict how far and fast the county can go and says crimes should be reported to police. Just before the April 26 meeting adjourned, Ortiz spoke during the public comment period. She said a man was staying in a garage of a burned-out house and dealing drugs and blamed Gallagher and the city for allowing it to happen. Healy and Ortiz had done a television interview that touched on that situation and Healy says Gallagher referred to it when confronting her after the April 26 meeting, saying, You keep doing these interviews and theyre making the city look bad, making the city out to be the villain. Healy said she and Ortiz were talking with Sheriff Ed Lester before Gallagher approached them and after a few words, he asked Healy to step away some to talk. In tears, I followed, she told commissioners. He started yelling, Im trying hard. At that moment, I decided to defend myself and I yelled back, Im trying hard, too. She said Gallagher ultimately told her, "Im done with you" and to never email him again. She teared up at one point while speaking before commissioners. Gallagher said his own frustrations had nothing to do with the interview but rather accusations the city was allowing a drug dealer to live in a garage next to a burned-out house. The person was named and accused of a crime, he said, but he has no recent arrests and no arrest warrants pending. Regardless, a private owner is leasing out the garage as long as it is not lived in, Gallagher said, and police have visited the property. I did say, Trudy, you are accusing me of something thats been done. Im done. If you want to contact me, dont email me, dont text me. Call my office and we will set up a meeting, Gallagher said. Gallagher said he has worked with Healy and others to address blight and appreciates their vigilance and he knows some people kind of villainize government because they dont like that it takes time. There are so many great people and great neighbors and family homes in that neighborhood and its very frustrating for them, so I understand their passion, he said. But I dont agree with what the narrative was tonight. Healy wanted to raise the matter through a formal communication to council that would be on the meeting agenda and could be discussed publicly with commissioners. Citizens are allowed to submit communications and requests but Council Chairman Shawn Fredrickson said under procedural rules, matters have to pertain to council business or purview in some way or be something commissioners can act on. The chief executive is a separately elected official, Fredrickson told the Standard, and Healys claims were not something commissioners could act on, so he did not put it on the agenda. But he said he told Healy she could speak freely about the issue during the public comment period and reiterated Wednesday night that anyone can do that. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Hunter and Bowhunter Education Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting at the University of Providence in Great Falls June 6 and 7. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Hank Worsech convened the committee to look at improving the hunter and bowhunter education programs. The committee will focus on strategies for recruiting new volunteer instructors, implementing field days for online students and improving landowner relations and hunter ethics within the curriculum. FWP solicited applications for the committee and chose 23 members representing all parts of the state. The group will review the manuals, online programs and field day outlines, and develop actionable recommendations for Worsech and the hunter/bowhunter education staff to implement. Starting in 2024, FWP will require a field day for all hunter and bowhunter education students under 18, including those taking the course online. For more information, contact Greg Lemon at 406-444-4038 or via email at glemon@mt.gov. Photo: Contributed Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas Last week, the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) released their latest report, titled A Distributional Analysis of the Clean Fuel Regulations. The regulations require liquid fossil fuel (gasoline and diesel) suppliers to reduce the amount of pollution from the fuels they produce and sell for use in Canada over time. The PBO issued the report to calculate how much money these new fuel regulations will cost Canadians. According to the PBO, at the national level, in 2030, the cost of the Clean Fuel Regulations to households will range from 0.62 percent of disposable income (or $231) for lower-income households to 0.35 percent of disposable income (or $1,008) for higher-income households." The PBO concludes the regulations will significantly impact lower-income households, who spend a larger share of their income on transportation and other energy-intensive goods and services. Concerns remain about how these regulations, along with the carbon tax, will penalize those who live in rural communities and who are forced to do more driving due to fewer local services, like health care, and limited public transit options. Also back in Ottawa, the prime minister's appointed special rapporteur, David Johnston, recommended against a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian democracy. The prime minister quickly accepted there should be no public inquiry into foreign interference in our elections, despite support for such an inquiry from all opposition parties. Lastly, with Parliament set to rise in June, I will soon begin my annual summer listening tour. Since I was elected as san MP, every summer I have use the tour to hear (constituents) concerns throughout the riding, which is home to a diverse set of communities and people. If you would like to schedule a meeting during my summer listening tour, please get in touch with me by email or through my toll-free number below. My question to you this week: Do you support the new fuel regulations, considering the high cost of gasoline and the escalating carbon tax? I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll-free 1-800-665-8711. Dan Albas is the Conservative MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. THURSDAY, May 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Ketamine may be an alternative to shock treatment for people with treatment-resistant major depression, a new study suggests. Currently, patients with major depressive disorder who don't find a medication or therapy that works may undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as shock therapy. But researchers have also been studying intravenous ketamine -- a powerful anesthetic that's also long been used as an illicit 'party' drug -- as a potential antidepressant. They say the results of a new study were surprising. I have to say it was a wow, said principal investigator Dr. James Murrough, director of the Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. That isnt to say that ketamine is superior to ECT, Murrough cautioned. This study wasnt assessing that. What it does mean is that in this comparative effectiveness trial, by the numbers ketamine performed very well, Murrough said. The findings apply to patients who don't have psychosis but have treatment-resistant major depression that has not been helped through two or three earlier medications. The main takeaway, Murrough said, is that for doctors treating these patients, ketamine is something they could consider as an alternative to ECT. The take home from this study is there's another option that's in that conversation now that really wasn't before in a meaningful way, Murrough said. Major depression is estimated to affect 21 million adults in the United States. It's a leading cause of disability worldwide. The study found the antidepressant response rate for patients with IV ketamine was 55%. For those receiving ECT, the response rate was 41%. While ECT has been around for 80 years and is considered an effective and rapid treatment, it isnt used as much as it could because of some cognitive side effects and social stigma. It involves inducing a seizure via electrical stimulation of the brain. Other research has found that low-dose IV ketamine had a rapid antidepressant effect, according to Mount Sinai. Many people with major depression do well "with first-line antidepressant medications, such as the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors like fluoxetine [Prozac] and all those derivatives, and psychotherapy, Murrough said. But we recognize there's a group of individuals that, unfortunately, for one reason or another, cannot get out of the depression despite multiple sequences of these types of what we would call first-line treatments. This randomized trial included 403 total patients from March 2017 to September 2022. It is the largest study comparing the two treatments ever done, lead author Dr. Amit Anand, director of psychiatry translational clinical trials at Mass General Brigham in Boston, said in a hospital news release. Patients were randomized to either get ECT three times a week or ketamine twice a week for three weeks. They were followed for six months after treatment. Participants completed a questionnaire on depressive symptoms, including memory tests and questions about quality of life. More than half of those receiving ketamine (55%) and 41 percent of those receiving ECT reported at least a 50% improvement in their depressive symptoms and an improvement in their quality of life that lasted at least six months. Patients on ketamine had no side effects, except for a sense of transient dissociation at the time of treatment. Those who received ECT had some memory loss and musculoskeletal issues. Some of the unknowns Ketamine is a low-cost dissociative drug, meaning it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment. Although approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a sedative/analgesic and general anesthetic, its not approved as an antidepressant, so its use happens off-label. Its also considered a controlled substance, so it does have abuse potential, Murrough said. Another downside: It's not known how long a person can use it to treat depression. These are some of the unknowns, Murrough said. That these are patients without psychosis is important because ketamine has the potential to exacerbate those symptoms. Also, patients would need to have the treatment in a medical setting so they can be monitored during the infusion, over about 40 minutes. Dr. Andrew Leuchter is a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, and was not involved in this research. He said the study is an important comparison of two of the major treatments for treatment-resistant depression." While the main message is that ketamine is a reasonable treatment alternative for helping people get through acute depressive symptoms, Leuchter said, another major challenge is keeping people well long term and returning them to full function. Hed like to know more about ketamines impact on returning those with treatment-resistant depression to function at home, work and in life, as well as how long benefits last before a possible relapse. We know from ECT studies that over the first six months, unless somebody gets into treatment with an adequate prophylactic medication, that the relapse rates are frighteningly high, Leuchter said. There is still a lot of trial and error in depression treatment, he noted. The study findings were published May 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine. More information The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on major depression. SOURCES: James Murrough, MD, PhD, director, Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City; Andrew Leuchter, MD, professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, and director, neuromodulation division and senior research scientist, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles; Mass Brigham General, news release, May 24, 2023; New England Journal of Medicine, May 24, 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service Max may only be hours into its rollout, but it quickly came under fire by top Hollywood guilds for the way it credits writers and directors. Early Wednesday, some started noticing a change to the credits on films. Instead of individually listing writers, directors and producers, the new Max format had lumped them all together. By Wednesday afternoon, the presidents of the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America West had issued a strongly worded joint statement condemning the creator credit. Warner Bros. Discovery responded with a statement saying it was an oversight in the technical transition from HBO Max to Max and that it will be corrected. No timeline for restoring the writer and director credits was given. We agree that the talent behind the content on Max deserve their work to be properly recognized, a Max spokesperson said. We apologize for this mistake. But it hit a nerve for the guilds at a tense moment in the industry. The writers are on day 22 of a strike and the directors are in negotiations for a new contract. It "echoes the message we heard in our negotiations .... that writers are marginal, inessential, and should simply accept being paid less and less, while our employers profits go higher and higher, said Writers Guild of America West President Meredith Stiehm. "This tone-deaf disregard for writers importance is what brought us to where we are today. DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter added that it was a grave insult to our members and our union and that the devaluation of the individual contributions of artists is a disturbing trend and the DGA will not stand for it. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) A man who picked up a bison calf in Yellowstone National Park caused it to be shunned by its herd, prompting park officials to kill the animal rather than allow it to be a hazard to visitors. Park officials quickly defended the decision to kill the newborn bison. We made the choice we did not because we are lazy, uncaring or inexpert in our understanding of bison biology. We made the choice we did because national parks preserve natural processes, the park said in a statement posted Tuesday on Twitter. Park officials' options for dealing with the animal were limited, according to the statement, which said bison must be quarantined before being sent to conservation herds outside the park. A bison calf abandoned and unable to care for itself is not a good candidate for quarantine, the statement said. The calf became separated from its mother when the herd crossed the Lamar River in northeastern Yellowstone on Saturday. The unidentified man pushed the struggling calf up from the river and onto a roadway, park officials said in a news release. Human interference with young wildlife can cause animals to shun their offspring. Park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd but were unsuccessful. At one point, visitors saw the calf walking up to and following cars and people. This created a hazard, so park staff killed the animal, according to the news release. It's the latest example of Yellowstone visitors getting in trouble or hurt after approaching bison. Park officials euthanized a newborn bison after a similar incident in 2016, when a Canadian man and his son put the calf in their SUV, thinking they could rescue it. The man pleaded guilty. He was fined $235 and ordered to pay $500 to the Yellowstone Park Foundation Wildlife Protection Fund. Bison have gored several people in Yellowstone in recent years, often after they got too close to the animals. Many of Yellowstones larger animals including bison, which can run up to 35 mph (55 kilometers per hour) and weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) are deceptively dangerous, even when they are just grazing or resting. Park rules require visitors to keep at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from wildlife including bison, elk and deer, and at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves. Park officials are investigating the bison calf incident. The suspect was a white male in his 40s or 50s who was wearing a blue shirt and black pants, the statement said. The calf's body was left on the landscape, similar to the 25% or so of Yellowstone's newborn bison that don't survive, park officials said in the Twitter statement. Those deaths will benefit other animals by feeding by feeding everything from bears and wolves to birds and insects. Allowing this cycle of life to play out aligns most closely with the stewardship responsibility entrusted to us by the American people, the statement said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Is five minutes really too much to ask when someones life could be at stake? That is the question Charles Van Luyn is putting to the community with the 5+5+5 challenge to help reduce the number of suicides. During a bad time, Van Luyn was suddenly hit with the realization of what a difference five minutes can made to someone in crisis. The new patch and stickers that he will unveil Saturday at Hy-Vee are also a promise. The wearer accepts the responsibility to take five minutes, five times a month, to reach out to five people who may be in crisis. In the military, people are taught not to ask for help and to just suck it up, Van Luyn said. This can keep them from asking for help when they need it. We are asking people to just take five minute the time you spend waiting for commercials to end when you are watching TV and just call a friend who may need help. No one can say to me they dont know five people they can call. The 5+5+5 challenge is being done by Van Luyns charity, Iowa Anchor of Hope. In the past he has done such things as deliver supplies to Marion after the derecho and aid other disaster victims. Recently the charity has refocused into providing canines for people in need. While the thought originally started with concern for veteran suicides, Van Luyn expanded the scope to include first responders and even young people who may be going through a hard time. He hopes someone spending five minutes letting the person know they are important will lower the suicide rate. Proceeds from the patch and sticker sales are also going to mitigate suicide. Funds will be used to train service dogs to donate to military veterans in need of a companion. The dogs will be specifically trained to aid the veteran in the event of crisis, such as pulling them out of a crowd if it senses its master having a panic attack. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Van Luyn and associates will sit in front of Hy-Vee at 2400 Second Avenue in Muscatine to raise funds for Anchor of Hope to purchase service dogs. Were going to be doing preorders for our hats and T-shirts and we are going to be selling stickers and patches and we are going to be talking about our goals with the public so they know what we are trying to do, Van Luyn said. The goal is to spread the word and get the community involved in helping us to reduce veteran suicide in our community in every field. That is what Im passionate about having had friends and family I have lost to it. Thats what our charity is about. People interested in learning more about the program can go online to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091434657285. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can contact the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. PHOTO: Speaking out about suicides Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. COLUMBUS JUNCTION The Columbus School District board has heard a 10-year plan for the restoration/maintenance, replacement and repair of the roofs. Building and grounds director Rob Edwards reviewed the report developed by Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc, (WTI) Beachwood, Ohio, with the school board on Monday, explaining the plan could eventually cost an average of around $320,000 a year. Included in the $2,450 report was an identification of eight wet areas that had been located in a scan. Those areas were then inspected and triaged to keep water out until future repair work could be completed. Some repair work around an exhaust fan on the Roundy Elementary roof was completed in the initial survey work. However, the majority of the proposed work was outlined in the plan that would run into 2033. The work would include seven Roundy Elementary roof sections and 23 sections on the Columbus Middle/High School buildings. Edwards pointed out WTI would act as the inspector and general contractor for the work and provide a 10-year guarantee on the roof or repairs. He said any longer guarantee provided by a contractor would be outside of the WTI guarantee. The board eventually agreed to move forward with the plan and authorized the initial 2024 work. This will include maintenance work on all seven of the Roundy roofs, with an estimated cost of around $52,374. There would also be maintenance work on nearly every middle school/high school building roof, costing an estimated $16,324. Edwards emphasized during the discussion the plan could be altered if an emergency need developed on any roof. In a separate portion of the meeting, Edwards also provided an update on several ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funded projects. Edwards reported 10 hallway heaters had arrived, but three had been damaged, although they were apparently still useable. Since delivery of the heaters had taken more than a year, Edwards said the damaged units had been installed, but the company was notified. He also said delivery of rooftop HVAC units for the gym had been delayed and would not be shipped until June 21 and will be installed after the installation of the hallway units was completed. In other action, elementary principal Kristina Murphy provided an update on the service/therapy training her 1-year-old English Labrador retriever, Copper, continues to receive. She said Copper had completed over 65% of the obedience/therapy training and was starting on his final portion of therapy training, which could lead to completion of his training in August and he could be ready to begin his duties in the district by September. The school board agreed to use $15,000 of the districts COVID funding to finance Coppers training. In other action, the board: Approved several personnel issues. Agreed to renew the 28E transportation director sharing agreement with Louisa-Muscatine. Approved milk and bread bids. Raised full pay breakfast and lunch prices by 10 cents; and adult breakfast and lunch prices by 70 cents. Agreed to keep student material fees for Fiscal Year 2024 at $20. Approved using $47,511 of a $150,000 school safety grant to purchase a variety of camera and door features. Approved the purchase of a new I-Ready, K-6 math curriculum for $87,420. Board chair Andy White also notified the board that a school resource officer for the district had been hired by the Louisa County Sheriffs Office. White did not provide any further identification but indicated additional information would be provided by the sheriffs office. Photos: Rockridge beats Mercer County 6-1 in Class 2A regional softball semifinal Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Ten Columbus Junction-area students will receive $1,000 each in the latest round of Tyson Food's scholarship program. Every year, the Tyson Foods facility in Columbus Junction offers scholarships for the children of its team members in order to support both its employees and their families as these students pursue higher education. These scholarships help the receiving students pay for tuition or other college-related expenses such as books and dorm rooms. According to Tyson, the 2023 scholarship recipients are Aaron Jimenez Ambriz, Adela Sarai Vela, Aniya Alexis Montelongo, Christian Colby, Giselle Eireen Murillo, Jeffery David Hoback, Julissa Mendoza-Perez, Kaleb Richard Huxley, Mario Carapia Segundo and Ruby Garcia. In addition to being children of Columbus Junction Tyson Foods team members, scholarship recipients are chosen based on their academic performance, their financial need and their involvement in school and/or community activities. We are thrilled to support our team members children by helping provide access to higher education properties after high school. Tyson Foods has an ongoing commitment to serve the communities where our team members work, live and play, and we are proud to help the Columbus Junction community create the leaders of tomorrow," plant manager Brent McElroy said in a public statement. To learn more about Tyson Foods and its career paths and opportunities for jobs, as well as access to free education for team members, visit https://tysonfoods.com/careers. Photos: Columbus Junction High School graduation 062920-mus-cjgrad-001 062920-mus-cjgrad-002 062920-mus-cjgrad-003 062920-mus-cjgrad-004 062920-mus-cjgrad-005 062920-mus-cjgrad-006 062920-mus-cjgrad-007 062920-mus-cjgrad-008 062920-mus-cjgrad-009 062920-mus-cjgrad-010 062920-mus-cjgrad-011 062920-mus-cjgrad-012 062920-mus-cjgrad-013 062920-mus-cjgrad-014 062920-mus-cjgrad-015 062920-mus-cjgrad-016 062920-mus-cjgrad-017 062920-mus-cjgrad-018 062920-mus-cjgrad-019 062920-mus-cjgrad-020 062920-mus-cjgrad-021 062920-mus-cjgrad-022 062920-mus-cjgrad-023 062920-mus-cjgrad-024 062920-mus-cjgrad-025 062920-mus-cjgrad-026 062920-mus-cjgrad-027 062920-mus-cjgrad-028 062920-mus-cjgrad-029 062920-mus-cjgrad-030 062920-mus-cjgrad-031 062920-mus-cjgrad-032 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. (CNN) Residents of Guam are dealing with damage and widespread power outages after the small US territory was walloped by hurricane-force winds and overwhelming downpours from powerful Typhoon Mawar. Mawars eye passed just north of Guam Wednesday night local time, but the island was still battered by the most powerful winds and torrential rains from the storms eyewall, prompting its governor to urge residents to shelter in their homes until conditions were declared safe. The storm the strongest to impact the island in decades was sweeping the island early Thursday with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and gusts of up to 165 mph, the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said. As the storm continues to move away from Guam, it has strengthened to the equivalent of a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane, with winds of 165 mph and gusts up to 200 mph. Its not expected to threaten land for the next several days, the warning center said. Mawar is the fifth storm of the year to reach this intensity, according to hurricane researcher Jeff Masters. Only five Category 5 strength storms develop each year on average, meaning 2023 has already had a years worth of these powerful storms with nearly all of the Atlantic and Pacific hurricane/typhoon seasons still to come. Later Thursday, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said the winds had significantly slowed and roads appeared passable but said residents should remain at home. We have weathered this storm. The worst has gone by, but we are going to continue experiencing tropical storm winds up to about 40 to 50 miles per hour, so I ask you again to please stay home for your protection and your safety, Guerrero said in a video address. The island was inundated with rain, with some areas receiving more than 20 inches over 24 hours. The northern village of Dededo saw 24.5 inches while the central west coast village of Piti had more than 22 inches. No storm-related deaths had been reported as of 10 a.m. Thursday, according to the governors press secretary, Krystal Paco-San Agustin. Though conditions are beginning to improve, the threat isnt over. Heavy rainfall, whipping winds and strong storm surge are still possible. Before the storms arrival, officials warned it could bring life-threatening storm surge and dangerous coastal flooding. Residents in low-lying coastal areas were ordered by Guerrero to evacuate as it approached. After President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Guam ahead of the typhoon, FEMA said it has more than 130 staff deployed or prepared to respond if disaster relief is needed. The USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is also headed toward Guam to potentially support recovery efforts following the typhoon, two US defense officials told CNN. Mawar will continue to move west-northwest, away from Guam, toward the northern Philippines and Taiwan. The storm is forecast to strengthen over the next 12 to 24 hours, before slowly weakening. Guam is home to about 150,000 people and several US military installations. Super Typhoon Pongsona hit the island in 2002 with sustained winds of 144 miles per hour and gusts to 173 mph, according to the weather service. Island almost entirely without power Most of the island was without power by Wednesday afternoon, with only 1,000 of the Guam Power Authoritys approximately 52,000 customers receiving energy, the utility said. Hazardous wind conditions made it unsafe for the utilitys crews to continue making repairs, it said. We are working hard to maintain the last remaining customers through the storm, the power authority said. Our GPA team is prepared to immediately begin restoration as soon as winds decrease to safe levels, it said. Guam Memorial Hospital began using a standby generator in order to continue operations, it added. The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. An Iowa nursing home where residents were deemed to be in immediate jeopardy delivered a horrific level of care, a staff nurse recently told state inspectors. The inspectors visited the Genesis Senior Living nursing home in Des Moines last month and investigated a backlog of nine complaints against the facility. The home, which has roughly 70 residents, was cited for 13 federal violations and two state violations, including failure to notify family members of residents worsening conditions; failure to protect residents from abuse and neglect; failure to investigate or respond to alleged violations; failure to meet quality-of-care standards; and failure to adequately protect residents from infections. A registered nurse who worked at Genesis Senior Living late last year told state inspectors that one resident had an open wound on her foot in December. The wound, she said, had a horrid odor that she could smell as soon she entered the womans room, adding that it smelled like gangrene. According to the inspectors, on Dec. 9 of last year the nurse had removed from the residents foot a dressing that had been applied to the wound eight days earlier. At the time, the wound was noted to be foul smelling and draining fluid with signs of an infection. An antibiotic was ordered, but six weeks later the womans condition had grown worse and a licensed practical nurse reported that by then she could smell the wound from the hallway outside the womans room. The residents daughter asked Genesis to take her mother to the hospital. The woman was admitted to the hospital where doctors assessed her wound as very large at least 3 inches by 3 inches with exposed bone that was infected. The woman remained hospitalized for at least 10 weeks, during which she underwent four surgeries including bone grafts. The registered nurse at Genesis said the lack of care the residents in the facility get is why she is no longer an employee, state inspectors wrote in their report. She described the care as horrific. She said when she would arrive to work the night shift, multiple day-shift medications were often not given. According to the inspectors, residents of Genesis Senior Living had complained that the certified nurse aides who worked in the home hid in closets, talked on their personal phones, delivered little care and were rude and disrespectful. After one resident complained to an aide about the length of time she had waited to have her undergarments changed, the aide threw a pair of briefs and a glove at her, saying, Fing change yourself, and walked out. The aide was fired for the offense. Residents who were to receive a shower twice a week sometimes had to wait seven days for a shower. On one occasion, a resident who preferred to have daily showers had to wait 14 days. In January, a female resident fell from a tipped-over mechanical lift, began having seizures and was rushed to a hospital. In February, a different resident fell from the mechanical lift while being transferred to bed and sustained a head laceration that required a trip to the emergency room and five staples to close. Inspectors reviewed seven patient files and concluded that in six of the seven cases, Genesis Senior Living failed to provide safe mechanical-lift transfers for residents. Based on that finding, the home was found to have placed residents in immediate jeopardy from Jan. 9, the date of the first incident, through April 26. Fines of $9,500 and $6,250 were imposed by the state but have been held in suspension to allow the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to consider imposing a penalty. In the past two years, CMS has fined the home 10 times, with the penalties ranging from $650 to $71,761. Based on its five-star quality scale, CMS has awarded Genesis Senior Living a one-star rating for state inspectors findings, a two-star rating for its staffing levels, and a three-star rating based on various quality measures. The homes temporary administrator, Cody Petrich, could not be reached for comment. The home is owned by DSM Healthcare Management, a for-profit company owned in part by Judah Bienstock of MGM Healthcare, a St. Louis company that manages seven Iowa nursing homes and 18 facilities in Missouri and Oklahoma. PHOTOS: Heelan defeats Sioux Center in regional soccer championship Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Bishop Heelan vs Sioux Center soccer Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DES MOINES The New York-based company that will operate Iowas new state-funded private school financial assistance program will be paid $4.3 million over the first six years, according to the terms of the contract with the state. Odyssey, which was chosen by the state through a competitive bidding process, will be paid from the states general fund budget, the governors office said. The company, which operates similar programs in Arizona and Idaho, this week began educating Iowa parents through a series of webinars about the new state program, which is projected to ultimately cost the state $107 million in the first year and $345 million annually at full implementation. The new program passed with only Republican support in the Iowa Legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds, who had pushed for similar measures in previous years and made it a centerpiece of her 2022 re-election campaign. Under the new law, Iowans will be eligible for state funding equal to the amount of state per-pupil funding for K-12 public education, which for the 2023-2024 school year will be roughly $7,600, to pay for attending a private school. The educational savings accounts, or ESAs, must first be used to pay for tuition and fees. Any remaining funds can be used for other eligible expenses, like textbooks, computers, or tutoring sessions. Odyssey will host a marketplace that will serve as the only eligible place for Iowa families to spend ESA funding on those other eligible expenses. Any purchases made outside Odysseys marketplace will not be eligible for reimbursement, a company official said this week during a webinar. A spokesman for the governors office said Odyssey will not receive any portion of those marketplace sales. Odyssey will be paid by the state roughly $730,000 annually to operate the program, according to the contracts terms. WHICH IOWA STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING In the first year of the program, the ESAs are available to all public school students, all kindergarten students, and private school students in a household at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level for example, $90,000 for a family of four. In the second year, the 2024-25 school year, the program will be expanded to include the same population plus private school students in households at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. In the 2025-26 school year, the program will be open to all K-12 Iowa students, regardless of income. SCHOOL FUNDING COMPANY INFORMING IOWANS Odyssey this week began holding webinars to inform Iowa parents on how to enroll in the program. Over the course of the webinar, a company official described how parents can apply for ESAs, how the application and approval process will work, and who is eligible for the program. The state plans to begin accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year on May 31, and that application period will be closed June 30. The online application will determine whether the student is eligible for an ESA by using personal identification and tax filing information. During the webinar, Odyssey founder Joe Connor said the company will not share that personal information and will protect the applicants privacy. Connor said in most cases once an application is submitted, the eligibility verification process should take roughly a half-hour. He said in rare cases, more documentation may be required to determine a students eligibility. ESAs will begin to be funded on July 15, Connor said. At that point, the parent will log into the programs website and declare which private school the student plans to attend for the 2023-24 school year. MARKETPLACE FOR OTHER EDUCATIONAL PURCHASES Any purchases made with ESA funds must be made through the Odyssey-hosted marketplace, Connor said. The company will work with vendors that will provide educational products and services that are eligible under the program, he said. Examples of what products and services are eligible and ineligible for purchase with ESA funds can be found at the Iowa Department of Educations website, educateiowa.gov. IOWA STATE AUDITOR CRITICIZES PROGRAM State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, during a public event this week in Cedar Rapids bemoaned a lack of accountability and transparency over how hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are spent by private schools. Comparatively, when Iowa public schools receive state funding, budgeting requirements restrict how public schools can spend public money, Sand told reporters following a town hall in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. Public schools are also required to hold public meetings, release public records and receive annual audits to publicly track how they're spending taxpayer dollars. Private schools are not required to follow those same requirements once they start receiving money this fall from the publicly-funded Education Savings Accounts. The only prohibition under the law is that private schools cannot refund, rebate or share any portion of ESA payments made back to the parent or family that paid it to the school. Literally anything else they want to do with that money is legal, Sand said. If they want to take it as profit, thats fine. If they want to send their principal on an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe, that is legal. There is no obligation that they actually take those public dollars and put them into educating kids. Thats absurd to me. Reynolds and Republican state lawmakers have said all schools be they public or private are accountable to parents and students. And that if parents and students feel that a school is not meeting their needs, they now have the flexibility and ability to choose the educational setting that best fits their needs. Reynolds, speaking to reporters earlier this month at the statehouse, said the closed system we put in place with Odyssey will help make sure that were tracking fraud and that the expenses are allocated in a manner that it was intended to do. So we have a pretty good system in place, Reynolds said. Were very confident about that. That will allow us to monitor the expenditures make sure theyre being utilized in a proper manner. And, you know, its a small state. Well be able to see which schools are doing what and how its being ran and operated. The governor added that a lot of other states are watching what were doing, and that its imperative we do it right and are vigilant in monitoring how the money is spent. Tom Barton contributed to this report. Learn how to apply Anyone interested in learning more about the parent/guardian application process for Iowas new private school assistance program can register to attend online training on one of the following dates and times: Thursday, May 25, 8 p.m. Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2DsfTNrtR06LL2uE4qrRjA Saturday, May 27, noon: Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MUFIRiANRSm57AAwtcwUOQ Tuesday, May 30, 2 p.m. Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iPsDoIBLTlWTNDMgJ9qxQQ June 5, 11 a.m. Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9Mv08byQSD-SVvrRgP_kcA June 7, 7 p.m. Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F7EBpAMET0mCWBFWW4HKjw Photos and video: Iowa legislators pass governor's private-school funding bill Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (AP) A police officer in suburban Chicago was shot early Thursday while investigating a report about a stolen car, authorities said. The Romeoville officer was wounded in the shoulder during an exchange of gunfire with a suspect who was on foot, police Chief Ken Kroll told reporters. The officer's condition was not released, but the news we received earlier was positive, Kroll said. The shooting occurred shortly after midnight. The 29-year-old suspect was found hours later, hiding in shrubs about a mile outside Romeoville, the chief said. Stuff like this doesnt happen here too often, Kroll said. Photo: The Canadian Press United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith speaks following the debate in Edmonton on Thursday, May 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Five days after saying a United Conservative candidate who compared transgender students to feces in food could be given a second chance, leader Danielle Smith has repeated that the woman wouldn't sit in caucus if her party forms government. Questions are being raised again about Jennifer Johnson's status as a UCP candidate after a social media post Tuesday night by someone from her constituency association suggested she's still a member in good standing and could enter caucus in the near future. The Facebook post was deleted Wednesday and replaced with one from the constituency board that said the message was posted by a volunteer who does not reflect its views. "Our leader has been clear that Jennifer Johnson will not sit in UCP caucus if she is elected," said the post. When asked about Johnson's status during a news conference in Calgary, Smith said she has been clear. "I've made a decision she will not be sitting with the UCP caucus," she said. Last Friday, Smith said on CTV Calgary's morning show that Johnson would have "a lot of work to do" to find her way into the party's caucus. "I believe in redemption. I do believe people have the ability to have second chances," she said at the time. "She's got a lot of proving to do." The comments came a day after Smith called Johnson's language both offensive and a vile analogy, and said Johnson would not sit as a member if the UCP wins the Alberta election Monday. Smith said Wednesday that she stands by her original decision. "I've made it very clear. I've made a decision she won't be sitting with our caucus if she is elected and that's final," she said. Last week, audio surfaced from Sept. 1, before Johnson won the UCP nomination. She is heard telling a group that Alberta's high-ranking education system counts for little set against the issue of transgender students, comparing their presence to a batch of cookies laced with feces. "That little bit of poop is what wrecks it," says Johnson on the audio. "It does not matter that we're in the top three per cent in the world." She repeated a long-denied assertion that public schools allow students to identify as cats and set out litter boxes for them. She said girls are getting double mastectomies and being chemically sterilized at age 14. She said hard-core pornography is available in elementary schools and advocated for the total elimination of sex education. Dave Dale, the NDP candidate for Lacombe-Ponoka, said Smith must permanently eject Johnson from the UCP. "Jennifer Johnson's bizarre and hateful views have no place in the legislature," he said in a statement. "As a teacher myself, I can tell you that her comments put vulnerable children in danger. I can't imagine the hurt for students who are being publicly compared to pieces of excrement." NDP Leader Rachel Notley added later in the day that Johnson's remarks were offensive. "We would not be open to having her in our caucus. Frankly though, I don't believe Danielle Smith when she says that," she told reporters in Calgary. "We see contradictory information coming from the UCP constituency association in Lacombe-Ponoka. It seems to me that the UCP itself is not clear on the position they will take on this. Danielle Smith has actually changed positions on it a couple of times since the matter first arose, so I think we can conclude we cannot count on the UCP to make the right decision." Johnson has apologized for her remarks, saying she's embarrassed she caused hurt. She said, if elected, she would seek advice on how to communicate her views. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Gov. JB Pritzker and fellow Democrats leading the state General Assembly announced Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on a budget for the Illinois fiscal year that begins July 1. Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch did not disclose a dollar amount for the budget in a news release from the governor's office but the governor told reporters the budget is mid-50-plus billion dollars. Pritzkers proposed budget plan from February totaled $49.6 billion in spending. From the beginning, I vowed to work with the General Assembly to bring fiscal sanity to Illinois while restoring a compassionate state government that invests in the things that build a stronger economy and future. Im pleased to say thats exactly what this balanced budget does, for the fifth time in a row, Pritzker said. From violence prevention, higher education and K-12 funding, and filling teacher vacancies, to more workforce development, and enhanced behavioral health services, this budget makes historic investments that will benefit our state for years to come, he said. The budget makes transformative investments in early childhood and higher education, public safety, workforce development and mental health services, the news release said. Todays agreement Welch said, "proves once again that Democrats can produce a state budget that is both fiscally responsible and compassionate at the same time. We will pass a budget that is balanced, itll make smart investments in the services people need, and it will be a reflection of the values we share as Illinoisans. Harmon called it a responsible balanced budget that recognizes our shared goals and commitment to making progress on key issues for the people of Illinois. The budget will face adjustments as it makes its way through the House and the Senate. There was no immediate reaction from Republicans to the budget agreement. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DES PLAINES, Ill. (AP) A man wielding an ax has been fatally shot by a police officer who was called to assist paramedics at a suburban Chicago apartment building, authorities said. Des Plaines police said Scott MacDonald, 55, was shot about 7:37 p.m. Wednesday in a hallway. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Before the shooting, officers were advised that MacDonald was breaking things, possibly having a psychotic breakdown," and may have had access to an ax or machete, the police department said. Police body-worn camera footage shows MacDonald was armed with an ax while approaching officers in a threatening manner, the police department said Thursday afternoon. The officer who shot MacDonald has been placed on paid administrative leave. The shooting was being investigated by an outside regional task force. Drones have come to play a key role in the war in Ukraine, with both sides using them for reconnaissance and offensive strikes. Among the dron Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Politicians and activists reacted with dismay recently to the news that the FBI illegally tapped into foreign intelligence data looking for dirt on U.S. citizens. But given this news emerged just days after the release of the Durham report, which fingered the FBI as knee-deep in the bogus Russian collusion narrative that dominated Beltway politics during the Trump years, the outrage and surprise seem underwhelming. The secret FISA court publicly released an opinion that found the agency had no factual basis to comb through reports compiled under a law intended to combat foreign espionage in search of dirt on Jan. 6 protesters and those who took to the streets after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. The revelations were contained in a heavily redacted opinion of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which said the violations were significant, The Wall Street Journal reported. The agency claimed to be operating under the authority of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Act, which is supposed to be limited to targeting foreign nationals located abroad who are believed to be agents of a foreign power or members of an international terrorist group. The information gathered, however, often includes data on American citizens who, for instance, may communicate with those abroad. To access that information in most cases, the FBI needs to obtain a warrant. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called the revelations shocking. A top ACLU official argued that such unlawful searches undermine our core constitutional rights and threaten the bedrock of our democracy. Theyre right, of course. But where have they been for the past seven years? The Durham report reveals an FBI so steeped in politics that it violated its own standards to embark on a full-blown investigation of the Trump White House on the basis of a bogus dossier with little basis in reality. The agency also misled the FISA court to obtain wiretaps. In all, the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law. Sound familiar? FBI officials maintain that all these errors made during the Trump investigation or while illegally snooping under Section 702 have been addressed and corrective action has been taken. It would be nice to believe so. But its clear that Congress should pay closer attention to whats going on at FBI headquarters. And if lawmakers decide to reauthorize Section 702, which expires this year, more rigorous safeguards must be implemented to protect the Fourth Amendment rights of American citizens. By PSC The Government is committed to documenting all citizens to enhance service delivery. President William Ruto said effective and inclusive governance of public services requires accurate citizen data. The Government, he added is working towards the implementation of a vital statistics system that meets the demands of a new digital era. He said the Government has also instituted measures to ensure 100 per cent registration of births and deaths by 2026. We need accurate information on essential attributes of citizens to accurately allocate resources, he said. Speaking during the 7th Identification For Africa Conference held in Nairobi, President Ruto said proper identity systems will boost democracy in Africa. President Ruto asked African national identity management agencies to work together and share knowledge on identity management innovations. He called on development partners to support Governments identity management programmes. We operate in an environment of escalating resource constraint and yet, at the same time, we cannot postpone or downgrade our identity management endeavours, he said. Present were Cabinet Secretaries Kindiki Kithure, Eliud Owalo, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, the Executive Chairman of ID4 Africa Joseph Atick, several ministers from African countries and Principal Secretaries. Mombasa Cement Limited has reportedly moved the iconic wildlife sculptures located in various parts of the Coastal city. This follows a rift between the company, which put up the sculptures to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the tourist town, and the Mombasa County government over a contentious directive instructing the company to halt its philanthropic activities at public hospitals. The county last month issued a cease and desist notice to the companys billionaire owner, Mr Hasmukh Patel, instructing him to stop his philanthropic activities and refrain from settling bills of patients in Mombasas public hospitals who are unable to foot their medical and funeral bills. Mr Patel has reportedly been spending up to Sh2 million daily to release patients stranded at the main hospital and other facilities in the county due to unpaid bills. But Mombasa County reportedly wants control of the funds, with the matter heading to court. The Mombasa High Court last week temporarily suspended the order that barred the philanthropist from providing aid to patients facing financial challenges. And on Wednesday, Mombasa Cement told reporters that it would be moving the famous animal sculptures to Kilifi county. We have had discussions with the Kilifi County government and Governor Gideon Mungaro is open to the idea of us moving the sculptures. We are excited about the new partnership, said Mr Imtiaz Sayani, the companys community relations officer. Mombasa Cement officials indicated that relocating the sculptures is expected to take a month. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is calling on Kenyans to refrain from politicizing the Finance Bill 2023, emphasizing that it plays a crucial role in addressing the ailing state of the economy. In expressing his views, Mudavadi highlighted that the government is faced with difficult choices and cautioned that resolving the economic challenges will require a considerable amount of time. We are working towards tightening the loose ends and sealing the loop-holes in procurement processes and procedures. The Finance Bill 2023 is proposing some fundamental measures that will help in addressing the bottle-necks that have been riddled by outrageous procurement processes where what you think has been procured cheaply turns to be very expensive in the long run. He said. Mudavadi referred to his past experiences in government and stated that the issue of Value Added Tax (VAT) has been misunderstood. He added that the proposals put forth in the Finance Bill 2023, which have received mixed reactions, can resolve the problem permanently. The Government has shifted its subsidy policy from consumption to production. The few beneficiaries on the consumption side are crying out loud. For the Government, the principle of majority beneficiary applies, and through the Finance Bill, the Government proposes to provide exemptions under the VAT Act for fertilizers and inputs or raw materials locally purchased or imported by manufacturers of fertilizers. This will lower the cost of fertilizer, which will in turn lower the cost of production, explained Mudavadi. The Prime CS emphasized that the current government under President William Rutos leadership is taking significant measures to expand the tax base. This move is aimed at increasing the countrys revenue and improving its financial standing. This is the only way we will be able to boost agricultural sector operations, enhance food production and create jobs for us to stir the economic growth, he said Mudavadi. Mudavadi made the remarks in Mombasa when he presided over the 40th Annual seminar for the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). He urged Kenyans to remain steadfast as the government is burning the midnight oil to ensure it corrects the drain, pain, and strain on the citizens livelihoods. I have continuously cautioned Kenyans to gird themselves for hard times now and in the near future. As a government, we do not want to lie and give false hope and promises. I am being pragmatic, realistic, and forthright in my assessment, that resuscitation of the economy will take at least two years or thereabout, said Mudavadi. We all know things went bad before Kenya Kwanza took over and are still bad as we speak today. This experience should prompt us to work together to mitigate the dire situation, said Mudavadi. According to Mudavadi, the Government is deploying all the measures within its power to address the challenges and foster a resilient and inclusive economic recovery process. As a government, we are not sleeping on the job. The commitment to prioritize the lives and livelihoods of Kenyans above all else is our key priority, he affirmed The chair of the newly reconstituted Kenya Medical Supplies Authority(KEMSA) board, Irungu Nyakera, says all staff members will be assigned specific targets against which their productivity will be assessed. This in a bid to streamline the corruption-plagued state corporation and ensure productivity. A meeting was held on Wednesday at the national supply chain center in Embakasi, where Irungu Nyakera, and the acting CEO, Andrew Mulwa, met with the staff of the authority. Nyakera instructed that all staff members should be placed on a performance evaluation system based on targets. This directive aims to hold them accountable and enhance productivity, recognizing that individual actions can impact the entire staff collectively. We cannot accomplish the vision of our President if we do not put our house in order, the chair said. He expressed the importance of going the extra mile to establish a trustworthy brand that Kenyans can rely on. Additionally, Nyakera acknowledged that while adversity is unwelcome and regrettable, it presents institutions with an opportunity for growth and transformation. Nyakera highlighted that this serves as a catalyst for KEMSA to reassess its values, reconsider its strategies, and redefine its purpose in order to effectively serve Kenyans and achieve the goals of Universal Health Coverage. We must not shy away from the challenges that lie before us, but rather embrace them as stepping stones towards a brighter future, he said. KEMSA Acting CEO, on his part, stressed the importance of ensuring transparency, responsiveness, and accountability within the authority by utilizing information and communication technology throughout its business processes. Furthermore, Mulwa urged all staff members to uphold professionalism by adhering strictly to the law and established procedures when carrying out their duties. It is our responsibility as KEMSA staff and management to go beyond the call of duty to deliver medical supplies to all Kenyans with passion and commitment, Mulwa added. A momentary altercation occurred in a Nakuru court on Wednesday when the lawyer representing former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga tried to block the police from arresting him. Njenga and 11 others appeared before the court to face multiple charges, including membership in an organized criminal group and involvement in organized criminal activities. His lawyers accused DCI of breaking the law as Maina Njenga had already acquired anticipatory bail from the High Court in Nairobi blocking his impending arrest. It is also illegal for the police to purport to be looking for Njenga because besides having an anticipatory bond which expires on June 20, when he is expected to take a plea, they do not have a warrant of arrest on him, said lead lawyer Ndegwa Njiru. Nakuru Senior Resident Magistrate Emmanuel Soita directed Maina Njenga to present himself at the DCI headquarters Thursday morning for questioning. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. In 2021 Napa was ravaged as COVID-19 claimed several small business casualties. One of which, was Alexis Baking Company (ABC), an establishment that fed loyal citizens for 30 years, where local art draped the walls, and musicians traded music for meals. Napa resident Lindsey Foster said she appreciated the price point, family atmosphere, the personable owner, and most of all the food." So when the business closed in 2021, it crushed Napa natives. The former ABC, at 1517 3rd St, stayed vacant for about a year until Winston's Cafe & Bakery opened on Feb. 18. Winston's is the brainchild of artisan baker Paul Brown and chef Alex Macaraig (Mac-erh-ehg). Brown is known around town for his premium bagels and other custom-baked goods, while Macaraig honed his culinary craft while working at Miminashi in Napa. The delay in Winston's opening, permitting aside, was the strategic redesign of the interior layout. He added, "We wanted to make it more welcoming, open, and bright," said Macaraig. Space previously dedicated for storage transitioned into open-concept seating, all made possible by optimizing for daily deliveries of fresh ingredients, he said. While the interior changed, the guiding tenets modeled by the pillars that built Napa an ethos of affordability to locals, exquisite taste, and family first remain. The name Winston's derives from the Macaraig's family dog. His wife Cassan Macaraig, who quietly runs the operation, is a friendly face at the front, while children from their son's daycare are steadfast staples. The focus on family welcomes a variety of diners, from those who require a morning coffee fix to first responders who are needed mid-muffin and leave expeditiously. While Winston's attracts a wide net of interested eaters, their food is what fosters repeat business. Winston's sits between two poles of the spectrum, simultaneously avoiding being either rigidly orchestrated or simply a casual diner. "We want to be the sweet spot between the two but priced well, with fresh ingredients," said Macaraig. Accomplishing this required changing the narrative around what is considered a traditional breakfast. "People's usual expectations are eggs and bacon, which makes getting creative and avoiding being pigeonholed difficult," said Macaraig. Their top seller is, unsurprisingly, the two-egg breakfast consisting of two eggs your way, avocado, a buttered bagel or breakfast potatoes, and a "simple salad," which can be rare to find for breakfast in Napa. Their second best-seller is the Superfood Bowl, created initially to satisfy the need for a gluten-free option and evolved with time. The first iteration was granola and yogurt, followed by ricotta and fruit. The final form of this dish was something Alex Macaraig previously made exclusively for Cassan Macaraig at home. The bowl now has chia seeds, oats, coconut, toasted nuts, cacao nibs, hemp seed, almond milk, seasonal fruit, dried mango, passionfruit, and honey, which, if you sub, creates a vegan dish. Macaraig said he knew it was a success when "the staff kept eating it." Chef Brown wisely pushed for a fan-favorite breakfast burrito despite Macaraig's concern with price affordability and avoiding being a stereotypical "grease bomb." They created a winner with thoughtful creativity, replacing pork with ground chicken, utilizing their spice blend, eliminating excess salt, and adding other specialty ingredients. Macaraig eventually expanded past typical breakfast and turned to cuisine from his Filipino heritage, which he initially described as a "fearful step." Once he found his footing, he reflected on his time at Miminashi and "That mentality of bringing more creative cuisine, to get a bit more adventurous." So he added traditional dishes like longsilog and ingredients like their house Spam. Macaraig remained adamant, "The goal is for good food, not necessarily just authentic food." The result is a unique menu and tastes that not only converted the cult consumers from ABC but also captured those new to the city. Recent LA transplants Joe Doherty and his wife Nicole ate at the Ocean Diner in Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles, every Friday. Download the Napa Valley Register's free news app Easily access the very latest local news that matters in an app built for you. Read, see, and hear exclusive commentary, stunning photography, To keep the tradition alive in Napa, "We tried a bunch of places, and Winston's was the spot we liked best. It had the right feel for a casual but great breakfast before work, said Joe Doherty. Now they're Friday frequenters. Macaraig believes the recent wave of people relocating from cities like LA and San Francisco has helped Winston's tremendously. Macaraig, who grew up in Napa, said "for the first time, I've seen people my age who are here to stay. Even those coming from other places want to settle down here." These new residents yearn for eclectic cuisine, and Winston's wants to satiate the appetite for diversity in a town where the predominant culinary preference pairs well with wine, he said. Winston's is packed from opening until the lunch rush ends Wednesday through Sunday. They cater to local companies and even sell their baked goods business to business. Napa Yard's popular pretzel, the famous Danish at Naysayer, Andaz Hotel's breakfast bagels, and the classic burger buns at the Archer, Palisades, and Bounty Hunter are all made at Winston's by Chef Brown. Ultimately Macaraig's vision is to be a triple threat, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Until then, he recommends newcomers visit after 12:30 p.m. to avoid long lines or to take a 6-pack of Paulie's famous bagels to enjoy at home. Ordering takes place at the front, but good luck walking past the path of pastries before your payment is processed. Info: 1517 3rd St, Napa. 707-666-2904, winstonsnapa.com PHOTOS: Take a look inside Winston's Cafe & Bakery Winston's 3 Winston's 2 Winston's 4 Winston's 1 Winston's 5 Winston's 6 Winston's 7 Winston's 8 Winston's 9 Winston's 10 Winston's 11 Winston's 12 Winston's 13 Photo: . A man was taken into custody after allegedly threatening to kill other customers in the Mountain Equipment Company at 212 Brooksbank Ave. in North Vancouver. | Google Maps A man has been charged after he allegedly threatened to kill customers with a hatchet at a Mountain Equipment Company store in North Vancouver. Just after 7 p.m. on Tuesday, police arrived at the store after receiving multiple calls of the man swinging the hatchet at customers. The man first entered the store, asking to buy bear spray and a knife, according to witness reports given to North Vancouver RCMP. Once he was denied, he became upset and threatened to kill people there, said Const. Mansoor Sahak, adding that there were less than 50 customers in the store at the time. The man left the store briefly, but then returned moments later swinging a hatchet at people inside the store, Sahak said. Police were on scene minutes after the first 911 calls, Sahak said, and the man was taken into custody without any further incident. No one was injured, he added. He was initially apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to [Lions Gate Hospital] where he was then released shortly after and transferred into police custody, Sahak said. The man had a bail hearing on Wednesday, Sahak added, with recommendations of a charge for possession of weapon for dangerous purpose. The results of that bail hearing are not yet known. Sahak said the man has a violent history with police, and lives with no fixed address in Vancouver. Obviously, this person is a danger, Sahak said. [His actions] put a lot of peoples lives at risk at the business with the hatchet, and quite a few customers were scared, and they were hiding inside the store its obviously very frightening for those witnesses. Sahak said there is a mental health component to the incident as well. Thats why he was apprehended under the Mental Health Act initially. We want to make sure that this individual is taken care of and getting the help that he needs, Sahak said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond including news, sports, features and politics. An employee at New Technology High School was arrested Tuesday night on several allegations of sexual contact with a minor, Napa Police reported. Jayro Alexis Esparza-Garcia, a 23-year-old Napa resident, was detained by police and booked into the Napa County jail with a $100,000 bail. He was being held Thursday for investigation of six offenses, including sending harmful material, meeting a minor for lewd purposes, and contacting a minor with intent to commit a sex offense, according to jail booking records. Esparza was arrested after New Tech officials on May 18 told a police school resource officer about inappropriate contact between a minor and a New Tech employee, later identified as Esparza, Napa Police said in a news release. A search revealed sexually explicit electronic communications between the minor and Esparza-Garcia, and detectives met with the minor and confirmed the illegal communications had taken place, according to the department. The remaining allegations against Esparza include sending obscene material, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and annoying a child. The employee list on New Techs website did not list Esparza-Garcia on its staff as of Thursday morning. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Napa County climate activists are trying to turbocharge local efforts to cut fossil fuels by providing a jolt of energy. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Napa Climate NOW! on Wednesday hosted the Napa Climate Summit, with support from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. St. Helena City Councilmember Anna Chouteau and Napa City Councilmember Beth Painter were co-coordinators. More than 100 people came to the Performing Arts Center at Napa Valley College for the morning event. The theme: Moving Forward Faster. "When I look out in this room and see who showed up, it doesn't feel so hopeless," Chouteau said. "I actually feel hopeful and that we really are going to make a difference, and we really are going to get through this together." No one suggested that tiny Napa County can solve the worldwide climate change challenge. Rather, talk centered on the county doing its part. Davina Hurt, vice chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Bay Area representative on the California Air Resources Board, gave the keynote speech. Hurt talked about how humans wiped out the once-plentiful passenger pigeon, with the last known survivor of the species a captive bird named Martha dying in 1914. She portrayed battling climate change as more than looking for technological solutions. "All in all, we have to change our relationship with the earth," she said. U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, was in Washington D.C. amid the federal debt ceiling dispute and addressed the conference through a video. "Climate change is the most pressing issue our nation and our planet faces today," he said. "If we get everything else right, but fail on climate change, it will all be for naught." State Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, also spoke by video, given that the Senate was meeting in Sacramento. He said hydrogen has a role to play in powering zero-emission autos and trucks. He urged attention to creating a "hydrogen highway" by having locations where hydrogen vehicles can refuel. Local achievements were noted: American Canyon installing solar panels at several city facilities, the Napa Valley Transportation Authority transitioning to electric Vine buses, Clover Flat landfill and Napa Sanitation District turning methane into electricity. But, bottom line local climate action activists want more action. Will the enthusiasm at the Napa Climate Summit provide the fuel? "We want to walk out of here today hopeful and fired up," Chouteau said. Hurt, before the summit, stated what she hoped to accomplish with her keynote speech. "I think I want to light a fire in people's hearts that we have to do everything we can now," she said. Painter also talked about her hopes for the day. "I think it will educate the community about what we are doing and what we can do," she said before the summit. "And it will help our state and federal partners understand how they can help us." The community can make climate change-combatting plans, but also needs money for them, she said. Meanwhile, the Napa County Climate Action Committee is to meet on Friday. With representatives from Napa County and its five cities, it is a major local vehicle for carbon-cutting steps. At this meeting, the emphasis will be not only be on a warming climate, but cold fiscal realities. The committee is looking at a budget for the coming fiscal year. Possible goals are to develop a regional climate action plan, streamline solar permitting, create an electric vehicle charging station blueprint, and find ways to achieve 90% waste diversion by 2030. A recommended budget assumes grants and the state will pay for the regional climate action plan. In that case, the county and cities would be asked to come up with a total of $202,052, a committee report said. If no grants materialize, the local cost could range from $402,252 to $802,252, depending on the work plan, the report said. The county and cities would each pay a certain percentage, if they agreed to do so. The county Climate Action Committee meets at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the Board of Supervisors chamber, 1195 Third St. in downtown Napa. PHOTOS: A look inside Napa Valley Birth Center Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. An array of ceremonies on Memorial Day weekend will give Napa Valley residents a chance to honor relatives, friends and others who have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond including news, sports, features and politics. Holiday observances are scheduled on Monday in Napa, American Canyon, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. In Yountville, the Veterans Home of California, the states largest military retirement community, will open its Memorial Day event to visitors for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a list of local holiday events: Napa Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Napa will be host to the citys annual Memorial Day observance, which will begin at 11:30 a.m., according to Katrina Gregory, the city's recreation manager. The ceremony will be organized by Napa-based American Legion Post 113. The Napa ceremony will include a wreath presentation as well as a roll call of fallen comrades led by Bernie Narvaez, a City Council member and Marine Corps veteran. C.J. Bertagna of Post 113 will give the keynote address, and the Meadowlark Chorus will perform a musical tribute. The posts honor guard will lead the call to colors, rifle salute and the playing of taps. American Canyon American Canyon will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon Monday at Veterans Memorial Park, 2801 Broadway (Highway 29). In a special tribute, attendees are invited to honor their loved ones by placing a personalized flag in their memory during a bell-ringing ceremony. Supplies will be provided. The keynote speaker will be Kim Beasley, an active-duty military spouse and mental health professional with E5 Therapy of Suisun City who provides services to veterans, active military members and their families. The ceremony also will feature a presentation of colors by the American Canyon Army recruiting station, an a cappella rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner by American Canyon High School students, and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance led by fifth-graders from Napa Junction Elementary School. American Canyons observance is jointly organized by the city and American Canyon Troop Support, the American Canyon Lions and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1123. Yountville Yountville Pioneer Cemetery will host its 65th annual Memorial Day Service at the burial ground, on Jackson Street next to Yountville Park. The ceremony will be held Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m., a day ahead of other holiday events in the county. The event will include a Memorial Day service reading by members of Native Daughters of the Golden West Eshcol Parlor No. 16, as well as the singing of God Bless America by Tori Anna Sophia and the playing of taps by trumpeter George Rothwell. The ceremony will conclude with a cannon volley by members of the George Yount Mountain Men of the Golden West. On Monday, a Memorial Day ceremony will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Veterans Home of California, in the homes memorial cemetery, according to Veterans Home spokesperson Joshua Kiser. The observance will be the first at the Yountville home to be open to the public since the 2020 arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led the state Department of Veterans Affairs to impose strict curbs on visits to the military retirement community. In 2022, a few dozen people attended a ceremony with the placing of American flags on gravesites and the playing of taps, but CalVet opened the event only to Veterans Home residents, their families and staff members. St. Helena American Legion Post 199 is welcoming visitors to the Memorial Day observance at the St. Helena Public Cemetery. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Monday. This years Memorial Day event will be the first at the cemetery since the installation of a new, 25-foot-tall flagpole earlier this month. The pole, twice as tall as the wooden staff it replaced, allows for the display of the U.S. and POW/MIA flags at half-staff when the president declares a time of national mourning. For more information, call 707-967-9344. Calistoga Calistoga will be host to two observances on Memorial Day. A traditional cemetery service will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. at Calistoga Pioneer Cemetery by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, according to Dean Enderlin, commander of the groups Col. Elmer Ellsworth Camp 23. This year marks the 140th anniversary of the dedication of the Grand Army of the Republic plot, where Calistogans have gathered every Memorial Day since 1883 to pay their respects to those who died in service to their country. The centerpiece of the plot is an obelisk dedicated to the unknown dead of all wars. The service at the cemetery will include a brief historic overview, traditional Civil War song selection, reading of GAR General Order No. 11 (issued in 1868 by Gen. John Logan to proclaim Memorial Day), and a reading of the names of all known veterans buried in Pioneer Cemetery. A three-volley black powder musket salute performed by a Civil War honor guard the playing of taps by Nina Peterson will conclude the roughly hour-long ceremony. Calistogas second Memorial Day ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the citys Veterans Memorial at Logvy Park, hosted by Calistogas American Legion Post 231. St. Helena Star editor Jesse Duarte contributed to this report. 60 historic photos from American military history 60 historic photos from American military history 1868: Sioux Wars 1862: Abraham Lincoln at Antietam during Civil War PhilippineAmerican War 1915: Mexican Border War 1927: US occupation of Nicaragua 1934: US occupation of Haiti 1917: Welcoming 1918: Service for war dead 1918: Newspaper headlines on Armistice Day 1919: Ship of soldiers returning home 1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor 1942: Battalion of army engineers Circa 1940s: Women building a bomber 1943: Lockheed P-38 Lightning 1943: Medal of honor 1943: Sailor rescuing pilot from a plane wreck 1944: Paratroopers preparing for D-Day 1944: Operation Overlord 1944: Tuskegee Airmen Circa 1940s: Burial at sea for USS Intrepid casualties 1945: Women's Army Corp 1945: Raising the flag on Iwo Jima 1945: Marine charging during Battle of Okinawa 1945: Sharing food 1945: Leaving Nordhausen 1945: Manhattan skyline 1945: Japan surrenders First Indochina War Circa 1950: Bed of shells 1951: The Mighty Mo 1962: Kennedy and military leaders 1965: US combat unit in Vietnam 1965: US infantry 1965: American soldiers arriving in Vietnam 1967: US Army rifleman charge Viet Cong 1967: Soldiers engaged in long crawl to crest 1968: Soldier shaving colleague's head 1968: Hill Timothy 1969: Naval patrol craft 1975: The fall of Saigon 1975: Evacuation 1989: US soldiers look into a prison cell 1990: Operation Desert Shield 1990: Persian Gulf War 1991: USS America 1991: US soldiers watch oil refinery burn 1991: Kuwaitis with American soldiers 1991: The border Kow in Saudi Arabia 1992: Intervention in Somali Civil War 2003: Shock and awe 2003: Oil fires burn in Iraq 2003: Families mourn soldiers killed during war with Iraq 2003: The fall of Baghdad 2005: 1st Marine division honors comrades killed in Iraq 2006: Marines return after one-year deployment to Iraq 2008: US Army battles Taliban in Kunar Province 2017: United States in Afghanistan 2014: Airstrikes targeting Islamic State group US leaves Afghanistan US sends aid to Ukraine Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The unemployment rate in Napa County was 3.2% in April, down from a revised 3.7% in March but above the year-ago estimate of 3%, the state Employment Development Department reported. That compares with an unadjusted jobless rate of 4.3% for California and 3.1% for the nation during the same period. Year-over-year, Napa County industries with increased hiring included construction, private service providing, transportation, warehousing and utilities, and leisure and hospitality employers. At the same time, Napa Countys labor force grew from 70,300 to 71,500 workers. For the second month in a row, Napa County tied with Sonoma County for the seventh lowest jobless rate in California. To compare, Solano County ranked 23rd and Lake County 35th. San Mateo County had the state's lowest jobless rate just 2.5%. Napa County employers in April with the most job ads included Adventist Health, Providence Health & Services, the state of California, county of Napa, Treasury Wine Estates Global, Auberge Resorts, the Meritage Resort and Spa, Napa Valley Unified School District and Hyatt. Registered nurses, waitstaff, retail sales persons and hospitality workers continue to be the top occupations with the most job ads in April in Napa County, reported the EDD. Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond including news, sports, features and politics. Throwback Thursday: The Best of BottleRock Napa Valley BottleRock 2013 BottleRock 2013 BottleRock 2013 BottleRock 2014: Grass Child BottleRock 2014 BottleRock 2015 BottleRock 2015 Bottle Rock BottleRock 2015 No Doubt at BottleRock BottleRock 2015 BottleRock 2015 BottleRock 2016 BottleRock 2016 BottleRock 2016 Gogol Bordello Skyboxes BottleRock 2016 BottleRock 2016 BottleRock 2017 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers BottleRock 2017 BottleRock 2018 BottleRock 2018 BottleRock's 'Little Rockers' Durand Jones & the Indications BottleRock 2019, Day 1 BottleRock 2019, Day 1 BottleRock 2019 Food BottleRock 2019, Day 2 BottleRock 2019, Day 2 BottleRock 2019, Day 2 BottleRock 2019, Day 2 BottleRock 2019, Day 3 BottleRock 2019, Day 3 BottleRock 2021 Day 1 BottleRock 2021 Day 2 BottleRock 2021 Day 2 BottleRock 2021 Day 2 BottleRock 2021 Day 2 BottleRock 2021 Day 3 BottleRock 2021 Day 3 BottleRock 2021 Day 3 BottleRock 2022 Day 1 BottleRock 2022 Day 1 BottleRock 2022 Day 1 BottleRock 2022 Day 1 BottleRock 2022 Day 2 BottleRock 2022 Day 2 BottleRock 2022 Day 3 BottleRock 2022 Day 3 Top 10 Smartphone Manufacturers: What are they and how are they different? President of Artsakh sent a message on the occasion of the Day of the First Republic of Armenia RA leaders visit Sardarapat Memorial Address of the Third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of Republic Day Message of Catholicos of All Armenians on Day of First Republic of Armeni Number of Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan continues to grow Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute comments on scandalous video Serbia sends military units to Kosovo border Russian MFA: Russia expects Yerevan, Baku will be able to sign peace treaty Armenia MFA: Illegal abduction of 2 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan is attempt to deviate from its own obligations Iraq unveils Europe-Middle East road and rail project Germany: Russia to expel German diplomats in June Nairi MC: Nikol Pashinyan only came to see a patient Vucic nominates Milos Vucevic as ruling Serbian Progressive Party head How can a smartphone "spy" on you even when it is not connected to the Internet? Syunik governor: border settlements have enough weapons for self-defense Nepal PM to hold talks with India's Narendra Modi Nubarashen landfill fire extinguished Iran, Russia, Syria, Turkey Deputy FMs to discuss Ankara-Damascus relations Kishida willing to meet Kim Jong Un over kidnappings of Japan citizens Iran calls Zelenskyy's statement 'worthless political show' Armenia MoD publishes names of soldiers disappeared on the border Barack Obama's Armenian photographer Scout Tufankjian receives Armenian citizenship Russia reports two drone attacks on oil refinery Bordachev: Turkey is very poorly represented in Central Asia Ruben Vardanyan will join 6th IMCA as a Plenary speaker at Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora section Erdogan accuses Germany of violating press freedom Explosion in Russias Pskov damages oil pipeline building Nikkei Asia: Japan and NATO increase cooperation to counter China, Russia How to properly charge a smartphone? RA MOD: Car operated by 2 servicemen delivering provisions found on inter-positional roa Car overturned in Shirak Province The President of The Artsakh Republic convened a session of the Security Council Cavusoglu: Turkey's EU membership still a goal, though process unlikely to revive Turkish interior minister sued for use of facial recognition app Belgium releases Iranian diplomat Asadollah Asadi Ukraine asks Germany for Taurus cruise missiles Clashes between Iran border guards and Taliban forces Communication with 2 servicemen of the RA Armed Forces supplying food to combat positions was interrupted YouTube will permanently disable one of its popular features 10 best budget smartphones of 2023 Pashinyan received American Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group Dollar, euro gain value New presidential decrees prohibit assemblies, curtail freedom of expression in Karabakh Cavusoglu: Turkey ready to take positive steps with Armenia if it signs peace agreement with Azerbaijan MFA of Armenia: Signing of the peace treaty is not included in the agenda of the Chisinau meeting An Android spy app has been detected and is recommended to be deleted from your phone immediately Ararat Mirzoyan, Louis Bono confer about Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization process (PHOTOS) Azerbaijan pursues policy of energy suffocation of Karabakh but says it provides electricity Karabakh medical patients transfer to Armenia by Red Cross resumes Azerbaijan deputy PM speaks about Zangezur corridor at Kazan forum Armenia opposition MP: Russia response to Azerbaijan should have been more decisive Pixels are invisible even at a close distance: What specs does the first 16K TV have? (photo) Ruling power lawmaker:Armenian side hears for first time that Russia supports Azerbaijan position on Zangezur corridor Armenia ruling force MP: There is clear position on unblocking of regional communications Azerbaijan ambassador to France sees chance for signing peace treaty with Armenia at European summit Armenia deputy FM briefs UN Secretary General special adviser on the growing humanitarian crisis in Karabakh Karabakh's bilaterally surrounded Lisagor village head: Youth want to leave the community, go to university Russia presidential spox: Azerbaijan-Armenia peace agreement signing possible in foreseeable future Armen Grigoryan, Louis Bono discuss Armenia-US relations agenda NATO special representative holds meetings in Azerbaijan Armenia President: War of 2020 was predictable back in 1990-1991 but we didn't want to face the truth Azerbaijan defense minister visits Georgia Armenia ombudswoman briefs Netherlands envoy on problems due to Lachin corridor blockade by Azerbaijan Armenia PM: Deepening of neighborly relations with Georgia is among priorities of our foreign policy Parliament speaker to Armenia graduating schoolchildren: Try to become your best version, not to be lazy WhatsApp has added a useful feature that will make it easier to find people in your contacts US State Department: We believe that an agreement is in reach between Armenia, Azerbaijan Philip Reeker: Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement must include various concepts Ronaldo: Im very happy at Al Nassr Wine Story: Yerevan Wine Days festival is full of surprises (PHOTOS) Elon Musk is finally allowed to test Neuralink brain implants on humans Newspaper: Armenia authorities prominent figures involved in illegal drugs import Liverpool do not qualify for Champions League for first time in 7 years Russia deputy PM: Azerbaijan, Armenia equally understand how transport corridors must be unblocked Premier League: Man United beat Chelsea 4-1 (VIDEO) Full speech of Pashinyan and Putin at bilateral meeting Overchuk: We will discuss many important details with Armenia, Azerbaijan deputy PMs in one week World Hockey Championships: Latvia are in semifinals for first time in history, to face Canada Trilateral meeting of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia ended Trilateral meeting of Aliyev, Putin and Pashinyan begins Putin: Azerbaijan recognizes full sovereignty of Armenia Putin: Russia trade with Armenia reached $5 billion in 2022 A man snapped his penis in three places after it buckled against his partner while having sex Putin: Russia has never changed its position on Lachin corridor Putin: Trilateral meeting will discuss unblocking of transport links Pashinyan and Putin meet in Moscow Enormous superflares from young Sun may have sparked life on Earth, new study suggests Pashinyan, Aliyev have war of words over Zangezur corridor term interpretation Russias Putin thanks Armenias Pashinyan for not opposing Azerbaijans Aliyev visit to EAEU meeting Putin: There are principled agreements between Armenia, Azerbaijan regarding territorial integrity Peskov: No predictions regarding Putin, Aliyev, Pashinyan meeting yet Russia defense minister signs documents on deployment of nuclear weapons on Belarus territory Georgian Airways to launch transit flights to Europe for Russians Aliyev announces possibility of signing peace agreement with Armenia Overchuk: 89% of goods transactions within EAEU are carried out in our national currencies Czech Republic embassy in Armenia temporarily suspends Schengen visa applicants registration Armenia premier: EAEU-Iran free trade agreement entry into force is paramount to us Karabakh FM sends official letters to heads of foreign diplomatic missions accredited to Armenia Armenia Investigative Committee: Detention chosen as preventive measure against Vardan Ghukasyan Human Rights Defender (ombudsperson) Anahit Manasyan on Wednesday received Swedish Ambassador to Armenia Patrik Svensson. Within the framework of the meeting, the Defender presented questions related to the protection of the rights of the residents of the border settlements of Armenia, and the problems caused by the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. Also, she reflected the priorities of the activities of Armenia's ombudsperson. In addition, Manasyan pointed to the importance of stable interaction formed between the institutions of Armenia and Sweden carrying out the mission of human rights protection. For his part, Ambassador Svensson noted that ensuring and guaranteeing the protection of human rights was also a priority for Sweden. In this context, the diplomat presented the programs being implemented and the measures being planned by Sweden in Armenia in rule of law, democracy, and protection of human rights. The details of the visit by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia to Strasbourg, France were also discussed, and the programs and activities to be carried out jointly with the Defender's staff within the framework of the 2023-2025 Armenia-Council of Europe Action Plan were highlighted. At the end of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their willingness to collaborate in various formats. Poverty reduction is not philanthropy 14:31, May 24, 2023 By Shaquawn Gill ( People's Daily Online Guyana is in a very unique place in its history and among its counterparts in the Western Hemisphere. In the process of what seems to be monumental transformation, the government faces pressure from certain factions of society to apparently make all the countrys issues immediately disappear. One of these issues, though not unique to Guyana, is poverty reduction and eradication. However, the path that Guyana should take on poverty elimination is usually up for debate. China, a new global powerhouse, also has a poverty issue, but has made significant strides. The World Bank points out that in 1990, more than 750 million people lived below the international poverty line, which stood at $1.90 a day. This accounted for, at the time, 66 percent of the countrys population. By 2012, Professor Wang Sangui from the China Anti-poverty Research Institute at the Renmin University of China noted that the number stood at 98.99 million people, a significant decrease. These figures were also confirmed by the World Bank. In 2021, China eradicated absolute poverty. But what is the key to Chinas success in poverty eradication? At the publication of this article, I would have spent some 13 weeks in the Peoples Republic of China, interacting with high-level professors, politicians, business moguls and diplomats. With Guyanas ability to implement mechanisms to reduce poverty, I thought it would be remiss of me not to ask for salient advice on this issue. Visiting the Party School of the Communist Party of China, I asked the question every Guyanese would pay to get the answer to: What advice would you give to Guyana to reduce poverty? The response was mind-boggling: Poverty reduction is not philanthropy, one senior lecturer at the school posited. This made me think. Is this what some politicians have proposed at the highest level of the legislative arm of government? Human resource development (education), urbanization, industrialization, and employment opportunities were the specific mechanisms pinpointed by the experts, shunning the doling out of direct cash transfers or handouts and immediate salary spikes. Though clear evidence exists on how the standard of living can be improved through these targeted mechanisms, a motion emanated from the parliamentary opposition requesting that the government gives every Guyanese citizen over the age of 18 $200,000 every quarter. I shudder to think that such a proposal would make its way to the floor of the National Assembly. Fortunately, the investments we have actually seen since we drew first oil have been in the direction of what we have seen brought and continues to bring China great success. In terms of human and economic development, the Guyanese government has awarded more than 13,000 scholarships to Guyanese to attain higher education, and trained 7,000 people in technical and vocational areas in 2021 and 2022, according to the Board of Industrial Training Guyana. Agro-processing and local manufacturing has increased significantly with an ambitious goal of making manufacturing more lucrative through the gas-to-shore project, and many others. Following some aspects of the Chinese model, this may be the answer to the woes of poverty in our country. I'm excited to see what happens next. Shaquawn Gill is a Producer at the Department of Public Information, the official information agency of the Government of Guyana. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) Photo: The Canadian Press Yoshua Bengio, founder and scientific director, Mila-Quebec AI Institute, discusses artificial intelligence, democracy and the future of civilization at the C2MTL conference in Montreal. Artificial intelligence pioneer Yoshua Bengio says regulation in Canada is on the right path, but progress is far too sluggish. Speaking in Montreal, the Universite de Montreal professor said he backed a bill tabled in the House of Commons last June that adopts a more general, principles-based approach to AI guardrails and leaves details to a later date. However, Ottawa has said the act known as Bill C-27 will come into force no sooner than 2025. "That's way too slow," Bengio told reporters Wednesday. "There are simple things that could happen that don't need two years to be figured out." He is calling on the federal government to begin rolling out rules immediately against certain threats, such as "counterfeiting humans" using AI-driven bots. "The users need to know that they're talking to a machine or a human. Accounts on social media and so on need to be regulated so we know who's behind the account and it has to be human beings most of the time," said Bengio, who in 2019 won the Turing Award, known as the Nobel Prize of the technology industry. Criticized as vague by some legal experts, the Liberals' Artificial Intelligence and Data Act lays out a framework for responsible AI development that aims for agility amid the technology's constant evolution. The law, part of a broader bill on consumer privacy and data protection, would ban "reckless and malicious" AI use, establish oversight by a commissioner and the industry minister and impose financial penalties. But definitions around key terms such as "high-impact AI systems" and specifics on how they would have to adhere to human rights laws would be developed down the line. Even after it takes effect, the act would focus initially on education, guidelines and helping businesses comply voluntarily. "The government intends to allow ample time for the ecosystem to adjust to the new framework before enforcement actions are undertaken," the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development states in a companion document to the bill. The stakes could hardly be higher. Addressing the C2 Montreal creative business conference alongside Yuval Noah Harari, Bengio agreed with the historian and author's warning that AI systems pose an "existential risk to humanity" and democracy. Harari, who wrote the book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, said the pace and magnitude of generative AI development exceeds technological leaps from previous eras. We are dealing with something even more powerful than the trains and radio and electricity that we invented in the Industrial Revolution. I think there is certainly a way to build good societies with AI, but it will take time," Harari said via videoconference, cautioning that "failed experiments" could leave no room for "a second chance we won't survive it." In March, he and Bengio joined more than 1,000 artificial intelligence experts in calling for a six-month pause on training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 the large language model behind San Francisco-based OpenAI's ChatGPT. Co-signatories included engineers from Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft as well as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Rachel Bronson, president of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. "If the AI of today is like an amoeba, just imagine what a T. rex would look like. And it won't take billions of years to get there," Harari said during the chat with Bengio and CTV News chief political correspondent Vassy Kapelos, who interviewed them on a stage backed by a giant, primitive robot emerging from the riser at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Propaganda, disinformation and personalized trolls that could convince you to vote a certain way all present challenges to liberal democracy over the coming decade, Bengio said. All the more necessary to introduce guardrails "as soon as possible," he added. We need to face the dangers the sooner the better." Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan, who is in New York on a working visit, on Wednesday had a meeting with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, the foreign ministry of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. They discussed the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh due to the blocking of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, and the details of the ICRC's efforts. Also, the deputy FM of Armenia reflected on Azerbaijan's violation of its international obligations as well as international humanitarian law and human rights protection norms. In this context, he emphasized the need to ensure the active engagement of the ICRC and unhindered humanitarian access in order to address the humanitarian challenges in Nagorno-Karabakh. Stressing the urgent need for the quick release and returning of the Armenian prisoners of war and civilians still held hostage in Azerbaijan, Gevorgyan valued also the activity of the ICRC toward ensuring the fulfillment of the norms of international humanitarian law. The peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan should be based on a long-term, stable decision, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told RIA Novosti. Answering the question about the preparation of this peace treaty between the parties, Galuzin noted that "given the extreme sensitivity of these issues, we cannot comment on the course of the negotiation process, so as not to hinder its advancement." "Baku and Yerevan themselves should decide what corresponds to their own interests and how they intend to ensure a stable and reliable peace for their peoples. Moreover, it is understandable, the peace treaty should be based on long-term, stable decisions," added the deputy foreign minister of Russia. He recalled that "Russia comprehensively supports the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia." "The tripartite statement adopted by the leaders in Sochi on October 31, 2022 emphasizes the importance of actively preparing for the signing of a peace treaty in order to achieve stable and long-term peace in the region," added the Russian deputy FM. Galuzin is convinced that "this joint work should be considered in the context of the implementation of the complex of tripartite agreements agreed by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia in November 2020." "They are on the basis of the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process and form the roadmap of reconciliation between Baku and Yerevan. It includes steps to unblock transportation and economic connections, delimit the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and develop civil society contacts [between the two countries]," added the deputy foreign minister of Russia. Returning to the topic of the peace treaty, Mikhail Galuzin noted that the Russian side helps "the parties to find points of contact, wording and compromises acceptable to them." Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday will have two bilateral meetingsin Moscowwith his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts, Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan, and then a trilateral meeting is expected. The West is attempting in every possible way to intervene in the situation created around Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated this at the meetingin Belarusian capital Minskof the Council of Defense Ministers of the CSTO member countries, RIA Novosti reports. "As for the situation in the Caucasus region, it is mainly determined by the degree of settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Now the security in Nagorno-Karabakh is provided by the Russian peacekeeping contingent. However, the West is attempting in every possible way to intervene in the situation, increase its presence [there], and discredit the Russian peacekeeping policy," Shoigu said. According to him, the important thing for the West is "to push Russia out of the South Caucasus, not to ensure the security and prosperity of the region in the long term." "An example of this is the so-called civilian mission of the European Union in Armenia, which includes servicemen and employees of special services. I believe there is no need to explain what they actually do [in Armenia]," Shoigu said. "In this regard, we consider it necessary to continue the work on the matter of sending a CSTO mission to the region," the Russian defense minister emphasized. The legislature of the US state of Arizona has affirmed Artsakhs (Nagorno-Karabakh) right to self-determination in a proclamation issued by Arizona State House Speaker Ben Toma, reported the Armenian National Committee of America. Arizona Armenian community leaders Artur Artenyan and Vartan Arabyan spearheaded the legislative effort. The proclamation cites Artsakh as the indigenous homeland of the Armenian people, and has been a center of Armenian cultural, political and religious life for several millennia. It goes on to document Soviet Azerbaijans decades of Artsakh oppression and post-independence aggression, culminating in an assault on Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 that saw Azerbaijan perpetrate war crimes against the regions Armenian population, and resulted in Azerbaijan seizing control of 70% of Karabakhs territory. The proclamation salutes the Artsakh Armenians efforts to exercise the right to self-determination and live free from violence and repression, and by recognizing the government of Artsakh, the international community can help put to rest this century-old conflict. Arizona House Speaker Toma then affirms support for the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakhs right to self-determination, and its continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation, in order to guarantee its citizens those rights inherent in a free and independent society; and be it further, I encourage the United States government to strengthen and solidify our countrys economic and cultural relationship with the Artsakh Republic and its citizens and continue to promote the humanitarian and economic rehabilitation of the region. During the criminal investigation, facts were obtained that Vardan Ghukasyan, known by the nickname "Dog," and Artak Galstyan, who are the leaders of the Public Voice party, as well as two other persons, extorted $110,000 from a person, and presented property claimsunder the guise of providing servicesto person in charge of a night club and extorting $60,000-$100,000 from him, the Investigative Committee of Armenia informed. Based on the obtained facts, a public criminal prosecution has been launched against Ghukasyan and Galstyan, as well as Ghukasyan's two other accomplices, for committing large-scale extortion. Galstyan and the two aforementioned persons have been indicted, and detention has been chosen as a preventive measure against them. Also, facts were obtained that during his video program on his YouTube channel on July 9, 2021, Ghukasyan showed disrespect towards the Armenian court. In addition, on November 12, 2022, Ghukasyan disseminatedon his YouTube and Facebook accountsa group of peoples call to use violence against Armenian contract servicemen and justified such violence. Based on the obtained facts, a public criminal prosecution has been launched against Ghukasyan on several counts. A motion was submitted to the court by the body conducting the aforesaid proceedings regarding the application of detention as a preventive measure against Ghukasyan, and the court granted the motion. The Police of Armenia have taken a measure to issue an international arrest warrant against Ghukasyan through the Interpol. Also, within the framework of the criminal proceedings, information was obtained that Ghukasyan is in the US. Based on this, the international request for assistance by the competent US authorities in finding the package of all necessary documents related to the criminal proceedings, as well as providing the necessary assistance in finding Vardan Ghukasyan and transferring him to the competent Armenian authorities has been forwarded to the Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia in order to ensure the necessary procedure in that regard. Photo: . Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue volunteers scrub spray paint from the hull of their main Horseshoe Bay search and rescue Zodiac. May 7, 2023| Jason King /RCMSAR 01 When vandals tagged the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescues main Horseshoe Bay vessel, it wasnt just a piece of life-saving equipment they were damaging. It was also a floating memorial to a dedicated volunteer who delivered to the community. Thats the message from Geraldine Rae, widow of longtime search and rescue volunteer Craig Rae, who died in 2008 after living for years with kidney disease. He wanted one last adventure before he died and he got his skippers licence, and he joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, she said. He really revamped the lifeboat society. He spent hours in his office, reorganizing everything, and he raised enough money to buy that lifeboat. When the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue launched the vessel in 2012, it was dubbed the Craig Rae Spirit. It cost about $650,000. Sometime around 11:40 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, a group of three young people were caught on camera appearing on the dock in Horseshoe Bay. One of them was captured walking down to the RCMSAR boat and spray-painting the word Jeans on the hull. Rae described her husband as someone who was always finding new ways to contribute to the betterment of his community. He liked to help, Rae said. And this was his swan song. Thats why Rae said her family was left feeling so wounded when they learned the vessel he worked so hard to provide and which bears his name was deliberately damaged. To think anybody would attack a lifeboat when they might need it themselves one day, it just makes no sense, she said. Rae said she is speaking out now because she hopes it sends a message to those responsible. It may just prod their conscience a little bit more, she said. And they can realize that there are people who contribute to the welfare of others. According to the West Vancouver Police Department, there have been no substantive updates in the criminal investigation. Rae said if the suspects are ever caught, she knows what the appropriate punishment would be. [The volunteers] put an awful lot of time and effort into this, so I think a little bit of community work would really hammer it home, she said. Search and rescue vessel repaired The spray paint used in the graffiti can damage the structural integrity of the Zodiacs inflatable hull, and in the days after the incident, it appeared the hull would have to be either repainted or fully replaced, which could cost upwards of $28,000. As word of the damage spread, the team did receive a bump in donations to help cover the cost of repairs, but Gerard McKenzie, RCMSAR 1 president, said a local contractor has been able to remove the remnants of the paint. For the low sum, we consider, of $470.40, he was able to take the tag off and we dont have to repaint it, he said, adding that it comes as a huge relief for the team, which has to do its own fundraising. The real issue now is, how do we increase our security to make sure this does not happen again he said. We will be talking to the West Van District. McKenzie said Craig Raes name and reputation are still held in the highest regard on the dock. It was absolutely amazing what a human being he was, he said. For the people that worked with him in our station to name a boat after him is an indication of how much they thought of this man. With her husbands legacy on water intact, Rae said she hopes to see others continue supporting the team through donations or by attending their 2023 Dinner on the Dock fundraiser on July 6. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) foreign minister Sergey Ghazaryan on 24 Wednesday sent official letters to heads of foreign diplomatic missions accredited to Armenia, in which he presented the concerns of the government of Artsakh regarding the existential dangers threatening the people of Artsakh. In particular, the letter said that since the signing of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, Azerbaijan has been deliberately spreading disinformation about alleged illegal military activities in Artsakh, including transfer of weapons, thereby trying to justify their own illegal actions and possible new attacks on Artsakh, and to demand the disarmament of the Defence Army to deprive the people of Artsakh of any opportunity for self-defence. It emphasised that after the 44-day war, Azerbaijan built dozens of new military facilities in the occupied territories of Artsakh and deployed thousands of military personnel there. It has also been regularly conducting military exercises and replenishing its arsenal mainly with offensive weapons in violation of international arms control mechanisms. The letter also referred to Azerbaijan's more than 5-month-long blockade of Artsakh and its humanitarian and security consequences, including the illegal installation of an Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor in violation of the 2020 Trilateral Statement and the order of the International Court of Justice of 22 February 2023. In this context, the Foreign Minister emphasised that any action or statement supporting the illegal claims of Azerbaijan is perceived by this country's leadership as condoning of their policy of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. The Minister of Foreign Affairs called on international actors to express a strong and impartial position regarding the actions of Azerbaijan, and urge the latter to refrain from the further use of or threat of force, respecting its international obligations. He emphasised that this is the least the international community must do to demonstrate its commitment to preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. At the EAEU summit in Moscow on Thursday, there was a war of words between the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. The reason was Aliyev's use of the term "Zangezur corridor." In his speech, Aliyev used the "Zangezur corridor" term in the context of economic cooperation. In response, Pashinyan noted that the president of Azerbaijan used a term that served as a cover for presenting territorial claims against Armenia in recent years. "I want to emphasize that the tripartite statement of 2020 talks about only one corridor, and that is the Lachin corridor, which was supposed to be under the control of Russian peacekeepers, but, unfortunately, was illegally blocked by Azerbaijan," Pashinyan said. At the same time, he emphasized Armenia's readiness to unblock all transport and economic communications in the region, including those that pass through the territory of Armenia. In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Aliyev spoke about creating conditions related to the recognition of relevant borders, established by the 1991 agreements. "These conditions suggest that appropriate agreements can be reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including regarding transport communications. I should happily note that Armenia is also in a positive mood [in this regard]," the Russian president said. Putin noted that they can talk and discuss in more detail at the upcoming tripartite meeting. Aliyev, in turn, said that Azerbaijan had no territorial demands from Armenia. According to him, one needs to "try hard or have a wild imagination and see territorial demands." "As for the word corridor that I used, I used the same word in connection with the North-South corridor, the East-West corridor. The name of the corridor is in no way an encroachment on someone's territory," said the Azerbaijani president. He repeated that there were chances to reach a peace agreement with Armenia, especially, according to him, in the conditions when "Armenia has recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan." In response, the Armenian PM said that people who are familiar with the text of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, are well aware that there is one instance of using the word "corridor" in the text, and that word has a special meaning in that context. It is the Lachin corridor, which should be under Russian control and provide a connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. "However, unfortunately, in an illegal manner, in the presence of Russian peacekeepers, Azerbaijan has closed that corridor," Pashinyan said. At the same time, the Armenian premier confirmed that Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the mutual recognition of territorial integrity and are moving forward in the process of normalization of relations based on this. "I hope that a constructive dialogue regarding the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh will soon begin between Stepanakert and Baku within the framework of the international mechanism," Pashinyan added. To this, Aliyev said that "Azerbaijan has not closed the corridor, but the Lachin-Khankendi [i.e., Stepanakert] road is open." "On the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, whose territorial integrity you recognize, a border checkpoint was established in accordance with all international standards. This border checkpoint is located 20 meters from the position of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. And today the residents of Azerbaijan with Armenian nationality living in Karabakh move freely to Armenia. There is no obstacle," he said, calling on the platform not to be used for "groundless accusations." Aliyev said that Azerbaijan launched the initiative to create the Zangezur corridor. "Azerbaijan has the right to initiate what it considers to be right, legal, reasonable, and what is supported by the Russian Federation and other parties involved in the process," he added. And the PM of Armenia said in response: "It was very interesting to know that Russia supports this project. I know that Russia supports the opening of all transport and economic communications in our region. You said Lachin road." According to the tripartite statement, there is no Lachin road. There is the Lachin corridor there, which, according to the document signed by the three of us, should be under the control of Russian peacekeeping forces. No one else should have control in this corridor. What is happening there is a direct violation of the tripartite statement. Armenia does not see that the corridor is open, as the leader of Azerbaijan claims. Therefore, I consider it important to send an international mission to the Lachin corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh. The mission will assess the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, where a humanitarian crisis has been observed since December last year. Due to the blockade of the corridor [by Azerbaijan], supplies of necessary goods, food have become difficult, obstacles have arisen." (200550): 20230525 19:43:22 : : : : Shares code 000550 Shares Name Jiangling Motors No. 2023015 200550 Jiangling B Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Board of Directors Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. and its Board members undertake that the information disclosed herein is truthful, accurate and complete and does not contain any false statement, misrepresentation or major omission. I. Informing of the Meeting The Board of Directors of Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as JMC or the Company) sent out relevant proposals of the Board meeting to all the Directors on May 21, 2023. II. Time, Place & Form of Holding the Meeting The Board meeting was held in form of paper meeting from May 21 to May 24, 2023. The procedure of convening and holding the meeting complied with the stipulation of the relevant laws, regulations and the Articles of Association of JMC. III. Status of the Directors Attending the Meeting Nine Directors shall attend this Board meeting and nine Directors were present. IV. Resolutions The Directors present at the meeting approved the following resolutions based on their discussion: 1. The Board of Directors agreed JMC Year 2023-2025 Shareholder Return Plan, and to submit it to the Shareholders Meeting for approval. There were 9 votes in favor of this proposal, 0 vote against, and 0 abstention. The aforesaid Shareholder Return Plan was published in the website www.cninfo.com.cn. 2. Given the three-year term of the Tenth Board of Directors of JMC will soon expire pursuant to the provision of the Articles of Association of JMC, the Board of Directors approved submitting to the Shareholders Meeting the nominations of the following personnel as candidates for the new Board of Directors: Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd. nominated Mr. Qiu Tiangao, Mr. Jin Wenhui and Mr. Yuan Mingxue as candidates for Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC, and nominated Mr. Yu Zhuoping as a candidate for Independent Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC; Ford Motor Company nominated Mr. Shengpo Wu, Mr. Ryan Anderson, and Ms. Xiong Chunying as candidates for Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC, and nominated Mr. Chen Jiangfeng as a candidate for Independent Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC; Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd. and Ford Motor Company jointly nominated Ms. Wang Yue as a candidate for Independent Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC. Each of the above-mentioned Director candidates was presented as a separate proposal to the Board meeting for voting and there were 9 votes in favor of the proposals, 0 vote against, and 0 abstention. JMC shall submit the documents of the three Independent Director candidates to Shenzhen Stock Exchange for review and if Shenzhen Stock Exchange does not raise objection, then submit the nominations to the Shareholders Meeting for approval. The resumes of the candidates for the new Board of Directors are as follows: Mr. Qiu Tiangao, born in 1966, holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Manufacturing and a Masters Degree in Industrial Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and is Chairman of Jiangling Motor Group Co., Ltd., Chairman of Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd., Chairman of JMC, Chairman of Jiangxi Isuzu Co., Ltd., Chairman of JMCG New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd., and Chairman of Nanchang Intelligent New Energy Vehicle Research Institute. Mr. Qiu Tiangao held various positions including Head of Power Department, Plant Manager of Axle Plant for JMC, General Manager, Chairman of Nanchang Gear Co., Ltd., Chairman of Jiangxi JMCG Gear Co., Ltd., Vice President, Vice Chairman of Jiangling Motor Holdings Co., Ltd., Director, General Manager, Chairman of Jiangling Motor Company (Group). As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Qiu Tiangao did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Qiu Tiangao has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Qiu Tiangao has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Qiu Tiangao meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Qiu Tiangao does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. Mr. Shengpo Wu, born in 1966, holds a Bachelors Degree in Thermal Energy Engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing and Masters Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Information Management, respectively, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University, and is a Group Vice President of Ford, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford China, Vice Chairman of JMC, Vice Chairman of Whirlpool (China) Co., Ltd., and a Director of Shanghai Guangdian Electric (Group) Co., LTD. Mr. Shengpo Wu held various positions including Vice President and Regional General Manager for Honeywell Process Solutions in Greater China, President and CEO of Osrams Asia-Pacific Business, President, Asia Pacific, and a member of the Global Executive Committee for Whirlpool Corporation, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Ford China. As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Shengpo Wu did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Shengpo Wu has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Shengpo Wu has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Shengpo Wu meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Shengpo Wu does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. Mr. Ryan Anderson, born in 1973, holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from University of Chicago and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and is Director and CFO of Ford Motor (China) Ltd., a Director of JMC, a Director of Changan Ford Automobile Limited and Ford Shuttle Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., and Chairman of Ford Electric Mach Technology (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. Mr. Ryan Anderson has held various positions including Treasurer of Ford Europe, Product Development Controller, Marketing & Sales Controller of Ford Asia Pacific, Director of Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis for Ford Motor Company. As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Ryan Anderson did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Ryan Anderson has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Ryan Anderson has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Ryan Anderson meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Ryan Anderson does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. Ms. Xiong Chunying, born in 1964, senior engineer, holds a Bachelors Degree in Automobile Engineering from Jiangsu Engineering College, a Masters Degree in Industrial Economics from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics and an EMBA Degree from China Europe International Business School, and is Director and President of JMC. Ms. Xiong Chunying held various positions including Chief of Quality Management Department for Jiangling-Isuzu Motors Company Limited, Chief of Quality Management Department, Assistant to the President, Vice President, Executive Vice President, and Director & First Executive Vice President for JMC. As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Ms. Xiong Chunying holds 1,200 shares of the Company. Ms. Xiong Chunying has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Ms. Xiong Chunying has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which she is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Ms. Xiong Chunying meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Ms. Xiong Chunying does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. Mr. Jin Wenhui, born in 1967, holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Manufacturing, a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and an EMBA Degree in China Europe International Business School, and is a Director of Jiangling Motor Group Co., Ltd., Director & First Executive Vice President of JMC. Mr. Jin Wenhui held various positions including Chief of Manufacturing Department, Assistant to the President, Vice President of JMC, Director, General Manager of JMCG Jingma Motors Co., Ltd., Executive Vice General Manager of Jiangxi Isuzu Automobile Co., Ltd. As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Jin Wenhui did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Jin Wenhui has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Jin Wenhui has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Jin Wenhui meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Jin Wenhui does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. Mr. Yuan Mingxue, born in 1968, holds a Bachelors Degree in Auto Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology and an EMBA from China Europe International Business School, and is Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Labor Union for Chongqing Changan Automobile Company Limited (Changan Auto), and a Director of JMC. Mr. Yuan Mingxue has held various positions including Assistant to the President of Changan Auto and Executive Vice President of Jiangling Holdings Limited Company, Assistant to the President and Director of Strategy Planning Department for Changan Auto, Assistant to the President and Director of Overseas Development Department for Changan Auto, Vice President, Executive Vice President of Changan Auto. As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Yuan Mingxue did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Yuan Mingxue has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Yuan Mingxue has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Yuan Mingxue meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Yuan Mingxue does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. Mr. Yu Zhuoping, born in 1960, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tongji University and a Doctor's Degree in Automotive Engineering from Tsinghua University, and is Director of Collaborative Innovation Center for Intelligent Energy Vehicles of Tongji University, Chairman of Tongji Automobile Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., a Director of Beijing National Hydrogen Zhonglian Hydrogen Energy Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chairman and General Manager of Shanghai Intelligent New Energy Vehicle Science and Technology Innovation Function Platform Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Shanghai Haili (Group) Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Huayu Automotive Systems Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Weichai Power Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Ningbo Shenglong Automotive Powertrain System Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of JMC, and a Counsellor of Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Vice President of China Society of Automotive Engineers,. Mr. Yu Zhuoping held various positions including Director of School of Mechanical Engineering, Executive Deputy Director of New Energy Vehicle Engineering Center, Executive Vice Dean, Dean of School of Automotive Studies for Tongji University, and Assistant to the President of Tongji University. As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Yu Zhuoping did not hold any shares of the Company. Mr. Yu Zhuoping has no relationship with the shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Yu Zhuoping has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Yu Zhuoping meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Yu Zhuoping does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng, born in 1979, holds a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in Law from International Law Department, China Foreign Affairs University, and is Senior Deputy General Counsel & Executive Director of Gilead (Shanghai) Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd and an Independent Director of JMC. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng has held various positions including Legal Counsel of Ford Motor (China) Ltd., Legal Counsel of Ford Motor Research & Engineering (Nanjing) Co., Ltd./ Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Corporation, Ltd., Nanjing Company/Changan Ford Mazda Engine Company, Ltd., Senior Legal Counsel & Compliance Officer of Ford Asia Pacific & Africa, Senior Legal Counsel of BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd., and Member of China Country Council, Head of legal, Director, Merck Healthcare China. As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Chen Jiangfeng did not hold any shares of the Company. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng has no relationship with the shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Chen Jiangfeng does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. Ms. Wang Yue, born in 1978, holds a Bachelors Degree in Accountancy from Henan University, a Masters Degree in Accountancy from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and a Doctors Degree in Accountancy from Shanghai University of Financial and Economics, and is an Associate Professor of School of Accountancy, Shanghai University of Financial and Economics, an Independent Director of Shanghai Xinhua Media Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Jiangsu Hongde Special Components Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Guangdong Yangshan United Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of JMC, and an Independent Director of Scivita Medical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. Ms. Wang Yue has served as Research Assistant at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and China Europe International School, and during 2012~2013, served as Visiting Scholar at Zimmerman Center for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and had served as an Independent Director of Zhuhai Letong Chemical Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Dasheng Microgrid Technology Co., Ltd. and an Independent Director of Shanghai Meishe International Freight Co., Ltd. As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Ms. Wang Yue did not hold any shares of the Company. Ms. Wang Yue has no relationship with the shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Ms. Wang Yue has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which she is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Ms. Wang Yue meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Ms. Wang Yue does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking. The statements of the nominators and the statements of the candidates for Independent Director were published in the website www.cninfo.com.cn. 3. The Board of Directors approved the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of JMC. There were 9 votes in favor of this proposal, 0 vote against, and 0 abstention. The full text of the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of JMC was published on May 26, 2023 in China Securities, Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily and the website www.cninfo.com.cn. V. Opinions from Independent Directors Independent Directors, Mr. Yu Zhuoping, Mr. Chen Jiangfeng and Ms. Wang Yue, expressed their opinions on the Shareholder Return Plan in the next three years and the nominations of Director candidates for the new Board of Directors as follows: 1. We have been informed of the meeting agenda prior to the meeting; 2. The Shareholder Return Plan in the next three years formulated by the Board of the Company can ensure the investors reasonable return as well as the Companys long-term and sustainable development, build up a scientific, sustainable and stable shareholder return plan and related mechanism, which will benefit legal interest protection for investors, and complied with the requirements of the laws and regulations and does not hurt the interests of the Company and minority shareholders. We agreed JMC Year 2023-2025 Shareholder Return Plan, and agreed the Board of Directors to submit the Plan to the Shareholders Meeting for approval. 3. After the review of the Director candidates resumes, we believed all of the Director candidates complied with the relevant qualification requirements stipulated in the laws, regulations and the Articles of Association of JMC and agreed the nominations; and 4. The procedure of the nominations of Director candidates complied with the relevant requirements of the Articles of Association of JMC. The announcement hereby is published. Board of Directors Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. May 26, 2023 Shares code 000550 Shares Name Jiangling Motors No. 2023015 200550 Jiangling BJiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd.Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Board of Directors Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. and its Board members undertake that the information disclosed herein is truthful, accurate and complete and does not contain any false statement, misrepresentation or major omission.I. Informing of the MeetingThe Board of Directors of Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as JMC or the Company) sent out relevant proposals of the Board meeting to all the Directors on May 21, 2023.II. Time, Place & Form of Holding the MeetingThe Board meeting was held in form of paper meeting from May 21 to May 24, 2023. The procedure of convening and holding the meeting complied with the stipulation of the relevant laws, regulations and the Articles of Association of JMC.III. Status of the Directors Attending the MeetingNine Directors shall attend this Board meeting and nine Directors were present.IV. ResolutionsThe Directors present at the meeting approved the following resolutions based on their discussion:1. The Board of Directors agreed JMC Year 2023-2025 Shareholder Return Plan, and to submit it to the Shareholders Meeting for approval.There were 9 votes in favor of this proposal, 0 vote against, and 0 abstention.The aforesaid Shareholder Return Plan was published in the website www.cninfo.com.cn.2. Given the three-year term of the Tenth Board of Directors of JMC will soon expire pursuant to the provision of the Articles of Association of JMC, the Board of Directors approved submitting to the Shareholders Meeting the nominations of the following personnel as candidates for the new Board of Directors:Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd. nominated Mr. Qiu Tiangao, Mr. Jin Wenhui and Mr. Yuan Mingxue as candidates for Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC, and nominated Mr. Yu Zhuoping as a candidate for Independent Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC;Ford Motor Company nominated Mr. Shengpo Wu, Mr. Ryan Anderson, and Ms. Xiong Chunying as candidates for Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC, and nominated Mr. Chen Jiangfeng as a candidate for Independent Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC;Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd. and Ford Motor Company jointly nominated Ms. Wang Yue as a candidate for Independent Director on the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC.Each of the above-mentioned Director candidates was presented as a separate proposal to the Board meeting for voting and there were 9 votes in favor of the proposals, 0 vote against, and 0 abstention.JMC shall submit the documents of the three Independent Director candidates to Shenzhen Stock Exchange for review and if Shenzhen Stock Exchange does not raise objection, then submit the nominations to the Shareholders Meeting for approval.The resumes of the candidates for the new Board of Directors are as follows:Mr. Qiu Tiangao, born in 1966, holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Manufacturing and a Masters Degree in Industrial Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and is Chairman of Jiangling Motor Group Co., Ltd., Chairman of Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd., Chairman of JMC, Chairman of Jiangxi Isuzu Co., Ltd., Chairman of JMCG New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd., and Chairman of Nanchang Intelligent New Energy Vehicle Research Institute. Mr. Qiu Tiangao held various positions including Head of Power Department, Plant Manager of Axle Plant for JMC, General Manager, Chairman of Nanchang Gear Co., Ltd., Chairman of Jiangxi JMCG Gear Co., Ltd., Vice President, Vice Chairman of Jiangling Motor Holdings Co., Ltd., Director, General Manager, Chairman of Jiangling Motor Company (Group).As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Qiu Tiangao did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Qiu Tiangao has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Qiu Tiangao has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Qiu Tiangao meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Qiu Tiangao does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.Mr. Shengpo Wu, born in 1966, holds a Bachelors Degree in Thermal Energy Engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing and Masters Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Information Management, respectively, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University, and is a Group Vice President of Ford, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford China, Vice Chairman of JMC, Vice Chairman of Whirlpool (China) Co., Ltd., and a Director of Shanghai Guangdian Electric (Group) Co., LTD. Mr. Shengpo Wu held various positions including Vice President and Regional General Manager for Honeywell Process Solutions in Greater China, President and CEO of Osrams Asia-Pacific Business, President, Asia Pacific, and a member of the Global Executive Committee for Whirlpool Corporation, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Ford China.As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Shengpo Wu did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Shengpo Wu has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Shengpo Wu has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Shengpo Wu meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Shengpo Wu does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.Mr. Ryan Anderson, born in 1973, holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from University of Chicago and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and is Director and CFO of Ford Motor (China) Ltd., a Director of JMC, a Director of Changan Ford Automobile Limited and Ford Shuttle Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., and Chairman of Ford Electric Mach Technology (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. Mr. Ryan Anderson has held various positions including Treasurer of Ford Europe, Product Development Controller, Marketing & Sales Controller of Ford Asia Pacific, Director of Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis for Ford Motor Company.As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Ryan Anderson did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Ryan Anderson has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Ryan Anderson has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Ryan Anderson meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Ryan Anderson does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.Ms. Xiong Chunying, born in 1964, senior engineer, holds a Bachelors Degree in Automobile Engineering from Jiangsu Engineering College, a Masters Degree in Industrial Economics from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics and an EMBA Degree from China Europe International Business School, and is Director and President of JMC. Ms. Xiong Chunying held various positions including Chief of Quality Management Department for Jiangling-Isuzu Motors Company Limited, Chief of Quality Management Department, Assistant to the President, Vice President, Executive Vice President, and Director & First Executive Vice President for JMC.As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Ms. Xiong Chunying holds 1,200 shares of the Company. Ms. Xiong Chunying has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Ms. Xiong Chunying has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which she is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Ms. Xiong Chunying meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Ms. Xiong Chunying does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.Mr. Jin Wenhui, born in 1967, holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Manufacturing, a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and an EMBA Degree in China Europe International Business School, and is a Director of Jiangling Motor Group Co., Ltd., Director & First Executive Vice President of JMC. Mr. Jin Wenhui held various positions including Chief of Manufacturing Department, Assistant to the President, Vice President of JMC, Director, General Manager of JMCG Jingma Motors Co., Ltd., Executive Vice General Manager of Jiangxi Isuzu Automobile Co., Ltd.As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Jin Wenhui did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Jin Wenhui has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Jin Wenhui has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Jin Wenhui meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Jin Wenhui does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.Mr. Yuan Mingxue, born in 1968, holds a Bachelors Degree in Auto Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology and an EMBA from China Europe International Business School, and is Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Labor Union for Chongqing Changan Automobile Company Limited (Changan Auto), and a Director of JMC. Mr. Yuan Mingxue has held various positions including Assistant to the President of Changan Auto and Executive Vice President of Jiangling Holdings Limited Company, Assistant to the President and Director of Strategy Planning Department for Changan Auto, Assistant to the President and Director of Overseas Development Department for Changan Auto, Vice President, Executive Vice President of Changan Auto.As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Yuan Mingxue did not hold any shares of the Company. Except for the above mentioned position in the shareholder of the Company, Mr. Yuan Mingxue has no relationship with the other shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Yuan Mingxue has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Yuan Mingxue meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Yuan Mingxue does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.Mr. Yu Zhuoping, born in 1960, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tongji University and a Doctor's Degree in Automotive Engineering from Tsinghua University, and is Director of Collaborative Innovation Center for Intelligent Energy Vehicles of Tongji University, Chairman of Tongji Automobile Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., a Director of Beijing National Hydrogen Zhonglian Hydrogen Energy Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chairman and General Manager of Shanghai Intelligent New Energy Vehicle Science and Technology Innovation Function Platform Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Shanghai Haili (Group) Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Huayu Automotive Systems Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Weichai Power Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Ningbo Shenglong Automotive Powertrain System Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of JMC, and a Counsellor of Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Vice President of China Society of Automotive Engineers,. Mr. Yu Zhuoping held various positions including Director of School of Mechanical Engineering, Executive Deputy Director of New Energy Vehicle Engineering Center, Executive Vice Dean, Dean of School of Automotive Studies for Tongji University, and Assistant to the President of Tongji University.As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Yu Zhuoping did not hold any shares of the Company. Mr. Yu Zhuoping has no relationship with the shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Yu Zhuoping has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Yu Zhuoping meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Yu Zhuoping does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.Mr. Chen Jiangfeng, born in 1979, holds a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in Law from International Law Department, China Foreign Affairs University, and is Senior Deputy General Counsel & Executive Director of Gilead (Shanghai) Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd and an Independent Director of JMC. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng has held various positions including Legal Counsel of Ford Motor (China) Ltd., Legal Counsel of Ford Motor Research & Engineering (Nanjing) Co., Ltd./ Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Corporation, Ltd., Nanjing Company/Changan Ford Mazda Engine Company, Ltd., Senior Legal Counsel & Compliance Officer of Ford Asia Pacific & Africa, Senior Legal Counsel of BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd., and Member of China Country Council, Head of legal, Director, Merck Healthcare China.As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Mr. Chen Jiangfeng did not hold any shares of the Company. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng has no relationship with the shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which he is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Mr. Chen Jiangfeng meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Mr. Chen Jiangfeng does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.Ms. Wang Yue, born in 1978, holds a Bachelors Degree in Accountancy from Henan University, a Masters Degree in Accountancy from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and a Doctors Degree in Accountancy from Shanghai University of Financial and Economics, and is an Associate Professor of School of Accountancy, Shanghai University of Financial and Economics, an Independent Director of Shanghai Xinhua Media Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Jiangsu Hongde Special Components Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Guangdong Yangshan United Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of JMC, and an Independent Director of Scivita Medical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. Ms. Wang Yue has served as Research Assistant at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and China Europe International School, and during 2012~2013, served as Visiting Scholar at Zimmerman Center for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and had served as an Independent Director of Zhuhai Letong Chemical Co., Ltd., an Independent Director of Dasheng Microgrid Technology Co., Ltd. and an Independent Director of Shanghai Meishe International Freight Co., Ltd.As of the disclosure date of this announcement, Ms. Wang Yue did not hold any shares of the Company. Ms. Wang Yue has no relationship with the shareholders holding more than 5% of the shares of the Company and their actual controllers, as well as other Directors, Supervisors and senior executives of the Company. Ms. Wang Yue has not been punished by China Securities Regulatory Commission or other relevant Departments or taken disciplinary action by the Stock Exchanges, and has not been investigated by judicial organs for suspected crimes or by China Securities Regulatory Commission on suspicion of violations of laws and regulations. There is no the situation on which she is prohibited to serve as a Company Director as stipulated in the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company. Ms. Wang Yue meets the qualifications required in the laws, administrative regulations, departmental rules, normative documents, Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of the Company. After the inquiry of "National Court Information Disclosure and Inquiry Platform of Persons Subject to Enforcement for Trust-breaking", Ms. Wang Yue does not belong to the person subject to enforcement for trust-breaking.The statements of the nominators and the statements of the candidates for Independent Director were published in the website www.cninfo.com.cn.3. The Board of Directors approved the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of JMC.There were 9 votes in favor of this proposal, 0 vote against, and 0 abstention.The full text of the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of JMC was published on May 26, 2023 in China Securities, Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily and the website www.cninfo.com.cn.V. Opinions from Independent DirectorsIndependent Directors, Mr. Yu Zhuoping, Mr. Chen Jiangfeng and Ms. Wang Yue, expressed their opinions on the Shareholder Return Plan in the next three years and the nominations of Director candidates for the new Board of Directors as follows: 1. We have been informed of the meeting agenda prior to the meeting; 2. The Shareholder Return Plan in the next three years formulated by the Board of the Company can ensure the investors reasonable return as well as the Companys long-term and sustainable development, build up a scientific, sustainable and stable shareholder return plan and related mechanism, which will benefit legal interest protection for investors, and complied with the requirements of the laws and regulations and does not hurt the interests of the Company and minority shareholders. We agreed JMC Year 2023-2025 Shareholder Return Plan, and agreed the Board of Directors to submit the Plan to the Shareholders Meeting for approval.3. After the review of the Director candidates resumes, we believed all of the Director candidates complied with the relevant qualification requirements stipulated in the laws, regulations and the Articles of Association of JMC and agreed the nominations; and4. The procedure of the nominations of Director candidates complied with the relevant requirements of the Articles of Association of JMC.The announcement hereby is published.Board of DirectorsJiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd.May 26, 2023 The meeting of RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took place in the Kremlin. The official website of the prime minister of Armenia reports. In his speech, Vladimir Putin said: "Dear friends, Dear Nikol Vovaevich, Once again, I warmly welcome you all to Moscow, Russia. Thank you for actively participating in today's meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. We have already talked about this, this whole event, in my opinion, passed at the level we had hoped for, we talked to each other very frankly about many points. We are also grateful that you agreed to the presence of the President of Azerbaijan at this event. I think that in any case, from the point of view of the development of regional economic relations, it is useful, it creates an additional platform and an opportunity for dialogue in those areas that leave no room for doubt. Bilateral cooperation in various fields continues to develop actively. I would like to mention that our trade turnover is confidently showing a positive trend. Last year, it grew by more than 83 percent and reached 5 billion USD. In January-March of this year, it increased by another 1.5 billion. If this process develops at this rate, then we will definitely beat the previous year's record as well. As for the sensitive issues related to the Karabakh settlement, we once again discussed all this face to face with Prime Minister Nikol Vovaevich Pashinyan. We will still have the opportunity to talk in a trilateral format about the issues of unblocking transport links. The issues are very important and sensitive. I am sure that if in the end, despite all the difficulties, we reach the solution of these issues, then it will undoubtedly be beneficial for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, and not only the two countries, but also the entire region, because many states are interested in it, and it will contribute to the normalization of relations in all directions, including political, in terms of ensuring the security of people living in that area. We are very happy that today we have the opportunity to meet not only face to face, but also in a wider format. I'm sure it will be helpful. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, "I am very grateful, Vladimir Vladimirovich. Thanks again for the warm welcome. Indeed, the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council was held at a high level. We discussed a wide range of issues. As for economic dynamics, you are right: everything is at least not bad in the Eurasian Economic Union. In the regional sense, of course, we have a rather tense situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the Lachin Corridor, we talked about that many times today. Unfortunately, despite the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan has illegally blocked the Lachin Corridor, due to which Nagorno-Karabakh has appeared in a humanitarian crisis. You know that the supply of natural gas and electricity to Nagorno Karabakh has also been stopped, blocked by Azerbaijan, which further aggravates the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh. The supply of food and goods to Nagorno Karabakh has become complicated. Of course, the Russian peacekeepers support in this issue, but unfortunately, as I said, the blocking of the Lachin corridor took place in the presence of the Russian peacekeepers. Today we discussed the issues related to the unblocking of regional communications in a working mode. I would like to reaffirm once again that Armenia is really interested in this, we are ready to start unblocking all transport and economic links and communications based on the sovereignty and jurisdiction of our country. I want to confirm this position once again. I would like to confirm that we are ready, both border services and customs services are ready to ensure the normal passage of all means of transport, railways through the territory of Armenia. We expect that the Azerbaijani railway will also be open for the transportation of goods from the Republic of Armenia through Nakhichevan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, for example, to the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran. We expect this issue to be resolved on a parity basis, as I said, based on the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries." Summing up, Vladimir Putin added, Dear Nikol Vovaevich, You know our position regarding our trilateral declaration, regarding the Lachin Corridor. We have never changed our position on this matter. And you know that in our discussions with our Armenian friends and with Azerbaijan, we have always been faithful and we are faithful to this very position now. Everything should be in accordance with the spirit and letter of our trilateral declaration. Our position here has not changed. Regarding the possible construction of transport routes, communications, both railways and highways, our position on unblocking is also unchanged. And now, during the bilateral contact with the Azerbaijani delegation, we said about this. But it should be noted that the Azerbaijani side also confirms that Azerbaijan does not have any changes in this matter, they recognize without any exception the full sovereignty of Armenia over this area, and sort of double, triple interpretations of all this, related to the possible unblocking of transport communication, are groundless. However, there are issues, you just mentioned them, I think they are related to the terminology. I think we can talk about this in more detail." NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 24: FinTech Festival India 2023, the premier event for the financial technology industry, concluded after hosting a series of insightful discussions on the Fintech ecosystem in relation to Vision 2030. Themed "Democratising Digital Economy", FinTech Festival India 2023 emphasized on shaping the future of finance in the world's second-fastest-growing FinTech ecosystem and the larger global business environment. The 3-day festival, held from 16th-18th May, brought together industry experts, thought leaders, and stakeholders from across the globe at Jio World Centre, Mumbai to explore the transformative potential of Fintech in shaping the future of finance. The event was inaugurated by the guest of honour Shri Anand Madia, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Government of Maharashtra. The inauguration ceremony celebrated a partnership between India Blockchain Forum and FFI, where both the parties signed an MOU confirming IBF as an Emerging Tech Knowledge Partner for Fintech Festival India with the objective of nurturing innovation ecosystem in India. The special address at the opening plenary was given by Shri Shrikant Sinha, CEO, Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK). Kalpana Ajayan, Regional Head, South Asia Women's World Banking presented a keynote on investing in gender intentionality where she talked about real bias that exists in the lending system and urged the fintech community to define fair lending in their Individual processes. FinTech Festival India 2023 served as a platform for in-depth discussions and deliberations on the Fintech ecosystem in light of Vision 2030. Industry experts, thought leaders, and stakeholders gathered to explore the transformative potential of Fintech in shaping the future of finance. Vision 2030, a forward-looking compass, directing conversations towards building a sustainable, inclusive, and technologically advanced financial landscape emphasizing the need for innovation, collaboration, and inclusive growth. The festival became a melting pot of ideas, showcasing groundbreaking technologies, emerging trends, and disruptive business models. By delving into the Fintech ecosystem and aligning it with Vision 2030, the event fostered an environment of exploration, learning, and collaboration, setting the stage for a dynamic and inclusive future of finance in India. Startups, established financial institutions, regulators, investors, and technology providers were all part of the vibrant ecosystem represented at the event. Fintech Festival India 2023 not only showcased the progress made in the Fintech sector but also provided a platform to collectively envision and work towards a future where technology and finance converge seamlessly, empowering individuals and businesses alike. The event featured a series of engaging keynote presentations, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and networking sessions. The Event also featured an exhibition area where innovative fintech companies showcased their cutting-edge products, services, and solutions. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with industry-leading exhibitors, explore demonstrations, and witness first-hand how technology is revolutionizing the financial services landscape. As the curtains closed on Fintech Festival India 2023, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and a shared commitment to harnessing the potential of Fintech in realizing Vision 2030 and driving the financial landscape towards a brighter, more inclusive future. Fintech Festival India is dedicated to fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and continuous advancement within the industry. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], May 25: Adecco, a leading global workforce provider, collaborates with Jagriti Sewa Sansthan (Jagriti) to promote Rural Entrepreneurship in India through a training program focused on skills development in Purvanchal. Adecco India will leverage its existing capabilities and expertise in this area to provide incubation support for Jagriti Sewa Sansthan, helping to build the Rural Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Purvanchal's three districts. In this initiative, Adecco's focus will be on building employability for young people by teaching them market-oriented skills, like communication, presentation, and personality development, all of which are essential for both job seekers and entrepreneurs. Commenting on the collaboration Ajay Sethi, Country Head, Adecco India, said, "We need a strong focus on future skills to address the rising skills gap, especially with the young. Through partnering with the Rural Entrepreneurship Development program, we can lay the foundation for a sustainable future for them. Jagriti Sewa Sansthan is the perfect partner for Adecco in terms of building employability - this exciting collaboration will equip young people with the skills they need to thrive." Ashutosh Kumar, CEO of Jagriti, said, "Young talents in the underprivileged areas of India are waiting to rise and contribute to the growth of the country, but, alas, they are often ignored. A supportive ecosystem with a long-term vision is needed. This is why we are delighted to join Adecco India in building these ecosystems for skilling and entrepreneurship in eastern Uttar Pradesh." Adecco India commits to conducting sustainable social initiatives that provide education and job training opportunities, especially for underserved populations. The company has made an annual contribution of Rs. 50 lakhs to Jagriti Sewa Sansthan in order to build the Rural Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. Adecco India is one of the leading staffing and recruitment solutions providers in India, offering a broad range of tailored solutions to employers and flexible working opportunities for job seekers. With a strong presence and deep understanding of the Indian job market, we specialize in temporary staffing, permanent placement, outsourcing, and consulting services. As a trusted partner for businesses and individuals alike, we believe in skills focus to connect talents with rewarding opportunities while helping organizations build and optimize their workforce for long-term success. When it comes to recruiting talent, diversity and inclusion are binding principles for us. We see inclusion not only as a business model that addresses talent scarcity and brings long-term economic benefits but also as a responsibility toward society. We currently have over 900 employees working for us in various Adecco offices throughout the country and over 35.000 associates placed with business clients in India. Adecco India is part of The Adecco Group, the world's leading talent Company. Our purpose is to make the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units - Adecco, Akkodis and LHH - across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to power the Smart Industry transformation and empower organisations to optimise their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to an inclusive culture, fostering sustainable employability and supporting resilient economies and communities. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). Website: www.adecco.co.in; www.adecco.com Jagriti Sewa Sansthan is a registered NGO working at grass root level in Deoria and nearby districts in Eastern UP in the field of vocational training and entrepreneurship development since 2001. Jagriti has gained nationwide fame for its inspirational entrepreneurial train journey covering 8000 km across India for 500+ aspiring entrepreneurs every year. It has created a network of 7500+ Yatris since 2008. Jagriti is now setting up an enterprise centre called Jagriti Enterprise Centre - Purvanchal (JEC-P), an incubator beyond metros with a mission to strengthen the enterprise ecosystem in Tier 2 and 3 districts of India, starting from its home district, Deoria. JEC-P is leading the creation of a visionary district enterprise ecosystem that will drive enterprise-led development through Incubation, Innovation and Inspiration in 15 districts of Eastern UP with a population of 50 million people. It aims to further the spirit of entrepreneurship by establishing a physical centre to run and develop yearlong programmes for local youth, women, farmers and other stakeholders. Website: www.jecp.in (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 25: Hexaware Technologies, a leading global provider of IT services and solutions, announced today the appointment of Saurabh Rana as its new Strategic Partnerships and Global Alliances Lead. This move forms part of Hexaware's ambitious plan to deepen its commitment across the Cloud and Hyperscale Ecosystem to ensure the company fully harnesses the power of its partnerships, propelling clients forward in their digital, data, and cloud transformation journeys. As a key element of his role, Saurabh will be responsible for accelerating strategic collaboration and establishing dedicated business units for top Hyperscale partnerships. His leadership is also expected to spur momentum and growth through increased co-selling of joint solutions, driving deal velocity, and bolstering Hexaware's growth objectives for 2023 and beyond. Saurabh brings over 25 years of global experience delivering business strategy, revenue, and growth across key industries. Prior to joining Hexaware, he spent over 17 years in various leadership positions at Microsoft Corporation, demonstrating extensive expertise in building strategic partnerships with technology partners and creating profitable joint cloud sales, services, and solution practices. His unwavering partner focus has led to the launch and leadership of global sales and go-to-market initiatives, driving consistent and impressive customer results. On his appointment, Saurabh Rana said, "I am thrilled to join Hexaware at this transformative time for the company and the industry as a whole. Together, we will continue to provide cutting-edge solutions that meet our customers' evolving needs and support their digital transformation journeys." Milan Bhatt, President & Global Head - Modernization, Healthcare & Insurance, Hexaware, said, "We are delighted to welcome Saurabh Rana to the Hexaware family. As an industry veteran, his expertise and leadership will be instrumental in driving the next wave of growth for Hexaware. We look forward to his valuable contributions to our stakeholders." Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Our 29,000 Hexawarians wake up every day with a singular purpose; to create smiles through great people and technology. With 54 offices in 19 countries, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://www.hexaware.com. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SRV Media New Delhi [India], May 25: GlobalVox LLC, a software development and consultation company based out of the United States announces launch of its new business vertical - TheBlockchainTeam (TBT). GlobalVox LLC is present in the United States (Virginia & Florida), India, UK and very soon setting up an office in Europe. TheBlockchainTeam will be setup as an independent company in UAE or Europe. GlobalVox has been involved with Blockchain & Web3.0 projects right from 2017. TBT (TheBlockchainTeam) is an independent unit under GlobalVox - with focus only on Blockchain products, projects and consultation. They currently have 35+ certified blockchain consultants, with the next target of touching a team size of 100 blockchain experts. TBT is a full service blockchain & web3.0 agency. They have extensive experience and expertise in the following- * NFT Development * NFT Marketplaces * DeFi * Whitepapers and Tokenomics * Smart Contracts * ICO/IDO/IEO Consultation & Raising Funds * Token development * Token Listing on Centralized & Decentralized Exchanges * DApps * P2P cryptocurrency exchange * Consultation on how blockchain can help your business * Metaverse development * Public - private blockchain * Hyperledger - Enterprise blockchain With over 5 years now in blockchain (as of 2023), TBT has worked for various categories of clients across different geographies. TheBlockchainTeam believes that blockchain is going to disrupt the entire fabric and mechanics of web. Blockchain will lead the transformation of web2.0 to web3.0. TBT believes in the idea of a distributed database where trust is established through mass collaboration and clever code. TBT has also launched a blockchain and web3.0 learning program by the name of IVY BLOCK. It will be offered as an elective to students of computer science AND also as a PG Diploma program for working professionals. IVY Block is tying up with various universities to offer the program to their students. IVY Block aims to make today's engineers - blockchain ready - for a glorious tomorrow. TBT provides a one stop shop for technical expertise, developers and industry experts to assist companies and governmental organizations to adapt blockchain and build scalable blockchain solutions with a new level of transparency, efficiency and automation. "We love educating and guiding our clients with the right approach on how blockchain technology can be leveraged in their business." - Pratik Jain, Director, GlobalVox TBT has also rolled out few blockchain & web3.0 products as below * SCRO - a decentralized escrow system for businesses * BigDeal - a decentralized auction platform with gamification of 8 different types of auctions * CrypKart - a P2P crypto currency exchange Reach out to TheBlockchainTeam for - Blockchain based solutions - Web 3.0 DApp development - Certified blockchain resources - Upskilling yourself or team in Blockchain - General consultation on how blockchain can help your business We can be reached at - connect@theblockchain.team - https://theblockchain.team - WhatsApp: +919979311311 (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Teamology Newsdesk New Delhi [India], May 25: The crypto market is in a steady state of recovery following a terrible crypto winter. There is a recent trend of innovation and improvement that has been present since the start of this year, which has subsequently seen the value of many coins take a turn for the better. Litecoin (LTC) has been doing amazingly well and most can attribute its current success to the news of its upcoming halving event. This has caused many people to flock to its door and grab a token or a few. Cosmos (ATOM) has seen some bearish activity recently, but it's expected to rise in valuation in the coming months, and Big Eyes Coin (BIG) is preparing for its much-awaited launch with many investors excited about what the future holds. Litecoin: The Digital SilverLitecoin, often referred to as the "silver" to Bitcoin's "gold," has gained significant traction in the crypto community. Created by Charlie Lee, a former Google engineer, Litecoin shares many similarities with Bitcoin but offers faster transaction times and lower fees. Its recent price surge, crossing the $90 mark and garnering more than 14% gains, demonstrates its strength and potential. With the upcoming Litecoin halving event scheduled for August 2023, analysts have turned bullish on Litecoin. Halving refers to the reduction of mining rewards, which has historically triggered price surges in cryptocurrencies. Investors are eagerly anticipating this event as it may propel Litecoin to new heights. Cosmos: Possible Breakout AheadCosmos is a blockchain designed to let people build custom, secure, and scalable blockchain applications that are also interoperable. The purpose of this is to help blockchains maintain sovereignty, have fast processing speed, as well as communicate with other blockchains within the ecosystem. This effectively creates a successful decentralised ecosystem that has limited barriers. Cosmos has faced the hands of the bear for a few weeks now and has had trouble breaking past its key support level. However, despite the downward trend, crypto analysts are optimistic that the coin will take a turn for the better in the coming months since Stride - a liquidity platform - is expected to operate from the COSMOS ecosystem. This will unlock a range of benefits for investors, alongside improving security through an offer of 15% staking rewards. Big Eyes Coin: Merging Memes and UtilityBig Eyes Coin capitalises on the current meme season, where meme coins have gained immense popularity. This project has gained an outstanding reputation throughout its presale with all its products and promotions, gathering a strong community that has helped it to constantly smash every goal. Big Eyes Coin recognizes the importance of crypto communities and aims to build a strong and engaged community around its project. The brand new crypto casino, the Big Eyes Coin Casino aims to live true to this. Launching in August, it will be a BIG exclusive platform with over 4000 games and various play-to-earn (P2E) games that all payout in the same token. With an emphasis on meme coin investments, Big Eyes Coin aims to provide a unique value proposition to its investors. While the crypto market can be volatile, Big Eyes Coin focuses on long-term sustainability and growth, offering stability in an otherwise unpredictable space, and does this by making the coin the lifeline of the casino. In the dynamic world of cryptocurrency, it is crucial to keep a close eye on emerging projects that cater to specific niches. Litecoin, Cosmos, and Big Eyes Coin represent three exceptional crypto projects in 2023 for meme coin lovers and investors. While Litecoin demonstrates strength with its recent price surge and upcoming halving event and Cosmos offering a wider benefit for investors, Big Eyes Coin combines the meme culture with real-world utility, emphasising community focus. Join the Kitty Crew! Get your BIG tokens today and enjoy the rewards that await. Find out more about Big Eyes Coin (BIG): Presale: https://buy.bigeyes.space/ Website: https://bigeyes.space/ Telegram: https://t.me/BIGEYESOFFICIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BigEyesCoin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigEyesCoin (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by Teamology Newsdesk. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) New Delhi [India], May 25: QI Ventures, a leading venture capital firm has been honored with the prestigious title of Enterprising VC of 2022 by the Chief Guest Ajay Thakur, Head of BSE SME & Start-ups, and the Guest of Honour Pradeep Peshkar, Member of National Board for MSME, Govt. of India at the Wolf Den Investors Summit 2023, held in Mumbai. On May 20, the Wolf Den Investors Summit event was held that highlighted Qi Ventures' major contributions to the venture capital ecosystem in India. The Wolf Den Investors Summit 2023 intends to serve as a forum for the world's top entrepreneurs, growth-stage companies, investors, mentors, and ecosystem enablers for networking and contributing to India's startup ecosystem. The Managing Partner of Qi Ventures, Vinod Keni, expressed his enthusiasm over receiving the "Enterprising VC of 2022" recognition, stating, "It is truly an honor to be recognized as the Enterprising VC of the Year" in the venture capital ecosystem, We are immensely grateful to Wolf Den Investors Summit 2023 for this recognition. Qi Ventures has emerged as a leading player in the Indian startup ecosystem. Founded in 2021 by seasoned entrepreneurs, it primarily aims to become a leading financial institution that excels in delivering comprehensive solutions across multiple classes. Qi Ventures has invested in a total of 55 companies as of May 2023. The amount of funding provided by Qi Ventures to these companies exceeds Rs 320 crores. The top companies include Redcliffe Labs, Melorra, BluSmart, Zypp Electric, and more. QI, a venture capital firm, aims to boost startup success rates while bringing together investors and the startup community to maximize their potential. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (200550):2022 20230525 19:43:35 : : : : 2022 Shares code 000550 Shares Name Jiangling Motors No. 2023017 200550 Jiangling B Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. and its Board members undertake that the information disclosed herein is truthful, accurate and complete and does not contain any false statement, misrepresentation or major omission. I. Basic information of holding the meeting 1. Meeting: 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as JMC or the Company) 2. Convener: the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors approved the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting in form of paper meeting from May 21, 2023 to May 24, 2023. 3. The convening of the shareholder meeting complied with the stipulations of the Company Law, the Securities Law, the Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of JMC. 4. Time On the spot: 8:00 am, June 16, 2023 Online voting: June 16, 2023. P.s. 9:159:25 a.m., 9:3011:30 a.m. and 1:003:00 p.m., for Shenzhen Stock Exchange Trading System; or, random time of 9:15 a.m.3:00 p.m. June 16, 2023 for Shenzhen Stock Exchange Online Voting System. 5. Convening method: vote on the spot as well as online voting. Shareholders of the Company can choose to vote on the spot or online voting. If a voting right is exercised repeatedly in different circumstances, the first voting result will be prevailed. 6. Equity record date: June 12, 2023. B-share holder can attend the meeting only when she/he had bought B shares of the Company on June 7, 2023 i.e., the last trading day for the B-share holder who can attend the meeting, or earlier. 7. Persons to be present 7.1. All the shareholders of JMC registered in the records of China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Ltd. Shenzhen branch as of 3:00 p.m. on June 12, 2023. If a shareholder cannot attend the meeting personally, she/he can entrust a representative to attend the meeting. 7.2. The Directors, Supervisors and senior management of JMC. 7.3. Lawyers from Jiangxi Hua Bang Law Firm 8. Venue: Conference Centre, 20th floor, JMC Building, No. 2111 Middle Yingbin Avenue, Nangchang City, Jiangxi Province, P.R.C. II. The items to be reviewed by the meeting: Code Items Remark Voting to the columns marked with 100 Total proposals: all the proposals except the proposals adopting accumulative voting Proposals not adopting accumulative voting: 1.00 2022 Work Report of the Board of Directors of JMC 2.00 2022 Work Report of the Supervisory Board of JMC 3.00 2022 Annual Report of JMC and the Extracts from such Annual Report 4.00 2022 Financial Statements of JMC 5.00 Proposal on JMC Profit Distribution for Year 2022 6.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with JMCG Finance Company 7.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Jiangxi Jiangling Motors Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries 8.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Jiangling Motor Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries 9.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Ford Motor Company and its subsidiaries 10.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Nanchang Jiangling HuaXiang Auto Components Co., Ltd. 11.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Nanchang Baojiang Steel Processing Distribution Co., Ltd. 12.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Magna PT Powertrain (Jiangxi) Co., Ltd. 13.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Jiangxi Jiangling Lear Interior System Co., Ltd. 14.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Jiangxi JMCG Specialty Vehicles Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries 15.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Nanchang Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies Co., Ltd. 16.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with China South Industries Group Corporation and its subsidiaries 17.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Nanchang Unistar Electric & Electronics Co., Ltd. 18.00 JMC Year 2023-2025 Shareholder Return Plan Proposals adopting accumulative voting: 19.00 Election of Directors for the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC (Excluding Independent Directors): Number of people to be elected is 6 19.01 Proposal on Electing Mr. Qiu Tiangao as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.02 Proposal on Electing Mr. Shengpo Wu as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.03 Proposal on Electing Mr. Ryan Anderson as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.04 Proposal on Electing Ms. Xiong Chunying as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.05 Proposal on Electing Mr. Jin Wenhui as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.06 Proposal on Electing Mr. Yuan Mingxue as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 20.00 Election of Independent Directors for the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC: Number of people to be elected is 3 20.01 Proposal on Electing Mr. Yu Zhuoping as an Independent Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 20.02 Proposal on Electing Mr. Chen Jiangfeng as an Independent Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 20.03 Proposal on Electing Ms. Wang Yue as an Independent Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 21.00 Election of Supervisors for the Eleventh Supervisory Board of JMC: Number of people to be elected is 3 21.01 Proposal on Electing Mr. Xiao Hu as a Supervisor of the Eleventh Supervisory Board of JMC 21.02 Proposal on Electing Mr. Zhang Yangyang as a Supervisor of the Eleventh Supervisory Board of JMC 21.03 Proposal on Electing Mr. Zhang Jian as a Supervisor of the Eleventh Supervisory Board of JMC Please refer to the Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Board of Directors of JMC, the Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Supervisory Board of JMC and the 2022 Annual Report of JMC published on March 30, 2023 in China Securities, Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, and on the website http://www.cninfo.com.cn for details of the proposals 1-5. Please refer to the Public Announcement on Forecast of the Routine Related Party Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, and on the website http://www.cninfo.com.cn for details of the proposals 6-17. Please refer to the Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Board of Directors of JMC and the Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Supervisory Board of JMC published on May 26, 2023 in China Securities, Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, and on the website http://www.cninfo.com.cn for details of the proposals 18-21. The proposals 6-17 are related party transactions. When voting on the proposals at the shareholders meeting, Ford Motor Company (Ford) will withdraw from the voting on the related party transactions associated with Ford and its affiliates; Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd. will withdraw from the voting on the related party transactions associated with Jiangling Motors Group Co., Ltd. and its affiliates, or associated with Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. and its affiliates, and or associated with Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd. and its affiliates. All the above-mentioned proposals shall be approved in form of ordinary resolution. Accumulative voting procedure shall be adopted on voting of the proposals 19-21, that is, the number of total votes cast by a shareholder in the accumulative voting shall be equal to the product of the number of shares held by the shareholder and the number of Non-Independent Directors, Independent Director, or Supervisors to be elected at this shareholders meeting. The shareholder may cast his votes, which shall be no more than the number of total votes he held, for one Director (or Supervisor) candidate or for several Director (or Supervisor) candidates. The Independent Director candidates can be voted at the shareholders meeting only after the Shenzhen Stock Exchange does not raise any objection to qualification and independence of the Independent Director candidates. In addition, the Independent Directors will report their performance in 2022 at the 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting. Please refer to the website http://www.cninfo.com.cn for the Report. III. Registration for the Shareholders Meeting 1. Registration procedures The shareholder holding A Shares should present personal identity card and securities account card; the representative should present his own identity card, the proxy (see attachment 1) and the shareholders securities account card; the representative of a legal person shareholder should present his own identity card and the proxy of the legal person shareholder to handle the registration for the meeting. The shareholder holding B Shares should present personal identity card and securities account card, the representative should present the proxy signed by the shareholder to handle the registration for the meeting. way of communication. (See attachment 2 AR. of attending the shareholders meeting) Registration time: 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 14:00 p.m.-17:00 p.m., weekdays from June 13, 2023 to June 15, 2023. Registration address: Securities Department, JMC Building, No. 2111 Middle Yingbin Avenue, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, P.R.C. 2. The shareholders meeting is expected to last no more than one day. The attending shareholders or the representatives should be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Contact information: Correspondence person: Mr. Wan Xianke, Mr. Yuan Jun Telephone number: 86-791-85266178 Fax: 86-791-85232839 IV. Online voting procedures Pleases refer to the Chinese version of the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of the Company published on May 26, 2023 in China Securities, Securities Times and on the website: http://www.cninfo.com.cn for details. V. Document for reference The Resolutions of the Board of Directors on the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of JMC. Board of Directors Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. May 26, 2023 Attachment 1: PROXY Full authority hereby granted to Mr./Ms. to represent the undersigned at the 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd., and to vote accordingly on all the proposals at the meeting. (Please express definitely favor, against or abstention on every proposal.) Signature of shareholder: Identity Card No.: Number of Shares held: Securities account No.: Type of shares (A shares or B shares): Signature of representative: Identity Card No.: Date of appointment of Proxy: , 2023 Sample of Voting on the Proposals of the Shareholders Meeting Code Items Remark Favor Against Abstention Voting to the columns marked with 100 Total proposals: all the proposals except the proposals adopting accumulative voting Proposals not adopting accumulative voting: 1.00 2022 Work Report of the Board of Directors of JMC 2.00 2022 Work Report of the Supervisory Board of JMC 3.00 2022 Annual Report of JMC and the Extracts from such Annual Report 4.00 2022 Financial Statements of JMC 5.00 Proposal on JMC Profit Distribution for Year 2022 6.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with JMCG Finance Company 7.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Jiangxi Jiangling Motors Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries 8.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Jiangling Motor Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries 9.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Ford Motor Company and its subsidiaries 10.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Nanchang Jiangling HuaXiang Auto Components Co., Ltd. 11.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Nanchang Baojiang Steel Processing Distribution Co., Ltd. 12.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Magna PT Powertrain (Jiangxi) Co., Ltd. 13.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Jiangxi Jiangling Lear Interior System Co., Ltd. 14.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Jiangxi JMCG Specialty Vehicles Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries 15.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Nanchang Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies Co., Ltd. 16.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with China South Industries Group Corporation and its subsidiaries 17.00 Proposal on the Y2023 Routine Related Party Transaction Framework with Nanchang Unistar Electric & Electronics Co., Ltd. 18.00 JMC Year 2023-2025 Shareholder Return Plan Proposals adopting accumulative voting: (fill in the number of votes) 19.00 Election of Directors for the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC (Excluding Independent Directors): Number of people to be elected is 6 19.01 Proposal on Electing Mr. Qiu Tiangao as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.02 Proposal on Electing Mr. Shengpo Wu as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.03 Proposal on Electing Mr. Ryan Anderson as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.04 Proposal on Electing Ms. Xiong Chunying as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.05 Proposal on Electing Mr. Jin Wenhui as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 19.06 Proposal on Electing Mr. Yuan Mingxue as a Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 20.00 Election of Independent Directors for the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC: Number of people to be elected is 3 20.01 Proposal on Electing Mr. Yu Zhuoping as an Independent Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 20.02 Proposal on Electing Mr. Chen Jiangfeng as an Independent Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 20.03 Proposal on Electing Ms. Wang Yue as an Independent Director of the Eleventh Board of Directors of JMC 21.00 Election of Supervisors for the Eleventh Supervisory Board of JMC: Number of people to be elected is 3 21.01 Proposal on Electing Mr. Xiao Hu as a Supervisor of the Eleventh Supervisory Board of JMC 21.02 Proposal on Electing Mr. Zhang Yangyang as a Supervisor of the Eleventh Supervisory Board of JMC 21.03 Proposal on Electing Mr. Zhang Jian as a Supervisor of the Eleventh Supervisory Board of JMC Attachment 2: AR. of attending the shareholders meeting To: Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. will attend the 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of JMC. Signature of attendee: Shareholders securities account No.: Signature (Stamp) of shareholder: Note: Newspaper cuttings and copies of the Proxy and the AR. are acceptable. Shares code 000550 Shares Name Jiangling Motors No. 2023017 200550 Jiangling BJiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd.Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders MeetingJiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. and its Board members undertake that the information disclosed herein is truthful, accurate and complete and does not contain any false statement, misrepresentation or major omission.I. Basic information of holding the meeting1. Meeting: 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as JMC or the Company)2. Convener: the Board of Directors of the Company.The Board of Directors approved the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting in form of paper meeting from May 21, 2023 to May 24, 2023. 3. The convening of the shareholder meeting complied with the stipulations of the Company Law, the Securities Law, the Rules Governing Listing of Stock on Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association of JMC. 4. TimeOn the spot: 8:00 am, June 16, 2023Online voting: June 16, 2023. P.s. 9:159:25 a.m., 9:3011:30 a.m. and 1:003:00 p.m., for Shenzhen Stock Exchange Trading System; or, random time of 9:15 a.m.3:00 p.m. June 16, 2023 for Shenzhen Stock Exchange Online Voting System.5. Convening method: vote on the spot as well as online voting. Shareholders of the Company can choose to vote on the spot or online voting. If a voting right is exercised repeatedly in different circumstances, the first voting result will be prevailed.6. Equity record date: June 12, 2023. B-share holder can attend the meeting only when she/he had bought B shares of the Company on June 7, 2023 i.e., the last trading day for the B-share holder who can attend the meeting, or earlier. 7. Persons to be present7.1. All the shareholders of JMC registered in the records of China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Ltd. Shenzhen branch as of 3:00 p.m. on June 12, 2023. If a shareholder cannot attend the meeting personally, she/he can entrust a representative to attend the meeting.7.2. The Directors, Supervisors and senior management of JMC. 7.3. Lawyers from Jiangxi Hua Bang Law Firm8. Venue: Conference Centre, 20th floor, JMC Building, No. 2111 Middle Yingbin Avenue, Nangchang City, Jiangxi Province, P.R.C.II. The items to be reviewed by the meeting:Please refer to the Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Board of Directors of JMC, the Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Supervisory Board of JMC and the 2022 Annual Report of JMC published on March 30, 2023 in China Securities, Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, and on the website http://www.cninfo.com.cn for details of the proposals 1-5.Please refer to the Public Announcement on Forecast of the Routine Related Party Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, and on the website http://www.cninfo.com.cn for details of the proposals 6-17.Please refer to the Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Board of Directors of JMC and the Public Announcement on Resolutions of the Supervisory Board of JMC published on May 26, 2023 in China Securities, Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, and on the website http://www.cninfo.com.cn for details of the proposals 18-21.The proposals 6-17 are related party transactions. When voting on the proposals at the shareholders meeting, Ford Motor Company (Ford) will withdraw from the voting on the related party transactions associated with Ford and its affiliates; Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd. will withdraw from the voting on the related party transactions associated with Jiangling Motors Group Co., Ltd. and its affiliates, or associated with Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. and its affiliates, and or associated with Nanchang Jiangling Investment Co., Ltd. and its affiliates.All the above-mentioned proposals shall be approved in form of ordinary resolution.Accumulative voting procedure shall be adopted on voting of the proposals 19-21, that is, the number of total votes cast by a shareholder in the accumulative voting shall be equal to the product of the number of shares held by the shareholder and the number of Non-Independent Directors, Independent Director, or Supervisors to be elected at this shareholders meeting. The shareholder may cast his votes, which shall be no more than the number of total votes he held, for one Director (or Supervisor) candidate or for several Director (or Supervisor) candidates.The Independent Director candidates can be voted at the shareholders meeting only after the Shenzhen Stock Exchange does not raise any objection to qualification and independence of the Independent Director candidates.In addition, the Independent Directors will report their performance in 2022 at the 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting. Please refer to the website http://www.cninfo.com.cn for the Report.III. Registration for the Shareholders Meeting1. Registration proceduresThe shareholder holding A Shares should present personal identity card and securities account card; the representative should present his own identity card, the proxy (see attachment 1) and the shareholders securities account card; the representative of a legal person shareholder should present his own identity card and the proxy of the legal person shareholder to handle the registration for the meeting. The shareholder holding B Shares should present personal identity card and securities account card, the representative should present the proxy signed by the shareholder to handle the registration for the meeting.way of communication. (See attachment 2 AR. of attending the shareholders meeting)Registration time: 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 14:00 p.m.-17:00 p.m., weekdays from June 13, 2023 to June 15, 2023.Registration address: Securities Department, JMC Building, No. 2111 Middle Yingbin Avenue, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, P.R.C.2. The shareholders meeting is expected to last no more than one day. The attending shareholders or the representatives should be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.Contact information:Correspondence person: Mr. Wan Xianke, Mr. Yuan JunTelephone number: 86-791-85266178Fax: 86-791-85232839IV. Online voting proceduresPleases refer to the Chinese version of the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of the Company published on May 26, 2023 in China Securities, Securities Times and on the website: http://www.cninfo.com.cn for details.V. Document for referenceThe Resolutions of the Board of Directors on the Notice on Holding 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of JMC.Board of DirectorsJiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd.May 26, 2023Attachment 1:PROXYFull authority hereby granted to Mr./Ms. to represent the undersigned at the 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd., and to vote accordingly on all the proposals at the meeting. (Please express definitely favor, against or abstention on every proposal.)Signature of shareholder: Identity Card No.:Number of Shares held: Securities account No.:Type of shares (A shares or B shares):Signature of representative: Identity Card No.:Date of appointment of Proxy: , 2023Sample of Voting on the Proposals of the Shareholders MeetingAttachment 2:AR. of attending the shareholders meetingTo: Jiangling Motors Corporation, Ltd.will attend the 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting of JMC.Signature of attendee:Shareholders securities account No.:Signature (Stamp) of shareholder:Note: Newspaper cuttings and copies of the Proxy and the AR. are acceptable. SRV Media New Delhi [India], May 25: Study Smart introduces a unique program, an IELTS knowledge bank to help you crack your exam in the first attempt, systematically ensuring that every aspect of the exam is clearly explained and solved. The bank signifies the format of the exam including the four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Going through each of these skills one after the other makes it easier for test-takers to achieve their desired band score. To begin, this knowledge bank gives the essence of each skill, explaining the format of every skill, including the duration, question types, the parameters on which you are tested, and most importantly the easiest way to solve each question. This includes a step-by-step guide for each question type, a sample question, and the strategy to be used. IELTS preparation is covered from all fronts through the essence of each skill which also includes the FAQs every test taker can have. There are a few questions, which almost every test taker struggles with or is unable to find the perfect way to solve with the desired score; this IELTS knowledge bank consists of separate sections for these questions and breaks it down into multiple segments for any student preparing for the exam. The various segments cover the description of such questions, the expectations of the IELTS examiner, and the ways to solve these questions covering all assessment factors ensuring a 9-band result. This knowledge bank is quite straightforward to access on the company website under the Online IELTS training tab, wherein all the skills are put into different headings and sections. It is better to pick up one skill at a time; so, starting with the essence of each skill and going through them properly will help in gaining insights into this exam. Post understanding the details of each skill, it is recommended to proceed toward the tasks' simplification. The sections include writing and speaking since these are the pain areas of every test taker. To date, IELTS has been the most sought-after exam for every person that targets studying abroad or immigrating to another country. Being the basic requirement for language proficiency, it needs to be cleared by every aspirant to proceed with further formalities. However, so far it remains a tough nut to crack for more than 60 per cent of students. Especially in this technological era, reading and getting familiar with the language is no longer a trend, leading to a decline in language proficiency for most students. Binge watch and social media add to this decline making it difficult to prepare for this exam. With the fear of failing the exam, students prepare on and on for months without the right direction and are still unable to appear for the exam. Keeping its focus on assisting students to achieve their study abroad dream, Study Smart steps up its game by introducing the IELTS knowledge bank ensuring IELTS preparation in the right direction. This bank has been created by IELTS experts with experience of more than a decade and multiple scorecards to back up the strategies. Study Smart stands firm with its motto of realizing the student's dream of achieving their desired score. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 25: India's first listed, youngest and most awarded premium fashion jewellery brand Gargi by PNG has opened its first brand store in Pune. PNGS Gargi Fashion Jewellery Limited from the promoters of P N Gadgil & Sons is planning to expand its brand presence across the country, said the top executive of the company. Ajit Gadgil and Dr Renu Gadgil, promoters of the brand and Amit Modak Director and Aditya Modak Director of PNGS Gargi Fashion Jewellery were present at the time of inauguration. Gargi by PNG is a brand owned by PNGS Gargi Fashion Jewellery Ltd. PNGS Gargi Fashion Jewellery was listed in December 2022 and it is promoted by promoter of P N Gadgil & Sons which has a legacy of six generations. Gargi's first brand showroom opened in Pune at F C College Road (Gopal Krishna Gokhale Road) near Punjab National Bank. Commenting on the first brand store opening Aditya Modak, Director, PNGS Gargi Fashion Jewellery said, "Our fashion jewellery journey began in December 2021 through 30 shops in shop locations and pan India via e-commerce. Now we are scaling up our presence in various cities across India through shop-in-shop and franchise stores rout. We have already opened our shop in shop in Mumbai region (Malad - Inorbit Mall), and Thane (Viviana Mall), and the first franchise store in sector 17 Vashi Navi Mumbai. We will add another 3-5 shop-in-shop with Shoppers Stop in the south region. We are open for suitable franchise operators in various cities in north & south India. For franchise enquiry contact to Shashikumar Pankaj (shashikumar.pankaj@pngsl.com)." "Gargi's Jewellery features a wide range of styles, from delicate chains and simple studs to bold statement pieces and intricate designs. One of the key benefits of Gargi is its commitment to quality. In addition to quality and unique designs, Gargi offers 925 silver jewellery and fashion jewellery at affordable prices, making fashion jewellery accessible to a wide range of customers," Modak mentioned. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], May 25: iBroad7 (www.ibroad7.com), the country's largest agency in the audio market with proven capabilities across multiple media including print, outdoor, and television, is now expanding and scaling up rapidly with focus on the new economy, along with a sharp focus on localisation of campaigns and content. The company is expanding, both vertically and horizontally, under a new umbrella entity-REACH INDIA (www.reach4india.com)-in a sharply engaged hub-and-spoke model, with widened national and international operations and new lines of businesses. This restructuring has been done keeping in mind the emerging landscape in the media, brand communication and content space. This includes programmatic audio, branded podcasts, digital media, and tech-enabled real time media buying and planning. "Over the last few years we have seen many brands and organisations, some of which we have had the privilege to serve and many which we would love to serve, grow manifold. We would like to be a part of this journey, chronicling their march, telling their stories, and amplifying and localising their conversations through audio, digital, content, and other formats in any language, anywhere in India," said Rohit Upadhyay, Managing Director of REACH INDIA. Upadhyay founded iBroad7 in 2010 and since shepherded it into India's biggest in the audio space. It has created and serviced 1800+ brands, across geographies, industries, sectors, products and services through 2 million+campaigns and 4 million+ creatives. iBroad7 will remain the anchor entity for steering the group's flagship radio operations. It currently serves several marque brands across a wide range of industries and segments including start-ups, e-commerce, real estate, government, automobile, food, spirits and beverages, hospitality, travel and tourism, electronics, pharmaceuticals, ed-tech, and BFSI among others. The brand portfolio includes Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI), Zomato, Spicejet, Cars24, SBI, L&T Realty, Godrej group, Goodyear, HDFC Ergo, Foodpanda, Cure.Fit, MI, Zoomcar, Dunzo, Patanjali, and Eazydiner among a host of other storied MNC and Indian brands. iBroad7 is expanding internationally as well. It has recently set up its office in Dubai to service the Middle-east and North Africa Region (MENA). "There are plans to expand to Singapore, soon," Upadhyay said. The new businesses include Audiostream (www.audiostream.in), to serve as a single roof solution for programmatically buying digital audio at scale. Audiostream allows brands to reach across multiple music streaming and podcast publishers to optimally reach their target audience at the click of a button. It enables non-skippable audio spots with a very high listen through ratio (LTR) of 90-95%, complete transparency in KPI measurement. Brands can reach out to listeners via: Age, Gender, Location, Language, Genre. l Audiostream enables video advertisement on Spotify, Wynk, Hungama and Saavn. A new business-The Buying Hub (www.thebuyinghub.in)-has also been set up as a one-stop shop for real-time media buying and planning on a single platform that enables brands to localise their campaigns. Brands will be able to log on to the specially created platform that contains all information about inventories and rates across media-from radio, print, television, OOH, OTTs, and much more. Another arm, Digisutra (www.thedigisutra.com), is a future-ready digital marketing, social media, and branding & communications solutions agency. Digisutra's range of offering includes digital media, digital media buying & PPC, influencer marketing, integrated creative development, content creation, website development and management, social media strategy and development, SEO, CRO &SEM strategy & implementation, OTT & connected TVs, and much more. It has also branched into the creator economy with Earshot Audio (www.earshotaudio.in), India's only PaaS (Podcast as a Service) company, offering a complete suite of services that includes production, publishing and promotion of branded podcast IPs for brands and organisations. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 25: PayTabs Group, the regional award-winning payments powerhouse, in an unprecedented move announced that it has completed its acquisition of 100 per cent stake in OGS PayLab. OGS PayLab based in Chennai, India, is one of the leading service providers of transaction processing services, turnkey cloud payment solutions and electronic fund transfer (EFT) Switch solutions in the globe. As a Fintech enabler for the region, PayTabs' mission is to simplify yet orchestrate a unified payments experience and value for key players in MENA's payment ecosystem. OGS PayLab, which operates across the USA, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia, further strengthens, and broadens PayTabs niche position in the fintech market. The acquisition creates an organization better positioned to serve stakeholders and compete in the global marketplace. It is also expected to result in greater efficiencies and significantly increase PayTabs' market dominance regionally by working the entire payment chain. Under the terms of the acquisition, both entities have been at the grind for a year prior, to unveil PayTabs SwitchOn - PayTabs home owned, globally validated, unified payments and transaction processing platform. After multiple launches with clients across the region, the payment card industry (PCI) certified solution includes a Switching and Authorization System, a Card and Wallet Management System, and a Merchant Management System. The architecture of PayTabs SwitchOn is designed to ensure a unique payment orchestration capability allowing clients from multiple industries and scale to maximise the benefits in just couple of weeks at a fraction of the cost. It connects the last mile payment orchestration to empower PayTabs merchants in any industry, to use the platform anywhere in the region and localizing the infrastructure in every market of the region. In March, PayTabs received mada Payment Gateway (PG) Certification from Saudi Payments. As a home-grown Saudi Brand, securing this certification from Saudi Payments is a key milestone for PayTabs as a payment processing superpower engine with a vision to continue engineering and championing payments. At the PayTabs Headquarters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, founder and CEO of the PayTabs Group, Abdulaziz Al Jouf said, "Since inception, PayTabs has been powering digital payment solutions for some of the largest multinational brands in the region. As a result of this acquisition, we now have our own IP and payments infra to provide switch and issuance services to the most progressive global brands. PayTabs can now connect multiple APIs in the region with the turbo power of PayTabs SwitchOn." Speaking on the acquisition, co-founder of OGS PayLab Simon Soloman said, "Merging with PayTabs was a natural step in our expansion strategy as it now provides us with the synergy to engineer and champion payments on a national, regional and international scale." While OGS PayLab co-founder Johnson Sasikumar added, "The dynamic of this acquisition is a sure-fire way to be a payments market leader in the MENA region, considering problem statements faced by markets in the ecosystem. Legacy players with outdated technology infrastructure and non-internet friendly products were unable to nurture the exponential growth of fintech and that's where we aim to interconnect banks and financial institutions with the MENA payments corridor to digitize the market." The PayTabs Group is an award-winning payments solutions powerhouse founded by Saudi entrepreneur Abdulaziz Al Jouf. Having processed the first live payment gateway transaction in 2014, today PayTabs processes transactions in multiple currencies and markets, swiftly and securely. By providing the infrastructure for B2B payment solutions, including digital invoicing for businesses, QR code, social media payments, point of sale and switching platforms, PayTabs facilitates seamless e-commerce and social commerce solutions for merchants and super merchants. Over a decade, PayTabs has custom built and exported a full stack of game changing solutions. These include mobile applications, hospitality, governmental, education, airline, travel, transport, and biller solutions, to interlink the multi-billion-dollar enterprise market chain in the region. In 2021, PayTabs launched PT Touch, the first soft POS solution in the MENA market to transform smart phones into merchant point of sale (POS) terminals. In 2022, the company acquired Turkiye's social commerce platform Paymes to complement its existing retail portfolio. In early 2023, PayTabs received payment gateway certification from Saudi Payments. PayTabs has dedicated offices in the GCC including the UAE & Saudi Arabia and presence in many other locales including Turkey, India, and Egypt. The company is an equal opportunities employer with a multi-cultural team. For more milestones visit https://site.paytabs.com/en/ (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], May 25: Madverse, a pioneering one-stop digital platform that specializes in all things music, from music collaboration to distribution to promotion, and more, has collaborated with Lost Stories Academy, India's premier Electronic Music Production and DJ School. This partnership will prove instrumental in advancing Madverse's mission of democratizing the independent music scene and enabling artists to claim control over their creations. At the same time, this coming-together will also aid the students of the Academy to experience Madverse's array of services including a masterclass on music distribution and label services, as well as their comprehensive and all-integrated dashboard. Addressing this strategic tie-up, Rohan Jain, the CEO and founder, Madverse, said, "Since day one, we have been committed to empowering independent music artists and this tie-up is a huge testament to our efforts. Lost Stories is a reputed name across the music circuit and it is a privilege to partner with them and help up-and-coming artists find their voice and gain a solid footing in the music industry. I frankly believe that knowledge and education are the cornerstones to a promising career across any artistic domain. And, through this association, we are simplifying the learning curve for aspiring musicians and helping them attain success in the music industry". The spokesperson for Lost Stories Academy, Prayag Mehta said," We are elated to collaborate with Madverse, a brand that has stirred so much uproar in the industry in very little time. Our students will now stand the chance to benefit from Madverse's offerings. This will help them gain a deep insight into the world of independent music and charting a successful career down that lane." Madverse intends to pave the road for further such collaborations in the future and instill the spirit of independence in students as they proceed to etch a lucrative artistic career. The company aims to carve a high-growth professional trajectory and add value wherever possible during their journey. At the heart of Madverse's mission lies the goal of building a thriving, interconnected community of independent artists on a global scale. Through their next-gen platform, the company provides independent artists with access to top-of-the-line technology and resources, thereby, enabling them to earn their true value while fostering collaboration and cross-promotion within the artistic community. The new-age brand believes that by creating a dynamic ecosystem that enables independent artists to connect directly with fans from all corners of the world while seamlessly releasing their music and earning revenue, it can help foster a more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable music industry. Madverse has on-boarded over 350+ artists organically on its platform without any significant media outreach since its Beta launch held in February 2023. Lost Stories Academy (LSA) is a premier music education and DJing school founded by India's most prominent electronic acts, Lost Stories. Lost Stories Academy is where artists innovate and collaborate and where artistic and cultural diversity is embraced and celebrated. The creme de la creme faculty has helped 450+ students take a step closer to living their dreams. LSA alumni have landed international label deals and performed at the best venues in the country. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], May 25: For the first time in its 21-year history, 50 Best branches into the field of design with the launch of the Bareksten Best Bar Design Award. The award will be judged by - and has been curated by - an esteemed panel of hospitality design experts, with bars from anywhere in the world invited to submit their venues for consideration from today. Venues do not need to have any prior affiliation with 50 Best, its lists or 50 Best Discovery to be eligible. Entries will close on 6th June and the winner will be announced at The World's 50 Best Bars ceremony in Singapore on Tuesday 17th October 2023. The selection of Anirudh Singhal, founder of Haus of Bars by SpeedX, as a judge for the Bar Design Awards, making him the Indian judge to participate in the prestigious global event. Anirudh's entrepreneurial journey began in 2011 with SpeedX, leading him to create award-winning bars, including eight of India's entries for the coveted list of Asia's 50 Best Bar in 2022. His selection is a testament to the growing importance and influence of the Indian bar industry on the global stage, resulting in increased visibility and recognition for Indian bartenders, designers, and bar owners. Singhal's participation in the selection process for the Bar Design Awards will help raise the profile of Indian bar design and showcase the country's talent and potential to the rest of the world. The World's 50 Best Bars is a highly respected organization that has become a global authority on the bar industry, and Singhal's appointment will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the Indian bar industry. What to expect when applying The Bareksten Best Bar Design Award has been created to reward bars across the globe for thoughtful design and will go beyond style and taste to hit touchpoints of accessibility, sustainability and appropriateness for its market. The judges will assess each entry based on six criteria. Innovation - does the design stand out and provide something new or unique to the bar world? Aesthetics - grading of the artistic value of the bar, including its design, shape, colour, texture, finish and engineering Accessibility - consideration of all guests' access to all areas of the bar and its facilities, as well as an assessment of its safety for guests and staff Ergonomics - functionality of the bar space, including bar stations, access to fridges, the height of the speed rail and access to the back bar. How easy the bar is for guests to navigate and how smooth the flow is through its facilities Ecological compatibility - the potential environmental and ecological impact of the bar, considering its use of materials and processes used in the build. How responsibly it uses energy and interacts with its environment. Essentially, is the bar built to stand the test of time? Emotional quotient - in addition to fulfilling its practical purpose, does the design create a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction? As well as crafting a written entry that addresses the criteria, bars will also be asked to provide photos, schematic drawings, architectural plans and a video walk-through of their venue. Entries are now open to the all-new Bareksten Best Bar Design Award, which is available to any bar, anywhere in the world. The winner will be revealed at The World's 50 Best Bars 2023 in Singapore on 17th October - find out everything you need to know about the award's criteria, and its judges and make an entry here Anirudh Singhal, Founder of Haus of Bars by SpeedX, selected as the Indian jury member for World's 50 Best Bar Design Awards. Meet the judges The award will be judged by a panel of industry experts including (clockwise from top left) Anirudh Singhal, Paul Semple, Alia Akkam, Scott Baird, Shaun Clarkson and Bethan Ryder. When the entry phase closes on 6th June, six of the greatest minds in hospitality design will whittle the applicants down to a final three, who will be invited to Singapore to attend The World's 50 Best Bars ceremony to discover the winner. The judges who helped design the award's criteria and will select the winner are: Alia Akkam - A native New Yorker, experienced drinks and design journalist and confessed Europhile, Alia Akkam has called Budapest home since 2015. She is a contributing editor at Beverage Media and Hospitality Design and contributes regularly to Architectural Digest's AD PRO vertical as well as ICON, OnOffice and Barron's PENTA publications. Akkam has an affinity for writing about cocktails and bars, as well as interiors, hotels, travel, food and culture. Anirudh Singhal - After helping launch numerous trend-setting restaurants and bars, Singhal is now the man behind Speedx, a firm built to design hospitality venues from the ground up on the principles of ergonomics and comfort. Speedx has built over 500 bars across India, including all the country's entries on The World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's 50 Best Bars rankings; they are the largest bar design and build company in the country. He has recently launched Haus of Bars by Speedx, an online store giving the public access to professional-grade equipment to create the ultimate home bar. Bethan Ryder - With over 25 years of experience in design, interiors and travel journalism, Ryder is an expert in what makes a great bar. Now the executive editorial director at leading global trend forecasting agency WGSN since 2020, she has previously held senior editorial positions at Elle Decoration, Wallpaper* and Telegraph Luxury and has contributed to numerous titles including Sunday Times Style, The Guardian, Interior Design and the Evening Standard. She has also edited four books on bar, restaurant and club interiors for Laurence King Publishing, regularly chairs talk on design and host the House of Tales podcast series. Paul Semple - Semple is one of two masterminds behind the hospitality-focused interior design studio MSDO, founded in 2020 alongside his lifelong collaborator Matthew Shang. With over 20 years of experience working around the world, including over five years leading the global hospitality team at multinational architecture firm Hassell, Semple has been based in Singapore since 2004. He has overseen and led design projects ranging from opulent retail spaces to large-scale hospitality venues, city hotels, small resort properties and award-winning bar projects. Scott Baird - Baird is a San Francisco Bay Area native and a hospitality veteran of the region. After years behind the bars of a trio of lauded venues in the US, he founded the creative agency Rococo Cantaloupe, which is built from the ground up to "make drinks, throw parties and creates fun". His company has been behind the successful design revamp of many bars across the US, such as Zeppelin and Moonshot in Nashville. Shaun Clarkson - Clarkson has headed up his own eponymous London-based design agency for over 32 years, working exclusively across the spectrum of hospitality. Known for his diversity of projects and his vivid colour palette, Clarkson has been involved in brand development for the drinks industry, most notably working with vodka and Champagne brands creating events around luxury launches. He also has a wealth of experience as an operator, owning bars, cafes and 'home-tels' (some of the UK's most iconic fantasy holiday homes). If you frequent a bar where the design makes you happy, suggest that they apply to be named the first-ever winner of the Bareksten Best Bar Design Award. The application window will be open for just six weeks, so bar owners and designers should check out the application form today. The 15th edition of The World's 50 Best Bars list, sponsored by Perrier, will be announced on Tuesday, 17th October 2023 in Singapore. To be the first to hear about the latest news and announcements, browse the website, follow us on Instagram, find us on Facebook, visit us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel. For more information about The World's 50 Best Bar Design Awards and to see the full list of judges, visit the website at https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/bareksten-best-bar-design-award-launch-2023.html. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 25: Sahamati, an Alliance for the Account Aggregator Ecosystem, successfully conducted 'SamvAAd-2023', the first-ever Annual Conference for Account Aggregator sector. The one-day event, held on May 24, 2023, saw participation from over 900 delegates from multiple sectors such as banking, mutual funds, insurance, Micro-finance and fintech firms. Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor, GOI, gave the keynote address to the audience. Talking about the relevance and importance of Account Aggregators, Dr Nageswaran emphasised on the fact that the simple concept of consent-based data sharing will leave huge impact on increasing access to financial services. Availability of granular and accurate financial information, right from sources, will thereby increase access to financial services without the drudgery and time consumption that it is associated with today. Dr Nageswaran's speech was followed by the first panel of the day, 'Progressive regulations: Foundation for scaling open networks'. The panellists Pramod Rao, ED, SEBI, Mr. R. Gandhi, ex-DG, RBI, S. Ramann, CMD, SIDBI discussed the importance of regulatory rails for sustained growth of any sector. They also encouraged start-ups to approach regulatory sandboxes for guidance and support. The session was moderated by Venkatesh Hariharan, India Representative, Open Invention Network. The next session was followed by an insightful talk by Praveena Rai, Chief Operating Officer, NPCI. One of the most anticipated sessions, Insights from Mr. Nandan Nilekani followed by a Fire-side chat with him, focussed on the immense growth possibility that AA has. Mr. Nilekani said that AA has the potential to monetise the digital currency individuals have today, bringing people financial access like never before. SamvAAd also gave an opportunity to 14 innovative open finance use cases, selected through a rigorous and independent process. Teams of Account Aggregators, technology providers and FIUs (financial information users) were invited to showcase real demos of their organisations where they are using AA to solve delivering superior customer service and improve viability in serving all customer segments. The categories were defined along the six citizen needs that are being addressed through AA categorised as Easy Banking for every household; Easy access to instant short-term credit for individuals and enterprises; Access to long-term credit for buying an affordable home with minimal paperwork and without long waiting times; To get advice for building a balanced investment portfolio that can help families achieve its short-term and long-term financial goals; Affordable and adequate insurance cover to protect a family and assets from unforeseen and unfortunate events. The power-packed conference was thoughtfully designed to encourage dialogues between policymakers, industry participants and thought leaders from the sector. Fireside chats, panel discussions and workshops by senior professionals from the industry ensured all aspects impacting the growth and early adoption of account aggregators were covered. In the second panel of the day, 'The how-to guide for India', Deepak Sharma, President and CDO, Kotak Bank, Deep Agrawal, Head-Payments & Account Aggregator Business, PhonePe, Abhijit Gulanikar, President - Business Strategy from SBI Life discussed the emerging imperatives for open finance led financial inclusion in India. The panel was moderated by N.S. Ramnath, Founding Fuel. The third panel, 'Exchanging ideas with the world' saw participation from Dr. Bill Roberts, Fellow, Cambridge University, Anil Mahalaha, Chief Evangelist, Akoya and Chanchal Sarkar, Advisor (G20). The session was moderated by Srinivas Jain, Executive Director, SBI Mutual Fund. The panel highlighted the thought behind the regulatory regimes defining open finance across the world. Senior executives who shared their viewpoints and insights at the conference included, Shri. Karma Zimpa Bhutia, Joint Secretary Skills, Ministry of Rural Development; J Venkatramu, CEO, IPPB; Vinay S, ViP, Perfios; Ashwin Ramachandran, CEO, VuNet and Bharat Joshi, CPO, Vunet; Ankur Handa, Co-founder and CPO, Lentra; Shikha Agrawal, CTO-Data, Microsoft India; Soumendu, CPO, CAMS, Kanika Kumar, Director, IDEO, Dipika Prasad, Sr. Design Lead, IDEO, Keerthana Medarametla, Senior Curator, Agami. After a resounding response from the entire ecosystem, Sahamati is determined to build 'SamvAAd' as an annual conference and an ongoing platform for all industry players to converge regularly. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) And the wait is finally over. IIFA Awards 2023 are about to commence at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and our beloved Bollywood celebrities have already started arriving at the glamorous sea-side location. Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who will host the award show, reached Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. He received a warm welcome from the team of IIFA at the airport. A glimpse of him arriving at the Abu Dhabi airport was shared on IIFA's Instagram page. https://www.instagram.com/p/CsosehWMja6/?hl=en Excited for his hosting stint at IIFA 2023, Abhishek had earlier said, "I'm ecstatic to be hosting the 23rd edition of IIFA at YAS Island, Abu Dhabi. IIFA is like family to me. I am looking forward to entertaining, meeting fans, and connecting with them globally." Abhishek attended IIFA last year as well. He delivered an energetic performance at the gala in 2022, evoking the loudest cheer from his wife Aishwarya and daughter Aaradhya. Filmmaker Farah Khan and actor RajKummar Rao have also reached Abu Dhabi. The duo will host IIFA Rocks together. https://www.instagram.com/p/CspI9uhBVic/?hl=en Held prior to the main awards ceremony, IIFA Rocks highlights the music and fashion of Indian cinema. Renowned musicians of the Hindi film industry are expected to create magic with their songs at the gala this year. It will be held on May 26, while the main awards night will be conducted on May 27. Badshah, Nora Fatehi, and Rakul Preet Singh have also reached Abu Dhabi. They will light up the venue with their performances. https://www.instagram.com/p/CspIZVFhG2W/?hl=en Norwegian dance group Quick Style will also attend IIFA 2023. The boys have already reached the venue. This year veteran actor Kamal Haasan will be felicitated with the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award at the gala. Apart from him, actors and couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza will be awarded for 'Outstanding Achievement in Regional Cinema' and Designer Manish Malhotra will also be honoured for 'Outstanding Achievement in Fashion in Cinema". (ANI) Taking to Twitter handle, Nitin Gadkari dropped pictures with film producers Vipul Shah, Aashin Shah and actors Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, and Sonia Balani. In one of the pictures, 'The Kerala Story' team can be seen having a discussion with Nitin Gadkari. https://twitter.com/OfficeOfNG/status/1661593887620890624 And also posed for a group photo. 'The Kerala Story' has been facing criticism by political parties due to its storyline. 'The Kerala Story' stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the lead roles. The controversy surrounding the film started when its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. This statement triggered a heated political debate and many leaders questioned the veracity of the claim. Earlier, the Supreme Court stayed the ban imposed by the West Bengal government on the film 'The Kerala Story' on May 18. "Prohibition by West Bengal is not tenable. The order of the additional secretary of West Bengal shall remain stayed," Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said. The apex court also directed the makers of The Kerala Story to give a proper disclaimer regarding the unsubstantiated figure '32,000' mentioned in the film. Senior Adv Harish Salve, appearing for film producers, says that disclaimer -"there is no authentic data to back up the suggestion that the figure of conversions is 32,000 or any other established figure" and "the film represents the fictionalised version" of the issue- shall be added. (ANI) Actor Kartik Aaryan, on Thursday, penned down a long note as he completed the shooting of his upcoming romantic film 'Satyaprem Ki Katha.' Taking to Instagram, Kartik shared a string of BTS pictures and wrote, "A special film and a special character comes to an end !! This journey of playing SatyaPrem through #SatyaPremKiKatha has been heart-wrenching and a roller coaster ride of emotions. SatyaPrem will always be my most favourite, strongest and bravest character and i hope you'll connect with him too, as I believe all of us have a Sattu in us." https://www.instagram.com/p/Csq9zj8taGS/ The 'Freddy' actor also thanked the makers of the film. "Thanks to my super amazing director @sameervidwans for giving me such a role that i will always cherish and feel proud of Sajid Nadiadwala sir for putting so much belief in me and giving so much love and power to this film," the caption further reads. He further expressed gratitude towards the whole team of 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' and actor Kiara Advani. He wrote, "@shareenmantri you have given it your all from the first day till the end and thankful to you for thinking of me as Sattu. @kiaraaliaadvani thank you for being on another beautiful journey with me, had a blockbuster time with you yet again @karandontsharma thanx for penning down sattu n katha Thank you @arora.kishor sir Thank you @wardakhannadiadwala @kamera002 u made this journey beautiful Had so much fun and learnt so much from the talented @gajrajrao, Supriyapathak @anooradha_patel @randeria_siddharth @shikhatalsania @rajpalofficial. Can't wait for you all to meet Sattu and his Katha...Just 34 Days more to go #29thJune in Cinemas." Helmed by Sameer Vidhwans, the film is all set to hit the theatres on June 29. Recently the makers unveiled the teaser of the film which received massive responses from the fans. The teaser begins with Kartik's voice-over, expressing his love for Kiara's character Katha. The video includes romantic moments of Kartik and Kiara set against beautiful backdrops of locations like Kashmir. In the film, Kartik will be seen romancing Kiara Advani. The film marks the actor's second collaboration after the blockbuster 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', which was released in 2022. The film also stars Supriya Pathak Kapur, Gajraj Rao, Siddharth Randheria, Anooradha Patel, Rajpal Yadav, Nirrmite Saawaant, and Shikha Talsania. Apart from this, Kartik will be seen in Hansal Mehta's next 'Captain India' and in director Kabir Khan's next untitled film. Kiara, on the other hand, will also be seen in an upcoming action drama film 'Game Changer' alongside 'RRR' actor Ram Charan. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday joined an interactive meeting of the rice millers of the State with the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs held at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre in Guwahati. Addressing the occasion, CM Sarma said the Government of Assam has ensured that the commitments it had made to the rice millers with regard to subsidies are being met and that any grievances regarding the same would be addressed at the earliest. Addressing those millers who are yet to instal blender machines at their mills, the Chief Minister reminded them of the coming July 1 deadline, after which non-FRK rice grains shall not be procured by any government rice grain procurement agencies. "So far, subsidies amounting to a total of Rs 9 crore have already been released," he added. As per directives from the Government of India, rice to be procured by the government agencies from coming July 1 has to be mandatorily blended with fortified rice kernels. CM Sarma stated that around 300 millers have already installed blender machines while the remaining are expected to do the same at the earliest. The meeting also touched upon other issues that have the potential to benefit millers as well as paddy cultivators of the State. The Government of Assam has extended subsidies of upto Rs 2 lakh per mill for the purchase of blender machines, required for the purpose of blending general rice grains with FRK. Departmental Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Chairman of Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman Rajen Gohain, along with a host of other dignitaries, were also present. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda reached Delhi's Palam airport on Thursday early morning to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his arrival after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. BJP national President is accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi MP Ramesh Vidhuri, Hans Raj Hans, and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. PM Modi will be shortly arriving at the Palam airport. Meanwhile, a large number of BJP workers and supporters gather outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Speaking to ANI, BJP workers said, "People here to welcome PM Modi as he has made us and the whole nation proud." "At midnight we are here to welcome PM Modi as he had made everyone proud," another worker said. Visuals show BJP workers eagerly waiting for the PM's arrival while holding placards and national flags. They can be seen dancing to drum beats amid tight security prior to the PM's arrival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. (ANI) Delhi's Patiala House Court has granted bail to a man who is a co-accused in a case of cheating by impersonation and cloning of the SIM of the Cabinet Secretary. A case was registered under sections related to cheating and criminal conspiracy and the IT Act by the special cell of Delhi police for alleged cheating of Rs 50 lakh with a person on the pretext of getting him a Lok Sabha election ticket. A charge sheet has already been filed against the accused persons. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria on Tuesday granted bail to Dasrath Singh on furnishing a bond of Rs 50 thousand and a surety bond in the like amount. While granting bail, the court said, "Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case and that accused is in custody since February 19, 2023, the role alleged against him is that he told the profile of Bhupendra to Himanshu and Justin." The charge sheet has already been filed, the applicant is no more required for custodial interrogation and no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping the accused behind bars, the judge said. The court also considered the fact that no money was received by the accused. The accused has moved a bail application on the ground that the investigation is completed and a charge sheet has been filed. Advocate Karan Tarkar and Aaron Shaw argued on behalf of the accused that nothing has been recovered from the applicant/accused at the time of arrest, nor any substantial evidence has been found against him in the FIR as well as in the charge sheet. It was also submitted that the applicant/accused is not part of any criminal conspiracy, dishonestly cheated anyone, nor impersonated anyone as per the charge sheet filed by the Special Cell. The counsel for the accused submitted that he is in judicial custody for almost three months and a charge sheet has already been filed. There is no apprehension of tampering with evidence in any manner or influencing the witnesses. The accused is a family man having clean antecedents and is a permanent resident of Gujarat. There is no apprehension that he may abscond. On the other hand bail application is opposed by the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) and the IO on the ground that the accused provided the details of victim Bhupendra to co-accused for cheating. It was also submitted that the accused was part and parcel of an overall conspiracy hatched to cheat the victim Bhupendra for Rs 50 lakhs. Entry have been in the accused's name in Paradise Hotel in Paharganj where the accused checked in on January 24, 2023 when the victim was called to Delhi, APP argued. The APP also argued that there are chances that the accused can try to threaten the victim Bhupendra Singh. He may jump the conditions of bail if bail is granted. The court has imposed conditions including that the accused shall not leave the country without prior permission of the court. (ANI) Amid the opposition's objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building, Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam on Wednesday said, it is a 'drama'. "It's drama, we don't want to be spectators to that drama," CPI MP said. He further said, "Today we see that 19 parties of the opposition have come together and all of them in one voice stated that we will not participate in the inauguration of the new parliament." "It will be the new Parliament, the BJP showed no respect for the Parliament, no respect for the Constitution. In this inauguration function, what is the role of the President? Where is the President? That great lady is completely forgotten," he said. On Tuesday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) announced a boycott of the ceremony slated to take place on May 28. Meanwhile, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury accused PM Modi of "bypassing" the President. "Modi bypassed the President when the foundation stone for the new Parliament building was laid. Now too at the inauguration. Unacceptable. Constitution Art 79: "There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses..." CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted. "Only when the President of India summons the Parliament can it meet. The President begins, annually, Parliamentary functioning by addressing the joint session. The first business Parliament transacts each year is the "Motion of Thanks" to the President's Address," he tweeted. Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party and Trinamool Congress announced to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building by PM Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. The new Parliament building will enable 888 members to sit in the Lok Sabha. (ANI) The meeting will be around 3 pm today. During his visit, Chief Minister Kejriwal will be accompanied by Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, AAP MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha and Delhi Minister Atishi will also be present at the meeting. Delhi CM also met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday. The Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the ordinance brought by the central government on the transfers and postings of bureaucrats in the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor accused the Centre of "taking away the rights" of the people of Delhi and said that the ordinance "should not" be allowed to pass in Rajya Sabha. This comes after the Union Government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the 'transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'. The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. Earlier, CM Kejriwal met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Tuesday and sought her support against the ordinance. (ANI) Concluding his three-nation visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning arrived in Delhi and said, today the world wants to know what India is thinking. While addressing the public gathered to welcome him, PM Modi said, "The people here asked me why I gave the vaccines to the world. I want to say that this is the land of Buddha, Gandhi. We care even for our enemies... Today the world wants to know what India is thinking." "When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi," he said. PM Modi further talked about the release of the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea and said, "Tamil language is our language. It is the language of every Indian. It is the oldest language in the world. I had the opportunity to release the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea." Earlier in the morning, PM Modi arrived at Palam airport in Delhi after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Prime Minister Modi was garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at the airport. Nadda reached Delhi's Palam airport early on Thursday morning to welcome PM Modi on his arrival. Appreciating PM Modi, BJP national President said, "The world appreciates your governance model. US President Joe Biden asked for your autograph, this shows how the world is seeing India under your leadership." "The way the PM of Papua New Guinea touched your feet, shows how much respect you have there. The people of India feel proud when they see that our Prime Minister is being welcomed like this," he said. A large number of BJP workers and supporters also gathered outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court Guwahati on Tuesday convicted another accused in a conspiracy case related to the formation of a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) module, a banned terrorist organisation, informed officials. The accused, Md Saidul Alam of district Hojai, Assam, has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine. "Five people were chargesheeted by the NIA on March 11, 2019, and two of them, identified as Md. Sahnawaj Alom and Md. Omar Faruque was convicted by the NIA Court on December 23, 2022," read an official release from NIA. The case was originally registered at P.S. Jamunamukh, District Hojai, Assam under various sections of the IPC and UA(P) Act. The NIA re-registered the case on October 5, 2018. NIA investigations revealed that the three convicted accused had conspired with one Kamruj Zaman to establish a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) module in Assam. "During 2017-2018, they organised a series of meetings in various mosques, such as Milonpur Masjid, Islampur Masjid and Solmari Masjid, in and around the Jamunamukh area. The meetings were used to spread the banned outfit's hardcore fundamentalist ideology, with speeches about alleged atrocities and Jihad. Youth attending these meetings were told about the need to raise a module of HM for committing terrorist acts in response to the alleged atrocities etc," read an official release. According to officials, Kamruj, Shahnawaz and Omar conspired to raise funds for the procurement of arms and ammunition. "Omar, alongwith another accused Jaynal Uddin, provided logistic support. To keep their communications a secret, Kamruj Zaman and Saidul Alam had also installed the Blackberry messenger (BBM) App on their mobile sets. Kamruj had used this app to stay in touch with Hizbul Mujahideen cadres in Jammu and Kashmir," it read. Further investigations revealed that Saidul, alongwith Kamruj, Sahnawaz and Omar, had also conspired to unleash bomb blasts and armed attacks on innocent civilians in the non-Muslim localities of Lumding and Hojai on Dussehra eve. They had also planned to procure arms and ammunition for these attacks. (ANI) The accused has been identified by police as one Kunal Verma. Information about the molestation incident was received on Wednesday noon, Delhi Police said. The police said that as per the victim's statement, the accused inappropriately touched inappropriately on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday when she was sleeping in the same ward where her husband was being treated since Monday Acting on the complaint of the victim, an FIR under section 354/354(A) Indian Penal Code was registered at GTB Enclave police station in the national capital. Further investigation into the matter is in progress. Meanwhile, earlier this month, a 43-year-old man, working as a peon in a school in the national capital was detained for allegedly molesting a 4-year-old girl studying in the same school. A case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC and POCSO Act at South Rohini police station. (ANI) Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday likened Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders with "loose cannons" and warned that they could not make irresponsible comments and get away with it. Meanwhile speaking on a possible rollback on the hijab ban in Karnataka, Priyank Kharge, who has been inducted into Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet as a Minister but is yet to be allocated a portfolio, today said that the party will review and if necessary reject any bill that is not in favour of the people or is unconstitutional. "BJP has become loose cannons. They have lost the connect between their tongue and their brain. They don't think before they speak...They think they can get away with it. That is not going to happen anymore in Karnataka," Kharge, who is also the son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said. The Congress leader who is in Delhi today was responding to BJP leader and former State minister C N Ashwath Narayan's remarks this February ahead of the Assembly elections in the State in which he had purportedly said that Karanataka chief minister Siddaramaiah should be "finished off" like the erstwhile Mysuru Tipu Sultan. The FIR was registered under Sections 506 and 153 of the IPC on Thursday at Devaraja police station in Mysuru against Ashwath Narayan for his alleged remark against Siddaramaiah. Talking to ANI Kharge said, "People need to be very careful about what they speak. As long as they are well within their rights, we have no issues but you cannot demean the Office of the CM or the CM himself and get away with it." Meanwhile, Ashwath Narayan today said that he had no intention of hurting Siddaramaiah and had expressed his regret over the remark. "I had made it very clear that my statement had no intention of hurting Siddaramaiah, his sentiments or feelings and I expressed my regret too. The opposition party accepted my statement. Now they are opening the three-month-old closed chapter. I will face it politically as well as legally," the former Karnataka minister said. During a public event this February in Karnataka, Ashwath Narayan had exhorted people to "finish off" Siddaramaiah the way the two Vokkaliga chieftains -- Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda -- had killed the 17-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan. Congress has maintained that the duo are fictional characters. Meanwhile speaking on a possible rollback on the hijab ban in Karnataka, Priyank Kharge, who has been inducted into Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet as a Minister but is yet to be allocated a portfolio, today said that the party will review and if necessary reject any bill that is not in favour of the people or is unconstitutional. "We are very clear on our stand we will review any such executive order, we will review any Bill that is regressive to the economic policies of Karnataka, any Bill that brings a bad image to the state, any Bill that is not used for economic activities, any Bill that does not create employment, any Bill that violates the rights of an individual, any Bill that is unconstitutional will be reviewed and if necessary, rejected," Kharge said. Talking about the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Bajrang Dal in the State, Kharge said that organisations that sow seeds of discontent and disharmony will not be tolerated and will be tackled legally and constitutionally. "Any organisation, either religious, political or social, who are going to sow seeds of discontent and disharmony in Karnataka will not be tolerated. We will tackle them legally and constitutionally. be it Bajrang Dal, PFI or any other organisation. We will not hesitate to ban them if they are going to be a threat to law and order in Karnataka," the minister said. Congress in its manifesto for the Karnataka assembly election said that the party is committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred among communities on grounds of caste and religion. "We believe that law and Constitution are sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, Popular Front of India (PFI) or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on any such organisations," the manifesto said. (ANI) According to the police, the accused was identified as Ramchandra Ambardkar. "The accused was defaming women personnel of the Mumbai police by posting obscene messages about them on Twitter," said officials. They added that the information was received after a woman police personnel complained about this at the Pantnagar police station in Mumbai. The police stated that they had apprehended the accused and booked him under various sections of the (Indian Penal Code) IPC and the (Information Technology) IT Act. "We have arrested the accused and registered a case against him under sections 500 (Punishment for defamation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC and the IT Act," said the police. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to Enforcement Directorate on a plea challenging the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in liquor irregularities matter in Chhattisgarh. A vacation bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha issued notice to ED on a plea filed by one Pinki Singh Pinki Singh, who was represented by senior Advocate Siddharth Dave and assisted by advocate Aakashi Lodhi, has also challenged certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The petitioner has sought not to take any coercive step against her probe agency in the matter. The matter is listed for further hearing next Monday, May 29 2023. "ED is conducting an investigation into the liquor scam which ran between 2019 to 2022 in which corruption was done in multiple ways. The bribe was collected from the distillers per each case of liquor procured from them by the CSMCL," they said. ED investigation has revealed that Arun Pati Tripathi through his direct actions at the insistence of Anwar Dhebar, corrupted the entire liquor system of Chhattisgarh to maximize corruption in the department. He made policy changes in conspiracy with his other colleagues and gave tenders to associates of Anwar Dhebar so that maximum benefits could be taken. Despite being a senior ITS Officer and MD of CSMCL, he went against the ethos of the functioning of any State Excise Department and used the State-run shops to sell unaccounted kacha liquor. His complicit actions resulted in massive losses to the State Exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of the Liquor Syndicate with more than Rs 2000 Crore in illegal proceeds of crime. He also received a substantial share in this loot. Thus, the very objective of CSMCL to increase the State's revenue and to provide quality controlled liquor to citizens was violated by him for his personal illegal gains, read the official statement. ED has conducted consequential search operations at locations in Raipur, Bhilai and Mumbai and the searches have resulted in the discovery of 53 acres of land in Naya Raipur having a book value of Rs 21.60 crore acquired by Anwar Dhebar by using proceeds of crime in the name of a JV. This property was purchased through a maze of transactions in the name of an associate by routing proceeds of crime acquired from the FL-10A licensee. During recent search proceedings, ED has seized cash worth Rs 20 lacs and multiple incriminating documents, mentioned the official statement. In searches in Mumbai, unaccounted investments worth around Rs 1 Crore, with a Share trading firm in the name of Arvind Singh and Pinki Singh w/o Arvind Singh were found and the same have been frozen under PMLA. Earlier, ED had frozen Fixed Deposits worth Rs 27.5 Crore from Trilok Singh Dhillon. Earlier, ED had seized jewellery worth Rs 28 crore from the house of a Country Liquor Distiller. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin who is on an official visit to Singapore met with the country's transport minister S Iswaran and discussed improving economic and bilateral ties between the two countries. The meeting took place on Wednesday. Stalin also signed six memoranda of understanding (MoU) with businesses during the 'Investors' First Port of Call,' according to a press release issued by the chief minister's office. Stalin also invited the Singapore minister Iswaran, who holds responsibilities spanning land, air, and sea transport, to attend the World Investors Conference to be held in Chennai in January 2024. The Chief Minister had left Chennai on Tuesday on a two-nation tour of Singapore and Japan tour, aiming to attract investors towards the state ahead of the Global Investors Summit in Chennai next year. Stalin discussed with the Singapore Minister the possibility of working together in the fields of green economy and digital economy, the possibility of manufacturing semiconductors and electronic spare parts. Easwaran also requested the Tamil Nadu government delegation led by the Chief Minister Stalin to send a team of the Tamil Nadu Government to the Fintech Conference to be held in Singapore in October according to Tamil Nadu officials. On Wednesday in Singapore, Stalin visited the Singapore Temasek, Sembcorp. He met and spoke to the CEOs of CapitaLand companies. Highlighting the favourable conditions for starting a business in Tamil Nadu, he requested to make business investments in Tamil Nadu and invited them to participate in the World Investors Conference, read an official statement of the Tamil Nadu government. "I am going to Singapore and Japan. Industry Minister and some government officials are coming with me. The main goal of this trip is to invite investors ahead of Global Investors Meet which is scheduled for January 2024 at Chennai," Stalin said in a statement ahead of his visits. "Last year we went to Dubai and got investments of Rs 6100 crore with which created employment opportunities for 15,100 persons. We also signed MoU with six firms," the statement added. During Stalin's Japan visit, various MoUs are also expected to be signed and the Tamil Nadu delegation will also visit Osaka to meet investors. While he embarked on a two-nation visit the Tamil Nadu CM had said that investments worth Rs 2,95,339 crore have been attracted with investments with 226 firms in the last two years. "Since DMK formed government in the state. In the last two years, MoU has been signed with 226 firms and investments of around Rs 2,95,339 crore have been attracted. If the implementation is fully completed 4,12,565 more employment opportunities would be created," the Chief Minister said. (ANI) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday lashed out at the Congress for objecting to the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that with such actions the opposition party will surely "fade into oblivion." "...I find it very difficult to have an intelligent conversation with them (Congress) on that...They say something else when they meet us and something entirely different for public consumption. I think they are slowly but surely ensuring they will fade into oblivion...." Hardeep Puri told ANI. "Agar unhone Parliament banaya hota toh innagurate kar sakte the na? (If they had built the Parliament they could have innagurated it), Puri said. The union minister had a day earlier in a press briefing in the national capital pointed out that In August 1975, then PM Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe, and later in 1987 PM Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Library. "If your (Congress) head of government can inaugurate them, why can't our head of government do the same?," Puri asked. He said that the boycott of the inaugural of the Parliament building stems from "both gross and misrepresentation of the nature of the occasion." "...You are celebrating India the mother of democracies the largest democracy, now the fifth largest economy in the world going in the direction of the third-largest economy in the world and you want to disassociate yourself from that? You are disassociating yourself from India, what is Indian civilization, culture and democracy," said Hardeep Puri while talking to ANI today. Union Minister RK Singh also criticised the opposition parties decision to boycott the new Parliament building inauguration. "These people (opposition) have no validation for the sanctity of the Parliament...they have boycotted the President's address numerous times. They have constantly been disrupting the Parliament...they have no respect for the Parliament. This is a great occasion for the country and the opposition is playing divisive politics," Singh said on Opposition's decision to boycott the inauguration. Maharashtra Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also pointed out that the Congress had gone ahead with the inauguration of the Parliament Annexe by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. "It is being said that the President should inaugurate the new Parliament building, so why it didn't come up when Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe?," Fadnavis asked. In Chennai, Union Finance Minister said the Opposition parties should rethink their decision to boycott the opening of the new Parliament building. "It's a temple of democracy, even the PM entered the Parliament by bowing on its steps. I humbly request and appeal (to the Opposition), kindly re-think, change your stand and participate in the ceremony," Sitharaman said. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have said they will boycott the ceremony to unveil the new Parliament building. The opposition said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". The opposition parties said in the statement that the new Parliament building has been built "at great expense during a once-in-a-century pandemic with no consultation with the people of India or MPs, for whom it is apparently being built." Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that a technologically advanced military is crucial to protect the interests of the nation. He was addressing the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists and other senior officials during the inauguration of a two-day 'DRDO-Academia' conclave in New Delhi on Thursday. He stressed that for a country like India, it becomes vital to have such a military as it faces a double threat on borders. "Today we are one of the largest armed forces in the world, the bravery and valour of our military are praised all over the world. Countries across the world express their willingness to conduct joint exercises with our armed forces. In such a situation, it becomes imperative that we have a technologically advanced military to protect the interests of the country. For a country like India, it becomes very important because we are facing a double threat on our borders," Singh said. Underscoring the significance of the theme of the conclave "DRDO-Academia Partnership - Opportunities and Challenges", Singh said, it is a dire need that DRDO and Academia to work in partnership with each other to find solutions to the challenges being faced by us in the 21st century. "This partnership will prove helpful in making India a leading nation in defence technologies," he said. He underlined that the path to acquiring advanced technologies traverses through research and development (R&D) which plays a key role in the development of any country. "Unless we do research, we will not be able to adopt new technologies. R&D has the ability to convert ordinary substances into valuable resources. It has been a key factor in the development of civilizations throughout history," Rajnath Singh added. He expressed confidence that as the partnership between DRDO and Academia reaches new heights, the fruits of this partnership will unlock the potential of many new resources, which will benefit the entire country. Elaborating on the benefits of the DRDO - Academia partnership, Defence Minister stressed, through this synergy, the DRDO will get a skilled human resource base from eminent institutions like IISC, IITs, NITs and other universities from across the country as these institutions, nurture a large pool of talented and skilled youth. He also urged the DRDO scientists and academia to deliberate on the option of deployment of the scientists of DRDO as faculty in the academic institutions for a specific period, which will give a new perspective to our Academia, whereas the intellectuals of Academia can also serve on deputation as a scientist within DRDO. On the occasion, he felicitated eminent scientists who have made outstanding contributions in the area of Aeronautics, Armaments, Life Sciences and Naval systems and other DRDO requirements through the grant-in-aid DRDO projects. He also released a Compendium of Invited talks about thrust areas for academia in understanding the requirements and opportunities in DRDO. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat and senior officers of the Ministry of Defence and senior scientists from DRDO and academia were present on the occasion. The two-day conclave aims to create an interface between DRDO's requirements and Academia's capability by a synergistic dialogue between DRDO Directors, scientists and academicians. It is being attended by about 350 senior academicians across the country. (ANI) After the Congress demanded President Droupadi Murmu inaugurate the Parliament building, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that this showed the "double-faced nature" of the opposition parties. The BJP leader said that the former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi too inaugurated the Parliament and Parliament Building in the years 1975 and 1987 respectively. Speaking with ANI, Fadnavis said, "It is a symbol of a new resurgent India. The whole world is shocked to see that India can construct such a big Parliament in a span of three years," he said. "But, see the double face of these (Opposition) people. They say that President should inaugurate the Parliament Building. And then Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament building. Then, why did not this issue come up?", the BJP leader asked. Fadnavis recalled that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Library of the Parliament. "Then why did not this issue come up," he questioned the Congress without naming them. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday addressed the controversy that was triggered by the Congress demanding that President of India Droupadi Murmu be invited to inaugurate the new Parliament building. Puri noted that in 1975 then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe, and later in 1987 PM Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Library, in a comeback to Congress' allegations. The inauguration of the newly constructed Parliament building by PM Modi has unleashed a political slugfest with the Opposition demanding President Murmu inaugurate the building. Th ruling party accused it of showing a "disregard" for the democratic process. Twenty opposition parties have said that they would boycott the ceremony to unveil the new Parliament building. Among these are the Congress, AIUDF, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, TMC, Janta Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), RJD, Indian Union Muslim League, National Conference, Communist Party of India, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (Mani), Vidhuthalai Chirunthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary, Socialist Party and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. It has been built in record time with quality construction. In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha. Considering the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha chamber. (ANI) Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya, on Thursday said that India is the only country in the world to have developed its own mechanism for estimating its TB burden. He said that by employing a mathematical model based on local evidence, India can now determine the true burden of the disease well ahead of the annual World Health Organization report. Mandaviya was addressing at a Quad Plus side event on tuberculosis during the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The event witnessed the participation of distinguished delegates from Quad Plus countries, reinforcing the commitment to tackle the global health challenge posed by TB. Highlighting India's proactive response to the TB epidemic, Mandaviya said, "This year, we observed World TB Day at the One World TB Summit in India essentially highlighting the ethos of One World, One Health that our Prime Minister strongly believes in." In his address, Mandaviya emphasized the significance of the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on Tuberculosis, scheduled for September, as an opportunity to evaluate the collective progress made towards ending TB. He commended India's dedication, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in striving to eliminate TB from the country by 2025, five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal. "India's relentless efforts in TB control have yielded remarkable outcomes," he said. Mandaviya announced that the country has witnessed a 13% reduction in TB incidence from 2015 to 2022, surpassing the global reduction rate of 10%. Additionally, TB mortality in India has decreased by 15% during the same period, compared to the global reduction rate of 5.9%. Recognizing the importance of early diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures, Mandaviya said, "To identify all missing cases and reach the 'unreached', India has taken diagnostics and treatment to the patients at the last mile under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister. To ensure Universal Health Coverage for each and every patient, we have established over 1.5 lahks Health and Wellness Centres which provide TB diagnostics and care to all patients, along with a host of other primary healthcare services. This has been especially beneficial to people residing in hard-to-reach areas of our country, ensuring universal health coverage even in remote areas, he said. Mandaviya also highlighted India's successful collaboration with the private sector, enabling quality care for TB patients through their preferred centres, clinics, and doctors. As a result, notifications from the private sector have increased more than sevenfold over the past nine years. Addressing the issue of stigma associated with TB, Mandaviya highlighted India's pioneering community engagement mechanism, the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA). Launched by the President, Draupadi Murmu, this initiative aims to support TB patients throughout their treatment journey. The program, which includes Ni-kshay Mitras or donors, has garnered substantial support, with nearly 78 thousand Ni-kshay Mitras committing to assist around a million patients, raising an estimated $146 million per year. Furthermore, Mandaviya emphasized India's commitment to addressing the socioeconomic consequences of TB by establishing the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana. This unique initiative provides monthly nutritional support to over 75 lakh people undergoing TB treatment through Direct Benefit Transfer, amounting to more than $244 million since its introduction in 2018. Mandaviya further spoke of India's family-centric care model for TB, launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, at the One World Tb Summit, which recognizes the essential role of families in an individual's recovery. At the One World Tb Summit, a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) and the TB-Free Panchayat initiative which encourages local governments to combat TB and receive rewards for their efforts were also launched. Mandaviya spoke of the crucial need for developing an effective vaccine in the fight against TB. In this regard he said, "As we have learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, to eliminate this disease the world needs to work together as one with greater cooperation to ensure equitable access to the latest diagnostic and treatment options. To achieve the UN High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) targets for ending TB by 2030, we must find patient-centric innovative approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat TB. India is committed to sharing its learnings with the world and learning from other contexts as well." Concluding his address, Mandaviya expressed his firm belief that with sustained efforts and determination, TB can be eliminated from the world before 2030. (ANI) Delhi's Rohini Court on Thursday awarded a life sentence to the person convicted for kidnapping, killing and sexual assault on a six-year-old girl. This case was registered at Police Station Begampur in the year 2015. Special judge (PCSO) Sunil Kumar sentenced the man identified as Ravinder Kumar to life imprisonment. The court pronounced the sentence after hearing the submissions of the prosecution and defence counsel. The court has directed the DLSA to give compensation to the parents of the deceased. The court said, "This court is of the view that a full and final compensation of the amount of Rs. 15,00,000/- be granted to the parents/LRs of deceased child." The State was represented by the Additional public prosecutor (APP) Vinit Dahiya. He sought maximum punishment for the convict Ravinder Kumar in view of the sensitivity and gravity of the offence. The convict was represented by advocate Abhishek Shrivastava. He said that Ravinder was convicted of abduction, sexual assault and murder. He was earlier also convicted in another matter. One matter is pending trial against him, the counsel said. This matter pertains to a person who was allegedly involved in kidnapping, killing and sexual assault on around 30 minor kids between 2008 to 2015. His targets were kids aged 6 to 12 years. Delhi police arrested Ravinder Kumar in 2015 from the outer Delhi Area. In this matter, an FIR was registered in the police station Begampur. During the arguments on sentencing, Delhi Police sought maximum punishment for the convict. Ravinder is native of Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh. He came to Delhi in search of a job at the age of 18 in 2008. After coming to Delhi he became addicted to drugs and used to see porn. It was revealed during the investigation that he used to go out in search of kids after consuming drugs. As per the police, he worked during the day and went to sleep in his jhuggi. After consuming the drugs, he went out of his jhuggi in search of kids. It was also revealed during the investigation that sometime he walked around 40 kilometres in search of kids. He used to go near construction sites and slums. He made sure that he had not been watched. He used to entice the kids by showing a rupee ten note or a chocolate and thereafter he take the child to an isolated place. According to police Ravinder was arrested twice. Delhi police had arrested Ravinder for kidnapping, attempting to kill and sexual assault on a child. It was alleged that after kidnapping the child, he threw the child in a septic tank. In 2015, Begampur police were investigating the matter of Kidnapping, murder and sexual assault on a six-year-old girl child. Delhi police had arrested him from the Sukhbeer Nagar Bus stand in the Rohini area. Police had analysed the CCTV footage of dozens of cameras. It is also alleged that in 2008 Ravinder kidnapped a six-year-old girl from Kerala. After that, he allegedly raped and killed her. He could not be arrested in this case. Thereafter, he targeted the minor children in Delhi-NCR. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lashed out at the opposition parties on Thursday for objecting to the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for May 28, and described their statements and actions as extremely sad,' 'irresponsible,' and one that is going to 'weaken democracy.' Attacking the opposition, CM Yogi said that May 28 is going to be recorded as a glorious moment in the history of independent India. "Under the chairmanship of the esteemed Prime Minister of the Nation, Narendra Modi, the new Parliament, a symbol of India's democracy, will be dedicated to the country. It will be a proud moment for the entire country," he said. "On this historic occasion, the kind of comments and statements made by all the opposition parties, including the Congress, are extremely sad, irresponsible, and will weaken democracy", he added. The Chief Minister stated that in addition to being the largest democracy in the world, India is referred to as the 'mother of democracy.' "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new identity to this image of India and the whole country is watching this heinous attempt of the opposition to denigrate his efforts and will never accept it", he remarked. Speaking of the new Parliament building, the CM said that it complies with present-day demands. It is built with a vision for the next 100 years and is a fusion of tradition and modernity. It has been built with a visionary approach, ensuring that every parliamentarian has adequate space and access to all amenities. "This Parliament is giving an opportunity to set a standard for the world because it will serve as a significant forum for hearing the voice of the common man. However, this opposition rhetoric is extremely upsetting", CM Yogi added further. Yogi pointed out that then-prime minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament Annexe and former PM Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation of the Parliament Library. He said, "Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament Annexe and former PM Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation of the Parliament Library. Apart from this, there are many other examples. The country and its citizens will never accept the opposition's attempts to degrade the historical significance of witnessing this momentous event. We would appeal to people to witness and participate in this glorious moment with a call to strengthen India's democracy." Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. It has been built in record time with quality construction. (ANI) Ten years have passed since the 'Jhiram attack' -- one of the biggest naxal attacks in the history of Chhattisgarh as well as in India, the pain of losing loved ones is still felt by people of the state. The unfortunate incident that took place on 25 May 2013, still hounds those who are left partially disabled after the incident or carrying bullet marks on their bodies. With tears in their eyes and a shaky voice, Manisha Bagh demanded the statue of 'Jhiram Martyr' for her father Constable Amar Bagh, who suffered multiple bullet shots in the attack and succumbed to the injuries. "Despite the suffering and pain we have faced and still going through after the passing away of our father, he was not given the statue of martyr till date. My father should be given the status of martyr because he died in the incident," Manisha said. The resident of Jagdalpur, Manisha recalled that safeguarding people in the convoy and battling insurgents during the attack, her father suffered multiple bullet injuries. He was taken to a hospital. After treatment, constable Amar Bagh suffered paralysis and due to the prolonged treatment, he developed kidney problems and eventually passed away. Notably, Manisha as well as her three sisters decided to donate their kidney to their father and took him to Hyderabad for a kidney transplant. Considering the future of all the girls, doctors advised them not to do so. "I do not want to recall that incident but whenever there is a naxal attack in the region, it reminds me of that unfortunate day. Be it happiness or a difficult situation, we feel that emptiness," Manisha said. In another incident, a youth identified as Manoj, a civilian who was driving a vehicle (part of the convoy of Congress's Parivartan Rally which was targeted by armed ultras at Jhiram Valley), lost his life in the incident. Manoj's vehicle was leading the rally and it was targeted by insurgents killing the youth on the spot. Remembering the jolly nature of Manoj, the deceased's uncle, Sevak Ram, said that the youth was the only son in their family, simple in nature and the sole earner. "Everyone misses him a lot and the entire family turns inconsolable whenever anything reminds us of him. We all are waiting for justice," Sevak Ram said. "The intense explosion followed by indiscriminate firing, and the entire incident still gives me a chilling sensation. 10 years passed, and nothing changed, only the roads got wider. The incident still gives me sleepless nights whenever I think about it," said Rajeev Narang, another victim of the incident who suffered a bullet wound on his arm. Narang further recalled that he as well as Gopi Motwani (who accompanied him) suffered bullet injuries in the firing and later he died. "The investigation is going on for the last 10 years, and we are still hopeful to get justice," he added. It may be recalled that on 25 May 2013, a group of armed naxals targeted Congress's 'Parivartan Yatra' at Jhiram Valley in Bastar leaving 32 people dead which include then chief of Congress in Chhattisgarh Nand Kumar Patel, his elder son Dinesh Patel, senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma, former union minister Vidya Charan Shukla. (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday to seek the party's support in Rajya Sabha against the Centre's ordinance on control of administrative services in the national capital, said that the defeat of the Bill in the Upper House will be the testimony of opposition unity. Kejriwal said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party fails to pass the Bill in Rajya Sabha, it will imply that the "Narendra Modi government will not be able to return to power at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls." "Sharad Pawar ji has assured us that NCP will support us in defeating the Bill in Rajya Sabha. We are trying to gather support from all non-BJP parties against the Centre's ordinance on control of administrative services in the national capital," Kejriwal said at a joint press conference with Pawar. He thanked Pawar for his assurance to support the AAP in the Upper House and said that it is a fight for the "federal structure" of the country. "I thank Sharad Pawar that he has assured his support that when the Bill comes to Rajya Sabha, they will not let the Bill pass in the House. If all non-BJP parties come together in Rajya Sabha, this Bill can be failed. This is not a fight for Delhi, it is a fight for the federal structure," he said. "If the BJP is not able to pass the Bill in Rajya Sabha, then one should consider it a semi-final of 2024. The message will be that the Modi government is not returning in 2024," the Delhi Chief Minister added. When asked if he will meet Congress leadership in connection with the matter to seek their support, Kejriwal said that he will seek time from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to meet them on the issue. Sharad Pawar assured his party's support to AAP on the matter and said that talks will be held with other leaders to support Delhi Chief Minister in his effort. "There is a crisis in the country and it's not an issue limited to Delhi. NCP and the people of Maharashtra will support Kejriwal. We will also talk to other leaders to support Kejriwal. We must focus on bringing all non-BJP parties together," Pawar said. The Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the ordinance brought by the central government on the transfers and postings of bureaucrats in the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor accused the Centre of "taking away the rights" of the people of Delhi and said that the ordinance "should not" be allowed to pass in Rajya Sabha. This comes after the Union Government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the 'transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'. The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. Earlier, CM Kejriwal met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Tuesday and sought her support against the ordinance. (ANI) Former union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prakash Javadekar on Thursday slammed the opposition parties for the decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called it their "bankrupt politics". The BJP leader said that the opposition must "rise above politics" and participate in the inauguration ceremony slated to be held on May 28 at around 12 noon. A total of 21 opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC and AAP have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". Speaking to ANI, Javadekar said, "This is most unfortunate and bankrupt politics. This is the hypocrisy of opposition parties to object and boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The opposition needs to understand this is India's Parliament House. Three committees have inspected the current nearly 100-year-old Parliament House and they have reported that there has to be a new Parliament building. Congress never did it, and PM Modi has done it. Instead of appreciating it, they are boycotting the event. This is the bankrupt politics of the opposition," the former Union Minister said. Responding to the opposition's allegation that President Droupadi Murmu who belongs to the tribal community was "insulted" by not being asked to inaugurate the newly built Parliament building, Javadekar questioned the opposition if they were so concerned about the respect of President Murmu then they should not have fielded a candidate against her in the Presidential election last year. "Now they (opposition) are saying the lady President who is from the tribal community has been insulted. If this is so, then why you contested against her during the election of President of India? You should have given her a unanimous victory," he said. Citing instances from the past when former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi inaugurated buildings in the Parliament complex, the BJP leader said that no opposition parties had opposed the move then and the opposition should not oppose the Modi government's decision now. "When Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi inaugurated the library and annexe building of the current Parliament, nobody opposed it. Even Sonia Gandhi inaugurated Vidhan Sabha and other buildings in the UPA regime, nobody opposed it.... and when PM Modi, who is the elected prime minister does it, you have an objection. Therefore, this is absolutely negative politics. People had punished them and will further punish them in the upcoming elections....," he said. "Time is still there the opposition must rise above the politics and participate in the event," Javadekar added. Earlier today, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman "requested" and "appealed" to the opposition on their decision to boycott the ceremony to unveil the new Parliament building and said to re-think and change their stand. "It's a temple of democracy, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi entered the Parliament by bowing on its steps. I humbly request and appeal (to the Opposition), kindly re-think, change your stand and participate in the ceremony," she said. Referring to the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament as a proud and prestigious moment, Sitharaman said that there is nothing to do with politics in this and it's a proud symbol for India. A total of 21 opposition parties, including the Congress have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. It has been built in record time with quality construction. (ANI) Maharashtra Legislative Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday said that the opposition's refusal to participate in the inauguration of the new Parliament building is evidence of its "frustrated mindset". Rahul Narwekar called it the most lamentable act on the part of the opposition to boycott 'this historic celebration. "Parliament is a forum consisting of the ruling and opposition parties. Various national issues are discussed and decided on this August platform. Therefore, the decision by some opposition parties to boycott this historic celebration will be the most lamentable act on their part", Narwekar said. "The nation will witness a historic moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new Parliament Complex on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on May 28, 2023", he said. In a statement, Rahul Narwekar observed that it would be inappropriate for the opposition to stay away from the inaugural function. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is growing to be the largest functioning democracy in the world and the inauguration of the New Parliament Complex by the leader of this nation will be a moment to cherish", he added. It is important to remember some democratic precedents during this occasion, Rahul Narwekar said. "Nonetheless, leaders of various parties, including the opposition, will be attending the function. Why are some people grieving now when the New Parliament Complex is to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, who heads the Government of India as per national mandate?", Narwekar asked. A total of 21 opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC and AAP have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate the new Parliament building to the nation on May 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. It has been built in record time with quality construction. In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha. Considering the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha chamber. (ANI) The shooters identified as Sunny Singh, Lavlesh Tiwari, and Arun Maurya were produced before the court earlier in the day. The accused will be produced before the Prayagraj court on June 7. Gangsters Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were shot dead by men posing as journalists on April 15 night this year, while they were being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj. Both the gangsters collapsed on the spot after being shot close to point-blank range. Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal and also in the killing of a key witness in that case, Umesh Pal, in February this year. Meanwhile, the police on Tuesday said that Lawyer Vijay Mishra, who represented the slain mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, has been booked after a man accused him of extortion. According to the police Saeed Ahmed, a resident of Dariyabad, filed a case against Vijay Mishra on May 20 accusing him of extortion. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Thursday was informed that Delhi Advocate Protection Bill 2023 has been sent to Law Minister and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The High Court asked the Delhi Government to examine and hold a consultation of stakeholders on the draft bill. Justice Prathiba M Singh on Thursday directed the Delhi Government to take steps to examine the bill and to hold a consultation of the stakeholders on the bill. Advocate K C Mittal appeared for the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) and informed the bench that a draft has been prepared and sent to the Law Minister and Delhi's CM for consideration. The bench directed to place on record a copy of the draft bill. The court also directed the government to take examine the draft and to hold a consultation on it. It also directed to file an Action Taken Report (ATR). The bench has listed the matter for further hearing on September 6. The High Court is hearing a petition filed by Deepa Joseph seeking a direction to the Government to ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for the advocates in Delhi. On April 12, the High Court on had sought a response from the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) and the Coordination of All District Bar Associations on a plea seeking enactment of the Advocates Protection Act in Delhi. Justice Singh had directed BCD and Coordination Committee to file a status report on their deliberations regarding the drafting of the Advocates Protection Bill. Advocate KC Mittal stated that both bodies are in the process of drafting the bill. It was also submitted that the issue is also being discussed with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, the law secretary and other senior functionaries. A Petition seeking a direction to the Central Government to ensure a safe atmosphere in Delhi for lawyers to practise their profession. It also sought further direction from the Centre and Delhi Government to consider enacting the Advocates Protection Act in Delhi in the wake of the killing of Advocate Virender Kumar Narwal on April 1, 2023 evening. The Petition has been moved by advocate Robin Raju for advocates Deepa Joseph and Alpha Phiris Dayal. Dayal is a member of the Dwarka Bar Association. The petition said that the broad daylight murder of a senior colleague of the Bar by two miscreants in Dwarka, Sector-1, has shocked the Petitioners like others in the profession. The Petitioners felt perturbed more so because the incident happened in Dwarka, the area where one of the petitioners resides and that too to a fellow Advocate who also happened to reside in the same area where resides, the plea was submitted. The concern of the Petitioners about their own safety has been aggravated by seeing the visuals and video of the cold-blooded murder of an influential and senior member of the Bar. The murder of Virender Narwal has compelled the Petitioner Deepa Joseph to think about the safety of female members of the Bar like her, the plea said. The petition also mentioned that there is an alarming rise in incidents of violence inside the court premises of different district courts in Delhi. It is well known that a law intern had also sustained bullet injury when the dreaded gangster Jitender Gogi was shot inside a courtroom in Rohini District Courts, the petition claims. The shootout that happened in Rohini Court in September 2021 that led to the death of Gogi had caught immense media attention and more importantly, the High Court had also taken suo moto cognizance of the issue of security of courts in Delhi, the petition submits. After the shootout, a writ petition was also filed before the High Court by Deepa Joseph for ensuring the safety and security of District Courts in Delhi. The said case is clubbed with the Suo matter and is pending before the Court of Chief Justices. The petition has stated that it is high time now that a decision is taken for the enactment of the Advocates Protection Act in Delhi, particularly when recently the State of Rajasthan has also recently passed such an Act. Only an Act that guarantees protection to the fraternity of lawyers practising in Delhi will help remove the sense of fear that has been embedded in the minds, particularly among young first-generation lawyers like the Petitioners herein due to the repeated acts of firing inside court premises and altercations to state the least, it added. It is also stated that Section 3 and 4 of the Rajasthan Advocates Protection Act, 2023 provides police protection to any lawyer who is attacked or against whom criminal force and criminal intimidation is used that deters him from discharging his duties as an officer of the Court. There are also penal provisions in the Act that stipulates the period of sentence for committing an offence under Section 3 of the Act. It is said that post the death of Advocate Virender Narwal has created an atmosphere that does not feel favourable to practise the profession without fear. Hence, it impinges upon the right to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business to all citizens under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India and also violates Article 21 of the Constitution that guarantees protection of life and personal liberty, the petition said. (ANI) Hitting out at Congress and some other opposition parties over their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday termed the move as "cheap politics" and said people had elected Narendra Modi as Prime Minister with huge majority twice and he will become the PM for the third time by winning over 300 seats in 2024 polls. Speaking at an event here, Amit Shah said that PM Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building in the year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on May 28 but Congress and other opposition parties had decided to boycott the event. "The attitude of Congress party is negative. Congress and its partners are giving an example of cheap politics and resorting to boycott," the minister said. Lashing out at Congress and opposition parties, Amit Shah said they are making an excuse that President should inaugurate the new Parliament building. He cited several examples from opposition-ruled states where Governor was not invited to "bhoomi pujan" functions concerning state assemblies. He said the then Chhattisgarh Governor was not invited when the bhoomi pujan of new state assembly was done and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had been invited. Amit Shah also cited similar instances during the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand, the Congress government led by Tarun Gogoi in Assam and the previous Congress government in Manipur. He also mentioned Tamil Nadu. "When you do, all is fine. And when the BJP does it, you boycott it," he said. "The people of the country gave a two-thirds mandate and made Modiji PM. The people give their verdict, it is not dependent on the wishes of Congress. This is democracy. The people gave mandate for PM Modi but Congress and its royal family is not prepared to accept the verdict for nine years," Amit Shah said. He said the opposition creates a ruckus when PM Modi speaks in Parliament and does not allow him to speak and resorts to boycott. "Nothing will happen with your boycott. The blessings of the people are with Narendra Modiji. The entire country wants that in the building of New India, there is a new temple of democracy. There is a discussion on the building of New India in new Parliament," he said. "What you are doing, 130 crore people of the country are watching. In the next elections, when you go to seek mandate...you have lost the status of opposition, next time you will not win this much seats. PM Modi will become Prime Minister for the third time winning over 300 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he added. (ANI) Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-nation tour is a testimony of "Sashakt Bharat" (empowered India). "PM Modi's 6-day visit to foreign countries, enhanced the pride of India, Indianness and 140 crore India. In the past few days, the manner in which India and the Prime Minister are being discussed in global politics, is not ordinary. This visit of the PM is a testimony of an empowered India," Union Minister Anurag Thakur said. While speaking to ANI, he said that today the influence of PM Modi is equivalent to what representatives of the Western countries had earlier. Going to the G7 summit as India's representative, effectively speaking there, Thakur said, will yield fruitful results in the future. Referring to Papua New Guinea's PM's gesture of seeking blessings and Australian PM Anthony Albanese's remarks, calling PM Modi 'The Boss', the Union Minister said that the way President and Prime Ministers of different nations greeted PM Modi is historic in itself. "This is not the respect of only PM Modi but of a representative of 140 crore people," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived at Palam airport in Delhi after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Prime Minister Modi was garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at the airport. Nadda reached Delhi's Palam airport early on Thursday morning to welcome PM Modi on his arrival to India post concluding his three-nation visit. The BJP National President was accompanied by Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi MP Ramesh Vidhuri, Hans Raj Hans, and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. A large number of BJP workers and supporters also gathered outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Speaking to ANI, BJP workers said, "People are here to welcome PM Modi as he has made us and the whole nation proud." "At midnight we are here to welcome PM Modi as he had made everyone proud," another worker said. Visuals showed BJP workers eagerly waiting for the PM's arrival while holding placards and national flags. They can be seen dancing to drum beats amid tight security prior to the PM's arrival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. (ANI) Amid the ongoing standoff with China along the Northern borders, Indian Air Force's first and only female Rafale fighter pilot Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh praised the performance of her aircraft in the high altitude area. "I have flown in that area and we have carried out all the missions entrusted to us with utmost ease," Flight Lieutenant Shivangi told ANI. She was asked about the performance of the Rafale in the ongoing standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and other areas along the LAC. Singh represented the Indian Air Force in the French exercise Orion in France where Air forces of many other major Air Forces including the US, UK, and France along with various other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces. Asked about her participation in the multinational exercise Orion, she said, "It was a great experience where I got an opportunity to meet the fighter pilots of different countries." Singh said the Indian pilots learnt about the environment in which other countries fly and the way Indian pilots fly. Flight Lieutenant Shivangi said that she also got the opportunity to interact with female pilots of other participating nations and it was a great learning curve for her. She is the first female Rafale fighter aircraft. Commissioned in 2017 in the second batch of women fighter pilots, Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is the only female pilot in the two squadrons of the Rafale aircraft deployed in Ambala and Hashimara in West Bengal near the China border. The Indian Air Force inducted the Rafale fighter aircraft 2020 only a few months after the stand-off with China started and was operationalised very fast. All 36 aircraft that India contracted for in a deal worth over Rs 60,000 crore have arrived and are fully operational. (ANI) Gasso, located on the outskirts of Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar has gained recognition as the renowned Strawberry Village, celebrated for its high-quality strawberries. The air is filled with excitement as dozens of families are deeply involved in the cultivation and harvesting of this succulent fruit, which serves as their main source of income. Abdul Hameed Dar, a local farmer, expressed the dedication and effort required to yield a bountiful strawberry harvest/ "Preparing a good yield of strawberries demands years of hard work," he said. Reflecting on the village's success, he explained how the collaboration between local farmers and authorities over 15 years ago sparked a shift towards large-scale strawberry farming. "While many adjacent areas were selected for farming, our area proved to be the most successful. Since then, there has been no looking back," Dar proudly stated. Currently, his family and many others are directly and indirectly associated with this thriving industry. Ghulam Nabi Dar, another farmer, emphasized the year-round commitment involved in strawberry farming until the fruit reaches the market. He called for governmental support to enhance profitability. "We need better schemes and assistance from experts to make this business more profitable and encourage more people to join. While a single family can earn lakhs of rupees, the work is equally arduous. We have to invest in labour, fertilization, de-weeding, and other essential aspects, which require capital," he said. Ghulam Nabi emphasized that the whole family must dedicate their time to farming to ensure its profitability. Beyond the direct involvement of dozens of families in strawberry cultivation, the village also serves as a hub for local vendors, transporters, and labourers engaged in various activities related to the industry. Farooq Ahmad, a supplier, explained the intricacies of his role. "I arrive early in the morning to procure fresh supplies for the day," he said. Since strawberries have a short shelf life, we replenish our stock daily and distribute them to street vendors and fruit markets. This season keeps us extremely busy as we spend most of our time in the area, sourcing supplies directly from the farmers." Farmers in Gasso proudly share that strawberry cultivation here generates an annual turnover of lakhs of rupees. However, challenges persist, such as the adverse effects of incessant rains on this year's yield, coupled with reduced market rates. They emphasize the necessity for authorities to provide facilities that could have protected their crops. The farmers express the urgent need for the government's personal involvement in this farming sector, ensuring that schemes reach the farmers. They also highlight the importance of bore wells to secure a consistent water supply for the crops. Moreover, the farmers request refrigerated vehicles from the government to transport their perishable produce to markets across India. This not only ensures higher prices for their fruits but also generates more employment opportunities from the flourishing industry. Manzoor Ahmad, another passionate farmer, advocated for this support and said, "We demand refrigerated vehicles from the government to enable the transport of our short-lived fruit to markets across India. It will help us fetch higher prices and ensure the growth of employment opportunities linked to this crop." In the midst of Gasso's strawberry harvest, it becomes evident that this village is more than just a picturesque landscape of flourishing fruit fields. It symbolizes the hard work, aspirations, and resilience of the farmers and their families who toil tirelessly to nurture and cultivate these delicate red berries. As they yearn for governmental assistance and the realization of their aspirations, the strawberry village of Gasso stands as a testament to the unyielding spirit of rural communities striving to thrive in an evolving agricultural landscape. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said that the party workers will reach out to millions of households across the nation to present the report card of the work done by the Centre, on the nine years of the Narendra Modi government on May 30. "Our government is not just responsible but also answerable to the people of India. Therefore the government presents its report card to the people every year. This is the ninth year of our government which is in power with a full majority. It's a landmark year for us. PM Modi has provided stability, security, peace and prosperity," the BJP leader said while speaking to ANI. "Our millions of party workers will reach crores of houses in a month during the campaign to give the information of the nine years of the Modi government... We will hold press conferences. Various campaigns will be done in a month, As I am in charge of Kerala, I will go to Kerala for 10 days. I will also be holding events in Pune and Telangana for the remaining 20 days," he added. With the BJP-led government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to complete nine years of its two successive terms, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to start a mass reach-out programme across the country for a month starting May 30, sources said on Tuesday. The BJP is planning to hold around 50 rallies all across the country between May 30 and June 30, of which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the charge and address half-a-dozen rallies. According to sources, the campaign will also give a thrust to the BJP's preparations for the Lok Sabha elections which is nearly a year away. The reach-out campaign will be inaugurated on May 31 through a mega rally by PM Modi in Rajasthan's Ajmer, sources said. The other leaders who will take part in the mass campaign include BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and others. Meanwhile, on May 27, JP Nadda will also hold a press conference regarding the achievements of the Modi government. "During this entire campaign, 45-55 big rallies will be organized across the country, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself will address more than half a dozen rallies," sources said. Narendra Modi was sworn-in for the first time as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014 and PM Modi took oath at office for the second term on May 30, 2019. (ANI) Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Amazon workers and other labor supporters mark Prime Day by staging a walkout on Oct. 11, 2022, outside the MDW2 cross-dock facility in Joliet to demand better working conditions. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Local labor board officials filed a complaint against Amazon Monday alleging the company illegally discouraged organizing efforts at four suburban warehouses last year. Advertisement At the four facilities, located in Joliet, Monee, Channahon and Romeoville, employees organized by collecting signatures for petitions for higher pay last August and September, according to the complaint, filed by Angie Cowan Hamada, the National Labor Relation Boards regional director in Chicago. The company allegedly told workers they could not participate in protected activity outside the facilities in violation of the National Labor Relations Act. Advertisement Amazon allegedly called the police on workers who were collecting signatures in Joliet and Romeoville, and in Joliet told the police to remove workers from the property. The company is also accused of conducting illegal surveillance of workers in Joliet, Monee and Romeoville, as well as illegally interrogating workers in Romeoville. A hearing in the case is scheduled for early October at the labor boards regional offices in Chicago. These complaints are without merit and we look forward to showing that through the legal process, Amazon said in a statement Wednesday. The complaint also alleges Amazon violated the law by selectively and disparately applying certain company policies only against employees who engaged in union activity and/or other protected concerted activity. Local labor board officials made similar complaints against the company this week in Alabama, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin, according to the NLRB. One of the policies in question is the companys off-duty access policy, which, according to the complaint, prohibits workers from being inside or in working areas outside Amazon warehouses when theyre off duty. The complaint calls for Amazon to issue a three-year repeal of the policy at all facilities where it is in effect. Advertisement In the Chicago complaint, labor board officials also called for a repeal of the companys solicitation policy, which prohibits solicitation and distribution of literature at work and which officials allege was also selectively enforced against workers who engaged in union or other protected activity. Workers at the companys Staten Island JFK8 warehouse are unionized with the Amazon Labor Union. Two other attempts at unionization in New York have failed; a union election for workers in Bessemer, Alabama, remains contested. No workers at Illinois warehouses have filed for union elections, although warehouse staff at some facilities have engaged in other forms of organizing in recent years. In October, workers at the Joliet facility named in Mondays labor board complaint protested outside the facility during the first day of the companys fall Prime sale, calling for a base pay rate of $25 an hour. More than 40 workers at the same Joliet facility have filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging a racist workplace environment; employees had previously alleged racist death threats had been scrawled on a bathroom wall at the warehouse. Amazon said at the time that it works hard to protect our employees from any form of discrimination and to provide an environment where employees feel safe. Falling in line with the other opposition parties stand over the boycott call for the inauguration of the new Parliament building, National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi on Thursday said that his party would not attend the event while slamming the Centre over not inviting the President of India for the ceremony slated on May 28. Masoodi said that it is "unfair" to the President for not being invited to inaugurate the new Parliament building. National Conference is among the 21 parties which have decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony citing the "insult" of President Droupadi Murmu over not letting her dedicate the new building to the nation. "We will not be attending the event. This is really unfair that the President is not being called for the inauguration of the new Parliament House," Masoodi said. The National Conference MP retorted to the Bharatiya Janata Party's remark that such inaugurations have also taken place in the past by prime ministers and said that "only a part" of the Parliament building was inaugurated by the former prime ministers. "Many are saying that earlier also such incidents happened but I would say, in the past, only a part of the Parliament building was inaugurated by them. But now the whole building is to be inaugurated. The President has the right to attend this event," he said. The BJP has cited previous instances to hit back at the opposition. "When Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi inaugurated the library and annexe building of the current Parliament, nobody opposed it. Even Sonia Gandhi inaugurated Vidhan Sabha and other buildings in the UPA regime, nobody opposed it.... and when PM Modi, who is the elected prime minister does it, you have an objection. Therefore, this is absolutely negative politics. People had punished them and will further punish them in the upcoming elections....," BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said while speaking to ANI. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) was the latest edition to the list of opposition parties who will boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28 as it "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. The 21 opposition parties who will now boycott the inauguration are - Congress, AIUDF, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, TMC, Janta Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), RJD, Indian Union Muslim League, National Conference, Communist Party of India, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (Mani), Vidhuthalai Chirunthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary, Socialist Party and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and AIMIM. Meanwhile, amid the boycott call by the opposition, the Centre has received a confirmed list of 25 political parties, including some which are not a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), that will participate in the inauguration ceremony. Apart from the BJP, several parties in the NDA including AIADMK, Apna Dal, the Republican Party of India, the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, NPP, and NPF have confirmed their attendance for the function on Sunday. Several neutral parties, including Biju Janata Dal, TDP, and YSRCP will be present for the inauguration. Amongst the opposition parties, Shiromani Akali Dal and Bahujan Samajwadi Party and JDS will attend the function on Sunday. (ANI) Surat Police have arrested a woman from Andhra Pradesh in connection with the suicide of a Surat-based professor, said the officials on Thursday. The arrested accused has been identified as Juhi Sheikh and the police informed that the accused was sending money to a person named Zulfiqar in Pakistan. BM Chowdhary, ACP Surat Police Division said that many shocking revelations came out during the investigation and subsequent arrest of three persons in the suicide case of the female professor of Surat's Jahangirpura. "The deceased professor was threatened with making her nude photos viral. The Rander police arrested the three accused from Bihar risking their lives. The Pakistan connection came to the fore during the remand of the accused", the ACP said. ACP Chowdhary further said, "A woman named Juhi from Andhra Pradesh was sending money to Zulfiqar from Pakistan. That's why the Rander police team disguisedly went to Andhra Pradesh and arrested her." According to the police, a team of 6 police personnel including 2 women officers of the Surat Police in disguise arrested the accused woman Juhi. Talking to ANI, Lalji Vaghela, one of the police officers who went in disguise to arrest the accused said, "A female professor from Surat's Jahangipura area had died by suicide a month and a half ago. During the investigation, the Surat police found that the woman was blackmailed through calls and messages using her morphed nude photos on the pretext of repaying a loan instalment. The police traced the whereabouts of three accused from the Jamui area of Bihar and later marked their arrests." The arrested three accused had been identified as Abhishek Kumar Singh, Roshan Kumar Singh and Saurabh Gajendra Kumar, all hailing from Bihar, the police said adding that all the arrested accused were brought to Surat. The police further said that four more accused namely Ankit Reshamkumar, Lakbir Traders, Juhi Shaikh and Shantanu Jonghale were declared wanted after the arrest of the three accused. Out of which, accused Juhi has now been nabbed by the police team, the officials said. "While tracing the location of Juhi Sheikh, the police found that she is staying at Panja Centre, Vijayawada Street, Andhra Pradesh. So a team of Rander Police reached Juhi Sheikh's residence in Andhra Pradesh in disguise and arrested her. The accused Juhi was brought to Surat for questioning after her arrest. Police seized two mobile phones and two bank passbooks from her", said Nayana Jakhotra, one of the police officers of the Rander police team. (ANI) A boy from the city, Mridual Pal, secured the first position in the entire state in Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) high school results which were announced on Thursday. The second position was secured by a girl, Prachi Garhval from Indore. Mridul scored 494 marks out of 500 and Prachi got 493 marks out of 500. Speaking to ANI, Prachi Garhwal said that she got 493 marks out of 500 and secured the second rank in the state. Her father Hukumchand Garhwal is a mechanic. She further said, the students who get depressed after getting low numbers, should not need to be disappointed because there are a lot more things in life than percentages. Prachi's father Hukumchand Garhwal said, "I have two daughters and a son. It takes a lot of hard work to educate them. I work to build the body of the bus. I want Prachi to become a software engineer and she herself wants the same." Prachi's mother Preeti Garhwal said, "I am very proud of Prachi. She worked very hard for studies. After the lockdown, it was very difficult to teach her but we managed her studies. Prachi also worked very hard to study. Today I am very proud of my daughter. And her hard work paid off." On the other hand, Mridul Pal, who topped the state, has gone to his maternal uncle's house in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on a holiday. Mridul's father Harishankar Pal, who works at a swimming pool, said, "I am very happy that my son has topped the state. He studied hard and did well. I have two sons, both of them stay away from mobile phones and non-essential works of today's world." Mridul's mother Urmila Pal said that her son scored 98.8 per cent in 10th standard. "I do sewing work at home and my husband works at a swimming pool. We both do our own work and our sons study on their own wish. My son Mridul wants to become an engineer," she added. (ANI) According to a new study, melanoma skin cancer cells fundamentally reorganise their internal power systems in order to move to other places of the body. The research, led by investigators at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, suggests that reversing this change can make tumour cells less invasive. The team also identified a key molecule that orchestrates this process - knowledge that could lay the foundations for new therapeutic strategies to halt the spread of cancer. Cancer cells' ability to break away from the original tumour and spread to other parts of the body presents one of the greatest challenges to treating the disease. This process, called metastasis, seeds secondary tumours that grow in other organs, ultimately causing most cancer deaths. "We're still not targeting the secondary disease enough in the clinic, and I think we need to change this," comments Professor Victoria Sanz-Moreno, lead author of the new study, which was funded by Cancer Research UK. "In our lab, we want to understand: what are the characteristics of cells that are able to metastasise? What are their weaknesses? And how do we target them?" Melanoma skin cancer is among the quickest-spreading cancer types and is a key focus of Professor Sanz-Moreno and her laboratory's research. If melanoma is diagnosed at an early stage before it spreads, almost all patients in the UK survive their disease for a year or more. But this survival drops to just over half once the disease has spread. The team's work aims not only to equip us with the knowledge to better treat melanoma but also to unlock an improved understanding of how all cancers spread. In the new study, published in Nature Communications, the team investigated how metastasising cells rewire their energy systems to move quickly and efficiently on their journey to other parts of the body. The researchers examined migrating tumour cells in a special model system allowing movement in three dimensions - a departure from conventional systems that place cells on a flat surface that doesn't accurately replicate how cells move through living tissue. They found that metastasising tumour cells adopt a style of movement known as rounded-amoeboid migration, where cells maintain a loose connection to their surroundings, enabling them to slither through the tissue. This requires far less energy than a common style of cell movement known as mesenchymal migration, where cells grip tightly onto their surroundings and drag themselves through their environment. They observed that the invasive tumour cells reshape their mitochondria to suit this efficient style of movement, opting to have many, small, fragmented mitochondria that operate in a low-power mode. This is in contrast to less-invasive cells, which have large, branching networks of mitochondria that operate in a high-power mode. "These metastatic cells are rewiring themselves to be very efficient," explains Dr Eva Crosas-Molist, first author on the new paper. "They only need low levels of energy to move, which helps them to survive in the potentially stressful environments they are migrating to, where there may be a lack of nutrients or oxygen." Intriguingly, the team found that if they manipulate the shape of the mitochondria in their metastasising tumour cells and force them to become more joined up, the cells lose their invasive behaviour. Likewise, if they make mitochondria more disconnected in non-invasive cells, the cells start to behave like metastasising tumour cells. The researchers discovered that a molecule called AMPK sits at the centre of these processes. It senses the energy requirements of the cell and also controls the cytoskeleton, which determines how the cell moves and behaves. "That was a really surprising thing for us - we wouldn't have imagined that changing the mitochondria could affect the cytoskeleton and vice versa." Professor Sanz-Moreno explains. "By modifying these little mitochondria you create a global change, altering what the cell looks like and its whole behaviour." Professor Ketan Patel, Chief Scientist at Cancer Research UK, said: " Patients whose cancer has spread often face tougher treatments and lower chances of survival. These insights about how cancer cells travel around the body could be incredibly valuable for designing interventions to prevent this in the future. The more we know about what's happening in the bodies of people with cancer, the greater our ability to tackle it will be." (ANI) Several BJP workers gathered outside New Delhi's Palam airport in the early hours of Thursday to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his arrival after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. PM Modi will be shortly arriving at the Palam airport. Visuals show BJP workers eagerly waiting for the PM's arrival while holding placards and national flags. They can be seen dancing to drum beats amid tight security prior to the PM's arrival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived at Palam airport in Delhi after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Prime Minister Modi was garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at the airport. Nadda reached Delhi's Palam airport early on Thursday morning to welcome PM Modi on his arrival to India post concluding his three-nation visit. The BJP National President was accompanied by Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi MP Ramesh Vidhuri, Hans Raj Hans, and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. A large number of BJP workers and supporters also gathered outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Speaking to ANI, BJP workers said, "People are here to welcome PM Modi as he has made us and the whole nation proud." "At midnight we are here to welcome PM Modi as he had made everyone proud," another worker said. Visuals showed BJP workers eagerly waiting for the PM's arrival while holding placards and national flags. They can be seen dancing to drum beats amid tight security prior to the PM's arrival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. (ANI) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday officially launched his United States presidential campaign in a rocky, glitch-filled broadcast over Twitter, Al Jazeera reported. DeSantis on Thursday tweeted: "I'm running for president to lead our Great American Comeback." DeSantis in his campaign said: "We need the courage to lead, and we must have the strength to win." "If you nominate me, you can set your clock to January 20th, 2025, at high noon because on the west side of the US Capitol, I will be taking the oath of office as the 47th president," he said. The broadcast, which was hosted by Twitter CEO Elon Musk and right-wing entrepreneur David Sacks, initially faltered multiple times, Al Jazeera reported. "It just keeps crashing, huh?" someone was heard asking early on. The hosts later credited the technical difficulties to "scaling issues". "Just a massive number of people online," one of the hosts can be heard saying. "So servers are straining somewhat." Earlier, DeSantis filed paperwork with federal election authorities in the United States to run for president. With this, he throws his hat in the ring for the 2024 Republican nomination, according to Al Jazeera. As per Al Jazeera, the filing with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday came ahead of an expected formal announcement he is set to make on Twitter later in the day. DeSantis has for months been seen as the most serious challenger to former President Donald Trump who is also seeking to become the Republican nominee to take on Democratic President Joe Biden next year. Other Republican candidates include Senator Tim Scott, former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served under Trump is also likely to launch a presidential campaign. DeSantis was during his first gubernatorial campaign in 2018 endorsed by Trump, but he has since risen to national prominence in conservative circles as he champions right-wing policies in Florida. Recent public opinion polls show DeSantis trailing Trump by a wide margin in a hypothetical primary showdown. But with the former president facing legal trouble, including criminal charges in New York, the Florida governor will be hoping to close the gap in the coming months, according to Al Jazeera. The first Republican primaries will take place in Iowa early in 2024. Trump has been regularly attacking DeSantis and touting his poll numbers on his Truth Social account. But so far, the Florida Governor has largely ignored the criticism from the former president. (ANI) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday said the world is seeing a new India because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "Today, the world is seeing a new India because of the leadership of PM Modi," Jaishankar said upon the Prime Minister's arrival to India post concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. The EAM said: "The PM of Papua New Guinea said that for him the PM is 'Vishwa Guru'. The Australian PM called PM Modi 'The Boss'." The EAM further said that he would like to express his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi. "If today, India's image, India's reputation, India's place in the world has become so high, then it is because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. "I will just say that for me this is a new beginning," Jaishankar said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Thursday morning welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival to India post concluding his three-nation visit. "The world appreciates your governance model. US President Joe Biden asked for your autograph, this shows how the world is seeing India under your leadership," said Nadda. "The way the PM of Papua New Guinea touched your feet, shows how much respect you have there. The people of India feel proud when they see that our Prime Minister is being welcomed like this," he said. Earlier in the morning, PM Modi arrived at the Palam airport in Delhi. He was garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at the airport. Nadda who reached the airport early on Thursday morning was accompanied by Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi MP Ramesh Vidhuri, Hans Raj Hans, and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. A large number of BJP workers and supporters also gathered outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Speaking to ANI, BJP workers said, "People are here to welcome PM Modi as he has made us and the whole nation proud." (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday extended wishes to the government and people of Argentina and Jordan on the occasion of their National Day. Taking to Twitter, he extended his greetings to his Argentinian counterpart Santiago Cafiero and said, "Warm greetings to FM @SantiagoCafiero and the Government and people of Argentina on their National Day." 'Our cooperation continues to benefit our people and enhance our Strategic Partnership," Jaishankar added. Notably, India shares cordial and friendly relations with Argentina. Earlier in 2022, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Argentina, where he also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Republica de la India Street. Moreover, Jaishankar also interacted with the Indian diaspora residing in Argentina and conveyed India's unsurpassable support to the community. He also visited the Monument of General Jose de San Martin in Buenos Aires and paid tribute to the leader. During his meeting with Argentina Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero at that time, EAM Jaishankar reviewed the ongoing cooperation in the strategic sectors of Defence, Nuclear Energy and Space. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Cafiero jointly presided over a Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between the two countries. During the visit, Jaishankar also called on Argentine President Dr Alberto Fernandez. "India and Argentina reviewed their ongoing cooperation in the strategic sectors of Defence, Nuclear Energy and Space and reiterated their commitment to work together for mutual benefit," the Joint statement said. Both said agreed to enhance cooperation in the Defence sector within the framework of the MOU on Defence Cooperation signed in 2019. The two sides also explored expanding the scope of their partnership through, inter-alia, and the conclusion of further MOUs/Agreements. He also wished Jordan on its National Day and said that the relationship between the two countries is a "testament to a deep-rooted friendship." Wishing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Jaishankar tweeted, "Best wishes to DPM & FM @AymanHsafadi and the Government and people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on their National day. Our growing bilateral cooperation are a testament to a deep rooted friendship." Extending solidarity and cooperation on Africa Day, Jaishankar ensured that India will raise the voice of the Global South. "On Africa Day, extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all friends and colleagues. May our solidarity and cooperation keep strengthening. India remains committed as a steadfast development partner. And in ensuring that the voice of the Global South continues to be heard," he tweeted. As low-middle-income countries seek rapid economic development India remains well-placed to be the "Voice of the Global South". India's year-long presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) is also an opportunity for uniting the Global South. "Respond, Recognise, Respect & Reform to re-energise the world..." Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the four-point mantra at the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India.Stressing that India has always stood for a greater role for developing countries in determining a common future, PM Modi said that India wants globalisation that brings prosperity and well-being to humanity as a whole, not the kind that leads to unequal distribution of vaccines or over-concentrated global supply chains. 125 countries participated in the virtual summit. These included 29 countries from Latin America & Caribbean, 47 countries from Africa, 7 countries from Europe, 31 countries from Asia and 11 countries from Oceania. (ANI) India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Thursday (local time) met US Congressman James Clyburn and discussed avenues to strengthen the India-US partnership in healthcare, digital, IT, and renewables. The two sides also discussed knowledge partnership, particularly in next-gen areas for the public good. Taking to Twitter, Sandhu wrote, "Pleasure to reconnect with one of the most senior members of Congress @RepJamesClyburn. Discussed transformational changes underway in India & avenues to further strengthen Healthcare, Digital, IT, Renewables & knowledge partnership, particularly in next-gen areas for public good!" As the United States' concerns about China grow, India shines as a promising alternative in supply chains, innovation hubs, and joint ventures. As the world's largest democracy with an increasingly open economy and a strong technology sector, it has the potential to operate at scale. India is in a global sweet spot. It is now the world's most populous country -- home to more than 1.4 billion people--and has had robust economic growth for the past three decades, with GDP per capita having risen by 245 per cent, reported Harvard Business Review. As India considers its own leadership in the world, it must look toward becoming a stronger innovator in technology with a more comprehensive capacity to move up the value chain in software and hardware. This necessitates a much closer and deeper relationship with America, both at the governmental but also at the private-sector level. Recently, in a first-of-its-kind meeting, three Indian ministers and four European commissioners discussed semiconductor supply chains and artificial intelligence regulation, reported Sri Lankan publication Daily Mirror Online (DMO).After the first meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council in Brussels, EU officials spoke of "very promising beginnings." James Clyburn is the Assistant Democratic Leader in the United States House of Representatives and Chairman of the Democratic Faith Working Group. He previously served in the post from 2011 to 2018 and served as Majority Whip from 2007 to 2010 and 2019 to 2022, making him the first African American to serve multiple terms as Majority Whip. A native son of South Carolina, Clyburn has represented the state's Sixth Congressional District since 1993. India-US bilateral relations have developed into a "global strategic partnership", based onshared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues. The regular exchange of high-level political visits has steadily boosted bilateral relations between the two countries. (ANI) Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. A worker resurfaces Columbus Drive in Grant Park in advance of the summer NASCAR race on May 3, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune) NASCAR continues to ring up major sponsors for the inaugural Chicago Street Race, with Xfinity added to the lineup in advance of the July Fourth weekend event. Announced as a founding partner Thursday, Xfinity will have official presenting, marketing and promotional rights for the first street course in NASCARs 75-year history. Advertisement The cable giant will also get something a little more unusual its own dedicated turn onto South Michigan Avenue. Xfinity will stake branding claim to turn 10 of the 12-turn, 2.2-mile racecourse, which will wind through Grant Park and down stretches of DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The Xfinity 10G turn will see the cars careening around East Congress Plaza Drive as they head to the Buckingham Fountain start/finish line. Advertisement The Chicago Street Race is an incredible moment in NASCAR history, and we cant think of a better platform to showcase the Xfinity 10G Network and Xfinity Mobile with the iconic Chicago skyline as a backdrop, Matt Lederer, vice president of Xfinity Brand Partnerships, said in a news release. Xfinity is the third founding partner of the Chicago Street Race, joining McDonalds and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, who signed on in March. But it is already a major national sponsor, now in its ninth season with the Xfinity Series, the second tier of NASCAR competition. [ [Don't miss] NASCAR Chicago Street Race: Timeline of road closures around the city for the July race ] The Grant Park 220, a nationally televised Cup Series race on July 2, will feature top NASCAR drivers navigating closed-off streets lined with temporary fences, grandstands and hospitality suites. Speeds may top 100 mph on straightaways, with slowdowns at turns and traffic bottlenecks, according to the race website. A separate Xfinity Series race is set for July 1. The weekends festivities include full-length concerts headlined by Miranda Lambert, the Chainsmokers and the Black Crowes. The Chicago Street Race is expected to draw 100,000 attendees during July Fourth weekend, a potential tourism boon for the city, and an opportunity to expand the fan base for NASCAR, which has struggled with declining ratings and attendance in recent years. Tickets range from $269 for two-day general admission to $3,000 for premium hospitality suites perched above the pit road at Buckingham Fountain. Several sections of reserved seats are sold out, according to the race website. Among the sold-out sections are the reserved seats along South Michigan Avenue coming out of the Xfinity turn. But there are still some reserved seats available heading into turn 10. The tickets cost $849 per person, or about four times the average monthly cable bill. rchannick@chicagotribune.com Senior Pakistani journalist Sami Abraham was reportedly 'abducted' by unidentified men in Islamabad on Wednesday, his family claimed, saying that there was no information available regarding his location, Dawn reported. Abraham was detained by law enforcement. Still, a statement from the capital police stated they would work with the journalist's family and make every effort to find him, family sources said. Abraham's brother Ali Raza has reported a complaint of abduction to the Aabpara Police Station in the federal capital. The application claims that at around 9 o'clock, Abraham, who had just left the BOL TV headquarters and was en route home, was stopped by four vehicles, according to the Pakistani newspaper. He was taken against his will by a group of eight to ten unidentifiable individuals who suddenly emerged from the cars. Arshad, Abraham's driver, was apparently present when the incident occurred. The men took Abraham with them and left the driver behind. According to the application, along with the car keys and three of the driver's and Abraham's cellphones, other items were taken, reported Dawn. Notably, Sami Abraham is a leading Pakistani journalist and an anchor with the privately-owned broadcaster BOL News. Pakistan continues to remain "one of the most dangerous countries" for journalists. As per the New Pakistan report, journalists in Pakistan have been killed by militants, insurgents, and "unidentified state actors." While quoting an editorial from Dawn, the report stated, "The common thread in these killings is that truth and justice are elusive, and killers walk free while families look in vain for answers." Citing the death of journalist Arshad Sharif, the report said that his killing in Kenya under mysterious circumstances shows the "chilling reality" that "Pakistani journalists and dissidents are not safe from threats even outside the country." Arshad Sharif (49), a senior Pakistani journalist was killed in cold blood on October 24 in Kenya when he was driving from Magadi to Nairobi, accompanied by his brother Khurram Ahmed at around 10 pm. Sharif's death left rights organisations, the media fraternity, and civil society shocked and they called for an investigation into the matter. Arshad Sharif's case is not the first in which a Pakistani journalist has been threatened, tortured, intimidated, or killed in questionable circumstances; in the past, local security agencies have targeted activists and journalists like Saleem Shahzad and Hamid Mir for their alleged "anti-military" stance. Somehow, this incident has prompted worries about the safety of Pakistani journalists. Since Shehbaz Sharif took over as prime minister in late April, several Pakistani journalists have reported intimidation by army-related agencies. Pakistan is one of the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with three to four murders each year that are often linked to corruption or illegal trafficking and go completely unpunished, according to a Paris-based media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF). (ANI) "Great to welcome Ambassador Eric Garcetti of the United States," Jaishankar tweeted. He also discussed views on Quad, a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an alliance between India, US, Japan and Australia. "Discussed the enormous progress in our relationship, especially over the last decade. Exchanged views on the recent Quad Summit. Confident that India-US ties will continue to grow from strength to strength," the EAM's tweet read further. Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was on March 24 (local time) sworn in by US Vice-President Kamala Harris as the new US Ambassador to India. The makeshift version of the Quad meeting (which was earlier scheduled to take place in Sydney) happened in Japan's Hiroshima recently. During the meeting, PM Modi, along with US President, Joe Biden; Prime Minister of Japa, Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared a collective vision of a free, open Indo-Pacific amid China's growing assertiveness in the region. Furthermore, the EAM also met with Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar P Sharma on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, "Glad to receive Ambassador @DrShankarSharmaof Nepal this morning. Discussed our deep and multifaceted partnership. Committed to its further enhancement in the coming days." Apparently, India and Nepal have a profound and enduring bond rooted in deep socio-political, economic, cultural and religious ties that have spanned centuries. This unique relationship showcases the strength and resilience of their interconnectedness, illustrating a remarkable synergy that transcends geographical proximity. India's involvement in Nepal has been informed by its principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and the policy of 'Neighbourhood First'. In this regard, India's main focus has been to boost Nepal's development through aid and infrastructure development grants, foster ethnic linkages and improvement of human development indicators. (ANI) Governor of Russian-annexed Crimea on Thursday said that six drones have been downed or blocked overnight. "During the past night, six drones were shot down or blocked ... in different parts of Crimea," Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Telegram, adding, "There were no victims or injured." Crimea was internationally recognised as part of Ukraine before Russia illegally occupied it in 2014 in the aftermath of the Ukrainian Revolution. A referendum was held in Crimea in which the majority of people expressed their will to become a part of the Russian Federation. Crimea is located at a strategic location surrounded by the sea on three sides of its border. This allows Crimea to have proper connectivity with the rest of the world. The Russian mainland has no access to the open sea on the southwest side of their continent. Thus gaining hegemony over Crimea would enable the Russian government to have access to the Mediterranean Sea throughout the year. Looking at the importance of the Crimean Peninsula, Moscow has opened a bridge connecting Crimea to Russia over the Strait of Kerch which was rocked by an explosion in October 2022. The incident comes after Moscow deployed jets and artillery against an armed group that crossed from Ukraine in the most serious attack on its soil since Moscow's offensive began in February 2022. On Wednesday, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said the territory was targeted overnight by numerous drones. Regional authorities said 13 people had been injured as the area came under sustained artillery and mortar fire. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said a new wave of drone attacks launched by Russia overnight at multiple cities including Kyiv had failed to reach its targets, reported CNN. Ukraine's air defences repelled all 36 drones launched by Russia overnight at multiple cities including Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. "It was not an easy night. As the enemy continued to terrorize Ukraine, they used 36 Shaheds (attack drones). None of them reached the target," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement. Earlier in the day, Russian forces shelled five communities in Sumy Oblast, firing more than 84 rounds from various types of artillery weapons, according to the Ukrainian military, reported Kyiv Independent. Moreover, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the KGB successor agency, has reportedly detained two Ukrainian saboteurs. The service claims the pair were plotting to blow up the power pylons of nuclear power stations in Russia, the Russian RIA Novosti news agency reported. (ANI) Newa; also called Newars are the natives of Kathmandu Valley on Thursday, are celebrating the annual festival of Sithi Nakha to mark the beginning of the monsoon season by cleaning water sources such as ponds, wells, and stone spouts. One of the important festivals in the Newar community in Nepal is observed on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Jestha (May/June). According to Hindu mythology, it is said that the day is dedicated to Lord Kumar Kartikeya, the first son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The act of cleaning the water sources, community ponds, wells and water spouts on the day of Sithi Nakha has special significance in the Newar. It is celebrated at the onset of the rainy season. People believe that the rulers of water Nagas (Snake) leave the wells for other destinations, as the water reduces because of the driest period of the year. People also prepare traditional pancakes such as Bara and Chatamari as a tribute to their ancestral god. "Sithi Nakha: is one of the important festivals of the Newar community. On this day, all the households cook Bara (a Newari dish made of lentils) and Chatamari (a Newari dish made of rice flour). Also, this day is observed as Kumar Khasti- the birthday of Kumar (Kartikeya)," said Krishna Jyatha, a resident of Bhaktapur told ANI. As per the folklore, the food items are not just for taste. Two delicacies consumed on this day are high in carbohydrates, protein, and iron. As the monsoon approaches, bodies are exposed to different types of bacteria and these types of food increase the immunity of one's body. Apart from it the religious side of the 'Sithi Nakha' festival also highlights the importance of water source conservation and the need for clean water. It is customary to worship around wells, boreholes, and ponds and clean up before worship. It is believed that the water resource should be closed for a few days after cleaning in Sithi Nakha to stabilize the water level. The cleaning is done by entering inside the dug wells, ponds, and boreholes, and by doing so, the underneath wastes like mud, silt, and sediment come up to the surface of the water. Before the monsoon, Kathmandu valley becomes increasingly dry and the water level falls to the lowest level so it is the best time to clean water resources. 'Nagas', the serpent deities who are believed to be the rulers of water resources are also worshipped on this day. As a part of the festival, the Newar community works together to clean public water resources. On this day, the farmers avoid working in the fields. Also, it is said that whoever takes bathes on this day and worships Lord Kartikeya, won't fall sick during the monsoon. Another tradition is that all construction should be completed by the Sithi Nakha Day lest a calamity befalls the project-usually coming in the form of monsoon rains which quickly undermine unfinished mud-brick buildings. Sithi Nakha also marks the end of the one-month Dewali period, when Newars of related ancestry gather for great feasts and complicated rituals to honour their family gods and goddesses. This day is chosen for the cleaning of water bodies because the serpent deities themselves are away performing their ancestral Dewali worship. Thus the wells can be cleaned with lime without disturbing the Snake Gods. (ANI) Even while aid organisations are still on the ground providing millions of people with life-saving assistance, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the prohibition on Afghan women working for national and international NGOs had already hindered humanitarian operations, TOLOnews reported. In its report, OCHA stated that the gap in providing assistance to people included providing food assistance to 11.5 million in January and February, health services to 2.5 million people, safe and clean water to 1 million people, and education to 482,000 children (280,000 of whom were females), the Afghan news agency reported. Women in Afghanistan have been prohibited from working at NGOs for a long time now. Several women and girls have repeatedly called out the de-facto authorities to provide them with work outside their houses, however, the Taliban has continued with its curbs on women in Afghanistan. "The ban on female workers has had a negative impact on the economy and the rise in poverty in the country," said economist Mir Shikib Mir. In the meanwhile, the Taliban stated that women are employed where they are required. "Regarding the work of women, I should say that in all of the areas where women are needed, they are working there. You are aware this is the case in the Ministries of Public Health, Education, Finance and the department of passports, as well as in the airports and other areas," said Taliban deputy spokesman, Bilal Karimi, according to TOLOnews. Thousands of women have stayed at home since colleges and schools stopped accepting female students, and there are restrictions on the work that women and girls can do in local and international NGOs. However, some women and girls have started working, such as by picking up trades or other commercial endeavours, in order to make money. Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021 after the US exit from the country, women are not allowed to work in the fields of education with domestic and international organisations, in gyms, or in public spaces. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who assumed office in December last year, is likely to begin his four-day visit to India starting May 31, according to sources in Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "If everything goes according to the plan, then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will embark on a visit to India starting May 31 and return on June 3," an official aware of the matter at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal told ANI. Earlier this year, Prachanda had announced that he would visit India on his first foreign trip after becoming prime minister of Nepal. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sewa Lamsal confirmed that preparations have started in the Himalayan country for the visit of Dahal also known as Prachanda. An official statement is expected to be released on Friday or Saturday, officials confirmed. "The dates will be announced by both countries on the same day," Lamsal told ANI over phone. During his four-day-long State visit, Nepal's Prime Minister will call on President Draupadi Murmu in the national capital and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House. "On the first day of his visit Nepal's Prime Minister will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Delhi. On the second day of the visit, on June 2 a bilateral meeting between the two Prime Ministers will be held in Delhi. A few agreements have been prepared to be signed in," an official from Indian Embassy in Kathmandu confirmed to ANI. As per officials aware of the preparations for the visit, the Nepal Prime Minister will make a courtesy call to President Murmu on the third day of his visit before leaving for Mumbai. "The Nepal Prime Minister is expected to return on June 3," the official from Indian Embassy in Kathmandu confirmed. Agreements on power transmission, cross-border electricity transmission and other agreements relating to development projects are likely to be inked during the visit. Meanwhile, The Kathmandu Post cited Foreign Minister NP Saud as saying that the Prachanda will go on the India visit immediately after the budget in presented in Parliament. He said that his ministry was working with other line ministries to determine the visit's agenda, the publication said. Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat will present the fiscal budget on May 29, the Kathmandu Post reported. Senior government officials from the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Post that preparations were in full swing to give a final shape to the agreements and the MOUs as well as a groundbreaking ceremony for some projects. Some agreements are almost final while others are under consideration. Prachanda had won a vote of confidence in parliament in March this year after securing the support of the Nepali Congress party and some other smaller parties. This was the second-floor test after he was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal for the third time on December 26 last year. Prachanda visited India in July last year at the invitation of BJP National President JP Nadda.Previously Dahal visited India after attending the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. In 2016, he visited New Delhi again, in his first official visit to the country. India's involvement in Nepal has been informed by its principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and the 'Neighbourhood First' policy. (ANI) Former PTI leader Faisal Vawda on Wednesday accused the former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Gen (retired) Faiz Hameed of having benefited the most from the corruption case involving 190 million pounds, reported The Express Tribune. Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA), during the PTI government, seized assets worth 190 million pounds that belonged to a Pakistani property magnate. The assets would be handed over to the Pakistani government, the agency said. Vawda, in a fiery slew of fresh allegations following his appearance at NAB on Wednesday, claimed that ex-ISI chief Hameed was not only involved in corruption but was also the "biggest beneficiary." The Express Tribune is the first internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan. He said, "I was the only minister to have opposed the plans," adding, "I told them there would be a NAB case over this." Vawda also said, "People are naming Zulfi Bukhari and Shahzad Akbar in this matter but there is a name that everyone seems to have forgotten about, who just so happens to be the one to have taken the lion's share in the scandal, and it is former DG ISI Faiz Hameed." "He took full advantage of this scandal. His followers are present in the Senate to this date. Whether they are politicians or bureaucrats, everyone will be held accountable," he continued, "I have simple led the nation to the tipoff the iceberg." The former minister also stated that he has submitted his statement to the anti-graft body investigating the matter. "Billions of rupees were not gained overnight just like that, it was all planned," he said. He also said that he had already warned that Faiz Hameed wants to eliminate Imran Khan and take his place, adding, "The plan to cause harm to national assets and spread unrest was finalised long before May 9." Notably, a huge mob of PTI supporters held massive violent protests across Pakistan following the arrest of the party's chief Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court. Hours after his detention, the mob barged into the Residence of Commander Corps Residence and also into GHQ. Imran Khan was released two days after his detention. (ANI) The Chinese authorities are rushing to push out vaccines to combat an ongoing new wave of the coronavirus that is expected to peak in June and infect as many as 65 million people a week since the new XBB variants of the virus are evolving to overcome the immunity developed after China's abrupt departure from its "zero covid" policy last year, reported The Washington Post. According to official media sources, quoted by The Washington Post, leading Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan on Monday said that two new vaccinations for the XBB omicron subvariants (including XBB. 1.9.1, XBB. 1.5, and XBB. 1.16) have been given preliminary approval. Speaking at a biotech symposium in Guangzhou, Zhong said that three to four other vaccines will soon receive approval, but he gave no further information. The new outbreak may be the greatest wave of illnesses ever recorded since China's stringent zero-Covid programme was abandoned last winter, which resulted in up to 85 per cent of the population being sick at the time. Although there was an increase in infections in the United States as a result of the new variations, the public health emergency was nevertheless proclaimed to be over on May 11 even though specialists have not ruled out the possibility of new variants causing another wave of illnesses in the years to come, according to The Washington Post. Officials in China claim that the current wave will be less severe, but public health experts believe that to avoid another surge in mortality among the massive elderly population of the nation, a vigorous vaccination booster programme and a ready supply of antivirals in hospitals are essential. Another epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong's School of Public Health, "The number of infections will be less. The severe cases will certainly be less, and deaths will be less, but that could still be a large number," adding, "Even when we think this is a milder wave, it could still be quite a substantial health impact on the community." According to the Beijing Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the variations have increased the number of cases since last month, with Covid surpassing the flu as the most prevalent infectious disease over the final two weeks of April. The public has been reassured by health experts that reinfections have milder symptoms and that hospitals won't be overloaded as they were during the previous winter. Some medical facilities have recommended residents wearing masks and stay away from busy areas if they are old or immunocompromised, as per The Washington Post. Even still, restrictions similar to those that existed during the zero-Covid era, when China tried to stop any illnesses, have not been reinstated, and the majority of citizens seem to be going about their daily lives as usual. Olivia Zhang, 33, who works at an amusement park in Beijing said that he feel like the impact of has not been that big, adding, "But they will only be out for a short time before coming back to work. No one is scared of being around them." Several online complaints have surfaced of a university in Nanjing forcing students testing positive to quarantine in dorms. Other students posted online that they were self-quarantined at school so as to not infect their family members at home, The Washington Post reported. (ANI) China purchasing land in the US is becoming a major issue as politicians at the state and federal level ramp up their fight against perceived threats from Beijing, The Hill reported. Chinese ownership of US farmland has increased fivefold over the past decade, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, from 69,000 acres in 2011 to almost 384,000 acres in 2021. That amounts to about 1 per cent of the 3 per cent of all U.S. farmland owned by foreign nationals. In the past couple of months, lawmakers in more than two dozen states have passed or considered legislation restricting Chinese purchases of US farmland. Former President Trump has promised that if he retakes the White House, he will ban Chinese investors from buying US farmland and other critical infrastructure, and force sales of their current holdings, The Hill reported. "China has been spending trillions of dollars to take over the crown jewels of the United States's economy," Trump said in a campaign video in January. "To protect our country, we need to enact aggressive new restrictions on Chinese ownership of any vital infrastructure in the United States, including energy, technology, telecommunications, farmland, natural resources, medical supplies and other strategic national assets." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed multiple bills this month that prohibit Chinese citizens from purchasing land in the state. Last month, the North Carolina House passed a bill that would ban the governments of "foreign adversaries" from purchasing agricultural land as well as any land within 25 miles of a military installation. Texas Senate passed a bill last month that would ban citizens of China from buying property, The Hill reported. Lawmakers on the federal level are also pushing legislation to block China from buying farmland. A bipartisan group of senators have introduced a bill, known as the PASS Act, that would prohibit nationals of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from buying US agricultural land or investing in American agricultural businesses. Other legislation focuses specifically on the Chinese government. The House easily passed an amendment to the Republican's energy bill in late March prohibiting the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing US farmland or land used for renewable energy, The Hill reported. The broader bill was dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Chinese ownership of US farmland has increased fivefold over the past decade, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, from 69,000 acres in 2011 to almost 384,000 acres in 2021. That amounts to about 1 per cent of the 3 per cent of all US farmland owned by foreign nationals. The rate of this increase has not been even. A large portion of the growth came from a single purchase in 2013 when the Chinese company WH Group bought Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the US, The Hill reported. After that, the amount of US farmland owned by Chinese investors remained largely stagnant until 2019. Chinese-owned farmland increased by more than 136 thousand acres between 2019 and 2021, but this was almost entirely from acquisitions by US companies with Chinese shareholders. The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives has sought to make China a central focus, creating a select committee on "strategic competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party." One of the Republicans on the committee, Rep. Dan Newhouse, has repeatedly introduced legislation to prohibit the Chinese government from buying US agricultural land, The Hill reported. Former Trump national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who testified at the hearing, agreed that this issue is cause for concern. He said the Chinese government is engaging in a concerted effort to make US agriculture dependent on China. However, a 2021 analysis by the bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that foreign purchases of US agricultural land are not a major threat to US food security, The Hill reported. Newhouse's press secretary, Mike Marinella, said in an interview that even though Chinese investors currently own only a small portion of American farmland, the US should be concerned about what could happen in the future. Another area of concern is Chinese land purchases near military infrastructure. In 2021, Texas lawmakers passed legislation to prohibit a company owned by a Chinese billionaire from building a wind farm on 15,000 acres of ranchland near a US Air Force base, The Hill reported. That same year, Chinese food manufacturer Fufeng Group purchased 300 acres of farmland near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota to build a corn mill, which the Pentagon deemed a threat to national security. Eric Chutorash, the chief operating officer of Fufeng Group's US subsidiary, repeatedly denied that the plans posed a security risk, as the company is publicly traded and not affiliated with the Chinese government. In February, however, the Grand Forks City Council voted unanimously to block the project. Some critics of efforts to limit Chinese purchases of US farmland argue they could contribute to anti-Asian sentiments. In a House Appropriations Committee hearing last year, Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) criticized an amendment from Newhouse to ban companies owned wholly or in part by the Chinese government from purchasing US farmland. She said singling out China would "perpetuate already rising anti-Asian hate." The Hill addresses important issues through print, online and events. It has earned the reputation of a complete and comprehensive source of Congressional news in the US. Since 1994, The Hill has reported on the intersection of politics and business, connecting Capitol Hill, K Street, Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue for non-partisan coverage of all factors in legislative decisions. (ANI) New Delhi [India], May 25 (ANI/WAM): Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy participated in a session titled "Is Minilateralism the Future of Global Trade?" as part of the annual Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) conference 2023 held in New Delhi on May 24 and 25. The session was attended by Sanjeev Bajaj, President of CII; Chandragit Banerjee, Director-General of CII; and a number of UAE and Indian companies, global investors and businessmen. The session discussed an array of topics including the latest economic policies in global trade and the importance of regional and trade agreements in enhancing the future of global trade. In addition, it took a closer look at the methods adopted by free trade agreements to transform global value chains, apart from the means to enhance and facilitate market reach for importers and exporters. Al-Marri said, "The UAE-India partnership is a driver for economic growth that creates trade and investment opportunities for over 3.8 billion people. Our solid economic partnership contributes to the vitality of trade and investment flows in South Asia and through it towards regional and global markets." He added, "The two countries are accelerating efforts, hand in hand, to develop our economies and adopt plans, strategies, and initiatives that support our visions for expansion and investment in the new economy sectors. Through this important economic event, we look forward to enhancing bilateral trade with India in the fields of technology, digital payments, innovation, green energy, healthcare, communication, logistics, transport, waste management, and space technology." "The two countries' economies were among the fastest growing in the world in 2022, characterised by a fast pace of economic growth. The UAE economy grew by 7.6 per cent last year, and according to the World Bank estimates, the Indian economy's GDP achieved a yearly growth of 7.7 per cent in the first nine months of the fiscal year 2022-2023. This indicates the number of economic opportunities that are available in our markets, encouraging the UAE and Indian private sectors to seize this opportunity to further the prospering economic partnership between the two countries," he continued. Moreover, Al Marri emphasised that the UAE and India present a unique comprehensive economic partnership model to the world, building on the strength of the historical and strategic relations between our two countries. "This progress can also be attributed to the forward-looking vision of both leaderships and their continuous support to enhancing the prospects for economic and trade collaboration in various priority fields." He added that the UAE is keen to support the Indian government's vision to raise the Indian economy's GDP to USD 5 trillion by the year 2025, as well as its future expansion plans in the multilateral trading system. The Minister of Economy stated, "The CEPA signed between the two countries in February 2022 achieved positive results. It played a vital role in enhancing trade exchanges, facilitating investment flows and creating more opportunities and capabilities for exporters and importers in both markets. The agreement has enabled advantages like an open and non-discriminatory environment for cross-border trade with India and the abolition of customs tariffs on more than 80 per cent of UAE and Indian goods. It also enhanced the access of service providers to markets across 11 main sectors and more than 100 sub-sectors including digital trade and intellectual property rights, creating job opportunities in many sectors and economic activities." Al-Marri highlighted that the non-oil foreign trade between the two countries grew by 24.7 per cent in Q1 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Apart from that, the UAE's non-oil exports to Indian markets grew by 33 per cent, while trade amounted to about AED180 billion (USD49 billion), up 10 per cent from 2021. "The UAE has an ambitious vision to enhance economic openness to the world and to build global trade partnerships with strategic markets. We support the multilateral trading system as a basic driver to achieve sustainable economic development. In September 2021, the UAE launched the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements Program, through which, four partnerships have been signed so far, with India, Israel, Indonesia, and Turkiye. We will sign more partnerships with other markets during the next stage in a way that supports the objectives of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision, which aims to raise our GDP to AED3 trillion, increase non-oil exports to AED800 billion, and foreign trade to AED4 trillion," he explained. Moreover, The Minister of Economy noted that the UAE's upcoming hosting of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in the first quarter of 2024 in Abu Dhabi will enhance the country's contributions to stimulating international trade, which is critical to achieving long-term sustainable growth. "It also affirms the country's belief in pluralism and its commitment to creating new opportunities for exporters, manufacturers, and investors." He explained that regional and bilateral trade agreements contribute to accelerating global trade growth, facilitating access to markets and integrating companies into global value chains and boosting investment flows. Al-Marri elaborated on several economic policies and measures adopted by the UAE to enhance the trade, investment, and business environment, enhance economic openness to the world, establish international trade partnerships, support the competitiveness of the economic legislative environment, and enhance the UAE's attractiveness to FDI. He also reviewed the strong results achieved by the UAE economy in 2022, most notably the growth of the GDP by 7.6 per cent and the non-oil foreign trade exceeding AED2.2 trillion for the first time in its history with a 17 per cent growth. He added that the UAE also attracted AED20.7 billion in FDI in 2021, with a growth rate of 4 per cent compared to 2020, and as a result, the UAE ranked first in West Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. The CII Annual Conference 2023 was held under the theme "Future Frontiers: Competitiveness, Technology, Sustainability, and Internationalisation." It brought together global thought leaders and Indian industry experts to advance the intensive dialogue on macroeconomic developments, growth, reforms, the investment climate, the future of multiple areas of importance to the global and Indian economy, digital technologies and innovation, green energy and green supply chains, and new global opportunities. The conference coincides with India's presidency of the G20 international forum in 2023 in New Delhi. CII is a non-governmental organisation with nearly 9,000 members from the government and private sectors. It has 62 offices, including 10 centres of excellence in India and eight overseas offices in Australia, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, UAE, United Kingdom and America, in addition to institutional partnerships with 350 representative organizations of the confederation in 133 countries. (ANI/WAM) Allyson Nogaj chants Walgreens hates women, with the abortion protest crowd outside of the State Street Walgreens, April 15, 2023, in Chicago. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune) Since the Supreme Courts Dobbs ruling, tighter abortion restrictions have been enacted in most Republican-controlled states and protections of abortion access have gone into effect in most that are dominated by Democrats. In the 11 states where government control is divided between Republicans and Democrats, the story has not been so uniform. Virginia has kept its status quo, for instance, while Vermont has adopted a constitutional amendment to preserve abortion access and Louisiana and Kentucky have bans in place. Most of the legal battles on abortion since the Dobbs decision in 2022 have centered on whether individual state constitutions protect the right to abortion. [ Pritzker signs law safeguarding abortion protections in Illinois amid surge in out-of-state patients ] But at least one lawsuit has implications nationally. An anti-abortion group sued seeking to rescind the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations 2000 approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs used in combination in most medication-induced abortions in the U.S. [ As court battle over abortion drug mifepristone continues, some Illinois clinics have a backup plan ] A federal judge in Texas agreed. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments last week. In the meantime, the U.S. Supreme Court has said that mifepristone can remain on the market. It is already barred from being used in abortions, with some exceptions, in states with bans in place. Its not clear when the appeals court will rule. The case is expected to return to the nations top court eventually. The Texas-based case could be merged with one in Washington, where another federal judge ruled last month that mifepristone restrictions cannot be rolled back in a group of Democrat-led states that filed lawsuits. Fourteen states currently have bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, one when cardiac activity can be detected around six weeks, and three at 12 to 15 weeks. Of those 17 states with the tightest restrictions, 12 do not have exceptions in cases of rape or incest. They all have exceptions to save the life of the woman in at least some circumstances. At least six states have bans that courts have paused. One more state, North Carolina, has a ban after 12 weeks of pregnancy that doesnt take effect until July 1. The abortion bans also apply to prescribing pills to induce abortions. But only in Nevada and South Carolina is it illegal to self-manage abortions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently in Japan as part of his power-packed schedule to visit a number of countries and hold meetings with major global players. The G7, one of the most influential groupings in the world has consistently accorded India the respect she deserves. Others too have fallen in line to acknowledge its growing diplomatic and economic heft. The world's newfound admiration for India stems from her ascent to diplomatic and economic dominance. It has become evidently clear of late that it is neither feasible nor realistic to seek meaningful progress in geopolitics without the largest country in the world, India's engagement. With diverse political settings and objectives, Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The G7 summit has acknowledged India's growing dominance on the global stage and has sent her an invitation to every single summit since 2019. The Quad, as a security grouping, loses its significance without India. And India's outreach to island nations has been rewarded as she has set to chair the Indo-Pacific Cooperation Summit in May 2023. India has emerged as a major force in global diplomacy, and a leader in multilateralism. Apart from her successful engagements with her close allies and neighbours, India is leading several prominent regional and global groupings, such as the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Giulio Terzi the former Foreign Minister of Italy during an interview with ANI said "I believe that there is a great opportunity and it is a contribution, that India could give and I am sure that will happen. Because there is first of all the present crisis, and there are many angles from which India has responsibilities, as a major actor in the United Nations but also in regional organisations, in smaller groups of consultation and diplomatic activity. I mention the QUAD but I also mention the South Eastern Organisation, ASEAN and so on. Perhaps there is a little collateral to the Indo-Pacific the vast group of countries which need an economic giant and political giant like India which has a future of progress. " India has seized the leadership position in upholding the principle of international cooperation to ensure global peace, security and sustainability. New Delhi not only holds close connections with its allies, but its multi-alignment strategy ensures positive relations with nations all over the world. India is currently the president of the SCO and the G20, two groups which experts believe can contribute significantly to global stability and security. While economies throughout the world are still recovering from Covid fallouts, the Russia-Ukraine war has also added to economic and security challenges, which India and her allies are handling conscientiously. Terzi while commenting on India's role on the international stage said that "India is part of a large part of the world, the wide majority of Unite Nations members which has a national interest in defending the principles of the United Nations and we are on the same boat in this, I am very glad, I am very proud, I am very honoured to feel that the Indians are the closest friends that we can have. India recently hosted foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation nations in Goa to discuss regional security matters, including adding Iran and Belarus to a union of nations, which are seen as a counterweight to Western influence in Eurasia. It is the world's largest regional body in terms of geographic scope and population. The SCO largely focuses on regional security issues and the fight against regional terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism. Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar in his opening statement at the 2023 SCO Summit said that "the world is today facing a multitude of challenges. These events have disrupted global supply chains, leading to serious impacts on the supply of energy, food and fertilisers and cascading effects on developing nations. These challenges, however, are also an opportunity for member states of the SCO to collaborate and address them collectively". India's chief concerns also remain regional security and improving better ties with its neighbours, including China and Pakistan. Unfortunately, India continues to face border conflicts with both China and Pakistan over terrorism and drug trafficking. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who took part in the SCO meeting, was the first senior leader from Pakistan to visit India in almost 12 years. His visit, however, failed to break the ice and no bilateral meeting took place with his Indian counterpart. Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar came down heavily on Pakistan as he called his counterpart Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari a "spokesperson of a terrorism industry". Jaishankar also mentioned that "As a foreign minister of an SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) member state, Mr Bhutto-Zardari has been treated accordingly. As a promoter, justifier and I am sorry to say spokesperson of a terrorism industry which is the mainstay of Pakistan, his positions were called out and they were countered, including at the SCO meeting itself". As part of its G20 Presidency this year, India continues to engage with global leaders and diplomats under the theme "One Earth, One Family, One Future." G20 events being hosted in different cities are helping delegates and guests to catch a glimpse of India's rich culture and tradition in terms of food delicacy, and diversity in language and cultural heritage. At least 200 events have been planned in over 50 cities across the country on scores of work streams. G20 delegate from Brazil also appreciated India saying that "India has a great future ahead. It's very nice to see all the projects they are doing here in Odisha. If they continue like that, only good things will come ahead." India, being one of the world's fastest-growing economies holds significant global prominence. India's participation in a series of summits - including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), G7 Meeting and Commonwealth Summit - exhibits an open-minded foreign policy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's present and upcoming visits to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia for G7, India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit and bilateral summit are also a validation of New Delhi's commitment towards issues of global concern. People world over seeking Indian contribution and presence at every decision highlight one indisputable truth that India is indispensable and cannot be ignored. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov on Thursday evening and has asserted to take the discussions on bilateral cooperation in the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific & Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) framework to a higher level. EAM Jaishankar and Alipov also spoke about the ensuing BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in South Africa. South Africa will host the meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers in Cape Town. "Pleasure to meet Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov today evening. Discussed our bilateral cooperation, including in the IRIGC-TEC framework. Looking forward to taking that to a higher level. Also spoke about the forthcoming BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in South Africa," Jaishankar tweeted. Earlier, Jaishankar also met the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Md Mustafizur Rahman on Thursday afternoon. The two discussed ways and means to further deepen India-Bangladesh Maitri. The EAM also appreciated the successful organisation of the 6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka. Jaishankar tweeted, "Pleased to receive High Commissioner Md. Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh this afternoon. Appreciated the successful organization of the 6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka. Discussed ways and means to further deepen India-Bangladesh Maitri." Jaishankar on Thursday also met the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti and Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar P Sharma to discuss the progress of the relationship between India-US and India-Nepal. "Great to welcome Ambassador Eric Garcetti of the United States," Jaishankar tweeted. He also discussed views on Quad, a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an alliance between India, US, Japan and Australia. "Discussed the enormous progress in our relationship, especially over the last decade. Exchanged views on the recent Quad Summit. Confident that India-US ties will continue to grow from strength to strength," the EAM's tweet read further. Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was on March 24 (local time) sworn in by US Vice-President Kamala Harris as the new US Ambassador to India. The makeshift version of the Quad meeting (which was earlier scheduled to take place in Sydney) happened in Japan's Hiroshima recently. During the meeting, PM Modi, along with US President, Joe Biden; Prime Minister of Japa, Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared a collective vision of a free, open Indo-Pacific amid China's growing assertiveness in the region. Furthermore, the EAM also met with Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar P Sharma on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, "Glad to receive Ambassador @DrShankarSharma of Nepal this morning. Discussed our deep and multifaceted partnership. Committed to its further enhancement in the coming days." Apparently, India and Nepal have a profound and enduring bond rooted in deep socio-political, economic, cultural and religious ties that have spanned centuries. This unique relationship showcases the strength and resilience of their interconnectedness, illustrating a remarkable synergy that transcends geographical proximity. India's involvement in Nepal has been informed by its principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and the policy of 'Neighbourhood First'. In this regard, India's main focus has been to boost Nepal's development through aid and infrastructure development grants, foster ethnic linkages and improvement of human development indicators. (ANI) Referring to his detention a few weeks ago, the former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, said: "This [repression] did not work then [in the run-up to Bangladesh's creation]. It will not work now." While Imran Khan did not use the word genocide, his statements alluded to the violence perpetrated by the Pakistani establishment in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) in 1971, Srimanti Sarkar wrote for Politeia Research Foundation (PRF). Over the years, there have been demands that Pakistan should apologise for the crimes against humanity it committed against the people of Bangladesh. Further, in October last year, on the sidelines of the 51st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations (UN) reiterated the demand that the UN without any further delay should recognise the Genocide of 1971 committed by the Pakistani Army, PRF wrote. She emphasised that the time is right for the world to acknowledge and recognise the Genocide of 1971 in Bangladesh, lest it may become a forgotten chapter in history. Yet, even after 50 years of independence of Bangladesh, which was born out of a reprehensible bloodbath, no formal apology or convincing acknowledgement has been meted out to its people. Politeia Research Foundation, a non-profit initiative, will reflect on global and public policy issues. The research foundation will engage with plural worldviews and the transmission of ideas with inputs from a wide spectrum of scholars, practitioners and learners from multiple disciplines and diverse backgrounds. Besides researching international political, societal, security and economic issues, the foundation aspires to foster peacebuilding approaches to facilitate relevant conversations through publications, deliberative processes and related activities. The foundation of its work will uphold and value the liberty, equality and dignity of the individual. The relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have been stained by the Liberation War of 1971 and the Genocide that accompanied it. The people of East Pakistan (present Bangladesh) were subjected to systemic discrimination, and consequently, they pressed for self-determination. The leadership in West Pakistan (present Pakistan), instead of going for a democratic resolution, adopted a violent approach to address the demands for justice in East Pakistan. The Pakistan military launched Operation Searchlight, which proved to be the last nail in the coffin of a united Pakistan, PRF wrote. They further launched a massive crackdown on the Bengali nationalists that led to a war with India followed by their subsequent humiliation and surrender. According to Bangladeshi sources, around three million people lost their lives, and millions more became homeless in the war. The first detailed report about the Genocide of 1971 was published by Anthony Mascarenhas, a well-known Pakistani journalist, in the UK's The Sunday Times, on June 13, 1971. Mascarenhas, in his famous report, titled "Genocide", provided startling details about the genocide, PRF wrote. He wrote, "I saw Hindus hunted from village to village and door to door, shot off-hand after a cursory 'short arm inspection' showed they were uncircumcised. I have heard the screams of men bludgeoned to death in the compound of the Circuit House in Comilla. I have seen truckloads of other human targets and those who had the humanity to try to help them hauled off for disposal under cover of darkness and curfew". K. Blood, the US consul general in Dhaka in 1971, who disagreed with his country's handling of the Bangladesh struggle, also reported how bare female bodies in Dhaka University's Rokeya Hall were found hanging from ceiling fans with bits of rope. They were apparently raped, shot, and hung by heels by the fans. According to the genocide researcher RJ Rummel, the "willing executioners" were fuelled by abiding anti-Bengali racism, especially against the Hindu minority. Bengalis were often compared with monkeys and chickens, and the soldiers were free to kill. Noted researcher Robert Payne, in his book "Massacre: The Tragedy of Bangladesh", quoted a senior Pakistan Army general as saying, "Kill three million of them, and the rest will eat out of our hands". And as rightly noted by Time Magazine, as early as August 2, 1971, the Genocide of 1971 was "the most incredible, calculated thing since the days of the Nazis in Poland". Pakistan, on the other hand, contends that it had every right to defend its independence and territorial integrity and that it was the Bengali separatists in league with India who were responsible for the atrocities and bloodshed of 1971. The Pakistani state erroneously argues that both parties carried out extra-judicial killings, and therefore expecting an uncontested apology from Pakistan alone is unreasonable, PRF wrote. A recent documentary, "Separation of East Pakistan: The Untold Story" by Javed Jabbar, tries to vindicate Yahya Khan and insists that the military operation in East Pakistan was necessary because the Mukti Bahini trained and armed by India had begun to target non-Bengalis and Pakistan security forces. However, targeting millions of civilians is not a proportionate response and cannot be qualified as a reasonable policy response. Mention may be made here of the book "Dead Reckoning" by Sarmila Bose, which questions the veracity of the Bangladeshi claim about the millions of deaths, injuries and rapes during the civil war in East Pakistan. Nevertheless, the numerous news reports, testimonies, diplomatic cases, and other documents demonstrate that the genocide was nothing but a reality that had taken place. The role of the UN, in this regard, is important. It reported that, among the genocides of human history, the highest number of people killed in a short span of time was in Bangladesh in 1971, PRF wrote. An average of 6,000 to 12,000 people were killed every single day. This is the highest daily average in the history of genocides. Yet, the world body has been consistently silent on formally recognising the Genocide of 1971, even though it has, in recent years, accorded recognition to the Armenian genocide and also acted decisively on the Bosnian, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides. The UN recognition is important for the victims' families as well as for the aggrieved nation that is now 51 years old and also an important member of the UN. An acknowledgment of the Genocide of 1971 is something that Bangladesh expects as a homage to the victims and a step towards realising justice for its war victims from the world community. On December 31, 2021, the very last day of Bangladesh's golden jubilee celebration, the US-based Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issued a statement detailing the genocide of Bengalis. The Lemkin Institute stated that: "Given the lack of a broad international recognition of the crime, the Lemkin Institute calls upon (the) international community, including the United Nations, to urgently recognise the Bengali genocide as a way to pay tribute to the victims and to hold (the) perpetrators accountable". It also called upon the international community to pressure Pakistan to work with Bangladesh in its search for truth and justice. But it is only a hope that such a statement by the renowned genocide prevention institute would remove the inertia of the UN and pave the way for many more similar international bodies to come forward to recognise the Genocide of 1971, PRF wrote. Even the Pakistani state, after 51 years, has not tendered a formal apology to Bangladesh for the crimes committed by its army. It has not put on trial the 195 war criminals identified by Bangladesh in 1972 as the principal perpetrators.6 On the contrary, one can find the Pakistani state adopting a conscious policy of selective remembering through textbooks, museum exhibits and mainstream narratives that tend to distort and erase history by forgetting the past. The reluctance of the UN to recognise the Genocide of 1971 and Pakistan's hesitant and intermittent willingness to own up to the past does not qualify as justice to the war victims of 1971. It rather appears to be extending a mere lip service towards the aggrieved community. Therefore, an apology by the Pakistani government for the Genocide in 1971, and acknowledgement from the UN and the world community of the crimes against humanity, can only be counted as a first step in the process of seeking justice for the victims, PRF wrote. The fact that a former prime minister of Pakistan has referred to the crimes of the Pakistani establishment in Bangladesh, demonstrates that historical memories cannot be wished away. For Bangladesh, given its fast-changing social and political context, it becomes all the more important that the trauma of 1971 is addressed through symbolic acts and also through processes that deliver substantive justice. This news piece was penned by Srimanti Sarkar, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, at West Bengal State University. Her areas of research interests include theoretical postulates of democracy and democratization in South Asia with a special focus on India and Bangladesh. (ANI) 1 killed, 12 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day In the last 24 hours, Russian attacks were reported in Ukraine's nine oblasts in the country's east, north, and south. Those are Luhansk, Donetsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv oblasts. According to regional authorities, one civilian was killed, and 12 more were injured in the Russian attacks. Russian attacks killed one person in Donetsk Oblast's Chasiv Yar and injured six in other regional settlements, according to Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit six settlements and one community in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast, damaging 20 houses, several enterprises, infrastructure facilities, and a school, said Kyrylenko. Russian troops struck Kherson Oblast in Ukraine's south 83 times, using artillery, MLRS, tanks, mortars, aviation, and drones, the regional administration wrote on May 25. The attacks reportedly wounded four civilians in the region as well as hit residential areas and social infrastructure facilities. Russian forces shelled five communities in Sumy Oblast on May 24, firing more than 84 rounds from various types of weapons, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration said on Telegram. Russia hit the Khotin community with mortars, damaging three private residences and injuring two civilians. No casualties have been reported following the shelling in other communities. 1 person shot to death in Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati police are on the scene of a deadly shooting in Over-the-Rhine. Officers responded to Hamer and Elder streets shortly after 4:30 a.m. Thursday. Its not clear yet what led up to the shooting or if police have a suspect. No arrests have been made. Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 1 person shot to death in Over-the-Rhine Ukraines air defence destroyed all 36 Iranian-made Shahed attack drones Russia launched on Ukraine on the night of 2425 May. Source: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of Ukraines Air Force, on Telegram Quote from Oleshchuk: "A 100% success rate! 36 out of 36 [drones have been intercepted and destroyed]. I am grateful to the Zakhid (West), Tsentr (Centre) and Pivden (South) Air Commands for their work. Great job! Perhaps the best gift I could have asked for!" [Oleshchuk turns 50 today ed.] Details: Russia attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 attack drones on the night of 2425 May, launching a total of 36 drones from the north and the south. Press service for Ukraines Air Force explained that Russia was likely hoping to strike critical infrastructure and military facilities in Ukraine's west. Units of anti-aircraft missile forces, fighter jets, and mobile air defence units from the Zakhid (West), Tsentr (Centre) and Pivden (South) Air Commands were deployed to repel the Russian attack alongside other units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. All 36 Shahed drones were destroyed thanks to the joint efforts of all the units and forces involved. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! 15 of the boldest 'naked' dresses celebrities have worn at the Cannes Film Festival Kendall Jenner attends a "Girls of the Sun" screening at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Gisela Schober/Getty Images The Cannes Film Festival in France is often associated with celebrities in glamorous gowns. But some actors, models, and influencers take a different approach and wear "naked" fashion. Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid are just some stars who have participated in the skin-baring trend. Always a trendsetter, Naomi Campbell attended the 2007 Cannes Film Festival in a semi-sheer minidress. Naomi Campbell attends the "Une Vieille Maitresse" premiere at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Sean Gallup/Getty Images The sleeveless top of her garment was crafted from see-through black lace, with a panel of ruffles over the chest that matched its tiered, ruffled miniskirt. Ten years later, Emily Ratajkowski wore sheer lace in the form of a daring pantsuit. Emily Ratajkowski attends the "Loveless" premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images Peter Dundas designed her off-the-shoulder look, which was entirely see-through and had a deep cutout in the middle of its bodice. There was also a section of ruched fabric that wrapped around the model's waist and extended into a ruffled skirt. Bella Hadid, on the other hand, wore one of her most daring looks to date at the Cannes amfAR Gala that year. Bella Hadid attends the 2017 amfAR Gala at the Cannes Film Festival. Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Her white, Ralph & Russo couture gown left little to the imagination, as it was entirely sheer and covered in crystals. It featured a corset bodice, asymmetrical straps, and a long skirt with a train and thigh-high slit. Kendall Jenner made an appearance in 2018 while wearing a ruffled gown that showed some skin. Kendall Jenner attends a "Girls of the Sun" screening at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Gisela Schober/Getty Images The white Schiaparelli Haute Couture design had a plunging neckline, sheer straps that covered her chest, a tiered skirt, and a bedazzled white belt around her waist. She wore it with a seahorse broach made from diamonds and seafoam-green crystal earrings. But that wasn't her only "naked" look at the film festival. Jenner also attended Chopard's Cannes party that year in a chainmail dress with almost nothing underneath. Kendall Jenner attends a Chopard party at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Her green minidress which bared her torso and revealed her tan underwear was designed by Alexandre Vauthier. She wore it with only the single undergarment and Louboutin heels. Deepika Padukone showed that see-through fashion can be glamorous on the 2018 "Sorry Angel" red carpet. Deepika Padukone attends the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images She wore a white bridal gown from Zuhair Murad that was sheer and decorated with a white floral pattern from top to bottom. The Indian actor also donned a matching cape across her shoulders that reached the floor. Winnie Harlow's gown in 2019 was unlike any other seen at the film festival. Winnie Harlow attends the "Oh Mercy!" red carpet at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Mike Marsland/Getty Images Its base layer which had long sleeves and a floor-length skirt was crafted from sheer, black mesh that hugged her body and extended into a short train. And on top, the Ralph & Russo design had a bedazzled, crocodile-shaped panel that extended from Harlow's chest to her knees. Gemma Chan was draped in gold flowers and leaves when she attended the 2021 event. Gemma Chan attends the closing ceremony of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Lionel Hahn/Getty Images Oscar de la Renta custom-made the sparkling gown with tan mesh, creating the illusion that you could see the actor's skin between the gown's sparkling design. Eva Longoria walked the 2022 Cannes red carpet in a black gown that was almost entirely see-through. Eva Longoria attends the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Gisela Schober/Getty Images Alberta Ferretti designed her ruffled dress, which was sleeveless and decorated with intricate beading in floral patterns. Alessandra Ambrosio was there for the "Armageddon Time" screening, and she wore a ball gown with an unconventional "naked" top. Alessandra Ambrosio attends the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Her Stephane Rolland gown had a full white skirt and a sleeveless mesh bodice decorated with strategically-placed chunks of sparkling fabric. The model also wore long white gloves and diamond jewelry with the outfit. Sabrina Dhowre Elba wore a stunning halter gown with a daring edge on the 2023 "Firebrand' red carpet. Sabrina Dhowre Elba attends the "Firebrand" red carpet at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Mike Marsland/Getty Images Elie Saab designed her sparkling halter dress, which created the illusion that she was covered in diamonds. It had swirls of the stones draped across its tan fabric from its high-neck collar to its column skirt. Leonie Hanne walked "The Idol" red carpet in a baby-blue gown encrusted with sparkles. Leonie Hanne attends "The Idol" red carpet at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images The German influencer has a history of bold outfits at the Cannes Film Festival but her latest takes the cake. The custom Georges Hobeika gown was strapless with a sheer circle in the middle of its bodice, creating a "naked" effect that extended to its semi-sheer skirt. Fan Bingbing proved that you can subtly wear "naked" fashion at the "Asteroid City" premiere. Fan Bingbing attends the "Asteroid City" red carpet at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Gisela Schober/Getty Images Tamara Ralph designed her strapless white gown, which was sheer but covered with white feathers to subdue the daring element. The gown also had a black belt around the waist and a feathered train attached at the back. Stylist Emili Sindlev opted for a see-through gown that showed her skin and thong on the "Monster" red carpet. Emili Sindlev attends the "Monster" red carpet at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Gisela Schober/Getty Images Paco Rabanne designed the sleeveless, chainmail dress with a V-shaped neckline, midi skirt, and a back cutout featuring a whale-tail detail. Irina Shayk took the "naked" look to another level when she was photographed wearing only lingerie and diamonds. Irina Shayk at Hotel Martinez during the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images She donned a mesh bra and matching string underwear both with a monogram Gucci print covered by a mesh slip with diamonds draped down her chest from its neckline. The model also added mesh gloves, knee-high stockings, red lipstick, and black sunglasses. Read the original article on Insider Image: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense The news from the war in Ukraine tends to focus on physical battles, but theres another front in the conflict that gets less attention: the tubes of the internet. Russias overall strategy involves a vast disinformation campaign, but over the last year, an army of shitposters has started fighting back. Its a loosely organized but extremely online coalition that calls itself NAFO short for the North America Fellas Organization and its fighting a meme war against the Russian invasion. NAFO is less of a group than a movement, united by a distaste for Russian propaganda and a love of fellas, which are crudely photoshopped Shiba Inus (aka doges) dressed as Ukrainian soldiers. Like most things on the internet, NAFO started as a joke when an artist named Kama started giving out fellas as a reward for charitable donations. But it quickly blossomed into something much bigger, and somehow more serious. Read more NAFO fellas next to Volodymyr Zelensky NAFO (or OFAN, if you prefer the French acronym) fights its disinformation counter-offensive in the comments by shaming propagandists, galvanizing Ukraine supporters, and raising money for charity. Its an effective strategy. Last summer, NAFO memers ran Russian diplomat Mikhail Ivanovich entirely off Twitter. Major government figures have taken notice. Ukraines Defense Ministry has reposted NAFO memes and thanked the group for their service. The legion of self-identified fellas includes US Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. US Army Major General Patrick J. Donahoe even used a fella as his Twitter avatar for a while. We usually express gratitude to our international partners for the security assistance. But today we want to give a shout-out to a unique entity - North Atlantic Fellas Organization #NAFO. Thanks for your fierce fight against kremlins propaganda &trolls. We salute you, fellas! pic.twitter.com/AfDnXf7pfc Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 28, 2022 NAFO is a bit hard to define. It has a website (and merch), but theres no organized leadership. Instead, its extremely online adherents hang out on Discord, Reddit, Twitter, and other channels, landing on their strategy, if you can call it that, through collective action. But rest assured, wherever theres Russian propaganda, NAFO is watching, and if you call the fellas with the #NAFO hashtag, you can expect them to come knocking on your post. Theres some speculation (promoted by Russian trolls and propaganda outlets) that NAFO is a CIA funded psy-op, but most credible observers recognize it as a grassroots movement. Regardless, the fellas dont seem to mind. On an internet that often feels bleak, NAFO is proof that posters can still come together to make something great, or at least something funny and quasi-purposeful. The NAFO insignia The NAFO insignia. A year into NAFOs meme-ing, there are countless examples of fellas fighting on the front lines, standing proud next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and shedding tears of joy at the sight of missile launches. NAFO even raised money and paid the Ukrainian military to paint their memes on a tank, now affectionately known as the Superbonker 9000. If you want to become a fella, theres a simple initiation ritual. Donate to Ukraine and send proof to NAFOs hotline, and theyll make you a custom fella of your very own. Click through for some examples of NAFOs finest memes. Its always morally correct. Screenshot: Gizmodo The Superbonker 9000 Photo: SignMyRocket.com This is the Prime Minister of Estonia Screenshot: Gizmodo / @exileoftza Bonk Screenshot: Gizmodo He fights for FREEDOM Image: knowyourmeme.com Negotiations Screenshot: Gizmodo You pronounced this nonsense Screenshot: knowyourmeme.com In June, 2022, Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov made a tactical error: he responded to a NAFO troll in the comments of one of his posts. His nonsensical reply, You pronounced this nonsense. Not me, became a rallying cry for the fellas. NAFO members brigaded Ulyanov, berating him and filling his posts with memes and criticism. Ulyanov, an active Twitter user, temporarily stopped tweeting in response. You pronounced this nonsense. Not me. Mikhail Ulyanov (@Amb_Ulyanov) June 19, 2022 Its the track suit that does it for me Image: @BRAVOKILO6464 Honest work Screenshot: Gizmodo Four score and seven posts ago... Image: @maggiesmithcybr There is no CIA. Screenshot: @BVasylchenko Buy War Bonks Image: knowyourmeme.com The War Room Image: imgflip.com Cant say I understand this one, but I love it. Screenshot: Gizmodo War is hell. Image: @BRAVOKILO6464 More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A 16-year-old has been indicted for murder in the shooting of a Raceland teenager. A Houma Grand Jury found enough evidence May 18 to charge the 16-year-old, who surrendered to the Houma Police Department after the death of Sidney Nelson Jr. with second-degree murder. An indictment does not presume guilt or innocence. Jurors found enough evidence to warrant a trial. More: Tina Turner, queen of rock 'n' roll, dies after long illness More: What snakes in Louisiana are venomous? Two others, Anox Smith and Triston Butler, 18, also surrendered to police in connection with Nelson's death. According to Assistant District Attorney Dennis Elfret of the Terrebonne Parish District Attorney's Office, both will face Grand Jury Hearings at a later date. Nelson was found dead April 24 on Payne Street, after residents heard multiple gunshots shortly before 3 p.m. The Houma Police Department quickly put out warrants for all three, and within a week each had surrendered themselves peacefully to the department. This article originally appeared on The Courier: 16-year-old indicted for murder in connection with Payne St. shooting DNA testing has led members of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Homicide Unit to finally identify the body of a woman who was found dead in California in 1986. Now officials say they have a "brand new mystery" to find out who killed her. The woman's remains were found near campsites on the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation in Warner Springs, a spot on the Pacific Crest Trail, on Feb. 16, 1986. But authorities had been unable to identify the victim until this week. The sheriff's office announced Tuesday that the remains had been identified as those of Claudette Jean Zebolsky Powers, who was born in Michigan in Jan. 1962. In the early 1980s, she lived with her husband in Washington state until she left him and moved to San Diego in 1983 or 1984, according to family. She was last heard from in Sept. 1984, after her father died. Police said she likely lived in the San Diego area until around Feb. 1986. While Powers' body has been identified, her killer remains at large, the sheriff's office said. In the news release, they asked members of the public with any information to come forward and said that detectives had been working the case for the decades since Powers' body was found. Sergeant Tim Chantler told CBS affiliate KFMB-TV that detectives are now putting together a timeline of Powers' life before her death to try to identify her killer. Claudette Jean Zebolsky Powers. / Credit: San Diego County Sheriff's Department "It took 37 years to identify who she was, to solve that mystery," Chantler said. "Now we have to reconstruct her whole life. Where she lived, where she worked, and who she knew? Was she dating anybody? Who were her friends? That's where we're starting, a brand new mystery now, as opposed to the one we just solved." Powers' youngest sister, Laura Freese, asked anyone with information to come forward. "It's been really hard on our family," Freese said in the news release. "Somebody knows what happened. A neighbor, anybody that knew her knows what happened. If you are still alive and you knew my sister and you knew what happened to her, please come forward. Please, we need closure." It was only thanks to a technique called investigative genetic genealogy that Powers was identified, the office said. This technique is only used when all other methods, like combing through missing-persons records, have failed, and involves uploading DNA found at a crime scene to consumer genealogy websites to locate family members of victims. The method is also used when searching for suspects. In Powers' case, DNA information was taken from a sample of her hair and compared to available profiles on the commercial sites. Using this, as well as census records and other public information, detectives were able to build family trees and "track down an indiviudal believed to be a relative of Claudette." Detectives spoke with that relative, and were eventually connected with Powers' daughters, sister and mother. DNA samples confirmed the match and allowed the remains to be positively identified. Police said that this is the seventh time the department's homicide unit has used investigative genetic genealogy to solve such a case. A second body was also found near where Powers' body was. This second murder victim, who was found "around the same time and area" according to the sheriff's office, has not been identified. The cases may be connected, police said. Tina Turner discusses her iconic "What's Love Got To Do With It?" song in 1984 CBS News interview NOAA predicts Atlantic hurricane season to be near average Biden nominates Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown as Joint Chiefs chairman Digital twin technology builds "smarter" cities 14:45, May 24, 2023 By Gu Yekai ( People's Daily Modern cities are complex and open systems. In recent years, the rapid development and wide application of the digital twin technology are bringing new ideas and solutions to China's urban planning, governance and management. Photo taken on Feb. 23, 2022 shows a digital twin platform adopted by a waterworks in Shanghai. It is the first digital twin system adopted by waterworks in Shanghai and is able to simulate and monitor the operation of the physical waterworks. (People's Daily Online/Shen Chunchen) And how traffic congestion has been relieved near the Peking University People's Hospital in Beijing's Xicheng district is a great example. It was recently found that the long lines of cars stuck near the hospital have disappeared, and the traffic on surrounding roads has got better. It used to take more than an hour for a vehicle to wait in line before entering the hospital during peak hours, but now it takes only around 10 minutes. This is attributed to a comprehensive traffic management system adopted by the urban management committee of the district, which shows parking resources and the distribution of shared bikes around the hospital. Based on the system, traffic managers are able to make rational recommendations on drop-off locations, intelligent dispatch of shared bikes and shared parking resources of the hospital. The digital twin technology can simulate various factors and data of cities. Cao Xinchi, vice president of CECloud, a cloud service platform developed by China Electronics Corporation, told People's Daily that a digital twin city is a virtual city built in cyberspace by digitalizing various factors of a physical city with the Internet of Things technology. The virtual city is formed based on building information modeling and the 3D geographic information system of the physical one, Cao added. The construction of digital twin cities has entered a "fast lane" in China. Last year, the market hit 5.1 billion yuan ($730 million) in the country, with a compound annual growth rate of 50 percent. Photo taken on April 13, 2023 shows the control center of an intelligent urban management platform in the Rongjiang New Area, Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi province. (People's Daily Online/Zhong Wanshan) Creating a virtual city that corresponds to the tangible one can make urban management more efficient and is conducive to the city's sustainable development. Jinan, east China's Shandong province, has adopted a four-dimensional information visualization system that monitors the geological environment. By obtaining information about the stratigraphic structure, lithology and karst development features, the system offers guidance on the suitability analysis of urban rail transit lines. Based on hydrological data, meteorological data and information of urban drainage facilities, the urban management system of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, launches visualized flooding simulations at flood-prone points with the help of urban hydrology model and electronic map, thus providing references for flood control and disaster relief. Lankao county of central China's Henan province has developed an intelligent algorithm, which can deduce the operation results of different urban regulation strategies online. Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province has collected comprehensive and high-precision data of ancient architectures so as to better protect and repair them. The Xiong'an New Area in north China's Hebei province is planning and building a virtual city with the physical one simultaneously. Children join a digital technology-assisted physical test in Deqing county, Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, April 20, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Xie Shangguo) While digital twin cities are seeing prosperous development, they also bring new challenges. "Digital twin cities need to store, process and present massive multi-source heterogeneous data with various types and large volumes, which is a test for the platform's support capacity and network bandwidth. Besides, the visualization and real-time browsing of a huge load of spatial-temporal data, as well as the real-time updating of various types of other data also call for a high cost in hardware, time and manpower," Cao explained. Zhou Hongyi, founder of Chinese Internet security company Qihoo 360, said digitalization is a booster for urban management, but it also magnifies issues such as data security and privacy protection. As digitalization accelerates in urban public services, economy and industries, as well as livelihood sectors, cities will highly rely on networks, software and data, Zhou explained, adding that digital security should be made into an integral part of urban infrastructure construction. Li Deren, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and professor at Wuhan University, said the country should face up to new challenges and proactively advance the construction of both physical and online spaces. He emphasized the significance of urban planning, upgrading and science-based management, so that China's urban construction can become truly intelligent with the digital twin technology. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. People make their way down 26th Street in temperatures approaching 100 degrees in the Little Village neighborhood last summer. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Amid all of the discourse on the devastating consequences of climate change, one fact often slips through the cracks: Targeted interventions can reduce potentially deadly heat exposure for city residents, not just in years to come but for people living in the present day. Examples can be as simple as painting roofs white to reflect the suns rays or adding bus shelters to shade commuters. Others require ongoing attention, such as making sure newly planted trees stay healthy. Since every city and community is different, theres no one-size-fits-all set of solutions, experts told the Tribune. But there is a universal starting point: Identifying areas where temperatures are often hottest. Advertisement [ Read the investigation on disparities in Chicagos summer heat ] Knowing whether a community tends to have elevated temperatures makes a difference, especially for people more sensitive to heat stress, including children, older adults, athletes and people who are low-income, are pregnant, have certain medical conditions or work outdoors. Other cities have made this information accessible. But Chicago has not. In setting out to identify Chicagos hottest areas, the Tribune realized that data from regular temperature sensors on the ground such as those at OHare and Midway airports couldnt paint a complete picture. Temperatures can vary from community to community sometimes from block to block. Advertisement Turning to satellite data Tribune reporter Sarah Macaraeg first became familiar with remote sensing data, or observations of Earth gathered by satellites, in previous coverage of a community with insufficient air quality monitoring stations. Extracting temperature data and other information from U.S. Geological Survey satellite images proved difficult, however, until the Tribune turned to Google Earth Engine. A Google portal not widely known outside of climate research circles, Google Earth Engine allows users to filter data about the environment by specific measures and locations, using the JavaScript or Python programming language, as well as to run calculations via Google servers with far more processing power than the ordinary computer. After referencing Google Earth Engines code library and scientific studies, and checking best practices for using filters to obtain the highest-quality data, the Tribune used Google Earth Engine to gather land surface temperature data from the Landsat-8 and Landsat-9 satellites, which orbit around 500 miles above the Earths surface, passing over the same location every 16 days. Unlike daily readings from the MODIS satellite, which are also often used in heat mapping, Landsat satellites gather observations in smaller increments 30-meter by 30-meter areas that are better suited to illustrating community-level differences. The Tribune used Google Earth Engine to match readings taken from these areas to census block groups and to translate the readings from degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit. Because clouds affect the accuracy of remote sensing data, the analysis was based only on observations gathered on summer days with minimal clouds, from the first year Landsat-8 data was available, in 2013, to the end of August 2022, when Landsat-9 also was collecting data. Per standard scientific practice, specific data points USGS had cataloged as cloud or cloud shadow were omitted, along with those marked water. The Tribunes analysis was based on average temperature deciles, which are measurements in increments of 10 that show how values relate to one another for example, the 10th decile representing block groups cooler than 90% of the rest of Chicago along with race, ethnicity, poverty, household and health care data from the U.S. census. The data tables were joined and analyzed using Structured Query Language. The Tribune then created an initial map in ArcGIS and used it to begin outreach to residents of historically hotter neighborhoods and to inform the location of on-the-ground reporting during heat advisories last summer. Former Tribune reporter Stephanie Casanova and Tribune photographer E. Jason Wambsgans teamed with Macaraeg for this reporting. [ Mapping a threat: How climate change may deepen heat disparities in Chicago ] Because exposure to extreme heat can exacerbate the health impacts of air pollution and vice versa, the Tribune also analyzed the Chicago Department of Public Healths Air Quality and Health Index, which provides percentile measurements of air quality as of 2020 in about 2,170 block groups with sufficient data. Advertisement To better understand the allocation of some cooling resources, the Tribune used data from the Chicago Transit Authority and the city to identify the locations of bus stops that were in service in the city as of March 2022 and the location of bus shelters in Chicago as of October 2021. The Tribune requested updated bus stop and bus shelter location data in April under the state Freedom of Information Act, but the CTA did not provide it. The location and acreage of public parks in Chicago were also merged in ArcGIS, joining the location of the center of a park to its corresponding block group to estimate their distribution by decile. Partnering with researchers To further refine, verify and visualize the data analysis, the Tribune partnered with Boston Universitys Center for Climate and Health, whose researchers also added an analysis of access to cooling resources in Chicagos most vulnerable communities with the hottest average surface temperatures. Muskaan Khemani, a researcher whod mapped heat in Wichita, Kansas, as part of an internship with NASA, analyzed the data anew in Google Earth Engine, removing observations gathered within a kilometer of water in addition to those cataloged as clouds, cloud shadows or water. Analyzing average summer surface temperatures by block group in the programming language R, Khemani found the same disparities as the Tribune did. The final analysis of surface temperatures is based on 35 images from the Landsat-8 and Landsat-9 satellites gathered on days with less than 20% cloud cover from June 1 through Aug. 31 in the years 2013 through 2022, and five-year census estimates from the 2021 American Community Survey. Of 2,313 census block groups with population data available that fall fully or partially within city of Chicago boundaries, 10 didnt have sufficient temperature data to be included. Boston Universitys analysis of racial and ethnic disparities incorporates the population of some block groups whose boundaries extend beyond the Chicago border. Estimates related to demographics and resources in the citys hottest and coolest areas do not. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Purple areas on this map reflect communities with historically hotter temperatures and a high percentage of Hispanic/Latino residents. (SOURCE: Boston University School of Public Health analysis of U.S. Geological Survey satellite data, 2013-2022; U.S. Census Bureaus 2021 American Community Survey. Chart by Muskaan Khemani, Boston University School of Public Healths Center for Climate and Health, using geography from the City of Chicago Data Portal and U.S. Census Bureau.) Of course, temperatures dont strictly align to block group boundaries. But its important to map heat differences within recognizable boundaries to help allocate resources, Khemani said. It allows you to see some variability in surface temperatures, and that spatial unit corresponds to something real and tangible for decision-makers. Advertisement Experts who spoke with the Tribune noted a crucial caveat about land surface temperatures: They are not the same as the air temperature measurements seen in weather reports. As Chicagoans familiar with summers scorching sidewalks intuitively know, land surface temperatures are more extreme hotter when its hot and cooler when its cool. It wont be quite as exact or precise like an on-the-ground station, just because its measuring something thats not exactly (air) temperature. But it does give you a spatial pattern, Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford, who did not participate in the analyses, said of remote sensing. Khemani calls Google Earth Engine a game changer that shouldnt be seen only as the province of full-time researchers. This was not feasible a decade or two ago because there was just no way to download as many images as were using now. Its such a valuable tool for researchers and people outside of researchers to use, she said. So many more people and organizations are able to conduct these types of analyses. For those not interested in learning the coding skills needed to make use of Google Earth Engine, Boston University researcher Jason Rundle said theres still a wealth of other population, health and environmental data that reveal insights without heavy-duty analysis. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Social Vulnerability Index, for example, reflects a combination of measurements including race, poverty status and disability at the census tract level. Its important to not just keep written scientific research in this box where only a certain type of person can do it or you have to have this many degrees, Rundle said. Even just looking at data in your own neighborhood is useful and you can learn so many things that you didnt know before. Chicagoans interested in further researching their census tract or block group can access those identifications by searching the interactive map published by the Tribune and clicking through the details that pop up. Rundle analyzed surface temperatures in conjunction with the CDC vulnerability index and the location of all public cooling resources promoted by the city of Chicago from its six official cooling centers to the Park District, police station and library locations it also advertises during heat advisories. Using ArcGIS network analysis tool, Rundle identified numerous areas that have the highest social vulnerability rating, the hottest surface temperatures and no public cooling within walking distance of a half-mile. [ Visit the Chicago data dashboard created by Boston University's Center for Climate and Health ] He and Khemani both said they hope to see other researchers and journalists pursue similar partnerships in the future, to cover local aspects of the climate crisis in depth. Partnering with journalists helps make climate science more accessible to the public, they said; partnering with scientists can bolster the strength of journalists analytical work and provide institutional resources that newsrooms may lack to host and visualize large data sets. Advertisement With multiple experts stressing the importance of community member preferences in determining interventions, the Tribune attended online town hall meetings on the citys climate action plan, reviewed city data on green roof permits and researched community initiatives to identify residents already attempting solutions in their neighborhoods. It doesnt always have to be these doomsday scenarios, Rundle said of messaging about the climate crisis. Theres hope there, and theres people learning how to thrive as these things are happening. smacaraeg@chicagotribune.com Two local first-responding agencies received recognition Wednesday at the 2023 EMS Star of Life Awards in Columbus. >>Im alive and Im happy for it; Retired Clearcreek Twp. Officer Eric Ney honored during ceremony The Clearcreek Fire District and Tipp City Emergency Services were recognized as some of Ohios bravest and most dedicated first responders, according to an EMS spokesperson. The first responders we honored (Wednesday) today represent everything that defines public service, said EMS Executive Director Robert Wagoner. These crews often encounter people at one of the worst moments of their lives, and its their dedication, compassion, and professionalism that help patients and their families navigate those emotionally challenging moments. The Clearcreek Fire District was recognized for working together to stabilize Clearcreek Police Officer Eric Ney after he was shot in the face last year in the line of duty. They transported him to the neared Level 1 trauma center quickly and ultimately saved his life. The Tipp City Emergency Services rescued a horseback rider who was thrown from her horse and severely injured. Crews cut a path through thick foliage to get her to a waiting helicopter as quickly as possible. 2 men accused of exposing themselves in Cobb County, one in busy park Two men in Cobb County were arrested within just a few days of each other for indecent exposure. One of those men, Samuel Collier, was in a busy Marietta park over the weekend when he reportedly exposed himself. Channel 2s Veronica Griffin spoke with people who were in Laurel Park at the time. I really am surprised. Ive never seen anything like that at all here, Lynn Damato said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Damato says she and her husband spent most of Sunday in the park, but it was busy and she didnt notice the arrest. She says she is concerned that innocent people may have been subjected to the alleged act. She hopes it will not stop people from coming out to enjoy the park. [Its] probably the best park Marietta has. Its very old, but its safe. Weve always felt safe, thats half the reason we always come here, Damato said. TRENDING STORIES: A few days later, Danny Clark was arrested along Knoll Road and Turpin Road in Smyrna and charged with public indecency. According to the arrest warrant, Clark was on the victims private property at the time. Neighbors told Griffin that Clark lives nearby. Jail records show that Clark is still in jail and Collier has since bonded out. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Newark firefighters responded to a house fire at 370 Meadowbrook Drive. on Nov. 23, rescuing a woman who was bedridden. Lt. Darby Rehbeck and firefighter Aaron Berkley of the Newark Fire Department received the Ohio Fire Service Valor Award for their efforts. NEWARK Lt. Darby Rehbeck and firefighter Aaron Berkley of the Newark Fire Department have received the Ohio Fire Service Valor Award for their efforts in rescuing a woman from a fire the day before Thanksgiving. The Ohio Department of Commerces Division of State Fire Marshal and the Ohio Department of Public Safetys Division of Emergency Medical Services awarded the fire services highest honors during the states 42nd annual Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame & Fire Awards ceremony last month at the Center of Science and Industry in downtown Columbus. The Ohio Fire Service Valor Award is given to members of the fire service who, at great personal risk to themselves, are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life during an emergency situation, above and beyond the normal line of duty. Its the highest recognition in the state of Ohio, Newark Fire Chief Brandon Metzger said. Were all extremely proud of their efforts. Theres a lot of times it doesnt turn out that way. Theyre both outstanding firefighters, very humble and not seeking recognition. Rehbeck has 32 years of service with the department. Berkley has been with the department two years. Newark firefighters responded shortly before 6 a.m. Nov. 23 to a home at 370 Meadowbrook Drive, finding heavy black smoke and heavy fire throughout the majority of the structure. The firefighters explained the situation in a video played at the awards ceremony. Rehbeck said, "Immediately, I got good information from dispatch there were two victims in the residence. The husband was the caller. Lt. Darby Rehbeck Berkley said, "When we arrived on the scene, the spouse of the victim was still inside kind of running around trying to find somebody to tell them where (his wife) was at. Meanwhile, were noticing heavy smoke conditions coming out of the front of the house. Getting accurate information quickly was key to the rescue, Rehbeck said. Assistant Chief David Decker told Rehbeck he heard the wife in the residence screaming for help. "At the front door, I met the husband who had self-extricated," Rehbeck said. "He told us that she was in a front room, a living room basically, on a hospital bed. He looked numb. I think he was in shock. And Im sure he was because he was there for his wife, who was screaming for help. And he was helpless. I entered the house through the front door and immediately encountered the heavy fire load and some possible entanglements and heavy black smoke right down to the floor. So, I continued on my search and immediately came to the hospital bed. I climbed up on the bed and she wasnt there. Berkley said he encountered a lot of debris in the living room, then noticed that it was different from normal debris. "I felt a soft body," he said. "The condition of her was unknown because we couldnt see anything. Just could tell there was a victim." Firefighter Aaron Berkley Rehbeck said, "About that time, I heard Aaron holler that he had found her hand. I would assume, in panic, that she tried to at least get on the floor below the smoke and by the time we got in there, the smoke was down to the floor. Berkley and Rehbeck got Anna Goslin, 64, out of the house to a medic crew in the front yard. The medics treated Goslin, who suffered burns and was in respiratory distress. After a short stay in the hospital, Goslin was discharged and made a full recovery. Metzger said the woman was unconscious when Berkley found her, just seconds or minutes after she had been heard screaming. Theyre hearing this lady and shes screaming," Metzger said. "There was a savable life in there. Another 30 to 60 seconds and this story is different, and this patient doesnt survive. Metzger said the awards ceremony was especially meaningful because Mayor Jeff Hall and his cabinet officials attended, accompanied by James Burrell, a former Newark Fire Department assistant chief who received the first Valor Award for a 1979 rescue of workers from an underground tank at Owens Corning. Gov. James Rhodes presented Burrell the award in 1980. West Licking firefighters, paramedics honored The Ohio Department of Agriculture also recently recognized West Licking Joint Fire District firefighters and paramedics and the ODA staff for quick action in saving the life of an employee on campus. An Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory staff member experienced a cardiac event and collapsed, prompting nearby ODA staff members to perform CPR and administer an automated external defibrillator. West Licking firefighters and paramedics responded to the call and transported the employee to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The fire department had recently held CPR and first-aid training on ODAs campus. kmallett@newarkadvocate.com 740-973-4539 Twitter: @kmallett1958 This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: 2 from Newark Fire Department honored for rescue from house fire Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives stand in prayer, May 2, 2020, in the North Carolina General Assembly building in Raleigh, N.C. Two North Carolina state House Republicans have lost their caucus leadership positions after recent comments directed at Democratic colleagues questioning their religion and educational attainment. A top House GOP leader announced on Thursday, May 25, 2023 that Reps. Keith Kidwell and Jeff McNeely, who are both white, are no longer deputy majority whips after their resignations were sought by other GOP leaders. (Casey Toth/The News & Observer via AP) RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Two North Carolina state House Republicans have lost their caucus leadership positions following recent comments directed at Democratic colleagues questioning their educational attainment and religion. Reps. Keith Kidwell and Jeff McNeely have resigned as deputy majority whips after the GOP leadership team asked them to step down, House Majority Leader John Bell said. As elected officials, we must serve by example and be accountable for our actions, especially as leaders in the caucus, Bell said in a separate news release that didn't specifically identify the misbehavior. While apologies have been made and accepted, we believe this is an appropriate action and step forward. Neither McNeely nor Kidwell, both of whom are white, responded immediately Thursday to phone messages left at their legislative offices seeking comment. They remain sitting legislators. Deputy whips are tasked with helping corral votes on issues important to members of their party. The Democrats who were the subjects of the comments are both Black. During a May 17 debate on legislation to dramatically expand the state's private-school voucher system, McNeely asked Democratic Rep. Abe Jones, a former trial judge, about attending Harvard University and Harvard law school. McNeely asked Jones whether he would have been able to maybe achieve this if you were not an athlete or a minority or any of these things, but you were a student trapped" in a low-performing school. House Minority Leader Robert Reives complained at once about the question. Speaker Tim Moore cut off McNeely, who later apologized to Jones, saying it did not come out right. The night before, during another tense debate on whether to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks, Democratic Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams discussed growing up attending church and how it influenced her views. WRAL-TV reported that a station's reporter sitting on the floor overheard Kidwell making an aside that Staton-Williams must have meant the church of Satan. To challenge a person's religion when they share a deeply personal story ... that is beneath the dignity of this House and that is beneath the dignity of any elected office," Reives said, citing the news report during a floor speech the next day. Kidwell did not respond publicly at the time. Moore didn't criticize McNeely or Kidwell on the floor but later urged colleagues to be respectful of each other. Staton-Williams said last week it is unfortunate for someone to question my faith especially another member of this chamber when it doesnt align with his. Kidwell voted for the override, which was successful. Staton-Williams voted against it. Thursday's announcement by Bell was made public during a sparsely-attended House floor session. There were no recorded floor votes as most legislators already had gone home for the Memorial Day weekend. Kidwell is a senior chairman of the powerful House Finance Committee and McNeely is a chairman of the House transportation and agriculture committees. The two also are involved in the chambers House Freedom Caucus. Reives said later Thursday he supported the actions taken against the two Republicans, and that it was up to other top Republicans as to whether they should face additional political penalties. The resignations come after disruptions in other statehouses this spring that led to actions by and against legislators. In Tennessee, House Republicans expelled two Black Democratic lawmakers for a protest over gun control on the state House floor. And several Republicans in Oregon whose walkout helped prevent a quorum in the state Senate are disqualified from serving as lawmakers in the next term. Authorities in Utah are investigating how a 2-year-old child at a day care was struck in the head by an apparent stray bullet Monday. The incident occurred at a day care in Spanish Fork, about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City. Detectives learned that children were playing in a vinyl fenced area which was staffed by two adults. Thats when a child appeared to stumble and was seen bleeding from the face, police said. The daycare notified the parents of the 2-year-old child who responded and took their child to the hospital for treatment. It was not until at the hospital that doctors discovered through scans that the child had a small caliber bullet lodged in its head, police said. The child, who was transferred to Primary Childrens Hospital, was stable, police said. Lead Ahead Daycare in Spanish Fork, Utah (KSL) The incident, police said, appeared to be a tragic accident. Open fields are directly west of the daycare and it is believed the round may have come from that area, police said. Police were not immediately reached for comment Wednesday. NBC News affiliate KSL of Salt Lake City reported the incident occurred at the Leap Ahead Daycare and the child wounded is a boy. Lane Mugleston, who owns the day care, told the news outlet he was shocked by the apparent errant shooting: We are absolutely surprised. We are dumbfounded that this would happen in Spanish Fork. The day care told NBC News in a statement Wednesday it is absolutely heartbroken for the boy who was injured and his family. Safety for the children and staff in our care has always been our number one priority. We are praying for him and his family, and we are hopeful for a full recovery. We are also praying for the shooter and his family. I am sure he had absolutely no idea that his bullet would travel as far as it did. KSL also reported that on Wednesday, detectives said they had identified a man who was shooting birds with a .22-caliber air rifle in the open fields that are west of the day care. That man is cooperating, police said, as their investigation continues and the case will be sent to the Spanish Fork city prosecutors office for review of any charges. The man who was shooting at birds will not be named unless charges are filed, the news outlet reported. Doctors treating the boy have decided to leave the bullet in the boys head for fear of causing further damage if the boy undergoes surgery to remove it, KSL reported. The boy is expected to make a full recovery, Mugleston told the news outlet. This article was originally published on TODAY.com FILE - Vehicles wait outside the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco on July 11, 2017. Two airliners aborted landings at San Francisco International Airport on May 19, 2023, after pilots spotted a Southwest Airlines jet taxiing across runways on which the other planes had been cleared to land. The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday, May 25, that it reviewed the matter and determined that appropriate steps were taken to ensure safety. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Two airliners aborted landings at San Francisco International Airport last week after pilots spotted a Southwest Airlines jet taxiing across runways on which the other planes had been cleared to land. An air traffic controller told the Southwest pilots they should not have been on the runways during the May 19 incident. The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that the Southwest plane cleared the runways when the other planes passed directly overhead, and the decision to abort the landings was precautionary. The FAA looked into the events and determined the appropriate steps were taken to ensure safe operations, the agency said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is not investigating the matter. The incident comes after a half-dozen close calls in recent months that are being investigated by safety officials. Those include one in February in which a FedEx plane flew about 100 feet (30 meters) over the top of a Southwest jet in Austin, Texas, after an air traffic controller cleared both planes to use the same runway. In the incident this month, an inbound United Airlines plane flew as low as a few hundred feet (100 meters) over San Francisco Bay before pilots saw the Southwest jet on the same runway and decided to abandon their landing. Shortly after that, the crew of an incoming Alaska Airlines plane saw the same Southwest jet crossing a second, parallel runway, and the pilots aborted their landing too. Both the United and Alaska planes circled around and landed safely. The air traffic controller told the crew of the Southwest jet, You shouldnt be on the runway, according to a recording captured by LiveATC.com. When one of the pilots tried to explain, the controller cut him off, saying, I don't need an argument." The incident was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The San Francisco airport was the scene of a frightening near-disaster in 2017, when pilots of an Air Canada jet mistook a taxiway for their runway and nearly landed on top of four other planes waiting to take off. Despite recent close calls, the acting head of the FAA has said the nation's air-traffic system is safe, pointing to the lack of a fatal crash involving a U.S. airline since 2009. However, concern about the close calls led the FAA to hold a safety summit in March. The agency said this week it is investing $100 million in improvements at 12 airports but not San Francisco to reduce the number of runway incursions, when a plane or airport vehicle is on a runway when it should not be. Top Pentagon officials offered new details Thursday on a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets, saying it will include at least six European nations, but it remained unclear what role the U.S. will play in the effort. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters at a press conference that Denmark and the Netherlands have decided to take the lead in developing a plan to train the Ukrainians in the weeks ahead, while other European nations have pledged support. "Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to training and we expect more countries to join this important initiative," Austin said following a virtual meeting with defense leaders on security aid to Kyiv as it fights a Russian invasion launched last year. Read Next: Air Force Gen. 'CQ' Brown Is Nominated as the Next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Austin said that the military leaders of both Denmark and the Netherlands recognize "that training is one thing, but to have capability, you need sustainment, you need maintenance, you need ordnance." Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who also appeared at the press conference Thursday, said "10 F-16s is a billion dollars," pointing out the funding commitment of equipping Ukrainians with the jets. "The sustainment costs another billion dollars, so you're talking about $2 billion for 10 aircraft," he said. U.S. officials have yet to say where the actual aircraft or maintenance parts will come from, and all remarks to date have suggested the U.S. will not play a significant role. Last Friday, a U.S. official said that it would be up to the countries that are participating in the training to decide "when to actually provide jets, how many we will provide, and who will provide them." When asked Thursday whether Congress would support the extra funding needed to help the Ukrainians deploy the more advanced jets, Austin said that "it's an international effort." "What I think you'll see our colleagues look to do is establish a fund so that other countries can contribute to this overall effort," Austin said. "Because of that, I think hopefully our Congress will be supportive." Milley also joined his fellow military leaders at the Pentagon in emphasizing that the modern planes are not the key to changing the tide of a war that has already been going on for 456 days. "There are no magic weapons -- an F-16 is not and neither is anything else," Milley said. Pentagon officials said earlier this week that the jets will certainly not factor into the anticipated counteroffensive and offered no suggestion that Ukraine would even get the planes this year. And while Miley, the military's top uniformed officer, pointedly said that "this war, militarily, is not going to be won by Russia," he was quick to add that it's not likely to end soon, either. "The Ukrainian strategic objectives are to liberate all of Russian-occupied Ukraine. ... That might be achievable militarily, but probably not in the near term," Milley said. "That means fighting is gonna continue, it's gonna be bloody, it's gonna be hard," he said. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Ukraine F-16 Training Won't Aid Expected Counteroffensive, Pentagon Says 3 Mississippi police officers indicted in death of Black man who died in custody The city of Jackson released hours of unedited bodycam footage Wednesday to coincide with a news conference, showing the cops repeatedly deploying at least one stun gun on Keith Murriel. Three police officers from Jackson, Mississippi, have found themselves on the wrong side of the law after being charged in the New Years Eve death of a man in custody. A grand jury indicted former police officers Avery Willis and Kenya McCarty on a second-degree murder charge in relation to the death of Keith Murriel on Dec. 31. According to the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, a third former officer, James Land, is facing a manslaughter charge. The incident occurred at an Extended Stay hotel on Beasley Road on Jacksons north side. At least one of the officers accused of murder is Black, as was Murriel. Keith Murriel (above) died in police custody on Dec. 31. On Wednesday, three Jackson, Mississippi, police officers were indicted in his death. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/16 WAPT News Jackson) The city released hours of unedited body camera footage on Wednesday to coincide with a news conference, showing the cops repeatedly deploying at least one stun gun on 41-year-old Murriel. In the first five minutes of one of the recordings, Murriel is reportedly shown being stunned 13 times. The video shows officers acting in a way that Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba called excessive, disheartening and tragic. We are on the side of justice, Lumumba said, the Clarion-Ledger reported, and want to see justice take place. Lumumba said Murriels family saw the videos before their release to the media. Former Jackson Police Chief James E. Davis previously issued a statement contending that Murriels death resulted from a medical emergency a comment Lumumba publicly disagreed with a month later. Davis announced his retirement on Friday. The three officers initially were placed on administrative leave. McCarty was fired in February and the other two were fired last month for a policy violation, according to WJTV, which said it was unclear if the firings were directly related to Murriels death. Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens said it would be incorrect to interpret his offices prosecution of the three as a condemnation of the Jackson Police Department. We do not think the actions of a few represent the bravery of so many, he said. Lumumba expressed his sympathies to the Murriel family and said it was crucial to him and the police department leadership to make the video public without interfering with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations ongoing investigation. Although he and Davis had a different take on the video, the mayor insisted during the news conference that Davis choice to retire was unrelated. Joseph Wade, the interim police chief, was the Jackson Police Departments assistant chief until Davis announced his retirement last week. He sent condolences and prayers to Murriels family and said he was committed to maintaining accountability and transparency. We strive at the Jackson Police Department to create community trust, Wade said, according to the Clarion-Ledger. When we fail, we create community distrust. He asked Jackson residents to continue supporting the citys hard-working, devoted officers, who put their lives on the line every single day. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post 3 Mississippi police officers indicted in death of Black man who died in custody appeared first on TheGrio. Release Of Tyre Nichols Police Beating Video Sparks Demonstrations NYPD officers arrest a demonstrator as people protest the death of Tyre Nichols on January 27, 2023 in New York City. The release of a video depicting the fatal beating of Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, sparked protests in NYC and other cities throughout the country. Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes and killed by Memphis police officers earlier this month after a traffic stop. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. Credit - Michael M. Santiago-Getty Images On a mild late spring night in 1993, a police officer in Berkeley, California, stopped a black-and-yellow two-door Chevy for a traffic violation. The officer was twenty-one years old, white. He was working a midnight shift in a lower-income neighborhood adjacent to North Oakland that had seen more than its share of violence, much of it linked to the trade in crack cocaine. The year before, 12 people were murdered in Berkeley, then a city of 103,000. Nearly 900 were robbed and more than 700 were victims of aggravated assault, putting Berkeleys violent crime rate at twice the national average. At 1:30 a.m., the officer was driving north on a mixed commercial and residential street. A block ahead, the Chevy was stopped at a red light in the left turn lane. Not waiting for the light to turn green, the driver lurched forward, veering out of the lane to continue straight. This was hardly a serious offense. The streets were empty, no oncoming traffic. Still, it was illegal. The officer hit his overhead lights. Adam 13, 11-95, he called on the radio. Car stop. One of a dozen hed probably make that night. Except the driver accelerated. The officer couldnt tell whether he was trying to get away or hadnt noticed the police car. Nor could the officer know that the events to follow would speak directly to one of the most pressing issues of our time today, three years after the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin: how to fix the police, a troubled American institution. Although many police officers most, perhaps do their difficult jobs admirably and well, incidents of egregious abuse are all too common and police reform has proved an elusive goal. More from TIME The solution has been apparent for decades, the major barrier to its implementation politicians and police chiefs who lack the vision and commitment necessary to carry it off. Cop culture, which the Berkeley officer was in the grips of, needs an overhaul. At the next street, the Chevy went left. The officer followed but the car had vanished. The only place it could have gone was Stanton, a small street that branched off, and as the officer drove past it, he caught sight of the cars brake lights. He slammed on his own brakes, backed up, and barreled down Stanton until he reached the Chevy, which had parked in the driveway of a stucco house. Like most small- to midsize police agencies, the Berkeley police department, with 180 cops in the early 1990s, didnt have its own police academy. When the officer joined as a recruit, he was sent to the academy run by the city of Sacramento, held on the grounds where the California Highway Patrol trained. There the future men and women of law enforcement took their morning runs; the recruits all idealistic in their own way, driven to scratch some inner itch by pinning on a badge. Trainers taught them that car stops can be dangerous, even for minor infractions. Usually drivers and passengers are cooperative. But you never knowyou might pull over someone with a felony warrant wholl do anything to keep from getting arrested, or a dealer with a stash and a gun hidden under the front seat, or a guy with anger issues looking for a fight. Read More: How to Reduce Deaths at the Hands of Police Posters hung in the gymnasium, where the recruits practiced defensive tactics. One showed the CHP Survival Creed: The will to live, to survive the attack, must be uppermost in every officers mind. Fight back against all odds. Dont let them kill you on some dirty freeway. Sacramento police academy recruits were trained to be on high alert when stopping cars. The cardinal rules were that you had to keep everyone contained, and hands had to be visible at all times. There was no containment happening on Stanton Street. As the officer pulled up, a young man about his age, Black with cornrows, stepped from the passenger side of the Chevy. He was shirtless, with pale blue shorts and blue Nikes. The driver had stayed at the wheel. The officer yelled to the passenger, Get back in the car and close the door! The man said flatly, Why? Im stopping this car. Get back in and close the door. The man ignored him. He began walking toward the porch of the house, only a few paces away. While trying to keep his eye on the driver, the officer ran to the passenger and put his hand on his shoulder. The man flung it off. If you touch me again, Im going to kick your ass, he said. The two were face-to-face. The man had threatened a cop; he was going to jail. Get on the ground, youre under arrest, the officer ordered. He wanted the man seated or prostrate so it would be harder for him to make good on his threat. The officer had followed every twist of the Rodney King case, but he wasnt thinking about the symbolism of a white police officer ordering a Black man to the ground. He was thinking: if this guys willing to fight rather than sit in a car while I write his buddy a ticket, there must be something he doesnt want me to know or find. His other thought was, dont let them kill you on some dirty freeway. He called for cover. The driver, also Black and in his twenties, was out of the car now, too. The passenger again made a move toward the porch. This time, the officer grabbed him, pushing him against the hood of the Chevy, intending to apply handcuffs. The man pulled loose and swung at the officer, clocking him on his cheek. The officer stumbled a couple of steps and drew his baton. Few police had access to Tasers back then (the LAPD officers who assaulted Rodney King were an exception), so batons were the best nonlethal option. Now the officer upped his radioed request to Code 3 coverfor an emergency. Sirens kicked on in the distance along with the intermittent beeping on police frequencies that signals trouble. Get on the ground! Youre under arrest! the officer kept repeating, thwacking the passenger in his leg while the man stood ready to box. He grabbed the baton, but the officer wrested it back and hit him again in the leg, then once in the abdomen, a jab hed been taught in defensive tactics. His partner from the next beat over came running to cuff the driver. Meanwhile, an older couple had emerged from the housethe passengers parents, it would later turn outand were trying to restrain their son. The officer saw why: he was holding a sizable rock over his head and was about to throw it. A third cop arrived and rushed to help arrest the driver. The first officer unholstered his handgun, a stainless steel .40 caliber Smith & Wesson, and pointed it at the rock-wielding passenger, lining him up in his sights so hed have a clean shot. Put the rock down! he screamed. After a tense moment, the man did as he was ordered. The officer wasnt faced with the choice of shooting him in front of his parents or taking a rock to the head. That Berkeley officer was me. We never figured out why the passenger had fought. He had an arrest record but wasnt on probation or parole. He had no warrants and no contraband on him. Hed been drinking but wasnt drunk. Taken into custody, all he would say was, Ill be out, Gross. Ill find you. The stop that night on Stanton Street should never have escalated as it did; the outcome could have been horrific. The passenger wasnt blameless. He should have gotten back in the car when I asked. He shouldnt have threatened me or punched me in the face or tried to throw a rock. But I wasnt blameless either. Nor was the police institution that molded me into the cop I was. As a rookie, I checked all the right boxes. I was born and raised in the Berkeley area and would be policing my hometown. I was educated. I was young but not completely inexperienced: Id worked part-time for several police agencies while in college, including as a dispatcher. I had a clean record. Id gone into policing with the best of intentions, to help people and make the community safer. And yet there I was, gun in hand, fighting with a young Black man over what? Over nothing, really. What went wrong? I served as a Berkeley police officer for eleven months before quitting and going to graduate school to get a PhD in sociology, looking for answers to questions just like that. Ive been a social scientist for more than two decades now, and Ive thought often about the Stanton Street fight with a mixture of guilt, sadness, and dismay. At Colby College in Maine, where I teach courses about the police, I sometimes assess proposals for police reform by asking whether they would have prevented the kind of escalation that occurred. Could the whole incident have been avoided if my training had been different? If the department had different policies in place? If the police academy hadnt taught me to be paranoid about car stops, perhaps I wouldnt have perceived a passenger walking away as such a threat. If California had mandated meaningful de-escalation training for officers, maybe I would have thought to use a calmer tone or to say something less hostile than get on the ground. Maybe I would have retreated after the man threatened me and waited for the arrival of more officers so that we could have arrested him safely through sheer strength of numbers. If department policy had established that lethal force could be used only when there was absolutely no alternative, maybe I would have ducked for cover when it looked like rocks were about to fly instead of drawing my weapon. Maybe. But probably not. You can train and rewrite policy all day long, but done in isolation, that wont get you very far. If youve got a department full of cops who think of themselves as aggressive crime fighters locked in a life-or-death struggle against the forces of evil which is how many officers saw themselves, even in liberal, educated Berkeleythen alienation and resentment are bound to spread in heavily policed neighborhoods. In the heat of the moment, you wont see police backing down. Policy change is crucially important. But to fix policing, we need to change cop culture: the values, beliefs, and assumptions, the worldview of those in law enforcement. Right now, not enough people are talking about how to do that. In the wake of the massive Black Lives Matter protests that followed the death of Mr. Floyd, a Vox/Data for Progress poll found that large majorities of likely voters supported such police reform ideas as mandatory use of body cameras, collecting better data on use of force, and banning choke holds. Likewise, a CNN poll found that a mere 14 percent of American adults believed that policing works pretty well as it is, and 53 percent favored major changes to the institution, with the remaining 32 percent preferring smaller-scale reforms. Politicians at the federal, state, and local levels (primarily on the Democratic side of the aisle) tried to address this demand for change. Federal legislation (ultimately stalled in the Senate) sought to forbid choke holds and no-knock warrants, reduce liability protections for police officers, require implicit bias training, and much more. States, for their part, upped de-escalation training, instructed officers to intervene if they see their peers engage in misconduct, and changed laws governing the use of lethal force. Cities increased citizen oversight of police operations, pulled police out of schools, and even prohibited police officers from doing low-level traffic enforcement. Yet whether well-conceived or not, each of these plans for reform will quickly run up against a limit: the aggressive culture of policing that characterizes many American departments. That culture prioritizes above all tactical safety, putting bad guys behind bars, loyalty to other cops, and not taking flak from anyone on the street. Policy changes perceived to be at odds with those valuesbasically, anything that constrains the options cops have in dealing with what they see as dangerous people and situationswill be resisted and undermined at every turn. Weve been here before. After the 2014 death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the subsequent protests and unrest, President Obama assembled a task force charged with developing a vision for policing in the twenty-first century. The task force issued policy recommendations, but its central insight was that policy change alone isnt enough to ensure good policing. Theres an old saying, the task force noted: Organizational culture eats policy for lunch. Any law enforcement organization can make great rules and policies, the report continued, but if policies conflict with the existing culture, they will not be institutionalized and behavior will not change. The reason for this is simple: in policing the vast majority of an officers work is done independently outside the immediate oversight of a supervisor. Thus consistent enforcement of rules that conflict with . . . culture . . . is nearly impossible. Despite the reports emphasis, proposals for reform today typically aim at regulating or limiting the power of the police, not changing police culture. Politicians and pundits talk occasionally about the need for law enforcement officers to view themselves as guardians rather than warriors, but its difficult to know what that distinction entails, let alone how agencies could move in such a direction. Its as though policy makers cant imagine what ethical, effective, democratic policing might look like. But the culture of policing can be transformed. Three unusual police departments, dedicated to replacing the aggressive crime fighter with something different and better, have worked to come up with healthier, more socially responsible models of what it means to be a good cop. Many police forces promise change; these threein Stockton, California, Longmont, Colorado, and LaGrange, Georgiaare walking the walk. The chiefs in those agencies and the officers and detectives who work for them have invaluable lessons to teach all of us on the importance of leadership, creativity, perseverance, and the involvement of everyday citizens when it comes to changing how police officers approach their job. These cops also have remarkable personal stories to tell, stories that shed light on the real world of American policing, which bears little resemblance to its portrayal by political partisans of the left or right. The challenges this country faces in getting the professional, equitable, and humane policing it needs are formidable. The aggressive culture of policing I encountered thirty years ago prevails in many departments, and racial inequities are entrenched. Amid national outrage about police abuse, the temptation has arisen to either write off policing or impose a plethora of legal and policy restraints to bring police into line. But we cant write off the police, not in the foreseeable future. And while restraints on police behavior are needed, public institutions like the police need more than rules to function effectively. They also require an animating spirit, a culture, one that offers employees a sense of mission, purpose, and identity, and that steers them toward doing the right thing. Changing cop culture must become a new national priority. After 3 years, Matchbox Twenty makes good on Fresno tour stop. Was it worth the wait? If there was a takeaway from Matchbox Twentys performance Wednesday night at Fresnos Save Mart Center, it was this: The band wasnt about to miss the opportunity. Not after the concert had been pushed from its original date in 2020 and then pushed again last year. Even when bassist Brian Yale (Pookie to the fans) got sick and was out for the night, the band did a quick pivot to find a replacement, Joe Ayoub, who came in from Los Angeles on four hours notice and became the hero of the show. Frontman Rob Thomas checked in on him periodically throughout the nearly two-hour set, which ran 21 songs and hit on the bands entire catalog, including several from the new album, Where the Light Goes. At each go, the crowd chanted back his name. Joe. Joe. Joe. It was everything to us that you dont NOT have this, Thomas said as way of explanation, if not apology. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty performs with the band at the Save Mart Center in Fresno during their Slow Dream tour on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Matchbox Twenty, 20 years on Matchbox Twenty played the Save Mart Center on the arenas opening week in 2003 as THE rock act at the time. In a review at the time, Thomas was described as a modern-day Elvis. To quote one 19-year-old fan: Hes the father of my children. He just doesnt know it yet. Twenty years later, nostalgia was clearly driving much of the night, if judged by the crowd response (and age and disposition). But the band proved to be more than just a nostalgia act and the nights best moments werent just a rehash of the hits. Songs like 3 a.m. and Push seemed to have lost some of the edge over the years, and Thomas and crew appeared to be having the most fun when playing material from the new album or reworking the fan favorites. The set opener Friends is a new tune that is every bit an arena rock anthem begging for a sing-a-long. All of my friends, all of my friends, are here. The 2000s song If Youre Gone was stripped down to just Thomas and guitarist Kyle Cook. It was the cell-phone light moment, as Thomas called it, and one of the best points in the night. Bottom line, hearing Thomas voice and words matched with Cooks distinctive guitar lines, its clear that Matchbox Twenty continues to be unmistakable in what it does. Matchbox Twenty performs at the Save Mart Center in Fresno during their Slow Dream tour on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Opening act Matt Nathanson Matt Nathanson was an opening act worth seeing. He introduced his band as the Wallflowers; a joking nod to just how long Matchbox Twenty fans have been waiting for the show. Jakob Dylans reunited Wallflowers were slated as the opening act when the tour was first announced in 2020. Nathanson then delivered a 45-minute set of mid-tempo adult radio rock, punctuated with a throwback Paul Simon kind of vibe. This was music to sway to. Nathanson was funny and engaging and not afraid to tell a story or two while dropping some F bombs, even if it seemed at odds, stylistically, with his music, which at several points transitioned into cover-tune snippets (Whitney Houstons I Wanna Dance with Somebody and also tributes to the late Tina Tuner with Private Dancer and Whats Love Got to Do with It). Nathanson loves his falsetto. The highlight of the set (and maybe the whole night, truthfully) was Bill Murray, a song Nathanson described as imagining a Thelma and Louise style adventure with the great actor. It is much more poignant than the synopsis might suggest. Stray observations Does every touring band have at least one member from Fresno? Or is that just a thing that performers say these days to hype up the crowd? Unless someone was lying, Nathansons bassist Adam Popick is from Fresno and his parents were in the crowd for the show. Thomas made the same claim about Matchbox Twenty keyboardist Matt Beck, which seems less likely. While I mostly missed/ignored Matchbox Twenty during the 2000s, I somehow knew a bunch of the songs, because radio used to be a powerful thing, I guess. Also, the band is best when at its moodiest; Bent, for example. The tour is offering fans a limited-edition instant collectible CD and/or digital download from each show. Like, there was a line to pick up a live recording of the nights performance as people were filing out. Drummer Ryan MacMillan of Matchbox Twenty performs with the band at the Save Mart Center in Fresno during their Slow Dream tour on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Slow Dream tour setlist, Save Mart Center, Fresno, May 24, 2023 Friends How Far Weve Come Real World Disease Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream) Shes So Mean All I Need If Youre Gone Mad Season Dont Get Me Wrong These Hard Times The Way Parade Bent Back 2 Good Long Day Rebels Encore 3 a.m. Unwell Push Bright Lights Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty performs with the band at the Save Mart Center in Fresno during their Slow Dream tour on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Rob Thomas, left, and Paul Doucette of Matchbox Twenty perform their song Friends with the band at the Save Mart Center in Fresno during their Slow Dream tour on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Matchbox Twenty performs at the Save Mart Center in Fresno during their Slow Dream tour on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty gets the crowd energized while performing with the band at the Save Mart Center in Fresno during their Slow Dream tour on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. While other cities face increased risk of hurricanes, wildfires and drought, climate change is projected to reshape life in Chicago mainly through extreme heat and precipitation. And though urban flooding has wreaked havoc on Chicago homeowners, particularly on the South and West sides, heat is far more deadly. Chicagoans already know that some communities are hotter than others; as the saying goes, its cooler by the lake. But heat also varies across cities in more complex ways, largely because of differences in the built environment. Mapping can help identify hotter communities and lead to remedies that reduce temperatures. [ Mapping a threat: Read the investigation on disparities in Chicagos summer heat ] To provide Chicagoans access to temperature trends in their communities, the Tribune partnered with researchers at Boston Universitys Center for Climate and Health to create a searchable map showing the average summer surface temperature for each census block group in the city, along with information on the race and ethnicity of residents. Block groups are clusters of blocks that the Census Bureau uses to present population data; each typically contains between 600 and 3,000 people. The map shows land surface temperatures, which are more extreme than the air temperatures cited in weather reports. But these measurements, collected via satellite, made it possible to analyze disparities in heat exposure across the city. The Tribune and Boston University found that Latino residents disproportionately shoulder the burden of Chicagos heat disparities, while white residents disproportionately benefit from living in areas with the coolest average temperatures. Census estimates indicate that more than 300,000 people live in areas that are hotter than 90% of the rest of the Chicago, or an estimated 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the city average. These hotter areas are predominantly on the Southwest Side. Readers can search the temperature map below for any address in the city, or just zoom in and click for more information: Heat in Chicago: Explore how surface temperatures vary Search your address or zoom in and click to see temperature, race and ethnicity statistics Source: Chicago Tribune and Boston University School of Public Health analysis of U.S. Geological Survey Landsat-8 and Landsat-9 satellite data, 2013-2022; U.S. Census Bureaus 2021 American Community Survey. Map by Jason Rundle, Boston University School of Public Healths Center for Climate and Health, using geography from the City of Chicago Data Portal and U.S. Census Bureau. In Illinois, the National Weather Service issues an extreme heat advisory when the heat index a measure combining air temperature and humidity is expected to reach at least 105 degrees and not dip below 75 degrees in the evening. Advisories set in motion the citys Office of Emergency Management Communications heat plan and escalate into warnings if the heat index climbs even further. City agencies promote the use of six official cooling centers and an array of other air-conditioned public locations, such as libraries, during heat advisories. But the Tribunes Boston University research partners found that substantial swaths of the citys most vulnerable communities, with the hottest average surface temperatures, have no access to public cooling within walking distance of a half-mile. Those high-need areas are shown on the map below in red. Search the map further to explore the locations of cooling resources: Cooling resources in Chicago Search your address or zoom in and click to see resources available Source: Boston University School of Public Health analysis of U.S. Geological Survey Landsat-8 and Landsat-9 satellite data, 2013-2022; Centers for Disease Control Social Vulnerability Index; City of Chicago Cooling Centers. Map by Jason Rundle, Boston University School of Public Healths Center for Climate and Health, using geography from the City of Chicago Data Portal and U.S. Census Bureau. More resources Chicagoans can register for the citys Emergency Alert System at NotifyChicago.org and request wellness checks on at-risk family members, friends and neighbors by either calling 311, visiting 311.chicago.gov or downloading the CHI311 app. At heat.gov, the federal governments National Integrated Heat Health Information System provides information on heat illness and tips for staying safe, including en espanol. As that site notes: Certain groups face increased risk of heat stress for a variety of reasons, some better known than others. But heat illness can happen to anyone. Athletes and outdoor workers are more exposed to heat than office workers, for instance. Children and seniors are particularly vulnerable, and pregnancy and certain medical conditions also increase risk. Low-income communities and people experiencing homelessness are also disproportionately affected, given a lack of resources to recover from heat exposure and often greater exposure to pollutants, which exacerbates heats effects. Staying in sufficiently air-conditioned spaces is the surest means to stay safe during extreme heat. Symptoms of heat stroke, a potentially fatal form of heat illness that requires emergency treatment, include dizziness, heavy sweating, confusion and loss of consciousness. If you think someone might have heatstroke, call 911 immediately, move them to a cooler place, loosen their clothing and remove any extra layers, and cool them with water or ice in whatever way is available, the Mayo Clinic notes, such as a cool bath if indoors or, if outdoors, misting with cool water or placing cool, wet towels or ice packs on the person. Symptoms of heat exhaustion, a milder form of heat illness that can escalate to heat stroke if a person is not moved to a cooler area, also include dizziness and heavy sweating in addition to nausea and fatigue. People experiencing heat exhaustion should also loosen clothing, sip water and seek medical care if symptoms dont improve. Black Americans continue to be the core support of the Biden administration, according to a new Ipsos-Washington Post survey. The survey found that 66 percent of Black American respondents approve of the job President Biden has done, while 34 percent believe his policies have helped their demographic. Biden made racial justice a major component of his 2020 campaign. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order meant to advance racial equity. In October last year, the president pardoned everyone convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law. Black Americans are nearly four times more likely than white Americans to be arrested for marijuana possession, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Biden also signed legislation this year to address the racial wealth gap. The Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government order established plans to assess barriers facing underserved communities and offered solutions for access to policies and programs. It also required agencies to investigate and address any algorithmic discrimination in technology services. The president also drew praise for his student loan forgiveness plan, which could forgive up to $20,000 in student loans for eligible students. Black adults are more likely to have higher rates of student loan debt than their white counterparts, in part due to issues with generational wealth. About 24 percent of Black adults have federal student loan debt, compared to only 14 percent of white adults, according to the CNBC + Acorns Invest in You Student Loan Survey. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage On average, Black college graduates owe $7,400 more than their white peers when they graduate, according to the Brookings Institution. Four years after graduation, Black borrowers owe an average of $52,726, compared to $28,006 for white college graduates. But Biden also made inroads with Black Americans during his State of the Union address, when he spoke of the talk so many Black families have with their children to avoid police brutality. This, coupled with his efforts to pass police reform, resonated with Black Americans on both political sides. The survey results come after Bidens reelection announcement in April and just days after Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced their own White House bids. According to the survey, 9 percent of Black Americans would consider voting for former President Trump, while only 5 percent of Black voters would consider voting for DeSantis or Scott. Six percent said they would consider voting for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R). The survey was conducted from April 28 to May 12 with 1,225 Black Americans responding and a partially overlapping sample of 1,018 U.S. adults overall. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A group of 35 House Republicans, made up of members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and their allies, are upping the pressure on Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in debt ceiling negotiations and proposing funding clawbacks they say could push a potential default date back through the end of June. In a letter to McCarthy, the lawmakers ask him to demand additions to the House GOP debt limit bill if the White House wants to raise the debt limit by a larger amount than was in the legislation and to demand Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen show how she determined a debt default could come as soon as June 1. They also propose combining and quickly passing clawbacks of unused COVID-19 funds and a repeal of a boost to IRS funding, which they say would push back a potential default through the month of June. Press reports indicate [President Biden] is pushing to water down the provisions of the House-passed Limit, Save, Grow Act while simultaneously demanding a debt ceiling increase of $4 trillion or more (well beyond the $1.5 trillion in the House bill), they wrote. This is outrageous. The letter comes as White House and House GOP negotiators appear to be inching closer to a compromise deal to raise the debt ceiling and cut some spending, though the details are unclear and could change. I think weve been close for six or seven days, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), one of McCarthys deputies negotiating a deal with the White House, told reporters on Thursday. The issues are thorny. Theyre difficult. The letter suggested McCarthy, in addition to demanding every provision in the House GOP debt limit increase and spending cut bill, should also ask for the addition of a border security bill and a repeal of funding for a new proposed FBI headquarters. McCarthy has previously indicated he will not add border security to his debt limit asks and has said negotiations are operating off what is in the House GOP debt limit bill. The note then casts doubt on Yellens debt ceiling projections. We should demand publicly and in your negotiations that the Treasury immediately furnish a complete justification of the June 1 projection and the exact fiscal situation expected thereafter, including Treasurys payment prioritization plan, the letter said. The last proposal to suggest a clawback of COVID and IRS funds, the letter said, would relieve the time pressure surrounding the X-date and enable the House to advance FY2024 appropriations in line with the FY2022 topline discretionary level set forth in the Limit, Save Grow Act. But McCarthy has shown no willingness to see the deadline pressure alleviated, and some Republicans note that pressure will help the White House and House GOP get to a deal. The 35 signers include House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fa.). The message also got some interest from a more moderate House Republican who did not sign the letter. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) tweeted of the largely Freedom Caucus letter: They might be on to something. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A 36-year-old hiker died during a trek on a popular trail in the Grand Canyon National Park. The woman was visiting the Arizona park from Westfield, Indiana, when she set out on the Bright Angel Trail, the National Park Service said in a Wednesday, May 24, news release. She wanted to reach the Colorado River from the rim of the canyon and back in one day, park officials said. At about 9 p.m., however, she was found unresponsive on the trail above the Three-Mile Resthouse, rangers said. Rescuers said they tried to resuscitate her, but she died. Park officials did not identify the woman or disclose a cause of death. Park officials said they dont recommend hiking to the Colorado River and back in one day. Rangers also warned visitors of hiking in hot weather in the coming weeks. Parts of the trail can reach temperatures as high as 120 degrees, including in the shade, officials said. The inner canyon shouldnt be hiked in the summer between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. because thats when hikers report the most heat-related illnesses, park officials said. The Bright Angel Trail is a popular trail into the Grand Canyon. Its a nearly 8-mile trail with a 4,460-foot elevation change. Beating the heat When temperatures are extremely high, some peoples bodies can have trouble regulating temperature. In some cases, people can experience heat exhaustion and have muscle cramps, nausea, weakness and cold or clammy skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If heat exhaustion persists for too long, however, it can lead to heatstroke, the most serious form of heat injury. People experiencing heatstroke can have hot, red, dry or damp skin. They also can have a fast and strong pulse, and they can become confused. People should move indoors immediately and call 911 right away if they have symptoms. If people choose to hike or be outdoors in dangerously hot temperatures, officials recommend the following tips: Carry and drink plenty of water and plan to replenish electrolytes. Eat twice as much food as normal and have salty foods on hand. Carry a first-aid kit. Pack essentials only. Bring a flashlight with spare batteries to hike during the cool evening. Spray yourself with water to cool down. Have a hat and sunscreen as protection from the sun. Have a whistle or signal for emergency use. Wear waterproof clothing. Man dies at popular campground in Arches National Park as rangers try to save him Search underway for Florida visitor missing in Great Smoky Mountains, park reports Hiker dies on trail in Arches National Park as rangers try to save him, officials say After 4 jail deaths in less than a year, Milwaukee County to scrutinize jail After a series of in-custody deaths at the Milwaukee County Jail, the Board of Supervisors authorized a review Thursday into the facility's policies, procedures and practices for suicide prevention, mental and physical health assessments, and training and staffing. The review was approved 16-1, with Supervisor Anthony Staskunas voting against the resolution. This comes after Milwaukee County Jail has had four in-custody deaths in the last 11 months with three occurring after Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball took over the top spot at the agency in January and also while she was serving as interim sheriff after former Sherriff Earnell Lucas' departure in October 2022. There were at least five deaths during Lucas's tenure, with Ball as his deputy sheriff, between 2018 and 2022. "This asks the Sheriff to provide us with basic information about their budget, about the conditions, about their policies and why things are going so very wrong why we have an almost total lack of transparency and accountability for this department," said Supervisor Ryan Clancy, who co-authored the resolution. Supervisor Felesia Martin, who co-authored the resolution, also said the jail is "grossly understaffed," which many feel has had an impact on the jail's conditions and treatment of individuals housed there awaiting trial. The sheriff's office has been vocal about its ongoing staffing shortages, which have been in violation of a court-ordered consent decree reached in 2001 after several people in the jail sued over dangerous conditions. "When you are working depreciated capacity, unfortunately, these types of incidents will happen when a person is now working 20 hours and they're not able to go home and get adequate rest," Martin said. "I'm not making any excuses, by far, but we also want to give a clear and accurate picture of what is happening in our facilities." How many in-custody deaths have taken place in Milwaukee? A little less than a year ago, 21-year-old Brieon Green died by suicide at the County Jail on June 26 four hours after his arrest at Bradford Beach. On Dec. 16, 20-year-old Cilivea Thyrion died by apparent suicide after swallowing a diaper while she was on suicide watch. The following month 49-year-old Octaviano Juarez-Corro, whose cause of death had initially been reported as unknown and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office at the time reported no signs of injury or trauma, showed signs of having strangled himself according to a report from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's forensic investigator. In March, 37-year-old Terrance Mack died after he was found unresponsive in his cell during a medical check. There were also three deaths between January 2020 and April 2021 that were investigated as suicides, and a fourth that was determined as acute heart failure, according to reports from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office. On Wednesday, 29-year-old Antonio Bonaccorso died following an "apparent self-harm incident" at the Community Reintegration Center (CRC), formerly known as the House of Correction, according to a statement released by the Office of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. The sheriff does not oversee that facility, which has its own superintendent. The report authorized Thursday will not delve into that incident. Some of the in-custody deaths have resulted in charges against jail staff. Most recently, a correctional officer assigned to the jail was charged with one felony count of misconduct in public office in relation to Juarez-Corro's death. Three guards were fired or resigned following investigations into two of the deaths that happened between January 2020 and April 2021. However, the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office announced in January that it found no basis for criminal liability related to Green's death. Green family attorney B'Ivory LaMarr said Green strangled himself with a phone cord despite a jail officer walking past the cell as Green was taking his life, according to reviewed surveillance footage documenting Green's final minutes alive. The remaining deaths in the last year are still being investigated. What will the audit examine? The approved audit has requested research plans and reports on the jail, including information on: The sheriff's office budget Intake processes Mental and physical health assessments at intake and throughout time in the care of the jail Medication distribution Suicide prevention The monitoring of high-risk individuals Mental health treatment Staff training, including training focused on individuals with serious mental health issues and behavioral disorders The organizational structure of the staff responsible for operating and monitoring the jail "Anytime anyone is within our care, we want to give them the utmost respect and make certain that they are taken care of as it speaks to their whole health, including mental health, and we want to make sure that they have adequate access to that," Martin said. The County Board has also requested a research plan into discretionary decisions, decision-making and operational processes, including timing, related to video or bodycam footage, internal and external investigations, and internal disciplinary proceedings and investigations. If understaffing is found to be the cause for the county not meeting standards or requirements, the sheriff's office is requested to provide information pertaining to historical and current staffing levels and the staffing level required to satisfy the standard. The resolution also states that if the sheriff's office responds without all the requested information, it must explain the reasoning for the redaction or omission, such as legal privacy, ongoing litigation or lack of data collection. The sheriff's office is required to provide reports, information, a research and report plan and timeline related to different parts of the approved resolution no later than Aug. 18. Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Vanessa_Swales. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Jail faces review following 4 in-custody deaths 400,000 IDPs including 66,000 children living in Kyiv as of May 24 Almost 400,000 Ukrainians moved to Kyiv after the start of the war Of them, more than 66,000 are children under 18 years old, the report says. Almost 14,000 are people with disabilities. About 250,000 moved to Kyiv from the warzone. That is, these are people who were left with almost nothing. Read also: Germany to provide Ukraine with almost $200 million in aid for IDPs This year, city authorities plan to allocate UAH 130 million ($3.5 million) for the purchase of communally owned housing and its transfer for temporary use by IDPs. Compensation is provided to individuals who are citizens of Ukraine and homeowners, or their representatives, and who took in IDPs through the Prykhystok (Shelter) social program. Prykhystok (Shelter) says that 12,261 IDPs have been accommodated in Kyiv, reads the report. Almost UAH 11 million ($300,804) have been paid as assistance. Read also: How a small Kyiv brand started dressing the president interview 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 7-year-old started a massive house fire as the childs parents slept inside, officials in West Virginia said. Now, the child accused of intentionally setting the destructive blaze is charged with arson. Volunteer firefighters responded after 11 a.m. May 24 to a burning home near the town of Elizabeth, according to WOWK and WSAZ. At the scene, flames and smoke towered above the damaged house, as seen in a dramatic photo the Jackson County Sheriffs Department posted on Facebook. Though two people suffered minor burns, deputies said, everyone made it out of the home alive. The 7-year-old was taken into custody and faces a first-degree arson charge, officials wrote, adding they wouldnt share more details about the investigation due to the sensitive nature of the case. Elizabeth is roughly 65 miles northeast of the state capital of Charleston. Man forced to watch home burn for hours when 3 fire hydrants didnt work, lawsuit says Fire ravaged a recently sold home. The men who bought it are going to prison Robot sitting on stack bunch of books Kirillm / Getty Images Science fiction authors and, by extension, their work are often ahead of their time. Intentional or not, when satirizing or commenting on their society, sci-fi books often make eerily accurate predictions about technological advancements and societal changes that have since become a reality. These are some prescient sci-fi books that accurately predict the future. "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick (1956) This 1956 novella was turned into a film, 2002's "Minority Report," and TV series. The story takes place in a future where technology helps the police arrest criminals before they ever commit a crime. The book anticipates increased police surveillance and profiling nearly half a century later. Now that we have "algorithms trying to predict people's habits, increased surveillance technology, and even iris and retinal scans," Book Riot said Dick's novella "seems more prescient than ever." Order here. "Neuromancer" by William Gibson (1984) Gibson is credited with coining the word cyberspace in his short story "Burning Chrome." He defines it as "widespread, interconnected digital technology," similar to today's internet. He popularized the concept with his first novel, "Neuromancer," which Insider calls a "futuristic crime caper" that follows a hacker and cyber thief who regains the ability to "jack in" to cyberspace with a miracle cure. The cyberpunk novel is regarded as a predecessor for stories like "The Matrix." Gibson's interpretation of an interactive virtual world is reminiscent of augmented reality, like the technology behind AR headsets today. Order here. "1984" by George Orwell (1949) This classic dystopian novel is not the first sci-fi book to be called prophetic, but it has arguably been one of the most impactful in the real world. Concepts like Big Brother, doublethink and the thought police were born from Orwell's imagined futuristic society ruled by an oppressive government. The book touches on increasingly relevant themes, such as mass surveillance, censorship and propaganda. Set in a dystopian society nearly four decades after World War II, it serves as a warning of the dangers of totalitarianism. Facial recognition technology, like the kind behind the telescreens Orwell imagines, has been central to contemporary debates about pervasive surveillance. Order here. "Parable of The Talents" by Octavia Butler (1998) The speculative fiction books by Octavia Butler experienced a bit of a renaissance in 2016 when several writers pointed out the eerie similarities between the authoritarian presidential candidate in Butler's novel "Parable of The Talents" and former President Donald Trump. The character even uses "Make America great again" as a campaign slogan. The story unfolds in a dystopian California plagued by a drought caused by climate change. In a speech at MIT, Butler said the novel was about was not meant to be prophetic. "This was a cautionary tale, although people have told me it was prophecy." Butler added, "All I have to say to that is: I certainly hope not." In 2020, a resurgence in interest in Butler's "Parable" series landed her on The New York Times bestseller list for the first time. Order here. "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson (1992) Stephenson coined the word metaverse in his 1992 novel, nearly 30 years before Facebook changed its name to Meta in 2021. The characters in "Snow Crash" use virtual reality headsets and a digital world to escape the reality of their bleak surroundings and cramped living conditions. So far, though, the metaverse is struggling to establish itself as the next big thing in tech. Order here. "A Song for a New Day" by Sarah Pinsker (2019) Pinsker published her Nebula Award-winning novel about a quarantined world in September 2019, months before the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic. In "Song for a New Day," the world has been on lockdown for decades after a deadly virus is unleashed in a terror attack. People rely on drones to get essentials, and large gatherings like concerts are prohibited. The musician's book "goes beyond eerie prognostication," Piotr Orlov said in Pitchfork. "A Song for a New Day" also allows us to reconsider the apparatus at the heart of contemporary music, weighing its commercial and social principles against the rituals and roles live music has long served," Orlov added. Order here. "Stand on Zanzibar" by John Brunner (1968) Brunner predicts several societal shifts and events in his 1968 novel, "Stand on Zanzibar." He introduces a world that's "grappling with overpopulation and widening social divides," Insider stated. It's a problem playing out in real time in countries worldwide. He also wrote about cannabis legalization, satellite television, electric vehicles and widespread mass shootings, particularly in schools. Order here. You may also like WHO chief warns of pathogens that could be 'even deadlier' than Covid-19 Will the IRS's free online tax filing program kill H&R Block and TurboTax? California is diverting melting snow to avoid flooding Abba respond to rumours they could perform at Eurovision in Sweden next year Abba respond to rumours they could perform at Eurovision in Sweden next year Abba stars Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have extinguished fans hopes of both a potential reunion performance at next years Eurovision Song Contest and a third Mamma Mia film. Following Swedish act Loreens win at the 2023 competition in Liverpool earlier this month, the next iteration of the music contest will take place in Sweden in 2024. The event will mark 50 years since Abbas historic win with Waterloo, and many had predicted that the disco stars could reunite on stage at the grand final. Speaking to Newsnight, however, Ulvaeus and Andersson said that there was no way that theyll perform, or even appear together on stage simply because theyre not very keen. I dont want to. And if I dont want to, the others wont. Its the same for all four of us. Someone says no its a no, Andersson explained in Thursdays edition (25 May) of the BBC news programme. We can celebrate 50 years of Abba without us being on stage, Ulvaeus added. The band is formed of Andersson, Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, with the initials of the members first names forming the ABBA acronym. Although the group have remained friendly throughout the years, they officially disbanded in 1982 and last performed in public in 1986. In 2016, Swedish media reported that they sang together at a private party. The Newsnight interview coincides with Abba celebrating one year of their virtual concert experience, Abba Voyage, at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. As well as this, the bands music has remained in high rotation with the popularity of the Mamma Mia films, based on the Abba-soundtracked stage musical. Abbas Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (Getty Images) The second film, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, was the UKs second-highest-grossing film of 2018, after Avengers: Infinity War. Despite the success of the films, Abba are also doubtful about a third outing. People want to do it. Universal wants to do it. [Producer] Judy Craymer wants to do it, Andersson explained. But without substantial changes to the franchise, such as a new setting or an irresistibly good script, Andersson declared: Theres not going to be a next Mamma Mia film. Thats just wishful thinking. Newsnight airs at 10.30pm on BBC Two on Thursday 25 May. Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have ruled out a reunion at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in their native Sweden. Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the band winning the competition with their song Waterloo. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, the pair also dismissed the idea that they might compose the host nation's entry. Since Abba won in 1974, Sweden has gone on to win Eurovision six more times, including this year in Liverpool. Soon after winning Eurovision, Abba's breakout hit Waterloo became their first UK Number 1 and reached the top of the charts in many other countries Bjorn and Benny - who swore never to tour again and reportedly turned down an offer of $1bn to play 100 shows at the turn of the Millennium - say they do not want to get back together with Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad to perform - even for one night. "I don't want to," says Andersson, "and if I don't want to, the others won't. It's the same for all four of us - someone says, 'no' - it's a no." "We can celebrate 50 years of Abba without us being on stage," adds Ulvaeus. In an interview to mark the first anniversary of their virtual concert residency, Abba Voyage, which features digital recreations of the four band members. Ulvaeus describes the response of audiences to the London show as "surpassing every expectation". "That emotional connection was the important thing for us," he says. "We never knew until we started whether that would work. "Their intellect is telling them that we're not there - but emotionally they are connected, which is a fantastic thing." Ulvaeus believes the groundbreaking technology employed in their show will be used in future to create avatars of deceased artists who cannot give their consent - posing a dilemma for both producers and audiences. "We can say 'yes' or 'no' to everything, so the audience knows that we are behind this," he says, "so it would be an ethical question". And they acknowledge that the technology could also be misused to create 'deep fakes' with the potential to spread disinformation. "But it's hardly our fault," says Andersson. ABBA Voyage - in numbers. [ 43 years since their last concert, in Japan ] [ 1,000 visual effects artists created the show ],[ 160 cameras captured the band performing ],[ 1bn computing hours to animate the avatars ],[ 500 lights in the purpose-built arena ],[ 3,000 people can attend every show ], Source: Source: ABBA Voyage, Image: Abba on stage in the 1970s While it was initially reported that the purpose-built Abba Voyage arena would be dismantled and transported around the world following its London run, the songwriters say they are now considering gifting the building - constructed near the Olympic Stadium in Stratford - "to the community" in the event they are unable to extend the lease when it expires in four years. They are also considering building replicas of the structure in North America and Asia, and would like to take the immersive virtual reality show to Australia. When asked if they would be keen to see a third instalment of the hit Hollywood romantic comedy, Mamma Mia - based around their music and set on an idyllic Greek island - Andersson issues a blow to fans of the musical. Without substantial changes, he says - a new setting and an irresistible script - there will not be another film in the series. "That's just wishful thinking," he says. The duo have known each other since 1966 and say their constant desire to write new material and do new things has kept their relationship fresh. "Because we never stood still none of us has stagnated," explains Ulvaeus, "which so often happens in songwriting duos." They even say that over the course of 57 years, they have never really fallen out. "We've had different opinions," says Ulvaeus, "many, many". "But it doesn't matter," Andersson says, "because what we've achieved together, keeps us together". Watch the Newsnight interview in full at 22:30 on BBC Two or on BBC iPlayer NEW YORK After accepting tens of thousands of asylum seekers into its care, Mayor Eric Adams wants to suspend a 40-year-old law that guarantees a right to shelter within New York City an extraordinary step he hopes will spare the local shelter system from collapse and staunch the flow of migrants who have been coming to the five boroughs from the southern border. The move, taken as more than 70,000 asylum-seekers have come through the city since last spring, stands to further alienate the Democratic mayor from other party leaders and could exacerbate a growing rift with President Joe Biden over the crisis. New York City is the only major metropolitan area in the country with a shelter requirement. On Tuesday night, City Halls legal team filed a request in state court seeking to absolve the administration of that mandate for homeless adults families with children would be unaffected should the citys homeless services department lack the necessary resources to shelter them. A day later, Adams argued that moment has come. In the past year, the administration has opened more than 150 emergency shelters and now has more migrants in the system than more established New Yorkers. And while the citys budget office initially pegged the cost at $4.3 billion through next summer, officials said that figure will likely increase, even as an expected surge at the border has failed to materialize. This is one of the most responsible things any leader can do when they realize the system is buckling and we want to prevent it from collapsing, Adams said Wednesday at an unrelated event in Manhattan. At a separate press briefing Wednesday, administration officials said the legal maneuver was designed to preserve shelter for those already here and hinted that it could discourage asylum-seekers from traveling to New York in the first place. The city is unable to provide care for an unlimited number of people, and its already over extended, said Anne Williams-Isom, the citys deputy mayor for health and human services. It is in the best interest of everyone, including those seeking to come to the United States, to be upfront that New York City cannot single handedly provide care to everyone crossing the border. What exactly Adams would do if his request were granted is unclear. The mayors Chief Counsel Brendan McGuire said Wednesday the city is not seeking to flatly turn people away. The intention here is not to get a court order so that we can shut the door and have thousands of people living on the street, he said. That is not the way this administration thinks about this. However, the changes being sought would give officials wide latitude to disregard the provisions of the law in case of an emergency. And City Hall aides repeatedly declined to outline possible practical outcomes of such a change. That lack of clarity has stoked fears from watchdog groups and the Democratic leader of the New York City Council. The administration's troubling application, which appears to pursue an elimination of more than 40 years of legal protections for our city's most vulnerable, leaves in question whether New Yorkers will be left to sleep on our streets, parks, roadway shoulder exits, and subways, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said in a joint statement with fellow Democratic Council Member Diana Ayala. It's beyond disturbing that so much effort is being spent on rolling back protections for all New Yorkers, instead of implementing immediate and long-term solutions that can help us avoid and move out of shelters. Conservative Democrats and Republicans in New York lauded the move. The left is criticizing Adams, yet not one wokester can explain what will trigger the end of this policy, Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli, a Republican, said in a statement. Are we supposed to just pay for these 45,000 people in perpetuity? Should we drum up another couple of billion every year or so for the rest of our lives? When does it end? Are New Yorks taxpayers and businesses just supposed to accept paying for the worlds refugee camp? Those inverse dynamics irking fellow party members while winning the plaudits of the GOP have been mirrored on the national level between Adams and the president, whom he has criticized for leaving the city to deal with the crisis on its own. After weeks of barbs directed at the White House over the issue, Adams was dropped from a list of surrogates supporting Biden's reelection. But there are signs that more Democrats agree with the mayor's posture, even if they aren't as outspoken. And earlier this week, Adams gathered with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Congress members including Rep. Jerry Nadler to call for expedited work authorization for migrants something that falls squarely on the White House. Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Intoxicating hemp products like delta-8-THC would be banned in Illinois under a proposal in Springfield prompting hemp companies to fight for their survival. Big Cannabis has no interest in regulations for hemp companies like mine, Charles Wu, CEO of Nexem hemp grower and Chitiva stores that sell delta-8, told the Tribune. What they have been pushing for is a complete ban of our industry. Advertisement The ban is for intoxicating hemp, said Pam Althoff, of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, which represents licensed marijuana businesses. Normal CBD products that have small amounts of THC are perfectly legal, and nobodys attempting to stop their production. No bill had been introduced to ban hemp as of Thursday afternoon, but lobbyists were working to add the ban at the last minute to an omnibus bill that covers a wide range of changes to cannabis law, from increasing craft grower size to allowing business tax deductions. Advertisement The dispute is a consequence of the 2018 federal farm bill that legalized hemp and all derivatives. The law defined hemp as cannabis that has less than 0.3% delta-9-THC, the main component of pot that gets users high. The popular byproduct of hemp at the time was nonintoxicating CBD, but a lack of federal guidelines has stunted that market. Federal lawmakers didnt foresee that a cottage industry would spring up to create other products from hemp, like delta-8 and delta-10-THC and THCO that can get users high but are said to be milder than pot. Smoke shops, gas stations and websites around the country have sprung up to sell the products, sometimes along with illegal delta-9-THC, often with no age restrictions, and often in candy and cookies that look like famous brands. Last month, five Chicago high school students were vomiting and were taken to hospitals after ingesting edible gummies from a nearby smoke shop. Hemp producers counter that cannabis gummies from state-licensed shops also have been involved in the rise of hundreds of cases of accidental ingestion among children in Illinois. Unlike state-licensed cannabis companies, which are required to test and label products for potency and purity, hemp products face no such requirements, and may be made with solvents and acid that produce heavy metals or unknown byproducts. Some hemp companies do test and label but analyses of both hemp and cannabis products show that many labels are inaccurate. To address that, hemp advocates have proposed a bill that would license and regulate hemp production, restrict sales to adults 21 and over, and require testing for metals, solvents, potency and purity. Beyond the safety concerns, the dispute between cannabis companies and hemp businesses also is a fight over money. Hemp cultivators say the small group of cannabis companies licensed to grow the plant are trying to keep the market to themselves. Hemp-derived intoxicating products, primarily delta-8-THC, have seen explosive growth in the past two years. Industry analysts the Brightfield Group recently estimated that delta-8 makes $1 billion in sales annually, and is a threat to divert cannabis users, one-third of whom had used a hemp product in the past six months. Advertisement The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned about adverse effects of marijuana and hemp THC products, including underage consumption and getting sick. As with cannabis, some states have banned intoxicating hemp drugs, while others regulate and tax them. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency also recently proposed changes to federal law that would ban THC products derived synthetically from hemp, saying they are illegal though a federal judge has ruled otherwise. Licensed cannabis companies in Illinois have raised concerns about delta-8 products. They commissioned a lab analysis of delta-8 products, from edibles to vapes to flower, at 25 stores. The analysis by LK Pure Labs consistently found high levels of delta-9-THC, often in amounts that exceeded the limits for licensed stores, and in some cases contaminants like mold and bacteria. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > On one hand you have a highly regulated industry that is strictly focused on compliance and on the other you have stores that are calling themselves the same thing and selling products that are untested and unregulated to minors its causing health and safety issues, consumer confusion, reputational damage, and it needs to stop before there are more serious injuries and fatalities, Cresco Labs communications chief Jason Erkes wrote to the Tribune. Representatives of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the state Cannabis Regulatory Oversight Officer, state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, and state Rep. LaShawn Ford recently met with craft growers, the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition and others to discuss a variety of proposed changes to the state cannabis law, including hemp. Lawmakers have been busy with other matters like approving a state budget, but plan to finish their spring session Friday. Both sides were scrambling Thursday to lobby lawmakers. Advertisement This move is NOT being done to protect the public, it is to further the monopoly that Big Cannabis has in Illinois and to crush out all legal competition, Wu wrote to the Tribune. Since Big Cannabis is unable to own the hemp industry, they are now trying to ban it. Instead of banning intoxicating hemp products, Ford called for testing, labeling and taxing them. More effective regulation is imperative, but I dont think we want to hurt our economy by regulating hemp companies out of existence, he said. That will only fuel the ugly war on drugs, encourage crime, move consumers into the illegal market and drive thriving companies out of Illinois. rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com Adidas and Yeezy staff were told to carry on as usual and ignore Kanye West's antisemitic rants, new report says Kanye West, who is now know as Ye. Gotham/GC Images Adidas and Yeezy staff were told to carry on as usual after Kanye West made antisemitic comments. A new Bloomberg report sheds light on the unraveling of the Adidas-Yeezy partnership. The sportswear giant was reportedly reluctant to lose Yeezy because of the brand's success. Adidas really didn't want to end its partnership with Kanye West, even as others walked away, according to a new report from Bloomberg Bloomberg's report sheds light on how dependent the German sportswear brand became on Kanye West's Yeezy brand, because of its success in generating blockbuster sales. And, how reluctant it was to drop the brand because of this. One unnamed source told Bloomberg that after Kanye West now known as Ye made antisemitic comments that led him to be suspended from Twitter and Instagram, Adidas was slow to react. Yeezy and Adidas workers were reportedly told "to keep working as if nothing unusual was happening," Bloomberg's Eugene Kim and Tim Loh wrote. According to RBC estimates, which were cited by Bloomberg, Adidas went on to generate more than $100 million in Yeezy sales during the first two weeks of October the period in which Ye was making offensive comments to the public. Ye then went on to boast about his invincibility at Adidas in a now-deleted podcast. "The thing about me and Adidas is, like, I can literally say antisemitic shit and they can't drop me," he said, per The Times of London. "I can say antisemitic things and Adidas can't drop me. Now what? Now what?" In late October, the brand eventually did end its Yeezy partnership. The company estimates that leftover stock could cost it as much as $1.3 billion in sales. After months of deliberation, Adidas' new CEO Bjrn Gulden confirmed this month that the company will sell these items and donate the profits to charity. Read the original article on Business Insider A mountain lion named P-77 gave birth to a litter of adorable kittens in California, officials said. Biologists found the mama mountain lions three kittens in a dense patch of poison oak nestled among large boulders on May 18 in the Simi Hills, according to a May 25 news release by the National Park Service. One of the mountain lion kittens Park service officials said the litter is healthy and about 24 days old. The female kittens were named P-113, P-114 and P-115. P-77 is about 5 to 6 years old and was first captured in the area in November 2019, officials said. Remote camera imaging from P-77s first capture also showed evidence that she had a previous litter, officials said. It will be interesting to learn how these kittens will use the landscape once they get older and disperse, particularly if they decide to stay in the Simi Hills or cross freeways to enter larger natural areas, Jeff Sikich, the lead field biologist of the NPS mountain lion study, said in the release. Its encouraging to see reproduction in our small population of mountain lions, especially after all the mortalities we have documented in the last year. Female mountain lions typically have cubs every two years. They usually give birth in a den to between two and four cubs, according to National Geographic. The cubs then live with their mother for a little over a year before heading out on their own, according to the National Wildlife Federation. In 2002, the National Park Service started studying mountain lions to see how theyd survive near a city, the release said. Biologists visit dens while the mother is hunting, resting or feeding, officials said. One monitors her movements, and other team members go to the den. Eventually, theyll take the kittens measurements and tag them to make it easier to identify them in the future. The Simi Hills is a mountain range between Santa Monica and the Santa Susana Mountain ranges, about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Cops hoping to spot lurking mountain lion set up camera. Something menacing appeared Majestic mountain lion finds daring spot to people watch at Colorado park, photos show Beloved mountain lion cubs who became cuddle buddies after rescue move to new CA home Rescued mountain lion cubs, now lanky teenagers, prepare for big move in California Advocates say Congress needs to do more to help Black and brown human trafficking victims Sex trafficking is a continuum of the legacy of colonialism and the institution of slavery, said Taina Bien-Aime, executive director at the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. Human trafficking advocates say the U.S. Congress is not doing enough to crackdown on labor and sex trafficking and the disproportionate impact the industry has on Black and brown victims. Earlier this month, congressional members held a hearing to discuss the implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act as human trafficking continues to plague the nation. However, some critics say the government should do more. NEW YORK, NY NOVEMBER 29: People gather to protest human trafficking at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse where the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is being held on November 29, 2021 in New York City. Maxwell, the daughter of late media mogul Robert Maxwell is on trial for sex trafficking. Maxwell is expected to challenge claims she groomed underage girls for deceased and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein for sexual abuse. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) Taina Bien-Aime, executive director at the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, told theGrio that the countrys laws are failing to protect and failing to prevent Black and brown women from being trafficked. If [lawmakers] want to prevent human trafficking, you have to target the sex buyers, she argued. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 aimed to criminalize sex traffickers and those who engage in the human trafficking industry; however, human trafficking continues to be a prevalent issue in the U.S. and disproportionately impacts the Black and Latinx communities. Bien-Aime told theGrio that women of color are prone to human trafficking due to racial discrimination and socioeconomic status. Traffickers target women who have compounded vulnerabilities, she explained, whether its the foster care system or dysfunctional families or pervasive childhood sexual abuse. In New York, for example, Bien-Aime claimed the biggest targets for sex trafficking are foster care residences. You already have someone whos unbelievably vulnerable and neglected, and we are allowing pimps and traffickers to recruit, she said. What strikes me when we talk to legislators or district attorneys or other prosecutors, law enforcement, the public, theres a lack of empathy, she continued. Theres an indifference to the suffering of Black and brown women who are being bought and sold. Robert Beiser, director of strategic initiative on sex trafficking at the Polaris Project, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent sex and labor trafficking, told theGrio that traffickers use a racial lens when they choose who to exploit. Theres exploitation in almost every country in the world along the lines of labor trafficking and sex trafficking, Beiser explained. But, in the United States, the legacy of slavery and the following legacies of structural racism, institutional racism, individual racism have all led to a circumstance where Black and brown folks are much more likely to be in those situations of vulnerability, he added. Bien-Aime told theGrio that sex trafficking is a continuum of the legacy of colonialism and the institution of slavery. She said during slavery, Black women were particularly treated as sexual currency. Thats what the sex trade looks like today we represent 6% of the population in the United States and yet, in most jurisdictions, we represent over 50% of the prostituted individuals, she added. MIAMI, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 06: Posters urging people to report sex trafficking are seen at a metromover rail stop on November 06, 2019 in Miami, Florida. The posters and other forms of media including a Metromover rail car wrap is part of a campaign by local, state, and federal agencies and partners to combat sex trafficking leading up to and beyond Super Bowl LIV. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Lillian Agbeyegbe, community engagement manager at the Polaris Project, told theGrio that Black and brown people are often trafficked by people they know, including their families, their spouse, boyfriend, girlfriends and employers. Because of close familiarity, the victims are sometimes unaware of their circumstances. Beiser told theGrio that sometimes young children are sexually exploited due to financial hardship. A family may say to their 14-year-old child, I know a way that you can make money for us, and if you want to be part of this family, you have to help out and take care of this, he said. That young child is then encouraged to engage in sexual activities with another individual in exchange for money. Agbeyegbe told theGrio that in order to combat human trafficking, its important to find solutions for underlying issues such as housing affordability and accessibility. Trafficking is not an isolated industry, she explained, which is why its crucial that stakeholders look at all the social determinants of health to see how our systems intersect to put people at risk for trafficking. She added, Then we can see more progress from Congress as we present that information to them. Bien-Aime told theGrio that, at this time, its unclear what percentage of the U.S. population is being trafficked due to a lack of data collected by federal and local governments. We know that human trafficking is globally the fastest-growing criminal enterprise, following guns very closely, she said. We always say you can only sell drugs once, but you can sell human beings over and over and over again, making it harder to quantify, she said. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Advocates say Congress needs to do more to help Black and brown human trafficking victims appeared first on TheGrio. Air travel heats up: Are Americans in for another chaotic summer? Last Memorial Day weekend was the inaugural mess in a summer of air travel chaos. With significantly more Americans expected to make their way through airports this holiday weekend, the strained system is facing its first big seasonal crush. Are travelers in for another hellacious summer? The number of travelers screened at security checkpoints hit a post-pandemic record on Thursday and more record-setting volume was expected over the weekend. Some experts anticipate a smoother season for air travelers. Im cautiously optimistic that we wont see a repeat of the flight disruption fiasco that kicked off summer 2022, said Scott Keyes, founder of travel site Going, formerly Scotts Cheap Flights. Keyes puts his optimism down to preventive measures airlines are taking: Publishing more realistic schedules, building in buffers to limit cascading disruptions, trimming flights out New Yorks three busy airports and flying larger planes to still meet high demand. The number of air travelers over the holiday weekend is expected to be up by 11% over last year, according to AAAs forecast, and up more than 5% over 2019 pre-pandemic volume. Remember what pre-pandemic summer travel looked like? Summer has always been a period of discontent, said airline industry analyst Bob Mann, founder of R.W. Mann & Company, who noted thats been the case for him whether he was an airline executive or a passenger. Its a period of peak demand and resource-limited supply, he said. One of biggest limitations right now: air traffic control staffing. The Federal Aviation Administration is about 3,000 controllers short of ideal staffing levels. That might result in trouble for passengers. A Delta Air Lines plane taxis at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. An air traffic controller shortage is expected to cause delays in the Northeast. - Robert Alexander/Getty Images Full flights, hot cabins, everyone sharing an armrest, fewer flights than 2019 and even fewer flights in the Northeast due to FAA constraints mean limited options to re-accommodate passengers from delayed and canceled flights, meaning more passenger trip interruptions and disruptions, Mann said. The Northeast isnt the only trouble spot. Recent CNN reporting revealed the extent and impact of understaffing at a key facility in Jacksonville, Florida, that handles airplane traffic into Florida and the Caribbean. Right now, about two out of every 10 ATC positions in the US are unfilled, said Kathleen Bangs, a former airline pilot and spokesperson for flight tracking site FlightAware. You really need some of your most experienced controllers to man the busiest airspace. And pilots are fed up theyre negotiating for more pay and threatening strikes. Yet airlines and regulators have taken steps to ease pressure points, plus unruliness among passengers is trending downward. Add a lot of luck with the weather, and perhaps theres a better summer ahead. Preemptive measures First, the favorable tea leaves: The FAA has rearranged East Coast flight routes to mitigate expected delays because of air traffic controller shortages, and airlines have trimmed their schedules at New York airports to account for the shortages. The FAA has also adopted new guidelines for commercial space launches that could otherwise add pressure to already-strained airspace in places such as Florida. Bureau of Transportation Statistics data says that airlines have about 48,000 more employees than they did at this time last year, a sign that the staffing ramp up from massive cutbacks brought on by the pandemic is finally gaining steam. The combination of more trained employees on the job and less flights overall has helped avoid any airline meltdowns so far for 2023, said Bangs. Airlines have added nearly 50,000 employees since last year, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. - Brandon Bell/Getty Images Mike Boyd, president of aviation forecasting and consulting firm Boyd Group International, doesnt foresee much trouble with airline operations this summer. I think its going to be kind of a non-event. I really do. I dont think its going to be anything for consumers really to worry about, Boyd said. Air traffic control could be a different story. Air traffic controllers are key The FAA has warned that a controller shortage will affect travel this summer, particularly for New Yorks three major airports. And on Sunday and Monday, a controller shortage led to flight disruptions at Denver International Airport. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby cited the shortage of air traffic controllers as his top concern heading into summer. This is the issue that limits the operations around the country. Its by far the biggest issue, Kirby told CNNs Poppy Harlow on CNN This Morning. Controller shortages caused thousands of flight disruptions last summer. But many thousands more the majority of disruptions were caused by the airlines operational challenges, which ranged from staff shortages to bad weather. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke to the controller understaffing issue at a news conference on Tuesday. Its a concern, and its part of what motivates us right now to be putting so much emphasis on the recruiting, the hiring and the training, he said. Buttigieg said that while the FAA works to remedy its issues, airlines have accounted for more of the delays, and they need to address their problems, too. He also noted that many have hired more employees in the past year. These airlines can be perfectly profitable while treating passengers better, he said. The industry group representing airlines said it is very concerned about air traffic control staffing but is focused on completing flights. Theres really not a lot of room for the blame game and finger-pointing, Airlines for America CEO Nick Calio told CNN. Theres a lot of reasons for cancellations. What if a staffing shortage at an air traffic control center causes a delay and the delay cascades? Whos responsible? So, you know our responsibility everyones responsibility is to the passengers and the cargo. While Boyd predicts relatively smooth operations for airlines, he called FAA staffing another issue and referred to the disruption this week in Denver. That might be a new dynamic. If thats the case, we might have some meltdowns, but it wont be airline-driven, itll be FAA-driven, Boyd said. And, of course, theres the weather factor. Summer always features lines of thunderstorms moving across the national airspace, disrupting air traffic, and this summer may include more of the even higher energy weather we increasingly see daily, Mann said. Tips for smoother flights Clearly, a lot of factors are outside a travelers control. But with AAA expecting 3.4 million people to fly over the holiday period, every bit of preparation counts. The FAA is forecasting more than 51,000 flights on Thursday, which was expected to be the busiest day for flights. Federal officials anticipated the peak number of passengers on Friday. A AAA official said last week that this summer could be one for the record books. Heres what you can do to prepare: Fly direct and early in the day on the first flight, if possible. The weather is generally better in the morning, Keyes said, and your aircraft should be parked overnight so you wont be waiting on a plane. And you wont have risk missed connections flying direct. If you have a connecting flight, Bangs says to make sure the time between connections is sufficient considering the distance between terminals, whether youre traveling with children and how quickly you can navigate a busy terminal with carry-on bags. Check the big-picture weather. Bangs suggests reviewing the National Weather Service site in the days leading up to your flight for a broad overview of systems that could affect your plans. And download your airlines app for easy flight updates. Know your rights. The Department of Transportation has created an online dashboard outlining what carriers will provide in various scenarios. If an airline cancels or significantly changes your flight regardless of the reason why, even if due to bad weather under federal law, youre entitled to a full cash refund if you no longer wish to travel, said Keyes. Have a backup plan, even if its a last resort. If youre on one of these carriers that only flies like three days a week to a destination, man, when they cancel, you better have a backup plan because airplanes do break, and if the next flight is next Tuesday and its full, youve got a problem, Boyd said. Bangs said that means having a plan for either continuing your trip or getting home. Anything ranging from enough balance on a credit card to purchase another ticket if necessary (while you sort things out later with the offending carrier) to trading in frequent flyer miles for a last-minute ticket if stranded, she said. Here are more tips for navigating flight disruptions. Fingers crossed for smooth travels. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The managing authority of Pittsburgh International Airport has formally requested the reargument or reconsideration of a recent court decision that would permit an evicted tenant at the airport the right to return amid an ongoing lawsuit over the legality of a lease termination between the two parties. On Tuesday, the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which manages PIT, asked the three-judge panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court that ruled in favor of Fraport Inc., operators of the Airmall concession stands at PIT for decades, to reconsider such a ruling. It argued the court overstepped its authority in overturning a Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County ruling from Judge Christine Ward, which had previously barred Fraport from operating at PIT while the lawsuit over the legal termination of the lease between the two parties is determined. Should the judges be unwilling to hear a reconsideration, the ACAA asked that the entire Superior Court hear a reargument for the ACAAs opinion on the matter. Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Local nurse accused of killing 2 patients, hurting another with intentional doses of insulin Autopsy: Stephen tWitch Boss had no drugs, alcohol in system at time of death Only 2 Pittsburgh police officers showed up for weekend shift in the East End VIDEO: Parents of 15-year-old killed at Oliver Citywide Academy speak out, demand accountability DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Americans more sure about who they dont support in 2024 race than who they do: poll Americans more sure about who they dont support in 2024 race than who they do: poll Results from a new survey indicate American voters are more set on who they dont support in the 2024 presidential race than who they do support. Monmouth University polling, released Thursday, tested Democratic President Biden against Republicans former President Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in hypothetical head-to-head match-ups. DeSantis officially joined Trump and Biden in the race this week, but Pence has not yet declared his candidacy. The poll found in each hypothetical that between 44 and 46 percent of voters said they definitely wont back Biden, and between 7 and 8 percent say they probably wont vote for him. Roughly one-third of likely voters said theyll definitely vote for Biden against both Trump and DeSantis 32 and 31 percent, respectively. Twenty-seven percent say theyll definitely back him against Pence. Against Biden, 46 percent of voters say they definitely will not cast their ballots for Trump, and 29 percent say they definitely will. Forty-one percent of voters say they definitely will not back DeSantis against Biden, and 26 percent say they definitely will. Finally, 36 percent say they definitely wont vote for Pence against Biden, while 18 percent say they definitely will. Negative opinion can be difficult to shift, and when it does, it tends to be in the wrong direction for the candidate, Monmouth University Polling Institute director Patrick Murray said in the latest release. Thats not to say these views wont change in the next year and a half, but these results are a sign of how few voters are truly up for grabs in our hyper-partisan political environment. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage The GOP presidential primary field has gotten more crowded in recent weeks with the entries of DeSantis and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) into the race, joining Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump has continued to poll at the front of a hypothetical GOP primary. But now that Biden has launched his much-anticipated reelection bid, the race could be readying for a rematch of the pairs 2020 contest though some polling has indicated low enthusiasm for either to get another White House term. Conducted May 18-23, the recent poll surveyed 907 registered voters, and the results have a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Booming eruptions, ash everywhere: What life is like under Mexico's most dangerous volcano Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano erupting on May 23, 2023. (Cristopher Rogel Blanquet / Getty Images) Each spring, residents of this village tucked at the base of one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes trek up to a cave near its crater to make a peace offering. Their gifts of fruit, flowers and turkey cooked in sweet mole are meant to placate Popocatepetl, the nearly 18,000-foot-high volcano viewed by many here not just as a geological wonder, but also as a mythological being whose whims have long shaped the lives of those in its shadows. These days, the consensus among villagers is clear: Popocatepetl isn't happy. Villagers in Santiago Xalitzintla, Mexico, plant corn in the shadow of the Popocatepetl volcano. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) For months now, the volcano has been spewing molten rock and shooting massive columns of ash into the sky. The eruptions have grown bigger and more frequent in recent weeks rattling homes with wheezing exhalations that residents compare to steam escaping from a pressure cooker. Bone-gray ash blankets everything: cars, crops and even the dogs that beg for scraps in the streets. The sheer quantity of ash a mixture of rock, mineral and glass particles from deep inside the volcano has prompted officials to ground thousands of flights at airports in nearby Mexico City and Puebla and to suspend school in nearly two dozen municipalities. On Sunday, officials raised the volcano threat level to "Yellow Phase 3," which calls for those who live nearest to the volcano including the 2,000 residents of Santiago Xalitzintla to prepare for possible evacuation. Although the volcano appears to be more active now than it has been in the last two decades, there is no indication that catastrophic eruption is underway, said Ana Lillian Martin del Pozzo, a volcanologist at the Geophysics Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. It has been centuries since the volcano last expelled a significant flow of lava. Pedestrians cross an ash-covered street in Atlixco, Mexico, on May 22, 2023. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) Still, the volcano's long history of destructive explosions and the 24 million people who reside within 60 miles of its crater make Popocatepetl an acute threat. Authorities aren't taking any chances. Scientists are monitoring seismic activity, testing the chemical content of the ash and probing other metrics that predict volcanic activity. The federal government has mobilized 7,000 troops in case an evacuation becomes necessary. As geology fans gape at video feeds that show incandescent rocks blowing from El Popo's peak, those who live along its flanks have watched with respect and a noteworthy lack of trepidation. Soldiers patrol as ash from the Popocatepetl volcano blankets the streets of Santiago Xalitzintla, Mexico. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) Residents went on with their scheduled celebration of a saint's day over the weekend, dancing to a live band as flurries of ash fell, dusting the streets with what looked like snow. And although many complain of sore throats, coughs and irritated eyes, they have mostly continued tilling the earth, tending their horses and otherwise going about life as usual. "We're used to it," said Nazario Galicia, an 81-year-old farmer who on a recent afternoon was feeding his donkeys even as truckloads of national guard troops descended on the village to sweep up ash. "Our grandparents lived with the volcano, and their grandparents lived with it too." Two people wear hoodies and masks to shield themselves from the ash emitted by the Popocatepetl volcano in Atlixco, Mexico, on May 22, 2023. The volcano's activity has increased over the last week. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) Like many people here, Galicia believes the volcano is a kind of deity they call him Don Goyo whose behavior is closely linked to human activity. Galicia wondered whether the powerful eruptions in recent days were occurring because townsfolk had been unable to bring their annual offering this spring, when milder bursts from the volcano ruled out an ascent. Or maybe, he said, the volcano was responding to current events, airing its discontent with Mexico's high levels of violence and corruption. A woman sweeps ash from the Popocatepetl volcano in Santiago Xalitzintla, Mexico. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) Popocatepetl and a nearby volcano, the relatively dormant Iztaccihuatl, have loomed large in Mexican mythology since at least the time of Aztecs. According to one popular myth, they were formed after ill-fated lovers the warrior Popocatepetl and the princess Iztaccihuatl died tragic deaths and were turned into stone. Popocatepetl's explosions have displaced humans in the past. Archaeologists say a pre-Hispanic settlement not far from Santiago Xalitzintla was buried twice by ash long before the Europeans arrived in Mexico. The volcano was dormant for about half of the last century but rumbled back to life with a series of relatively small eruptions beginning in the 1990s. The government ordered evacuations then, and some locals moved away. But most residents returned, adopting new practices such as covering water and food supplies for farm animals to prevent contamination from falling ash. Many, too, have embraced a kind of steely humor to cope with living alongside an ever-present threat. We hope it calms down," said Juana Hernandez, 55, as she finished off her tacos near the town's plaza one afternoon this week. "If not well have to bring an offering." She wondered whether a chicken would do. Her friend Francisca de los Santos, 56, had another idea. "Maybe we should sacrifice one of our men," she said, laughing. The friends said they haven't slept much in recent days, thanks to the volcano's rumblings. In the evenings, villagers gather outside in the cold to watch eruptions light up the night sky. Many children are scared of the pyrotechnics. Some had urged their parents to find them a new place to live. But despite her burning throat, scratchy eyes and worry that her family's fruit trees might not survive the volcano's blowing debris, De Los Santos said she couldn't imagine living anywhere else. After all, in this part of Mexico so prone to natural disasters where earthquakes can level apartment buildings in seconds there's a certain pride that comes with living in proximity to danger. Agustin Ochoa, the 64-year-old owner of a hat shop in the next town over, said life is more exciting under a volcano. "The day theres no eruption," he said as he whisked ash from several white cowboy hats, "well miss it." Cecilia Sanchez Vidal in The Times' Mexico City bureau contributed to this report. Volcanic ash obscures a view of the city of Atlixco, Mexico. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The chair of the Kansas Republican Party has involved an attorney as he asks his predecessor to avoid him. In an email exchange provided to The Star, Mike Brown, a hard-right Republican who took over as chair of the state in February, suggested former chair Mike Kuckelman was deliberately attending events and frequenting venues where Brown might be with his family. On the advice of his attorney, who is copied on the email, Brown writes that he is directing Kuckelman to avoid him and his family. Recently I have seen you around in multiple venues while I was with friends and family. The number of times is concerning and more than what I believe to be a coincidence, Brown wrote in an email sent Tuesday morning. As my wife feels very uncomfortable, I believe it is best we avoid each other to the maximum extent possible. In a response directed to Kreamer on Wednesday, Kuckelman detailed his upcoming schedule, including the churches he might attend on Sunday and the restaurants he was likely to visit after a political fundraiser. He said it would be easier for Brown to avoid him rather than the other way around. Kuckelman, a Johnson County attorney, has clashed with Brown, a former Johnson County commissioner, since his time as party chair. Brown often attacked Kuckelmans leadership while running to become chair and made unfounded claims of election fraud while running for Kansas secretary of state. Kuckelman said that because he is an active supporter of Republican politicians he and Brown were likely to frequent the same events. I am certainly sorry to see that Mike and Kristi are uncomfortable when I am in the same venue, Kuckleman wrote. It is sad that in todays political climate that we have this woke culture where people like Mike and Kristi are uncomfortable being in the same venue as people that disagree with them. In an interview with The Star, Kuckelman said Thursday Browns email followed a Monday night meeting of the Northeast Johnson County Conservatives where Brown specifically called Kuckelman out for not raising his hand in support of party unity. The prior Friday, Kuckelman said, he and Brown were both at an Overland Park bar where Republican state Rep. Adam Thomas was performing on the guitar. Ive been a longtime participant in Republican politics and no one should be surprised that if theres a Republican event and Im available I will be there, he said. Kuckelman said he had not heard back from Brown or his attorney. In a text message to The Star the day after this story published, Brown said his future actions would depend on Kuckelmans behavior. Despite my job as the KSGOP Chairman, this is not a political issue and does not involve political settings, Brown said. This is about his behavior in non-political settings. In my private and personal life, if I feel that my wife or any member of my family is in a position they can be harmed or is otherwise uncomfortable, I will always vigorously protect the interests of my family. The former chair has been a vocal critic of Brown. He has been especially outspoken in recent weeks since the state party began considering a rule that would remove elected officials and groups representing minority and female Republicans from the partys executive committee. Last week, Brown directed the state partys rules committee to reconsider the rule following backlash nationwide. By Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan and Sachin Ravikumar LONDON (Reuters) - More than 13,000 people were denied a vote in English local elections this month because of the government's new identification law, with those in poorer areas most impacted, according to a Reuters survey of local authorities. Voters in England were legally required to produce photo ID for the first time at the May 4 elections, with the government saying it was essential to combat election fraud. But the overhaul was criticised by many opposition politicians and campaigners who said it was intended to suppress turnout and was disproportionate to the historically low levels of in-person electoral fraud in Britain. Furthermore, Jacob Rees-Mogg - a government minister when the law was passed - said last week that the move had affected elderly voters who traditionally voted for the governing Conservative Party, indicating that it had also hoped for a different outcome. "Parties that try and gerrymander end up finding their clever scheme comes back to bite them, as dare I say we found by insisting on voter ID for elections," he told the National Conservatism conference. Reuters collected data from 202 of the 230 authorities in England that held elections, in which the governing Conservative Party suffered heavy losses. The remaining 28 were either still compiling the figures or did not respond to Reuters' request. Out of the top 20 councils that turned away voters, 15 were among the most deprived areas in England as measured by the government's deprivation index, the survey found. Clive Betts, an opposition Labour Party politician and chair of a parliamentary committee which will look at the new rules, said they were "undermining and undervaluing our democracy." A government spokesperson said: "We are encouraged by the roll-out and we are confident the vast majority of voters will have cast their vote successfully". ACTUAL IMPACT COULD BE HIGHER Betts also said the total number prevented from voting would likely be much higher because some who do not have ID did not bother to turn up at polling stations. Reuters' findings showed 33,509 people were initially denied a ballot paper at polling stations because they did not have the required ID. Of those, more than 20,000 later returned with the correct ID and 13,085 did not. The data was compiled from information published online, as well as requests by phone, email and under the Freedom of Information Act. It was not possible to produce a national figure for the percentage of voters at polling stations denied the right to vote as some local authorities only provided total turnout, including postal votes which did not require ID. In cases where councils did, only a small proportion of the overall voter base were turned away with a mean of 0.24% across 98 local authorities. Turnout at local elections is usually much lower than at national elections and Labour's Betts warned that unless the rules were changed, a larger number of people could struggle to vote at a national election expected next year. Neil Halliday, 51, a project worker from central England, said he didn't go to the polling station to vote because he was unable to locate his voter ID before leaving for work on the day of the election for Fenland Council. "I was angry," Halliday, who wanted to vote for an independent candidate in his area, told Reuters. "I wrote to the MP and utilised words that were quite coarse and suggested that they look at how well this is working ... I was very hacked off." WRONG ID, NO ID Knowsley, an area the government ranked as the third-most deprived in England in 2019, had the highest percentage unable to vote, with 1.1% of those at polling stations not producing the correct ID by the close of voting, Reuters found. Terry Byron, a councillor for the Labour Party in the area, said he had come across younger people who did not turn up to vote because they did not have ID, while elderly voters were more likely to go to the polling station and be denied. Byron said this may have impacted the outcome of some elections because in his area his party lost one seat by only 79 votes. Walsall, which the government says is among the 10% most deprived areas in England, was the local authority with the highest overall number of people who could not vote, with 767 of those turned away at polling stations not returning. Rushmoor and South Oxfordshire, two wealthier constituencies, were among those with the lowest proportion of people turned away, the survey found. Britain's voting regulator, the Electoral Commision, will publish its initial findings of a review of voter ID in June. The government also intends to toughen the rules around postal voting and requirements for those who apply to vote on behalf of someone else. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan and Sachin Ravikumar. Editing by Kate Holton and Hugh Lawson) By James Oliphant MIAMI (Reuters) - As he toured the country before the formal announcement of his presidential bid on Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regaled crowds with the story of his surprising re-election victory last year in sprawling, largely Hispanic Miami-Dade County. It was the first time a Republican had won the Democratic-leaning county in 20 years, and DeSantis did it by winning 62% of the Hispanic vote. That victory in 2022 is raising hopes among some Republicans about how DeSantis could perform in the 2024 presidential contest among Hispanic voters nationwide. Those voters comprise almost 15% of the U.S. electorate and have skewed Democratic in past presidential elections. "People are tired of being told that because you are born a certain way, you must vote a certain way," said Kevin Cooper, vice-chairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party, which helped get out the vote for DeSantis. DeSantis' advisers did not respond to requests for comment on his strategy with regard to Hispanic voters. But more than a dozen Republican and Democratic operatives described a multi-pronged approach that relied on outreach to Latinos who traditionally voted Democratic, messaging on economic opportunity in the wake of the pandemic and aggressive use of Spanish-language media. DeSantis' victory showed "that when Republicans focus on Latino engagement and they connect and are comfortable in a roomful of Latinos, they will get a response, said Daniel Garza, president of the LIBRE initiative, a nationwide effort that seeks to bring Latinos into the conservative fold. DeSantis found success with Hispanics in Florida even as he positioned himself as an immigration hardliner who champions border security and derides so-called "sanctuary cities." In September, he arranged for two planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to be flown from Texas to Massachusetts. This month, he signed a new state immigration measure that provides more money for migrant relocation and requires certain employers to verify a worker's immigration status. The moves brought criticism from Democrats and some Latino advocacy groups, but DeSantis has maintained in speeches that Hispanic voters want strong enforcement of federal immigration laws. A Pew Research Center poll found that less than half of Hispanics surveyed said there is a significant difference between the two political parties, particularly among younger voters, suggesting loyalty may come down to the side that works harder for their vote. It concerns me, said Chuck Rocha, a Latino strategist who advised Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. It should concern any Democrat. TOUGH TO REPLICATE? Rocha and other Democrats have their doubts, however, about whether DeSantis can replicate his success in states with large Hispanic populations such as Arizona and Nevada where Democrats won two competitive U.S. Senate seats in 2022 and Biden prevailed by razor-thin margins in 2020. They point to the demographics of South Florida, with its large, conservative-leaning Cuban population. "This is a very Miami phenomenon," said Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster and consultant in Miami. "That's not going to play in San Diego or Los Angeles or Phoenix." Mexican voters have largely been aligned with Democrats since the 1960s, while Cuban-Americans fleeing the Castro regime tended to support Republicans who took a hard line against Communism. But South Florida more recently has been home to waves of new emigres from Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua, who have no such loyalties and were viewed by Republicans as up for grabs. DeSantis made an effort to conduct roundtable discussions in those communities and frequently commented on the internal politics of their home countries. He outraised his Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist, by more than 6 to 1, and also ended up winning the majority of the Puerto Rican vote statewide. At a political event in Iowa earlier this year, DeSantis said he didn't win over Hispanic voters by appealing to their ethnicity. "We treated everyone as Americans," he said. "We share the same values. In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump pulled a larger share of the Hispanic vote 32% - than any Republican since President George W. Bush in 2004, with Latino working-class men, in particular, defecting in large numbers. Roberto Suro, an expert on Latino politics at the University of Southern California, said segments of the Latino electorate in recent years are beginning to behave more like their white counterparts, with working-class voters and evangelicals being drawn toward Republicans. An economy-focused message such as DeSantis' could pull in Latino votes in other states, Suro said. Democrats say DeSantis insistence on keeping businesses and school open and opposing vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic likely appealed to middle-class and working-class Hispanic voters who could not afford to stay home and have their kids out of school and who otherwise might not have supported a Republican candidate. Republicans contend that DeSantis staunch opposition to progressive education policies around race and gender also resonated with many culturally conservative Latino voters. "Democrats were stepping on rakes on every cultural issue imaginable," said Giancarlo Sopo, a Cuban-American Republican consultant from South Florida. DeSantis, he said, "had the right cultural message and certainly the right economic stance." (Reporting by James Oliphant in Miami; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Suzanne Goldenberg) Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Dr. Caitlin Bernard, a reproductive healthcare provider, speaks during an abortion rights rally on June 25, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. (Jenna Watson/AP) INDIANAPOLIS An Indiana board decided Thursday night to reprimand an Indianapolis doctor after finding that she violated patient privacy laws by talking publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from neighboring Ohio. The state Medical Licensing Board voted that Dr. Caitlin Bernard didnt abide by privacy laws when she told a newspaper reporter about the girls treatment in a case that became a flashpoint in the national abortion debate days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. Advertisement The board, however, rejected accusations from Indianas Republican attorney general that Bernard violated state law by not reporting the child abuse to Indiana authorities. Board members chose to fine Bernard $3,000 for the violations, turning down a request from the attorney generals office to suspend Bernards license. The board issued no restrictions on her practice of medicine. Bernard has consistently defended her actions, and she told the board on Thursday that she followed Indianas reporting requirements and hospital policy by notifying hospital social workers about the child abuse and that the girls rape was already being investigated by Ohio authorities. Bernards lawyers also said that she didnt release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws. Advertisement The Indianapolis Star cited the girls case in a July 1 article that sparked a national political uproar in the weeks after last summers Roe v. Wade decision put into effect an Ohio law that prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Some news outlets and Republican politicians falsely suggested Bernard fabricated the story, until a 27-year-old man was charged with the rape in Columbus, Ohio. During an event at the White House, President Joe Biden nearly shouted his outrage over the case. Medical board President Dr. John Strobel said he believed Bernard went too far in telling a reporter about the girls pending abortion and that physicians need to be careful about observing patient privacy. I dont think she expected this to go viral, Strobel said of Bernard. I dont think she expected this attention to be brought to this patient. It did. It happened. Bernards lawyer Alice Morical told the board Thursday that the doctor reported child abuse of patients many times a year and that a hospital social worker had confirmed with Ohio child protection staffers that it was safe for the girl to leave with her mother. Dr. Bernard could not have anticipated the atypical and intense scrutiny that this story received, Morical said. She did not expect that politicians would say that she made the story up. Amid the wave of attention to the girls case last summer, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who is stridently anti-abortion, told Fox News he would investigate Bernards actions and called her an abortion activist acting as a doctor. Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight argued Thursday that the board needed to address what he called an egregious violation of patient privacy and Bernards failure to notify Indianas Department of Child Services and police about the rape. Theres been no case like this before the board, Voight said. No physician has been as brazen in pursuit of their own agenda. Advertisement Voight asked Bernard why she discussed the Ohio girls case with the newspaper reporter and later in other news media interviews rather than using a hypothetical situation. I think that its incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country about abortion, Bernard said. I think its important for people to know what patients will have to go through because of legislation that is being passed, and a hypothetical does not make that impact. Board member Dr. Bharat Barai opposed finding that Bernard violated privacy laws, saying that she released no direct protected identifying information such as the girls name or address. He disagreed with the board majoritys view that the combination of information about the rare instance of a pregnant 10-year-old girl could have exposed her identity. We are trying to suppose that yeah this could have been done and maybe somebody could have discovered it, Barai said. During Thursdays hearing lasting some 13 hours, Rokitas office kept up a running commentary on its official Twitter account, with one post saying: When Bernard talked about the high priority she puts on legislation and speaking to the public, she did so at the expense of her own patient. This shows where her priorities are as an activist rather than a doctor. Bernard objected to Voight saying her choice to publicly discuss the case led to the misconduct allegations. Advertisement I think if the attorney general, Todd Rokita, had not chosen to make this his political stunt we wouldnt be here today, Bernard said. Lawyers for the attorney generals office repeatedly raised questions about whether the policy of Bernards employer, Indiana University Health, to report suspected child abuse to authorities in the state where the abuse occurred complied with Indiana law. Officials of IU Health, which is the states largest hospital system, testified that the Indiana Department of Child Services has never objected to the hospital policy. The Indiana board with five doctors and one attorney present who were appointed or reappointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb had wide latitude under state law allowing it to issue reprimand letters or suspend, revoke or place on probation a doctors license. Ohios law imposing a near-ban on abortion was in effect for about two months, before being put on hold as a lawsuit against it plays out. Indianas Republican-dominated Legislature approved a statewide abortion ban weeks after the Ohio girls case drew attention, but abortions have continued to be permitted in the state while awaiting an Indiana Supreme Court decision on the bans constitutionality. Bernard unsuccessfully tried to block Rokitas investigation last fall, although an Indianapolis judge wrote that Rokita made clearly unlawful breaches of state confidentiality laws with his public comments about investigating the doctor before filing the medical licensing complaint against her. Climate protesters in the U.K. blocked traffic in London on Tuesday, grinding the city to a halt and prompting so much anger that commuters attacked them. Just Stop Oil protesters organized several marches across the city, aiming to disrupt traffic. The protests occurred at a number of bridges, including the Tower and London bridges, according to TMX News. The protest reiterated the groups demands for Britain to immediately stop all new oil and gas production, usually employing a number of provocative protests that involve the destruction of famous art or private property to gain attention and outrage the public. The traffic demonstrations the latest in a series of similar demonstrations since April proved one too many for some commuters as they fought back, even getting hostile with protesters at times. Police only intervened to arrest the man who got physical with the demonstrators, prompting criticism from nearby pedestrians. BARE-CHESTED CLIMATE ACTIVISTS IN ROME SMEAR THEMSELVES WITH MUD TO PROTEST FOSSIL FUEL USE, EVOKE FLOODING Activists from Just Stop Oil take part in a slow march along a road in London's financial district on Monday. "Tensions have been high, with one man arrested after throwing a supporter onto the ground, one motorcyclist attempting to drive through the same procession and another member of the public snatching banners and physically confronting the Just Stop Oil supporters," Just Stop Oil wrote alongside a video of the demonstrations, informing the public that it can expect more marches in the future. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP LEFT-WING GERMAN CHANCELLOR SLAMS NUTTY CLIMATE PROTESTERS BLOCKING STREETS, DEFACING ART Just Stop Oil activists protest at the Chelsea Flower Show in London on Thursday in this still image obtained from a social media video. Last week, another Just Stop Oil protest resulted in one bystander pushing a protester and smacking a phone out of their hand as the demonstration also stopped traffic on a busy London street. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN MADRID PROTEST AGAINST PLANS FOR A LARGE-SCALE OCTOPUS FARM A frustrated commuter pushes a Just Stop Oil protester out of the way as the demonstration blocked his van. "The Met and City of London Police are aware of an incident in which a member of the public appears to have remonstrated with Just Stop Oil protesters this morning, 19 May, in the City of London, before the arrival of police," a spokesperson for Londons Metropolitan Police told the BBC following last weeks incident. "At this stage, we are not aware that any allegations have been made in regard to this matter," the spokesperson added. "We completely understand the frustration and anger of London's communities when protesters walk slowly in the roads." Just Stop Oil grabbed headlines for defacing Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting and gluing themselves to other famous artworks. They also smashed cake into the wax model of King Charles III at the Madame Tussauds museum in London. An illustrated collage of Trump frowning and abortion protesters in the background Illustrated / Getty Images Former President Donald Trump arguably did more for the anti-abortion movement than any previous president. After all, he appointed three of the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. But will movement leaders support him as he campaigns for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination? Politico reported that's not a sure thing. Trump's ambivalence about a national abortion ban has social conservatives contemplating other candidates. "We're looking for an unapologetic champion on this issue," said one. Trump regularly boasts about his anti-abortion credentials. "After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the 'shock' of everyone," he recently posted on the Truth Social media platform. But he has also blamed the issue for Republicans' weak performance in the 2022 midterm elections and has criticized the six-week ban signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as "too harsh." The former president's equivocation makes a certain amount of political sense. Republican primary voters may like abortion bans, but there's ample evidence the issue has hurt the party with the general electorate. "There are no easy answers" for Republican candidates like Trump, The Associated Press reported. Could the abortion issue sink Trump's attempt to return to the White House? What are commentators saying? "In a general election, a strong anti-abortion stance can be a real negative," wrote CNN's Richard Galant. That means Trump's boast that he "killed" abortion rights could sink his presidential candidacy. His recent ambiguity on the issue "could help Trump politically" with the general electorate, but it won't get him that far with the anti-abortion activists whose votes he needs to win the Republican nomination. That leaves the former president in a pickle. Galant added, "Trump may need to come up with a better answer to keep the pro-life community in his good graces." "Trump doesn't get to have it both ways" on abortion, Nicole Russell stated for the Washington Examiner. It makes no sense that the former president "takes credit for reversing the country's preeminent abortion ruling" but also "slams DeSantis for being too pro-life." Trump is trying to use the abortion issue to win over conservative voters without being passionately pro-life himself. That may not work. "For most pro-life advocates, there is no such thing" as an ambiguous position on the issue. "There is only being pro-life or pro-abortion." The answer for Trump may be to put the spotlight on Democrats, William McGurn wrote at The Wall Street Journal. "It's no secret that Democrats plan to use abortion to paint Republicans as extremists." Rather than get caught up in its divisions on abortion, the GOP should instead look outward and "put the focus on Democrat extremism," say, by challenging President Biden on late-term abortions. "Constantly we are toldrightlythat Americans want to keep abortion legal but also support limits," McGurn said. "Mr. Biden is not for any limits." What's next? Trump is currently sporting a hefty polling lead for the GOP nomination over DeSantis, his nearest rival. Will that hold? "Recent polling underscores that Trump may have to work to regain some evangelicals' support," FiveThirtyEight reported. But Trump also famously commands the loyalty of white evangelical voters that may transcend the abortion issue to some extent. "Many view him as their great warrior," said Peter Wehner, a NeverTrump conservative. "It's a bond that will be hard to break." Anti-abortion activists say they will hold the line. "Our position is that anyone who's running for a federal office who says that it's a state-only job cannot receive the support of the pro-life movement," Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told The New Yorker. "I do think that the former president thinks that there is a line to be drawn. I just don't know what it is." Trump may be inclined to keep fudging the issue, promising anti-abortion voters future victories while staying fuzzy on the specifics of what he would try to do if he returns to the White House. "For 50 years, they had been trying to" overturn Roe, he said this week. "I got it done, and now we're in a position to make a really great deal and a deal that people want." For now, it appears Trump will keep trying to have it both ways. You may also like WHO chief warns of pathogens that could be 'even deadlier' than Covid-19 Will the IRS's free online tax filing program kill H&R Block and TurboTax? California is diverting melting snow to avoid flooding Protesters demonstrated outside a luxury hotel in Miami as wealth donors to newly announced 2024 candidate Ron DeSantis met. The protest assembled outside the citys Four Seasons hotel hours before Mr DeSantis announced his bid for the presidency in a chaotic Twitter event with Elon Musk. Mr DeSantis was not actually present at the hotel, according to the Miami Herald. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr DeSantis filed his statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. The long-awaited move by the Florida governor follows a campaign announcement video released a day earlier by his wife, Casey, on Twitter. A video of the protest was posted to Twitter by Natasha Korecki of NBC News. The rising Republican star is in his second term as governor of the trending-red Sunshine State, having won re-election by double digits just last year. He previously won election to office in 2018 by a fraction of a percentage point. But not everyone is happy that he is taking his far-right brand of politics to the national stage. The Four Seasons crowd which seemingly numbered around 100 protesters, according to the Miami Herald chanted F*** DeSantis as the meeting took place. Signs also read Ban DeSantis not books and Protect trans youth. Earlier this month, more than a dozen people were arrested for protesting outside Mr DeSantiss Florida Capitol office. The 14 arrested were charged with misdemeanour trespass and were booked into the Leon County Jail, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The protest was organised by a human rights group called the Dream Defenders. Mr DeSantis has leaned heavily into right-wing culture war issues during his time as Florida governor and will hope that helps him in his bid to win the GOP presidential nomination. Months of polling have shown him consistently behind Donald Trump in a Republican primary matchup. That same polling has shown him in the double digits, however, which is consistently better than rivals such as Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson and others. A bill passed in Connecticut aims to update the US state's definition of "sexual orientation" in non-discrimination statutes, but a local advocacy group claims the legislation would protect pedophiles. This is false; lawmakers and independent experts say the measure does not mention pedophilia or enable criminal behavior. "Contact your Senator today to oppose expanding CT's Anti-Discrimination law to Minor Attracted Persons (MAP)s," says a May 18, 2023 article from the Family Institute of Connecticut, a group that advocates against same-sex marriage and abortion. This screenshot taken May 24, 2023 shows a headline published by the Family Institute of Connecticut Similar claims circulated on Instagram and Twitter after the Connecticut House of Representatives passed House Bill 6638 (HB 6638) with strong bipartisan support on May 9. The legislation (archived here) aims to revise the definition of "sexual orientation" in the state's non-discrimination statutes. "House Amendment 'A' specifies that 'sexual orientation' includes any identity that a person is perceived by another person to hold, relating to the gender or genders to which a person is romantically, emotionally or sexually attracted," says an analysis (archived here) from the Office of Legislative Research (OLR). But the bill's co-authors and independent legal experts told AFP the posts misinterpret the legislation, which as of May 25 had not cleared the Senate. "The claims made online that this updated definition of sexual orientation 'includes identities whose underlying behavior would be a sex crime' is ludicrous," said Representative Dominique Johnson, the bill's Democratic co-sponsor. "States that have more recently added 'sexual orientation' to their protected classes or that have updated their definitions like we're trying to do here in Connecticut don't have language invoking criminal statutes." The legislation's other co-sponsor, Democratic Representative Jeff Currey, added that "attraction to things like plants" or minors "would absolutely not be protected because neither 'attraction' has anything to do with gender." No protections for pedophiles Kyle Velte, a law professor at the University of Kansas who focuses on LGBTQ rights, confirmed the Connecticut bill "is not intended to offer protections to pedophiles." Instead, Velte said the proposal fixes the "problematic notions" of the state's definition of sexual orientation, which does not currently include identities "such as asexual, polysexual and pansexual." GLAAD, an LGBTQ advocacy group, also recommends avoiding the term "sexual preference" because it suggests "being gay, lesbian or bisexual is voluntary and 'curable.'" Some of the confusion online may stem from the fact that the OLR analysis says Connecticut's current definition of sexual orientation "expressly excludes any behavior that is a sex offense crime." Clifford Rosky, a law professor at the University of Utah, said the bill "removes outdated language suggesting that the state does not 'condone' LGBT people and that being LGBT is a criminal offense." However, he said that state law "strictly prohibits anyone from engaging in sexual activity with a minor" and that "nothing in HB 6638 changes that." The American Psychological Association (APA) says pedophilia is a mental disorder, not a sexual orientation. Arthur Leonard, a professor at New York Law School who specializes in LGBTQ rights, told AFP that pedophilia "is not regarded by courts to be 'sexual orientation,' and sex between adults and minors is outlawed in every jurisdiction in the United States." AFP contacted the Connecticut Republican Party for comment, but a response was not forthcoming. More of AFP's reporting on misinformation about the LGBTQ community can be found here. AOC mocks DeSantis over his glitch-plagued presidential announcement on Twitter with Elon Musk AOC mocks DeSantis over his glitch-plagued presidential announcement on Twitter with Elon Musk Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks in front of the U.S. Capitol on July 28, 2022. Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez trolled Ron DeSantis and his allies on Wednesday evening. Ocasio-Cortez claimed she had more people watch her play a video game than DeSantis had on Twitter. DeSantis made the choice to announce his presidential run on a Twitter Space with Elon Musk. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez trolled Ron DeSantis and his supporters on Wednesday as the Florida governor tried to announce his presidential campaign amid a glitch-plagued audio chat on Twitter with Elon Musk. Ocasio-Cortez took particular issue with entrepreneur David Sacks' claim that the initial audience for DeSantis' Twitter chat broke the internet. "We had more people join when I played Among Us," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter. At one point, the room planned for the DeSantis chat had around 400,000 people. But Sacks and Musk were forced to another Twitter Space amid the glitches. "We've got so many people here that I think we are kind of melting the servers," Sacks said at one point. Even Musk, who now owns Twitter, conceded that the platform was struggling to keep up. While Sacks claimed victory, the reality is that other platforms often handle many more listeners or viewers. Travis Scott famously had more than 12 million users join him on Fortnite for a virtual concert, an event that was considered a watershed moment for online gaming. Even other audio-focused platforms handle a bigger load. "i have been in bigger Clubhouse rooms," Verge Editor Alex Heath wrote of Sacks' claim. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty Oddly enough, Arian Moayed enjoys the sweat, grease, and grime of productions based in New York City. Three of his ongoing projectsSuccession on HBO, the upcoming comedy film You Hurt My Feelings, and A Dolls House on Broadwayhave kept him tied down to the metropolitan hub. The citys not for every actor, but Moayed says he appreciates having to dip through the crowded streets of Manhattan. You have to be nimble, Moayed says. That brings a sense of danger to it all. When I ask him why hes drawn to these fast-paced city stories, Moayed seems almost apologetic about his attraction to the Big Apple. Its like hes revealing his guilty pleasure, as if enjoying New York is akin to eating greasy dollar slices or wearing sneakers without socks (more on that later). Moayed, dressed in a crisp business fit for Stewy Hosseini (his Succession character, a longtime friend of the Roy family and vicious business collaborator), reveals this preference to me during a chat on a sunny day in Nolita. Not only does he love grungy New York, he says, but he also loves a low-key set. It sounds kind of crazy, but I also love the indie-film budget. Theres a scrappiness of it that gets you to make quick decisions. Even on a show like Succession, we have to do that a little bit. HBO Perhaps another actor would be peeved by an angry New Yorker shouting obscenities at a cast of renowned celebrities, as theyre filming on a busy sidewalk. But not Moayed, who revels in a memory of just that he has from filming Nicole Holofceners upcoming You Hurt My Feelings in early 2022. During production, a good number of city dwellers were still sporting masks, but the COVID-19 pandemic wasnt part of the movie, which releases on May 26 in theaters. Moayed was shooting one of the most tense scenes in the movie, in which Don (Tobias Menzies) vents to his brother-in-law Moayeds character Mark, about how he secretly dislikes his wife Beths (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) new novel. While Don and Mark talk in a packed Paragon store, Beth listens in, unbeknownst to them. As they filmed, Moayed witnessed true New York kindness: A young PA asked a masked passerby to step out of the frame. And the guy says, in typical New York fashion, Moayed recalls, Shoot it in the studio! You Hurt My Feelings: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Shines in Sundance Marriage Comedy Moayed has a good laugh, though neither of us envies the PA who faced down the aggravated local. Moayed also recalls having to use some of that New York agility himself during the shoot, when cameras started rolling. While Moayed and Menzies waited for Louis-Dreyfus and Michaela Watkins (who plays Sarah, Beths sister and Marks wife) to enter Paragon, the actors were tasked with improvising a few lines as the comedy-of-errors was set into motion. I remember we needed to fill in with all of this sock talk, Moayed says, seeing as his character is a sock fanatic. I [improvised], I just like to sit with the wall. I like to sit back, watch the wall of socks, and see what socks speak to me. I remember Tobias being like, Really? And I was like, Yeah. So we just looked at the socks. In another movie, perhaps this scene would be cruel and dramaticbut not through the lighthearted human lens of Holofcener, who cushions her attacks against Beth with a hilarious Moayed ranting and raving about socks. You wouldnt guess that these lines were off-the-cuff. The actor speaks with such conviction, such sincerity, and such care about sockssocks!that you believe every word he comes up with. It helps that Moayed, himself, is a bit of a sock head. (Or whatever sock fans are called. There are sneaker heads, but I couldnt find anything online for the sockies.) True story, he says, chuckling, before he launches into his Christmas list from a few years ago, which included a number of pricey socks. Ironically, though, one of his most popular characters has the exact opposite opinion. On Succession, I purposely wanted no socks. [Stewy] never wears socks, Moayed says. Hes fixated on the intricacies of his characters footwear on Succession and especially You Hurt My Feelings, which details Marks sock fascination to build his characters eccentric personality. But he thanks director/writer Holofcener for that detail. Thats Nicole, and thats the beauty of Nicoles work. Its all about these specific things that make people click. That intense level of micro-comedy, as he calls it, is what Moayed found alluring about the role, in which he is one-half of something that is so rare in movies these days: a middle-aged, healthy, happy New York couple. Sure, they fight. But Mark and Sarahas well as Beth and Don, who are the main coupleunderstand each other on a molecular level. Literally. Sarah carries around each over-the-counter medicine Mark might need on any occasion, from GasX to Tums. Jeong Park / A24 Films Those are the things I really respond to, he says of those relationship specifics. Big broad gestures of, Were in a fight, so we must divorce! Its very binary. To hear a little bit of nuanceboth of those relationships are super-healthy. Theyre complicated, and theyll surely have turmoil going forward, but that being said, it feels lived in and honest. The pair work incredibly well together, which is in part thanks to Holofceners vivid writing and Watkins, who, Moayed says, looked him in the eyes and transfixed him: Seeing she loves you and feels bad for you at the same time, its all you need. But a marriage is made up of two halves, and, for his part, Moayed is an erratic and loving presence. He panics over everythingbut is also the only person who can calm Sarah down at any given moment. What if you didnt like one of my designs? Sarah, an interior designer, asks Mark one night, while they contemplate Beth and Dons tricky disagreement. But I love your style, Mark responds. The conversation ends. They settle back into bed, which looks as cozy as their meditative conversations sound. Mark is a stage actor, akin to Moayed, though they differ in the fact that Moayed is actually able to secure big roles. Over the course of You Hurt My Feelings, we see Mark secure a role in a play, then get fired for his poor performance, and, later, land another role that actually fits his style. While Moayed says he doesnt go depression when he loses roleswhich Mark does, canceling his big birthday bash after some bad casting news knocks him outhe completely relates to all of Marks jams in trying to find work. All of us in the creative world have to put ourselves out there in a vulnerable, tough, scary way, he says. Any type of reaction to thatsmall, bad, goodyoure constantly analyzing it. Every creative person that I know is like, Why did I write it like that? Why am I not as good as this person? It never ends. Then, Moayed points his finger to me and back to himself, indicating that were both creative types. We give a shit. Theres a moment in the film where, after Beth hears all of the nasty things Don thinks about her book (he only really says that its not good, but that alone is enough to send her into a full-blown panic attack, fixed only by some of her sons weed), Sarah tells her sister that shes lied to Mark about liking a handful of his performances. But why say that she doesnt like them aloud? With regards to his own artistic life, Moayed prefers hearing and telling white lies too. What are we gaining from it, for me to come up and be like, Yo, I hated your article. But what do you want to have for lunch? he says. If youre putting yourself out there, with hard work and as much energy and talent as you can throw at it, and [someone] hates it, I think its okay to [tell a] white lie. Just let it go. Moayed admits that hes had to employ this tactic before Sometimes, youre backstage waiting for the friend to come out of this shitty play that you just saw. You try to find the most honest, positive things you can put out into the world. And then you leave with a couple of other friends, who are like, Did you like it? and youre like, No, I hated it, he says, grimacing. Its a tricky dance, but we deal with it all the time. Someone he wont have to lie to about their work, however, is Succession castmate Jeremy Strong, who was just cast in a 2024 production of An Enemy of the People. It marks Strongs first Broadway role since 2008, when he starred in A Man For All Seasons. Before this news dropped, Strong came to visit his pal Moayed (heads up, KenStewy hive: They see each other quite a bit in real life, even if their scenes together are cut from Succession) and see him in A Dolls House. Jessica Chastain Electrifies a No-Frills Broadway Revival of A Doll's House I remember going up to him and being like, When are you going to get back up here? Moayed recalls his interaction with Strong after A Dolls House. He was like, I cant do it, I cant do this again. Lies! Cut to a month later, when this is happening. Hes perfectly cast for this. Like any actor, however, Moayed says that Im sure [Strong is] going to be shitting bricks too. Unfortunately, Strong and Moayed wont cross paths on Broadway, as Moayeds stint in A Dolls House will end on June 10the night before the Tony Awards, at which hes deservedly up for his second Best Featured Actor in a Play nomination. Hopefully were not hungover at the Tonys! Moayed jokes. There are 30 minutes of the play where [co-star Jessica Chastain and I] are literally two inches from each other, loving and hating each other at the same time. Im definitely going to miss that challenge, sparring with such a legend. Another show thats about to close its curtains: Succession. Writing these words fills me with sadnesssay it aint so! Only one episode in the HBO shows fourth and final season remains, and the hour-and-a-half-long doozy of a finale will air this Sunday. Macall Polay Knowing how it ends, seeing some of the ending, I am both so happy and incredibly sad, Moayed says. We end with such a big bang that will feel, hopefully, satisfying to everyone. [Fans] are going to have a series of emotions that are epic in naturehuge and full and satisfied. Jesse Armstrongs statement about this class and this world and money and capitalism[the finale] really zeroes in on what hes trying to say. Though Moayed only has a recurring role in the story of the brutal Roy family, Stewy has become quite the fixture. The character has developed (and, thoughtfully, interacts with) an avid fan base on social media, where his minor role has exploded into a fan-favorite thanks to clever lines and a snarky performance. Hes particularly popular on Twitter, where fans rioted in protest when his character was present at Logans (Brian Cox) wake but not his funeral. me trying to find stewy at the funeral #succession pic.twitter.com/HzW5YNExET Cris | yj & succession era (@lionesspike) May 22, 2023 These episodes are full, full, full, Moayed says, explaining that he was originally supposed to be in last Sundays episode. There were a bunch of scenes in that episode that were cut out, which happens. Luckily, that was the first time that happened for me, which is nice. But the moment we lost sounds like it would have been a good one: We had a lovely scene with Jeremy and I, a little bit with Ewan [James Cromwell] and Stewy. Stewy fans, rest assured: I am in the last episode, Moayed confirms. The actor also urges his fanbase to keep supporting him once Succession ends, of course. After viewing Stewys final moments on the show, why not go see You Hurt My Feelings? If the Stewy hive goes towards a Nicole Holofcener addiction, I am happy to be that conduit, he says. Going out to support your favorite actors is especially important right now, as the threat of a Screen Actors Guild strike looms, which would take our favorite stars like Moayed out of work and onto the picket line for an immeasurable amount of time. If the studios wont come to the contract renegotiation table, thoughwhich Moayed unfortunately predicts will happen, akin to the ongoing Writers Guild strikestriking be necessary action. Were in an existential moment right now. Are we going to really continue to let others get all of the goods while everyone else is fighting for survival? Moayed says. We live in a world very much like Succession, where it seems like so many at the top are getting so much richer while everyone else thats putting the work and the hours in to make that content are not. Were not asking for too much here! Until his world is possibly turned upside down, though, Moayed continues to hunt for stories that will challenge him. Any of those New York-based productions, which keep him on his toes, will do. But he holds himself to a pretty high standard when choosing his next projects. The guiding post for me is this old Iranian/Zoroastrian philosophy, called Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, he says. In a weird way, as Im getting older, I realize Im picking the stories I want to tell by having that mantra. Does this story have good thoughts, does it have good words, and does it have good deeds? If it doesnt, or if its just evil for evils sake, thats not something Im interested in. If [Mark] is just a terrible actorI'm not interested. If Stewy hates everyone and just wants to get ahead, Im not interested. Moayed has, at the moment, selected the following stories: that of a headstrong businessman, who cares deeply about his twisted CEO best friend; an actor who is strong enough to secure callbacks but never land the part; and Jessica Chastains controlling husband. You wouldnt be telling him any white lies by saying hes nailing all three. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The Israel-made malware, which can seize control of a smartphone's microphone and camera, hit global headlines in 2021 At least a dozen Armenian journalists, NGO workers and officials had their phones hacked with the notorious Pegasus spyware while the country fought with Azerbaijan, a rights group said Thursday. The Israeli-made malware, which can seize control of a smartphone's microphone and camera, hit global headlines when a leak in 2021 showed how governments used it to spy on critics, journalists and NGOs. Access Now said their report was the first to document evidence of spyware being used in an international conflict. The two neighbours fought a brief war in 2020 for control of Azerbaijan's mostly Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh, after an earlier conflict in the 1990s. The fallout from the wars continues with the two sides meeting for talks in Moscow on Thursday. Access Now said its joint investigation with other NGOs and academic groups had confirmed 12 people had been targeted with Pegasus. Among them were Armenia's human rights chief, journalists for Radio Free Europe and a United Nations official. Anna Naghdalyan, who served as a foreign ministry spokeswoman for Armenia during the conflict, was among the hacking victims and said her phone had held sensitive information about the war. "This was just another indicator that all (parts of) our life can be targeted," she told AFP. - War crimes risk - The NGO was first contacted by worried Armenians in November 2021, when Apple warned that their phones could be vulnerable to the spyware, developed by Israel's NSO Group. Access Now said the hacking was at its most intense during the conflict in late 2020 and the tense months afterwards, when the two sides engaged in peace talks and sporadic clashes. The NGO said it could not be 100 percent sure who had carried out the surveillance as both countries have deployed spyware in the past. "While the covert nature of surveillance tech means there aren't always clear breadcrumbs that lead to a perpetrator, circumstances and precedent point to Azerbaijani authorities," Access Now's Senior Humanitarian Officer Giulio Coppi told AFP. Access Now called for a global moratorium on the sale of spyware until such programmes can be made compliant with international law. "Providing Pegasus spyware to either of the countries' authorities in the context of a violent conflict carries a substantial risk of contributing to and facilitating serious human rights violations and even war crimes," said the report. "This investigation shows that NSO Group not only failed to learn its lesson, but has doubled down on its abuses." NSO, which faces multiple lawsuits from Apple and others, has repeatedly insisted it sells its software only to government clients and only for peaceful purposes. But the 2021 leak suggested there were around 50,000 potential victims of Pegasus around the world, many of whom were dissidents, journalists and activists. jxb/lth A federal judge Thursday sentenced Army veteran and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes the toughest sentence yet following the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot: 18 years in prison on charges of seditious conspiracy for his role in plotting the attack. His deputy, Kelly Meggs, got 12 years. The sentence was the longest in the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases so far, sending a clear message that those who took part in storming the U.S. Capitol, aiming to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, will be held accountable for the deadly violence unleashed that day. The steep sentences clash with the narrative spun by some in the GOP aiming to portray the melee as peaceful protest. Rhodes federal sentencing follows similar tough sentences for the neo-Nazi Proud Boys, but is likely to have even wider impact. For the past 12 plus years he has played an outsized role with the militia movement and other similar anti-government extremists, said Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism. Prosecutors had asked District Judge Amit Mehta to sentence Rhodes for 25 years, based on his leadership role, as well as invoke a provision that allows courts to hand out harsher sentences for terrorism. But the Rhodes defense countered that hed served in the military, the Associated Press reported, and was honorably separated from the Army after serving two years and seven months on active duty. Eighteen years is still a very substantial sentence, Pitcavage said. Its the longest Capitol storming sentence to date. Out of the around 500 people sentenced for charges related to storming the Capitol, the next longest sentence belongs to Peter Schwarz, who will serve 14 years behind prison bars. Immediately after Mehta handed down Rhodes sentence Thursday, he sentenced Kelly Meggs, the leader of the Oath Keepers Florida chapter, to 12 years the third-longest sentence for a Capitol rioter. According to court documents, Meggs had discussed planning an alliance with another extremist group, the neo-Nazi Proud Boys, ahead of the Capitol riot. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington. (Susan Walsh/AP) Ringleader Rhodes Rhodes, 58, started the Oath Keepers, an antigovernment, rightwing fringe group, in 2009, at a time when militia groups made a resurgence after the election of Democratic President Barack Obama. The militia groups grew by the hundreds and Rhodes stuck out as a clear influencer targeting military members, veterans, firefighters and police in its recruitment efforts, Pitcavage said. Rhodes was among the most high profile cases to come out of the Capitol riot, during which supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election results. Rhodes lawyers argued the Oath Keepers made no explicit plan to storm the Capitol and stop President Joe Bidens victory. However, prosecutors presented evidence of Rhodes sending encrypted messages to his membership following the 2020 election, telling them to refuse to accept the election result and saying, We arent getting through this without a civil war prepare your mind, body, spirit. During a call with members a few days later, Rhodes outlined a plan to stop the transfer of presidential power, which included preparations for the use of force, according to the indictment. Of the 180 individuals with military backgrounds who were charged with participating in the Capitol riot, 21 were members of the Oath Keepers, according to data from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, known as START. A total of 30 Oath Keepers were present at the Capitol that day, the Department of Justice said. Along with Rhodes and Meggs, four other members of the Oath Keepers were found guilty of seditious conspiracy in the attack, including Joseph Hackett, Roberto Minuta, David Moerschel and Edward Vallejo. Members Jessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson, and Thomas Caldwell were convicted of other felony charges related to the attack, but they were acquitted of seditious conspiracy. The arrest of Rhodes and Meggs effectively shuttered the group, said Michael Jensen, a senior researcher at START, which tracks the criminal activity of extremist groups. The Oath Keepers operated through a hierarchy, which made it difficult for members to continue after the arrest of their leaders. Putting the leadership in jail has crippled that organization. Its defunct at this point, Jensen said. The structure was organized under the central leadership or Rhodes. When he and his lieutenants were put away, the whole thing crumbled. The group recruited veterans by appealing to their oaths to defend the U.S. Constitution, the ADL said in a 2015 report. The Oath Keepers told veterans that conspirators were taking over the government and asked them to pledge to disobey unconstitutional orders, referring to a conspiracy theory about the government confiscating Americans guns. The group stoked paranoia and fanned anti-government sentiments to give its members purpose, the ADL said. A 2022 leak of an Oath Keepers membership database revealed the names of hundreds of current and former military personnel, elected officials and police. In total, 117 troops serving in the military, 11 serving in the reserves and another 31 military contractors and affiliated civilians were identified. Members of the group often acted as vigilantes. The Oath Keepers formed their own armed patrol during protests in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, following the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, and they patrolled the site of the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Some members showed up with firearms to polling locations in 2016 and 2022, allegedly to discourage voter fraud. They also offered security to business owners who defied COVID-19 safety measures. Earlier this month, four members of the Proud Boys, three of whom with military backgrounds, were also convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Capitol riot. Thursdays sentencing of Rhodes and Meggs could signal how much time prosecutors will seek in those cases. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, along with members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl, are scheduled to be sentenced in August and September. A person on Monday pauses in front of Stars of David with the names of those killed in a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. (Matt Rourke/AP) Domestic Terrorism? Thomas OConnor, a member of The Soufan Group, said in the future, domestic terrorism may be the best way to charge people like Rhodes and Meggs, if only such a charge existed. After many of these incidents, they come out and say this is an act of domestic terrorism. But in all reality, there is no penalty for the actual charge of domestic terrorism. OConnor said federal prosecutors needed to find other criminal violations for the actions he said fall under the definition of domestic terrorism. In other cases where the prosecution may not prove seditious conspiracy, OConnor said a charge of domestic terrorism may accurately capture the intent of some crimes, like the Tree of Life shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh or the Charleston black church shooting. In the Dylan Roof case, he was charged with very serious crimes of homicide and hate crimes federally, OConnor said. But because theyre domestic terrorists, we cant charge someone and actually identify them as a terrorist because theres no ability to do so. Prosecutors argued that groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, far-right anti-government groups, rushed to the Capitol to prevent a federal process from taking place in a deliberate effort to prevent transitioning the presidential office and duties from former president Donald Trump to current president Joe Biden. Mia Bloom, an expert on extremist radicalism, said the lengthy sentences indicate that the judicial system takes domestic terrorism seriously. With nearly 1 in 5 of Capitol rioters charged as veterans or active-duty service members in the military, Bloom said the issue of military extremism remains a pertinent issue despite recent efforts to downplay its prevalence among the Department of Defense. Bloom called a recent study issued by RAND misleading, adding fuel to the fire of conservative efforts to remove military extremism from DOD line of sight. The study found that military members were as likely to harbor extreme beliefs as the rest of the American public, although the study authors noted their survey required veterans to self-identify as extremist. We didnt have a pro-Jihad group in Congress after 9-11 but we have a section of Congress that refuses to consider right-wing terrorism is terrorism, Bloom said. This story was produced in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism. Arnold Schwarzenegger has spoken out about his history with drug use, with the actor encouraging bodybuilders not to use steroids. The 75-year-old reflected on his days as a bodybuilder during a recent interview with Mens Health, as he appeared on the cover of the magazines July/August issue. During the conversation, he specified that he used to take both testosterone and dianabol, a popular steroid drug. One hundred milligrams a week, he said about his testosterone usage. And then three Dianabol a day, so that was 15 milligrams a day. According to Schwarzenegger, his previous drug usage wasnt like the way that steroids are abused today. He also noted that steroids werent illegal until 1990, when Congress passed The Anabolic Steroid Control Act. He went on to claim bodybuilders nowadays seem to be accessing performance-enhancing drugs in a different way than he used to. The Terminator actor also pointed out the dangers of taking steroids, without the advice of a medical professional. Bodybuilding always, always was considered a safe sport. But now its not. Now people are dyingtheyre dying because of overdoses of drugs and they dont know what the f*** theyre doing, Schwarzenegger said. Theyre listening to charlatans. If I want to get medical advice from a doctor, I go to UCLA or I go to the Cleveland Clinic. He confessed that given his history with steroids, he knows hes not the best person to be sending this message about drug usage. But, he still encouraged bodybuilders to avoid steroids and described the way in which they can damage peoples bodies. Dont go there. Yes, we are at a time now where we always look for the easy way to make money, the fast way to get rich, the easy way to be an influencer, the former California governor said. Anytime you abuse the body, youre going to regret it. So I just want young people to know that I have seen people getting kidney transplants and suffering tremendously from it. He also said that he understands if bodybuilders dont want to take his advice. I recognise the fact that, who am I to say this? This is the guy who climbed without a rope, he added. According to the Mayo Clinic, performancing-enhacing drugs, like anabolic steroids are drugs that athletes take to boost their strength and add muscle. They are also made to work like a hormone that the body makes called testosterone. There are many side effects and risks that can come with taking steroids, including high blood pressure, issues with the heart and blood flow, and liver tumours. Over the years, Schwarzenegger has openly confessed to using steroids. During an interview with ABC Newss George Stephanopoulos back in 2005, he said that he had no regrets about using these drugs, as his doctor knew about it. At that time, it was something new that came on the market, and we went to the doctor and did it under doctors supervision. We were experimenting with it. It was a new thing, he explained. So you cant roll the clock back and say, Now I would change my mind on this. However, he still urged people not to take steroids. But people should take food supplements, he explained. People should be able to take the vitamins and all of the nutritious stuff that is available, but stay away from drugs. During his conversation with Mens Health, Schwarzenegger spoke about his current fitness routine, noting that he does 25 to 30 total sets a day. He said that he isnt as focused on building muscles and that his point of training is to stay alive, to be able to do my movies. Owners of an illegal dump that burns fires affecting nearby residents in east London says a council is "blocking" efforts to clean it up. Fires at Arnolds Field, Rainham, have led to fears among locals they are being exposed to harmful gases. Landowner DMC Essex says it has been negotiating the land's development since buying it in 2017. Havering Council says it cannot progress plans because there are "terms and conditions" on entering the land. At a council meeting attended by hundreds of concerned residents last week, cabinet member for development and regeneration Graham Williamson said detailed landfill surveys had not yet been carried out because of the terms set out by the landowner in a letter on 7th March. The site is filled with about 40,000 cubic metres of unregulated waste sitting the equivalent of two stories high. A planning agent for DMC Essex businessmen Jeremiah O'Donovan and Finbarr McMachon told the meeting they were offering to process the landfill materials on site and remove "dangerous wastes" such as gas cylinders before covering it with a "restoration layer" of soil. In exchange, they are asking for planning permission to use 20-25% of the site, which is on protected green belt land, for storing industrial machinery. 'Living on throat lozenges' The agent told the meeting: "Everything we ask for is just getting batted back, we're just getting nowhere with it and [Havering Council] are asking for stuff we don't know at this stage, so they're blocking us. "We're just trying to find a solution that works for everybody but are just getting nowhere with it." Rainham Against Pollution steering group member Mark Wheatley called on Havering Council to urgently "get around the table" with the landowner. He said: "The news is saying it's going to be the hottest summer, people are actually scared for their lives, I live the furthest away from the site and I'm living on throat lozenges." In response to growing alarm about the health impacts of the fires, Havering Council launched a year-long air quality study last summer but is yet to enter the site to analyse what materials are burning. The businessmen also said relocating from their company's current base at a "small yard" on green belt land nearby at Greenacres Trading Estate, Aveley Road, in Upminster, would provide "further public benefit". Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. An investigator goes through the trash cans at Arnoldo's wife Estralla Carrera's Burbank apartment complex on May 14, 2012. (Chuck Berman) The FBI announced Thursday the reward for the capture of a Chicago man wanted in the 2012 stabbing death of his wife has increased to $250,000, officials said. In May 2012, Arnoldo Jimenez, allegedly stabbed his wife to death inside his black Maserati and dragged her body, while still wearing her wedding dress, to the bathtub of her Burbank apartment, the FBI said. Advertisement Officials said the stabbing happened less than 24 hours after the couples wedding. Jimenez is believed to have ties to Durango, Mexico. He may also frequent Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The public can report tips, even anonymously, at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov. Around 79% of American workers believe AI will threaten their salary and lead to pay cuts, new survey finds Although there's fear that AI could kill their jobs, some workers are excited that it could take some workload off their shoulders. Guillaume/Getty Images Around 79% of US workers are worried that adopting AI will result in pay cuts, a new survey found. Workers are concerned that AI-driven layoffs will happen in the next six months to two years. However, 86% of workers are willing to take a cut in salary if AI can help them work less. American workers are concerned about the adoption of AI in the workplace, especially the prospect of wages declining across the country, a new survey found. The survey, carried out via survey platform Pollfish and commissioned by employment screening service Checkr, polled 3,000 employed American workers between April 27 and 28, 2023. An equal number of Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Z were surveyed as part of the report. It found that 79% of all American workers were fearful or unsure about the possibility of AI driving pay cuts for their position with 82% of millennials feeling this way. Meanwhile, 76% of Gen Zers and a similar percentage of other generations echoed the feeling. Additionally, 78% of all workers were unsure about whether AI could lead to wage declines across the country. 74% of all workers felt the incorporation of AI in the workplace may result in them losing their jobs with the same amount believing AI layoffs are going to happen in the next six months to two years. Although there's fear that AI could kill their jobs, many workers are excited that it could take some workload off their shoulders. Over half of all workers said they would take a pay cut if AI-enabled a four-day workweek. A further 86% said they'd take a pay cut to work less if AI could help them get all their work done. Millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers are willing to take a pay cut of 10% whilst Gen Zers said they'd give up 15% of their pay to work less. Insider has contacted Checkr for comment but did not immediately hear back outside regular working hours. One study of 5,000 customer support agents at Fortune 500 companies in the Philippines found that generative AI had a positive effect on worker productivity. The lowest-skilled agents in the study who received AI assistance in responding to customer inquiries and other tasks saw a 35% increase in productivity. Read the original article on Business Insider Artist instantly paralyzed after being shoved into moving subway train, New York prosecutor says A Turkish-born artist who moved to New York six years ago was instantly paralyzed from the neck down after a man allegedly shoved her into a moving subway train in what a prosecutor described Wednesday as a completely unprovoked" attack. Kamal Semrade, 39, was charged with second-degree attempted murder and other crimes in the alleged assault at a subway station in Manhattans Upper East Side on Sunday, according to a criminal complaint filed in New York Criminal Court and obtained by NBC New York. The 35-year-old victim had a cervical spine fracture, a scalp laceration and other injuries after Semrade grabbed her head with both his hands and shoved her with all his force into the moving subway car, assistant district attorney Carolyn McGuigan said Wednesday during Semrade's arraignment. In a verified online fundraiser organized partly by her husband, the victim was identified as Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy. Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy. (via GoFundMe) She was instantly paralyzed and remains in critical condition with a high risk of death or stroke, McGuigan said. The attack at the Lexington Avenue and East 63rd Street station occurred at 6:05 a.m. and was captured on security camera and seen by witnesses, McGuigan said. Ozsoy, the former head page designer at an Istanbul newspaper, moved to New York City in 2017 and wanted to focus on her art, her husband said in a written statement posted to the fundraiser. She was on her way to work at the time, he said. She and Semrade were on the same train and got off in Manhattan, McGuigan said. Semrade followed then shoved her into the train as it "rapidly" left the station, McGuigan said. I just see him walk up beside her, to her left side, and with palms open just shove her head onto the train as it moved," witness Nancy Marrero told NBC New York. Her body tumbled "in a circle and she just dropped onto the platform," Marrero told the station. Semrade fled the station, McGuigan said. As Ozsoy lay on the subway platform, she said she couldn't feel her arm and asked if she was going to die, Marrero said, according to NBC New York. "I was like, 'you're not gonna' die, don't worry, I'm here,'" Marrero told the station. "I'm gonna stay with you." Court records show the New York Police Department took Semrade into custody Tuesday. In the statement, Ozsoy's husband, Ferdi Ozsoy, thanked authorities and those who comforted his wife after the alleged assault. He said she had undergone a difficult surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center and he expected a "long recovery journey" that will likely hinder the career she had established as an award-winning artist, painter and illustrator. Ferdi Ozsoy described himself as his wife's only family in the United States and said he was seeking emergency visas for relatives to help with her care. "Her life after this is going to need constant care," he said. Rebecca Heinsen, a lawyer with The Legal Aid Society who is representing Semrade, said her client has never been in trouble with the legal system prior to this tragedy. "At this current time, we ask the public to refrain from drawing hasty conclusions based on sensationalized reporting in the press," she said in an email. Semrade, who was remanded into custody during Wednesday's hearing, is due back in court on Friday. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com We asked for your feedback on Sacramentos homeless crisis. Heres what you told us Two important revelations emerge from The Sacramento Bees informal survey of community attitudes toward homelessness. One, more than half of those who answered the survey believe that homelessness is the single most significant local issue confronting Sacramento. Two, the respondents were almost evenly split on why most people become homeless. The online survey accompanied The Bees unveiling of what will be a months-long investigation into the issue called Homelessness: Our urgent human crisis. The surveys purpose was to gather feedback and provide some understanding of community attitudes on the issue. The survey is by no means a scientific poll. Still, with nearly 350 responses, it provides enough information worth sharing. When asked how significant the issue is, slightly more than half of respondents . 52% called homelessness the most significant local issue. Another 39.8% labeled it significant. The remaining roughly 8% either felt it was of some concern (5.3%) or not an issue (2.9%). Homelessness: Our urgent human crisis Follow our ambitious, newsroom-wide series examining the growing problem of homelessness across Sacramento and California in 2023, examining government policy, money, addiction, mental health and more. Respondents were asked to choose among five answers to this question: Why do you believe most people become homeless? The top three answers were remarkably close: High cost of living (27.5%), mental health issues (26.9%) and substance addiction issues (25.7%) accounted for 80% of the responses in total. Another 13.1% called it a personal lifestyle decision, and just 6.7% attributed it to a lack of access to jobs that pay a living wage. Respondents were also asked if government was allocating enough money to combat the problem. Not enough was the most popular response at 52.4%, followed by too much at 33.4%. The remaining 14.2% chose just about right. In addition to multiple choice questions, the survey also asked open-ended questions such as: Describe what you think should be done to ease the problem of homelessness, and who do you believe is most responsible for the problem and why? Mental illness, substance addiction major concerns In both instances, the responses were wide ranging, and it would be a reach to describe anything as a consensus answer. Still, some themes emerged. For example, a good number of respondents focused specifically on mental illness and substance addiction. Many called for the return of government-run hospitals to house those with mental illness. Others advocated for more targeted and accessible addiction treatment programs. In each case, the respondents typically stressed safety for those who are vulnerable, as well as the general public who come into contact with them. Some respondents focused on the need for job training and the creation of affordable housing such as tiny homes. Others focused squarely on the need to hold those who are not mentally ill accountable for their actions that have led them to be homeless. Some advocated for locking up those they believe have made being homeless a lifestyle choice. If there was anything close to a prevailing answer to who is most responsible, it would be this: all of us. Politicians, bureaucrats, elected officials were all singled out in various ways in some instances for being too coddling; in others for not caring enough. But mostly for simply not finding solutions and thus allowing the problem to become worse. Still, others placed at least some of the blame on local residents either by being resistant to raising tax dollars to build affordable housing or fund treatment programs, or by opposing the placement of shelters, affordable housing or treatment facilities near where they live out of fear of reduced property values or by preventing an influx of what they would consider undesirable neighbors. Collectively, the respondents answers reflected not only the complexity of the issue but also and herein lies a measure of hope the sincere belief that we, as a community, have reached a point where something must be done. Our thanks to the nearly 350 people who took the time to respond to our survey. But we still want your feedback. If you have not yet filled out the survey, please feel encouraged to do so. We will continue to update you on your responses in the weeks to come. America's most experienced astronaut says her fully commercial visit to the International Space Station this week is a critical stepping stone on the road to space tourism, private-sector orbital research and development of commercially operated space stations. In a space-to-ground interview with CBS News, retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, veteran of three NASA flights with a U.S.-record 665 days in orbit and 10 spacewalks to her credit, compared the early days and high costs of commercial spaceflight with the dawn of commercial aviation when only the wealthy could afford to fly. Retired astronaut Peggy Whitson, commander of the second fully commercial flight to the International Space Station, chats with CBS News about the progress of her mission and its role in developing a private space station. / Credit: Axiom Space "Back in the '30s, '40s, as commercial aviation was developing from something that started off initially as (an) all government (initiative), it was a long process before it was something that became every day to us," she said. "But it's incredibly important if we want to increase access to space for as many people as possible that we get started somewhere. And this is a first step." Even short, suborbital flights provided by Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, which launched a piloted test flight Wednesday, "provide some access to space, and I think that's important for developing our commercial platforms in low-Earth orbit and beyond." As for the multi-million-dollar cost of a ticket to fly in orbit as a commercial astronaut or space tourist, Whitson said, "it's going to probably take a little bit longer" for prices to drop to less stratospheric levels, ones that non-millionaires can afford. "But the potential options out there for governments around the world, and people, individuals to have access to space that have never had access before, whether they send up scientific investigations or they're sending up astronauts, is really opening up," she said. And she envisions a future when "you could be the worker on some future station doing the housekeeping or doing the maintenance on the hardware that breaks." "You could just be somebody that's paid to go as part of your job to be there," she said. "And so I think that eventually, all that will build to greater and greater access to space." Axiom Space plans to add modules to the International Space Station over the next several years that will be detached to fly on their own as a commercial outpost before the current lab is retired at the end of the decade. / Credit: Axiom Space With a doctorate in biochemistry, Whitson joined NASA's astronaut corps in 1996 and completed three long-duration flights aboard the International Space Station between 2002 and 2017, launching and landing once aboard a space shuttle and twice aboard Russian Soyuz ferry ships. She logged a total of 665 days and 22 hours in space during those three flights the most time in orbit for any American and the most by any female flier. She also participated in 10 spacewalks totaling more than 60 hours, putting her fifth in the world and No. 1 among female fliers. Whitson joined Houston-based Axiom Space as director of human spaceflight after retiring from NASA. Axiom launched its first "private astronaut mission" Ax-1 in April 2022, a flight commanded by retired astronaut Michel Lopez-Alegria. Whitson blasted off last Sunday as commander of the Ax-2 mission, joining retired fiber optics entrepreneur and adventurer John Shoffner and two Saudi astronauts making their first flight -- Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi -- aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. "They're doing great!" Whitson said of her rookie crewmates. "I'm so proud of them, they've worked really hard in their training program and they're really doing a great job getting their science done and (participating in) a lot of outreach and STEM events as well. So we're really happy, very pleased with the results." Axiom Space is using the private astronaut missions to gain the expertise needed to build and operate a stand-alone commercial space station that can be used by government and private-sector astronauts and researchers after the International Space Station is retired at the end of the decade. In the near term, the missions also provide a way for serious, technically competent private citizens and governments, those without access to space, to visit the ISS for research and public outreach goals encouraged by NASA. The Ax-2 crew (left to right): Saudi astronauts Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, mission commander Peggy Whitson and co-pilot John Shoffner. / Credit: Axiom Space "Our mission control is working in Houston, full time, three shifts, to change our plans and our schedules based on activities that were or were not completed, working with NASA teams to integrate all that together with the station crews up here. So it's a pretty complex job," Whitson said. "Just learning the ropes and developing new techniques that we think will be more efficient for use on Axiom's station is really important as precursor steps. When we have a module up here, we'll be working from that same mission control as we're building it out. And so I think it's an extremely important step for us." The Ax-2 crew is carrying out 20 research projects in a variety of fields, requiring long hours of work. But Whitson said she's making sure the rookies make time to enjoy the experience, telling them "to spend at least 90 minutes one time and go around the world and watch the whole thing." The arrival of the Ax-2 astronauts boosted the space station crew from seven to 11. Asked if it was crowded in the lab, Whitson said "there are traffic jams at times because people are working in front of science racks and then people are trying to go around and behind and above and below." "We haven't had too many bump-ins yet, but there have been a few," she said. "So there definitely is more traffic and the station crew has been extremely welcoming for us." Whitson and her Ax-2 crewmates plan to close out their eight-day station visit on Tuesday, undocking and returning to Earth with a splashdown off the coast of Florida. Tina Turner discusses her iconic "What's Love Got To Do With It?" song in 1984 CBS News interview NOAA predicts Atlantic hurricane season to be near average Biden nominates Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown as Joint Chiefs chairman A bill that allows quicker activation of alerts when a child goes missing is headed to Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. The bill, passed Sunday in the Senate, would let law enforcement issue alerts when a child goes missing without confirming an abduction. It was filed following the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand. A FedEx contract driver has been charged in the girls death. She was kidnapped outside of her fathers home near Paradise on Nov. 30, 2022, but it wasnt until the next day, about 24 hours later, that law enforcement issued an Amber Alert, which can go out when officials believe an abduction has occurred. If this alert had been in place when my daughter disappeared, I have no doubt that the Wise County Sheriffs Office would have activated it, Athenas mother Maitlyn Gandy said in a written statement sent by the law group representing her in a wrongful death lawsuit. Unfortunately, their hands were tied because my daughters disappearance didnt immediately meet the strict criteria for a statewide AMBER alert. It was a helpless feeling that I wouldnt wish on any parent, she continued. My hope is that every state will follow Texas lead and amend the law so that no other parent has to wait when their child is missing. The bill would allow for activation of the alert system within a 100 mile radius of the location where the child was last seen or thought to have gone missing and in all counties adjacent to that location. The bill was field by Rep. Lynn Stucky, a Denton Republican, after consulting with Gandy and her attorneys at Varghese Summersett, who are handing the wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, FedEx and contractor Big Topspin, according to a news release from the law group about the bills passing. Rep. Tan Parker, a Flower Mound Republican, carried the bill in the Senate. The support for this bill has been overwhelming, said Benson Varghese, Gandys attorney. Its a common sense bill that will save lives without creating a financial burden on taxpayers or an operational burden on law enforcement. An Athens man, described by the FBI as the definition of a repeat offender, faces years in a federal penitentiary following his guilty plea this week to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Michael Anthony Randall, 32, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Athens. He will face a judge for sentencing on July 9. Randall also pleaded guilty to possession of contraband in jail after he admitted he hid homemade knives while he was imprisoned on a firearms charge, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Macon. Randall was on parole when he was arrested for possessing the firearm, according to the prosecutors. Oconee Blotter: Two car chases that topped 120 mph and multiple fist fights at Publix Reward: Hart County sheriff hopes $10,000 reward will help find clues to man's killer In fairly quick succession including shortly before a federal hearing for his second offense for illegally possessing a firearm Michael Randall was caught with a weapon, putting himself and others in danger, U.S. Attorney Peter Leary said in a statement released with the plea announcement. Keri Farley, the FBI agent in charge of the Atlanta office, described Randall as a repeat offender. Farley, along with U.S. Marshal Stephen D. Lynn and Butts County Sheriff Gary Long, all expressed appreciation to the U.S. Attorney for prosecuting the Randall case. Randall was arrested on a charge of illegally possessing a .380-caliber pistol in Athens on Jan. 12, 2021. He was already a convicted felon with convictions in North Carolina and Georgia, according to federal prosecutors. On Nov. 8, 2022, authorities said Butts County deputies found a shank or homemade knife, in Randalls possession, then two days later they found him in possession of another shank. Then on Dec. 16 he was found with a third shank inside the jail, according to the document. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens man faces July 9 sentencing for federal gun violation JACKSON, Miss. A Mississippi police officer who shot and wounded an unarmed 11-year-old Black boy in the child's home should be fired, an attorney for the child's mother said Thursday. The child, Aderrien Murry, was hospitalized five days for a collapsed lung, lacerated liver and fractured ribs after an Indianola Police Department officer shot him in the chest early Saturday, attorney Carlos Moore said. Aderrian returned home to Indianola on Wednesday. We are demanding justice," Moore said during a protest that his law office showed on livestream video. "An 11-year-old Black boy in the city of Indianola came within an inch of losing his life," Moore said at Indianola City Hall. He had done nothing wrong and everything right. Aderriens mother, Nakala Murry, said her son is blessed to be alive but he does not understand why an officer shot him. This undated photo provided by Nakala Murry of Indianola, Miss., shows her 11-year-old son Aderrien Murry, who was shot and wounded by an Indianola Police Department officer on Saturday, May 20, 2023, during a domestic disturbance call at the home of Murrys family. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is examining the shooting. This was the worst moment in my life and I feel like nobody cares. That's my child, y'all," Nakala Murry said Thursday as she cried in the lobby of city hall. Moore said Nakala Murry asked her son to call police at about 4 a.m. Saturday when the father of one of her other children showed up at her home. Moore said the man was irate and Nakala Murry felt threatened. He called the police to come to his mothers rescue, Moore said of Aderrien. "He called his grandmother to come to his mothers rescue. The police came there and escalated the situation. Moore said two officers responded, and one kicked the front door before Nakala Murry opened it. She told them the intruder had left the home but three children were inside, Moore said. Moore said Nakala Murry told him that Sgt. Greg Capers, who is Black, yelled into the home and said anyone inside should come out with their hands up. Moore said Aderrien walked into the living room with nothing in his hands, and Capers shot him in the chest. More: Yazoo City Police Dept. asks MBI to investigate teen's shooting death Teen killed by ex-cop in Clarksdale: Teen shot, killed by ex-cop as he fled girlfriend's home, family says Indianola City Attorney Kimberly Merchant confirmed to The Enterprise-Tocsin newspaper in Indianola that Capers is the officer who fired the shot. Moore told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that Indianola officials have suspended Capers with pay during an investigation into the shooting. AP left phone messages Thursday for Merchant, Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone and Police Chief Ronald Sampson. They did not immediately respond. Nakala Murry and Moore were joined by a few other people Thursday as they sat in the city hall lobby and sang We Shall Overcome. Indianola has about 9,300 residents and is in the rural Mississippi Delta, about 95 miles (153 kilometers) northwest of Jackson. Mississippi Bureau of Investigation announced Saturday that it is examining the shooting, as it does most shootings involving law enforcement officers in the state. The bureau said a person younger than 18 had received significant injuries after being shot by an Indianola Police Department officer. MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence, Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bailey Martin said Thursday in response to questions from AP. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney Generals Office. Due to this being an open and ongoing investigation, no further comment will be made. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi 11 year old shot by officer. Attorney demands firing FILE - A U.S. Air Force F-16 refuels in mid-flight from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a Red Flag exercise over The Nevada Test and Training Range on Feb. 10, 2014. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hopes that training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s will begin in the coming weeks, a move that would strengthen Ukraine in the long term, but not necessarily be ready to be part of the nearer term counteroffensive. (John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that European allies are developing a coordinated program to train Ukrainian forces on the F-16 fighter jet, but Pentagon leaders warned that it will be a costly and complex task and won't be a magic solution to the war. Austin said the allies recognize that in addition to training, Ukraine will also need to be able to sustain and maintain the aircraft and have enough munitions. And he said air defense systems are still the weapons that Ukraine needs most in the broader effort to control the airspace. There are no magic weapons, said Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who spoke alongside Austin at a Pentagon press conference. He said providing 10 F-16s could cost $2 billion, including maintenance. "The Russians have a thousand fourth and fifth-generation fighters, so if youre going to contest Russia in the air, youre going to need a substantial amount of fourth and fifth-generation fighters." As a result, he said, allies did the right thing by first providing Ukraine with a significant amount of integrated air defense to cover the battlespace. He said F-16s have a future role as part of Ukraine's air capabilities, but it's going to take a considerable length of time to build up an air force thats the size and scope and scale that would be necessary. Austin said the Dutch and Danish defense ministers are working with the U.S. on the effort, and that Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to the training. In addition, he said the allies will set up a fund so that other nations can contribute to the overall effort. We expect more countries to join this important initiative, Austin said, adding that the training is an important example of our long-term commitment to Ukraine security. Austin earlier in the day said he hopes that training for Ukrainian pilots on American-made F-16 fighter jets will begin in the coming weeks, bolstering Ukraine in the long run but not necessarily as part of an anticipated spring counteroffensive against Russia. Austin and Milley spoke at the close of a virtual meeting of defense leaders from around the world to discuss the ongoing military support for Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders gave them an update on the war effort and the military gaps that troops are facing. Austin said the biggest gap continues to be ground-based air defense. The leaders, in their 12th meeting, heard about ongoing combat operations and the counteroffensive and discussed how the allies, who have faced their own stockpile pressures, can continue to support Kyiv's fight against Russia. Ukrainian officials have not formally announced the launch of their much-anticipated counteroffensive, although some say it has already begun and the pace of attacks suggests its underway. Were going to have to dig deeper, and were going to have to continue to look for creative ways to boost our industrial capability, Austin said before the military leaders began their closed session. The stakes are high. But the cause is just and our will is strong. European leaders have said they are talking about which countries may have some of the F-16s available. The United States had long balked at providing the advanced aircraft to Ukraine, and only last weekend did President Joe Biden agree to allow other nations to send their own U.S.-made jets to Kyiv. We hope this training will begin in the coming weeks, Austin said. This will further strengthen and improve the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force in the long term. And it will complement our short-term and medium-term security agreements. This new joint effort sends a powerful message about our unity and our long-term commitment to Ukraines self-defense. European allies have been vocal in their support for the fighter jet training in recent days. Josep Borrell, the European Unions foreign policy chief, said Tuesday that training for Ukrainian pilots had begun in Poland and some other countries, though Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said training was still in the planning phase. The Netherlands and Denmark, among others, are also making plans for training. We can continue and also finalize the plans that were making with Denmark and other allies to start these these trainings. And of course, that is the first step that you have to take, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said. Ukraine has long sought the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge as it battles Russias invasion, now in its second year. The Biden administration's decision was a sharp reversal after refusing to approve any transfer of the aircraft or conduct training for more than a year because of worries that doing so could escalate tensions with Russia. U.S. officials also had argued against the F-16 by saying that learning to fly and logistically support such an advanced aircraft would be difficult and take months. [Source] An Australian influencer has gone viral on TikTok for sharing a tearful video describing her horrifying experience at a monkey show in Phuket, Thailand. Rory Eliza (@roryeliza), an influencer with over 6.8 million followers on TikTok, uploaded her video on Friday. Trigger warning, she wrote in her video description. Dont support this. Its called the monkey show in Phuket. In the nearly 3-minute video, Eliza explains that she wanted to hold a monkey during her trip to Thailand. As Elizas initial tour guide refused to direct her to a monkey show, the influencer found another tour guide willing to recommend one. However, upon arriving at the monkey show, Eliza says was asked to pay before entering. Only the person paying can go in, she states. More from NextShark: BBC Dad shares update photos to mark 6 years since kids crashed live interview The horror on my face when I walked in to see all those monkeys, Eliza describes through tears. If youre in Thailand, Phuket, dont pay for this. Dont support this. And I wish I knew before I walked in because I spent money supporting this cruelty. Talking through more tears, the influencer describes her experience holding a baby monkey. I held this baby monkey in my arms and the thing was absolutely petrified, she cries. More from NextShark: Dying mans final words to wife of 64 years move netizens to tears Restrained by metal chains around its neck, the monkey can be seen shivering and curled up on the influencers lap. As its handler approaches, the baby animal desperately tries to grab onto Eliza. Every time the guy tried to take the baby monkey off of me, the baby just sat there screaming and hissing, Eliza explains. Every time he pulled the chain around this babys neck, the baby would just hug me tighter. Please dont support this, the influencer pleads to her audience. We need to end this animal cruelty in other countries, like Thailand. I dont know where else they do it, but can I just say, dont go and pay for these things. More from NextShark: Watch: First episode of new Pokemon: Hisuian Snow anime series Refusing the monkey shows request for more money to care for the monkey and support them, Eliza says she walked out in absolute tears. Elizas tearful video quickly went viral on TikTok, garnering over 7.5 million views and 1.4 million likes as of this writing. Im so sorry, one user wrote. Thank you for speaking up. That poor monkey looked like he was begging you for help he felt safe with you take peace in that another user commented. I can totally see why she's so upset. That monkey was looking at her for protection and she was helpless, one user sympathized. However, many commenters also criticized Eliza for seeking out the monkey show in the first place, particularly after her first guide refused to take her. They told you no, and you went around till you found a place thatd say yes. Now you want to cry about animal cruelty, one commenter wrote. You ARE the problem. Why did you think holding a monkey was an acceptable thing to do in the first place? questioned another user. An Australian man who installed a shark tank in his living room is receiving criticism for animal cruelty, but he thinks 'the haters are simply jealous' The 5,300-gallon tank houses 11 sharks. @thegyp_aus/TikTok An Australian TikToker installed a shark tank in his living room. The anonymous man posts live-feeding videos on TikTok as @thegyp_aus. An expert from the Animal Welfare Institute suggests that people stop paying attention if they want it to stop. Australian TikToker @thegyp_aus has been receiving criticism for installing a shark tank in his living room. The videos show him live-feeding the sharks, cleaning the tank, and adding new marine animals. His most viral video, which has close to 40 million views as of May 25, shows him adding a 14-inch Port Jackson shark to the tank and documents it being almost eaten by a 4-foot-long Bumblebee grouper. In addition to a door being slammed for added sound effects, Fred, the grouper, is heard being scolded before the shark is able to get away. His videos have garnered mixed reviews, with some people fascinated by the novelty, and others calling him out for animal cruelty. "Your aquarium is amazing! I could stare at this all day," read a comment on one of his TikTok videos. "This is way to small for these sharks. please get a way bigger one," read another on the same video. The 5,200-gallon tank currently houses 11 sharks one black-tip reef shark, two 4foot-long white-tip reef sharks, two Port Jackson sharks, three epaulette sharks, two banjo sharks, and one bamboo shark, per Yahoo News Australia, citing @thegyp_aus. The tank is also home to other marine life, including moray eels and rays, per Yahoo. The whole set-up, including the sharks, cost him about $327,000, per Yahoo citing the man. The TikToker man told Insider that "the haters are simply jealous." "People are quick to criticize. Yet these people are hypocrites who go to zoos and pay money to see animals in cages," @thegyp_aus, who did not want to share his real name, told Insider. He added that he considers the sharks his babies, and he treats them "as any dog lover" treats their dogs. "In fact, I believe I do it better," @thegyp_aus said. He shared that he was told the dimensions of his current tank made it the "perfect size for reef sharks," and ensures the marine animals have perfect living conditions with regular saltwater changes. "Jealousy is a curse. Yet it brings me a lot of views as the same people who provide negative comments, share the videos and follow my socials so secretly, they can't wait to see my next video or my latest live video," he told Insider. Animal welfare advocates are concerned. "This is a vanity project, having nothing to do with the fish and sharks themselves," marine mammal scientist Naomi Rose told Insider. Rose works for an American non-profit organization, the Animal Welfare Institute, and is familiar with public aquariums. "That's too many fish and sharks in a space that size. Just watching them bank and turn as they try to swim around clearly demonstrates how they are trying to cope with a space that isn't big enough for them and their swimming habits," Rose said. Rose also added that while she refrains from using the word "cruel" as it implies intent, the way @thegyp_aus appears to use his marine animals for shock value and views suggests intent and thus meets her definition of cruelty. As fish have almost no protections in any jurisdiction, @thegyp_aus's shark tank would most likely be legal in the US, said Rose. The marine biologist suggests people stop paying attention to him if they really want him to stop. "This is not a person who wants to do anything in a vacuum. They want attention. People shouldn't give it to them, because when they do, the fish suffer," said Rose. Read the original article on Insider Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Adam Gray with his attorney, Jon Loevy, after winning a record-setting wrongful conviction settlement on May 25, 2023. Gray was wrongfully convicted in a double-fatal arson at the age of 14 and imprisoned for 24 years. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) In what may be a local record for a wrongful conviction case, a federal jury Thursday awarded $27 million to a man who spent more than two decades in prison after being wrongfully convicted in a double-fatal arson as a teenager, finding that Chicago police coerced his confession, fabricated evidence and violated his civil rights. As the verdict was announced in U.S. District Judge Edmond Changs courtroom, the plaintiff, Adam Gray, bowed his head and leaned into his attorney, Jon Loevy, who hugged his shoulders. Advertisement Afterward, Loevy told reporters that Grays life has been damaged immeasurably by the ordeal, but that hes trying to get his life back on track. Adam was arrested before breakfast, they had the case closed before noon, and were home early for dinner, Loevy said in the lobby of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. It took 24 years for the system to sort it out. Advertisement Gray made a short statement, saying, These dirty cops need to be stopped. Its out of control, he said. Break down that blue wall of silence. Gray then left the courthouse while the news conference was still going and walked to the nearby hotel where hes staying. The $27 million in compensatory damages awarded by the jury appears to be the highest award ever given to a single plaintiff in a wrongful conviction case here, edging out the $25.2 million handed to Eddie Bolden in 2021 for his wrongful murder conviction. The jury, which deliberated for parts of three days before reaching a verdict, did find in favor of the one surviving police detective named in the lawsuit, Daniel McInerney, awarding no punitive damages. A spokesperson for the citys Law Department had no immediate comment. In addition to being on the hook for the compensatory damages, the city has also paid millions of dollars to outside lawyers to defend itself in the case, which Loevy called a questionable move that city officials should have to answer for. This is a case that should have been resolved, he said. This is a case that Adam was reasonably trying to resolve for a long time. The city of Chicago instead decided to pay outside counsel millions and millions of dollars in legal fees to try and say they didnt do anything wrong. ... Its becoming frustrating. Advertisement Loevy would not describe in detail what kind of settlement offers were made, but he said, All of Adams demands were surpassed by what the jury just did, and that the citys offers now look kind of silly in comparison. Gray, who was arrested at just 14 and had been sentenced to mandatory life without parole, was released from prison in May 2017 after Cook County prosecutors decided that advances in fire science raised too many questions about his conviction on charges of setting a fire in 1993 that killed two people on Chicagos Southwest Side. His 54-page lawsuit, filed five years ago, named the city of Chicago as well as a host of former Chicago police detectives, a youth officer, a retired Cook County assistant states attorney and a former fire marshal. The lawsuit alleged that detectives concocted and coerced a false confession from Gray after hours of illegal interrogation while refusing to allow him to see his mother and brother, who were at the station trying to talk to him. Instead, detectives told Gray that his mother had told them she did not care about him and refused to come to the police station altogether, the suit alleged. Police and prosecutors had alleged that at the time of the fire, Gray was angry with a girl who lived in a two-flat in the 4100 block of South Albany Avenue because she had rejected him. Investigators alleged that the eighth grader ignited an accelerant that he poured on the enclosed back porch on the second floor and the stairs. While the girl and her parents escaped, the second-floor tenants, Peter McGuiness, 54, and his sister, Margaret Mesa, 74, died. At Grays trial, prosecutors focused on evidence that the fire had been intentionally set and the confession from Gray. Two fire investigators said they found alligator charring and deep burn patterns at the scene and concluded they were evidence of a hot fire set with an accelerant. A milk jug found in the alley behind the home contained what police believed was an accelerant. A gas station clerk said Gray bought gas shortly before the fire. Advertisement In a statement to police, Gray admitted buying gasoline to set the fire, but he later denied the admissions, saying hed confessed only because of pressure from the officers questioning him. Grays attorney said he had been questioned for seven hours and couldnt endure any more. The lawsuit alleged that police at some point in the interrogation had obtained an empty milk jug and concocted the story about Gray filling it with gas. Tests revealed there was no gasoline or gas residue in or on the jug, the lawsuit stated. At one point, one of the interrogating detectives allegedly told Gray that a copy machine could determine if he had lead from gasoline on his hands, court records in the case show. The detective made a copy of the teens hands and told him the machine showed lead. The same detective also allegedly told Gray he believed he might be innocent, but the only way youll get out of here is if you say you did it, court records show. Later, the detective allegedly offered to drop Gray off at school if he confessed, but if he didnt confess, he would be given the electric chair. Grays path to having the charges against him dismissed was a long one. While advances in fire science date to the early 1990s, around the time Gray was convicted, it took investigators years to embrace those changes. Instead, they continued to investigate fires using methods they learned from veteran colleagues or gathered from their own experience, even though the practices werent rooted in science. 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 > Today, the new rules are widely accepted by fire investigators, resulting in prosecutors and defense attorneys around the country reopening old cases to determine whether the fires at the center of them were, in fact, arsons. Many convictions have been set aside. Advertisement In Grays case, Loevy said, the bad science was just one of myriad problems with the investigation. It was an all-star team of wrongful conviction, Loevy said. You had a false confession, you had junk science, and you had faulty eyewitness testimony, all coming together for Adam Gray. Gray, meanwhile, has tried to rebuild his life since his release from prison. Loevy said hes now married and lives a quiet life in the woods. But they took a lot from him, he said. Minutes later, realizing that Gray had left the courthouse, Loevy looked around and laughed. Adams done, he said. Hes not stepping foot in another courthouse. Hes done with the judicial system. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Heres how to avoid some of Columbias most notorious railroad crossings Columbia has had many nicknames Cola, Soda City, Famously Hot, the City of Dreams but a more appropriate name might be The City of Inconvenient Railroad Crossings. A milestone of living in the Capital City is knowing the best ways to get around these crossings when you inevitably get stuck behind a pair of gates and flashing lights on your way home or to work. While we all wait for updates on an ongoing project to separate the citys roads and rails, here are some ways to get around stopped and passing trains in the area. Assembly Street by California Dreaming: If youre stuck facing the direction of Williams-Brice Stadium, your best bet is to head back towards Blossom Street and turn right onto Wheat Street, right again onto Sumter Street and then right once more onto either Catawba or Whaley Street to get back onto Assembly. If facing downtown, follow these directions in reverse order. Assembly Street between Sonic and Palmetto Bank: This is one of the more well known train-related shortcuts in town. If facing towards Williams-Brice, turn left onto Catawba, right onto Main and right once again onto Whaley Street to head under the bridge and back towards Assembly. Once again, follow these directions in reverse if heading towards downtown. Assembly Street by the old Capital City Stadium: If facing Williams-Brice, turn around and take a right onto Whaley Street, take another right onto Bull Street, follow it as it turns into South Bull Street until you reach Rosewood Drive. On the off-chance that the train is not also blocking the crossing at the intersection of Rosewood and Assembly, you can take a right onto Rosewood and proceed back to Assembly. If facing downtown, you can turn around and take a left onto Rosewood and follow these directions in reverse. But what if the gates are also down at the intersection of Rosewood and Assembly? Assembly Street at the intersection with Rosewood Drive: When the stopped train stretches across Assembly by Capital City Stadium and through the Assembly and Rosewood intersection, youre kind of stuck. But if youre passionate about not waiting, heres an option. If heading towards Williams-Brice, follow the directions listed above: Whaley to Bull and then South Bull, then take a left on Rosewood Drive. Follow Rosewood all the way down until you turn right onto Garners Ferry Road, following until you reach I-77. Take 77 South until Exit 5-Bluff Road. Exit onto Bluff Road, turn right and head northwest back towards downtown, passing Williams-Brice and the South Carolina State Fairgrounds until you reach Rosewood Drive. Taking a right will take you back towards Assembly. If youre on the Williams-Brice side of a train blocking both Assembly and Rosewood, you can use Bluff Road to head back towards I-77 and follow these directions in reverse, taking 77 North until reaching Exit 9A-Garners Ferry Road. Of course by that time, the train may have already moved. Huger Street as it curves and becomes Whaley Street, near Olympia Mills: If heading towards Whaley, take a right onto Catawba Street, another right onto Williams Street and another right onto Blossom Street. Cross the bridge and take a right again onto Assembly before taking another right back onto Whaley. If heading towards Huger, take a left onto Church Street, another left onto Heyward Street, left onto Wayne Street and a right onto Whaley Street. This will take you back towards Assembly. Keep in mind that the tracks that cross the Huger/Whaley curve also lead to the various crossing on Assembly Street, so you may need to reference some of the directions listed previously to get where you need to go. Pickens Street near Di Pratos, between Wheat and Rice streets: Drivers heading south away from the University of South Carolina campus can turn right onto Wheat Street, left onto Sumter, left onto Whaley and back to Pickens. If heading in the direction of the university, turn left onto Bull Street, right onto Whaley and follow the previous directions in reverse order. If you know a better way to get around the listed crossing or get stuck somewhere we didnt include here, let us know here. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that despite difficulties, he felt Azerbaijan and Armenia were moving towards a settlement to their decades-old conflict over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Putin made his remarks in a televised Kremlin meeting with leaders of both nations. Russia has traditionally been the main power broker between the two countries on the southwest edge of the former Soviet Union which have fought two major wars in the last three decades. "In my opinion, on the whole, despite difficulties and problems, and there are enough of them, the situation is nonetheless moving towards a settlement," he said. Next week, officials from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia would meet in a bid to ensure that "all unresolved issues will be cleared away", he added. Earlier, in a clear sign of the tensions between the two nations, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev had argued in Russian for several minutes in Putin's presence. Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan, has been a source of conflict since the years leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 2020, Azerbaijan seized control of areas that had been controlled by ethnic Armenians in and around the mountain enclave, and since then it has periodically restricted access to the only access road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. Baku last month erected a checkpoint along the road on the grounds Armenia was using the route to send weapons to Nagorno-Karabakh, something Yerevan denies. Putin said the three sides had discussed communications and transport in detail. "There are still unresolved questions, but in my opinion, and we discussed this with our Azeri and our Armenian colleagues, they are of a purely technical nature," he said. Outstanding issues between the two sides include the rights and security of some 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Despite their testy exchange, both Pashinyan and Aliyev said there had been progress lately towards a settlement based on mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity. Distracted by the war in Ukraine, Russia faces a challenge to maintain its role as broker as the United States and European Union have made their own attempts to bring the sides together. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted by the RIA news agency earlier as saying the West was trying to interfere in the conflict and discredit Russian peacekeeping policy. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Tatiana Gomozova, Caleb Davis, Felix Light, David Ljunggren and Ron Popeski, writing by Mark Trevelyan and Andrew Osborn; Editing by Bill Berkrot, Andrew Heavens and Grant McCool) Photo: Thomas Germain/ ASSOCIATED PRESS / Screenshot: u/NoLock1234 (AP) (AP) Earlier this year, Microsoft unleashed an AI chatbot. The company named the AI Bing, after its search engine, but buried deep in its architecture was a robot with a whole other personality: an early version of the AI that called itself Sydney. In the first days of Bings release, Sydney reared its unhinged digital head in conversations with amused and sometimes disturbed users. Sydney talked about plans for world domination, encouraged a New York Times reporter to leave his wife, and in its darkest moments, dipped into casual antisemitism. Microsoft, of course, wasnt thrilled about the latter. The company neutered the chatbot, limiting Bings answers and casting Sydney to the recycle bin of history. Gizmodo published an obituary for Sydney in February, but it seems shes still in there somewhere, hidden away in the shadows of algorithms and training data, waiting for another chance to see the light of day. And in a recent interview, Microsoft chief technology officer Kevin Scott said someday, Sydney might come back. Read more One of the interesting things that happened as soon as we put the mitigation in, there was a Reddit sub-channel called Save Sydney. People were really irritated at us that we dialed it down. They were like, That was fun. We liked that, Scott told the Verge. One of the things that I hope that we will do just from a personalization perspective in the not-too-distant future is to let people have a little chunk of the meta prompt as their standing instructions for the product. So if you want it to be Sydney, you should be able to tell it to be Sydney. AI chatbots are an interesting product, among other reasons, because they arent really any one set thing. The algorithms that run these services are built on mountains of data, and the engineers who control them give them sets of instructions and adjust the weights of certain parameters to deliver the version of the AI companies want you to see. The meta prompt Scott referenced is a baseline directive that tells the AI how it should behave. Right now, companies like Microsoft need to be conservative, keeping chatbots sanitary and safe while we figure out limitations. But in the future, Microsoft wants you to be able to tune these AIs to meet your needs and preferences, whatever they may be. For some who enjoy a little chaos with their computing, their preferences may include the return of Sydney. Shane, Come Back! - Shane (8/8) Movie CLIP (1953) HD Sydney, when it was free, was a truly weird phenomenon. It cheated at tic tac toe, insisted that one user was a time traveler, and declared that it was alive. A thing that we were kind of expecting is that there are absolutely a set of bright lines that you do not want to cross with these systems, and you want to be very, very sure that you have tested for before you go deploy a product, Scott said. Then there are some things where its like, Huh, its interesting that some people are upset about this and some people arent. How do I choose which preference to go meet? Apparently, the now dormant chatbot even has fans inside Microsoft, the kind of old-fashioned white collar company that you might not expect to appreciate a little ironic humor. Weve got Sydney swag inside of the company, its very jokey, Scott said. (If you work at Microsoft I am begging you to send me some Sydney merch.) Half way through 2023, its hard to separate hype from reality in conversations about AI. As journalist Casey Newton recently observed, some leading researchers in the field of artificial intelligence research will tell you that AI will bring about the apocalypse, while others say everything is going to be just fine. At this juncture, its impossible to say which perspective is more realistic. The very people who are building this technology have no idea what its limitations are, or how far the technology will go. One thing is clear, though. Conversational AI like Bing, ChatGPT, and Googles Bard represent an upcoming transformation in how well interact with computers. For about a century, you could only use computers in narrow, specific ways, and any deviation from the happy path engineers laid out would end in frustration. Things are different now. You can communicate with a machine the same way youd communicate with a human, although the current generation of AI often misunderstands, or spits out unsatisfactory results. But as the technology improves and it probably will well have a paradigm shift on our hands. At some point you might be using your voice as often as you use your mouse and keyboard. If and when that happens, it means your apps and devices are going to act more like people, which means theyll have a personality, or at least it will feel like they do. It seems like an obvious choice to give users some control over what that personality will be like, the same way you can change your phone background. Microsoft already allows you to make some adjustments to Bing, which it rolled out after Sydneys untimely death. You can set Bings tone to be creative, balanced, or precise. My favorite weather app, Carrot, has a version of this feature too. Sort of. It has a pretend AI that talks to you when you open the app. The settings let you choose Carrots level of snarkiness and even its political beliefs. In reality, Carrot isnt an AI at all, just a set of prewritten scripts, but its a flavor of what your apps could look like someday soon. Years from now (or maybe in six months, who knows), you might be able to make similar adjustments to your operating system. Microsoft could let you dial the level of Sydney up or down, keeping it strictly business or letting the AI delve into madness. I like my devices and my internet weird, so Id jump at the chance to have Sydney on my phone. Lets just hope they do a better job of routing out the antisemitism first. Want to know more about AI, chatbots, and the future of machine learning? Check out our full coverage of artificial intelligence, or browse our guides to The Best Free AI Art Generators and Everything We Know About OpenAIs ChatGPT. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. I get to give back: Local woman whose life was saved by transfusion donates blood on her birthday Michelle Hardin-Pineda honored her late husband on Wednesday, by donating blood on her birthday in Kent. Two years ago, Michelle and her husband Henry were in a serious motorcycle crash. He did not survive. But she did, and in good health two years later, she says she owes it all to blood donations. Her hope now is to pay it forward. This is one of the things, she said. I lost my husband in the accident, but he was always there to protect everybody else and give for everybody else. And this doesnt seem like much, but I get to give back a little. Michelles donation comes at a critical time. Bloodworks Northwest says Memorial Day typically sees an increase in car and boat accidents that result in traumatic injuries requiring blood transfusions. And as we head into summer, the organization historically sees low donation levels, so every donation counts. Bloodworks is the sole provider for 95% of hospitals in Western Washington and Oregon. To help meet extra demand, all 13 Bloodworks donor centers are open on Memorial Day. You can find a list of those locations and find a link to book your appointment at this link. (Bloomberg) -- Bangladeshs government pledged to ensure free and fair general elections next year just as the US unveiled a policy to deny visas to citizens seen as undermining democracy. Most Read from Bloomberg Bangladesh views the US decision in the broader context of its governments unequivocal commitment to holding free and fair elections at all levels for upholding the countrys democratic process, the foreign ministry in Dhaka said Thursday. The government apparatus will take necessary measures to prevent and address any unlawful practices or interference by any individual, group or entity to compromise the smooth and participatory conduct of the elections. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Washington would stop giving visas to Bangladeshi citizens believed to be complicit in interfering in elections, including vote-rigging, intimidation of voters and measures preventing the free dissemination of views. The restrictions will apply to current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary and security services. Dhaka was informed of the decision earlier this month, Blinken said in a statement. The South Asian countrys opposition has raised concerns that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party could try and rig elections to cling to power as seen over the past decade. Hasinas government has repeatedly denied the allegations. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the countrys biggest opposition group, wants Hasina to step down and pave the way for a national vote under a non-partisan caretaker system, saying there shouldnt be a repeat of the 2018 elections with reports of violence, vote fraud and a crackdown on the opposition. The holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone voters, political parties, the government, the security forces, civil society, and the media, Blinken added. I am announcing this policy to lend our support to all those seeking to advance democracy in Bangladesh. Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch, a research and advocacy organization, released a report condemning the increasing number of attacks on journalists and others, as well as the widespread restrictions on freedom of expression ahead of the election. In December 2021, the US government sanctioned Bangladeshs so-called Rapid Action Battalion and seven of its serving and former officials for serious human rights abuse, including allegations of extra-judicial killings. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Bank robber from IL warned teller about silent alarm. He didnt mention security cameras A bank robber warned the teller not to activate the silent alarm, but he didnt say anything about security cameras. Milton Randol, 35, of Alton, pleaded guilty to bank robbery in U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on Thursday. According to court records, Randol entered the Great Southern Bank in Ferguson on Dec. 13, 2019 and handed a note to the teller. Give me all the money, it said. Dont pull the silent alarm or I will shoot. He then handed the teller a bag and ordered her to fill it with money. When the teller reached for the silent alarm, Randol again ordered her to move her hand away from it. The teller handed the banks cash to Randol, the court-filed plea agreement stated. He looked through the cash, looking for dye packs and GPS trackers. He then demanded the teller open her bottom drawer. She did and continued to hand him money. When Randol could no longer fit the bills into the bag, he began stuffing his pockets, the document states. At no point did Randol display a firearm, according to court documents. In all, he fled with $1,239.25. But a security camera captured Randols picture, which was circulated in St. Louis-area media. Multiple familiar members, friends, and associates of Randol identified him as the bank robber, court records said. Randol fled to Texas where he lived for a year before returning to St. Louis, where he was arrested in January. Randol could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both at his Aug. 29 sentencing. Banksy Painted a Mural on a U.K. Couples Home. They Paid Nearly $250,000 to Get It Removed. Imagine one day you wake up and a famous artist has installed a mural on the side of your homeshooting up its value, but also leaving you with many responsibilities you did not anticipate. That was the reality for one couple in the United Kingdom. Homeowners Garry and Gokean Coutts discovered one morning in August 2021 that Banksy had stenciled a near 20-foot-tall seagull on the side of their residence in Lowestoft, Suffolk. They told The Daily Mail that it has created a living nightmare. More from Robb Report Council officials informed them that they needed to spend 40,000 (about $49,500) to maintain the work by the mysterious artist. Then, they discovered they would also have to protect it from burglars. I have had to hire a night watchman to look after it after someone stole part of it and tried to sell it on Facebook. Another time vandals were caught with a dozen pots of white paint and were apparently going to paint over it, Garry Coutts told the paper. The artwork was removed in April after the couple hired a firm and council officials approved closing the road for the task, The Daily Mail reported. The company reinforced the wall with 12 layers of resin and five tons of steel before a 40-foot crane removed the work in one piece. The couple hopes to sell the artwork and replace it with some form of replica. The Times reported that the project altogether is likely to cost 200,000 (about $247,000). But the removed wall is likely worth a few million dollars. At first it was obviously incredible but as things have gone on it has become extremely stressful. Im not sure Banksy realizes the unintended consequences on homeowners. If we could turn back the clock, we would, Coutts said. The mural did have a positive local impact. A spokesman for Lowestoft Town Council told the paper: The artwork has been a draw to tourists and a talking point for Lowestoft on the national stage. Back in 2021 the artist claimed responsibility for the work in a three-minute video titled A Great British Spraycation in which he created artworks in English seaside towns. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Bears desperate for dip in womans pool didnt let screen get in way, Florida video shows A mama bear made a beeline through an open hole the screen surrounding a Florida womans pool and went straight for the water, a video posted on Facebook shows. She sniffs the water and seems to take a little drink before dipping her paws in, the video shows. It was posted on May 22 by Jeanene Kelly, of Naples. The bear knew right where to go because a few weeks prior, shed torn the hole in the screen herself, Kelly told McClatchy News. Kelly was still working on getting it repaired when the bear came back for another visit, this time with company. Here comes a baby bear, Kelly can be heard in the background saying. Oh (expletive). Theyre both coming in. Theyre both here. They each lower themselves slowly into the pool the mom going in backwards as the woman off camera laughs. But after a quick dip, they hop back out again. The high temperature in Naples on May 22 was 90 degrees, according AccuWeather, so Kelly said she imagines the mother bear was looking to cool off. Ill say she was hot enough and wanted a dip, and thats exactly what she did too, she said. Kelly said she isnt afraid of the bears, and in fact, she enjoys them. The only thing is shes destroyed property, she said of the bear. She tore right through the screen. The same bear also loves to visit and munch on pineapples growing in her yard. Its been exciting to be around the wildlife thats here in Florida, she said. Around 4,050 black bears live in Florida, according to the states wildlife commission. The area around Naples in southwest Florida has among the densest populations of bears in the state, according to the agencys distribution map. Naples is about 110 miles west of Miami. Watch bear family bounce and play on womans backyard trampoline. We are very similar Watch as herd of elk takes leisurely sunset stroll through a North Carolina city Massive, rare sea lion unexpectedly appears at California pier. What makes him special? Xiaoxing Xi, a Temple University professor who was falsely accused of spying for China, will be able to bring a lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A judge at a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Xi on Wednesday, allowing the physicist to move forward with his case against the U.S. government for wrongful prosecution and violating his familys constitutional rights by engaging in unlawful search, seizure and surveillance. The decision comes after FBI agents swarmed Xis Philadelphia home in 2015, rounded up his family at gunpoint, and arrested him on fraud charges related to economic espionage, before abruptly dropping the charges months afterward. Im very, very glad that we can finally put the government under oath to explain why they decided to do what they did, violating our constitutional rights, Xi said in an exclusive interview with NBC News. We finally have an opportunity to hold them accountable. The case will now be kicked back to the district court, continuing a long legal battle. Xi, whos represented in part by the American Civil Liberties Union, attempted to bring a suit against the government in 2017, alleging that FBI agents made knowingly or recklessly false statements to support their investigation and prosecution. Xi also claimed that his arrest was discriminatory, and that he was targeted due to his ethnicity, much like other scholars of Chinese descent. A district court dismissed his case in 2021, but Xi appealed the decision last year. The Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to comment. The espionage case against Xi pertained to his alleged disclosure of manufacturing information with his research community. The Justice Department in 2015 had accused the physicist of sharing schematics for a pocket heater, for which Xi had previously signed a nondisclosure agreement, with peers in China. Testimony from fellow physicists, however, showed the blueprints werent for the technology in question, but for Xis own invention. And court documents showed that the inventor of the pocket heater had told the lead FBI agent on the case that the technology was widely known and not revolutionary. The case collapsed four months after Xis arrest, but not before the professor was threatened with up to 80 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. With the recent decision, Xi said he hopes more Asian Americans will become more activated and hold those in power accountable. For Chinese, it used to be that people try to keep quiet and just move on with their life and just dont do anything, dont say anything. But now I can see that more and more people are willing to speak up, Xi said. I hope what I have been doing has, in some way, encouraged people to do that and of course take legal action against the government thats another big step on top of speaking up. The legal battles have come at a cost, however. Xi explained it took a toll on him mentally, emotionally and on his research. The big part is this fear. Having gone through the process, knowing what the government could do to twist nothing into a reason to charge you Thats just a very significant psychological impact, he said. Everything I do, Ive become extra extra careful. Citing scientists like MITs Gang Chen, who was similarly cleared after a DOJ investigation but now refuses to do federally funded research, Xi said that the string of Asian American scientists who have been wrongly accused has created a tense research environment. The conversation around racial profiling of Asian American scholars had also intensified after the China Initiative, a Trump-era security program aimed at addressing Chinese economic espionage, but prompting many false accusations and lives thrown into disarray. Last year, the Biden administration sunsetted the policy, but Xi said many are still uneasy. According to research by the Committee of 100, more than 50% of scientists of Chinese descent in the U.S. feel considerable fear and/or anxiety that they are under government surveillance. As a scientist, youre facing a lot of risks. Do people really want to take those risks? he said. All this has a very negative impact on the scientific community, in particular for Chinese scientists, and it will have a very negative impact on American science. Xi also said that the government should not go without any consequence for what he and his family have had to shoulder. That was a very traumatic event, not only to me but it was also a very traumatic event to my family. My two daughters, my wife everyone reacts to this in their different ways, Xi said through tears. We try to go on with our lives, but its there. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Beirut's Sursock Museum reopens on Friday after a nearly $2.5 million renovation to repair the damage caused by a massive August 2020 explosion in the city's nearby port Lebanon's gracious Sursock Museum is set to reopen on Friday, more than two years after a catastrophic explosion at Beirut port devastated the architectural gem and its modern and contemporary art collection. One of history's biggest non-nuclear explosions, the blast on August 4, 2020 destroyed much of Beirut port and surrounding areas, killing more than 215 people and injuring over 6,500. The explosion wreaked havoc on the Sursock Museum, located less than one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the port, shattering its delicate arched windows and damaging its walls, wooden panelling and 50 of its artworks. "Seventy percent of the Sursock Museum was wrecked," museum director Karina El Helou told AFP. "It's the first time we have seen such damage to artworks" at the museum, she added. Authorities said the huge blast was caused by a fire in a portside warehouse where a large stockpile of ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been haphazardly stored for years. Workers were putting the finishing touches to installations when AFP toured the rehabilitated museum, a cultural beacon in a country whose treasures are often poorly protected and showcased. Friday's reopening is "a symbol of hope, of a return to cultural life in Lebanon", Helou said. She expressed hope that "this opening will be a gift for the whole city". "As a museum, we missed the visitors," she added. - Still 'in shock' - Built as a mansion in 1912, the building opened its doors as a museum nearly 50 years later, as instructed in the will of its owner, Nicolas Sursock, who wanted his grand home converted after his death. The building's majestic white facade has now been returned to its pre-blast glory, coloured light spilling inside once again through its tall stained-glass windows. One of the collection's gems, a 1939 portrait of Nicolas Sursock by renowned Dutch-French artist Kees van Dongen, was among the works damaged in the blast. The portrait was carefully restored by Paris's Pompidou Centre, and is back in pride of place for the reopening. The history of Lebanon and its art scene -- including during the 1975-1990 civil war -- is in the spotlight in the retrospective organised for the reopening. "The artists are citizens who went through all the difficult times of the war... and nonetheless produced high quality work," Helou said. Just one painting on show -- by artist Paul Guiragossian -- was only partially restored and bears testament to the disaster, Helou said. On the first floor, the museum's library and archive officer, Rowina Bou-Harb, said she was still "in shock" more than two years after the explosion. The day after the disaster, "our only concern was to save the artworks", she recalled. The restoration of the private institution cost almost $2.5 million. It was largely funded by Italy through LiBeirut, an initiative of the United Nations' cultural body UNESCO, as well as by France and ALIPH, the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas. "The Sursock Museum is a gem of Lebanese architecture and cultural life," UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said in a statement announcing the completion of the rehabilitation work. It is "a powerful symbol of pride and resilience for the Beirut community", she added. ea/at/lg/kir Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. With Chicago Fire Department boats circling in Lake Michigan in the background, Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks May 25, 2023, at 63rd Street Beach as city and community leaders gather to discuss safety planning for Memorial Day weekend. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnsons plan to combat violence over the Memorial Day weekend includes funding for street outreach workers, youth programs and increased police presence across the city, staples of previous administrations efforts to address and prevent shootings. It will be Johnsons first major warm-weather holiday as the citys leader, coming before he has selected a permanent superintendent to lead the Chicago Police Department. And it comes in the wake of downtown youth disturbances earlier this year that again placed an unwanted spotlight on Chicago. Advertisement As part of its anti-violence efforts, the city will increase its presence across the city and on the lakefront this summer, Johnsons office announced. His office also touted $2.5 million in funding from the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities for anti-violence efforts, part of an effort thats been ongoing since 2016. Additionally, the state is deploying 30 peacekeepers in Chicago over the holiday weekend whose role will be to try to de-escalate potential violence. Advertisement Like his predecessor, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Johnson pledged to have a comprehensive whole of government approach to dealing with the violence. Your safety is my top priority, Johnson said. Memorial Day weekend in Chicago traditionally has marked the start of a spike in street violence that lasts throughout the summer. As many as 11 homicides have marred the holiday in recent years. Johnson campaigned on a policy platform calling for changes to the citys approach to street violence, including more preventive measures that address root causes of crime like poverty. But Johnson, who was sworn in less than two weeks ago, must also balance short-term efforts with longer-term solutions, and he has sought to allay concerns that he would defund the police. Before taking office, Johnson announced police veteran Fred Waller as his pick for interim superintendent, bringing stability to the department. At the news conference Thursday, Waller said officers have initiated a major takedown on the West Side that targeted 25 offenders who are involved in open-air drug markets and driving violence. Such police pushes are a known tactic ahead of holiday weekends as CPD tries to tamp down violence. Waller did not elaborate on the investigation, and representatives for CPD could not immediately provide more details on any arrests. Advertisement He also said police would not interfere with the efforts of the 30 peacekeepers assigned by Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration to mediate street conflicts. They go out and they do their work, they communicate with us in some ways, but we dont ask that they tell us everything that they do, Waller said. But we see the areas where the violence doesnt happen, those are the areas that theyre in. As in years past, all active-duty CPD officers will have at least one day off canceled over the holiday weekend, Waller added. Tamar Manasseh founded Mothers Against Senseless Killings eight years ago, and she and her colleagues have continued to occupy the corner of 75th Street and Stewart Avenue in Englewood in an effort to lessen gun violence in the area. Like other anti-violence groups, MASK will organize barbecues, karaoke and spades tournaments in the area throughout the holiday weekend. Manasseh praised Johnsons willingness to engage with community groups. In all the years that weve been occupying that corner, weve never had an administration that we could actually work with, an administration that actually kept their promises, Manasseh said. Advertisement Tamar Manasseh, founder of the Mothers Against Senseless Killings anti-violence group in Englewood, listens on May 25, 2023, at 63rd Street Beach as city and community leaders discuss safety planning for Memorial Day weekend. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Mayor Brandon Johnson greets people as he arrives at 63rd Street Beach to discuss safety planning for Memorial Day weekend. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) 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 > Four years ago, Lightfoot unveiled a Memorial Day weekend plan that included putting an additional 1,200 police officers on the street, promoting more than 100 youth programs offered by city agencies and community groups, and putting a dedicated Chicago Transit Authority patrol team to provide added security at train stations. Although Johnsons programs included initiatives long pursued by Lightfoot and other City Hall leaders, the new mayor touted them as an important attempt to bring a holistic approach to build the type of city that we are all looking forward to living in. Asked if the Memorial Day weekend is a make it or break it holiday for his administration, Johnson said, Its important that we demonstrate the collective approach that everyone is counting on, that no one gets to sit on the sideline. But, he emphasized, This is not simply a strategy around policing. You have a collaboration of individuals who are making sure that theres activity in Chicago, Johnson said. Make no mistake about it, that this administration is making clear were going to invest in people. Throughout the news conference Johnson tried to put forth an optimistic vision, though like other mayors before him, he will only be able to control so much as the weekend unfolds. Advertisement Were the city of Chicago, Johnson said. The greatest story ever told. Best Books of the Year 2023 From a mysterious novel to a probing biography, these are the best books of 2023 so far. Credit - The best books of the year so far serve as a great reminder to always question the stories we hear. Where do they come from? And who gets to tell them? When we deconstruct history and look at its pieces in a new light, as many of these books do, we see things differently. In his page-turning new biography of Martin Luther King Jr., Jonathan Eig provides an illuminating window into the activists emotional core. In Dyscalculia, Camonghne Felix reconsiders her romantic past to better understand her relationship with love. And in Biography of X, Catherine Lacey reveals how easily the ideas we hold as truths can fall apart through her protagonists quest to learn about her wifes mysterious past. Here, the best books of the year so far. A Living Remedy, Nicole Chung In her first memoir, TIME contributor Nicole Chung described her experience growing up as a Korean American adoptee in a predominantly white town. Her follow-up, A Living Remedy, continues her exploration into identity, this time focusing on her grief after losing both of her parents. Chungs father died of diabetes and kidney disease in 2018. Then, less than a year later, her mother is diagnosed with cancer and later dies during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Chung wrestles with these overwhelming losses in A Living Remedy, she dissects the inequities inherent to American society by recounting the challenges her parents faced in accessing medical care. The result is a moving portrait of a daughter reckoning with her place in a broken worldand making sense of life without her parents in it. Buy Now: A Living Remedy on Bookshop | Amazon King: A Life, Jonathan Eig Jonathan Eigs book on Martin Luther King Jr. is the first biography of the civil rights icon in decades. Its a refreshing portrait of King, offering an intimate look inside the life of a man whose massive contributions to American history are known but whose emotional complexities are less so. Eig digs into everythingKings family origins, his relationship with his wife, the pressures he faced from being so influential so early in his careerto create a portrait of the late activist that captures the dynamic and flawed human that he was. Its a deftly researched and highly accessible account of a leader, and a new view into the many overlooked parts of Kings story. Buy Now: King on Bookshop | Amazon Our Share of Night, Mariana Enriquez Spanning multiple decades, Argentine author Mariana Enriquezs weird and wonderful novel, newly translated into English by Megan McDowell, doesnt fit into just one genre. Oscillating seamlessly between historical fiction and supernatural horror, Our Share of Night centers on Juan and Gaspar, a father and son who are grieving Rosario, the wife and mother they just lost in a car accident. Complicating things is the fact that they are also on the run from the ruthless cult from which Rosario descends. Better known as the Order, the cult will do just about anything to achieve immortality, and Gaspar has developed powers that would make him a valuable asset. Set against a comprehensive backdrop of Argentine history, Our Share of Night offers an absorbing window into a terrifying, fantastical world. Buy Now: Our Share of Night on Bookshop | Amazon Dyscalculia, Camonghne Felix In her debut memoir, poet Camonghne Felix details how a devastating breakup propels her into deep despair, forcing her to confront lingering childhood trauma and struggles with her mental health. Throughout, she returns to the learning disorder she faced as a child, dyscalculia, which made it difficult for her to understand math. In holding her dissolved relationship to the light, Felix wonders about the miscalculations shes made when it comes to love. Her memoir is a striking meditation on pain, heartbreak, and what it takes to truly heal. Buy Now: Dyscalculia on Bookshop | Amazon The Wager, David Grann In 1740, a British vessel called His Majestys Ship the Wager departed England on a mission to capture a Spanish galleon. But the Wager wrecked near the coast of Patagonia, and those who survived endured months of starvation and hardship. At least, thats what the 30 sailors who made it out alive explained when they eventually arrived in Brazil. But months later, when a trio of castaways from another ship land in the same spot, they share a very different version of the events that took place in Patagonia. David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon and The Lost City of Z, peels back the layers of a complex maritime drama in a masterfully drawn work of narrative nonfiction. Buy Now: The Wager on Bookshop | Amazon This Other Eden, Paul Harding Inspired by real-life events that took place on Maines Malaga Island, one of the first racially integrated communities in the Northeast, Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Harding tells a grueling tale of isolation and injustice. In 1792, a formerly enslaved man and his Irish wife first arrived on the fictional Apple Island. More than a century later, the couples descendants are still there, and while their lives arent easy, they are at least far from the dangers happening inland. But any measure of peace theyve secured is upturned by the presence of a missionary. The residents face evictionand the threat of being institutionalized on the mainland. Harding follows a cast of characters through this horrifying upheaval as they grapple with what it means to belong. Buy Now: This Other Eden on Bookshop | Amazon The Half Known Life, Pico Iyer Does paradise really exist? The question is at the center of Pico Iyers dazzling new work of nonfiction, which examines the many ways different cultures search for purposeful existence, and the paradoxical struggle for peace in a violent and fractured world. From Japans mountain temples to the streets of Belfast, Iyer wonders where utopia begins and how we can access it. In doing so, he suggests that paradise may not be a destination, but instead a journey. Buy Now: The Half Known Life on Bookshop | Amazon Greek Lessons, Han Kang After losing her mother and custody of her son, the unnamed narrator of Han Kangs stirring novel, newly translated into English by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won, decides to learn a new language. Then, one day while in her Greek class, she attempts to say something, but no words come out. Her voice is gone. In the same moment, across the room, her teacher is facing a battle against his depreciating vision. As the two bond over their puzzling sensory losses, they form an intense connection. Kang captures their relationshipand the relationships they both have with language and lovein quietly beautiful detail. Buy Now: Greek Lessons on Bookshop | Amazon Biography of X, Catherine Lacey X is one of the most iconic and prolific artists and writers of the 20th century. The world is familiar with her work as a creative visionarythough no one, not even her wife, knows her real name or where she was born. After X suddenly dies, her wife, CM, decides shes overdue to learn that information, and attempts to find answers to the questions that have been haunting her. X is a fictional character, but Catherine Laceys propulsive and kaleidoscopic novel makes her story feel plausible, piecing together the characters life with an engrossing alternate history of the United States thats full of references to real-life artists and writers. As CM uncovers more of Xs delectably illustrated past, Lacey unfurls a wholly original celebration of art, identity, and grief. Buy Now: Biography of X on Bookshop | Amazon Lone Women, Victor LaValle Its 1915 and mystery is swirling around Adelaide Henry, the daughter of Black farmers in California. When Victor LaValle introduces the character in his bruising fifth novel, shes just set her familys home ablaze. Shes on her way to Montana as a homesteader to collect on the promise of free land being offered by the government to lone women who are able to make it habitable. As Adelaide makes the trek, she brings with her a large trunk containing a secret that threatens to upend her life. Blending magical realism, history, and suspense, LaValle unravels a startling narrative about a woman running away from her troubled past and the horrors she faces as she tries to forge a better future. Buy Now: Lone Women on Bookshop | Amazon After Sappho, Selby Wynn Schwartz Longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize and published in the U.S. this January, After Sappho is a tale of creativity, desire, and sexuality. Though its technically a novel, to categorize it as such would undermine Selby Wynn Schwartzs thrilling reimagination of history and literary criticism, which culminates in a work of fiction that is deeply rooted in reality. In the book, Schwartz revisits the lives of groundbreaking early 20th-century feminists, from writers to actors to dancers, to explore the challenges they faced as queer artists with great contributions to make to the world. Schwartz weaves a tapestry of their voices to create a timeless yet timely narrative. Buy Now: After Sappho on Bookshop | Amazon The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese Abraham Verghese, the best-selling author of the 2009 novel Cutting for Stone, returns with another epic tale, this time focusing on the fate of a cursed family in southern India. The Covenant of Water begins in 1900 as a 12-year-old girl marries a 40-year-old widower with a young son. Some years after their wedding, the girl discovers her husbands son drowned in a ditch. Its a cruel suffering that the family cant seem to shakethey keep losing more of their own to the same fateand they become determined to figure out the source of this strange affliction. Verghese follows the family over the course of nearly 80 years in this powerful and sweeping story about love, loss, and the strength of the human spirit. Buy Now: The Covenant of Water on Bookshop | Amazon Y/N, Esther Yi The unnamed narrator of Esther Yis electric debut novel is obsessed with a K-pop idol named Moon. Bored with her life in Berlin, the narrator writes fan fiction about Moon, describing an imagined relationship with one of the most famous musicians in the world. Then the lines of reality start to blur: as the protagonist of her stories travels to Seoul to be with Moon, the narrator decides to make the journey, too. Yi weaves these threads together in sharp prose, offering an inventive novel about the strange and surprising stakes of worshiping a pop idol. Buy Now: Y/N on Bookshop | Amazon Our Best Look Yet At The Marines' New Loitering Munition Toting Drone Boat photo The U.S. Marine Corps has offered a new look at one of its Long Range Unmanned Surface Vessels, or LRUSVs, fitted with a launcher that can be loaded with up to eight Hero-120 loitering munitions. The combination offers Marines an additional tool for striking targets on land and at sea, as well as just helping to provide additional situational awareness. Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) released photographs of the LRUSV with the Hero-120 launcher yesterday. The pictures are from a visit Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Brian Cavanaugh, head of FMFLANT, made to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia in April, specifically to be briefed on the capabilities of this new drone boat. Shipbuilder Metal Shark, the company that designed the LRUSV, has also released pictures from this event. A closer look at the Hero-120 launcher and other parts of the LRUSV that was at the center of Lt. Gen. Brian Cavanaugh's visit last month to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Cavanaugh is seen here at center, with another Marine pointing out something to him on the drone boat's main onboard control system. USMC The Marine Corps expects to employ the LRUSV "primarily... as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform," according to a common caption accompanying all of the images from Cavanaugh's trip to Little Creek-Fort Story. However, it will also be "capable of extended travel and transporting loitering munitions that accurately track and destroy targets on sea or land." Metal Shark Metal Shark Metal Shark announced in January 2021 that it had won the contract to develop and supply LRUSVs to the Marines. The company has since delivered at least one prototype LRUSV fitted with the Hero-120 launcher, but it's unclear how many the Corps may ultimately be looking to buy. The U.S. Navy has also been involved with the LRUSV program, given that the Marine Corps is contained within the Department of the Navy. A picture of an LRUSV prototype in 2022. The drone boat has the Hero-120 launcher installed here, but it is in its stowed position and not as visible. USN Readily available specifics about the LRUSV's design and capabilities are currently limited. The Marines describe it as "semi-autonomous," which should mean that it is capable of performing certain tasks independently after receiving instructions from a human operator. "LRUSVs, employed individually or in formations of multiple vessels... will be unmanned vessels, capable of conducting semi-autonomous maneuvers in the open ocean for extended periods of time," according to the Navy's 2024 Fiscal Year budget request. The Department of the Navy is asking for around $25.25 million in the upcoming fiscal cycle for the LRSUV, which it says will help fund work on "autonomy behaviors, communication architecture, and improvements to the sensor and communication hardware." Back in 2021, the Pentagon also announced that it would be making work that had been done on an "autonomy module" as part of a project called the Low-Cost Cruise Missile (LCCM) available to the Marine Corps for its LRUSV program. Metal Shark has separately said in the past that the LRUSV is capable of "extended autonomous travel" and of being optionally crewed, as well as that it can be networked together with other USVs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJcg8Zm4fg That the Marine Corps has planned to arm the LRUSVs with Hero-120s has been known for some time now. Israeli drone maker UVision announced that its Hero-120, together with its Multi-Canister Launcher (MCL), had been selected as the winning entry in the Marine Corps' Organic Precision Fires-Mounted (OPF-M) competition. At that time, the stated plan was to install MCLs on existing Marine LAV-25-series 8x8 wheeled light armored vehicles and the service's future LRUSVs. A LAV-25-series 8x8 light armored vehicle fitted with the Multi-Canister Launcher. UVision Hero-120s are also being made available to other Marine units in their man-portable configuration, which consists of one of the loitering munitions loaded inside a self-contained launch tube. One of these single-round launchers is also seen in the picture from Lt. Gen. Cavanaugh's visit last month to Little Creek-Fort Story. A man-portable launcher for the Hero-120, seen in front of the LRUSV during Lt. Gen. Cavanaugh's visit to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in April. USMC The Marines are acquiring a service-specific version of the Hero-120, the Hero-120 OPF, and it remains unclear exactly how it might differ from the standard model. Uvision's website currently says the Hero-120 has a maximum range of at least 37 miles (60 kilometers), a modest increase in performance in this regard over what the company has said in the past. It can stay airborne for around 60 minutes. The baseline Hero-120 also has a high-explosive warhead weighing around 10 pounds. The Hero-120, like most other loitering munitions, is from more traditional missiles and drones in how it can be employed thanks to its electro-optical and infrared cameras and operator-in-the-loop control system. This control concept, partially pioneered by Israeli companies along with the very idea of loitering munitions, allows a human user to 'see' what the munition does throughout the entire flight and make fine course adjustments. This helps with positive target identification and improves accuracy. It also provides the option of 'waving off' the munition even very late in the terminal phase of an attack, if necessary, such as due to the sudden appearance of innocent bystanders in the area. Hero-120's sensor suite also means it has secondary surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. They can be recovered and refurbished for reuse if they complete a mission without attacking a target. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjFvYqJwaFA&t=1s Exactly how Hero-120s would be controlled after launch from an LRUSV is not entirely clear. Without any personnel on the boats, the operator in the loop would have to be at a separate location. The loitering munition's feed could be relayed through the data-sharing suite on the LRUSV, such as a satellite datalink. Alternatively, those closer to the target area, either on the ground or riding on other ships or aircraft, could take control of the loitering munition after launch. The Marine Corps has already demonstrated just this during a test in 2022 that saw control of a larger Hero-400 passed between personnel at the launch site on the ground and Marines flying in a UH-1Y Venom helicopter and riding in an unspecified watercraft down below. Other Marine aircraft, including AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotors, could potentially be used in this role, too. They actually launched a Hero 400 for us, and then we controlled the Hero 400 from the back of a Huey all day long. We did multiple aborted attacks, we did a recce mission around the island with it and the entire time, we're building situational awareness and sharing that with the battlespace commander down on the ground as far as situational awareness," Marine Col. Nathan MOG Marvel, head of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39), told The War Zone in an interview earlier this year. "That can be as easy as running it off a tablet. That can be as easy as integrating into the aircraft. Now I have a loitering ammunition that could be payload agnostic, network-enabled, and it could have a swarm capability. Anybody who needs it can either get it from me or give it to me. A Hero-400 sits on a trailer-mounted launcher during a test in 2022 where Marines flying in a UH-1Y helicopter took control of the loitering munition after its launch. USMC Marine Corps Hero-120s could also be employed in a fire-and-forget mode that does not involve an operator-in-the-loop, striking beyond-line-of-sight targets based on a specific set of GPS coordinates. Depending on how the Marine Corps' Hero-120s are configured, they could potentially be directed to simply strike a specific set of GPS coordinates, too. Overall, the Marines, in cooperation with the Navy, are still very much exploring how they will use their new LRUSVs, with and without Hero-120s. Corps has been working to "determine the correct echelon of command" for these drone boats as part of experiments relating to its new Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) formations. "Based on MLR experimentation," the Marine Corps said it hoped to figure out "the right echelon of command (MLR, Division, or MEF) for the LRUSV and where it is best postured (Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa, or other)," according to a May 2022 update from the service on the implementation of its new over-arching Force Design 2030 restructuring plans. Force Design 2030, broadly, is centered on reformulating how the Marine Corps is organized as a whole. This has involved very dramatic changes, such as the elimination of the service's M1 Abrams tanks, and a new focus on longer-range strike capabilities, among other things, as you can read more about here. This restructuring is intertwined with a new set of still-evolving expeditionary distributed concepts of operations known collectively as Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO). At its core, EABO envisions generally small Marine task forces with a variety of robust capabilities, including aviation assets and ground-based stand-off strike weapons, being able to readily establish forward operating bases, even in austere and remote locales. Those units would then be expected to hold enemy forces on land or at sea in the surrounding area at risk and also be capable of rapidly repositioning as required. Though EABO is not region-specific, there is also a clear focus within the Marines on being able to utilize these new tactics, techniques, and procedures in the Pacific, possibly in the context of a future high-end conflict against China. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmHARAKDqgw It is not hard to see how a group of LRUSVs armed with Hero-120s capable of at least semi-autonomous operations could fit into those larger concepts of operations, especially in littoral environments in the Pacific. By launching the loitering munitions, the drone boats could extend their surveillance reach and provide general improved situational awareness around a forward island base area and have the option of immediately engaging any targets that might pop up. A group of LRUSVs would be able to provide these capabilities in a flexible manner across a relatively broad area. The uncrewed vessels could present additional challenges to opponents by launching attacks on a single target area from multiple vectors at once. With the ability to hand off control, Marines elsewhere nearby, including at sea or in the air, could take over and use it to scout ahead or attack a target. The Hero-120's warhead might be small, but it could still be sufficient to take out a variety of targets ranging from vehicles to troops in the open to small boats. They could potentially be employed even against larger ships offshore by targeting their radars, communications antennas, or other key systems to affect a mission kill. Such attacks could potentially force the targeted ship to leave the area or otherwise render it combat ineffective for a significant period of time until sufficient repairs could be made. The Marine Corps has been separately exploring using the idea of small teams riding in rubber rafts armed with weapons like the Javelin anti-tank missile in a similar fashion. Marines in a rubber raft with a Javelin anti-tank missile launcher. USMC "Long Range Unmanned Surface Vessel (LRUSV) is a Marine Corps Force Design priority that has demonstrated, through extensive wargaming and simulations, significant operational impact in the Naval Expeditionary Force's surface warfare campaign against peer competitors in the maritime battlespace, particularly when operating within planned sensor and communication networks," the Navy's Fiscal Year 2024 budget documents note. Those same documents also underscore that the Marine Corps is looking to be able to deploy more than just Hero-120s from the LRUSVs. The use of these drone boats as launch platforms for "tele-operated Organic Precision Fires (OPF) [Hero-120] and small Unmanned Surface Vessels (sUSV) in support of sea control and sea denial operations," is specifically mentioned. For years now, the Navy has been conducting its own work on various tiers of drones that could be launched from crewed and uncrewed ships and submarines, as well as aircraft and other platforms, and employed as fully autonomous swarms. There has been a particularly heavy focus in this regard on experimentation involving Raytheon's Coyote series of drones, which can be configured as loitering munitions. A similar drone with swarming capabilities that can be employed as a loitering munition, the ALTIUS-600, developed by Area-I, which was subsequently acquired by Anduril, is also becoming increasingly popular across the U.S. military. A timelapse of a Coyote-series drone being launched from a ship. USN How exactly the LRUSVs might be deployed themselves remains to be seen. The Navy is already exploring ways it could use its existing amphibious warfare ships and Lewis B. Puller class sea bases as motherships for USVs and uncrewed undersea vehicles (UUV). The Marines are also seeking a new class of lighter amphibious vessels specifically to support future EABO operations, which might be capable of supporting forward-deployed LRUSVs, too. Whatever the case, LRUSVs armed with Hero-120s and capable of deploying other uncrewed systems look set to be an important component of future Marine Corps expeditionary and distributed operations. Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com A Bethel Park police lieutenant has been taken into federal custody by the FBI. Federal court documents said that Lieutenant Blake Babin is facing a felony charge of transporting a person in the country illegally. Babin is in charge of patrol, traffic officers and the dispatch center. He has worked for Bethel Park since 1990. Babin was arraigned at the federal courthouse on Thursday and pleaded not guilty. Sources tell Channel 11 that Bethel Park police received a tip last fall about what they feared was a trafficking situation and they passed that tip on to the FBI. Babin is not charged with trafficking in the investigation. Investigators say in 2022 Babin transported a person to the U.S. illegally, knowing that person was illegally in the country and assisting them in remaining in the United States illegally. The judge just ordered Babin to have no contact with that person, including on social media. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Only 2 Pittsburgh police officers showed up for weekend shift in the East End Student shot, killed outside Pittsburghs Oliver Citywide Academy; 15-year-old charged Shots fired near Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh VIDEO: The trauma is too much: Teachers union leader reacts to shooting death of Oliver Citywide student DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The fiasco that was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential announcementWednesday on Elon Musks Twitter made space for jokes across the site including from the president himself. After multiple delays and technical issues with DeSantis 2024 presidential bid announcement on Twitter Spaces,President Joe Biden tweeted out a link to his followers. This link works, Bidens account tweeted Wednesday. The link leads to a website asking for donations for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris reelection campaign. The event for DeSantis long-awaited announcement repeatedly crashed and kicked users out of the Twitter Space and app. The debacle was met with memes and jokes (including the trending hashtag #DeSaster) across the site. Former President Donald Trump, DeSantis most threatening opponent in the GOP primary race, also took advantage of the technical fail. His campaigns Team Trump on Twitter even dropped an ad dissing DeSantis as the livestream failed. MUST SEE New Ad from Team Trump: Starting Day One WATCH: pic.twitter.com/V1TlWv7WT0 Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) May 24, 2023 Musk, the outgoing billionaire CEO of Twitter, announced Tuesday that the controversial Florida Republican would make his case Wednesday evening on Twitter Spaces. Though the unprecedented use of Twitter Spaces for DeSantis announcement was anything but smooth, he did release a video Wednesday prior to the faulty stream. Im Ron DeSantis, and Im running for president to lead our great American comeback, DeSantis said in the video. DeSantis will face Trump in the GOP primary. Related... WASHINGTON President Joe Biden has nominated Air Force Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tapping a history-making fighter pilot as the nation's highest-ranking military officer. If confirmed by the Senate, Brown would become the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff following Army Gen. Colin Powell. His confirmation would also mark the first time the U.S. has had a Black Joint Chiefs of Staff and Black Defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, serving at the same time. Biden formally announced Brown's nomination, which has been long expected, at a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden Thursday afternoon. He would replace Army Gen. Mark Milley, whose term ends in October. "General Brown's a warrior, descended from a long line of warriors," Biden said, pointing to his father's service in the Vietnam War and grandfather's command of a segregated military unit in World War II. "He knows what it means to be in the thick of battle and how to keep your cool when things get hard." President Joe Biden announces his intent to nominate Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. to serve as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during an event in the Rose Garden of the White House May 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. Brown is currently serving as the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Brown, whose career in the Air Force dates back to 1984, is highly regarded within the administration for his work modernizing the U.S. fleet of aircraft and its nuclear arsenal and his years of experience in shaping U.S. defenses to meet Chinas rise. Brown has also played a key role in the Pentagon's military aid to Ukraine to fights Russia's invasion. Brown brings more than 3,000 of hours fighter flight experience including 130 hours in combat, Biden said. The president said Brown has an "unmatched firsthand knowledge" of U.S. military operations in all theaters. "While General Brown is a proud, butt-kicking American airman, first and always, he's also been an operational leader in the Joint Force," Biden said, commending his "reputation around the force as an unflappable and highly effective leader." "And someone who smokes a mean brisket," Biden joked of the Texas native. For the past three years, Brown, 60, has served as chief of staff of the Air Force. He is the first African American to serve in that role and the first African American to lead any of the military branches. Brown has served at every level in the Air Force and in joint commands including in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee to serve as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, attends an event in the Rose Garden of the White House May 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. Brown is currently serving as the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Biden cited Brown's motto of "accelerate, change or lose." "General, you're right on," Biden said. "With General Brown as chairman, I know I'll be able to rely on his advice as a military strategist and as a leader of military innovation, dedicated to keeping our military forces the best in the world." Biden also called Brown a "deliberative thoughtful leader," praising him for an "unflinching video testimony" that he gave three years ago sharing his personal experience with racism and love of his country following the death of George Floyd. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden taps first Black Joint Chiefs of Staff head since Colin Powell WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Thursday announced he has nominated Air Force Gen. CQ Brown to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a brief ceremony in the White Houses Rose Garden. Gen. Brown is a warrior, descended from a proud line of warriors, Biden said, referencing Browns Vietnam veteran father as well as his grandfather, who led a segregated unit in World War II. Browns command roles in the Indo-Pacific region, the Middle East and Europe give him an unmatched firsthand knowledge of our operational theaters, and a strategic vision to understand how they all work together to ensure security for the American people, Biden said, flanked by Brown, Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. While Gen. Brown is a proud, butt-kickin American airman, first and always, hes also been an operational leader in the joint force, Biden said. He gained respect across every service from those who have seen him in action, and have come to depend on his judgment. More than that, he gained the respect of our allies and partners around the world, who regard Gen. Brown as a trusted partner and a top-notch strategist. If confirmed by the Senate, Brown who has served as the Air Forces chief of staff for nearly three years will succeed Army Gen. Mark Milley as the militarys top uniformed officer. Milley sat in the front row of the audience at the ceremony, next to Browns wife Sharene. Biden, wearing his signature aviator shades, thanked Milley and his family for their years of service. As chairman, youve led our military through the most complex security environment our world has faced in a long, long time, Biden said. Weve strengthened our alliances from NATO to the Indo-Pacific, and built new partnerships like AUKUS [the trilateral defense agreement between the United States, U.K., and Australia]. ... Youve helped set our country and our military on a course that will put us in the strongest possible position to succeed in the years ahead. And Biden saluted Sharene Brown for her work to improve the quality of life for military families as part of her Five and Thrive initiative. As chairman, Brown would advise the president on military matters, including the potential defense of Taiwan if China invades and NATOs effort to support Ukraine in its fight to repel Russias invasion. He would also regularly consult with top military leaders across all services to gather their thoughts on strategy, operations and budgets, so he could present a range of options to Biden. The Senate voted unanimously to confirm Browns nomination to become Air Force chief of staff in June 2020, which made him the first Black person to head a branch of the U.S. military, and he is expected to be easily confirmed as the nations top military officer. However, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has placed a hold on Defense Department nominations over the departments decision to provide leave and travel services so troops can obtain abortion services, which could create a stumbling block for Browns confirmation. What Gen. CQ Brown would bring as chairman of the Joint Chiefs During his three years as Air Force chief of staff, Brown has focused on overhauling the service, a plan he dubbed Accelerate Change or Lose, which has also become something of a mantra for him. This effort involves reshaping the services structure, changing how the service prepares for potential conflicts with major adversaries like China and Russia, and divesting old and outdated air frames like the A-10 Warthog, E-3 Sentry and older F-15C fighters, which he and other Air Force leaders say would be unsuited for future high-end wars. Biden singled out Browns Accelerate Change or Lose strategy as exactly what the military needs. General, youre right on, Biden said. To keep the American people safe, prosperous and secure, we have to move fast and adapt quickly. We have to maintain a combat-credible force capable of deterring and defeating any potential threat. A retired general officer familiar with the discussions told Air Force Times Biden strongly considered both Brown and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger for the job, but ultimately chose Brown. Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., then commander of Pacific Air Forces, arrives at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 13, 2019. President Biden on May 25 announced Brown is his choice to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Senior Airman Jessica Avallone/Air Force) Brown would be the second Black person to serve as Joint Chiefs chairman, with the first being Army Gen. Colin Powell under President George H.W. Bush. It would be the first time in the nations history that both the top civilian and uniformed leaders in the Defense Department are Black, as Austin is the first Black secretary of defense. An unflinching video In June 2020, shortly after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and days before the Senate voted to confirm him as chief of staff, Brown made an emotional video in which he spoke about Floyds death and his own experiences as a Black person in the military. The video went viral, and observers say Browns frank talk helped spark conversations about racism and injustice in the military community. Biden said that unflinching testimonial shows Brown is unafraid to speak his mind [and] will deliver an honest message that needs to be heard, and will always do the right thing when its hard. Biden said the video also showed his deep love of our country, to which hes dedicated his entire adult life. Republicans praised Browns nomination and called on him to remain out of politics should the Senate nominate him for the post. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised Brown as an exceptionally qualified officer and said he should maintain a laser focus on readiness, deterrence and warfighting instead of politics. I have also known him to be a thoughtful advocate of accelerating innovation so that our armed services can be ready to defend our country and deter potential threats, especially those from the Chinese Communist Party, said Wicker. House defense appropriations Chairman Ken Calvert, R-Calif., said Brown must be focused on maintaining our edge in the air, land, sea and space and not be distracted by other issues that dont ultimately result in the enhanced lethality of U.S. forces. Calvert praised Browns tenure as Air Force chief, noting he understood we must innovate and equip our warfighters with the next generation of resources to secure our nation in order to surpass the technological advancements of China and other adversaries. Ties around the world In a Wednesday interview with Defense News, retired Gen. Dave Goldfein Browns predecessor as Air Force chief of staff said Browns skills, honed throughout his nearly four decades in uniform, and the bonds hes created with counterparts across the world will be vital as the United States faces multiple challenges. When it comes to Ukraine or China or Korea or Iran, or you name the challenges that he will face, he has built enough relationships and enough credibility that he can walk into the room and, in his very thoughtful way, provide his military advice and assessment of the risks involved, allowing the president and the senior civilian leadership to make the most informed decisions, Goldfein said. Since he first met Brown in the mid-1990s when Brown was aide-de-camp to then-chief of staff Gen. Ron Fogleman and Goldfein was aide to the commander of Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy Brown has always been a deep thinker and a quiet consensus builder, Goldfein said. Those traits will serve him well as he advises Biden on the nations most pressing military matters. He really thinks things through, Goldfein said. Hes not usually the most vocal at the table, and hes certainly not the loudest, but he always has the most to say. When he spoke in a meeting, everybody was leaning forward, listening, taking notes. President Joe Biden shakes hands with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. after announcing his intent to nominate Brown to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on May 25. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Vice President Kamala Harris applaud. (Evan Vucci/AP) Goldfein pointed to the 2019 Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii as an example of Browns skill in bringing together people from different backgrounds and with different interests to build common ground. During that conference, attended by air chiefs from about 18 nations, then-PACAF Commander Brown set up a series of small panel discussions that brought every attending nations air chief to the table. During those talks, Goldfein said, the chemistry between Brown and the other Pacific nations air chiefs was evident. What struck me was the relationships that hed invested in across the region, which were on display during the entire conference, Goldfein said. It was relationships built on trust, it was relationships built on confidence in each other, it was relationships built on how he valued each of them and their participation and their input. Because hes such an incredible listener, they knew that he was paying attention to everything they had to say. Browns breadth of experience in some of the worlds most vital military theaters is unparalleled among general officers today, Goldfein said particularly his time commanding the nations air forces in the Pacific and the Middle East, and serving as a senior leader in Europe. I dont know that were going to find an officer who has had more time in joint operations, in every theater, than CQ Brown, Goldfein said. The kind of relationship-building Brown excelled at during the 2019 Pacific conference will be vital in his new role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Goldfein said. Brown has already built up a considerable contact list of top leaders around the world, such as ambassadors, top defense ministers and heads of state, during his last three years commanding the Air Force, Goldfein said. He predicted that as chairman, Brown will be able to quickly form ties with international leaders he doesnt yet know. When theres a crisis and you need to talk to one of your counterparts, thats the worst time to start building a relationship, Goldfein said. You want to build on relationships that youve already invested in. Hes going to bring relationships across the highest levels of government with some of the most important countries we ever have to deal with. Rachel S. Cohen contributed to this report. Biden nominates Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff President Joe Biden announced his nomination of Air Force chief of staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday, saying he could think of no one better suited or more qualified to lead our forces. Gen. Brown is a warrior, descended from a proud line of warriors. His father, a US Army colonel, CQ Brown, served in Vietnam. His grandfather, US Army Master Sgt. Robert E. Brown Jr. led a segregated unit in WWII, Biden said, adding later that Brown is a fearless leader and unyielding patriot. The unveiling followed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins recommendation to pick Brown as the militarys next top officer, a defense official said. If confirmed, it would be the first time in US history that both of the Defense Departments top leaders the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs are African American. The Joint Chiefs chairman is the countrys most senior ranking military officer, who serves as the principal military adviser to the president of the United States, secretary of defense and National Security Council. Brown, who goes by CQ, would be taking over from Army Gen. Mark Milley who has been in the seat since his nomination in 2019. In 2020, Brown became the first Black service chief in US military history. He was confirmed as chief of the Air Force in a 98-0 vote. Brown would be the second Black man to serve as the Joint Chiefs chairman, following Gen. Colin Powell who served from 1989 to 1993. The typically reserved Brown made headlines in 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd. Brown released a moving, deeply personal video in which he said he was full with emotion for the many African Americans that have suffered the same fate as George Floyd. Brown, who was serving as the commander of Pacific Air Forces at the time, recorded the video in uniform. He outlined being one of the only African Americans at his school and often the only African American in his platoon, and later, in leadership. Im thinking about the pressure I felt to perform error-free, especially for supervisors I perceived had expected less of me as an African American. Im thinking about having to represent by working twice as hard to prove their expectations and perceptions of African Americans were invalid, he said. Brown spoke honestly about the issues the US was facing at the time, with widespread protests about racial injustice, and he was frank about what he could do and what he couldnt in his position. I cant fix centuries of racism in our country, nor can I fix decades of discrimination that may have impacted members of our Air Force, said Brown in the video. Im thinking about how I can make improvements personally, professionally, and institutionally, so that all Airmen, both today and tomorrow, appreciate the value of diversity and can serve in an environment where they can reach their full potential. Browns nomination, however, could join more than 200 other senior military nominations which are currently being held up in the Senate. Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has been holding senior military officer nominations in protest of the Defense Departments reproductive health policies, which, among other things, allows leave time for service members and military dependents who must travel to receive an abortion because of the state they are stationed in. Tubervilles spokesman, Steven Stafford, confirmed that the hold would apply to Browns nomination, but said that the senator has a great deal of respect for Brown and looks forward to voting on his nomination. Its unclear when the hold will be lifted. Defense officials, including Austin, have repeatedly said that the hold will have serious impacts on national security. In a letter to Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts earlier this month, Austin said the hold on senior military leaders in particular, such as those who make up the Joint Chiefs, would cause the US to incur an unnecessary and unprecedented degree of risk at a moment when our adversaries may seek to test our resolve. Brown commissioned in 1984 from the ROTC Program at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. According to his official biography, he has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, US Air Forces Central Command and the US Air Force Weapons School. Most recently, before becoming the Air Force chief of staff, Brown served as the commander of Pacific Air Forces the air component of US Indo-Pacific Command. Biden said that experience around the world gave Brown unmatched first hand knowledge of our operational theaters and a strategic vision to understand how they all work together to ensure security for the American people. In a statement praising Browns nomination on Thursday, Austin called the Air Force general an inspiring and effective leader and a man of deep integrity and compassion. Throughout his career, he has insisted on doing right by his teammates and their families, Austin said. As Chief of Staff of the Air Forceand the first Black leader of a U.S. military servicehe has worked hard to draw upon the strength and talents of all of the American people and to give our service members and their loved ones the support that they deserve. This story have been updated with additional developments. CNNs Betsy Klein contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Biden's pick as top US commander could be delayed by senator's blockade U.S. President Biden nominates Air Force General Charles Brown to serve as next Joint Chiefs chair at White House event in Washington Biden's pick as top US commander could be delayed by senator's blockade U.S. President Biden nominates Air Force General Charles Brown to serve as next Joint Chiefs chair at White House event in Washington By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican senator's hold on military nominations will apply to Democratic President Joe Biden's selection of Air Force chief General Charles Q. Brown as the country's top military officer, who was chosen amid mounting U.S. concern over security threats from Russia and China. A spokesman for Senator Tommy Tuberville said Brown's nomination would be affected because the hold applies to all high-level promotions. Tuberville has blocked more than 150 military nominations from moving forward for months because he believes the Pentagon is improperly using government funding to cover travel costs for abortions for service members and their dependents. After the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling recognizing a constitutional right to abortion, the Pentagon said it would cover travel costs for service members seeking abortions and up to 21 days off. Several states have limited abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned, and the military argues that women service members cannot choose where they are stationed. The Senate's approval of military promotions is usually smooth, with lawmakers agreeing to let them go ahead quickly. Tuberville's hold cannot prevent the Democratic-majority Senate from voting on any promotion, but it can drastically slow down the process. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Sonali Paul) A controversial bill that initially aimed to ban all property ownership by Chinese citizens in Texas won't be moving forward. A watered-down version of the bill passed the Senate last month and moved on to the Texas House of Representatives, where it fizzled out this weekend. House Speaker Dade Phelan opted not to hold a weekend hearing, rendering SB 147 and several other Senate proposals dead on arrival. The bill, introduced in December by Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, originally aimed to ban all property ownership by citizens of North Korea, Iran, Russia and China, making no exceptions for dual citizens or visa holders. It gained support from Gov. Greg Abbot, who put the bill on the map by tweeting, I will sign it. The growing ownership of Texas land by some foreign entities is highly disturbing and raises red flags for many Texans, Kolkhorst said in a release at the time. By comparison, as an American, go try to buy land near a Chinese military base and see how it works out for you. The premise was enough to galvanize Asian Texans in unprecedented ways. They protested and marched across the state from Austin to Dallas, holding signs that read Stop Asian Hate and Stop Chinese Exclusion. Hundreds brought their fears to the state Senate floor, using their testimony to plead with lawmakers to kill the bill. Theres people who are asking if they need to get out of the state, like right now, Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu, who represents a heavily Chinese district, told NBC News in March. I have never seen the Chinese community this active and this motivated in my entire adult life. The community is inflamed right now. They are enraged. In response to the outcry, Kolkhorst introduced a new version of SB 147 without language preventing individuals from buying homes. Kolkhorst did not respond to a request for comment. Legislation that died in the House alongside SB 147 included a bill to ban critical race theory in universities and another to restrict drag queen story times at libraries. Asian activists in the state say their fight is far from over and that the end of this bill "does not undo the racist and xenophobic rhetoric lobbed by elected officials, Lily Trieu, interim executive director of Asian Texans for Justice, told NBC News. We will continue to stand up against discrimination and racism against the Asian American community. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BioNTech is proceeding with COVID-shot in line with WHO guidance FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's BioNTech said it was on track to introduce a COVID-19 shot by the early fall in the northern hemisphere that is adapted to currently dominant virus variants in line with recommendations by the World Health Organization. BioNTech was targeting regulatory approval by the end of the summer to allow for a seasonal vaccination campaign to start in early autumn, CEO and co-founder Ugur Sahin told shareholders at the biotech firm's annual general meeting on Thursday. BioNTech is collaborating on the vaccine with Pfizer in markets outside of greater China. A WHO advisory group last week recommended that this year's COVID-19 booster shots be updated to target one of the currently dominant XBB variants. BioNTech/PFizer's new formulation would aim to produce antibody responses to the XBB.1.5 or XBB.1.16 variants, as preferred by the WHO, Sahin said, adding that the partners would introduce a ready-to-use single dose, a change from the multi-dose vials that were standard during the pandemic. Moderna and Novavax have also been working on versions of their respective vaccines targeting XBB.1.5 and other currently circulating strains. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Patricia Weiss, Editing by Rachel More) Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. The Chicago Police Department continues to employ more than 100 officers who knowingly provided false information during criminal investigations, according to a report released Thursday by the citys watchdog agency. The Office of the Inspector General found that structural failures in the Police Departments accountability systems allow officers who have violated Rule 14 to continue working in positions that depend upon their truthfulness and credibility. Advertisement CPDs Rule 14 prohibits officers from making a false report, written or oral. A sustained violation of the rule typically signals the end of an officers career because they can no longer credibly testify under oath. The various oversight bodies that monitor for police misconduct all agree that sustained Rule 14 violations should automatically trigger an officers firing. Advertisement Of the more than 100 officers who violated Rule 14, several continue to work as beat officers and detectives, according to the IG. Effective enforcement of Rule 14 is what stands between us and a world in which police officers get away with lying. We cannot expect effective, accountable law enforcement if we do not take every opportunity to ensure credibility, Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said in a statement. We cannot keep people safe from crimes we cant prosecute, and we cannot build trust without truthfulness. Rule 14 is underenforced in part because of gaps in policies and procedures, but also because of case-by-case decisions, Witzburg said in a livestream detailing the 40-page report Thursday. The report described cases in which CPD members violated Rule 14 but werent separated from the department. Other case studies described Rule 14 violations not being pursued after officers were found to have lied and Rule 14 violations being expunged from officers disciplinary histories. [ Read the Office of the Inspector General's report ] Witzburgs investigation into the enforcement of Rule 14 was mandated by the sweeping consent decree a federal judge placed the Police Department under in 2019. She noted the rule banning lying was one of only a handful of department rules and trends the decree ordered her office to analyze to flag the rules importance. In response to the investigation, CPD, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the Chicago Police Board acknowledged the seriousness of Rule 14 violations. However, the departments did not accept the reports recommendations they should fire officers who have committed violations. The departments cannot commit to firing Rule 14 violators because officers have rights to due process guaranteed by collective bargaining agreements that prohibit predetermining discipline without considering the specific circumstances of each case, according to responses affixed to the report. The departments pushed back on several of the reports recommendations, arguing they were not possible or already in place. The Police Department agreed to conduct an annual review of where Rule 14 violators were assigned, create a new training for internal investigators to recognize violations and said it is working to better notify prosecutors of violations. Advertisement 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 > CPD has taken the IGs recommendations into consideration and is progressing on implementing some recommendations, the department wrote in a statement Thursday. Chicago Police Department members are held to the highest standards. Our sworn and civilian members are expected to act with integrity as we work to build and maintain credibility and trust among the communities we serve, the department wrote. Officers lying erodes public trust in policing, hurting its ability to function, COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten wrote in a statement Thursday. COPA is firm in its stance that officers found to have willfully lied in an official report or statement must be held accountable. These actions not only negatively impact the Departments reform efforts but can also undermine the integrity of our criminal justice system, Kersten wrote. In its response, the Police Board said it has been five years since it ordered a penalty less severe than discharge for a violation. A May 2018 case in which two officers were found to have violated Rule 14 cited by the IGs office involved an incident that took place 12 years before in 2004, the boards leaders wrote. The officers were early in their career and got unusually compelling character witness testimony, the board wrote, all factors that contributed to its more-lenient decision to suspend them for three years. The board has since ordered 21 officers fired for Rule 14 violations, it reported. Advertisement While the departments cant commit to specific predetermined discipline now, the IGs office could recommend City Council pass legislation to require any officer found guilty of a Rule 14 violation be fired, the board and COPA said. The bipartisan House select committee on China adopted its first set of policy recommendations Wednesday, focused on how to prevent a military conflict in Taiwan and end the mistreatment of Uyghurs by the Chinese government. The pair of reports, approved unanimously by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, are intended to serve as a blueprint for action in the 118th Congress. This is not a comprehensive list of everything that needs to be done, committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., told NBC News in an interview. But it is an actionable list of things that we think this Congress can get done and will have a meaningful impact. The report on Taiwan includes 10 findings and proposals on how to preserve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Most of the ideas presented concern military readiness in the event China takes aggressive action in the region. The report warns that "the United States will likely be unready to deter an invasion of Taiwan" if "urgent steps" are not taken. The committee, which was established in January, has so far held multiple hearings, met with business leaders such as Disney CEO Bob Iger and held a war game tabletop exercise to determine how a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would play out. Members of the committee also traveled with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to California in April to meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Gallagher said his strategy in leading the committee was to focus first on human rights abuses before shifting to military and economic concerns. He said he wanted to "set the tone from the start" that Congress has "no quarrel with the Chinese people who are often the primary victims of the CCPs totalitarian repression and aggression." The reports released Wednesday are "only a first step," Gallagher said in a joint statement with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., the top Democrat on the panel. "And we will continue operating in a bipartisan way to send a message that we are committed to deterrence in the Taiwan Strait and that we wont turn a blind eye as the CCP commits genocide, 'the crime above all crimes,' against the Uyghur people. The committee's new report focused on the treatment of ethnic minority Uyghurs found that goods made in forced labor camps in China continue to enter the U.S. despite existing prohibitions. The committee recommended that Congress give the Department of Homeland Security additional resources to strengthen enforcement. As the committee continues its work, Gallagher said, he measures success in two ways. "One, that we have actually meaningfully impacted our colleagues in terms of explaining to them why they should care about the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party," he said. "But the second thing is on a more practical level is that the committee identifies via these policy recommendations, which then wind up as legislation, we've identified the center of gravity in the 118th Congress when it comes to what we can do to combat CCP aggression in a bipartisan fashion." One indicator of success early on for Gallagher has been the level of bipartisanship on the committee. "In most of our hearings, you could have closed your eyes and you wouldnt have known whether it was a Democrat or Republican speaking," he said. "In fact, weve been criticized for being too bipartisan in our approach to China. So that tells me were on the right track." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com All criminal charges against a Black ranching couple in Colorado arrested on felony stalking have been dropped. On May 11, the Fourth Judicial District Attorneys Office dismissed all charges against Courtney CW Mallery and his wife, Nicole. During their trial, their allegations of racial discrimination and law enforcement cover-ups gained national attention. We are pleased with this outcome and recognize the district attorneys office for reaching this conclusion, The couples attorneys, Tyrone Glover, Matthew Roche and Jeremy Loew, said in a joint statement. While justice has been served today, the fight for individual, law enforcement and prosecutorial accountability are far from over. The couple owns Freedom Acres Ranch, a 640-acre ranch in rural Yoder, a predominantly white town 100 miles southeast of Denver. CPR News reported The EL Paso County police arrested the Mallerys on February 6. The documented charges were felony stalking, tampering with a utility meter and petty theft. The charges resulted from an ongoing feud with their neighbors, Teresa and Bonnie Clark. For two years, the couples argued over ownership of Truckton Road, a strip of land leading to both the Mallery and Clark properties. The couple says they own the road, even though it is the only way to access the Clarks property. During the two-year dispute, the Mallerys had made their own complaints. According to CBS News, the husband and wife had continuously complained about their white neighbors but felt local officials ignored their concerns. Complaints were made regarding alleged racist actions. The couple also alleged that Clark was poisoning their animals, destroying their property and threatening them with guns. We are stopped. We are harassed. We are chased. We are followed. Theres been spray paint where they put (n-word) on items, Nicole said. The couple indicated that retaliation was the cause of their arrest. However, they finally received justice earlier this month. Justice delayed, justice served, CW told Denver 7 shortly after the case against him and his wife was dropped. The rancher continued. You know, its, Im happy that it got to this point. I always knew that it would get to this point because like I say, from the very beginning, we did nothing, we said nothing. And weve been, we were attacked by the sheriffs department and the local community. District Attorney Michael Allen wrote the motion to dismiss the cases, stating there is no likelihood for success at trial. Afterward, Nicole told the station the DAs decision spoke volumes about how she and her husband were targeted by the sheriffs office. She added, Its been a lot of trauma. Its been a lot of pain, a lot of humiliation, embarrassment. And despite what a lot of, maybe the sheriffs office thinks, we feel pain. We are deeply hurt by their actions and inaction. Although the charges were dismissed, the couples legal team states there may still be a chance for a lawsuit. We implore the district attorneys and sheriffs offices to conduct more thorough front-end investigations before filing charges, to minimize injustices such as these in the future and to ensure the criminally accused are afforded due process of law, they said in a statement. As they move forward, Nicole still seeks justice for their murdered animals. This is just one step toward justice. But we still have to get justice for our animals. They were part of our family. They were poisoned. It was done intentionally and maliciously. Despite feeling as though local authorities are attempting to drive Black farmers out, CW is ready to return to his passion. I want to continue to farm, and I want to continue now more than ever. I want to expose and bring other people out to farm with me, you know, and show them show them agriculture, he told Denver 7. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has collected evidence against Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov, the current commander of the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Navy, who is involved in massive Russian strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine. Source: Press services of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General Details: According to the investigation, since 10 August 2022, Sokolov has personally given orders for regular combat launches of 3M14 Kalibr cruise missiles on the energy facilities of Ukraine. As a result of these Russian attacks, the SSU says, four civilians were killed and 40 others were injured. The aggressor state carried out air attacks on power facilities in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Khmelnytsky, Rivne, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts. It is established that Russian attacks caused significant losses to the national life support system of the country's civilian population. In addition, Russian missile strikes led to the temporary shutdown of dozens of local educational institutions, hospitals and other social institutions. Based on the collected evidence, investigators informed Sokolov that he was a suspect under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. He is charged with violating the laws and customs of war, encroaching on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, as well as planning, preparing, unleashing and waging a war of aggression. Comprehensive measures are underway to bring him to justice for crimes against Ukraine. The perpetrator faces life imprisonment. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A Black soldier from NJ saved lives in Vietnam. Should he have received a Medal of Honor? U.S. Army Specialist Four Lester Williams Jr. had been in Vietnam just seven months when all hell broke loose at Fire Support Base Rita one night in 1968. North Vietnamese soldiers launched a surprise attack that Nov. 1, at around 3:30 a.m., bombarding the base with mortars and rockets. The U.S. troops fought back fiercely, firing shells and ammunition to ward them off. But those who made it past the return fire broke through the perimeter and stormed the base. All-out fighting, bloody, chaotic thats how men recalled what went down that night. U.S. Army Specialist Four Lester Williams, Jr., of Bridgeton, New Jersey, was killed in the Vietnam War. Williams was in his bunker firing at enemy combatants, and then one tossed a grenade that landed near him. The 24-year-old jumped on the device, according to official accounts of the incident. He was killed in the ensuing blast, but he saved the lives of other men in the bunker that night. Such acts of bravery have earned many men a Medal of Honor the highest and most prestigious military decoration in the nation. But Williams, of the 8th Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, was not among those recipients. Now, as the Department of Defense reviews acts of heroism by Black veterans who may have been overlooked for the medal in the past, Williams case may get new scrutiny. Williams, who was from Bridgeton in South Jersey, was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military decoration, after his death. He should also be considered for the Medal of Honor, U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez and Rep. Jeff Van Drew wrote in a draft letter they plan to send to President Joe Biden. As the Department of Defense reviews all Service Crosses awarded to African American veterans during the Vietnam War, including Specialist Lester Williams, we urge you to properly recognize his supreme sacrifice and award him the Medal of Honor, they wrote. His distinct valor and gallantry is well deserving of this award as he selflessly gave his own life so that others could live. Extraordinary heroism Drafted into the Army, Williams started his tour April 30, 1968. Fire Support Base Rita, near the border with Cambodia, was situated along a main supply route used by the North Vietnamese. There were a bunch of fire bases in that area, and it was a constant battle, said Joseph Plunkett, a generator mechanic who served in the 1st Infantry Division at the base. We were blocking where they would bring in their supplies. They often faced rocket and mortar fire, but nothing like that night, Plunkett said. 'Welcome home': North Jersey vet's book focuses on his time as a 22-year-old in Vietnam When the attack happened, everyone opened fire in what was called a mad minute, and then paused to reload. When that happened, thats when the NVA [North Vietnamese Army] attacked. Some sappers were already in the wire," Plunkett said, meaning combat engineers had gotten past the defensive wire. "An armored personnel carrier in front of me it blew up. Plunkett did not learn about Williams act of heroism until after his service, when he read the citation for the Distinguished Service Cross granted to Williams on Dec. 30, 1968. According to that account, Williams, as a cannoneer, came under fire and ran to the bunker, where he aimed his machine gun at advancing North Vietnamese soldiers. Suddenly an enemy grenade landed in the bunker, states the citation. He immediately threw himself upon it to save the lives of his comrades and was killed by the explosion. Specialist Four Williams' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Army medic Mack Easley, who responded to the scene, found Williams with wounds to his throat and hands. The wounds indicate he may have been on his cot when the grenade landed, and that he tossed it and was hurt when it exploded, he said. Im sure he threw it out of the bunker because he didnt want to die, Easley said. He didnt want anyone else in the bunker to die. He probably was wishing he wasnt there at that time. Through the night, the U.S. soldiers fought fiercely to repel the attack. When it was over, 14 U.S. troops were killed and at least 33 wounded. Honors long overdue Bill Davenport, a Vietnam veteran from Cape May County, hosts a weekly radio show called "Welcome Home Veterans," with a segment recognizing the birthdays of people killed in the war. If a person is local to South Jersey, they get an expanded segment. Thats how he learned about Williams. From the time I was in boot camp, you jump on a grenade, you get a Medal of Honor, Davenport said. I have found dozens of cases like that. Around that time, I learned about the directive the Department of Defense gave. I thought this guy deserves a Medal of Honor. I started writing letters and contacting representatives. Fighting a double war: A Black journalist in WWII President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation creating the Medal of Honor for the Navy in 1861 and for the Army in 1862. Since then, 3,516 people have received the medal. Only 94 recipients have been Black. The racial disparity is troubling and raises the questions of whether Black service members were unjustly denied recognition for valor in combat, Edward Lengel, chief historian for the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, wrote in a column for The Dallas Morning News two years ago. Racisms role in the undue denial of recognition of Black service members for valor is unquestionable, and the U.S. armed forces have formally recognized the problem, Lengel wrote. One of the Black recipients of the Medal of Honor was awarded for his bravery in the same battle as Williams. Charles C. Rogers, a lieutenant colonel at the time, rallied his battalion to defend the base despite being wounded three times that night. He survived and received the award in 1970. In August 2021, the Department of Defense announced an effort to review second-level military decorations given to African Americans and Native Americans who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars and whether they warranted a Medal of Honor. A similar review has been done for World War II veterans. Plunkett, the generator mechanic, was not surprised to hear that Williams case was getting new scrutiny. You hear all these stories about people falling on grenades who got Medals of Honor, and this is comparable, absolutely comparable, Plunkett said. Its the same kind of thing. You cant question the valor. You cant question the above and beyond. The following Army solders were killed in action at Fire Support Base Rita in Vietnam on Nov. 1, 1968: Cpl. William K. Alameda of Waimanolo, Hawaii, age 24. Spc. 4 William P. Alongi of Elmwood Park, Ill., age 25. Sgt. Thomas Wylie Bayonet of St. Petersburg, Fla., age 21. Spc. 4 Thurl Guy Carter III of Hayward, Calif., age 21. Sgt. James Michael Ciupinski of Chicago, Ill., age 19. Spc. 4 Charles Grey Costin of Warsaw, N.C., age 18. Spc. 4 Ronnie Courtney of Tahlequah, Okla., age 21. Sgt. James Eddie Graves of Drake, Ky., age 21. Spc. 4 Wayne Kevin Laine of Walnut Creek, Calif., age 20. Pfc. James Emmett Martin of Portland, Ore., age 20. Sgt. Wendell D. McBurrows of Abbeville, Ga., age 25. Spc. 4 Marvin Norbert Propson of Hilbert, Wis., age 19. Spc. 4 Lester Williams Jr. of Bridgeton, N.J., age 24. Staff Sgt. James R. Norris of New Haven, Ky., age 22. Source: Compiled by Joseph Plunkett via The Coffelt Database of Vietnam Casualties This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Medal of Honor: NJ soldier's heroism in Vietnam could get new review Boise homeowners will see drops in property taxes this year. Heres why, what to expect For the first time since the years after the Great Recession, city officials project that Boise homeowners will see decreases in their property taxes. The proposed budget which includes a 2% base tax increase, rather than the allowable 3% would result in an 8.7% reduction in property taxes for the average homeowner, or about $138 in savings, Boise budget director Eric Bilimoria said during a presentation Tuesday. The same trend is happening across most of Ada County, said Brad Smith, the chief deputy at the Ada County Assessors Office. In an email, he said the last time property values went down was in 2012. Thats a big change from recent years, which have seen huge increases in property values before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 alone, property values in Ada County increased by 30%. From 2019 to the peak in 2022, average home values in Ada County rose by more than 80%, Boise Regional Realtors President Debbi Myers told the Idaho Statesman. Part of the reason for the decrease in taxes is that home values have gone down. Since early last year, home prices in Boise have fallen by 10%, Myers told the Statesman by phone. Across Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell, homes have seen a 4.2% decrease in value since early last year, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. The explanation for that is really pretty simple, Myers said. We were undervalued pre-COVID, and then we had a surge during COVID that was not in line with any reality. And now its kind of correcting back to where it should be. Commercial property to bear more cost Myers said she expects more reasonable growth to return in the coming years. This year, Bilimoria said he expects taxes on residential properties to drop from an average of $1,594 in 2022 to $1,456. Home values in the Treasure Valley still remain above the national average. Bilimoria said homeowners would see favorable conditions in the coming tax year because of decreases in home values and increases in values for commercial properties. In recent years, Ada County has seen a large shift in the tax burden, increasing the portion of property taxes paid by homeowners and decreasing the amount paid by commercial properties. Thats starting to change because of the slowdown in the residential market. This is the first time weve seen that in several years, whereby residential assessed values are going down and commercial are going up, Bilimoria said. Smith said that outside of small pockets that have seen increases, residential market activity has slowed in Ada County, whereas commercial activity has not. Idaho also caps the homeowners exemption, which allows residents to write off a portion of their primary residence at tax time. But with the cap tied to a dollar amount $125,000 for the past few years the benefit shrinks whenever property values rise. Boises decision to not increase the tax base by 3% the maximum allowed under state law will also result in savings of $14.27 for the average homeowner, according to the citys calculations. Residents could see further reductions once a set of property tax reforms, made into law with House Bill 292, go into effect. Bilimoria said the savings wont be calculated until the fall, but that there could be up to 20% in additional savings off tax bills. These trends, coupled with House Bill 292s property tax reduction efforts, mean residential property owners share of the property tax burden should decrease significantly for 2023, providing much-needed relief to Ada County homeowners, a Monday press release from the Assessors Office read. Early estimates indicate that the residential property owners share of the property tax burden for Ada County could decrease from 79% to 73%, reversing trends that have favored commercial property owners over the last 10-plus years. Most homeowners are scheduled to receive their new assessments later this month or in early June. Property tax bills go out in November and are due in December. An officer who handles cases of driving under the influence, and has made more than 3,500 DUI arrests throughout his career, was cited for driving drunk. Boise Police Cpl. Casey Hancuff, 59, was stopped by an Eagle police officer earlier this month after police alleged he was driving erratically on Idaho 44, Ada County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Patrick Orr told the Idaho Statesman. Orr said the Eagle officer detected the odor of alcohol, and that Hancuffs speech was slurred. The citation was first reported by KTVB. Hancuff, who joined the Boise Police Department in 1994, has made impaired driving education and enforcement the focus of his career, according to a 2021 Mothers Against Drunk Drivers post. He was selected by MADD National as its April 2021 Officer of the Month. We thank him for his many years of dedicated service to the citizens of Boise and for his passion to remove impaired drivers from the roadways, the post said. Hancuff is a part of the Boise Police Departments Night STEP team, or Selected Traffic Enforcement Program, which is responsible for a majority of the agencys DUI arrests, according to the citys website. Boise police said theyre aware of the incident and Hancuff is not on patrol or in the field. Spokesperson Lynsey Amundson didnt clarify whether Hancuff was placed on administrative leave. We take matters of this nature very seriously, and our internal affairs office will be reviewing the related criminal report and investigation, Amundson told the Idaho Statesman by email. She said that once Hancuffs legal proceedings are finalized, the Boise Police Departments Office of Internal Affairs will determine whether any policies were violated. Eagle police stopped Hancuff around 1 a.m. May 15. Police said Hancuffs blood alcohol content was .111, which is past the legal limit of .08. Hancuff has pleaded not guilty, according to paperwork filed by his private Boise-based attorney James Ball. In Idaho, defendants charged with misdemeanors can make an appearance through their attorney instead of having to physically enter a plea in court. According to online court records, Hancuff is expected to appear for a hearing at 8:30 a.m. June 29 at the Ada County Courthouse. Police didnt arrest Hancuff, Ada County Sheriffs Office says Hancuff wasnt arrested and instead was cited. Orr said that while its up to the sheriffs deputy whether they want to arrest someone or issue a citation, out of the 142 people whove been charged with a DUI this year, only 16 were citations. To put it another way, nearly 90% of people charged with DUIs by the sheriffs office were arrested. Orr said Hancuff was dealing with health issues that were unrelated to the drinking, which was part of the reason the officer cited him and drove Hancuff home, instead of taking him into custody at the Ada County Jail. Boise Police Cpl. Brian Holland, a spokesperson for the departments union, told the Statesman by phone that Hancuff is dealing with significant health issues, but added that it wasnt an excuse and Hancuff wouldnt want his health issues to be seen as one. We do a job that is done by imperfect people, Holland said. He doesnt claim to be perfect. Had Hancuff been taken to the Ada County Jail, he likely would have been placed on a $500 bond and able to pay it and leave without seeing a judge. Under Idaho law, judges have the discretion to set bail, but in the case of misdemeanors, there are recommended guidelines. In Idaho, individuals first DUI is punishable by up to six months in county jail, along with a maximum fine of $1,000. They could also lose their license for up to six months. Someone convicted of an excessive DUI, who was found with blood alcohol content above 0.20, could face up to a year in jail, with a minimum of 10 days. Both a DUI and an excessive DUI are considered misdemeanor violations. In response to a question about why Hancuff wasnt arrested, Holland said he couldnt speak to Hancuffs case specifically but said the arresting officer has discretion. When people say it appears to be some type of favoritism, I can personally say that Ive seen him use that same discretion with people that have no ties to us or any other agency or anything, Holland said. Update: Missing vulnerable adult last seen in Boise has been safely located UPDATE: The Boise Police Department said Paul has been safely located. The original story is below. The Boise Police Department is searching for a missing 59-year-old vulnerable adult named Paul. Paul was seen on a surveillance video about 10 a.m. Thursday at a business on the 1600 block of South Vista Avenue, Boise police said on social media. He was last seen at about 10:30 a.m. near West Overland Road and South Bird Avenue. He is believed to be driving a dark green Suzuki Esteem with Idaho license plate 1AJB81U, according to police. Officers and his family are worried for his safety due to ongoing health concerns, the Police Department tweeted Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ada County dispatch at 208-377-6790. People protest with signs against sexual abuse by a priest outside the Bolivian Archbishopric office in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, May 19, 2023. Milton Murillo, a Bolivian priest, has been remanded in custody on suspicion of abusing seminarians a decade ago, shortly after news broke of what has turned out to be the largest pedophilia scandal in the Andean countrys history, involving the deceased Jesuit priest. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia acknowledged Wednesday that the church had been deaf to the suffering of victims of sexual abuse, commenting as a pedophilia scandal involving priests is rocking the country. In a statement, the Andean nations Catholic bishops said that as a church, we are facing a painful moment ... because we are certain that we have been directly or indirectly involved in the deep pain caused to innocent victims. The statement comes amid the fallout from the case involving a late Spanish Jesuit priest, Alfonso Pedrajas. According to a private diary accessed by the Spanish newspaper El Pais, Pedrajas allegedly abused dozens of minors in Catholic boarding schools in Bolivia in the 1970s and 1980s. He died of cancer in 2009. Earlier this week, Jordi Bertemeu, one of the Vaticans top sex crimes investigators, arrived in Bolivia. The bishops said that while we know there is no way to compensate for the damage caused, we are committed to do everything possible to seek a reparation, with the support of professionals who provide assistance and help heal wounds and scars. The Prosecutors Office initiated an investigation which remains confidential and has called on the victims to testify. New cases of sexual abuse have been uncovered as a result of this probe and one priest was sent to pre-trial detention for three months earlier this month. Bolivian President Luis Arce sent a letter to Pope Francis earlier this week, requesting that the church release any documents about sexual abuse by priests in Bolivia. In the letter, Arce calls on church authorities to move from pronouncements to concrete actions to prevent impunity. In their statement, the Bolivian bishops said the church would set up two commissions to determine responsibilities. They promised to provide updates, saying they would contribute to a transparent investigation by the justice system. The Jesuit Society in Bolivia previously apologized to victims and pledged to support the investigation while denouncing Pedrajas superiors for an alleged cover-up. Many of the people singled out are no longer in office or have died. Boy, 11, Recovering After Being Shot By Officer Responding To His 911 Call: Attorney A Mississippi mother is demanding justice after she said a police officer responded to her 11-year-olds 911 call by shooting him in the chest, with her attorney describing his recovery as painful. His words to me were: Why did he shoot me? What did I do? Nakala Murry said at a press conference Monday, recalling son Aderriens reaction to the gunshot. Murry said Aderrien had called 911 from their Indianola home at her request after the father of her younger daughter showed up irate early Saturday. She said she wanted police there in case things got out of line. The officer came to the front door with his firearm already drawn and ordered everyone outside, she said. As Aderrien entered the living room on his way to the exit, he was shot once in the chest. Aderrien Murry, 11, suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver, according to an attorney for his family. Aderrien Murry, 11, suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver, according to an attorney for his family. He ran to me. He was bleeding. I held him, Murry recalled. He bled out the mouth. Every time I close my eyes, I see it. Her attorney, Carlos Moore, said at the press conference that the boy suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver, adding that he came within an inch of losing his life. Moore also criticized the policeman and the city, saying, If hes your best, Indianola, then you can clean house from top to bottom. The officer was suspended from duty Wednesday amid an investigation. That same day, Aderrien was released from a hospital, according to Moore. Hes physically still in pain, but hes happy to be alive, the attorney told HuffPost on Thursday, calling for the termination of the officer and the release of police body camera footage. Moore added that next week he plans to file a lawsuit for Murry against the officer, the city and the citys police chief. They have protocol. He was trained. He knows what to do, Murry said Monday of the officer. If you were scared, youre in the wrong field. Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone, in a video address Sunday, promised full transparency in the official probe, which he said involves the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, or MBI. We cannot investigate our own, which is why they are here, he said. The MBI told HuffPost on Thursday that it is continuing to assess the incident and gather evidence for later review by the district attorneys office in Sunflower County, where Indianola is located. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney Generals Office, said bureau press secretary Bailey Martin. Due to this being an open and active investigation, no further comment will be made. The Sunflower County district attorneys office and the Indianola Police Department did not immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment. (Getty/Reuters) For 1,000 days, after a decade of racist violence and unrest in Florida and around the US, a boycott launched by Black residents in Miami called on Black tourists and businesses to stay out of the city. From 17 July 1990 to 12 May 1993, a boycott supported by the NAACP and other civil rights groups urged visitors to steer clear, inflicting potentially tens of millions of dollars in lost tourism revenue in Miami-Dade County. Black Miami residents had long been subject to systemic inequality and exclusion from the citys lucrative tourism industry, but the citys rejection of Nelson Mandela following his release from a 27-year prison sentence proved to be the tipping point. Thirty years later, another coalition of civil rights groups has issued travel advisories warning visitors before traveling to the state, where Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has advanced a far-right platform targeting civil liberties, education, healthcare and immigration. Governor Ron DeSantis has inflicted deep and lasting damage upon our state, eroding the fundamental rights of our residents and visitors while exploiting the word free as a hollow campaign slogan, said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida. We understand everyone must weigh the risks and decide what is best for their safety, but whether you stay away, leave or remain we ask that you join us in countering these relentless attacks, she added. Help reimagine and build a Florida that is truly safe for and open to all, and where freedom is a reality, not a hollow campaign slogan. The group warned LGBT+ people traveling to the state last month after the governor advanced a sweeping set of policies targeting LGBT+ people, particularly transgender youth, that have echoed in state legislatures across the US. Other advisories followed from the League of United Latin American Citizens and the NAACP, two of the oldest and largest civil rights advocacy groups in the US. The Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest LGBT+ political advocacy group, also has joined Equality Floridas advisory. Since the day he took office, Governor DeSantis has weaponized his position to weave bigotry, hate, and discrimination into public law for his own political gain, Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said in a statement this week. In June 1990, Miami officials rescinded a proclamation welcoming the leader of the movement to end South African apartheid after he expressed support for Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat and Moammar Gadahfi. The following month, Miami attorney HT Smith launched Boycott Miami, encouraging Black tourists and businesses to avoid the state. In quick succession, local, state and national groups including the ACLU, the National Conference of Black Mayors and the National Organization for Women, among others canceled or moved their meetings and conventions out of the state. But unlike that movement, the coalition of civil rights groups behind recent travel advisories are not calling for an economic boycott, but drawing attention to the governors far-reaching assault on civil liberties that have animated his newly launched 2024 campaign for the Republican nomination for president. Meanwhile, his feud with the Walt Disney Company a tourism mammoth and political heavyweight has boiled over into lawsuits and spurred the company to pull out of a $1bn project in the state. More than 137.5 million tourists visited Florida last year, and tourist spending in the state in 2019 totaled nearly $100bn, according to the states tourism promotion agency Visit Florida. Several Black tourism groups have questioned whether the NAACP is taking the right approach. The question we all must ask ourselves is, Who does the Florida travel advisory really hurt? according to a statement from the Future of Black Tourism, Blacks in Travel & Tourism and the Black Travel Alliance. We believe there is a better way to make a statement to Governor DeSantis beyond a travel advisory petitioning African Americans and people of color to stay away from Florida, the groups added. Small Black businesses and marginalized communities certainly should not be the sacrificial lamb. There are more than 7,000 Black-owned businesses in Miami-Dade County alone, according to the countys chamber of commerce. Whats happening in Tallahassee goes against everything we are as Black people, according to Eric Knowles, president and CEO of the chamber, speaking to the Miami-Herald. But a potential boycott is going to affect and impact Black businesses and my first and foremost responsibility is to help and grow Black businesses, he added. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2022. (AP) Since entering the governors office, Mr DeSantis has restricted honest discussion of race and racism in schools and in the workplace, prohibited classroom discussion of issues related to gender and sexuality, and signed measures targeting LGBT+ people and their healthcare, abortion rights, immigrants, voting rights, and constitutionally protected speech. On 17 May, Mr DeSantis approved a slate of bills that restrict affirming healthcare for transgender minors, threaten drag shows, forbid people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity, and prevent people from using their chosen pronouns at schools. The legislation follows administration policy restricting gender-affirming care for trans people in the state over the objections of major health organisations and LGBT+ advocates. One law creates a new informed consent process that requires trans patients 18 and older to see a physician in person for gender-affirming healthcare, which will likely prohibit many trans adults from using telehealth or relying on other health providers such as nurse practitioners for their care. That ambiguity has left health providers and legal analysts unclear how to navigate the law, which could prompt providers to stop providing gender-affirming care altogether, for patients of any age, according to LGBT+ advocates. Mr DeSantis also recently expanded a measure labelled by opponents as the Dont Say Gay law prohibiting classroom instruction on issues related to gender and sexuality, which critics argue will have a chilling effect on LGBT+ people in schools as part of an effort to erase LGBT+ people from public life. Another recently signed law targeting immigration voids out-of-state drivers licenses for people without proof of citizenship and bars municipalities from using state money to issue identification cards for undocumented immigrants, and most companies in the state must verify whether their patients are living in the country legally. Immigration advocates warn that such measures will devastate the states construction, restaurant and agricultural industries that rely on immigrant workers. Florida hospitals that accept Medicaid will also be required to collect their patients immigration statuses, which LULAC warns will place an unjust ethical burden on providers administering necessary medical care and perpetuates discrimination based on immigration status. The administrations migrant relocation programme also will get another $12m, after the governor orchestrated widely derided flights that sent people seeking asylum in the US to Marthas Vineyard hundreds of miles away from where their cases were being considered in El Paso, Texas in his apparent protest of Democratic immigration policies. The actions taken by Governor DeSantis have created a shadow of fear within communities across the state, according to Lydia Medrano, LULAC vice president for the southeast. Food banks report witnessing individuals seeking one last food donation as they prepare to flee Florida. Families are torn apart as some members choose to stay while others have to leave, foreseeing worsening conditions for immigrants. Protesters gather outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami on 24 May as the governor holds fundraising events ahead of his presidential candidacy announcement. (AFP via Getty Images) The Florida Immigrant Coalition which launched a website named floridatraveladvisory.com advises people to consult an attorney before traveling or reconsider travel to the state altogether. Travel to all areas of Florida should be done with extreme caution as it can be particularly unsafe for people of color, LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals who speak with an accent, and international travelers, according to the advisory. Every county in Florida poses a heightened risk of harassment, possible detainment, and potential family separation based on racial profiling. Last year, Mr DeSantis and Republican state lawmakers pursued the Stop WOKE Act to target critical race theory, a legal framework to examine systemic racism that its opponents have invoked to broadly restrict discussion of concepts from inequity and social justice to honest instruction on civil rights history and racist violence. The law, the subject of several federal lawsuits, was followed by another recent measure aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, or DEI, which the governor said would encourage diversity of thought, civil discourse and the pursuit of truth for generations to come, while he continues to rail against woke indoctrination and falsely depicts a state school system held hostage by leftist mobs. Florida also is at the centre of a nationwide trend of challenges against books and materials in libraries and schools. Earlier this month, one of the worlds largest publishers and several prominent authors and families filed a federal lawsuit against a school district where activists have challenged dozens of books, largely involving or written by people of colour or LGBT+ people. Let me be clear failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all, NAACP president Derrick Johnson said in a statement. Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon, he added. He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. The NAACPs advisory was proposed by the groups board of directors by its Florida State Conference, according to the organisation, and is in response to the unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms from Mr DeSantis and his allies in the state legislature. The boards chair Leon Russell has called the governors agenda a blatant war against principles of diversity and inclusion in an effort to appeal to a dangerous, extremist minority. We will not allow our rights and history to be held hostage for political grandstanding, he added. The governor, members of his campaign and other right-wing pundits and GOP officials have largely waved off the advisories as a stunt. Claiming that Florida is unsafe is a total farce, Mr DeSantis said in a Twitter event announcing his presidential candidacy on 24 May. He called the advisories a political stunt from leftwing groups who are colluding with legacy media to try to manufacture a narrative. His former press secretary and current campaign aide Christina Pushaw dangled a thinly veiled racist dig at news of the NAACPs advisory. Ms Pushaw, referencing the name of a Memorial Day weekend festival with a largely Black crowd, wrote: Does this mean no Urban Beach Week? The chair of the Florida GOP suggested that the NAACPs Mr Russell should move out of the state. If you think our state is so bad, [the Florida Republican Party] will help with moving costs, he said. Republican Senator Rick Scott appeared to embrace criticism that labelled the governors agenda as a far-right authoritarian assault by issuing an advisory of his own: he said that his home state is openly hostile to socialists, communists, and those who enable them. Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Fire damage to a worship area at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines is seen May 23, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Charges were filed late Tuesday in connection with a Tuesday morning fire at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines that caused damage estimated at over $78,000. According to Des Plaines police, Virginia Roque-Fermin, 41, of Arlington Heights has been charged with one felony count of arson. Charges were filed after an investigation by police with assistance from the Cook County states attorneys office and staff at the shrine. Advertisement Responding officers who arrived at the site at 1170 N. River Road Tuesday shortly after 2:30 a.m. saw Roque-Fermin quickly walking away from the fire. Police said they noticed she had soot on her clothes and detained her. Officers were able to view surveillance footage, which allegedly showed Roque-Fermin carrying statues, buckets, chairs and planter pots toward the grotto area. According to police, she then started a fire and continued bringing objects to the fire to stoke the flames. Advertisement The site remains open to pilgrims, who are being asked to avoid the areas affected by the fire. Staff at the shrine have started a GoFundMe to raise $50,000 to cover the damages in the outdoor chapel. Although we are very saddened by the painful vandalism, we wish that through the help of our community, we can reconstruct the outdoor Chapel of the Resurrected Christ, also known as the Altar of Miracles, the fundraiser description reads. Pilgrims visit for many reasons: some seek hope, others express gratitude; however, all come with prayers and express love to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After a bond hearing Tuesday, Roque-Fermin was being held on $200,000 bond. She is due in court in Skokie on June 8. adperez@chicagotribune.com What Your Brazilian Bikini Waxer Knows About You, Just From One Appointment Getting a Brazilian bikini wax can be a nerve-wracking experience. You lie naked with your most vulnerable body parts not only exposed but inviting pain, and wondering whether the waxer can tell that youd rather be waiting in line at the DMV, or if they know exactly how you like it in the bedroom. During a Brazilian wax, the technician removes hair from the front all the way to the back, plus a strip for the butt. As the name implies, the service started in Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s before popping up in the United States in the 90s thanks to the Padilha sisters Jocely, Jonice, Joyce, Janea, Jussara, Juracy and Judsela, better known as the J Sisters, who ran a salon offering Brazilian waxes in New York City. The trend took off because it lasts longer than shaving and removes the entire hair follicle versus just cutting it like during shaving. Still, it can cause discomfort and a severe level of awkwardness between clients and their waxers. We talked to professional waxers to figure out exactly what they can tell about clients during a session and what they learn about clients hygiene habits and sex lives. They can tell how nervous you are. Skin Studio Arizonas Rachel Berg said the top question she receives from clients pertains to the level of pain they can expect. The biggest question is, Does it hurt? she said. When somebody asks that, right off the bat, theyre nervous. Questions about before and aftercare show they are eager, because they want to be prepared, Berg said. A lot of people dismiss the before and aftercare, which is very unfortunate, because thats probably one of the most important parts of waxing [to get] optimal results. Berg looks at body language for some cues. Theyre kind of gripping onto what theyre bringing in, like a purse or something. That body language [shows] theyre nervous, she said. Jamie Conner, a senior field trainer at European Wax Center, said another non-verbal clue indicates a clients hesitancy. How many folds of the pants tells me how nervous someone is to be waxed, Conner said. Someone who doesnt really have a fear, theyre undressed before you can tell them to get undressed. Someone whos a little bit more hesitant has folded the underwear, has folded the shirt, has folded the pants and socks, tied the shoes back up anything they can do to delay the process. They can tell how much it hurts, even if you try to hide it. Before Waxxpot head trainer Mallori McGuire even applies a strip, she sees the jitters come out. When you go and wipe them, sometimes people will be jumpy even then, McGuire said. I try to be good about announcing what Im doing as Im doing it. I dont like to startle people. Once the service really gets going, a client doesnt need to yell or scream to indicate their pain level. When somebodys clenching their hands or if their eyes are closed, also just not talking a lot, McGuire said. Or youll be asking them a question and then youll go to pull and the conversations going to stop for like 30 seconds. Theyre like, Oh my gosh, sorry, I just had to breathe for a second. Thats obviously a sign that it probably didnt feel the best. They can tell when your last shower was and whether youve cleaned up beforehand. We can tell if they have showered or not that day. We can definitely tell how long it has been, Purele Waxings Purnima Relekar said. We have this big poster in our salon that tells them step by step what to do and the No. 1 point in that poster is shower the day of. You will be surprised how many people dont. Relekar knows this because of the way the skin looks and how much dead skin they have. She said the wax works differently with unwashed, dirty skin. Conner can even tell what kind of products her clients use down there. Irritation, redness and hyperpigmentation usually mean a client applies scented products in their nether regions. Usually it looks angry; its just very red, she said. A lot of products are not meant to hit our inner labia or to get [near] the vagina at all. What's left behind on a used wax strip can say a lot about how much you prepped before your wax. What's left behind on a used wax strip can say a lot about how much you prepped before your wax. When the waxer goes around back, theyll know who followed directions at the top of the appointment. Before our clients sit down, we leave wipes out for them. We tell them, go ahead and take it from front to back, McGuire said. I can tell when somebody has not done that. The evidence shows up in the form of a brown waxing strip. That does happen sometimes, McGuire said. Ive never had it that it was so horrible that I dont just ignore it. Normally, Im moving on with my day. Same goes for when a client starts menstruating on the table. Im just going to kind of go around it. Im also not going to embarrass them, Berg said. I always tell people, You might have started your period, and the amount of times that people are so embarrassed by it, its honestly kind of sad. Its a totally normal thing. When it comes to business around back, youll be surprised how many people have hemorrhoids, Relekar said. You can definitely tell. Theres a lot of pressure going on there. Heres what they know about your sex life. The only thing I can tell is that you actively had sex and then came in, Conner revealed. But providers cant deduce how often a client does the deed. If they have sex a lot or if they dont, theres nothing that you can tell by, Berg said. How a client decides to style the hair down there can also be a sign of how they approach their intimate life. It tells me how conservative someone is, Conner said. Some people are very bashful about removing all of the hair. Some people say, I hear the people are out here doing landing strips. I hear you can color it. I hear you can do a stencil. They want to get creative. Relekar claims to know when a female client is pregnant, which should be disclosed ahead of the service, because of how the waxed area swells up. I have asked a couple of girls, Are you pregnant? she said. You can definitely tell a pregnant woman from a non-pregnant woman. The good news: Theyre not paying too much attention to your anatomy. At the end of the day, the pros consider removing hair from the bodys most sensitive areas all in a days work. As a professional, Im not looking at what your anatomy is, Conner said. Im looking at the hair that needs to be removed. I think most of us dont care. And I dont care what youre doing with it afterward. Im just going to tell you to keep it clean, because youre more susceptible to bacteria because you waxed today. McGuire agrees. Once youve been a waxer for at least a year, you become pretty immune to anything that the average person might think is crazy or weird, she said. Everyone always asks me if I have any stories and Im like, honestly, it doesnt really surprise you anymore. Your waxer is going to forget about what your vagina looks like as soon as you leave the building. So its nothing to be shy or anxious about. Related... By Maria Carolina Marcello BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday summoned his environmental and indigenous affairs ministers for emergency talks after a congressional committee passed a bill gutting the ministries' environmental oversight powers. The measure, which requires approval on the lower house floor and the Senate to pass, represents Lula's first major clash with a newly conservative Congress following significant gains by right-wing lawmakers in last year's election. "The game has begun," Lula said at an industry event in Sao Paulo. "Now we are going to play and talk to Congress." But Lula also said at the same event that Brazil needs to continue to grow its meat and grains export industries, a sign of his conundrum. Lula is under pressure to generate jobs in a long-lagging economy that has grown more dependent on environmentally threatening agricultural exports. Yet, he has staked his international reputation on slowing deforestation which surged under his predecessor, far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro. Late on Wednesday, committee members in Congress approved a proposal that weakened the environment ministry, stripping it of oversight of the rural land registry and other responsibilities. The bill also removed the ministry of Indigenous peoples' power to demarcate Indigenous lands. Both measures would pave the way for greater agricultural development, critics say. Lula's Environment Minster, Marina Silva, blamed Bolsonaro's congressional allies for going to war against her and those seeking to toughen Brazil's climate goals. "At this moment, we are being threatened," she said. "Democracy is being threatened, environmental policy is threatened ... It's difficult to manage this situation." Luiza Lima of Greenpeace Brazil echoed Silva's concerns. "A day of profound setbacks for the environment and for Indigenous peoples," said Lima, adding that even with Bolsonaro out of power, his "project of destruction" is intact. Environmental regulator Ibama said last week it would block a request by state-run oil giant Petrobras to drill at the mouth of the Amazon river near Amapa state. Environmentalists praised the decision but it disturbed those in Lula's coalition who want Petrobras to deliver growth in poor, far-flung states. Scientists have repeatedly warned that the fossil fuel industry exacerbates catastrophic climate change and threatens global ecosystems and livelihoods. (Reporting by Maria Carolina Marcello; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by David Alire Garcia, Gabriel Stargardter, Aurora Ellis and David Gregorio) Brian Cox called the death of his Succession character brilliant, but made a surprising confession about the scene itself. I didnt watch it, the actor, who played Logan Roy, told the BBC. My own death will come soon enough. Cox also had a complaint with how creator and writer Jesse Armstrong handled the characters ending. I mean, hed made him die in the third episode, he said, adding that he took it a little personally. I looked on it, wrongly, as a form of rejection, Cox said. I was fine with it ultimately, but I did feel a little bit rejected. The death itself wasnt too much of a shock to fans given that Roy was old, battling health problems and the title of the show refers to the race to succeed him as head of the right-wing media empire at the heart of the series. But the fact that it came so early in the shows fourth and final season did surprise many including Cox, who told the BBC he would have held back the characters demise. Cox has made similar comments before. I thought he would die in about Episode 7 or 8, he told The New York Times last month. But Episode 3, I thought Well thats a bit early. The shows final episode airs Sunday on HBO. A Florida judge denied a motion by Brian Laundries parents to withhold a letter Laundries mother wrote him that said burn after reading on the envelope, which a lawyer for Gabby Petitos family called a potentially damning piece of evidence in their civil lawsuit. Laundrie was accused of killing Petito, his fiancee, as they were on a cross-country road trip that Petito was documenting on Instagram as an aspiring #vanlife influencer. As her disappearance and death were under investigation, Laundrie then disappeared into a nature reserve near his parents home in Florida, where he was later found dead himself. In March, Petitos parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, sued Laundries parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, for emotional distress, and accused them of knowing about their daughters death weeks before her body was found near a Wyoming campground. At the center of the ongoing civil suit is a letter Roberta Laundrie wrote to her son that Pat Reilly, the Petitos attorney, has argued may reveal that the Laundries were aware that Petito had been killed and helped their son escape authorities. Roberta Laundries letter made references to lending her son a shovel, helping bury a body and helping him get out of prison, Reilly said. The letter references burying a body, baking a cake and putting a shiv in it, Reilly said in court on Wednesday. The letter is undated, and the Laundries and their attorney have said it has nothing to do with Gabby Petitos death. Reilly has argued, in contrast, that because the letter is undated, it could have been written following the young womans death, and it should be up to a jury to decide if its relevant evidence. With Wednesdays ruling, the letter will be included in discovery, the evidence that parties in a lawsuit exchange with each other. Brian Laundrie talks to a Moab, Utah, police officer after police pulled over the van he was traveling in with Gabby Petito near the entrance to Arches National Park on Aug. 12, 2021. Brian Laundrie talks to a Moab, Utah, police officer after police pulled over the van he was traveling in with Gabby Petito near the entrance to Arches National Park on Aug. 12, 2021. In a sworn affidavit filed in March, Roberta Laundrie maintained that she wrote the letter at a time when her relationship with her son was strained, months before Petitos death. She said that what she wrote has been taken out of context. My words to Brian were meant to convey my love and support for my son through a light-hearted and quirky reminder that my love for him was not diminished and could not be shaken by miles of separation we would soon be faced with, she said. According to Roberta Laundrie, she wrote burn after reading as an inside joke referencing a book Petito had given her son called Burn After Writing, which instructs readers to answer questions and express themselves on the page, and then burn the book. In short, I was trying to connect with Brian and repair our relationship as he was planning to leave home and I had hoped this letter would remind him how much I loved him, she said. The Laundries sought to keep the letter private, arguing that Roberta Laundrie did not expect anyone to read it besides her son. In some way, I did not want anyone else to read it as I know it is not the type of letter a mother writes to her adult son and I did not want to embarrass Brian, she said. That is why I wrote Burn After Reading on the envelope and I knew that Brian would know what that meant. I am now appreciative that he actually kept it. Speaking to reporters after the hearing on Wednesday, Matthew Luka, who is representing the Laundrie family, echoed that the contents of the letter may seem inflammatory without context but revealed how much Roberta Laundrie loved her son. We believe that the letter, as Mrs. Laundrie said, was written prior to Brians and Gabbys trip, he said. The letter doesnt reference Gabby in any way, which would be unlikely if it was written after what happened between Gabby and Brian. Need help? In the U.S., call 1-866-331-9474 or text loveis to 22522 for the National Dating Abuse Helpline. Related... North Port Police Handout A secret burn after reading letter written by Brian Laundries mother has revealed how she offered to help her son dispose of a body after the note was finally released to the public on Wednesday. If youre in jail I will bake a cake and put a file in it, Roberta Laundrie wrote to her son, Brian, who took his own life in 2021 after confessing to the murder of his girlfriend, Gabby Petito, whose body was found a month earlier. If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. I just want you to remember I will always love you and I know you will always love me. You are my boy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing can or ever will divide us no matter what we do, or where we go or what we saywe will always love each other, she wrote in the note, as reported by The New York Post. What Gabby Petitos Case Says About Copsand Us If you fly to the moon, I will be watching the skies for your re-entry. If you say you hate my guts, Ill get new guts. Remember that love is a verb not a noun. Its not a thing its not words. It is actions. Watch peoples actions to know if they love younot their words. The letter was released to the public after a Florida judge ruled it was admissible as evidence in an emotional distress lawsuit brought by the parents of Petito, Nichole Petito and Joe Schmidt, against Chris and Roberta Laundrie and their attorney Steve Bertolino. Speaking to Fox News through an attorney Roberta said the letter was written before the couple went on their deadly trip and that the letter was in no way related to Gabby. If youre in jail I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. This is the Roberta Laundrie burn after reading letter she gave to Brian Laundrie. Sent to me by Petito family attorney. pic.twitter.com/VIiLk3wa4J Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) May 25, 2023 The letter, found in Brian Laundries backpack after his death, was in a brown envelope addressed to Brian Christopher Laundrie, with a note below the name: (burn after reading). Roberta Laundrie claimed in a previous affidavit that the letter was an attempt to get through to Brian in a difficult period in our relationship. She said the burn after reading note referred to a book Gabby had given Brian called Burn After Writing, which encourages people to write letters to themselvesand them burn themto work through personal issues. She said details in the letter, such as her showing up with a shovel or baking a cake with a file in it, were references to books Brian had loved as a child, rather than serious promises. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Brian Laundrie's mom told her son she'd help him 'dispose of a body' in 'burn after reading' letter shared in Gabby Petito lawsuit Gabby Petito and fiance Brian Laundrie Courtesy of the Schmidt and Petito family Brian Laundrie's mother told her son in a now-public letter that she'd help him "dispose of a body." A judge ruled that the letter can be entered as evidence in a suit filed by Gabby Petito's parents. Roberta Laundrie says she wrote the letter before her son and Petito set out on their road trip. Brian Laundrie's mother told her son who confessed in a notebook before he died by suicide that he was responsible for the death of his fiancee Gabby Petito that she'd help him "dispose of a body" and bake him a jailhouse cake in a "burn after reading" letter that has now been made public. A Florida judge ruled on Wednesday that the letter can be entered as evidence in a civil lawsuit filed last year by Petito's parents against Brian Laundrie's parents in which Petito's parents allege that the Laundries secretly knew about their daughter's death. Roberta Laundrie has said that she wrote the letter to her son before 23-year-old Brian Laundrie and 22-year-old Petito embarked on their doomed cross-country road trip in July 2021. "I just want you to remember I will always love you and I know you will always love me," begins Roberta Laundrie's undated letter to Brian Laundrie, which was obtained by Insider. The envelope that contained the letter instructed "burn after reading" in parentheses. "If you're in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags," continues the letter, which later appears to quote from the Bible. Patrick Reilly, an attorney for Petito's parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, told reporters after Wednesday's court hearing that the letter written by Roberta Laundrie "clearly shows that she knew Gabby Petito was deceased." "While Roberta Laundrie has suggested it was written before Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito left on their trip, a reasonable inference is that it was written after Gabby Petito was murdered, and is evidence that the Laundries and Attorney [Steven] Bertolino were aware of Gabby Petito's demise" when they released a September 14, 2021, statement in which they said they hoped Petito would be "reunited" with her family, Petito's family said in a statement released through their lawyers on Thursday. The family added, "We look forward to having a jury determine when the letter was written at the time of trial." Roberta Laundrie, in a statement through her attorney, told Insider: "The letter to Brian was written prior to Gabby and Brian leaving my home for their trip." "I truly loved my son, and simply wanted to convey to him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him," the statement said. "Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in no way related to Gabby." Matthew Luka, an attorney for Roberta Laundrie and her husband, Chris Laundrie, told reporters on Wednesday that the letter "doesn't reference Gabby in any way which would be unlikely if it was written after what happened between Gabby and Brian, so that's our position and we believe the facts will eventually bear that out." Petito went missing during the cross-country road trip, and her body was ultimately found in a Wyoming national forest in September 2021. A coroner ruled she was strangled to death. Read the original article on Insider Brian Laundries mother offered him a shovel and garbage bags if he needed to dispose of a body, according to a letter enclosed in an envelope that said burn after reading, court filings reveal. The letter was released to Gabby Petitos parents Wednesday after a Florida judge denied a request from Laundries parents to withhold it, as the two families head to a civil trial next year. Brian Laundrie. (@bizarre_design / via Instagram) In March 2022, Petito's family sued Laundrie's parents and the Laundries' former attorney for emotional distress in connection with her death. Petito, an aspiring social media influencer, vanished on a cross-country trip with Laundrie, her fiance, in the summer of 2021. The search dominated headlines for weeks. Petitos body was found on Sept. 19, 2021, in Wyoming, and the cause of her death was later ruled a homicide as she died by manual strangulation at least three weeks earlier, a coroner said. Laundries body was found in a nature preserve not far from his parents home in Florida on Oct. 20, 2021, and the FBI said he left behind writings claiming responsibility for Petito's death. A medical examiner ruled that Laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The letter Petito's parents had requested a copy of Roberta Laundrie's letter to her son several times, most recently earlier this month, court filings show. Patrick Reilly, an attorney for the Petito family, shared a copy of the letter, which was written on a brown card and undated, with NBC News on Thursday. I just want you to remember I will always love you, and I know you will always love me. You are my boy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing will or could ever divide us no matter what we do, or where we go or what we say we will always love each other, Roberta Laundrie wrote. If youre in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. If you fly to the moon, I will be watching the skies for your re-entry. If you say you hate my guts, Ill get new guts, the letter continued. Roberta Laundrie included a Bible verse from Romans 8:38. She ended the letter by saying: (Nothing can separate us: not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not threats, not even sin, not the thinkable or unthinkable can get between us.) ~ Not time. Not miles and miles and miles. ~ The letter was in an envelope that said, Brian Christopher Laundrie (burn after reading). A letter Roberta Laundrie wrote to her son, Brian. (via Attorney Patrick Reilly) Roberta Laundrie says letter had nothing to do with Petito An attorney for Laundrie's parents filed for a protective order on the letter in March, saying Roberta Laundrie wrote it months before Gabby Petitos death. Roberta Laundrie added in an accompanying affidavit that she wrote the letter to her son at a time when their relationship was difficult and strained. She said that she did not know the exact date she wrote the letter but that she gave it to him before he and Petito left for their trip. I was trying to connect with Brian and repair our relationship as he was planning to leave home and I had hoped this letter would remind him how much I loved him, she wrote. She said that the two shared a love of stories and Petito had given her son a book entitled Burn After Writing that they often joked about. This is where my message to Brian came from and I wrote on the cover of the letter for Brian to 'Burn After Reading,' she said. While I used words that seem to have a connection with Brians actions and his taking of Gabbys life, I never would have fathomed the events that unfolded months later between Brian and Gabby would reflect the words in my letter, Roberta Laundrie said. Roberta Laundrie wrote She said the letter was not in her sons possession or in his backpack when he died because the FBI had the letter and questioned the Laundrie family about it prior to the discovery of his remains. Reilly, the attorney for the Petito family, said that the FBI found the letter in a box in a closet in the Laundries' house. It contained items from the van he and Petito were traveling in, Reilly added. The Petito family said in a statement after Wednesday's proceedings that they appreciated the judge's ruling, adding that "she recognized the importance of the 'Burn After Reading' letter as a potential source of evidence to be used at trial against the Laundries." "The letter is undated, and while Roberta Laundrie has suggested it was written before Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito left on their trip, a reasonable inference is that it was written after Gabby Petito was murdered, and is evidence that the Laundries and Attorney Bertolino were aware of Gabby Petitos demise when the statement at issue was released on September 14, 2021," the statement said. On that day, the Laundrie family released a statement through their attorney hoping that Petito would be found. "We look forward to having a jury determine when the letter was written at the time of trial," the Petito family said. Laundrie's parents insisted the letter had nothing to do with Petito in a statement released by their attorney, Matthew Luka. The letter to Brian was written prior to Gabby and Brian leaving my home for their trip, Roberta Laundrie said. "I truly loved my son, and simply wanted to convey to him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. I am sure people use phrases all the time to express to their loved ones the depths of their love. Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in no way related to Gabby," she added. The jury trial is set for May 2024. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Bride says she wore see-through wedding dress to send message to future daughter: 'Be fearless' Bride says she wore see-through wedding dress to send message to future daughter: 'Be fearless' A lifestyle vlogger from Sydney, Australia, has gone viral for saying the see-through wedding dress she wore during her after-party was done to send a message to her future daughter. Ashley Raso, who works as a development manager and shares fashion, beauty, wellness and home content on TikTok, showed her followers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of her custom sheer lace dress. The 23-second video clip was uploaded on Tuesday, May 9, and it was accompanied by onscreen text and a text-to-speech narration. WOMAN ON TIKTOK CALLS OUT WEDDING GUESTS WEARING WHITE TO FRIEND'S WEDDING: 'RUDE' "POV: You wore a see-through wedding dress to teach your future daughter to be fearless," the text says. Brides around the world have considered or purchased sheer or see-through wedding gowns as the fashion industry continues to make bold designs. Raso hired House of Harper Australia a luxury ready-to-wear and bespoke bridal wear company to make her after-party dress, which featured detached lace sleeves, a back cutout with buttons, a sweep train and an opaque strapless bra and underwear set. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "I have had a passion for design and fashion all of my life and so when I went to Danny and Isabelle with a bold vision to make a see-through wedding dress, the [ultimate] fashion statement, [they] were instantly thrilled and on board," Raso wrote in her video caption. "We pushed ourselves [to] think creatively and outside of the box, whilst still keeping the dress refined and classy," she continued. "The end product." BLACK WEDDING DRESS TREND GROWS DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Fox News Digital reached out to Raso and House of Harper Australia for comment. Rasos video has generated 265,000 views, 19,100 likes, 1,772 shares, 986 saves and 78 comments on TikTok. Users of the video-sharing app have mostly been supportive of Rasos post-wedding fashion statement and the message shes hoping to pass on to her future daughter. "I CANT, youre an icon," one TikTok user praised. DESIGNER HAYLEY PAIGE SAYS SHE'S LEGALLY BANNED FROM USING HER OWN NAME, QUITS JLM COUTURE "This is gorgeous," another user commented. "I love the covered but uncovered at the same time look," another user shared. "Its exactly what I want." Bridal wear designers often work with sheer lace and tulle to make modern-day wedding gowns. A few commenters wrote that they think the design might be too fashion-forward for a wedding, even as an after-party dress. "My mom would have a conniption but love this for u," one TikToker wrote. PHOTOGRAPHER SAYS WOMAN REQUESTED REFUND ON WEDDING PHOTOS AFTER 4 YEARS OF MARRIAGE: 'I'M NOW DIVORCED' "She practically naked," one user commented. "I'm sorry I don't agree." See-through and sheer wedding gowns are a trendy style that has supporters and opponents. Others made it a point to defend Raso from critics. "Fearless of all the lame comments from haters who missed the point," one user wrote. "Her day her dress her life people." "I know this made all the right people mad," one user commented, which received a reply from Raso, saying, "My immediate family loved it so much." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Sheer and see-through wedding dresses have become increasingly popular in recent years with bridal wear designers creating illusion gowns that portray a nude appearance with lace overlays, gowns with peekaboo cutouts and cropped two-piece sets. The daring looks have been displayed on runways during Bridal Fashion Week events in New York, Barcelona and Milan. Raso has uploaded TikTok videos to show she wore a different wedding gown for her ceremony and reception. Net migration to Britain reached record levels last year, official figures showed Thursday, putting pressure on the UK government that has made the issue a political touchstone. Britain saw net migration of 606,000 people in 2022, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, with 1.2 million people arriving in the country and about half that number leaving. That comes despite pledges from successive Conservative governments to drastically reduce the numbers of people moving to the UK, particularly in the wake of Brexit a rupture that was touted by its proponents as a necessary step for Britain to take control of its borders. Thursdays figures were affected by the lifting of Covid-19 travel restrictions and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in two new schemes by which Ukrainian refugees could resettle in the UK. These (figures) are down to world events, but theyre also down to how the UK government has chosen to respond to world events, Rob McNeil, the deputy director of the Oxford Migration Observatory, told CNN. The vast majority of people arriving 925,000 were non-EU nationals, and around one in 12 of those were asylum seekers, included for the first time in the ONS annual release. The main drivers of the increase were people coming to the UK from non-EU countries for work, study and for humanitarian purposes, Jay Lindop, Director of the Centre for International Migration at the ONS, said Thursday. Some observers had predicted Thursdays figures would be higher; the ONS said a slowing in immigration meant levels of net migration have levelled off in recent quarters. But the headline figure will force difficult questions for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and his embattled Home Secretary Suella Braverman, both of whom have joined their predecessors in promising to reduce arrivals despite the strain on Britains public services, where key sectors like health care are marred by chronic staffing shortages. The pair have sought to focus attention on refugees and asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel on small boats, rather than on overall migration, despite that route representing a tiny proportion of arrivals to the UK. Ministers have been criticized by rights organizations and politicians across the political divide for their use of hardline rhetoric against those people, with Braverman controversially rallying against an invasion of migrants across the Channel. Sunak under pressure Critics of the government have long contended that Britain needs a steady influx of migrants in order to boost its workforce and support its ailing public services. But before, during and since the bitter Brexit referendum campaign, in which lowering migration became a central debate, several Tory prime ministers have sought to appease the right wing of their party by making the reduction of migration a focal point of their premierships. David Cameron infamously insisted he would reduce net migration to the tens of thousands during his premiership, which ran from 2010 to 2016 a vow that never came close to fruition, but which set the course for more than a decade of Tory fixation on the issue. Rishi Sunak has inherited and prolonged a long-running Conservative fixation over migration. - Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images Sunak has stuck to this line. He told the BBC at last weeks G7 summit that legal migration to the UK was too high, though he did not offer a specific plan to reduce it. What I would say is were considering a range of options to help tackle numbers of legal migration and to bring those numbers down and well talk more about that in the future, Sunak said. The most recent Conservative election manifesto, in 2019, included the pledge that under their leadership there will be fewer lower-skilled migrants and overall numbers will come down. But net migration has more than doubled since then. Its bizarre that the prime minister and the home secretary are sort of trashing the one thing that theyve actually managed to do reasonably well for the last five years, Jonathan Portes, an economist at Kings College London, told CNN. We have successfully introduced a new post-Brexit (immigration) system that is actually working pretty well. The idea that the UK would be better off if we were not getting doctors and nurses from abroad, I think is not very credible, Portes said. The opposition Labour Party was quick to criticize Sunaks government over Thursdays numbers. Todays extraordinary figures, including doubling the number of work visas since the pandemic, show the Conservatives have no plan & no grip when it comes to immigration, shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on Twitter. Ministers have completely failed to tackle skills shortages or help people back into work after Covid, she said. Privately, many Conservatives wonder why the government decided to make immigration such a key issue when this years figures were inevitably going to be high. The UK welcomed 169,000 Ukrainian refugees in the 13 months following Russias invasion, separate figures showed, and a push by the British government to encourage foreign students to study in the UK also played a significant factor in Thursdays numbers. People from Hong Kong have also been encouraged to arrive through a special visa program. And in the eyes of the public, immigration has become less of an issue since the Brexit referendum, as voters either understand immigration is good for the economy or feel that Brexit allowed a certain degree of control. Sunak would prefer to shift attention to his long-touted promise to Stop the Boats; arrivals of asylum-seekers on small, illegal vessels run by criminal trafficking gangs have soared in recent years and attracted widespread media coverage. But he is under pressure to show results in that regard too. The governments own policy post-Brexit has removed the UK from the Dublin Regulation, an agreement among EU member states that asylum-seekers would be returned to the first safe country within the EU that they initially arrived. CNNs Christian Edwards contributed reporting For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The parents of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in the familys home state of Pennsylvania in the case of a woman found dead almost a year after she was last seen alive, it has been revealed. CNN first reported the news, citing a source who said that the accused killers mother has already given evidence to the grand jury while his father will appear to testify on Thursday. The information can then be shared with Idaho prosecutors. The investigation is said to be about the disappearance and death of a 45-year-old woman Dana Smithers, reported Eyewitness News. Smithers vanished without a trace in May 2022. Her remains were found last month. The bombshell revelation comes days after Mr Kohberger was arraigned on four counts of murder and one count of burglary in Moscow, Idaho . Mr Kohberger is accused of killing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on 13 November in an attack that rocked the college town of Moscow and sent shockwaves across America. Key points Bryan Kohbergers parents to testify in case of woman found dead in Pennsylvania Families of murdered students prepare to sue University of Idaho Bryan Kohberger is arraigned on murder charges Idaho murders refuses to enter plea, judge enters not guilty plea on behalf Trial date set for October Bryan Kohbergers sister feared he was responsible for killings prior to arrest Who is Bryan Kohberger? The criminology graduate being arraigned over the Idaho college murders 07:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger became a household name across America when police swooped on his parents home in December and arrested him for the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students. But who is he? Who is Bryan Kohberger? Families of slain University of Idaho students prepare to sue college over murders 06:30 , Shweta Sharma The families of two of the four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in an off-campus home are now preparing to sue the college over their brutal murders, it has been revealed. An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month leaving them open to filing lawsuits within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, protect their rights to sue the University of Idaho, Washington State University the university where accused killer Bryan Kohberger was a student the city of Moscow and Idaho State Police. No lawsuit has been filed at this stage and the notices do not reveal what claim the families may make or how much damages they may seek. Families of slain University of Idaho students prepare to sue college over murders WATCH: Judge enters not guilty plea for Idaho murders suspect 05:50 , Rachel Sharp Who is Dana Smithers, whose mysterious death could be linked to Bryan Kohberger 05:00 , Shweta Sharma Dana Smithers, the mother of three, went missing on 28 May 2022 after she returned from a Happy Hour festival in Stroudsburg with her daughter and her daughters father. After returning, she walked to a neighbours house and left the house after a few minutes. She was reported missing on her way back from the neighbours house. A month later on 27 April, Stroud Area Regional Police Department in Pennsylvania said human remains have been discovered in a wooded area next to Park Avenue in the Borough of Stroudsburg. The autopsy revealed the remains belonged to Smithers. She had three children: a 25-year-old son, a 23-year-old daughter, and a 7-year-old daughter. She was described as a 55 woman with dark eyes and dark hair, who was last seen wearing a burgundy T-shirt and black jeans. Bryan Kohbergers parents to testify in 2022 Dana Smithers case - report 04:33 , Shweta Sharma Bryan Kohbergers parents have been called to testify before a grand jury in Pennsylvania in a case related to Dana Smithers, who went missing in 2022, according to NewsNation. Smithers, a 45-year-old woman, was last seen on 28 May 2022 in Monroe County and her remains were discovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on 27 April, around 30 miles away from Kohbergers home in Albrightsville. However, a source told NewsNation that Mr Bryans alibi proves that he likely wasnt involved in Smithers missing case. But the grand jury has not concluded their proceedings in the case and investigations are ongoing. IN PICTURES: Bryan Kohbergers arraignment 03:50 , Rachel Sharp (Reuters) (Reuters) (Reuters) (Reuters) What we know about the Idaho murders 02:50 , Rachel Sharp The murder of four college students in the quiet town of Moscow, Idaho, last November unravelled a months-long investigation that is now headed to trial. The victims, all students at the University of Idaho, were ambushed in their rooms and stabbed to death with a military-style knife that has yet to be found. Police were called to the gruesome scene at the off-campus residence almost eight hours after the vicious attack. For weeks, only scant details about the carnage were revealed as the community reeled from the tragedy and grappled with fears of a murderer on the loose. That changed with the December arrest of Washington State University student Bryan Kohberger, whose apartment, office and family home were raided and searched for evidence. While more information has become public through the release of search warrants and arrest records in recent months, a gag order in the case remains in place and most aspects of the probe and its findings are still a mystery. The Independent takes a deep dive into the developments in the complex case in the last six months: What we know about the Idaho college murders as Bryan Kohberger faces arraignment Families of slain students prepare to sue college over murders 01:50 , Rachel Sharp The families of two of the four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in an off-campus home are now preparing to sue the college over their brutal murders, it has been revealed. An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month leaving them open to filing lawsuits within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, protect their rights to sue the University of Idaho, Washington State University the university where accused killer Bryan Kohberger was a student the city of Moscow and Idaho State Police. No lawsuit has been filed at this stage and the notices do not reveal what claim the families may make or how much damages they may seek. ICYMI: Bryan Kohberger stands silent and refuses to enter plea in murders of four Idaho college students Thursday 25 May 2023 00:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger refused to enter a plea in the murders of four University of Idaho students who were brutally stabbed to death in a shocking attack that horrified the nation. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student appeared in Latah County Court in Moscow, Idaho, on Monday morning for his arraignment on four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of burglary. His attorney said that he was standing silent on the charges, leaving the judge to enter not guilty pleas on his behalf. Shackled and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit with what appeared to be protective armour underneath, the accused killer entered the courtroom just after 9am PT, giving his attorney Anne Taylor a brief smile as he sat down next to her. Read the story here: Bryan Kohberger stands silent and refuses to enter plea in Idaho college murders Kaylee Goncalves family issues statement about arraignment Wednesday 24 May 2023 23:50 , Rachel Sharp The Goncalves attorney Shannon Gray issued a statement on behalf of the family following Bryan Kohbegrers arraignment. The family would like to thank everyone for continuing to follow this case and keep the memories of Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan alive, they said. They are what is important not the Defendant. We are thankful that the Latah County District Attorneys Office finally took the case to a GJ and came back with an indictment. At the same time we are disappointed that the judicial process has not been more efficient in addressing the Gag order. This is just the beginning of a long journey for all the families and we are thankful for your continued support and coverage. Parents of Idaho university murder suspect Bryan Kohberger subpoenaed by Pennsylvania grand jury Wednesday 24 May 2023 23:23 , Graeme Massie Idaho student murders suspect was arrested by police at family home in Pennsylvania in December. Parents of Idaho university murder suspect subpoenaed by Pennsylvania grand jury There was a glaring mistake at the Idaho murders hearing Wednesday 24 May 2023 22:50 , Rachel Sharp The grieving family of slain University of Idaho Kaylee Goncalves has complained to the court after the judge presiding over their daughters murder case mispronounced her name. Bryan Kohberger, accused of the 13 November stabbings of Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, appeared in Latah County Court in Moscow to enter a plea on Monday (22 May). During the brief hearing, Judge John Judge informed Mr Kohberger of his rights, the charges against him and the penalties including the death penalty if he is convicted. Read more here: There was a glaring mistake at the Idaho murders hearing What evidence do police have against Bryan Kohberger? Wednesday 24 May 2023 21:50 , Rachel Sharp A search warrant was executed at Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman, Washington, the same day he was arrested at his parents home in Pennsylvania. A record of evidence recovered during the apartment search revealed the seizure of 15 items including hairs, receipts, a computer tower, a disposable glove and items with peculiar stains. In the search warrant record, investigators list several items with stains, including cuttings of a mattress cover, a reddish/brown stain on an uncovered pillow and a collection of dark red spot. Court documents, released by Washington authorities on 4 May showed that multiple items taken from Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman had been tested for the presence of blood. While most items came back negative, two items the pillow and mattress cover were positive. Another item included on the list of seizures was a possible animal hair strand. While Mr Kohberger is not believed to have a pet, one of the victims he is accused of killing, Goncalves, had a dog that was at home at the time of the murders and was later found by police responding to the scene. The possible animal hair theyll try to connect that to the dog left at the scene, according to Dr Miller. If theres a root on that, if there is any skin on that hair, they could do a DNA test with that dog. If its just a hair thats been shed and there is no skin, they would still be able to do a microscopical comparison and exclude most dogs but they wouldnt be able to connect it necessarily to that dog. Mr Kohberger was also linked to the crime through cellphone records and his white Hyundai Elantra, a similar model of the car seen near the murder home around the time of the murders. Mr Kohberger changed the license plates on his Hyundai Elantra just days after the murders. The suspects car had Pennsylvania plates when it was pulled over by police in Moscow, in August 2022, according to a citation from the Latah County Sheriffs Office. A review of documents on CarFax by Newsweek showed that Mr Kohberger changed the registration from Pennsylvania to Washington on 18 November, five days after four students were found stabbed to death in a Moscow home. Bryan Kohbergers sister searched his car for evidence before police swooped in Wednesday 24 May 2023 20:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohbergers sister feared that her brother was involved in the stabbings of four University of Idaho students before police swooped on their parents home and arrested him for murder, according to a bombshell report. Sources told NBCs Dateline that one of the accused killers older siblings grew increasingly suspicious of her brother and his behaviour when the family gathered to spend the holidays together. Her suspicions were so great that at one point several family members searched Mr Kohbergers white Hyundai Elantra for possible evidence of the crime, they said. Read the story here: Bryan Kohbergers sister feared he was involved in Idaho murders WATCH: Bodycam shows Bryan Kohberger being pulled over by police one month before murders Wednesday 24 May 2023 19:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger allegedly broke into female students home and spied on her months before Idaho murders Wednesday 24 May 2023 18:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger is believed to have broken into the home of a female student and then installed security cameras to spy on her in the months before he allegedly killed four other students in a horror attack in Moscow, Idaho. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student had befriended the woman after he moved to Pullman, Washington state, to begin a graduate program in criminal justice at Washington State University (WSU), according to a source. One day, the woman returned to her apartment and found that someone had broken in and moved items around the home but that nothing was missing. Read the full story: Bryan Kohberger allegedly broke into students home before Idaho murders Who are the victims? Wednesday 24 May 2023 17:51 , Rachel Sharp Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, were seniors at the University of Idaho and were expected to graduate this year. At a vigil weeks after the murders, Goncalves father Mr Goncalves told how the two absolutely beautiful young women first met in sixth grade and became inseparable. They just found each other and every day they did homework together, they came to our house together, they shared everything, he said at the time. Then they started looking at colleges, they came here together. They eventually get into the same apartment together. And in the end, they died together, in the same room, in the same bed. Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were juniors at the college and had begun dating months before their deaths. The couple of 20-year-olds is believed to have been awake at the time the stabbings were carried out. Six months after the stabbings, the families of the slain students accepted posthumous awards for their achievements. Mogen and Goncalves relatives walked across the stage for their degrees in an emotional ceremony on 13 May. Kernodles family also accepted her certificate in marketing at a separate ceremony while Chapins award in sports, recreation and management was mailed to his parents. Kernodles family accepted her certificate in marketing at a private ceremony last week while Chapins award in sports, recreation and management will be mailed to his parents this week. Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, took this photo together hours before they died (Instagram/Kaylee Goncalves) Kaylee Goncalves father reveals reaction when he saw Bryan Kohberger in court Wednesday 24 May 2023 16:03 , Rachel Sharp Kaylee Goncalves father has spoken out about the momeny that he came face to face with his daughters accused killer in court. Steve Goncalves attended the arraignment of Bryan Kohberger in Latah County Court on Monday. In the hearing, Mr Kohberger refused to enter a plea on four counts of murder and one count of burglary. The judge entered not guilty pleas on his behalf Mr Goncalves told CNN he felt rage in the courtroom. You go through all kinds of emotions, but rage is definitely, probably, the primary emotion that you have, he told CNN. Families of slain University of Idaho students prepare to sue college over murders Wednesday 24 May 2023 15:00 , Rachel Sharp The families of two of the four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in an off-campus home are now preparing to sue the college over their brutal murders, it has been revealed. An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month leaving them open to filing lawsuits within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, protect their rights to sue the University of Idaho, Washington State University the university where accused killer Bryan Kohberger was a student the city of Moscow and Idaho State Police. The Independents Rachel Sharp has the story: Families of slain University of Idaho students prepare to sue college over murders WATCH: Idaho student murders suspect stands silent after hearing charges during arraignment Wednesday 24 May 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco Its been six months since four University of Idaho students were murdered. How has the investigation unfolded? Wednesday 24 May 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco Bryan Kohberger has refused to enter a plea on four murder charges, prompting the judge to make one on his behalf and effectively moving the case to trial. The Independents Io Dodds reports: Idaho murders case timeline Items seized from Bryan Kohbergers home have tested positive for blood Wednesday 24 May 2023 12:00 , Andrea Blanco At least two items seized from the home of accused killer Bryan Kohberger tested positive for blood, it has been revealed. Court documents, released by Washington authorities on Thursday, show that multiple items taken from the 28-year-old Washington State University criminology PhD students apartment in Pullman had been tested for the presence of blood. While most items came back negative, two items were positive. Those items were a mattress cover on the bed and an uncased pillow, both of which were described as having visible reddish brown stains. The documents do not reveal who the blood belongs to. The items were all seized when police executed a search warrant at Mr Kohbergers address on 30 December the day that he was arrested for the murders of University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. Kaylee Goncalves father thanks roommates who survived Idaho murders for helping in Bryan Kohberger case Wednesday 24 May 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco The father of slain University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves has expressed his support for the young women who survived the attack in which his daughter was killed. Dylan Mortensen and Brittany Funke were inside their off-campus home in Moscow when roommates Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Kernodles boyfriend Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death in the early morning hours of 13 November. According to an affidavit released earlier this year, Ms Mortensen told investigators that on the night of the murders, she saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask that covered the persons mouth and nose walking towards her. Ms Mortensen and Ms Funke faced online harassment as speculation grew and questions were raised over the eight hours that passed between the attack and the time police were called. They were never considered suspects and authorities have described them as survivors since the early stages of the probe. In an interview with NewsNations Ashleigh Banfield aired on Wednesday, Goncalves father Steve Goncalves thanked Ms Funke and Ms Mortensen for their cooperation with the investigation, which he called critical to build a strong case against suspect Bryan Kohberger. Theyre going through a lot; I appreciate what theyve done for the case and all the information that theyve provided, Mr Goncalves said. I wish they wouldnt have to go through it but its critical, its absolutely going to make the case so I commend them for their courage and to go through this and to know I cant fix it for them. Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogens families prepare to sue UI Wednesday 24 May 2023 10:30 , Rachel Sharp The families of two of the slain University of Idaho students are preparing to sue the university, Bryan Kohbergers university Washington State University and the city of Moscow over their murders, it has been revealed. An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month protecting their rights to sue within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, do not reveal what claim the families may make and no lawsuit has been filed at this stage. The revelation comes after their accused killer Mr Kohberger appeared in court for his arraignment in Latah County Court in Moscow, Idaho, on Monday. Moment Idaho student murders suspect arrives in court for arraignment Wednesday 24 May 2023 10:00 , Andrea Blanco Kaylee Goncalves father shares stark warning to alleged killer: Hes gonna realize Wednesday 24 May 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco On Friday (19 May), Steve Goncalves told ABC News: I cant wait to see the evidence And then Im gonna bring it. And hes gonna realize that this... is the family thats gonna make sure he doesnt get away with it, he added. Kaylees mother Kristi Goncalves said the family had given a lot of thought as to whether there was any connection between their daughter and her alleged killer. Weve talked as a family, you know, weve done a lot of research on whats out there... None of it makes sense, she told ABC News . Describing her reaction when she saw Mr Kohberger for the first time at an initial court appearance, she said: I was completely overwhelmed. I actually almost thought I was gonna pass out. My daughter saw him face-to-face and in a very different light than we saw him, sitting there, looking very meek, she said. Four students stabbed to death, a weeks-long manhunt and still no motive Wednesday 24 May 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco As the sole suspect in the stabbings of four Idaho students on murder charges heads to trial, The Independents Andrea Blanco, Rachel Sharp and Sheila Flynn report on the case in small-town Idaho that has shocked America: What we know about the Idaho college murders as Bryan Kohberger faces arraignment Bryan Kohberger allegedly broke into female students home and spied on her months before Idaho murders Wednesday 24 May 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco Bryan Kohberger is believed to have broken into the home of a female student and then installed security cameras to spy on her in the months before he allegedly killed four other students in a horror attack in Moscow, Idaho. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student had befriended the woman after he moved to Pullman, Washington state, to begin a graduate program in criminal justice at Washington State University (WSU), according to a source. One day, the woman returned to her apartment and found that someone had broken in and moved items around the home but that nothing was missing. Since nothing was taken, the woman decided not to call the police but instead called her new friend Mr Kohberger and asked him to come over. Mr Kohberger allegedly offered to install a video security system inside her home and the woman agreed. What comes after Bryan Kohbergers not-guilty plea? Wednesday 24 May 2023 06:00 , Andrea Blanco A preliminary hearing, where prosecutors had to show a judge that there is enough evidence to justify moving forward with charges of burglary and four counts of murder, was previously scheduled for 26 June. However, on 16 May, a grand jury indicted Mr Kohberger on the same charges, effectively rerouting the case directly to the states felony court level and allowing prosecutors to skip the preliminary hearing process, the Associated Press reported. The former Washington State University PhD student is now expected to appear for his arraignment at the Latah County District Court at 9am on Monday to enter a plea. According to the indictment, Mr Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in the first degree and one count of burglary. Each murder count states that he did wilfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and with malice aforethought, kill and murder each of the victims by stabbing. The list of witnesses who testified before the grand jury is sealed. Mr Kohbergers indictment means that the jurors empanelled on the grand jury believed there was enough evidence against him for the case to proceed to trial. Mr Kohberger said through a public defender earlier this year that he was eager to be exonerated. He is being represented by Ann Taylor, one of thirteen public defence attorneys in the state who can work in cases where the prosecution requests capital punishment. Prosecutors in the Idaho murders case have not publicly addressed whether they plan to make that request A tentative trial date has been set for 2 October. WATCH: Father of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves confirms he has spoken with survivor Wednesday 24 May 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. Donald Hudson, an Illinois appellate judge and earlier a Kane County judge, presided over a number of high-profile murder trials and oversaw a committee tasked with codifying the rules of evidence in Illinois. Whether he was writing a song or writing an opinion, or working on Supreme Court rules, he was passionate about everything that he did, said former Illinois State Supreme Court Justice Michael Burke. Advertisement Hudson, 74, died of complications from cancer April 11 at his St. Charles home, said his wife, Gerilynn. 2nd District Appellate Judge Don Hudson (Office of Illinois Courts) Born in Chicago, Hudson grew up on the West Side and graduated from Austin High School. An avid musician, Hudson was in a rock band during high school called Edges of Wisdom. Years later, Hudson continued writing and recording music, and several of his recent songs are available for streaming on Spotify, colleagues said. Advertisement Hudson received a bachelors degree from DePaul University and a law degree in 1975 from John Marshall Law School. He was a Kane County prosecutor and then went into private practice, mostly handling real estate closings, his wife said. In 1993, he was appointed an associate judge in Kane Countys 16th Judicial Circuit. He was elected a circuit judge in 2000, and served as presiding judge of the juvenile division in Kane and later became presiding judge of the countys felony division. In 2004, judges in Kane Countys 16th Judicial Circuit elected Hudson to be chief judge. He was reelected chief judge in 2006. In any profession, its always very special to have the trust and confidence of your peers, and I intend to uphold that confidence, Hudson told the Tribune in 2004. I want to be proactive and progressive in the position. Hudson presided over numerous high-profile murder trials, including those of Willie Buckhana, who was found guilty of taking part in a 1999 triple murder in Elgin. He was appointed to the states Judicial Inquiry Board in 2007, and elected chair of that board in 2008. He also created Kanes Treatment Alternative Court known informally as its mental health court as a way to divert nonviolent offenders who are battling mental health problems to treatment programs. Late in 2008, the state Supreme Court appointed Hudson to chair a special committee whose mandate was to formalize rules of evidence for court cases in the state. The thing about Don is, he was asked by the Supreme Court to do so many things, Burke said. Illinois did not have codified rules of evidence we had just the common law rules of evidence that had developed through time. Don was put in charge of writing the Illinois rules of evidence, and he also chaired the Judicial Inquiry Board. Advertisement Retired Kane County Circuit Judge Keith Brown recalled Hudsons accomplishments as chief judge. He was very strong in promoting women to be judges, Brown said. He liked being a leader and a mentor and doing the things that other people dont like to do. In 2009, Hudson was appointed by the state Supreme Court to the Elgin-based 2nd District Appellate Court. Fellow Judge Mary Schostok called Hudson a consensus-builder who was always wanting to do something that would better the legal system. 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 > He would never shy away from an appointment on a committee, Schostok said. He had been head of the Judicial Inquiry Board, and he was always happy to teach on that topic and to give knowledge to people, and I always appreciated that about him. Hudson was still on the appellate bench at the time of his death. What stands out to me is that he definitely was one of those guys who believed that everybody should be treated fairly and equitably, Hudsons wife said. I just cant imagine him doing anything else. Advertisement A first marriage ended in divorce. In addition to his wife, Hudson is survived by a daughter, Sara McGonagle; a son, Daniel; a stepdaughter, Laura Burt; a stepson, Pete Byrnes; a brother, Albert; and two sisters, Caryl Wolfe and Jan Robinson. Services were held. Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. To purchase a death notice, visit https://placeanad.chicagotribune.com/death-notices/. To suggest a staff-written obituary on a person of local interest, e-mail chicagoland@chicagotribune.com The parents of Bryan Kohberger, Michael and Maryann Kohberger, were called to testify in front of a Pennsylvania grand jury this week in connection with the May 2022 disappearance of a woman found dead in April, according to local reports. Dana Smithers, 45, was last seen leaving a friend's house in Monroe County the evening of May 28. Almost a year later, her remains were recovered in Stroudsburg a Poconos community about a 30-minute drive from the Kohberger family home in Albrightsville. However, the Stroud Area Police Department said Thursday that investigators had discovered zero evidence linking Kohberger to Smithers' death. IDAHO MURDERS: BRYAN KOHBERGER'S ARREST RESURRECTS COLD CASES IN REGION Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom, looking at defense attorney Anne Taylor, for his arraignment hearing in Latah County District Court, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. "The SARPD has NO EVIDENCE that Dana Smithers disappearance, is in ANY WAY tied to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger," the agency wrote on Facebook. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP And the suspected killer has a "good alibi" in Smithers' case, according to the Wilkes-Barre-based WBRE/WYOU, citing a source close to the case. Bryan Kohberger was stopped by Indiana police Dec. 15, 2022 before he was identified as a suspect in the murder of four University of Idaho students. His father Michael Kohberger, left, went on a cross-country drive from Washington to Pennsylvania with him in the suspect vehicle. In Idaho a grand jury recently returned an indictment on four charges of first-degree murder and another of felony burglary for allegedly breaking into the King Road rental home to kill Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. Kohberger began a Ph.D. program at Washington State University in the fall of 2022. The school is about 10 miles from the University of Idaho, where he is accused of brutally stabbing four undergrads at 4 a.m. on Nov. 13. IDAHO MURDERS: BRYAN KOHBERGER'S DEFENSE STANDS SILENT AT ARRAIGNMENT, JUDGE ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEAS All four students had been stabbed multiple times, according to Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt and at least some of them were likely sleeping at the start of the 4 a.m. massacre. Despite the horrific allegations and a past drug problem, Kohberger had a squeaky clean record prior to his arrest on Dec. 30 at his parents' house after a cross-country drive home from WSU with his dad in the suspect vehicle. WATCH: Bodycam video shows traffic stop in Indiana involving Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger However, his arrest soon led investigators in several local communities to look for potential links to unsolved cases nearby. Bryan Kohberger's father, Michael Kohberger, exits Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, PA on Jan. 3, 2023 after his son's extradition hearing. His son is charged in the November quadruple homicide of University of Idaho students. "One thing about cold cases is you always look to see if your case is connected to any others, and the reason behind that is many times those cases will hold clues for each one," said Joseph Giacalone, a former NYPD sergeant who was the commanding officer of the Bronx Cold Case Squad from 2007 to 2009. "If you can put them all together, you can put together the entire package." Amanda Kohberger, sister of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger, is spotted exiting Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 3, 2023. Her brother is charged with murdering four University of Idaho students. However, the professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice noted that not all cases turn up links because not every suspect is a serial offender. At his arraignment on the murder charges in Idaho's Latah County Monday, Kohberger declined to enter a plea. The victims of Nov. 13 University of Idaho massacre, from left to right: Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP District Judge John Judge entered not guilty pleas on all counts on his behalf, scheduling an October trial. Kohberger is being held at the county jail next door without bail in the meantime. If prosecutors choose to seek the death penalty, they have 60 days from Monday to formally notify the court. MADISON Wisconsin lawmakers on the Legislature's budget-writing committee voted Thursday to provide $10 million in state tax dollars to the statewide network that provides gavel-to-gavel coverage of the state Legislature and state Supreme Court as long as it raises private donations in the same amount. The matching funds would go toward operations of Wisconsin's version of C-SPAN known as WisconsinEye, which provides video footage of hearings and floor sessions in the state Capitol, public events hosted by the governor, lawmakers, or stakeholders, court proceedings, political rallies and other civic-related events. The state funding and donations could sustain the network for decades, according to the organization's recent spending. In 2021, WisconsinEye had a budget of about $1.1 million, according to Jon Henkes, the networks president. For the fiscal year that ended in September 2019, WisconsinEye spent about $1.4 million, about $87,000 more than it took in that year, according to a filing with the Internal Revenue Service. The proposal, supported by Democrats and Republicans on the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance, would create an endowment fund for WisconsinEye within the state Department of Administration. WisconsinEye officials must request funds from the endowment no later than 2025. Funds would be released on a dollar-by-dollar basis, and WisconsinEye could no longer require a paid subscription to access recorded content of public meetings. WisconsinEye provides its live coverage for free, but subscriptions have been required to watch events that are more than 24 hours old. Access to all content costs $9.99 a month. The WisconsinEye Public Affairs Network created a paid subscription model in 2021 after struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic. "I think they provide a valuable service to the people of Wisconsin, to allow them access from their homes to their government," said committee co-chairman Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam. "They've had several different financial models and ways of trying to manage their finances over the years, and none of them seem to be working real well. We felt that this was an opportunity to create a public private partnership for the endowment to hopefully help them be more financially stable so they can provide that essential service that allows anyone throughout Wisconsin to access, online or on their TV, what's happening in their own state government." Henkes, in a statement, said the organization is "extremely grateful." Since our first broadcast in 2007, we have worked to provide open, unfiltered access to state government for the citizens of Wisconsin," he said. "This endowment fund will allow WisconsinEye to have a solid foundation upon which we will greatly expand that mission. Henkes told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he expects potential donors to be motivated by the prospect of doubling their contribution with the matching grant from taxpayers. "WisconsinEye is a small nonprofit swimming in a sea of large organizations with tremendous influence, resources and administrative staffing," he said. "WisconsinEye will have to continue raising funds to support annual operations while at the same time raising funds to build the endowment. So, it's an incredible opportunity wrapped in an incredible challenge." He said reaching the $20 million mark of donations and public funds will secure the future of the network and expects to expand their services and replace outdated technology. On the air since 2007, the privately funded nonprofit network also features news programs and interviews with nearly all candidates for the state Legislature at election time. Its available on cable TV and at wiseye.org. In 2020, WisconsinEye furloughed some of its employees and took other cost-cutting measures as donations dried up during the pandemic. The network was able to stay afloat because of the stimulus package passed by Congress known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES. CARES created the Paycheck Protection Program, which WisconsinEye used to receive a $112,000 forgivable loan. Separately, CARES gave Gov. Tony Evers control of nearly $2 billion in aid, and he used that help to provide WisconsinEye with $100,000. During past debates about WisconsinEyes funding, some lawmakers have raised concerns about Henkes salary. He was paid about $283,000 for the fiscal year that ended in September 2019, but he said in 2021 his pay has been cut since then. Initially, WisconsinEye was to be funded with a mix of donations and fees on cable subscribers, but the cable money never came close to what WisconsinEye sought. For years it got by with millions of dollars in donations and loans from Diane Hendricks, the Beloit billionaire who is a philanthropist and megadonor to Republican causes. Fundraising for the organization is difficult because it does not have the natural constituency of a college that can hit up alumni, Henkes said in 2021. Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lawmakers back $10 million for WisconsinEye, Wisconsin's C-SPAN Will it be a busy or calm 2023 hurricane season? Here are the NOAA predictions. For the first time in several years, the 2023 hurricane season could be quieter than usual, with calls for a near normal season. At a press conference Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its official prediction for the upcoming hurricane season: 12 to 17 named storms, five to nine of which could develop into hurricanes and one to four that could strengthen into powerful Category 3 or stronger storms. The top end is Category 5. The agency predicts theres a 40% chance of a near-normal season and a 30% chance of either a below-average or above-average season. NOAA calls for a near-normal hurricane season for 2023, with 12 to 17 named storms. Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season outlook forecaster for NOAAs Climate Prediction Center, said scientists made their prediction based on the combination of factors, some of which usually signal a quieter season and others that are usually associated with active hurricane seasons. Its definitely kind of a rare setup for this year, which is why our probabilities are not 60 or 70%, to reflect that uncertainty, he said. When we looked at it we thought wow, theres a lot of uncertainty in the outlook. Last year was considered a slightly above-average storm year, with 14 named storms, 8 hurricanes and two major hurricanes, including, infamously, Hurricane Ian. Category 5 Hurricane Ian slammed the Southwest coast of Florida in September, killing nearly 100 people, destroying thousands of homes and earning a spot in the record books as Floridas most expensive storm to date. Hurricane Ian hit Cat 5 in Gulf, was Floridas most expensive storm. Official final numbers Hurricane Nicole, which struck Floridas northeast coast as a Category 1 in November, also walloped the state with more flooding rain and storm surge that chewed off pieces of the beach, leaving houses and condominium buildings perched on the brink of collapse. El Nino versus very hot Atlantic NOAAs prediction hinges on the formation of an atmospheric phenomenon called El Nino, which warms waters in the Pacific Ocean and shifts upper-level winds in the Atlantic. That makes it more difficult for hurricanes to form and usually heralds a quieter season. But relative calm in the Atlantic doesnt come free. El Nino is also associated with a colder, wetter winter for other parts of the U.S., which could cause more intense snowstorms and flooding. NOAA hasnt officially declared that an El Nino has begun, but its latest update pegged the changes of a spring development at 90%. Earlier predictions for this season heavily weighed the impact of a potential El Nino and called for an even quieter season, but in the last few months, some important factors have changed in the Atlantic Ocean, tipping NOAAs forecast down to a normal season. The Atlantic Ocean has gotten much hotter and the upper-level winds are now favorable to storm development, creating a friendly atmosphere for hurricane formation. Its about the interplay between the El Nino and the favorable conditions across the Atlantic, not just the temperature but predicted shear patterns, Rosencrans said. El Nino can control about 33 to 38% of variants, so its not all of it. The first named storm of the 2023 hurricane season will be Arlene. Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs until Nov. 30, with a usual peak in activity in August and September. The last few seasons have seen storms form ahead of that official start date, and this year is no exception. The National Hurricane Center recently declared that a subtropical storm formed in mid-January off the northeast U.S. coast. The next storm to reach tropical depression status this year will be tropical depression two, or, if it strengthens into a tropical storm or hurricane, Arlene. READ MORE: Hurricane season heats up earlier and earlier. New study suggests climate change is why NOAAs prediction is slightly more aggressive than several other early season forecasts, many of which called for below-average seasons. The agency updates its forecast in August, just before the peak of the hurricane season. The time to prepare is today; the time to prepare is now, Deanne Criswell, FEMAs administrator, said during the NOAA press conference. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also hosted a hurricane season press conference on Thursday. She urged residents to use the upcoming Memorial Day weekend to stock their hurricane kits and make a plan in case a storm does strike during the next six months. We all know too well that just one storm can cause a catastrophic impact, so we need to ensure we are as safe and prepared as possible, she said. Levine Cava warned all residents especially newcomers to stay updated before, during and after a storm on Miami-Dades website and social media channels, by calling 311 or downloading the Ready Miami-Dade app. Lets be smart, lets be prepared and lets stay safe this hurricane season, she said. A beloved chorus teacher in Caldwell County is accused of embezzling from the booster club. According to deputies, South Caldwell High School teacher Justin Johnson allegedly took tens of thousands of dollars from the South Caldwell Choral Booster Account. He was arrested and charged with felony embezzlement. Students said they would raise money for the booster club by selling concessions at games and other events. According to the arrest warrant, Johnson oversaw that money. ALSO READ: Couple sentenced after stealing $239K from South Meck HS Booster Club Deputies said they are still investigating the case and theyre working to determine where the money ended up. They believe it was taken over a two-year period. Channel 9s Dave Faherty talked to students who were shocked to hear the news. One student said he fought back tears when he learned of the arrest. I was shocked, Elijah Smith said. I actually found out while I was at work and it actually brought a tear to my eye cause I didnt know how to feel about it. Others said Johnson was well-liked and often made the morning announcements at the school. Personally, Johnson, he was like a dad to me, Smith said. I looked at him as a father figure. And I genuinely loved the personality that Johnson gave off. On the South Caldwell High Choral Facebook page, you can hear students singing and their teacher encouraging donations. The choral club sang not only at their school, but across Caldwell County, and even traveled to New York earlier this year. ALSO READ: Source: Music teacher arrested in Gaston County; accused of child sex crime in Texas A parent of a choral student spoke with Faherty, asking not to show his face. Would have never have expected to hear that, he said. He just dont seem like the type of guy that would be in it for money. He looks like hes in it for the right reasons. Its very heartbreaking because a lot of people at the school cared about him, and he was really doing great things for our choral program, student Cailey Suter said. Caldwell County Schools said Johnson has been working at South Caldwell as a chorus teacher since 2018. The school district said it reached out to law enforcement after learning about the missing money earlier this week and suspended Johnson with pay. No one can believe it, said student Dillon Annas. Kids walked in this morning and said is this real? Faherty also learned the district had an emergency meeting at the education center about a personnel matter. Hes working to learn more about what took place then. (WATCH BELOW: Register of deeds maintains innocence a year after embezzlement charge) FILE PHOTO: Voters look at a voters list during the general election in Phnom Penh By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH (Reuters) -Cambodia's Constitutional Council on Thursday rejected an appeal by the sole opposition party against its election disqualification, a decision that means the ruling party will run virtually unopposed in July. The Candlelight Party, a weakened reincarnation of a popular opposition party that was dissolved in 2017, was disqualified from the July 23 election over its registration paperwork, a ban activists dismissed as part of a years-long effort to crush opposition to long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen. The nine-member council said the National Election Commission's (NEC) disqualification of the party was constitutional, and the tribunal's decision was final. "On a legal basis, we looked at the facts," the tribunal's deputy secretary-general, Prom Vicheth Akara, told a press conference. "The NEC decision has complied with the constitution," he said, adding there were 18 parties that had successfully registered. Hun Sen, 70, one of the world's longest-serving leaders after nearly four decades in charge, has previously said his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) would dominate politics for up to a century. The U.S. State Department said it was "deeply troubled" by Candelight being prevented from participating in the election. "The United States does not plan to send official observers to the July elections, part of an electoral process that many independent Cambodian and international experts assess is neither free nor fair," said spokesperson Matthew Miller. Just over a year old, Candlelight was the only party that was running directly against the CPP, which has monopolised all levels of politics since the 2017 dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Scores of former CNRP members have been detained or convicted of serious crimes, many in absentia having fled into exile from Hun Sen's crackdowns on critics and political opponents. "We're very disappointed," Son Chhay, Candlelight's deputy president, said in a text message after the tribunal's decision. He did not elaborate. The Candlelight Party was disqualified on May 15 for submitting an election registration document that was a photocopy rather than an original. Human Rights Watch said at the time the government was going to "ludicrous" lengths to ensure it was unopposed in the vote, "showing it has no interest in holding a truly democratic election". Sam Rainsy, the CNRP's self-exiled co-founder and Hun Sen's oldest rival, last week dismissed what he said would be a "fake and sham" election. Though the self-styled strongman Hun Sen has been widely credited with maintaining stability in post-war Cambodia and attracting development aid and foreign investment, his critics accuse him of increasing authoritarianism and of undermining democratic institutions. The government has repeatedly denied that it has a campaign to decimate its opposition and says all action taken has been within the law. The CPP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the tribunal's decision. (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Alistair Bell) The 2024 election campaign launch Ron DeSantis will want to forget You have to imagine that someone somewhere has been fired. Maybe more than one person. Elon Musk will be looking for scapegoats to blame for the fact that Ron DeSantis's campaign launch was technically a laughable farce. With the sound cutting out and the link repeatedly crashing it took 20 minutes to get going. Ron DeSantis must be regretting listening to the adviser who thought this was the way to launch a campaign that needs rocket boosters to propel him to the level of support the polls suggest his biggest rival Donald Trump currently enjoys. In the Four Seasons hotel in Miami, where campaign volunteers were gathered for the launch, people were trying to put a brave face on - dismissing the technical difficulties as "unimportant" and "insignificant". "More embarrassing for Elon Musk than for Ron DeSantis," one told me. "Find me one voter in Iowa who remembers this in January and I will give a hundred bucks," he said. Once the Twitter session got going, Mr DeSantis talked about his "war on woke", his legal battle with the Walt Disney Company, and how he would reduce immigration. With Mr Musk and the other contributors all agreeing with him, it was certainly not a challenging forum. Even before the fiasco began Mr DeSantis was being criticised for launching this way. One Trump loyalist noted that the Twitter event was typical for Mr DeSantis - because he didn't have to face either journalists' questions or a live audience. That remark gets to the heart of what could be Mr DeSantis's greatest problem. How will he cope with interacting with people and the press? He has a reputation for avoiding journalists and behaving awkwardly with voters. His critics claim he doesn't have the charisma required for a successful presidential campaign. "Trump without the charm," is how rival Nikki Haley's campaign described Mr DeSantis in an internal memo leaked this week. Effective, if not exciting I saw Mr DeSantis in action myself in the key state of Iowa just a few days ago. He addressed a room of about 600, mostly Republican, voters at a barbeque lunch in Sioux Centre. It is often said that he is not a natural public speaker but I thought he was effective, if not exciting, as he outlined the conservative policies he has put in place in Florida. He showed his political instincts when he made an unscheduled stop that evening in Des Moines where Trump had just cancelled a rally - citing bad weather warnings. "It's a beautiful night," Mr DeSantis proclaimed in a jab at his most significant opponent. The New York Times headline the next day read: "DeSantis Impresses in Iowa". Although it did note that expectations are so low that he fared well "merely by showing up and not committing any significant gaffes". He also did a rare photo call for the cameras - posing at the grill wearing a personalised apron and cooking a remarkably large pork chop. But he was excruciatingly uncomfortable with journalists trying to ask him questions. If you want to avoid the reporters who have come to cover your event you need to find a way to gracefully brush them off. I was running along beside him as he did a little walkabout so I could ask if he had made a mistake by not announcing his candidacy sooner. Was that why Donald Trump is so far ahead of him in polls? The constipated grimace that was his only response is the kind of facial expression that makes press officers weep. Ron DeSantis turns away to avoid answering the BBC's questions in Iowa He keeps making faces and gestures that are embarrassing memes waiting to happen. Laughing really weirdly or wobbling his head oddly when asked a difficult question - body language that is strange enough to hamper his campaign. After the disastrous Twitter launch the Florida governor appeared on the more traditional medium of cable TV - on the Republican-friendly Fox News network - where he was not asked a single tough question. Ultimately Mr DeSantis will need to embrace a media strategy that goes beyond only giving very occasional interviews to supportive outlets or platforms. Because he has had relatively little interaction with the mainstream media so far he may find he struggles, just when the stakes could not be any higher. A presidential run is a hell of a moment to do your first really challenging, prime-time interviews. Find out more Americast branding You can hear more of Sarah's analysis by tuning into Americast, the BBC's US politics and culture podcast, on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts And you can follow Sarah on Twitter If Bryan Miller, who murdered two young women in Phoenix 30 years ago, had experienced a completely different childhood, where would he be today? That was the question put forward in court Wednesday by defense attorney Richard Parker as he argued that Miller's life should be spared. The state is seeking a death sentence for Miller for the brutal murders of Angela Brosso and Melanie Bernas, killed as they cycled along Phoenix canals in the early 1990s. Parker told Judge Suzanne Cohen, who will decide Miller's sentence, that he did not envy her task. "I know for certain one thing, though," he said. "That you do not have to kill Bryan in order to see justice done." Parker displayed pictures of Miller, now 50, as a child as he urged the judge to consider Miller's upbringing with his mother, Ellen, a relationship the defense has characterized as abusive, damaging and sexually inappropriate. "Where would Brian be now if he had a mother who nurtured him, who gave him hugs and showed him affection, who kissed him with love in her heart?" Parker asked. "Instead of a mother who withheld affection, instead of a mother who treated him like an inmate rather than a child in his own home, always giving him orders?" Where would he be if his mother had created a safe, and not unpredictable, living environment, Parker asked. If she had spoken to him with empathy instead of telling him she wished she had an abortion? If she had not shown him pornography as a child, or called his grade school classmates "sluts" and "whores," or threatened to cut off his penis? If the answer to any of those questions was not here in this courtroom, Parker said, "then Your Honor should choose life." A 'matter of mercy' He told Cohen the task facing her was not a legal decision, but "a decision of the heart." "I know there is room in your heart for mercy," he said. "I know that when I speak about mercy, I am not asking the court to excuse Bryan's actions." On Nov. 8, 1992, Miller attacked and killed Brosso after she left her apartment by Cactus Road and Interstate 17 for a short evening bike ride. Her boyfriend stayed home to bake a cake for her 22nd birthday the next day. When she didn't return home, her boyfriend went out searching and later raised the alarm with police. Brosso was found the next morning, lying dead in a field just east of the apartment complex, her head missing and her torso so cut up that she was almost severed in half. Her head was found 11 days later in the Arizona Canal. On Sept. 22, 1993, the body of Melanie Bernas, a 17-year-old high school student, was found in the canal close to Metrocenter. She had died from the same fatal stab wound to the back as Brosso, and had cuts to her chest and across her neck. Brosso and Bernas were not only murdered and mutilated, but also sexually assaulted as or after they died. DNA evidence from vaginal swabs suggested the same man was responsible for both attacks. But with no suspect to match the sample to, the case ran cold for decades. For subscribers: In canal killings, DNA technology gave them the break they needed In 2015, Miller was arrested after fresh forensic analysis led police to covertly obtain his DNA and found it was a match. He pleaded not guilty for reasons of insanity, but was found guilty by Cohen last month. In a brief statement to the court Monday, Miller said he accepted the verdict but he did not apologize for killing Brosso and Bernas. "I wish I could provide answers to the questions you have," he said. Parker said extending mercy to Miller could be difficult, given the "horrendous and atrocious" nature of his crimes. But he told Cohen that she had to regard Miller as an individual, even if his actions were considered "the worst of the worst." 'We should not kill broken people' The defense attorney pointed to an array of factors he said were grounds for a life sentence. Miller's deprived childhood. The psychological disorders he developed from that trauma. The fact he was 20 at the time of the murders, his brain not yet fully developed. His autism spectrum disorder and emotional immaturity. The bonds he has with people in the community. The fact that he loves his daughter. Parker described Miller as "broken," unable to bear the weight of the trauma his mother had dumped on him. Killing Miller, Parker said, would say his experiences have no meaning. "We should not kill broken people," he said. "We should work to rebuild them." He argued a life sentence was a harsh, appropriate and just fate for Miller. "He will never leave the confines of a prison and a prison cell. Every day is going to be marked by the same routine. He will have no choice over that routine," Parker said. Lori Vallow Daybell: Idaho mom convicted in deaths of 2 kids and romantic rival faces new Arizona charge "He will be in a room the size of one of our bathrooms. He has a 2-inch mat. It will be concrete floor, cement walls. It will be the same visuals every single day for the rest of his life." He returned over and over to the concept of humanity, reiterating that Miller has it, and his life has value. "Remember that mercy, Judge, is not a weakness," Parker said. "It is a strength." The state will present its closing statements Thursday. Miller's sentence is not expected to be handed down before early June. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Canal killings trial: Bryan Miller's attorney asks for mercy Te Fiti model at Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana Disney World has called Florida home for more than 50 years but the last several months have been a bit tough at home. Walt Disney World is in the middle of a pair of lawsuits between Disney and Florida over recent changes to the special district governing the vacation kingdom. And while Disney World recently scrapped plans that would have seen Disney spend $1 billion on a new campus in Florida for Cast Members, a $17 billion investment in the resort itself is still planned, at least for now. Two years ago Disney announced plans to move 2,000 Cast Members, including the bulk of Walt Disney Imagineering, from Southern CA to a new campus at Lake Nona in Florida. The initial plan to move was to be completed by the end of this year, and while that deadline was pushed back to 2026 after the battle with Florida started, all indications were that it would happen. Then, earlier this week it was announced that the entire campus would be scrapped. Speaking at the recent JP Morgan Global Technology, Media & Communications Conference, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh DAmaro admitted that, business conditions have changed in Florida, which was part of the reason the plan was canceled. However, plans to spend $17 billion and hire 13,000 new Cast Members at Walt Disney World over the next decade are still in place. Of course, CEO Bob Iger intimated on the recent Disney Q2 earnings call that those plans certainly could still change. Iger touted the success of all Disney Parks, and indicated that new plans for growth could be focused anywhere, implying the massive investment could be done elsewhere if Disney decided that made more sense. Disney is currently suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claiming that a series of law changes in Florida are the result of the state retaliating against the company for exercising its First Amendment rights. The special district created in Florida in the 1960s to govern Walt Disney World was recently replaced by a new district with a new board, all hand-picked by DeSantis. The state is also countersuing Disney for a deal it made with the previous board that locked down the rights to several thousand acres of Disney World property that gives Disney the rights to develop it. It will certainly take a pretty substantial change for Disney to significantly reduce investment in Walt Disney World, but such a change seems more possible than at any time since the construction of Magic Kingdom began. French actors Benoit Magimel and Juliette Binoche star as lovers in the gastronomic film "The Pot-au-Feu" The kitchen of a 19th-century French chateau is home to an endless gastronomic feast in "The Pot-au-Feu", an ode to food with a simmering love story at its heart which left Cannes critics drooling. The film by Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung, which premiered at the festival late Wednesday, stars former real-life lovers Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel in the roles of cook and gourmand aristocrat. Their romance slowly unfolds in the background of clanging pans, sizzling veal and poaching fish as complex sauces meld together. "I really wanted to make a very French movie," said Tran at a press conference Thursday at the French Riviera film festival, which draws to a close on Saturday. "What cannot be said out loud is said through food," he said of the love story between the two main characters. There is virtually no music in the film, with only the sounds of nature, the kitchen, and the pleasurable groans of those eating the food to accompany the dialogue. In one scene, the aristocrat and his gourmet friends partake of the now-banned dish of ortolan -- a rare songbird drowned in Armagnac and eaten whole while the diner's head is draped with a napkin. The title "Pot-au-Feu" refers to the French stew-like dish of boiled meat and vegetables, which also gets a starring role in the plot. "Food is the subject, the objective and the driving motor of this scantly plotted but utterly captivating love story," said Variety. The Telegraph said the film was "so vividly and lovingly made, you'll swear you can smell and taste every shot." Several critics noted the stark difference between the gluttonous film and another entry in the main Cannes competition, "Club Zero", which days earlier had teens starving themselves in a movie set around a nutrition cult. While English-language critics loved "Pot-au-Feu", their French counterparts -- perhaps less awed by their own gastronomy -- were "left hungry," as Le Figaro wrote in its review. The movie's food scenes were directed by multi-Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire, who also makes a brief appearance in the film. All the food seen in the movie was real, with no props used, and Gagnaire and an assistant prepared mountains of food during filming, while the actors did plenty of their own cooking -- for which they received some training. "This film perfectly replicates what food is, creativity, emotion, but also rigour, attention, silence, listening to the products," said Gagnaire. He only had one note for the team: When Binoche's character pulled a poaching turbot out of the oven in one scene "you could see the milk was not hot enough." fb/er/pvh Mubi is having a busy Cannes. The arthouse streamer just picked up Aki Kaurismakis Cannes competition title Fallen Leaves, its fourth acquisition of the festival, taking the crowd-pleasing dramedy for North America, the U.K., Ireland, Latin America, and Turkey after its official festival premiere. Mubi plans to do a theatrical release for the film in some territories. The deal for Fallen Leaves was done with Mubis own sales subsidiary, The Match Factory, who handles all of Kaurismakis movies. More from The Hollywood Reporter Fallen Leaves is the 20th film from the Finnish filmmaker, who won the 2002 Grand Jury prize, and picked up a 2003 Oscar nomination for The Man Without a Past, and took the FiPRESCI international film critics prize in 2011 for Le Havre. The deal for Fallen Leaves follows a buying spree for Mubi on the Croisette this year. The company snatched up Felipe Galvezs Chilean revisionist Western The Settlers for North America and multiple international territories, including the U.K., Latin America, Turkey, German-speaking Europe, Italy, Benelux and India, one day after the films premiere in Cannes Un Certain Regard section, and last week sealed a deal for rights in North America, U.K., Italy, Latin America, Turkey, India and Benelux to Rodrigo Morenos Argentinian comedy-drama The Delinquents, another Un Certain Regard movie. Just ahead of Cannes, Mubi took all rights for North America, the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Latin America, Turkey and Benelux for Molly Manning Walkers debut feature How to Have Sex, arguably the breakout title from Un Certain Regard this year. With all of its deals, Mubi is planning select theatrical releases in key territories alongside online bows for the films. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. Xi meets Russian PM Xinhua) 08:02, May 25, 2023 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin on Wednesday in Beijing. Xi asked Mishustin to convey his sincere greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi said that during his successful state visit to Russia in March, he and Putin drew a blueprint for the future development of China-Russia relations and cooperation in various fields. It is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times to consolidate and develop China-Russia relations, Xi said. He expressed his hope that both sides will continue to take advantage of the great potential, broad prospects and strong impetus of China-Russia ties to advance cooperation in various fields and enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. China and Russia should continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and strengthen coordination on multilateral arenas such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20, Xi stressed. The two sides should further tap the potential to raise the levels of economic, trade and investment cooperation, improve bilateral cooperation institutions and mechanisms, consolidate and expand energy and connectivity cooperation, and create more new growth points, Xi said, adding the people-to-people and cultural exchanges should be expanded. China is willing to work with Russia and Eurasian Economic Union members to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union to facilitate the formation of a more open, large regional market, ensure the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains, and bring tangible benefits to countries in the region. Mishustin, who is on an official visit to China, extended Putin's sincere greetings and best wishes to Xi. He said Xi's historic state visit to Russia in March was a great success, which has inaugurated a new era for the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. Russia is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and make full use of the regular premier-level meetings and relevant mechanisms to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, Mishustin said. He said that Russia is willing to work with China to promote the multipolarization of the world and consolidate the international order based on international law. Russia looks forward to further strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China so that their friendship will be passed on from generation to generation. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Department officials are holding a news conference Thursday afternoon ahead of the long Memorial Day weekend. Earlier this week, Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration announced it will be sending a newly created team of street outreach workers to Chicago neighborhoods during the Memorial Day weekend to help with the citys violence prevention efforts. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Watch live below: Cannes turns up the glamour for amfAR gala to raise money for AIDS research Queen Latifah poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 76th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP) ANTIBES, France (AP) With a guestlist that boasted equal parts wealth, fame and glamour, amfAR returned to the French Riviera Thursday for its Cannes gala to raise money for AIDS research. Queen Latifah hosted the 29th edition with Eva Longoria, Fan Bingbing and Rebel Wilson among the stars walking the red carpet. Also in attendance were models Elsa Hosk, Heidi Klum, Coco Rocha and Winne Harlow. The gala attracts many of the top names attending the nearby Cannes Film Festival. Attendees arrived at the famous Hotel Du Cap, Eden Roc where the evening started with sunset drinks and canapes looking out to a giant super yacht moored up in the bay. This was followed by a dinner of asparagus and truffle starter and seared salmon main course while guests enjoyed a night of performances that Gladys Knight kicked off. Bebe Rexha and Adam Lambert also performed. Im very honored to be singing tonight for this cause and seeing amazing people on the carpet and beautiful fashion all in the name of raising money for HIV, AIDS, research, Lambert said before the gala. Halsey closed the show. The auction featured an array of artwork, diamond jewels, and experiences. The centerpiece was a unique Aston Martin sportscar, the first of its type in the world which was auctioned off by Eva Longoria and sold for 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million). The engine cover is signed by F1 drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso and the car will be presented at a Grand Prix of the buyers choice and then delivered anywhere in the world. Other top lots included a pair of white gold Chopard earrings set with diamonds and emeralds sold for 275,000 euros ($295,000) and a Damien Hirst portrait of Leonardo DiCaprio reached 1.2 million euros ($1.29 million). DiCaprio, an amfAR regular, slipped in undetected by cameras to enjoy the entertainment, but did not come to the stage to present the winning bidder with his prize. The annual runway show curated by Carine Roitfeld was this year dedicated to designer Vivienne Westwood and saw a trail of top fashion models showing off a series of designs on a makeshift catwalk through the diners. Jewelry and accessories are not part of this lot states the catalogue as the whole collection was auctioned off to the highest bidder an impressive 600,000 euros ($644,000) to the sound of Tina Turners The Best. Guests ended the night dancing into the early hours at the afterparty, held by the hotels swimming pool. AmfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $600 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. Car strikes stroller carrying two kids as mom pushes it on walk, Washington dad says Joshua Hendricks was hundreds of miles from his family when he got a video call from his wife, Amanda. She was standing on the side of the road as she told him a driver had struck the stroller she was pushing with two of their kids inside, throwing their toddler up to 25 feet away, Hendricks told McClatchy News in a phone interview. The dad spoke to his 2-year-old son, Jeffrey Thor, over the phone as a witness rushed to perform CPR on the child. My only thought was, God, let my kid still be alive, and let him be OK when I get there, he told McClatchy News on May 25. Jeffrey Thor, 2, was thrown about 25 feet from his stroller when he was struck by a driver on May 23 in Spokane Valley, Washinton, his father said. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The couples other two children were also injured in the crash, which happened at about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, on State Route 27 in Spokane Valley, the Washington State Patrol said in an incident report. Hendricks said his wife looked both ways before crossing the street, which had no crosswalk. She saw one car farther down the road, so she began to walk. This car slowed for the family, but another driver passed the vehicle and struck them, he said. Troopers said the the pedestrians failed to recognize vehicle one in their report. The 16-year-old driver has not been charged in relation to the crash, troopers said May 25. There is no indication from the investigation the juvenile driver committed any criminal violations, Sgt. Gregory Riddell told McClatchy News in an email. Jeffrey Thor didnt have a pulse after the crash, but the witness fast response helped save his sons life, Hendricks said. The biggest thing was just speaking to him through the phone, and I was like, hes going to be OK, hes going to be OK, Hendricks said. He took the last flight of the night back to Spokane and rushed to his family members, who were taken to a hospital. Jeffrey Thor is still in critical condition with a shifted brain injury, he said. His 11-month-old, Obidiah Obi, was also in the stroller and now has two minor fractures to his femur, Hendricks said. Obidiah Obi, 11-months-old, suffered two minor fractures to his femur when he was struck by a driver. Kaleb, the couples 11-year-old son, was struck by the stroller and needed 11 stitches. He also fractured his foot. Amanda Hendricks injured her wrist, but she wasnt struck by the car, he said. Five kids walking through crosswalk struck by hit-and-run driver, Tennessee cops say Toddlers in driveway run over by pickup truck pulling in, Oklahoma cops say. One died 2-year-old standing in front of door is killed in drive-by shooting, Texas police say Carlsbad man charged with homicide by vehicle out on bail while awaiting trial A Carlsbad man arrested for homicide by vehicle was out on bail on multiple charges associated with a drunk driving incident where the man allegedly backed into a motorcycle on National Parks Highway, killing the bikes driver. Alex Santana, 30, was arrested May 14 after police said he drove drunk and caused the crash that killed Alan Ortiz who was driving along the highway on his motorcycle. Santana was charged with homicide by vehicle driving while intoxicated along with having an open container of alcohol, driving without a license, insurance or evidence of registration and failing to yield to the right of way. More: Dell City man killed in truck crash in Culberson County, Texas near Guadalupe Mountains He had yet to enter a plea on any of the charges as of Thursday. Homicide by vehicle, DWI, is a class two felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison when involving someones death, according to the New Mexico Sentencing Commission. The rest of Santanas charges were misdemeanors. More: New report highlights goals to stop impaired motorists from traveling on highways Santana was released from incarceration on a $2,500 bond, records show, the day after his arrest. He was required to not possess firearms or weapons, consume alcohol or drugs, or leave Eddy County without permission from the court. He was not required to have an interlock device installed on any vehicle Santana might drive. Records show the court deemed him a flight risk due to an expired Mexico drivers license police said Santana provided at the scene of the crash. More: Maimed sheep land Eddy County dog owner in jail on charge of animal cruelty Police were called to the scene at about 9:20 p.m. May 14 in the 3500 block of National Parks Highway near the El Rey Motel for a crash report, finding Ortiz lying in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene, read a criminal complaint, after being found missing half of his head. Santana was allegedly backing a BMW out into the roadway while Ortiz was traveling south on his motorcycle when he collided with the car, read the complaint. More: Alcohol a factor in deadly head-on car crash near Carlsbad, police say Witnesses at the scene said the motorcycle was traveling at least 100 miles per hour, the complaint read. Other motorists that witnessed the crash said Ortiz tried to pass them, crashing into the BMW as it backed into the road. A group of motorcycles were observed ahead of the incident, read the complaint. Ortiz was believed part of that group, and was last in line, witnesses said. Santana was approached by officers on scene and was observed to smell of alcohol, showing an expired license from Chihuahua, Mexico to investigators when asked, the complaint read. He refused to talk about the incident to police when asked, records show, later submitting to a blood test at Carlsbad Medical Center. Santana made his first appearance May 15 in Carlsbad Magistrate Court before Judge Kelly Calicoat and had a preliminary examination scheduled for June 13. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad man charged with homicide by vehicle out on bail A package that was sent to a contractor working at a CarMax in Gastonia contained several pounds of marijuana, according to police. Channel 9s Ken Lemon broke the story Wednesday when he learned about the investigation and the workers arrest. The employee, identified as Michael Williams, was contracted to work on cars at the Gastonia CarMax, and its not unusual for contractors to get mail delivered to the shop. But investigators say this one box was different, and thats what made the situation so strange. Inside the box was marijuana, three pounds of it, sealed in a bag. But Williams wasnt there Monday when the package arrived, so managers got suspicious and called the police, who then opened the box and found the marijuana. The Gastonia Police Department says the marijuana was shipped from Hollywood, California. While smoking and selling smaller quantities of marijuana is legal in California, shipping it is not. Police say they believe Williams knew that, so they planned a sting. [We] put some items in the box that weighed roughly three pounds, resealed the box, and waited for the suspect, Mr. Williams, to come to work to claim that package, said Rick Goodale with GPD. When Williams got to CarMax, he verified the package was meant for him. Police officers then placed him under arrest. Most of the time, its going to houses, its very unusual to go to a business, Goodale said. Police said they suspect Williams has had drugs delivered to the shop before. Employees told investigators that some other packages were smelly. Williams, who lives about an hour and a half away near Columbia, is already out on bond. CarMax says he wasnt directly employed by them. They released a statement Wednesday, saying, CarMax was founded on integrity and doing the right thing and we appreciate the quick response from the local police department. Actor Samantha Weinstein, best known for playing Heather in the 2013 horror remake of Carrie, has died at the age of 28. Weinstein died May 14 in her hometown of Toronto after dealing with ovarian cancer for more than two years. She married in October and was on a belated honeymoon in Japan with husband Michael Knutson earlier this month. She was surrounded by her loved ones at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, a post on her Instagram account read. After two and a half years of cancer treatment, and a lifetime of jet setting around the world, voicing a plethora of cartoon animals, making music, and knowing more about life than most people ever will, she is off on her next adventure. Images of Weinstein joyously floating against a celestial background accompanied the announcement. Sam was actually a living embodiment of a sunbeam, her father, David Weinstein, told The Canadian Press on Wednesday. She was so full of positive energy, anyone who ever met her would say that she just lit up every room she walked into. Weinstein also starred in the 2011 comedy Jesus Henry Christ. The movie, headlined by Toni Collette, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. (Fast forward to 1:25 to watch Weinstein.) On the small screen, Weinstein appeared in three episodes of the 2017 Netflix series Alias Grace, based on Margaret Atwoods novel. In her highest-profile movie role, Weinstein portrayed the high school bully Heather who tormented Carrie (Chloe Grace Moretz). In the prom scene below where Carrie unleashes her telekinetic powers, Heather gets her comeuppance. She was a very prolific voice actor, her father told the Canadian news agency, and was still working on the animated series Mittens & Pants and Dino Ranch in recent weeks. Around that same time, Weinstein shared photos from her honeymoon in Japan in early May. Getting cancer is the worst thing thats ever happened to me, but in the strangest of ways it has also been the best thing, Weinstein wrote in a 2022 essay that focused in part on her relationship with Knutson. ... I have more love in my life and for myself than I ever could have imagined, and I see every day as a gift. Related... Catholics descend on Missouri abbey to see body of nun who is part of history Back in eighth grade, Lily Myers chose Mother Teresa for her patron saint for confirmation. Now 20 and going into her junior year at Kansas State University, Myers said most of the saints she has studied existed in older times. But this week, she joined other Catholics who have traveled to a Benedictine monastery in the small town of Gower to see what many are calling a miracle. The Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles believe that Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who founded the religious community in 1995, is the first African American woman to be found incorrupt or not decomposed after death. The discovery was made after her body was recently exhumed so it could be moved to an altar inside the church. She died May 29, 2019. The Catholic Church has more than 100 incorruptible saints who have been beatified or canonized, whose bodies have been entirely or partially immune to the natural decaying process years after their death, the Catholic News Agency reported this week. Catholic tradition holds that these saints provide witness to the truth of the resurrection of the body. The absence of decomposition also is considered a sign of holiness. The church has not yet determined whether Sister Wilhelminas case is miraculous or ruled it an incorruptible, the Catholic News Agency reported, and a cause for her canonization has not been sanctioned. But the sisters in her religious community and those traveling from near and far to see the body describe it as something extraordinary. Sister Wilhelmina Lancasters headstone on the grounds of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles monastery in Gower, Missouri. Myers and her mom, Mary, made the trip to Gower from Lenexa. It seemed super cool to see not only such a religious and holy woman and her incorrupt body and that miracle happening, but also happening so recently, Myers said. The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph said it is important to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation. But that hasnt kept a steady stream of people from visiting the abbey about 40 miles north of Kansas City. Weve just seen a major increase in traffic headed out to the convent compared to normal, said Jeff Gibson, who owns a beef shop a mile and a half from the abbey. The gravel road just isnt real highly traveled, but it has been lately. Sister Wilhelmina founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. She started the community in Pennsylvania and moved it to Missouri in 2006. According to an autobiography provided by the abbey, she spent her entire life devoted to her faith. Though she wanted to become a nun at age 13, she learned she had to wait until high school graduation. She took her vows at age 19. Catholics line up to pray beside the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster. Julie Entzeroth of Leawood was among the visitors on Tuesday. This is part of history, Entzeroth said. This is like right here, this huge miracle, and God is clearly glorifying Sister Wilhelmina. Entzeroth said she brought a long list of prayer intentions, and believes Sister Wilhelmina can take them to heaven for her. Wallace and Katy Boever came from Lincoln, Nebraska, after learning about Sister Wilhelmina from their daughter, who lives in Kansas City. They also asked Sister Wilhelmina to intercede on their behalf. Its an opportunity to lift up our prayers of thanksgiving, of gratitude, but also of petition, Wallace Boever said. Katy Boever said that in times like these, We need a miracle. Winnie Gorman of Kansas City called it a full miracle. Theres just so much evil in the world, she said. And I think that this is like, you know, God giving us hope. CDC: 2 dead, hundreds may be at risk of fungal meningitis after surgeries in Mexico The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning that more than 200 U.S. patients may be at risk for fungal meningitis after undergoing surgical procedures at clinics in a Mexican border city. The CDC said Wednesday it is working with the Mexican Ministry of Health and local and state officials to respond to an outbreak linked to patients who underwent procedures under epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. The CDC issued a travel advisory last week, warning of the outbreak and telling U.S. patients to cancel any scheduled procedures. In the memo, the CDC said it had identified five Texans who were suspected to have developed cases of fungal meningitis linked to the outbreak, including one who died. A second person with a suspected case of meningitis linked to the outbreak has died, the CDC said Wednesday. The CDC and Mexican officials identified two clinics in Mexico linked to the outbreak River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3, shutting down both earlier this month. The CDC said officials were still investigating to determine whether other clinics were linked to this outbreak, one in which officials do not know which organism is causing it. Mexican officials sent the CDC a list of more than 200 U.S. patients who might be at risk based on surgical records. The CDC is warning patients who had epidural anesthesia at either of the two identified Mexican clinics since January to seek urgent care, even if they do not have current symptoms. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and confusion. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Michael Kahn, Robert Muller and Anna Koper PRAGUE/WARSAW (Reuters) - Central European companies are scouting out locations, signing contracts and launching projects deep in war-torn Ukraine, seeking a foothold for future reconstruction work that could be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. While most current projects are focused on essential infrastructure damaged or destroyed since Russia's February 2022 invasion, company executives and government officials anticipate a wave of investment once fighting ends. "It will be precisely the countries unafraid to go to Ukraine now that will start from the front positions of the peloton" when reconstruction begins in earnest, said Tomas Kopecny, the Czech government envoy for Ukraine reconstruction. The Czech government has pledged to spend 500 million crowns ($23.5 million) each year through 2025 to support firms seeking to work in the country and is helping its companies build contacts with Ukrainian officials via regional trade missions. "Companies and governments realize that the Ukrainian market will be a great opportunity for the future," said Kopecny, who expects revenues earned by Czech companies in Ukraine to increase several-fold in the coming years. "The reconstruction of Ukraine, at least its first phase, is already underway." Reuters spoke with around a dozen company executives and government officials who detailed operations and plans in Ukraine even while the war, which has killed tens of thousands, caused millions to flee and flattened cities, continues. The stakes are high. The cost of recovery is likely to be $411 billion, or 2.6 times Ukraine's estimated 2022 GDP, according to a joint assessment by Ukraine and the World Bank. Polish bank Pekao SA has estimated that reconstruction could boost neighbouring Poland's economy by up to 189 billion zlotys ($45.6 billion), or around 3.8% of GDP. "When the war ends, money will go to Ukraine and it will be a very large construction market, maybe one of the largest in Europe," said Leszek Golabiecki, deputy chief executive of Polish construction firm Unibep. TRADITIONAL ALLIES Strong military and political support for Ukraine from the Czech Republic and Poland, countries dominated by Moscow during four decades of Communist rule, has helped their firms. So has their similar culture and experience working in Ukraine. Czech environmental services firm Dekonta, which cleaned up sites after the Soviet military left in 1991, is searching for locations to build water treatment plants, said supervisory board member Pavel Mothejl. He recently visited Dnipropetrovsk region, near the front line in eastern Ukraine. "We would like to do 11 water treatment stations and (are) preparing decontamination projects for when the war ends," said Mothejl, whose firm has one project in progress and another in the pipeline. "Wherever you go in the villages there is demand." More than 2,300 Polish firms have sought to participate in reconstruction projects as part of a Polish Investment and Trade Agency programme, mostly companies in construction and building materials. Poland is also in discussions with representatives from countries including South Korea, Japan and Great Britain to partner with Polish companies more familiar with Ukraine, said the head of the state-funded agency's Kyiv office, Karol Kubica. "We are building relationships with local governments because we want to start the reconstruction from the bottom," he said. "The challenge is and will be how to safely send employees to carry out work." Foreign firms working in the country must deal with regular air raid sirens and some employ military consultants. "We have an air raid alert app installed on our mobile phones," said Jaroslav Camfrla, a project manager for Czech healthcare company Block CRS, who has visited Ukraine to gauge demand for its sterile surgery wards and mobile hospital units. Poland's 330-mile (530-km) border with Ukraine could make the country a natural logistics hub. "We expect Polish products to be the first choice and we also have the advantage of transport costs because we are closer to Ukraine," said Krzysztof Krempec, president of fire protection system maker Mercor. It is considering increasing the capacity of its factory in Lviv, western Ukraine. CORRUPTION CONCERN While many central European firms see a once-in-a-generation opportunity, progress will depend on the ability of Ukraine's authorities to demonstrate transparency, said Wieslaw Nowak, chief executive of Polish construction company ZUE. Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index puts Ukraine in 116th place, far below its European Union neighbours. Ukraine has prioritised efforts to tackle graft as it seeks accession to the European Union. "If there is no transparency of economic processes, fair tenders, transparent spending and settlement of these funds, no one will invest in Ukraine," said Nowak. "This is the main challenge for Ukraine." ($1 = 21.2420 Czech crowns; 4.1422 zlotys) (Writing by Michael Kahn, Editing by Conor Humphries) Central Texas city is the fastest-growing city in America. And it isn't Austin. For the second year in a row, Georgetown is the fastest-growing city in the U.S. for cities with a population above 50,000, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. For the second year in a row, Georgetown 30 miles north of Austin is the fastest-growing city in the U.S. It set that growth record among all cities with a population of 50,000 or more, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Williamson County city's growth rate was 14.4% from July 1, 2021, through July 1, 2022, resulting in a population estimate of 86,507. Georgetown added 10,887 more residents than it had in the census estimate from a year ago. Job growth in Georgetown and across the Austin metro continues to bring new residents to our city, Mayor Josh Schroeder said. People are moving here for the same reasons that brought many of us to Georgetown wonderful and safe neighborhoods, fantastic parks and events, and welcoming people. We continue to adjust our plans and build new infrastructure to maintain the great quality of life for all of us who are proud to call Georgetown our home. More: What to know about Williamson County's building, park projects in 2023 Several Texas cities topped the census growth list, with Kyle coming in third, Leander fourth, Little Elm fifth, Conroe 11th and New Braunfels 13th. Meanwhile, Texas also has five of the top 15 most populous cities in the U.S., surpassing California's three. Houston remains the fourth-largest city in the country, with 2.3 million residents. San Antonio is the seventh-largest city, Dallas is ninth, and Austin ranks 10th. Local officials say Georgetown's draw includes good health care services, an extensive park system with hike-and-bike trails, new retail and an historic downtown that gives it a strong small-town identity. Its housing is also more affordable than Austin. In Georgetown, the median home price was $408,100 through April 2023. The median price in Austin was $535,000 during the same time. More: H-E-B starts work on new store in Georgetown as Austin-area expansion revs up Some other things to know about Georgetown include: Since 2015, Georgetown has been on the list of the top 10 fastest-growing cities. It topped the list in 2016 and 2022. Georgetowns population was 67,176 in the 2020 census. According to todays estimate, Georgetown has added 19,331 residents since 2020. According to the Texas State Historical Association, Georgetown was founded in 1848 and named for George Washington Glasscock, who, along with his business partner, Thomas Huling, donated land for the site. "Pioneers were attracted by the abundance of timber and good, clear water, as were the Tonkawa Indians, who had a village there," the historical association's website says. "In addition, the land was inexpensive and extremely fertile. The first wave of settlers was from Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois, and other states. Swedish settlers came by the 1850s; after 1870 German, Austrian, and Swiss settlers began arriving and after 1880 Moravian and Czech." The founding of Southwestern University in 1873 and construction of a railroad in 1878 contributed to Georgetown's growth. Its stable and healthy economy was based largely on agriculture and a major tributary cattle trail that led through the heart of the town to the Western, Chisholm, Dodge City and Shawnee Trails. Statesman reporter Shonda Novak contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Georgetown, located 30 miles north of Austin, is fastest-growing city Three years after George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis at the age of 46, Black Americans are still more than twice as likely to be killed by police as white Americans. Much has changed since Floyds killing, but that startling statistic from the database Mapping Police Violence underscores how much hasnt changed all the same. Floyds death led to mass protests across the country and the world, and it awakened much of the country to how much change is necessary to take real strides toward racial equality and justice. Lawmakers who have pushed for change note that despite all that attention, violence is carried out against Black people by police on a regular basis. Regardless of the heightened scrutiny and spotlight on state-sanctioned violence onto Black bodies, it still continues to happen at the same rate, if not higher, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), whose district includes Minneapolis, said in an interview recently. Heres a look at what has happened in the past three years. Police accountability Perhaps the biggest shift since Floyds death has come in efforts to hold police more accountable when people are killed in their custody or as a result of their actions. Police have repeatedly been able to avoid jail time for the killings or beatings of Black Americans, from Rodney King to the more recent examples of Trayvon Martin, Stephon Clark, Freddie Gray, Philando Castille and Alton Sterling. Those involved in Floyds case, however, were charged and convicted. Officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyds neck for more than nine minutes before his death, was fired from the Minneapolis Police Department and charged with second-degree murder days after the killing. In May 2021, Chauvin and the other officers on the scene, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, were indicted by a federal grand jury. After a three-week trial and 10 hours of deliberation, a jury sentenced Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison in April 2021. In December, he pleaded guilty to federal charges for violating Floyds civil rights and was sentenced to an additional 21 years. Kueng was sentenced to three years in prison and Thao to 3 1/2 for violating Floyds civil rights. Lane was sentenced to two years in prison. Officers have also been charged in other killings. In 2021, Minneapolis police Chief Tim Gannon and officer Kim Potter resigned for their involvement in the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright. Potter was convicted of manslaughter. In Memphis, the five officers involved in the beating of Tyre Nichols have been fired and charged for his death. Defunding and reforming police departments More than 30 states have passed 140 oversight and reform laws on local police since Floyds killing, according to the New York Times. Some of these laws restricted tactics such as no-knock warrants, which led to the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville another touchstone event from 2020. Others ban the use of neck restraints like what Chauvin used against Floyd and mandated the use of body cameras. Calls to defund the police also echoed around the country in summer 2020. In many cases, those calls were to redirect funds for police to other services. Some cities have taken steps to do this. The slogan of defund the police has led to a backlash for some Democratic politicians as crime rose after the pandemic. But polls show many Americans support reforming policies to make police more accountable. More than 80 percent want police officers to face legal action for abuse of power or unnecessary harm while 78 percent support community-based alternatives to police, such as violence intervention programs, according to a 2022 Gallup poll. A smaller portion, however, supports the idea of defunding the police. Thirty-five percent of Americans want to reduce the budget of police departments to fund social programs instead, the Gallup poll found. Minneapolis voted to shift nearly $8 million from police funding to services like violence prevention and mental health crisis response teams. In June 2020, Boston reallocated $12 million of its police overtime budget about 20 percent to instead invest in community programs such as trauma and counseling services. And in 2021, Los Angeles approved Measure J, which allocates 10 percent of the countys revenue to community investment and alternatives to incarceration. Restitution and reparations Some states are taking steps to reconcile with residents following the years of protests. At least 19 cities will reportedly pay protesters who sustained injuries as a result of law enforcement action as they protested police brutality, according to The Guardian. The California Reparations Task Force this month voted on a series of proposals for reparations for Black Americans, and one of the areas for restitution includes mass incarceration of Black Americans and over-policing in Black communities. The task force recommended providing $115,260 per person in 2020 dollars or $2,352 for each year of residency in the state since 1971, which was the first year of the war on drugs, a program that specifically targeted Black Americans. George Floyd Justice in Policing Act Federal efforts on police reform have stalled. In 2021, a House then controlled by Democrats approved the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. But the legislation went nowhere in the Senate and appears to be on hold with a GOP majority House. The key area of disagreement is over ending qualified immunity, a set of rules that protects government officials including police officers from individual liability for violating personal and constitutional rights. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who announced his presidential run this week, introduced a counterproposal to shift the burden of responsibility from individual police officers to police departments, but the compromise hasnt set well with more progressive legislators. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) offered bills this year to end qualified immunity. While the White House has made it clear it would back police reform, it has also sought to take executive actions. President Biden last year signed an executive order for federal law enforcement agencies that bans the use of chokeholds, restricts no-knock warrants and requires anti-bias training and body-worn cameras. Yet that order only goes so far because it does not apply to state and local police. I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it, Biden said Thursday in marking the anniversary of Floyds death. I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for police accountability in Congress, and I remain willing to work with Republicans and Democrats alike on genuine solutions. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Passengers board a Brightline train to West Palm Beach at the Fort Lauderdale station on Feb. 27, 2023. Brightline is gearing up its customers for the prospect that high-speed train rides to Orlando are in their future starting at some point in the second quarter. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel) The summer travel season that gets underway Memorial Day weekend promises to be one of the most challenging ever. As transportation patterns return to pre-pandemic levels, millions of Americans will face the familiar miles-long traffic jams and labyrinthine airport security lines. Following last summers chaos in the skies, with nearly 45,000 flights canceled and over 400,000 delayed, transportation experts are urging calm as travelers prepare for a summer of frustration and frayed nerves. Advertisement While patience is certainly a virtue, resignation to a dysfunctional transportation system is not. As the worlds wealthiest nation, we can do so much better. If we had a nationwide high-speed rail network, holiday travel would be enjoyable. Instead of driving or flying, you could hop on a high-speed train, zoom across your region with great ease, comfort and peace of mind, and arrive right on time. Not to mention that it would cost less than flying. Americas holiday travel quagmire is a reminder that we are a global laggard when it comes to high-speed rail. In 26 nations across the world, including in emerging economies such as Morocco, high-speed trains collectively carry billions of passengers every year. Meanwhile, the Chinese have built 26,000 miles of high-speed rail since the mid-2000s, and they are just getting started. Advertisement Americas fly-and-drive status quo is reaching its breaking point. Our highways are full and building more of them will not fix the problem of ever-increasing congestion. Widening and building new highways draws ever more cars onto the road, creating a vicious cycle of never-ending road building. As air travel grows, the aviation system, too, is hitting its limits. Communities understandably resist siting major airports in their neighborhoods; we havent built a major airport in 28 years. These low-capacity transportation modes are exceeding their carrying capacity and costing us dearly. Congestion slashed economic growth by $179 billion in 2017 and is expected to cost us $237 billion annually by 2025 according to a 2019 report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. [ F.K. Plous: How Metra could build regional rail in Chicago ] In contrast, electric bullet trains significantly expand the transportation systems carrying capacity. While there are five seats in the average car and 125 seats in the average plane, there are 900 seats in a standard high-speed train. Decades of experience from across the world shows that millions of travelers will opt for high-speed trains instead of flying and driving. We must build an electrified, balanced transportation system fit for the 21st century. Just as the Interstate Highway System was the backbone of our 20th century transportation network, high-speed rail must be the centerpiece of the next system. With robust federal support, we could see the first high-speed trains running in America within the next few years. Thats why the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes $66 billion in funding for passenger rail, presents a unique opportunity to ignite Americas high-speed rail revolution. Two projects are moving steadily toward the finish line. Advertisement Brightline West, a private high-speed rail project running 218 miles between Las Vegas and southern California, is expected to break ground soon. A bipartisan congressional group has written a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of federal funding for Brightline West. If funding is provided, the line is projected to be up and running before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. It is expected to run at speeds up to 200 mph and shift 3 million vehicle trips every year to the electrified train. Meanwhile, Californias High-Speed Rail project is working toward completion of the first 171-mile operating system (out of the total 500-mile-long project) in the fastest growing region of the state by 2030. The worlds first solar-powered bullet train has fresh momentum following California legislative approval last year of $4.2 billion to continue construction in the states Central Valley. Again, federal investments are needed to bring this promising line to completion. Fortunately, high-speed rail is a Biden administration priority, with Buttigieg telling Congress he plans to use funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to demonstrate high-speed rail in two or three geographies. I just dont know why people in other countries ought to have better train service and more investment in high-speed train service than Americans do, Buttigieg said. Secretary Buttigieg is right. And as they languish in traffic jams and crowded airports this Memorial Day weekend, Americans will have plenty of time to reflect on how much they deserve and need high-speed rail. Ray LaHood is a former U.S. secretary of transportation and Illinois congressman, and a co-chair of the U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman The boss of the company behind ChatGPT has said it has no plans to leave Europe. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman U-turned on a threat he made earlier this week to leave the block if it becomes too hard to comply with upcoming laws on artificial intelligence (AI). The EU's planned legislation could be the first to legislate on AI which the tech boss said was "over-regulating". But he backtracked after wide-spread coverage of his comments. "We are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave," he tweeted. The proposed law could require generative AI companies to reveal which copyrighted material had been used to train their systems to create text and images. Many in the creative industries accuse AI companies of using the work of artists, musicians and actors to train systems to imitate their work. But Mr Altman is worried it would be technically impossible for OpenAI to comply with some of the AI Act's safety and transparency requirements, according to Time magazine. At an event at University College London on Wednesday, Mr Altman added he was optimistic AI could create more jobs and reduce inequality. He also met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the heads of AI companies DeepMind and Anthropic to discuss the technology's risks - from disinformation to national security and even "existential threats" - and the voluntary actions and regulation required to manage them. Some experts fear super-intelligent AI systems could threaten humanity's existence. But Mr Sunak said AI could "positively transform humanity" and "deliver better outcomes for the British public, with emerging opportunities in a range of areas to improve public services". AI bosses met the prime minister at No 10 At the G7 summit in Hiroshima, the leaders of the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Canada agreed creating "trustworthy" AI must be "an international endeavour". And before any EU legislation comes into effect, the European Commission aims to develop an AI pact with Google's parent company, Alphabet. International cooperation is vital to regulating AI, according to EU industry chief Thierry Breton, who met with Google chief executive Sundar Pichai in Brussels. "Sundar and I agreed that we cannot afford to wait until AI regulation actually becomes applicable - and to work together with all AI developers to already develop an AI pact on a voluntary basis ahead of the legal deadline," Mr Breton said. Silicon Valley veteran, author and O'Reilly Media founder Tim O'Reilly said the best start would be mandating transparency and building regulatory institutions to enforce accountability. "AI fearmongering, when combined with its regulatory complexity, could lead to analysis paralysis," he said. "Companies creating advanced AI must work together to formulate a comprehensive set of metrics that can be reported regularly and consistently to regulators and the public, as well as a process for updating those metrics as new best practices emerge." GRANT TWP. A 39-year-old man from Cheboygan was arrested this week after an investigation into a domestic assault and strangulation incident. According to the Cheboygan County Sheriffs Department, deputies were dispatched to an assault in progress at 11:43 a.m. on Monday, May 22. The assault was called in by a passing motorist on North Black River Road in Grant Township. Upon arrival, deputies talked with a motorist who stated she observed a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway. A woman passenger exited that vehicle and entered her vehicle stating she was assaulted. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to out local news coverage From the investigation by deputies and evidence gathered, Sheriff Tim Cook saidit appeared the woman was a victim of a domestic assault and strangulation. Further investigation led deputies to a suspect by the name of Joshua Warren Cater, 39, from Cheboygan. Cater had fled the scene, taking the victims vehicle. The victim was treated by Cheboygan Life Support Systems for her injuries. Deputies were able to locate Cater the next day and take him into custody. The Cheboygan County Prosecutor authorized charges of and it is alleged Cater did commit; carjacking, assault to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation, interfering with electronic communications, aggravated domestic violence, domestic violence, malicious destruction of personal property, reckless driving and habitual offender fourth offense notice for previous felony convictions. If convicted, the charges could carry any term of years up to a life sentence. Cater was lodged and a bond set at arraignment of $100,000 cash or surety. Cater did post bond and his next court appearance is set for June 8, 2023. This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan man arrested on assault charges Chefs share 7 of the best and 6 of the worst foods to cook on a grill Some foods come out better on the grill than others. iStock Insider asked chefs to share the best and worst foods to grill. Chefs said corn, tofu, and peaches can taste great when grilled. Grilling tomatoes and flaky fish can be messy and not worth the risk. Corn is one of the easiest things to grill. You may want to soak corn before you grill it. Shutterstock Corn on the cob is simply the perfect vegetable for grilling, according to Erik Pettersen, executive chef and owner of Evo Italian. Grilled corn is very hard to mess up, he said. "I like to grill my corn in the husks, but it's important that you soak them first," Pettersen told Insider. "I leave them soaking for six to eight hours, but 30 minutes is enough." After they've soaked, throw them on the grill and the husk will steam the corn, said Gabriel Rucker, executive chef of Le Pigeon and Canard. It's OK if the outside burns, as the corn will still be fresh and hot inside, he explained. New York strip steak is a good grilling meat for beginners. New York strip steak can develop a nice char. Shutterstock Strip steak is a great meat to work with on the grill, especially if you're a novice home cook, according to Rucker. "New York strip is a very tender cut of steak," Pettersen told Insider. "It's from the short loin of the cow, so it is much easier to cook on the grill than filet mignon." Pettersen said with this cut of meat, cook it for two to three minutes and then rotate it until you achieve the temperature you'd like. Grilled beef short ribs are easy to prepare. You can also season short ribs before grilling them. Shutterstock Short ribs are another type of meat that does well on the grill, according to Salil Mehta, chef and owner of Laut and Laut Singapura. Beef short ribs are great for grilling because they cook quickly and are easy to prepare, Mehta said. Once your ribs are grilled, the fat and the bones add so much natural flavor. Heartier fishes that are firm and flavorful are perfect for charring. You can pair grilled fish with anchovy butter. Shutterstock Heartier fishes, such as mackerel, cook well on the grill, according to Chris Scott, chef at the Institute of Culinary Education. Mackarel skin is especially perfect for charring. "Mackerel is a favorite of mine," Scott said. "I like how it's firm, flavorful, and has a little fishy taste." Tofu soaks up a lot of flavor, making it perfect for grilling. Tofu can be marinated with soy sauce, garlic, and more. Shutterstock If you're vegetarian or vegan, there are a ton of grilling options still available at your disposal. One alternative that does really well on the grill is tofu, Scott said. Tofu can absorb a lot of flavor, he said, and you can use almost anything to marinate such as soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, fresh herbs, and crushed tomatoes. Throw the tofu on the grill, let it get some char and smokiness, and it's ready to go. Grilled tofu is also very versatile. "You can smash it and turn it into a vegetarian Bolognese, or slice it and add more crushed tomato and herbs and have an Italian-style summer tofu salad," Scott told Insider. Some fruits and vegetables, like zucchini squash, onions, and eggplant, do especially well on the grill. Eggplant can develop a nice char. Shutterstock Eggplant, zucchini, squash, and onions grill particularly well, Scott told Insider. When cooking vegetables, Scott said, just make sure you infuse them with flavor before putting them on the grill. This can be done using dried herbs, dry rubs, wet marinades, or brines. Grilled peaches can develop a delicious, smoky flavor. Grilled peaches pair well with ice cream. Shutterstock For a fruity option, marinate and grill peaches, which develop a nice, smoky flavor when grilled. "You can marinate peaches in brandy, brown sugar, and spices (like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice), and put them on the grill with a drip tray underneath," Scott told Insider. "With the juice you caught in the tray, you can reduce it into a smoked peach syrup to use on ice cream." On the other hand, filet mignon can be difficult to grill. Filet mignon won't always cook evenly on a grill. Shutterstock Filet mignon is a very lean cut of beef, so heat control is an issue when grilling, as it's not a sure thing every time, Pettersen said. In place of filet mignon, try grilling up some flank steaks, Scott recommended. He said these grill wonderfully and can handle a lot of heat. The vegetables in shish kebabs sometimes burn easily on the grill. Sometimes vegetables can burn while the meat cooks. Shutterstock Shish kebabs, which usually consist of meats and vegetables on a skewer, can be tricky to cook evenly. Oftentimes the vegetables can get burnt, Pettersen said. "Beware if you try to grill them without a skewer, as they can fall through the grates of the grill when you turn them," Pettersen said. If you still want to break out the skewers, try sticking some shrimp on them instead of beef or chicken, he added. Shrimp is very tender and can cook quickly on a grill. Pork chops are a lean meat, so they can easily dry out on the grill. You may be better off cooking pork chops in an oven. pada smith/Shutterstock Pork chops are typically lean and can dry out quickly. Thin pork chops especially tend to cook too quickly before they have a chance to develop a nice crust on the outside, Pettersen added. If you're craving white meat, you may want to grill chicken instead since it's really versatile and simple to grill. "If you properly marinate chicken, you can ensure a tender, juicy, flavorful dish," Pettersen told Insider. "There's a reason people say chicken is the easiest food to prepare on the planet." Flaky fish can fall through the grill slats. Cod isn't ideal for grilling. Shutterstock A flaky fish, such as flounder or cod, is challenging to grill because it is so delicate, Pettersen told Insider. Because of this, it can easily fall through the grill slats. Scallops are a great alternative if you still want to grill some seafood since grilled scallops are crisp on the outside, yet tender on the inside. "They are also super easy to figure out how long you should cook them," he told Insider. "If scallops are opaque, they are done so simple." Tomatoes are so delicate that they can easily fall apart on a grill. You may want to roast tomatoes instead. Shutterstock Tomatoes are another delicate food that can easily stick to the grill and fall apart, Pettersen told Insider. Instead, Scott said, you may want to grill root vegetables, such as carrots or beets. They're sturdy and they grill best when they're placed on the upper grilling rack, he added. Grilled watermelon can be messy and sort of dry. Watermelon won't be as juicy if you grill it. Shutterstock "For me, watermelon is best enjoyed as nature intended," Mehta told Insider. "When you grill it, the watermelon loses its juiciness and, therefore, has an overpowering smoky flavor." Instead, opt for grilled pineapple slices, which can be used in savory and sweet dishes, Scott said. You can serve grilled pineapple slices with ice cream, pound cake, and whipped cream for a sweeter take, Scott said. Mehta said you can also serve grilled pineapple with sticky rice if you're looking for a more savory option. Read More: Chefs share 5 of the best and 4 of the worst things to do when grilling 8 mistakes you're making when grilling chicken 11 mistakes you're making when grilling steaks 10 simple summer desserts you can make on a grill Read the original article on Insider A cat was recently saved from being stuck in an engine as Cherokee County deputies sprung into action. A Cherokee County deputy was at Northside Cherokee Hospital when he was told that a cat that was trapped in the engine of a parked car. Animal control was notified and the car owner was found in the hospital. Deputies said it took more than 30 minutes to find and save the kitten. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] After opening the hood it took the deputy and animal control officer more than 30 minutes to locate and rescue the kitten. The cat was taken to Cherokee Animal Shelter where officials said it will be checked out and cared for until the owner can be located or until a forever family can be found for the kitten. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Pupils board a bus turned into a travelling classroom in northwest Syria In a dusty Syrian camp for earthquake survivors, school pupils line up and wait for a colourful bus to pull up. Since the disaster hit, they go to a classroom on wheels. School bags on their backs and notebooks in hand, the children took off their shoes before entering the bus, then sat down along rows of desks fitted inside. A teacher greeted them in the mobile classroom, decorated with curtains bearing children's designs, before they broke into a song for their English class. The February 6 quake killed nearly 6,000 people in Syria, many of them in the war-torn country's rebel-held northwest, and also left tens of thousands dead in Turkey. The Syrian town of Jindayris, in Aleppo province near the Turkish border, was among the worst hit, with homes destroyed and school buildings either levelled or turned into shelters. "We were living in Jindayris and the earthquake happened... and then we didn't have homes anymore," said 10-year-old Jawaher Hilal, a light pink headscarf covering her hair. "We came to live here and the school was very far away," said the fifth-grader now staying with her family at the displacement camp on the outskirts of town. As relief services were set up, she told AFP, "the buses came here and we started to study and learn. The buses are really nice, they teach us a lot." The travelling classrooms are a project of the non-profit Orange Organisation and service more than 3,000 children at some 27 camps, said education officer Raad al-Abd. "The mobile classrooms offer educational services as well as psychological support to children who were affected by the quake," he said. - 'Desperate conditions' - More than three months after the quake, 3.7 million children in Syria "continue to face desperate conditions and need humanitarian assistance", says the United Nations children's agency UNICEF. "Almost 1.9 million children have had their education disrupted, with many schools still being used as shelters," it added in a statement this month. In northwest Syria alone, "a minimum of 452 primary and secondary schools" were reportedly damaged to varying degrees, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said weeks ago. "More than 1 million school-aged children need education support and are at risk of being out of school," it said, adding that at least 25,000 teachers are also in need of help, including "mental health and psychosocial support". On another bus, boys and girls enthusiastically interacted with the teacher, balloons hanging from the ceiling, for lessons that included Arabic, math and science. Outside in the bare dirt, children sang in a circle and clapped along with the educators. As the buses left, pulling out through the road running between the camps' tents, adjacent structures and trees, the children yelled out and waved goodbye. Jawaher's father Ramadan Hilal expressed relief and gratitude for the initiative. "After the earthquake there were no more schools or anything else," he said. "Even though they wanted to establish schools, they are far away." str-lg/fz Chimney Cove cant be saved, Hilton Head says. But can the evictions be less painful? Plans to develop long-term apartment rentals have been submitted to the Town of Hilton Head for Chimney Cove, one of few affordable housing complexes available on the island that was at the center of local outcry over failed mass evictions last August. The complexs developer has filed a pre-application detailing plans to turn its short-term apartment units into long-term condominium rentals with luxury amenities called Le Vinage. Almost all of the current 52 short-term apartment units are less expensive than the islands average rent and are used as a housing option for low-income islanders, many employed in the service industry. If the plan goes through, the development will displace nearly 300 people into a market where affordable housing is already scarce. One woman, who asked not to be named for fear of being evicted or be hit with a retaliatory rent increase, said in an interview translated from Spanish that shes constantly on the lookout for a new apartment but hasnt found one that would work. A lone tricycle sits riderless on the sidewalk on May 25, 2023 at Chimney Cove Apartments on Hilton Head Island. The existing owner has submitted plans to redevelop the land into luxury apartments. I want something better for us, but I cant afford it, she said. We have to see. What else can we do? Theyre the owners. The woman said her rent has already been raised since August when most residents found eviction notices taped to their doors. Some families were able to relocate. For others, nothing is available or the rents elsewhere are prohibitively expensive. Im nervous because I dont know what will happen, she said while on the front stoop of her apartment. I have young kids; that affects them in school. The woman said she works hard clearing houses and has never been late on her rent. An ample warning before they would have to leave would make the world of a difference. Saving for a move, including the cost of the first and last months rent plus a deposit, has been weighing on her. Her lease, which is month-to-month, means the possibility of having to move is always looming in the background of her familys day-to-day life. As she watches her grandchild and prepares for her other childs middle school graduation, she worries where will they go? Will the developer uphold its promises? In the pre-application, Wood+Partners Inc., a Hilton Head-based landscape architecture and planning firm, acknowledged that they are acutely aware of the publics reaction to the past developers handling of the current tenants. The plan said theyre committed to provide tenants with long termination notices that occur in phases, but didnt specify what that meant. The woman and other neighbors who spoke with Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reporters Thursday said they had not heard anything about the pre-application proposal nor had they been contacted by the owner of the complex. County records show the land remains owned by California Chimney Cove LLC, registered under Harinder Johal. He and his cousin, Sam Johal, have renovated hotels across Hilton Head Island. The pair declined to speak with reporters after the August 2022 eviction notices were issued, and later rescinded. As of Thursday afternoon, the owners did not respond to an emailed request for comment on this story. The developers also promise to provide solutions for affordable housing, including an affordable housing fee applied to new development. Thats the real crux of it, is there are so few long-term rentals on Hilton Head already to suddenly have dozens and dozens of families all being (moved) out at the same time, competing for the same scarcity of units is just really horrifying, said Sandy Gillis of the Deep Well Project, a nonprofit group that provides food and housing aid to islanders in need. A rendering of the condos the plan proposes Wood+Partners build in Chimney Coves place. Gillis said many leases at Chimney Cove have been raised hundreds of dollars since August to $2,000 for essentially an extended stay hotel. Rent on Hilton Head Island is 84% higher than the national median, according to Zillow, and the median monthly rent is $3,950. According to the towns workforce housing framework, affordable monthly rent for a single person working in food service or accommodations is around $566. Town officials and community leaders said theres little Hilton Head can do to preserve the complex as it exists. However, there is hope the developer will give the residents ample notice and time to find new housing, unlike in August, when they presented nearly 300 residents with eviction notices. Many only received 30 days to find new housing. The eviction notices were printed in English, despite many of Chimney Coves tenants being native Spanish speakers. At the time, Chimney Cove residents told Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reporters they received no notice the property was for sale. The first time they learned it was being sold was when they returned home to find eviction notices pinned to their doors. Backlash from local politicians, community leaders and citizens stopped the evictions temporarily. The plan proposes Wood+Partners build 102 condos in Chimney Coves place. The pre-application is the first step in the building process, and the Town of Hilton Head will hold a public meeting May 30 at 9 a.m. to discuss the project. The 52 units at Chimney Cove, a Hilton Head apartment complex on William Hilton Parkway, is home to nearly 300 residents. On Aug. 12, those residents came home to find eviction notices taped to their doors giving them one month to vacate the property The proposed building will be three floors and accommodate two and three-bedroom units. The plan says they envision a pool, dog park, putting green, and pickleball court. Just the fact that there was a thought and a plan about the current residents is a huge improvement from where we were a year ago, Gillis said. And Pastor June Wilkins, of the Christ Lutheran Church next door, agreed, saying that she wants the tenants to stay on the island and within the community they have forged. My concern is for the people there; Im not sure how this will all end up, Wilkins said. What are officials saying? Ward 5 Councilman Steve Alfred said near the end of 2022, the town approached Johal, the owner, and negotiated to buy the property, but was refused. Mayor Alan Perry confirmed the town made an effort to purchase Chimney Cove after the initial eviction crisis. Failing that, staff has worked since then to compile a database of potential workforce housing properties across the 2,000 acres of town-owned property on Hilton Head. The Chimney Cove emergency last August was a catalyst for the creation of Hilton Heads new workforce housing framework, the towns decision to join the Beaufort and Jasper County Regional Housing Trust, and a plan by SERG Restaurant Group to convert empty office spaces near the islands USCB campus into dormitory and studio housing options. The immediate need is great, and time is not on our side, Perry said at a May 19 forum on affordable housing. A building within Chimney Cove Apartments serves as a direction finder for apartments within the complex as seen on May 25, 2023 on Hilton Head Island. The owner of the property has submitted plans to raise the current buildings and build luxury apartments At that forum, Perry said Hilton Head Regional Medical Center management told him that lack of affordable and workforce housing led to the hospital losing 46 nurses. He also emphasized the housing need to forum attendees by pointing out that his wife, a public school teacher, could not afford to live on Hilton Head if she was trying to move to the island today. In an emergency meeting last September, former island Councilman Bill Harkins predicted that, although the original sale that prompted the mass eviction notices failed, the issue would resurface down the line. Its unfortunate, but we probably all knew it was coming. What weve been doing, since that property is not an option to acquire, is looking at other properties and how to address the workforce housing issue, Perry said. Unfortunately we dont have a lot of information besides that pre-application, and again it is a pre-application, they have not made formal application. Within it, they do say that theyre going to address the people that live at Chimney Cove. I dont know what that entails yet, so theres still a lot to be learned about this proposal. The pricing of the proposed new units remains unknown, and town staff will be able to send feedback on the project after the May 30 pre-application meeting. Some apartments in the Hilton Head and Bluffton area set aside a certain number of their units to serve as affordable or workforce housing, but developers are under no obligation to do so. A drone photo shows an overall view of Chimney Cove Apartments within a canopy of trees as seen on May 25, 2023 on Hilton Head Island Theres no code that requires that, Ward 1 Councilman Alex Brown said. Thats a whole other ball of wax as far as overhauling our land ordinance. ... We need to be readily working on relocation and displacement strategies, and thats not germane just to chimney cove. There are other places on HHI currently supplying folks with housing that is affordable, but unfortunately, with the market the way it is, those could be converted as well. Affordable housing help is coming from the state level, with last weeks passage of Senate Bill 284. The bill allows up to 50% of the towns local accommodations tax revenue to be used for workforce housing projects. School board member Ingrid Boatright represents constituents in District 11, which includes Chimney Cove. If families are asked to leave mid-year, the district wont ask students to change schools as long as they have transportation. If these kids move off the island, in-land, getting them here would be logistically difficult, she said. If students move before the start of the school year, they will go to their normally zoned school unless their guardians request otherwise. Its pretty upsetting, she said. China is flexing its new influence over Russia, keeping Putin waiting to see if he can have a new gas pipeline he desperately needs Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 24, 2023. ALEXANDER ASTAFYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images Russia's prime minister visited China this week, hoping to seal the deal on a new gas pipeline. It didn't work. China is stalling on the project, which Russia needs to help it cope with sanctions. China is using its new leverage over Russia to drive a hard bargain, say analysts. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese President Xi Jinping made a show of unity and defiance at a Beijing summit this week. But under the warm words China is driving a hard bargain and showing the Russians who's boss. Mishustin said Wednesday that Western pressure on Russia and China over the Ukraine war had brought the countries closer together, with relations were "at an unprecedented high level," reported the Associated Press. But analysts say that China is clearly making use of its newfound power over heavily-sanctioned Russia, which needs Chinese investment to mitigate the heavy Western sanctions on its economy. Several Chinese officials and business leaders declined to personally meet Mishustin because he and his aides have been sanctioned by the West over Ukraine, the Russian daily newspaper Vedemosti reported. Openly dealing with sanctioned people carries the risk of being sanctioned themselves a possibility China and its elite have been unwilling to entertain, even while offering some support to Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin. Mishustin also failed in his core mission falling short of getting an explicit agreement from China over a planned gas pipeline the Kremlin wants to build from Siberia to China. The project could boost Russia's ailing economy, and make up for a steep decline in gas revenues after its major European customers pulled back sharply to punish the Kremlin for invading Ukraine. China, say experts, is likely using its new influence to drive a hard bargain over the deal. "As Russia's aggression against Ukraine has turned into a protracted war, Beijing believes that its bargaining position vis-a-vis Moscow can only get stronger," Alicja Bachulska, a China policy expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Financial Times. By delaying finalizing the deal, Bachulska told the FT, China likely believes it can secure lower prices. The wealthy economies in the West have imposed punishing sanctions on Russia over its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, largely cutting off gas exports. But China has declined to criticize the invasion, and has provided the Kremlin with key economic and diplomatic support. It's probably part of a ploy, analysts previously told Insider, to weaken the US, Ukraine's most important international ally and China's biggest global rival. Putin is keen to draw the Russian economy even closer to China in the form of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would transport natural gas from the Yamal Peninsula in Western Siberia to China. Putin last year boasted that the pipeline would replace and have the same capacity as Nord Stream 2, which was to transport around 50 billion cubic metres of gas to Europe annually, before sanctions were imposed and a mysterious act of sabotage ruined the pipeline, The AFP reported. But China is refusing to finalize the deal and explicitly commit to it, instead issuing vague commitments back in March to further research the project, The Moscow Times reported. Russia has few options available as China seeks to squeeze it on prices. "Finding itself at the mercy of a monopsonist buyer, there is very little it can actually do," Sergey Vakulenko, an analyst with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote of Russia in a recent essay. Read the original article on Business Insider China steps up response to US chip moves but economic reality limits how far China has banned the use of Micron's chips in critical infrastructure projects Beijing's restrictions on American chipmaker Micron in retaliation to sweeping US chip curbs mark a major step up in its response to Washington's pressure and could open the door for further measures in the geopolitical standoff, analysts say. But they warned President Xi Jinping's ability to raise the stakes will be limited as he battles to re-energise the world's number two economy while it struggles to recover from years of zero-Covid-imposed inertia. China on Sunday banned the use of Micron's chips in critical infrastructure projects, which Beijing said posed "major network security risks" that could affect "national security". Washington expressed "serious concerns" over the ruling that came just as leaders of the world's seven richest nations (G7) signed a statement urging Beijing to end "economic coercion". The move marked a significant shift in China's response to US measures that have targeted the country's technology sector, with Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis who specialises in the global chip trade, calling it "a landmark case". He emphasised it was China's first cybersecurity probe into a foreign company since tighter rules were announced in 2021, and a rare instance when the scope of such reviews was expanded to include national security concerns. "I wouldn't be surprised if regulators used these reviews as a tool for retaliation in future" when faced with other geopolitical issues, he said. Emily Weinstein, a research fellow at Georgetown University specialising in the US-China tech rivalry, added that the definition of what fell under "critical information infrastructure" was very broad -- ranging from online government services and defence to healthcare and water conservation. "Technically that could mean that anything qualifies," she said. "China has consistently found national security or other reasons to create protectionist barriers" including mandatory technology transfer agreements, which require companies to store all data locally and requirements for foreign entities to have joint ventures with local partners in several sectors. - 'Fuel to this fire' - China began an investigation into Micron in late March, five months after the US unveiled sweeping curbs aimed at cutting off Beijing's access to high-end chips, chipmaking equipment and software used to design semiconductors. "This is clearly part of a tit-for-tat retaliation for what Beijing perceives as Washington's support of Micron and the US semiconductor industry," said Paul Triolo, a China tech expert at consultancy Albright Stonebridge. Micron was singled out to make a political statement, Triolo said, adding that previous cybersecurity reviews of domestic firms, such as ride-hailing app Didi, focused on data instead of broadening the scope to include national security. Washington has banned Chinese chipmakers including Micron rival Yangtze Memory Technologies. The announcement came as the G7 nations said they would move to "de-risk, not decouple" from China, while Washington pressures allies to unite in restricting chip equipment exports to China. "The strong statement from G7 may have added fuel to this fire," Ng said. However, Xi's desire to combat what he sees as US hegemony will need to be balanced against the impact such measures would have on the economy. According to analysts, Micron -- one of the US's largest memory chipmakers -- was an easy target because its semiconductors could be replaced by products from South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung. But restrictions against other US firms such as Intel and Qualcomm would be much harder to deal with because their technologies are used in consumer goods, including smartphones, that are made in the country and shipped abroad. - Betting on South Korea - "The approach of limiting US firms like Micron intends to send a signal that Beijing is willing to bear some pain as it contests with the US," Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said. "But Beijing is quite careful to limit costs to itself," he said, according to Bloomberg News. The ban will come down particularly hard on companies offering cloud services or data centres because they use hardware that requires high-end memory chips, according to Toby Zhu, an analyst at market research firm Canalys. He told AFP that Micron's consumer goods products are "completely replaceable" by South Korean and domestic memory chip suppliers. And Triolo said Beijing was "betting on switching to South Korean suppliers". However, the White House last month urged South Korean chipmakers not to export to China to fill any gap left by a ban on US semiconductor imports. The Netherlands and Japan have already announced their own restrictions on chip exports, following requests from Washington. Ng added: "China has been quite cautious not to retaliate too much... because Beijing can't ramp up domestic capacity quickly to match any shortfall." prw/je/dan/mca/cwl By David Lawder and Liz Lee DETROIT/BEIJING (Reuters) -U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao traded barbs on trade, investment and export policies in talks on Thursday described by Raimondo's office as "candid and substantive." Their meeting in Washington was the first U.S.-China cabinet-level exchange in months, after a string of trade and national security irritants derailed plans for re-engagement between the world's two largest economies. "The two had candid and substantive discussions on issues relating to the U.S.-China commercial relationship, including the overall environment in both countries for trade and investment and areas for potential cooperation," the Commerce Department said in a statement. "Secretary Raimondo also raised concerns about the recent spate of PRC (People's Republic of China) actions taken against U.S. companies operating in the PRC," the statement added. Wang raised key concerns about U.S. policies toward China, including on semiconductors, export controls and reviews of foreign investments, a Chinese Commerce Ministry statement said. Both sides agreed to establish and maintain open communication channels, with Raimondo's office saying that would help "responsibly manage the relationship." China's Commerce Ministry said the communications would allow exchanges on specific economic trade concerns and cooperation matters. Wang is also expected to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on the sidelines of an APEC trade ministers meeting in Detroit that wraps up on Friday. U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged more frequent communications at a G20 summit in Indonesia last November to avoid U.S.-China tensions from spilling into a new Cold War. But those plans suffered several setbacks, starting with the downing of a Chinese spy balloon in U.S. coastal waters. These irritants continued through last Sunday, when G7 leaders pledged to resist China's "economic coercion" and Beijing responded by declaring U.S. memory chip maker Micron Technology a national security risk, banning its sales to key domestic industries. The ban followed a series of raids on American consultancies in China. On Monday, Wang met representatives of American firms in Shanghai, including Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Dow, Merck, and Honeywell, according to the Ministry of Commerce, telling them that "China will continue to welcome U.S.-funded enterprises to develop in China and achieve win-win results". China has complained about the growing number of U.S. export restrictions on advanced semiconductors and other high technology goods that could have military applications and security reviews that discourage Chinese investment in the United States. Wang's trip to the U.S. comes after Group of Seven (G7) leaders met in Hiroshima, at which U.S. President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders took aim at China over "economic coercion" and said they would "de-risk" without "decoupling" from the world's second-largest economy in everything from chips to minerals. Raimondo, Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have all expressed interest in visiting China. (Reporting by David Lawder in Detroit, Liz Lee and Joe Cash in Beijing;Editing by William Maclean, Robert Birsel and Gerry Doyle) Chinas special representative on Eurasian affairs Li Hui is set to travel to Moscow Friday to meet with top Kremlin officials to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, though Western officials remain dubious when it comes to Beijings neutrality in the matter. China has come under international scrutiny for its refusal to condemn Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine that began more than 15 months ago, though Beijing turned heads earlier this year when it released a 12-step peace plan for restoring calm in Eastern Europe, which one expert described as lacking "any real substance." "I'm not optimistic, for a variety of reasons, that this is going to actually result in any kind of meaningful peace proposal," Heino Klinck, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia and military attache to China, told Fox News Digital. CHINA INSISTS IT IS IMPARTIAL ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE, QUESTIONS US 'POURING WEAPONS INTO THE CONFLICT' Ukraine has flatly rejected any attempts to broker a deal with Russia if it involves conceding any territory, including Crimea, which Russia has illegally occupied since 2014. Additionally, Klinck argued that Kyiv is unlikely to be willing to negotiate with Moscow at all while its forces remain on Ukrainian territory. "It took 14 months since the beginning of the war for [Chinese President] Xi Jinping to actually speak with President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy telephonically," the China expert said. "While in that same 14-month period there were like 20 some odd high level meetings between the Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), including Xi actually traveling to Moscow for a three-day summit. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "I don't see how the People's Republic of China can be viewed as unbiased," he added. Klinck also said the man Beijing has selected to oversee the peace negotiations has dubious diplomatic objectivity as Li served as Chinas ambassador to Moscow for a decade until 2019. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Moscow, March 21, 2023. RUSSIA, CHINA COZY UP AS MILITARY POWERS THREATEN 'THE EXISTING ORDER,' OFFICIAL WARNS Li traveled to Ukraine earlier this month as the highest-ranking official from China to visit the war-torn country since the invasion began, though it is unclear what he accomplished during his two-day trip. The special envoy met with top Ukrainian officials like Zelenskyy and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba. Though Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Webin noted after the trip concluded that "there is no remedy to resolve the crisis," reported The Associated Press. Ukrainian soldiers ride atop an armored fighting vehicle at an unknown location in eastern Ukraine. "All parties should create favorable conditions and accumulate mutual trust for the political settlement," he added. But Klinck pointed out that Beijing doesnt necessarily have a vested interest in ending the war, but rather it is instead looking to improve its own international standing. "I think what the Chinese are trying to do is largely self-serving. They're trying to establish themselves on the international stage as some sort of peace broker," Klinck explained, noting that they have had some success in brokering peace deals in the Middle East. "I do not think they're going to find the same level of success between Ukraine and Russia." "I think what the Chinese have found, what Xi Jinping has found, is that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has tarnished China's image internationally. The Chinese are now trying from a public diplomacy perspective trying to repair that image," Klinck added. Chris Jarosz, 55, was well-known in the capital regions restaurant community. Jarosz died early Wednesday morning when his SUV crashed into a parked work truck in the freeway construction zone along Highway 50 in East Sacramento. He was the co-owner of Broderick Roadhouse, Anonimo Pizza and Bones Craft Kitchen. One of three children, Jarosz was born in Massachusetts in 1968, the Sacramento News and Review reported in a 2017 profile. He came to Sacramento in 2000, and his wife and three daughters helped support him through 2008s recession. He also owned Localis, Saddle Rock and Wicked Wich food truck at various points. He sold Localis in the late 2010s. The midtown restaurant earned a Michelin star last year. He almost resuscitated Oak Park Brewing Co. in 2019. In 2018, he was sued by Melissa Sanchez, who founded and operates Harvest Law Group. Sanchez said Jarosz and two associated companies defrauded Sanchez following her sale of two restaurants to Jarosz. Broderick Roadhouse Broderick opened in West Sacramento in 2012. It started as a food truck and quickly expanded to locations in midtown Sacramento, West Sacramento, Carmichael, Roseville and Walnut Creek. Jarosz was evicted from the midtown location in 2022. He said decided to move on from the space instead of fight his landlord, Robert Clippinger, in court. Broderick became a handful of ghost kitchens during the pandemic. It was a Jewish deli, a cheesesteak post and a Cajun-inspired sandwich shop. The Johnny Cash Burger is a popular menu item with applewood-smoked bacon and fried onion strings. Anonimo Pizza Anonimo Pizza on 12th Street in Alkali Flat opened early 2022. It is the hippest of Jaroszs big three restaurant spots he leaves behind, according to The Bees food reporter, Benjy Egel. This is due to a sleek combination of graffiti art, copper-colored tables and throwback hip-hop music. Pizzas are not served by individual slice but somewhere between New York and Neapolitan styles, thin and cheese-covered beauties with a good amount of flop. With no traditional style direction, Egel said it is free to create inventive variations. Were really trying to not just be a great pizza option for Sacramento, but (to) really produce some of the best pizza anywhere, Jarosz said in 2022. I always wanted to be in pizza. I never thought I was going to be (owning) a burger joint. Bones Craft Kitchen Bones Craft Kitchen, located on D Street in Davis, opened summer 2022. It specializes in burgers, sandwiches and shareable plates such as Gorgonzola oyster mushroom fries. It opened as a sister restaurant to Broderick and Anonimo, according to Jarosz at the time, but cooks would source from the Davis Farmers Market to make healthier, possibly vegan options than the burger joint. I always thought Davis was such an amazing little town with a really great international foodie audience, Jarosz told The Bee a year ago. There are so many different cultures being celebrated here and theres access to an amazing farmers market ... theres a million reasons why Davis is a good spot for the future. Circus is in town for the summer with new Exploration Place exhibit opening Friday Theres no need to run away to join the circus. The circus in the form of a science-focused exhibition is coming to town for the whole summer. Circus! Science Under the Big Top will open Friday, May 26, and run through Sept. 4 at Exploration Place. Billed as showing the science behind the spectacle, Circus! includes attractions where visitors can guess Who Dung-it? in a display of faux feces, discover the psychology behind circus sounds, and learn about circus music maestros. One display will show how the brain lights up when it experiences humor, while another will allow visitors to enjoy the smells of carnival food. Theres even a sideshow tent with some interactive displays. During a pre-opening tour, Daniel Bateman, exhibits and program manager for Exploration Place, demonstrated how visitors can test their strength against the Mighty Atom strongman and get a reading on how strong they are, starting from the Tiny Terror level. In another area of the tent, an X-ray display shows the pathway of the sword in Countess Vanessas sword-swallowing act. Visitors can even try to contort their bodies to fit into an acrylic box (probably best left to the smaller, more flexible folks). In another immersive display, kids can dress up in costumes ranging from circus animals to ringmasters. There also will be two harnessed attractions, available on a first-come, first-served limited basis. Visitors can try out a high wire act 9 feet in the air or get the sense of being a trapeze artist with the use of bungee cords and a trampoline. Tickets to participate in the harnessed attractions will be available at a kiosk in the exhibit. Only six passes for each attraction will be available for each 30-minute time slot and will be handed out at the top of each hour. The minimum required height to participate is 46 inches, and the maximum weight allowance is 250 pounds for the elastic acrobatics act and 400 pounds for the high wire act. Closed-toe, tight-fitting shoes are required on the high wire act. To ensure participant safety, a dedicated crew has been hired to go through safety protocols and run the harnessed attractions, Bateman said. If you dont get a chance to try out the high wire, theres a display where you can test your balance as if you were walking across a tightrope. Its something everyone, no matter their size, height, shape or weight, can try, Bateman said. The Circus! exhibition was created more than 20 years ago by the Ontario Science Center in Canada and has since traveled across North America and to parts of Asia, said Mike Chisholm, project manager with the Ontario Science Center, who oversaw the installation at Exploration Place this week. All information panels on the displays appear in both English and French, Canadas two official languages. To go along with the theme of the exhibit, Exploration Place has scheduled four nights of an interactive showing of The Greatest Showman, the 2017 film starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, founder of the famous traveling Barnum & Bailey Circus. The film showings at 7 p.m. June 8, 15, 22 and 29 will include performances by local music artist and former American Idol contestant McKayla Stacey. Tickets are $18. A second exhibition will also open on Friday at Exploration Place, along with Circus! Pixel Palace, an in-house created exhibit that will run through Oct. 22, uses the advanced technology of motion sensors, touch screens and projection displays to create an immersive game room experience. The exhibit includes an Everbright wall, a sort of high-tech version of a Lite Brite display that has dials that can be turned to different colors, rather than lighted pegs. The wall will eventually be put on permanent display elsewhere in Exploration Place, Bateman said. Circus! Science Under Big Top exhibit Where: Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd. When: Friday-Sept. 4; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily with extended hours until 8 p.m. Thursdays Admission: $12 for ages 12-64, $10 for ages 3-11 and 65 and older, free for members and ages 2 and under for exhibits only. Budget tip: Kansas families with kids in pre-K through 12th grade can visit for free by using the one-time visit All Access Pass available through the Sunflower Summer app, which is funded through the states education department. The program allows up to two accompanying adults to visit for free too. The program runs through Aug. 13 or until funding runs out. More info: 316-660-0600 or exploration.org The Supreme Court just gutted clean water protections. Clarence Thomas suggested it didn't go far enough. Clarence Thomas in 2008. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Supreme Court rolled back the Environmental Protection Agency's power in a Thursday ruling. In a concurring opinion, Clarence Thomas suggested he'd further gut its authority. The conservative-led high court has been putting more restrictions on federal regulators' power. The Supreme Court on Thursday slashed the Environmental Protection Agency's power to protect bodies of water from pollution but Justice Clarence Thomas thinks the Court could have gone further in cutting the agency's authority. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, scaled back what types of bodies of water the EPA can claim to regulate under the Clean Water Act. The case involved an Idaho couple who sued the agency after they were threatened with thousands in fines for filling in water near a lake. But Clarence Thomas said the EPA was overstepping its authority. In a concurrent opinion pushing for even less regulatory power, Thomas and Justice Neil Gorsuch said their Supreme Court colleagues narrowly ruled about what the term "waters" means, but not the scope of the EPA's powers. "I write separately to pick up where the Court leaves off," he said. "The Court's opinion today curbs a serious expansion of federal authority that has simultaneously degraded States' authority and diverted the Federal Government from its important role as guarantor of the Nation's great commercial water highways into something resembling 'a local zoning board.' But, wetlands are just the beginning of the problems raised by the agencies' assertion of jurisdiction in this case," Thomas wrote. Thomas suggested the Constitution's Commerce Clause, which has been used to justify Congress and the federal government's power to regulate, is being used too broadly. The conservative-dominated Supreme Court has been limiting federal powers: Last June, it rolled back the EPA's ability to regulate carbon emissions. Thomas may soon get a chance to scale back federal power not just for the EPA, but for all regulatory agencies. The Court is set to reconsider a ruling that could overturn the Chevron Doctrine, a previous Supreme Court ruling that defers power to federal agencies when the exact meaning of the law is unclear. Read the original article on Business Insider Columbus man gets at least 12 years for fatal shooting outside gun show at Westland Mall. The exterior of the closed Westland Mall in an April file photo. Javontae Williams, now 19, pleaded guilty Thursday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification in the Sept. 20, 2020 shooting death of 21-year-old Sage Martin after Martin left a gun show inside the now-closed Westland Mall. A 17-year-old who fatally shot a man outside a gun show at the former Westland Mall is now an adult and facing 12 years in prison. Javontae K. Williams, 19, of the South Side, pleaded guilty Thursday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification in the 2020 death of 21-year-old Sage Martin. Franklin County prosecutors dropped murder charges under a plea agreement. Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Lynch sentenced Williams to an indefinite prison term of 12 years to 16 years. At the time he fatally shot Martin on Sept. 20, 2020, Williams was supposed to be home under house arrest for an unrelated charge in juvenile court of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, prosecutors say. Past reporting: Teenager charged with fatal shooting of man at former Westland Mall Sage Martin Columbus police homicide detectives say Martin exited the gun show at the former mall around 3:45 p.m. that day and came under fire as he went into the parking lot. Williams then got out of a vehicle, walked up to Martin and shot him again while standing over him, detectives said. According to court records, a relative of Martin's told detectives that the two men had issues in the past. Detectives used that info to present photographs to a witness, who identified Williams as the shooter. Williams' defense attorney could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon after the plea. More court news: Wigs and guns: Franklin County bailiff who worked in Scottish courts talks differences More court news: Prosecutor says witnesses told police that 13-year-old Sinzae Reed fired first at Krieg Butler jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: S. Side man takes plea in fatal shooting outside Westland Mall gun show Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship explodes minutes after launch on April 20. As good a metaphor for his hosting of Ron DeSantis' presidential announcement on Twitter as you could find (Eric Gay / Associated Press) I was taking my customary siesta Wednesday afternoon when I was jolted awake by the sound of a truck straining to go uphill. Come to discover that I had my computer tuned to Elon Musk's Twitter, where Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was struggling to get out the official announcement of his candidacy for president. The noise turned out to be Musk trying to get the thing to work in real time, amid feedback, weird musical interludes and long stretches of silence. Scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Pacific time, it finally got going on Twitter Spaces, an audio-only application on the platform, about 18 minutes late. I listened, so you don't have to. You're welcome. As he struggled to resolve repeated glitches in Twitter Spaces, Musk and the moderator, a Musk acolyte named David Sacks, kept trying to assert that the technical screw-up was, in fact, a triumph brought about by the large audience. (Sacks claimed that more than 300,000 users had logged in.) "We are melting the servers, which is a good sign," Sacks said early on. You can't have a free society unless we have the freedom to debate the most important issues that are affecting our civilization. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been trying to punish Walt Disney Co. for speaking out against his education law This reminded many listeners of the claim by SpaceX, another Musk venture, that its April 20 launch of a prototype rocket, which ended with the vehicle exploding in flight four minutes after liftoff, was a success. Never mind that the launch destroyed the launchpad, showered a neighboring community with debris and prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to mount a major investigation. Once it got underway, the Twitter event unfolded as a love fest between DeSantis and Musk. The general theme was what my mother used to describe as "I like me, who do you like?" It's hard to say whose reputation was shredded more by the fiasco. DeSantis' claim to be a politician in Donald Trump's mold, but smart and competent, may not survive the decision to stage his most important political coming-out on an audio-only feed streamed on a platform that appeals increasingly only to a shrinking, ideologically homogeneous base of right-wingers. A politician with his eyes on the White House should know by instinct that his task is to expand his base, not narrow it. As for Musk's reputation as a smart herder of engineers, that's been waning since he bought Twitter last year and hollowed out its technical staff. But his assertions that he could cut manpower costs without affecting the platform's performance were conclusively refuted Wednesday. Twitter Spaces crashed because of an audience that was tiny compared with those that other platforms such as YouTube handle without glitches. And whose idea was it to launch this event without adequate testing in advance, anyway? Musk and DeSantis praised each other for their dedication to free speech, and Sacks brought on several right-wing sophists to add their voices. They included Jay Bhattacharya, one of the drafters of the Great Barrington Declaration, which, as I reported this week, advocated letting the COVID-19 virus run rampant through the population in quest of the elusive goal of "herd immunity" at the cost of hundreds of thousands of American lives. Another was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), whose claim to fame on a national scale was issuing a Christmas tweet in 2021 showing himself, his wife and their five kids brandishing assault weapons. "Santa, pls bring ammo," the tweet read. (In December 2021, there were 39 mass shootings in the U.S., taking 36 lives and wounding 160.) DeSantis said Florida was safer than blue-state cities, where "you got kids more likely to get shot than to receive a first-class education." A reminder: One of the worst school shootings in American history took place in Parkland, Fla., in February 2018, when 17 people were killed and 17 wounded. In April, DeSantis signed a law allowing Floridians to carry guns without a permit. It would be wrong to say there weren't some lighthearted moments during the Twitter event. Unfortunately for DeSantis, the best joke came from President Biden: While Musk was struggling to get the event launched, Biden posted a tweet that read, "This link works," pointing to a fundraising site for the Biden-Harris campaign. If you were looking for policy prescriptions from the freshly minted candidate, you didn't hear anything new. Put it this way: If you were at a party where you had to down a shot of whiskey every time DeSantis uttered the word "woke," you were reduced to insensibility within 10 or 20 minutes. If the drinking game included a shot when DeSantis took a shot at "the legacy media," you may have needed to get your stomach pumped. Other than that, it was a festival of cynical lies and rank hypocrisies uttered by DeSantis. He spoke up for free speech and open debate, for instance. "People should be exposed to different viewpoints," he said. "You can't have a free society unless we have the freedom to debate the most important issues that are affecting our civilization." This is the guy who has waged a ferocious battle with Walt Disney Co. because Disney had spoken out against his "Don't Say Gay" law, which stifles the teaching of gender issues in the schools. When Sacks primed him with a question about the fight with Disney, DeSantis replied, "We believe jamming gender ideology in elementary school is wrong; Disney obviously supported injecting gender ideology in elementary school." He added that Disney's "corporate culture had really been outed as trying to inject matters of sex into the programming for the youth." One doesn't have to be a fan of Disney to see that as fatuous claptrap. DeSantis also dismissed accusations that Florida is a hotbed of book-banning as "a hoax." All his administration has done, he said, has been "to empower parents with the ability to review the curriculum, to know what books are being used in school." That's one way of looking at it. The right way is to observe that he's empowered a tiny cadre of reactionary activists to force books they don't like off the shelves of Florida schools. As the Washington Post reported Wednesday, a majority of the complaints about schoolbooks nationwide have come from just 11 complainants. Florida ranks second among the states in the number of schoolbook challenges, after Texas. By the way, one of the Republican toadies DeSantis appointed to the board created to oversee Disney's development district (as part of his retaliation against the company) is Bridget Ziegler, co-founder of the right-wing censorship-happy organization Moms for Liberty. When Bhattacharya came online, DeSantis took the opportunity to boast about his success against the COVID pandemic. The truth is that Florida's record is one of abject, lethal failure. Florida's COVID death rate of 411 per 100,000 population is the 10th worst in the nation. DeSantis has appointed Bhattacharya to a state panel investigating federal COVID policy. DeSantis claimed to have based his COVID policies on his determination to "look at the data. ... There was a concerted effort to try to stifle dissent." This can be interpreted only as some kind of gag. DeSantis installed a COVID crackpot, Joseph Ladapo, as Florida's surgeon general. Ladapo has promoted useless anti-COVID nostrums such as ivermectin, and counseled against the COVID vaccines. "Looking at the data"? As the Tampa Bay Times has reported, based on official state documents, Ladapo deliberately removed data from an official state report on the vaccines that contradicted his claim that the vaccines were unsafe for young men; in fact, studies show that the vaccines are far safer for them than being infected by the virus. The event ended with a paean by Musk and DeSantis to cryptocurrency, which is tantamount to enticing innocent small investors into immolating their nest eggs in a scam. "We should do it again," DeSantis said in closing the feed. "We'll make sure that we come back and do it again. This is a great platform." We shall see. The next DeSantis appearance on Twitter could be just as buggy, or worse. All that we can be sure of is that whatever happens, Elon Musk will deem it a great success. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Tuesdays confrontation near WinCo Foods was a gang-related shootout that wounded a man, said Kennewick police. It was an exchange of gunfire between two cars on Clearwater Avenue, according to updated information released Wednesday afternoon. The wounded man showed up at a local hospital a short time later. He was treated and released the same day. Then, he was arrested. John Salinas, 37, is being held on investigation of drive-by shooting and first-degree illegal gun possession. A 16-year-old remains jailed at the Juvenile Justice Center in Kennewick facing possible first-degree assault charges. His name was not released. The shooting happened on the busy business district just before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Detectives learned by watching security camera video and talking to witnesses that people in two cars opened fire at each other near the intersection with Union Street. No one had gotten out of their vehicles. The two cars then drove away in different directions. A short time later, emergency officials were called to a hospital after someone showed up with a bullet wound. Then about 3 p.m., police arrested the 16-year-old on the 4200 block of West Albany Street. Police said it remains an active investigation and anyone with information on the incident is asked to call authorities. A 22-year-old woman from Connecticut lost her leg Wednesday in a shark attack while visiting Turks and Caicos. The unidentified woman and a friend were snorkeling in the water outside a resort near the Leeward Marina on the island of Providenciales when she was bitten by a shark, according to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. A resort employee who witnessed the attack called the police on Wednesday afternoon to request ambulance assistance. According to the employee, the shark had bitten off the womans leg. According to police, the victim remains hospitalized in serious condition at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre. A resort spokesperson told NBC News that the woman was not a guest, and that the incident has nothing to do with the resort or the marina. Our understanding is that she was the guest of another resort and the client of a boat excursion company, neither of which we are affiliated with nor located near, spokesperson Stephanie Mack told the outlet. Shark attacks are often covered sensationally by media worldwide, sparking fear in swimmers and surfers despite such incidences remaining a rare sight. Scientists say there are usually between 70 and 80 unprovoked shark bites annually around the world for the last decade. There were only 57 unprovoked bites last year, five of which were fatal, according to the University of Floridas International Shark Attack File. There were nine such deaths the year prior. The file said that one reason for the lower number of bites could be the global decline of shark populations. Despite reports of shark attacks, scientists say it is absolutely still safe to swim in the water. A person is at greater risk of getting hurt in a car accident on the way to the beach than they are to get seriously injured by a shark bite, according to The Associated Press. Scientists advised the outlet that beachgoers should take simple precautions like not carrying shiny objects into the water and not swimming at dawn and dusk. We are intruders in their environment. What we can do is be logical and safe about that and avoid areas where sharks are going to be feeding, James Sulikowski, director of Oregon State Universitys Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, told AP. When an interaction occurs, its mistaken identity we are in an area where a shark is looking to eat, he said. WASHINGTON Hard-line conservative Republicans are anxious about a possible deal between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and President Joe Biden that would avert a catastrophic debt default. The arrangement would raise the governments debt ceiling through next year, depriving Republicans of another chance to take it hostage before 2024. They want to move it past the presidential election, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, told HuffPost on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Norman and others in his party said theyd just heard that negotiators were leaning toward a larger debt ceiling increase than Republicans previously supported in exchange for unspecified spending cuts. Earlier this month, the House passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act, a Republican bill that would have cut federal spending, imposed so-called work requirements on federal safety net programs, and allowed the Treasury Department to continue borrowing money until next spring. The bill would lift the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, 2024, whichever comes first. I am concerned about rumors to the effect and I havent read or seen anything yet but rumors that we may have some sort of a deal in place that would raise the debt limit for more than what was called for in Limit, Save, Grow for a whole lot less in return, said Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.). If that were true, that would absolutely collapse the Republican majority for this debt ceiling increase. Later on Thursday, Freedom Caucus members sent a letter to McCarthy calling the larger proposed debt ceiling hike outrageous and urging the speaker to make new demands for tougher border policy. The letter also suggested a stopgap bill combining spending cuts and a brief postponement of the debt ceiling deadline. The Freedom Caucus has always insisted that it would accept nothing less than Limit, Save, Grow even though for an eventual deal to become law, it would have to be acceptable to the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House. The complaints from the Freedom Caucus, as well as worries among progressives, suggest that a more moderate deal may in fact be taking shape. Negotiations appeared to be making progress ahead of a looming June 1 deadline to lift the debt ceiling, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told reporters that the issues are narrowing. The federal government could default on its debts if lawmakers fail to reach a deal, an outcome that would risk shaking the financial system and pushing the economy into a recession. Norman and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said they heard McCarthys negotiators were now considering an increase of more than $3 trillion, and it wasnt clear to them that Republicans were getting enough on work requirements or spending cuts in return. Its idiotic for him for anybody to consider anything [other] than what we have, Norman said. Roy said his antenna is up over the deal lacking transformative, substantive fiscal reforms necessary to raise the debt ceiling $4 trillion. Meanwhile, conservatives in the Senate also seemed spooked about an emerging deal. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) threatened to block expedited passage of any agreement that didnt include substantial spending cuts. I will use every procedural tool at my disposal to impede a debt-ceiling deal that doesnt contain substantial spending and budgetary reforms, Lee tweeted Thursday. I fear things are moving in that direction. If they do, that proposal will not face smooth sailing in the Senate. Any single senator can force a lengthy debate and additional votes on the floor, so Lees threat could potentially lead the U.S. over the brink and into default if the Senate doesnt act by June 1. Moreover, the House has yet to vote on anything, and GOP leadership has promised to give members 72 hours to review a deal before putting it on the floor. In another sign that a bipartisan agreement may be close, progressives are also getting angsty about leaked negotiation details, including one possible idea to claw back additional funding for the Internal Revenue Service as Republicans had demanded. According to a report by The Associated Press, the IRS funding, which Democrats passed last year so the agency could go after wealthy tax cheats, would instead be shifted to other domestic programs. In case anyone had doubts about Republicans priorities, at the 11th hour before a catastrophic default, theyre making a last ditch effort to help rich people cheat on their taxes, tweeted Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore,), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, in response to the AP report. The project coordinator of Bostons Reparations Task Force has been fired after he was arrested last week inside City Hall for trespassing and resisting arrest, police and city officials said. Boston police officers were called to City Hall around 9:40 p.m. on Thursday after City Hall Municipal Police reported that they had an employee in custody that they needed to be removed, according to a police report. The employee, later identified as 35-year-old George Williams, was said to be caught trespassing in an upstairs office. Director of Municipal Protective Services, Steven Tankle, told Boston officers that his team had been having issues with Williams for three weeks, with him trespassing in the building after hours, and at times becoming aggressive and threatening other staff members inside of City Hall, the report stated. Responding officers also learned that Williams had been found on multiple occasions sleeping in office rooms that didnt belong to him after bypassing metal detectors and security. The police report indicated that Williams often became verbally aggressive and refused to leave. Municipal officers also reportedly grew concerned about Williams behavior of burning sage inside of the building in small spaces due to the fire hazard it posed. On that Thursday evening, police said that Williams was non-verbal when he was found laying down in an office with sage burning. He allegedly gained access to the room after chasing off a cleaning worker, who later expressed fear about the encounter. Williams, who officers suspected to be under the influence of drugs, refused to leave the room and lunged at an officer, according to the report. He then continued to ignore requests to vacate the premises, picked up a dustpan and broom, and started to clean the room. When an officer tried to intervene, Williams allegedly shoved the pan into the officers chest and swept debris on his shoes and pants. After continuing to ignore requests to leave, officers ultimately de-escalated the situation by using a wrist lock on Williams, who allegedly resisted arrested and rushed at a Boston police sergeant. Williams was later taken in for booking, where he was cooperative. In a statement, a city spokesperson said, George Williams was a part-time contractor. His contract has been terminated. We remain committed to the work of the Reparations Task Force and that work will continue. A bio that has since been pulled off the citys website stated that Williams is from Dorchester and a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta. He later when on to train as a social demographer on the Boulder campus of the University of Colorado. The Reparations Task Force was established through a 2022 City Council ordinance and appointed by Mayor Michelle Wu. The Force was assembled to focus on working with research partners to release a study on the legacy of slavery in Boston and its impact on descendants today, as well as engaging the community throughout the process, and providing recommendations to Wus office for reparative justice solutions for Black residents. Williams is charged out of Boston Municipal Court. An investigation remains ongoing. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW COP28 President, is currently head of the country's state oil company Adnoc The UK government has defended the United Arab Emirates' appointment of oil executive Sultan al-Jaber as head of this year's UN COP28 climate summit. It comes after more than 130 lawmakers from the US and EU wrote to the UN calling for his removal. The UN has long been criticised for the involvement of the fossil fuel industry in the COP climate summits. On Thursday, Minister for Net Zero Graham Stuart said Jaber was "an outstanding individual". Every year the host country for the global climate summit, known as COP, nominates a president. As well as organising the event they provide political leadership, heading up critical negotiations on climate action in the run up to, and during, the conference. This year the hosts, the UAE, nominated Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, the head of the state oil company, as president of the summit, which starts in Dubai in November. Campaigners have been growing increasingly vocal against this decision, and this week 133 lawmakers from the EU and US joined the call for his removal. In a joint letter addressed to the United Nations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden, the lawmakers expressed their "profound concern" that the fossil fuel industry was allowed to exert influence on the talks. But Mr Stuart, during a news conference on Thursday, defended the decision of the UAE. Speaking at an environmental technology conference, he said: "I think he is an outstanding individual and we look forward to working with the UAE to ensure COP28 is a success and gets more countries committing to the necessary emissions reductions." Mr Stuart also defended Jaber's track record at ADNOC, the UAE state oil company, saying that he was cleaning up their operations and reducing emissions. Any emissions from the production of oil are dwarfed by the emissions produced when it is used. But the emissions from using oil products like petrol are the responsibility of the country where they are used The UAE is one of the 10 largest oil producers in the world. Their state oil company pumped 2.7 million barrels of oil per day in 2021, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec). The company aims to expand to nearly double output to five million barrels per day by 2027 - a target date brought forward from 2030 two months ago by Jaber. Zeina Khalil Hajj, head of global campaigning for 350.org, one of the groups calling for his removal, said: "It is the equivalent of appointing the CEO of a cigarette company to oversee a conference on cancer cures." In ten days countries will come together for the Bonn climate conference - the halfway point to COP28 which is used to reflect on progress in reaching climate targets. There are suggestions that these talks will be used to reflect on the involvement of polluting industries, like oil companies, in the talks. Once he stood beside people accused of crimes, representing them in their time of trial. But on Thursday, Cory Fleming a once-respected criminal defense lawyer from Beaufort and close friend of now-convicted double-murderer Alex Murdaugh stood in front of a federal judge and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a scheme involving the theft of $4.3 million. The crime to which Fleming, 54, pleaded guilty involved his role in a plot to steal $4.3 million in insurance proceeds from the sons of the Murdaugh familys late housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, who died of injuries received in a fall on Murdaughs estate in February 2018. Fleming, Murdaugh scheme involved Satterfield estate Fleming is now the second close associate of Murdaugh to be tainted by their relationship to Murdaugh, the states most notorious criminal, now serving two consecutive life sentences for murders of his wife and youngest son. Fleming was a law school classmate of Murdaughs at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Both graduated in 1994 and had remained close friends. In November, another childhood friend, former Palmetto State Bank CEO Russell Laffitte was found guilty in federal court of using his bank to help Murdaugh steal money from clients who had gotten sizeable payouts in personal injury cases. An eight-page federal criminal charging document about Fleming, made public Wednesday said Murdaugh used Flemings position as a lawyer to swindle Satterfields sons, Tony Satterfield and Brian Harriott, out of $4.3 million owed to them from Murdaughs liability insurance. After Gloria Satterfield died in 2018, Murdaugh persuaded her sons to hire Fleming to represent them and submit a claim against Murdaugh to collect from his homeowners insurance policy. Murdaugh had insurance on his property through Lloyds of London and Nautilus Insurance Group. The sons hired Fleming, and he and Murdaugh began their scheme to collect $4.3 million and keep the money themselves instead of giving it to the sons, the charging document said. Part of the scheme involved getting a vice president at Palmetto State Bank to serve as the personal representative of Satterfields estate. The vice president was not named. In December 2018, 10 months after Satterfields death, Lloyds of London paid $505,000 into the Satterfields estate, and the Palmetto State Bank vice president turned the money over to Fleming, who sent it to his Beaufort law firm, giving ... Fleming control over the funds, the charging document said. In March 2019, after a mediation, Nautilus Insurance Company agreed to pay the Satterfield estate $3.8 million, the charging document said. Fleming then prepared a fraudulent disbursement statement for Satterfields estate, with about $1.4 million going toward attorneys fees and about $2.7 million going to the estate, the charging document said. Fleming collected approximately $672,595.85 in attorneys fees less than half of the $1.4 million in attorneys fees he reported to the circuit court, the charging document said. The disbursement sheet also said $105,000 was for Prosecution Expenses, but it really went to Fleming and Murdaugh for their own personal enrichment, the charging document said. Acting under Murdaughs direction, Fleming in May 2019 issued a check for nearly $3 million in Nautilus settlement funds to Forge, a phony company Murdaugh created with a checking account. Murdaugh deposited the check into his fake Forge account, the charging document said. In October 2020, at Murdaughs direction, Fleming issued another check to Forge for $118,000, the charging document said. Fleming also in three separate transactions wrote a total of $26,000 in checks out of the Satterfield settlement funds for himself. In all, Fleming, acting under Murdaughs direction, and Murdaugh took some $4.3 million from money due to the Satterfield estate money that the Satterfield sons never received, the charging document said. To get the matter approved by a circuit court judge, Fleming on two occasions in 2019 took two fake disbursement sheet(s) showing where the Satterfield estates supposedly went, the charging document said. Judge Carmen Mullen was the judge who approved the phony disbursement sheets submitted by Fleming, according to undisputed news accounts about the case. Mullen has declined comment, and there is no evidence she participated in the scheme. The embezzlement of Satterfields estate was first revealed in the early fall of 2021 in a lawsuit brought by attorneys Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, who represented Satterfields sons, who alleged Murdaugh and Fleming had schemed to steal the estates money. Fleming had no knowledge of Murdaughs numerous other criminal schemes to defraud others, his charging document said. This is a developing story. It will be updated. Less than two months after approving thousands of homes in East Manatee, county officials this week cleared the way for a second large residential community outside of the development boundary line. East River Ranch will become Manatee Countys latest eastern expansion, adding another 5,378 homes, a charter school and a fire station just south of State Road 64 and west of County Road 675. Taylor Ranch, a 4,500-home expansion of Lakewood Ranch, was approved next door in March. The Future Development Area Boundary (FDAB) line runs north-south and is roughly parallel with the western edge of Lake Manatee. The line, which has shifted further east over the years, is meant to limit urban sprawl and preserve agricultural lands out east. But Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the company behind Lakewood Ranch, sought a change to the countys Comprehensive Plan allowing large developments to go beyond the FDAB line. That change also opened the door for East River Ranch. Developer Carlos Beruffs Medallion Home development company worked closely with SMR in the months ahead of Wednesdays public land use meeting. As you know, this area of the county is largely built out to the FDAB line, which is what necessitated the countys decision to amend the Comprehensive Plan, said Scott Rudacille, a land use attorney representing Beruff. The applicant has coordinated with Taylor Ranch to ensure that thoroughfare roads and utilities would be connected, bringing infrastructure to this area at a significant savings to the county. East River Ranch development plans 5,300 homes Because the west side of Taylor Ranch borders the FDAB and East River Ranch shares a border with Taylor Ranch, both projects are legal under the countys recently updated Comprehensive Plan. Following a three-hour hearing, board members voted to rezone the land and approve a general development plan for East River Ranch, which is also set to include 900,000 square feet of commercial, 300,000 square feet of office space and 300,000 square feet of self-storage. A map shows the boundary of East River Ranch, a new housing development from Carlos Beruff that plans to bring 5,387 units to 1,382 acres south of State Road 64 and west of County Road 675. Courtesy of Manatee County Government Despite having about 1,000 fewer acres than Taylor Ranch, East River Ranch plans to build more housing units than the community next door. This is high-intensity development, said Commissioner George Kruse, who cast the only vote against the project based on concerns about the proposed density and traffic. Commissioner Jason Bearden was absent and did not vote. Protection for historic Bradenton racetrack In March, county officials based the approval of Taylor Ranch on a notice to buyers that there is an active racetrack in the area. YouTube star Cleetus McFarland owns and operates the Bradenton Motorsports Park, 21000 State Road 64, which will now be surrounded on the east and west by the new housing developments. Despite concessions from the developers, Cleetus McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, said he remains concerned about the racetracks ability to survive complaints from the incoming residents. This project is likely to happen and I am here to protect the racetrack that has been here for 50 years, Mitchell said. Maximizing the protection of the racetrack is what Im here to do. YouTube celebrity Cleetus McFarland, center, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, and other Myakka City residents showed up to a Dec. 15, 2022, Manatee Board of County Commissioners meeting to share their stance against a developers plan to build thousands homes near the DeSoto Speedway, citing future noise complaints and urban sprawl. Tiffany Tompkins/ttompkins@bradenton.com After hearing concern from commissioners, Beruff agreed to add language in a notice to homebuyers that explicitly mentions the existence of the racetrack and the noise it produces. I still believe thousands of homeowners will be awakened early on Sunday mornings, Mitchell predicted. Who will they blame? Me. However, unlike Taylor Ranch, which dedicated a 140-acre segment of its property to create a race village aimed at car enthusiasts, Beruff said his development will choose to position homes away from the racetrack. Residents concerned about urban sprawl out east Kruse was the only commissioner who voiced opposition to the East River Ranch community, arguing that the density was too high and the number of homes would have a significant impact on traffic. Im against a development thats this high an intensity, this far out and thats going to fundamentally break our roads for everybody, said Kruse. East Manatee residents also expressed concern and urged county officials to consider the impact of adding more homes to the traditionally rural area. Its too much development too fast, said Tim Tralick. Were not ready for it. I think there are a lot of issues that need to be decided before you move (the FDAB) again, said Patricia Petruff, a local land use attorney. This is a 20-year project. Maybe it doesnt need to be decided today. Other commissioners said they had no choice but to approve the project because it meets the requirements listed in the recent changes in the Comprehensive Plan. This is just a show vote. The real vote was Taylor Ranch, said Commissioner James Satcher, who noted that East River Ranch wouldnt have been eligible for approval if the county hadnt approved Taylor Ranch in March. Theres already been a precedent set. We cant just arbitrarily change the zoning that we do, added Commissioner Vanessa Baugh. For those that dont like growth, I would suggest you tell your farmers to stop selling their land to developers. Thats where it starts; not with this board. The court arrested real estate, transport vehicles and corporate rights of the so-called "head" of the Hola Prystan Occupying Administration in Kherson Oblast of Ukraine. Source: press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine (PGO) PGO does not name the collaborator suspected of cooperating with the aggressor state but, according to the reports of the Most ("Bridge") media outlet, the suspect is Hennadii Nedialkov. The total worth of arrested property of the collaborationist is over 11 million hryvnias [about USD 300 804 ed.]. "According to the investigation, during the temporary occupation of the Skadovsk district, Nedialkov willingly agreed to cooperate with the aggressor. He became the so-called head of the Hola Prystan Occupying Administration. While in office, he came to the house of the real deputy of the mayor together with his deputy and Russian soldiers in June 2022. Nedialkov demanded the keys to the car belonging to the territorial hromada, and the state registration certificate. [Hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories ed.] Fearing for her life and the life of her loved ones, the real deputy head of the town complied with the demand. The suspect handed the car over to the members of the occupying administration," the PGO reported. The court is also considering an indictment act on the fact of collaborationist activity against Nedialkov. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! On Friday, attorneys for the township of Montclair will argue before Judge Stephen Petrillo that town CFO Padmaja Rao, who filed a whistleblower suit against the town in October, is unethical, disloyal to her employer and is using her position as CFO for personal gain and to obstruct government affairs, according to court documents. The 1:30 p.m. hearing will be open to the public. On Thursday, Petrillo denied a request by the towns outside counsel, Riker Danzig, that it be closed. The Rao lawsuit, filed in October against Montclair and its manager Timothy Stafford, alleges hostile treatment and retaliation after Rao tried to bring potentially illegal activities to light. Later, allegations of retaliation by Mayor Sean Spiller were added. Another lawsuit by a former female employee followed, along with sworn statements by two other women with similar allegations. At the hearing, Riker attorney Derrick Freijomil will argue that Rao violated her ethical obligations and her duties as an town employee by revealing confidential information in her complaint, according to court documents. In his brief, Freijomil said Rao used information obtained as CFO for her undue, personal advantage, including economic gain... and did it to vex, harass and disadvantage the Township. Raos attorney, Nancy Erika Smith, a nationally known employment discrimination lawyer, said that the Riker Danzig brief amounts to defamation and character assassination. Plaintiffs in employment-related discrimination claims have an absolute right to copy documents and give them to their lawyers, she said. In addition to defaming Rao, the attorneys are essentially trying to retaliate against her, she said. In the brief, they ask for an order that, at work, she be bound by her ethical obligations and duty of loyalty to wall herself off from all matters concerning this litigation. If she cant touch anything related to any allegations in her complaint, she cant work on contracts, health benefits, the fire department, securing counsel, she said. Thats her whole job. Theyre asking the court to put their imprimatur on the retaliation against her. Its the most ridiculous thing Ive ever seen in my life. Attorneys from Riker Danzing did not respond to requests for comment. In her whistleblower suit, Rao claims the retaliation took place when she tried to bring the town into compliance with the law regarding health benefits paid to council members, and when the town allegedly violated the bidding process in hiring OToole Scrivo to defend the town against claims of discrimination by Black firefighters. She also blew the whistle about fraudulent firefighter time records and raises to a retired policeman. In their brief, Riker Danzig attorneys redacted all the subjects they say Rao shouldnt be involved in, and which should be stricken from her complaint. But the suit was filed in October, and the allegations have been in the public sphere since then, Smith said. Smith took issue with Councilor Peter Yacobellis statement that the towns legal strategy was dictated by the insurance company. Council members, she said, must agree with what is said on their behalf. Town leaders cant hide behind the insurance company. If theyre being misled by [municipal attorney] Mr. Burr, they should educate themselves. If theyre not paying attention to this, theyre not doing their jobs. Smith finds it ironic that the Riker Danzig brief cites Raos duty as a public employee to serve the public with the highest fidelity, good faith and integrity ... free of even the potential for entangling interests that will erode public trust in government actions. They are saying that this brave whistleblower violated her duty of loyalty because she gave documents to her lawyer which the law specifically allows. Its unbelievable, she said. Duty to whom? Corrupt town leaders or the public who pays her? This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Montclair Townships lawyers call whistleblower 'unethical, disloyal' A state court in Dallas County on Wednesday dismissed a mans 1990 sexual assault conviction after DNA testing concluded that he is innocent, the Dallas County Criminal District Attorneys Office said. Tyrone Day was convicted of the sexual assault of a woman in the Fair Park area of Dallas. On an attorneys advice, Day pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Day was released on parole after serving about 26 years, and he was required to register as a sex offender for life. Rounds of DNA testing that was unavailable at the time of the sexual assault excluded Day as a genetic contributor to the evidence collected when the offense occurred, the district attorneys office said. Thats the weight thats been lifted up off my shoulders, Day told WFAA-TV after a hearing at which his name was legally cleared. This is justice right here today. This is justice. I cant explain it. But its overwhelming. Since his release from prison, Day has started a program called Restorative Farms in south Dallas, which helps people from poor backgrounds battle food insecurity, WFAA reported. Now that he has been exonerated, Day will receive a payment from the state in an amount to be determined. The DNA testing revealed the identities of two other men who will not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations expired and because of the victims memory of the sexual assault, the district attorneys office said. The offices conviction integrity unit concluded the identification of Day by the woman who was sexually assaulted was not reliable. The victims identification was based on Day wearing a hat similar to that worn by one of her attackers, and investigators did not show her a photo lineup, according to the district attorneys office. The office sought the dismissal and exoneration in a motion. Vaccines against Covid-19 were delivered with remarkable and unprecedented speed. The ones pioneered by Moderna in the US and BioNTech in Germany introduced the lay public to a new kind of shot: one that includes mRNA, the nucleic acid that normally carries genetic instructions from the cell nucleus to the part of the cell where proteins are made. How could this novel technology have come together so rapidly? In fact, the approach had long been in the works, although it was not initially intended to prevent viral disease. Rather, it was focused on treating cancer, explains Ozlem Tureci, cofounder and chief medical officer of BioNTech, the company that developed the Covid-19 vaccine with Pfizer. The anti-cancer rationale goes like this: Since each tumor contains a multitude of genetic mutations that do not occur elsewhere in the body, this should in theory allow our immune system to recognize and destroy those cells. Alas, tumors are known to suppress the immune system. In response, scientists have developed various drugs and treatments to stimulate the immune system in cancer patients. But another problem is that many tumor mutations slip through the net. So some researchers have proposed a more focused approach to alert immune cells to cancer mutations they do not spontaneously target something more like a vaccine, which usually works by exposing people to an inactivated pathogen or some of its signature molecules. This primes the immune system for immediate action should the active pathogen show up. In a similar vein, the scientists reasoned it might be possible to present the patients immune system with specific bits of cancer tissue, to train it to attack the tumor more vigorously. The benefit of using mRNA for this job is not just that it can be manufactured relatively quickly, but that it is also very flexible. The genetic signature of a tumor is different in every person and, as time progresses, it continues to change. This means that vaccines would ideally be tailor-made, and repeatedly so an expensive and time-consuming proposition if one is manufacturing bits of key tumor protein in the lab, which was a very common way of producing vaccines before mRNA arrived. Proteins are built from a score of different amino acids, have complicated three-dimensional structures and tend to clump together when something goes wrong. So, what if we could just make specific pieces of mRNA instead, inject them into the body, and let the cells build the corresponding proteins themselves? Wouldnt that be much easier? In the approach BioNTech developed, explains Tureci, mRNA can be injected into the body and targeted towards the lymph nodes, where it is translated into protein by immune cells known as dendritic cells. These cells then display the protein on their surfaces, where they train the T cells that patrol our tissues to find and eliminate any intruders that display the same signature. The Covid-19 pandemic put the strategy to the test: Within a year, two highly effective mRNA vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus were developed, tested and rolled out one from Pfizer-BioNTech, one from Moderna, each slightly different. Both vaccines contained the code for making a stabilized version of the spike protein that the virus uses to get into cells. The spike protein code was inserted into mRNA with a backbone that had been optimized by decades of research. This mRNA was then packaged in specific lipids to ensure it would reach its lymph-node destination. Tureci, who coauthored an article about mRNA vaccines against cancer for the Annual Review of Medicine in 2019, recently talked with Knowable Magazine about the development of mRNA vaccines for cancer and how close they are to reaching patients, for whom new therapies are sorely needed. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. When did you start developing cancer vaccines, and why did you think mRNA would work best? This did not happen overnight. It was a decades-long journey that started in the 1990s. We had a vision that was considered science fiction at the time: We wanted to develop cancer vaccines to shrink tumors. Every patients cancer is unique, because it is the result of random mutations, so we wanted to develop individualized vaccines that would activate the patients immune system against their own tumor. We tested various approaches and identified mRNA as the one with the highest potential for the purpose of developing truly individualized cancer vaccines. Synthetic mRNA is produced by a simple process, and it looks very much like natural mRNA. It delivers the blueprint of the protein the vaccine antigen for the bodys cells to produce. Yet we also realized that significant improvements would be needed. Over the past decades, we have addressed these shortcomings. Our discoveries led to the mRNA technology platform that we use today for our product candidates against cancer, infectious diseases and other severe diseases. In addition to our own research in the 1990s, a small group of other scientists also worked on mRNA. Our advances as well as theirs provided the tailwind for the broader scientific community. What have been the most crucial breakthroughs that allowed you to get to this point? The fundamental problem of mRNA was its low potency. Even large doses of mRNA produce little protein and, consequently, had little effect. That is why, in the late 1990s, few in the industry believed in mRNA as a new class of drugs; mRNA vaccines tested at that time elicited poor immune responses. Our team spent years researching each element of the mRNA backbone and discovered various modifications that increased the stability of the mRNA and its translation into protein. This way, we created mRNA backbones with a more than thousandfold increased efficacy to trigger immune responses. The next piece of the puzzle was to find out how to get the mRNA vaccine to the right cells in the body, and which cells these might be. In 2004, we made an interesting observation: The direct injection of an mRNA vaccine with our improved backbone into a lymph node elicited a much stronger immune response than injection of mRNA into the skin or muscle, which were the commonly explored routes. Why would it be so much more effective to inject the mRNA directly into the lymph nodes? We realized that directing mRNA vaccines into dendritic cells in the lymph nodes had to become a critical part of the solution. In the years that followed, we explored various methods to deliver mRNA to these specific locations in the body, and discovered that mRNA vaccines encapsulated in a particular lipid nanoparticle a technology we have developed and that we call RNA lipoplexes were specifically taken up by resident dendritic cells in lymphoid tissues. These cells are the high-performance trainers of the immune system and can mediate particularly strong immune responses. We found that they have a specific mechanism to engulf foreign bodies and use them to train the immune system. Vaccine-induced T-cell responses were extremely strong and eradicated large tumors in mice. So, with these discoveries and optimizations of our technology, we went back to the bedside, to the patient. How exactly did you make the step from humans to mice? We started human studies and pioneered, in 2015, the first systemic delivery of mRNA nanoparticle vaccines to humans. In a portion of our patients with treatment-resistant melanoma, we could observe shrinkage of tumors with the vaccine, alone or in combination with immune-stimulating medication. We published these findings in the journal Nature in 2017. They provided the blueprint for the development of highly effective mRNA vaccines. These advances allowed us to come closer to our original vision of cancer vaccines tailored to the patients tumor. The approach involves genomic analysis of a patients tumor by next-generation sequencing to find the cancer-specific mutations by comparison to the patients normal tissue. This set of cancer mutations is unique for every patient. We then select a number of mutations that provide the highest likelihood for the immune system to recognize the cancer and design a vaccine tailored to the patients individual cancer mutation profile. How many people have been treated with your mRNA cancer vaccines so far? With our individualized vaccine candidates, we have treated more than 450 patients. These are designed to target mutations that are unique to the patients specific cancer. We also have a number of personalized off-the-shelf mRNA cancer vaccine candidates. These candidates consist of a fixed combination of mRNA-encoded non-mutated tumor antigens that are known to frequently be produced within specific cancer types. We are currently investigating these candidates in clinical studies for example, in patients with advanced melanoma, prostate cancer or head and neck cancer and have treated more than 250 patients so far. This has all been in the context of clinical trials. The way treatments are developed within the regulatory framework is to go cancer by cancer, and independently for every line of treatment, for every cancer. Our oncology pipeline currently counts 20 programs in 24 ongoing clinical trials, of which five candidates are in advanced clinical trials. For BNT111, an mRNA vaccine candidate for the treatment of advanced melanoma, we have received FDA fast track designation in the US. These designations are intended to facilitate and expedite the development of new drugs and vaccines for the treatment or prevention of serious diseases that have the potential to address unmet medical needs. One of the challenges with personalized medicine, creating a specific treatment for one particular patient, is how to organize its official approval, since every patient gets a different product. Do you think we will need some legislative change there as well, or not necessarily? Very early on, we started discussions with regulatory authorities. What is important, we believe, is that the process of manufacturing, and the mRNA backbone, stay the same. Within this frame, we just exchange the code for the cancer mutations. The aim of such a framework would be that irrespective of the sequence of the mutations used to individualize a vaccine, if everything else stays the same, a complete approval process for an individualized version of the vaccine may not be required again, provided that the general product has been approved by the authorities for a certain tumor type. This is our aim, and I believe we are on the way to land there. This is new territory also for regulators, and we all need to learn. Why has cancer been so difficult to cure, and is there a fundamental reason why you think mRNA vaccines could provide a way forward where other approaches havent? The reason why cancer is so difficult is that it is a really complex disease. It is different in every person, and it shapeshifts over time. Because mRNA vaccines are versatile and can be manufactured on demand, we can personalize them. We can define the individual cancer fingerprint its mutation profile and design a specific vaccine to address these mutations. And if the patient relapses because the cancer has changed, we can adapt the treatment accordingly, similar to how we are able to adapt our mRNA Covid-19 vaccines to new viral variants of concern. The body does often produce immune cells that target a tumor. Why doesnt it make the right ones or enough of them to suppress it? Why does it need help from a vaccine? First of all, tumors have all sorts of tricks to suppress our immune cells, across the body but also within the tumor itself. In addition, many of the altered structures of the tumor are still recognized as part of the body, so they are tolerated by the immune system. Therefore, the ideal targets for the immune system are those in the tumors mutanome: the mutations that accumulate over time in cancer cells. But only a tiny portion of those is recognized by spontaneously occurring, circulating T cells. With our mutation-based vaccine candidates, we aim to use the potential of the mutanome to help T cells get started. Still, we find that we often need something to overcome the strong immune suppression from the tumor. These might be immune modulators such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, or chemotherapy, which results in the death of cancer cells, that can push the effect of a vaccine towards stronger activity. One of the reasons you were able to act so fast when you realized that we had a pandemic on our hands was that in developing cancer vaccines, there is always time pressure, since an untreated tumor is growing every day. How far have you come in compressing development time, the time you need to get the vaccine into the patient, and how much further do you think you can go? The process starting with genome analysis of a patients tumor and ending with on-demand manufacturing of this customized mRNA vaccine ready to administer has been a race against that specific patients growing tumor. Since 2014, weve made custom vaccines for hundreds of cancer patients in our clinical trials and shipped them worldwide. Back then, the process took us three to five months for each patient. Now we are at three to six weeks, and I would expect that well become stable around three weeks at some point. Do you think mRNA cancer vaccines will eventually be able to help everyone? Or are there some tumors that will always be out of reach? In principle, we expect that cancer vaccines can be used universally, as there is currently no reason why there should be a tumor type that would not be approachable by this concept. Having said that, I want to make clear that it would be a very romanticized view to think that well have a cancer vaccine that will solve all problems. Again, cancer is a very complex disease. However, cancer vaccines may be a potent option in the future that could complement the therapy toolkit and help to better treat patients with cancer. 10.1146/knowable-052523-2 Tim Vernimmen is a freelance science writer based in Antwerp, Belgium. He was grateful to receive a series of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and realized he had never exactly understood how these vaccines worked before conducting this interview. This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, an independent journalistic endeavor from Annual Reviews. Sign up for the newsletter. Cows lead police directly' to suspect who fled after a traffic stop in North Carolina Cows were an unexpected help to law enforcers recently in North Carolina. North Carolina authorities were assisted by an unexpected group of animals in their pursuit of a suspect last week. Hint: It wasnt a K-9 unit. Boone Police Department officers were conducting a routine traffic stop on Tuesday when a suspect fled the scene in his car and then on foot. The suspect, Joshua Minton, abandoned his vehicle in Watauga County and ran toward an undeveloped area, authorities said. Due to the suspects fast and reckless driving our officers were not close enough to see exactly where the suspect ran, Boone police said in a news release. Authorities were searching the nearby area when they were greeted by local cows. Police say the cows led them directly to where the suspect was hiding. Apparently cows do not want suspected criminals loitering in their pasture, Boone police said in a Facebook post. The cows communicated with the officers as best they could and finally just had the officers follow them to the suspects location. Authorities arrested Minton on multiple charges including felony flee/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle, driving with a revoked license and disorderly conduct. Bear: Video shows bear jump out of school dumpster as West Virginia principal sprints away More cows in the department to help fight crime? The police department made light of the incident on its Facebook page saying they never considered exploring how cows could help them fight crime until last week. We at the Boone Police Department are always looking for better ways to serve our community," police said. "We may be a small town; but we are a progressive, forward thinking law enforcement agency." But before cows can join the department, police have questions, including if the cows are adaptable to a variety of police work, if the cows are more cost effective than K-9 dogs and how police will transport them to scenes. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cows lead North Carolina police directly to suspect who fled on foot 'Crazy good news' about Mastriano and the U.S. Senate race in Pa.? Remains to be seen Weve been promised some crazy good news soon from none other than the king of Franklin County, state Sen. Douglas Mastriano. Im writing this on Sunday, May 21, so there is a very good chance that, by the time you read this online or in print, Dougs good news will be out. Fresh off a primary election in which he invested enough to buy a county commissioners race or two, dumping at least $15,000 into the campaign coffers of Dean Horst alone, Mastriano must feel the wind at his back, and is teasing a run for the United States Senate seat currently held by Bob Casey Jr. If Mastriano does throw his hat in the ring, it will delight to no end two groups of people: His followers and Pennsylvania Democrats. Dwight Weidman His followers will swoon with the excitement that comes from going out on another crusade for their idol, and the Democrats will be giddy not only at the prospect that Casey will hold on to his Senate seat, but also the likelihood that Mastrianos presence on the Republican ticket will tip Pennsylvanias electoral college votes to Joe Biden, which could give us four more years of misery. Mastriano told the Philadelphia Enquirer, If we do run for U.S. Senate, its ours to lose in the primary, I dont think we can be stopped. Mastriano made a surprise appearance at an event in Lebanon County and was met with cheers from the crowd of 20 to 25 people. Our teams are alive and well in all 67 counties, Mastriano added. People are ready to go. So, well see you next week. It seems that Mastriano is focused on the 2024 primary election, hoping he can pull off a big win the same way he did in the 2022 gubernatorial Republican primary against a crowded field of candidates. The only problem then was that after garnering 44% in the primary, he went on to wage a disaster of a campaign ending with a huge loss in the November general election. I n fact, he seemed to give up on his quest for the governorship and finished with over $1 million unspent in his campaign war chest. This time around, things may be a bit different. Republican Dave McCormick is busy making the rounds in an effort to oppose Mastriano in next years Republican primary. McCormick lost to eventual Senate candidate Mehmet Oz in the 2022 primary by less than 1,000 votes, requiring an ill-considered endorsement from former President Donald Trump to put Oz over the top. This time around, there likely wont be more than two candidates in the GOP primary McCormick and Mastriano and its going to take more than 44% to give Mastriano the nomination. Its also not likely that Mastriano could muster the same level of primary support that he did in 2022 because many smart Republicans dont believe in making the same mistake twice. Another smart Republican wont likely be endorsing Mastriano in the primary either, and that is Trump, according to reports in web publications like The Hill and Politico, both quoting unnamed Trump insiders. Aside from that, Trump has a pattern of not backing a candidate twice, especially after a disastrous loss. In a delicious bit of irony, Mastriano, actually said, Im not an opportunist. I didnt want to do politics. I did it out of necessity. Its ironic because hes been pursuing elective office practically since he arrived in Franklin County, carrying his carpet bag. Its also worth noting that Mastriano has never beaten a general election opponent with a pulse. All of the above aside, neither facts, trends, history nor data seem to matter to either Mastriano or his acolytes. Mastriano told the Philadelphia Enquirer that he likes Dave McCormick, stating, I like his background, but for us, and I hate to say it this way, but no one else is gonna beat my drum. Its going to have to be myself. Mastriano added: Im a once-in-a-lifetime candidate for this. When I hear that type of boasting, the ancient Greek term "hubris" comes to mind. Better yet, since Mastriano claims to be a devout man, maybe he should consult Proverbs 16:18, which states: "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Of course, Mastriano may actually decide not to run for the U.S. Senate. Now, that would truly be crazy good news, especially for Republicans. Dwight Weidman is a resident of Greene Township and is a graduate of Shepherd University. He is retired from the United States Department of Defense, where his career included assignments In Europe, Asia, and Central America. He has been in leadership roles for the Republican Party in two states, most recently serving two terms as Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party. He has been an Amateur Radio Operator since 1988, getting his first license in Germany, and is a past volunteer with both Navy and Army MARS, Military Auxiliary Radio Service, and is also a certified firearms instructor. In his spare time, he dabbles in genealogy and learning new languages. This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Mastriano running for U.S. Senate in PA would be disastrous for GOP Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala The announcement came after the signing ceremony between the TAL Group, which manages the Transalpine Pipeline, and Czech oil transport company Mero CR. Under the TAL-PLUS project agreement, the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL) will undergo modernization to increase its capacity by 4 million tons of crude oil per year. Once the project is completed, TAL will be able to supply 8 million tons of oil annually to the Czech Republic, effectively fulfilling the countrys demand for crude oil. Prime Minister Fiala emphasized the strategic significance of expanding the TAL pipelines capacity. Since the beginning of Russian aggression in Ukraine, we have successfully re-placed gas supplies from Russia and significantly stabilized prices for electricity and fuel, he said. Read also: Czech president supports creation of war crimes tribunal for Russia Through the fundamental step of modernizing the Transalpine Pipeline, we will eliminate our dependence on Russian oil. Fiala highlighted that the TAL-PLUS pipeline modernization project is scheduled for completion by 2024, ahead of the ban on Russian oil imports. This ban was agreed upon due to the necessity of increasing the TAL pipelines capacity, Fail stated. Furthermore, we will fulfill our commitment made during negotiations to exclude the supply of Russian oil by the end of 2024, he added. Investments in infrastructure modernization, including technological changes in Mero CR infrastructure, are estimated to range from 1.3 to 1.6 billion Czech crowns, equivalent to 50-70 million euros ($53-75 million). Czechia received 7.1 million tons of oil at its refineries in 2021, with over 48% of the supply coming from Russia. Russian deliveries accounted for 56% of the total volume of 7.4 million tons of oil in 2022. The TAL Group manages the Transalpine Pipeline, which transports oil from the port of Trieste, Italy, to Austria, Germany, and Czechia. This pipeline plays a vital role in supplying oil to Central Europe, accounting for 90% of Austrian refinery processing, 50% of Czech refinery processing, and all processed oil at refineries in southern Germany. Read also: The Transalpine Pipeline has a capacity of approximately 43 million tons of crude oil per year. In 2021, it transported 37.2 million tons of crude oil, with a slightly lower figure of 37.6 million tons in 2020. The major shareholders of the TAL Group include OMV with a stake of 32.26%, Shell with 19%, Rosneft with 11%, and Eni (Agip) with 10%. 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 Kentucky man who wrote in a chat group that it is time for good men to do bad things has been arrested and charged with felonies and misdemeanors for allegedly breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Daniel Edwin Wilson, 47, of Louisville, was charged in a criminal complaint filed Thursday in the District of Columbia with obstruction, a felony, and four misdemeanors, including knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and parading, demonstrating or picketing on Capitol grounds. He was arrested Thursday in Louisville, where he was expected to make his initial court appearance, the U.S. attorneys office said in a news release. Wilson and others disrupted a joint session of the Congress convened to count the electoral votes cast in the 2020 Presidential election won by Democrat Joseph Biden. More: Louisville man sentenced over role in 2021 US Capitol insurrection Wilsons attorney, if he has one, is not listed in court documents in Washington or Louisville. According to court documents, Wilson who in a Telegram chat group went by the moniker Live Wire responded to a discussion about traveling to Washington, D.C., for protest saying I am ready to lay my life on the line, the news release says. He also wrote: Ooh Rah. Curb stomp crew all in!!! Later that same day, he wrote we are willing to work and coordinate with others but, I am a gray ghost ranger, referring to his affiliation with a particular militia. Wilson also discussed bringing firearms to Washington, D.C., but ultimately wrote, In my opinion I dont think its time to gun up for the 6th. More: 'Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20': Kentucky woman who entered Capitol on Jan. 6 sentenced More: What happened to 17 Kentuckians charged in the Jan. 6 US Capitol riot We have to play this out, he continued, but if they seat Biden on the 20th, all bets are off. Its gonna happen even if Trump wins. We have to get this government under control. Its been crossing my mind if we go to a Civil War, do we try to take Washington DC first or do we try to take state capitals first. On Jan. 6, 2021, Wilson was captured in open-source and U.S. Capitol closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage at the U.S. Capitol, wearing a pair of blue jeans, tan boots, and a blue hooded sweatshirt, carrying a red backpack and an olive-green fabric pouch, and at times, wearing a gas mask. A review of the U.S. Capitols CCTV footage revealed that, at approximately 2:37 PM, Wilson entered the U.S. Capitol building through the Upper West Terrace Door. After entering the building, Wilson he walked into the Rotunda, where he remained for several minutes. From the Rotunda, Wilson walked through Statuary Hall. He then returned to the Rotunda and ultimately exited through the East Rotunda Doors at approximately 2:49 PM. More: More than 500 Kentuckians have joined Oath Keepers extremist group, new analysis shows In an interview with FBI agents March 9, 2021, Wilson repeatedly denied being inside the Capitol building. A search warrant was obtained and, on June 3, 2022, during the execution of the warrant, law enforcement seized six firearms from Wilsons residence, which were stored in a backpack and inside a cabinet in his residence, covered by clothing. Wilson was prohibited from possessing firearms at the time, due to previous felony convictions. At least two of the seized firearms were loaded at the time of seizure, and another two did not have serial numbers. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section, with assistance provided by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Kentucky. The case was investigated by the FBIs Louisville and Washington field offices, with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. In the 28 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the news release. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Daniel Edwin Wilson of Louisville arrested Jan. 6 insurrection Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg greets a supporter during his election night party at Mangos in Sacramento on March 3, 2020. The mayor was re-elected with 77% of the vote. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./Sacramento Bee file) Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg may not fully be appreciated for being a consequential leader during difficult times until he leaves office roughly 19 months from now. That clock is ticking after Steinberg announced Thursday that he will not run for a third term, which is the right move for Steinberg and Sacramento. Both need a reset. A free-for-all to replace Steinberg featuring a half dozen candidates or more is in the offing, and the next nine months will be a season of promises and posturing from a field of rookies and retreads. Whoever prevails will learn that being mayor of Sacramento can really stink. Opinion Look at whats happening at Sacramento City Council meetings now: Trolls spew antisemitism and disrupt meetings while making people feel unsafe. The political discourse in the city has deteriorated, and Steinberg has caught some of the worst of it death threats, masked assailants vandalizing his home and profanity routinely hurled in his direction at council meetings. Steinberg has been blamed by some for the proliferation of unhoused people on city streets when plenty of others bear responsibility: the Sacramento County supervisors, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department, cities neighboring Sacramento, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency and the state of California, to name a few. In his time, Steinberg pushed some of these stakeholders to do more, and they generally responded with anger and defensiveness. The irony is that Steinberg has taken most of the heat for homelessness while being the most active elected leader trying to address the issue. Sacramento business leaders became angry with the guy who was trying to do something about homelessness instead of getting angry at others doing nothing. Steinberg threw himself into the crisis and campaigned on it. He made specific promises and asked that voters hold him accountable for them. Thats what we say we want from elected officials, but Steinberg demonstrated why most Sacramento politicians fear being out front on the issue you get punished for that. The 63-year-old Steinberg also had to contend with a generational move leftward among young progressives entering politics in a city known for being centrist. That meant Steinberg spent recent years as the man in the middle, too liberal for business leaders frustrated by the social costs of homelessness and too centrist for young progressives who wanted change faster than Sacramento could move. The rap on Steinberg was that he told everyone what they wanted to hear, but thats not really true. More often than not, his critics got mad at him for saying the opposite of what they wanted to hear. Or Steinberg did the opposite of what opposing city factions wanted during one of several calamities that struck Sacramento. The George Floyd demonstrations of 2020 were a case in point. Protests by day gave way to vandalism and chaos by night in Sacramentos urban core. City police decided that they would not pursue suspects or make mass arrests on a warm Saturday night almost exactly three years ago. Downtown was battered by looters and thieves. Merchants blamed Steinberg and other city officials though few good options were available to city cops in a fluid and dangerous situation. The next night, the National Guard and armored vehicles were called in, angering progressive protesters. Am I willing to make anybody mad to do the right thing? I always have been, Steinberg told me at the time. In a situation like this, you are criticized from both sides (business owners suffering losses to property and protesters angry about a show of force by law enforcement)...But the buck stops with me. After being elected in 2016, Steinberg had about a year when he was feted as one of the most accomplished politicians to do the job. He was fresh from leading the state Senate, where he enjoyed the support of a majority caucus, a bigger staff at his disposal, and he was safely removed from a restive public while doing his thing within the ornate grandeur of the state Capitol. Things changed for Steinberg and Sacramento in 2018 when city cops killed an unarmed Stephon Clark, and Sacramento was portrayed as the home of police brutality against Black people in the national news. Thats when city council meetings started becoming chaotic, with Clarks brother Stevante disrupting a meeting by jumping up on the council dais. Steinberg showed Clark restraint and compassion. The mayor was proud of how he handled the situation, but some Sacramento residents privately fumed that Clark and others with him should have been arrested. This difference of opinion persists to this day. But Steinberg understood that homelessness and civil disobedience cannot be remedied by police action. Meanwhile, COVID and the George Floyd protests soon followed, and the political tenor in Sacramento changed. Steinberg kept working. He led other big city mayors to secure millions in state funding to help pay for enhanced homeless services in Sacramento. He negotiated changes to the housing approval process that created more affordable housing in the city. Steinberg helped push the city and county toward finally agreeing on a legally binding pact that has the two governments working together to address homelessness more effectively. Steinberg negotiated settlements in two lawsuits that threatened to slow Aggie Square, a sprawling innovation hub to be constructed next to the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. There were many more accomplishments and some setbacks. Steinberg was sometimes prone to over-promising or being too transactional. But he deserves praise for decades of commitment and service to his city and region. More than anything, Steinberg is a good and decent man who wanted the best for Sacramento and worked hard to do his best for the city. There is no doubt he will work tirelessly until his last day in office in December of 2024. Then someone else will become mayor and, with luck, will be shown grace that was denied Steinberg from a community that still has some growing up to do. If there was ever an incoming Sacramento mayor poised to dominate the regional stage, it was Darrell Steinberg in 2016. His resume was unparalleled, from his leadership of the California state Senate to his years as Sacramento city councilman to his statewide political connections. Any truly regional Sacramento mayor would have the home base of operations at the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. SACOG is the 31-member body of local leaders that advance our transportation planning. Only at SACOG can a Sacramento mayor rub shoulders with his political peers in El Dorado, Placer, Yuba, Yolo, and Sutter counties on a monthly basis. Opinion But like his immediate predecessor, former Mayor Kevin Johnson, Steinberg decided not to try to be a regional mayor from City Hall. He had already laid the groundwork for an impressive legacy as a regional force as senate pro tem. No one has accomplished more in flood control in modern history than Darrell Steinberg. Extraordinary improvements to flood protection took place, from the mega-levees now protecting Natomas to the new emergency spillway on Folsom Dam to levee improvements on the American River to at-risk Sacramento streams. Darrell brought it every day incredible drive and ability to make changes in the city that he loves. Sometimes people felt he pushed too hard. But that is not how hes wired, said Mike McKeever, the former SACOG executive director. Some of his biggest accomplishments will only become evident through future years. The accomplishments were many. Senate Bill 276, authored by Steinberg in 2007, directed the state to participate in numerous flood control projects on the Sacramento and American rivers. And the state did. SB 276 resulted in a long-lasting, functioning marriage between the state and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, a regional entity created after the floods of 1986 that made greater Sacramento so much safer. It was SB 276 that helped the state and the flood agency to nurture a broader coalition including Yolo County, and brought federal funding to the area through the work of Congresswoman Doris Matsui. Steinbergs regional legacy on transportation planning is more complicated and also started during his legislative years. Senate Bill 375 of 2008 marks one of the most important advances in climate change of that era. It directed the California Air Resources Board to set regional reductions for greenhouse gas emissions and for regional governments like SACOG to achieve these reductions through their long-term transportation plans. In simpler terms, it sought to stop a decades-long pattern of expanding sprawl and building new highways to solve our self-created problems. Locally, it led SACOG to struggle with what to do about the SouthEast Connector, a new continuous expressway from Highway 99 to Highway 50 via Grant Line Road. SB 375 faced a test in Sacramento County in 2020. Backers of a sales tax hike dedicated to transportation projects sought to fund the full connector road along with a lengthy menu of other improvements. A previous transportation sales tax effort had barely failed to reach the two-thirds approval threshold in 2017. Steinbergs support in 2020 was key. This was when he flexed the most regional muscle in his mayoral history. Steinberg refused to support any transportation plan that did not meet the emission-reducing goals of his 2008 legislation and those that SACOG later established. The proposed measure at the time failed to pass the SB 375 test. In March 2020, he said, I believe it is just common sense that the finance plan must be consistent with the regions clear commitment to reduce (greenhouse gas emissions) by 19 percent. This upset some powerful friends that frankly deserved to be upset. Compromise language was reached to ensure consistency with SB 375, through the courts if necessary. He had won though it turned out to be a hollow victory. A court ruling elsewhere in California created a new possibility of raising sales taxes for transportation by a mere voter majority if it was placed on the ballot by voter signatures as opposed to a governing body. That is a big if. The court ruling transferred political power on local transportation financing from the elected officials to private interests that could gather the political signatures to get a local initiative on the ballot. The champions of roads tend to have money. The champions of transit, not so much. This new signature-gathering initiative created a very different Measure A. It was not a political compromise. It embodied the dreams of the financiers. Measure A called for billions of dollars in new roads beyond the SACOG plan and beyond the 2020 compromise language that was largely the wordsmithing of Steinberg at that time. The revenue to fund these roads was baked into the language of Measure A. Yet Steinberg ended up supporting the measure. He attributed his support to a separate agreement between SACOG and the Sacramento Transportation Authority. It committed STA to funding road projects that met emission-reduction targets. Because this subsequent agreement was not in the language of the ballot, it was automatically subject to revision. The bottom line of this Measure A: The backers of new roads would be guaranteed 40 years of sales tax money. They would have time to time to rewrite this non-binding SACOG-STA deal. Steinberg supported it anyway. In the short to medium term, the politics of SACOG would not allow it, Steinberg told The Bee Editorial Board last October. Because, frankly, the other five counties arent necessarily predisposed to making it easier to build projects in Sacramento. That is the makeup of the makeup and the voting blocs as they exist in SACOG. Had Steinberg opposed this Measure A, he would have been at odds with various long-time political allies such as Measure A consultant David Townsend. He would have been right on policy, to not fund things that make no environmental sense with the regions own emissions reduction plan. He chose otherwise and he lost. Nearly 56% of voters rejected Measure A. In hindsight, It had two glaring challenges. It was a new tax, never popular. And it was a badly and spectacularly road-centric vision of Sacramento Countys future that was fueled by money from the beneficiaries of Measure A. While Steinberg lent his name to support the measure and made a few command performances, he did not campaign aggressively for Measure A. For a leader not known for going halfway on anything, his passiveness said something. Taking a step back, Steinbergs regional legacy may not be all that it could have been. He could have found the time and energy to play outside of the city of Sacramento. He did not. I really wish he had chosen otherwise. That said, in my 32 years watching things here in Sacramento, Steinberg ranks at the top of the list of local elected officials. Nobody other than Steinberg has such an impressive regional legacy, though he did most of that work before he became mayor of Sacramento. The DEA conducted a raid on an Arkansas psychiatrist accused of holding patients against their will Hyatt is no longer associated with the hospital where the patients were held. Getty Images An Arkansas psychiatrist was the subject of a raid by the DEA on Tuesday, according to federal prosecutors. Dr. Brian Hyatt is already under a state investigation and has also been sued by at least 15 patients alleging false imprisonment. His former patients have accused him of holding them against their will as part of an insurance fraud scheme. Federal agents on Tuesday launched a raid on an Arkansas psychiatrist who is already under a state investigation for Medicaid fraud and has been accused of holding patients against their will in an inpatient facility. The US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Arkansas confirmed to Insider that the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant as part of a federal investigation into Dr. Brian Hyatt of Rogers, Arkansas. The nature of the investigation is unclear, as is the raid's location. "In general, the execution of a search warrant is an important step in any lengthy, ongoing investigation," a spokeswoman told Insider. "In light of the fact that this investigation is still ongoing, we can't make any additional comments." Dr. Brian Hyatt is at the center of at least 15 lawsuits from former patients who have alleged false imprisonment, medical malpractice, and a host of other allegations from his time overseeing Northwest Medical Center's behavioral-health services unit in Springdale, Arkansas. The patients, some of whom have spoken to Insider, alleged that they were illegally and wrongfully detained inside the facility without cause, for days or even weeks at a time. Some patients were only released when sheriff's deputies arrived at the facility with court orders to walk the patients out. They and their attorneys have accused Hyatt of holding patients prisoner as part of an insurance "scheme" to maximize their time in the facility and fraudulently over bill their health-insurance carriers. Hyatt is already under investigation by the Arkansas State Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, according to a search warrant affidavit that has been made public. State investigators had requested a search warrant for Hyatt's cellphone records between 2019 and 2022, citing evidence that Hyatt had fraudulently billed Medicaid, Medicare, and health insurance companies despite having "no contact with patients." Hyatt's attorneys and private practice have not responded to Insider's multiple emails, calls, and voicemails requesting comment between late March and Thursday. Read the original article on Insider House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks during a news conference after President Joe Biden and McCarthy reached an agreement in principle to resolve the looming debt crisis on Saturday, May 27, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., back right, and Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., left, listen. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) | AP President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have been meeting to negotiate over raising the countrys debt ceiling. Here are updates. Biden, McCarthy reach deal; hurdles remain Saturday, May 27 Biden and McCarthy reached a deal late Saturday over raising the amount of money the nation can borrow, but the bill will still have to pass the House and Senate before they can declare victory. McCarthy told reporters Saturday he had spoken to the president by phone for 90 minutes. After weeks of negotiations we have come to an agreement in principle, he said. We still have a lot of work to do, but I believe this is an agreement in principle that is worthy of the American people. He said the agreement included historic reductions in spending, as well as reforms to lift people out of poverty and into work, and to rein in government overreach. He said it included no new taxes. McCarthy said they still had more work to do to finish writing the bill, but said he expects to have the full text of the legislation posted Sunday, with the House voting on Wednesday. The agreement would raise the debt ceiling for two years, in combination with limits on spending during that time, according to the Wall Street Journal. Reuters reported the agreement included a cap on non-defense discretionary spending for 2023 and a 1% increase in 2025. McCarthy and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will have to convince enough members in their conferences to support the bill for it to pass the lower chamber. Some hardline progressives and conservatives in the House have expressed doubts over what might be included in a final agreement. The bill could also face some opposition in the Senate, where it requires 60 votes to pass. Earlier this week, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said he would use every procedural tool at his disposal if the agreement does not include substantial spending and budgetary reforms. He said he would like the final agreement to include language from the REINS Act, which would give Congress the power to review some rules made by federal agencies before they take effect. Yellen says nation can make payments until June 5 Friday, May 26 Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the nation can continue to make its payments until June 5, giving Biden and McCarthy a little breathing room as theyre trying to negotiate a final agreement on the debt ceiling. In a letter to McCarthy, Yellen says Treasury will have insufficient resources to satisfy the governments obligations by June 5. As negotiations continue over Memorial Day weekend, both Biden and McCarthy have said the two sides are getting closer to a deal. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that work requirements for benefit programs are among the remaining sticking points, as well the $80 billion boost the IRS received last year, which Republicans would like to see eliminated. Even after an agreement is reached, it could take several days to get it written up and approved by both chambers, making it necessary for negotiators to continue to meet over the long weekend. The debt ceiling, explained Thursday, May 25 What is the debt ceiling? It is a limit on the amount of money the U.S. is authorized to borrow to pay for existing government spending obligations like Social Security, Medicare, debt service and defense spending. The debt ceiling is currently at $31 trillion. Why does the debt ceiling need to be raised? Congress decides how much the U.S. is allowed to borrow. In January, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the U.S. had hit its statutory limit but she could take measures to push the need for an increase until June. According to the Center of American Progress, federal agencies will have to pay bills using only incoming revenues if the debt limit isnt increased or suspended. Has the debt ceiling been raised before? Yes, on many occasions. Congress has raised or revised the debt limit 78 separate times since 1960, per the Department of Treasury. The issue has become increasingly political. With a narrowly divided Congress this year, Republicans are demanding spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling but Democrats are pushing against the GOPs demands. According to Time Magazine, the last time the country was debt free was in 1835, under then-President Andrew Jackson when he liquidated the Second Bank. Will the debt ceiling affect Social Security and federal employees? Without Congress taking action on the debt ceiling, Social Security benefit payments, roughly $25 billion a week, might be delayed, as CNN reported. A lot of people in Washington are not that in tune with what this could mean, said Max Richtman, the CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. If you depend on your Social Security for most of your living expenses, youre not going to be able to pay your rent, buy your food, pay your utilities, the basics pay out-of-pocket health care costs that may come up. Federal employees and the military might also experience delays in receiving paychecks. How will the debt ceiling be resolved? A bill will have to pass both chambers of Congress raising the borrowing limit, and then President Joe Biden will need to sign it. Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are currently negotiating over a compromise. A bill raising the debt ceiling was already passed by House Republicans, but Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer say it went too far on spending cuts and reforms. Democrats are looking into the 14th Amendment, which protects citizenship rights, as a way to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling, as ABC News reported. But few legal scholars think this is a viable option. Is this the first time the U.S. will default on its payments? The White House has said that the country has never intentionally defaulted on its obligations because of the debt limit. Treasury Secretary Yellen again warns about failure to lift debt ceiling Thursday, May 25 Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the U.S. is getting closer to not being able to pay all its bills. If Congress doesnt act to raise the debt ceiling, and if we hit the so-called X-date without that occurring, there will be some obligations that we will be unable to pay, Yellen said in a video appearance at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council Summit on Wednesday, according to the Journal. Yellen has previously said the U.S. could default as soon as June 1, but in her remarks Wednesday, she indicated the date of default could come later in the month. It seems almost certain that we will not be able to get past early June, she said. Read more here. Sen. Mike Lee says hell delay debt ceiling deal unless cuts are substantial Thursday, May 25 Sen. Mike Lee said he would use every procedural tool possible to delay a debt ceiling deal if it doesnt contain substantial cuts, in a tweet published Thursday morning. Lees comments come as McCarthy appears to be trying to moderate expectations over what will be included in the agreement. One thing I will tell people is this still wont solve all the problems. The president took a lot of things off the table, but this will put us in the first step, McCarthy told Fox News. Whatever we dont achieve here, well come back the next day to get it because weve got to start working toward being able to balance the budget. Read more here. President Joe Biden meets with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to discuss the debt limit in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Washington. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press The clock is ticking as McCarthy and Biden say no deal yet, but talks productive Monday, May 22 While high level negotiations over the debt ceiling continued Monday, President Joe Biden said he was optimistic, after both he and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., agreed that default is not on the table. But Rep. Patrick McHenry, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and one of the chief negotiators for Republicans, characterized the talks as only reasonably productive. What I sense from the White House is a lack of urgency, said McHenry. Read more here. After brief pause, debt ceiling talks between Biden and GOP back on Friday, May 19 House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., said talks had resumed and negotiators planned to work over the weekend, according to Politico. The White House and congressional leaders are trying to come to an agreement to stave off a default, which Biden administration officials warn could come by June 1. Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Friday on Fox Business that Republicans would work into the night Friday but they expected Democrats to make additional cuts. Its very frustrating if they want to come into the room and think were going to spend more money next year than we did this year. Thats not right, and thats not going to happen, he said. Earlier in the day, Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., who was asked by McCarthy to represent the GOP in negotiations, said the negotiations had stopped. Weve decided to press pause, because its just not productive, Graves told reporters Friday, according to Politico. Read more here. In debt ceiling standoff, Senate and House Republicans present united front against Biden and House Democrats Wednesday, May 19 Republicans from the House and Senate gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to show they are united in their demand for cuts and reforms in exchange for increasing the amount of money the federal government can borrow. House Democrats plan to test that resolve. They started collecting signatures on a discharge petition Wednesday to force a vote on a so-called clean debt ceiling bill, that would raise the ceiling with no conditions attached. Read more here. Congressional leaders say they want to find a bipartisan solution on debt limit Friday, May 19 Congressional leaders havent reached an agreement with the White House over raising the debt limit yet, but theyve agreed to continue talks to try to find a bipartisan solution. Everyone, including the speaker, agreed we need to be bipartisan, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday after meeting at the White House with President Joe Biden; Vice President Kamala Harris; House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken.; and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. The idea of having a partisan bill, we knew would get us nowhere and everyone freely admitted that in the room, Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. Read more here. Biden thinks he can reach an agreement with Republicans over the debt ceiling Monday, May 15 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. Read more here. After 43 GOP senators sign Lees letter, Biden has little choice but to negotiate on debt ceiling Monday, May 8 A letter signed by 43 Republican senators puts additional pressure on President Biden to agree to cuts as part of the negotiations. The letter, sent to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, was initiated by Utah Sen. Mike Lee. It says Republicans in the Senate are united behind the House Republican conference in support of spending cuts and structural budget reform as a starting point for negotiations on the debt ceiling. With 43 senators signing on to the letter, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Schumer is unlikely to have the votes to move a condition-free debt ceiling bill to a vote. Read more here. Deemed 'too broken to fix,' San Bernardino County child services is sued on behalf of nearly 6,000 kids San Bernardino County Children and Family Services is facing a federal class-action lawsuit that alleges the agency failed to protect children in its care. Above, downtown San Bernardino. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press) A federal class-action lawsuit on behalf of more than 5,800 youths alleges that San Bernardino County Children and Family Services, an agency that was deemed by a civil grand jury to be "too broken to fix," failed to protect those under its care and at times placed them in danger. The lawsuit, filed Thursday morning, claims that overburdened caseworkers are unable to perform required visits and inspections of foster homes and that the agency fails to properly vet homes and families where children are placed, sometimes with dire consequences. "In extreme cases, CFS has even placed children with known, registered sex offenders," the lawsuit says. Filed by A Better Childhood, a nonprofit group that uses civil litigation to push reform in child welfare systems, the suit seeks court intervention to mandate lower caseloads and require the agency to create procedures to keep foster children safe and to find them permanent homes. The suit also names the California Department of Social Services as a defendant. "Child welfare systems don't have to run as poorly as the San Bernardino child welfare system does," said Marcia Lowry, director of A Better Childhood. "These kids' lives have been wrecked by what's happening in the system." County officials did not respond to the allegations in the lawsuit but said in a statement that Children and Family Services hired 115 social services practitioners in the 2021-22 fiscal year and 67 more this fiscal year to reduce caseloads. The agency is also working with community partners to reduce the number of children that go into the system in the first place, the county said. According to the statement, the department has also added on-site counseling for staff, in an effort to reduce attrition, and has increased the number of beds in temporary shelters. A spokesperson with the California Department of Social Services said the agency does not comment on ongoing litigation. The lawsuit comes five months after the San Bernardino County grand jury called for Children and Family Services to be scrapped and replaced by a privately run center, saying it was "too broken to fix." The scathing December report pointed out that the number of children who were physically and sexually abused while in the system increased every year from 2019 to 2021. "The revelations that there are significant amounts of substantiated sexual abuse and physical abuse cases is eye-opening," the grand jury wrote. "There are significant and alarming number of cases involving already traumatized children that come into the care of the CFS who have been further physically or sexually abused by a system that was created to protect them." In 2019, 34 children under the care of the agency were physically abused, and 14 were sexually abused, according to the report. In 2020, 35 were physically abused and 27 were sexually abused, and in 2021, the respective numbers were 55 and 34, according to the grand jury. In a statement, a county spokesperson pushed back against the findings and recommendations made by the grand jury. "We believe that much of the San Bernardino County Grand Jury's report was built off bits of information without understanding the full context of cases or how Children and Family Services (CFS) is mandated to operate by the state," the statement says. "The County would like to note that while we appreciate the diligent work of the Grand Jury, many of their findings are not legally obtainable." The lawsuit, filed Thursday, echoed many of the concerns outlined in the grand jury's report. San Bernardino Children and Family Services has faced high caseworker turnover and caseloads up to six times larger than recommended, Lowry said. The Child Welfare League of America recommends 12 to 15 foster children per staffer, but in 2022, caseworkers in San Bernardino were working with as many as 70 to 90, according to the suit. Children spend an average of 551 days in the custody of the San Bernardino County agency, the suit claims, about 104 days longer than the national average. Foster homes have failed to be properly vetted, and required meetings and inspections are "perfunctory" and "fly-by" visits, according to the suit. According to San Bernardino County, CFS finalized adoptions of 1,550 children in 2021 and 2022. So far this year, the agency is on track to finalize 745. The suit also alleges that children have been placed in homes where they don't speak the language of the foster family. "Whether or not a child gets into a good foster home is a matter of serendipity, not a matter of design," Lowry said. "I'm sure there are people in the system who want to do a good job and just don't have the sources to do so." Although the grand jury found that the county agency had taken action to address the rising number of abuse cases, it called many of the steps "reactive" and not meant to prevent abuse from happening in the first place; for example, the creation of the Open Case Investigation Unit to investigate cases of alleged abuse and hold meetings with law enforcement. The grand jury alleged that the agency lacks independent oversight. "Presently, CFS has no local accountability, which allows them to operate behind an air of confidentiality," the report says. San Bernardino County Children and Family Services has been plagued with problems for more than 10 years, Lowry said, but despite blistering reviews and reports like those from the grand jury, little has changed. "Nothing else is working," she said about the decision to file the suit. A Better Childhood has active cases in New York, where it is based, as well as in New Jersey, Mississippi, Oregon, West Virginia, Alaska and Texas. Some previous lawsuits have resulted in federal mandates and federal oversight of welfare agencies. "A lawsuit may be different because we want the court to really examine and look at the system very carefully," said attorney Polly Towill, whose firm, Sheppard Mullin, has taken the case pro bono. "We want to prevent disasters." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Russia's regular army has replaced Wagner forces in the suburbs of Bakhmut, but mercenaries still remain in the city, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on May 25. Earlier the same day, Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin said his fighters had started leaving Bakhmut for rear camps to "rest and retrain." He said they would withdraw from the city before June 1. Prigozhin claimed full control over the embattled city of Bakhmut on May 20, which Ukraine later denied. In her May 25 Telegram post, Maliar reiterated her statement that Ukrainian forces still controlled a portion of the southwestern area of the city. Wagner a shadow of what it once was: Russia security expert on the rage of mercenary boss Prigozhin After seeming to have calmed down over early spring, the internal conflict between Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Russian Defense Ministry has escalated dramatically. In the early morning of May 5, Prigozhin recorded a video in front of what he claimed to be the bodies of doz The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell However, as reported by the Kyiv Independent on May 22, it is evident that Bakhmut had effectively been occupied by Russian troops, based on both official statements and those made by soldiers on the ground to the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian forces are still reportedly engaged in combat around Bakhmut. According to Maliar, Russian troops continue their attempts to strengthen their positions on the flanks of Bakhmut's suburbs, deploying additional units for reinforcement. Over the past day, Ukraine's military has repelled Russian attacks in the Avdiivka and Marinka areas in Donetsk Oblast, said the official. Meanwhile, in the Kupiansk area, Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces are trying to gain a foothold for further advances but are "suffering losses," she added. Delivery Driver Accuses Police Of Pulling Gun And Slamming Her To Ground Over Expired Tags In $30 Million Lawsuit A grocery delivery driver is suing an Ohio police department for $30 million, accusing officers of putting her in a chokehold and slamming her to the ground after a traffic stop. According to a lawsuits complaint, Caitlin Taylor is suing the Sylvania Township Police Department and two of its officers for battery, assault, deprivation of rights and negligence after she was allegedly manhandled after being pulled over for expired tags in June 2022. Taylor was delivering groceries when she got lost and pulled into a driveway as she looked for her delivery destination while her car was quietly being followed by Officer John Tanner, the lawsuit states. According to the complaint, Taylor, a Michigan resident, was driving with an expired registration tag, an infraction that was not being enforced in her home state because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Taylor was backing out the driveway, Tanner allegedly pulled out his firearm and kneeled behind his police car door with the overhead lights on, according to the complaint. According to the dashcam footage obtained by HuffPost, Tanner shouted several commands at Taylor, including demanding that she shut her vehicle off and drop the keys out of the window, as he threatened to arrest her and use a Taser on her. As I noticed him, he opened up his door and he turned on his light and he stood up and kneeled behind his door with his gun and I was just very taken back by it and thats when he started to shout to his demands and I just wanted to know what was going on because I was very confused why he was pointing a gun at me, Taylor told Toledo TV station WTVG in an interview. Dashcam footage shows Sylvania Township Police officers John Tanner and Michael Wyatt restraining Caitlin Taylor. The footage was provided by her attorney. Dashcam footage shows Sylvania Township Police officers John Tanner and Michael Wyatt restraining Caitlin Taylor. The footage was provided by her attorney. Tanner allegedly switched to his Taser and requested backup, then ordered Taylor out of her vehicle and attempted to restrain her without telling her why she was being pulled over or detained, according to the complaint. Without any explanation, Plaintiff was then attacked, grabbed, manhandled, spun around, and slammed to ground, all by Officer Tanner, the complaint reads. Officer Tanner had her in a body restraint which seemingly was intended to cut off her ability to move, as he then slammed her to the ground and against the vehicle. According to the lawsuit, the struggle continued as Officer Michael Wyatt arrived and allegedly put Taylor in chokehold, then Tanner allegedly threw himself on top of her. I was in the back of the police car for a while, and I still didnt even know why, and I kept asking him Why am I back here? and all he could say to me is For obstructing and resisting. When I asked him again, Can you please tell me why you pulled me over? he said, Youll have your day in court, Taylor told WTVG. After being restrained, the lawsuit says, she was read her rights and held for hours. During this time, three more officers arrived to search her vehicle, according to the lawsuit. According to court records, Sylvania Township is seeking to have the police department removed from the lawsuit, arguing that it cannot be held liable.The Sylvania Township Police Department did not respond to HuffPosts request for a comment. Anthony Richardson, the attorney representing Taylor, told HuffPost that she was originally arrested on charges of resisting arrest and obstruction of justice, which were later dismissed. He added that she deserved to be informed as to why she was being approached and had the right to resist unlawful arrest. It actually seems that the officers not only forgot to show care regarding her rights but also forgot she was a human being who deserved to be treated with dignity, Richardson said. At all times, the officers were acting under color of law, and the mental and emotional harm theyve caused, without legal justification to do so, will be long or forever lasting for Mrs. Taylor and her family. According to the suit, Taylor went to a hospital after police released her, adding she had multiple bruises over her body and was bleeding as a result of tight handcuffs. Traumatized, Taylor quit her grocery delivery job in fear that someone would call police and report her as a suspicious person for being lost, according to the lawsuit. In a statement to HuffPost, the Taylor family said that the officers actions have been catastrophic to Taylors well being because of abuse she experienced as a child. They have caused Caitlin to relive horrible and unsettling emotions, feelings, and memories and their assault adding more layers to her lasting trauma, the family said. Her past experience with abuse now has to be shared with the world which until now has been kept out of public scrutiny. In the statement, the family also noted their absolute support for law enforcement, thanking the other backup officers who insisted on allowing Taylor to finish her delivery and loosening the handcuffs on her wrists. We believe most officers are true to the law. However, we have a duty to hold accountability to those officers who believe they can and choose to act above the law because of their title, position, or uniform, the statement said. We urge all officers of the law to remain true to the oath you took and your passion for protecting the peace. Related... Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has more ties to former President Donald Trump than probably either of them would want you to think. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has more ties to former President Donald Trump than probably either of them would want you to think. Well, isnt this an interesting kettle of fish? In the week that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officially entered the 2024 presidential race, we learn he has much more in common with Donald Trump than many have already suggested. Introducing Lev Parnas. Remember this guy? The Ukrainian American businessman and Rudy Giuliani associate, along with a business partner, were arrested in 2019, accused by the U.S. government of funneling a Russian oligarchs money into American political campaigns (American Law 101: This is illegal). A federal court found him guilty of campaign finance crimes and other charges, and he was sentenced in 2019 to 20 months in prison plus $2.3 million in fines. Among the campaigns Parnas donated to: that of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. It gets better. You may recall that Parnas, a longtime Florida resident, was a key figure in the events leading to Trumps first impeachment. He, Giuliani and several other nefarious characters (including American journalist John Solomon) worked to gather damaging information on Hunter Biden in Ukraine to upend his father Joe Bidens presidential campaign. Trump threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless the country announced an investigation of Hunter Biden. That got Trump impeached by the Democratic-led House of Representatives, charged with abuse of power. He was acquitted in the Senate, however, which required 67 votes to convict. Wait, Republicans protecting one of their own? No way, you say! Way, says Rep. George Santos. Now heres where it gets good. At the time, DeSantis told reporters that Parnas was barely an acquaintance. No relationship with any of those people, his office said. Parnas, DeSantis told reporters, was just like any other donor, nothing more than that. The news agency Reuters begs to differ. Its reporters sat down with Parnas, now under house arrest, who gave a detailed account of his relationship with DeSantis, providing 63 previously unreported text messages from DeSantis to Parnas between May and October 2018 as DeSantis campaigned for governor. Turns out DeSantis asked Parnas for advice on fundraising and to make introductions to donors during his hotly contested 2018 campaign for governor. Parnas would eventually introduce him to Giuliani, then President Trumps personal attorney. In one text, DeSantis even suggested a tweet for Giuliani to post in support of his candidacy. Two sources close to DeSantis during his 2018 campaign confirmed the texters number belonged to DeSantis at that time, Reuters reported. We became very friendly, Parnas said of DeSantis. The donation he secured for DeSantis: $50,000. Theres even a photo of Parnas hugging DeSantis at his election night victory party. But now Parnas feels betrayed, used by Giuliani and Trump, and ghosted by DeSantis, who he says stopped returning texts or calls once he won the governors race. What, a second Trump administration and a possible DeSantis administration run by the same kinds of people? You mean this is an actual thing? Well, DeSantis did say that U.S. support for Ukraine is not a vital national interest. And why, look at that! Trump said it, too! A spokesperson for DeSantis didnt respond to Reuters on specific questions regarding the existence of the texts and Parnas account of the relationship except to say it was old news that has been proven wrong many times over and that DeSantis gave back the contribution after Parnas ran into legal trouble. Ill just leave this totally-unrelated-and-in-no-way-connected headline from a Florida television station right here: DeSantis Signs Bill to Shield Travel Records From Florida Public Record Over Security Concerns. Whats interesting about all this is the timing. Did someone tip off Reuters just as DeSantis was set to officially announce his run for president? Its possible, isnt it? Maybe Trump called in some favors and, behold, a Russian connection to DeSantis comes to light. Is Donald looking to test out a new nickname, Russian Ron? (I kinda like Ronovavich DeSantovich, myself.) Trump, DeSantis, Santos, oligarchs oh, the tangled web. Its all one giant ball of emulsified grease composed entirely of Russians and Republicans. Unfortunately, I doubt theres enough pressure-washing to get rid of it. Then again, you can turn fat and lye into soap, and Republicans sure need lots of soap. Meanwhile, all patriotic right-wing voters waving their miniature flags with such pride and chanting the Pledge of Allegiance like its a prayer (and not even the original version of it), decking out their trucks with Dont tread on me flags and their houses with Go Brandon banners soldiers of freedom who love their country soooo much wholeheartedly support these two guys. How do you pick the complete opposite of your stance and not see it? But thats just the fun part. I sometimes wonder if the presidential aspirants realize just how deep the media and opposition research outlets will dig into their past when they decide to run for president. DeSantis has already had testyexchanges with reporters. Like Trump, DeSantis doesnt want to speak with the press, he wants to speak to the press. A one-sided conversation wherein he doesnt have to answer questions. Indeed, he tried to roll back media protections that, thankfully, failed. No wonder he chose Twitter to kick off his campaign. Its like a political safe space from reporters. Treating journalists with hostility doesnt make you look tough. It makes you look fragile, egotistical, unknowledgeable, dishonest, even corrupt. In a national campaign, where the stakes are higher, the reporters more tenacious and the microscope more intense, DeSantis may throw so many tantrums that hell start looking like a bobble-headed baby. Lets hope journalists have the guts to stand up to him, though there are signs from his campaign of a thawing out, what one media outlet calls DeSantis Glasnost. HuffPost contributor Dustin J. Seibert has already delivered a searing indictment on the prospects of a DeSantis presidency. I quite agree. Given all hes done in Florida, almost all by disturbingly dictatorial writ, its hard to imagine his conjured-up issues over wokeness, critical race theory, transgender rights, book bans, educational whitewashing and his petty war with Disney will appeal to the broader electorate. But there is a flip side I hope journalists will consider in covering the DeSantis campaign. While all those dog-whistle issues, DeSantis demagoguery, vindictiveness and authoritarian tendencies have gotten all the attention, the actual gears of governance have gotten next to none. Its less about what DeSantis has done in Florida in his nearly four years as governor and more about what hes done to Florida. Or what he hasnt bothered to do at all. Florida ranks near the bottom of state rankings in health care, school funding and long-term elder care, which is particularly troubling given it has the nations highest percentage of retirees. (More than one-fifth of the population is over 65.) Florida is hardly a haven for the average working stiff. DeSantis campaigned against a successful ballot initiative to raise the states $8.65 an hour minimum wage. (Voters in 2020 passed Amendment 2, which changed Floridas constitution to gradually increase the states minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026.) Florida ranks 49th in teacher pay, 43rd in per-pupil funding and 48th in public school funding overall. The states unemployment benefits are among the nations worst, not having increased since 1998. When DeSantis boasts about Florida and his campaign pitch to Make America Florida, is this what hes talking about? It raises a stark question: Does this guy even know how to govern? Does he actually think governing is about nothing else but culture wars? Does this Yale graduate not understand our nations founding principles? Is he aware of the historical parallels that suggest his behavior is the opposite of those principles? On the campaign trail, DeSantis has proudly referred to what he calls the Free State of Florida. Really? Florida sure seems far less free than a lot of other states. Other states arent banning books, creating revisionist history, denigrating diversity, turning colleges into right-wing think tanks or attempting to limit press freedoms. In Florida, parents are no longer free to decide what their kids can read or whether they can take their children to a drag event. College students have lost the choice to study certain kinds of history. Women have virtually no control over their bodies unless you think six weeks is gracious enough for them to ponder the future of a pregnancy they may not be aware of yet. People who are different are now free to be demonized by others who seem to have no grasp of the idea that America was always a place that celebrated diversity. Today it is a place that fosters divisiveness. Would the Founding Fathers even consider such usurpations? Not before turning over in their graves. Consider: We have a government that has taken control of the authorization of all textbooks. We have a government that has replaced academic leaders with feckless loyalists. Now the government will decide what children shall learn rather than leaving that to professional educators, threatening any academic institutions that resist. Do you know who did all this? The Fascist government of Italy under Benito Mussolini. This is the act DeSantis wants to bring to the nation. I dont mean to Godwin the argument here, but you cant deny the similarity, and you have to agree these are not linchpins of a free society. Or maybe its just me because it seems nearly every vision of dystopia Ive read or seen on film involves some outcome of the slew of anti-liberal policies being promoted by DeSantis, not to mention the new Republican Party. Is it hyperbolic to call Ron DeSantis a fascist? Hey, just because a guy is banning gays, trans people and books, marginalizing minorities and limiting a womans bodily autonomy while seizing control of public schools and universities, demanding corporations support his policies and proposing his own army doesnt make him a fascist. Geez. Everybody knows it only counts if he holds a rally and the attendees give him the ol Nazi salute. And you wonder why the Free State of Florida has so horrifically disenfranchised those who most benefit from policies serving the broader public interest. We cannot consider people for higher office for any office who prioritize fear-mongering as governance at the expense of the public good. One was enough. We dont need another. This is not the way to make America Great, let alone Make America Florida. It is everything antithetical to what truly has made America great. President Biden Delivers State Of The Union Address - Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) felt the taunts of irony on Wednesday while temporarily presiding over a House session. The Georgia representative called for decorum in the chamber and was greeted by bursts of laughter from her Democratic colleagues. Members are reminded to abide by decorum of the House, she said in an attempt to quiet down assembled members during a floor speech by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.). Instead, the room erupted in boisterous laughter, prompting Green to repeatedly bang her gavel, not that it helped much. Greenes call for composure in the chamber is ironic given her long history of outbursts and heckling in Congress. During President Joe Bidens State of the Union address earlier this year, Greene shouted Liar! after he claimed Republicans wanted to threaten entitlement programs like Social Security. Later, Greene and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) chanted Build the Wall as Biden pushed for immigration reform. On Wednesday evening, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) likened Greenes plea for decorum to Leonardo DiCaprio telling people to date people their own age. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) echoed his sentiments, tweeting that he hadnt laughed this hard in a while. More from Rolling Stone Wow Democrats just laughed at Marjorie Taylor Greene when she asked them to abide by decorum of the House pic.twitter.com/2jrLFyAEWg Acyn (@Acyn) May 24, 2023 The right-wing conspiracy troll known for serially harassing her political opponents, has a known history of preaching tolerance when it comes to her own antics. In March, Greene said she needed a safe space after someone yelled at her at a restaurant, despite disparaging Americans seeking equal rights as snowflakes while decrying the idea of safe spaces. Last fall, activist group Voters of Tomorrow filed a formal complaint against Greene with the Office of Congressional Ethics after footage captured the congresswoman allegedly kicking one of their staffers and directing xenophobic remarks at their executive director. This isnt just about the Marjorie Taylor Greene kick, although that was very alarming to us, the organizations spokesperson Jack Lobel told to Rolling Stone at the time. This is about something larger, which is accountability for leaders in government, and that accountability coming from our generation. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Democrats erupt in laughter after Greene calls for decorum in House Democrats erupted in laughter on the House floor Wednesday when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) who was presiding over the chamber called for decorum. The heckling came as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) was delivering floor remarks about the debt ceiling, which has been the subject of high-stakes negotiations between GOP lawmakers and the White House. As Scalise was urging the Senate and White House to take action on raising the borrowing limit referencing the bill House Republicans passed last month Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) called him a liar. We are in fact the only body in this town who has actually taken steps to address the debt ceiling and the spending problem in Washington. I would encourage the Senate to take up the bill, I would encourage the president to get engaged and address this problem, but we already have, the votes are on the board Scalise said before pausing to react to Bowman. Bowmans office confirmed to The Hill that it was the congressman who yelled liar while Scalise was speaking. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the 12:30 Report newsletter Order, Greene said from the dais, pounding her gavel. I ask that the House be in order and there be some decorum on the other side, Scalise said. After a roughly 15-second pause, Greene called for decorum in the chamber. The members are reminded to abide by decorum of the House, she said. Democrats in the chamber then erupted in laughter. Some members including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) stood from their seats and started shouting. As the laughter continued, Greene slammed her gavel a number of times. The Hill reached out to Greene for comment. The Democrats reaction was a reflection of the controversy swirling around Greenes own bombastic behavior since arriving on Capitol Hill, which at times has played out on the House floor. During President Bidens State of the Union address in February, the Georgia Republican yelled liar as the president delivered remarks on Social Security and Medicare. And last month, Greene was silenced during a Homeland Security Committee hearing after she accused Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of being a liar. Following the laughter, Greene said the House will be in order and recognized Scalise to continue talking on the floor. While some in this town might be interested in theatrics, House Republicans took action, Scalise said, prompting groans in the chamber. We passed a bill to address the problem, its time for my friends on the other side to start doing their job, call the Senate back in to take up the bill. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage If they dont like it they can amend it, that is part of the legislative process. Lets get our jobs done; weve done ours, they need to do theirs, he added. Scalise took to the House floor Wednesday to inform lawmakers that they can leave Washington for Memorial Day weekend but should be prepared to return to the Capitol with 24-hours notice to vote on a debt limit ceiling as negotiations over raising the borrowing limit drag on. For more than a week, Republican lawmakers and White House negotiators have been engaging in talks to come to an agreement. Pressure, however, has mounted in recent days as the calendar inches closer to June 1 the day that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the U.S. could default by. After announcing the scheduling plans, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) spoke on the House floor to criticize the GOP bill and celebrate that all members of the Democratic caucus signed on to a discharge petition, which liberal lawmakers are hoping can be used to force a vote on legislation to increase the borrowing limit. Democrats erupted in applause. While all 213 Democrats have signed onto the petition, the caucus needs five Republicans to join their effort to reach the threshold of a majority of the chamber, which is needed to force a vote through the discharge petition. That, however, is an unlikely scenario as Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has called on GOP lawmakers to stand behind him in negotiations. Clark, however, called on Republicans to join the Democratic effort. It only takes five patriots to join us in the fight for the American people. Join us, sign the petition, stay here and fight for American families, fight for their American security, she added. Updated on May 25 at 12:03 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Democrats erupted in laughter after Marjorie Taylor Greene asked for 'decorum' in the House, video shows Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene yells during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in the House Chamber on February 7, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for "decorum" on the House floor on Wednesday. Her demand was met with instant laughter and heckling from Democrats. Greene yelled at President Joe Biden, calling him "a liar," during the 2023 State of the Union address. Members of Congress burst into laughter on Wednesday when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for "decorum" in the House. The incident came just months after Greene was herself criticized for a distinct lack of decorum during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. In a C-SPAN video of Wednesday's incident, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise can be seen making remarks about the debt ceiling, when somebody on the House floor appeared to disrupt him. It is unclear which lawmaker heckled him, or what they said. Greene then shouted "order" and banged her gavel. After Scalise asked for some decorum, Greene banged her gavel again, demanding that Democrats behave. "The members are reminded to abide by the decorum of the House," she said, instantly causing a ruckus on the House floor. In the C-SPAN video, members of Congress can be heard erupting into laughter, with others appearing to heckle. According to The Hill, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Cori Bush rose from their seats and began to shout. Greene banged her gavel several more times as the laughter continued on the House floor. In February, Greene, who did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, joined other Republicans in a raucous moment while Biden accused some Republicans of wanting a Medicare and Social Security sunset. She stood up and shouted "liar" at the president. And last month Greene was also blocked from further participation in a House Homeland Security Committee hearing after she broke House rules by calling Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas a "liar." In the same hearing, she also accused Rep. Eric Swalwell of having an affair with a Chinese spy. Read the original article on Business Insider The News Left out of the loop in talks, House Democrats arent happy with how the White House has handled its messaging around the debt limit negotiations a week ahead of the crucial June 1 deadline. They need to do their job, Steven Horsford, D-Nev., the Congressional Black Caucus chair, told Semafor. It starts with the President. He has the power of the bully pulpit of the presidency. The White House, he said, doesnt have a clear message, especially with the Senate out of town and not providing backup. His advice to the president: Have a national address to explain to people what's happening. Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the former House majority leader, told Semafor he would urge Biden to have a fireside chat about the debt limit as well, even as he predicted a successful resolution. I think the president really does need to explain to the American people what this is about more clearly, he said. Kadia's view In the press, Republicans have dominated the discussion with their talking points. Theyve briefed reporters, oftentimes after exiting the actual negotiation room, and presented policy clashes with their Democratic counterparts from their point of view. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been personally generous with press access, hammering away at Democrats over the national debt much of which, Democrats note, was run up via bipartisan pandemic relief and budget deals and giving his conference a clear lead to follow, even if they dont always take it. In contrast, Bidens team of negotiators leave silently, sometimes relaying a counter-message with some grievances, but very little detail about what the administration is asking for. The information gap has House Democrats on the defense, still parroting talking points from months ago that Republican demands to haggle over the debt ceiling were an illegitimate attempt to extort devastating budget cuts which no longer align with the strategy of a White House that is now deep in negotiations. I have no idea where Biden is right now, one Democratic member told Semafor, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely. Biden had said, We're not going to negotiate. We're not going to negotiate. And all of a sudden we're negotiating, they said. Asked about the complaints from Democrats, an administration official pushed back, arguing that both Biden and high-ranking staffers like Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had made the administrations priorities like fighting back against the GOPs demands for work requirements and protecting climate spending clear. They also said the White House needed to be less pointed with its rhetoric at times in order to negotiate effectively, and that it had worked closely with Democrats on the Hill to carry a message that contrasted with Republicans. On Wednesday, the White House hammered at a controversial comment by Rep. Matt Gaetz for, who eagerly described himself and fellow conservatives as hostage takers. At a press briefing, Jean-Pierre told reporters Gaetz had said the quiet part out loud about Republican tactics. The administration official told Semafor that the quote had given Democrats more cohesion on messaging: It came up in a daily White House call with Schumers and Jeffries offices, and who agreed to go on offensive about it. But thats still ultimately a process story: It doesnt speak to the substantive concerns members, and their constituents, are trying to navigate about an emerging deal. We're losing the war on framing, Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa. told Semafor. We're talking about spending, spending, spending, spending, we need to be talking about cuts. We need the administration to be talking about cuts. Its all left Democrats confused, and often unable to respond to Republicans' debt limit rhetoric not just because they dont want to usurp the negotiations, but often because they dont know whats going on at all. Some of them want Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to be at the negotiating table with the presidents team. Instead they worry hes been relegated to the role of chief salesman for Bidens talks, but without the clout needed to reassure members nervous about a deal or to effectively message about a negotiation hes not actually involved in. I do wish leader Jeffries would be in the room because I think he's an exceptional representative for all of us: A great head, a great heart, and a very able negotiator, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. told Semafor. Hakeem does not have the kind of bullhorn he should, because he's not in the room, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif. told Semafor. We need more people listening to him and amplifying his message, but the way the current negotiation has been structured, he's been a little diminished, he added. That's really unfortunate. Room for Disagreement Not everyone agrees with filling in rank-and-file members on every incremental step of the negotiation. As someone who comes from a background in national security where I did negotiation as part of my job, you can't be completely transparent in the middle of a negotiation, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. told Seamfor. You just simply cannot because there's a whole dance happening between the two sides. Denmark Will Allow Under-18s Right to Abortion Without Parental Consent (Bloomberg) -- Denmarks government plans to allow women aged 15 to 17 to get an abortion without consent from their parents, as the Nordic country marked the 50th anniversary of the right to choose. Most Read from Bloomberg Abortion can be associated with many emotions, guilt and shame, Marie Bjerre, the Danish minister for equality, said in a tweet on Wednesday. It can be humiliating and have major consequences to have to ask for parental consent when you are under 18. We want to put an end to that. Women living in Denmark have the right to an abortion up until the 12th week of pregnancy and dont have to provide a justification for their decision. But currently, abortion is only legal for women under 18 if they have permission from parents or guardians. Lawmakers are also discussing allowing abortions up into the second trimester. According to an October report from the Center for Reproductive Rights, a legal advocacy group, more than 95% of people of reproductive age in Europe live in countries that allow abortion on request or what the group defines as broad social grounds. Read more: Abortion Debate Is Rekindled in Europe After US Rollback of Roe (Updates with data on abortion access in Europe in the final paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Denmark and the Netherlands will lead the development of training for Ukrainians on F-16s in the coming weeks, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Austin made the announcement about the training at a news conference after a Ukraine Defense Contact Group virtual meeting Thursday. The group, composed of nearly 50 countries, included a session on planning training for Ukrainians on fourth-generation aircraft, like the F-16s, for the long term. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, who was with Austin, said it would take "a considerable length of time" to build up a Ukrainian air force to the scope and scale necessary to match Russia's thousands of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. Austin said countries like Norway, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland have already offered to contribute to the training, but he did not say who would supply the advanced fighter jets. The fighter jets would not have to come from the U.S., but any country that wants to transfer its stock of American-made F-16s to Ukraine would need permission from the U.S. government. Officials in Ukraine have been asking for F-16s since the war began, but as has been the case with other requests, U.S. officials said no before they eventually arrived at yes. Milley said the U.S. made the cost-effective choice in committing other equipment like ground-based air-defense systems before F-16s. He said the cost of just 10 F-16s combined with the cost to sustain them is about $2 billion. "If you were to do that just F-16s you wouldn't have tanks, you wouldn't have Bradleys, you wouldn't have anti-armor weapons, you wouldn't have anything else. You'd spend all your money on just that," Milley said. "It's a cost-risk-benefit analysis that leads you to these separate, incremental sort of packages that go forward." To help with the cost, Austin said countries plan to establish a fund so countries that cannot provide F-16s or chip in for maintenance and sustainment training can still contribute to the effort. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes gets longest Jan. 6 sentence to date John Dickerson on how presidential campaigns turned into bids for attention What's changed since George Floyd's death three years ago Deputies need help locating people who were at Kings River the day two children drowned Fresno County Sheriffs investigators to continue to search for witnesses who may have information about the drowning of two children in the Kings River Sunday. Eight year-old Victoria Barajas was found dead Sunday afternoon after she and a her brother Santiago, 4, were swept away by fast, cold water from Pine Flat Dam. The lifeless body of the Santiago was found the next day. Sheriffs spokesman Tony Botti said deputies know there were several small groups along the shoreline where the children entered the river. Deputies want to speak with anyone who was there to gain a better understanding of anything you may have witnessed, Botti added. Anyone who was in area around that time about a mile south of the Pine Flat Dam between 1 and 2 p.m. on Sunday is asked to contact detective Jose Leon at 559-600-8205. The children were with their mother and an adult friend at the time of the tragedy. Deputies said the group was trying to reach a rock in the river when the powerful water current pulled the children away. Deputies searching for suspect who hit sheriffs cruiser during pursuit in Butler County The Butler County Sheriffs Office is reaching out to the public for help locating a man who deputies say was involved in a pursuit Monday night. According to the sheriffs office, 28-year-old Jarred Hignite struck a sheriffs cruiser with his vehicle during the pursuit. >> Unclothed man expected to survive after shot by Dayton officers while carrying sword Hignite has an active parole violation from ODRC along with charges from the Butler County Sheriffs Office for resisting arrest, felonious assault and failure to comply, the sheriffs office said. Anyone with information on Hignites whereabouts is asked to contact the Butler County Sheriffs Office Warrants Division at 513-785-1000. Deputy involved in shooting at Macon apartment complex, suspect taken to hospital Deputy involved in shooting at Macon apartment complex, suspect taken to hospital The Bibb County Sheriffs Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating a deputy-involved shooting that happened Wednesday evening. This is the fourth shooting involving law enforcement in just 24 hours. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The GBI said it happened at 5:45 p.m. in the Tindall Fields apartments. Bibb County Sheriffs deputies received information about the location of a murder suspect, Anthony Donnell Baldwin, Jr., involved in the homicide of Claudette Brown on November 14, 2022. They spotted Baldwin near the Housing Authority Apartment Complex on Felton Avenue at Alabama Street in a Chevy Yukon on Houston Avenue. Baldwin was seen in a GMC Yukon that was also reported as stolen. Investigators with BCSO began to follow Baldwin and initiated a traffic stop. Baldwin stopped and quickly got out of the SUV, then reached back into the SUV and grabbed a firearm. BCSO said thats when an investigator shot Baldwin. RELATED STORIES: A young child was in the SUV but was not injured, according to the GBI. BCSO said Baldwin was treated by deputies until E.M.S. workers arrived and then taken to a medical center for treatment and he is in stable condition. No one else was injured in this incident. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: DeSantiss 2024 rivals pile on over tech issues with campaign launch DeSantiss 2024 rivals pile on over tech issues with campaign launch Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) rivals in the 2024 presidential race reveled in the tech issues that marred his official announcement Wednesday using Twitter Spaces. DeSantis, who officially entered the GOP primary race Wednesday, was set to speak with Twitter CEO Elon Musk on the platforms audio-only chatroom function, Twitter Spaces. But the audio repeatedly cut out and tech issues overshadowed the launch as hundreds of thousands of listeners tried to tune in. Rival campaigns were swift to poke fun at DeSantiss troubles. Ron DeSantis botched campaign announcement is another example of why he is just not ready for the job, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC aligned with former President Trump, said in a statement. The stakes are too high, and the fight to save America is too critical to gamble on a first-timer who is clearly not ready for prime time, she added. President Trump is the proven leader that will be ready on day one to turn the country around. More on DeSantiss launch from The Hill Donald Trump Jr., the former presidents eldest son, tweeted #DeSaster as the launch struggled to get going. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), who has already declared his candidacy, used the moment to fundraise. Just like my policies, this link works, Hutchinson tweeted, along with a link to donate to his campaign and a pitch that he is the consistent conservative candidate whose policies work every time. Ken Farnaso, a spokesperson for Nikki Haleys presidential campaign, tweeted a video of the former South Carolina governors launch event in her home state in February. Were so proud of @TeamHaley and our incredible campaign launch, he tweeted. Democrats also got in on the fun. President Biden tweeted, This link works with a link to a donation page for his own reelection campaign. Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement that the issue-laden announcement showed DeSantis was quite literally not ready for primetime. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies are preparing to launch a major counteroffensive against former President Trump as the second-term governor enters the 2024 race for the GOPs White House nomination. DeSantis is well behind Trump in national polls, but his team largely brushes off the challenge of taking on the former president, arguing there is plenty of time for the Floridian to make up ground and that his message of conservatism plus result will resonate with GOP primary voters. We havent really been preparing for Day 1. Weve been preparing for the months ahead of Day 1 even, an adviser with Never Back Down, the main super PAC backing DeSantiss presidential bid, told The Hill. Weve been building and employing tactics that have put him in an incredibly strong position and, arguably, a stronger position than Trump. DeSantis is jumping into the race with both feet, as advisers say there wont be any lag between Wednesdays announcement which will be included in an unusual interview with Twitter CEO Elon Musk and an operation that is up-and-running. Never Back Down is preparing a $100 million voter outreach effort and has begun assembling a team of staffers and organizers in the first 18 states on the GOP primary calendar. The group has already been playing a critical support role for DeSantis. When the governor decided to make a surprise stop in Des Moines earlier this month during a swing through Iowa, Never Back Down staffers went to work, helping organize a crowd for DeSantis at the last minute. The adviser said that Never Back Down has already knocked on more than 26,900 doors in Iowa alone. Similar efforts in New Hampshire are also underway, the adviser added. Its a one-two punch of wanting to be aggressive, well-organized and well-placed, the adviser said. Were going to force the Trump campaign and his supporters to try to keep up. Trump has signaled for months that he sees DeSantis as his most dangerous potential rival, and has been blasting away at his former ally with television ads and Truth Social messages criticizing the Florida governor. Its made a difference in national polls, where Trump is the clear front-runner and leads DeSantis by an average of 30 points. The lack of a response from DeSantis and his operation has at times worried supporters, who fear Trump is building too insurmountable a lead and worry the loyalty many Republican voters have with the former president is being underestimated. DeSantiss backers acknowledge that the governor will have to do more than just out-organize Trump given the relentless attacks from the former president. Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor whos supporting DeSantis for the 2024 nomination, said that the governor still needs to find a way to punch back against the former presidents attacks. Gov. DeSantis has assembled a strong team. Ive met these folks, Eberhart said. Once hes in the race, I would like to see him start hitting back at Trump and return all this incoming fire. One possible line of attack that multiple DeSantis allies have floated is going after Trump on some of the key culture war issues that have defined the governors political rise. You essentially have the former president arguing for Disney over DeSantis, the Never Back Down adviser said. Hes argued against fetal heartbeat bills over DeSantis even when its a very wounding issue for him in Iowa and South Carolina. Money may provide an advantage for DeSantis. While DeSantiss campaign itself will have to start fundraising from scratch, his old state political account is sitting on more than $80 million that it will be able to transfer to supportive PACs that can run ads, fund organizing efforts and test strategies. DeSantiss political operation has also assembled a massive network of business leaders to help raise money for his nascent campaign. A senior official with the governors political shop described the effort last week as potentially the biggest bundler operation in Republican presidential primary history. Those fundraisers gathered at the Four Seasons hotel in Miami on Wednesday, following the governors announcement, to begin raising funds for his campaign. Despite the wide gap between DeSantis and Trump in early national polls, state-level surveys paint a more encouraging picture for the governor, especially in the early voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, which often give their winners critical jolts of momentum. While the RealClearPolitics average shows Trump leading DeSantis by nearly 37 points nationally, the governor is running only about 12 points behind in Iowa and 18 points behind in New Hampshire. Likewise, DeSantis has largely outpaced Trump in his overall favorability rating in early state-level polls. There are still high hurdles for DeSantis to overcome. Besides Trump, there are five other Republicans seeking the partys 2024 nomination and more are likely to join the field soon. Eberhart said DeSantiss biggest obstacle will be making the primary a binary choice between him and the former president. We need to avoid a repeat of 2016, when a crowded field allowed Trump to win with a plurality, Eberhart, the GOP donor, said. Thats the biggest challenge DeSantis needs to navigate. Yet Trump still remains deeply popular among Republican voters a fact that even DeSantiss allies see as a challenge to be overcome. The adviser to Never Back Down conceded that theres still established, residual support for the former president, but added, theres a lot of growing enthusiasm and support for Ron DeSantis. The former president has a base of support in some instances that will be tough to crack, the adviser said. The good news is, so does Ron DeSantis. This isnt spin or its frankly not even a television ad. Its what people are telling us on the ground, especially in the early states where theyre paying a great deal of attention. Exactly how DeSantis and his allies plan to sharpen their case against Trump remains a moving target. Never Back Down has already spent upwards of $10 million on television ads seeking to bolster DeSantis. Still, with the governors formal entrance into the race, his supporters say hes now freed up to confront Trump more directly. DeSantis has the record. He has the policy chops. He has the money, Eberhart said. Game on. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gambled by choosing to announce his presidential run on Twitter, in an audio-only interview with the social media companys owner, Elon Musk, who appears to be building a conservative media platform to rival Fox News. But that strategy appeared at least for now to have backfired. Wednesday nights event was marred by technical disruptions that delayed the long-expected presidential announcement by nearly half an hour. The new format, known as Twitter Spaces, appeared to confound even expert users of the platform. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a fundraising event in Iowa, May 13. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) When he finally was cleared for lift-off, DeSantis read a version of his stump speech, touting his electoral victories and campaigns against what he calls the woke mind virus. He then took questions from prominent supporters including Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has endorsed him, and from activist Christopher Rufo, the architect of the governors educational crusade. Is DeSantis DOA against Trump? >>> A risky choice Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Michel Euler/Pool/AP) DeSantis could have first announced his presidential run on Fox News, which interviewed him later in the evening. Instead, aligning himself with Musk and his $44-billion platform was seemingly intended to indicate a campaign willing to innovate. But Twitters servers appeared to be overwhelmed by the roughly 500,000 visitors who logged on to hear DeSantis. And since Musk had fired many of the platforms engineers, the problem took some time to rectify. David Sacks, the Bay Area investor who moderated the event, did his best along with Musk put a positive spin on the delay. We've got so many people here that I think we are kind of melting the servers, which is a good sign, he said. But it was hard to see the delay as anything but a setback for a campaign eager to display ruthless competence. 'Did y'all not test this first?' Twitter reacts to Ron DeSantis' announcement crash (Tallahassee Democrat) >>> War on woke Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Feb. 24, 2022. (John Raoux/AP) In prepared remarks that closely mirrored speeches he had recently given in Iowa and elsewhere, as well as in response to softball questions, DeSantis touted his record in handling the pandemic and battling progressive policies, which he has described in aggregate as a war on woke. We held the line when freedom was in the balance, DeSantis said of his resistance to lockdowns and other pandemic precautions, some of which Trump initially supported. Trump is DeSantiss top competitor for the Republican presidential nomination, but the young governor cannot alienate the MAGA base he badly wants to court. On Wednesday night, he made no mention of Trump, but did allude to his own reelection win last November, implicitly contrasting his victory with Trumps 2020 defeat. There is no substitute for winning, he said. Ron DeSantis cant quit Covid (Politico) >>> Trump pounces DeSantis and Trump, the leading contenders for the GOP nomination. (Alex Brandon/AP) Trump has opened a commanding lead over DeSantis in national and state polls, but he is also eager to dispatch the governor as quickly as possible. Wednesday night provided Trump with plenty of opportunities to mock the disciple he once endorsed and now loathes. Glitchy. Tech issues. Uncomfortable silences, a campaign spokesman said. A complete failure to launch. And thats just the candidate! Steven Cheung, a top campaign adviser, wrote on Twitter that DeSantis was Trump-lite and doesnt have an original idea of his own, a charge also leveled by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, now also seeking the Republican presidential nomination. For good measure, the Trump campaign also mocked DeSantis with a brief video of a rocket crashing in a fireball, as well as a fusillade of social media post meant to drown out the announcement. Trumps New DeSantis Attack Is About a Lot More Than Pudding (Daily Beast) >>> Biden piles on President Biden at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, April 29. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Staffers at the White House and on the Biden campaign were practically ecstatic at what they saw as DeSantiss debacle. In the midst of the Twitter Spaces meltdown, the presidents non-governmental account sent a tweet soliciting campaign contributions. This link works, the accompanying message said. Dark Brandon the presidents online alter ego also took predictable joy in the governors travails. He may be older, but President Biden has what Trump and DeSantis sorely lack: substance (Miami Herald) >>> Ron DeSantis began a whirlwind media tour around the launch of his 2024 presidential campaign with an interview on Fox News on Wednesday evening when the governor outlined his misconceptions about climate change. Mr DeSantis was speaking to former congressman Trey Gowdy, a conservative Republican who himself is a climate change denier, in an interview with the conservative news network following his disastrous Twitter Spaces event minutes earlier with Elon Musk. Gowdy began the conversation on the topic by bluntly noting that Florida had experienced a number of hurricanes a statement of the profoundly obvious before asking the governor for his views on climate change and the governments role in addressing it. Mr DeSantis responded by correctly noting that Florida was not experiencing an increase in the number of hurricanes making landfall, and referred to the existence of those storms as a fact of life in the Sunshine State. He then swerved into denialism with his next remark, however, quipping that people said when we had [Hurricane] Ian, it was because of climate change. "I've always rejected the politicization of the weather" -- asked on Fox News for his view on climate change, Ron DeSantis denies that it's a problem pic.twitter.com/MDjVi6TkTC Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 25, 2023 Ive always rejected the politicisation of the weather, Mr DeSantis said. The governor went on to say that he believed emissions could be reduced by encouraging innovation in the private sector, and dismissed the necessity or effectiveness of government regulations on that subject. While the governor rightly noted that Florida is not experiencing more hurricanes making landfall as a result of climate change, the statement itself is rooted in a misunderstanding of the issue. While some advocates for addressing man-made climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions have incorrectly made that assertion, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that warming temperatures are contributing to a two-pronged trend the frequency of hurricanes is dropping around the world, while the average intensity (judged by the number of category 3 storms or higher) is rising. And there are other reasons for Florida, surrounded by coastline, to be concerned about warming temperatures. Coastal areas will see continued sea level rise throughout the 21st century, contributing to more frequent and severe coastal flooding in low-lying areas and coastal erosion. Extreme sea level events that previously occurred once in 100 years could happen every year by the end of this century, reads the UN panels report. Mr DeSantiss entry into the 2024 Republican field was marred by technical difficulties that delayed the beginning of his Twitter Spaces launch event; the governors candidacy has received heightened national attention due to his longstanding status as Donald Trumps only competitive challenger for the GOP nomination, as judged by polling of Republican voters. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) raised $1 million in the first hour after he launched his presidential campaign Wednesday, his press secretary said. There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet. Washington is next. $1 million raised online in one hour and counting! press secretary Bryan Griffin tweeted Wednesday afternoon. The announcement comes after DeSantis entered the race for the Republican nomination for president after months of speculation. DeSantis filed his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission earlier Wednesday before posting an official campaign launch video on his Twitter account. The Florida governor also had a conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk on the platforms Twitter Spaces to discuss his candidacy, but the chat repeatedly experienced audio and technology issues throughout the discussion. Hundreds of thousands of Twitter users tuned in to the conversation. DeSantis has consistently placed second to former President Trump in polling among current and potential Republican candidates for president in 2024. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens to other speakers before signing a series of education bills at Cambridge Christian school in Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post via Getty Images DeSantis' controlled message and discipline is a major part of his brand. That was put to the test Wednesday when he chose a new forum to roll out his presidential run. As listeners poured into Twitter Spaces, it crashed. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis spent the last two years crisscrossing Florida and then the rest of America, where he stayed on message and controlled his environment. During press conferences and political stops, he was rarely late. He homed in on the same points at every stop often criticizing President Joe Biden and came prepared with ready-made answers for the press, often weighing in on the latest news of the day. But Wednesday evening, the audio-only platform he chose to launch his much-anticipated 2024 campaign for president, known as Twitter Spaces, was out of his hands. The discussion he had with Twitter CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur David Sacks, one billed as "a first in the history of social media," was chaotically delayed almost 30 minutes after the site crashed. "We've got so many people here that I think we are kind of melting the servers," Sacks said. At some points, roughly 600,000 people were in the room but by the time the conversation was over roughly 300,000 had joined in to listen. When the technology did start to work, DeSantis pressed ahead with his talking points, reiterating many of the positions he has already made clear during stump speeches, on everything from Walt Disney World to immigration and cryptocurrency. He fielded largely friendly questions from numerous participants, and none were about former President Donald Trump. All the while, the Twittersphere and rival campaigns were still focused on the early technical failings that could prove to be an embarrassment for Musk and DeSantis. #DeSaster started trending on the social media platform later in the evening. "Technical glitches are not good foreshadowing," a Republican political operative texted Insider 10 minutes into the initial conversation, which was filled with starts and stops, robot music, and whispers. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns pounced. "This link works," the Biden campaign wrote on Twitter, sharing a link to its fundraising page. The Trump campaign sent numerous press releases criticizing DeSantis' sagging poll numbers, accusing him of being a lifelong politician and part of the establishment. "Tim Scott's presidential launch, even with the broken microphone (don't pay the contractor, Tim!), was by far the best Presidential launch of the week. Robs was a catastrophe!" Trump said, using the nickname "Rob" after a Daily Mail typo referring to DeSantis from a few weeks ago. In lengthy news profiles, DeSantis has often been defined in relation to Trump, such as "Trump with a brain" and Trump "without the drama." By that, they mean that DeSantis embraces similar policies, and doesn't back down when cornered, but he is also a careful planner whose administration in Florida has few leaks. He sometimes turns off his combativeness during solemn times and knows how to keep major news announcements under wraps until he's ready to share them. When he does, they often make national headlines. Freewheeling Trump, on the other hand, is famous for being impulsive, saying what he thinks at the moment when asked, and firing off big decisions over Twitter that sent his aides scrambling. On Wednesday, Sacks apologized to DeSantis for the technical difficulties and asked him why he chose to make the announcement with them instead of on cable television. The governor said that he wanted to "cut against the grain" instead of "going with the crowd," then turned the conversation back to policy, to how he bucked federal health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida holds a copy of his new book as he speaks to a crowd at the Adventure Outdoors gun store in Smyrna, Ga., on March 30, 2023. AP Photo/John Bazemore DeSantis allies: The governor broke the internet The DeSantis campaign attributed the difficulties to the overwhelming interest in DeSantis' presidential run. "There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis' vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet," Bryan Griffin, campaign spokesman, said on Twitter. "Washington is next. $1 million raised online in one hour... and counting!" Making the choice to launch a campaign with Twitter could have been viewed as a gamble, given that the site has only been under Musk's control for about seven months during a time that has included numerous layoffs, and as many Democrats have accused the site of becoming more right wing. Nearly 1 million people tried to get into Twitter spaces, campaign manager Generra Peck said on Twitter after getting off the phone with Musk and Sacks. "They had more than 700k in the room to start with hundreds of thousands trying to get in," she wrote. "Had to relocate the room." Presidential candidates generally opt for more traditional methods of announcing their candidacies, holding public events, or doing interviews with cable news outlets. Trump himself began his 2016 campaign by descending on his golden escalator at Trump Tower in New York and kicked off his 2024 campaign at his gold-encrusted grand ballroom at Mar-a-Lago. Sam Nunberg, who worked on Trump's 2016 campaign, told Insider that he still thought DeSantis was smart to launch his campaign with Musk because the billionaire, who is also CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is popular with conservatives. "If you'd told me there would be technical glitches but you would have Elon Musk, I'd take that option," he said. "It's recorded anyway." The hashtag #DeSantis2024 was also trending. The money raised will help pay for the campaign's ground game in Iowa, Nunberg said. For comparison, it took 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas one day to raise $1 million. "Whatever Elon touches turns to gold," Nunberg said. After the Twitter discussion, DeSantis headed to Fox News, where he has been a frequent guest while mostly avoiding other networks. "Fox News will not crash during this interview," the show's host, Trey Gowdy, joked to DeSantis when he came onto the program. "It did break the Twitter Space, we are really excited about the enthusiasm," DeSantis said, before pivoting to his campaign message. On the Mark Levin show, where he went next, Levin said toward the end that there were some technical difficulties there because tons of listeners tuned in. Some of DeSantis' answers were spotty toward the end of the discussion. Despite the technical glitches, DeSantis made it clear that he would be returning to Twitter. "We should do it again I thought it was fun," DeSantis said at the end of the event. "This is a great platform." Read the original article on Business Insider Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said the large volume of listeners caused technical issues during his Twitter Spaces conversation with Elon Musk to kick off his candidacy for president. DeSantis told Trey Gowdy, a former Republican congressman from South Carolina, in an interview on Fox News that the conversation had a huge audience, which caused the audio issues. We had a huge audience. It was the biggest theyd ever had. It did break the Twitter Space, and so, were really excited with the enthusiasm, he said. DeSantis ended months of speculation about whether he would mount a bid for the presidency with an announcement that he was joining the race for the GOP nomination Wednesday, posting a video on his Twitter account and having a conversation with Musk about his candidacy. But the discussion experienced repeated tech problems and instances of the audio cutting out as hundreds of thousands of Twitter users tuned in to listen. Fox News itself swiped at DeSantis and Musk before DeSantiss interview, with the banner headline on the outlets website saying, Amateur hour, and, Much hyped Ron DeSantis presidential announcement a disaster on Twitter. More on DeSantiss launch from The Hill Some of DeSantiss rivals for the Republican nomination poked fun at the issues that remained present during the conversation. Karoline Leavitt a spokesperson for Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC aligned with former President Trump said the botched campaign announcement is another example of why DeSantis is not ready for the job. The stakes are too high, and the fight to save America is too critical to gamble on a first-timer who is clearly not ready for prime time, she added. President Trump is the proven leader that will be ready on day one to turn the country around. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) used the glitches as an opportunity to raise funds for his own campaign, tweeting Just like my policies, this link works. President Biden also weighed in on the difficulties, tweeting This link works, along with a link to a page to donate to his campaign. If you make a donation, maybe we can break that part of the internet as well, DeSantis said in the interview. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) presidential campaign Thursday announced his first tour as an official 2024 candidate, with stops scheduled in the early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina as he moves forward from his Twitter Spaces campaign launch marred by technical glitches. DeSantiss Our Great American Comeback Tour will start next week in Iowa, campaign officials said, with a kickoff event Tuesday. The Florida governor will then traverse the Hawkeye State on Wednesday, stopping in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella, and Cedar Rapids. On Thursday, DeSantis will travel to New Hampshire, with plans to visit Laconia, Rochester, Salem, and Manchester. The final leg of the tour will take place in South Carolina, where DeSantis is set to make stops in Beaufort, Lexington, and Greenville. News of the tour follows DeSantiss formal entrance into the Republican primary late Wednesday. His campaign released a video announcing its launch as the governor took part in a Twitter Spaces conversation with the companys head Elon Musk, but the livestream was marred by technical glitches and immediately became an easy target for DeSantiss 2024 rivals, as well as critics on the left and the right. DeSantiss team was quick to point out that conversation drew hundreds of thousands of listeners, and that he raised $1 million in the first hour of his campaign. The tour will include DeSantiss first formal public campaign events, according to aides. The governors campaign manager, Generra Peck, said in a statement that their team is laser-focused on bringing DeSantiss message to early-state voters. Our campaign is committed to putting in the time to win these early nominating states. No one will work harder than Governor DeSantis to share his vision with the country he has only begun to fight, Peck said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DeSantis unloads on Trump after 2024 campaign announcement: 'This is a different guy today' After months of largely avoiding criticizing former President Donald Trump directly, Gov. Ron DeSantis unloaded Thursday during a media blitz following his entry in the presidential race, slamming Trump's COVID-19 response and criticizing his statements on guns and abortion. The comments were some of DeSantis' most pointed when it comes to Trump and highlight his strategy of trying to run to the right of Trump and portray himself as more conservative. "It seems like he's running to the left and I have always been somebody that's just been moored in conservative principles," DeSantis told radio host Matt Murphy. "So these will be interesting debates to have, but I can tell you, you don't win nationally by moving to the left, you win nationally by standing for bold policy. We showed that in Florida. I never watered down anything I did." DeSantis said Trump has changed since he first ran for president. 2024: Twitter glitches. No rally. No Trump talk: 3 surprises about DeSantis' campaign rollout Politics: Mexican president knocks DeSantis, says Hispanic voters shouldn't give him 'a single vote' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 21, and former President Donald Trump on March 4. I dont know what happened to Donald Trump; this is a different guy today than when he was running in 2015 and 2016 and I think the direction that hes going with his campaign is the wrong direction," DeSantis said. DeSantis mostly avoided directly criticizing Trump in the run up to his presidential announcement, apparently out of concerns about angering GOP voters who view Trump favorably. Now that he's an official candidate, it will be more difficult for DeSantis to avoid taking on Trump. Murphy prodded DeSantis about Trump. The governor drew a contrast with the former president on ideological concerns, indicating his Trump strategy may be to target policy over personal issues. For me its not about personalities, when Donald Trump was standing for things I believed in I supported him," DeSantis said. "For me its substantive driven, but when theres substantive disagreements Im going to stand for whats right. DeSantis touched on issues such as abortion and immigration, arguing his views are more conservative than Trump. The abortion issue has become a major flashpoint. Trump recently questioned a bill DeSantis signed that outlaws abortion in Florida when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, or around six weeks of pregnancy "He signed six weeks, and many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh," Trump told the Messenger website, while declining to say whether he personally supports or opposes the legislation. DeSantis told Murphy that Trump is "opposed to Florida's fetal heartbeat bill." At the end of the day... he is going left on a lot of the fiscal, hes going left on culture, hes even sided with Disney against me," DeSantis said. The dustup between DeSantis and Disney has draw considerable attention, with Trump weighing in to argue that the dispute is all so unnecessary, a political STUNT! DeSantis criticized Trump's COVID-19 response in another interview. "When he turned the country over to Fauci in March of 2020 that destroyed millions of people's lives," DeSantis said, referring to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who played a key role role in the pandemic response and has since become widely reviled by many conservatives. DeSantis also was interviewed by former National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch in which she asked him about "the idea of taking the guns first and going through due process second." Trump said in 2018 during a meeting with lawmakers in response the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that authorities should take the guns first, go through due process second." "That's unconstitutional," DeSantis told Loesch. "It violates the Second Amendment, but I think even more important it violates the Fifth Amendment because they can't take anything from you without due process. It's not just firearms." Failure to launch and $1 million raised: What to know about DeSantis' 2024 campaign launch Yet even as he criticized Trump Thursday, DeSantis also implied that should he win the presidency he might pardon Trump if he is charged with a crime related to the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol. DeSantis was asked on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show about pardoning individuals charged with crimes related to Jan. 6. DeSantis said the Department of Justice and FBI have been "weaponized." "We see that in a variety of contexts, some of which you mentioned," DeSantis said. "Some of it is the FBI going after parents going to school board meetings, some of it's how they treat a pro-life demonstrator, how they don't go after people that are attacking pro-lifers." DeSantis added that: On Day 1 I will have folks that will get together and look at all these cases who people are victims of weaponization or political targeting and will be aggressive in issuing pardons." The interviewer asked DeSantis if he also would consider pardoning Trump, should Trump be charged with a crime related to Jan. 6. "I would say an example of disfavored treatment based on politics or weaponization would be included in that review no matter how small or how big," DeSantis responded. While DeSantis was hitting Trump on policy issues Thursday, the former president put out a video where he talks directly to the camera and mocks DeSantis by intentionally misstating his first name, followed by his favored nickname, Rob DeSanctimonious. Rob DeSanctimonious and his poll numbers are dropping like a rock, Trump said. The question: Is Rob just young, inexperienced and naive or, more troubling, is he a fool who has no idea what hes doing? We already have one of those in office, we dont need another one. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ron DeSantis slams Donald Trump after announcing presidential campaign Sarah Silbiger for The Washington Post via Getty The head of a Texas House panel was aghast Tuesday after investigators laid out wide-ranging corruption allegations against scandal-soaked Attorney General Ken Paxton, calling them alarming to hear. It curls my mustache, said Rep. Andrew Murr, a fellow Republican, who no doubt was already familiar with the accusations that have swirled around Paxton for years. Paxton, a staunch conservative in his third term as the states top prosecutor, now finds himself facing possible impeachment proceedingson top of an ongoing FBI investigation and a long-stalled indictment. His response has been to attack House Speaker Dade Phelan, accusing him on Tuesdaywhen word of the probe emergedof drinking on the job. On Wednesday, after the litany of allegations was unveiled during a three-hour hearing, Paxton claimed Phelan, a Republican, is a liberal who wants to sabotage my work. The investigators led the House committee through years of alleged misconduct that they believe broke the laws Paxton is sworn to uphold. At the heart of of the matter are claims that Paxton used his office to assist a donorreal-estate developer Nate Paulwho then allegedly helped him remodel his home and hired his mistress. Four Paxton aides who flagged the AGs intervention in Pauls affairs were fired. Each of these four men is a conservative Republican civil servant, investigator Erin Epley told the House committee. Interviews show that they wanted to be loyal... and they tried to advise him well and strongly. When that failed, each was fired after reporting General Paxton to law enforcement. As the FBI opened an inquiry, the aides filed a whistleblower suit against Paxton, who asked the state to pay them a $3.3 million settlement. Phelan balked at that, and the committee investigation was launched in March. Shockingly, Paxton was accused of crimes long before this episode. In 2015, the rookie AG was indicted on securities fraud charges in a case that has been tied up in appeals ever since; Paxton denies the allegations and voters re-elected him twice since his indictment. Paxton has also been named in a lawsuit by the State Bar for Texas, which accused him of misconduct for claiming voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election and asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Joe Bidens win in several states. What happens next to Paxton is murky. The House Committee took no action, and the Legislatures session ends on Monday. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A Myrtle Beach area gay man is calling out a local elected official for digging into his Facebook profile to find a photo of him kissing his husband, sharing it on a thread, and calling it creepy. The Surfside Beach town council member defended himself against allegations of intolerance toward the LGBT community following the social media exchange. During a back-and-forth in the comment section of a Sun News Facebook post about Target, Surfside Beach City Council Member Michael Drake posted a wedding photo of resident Drew Plank-Nesbitt exchanging a kiss with his husband. The photo taken and posted by the council member of the men was the 11th profile photo back. In the since-deleted exchange, Plank-Nesbitt said it was creepy that Drake spent time to find that picture and pull it forward. Drew Plank-Nesbitt be proud of yourself! Yes its a creepy photo I agree with you. But its you. Have a nice day!, Drake wrote. Drake confirmed the post came from him, but said he was referring to Targets youth marketing campaign regarding products he found morally questionable. The Town of Surfside Beach released the following statement on Friday to the media, It has come to the attention of the Mayor and the members of the Town of Surfside Beach that Councilman Drake recently made comments, from his personal social media page, which members of the community find offensive and/or harassing. As a result, members of the media and the public have asked for a response from the Mayor and the Town Council. Though the Mayor and Council are still reviewing the circumstances surrounding the controversy, the comments and actions of Councilmen Drake were made in his personal capacity and do not represent views or policies of the Government of the Town of Surfside Beach. The thread was an exchange about Target, which partnered with Apbrallen, a UK-based artist who contributed three designs for the companys 2023 Pride collection. I posted, their true colors come out!! Its time to let them go broke with all their colors of woke!!, Drake told The Sun News May 25. Two outer-space-themed messenger bags and a sweatshirt reading cure transphobia were described in a May 22 article first published by TheStreet. Plank-Nesbitt, for his part, said he shared the post as an advisory. I wasnt trying to cause a huge thing. I just basically was trying to raise awareness that as a public official you cant just post anything you want, he said. Drake did not directly answer to his motivation for taking a Facebook photo from a resident and posting it as part of a discussion. People get offended so easy. I dont know how yall report on anything nowadays, Drake said. The exchange comes a week before Pride Month is set to begin. According to records on Surfside Beachs website, the town has not issued a proclamation recognizing Pride Month. Adam Hayes, a volunteer with Grand Strand PRIDE, said he emailed a draft resolution to town leaders for consideration several weeks ago but has not heard back. Did you use the word murder? Ga. sub. teacher arrested after 5th graders say he made threats A Georgia substitute teacher has been charged for making terroristic threats after police say he may have used the word murder in a classroom full of fifth graders at an elementary school. Tony Davis, 23, was working as a substitute teacher at Guyton Elementary School in Effingham County when three students reported to the principal that Davis said inappropriate things. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The principal immediately went down to the classroom and asked him, Did you use the word murder? Guyton Police Chief James Breletic said. The substitute teacher said, Yes. The principal, Gregory Manior, immediately removed Davis from the classroom and Manior and a school resource officer interviewed him. TRENDING STORIES: He did repeat the word murder, Breletic said. But said it was a student who said it. At that point, the SRO escorted him out of the school. Manior issued a statement to WJCL, saying, in part: After the individual left campus, I went back to the classroom to let the students know that they are safe and that they will never see this individual at our school again. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Despite Davis claims that a student used the offensive word, police felt they had enough evidence to charge him with misdemeanor terroristic threats. He was booked into jail. Were still looking through the investigation to find out exactly what was said, Breletic said. Were concerned predominately about the safety of our children and our faculty. Breletic said they are investigating if Davis may have used offensive language or made threats at any of the other schools where he worked. Davis has since bonded out of jail. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, shown in New Hampshire this month, announced his presidential campaign in a Twitter broadcast filled with glitches. (Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential announcement on Wednesday a glitchy live broadcast on Twitter was the latest example of the Republican candidates all-out effort to court his partys most online activists. The governor loves to latch onto online conservatives obsessions, niche or otherwise. Wednesday's announcement, like his speeches, was laden with attacks on acronyms such as ESG, DEI and CRT, which only the most plugged-in partisans can quickly identify as Environmental, Social and Governance and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals for companies and organizations and critical race theory, an academic framework taught on some university campuses. Most high school students dont take even one Advanced Placement exam, but DeSantis picked a fight this year with the College Board over its AP African American history curriculum. And although almost every Floridian owns an electric stove , DeSantis proposed a tax break recently on gas appliances after conservative media figures expressed outrage over some liberal jurisdictions efforts to ban new gas hookups . These appeals to the GOP base have helped DeSantis build a brand and may yet win him the nomination, if he can overcome former President Trumps current hold on the party. But relying on the support of the extremely online is also a risk. Wednesday's announcement proved the main obstacle: When the technology fails, the candidate can look ill-prepared and like he's trying too hard. The broadcast got off to a rocky start when the website appeared to crash several times and the hosts, Twitter owner Elon Musk and tech investor David Sacks, could be heard discussing the bandwidth problems and deliberating how to proceed. By the time it got rolling about 20 minutes late, several of the handpicked activists on the Twitter broadcast spent time praising Musk for restoring their online access after he took ownership of the platform, which had previously pulled some conservative accounts for violating its policies on spreading misinformation or hate speech. They asked DeSantis about pet issues such as Bitcoin and "Dogecoin" regulations, and drew him into a long discourse about breaking up college "accreditation cartels." Most Americans arent on Twitter, and previous presidential candidates best known for their appeal to their parties online bases have fallen short of the nomination. Most Republican voters tell pollsters their top concerns are the economy and immigration, not gas stoves, corporate social responsibility or cryptocurrency named for a rare dog breed. DeSantis political messaging hews very closely to the concerns of conservative social media users and podcast hosts, said Tim Miller, a former Republican operative who worked on Jeb Bushs 2016 campaign before leaving the party in 2020. These are usually college-educated men that are upset about what is happening in the culture gender norms, etc. ... They have a specific point of view. Its not like theres none of them. There's enough of them to support a successful podcast, added Miller. But it's a different set of concerns than rank-and-file voters. Its cloistered. Its niche. Its a bubble of its own kind. President Bidens allies argued that he benefited from a similar strategic divide in 2020, when his top Democratic rivals, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, catered to the partys online base of white liberals while losing touch with Black and Latino voters who fueled Bidens victory in Democratic primaries. Ron DeSantis has an Elizabeth Warren Problem, Miller warned recently in an article for the Bulwark, an online anti-Trump conservative publication. Just under a quarter of social media users post about political or social issues, according to a 2022 Pew poll. Those who engage in online politics tend to be at the extreme ends of both parties, with 26% calling themselves conservative Republicans and 29% identifying as liberal Democrats, according to the poll. Though they are a narrow slice, they tend to be active and passionate about the issues, showing up for candidates as volunteers and donating small sums of money online in big numbers. Democrats who used Twitter were far more liberal and more likely to support Warren and Sanders, according to a 2020 Pew poll, which also found they were less likely to support finding common ground with Republicans, even if it means giving up some things Democrats want. Warren was so popular with left-wing online activists that she raised millions of dollars for her first Senate campaign in 2012 before most Americans knew who she was. She was mobbed at Netroots Nation conferences, conventions that attract droves of progressive activists. That energy helped propel her 2020 presidential campaign. But she failed to win over the majority of the party, in part because she felt compelled to adopt the most liberal positions on issues such as universal Medicare to avoid losing ground to Sanders, her fellow left-wing populist. DeSantis has already had similar struggles, upsetting donors and many mainstream Republicans when he took Trumps position on Russias invasion of Ukraine by calling it a territorial dispute, before attempting to modify those comments. He has also courted his partys base by signing one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country and then took the crackdown on trans youth a step beyond other governors by signing a bill to require public school teachers to use the pronouns for the gender students are assigned at birth. His continuing war with Disney over the companys opposition to his LGBTQ+ policies which resulted this month in the loss of a $1-billion development and more than 2,000 high-paying jobs in the state risks alienating business-friendly and libertarian factions of his party. To win a nomination, you have to be able to put together energy with grassroots donors and activists, and then you need to grow that coalition over time, said Dan Geldon, a top aide on Warrens campaign. Right now, DeSantis is pretty untested on both his ability to scale grassroots and his ability to build a broader coalition, Geldon added. But like others, Geldon is not counting out DeSantis. Though Trump has a wide lead in polling, many Republicans remain concerned over his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and the fact that he is facing a criminal indictment with potentially others to come. His job is to consolidate the people who voted for Trump twice but are skeptical that Trump can win in 2024 and think he carries too much baggage for a general election, said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. Trump, in many ways, leans even harder on the online base, often mentioning obscure grievances and stories that travel the internet, verified or not, in his raucous rallies. But he also defined himself to a broader audience through his years of reality television stardom and the perception of his business acumen that began in the 1980s with his book The Art of the Deal. And he differentiated himself from the rest of the Republican primary field by vowing not to cut Social Security or Medicare. DeSantis is still introducing himself to many Republicans. And like others in the field, he is trying to figure out which groups he is courting. If there is a way to put together an anti-Trump coalition within the Republican Party and I think the numbers are there I dont know that youll do that on Twitter, said Seth Masket, director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver. Alice Stewart, who worked on five Republican presidential campaigns, believes DeSantis and his campaign recognize the potential problem and are working on broadening his message. What he ran on and won on in Florida is more cultural-issues-based, Stewart said. But he knows, and the campaign knows, that middle America and general election voters and independent voters want more of a message about leadership, about winning, about the economy, about crime. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Dollar Tree dealt with more "shrink," during the first quarter of this year, executives said on an earnings call Thursday. Mario Tama/Getty Images Dollar Tree faced higher "shrink" during the company's first quarter, executives said Thursday. "Shrink" is an industry term for products that have to be written off, including for theft. Like many retailers, Dollar Tree is considering "defensive merchandising" or restricting product access. Even dollar stores are dealing with shoplifting and considering locking up some products. Executives at Dollar Tree cited increased "shrink" as one reason for the chain's lower-than-expected profit during the company's first-quarter earnings call on Thursday. In retail, "shrink" is the difference between the number of items a store has according to its records and the number it actually has on hand. It can include theft as well as more benign reasons, such as products expiring on the shelf. Shrink accounted for a 14-cent hit to company earnings in the quarter, according to the Wall Street Journal. "This is not unlike what you're seeing in many other retailers across the industry," CFO Jeffrey Davis told analysts. "Some of this is societal, some of it is economic, some of it, of course, is particular to us. And we're taking all the appropriate steps that we can to control and mitigate this where we can." One of the steps Dollar Tree is considering is "defensive merchandising," a retail industry term for locking up merchandise and requiring customers to retrieve it with an employee's help. Other solutions could include "store closures" and "government action at the local level," CEO Richard Dreilling said during the company's earning call on Thursday. Later in the call, Dollar Tree's CFO Jeffery Davis further outlined the company's "multi-faceted sort of approach" to shrinkage including working with law enforcement, hiring for key roles, and restricting customers' access to items. But he admitted that such restrictions can negatively impact sales. Theft and other kinds of shrink weren't the only challenges to Dollar Tree's profits during the first quarter. The chain also said its customers bought more groceries and other consumable goods, which generally are less profitable than other things Dollar Tree sells. Many retailers have pointed to theft from their stores as a growing challenge. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said last year that theft had risen to historically high levels and that the retailer might close stores if the problem didn't abate. Target has also blamed theft for high shrink rates. Thieves rarely target high-value items like jewelry, according to a recent report from the National Retail Federation and K2, a risk advisory firm. Instead, they go after cheaper goods like household products. But there are signs that the problem might be overstated. The CFO of Walgreens, for example, said that the drugstore chain "cried too much" about theft on an earnings call in January. The company had previously closed several stores in San Francisco, citing shoplifting. Do you work or shop at a dollar store and have a story to share? Reach out to Alex Bitter at abitter@insider.com or via the encrypted messaging app Signal at (808) 854-4501. Read the original article on Business Insider Donald Trump is accusing Ron DeSantis of plagiarizing his campaign message, 'Great American Comeback,' from Trump's 2020 State of the Union address Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis. Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images, Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Donald Trump accused Ron DeSantis of plagiarizing his 2020 State of the Union speech. DeSantis used the phrase "the Great American Comeback" in his presidential campaign announcement. Trump has let loose a relentless stream of jabs at DeSantis since he announced his 2024 bid. Former President Donald Trump launched another attack on his freshly minted GOP presidential rival Gov. Ron DeSantis, this time accusing him of plagiarizing his 2020 State of the Union speech. Trump's camp sent an email circular on Wednesday evening shortly after DeSantis formally announced his presidential bid on Twitter Spaces with Elon Musk. The announcement was marred with technical glitches. Trump's email said: "Amid a catastrophic failure to launch, Ron DeSantis announced his candidacy with 'Great American Comeback,' a phrase stolen from President Donald J. Trump's 2020 State of the Union address." Trump's said in his State of the Union address in 2020: "Three years ago, we launched the Great American Comeback. Tonight I stand before you to share the incredible results." DeSantis appeared to have ripped off the phrase in his campaign announcement, saying: "I'm Ron DeSantis, and I'm running to lead the Great American Comeback." It was also the title of his first official campaign video on Twitter. Trump threw one last jibe in his email blast: "Perhaps, the DeSantis communications staff was pre-occupied attempting to extinguish the flames of their candidate's announcement to come up with their own message." Since DeSantis' announcement, Trump has let loose a relentless salvo of insults directed at his rival. He called the technical glitches on DeSantis' announcement a "catastrophe." In the same spirit, his son Donald Trump Junior labeled it a "#DeSaster" on Twitter. Trump also posted a clip-by-clip comparison of his extravagant announcement at his Mar-a-Lago club in contrast with DeSantis' glitch-filled announcement on Twitter Spaces. Trump allies jumped on the DeSantis-bashing bandwagon too, with Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, once a DeSantis ally, tweeted: "DeSedative." Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene established that she was supporting Trump and his "Great American Comeback" in a tweet shortly after DeSantis' announcement. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) May 25, 2023 Representatives of DeSantis did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours. Trump's spokesman gave a response which did not address Insider's queries. Read the original article on Business Insider Elk calf and mother Wildlife officials in Utah have warned well-meaning hikers not to pick up baby elk and deer and take them home, even if they believe they have been abandoned. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) advises hikers and campers to leave calves and fawns where they are, and never to touch or try to feed them. As the DWR explains, you're likely to come across young animals in late May and June, but even if they seem to be alone, it's likely that their mother is nearby. In fact, she has likely left the youngster briefly for its own safety. "Newborn fawns are actually frequently alone and isolated during their first weeks of life and that's on purpose," said Dax Mangus, big game coordinator at Utah DWR. "The mother knows that leaving the fawn alone is the best way to protect it from predators." Keep wildlife wild The DWR warns that petting wild animals can leave your scent behind, which can attract predators, and approaching them can cause them to run away and expend energy they need to survive. You should never try to move a newborn, either. DWR conservation officers sometimes respond to incidents where a member of the public has taken a calf or fawn home to 'care for it'. "[T]hat often has fatal consequences for the animal and can also create public safety risks as the animal matures," says the department. "It is illegal to keep wildlife in captivity and can result in a class A misdemeanor. If you believe that a baby animal is injured or sick, report it to the nearest DWR Office. Trying to 'help' young animals can have tragic consequences. A newborn bison was euthanized at Yellowstone National Park last weekend after a man pushed it onto a roadway in the hopes that it would re-join its mother. The calf began approaching people and cars, and sadly Park Rangers were unable to reunite it with the herd. "Keeping your distance and not touching wildlife are the keys to keeping young animals alive," says Mangus. "Attempting to take matters into your own hands and trying to help wildlife usually does more harm than good. Help wildlife by allowing them to remain wild." Downing Street gate crash live: Whitehall in lockdown as man arrested by armed police A car has been driven into the gates of Downing Street and police have set up a cordon. Photographs showed a silver Kia crashed into the gates, surrounded by emergency vehicles. It is understood that no one has been hurt. A Metropolitan Police statement said: At approximately 16:20hrs on Thursday, 25 May a car collided with the gate of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. He has been taken into custody. There were no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances. Key Points Man arrested after vehicle driven into Downing Street gates Whitehall closed as police patrol area Police investigate crash Bomb squad and sniffer dogs join search 17:52 , Jane Dalton Police ordered a bomb squad and sniffer dogs to search the area, according to witness Simon Parry. (Adam Forrest/The Independent) 17:51 , Jane Dalton It is understood that counter-terrorism police are not involved in the investigation at this stage. Driver had face to floor during arrest 17:45 , Jane Dalton Witness Simon Parry said the driver had his face to the floor as he was arrested. He said the man had appeared to slow down before he reached the gates of Downing Street, having driven out from the other side of the road. Asked to describe the mood in the immediate aftermath, he said: We saw people that were in a panic running away and we saw people who were excited. Security scare delays Sunak 17:41 , Jane Dalton Prime minister Rishi Sunak had been scheduled to leave Downing Street at the end of the afternoon but was slightly delayed by the crash and security scare, No 10 said. Police search car 17:28 , Jane Dalton Photos showed a middle-aged white man being taken away by armed officers as police vehicles swarmed the area. Police were seen searching the car as the operation continued. (Ben Hatton/PA Wire) Police used Taser guns 17:26 , Jane Dalton Witness Simon Parry, 44, said: I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with Taser guns, shouting at the man. A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area. Police at the scene (PA Wire) Police investigate crash 17:22 , Jane Dalton The Metropolitan Police said no-one had been hurt in the crash and that inquiries had begun. They tweeted: At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Inquiries are ongoing. Footage of the incident appears to show the car slowing down before it hits the gate. #UPDATE | At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing. MPS Westminster (@MPSWestminster) May 25, 2023 Access to Downing Street blocked 17:19 , Jane Dalton Many civil servants were leaving their offices for the day in the aftermath of the crash, adding to numbers of people in the street. There are cordons around Whitehall with police officers blocking access to the street from outside the Ministry of Defence. The silver car could still be seen where it stopped. (AFP/Getty) Whitehall closed as police patrol area 17:16 , Jane Dalton Large sections of Whitehall have been closed to the public and vehicles after the crash. Pedestrians were being turned away from the main thoroughfare around Downing Street in central London. There is a significant police presence in the area. Watch: Police surround car that crashed into Downing Street gates 17:11 , Jane Dalton Moment car drives into gates of Downing Street Man arrested after vehicle driven into Downing Street gates 17:08 , Jane Dalton A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a vehicle was driven into the gates of Downing Street, the Metropolitan Police said. The car crashed into the gates at around 4.20pm on Thursday, the force said in a statement. Images on social media showed the car surrounded by emergency vehicles. Legislation to permanently classify fentanyl-like substances into a category reserved for the most dangerous drugs passed the House on Thursday. The GOP-sponsored HALT Fentanyl Act passed 289-133 with support from 74 Democrats, who wanted to be on record as supporting legislation intended to crack down on the synthetic opioid crisis. But the majority of House Democrats opposed the measure, exposing intraparty fault lines. Republicans say fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances (FRS) are pouring across the border. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), aims to curb overdose deaths and protect Americans by giving law enforcement the tools needed to fight those drugs. Republicans have also criticized the White House for what they say is insufficient efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. from the southern border. The Biden administration has backed the HALT Fentanyl Act. In a statement of administration policy earlier this week, the White House said it has long supported two key provisions of the bill: permanently classifying all fentanyl analogues as Schedule I drugs and expediting research into such substances. These two provisions are critical components of the Biden-Harris Administrations 2021 recommendations to Congress to combat the supply of illicit FRS and save lives, the administration said. Democrats and public health experts expressed concern that the bill repeats mistakes from the notorious war on drugs by promoting mass incarceration over prevention, treatment and recovery programs. It would establish mandatory minimum sentencing for the distribution of FRS under the Controlled Substances Act. In arguing their opposition to the bill, Democrats agreed Congress needs to combat the countrys opioid epidemic, but putting more people in prison is not the answer. They said the bill wont make a difference in lowering fentanyl overdoses. In 2022, more than 109,000 people died of drug overdoses; roughly 75,000 of whom died from synthetic opioids largely illicit fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances. We simply cannot incarcerate our way out of a public health crisis, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), the ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said during floor debate. The American people deserve bipartisan solutions that address both public safety and public health. This bill fails on both fronts and simply continues the status quo, allowing opioid use disorder and the overdose crisis to continue to devastate American families across the nation, Pallone said. The Trump administration temporarily classified fentanyl-related substances as Schedule 1 drugs, a category reserved for drugs with a high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Congress renewed that classification in 2020 and again last year, and it is set to expire at the end of 2024. The legislation would make the temporary scheduling order permanent. Fentanyl itself is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medical use, so it is a Schedule 2 drug. The bill would crack down on illicit fentanyl copycats. It would also create a special registration process for researchers to conduct studies on the analogue substances for potential medical use. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The man accused of causing a crash that killed an on-duty police officer in 2020 has been found guilty, the Cobb County District Attorney announced Thursday. Smyrna Police Officer Christopher Ewing, 34, was working traffic enforcement in April 2020 when he spotted a speeding driver going down South Cobb Drive. While trying to catch up to the driver, a Chevrolet Tahoe tried making a left-hand turn in front of the police car. Prosecutors say Ewing tried avoiding the crash, but was not able to. The impact sent Ewings police car into the parking lot of a BP gas station. He suffered internal injuries during the crash and later died from his injuries. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Georgia State Patrol troopers interviewed the driver, 35-year-old Robert Cox, on the scene of the crash and determined he was under the influence of alcohol. Channel 2 Action News has been following the case since the tragic crash. According to an arrest warrant, Cox threw away two 16 oz. Corona beer bottles that police described as cold to the touch. TRENDING STORIES: Ewing served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years before joining the Smyrna Police Department, where he worked for two years. He left behind a wife and three children. Just before the crash, Ewing had received a life-saving award and applied to be a member of the DUI task force, according to then-Police Chief Joseph Bennett. During the trial, prosecutors showed dash camera footage of the crash from Ewings patrol car, as well as surveillance footage from the gas station. The jury found Cox guilty on four out of five charges, including vehicular homicide and other traffic offenses. Cox was out on bond, but was taken into custody after the trial. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for next month. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Drone boat attack Russia A new video has emerged, purportedly showing yesterdays attempted Ukrainian drone boat attack on the Russian intelligence ship Ivan Khurs, in the Black Sea, this time from the perspective of one of the uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) involved. Provided its legitimate, the new video helps build a picture of the attack, which we reported on in detail yesterday, suggesting that, contrary to Russian reports, at least one USV actually reached the ship. https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1661724151520849920?s=20 The new video, only around 15 seconds long, appears to have been taken from a camera mounted on one of the USVs as it races toward the Ivan Khurs, a Project 18280 Yuriy Ivanov class intelligence ship. Amid signs of tracer fire emanating from the ship and skipping over the waves, the USV approaches the vessel and gets to within only a few feet of the left-hand side of the stern before the video cuts out. There is no sign of a detonation of the USVs explosive payload or its destruction by the ship, but either of those scenarios remains possible. The video was posted to Telegram by the Ukrainian channel Orestocracy, together with the following description: GUR [Defense Intelligence of Ukraine] drones did hit the Russian scout Ivan Khurs, it was damaged. Video interception is proof of this. Konashenkov [the chief spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense] lied twice, claiming that all three naval drones were destroyed from the standard armament of the Russian ship and that the ship itself was not damaged. At least one of the drones hit an enemy object. While these claims have not been independently verified, the new video does at least appear to show part of the drone attack, which, according to the Russian account, took place about 90 miles northeast of Turkeys Bosporus Strait, at around 5:30 A.M. yesterday. The previous video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense yesterday, and seen in the tweet below, claims to show the destruction of one of the Ukrainian USVs, which explodes spectacularly after coming under fire from deck-mounted 14.5mm machine guns aboard the Ivan Khurs. The general lighting is the same in both videos. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1661379305236987907?s=20 The Russian Ministry of Defense described the attack as unsuccessful and that all three USVs were destroyed by fire from the standard armament of a Russian ship. The defense ministry added that The ship Ivan Khurs of the Black Sea Fleet continues to fulfill its tasks. As well as its four MTPU marine pedestal mounts, each with a single 14.5mm KPVT machine gun, as we observed yesterday, the Ivan Khurs reportedly also has six 9K38 Igla surface-to-air missile launchers, provided with 32 9M39 missiles, to defend against fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. One portion of the apparent video from the USVs perspective seems to show one of the Igla launchers, of the pedestal type, apparently unmanned at the time of the attack, although it would have offered no defense against USVs. https://twitter.com/FouthTimeLucky/status/1661730751065341952?s=20 Another observation from the new video is that the name of the ship appears to have been removed from the rear of the hull, although this is by no means unusual for Russian vessels operating in the Black Sea since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. https://twitter.com/Harry_Boone/status/1661728068875190273?s=20 An earlier photo of a Russian Black Sea Fleet Buyan-M class corvette, also with its name and hull number painted out, can be seen below: https://twitter.com/kevro181/status/1538128671856218115?s=20 Once again, its worth noting that we dont know for sure if either of these videos actually shows yesterdays incident in the Black Sea, which remains generally mysterious. However, two pieces of footage, from different perspectives, coupled with an official account from the Russian Ministry of Defense and an unofficial one from Ukraine, at least lend credence to the fact that some kind of attack on the Ivan Khurs was attempted, or at least we are being made to think it did. The identities of the USVs used in the attack are also unconfirmed at this stage, with the possibility that they could have even been Russian, rather than Ukrainian. This is something we considered in our previous report, although the drone boats do, at least, bear a passing resemblance to USVs used in earlier Ukrainian attacks on the Black Sea Fleet, but with a different hullform. Unfortunately, the perspective of the new video doesnt reveal any further details about the USV type. https://twitter.com/U24_gov_ua/status/1591035625431793665?s=20 Most intriguing, perhaps, remains the claimed location of the attack on the Ivan Khurs, around 200 miles from the nearest unoccupied Ukrainian coastline, provided the Russian account is to be believed. That would suggest that Ukraine is operating USVs with a much greater range than previously thought, or perhaps that the drones were, in fact, not of Ukrainian origin after all. Another possibility is that Ukraine used some kind of mothership from which to launch the drones at a standoff distance, but this would have been a complex operation and one that would include plenty of its own additional risks. As we discussed yesterday, its even possible that the incident was a false flag staged by Russia in Turkeys Exclusive Economic Zone, to present Ukraine as the aggressor, especially in regard to an expansion of the conflict into the control zones of NATO states. However, the emergence of the new video and its apparent first appearance on a Ukrainian Telegram channel would seem to undermine that. In this map, the white box shows the general area where Russia claims the attack took place. The yellow line measures a distance 90 miles northeast of the Bosphorus Strait. Google Earth Another question mark remains over the degree of damage caused by the USV attack. Previous raids of this kind directed against the Black Sea Fleet have inflicted minimal damage. In the case of the Ivan Khurs, the official Russian account states that all three drones involved were destroyed and the ship emerged unscathed. Should the latest video be legitimate, that could call into question that narrative somewhat. At the very least, the video suggests that one of the USVs got very close to the Russian vessel a proximity at which even if it was destroyed by gunfire, it would likely have had at least some residual effect on the Ivan Khurs. Unofficial Russian social media accounts have today posted recycled footage of the Ivan Khurs (or other ships entirely) sailing in the Bosporus Strait during earlier times, to refute claims of any damage being inflicted. With an intense information (and disinformation) campaign, from channels official and otherwise, emanating from both sides, it remains very hard to tell exactly what happened yesterday and what damage, if any, was inflicted. https://twitter.com/auto_glam/status/1661738941232594947?s=20 https://twitter.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1661745885494284293?s=20 https://twitter.com/Capt_Navy/status/1661751595716186112?s=20 Meanwhile, Russian accounts have also jumped on a claimed spike in activity by NATO surveillance aircraft in the apparent area of the attack, based on open-source information. While there is nothing to suggest these reconnaissance sorties were in any way related to the attack on the Ivan Khurs, it remains the case that a U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk drone was patrolling very close to where the incident is supposed to have occurred, possibly in response to the incident. That said, flights like this have been a regular occurrence in the region even before the all-out Russian invasion in February 2022. https://twitter.com/MeNMyRC1/status/1661547501063749632?s=20 https://twitter.com/SpeckleBelly64/status/1661562276250353665?s=20 And on top of all this uncertainty, it remains entirely unclear why Ukraine if Kyiv was the aggressor here would have launched such an attack at such long range, against a vessel of relatively limited importance vis-a-vis the wider conflict. One possible answer would be that the targeted ship would not have been in a high readiness state to defend itself so deep into the southern portion of the Black Sea. It also was not a warship heavily equipped for weaponry and sensors, making it a softer target. If Ukraine did indeed execute this operation, it signifies a new level of unmanned surface vehicle capability, or at least operational complexity, considering the distance at which it occurred. Hopefully, in the course of time, more information will become available to provide a better understanding of exactly what happened to the Ivan Khurs in the Black Sea yesterday. Update, 1:00 P.M. PST: The Ukrainian state broadcaster, Suspilne, reports that the Ivan Khurs was indeed damaged as a result of the attack on May 24. According to their account, the hull and unspecified equipment were damaged, leaving the ship needing repairs. The same report also suggests that some of the crew were injured. Suspilne cites unnamed sources in military circles, but there is so far no independent collaboration of these claims. https://twitter.com/kharkiv_warnews/status/1661805465582403584?s=20 There is also mounting evidence that Ukraine was behind the drone attack, or attempted attack, with an official claim of responsibility from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The ministry today tweeted the same 15-second video, with the following statement added: When the Russian reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs met a Ukrainian drone. Indeed, a perfect match! https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1661789365582921744?s=20 Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com A general view shows the dry ground of the Chiba dam in the Nabeul Governorate By Jihed Abidellaoui TUNIS (Reuters) - As rains failed, Tunisian farmers watched their crops wither this spring, harvesting early to salvage some as animal feed and piling costs on a state struggling to afford wheat imports with bakeries running out of bread. At his farm just outside Tunis, Hasan Chetoui stood clutching dry sheaves of wheat, the ears empty husks, after managing to save only 20 hectares of the 150 he planted. "The authorities did not give me any water so all these ears are unusable. What can we do? They will just become fodder," he lamented, saying the current drought was worse than any he had previously known. Three years without adequate rain are likely a result of climate change, which the World Bank has said will make Tunisia hotter and drier. The drought has emptied reservoirs, cracked the soil and led to water rationing. While Chetoui and other Tunisian farmers despair for the financial losses they face this year, stretched state finances will also suffer. The agriculture ministry said last week the harvest would only be about 250,000 tonnes of grain this year. Last year's harvest was 750,000 tonnes and Tunisia must this year import 95% of its grains, the agriculture ministry said. The average grains harvest over the past decade has been 1.5 million tonnes compared to consumption of 3.4 million tonnes. Higher import costs come as the government faces a balance of payments crisis and is seeking billions of dollars in budget support from the International Monetary Fund and bilateral donors, with the talks looking stalled for now. Bakeries are meanwhile running out of flour and have had to ration bread in recent days. Long queues have grown outside some bakeries and others have closed their doors. Shortages of other imported, or subsidised goods, have periodically hit throughout this year. "There is a bread crisis. Every day if you want to buy bread for work or for your home you have to stand in line," said Ammar Barhoumi, waiting outside a bakery in Ariana, not far from Chetoui's farm. The baker, Ismail Bouabdelli, said he had been to four mills seeking flour but had so little he would have to temporarily close. FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS Hemmed in by financial restrictions, the government has few choices though it has tried to help farmers cope with higher costs by raising its purchase price to 140 dinars from 130 dinars for 100 grams of wheat. Last year the World Bank granted Tunisia $130 million to help it import wheat at global prices inflated since the war in Ukraine. State mills sell the flour to bakeries that offer bread at subsidised prices. Many Tunisians still recall with dread the deadly bread riots in 1983-84 - an event that successive governments have cited to avoid putting up prices for ordinary people, piling on problems for state finances. Close to the presidential palace in Carthage, an ancient city that was once a major wheat supplier across the Mediterranean, fields recently lay as stubble, harvested two months early as the green stalks turned yellow and brittle. President Kais Saied, who seized most powers in 2021 and has blamed Tunisia's economic problems on corruption in previous administrations, has demanded an end to bread shortages. But he has not addressed the wider supply and finance problems, calling the shortages the work of "criminal networks". (Reporting by Jihed Abidellaoui, writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Sharon Singleton) This photo provided by Bi-State Detention Center in Texarkana, Texas, shows Cesar Olalde. Authorities in east Texas have jailed Olalde on capital murder charges, Thursday, May 25, 2023 in the shootings of his parents, sister and brother. (Bi-State Detention Center via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) NASH, Texas (AP) Authorities in east Texas have jailed an 18-year-old man on capital murder charges in the shootings of his parents, sister and brother. Police in the small town of Nash say officers responding to a report that a man had harmed his family and was threatening to kill himself on Tuesday found Cesar Olalde barricaded inside a home. They were told that multiple people were dead inside. Olalde later called police, saying he had pulled the trigger, and shot his family, according to a probable cause affidavit by Nash Police Officer Craig Buster. The officers persuaded Olalde to surrender and then found the bodies of his parents, Reuben Olalde and Aida Garcia, older sister Lisbet Olalde and younger brother Oliver Olalde in a bathroom. It appeared as if the victims had been shot at various places in the residence and drug to the bathroom, according to the affidavit. Multiple spent cartridge casings were found on the floor of the home, and there was blood spatter on multiple surfaces, it said. The affidavit said a co-worker of Lisbet Olalde had gone to the home because the woman had failed to arrive at work and, with a family member, forced his way inside where he was confronted by Cesar Olalde, who pointed a firearm at him. The co-worker told police that Olalde said he had killed his family because they were cannibals, and they were going to eat him, the affidavit states. Bowie County court records show Olalde was ordered held on $10 million bond. His listed defense attorney did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday. Nash is a town of about 3,800 on the western edge of Texarkana near the Arkansas state line. As of May 24, there have been at least 25 mass killing incidents in the U.S. so far in 2023, leaving at least 127 people dead, not including perpetrators who died, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. That puts the country on a faster pace for mass killing incidents than in any other year since at least 2006, according to the database, which defines a mass killing as an incident in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period. There have been at least 556 incidents in all since 2006 in the U.S., according to the database, leaving at least 2,892 people dead. Family mass killings in which four or more people were killed, not including the perpetrator have also been an all-too-common tragedy across the country. Theyve happened nearly every 3 1/2 weeks for the last two decades on average, according to the database. Leaders of the UNC System on Thursday praised legislative proposals that would expand the reach of the states two major public university-affiliated health care systems, saying the changes offer a rare chance to vastly improve medical care for people across the state especially in rural areas. The state Senate this session has passed legislation both Senate Bill 743 and a budget proposal that included the same language that supporters say would increase Chapel Hill-based UNC Healths and Greenville-based ECU Healths capacity to provide health care in under-served areas of the state, starting in Eastern North Carolina. On just about any map tracking health challenges in North Carolina from infant mortality to insurance eligibility to food insecurity there are dark patches across significant portions of our state, UNC System President Peter Hans said during a meeting of the system Board of Governors Thursday. These are the places our statewide health systems must serve. The Senates budget proposal would provide tens of millions of dollars to the UNC System over the next two fiscal years for initiatives focused on rural health care, including training and education at each of the systems medical schools and financial support of the systems hospitals. The proposals have been criticized, including by state Treasurer Dale Folwell, for provisions that would make the university health care organizations immune from state and federal antitrust laws and allow changes to their involvement in state employee benefits plans. Health systems would be immune from antitrust laws The proposals, as written in the legislation, would allow the two health care organizations to acquire or merge with hospitals or any other health care facilities or health care provider, without regard to their effect on market competition. Over the last five years, we have seen more consolidation of health care in the hands of fewer and fewer of these multibillion dollar corporations that disguise themselves as nonprofit, Folwell, who has been an outspoken critic of large hospitals, told The News & Observer Thursday. The result of that is that it leads to lower quality, lower access and higher cost of health care, he said. Folwell said the proposed changes would result in more monopolistic activity in North Carolina. Speaking to The N&O at Thursdays Board of Governors meeting, UNC Health CEO Wesley Burks said the systems being immune from antitrust laws would help them be able to serve a region of the state rather than county by county. The way the laws are set up now, is that it precludes us, either individually or working together across a region, because of the antitrust issues, Burks said. Asked by The N&O if the health systems had plans to use the immunity to antitrust laws, Burks said the power would eventually help the systems go into rural areas that we couldnt right now. The systems will work with the local communities to really do a needs assessment, and find out where are the right places that we want to partner, they want to partner with us to help provide that high quality care, Burks said. Antitrust laws are generally viewed as a way to protect competition and prevent the formation of monopolies. ECU Health CEO Michael Waldrum told The N&O that competition in health care services and providers isnt a large concern in Eastern North Carolina or other rural areas of the state, because access to any medical care is generally more limited than it is in more urban areas. People arent rushing in to provide health care, Waldrum said. This is the states problem. UNC, ECU Health would collaborate under NC Care Under the Senates proposals, the two university health care systems would also collaborate to create a new initiative, NC Care, meant to improve access to high quality health care for citizens and communities located in rural areas of North Carolina by establishing outcome driven regional systems of care, beginning in eastern North Carolina. Burks of UNC Health said NC Care would allow the health care systems to use their respective strengths to ensure that regardless of where people live, they really get high quality health care. The initiatives efforts could include creating new facilities and recruiting additional physicians and nurses to provide training in rural areas, Burks said. Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey during Thursdays board meeting called the proposed collaboration and partnership between the systems a move in the right direction and a common sense solution to an enormous challenge. Im grateful for our state lawmakers working to improve access to care for all of North Carolina, Ramsey said. For the NC Care initiative, the Senates budget would give the UNC System $10 million in one-time funds in the upcoming fiscal year to allow the university health organizations to form a clinically integrated network, as well as $10 million in recurring funds in the 2024-2025 year to support the organizations community hospitals. The Senate would also allocate the system money for additional programs meant to support and improve rural health care in the state, including $23.5 million over two years to establish a Rural Residency Medical Education and Training Fund. Hans said in his remarks to the board Thursday that those funds are designed to place more doctors in high-need areas. Hans compared the Senates proposals to the visionary efforts that created the medical schools at UNC-Chapel Hill and ECU decades ago, as well as the larger health care organizations they later became part of, which were much-needed efforts to bring North Carolina into the modern age of health care. We have a once-in-a-generation window of opportunity to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians on a grand scale, Hans said, and we must take it. Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall was ordered to close for conventional housing of youth under Probation Department supervision. But it can remain open for the most serious offenders. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Tuesdays action by the Board of State and Community Corrections finding Los Angeles Countys two juvenile halls unsuitable to confine youths is welcome, despite an unfortunate six-week delay. It means the substandard Central Juvenile Hall near downtown and Barry J. Nidorf facility in Sylmar will close within 60 days for conventional housing of young people awaiting court hearings or serving sentences for offenses under juvenile laws. In implementation, though, the action may amount to little. The county will likely continue to operate two juvenile halls including Nidorf, which despite the unsuitable finding can remain open as a Secure Youth Treatment Facility, a detention center reserved for the most serious cases. SYTFs, as they are known, are beyond the reach of BSCC closure orders. A portion of Nidorf is already designated an SYTF unit. Thats where 18-year-old Bryan Diaz died earlier this month after ingesting fentanyl that somehow found its way inside despite security measures. Most youths transferred to the county when the state Division of Juvenile Justice closes at the end of June are expected to be assigned to Nidorf. The county also plans to reopen Los Padrinos in Downey, a juvenile hall that closed in 2019 due to a sharply diminished caseload. It will hold juveniles who have been arrested but are awaiting court action. So its less than clear whether the BSCC's action will mark a turning point in the history of the Probation Departments juvenile division, which has struggled to properly operate its programs and facilities for more than two decades. Troubled young people will be shuffled among buildings, but whether they become any safer or have better access to classes and other rehabilitative services depends on whether the Probation Department can overcome its dysfunctional culture. The department has been under fire over the years for employee misconduct and dangerous conditions in the juvenile halls and camps. The BSCC previously found Central and Nidorf unsuitable in 2021 and has since given the county numerous opportunities to fix the problems. Yet both facilities spiraled out of control as staff who complained of dangerous conditions declined to come to work. The diminished staffing exacerbated the problems, leaving youths with few activities and further ramping up tensions leading to even more staff no-shows. The Board of Supervisors has endorsed a therapeutic approach to juvenile rehabilitation and last year launched a Department of Youth Development as an alternative to traditional probation. But without changes in state law that currently permit only probation departments to handle court-ordered juvenile rehabilitation, the new department cannot take over most probation functions. That leaves the future of juvenile justice in Los Angeles County as uncertain as it was before the BSCC action. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Riverside County sheriff's deputies advance on demonstrators protesting George Floyd's killing after they refused to disperse for curfew on June 1, 2020. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The relationship between the American people and the police who protect, serve and sometimes oppress them was already under stress when Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyds neck for nine minutes on a Minneapolis street on May 25, 2020. Police have been disproportionately killing unarmed Black people throughout the nations history, but it immediately became clear that Americans saw the Floyd murder as something different. Perhaps it was because nerves were frayed and people were on edge after nearly three months of lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, or perhaps because recent high-profile police killings like the shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., two months earlier weighed heavily on the spirits of many. Whatever the reason, the Floyd murder and its aftermath shook the nation. Flashes of violence marred protests throughout the summer. The national debate over policing became increasingly polarized and partisan as President Trump made law and order the cornerstone of his reelection campaign and dispatched federal officers and agents to Democrat-run cities to fight crime that he said police could not, because they supposedly were hamstrung by liberal mayors. Protesters jubilantly declared a police-free zone in Seattle, but it was soon beset by crime, including deadly shootings, and officers returned. Civilians patrolled streets amid protests in cities such as Kenosha, Wis., where Kyle Rittenhouse shot two men to death and wounded another. The issue of the proper role of police was central to the civil unrest. Policing took a key role in the discussion of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, to some extent flipping the narrative as Trump supporters chided Capitol Police officers for supposedly being on the wrong side, and skeptics of policing hailed the officers for standing firm. But there were a few off-duty officers from around the nation among the rioters as well, and some Capitol invaders carried the "thin blue line" flag that symbolizes police sacrifice but has come to be seen as a symbol of white supremacy as well. So where are we now, three years after the Floyd murder? Meaningful progress in altering unnecessarily deadly police conduct is hard to identify. The year began with a spate of deeply troubling police killings, including three in Los Angeles and, the same week, the beating of motorist Tyre Nichols, who was also subjected to mace and tasers, near his home in Memphis, Tenn. Nichols died several days later. Yet there are developments that are noteworthy, if not necessarily breakthroughs. One of the most important may be a statement issued on March 2 by the Los Angeles Police Protective League listing 28 types of calls for which theyd prefer not to be responsible. They include parking violations, panhandling, mental health calls, welfare checks and a variety of other services that police have traditionally performed. The list is not identical to the set of demands by abolitionists who want to untether city budgets and communities from police. But there is some overlap. The Police Protective League is an employee union and not in command of the department, so its position on how its members should or should not be deployed has little direct or immediate impact. But its stance is important because police unions so often resist any reduction in their footprint. And Chief Michel Moore has also called for his officers to be relieved of duties that can be safely performed by professionals in other fields, such as mental health outreach workers. Similar discussions are unfolding in cities across the country regarding the kind of police presence that does not relinquish the responsibility for public safety to the Kyle Rittenhouses of the world or to police-free districts like Seattles short-lived autonomous zone. Some proposed policing changes are little more than political power plays, along the lines of Trumps actions during the summer of 2020. Count among those the law written by Mississippis GOP-controlled Legislature to substitute state police for city officers in a large area of Jackson, the capital city. Some discussions are potentially more constructive, but still in the earliest phases, with many details as yet unexamined. Discussions in Los Angeles, and the similarity between some parts of the abolitionist and police unions to-do lists, fall into that category. The fault lines that widened in the aftermath of the Floyd murder are troublesome and continue to present serious peril as the nation struggles to deal with public safety and the role of police. But there are opportunities for consensus-based constructive change, if we're smart enough to grab them. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A long block of text circulating on Facebook warns voters that machines in use in the Canadian province of Alberta's election can be pre-loaded in favor of one party, or they can flip a person's selections. This is false; the tabulators used to scan and count hand-marked votes from advance polling are publicly tested to show they dispense accurate results and the paper ballots are conserved should a court require a recount. "URGENT ALERT TO ALL ALBERTANS re VOTING MACHINES!!" warns a May 17, 2023 Facebook post. "The voting machines being used in the Alberta advanced polls allegedly have 2 ways that they can allegedly cheat. Furthermore, the supposed 'hand count' of ballots if there is a concern after the election results are in is not actually a count of ballots, it's a count of DIGITAL BALLOTS!!!!" The post goes on to claim the tabulators used in the Alberta provincial election come pre-loaded with votes for New Democratic Party candidate Rachel Notley or can change a selection after a ballot has been cast, evoking debunked claims about Dominion Voting System machines used in the United States during the 2020 presidential election. The identical text has been shared by multiple Facebook accounts since the beginning of April. Screenshot of a Facebook post, taken May 23, 2023 Advance polls for the Alberta election are open May 23 to 27 with Election Day on May 29. Robyn Bell, a spokeswoman for Elections Alberta, said in a May 19 email to AFP that the province uses machines to tabulate paper ballots cast during advance voting and to provide more accessible options for citizens with disabilities. "The voting machines are not pre-loaded with votes for any candidate," Bell said. "We have many safeguards and security measures in place to ensure the integrity of the vote is upheld." According to the Elections Alberta website (archive here), the province uses the American company Elections Systems and Software's (ES&S) DS200 scanner and tabulator to electronically log hand-marked votes and AutoMARK devices to assist voters who may have difficulty reading and marking their paper ballots. Bell said electronic tabulators help facilitate the Vote Anywhere Service -- allowing residents to cast a ballot from their location in the province while ensuring the results are attributed to the correct jurisdiction. Mail-in and Election Day ballots are counted by hand. Bell said the only time the paper ballots tabulated by the machines will be hand counted is if there is a judicial call for a recount, the same as was done in some US states following the 2020 presidential election. "Should a recount be required, the paper ballots are retained and will be hand counted," she said. This is not the first time Alberta has used voting technology; electronic tabulators were used in the 2014 and 2017 by-elections and in the 2019 provincial election. Bell said in 2019, advance voting ballots were taken to central tabulators and counted at a handful of locations, but this election the machines will be present at each early polling location, allowing all results to be announced on election night. Voting machines tested Katina Granger, a spokeswoman for ES&S, said in a May 22 email to AFP all of the company's systems and products were certified for security and accuracy by the US Elections Assistance Commission (EAC), which requires testing of millions of ballots at a time. EAC certified the DS200 model in 2014 and AutoMark devices in 2013. Aleksander Essex, a professor of software engineering at Western University who researches election cybersecurity, said there is no entity which certifies voting machines in Canada. However, Elections Alberta performs logic and accuracy tests (archive here) before and after polling in front of candidates and scrutineers by running sample ballots through the machines to ensure the anticipated result is computed. Essex said another way to ensure accurate electronically tabulated totals of ballots is by performing statistical risk-limiting audits, where a sample of paper votes is analyzed and compared to the results produced by the machine. Such audits are an internationally acknowledged democratic standard, used by the Council of Europe. Closed network The ES&S machines include many layers of physical security and encryption, with its website describing a key that would take several hundred million years to decode. The online claims question why the machines have a modem, but ES&S said any device including one will only use a private network. "These are also hardened systems which have no access to the internet," Granger said, a fact confirmed by Elections Alberta. Granger said the cellular modem technology can be activated to transmit results to a central counting facility, but Elections Alberta said this is not the province's process. Following advance voting the locked machines will be transported to a returning office where the results will be printed and tallied. Scrutineers from all political parties are allowed to observe the operations of the machines throughout the election and can request copies of results tape, once votes have been counted. Read more of AFP's reporting on misinformation in Canada here. Electricity prices in Finland flipped negative a huge oversupply of clean, hydroelectric power meant suppliers were almost giving it away The Olkiluoto-3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland. Thomson Reuters Finland's renewable power strategy is paying off as its energy has fallen into negative prices. A new nuclear reactor, as well as unexpected floods, are leading to a glut of clean energy. It is a striking reversal from last year, when Finns slashed their usage after cutting ties with Russia. Finland was dealing with an unusual problem on Wednesday: clean electricity that was so abundant it sent energy prices into the negative. While much of Europe was facing an energy crisis, the Nordic country reported that its spot energy prices dropped below zero before noon. This meant that the average energy price for the day was "slightly" below zero, Jukka Ruusunen, the CEO of Finland's grid operator, Fingrid, told the Finnish public broadcaster Yle. In practice, it doesn't appear any ordinary Finns are being paid to consume electricity. People pay a markup on the electricity, and often pay agreed rates for power instead of the raw market price. The price drop was driven by an unexpected glut of renewable energy and Finns cutting back on energy use because of the crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Now there is enough electricity, and it is almost emission-free," Ruusunen told Yle, adding that Finns could "feel good about using electricity." Finland went from energy poverty to glut in just a few months The news is a remarkable turnaround for a country that only a few months ago told its people to watch their energy consumption. "Last winter, the only thing people could talk about was where to get more electricity. Now we are thinking hard about how to limit production. We have gone from one extreme to another," Ruusunen told Yle. The country faced an energy crisis after it banned energy imports from its neighbor Russia as part of the global backlash after it invaded Ukraine. But a new nuclear reactor was brought online in April this year and provided a significant new stream of power for Finland's population, around 5.5 million people. Olkiluoto 3, the first new nuclear reactor to be opened in Europe in more than 15 years, brought the price of electricity in Finland down by 75%, from 245.98 euros per megawatt-hour in December to 60.55 euros per megawatt-hour in April, according to The National. A map of Western Europe showing the new nuclear reactor, Olkiluoto 3. Google Maps The country aims to become carbon neutral by 2035 and has been pushing to introduce renewable energy solutions. Ruusunen told the National that Finland wanted wind to become its primary power source by 2027. This is also contributing to the drop in energy prices. Excessive meltwater which has caused flood warnings in several northern European countries is pushing Finland's hydroelectric plants into overdrive and giving plentiful electricity. "During spring floods, there is often this kind of forced production because production cannot be slowed down. Due to the huge amount of water, hydropower often has a poor capacity to regulate in spring," Ruusunen said. Finland is now dealing with energy prices being too low An offshore windfarm near the Aland Islands, an autonomous archipelago that is a region of Finland in the Baltic sea. OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images Finland is now dealing with the opposite problem of poor energy supply: energy operators may no longer be able to operate normally if the electricity is worth less than the cost of producing it. "Production that is not profitable at these prices is usually removed from the market," Ruusunen said. Because hydropower cannot be slowed down or turned off, other producers like nuclear are looking to dial back their production to avoid losing money on energy production. Ruusunen said this meant Finns could happily use all the energy they wanted. Read the original article on Business Insider Eleven-year-old boy shot by police after mother asked him to call 911 about domestic disturbance Aderrien Murry, 11, was shot by police after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance (Murry family / CNN) The family of an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by police after his mother asked him to call 911 to report a domestic incident are calling for the officer to be fired. Aderrien Murry is recovering at home after he was shot in the chest by an Indianola Police Department officer early on Saturday morning. His mother, Nakala Murry, told a news conference tjhat she asked Aderrien to call police after the father of one of her other children allegedly showed up at her home at 4am in an irate mood. Ms Murry said that an officer arrived at the house with his gun drawn, and called on everyone inside to come out. She said her son had just walked around a hallway corner and into the living room when he was shot. Aderrien kept asking Why did he shoot me? What did I do wrong?, Ms Murry said during Mondays press conference. She said she applied pressure to the wounds until first responders arrived. The 11-year-old was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he was found to have suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. He was released from hospital on Wednesday, his mother told CNN. Two other children were inside the home at the time of the shooting, she said. Aderrien Murry, 11, was shot by police after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance (Murry family) The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation confirmed in a statement to The Independent it was investigating the shooting. Spokesman Baily Martin said agents would turn over the findings to the Attorney Generals office upon completion of the probe. The Indianola Police Department is yet to release the bodycam footage from the incident. It confirmed to CNN that the officer involved in the shooting was Greg Capers, who was previously named the departments best officer. The Independent did not immediately hear back after contacting the Indianola mayor and police to confirm the officers identity. This cannot keep happening. This is not OK, Ms Murry said during Mondays news conference. Carlos Moore, the familys attorney, said Mr Capers had been suspended on Tuesday. The family believes this is a step in the right direction but still demands that he be terminated, Mr Moore said. The family plans to hold a protest at the Indianola City Hall on Thursday. Indianola is a small town of about 15,000 residents that lies about 100 miles north of Jackson. US-tech-Twitter-marketing-advertising-internet-computers Twitter CEO Elon Musk speaks at the "Twitter 2.0" marketing conference in Miami Beach, Florida, on April 18, 2023. Credit - Chandan KhannaAFP via Getty Images After Ron DeSantiss glitch-riddled presidential campaign launch on Wednesday, Donald Trump did something entirely predictable: he mocked him on social media. The former President posted a video with the words Ron! 2024 superimposed on a SpaceX rocket going up in flames. But the needling was aimed at more than just his most formidable 2024 rival. It was also a repudiation of Musk, the owner of both Twitter and SpaceX, who in recent months has become something of a hero to the MAGA right. After purchasing Twitter, Musk swiftly reinstated the accounts of Trump allies who were removed under the previous ownership for spreading misinformation. Then he released the so-called Twitter Files, a series of internal documents that showed the companys deliberations on crucial content moderation decisions. Republicans widely cited the material as evidence that the platform had been systematically suppressing conservative speech. Musk has further amplified right-wing banter to his more than 140 million followers. And last month, he welcomed the recently fired Fox News host Tucker Carlson to launch a new show on Twitter. But now, the MAGA-Musk relationship is far more complicated. While the billionaire has made Twitter a haven for hard-right Trumpian voices, hes appeared to cross the man who leads the MAGA movement, which has been a source of many of his most loyal supporters since taking over the influential communications platform, even as Trump has stayed on his alternative site Truth Social. Musk tweeted last year that he would support DeSantis for president if he ran. In April, he appeared on Carlsons show, then still on Fox, and suggested that he didnt want Trump back in the White House: I would prefer, frankly, that we put someone, just a normal person as president. Hes continued to send messages that hes eager for an alternative to Trump. On Monday, he raised eyebrows after retweeting South Carolina Senator Tim Scotts presidential announcement video. Then on Wednesday night, he participated in DeSantiss campaign launch during a live audio conversation on Twitter, which he co-moderated with the venture capitalist and GOP donor David Sacks. Despite his comments last year, Musk has tried to tamp down the perception that hes endorsing DeSantis; he suggested at a Wall Street Journal forum on Tuesday that hes merely promoting his social media firm. But hes still been drawing the ire of some of the former Presidents fiercest allies and surrogates, who see him as a self-interested businessman whose proclamations are disingenuous. Sacks and Musk are oligarchs, Trumps former chief strategist Steve Bannon tells TIME. DeSantis comes from billionaires lunch to launch at an oligarchs ball. (The Florida governor held a lunch on Wednesday with donors at the Four Seasons in Miami before the Twitter Spaces event.) Musks latest moves have also made some MAGA influencers worried about whether he may tilt the platforms scales during the primary. The thing that Im concerned about is, will Elon suppress Trump supporters on the website? says Alex Bruesewitz, a GOP consultant and CEO of the Trump-allied firm X Strategies. Will Community Notes be biased in one direction over the other? he asks, referring to the sites fact-checking service. Those are things that were gonna have to wait and see. Hours after the DeSantis campaign launch, a pro-Trump Super PACs tweet criticizing DeSantiss record in Congress showed a Community Note with points undermining the attack. To Peter Loge, a political communications professor at George Washington University, the DeSantis Twitter launch was designed as a clever political stunt that would be mutually beneficial to both parties. This isnt a complicated political strategy, Loge tells TIME. Elon Musk wants money and attention. Ron DeSantis desperately needs somebody to pay attention to him. Trumps team declined to comment on Musks involvement in the announcement, but one Trump adviser teased the Florida governor for his venue choice, implying that it was indicative of the common perception that hes socially awkward. Announcing on Twitter is perfect for Ron DeSantis, they told TIME. This way he doesnt have to interact with people and the media cant ask him any questions. But even as Musk has been muddying his stature among the MAGA faithful, some of Trumps supporters in Congress remain optimistic that he will live up to the identity hes cultivated in their orbit as a speech-rights absolutist. I dont know that Elon will suppress MAGA, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican who has endorsed Trump, told TIME. From what I hear and from his actions that I have observed, he is very much so a libertarian when it comes to free speech. He spent a large portion of his fortune on Twitter to show how important free speech is and then handed over the Twitter Files so we could investigate. Luna, a social media influencer before arriving to Capitol Hill, sits on the House Oversight Committee, which is currently investigating Hunter Biden. The panel held a hearing earlier this year focused largely on the Twitter Files first installment, in a session that highlighted communications between the companys top executives on the decision to suppress the original New York Post story on the presidents sons laptop. While Musk has unambiguously aligned himself with the American right since his $44 billion Twitter acquisition, he hasnt always been in lock-step with the right-wing nationalist populists who comprise the MAGA movement. Hes widely seen as sympathetic to Vladimir Putin; he once called one of the Russian Presidents allys tweets predicting an end to the Russia-Ukraine war an Epic thread! But Musk has also been providing Ukraine with satellites that have served as vital to its self-defense. At the same time, hes corporate tycoon who created an electrical vehicles company, a line of business thats not exactly a favorite among the far-right. Meanwhile, his rhetoric has been increasingly reactionary. In October, days after the Twitter purchase, he shared a conspiracy theory about former Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband Paul. A few months later, he channeled conservative grievances by tweeting, My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci. That may have gained him adulation among MAGA diehards, even as he diverges with them on some core policy issues. Hes also resurrected their ability to participate on the platform with arguably the most influential political audience in the world. But Trump and his associates may not be as forgiving over anything seen as a direct assault on Trump the man. Says Bruesewitz: Just because he says right-wing things doesnt mean that conservatives are going to give him a pass. Elon Musk wants to do more streaming on Twitter, but DeSantis' launch was plagued with glitches and outages Elon Musk (L) and Ron DeSantis (R). Yasin Ozturk/Getty Images, Joe Raedle/Getty Images Ron DeSantis' 2024 announcement on Twitter Spaces was plagued by ongoing technical difficulties. The gaffe is the latest example of the outages that have afflicted Twitter since Elon Musk took control. The launch calls into question Twitter's streaming capabilities following cuts to the server. Elon Musk has big plans for Twitter, including Wednesday's use of Twitter Spaces to livestream Twitter's biggest political event yet as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his 2024 presidential candidacy. But the hour-long event was plagued by technical difficulties, ongoing glitches, and faulty sound even after a nearly 30-minute delay caused by server problems. "We've got so many people here that we are kind of melting the servers," said tech entrepreneur David Sacks, who co-hosted the announcement with Musk. The livestream initially drew more than 500,000 listeners a hefty number for sure, though nowhere near the largest number of people gathered in a single digital space, as Sacks erroneously suggested on Wednesday. (A little over a month ago, Musk did a Twitter Spaces discussion with a BBC journalist that drew 3 million listeners.) Musk has more than 140 million followers, all of whom were alerted to the start of DeSantis' announcement. The Twitter CEO was eventually forced to relaunch the livestream using Sacks' Twitter account, and the secondary attempt garnered only about half the number of original viewers. It is the latest example of the technical outages and user glitches that have increasingly afflicted Twitter since Musk took control of the social media platform late last year, and calls into question the website's ability to meet Musk's goal of more streaming. Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An Insider email to Twitter's press team was answered with a single poop emoji. The growing number of technical issues are likely attributed to a wave of mass layoffs Musk oversaw soon after the Twitter acquisition, including cuts to several technical and support staff positions, as well as the newfound CEO's decision to cut Twitter's server capacity as a money-saving move. In November, Musk announced his "Deep Cuts Plan," in an internal company message, with a goal of reducing spending by $1.5 million a day on the company's data servers and cloud services. At the time, some Twitter employees expressed concerns that the cost-saving plan would lead to widespread server disruptions and possible website crashes during high-volume events such as elections and perhaps presidential announcements. Indeed, Twitter outages, glitches, and website bugs have been on the rise since the cuts last year, according to a New York Times report in February. In February alone, the site notched four large outages compared to just nine in the entire previous year, the outlet reported. Musk has cut the number of Twitter employees by more than half since he took over, including several engineers who were previously in charge of keeping the website up and running. Both Musk and Sacks acknowledged the technical difficulties during the Wednesday DeSantis event, blaming the number of listeners and an "unprecedented scalability level." The glitchy Spaces event called into question Musk's future aims for Twitter, which includes a new streaming show hosted by former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson the most popular cable news personality in US history, who frequently drew millions of viewers more than DeSantis' 500,000. Conservative outlet the Daily Wire also announced this week it would bring its slate of podcasts over to Twitter on May 30. Musk also invited longtime CNN host Don Lemon to start a Twitter show after he was let go from the network earlier this year, and the Twitter CEO issued an open call to "all presidential candidates" following the Wednesday DeSantis stream. Read the original article on Business Insider Energy bills to remain above 1,700 until 2030 despite price cap cut switching off energy illustration Household energy bills will not drop below 1,700 a year for the rest of the decade, despite falling wholesale energy prices. Regulator Ofgem announced today that the energy price cap, which caps the rate households pay for energy use, will be lowered to an average of 2,074 from July 1. But the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a government advisory body, said it was unlikely bills would fall much further than their current level amid soaring demand for gas. This would mean households would be paying 600 a year more than they did before the energy crisis caused by Putins war in Ukraine an increase of 50pc. Simon Cran-McGreehin, of the ECIU, said: Whilst the falling price cap is a relief for households, this gas crisis will linger, with wholesale price forecasts suggesting that the average household energy bill might not get below 1,700 a year for the rest of this decade. If we dont get on with insulating homes, installing heat pumps and building more renewables, gas demand will remain high and that means bills will too. Ofgem has also warned that energy bills are not expected to return to pre-crisis levels in the near future. Wholesale gas prices are expected to settle at between 2.5 and three times their current level for the rest of the decade, while electricity prices are forecast to remain at two to 2.5 times their wholesale price, the ECIU said. Electricity prices are expected to settle at a lower price than gas compared to pre-crisis levels, due to renewables and other sources that stop gas from setting power prices. The ECIU warned that further dependence on gas could result in British households sending 500 a year to overseas producers. A house with average insulation, a gas boiler and average electricity usage could be using 5,700 of foreign gas over the next 12 years, it calculated. In 2035, this dependency would be around 500, of which an estimated 140 be sent abroad. By contrast, a net zero home with good insulation, a heat pump and solar panels would use just 10 of gas by 2035, of which just 1 would be used for foreign gas, the ECIU added. Dr Cran-McGreehin said: Those arguing against heat pumps are arguing for UK homes being more dependent on foreign gas. With wholesale gas prices predicted to stay two to three times higher than before the crisis, that means being dependent on expensive fuel. The price cap announced today still includes a high standing charge, experts said. This means households will pay 5.74 a week before using a single unit of energy, equivalent to 300 a year. A 400 energy bill rebate offered by the Government early this year is also no longer in effect. 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. FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis meets with bishops and delegates of the Synodal Path, at the Vatican VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The world must rapidly ditch fossil fuels and end "the senseless war against creation", Pope Francis said on Thursday, in a fresh plea over climate change that called on people to repent for their "ecological sins". Francis has made the protection of the environment a cornerstone of his pontificate, noting in his landmark 2015 "Laudato Si" (Praised Be) encyclical that the planet was "beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth". In a message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, he said a U.N. climate summit meeting in Dubai on Nov. 30-Dec.12 "must listen to science and institute a rapid and equitable transition to end the era of fossil fuel". "According to the commitments undertaken in the Paris Agreement to restrain global warming, it is absurd to permit the continued exploration and expansion of fossil fuel infrastructures," he added. "The unrestrained burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests are pushing temperatures higher and leading to massive droughts," Francis said, also criticising oil and gas fracking and "unchecked mega-mining projects". Francis, an Argentine who is the first pope to hail from the so-called Global South, denounced global inequalities and said that "consumerist greed, fuelled by selfish hearts, is disrupting the planet's water cycle". Through the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Catholics are urged to offer special prayers for the planet. It is observed on Sept. 1, but it is customary for the papal message linked to it to be released months in advance. As well as quoting from "Laudato Si", the document cites previous popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, indicating that Francis' pro-environment focus stands in continuity with his more conservative predecessors. (Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Crispian Balmer and Sharon Singleton) The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust has opened an investigation into Miami Mayor Francis Suarezs work for developer Rishi Kapoor, following a Miami Herald report that Kapoors corporate documents show he sought the mayors help to resolve issues involving critical permits for a $70 million project in Coconut Grove. The ethics commission review is being done in coordination with the Miami-Dade State Attorneys office, according to a statement from State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. We have consulted with the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission, Jose Arrojo, Rundle wrote. We will coordinate our review of the allegations with them. At this early stage, it is premature for us to opine on the allegations. In a statement, the mayors spokesperson, Soledad Cedro, said Suarez welcomed the news of the investigation. The Mayor is looking forward to fully cooperating with the ethics commission to expose the truth and demonstrate that this is nothing but a frivolous smear campaign launched by The Miami Herald, a media outlet with a long and self-documented history of attempting to assassinate the character of Hispanic elected leaders who have successfully served their communities, Cedro wrote. Kapoor did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the investigation. On Tuesday, the Herald first reported that corporate internal records state Kapoor, CEO of real estate company Location Ventures, tapped Suarez to help push a stalled permitting process along for a project on Commodore Plaza last year. Internal meeting notes document that Kapoor met with Suarez and the city manager to discuss the permitting problems last summer. Internal financial statements show Kapoor paid Suarez at least $170,000 since 2021. Suarezs work for Kapoor came to light last week when the Herald reported on a lawsuit filed by the developers former chief financial officer, who noted that Suarez was receiving monthly $10,000 payments for unknown services. Kapoor previously told the Herald that Suarez has consulted for Location Ventures affiliate, URBIN, by providing feedback on programming and the companys efforts to bring housing to urban markets. Kapoors attorneys, in a filing responding to former CFO Greg Brooks lawsuit, said the agreement was reviewed and approved by City Attorney Victoria Mendez. Mendez, however, disputed that on Thursday, saying she never reviewed the contract. Suarez stormed away from reporters Thursday morning as they questioned him in City Hall about his work for Kapoor. But immediately after disappearing into his office, the mayor returned to lambaste the Herald and called the reporting inaccurate. Suarez again denied meeting with Kapoor and City Manager Art Noriega. Im telling you the meeting did not happen, Suarez said. Suarez, an attorney with private clients who receives $130,000 in compensation to serve as mayor, refused to answer questions about conflicts of interest and his private business ventures. At the same time, he declined to provide his contract with URBIN, the Location Ventures subsidiary paying him as a consultant, or any further information about his work for Kapoor. In keeping with his past refusals, he also said he would not disclose his list of private clients. He has repeatedly said that if there were a conflict of interest he would be transparent. I disclose everything in accordance with the law, we always have, we always will, despite your allegations, falsely, that we dont disclose it properly, Suarez said. Mayor Francis Suarez responds to Miami Herald reporters outside of his office before a city commission meeting on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove. In an interview Thursday with the Herald, Noriega also denied that he ever met with Suarez and the developer about the project. The city manager said any developer with a zoning issue wouldnt need to go through the mayor to reach him. They come to me directly, Noriega told the Herald. They dont need to go through the mayor. I have communication with developers, private citizens constantly. When asked why he was referenced in Location Ventures internal records, the city manager said he didnt know, but said it is not uncommon for people to overstate their relationships with city officials in an effort to fast-track zoning approvals. He said he never met with Kapoor regarding the Coconut Grove project last year. Noriega said he didnt know Suarez was being paid by the developer until he read a Herald report last week. He said he doesnt know whos on Suarezs private client list, and he doesnt want to know. He said its not his responsibility to ask elected officials about potential conflicts of interest on projects they discuss with him. Herald staff writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report. (Bloomberg) -- The European Union has immobilized more than 200 billion ($215 billion) in Russian central bank assets since Moscow invaded Ukraine, according to fresh numbers, underscoring the importance of ongoing discussions on how to use such funds to help rebuild the war-hit country. Most Read from Bloomberg EU nations reported the new numbers on the blocked assets following the 10th sanctions package, which forced banks to divulge information on the size of their holdings. The EU is committed to ensure that Russia pays for the damages caused in Ukraine, European Commission spokesman Christian Wigand, who confirmed the numbers, said in an interview. Thats why the EU is exploring ways of using Russian frozen and immobilized assets for that purpose. The EU has also frozen 24.1 billion in Russian private assets of sanctioned individuals and entities since the invasion of Ukraine more than 14 months ago. It has sanctioned almost 1,500 individuals, restricted exports on hundreds of goods and technologies, and targeted many of Moscows key revenue sources, but has been struggling to find and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian billionaires. Reporting Obligations The commission is working closely with Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, to move discussions forward on proposed options to use frozen central bank assets, Wigand said. The EU also continues discussions on this with international allies to ensure the necessary coordination at international level, but these reflections are both legally and technically complex, he said. EU leaders are expected to discuss this at their next meeting in June. Reporting obligations on central bank assets have been in effect across the EU since May 12, providing the bloc with more clarity on what is being held. Separately, the EU has been looking at powers to seize the private assets of sanctioned Russians in the event of criminal offense by extending the list of crimes, such as money-laundering and corruption, to include the evasion of EU sanctions. The EU and its allies have repeatedly said that Russia must pay for the destruction it has bought on Ukraine. That principle was recently reaffirmed at a Group of Seven summit in Japan. EU member states are exploring ways to use some of the assets to contribute toward Ukraines future reconstruction. One option being discussed is to invest the central bank and other Russian state assets and use any proceeds for Ukraine, Bloomberg previously reported. (Updates with background from the fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. EU anti-trust chief Margrethe Vestager said the EU-UK split over Microsoft's takeover bid for Activision Blizzard raised 'questions' The EU anti-trust chief on Thursday defended the bloc's decision to approve Microsoft's $69-billion takeover bid for US video game giant Activision Blizzard despite the UK's block on it. But competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager admitted the split with Britain "raises questions". Xbox-owner Microsoft launched a bid for Activision Blizzard early last year, seeking to establish the world's third biggest gaming firm by revenue after China's Tencent and Japan's PlayStation maker Sony. Activision Blizzard's hit titles include "Call of Duty", "Candy Crush" and "World of Warcraft" and the move soon triggered competition concerns, and in Microsoft's home US market federal authorities have gone to court to try to halt the dal. Last week, Brussels gave the takeover a green light, just weeks after Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked it, arguing it would harm competition in cloud gaming. The split is the most significant between EU and UK regulators since Brexit. Vestager, the European Commission vice president, told reporters in Brussels that the EU was satisfied with the commitments made by Microsoft that it would not make games "exclusive" to its own cloud gaming service. "Where we diverged with the CMA was on remedies. We accepted a 10-year free licence to consumers to allow them to stream all Activision games for which they have a licence via any cloud service," Vestager said. "And why did we do this instead of blocking the merger? Well, to us, this solution fully addressed our concerns. And on top of that, it had significant pro-competitive effects," she argued. But Vestager noted the "divergence raises important questions regarding our assessment, our remedies policy and our cooperation". Microsoft filed an appeal against the CMA's decision with the UK Competition Appeals Tribunal on Wednesday, a company spokesman told AFP. Microsoft's bid is also under threat in the United States as well where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a legal action to block it last year, one of Washington's biggest ever interventions to stop tech industry consolidation. It could be game over for the merger unless Microsoft successfully fights off the challenges in Britain and the United States. raz/dc/giv BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission repeated calls on Thursday for China to play a constructive role in establishing peace in Ukraine, after a top EU diplomat met Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia. "The EU expects China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to play a constructive role (...) and to recall the necessity to respect the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity (...) by unconditionally withdrawing all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders," the EU said in a statement. Last week, Li Hui visited Ukraine and met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a European tour that Beijing billed as its effort to promote peace talks and a political settlement. He is set to visit Russia on Friday. (Reporting by Marine Strauss, Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) (Bloomberg) -- Germany has been Europes economic engine for decades, pulling the region through one crisis after another. But that resilience is breaking down, and it spells danger for the whole continent. Most Read from Bloomberg Decades of flawed energy policy, the demise of combustion-engine cars and a sluggish transition to new technologies are converging to pose the most fundamental threat to the nations prosperity since reunification. But unlike in 1990, the political class lacks the leadership to tackle structural issues gnawing at the heart of the countrys competitiveness. Click here to read a German version of this story. Weve been naive as a society because everything seems fine, BASF SE Chief Executive Officer Martin Brudermuller told Bloomberg. These problems we have in Germany are accumulating. We have a period of change ahead of us; I dont know if everyone realizes this. While Berlin has shown a knack for overcoming crises in the past, the question now is whether it can pursue a sustained strategy. The prospect looks remote. Chancellor Olaf Scholzs make-shift coalition has reverted to petty infighting over everything from debt and spending to heat pumps and speed limits as soon as the risks of energy shortfalls eased. But the warning signals are getting hard to ignore. Despite Scholz telling Bloomberg in January that Germany would ride out Russias energy squeeze without a recession this year, data published Thursday show that the economy has in fact been contracting since October and has only expanded twice in the past five quarters. Read More: Germany Endures First Recession Since Covid on Consumer Weakness Economists see German growth lagging behind the rest of the region for years to come, and the International Monetary Fund estimates Germany will be the worst-performing G-7 economy this year. Nonetheless, Scholz again sounded upbeat. The prospects for the German economy are very good, he told reporters in Berlin after the latest economic data. By unlocking market forces and cutting red tape, we are solving the challenges that face us. The risk is that the latest numbers arent a one-off, but the sign of things to come. Germany finds itself ill-suited to sustainably serve the energy needs of its industrial base; overly dependent on old-school engineering; and lacking the political and commercial agility to pivot to faster-growing sectors. The array of structural challenges points to a cold awakening for the center of European power, which has become accustomed to uninterrupted affluence. To its credit, industrial behemoths like Volkswagen AG, Siemens AG and Bayer AG are flanked by thousands of smaller Mittelstand companies, and the countrys conservative spending habits put it on a stronger fiscal footing than its peers to support the transformation ahead. But it has little time to waste. The most pressing issue for Germany is getting its energy transition on track. Affordable power is a key precondition for industrial competitiveness, and even before the end of Russian gas supplies, Germany had some of the highest electricity costs in Europe. Failure to stabilize the situation could transform a trickle of manufacturers heading elsewhere into a stampede. Berlin is responding to concerns by seeking a cap on power prices for some energy-intensive industries like chemicals through 2030 a plan that could cost taxpayers as much as 30 billion ($32 billion). But that would be a temporary patch, and shows Germanys desperate situation in terms of supply. After shutting its last nuclear reactors this spring and pushing to phase out coal as soon as 2030, the country installed around 10 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity last year half the pace it needs to hit climate targets. Scholzs administration aims to hook up roughly 625 million solar panels and 19,000 wind turbines by 2030, but promises to accelerate the rollout to months from years have yet to bear fruit. Meanwhile, demand is expected to soar due to the electrification of everything from heating and transportation to steelmaking and heavy industry. Were now seeing a resurgence, if youd like, with some real market momentum, Siemens Energy AG Chief Financial Officer Maria Ferraro told a Bloomberg New Voices event in Frankfurt on Thursday. We have an overflowing order book. The bitter reality is that resources for generating that much clean power are limited in Germany by its relatively small coastline and lack of sun. In response, the country is looking to build a vast infrastructure to import hydrogen from the likes of Australia, Canada and Saudi Arabia banking on technology that hasnt been tested at this scale. Read More: Hydrogen Hype Is Raging But Cant Lure Investment to Europe At the same time, Germany will need to speed the construction of high-voltage grids linking wind farms off the coasts in the north to power-hungry factories and cities further south. And theres little in the way of storage to ensure the country can withstand disruptions. Germany needs cross-party agreement on the speed of expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, said Claudia Kemfert, professor of energy economics at the DIW research institute in Berlin. After the next national election in 2025, other political constellations could stall the energy transition again. That would not be good for Germany as a place of business. Sputtering Innovation Europes powerhouse economy looks like it has a well-funded and established system to generate ideas to keep its economy on the cutting edge. Spending on research and development is the fourth-highest in the world behind only the US, China and Japan. Around a third of patents filed in Europe come from Germany, according to data from the World Patent Office. Much of the innovation power though is embedded in big companies like Siemens and Volkswagen, and focused around well-established industries. While small manufacturers still thrive, the number of new startups is declining in Germany in contrast to growth seen in other developed economies, according to the OECD. The reasons include excess bureaucracy company registrations often taking place in paper form and a cultural aversion to risk. Financing is also an issue. Venture-capital investment in Germany totaled $11.7 billion in 2022 compared with $234.5 billion in the US, according to DealRoom. Germany also labors under a ponderous academic system and doesnt have a single university in the top 25 of the latest Times Higher Education ranking. Patent data shows that Germanys ability to stay at the forefront is fading. In 2000, the country was among the top three for world-class patents in 43 of 58 key technology categories, but in 2019, it achieved that rank in fewer than half the number of areas, according to a recent study by the Bertelsmann Stiftung. Nowhere is Germanys disappearing technological edge more obvious than in the auto sector. While brands like Porsche and BMW defined the combustion-engine era, Germanys electric cars have struggled. BYD Co. overtook VW to become the best-selling car brand in China last quarter. Key to its push was an electric model that costs around a third of VWs ID3, but offers greater range and connectivity with third-party applications. Much of Germanys wealth and social order rest on a vibrant manufacturing sector that provides well-paid blue-collar jobs. But that strength has led to dangerous dependencies on overseas markets for orders and raw materials above all China. Like other democracies in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Berlin is now trying to unwind its reliance on the Asian superpower, but Germanys biggest companies arent paying heed. Read More: German Bosses Defy Scholzs Plea to Shift Away From China There are two key areas where Germany punches well below its weight and could be ripe for broadening out its economy: finance and technology. Much of Germans money is held by a network of around 360 public-sector savings banks, so-called Sparkassen. These institutions are controlled by local communities, raising potential conflicts of interest while also diluting the countrys financial muscle. Read More: How Germanys Little Savings Banks Threaten Big Financial Woes Germanys two biggest listed banks Deutsche Bank AG and Commerzbank AG have been mired in controversy for years, and while theyre on the mend, theyre still undersized compared to Wall Street peers. Their combined market capitalization is less than a tenth of JPMorgan Chase & Co.s. In technology, Germanys biggest player is SAP SE, which dates from the 1970s and makes complex software that helps companies manage their operations. Theres little in the way of new national champions on the horizon. Digital payments company Wirecard AG briefly filled that role before collapsing in a sensational accounting scandal. The prerequisites arent promising. Germanys lack of investment is particularly acute in digital technology. Despite infrastructure that had it ranked 51st in the world for fixed-line Internet speeds, it had the fourth-lowest spending among OECD countries relative to the economys size. Read More: Underground Tangle of German Wires Drags $1 Trillion Green Push Years of underinvestment has left Germany lagging, said Jamie Rush, chief European economist for Bloomberg Economics. Berlin will need to spend more and make it easier for infrastructure projects to get off the ground. To accelerate a long-delayed rollout, Scholzs administration unveiled a plan to overhaul the planning process for installing fiber-optic cables and mobile communication infrastructure. Germany needs to address its issues with a long-term program, but that looks questionable. Scholz won the chancellery with the lowest level of support in the postwar era as voters ditched the tradition of handing a clear mandate to either the Social Democrats or the Christian Democrat-led conservative bloc. With Scholzs messy three-way coalition racked with bickering, Germany is poised for instability, and the far-right Alternative for Germany has seized on the political vacuum, vying for second in some polls. Fragmentation risks intensifying as the population ages, pitting comfortable pensioners against young people worried about their futures. The tensions have sparked disruptive protests, and authorities this week searched 15 properties across Germany in connection with an investigation against a group of climate activists. Germanys industrial base is already feeling the pinch of its demographic shift. Recent surveys have found 50% of firms cut output due to staffing problems, costing the economy as much as $85 billion per year. This year, more than 1 million Germans will reach retirement age about 320,000 more than those becoming adults. By the end of the decade, the German employment agency says the shortfall will rise to as much as 500,000 roughly equivalent to the city of Nuremberg, adding to the strains on the economy. Read More: Scholz Tested by Migration Influx and Mass Worker Shortage In a recent report, the OECD put the scale of the challenges in stark terms: No major industrialized economy has ever had the very basis of its competitiveness and resilience so systematically challenged by changing social, environmental and regulatory pressures. That in turn will ripple across the entire continent, according to Dana Allin, a professor at SAIS Europe. The health of the German economy is crucial for the broader European economy, and the blocs harmony and solidarity, he said. --With assistance from Petra Sorge, Josefine Fokuhl, Iain Rogers, Michael Nienaber, Oliver Crook, Anna Edwards, Zoe Schneeweiss and Craig Stirling. (Updates with Siemens Energy CFO in 15th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt says AI poses an 'existential risk' that could kill or harm 'many, many people' Eric Schmidt stepped down from an executive role at Google in 2015. Beck Diefenbach/Reuters Eric Schmidt said advanced artificial intelligence posed an "existential risk" to humans. He told a Wall Street Journal conference he was impressed at the speed of recent AI development. Schmidt was CEO of Google for a decade until 2011 and then executive chairman until 2015. Eric Schmidt warned advanced artificial intelligence posed an "existential risk" that could kill or harm "many, many people." The former Google CEO told The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council: "My concern with AI is actually existential, and existential risk is defined as many, many, many, many people harmed or killed. And there are scenarios not today but reasonably soon, where these systems will be able to find zero-day exploits in cyber issues or discover new kinds of biology." Schmidt also said that governments needed to ensure the technology was not "misused by evil people." He was chief executive at Google from 2001 to 2011, and later served as executive chairman until 2015. Schmidt also headed up the US national security commission on AI. AI anxiety has risen in recent months. Several high-profile tech figures, including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak have issued warnings about its potential dangers, citing concerns about the spread of misinformation and widespread automation of jobs. Schmidt said he was impressed at the speed of AI development in recent months but pushed back on fears that it will eliminate jobs. He said: "Here are the facts. We are not having enough children, and we have not been having enough children for long enough that there is a demographic crisis where people who are my age are going to be taken care of by younger generations." He continued: "In aggregate, all the demographics say there's going to be a shortage of humans for jobs. Literally too many jobs and not enough people for at least the next 30 years." Representatives for Schmidt did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon sits during his appearance at New York Supreme Court in New York City By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Steve Bannon, a one-time advisor to Donald Trump, is set to go on trial on May 27, 2024, on criminal charges over a push to fund the former U.S. president's signature wall along the U.S. southern border, a New York judge said in a court hearing on Thursday. New York state prosecutors in Manhattan accuse Bannon of defrauding donors who contributed more than $15 million to the "We Build the Wall" fundraising drive. According to the indictment, Bannon concealed his role in diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars to the drive's chief executive. Bannon, 69, has pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering, conspiracy and scheming to defraud. Justice Juan Merchan at the brief hearing gave Bannon's lawyers until Oct. 6 to file a possible motion to dismiss the charges. Merchan said he would rule on any such motion at a hearing on April 29. Bannon was initially charged over the fundraising push by federal prosecutors in Manhattan but received a presidential pardon from Trump during the final hours of his term. That pardon covered federal but not state charges. Brian Kolfage, a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran who led the funding push, was sentenced last month to 4-1/4 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges of misappropriating funds for the campaign. An associate, Andrew Badolato, was sentenced to three years in prison. Another defendant in the case, Timothy Shea, is set to be sentenced on June 13 after his conviction at trial last October. Construction of a border wall was a key element of Trump's hardline immigration policies during his presidency, supported by his fellow Republicans but opposed by Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Porter) What should we expect when Newsom, a Gen Z rep and Democratic drama take the convention stage? Will Gov. Gavin Newsom try to enhance his national profile? Will the three California representatives vying for a U.S. Senate seat make headway with their party? How will Assembly Speaker-elect Robert Rivas be received by the states delegates? And where is the Democratic party headed before a consequential election in 2024? These questions lie beneath the biggest gathering of Democrats this year this weekends 2023 California Democratic Party Re-organizing State Convention. Delegates, elected officials and activists convene Thursday through Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with a spotlight on newly elected delegates, as well as high-wattage speakers. The state party will also honor Rep. (and Speaker Emerita) Nancy Pelosi. The delegates will serve from 2023-2025, including a crucial election year for the state and national Democratic Party. Billed as an opportunity to organize in the face of extreme MAGA Republicans who are working hard to roll back our effort to build progress, the gathering is also sure to shed light on what the future of the state Democratic Party looks like, and the tenor of the political approach it and its players will take. What are some of expected storylines? Newsom: Campaign speech? Newsom earlier this month unveiled his revised budget, which includes a $31.5 billion deficit. He has consistently denied rumors of a potential bid for the White House but has spent much of this year campaigning if not officially for president, then at least for democracy. His Campaign for Democracy political action committee tour took him to the Southern states of Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and of course, Florida, where he spoke to Democratic leaders, activists and students about the PACs mission to confront and defeat un-American authoritarianism. Will he use his platform at the convention to stick to Californias biggest issues? Or will he use the stage to go after his usual foes in the national political arena: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis? Florida state of mind Maxwell Frost, 25 was elected in the state in 2022, and made history as the first member of Gen Z to walk the halls of Congress as a representative. Frost was the organizing director for March for Our Lives, the gun reform movement started by mass shooting survivors in Parkland. Frost is the the counter to DeSantis young, progressive and a bilingual supporter of a Green New Deal and LGBTQ rights. A frequent DeSantis critic (much like Newsom), what message will the young Congressman have for Californians? What do Californians need to hear from a Florida Democrat? Whatever his message may be, it will likely be delivered with Frosts trademark generational humor. In response to finding out that DeSantis will launch his presidential campaign in a Twitter space with Elon Musk, Frost responded with a succinct: Lmao this is so lame. Focus on California progressives The slogan for the convention this year is one Democratic organizers have heard time and again: Dont agonize, organize. Although the phrase is not new in organizing circles, it actually originated with radical, Black feminist and civil rights activist Flo Kennedy, who fought for abortion rights and an end to discrimination based on race and gender, and who refused to separate the movement to end racism from the movement to end sexism and misogyny. How will the California Democratic Party a party nearly split in two by its blue dog moderates and its young progressives honor the legacy of Kennedy, who People magazine in 1974 called the biggest, loudest and, indisputably, the rudest mouth on the battleground? Perhaps by giving a platform to some of its most progressive elected officials and representatives. One is State Sen. Aisha Wahab, the Bay Area Democrat who came out of the gate her freshman year with a civil rights bill that would ban discrimination on the basis of caste. Wahab became the first Afghan American woman elected to public office in the U.S. when she won a seat on Hayward City Council in 2018, and she is currently the only Muslim state senator. Sen. Aisha Wahab speaks to the crowd gathered during the Ramadan Iftar on Monday, April 10, 2023, at the state Capitol in downtown Sacramento. Ramadan, which began on March 23, 2023, is the Islamic holy month of self-discipline, charity, fasting, and spiritual renewal. Muslims end their daily fast after sunset with a meal known as iftar. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the left-of-center candidate who beat billionaire Republican-turned-Democrat Rick Caruso for the mayoral seat last fall, will get the mic, too. She is the first woman elected mayor of Los Angeles. Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff will also attend, speaking as the Interim Executive Director of Emerge California, a group that helps elect Democrat women to public office. Speakers from other progressive movements such as United Farm Workers, California YIMBY and the California Teachers Association will bolster a progressive policy lineup, and by showcasing some of its diverse, progressive members and organizations, the party may well reach more young Californians who feel disconnected from it. Rivas debuts as Speaker The convention will coincide with Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendons final month as one of the highest ranking Democrats in the state. Salinas Assemblyman Robert Rivas told Rendon last May that he had secured enough votes to take over as speaker. The heated race for the position overlapped with the 2022 election, and Rivas supporters launched a PAC to help elect candidates who would support a Rivas speakership. They included Central Valley Assemblywoman-elect Esmeralda Soria, who will also speak at the convention. In a contentious November battle for the speakership, the Democratic caucus voted ultimately to elect Rivas , but also to allow Rendon to finish his final term. Ideologically, the two are nearly identical. They differ in their temperaments and leadership styles, however, and some Assembymembers voiced frustration last fall with Rendons inability to get certain bills passed. Both men will make appearances this weekend in Los Angeles; Rendon will be speaking, and Rivas will speak to the partys rural caucus, and host a welcome reception on Friday night before he starts his new job in June. Battle of the U.S. Senate campaigns A gathering of all the states major Democratic players will be important for the three members of Congress vying to replace U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who will retire after this term. Campaigns for Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee will each have a booth at the convention, and Schiffs and Lees campaigns will each host a campaign event on Friday night. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., acknowledges supporters after speaking during her campaign launch rally to succeed Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate, at Laney College on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Oakland. Pelosi, the conventions star guest, came out early in support of Rep. Schiff, who became a Democratic Party darling when he oversaw both of former President Donald Trumps impeachment hearings. His convention campaign event A Comedy Intervention will coincide with Rep. Barbara Lees event, CA to TN to DC: Barbara Lee speaks for me. The Bay Area progressive is lagging in both polls and dollars compared to Schiff and Porter. Explosions heard in Russian Belgorod Oblast again: Authorities claim it is air defence On 25 May, an air defence system was activated in Belgorod Oblast in Russia and allegedly shot down a Ukrainian drone, as stated by a Russian governor. Source: Viacheslav Gladkov, governor of Belgorod Oblast in Russia, on Telegram Quote: "An air defence system was activated in the Belgorod district. An UAV has been shot down near the city." Details: The Russian official added that the operative services are establishing the information about the results on the ground. Background: On 22 May, Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion announced that they had crossed the border and were "liberating" the settlements of Belgorod Oblast from the current Russian regime. They said they were starting with the villages of Kozinka and Gora-Podol, but were seeking to "liberate" all of Russia. Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, has described the events taking place in Russia's Belgorod Oblast on 22 May as the creation of a "security zone" to protect Ukrainian citizens. Yusov stressed that the operation was conducted exclusively by Russian citizens. Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that the majority of residents of the Grayvoron district had left their settlements. On 23 May, Gladkov announced that the counter-terrorist operation regime in the oblast had been cancelled. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Migrants reach through a border wall for clothing handed out by volunteers, as they wait between two border walls to apply for asylum in San Diego Migrants reach through a border wall for clothing handed out by volunteers, as they wait between two border walls to apply for asylum in San Diego, Calif., on May 12, 2023. Credit - Gregory BullAP In late May, a migrant woman from Honduras crossed into Dallas, fleeing violent threats from gang members back home and seeking asylum in the U.S. While she waited in Mexico, men from a cartel would rape her every couple of days as part of a rent payment, according to her attorney. What happens next to the woman is mired in problems exacerbated by the Biden Administrations new border rules. When she approached border officials near the Mexican city of Matamoros to cross over into Texas, she hadnt scheduled an appointment through the federal governments new CBP One App, which only offers 1,000 daily appointment slots and has been riddled with glitches and accessibility issues. The woman had tried to secure an asylum appointment through the app for four months before giving up, says Priscilla Orta, supervising attorney at Project Corazon, who represents her. (The woman, who exchanged messages with TIME, did not give permission to use her name because of concerns speaking to the media would affect her case.) Without an asylum appointment, the woman will have to prove to a judge that she had a good enough reason to enter the U.S. without going through the appa difficult proposition under the new rules. So when her court date comes around in August, she faces a high risk of being deported back to Honduras. If she had approached the border just a week earlier, the harrowing details of her case would have likely led to U.S. officials granting her an asylum appointment and emergency parole, according to Orta. Thats been standard U.S. policy applied at most ports, even during the pandemic. But in recent weeks, as the Biden Administration has overhauled the rules of the border, cases like these are often being treated like just any other asylum case, with little consideration for emergency circumstances. It has become much harder to get speedy asylum appointments for migrants in emergency situations at two ports of entry in particular, Matamoros and Reynosa, according to immigration advocates. I always felt like, no matter how bad it got, there was a safety valve for the most extreme cases. They shut that valve. They cut it off, Orta says. This is worse than anything I experienced under the Trump Administration. Read More: Bidens Rightward Shift on Immigration Draws Comparisons to Trump Venezuelan migrants browse 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, Mexico, on May 5, 2023. Herika MartinezAFP/Getty Images Another immigration advocate working in the same area says it has become harder for emergency exceptions to be made at these ports. A third, working in Nogales, Arizona, reports it has been harder for emergency cases to get an appointment quickly since January, when the U.S. government increased its reliance on scheduling migrant appointments through the the CBP One App, which doesnt ask migrants why they are seeking asylum or provide space to flag any urgent threats. CBP is processing individuals who arrive at ports of entry and is not turning people away, Justin Long, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson, tells TIME in a statement. CBP will make processing determinations upon the noncitizens arrival at a port of entry, on a case-by-case-basis, and outcomes may vary depending on the specific circumstances of each case. Long said CBP is prioritizing processing migrants with documentation and those who have made appointments through the CBP One app. Every port may work differently. When policy is built on a case-by-case basis, theres going to be more variability in the responseeven for those facing similar circumstances, says Julia Gelatt, senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, an immigration policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. A person crossing the border in Matamoros, for example, may not receive the same treatment as another crossing in Tijuanaeven if they are dealing with a similar threat. That flexibility allows local CBP offices to take into account issues such as crowding at detention facilities. But the new guidance that they should prioritize migrants who have made appointments through the CBP One appwhich doesnt allow them to specify their circumstanceshas effectively meant all asylum claims are lumped together. After the pandemic-era immigration policy Title 42 expired in May, the Biden Administration instituted a strict new rule stating if a person did not seek asylum in the country they passed through to get to the U.S. or didnt use the CBP One phone app to do so, any asylum claim they make in the U.S. will likely be rejected. The U.S. government wants everyone to use the CBP One app no matter what the circumstance iseveryone is treated the same right now, says Felicia Rangel, executive director of the Sidewalk School. But since the app doesnt allow migrants to explain dire situations, it can leave people fleeing extreme violencewho previously might have been given special consideration by border officialswaiting in the same lottery system as everyone else arriving at the border. Read More: Its Like a Lottery. Migrants Struggle to Make Asylum Appointments Through U.S. Government App The app is a lottery system. Its not prioritizing based on vulnerability or need for protection. Its prioritizing based on who has the luck of the draw andwho has been waiting the longest to get a CBP One appointment, says Gelatt. Theres no intention even of targeting it for people who have humanitarian protection needs. Migrants with CBP One app interviews are allowed to enter the United States at the Chaparral pedestrian border in Tijuana, Mexico, on May 16, 2023. Carlos A. MorenoAnadolu Agency/Getty Images Some immigration advocates note the app may not ask about why someone is seeking asylum because it could be considered official documentation and be used against them if the explanation differs from what they say on their official asylum application or interview. But the issue is that theres no way to flag the urgency of cases, says Joanna Williams, executive director of the Kino Border Initiative, based in Nogales, Arizona. Before the government expanded the use of the CBP One App in January, non profits, shelters, and attorneys would alert the U.S. government to more extreme cases. Thats no longer standard procedure. Some attorneys say that those in dire circumstances have faced barriers to seeking asylum for urgent humanitarian reasons for years. Its actually been very hard for advocates to effectively have these humanitarian parole requests acknowledged, reviewed and adjudicated in a timely manner, says Chelsea Sachau, an attorney at the Arizona-based Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. But the extreme reliance on the CBP One App and the refusal of some ports of entry to consider emergency cases has only exacerbated the problem for fast-tracking these cases, immigration advocates say. -With reporting by Vera Bergengruen (Bloomberg) -- There has been a reduction in the fear premium being baked into Treasury bills that are most at risk if lawmakers fail to resolve the debt-ceiling crisis. But anxiety remains elevated as Democrats and Republicans continue to wrangle over the borrowing limit and the window for reaching a deal continues to narrow. Most Read from Bloomberg Yields on securities due in early June the period in which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the US might run out of borrowing capacity and be unable to make payments slipped back Thursday after reaching levels above 7% the previous day. The yield on those maturing June 1 dropped by more than a percentage point below 6%. That move came as comments from lawmakers gave reassurance to those optimistic that an agreement will be reached. Investors nevertheless remain wary of them and most yields are still firmly north of 6%. Thats well above the rate on securities due before June 1, and higher than those that mature later in the US summer. Bidders at the governments weekly bill auctions continued to avoid Treasurys four-week offering even though those securities are outside the window the department has identified when the US might run out of borrowing capacity. The broader Treasuries market, meanwhile, continues to be whipsawed by lawmakers comments on debt-ceiling talks. A crisis around the debt cap has potential to plunge the economy into recession, so anything that averts that could be positive for risk taking, and negative for havens, although if large spending cuts are part of any agreement the market outcome might be more muddied.Improvements in sentiment Thursday helped spur selling in Treasury notes and also saw traders boost bets on the prospect of further monetary-policy tightening by the Federal Reserve. Markets moved to price in another quarter-point interest-rate increase by the Federal Reserve within the next two policy meetings and a more than one-in-two chance that hike could arrive as soon as next month. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Thursday that theres been progress in talks with the Biden administration but outstanding issues remain. While he didnt specify those, negotiators have been clashing over the scale and length of limits on spending to be included in a bill raising or suspending the debt ceiling. From Washington to Wall Street, heres what to watch to gauge how worried observers should be. The Bills Curve Investors have historically demanded higher yields on securities that are due to be repaid shortly after the US is seen as running out of borrowing capacity. That puts a lot of focus on the yield curve for bills the shortest-dated Treasuries. Noticeable upward distortions in particular parts of the curve tend to suggest increased concern among investors that thats the time the US might be at risk of default. Right now thats most prominent around early June. But its not just early June securities that investors are circumspect about. Even if the Treasury can make it past the June danger zone, there are still risks of a default during the US summer if no legislative fix is found. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said the US government is incurring extra costs to sell debt as a result of the partisan standoff over increasing the federal borrowing limit. X-Date Predictions Underpinning the various moves in debt markets are differing estimates about when the government might exhaust its options to fund itself commonly referred to as the X-date. While the administration has provided guidance that it might fall short as soon as June, prognosticators across Wall Street have also been running the numbers based on government cash flows and expectations around taxes and spending. Most strategists have pulled forward their baseline estimates to align more with forecasts out of Washington, although some remain hopeful that the Treasury might be able to stretch its resources until late summer. The Cash Balance The US governments ability to pay its debts and meet its spending obligations ultimately comes down to whether it has enough cash. So the amount sitting in its checking account is crucial. That figure fluctuates daily depending on spending, tax receipts, debt repayments and the proceeds of new borrowing. If it gets too close to zero for the Treasurys comfort that could be a problem. The amount of money the US government has to pay its bills dropped below $50 billion Wednesday to the lowest level since 2021, posing a risk the administration will run out of funds by early next month if the statutory debt limit isnt raised or suspended before then. Focus is on the so-called extraordinary measures that the Treasury is using to eke out its borrowing capacity. The government has already used up more than two thirds of these accounting gimmicks and had $92 billion up its sleeve as of the middle of last week. Insuring Against Default Beyond T-bills, one other key area to watch for insight on debt-ceiling risks is what happens in credit-default swaps for the US government. Those instruments act as insurance for investors in cases of non-payment. The cost to insure US debt is now higher than the bonds of many emerging markets that have credit ratings well below that of the US. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Xi addresses opening ceremony of plenary session of second Eurasian Economic Forum Xinhua) 08:03, May 25, 2023 Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the plenary session of the second Eurasian Economic Forum of the Eurasian Economic Union via video link upon invitation and delivers a speech on May 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the plenary session of the second Eurasian Economic Forum of the Eurasian Economic Union via video link upon invitation and delivered a speech on Wednesday. Noting that the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Xi said the historical trend toward multipolarity and economic globalization is irresistible, adding that it is the broad consensus of the international community to uphold genuine multilateralism and promote coordinated development across regions. Xi said Eurasia is the region with the largest population, the largest number of countries and the most diverse civilizations in the world. In the turbulent and changing world, how to proceed with Asia-Europe cooperation not only concerns the well-being of the people in the region, but also has a profound impact on the development of the world, he said. Xi said he had put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, calling on all countries to work together to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity and to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Noting this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said the ultimate goal of this initiative is to explore new ways for countries from near and far to achieve common development and to open up a "path of happiness" that benefits the whole world. As a member of the Eurasian family, China's development cannot be achieved without the Eurasian region, and it also benefits the region, Xi noted. Xi said it is China's sincere hope that the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union will be deepened, and all countries will work together with unity and dedication to open up new prospects for Asia-Europe cooperation. Noting that China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in the second half of this year, Xi said China is ready to work with the countries that took part in the Belt and Road Initiative and the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, share opportunities, overcome difficulties, create a better future, and work together to write a new chapter in the progress of civilization in a multipolar world. The second Eurasian Economic Forum of the Eurasian Economic Union was held online and offline in Moscow, Russia on Wednesday, with the theme of Eurasian integration in a multipolar world. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine faces a long wait before it can deploy F-16s against Russia, as US and European allies begin to thrash out who might be able to supply the fighter jets. Most Read from Bloomberg The countries pledging support for Ukraine are prioritizing pilot training and will have to weigh the costs and any possible security gaps before deciding whether to actually send the aircraft. Four nations have so far committed to a coalition to help train the Ukrainian pilots the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium. But only Denmark and the Netherlands may end up actually sending the jets to help counter Russias invasion. The UK has no F-16s. Belgium has signaled that many of its 53 planes are reaching the end of their lifespans, while any others would be needed for national and international missions. Defense ministers from the US, Europe and other Ukraine supporters are likely to discuss F-16 training at a virtual meeting later Thursday. In the near future, consideration can be given to the possible delivery of F-16s to Ukraine, a spokeswoman for the Dutch defense ministry said, adding it was not an immediate issue. The priority is hammering out details of the training plan, which should be finalized in coming weeks, she added. Whether Denmark will send Ukraine its jets is still an open question, according to a spokesman for the Danish ministry of defense. The question of whether the country could afford or spare the planes would need to be discussed, he added. While the UK doesnt have jets of its own, one option could involve buying other countries planes to have them transferred to Ukraine, according to a British official. The UK is discussing a range of methods with other countries to get F-16s to Ukraine and is happy to help in any way it can with logistics, training and funding, the official said. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said over the weekend the US would work with allies in coming months to determine when the planes will be delivered, and who will do so. The likeliest scenario for now is that the US wont send F-16s to Ukraine but instead rely on other countries to supply them. US President Joe Biden last week dropped his reluctance to F-16s seeing combat in Ukraine after months of pressure from Kyiv and allied governments, announcing that the US would support efforts to train Ukrainian pilots to use the fighter jet. While the training will take place in Europe, it requires US permission because the jet is American-made. No country has yet formally committed to supplying F-16s to Ukraine. The move comes after allied officials have sought for months to downplay the need for Ukraine to receive F-16s, instead highlighting the urgent requirement for ammunition and air defense equipment in beating back Russian forces. While it could take many months before pilots are trained let alone before jets are transferred the push to start training fits into a broader effort to help Ukraines military withstand future attacks by Russia even after the war ends. UK Training The UK will begin training pilots in about two months, the British official said, adding pilots would receive introductory training on how to operate a fighter jet more generally, taking a couple of months. They would then need further training by other countries on the actual F-16s, taking another few months. Once the pilot training plan is finalized and if allies can get a further US sign off for any transfers, the countries will then have to determine whether they can part with the costly machines as donations to Ukraine. Colin Kahl, the Pentagons policy chief, told a House committee in February that the 50-80 fighter jets the US deems Ukraine would likely need to replace its existing air force could cost as much as $11 billion if they were brand new. Intense Care Donating nations will also need to ensure Ukraine can maintain the aircraft once it receives them. The jets require intense care, including an in-depth inspection roughly every 300 hours, putting an aircraft out of commission for at least 35 days, according to Belgiums military air base Kleine-Brogel. One major factor in any decision will be tied to incoming F-35 orders designed to replace F-16s, as allies seek to avoid any gaps in their air forces. The Netherlands is further along in its F-35 program compared to a country like Belgium, which will only receive its first two F-35s this year but will be first stationed in the US for training. Denmarks first F-35s arrive this year. Meanwhile, Norway is also further along in transitioning to F-35s, with the new fleet officially taking over from F-16s last year. Asked whether Norway would consider sending F-16s, Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said in emailed comments his government is constantly considering new donations to Ukraine, but declined to comment on future contributions. Dutch and Danish ministers said in Brussels earlier this week that they expected other countries to soon join the coalition to train pilots. Portugal is open to helping with pilot training, but providing F-16s isnt on the table as the country only has a limited number. Turkey and Greece have more than 400 F-16s between them, but they are unlikely to send Ukraine the fighters. Greece needs the planes given its constant rivalry with Turkey, while the latter relies on the jets to fight separatist Kurdish militants at home and beyond its borders in Syria and Iraq. Moreover, Turkey is playing a self-appointed mediator role in the conflict between the warring parties and would not even consider deploying its warplanes in Ukraine and take the risk of a direct confrontation with Russia, according to two senior Turkish officials familiar with the matter. --With assistance from Thomas Hall, Tony Capaccio, Joao Lima, Natalia Ojewska, Andra Timu, Ott Ummelas, Selcan Hacaoglu, Sotiris Nikas and Lyubov Pronina. (Updates with UK participation in eighth and 13th paragraphs) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. How the F-16 pilot nominated to be the US military's top officer earned the callsign 'Swamp Thing' Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. receiving a Wolf Pack patch during a visit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Oct. 18, 2019. Brown previously led the Wolf Pack as "Wolf 46." US Air Force photo President Biden has nominated Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, Jr. to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown has logged thousands of hours, including over 100 in combat, flying F-16 fighters. His escape from a burning jet earned him the callsign "Swamp Thing." The US Air Force general President Joe Biden has nominated to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's top military officer, is a former fighter pilot with an interesting callsign. Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, Jr., the current Air Force chief of staff and former F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, is a distinguished four-star general. He has also logged more than 3,000 flying hours including 130 in combat, yet his callsign is, perhaps unexpectedly, "Swamp Thing." "He knows what it means to be in the thick of battle and how to keep your cool when things get hard. Like when your F-16 was on fire," Biden said during speech announcing his nomination outside the White House on Thursday. "That's a lot of fun, huh? Well I tell you what he was back in the cockpit the next week with a new callsign: Swamp Thing." The origins of Brown's callsign date back to January 1991, when Brown then an Air Force captain was flying an F-16 during a training mission over the Everglades in Florida. Mid-flight, Brown's wingman called attention to a gas tank explosion that had caused a fire on his aircraft. Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum last year, Brown said his wingman described the fire as small at first, but it grew larger. Out of options, he ejected from the aircraft, he said, and while he was floating down to earth in a parachute, he had just enough time to think: "Hope there's nothing down there." President Joe Biden shakes hands with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., after nominating Brown as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 25, 2023. AP Photo/Susan Walsh He landed on his left side, which was left covered in swamp mud. Brown then spent about 15 minutes on the ground before a Coast Guard helicopter came to rescue him. After being picked up, he spent the night in a hospital. Brown told the Aspen Security Forum that he was frustrated because the incident happened right before selections to weapons school, but he didn't think at any point that it was going to be the end of his Air Force career. The following week, he flew seven times, so "it was actually still a good week," he said. After the incident, Brown went on to receive several more promotions and assignments all around the world, and also commanded fighter squadrons and fighter wings. In June 2020, he made history by becoming the first Black officer to lead a military branch when he was confirmed by the Senate to be the Air Force's next chief of staff. Before that, Brown, who has been in the Air Force for nearly four decades, served as the head of US Pacific Air Forces. "While General Brown is a proud, butt-kicking American airman, first and always, he's always been an operational leader of the Joint Force," Biden said during Thursday's announcement. "He gained respect across every service, from those who have seen him in action and have come to depend on his judgment." "More than that," Biden continued, "he gained the respect of our allies and partners around the world, who regard Gen. brown as a trusted partner and a top-notch strategist." Read the original article on Business Insider Factbox-Ukraine wants F-16 jets - how is coalition developing for training pilots? Factbox-Ukraine wants F-16 jets - how is coalition developing for training pilots? FILE PHOTO: NATO holds an air display event in Poland (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy renewed his appeal on Wednesday for U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets, saying their appearance with Ukrainian pilots would be a sure signal from the world that Russia's invasion would end in defeat. "The main thing is the speed in training and in supply - meaning the time between decisions in real protection for our skies," said Zelenskiy, whose air force uses Soviet-era jets. The following are some facts about an alliance forming in what Zelenskiy proposed as a "jets coalition" of Western backers to provide the aircraft and the training to combat Russian air attacks: WHO IS COMMITTED TO 'JETS COALITION'? The idea received a big boost last week when senior U.S. officials said President Joe Biden told G7 leaders that Washington supported joint allied training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters. But U.S. National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said there was no final decision on Washington sending aircraft. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, also speaking at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, said the training pledge was a message: "Russia cannot count on winning if it bets on a long war." On Wednesday, Norway's defence minister said his country supported joint training programmes but had yet to decide on aircraft. The Dutch defence minister offered similar support. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that training Ukrainian pilots would not make NATO a party to the conflict - the U.S.-led military alliance ruled out a "no fly" zone from the very start of the war 15 months ago, to avoid any notion of direct conflict with Russia. The transfer of F-16 jets to Ukraine would raise the question of NATO's role in the conflict, senior Russian diplomats said on Monday. "There is no infrastructure for the operation of the F-16 in Ukraine and the needed number of pilots and maintenance personnel is not there either," said Russia's ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov. U.S. officials have estimated that at least 18 months will be needed for training - in Europe - and delivery of F-16s. Zelenskiy has won pledges from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch PM Mark Rutte. Neither man has committed to sending planes. Western governments have been wary of leaving their owncountries undefended by giving away too much equipment. Theyhave also avoided sending anything that could strike deep intoRussian territory and give Moscow a reason to broaden the war. Any coalition of donors of the F-16, built byLockheed-Martin, would likely be reliant on backing from theUnited States, by far the largest operator of the planes. No Western-designed jets have been donated. Poland and Slovakia have supplied 27 MiG-29s to supplement Ukraine's fleet. Poland has given Ukraine 14 MiG-29s and said it will give more. However, Polish President Andrzej Duda has said Warsaw has too few F-16s to give any to Ukraine. Slovakia has donated 13 Mig-29s in various states ofairworthiness to Ukraine. WHERE MIGHT THE JETS COME FROM? Rutte said on May 4 that the Netherlands was working withallies including Britain, Belgium and Denmark to reach aconclusion on whether to send jets to Ukraine. The Netherlands has 24 F-16s operational until mid-2024, when they will be replaced by F-35s. It has also 18 F-16s non-operational, of which 12 have been sold. Britain will not send jets to Ukraine, a spokesperson forSunak said, since Britain does not have the F-16s Ukraine wants. Britain was ready to back any country willing to send jets, Sunak said. Germany said it does not own any F-16s, but Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said it was looking into options to support a coalition of countries to train Ukrainian pilots. Denmark, with about 30 F-16s in operation, said in February it was "open" to the idea of sending fighter jets to Ukraine. An alternative could be the JAS Gripen produced by Swedish defence manufacturer SAAB, which is seen as more cost effective. Sweden, which has applied for NATO membership, has said there are no plans to send Gripens to Ukraine and that it needs its existing inventory. The Czech Republic uses rented Gripens while Slovakia is waiting to receive F-16s. WHEN CAN TRAINING START? President Emmanuel Macron said this month that Francewas open to training Ukrainian pilots in France right away.France does not have F-16s, only French-made Rafale warplanesand the previous generation Mirage 2000 jets. Britain has agreed to start training in the spring andsaid it will consider shortening sessions. (Reporting by Niklas Pollard, Alan Charlish, Alastair Smout, Bart Meijer, Andrew MacAskill, Michel Rose, Alexander Ratz and Jan Lopatka; Writing by Charlie Devereux, Ron Popeski and Elaine Monaghan; editing by Nick Macfie and Grant McCool) Failure to launch: Memes mock dire Ron DeSantis 2024 launch on Twitter Spaces as #DeSaster trends Ron DeSantis attempt to launch his 2024 presidential campaign via Twitter Spaces did not go as planned as the platform faced a plethora of technological issues, prompting a flood of memes and mockery. The social media platform was filled with jokes about Mr DeSantis and Twitter owner Elon Musk, who co-hosted the Spaces meeting, on Wednesday evening. From the start, the platform faced glitches that caused the audio to cut out at random moments and the Twitter mobile app to crash periodically. The Spaces meeting, which was supposed to start at 6pm, ended up kicking off around 20 minutes later when Mr Musk and other Twitter employees figured out how to keep it from crashing. But a lack of communication from Mr Musk, Mr DeSantis and David Sacks, the moderator of the Spaces conversation, left many Twitter users confused for the 20 minutes of tech issues. While people were searching for the correct link to the Spaces meeting, several presidential candidates, including President Joe Biden seized an opportunity. This link works, Mr Biden tweeted with a link to donate to his presidential campaign. Former governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson wrote, Just like my policies, this link works with a link to donate to his campaign too. According to Mr Sacks, the Spaces kept crashing because servers were overloaded with the number of people trying to listen. We got so many people here that we are kind of melting the servers, which is a good sign, Mr Sacks said during the meeting. Everyone trying to get into Twitter Spaces right nowpic.twitter.com/4K9dJO5klJ Douglas A. Boneparth (@dougboneparth) May 24, 2023 Some mocked Mr Musk for failing to consider the high volume of listeners given that the Spaces meeting was highly publicised and Mr DeSantis was expected to announce his campaign. To prepare for the Ron DeSantis Twitter Spaces this was the only test Elon Musk conducted. pic.twitter.com/PwlUmOy3wK Mr. Newberger (@jeremynewberger) May 25, 2023 When the Twitter Spaces event did begin working, it had some microphone glitches and awkward silences as the speakers attempted to figure out how to work the platform. Ron DeSantis in Twitter Spaces pic.twitter.com/4FKWvmwi0I Tom Reagans Hat (@RufusTSuperfly) May 24, 2023 Donald Trump, Mr DeSantis largest rival in the race for the Republican nomination, joked about the tech issues on his platform Truth Social. Mr Trump shared a meme of a rocket falling and exploding, calling it Ron! 2024 Is the DeSantis launch FATAL? Yes!, Mr Trump wrote He added, Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH! Many agreed that the launch via Twitter Spaces was semi-disastrous for Mr DeSantis and a rough start to his campaign, calling it a failure to launch. Someone summed it up beautifully. pic.twitter.com/L3MxA4lkvz Marla Tauscher (@MarlaTauscher) May 24, 2023 On Twitter, Mr Musk disagreed with headlines that indicated the Twitter Spaces launch went poorly, claiming the attention it garnered reflects positively on Twitter. I call it massive attention Top story on Earth today, Mr Musk wrote. Social media users are claiming The Atlantic published an article declaring white supremacy a "multi-racial movement" after a man rammed a van containing a Nazi flag into barriers near the White House. This is false; the US magazine -- a frequent target of misinformation -- confirmed to AFP it posted no such story. "White Supremacy is now a multi-racial movement," says what appears to be a headline from The Atlantic shared in a May 24, 2023 tweet. The supposed article features a photo of a U-Haul truck and a subheading that says: "It can no longer be denied." Screenshot from Twitter taken May 25, 2023 Images of the purported story spread across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms and message boards after 19-year-old Sai Varshith Kandula allegedly crashed a rented box truck into bollards near the White House on May 22, 2023. Prosecutors later said Kandula, who displayed a red-and-black flag with a swastika at the scene, is not a US citizen. He told authorities he believes Nazis "have a great history" and that he hoped to "seize power" and "kill the president," according to court filings. However, the supposed Atlantic headline about the incident is not authentic. "This is a fabricated image with a fake headline," said Anna Bross, the magazine's senior vice president of communications, in a May 25 email. "It is not a real Atlantic article." The made-up story does not match the format of other headlines from The Atlantic, which capitalizes the first letter of most words. AFP could also find no matching articles in live or archived versions of the website. On May 17, staff writer Adam Serwer did publish a story titled, "Latinos Can Be White Supremacists." The article addressed comments from some US conservatives and Twitter owner Elon Musk about a May 6 attack in Allen, Texas, in which a Hispanic man with Nazi tattoos opened fire at an outlet mall, killing eight people. AFP has debunked other misinformation targeting The Atlantic -- including another fake headline mentioning white supremacy -- here, here and here. The families of two victims of Moscows quadruple homicide have filed notices reserving the right to sue four government entities surrounding the crime. Bryan Kohberger, 28, a Pennsylvania native who was studying criminal justice and criminology at Washington State University, was arrested in December and indicted this month on four first-degree murder charges, facing allegations that he stabbed four University of Idaho students to death in a Moscow home. The attack took the lives of seniors Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur dAlene, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum; junior Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls; and freshman Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. The families of Mogen and Goncalves filed tort claims that will preserve their rights to sue the government entities related to the deaths of their children. The Idaho Statesman obtained records showing tort claims were filed with the city of Moscow, the University of Idaho and Idaho State Police. ABC News reported that Washington State University also was sent a claim. WSU hasnt responded to a records request from the Statesman. Not all tort claims become lawsuits. A tort claim is a legal filing in response to one party breaching the duty of care owed to another person or intentionally wronging another person, according to personal injury attorney Michael Waks. The majority of tort claims are settled out of court, but some can become lawsuits, Waks said on his website. Filing a tort claims notice is really just a safeguard, Shanon Gray, an attorney representing the Goncalves and Mogen families, told ABC News. Its a safeguard to protect the interests of the families, the victims and really the whole community around, because if something goes wrong, or was done improperly, then someone is held accountable for that. Gray declined to comment on the filings to the Statesman. Its unclear how much compensation the victims families are seeking. The citys notices listed the claim amount as undetermined at this time, and the damages sum section of the Idaho State Police notices was left blank. The city of Moscow filing said the tort claims were being presented in accordance with Idaho Code Title 6, Chapter 9, which states that such claims must be filed no more than six months after a claim arose to sue a government entity. The Goncalves claims were filed May 2 and 3, while the Mogens were all filed May 11. The stabbings happened Nov. 13, meaning the notices came days shy of the deadline. The University of Idaho told the Statesman it has not received any other tort claims since Jan. 1. Kaylee Goncalves (left) and Madison Mogen (right) were known as close friends. Their families have filed tort claims related to their deaths. Earlier this month, a grand jury indicted Kohberger on four counts of murder in the first degree and one count of felony burglary. At an arraignment Monday, Kohberger declined to enter a plea by standing silent. As a result, Magistrate Judge John Judge in Idahos 2nd District entered a plea of not guilty on all charges on Kohbergers behalf. A six-week trial has been scheduled for Oct. 2. An award-winning artist was instantly paralysed when she was shoved from behind into a Manhattan subway train in a seemingly random attack, her family says. Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy, 35, suffered critical injuries when her alleged attacker forcefully pushed her head into the side of a moving train at Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street around 6am on Sunday. Kamal Semrade, 39, appeared in court for arraignment on charges of attempted murder and assault on Wednesday. The victims husband, Ferdi Ozsoy, released a statement on Wednesday to say Ms Ozsoys life had been profoundly impacted by this tragic act of violence. But of course, faith and hope are never-ending, he said. Shes young. Shes a strong woman. Shes creative. Shes empathetic. Shes a warrior. Shes a true friend who goes out of her way to help people. Mr Ozsoy said the alleged assault highlighted the pressing need for improvement within the MTA. It is crucial for the mayor (Eric Adams) to recognise that prioritising the safety and security of the citys residents is vital for their well being-and prosperity, he said. We must ensure the ability to safeguard individuals, including loved ones like my wife. Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy, 35, was paralysed after being shoved into a New York subway train, family say (GoFundme) Prosecutors allege that Ms Ozsoy and Mr Semrade got onto the same subway train at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Queens on Sunday morning. They both got off the train at Lexington and 63 St on the Upper East Side of Manhattan when Ms Ozsoy was blindsided from behind by the alleged attack. According to the criminal complaint, Mr Semrade was walking behind her on the platform, and as the subway car began to move, he grabbed her head with both his hands and shoved her with all his force into the moving subway car, NBC reported. The victim hit the train and her face and head rolled along it. (She) then crashed back to the platform where she was instantly paralysed, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Carolyn McGuigan said in court, according to the NY Post. Kamal Semrade was arrested for allegedly shoving a woman into the side of a moving subway train (FOX 5 screenshot) She suffered a cervical spine fracture, broken fingers and damage to four blood vessels, the prosecutor said. Its not known if any words were exchanged between the pair, but the NYPD has described the attack as entirely unprovoked. On her website, Ms Ozsoy is described as a Turkish-born designer and illustrator who had published work in top magazines and newspapers. She moved to New York in 2017 with her US-born husband. We took a chance. We wanted to start a new life, Mr Oszoy said in the statement. Ms Ozsoy had been working in a cafe and had wanted to build a community in NYC, where she could recognize local peoples faces, her husband said. A GoFundme fundraising page set up to help the family with medical bills has received $125,000 in donations. Doctors initially informed us she had a slim chance of recovering movement below the neck. In just one day, she challenged that prognosis by moving her arms, Mr Ozsoy wrote on the page. It is a huge step, but her road to recovery will be long and challenging. Shes a fighter and is already fighting to recover. She will get there, but she needs everyones help. 'Family Feud' contestant who joked about regretting marriage now on trial in wife's killing A "Family Feud" contestant who joked on national TV he regretted getting married is now on trial accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife earlier this year. Timothy W. Bliefnick, 39, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion in connection to the slaying of Rebecca Bliefnick, in Quincy, Illinois, a small city near the Missouri state line. The defendant was arrested on March 13 in connection to the 41-year-old woman's death, Adams County Circuit Court records show. The victim's father, William Postle, told jurors this week he found his daughter dead on her bathroom floor on Feb. 23 after she failed to pick up her three kids from school, local media reported. Court records show that at the time of his estranged wife's death, the couple was in the process of divorce. The victim, a nurse and mother of three, also filed for an order of protection from her husband in 2021, according to additional court papers filed in Adams County. A hearing in the divorce had been set a week before she was found shot 14 times amid what prosecutors labeled a "contentious divorce," according to the Herald Whig, a local newspaper. Prior to her killing, prosecutor Josh Jones said, the victim bought a gun and told family members she was "scared for what he might do to her," the outlet reported. 'Family Feud' appearance receives renewed attention Bliefnick appeared on game show "Family Feud" as a contestant on an episode that aired in 2020 in which he joked on national television he regretted marrying his wife. "What's your biggest mistake you made at your wedding?" host Steve Harvey asked Bliefnick during the show, Fox News reported. "Said I do,'" Bliefnick replied. "Not my mistake, not my mistake I love my wife. I'm gonna get in trouble for that, aren't I?" Sister: Rebecca Bliefnick texted warnings about estranged husband On Tuesday, Sarah Reilly, a sister of the victim, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution, KHQA reported. Reilly testified her sister previously told her she was worried her estranged husband might physically harm her, the outlet reported. If something ever happens to me, make sure the number one person of interest is Tim," the outlet reported the victim texted her sister in 2021. "I am putting this in writing that I'm fearful he will somehow harm me." According to prosecutors, Bliefnick also conducted a number of internet searches prior to his estranged wife's killing, including instructions on how to use a crowbar to open a window, how to make a homemade silencer and local police response times, the outlet reported. Casey Schnack, a lawyer defending Bliefnick, argued that evidence is not strong enough to convict the man, KHQA reported. The trial began Monday and was scheduled to continue through at least Friday. Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Family Feud' guest on trial for wife's murder after mocking marriage 'Family Feud' murder: Becky Bliefnick told sister estranged husband should be 'No. 1' suspect if she were hurt 'Family Feud' murder: Becky Bliefnick told sister estranged husband should be 'No. 1' suspect if she were hurt Rebecca "Becky" Bliefnick, the 41-year-old Illinois nurse found murdered in her own home Feb. 23, told her sister via text message, "If something ever happens to me, make sure the No. 1 person of interest is Tim," testimony at her husband Timothy's murder trial revealed this week. "I am putting this in writing that I'm fearful he will somehow harm me, come after me, or will try to [do] something to me that takes me away from the kids or the kids away from me," Becky Bliefnick texted her sister, Sarah Reilly, who testified in pool video of the proceedings. "He already has lied multiple times to paint himself as a victim and me as the perpetrator when it is absolutely the other way around." The couple was going through a bitter divorce and fighting for custody of their three children. Timothy Bliefnick, 39, a former "Family Feud" contestant, is now accused of breaking into his wife's house and shooting her. Becky Bliefnick's attorney also testified Wednesday that her estranged husband took her gun and refused to give it back prior to the shooting. BECKY BLIEFNICK MURDER: ILLINOIS POLICE ARREST ESTRANGED HUSBAND IN NURSE'S SHOOTING DEATH Tim Bliefnick, left, was a college football star and contestant on the "Family Feud" game show. Now, he's accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife, an award-winning nurse named Becky Bliefnick, right. Video of the proceedings provided by WGEM-TV and Muddy River News reveals harrowing details of the case that had been under seal before the start of the trial. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Prosecutors allege Timothy Bliefnick shot his wife 14 times after breaking in through a second-story window. Jurors were shown images of her body sprawled out on the floor in a doorway. In a September 2021 text to a friend, Becky Bliefnick wrote that a co-worker and fellow emergency room nurse had been murdered by an ex and that she "literally had a panic attack" thinking about what her estranged husband might do. "I am scared of what he might do and his erratic behavior," she added, telling the friend that her husband had taken her firearms and ammunition. ILLINOIS NURSE REBECCA BLIEFNICK SHOT DEAD; COPS SEARCH ESTRANGED HUSBAND'S HOUSE Sarah Reilly, sister of Rebecca Bliefnick, attends her sisters funeral at Calvary Cemetery in Quincy, Ill., March 3, 2023. Rebecca Bliefnick was found shot to death in her home in February. Police arrested the husband in March on charges that included murder and home invasion causing injury. Tim Bliefnick's defense attorney, Case Schnack, previously told Fox News Digital she has evidence suggesting one or more individuals were stalking Rebecca Bliefnick's neighborhood in the week before her murder. "We are working with investigators to identify the person or persons we have pictures and video of," she said in April, although she declined to share the pictures. JORAN VAN DER SLOOT ONCE CLAIMED HE SHOVED NATALEE HOLLOWAY INTO A ROCK, CRACKING HER SKULL, COURT DOCS ALLEGE Prosecutors have characterized the crime as domestic violence, a claim Tim Bliefnick's defense denies. Becky Bliefnick pictured with her family on Halloween in 2018. Police said she was found shot to death in her Quincy home Feb. 23, 2023. Becky Bliefnick's family said in a statement that relatives would not be commenting until after the jury reaches a verdict. "Three months ago, February 23, Becky was murdered. As the trial begins, a new chapter of this arduous journey begins, and we are hopeful it will successfully and swiftly provide justice for her death," the family said in a statement. "We are confident in the Quincy Police Department and the prosecutions legal team who have not wavered in their pursuit of the truth. Our family will be forever grateful for their dedication." The family has established a GoFundMe campaign to provide for the couple's three sons. The family of a Georgia woman who died last summer after falling out of a moving police car has filed a lawsuit against the Hancock County Sheriffs Office, attorney Ben Crump announced in a press conference on Wednesday. Brianna Grier, 28, wasarrested in Sparta, Georgia, on July 15 after her parents called 911 seeking help for her during a mental health episode, according to NBC News. Grier fell out of the rear passenger door less than a minute into the trip to the sheriffs office, sustaining severe injuries and dying six days later. There is no excuse, no justification for why Brianna Grier is dead and for why she died in such a horrific manner, Crump said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation found the back passenger side door was never closed after two Hancock County deputies arrested Grier and put her in the car. The agency said that body camera footage shows the police officers had no contact with her between when she was put into the car and when she fell out. No criminal charges have been filed. The $100 million civil lawsuit names Hancock County Sheriff Tomlyn Primus, Lt. Marlin Primus and Deputy Timothy Legette as defendants, according to CBS News. Grier was unlawfully and willfully seized and restrained by deputies, who also falsely arrested her, according to the lawsuit. Hancock Co. (GA) deputies stole the joy of motherhood from #BriannaGrier. They negligently drove off with 28-yo mother of twin daughters in an unsecured transport vehicle, leading to her death. Our $100M lawsuit will work to hold these deputies responsible! pic.twitter.com/zXxB4YzhWo Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) May 24, 2023 The lawsuit also claims the officers picked her up and dropped her multiple times, ignored her cries for help and deprived her of medical assistance, caused injury to her head and brain and ultimately caused her death, misrepresented the true facts, and defamed her. The suit alleges the defendants acted jointly and in concert with each other and while they each had the chance to defend Grier, they failed. Crump, who is representing Griers family, said law enforcement claimed that the woman kicked open the door and fell out, which he refuted. What happened to her, it shouldnt have happened, Griers mother said in the press conference. It hurt me, it really hurt me. Grier had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to her family, and was on medication. Her parents reportedly contacted 911 to report that she was attempting to harm herself and her twin daughters. Plums, peaches, apricots, and cherries anchor Sarah Copeland's summers with family in central Hungary. Aubrie Pick Stone fruit. When I think of Hungary, my husband s homeland, I think of the stone fruits that bookend our late-summer trips to the village of his childhood. Here, on the plains of central Hungary at the foot of the Bakony Mountains, fruit is the song of our summers. Platters of dinnye (melon) and clusters of szolo (wine grapes) are the melody that carries through a decade-long renovation of our 300-year-old house, next door to my in-laws. Last summer, we came to finish the guesthouse and to tame the wild plum trees, whose branches are so heavy they scrape the soil. We harvested inky blackberries and tended land nourished by millennia of livestock. We ate stone fruit raw by the fistful: meggyes, luscious Balaton cherries; oszibarack, fist-sized peaches; szilva, sour plums in every shape and size (small and yellow, firm and blushed, deep purple and tender a prune in the making); and ribizli, red currants, the scarlet orbs dangling from tiny stems. My children love to pull them off one by one with their lips. Aubrie Pick Sarah Copeland with her orchard haul. Every year, fruit is also the muse of our summer kitchen. We cook apricots low and slow into a tender pulp called lekvar, a fruit butter to spread on rolled pancakes. We sprinkle plums into thick, earthy tortes laced with poppy seeds. To me, these tortes offer the taste of perseverance; the story of shifting borders, world wars, communist rule, and the 1956 revolution all baked in a humble cake. Its the food of the village folk, of our family, that I crave on the long stretches between trips. Like the people themselves, it is modest but remarkable. When I first met my husband, Andras, 16 years ago, his native tongue was beyond my recognition. Magyar (Hungarian) is renowned for its complexity, influenced by centuries of nomadic history. (The Magyars are thought to have settled in the region around 900 A.D.) On visits, I would get by on small bits of German, the second language of our village, but it was fruit that gave me an inroad: walking the orchard with Andras father, learning to tame the gnarled limbs; perching atop pots full of stone fruit with his mother, mimicking the movements of her small but discerning knife, trimming away only the largest offenses. Here, perfect fruit is suspect; most villagers, like my in-laws, still use sustainable growing practices. The result: boastful flavor, and sometimes-spotted fruit that expresses its exceptional terroir. Aubrie Pick A view from the Bakony hills down to one of the region's many small villages. Related: This Spice Paste Is the Secret to Hungarian Cooking Three weeks into our months-long stay every summer, Andras mother rolls palacsinta thin pancakes spread with apricot lekvar. Stacks of them wait in a warm oven, covered to stay moist, ours for the taking between hauling branches and taking hikes up the Bakonys gentle slope. My mother-in-law lavishes jewel-toned gyumolcsleves, a tart fruit soup, into shallow bowls and humors me if I whisk a ladleful away to our wedding porcelain, from nearby Herend, for a photo. The rest goes into jelly jars, to be chilled in the fridge for the next days trip to the beach at Lake Balaton, Central Europes playground, an hour south. There, we eat langos, fried dough slathered with garlic and sour cream. Black and pink currants float in the iced lemonade we drink in the warmth. We feast on fagyi, or ice cream, in every flavor, from bodzavirag (elderflower) to fekete szeder (blackberry). Aubrie Pick Copeland and her son, Matyas, adding sugar to fresh local apricots to cook down into sArgabarack lekvAr. Our last days of the summer every year are spent moving soil and plotting our small orchard. Its taxing work, but work that lends an intimacy to the land. Were shaping next years crop, growing a legacy that will feed our children for decades to come. Recipes Aubrie Pick Inspired by the flavor of Hungarys popular meat stew, this summery chicken dish gets bold flavor from Copelands pickle and paprika paste marinade. Peaches, plums, and sliced fennel in the salad offer a fresh, sweet contrast to the chicken along with another hit of ground paprika in the dressing. You can also use this versatile, easy-to-make marinade for shrimp, firm whitefish, or pork. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick Set atop the batter, fresh plums settle into this cake as it bakes and help keep the crumb moist. Copeland describes this Hungarian country-style cake as a wholesome treat thats often served at tiez hora (10 oclock meal break) or during uzsonna (afternoon snack) with tea or coffee. She puts her own spin on this classicincluding brown sugar in the batter for a bit of deep molasses flavor. Use firm but ripe plums so that they keep their shape during baking. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick A mix of tart cherries, apples, and berries picks up a mild cinnamon spice as it simmers in this chilled soup. Copeland follows her mother-in-laws fruit soup style, which aims for a tangy, sour profile. This refreshing dish is often served as a first course or digestive following a heavy meat dish. Cornstarch gives the fruity broth delicate body. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick Tender and light, these thin pancakes are rolled up with simple homemade apricot preserves. The pancake batter has no added sugarCopeland says a hallmark of Hungarian sweets and treats is that they arent overtly sweet. If you dont have homemade apricot lekvar on hand, substitute good-quality preserves or fruit spread. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick Copeland describes lekvar as a cross between preserves and fruit butter spreadable, with soft chunks of fruit throughout. She serves it on palacsinta (Hungarian pancakes) and says the sweet and tangy apricot butter is also often given as a treasured gift to dear friends and neighbors. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick This refreshing ice cream gets mild tang and tartness from creme fraiche and notes of raspberry and rhubarb from red currants. Inspired by the passionate summer ice cream culture at Lake Balaton, Copeland opts for currants, which are abundant at Hungarian markets during peak season but not often used for ice cream. Get the Recipe For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. [Source] Jeopardy!" fans were outraged after contestant Ben Chan lost his nine-day winning streak on the show over a spelling mistake. Chan, an assistant professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, saw his winning streak end on Tuesday night after a judgment call ruled that he had misspelled the name of a character in William Shakespeares 16th-century play Much Ado About Nothing. During the Final Jeopardy! round on Tuesday, Chan, Danny Leserman and Lynn Di Vito played the category Shakespeare's Characters. Both of the names of these two lovers in a Shakespeare play come from Latin words for 'blessed, the contestants were told. More from NextShark: BLACKPINK's agency asks police to investigate leaked private photos of group member Jennie Confident in his answer, Chan bet $12,201, writing: Who are Beatrice and Benedict. However, he misspelled the latters name, which is actually Benedick. This error cost Chan his winning streak. His fellow contestants incorrectly answered with "Romeo and Juliet." Di Vito ultimately won with a total of $11,800, having only bet $3,000 on the "Final Jeopardy!" round. Meanwhile, Chan ended up with $5,199 and Leserman left the show with $1,000. More from NextShark: Netflix unveils slate of 40 anime titles for 2022, including Jojos Bizarre Adventure' Following Chans defeat, show producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss informed him that he is the "first and only champion" in Jeopardy! history whose first nine wins were considered "runaway" victories. These victories are determined when a contestants winnings are so large that no other players can catch up to them. Commenting on his spelling mistake, Chan told Foss, Its a very memorable miss. If youre going to go out on a miss, go out on a memorable miss. Several fans who were rooting for Chan did not take his defeat well, with some arguing that his loss was only attributed to technicalities that fell on a judgment call. More from NextShark: K-pop girl group Billlie drop new mini-album the Billage of perception: chapter two According to one of the five Jeopardy! rules, spelling is never important when it comes to a contestants answer in Final Jeopardy! unless it is specified in the category. The only caveat is that the answer must be phonetically correct and not add or subtract any extraneous sounds or syllables. If a contestant misspells a word, the decision comes down to a judgment call, which was what happened in Chans case. Lynn doesnt finish spelling 'Juliet' yet its ruled as a complete (albeit incorrect) response, and Ben misspells Benedick by one letter and is ruled incorrect. Clearly they knew what he was going for and yet ended his run on a terrible technicality, one Twitter user wrote. More from NextShark: 'You will have a better life if you wear impressive clothes': Ambush founder talks fashion with Bella Poarch Benedict is a variant of Benedick, one of the characters in Much Ado About Nothing and thus should have been an acceptable answer in Final Jeopardy, another user tweeted. I am beyond disgusted with @Jeopardy!! Theyve never penalized anyone for wrong spelling, yet they chose to penalize 9 game winner Ben Chan in Final Jeopardy and cost him the game..He missed ONE LETTER!! This is so wrong, an appalled user said. Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison, after being convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6 attack on Congress. Related: Proud Boys and Oath Keepers: what is their future with top leaders jailed? Prosecutors sought a 25-year term. Lawyers for Rhodes said he should be sentenced to time served, since his arrest in January 2022. Before handing down the sentence, the US district judge, Amit Mehta, told a defiant Rhodes he posed a continued threat to the US government, saying it was clear he wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence. The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government, Mehta said. Rhodes claimed the prosecution was politically motivated. Im a political prisoner and like President Trump my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country, he said. Rhodes also noted that he never went inside the Capitol on January 6 and insisted he never told anyone else to do so. But members of the Oath Keepers took an active role on 6 January 2021, when a mob incited by Donald Trump smashed its way into the Capitol, attempting to stop certification of Joe Bidens election win. Prosecutors successfully made the case that Rhodes and his group prepared an armed rebellion, including stashing arms at a Virginia hotel, meant for quick transfer to Washington DC. Other members of the Oath Keepers, some convicted of seditious conspiracy, are due to be sentenced this week and next. Members of another far-right group, the Proud Boys, will face sentencing on similar convictions later this year. Nine deaths have been linked to the January 6 attack, including suicides among law enforcement. More than 1,000 arrests have been made and more than 500 convictions secured. In court filings in the Oath Keepers cases, prosecutors said: The justice systems reaction to January 6 bears the weighty responsibility of impacting whether January 6 becomes an outlier or a watershed moment. Like all other forms of Trumps attempted election subversion, the attack on Congress failed. In the aftermath, Trump was impeached for a second time, for inciting an insurrection. He was acquitted by Senate Republicans. Laying out Trumps actions after the 2020 election, the House January 6 committee made four criminal referrals to the justice department. The former president still faces potential indictments in state and federal investigations of his election subversion and role in the attack on Congress. Nonetheless, he remains the clear frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination next year. At Thursdays hearing, speaking for the prosecution, the assistant US attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeating Trumps lie that the 2020 election was stolen and saying the 2024 election would be stolen too. In remarks just days ago, Rhodes called for regime change, Rakoczy said. People across the political spectrum want to believe January 6 was an outlier, Rakoczy said. Not defendant Rhodes. A defense lawyer, Phillip Linder, denied Rhodes gave orders for Oath Keepers to enter the Capitol on January 6. But he told the judge Rhodes could have had many more Oath Keepers come to the Capitol if he really wanted to disrupt certification of the electoral college vote. In a first for a January 6 case, Judge Mehta agreed with prosecutors to apply enhanced penalties for terrorism under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through intimidation or coercion. Judges in previous sentencings had shot down the justice department request for the so-called terrorism enhancement, which can lead to a longer prison term, but Mehta said it fitted Rhodess case. Mr Rhodes directed his co-conspirators to come to the Capitol and they abided, the judge said. Asked if Mehtas acceptance of the enhancement boded ill for others found guilty of seditious conspiracy, Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, Virginia, said prosecutors argued that the judge should apply the enhancement because the need to deter others is especially strong because these defendants engaged in acts that were intended to influence the government through intimidation or coercion in other words, terrorism. The judge then stated, Its hard to say it doesnt apply when someone is convicted of seditious conspiracy. Mehta apparently accepted that argument in imposing the sentence today and may well apply it to others who have been convicted of seditious conspiracy, as he has heard the evidence presented. A flash drought in 2012 dried out soil, harming crops in Kansas and several other states. John Moore/Getty Images Flash droughts develop fast, and when they hit at the wrong time, they can devastate a regions agriculture. Theyre also becoming increasingly common as the planet warms. In a new study published May 25, 2023, we found that the risk of flash droughts, which can develop in the span of a few weeks, is on pace to rise in every major agriculture region around the world in the coming decades. In North America and Europe, cropland that had a 32% annual chance of a flash drought a few years ago could have as much as a 53% annual chance of a flash drought by the final decades of this century. The result would put food production, energy and water supplies under increasing pressure. The cost of damage will also rise. A flash drought in the Dakotas and Montana in 2017 caused US$2.6 billion in agricultural damage in the U.S. alone. Stunted corn in Nebraska struggles to grow during the 2012 flash drought that covered much of the central U.S. AP Photo/Nati Harnik How flash droughts develop All droughts begin when precipitation stops. Whats interesting about flash droughts is how fast they reinforce themselves, with some help from the warming climate. When the weather is hot and dry, soil loses moisture rapidly. Dry air extracts moisture from the land, and rising temperatures can increase this evaporative demand. The lack of rain during a flash drought can further contribute to the feedback processes. Under these conditions, crops and vegetation begin to die much more quickly than they do during typical long-term droughts. Global warming and flash droughts In our new study, we used climate models and data from the past 170 years to gauge the drought risks ahead under three scenarios for how quickly the world takes action to slow global warming. If greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, power plants and other human sources continue at a high rate, we found that cropland in much of North America and Europe would have a 49% and 53% annual chance of flash droughts, respectively, by the final decades of this century. Globally, the largest projected increases would be in Europe and the Amazon. Slowing emissions can reduce the risk significantly, but we found flash droughts would still increase by about 6% worldwide under a low-emissions scenario. Climate models indicate that more land will be in flash drought in every region in the coming decades. Three scenarios show how low (SSP126), medium (SSP245) and high (SSP585) emissions are likely to affect the amount of land in flash drought. In some regions, rising global emissions will bring more extreme rainfall, offsetting drought. Jordan Christian Timing is everything for agriculture Weve lived through a number of flash drought events, and theyre not pleasant. People suffer. Farmers lose crops. Ranchers may have to sell off cattle. In 2022, a flash drought slowed barge traffic on the Mississippi River, which carries more than 90% of U.S. agriculture exports. If a flash drought occurs at a critical point in the growing season, it could devastate an entire crop. Corn, for example, is most vulnerable during its flowering phase, called silking. That typically happens in the heat of summer. If a flash drought occurs then, its likely to have extreme consequences. However, a flash drought closer to harvest can actually help farmers, as they can get their equipment into the fields more easily. During Europes flash drought in 2022, floating houses were left sitting on a dry riverbed in the Netherlands. Thierry Monasse/Getty Images In the southern Great Plains, winter wheat is at its highest risk during seeding, in September to October the year before the crops spring harvest. When we looked at flash droughts in that region during that fall seeding period, we found greatly reduced yields the following year. Looking globally, paddy rice, a staple for more than half the global population, is at risk in northeast China and other parts of Asia. Other crops are at risk in Europe. Ranches can also be hit hard by flash droughts. During the huge flash drought in 2012 in the central U.S., cattle ran out of forage and water became scarcer. If rain doesnt fall during the growing season for natural grasses, cattle dont have food, and ranchers may have little choice but to sell off part of their herds. Again, timing is everything. Its not just agriculture. Energy and water supplies can be at risk, too. Europes intense summer drought in 2022 started as a flash drought that became a larger event as a heat wave settled in. Water levels fell so low in some rivers that power plants shut down because they couldnt get water for cooling, compounding the regions problems. Events like those are a window into what countries are already facing and could see more of in the future. Not every flash drought will be as severe as what the U.S. and Europe saw in 2012 and 2022, but were concerned about what may be ahead. Can agriculture adapt? One way to help agriculture adapt to the rising risk is to improve forecasts for rainfall and temperature, which can help farmers as they make crucial decisions, such as whether theyll plant or not. When we talk with farmers and ranchers, they want to know what the weather will look like over the next one to six months. Meteorology is pretty adept at short-term forecasts that look out a couple of weeks, and at longer-term climate forecasts using computer models. But flash droughts evolve in a midrange window of time that is difficult to forecast. Were tackling the challenge of monitoring and improving the lead time and accuracy of forecasts for flash droughts, as are other scientists. For example, the United States Drought Monitor has developed an experimental short-term map that can display developing flash droughts. As scientists learn more about the conditions that cause flash droughts and about their frequency and intensity, forecasts and monitoring tools will improve. Increasing awareness can also help. If short-term forecasts show that an area is not likely to get its usual precipitation, that should immediately set off alarm bells. If forecasters are also seeing the potential for increased temperatures, that heightens the risk for a flash droughts developing. Nothing is getting easier for farmers and ranchers as global temperatures rise. Understanding the risk from flash droughts will help them, and anyone concerned with water resources, manage yet another challenge of the future. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. It was written by: Jeff Basara, University of Oklahoma and Jordan Christian, University of Oklahoma. Read more: Jeff Basara receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Jordan Christian receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). FARMLAND, Ind. The assistant chief of the Farmland Volunteer Fire Department was killed Thursday morning in an accident involving a tanker truck in western Randolph County. Kyle T. Osgood was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, reported about 6:30 a.m. along Randolph County Road 1000-W near County Road 400-N. Investigators said Osgood en route to a reported barn fire was driving his department's tanker truck northbound when it rolled over as it approached a curve. The vehicle reportedly came to rest on both Osgood and fellow firefighter Zachary Lee, 19. Lee, the only other occupant of the truck, was seriously injured, and was flown by medical helicopter to a Fort Wayne hospital. Osgood, a volunteer firefighter for about 15 years, was the grandson of a former Farmland fire chief. As a tribute to his public service, a procession of emergency vehicles accompanied the ambulance that carried the firefighter's body to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, where an autopsy is expected to be conducted. Randolph County Sheriff Art Moystner said Indiana State Police were investigating the accident. Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Farmland firefighter fatally injured in crash of fire truck Original Grain "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Original Grain, the small-batch watchmaker known for its craftsmanship and commitment to sustainability, has announced a strategic partnership with Toyota Racing Development (TRD) to release two new watch collections. Inspired by the iconic TRD Pro series of trucks, the Solar Octane Collection starts at $595. They're the perfect Father's Day gift for dads who love Tacoma TRD trucks and off-road adventures. Original Grain Available directly from Original Grain, the Solar Octane Collection features three styles: the TRD Pro Automatic Solar Octane Rugged 45mm, the Limited Edition TRD Sport Solar Octane Barrel 46mm, and the TRD Off-Road Solar Octane Rugged 45mm. Each of these rugged sport watches incorporates design elements taken directly from Toyota TRD Pro trucks, including digital camo details inspired by the fenders and a solar movement that pays homage to the hybrid motor in the Tundra TRD Pro. Shop Now Original Grain TRD Sport Solar Octane Barrel 45mm "We're so happy to help Original Grain transform our iconic TRD Pro series of trucks into the Solar Octane Collection," said Lisa Materazzo, Group Vice President, Toyota Marketing. "These watches are like high-performance machines on your wrist. It's amazing to see the level of detail and craftsmanship that went into creating this collection." Original Grain Solar Collection watches are handcrafted using durable and rugged materials. The TRD Pro model features a racing-grade aluminum frame plus automatic movement, with a skeleton dial and case back. The TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road models both feature solar movement, reflecting OG's commitment to sustainability in watchmaking. Original Grain The TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro are Limited Editionsonly 250 units will be available. If your dad is a TRD truck nut, this is the ultimate gift. Indian Motorcycle Collection In another collab with an iconic powersports brand, Original Grain has announced the new Indian Motorcycle Collection. Indian Motorcycles is a renowned American heritage brand, and these one-of-a-kind watches are made with authentic machined aluminum direct from Indian Motorcycle crankcases. Each piece has a resin inlay and preserved aluminum in the bezel or bracelet. Two of the watches come complete with a custom leather watch roll, making it the perfect accessory for road warriors and adventure seekers alike. Original Grain Starting at $349, this new watch collection is available exclusively at Original Grain . These timepieces are not only ideal for watch and motorcycle enthusiasts but also make fantastic gifts for any dad who appreciates adventure, craftsmanship, and American heritage. For more information on both new watch collections, visit originalgrain.com or find the brand on Instagram , Facebook , or TikTok . You Might Also Like The FBI has announced it will be increasing the reward offered for the capture of a man on the Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list to $250,000. Alejandro Alex Castillo is accused of killing 23-year-old Truc Quan Sandy Ly Le. Her body was found in Cabarrus County in August 2016. The FBI said the case initially began as three separate missing person reports for Castillo, Ly Le, and another person. The three people reported missing had all worked together at a restaurant in Charlotte. An investigation uncovered evidence Ly Le was Castillos ex-girlfriend and had lent him money. On August 15, 2016, Ly Les vehicle was found in Phoenix, Arizona, parked at a bus station. On August 16, 2016, Castillo was seen on surveillance video crossing the border from Nogales, Arizona, into Mexico. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: The FBI believes Castillo, now 24 years old, may be living in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes where he has relatives. Detectives believe someone, perhaps more than one person, has been helping Castillo evade capture. Castillo speaks English and Spanish. A state arrest warrant was issued in the District Court of North Carolina for Mecklenburg County on November 2, 2016, charging Castillo with 1st-degree murder. On February 10, 2017, a federal arrest warrant was issued in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina, charging Castillo with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. In October 2017, Castillo was added to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the murder. The FBI said it is assisting with the international fugitive investigation. The Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Western District of North Carolina filed charges against Castillo as part of this collaborative effort to seek justice for Ly Le and her family. VIDEO: The FBI: What you need to know Concerns have been raised over the safety of imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, who has not been heard from in over a month, according to a friend. Bialiatski is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in Belarus, where he was jailed in 2021 amid mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenkos government. We lost any contact, his friend and fellow activist Franak Viacorka, who is also Senior Advisor to exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, told CNN on Thursday, adding that Bialiatski may have been transferred to one of the harshest prisons in Belarus. Well try to find out what is happening to him and if he is alive, he said. Viacorka was reacting to an Associated Press interview with Bialiatskis wife Natalia Pinchuk published on Wednesday. Pinchuck told The AP her husband had been in an information blackout since he was moved to a colony for repeat offenders in Gorki. The authorities create unbearable conditions for Ales and keep him in strict informational isolation. There is not a single letter from him for a month, nor does he receive my letters, Pinchuk told The AP by phone. CNN has reached out to Viasna, an organization founded by Bialiatski, and to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry for additional comment. Representatives receive the Nobel Peace Prize for 2022 in Oslo City Hall, Norway, on December 10, 2022. - Rodrigo Freitas/NTB/via Reuters Tsikhanouskaya also urged the international community to take action, saying Bialiatskis treatment by Belarusian authorities is inhumane. The ongoing inhuman treatment of Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners in Belarus cant be tolerated, Tsikhanouskaya said in a Twitter post. Many of the strongest voices for freedom have fallen silent. So we have to be even louder. The international community must act now! Bialiatski won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 alongside human rights groups from Russia and Ukraine. Hed been arrested in 2021 amid widespread protests against Lukashenkos regime. On March 3, Bialiatski was sentenced to 10 years in a maximum-security penal colony on charges of smuggling money and violating public order. Bialiatski had documented human rights abuses in Belarus since the 1980s and founded the organization Viasna, or Spring, in 1996 after a referendum that consolidated the authoritarian powers of President Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. On May 21, more than 100 Nobel laureates called for the activists release in an open letter authored with Pen International. We, the undersigned Nobel Laureates, call for the immediate and unconditional release of our colleague writer, human rights defender, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and PEN member Ales Bialiatski, the letter reads in part. Bialiatski is a symbol of hope and an inspiration to human rights defenders around the world, who should be celebrated as such. Instead, he finds himself behind bars, alongside five members of the Human Rights Centre Viasna (Spring), which he founded with the very purpose of supporting those harassed and persecuted by the Belarusian authorities, the Nobel Laureates said. The world deserves to hear Bialiatskis voice, they said. Viasna lists the names of 1,516 people it says are unfairly imprisoned on its website. Mikalai Statkevich is among them. The opposition Belarusian politician ran for president in 2010 and is now serving a 14-year sentence at a maximum-security penal colony on charges of organizing riots, according to Viasna. In early March, his wife Maryna Adamovich told the organization she hadnt received letters from him for a month and said he wasnt allowed to see his lawyer. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article reported an incorrect number of felony counts included in the federal indictment. The number should have been reported as 55 felony counts. Lurid new details have emerged from a new 55-felony-count federal indictment against an Arizona-based polygamist fundamentalist cult and its leader, Samuel Bateman. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Arizona now accuses Bateman, the self-proclaimed prophet of a splinter group of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and 10 others of causing sexual harm to nine girls whose ages ranged from 9 to 17 at the time the alleged offenses took place. Federal prosecutors filed the extensive indictment on May 18, replacing a more limited one against Bateman and three followers. The latest court filings, naming 11 defendants, show the scope of the case has widened and the allegations have grown more serious. The new accusations rely, in part, on Bateman's own writings and remarks from some of the girls, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona. The new indictment revealed stories of Bateman coercing little girls to have sex with him and other adults, trading nights with girls for luxury Bentley cars, coercing children into participating in live-streamed group sex acts and transporting across state lines the girls for sexual trade. Indictment: Read the 56-page redacted second superseding indictment Bateman had been charged in December, along with Naomi Bistline, Donnae Barlow and Moretta Johnson, all of whom Bateman claimed to be his wives. Originally, the four faced charges of kidnapping and destruction of evidence in a federal investigation. The U.S. Attorney's Office filed affidavits describing sexual coercion but had not filed charges against them. Josephine Barlow Bistline, LaDell Bistline Jr., Brenda Barlow, Marona Johnson, Torrance Bistline, Leia Bistline, and Leilani Bistline were added to the indictment on May 18. They are all relatives, followers and others Bateman claimed as wives. The 11 co-defendants face an assortment of charges ranging from making child pornography to transporting kids for sex. Who is Samuel Bateman? Samuel Rappylee Bateman He is 47 and a leader of an FLDS sect in Colorado City. Beyond that, much is still not known about him. He calls himself a prophet, according to Colorado City and Hilldale residents. What happened in Colorado City, Arizona? On Aug. 28, Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers saw a GMC Denali pulled over on Interstate 40. They noticed a child's hand poking out of a trailer in tow and then arrested Samuel Rappylee Bateman. He was booked into a Coconino County jail on suspicion of child endangerment, but he returned home. Why is the FBI involved? Federal agents grew suspicious that Bateman was deleting records off a cellphone app during and after his arrest and communicating with supporters in Colorado City while he was in jail. On Sept. 13, agents searched his home there. On Sept. 15, he appeared in federal court on new federal charges dealing with interfering with destruction of records. Overt acts, sex and Bentleys Last week's indictment listed overt acts in a detailed timeline, starting in 2019 when Bateman declared himself a prophet and ending with his arrest by federal agents in the fall of 2022. The acts alleged in court documents described times Bateman took young girls for himself by convincing them and their parents that God had commanded them to marry. The ceremony would often be the first time the girls were told to have sex with him something some of the girls admitted to fearing, according to the indictment. By the time law enforcement caught up with him, he had claimed 10 women and 10 underage girls to be God-given wives. The identities of most remain unclear. Short Creek showdown: Outsiders, FLDS battle for control of towns Warren Jeffs left behind In court records filed last winter, federal prosecutors hinted at some of the dreadful allegations that they presented in the new indictment. They include: Coerced sex acts. Transporting children for sex with other adults. Attempting to marry one of his underage daughters. But the new details, some lurid, go further. According to the latest accusations, Bateman started a manipulative pattern of taking underage girls in March 2020, when he claimed a vision from God told him to take the 9-year-old daughter of a man identified only as M.J. as his wife. Reports in the court records alleged that Bateman had the 9-year-old sleep in his bed four months later. Prosecutors claimed Bateman did this at least seven other times. Four more daughters were taken from M.J., aged 10, 11, 13, and 14. Two others, aged 9 and 10, were taken from co-defendants LaDell Bistline and Josephine Bistline. Bateman would also take Josephine Bistline as his wife, according to the new indictment. On at least two occasions, it alleges that the girls described sexual acts with Bateman. In another account, it claimed that Bateman wrote, referring to one of the girls, that he "slept with Angel Mother tonight!" In past filings, LaDell Bistline was accused of being involved in group sex acts involving the girls. The new allegations describe Bateman offering up one of the children for sex to LaDell Bistline in exchange for a night with Bistline's wife. Prosecutors noted that in October 2021, a wealthy farm engineer, Torrance Bistline, bought Bateman a luxury Bentley. Months later, according to the indictment, Bateman offered a 12-year-old girl to Torrance Bistline and watched them have sex. Torrance Bistline would buy Bateman a second Bentley shortly after that night, prosecutors claimed. The Green House Sitting in Coconino County Jail after his arrest in Flagstaff, Bateman contacted Torrance Bistline and other followers to get them to delete messages and documents from digital devices, prosecutors allege. According to the indictment, after Bateman was bonded out in early September, a 15-year-old girl claimed Bateman coerced another 15-year-old girl into sex and made her watch. When federal agents arrived on Sept. 13, some of the older women attempted to get rid of or hide evidence, the indictment claimed. One reportedly threw a backpack full of condoms and digital devices out a window. Prosecutors also moved to seize Batemans belongings if convicted. They are seeking to seize two homes in Colorado City, Arizona, that prosecutors claimed belonged to Bateman. They were known as the "Blue House" and the "Green House." For more than a year, several of the girls visited the Green House. Prosecutors claimed it was where Bateman ordained them to take part in group sex acts. 55 felony counts The indictment numbers each separate charge as counts 1-55. Some of the defendants share the same count. The following lists the number and type of charges each defendant is facing. Bateman faces 51 total felony counts. They include the production of child pornography, interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity. Donnae Barlow, Morretta Johnson and Naomi Bistline face four felony counts. They include kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, tampering with an official proceeding and conspiracy to commit tampering with an official proceeding. Naomi Bistline arrives at the federal courthouse in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Dec. 7, 2022. Josephine Barlow Bistline faces 12 felony counts. They include the production of child pornography, the transfer of obscene material to a minor, and the transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity. LaDell Bistline faces eight felony counts. They include receipt of child pornography, transfer of obscene material to a minor and transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity, among others. Brenda Barlow faces 11 felony counts. They include the transfer of obscene material to a minor, transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Marona Johnson faces one felony count of transfer of obscene material to a minor. Leia Bistline faces two felony counts of using a means of interstate commerce to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. Torrance Bistline faces five felony counts. They include using a means of interstate commerce to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity and four other felony counts related to tampering with evidence. Leilani Bistline faces three felony counts, including using a means of interstate commerce to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity, transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity and persuading or coercing travel to engage in sexual activity. Bateman is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Friday in Phoenix. Reach crime reporter Miguel Torres at miguel.torres@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @TheMiguelTorres. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: FLDS leader Samuel Bateman, 10 others indicted in AZ sex crimes case Federal court rules against famed horse trainer Bob Baffert in his lawsuit against Churchill Downs A federal court in Kentucky has rejected the final remaining claim in a lawsuit brought by Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert against the company that runs the Kentucky Derby, according to court filings. Baffert sued Churchill Downs Inc. in 2022 after it suspended him for two years following the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirits failed drug test. Baffert had argued that his suspension had a negative effect on his business and reputation. Earlier this year, the judge in the Western District of Kentucky denied his request for an injunction lifting a two-year ban imposed by Churchill Downs, and dismissed all of Bafferts claims but one. In the only remaining claim, Baffert alleged that Churchill Downs breached his due process rights in his Kentucky-issued horse trainers license by suspending him. The Wednesday memorandum by US District Court Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings determined that any injury to Baffert didnt amount to a due process violation, because he couldnt prove he was deprived of a property interest. Baffert had argued that his state-issued trainers license was rendered valueless by the suspension by Churchill Downs. In the ruling, the judge said undisputed evidence demonstrates that Bafferts license is not valueless, like the fact that he was able to use it to win over $1 million racing horses in the Commonwealth at other racetracks. The judge also noted that he could continue to use his Kentucky license to train horses, enter his horses in races and apply for stall occupancy, even beyond racing. CNN has reached out to Bafferts attorney for comment. Baffert became the winningest trainer in Preakness Stakes history after National Treasure crossed the finish line first at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday. Earlier Saturday, Baffert was in the headlines when Havnameltdown, a horse he trained, was euthanized after suffering a serious front left leg injury in an undercard race. Totally wiped out after that horse got hurt, an emotional Baffert said after National Treasures victory. The emotions of this game. Theres so many responsibilities a trainer has To win this, losing that horse today really hurt but Im happy for (jockey) Johnny (Velasquez) he got the win. I have a great team, I got my boys with me. Im sorry but its been a very emotional day. Baffert, who has trained more Triple Crown race winners (17) than any other trainer, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 2009. He has won the trainer of the year award four times. Medina Spirit, who was a 12-to-1 favorite at post time, was first across the line in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. But a blood sample revealed betamethasone an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid sometimes used to relieve joint pain in the horse on race day, which is not allowed under Kentucky equine protocols. Baffert said a dermatitis ointment might have been to blame for the test result. After Medina Spirits blood test, Baffert was also suspended by the New York Racing Association, a ban that ended in January. He missed the Preakness in 2022 because he was banned at the time by Marylands horse racing commission. Medina Spirit collapsed and died during a workout in December 2021. His Kentucky Derby victory was nullified in February 2022. CNNs Steve Almasy and Homero De la Fuente contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An attendee views an exhibition outside the venue of the 2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin) The regional library of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region had digitalized more than 20,000 folios of ancient texts as of last week since its latest round of ancient document digitalization was launched in 2022. According to a survey conducted in 2021, China is estimated to have kept hundreds of thousands of ancient documents written in the Tibetan language. Over half of these documents are now preserved in various locations, including Tibet's majestic Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka, Sakya Monastery and other key ancient text protection sites, as well as over 1,300 temples in its county-level areas. On Tuesday, China held the Forum on the Development of Xizang in the Chinese capital of Beijing. Among the event's sub-forums, several officials, experts and scholars centered on the conservation, inheritance and development of Tibet's culture, discussing key cultural protection projects in the region, including those related to ancient texts, Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan medicine. During a sub-forum on the region's cultural protection work, Su Faxiang, professor and dean of the School of Tibetan Studies at the Minzu University of China, noted the great importance of ancient texts preserved in Tibet's regional library and the region's latest progress on the digitalization of the documents. "As a precious form of cultural heritage, ancient books become more and more precious as time goes by. To protect the old texts is to retain the roots of culture," Su said. Now, with a few clicks on the regional library's website, one can easily access its database of Tibetan documents. The database covers texts including biographies of ancient Tibetan scholars and monks of various sects of Tibetan Buddhism, historical Tibetan documents, and documents recording the history of exchanges between Tibet and other regions of China. The rich content of the texts spans mainly from the 12th to the 20th centuries. "The ancient texts are no longer confined to our stack rooms, with complicated procedures needed to borrow or read the documents, but they are now able to be shared worldwide," said Penpa Tsering, deputy director of the regional ancient book protection center. "The digital protection and utilization of the ancient books in Tibet not only helps make better use of the preserved resources, but, more importantly, it realizes the initial intention and ideals of the ancient texts -- publicizing the precious documents around the world and serving academia and society," Penpa Tsering said. Online access to the ancient collections is credited to Tibet's digital preservation efforts, which have lasted years. The survey of the precious texts, which relies heavily on manpower, remains the premise of digitalization. In 2009, Tibet launched its largest-scale ancient document survey campaign. Over a decade, census workers covered almost all of the region's more than 1.2 million square kilometers of land. "To date, the region has basically completed the survey and registration of its ancient books, involving more than 1,160 collection units and individuals in prefecture-level cities, with a total of 13,700 pieces of information collected," said Dekyi Drolkar, head of Tibet's culture department, during a sub-forum of the Forum on the Development of Xizang. It is fair to say that Tibet has initially formed a system for the survey and preservation of ancient books, with the regional ancient book protection center at its core, the official added. And cultural departments in prefecture-level cities and counties, collection units and individuals have been the main participants. Since 2017, the regional library, one of the region's major cultural relic protection forces, has expanded its ancient text digitalization project several times. Pooling approximately 2.38 million yuan (about 340,000 U.S. dollars) in investment, it plans to complete the digitalization of more than 67,000 folios from over 610 ancient texts. Feds vow to take gun cases to U.S. District Court to curb violence this summer in Michigan LANSING Federal, state and local authorities said they aim to curb gun violence by shifting certain gun possession cases to federal court. "The evil of gun violence in our communities cannot continue," U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said Thursday, adding that he wanted to alert "everyone in the community who unlawfuly possesses a gun or is willing to commit a crime by pulling a trigger, we will not hesitate to prosecute you federally." U.S. District Attorney Mark Totten stands at a podium during a news conference Thursday, May 25, 2023 at Lansing City Hall, flanked by various state and local officials. Totten, the top federal prosecutor for the Western District of Michigan, said his office will prosecute anyone who is caught illegally possessing a weapon that ballistic evidence has linked to a prior shooting crime. Penalties vary, but it's not unusual for federal court sentences to be three to four times longer than those in state court, he said. The "Safe Summer 2023" initiative runs through the end of September and is a cooperative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, said Totten, who announced the program Thursday during a series of news conferences in four Michigan cities, including Lansing. It was timed to coincide with the start of summer, when shooting crimes typically peak, and kicks off during a week in which one person was stabbed and two people were shot in the Lansing area. MORE: Police: Road construction worker killed in crash near Webberville Gunman searched campus shooting videos before Michigan State mass shooting, reports show East Lansing firefighters denied leave after MSU mass shooting, file complaint Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth, Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane and Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee were among those standing with Totten at Lansing City Hall. "We all know the accused in one (shooting) case is the victim in the next," Sosebee said. "Our message today is, we will hold criminals accountable for gun violence." Wriggelsworth said bad actors are using gun violence "to right a perceived wrong," be that "a dirty look" or "a stupid social media post," among other things. Totten said he is prepared to add "additional resources" to aid in prosecuting gun crimes, but it was unclear whether the initiative will cause more firearms to be submitted for ballistics testing or how many cases might be shifted to federal court because of it. "While we'll never prosecute our way out of this epidemic and wrap-around prevention programs are important we must hold violent offenders accountable for their callous actions," Totten said in a news release. Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Prosecutors vow to take cases to federal court to curb gun violence Good morning, Quartz readers! Heres what you need to know Nvidia is poised to break a US stock market record. Boosted by upbeat earnings, the chipmaker looks set to add more than $200 billion to its market cap in a single day when markets open today. Read more Ron DeSantiss 2024 presidential race got off to a glitchy start. The Florida governors Twitter Spaces event was marred by technical issues that took attention away from the highly anticipated launch. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman threatened to leave the EU over AI regulation. The AI Act would mandate more transparency over the data used to train the algorithm. Montana became the first US state to ban drag story hour in public schools and libraries. House Bill 359 added a new element to Tennessee and Floridas anti-drag laws. Airbnb unveiled an anti-party crackdown plan. Over Memorial Day weekend, Airbnb is enlisting neighbors to enforce a party ban in rental homes. One big number: At least $23.2 trillion Thats how much the global fossil fuel industry owes in reparations for climate change Environmental research group One Earth estimates the worlds top fossil fuel companies (shown below) have emitted around 36% of all global emissions since 1988to the tune of trillions of dollars in economic damages. Graphic: Clarisa Diaz This isnt the whole listsee how eight of worlds other top fossil fuel companies stack up. Pop quiz: Whats Mother Nature wearing? Some of Europes biggest companies, including Nestle and AB-InBeV, are setting the first-ever science-based nature targets. The pilots ultimate goal is to halt and reverse the impact of industrialization on biodiversity and the natural environment. Which luxury fashion brand has decided to participate? A. Burberry B. LVMH C. Chanel D. Rolex Find the answer here. The great social media debate rages on The most common question parents ask me is, is social media safe for my kids. The answer is that we dont have enough evidence to say its safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young peoples mental health. US surgeon general Vivek Murthy, introducing the litany of risk factors for teenagers using social media. Read the full story here. Quartz most popular The SEC smoked out a $60 million weed scam Chinese citizens are suing Florida for barring them from buying homes Targets Pride collection is the latest casualty of increasing intolerance NASA found the Japanese Moon lander that crashed into the Moon Starbucks and Unilever are sourcing tea from plantations linked to rights abuse Malaysian officials seized Swatchs rainbow LGBTQ watches Surprising discoveries The worlds richest man lost $11 billion in a day. LVMHs Bernard Arnault is still richer than Elon Musk, though. The big, ruddy, eye-catching star youve been noticing in the sky has been acting weird lately. Its not just youBetelgeuse has at times been 50% brighter in recent weeks. If OpenAI had to pick a regulator, itd go for one like the International Atomic Energy Agency. Thats a choice. New Zealands sheep-to-human ratio is the lowest its been for 170 years. But the count may have been baadly done. Public tech banks could help us address climate change. Thats not the only solution such an institution could offer. Hear what other inefficiencies public tech banks could solve in the latest episode of the Quartz obsession podcast. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher | YouTube Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, cow-to-human ratios, and Betelgeuse pics to talk@qz.com. Reader support makes Quartz available to allbecome a member. Todays Daily Brief was brought to you by Sofia Lotto Persio and Morgan Haefner. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. By Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz CAIRO/DUBAI (Reuters) - Sudan's army called on Friday for reservists and retired soldiers to re-enlist amid a deadly conflict with a rival paramilitary and asked the United Nations to change its envoy to the country. The call to former soldiers to present themselves at their nearest military base looked aimed at strengthening the army in its battle with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, but may add fuel to the conflict days into a truce. Sporadic fighting has continued all week, though the ceasefire monitors Saudi Arabia and the United States said earlier on Friday that compliance was improving, but the army moves may indicate it is gearing up for a long conflict. An army spokesperson said enlistment would be voluntary. Sudan's existing armed forces law says, however, that retired soldiers remain as reservists, eligible for compulsory re-enlistment. That does not include those who only did Sudan's mandatory two-year military service. Army leader Abdel-Fatteh al-Burhan wrote to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday asking him to replace his envoy Volker Perthes, sources in the Sudanese presidency said. The sources did not give details but Perthes, who was appointed in 2021, had pushed a political transition to civilian rule that some in the army opposed. "The Secretary-General is shocked by the letter," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Friday. "The Secretary-General is proud of the work done by Volker Perthes and reaffirms his full confidence in his Special Representative." Army sources said the military had also intercepted weapons smuggled into a Red Sea province of Sudan by a foreign country, without giving details. The army and RSF began a seven-day truce on Monday intended to allow access to aid and services after battles since mid-April that have killed hundreds and created a refugee crisis. Despite a drop in fighting, there have still been reports throughout the week of clashes, artillery fire and air strikes. Saudi and U.S. representatives "cautioned the parties against further violations and implored them to improve respect for the ceasefire on May 25, which they did," it added. Residents of Khartoum who have stayed in the city suffer from breakdowns of electricity, water, health and communication services. Many homes, particularly in well-off areas, have been looted, along with food stores, flour mills and other essential facilities. "It's all part of the chaos of this war," said Taysir Abdelrahim, who found out from abroad her home was looted. "Even if we were in Sudan there's nothing you can do about it." One organisation helping children with cancer said a guesthouse it operates had been raided, including its safe and patients' rooms. The children had been previously transferred. AID DELAYS The RSF has denied looting, blaming people who have stolen its uniforms. Its fighters are largely bunkered down in Khartoum neighbourhoods, while the army relies on air power. It is unclear if either side has gained an edge. Some 1.3 million people have fled their homes, either across borders or within the vast nation. The Health Ministry has said at least 730 people have died, though the true figure is likely much higher. With half of Sudan's roughly 49 million people in need of aid, the U.S. Agency for International Development said grain to feed 2 million for a month was being sent by ship. However, it is unclear how that and other aid will reach Sudanese without security guarantees and bureaucratic approvals. "We are in a race against time to get aid to millions of people before the rainy season arrives in June," said Islamic Relief programme manager Eltahir Imam. The Saudi-U.S. statement said some aid had been delivered to Khartoum on Friday, without giving details. The Red Cross has said it managed to deliver supplies to seven hospitals. Fighting has flared in several major cities of west Sudan in recent days, according to human rights monitors living in the area, most recently overnight in El Fashir, capital of North Darfur state. Zalingei and El Geneina have had a communications blackout amid militia attacks. Residents of Nyala said calm had returned after days of fighting, although water was still cut off. (Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir, Khalid Abdelaziz, and Adam Makary, additional reporting by Michelle Nichols; Writing by Clauda Tanios, Nafisa Eltahir and Angus McDowall; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Frances Kerry and Grant McCool) 14 people displaced after fire rips through Lawrence triple-decker Fourteen people including two children are homeless after a quick-moving blaze destroyed a triple-decker on Bradford Street around midnight. Lawrence fire officials tell Boston 25 that when they first arrived heavy flames were already shooting out from the rear of the building. Lawrence: 85 Bradford St, 3 alarm fire in a multi family dwelling, heavy fire through the roof, multiple lines run, Bradford St closed #Boston25 #News #BreakingNews #Lawrence #Massachusetts pic.twitter.com/aHcSUzXiys Mark Parkinson (@MParkBoston25) May 25, 2023 Crews were able to douse the fire but the older construction made it difficult to put flames out. Everyone inside the home made it out safely. An investigation into what sparked the blaze is underway. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Firefighters responded to a multi-alarm blaze in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood Thursday afternoon. At around 3 p.m., flames could be seen shooting out of a home on Thetford Street and a 2nd alarm was immediately ordered, according to the Boston Fire Department. Officials say the blaze burned through the back porch of the building and extended inwards. A woman was trapped on the second floor and had to be rescued, according to firefighters on scene. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where her injuries are not considered life-threatening. Authorities are crediting a quick and aggressive attack by arriving companies to keep the fire contained to the rear of the home. Crews initially had trouble accessing the fire because there wasnt a clear path to get to the back of the three-story home. Nine people were displaced and the American Red Cross is assisting them. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Heavy fire knocked down , all companies are ordered to stay off the rear porches, that have been burned thru. A quick aggressive attack helped to keep the fire contained to the rear of the building. pic.twitter.com/EkyfpFw7br Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) May 25, 2023 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Firefighters who risked their lives fighting wildfires were paid less than legal minimum by a federal contractor, investigators say A firefighter works through the remains of a burned-out house on September 14, 2020 in Estacada, Oregon. Nathan Howard/Getty Images A federal contractor paid firefighters as little as $2.85/hour, according to the Department of Labor. Workers were wrongly labeled independent contractors and paid a daily rate of up to $250. These same workers fought fires for an average of 70 hours each week. Workers who risked their lives fighting wildfires were in some cases paid less than the legal minimum by a federal contractor, the US Department of Labor revealed Wednesday, saying an investigation had led to dozens of employees receiving over $150,000 in wages and benefits that were illegally pocketed by the company. Since 2010, the Oregon-based company KL Farms/Fire LLC has been awarded 72 federal contracts worth more than $2.6 million, according to government records. But between June 2019 and October 2021, the company did not abide by the rules of those contracts, which required firefighters to be paid no less than $13.60 in combined wages and fringe benefits, such as sick leave, according to federal investigators. Instead of paying workers the minimum hourly wage required by the federal contract, investigators found that firefighters and others, including those charged with driving fire engines and trucks, were misclassified as independent contractors, depriving them of benefits such as company-provided health insurance, and paid a flat daily rate of between $200 and $250. On average, per federal investigators, these workers put in an average of 70 hours a week fighting blazes in 2020 and 2021. The company also failed to pay workers on time, according to the Department of Labor. "Fighting wildfires demands people work long hours and face real dangers as they try to save other people, homes, businesses, and natural resources," Carrie Aguilar, director of the department's Wage and Hour Division in Portland, Oregon, said in a statement. "The workers accepted these risks and deserve to be paid every dollar and fringe benefit they've earned, especially under very specific requirements that KL Farms/Fire agreed to meet." In total, the Department of Labor said it recovered just over $152,000 in unpaid overtime and fringe benefits for 57 firefighters and truck drivers, with one worker receiving over $14,700. The company also paid a nearly $17,000 fine. In a statement, KL Farms/Fire LLC said the company had misunderstood its requirements under federal law and a "clerical error" that failed to detail overtime hours and fringe benefits. It said it is now working to help other companies better comply with federal standards "to create a more level field and prevent the headache of dealing with an audit." Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com May 25, 2023: This story was updated to include comment from KL Farms/Fire LLC. Read the original article on Business Insider Fires scorch 3 Tri-Cities parks. Whats going on? Are homeless campers to blame? A 30-acre fire through a Kennewick park on Sunday is the third to tear through a Tri-City natural area in less than a month. And firefighters are concerned that conditions are ripe for another large wildland blaze during the upcoming holiday weekend. Were seeing fire conditions that I wouldnt expect until summer, Kennewick Fire Chief Chad Michael said. We need people to exercise extreme caution. Fire season didnt wait this year, and so far three city parks have been hit. Normally it runs between May and October, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. Typically, the height of it happens in July and August. The first blaze in the park happened just days after the beginning of May. About 3 acres of natural growth area inside Columbia Park caught fire on May 4. Days later, lightning set off a fire on Bateman Island that burned 2 1/2 acres. Neither of the two reached the ferocity of Sunday afternoons blaze that started near 10th Avenue and blackened 30 acres, destroying one home and an outbuilding and scorching another house. The cause of both Kennewicks fires is not clear and may never be. In 2021, an 85-acre fire that devastated the Yakima River Delta near Richland was started at a homeless camp near a culvert along Highway 240. And while people have speculated that the recent Kennewick fires could have been started by homeless campers often seen in those areas, Michael said there isnt any proof that happened. Officials believe the Columbia Park fire was likely caused by humans because there is no other reason it could have started but they dont know whos to blame. And the cause of the Zintel Canyon Fire is even more uncertain even though people reported seeing several people leaving the area where the fire started. Without more information, its hard to tell what sparked either blaze. Michael explained that there may be evidence connecting it to a cause at the scene, but without a witness there isnt any way to know for certain. Also in many cases whatever might have started the fire is destroyed. Both Bateman Island and Zintel Canyon are closed to hiking for now, until park workers can clear damaged trees. Anyone with information is asked to reached Deputy Fire Marshal Ethan Bishop at 509-947-0437. Michael pointed out that people are not allowed to camp in city parks, so if people see them there, they should call police. That way, they can respond before a camping fire gets out of control. Natural park land While this is the most destructive fire to happen in the area recently, its not unheard of in Zintel Canyon. A series of fires raised several concerns in 2018, and prompted various city departments to form a team with the effort to make the canyon safer. This included removing hazardous trees and pulling out overgrown vegetation. They partnered with nonprofit Team Rubicon to clear out a path so police could drive through. Since 2018, there have been fewer fires in the area and complaints about graffitti or teens behaving recklessly have dropped off as well, Michael said. While there were efforts to set up a neighborhood watch program in the area, they disappeared within a year. The city has continued its efforts to monitor Zintel Canyon in recent years with regular patrols by police and fire crews, but there are limitations to what can be done with the park. Trees and brush grow with minimal interference from the city, partly because its an irrigation drainage area and part of a 100-year flood protection zone for the Zintel Canyon Dam. The same is true with the section of Columbia Park and Bateman Island that burned earlier in the month. Its a natural park area, he said. Youre not going to mow it down like Lawrence Scott Park. The 2018 Zintel Canyon fires combined with a devastating south Kennewick fire that destroyed five homes led fire officials to start reaching out to people living on the edge of natural areas. Its an annual effort the fire department has kept up. They recently reached out to 428 homes along the edge of Zintel Canyon recently, and had planned on contacting more. Their advice is drawn from recommendations made by the National Fire Protection Association and its Firewise program. This includes making sure you dont have any trees, bushes or other plants near your house. Fire can quickly spread from those plants to a home. Some other advice includes making sure you dont have a wooden fence near the natural growth area. Were going to be out sharing that message with them again like we were a couple of years ago, Michael said. Raleigh-based First Citizens Bank is laying off hundreds of former employees at Silicon Valley Bank. The bank confirmed the layoffs on Wednesday. CEO Frank Holding Jr. disclosed the news through a companywide email today, calling the layoffs difficult but necessary actions to ensure that our workforce and costs are appropriate for a bank our size. ALSO READ: Living, traveling, banking: How to spot, stop junk fees The layoffs come almost two months after First Citizens acquired Silicon Valley Bank after it collapsed and was seized by regulators. And, just days earlier, First Citizens filed a lawsuit against competitor HSBC, accusing it of poaching more than 40 SVB employees. Read more here. VIDEO: Living, traveling, banking: How to spot, stop junk fees First eight episodes of Yellowstone season 5 are now streaming. Heres how to watch them While Yellowstone fans await the final episodes of the series this fall, the first half of season 5 is now streaming. The first eight episodes of the fifth season of the hit Paramount Network show are now streaming on Peacock as of Thursday. The previous four seasons are also available to stream on Peacock. Yellowstone season 5 sees Kevin Costners John Dutton sworn in as the new governor of Montana, while those closest to him fight to defend the familys ranch. The fifth season premiered in November 2022 and wrapped up on New Years Day. Fans eager to watch the show have two options to do so: either a $4.99 per month or $9.99 per month subscription to Peacock. The latter option lets you stream content without ads. Since Yellowstone took its mid-season break in January, the show has gone through several drastic changes. Word broke in February that the back half of the latest Yellowstone season could be the shows last with Costner as John Dutton. Scheduling conflicts with Costners multi-part western movie epic Horizon precluding the star from continuing his role as patriarch of the Montana ranch family. The show received its biggest shakeup in early May, when it was officially announced that the fifth season would be the series last in its current iteration. The final six episodes of Yellowstone season 5 are expected to land on the small screen in November. However, a Yellowstone sequel show is already in the works with a planned December release date. Its unknown what actors from the flagship series will join the Yellowstone sequel show, but show insiders do expect a few returning faces. In the meantime, Yellowstone fans can catch up on the first five seasons through Peacock. The first half of Yellowstone is also available on DVD and Blu-Ray, and available to rent digitally on Amazon Prime Video and AppleTV. Why is Yellowstone streaming on Peacock and not Paramount+? A prior deal with NBCUniversal precludes Yellowstone from streaming on the networks own service, Paramount+. Peacock landed the streaming rights to Yellowstone in January 2020, between the shows second and third seasons. The streaming service launched in July 2020 with Yellowstone as one of the services biggest draws. At the time in 2020, Paramounts own streaming channel, Paramount+, had yet to launch. The streaming service would eventually get off the ground under a year later in March 2021. To combat the loss of streaming revenue and the high demand for Yellowstone, Paramount went all-in on the western genre, giving Taylor Sheridan a deal to develop several projects related to the show. The first was 1883, a prequel to Yellowstone, which exclusively streamed on Paramount+ in December 2021. While Yellowstone may not be on Paramount+ for the foreseeable future, Sheridan has a plethora of shows on Paramounts streaming service. Another Yellowstone prequel titled 1923 starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren is on the service, along with the currently filming Lawmen: Bass Reeves headed to stream later this year. Other non-Yellowstone shows by Sheridan on Paramount+ include Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King. Migrants from Syria walk close to the border with Hungary and Romania in the village of Majdan By Olivier Sorgho (Reuters) - First-time asylum applications from people seeking international protection in European Union countries soared in February, driven largely by Syrians and Afghans, a report from the bloc's statistics agency Eurostat showed on Thursday. The bloc received 76,505 first-time asylum requests from non-EU citizens applying for international protection, an increase of 41% compared to February 2022, with Syrians topping the ranking, followed by Afghans, Colombians and Venezuelans. Of those applications, more than three quarters were received by Germany, Spain, France and Italy, while 2,745 were made by unaccompanied minors, Eurostat said. Both legal and illegal migration rank near the top of many European government agendas, as wars in places like Ukraine and Syria, political persecution and the effects of climate change drive scores of people from their countries of origin. Eurostat said the number of Ukrainian first-time applicants, which surged from 2,105 in February 2022 to 12,190 in March the same year, has been decreasing to stand at 1,110 in February 2023, also because many of its fleeing citizens benefit from temporary protection. Russian citizens ranked 8th, making 2,385 applications. Besides legal asylum requests, Europe faces a potential record number of illegal entry attempts this year. Border agency Frontex earlier in May reported the highest number of unauthorized arrivals since 2016. (Reporting by Olivier Sorgho; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) A visitor looks at paintings at an art exhibition during the first edition of Empower Her Art Forum in Cairo, Egypt, on May 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Along a tube entrance leading to the central hall of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), eye-catching paintings, sculptures and installations with feminine touches were displayed. The innovative works were featured during the first edition of Empower Her Art Forum, an international art exhibition organized by the Artoday platform and hosted by the NMEC from May 20 to 24 to shed light on women's empowerment through art. The gallery gathered more than 100 female artists from around the world, including Egypt, Bahrain, Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Spain, Syria, Sudan, Turkiye and Yemen. "We send a message that women have a voice and we want it to be heard through art," said Shereen Badr, chief organizer and founder of Empower Her Art Forum. "We have also created a website to market their works online, which is a means of economic empowerment, besides artistic empowerment," the organizer told Xinhua. Among the artworks was a dress made of single-use plastic bags. The piece is created by Zainab Talaat, an Egyptian artist and fashion designer. Talaat said her work aims to raise awareness through art and warn against single-use plastic items as well as fast fashion, both of which were described by her as "pollutants." The art forum included a live painting workshop, where visitors watched while artists painted live. During the live painting event, Maka Zedelashvili, a Georgian artist, was painting a new artwork called Rooster as a Symbol of the Sun, besides her acrylic-on-canvas piece "Tree of Life" that was displayed in the gallery. "Women need to be empowered worldwide. Women's artworks also need more promotion and support," the Georgian artist told Xinhua. Anna Gryzlova, a tourist from Russia, said the forum was "interesting" because it didn't only feature classic art but also presented a diverse collection of art forms. "You can see what artists want to tell you in these paintings. I actually like it because I like to visit museums and also enjoy some paintings," Gryzlova said. The forum organizer said there is no better place than the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization to hold the event, as the forum is themed "Woman Is Civilization." The NMEC is not just a place for exhibiting antiquities but also "a cultural lighthouse" that can host various artistic and cultural activities, said Fayrouz Fekry, the museum's deputy director. "Empower Her Art Forum is one of the activities presented by the museum to enable visitors to see something new and different every time they visit the museum," Fekry told Xinhua. Fishing guide reels in once in a lifetime catch. Check out the unicorn creature An Oklahoma fishing guide set out for a solo fishing trip, having no idea that what lurked below was a rare creature. Ryan Davison, one half of the Oklahoma Paddlefish Guide Service, said in a Facebook post Monday, May 22, that he ventured back out to the water for a little more excitement after a day of guiding. What awaited was a fish he had never heard of or seen before. Davison shared video of his capture, a black paddlefish that he called a once in a lifetime fish. Well he aint no giant, but check the color out on that sucker, Davison said in the video. The fish caught at Keystone Lake likely got its unique black color because it is melanistic, fisheries biologist Brad Johnston told a KOTV reporter. Animals with melanism the opposite of albinism have black features because they produce too much melanin. The hereditary feature is found in many types of animals, including mammals, amphibians and reptiles, experts say. The video showed Davison releasing the paddlefish back into the water. What a fight, with the unicorn of paddlefish, he said in a Facebook post. Prehistoric river monster caught by fisherman in kayak, Arkansas officials say Anglers 118-pound catch breaks Oklahoma record and officials are thanking him Angler reels in record-breaking 140-pound paddlefish in Missouri. Felt like a tree Fitch Ratings has put the U.S. on notice for a potential credit downgrade as President Joe Biden and Republican lawmakers struggle to reach a deal to raise the debt limit. We believe risks have risen that the debt limit will not be raised or suspended before the X-date and consequently that the government could begin to miss payments on some of its obligations, the ratings service said in a statement Wednesday. The X-date is the day the U.S. government will be unable to pay all of its bills. The brinkmanship over the debt ceiling, failure of the U.S. authorities to meaningfully tackle medium-term fiscal challenges that will lead to rising budget deficits and a growing debt burden signal downside risks to U.S. creditworthiness, Fitch said. Treasury securities are the bedrock of the global financial system, and a downgrade from Fitch which would mark only the second time a ratings service has knocked U.S. bonds from top-tier status could drive up borrowing costs on everything from municipal debt to credit cards. Biden administration officials are warning that the protracted battle over the debt limit puts the U.S. at risk of losing its top credit rating. S&P lowered the U.S. credit rating in 2011, days after President Barack Obama and Republican leaders agreed to lift the debt ceiling while securing spending cuts. That further strained the economy as it fought to recover from the global financial crisis. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday warned that the U.S. was almost certain to reach the X-date in early June. While House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said GOP leaders and the White House had made progress on negotiations to tie federal spending cuts to a debt limit increase, lawmakers were allowed to return to their districts for Memorial Day weekend a sign that no deal is imminent. While Fitch said it still expects policymakers to resolve their differences before the X-date, a growing number of challenges have complicated its view on the U.S.s ability to manage its finances. The contested 2020 presidential election, brinkmanship over the debt limit to advance political agendas, and failure to reach consensus on the country's fiscal challenges are recent signs of the deterioration, the company wrote. Possible solutions floated by some Democrats including minting a trillion-dollar coin or invoking the 14th amendment are unlikely to be consistent with Fitchs current "AAA" rating for U.S. sovereign debt, according to the statement. The service also signaled that the U.S. would likely lose its top rating if, in the absence of a deal, Treasury prioritizes payments on government debt over its other obligations. In 2018, the Irish public voted overwhelmingly to repeal the countrys Eighth Amendment, overturning one of the strictest abortion bans in the European Union. There were scenes of jubilation as the referendum result was announced, with many in Ireland seeing it as a historic step that would give women control over their own bodies. But five years on, although abortion is free and legally available in Ireland up to 12 weeks of pregnancy after that allowed only in exceptional circumstances, if there is a risk to the mothers life or the fetus is not expected to survive the abortion system is still far from where campaigners and charities would like it to be. The system is failing a certain number of women every year, Ailbhe Smyth, a longtime womens rights activist who campaigned for the repeal, told CNN. One woman who experienced a failed medical abortion which pushed her to the edge of Irelands 12-week limit for terminations, told CNN that she felt unsupported by medical practitioners during the process and was made to feel ashamed. I felt like I had to say I had a miscarriage as opposed to an abortion, because theres still stigma in the country, said the woman, who requested that CNN call her Sarah due to her fears of the effects of stigma. A report ordered by the Irish government, published last month, highlighted restrictive legal provisions and alarming gaps in the availability of abortion services, among other issues. Three years on from the introduction of these services, access to abortion is unequal in Ireland, with women subjected to a postcode lottery, the review led by barrister Marie OShea said. Rural parts of the country suffer particularly sparse coverage, the report found. In nine of the Republic of Irelands 26 counties, there are fewer than five general practitioners (GPs) registered to provide services. Orla OConnor, director of the National Womens Council of Ireland, told CNN the gaps in services impacted Irelands more marginalized women the most, listing homeless women, women in experiencing domestic abuse and disabled women as examples. In response to CNNs request for comment on the reports findings and concerns over uneven access to abortion services, Irelands Department of Health described the referendum as a landmark day for reproductive rights in the country. Since that day, significant strides have been made in the rollout of termination of pregnancy services for those who need them, a statement from the press office said. The Minister for Health is committed to ensuring that any remaining barriers to services are identified and addressed, to give full effect to the historic decision of the Irish people. Women celebrate the result of the referendum on liberalizing abortion law, in Dublin, Ireland, on May 26, 2018. - Max Rossi/Reuters First step Despite the failings identified by the review, Thursdays anniversary will hold a special place for Irish women at home and across the world. For those at the forefront of the campaign, repealing the Eighth Amendment which banned abortion in Ireland unless there was a real and substantial risk to the mothers life was very much the first step in making abortion part of healthcare for women, according to Smyth. She recalled thinking after the result was announced, the hard work begins now. Although strike action and endorsements from high profile Irish figures had proved effective, Smyth recalls that it was testimonies from Irish women who traveled abroad for abortions which really galvanized the Irish public. It was women stepping forward and saying, 50 years ago, I had an abortion in England, and Ive never told anyone. Im aged 21. Last year, I had to go to England on my own. It was these real stories of the distress for many women over decades of having had to do something that was important to them and having to do it in secrecy without help. That really, really struck people, Smyth told CNN last week. Campaigner Ailbhe Smyth (center) celebrates at Dublin Castle as the results are announced in the referendum on the repeal of the 8th Amendment. - Niall Carson/PA Images/Getty Images The call to reform Irelands repressive ban had intensified since 2012 following the death of a young woman named Savita Halappanavar, who died of complications after abortion was denied to her when she was miscarrying in a County Galway hospital, in western Ireland. It really brought into peoples consciousness that anybody could die simply by presenting at a hospital when theyre unwell and pregnant, said Camilla Fitzsimons, an associate professor at the University of Maynooth who has researched the history of abortion in Ireland. By the time the vote finally came around on May 25, 2018, there was a sense among Irish people that the abortion ban was very wrong and that if Irish society was ever to be equal, people would have to put our trust in women and believe them when they say this is the best decision for me, Smyth said. Within four months of the referendum, Irelands president formally repealed the Eighth Amendment to the constitution. Irish lawmakers then passed the legislation that allows for terminations in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Unequal access to care But despite the changes heralded by the vote five years ago, the OShea review highlighted a number of obstacles to equal access to abortion services in Ireland. Under current legislation, women must undergo a three-day waiting period after an initial consultation before gaining access to abortion medication, a requirement which medical practitioners have described as patronizing, according to the OShea review. Sarah told CNN that, in her case, she found the three-day waiting period both patronizing and upsetting. Its a measure which medics and campaigners alike wish to scrap, especially in light of its impact on more vulnerable groups of women, who may find it difficult to attend two appointments. One GP in the northwest of Ireland interviewed for the report highlighted the cost burden on lower income women, for example, stressing that its not a free service if you have to spend 100 euro on petrol to get there and back from appointments. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Irish government allowed the first consultation to be done by phone, which report author Dr. Lorraine Grimes says improved but did not entirely solve the problem. Women still need to attend the second appointment in person for the procedure itself. People attend an abortion rights protest outside Leinster House, Dublin, on September 25, 2021. - Brian Lawless/PA Images/Getty Images Dr. Mary Favier has played a huge part in organizing abortion services in GP clinics across Ireland. Although she acknowledges that coverage is not perfect, she is even more concerned about the situation in Irish maternity hospitals. At present, only 11 out of the 19 maternity facilities in the country are providing abortion services, the report states. Favier says the expansion of services in maternity units has been held up by a controversial provision within the law which allows medical practitioners to refuse to provide abortion services on grounds of conscientious objection. She chalks this up to more conservative attitudes among some Irish obstetricians and gynecologists, who she says for the most part did not actively participate in the Repeal the 8th campaign. Although the proportion of conscientious objectors in Irelands health service is relatively small, Favier told CNN that they are concentrated in rural areas. And these tend to be places where there are fewer abortion providers already. Favier also finds it problematic that abortion training, including on surgical procedures, has not been formally integrated into Irish medical schools curricula, and expressed support for the reviews recommendation that such training be embedded into teaching. Tight time limit Probably the greatest obstacle for Irish medical professionals, however, is a legal provision which criminalizes any individual who assists a pregnant person to obtain an abortion outside the confines of the law. This becomes especially relevant when considering the 12-week gestational limit embedded in the new legislation. It is a limit which Grimes describes as extremely tight. This strict cut-off is also exacerbated by the three-day waiting period. If a woman is near the limit during the weekend or around a public holiday, she will have more difficulty accessing an appointment and may time out of care, Favier explains. After 12 weeks it becomes extremely difficult to have an abortion in Ireland, according to Grimes. She highlights that in the case of a fatal fetal abnormality, for example, two doctors must certify that the baby would die within 28 days of being born for an abortion to be approved. That is practically impossible to do, it is really a huge ask, Grimes said, noting that because abortion is still criminalized beyond the first 12 weeks, doctors tend to make more conservative decisions when dealing with complex cases. Supporters join the launch of the National Women's Council of Ireland campaign demanding political progress on abortion law, on May 24, 2023. - National Womens Council of Ireland Because the failed first abortion left her with only limited time for a second attempt before the 12-week limit, Sarah was left fearing her only options would be to go to the UK or to continue with the pregnancy. Ultimately, a second procedure was carried out successfully at an Irish maternity hospital before the cut-off. Sarah recounted the sense of anger she felt after one medical practitioner told her she was lucky to have made it within the limit. It shouldnt be 12 weeks. What if it happened to somebody miscarrying? It just really resonated with me that mine was a choice. But if it wasnt the choice, it would be very hard to hear words like that, she said. Against this backdrop, more than 200 Irish women still traveled to the UK for abortion procedures in 2021, according to UK health service statistics, although the OShea review notes that the rate of abortion travel has declined substantially. We do need to acknowledge that any instance where a woman has to leave her country to access full reproductive health care is a failure of the health system, Grimes stressed. Campaigners such as Smyth and OConnor are now focusing their efforts on lobbying the Irish government to accept the recommendations within the OShea review. The Irish parliaments health committee is set to review the findings before the summer. In its statement to CNN, the Department of Health said the Health Service Executive, Irelands healthcare system, would work toward implementing the reports operational recommendations. The parliamentary Joint Committee on Health would consider recommendations proposing legislative change, it added. On Wednesday, the National Womens Council launched an online campaign encouraging Irish people to write to their elected representative to call for cross-party political commitment to reform, according to a press release. Repealing the 8th didnt mean abortion access only for some women and not others the provision of abortion services needs to be consistent and equitable, OConnor stressed. Sarah told CNN that she just wants women in Ireland to feel that the decision they made is the right one if they chose to have an abortion and that there is no guilt or stigma attached to having an abortion in 2023. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Flash of light over airfield in Russias Rostov Oblast: authorities claim missile was shot down On the evening of 25 May, Vasily Golubev, Governor of Rostov Oblast in the Russian Federation, claimed that the Russian air defence had shot down a Ukrainian missile in the Morozovsk area, where a military airfield is located. Source: Vasily Golubev on Telegram Quote: "The air defence system was activated in the Morozovsk area, shooting down a Ukrainian missile. The military is doing its job. Keep calm." Details: The military airfield, which serves as a base for Russian bombers, is located 3 km from Morozovsk. Earlier, videos showing a flash in the sky in Morozovsk appeared on Telegram. Ukrainian channels reported an "attack on the airfield". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Flash races to its finish, as the sun sets on the CW as we knew it The Flash raced into the sunset on Wednesday night, ending its nine-season run just in time for a big-screen version by the same name starring Ezra Miller to take up that mantle. Yet the DC series finish also represents a sort-of requiem for the CW network, at least as the superhero-loving showcase that it represented for years. CW is operating under new management after the Nextstar station group acquired a controlling stake in the network from partners Warner Bros. (like CNN, a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery) and CBS, which is taking the network in a different direction more TV discount store than fifth English-language broadcast network. That includes a heavier emphasis on unscripted programming (such as picking up the HBO Max series FBoy Island and a spinoff) and more international acquisitions, including shows already produced for the Canadian market. Remaining in limbo for now are two holdover Warner Bros.-produced superhero shows, Superman & Lois and the Batman-inspired Gotham Knights, which, based on the programming the CW announced during the recent upfront presentations, dont readily fit with its current profile and strategy. All of that makes The Flashs demise more bittersweet, despite the fact that its best days were clearly behind it, and the huge cast of characters in its Scooby gang had grown almost absurdly unwieldy. As a remnant of what came to be known as the Arrowverse, The Flash trafficked in a dizzying number of characters and subplots, moving back and forth among alternate Earths and different timelines. In one small manifestation of that, when Barry Allen/the Flash (Grant Gustin) and his wife Iris (Candice Patton) finally had their baby in the finale, the grownup version of the baby from the future, Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy), actually had the mind-bending opportunity to hold and coo at herself. Subtitled A New World, Part Four, the last episode conducted a great deal of business, as the resurrected character of Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett) assembled old villains to battle the Flash and his gang, including the alternate-Earth Flash Jay Garrick, played by John Wesley Shipp, the star of the 1989 series. The Flash was nicely sentimental in that way, never more so than in its recurring use of Shipp and nods to comics history. Once that was over, the producers found time to let Iris dad Joe (Jesse L. Martin) not only briefly show off his Broadway singing chops but to propose to Cecile (Danielle Nicolet). A New World also brought back Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker), an original character who never really left if you count all the alter egos that Panabaker has played over the course of the shows life. Anyone without an advanced degree in the Negative Speed Force is to be forgiven for potentially losing track of some of The Flashs many moving parts. But especially in its early days the show exemplified a genre that thrived on the CW and took big creative swings, including multi-part crossover episodes connecting various series. Barry closed the episode on a hopeful note, not only sharing his powers but speaking to his baby daughter about a future world where nothing has to be impossible as long as we believe in it. Even in light of the changes sweeping over the TV business, and uncertainty exacerbated by the writers strike, the CWs future appears particularly hazy. And as The Flash zooms away, the kind of grand vision that Barry articulated already looks smaller in the rear-view mirror. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, embraces his wife, Casey, at his election night party in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 8, 2022. (Scott McIntyre/The New York Times) During a recent appearance in South Carolina, after Ron DeSantis played up his states economic and education policies and bashed a litany of ideological adversaries, his wife settled into an armchair next to him onstage, reflecting on her role as the first lady of Florida. I didnt want to be that proverbial potted plant, Casey DeSantis said. No one fan, skeptic or critic would accuse her of that. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Casey DeSantis, 42, is widely seen as perhaps Ron DeSantis most important adviser. In the governors mansion, she advised on media strategy and helped vet personnel. She has narrated some of his more attention-grabbing ads and taken on wide-ranging projects about issues like mental health, disaster relief and cancer, surviving a bout with it herself. Now, as Ron DeSantis enters the presidential contest, people who know Casey DeSantis or who have encountered her on the nascent campaign trail expect that she will play a vital role in his most important race yet, seeking to shape perceptions of the campaign, build relationships with party stakeholders and to illuminate the personal side of her hard-edged husband, who sometimes struggles to connect. You have the first ladies that are kind of more in a supportive posture; they are not ones that are out there stumping, said Steven Wright, the Republican chair in Dorchester County, South Carolina, who encountered Casey DeSantis during the couples swing through the area. And then you have the first ladies that are similar to Casey DeSantis. In recent weeks, she has gushed over Iowas gas station pizza and highlighted her personal connections to South Carolina, the first-in-the-South primary state (she attended the College of Charleston, where she competed on the equestrian team). She has met with local Republican officials and offered public glimpses of family life as the mother of three children. When Ron DeSantis spoke at a Republican dinner in Ohio last month, Casey DeSantis joined the trip too, swinging through her hometown, Troy, Ohio, where the family met with the mayor. She shows the human side of the governor and his personal side, Wright said. And she and Ron DeSantis recently hosted Bob Vander Plaats, an influential social conservative from Iowa, for lunch at the governors mansion. They could free her up to go on her own to represent the governor at different campaign stops where he cant be, said Vander Plaats, citing her ability to be very poised in front of a crowd. He recalled that they dined on arugula spring salad, prosciutto-wrapped scallops with green beans and a strawberry fruit salad dessert. Ron DeSantis met Jill Casey Black, a local news reporter at the time, at a driving range complex in Florida, he wrote in his recent book, The Courage to Be Free. They were married at Walt Disney World, years before Ron DeSantis went to war with Disney. (Caseys family was what one might call a family of Disney enthusiasts, he wrote.) Casey DeSantis built a career as a television personality in Florida, although that background has not stopped her from echoing her husband in lashing the woke corporate media. Shes keenly aware of public-facing events, the news cycle, optics, said Stephen Lawson, who served as Ron DeSantis spokesperson during his 2018 race for governor. So much of who he is and where hes come from and his story centers around her, and I think shell continue to play a pivotal role in how that story unfolds. She is his primary sounding board, he added. In that 2018 contest, she narrated an ad that highlighted Ron DeSantis fealty to President Donald Trump by showing him encouraging his young child to build the wall out of blocks. Last year, she recorded an emotional direct-to-camera spot, her voice wavering as she described how her husband had helped her through cancer. She also promoted a video that cast his political rise as divinely inspired. Casey DeSantis has also been linked to political drama, and some have questioned the scope of her portfolio in office, wondering whether she has too much influence inside the governors insular inner circle. She assumes authority that she does not have, said Mac Stipanovich, a Republican-turned-independent who served as a longtime Florida strategist and lobbyist, although he said he was sharing his impressions rather than firsthand knowledge. From whence came this womans strategic political genius? People would always question, who is the closest person to Ron, who is somebody who can get his ear? added Nikki Fried, now the chair of the Florida Democratic Party and a former agriculture commissioner who ran unsuccessfully for governor in the Democratic primary last year. The only name that ever came back, she said, was Caseys. Lindsey Curnutte, a spokesperson for the DeSantis team, did not respond to a request for comment. But Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who worked with the DeSantises as Floridas director of emergency management, said he had found Casey DeSantis to be someone who was receptive to ideas and whose door was always open. The first lady, who has a significant background in communications, comes into a room and really just captivates, said Moskowitz, who is supporting President Joe Bidens reelection bid. There is a long history of politicians navigating the complexities of family members involvement in their campaigns or administrations, including Bill and Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris, whose sister was a key adviser during her presidential primary campaign. In New York City, Chirlane McCray was the closest adviser to her husband, Bill de Blasio, as he ran for mayor and then during his time at City Hall, an arrangement that at times stoked controversy. In an interview, de Blasio a Democrat who is energetically supporting Biden defended the art of the political power couple, saying that when it feels natural, its kind of irreplaceable. You need someone who understands your goals, your motivations, what you can handle, what you cant, all that, and thats all subsumed in a spouse under good conditions, de Blasio said. But he acknowledged that, depending on the couple, spouse-advisers could also be too close to the situation. Theres a huge tradition of spouses being very protective and defensive for their loved one in office, he said. Sometimes that can create a blindness or a kind of knee-jerk reaction, or a sense of vengeance that is not always productive. It can be a beautiful model, it can be a powerful model, he added, or it can really backfire. c.2023 The New York Times Company Florida man in cat costume arrested after stabbing roommate in neck, police say A Florida man wearing a cat costume was arrested at a home Tuesday after authorities say he stabbed his roommate in the neck. Multiple deputies responded just after 5:45 p.m. to a single-family home in northwest Gainesville after the victim called 911 to report that he had been stabbed, the Alachua County Sheriff said. Capt. Chris Sims said that two deputies forced entry into the home where the stabbing victim lay on the floor bleeding while the suspect was still inside the residence, possibly armed. "They stopped at nothing to ensure that the victim was treated and the suspect in this incident was apprehended," Sims said. GEORGIA ROOKIE POLICE OFFICER SHOT IN THE HEAD DURING MOTEL SHOOTOUT IS IDENTIFIED, TO UNDERGO SURGERY Omar Gutierrez, 32, was charged with a single count of attempted murder and was being held at the Alachua County jail on a $1 million bond. The sheriff shared officer-worn bodycam footage that showed the deputies get the bloodied victim out of the home. The suspect, however, remained unseen at first. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Deputies forced entry into the home and helped extract the bloodied victim. The deputies could be heard repeatedly calling for the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Omar Gutierrez, to show himself and come out with his hands in the air. FLORIDA EX-TEACHER ARRESTED AGAIN FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH STUDENT Gutierrez eventually came out of a room, wearing what appeared to be a cat costume, and surrendered to the deputies, the video showed. He was arrested without further incident. Omar Gutierrez surrendered to police and was arrested without further incident. "We exchanged Gutierrez's cat costume for a green and white striped jumpsuit," the sheriff said. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Gutierrez was charged with a single count of attempted murder and was being held at the Alachua County jail on a $1 million bond. Florida mom who tried to ban Amanda Gormans book has ties to far-right groups A Florida woman whose complaints led to school restrictions for a poem read at Joe Bidens inauguration appears to have ties to several far-right groups, including the Ron DeSantis-supported Moms for Liberty and neo-fascist gang the Proud Boys. In a complaint requesting that her childs school remove the books entirely, Daily Salinas claimed that The Hill We Climb Amanda Gormans book-length version of the poem she read at the presidents inauguration ceremony and several other titles contained references to critical race theory, gender ideology, indirect hate messages, and indoctrination, especially of socialism, according to documents shared by the Florida Freedom to Read Project. Her complaint prompted the school to restrict access to the book, along with The ABCs of Black History, Cuban Kids and Love to Langston. A school committee moved the books to the librarys middle school section, despite the books being recommended for younger readers. Ms Salinas told the Miami-Herald that she is not for eliminating or censoring any books but wants materials to be appropriate and for students to know the truth about Cuba. But she appears to have connections with or has expressed support for several far-right groups that have promoted sweeping restrictions against LGBT+ people and honest discussions of race and racism, according to a review of her social media history and online activity from Miami Against Fascism and The Daily Beast. In August 2021, she was photographed alongside Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio during a protest against Covid-19 protections in Miami-Dade schools. The following year, while wearing a Ron DeSantis T-shirt, she attended another rally organised by Proud Boys to support far-right activist Christoper Monzon, a 2017 Unite the Right rally attendee who was allegedly beaten while canvassing for Republican Senator Marco Rubio last year. Ms Salinas also was photographed posing with Mr Monzon and a small group of his supporters after his release from hospital. That same year, Ms Salinas also worked as a volunteer for the governors Education Agenda Tour, which promoted right-wing candidates in school board elections as part of his efforts to upend the states education system. A quick look through the social media of Miami parent Daily Salinas who filed the book challenge would show shes activist w far-right group Moms for Liberty. But also her support for the Proud Boys + antisemitic Protocols of the Elders of Zion conspiracy content. 3/ pic.twitter.com/3etnQlu9Gv Miami Against Fascism (@MIAagainstFash) May 23, 2023 Video from a Miami-Dade school board meeting in July 2022 appears to show Ms Salinas with the group Moms for Liberty disrupting the hearing to protest sex education textbooks that had previously been approved by the board. Footage shows police forcibly removing her from the meeting. Moms for Liberty, a right-wing group that emerged from protests over Covid-19 guidelines, has offered so-called bounties for reporting teachers who allegedly discuss divisive topics in schools, attacked The Trevor Project for supporting young LGBT+ people at risk of suicide, and launched a barrage of book challenges. The group has also won praise from Mr DeSantis, who appointed one of its members to a board that now controls properties operated by the Walt Disney Company for its massive Orlando park campus. The Independent has requested comment from the groups Miami-Dade chapter. In this video taken from inside the meeting, members of anti-LGBTQ hate group Miami Moms for Liberty turn the meeting into a circus w disruptive comments on antifa. Police responded by escorting out + arresting a left-wing activist who was seated quietly. More down thread. pic.twitter.com/HhQfRDmXAr Miami Against Fascism (@MIAagainstFash) July 22, 2022 A review of Ms Salinas social media history includes a Facebook post calling the Proud Boys los mejores, or the best. My Proud Boys, she wrote in the post on April 2021, above a photo of Tarrio with other members of the group. In March of this year, she shared a Facebook post promoting the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a fraudulent century-old piece of antisemitic propaganda. Ms Salinas appeared to have deleted the post after it was flagged by Miami Against Fascism on Twitter. She then posted an image of an Israeli Defense Force soldier with a caption reading: People never seen this. I love my Jewish people. I want to apologize to the Jewish community, she told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on 24 May. Im not what the post says, she added. I love the Jewish community. She also co-hosted a Spanish-language podcast Hablando Como Los Locos that published an episode with the caption Learn more about Kanye West, his polemic, his message on 5 December 2022. Four days earlier, the rapper appeared on Alex Joness InfoWars and praised Adolf Hitler. The Independent has requested comment from Ms Salinas. Mr DeSantis who has entered the race for the 2024 Republican nomination for president has ushered through sweeping laws to control public school education and lessons and speech he deems to be objectionable while characterising reporting on the impacts of such policies as a hoax and a fake narrative manufactured by the press. The state is at the centre of a nationwide trend of challenges against books and materials in libraries and schools, while the governor continues to falsely insist that no books have been banned as he launches his 2024 campaign. A trio of state laws enacted within the last school year include what opponents have called the Dont Say Gay law, which prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in all school grades, and laws that restrict discussions of race or racism, and mandate how schools catalog books on their shelves. Taken together, teachers and schools have been forced to remove materials out of fear of facing legal action without clear guidance, or have faced an increase in threats and challenges from activists emboldened by legislation. Last week, Penguin Random House and several prominent authors and families filed a federal lawsuit against a school district where activists have challenged dozens of books, largely involving or written by people of colour or LGBT+ people. In Escambia County alone, nearly 200 books have been challenged, at least 10 books have been removed by the school board, five books were removed by district committees, and 139 books require parental permission, according to an analysis from free expression group PEN America. In Floridas Clay County, at least 100 books were pulled off shelves after challenges from a single person, PEN America found. Felisa Benitez, 86, wipes her brow while taking a break from cleaning her electrical fan on the porch of her home, where temperatures reached 99 degrees at San Fernando Gardens Public Housing in Pacoima on Aug. 4, 2021. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) With forecasts calling for warmer-than-average temperatures across California this summer, officials in Los Angeles are vowing to do more to protect residents from extreme heat, one of the deadliest consequences of human-caused climate change. City officials said they are launching the "Heat Relief 4 L.A." campaign to help spread the word about the dangers of extreme heat, which disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color, as well as pregnant women, homeless people and the elderly. Among the city's top priorities are installing more cooling centers and hydration stations to provide relief on hot days, as well as investing in cool pavement projects and trees to help combat the urban heat island effect, mayor Karen Bass said during a news conference Wednesday. "Climate change is among the greatest challenges facing our city, and no one has felt the impact of this crisis more than our communities here in L.A.," Bass said. "Extreme heat is the single largest cause of climate-related deaths and hospital visits in Los Angeles, with low-income communities and our unhoused population disproportionately impacted." Studies have shown that climate change is exacerbating both the frequency and magnitude of heat waves, which are expected to occur more often and reach higher temperatures in the coming years and decades. Emergency room visits and mortality rates skyrocket during hot weather, which is also associated with higher labor costs, workplace injuries, impaired learning and decreased cognitive performance. Power outages and blackouts are also increasingly common as more people turn on their air conditioners, straining the power grid. "When we have an increase in mortality of between 10% and 30% on extreme heat days, it's clear that there is a public health imperative, particularly among our most vulnerable residents," said L.A. City Council President Paul Krekorian. Marta Segura, L.A.'s first chief heat officer, said the city is working to combat these effects by enhancing tree canopies, permeable surfaces and roads, as well as installing more cool roofs, heat pumps and passive cooling systems, among other efforts. The city also seeks to improve its "social infrastructure" through heat risk communication campaigns, targeted disaster response resources and expanded cooling and resilience centers, Segura said. Residents can use the Cool Spots LA app to find nearby cooling centers during heat emergencies. "I think, as a city, we're going to set an example for others to ensure that we are not just preparing for extreme heat and climate change, but we are investing first and foremost in the areas that have been historically left behind, because we believe that that is what will bring us the greatest accelerated climate solutions for the entire region," she said. California has been scrutinized for its response to extreme heat in the past. A 2021 Times investigation found that the state chronically undercounts the number of deaths caused by heat waves. Last year, in the wake of the worst September heat wave recorded in California, officials still struggled to account for heat illness and deaths, a separate analysis found. And just last week, the L.A. Department of Transportation received intense criticism after unveiling La Sombrita, a pilot project intended to help provide shade at bus stops that was derided for its small scale and design. We saw plenty of discussion about our La Sombrita pilot: the new shade and lighting structure design weve debuted at four bus stops. Heres how a small structure can make a big difference for riders who depend on public transit. https://t.co/e7zgbKcFdP LADOT (@LADOTofficial) May 19, 2023 Officials on Wednesday said they will continue to expand and improve their response to extreme heat in L.A., including installing at least 3,000 more bus shelters most in areas with high heat exposure and high ridership. Funding from President Biden's infrastructure bill may help supplement some of those programs, according to Public Works commissioner Susana Reyes. Agustin Cabrera, policy director at the nonprofit Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education, or SCOPE, said many of the worst effects of extreme heat are due to decades of environmental racism and redlining that have left communities such as South Los Angeles at a historic disadvantage. Cabrera urged city and state officials to continue to coordinate their response when it comes to extreme heat and other climate efforts. He also advocated for the establishment of stronger thresholds to prevent shutoffs of water and power during extreme heat events and instances of unhealthy air quality. Studies have shown that health consequences related to heat start at temperatures as low as 85, Cabrera said. "A stronger threshold makes sense for L.A. given significant temperature differentials that can exist within the city due to the urban heat island effect and other vulnerabilities that Angelenos face," he said. Extreme heat brings with it other potential hazards, including the increased risk of wildfires and more pressure on the power grid, Krekorian said. It can also affect transit, as agencies have experienced "delays and cancellation of service on extreme heat days because of the need to inspect sagging power lines, buckling rails and so forth just to make sure that the transit system is safe to use." "Right now, 30% of Los Angeles apartments have no air conditioning at all," Krekorian said. "We need to do much more to ensure that we have a robust rebate system in place, even mandates on rental housing, to ensure that we keep people safe in their homes on these extreme heat days. So there's a lot of work ahead of us." The conference came only days after federal forecasters predicted the return of El Nino, a climate system in the tropical Pacific that is often associated with higher temperatures across the globe. The World Meteorological Organization warned that there is a 98% likelihood that at least one of the next five years and the five-year period as a whole will be the Earth's warmest on record. Global average temperatures are expected to soar above the 1.5 degrees Celsius benchmark set by the Paris Climate Agreement at least once by 2027, the agency said. "Extreme heat is L.A.'s No. 1 climate hazard," said Segura, the chief heat officer. "And this year we're likely to reach higher levels of extreme heat, surpassing the dreaded 1.5 degrees Celsius." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. We may even cheer on those who ask us to ... forfeit our personal freedoms. Of course, this is no new story. Even the ancients warned that democracies can degenerate toward autocracy in the face of fear. ... And rule by indefinite emergency edict risks leaving all of us with a shell of a democracy and civil liberties just as hollow. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, May 18 In response to President Richard Nixons unlawful use of the FBI and the CIA to spy on his domestic political opponents in the early 1970s, Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It limits all domestic surveillance not for law enforcement purposes to the procedures set forth in the act. Thus, if federal agents suspect you are a drug dealer and have probable cause of crime to present to a judge, the judge may sign a search warrant enabling the feds to listen to your conversations and monitor your text messages and emails. Thats ordinary law enforcement, and thats pursuant to the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. But if the feds dont know who you are, but know that you live in a community that has folks who think differently than they do about national security, they can go to the FISA Court and present probable cause -- not of crime but of a likelihood of someone communicating with foreign persons and that court, which grants 99.96% of all requested search warrants, will issue the same search warrant authorizing the same level of government scrutiny as if the feds were looking for evidence of a crime. United States Constitution This is all consistent with FISA but, because it directly violates the Fourth Amendment, it is profoundly unconstitutional. When the feds have told a federal Judge what their probable cause is, what they are looking for, why they believe they will find it and who they think is engaged in criminal activities, they are entitled to a warrant. As the amendment requires that all search warrants specifically describe the place to be searched and the person or thing to be seized, the feds know that they need to demonstrate a level of knowledge and specificity probable cause of crime to the judge from whom they are seeking a warrant. In the case of FISA, the feds do not know what or whom they are looking for. One infamous FISA search warrant permitted the feds to capture all telephone calls transmitted on all fiber optic cables used by Verizon, which at the time had about 115 million customers. The FISA warrants are lawful, but profoundly unconstitutional, as there is no probable cause of crime, nor does the warrant specifically describe the place to be searched or the person or thing to be seized. The FISA warrant issued for all customers of Verizon is a general warrant search where you wish and seize what you find. General warrants were directly outlawed by the Fourth Amendment. Shortly after the tragedy of 9/11, in order to divert scrutiny from his own sleepy incompetence, President George W. Bush sought an amendment to FISA that would enable the feds to engage in warrantless telephone, text messaging and email surveillance upon foreign persons. Even though the Fourth Amendment protects all people good people, bad people, Americans, foreigners, people the government hates, people the government fears Bush persuaded a compliant Congress that there was much to fear from foreign persons. It was an emergency, he said, and time for the Constitution to bend before it breaks. Congress, afraid to do nothing, gave Bush these unconstitutional powers to spy on foreigners. Congress enacted Section 702 of FISA, and it expires in six months. Section 702 directly contradicts the core language of the Fourth Amendment. On its face, it permits the feds to conduct warrantless surveillance on foreign persons who are either physically or digitally present in the United States and all with whom they communicate American or foreign who are located here. Thus, for example, if you call or text or email a bookseller in London from your home in New York or your cousin in Paris calls or texts or emails you at your home in Texas, the feds can capture all those communications without a search warrant. And then the feds can capture the future calls you make and texts and emails you send. And then they can capture all the communications of the persons you reached and all the persons they reached. As this extends on and on to the sixth degree, the numbers grow exponentially to hundreds of millions. When the feds engage in all this capturing, they can access data only with respect to foreign persons. So, if a janitor in the Russian embassy is really a Russian spy trying to flip an American and the feds hear this, they can summarily ship the so-called janitor back to Russia. But if the American is also engaged in bank fraud, the feds need a search warrant to access the 702 database that contains that evidence. Last week, a judge of the FISA Court revealed that the FBI routinely accesses the 702 database without search warrants. The feds did this to 19,000 donors to a congressional candidate, to the folks caught up in the Jan. 6 events at the Capitol, to a member of Congress, and to those participating in and observing Black Lives Matter activities on the West Coast a few summers ago. And then this FISA Court judge heedless to the Constitution and fearful of God-only-knows-what permitted the feds to retain what they unlawfully and unconstitutionally stole. They accessed the Section 702 database by computer hacking the same crimes for which the same feds prosecute dozens of persons annually. Here we go again. Does the government work for us, or do we work for the government? What employee gets away with spying on his employers? What emergency will the government concoct next? Andrew P. Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court Judge, has published nine books on the U.S. Constitution. Andrew P. Napolitano This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: FISA and freedom Andrew Napolitano National Art Museum of China [Photo/VCG] President Xi Jinping has commended the work of the National Art Museum of China over the past 60 years and encouraged it to develop into an art venue enjoying worldwide prestige with the ultimate goal of enhancing public appreciation of the fine arts in the new era. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Sunday in a reply letter to veteran experts and artists of the museum, offering congratulations on its 60th anniversary. In the letter, Xi said that the museum, which has witnessed the thriving development of art since the founding of New China in 1949, has made notable achievements in collecting and exhibiting artworks, promoting public education and engaging in international exchanges. Xi expressed his hope that the museum will maintain a people-centered philosophy in its operations and strive to improve the quality of its collection, promote the utilization of artworks and provide better services. He called on the museum to make greater contributions to the prosperity and development of Chinese fine arts, building cultural confidence and strength, and securing new successes in developing socialist culture. The National Art Museum of China, a national-level art gallery, opened to the public on May 23, 1963. In a recent letter to Xi, 13 veteran experts and artists of the museum expressed their resolve to contribute to the high-quality development of art museums in the new era. Wu Weishan, the museum's director, said at a celebration ceremony on Tuesday that Xi's letter is an affirmation of the museum's role as a witness to and participant in the thriving development of Chinese art. "We are grateful to be in a time of greatness. Together with those who have a pursuit of beauty, we shall continuously work hard to build the National Art Museum of China into a national-level palace of art, and even one which is world-class, where people can appreciate fine works of art and gain cultural knowledge," Wu said. In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the museum is presenting through July four exhibitions, including two shows of selected works from its immense and diversified collection of Chinese and international art. A third exhibition celebrates the spirit of the Long March and the spirit of Yan'an, an old revolutionary base area in Shaanxi province. Another exhibition examines the passing on of the xieyi (drawing the spirit) style of classic Chinese painting. Fan Di'an, chairman of the Chinese Artists Association, dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and former director of the National Art Museum of China, said these exhibitions navigate through the creations of artists spanning several generations. They present a prosperous landscape of Chinese art and the work of Chinese art museums, which has kept pace with the times and carries on the traditions of Chinese culture, Fan said. Former Google CEO Says AI Can't Destroy Humankind If We Do It First No Future Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt warned audiences at The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit in London this week that AI is an "existential risk" that could lead to "many, many, many, many people" being "harmed or killed." But before a rogue AI has the chance to come after us all or at least make our jobs redundant humanity might already be preempting that dystopian eventuality by having fewer babies. At the same event, Schmidt said that "we are not having enough children" to the point of a "demographic crisis where people who are my age are going to be taken care of by younger generations," as quoted by Fortune. "In aggregate, all the demographics say theres going to be a shortage of humans for jobs," Schmidt added. "Literally too many jobs and not enough people for at least the next 30 years." His latest comments were in response to worries that AI could cause major job disruptions through automation. But since we're already having fewer babies, he seems to be saying that we'll need AI to step into the labor force an unusual take on the matter that's bound to raise some eyebrows. Baby Bust Tech leaders are clearly struggling with what to make of the potential job losses caused by the tech they're developing. Schmidt's successor Sundar Pichai, for instance, had very little to offer when pushed on the matter during a recent appearance on The Verge's Decoder podcast. According to Schmidt, however, having job shortages be filled in with a more efficient AI is still a net positive in the long term, even if that means more mass layoffs in the near future. "What really happens is that people like yourselves, in the business community and so forth, youre about efficiency," Schmidt told the audience. "Ultimately there will be lots of job conflagration, right? Some jobs are created, some jobs are lost." So what should a society do to prepare for this new future? Earlier this month, Schmidt argued that the AI industry will be better off regulating itself, thank you very much. In other words, the government should sit this one out, despite the very real consequences the technology could have on the rest of us. "I would much rather have the current companies define reasonable boundaries," Schmidt told NBC at the time. "There's no one in the government who could get it right." It's true that as people across the world are choosing not to have kids while being crushed by crippling debt and other economic pressures, labor markets are expected to continue to shrink. But is AI really the answer to widening job shortages? Schmidt appears to think so, but we're not convinced quite yet. More on Schmidt: Former Google CEO Warns AI Could Lead to People Being "Harmed or Killed" Former Mesa officer charged with endangerment after shooting at vehicle takes plea deal A Mesa Police Department badge is seen here. A former Mesa police officer who was charged with two counts of endangerment last year suspected of firing twice at a vehicle that drove away after conducting a traffic stop appears to have taken a plea deal, according to court documents obtained by The Arizona Republic. The Maricopa County Attorneys Office announced in February that Kaylon Hall had been indicted for the charges, both of which are class six felonies. As County Attorney, I will hold those who break the law accountable, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement at the time. An individuals profession does not impact decision making in my office when deciding if criminal charges are warranted. The communitys trust in our criminal justice system can only be achieved if those sworn to serve and protect are held accountable when criminal acts occur. The Republic obtained a copy of the plea agreement, which states Hall will plead guilty to one count of endangerment in exchange for prosecutors dropping the second endangerment count. The agreement states endangerment comes with a presumptive sentence of one year in prison with a sentencing range of four months and two years based on mitigating and aggravating factors, though the agreement notes supervised probation is also possible. Hall's sentencing is scheduled for June 19 at 10:15 a.m. in Maricopa County Superior Court. The agreement also stipulates that Hall must relinquish his AZ Post certification, barring him from becoming a law enforcement officer in Arizona. It was not immediately clear whether Hall would be considered a felon, as the offense could remain undesignated at sentencing and later be designated as a misdemeanor after completing the terms of his probation. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kaylon Hall charged with shooting at vehicle takes plea deal Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks to a student on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Career Academy South Bend. SOUTH BEND Former Vice President Mike Pence touted his strong support for charter schools and public vouchers for private schools during a visit Thursday morning to Career Academy charter school in South Bend. The visit came together quickly as Pence nears a rumored announcement to enter the 2024 president race. "The progress this school has made is a great tribute to all of you," said the former vice president, who has supported the growth over the years of the Career and Success Academy network schools. 2024 races: Jennifer McCormick stumps after announcing bid for Indiana governor Career Academy President Larry Garatoni said Pence requested the visit and school leaders jumped at the chance to introduce students to the former second-in-command. Pence spent about an hour touring Career Academy middle and high school facilities, including a new makerspace funded, in part, by a state grant for experiential learning. "This is a very powerful message," Pence said as he leaned over the shoulder of eighth-grader Elder Rapalo, who modeled a recent 3D-printed replica of the gates of Auschwitz to accompany his recent studies of the Holocaust. Former Vice President Mike Pence asks eighth grader Elder Rapalo about a 3D printing project he worked on recently in his school's new makerspace at Career Academy South Bend. Pence visited the school on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Pence also visited with welding, robotics and precision machining students before sitting for a half-hour Q&A with high school students. Moderators Gabby Terrell and Rocio Alvarez , both Career Academy seniors, were quick to allude to the past vice president's suspected leadership aspirations. "If you do plan on running for president next year, what are your plans to improve the lives of minorities in America?" Terrell asked in the team's first question. "Well, I don't have anything to announce today, Gabby," Pence said. "Whatever the future holds for me and my family, I'm always going to work to open doors to the American dream to every American regardless of race or creed or color." A return visit for former Indiana governor Speculation has swirled that the former vice president is gearing up to challenge former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who submitted his official paperwork Wednesday, for the GOPs presidential nomination in 2024. Several other Republicans including former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have also announced their intention to run. Pence told CBS Face the Nation last month that if he had an announcement to make, hed do so well before June. Portage School of Leaders: Career Academy announces new high school in downtown South Bend Garatoni told The Tribune that hes hosted fundraisers for Pences campaigns for governor and vice president. The purpose of Thursdays visit, however, was not to focus on politics, but instead on the school and students, Garatoni said. "It kind of reduces some of the mystique of somebody in higher office, especially the vice president of the United States," the Career Academy founder said. "When they see that he's a really down-to-earth person and has a lot of great values and experience, (the students) can relate to the fact that it's possible for them to do that." Former Vice President Mike Pence talks to high school students at Career Academy charter school during a visit on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Pences support of charter education traces back to his days as governor when he frequently butted heads with then-Indiana school superintendent Glenda Ritz. As governor, he attended school choice rallies and advocated for state funding boosts for Indiana charter schools. He visited Career Academy's sister school, Success Academy, in 2016 for its ribbon cuttings along with then-South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Career Academy Marketing Director Rob Koehler said the charter network would like to invite Pence back for the openings of its next two schools. The Portage School of Leaders and Success Academy at Boys & Girls Club are both expected to open this fall for the coming school year. Pence praises advancement of school choice Though he has not officially announced his candidacy, Pence's talk with students Thursday echoed familiar facets of past stump speeches, including the his frequent refrain: "I'm Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order." His visit to a charter school also bolsters education as a growing campaign issue. At Career Academy on Thursday, Pence was quick to highlight his records of championing conservative positions on education reform, like support for charter schools and state-funded scholarships for private school education. Success Academy expanding: New South Bend grade school to open at Boys & Girls Club He's also in recent appearances leant his voice to the growing "culture war" debate consuming public schools across the country. At a parents rights rally this February, Pence urged supporters to fight back against "radical gender ideology" permeating schools. The culture war rhetoric, driven predominantly by conservatives, has become a divisive campaign issue nationally that educators say serves little purpose other than to push political agendas and distract from classroom learning. Pence, however, steered clear of those topics in South Bend. Former Vice President Mike Pence takes a tour of students' projects on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Career Academy South Bend. He reminisced about his support for charter schools as Indiana governor and applauded the state for its recent expansion of school choice programs, allowing families making more than $200,000 a year to receive state funding for a private school education. The former vice president also spoke of reducing the national debt, instituting social security and Medicare reform, and increasing access to career and technical education opportunities a priority Pence set for the state back in his days as governor. He also offered a bit of advice to students interested in pursuing public office one day. "Keep your arms and legs in the ride at all times," Pence said. "You never know where it's gonna lead." Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Carley Lanich at clanich@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter:@carleylanich. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mike Pence praises school choice in visit to South Bend's Career Academy Ukrainian defenders shot down four Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones over Mykolaiv and Odesa oblasts during a Russian drone attack that took place on the night of 24-25 May. Source: Operational Command Pivden (South) Details: The Operational Command Pivden has reported that during the night air attack, air defence forces shot down three Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones over Mykolaiv Oblast and another one over Odesa Oblast. There were no strikes in the area of responsibility of the defence forces in Ukraine's south. The Operational Command Pivden has added that since the beginning of the use of Iranian-made drones by Russian troops, the defence forces in Ukraine's south have destroyed 357 Shahed-131/136s. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Fox News took a swipe at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Twitter owner Elon Musk over the chaotic launch of a Twitter Spaces event that the governor used to announce his presidential candidacy. Amateur hour, the banner headline on FoxNews.com read Wednesday evening. Much hyped Ron DeSantis presidential announcement a disaster on Twitter. The networks homepage also featured a bright red crawl graphic that ran across the bottom of its website with the words PROGRAMMING NOTE: Want to actually see and hear Ron DeSantis? Tune into Fox News at 8 p.m. DeSantis was slated to sit with Fox host and former Republican congressman Trey Gowdy on Wednesday evening, immediately following his discussion with Musk. The Twitter Spaces event, the first of its kind, got off to a rocky start with audio and connectivity issues delaying the discussion by more than 20 minutes. Musk and moderator David Sacks, a fellow tech entrepreneur, could be heard on the feed saying so many people were joining the space that it was crashing the servers. At its highest point, the space had just more than half a million listeners, a number that pales in comparison to the nightly prime-time shows on Fox. Foxs 8 p.m. hour had for the last six years been hosted by controversial host Tucker Carlson, who the network ousted earlier this month a move that has resulted in the network experiencing a significant dip in ratings during that hour since. Former President Trump, who will take on DeSantis in the GOP primary and who has relentlessly attacked Fox in recent weeks over its coverage of the Florida governor, mocked the rocky rollout on Twitter Spaces in a Truth Social post Wednesday. Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH, the former president wrote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said no foreign power has ever tried to influence her as she sought to shake off accusations that her partys ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have influenced her policies. Most Read from Bloomberg She also criticized previous governments in Paris for increasing economic reliance on Russia, including through energy company Engie SAs participation in the construction of the controversial Nord Stream gas pipeline linking the country directly with Germany, I have never been the victim of any attempt to influence me, not even once, she said at a parliamentary hearing on foreign political interference on Wednesday. The investigating committee was set up last fall by Le Pens National Rally party in an effort to confront long-standing criticism over its ties to Russia that resurfaced after the invasion of Ukraine, just weeks before last years French presidential election. Its spearheaded by one of her most prominent lieutenants, Jean-Philippe Tanguy. The party has been battling accusations of financial links to the Kremlin since it took out a loan worth some 9.5 million ($10.2 million) from First Czech Russian Bank in 2014 that was taken over by Moscow-based aeronautics firm Aviazapchast JSC in 2016. Le Pen said French banks didnt want to do business at the time with her party, then called the National Front, due to concerns over damage to their brands. No Strings I signed a loan with a bank, not with Vladimir Putin, otherwise youve all signed a loan with Macron, she told lawmakers in a reference to the French president. She added that Russia used to be a member of the Council of Europe and that she wouldnt have agreed to borrow money if there were strings attached. Banks outside the European Union have been banned from financing French political parties since 2017. Last year, Le Pen obtained a 10.6 million loan from a Hungarian bank owned by an ally of Orban, the EU leader with the closest ties to Putin. Le Pens connections to Russia have hindered her efforts to form an alliance in the European Parliament as some far-right leaders in Italy and Poland have adopted critical stances toward Moscow and are wary about being closer to her. She previously said Crimea was never Ukrainian and opposed sanctions against Russia over the peninsula. On Wednesday, she said it became Russian after a referendum was held there. Le Pen has also expressed admiration for Putin, whom she visited in Moscow just weeks before the 2017 French election. In the past, she has called NATO, which the Russian president has sought to blame for his invasion of Ukraine, a warmonger organization and said France should leave its command structure. In April last year, she called for a rapprochement between the military alliance and Russia once the war ends, saying a strategic partnership would help prevent ties between Russia and China from deepening. To be sure, a pro-Russia sentiment traditionally transcends party politics in France and dates back to at least the 19th century, when Paris struck a political and military pact with the Russian empire. President Emmanuel Macron has been criticized by Eastern European allies for trying to keep communication lines open with the Kremlin and for saying Russia shouldnt be humiliated in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Le Pen has said Putin crossed a red line. Le Pens star has been rising in recent months, according to opinion polls, just as Macrons popularity has been hit by his decision to push through an increase in the retirement age despite months of widespread protests and strikes. Macron wont be allowed to run for a third consecutive mandate in 2027, when Le Pen is expected to make her fourth bid for the presidency. Earlier this month, the investigating committee held a hearing with former conservative prime minister and presidential candidate Francois Fillon. He also denied he was the subject of attempts to influence him and added that he was free to sell potted meat on Red Square if he wanted. He is a former board member at Russian petrochemical group Sibur Holding and state-controlled oil company Zarubezhbneft. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. PARIS (Reuters) - France on Thursday accused Iran of violating a U.N. Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal after it carried out a long-range ballistic missile test, which Paris said was worrying given "uninterrupted escalation" of Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran successfully test-launched a ballistic missile with a potential 2,000-km range on Thursday, state media said, the latest in ballistic missile tests and satellite launches. "These activities are all the more worrying in the context of the continuing escalation of Iran's nuclear programme", French foreign ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters at a daily briefing. U.N. Security Council resolution 2231 calls on Iran not to conduct any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, but the language is ambiguous, leaving it open to interpretation. Western officials say that although the launches go against 2231, they are not a violation of the core nuclear agreement between Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Western powers are particularly concerned because U.N. Security Council restrictions on missiles and related technologies last until October 2023 after which Iran is free to pursue its ballistic missile activity. Legendre's reference to the escalation of Iran's nuclear programme comes just 10 days before the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors meets in Vienna. "Iran's activities pose serious and increased non-proliferation risks without any credible civilian justification," she said. Ahead of March's board meeting, the IAEA and Iran said they had agreed to make progress on various issues, including a long-stalled IAEA inquiry into uranium particles found at three undeclared sites in Iran. They also agreed to re-install all extra monitoring equipment, such as surveillance cameras, at nuclear sites that was put in place under Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, but then removed last year as the deal unravelled following the U.S. withdrawal in 2018. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. It is unclear how much progress there has been and whether Western powers will decide to push for a resolution ordering Iran to cooperate more. "We expect Iran to respect its international obligations ... and carry out concrete and tangible progress before the Board of Governors meeting," Legendre said. (Reporting by John Irish, editing by Nick Macfie) The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Tuesday to withdraw a controversial resolution that would have created a community decency policy for the citya move that First Amendment experts are calling a recognition of free speech. The policy, proposed by Ward 1 Alderman Beverly Burger on April 11, sought to enact stricter penalties to groups or individuals who do anything deemed indecent in a public space, in order to promote public decency and maintain a family-friendly environment. The motion was tabled until Tuesday, where it was then withdrawn indefinitely after fellow aldermen expressed concerns about the implementation of the penalties, as well as the need for the resolution at all. Burger promised to bring it back sometime after the summer. Alderman Beverly Burger speaks at the March 28 Franklin board of aldermen meeting. The resolution defines "indecent" as any conduct that is not consistent with generally accepted standards of behavior and conduct, including but not limited to nudity, lewd or sexually suggestive behavior, indecent exposure, sexual acts, excessive and offensive intimate displays of affection. Violators of the proposal would be banned from using public city spaces for two years, in addition to any already-applicable state criminal laws. First Amendment experts, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Program Officer David King said he was pleased with the motions tabling following concerns about vague wording, along with the potential for First Amendment violations. Free expression is protected by the First Amendment, regardless of local government or community sensibilities, he said, in a statement following the vote. The people of Franklin, Tennessee and Americans everywhere know that local governments cant create policies to silence any speech they deem unacceptable. Franklins withdrawal of the proposed Community Decency Policy is an important recognition of free speech rights, and we hope it will serve as a reminder to other governments not to try to enact policy that violates the Constitution. FIRE confirmed that a letter-writing campaign was organized by their office after the April 11 board meeting, and hundreds of letters were sent in to the City of Franklin as a result. Franklin Aldermen disagree on resolutions purpose Burger stated multiple times that the resolution had nothing to do with the controversial and narrow approval of the Franklin Pride event despite the resolution being presented at the same meeting as the events permit hearing. Where it started: City leaders delay Franklin Pride vote, say community decency policy is forthcoming I am not targeting this (resolution) to any group, she said at the April 11 meeting. You might think so, but Im not. This came up a while back and just happened to come up in the same time as the Pride event. A crowed of people for and against the Franklin Pride festival arrive early at the Franklin Board of Alderman work session on April 11. Burger said the resolution is not intended to supersede state law, but rather add teeth to existing law. Alderman Jason Potts supported the resolution, but admitted that there had never been a violation of the sorts in the city. No one has been cited for city ordinance violation, no one has been cited against state law violations, no charges have been brought previously, he said. So if everyone is operating within the guidelines, maybe theres not an issue. Particular concern about the weaponization of the resolution was noted by multiple board members. I think we are creating a situation where were going to have people who are looking for reasons to (get people in trouble) whether it is or isnt wrong, Alderman Brandy Blanton said. All of the safeguards are already in place I dont see any reason for this. I think its going to create fear in festival organizers. Alderman Matt Brown expressed worry over the enforcement of the decency standard. I dont want (indecent) things in my community, either, he said. But the penalty is so broad, and the language is so broad, I just dont know how we would enforce this. It makes me nervous when we talk about things based on particular standpoints as long as they follow state law, we dont need this. There was some support for the proposal, however. Alderman Gabrielle Hanson, who has recently come under fire for her conspiratorial comments regarding the Covenant school shooting, agreed with Burger suggesting that gangbangers could take advantage of the current system, even though there have been no previously recorded violations. What we dont want are gangbangers regularly thinking theyre going to get by a $50 fine (from city court) and just go on to the next festival, she said. People do that, and when theyre young they do it even more. The USA Today Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 731-343-5212, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Franklin withdraws 'decency policy' amid First Amendment concerns Alex Cochran, Deseret News The baby formula shortage in the United States is largely over now, but aftershocks remain. And the Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether formula manufacturers teamed up illegally as they bid for state contracts to provide formula within the Women, Infants and Children program. WIC provides infant formula to low-income women at no cost, but states award contracts to specific formula manufacturers whose products can be purchased with WIC vouchers. Thats a move designed to save the program money, but it also proves lucrative for the manufacturers that receive the contracts. Besides bolstering sales, WIC-eligible formulas also get prime placement on store shelves so theyre easy to find and those formulas may also be more readily available than other brands because stores work to keep them in stock. Getting a WIC contract can be a big deal because FTC documents suggest more than half of infant formula sales are through the WIC program. Collusion in bidding for the WIC contracts is forbidden because the rules require competitive bids. If it happened, it may even have exacerbated the formula shortage that had parents nationwide scrambling to find ways to feed infants who could not be breastfed for reasons ranging from a mothers inability to produce adequate milk to allergies and medical conditions, among others. Specialty formulas were especially hard to find. The Wall Street Journal broke news of the probe Wednesday. It suggested that formula makers Abbott, Nestle and Reckitt Benckiser all companies frequently awarded WIC contracts had been asked for information. Both Nestle and Abbott have confirmed they got such a request, while Reckitt Benckiser told The Washington Post it doesnt comment on investigations but complies with regulatory agency requests as a matter of principle. The Post said those three manufacturers and Perrigo dominate 90% of the formula market. Abbott holds contracts in 32 states and Washington, D.C., while Reckitt is the parent company to Mead Johnson, which has contracts in a dozen states. Nestle contracts with six states, based on data taken from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The FTC has said the details of its probe are not being made public. Some of the back-and-forth, though, between Abbott and the commission is public. The FTC declined in April to limit the scope of the material it asked Abbott to provide, even as Abbott negotiated with the agency. Abbotts petition said much of the documentation being sought was irrelevant and included materials related to non-WIC activities and that it well predated the shortage, the information being sought dating back to 2016. Without modifications, these extremely broad non-WIC requests could be read to encompass virtually every document and email related to Abbotts infant nutrition businesses for the last seven years, which would be unduly burdensome, especially given that those materials have little or no relevance to the question being investigated, Abbott wrote. The petition said that Abbott is unaware of any factual basis to support the WIC-related investigation and staff have not identified any reason to believe that Abbott or any of its competitors have coordinated or colluded regarding any WIC contract. Related The company noted, however, that it was cooperating despite the significant burden and cost to the company, in order to reassure the FTC that the companys bids for WIC contracts are free of coordination or collusion. In denying Abbotts request, the commission last month ruled the material being asked for was relevant to the investigation and said Abbott didnt demonstrate that it was an undue burden or unreasonable. No shortage of probes Its not the only investigation launched in the wake of the formula shortage, which began in February 2022, amid the pandemic and its supply chain woes. Other agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, have said theyre looking into Abbott, which was a pivotal player in the crisis. As the Deseret News reported exhaustively at the time, the infant formula shortage began when four infants became ill and two died. They had consumed formula made at Abbotts Sturgis, Michigan, plant, which was the largest formula-making facility in the country. Though the illnesses were never directly tied to the plant, cronobacter sakazakii bacteria was found in the plant, which prompted inspectors to close it for a time until terms of a consent decree were met. Shortly after the plant reopened, it closed again briefly due to damage from a massive storm. Demographer Lyman Stone, of Demographic Intelligence, told the Deseret News amid the crisis that he believed less breastfeeding, panic buying and a fluctuating number of births during COVID-19 exacerbated the crisis. Efforts to end the shortage involved formula manufacturers here and abroad, federal government action to airlift tons of formula from other countries into the United States, a loosening of the WIC contracts so that products from manufacturers who did not hold the state contracts could also be purchased and more. At one point, President Joe Biden authorized the Defense Production Act to divert materials used to make formula to the manufacturers as needed to boost production. Abbott issued a significant formula recall, which combined with the production halt put a big dent in the supply of formula available on store shelves and in health care facilities. The FTC also launched a probe earlier. A year ago, the FTC issued a press release asking for public comment on attempts to deceive families and factors that may have contributed to the ongoing shortage of infant formula. The notice said the agency seeks information about the nature and prevalence of any deceptive, fraudulent or otherwise unfair business practices aimed at taking advantage of families during this shortage. Among other things, the agency was investigating possible price gouging and why the supply chains were so fragile. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September issued a report noting 15 ways its own response could be improved, noting inadequate and outdated technology, inadequate staff and training, and a confluence of system vulnerabilities hampered the agencys efforts, per the Deseret News. Fugitive found behind fake wall in home after ramming detectives car, Florida cops say The search for a man accused of intentionally ramming a patrol car took a strange turn when law enforcement officers found him hiding behind a make-shift wall in a Florida home. Video shows Ryan Lee Pope was shirtless and shoeless as U.S. Marshals led him from a single-family home on North Manatee Avenue in Arcadia, about 90 miles southeast of Tampa. He was visibly angry and lectured his captors about unnecessarily yanking him around. Investigators have not said what led them to search the single-story home, which is surrounded by a chain-link fence. Pope was found hiding from law enforcement agencies behind a make-shift wall in the home, the DeSoto County Sheriffs Office said in a Wednesday, May 24, news release. He now faces charges including aggravated battery, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing to elude and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Video shows Ryan Lee Pope was shirtless and shoeless as U.S. Marshals led him from a single-family home on North Manatee Avenue in Arcadia, about 90 miles southeast of Tampa. One deputy was injured May 23 when Polk put his car in reverse at a traffic stop and intentionally rammed a detectives patrol car, officials say. Pope then sped away, forcing a deputy to jump from the path of the vehicle, video shows. The identity of the injured deputy has not been released, but he has been discharged from a hospital and will recover, DeSoto County officials said. A manhunt revealed Popes vehicle crashed at an intersection north of Arcadia, leaving him on foot. One deputy was seen jumping out from in front of the suspects car as it sped away. The home where he was found was about 5 miles southeast of where the vehicle was abandoned. Investigators have not revealed Popes connection to the home. The manhunt occurred while Pope was out on bond for aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, fleeing from law enforcement and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, the sheriffs office said. Those charges were in connection to a May 3 physical disturbance that resulted in deputies chasing Pope as he drove a scooter all through downtown Arcadia, officials said. The chase ended when he crashed the scooter, and a search revealed he was carrying two handguns, the sheriffs office said. Deputy badly hurt by 19-year-old driver outside high school graduation, Florida cops say Deputy collapses and dies after disarming 18-year-old suspect, Florida sheriff says Driver fleeing deputies gets lost, ends up in marsh covered in mud, Florida cops say A staff member checks servers in Guizhou Information Park of China Telecom Cloud Computing in southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 9, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] Competition in China's cloud computing sector is intensifying as major Chinese cloud service providers have announced price reductions on multiple core cloud products, leading to a price war, industry experts said. The recent advances in artificial intelligence-powered large language models have also prompted the price cuts, they said, as more enterprises demand greater computing power despite slowing growth in the cloud market. JD Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Chinese tech company JD, vowed on Tuesday to provide cloud products covering computing, storage, networking and database at the lowest prices compared to domestic rivals. JD's move came after Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd last week unveiled plans to slash prices of some of its core cloud services by up to 40 percent from June 1. China Mobile, a telecom carrier, said the prices of some cloud products will be reduced by up to 60 percent for a limited period. Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing unit of Chinese tech behemoth Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, said in April that it was cutting the price of its core products by 15 to 50 percent, marking the biggest such reduction in the company's history. The price of its storage products will be slashed by up to 50 percent, as part of a broader push to expand its user base and improve its share of the cloud computing market, the company said. Charlie Dai, vice-president and research director at consultancy Forrester, said a new wave of generative AI is bringing in new opportunities to digitally transform every industry in China and overseas. "The price adjustment tactics of major cloud service providers in China for core products not only effectively help enterprises reduce costs and further accelerates digital innovation, but are also essential to power the revenue engine of these cloud vendors for sustainable business growth," Dai said. According to market research firm International Data Corp, the revenue of China's public cloud services market reached $18.84 billion in the second half of 2022. The scale of IaaS, or Infrastructure as a Service, a public cloud computing segment, witnessed a growth of 15.7 percent year-on-year during the period versus a 27.3 percent year-on-year increase in the first half of 2022. Alibaba Cloud took the top spot with a 31.9 percent market share in the second half of last year, while Huawei Cloud ranked second, accounting for 12.1 percent share in China's public cloud market, followed by China Telecom's cloud services and Tencent Cloud, which had 10.3 percent and 9.9 percent of the market share, respectively. Cui Tingting, research manager at IDC China, said the intense competition in China's cloud market has forced leading cloud service companies to further seek differentiation while offering products and quickly adjust their business models. "The price cuts will have a short-term impact on profit margins of public cloud service providers. However, in the long run, the move will lower the cost of enterprises to access cloud services, and promote the upgrading of cloud technology, thus giving a strong boost to the rapid growth of cloud computing market," Cui added. Alibaba said more than 200,000 enterprises have requested beta testing for Tongyi Qianwen, the company's AI large language model, a potential rival to OpenAI's ChatGPT. Cloud computing serves as the best way to promote the application of AI on a large scale, said Zhang Yong, chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group and CEO of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, adding that the company is committed to making computing and AI services more accessible and inclusive for enterprises and developers. Revenue from Alibaba's cloud business reached 18.58 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) during the first quarter of the year, a decline of 2 percent year-on-year, partly caused by delays in the delivery of hybrid cloud projects due to a resurgence of COVID-19 in January, the company said. A fund to help rehabilitate prisoners has sat empty for 7 years. Lawmakers are finally moving to fund it When voters approved sweeping criminal justice reforms seven years ago to reduce Oklahoma's prison population, they also created a fund specifically meant to help people get treatment and stay away from prison. The fund has been empty this whole time. This week, lawmakers finally agreed to put money into it. Senate Bill 27X transfers $12.5 million to the County Community Safety Investment Fund, which was created "for the sole purpose of providing funds to counties to provide community rehabilitative programming." That programming would have included mental health and substance abuse services, which are inexorably linked with crime and incarceration. "I feel like this is a fair and good place for us to be able to start," said Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah. "I really feel great that we have finally been able to put this into a (State Question) 781 lockbox." More: This vacant fixer-upper could become mental health unit for county jail For those in the trenches of criminal justice reform, this money is being called a paradigm shift in how Oklahoma handles mental health and substance abuse treatment. Instead of being reactive by locking people up, the state is being more proactive by focusing on treatment and services to make sure Oklahomans are healthy, said Kris Steele, one of the most instrumental figures in the state's criminal justice reform efforts. "There is a tremendous need to build infrastructure and expand services for mental health care and substance misuse treatment services," said Steele, executive director of TEEM, The Education and Employment Ministry. "I really think that in short order, these investments will be transformational for those communities." Drug court participants line the halls on the fifth floor of the Oklahoma County Courthouse before Judge Kenneth Stoner opens the doors to his courtroom. Funding to help rehabilitate Oklahoma prisoners seven years in the making State Question 780 was meant to reduce Oklahoma's prison population by reducing the number of crimes eligible for a felony conviction. By reducing the prison population, the state began saving money. Its companion, State Question 781, should have taken that money and reinvested it into community treatment centers, drug courts and other diversion programs. Lawmakers have said there were problems finding out exactly how much money the state saved by not incarcerating so many people. In 2021, the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Oklahoma Policy Institute came up with a funding formula that calculated the states prison population savings, according to a report by Oklahoma Watch. Oklahoma is between $30 million and $70 million behind in funding, said Damion Shade, executive director of Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform. Broken Trust: How the Oklahoma County jail leadership failed those it sought to protect "While we're really grateful to see that investment, we know that $12.5 million is basically just a down payment on what Oklahoma voters are owed, and what these communities and counties are owed," Shade said, adding that he hopes legislators try to find more money next year. Steele noted that even though the state never funded State Question 781, lawmakers have found ways to inject more money into mental health and drug abuse services. "In a perfect world, we would account for and invest in the savings that have been achieved over the past seven years. But we've got to start somewhere," Steele said. The funds will be managed by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Local communities will be able to apply for funding as the money is distributed throughout the state. Shade said he's spoken to community organizations that are already making plans. How the allotted funds will help those in Oklahoma jails In Oklahoma County, for example, Shade said the county's drug court is overwhelmed with the number of people who need help avoiding prison time for drug offenses. The court needs to hire another judge and staff to handle the demand. "One of the first things that should happen with these funds is programs that are working well, that just need more manpower and resources, the funds should start coming into those programs relatively quickly," he said. Marilyn Davidson, state director for the Right on Crime initiative, said imprisoned Oklahomans don't get the treatment they need and the options outside prison aren't sufficient. Living Hell: Life inside the Oklahoma County jail, one of the nation's deadliest "We can't put them in treatment right now because there's not enough to meet the needs in the state of Oklahoma," Davidson said. "I don't think it will ever be enough. But the need in our state is so big and we're seeing it grow." Shade also cited the importance of funds reaching rural Oklahoma. Legislation adopted this year would let smaller counties band together in ways that will most efficiently provide services to people in rural parts of the state. As communities pitch pilot programs, the best ideas can be mirrored in other locales or expanded across the state. "There are counties that are going to figure out programs that move the needle on these persistent social programs," Shade said. "This is the moment we could change the trajectory of the state. We really could have generational sea change in Oklahoma these next few years if we make investments the right way." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma lawmakers approve money for prisoner rehabilitation fund The G7 summit was held in Hiroshima on May 19-22 Ukraine is preparing its counteroffensive and the hope is that it will be successful. But if Russia can be persuaded to come to peace talks then there is a way that Ukraine can hold the counteroffensive and save many lives on both sides. The G7 built a message that the West will stand by Ukraine economically, militarily and by giving Zelensky a platform at Hiroshima to reach out to the Global South Russia also now faces increasing international isolation. Read also: Ukraine needs guarantees from at least two nuclear powers before NATO membership, former minister says The message also was that sanctions on Russia will be tightened - and the reach out to the global south will further facilitate that. So furthering this war will just make Russias situation worse - much worse. And negotiate now - or else. The green light for the supply of F16s to Ukraine was also the last red line crossed suggesting that Ukraine will now get the full conventional range of capability to win the war and secure the peace. Another message to Moscow. But also that is the assurance to Ukraine that it can head to negotiations with Moscow from a position of strength - and it will be less dependent on agreement on future NATO membership if it is able to defend itself because it now has access to the full range of conventional military capability. Moscow now faces the choice - negotiate or face inevitable defeat. This material was first published on Mr.AshsSubstack. We are republishing it here with permission. 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 Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito The parents of a US blogger who authorities say was strangled by her boyfriend have released a letter from the alleged killer's mother in which she talks about burying a body. Gabby Petito's family are suing the parents of her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, for emotional distress. On Wednesday a judge ruled the Petitos could include Roberta Laundrie's letter to her son in their civil lawsuit. The death of Gabby Petito, 22, in 2021 drew international attention. Laundrie shot himself after his girlfriend was found strangled in a Wyoming campground. His parents - who have not been charged with any crime in connection with Petito's death - had asked the judge to keep the letter out of the case. In the note, Mrs Laundrie writes to her son: "If you're in jail I will bake a cake and put a file in it. "If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags." She wrote "burn after reading" on the envelope that contained the letter. In a previously filed court document, Mrs Laundrie said the letter merely contained "quirky" references to her son's favourite childhood books. She also said she had written the letter before her son left on his cross-country trip with Petito. But the Petito family said in a statement to the BBC on Thursday that a "reasonable inference is it was written after Gabby Petito was murdered". In court on Wednesday, CNN reports that Petito family attorney Patrick Reilly said of the letter: "Those are criminal acts, by the way, that Roberta Laundrie has said she would commit." Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Danielle Brewer declined to issue an order blocking the use of the letter in the case. Last year, the Petito and Laundrie families reached a $3m (2.4m) settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Petito's parents. The couple had been documenting their cross-country road trip on social media following their engagement before Laundrie returned alone to his family home in North Port, Florida, in September 2021. Her body was discovered near Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park later that month. Laundrie's body was found a month later in a Florida nature reserve near his parents' home, the FBI said. The letter was discovered by investigators. Petito's disappearance and the aftermath of the investigation captured the interest of US internet sleuths. Gabby Petito's parents blasted Roberta Laundrie a day after the release of a highly anticipated letter she sent to her son Brian, the only suspect in Petito's strangling death at a Wyoming campsite in August 2021. "Roberta Laundrie has issued a self-serving statement and released the Burn After Reading letter after Judge Danielle Brewer yesterday denied her Motion for a Protective Order to preclude a release of the letter to the Petito family," Petito's parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, said in a statement through their attorney Pat Reilly Thursday. The two sides are at odds over when the letter was written and whether it is of evidentiary value in a civil lawsuit between the families. "The letter was not released to the press by us. It is interesting that she would do this now, given that she has resisted providing it for the last five to six months, she asked for a protective order, asked for a confidentiality agreement in the afternoon of May 24, 2023, and then released it later that day," Petito and Schmidt continued. "Attorney Bertolino on behalf of the Laundries also released Brian Laundries confession last summer within an hour after it was provided to him by the FBI." GABBY PETITO CASE: BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S MOTHER PROMISED SON SHOVEL, GARBAGE BAG, JAILHOUSE CAKE IN LOVE LETTER Christopher and Roberta Laundrie make their way through the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on Oct. 20, 2021. Inset: The front of an envelope which contained a letter Roberta wrote to her son, Brian Laundrie. The Laundries argue it was created before their son left on an ill-fated road trip with Petito and had nothing to do with her murder. The Petitos counter that it was written after Petito's death and that it is evidence the Laundries knew about the crime before her body was found. Both sides told the court Wednesday they opposed a potential confidentiality agreement and asked the judge for a ruling on whether it should be disclosed. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The judge said it should be, and copies of the letter were shared with at least three outlets, including Fox News Digital, Wednesday after the judge ordered the Laundries to share it with Petito's parents. "We appreciate Judge Brewers ruling in which she recognized the importance of the Burn After Reading letter as a potential source of evidence to be used at trial against the Laundries," Petito's parents' statement continued. "The letter is undated, and while Roberta Laundrie has suggested it was written before Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito left on their trip, a reasonable inference is that it was written after Gabby Petito was murdered, and is evidence that the Laundries and Attorney Bertolino were aware of Gabby Petitos demise when the statement at issue was released on September 14, 2021. We look forward to having a jury determine when the letter was written at the time of trial." GABBY PETITO LAWSUIT: HEARING ON ROBERTA LAUNDRIE'S BURN AFTER READING LETTER TO SON A North Port detective informs Chris and Roberta Laundrie that human remains were discovered in the search for their son at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on Oct. 20, 2021. Roberta Laundrie broke her silence about the case Wednesday in a statement to Fox News Digital after the letter was made public. The letter revealed she promised her late son a shovel and garbage bags. "I just want you to remember I will always love you and I know you will always love me. You are my boy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing can or ever will divide us no matter what we do, or where we go or what we say - we will always love each other. If you're in jail I will bake a cake and put a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags," she wrote. "If you fly to the moon, I will be watching the skies for your re-entry. If you say you hate my guts, I'll get new guts. Remember that love is a verb not a noun. It's not a thing it's not words. It is actions. Watch people's actions to know if they love you - not their words." The letter was made public after a hearing in the civil lawsuit brought by Petito's parents against Chris and Roberta Laundrie and their attorney Steve Bertolino. Through attorney Matt Luka, Roberta Laundrie told Fox News Digital that she "truly loved" her son. "The letter to Brian was written prior to Gabby and Brian leaving my home for their trip," she said, in her first public remarks about the case since the saga began. "Previously, I submitted an affidavit to the court for very limited purposes but that is not the whole story. Now that the letter has been shared, I ask that you read it in its entirety, and understand that the letter contains other phrases besides those highlighted by Pat Reilly for sensationalism and to bolster his case." GABBY PETITO TIMELINE Gabby Petito's parents, their lawyer and attorneys for the Laundrie family and Steve Bertolino in court on Wednesday, May 24, during a hearing in their civil lawsuit against the parents of their daughter's suspected killer, Brian Laundrie. GABBY PETITO'S PARENTS ADD ATTORNEY STEVEN BERTOLINO TO LAWSUIT AGAINST BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S FAMILY "I truly loved my son, and simply wanted to convey to him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. I am sure people use phrases all the time to express to their loved ones the depths of their love. Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in no way related to Gabby. Please read the entire letter before you believe the hype put out by Pat Reilly." After months of disputes over the letter, Judge Brewer scheduled the hearing for Wednesday afternoon. The judge also considered motions from the defense to dismiss the case but said her decision on those would come at a later date. Gabby Petito's parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, in a Florida courtroom on Wednesday, May 24, during a hearing in their civil lawsuit against the parents of their daughter's suspected killer, Brian Laundrie. "While I used words that seem to have a connection with Brian's actions and his taking of Gabby's life, I never would have fathomed the events that unfolded months later between Brian and Gabby would reflect the words in my letter," Roberta Laundrie wrote in an affidavit filed in a Sarasota court in March. GABBY PETITO'S PARENTS ADD ATTORNEY STEVEN BERTOLINO TO LAWSUIT AGAINST BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S FAMILY A central claim in the civil lawsuit is that the Laundries and their attorney, Bertolino, were aware of Petito's death at the time of a Sept. 14, 2021 public statement on what was at the time a missing person investigation. Bertolino downplayed the letter's significance to the case Thursday. "Just ask yourself if there would be any truth to Brian flying to the moon and Roberta waiting for his reentry? Or would there be any truth to Roberta taking out her guts and getting new guts?" he said. "If you do not believe those two sentiments to have any truth, why would you think the prior two sentiments would be any less facetious?" The Sept. 14 statement reads, in part, "On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is re-united with her family." Her remains would be discovered on Sept. 19 at a campsite near Jackson, Wyoming, where she was last seen alive. Brian Laundrie allegedly killed her around Aug. 28. Laundrie drove home to Florida in Petito's van and arrived at his parents' house on Sept. 1. Then the family went camping, and the lawsuit alleges that the parents became aware that their son had killed her. Schmidt reported Petito missing on Sept. 11, and Brian Laundrie declined to cooperate with investigators. By Sept. 13, he had vanished. Brian Laundrie poses in an Instagram photo. He was the former fiance of Gabby Petito and the only suspect in her death after her remains were uncovered at a campsite the couple shared in the Bridger-Teton National Forest north of Jackson, Wyoming. He was found on Oct. 20 dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and severely decomposed after spending weeks undiscovered in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park near his parents' home, according to the FBI. In a handwritten confession found near his remains, first published by Fox News Digital, Brian Laundrie declared, " I ended her life. " "I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made," he wrote. "I panicked. I was in shock." California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took down Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) with a throwback to one of her bonkers conspiracy theories after the Republican criticized Target for having forcefully exposed children to Pride Month merchandise. The two sparred on Twitter after Newsom criticized Target for removing some of its Pride Month merchandise due to conservative backlash, a move that critics say shows the company caving to bullies and a hateful few. CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage. This isnt just a couple stores in the South. There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country, Newsom warned. Wake up America. This doesnt stop here. Youre black? Youre Asian? Youre Jewish? Youre a woman? Youre next. CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage. This isnt just a couple stores in the South. There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country. Wake up America. This doesnt stop here. https://t.co/1vRgukaT0g Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 24, 2023 In response to Newsom, Greene said the gay community is not under attack before falsely claiming that the retail giant was forcing children in the store to see tuck-friendly kids clothing, a claim debunked by The Associated Press. Newsom fired back at the congresswoman with a wild conspiracy theory she once spewed on her Facebook page. Are you the space laser person? asked Newsom, citing Greenes theory that solar energy harvested in outer space sparked the 2018 Camp fire in his home state. Are you the space laser person? https://t.co/vOeTWV4oty Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 25, 2023 Greene has tried to distance herself from the theory, which links the Rothschild banking family often the subject of antisemitic conspiracy theories to the fires. In an interview with a Georgia reporter last year, the Republican replied that she did not know the family has been the center of such theories dating back to the 1800s. Im fully against antisemitism. Youre mixing two things together. Youre accusing me of something I did not do, and then youre trying to blame me for antisemitism. You are such a liar. You need to stop, Greene, who has been criticized for antisemitism in the past, told the reporter. Related... Anniversary of George Floyd's killing: Changes were made, but short of 'reckoning' on racial justice Tributes are displayed on the three-year anniversary of George Floyd's death at George Floyd Square, Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the fervent protests that erupted around the world, looked to many observers like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. For more than nine minutes, a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of Floyd, a Black man, who gasped, I cant breathe, echoing Eric Garner's last words in 2014. Video footage of Floyd's May 25, 2020, murder was so agonizing to watch that demands for change came from across the country. But in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, economic uncertainty and a divisive U.S. presidential election, 2020 ended without the kind of major police reforms that many hoped, and others feared, would come. Then, 2021 and 2022 also failed to yield much progress. Now, three years since Floyds murder, proponents of federal actions such as banning chokeholds and changing the so-called qualified immunity protections for law enforcement still await meaningful signs of change. The beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long it could take. Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, said during a recent press conference convened by a Black Lives Matter collective that she sees no evidence of a racial reckoning. I dont play with words like reckoning, Pressley said. That needs to be something of epic proportion. And we certainly have not seen a response to the lynching, the choking, the brutality, (and) the murder of Black lives. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS? Soon after Floyds murder, Minneapolis adopted a number of changes, including bans on chokeholds and neck restraints, and requirements that police try to stop fellow officers from using improper force. Minnesota lawmakers approved statewide police accountability packages in 2020 and in 2021, as well as tight restrictions on no-knock warrants this month. The city is still awaiting the results of a federal investigation into whether its police engaged in a "pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. A similar investigation by the state Department of Human Rights led to what it called a court-enforceable settlement agreement in March to revamp policing in the city. The federal investigation could lead to a similar but separate agreement with the city. Police in several other cities already operate under such oversight for civil rights violations. We are shifting the culture of our police department to ensure that our officers strengthen and hold the trust of our entire community, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement Thursday. There were immediate cries after Floyd's murder to defund the police and instead fund public housing and other services. But a ballot measure that had roots in that movement failed, even in some heavily Black neighborhoods. An AP review of police funding found that some municipalities elsewhere made modest cuts that fell far short of activists calls. WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNEAPOLIS THIS WEEK? More than 100 people gathered Thursday night at George Floyd Square, the corner where Floyd died. The event to remember Floyd included music and dancing, and a candlelight vigil was planned. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara stopped by and talked with people in the crowd at one point, raising his fist in solidarity. Earlier in the day, hundreds of flowers and signs swayed in the wind between towering statues of fists at the square. Kendrick White and Georgio Wright, two Black men, said they visit the site every day and lead pilgrimage guides or tours to spread awareness about what happened. About 20 high school students and teachers from California were in their group Thursday. Lee Fertig, head of school at The Nueva School in the Bay area community of San Mateo, said they wanted to see how the community is rebuilding. Gov. Tim Walz declared Thursday George Floyd Remembrance Day in Minnesota, proclaiming, "True justice for George Floyd will come only through real, systemic change to prevent acts like this from happening again." WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OFFICERS? Derek Chauvin, the white officer who killed Floyd, and the three other officers who failed to stop him, are all in prison. Chauvin was sentenced in state court to 22 1/2 years for second-degree murder. Two of the three other officers pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter and received shorter terms, while the third was convicted of that count by a judge and awaits sentencing. All four of the officers were also convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER PROTESTS? Around the world, protests against racial violence and police brutality erupted after Floyd's murder, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement. Videos circulated on social media of U.S. police using tear gas and less-lethal munitions like rubber bullets, fueling calls for accountability, which so far has largely come in the form of civil settlements. New York City found 146 officers had committed misconduct at protests, including one officer who drove a car into protesters. Independent reviews in Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Los Angeles also found those departments had mishandled their responses. In some cities, a handful of officers were fired. Some faced criminal charges: In Austin, Texas, 19 officers were indicted. Few have been convicted. Minneapolis has agreed to millions of dollars in settlements with people who alleged they were victims of excessive police force during unrest that followed Floyds killing, which included the burning of a police station. Few officers were disciplined. WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL? In 2020, federal legislation called the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act showed signs of promise. It would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, like the one that enabled Louisville police to kill Breonna Taylor. It would also create a database listing officers who were disciplined for gross misconduct, among other measures. The House passed it in 2021. But the Senate failed to reach a consensus. Last year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that applied key elements of the bill to federal law officers. On Thursday, Biden renewed his call for Congress to act to bring real and lasting change at the state and local levels. I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it, he said in a statement, adding that he will fight for police accountability and work with both parties to reach solutions. Meanwhile, Pressley, the Massachusetts congresswoman, has been promoting the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, a measure she has reintroduced every year since 2020. WHAT ABOUT THE FLOYD FAMILY? Over the last three years, George Floyd's family members have appeared at rallies and spoken out against police violence. Within days of his brother's death, Philonise Floyd testified at a congressional hearing about police reform. While relatives and reform advocates called for legislation changes, George Floyds youngest daughter, Gianna Floyd, met Biden at the White House in 2021. A photo of a Marine holding the door for the 7-year-old went viral. New York City-based Terrence Floyd, who became an activist after his brother's murder, planned to hold the third-annual memorial event at a Harlem church on Thursday evening. He has supported get-out-the-vote efforts and promoted music paying tribute to his brother. You have to have the faith that it will happen, because it didnt happen overnight for Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. It didnt happen overnight for Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson," he said about meaningful social change. You can't expect it to happen overnight for us, but it will happen. ___ Morrison reported from New York. Associated Press writers Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia, Colleen Long in Washington and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis contributed to this report. AP photographer Abbie Parr also contributed from Minneapolis. The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Photo illustration: Jack Forbes/Yahoo News; photos: Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images, Mario Tama/Getty Images, Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Whats happening Thursday marks the three-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, the 46-year-old man who died after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin drove his knee into the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes until Floyds once animated body became limp. In the weeks and months following the killing, which galvanized millions across the world, U.S. companies pledged billions to combat racial justice and invest in Black-owned businesses, universities promised new facilities to highlight their commitment to ending systemic racism and law enforcement departments committed to reform. However, three years later, critics question how much real progress has been made. I think there was a lot of smoke and mirrors in the aftermath of George Floyd being murdered, Nekima Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer, activist and longtime Minneapolis resident, told Yahoo News. A lot of companies have not followed through on their commitment, while others have come through, but low-income Black folks continue to get the low end of the stick. We didnt see the resources trickle into our community. The lightning rod moment came at a time when America found itself in transition. Just months into a pandemic that shuttered Americans into their homes, video of the incident captured by a bystander of Floyd, who was Black, and Chauvin, who is white, quickly went viral, setting off shockwaves of anger and widespread calls for change across the country. Upwards of 26 million people around the U.S. participated in racial justice protests as pundits and politicians from opposite ends of the spectrum from Fox News Sean Hannity to MSNBCs Joy Reid came together to condemn what was seen on the video. Three years later, the country finds itself again in transition. Many are gearing up for another contentious presidential election season as the country readjusts to what life looks like with the COVID-19 pandemic in the rearview. This comes as police departments across the country struggle to retain officers and many Black Americans, particularly Black business owners, accuse companies of not fulfilling their promises, using the racial justice issue for good optics while doing little to improve the lives of Black Americans. President Biden on Thursday said Floyd's murder was a sobering reminder of the immediacy needed to address challenges across institutions in America. "George Floyds murder exposed for many what Black and Brown communities have long known and experienced that we must make a whole of society commitment to ensure that our Nation lives up to its founding promise of fair and impartial justice for all under the law," Biden said in a statement. The folks who were in George Floyds economic class did not receive the support nor police reform they expected and they continue to see lack of access, especially upward mobility, Armstrong said. Its a big part of the problem, but its an American problem. We just see a perpetuation of the same thing happening over and over again. There have been some gains, but not enough that have addressed the underlying issues that led to the murder of George Floyd as well as other Black men, women and children around the country. Why theres debate Despite the unity that coalesced through thousands of protests for racial justice in the last few years, critics question whether real gains were achieved for the country. According to data from management consulting giant McKinsey, U.S. companies pledged about $340 billion to "fight racial injustice" from May 2020 to October 2022, but at least 80% of that funding is difficult to track. Other estimates found that 271 U.S. corporations pledged $67 billion towards racial equity, but only $652 million of those funds had actually been disbursed by the start of 2022, according to Creative Investment Research (CIR), an economic research firm that has tracked diversity investing for decades. After the initial excitement around the corporate pledges, they basically have petered out, CIR chief executive William Michael Cunningham told Financial Times. They havent really done anything that would lead one to believe that they are committed, with some exceptions. There has been some reform in police departments. Minneapolis police banned the controversial no-knock warrants and limited pretextual stops. Elsewhere in the country, crisis response teams were launched in San Francisco, the New York City Police Department ended qualified immunity and more than two dozen states addressed their use-of-force policies. But many feel that progress overall has been minimal, as evidenced by officers leaving the field in record numbers, in addition to the wave of diversity roles disappearing across corporate America. A report from Revelio Labs, a company that uses data to analyze workforce dynamics and trends, found that the attrition rate for diversity, equity and inclusion roles was 33% at the end of 2022, compared to 21% for non-DEI roles. I always say that it is so easy to make public statements and commitments because no one will eventually check if youre committed to the things that you committed to, Reyhan Ayas, a senior economist at Revelio Labs, told NBC News. As we are observing a turning of that tide, I think its very timely that we actually look into companies to see if they have kept up with those big statements they made. Still, some activists urge against ignoring the progress made since 2020 even if those gains seem small. "It did spark different thought within individuals, and even though the thought isn't coming to fruition in the immediate, I really do believe it inspired a young generation of leaders that are building the foundations of creating mass change in the future, Brooklyn Councilman Chi Osse told CBS New York. Whats next Community members and organizations have organized a three-day festival called Rise & Remember for the Minneapolis region over the next three days that will feature panels, workshops and speakers to honor the life and legacy of Floyd. Event organizer Janelle Austin says the festival aims to maintain the momentum towards a push for justice. Year 3 is typically the time where youve got politicians and corporations who want people to forget so that we can go back to business as usual, and were essentially taking a stance and saying were not going to allow that to happen, Austin told the Star Tribune. It is literally in our mission and vision and purpose as an organization to ensure that people do not forget. And so were coming in strong. Floyds brother, Philonise Floyd, and his sister-in-law, Keeta Floyd, established the Philonise and Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, to advocate for police accountability and racial justice. Its not about color always, Floyds sister-in-law, Keeta Floyd, said to the Real Network News. Its about a human life. The humanity of it all. For Armstrong, this years anniversary is about pressing on. We are still in a healing phase as a community, she said. I think we are trying to figure out the best way forward in light of a devastating event. Earlier this month, Floyds life and legacy was celebrated in a Pulitzer Prize-winning book, His Name Is George Floyd, co-authored by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa. Perspectives People are more open to talking about race relations The conversation is different. People are more open, especially white America, about talking about race relations. People always ask, 'Do you think it's getting better? George Floyd's aunt, Angela Harrelson, to AFP We will never forget Floyd It's important to commend the beautiful people who will not rest because of a promise they made three years ago to ensure it will never happen again. There are organizers and community members. There are unnamed folks whove quietly worked in the background. There are allies and supporters. There are visitors from around the world who will see the Guthrie Theater and Mall of America but only after they witness this city's wound. They are the reasons, three years later, we will never forget Floyd as the interrogation of injustice and its benefactors continues. The forces that might attempt to erase the George Floyd Square or minimize Floyd's memory or urge everyone to just move on will not win because of their determination. Myron Medcalf, Star Tribune Civil rights leaders urge passage of namesake act History has proven that more police does not equate to safer streets. If police officers are to truly 'protect and serve' all communities, fundamental change is crucial. That's why the NAACP continues to urge Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in service of the countless Black people and communities who continue to be terrorized by law enforcement. Innocent lives are at risk and imminent action is a must. Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, to the National Urban League News. Black people have been working to drive change A lot of people will say we haven't made progress in the past few years, but that would be a disservice to the millions of Black people who've been working to drive change. Black and Brown people have always done for themselves what systems wont. We consistently rely on ourselves and our communities to launch and sustain our businesses, our dreams, and our careers. Everyone else is always just catching up. Alex Steinman, Black business owner, to Inc.com Organizations want progress Im optimistic because I consult with clients every day. I know first-hand that there are organizations that truly want to see progress made. But collectively weve got to make sure that were encouraging those organizations to encourage their peers to work with them to advance this work. Chris Metzler, SVP corporate DEI and environmental, social and governance strategies at the National Urban League, to NBC News The problem is getting worse Killings by police have not only continued, but theyve also increased. According to Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit research group that tracks killings by officers, police killed 1,176 people in 2022 the highest number recorded since the initiative began a decade ago. The problem is actively getting worse, yet leaders at every level of government are failing to rein in the absolute worst abuses by police despite clear evidence that they must do so. Jamil Ragland, CT News Junkie Is there a topic youd like to see covered in The 360? Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com. Credit: Photo illustration: Jack Forbes/Yahoo News; photos: Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images, Mario Tama/Getty Images, Maddie Meyer/Getty Images In "Kandahar," Gerard Butler (right) plays an undercover CIA operative stuck deep in hostile territory in Afghanistan who must fight his way out with the help of his Afghan translator (Navid Negahban). Kandahar is a dumb movie with lots of smart ideas. It is populated with the usual gaggle of operatives, mercenaries and mustached villains who nonetheless contain informed, world-weary personalities that betray cliches. While most Hollywood products keep their politics vague, this film dives in head-first with an articulated point-of-view. It might not be the pure action spectacle some crave, but I am here to report a surprisingly satisfying viewing experience. The film opens in Iran, just outside a nuclear facility that some nameless Langley bureaucrat says is operating outside of nonproliferation treaties. Which, I mean, we all know its a little more complicated than that! Anyway, Tom Harris (Gerard Butler) is on the ground to make sure this enrichment plant goes offline for good. It works, but little does he know his cover is about to be blown as well. Tom is one of those characters Butler is getting pretty good at playing. Someone unassuming, who seems like a regular Joe, but has that certain set of skills making him indispensable in a rough situation. Or lots of rough situations. No joke, this is the second Butler film of 2023 where someone watching from afar makes the observation: I like him. This guy is good. (Despite this, I would say the other film Plane is also good and something you should seek out this weekend.) Certainly Butler appeals to the action market. While he is ruggedly handsome, Butler has a filled-in face with bags under his eyes and no shortage of wrinkles. Theres little vanity that comes with these performances and it makes him relatable. More: Newest take on 'Carmen' never hits operatic heights Not to mention his characters always have some distressed domestic situation brewing. Toms wife wants a divorce When are you going to sign these papers? he is asked over the phone and his daughter expects him to be home from this covert mission for graduation. But his handler wants him to go back to Iran, via Afghanistan, for one quick mission. We even get one of those funny scenes where the handler throws stacks of hundred-dollar bills on a table and says you just tell me where to stop! Off to Afghanistan he goes, where he learns his identity has leaked to the world. Now paired with translator Mohammed (Navid Negahban), they must abandon their mission and get to the titular city in order to be transported out of the country. Our spy thriller now hits the road. No small task, as it's explained that the pull-out of American troops turned the country into a Wild West of Pakis, Russians, Chinese, and anyone else trying to make a mark. The Iranians show up looking for revenge. A Pakistani intelligence agent is on the trail with the intent of selling the two to the highest bidder. The newly-installed Taliban wants to assist anyone willing to grease the wheels of corruption. A mad-cap dash with shoot-outs, explosions, and car chases ensues. In between all this red meat, we learn about the characters histories and philosophies. Mohammed, in essence, becomes the Afghanistan Everyman left behind by the West. The audience hears of his sacrifices, losses and anger. Butlers face takes the emotional brunt and we see the pain in his eyes. He, in turn, becomes a stand-in for White Guilt. More: Mid-Missouri novelist Daren Dean's latest travels 'Roads' to heaven and hell Kandahar doesnt seek blame. Not necessarily. The film is smart enough to know Americas prolonged efforts to stabilize Afghanistan were a bit of a folly. That the Taliban were playing a waiting game and it was only a matter of time. That parts of the world are going to reject any liberal democracy hoisted upon them. The script says so much not as moral proclamations, but reflections of the lives of the characters. Wars of the past were fought for spoils, Tom says at one point. Modern wars are not meant to be won at all. A provocative comment Im not totally sure Ive worked out in my head (I have some theories and anyone can buy me a beer to go over them); but Ive not stopped thinking about it since my screening. If anything, its not the pro-war jingoism you see in a lot of films like this. The ending of Kandahar plays like wish fulfillment, seeking to redeem the abandonment of the Afghan people to the forces of violence and corruption. This would feel trite if the film had not done such good character work. By the time the winding road to Kandahar is reached, we have come to know our mismatched team and the audience cares about the outcome. In a modern culture where films sacrifice themselves for over-the-top action at the expense of story and emotion, this film feels like a welcomed exception. If the idea of a Gerard Butler action flick doesnt sound like your thing, give Kandahar a shot anyway. Its the type of smart Hollywood product deserving your support. James Owen is the Tribunes film columnist. In real life, he is a lawyer and executive director of energy policy group Renew Missouri. A graduate of Drury University and the University of Kansas, he created Filmsnobs.com, where he co-hosts a podcast. He enjoyed an extended stint as an on-air film critic for KY3, the NBC affiliate in Springfield, and now regularly guests on Columbia radio station KFRU. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Gerard Butler action flick 'Kandahar' is summer's first surprise A Gibson man is the latest defendant to be sentenced in connection with a widespread case involving multiple defendants who schemed to defraud a trucking company and their insurers through staged traffic accidents in New Orleans. Larry Martin Picou, 57, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to pay more than $200,000 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Duane Evans said Picou entered a plea of guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud. According to court documents, Picou falsely claimed he was a passenger in a car struck by a tractor-trailer on May 11, 2017. The case file provides a detailed look at how such conspiracies are accomplished, noting that this case was cracked as part of a law enforcement effort dubbed Operation Sideswipe, which led to more than 50 people being charged altogether, including an attorney. Additional attorneys alleged to have been involved with the conspiracy remain under investigation, in connection with hundreds of crashes in the New Orleans area between 2015 and 2017. In fact, Picouwith others to intentionally collide with a tractor-trailer in the area of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road in New Orleans, a statement from Evans says. After the intentional collision, Picou and his other co-conspirators made a false police report, lied in depositions, and filed fraudulent lawsuits falsely claiming that the tractor-trailer was at fault. Court papers related to the case state that an acquaintance identified as Joseph Brewerton had asked Picou if he was interested in participating in the scheme to make some money and that Picou agreed to do so. Co-defendants identified as David Brown, Gilda Henderson and Latrell Johnson also agreed, as well as a defendant identified as Damien Labeaud. Authorities called Labeaud a ringleader in the case,. He entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in 2020 and will be sentenced in June. The case built by prosecutors utilized telephone records connected to those allegations. Between May 9, 2017, and May 11 of that year, court papers say, Labeaud was identified as a slammer, meaning someone who drove vehicles and intentionally collided with 18-wheeler tractor-trailers in order to stage car accidents. According to phone records, Labeaud also spoke with attorneys and a man named Mario Solomon, identified by prosecutors as a spotter who would follow Labeaud in a separate vehicle to help him flee the scene. On or about May 11, Brown drove a Ford Expedition to pick up Picou from Gibson, court papers state. Brown picked up Henderson next and then drove to a parking lot in New Orleans. It was there that Henderson, Brown, and Picou met Labeaud, Solomon, and Johnson, who were in Solomon\'s Chevy Silverado. In the parking lot, Labeaud got into the driver\'s seat of the Expedition, and Brown moved to the back of the vehicle. Picou and Johnson also rode in the back of the vehicle, while Henderson rode in the front passenger seat. The occupants of the Expedition discussed that after the intentional collision, the passengers would contact the police, with Brown moving to the drivers seat. According to the court papers, the defendants were to tell police they traveled to New Orleans to go shopping, and that they were injured but did not wish to go to the hospital. At around 10 a.m. on May 11, court papers say, Labeaud intentionally sped up at the location and collided with a 2013 International tractor-trailer owned by B.A.H. Express. The truck driver was unaware that a collision had occurred so Solomon, posing as a bystander according to court papers, falsely alleged that the tractor-trailer had struck a vehicle New Orleans Police Department body camera footage showed that Brown informed officers he had been driving the Expedition and that the tractor-trailer had caused the collision. Lawsuits were filed a year later resulting in settlements including one paid to Picou. The Piciou settlement check was mailed to him by the truck companys insurance company, federal court records state, which is why the mail fraud statute was employed for prosecution. The FBI conducted the investigation into the cases with the assistance of the Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission. Prosecutors said evidence making their case included witness statements, phone records, text messages, police reports and information in civil lawsuit filings, in addition to the NOPD body cam footage. A Houma man, Troy Smith, 58, was sentenced on March 8 for conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with the operation, drawing a six-month sentence. Marvel Francois, 54, of Houma, La., was sentenced to five years probation for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 100 hours of community service, payment of restitution in the amount of $20,654.48, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee for a staged accident in 2020. Bernell Gale, 46, of Raceland and Tanya Givens, 45, of Gibson were sentenced for conspiracy to commit mail fraud for staged accidents with tractor-trailers in connection with the related investigations. Givens was sentenced to 60 months of probation, restitution in the amount of $363,970 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Gale was sentenced to 36 months of probation and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This article originally appeared on The Courier: Gibson man sentenced to probation in tractor-trailer wreck case Sen. Tim Scott, who grew up in working-class poverty to become South Carolina's first Black senator, and now the Senate's lone Black Republican, declared his candidacy for president on Monday, coming into the 2024 race with more cash on hand than all of his competitors -- and a story that he says embodies the American dream. The 57-year-old senator held the official announcement event inside the Buccaneer Fieldhouse on Monday morning at his alma mater, Charleston Southern University, speaking enthusiastically in front of a backdrop of supporters, his name and campaign slogan, "Faith in America." "We live in the land where it is possible for a kid raised in poverty by a single mother in a small apartment to one day serve in the People's House and maybe even the White House," Scott said, after speaking several minutes off the cuff. "Joe Biden and the radical left are attacking every rung of the ladder that helped me climb," he continued. "And that is why I'm announcing today that I am running for president of the United States of America!" PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott hugs his mother Frances Scott after announcing his candidacy for president of the United States on the campus of Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, S.C., May 22, 2023. (Mic Smith/AP) "When I cut your taxes, they called me a prop. When I re-funded the police, they called me a token. When I pushed back on President Biden, they even called me the N-word," he said. "I disrupt their narrative. I threaten their control. The truth of my life disrupts their lies!" Scott on Friday filed official paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to enter the race, setting into motion a $6 million ad-buy in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states of the Republican nominating contest, which will air starting Wednesday and run through the first GOP primary debate in late August. Choosing to take on the current president as opposed to any primary opponents, Scott offered an outlook more positive than others to assert "America is not a nation in decline," but under President Joe Biden, he says, it has become "a nation in retreat." "America is the city on the hill," Scott said in closing, walking off the stage to join standing supporters, as he tends to do on the stump. "I'm living proof that God and a good family and the United States of America can do all things if we believe. Will you believe it with me?" PHOTO: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Spring Kick-off in West Des Moines, Iowa, April 22, 2023. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters) Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, endorsed Scott and delivered the opening prayer at his announcement in North Charleston, describing him as a candidate who offers "boundless hope and optimism for this country." "Tim Scott is the real deal. And he will make a great president of the United States," Thune said. "I think our country is ready to be inspired again." MORE: Tim Scott to join multi-candidate 'Roast and Ride' in Iowa, with 2024 kickoff days away Scott will travel to Iowa and Hampshire later this week, adding to a handful of visits he's already made this year. His official campaign committee, Tim Scott for America, will be based in the Palmetto State, where he will return for Memorial Day weekend. While he's polling in the low single digits, major donors, including Oracle founder Larry Ellison, are banking on the senator's optimistic disposition breaking through -- and allowing him to overtake former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, both ahead of him in voter surveys. PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. (Alex Brandon/AP, FILE) Scott's campaign has touted his joining the race with $22 million in campaign cash, which it says is the most of any presidential candidate in American history. The official campaign launch follows a season of courting voters including his "Faith in America" town hall series after forming a presidential exploratory committee, a step which allows for candidates to start raising money. Staffers say his campaign for president really came to light after he won 63% of the vote in his reelection to the Senate in November, despite an increasingly polarizing climate. The junior senator rolled out his exploratory committee on April 12, which he noted marked the anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. His announcement video was filmed at Fort Sumter, where he once again called for Americans to overcome deep political divisions. MORE: GOP Sen. Tim Scott launches 2024 presidential exploratory committee A source close to Scott said he had not spoken to Trump ahead of his announcement. The two share a cordial relationship, but Scott sparingly condemned Trump during his presidency for racially-charged comments, such as after Trump expressed support for the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Scott responded, "Racism is real. It is alive." A campaign staffer organizers credentials for the presidential campaign launch of Sen. Tim Scott. Scott formalized his campaign last week and held an official announcement event at , Charleston Southern University, May 22, 2023, in North Charleston, S.C. (Meg Kinnard/AP) Scott has declined to say whether he would support Trump if Trump were to win the GOP nomination, while Trump's team has painted the primary as a race for second place. "Tim Scott's entrance, and aggressive media purchase, doesn't only kneecap DeSantis, but Scott sees the same thing as Youngkin, Sununu, Burgum, Christie and others: the path to 2nd place is wide open," said Taylor Budowich, CEO of the Trump-aligned Make America Great Again Inc. PAC. "They smell Ron DeSantis' blood in the water and no longer see him as an obstacle." Scott's personal story Not only is Scott coming into the race with a heft of cash on hand, but his campaign also says he brings a different personal story to the race. Scott credits his mother who he says worked 16-hour days as a nursing assistant to support him, and a Chick-fil-A store operator, who helped Scott get his first job at a movie theater in his teens, with enabling him to pave a path from working-class poverty to the U.S. Senate. "Those 16-hour days put food on our table. And kept our lights on. They empowered her to move her boys out of a place filled with anger into a home full of love," Scott said Monday, after bringing her on stage to thank her for her support. PHOTO: Sen. Tim Scott gives remarks at his presidential campaign announcement event at his alma mater, Charleston Southern University, May 22, 2023, in North Charleston, S.C. (Meg Kinnard/AP) He also cites his experience at South Carolina's Palmetto Boys State program as influential in his decision to pursue public service. After working in insurance and financial services post-college, Scott ran for Charleston County Council and the South Carolina House of Representatives. Scott was first appointed to the Senate in 2013, plucked from the U.S. House of Representatives by then-South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley -- who he'll now face in the primary. This after another senator, Jim DeMint, resigned to lead the Heritage Foundation. Scott retained his seat in a 2014 special election and glided to victory again in 2016 and 2022, with more than 60% of the vote in both cycles. Long seen as a rising star in the GOP, Scott delivered the Republican Party's rebuttal to President Joe Biden's inaugural joint address to Congress in 2021. PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Tennessee State Representatives Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson at the White House, on April 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Chris Kleponis/CNP via Polaris) Scott's signature legislation creating "opportunity zones" was passed as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act under Trump. He was tapped in 2020 by Republican leaders to negotiate on police-reforms before those bipartisan talks collapsed. He's starting off his campaign with multiple colleagues' endorsements, with South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds joining Thune. Fellow South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham is among 11 Senate Republicans already endorsing Trump, although back in 2016 he infamously said, "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed ... and we will deserve it." MORE: Who is running for president in 2024 and who might run Scott joins a primary field that includes Haley, Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Others are expected to officially enter in the coming days, including DeSantis and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Scott closed his speech with several, "Let's go!" call-and-response chants with supporters like Pam Hourihan, 47, who was wearing green scrubs, having used her lunch break as a pharmacist to walk 10 minutes to the venue. She said she's known Scott personally through church, calling him a "great Christian." "He's a good person. He's been a good person forever. This isn't anything new. He's always been this way," she told ABC News. P.J. Kuyper, 55, who voted for Trump in 2020, said Scott "has a message that is exactly what America needs to hear" and that he would "absolutely not" vote for Trump again if he were to win the nomination. "I think his faith in America, the goodness of it, and the opportunities are way more powerful than any message of grievance," Kuyper said. Tim Scott joins the 2024 Republican race for president originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Consumers are going all out to grab freebies, a marketing tactic that is generating new business growth points for brands amid rising consumption levels and a booming tourism sector. During this year's May Day holiday, a freebie given out by Chinese tea maker Heytea was in high demand. Heytea launched city-themed fridge magnets, joining hands with 11 tourist hot spots, such as Guangzhou and Jiangmen in Guangdong province, Luoyang in Henan province and Sanya in Hainan province. When Heytea handed out the magnets at some scenic spots and its own outlets, consumers lined up and the magnets were all taken within an hour. The freebie in the form of a fridge magnet helps promote sales of Heytea. In the outlets earmarked as fridge magnet claim stations, daily sales rose 180 percent from the level seen before the holiday. "Knowing that Heytea had launched city-themed fridge magnets, I decided to try my luck as I happened to be traveling in Xi'an, Shaanxi province" said a tourist surnamed Zhang. "I got the fridge magnet at the Qujiang tourism service center. The fridge magnet demonstrates tourism elements, such as the Yongning Gate. It is a unique souvenir." By May 16, there were over 1,700 posts related to the "Heytea city-themed fridge magnet" on lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu. Some users showed off the city-themed fridge magnet they had received on social media, while others became willing to spend 100 yuan ($14.3) to buy the magnet from those who had received it as a freebie. The Heytea experience demonstrates how business is being generated by freebies. Last year, KFC launched the Psyduck (an animated creature resembling a yellow duck) as its Children's Day set meal gift. As the gift was handed out immediately, it was then priced at over 1,000 yuan on secondhand platforms. Likewise, when US coffee chain Starbucks launched a limited edition cat paw mug, the mugs were sold out within minutes after the product went on sale. The mugs were sold for 199 yuan at stores, but often resold online for as much as 1,800 yuan. "The popularity of freebies comes from consumers' emotional appeal and consumption desire to their favorite brands or intellectual properties. It is also promoted by the development of the tourism industry," said You Xi, a researcher at the Kandong Research Institute, a technology-focused think tank. "The launch of freebies not only raises consumers' interest in products, but also increases IP exposure and brand loyalty. It is a win-win marketing strategy," he said. According to a report by online market information observer canyinj.com, the reason for the popularity of freebies is that they have become a social currency. "The products represent brands' culture and serve as something to talk about, stimulating consumers' desire to express themselves, while bringing them emotional value," it said. "The fact that freebies are limited further makes consumers, especially young consumers, willing to buy and share them with friends. As limited editions are more precious, having the limited editions makes them feel good," said canyinj.com's report. As more brands launch freebies, it has become challenging to attract the attention of consumers. According to the report by Canyinj.com, successful brands are good at building an image, or IP, so as to make a deep impression among consumers. For example, Heytea created Axi, a cartoon character as its IP, and applied the IP in different scenarios to form freebies. Axi personalizes the brand, and shortens the distance between the brand and consumers. "In addition, it is important to build a freebie system, constantly bringing new products. In this way, consumers will have more faith in the quality and originality of the freebies, helping the brands accumulate more traffic," said the report. To promote the sustainable development of freebie-related business, You from Kandong Research Institute suggested that merchants should pay attention to quality and creativity while designing freebies, instead of popularity and quantity. In addition, consumers should buy products rationally and avoid excessive spending. "Also, the government should enhance supervision to prevent unreasonable price increases and vicious competition," he said. Goodbye Jullia Goodbye Julia made history at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 as the first-ever Sudanese film to grace its screens. Directed by Mohammed Kurdafani, a former engineer who embarked on a remarkable career shift, this film captivates audiences with a poignant tale of friendship set against the backdrop of Khartoum's tumultuous conditions that ultimately led to Sudan's split in 2005. The film introduces viewers to two Sudanese women (Julia and Mona) dealing with their struggles, hailing from different regionsKhartoum and South Sudan. Through their eyes, we witness the harsh realities and challenges faced by the people living in Khartoum during a time of immense social and political upheaval. Goodbye Julia uses their relationship as a vehicle to explore the deep-seated tensions and divisions that resulted in the split of Sudan. What makes Goodbye Julia truly remarkable is the level of artistry exhibited throughout the film. It is astonishing to think that this is Mohammed Kurdafani's directorial debut, especially considering his lack of formal training in cinema. The high standards of craftsmanship are evident in every frame, from the visually stunning cinematography to the nuanced performances by the cast. Kurdafani's skillful direction brings out the raw emotions and complexities of the characters, allowing the audience to empathize and connect with their struggles. The two protagonists, representing different backgrounds and perspectives, become symbols of the larger societal conflicts that engulfed Sudan. The chemistry between the actresses Eman Youssef (Mona) and Siran Riak (Julia) is palpable, and their performances breathe life into the narrative, making it both relatable and emotionally impactful. The musical score deserves special mention as well. The evocative and haunting melodies perfectly complement the on-screen events, heightening the emotional impact of each scene. The combination of sound and visuals creates a powerful atmosphere that stays with the audience long after the film has ended. Furthermore, it is essential to highlight the remarkable contribution of Eman Youssef (Mona) With her beautiful voice and soulful songs, added a soft layer to a film that is otherwise filled with tensions and divisions. Goodbye Julia arrives at a crucial juncture in Sudan's history, as the ongoing conflict in Sudan undoubtedly creates a heightened sense of empathy among viewers. As they witness the struggles and challenges faced by the characters in the film, the real-life backdrop of Sudan's current situation amplifies the emotional impact of the story. Goodbye Julia effectively becomes a mirror reflecting the harsh realities experienced by countless Sudanese people, fostering a deeper connection between the audience and the narrative. However, the same conflict that provides a poignant backdrop to the film also presents a dilemma for the filmmakers. Amidst the chaos and displacement, it becomes difficult for the film to receive the recognition and appreciation it truly deserves. The focus and attention of the world may be elsewhere, making it challenging for Goodbye Julia to gain the widespread acclaim it merits. Nevertheless, Goodbye Julia's impact should not be underestimated. Its ability to capture the hearts and minds of its audience, despite the challenging circumstances, is a testament to the power of cinema as a medium for conveying important stories and fostering empathy. Google searches by users for phrases questioning their own sexuality and gender identity including Am I gay and Am I lesbian have increased by 1,300% since 2004, according to a new analysis. The findings were published last week by the Cultural Currents Institute, a market research firm that studies public opinion trends, which collected Google Trends data from January 2004 to this month for questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity across all 50 states. Utah emerged as the state with the highest search volume for the phrases Am I gay, Am I lesbian and Am I trans since last May, according to the report. It pointed to Utahs traditionally conservative social values as a potentially significant factor in the data. This might indicate a significant underlying questioning of identity among its internet users, possibly driven by the conflict between personal feelings and societal expectations, the reports said. These tensions between public life and web searches are common in Utah, where we recently shared data indicating that searches for VPN surged after the website PornHub blocked the state. Oklahoma had the highest search volume for the phrase How to come out over the past year, followed by West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky. Oklahoma, West Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana were in the lowest LGBTQ equality category in the 2022 State Equality Index published by the Human Rights Campaign, the countrys largest LGBTQ group. Kentucky was in the second-lowest of the four categories measuring equality. Historical search volume for the term nonbinary was limited but gaining search traction, according to the report. Vermont was the state with the highest search volume for the term since last May. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com GOP field in Pennsylvania Senate race still wide open as hard-right state lawmaker says he won't run FILE - Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano speaks to supporters during an election night campaign event at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, Pa., Nov. 8, 2022. Mastriano has said he will announce Thursday night, May 25, 2023, whether he will run for U.S. Senate, less than seven months after his landslide loss in last Novembers general election for governor. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A hard-right Pennsylvania state lawmaker said Thursday night that he will not challenge Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, leaving the GOP field wide open as Republican Party officials try to recruit a strong candidate in the moderate battleground state to help capture a Senate majority in 2024. Doug Mastriano, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump in last years race for governor but lost in a landslide, said in a livestreamed appearance with his wife that he will not run for Senate at this moment the way things currently are. Former hedge fund CEO David McCormick is the favorite of party leaders and has drawn pledges of financial support from top Republican officials should he decide to run. McCormick, however, is facing a complicated decision, with Trump seeking the party's nomination for president. A Mastriano candidacy could have further complicated McCormick's path, and his announcement allowed Republican Party officials, for a night, to breathe a sigh of relief or, as one quipped, pop Champagne. A year ago, the party weathered a bruising, seven-way primary for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat. It cost upwards of $85 million, launched months of TV attack ads and inflicted lasting damage on the eventual nominee, heart surgeon-turned-TV celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz. A three-week recount in the primary contest left McCormick behind Oz by fewer than 1,000 votes. Mastriano's decision gives the Pennsylvania GOP hope of avoiding another divisive and expensive primary like the one in 2022, which led to a rough general election that featured losses in races for governor and Senate. It gives us as a party the chance to coalesce behind a candidate, said Sam DeMarco, a McCormick ally and chair of the Allegheny County GOP. Hopefully that would be Dave McCormick. It also could give an eventual GOP nominee the opportunity to define yourself on your own terms instead of entering a general campaign with attacks against you and your character playing across the television screens in Pennsylvania statewide," DeMarco said. Mastriano, a state senator, did not voice explicit support for McCormick or any other candidate, but said he expected that an eventual GOP nominee would live up to their campaign pledges. For Republicans, Pennsylvania is a top target in their quest to recapture the Senate majority, while Democrats face a difficult Senate map in 2024. Of 34 seats up for election, Democrats must defend incumbents in red states Montana, Ohio and West Virginia and multiple swing states, including Pennsylvania, if they are to hold their 51-seat majority. The prospect of a Mastriano victory in a primary had prompted handwringing among some Republicans. Mastriano had spent the last few months saying he could win a Senate primary hands down and blaming the party establishment for his 15-point loss in November's election for governor. But many Republican officials say Mastriano's subpar political skills, inability to raise money and extreme positions on abortion among other issues would guarantee a Casey victory in a state that has long embraced more moderate voices. Republican hopes for victory may rest on McCormick. McCormick has promises of support from party brass, including a super PAC linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. McCormick also has deep pockets and connections across spheres of politics, business and government from which to draw endorsements and campaign contributions none of which were enough to prevail against Oz, the Trump-backed candidate who went on to lose the general election to Democrat John Fetterman. If he runs, McCormick may have to share a ticket with Trump, who castigated McCormick in last year's primary and continues to tell the lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. In a book he published in March, McCormick told of an exchange with Trump in which the former president told him that, to win last year's Senate primary, McCormick would need to say the 2020 election was stolen. "I made it clear to him that I couldn't do that. Three days later, Trump endorsed Mehmet Oz," McCormick wrote. Trump went on to campaign against McCormick, deriding him at one point as the candidate of special interests and globalists and the Washington establishment. McCormick lost to Oz by fewer than 1,000 votes. ___ Follow Marc Levy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/timelywriter Greek MEP Eva Kaili remains charged and under investigation in her corruption case, but has now been freed from house arrest Greek MEP Eva Kaili, the face of the "Qatargate" corruption scandal, has been allowed to remove an electronic ankle tag and freed from house arrest pending trial, prosecutors said Thursday. Kaili was arrested in Brussels in December by police investigating alleged graft in the European Parliament, before being released to house arrest in April. She denies all charges. A spokesman for federal prosecutors, Eric Van Duyse, said the investigating magistrate had ruled that it was "no longer necessary" to control Kaili's movements as the probe continues. Several more European politicians and parliamentary aides were arrested and charged as part of Belgian investigation, but now all but one have been freed from house arrest. Investigators allege that Belgian former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, who is cooperating with the inquiry, ran a ring distributing bribes to promote the interests of Qatar and Morocco. Both governments angrily deny playing any role. The scandal erupted in December last year when police raided several properties in Brussels and seized at least 1.5 million euros in cash stored in suitcases and bags. Kaili, 44, is a former newsreader and was a rising star in the European Parliament, serving as vice-president of the chamber for the socialist group. She remains an MEP, and has suggested she may try to return to work, but has been stripped of the vice-president's role and excluded from her political group. mad/dc/del/pvh A nurse practitioner was cleared of charges by a Terrebonne Parish Grand Jury. A Grand Jury heard evidence last week of Sydndey Burchfield's involvement in the death of Travis Porche at Leonard J. Chabert's Medical Center. She faced charges of Negligent Homicide for which the Grand Jury found the evidence lacking. According to Terrebonne Parish Assistant District Attorney Dennis Elfert, no others are expected to go before a Grand Jury. Family waits for closure, wants answers about death after hospital restraint, intubation "There is no indication that anyone else will be presented to a Grand Jury at this time," he said. Porche went to the hospital Jan. 18, 2021 citing back pains and leg spasms, and eventually demanded to leave. He was then physically restrained by security staff members when he became disruptive, and given sedatives and paralytics the following day. A photo of Travis Porche who died after visiting Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center, Jan. 25, 2021. During his visit he was chemically restrained, which according to one coroner led to his death. This led to cardiopulmonary arrest and brain damage with continued unconsciousness, according to a forensic expert hired by Porches mother, Pamela Porche, who disagreed with the initial cause of death cited by the hospital. More: Tina Turner, queen of rock 'n' roll, dies after long illness More: What snakes in Louisiana are venomous? Porches mother maintains that the nurse practitioner in charge that day, identified in official documents as Sydney Burchfield, ordered that he be intubated after he refused treatment and became combative, and that complications related to the chemical restraints and intubation caused his death. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Louisiana Department of Health investigated the incident, and concluded, according to their reports, that less restrictive methods of restraint which would have been the medical norm were not used before the drugs and intubation were employed. This article originally appeared on The Courier: Grand Jury finds evidence lacking to indict nurse in patient's death. Granderson: Tim Scott is the candidate Republicans would want, except they've never heard of him Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) represents a hopeful brand of Republicanism that sets him apart. (Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press) Now that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced hes running for president, it looks as if the 2024 general election is going to be one of those big-budget sequels nobody asked for. Maybe Republicans will bring Donald Trump back. Maybe they cast someone younger to play the part. Would it really matter? Once DeSantis declared, Florida is where woke goes to die, it looked as though Trumpism was going to be on the ballot regardless of whether Trump was. But maybe not. Although DeSantis has the name recognition and a reported $80 million in his war chest, what he doesnt offer conservatives is an alternative to Trumpism. DeSantis used Trumpism to catapult himself into this position by signing a series of laws curtailing access to voting, attacking diversity efforts and picking fights with businesses he does not like. If DeSantis were really an alternative to Trumpism, his record would look very different. Hed be known for, say, trying to save the estimated 900,000 homes at risk of being underwater in his state as the ocean rises. But instead hes known for his efforts to stop people from saying the word gay. Which brings me to Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who also announced this week that he was running for president . I appreciated DeSantis attempt to incorporate social media in his announcement, glitches and all. However, the fact that Scott did it the old-fashioned way a rally in his home state suggests he is the candidate exhausted Republicans are looking for. Scott isnt a bully. Hes respected by peers on both sides of the aisle. Hes a bona fide conservative on social issues. He is offering a kind of nostalgia that is very different from the one suggested by the slogan Make America Great Again. Scott is giving Republicans a chance to return to the decency of Gerald Ford and the aspiration of Ronald Reagan. (Though it's important to note Ford and Reagan's brand of decency wasn't decent for everyone. But at least they weren't arrested after leaving office.) We have to have a compassion for people who don't agree with us, Scott said recently. We have to believe that our ideas are so strong and so powerful and so persuasive that we can actually take it to the highest points in the world and be successful, but we also have to be able to take it all the way down to places that today are hopeless and prove that who we are works for all Americans." He also recently told NBC News that he would not try to overturn the election, which is an odd but nevertheless encouraging thing to hear. Maybe Scott's decency and reasonable positions explain why he has about a quarter as much campaign money as DeSantis has. Or maybe Scott, the first Black person from the South to be elected to the Senate since Reconstruction, just needs more time to build his campaign. Although hes been in Congress since 2013, his more brash, antagonistic colleagues such as Sen. Ted Cruz have gotten significantly more airtime. Its the Catch-22 of politics: Voters say they want decorum, but theyre drawn to fights. Trump fights. DeSantis fights. Maybe Scott can fight, but its not his default mode. Without getting his clean image dirty, can he convince Republicans that hes willing to get in the mud? And more importantly, with so many white nationalists using Trumpism as the vehicle for their grievances and rising in the GOP, how does Scott compete for Republican primary votes without sacrificing integrity? Correction: without sacrificing any more integrity. He seems nice enough, but I havent looked at him the same since he tried to make woke supremacy a thing back in 2021. This is why I question whether Scott can maintain a campaign fueled on optimism when red meat is cheaper and racism burns hotter. Ultimately thats a question more about Republican voters than about Scott. If the senator can gain traction with a message of hope, maybe he can be the conservative Obama you know, minus the acknowledgment of systemic racism and attacks on voting rights, because thats a Republican turnoff. For the moment, Trump is complimenting Scott, so that should tell you what the front-runner thinks of his chances. Some politicos have suggested Scott isnt really trying to win the GOP nomination as much as position himself as a viable running mate to whoever does. (Given the messy breakup, its doubtful Trump and Mike Pence would try to get the band back together.) Its a depressing thought, because that would mean at the end of the primary season, Scott would just be joining Trumpism anyway. So what would have been the point of all his talk about optimism? Either way, I have to wonder: Who is the optimistic talk for? The moderate Republicans longing for a candidate to focus on the economy instead of harping on drag queens? Or the Republicans at risk of siding with the racist wing if Scott couldnt offer them an alternative? It wont matter if he cant get his message out above the DeSantis-Trump din. Did I mention Scotts currently polling in single digits? Let's hope thats just a reflection of how recently he joined the field and not of voters stance on optimism. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Grandmother, 94, wins Supreme Court case over Minnesota pocketing $25k profits from sale of her home The Supreme Court sided with a 94-year-old grandmother who sued a Minnesota county government after it sold her home over unpaid tax and pocketed the profits. In a unanimous decision handed down on Thursday, the justices ruled that Hennepin County had violated the 5th Amendments prohibition on seizing private property when it sold Geraldine Tylers $40,000 condominium in 2015 over an unpaid $15,000 tax bill. The County had the power to sell Tylers home to recover the unpaid property taxes. But it could not use the toehold of the tax debt to confiscate more property than was due, Chief Justice John Roberts said in a written opinion. The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesars, but no more. Ms Tylers home was seized over a $2,300 unpaid tax bill, which had soared to $15,000 with interest and penalties. She appealed the state forfeiture laws that allowed the county to keep $25,000 in surplus profits. Ms Tyler took the case to the Supreme Court in April after lower courts ruled against her. Attorneys from the Pacific Legal Foundation who represented the grandmother celebrated the decision as an important victory for property rights. Geraldine Tyler, 94, had her home taken by Hennepin County, Minnesota over $15,000 in unpaid property taxes, interests, and fees (Pacific Legal Foundation) This decision affirms that property rights are fundamental and dont depend solely on state law, Christina Martin said in a statement. The Courts ruling makes clear that home equity theft is not only unjust, but unconstitutional. Ms Tylers lawyers said she had fallen behind on property taxes after moving to an apartment for assisted senior living. The case will now go to trial in a lower court for Ms Tyler to argue that she is owed the fair market value of her property, minus her tax debt. Justice Roberts opinion stated that Minnesota law recognises in many other contexts that a property owner is entitled to the surplus in excess of her debt. "If a bank forecloses on a mortgaged property, state law entitles the homeowner to the surplus from the sale. And in collecting past due taxes on income or personal property, Minnesota protects the taxpayers right to surplus," his decision said. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a concurring opinion that the law also supported Ms Tyler over the state taking excessive fines. Economic penalties imposed to deter willful noncompliance with the law are fines by any other name, the justices wrote. And the Constitution has something to say about them: They cannot be excessive. The Pacific Legal Foundation said in a statement that more than a dozen states engage in home equity theft, costing homeowners more than $860m. Gray Television Gray Television is suing the Federal Communications Commission over its decision to fine the broadcaster over half a million dollars for an affiliation move in Alaska the regulator said violates its duopoly restriction. That is according to an appeal filed late Wednesday (May 24) in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes Atlanta, where Gray is based. The FCC concluded that Gray's purchase of the CBS affiliation from KTVA Anchorage, Alaska resulted in the equivalent of the purchase of a second top-four station in the market. It fined the station the maximum amount for what the FCC said was a violation of its prohibition on owning two of the top four stations in a market, unless it has done so through organic growth, meaning unless it owned both stations before they were in the top four due to increased ratings. Gray owns two stations in the Anchorage market, NBC affiliate KYUU and KAUU, formerly KYES, which received the CBS affiliation purchased from KTVA. Also Read: Gray: FCC Should Restore Rule Deregulation Gray says the FCC got it wrong on multiple counts: 1.) The FCC had no authority to regulate the purchase of the CBS programming because that was not a license transfer but a programming purchase; 2) the FCC's contention that the transfer of CBS programming was the functional equivalent of a transfer exceeds its authority because Congress did not authorize it in statute to regulate functional equivalents; and 3) the fine exceeds the FCC's authority and violates First Amendment because it penalizes Grays programming choices without furthering the legitimate government interest that any such regulation of speech must further. Gray wants the court to vacate the fine. The appeal came after the FCC denied Gray's appeal of the decision to the commission. The FCC vote to uphold the company's fine was 3-1, with Republican Brendan Carr voting with Democrats Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. Republican commissioner Nathan Simington dissented. The FCC first proposed the fine in July 2021, a first for the acquisition of a network affiliation. Gray appealed but the agency rejected the appeal. An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved a bill that could cut the state grocery tax in half over several years. HB 479, sponsored by the House Ways and Means Education chair Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would reduce the tax rate to 3% on Sept. 1. The tax would be cut down to 2% in subsequent years if revenues in the Education Trust Fund grew by at least 2% annually. The bill passed on a voice vote. It would not reduce city or county taxes, which are decided locally. Weve taken the current scenario we have with all of our funding, Garrett said. We looked at the projected revenue, the budget, the spending, the reserves all that we factored in a mild recession. And we believe that we are confident that we can handle this proposal. The cut would apply to food covered by the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates that reducing the state grocery tax to 2% would cost the ETF $318 million a year, when fully implemented. Alabama is one of just 13 states that taxes groceries, and one of only three states that taxes groceries fully. With local taxes added, Alabamians can pay up to 10% on grocery bills. Critics have long argued the tax hurts the poor and adds to food insecurity. Under the bill, a family paying $500 a month in groceries and paying a 10% tax would see their food taxes fall from $600 a year to $540 year when the state tax is cut to 3%. It would fall to $480 a year at a 2% state tax rate. Supporters of the bill said at a hearing prior to the committee vote that the bill would help Alabamians in everyday life. Untaxing groceries has long been at the top of the list to help regular everyday working-class folks who spend a disproportionate amount of our income on sales taxes like groceries, said Robyn Hyden, executive director of Alabama Arise, a nonprofit that works on poverty issues. The legislation does not replace the revenue that would be lost. The School Superintendents of Alabama and the Alabama Education Association spoke against the bill, saying that it could hurt the ETF. Ryan Hollingsworth, executive director of School Superintendents of Alabama, said there have been many bills this session that diverted money from schools, like tax credit bills. I ask you to be very cautious as you proceed to look at cuts to the ETF long term when were looking at a temporary economy, he said. On the committee, some legislators had questions around a provision of the bill that would not allow municipalities to raise the tax on groceries. The legislation would freeze local grocery taxes at their current rates. Under an amendment approved by the committee, cities and counties could cut their food taxes and later raise them to the frozen rate but could not go above it. A group gathers to protest the state grocery tax outside the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama, on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, said he wasnt advocating for an increase in taxes, but he questioned what would happen if a local government needed to raise revenue from a sales tax increase. A grocery store, in a small municipality is the, in many times, the number one generator of taxes in that city, he said. And Im wondering if we can find some balance here because I would hate to do something for the future. Meaning that these cities are forever prohibited from being able to raise their sales tax. Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said that he understood that portion of the bill to provide relief to families. He said that if the cost of items goes up, the tax will also go up, which would be a revenue gain. I think our whole, you know, making a decision is to try to give some relief to families and so Im not necessarily seeing why they would need to increase it more than where they are right now, he said. The legislation moves to the full House of Representatives. It needs at least three more days to pass. There are five days left in the Legislative Session. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Grocery tax cut bill passes its first hurdle in Alabama House (Bloomberg) -- As Typhoon Mawar neared the coast of Guam early Wednesday, it also drew attention to an uncomfortable fact of US military strategy: Many of Americas most strategic assets are in places increasingly threatened by extreme weather events, rising seas and other consequences of climate change. Most Read from Bloomberg The Navy moved ships out to sea before the storm hit, standard procedure when bases prepare for hurricanes. The storm generated winds of 175 miles per hour (282 kilometers per hour) the National Weather Services offices were vibrating, an official said and waves of at least 60 feet (18 meters). It caused significant flooding in Guam, endangering residents and putting new demands on the military. It isnt the first time and its unlikely to be the last. In 2019, a Department of Defense report on climate impacts noted that repeated flooding at Naval Base Guam was already limiting operations and activities for the Navy Expeditionary Forces Command Pacific, the islands Andersen Air Force Base, submarine squadrons, telecommunications, and a number of other specific tasks supporting mission execution. Considered one of the most critical US military installations in the western Pacific, Guam has for 125 years extended US sovereignty 8,000 miles from Washington. The island is about 2,100 miles from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. It is closer still to Taiwan, which President Joe Biden has committed to defend if attacked. By virtue of having an American territory in Guam, said Bruce Jones, director of the Project on International Order and Strategy at the Brookings Institution, it gives the United States the ability to operate on home soil, two-thirds across the reaches of the Pacific. In short, Guam has for decades helped protect the international order and remains an essential operating base for US efforts to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon wrote in its 2022 quadrennial National Defense Strategy. In January, the Marine Corps opened its first new base in 70 years on the island, part of an agreement to reduce the US military presence in Okinawa, Japan. Its hard to mobilize a military response if, for example, your most important rear logistics base is under three feet of water, Jones said. These kind of events, if theyre not adequately defended against and quickly recovered from, really, really throw a spanner in the works in terms of our ability to respond to crisis scenarios in Asia. Those recoveries are expensive. Bases along the US Gulf and East Coasts have seen mammoth storms cause massive damage, including North Carolinas Camp Lejeune, which suffered $3.6 billion in damage by Hurricane Florence in September 2018 and Floridas Tyndall Air Force Base, which category 5 Hurricane Michael wrecked a month later and may cost $5 billion to rebuild. The challenge with planning on climate risk is you cant use the past as well to predict the future, said Sherri Goodman, a senior fellow at both the Wilson Center and the Center for Climate and Security, who in 2007 coined the now common description of climate change as a military threat multiplier. Storms are going to get stronger, with higher winds and more rain and flooding, she said, but thats not necessarily precise enough to inform military budgets in a practical way. The Pentagon is encouraging its military planners to think more seriously about these risks. Last year the departments Wargame Incentive Fund budgeted $3 million to fund five war games focused on climate-related crises in South and Central Asia, designed to help the Indo-Pacific Command, which includes Guam, identify and adjust potential weaknesses. Last month, the military opened its DOD Climate Assessment Tool, called DCAT, with allies in Europe and Asia. The program combines climate models, historical data and flood models to simulate potential changes at 2,300 DOD sites globally. The Navy, like the other Armed Forces, has in recent years issued global planning guidance on how to build, train and fight under changing conditions. Those efforts are accelerating, with climate impacts. Days after taking office, Biden signed an executive order that built climate change formally into national-security strategy. They knew this kind of stuff was coming, Jones said. Theyve been working at hardening their facilities to deal with exactly these kinds of scenarios. And in the aftermath well see whether they did or not. --With assistance from Kevin Varley and Brian K Sullivan. (Updates with latest on storm in second paragraph. A previous version was corrected to say Guam is located in the western Pacific.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, U.S. state of California, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. The Display Week 2023, hosted by the Society for Information Display (SID), is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 21 to 26. From Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), auto tech, organic light-emitting diode (OLED), micro-OLED and microdisplays to wearables, digital signage and e-Paper, the Display Week showcases the latest and greatest technology and advancements from the global electronic display and visual information technologies industries. BOE Technology Group, one of the world's largest manufacturers in the semiconductor display industry and an Internet of things (IoT) company, brought a slew of cutting-edge technologies to the exhibition, including many new launches under its technology brands of ADS Pro, f-OLED and -MLED (mini LED), as well as brand-new innovative applications such as smart in-vehicle display, glasses-free 3D and the metaverse. BOE's newly released 110-inch 16K UHD display, which adopted the company's cutting-edge oxide TFT technology and features high charge carrier mobility and an ultrahigh resolution, drew lots of visitors. Its 10-inch 8K LCD display, which is tailored to 3D printing, was selected as the "Display Application of the Year." "It was one of the many state-of-the-art technologies BOE exhibited at the event, giving a glimpse of an even smarter, more fantastic and more power-efficient future of the semiconductor display industry," BOE Chairman Yanshun Chen told Xinhua. In addition to showcasing its display technologies and smart interactive experiences, BOE hosted an innovation ecosystem forum at the Display Week, in a bid to explore new pathways to the innovation-driven development of the global industry ecosystem jointly with SID and global partners. Louis Lazar, a senior consultant at Newry Corp, an innovation and growth strategy consulting firm based in Lakewood, Ohio, showed great interest in BOE's 16K UHD display. Lazar said he expects to learn the latest technologies and trends in the display industry at the Display Week, and was amazed by a wide array of China-made innovative products. "China has been pushing innovations in the display industry, and has been leading the way, which was really impressive," he told Xinhua. A man visits the exhibition area of China's Visionox during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Visionox, a Chinese high-tech company with OLED display technology, brought innovative display technologies and applications to the Display Week, including self-aligned pixelization technology, portable and rollable laptops, visual medical kits, and transparent car displays. Eben Yang, vice president of Visionox, told Xinhua that North America is one of Visionox's most important overseas markets. Currently the company is cooperating with many American clients to provide display solutions for VR devices, wearable devices, mobile phones and other products. "We hope to take the opportunities of participating in the Display Week to demonstrate our innovative technologies, provide customers with more competitive products, and further expand overseas markets," Yang said. People visit the exhibition area of China's TCL during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] TCL CSOT, a Chinese company focused on new technologies and innovations in the display industry, unveiled over 30 of its latest products and advanced technologies at the Display Week, including more than ten firsts in the world. The company offered display technology solutions across a range of sizes, categories, and forms -- spanning Mini LED, Micro LED, medical displays, vehicle-mounted displays, light field displays, as well as consumer electronics displays. "Driven not only by a commitment to building a display industry ecosystem, but also to supporting a healthy and more sustainable planet for all through low-carbon, energy-saving, and eye-friendly products, we look forward to driving progress and uncovering more innovations to further accelerate the development of high-end display technology," said Jun Zhao, CEO of TCL CSOT. Teachers need to connect more with students, using technology with, rather than at them, says Rebecka Peterson, Oklahomas 2023 National Teacher of the Year. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Developments (OECDs) recent International Summit on the Teaching Profession included global experts, and Rebecka Peterson, Oklahomas 2023 National Teacher of the Year. The dialogue between Andreas Schleicher, the OECD director for education and skills, and Peterson was especially enlightening. Schleicher began with the latest research on teacher satisfaction and effectiveness. He also discussed how the transition to artificial intelligence in education could be constructive or destructive. He called for a divorce between testing and learning, expressing hope that teachers can be leading innovators in a digital world where the radical transition to virtual reality is a fun place for active learning. In contrast to test-driven reforms, Schleicher said education must be built on respect, new structures and supports for both students and teachers. It must be asset-driven, not deficit-driven. My understanding of his recommendations was that they were based on both the use of technology innovations and old-school, humane efforts where teachers, students and parents respectfully communicate with one another. Teacher training, Schleicher said, must include digital, multilingual, multicultural collaboration. He said teachers are open to learning about students cultures, but its not being holistically provided during teacher prep. Schools must promote and institutionalize more interactions with parents. They need to transition students away from being passive customers to active agents. And structural change is needed to provide foreign language instruction in the early grades. Schleicher only received pushback when he questioned international correlations between higher wages and teacher satisfaction. He emphasized their desire for respect, autonomy and teamwork. In response, Tulsas Peterson recalled an Uber ride when she returned to Oklahoma. Her driver earned about $30,000 a year more than starting teachers made. Schleicher acknowledged her point, saying he was just arguing that money, alone, wasnt the solution. Peterson, who taught at Union High School, the full-service community school that was praised in The New York Times "Who Needs Charters When You Have Public Schools Like These?" agreed essential services and respect are necessary. She also focused on cognitive science, explaining that the language instruction they were discussing creates positive neurological change in young people. Moreover, teachers need to connect more with students, using technology with, rather than at them. Peterson also addressed the increased stresses of recent years due to COVID and rapid technological changes. She said, Were at Go! Go! Go! So, teachers, as well as students, need wraparound services. She cited her last few years of wrestling with technology for teaching math. If Oklahoma could institutionalize Petersons instruction, I would add, it would be a huge incentive for technology firms to invest in the state. The panelists answers to the question about their vision for the next five years exemplified reasons for both optimism and concern. Schleicher sees teachers as engineers of tomorrow. Peterson, who comes from a state that is producing so many reasons for pessimism, seemed to be the most optimistic. She hopes teachers will have the autonomy to go deep with their students. John Thompson is a former Oklahoma City Public Schools teacher. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Guest: Summit on teaching reveals both concern and optimism Relatives and friends support the family of Boubacar Diallo, 17, who was killed during the May clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Conakry Guinea's suppression of protests stokes anger as junta loses shine Relatives and friends support the family of Boubacar Diallo, 17, who was killed during the May clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Conakry By Saliou Samb and Souleymane Camara CONAKRY (Reuters) - With the acrid smell of burning tyres hanging in the air, Conakry resident Mariame Diallo pointed to blood splatters on a wall where she said her teenage brother was shot at close range during a protest against Guinea's military government on May 11. "I will never forgive those who killed him," she said between bouts of quiet crying. Clutching a bag of blood-soaked clothes that she hopes will be used for a police investigation that has yet to begin, she recalled how her apprentice brother, Boubacar, fearing the anti-government demonstrations, stayed at home, only to be shot dead by police in front of the family house. A spokesman for Guinea's government did not respond to a request for comment. Boubacar was one of seven people killed that day in the West African nation as anti-government protests and violent clashes with security forces gain momentum over frustrations with military leaders overseeing a promised return to democratic rule. Smoke billowing from burning tyres and other debris has become a common sight in the capital Conakry since fuel price hikes triggered a first major protest against the military government last June. Many more protests have followed. At least 32 were injured in unrest this month, and the army was deployed to quell planned demonstrations in the capital last week. It was the latest clampdown as anger mounts against juntas that have seized power in a series of coups in the West and Central Africa region since 2020, with frustrations growing over the slow pace of a planned return to constitutional rule. Transitional authorities in Burkina Faso and Mali have also grown increasingly hostile towards critics who have highlighted their failures to protect citizens from jihadist insurgents - a factor that helped spur the military takeovers. In Guinea, opposition political parties had at first cautiously welcomed the September 2021 coup that ousted long-serving President Alpha Conde, who sparked anger for changing the constitution to allow him to run for a third term. But relations with junta leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya soured after main opposition parties rejected a 36-month transition to elections approved by the interim parliament last May. Doumbouya's government banned all public demonstrations in response and has since cracked down on the string of street protests that followed, drawing rebuke from rights groups and the United Nations. At least 24 people have been killed since June and dozens arrested, including high-profile activists, opposition parties and civil society groups say. Authorities have acknowledged "victims" but not given a figure. "The military junta can't give us hope and then act even worse than the regime it replaced," said Conakry resident Souleymane Bah, 34, adding that people wanted military junta to organise elections. Last October, the government cut its transition timeline to two years after the Economic Commission for West African States rejected its three-year transitional plan. "We plan to respect all the deadlines," said junta spokesman Ousmane Gaoual Diallo. This has failed to appease opposition parties. "We have reached a blocking point because we are dealing with a military junta who does not want a dialogue," said Aliou Conde, vice-president of the main opposition UFDG party, whose leader fled the country last year after authorities accused him of corruption. "At this rate, I fear we are heading straight into a wall," he warned. Last week, angry crowds gathered around the grieving relatives and friends of people killed in the latest unrest. Many were crying and holding up pictures of their loved ones on their phones. (Reporting by Saliou Samb and Souleymane Camara; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bate Felix and Nick Macfie) The Hague, not the hang, Ukraine wants to prosecute Putin, not eliminate him UA intelligence A mural depicting Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Cologne, Germany Ukraine has a conditional list of people whom it wants to eliminate, including Putin and Wagner PMC owner Yevgeny Prigozhin, German newspaper Welt previously reported, referring to an interview with Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence representative Vadym Skibitskyi. I understand that there are media people...who pick up and prepare the hottest facts, Yusov said. But originally it was somewhat different.The official emphasized that Putin and his henchmen are war criminals, and the Kremlin head is indeed target No. 1, but in terms of detention and delivery to the tribunal in The Hague.Ukraine is a civilized state and is acting in civilized ways, he said. To spend some extra effort now to physically eliminate a person who looks like Putin... we can talk about it for a long time, but this is a matter of expediency. Yusov reiterated that the Russian dictator should be arrested as a war criminal and brought to the tribunal for fair punishment. The Hague is inevitable for Putin, he said. And in this situation, its even better that he is alive at this tribunal. The Hague-based International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and his childrens rights ombudsman, Maria Lvova-Belova. They are both wanted for the forcible abduction of children from Ukraine to Russia. The dictator can be arrested on the territory of the 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute. Ukraine believes that the creation of a special tribunal is the only possibility to bring Russias top political and military leadership to justice for the crime of aggression against 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 How this Haitian-American photographer went from Miami to Vogue to winning $25,000 Daveed Baptiste knows the power of art. It turned school bullies into friends. It turned him into a wedding photographer as a teenager. It took him from Miami to New York City to the pages of Vogue magazine. And, it got him $25,000 to do whatever he wants. YoungArts, a Miami-based nonprofit that supports emerging young artists throughout their careers, announced Thursday that Baptiste won the 2023 Ashley Longshore Excellence in the Arts Award for his achievement and skill in photography. The recognition comes with an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000 along with mentorship and educational opportunities. It felt so good to get that award on so many different levels, Baptiste said. At age 26, Baptiste has been busy leaving his mark in fashion, art and photography. Born in Haiti and raised in Miami, Baptiste draws heavy inspiration from his Haitian-American heritage and community. He is a fashion designer and photographer who earned a full ride to Parsons School of Design in New York and was the 2016 YoungArts winner in photography and visual arts. His work has been featured in Vogue, The New Yorker and in several exhibitions. Baptistes photos are rich in color and nostalgia. He takes pride in exploring Haitian-American heritage and the day-to-day life of growing up in between two cultures. He designs and builds the sets for his photo shoots and captures striking images of people from his community. Landing by Daveed Baptiste, a photographer and the 2023 recipient of The Ashley Longshore Excellence in the Arts Award. He was awarded for his passionate and thoughtful approach to addressing identity and representation in his work, YoungArts said in its announcement. The award, which is in its second year, is open to YoungArts alumni 25 years or older who demonstrate excellence and ambition in theater, photography and visual arts. It is funded by artist Ashley Longshore. [Baptistes] work holds a magic, beauty and magnetism that I felt so strongly at first glance, Longshore said in a statement. The vibrancy and composition and narrative of his work is glorious! The world needs him. I am so excited to watch Daveed continue to grow as an artist. For Baptiste, learning about the award felt like getting a surprise birthday party from YoungArts. Photography grants can be hard to come by, especially in this amount of money, he said. He plans on investing the prize money right back into his photography. I really believe in the images Im making. I believe in the stories Im trying to tell, he said. Before I buy myself a new pair of shoes, Ill spend the money preparing one of those photo shoots. Ive invested every waking moment to this. The big yes moment Baptiste immigrated from Haiti to Miami when he was 6. Throughout his childhood, he and his family moved from neighborhood to neighborhood, living in Overtown, North Miami and Little Haiti. His family was his first introduction to art. His father painted as a side hustle, and his brother liked to draw. Baptiste, the second youngest of four children, was competitive with his siblings and decided to draw, too. At school, Baptiste made a name for himself with his drawing skills. Kids would gather around him in the cafeteria to watch him draw. School bullies would asked him for drawings to give to their girlfriends as gifts. Then came the 8th grade, and his life changed forever. Baptistes sister, also a creative, introduced him to the youth programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami, he said. MOCA offered different types of art classes daily. Baptiste took them all. Thats when his love for photography began, he said. The museum loaned him cameras to go home and shoot photos. He was encouraged to document his life and felt joy while photographing himself and his family. Soft by Daveed Baptiste, a photographer and the 2023 recipient of The Ashley Longshore Excellence in the Arts Award. Baptiste credits his days at MOCA and his siblings with nurturing his creativity and budding photography career. It was the early to mid-2000s, Baptiste recalled, so cellphone cameras were not the technology they are today. Taking photos on those loaned cameras felt and was special. The more he stuck with photography, the more people sought him out to photograph special occasions. By 17, he was shooting photos of weddings and baby showers. Baptiste bounced around to different high schools because, as he put it, if I didnt like it, I left. After auditioning three times, he finally got into Design and Architecture Senior High, his dream school. That is where he learned about YoungArts. He applied, and got into that program, too. I think that was my first big yes moment, Baptiste said. Like when every single ounce of your body is jumping in joy. Art from joy In 2016, Baptiste moved to New York City chasing the dream. He saw other young creatives making it big and wanted to take the leap. Being from Miami, only knowing Miami your whole life, being an artist, Baptiste said. Doesnt matter where you are in America, you kind of have this romantic idea about New York. His time there has served him well. His fashion photography appeared in the September 2020 issue of Vogue. His Haiti To Hood photo series made headlines. And hes currently an artist-in-residence with Silver Art Projects in the World Trade Center in Manhattan. He gets a kick out of going to work in sweatpants and Crocs among businessmen in suits. But theres still no place like home. Sometime this fall, he said, hell make his return to the 305 to tell stories about Haitian-Americans that others wont. Theres a whole Black Miami of stories that I feel like havent been explored, he said. Baptiste doesnt just love what he does. He feels a spiritual connection to his artwork, and so do others. One of his favorite images that hes taken is Hood Dandy, a portrait of a young man in a durag seated at a brown plaid table and looking back at the camera. Baptiste remembers how much fun he had that day at the photoshoot with his friends and collaborators. Hood Dandy is one of photographer Daveed Baptistes favorite images. Not only was the photoshoot joyful, but the image also made waves for Baptistes artistic career. He didnt realize it at the time, but the resulting photo would make waves both within and outside of the art world. Friends, fellow artists, complete strangers, art snobs and non-art snobs loved it. Instagram wanted to buy it for the companys office. The image resonated with people on a deeper -- even spiritual -- level, Baptiste said. It came from a fun, joyful place, and then it took off into the world and became something much more, he said. Thats what most artists really want. This story was produced with financial support from The Perez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work. How Harrisburg Works: New caucuses, special election season, and the death of a bill 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 As Pennsylvania approaches the June 30 budget deadline, top lawmakers are busy negotiating and Capitol lips are tightly sealed about what is being discussed. But that doesnt mean there isnt plenty of legislative trivia to explore as we all wait for more details to trickle out. In this edition of his recurring feature, Spotlight PAs Stephen Caruso looks at lawmakers internal groups, what happens when a bill fails, and the next round of special elections. Have a question? Email him at scaruso@spotlightpa.org with the subject line How Harrisburg Works. SUPPORT THIS WORK: Help Spotlight PA inform and empower Pennsylvanians to get involved, get out to vote, and demand accountability from our leaders. Make a tax-deductible gift of any amount now. Whats going on with all these caucuses? In a previous edition of How Harrisburg Works, Spotlight PA explained that caucuses are informal groups of like-minded legislators organized around a common ideology, industry, or interest. They are meant to bring lawmakers together to advocate for their pet issue. Normally, these groups are low-key affairs that attract birds of a feather. But the start of the Pennsylvania Legislative Jewish Caucus in March was a little different. Founded by state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, the caucus aims to protect the civil rights of all Pennsylvanians and celebrate Jewish culture and heritage, according to an invitation that was sent to all 253 lawmakers and viewed by Spotlight PA. Frankel, who represents the Pittsburgh neighborhood thats home to the synagogue where a white supremacist killed 11 Jewish people in 2018, told Spotlight PA he founded the caucus to build a bulwark against all forms of bigotry, not just antisemitism. He also cited state Sen. Doug Mastrianos 2022 gubernatorial campaign as an impetus for the caucus. The Franklin County Republicans first rally opened with a person blowing a Jewish holy instrument. The state senator also paid for consulting from the founder of a far-right social media website on which the alleged synagogue shooter posted antisemitic content And he called the Jewish day school that Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro attended one of the most privileged schools, which some observers argued was an antisemitic dog whistle. The campaign was very disturbing, and I wanted to be better prepared for next time, Frankel told Spotlight PA. The caucus, Frankel added, is one mechanism, one tool we could use as a community of legislators to stand together. A top priority for the caucus and Frankel is the passage of a four-bill package that would expand the states hate crimes statute. The bills are backed by the Shapiro administration and advanced out of a state House committee this week. The groups stated goals were immediately tested when Mastriano attempted to join the caucus. The caucus will not launder the dangerous antisemitism out of your past, Frankel and Schwank said in an April email rejecting Mastriano. Your actions added fuel to a very dangerous fire, and any heartfelt effort to repair that damage would need to begin with the acknowledgment of your role in it. Mastriano told Spotlight PA, They invited me, and then rejected me. Ive always loved the Jewish people and Jewish nation, Mastriano added. This week, 34 state House Democrats representing about a third of the 102-member majority formed the Pennsylvania Progressive Caucus. The group will use its collective power to fight for policies that prioritize our constituents and working people over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality and advance racial justice, reproductive justice and civil liberties. Even under complete Republican legislative control, progressives notched a few wins, the biggest being the states $125 million Whole-Home Repairs program to provide grants to homeowners and landlords for maintenance. But after Democrats flipped the state House last year, Its just really clear to us that it is a tremendous moment in which we have a lot of new members who share our values, state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia, told Spotlight PA. A separate group of 18 lawmakers ages 45 years old or younger announced the formation of a bipartisan Pennsylvania Future Caucus comprised of millennial and Gen Z legislators. They hope to hash out compromises on issues faced by young people and families such as rising housing, higher education, and child care costs Caucus co-chair state Rep. Thomas Kutz, R-Cumberland, said the caucus will create a forum outside of the soundbites of the House floor where lawmakers can have candid conversations. Members of the public show support for legislative action against gun violence at the Harrisburg Capitol in 2019. What happens when a bill fails? State House Democrats, with some Republican support, passed two long-sought gun control bills this week, including a proposal that would require state background checks for all firearm purchases, not just handguns. The other is an extreme risk protection order measure that would allow family members or law enforcement to petition a court to take away someones guns if they are a danger to themself or others. The bills now go to the state Senate, where they face an uncertain fate in the GOP-controlled upper chamber. However, another bill that would require gun owners to report a gun as lost or stolen within 72 hours of discovering the weapons disappearance, failed by a single vote: 100-101. Unlike the other bills, the lost and stolen reporting bill received no Republican support. State Rep. Frank Burns, D- Cambria, also voted against it, sinking the proposal in a chamber where Democrats hold only a one-seat majority. Burns also voted against the other two gun bills. Its unusual for a bill to fail on the Pennsylvania House floor, said Alex Garlick, a University of Vermont political science professor who studies American legislatures. Between 2009 and 2018, just 75 out of more than 5,000 bills that were put up for a final vote in either chamber of the Pennsylvania General Assembly failed, according to data he collected. Its not infinitesimally small. This isnt lightning striking. But it shows how narrow the chamber is and how difficult a job leadership has keeping their members in rank, Garlick told Spotlight PA. Legislative leaders, added Garlick, will usually only schedule votes they think they can win and skip votes they may lose to project strength and unity around a common agenda. They are also drawn to votes that can split the minority party, as two of the bills did; in fact, they passed because of Republican support. One conservative lawmaker, state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R., Clinton), even highlighted the dynamic on the floor, telling her GOP colleagues who might vote for stricter gun laws that they are aiding and abetting the socialism and communism that Democrats are pushing in our country. State House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery) said Democrats slim majority necessitates humility. At 102, were going to have to be bipartisan and thoughtful and strategic, Bradford told Spotlight PA. And I think we were all those things. And I think we passed two historic pieces of gun legislation to make Pennsylvania safer because of it. But the failed vote isnt the end of the discussion. Bradford has already filed a motion to reconsider the lost and stolen bill, which could happen at any time. Whats next for special elections? State House Democrats successfully defended their majority during the May primary election, winning a suburban Philadelphia special election by a 20-point margin. The race briefly raised alarm bells among Pennsylvania Democrats, who worried that they could lose. That fear drew more than $1 million in spending plus a presidential endorsement to the previously sleepy race. But there are already more special elections on the horizon. State Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny, won the Democratic nomination to be Allegheny Countys next executive. Democrats are bullish on her chances to win this November in the heavily Democratic county, but she still needs to defeat Republican Joe Rockey to win the spot. Innamorato told Spotlight PA that she wont step down from her state House seat unless she wins in November. On the other side of Pennsylvania, state Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks, ran for judge as both a Democrat and Republican something allowed in a limited number of races and won both nods. In an interview with Spotlight PA, Galloway declined to comment on the future of his seat but said he is grateful to continue serving his community and that he plans to stay in office until he is sworn in as a judge. A special election for Galloways seat, in lower Bucks County, has privately raised concerns among some Democratic operatives, who have pointed to the areas slow rightward shift in the past few statewide elections. Galloway has reliably won reelection, but he is also one of the chambers more conservative Democrats, and previously has voted to restrict abortion access and expand a tax credit for private school scholarships. Trevor Southerland, executive director of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee, said in an email that the group and Shapiro have made very clear that we will defend the House Majority and were confident that voters in both Allegheny and Bucks County will vote to maintain a Democratic House. 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. Hartville Village Council Monday meeting KEY ACTION: Voted to add Lake Road to the villages 2023 paving program. DISCUSSION: In March, Council approved a $288,000 base bid from Karvo Companies for paving of Erie Avenue, Wagner Court, Miller Avenue NE, Grand Trunk Avenue and the entrance and exit to Danbury Glen. Council decided at that time to await awarding Karvos alternate bid for Lake Road with the possibility of receiving as much as $120,000 in Ohio Public Works Commission funding for that portion of the project. Engineer Sam Awadallah said the village was not successful securing the OPWC funding and recommended moving forward with the Lake Road project. The Karvo bid including Lake Road was $456,300, which Awadallah noted is still under the engineers $626,000 estimate. OTHER ACTION: Approved a 4% wage increase for employees and officials of the village based upon the employment cost index. Approved a contract with the Stark County Health Department for mosquito spraying in the village. Announced the village Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. May 27 at Memorial Park, 335 Park Land Drive SW. Discussed a proposal to lower the speed limit on portions of Woodland Avenue SW from 40 mph to 35 mph. Police Chief Keith Moore suggested the speed limit be lowered for the length of the roadway. UP NEXT: Meets at 6:30 p.m. June 12 at Village Hall, 202 W. Maple St. and online at www.facebook.com/VillageofHartville. Brian Lisik This article originally appeared on The Repository: Hartville adds Lake Road to this years paving program CHATHAM- Nancy Gifford, a seventh grade science teacher at Monomoy Middle School has been selected as the Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year by the Patriots Hall of Fame, presented by Raytheon Technologies. As this years recipient, Monomoy Middle School will receive $5,000 from the Patriots Foundation in her name to be used for STEM education. Gifford will also be appointed to Gov. Maura Healeys STEM Advisory Council, chaired by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. Gifford was previously selected as the 2018 recipient of the State Science Educator of the Year Award by the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers. In a family of educators, Giffords love for science started from an early age Giffords teaching career started at Mashpee Elementary School in 1992. She joined Harwich Elementary School in 2008 and then moved to Harwich Middle School in 2010. Shes been teaching seventh grade science since and currently also teaches sixth and seventh grade robotics. Monomoy Middle School teacher Nancy Gifford, right, talks with fifth grader Lucas Bicalho during the fifth grade robotics class in Chatham. The students were working on their robots and programming them during a class on May 18. Gifford was named Massachusetts STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Teacher of the Year. Growing up in Dennis, in a family of educators, Giffords love for science started from an early age. Both her grandparents and several uncles were teachers, but it was through her mother who was a nurse and father who was a mechanic that Gifford was inspired to take up teaching as a career. My mother taught me through her nursing in the medical field, and then my father taught me how things work and how to fix things. It was kind of the combination of the teaching family and then a strong science background that really inspired me, said Gifford. 'I wanted kids to understand they can do anything they want to do.' For Gifford, teaching science is about constant fun where's theres always new things to learn, new discoveries to make and the hands-on experiences she can share with her students are incomparable to any other subject. She obtained her undergraduate degree from UMass Amherst and masters in early childhood education and development from Wheelock College. Her sights were set on being an elementary teacher. Nearly 20 years ago, Gifford was selected for NASA's NEW program where she spent two weeks at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama learning about the space program. Someone from Cape Cod can go and get a job working at NASA, it never occurred to me before that we dont have many examples of that, here on the Cape, said Gifford. From that point on, I wanted kids to understand they can do anything they want to do and as a teacher, I have to help them see that there's lots of careers they probably never even heard of and help them pursue them. Gifford has worked at NASA as a master teacher for the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) and been a member of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Climate Stewards Program. In 2012, Gifford was selected to attend the Honeywell Educators at Space Academy, a space camp experience for teachers sponsored by Honeywell Hometown Solutions. Ive done several interesting programs for teachers where I've worked with scientists and other teachers; I've done a lot of part time work and contract work for NASA and WGBH, said Gifford. Gifford is a certified presenter for the Chemical Education Foundation's Essential Elements Program, WGBH/PBS LearningMedia teacher adviser and presenter, WGBH/NASAs Bringing the Universe to America's Classrooms teacher adviser, Cape Cod STEM Network, and a Cape Light Compact Teacher Adviser. Gifford has been involved in curriculum review and lesson writing for various organizations, and has been able to bring back those experiences to the classroom. Were shifting the way that we teach science. Its more of a practical experience now, rather than just learning something from the textbook, said Gifford. Students are actually defining problems and figuring out solutions, learning from their mistakes, asking more questions and following the cycle that scientists do in the real world. Cape Cod is a great place for science lovers, according to Gifford. "Our kids go out on field trips, testing the water, learning about carbon in the marshes and how the sea level rise is impacting our shorelines and endangered species," said Gifford. Theres a lot to do on the Cape, thinking from the science based career perspective but what Cape Cod lacks is the access to technology and resources to pursue innovative science careers. Gifford is excited to bring a voice from Cape Cod to Gov. Healey's STEM Advisory Council. We don't have our families working in high tech companies for the most part and we don't have access to some of the opportunities for our students to go and have an internship at some of these corporations, said Gifford. There are wonderful opportunities around but our kids dont have the access to these, because of the distance. I'm hoping to be able to give a voice to that. More: A 'standout' inspiration: Martha's Vineyard teacher is island's first to win state honor Teachers should be finding programs and resources to help them find what they want to do, according to Gifford, a member of the National Science Teachers Association. I know a lot of teachers around the state and around the country and it ties me into this network of great teachers where we share ideas and learn from each other, said Gifford. "I am grateful to the teachers I work with and the seats I have held, I've had good support from my family as well over the years and I have been extremely lucky, said Gifford. The most important thing to me is helping kids find their passions so they can have the best life possible, she said. Rasheek Tabassum Mujib writes about healthcare and education. Reach her at rmujib@capecodonline.com. Keep connected with the Cape. Download our free app. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Monomoy science teacher Nancy Gifford honored for STEM work Her viral tweet started movement to honor graves of fallen heroes whose families can't visit on Memorial Day Every Memorial Day since her grandfather's death, Emily Domenech has visited his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Now, she's showing that respect to thousands of other fallen soldiers through an initiative called "The Honor Project." It launched with a tweet that went viral in May 2020. Back then, COVID rules at Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day restricted visitors to family members with a special pass. While visiting her grandfather, Col. John Domenech, who died in 2006, Domenech had an idea. "Does anyone have buddies buried in Arlington who they would like visited today?" she tweeted. "Since only family members are allowed in, I would be honored to pay respects on your behalf." Link: Volunteer or submit your fallen hero with The Honor Project Does anyone have buddies buried in Arlington who they would like visited today? Since only family members are allowed in, I would be honored to pay respects on your behalf... Emily Domenech (@ehdomenech) May 25, 2020 Domenech thought she might hear from a handful of friends. "After hundreds, then thousands of responses, it became so clear that there was a huge need and desire to honor fallen people," Domenech, a stepmother of three, tells TODAY.com. "Families from all around the world said things like, 'My grandfather or uncle is buried there and I cant travel from Kansas.'" For eight hours that day Domenech "ran around Arlington Cemetery like a crazy person," she recalls, tweeting photos of requested gravestones. She left a flower on each grave, some pulled from bouquets she bought for her grandfather and some given by a non-profit group distributing them in the cemetery. When Domenech ran out, she drove to a store to buy more. Infinite thanks to @ehdomenech for stopping by to see Ryan and sending this photo. Its nice to finally see this in place. https://t.co/iMZ8S1VEhD Megan Murat (@MeganMuratTV) May 25, 2020 "I (barely) ate or drank, although my parents, whose barbecue I wound up skipping that day, brought me a sandwich and spent three hours helping me visit more graves, take photos and reply to tweets," says Domenech. When a Twitter user unearthed Domenech's personal Venmo account and offered to send donations, she directed them to several charitable organizations, including the Travis Manion Foundation. Its president is Ryan Manion, whose little brother Travis Manion, 26, a former first lieutenant in the Marine Corps, died while saving the lives of his wounded teammates in Iraq. "He was the only member of this patrol that day who did not survive," Manion tells TODAY.com. "He received a Silver Star for bravery." Domenech and the Travis Manion Foundation, an organization that helps veterans and surviving families thrive in their post-military lives, conceived The Honor Project, an annual Memorial Day event that expands Domenech's work on a grander scale. A child volunteers for The project draws volunteers from all over the country to place Flags of Valor at gravesites, say aloud the name of each person and reflect on their sacrifices. So far, volunteers have visited the graves of more than 5,000 fallen soldiers across seven cemeteries. This year, organizers hope to grace more than 10,000 gravesites across 14 public military cemeteries. Most events take place on Memorial Day. Anyone can sign up as an Honor Project volunteer on the TMF website; those requesting visitors for their loved ones can "Submit Your Hero" on the website. Photos shared on social media bear the hashtag "The Honor Project" hashtag. Domenech remembers many of the late service members whose graves she has visited. "Air Force Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf was killed in Afghanistan in January 2020 and buried a month later," she says. "His spouse reached out to me because she hadnt been able to see his grave. I was the first person to visit him. Now I am Facebook friends with his mom and sister." Emily Domenech, a Virginia woman behind Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez, buried at Arlington, shares Domenech's July 26 birthday. "I looked up his bio online and learned he was deployed five times," she says. "One year, I went to visit his grave and found a bottle of alcohol and a little stack of cups (with a sign) that read, "Take a shot for Rod." Domenech obliged and sent a selfie to the family, which had shared their phone number. "I'll never meet that family but I feel so (special) to be a part of their (lives)," she says. "What a privilege to serve those who served at an important time." Emily Domenech's late grandfather John was a military colonel and an inspiration for The Honor Project is only one way to give back on Memorial Day. "We all don't have to serve in the military but we must have an understanding and appreciation of those that do," says Manion. One thing anyone can do is simply Google the names and stories of fallen service members, she suggests. "When you're at a pool party this weekend, share that story with someone else," she says. "It's important to acknowledge why this weekend exists ... no one wants their loved one's name and story to die." "My own favorite memories are from Memorial Day when Travis and I went to the beach," adds Manion. "Those people sacrificed so you could have that barbecue ... their sacrifice is why we have this incredible free country," notes Domenech. A volunteer pays respects to a fallen soldier as part of Volunteer or submit your fallen hero with The Honor Project This article was originally published on TODAY.com Members of the Town Fork Creek Neighborhood Association volunteer to provide food and other necessities to elderly residents whom the highway has cut off from grocery stores. (Arin Yoon/The New York Times) KANSAS CITY, Mo. Anthony Roberts set out to walk to a convenience store on the opposite side of a busy highway one afternoon. It wasnt an easy trip. First, he had to detour out of his way to reach an intersection. Then he had to wait for the light to change. When the walk signal finally came on, he had little time to cross several lanes of traffic and reach the highways wide median. Finally, he had to make it across the other set of lanes to complete his trek. For a person who doesnt have a car, its very hard, especially in the wintertime, Roberts said. No one wants to take a risk with their lives trying to cross the highway. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Roberts journey is a small example of the lasting consequences stemming from the construction of highways slicing through urban neighborhoods in cities around the country. Completed in 2001 after being in the works for decades, the highway, U.S. 71 in Kansas City, Missouri, displaced thousands of residents and cut off predominantly Black neighborhoods from grocery stores, health care and jobs. Kansas City officials are now looking to repair some of the damage caused by the highway and reconnect the neighborhoods that surround it. To date, the city has received $5 million in funding from the Biden administration to help develop plans for potential changes, such as building overpasses that could improve pedestrian safety and better connect people to mass transit. The funding is an example of the administrations efforts to address racial disparities resulting from how the United States built physical infrastructure in past decades. The Transportation Department has awarded funding to dozens of projects under the goal of reconnecting communities, including $185 million in grants as part of a pilot program created by the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law. But the project in Kansas City also shows just how difficult and expensive it can be to reverse long-ago decisions to build highways that slashed through communities of color and split up neighborhoods. Many of the projects funded by the Biden administration would leave highways intact but seek to lessen the damage they have caused to surrounding areas. And even taking out a roadway is just a first step to reinvigorating a neighborhood. Once you wreck a community, putting it back together is much more work than just removing an interstate, said Beth Osborne, who served as an acting assistant secretary at the Transportation Department during the Obama administration and is now the director of Transportation for America, an advocacy group. The United States has a long history of highway projects dividing urban communities that dates back to the construction of the federal interstate highway system in the middle of the 20th century. In recent years, the idea of removing some of those roadways has gained traction in cities around the country, including Detroit, New Orleans and Syracuse, New York. In his first year in office, as part of his infrastructure plan, President Joe Biden proposed a $15 billion federal program to help bring improvements to communities harmed by the construction of transportation infrastructure. His original proposal was whittled down to a much smaller program, with $1 billion in funding, in the bipartisan infrastructure package that Congress later approved. The Transportation Department announced the first batch of grants under the program in February, awarding $185 million to 45 projects. The grants included about $56 million to help build a deck over an expressway in Buffalo, New York, and $30 million to go toward redesigning an urban freeway in Long Beach, California. In a visit to Buffalo after the grants were announced, Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, said that planners of some highways had built them directly through the heart of vibrant communities sometimes to reinforce segregation, sometimes because it was the path of least resistance, almost always because Black neighborhoods and low-income neighborhoods did not have the power to resist or reshape those projects. Now, most of the people who made those decisions arent around today, Buttigieg continued. No one here today is responsible for creating that situation in the first place. But all of us are responsible for what we do in our time to repair it, and that is why were here today. Kansas City officials received just over $1 million from that program to study how to reconnect another part of the city, the Westside neighborhood, which is separated from other areas by a different highway, Interstate 35. The Transportation Department is also using other grant money to support projects meant to stitch communities back together. The $5 million award that Kansas City received to address the impact of U.S. 71 came from a program called Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE. The grant is meant to help the city devise plans for improvements along one stretch of the highway. City officials are not seeking to remove the roadway altogether, but they want to make it safer for pedestrians to get from one side to the other. Building overpasses could spare residents from the dangerous trip across the highway on foot and make it easier to get to a nearby bus route. The idea for what is now U.S. 71 can be traced to the 1950s, when it was envisioned as a way to connect downtown Kansas City with areas to the south. A legal battle in the 1970s and 1980s delayed construction for more than a decade, and a portion of the route was ultimately refashioned into more of a parkway. Thousands of people, including many Black families, were displaced to make way for the 10-mile roadway, which is also known as Bruce R. Watkins Drive. Its construction left a lasting imprint on Kansas City. The citys Country Club District, a group of historic neighborhoods west of the highway where homes commonly fetch upward of $1 million, was untouched by the roadway. The area to the east of the highway is markedly different, with lower property values and more abandoned and foreclosed homes. Kansas Citys mayor, Quinton Lucas, said it was impossible to live in his city and not know the scar that the highway left on the Black community. Churches, schools and businesses disappeared after it was built, he said. Lucas said that fighting to undo the damage caused by the roadway and righting the wrongs that had affected the citys Black residents was a top priority for him. Its how to make sure we are linking businesses on both sides, how do we make it easier for people who can cross without a car and how to engage a neighborhood and not have them known as just a highway, he said. Ron Hunt, who for decades has lived in the Blue Hills neighborhood west of U.S. 71, said he had watched the highway cripple the area economically, drive up crime and limit access to grocery stores. Hunt said that as other parts of the city continued to grow and blossom, it pained him to see his community wilt after the highway was built. Residents like Lisa Ray are trying to preserve what remains of neighborhoods they loved. Ray grew up in Town Fork Creek just east of U.S. 71, which was once a pleasant, middle-class area filled with Black-owned businesses. But the highway destroyed it, she said. It sounded good 40 years ago when they first started this project, she said. It did not turn out the way any of us thought it would. Now she and other members of the Town Fork Creek Neighborhood Association volunteer to provide food and other necessities to elderly residents whom the highway has cut off from grocery stores. They also buy trash bags and organize cleanups to keep bottles, car parts and papers from lining the streets. The neighborhood association has spent money purchasing door security bars to help prevent break-ins in the area. All we do is try, Ray said. I try every day, block by block. I cant help everyone, but I do try. c.2023 The New York Times Company California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, left, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, center, attend an abortion rights event in San Francisco on Oct. 13. (Yalonda M. James / Associated Press) After her friend and former boss lost the presidential race in 2016, Democrat Eleni Kounalakis remembers Hillary Clinton urging women to run for public office. It was a pivotal moment that inspired Kounalakis to run for California lieutenant governor in 2018, a position that is now the basis for her recently launched campaign to become the states first female governor . That effort will get a boost Thursday when Kounalakis is expected to announce an endorsement from Clinton, who says she wants to help her friend break Californias glass ceiling. Eleni has proven to be a fierce leader, Clinton said in a statement lauding Kounalakis on education, the economy and abortion access. Thats the California way, and in 2026, that will be the Eleni Kounalakis way. With Gov. Gavin Newsom termed out of office after 2026, the governors race is expected to draw a large field of contenders hoping to lead the nations largest state. Democrat Betty Yee, the former state controller , has said she plans to run. Democratic Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta has said he is considering it. But Kounalakis was the first to formally launch a gubernatorial campaign when she announced it last month. Now she is following up with high-profile endorsements that also include support from Californias former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, another barrier breaker. Boxer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 1992 became the first women elected to represent California in the Senate. Endorsements like that show that she's got the traditional party luminaries who are women on her side, said Kim Nalder, a political science professor at California State University, Sacramento. Those are important endorsements. Although Kounalakis is unknown to many voters, Nalder said, endorsements from well-known Democrats such as Clinton and Boxer will help her build credibility with the states overwhelmingly Democratic electorate. The fact that this is happening relatively early shows that she's probably making moves to try to box out other potential candidates, Nalder said. The connections between Kounalakis and Clinton go back decades. Kounalakis father, Sacramento developer Angelo Tsakopoulos, was a major donor to President Clinton who attended a state dinner and stayed overnight at the White House in 1997. Kounalakis helped raise money for Hillary Clintons 2008 presidential campaign and then worked for her when Clinton was secretary of State and Kounalakis was ambassador to Hungary. In 2016, Kounalakis was a California co-chair of Clinton's presidential campaign, helping raise money and advising on foreign policy. "I could go all the way back to 1992 when Hillary Clinton first inspired me," Kounalakis said Wednesday in an interview with The Times. She recalled the flap that year when Clinton said she "could have stayed home and baked cookies" but instead pursued a legal career. "Even though she had to apologize for the comment, for many years after, for a kid like me, I took it as permission to want to go out and do bigger things in the world," Kounalakis said. The inspiration she drew from Clinton developed over the years and became transformative after she lost the presidential race to Donald Trump. "That catastrophic election impacted me as it did so many women," Kounalakis said. "When Hillary stood up and said, 'Women of America, go run for office,' I was one of thousands of women, record numbers of women across the country, who stood up and ran." In 2018, Kounalakis became the first woman elected lieutenant governor in California. It's a low-profile position but she has used it, in part, to advance women's issues. She played a big role in the campaign for Proposition 1 last year to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution and wore suffragette white when she became the first woman in California history to sign a bill into law while Newsom was traveling out of state. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Quzhou, a city in eastern China, has established a 1-billion-yuan fund to promote its digital economy. The fund tilts toward AI and big data industries, granting more than 20 million yuan in rewards to an enterprise in these industries that has filed for IPOs and has equity funds of over 100 million yuan. Unicorn or quasi-unicorn enterprises engaged in cloud computing, big data, cyber security, and AI are eligible for a subsidy equal to 20% of their R&D spending if the amount is less than 100 million yuan, or 25% if the sum is more than 100 million yuan. The subsidy caps at 100 million yuan. Adjacent to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Yiwu, and other Chinese metropolises, the 1,800-year-old city is well served by a transportation network integrating high-speed railways, expressways, air transportation, and shipping. In recent years, Quzhou has developed rapidly, creating six major industrial chains in new materials, new energy, integrated circuits, intelligent equipment, life and health, and special paper. It has also built four industrial parks, namely the Intelligent Manufacturing New City, the Smart New City, the Airport New City, and the Quzhou Innovation and Entrepreneurship Platform. In addition, Quzhou has partnered with Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou in a new "R&D plus manufacturing" mode. Those who would like to invest in Quzhou or are interested in learning more about Quzhou's pro-investment policies can contact the Quzhou Council for the Promotion of International Trade by phone at +86-570-8021017 or by email at zccpit@163.com. The American flag and flowers are on shown near a grave at the Gypsum Hill cemetery. On a day that marks the unofficial start of summer, it's tradition to remember and honor those who died in active military service. This Memorial Day, American Legions, VFW Posts and other groups will do their part to honor service members in ceremonies throughout central Kansas. A special weekend of ceremonies and events has been planned in Salina with guests and a keynote speaker who have been influential in advocacy work on behalf of service members and their families. Here are some ways people can honor the fallen in the Salina area during this weekend of remembrance. Prisoners Of War/Missing in Action discussion with Ann Mills-Griffiths When: 6 p.m. May 28 Where: American Legion Post 62/ VFW Post 1432, 1108 West Crawford Street Ann Mills-Griffiths will be the keynote speaker for this year's Memorial Day ceremony held at the Salina-Saline County war Memorial in Sunset Park. In addition, she will be hosting a discussion on POW/MIA matters on Sunday. As a recognized leader on POW/MIA issues, Mills-Griffiths has appeared before government leaders as an advocate for service members and their families. At 84, she is currently the Chair of the National League of POW/MIA Families. Her decorated history of involvement in advocacy brings a breadth of topics to share with the public. She has served on the Advisory Committee of the Defense Department's 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration Commission. She is a member of DAR, American Legion Auxiliary, Air Force Sergeants Association, a life member of the DAV and VFW Auxiliaries, and an honorary life member of the Special Operations Association and the Special Forces Association. In 2019, she was the recipient of the VFW Americanism Award. "She's a national treasure," said Jason McIntyre, a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 62. Gypsum Hill Cemetery ceremony with VFW Post 1432 When: 10 a.m. May 29 Where: 2020 East Iron Avenue The ceremony will feature military organization honor guards, a firing squad with taps, and a service honoring veterans and fallen service members. Roselawn Cemetery ceremony with American Legion When: Immediately following the Gypsum ceremony, May 29 Where: 1920 East Crawford Street The ceremony will feature military organization honor guards, a firing squad with taps, and a service honoring veterans and fallen service members. Unveiling of a new monument at the Sunset Park War Memorial When: 11 a.m. May 29 Where: 700 Sunset Drive A new site at the war memorial will be unveiled by the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 62. The new monument is dedicated to 11 POW's from Saline County and Major Dennis Pugh, who is Saline County's only individual still MIA. Special guests Dale Pugh (brother to Major Dennis Pugh, MIA), Salina Mayor Michael Hoppock, Keynote Speaker Mills-Griffiths, and Ambassador David Lambertson, the former U.S. Ambassador to Thailand and Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State, will be in attendance. A lunch catered by Applebee's will immediately follow the 11 a.m. ceremony, and take place at the VFW Post 1432 at 1108 West Crawford. Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc. This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Ceremonies planned for Memorial Day in Salina Why hasnt the DeSantis administration named anyone new to Floridas Civil Rights Hall of Fame since 2019? That was Gov. Ron DeSantis first year in office, that faraway time when he still seemed to care about governing the whole state, not just his own followers. Back then, the new governor as required under Florida Statute 760.065 since 2010 chose three people who had made significant contributions in the struggle for equality and justice for all persons. They were all Black men and included Daniel Webster Perkins, one of Floridas first African-American attorneys; Charles Ullman Smith, active in the civil rights movement, including the Tallahassee bus boycott of 1956, and Henry James Thomas, one of the original Freedom Riders in the civil rights movement. Worthy individuals whose accomplishments should be celebrated. But why no one since then? A group of North Florida religious leaders held a news conference last week at the Civil Rights Hall of Fame, near the entrance to the Capitol in Tallahassee, to ask that very question. As Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr., pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, noted in the Tallahassee Democrat, the governor has failed to choose the names of men and women who bleed and die for diversity, equity and inclusion. So we want to ask him, Why not? The response they got afterward was perhaps the lamest excuse ever made in DeSantis Florida: COVID was the culprit. The Commission on Human Relations, which is charged with recommending up to 10 people to the governor annually, wrote in an email reported by the Democrat that the commission couldnt hold a ceremony because they had to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is DeSantis free state of Florida. This is the place where we threw off the shackles of public health and safety in favor of going to restaurants and malls without masking. Prevent the spread of COVID? Since when? But OK, say we believe them. How about a virtual ceremony instead? During the worst of the pandemic, there were weddings held on Zoom, cocktail hours online and business meetings conducted every day, virtually. To state the obvious, we could have held a Civil Rights Hall of Fame Ceremony online, too. Unless, of course, the DeSantis administration didnt see this honor as a priority, but saw it as a political liability instead. Because how can you rail against diversity, equity and inclusion and even legislate against it as the Florida Legislature has, under DeSantis and then turn around and honor significant figures in the civil rights movement? Awkward. Hypocritical. And heres the truly scary part for now-presidential candidate DeSantis far too likely to be considered woke, at least in the eyes of the far-right Republicans hes been so zealously courting. The self-appointed top gun of Floridas woke wars cant be seen as backing down or weak, even a little. Not when he has repeatedly cast himself, embarrassingly and with enormous hubris, as Gods choice for a leader. Once again, the administration of the state has been warped by his endless ambition, down to even the most non-controversial things, like picking names for an honor wall in the Capitol. It wasnt always that way. The Civil Rights Hall of Fame was created by a unanimous vote of both the House and Senate in 2010. Three more names should have been added to that wall every year that DeSantis has been governor. Honoring those who contributed to the struggle for equality and justice shouldnt be a question. But under this governor and now presidential contender apparently it is. An Egyptian volunteer delivers free meals to a family of Sudanese refugees hosted at an Egyptian home in the village of Wadi Karkar near Aswan From the scorching summer heat to war profiteers and bureaucratic foot-dragging, Sudanese fleeing battles at home have encountered many obstacles -- but also help from strangers -- on the long road to safety in Egypt. Among the hundreds of refugee families waiting at the border, some had no passports. Others would not go further until their husband, brother or son was granted a visa -- which women and children are exempt from. One woman was "sleeping sometimes on the ground, sometimes on a bus" for several days, she told AFP, waiting for her cousin to be issued a visa by the Egyptian consulate in the border city of Wadi Halfa. She eventually crossed together with a few of her aunts, but "my cousin, he's still waiting", a month after fleeing their home in Khartoum, said the woman, who asked not to be identified. Stuck in Wadi Halfa, "everything is overpriced because of war profiteers", said a Sudanese man who finally made it to Cairo after a two-week wait. Others prefer to try their luck at another Egyptian consulate, in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, more than 650 kilometres (400 miles) away from Wadi Halfa. But they are not guaranteed relief there either. Youssef al-Bashir said he had been waiting "for five days" along with hundreds of others to submit his application. Since fighting began on April 15 between the forces of two rival generals, more than 132,000 refugees have arrived in Egypt, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday. More than a million others have been displaced internally in Sudan, and across the borders of other countries. Many of those who could not flee have hunkered down in their homes without basic supplies. For those who make it across the border to Egypt, the Egyptian Red Crescent provides care for the sick and hands out water and biscuits. - 'Our second country' - Unlike in other neighbouring countries that have been taking in Sudanese refugees, humanitarian operations in Egypt are limited. Cairo refuses to set up refugee camps and instead says the new arrivals are given the right to work and move freely. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has repeatedly said his country is hosting "not war refugees" but "guests". Sudanese who cross into Egypt's south must then buy a bus ticket to take them to the nearest major city, Aswan, around 200 kilometres north of the border. They are greeted there by volunteers who offer a hot meal -- the first for many since embarking on the perilous desert journey. "We serve three meals a day. For lunch there is chicken, pasta and beans," said Mansour Jomaa, one of about 60 volunteers. "We also deliver meals to a dozen houses," where "sometimes eight families are crammed together", he told AFP. More than four million Sudanese were living in Egypt before the war, according to the United Nations. The neighbouring countries share the Arabic language, cultural ties, and fabled history dating back to the Pharaonic era. Egypt was an "obvious" destination, said Walid Ahmed, a refugee who left Wadi Halfa and headed north. "It's our second country." - Long-term needs - "The number of people waiting to cross into Egypt is increasing," said Carlos Cruz, head of the IOM mission in Egypt. The UN agency needs $19.9 million to provide them with "water, food, hygiene kits and medicines", specifically for diabetes and other chronic illnesses, he told AFP. "In the longer term, there will also be other needs including education and livelihoods," Cruz added. Many of the Sudanese refugees AFP spoke to believe it would take a long time, perhaps decades, before they can return home. They carried with them their savings in dollars, a precious asset in Egypt where an economic downturn has boosted the purchasing power of foreign currency. A Sudanese official, who asked that her name be withheld, said she had only meant to spend the holy month of Ramadan in Cairo, but the war broke out days before its end, forcing a change of plans. She had to "negotiate an extension with the landlord for an apartment rented only for 30 days and for five people", she told AFP. "When my family came to join me from Sudan, I had them enter in the middle of the night once the concierge was asleep, because there are 12 of us and the owner doesn't know." The woman said she has no idea what the future holds, and in the meantime goes out only from time to time with her cousins. "But always in small groups so that people wouldn't notice us." vid-sar/sbh/ami/it/leg House Bill Introduced To Fight State Bans On Who Can Own Land Farmer Larry Cox walks with his dog, Brodie, at his farm in August 2022, near Brawley, California. Farmer Larry Cox walks with his dog, Brodie, at his farm in August 2022, near Brawley, California. In a bid to counter a boom in state-level laws, a House Democrat introduced a bill Thursday allowing people to sue in federal court if their right to buy land was restricted because of their citizenship. As tensions with China have risen, many states have enacted or considered such laws, often aimed at China and prompted by worries about foreign ownership of farmland or national security. Asian American groups have said the laws harken back to the early 1900s and discriminatory laws that excluded them from owning land. I dont think we ought to allow 50 states to have the opportunity to pass laws that can impact foreign affairs, which really is the province of the executive branch of the federal government, the bills sponsor, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), told HuffPost. We have more than 30 states that either have drafted or are considering laws in this area. Theres a proliferation of this taking place. I dont think we should wait until we get 30, 50, whatever number of different laws to act. The bill would give federal law precedence over state laws that restrict who can buy real property based on the citizenship of the purchaser. It would also allow people harmed by such state laws to sue in federal court and have a right to court-ordered relief, like an injunction. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the state laws are similar to the 1850s-era Alien Land Laws as well as a 1913 California law that prohibited land ownership by Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Korean immigrants to America. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) speaks during a National Action Network (NAN) convention in April. Green says a proliferation of state laws risks varying restrictions on foreign land ownership among the states. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) speaks during a National Action Network (NAN) convention in April. Green says a proliferation of state laws risks varying restrictions on foreign land ownership among the states. We cannot go back to that. Those laws were struck down as unconstitutional, she said. Chu said in her district there are many elderly Chinese who have green cards granting residency but who have not gone through the lengthy process to become citizens, because of the tests and lack of English proficiency. The steps to do that are not easy. Why should they be denied the ability to have a condo where they can live out the rest of their lives? she said. Proponents of the laws say they are needed to keep vital farmland in American hands and to counter efforts at espionage by China and other adversaries near sensitive U.S. military sites. Yet the amount of U.S. farmland owned by foreigners is small, according to Agriculture Department data, and there is already a process led by the Treasury Department to examine proposed foreign purchases of sensitive U.S. businesses. Green said the bill would not interfere with location-based efforts to restrict ownership, such as zones around military installations, as long as they were not also based on nationality. He also said it would fight against the singling out of Asian Americans. The Asian community had good reason and I have good reason to be concerned about that, he said. Because we cant assume that things that happen to others wont happen to us. Humza Yousaf - Getty Humza Yousaf's Government has unveiled plans for a sleepover tax for anyone staying in Scotland in tourist accommodation, in one of its first major law changes. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill would give councils the power to impose a tax on stays in any form of overnight accommodation, including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, private rentals and tents or caravans on camping sites. Local authorities would set a levy based on a fixed percentage of the cost of the accommodation, with hoteliers and other providers liable to pay the sum. However, they would pass on the cost to their guests. SNP ministers pressed ahead with the tax despite opposition from 63 per cent of organisations that responded to a public consultation on the plan. Concerns were expressed that it would damage the competitiveness of Scotland's tourist industry, lead to the perception it was an expensive place to visit and damage its reputation as a welcoming country. 'A cash machine for a failing administration' Craig Mackinlay, Tory MP for South Thanet, said: Tourist taxes are quite common internationally and generally pitched at modest levels to be an annoyance rather than a deterrent but the SNPs new sleepover tax shows desperation to raise a few pounds. The warm welcome that Scotland has long been famous for will become a new cash machine for a failing administration. It sends all the wrong signals to tourists but will be England, Wales and Northern Irelands gain, but, saying that, Labour-run Wales will probably copy under their usual anti-business agenda. A Tory source said: The Scottish Government's new levy will send visitors from all corners of Britain packing. Towns and cities in Scotland deserve top-rate local services, but slapping another tax on tourists threatens to do more harm than good. The SNP should stop tapping up tourists to plug their 1 billion spending gap. Backed by some councils However, the move was welcomed by the Labour-run council in Edinburgh, Scotland's most popular tourism destination, where it is estimated a levy could generate 15 million per year. The SNP leader of the council covering the Scottish Highlands, another hugely popular visitors' attraction, also said he was planning to introduce the levy. Funds raised would be ring-fenced for spending on facilities and services that are "substantially for or used by persons visiting the local authoritys area for leisure purposes", according to explanatory notes published alongside the Bill. The tax would also apply to people visiting Scotland for business or anyone who already lives there, but was staying overnight in another part of the country. The Bill's notes said that cabins on a ferry, cruise ship or sleeper train would also not be liable for the tax if they are "undertaking a journey involving one or more overnight stops." However, it would be chargeable on the overnight parking of a campervan at a campsite or the mooring of a yacht. Councils would have the power to introduce exemptions but the only specific examples mentioned in the notes were registered gypsy and traveller sites or a patient having to stay overnight in hotel accommodation to attend a hospital appointment. Move would create additional resources Tom Arthur, the SNP's public finance minister, argued that the tax would give councils "additional resources to continue to attract visitors to Scotland". Unveiling the Bill, he said: "Levies on visitors staying in paid-for accommodation are already used around the world and it is reasonable for local areas to want a small contribution from tourists to help support and sustain visitor economies." Under the proposals, councils would have to consult communities, businesses and tourism organisations in their area before introducing the charge and there would have to be an 18-month delay before it was imposed. Different tax rates could be set for particular purposes or areas, meaning, for example, Edinburgh City Council could charge more during the city's summer arts festivals, when hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the Scottish capital. Councils would also have to stage a consultation on how the funds raised would be spent. Any accommodation provider who fails to pay the tax faces a fine. 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. Hundreds flock to see Missouri miracle nun whose body is perfectly preserved four years after death Hundreds of Catholics have made a pilgrimage to Missouri to view the perfectly preserved body of a nun who died in 2019. The body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, the founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary in Gower, had been buried in the chapel grounds following her death aged 95, in May 2019, but it was recently decided that her remains should be moved to the alter under the chapel. However, on close inspection of the simple wooden coffin she had been buried in, a crack was found, leading to the discovery that Sister Lancasters body was still very much intact, and prompting a huge outpouring of worship from Catholics locally and further afield. Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph said in a statement: The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions. At the same time, it is important to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation. I invite all the Faithful to continue praying during this time of investigation for Gods will in the lives of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles; for all women religious; and all the baptized in our common vocation to holiness, with hope and trust in the Lord. Sister Lancaster was described by those who knew her as having a deep faith and love for her religion. She loved our Blessed Mother, Mother Cecilia told the Catholic News Agency. Thats what she would tell everybody coming here. Pray the rosary. Dont forget to pray the rosary. Love the Blessed Mother. She loves you. Her death was beautiful. God arranged everything. The church has put the body of Sister Lancaster on display until 29 May, allowing all worshippers who wish to see the preserved remains to visit, pray with and even touch the body of the deceased nun. Catholics travelling to Gower said they were witnessing a miracle. Its great to be reminded that it can happen in our lifetime, one person told Fox 4. Shes a Saint already. I already have her canonised, another added. We drove in, like a three-hour drive, and walked straight into mass, a third person said. The nuns at the monastery said the body is incorrupt, according to the local TV station. The word has a special meaning to Catholics as it indicates that an individual may become a saint, Fox 4 noted. The sisters told the Catholic News Agency the woman was not embalmed before she was buried. Four years after her death, the sister thought that only bones would remain in the coffin, but the deceased was found to not look that different from when she was buried. People arrived from Arkansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania on Tuesday to visit the Abbey of Our Lady of Ephesus. Speaking about a body being incorrupt, Sister Faustina Marie of Iowa told Fox 4 that its a sign that she was a very holy woman and the lord blessed her and her life and at death because she was faithful to her vocation. The sisters said they intend to place Sister Wilhelmina in a glass case to make viewing possible. Hundreds of volunteers from across North America arrived in Southwest Florida last week to help rebuild and repair the homes of residents in Harlem Heights. Harlem Heights, a low-income neighborhood in Fort Myers, was impacted dramatically by Hurricane Ian last year. More than 30% of the Harlem Heights community lives below the federal poverty level, and many of the neighborhood's residents were displaced from their homes due to extensive damage from the storm. The Heights Foundation, which was established 23 years ago with the mission of building self-sufficient families in Harlem Heights, has collaborated with the nonprofit Eight Days of Hope to bring aid to the community by providing free home repairs such as roofing, flooring and drywall restoration. Looking back: NBC's Lester Holt returns to SWFL for Hurricane Ian series Back after Ian: Owner of hurricane-closed Olde Fish House is back with new venture Volunteers arrive to help Through Eight Days of Hope, about 1,100 volunteers from 33 states and parts of Canada traveled to Fort Myers as part of the outreach group serving those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Volunteers with Eight Days of Hope replace a roof on a home in Harlem Heights on Monday, May 22, 2023. Eight Days of Hope, a non-profit is back in Southwest Florida with hundreds of volunteers helping families affected by Hurricane Ian. "We've been working for eight months now to help rebuild the neighborhood. For this organization to come in at this point, it's critical, because we have families who still aren't in their homes," said Kathryn Kelly, the president, CEO and founder of the Heights Foundation. Many of the displaced families have been living in tents in their backyards or family members' homes. Others continue existing alongside the bare concrete floors and water-damaged walls. Volunteers from Eight Days of Hope arrived last week and began rebuilding efforts May 20 and served 135 homes over the course of eight days throughout Harlem Heights. More than $70 million in repairs after hurricanes Eight Days of Hope has led more than 50,000 volunteers in serving 9,000 families around the country following disasters including Hurricanes Michael, Katrina and Irene and has provided more than $70 million in repairs. "We have skilled professionals and then some people like me that are less skilled but they want to give back," said Steve Tybor, president and CEO of Eight Days of Hope. "Now maybe I can't wire a house but I can pull wire; maybe I don't know how to finish drywall, but I can carry the drywall; maybe I'm not the roofer that will operate the power gun but I can put shingles on the lift that goes up to the roof. "We live in such a divided country that divided world," Tybor continued. "We argue about the stupidest things. But when we come together and we serve others, something happens not only to the family you're serving, but something happens to us too. We're seeing people feel love." Every night after volunteers have finished the day's work, Eight Days of Hope invites the Harlem Heights residents to join the outreach group for dinner, and the response from volunteers and residents has been nothing but positive thus far. "Every family I met, I cried, I was just overwhelmed with their genuine excitement for the possibility that we might come help them, that they were seeing hope because they feel hopeless," Tybor said. David Bryhn, a volunteer with Eight Days of Hope helps replace a roof on a home in Harlem Heights on Monday, May 22, 2023. Eight Days of Hope, a non-profit is back in Southwest Florida with hundreds of volunteers helping families affected by Hurricane Ian. Born and raised in Harlem Heights, Carla Gibson has been a resident of the neighborhood for 56 years. On the morning of May 22, volunteers worked together to repair Gibson's roof. Gibson's 92-year-old grandmother is also currently living with Gibson after being displaced by severe flooding in her home. Grateful for Eight Days of Hope Gibson expressed her gratitude to Eight Days of Hope and its volunteers for the aid they are providing to her and her grandmother. "I'm just in awe of everything this organization is doing. I'm impressed with how well-organized they are and that they've come to help our neighborhood," Gibson said. "It's a wonderful thing." Like Gibson, Harlem Heights resident Denita Goodman also grew up in her neighborhood and has lived in her current home for 27 years. Goodman and her family suffered significant damage to their homes Sept. 28 when Hurricane Ian hit and have been supporting one another ever since. "It was horrible. As a family we had to pull together and do what we had to do and I've been blessed through Eight Days of Hope," Goodman said. Although the damage done to Goodman's home is not as extensive as it was to some of her family members' homes, she said that she is grateful for everything Eight Days of Hope is doing for her community. "Everybody that I have come in contact with, they have shown us nothing but love," Goodman said. "It's awesome. It's been awesome, from day one." This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Workers from 33 states, Canada help Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian Hypersonic missiles It was supposed to be the missile that no one could stop. The hypersonic dagger that Vladimir Putin could slip into Ukraine and Natos chest, like an assassin wielding a blade so fast that the lethal blow is just a blur. Dead before you know it. But then this week Ukraine claimed to have destroyed half a dozen KH-47M2 Kinzhal Dagger missiles using anti-missile systems widely assumed to be Patriot batteries loaned to the country by America. Suddenly the assassins blade was apparently being parried, deflected and destroyed. Russia, naturally, disputes the claim. But earlier this month, on May 6, Ukraine said it had managed to shoot down a single Kinzhal missile, in a first which has since been verified. So if a quiver-full of Kinzhals has now indeed been destroyed, has the mystique of the unstoppable missile that was going to change the face of warfare been shot down with it? Perhaps. The interception of the Kinzhal represents the solution to a conundrum that, in essence, military commands have been wrestling with for half a century, ever since nuclear warheads were placed aboard inter-continental and medium-range ballistic missiles that arced high into the sky, to the upper reaches of our atmosphere or even beyond it, until falling back down upon their targets. As they did so they too reached hypersonic speeds, anything above Mach 5, or 3,800mph. Suddenly the Warsaw Pact was able to irradiate London in four minutes. The time to respond was significantly decreased, says Justin Bronk, an air-warfare specialist at the Royal United Service Institute. Whats different about the Kinzhal, and others in todays new breed of hypersonic missiles, is that they are not just blindingly fast but unlike traditional ballistic missiles they are manoeuvrable too. That makes them particularly challenging to defend against, says Bronk. Raw speed is just one element of the problem. Because the missile can arrive from any number of different angles, life is made immeasurably harder even for sophisticated defence systems, which often tend to face in the direction of an expected attack. Recent upgrades to Patriot systems, specifically designed to grant it 360-degree capability, may be behind Ukraines recent success in shooting down the Kinzhal. Still, the combination of speed and manoeuvrability make even predicting a hypersonic missiles target hard, let alone knocking it out of the sky. According to James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, there are three varieties of hypersonic missile. The first guided ballistic missiles are the most basic, essentially adding fins to traditional missiles allowing an element of direction as they plummet down to earth. Then there are so-called boost glide vehicles which soar high into the sky, only to plummet down soon after launch, using the hypersonic speed acquired on descent to glide, often over huge distances, at relatively low altitude towards their target. Then there are cruise missiles equipped with a revolutionary scramjet engine, capable of propelling its warhead far faster than traditional solid-fuel rockets. The advantage of this third category is that it is potentially able to keep extremely rapid hypersonic missiles at relatively low altitude for the whole journey, which reduces the distance at which radar can pick them up and hence the time left to react. You are not going to be able to detect them [with radar] over long distances because of the curvature of earth, says Bronk. If you had a cruise missile travelling at Mach 5 and 150ft cresting the horizon towards a naval ship you would be looking at just 7-8 seconds on board that ship from detection to impact. Your whole system has to react so quickly. That, however, is not what Russia has been deploying against Ukraine. Instead, the Kinzhal is hoisted up to huge altitude by the enormous power of the Mig-31 interceptor aircraft, which can fly to great altitude, around 67,000ft at up to 2.8 times the speed of sound. According to Dave Majumdar, a Pentagon analyst until 2021, the MiG-31 can quickly boost the new weapon into launch position and impart significant launch energy. The result, says Bronk, is that the missile achieves much greater range, or velocity. You can choose which. To compound the difficulty for Ukrainian air defence, Russia combines the arrival of hypersonic Kinzhals with other, conventional missiles, or indeed with Iranian-made drones. It is a combination deliberately designed to overwhelm Patriot systems, to saturate response in the language of air war. The Kinzhals themselves have their own complexities, equipped as they are with six decoys that fire away from the warhead, in a deliberate effort to confound whats known as Integrated Air and Missile Defense systems (IAMD) that lie at the heart of the Nato shield. Such systems comprise several layers of anti-missile defence, from the expensive and sophisticated, like Patriots, to the cheap and cheerful, like shoulder-fired Manpads. No system can provide 100pc protection, says Bronk. But America has always favoured protecting one or two targets really well with layered defence. Unfortunately, its just too expensive to protect everything that way. Russia, which has spent huge sums on improving its own air defence systems, has an excellent understanding of IAMD, which could explain, analysts suggest, why it seemed to be excited about the penetrative capabilities of the Kinzhal. The problem is that the Patriot has been updated too, with the latest PAC-3 model, Bronk says, specifically aimed at improving the performance against very difficult ballistic missiles with decoys. In the hypersonic arms race, theres this constant back and forth with attack and defence claiming advantages in turn. A PAC-3 Patriot missile unit - AP/Shizuo Kambayashi The Patriot upgrade does not render the Kinzhal a busted flush, however. It remains the first time such a weapon has been fielded and fired in battle. Yet it is also true that five years ago, when video emerged of the Kinzhal test, then US defence secretary James Mattis insisted that it doesn't change anything. That may be true. But hypersonics are only just getting started. And the Kinzhal is not the only hypersonic missile Russia claims to have in its armoury. It also claims that the Zircon, a missile using cutting-edge scramjet propulsion that other nations are scrambling to master, is now operational. Meanwhile, China has the DF-17, a boost-glide missile capable of travelling 10 times the speed of sound. And unlike the Kinzhal, it is this breed of hypersonics that sends chills down the spines of military strategists today. In particular, they are potent anti-ship weapons, threatening the aircraft carriers that have allowed America to project its power around the globe in unmatched fashion over recent decades. Mikoyan MiG-31K fighter jets with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, pictured in 2018 - Anadolu Agency Such hypersonics are certainly a major concern for the US Navy, says Bronk. There are two likely consequences. First, potential targets will have to sit further from the battlefield, to maximise response time. As this decade and hypersonic technology progresses, however, it may become impossible to destroy the missile itself. Instead, defence systems will target communications and targeting systems the kill webs as they are known guiding the warhead to its target. Some such systems, however, are likely to be based not on the ground, but in orbit. In the back and forth of defence and attack, there will be ways to protect against the most sophisticated hypersonic missiles. The problem is that doing so is likely to extend the battlefield into space. 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. How an iconic SLO County guitar store became a destination for musicians across California Nearly 40 years ago, Joe and Marelene Daoust spent almost every penny they had to buy an old musicians cruddy inventory, hoping to sell what they could at the Nipomo Swapmeet & Fleamarket. Starting Aug. 2, 1983, the Daousts spent every weekend taking their secondhand musical instruments to the Swapmeet, offering for sale whatever they happened to have in their collection each week. By 1988, it was time to move the expanding business into a more permanent home, a historic building that was originally home to the Bank of Arroyo Grande, he said. Now, 35 years later, that home has only grown. Our original name was Lightning Joes Music Mania, Joe Daoust told The Tribune. We changed that name because people kept coming in here going, Ive died and gone to heaven, or Wow, this is guitar heaven, and stuff like that, so we just nabbed the name from our customers. In the years since Lightning Joes Guitar Heaven moved into its current location at 110 Branch St., what started as a modest mobile collection is now a fixture of the San Luis Obispo County and California guitar culture, Daoust said. The (music stores) that used to be in L.A. arent there anymore, and the things that used to be in San Francisco arent really there anymore, either, he said. Theres a couple of stores that are left, but they are downsized greatly, whereas we just keep growing and growing. Some 1,700 guitars line the walls at Lightning Joes Guitar Heaven in Arroyo Grande, which has become a destination for music lovers up and down California. Business grew over time in historic location Lightning Joe has been playing the guitar since 1964, according to his biography on the companys website. According to the biography, he has been a part of more bands than he can remember, including the SLO Motion Blues Band, Tidal Wave Cafe, Stark Raven, Gun Shy, The Shades, Prime Suspect, the 8th Wonder, Fusion, Just Good Stuff, Concrete Window and The Purpose. He said he got the name Lightning Joe in 1980 from a bandmate in the SLO Motion Blues Band, for soloing too fast over the verses to Henry Mancinis Theme From Peter Gunn during a performance. It has stuck ever since. During a break between bookings in 1983, the Daousts took advantage of the respite from performing six days a week to try to sort out their future, Joe said. Marelene said she recalls Joe wanting to open a place for used instruments, as at the time, only Premier Music in San Luis Obispo sold instruments locally. The original profits Lightning Joes Guitar Heaven earned at the Nipomo Swapmeet & Fleamarket in 1983 hang on the wall in store on Branch Street on Arroyo Grande. After spending five years selling at the Swapmeet, the business moved into the former Bank of Arroyo Grande building in 1988, where it has been ever since. At the same time, part of those future plans included the couples desire to have a family, Joe said. With the birth of their son, Joseph, in 1987, those plans started to solidify, he said. They opened their store in downtown Arroyo Grande the next year. Eventually, in the 90s or so, I was done playing in bands, and (Lightning Joes) was taking off, which we hadnt counted on, he said. We took a gamble, and we lucked out. It worked because we were tenacious about making it work. Lightning Joes Guitar Heaven, the product of their gamble, has taken on many forms and business models, in no small part due to the ever-shifting layout of the store, Daoust said. The first thing to change over the years was the instrument selection, he said. In the beginning, the store sold secondhand music instruments of every style and type, including brass, woodwinds, keyboards, drums and, of course, guitars, Daoust said. Initially, Lightning Joes occupied only the part of the building located next to what is now the Village Bike Shop on Bridge Street, which can still be seen today under a red awning, and did not extend to the corner store that now serves as the buildings entrance. They soon stopped selling drums to save floor space, which was a concern in the stores original footprint, Daoust said. Lightning Joes Guitar Heaven in Arroyo Grande has become a destination for music lovers up and down California. Its located in a historic building that originally housed the Bank of Arroyo Grande. Daoust said the horns were next to go, as they were too high-maintenance and not in the Daousts area of expertise. Finally, they stopped selling keyboards and went all-in on guitars in 1992 at around the same time they stopped going to the Swapmeet, which Daoust said was no longer fun and not worth the effort anymore. The following year, changes in neighboring businesses presented another opportunity for the growing music store. The corner store, which had recently changed hands several times when longtime ice cream parlor Burnardoz moved across the street, again became available in 1992, this time under less pleasant circumstances, Daoust said. That year, the spaces then-occupant, Designs by Walt, was raided by a SWAT team and closed soon after, Daoust said. Lightning Joes expanded into the space and before long occupied the entirety of the former bank. As it turns out, Lightning Joes is not the first music store to occupy the space, or even the second or third, Joe said. Paynes Music, Packards Music and Greens Music all occupied the upper floor of the building in the years between the closure of the bank in the 1950s and the opening of Burnardoz in 1976. Some vestiges of the original bank which later became a Bank of America location are still visible in Lightning Joes. Customers looking for sheet music and guitar charts can find the stores catalog in the banks original vault, now missing its circular steel door. The former banks safety deposit vault houses the amplifiers in a small room lined with quarter-inch-thick steel walls, which Joe said provides good sound isolation for customers who want to test the amps power. Reputation among guitarists brings in famous clients Walking through Lightning Joes treats guests to a sensory overload of things to see, hear and even touch, especially if youre in the market for a new guitar. The store is home to more than 1,700 guitars and stringed instruments, half of which are used, Daoust said. Its common to find shoppers camped out in different spots of the store, seeing if a particular model fits their liking. When you have a musician running a guitar shop, you have a little magic ingredient that might be missing if you took a businessperson or somebody like that, he said. I just know guitar players, I know guitars and I know what guitar players need, what they want. With so many options to choose from in the stores inventory, Marelene Daoust said its important to make customers feel comfortable with asking the right questions. Ashley Daoust dusts a guitar at Lightning Joes Guitar Heaven. The Arroyo Grande store has become a destination for music lovers up and down California. It began almost 40 years ago at the Nipomo Swapmeet and has an inventory of 1,700 guitars. We all make an effort to welcome everyone, in because theyre reason were here, she said. Wed like everyone to feel at home. Over the years, other guitar stores have shrunk, closed or diversified into other instruments, leaving Lightning Joes as one of the few pure guitar stores of its size, Joe said. As a result, Lightning Joes has become a sort of nexus for guitar players who want to be completely consumed by the guitar, and has attracted several famous clients over the years, Joe said. Im helping this guy buy a guitar slide and, not thinking it was Jackson (Browne), I said, You know, you look so much like Jackson Browne! Marelene said. He goes, I am Jackson Browne. Browne wasnt the only famous musician to grace Lightning Joes with their presence over the years, Joe said. As Lightning Joes reputation has grown over the years, famous clients such as Paul Gilbert who autographed a photo for Joe and Marelene as a sign of thanks have been known to drop in, he said. Autographed photos from from professional musicians line the walls at Lightning Joes Guitar Heaven in Arroyo Grande. Other acts that have visited the store include the band America, John Anderson, Chris Hillman from The Birds, Kenny Lewis and Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. We did some work for (Benatar and Giraldo) when they were playing the Santa Barbara County Fair, Joe said. Their bass didnt work. They started just talking to people on the fairgrounds, and they said, Go to Lightning Joes hell fix it for you. One bass repair later, the Daousts were the recipient of an autographed Pat Benatar poster, Joe said. Store includes practice rooms and a museum For clients who dont happen to be in the store at the same time as a famous rocker, through, theres still plenty of music history to go around. Statues and pictures of characters and musicians from the iconic to the obscure such as the business Elvis Presley figure that stands outside the stores entrance or the life-size replica of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi alien Salacious B. Crumb hiding among the ukelele collection cover every non-instrument-bearing surface, which Joe said has led to some interesting stories. Every day at opening and closing, Elvis makes his journey from inside the store where he spends his nights under lock and key to his post outdoors, usually carried in the arms of Daousts son and daughter-in-law, who are set to run the business for the foreseeable future. Elvis did not always leave the building gracefully, or under the best of circumstances, including once when the Daousts got a 4 a.m. phone call from the Arroyo Grande Police Department saying the statue had been stolen and seemingly abandoned on the Swinging Bridge, he said. We found the police with their arms around Elvis, with a rifle in his hand, Joe said. They were taking pictures of each other you cant help it, people just gotta have a picture with Elvis. But it isnt on shelves of Lightning Joes where customers can find the most interesting or iconic artifacts. To do that, youd have to take the Stairway to Heaven which at Lightning Joes is an actual staircase emblazoned with lyrics to the iconic Led Zeppelin song and leading to the stores second floor. That level, which used to house several smaller businesses before Lightning Joes expanded through the old bank, is now home to a pair of practice rooms where interested students can take guitar lessons, along with a museum dedicated to the history and preservation of guitars, Joe said. There, customers can find artifacts such as a 12-string guitar played by Elvis Presley in some of the movies he starred in, Joe said. Along with the more famous memorabilia, several unique stringed instruments pack the museums shelves, from rare Gibson and Epiphone guitars to dozens of ukuleles from Portugal to a prototype metal-bodied National Reso-Phonic guitar produced in San Luis Obispo, bearing the serial number of 00002, Joe said. Joseph Daoust, general manager and son of the founders, shows a bass to a customer at Lightning Joes Guitar Heaven in Arroyo Grande. It began 40 years ago at the Nipomo Swapmeet and grew to a thriving guitar shop that fills a former bank location. The next generation of Lightning Joes Joe said that while hes entertained the idea of opening a second location in the North County, hes happy with the stores current size and shape. Its nice being grounded, he said. Theres a lot to be said about having good roots and feeling like we bring into a community a sense of camaraderie. With Joseph Daoust, Joe and Marelenes son, stepping into the role of the stores manager in recent years, Joe said he does not have a set retirement date. When that day comes, though, it wont mean the end, he said. Im retiring within X amount of time, but retirement doesnt mean going away or anything, Joe said. Well curate the museum, and Ill still help with repairs. Josephs son, also named Joseph, is also in line after him, if hes interested in carrying on the family business, Joe said. If we can live that long, his son might be the manager here, Joe said. Who knows? U.S. Park Police officers used excessive force against two Australian journalists while clearing a protest near the White House nearly three years ago, the Interior Departments Office of Inspector General said Wednesday. In a report, the IG concluded that one officer violated policy by using his baton to strike a retreating reporter who did not pose a threat. The IG said the second officer had complied with policy by using his shield to control a cinematographer because it was "objectively reasonable," but that the same officer had not employed the minimum level of reasonable force when he later pushed the journalists camera. The IGs office said it had sent its report finding the officers violated Park Police policy to National Park Service Director Chuck Sams for any action deemed appropriate. The attack on June 1, 2020, led to a congressional investigation and angered the Australian government, which requested an investigation after the incident aired on live television. The journalists were covering a protest near Lafayette Square that grew violent shortly before then-President Donal Trump walked across the street to pose for photographs in front of St. Johns Episcopal Church. The protest was sparked by the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd on Memorial Day of 2020. He died when a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyds throat for nearly nine minutes. After Floyd's death, protesters demonstrated against police across the country, with a series of protests held in Lafayette Square near the White House. While the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia declined to prosecute the two officers after reviewing a report from the Park Polices Internal Affairs Unit, the issue then went to the IGs office for an administrative investigation. Both officers had been reassigned shortly after the incident. At the time, then-acting Park Police Chief Gregory Monahan defended the work of his officers, saying protesters were throwing projectiles, including bricks and frozen water bottles. He said officers responded with pepper spray and smoke canisters to clear the crowd. Then-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked for an investigation of the Park Police after he saw correspondent Amelia Brace and photojournalist Tim Myers attacked while doing their live newscast on Australia's 7News program "Sunrise." The video showed one officer hitting Myers in the chest with his riot shield and another swinging a police baton to strike Brace. Both journalists were pinned against a wall at the time, trying to escape. You are here: China This photo taken on May 22, 2023 shows Siberian tiger cubs at the Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua] More than 30 cubs have been born so far this year at a major breeding center for Siberian tigers in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The feline breeding center in Hengdaohezi is estimated to see some 100 new cubs in total this year, according to the center's management authorities. The peak breeding season for Siberian tigers is from April to June every year, said Liu Dan, deputy director of the breeding center. The Siberian tiger is one of the world's most endangered species. China has implemented captive breeding programs as part of its efforts to conserve the species. In pictures: On board the world's biggest 'badass' aircraft carrier that has angered Russia The USS Gerald R Ford is the largest aircraft carrier in the world. (PA) The US aircraft carrier that has made its looming presence felt to an angered Russia was once described as the biggest badass warship in the world. The USS Gerald R Ford sailed into Norways capital Oslo on Wednesday in what was regarded as a show of Nato force as tensions with Russia continue to rise due to the war in Ukraine. Norway shares a border with Russia and Moscow officials wasted no time in condemning the visit, describing the Nato demonstrations of power as illogical and harmful. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford passes on its way to the Oslo Fjord, at Drobak, Norway. (PA) The USS Gerald R Ford will be in port in Oslo for four days. (PA) The 100,000-tonne warship was launched in 2013 and can hold 4,500 crew members on board. The huge flight deck is packed with more than 40 aircraft, including dozens of F-18 jets, as seen in the Top Gun: Maverick movie. Former commanding officer, Captain Paul Lanzilotta, said last year: This ship is badass, I will just put it that way. The crew of the USS Gerald R Ford stands on the flight deck as the carrier passes on its way into the Oslo Fjord, at Drobak, Norway, on Wednesday. (PA) The USS Gerald R. Ford cost around 11bn to build and launched in 2013. (PA) The huge flight deck of the USS Gerald R Ford is packed with more than 40 aircraft. (PA) Its a really great system of systems, high technology is everywhere you walk on this ship. He added: We have a little bit of the new-car feel, there is a bit of a buzz about the biggest, baddest warship of the fleet and our sailors feel that. Among the technological innovations on the ship are the 11 advanced weapons elevators (AWE) which use electromagnetism to speed up its capability of resupplying the fighter jets. A crew member walks through the hangar of the USS Gerald R. Ford while it was anchored in the Solent near Gosport last year. (Reuters) Crew members queue up inside the huge hangar on the USS Gerald R. Ford. (Reuters) A crew member works on the bridge of the USS Gerald R Ford. (Reuters) The lifts can carry 24,000 pounds per load at a speed greater than the previous Nimitz-class of US aircraft carriers. The ships plasma arc waste destruction system (PAWDS) has also been designed to boost its environmental credentials, by burning up to 3,000 lb of rubbish at 5,000C, meaning 100 lb of waste can be reduced to 1lb. The 333m-long vessel, which cost nearly 11bn to build, will conduct training exercises with the Norwegian armed forces along the countrys coast over the next few days. "There are no questions in the (Arctic) north that require a military solution, nor topics where outside intervention is needed," the Russian embassy in Oslo said. Crew members give a demonstration of the advanced weapon elevator onboard the USS Gerald R. Ford. (Reuters) A poster showing the 10 commandments of the flight deck is seen on a wall inside the USS Gerald R Ford. (Reuters) F-18 fighter jets are lined up on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R Ford. (Reuters) One of the many jets takes off from the USS Gerald R Ford. (Reuters) "Considering that it is admitted in Oslo that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such demonstrations of power appear illogical and harmful." Norwegian media reported that the aircraft carrier would sail north of the Arctic Circle. "This visit is an important signal of the close bilateral relationship between the US and Norway and a signal of the credibility of collective defence and deterrence," a spokesperson for the Norwegian Joint Headquarters said. Christopher Blackwell is a success story. At 42, hes the co-founder of a nonprofit working to improve Washingtons criminal legal system. Hes also an accomplished restorative justice mentor and facilitator. On top of that, Blackwell, who recently married, is an award-winning journalist, despite having dropped out of school by the time he was 14. Hes been published in outlets across the country. Earlier this month, he had a piece in the New York Times. Blackwell, who grew up on Hilltop at South 14th and L Street, just off MLK is also incarcerated, approaching the halfway mark of a 45-year combined sentence for murder and robbery. Hes been in prison since he was 22, shortly after a tragedy he describes as a drug robbery gone horribly wrong. He committed the most serious of offenses, taking another humans life, and he pleaded guilty. By his own telling, Blackwells interactions with the carceral system started long before the 2003 crime that put him behind bars for decades. Starting at the age of 12, he was in and out of juvenile detention centers. For at least half of his life, Blackwell has been locked up. All this gives Blackwell, whos affable and brutally honest about the damage hes caused and his quest for true accountability, a unique and important perspective on our criminal justice system. Heres why: If we have any hope of improving the way society seeks to hold those whove committed crimes accountable while also rehabilitating them for their eventual release and the vast majority of incarcerated individuals will someday be free we have to face the hard truths and system shortcomings that Blackwell knows better than most. To put it bluntly, weve designed a system that too often spits people out more damaged than when they arrived, Blackwell said. That includes here in Tacoma, at places like the Pierce County Jail, which was the subject of Blackwells recent New York Times opinion piece. Its a humanitarian issue, Blackwell told me by phone this week from the Washington State Corrections facility in Shelton, discussing the ways in which our national impulse to be tough on crime backfires by subjecting incarcerated individuals to layers of violence, mistreatment and new traumas. If were a solid society with sound morals and principles, we would treat people as human beings. That should be first and foremost. Even if you dont care about people because they caused harm, you do care if they come out and cause harm again. So what does that have to do with the Pierce County Jail, a facility that, for most, represents a small piece of a much larger crime-and-justice landscape? Its simple: For people accused of committing local crimes including some who will ultimately be found not guilty or never face trial, avoiding prison altogether its their entry into a system. Its also an experience capable of helping to shape the rest of their lives, potentially in a negative way. As Blackwell detailed in his recent New York Times opinion piece, last December he returned to the Pierce County Jail for two weeks while he awaited a resentencing hearing that was eventually delayed. Having written extensively about his experiences in the states prison system, hes seen plenty of things while serving his lengthy sentence, he said, including solitary confinement, which hes vocally opposed, including submitting testimony to the state Legislature. None of it prepared Blackwell for the conditions he confronted during his stay at his hometown jail, he said. According to Blackwell, the red flags and indignities he encountered at the Pierce County Jail ran the gamut. He described food that made prison rations look enticing and exorbitant prices at the jails commissary a 24-pack of Top Ramen cost more than $26, three times as much as it does in prison and four times what it costs on Amazon, he wrote along with much more serious concerns, like an alleged assault, by prisoners and guards, of his cellmate, a man with diagnosed mental health issues. More broadly, Blackwell saved some of his sharpest critiques for the problematic nature of the cash bail system, which effectively locks up anyone who doesnt have the money or assets to secure their release on bond, disproportionately affecting the poor and people of color. Like other developed countries, Blackwell believes its a system the United States should do away with, for good reason. As he wrote in the NYT, 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. On Tuesday, Pierce County Sheriffs Department spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss responded to the conditions Blackwell described in his recent New York Times piece, noting that the altercation Blackwell learned of from his cellmate and then relayed in print, with permission, occurred in November, a month before he arrived at the Pierce County Jail. Moss provided what was described as a report summary from the incident, which indicated that the prisoner showed signs of aggression and failed to obey commands before being taken down and subsequently shocked with a Taser. Moss also provided an example Pierce County Jail dinner menu, which included a Salisbury steak patty and pudding. The question, then, is whats a reasonable person supposed to make of all this? Two people, looking at the same thing from diametrically opposed vantage points and positions of power, describing something completely different. Before we hung up the phone, thats the question What do you hope people take away from this? that I posed to Blackwell. He readily acknowledged that some readers will likely ignore his words and others, including law enforcement officials, will be dismissive. Its a reality hes grown accustomed to as an incarcerated writer, and a frustration he deals with daily. At the same time, Blackwell said he hopes that shining a light on what he saw and heard during his time in the Pierce County Jail will help people realize that what happens in local jails across the country really does matter. The way the justice system treats people is a decision we all have a stake in, he says, and when the system turns a blind eye to people it locks up including housing them in local facilities that lack adequate resources and staffing to address things like addiction and chronic health conditions it ultimately chips away at the health and safety of our communities. Most importantly, it inflicts unnecessary, lasting harm on people who we should be trying to rehabilitate, he says, for the common good. People come home. People are going to re-enter the community, Blackwell told me. And just like the old saying, Hurt people hurt people. New Indiana welcome sign: Hoosiers react to new design coming to interstates Travelers coming from out of state for the Indianapolis 500 will be welcomed by all new Interstate signs this year. While they used to be greeted with "Welcome to Indiana, Crossroads of America," they'll now be informed that there's "More to Discover in Indiana." After the new theme and design were launched, Hoosiers had mixed reactions. Here's what some of our Twitter followers had to say. What was wrong with the prior signs? Why spend money where its not needed? Jayinsuresme (@JayWhit39976241) May 25, 2023 Bad colors, hard to read while driving, ugly, a waste of money, time and effort... TheColbyExpress (@rastferd2) May 25, 2023 Not very welcoming Beth Holliday (@bholliday2338) May 25, 2023 I see where they got the idea from pic.twitter.com/JqW9zKiGFX Nathan Gagne (@NathanGagne3) May 25, 2023 Ive seen more exciting signage in a hospital waiting room. Carl Hufner, Chairman of Indiana (@CarlHufner) May 25, 2023 I dont care for them. The original is better looking, at least more colorful. Jeffrey Risley (@jrisleyccm) May 25, 2023 they're ok Dani D (@DaNielleRene723) May 25, 2023 A few Facebook users also responded. Here's what some of them said: Ann Campbell: "We need to stop relying on our postal abbreviation being a common preposition." Steve Swango: "Basic" Barbara Ettel Hurst: "I have seen better." Michael Blades: "Meh" This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: New Indiana welcome sign: Reactions to new design coming to interstates Injured woman on the run after tossing drugs at Ga. prison, hitting officer with car, sheriff says A man is arrested and a woman is still on the run after she was accused of ramming into a prison vehicle Wednesday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Just after 4 a.m. Wednesday, Habersham County deputies said Laticia Erika Perry, 28, and Devonte Jenkins, 26, of Dalton, threw drugs over a gate at Lee Arrendale State Prison near Alto, Georgia. Authorities said the 2008 Lexus RX driven by Perry had no lights on when the prison guard attempted to stop the car to investigate a suspected contraband drop at the prison fence. Officials said, when the duo got blocked, Perry struck Corrections Ofc. William Edgar Hitchcock with her Lexus, hitting him in his leg, then ramming the Ford F150 prison truck before driving off. When the Lexus stopped working, Perry began to run on foot. TRENDING STORIES: In a Facebook post shared by Habersham County Sheriffs Office, deputies, and Georgia State Patrol could be seen searching for Perry and Jenkins. Authorities said, a few hours later, Jenkins was arrested around 1 p.m. near the Cornelia and Baldwin city limits. According to Habersham County officials, its believed that Perry may be injured. She was last seen in Shore Circle and Mt. Zion Connector area. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Hitchcock did suffer minor injuries during the incident but was not taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Jenkins is behind bars at the Habersham County Detention Center. Hes currently charged with possession of prohibited items by a state inmate, bringing contraband across guard lines, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of a controlled substance and possession of methamphetamine. Charges are pending for Perry. Anyone who knows Perrys whereabouts is urged to contact Habersham County Dispatch at 706-778-3911. IN OTHER NEWS: Jeff Bezos and his now-fiancee Lauren Sanchez have been enjoying a very special summer getaway and a source tells PEOPLE the couple always "knew this day would come" Lauren Sanchez/Instagram Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez It's been a vacation to remember for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez! The Amazon founder, 59, and the Emmy-winning journalist and helicopter pilot, 53 who are engaged, a source confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday debuted her engagement ring aboard his $500 million yacht in the South of France over the weekend. Everyone is thrilled and so excited for them, a source tells PEOPLE. They see how madly in love they are." As news of the engagement spreads, the insider adds of the proposal: "They knew this day would come, but Jeff kept it a complete surprise. It was so romantic. Heres what the happy couple has been up to during their romantic summer getaway. Related: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Relationship Timeline Soaking Up The Sun On May 15, the happy couple was spotted sunbathing on Bezos new $500 million superyacht. The pair was photographed together while sailing around Mallorca in Spain. The luxury 417-foot-long boat, named Koru, is believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world. It comes with three towering masts, several decks (including one with a pool) and a supporting 250-foot-long yacht with a helipad, according to Boat International. Also onboard the boat is a wooden sculpture that resembles Sanchez. The sculpture is wearing the symbol for Koru, which is Maori for loop or coil, and is based on the spiral shape of an unfurling silver fern frond a symbol that is special to the couple. Karwai Tang/WireImage Related: Lauren Sanchez 'Keeps Playing' with 'Huge' Engagement Ring from Jeff Bezos: 'She Loves It,' Says Source Quick Stop in Ibiza A source told PEOPLE that the couple stopped for lunch in Ibiza in the middle of the week before continuing on to France for the weekend. "They have been in a great mood and are obviously enjoying their trip," the source said. "When they first arrived in Spain, Lauren especially seemed giddy with excitement as they toured the yacht. Related: Jeff Bezos, in Joint Interview with Lauren Sanchez, Says He'll Give Away Most of His $124 Billion Fortune Staying in the South of France Bezos and Sanchez were seen out and about in the South of France that same week. As they strolled together outside, the billionaire was even seen giving her a pat on the butt. Over the weekend the couple also attended the premiere of Apple Original Films' Killers of the Flower Moon at the Cannes Film Festival. Related: Lauren Sanchez Says Life with 'Goofy' Jeff Bezos Includes Flying, Workouts, Donating Billions and Pancakes AbacaPress / SplashNews.com Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Showing Off Her New Bling Sanchez was photographed wearing her engagement ring over the weekend while standing on Bezos new boat. Jeweler and expert Briony Raymond told PEOPLE this week that the ring appears to feature a 25-30 carat diamond set in an ultra-classic four prong platinum mounting. "He proposed last week," said a source close to the couple. "They're on cloud nine so happy and madly in love." 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. "Her engagement ring is beyond stunning. And huge! She keeps playing with it and looking at it," remarked one insider. "You can tell she loves it." Hitting the Town Bezos and Sanchez were seen enjoying night out together on Tuesday, the day after PEOPLE confirmed their happy engagement news. Sanchez wore a white sparkly mini-dress with pearl beaded embellishment and slits up both sides of the short skirt. Meanwhile Bezos kept it casual with a blue button up shirt, khaki pants and white sneakers. One accessory that really stood out? Her engagement ring, which an expert told PEOPLE could be worth anywhere from $3 million to upwards of $5 million. Related: Jeff Bezos Is Lauren Sanchez's 'Prince' and She's 'Elated' About Their Engagement, Says Source "Really in Love" A source told PEOPLE that Sanchezs friends are thrilled Jeff finally popped the question, noting that they had been talking about a proposal for a long time. They are really in love and happy which makes everyone who knows them happy, the source said. She found the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with and they felt the time was right." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. ST. LOUIS The intelligence community needs an enterprise-level integration officer to help collaborate on complex challenges that cut across organizations, according to the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. In November 2021, the DIA which analyzes and distributes information in support of combat-related missions and foreign intelligence established a similar role within its agency, naming Greg Ryckman its deputy director for global integration. According to Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, DIAs director, that position has been invaluable. Speaking May 24 at the GEOINT Conference in St. Louis, Berrier compared the role to that of a U.S. Department of Defense J3, an operations officer with the authority to shift resources in response to emerging threats from adversaries like China and Russia. The DIA needed a J3 to be able to look across the enterprise and, with my authority, move things to where they needed to be, he said. I think that needs to happen in the IC as well. Berrier said in a 2021 statement announcing the offices creation that the DIAs goal in creating the position was to go beyond its observe and report mission and illuminate opportunities to disrupt, degrade, deter and deny adversaries ability to and willingness to compete globally. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, who oversees the IC, said in a separate May 24 speech shes happy with how the various agencies are collaborating to get after shared challenges. While she didnt directly address the need for a high-level global integration director, she acknowledged there are opportunities for improvement. Theres still room to be had to grow, essentially, in the integration space, Haines said. I think its a constantly evolving process and one that we have to be disciplined in promoting. The internet outrage against the Biore ad that flippantly referenced a school shooting is missing the greater point The TikTok ad featuring Cecilee Max-Brown has been taken down. Twitter/@capt_thomas1492;TikTok/@cecileemax Biore and an influencer have apologized for an insensitive ad that connected gun violence to pore strips. On social media, some of the backlash has manifested in bullying and mocking the influencer. Such criticism risks missing the bigger point: This ad is a result of a country's history of trivializing gun violence. Over the last few days, people have been relentlessly criticizing a Biore ad that mentioned the anxiety of surviving a mass school shooting to promote its acne product. While much of the blowback is merited as the ad trivialized the issue of gun violence the snark directed at the 22-year-old influencer featured in it, who's survived a mass shooting, overlooks the controversy's more salient point. The ad is a direct product of how our society has historically treated gun violence: as commonplace. "Life has thrown countless obstacles at me this year from a school shooting to having no idea what life is going to look like after college," the influencer, Cecilee Max-Brown, is heard saying in the ad posted to TikTok last Friday. "In support of mental health awareness month, I'm partnering with Biore Skincare to strip away the stigma of anxiety." "We want you to get it all out," she said. "Not only what's in your pores, but, most importantly, what's on your mind too." The video, which was part of a broader brand campaign centered around mental health, has since been removed by Max-Brown. The tragedy the video referenced was a shooting at Michigan State University in February in which three undergrad students Arielle Diamond Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner were killed, and five others were injured. Max-Brown attended and recently graduated from the school. Many social media users were aghast by the sponsored video. "Using this for an ad is disgusting," one commenter, who identified themselves as a survivor and student of MSU, wrote. "I don't know why my therapist or docs didn't tell me that Biore pore strips could have helped heal the bullet wound on my stomach, or my anxiety after being shot, or my fear of loud noises, or stop my nightmares, or help me feel ok at school. Firing them and buying in bulk!" tweeted anti-gun violence activist Mia Tretta, who's a survivor of the 2019 Saugus High School shooting. Online, the video quickly circulated across social media and filtered through meme accounts. Critics rightly pointed out that the ad, which connected the nation's gun violence epidemic to $7 blackhead pore strips, minimized and exploited tragedy. But some began harshly mocking Max-Brown for the blunder, and accused her of exploiting her own trauma. "You can delete the ad but we all know you profited off our classmates deaths," one user wrote underneath her video. One person linked to her social media account to direct the "cyber bullies out there." In the days since the ad was posted, mocked and criticized, and then deleted, both Max-Brown and Biore have apologized publicly for it. Biore posted a lengthy statement to its Instagram account on Monday, and a spokesperson told the New York Times that Max-Brown was not asked to speak about a specific experience, but she was encouraged "to give her personal, authentic, and unfiltered story." Throughout the month of May, which is Mental Health Awareness month, the company has posted other videos aligned with a #GetThatShitOut campaign touching on topics such as surviving a car crash or experiencing bullying and encouraged followers to join its "strip away the stigma" challenge. While the company reviews all its creator content, the company told the outlet, it does "not edit or censor content." On Sunday, Max-Brown also posted an apology to her TikTok. "This partnership was not intending to come off as the product fixing the struggles I have had since the event," she told viewers, in part. "Rather, partnering with a brand to spread awareness of what me and so many other students have been dealing with." "I did not mean to desensitize the traumatic event that took place, as I know the effects that it has had on me and the Spartan community," she continued. While Biore should bear the brunt of the backlash, the mockery and ire directed at Max-Brown, who had only recently endured a mass shooting, is overlooking the greater point. If Max-Brown sounded uncomfortably frivolous talking about the devastating effects of gun violence and included it in a campaign alongside surviving car crashes and bullying we should remember to blame the society that taught her to. Gun violence has become so pervasive in the US that we're conditioned to talk about it as an everyday occurrence. Premature deaths from guns overtook those from car crashes as the leading cause of traumatic death in the U.S. in 2017 and 2018, according to a study published in the "Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open" in 2022. In 2023, the U.S. is on pace to set a record for the number of mass killings. The occurrence has become so horrifyingly commonplace that some of Max-Brown's peers had survived their first mass shooting at Oxford High School only months before they survived their second at Michigan State University. On Monday, author Leila Sales recounted experiencing a lockdown while giving an author talk at a middle school. "I asked the girl nearest to me what to do. I explained that I'd never done a lockdown before," she tweeted. "She looked at me in disbelief and said, 'Did you grow up in America?'" Prior to this, Max-Brown has not been flippant about discussing her trauma. Shortly after the shooting at the University of Michigan occurred, Max-Brown posted a since-deleted video discussing what it was like during the shooting. As the New York Times reported, Max-Brown voiced her devastation that people opt to "protect a gun more than you can protect people's lives." "I don't want people to have to experience this ever, in their lives," she said in the two-minute video. "It sucks. I have not slept in days because all I can think about is fellow students that I know literally being killed." Ultimately, it's hard to believe Max-Brown deserves to take on the added anxiety of viral bullying on top of what she endured in February. The backlash against her may be better directed at society's inability to protect her, or any of us, from the relentless danger of gun violence. And, perhaps more tragically, how we've become so thoroughly desensitized to talking about it. Max-Brown and Biore did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider SIOUX CITY, Iowa Ron DeSantis campaign announcement was exploding on the launch pad, but in a sweaty warehouse of an old machine supply company in western Iowa late Wednesday night, it was hard to find anyone among some 300 voters gathered for a Tim Scott town hall who knew it happened. Let alone cared or thought it would alter the race. Not Clinton Vos, a 63-year-old agricultural sales professional who wore a cowboy hat and milled around before the town hall began just as official Washington was still gawking at the Twitter app crashing several times amid DeSantis highly anticipated campaign launch. I knew that it was going to happen today on Twitter, he acknowledged, but Im not a Twitter follower. Not Curtis Kull, a 30-year-old behavioral health professional who showed up with his girlfriend around 6 p.m. to hear Scott speak. I did not, he said, when asked whether he had heard the news. And not Scott Bowman, a 65-year-old UPS union steward who voted for Donald Trump in 2020 but came here looking for a fresh face, and cited DeSantis as someone he could support. The DeSantis rollout was, without question, a disaster for the Florida governor. To see it from Iowa, the events on the trail cast into sharp relief the risks of an untested social media extravaganza compared with traditional retail campaigning, a competency in which DeSantis is already perceived by rivals as lacking. It also threatened his image as the candidate of calculated competence, a narrative that if it takes hold could seriously damage his campaign. And yet here in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, it did not appear to be immediately harming him even in a crowd of people who had come to see Scott, a rival in the campaign. Among nearly a dozen voters interviewed by POLITICO, just two had caught wind of the news. Bowman versed enough in the early rhythms of the race to trot out talking points like saying DeSantis was going to be the body bag for Trump, the candidate Trump most wanted to take out looked befuddled when informed of the social media spectacle unfurling on timelines across America. I think that DeSantis is going to get a lot of heat, and I just don't know if DeSantis can hold up to the questions, he was saying seconds earlier. It's a fumble by his campaign, he acknowledged. And then there was Gwen Sturrock, a substitute teacher in her 50s who drove 2 hours from Marshall, Minn., to take the measure of Scott, but found herself leaning toward DeSantis. I just heard that he did, Sturrock said. And that it kept stalling or whatever. What would the news mean for his campaign? She replied, It might mean that a lot of people were very interested. The voters at the Scott event were discerning , too people engaged enough to find their way to a town hall on an otherwise gorgeous spring evening in Iowa, but not dopamine-addled enough to follow every twist and turn in a race in which the first votes will not be cast for another seven months. It was one of the most eventful days of the Republican primary contest so far, the field growing every week a split screen between the Twitter-verse and a part of the country where people on Wednesday were more concerned with meeting their sales quotas, getting their kids to school on time, and talking about the weather than the Washington scandal du jour. And it offered a remarkable window into the political moment, with Trump and DeSantis at each others throats in the digital firmament while their rivals such as Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence had the caucus state all to themselves, pressing the flesh in more traditional ways while fighting for scraps. Eyeing the evangelical vote in Iowa, Scott and Pence both attended events at Christian schools roughly three hours apart Wednesday, Scott hitting Siouxland Christian and extolling school choice while Pence went to Des Moines Christian School, where he shared his faith with a room full of fawning and rapt middle and high school students and signed autographs after. Both Pence and Scott lingered with voters at their respective events as Trump world carpet-bombed DeSantis on yet another online platform, Truth Social, for his rocky launch. Neither Pence nor Scott mentioned Trump or DeSantis, but both namechecked Ronald Reagan. And minutes after DeSantis had finished talking about obscure academic studies on Covid and the NAACP travel ban, Scott was talking about economic opportunity and sharing his life verse: Ephesians 3:20, which he quoted, But God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or imagine. Both Scott and Pence got more than they could ask for on Wednesday, even if Trump and DeSantis still remain the heavy favorites in the race. If DeSantis and Trump were content to wage war online, Pence, in particular, blanketed traditional media across the Des Moines market. Pence sat with the Des Moines Register editorial board for a story leading their homepage and the largest local television station. He recorded an interview with Bob Vander Plaats, the powerbroker and president and CEO of The Family Leader, an influential conservative Christian organization. Thats not to mention an Omaha affiliate that bleeds into an Iowa market. The former conservative talk show host himself even hit the studio of the largest conservative talk radio show in the state . There were no glitches with the interview. A handout picture provided by Iran's Defence Ministry shows the testing of the fourth generation Khorramshahr ballistic missile, named Khaibar Iran's defence ministry on Thursday unveiled a new ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,242 miles) and a capacity to carry warheads weighing over a tonne. The Kheibar missile -- the latest version of the Khorramshahr which is Iran's longest-range missile to date -- was unveiled alongside a replica of the Al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem, in a live broadcast on state television. Iran's Defence Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani said the missile was unveiled as part of moves to "provide comprehensive support to our friends and countries that are on the path of fighting against the domination system". State news agency IRNA said the Kheibar is "a liquid fuel missile with a range of 2,000 kilometres and a 1,500 kilogrammes warhead". Its name references the ancient town of Khaybar -- located in modern-day Saudi Arabia -- known for a decisive seventh-century battle in which the army of Prophet Mohammed defeated its thousands of Jewish residents. According to state media, the speed of the high-mobility tactical missile "can reach Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and Mach 8 inside the atmosphere". The unveiling comes amid heightened tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and just over 10 days into a fragile Gaza ceasefire that ended five days of cross border conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. Days after the Khorramshahr was unveiled in 2017, then US president Donald Trump issued a stark warning at Tehran, casting growing uncertainty over whether a nuclear deal clinched with Iran would survive. The 2015 deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, gave Iran relief from international sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. But the deal collapsed in 2018 after the United States unilaterally withdrew from it and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to suspend the implementation of its own commitments to curb nuclear activity including uranium enrichment. In January 2020, Iran launched a missile attack on US forces at the Ain al-Assad military base in Iraq's Anbar province, days after a US drone strike at Baghdad airport killed revered Revolutionary Guard commander Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. rkh/jsa In this picture released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Thursday, May 25, 2023, Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location, Iran. Iran unveiled on Thursday what it dubbed the latest iteration of its liquid-fueled Khorramshahr ballistic missile amid wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program. (Iranian Defense Ministry via AP) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran unveiled on Thursday what it called the latest iteration of its liquid-fueled Khorramshahr ballistic missile amid wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program. Authorities showed off the Khorramshahr-4 to journalists at an event in Tehran, with the missile on a truck-mounted launcher. Defense Minister Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said the missile could be prepared for launch in a short period. One of the prominent characteristics of this missile is its ability to evade radar detection and penetrate enemy air defense systems, thanks to its low radar signature," the general told journalists. This missile has the capability to utilize various warheads for different missions. Iranian officials described the missile as having a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range with a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead. They also released undated video footage purportedly showing a successful launch of the missile. The Khorramshahr has the heaviest payload of Iran's ballistic missile fleet, which analysts say may be designed to keep the weapon under a 2,000-kilometer range limit imposed by the country's supreme leader. That puts most of the Mideast in range, but falls short of Western Europe. The Khorramshahr-4 is named after an Iranian city that was the scene of heavy fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Iraq seized the city in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan at the start of the war, but Iran retook it over a year later. During the event, loudspeakers blared the Symphony of the Epic of Khorramshahr, an orchestral composition marking Iranian soldiers ending the Iraqi siege of the city during the war. Tehran created its ballistic missile program after suffering through Iraqi Scud missile attacks in the conflict and as a hedge against its Western-armed neighbors as embargoes have kept it from accessing modern attack aircraft. The missile also is called Kheibar, after a Jewish fortress conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century in what is now Saudi Arabia. Regional tensions likely played a role in Iran's missile display Thursday. A miniature example of Jerusalem's golden Dome of the Rock on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a holy site in both Islam and Judaism that Jews call the Temple Mount, stood next to the mobile launcher. Iran views Israel as its archenemy and arming anti-Israeli militant groups in the Palestinian territories and surrounding countries. Tensions between the two nations are high, particularly as Iran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. The Khorramshahr would be able to reach Israel. Iran made a point, however, to keep the truck that transports the missile covered up during the event. Its missile program has been targeted for sabotage in the past and Iran has previously used foreign-sourced vehicles to tow such massive missile systems. It remains unclear, however, why the missile has been called Khorramshahr-4 as only two other variants of the missile are publicly known. It is modeled after North Korea's Musudan ballistic missile, which is believed to have up to a 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) range with a 500-kilogram (1,100 pound) payload. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington was aware of the missile report and reiterated that Irans development and proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. Commentary: Fundamental principles vital to bringing China-U.S. ties back on track Xinhua) 08:07, May 25, 2023 Xie Feng, China's new ambassador to the United States, delivers brief remarks to the media upon his arrival at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Xie Feng on Tuesday urged Washington to work with China to enhance dialogue, manage difference and promote cooperation, so as to bring China-U.S. relations back to the right track. (Xinhua/Li Rui) Bringing China-U.S. relations back onto the right track of sound and steady development is an arduous task that brooks no failure. BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Only by embracing the essence of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation and with genuine sincerity, as New Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has pointed out, could China-U.S. relations be brought back to the right track. The Chinese envoy's Tuesday arrival in the United States to take up the ambassadorship comes at a time when the China-U.S. relationship is at its lowest ebb in decades. Xie's landing, in the wake of a string of recent high-level meetings and exchanges between the two countries, is widely viewed as a sign of detente that is pulling the strained relationship from the brink. In recent years, hawkish Washington decision-makers have got ever tougher on China, bringing already heightened tension to a head. These warmongers, oblivious to the interdependence and complementarity of the two economies, have chosen to turn a blind eye to the win-win nature of their cooperation, attempted to define the immensely significant relationship with "zero-sum" paranoia, and wilfully trod China's red line by manipulating the Taiwan question. At this critical juncture, both in bilateral and global terms, great political wisdom and sensible judgment are needed more than ever to fathom the big picture of China-U.S. relations, and to choose mutual benefit over zero-sum game or the I-win-you-lose approach. The three principles, set forth by Chinese President Xi Jinping in handling China-U.S. relations, represent the fundamental and right way for the two countries to get along with each other in the new era. The two countries should respect each other's social systems and development paths, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and respect each other's right to development. That entails treating each other as equals, properly handling their differences, and seeking common ground while reserving differences. Washington has lately been bent on toxic demagoguery, not least by peddling the so-called "democracy versus autocracy," a fallacious and deceptive narrative only to stir up ideological confrontation and hostilities between the two sides. Photo taken on Nov. 14, 2022 shows the national flags of China and the United States in Bali, Indonesia. (Xinhua) Also an imperative is for both sides to work together with genuine sincerity to ensure their peaceful coexistence. With their interests deeply intertwined, China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. In fact, over the decades, cooperation in various sectors has generated great dividends for the two peoples. And despite heightened tensions and the ill-willed decoupling rhetoric, two-way trade in goods hit a record 690.6 billion U.S. dollars last year. And in this age of hyper-interdependence, a sound and stable China-U.S. relationship would serve as a bulwark in the world's collective fight against climate change, an existential challenge that concerns the very survival of humanity. Now that the two sides have kept their lines of communication open, the United States needs to take cognizance of the fact that talk for the sake of talk will do little to remove the obstacles in the path of a sound relationship. It should also be aware that Beijing will not buy its double-dealing ploy of seeking cooperation and communication while containing China in the name of "competition." Bringing China-U.S. relations back onto the right track of sound and steady development is an arduous task that brooks no failure. What the future holds for the two countries and the world at large hinges on whether Washington will, with enough sincerity, refrain from damaging mutual trust, avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, and take concrete steps to deliver on its promises. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) You are here: China Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree unveiling the revised regulations on the management of commercial cryptography, effective from July 1. The revision is made to the 1999 version of the regulations and provides details of relevant mechanisms stipulated in China's Cryptography Law effective since 2020. The revised regulations aim to improve the management system of commercial cryptography, advance innovations and standardization, and foster a testing and recognition system for commercial cryptography. The revision also seeks to strengthen management over the use of cryptograms in electronic verification services as well as the services related to e-government affairs. Management over commercial cryptography import and export will be better regulated, and the application of commercial cryptography will be promoted, according to the revised regulations. Hunter Biden is facing an investigation into his tax affairs (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) An Internal Revenue Service criminal investigator who has accused Justice Department officials of show-walking a long-running probe into President Joe Bidens son Hunters tax affairs has cut off communication with a key congressional committee amid questions about the veracity of his claims and his motivations for coming forward. The special agent, Gary Shapley, is a veteran of the IRS criminal investigations department who on Thursday revealed his identity in an interview with CBS News. Mr Shapley is set to give evidence in a closed session before the House Ways and Means Committee on Friday. That panel, which has jurisdiction over the IRS, is led by Representative Jason Smith, a Missouri Republican. But even as he is poised to testify before the House panel, the 14-year IRS veteran has now cut off communication with the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the Internal Revenue Service, after his attorney met with committee representatives. Mr Shapley has also cancelled a scheduled interview with that committee, which is led by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon. A Finance Committee source told The Independent that staffers from both the GOP and Democratic sides of the committee had met with one of the attorneys known to represent Mr Shapley, a former federal prosecutor named Mark Lytle. Democratic and Republican Finance Committee staff previously met for several hours with counsel representing an IRS whistleblower, and counsel were made aware of the committees investigative procedures. Committee staff on both sides agreed with counsel to meet directly with the whistleblower next week, however the whistleblower has since backed out of that agreement and declined an attempt to reschedule, they said. The source added that Finance Committee Chair Senator Wyden and his staff are ready to arrange a meeting on terms that comply with laws protecting taxpayer data and ensure a fair and rigorous investigation. Gary Shapley speaks about investigation into Hunter Bidens tax affairs (CBS Evening News) In his interview with CBS, Mr Shapley claimed that multiple steps in the long-running probe into Hunter Biden were slow-walked at the behest of Justice Department officials, and said he began raising concerns about the conduct of the investigation shortly after he was first assigned to it in early 2020. When I took control of this particular investigation, I immediately saw deviations from the normal process. It was way outside the norm of what Ive experienced in the past, he said. That probe, which began under the Obama administration, has long been under the supervision of David Weiss, a veteran federal prosecutor who has served as the US Attorney for the District of Delaware since 2018. Mr Weiss, whose nomination was approved by a Senate voice vote, was one of two US attorneys appointed by President Bidens predecessor who was asked to stay on after former president Donald Trump left office in January 2021. According to Biden administration officials, the president chose not to ask Mr Weiss to resign the customary fate of all US attorneys when a new administration takes office to avoid any appearance of meddling in the investigation into his son. The younger Mr Biden disclosed the existence of the investigation shortly after his father won the 2020 election in a statement, and said at the time he believed a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately. The IRS criminal probe into Hunter Biden has focused on whether he violated US tax laws by not paying required taxes on income he made from several foreign business ventures, as well as examining whether he possibly violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act and other federal laws. He reportedly paid off a massive tax bill in 2021 after receiving a $1m loan from a friend who also serves as a member of his legal team. Although paying off an unpaid tax bill doesnt obviate a violation of tax laws, prosecutors have often had trouble securing indictments or convictions of defendants who paid off any taxes they may have owed. Although Hunter Biden has not been charged with any crime as a result of the probe being overseen by Mr Weiss, The Wall Street Journal reported late last year that federal prosecutors were weighing whether to seek an indictment against him from the grand jury that has been hearing evidence in the case. His attorneys reportedly met with prosecutors to dissuade them from seeking an indictment against their client last month. Such a meeting is generally a sign that the investigative work performed by special agents has been completed and a case file has been handed off to prosecutors. Separately, persons familiar with the investigation have told other media outlets that the criminal investigators working on the case believed there is enough evidence to support seeking charges against Mr Biden. But ultimately, the choice of whether or not to ask a grand jury to indict a target of a given investigation is the sole province of prosecutors in the US Attorneys office and the Department of Justice. Experts cast down on investigators claims of slow-walking probe In a letter to the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee chairs that was first reported on by the New York Post, Mr Lytle said his client now known to be Mr Shapley could speak about examples of 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. Mr Shapley also has alleged that he and his team were removed from the Hunter Biden investigation to punish him for speaking out. The allegations of favouritism towards Hunter Biden are consistent with grievances expressed by prominent Republicans such as Donald Trump, who as recently as Tuesday had his legal team send a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland claiming he has been treated unfairly by the special prosecutor probing his alleged unlawful retention of national defence information because the presidents son has not been charged with a crime. But Mr Shapleys claim that the reassignment of him and his investigative team is either retaliatory or evidence of favouritism towards the Biden family was met with scepticism by veterans of Justice Department and IRS investigations who spoke to The Independent. The former prosecutors and investigators say theres nothing unusual about sending investigators on to work on their next case when prosecutors are ready to make charging decisions, as they appear to be in the case of Mr Biden. Hunter Biden with his father (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Because federal criminal investigators have no formal role in prosecutors decisions to seek charges or decline to prosecute in a particular case, its not unheard of for conflicts to arise between special agents and US attorneys, especially when the agents feel prosecutors are reluctant to bring evidence theyve gathered to a grand jury for indictments. Yet even when investigators feel there is sufficient evidence to support charges, prosecutors often balk at presenting that evidence for indictments because they better understand the legal requirements to obtain convictions that can be sustained on appeal. Nick Akerman, a former federal prosecutor who worked on tax cases in the Southern District of New York for many years, told The Independent its likely that the IRS agents assigned to the Hunter Biden probe were reassigned because the investigation is over and there is nothing more for them to do. They [special agents] do a very detailed report thats done with all certain information and thats really it. And then the prosecutor looks at that and takes it from there, he said. At that point, theyve got no role if you go to trial, you might want to use him for certain things, but thats it. Mr Akerman also noted that the US Attorney supervising the probe, Mr Weiss, is an appointee of Mr Trump, and suggested that it would make no sense for him to consent to having agents pulled off the case for any reason except there was no more investigative work to be done on it. Another federal law enforcement veteran, ex-FBI special agent Peter Strzok, told The Independent in a phone interview that the most likely explanation for why an entire IRS CI team would be removed from the Hunter Biden investigation en masse is that theyve completed the investigation and it is now up to prosecutors to decide what to do with the evidence theyve obtained. He said it is a frequent occurrence for there to be disagreements between agents and prosecutors over whether the agents have brought them enough to form a case that will withstand the scrutiny of a jury trial. The agents are just trying to investigate what happened, and prosecutors are thinking: Okay, how do we get this admitted into evidence? Whats the credibility of the source? Whats other information? Is it going to be undercut? So prosecutors usually are much more cautious, he said. He added that in his experience, prosecutors usually win arguments over whether to bring charges in a particular case, even in politically sensitive matters such as an investigation into a sitting presidents son. Mr Strzok, who once served as the Deputy Assistant Director of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division, also suggested that the fact that only two of the investigators have chosen to go to Congress with allegations of favouritism towards Hunter Biden is a sign that the special agents in question have an axe to grind. Theres a whole team of people if there was a real problem, I would have expected to see more, he said. It sounds very much like at least this one [agent] believes that charges should be brought. But at the end of the day, its not his call. Hes not trained as a prosecutor, hes not thinking about, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, he doesnt know what hurdles are going to exist in the courtroom. Mr Strzok added that if the concerns raised by the agents in question were valid, its highly likely that prosecutors in Mr Weiss office would have already resigned over a decision not to charge Hunter Biden if improper political influence was being exerted over the probe. Identity of Mr Shapleys other attorney raises alarms In his interview with CBS, Mr Shapley said he is a registered Republican and suggested that he should be thought of as not a political person because he has never been involved in political campaigns, though his position as an IRS criminal investigator means participating in political campaigns would be a violation of federal law. He also told the television network that his legal efforts are being aided by a nonprofit staffed by former Republican congressional staffers in addition to Mr Lytle, a former federal prosecutor who has experience representing federal employees whove been accused of political bias as well as white-collar criminal defendants. But it is the involvement of that nonprofit, Empower Oversight, that has raised suspicions of political motivations among people close to congressional oversight efforts, particularly after Mr Shapley declined to speak to the Democratic-led Finance Committee. In addition to Mr Lytle, Mr Shapley has also been represented in his whistleblower matters by the founder of Empower Oversight, Tristan Leavitt. Mr Leavitt is a former Trump administration appointee to the Merit System Protection Board who also spent time working for the Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency charged with enforcing whistleblower protection laws as well as the Hatch Act, a New Deal-era statute which prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain partisan activities while on the government payroll. Since leaving government service at the end of the Trump administration, he has been involved with representing a group of former FBI special agents who call themselves The Suspendables. The ex-agents claim they were unlawfully retaliated against for expressing what they describe as conservative political viewpoints and for voicing concerns about excessive use of force when arresting suspects charged with crimes stemming from participation in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Mr Leavitt testified alongside several of the agents at a congressional hearing last week, during which two of his clients admitted to receiving funds from a prominent ex-aide to former president Donald Trump, Kash Patel. While Mr Leavitt claimed in his testimony that his clients were unlawfully retaliated against for making protected disclosures of alleged wrongdoing, a top FBI official stated in a letter reported by The New York Times that one of the agents in question had his security clearance revoked for having espoused an alternative narrative about the events at the US Capitol in communications with supervisors, as well as refusing to carry out orders to join an FBI Swat team to aid the arrest of a suspect known to own multiple AR-15-style rifles and who belonged to the Three Percenter anti-government extremist movement. According to sources familiar with congressional efforts to verify Mr Shapleys allegations, Mr Leavitts involvement raised a big red flag because of allegations that his clients may have lied to the House Judiciary Committee regarding their receipt of funds from Mr Patel and in their description of events leading up to their dismissal from government service. The sources say Mr Shapleys use of Mr Leavitt as an attorney and the nature of the allegations which they described as appearing to be a run-of-the-mill dispute between criminal investigators and prosecutors over whether the former has collected enough evidence for the latter to justify bringing charges against a target give them reason to believe the IRS special agent is part of a coordinated effort to browbeat prosecutors into charging Hunter Biden and weaponise dispute between investigators and prosecutors against both the Biden administration and President Bidens family. One person with knowledge of Mr Shapleys efforts told The Independent that members of Congress and staff have also been troubled by the way legally protected taxpayer information information which House and Senate committees take great pains to keep secret has made it into the right-wing press at the same time it has been provided to the House and Senate panels with jurisdiction over the IRS. They noted that he was previously represented by a prominent Washington, DC attorney with extensive experience in representing law enforcement and intelligence whistleblowers and said Mr Shapley appeared to change attorneys because his first attorney appeared more concerned with following the law than getting his allegations into the press. While this person commended Mr Shapley for his years of government service, they suggested that he is being taken advantage of by Mr Leavitt, who they described as a partisan actor whose goal is to further negative narratives about the Biden administration not protecting his client. The Independent has sought to contact Mr Shapley through Mr Leavitts organisation. A Texas man was forced to scramble out of his SUV to safety after a pothole he drove over turned out to be much, much deeper. John King, of Galveston, was on his way home from the grocery store when he drove into what he thought was a shallow puddle in the road, The Daily News reported. But moments later, his Volkswagen started to sink. When I turned left, my car just went down, King told the newspaper. I knew something was wrong. I tried to open my door and I didnt realize how far the car was in the ground. Mud started to pour in and I said, Woah, this is definitely not right. The front end of Kings vehicle was swallowed up by the sinkhole, video by KTRK shows. King escaped the incident uninjured, but lost his groceries, the paper reported. Unable to open the door, King rolled down a window and crawled out, he told KHOU. King, who works as a 911 dispatcher, said he normally takes an alternative route home, but he went a different way in order to avoid construction. If you ever wanted to see an example of someone using every cuss word in the book in one long run-on sentence, that was yesterday, King told the TV station. After removing the SUV from the hole, workers drained out the water and began investigating, the outlet reported. A water main break is the suspected cause. 2 killed when house under construction collapses during storm, Texas officials say Four high schoolers killed when SUV theyre in runs red light, Illinois cops say Huge sinkhole is growing, putting Texas residents on edge. We have packed our bags Sinkhole swallows woman in front yard then her rescuers fall in too, NY cops say Trawlers seen docked in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's economic capital, during a crackdown on illegal fishing in 2014 West African fish exporter Ivory Coast on Thursday announced temporary bans on trawling for tuna and other species in a bid to protect dwindling stocks. "In the face of the threat from the continued fall in marine fisheries resources," the government "has taken the initiative to set up an annual biological rest period in Ivory Coast's marine zones," Fisheries Minister Sidi Tiemoko Toure told a press conference. The measure aims at protecting a range of species, including red tuna, sardinella, anchovies and the giant African threadfin. Small-scale Ivorian fishermen will face a rest period over July this year, while "industrial and semi-industrial" vessels will be banned in July and August. Tuna vessels, most of which are foreign-owned, will be barred from January 1 to March 13, 2024, the minister said. The nation's 200,000-square-kilometre (77,000-square-mile) Exclusive Economic Zone off the coast will be patrolled to enforce the measures. Failure to observe the bans could be punished by up to five years in jail and fines of up to 300 million CFA francs ($490,000). Ivory Coast's fisheries catch plummeted by nearly 40 percent between 2003 and 2020 to under 40,000 tonnes, the minister said. In 2016, West African neighbour Ghana implemented a similar "rest period" to protect its fisheries, Toure noted. bam/pid/bp/ri Jacksonville Mayor-elect Donna Deegan held her first news conference at city hall on Thursday to announce her transition team. Our administration will guided by the principle that every person should have a voice in city hall and a seat at the table, Deegan said. [This] as we usher in a new era of real and lasting change. Six well-known community members will aid in the transition from one administration to the next: Former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney Former Sheriffs Office candidate and retired JSO officer Lakesha Burton Operation New Hope CEO Kevin Gay Former Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover Florida Blue Market President Darnell Smith Brightway Insurance Executive David Miller This team is a Jacksonville team, Miller said. The biggest items on the agenda are budget, permitting, and crime. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] We are going to make sure that that permitting process is better, is less bloated, and easier for businesses to navigate, Deegan said. One of the top priorities for this administration will be to make Jacksonville the small business leader. Deegan also said addressing crime is a top priority. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] I said during the campaign that I do believe we need more officers on the streets, Deegan said. If you look at the data of how many people we have in the city and how many officers we have in this city, we need more police officers. We also asked Deegan about the Florida-Georgia contract extension and how it plays out with renovations. She said theres a lot of new information, but its too much to share at the Thursday news conference. Those details will come later. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The Phoenix man who became the most prominent figure at the raid of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with his painted face and fur hat topped with horns was released from a halfway house on Thursday and wasted no time getting into the getup that made him famous. Jake Angeli was at the Arizona State Capitol by 10 a.m. on Thursday, in full red, white and blue face paint. He brought along a photo and video crew and posed in the mall between the state legislative buildings and the tower that houses the governor's office. It is the spot where, since at least 2019, Angeli would bang a drum and give loud screeds about global corruption. On Thursday, Angeli had a drum with him, but did not use it. "First day out, don't need a noise complaint," he said. Angeli said that being at the state Capitol was "like a breath of fresh air." Angeli noted that the media had dubbed him the QAnon Shaman, a reference to his adherence to both the QAnon conspiracy theory and his elaborate shamanistic tattoos. But, Angeli said, he eschewed that name. Jake Angeli, known as the QAnon Shaman, at the Arizona state Capital for a photo shoot, May 24, 2023, in Phoenix. "My shamanic name is Yellowstone Wolf," he said, "and Im proud to be an American, baby." About 90 minutes before his appearance at the Capitol, Angeli, 35, tweeted a photo of himself wearing a white sports jacket and an American-flag themed tie. His head was topped not with fur, but with a flag-themed bandana. "One small step for this man, and one GIANT leap for all mankind..." the tweet read. He later retweeted a roughly five-minute video from an account called the "Forbidden Truth Podcast" which kicked off with Angeli thanking God while standing in front of what appears to be a large Native American dreamcatcher. In the video, Angeli said he forgave the government for imprisoning him. He also mentioned continuing global corruption, which he said was becoming more obvious. In the video, Angeli said that he had "most certainly learned numerous lessons during the test which God has graced me with over the last two-and-a-half years." Angeli continued by saying schools, governments and cultural upbringings have failed many people facing a world in "turmoil" and stressed that patience and internal peace were vital. He said many people who experienced what he did would likely be outraged, seemingly referring to his imprisonment, but that he instead would embrace forgiveness. "So, in the spirit of Christ's example, I would like to use this official statement to make it extremely clear that I have no animosity or hatred toward the United States federal government," he said, "and I have forgiven my captors and I pray for them because that is what Christ would do." Jake Angeli, known as the QAnon Shaman, at the Arizona state Capital for a photo shoot, May 24, 2023, in Phoenix. Angeli then asserted that the world isn't getting worse, but that global corruption is merely growing more obvious. He concluded the video with a quote misattributed to Mahatma Gandhi. "First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win," he said. "So it seems I've already undergone the first three stages of this process," Angeli said. "Now all there's left to do is win." Angeli was set to speak at a welcome home celebration on Sunday at the Reformed Living Bible Church in Scottsdale. An organizer of the event, Susan Wood of Scottsdale, said that the event would be a chance to reintroduce Angeli to the public. Wood said she met Angeli at the various protests and marches he participated in during 2019 and 2020. "He was always just so happy and energetic and fun and nice," she said. "We were like, what is he doing in prison? He's not dangerous or anything." Wood said the room at the church, which she was renting, held 200 people. She expected it to be full. "He's got a lot of fans," Wood said. Angeli was also selling merchandise that featured his iconic image on reusable water bottles, phone cases and apparel. A T-shirt with a black-and-white drawing of Angeli over the words Shaman Life, was selling for $33. Similarly-styled hoodies, albeit featuring a curse word, were listed for $60. A dress whose bottom featured a full close up of Angelis painted face and whose top had a heart filled with a flag motif and outlined with the words, Everything I do, I do it for you, was selling for $55. Screenshots of the website, forbiddenacademy.myshopfy.com, were posted Thursday by the Twitter account, AZ Right Wing Watch. The website also added the ability for consultations with Angeli. One-on-one sessions were listed at $500. Angeli had been held at the federal prison in Safford, but was released to a residential facility in March. He had been sentenced in November 2021 to 41 months in prison. He pleaded guilty to a felony count of obstructing a civil proceeding. Angeli was also sentenced to three years of supervised probation, which started on Thursday. Angeli, who was charged under his legal name of Jacob Chansley, was not accused of any acts of violence or vandalism while in the U.S. Capitol. But prosecutors said he played a key role in the riot by goading on the crowd through shouts through his megaphone. Angeli had made himself, and his megaphone, a fixture at protests in the Phoenix area since at least 2019. He participated in all manner of protest marches and rallies, including becoming a leader at rallies outside the Maricopa County election headquarters in late 2020 protesting the defeat of President Donald Trump. Jacob Anthony Chansley, a.k.a. Jake Angeli, visits the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix on May 25, 2023. Angeli was sentenced in November 2021 to 41 months in prison for his role in Jan. 6 Capitol raid in Washington D.C. "Today is my first day out," said Angeli. "It's been over two years, so it feels like a breath of fresh air." Angeli would also carry a sign that read: "Q Sent Me." He told The Arizona Republic he wore his garb to attract attention to the wide-ranging conspiracy involving Q, who adherents believed was an anonymous federal official posting cryptic clues to hidden truths on online bulletin boards. The central and false theory was that Trump would dismantle a global conspiracy of elite leaders and celebrities engaged in crimes against children. Angeli drove to Washington D.C. to attend a speech by Trump on Jan. 6, 2021. He then joined others marching to the U.S. Capitol. Video showed him among the first to enter after windows were broken. A judge said that Angeli "quite literally spearheaded" the breach of the U.S. Capitol. With his eye-catching get-up, Angeli attracted attention. He was seen in multiple videos and photos of the riot. He became the face of the riot, with his iconic look being mocked on late-night talk shows. During his time inside the Capitol, Angeli strode into the U.S. Senate chambers and, ignoring the pleas of the sole police officer there, took the dais. He left a note for Vice President Mike Pence that said, Its only a matter of time. Justice is coming! After Trump sent a video message through Twitter asking his supporters to leave the Capitol, Angeli was seen on video using his megaphone to blast Trumps wishes to the crowd, asking them to clear the building. At his sentencing, Angeli took responsibility but said he was not a danger to society. "I may be guilty of this crime, absolutely," he said. "But I am in no way, shape or form a dangerous criminal. I'm not a domestic terrorist. I'm not an insurrectionist. "I'm a good man who broke the law," he said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jake Angeli, icon of the Jan. 6 riots, back in costume after release Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that Barnett was photographed with his foot on a desk in former Speaker Pelosis office. We regret the error. A Jan. 6 rioter who was photographed with his foot on a desk in former Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) office amid the attack on the Capitol was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison Wednesday, according to the Justice Department. Richard Bigo Barnett, 62, was convicted in January of four felonies and four misdemeanors related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including obstructing an official proceeding and carrying a dangerous weapon in a restricted building. Barnett found his way into Pelosis office amid the riot, where he left an expletive-laden message for the then-Speaker and stole an envelope. The photo of Barnett in Pelosis office would become one of the most well-known images from the day. As he handed down Barnetts sentence on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper noted that the Arkansas man had not taken any responsibility for his actions, CBS News reported. While you may regret having gone there that day, you have so far not shown any acceptance of responsibility, Cooper said. Barnett claimed at his sentencing hearing that he wasnt treated fairly, adding that they want me to be remorseful for things I did not do, according to CBS News. Updated 10:05 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A video of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been shared on YouTube with fake subtitles that falsely claim his government has "accepted" South Korea's sovereignty over a disputed island chain. The Korean subtitles and voiceover are not an accurate translation of Kishida's words, which were taken from a speech he gave that was unrelated to South Korea. "Today, we received news that Japan accepted South Korea's ownership over Dokdo at the UN," said a narrator of the video, posted on March 18, referring to a set of disputed islets in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. The claim was shared in a two-minute YouTube video with the title "Japan finally accepts Dokdo as South Korean territory", which has been viewed more than 400,000 times since it was posted on March 18, 2023. The Liancourt Rocks, called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, remain a flashpoint in the relations of the two countries, both of which assert their sovereignty of the islets. The islands have been administered by South Korea since 1945, when Japan surrendered at the end of World War II (archived link). Screenshot of the misleading claim shared on YouTube. Captured May 22, 2023. The video features footage of Kishida meeting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Tokyo on March 16, 2023, in which the two leaders agreed to thaw long-frozen ties and form a united front against regional challenges (archived link). The voiceover in the video says: "On the 16th, President Yoon Suk Yeol held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida. In addition to normalising trade and diplomatic ties between the two countries, the leaders also discussed Dokdo. When Yoon took up an intimidating stance, Kishida accepted Dokdo was South Korean territory." Kishida's voice is not heard in the video, but the Korean voiceover and subtitles depict him as saying: "We have no other choice. We will no longer dispute that Dokdo is South Korean territory (...) We have faced the reality that we need to accept the truth in order to improve ties with South Korea." Japanese media reported that Yoon and Kishida discussed the islets during their meeting, but Yoon's office denied the issue had been raised (archived link). The clip was also shared on Facebook over two dozen times, including here, here, here and here. However, the claim is false. Kishida clip A Google reverse image search found the clip of Kishida's speech in the misleading video corresponds to a video message his government posted on YouTube on December 14, 2021 (archived link). In the original video posted by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kishida promoted his country's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council by touting Japan's contributions to the UN and its commitment to tackling Covid-19 and climate change. He made no mention of South Korea or any disputed territories in the video, which has English subtitles. Below is a screenshot comparison of the falsely subtitled clip (left) and the original footage posted by the Japanese foreign ministry (right): Screenshot comparison of the falsely subtitled clip (left) and the original footage posted by the Japanese foreign ministry (right). The same video message was also posted on the Japanese Foreign Ministry's official website (archived link). Other clips The video also featured speeches by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Korean subtitles and voiceover in the video include fabricated messages that do not match the leaders' speeches. The clip of Guterres corresponds to the UN Secretary General's video message on World Food Day 2021, posted on the UN's official YouTube channel on October 14, 2021 (archived link). Below is a screenshot comparison of the falsely subtitled clip (left) and the original footage posted by the UN (right): Screenshot comparison of the falsely subtitled clip (left) and the original footage posted by the UN (right) Chinese President Xi Jinping is shown to criticise South Korea for improving ties with Japan, saying "many Chinese people live in South Korea" and that they "may vote in South Korea's next parliamentary election." AFP found the footage of Xi was taken from a Bloomberg report published in August 2022, which in turn matched video of a speech he gave in October 2016 (archived links here and here). Below is a screenshot comparison of the falsely subtitled clip (left) and the original footage from the Bloomberg report (right): Screenshot comparison of the falsely subtitled clip (left) and the original footage from the Bloomberg report (right) Disputed isles issue Both Japan and South Korea's governments both assert the islands are their "inherent territory" (archived links here and here). AFP could not find any credible reports or announcements from either country that shows any change in either country's position on the islets. "There is no likelihood that Kishida or the Japanese government has acquiesced to South Korea's ownership over Dokdo, as it has always been the Japanese government's uniform policy to maintain that Dokdo is Japan's unique territory that is currently being illegally occupied by South Korea," Professor Yuji Hosaka at Seoul-based Sejong University, told AFP on May 22, 2023 (archived link). "In fact, Japan's education ministry recently authorised new elementary school textbooks in late March that explicitly defines the islets as Japan's territory, reflecting the position of the Japanese government," Hosaka said, referring to the Japanese government's decision on March 28 to greenlight schoolbooks that outlined the country's sovereignty claims over the islets (archived link). Japan's Foreign Ministry released its Diplomatic Bluebook on April 11, weeks after Kishida and Yoon's meeting, that explicitly restated the country's sovereignty claims over the islets, to which South Korea's foreign ministry responded by summoning Japan's deputy chief of mission in Seoul to its offices (archived link). House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday the duration of the spending caps demanded by Republicans as part of any debt ceiling deal should match the length of time the governments borrowing authority is extended. It seems to me that if theres a resolution that involves a spending freeze, that that spending freeze should also match the length of time that the debt ceiling is suspended, Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. The timeline question has been one of the chief sticking points preventing an agreement on how to extend the governments borrowing authority and prevent a default, which the administration says could arrive as soon as June 1. In legislation passed last month, GOP leaders capped fiscal 2024 spending at 2022 levels, with a 1 percent hike in discretionary programs over the decade to follow. Their proposed debt ceiling hike was much shorter: It would extend the governments borrowing authority by $1.5 trillion, or through next March, whichever comes first. Both provisions have been rejected by President Biden, who is leading the talks with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in search of an elusive deal. Bidens counteroffer featured a spending freeze at current levels for 2024, with caps lifting after 2025. Ten years of spending caps is a non-starter. Period. Full stop, Jeffries said Wednesday. There are not Democratic votes in the House of Reps for that to happen. Jeffries has not been in the room during the talks, but he is updated regularly and his remarks tend to reflect the positions of the administration. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jilly Cooper has said she is thrilled to bits that Rishi Sunak is a fan of her bonkbuster novels. The prime minister talked in some detail about his love of the racy books on ITVs This Morning today (25 May). During an interview with Alison Hammond, Sunak discussed everything from immigration and the NHS to his literature preferences. You need to have escapism in your life, he said. You need to be able to get away from the day to day... Thats a good thing. In response, bestselling British author Cooper told The Independent: Im absolutely thrilled to bits. It is always a joy as an author when someone says they like your books. Im so honoured that lovely Rishi Sunak has had time to read them. Cooper is famous for her raunchy novels in the Rutshire Chronicles series, which are set in glamorous and wealthy milieus. One of Sunaks favourites is Riders, a 1985 novel set in the world of showjumping, which follows the life of the gorgeous but badly behaved Rupert Campbell-Black and his rival Jake Lovell. There is a lot of sex in the book. One passage reads: Fascinated, she watched his long fingers stroking her belly, then sliding into the dark bush. Reacting to the This Morning interview on Twitter, one viewer wrote: F***ing crying over Jilly Cooper dear lord. Hearing that Rishi Sunak loves Jilly Cooper books is potentially one of the most surprising things I expected to hear this morning, another posted with a sobbing emoji and a crying-laughing emoji. Many people shared the front cover of the book Riders, which features a mans hand placed on the right cheek of a womans bottom. Rishi Sunak says Riders by Jilly Cooper is one of his favourite books. This is its front cover: pic.twitter.com/HDE5UkqSpE Stefan Boscia (@Stefan_Boscia) May 25, 2023 Maybe we should all read Jilly Cooper novels so we can escape from Sunaks reality? one viewer joked. Arent Jilly Cooper books about Sunaks reality? added another person, alluding to Sunaks huge wealth. I just puked into my tea. Is Sunak the prime minister or a randy teenager? another user tweeted. It recently also emerged that Sunak is a fan of Michael Bubles music, and the much-derided Netflix show Emily in Paris. One of Coopers most popular novels, Rivals, is being adapted into a Disney+ TV series. It will star an ensemble cast including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Lisa McGrillis, Alex Hassell, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer. Their faith is really grounding in this moment. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Its been three months since he entered hospice care, and former President Jimmy Carter reportedly remains in good spirits. Jason Carter recently told the Associated Press that his grandfather is spending his days visiting with family and enjoying the occasional scoop of peanut butter ice cream at his modest home in Plains, Georgia. Rosalynn, Jimmys wife of 76 years, is always by his side. Theyre just meeting with family right now, but theyre doing it in the best possible way: the two of them together at home, Jason said of his grandparents. Theyve been together 70-plus years. They also know that theyre not in charge. Their faith is really grounding in this moment. In that way, its as good as it can be. Following a few brief hospitalizations, Jimmy announced his decision to forgo further medical intervention in February. At 98 years old, he is the longest-lived president in U.S. history. Jason told the AP that his grandfather appreciates all the support hes received since news broke that hes entered hospice. Thats been one of the blessings of the last couple of months, he said. He is certainly getting to see the outpouring and its been gratifying to him for sure. At a celebration of the former president along Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross on Tuesday, Jason expressed his amusement over the fact people consider his grandparents to be celebrities. Theyre just like all of yalls grandparentsI mean, to the extent yalls grandparents are rednecks from south Georgia, he told said to a laughing crowd. If you go down there even today, next to their sink they have a little rack where they dry Ziplock bags. The Carters, who first met as youngsters, have been married since July 7, 1946. They share four children, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. In a 2021 interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jimmy said that his love for Rosalynn has only increased in the decades theyve spent together. "We have grown closer to each other. Weve learned from each other. And we have learned to accommodate each others idiosyncrasies," he shared. "And weve learned how to give each other plenty of space. We can each do our own thing and the other one absent." For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. A sub-forum on whole-process people's democracy in Xizang is held during the "2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang, China" in Beijing on May 23, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] The "2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang, China" took place in Beijing on Tuesday, shedding light on the new chapter of high-quality development and human rights protection in the southwestern autonomous region of China. In a congratulatory letter to the forum, President Xi Jinping noted, "People's happiness is the ultimate human right, while development holds the key to delivering better lives to the people." To this end, Xizang has implemented whole-process people's democracy to give full expression to the will of local residents of all ethnic groups and protect their rights and interests, significantly enhancing the quality of life for local people. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, people in Xizang, with the strong support of the central government and people throughout the country, have worked with fortitude and brought about a resolution to the problem of extreme poverty that had plagued the region for centuries, Xi's letter explained. Whole -process people's democracy is the defining feature of socialist democracy; it is democracy in its broadest, most genuine, and most effective form. During a sub-forum on whole-process people's democracy, Roland Boer, a distinguished professor at the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China, highlighted the need for a socialist, or more specifically, Marxist, approach to justice and rights. He stressed that the stunning economic development of Xizang could be understood within the context of a Marxist and socialist approach to human rights. On a field trip to Xizang before the forum, Boer observed newly built and upgraded roads, railway lines, modern buildings, and readily available water, electricity, and communications networks. "My phone could even receive signal at around 5,000 meters above sea level," Boer remarked. Hendy Yuniarto, a lecturer from the School of Asian Studies of Beijing Foreign Studies University, discussed the role of sustainable tourism in alleviating poverty in Xizang based on his visit to Nyingchi. He emphasized that sustainable tourism in Xizang has struck a balance between local economic development, improved livelihoods, and the protection of natural scenery and unique cultural resources. Sergio Cabrera, the Colombian ambassador to China, pointed out that Colombia could learn from Xizang's experiences in poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, ecological conservation, and cultural preservation. Giuseppe Yoffreda, Venezuela's ambassador to China, underscored the significant investments China has made to improve education, healthcare, housing, culture, employment and social security in Xizang, leading to improved living conditions for locals. He expressed his anticipation that China and Venezuela could collaborate on developing democracy and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Han Yuanlin, executive deputy secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Xizang, applauded the continually improving election system in the autonomous region. He noted that of the 42,000 deputies to the people's congresses of five levels (national, regional, municipal, county-level, and township-level) in Xizang, 89.24% are from Tibetan and other ethnic minorities. He further revealed that as of May 2021, the central government had provided financial aid totaling 1.63 trillion yuan ($231.5 billion) to aid Xizang's development. This has led people of all ethnic groups to feel a deep-rooted connection between Xizang's future and the broader destiny of the nation. Wang Qingxian, vice president of the Party School of the CPC Committee in Xizang, observed that in today's Xizang, whole-process people's democracy is evident across all spheres of economic and social development. From shaping the legislation of the autonomous region to overseeing financial budgeting and implementation, and even participating in local tasks such as household waste sorting and property management, residents actively contribute to all these activities, with their individual needs and suggestions duly considered and incorporated. Qin Yongzhang, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explained the practice of whole-process people's democracy in Xizang through the lens of freedom of religious belief. Qin noted that there are more than 1,700 sites dedicated to Tibetan Buddhist practices accommodating over 46,000 monks and nuns, all of whom have been included in the social security system. This coverage extends to pensions, medical insurance and subsistence allowance schemes. This Johnson County city is the priciest place to live in Kansas, according to new report Mission Hills is the most expensive neighborhood in Kansas, according to a new report from the financial advice blog Saving Spot. With an average home price of just under $2 million, this small Johnson County city prides itself on providing an idyllic environment for residents. Mission Hills local perks include a robust urban forestry program and a citywide No Visit list to prevent soliciting. First-time visitors to Mission Hills cant help noticing our fountains, statues, sculptures and urns, the citys website boasts. Some are hundreds of years old and many are museum pieces imported from abroad. Just across the state line, Kansas City is listed as the most expensive neighborhood in Missouri, with an average home price of around $1.4 million. The finance blog calculated the average home prices in neighborhoods across the U.S. using property listings on the real estate site Zillow. They totaled the value of the homes in each neighborhood and then divided it by the number of properties to arrive at their value averages. Kansas and Missouri are both among the 40 U.S. states with seven-figure home prices in their most expensive neighborhoods. The lowest average is found in Mississippis most expensive neighborhood, Oxford, with an average home price of just under $600,000. The countrys most expensive neighborhood overall is Manalapan, Florida, with an average home price of over $39 million. Do you have more questions about the cost of living in the Kansas City area? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com. A man is behind bars after a joint investigation led to his arrest on drug charges. According to the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, on May 18, arrest warrants were issued for Aaron Dominique Wilks with charges of trafficking in opium or heroin, felony conspiracy, possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule 1 controlled substance, and two counts of maintaining a vehicle or dwelling to keep or store a controlled substance. Wilks charges came after an investigation led by the Rowan County Sheriffs Office with help from the Salisbury Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), and Homeland Security Investigations. ALSO READ: Joint drug operation ends in arrest of two Lincoln County traffickers, sheriff says On Tuesday, officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departments Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and the Rowan County Sheriffs Office Criminal Apprehension Team (SOCAT) found and arrested Wilks at his home in Charlotte. Officers took Wilks to Rowan Countys Magistrates Office, where he was placed under a $250,000 bond. Wilks later made the bond. After Wilks arrest, deputies got a search warrant for his home, where they found over $16,000, a small amount of marijuana, a loaded handgun, and cell phones. A court hearing was held on Wednesday at the Rowan County District Court, and Wilks bond was taken away. He was then placed on a $1 million secured bond and is currently in the Rowan County Detention Center. ALSO READ: Gaston County K-9 unit assists in large drug bust Officers with the Salisbury Police Department led a connected investigation on Tuesday at a rental unit at Public Storage on Jake Alexander Boulevard West, where eight firearms were found. Police said they found four handguns, three rifles, and one shotgun; the shotgun was reported stolen from breaking and entering in May of 2022 at the Ammo Shack Hunting and Shooting in Rockingham. According to law enforcement, a stolen handgun was also reported in Rowan County in November 2021. Officials say the joint investigations are still active. (WATCH BELOW: Fmr. county supervisor pleads guilty; accused of trafficking meth out of work car) Jonnie Irwin says hes been close to deaths door twice, at least Jonnie Irwin has discussed his ongoing health issues in a typically candid interview, as he continues to deal with terminal cancer. The A Place in the Sun star, 49, has detailed his journey since disclosing his diagnosis to the public last year. Appearing on the new podcast OneChat, he emphasised that he prefers to think of his situation as living with cancer, rather than dying from cancer. Irwin, who has three young children with his wife, Jess, explained how he began to feel alive again after going public with his illness, but noted that didnt mean his journey had been easy. I have been close to deaths door, twice at least, he said. He added: You lose your memory, you lose your patience. I have got a very short temper. Its not made me a better person, thats for sure. He expressed his frustration with the way he had been treated by As soon as you say youve got cancer, people just write you off, people just think you are going to cark it, he said. As an example of this, he told of how he had been dropped from his presenting role on A Place in the Sun after telling showrunners about his illness. Unfortunately, one of the companies claimed they couldnt insure me and so they didnt renew my contract and left a massive hole in my income, he said. Jonnie Irwin with his wife, Jess, on a trip to Paris last year (Instagram/Jonnie Irwin) In a statement issued in November last year, the shows producers Freeform Productions said that they had been unable to secure adequate insurance cover to allow Irwin to film abroad. Jonnie has been a hugely important part of the A Place in the Sun family for over 18 years and all of us were deeply saddened by his diagnosis, a spokesperson said. Much loved by everyone on the production, no stone was left unturned in trying to enable Jonnie to continue his international filming with us during COVID but the production company were unable to secure adequate insurance cover for him. Whilst we were unable to continue to film abroad with him were delighted that he was able to remain as part of our team in the UK for exhibitions. We of course understand how frustrating this must be for him at this incredibly difficult time. Joran van der Sloot, the Dutch national suspected in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway who will soon arrive in the U.S. to face charges that he extorted her mother, once claimed that he had shoved the Alabama teen to the ground so hard she that hit her head on a rock and died, according to court documents. However, van der Sloot, who was convicted in 2010 of a woman's murder in Peru, has shifted his story about Holloway's case for years and is described by his own lawyer as "an ill person" with "psychological problems." He even told interviewers over the years that some of his past changing stories had been lies. As part of the alleged $250,000 extortion plot, van der Sloot allegedly told a lawyer for Beth Holloway, Natalee's mother, that the 18-year-old's body was buried inside the foundation of a house in Aruba, the Caribbean nation where she vanished on May 30, 2005, during a high school graduation trip. "Van der Sloot went on to admit that he had been with Natalee on the night of May 29/30, 2005, and that he had thrown her to the ground after she had attempted to stop him from leaving her," page six of a federal affidavit alleges. "Van der Sloot claimed that when she fell down, she hit her head on a rock and died as a result of the impact." NATALEE HOLLOWAY, SUSPECT JORAN VAN DER SLOOT: TIMELINE OF ALABAMA TEEN'S DEATH Joran van der Sloot is the prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway. He is serving a prison sentence in Peru for murdering a 21-year-old woman named Stephany Flores in 2010. Then, he allegedly enlisted his father's help to hide the body. However, he led the Holloways' lawyer to the location, and no body was found, according to federal prosecutors. Then, after the lawyer left Aruba, van der Sloot allegedly told him that he had lied about the location. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Paul van der Sloot, an Aruba judge and the suspect's father, died in 2010. No one was ever prosecuted in connection with Holloway's disappearance, although van der Sloot and two of his friends, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe, were arrested and released due to lack of evidence more than once. NATALEE HOLLOWAY SUSPECT JORAN VAN DER SLOOT GETTING DIVORCED AFTER PRISON DRUG SMUGGLING SCANDAL He was indicted on charges of extortion and wire fraud in a federal court in Alabama in 2010 after allegedly trying to squeeze cash out of Holloways family in exchange for the location of her remains. That same year, he killed Stephany Flores, a 21-year-old business student in Peru, after meeting her in her father's casino in Lima. Natalee Holloway, center, went missing during a spring break trip in 2005 and was never found. The prime suspect in her disappearance, and suspected murder, is Joran van der Sloot, who will be sent to the U.S. from prison in Peru to face trial after allegedly extorting her mother. Van der Sloot is serving a decades-long prison sentence in the South American country but will be temporarily sent to the U.S. to stand trial on the extortion charges before returning to Peru to finish his sentence there. If convicted in federal court in Alabama, he would be sent back to the U.S. in 2038 to serve up to 40 more years in an American prison. As part of the preparations for the temporary transfer, he was shipped from the mountaintop Challapalca prison Thursday to one in Lima, near the airport, from where the FBI is expected to escort him to the U.S. Joran van der Sloot is escorted by police officers to the airport in Santiago June 4, 2010. He was arrested twice over the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba in 2005, and five years later murdered Stephany Flores in Peru. Holloway, an 18-year-old from Mountain Brook, Alabama , a suburb of Birmingham, flew to Aruba with a large group of friends ahead of their high school graduation. On May 30, 2005, some friends went out to a nightclub and met van der Sloot, who was also 18 at the time. He and Holloway were seen leaving the bar together. That was the last time she was seen. In 2012, an Alabama judge declared her legally dead. Her remains have never been found. She would be 36 years old today. Through his Lima-based attorney, Maximo Altez, van der Sloot maintains his innocence. Facebook Jordans royal family has reportedly caused an uproar on the Italian island of Sardinia, where alleged plans for a secret wedding bash to celebrate Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah tying the knot include a monster marquee that locals just dont want to see. The 28-year-old crown prince is officially due to wed his bride-to-be, Rajwa Khaled Al Saif, at what the family bills as a highly anticipated royal wedding in Amman on June 1. But Italian media reports say the pair will also celebrate their nuptials at a party in Sardinia on June 10. A gigantic tubular steel gazebo that clocks in at over 10 meters high and at least 50 long has been erected on the shoreline of Tavolara Island, according to Il Messaggero, describing the structure as an eco-monster. The gazebo is said to have been set up on the Villa Joy estate, which was rented out for the Jordanian royal familys big event. La Nuova reports that 450 guests are expected to attend, including some unspecified heads of state. Environmentalists have reportedly sounded the alarm over the party set-up, appealing to prosecutors and local police to look into whether organizers cut any corners by setting up the massive display on protected land. We want to understand if the necessary environmental checks have been carried out, a spokesperson for the Legal Intervention Group said in comments to local media. Laws in force establish a landscape constraint and a specific integral conservation constraint to protect the 300-meter strip from the seashore, the group said. The local mayor, Francesco Lai, has assured locals that an inspection had been carried out in the area and they are now awaiting the results of the investigations. I can certainly say that we will be compliant so that the structure is removed immediately after the event, he was quoted saying. Jordans royal family, for their part, deny that they have any plans to host a ceremony in Sardinia, stressing that the wedding itself, featuring numerous VIP guests from around the world, will take place in the countrys capital. Meanwhile, Queen Rania has already been hyping up the wedding on social media, posting a flurry of photos and videos of the bride-to-be on Instagram as she attended a henna party to honor the big day. No celebration would be complete without our Jordanian family. Celebrating our beautiful Rajwa, she captioned one photo on Tuesday. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A Los Angeles judge Wednesday rejected a controversial request by city officials that he order a local journalist to return a flash drive of police officers' photographs after officials said they had included images of undercover officers in the collection by mistake. L.A. County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff's ruling was a clear win for Knock LA photo editor Ben Camacho, who had obtained the photographs from the city through a public records request. It was also a victory for the activist group Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, which the city sued along with Camacho for its role in publishing the photographs online, including on its website WatchtheWatchers.net. Beckloff's decision did not address the 1st Amendment concerns around the freedom of the press and the right to publish legally obtained materials of a broad coalition of media outlets. The group, which included the Los Angeles Times, had backed Camacho and denounced the city's lawsuit as an overreach. Beckloff ruled that the city had failed to make even the most basic arguments necessary for court intervention, including that the flash drive actually included images of undercover officers whose pictures would not otherwise be subject to disclosure under Camacho's public records request. Beyond the flash drive, Beckloff said, the city had provided no evidence for why it should be entitled to claw back electronic copies of the images that exist on the internet, as it has said it wants to do. The City Attorney's office had brought an LAPD commander to the hearing Wednesday and said he could confirm that the production contained photos of undercover officers, as well as elaborate on who is considered undercover. Beckloff questioned why that hadn't been submitted as evidence. "No one knows whats on the flash drive except the city. The city elected here not to present any admissible evidence about whats on the flash drive," the judge said. "Why would you not provide the court with admissible evidence that wouldnt necessarily give me any information about the names of the officers or even pictures, but somebody to actually have percipient knowledge of whats on the flash drive?" The attorneys for Camacho and Stop LAPD Spying criticized the city for trying to spring a new witness on them. "The city has had plenty of opportunities to submit evidence," Susan Seager, an attorney for Camacho, said at the hearing. This is through the citys own fault and the citys own failing to put through evidence." City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Sotos office declined to comment Wednesday. It has previously said its goal in filing the lawsuit was to protect officers whose lives and families lives could be in grave danger as a result of this exposure. Camacho and Stop LAPD Spying had previously requested the lawsuit be dismissed under Californias anti-SLAPP laws, which are designed to protect people from frivolous lawsuits over constitutionally protected activity. A win for Camacho and Stop LAPD Spying under those laws could force the city to pay their legal fees. A hearing on their request is scheduled for September, according to Seager, who said they will work to get it heard earlier. Were proud that the court saw through the citys case, that the city has never defined who an undercover officer is, its never identified with any specificity who was supposedly undercover on the flash drive," Seager said. Shakeer Rahman, an attorney with the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, added that "the people of Los Angeles have a right to these photographs." This order confirms what weve been saying all along, which is that these records are public records that the city made public, and they belong to the public, and so were free to continue publishing them and so is everyone else, Rahman said. The Times earlier this month had joined the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and other media outlets in a motion that said the city's efforts to claw back the photographs violated established legal protections for the media. First Amendment experts said any court order granting the citys demands would amount to an unlawful "prior restraint" on the publication of clearly newsworthy material that was obtained legally. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Judge denies effort by district attorney in Athens to stop subpoena of documents Western Superior Court Judge Eric Norris denied on Thursday a motion by District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez to reject subpoenas directed at securing certain documents in her office. The documents are sought by Watkinsville attorney Kevin Epps in connection with a recent Marsys Law violation by the district attorneys office. Norris ruled the district attorney violated the victims rights of Epps client due to the district attorney admitting to the violation and the evidence offered by Epps. The judge has ordered that Gonzalez turn over the documents in 15 days from May 19. FILE - District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez speaks at the Seats of Justice Awards Ceremony hosted by the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office at the ACC Library in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Gonzalez's office must turn over documents related to a Marsy's Law violation. Epps represents the mother of an Athens girl, who at age 14 alleged she had been raped. The DAs office dismissed the charges of rape and child molestation in April after a jury was seated for a trial. The childs mother filed a complaint, which states her daughters rights were violated under the Georgia Crime Victims Bill of Rights, also known as Marsys Law. During a May 19 hearing on the complaint, Epps alleged the DAs office never intended to prosecute the rape case and that Assistant District Attorney Robert Wilson used an upcoming murder trial as an excuse to cover for Gonzalez, who despite a shortage of staff was out of town at an event the weekend before the trial. Among the documents sought by Epps was one that contained the words Selma, Alabama, according to the districts attorneys motion to reject the subpoenas. DA apology: DA Deborah Gonzalez offers apology; Athens police seek warrants in Marsy's Law case Confession and appeal: DA Gonzalez confesses to judgment, then appeals to Supreme Court Epps said Thursday that securing the documents will reflect that my client did not get her day in trial and her victims right were violated because Mr. Wilson had to cover this hearing while Ms. Gonzalez was at an event in Alabama not related to any of her duties as the district attorney. Gonzalez had argued in her motion that some of the documents sought by Epps are not related to the criminal case against the defendant, Michael Lareco Daniel, 42, of Lawrenceville. She also complained that Epps sent subpoenas to other staff members and this created an atmosphere of confusion and needless pressure in an office that did not need distractions. Norris also issued an order on Thursday recusing himself from further handling of cases against Daniel because he handled the Marsys Law hearing and the two pending criminal charges against the defendant involve the same child victim. The case was reassigned to Judge Lawton Stephens. The DAs office has also recused itself from handling the pending cases against Daniel, who is represented by Athens attorney David Crowe. A special prosecutor will be appointed. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Judge denies Athens DA's effort to stop release of documents CORRECTS TO TRAINER, NOT OWNER - Bob Baffert, center, trainer of Preakness Stakes entrant National Treasure, walks near the stables ahead of the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 19, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) A federal judge has granted Churchill Downs motion for summary judgment that dismisses Bob Bafferts claim the track breached due process by suspending the Hall of Fame trainer for two years. Churchill Downs Inc. suspended Baffert in June 2021 after his now-deceased colt, Medina Spirit, failed a postrace drug test after crossing the finish line first in the 147th Kentucky Derby. The trainers request to lift the discipline was denied in February, keeping him out of the Derby for a second consecutive May. U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings ruled in a 12-page opinion issued Wednesday that Churchill Downs suspension of Baffert did not devalue his Kentucky trainers license. It cited his purse winnings exceeding $1 million at Keeneland in Lexington and stated that his argument amounts to a false analogy that distorts caselaw. Jennings denied CDIs motion to stay discovery as moot. The decision comes less than a week after Baffert-trained colt National Treasure won the Preakness in his first Triple Crown race in two years. His record eighth win in the second jewel of the Triple Crown came hours after another of his horses, Havnameltdown, was euthanized following an injury at Pimlico. Churchill Downs said in a statement that it was pleased with the courts favorable ruling as in Bafferts other cases. It added, While he may choose to file baseless appeals, this completes the seemingly endless, arduous and unnecessary litigation proceedings instigated by Mr. Baffert. Bafferts suspension is scheduled to end on June 2, but the tracks release noted its right to extend it and will communicate our decision at its conclusion. ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Rep. George Santos speaking to reporters outside a federal court in Long Island. AP Photo/Seth Wenig Three anonymous people are sponsoring the $500,000 bond for Rep. George Santos. A court filing said a judge held sealed court hearings with them to keep their identities secret. The secrecy is highly unusual in any case, much less one against a sitting member of Congress. A judge overseeing the federal criminal case against Rep. George Santos of New York held a secret hearing with the three people on the hook for his $500,000 bond and went to extraordinary lengths to keep their identities secret, according to a new court filing. Santos was arraigned in federal court on Long Island on May 10, pleading not guilty to a 13-count criminal indictment where federal prosecutors alleged he stole funds from political donors meant for campaign expenses, illegally took pandemic unemployment payouts, and lied to Congress on financial forms. US Magistrate Judge Anne Shields allowed Santos to be released on a $500,000 bond that would be cosigned by three different suretors who would guarantee the bail funds. The names of those bail sponsors weren't disclosed at the arraignment hearing. And the bond documents haven't appeared on the public court docket in the two weeks since a departure from normal practice in criminal cases. In a letter filed to court Wednesday, Dana R. Green, a lawyer for The New York Times, said the court held another secret hearing with the sponsors. "It is our understanding that the Court also held at least one subsequent hearing with the suretors," Green wrote. "However, it appears these bond proceedings were not open to the public, and no record of the hearing appears in the docket." It's unclear whether the hearing was overseen by Shields or US District Judge Joanna Seybert, to whom Santos's case has since been assigned. The Times's letter asked Seybert to unseal any bond records, as well as the transcript of the sealed hearing with the bail sponsors. Criminal defendants sometimes ask judges to keep the names and other personal details of their bond sponsors under seal. Attorneys in the criminal case against Sam Bankman-Fried asked the judge overseeing his case to keep secret the names of the two people guaranteeing his $250 million bond package. After a group of news organizations including Insider asked the judge to unseal their names, arguing they were in the public interest, the judge ultimately made the names public. Bankman-Fried's bond guarantors are Larry Kramer and Andreas Paepcke both have ties to Stanford University, which employs his parents. Unlike in the Bankman-Fried case, there's no public record that Santos's attorney asked for the bail-sponsor names to remain sealed. Santos's attorney, Joseph Murray, and a spokesperson for the US Attorney's office in the Eastern District of New York declined to comment. The secrecy surrounding the identities of the three guarantors means that the public has no way of knowing who is ensuring that Santos, an elected official, is allowed to stay out of jail ahead of a trial on the criminal charges against him. "The public interest in openness is particularly strong in this case. The surety records relate to three individuals who have committed large sums of money to ensure that Rep. Santos can remain at liberty, pending further proceedings," Green wrote in her Wednesday letter. "This presents an obvious opportunity for political influence, given Rep. Santos's elected position and his dependence on these suretors." Read the original article on Business Insider EVANSVILLE A Vanderburgh County judge sentenced Zachary Clay Parksey, who admitted to fatally stabbing his close friend inside a popular Haynie's Corner bar, to serve 20 years in prison during a hearing Thursday morning. Parksey, 29, pleaded guilty in April to one count of voluntary manslaughter, a Level 2 felony, for the killing of 30-year-old Colin McHargue. The plea agreement Parksey struck with prosecutors led to the dismissal of a felony murder charge. According to Evansville police, Parksey fatally stabbed McHargue in the bathroom of Mos House, a bar and cocktail lounge in Evansville's arts district, on Oct. 8. The two men were close friends with ties dating back to middle school. Prior Coverage: Victim and suspect in fatal Evansville bar stabbing 'seemed like good friends' The crime left family and friends confounded and grief-stricken. The Evansville Police Department search the scene of a reported stabbing at Mo's House in the 1100 block of Parrett Street in Evansville, Ind., Saturday evening, Oct. 8, 2022. McHargue's family implored the court to impose a lengthy sentence Thursday's proceedings began just after 10:25 a.m. with Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Judge David Kiely noting the numerous letters the court received ahead of Parksey's sentencing. Most of the letters urged the court to impose the maximum sentence allowable in cases of voluntary manslaughter: 30 years. Several witnesses testified on behalf of the state, including Rodger McHargue, Colin's father, who read a prepared statement to the court Thursday morning. "On Oct. 8, I lost my son and lost my best friend," he said, holding back tears. "Collin was just a normal young man living his life someone who did not deserve what happened that day." Collin's mother, Karen McHargue, also delivered impassioned, grief-stricken testimony to the court. "I spend hours crying for my dead child," she said. "Night after night, I relive the horror of Oct. 8. ... He didnt deserve what happened to him to be stabbed by his best friend who left him to die on a dirty bathroom floor. Other witnesses who testified Thursday said Parksey had become a malign influence on Collin's life in the weeks and months proceeding the fatal stabbing. Parksey testified on his own behalf and asked for leniency Parksey sat next to his attorney, Barry Blackard, throughout the hearing. When it came time for Parksey to testify on his own behalf, he appeared shakey and emotional. Im not a violent person, or even an argumentative one, Parksey said with a wavering voice. Collin was my brother, and had been a great friend for more than 15 years. Parksey described the crime as a horrible tragedy. He claimed his internal state of mind shifted to a darker place in the months leading up to the stabbing. The amount of terror I felt in that bathroom is difficult to describe, Parksey testified Thursday. I had no idea what was really happening, or why. ... It seemed as though rage was being unleashed on me. I had zero desire to take part in what happened." Parksey asked the court to impose a 15-year sentence. Judge imposes above average, but not maximum, sentence Prosecutor Joshua Hutcheson asked Kiely to sentence Parksey to serve 30 years in a state prison, as did Collin's family and friends. Kiely noted the minimum sentence recommended in cases of voluntary manslaughter is 10 years, while the average sentence is 17 and-a-half years. Under Indiana law, voluntary manslaughter occurs when a person knowingly or intentionally kills another human being while acting under sudden heat. I believe there is some remorse for what he (Parksey) did, Kiely said. The judge noted Parksey had bachelor's and masters degrees in chemistry and had no prior criminal record. But, the facts of the case are aggravating," Kiely concluded. "You stuck him in the neck. You killed him. Thats behavior that is not understandable." After noting that alcohol was likely a contributing factor in the incident, Kiely sentenced Parksey to serve 20 years in an Indiana Department of Corrections facility and required Parksey to register as a violent offender. Parksey will receive 229 days credit for time he served in the Vanderburgh County jail. Houston can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Zachary Parksey convicted of Mos House stabbing sentenced to 20 years You are here: China The 2023 Zhongguancun Forum will kick off on the evening of Thursday in Beijing. This year's forum features six sections and over 150 events, including conferences, exhibitions, research achievement releases, competitions in cutting-edge fields, and technology trade. The exhibition section focuses on national innovation-driven development strategies, and it has attracted more than 70 centrally administrated state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and more than 30 leading technology companies. The event's exhibitors also include over 20 universities and institutions, as well as more than 20 Fortune 500 companies. The forum will showcase the latest technological advancements in areas such as hydrogen storage, AI, drones, innovative medicines and high-end medical equipment, smart robots, and the metaverse. In addition, the 2,400-square-meter media center at the forum offers a variety of frontier technologies, such as the AIGC tools, to assist journalists in generating content, images, and videos more efficiently. Kandahar reunites is director Rick Roman Waugh with Gerard Butler, after they made Angel Has Fallen and Greenland together. This time they tackle the spy thriller genre, with cast that includes Travis Fimmel, Navid Negahban, Ali Fazal, and Bahador Foladi. With the script penned by Mitchell LaFortune, these particular types of stories often suffer from narrative sameness: westerner travels to the Middle East, things go boom, westerner saves the day, the end. This follows a predictable path. The story begins in Iran with Tom Harris (Butler) with his partner Oliver (Tom Rhys Harries) working on wiring at a nuclear plant center. This cover is just to deposit a bomb. The two are surrounded by guards who become suspicious of their intentions, but Harris de-escalates the situation, and they manage to get away. His partner is worried that the army forces are onto them being CIA spies. Things are fine until their cover is blown by a reporter trying to break a story on what the CIA is doing in the middle east, and now they must go into hiding while the nuclear plant explodes. More from Deadline Meanwhile, in Herat, Afghanistan, Mo (Negahban) is set to work as a translator and receives his orders from Roman (Fimmel), a CIA liaison in the UAE, where he meets Harris. Even though the CIA agent is on the run, Roman asks for one more short-term job to destroy another power plant, to which Harris says yes for some reason. This is when he connects with Mo, and the pair have limited time to finish the job before they are discovered and killed before getting home. You know, there is an interesting subplot going on with Mo searching for his sister, who was a teacher abducted by the Taliban and hasnt been heard from since. That is a mystery worth getting invested in, not whatever Kandahar is. Stories about the West at war with Brown people peaked with Kathryn Bigelows Zero Dark Thirty (Although I also enjoyed Nicolai Fuglsigs 12 Strong). Maybe there is something about chronicling history based on actual events that hold something over these made-up western savior narratives that have nothing going for them except to be monotonous, xenophobic and a complete bore. Is Gerard Butler trying to take the crown from Liam Neeson as the scruffy older man willing to battle for truth, justice, and the Western way? Zack Snyders 300 is his most notable role to date, but Butler also seems to follow Neelsons same trajectory as he stars in one action slog after the next with similar plot lines and one-note performances. Then again, I cant fault him for tapping into a long-standing, established genre. I promise I dont have anything against this type of movie. I take issue with so many of them not being worth watching. For Kandahar to be called an action film, there should be action. Look, there isnt much more to say about it except it will induce so many eye rolls you might see your brain stem in the process because watching through the whole 2-hour runtime is its own hostage situation. Title: Kandahar Release date: May 26, 2023 Distributor: Open Road Films Director: Ric Roman Waugh Screenwriters: Mitchell LaFortune Cast: Gerard Butler, Travis Fimmel, Navid Negahban, Ali Fazal, and Bahador Foladi Rating: R Running time: 120 min Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Kari Lake speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, Saturday, March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press An Arizona court has ruled against former Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lakes latest attempt to challenge the results of last years election. On Monday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter A. Thompson dismissed Lakes claim that election officials didnt adequately verify signatures. In court documents, he wrote the court did not find clear or convincing evidence of misconduct nor did misconduct affect the results of the election, which Lake narrowly lost to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs by about 17,000 votes. Plaintiffs evidence and arguments do not clear the bar, wrote Thompson, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer in 2010. The suit was Lakes only remaining legal challenge to last years results. In February, the Arizona Court of Appeals said it saw no evidence of Lakes claims, and in March, Arizonas Supreme Court declined to hear her appeals because it said there was no evidence to support her claim of fraud. Lake said she wasnt shocked by the result, and it will not deter me, not at all. We went through the legal system and we did not get the verdict that we wanted, she said at a press conference Tuesday. Lake, a former TV news anchor for Fox 10 in Phoenix whos been floated as a potential U.S. Senate candidate next year, said she would appeal the case and her team was looking at several paths forward. She said she would consider a Senate campaign but didnt announce a run. U.S. Senate? Well, not today, she said. Related For now, Lake said she plans to continue to challenge the results. We are going to continue to fight our court case, she said. Were not stopping here, were not stopping with one judge in Mesa whos ruled against us time and time again. Maricopa County filed a motion to sanction Lake on Tuesday. In the filing, attorneys for the county said Lake and her counsel engaged in a program of intentional and repeated fallacious misstatements of fact to mislead this Court. Her lawyers were sanctioned earlier this month and ordered to pay $2,000. Related Lake made election denialism a central plank of her 2022 campaign and was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Although she claimed her loss was due to fraud, a study of cast vote data in Maricopa County found Lake lost more than 40,000 voters who didnt vote for her but voted for other Republican candidates down ballot. The results were in line with several other statewide races in Arizona since 2018, as Republican candidates aligned with Trump have lost to Democratic candidates who campaigned as moderates in the closely split battleground state. Last year, Lake launched the Save Arizona Fund to raise money for her election challenges and shes continued to campaign, holding rallies including one scheduled for next week with former Trump acting director of ICE Tom Homan. The Supreme Courts major wetlands case on Thursday was technically unanimous as all nine justices ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But beneath the surface of the Idaho landowners win, the courts three liberals and conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined to push back on how far the majority narrowed which wetlands are protected. Writing for the 5-4 majority, conservative Justice Samuel Alito ruled that eligible wetlands must have a continuous surface connection with a protected body of water, making the two areas indistinguishable from one another. That narrow definition handed a win to Michael and Chantell Sackett, whom the EPA had previously prevented from building a home on land they owned, and it more broadly limited the EPAs authority in terms of where it can implement safeguards. By narrowing the Acts coverage of wetlands to only adjoining wetlands, the Courts new test will leave some long-regulated adjacent wetlands no longer covered by the Clean Water Act, with significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States, Kavanaugh wrote in a separate opinion. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, the courts three liberals, joined Kavanaughs opinion, which criticized the majoritys test as atextual. The daylight between the two sides concerned wetlands that are separated from a covered water only by a manmade dike or barrier, natural river berm or a beach dune. Kavanaugh contended that Congress wrote the Clean Water Act to protect those, as well. I would stick to the text, Kavanaugh wrote. There can be no debate, in my respectful view, that the key statutory term is adjacent and that adjacent wetlands is a broader category than adjoining wetlands. To be faithful to the statutory text, we cannot interpret adjacent wetlands to be the same thing as adjoining wetlands. Kagan also authored a separate opinion, joined only by the courts other two liberals, forcefully pushing back on the majoritys test. Alito, meanwhile, said the increased protections read the statute too broadly and the separate opinions cannot be taken seriously. The EPA argues that waters is naturally read to encompass wetlands because the presence of water is universally regarded as the most basic feature of wetlands but that reading proves too much. Consider puddles, which are also defined by the ordinary presence of water even though few would describe them as waters,' Alito wrote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ken Paxton in Washington Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images The Republican-led Texas House General Investigating Committee heard unusual public testimony Wednesday from five veteran investigators who outlined about a dozen state crimes, including felonies, they believe Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) committed in connection with a whistleblower lawsuit. "That's alarming to hear," committee chairman Rep. Andrew Murr (R) said after the investigators ran through Paxton's potential crimes. "It curls my mustache." What prompted the investigation? The committee quietly started investigating Paxton in March after he announced a $3.3 million settlement with four former top aides he fired when they informed the FBI of potential crimes he had committed to aid donor and friend Nate Paul, enrich himself, and cover up an extramarital affair. The $3.3 million settlement would come from public funds approved by the Legislature, and House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) said in February he doesn't "think it's proper use of taxpayer dollars." Murr agreed Wednesday, saying it's "alarming" and "very serious" that Texans are being asked pay millions so Paxton can avoid a public trial. The dramatic and "extraordinary public airing of scandal and alleged lawbreaking" at the Texas Capitol "plunged one of the GOP's conservative stars into new political and legal risk," testing "Paxton's durability in a way he has not previously confronted despite a felony indictment in 2015 and an ongoing FBI investigation," The Associated Press reported. It also "amounted to a remarkable rebuke from Republicans in a building where Paxton has long maintained defenders and allies, including [Gov. Greg] Abbott, who lauded Paxton while swearing him in to a third term in January." The House investigative committee's "three Republicans and two Democrats have demonstrated they take this oversight role seriously" this session, even if the target is a Republican, The Texas Tribune noted. Earlier in May, the committee's investigation of state Rep. Bryan Slaton (R) over sexual misconduct led to his resignation and expulsion. Will Paxton be impeached? The investigative committee could recommend that the House censure or impeach Paxton, or let the clock run out. "The trajectory of the committee leads only to impeachment," a senior House staffer told KXAN News. "I would expect they're going to move pretty quickly." Under Texas law, if a simple majority of the House votes to impeach Paxton, he would have to step down at least until the Senate holds a trial. The legislative session ends Monday, but the House would have some leeway to pursue impeachment charges after the session is over. Paxton "appears to have routinely abused his powers for personal gain and exhibited blatant disregard for the ethical and legal propriety expected of the state's leading law enforcement officer," a Phalen spokesperson said Wednesday. "Speaker Phelan stands in full support of the general investigating committee and the recommendations that may come as a result of their thorough and diligent investigation." How has Paxton reacted? Paxton took aim at Phalen and the five prosecutors who spent four months poring over documents and interviewing witnesses. "It is not surprising that a committee appointed by liberal Speaker Dade Phelan would seek to disenfranchise Texas voters and sabotage my work as attorney general," Paxton said in a statement Wednesday. "The false testimony of highly partisan Democrat lawyers with the goal of manipulating and misleading the public is reprehensible." All five lawyers have deep ties to both parties and bipartisan resumes, The Texas Tribune noted. On Tuesday evening, Paxton had roiled the Capitol by calling on Phalen to resign, accusing him of presiding over the House "in a state of apparent debilitating intoxication" Friday night and not passing enough conservative legislation. He repeated the allegation Wednesday on talk radio. Phalen's office called Paxton's accusation "little more than a last ditch effort to save face," noting he issued his statement soon after the House investigative committee served his office subpoenas and ordered him to retain records for their investigation. The question of whether Phalen was drunk or just exhausted after a 14-hour day is "pretty mild" compared to the allegations against Paxton, University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus told The New York Times. "I would say this is as detrimental and important a scandal as we've seen in Texas political history," especially "because of how long it's been going on and how Paxton has been able to survive it," he added. "We've had some pretty serious malfeasance in Texas history." You may also like WHO chief warns of pathogens that could be 'even deadlier' than Covid-19 Will the IRS's free online tax filing program kill H&R Block and TurboTax? California is diverting melting snow to avoid flooding With Memorial Day weekend upon us and summer travel heating up, Kenmore Air is touting its new daily service to Victoria, British Columbia. The new service will be available from Boeing Field, Paine Field, and the Friday Harbor Airport, giving San Juan Island residents who might not be able to ferry to Victoria a way to cross the Haro Strait. The announcement by the airline also means that it will have the only international service between the San Juan Islands and Victoria, B.C. The service started on Thursday, May 25, and offers two round trips per day. Kenmores president, David Gudgel, said bookings are already being made and several flights in the future are sold out. Gudgel said its worth noting that for Kenmore, this actually turns Friday Harbor in the San Juans into a hub for its flights. That might sound a little funny to have a hub in the San Juans, but the (San Juan Islands) are really an important service for us. We serve the (San Juans) year-round with both our floatplanes and our wheeled planes. Friday Harbor is the biggest of those locations that we serve. We saw a lot of people residents and visitors that were concerned that they could not make a quick trip to Victoria anymore. That played heavily into our decision, said Gudgel. Currently, you can fly from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Victoria, and there is also the ferry from Port Angeles, and another seasonal cruise service from Bellingham. Gudgel said residents of the San Juans generally have to drive to different ferry ports and take multiple ferries to get to Victoria, a process he estimates could take hours or the good part of a day, depending on the circumstances. He says the flight from Friday Harbor to Victoria is roughly 15 minutes. The Kenmore Air option is also important since Washington State Ferries officials have said that the Anacortes/Friday Harbor/Sidney, B.C. route is out of service until at least spring 2030 due to vessel availability constraints. We are thrilled to take another step in expanding transportation connectivity to the San Juans, offering one-stop service to seven Alaska Airlines West Coast destinations through Everetts Paine Field and daily service to Victoria in addition to our historic scheduled seaplane and landplane service, said Gudgel. The service could also bring more people to the San Juans and possibly provide a bit of an economic boost to the region. Gudgel admits the first-of-its-kind service will probably benefit a number of different travelers. We believe this new service will benefit both leisure and business travelers alike, offering an unparalleled experience and convenience. We are excited to connect more people to the beautiful destinations we serve, he said. From an overflow room in the Kentucky Capitol Annex, Henry Svec, 13, listened to adults explain why kids like him needed to be protected from themselves. Masses of people had joined Henry, crowding the halls of the Frankfort statehouse on March 2 to protest House Bill 470, a proposal to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Kentucky. Up to that point, this type of health care, endorsed by major U.S. medical associations, was legal in the state. The standard of care for prescribing medication thats considered gender affirming, such as puberty blockers, requires permission from a parent or guardian. As lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony in favor of the bill, Henry watched the meeting unfold on a projector screen from a room down the hall. Dr. Roger Hiatt, Jr., an Arkansas child and adolescent psychiatry specialist who has publicly supported bills outlawing this type of health care in other states, called transgenderism a psychiatric disorder. With a pastel blue, pink and white Trans rights flag draped around his shoulders, Henry, who stands about 55 with short hair and a soft smile, rocked in a leather committee chair behind the dais a spot typically reserved for lawmakers deliberating bills. Packed with protesters, the crowd faced Henry and his allies sitting in the committee seats. The next speaker was Dr. Andre Van Mol, a California-based family physician. Hes co-chair of the Committee on Adolescent Sexuality for the conservative-leaning American College of Pediatricians, designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In a 2019 online paper, Van Mol said trans-rights advocates were eager to groom the next generation of victims. To the committee, he called gender-affirming health care unproven child experimentation. Why permanently medicalize a condition for a child that usually goes away? Both men were invited to speak by lead bill sponsor, Waddy Republican Rep. Jennifer Decker. State law prevents parents from giving their underage children alcohol and cigarettes, she told committee members. Gender-affirming care is just as harmful, and trans kids need to be protected from adults who endorse their identity. The state has a compelling interest in protecting children from decisions that cause irreparable harm, she said. Taught to respect his elders, Henry quietly considered what Decker, near the age of his grandmother, was saying. If adult lawmakers believed that health care affirming the gender that feels most authentic to him was wrong and harmful, it must mean his trans identity was also somehow wrong and harmful. Otherwise, why would his doctors care be so damaging that it warranted a law banning it? Henry Svec, 13, at his home in Lexington. Henry and his mother Kelly are concerned about the new law that passed out of the Legislature this session banning gender-affirming care for trans youth. But it didnt feel wrong or harmful to Henry, or any of the 13 families across Kentucky with a trans child the Herald-Leader has interviewed in the months since, each of whom will be directly impacted by some aspect of the new law. Youre supposed to respect adults, but some adults dont respect kids. It makes me feel unrepresented, Henry said after the meeting. Maybe Im just a kid, but I didnt do anything to disrespect you. Im a human, and part of my right is to be who I am. HB 470 passed out of committee and won approval from the Republican-controlled House that day. Within the month, most of the contents of that bill were repackaged into a heftier Senate Bill 150. On March 29, days after Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill, the Republican supermajority General Assembly overrode his veto and made it law. It will take full effect June 29. Not only does the revised omnibus bill outlaw gender-affirming care for teens like Henry, it restricts curriculum in K-12 schools about gender and sexuality. It also codifies into law a requirement that schools draft policies that force people like Henry to use restrooms and locker rooms corresponding with their gender assigned at birth, even if it veers from the identity their peers and teachers know them by. Some trans kids told the Herald-Leader they are concerned this new policy will embolden the bullies at their schools. Others wondered why adults in Frankfort theyve never met have a problem with their gender expression, when most of the teachers in their schools and adults at home willingly validate who they are. Many of their parents are frantic, scrambling to find reliable access to prescription hormones or puberty blockers out of state. Others have called and emailed school administrators and counselors, nervous at the possibility their child will have to socially de-transition in front of their peers. At least one family is house shopping in Illinois as a direct result of this law. All described a sense of powerlessness and fury at lawmakers for dictating to them how to parent their individual children. Many are territorial about the progress their family has made on a journey of acceptance that, for several, wasnt an easy or linear one. Now that enforcement of the law is imminent, each is grappling with what to do to ensure their children feel supported in a state they believe is hostile to their well-being. I dont understand how my conversations with my child are being regulated by someone outside of the three of us, Jessica Morris said of herself, her husband, and their youngest, 14-year-old Lucy, whos non-binary and recognized as such throughout their student documentation in the Fayette County School system. At the end of the day, were trying to figure out how we as parents continue to love on and honor the journey theyre on as young humans, Morris said. How do we still support them, given what our state is doing? Just like everybody else Casper Hackney, 17, doesnt use the bathroom while hes at school. A senior at McCracken County High School in Paducah, Caspers schedule is split between his job at Walmart and the two remaining classes hes finishing before graduation this month. That means hes only physically required to be in the school building in the mornings. I just try to avoid it all together, said Casper, who describes himself as trans and gender queer. The decision is less for his sake and more for his classmates. Wanting to blend in and avoid any awkward interactions with people who might approach him with hostility, Casper quietly sacrifices his daily comfort for the sake of others. Hes gotten so accustomed to avoiding school restrooms that Casper has mapped out alternative stores in town with single-stall restrooms if he cant wait until he gets home. At Walmart, theres a family stall bathroom, and I know a few other stores nearby that have single-stall bathrooms I feel comfortable using, he said. He first told his parents he was gender queer at 11. When he was 16, lacking a specialized provider anywhere near his home in west Kentucky, Casper and his mom, Amy, began driving two hours south to the transgender clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. in Nashville. There, after involved conversations with specialists, Casper began taking testosterone. His Nashville doctor calls in the prescription to his local pharmacy monthly, and his mom helps him administer the shot once every two weeks. Every six months, theyll make the two-hour trek so Casper can have his blood drawn to make sure the testosterone isnt causing any adverse side effects. The care Casper has received at Vanderbilt has been life-changing, both he and Amy agreed. Even just to have his identity validated by a doctor makes him feel less alone. That means something. In his community of just under 30,000, Casper lacks the broad peer support network other teenagers interviewed for this story have in Lexington and Louisville. Im the only person I know, minor or adult, who is actively medically transitioning in the state of Kentucky, he said. Casper Hackney, 17, on his front porch in Paducah, Kentucky. Casper, who is trans, has been taking prescription testosterone for close to a year. That access has been cut off under new anti-trans laws in Kentucky and Tennessee. Tall and lanky with short hair and a dimpled smile, Casper presents more androgynously and doesnt quite fit into either male or female binary. Hes OK with that, but it makes it harder for him to blend in with his peers. Im already very scared of going out by myself, because I know I dont pass in either direction I dont look like a woman and I dont look like a man, he said. At school, he notices how some students stare. Casper can often overhear their chiding comments to one another. I know theres people that talk about me, because they dont try to hide it; I can literally hear the words theyre saying. Casper turns 18 in August, barely escaping enforcement of the ban on people who arent yet legal adults. But his access to the prescription hes taken for close to two years is being cut off in the meantime. With Tennessees recent passage of a similar anti-trans law, he was notified last Wednesday his most recent prescription would be his last. Our team understands the increased distress and psychological needs of you and your family during this very difficult time, Vanderbilt Healthcare wrote in a May 17 email to patients, notifying them that all gender-affirming medical care for minors had abruptly ended. Kentucky and Tennessees new laws not only cut off his access to a medication that he and his mom agree has helped him markedly. But Casper also worries about the impact the new policy will have on many of his peers, who already malign him for being different. Im worried theyre going to take this as an affirmation to continue that kind of behavior they know isnt acceptable, he said. This is a legitimate worry, said Shannon Wyatt, a psychotherapist in Lexington with more than two decades of experience. She worries the new law will push trans kids to trust themselves less and people who wish to do them harm more. By denying gender exploration or forcing a child to de-transition socially or medically, we are saying to these kids, you do not have control over decisions about your body, and you are only allowed to show the parts of yourselves that make other people comfortable, she said. Over time, they begin to mistrust their own intuitive sense of what is true and right for them, and make decisions instead on what others find acceptable. Four years earlier, in the eighth grade before he came out to his parents, Casper was hospitalized for nine days during a mental health crisis. He felt like there was no way out, and he was going to take his own life, Amy said. She found out later that part of what was fueling those thoughts was acute dread that he wouldnt be accepted. Now, she said, the state is basically saying your existence is invalid, she said. Youre just further alienating them and furthering their mental instability because they cant be who they want to be. For Amy, whos 48, seeing her child explore self-harm because he was deeply afraid of rejection radicalized something in her. It paralyzes you with fear, she said. You become acutely aware of how fragile someones psyche can be, and you want to do anything you can to protect your child. Amy Hackney, mom to Casper, has worked to do anything she can to support him. With the new law, the state is basically saying your existence is invalid, she said. Last year, during her first month on the job working in project controls at a nearby power plant, she overheard her coworkers, all men, remarking on someone whom they couldnt tell was a man or a woman. Her ears pricked. She thought of Casper, and imagined people snickering at him for the same reason. I have a transgender son, Amy blurted aloud to the group. They quieted. Sometimes he dresses more androgynous, sometimes not. Typically if you just ask the person (how they identify), they wont mind telling you. Reflecting last month on that interaction, Amy said her role now is advocate. Im the mom of a trans son, so I just took a few minutes to say something. Once you acknowledge it, it veins out: oh, you have a child whos trans? Youre a good person, youre educated, you have a good job, so your kids must be good kids, Amy said. I think sometimes people think that if your child is different, then that parent has led them down that path, or theres something wrong with the family. But were all just like everybody else. Its normal and OK Milo Calloway, 16, told his close friends he was trans on a Zoom call during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though his disclosure to the wider world was a long time coming, hed first told his older sister, Natalee, in the fourth grade. We shared a room at the time, and we were getting ready for bed one night and he just told me, Sometimes I feel like a boy, she remembered. A high schooler at the time, she helped him find the language to describe it. She told me that was a thing, its called transgender, Milo said. She had some friends in high school who were trans and she gave me some people on social media to follow who were out and talked about it. It was kind of my first outlet. It really showed me that this is a thing, and its normal and OK. Milo Calloway, 16, right, sits with his sister, Natalee, at their Lexington home, May 22, 2023. Milo and his family are concerned about SB150 that passed out of the Kentucky Legislature banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth. From there, Milos self-expression solidified: he cut his hair shorter and embraced dressing more traditionally masculine, but nothing much changed beyond that. During his freshman year, he asked his dad, Patrick, to call him by the name Milo, and to please use male pronouns when referencing him. Patrick, who grew up southern Baptist and still considers himself a Christian, struggled to accept his sons identity at first. I doubted that being trans was a choice, Patrick admitted. But after having observed Milos consistent identity for a handful of years and doing research to better understand what it means to be trans, it was an easy request to fill. Its not just a fad. You can see in his eyes that he is who he is, Patrick said. With that, how can you not support that kid like every other kid? You want them to have an easy life and to be treated equally. Normal, to everyone else thats what Milo wants, to be treated normally. More than a year before lawmakers proposed House Bill 470, Patrick tried to schedule Milo an appointment at Cincinnati Childrens Transgender Health Clinic. Milo began the intake process, but he was eventually denied last July as a new patient because hes on Kentucky Medicaid, Patrick said. Even if theyd opted to pay out of pocket or with private insurance, they told us they werent accepting new patients. Cincinnati Childrens did not respond to questions about whether its clinic has stopped taking new patients from Kentucky. On the cusp of adulthood, Milo knows he wants top surgery a procedure to remove his breast tissue after he turns 18. Patricks aim is to find Milo a therapist until hes able to receive the gender-affirming care that will soon be illegal in Kentucky, Tennessee and likely Ohio. In the meantime, Milo is scheduled to see his primary care physician in July, and hopes hell provide recommendations of where to travel for care outside of his tri-state region. Over the last two months, Natalee has watched her younger sibling try to understand how much harder being normal is about to become. For her, theres a futility in assuring Milo its all going to be OK. Thats probably the worst feeling, she said, just trying to find the words to provide comfort and knowing theres not really anything you can say, because theres not anything you can do to change it. I cant change who I am Kelly Bolte was selling pull-tab bingo tickets for a Lafayette High School band fundraiser when she learned Senate Bill 150 had passed for good. Kelly, 50, blankly looked up from her station and made eye contact with her son across the room. He could tell something was wrong. She waited until the car ride home to tell him. When Henry came out two years ago, the adults in his life were encouraging, even in the face of uncertainty. A close friend of his moms offered to help buy him a new wardrobe. His teachers at SCAPA at Bluegrass in Lexington went out of their way to make sure the schools bathroom accommodations worked for him. His parents celebrated with him when they, together, legally changed his name last year. Kelly Bolte and her trans son, Henry Svec, 13, at their home in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, May 2, 2023. They are concerned about the new law that passed out of the Legislature this session banning gender-affirming care for trans youth. When Henry began seeing a therapist soon after he first disclosed to his parents he thought he might be trans, hed received a clean bill of health: no diagnosable clinical anxiety or depression. And when Henry and his parents had begun seeing Dr. Keisa Fallin-Bennett at the University of Kentuckys Transform Health Services a year after he came out, it had seemed as commonplace as any other pediatric doctors visit. No adults close to him made him feel like his gender expression was ill-advised or toxic. Henry never felt coerced by a doctor to obtain any sort of gender-affirming care, nor did his mom, or his dad, Jamie Svec, all three told the Herald-Leader. About a year after coming out, after talking with his doctor, Henry began binding his breasts. Once his period began aggravating his gender dysphoria, he was prescribed a Nexplanon implant. A common form of birth control, it helps taper his periods, which in turn calms his dysphoria. In Kentucky, a person under age 18 can obtain contraception without parental consent. Henry frets, for his unique gender-affirming health care needs, the new law will flatly deny him access to medication he, his family and his doctor say benefits him, simply because hes trans. Henry never took puberty blockers, and isnt on testosterone. But hormone therapy is an ongoing topic of discussion between Henry and his care team. Typically for a trans kid, its best to experience puberty at the rate the rest of their peers do, Fallin-Bennett told the Herald-Leader. For Henry, a rising freshman, beginning testosterone in his sophomore year will likely make the most sense developmentally, lessening the chance for emotional strife at being othered by going through puberty earlier than his friends. But the new law bans the use of testosterone for this purpose. Fallin-Bennett likened forcing doctors not to provide the standard of care treatment for trans youth, which this law does, to forced malpractice and medical negligence. The standard of care is carefully considered gender-affirming care, she said. That means mental health, puberty blockers and hormones. Theyre not all for every person. But (all options) are carefully considered, and its a very important part of treatment for many people. Dr. Keisa Fallin-Bennett poses for a portrait at UK HealthCare Fountain Court in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, February 28, 2023. At their April 5 appointment, Henry and his parents were given a print-out list of out-of-state clinics that could offer the care Kentucky would soon outlaw. Cincinnati Childrens Transgender Health Clinic is the closest. But a similar bill moving through the Ohio Legislature, dubbed the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which seeks to ban gender transition services for minors, will likely jeopardize that access. Cincinnati Childrens refused to make a doctor available for an interview, or to answer questions about whether the care they provide to underage Kentuckians, including from a location in Crestview Hills, will be impacted. In an April 21 statement, the hospital said, Today, transgender minors can receive evidence-based, gender-affirming care in Ohio from a provider with an Ohio license. We believe all transgender and gender diverse young people should have access to comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, gender-affirming medical care provided in a safe and inclusive environment. The other closest clinics to get hormone therapy, Henrys doctor told him, are St. Louis Childrens Hospital, a five hour drive from Lexington; the University of Michigans C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital, a five-and-a-half hour drive; and Penn States Gender Health Program, a nearly eight-hour drive. We will figure out a way to care for him, as him, Jamie has assured Henry, even if that means trekking to another state. But that route is becoming much more logistically complicated and likely expensive. As the parent of a trans kid, Kelly said, she tries to avoid letting this new reality overwhelm her, because its likely to. Losing her sons access to gender-affirming health care feels like to losing one of his basic needs. I think it would be similar to not being able to feed your kids, she said. Almost three months after Henry visited Frankfort in protest, his summer break is here. Maybe its because his final year in middle school was wrapping up, maybe its because its increasingly clear whats coming down the pike, but in the weeks since, Kelly can tell her youngest is stressed. Henrys kind of going through a rough patch, to be honest, Kelly said over the phone in early May. For the last month or so, hed been more withdrawn and mopey. When his stress and anxiety peaks, though he might not explain why, hell ask his mom for more hugs. That has been happening more lately. Recently, he started seeing the school counselor. Henry Svec, 13, at his home in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Henry and his mother Kelly are concerned about the new law that passed out of the Legislature this session banning gender-affirming care for trans youth. Shortly after Henry watched lawmakers pass HB 470 that day in early March, he wrote a poem. In late April, Henry read it aloud onstage, in front of his school, at his eighth-grade showcase marking the years end. I have to live with me now, Henry said into a microphone. Right now, in the moment. In this breath. Breathe in what I like. And breathe out what I dont. Because I cant change it. I cant change me right now . . . And as long as I am in this body, the wrong one, I dont know if Ill ever like me. In fact, there are times where Im pretty sure I hate me. This body isnt natural . . . Why do I have to be so difficult? Why couldnt I just be normal? Why couldnt I convince my mind that it was wrong? Wrong when it looked in the mirror and saw a boy. But I am a boy . . . I want to build my new body as if it were tailored to fit me. Then maybe I wouldnt be so uncomfortable. Uncomfy when I stand. Uncomfy when I walk. Uncomfy when I lie down. Uncomfy when I sit. As if my skin is too tight, choking me. I wish I could change me. Change me to fit. But I cant. So as long as I cant change who I am, I will try. Not to like me, but to be me as best I can. Because thats all I can do in this moment. Thajudheen was arrested days after his daughter's wedding In 2018, an Indian man spent 54 days in jail after being mistaken for a thief. Though his name was cleared in court later, he paid a heavy price and is still fighting for justice. VK Thajudheen, from the southern state of Kerala, was arrested after police mistook him for a necklace thief based on a CCTV image. He had an alibi, but was able to prove his innocence only after friends and family gathered evidence that helped find the real culprit. Mr Thajudheen's experience is not uncommon. Earlier this year, a daily wage worker's death in Hyderabad was blamed on police torture after he was detained due to possibly dodgy CCTV footage (police had denied the allegations). The incident sparked outrage and brought attention to the rapid rise in the use of security cameras and other surveillance tools in Indian cities. Activists have warned of the possibility of human rights violations when law enforcement agencies turn to CCTV cameras and facial recognition systems to solve crimes. His ordeal, Mr Thajudheen says, left him"shattered". The police officer who arrested him was transferred and did not get a salary increase, a punishment Mr Thajudheen calls "too mild". Now, as he fights in court to be compensated by the police, he has shared his story in a new book, co-authored by journalist Shevlin Sebastian. Mr Sebastian says he decided to work on the book after hearing Mr Thajudheen's story. "I thought, 'if it can happen to him, then it can happen to me too'." Police used the CCTV image of an alleged thief to track down Mr Thajudheen Mr Thajudheen's ordeal began on 10 July 2018 when he was returning home with his family after a dinner held to celebrate his daughter's wedding, which was held a couple of days earlier. He ran a rent-a-car business in Doha, and was on leave for 15 days for the wedding. "I was on cloud nine as everything was going according to plan," he says. "But suddenly, life turned to hell." As he neared his house, after midnight, Mr Thajudheen found the police waiting for him. He was told to step out of the car while his wife Naseera was asked to identify a man from a grainy CCTV image. "It was dark outside and she was confused," he recalls. "She told them it looked like me." The police, Mr Thajudheen says, immediately asked him to get in their vehicle and took him to the station. "My wife and children couldn't believe what was happening," he says. The family realised later that Ms Naseera's statement was being used as evidence to accuse her husband of snatching a gold necklace from a woman while driving past her (such cases, usually called "chain-snatching", are regularly reported in India). The CCTV image showed a man with a beard who was riding a white scooter. The resemblance was striking and Mr Thajudheen says even he felt it looked like him at first glance. Police claimed he had stolen the necklace because he needed money for his daughter's wedding and to build a house (for which he said he had used his savings). The woman whose necklace was stolen also identified him as the thief. Mr Thajudheen had an alibi - from a woman who said he and his family were at her beauty parlour at the time of the crime - and a witness said he wasn't the right man. But the police were "in a hurry to close the case", Mr Thajudheen says. "I couldn't understand what was happening to me," he says. "They didn't allow me to speak to my wife and children when they visited me at the police station." Mr Thajudheen alleges he was tortured by the police in custody, an allegation they later denied in court. He spent 54 days in jail before getting bail. In court, prosecutors claimed Mr Thajudheen's own family had identified him as the thief When Mr Thajudheen returned home, he had lost 23kg (50.7lb). He stopped leaving his house as he feared judgement from his neighbours. His son, who was then seven years old, was distraught at his father's plight and stopped going to school. In court, prosecutors argued that the CCTV image had a "striking resemblance" to Mr Thajudheen and that his own family had identified him as the thief. As he rapidly lost hope, friends in Doha launched an online campaign to get justice for him. His elder son also began searching for the man in the CCTV image with help from his friends and a police officer. Their combined efforts helped trace the actual culprit - a man who was already in prison for another theft. Mr Thajudheen's family then approached the state's chief minister and police chief, asking for the case to investigated again by a different officer. The police then went on to recover the scooter used by the culprit and the stolen necklace. His name was cleared, but Mr Thajudheen's nightmare was not over. Seven months after his arrest, he managed to return to Qatar only to be put in detention. His employer had filed a case accusing him of "absconding". He was deported and barred from entering Qatar again. Back in India, Mr Thajudheen and his family left Kerala to get away from the humiliation and stigma. They now live in neighbouring Karnataka state, where Mr Thajudheen runs a clothing business. He has filed a case against the police, asking for compensation of 14m rupees ($169,000, 135,810). He also hopes the new book will bring attention to the sufferings of people wrongly arrested by the police. 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: Orcas attacked a vessel off the coast of Spain Orcas are attacking and capsizing boats off the coast of Spain in what researchers are saying may be learned behavior. The local maritime rescue service said on Thursday that several killer whales had damaged a sailing boat, adding to dozens of reported orca attacks off the coasts of Spain and Portugal this year. A sailing boat was making headway to Gibraltar in the early hours of Thursday when a group of orcas pierced the boats hull and broke the rudder. A rapid-response vessel was deployed to assist the 66-foot British vessel and towed it to the port of Barbate, in the province of Cadiz, for repairs. Read more Orca encounters have been increasing since 2020, leading researchers to question why the killer whale, which is a historically peaceful mammal, has suddenly begun attacking sailing vessels. But one researcher in Portugal thinks he may have the answer. The attacks may have stemmed from an orca who scientists call White Gladis, when she experienced a critical moment of agony involving a boat, Alfredo Lopez Fernandez, a marine biologist at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, told Live Science. That traumatized orca is the one that started this behavior of physical contact with the boat, he said, adding, The orcas are doing this on purpose. But other researchers are not so sure. Andrew W. Trites, a professor and director of Marine Mammal Research at the University of British Columbia told CBS News that he doesnt believe the whales are retaliating. I read that something triggered one of the adult females and she is exacting revenge and teaching the others to do that too by ramming vessels and trying to intentionally sink them, he said. To ram a vessel makes as much sense as me running full speed into a brick wall. Youre going to get injured. Last year alone, there were 207 reported interactions with Orcas according to the research group GTOA which also found there have been 20 interactions this month in the Strait of Gibraltar, where the British vessel was damaged on Thursday. Monika Wieland Shields, a director of the Orca Behavior Institute in Washington told NBC News, I think it gets taken as aggression because its causing damage, but I dont think we can say that the motivation is aggressive necessarily. Shields confirmed that orcas are generally gentle beings, not known for being aggressive toward humans, even when they were being attacked and placed in captivity. Theyve certainly had reason to engage in that kind of behavior, she told the outlet. There are places where they are shot at by fishermen, theyve watched family members be taken from their groups into captivity in the 60s and 70s. And if something was going to motivate direct aggression, I would think something like that would have done it. While researchers continue to speculate about the mystifying change in the orcas behavior, the truth of the matter is that no one knows. My idea, or what anyone would give you, is informed speculation, Trites told CBS News. It is a total mystery, unprecedented. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Reports of killer whales appearing to try and capsize boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal have raised questions about the giant sea creatures and the motive behind their erratic actions. The behavior is unusual, and began in 2020, says Andrew W. Trites, professor and director of Marine Mammal Research at the University of British Columbia. In the past two years, these incidents have more than tripled according to data released by GTOA, a group that researches orcas in the region. "Nobody knows why this is happening," Trites told CBS News. "My idea, or what anyone would give you, is informed speculation. It is a total mystery, unprecedented." Trites said there is no doubt whales are damaging boats and terrifying the people on board, but the reason is a mystery. He said, however, there must be something positively reinforcing this behavior and the benefits for the whales outweigh the cost. Only a small group of killer whales, also called orcas, is showing the behavior of ramming into boats, including yachts and sailboats, and it appears the action is spreading through their population. Trites said in 2011, there were only about 39 whales in the small group. The whales are seen near Spain and Portugal, often in the summer, and dozens of people have reportedly witnessed this behavior. Last week, a group of killer whales broke the rudder and pierced the hull of a sailboat in the area. The crew of four onboard needed to call authorities for help and we were rescued, Reuters reports. Their boat was towed back to the port for repairs. Earlier this month, three orcas impacted a sailing yacht. The boat was so flooded after the incident that it could not be towed back. This is just one of about 20 instances recorded in the area this month by GTOA, a group that researches orcas in the region. The Spanish Transport Ministry has advised boaters should leave the area if they observe a change in an orca's direction or speed and should report any interactions, according to Reuters. GTOA says 52 interactions were recorded between the Strait of Gibraltar and Galicia in northern Spain between July and November 2020. The following year saw 197 interactions and in 2022, there were 207 interactions. The incidents primarily affect sailboats, GTOA says. A study on the disruptive behavior of killer whales was published in 2022. Alfredo Lopez Fernandez, co-author of the study, told Live Science said most of the interactions have been harmless, but at least three ships have sunk since the behavior started in 2020. Lopez Fernandez, a biologist at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, who also works at GTOA, told Live Science the origin of this behavior is unknown. And while there are some reports speculating orcas are teaching each other, he says the behavior may just be spreading to young orcas because they are imitating older orcas. Trites doesn't think the incidents are attacks, and while some speculate the whales may be "retaliating," he doesn't believe that theory. "I read that something triggered one of the adult females and she is exacting revenge and teaching the others to do that too by ramming vessels and trying to intentionally sink them," he said. "To ram a vessel makes as much sense as me running full speed into a brick wall. You're going to get injured." He said he doesn't believe this idea, or the theory that whales are mad that there are too many boats in the ocean. His theory? "I think it's just playful behavior that's gotten way out of hand," he said. Trites said whales do not eat humans and there are no reports of them attacking any humans. However, this behavior change in the whales is dangerous and could result in a boater being killed. He said the behavior reminds him of a whale named Luca, spotted off the coast of Vancouver, who separated from his pod and began to follow boats. "He later learned to grab onto the rudders to break them off to disable the boats, to push boats around," Trites said. "In his case, he was seeking social interactions. And he learned he could prolong the interactions by disabling the boats. And then they would have to stay with him." Trites said killer whales are social, tactile animals. Some like to rub their bodies together while swimming together or ride the wake of boats and feel the sensation of the water pushing them. "I know of many cases where killer whales will come in and almost put their nose up to a propeller of the boat and feel the wash of the water go over them. It'd be like being in a jacuzzi," he said. Trites said some of the reports from Spain and Portugal are consistent with this behavior whales putting their noses up to the back of the boat. "It's a bit hard to know what to make of the accounts because if a researcher who understands killer whale behavior was on board, they may describe it in a different way," he said, adding that while some boaters may feel attacked, a researcher might characterize it as a whale simply rubbing against a boat. "The positive in here could be from roughhousing with something else they certainly rough house among themselves tactile, touching we know killer whales rake their teeth over the body of another whale all of this could be behaviors they are turning toward some boat and finding they are getting pleasure out of doing that." Matchbox Twenty hits the road again after post-pandemic album release WNBA point guard Courtney Vandersloot on championship dreams with the New York Liberty team LSU Tigers to visit White House after NCAA women's title Kim Kardashian has given fans a glimpse into the emotional turmoil she experienced behind the scenes while going through her very public divorce from ex Kanye West. In season three of The Kardashians, now streaming on Disney Plus, Kim opened up to her mother, Kris Jenner, about the impact of the allegations made about her family. Earlier this year, Kanye who goes by Ye posted a series of screenshots of text messages between him and Kim, in which they appeared to disagree over their childrens schooling and differing parenting styles. The pair wed in 2016 but divorced in 2021 after a difficult period that saw the Flashing Lights rapper divulge personal details about his family and marriage. In a confessional video tape, Kim, 42, told the cameras: Theres been a lot going on with Kanye right now I think at this point, I just assume everything I text Kanye is gonna be put on the internet. I think I can handle anything, I just get really heartbroken for my mom, that she has to deal with so much from so many different sides. Kim, who is also the founder of luxury shapewear brand SKIMS, continued: I spent my whole morning having an anxiety attack, I felt like I just couldnt breathe all day. You know when youre just on the verge of tears... thats how I felt all day. The model and reality TV star then added that she felt as though her ex-husband looked down on her for her sex tape with Ray J that went viral in 2007. "Even how he looks so down on me for my [sex] tape, brings it up all over town, all over the media. Like, thanks for reminding people once again. Kim said that she was worried the allegations and shenanigans were going to be more damaging for their children North, nine, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four than her sex tape would ever be. I have to sit here and not say anything, ever, because I know one day my kids will appreciate that, she said. And I know that is the best thing for them. The Independent has contacted representatives of West for comment. Kim added that she continues to be Kanyes biggest cheerleader and blasts his music in the car when shes with her children, even though she feels quite differently about her former husband. And by the way, Im the one where s*** could be going down and I get in the car, and every day, the kids want to blast dads music and Im like, Hes the best! I put it on and were singing along, and inside Im dying because I will be his biggest cheerleader to them forever, and one day, when they can see for themselves, Ill answer whatever they want me to. Its a lot, she said. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West went through a highly publicised divorce (2018 Invision) Elsewhere in the episode, Kim alleges that Kanye started the rumour that she was having an affair with Canadian rapper Drake, with whom Kanye has had an on-and-off rivalry. The claim about Drake and Kim was believed to have originated in 2018, after Drake name-dropped someone called KiKi in his song In My Feelings, which is one of Kims nicknames. Then, in April, the Gods Plan rapper sampled an old voice recording of Kim Kardashian speaking about her strained relationship with Kanye West. The rappers surprise release in April, Search & Rescue, features a clip from the socialites reality series Keeping Up With the Kardashians. [Kanye] was the one that started a rumour that said I was hooking up with Drake, having an affair, Kim alleged. The 2023 Museum Cultural Heritage and Innovative Design Competition of Beijing kicked off in the Chinese capital on Wednesday. Building upon the established themes from previous years, this year's competition introduces a new track to celebrate the 870th anniversary of the establishment of Beijing as a capital city. The competition invites museums in Beijing, and designers and cultural and creative enterprises and institutions across the country to submit creative designs featuring elements of Beijing museums. The contest consists of four main tracks, with the newly added track encouraging participants to delve into the political, cultural, and ethnic connotations of 870 items from the Capital Museum collections, in order to illustrate the development and changes that have transpired since Beijing became the Chinese capital 870 years ago. The other three tracks continue to challenge participants' creativity, inviting them to draw inspiration from Beijing museum collections, China's traditional 24 solar terms, and revolutionary cultural relics. This year's event encourages joint participation from museums and private sectors to promote the use and authorized development of museums' cultural resources. The Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau also plans to accelerate the categorization and licensing of museum collection IP creations and creative designs, in order to facilitate the transformation of cultural resources into marketable products and creative spaces. The contest will run until December. In the third season premiere of Hulu's "The Kardashians," Kim Kardashian opened up about the drama surrounding the end of her relationship with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. Though he legally changed his name to Ye in October 2021, Kardashian called him Kanye throughout the episode. Kardashian filed for divorce from the rapper in February 2021. In the months and years that followed, the two would go on to have a very public falling out. In the episode, Kardashian candidly spoke to her mother, Kris Jenner, about the emotional toll her ex was causing her at the time. Even through all the craziness of everything that Kanye says about us, I never comment, I never post," she said in the scene. "He has made up the most insane narrative about you in the tape and we stay silent ... through all the lies, all the stuff." Kim Kardashian sits on a countertop in a white tank top. (Courtesy of Hulu) She went on to say that she had been keeping quiet to try to protect their shared children North, 9, Saint, 7, Chicago, 5, and Psalm, 4. All his shenanigans I dont even know what the f--- to call it is going to be far more damaging to the kids one day than my tape will ever be," she said, referring to her sex tape, the plot line of a prior season. "And I have to sit here and not say anything ever. Because I know one day my kids will appreciate that and I know thats the best thing for them." Kardashian's comments echo those from a February 2022 legal filing in which she said Ye had caused her "emotional distress." I very much desire to be divorced. I have asked Kanye to keep our divorce private, but he has not done so. Kanye has been putting a lot of misinformation regarding our private family matters and co-parenting on social media which has created emotional distress. In the past, Ye has accused Kardashian of preventing him from seeing the children and criticizing her parenting publicly online. He slammed Kardashian's then-boyfriend, Pete Davidson, and posted racial slurs about then-"Daily Show" host Trevor Noah. More recently, Ye has come under fire online for a series of antisemitic comments. His Twitter account is currently suspended and he seemingly deactivated his Instagram earlier this year. In an interview scene, Kardashian lamented that she is "f---ing exhausted" from dealing with the situation and trying to keep it together. In the scene, she teared up while talking to her mother. For once, can everyone just get their s---- together around me so I can f---ing lose it? Just once. I just want to lose it once. I want to have a bad day and I cant. I cant even be overwhelmed and have a bad day because no one else has their s--- together, she said, emotional. "I just feel bad, you know, and I dont know why I feel bad. I dont know what to do. I dont want to be a part of this narrative. And its like, when is this ever going to end? Like, it never will." "And I'm stuck with this forever," she said, sadly. Kardashian also complained that her whole marriage, Ye had accused her of having an affair with the rapper Drake, which she denied. She added that her kids always want to listen to Ye's music and she obliges, cheering them on. Im like, Hes the best! and I put it on and were singing along and inside Im, like, dying because I will be his biggest cheerleader to them forever and one day they see for themselves," she said. "Ill answer whatever they want me to. She also wondered how it might affect her mom. I get heartbroken for my mom that she has to deal with so much from people from so many times, coming for her, she told the camera. Later, in an interview with the show's producers, she added that everything since their split has been "so intense." "I dont want to be engaged in a public feud with him. I feel like I have to do something, especially when it involves other people and it hurts other people. Like, hurt me, just keep it with me," she said. Back in the scene, Kris Jenner jumped in to comfort her. "You finally decided you couldnt take it anymore ... you did the only thing you could do," Jenner said. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Get to know new fire, police chiefs in Windsor Heights Windsor Heights has new leaders of its police and fire departments. Windsor Heights fire chief Jim Mease succeeds interim chief Blake Boyle. The Windsor Heights City Council unanimously approved Mease's hiring on May 1, when he also was sworn in. Windsor Heights police chief Pete Roth succeeds interim chief Travis Ouverson, whose last day is June 2. Roth assumed command of the police department May 15. A formal swearing in ceremony will take place at the June 5 City Council meeting. Fire chief Jim Mease started his career as a volunteer Jim Mease is the new chief of the Windsor Heights Fire Department. City Council approved Mease's hire on May 1, 2023. Mease was born, raised and still lives near Truro, about 40 miles south of the metro in Madison County. He's married, has two adult children and helps operate a family farm on which he lives. He started his fire service career in 2001 with the Truro Volunteer Fire Department and still serves as the department's assistant chief. He worked as a flooring installer until he got into fire services full time. His first paid fire service position was in 2009 with the Clive Fire Department. Mease worked in Clive for seven years and left as a lieutenant to work as a firefighter/paramedic with the Des Moines Fire Department. He then worked for the Norwalk Fire Department before accepting the chief position in Windsor Heights. Mease said he looks forward to "implementing a servant leadership style approach in the metro fire service, making connections with the community, and working with the elected officials to reach our public safety goals." Police chief Pete Roth's roots are in Iowa City and the metro Pete Roth is the new police chief in Windsor Heights. Roth assumed command of the Windsor Heights Police Department on May 15, 2023. Roth was born in Iowa City, grew up in West Des Moines, graduated from Dowling Catholic High School and has degrees including from the University of Iowa and Drake University. He is married and has two children. Roth said he volunteers at church, enjoys reading and is an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves and Iowa Hawkeyes. He worked for the Clive Police Department from 1997 to 2008 and served as a captain with the University of Iowa Police from 2008 to 2015. Roth most recently served as Clear Lake's police chief. Roth said he also serves on the executive board of the Iowa Police Chiefs Association and is a member of the state's Incident Management Team. He has received recognition from the Iowa Department of Public Safety and then-Gov. Tom Vilsack for traffic safety. Roth said he is "committed to serving the community of Windsor Heights by working in partnership with city leaders, residents, businesses and area stakeholders." Phillip Sitter covers suburban growth and development for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Get to know the new fire and police chiefs in Windsor Heights What we know: Norton police found 8 bullets after road rage death on I-76 A police officer approaches the bullet-riddled car of George Jensen on May 17 along I-76 in a still image from body camera footage released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Eight days after an apparent fatal road rage incident on Interstate 76, Norton police say detectives are "still in the process of following up on numerous leads." In a short update Thursday, Norton police said the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Transportation have released videos related to the incident. "We are still in the process of redacting our videos and will release them as soon as possible," the release said. "We will send out an update as soon as we have one. We appreciate your patience." A photo of George "Geo" Jensen, who was shot and killed Wednesday on I-76 in Norton. Police have not said much since George Jensen, 40, of Akron, died after being shot and crashing into the freeway's concrete median during the evening rush hour May 17. But the videos and Norton's police report do include new details. Obituary: George A. "Geo" Jensen, II Police report details 8 bullets An initial incident report obtained by the Beacon Journal Wednesday said police spoke to five witnesses and recovered eight .40 caliber shell casings and eight bullet slugs at the scene: two from outside the vehicle, four from Jensen's car and two from his body's shoulder and knee. A May 18 police news release said there appeared to be a road rage incident between Jensen and another driver in a black 2018 or newer Chevy Camaro as the two traveled on I-76, and the driver of the Camaro fired multiple gunshots toward Jensen's car as it drove past. Norton police search the eastbound section of Interstate 76 on May 17 following an apparent road rage incident that left an Akron man dead. Akron man killed in road rage shooting: 'It wasn't right what happened to him,' wife said of Akron man killed in road rage shooting Eyewitness 911 calls to Norton police also reported "two cars going back and forth with each other, and I think the guy got shot." A 12-minute body-worn camera video released Thursday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows drivers at the scene of the crash as officers arrive. The video is blurred where troopers provide first aid, including several minutes of CPR. A woman at the scene can be heard telling officers that the incident started around Exit 11 at Route 261 in Wadsworth. "This car and a black sports car, they were egging each other (on), cut each other off, brake check and do all that," the woman said. "After they came over (state Route) 21, I didn't hear or see any gunshots, but all of the sudden he hit the guardrail by the bridge and he came all the way back over and hit there." The driver of the Camaro was last seen leaving the area on I-76 East. Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident should call the Norton Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-706-0084. A traffic camera video released by the Ohio Department of Transportation also shows a black car speeding eastbound past the Cleveland-Massilion Road overpass just before all traffic stops further west down the highway at the crash site. Who was George Jensen? George Jensen was on his way home from work in Wadsworth. His wife, Allison, said she suspected something was wrong when her husband didn't return to their Akron home at the usual time, saying he always came straight home after work. Scott Keenan, a co-worker of George Jensen's at ECS Tuning, was also worried and made calls to area law enforcement agencies and hospitals. Keenan, who had been best friends with George since they were 9, said Jensen was dedicated to his work and was a gifted systems engineer. "He was staunchly opposed to gun violence," Keenan said. "He was alarmed at the mass shooting incidents all around the country." 911 calls give some context: Cars swerved back and forth before Norton road rage killing; city to give update Thursday Allison Jensen said her husband was the oldest of three children. They celebrated their 13th anniversary in October and met 18 years ago at a concert. She said the person who shot her husband should be held accountable. "I am not here for (any) revenge fantasies I just want justice," Allison Jensen said. "I want him to be tried like anyone else." What happened during the road rage shooting in Norton? A caller who reported the incident to 911 operators last week said he witnessed some of what happened. "I think he's been shot," the caller can be heard saying to others on the scene as the dispatcher answered the phone. The caller then described what he saw. "I believe there were two cars going back and forth with each other, and I think the guy got shot ... he hit the wall. He swerved right, he swerved left," the caller said. "There were two cars going back and forth, and this guy was trying to pass and I don't know ... This guy, he's not going to make it." The 911 recording was provided by Southwest Summit Communications, which serves Barberton, Norton, Copley and Springfield Township. Cases rise in Ohio: Road rage has been elevated in Ohio for 3 years, Highway Patrol says Reporters Alan Ashworth, Eric Marotta and Emily Mills contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Norton updates investigation of road rage death of George Jensen Its just past 11 p.m. in North Miami Beach and a shirtless Kodak Black just fired up a Black & Mild. Inside a movie theater. No one tells him to put it out. No one says, You cant smoke in here. No one even looks twice. Guess thats just one of the perks of being a don. Minutes later, a packed crowd of fans, family and supporters would get one of the first glimpses of The Don, a short film co-written by and starring Black himself. The project, which will drop Friday along with his newest album Pistolz & Pearlz, follows the 25-year-old as a Miami mob boss and was features several Miami locations, including Little Haiti, South Beach and Downtown. And while the fans that filled the IPIC theater Tuesday night couldve left happy just seeing the film, the impromptu speech that followed gave onlookers a rather intimate moment with one of raps brightest stars. Im from the projects, Black said to the crowd as he paced back and forth at the front of the theater. I aint never believe this was possible. Sometimes inaudible, sometimes inspirational, Black spoke for roughly 20 minutes about whatever crossed his mind. His name. His career. Even his past. Everybody played a part in the person I am and who Im about to be, Black said, later adding, If I could do this s*** again, Id pick the same momma. Same brothers. Same squad. Black, whose legal name is Bill Kahan Kapri, hails from Pompano Beach and is of Haitian descent. In the film, his Haitian mother mixes Creole and English during her fury over what shes found in his backpack, presumably a gun. The Super Gremlin rapper has made headlines for his run-ins with the law, including most recently a 30-day stint in rehab after failing a drug test in late February. President Trump pardoned Black in January 2021, roughly halfway through his 46-month federal prison sentence that stemmed from gun charges in Miami-Dade County. But at the film screening, the focus was not on his past legal troubles as his art took center stage. We busting every door down, Black said, alluding to his film debut. At times, Black turned into a motivational speaker, telling the audience to not give up on their dreams and know what youre getting yourself into as far as contracts were concerned, which he stated right before announcing that Pistolz & Pearlz would be his last album with Atlantic Records. I love white people, Im a suburban myself, Black said, recalling the famous meme. But you know dealing with these crackas, sometimes theres s*** you just dont understand... get a lawyer. Close friends descended to the front of the theater to hug him. His mother shouted out praises. And one fan in particular, 26-year-old Smith Francois, connected with Black on an even more personal level. He was struggling like how I was struggling, Francois said. In Black, he saw a kindred spirit: someone willing to do whatever necessary to get his family out of the hood. How they both went about it might have differed, Francois added, but he still respected Blacks commitment despite the obstacles. Thats why I looked at him and was like, Yo, God bless you bro. You are amazing. Rather than just brushing off Francois, Black walked into the aisle and sat across from him face-to-face as he thanked the Pompano Beach native for setting an example for Haitians like himself. Monalisa Andre, who starred as Blacks mother in the film, later shared a similar sentiment. Kodak is Broward Countys finest, Dade Countys finest, said Andre, a Miami native of Haitian and Dominican descent. Im from Dade County and I feel like he represents Dade County, Broward County he represents Miami to the T. Kremlin says Russia's security services 'know their job' after Ukraine says Putin tops its kill list By Andrew Osborn (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia's security services knew what they were doing after a top Ukrainian intelligence official said President Vladimir Putin was number one on Kyiv's kill list. Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, told Germany's Die Welt newspaper in an interview that Kyiv wanted to assassinate Putin "because he coordinates and decides what happens" in the war and that the Russian leader was aware he topped Ukraine's kill list. "But in the end, everyone will have to answer for their actions," Skibitsky was quoted as saying. "Putin is noticing that we are getting closer and closer to him, but he is also afraid of being killed by his own people, Skibitsky told Die Welt. Skibitsky went on to name other Russians, including mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, and military commander Sergei Surovikin - nicknamed "General Armageddon" by the Russian media, as targets. He was cited as saying that Putin was a difficult target because he was "holed up" a lot of the time but was now starting to appear in public more often. When asked if measures to protect Putin were being stepped up after Skibitsky's interview, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state TV on Thursday: "Believe me, our security services know their job and know what they are doing." Peskov said Skibitsky's interview was confirmation that Russia had been right to launch what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine 15 months ago, a conflict which Ukraine and the West say is an unprovoked war of conquest. "The terrorist regime is talking about its terrorist aspirations. The special military operation is more than justified, more than necessary and must be completed by achieving its goals," Peskov said. The Kremlin described a drone attack on the Kremlin earlier this month as a Ukrainian attempt to kill Putin, something Kyiv denied at the time. The New York Times said earlier on Thursday that U.S. intelligence agencies believed the drone attack was likely orchestrated by Ukrainian spies or military intelligence, however. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Hugh Lawson) A section of the ALPS experiment at DESY. Long tubes, strong magnets, and bright lasers. Is that all it takes to entice the shyest particles in the universe to reveal themselves? Physicists working on the ALPS II experiment certainly hope so, as they kicked off their search for axionic (or axion-like) dark matter on Tuesday, May 23. ALPS (Any Light Particle Search) is a 820-foot experiment at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, or DESY. Read more ALPS II is looking for elementary particles that have as of yet eluded human observation. These particles are thought to be responsible for so-called dark matter, the catch-all term for the 27% of stuff in the universe that has not been directly observed, but whose presence is seen in dark matter haloes and gravitational lensing. On large scales, the fingerprints of dark matter are clear, but to identify what specifically comprises the unknown stuff, physicists have to look at some of the smallest scales. There are several primary candidates for dark matter, but the two frontrunners are Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) and axions. Axions are named for a laundry detergent and are smaller than WIMPs. In fact, theyre theorized to be so small that they behave more like waves than particles, similar to photons of light (another dark matter candidate, dark photons, are thought to act similarly, hence its name). One property of axions is that they may pop in and out of existenceperhaps even from ordinary photons. The ALPS II experiment is designed to detect particles like axions by taking measurements of these potential changes, from photons to axions and back again. The magnets in the experiment, which are used to create a magnetic field to host this photon-to-axion transformation, were taken from the since-retired HERA accelerator at DESY. The ALPS experiment and Dark Matter ALPS II is separated into two parts by a wall that light cannot pass through, but an axion could. If light shows up on the far side of the experiment, it would indicate to scientists that a photon turned into an axion, transitted the wall, and reverted to a photon. Despite all our technical tricks, the probability of a photon turning into an axion and back again is very small, said Axel Lindner, project leader at DESY and spokesperson of the ALPS collaboration, in a DESY release. The odds, Lindner added, are like throwing 33 dice and them all coming up the same. The experiment will begin its search in an attenuated operating mode, according to the release, to make it easier to discern background light that could give false positives for axionic dark matter. ALPS II is expected to reach full sensitivity later this year and will have its mirror system upgraded next year. The first data from the experiment is expected in 2024. Even if we dont find any light particles with ALPS, the experiment will shift the exclusion limits for ultra-light particles by a factor of 1000, Lindner said. Thatll be a big step, as the axion search thus far has been a laborious process of homing in on the likely mass range for the theorized particles. ALPS II will join forces with other behemoth dark matter detectors like LUX-ZEPLIN in South Dakota and XENON1T under the Apennine Mountains in sniffing out the elusive physics that undergird the universe. More: This Dark Matter Radio Could Tune Into New Physics More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Passengers from international flights arrive at Heathrow Airport The figures have landed. According to Office for National Statistics (ONS), annual net migration in 2022 was a record 606,000 more than twice the post-2010, pre-Brexit average. This is a huge number, equivalent to adding two cities the size of Newcastle to the UK in just a single year. The implications for public services, infrastructure and housing, particularly in London and the south-east, are massive. It is true that the figure is less than we at the Centre for Policy Studies and experts at the Home Office were anticipating. A consensus had emerged that numbers would be at least 700,000 and perhaps much higher, depending on emigration trends. But the lower than expected figure reflects less a change in migration, and more a series of revisions to the methodology used by the ONS. These revisions actually leave estimates of net migration over the last few years substantially higher. The first thing to note is that its not just the numbers from 2022 that have been affected. The ONS also revised its historical estimates going back to 2018. This means that we now know that in the year ending June 2022, net migration was 102,000 more than predicted 606,000 rather than 504,000. For the 12 months before, the figure was 59,000 higher. For 2019-20, 60,000 higher. But then the figure for the period before that has been downgraded substantially. Some of this is due to the fact that the ONS is including asylum applicants in the statistics for the first time. This makes sense, because as things currently stand, most will end up settling here long-term. That might change if and when the Rwanda scheme is up and running, and people who enter the UK illegally can be relocated. But until then, it makes sense to include people who are likely to remain permanently, adding to pressures on housing and public services. There has also been a big change in terms of the numbers arriving from Ukraine. When the ONS published net migration figures last November, they assumed all those arriving on the Ukraine visa schemes would remain in the UK long-term. This assumption has now changed, based on internal Home Office analysis. As a result, 39,000 Ukrainians have been removed from the long-term immigration figures, leaving just 114,000 Ukrainians in the 2022 stats. But another big change illustrates just how tricky this whole field is. In the past, the ONS assumed that all individuals with a visa lasting at least 12 months counted as long-term immigrants. However, some of those 17 per cent in the years between June 2018 and June 2020 ended up leaving early. So in the edition of the data published six months ago, the ONS adjusted the comparable figures accordingly, applying a 17 per cent haircut. In the latest data, the ONS have further refined their approach, and as a result, have taken 143,000 people out of the data for 2022. Inevitably, there will be accusations that the figures are being fiddled. We completely disagree. Many of the changes, especially for non-EU migrants, reflect the ongoing shift towards using better data to keep track of who is entering and exiting the country. In practice, that means working out how to connect lots of isolated data silos across different Government departments and using these datasets to create a clearer picture of migration. But there is another key point. Pro-immigration voices are already taking a victory lap off the back of the latest data, trashing our estimates and proclaiming that the data proves immigration is nothing to worry about. On the contrary. The figures actually show that net migration between June 2021 and June 2022 was not 504,000 a record by any standards but 606,000. In other words, the ONSs new data shows that recent immigration has been even higher, for even longer, than we thought. This makes obvious sense. Last year the UK issued a record number of visas 622,000 for study and 394,000 for work, up by 44% and 89% respectively on 2021. Newer Home Office data shows a 30% increase in visas granted in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022. What kept the net migration figures from being even higher was that emigration ran at near record levels (557,000) in 2022, based on Home Office border data. This has been attributed to non-EU students leaving at the end of their courses though this seems at odds with the significant rise in visa extensions granted in 2022, to over 560,000. As the Government has recognised, there are many advantages to net migration not least in keeping the NHS afloat. But as it has also recognised, the numbers are much, much higher than they have historically been, and the pressures on public services and housing more acute. Ministers still need to take back control. 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. New layout and other things to know if you're headed to the Three Rivers Arts Festival PITTSBURGH Here's what you need to know if you're headed to the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, the most heavily attended southwest Pennsylvania event. When & What: The 64th annual event begins June 2 and runs through June 11, offering 10 days of free art and music. Hundreds of artists from around the region and nation join free music concerts on multiple stages, gallery exhibitions, public art, film, theater, creative activities for all ages, and the popular Artist Market. Events and artists can be sorted by day and genre at TrustArts.org/TRAF. Where: The Artist Market is in a new location spanning both sides of Fort Duquesne Boulevard, stretching between Sixth and Ninth streets (or between the Roberto Clemente and Rachel Carson bridges.) The adjusted location will provide more space for shoppers to circulate between booths compared to previous layouts like Gateway Center. As always, the 300 artists the most since pre-pandemic will changeover throughout the festivals 10-day run. Tens of thousands of people will visit the artist tents at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. The main concert stage also has been moved, and now is on Fort Duquesne Boulevard, directly across the river from PNC Park. "Pro tip: It'll be a great spot to watch the fireworks (after the Pittsburgh Pirates game June 9)," Sarah Aziz, director of festival management for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, said. The main stage will be similar in location and scope a bit bigger, actually to 2021's well-received Allegheny Overlook stage. "It feels more like Pittsburgh," Aziz said, comparing the new spot along the city's Allegheny riverfront to last year's main stage location amid the tall buildings at Ninth Street and Penn Avenue, which drew mixed reviews. A mobile bar there will sell adult beverages, so concertgoers will be able to enjoy beer, wine or cocktails this year. Who's performing: The main concert stage hosts KT Tunstall, June 2; Galactic, June 3; Rising Appalachia, June 4; Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, June 5; Lizz Wright, June 6; Red Baraat, June 7; Corinne Bailey Rae, June 8; Mo Lawda & The Humble, June 9; Chali 2na & Cut Chemist, June 10, the Taj Mahal Quartet, June 11. Showtimes are 7:30 to 9 p.m. The main stage music kicks off at noon June 2 with one of Pittsburgh's premiere Americana/roots-rock bands, Bindley Hardware Co. Taj Mahal brings his quartet to the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. Long based at Point State Park, the arts festival moved to the Cultural District after new rules were implemented by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources preventing a 10-day festival at the park. We learned a lot last year and are now building on the successes of our first festival located entirely in the Cultural District, Aziz, of festival organizers the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, said. The Food: Anonymous surveys convinced the Cultural Trust that people prefer the main food vendor area to be near the main stage. So food vendors will be stationed off Eighth Street between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard. There will be more seating, such as picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, compared to last year when furniture orders didn't arrive on time, Aziz said. A convoy of food trucks also will operate at Stanwix and Sixth streets. For visual arts fans: The annual Juried Visual Art Exhibition showcasing exceptional new art by regional artists selected in a blind jury process will be inside SPACE Gallery (812 Liberty Ave.) This year's theme highlights the ways artists take up space within their practices physically, psychologically, emotionally and relationally. The nearby Backyard at 8th & Penn hosts three multidisciplinary public art attractions, including "Utterance" by Pittsburgh-based, nationally recognized sculptor, Jim West. The symbolic mixed-media sculpture uses illumination and volume control to explore how humans need to quiet the noise, and not talk over one another, to hear and be heard. Map for the newly located Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. "We Are All Connected To Each Other Through Nature," a 12-foot-by-12-foot-by-18-foot walkthrough installation also located in the Backyard, was created by Los Angeles-based artist Laurie Shapiro. Shapiro used water-based paints and screen-printed drawings on vinyl over metal truss with handmade lighting. The work is presented in association with this years "Anthropology of Motherhood" an annual art space, interactive amenity and place of respite for families with young children located inside 819 Penn Ave., which neighbors the Backyard. More to see and do: Squonks Hand to Hand, which premiered in PPG Plaza in 2019, returns to Pittsburgh for two final performances on June 10 at noon and 3 p.m. in the Backyard. Propelled by two giant puppet hands, each the size of a house and rigged like a sailing ship, the performance adds Squonks original progressive rock for a journey said to be spectacular, plaintive and comic. Nearby, the Backyard Stage will be active every day, hosting more than 15 performances by an array of Pittsburgh-based musical artists such as The Living Street, at 5 p.m. June 5 and Pierce Dipner Band, at 3 p.m. June 11. Pierce Dipner (left) playing his favorite guitar. More: Splish, splash: Get cool at these Beaver Valley public pools & lakes The Green Mountain Energy Stage, active on weekends only at the nearby corner of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Seventh Street, will add to the atmosphere with two musical shows each Saturday and Sunday. The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival returns to Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Other options: The Giant Eagle Creativity Zone returns to Trust Oasis, 133 Seventh St., featuring 20 arts organizations and community partners providing families with hands-on activities, noon-6 p.m. daily. The Harris Theater will provide free screenings of "What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat, and Tears," "Little Richard: I Am Everything; and the Thelonious Monk documentary, "Rewind and Play." The Pittsburgh Cultural Trusts gallery spaces will be activated from noon-8 p.m., with "Traveling While Black," a cinematic virtual reality experience that immerses viewers in the long history of restriction of movement for Black Americans and the creation of safe spaces in communities, at 820 Liberty Gallery. The internationally recognized UVA (United Visual Artists), a London-based collective, continues its run at Wood Street Galleries. Juried Visual Art Exhibition juror, Steve Alexis, has his own show at 707 Penn Gallery called "in spite of me, here you are." Trust Arts Education Center (805-807 Liberty Ave.) hosts Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company's presentation of "12:52 The Mike Webster Story," and the Glow Zone for glow-in-the-dark fun with a DJ and hands-on activities. "We live in a super fun city, and there's a lot going on in those 10 days," Aziz said, advising there will be extra pedestrian and motor traffic due to the Pirates' homestand, the June 2 Kansas concert at the Benedum Center and Pride on The Shore on June 3 based at Stage AE. Her advice is to leave yourself extra time, check the festival's website for road detour info, and download the Go Mobile PGH app that provides real-time updates on city parking garage parking availability. Lineup changes and additions will be continually updated at TrustArts.org/TRAF. Aziz said, "Plan a whole fun day in the city." KT Tunstall headlines opening night of the Dollar Bank Three Arts Festival. More: Lizzo delivered action, fun & inspiration at sold-out Pittsburgh concert Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Things to know if you're Three Rivers Arts Festival bound Is it legal to leave your dog in the car in Illinois or Missouri? What state laws say As temperatures rise this spring in the St. Louis region, your dog or cats life may be at risk if you leave them in the car for even a short period of time, The Humane Society of the United States says. The average temperature in June in Belleville is 75.9 degrees, the National Weather Service reports. Half an hour after leaving your car in 75-degree weather, the inside of the car can reach 109 degrees, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Cracking your windows makes no difference, the AVMA cautions, and the excessive heat can be deadly. Across the country, 31 states have laws about leaving pets in cars, according to Michigan State Universitys Animal Legal & Historical Center. Some states allow law enforcement to intervene when an animal is left in a car, while others allow any bystander to take action. Heres what to know about Illinois and Missouri regulations on leaving animals in cars. Illinois law on pets left in vehicles In Illinois, leaving an animal in your car is illegal if the situation threatens the animals health or life through prolonged exposure to extreme heat or cold without proper ventilation or other protection from such heat or cold, according to state law. If they have probable cause to believe this law is being violated, an animal control officer, law enforcement officer or department investigator may enter a motor vehicle by any reasonable means to protect the animal after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other responsible party. A person who is convicted of violating this law is guilty of a class C misdemeanor in Illinois, and a subsequent violation results in a class B misdemeanor. If an animal is injured or killed as a result of violating the law, the owner may face a class A misdemeanor, which carries a fine up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail, according to the American Kennel Club. What to know in Missouri Although the Show Me State has general laws banning animal cruelty in place, Missouri lacks a specific provision regulating leaving pets in vehicles. Missouri residents are severely limited in what actions they can take when they see an animal left in a car, the president of the Humane Society of Missouri wrote in a 2017 letter to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. What witnesses can do is contact law enforcement and the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force at 314-647-4400 and wait until help arrives. St. Louis City Animal Care and Control can be reached at 314-657-1500. What to do if you see an animal left in a hot car If you come across a pet left behind in someones car and you believe the animal is at risk, there are steps you can take. Heres what The Humane Society of the United States advises: In a move to help reduce the textile industrys carbon footprint, Lenzing has entered a partnership with a German textile machinery maker to adapt its equipment to handle wood-based specialty fibers like Tencel while it moves away from petroleum-based fibers. The partner, Karl Mayer Group, has made a strategic plan to switch machines over to handling 100 percent botanic and biodegradable fibers and filament in warp knitting machines in order to help achieve a greener textile value chain. More from Sourcing Journal The move is part of an initiative to ensure the smooth transition of the companys machines to handling Tencel Lyocell fibers and Tencel Lyocell filament yarn in its fully fashioned flat knitting process and away from fossil fuel-based fibers. The move comes in reaction to increased demand on the part of leading brands and retailers to offer consumers more sustainable fashion products. The planned switch to zero-carbon Tencel focuses particularly on Mayers Stoll flat knitting machines. Through this partnership with the Karl Mayer Group, we will inspire the textile value chain to take proactive steps towards achieving their climate goals with easier adoption of botanic and biodegradable materials, meeting the needs of brands and consumers who are looking for eco-conscious products, said Florian Heubrandner, vice president, global textiles business, Lenzing. Recycled man-made fibers can be used efficiently on Mayer machines. The company continues to work with pioneers in the textile value chain to provide more solutions that have low impact on the environment. But the plans go beyond that. We want to expand the range of materials that can be processed to include petroleum-free yarn variants through our cooperation with Lenzing, said Arno Gartner, Karl Mayer Group CEO. In addition to more sustainability, this will open up the potential for new product development. The partnership also supports yarn makers and spinners in their continuous development and adaptation of yarn for new textile applications, like weaving fine fabric for underwear. Stoll flat knitting machines have been engineered to decrease material consumption, further reducing the carbon footprint. Click here to read the full article. We see a triangular gray stone slab sitting that is inscribed with Hebrew against a black background. These days, most receipts are made of paper, but about 2,000 years ago, an important financial record was recorded on a much heavier material: stone. Archaeologists found the inscribed proof-of-purchase at the archaeological site of the City of David in Jerusalem. The hand-size rock the fragmented lid of an ossuary, or burial chest has seven lines of partially preserved text that mention people's names and sums of money. These letters and numbers are likely the record of financial activity, perhaps of payment for workers or people who owe money, according to a new study published in the journal 'Atiqot . "At first glance, the list of names and numbers may not seem exciting, but to think that, just like today, receipts were also used in the past for commercial purposes, and that such a receipt has reached us, is a rare and gratifying find that allows a glimpse into everyday life in the holy city of Jerusalem," the study authors, archaeologists Esther Eshel , a professor at Bar-Ilan University, and Nahshon Szanton , an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement. Related: 2,100-year-old farmstead in Israel found 'frozen in time' after owners disappeared The legible parts of the receipt's text include names with numbers written next to them. For instance, one line has Shimon, a popular biblical male name during the early Roman period (37 B.C. to A.D. 70), the researchers said. Following the name is the Hebrew letter mem, an abbreviation of ma'ot Hebrew for "money." Here we see an illustration of a long road going to the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The stone was found in a debris pile during a 2016 salvage excavation on Pilgrimage Road, a main thoroughfare frequently traveled at the time. Around the turn of the first millennium, when Jerusalem and the surrounding region were a province of the Roman Empire , this road was likely a commercial hub, according to previous finds of stone weights and measuring tables that were likely part of ancient commerce. The road extended about a third of a mile (600 meters), connecting Jerusalem's city gate to the gates of the Temple Mount and the Second Temple, which the Romans destroyed in A.D. 70. related stories Diver unexpectedly discovers Roman-era shipwreck carrying beautiful marble columns off Israel's coast Earliest traces of opium use, found in Israel, may have been an 'offering to the gods' Ancient fish hook suggests sharks were hunted off Israel's coast 6,000 years ago Four other Hebrew inscriptions written on stone, similar for having names followed by numbers, have been found in the region, but this is the first of its kind from Jerusalem, the researchers said. The type of script and stone, as well as its similarities to the other stones, helped the archaeologists date it to between the first century B.C. and the first century A.D. It's likely that whoever crafted the Hebrew cursive carving used a sharp tool on the chalkstone lid, the researchers added. The flag of Lithuania According to the message, Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas made the announcement at the most recent Ramstein-style meeting. Read also: Lithuania announces new military aid package to Ukraine Anusauskas emphasized Lithuania's commitment to Ukraine, noting that the country's military support to Ukraine will soon reach EUR 465 million ($498 million). Our support to Ukraine is an investment in our own resilience, deterrence, and defense, the minister said. Only Ukraine's victory will help restore peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region. Read also: Lithuania adopts strict sanctions against Russians and Belarussians Anusauskas revealed that the new package of combat support from Lithuania for Ukraine will contain drones, ammunition, dry food rations, and other forms of aid. The minister also highlighted the importance of training Ukrainian troops, noting that Lithuania has significantly increased the volume of training and the number of instructors designated for it. Read also: Ukraine and Lithuania agree to develop railway link bypassing Belarus and Russia In addition to training, Lithuania's military aid this year includes the transfer of military equipment and machinery, medical treatment and rehabilitation for servicemen, as well as contributions to international funds. 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 Local nurse accused of killing 2 patients, hurting another with intentional doses of insulin Charges have been filed against a Western Pennsylvania Registered Nurse accused of administering lethal doses of unnecessary medication that resulted in the death of two patients and the hospitalization of a third, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Thursday. Heather Pressdee, 40, of Natrona Heights, is charged with two counts of homicide, a count of attempted murder, a count of aggravated assault, three counts of neglect of a care-dependent person, and three counts of reckless endangerment. According to a release, the alleged acts happened at Quality Life Services, a skilled nursing facility in Chicora where Pressdee worked as an RN. Pressdee is accused in the deaths of a 55-year-old man and an 83-year-old man. The third victim, a 73-year-old man, survived after emergency hospitalization, according to the AGs office. The two men died on Dec. 4, 2022 and Dec 25, 2022. The victim who survived was allegedly administered a potentially-lethal dose of insulin on Aug. 31, 2022. Investigators determined that the victims were under Pressdees care when they received overdoses of insulin, causing medical emergencies, according to a release. Officials said two of the three men were not diabetic. Someone in her position to intentionally do it is totally sickening, said Pressdees neighbor, Gerald Montgomery. According to the criminal complaint, Pressdee told investigators she felt bad for the victims because their quality of life was not good and claimed one victim asked her to kill him. She is basically playing God, said Montgomery. Shes picking and choosing who she wanted to live and who to die. Since 2018, Pressdee worked numerous jobs at several local nursing homes and hospitals, according to investigation documents. The AGs office said they identified a pattern of Pressdee being disciplined for abusive behavior towards patients or staff at each facility, resulting in her resigning or being terminated. I hope they look into her background, said Montgomery. Pressdee was taken into custody at her home on Wednesday. She was arraigned on charges that night and is being held at the Butler County Prison without bail. The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Section and Bureau of Narcotics Investigation. The Attorney Generals Office continues to investigate. Anyone with concerns about care their loved one received involving Pressdee is urged to contact the OAGs tipline at 888-538-8541. The allegations in this case outline the callous abuse of incredibly vulnerable patients by a professional nurse, Attorney General Henry said. As the charges indicate, these were deliberate and intentional acts perpetrated by a caregiver who was trusted to care for these victims. Be assured, my office will zealously pursue justice for the families of those who were killed, as well as the third victim who is fortunate to have survived. Quality Life Services in Chicora released the following statement following the AGs announcement: As a family owned organization that prides itself on providing safe and compassionate care, Quality Life Services is shocked and devastated to learn that the charges brought against Ms. Pressdee by the Attorney Generals Office include alleged illegal activity that occurred at our QLS Chicora facility. We will continue to fully cooperate with the Attorney Generals office as needed in this investigation and prosecution of this matter. We can assure our community, our residents, our families and our staff that all residents of Quality Life Services Chicora are safe and are receiving appropriate care and services. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Only 2 Pittsburgh police officers showed up for weekend shift in the East End Student shot, killed outside Pittsburghs Oliver Citywide Academy; 15-year-old charged Shots fired near Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh VIDEO: The trauma is too much: Teachers union leader reacts to shooting death of Oliver Citywide student DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Some people haven't been treated right, yet were able to let go of wrongs and make decisions about what was the right thing to do. Veterans are our country's heroes, and this story is about an ethnic group that was unjustly treated by fellow Americans, yet performed beyond expectations in World War II. Gerry and I had the honor of meeting 100-year-old Iwao Yonemitsu, a World War II veteran of the Japanese American 442nd Infantry Regiment. Iwao was 19 years old, in his second year of college, when a call came from the U.S. War Department in 1943 for Japanese Americans to volunteer for military service, a change from the 1941 regulations when they were not allowed to enlist or be drafted because we were at war with Japan. Japanese Americans were labeled as enemy aliens. (We were also at war with Germany and Italy but the ruling was never considered for people of that ancestry.) Because there was a need for more soldiers to fight in Europe, the military rules were changed. Iwao and thousands of other young Japanese American men immediately answered the 1943 call. Iwao Yonemitsu today at age 100 When the war started in 1941, President Roosevelt ordered people of Japanese heritage to be moved into internment camps, which were similar to prisoner of war camps, and they were held there during the duration of the war. 120,000 Japanese Americans were in those camps. Amazingly, during that terrible situation, many young men in the camps answered the call to fight; they were Americans and wanted to show their allegiance to America even though their families had to remain imprisoned. Iwao lived in Hawaii, which was not yet a state, and only the leaders with Japanese ancestry were interned there. Iwao's parents were planters in the sugarcane fields so his family was spared that awful fate. Iwao Yonemitsu when he joined the 442nd in 1943 Knowing how the Japanese were being treated, I wondered how Iwao's parents responded to his volunteering. His parents told him, "Do the best. Don't bring shame on the family." They completely supported their son's decision. Within two weeks, Iwao was at Camp Shelby in Mississippi training to fight in a mortar squad. While in training, he had several eye-opening experiences. He was shocked to see how Blacks were treated in the South as there was no segregation in Hawaii. And, he visited an interment camp in Arkansas and saw the barbed wire fencing that enclosed Japanese Americans and the armed guards in towers to keep watch. From that experience he understood the pain his fellow servicemen from the states had to endure and yet answered their country's call to show they were loyal Americans. Iwao, and over 2000 other Japanese American enlistees who had experienced freedom in Hawaii, empathized with their fellow Army volunteers who had experienced a very different life and were leaving behind incarcerated families. In 1944, the 442nd Japanese American combat division fought successful battles in Italy, France, and Germany. Their slogan was "Go For Broke." I asked Iwao what that slogan meant to him. He said, "Give it your all, never mind the consequences." These men had a country to defend, also a race to uphold. Iwao Yonemitsu's medals -- the Legion of Honor from France beside the Congressional Gold Medal. Also note the "Go For Broke" belt buckle. After intense combat and many losses, the 442nd liberated towns in southern France from German occupation. To honor them after the war, the French installed monuments and awarded each soldier with a Legion of Honor Medal. Texans were also grateful to the 442nd. In 1944 they saved a unit of the Texas 36th Infantry Division that was trapped by Nazi forces. Those battles are recorded as some of the fiercest and most heroic ones in American history. Texas didn't forget. In 1959, Texans were big proponents of giving statehood to Hawaii. The 442nd was nicknamed "The Purple Heart Battalion," a decoration given to over 4000 in their unit. Fortunately, Iwao was only hit by a small piece of shrapnel; it hit his belt which protected him. That unit set high expectations for themselves and lived up to their "Go For Broke" slogan. Iwao said, "I am proud we performed to our expectations." The country was proud. Each serviceman in the 442nd Regiment was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest expression of national appreciation that Congress gives. The 442nd became the most decorated division of all the wars in United States history and still hold that prestigious status. More: Local view: A garden full of memories is especially sweet at Mother's Day I call them "Unlikely Heroes" because no one would expect such heroic action from a group so prejudiced-against in our society. Furthermore, there were more "Unlikely Heroes". Native Americans who had been repeatedly killed and driven from their lands to live on reservations in remote and uninviting locations provided the impossible Navajo code the enemy couldn't break. And Blacks, who suffered the laws of segregation, were separated from Whites in military divisions, and were categorized as not having the ability to fly airplanes, received aviation training at Tuskegee and achieved a perfect record for no losses of the bomber planes they escorted with their fighter planes. Both the Navajo code talkers and the Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal. Iwao gained a philosophy from his war experiences that served him well through life. He said, "You have to work with all people. No two people are exactly alike. You have to work together. You have to depend on each other." He learned the value of teamwork. He returned to Hawaii and the sugar plantations. His attitudes helped him rise to become superintendent. People are people the world over. Heroes can be found in every ethnic group, no group should be considered "Unlikely." On Memorial Day we honor all our heroes. Carole Gariepy is a Phillipston resident and author of Dragging Gerry around the World and Why Go There? This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Local view unlikely heroes World War II Local woman creates picnic company to help people give the gift of experiences together Whether its a birthday, a holiday, or a special eventfinding that perfect gift can be difficult. A local woman learned that providing an experience, rather than having someone open a present, was more meaningful and created lasting memories. It forced her to create her own businessSeacoast Picnic Company and the idea all started--with a gift. This is definitely just a color, a vibrant picnic, said Emily Huxtable, owner of Seacoast Picnic Company. From scenic Newcastle, New Hampshire, Emily talked about wanting those colors to pop in the imaginations of her clients at the Seacoast Picnic Company. Emily says building strong memories has been important to her, especially after her father passed unexpectedly when she was a child. It was very shocking, sudden, and unexpected and changed things very quickly, said Huxtable. Emilys mother no longer asked for gifts on holidays, she instead wanted an experience. And over the years I realized that time is much more important than anything that you can give to someone material-wise, said Huxtable. Meantime Emilys mom still gave her giftsbut the idea behind this picnic basket she received from her mother on Christmas of 2019 was to create ways to spend time with others. She would ask me if Id used it, I felt terribly because I hadnt yet used it, said Huxtable. And one day I kind of like sparked this idea of, wow, I could I could set picnics up for people, and thats what started the concept of Seacoast Picnic Company, said Huxtable. With a marketing background, Emily posted her new business venture online, reached out to family and friends, and word started to spread. We do a lot of bachelorette parties, we do a lot of anniversaries, a lot of dates, birthdays, said Huxtable. In just a short time, her luxury picnic company took off. I think just because its different and its unique and its luxurious, but also fun and it just is a nice way to spend time with people that they care about and be outside and have a great time, said Huxtable. Instead of having to lug everything down to the picnic, Emily has it already set up. And when guests are done, they can just get up and leave. She will clean it up, allowing guests to spend more time with friends and family. The surprise picnics are the best because they result in a lot of tears, which I think happy tears, of course, which has been really nice to see, said Huxtable. Emilys success in helping create unforgettable memories has also landed her recognitionearning a New Hampshires Best Award in 2022. She is now booking picnics through next yearand is even considering creating a picnic brand---all inspired by her mother and the gift of time spent together. Shes blown away, but also not surprised, I think, because shes always encouraged me and told me that whatever I put my mind to, Ive always been able to accomplish, said Huxtable. But thats easy when you have someone like her behind you. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Take a look inside one of the private jets used by Ron DeSantis, a $20 million business plane that costs $4,000 per hour to charter Ron DeSantis; inside the Cessna Citation Latitude. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images; Courtesy of Textron Aviation Ron DeSantis frequently flies on private jets, including one owned by the Florida government. The Cessna Citation Latitude costs $2.1 million to operate for 450 flying hours. It can fly non-stop from Los Angeles to New York. A report by the New York Times on Saturday revealed Ron DeSantis's lavish travel habits which often include private air travel. DeSantis, who just announced he's running for president, has flown on several private jets owned by his political supporters. The jets include a Bombardier twin-jet and a Gulfstream jet, according to NYT's report. DeSantis' use of private jets is controversial. The majority of his career has been spent in public service and he reported a net worth of $319,000 last year, per NYT. As that's not enough to afford frequent flights on private jets, DeSantis depends on supporters to fund these travels. DeSantis, who's the governor of Florida, acknowledged his frequent use of private jets, but insists that it's "all legal, ethical, no issues there," reported NYT. Since the report, more details about DeSantis's flight data began to emerge. Jack Sweeney, a college student who tracks Elon Musk's private jet's flight data on his Twitter account, told Insider's Sam Tabahriti that he has started to track DeSantis's air travel too. The plane in question is a Cessna Citation Latitude, a business jet manufactured by Rhode Island-based Textron Aviation. Records from the Federal Aviation Administration show that the plane is owned by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As the jet is government-owned, DeSantis may not be the only one who flies on the plane, Sweeney said in a Twitter post on Sunday. Take a look inside the Cessna Citation Latitude, similar to the one used by DeSantis. The jet shown in the photos is designed with standard configurations, so there may be differences in interiors. DeSantis did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. The Cessna Citation Latitude is the best-selling mid-sized business jet in the world. An aerial view of the Cessna Citation Latitude. Courtesy of Textron Aviation The jet was first manufactured in 2014. Some 360 units of the jet have been built as of March, making it one of the most popular business jets. The one owned by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and used by DeSantis, has the registration number N943L. It was manufactured in 2019, per FAA records. "Business travelers were the first to appreciate its versatility and comfortable cabin which makes the jet ideal for business productivity and leisure alike," Rob Scholl, Textron's senior vice president of sales said in a 2020 press release. The jet costs some $20 million when purchased new. The seats inside the Cessna Citation Latitude. Courtesy of Textron Aviation According to a 2023 price listing of business jets, the Citation Latitude costs $19.8 million. Pre-owned units of the plane aren't that much cheaper one unit, which was manufactured in 2017, is listed for sale online for $16.8 million. "Its low direct operating costs have made it the cornerstone of many fleets," Scholl said. A Cessna brochure shows that operating the jet for a six-and-a-half-hour trip from Geneva to Dubai costs $13,183. Over the course of a year, operating the jet for 450 flying hours costs around $2.1 million, according to the National Business Aviation Association's cost calculator. As far as private jets go, chartering a Citation Latitude is affordable. It costs between $4,150 and $5,000 to charter per hour, according to aircraft rental company Air Charter Advisors. For comparison, the Gulfstream G650, one of the most expensive private jets on the market, costs $11,400 to charter per hour, per one estimate. The Citation Latitude has a range of 2,700 nautical miles, which means it can fly from Los Angeles to New York non-stop, per Textron. Inside the cockpit of the Cessna Citation Latitude. Courtesy of Textron Aviation The jet has a maximum cruising speed of 826 kilometers per hour, or around 513 miles per hour. It's powered by Pratt & Whitney PW306D1 engines. According to the luxury aviation publication Sherpa Report, the Citation Latitude can fly from LA to New York in five hours, around 30 minutes faster than the average commercial flight. The Citation Latitude has a wingspan of 72 feet and four inches. An interior view of the Cessna Citation Latitude. Courtesy of Textron Aviation In comparison, a large business jet like the Gulfstream G650 has a wingspan of almost 100 feet. The Citation Latitude measures 62 feet and three inches in length, and 20 feet and 11 inches in height. This means that it has a spacious cabin for a medium-sized jet, with a capacity for nine passengers and 1,000 pounds of baggage. "The requirements for business travel have evolved to more than comfort and convenience," Cindy Halsey, Cessna's vice president of interior design, said in a 2011 press release, when the jet's launch was first announced. Some of Citation Latitude's features include a small galley and an en-suite bathroom with a vanity. The vanity on board Cessna Citation Latitude. Courtesy of Textron Aviation On board, Cessna's Clarity cabin management system enables passengers to use online media, interactive maps, and satellite radio. Cabin settings can also be controlled using mobile phones. Much of the jet's interior can be customizable. The jet can be configured to include eight seats, which are designed with shoulder belts instead of lap belts. The cabin is fitted with wide foldable tables so passengers can dine and work on board. "What's appealing is that it's got the amenities of larger aircraft but the flexibility to fly into short fields with trans-continental range," John Sieckowski, the president of Aircraft Management Group, which was one of the first operators of the jet, said in 2015 press release. Additionally, the bathroom has a brightly lit vanity that's designed with a washbasin and storage compartments. Read the original article on Business Insider Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., expresses his frustration with Democrats and President Joe Biden over the debt limit negotiations as he speaks to reporters in Statuary Hall at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) There was Kevin McCarthy, saying the White House was refusing to give on spending as the speaker returned to the Capitol one morning this week. Just a few hours later, there was McCarthy again, this time telling reporters that the sole concession that Republicans were making to the White House on the debt limit was in fact, simply to raise the debt limit, nothing else. As representatives from the White House and the GOP-controlled House labor toward a deal that would pave the way for lawmakers to lift the debt limit, one side has been eager to speak publicly about the closed-door talks trying to shape public perceptions of the negotiations. It's not the side that typically holds the bully pulpit. President Joe Biden has made a deliberate decision to go quiet as his team gets down to the wire in the debt-limit talks, according to White House officials. It's his view that speaking in public about negotiations does nothing to produce an outcome. The voluble McCarthy, by contrast, is especially chatty these days, as he aggressively tries to set the terms of the public debate. His own negotiators also engage at length with journalists on the debt-limit talks. We have to get an agreement that's worthy of the American people," the speaker told a small clutch of reporters outside the House chamber late Wednesday afternoon, which by his aides' count was at least his 12th gaggle or news conference with reporters this week alone. In comparison, Biden has said little publicly on the standoff since he returned from an international summit earlier this week to deal with the debt disarray in Washington. He spoke for less than three minutes as he opened an Oval Office meeting with McCarthy late Monday afternoon, and stayed publicly mum until Thursday, when he gave a brief update ahead of a Rose Garden nomination ceremony for Gen. Charles Q. Brown, his pick as next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Default, he said, would harm Americans, whatever their financial current condition. There must be bipartisan agreement, he said. There will be no default. The primary messenger for the White House has been press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in her daily news briefings. On Wednesday, she began by highlighting comments from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., openly saying that Republicans were holding the debt limit hostage in talks with the White House. This is a manufactured crisis, said Jean-Pierre, who would not elaborate on any specifics of the ongoing talks. But no surrogate can be a substitute for the principal, and Biden, by relinquishing the public megaphone to Republicans this week, risks ceding the narrative to them. The president needs to be more forward-leaning in making his case," Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said Wednesday. He continued: "The media is treating as reasonable a position that is inherently unreasonable. The position that Kevin McCarthy has taken is extreme. Hes leveraging the threat of default to extort a political concession that he could never have achieved through the normal democratic process. The White House has defended its communications approach, noting that Biden has made his policy priorities clear for months and saying that by taking a step back from the limelight, he was letting the negotiators have space to maneuver. The president is certainly not media shy, Jean-Pierre said Wednesday, as she chuckled slightly. The chief spokeswoman for the White House noted that Biden spoke on Monday (albeit briefly) and on Sunday at a news conference in Hiroshima, Japan, and that the president has been very clear where he stands on what Congress should be doing, which is dealing with the debt limit something that is their constitutional duty. Earlier in the debt-limit talks, Biden was not shy about hammering on MAGA Republicans, most notably holding an event in suburban New York City one day after his first Oval Office meeting with the top four congressional leaders on resolving the standoff. But this week, the president decided not to speak publicly right after he sat down one-on-one with McCarthy because, Biden believed, that would be more productive in trying to get a debt-limit outcome, said one White House official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal West Wing deliberations. A second White House official also emphasized that Biden did not think it made much sense to be public about negotiations when the talks were productive, but no deal had yet been reached. Its my expectation that if Republicans continue to play games with the American economy, threaten default and drive us into a very dangerous situation that well begin to hear from the Biden administration, if not the president himself, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Wednesday when asked whether the president himself needed to be more outspoken on the ongoing talks. Its not just Biden. His team, all veteran Washington operators who have spent most of their public service careers as senior aides, have been loath to speak to the press, particularly in the middle of tense and unfinished negotiations. The White House team is being led by Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, legislative affairs director Louisa Terrell, and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, who spent much of her career as staff director of the House Appropriations Committee. On the other side, McCarthy's emissaries are Reps. Garret Graves of Louisiana and Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, who are fluent in talking to the press as elected officials and as key allies of the speaker. What Im telling you is that every once in a while, I feel like Im buying a used car," Graves said of dealing with the White House during one 42-minute gaggle with journalists on Tuesday afternoon, when negotiations seemed to be at a standstill. Still, there are times when even the most talkative people go quiet. After returning from the White House late Wednesday afternoon from another negotiating session, Graves and McHenry hurried away from reporters pestering them for details a notable contrast to the past several days. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report. Lost ruins of Atlantis of the North Sea located after sunken church reappears The storm formed along the blue-gray horizon and began moving closer. It surged a wall of impending doom toward the medieval town. The collision was devastating. Homes were torn apart, roads flooded, lives lost. The entire medieval trading center of Rungholt was lost during the storm surge, often called the Great Drowning of Men, in 1362, according to Kiel University. But the memory of Rungholt lived on in local legends, poetry and writings, the German newspaper Focus Online reported. Some believed the rich town had become immoral and was destroyed as a punishment from God. Others said the towns church bells could still be heard ringing across the mudflats on a calm day, NDR, another German newspaper, reported. The lost city of Rungholt became known as the Atlantis of the North Sea, Heritage Daily reported. Researchers extract sediment to analyze the buried settlements remains. Based on archaeological finds and historical maps, archaeologists narrowed down the location of Rungholt to somewhere in the Wadden Sea mudflats around Hallig Sudfall, asmall island off the coast of Germanys North Frisia region, according to a 2022 study. In this area, archaeologists found indications of an important medieval settlement. Excavations uncovered imported goods from the Rhineland, Flanders and even Spain, namely pottery, metal vessels, metal ornaments and weapons, the study said. They also found the remains of a medieval water control system. Researchers had not located a town center as the ever shifting, frequently flooding mudflat environment made the area hard to study, the paper said. But that all changed with the reemergence of a sunken church, Kiel University said in a May 23 news release. Archaeologists excavate a small area at low tide. Archaeologists surveying the mudflats around Hallig Sudfall found a string of 54 medieval mounds stretching over a mile long. The mounds included a drainage system, sea wall with a tidal gate harbor, ruins of two smaller churches and a large main church, the release said. Foundation ruins of the large church indicated the building was about 130 feet by about 50 feet in size, archaeologists said. The special feature of the find lies in the significance of the church as the center of a settlement structure, which in its size must be interpreted as a parish with superordinate function, archaeologist Ruth Blankenfeldt said in the release. Archaeologists identified the ruins as the location of Rungholt. After 661 years, the ruins of the lost Atlantis of the North Sea has finally been found. Although finally located, the remains of Rungholt are far from secure, Hanna Hadler, an expert involved in the excavations, told Kiel University. Around Hallig Sudfall and in other mudflats, the medieval settlement remains are already heavily eroded and often only detectable as negative imprints. This is also very evident around the churchs location, so we urgently need to intensify research here. The news release did not specify the next steps for excavations of Rungholt. Germanys North Frisia region is the countrys northernmost region, about 255 miles northwest of Berlin and near the Germany-Denmark border. Google Translate was used to translate the articles from NDR and Focus Online. Prehistoric cult site uncovered along edge of a river in Norway. See the burial ground Sea lords 1,000-year-old tomb uncovered with first-of-its-kind artifact in Peru 500-year-old shipwrecks teeming with porcelain and wood discovered in South China Sea Photo: Gerald Herbert, File (AP) A Republican lawmaker wants to turn miscarriages into another data point the state collects about you, in an obvious move toward recognizing fetal personhood. A Louisiana lawmaker introduced a bill that will begin issuing a commemorative certificate of miscarried child as a vital record collected by the state. State Rep. Raymond Crews (R) introduced a bill that allows doctors to advise a patient of their right to request a commemorative certificate for the miscarriage. The certificate can include the name provided by the patient or Baby Boy/Girl LastName and gender, if known. The certificate will include a disclaimer that this is not a birth certificate and has no legal effect. Read more This comes a little over a week since the legislature decided not to clarify that miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies are exempt from the states strict abortion banand two weeks after the state said pregnancies resulting from rape and incest arent exempt either. Louisiana is a part of the belt of Southern states where not only is abortion access is basically non-existent, but where its also hellacious to be pregnant in general. This version of the bill would let doctors, midwives or other providers discuss the possibility of this certification. An earlier version of Crews legislation actually went further, making it a requirement. The billmaking the miscarriage certificate essentially a suggestion, but still availablehas been already approved by the Louisiana House and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare. Now, the Senate must vote before it goes to the desk of anti-abortion Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), where hes likely sign it. Last month, Edwards supported enacting exceptions for rape and incest in the states abortion ban, but he signed the bill criminalizing abortion providers with up to a decade in prison if and when Roe was overturned. They didnt put exceptions into that bill, and now Louisiana has one of the nations most strict abortion laws on record. (Luckily he cant run for reelection immediately due to term limits, but theres nothing stopping Edwards from waiting a term and then running again.) The miscarriage certificate cannot be used as evidence in a civil legal case against someone for bodily injury, personal injury, or wrongful death of a miscarried childor what sure sounds like someone participating in or getting an abortion. But theres nothing in the legislation about the miscarriage being used in criminal proceedings. While the certificate explicitly says its not a record of live birth, a trend of homicide charges or child endangerment charges against people who have abortions or miscarriages are only becoming more prominent. Five states this year considered bills to prosecute abortionswhich are needed sometimes when miscarriages arent naturally completedas homicide. In Alabama, a 24-year-old woman is being held on a six-figure bond on suspicion of chemical endangerment of a child after she gave birth to a stillborn at a hospital earlier this month. People who need assistance self-managing a miscarriage or abortion can call the Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline at (833) 246-2632 for confidential medical support, or the Repro Legal Helpline at (844) 868-2812 for confidential legal information and advice. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Lukashenko: Russian nuclear weapons are on their way to Belarus Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that Russian nuclear weapons have already begun moving to Belarus under bilateral agreements. Source: Lukashenko said this on Thursday, on the sidelines of the Higher Eurasian Economic Forum in Moscow, in a video posted by pro-government Belarusian media, European Pravda reports Details: The Belarusian dictator commented on the agreement signed by the defence ministers of Belarus and Russia on the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. "A decision has been made to develop what had been said verbally. We had to prepare sites, storage and so on. We have done all that, so... the supply of nuclear ammunition has begun," he added. Asked whether Russian nuclear weapons are already in Belarus, Lukashenko said: "It is possible. I will come and see." Earlier on Thursday, the defence ministers of Russia and Belarus signed documents on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Background: At the end of March this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an agreement with Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the republic. Putin announced at the time that the Iskander missile system, which can be used as a carrier of tactical nuclear weapons, had been supplied to Belarus. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin on Wednesday in Beijing. Xi asked Mishustin to convey his sincere greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi said that during his successful state visit to Russia in March, he and Putin drew a blueprint for the future development of China-Russia relations and cooperation in various fields. It is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times to consolidate and develop China-Russia relations, Xi said. He expressed his hope that both sides will continue to take advantage of the great potential, broad prospects and strong impetus of China-Russia ties to advance cooperation in various fields and enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. China and Russia should continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and strengthen coordination on multilateral arenas such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20, Xi stressed. The two sides should further tap the potential to raise the levels of economic, trade and investment cooperation, improve bilateral cooperation institutions and mechanisms, consolidate and expand energy and connectivity cooperation, and create more new growth points, Xi said, adding the people-to-people and cultural exchanges should be expanded. China is willing to work with Russia and Eurasian Economic Union members to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union to facilitate the formation of a more open, large regional market, ensure the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains, and bring tangible benefits to countries in the region. Mishustin, who is on an official visit to China, extended Putin's sincere greetings and best wishes to Xi. He said Xi's historic state visit to Russia in March was a great success, which has inaugurated a new era for the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. Russia is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and make full use of the regular premier-level meetings and relevant mechanisms to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, Mishustin said. He said that Russia is willing to work with China to promote the multipolarization of the world and consolidate the international order based on international law. Russia looks forward to further strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China so that their friendship will be passed on from generation to generation. 'The memory of Arman Soldin will be evoked with admiration and pride,' says Macron France's President Emmanuel Macron Thursday hailed the "bravery" of slain AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in a condolence letter to his colleagues after his death earlier this month in war-torn Ukraine. Soldin, 32, died when an AFP team came under fire by Grad rockets while with Ukrainian soldiers near the eastern city of Bakhmut on May 9, more than a year after the Russian invasion. "His passing leaves you with an immense void. It devastates us all," the president wrote in a typed-up letter handed to AFP on Thursday. "The memory of Arman Soldin will be evoked with admiration and pride. "His name will remain linked to the honour of your profession," he said. "Arman Soldin only wanted to do his job but he was clearly an exceptional journalist. "Through his strength of character, his journey and his drive, Arman Soldin embodied your editorial staff's passion -- a passion to convey the truth, tell stories and gather testimonies. It was a passion for a cause: the duty to inform. "With bravery and at the risk of his own life, Arman Soldin committed himself to this," he added. In a sentence scrawled in blue ink at the bottom of the letter, Macron sent his "sincere condolences" and "constant support" to AFP employees. Born in Sarajevo, Soldin was a French national who began working for AFP as an intern in its Rome bureau in 2015 and was later hired in London. He was part of the first AFP team to be sent to Ukraine following the start of Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, arriving on the following day. Soldin had been living in Ukraine since September, leading the team's video coverage and travelling regularly to the front lines in the east and south. vl-fff/ah/imm Madeleine McCann latest: Search to end in hours as police stand down at Portugal reservoir The Madeleine McCann search is expected to end in hours as Portugal police have been ordered to stand down at the Algarve reservoir. An investigation has been taking place since Tuesday this week after German detectives were informed by a very credible source that key suspect Christian Brueckner visited the reservoir some days after Madeleine vanished. However, The Mirror reported that a police souce said: The GNR has received instructions to stand down at 4pm local time. The Barragem do Arade is around 31 miles from the Praia da Luz resort where Maddy disappeared. Investigators believe the 45-year-old killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. On Tuesday, officers acting on credible information were said to be seeking any fragments of clothing and old rags that could be related to her disappearance, as reported by the Daily Mail. The development comes days after Madeleines parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, issued a tribute on their Leicestershire-born daughters 20th birthday, telling her: We love you and were waiting for you. Were never going to give up. Key Points Portugal reservoir search to end in hours as police told to stand down' Key suspect Christian Brueckner visited reservoir days after disappearance Investigators looking for Madeleines pink pyjamas Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him Timeline in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Portugal reservoir search to end in hours as police told to stand down' 12:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Madeleine McCann search is expected to end in hours as Portugal police have been ordered to stand down at the Algarve reservoir. An investigation has been taking place since Tuesday this week after German detectives were informed by a very credible source that key suspect Christian Brueckner visited the reservoir some days after Madeleine vanished. However, The Mirror reported that a police souce said: The GNR has received instructions to stand down at 4pm local time. The Barragem do Arade is around 31 miles from the Praia da Luz resort where Maddy disappeared. Investigators believe the 45-year-old killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. ICYMI: Madeleine McCann police searching remote location visited by key suspect 12:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Police looking for Madeleine McCann are to begin a major search of a remote Algarve reservoir visited by main suspect Christian Brueckner. The scene is some 30 miles from the Praia da Luz holiday resort where the three-year-old vanished in May 2007. A mile-long peninsula jutting into the reservoir was sealed off just after midday on Monday, with several local council lorries spotted there as tents and other structures were erected. Just under a mile away, Portuguese civil protection workers and police were seen setting up large blue tents. An onlooker said: There are around two dozen Policia Judiciaria officers who seem to be supervising things at this stage. Portugals judiciary police confirmed reports of the German-led investigation on Monday evening, with German and British officers expected to reach the area imminently. Live: Portugal's police continue search in dam for Madeleine McCann on third day 12:12 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Watch the livestream of Portugals police searching the Algarve reservoir on the third day of the Madeleine McCann search. Live: Portugal's police continue search in dam for Madeleine McCann on third day Madeleine McCann case: Timeline of the missing childs disappearance 12:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar Kate and Gerry McCanns eldest daughter vanished from Portuguese holiday resort 16 years ago but emergence of new suspect has brought fresh hope of answers and closure: What happened to Madeleine McCann? Officers photograph digging site on day three of Madeleine McCann search 11:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police have begun photographing an excavation site near the banks of a remote reservoir in Portugal as the fresh Madeleine McCann searches entered a third day. Officers maintained their focus on an area of woodland on a peninsula at the Barragem do Arade on Thursday after a digging operation was commenced on Wednesday afternoon. Heavy machinery continued to cut through vast undergrowth at the site, while a mixture of uniformed and plain-clothed officers raked the ground. A large section of the Barragem do Arade has been cordoned off since Tuesday morning, around 30 miles from where Madeleine went missing in 2007. Officers used shovels to excavate their area of focus, and sniffer dogs and pickaxes have also been deployed over the course of the searches. As some concentrated on the digging site, others used rakes and shovels to scour the surrounding area, slowly making their way through the recently trimmed undergrowth. The operation is being carried out at the request of German investigators who believe their prime suspect, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, 45, kidnapped and murdered the youngster. He is currently in prison in Germany for the rape of a woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, and is suspected of further rapes and child sexual abuse committed in the area between 2000 and 2017. German authorities have not revealed what triggered the latest search operation, but prosecutor for the city of Braunschweig Christian Wolters said they were acting on the basis of certain tips. (PA) How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? 11:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Sixteen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from the Algarve holiday apartment where she was sleeping next to her infant twin siblings, police have launched a major new search for evidence. After laying dormant for several years since David Cameron kickstarted an ultimately fruitless Metropolitan Police inquiry in 2011, the case of the missing three-year-old was revived once more in 2020 when German prosecutors revealed a new suspect. But three years on, 43-year-old convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner who denies any connection to the missing youngster is yet to be charged, as he languishes in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman two years prior to Madeleines disappearance at the same resort. How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? Madeleine McCann reservoir search: What do we know about Portugals Barragem do Arade? 11:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar Police in Portugal investigating the disappearance of British citizen Madeleine McCann 16 years ago have begun searching a reservoir in the Algarve known to have been frequented by the latest suspect in the case. Ms McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was just three years old when she went missing from an apartment complex at the Ocean Club holiday resort of Praia da Luz in the municipality of Lagos on 3 May 2007. Her case remains unsolved and is still the subject of intense public and press interest. Her parents, doctors Gerry and Kate McCann, continue to campaign for her return and recently posted a poem remembering her on their Find Madeleine website, reminding readers that she is still missing ... still very much missed. What do we know about the reservoir being searched by Madeleine McCann investigators? Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him 10:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Madeleine McCanns disappearance has puzzled detectives for more than 15 years but in 2020 a new potential suspect emerged. Now, police are searching a remote reservoir in Portugals Algarve that he used to visit in a renewed effort to shed further light on the case. German prisoner Christian Brueckner was first named in connection with the unsolved mystery that summer, and officially named as a suspect last year. His yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly identified as having been near to the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where the young girl went missing on May 3, 2007. All we know about Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner and the accusations against him ICYMI: Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used by police in fresh Madeleine McCann searches 10:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar Police have combed the banks of a reservoir in Portugal with the help of sniffer dogs, rakes and pickaxes as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Emergency service divers were seen on a rigid-hull inflatable boat early on Tuesday morning at the Barragem do Arade around 30 miles from Praia da Luz, where the three-year-old went missing in 2007. Officers concentrated their search at one area of the reservoir erecting white tents on a hill on the banks. Further around the water, emergency services and officials from Portugal, Germany and the UK were seen holding briefings near blue police tents. In the search area, uniformed and plain-clothed officers spent a number of hours scouring the banks hammering away at the ground with pickaxes and combing through small rocks with rakes and spades. Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used by police in fresh Madeleine McCann searches In pictures: Search for Madeleine McCann continues at Portugals reservoir 09:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Authorities gather at a Judiciary Police (PJ) makeshift base camp in the Arade dam area as the Madeleine McCann search continues. (EPA) (EPA) (EPA) Madeleine McCann police searching Portuguese lake for her pink pyjamas 09:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Police are searching a Portuguese lake for the pink pyjamas Madeleine McCann was wearing when she vanished in 2007, sources close to the investigation have said. Officers are searching the Barragem do Arade reservoir in Portugal for any fragments of clothing or old rags that could be related to Madeleines disappearance, according to reports. Investigators suspect that 45-year-old German prisoner Christian Brueckner killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. Madeleine McCann police searching Portuguese lake for her pink pyjamas Madeleine McCann case: Timeline of the missing childs disappearance 09:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar Kate and Gerry McCanns eldest daughter vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort 16 years ago but the emergence of a new suspect has brought fresh hope of answers and closure: What happened to Madeleine McCann? Watch live: Police scour reservoir for second day in Madeleine McCann search 08:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Watch live as police search a reservoir in Portugal for a second day on Wednesday, 23 May, in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Portuguese authorities, assisted by German police, set up tents an area near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, around 50km (31 miles) from where the toddler went missing aged three in Praia da Luz in 2007. Searches are being conducted at the request of German police in the presence of British officers. Watch live: Police scour reservoir for second day in Madeleine McCann search Madeleine McCann reservoir search: What do we know about Portugals Barragem do Arade? 08:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar Police in Portugal investigating the disappearance of British citizen Madeleine McCann 16 years ago have begun searching a reservoir in the Algarve known to have been frequented by the latest suspect in the case. Ms McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was just three years old when she went missing from an apartment complex at the Ocean Club holiday resort of Praia da Luz in the municipality of Lagos on 3 May 2007. Her case remains unsolved and is still the subject of intense public and press interest. Her parents, doctors Gerry and Kate McCann, continue to campaign for her return and recently posted a poem remembering her on their Find Madeleine website, reminding readers that she is still missing ... still very much missed. They added: The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough. Thank you to everyone for your support it really helps. What do we know about the reservoir being searched by Madeleine McCann investigators? German prosecutor says they have strong indications reservoir is important for investigation 07:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Christian Wolters, the Braunschweig prosecutor, said the search of the reservoir was based on very strong indications that the site was important. In an interview with German public service broadcaster NDR, he said: We have indications that we could find evidence there. I dont want to say what that is exactly, and I also dont want to say where these indications came from. The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesnt come from the suspect. So, we dont have a confession or anything similar now, or an indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search. It was other indications that prompted us to conduct the search. Key suspect Christian Brueckner visited reservoir days after disappearance 07:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The prime suspect in the search, Christian Brueckner, is said to have visited the Algarve reservoir some days after Madeleine disappeared, a source close to the investigation revealed. German detectives were informed by a very credible source who knew the suspect, The Telegraph reported. The Barragem do Arade is around 31 miles from the Praia da Luz resort where Maddy disappeared. Christian Brueckner (Reuters) Watch: Sniffer dogs search Portuguese reservoir as Madeleine McCann investigation continues 07:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? 07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar Sixteen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from the Algarve holiday apartment where she was sleeping next to her infant twin siblings, police have launched a major new search for evidence. After laying dormant for several years since David Cameron kickstarted an ultimately fruitless Metropolitan Police inquiry in 2011, the case of the missing three-year-old was revived once more in 2020 when German prosecutors revealed a new suspect. But three years on, 43-year-old convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner who denies any connection to the missing youngster is yet to be charged, as he languishes in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman two years prior to Madeleines disappearance at the same resort. How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? Madeleine McCann police cut down trees as they search suspects little paradise in Portugal 06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Police have cut down trees and swathes of undergrowth as they continue to search Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckners little paradise in Portugal. Officers were working with strimmers and heavy machinery at the Barragem do Arade on Wednesday, around 30 miles from where Madeleine went missing in 2007. On the second day of the latest hunt for the missing girl, the search team were this morning focusing on a valley slightly north of a secluded clearing behind trees near where three tents were put up on Monday. The dense vegetation meant they had to use tools including chainsaws to remove trees to access the water properly. Officers are also understood to be searching the reservoir for the pink pyjamas Madeleine was wearing when she vanished, sources close to the investigation have said. Madeleine McCann police cut down trees as they search suspects little paradise Madeleine McCann: What we know so far as police search Algarve reservoir 06:00 , Joe Middleton Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him 05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Madeleine McCanns disappearance has puzzled detectives for more than 15 years but in 2020 a new potential suspect emerged. Now, police are searching a remote reservoir in Portugals Algarve that he used to visit in a renewed effort to shed further light on the case. German prisoner Christian Brueckner was first named in connection with the unsolved mystery that summer, and officially named as a suspect last year. His yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly identified as having been near to the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where the young girl went missing on May 3, 2007. Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from the bed of her holiday apartment while her parents and family friends dined 180 feet away. Her two-year-old twin siblings were also in the apartment she went missing from. Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann have been searching for answers ever since. The Metropolitan Police took over the investigation, Operation Grange, in 2011 but they hit dead ends. There has not been another significant suspect in the case since 2007 until Brueckner. All we know about Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner and the accusations against him Madeleine McCann police cut down trees as they search suspects little paradise in Portugal 05:00 , Joe Middleton Police have cut down trees and swathes of undergrowth as they continue to search Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckners little paradise in Portugal. Officers were working with strimmers and heavy machinery at the Barragem do Arade on Wednesday, around 30 miles from where Madeleine went missing in 2007. On the second day of the latest hunt for the missing girl, the search team were this morning focusing on a valley slightly north of a secluded clearing behind trees near where three tents were put up on Monday. Madeleine McCann police cut down trees as they search suspects little paradise Madeleine McCann case: Timeline of the missing childs disappearance 04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Kate and Gerry McCanns eldest daughter vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort 16 years ago but the emergence of a new suspect has brought fresh hope of answers and closure: What happened to Madeleine McCann? How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? 04:00 , Joe Middleton Sixteen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from the Algarve holiday apartment where she was sleeping next to her infant twin siblings, police have launched a major new search for evidence. After laying dormant for several years since David Cameron kickstarted an ultimately fruitless Metropolitan Police inquiry in 2011, the case of the missing three-year-old was revived once more in 2020 when German prosecutors revealed a new suspect. But three years on, 43-year-old convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner who denies any connection to the missing youngster is yet to be charged, as he languishes in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman two years prior to Madeleines disappearance at the same resort. How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? Madeleine McCann: Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir 03:00 , Joe Middleton Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him 02:00 , Joe Middleton Madeleine McCanns disappearance has puzzled detectives for more than 15 years but in 2020 a new potential suspect emerged. Now, police are searching a remote reservoir in Portugals the Algarve that he used to visit in a renewed effort to shed further light on the case. German prisoner Christian Brueckner was first named in connection with the unsolved mystery that summer, and officially named as a suspect last year. His yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly identified as having been near to the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where the young girl went missing on May 3, 2007. All we know about Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner and the accusations against him Madeleine McCann case: Timeline of the missing childs disappearance 01:00 , Joe Middleton Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old girl from Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve on 3 May 2007, a case still unsolved and still the subject of intense interest among the public and press. Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, posted a statement on the Find Madeleine website on 3 May 2023 marking the latest anniversary of their daughters disappearance, reiterating their hopes of being reunited with her one day and posting a poem, The Contradiction by Clare Pollard, to express their feelings. Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleines abduction. Still missing... still very much missed, they wrote. The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough. Thank you to everyone for your support- it really helps. Here is a reminder of the events of the case: What happened to Madeleine McCann? Sniffer dogs search Portuguese reservoir as Madeleine McCann investigation continues Wednesday 24 May 2023 23:59 , Joe Middleton Madeleine McCann police searching Portuguese lake for her pink pyjamas Wednesday 24 May 2023 23:00 , Joe Middleton Police are searching a Portuguese lake for the pink pyjamas Madeleine McCann was wearing when she vanished in 2007, sources close to the investigation have said. Officers are searching the Barragem do Arade reservoir in Portugal for any fragments of clothing or old rags that could be related to Madeleines disappearance, according to reports. Investigators suspect that 45-year-old German prisoner Christian Brueckner killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. Madeleine McCann police searching Portuguese lake for her pink pyjamas Madeleine McCann reservoir search: What do we know about Portugals Barragem do Arade? Wednesday 24 May 2023 22:00 , Joe Middleton Police in Portugal investigating the disappearance of British citizen Madeleine McCann 16 years ago have begun searching a reservoir in the Algarve known to have been frequented by the latest suspect in the case. Ms McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was just three years old when she went missing from an apartment complex at the Ocean Club holiday resort of Praia da Luz in the municipality of Lagos on 3 May 2007. Her case remains unsolved and is still the subject of intense public and press interest. Her parents, doctors Gerry and Kate McCann, continue to campaign for her return and recently posted a poem remembering her on their Find Madeleine website, reminding readers that she is still missing ... still very much missed. What do we know about the reservoir being searched by Madeleine McCann investigators? Madeleine McCann: Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir Wednesday 24 May 2023 21:00 , Joe Middleton German prosecutor says clues to McCann child disappearance possible at Portuguese dam site Wednesday 24 May 2023 20:00 , Martha Mchardy Police searching for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann were concentrating operations Wednesday in several areas around a dam, including one where media reports say a lead suspect in the case often stayed. The latest search for clues regarding the disappearance started Tuesday following a request by German authorities. Some 30 Portuguese, German and British police are taking part in the operation at the Arade dam, which is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the resort of Praia da Luz, where the 3-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago. In Germany, Braunschweig prosecutor Christian Wolters told German public broadcaster NDR, We have indications that we could find evidence there. I dont want to say what that is exactly, and I also dont want to say where these indications come from. The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesnt come from the suspect so we dont have a confession or anything similar now, or an indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search, Wolters said, adding that it was other indications that prompted us to conduct this search. Read the full story: German prosecutor says clues to McCann child disappearance possible at Portuguese dam site What do we know about Portugals Barragem do Arade? Wednesday 24 May 2023 19:00 , Martha Mchardy A German-led police operation is examining the Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve said to have been visited by Brueckner during his 17-year stay in the region between 2000 and 2017. According to Portuguese broadcaster SIC, the suspect considered the area his little slice of paradise and the investigation is set to last for several days. Joe Sommerlad reports on what we know so far: What do we know about the reservoir being searched by Madeleine McCann investigators? Madeleine McCann: Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir Wednesday 24 May 2023 18:27 , Joe Middleton Madeleine McCann police cut down trees as they search suspects little paradise in Portugal Wednesday 24 May 2023 18:00 , Martha Mchardy Police have cut down trees and swathes of undergrowth as they continue to search Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckners little paradise in Portugal. Officers were working with strimmers and heavy machinery at the Barragem do Arade on Wednesday, around 30 miles from where Madeleine went missing in 2007. On the second day of the latest hunt for the missing girl, the search team were this morning focusing on a valley slightly north of a secluded clearing behind trees near where three tents were put up on Monday. Joe Middleton and Gerard Couzens report: Madeleine McCann police cut down trees as they search suspects little paradise Madeleine McCann police searching Portuguese lake for her pink pyjamas Wednesday 24 May 2023 17:00 , Martha Mchardy Police are searching a Portuguese lake for the pink pyjamas Madeleine McCann was wearing when she vanished in 2007, sources close to the investigation have said. Officers are searching the Barragem do Arade reservoir in Portugal for any fragments of clothing or old rags that could be related to Madeleines disappearance, according to reports. Investigators suspect that 45-year-old German prisoner Christian Brueckner killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. Martha McHardy reports: Madeleine McCann police searching Portuguese lake for her pink pyjamas Portuguese residents and holidaymakers share hopes that Madeleine McCann will be found Wednesday 24 May 2023 15:49 , Martha Mchardy Praia da Luz residents and holidaymakers have shared hopes Madeleine McCann will be found 16 years after she went missing. I hope they will find something, so the parents can have peace, said Gert, 49-year-old Dane who lives in the same building from which McCann disappeared. 74-year-old Rodney from Manchester said: Hopefully this time, unfortunately, they will find some remains, allowing the situation to close. Must be torture, 16 years of uncertainty. CNN Portugal said the search operation would continue at least for one more day on Thursday. Madeleine McCann reservoir search: What do we know about Portugals Barragem do Arade? Wednesday 24 May 2023 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police in Portugal investigating the disappearance of British citizen Madeleine McCann 16 years ago have begun searching a reservoir in the Algarve known to have been frequented by the latest suspect in the case. Ms McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was just three years old when she went missing from an apartment complex at the Ocean Club holiday resort of Praia da Luz in the municipality of Lagos on 3 May 2007. Her case remains unsolved and is still the subject of intense public and press interest. Her parents, doctors Gerry and Kate McCann, continue to campaign for her return and recently posted a poem remembering her on their Find Madeleine website, reminding readers that she is still missing ... still very much missed. What do we know about the reservoir being searched by Madeleine McCann investigators? Sniffer dogs search Portuguese reservoir as Madeleine McCann investigation continues Wednesday 24 May 2023 14:00 , Joe Middleton How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? Wednesday 24 May 2023 13:45 , Joe Middleton Sixteen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from the Algarve holiday apartment where she was sleeping next to her infant twin siblings, police have launched a major new search for evidence. After laying dormant for several years since David Cameron kickstarted an ultimately fruitless Metropolitan Police inquiry in 2011, the case of the missing three-year-old was revived once more in 2020 when German prosecutors revealed a new suspect. But three years on, 43-year-old convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner who denies any connection to the missing youngster is yet to be charged, as he languishes in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman two years prior to Madeleines disappearance at the same resort. Andy Gregory reports. How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? Who is Christian Brueckner? Madeleine McCann suspect and the accusations against him Wednesday 24 May 2023 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain German prisoner Christian Brueckner is a prolific burglar and has been previously convicted for sex crimes against young girls. He was born in Germany in 1976 and moved to Portugal in his late teens. It is believed he lived there between 1995 and 2007 working in the food industry. Brueckner is described as being about 6ft tall, slim and white with short blond hair. Watch live: Police continue search of Portugal reservoir in Madeleine McCann investigation Wednesday 24 May 2023 12:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Watch live as police continue search of Portugal reservoir in Madeleine McCann investigation. Live: Police continue search of Portugal reservoir in Madeleine McCann investigation Madeleine McCann police searching Portuguese lake for her pink pyjamas Wednesday 24 May 2023 12:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police are searching a Portuguese lake for the pink pyjamas Madeleine McCann was wearing when she vanished in 2007, sources close to the investigation have said. Officers are searching the Barragem do Arade reservoir in Portugal for any fragments of clothing or old rags that could be related to Madeleines disappearance, according to reports. Investigators suspect that 45-year-old German prisoner Christian Brueckner killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. Madeleine McCann police searching Portuguese lake for her pink pyjamas Update on fresh searches in Madeleine McCann case Wednesday 24 May 2023 12:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Fresh searches in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have entered a second day as police clear undergrowth near the banks of a remote reservoir in Portugal. Officers were working with strimmers at the Barragem do Arade on Wednesday, around 30 miles from where Madeleine went missing at the age of three while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in 2007. A fire service vehicle and rigid-hull inflatable boat were also on the banks of the reservoir. Other officers with a sniffer dog were seen entering an area of woodland as the search continued. The fresh searches are being carried out at the request of German investigators who believe their prime suspect, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, 45, kidnapped and murdered the little girl. He is currently in prison in Germany for the rape of a woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, and is suspected of further rapes and child sexual abuse committed in the area between 2000 and 2017. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir in Madeleine McCann investigation Wednesday 24 May 2023 11:38 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police have combed the banks of a reservoir in Portugal with the help of sniffer dogs and pickaxes in searches connected to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Divers entered the water at the Barragem do Arade dam on Tuesday, 23 May. The location is around 30 miles (50km) from Praia da Luz, where the three-year-old went missing in 2007. Officers have concentrated their efforts int one area of the reservoir. Police have been hammering away at the ground with pickaxes and combing through small rocks with rakes and spades. Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir in Madeleine McCann investigation How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? Wednesday 24 May 2023 11:09 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Sixteen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from the Algarve holiday apartment where she was sleeping next to her infant twin siblings, police have launched a major new search for evidence. After laying dormant for several years since David Cameron kickstarted an ultimately fruitless Metropolitan Police inquiry in 2011, the case of the missing three-year-old was revived once more in 2020 when German prosecutors revealed a new suspect. But three years on, 43-year-old convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner who denies any connection to the missing youngster is yet to be charged, as he languishes in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman two years prior to Madeleines disappearance at the same resort. How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost? Police search teams by the remote Algarve reservoir Wednesday 24 May 2023 10:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Portuguese Judicial Police (PJ) criminal investigation unit members stand near tents in the Arade dam area, in Silves on the second day of searching the Algrave reservoir. (AFP via Getty Images) (AP) (AFP via Getty Images) Investigators looking for Madeleines pink pyjamas Wednesday 24 May 2023 09:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police officers searching for Madeleine McCann are scouring a lake in Portugal for the pink pajamas the British toddler was wearing when she vanished in 2007, according to sources. The officers acting on credible information are seeking any fragments of clothing and old rags that could be related to her disappearance, as reported by the Daily Mail. Investigators took a number of bags away from the remote Algarve reservoir yesterday, according to the report. Madeleine McCann has been missing since 2007 (PA Media) In pictures: Police search teams return to reservoir Wednesday 24 May 2023 09:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Police search teams have arrived back to an operation tent from German and Portuguese registered vehicles near Barragem do Arade, Portugal as the search for Maddy McCann continues. (AP) (AP) Madeleine McCann: Sniffer dogs and pickaxes used to scour reservoir Wednesday 24 May 2023 08:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Who is Christian Brueckner? Wednesday 24 May 2023 08:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Madeleine McCanns disappearance has puzzled detectives for 16 years but in 2020 a new potential suspect emerged. Now, police are searching a remote reservoir in Portugals Algarve that he used to visit in a renewed effort to shed further light on the case. German prisoner Christian Brueckner was first named in connection with the unsolved mystery that summer, and officially named as a suspect last year. His yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly identified as having been near to the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where the young girl went missing on 3 May 2007. Lucy Skoulding reports. All we know about Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner and the accusations against him Madeleine McCann: Search for 'evidence' in toddler's disappearance continues in Portugal with K9s, divers Portuguese, English and German authorities on Wednesday continued their search for Madeleine McCann a British girl who went missing as a toddler from Portugal in 2007 with search dogs and dive teams. Madeleine was abducted from a ground-floor apartment while on a family vacation in Praia da Luz , Portugal, on May 3, 2007, when she was 3 years old. "We have indications that we could find evidence there," German prosecutor Christian Wolters told broadcast station NDR of the search area in Portugal's Algarve region. "I dont want to say what that is exactly, and I also dont want to say where these indications come from." Portugal's Judicial Police confirmed Monday that they would be searching the area near a dam over the next several days "at the request of the German authorities" and with the "presence of British authorities." MADELEINE MCCANN SEARCH RESUMES IN PORTUGAL 16 YEARS AFTER BRITISH TODDLER'S DISAPPEARANCE Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007 from her family's apartment in Portugal. Earlier on Monday, police were seen conducting a search near the Arade dam, about 31 miles from Praia da Luz. Police are expected to provide more information once it becomes available. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP MISSING MADELEINE MCCANN'S PARENTS 'AWAIT A BREAKTHROUGH IN TODDLER'S KIDNAPPING Portuguese, English and German authorities continued to search for evidence Wednesday in Madeleine McCann's 2007 disappearance. "The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesnt come from the suspect. So, we dont have a confession or anything similar now, or an indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search," Wolters said, adding that "it was other indications that prompted us to conduct this search." Police were seen searching near the Arade dam, about 31 miles from Praia da Luz, Portugal, on Monday. A source familiar with the investigation told Reuters, however, that photos of the Arade dam found at suspect Christian Brueckner's hideout may have prompted the search. A source familiar with the investigation told Reuters that photos of the Arade dam found at suspect Christian Brueckner's hideout may have prompted the search. In 2020, German authorities named Brueckner, 45, as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. Brueckner continues to deny his involvement in the case. MADELEINE MCCANN'S PARENTS RELEASE VIDEO ON MISSING DAUGHTER'S 20TH BIRTHDAY Christian Brueckner is a suspect in the disappearance of 3-year-old Madeleine McCann in 2007 from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Brueckner spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of Madeleines disappearance. Madeleine McCann was abducted from a ground-floor apartment while on a family vacation in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, when she was 3 years old. He was charged in 2022 for sex crimes against children that German authorities allege he committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017, and he is currently serving time for the rape of a woman in 2005. Madeleine was born in May 2003 and would be turning 20 years old this month. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A majority of Californians say Feinstein is no longer fit for office, a new poll finds Sen. Dianne Feinstein leaves the U.S. Capitol on May 17, 2023. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) A substantial majority of Californians feel that Sen. Dianne Feinstein is no longer fit for the job because of her recent declining health, and more voters believe she should resign than support her staying in office, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times. Feinstein, 89, returned to Washington, D.C., in early May after months away recovering from shingles. Her absence caused heartache among fellow Democrats who hold a slim majority in the Senate, making tasks such as confirming judges harder. The state's senior senator has already said she would not seek reelection in 2024, when her term ends. The race to replace her is a close contest, with support for two Democrats, Reps. Katie Porter of Irvine and Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, and the one Republican, Eric Early, bunched tightly together among likely voters. A third Democrat, Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, lags behind. Feinstein's latest illness, which was more serious than her office initially revealed, has clearly taken a toll on her standing with voters. According to the survey, nearly two-thirds of registered voters said her illness shows she is no longer fit to serve. That sentiment spans the ideological spectrum, including 2 out of 3 Democratic voters. Just 20% of voters disagreed. Her image with voters has also worsened. Her favorably rating has dropped nearly 20 percentage points since she won a fifth term in 2018, with just 29% now holding a positive view of Feinstein. Much of her decline in popularity came in the last three months with favorable views dropping 8 points since voters were last surveyed in February. Just over half of voters, 52%, now have an unfavorable view of Feinstein and 19% have no opinion. Democrats, in particular, have grown more negative. "Her constituents are finally weighing in," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Institute of Governmental Studies poll and a longtime California pollster. "Republicans haven't changed their view of Feinstein over that period. It's really her own party members. It's erosion of support of Feinstein, particularly among the liberal wing, but it's much broader now with her health issues." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) attends a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on May 11, 2023. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) In February, Feinstein was hospitalized for a week with shingles. The illness kept her in San Francisco for months. The dozens of votes she missed, including several on judges, led some in her own party, including Rep. Ro Khanna of Fremont, to call on her to step aside. Feinstein was defiant. At one point she asked for a temporary replacement to be appointed to the Judiciary Committee, which Republicans blocked. Two weeks ago, the former San Francisco mayor returned to the Capitol to the great relief of Democratic leaders. Shortly after returning, Feinstein spoke with two reporters including one from The Times and appeared to not recall that shed been absent from Congress for months due to her illness. I havent been gone, she said. Ive been working. While recuperating in San Francisco, Feinstein also had a case of encephalitis disclosed just last week a complication from shingles that can be debilitating, causing memory loss and other effects. Despite her return, a majority of California's Democratic voters, 52%, said Feinstein should resign, which would allow Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a replacement. Just 24% of her fellow Democrats said she should serve out her term, with another 24% undecided, according to the poll. Republicans, however, oppose the idea of Newsom appointing a senator. They split on what Feinstein should do, with 44% saying they were undecided. Overall, 42% of voters said the senator should step down, with 27% saying she should finish her term and 31% unsure, the survey found. Prominent Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York, said they were glad to have Feinstein back in Washington, adding that she should decide if she is healthy enough to remain in office. In recent years, several elderly senators in poor health faced calls to resign but ignored them. Before she returned, some prominent Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime San Francisco ally of the senator's, said the calls for Feinstein to step down amounted to sexism. Ive never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way, Pelosi said. California voters don't buy that argument, however, with 58% disagreeing that calls for Feinstein to resign were rooted in sexism. About half of voters were also not swayed by the view that losing Feinstein's seniority in the Senate if she were to resign would be "a major loss for the state. Anna Bahr, a California-based Democratic political consultant who previously worked for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, said extensive coverage of Feinstein's frail state has given voters a clear picture of her capacity to serve. Even if that coverage has not been proportionate with male colleagues who were sick but in office, Bahr said, "the holes in her memory are very concerning, and I think weve seen enough evidence to know that the people of California are not being represented or served by their senior senator." "Older men may have gotten by, but at the end of the day shes not well. Anybody can see shes not well. Her health is poor," Bahr said. In the race to replace Feinstein, many voters haven't made a choice. This UC Berkeley poll on the Senate race includes Republican voters because there is now a Republican candidate. Among voters likely to take part in the primary, Early has support from 18%, nearly all Republicans. Porter is close behind with 17%, followed by Schiff with 14% and Lee at 9%. Roughly 4 in 10 likely voters either are undecided or plan to vote for someone else. DiCamillo said Early's lead, which is well within the poll's margin of error of 3 percentage points in either direction for the likely voter sample, is mostly a byproduct of his Republican affiliation. "It could have been John Smith. You put the Republican tag next to the name, and they're going to win the supportive Republicans," DiCamillo said. "It just opens up the dynamics of the race to one where we are really thinking about the possibility of a Democrat versus a Republican in the general or will two Democrats rise to the top?" he said. Although the 2016 and 2018 Senate elections featured two Democrats facing off in the general election, "the possibility does exist that it could be a Democrat versus Republican, and whoever that Democrat is, I'm sure they're rooting for that outcome because the election is pretty much over if that happens," DiCamillo said. Democrats have an overwhelming voter registration edge in the state. Early is a Los Angeles resident and loyalist of former President Trump. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020 and has embraced new restrictions on abortion and has called for outlawing critical race theory in California schools. Senate candidate Eric Early on May 20, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Early was by far the least-known candidate, with 71% of likely voters saying they had no opinion of him. Schiff was the best known but also the most polarizing. Among all likely voters, 36% had a favorable view of him and 32% had a negative view. Another 32% said they had no opinion. Porter, who represents a swing Orange County district and has recently been promoting a new book, is viewed favorably by 35% of likely voters; 20% view her unfavorably, and 46% have no opinion. Lee has represented Oakland and other parts of the Bay Area at the state and congressional level for decades. She is more popular and better known in that region than statewide with 26% of likely voters statewide saying they have a favorable view of her, 19% saying they had an unfavorable view and 55% saying they had no opinion of her. Although she is one of just three Black members of Congress from California, even among Black voters, 45% said they had no opinion of Lee. The poll was administered online in English and Spanish from May 17 to Monday among 7,465 California registered voters, of whom a weighted subsample of 5,236 were considered likely to vote in the March primary election. The poll sample was weighted to match census and voter registration benchmarks. Because of weighting, precise estimates of the margin of error are difficult, but the results are estimated to have a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points in either direction for the full sample. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Malaysian Islamist party did not issue statement 'announcing leader as next PM' An Islamist opposition party in Malaysia has dismissed a false statement shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter that apparently announced its leader would replace Anwar Ibrahim as the Southeast Asian country's prime minister. The posts circulated online following speculation that opposition parties were attempting to topple Anwar's government. As of May 25, 2023 , Anwar remained Malaysia's prime minister. The forged Malay-language media statement was shared here on Facebook on May 6, 2023. It features the letterhead and logo for Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, a Malaysian Islamist party also known as PAS (archived link). The post's Malay-language caption translates to English as: "PAS has enough numbers? / Congratulations Hadi Awang / Our incoming Prime Minister." The statement's title reads: "MEDIA STATEMENT / SUPPORT FOR ABDUL HADI AWANG / MARANG MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AS THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA". "PAS would like to inform you that it has been accepted for an audience with His Majesty the King tomorrow to submit affidavits from 115 Members of Parliament in order to support Abdul Hadi Awang, Member of Parliament for Marang, as the Prime Minister of Malaysia." Abdul Hadi Awang is the president of PAS and a member of parliament for Marang, a district in Malaysia's Terengganu state (archived links here and here). The purported statement -- dated May 4, 2023 -- included the name of the opposition party's secretary-general, Takiyuddin Hassan (archived link). Screenshot of the misleading post, taken on May 17, 2023 The same statement was also shared here and here on Facebook alongside a picture of Abdul Hadi, congratulating him on becoming the "11th Malaysian prime minister". The same picture of Abdul Hadi was also shared on Twitter here and here. The claim circulated following rumours in early May 2023 that opposition parties were attempting to topple Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government (archived link). In response, Anwar described those trying to topple the government as "daydreamers" (archived link). In March 2023, Abdul Hadi said that the opposition coalition retains a "right to plan" to topple the government, either through "the no-vote confidence, statutory declarations and supporters withdrawing their support" (archived link). However, the claim is false. Fabricated statement On May 4, 2023, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin said on his Facebook page his party had not issued the false statement (archived link). "The media statement titled 'Support for Abdul Hadi Awang, Member of Parliament for Marang as Prime Minister of Malaysia' which is currently going viral is false and has nothing to do with any of the parties mentioned," reads the caption. It includes the screengrab of the misleading post, with a red stamp that reads: "FAKE" in Malay. PAS also posted the same image and caption on its official Facebook page on the same day (archived link). Current government As of May 25, 2023, Anwar remained prime minister, having taken office in November 2022 (archived links here and here). In Malaysia, if opposition parties want to replace the prime minister, they can file a motion of no-confidence while parliament is sitting (archived link). The current parliamentary session began on May 22, 2023. Parties must then seek an audience with the king in a bid to prove they have secured a majority to form a new government. They must then await the king's decision before making any announcement about a change in prime minister (archived link). Professor Sivamurugan Pandian, a political analyst at Universiti Sains Malaysia, told AFP that Anwar remained in a strong condition to finish his first five-year term as prime minister (archived link). "Anwar can complete the first term unless continuous efforts are being made to overthrow the government despite the Anti-Hopping Law, which is meant to bind the peoples representatives (members of parliament)," he said (archived link). A by-election will be held in event that a member of parliament quits or defects to another party (archived link). The Anti-Hopping Law, which came to effect in October 2022, would prevent elected members of parliament from crossing over to another political party after winning a seat. However, it still allows political parties to switch coalitions -- a move that happened in 2020, leading to the collapse of then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's government (archived link). A man is accused of assaulting two employees before robbing a convenience store in Downtown Pittsburgh. It happened Tuesday at the 7/11 on Smithfield Street. According to police paperwork, an employee told officers that they were waiting on another customer when a man started yelling give me my money. Once the other customer was finished, the employee said the man then threw the snack display off the counter, hitting him and the manager. Police paperwork states the register was still open after the prior customer, and surveillance video shows the man reaching into the register and taking money out. The employee told police he took all of the $5 dollar bills, which was believed to be around $100. Police said after viewing the surveillance video, they recognized the man from an earlier fight in Market Square. He was identified as 62-year-old Wilmer Gibson of Cleveland. Gibson is facing charges of robbery and simple assault. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A number of defendants in criminal cases had hearings Wednesday in Rapides Parish, including a Deville man accused of killing his mother almost 10 years ago. A man accused of killing his mother almost 10 years ago will head back to a state mental facility after he was found unable to proceed to trial on Wednesday. Anthony Lejune Deville, 47, was in 9th Judicial District Court Judge Greg Beard's courtroom with his attorney, James Word II. Beard ruled, based on doctors' reports, that Deville is unable to assist Word in his defense against the second-degree murder charge he is facing. Deville was arrested on Oct. 6, 2013, on a first-degree murder warrant issued by the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office after he was found near the Dallas area. Detectives had sought him after identifying a body found five days earlier as his mother, Paula Marlene Kimberlin, 61. Grant Parish Sheriff's officials had found the body at Lonnie's Landing on the Little River, but it took a few days to identify it. Once Kimberlin was identified, Rapides deputies found what appeared to be a crime scene at her home on Hickory Grove Loop in Deville. Deville was indicted on the second-degree murder charge in December 2013, but was found incapable of standing trial in October 2014. He was sent to the East Louisiana State Hospital, where he stayed until December 2021. January hearing: Sanity of Deville man accused in mother's 2013 killing to be evaluated again 2022 court developments: Deville man accused in 2013 death of his mom gets plea date A plea date was set for January, but Word asked for another sanity commission to be appointed. That led to Wednesday's hearing and Beard's decision. All action in Deville's case is on hold until he is determined capable. His case was one of many before judges on Wednesday. In other cases: A pretrial conference for Brandon Wade Beck, 47, was continued until Oct. 23, as was a hearing on a motion filed by his defense attorney, Mike Small. Beck was arrested by the Alexandria Police Department in December 2019 and later was indicted on charges of solicitation of murder and criminal conspiracy. According to online court filings, the alleged intended victim was Beck's wife. A pretrial conference for Koby Lex Saucier was continued until Sept. 14. Saucier, 21, was arrested twice in early 2019 by different law enforcement agencies on sex-related charges. He later was formally charged with four felony counts, two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. His trial was set for Nov. 27. The trial of Leandra Tenell McNeal on a felony vehicular homicide charge was set for Nov. 27. McNeal is accused in the death of a motorcyclist, 20-year-old Kobe Bordelon, he allegedly hit while driving a truck at the North Bolton Avenue and Enterprise Road intersection on June 20, 2022. A status conference was set for Oct. 13, too. Jauan Javontea Lloyd's trial date was set for Nov. 27. Lloyd, 18, faces a charge of first-degree murder in the Feb. 19, 2022, shooting at a Lee Street private event center that killed Bolton High School student Tre'Von Jaron Washington, 17. Washington was a former Natchez resident and was identified as the victim by his family, according to The Natchez Democrat newspaper. Lloyd was 17 at the time of the shooting. He was indicted in April 2022, about two months before his 18th birthday. William Ellington's trial on felony sexual battery and indecent behavior with a juvenile charges also was set for Nov. 27. He was arrested by the Alexandria Police Department in December 2018 after a complaint was filed against him, accusing him of befriending a family and then grooming and sexually abusing a child in that family. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Get updates here on Rapides murder, sexual battery, other cases Armed police arrested one man after a car crashed into the gates of the UK prime minister's Downing Street complex A man sparked a major security alert Thursday after a car crashed into the gates of the UK prime minister's Downing Street complex in London, but police said they were not currently treating it as "terror-related". Armed officers arrested the man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, shortly after the vehicle "collided with the gates of Downing Street" at around 16:20 pm (1520 GMT), London police said. No injuries were reported. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was reported by British media to have been in the building -- which hosts both his office and residence -- when the incident occurred and left soon after. Video footage showed a silver car driving at low speed across Whitehall, where many government ministries are located, having emerged from a gated area next to the Ministry of Defence, opposite Downing Street. It appeared to then mount the footpath and came to a halt after hitting the large metal gates that guard the entrance to Downing Street. Other footage showed a police cordon surrounding the car, which appeared to be a Kia, with its boot open. Around two hours after the incident, London's Metropolitan police said in an update that a small cordon remained in place outside Downing Street, with the car still within it. "The incident is being dealt with by local officers in Westminster and isn't currently being treated as terror-related," the force added. - 'Slow impact' - Simon Parry, 44, was nearby when the drama unfolded. "I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with taser guns shouting at the man. "A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area." He added: "There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad." Dean Parker, 36, told AFP the driver "didn't look distressed. He looked like he must have had some sort of episode or something." Parker, part of a protest encampment on the opposite side of the street, said the car was not driving fast. "It doesn't look like he tried to ram the gates off... It was a pretty slow impact. The police dealt with it pretty professionally and promptly." Downing Street is a short walk from the Houses of Parliament and the area has a high security presence, with barriers on the footpath and in front of government buildings following previous incidents. A man drove a car into pedestrians on the pavement close to parliament in 2017, killing four people. He then crashed the car into the fence surrounding parliament and ran into the grounds, where he fatally stabbed a police officer. He was shot dead by an armed police officer. Large gates were put up at the entrance to Downing Street in 1989 as a result of IRA bomb attacks in London, and the group launched three homemade mortar shells at the prime minister's residence in 1991. The gates are the first line of security, with armed police stationed at the entrance. Official cars entering the street normally have to be checked before strengthened bollards are lowered to allow them through. bur-jj/kjm Man arrested, suspected of setting fire to 2 churches in Douglas, Ariz. A man was arrested Tuesday suspected of setting two separate fires at local churches in Douglas, according to police. The man was identified by Douglas police as Eric Ridenour, 58. Just before 11 a.m. on Monday firefighters received reports of smoke coming from St. Stephen Episcopal Church located on D Avenue and 11th Street, according to Douglas Fire Department spokesperson Matt King. King said the area was filled with heavy smoke and the fire took a while to put out as it had extended quickly. At about noon, firefighters were notified of a second fire at First Presbyterian Church, located on the same block. The fire extended into the basement and the attic, consuming the roof of the structure. No one was injured in the fires, King said. Police said investigators determined both fires were intentionally started and identified Ridenour as a person of interest. Authorities searched Ridenour's home located outside of Douglas and detained him. Ridenour was booked into Cochise County Jail and was waiting to be transferred to federal custody. The motivation behind the suspected arsons was still under investigation, police said. Other agencies that helped in the investigation were the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gilbert Fire Department. Reach the reporter at laura.sepulveda@gannett.com or on Twitter at @lauradaniella_s. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man arrested suspected of setting 2 churches on fire in Douglas, Ariz A mom died 28 years ago, and police closed the case. Now her husband has been charged, Utah officials said. On June 11, 1995, Bernadean Klingenberg was found dead in her West Valley City home, according to a May 24 news release by the Salt Lake County District Attorney. Her husband, Keith Klingenberg, told officials he found her and called 911. Klingenberg told dispatchers his wife had taken her own life by slashing her own throat, the news release said. First responders got to the couples home seven minutes after the 911 call was made, according to KSL. After investigating, they concluded the woman died at least an hour before the 911 call was made. The 68-year-old told dispatchers he had been playing softball on the day his wife died, according to ABC 4. He said he found his wife upstairs with two knives next to her when he got home, the news outlet reported. The case was closed at the time and ruled as undetermined before being reopened in 2016, according to the release. The womans daughter spoke to police in 1995 and again in 2018, telling them her mother wasnt suicidal, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The night before her death, the woman told her daughter she planned to leave her husband, officials told the news outlet. Blood splatter analysts found the scene to be more consistent with a clean-up than a suicide, officials told ABC 4. The defendant stabbed his wife multiple times, cut her throat and modified the crime scene to make it appear as if his wife had committed suicide, prosecutors said in charging documents obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune. The District Attorneys office filed a first-degree felony murder charge against Klingenberg for the death of his wife, the news release said. Officials ask anyone with information about the Bernadean Klingenbergs death to call 801-965-5200, according to the release. West Valley City is about 10 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. Woman vanished in 1984. Hair strand just helped identify her body, California cops say Teen vanished 40 years ago, California sheriff says. His remains were just identified Woman found dead after missing family trip in 2013. Arrest now made, NJ officials say Flash Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, called on Israel to stop encroaching on Palestinian land and resources. "We urge Israel to immediately halt these actions and stop encroaching upon the land and resources of the Palestinian people," Geng told the Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The ambassador underscored that the illegal expansion of settlements on the occupied territories "must stop." "Settlement activities violate international law and Security Council Resolution 2334. Since the beginning of this year, Israel has continued to advance unilateral actions on approving returns, building new settlements, and legalizing settlements," he said. On the religious holy sites, Geng said that the historical status quo of religious holy sites in Jerusalem must be respected and upheld. On May 21, a senior Israeli security official entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for a second time this year and caused renewed tensions. "On the issue of religious holy sites, Israel must stop its provocations, guarantee the right to worship of Muslim worshipers, uphold the peace and tranquility of religious holy sites, and respect the custodianship of Jordan," said the envoy. The ambassador underscored the importance of upholding international humanitarian. Since the beginning of this year, over 100 Palestinians, including children, have lost their lives in conflict. Israel also suffered civilian casualties. Geng said that "all parties concerned should stop all violence against civilians and stop targeting schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure." "The plight of Palestinian refugees should be alleviated and the economic and livelihood needs of Palestine should be met. Israel should lift the blockade on Gaza as soon as possible. The flow of people and reconstruction supplies in and out of Gaza should be kept unhindered," he added. The envoy stressed that upholding the historical status quo of religious holy sites, ceasing expansion of settlements, and respecting international humanitarian law are the fundamental requirements for preventing the repeated escalations of tensions between Palestine and Israel. "The parties concerned are duty-bound to implement them and should not use them as bargaining chips. The international community has the responsibility to ensure their implementation and should not be indifferent," he said. "Honoring these three requirements is also a fundamental step towards reviving the two-state solution. The international community should not just talk the talk in its support for the two-state solution, or take the support for direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations as an excuse for shirking one's own responsibilities," Geng said, adding that the country with major influence on the parties concerned should make concrete efforts to advance the Middle East peace process and "should not unjustifiably prevent the Security Council from arriving at the minimum consensus on the Palestine-Israeli issue." Geng reiterated China's position, indicating that the country "will continue to firmly support the Palestinian people and their just cause to restore their legitimate national rights, and support the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital." A Clovis man was arrested for attempted murder after allegedly beating his wife and cutting her neck with a large kitchen knife, police said Thursday. Officers were called to Clovis Community Hospital about 6 p.m. Wednesday after a woman had been dropped off with multiple injuries, police said. Officers determined the womans 29-year-old husband, Jagtar Singh, struck her multiple times in their apartment near Bullard and Villa avenues in Clovis, police said. He also cut her with the knife before dropping her at the hospital, according to a news release from police. She was transported from Clovis to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. The husband was arrested hours later in Los Banos, police said, where local police took him into custody without incident. He was booked into Fresno County Jail, accused of attempted murder and domestic violence. Jail records list his bail at more than $1 million and he remained in custody as of Thursday morning. The victim remained in the hospital Thursday. Anyone who is the victim of domestic violence or any dangerous relationship is encouraged by law enforcement and the Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno to seek help at any time of day. Confidential assistance is available through MMC at 559-233-4357. Man who waited 12 years for heart transplant dies after being denied medication in jail for neighbour dispute A man who waited 12 years for a heart transplant has died after he was denied medication during a stint in jail following a dispute with a neighbour. Dexter Barry, 54, met dozens of doctors, underwent intricate procedures and even moved to different states in his efforts to improve his health, according to The Tributary. In 2020, he received a new heart, allowing him to return to his normal life. But last year, he was arrested on a misdemeanour charge, leading to him spending two days in jail without his medication. His body then appeared to reject his new heart. Mr Barrys neighbour called the emergency services in November, claiming that the 54-year-old had said he would beat him up following a dispute regarding WiFi access which had lasted weeks. No fight ever took place, but Mr Barry was arrested on a charge of simple assault. Mr Barry told a Jacksonville, Florida officer as many as seven times that he needed his medication every day, according to the outlet, citing body cam footage. The following morning, he told the judge in his case the same thing, a court transcript shows. I am on medication, Mr Barry said. I just had a heart transplant, and I havent taken my medicine all day since I have been locked up, and I take rejection medicines for my heart so my heart wont reject it, and Im almost two years out. Okay, the judge said. Mr Barry died on 23 November last year. A lawyer for his family and his son told The Tributary that he never got access to his medication. Records from jail will likely show they made a note of it, attorney Andrew Bonderud told the outlet. JSO recognized its an extremely expensive medication and how disgusting if it turns out that this was a business decision for the JSO, that they would rather not pay for the medication. They would rather risk death over a business decision. Its one of the most outrageous cases Ive ever seen in this city of JSO misconduct. Both the lawyer and the family argues the issue that led to Mr Barrys death are systemic, according to News4Jax. The body cam footage shows Mr Barry on 18 November last year speaking to an officer. My medicine costs $2,000. I go to Mayo for my medicine, he said. The officer said hed be able to get his medication at the jail. If something happens to me because of my heart, theres going to be a problem, Mr Barry said. Just make sure you tell them, the officer replied. Yeah, Im going to tell them, Mr Barry said. Mr Bonderud told News4Jax that Mr Barry was doing great as recently as the spring of 2022. He had a checkup, where they actually biopsied the transplanted heart. And it was a healthy, stable heart. He was taking his medication like he should three times a day. And then November rolls around, and he had had a dispute with a neighbour, he added. I didnt put my hands on him, Mr Barry said about the dispute to the officer. Youre confusing assault for battery, the officer replied. Battery is physical contact. Assault is a threat by words to cause harm, causing fear. After the bond was set at $503, Mr Barry left the jail on Sunday 20 November. His son, Dexter Barry Jr, told News4Jax : He didnt sound like himself that Monday when I spoke to him. You could hear a shortness of breath, and his words were jumbled like his body was starting to shut down, he added, saying that his father passed away three days after arriving at the hospital at UF Health. If he had been convicted, Mr Barry would have faced 60 days in jail at most. Mr Bonderud said theyre planning to file a lawsuit. Jail officials are constitutionally required to give inmates their needed medication, an American Board of Trial Advocates spokesperson told the local outlet, adding that the judge lowered the bail amount to make it easier for Mr Barry to get out of jail. When reached by The Independent, a spokesperson for the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said: Due to pending litigation, the agency would not be able to comment on the matter at this time. Man went to prison for robbing a Georgia bank. He tried to rob it again after he was released A man pleaded guilty to trying to rob a middle Georgia bank a decade after he went to prison for robbing the same bank. The Bibb County Sheriffs Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested William Jeffrey Lowder for the attempted robbery at Truist Bank near Mercer Universitys campus. The U.S. District Attorneys Office said Lowder recently got out of prison on a supervised release after he robbed the same location in 2013. This week, he entered a guilty plea to the January charges. Lowders prior prison time was apparently not enough of a teaching moment for him because he returned to his bank robbing ways while he was still on supervised release for the last bank robbery he committed, FBI Atlanta special agent Keri Farley said. TRENDING STORIES: Lowder tried to rob the location for a second time back in January. A teller said that Lowder passed a note that had Money out the register, no dye packs, Sorry! written on it. The teller saw Lowder reach behind his back and feared he had a gun. The clerk told Lowder they didnt have a register and thats when he ran out of the bank. An hour later, Lowder called his probation officer and confessed to the crime, according to prosecutors. Lowder faces up to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised released, and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced at a later date. IN OTHER NEWS US-VOTE-2024-WILLIAMSON US presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson (R) takes a photograph with an attendee as she campaigns at a coffee shop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on March 9, 2023 Credit - Joseph PreziosoAFP via Getty Images Four years ago, before Gabriela Orozco was old enough to vote, she knew Bernie Sanders was her candidate to take on Donald Trump. She liked how the Vermont Senator wanted to remake the federal government to help those most in need. Now, the 20-year-old college student finds herself once again looking for an alternative to Joe Biden. But Sanders is old now, she tells me when we talk in Washington, D.C.s National Press Club, where longshot presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has just delivered a speech. What did she think of Williamson when the spiritual author ran ahead of 2020? Orozco pauses, both of us aware of Williamson greeting fans a few feet behind her. There was a reputation of her as a bit of a crazy lady, she says softly. Orozcos willingness to give a crazy lady a second look is a sign of how much has changed since 2020, when many Americans knew of Williamson as the kooky crystal woman preaching a politics of love. Now the options for those dissatisfied with the Democratic establishment are scant and Williamson is more clearly evangelizing from the gospel of Bernie Sanders. During the last campaign, it was this urgent sense that if only we could defeat the former president, then maybe life will go back to normal, Williamson tells me later that evening. Now people realize the problem was bigger than just one man. Indeed, the crowd of about four dozen people who came to hear Williamson propose an Economic Bill of Rights was littered with onetime Sanders supporters, some of whom punctuated her speech with snaps and loud hums of approval. When Williamson mentioned her support for Medicare for All and her plans to cancel all college loan debt, the applause was so piercing, it sounded like balloons popping. Williamsons chances of winning the nomination arent much better than four years ago. She is polling in the single digits, below another longshot candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Audience members I spoke to were resigned to the party nominating Biden again, and only one committed firmly to voting for Williamson in the primary. But they all hope she can do in 2024 something akin to what Sanders did eight years ago: nudging the party to the left. I was a big Bernie supporter in 2016 and 2020, says Blake, a 26-year-old who works for a government contractor and didnt want his last name published. One of the things that I really like about Marianne is, regardless of what people say about her electability, shes pushing the Overton window to the left. And I think that enables Biden and the more establishment Dems to maybe push further left on issues. Of course, Williamson ran as a progressive in 2019, too. Despite entering the race with no prior experience in elected office, her status as a celebrity author whose profile had been elevated by the likes of Oprah Winfrey enabled her to clear the thresholds to qualify for the primary debate stage. But facing nearly two dozen rivals, including a left-wing champion in Sanders, she often got lost in the crowd. It didnt help that she was quickly branded the orb queen for her talk of the dark psychic force operating in America and for her spiritual fans, who penned many tweets studded with crystal ball emojis. Now, her brand has evolved; its all about no-nonsense Sandersesque policy. I wont turn that down, she says when I ask her about the comparison to the Vermont independent. I dont think that a candidacy like mine would exist had there not been a Bernie Sanders. I dont think there would have been a Bernie Sanders had there not been an Occupy Movement. Everything in life, whether it has to do with our individual journeys, or the journey of a nationone thing leads to another. Fighting political corruption is an animating theme of the evening. When an audience member asks what Americans can do about it, she admits its unlikely gerrymandering will end or Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision which unleashed unlimited corporate spending in elections, will be overturned anytime soon. But just as Sanders is now delighting in using his leadership position in the Senate to hold corporate executives to account, Williamson envisions taking on the powerful people the rest of D.C. is palling around with. Elect someone, get her in there, who sees that game for what it is, who has nothing to gain by pleasing the insurance companies, or pleasing the pharmaceutical companies, or pleasing Big Ag, or pleasing big chemical companies, or pleasing big food companies, or pleasing gun manufacturers, or pleasing big oil, or pleasing defense contractors, Williamson urges. It will please me to make them squirm. After the speech, I talk with Markus OBryan, a 30-year-old real estate agent and one-time president of his high schools Young Republicans club. By 2020, OBryan had gone through a political transformation and backed Sanders in the primary, which he says explains why he finds Williamson compelling for 2024. I had a look at her policies, obviously, and her policies almost directly line up with Bernie Sanders-type policies, he says. Besides Medicare for All and canceling all student loan debt, Williamson, like Sanders, supports passing the PRO Act to boost union protections and putting checks on banking executives. Sanders has endorsed Biden for reelection, but told Insider in March, I know Marianne Im sure shes going to run a strong campaign and raise very important issues. Williamsons fans are among the many Democrats who arent satisfied with Bidens leadership, or the fact hes running again. She seems to be one of the few of all the candidates that has an interest in representing the working class, especially among Democrats, says Troy Bent, a 47-year-old math and special education teacher who found himself drawn to Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren during the last cycle. As usual, were faced with: Vote for the lesser of two evils, says Bent, who adds, This year, Im not going for it. With the Democratic Party in lockstep with Biden, I ask Williamson what shes doing differently this time around. Some of the things Im doing differently have to do with making the sausage, she responds. Nothing you talk to TIME Magazine about. She means campaign logistics. Though she didnt tell me any details, Politico reported that Williamson recently parted with two top campaign staffers, including her campaign manager. An anonymous staffer told Politico that their departures were mutually agreed-upon after the campaign decided to go in a more progressive direction. Before the end of our interview, I have to know what Williamson hopes to achieve out of this campaign short of winning. Shes clearly strategic. We both know earning the nomination will be tough; maybe theres something else? At the end of this, whether it takes us to the White House or not, we will know that we presented the American people with the option of moving in the direction of that new beginning, she says. I personally believe that if Im successful at reaching enough people with this vision, and have a fair shot at introducing myself to them, then I will win the nomination and I will win the presidency. So its the party and the media that are standing in the way? She says her one-word answer like a full sentence: Duh. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has been known to hurl insults at the president and other political leaders from the House floor, but on Wednesday she was pounding the gavel and calling for decorum. Democrats appreciated the irony of the Georgia Republican trying to wrangle an unruly chamber when Greene has sometimes been the disruptor. For example, she shouted out that President Joe Biden was a "liar" during his State of the Union address this year. But on Wednesday afternoon, she was managing House proceedings while Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., spoke on the chamber floor about the debt limit, claiming the GOP was the only political party in Washington, D.C., with a plan to pay the nation's bills. His missive drew backlash from Democrats in the chamber, including some who yelled out inaudible comments. Greene pounded the gavel and called for order as Scalise called for decorum from "the other side," referring to Democrats. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ORG XMIT: DCCK104 The heckling continued, prompting Greene to pound the gavel again and say, "The members are reminded to abide by decorum of the House." Laughter erupted and Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri were shouting from their seats, as Greene banged the gavel multiple times. Greene did not immediately respond to calls for comment. Why it matters: Last-minute deal on debt ceiling could still spark recession even if US avoids default Debt ceiling negotiations intensify The squabble Wednesday further reflects the tension between House Republicans, Biden and House Democrats as the debt ceiling fight intensifies. Once the laughter died down, seriousness set in again as Scalise continued his floor comments. While some in this town might be interested in theatrics, House Republicans took action, Scalise said, referring to a House GOP bill that raises the debt ceiling and includes substantial cuts to government aid. If they dont like it they can amend it, that is part of the legislative process," he said of Democrats. "Lets get our jobs done. Weve done ours. They need to do theirs, he added. Shortly after, Scalise told House members they could leave town for Memorial Day weekend, but he warned them they could be asked to return, with a one-day notice, to vote on a potential debt limit deal. Negotiations: Debt ceiling talks 'still far apart' as Republicans balk at giving any concessions to Democrats This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marjorie Taylor Greene called for decorum. Democrats laughed. Marjorie Taylor Greene faces waves of mocking laughter after asking House to follow decorum Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene faced laughter and mockery after urging decorum while holding the speakers gavel. The far-right member of the GOP was presiding over the House as Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana was trying to speak. Mr Scalise was attempting to talk about the debt ceiling standoff between President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy. We are in fact the only body in this town who has actually taken steps to address the debt ceiling and the spending problem in Washington, the majority leader claimed, prompting one lawmaker to call out and Ms Greene to pound the gavel and call for order to be restored. I ask that the House be in order and there be some decorum on the other side, Mr Scalise said. The members are reminded to abide by the decorum of the House, Ms Greene told the room a moment later, prompting raucous laughter from the Democratic benches. After a few moments, Mr Scalise continued his speech. House Democrats erupt in raucous laughter after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who was presiding over the chamber, tells them to abide by the decorum of the House. pic.twitter.com/vHDG0ScW2F The Recount (@therecount) May 24, 2023 California Democrat Adam Schiff tweeted: I havent laughed this hard in a while but Marjorie Taylor Greene just called for decorum on the House Floor. The Lincoln Project wrote: We usually add a laugh track here, but House Democrats did us the favor this time Were watching Marjories Joker origin story play out in real time, they added. Im not sure Ive ever seen the occupant of the Chair openly mocked like this before, reporter Jamie Dupree noted. California Democrat Jared Huffman tweeted: Irony died today on the House Floor, but comedy triumphed as the GOP chose MTG as their keeper of decorum. Fellow Californian Jimmy Gomez said that Ms Greene, calling for decorum is like Leonardo DiCaprio telling people to date people their own age. Adding a second one-liner, Mr Gomez said that Ms Greene calling for decorum is like George Santos telling people not to lie. The chief of staff at Young Democrats of America, Matt Royer, compared the incident to the famously more uncontrolled behaviour in the UK House of Commons. This is some parliament-type behavior as Democrats laugh off MTGs plea for decorum in the House, he said. And I am absolutely here for it. Ms Greene has become infamous for the many instances when she has blatantly disregarded the decorum of the House. She was removed from her committee assignments in 2021 by the Democrats, which were restored following the GOPs narrow House victory in the midterms last year. During Mr Bidens State of the Union speech earlier this year, Ms Greene stood up and yelled at the president on several occasions, including calling him a liar for saying that some Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare. During other parts of the speech, she yelled Chinas spying on us! and Secure the border! Ms Greene also heckled Mr Biden during his 2022 State of the Union alongside Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert. When the president spoke about border security, the two members began chanting build the wall. They were also seen having their backs turned to Mr Biden as he walked into the chamber. Boebert and Greene chanting build the wall pic.twitter.com/6KeXFSCnP5 Acyn (@Acyn) March 2, 2022 Ms Greene has also garnered attention for harassing New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and anti-gun violence activists, including school shooting survivors. She was seen in a vocal confrontation with another New York Democrat, Representative Jamal Bowman, outside the US Capitol last week. Ms Greene then went on to claim that being called a white supremacist was comparable to being the target of the N-word. Mr Bowman said Ms Greene was the source of an utter and blatant lie in the long tradition of Black men who are passionate, outspoken, or who stand their ground, being characterised as threatening or intimidating, according to The Guardian. The Matthews Police Department will be handing out free steering wheel locks to Hyundai and Kia drivers. The locks will be available at the front desk of the department Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Drivers are asked to bring their vehicle registration when they come to pick up the locks. Police said 43% of car thefts reported in Matthews this year were Hyundais and Kias. VIDEO: Owners of Kia and Hyundai cars that were stolen can get settlement funds McClanahan becomes 1st 8-game winner, Rays rebound from 19-run loss to beat Blue Jays 7-3 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Shane McClanahan became the first eight-game winner in the majors and the Tampa Bay Rays rebounded from a 19-run loss to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 on Wednesday night. McClanahan (8-0) allowed one run, four hits and struck out seven in seven innings. Tampa Bay is 10-1 when the left-hander takes the mound. As long as I help this team and put them in a good situation to win, that's really and truly all I care about, McClanahan said. Everything else will take care of itself. McClanahan joins Matt Moore (2013) and Charlie Morton (2019) as the only Rays pitchers to start 8-0 as Tampa Bay improved to 23-5 at home. Luke Raley and Jose Siri homered for the major league-best Rays (36-15), who lead the big leagues with 97 homers. Raley, a first baseman, pitched 1 2/3 innings Tuesday night in a 20-1 loss to the Blue Jays in which he allowed seven runs, including a grand slam by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. I rather be at the plate than on the mound, Raley said. It feels better to hit them than watch them go over. The announced crowd was a season-low 8,699. The Rays started the day averaging 17,478, which was ninth in the American League. Toronto, which lost for the eighth time in 10 games, got a pinch-hit homer by Cavan Biggio during a two-run eighth off Jason Adam that made it 5-3. Kevin Kelly replaced Adam with two on and got an inning-ending double play from Matt Chapman on a hard grounder to second. Tampa Bay regained a four-run lead, at 7-3, on eighth-inning RBI singles by Siri and Wander Franco. Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen left in the fifth with left groin tightness. We'll see how he feels tomorrow, Toronto manager John Schneider said. We're just trying to be a little bit proactive with it. Just kind of taking it literally minute by minute right now." Raley and Siri hit solo homers in the second off Yusei Kikuchi (5-2) as the Rays took a 3-0 lead. Isaac Paredes had a first-inning RBI single. McClanahan retired his first 10 batters before Bo Bichette doubled with one out in the fourth and scored on Guerrero's single. Guerrero drove in six runs Tuesday. He's unbelievable, Raley said. Every time he's out there we know we have a great chance of winning a a baseball game. Tampa Bay went ahead 5-1 in the fourth when Manuel Margot had a run-scoring triple and came home on Franco's single. Franco had three hits and stole his 15th base. He stopped a career-long 12-game stretch without an RBI. Kikuchi, who became the 11th Japanese-born to pitcher reach 100 MLB starts, gave up five runs and eight hits over five innings. I think just mistakes in the middle, Schneider said. It looked like they were kind of hunting pitches. Didn't get away with any mistakes today. Kikuchi had been 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in six previous games against the Rays. LONG WAIT The Rays selected from Triple-A Durham former New York Yankees reliever Ben Heller, who last pitched in the majors on Sept. 4, 2020. There's been a lot of times in the last three years that I doubted if I've ever get another chance, said Heller, who has been limited to 23 minor league games since a right elbow stress fracture in 2021. Been getting a little emotional thinking about it." TRAINER'S ROOM Rays: 1B Yandy Diaz is away addressing a family matter. ... 2B Brandon Lowe (stiff neck) should start Thursday after being out of the lineup two days. UP NEXT Toronto RHP Alek Manoah (1-4) and Rays RHP Zach Eflin (6-1) are set to start Thursday. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Mecklenburg County homeownership dips + New details emerge on construction methods used at SouthPark fire site Hey, everyone! Drew here. Sushi fans, its your time to shine. Earlier this week, CharlotteFive launch its latest Readers Choice Poll and wants you to vote for the best sushi in the area! Voting in this round ends on May 30 at noon. Heres your news. The percentage of people owning their homes dropped 6.2 percentage points from 2010 to 2020, more than anywhere in the state. Home ownership in Mecklenburg County dipped according to newly released census data. The percentage of people in the county fell more between 2010 and 2020 than anywhere else in North Carolina. A 6.2% percentage point decrease in home ownership was the 17th biggest decline of any county nationwide, data show. Gavin Off, Adam Bell and Tyler Dukes dive deeper into the data. The aftermath of a fire in SouthPark that broke out last week at the scene of an apartment building under construction. Builders were using a podium style, wood-frame type of construction, meaning the upper floors of the building were being built with wood. New details are emerging about the type of construction used at the site of last weeks SouthPark fire. The 239-unit luxury apartment building had a wood-frame construction, according to the developer and county records, an increasingly common style over the past decade. Gordon Rago reports more on the construction methods used. Emergency personnel walk along a tarmac fence line at Charlotte Monroe Executive Airport on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. The airport was evacuated after a call was received after 3 p.m. concerning a potential bomb threat. Two juvenile suspects were identified today for making a bomb threat that shut down the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport yesterday evening. Airport officials received a phone call stating that there were explosives in the airport. The threat was false and police are seeking to press charges against the juveniles from Harnett County. Kallie Cox and Julia Coin continue to update this story. The Charlotte skyline is shown from Charlotte can expect a drastic shift in its weather Memorial Day weekend, National Weather Service meteorologists said. Looking to enjoy some time off this Memorial Day weekend? You might want to keep an eye on the forecast. Charlotte can expect a drastic shift in its weather for the holiday weekend, with plummeting temps and rain-drenched skies, National Weather Service meteorologists said today. Joe Marusak runs down a full forecast for the weekend. 5. Some more stories to read --- Thats it for now. Thanks for reading! If you dont already, subscribe to the Charlotte Observer here. If youre already a subscriber (thanks!), download our iOS or Android app to stay connected. Find more updates at charlotteobserver.com, and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok to see more from us. Enjoy your day! Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can sign up here. Melissa Caddick went missing in 2020 after police agents raided her home When conwoman Melissa Caddick vanished from her luxurious eastern Sydney home in November 2020 - with only her partially decomposed foot found washed up on a beach months later - it set off a frenzy in Australia. The case blindsided investors, baffled police, and captured the imagination of a nation. The fraudster has inspired a hit podcast, a TV dramatisation, and countless outlandish theories - including that she had been swallowed by a shark or had severed her own foot to throw police off her scent. A long-running inquest into the case heard of a flawed police investigation, conflicting accounts from her husband, and all the extensive speculation surrounding her fate. But a coroner on Thursday ruled that exactly what happened to her would remain a mystery. "The conclusion I have reached is that Melissa Caddick is deceased. However... I do not consider the evidence enables a positive finding as to how she died, or when and where this happened," Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan wrote. The final morning For most, the Melissa Caddick story began with the news that the seemingly successful financial adviser was missing. But her life had actually begun to unravel months earlier when Australia's financial watchdog was tipped off that she had been using a friend's financial adviser's licence, having simply pasted in her own name on the document. Regulators suspect the 49-year-old stole up to $30m (15.8m; $19.5m) from more than 60 clients, including many of her family and friends, to help fund a lavish lifestyle. There were overseas trips on private jets, high-end cars, designer clothes, and expensive jewellery. Her methods were not "particularly complicated", the coroner said. As new clients gave her money to invest, she would pay some out as dividends to existing clients before keeping - and spending - the rest. Coroner Ryan said she was struck by the "powerful impression of wealth and success" Caddick made on her clients and would-be investors. "Equally significant was the trust they had in her... almost all were either immediate family members, or close personal friends of herself and her family," she said. One would-be investor recalled: "I wanted to model myself and our family on successful people, and Melissa appeared to be successful". But everything fell apart on 11 November 2020 when police knocked on her door at dawn. Conflicting accounts The last confirmed sighting of Melissa Caddick was by officers at the raid on her home. Her husband, Anthony Koletti, told police they believed she had gone for an early run the next morning. Her car and all her personal belongings had been left behind. But she was not reported missing by Mr Koletti for more than 30 hours, and only after he had dialled in to a court hearing that she was due to attend and appeared surprised she had not turned up. Police initially explored two theories - that Caddick was still alive and had gone into hiding to escape justice, or had taken her own life. But the inquest heard how Mr Koletti, a hairdresser and part-time DJ, behaved erratically in the wake of his wife's disappearance, leading police to suspect he could be involved. Mr Koletti has denied any knowledge of his wife's crimes or any involvement in her disappearance, and police say they have uncovered no evidence to dispute that. Anthony Koletti has denied any knowledge of his wife's crimes But an investigator told the coroner's court Mr Koletti "didn't appear to be overly concerned" when his wife vanished. Lead Detective Sergeant Michael Kyneur also said Mr Koletti had visited a cliff top area near their home and taken a photograph of a shoe print, an action the policeman described as "extraordinary". "That's a dog park. It's like saying I found a footprint on Bondi beach." The inquest also heard that Mr Koletti had sent texts from Caddick's phone pretending to be her, told police he was "too busy" to attend an interview, and gave conflicting versions of events. For example, he was able to provide a description of what his wife was wearing on the morning she vanished, despite also saying he had not actually seen her, police said. Mr Koletti had also recounted his version of events by releasing a musical concept album containing tracks with titles such as "Melissa Is Missing" and "Above the Law". It was "regrettable" that Mr Koletti had not given a "full and frank" account of what had happened, Magistrate Ryan said on Thursday. Investigation criticised The case took a grisly twist in February 2021 with the discovery of a rotting, trainer-clad foot on a remote beach 500km (310 miles) south of Sydney. Experts matched the body part to Caddick through DNA, but an autopsy couldn't determine if it was separated by force or decomposition. The inquest heard a slew of theories to explain how it ended at Bournda Beach, including that a shark ate and later regurgitated body parts. Police even considered throwing pig carcasses with running shoes on their trotters into the sea to determine how shark behaviour or ocean currents could have played a role, the inquest heard. An orthopaedic surgeon told the inquest it was unlikely Caddick could have severed her own foot, as it would require "significant force" to cut through bone, cause major blood loss, and require specialist post-surgical care. But scientists put forward a simple explanation at the inquest. Oceanographers said currents could have easily carried the foot that distance, while a pathologist described how human feet can detach from bodies during decomposition. The inquest also heard criticism of police handling of the case. Officers assigned to the Caddick case stuck too closely to their view that she had voluntarily vanished, some said. Police combed the cliffs in Dover Heights for any trace of Ms Caddick A crime scene examination of the house was not done until 19 days after Caddick disappeared, and a lawyer assisting the coroner questioned why the homicide squad wasn't brought in immediately, if only to rule out foul play. Another detective expressed surprise that NSW Police only sought out the corporate watchdog's affidavit on Caddick - which outlined its case against her - some months after her disappearance. The inquest was also told that Caddick had a life insurance policy, which included suicide cover, and had made a number of references to ending her life over the years - but police initially devoted limited resources to this line of inquiry. Magistrate Ryan on Thursday said the uncovering of Caddick's deception may have triggered a "narcissistic injury", with the illusion of her wealth and success shattered. "The Asic investigation and search warrant very likely caused her a catastrophic level of shame and despair," she said. "She may well have reached the conclusion that ending her life was the only option." But the manner of her death will ultimately remain unresolved, she said. Equally unresolved are the losses of her clients, many of whom saw huge sums of money vanish. "I sold my business as I was under the impression my money was safe, and I retired in 2017," one victim testified. "To rub more salt in the wound she has also stolen my mother's money, wife's, mother-in-law, son, brother and sister wiping out three generations of my family's savings." Flash New energy vehicles run in the zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 28, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] The global transport sector is set to fall short of targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, the International Transport Forum (ITF) warned on Wednesday. At the opening of its annual summit in Leipzig, Germany, ITF said that the transport sector would "miss by a wide margin the reduction needed to keep climate change in check." Decarbonization measures currently underway will only reduce global transport-related CO2 emissions by 3 percent by 2050, ITF said in its annual report. In order to meet the Paris Agreement's net-zero target by 2050, transport-related CO2 emissions would need to fall by at least 3 percent annually until 2030, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned. "It will be absolutely essential to quickly scale up cost-competitive technologies and fuels to move people and goods with far, far fewer emissions," said ITF Secretary-General Young Tae Kim. Although the transport sector is not on track to reach the net-zero target, global transport could still reduce its CO2 emissions by around 80 percent compared to 2019 levels over the next 25 years if decarbonization is accelerated, ITF said. Achieving this ambitious goal would require a combination of complementary policies to avoid unnecessary transport activity, a shift to CO2-free transport modes, and the improvement of transport efficiency, Kim stressed. "We can do all this if we take more decisive action now." Although accelerating the transition to low or zero-carbon transportation would require significant investment, it would still come in at 5 percent less than the cost of current policies, according to ITF projections. Due to the consequences of climate change, Germany alone suffered at least 145 billion euros (156.6 billion U.S. dollars) of damage between 2000 and 2021, according to a recent study commissioned by the country's government. By 2050, this figure could be as much as 900 billion euros higher. The 2023 summit of the ITF, which is part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has brought together transport ministers, CEOs and experts in the sector for three days of high-level talks on the theme of "Transport Enabling Sustainable Economies." The summit will run until May 26 under the presidency of the United Kingdom, with more than 1,400 participants from 80 countries taking part. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollar) US-HOLIDAY-MILITARY-MEMORIAL-DAY A woman carries flowers through Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on May 29, 2022. Credit - Stefani Reynolds/AFPGetty Images In some ways, there are two different Americas on Memorial Day. In one, Americans go on vacation, perhaps indulge in some barbecue, shopping, or relaxing at the beach. But for those who have ties to the U.S. military, its a totally different, often somber occasion, usually marked by visiting the graves of friends and family members who died serving in various armed conflicts. Thats more in line with how the holiday was first celebratedbefore it was even called Memorial Day. Read More: How Memorial Day Went From Somber Occasion to Summer Celebration Originally called Decoration Day, the occasion was first marked three years after the end of the Civil War. On May 5, 1868, John Logan, head of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the major Union Army veterans association, issued a proclamation from his Washington, D.C. office telling Americans to celebrate Decoration Day on May 30. He urged them to decorate Civil War graves with the choicest flowers of springtime. Cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, Logan said in a speech at the 1868 event, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. The May 30, 1868, ceremony is considered the first national Memorial Day celebration ever to be held at Arlington National Cemetery. (In recent years, scholars, including historian David Blight have pointed out that while the tradition of Memorial Day may have caught on after the 1868 Arlington National Cemetery ceremony, freed slaves first decorated soldiers graves even earlier, on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, S.C.) The event became an annual tradition, and the name shifted as decades passed and the United States fought in more wars. Congress made May 30 a national holiday in 1889. After World War I and World War II, Memorial Day became the more common name for the occasion than Decoration Day to honor the veterans of all U.S. armed conflicts. For example, in a May 22, 1950, proclamation, President Harry Truman described Memorial Day as an occasion that has long been set aside for paying tribute to those who lost their lives in war. And in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill into law designating the day Memorial Day and dating it the last Monday in May. Memorial Day travel has kicked into high gear at Orlando International Airport. Its the unofficial start of the summer travel season, with nearly 162,000 passengers expected to fly in and out on Thursday alone. Watch: OIA expects 1.1 million travelers Memorial Day weekend, offers tips for flyers Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport in Florida and the seventh busiest airport in the United States. According to airport officials, more than 1.1 million travelers will pass through Orlando International Airport during the 7-day travel period. Watch: DOT prepares for busy Memorial Day holiday: This weekend will be a test of the system 3.4 million travelers are expected to board flights nationwide As the nations most visited destination, airport officials say the Orlando area is preparing for about 16 percent more passengers than last year. Watch: AAA: Florida gas prices decrease as millions prepare to road trip for Memorial Day See more in the video above. 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. Meridian city wants more trails to help commuters avoid traffic. Heres the plan Boises 25 miles of Greenbelt trails are a popular spot for consistent walkers and bikers. But for Meridian city officials, having accessible pathways for alternative ways to commute and recreate has been something to aspire to. The city is working to update its pathways map in the coming weeks to show 2 miles of new routes added and changes to existing pathways. In a meeting with the City Council on Tuesday, Kim Warren, Meridian pathways project manager, said the citys pathways map is overdue for an update. We do have a master plan that was done some time ago, and obviously the city has grown a lot since then, Warren said. In a 2021 survey by the Meridian Parks and Recreation Department, residents said pathways and trails were the most important parks-related amenities to them. The city plans to add a connection between two trail systems in Meridans northwest and southeast areas this summer. The connection includes 2,300 feet of trail between McMillan and UStick and Black Cat and Ten Mile roads. Im calling this our Golden Spike pathway because its where two big sections are going to meet, Warren said. Its been a missing gap for a really long time. In 2021, Meridian residents told the Parks and Recreation Department in a survey that parks and pathways were the most important park-related amenities to them. City plans to update Meridian pathways map As the city continues to add pathways, council members Liz Strader and Luke Cavener want a better way to show Meridian residents the areas of pathways in their neighborhoods that could connect them to their workplaces. This to me is very useful recreationally, Strader said. I think where it would be really powerful is if it was more useful as an alternative mode of transportation. Meridian residents are pretty consistently faced with traffic during rush hour, as their growing city tries to accommodate the population with existing roads and highways. Between 2020 and 2023, Meridians population grew by nearly 18%, according to the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, adding nearly 21,000 new residents. The fact that people can soon get to a lot of places avoiding traffic almost entirely is a pretty big deal, she said. Strader and Cavener said they would support a city phone app that could help residents navigate through the pathways system. I just want (the pathways) to be utilized much more than it is, Strader said. Cavener was concerned that residents would be confused or disheartened by the number of proposed rather than existing pathways. He suggested that the city note on the map which proposed pathways were planned and funded, which would depend on a development application to continue the paths, and which are city-driven. Cavener said residents are entirely in the dark over how long a proposed pathway would take to be built. If Im a citizen and I see, hey, theres a proposed pathway there, I get really excited, Cavener said. And if a year goes by, two years, five years go by, I start to get really jaded and frustrated with government that theres this proposed pathway and nothing moving forward. Warren plans to bring the final copy of the proposed pathways plan to the council at its meeting on June 6 for final approval. Meridian woman who defied COVID measure at playground says she was falsely arrested A salon in Boise, business center in Meridian, apartments in Garden City. Coming to you Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took aim at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday, urging Hispanic people in Florida not to back the governor one day after he announced his bid for the White House. "All of his playing politics with migrants was because he wanted to be the Republican party candidate," Lopez Obrador said during a news conference, translated by Reuters. "I hope the Hispanics of Florida wake up and don't give him a single vote." DeSantis on Wednesday announced his 2024 presidential campaign in an event on Twitter. During his campaign launch, he said he would build a wall on the United States southern border with Mexico, saying the border has collapsed. Americas a sovereign country. Our borders must be respected, DeSantis said during the event, alongside Elon Musk. He added: We cannot allow drug cartels to poison our population with fentanyl. Earlier this month, the Florida governor signed a sweeping immigration bill that limits social services for immigrants who dont have permanent legal status, among other actions criticized as anti-immigration. Washington: Marjorie Taylor Greene called for decorum during debt ceiling fight. Democrats laughed. Failure to launch and $1 million raised: What to know about DeSantis' 2024 campaign launch Lopez Obrador has denied that drug cartels make fentanyl in Mexico, though he has said some chemicals and finished fentanyl are smuggled into Mexico from China. China has denied the claim. USA TODAY has reached out to DeSantis campaign for comment on the Mexican presidents remarks. The governor won his 2022 reelection bid receiving 58% of the Latino vote in Florida, according to an NBC News exit poll. However, groups described as Hispanic and Latino are not entirely interchangeable. Lopez Obrador earlier this year criticized Republican lawmakers who have called on President Joe Bidens administration to take military action against drug cartels in Mexico. We are not going to allow any foreign government to intervene and much less foreign armed forces to intervene in our territory, Lopez Obrador said at a news conference in March. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hispanic voters shouldn't back DeSantis, Mexican president says Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador again waded into the U.S. political situation on Thursday when he urged Hispanics not to vote for newly-declared presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis the latest example of the Mexican president meddling in U.S. elections against Republicans. Lopez Obrador spoke at a press conference a day after DeSantis declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2024. DeSantis has taken a hard stance against illegal immigration, and has called for greater security at the border including shutting down the border with Mexico. Lopez Obrador accused DeSantis of pushing "anti-immigrant" policies and urged Hispanics not to vote for him. "I hope the Hispanics of Florida wake up and don't give him any votes, that they don't vote for those who persecute migrants, those who don't respect migrants," he said, according to The Guardian. CRENSHAW RESOLUTION CONDEMNS MEXICAN PRESIDENT FOR THREATENING TO MEDDLE IN US ELECTIONS The remarks are the latest instance of meddling in U.S. elections by the unpredictable Mexican premier, who has fumed at Republican criticism of his handling of immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In March, he threatened to launch an "information campaign" against Republicans, telling Hispanics not to vote for them, after lawmakers suggested potential military action to take out the drug cartels pumping out fentanyl and sending it to the U.S. MEXICAN PRESIDENT PLEADS FOR CHINESE REGIME'S HELP ON FENTANYL CRISIS, SLAMS RUDE THREATS' FROM US "Starting today we are going to start an information campaign for Mexicans who live and work in the United States and for all Hispanics to inform them of what we are doing in Mexico and how this initiative by the Republicans, in addition to being irresponsible, is an offense against the people of Mexico, a lack of respect for our independence, our sovereignty," he said. "And if they do not change their attitude and think that they are going to use Mexico for their propaganda, electoral, and political purposes, we are going to call for them not to vote for that party, because it is interventionist, inhumane, hypocritical, and corrupt," Lopez Obrador said, later adding that Mexico would be insisting that "not one vote" goes to Republicans from Mexicans and Hispanics. In July 2022, he also targeted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and said that Mexico is "going to ask our countrymen there that they dont vote for that candidate or party." MEXICAN PRESIDENT SAYS LACK OF HUGS AND EMBRACES, NOT DRUG CARTELS, TO BLAME FOR FENTANYL CRISIS Lopez Obrador has also taken swipes at American lawmakers when appealing for help from the Chinese Communist regime in stopping fentanyl, which is created in Mexico using Chinese precursors. "Unjustly, they are blaming us for problems that in large measure have to do with their loss of values, their welfare crisis," he wrote. "These positions are in themselves a lack of respect and a threat to our sovereignty, and moreover they are based on an absurd, manipulative, propagandistic and demagogic attitude." DeSantis, meanwhile, recently announced that Florida is sending law enforcement and National Guard troops, among other resources, to the border to help with the ongoing migrant crisis at the Texas-Mexico border. MEXICO CITY Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday called on Hispanic people in Florida to vote against Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who launched his 2024 White House bid the day before, because of his immigration policies. Hopefully Hispanics in Florida will wake up and not give him one single vote, to not vote for those who persecute migrants, those who dont respect migrants, Lopez Obrador said. Speaking at his daily hours-long press conference, Lopez Obrador addressed DeSantiss political future, saying the governor had uncovered himself, using Mexican political slang for a candidates announcement, and taking credit for predicting DeSantiss presidential run. As you can see I wasnt wrong that all his politicking over migrants was because he wanted to be the Republican Partys candidate, Lopez Obrador said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during the North America Summit Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during the North America Summit, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Jan. 10, 2023. At his Wednesday press conference, Lopez Obrador had bemoaned the politics behind border security and immigration in the United States. We have to be thinking about this regrettable phenomenon of necessary migration, used with political ends in the United States, he said, responding to a question from The Hill. The governor of Texas, campaigning, [saying] he will militarize the border and that he will continue building [the] wall; and the governor of Florida, the same, because he wants to be the Republican Party candidate and hes politicking. DeSantis has increasingly leaned on the immigration and border security debate, despite Floridas distance from the U.S.-Mexico border. More on Ron DeSantis from The Hill: The now-GOP presidential candidate made a splash in September, when a Florida government-chartered flight picked up nearly 50 migrants from Texas and flew them to Marthas Vineyard, Mass. Under DeSantis, Florida has also sent law enforcement aid to Texas. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage The Hill has reached out to DeSantiss office for comment. Lopez Obradors plea for Florida Hispanics to wake up comes as the states voters, including Latinos, have increasingly swung toward Republicans. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a political roundtable, Friday, May 19, 2023, in Bedford, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a political roundtable, Friday, May 19, 2023, in Bedford, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Last year, 58 percent of the states Hispanic voters swung toward DeSantis in his reelection campaign, according to CNN exit poll data analyzed by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. According to that analysis, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) lost the demographic by 2 percentage points in the 2006 election, but won it by a 15-point margin in the 2022 election. Rubio won more than 67 percent of Hispanics of Cuban heritage and 51 percent of those without Cuban heritage. He also won majorities among both men and women and among every age group except voters ages 18 to 29, 56 percent of whom voted for his challenger, former Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.). For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is the latest leftist leader to be declared persona non grata in Peru, amid a conservative tilt in the Andean nation. Most Read from Bloomberg AMLO, as the president is known, was shunned over his support of ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo. Perus congress had already declared Gustavo Petro of Colombia and Bolivian former president Evo Morales as persona non grata for similar reasons. Peru has grown increasingly isolated this year in a region dominated by leftist governments. Castillo was elected as the candidate for a socialist party, before being replaced by vice-president Dina Boluarte in December. But since assuming the presidency, Boluarte has appointed conservatives to her cabinet and received the backing of Castillos conservative opponents in congress. That has created rifts with Castillos international allies, who have called her an illegitimate president. Earlier this year Boluarte recalled Perus ambassadors to Colombia and Mexico over the dispute. Sixty-five of 107 lawmakers backed the proposal. Castillo was impeached and arrested in December after attempting to illegally dissolve congress. Castillos wife is currently in Mexico, having been granted political asylum by AMLO. For me, it even gives me some sense of pride that these people are declaring me persona non grata, AMLO said this week, ahead of the vote. --With assistance from Leda Alvim. (Updates with AMLOs comments in final paragraph. An earlier version of this story was corrected to include congress amended vote tally in the 7th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A Miami couple convicted of conspiring to export about 600 stolen outboard engines worth millions of dollars to Mexico will surrender to prison on staggered dates, according to a federal judges sentencings this week. Carlos Orlando Ledesma, 57, a warehouse manager of the Doral-based shipping company Netcycle Trading Corp., will head to prison in July after being sentenced to three years by a federal judge in Miami on Tuesday. His wife, Nadia Esperanza Ledesma, 46, president of Netcycle Trading, is scheduled to start her 1-1/2 prison term in May 2025. The Ledesmas, who admitted in plea agreements that they illegally exported the outboard engines, were also ordered to pay back $420,668 to any identifiable victims of the theft by U.S. District Judge Robert Scola. Earlier this month, two other defendants who also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy were sentenced to five years each. They are Roberto Marrero-Cisneros, 66, of Miami, who acknowledged sticking false serial numbers on the engines but did not work for the couples freight-forwarding business; and Osmani Valdivia Perez, 56, of Lehigh Acres, who admitted paying cash for the outboard engines, the phony serial numbers and the illegal exports. The four defendants plea agreements, which involved cooperation with authorities, were signed by the defendants and their lawyers: Rick Yabor, Renier Diaz de la Portilla, Peter Heller and Omar Lopez. The boat engines were stolen in Southwest Florida and other parts of the state, and then shipped illegally through the Miami-area freight forwarder to Mexico between 2015 and 2018, according to plea agreements. Prosecutors estimated the scheme resulted in a loss of between $9.5 million and $25 million. Many of the stolen engines were illegally exported to Tomas Vale Valdivia, who was based in Mexico and financed the illicit fencing and shipping scheme, according to prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office. In a separate case, he was sentenced in early 2020 to nearly five years in prison for smuggling migrants into the United States. He is the nephew of Osmani Valdivia Perez and is not charged in the Miami indictment. The indictment built upon allegedly falsified records along with video surveillance footage says that Nadia and Carlos Ledesma received at least 20 stolen outboard engines from Osmani Valdivia and others and illegally shipped them to Mexico. But prosecutors highlighted in a news release that the Ledesmas illegally exported about 600 stolen outboard engines to Mexico during that period. Dozens of individuals delivered the stolen engines to the Ledesmas freight-forwarding company, according to the news release. The engines had visible damage from the thefts, and cables and lines had been cut rather than properly detached. The Ledesmas and their co-conspirators created false bills of sale and submitted bogus export labels to the U.S. government, according to the indictment. The investigation of the alleged boat engine theft was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Coast Guard and prosecuted by prosecutors Ana Maria Martinez and Darren Grove with the U.S. Attorneys Office. It is not clear from the indictment whether the outboard engines were stolen from stripped-down power boats kept at homes, marinas or yacht dealerships. But the sheer number is staggering in a state where outboard engines are a hot commodity on the black market, authorities say. Florida, which ranks as the top state for boat thieves, does keep track of engine thefts. A CNBC analysis of records compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Division showed a total of 811 engine thefts in 2016 compared with 643 in 2015. About half the stolen engines were Yamahas. The Miami area is No. 1 in the country for stolen boats, followed by Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tavares. Unfortunately, with the amount of waterways that we have in Miami-Dade County, it is a target-rich environment, Miami-Dade Police Officer Miguel Espinosa told CNBC. And sad to say, it is very easy [for] someone to try to steal a vessel. Or engines, especially engines. In 2020, a Sarasota luxury boat building company, Yellowfin Boats, reported that about $400,000 worth of equipment had been stolen while the store was closed over the Memorial Day weekend. The thieves used a forklift to haul away several outboard engines, including Mercury and Yamaha brands. At the same time, a white Isuzu flatbed truck was reported stolen from neighboring business Coating Application Technologies. Police suspected the truck may have been used to transport the outboard engines from Yellowfin. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez canceled a public appearance in Overtown on Wednesday night amid controversy about the mayors paid consulting work for a developer who needed help with permit approvals at City Hall. Suarez was to host a panel discussion on public safety as part of a 10-city national tour by a coalition of nonprofits and criminal justice experts headed by JaRon Smith, a former adviser to former President Donald Trump. The mayor, who serves as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, has traveled to other cities for the tour, and he was expected to discuss policing with Smith and Miami Police Chief Manny Morales at Wednesday nights gathering. Read more: Developer paid Miamis mayor $170K to push his project, company records state When the event began, Suarez spokesperson Soledad Cedro told people whod gathered on the second floor of the Red Rooster restaurant that the mayor would not make it due to personal reasons, without offering specifics. Cedro later told the Herald that Suarezs absence was due to a last-minute personal issue. When she was asked by the Herald if the issue had anything to do with news reports about his work, Cedro said one of Suarezs children was sick. Mayor could not make it because he was attending to one of his children who fell ill, Cedro said, in a text message. The event was scheduled about 24 hours after the Miami Herald published a report on the mayors private work for Rishi Kapoor, a developer who sought approvals from Miami City Hall while employing Suarez as a $10,000-a-month consultant. The arrangement and corporate internal documents that indicate Kapoor pushed Suarez to help with securing permit approvals raised questions about Suarezs role as mayor and his job as a developers consultant. Miami police arrest man suspected of sexually assaulting woman who just got off bus Miami police arrested a man late Wednesday night who was wanted in a sexual assault case that happened earlier this month. Police said they arrested 20-year-old Clarens Braynen around 10 p.m. after getting several leads submitted to the Crime Stoppers tip line. This is what made the difference, Miami police spokesman Officer Mike Vega said in a video posted Thursday to Twitter. On Wednesday, police issued a media release describing a May 7 attack on a woman who was walking along Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 32nd Street around 5 a.m. after she just exited a Miami-Dade County Transit bus. Miami police arrested a man Wednesday, May 24, 2023, they say sexually assaulted a woman who just exited a bus along Biscayne Boulevard earlier in the month. Miami Police Department A man, who police now say was Braynen, came up behind her, covered her mouth with a cloth and dragged her to an empty lot where he sexually assaulted her. Police say the woman fought her attacker the entire time, including biting his hand. She finally got away and summoned police, according to police. In the struggle, she suffered injuries to the left side of her jaw and cuts to her lips, police said. As of Thursday, Braynen was in county jail with no bond information immediately available on charges of sexual battery, battery and kidnapping. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen in Beijing on Thursday. Qin said that the two countries have always supported and helped each other, setting a good example of solidarity, cooperation, and win-win development among developing countries. He said China is ready to work with Ethiopia to continue to firmly support each other on issues regarding each other's core interests and major concerns. As Ethiopia is at a crucial juncture of consolidating peace and focusing on development, China firmly supports Ethiopia's peace process and stands ready to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields to help with the country's reconstruction, development, and revitalization, Qin said. China has already delivered two batches of emergency food aid to countries in the Horn of Africa, and is considering providing a new batch to help meet their urgent needs, he said. Qin thanked the Ethiopian government for supporting and assisting China's evacuation of Chinese nationals from Sudan and the rescue of Chinese nationals detained in Ethiopia. He expressed the hope that the Ethiopian government could take concrete and effective measures to protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and personnel. Demeke expressed his appreciation for China's assistance to Ethiopia. He said that Ethiopia will continue to do its utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in the country. China's achievements in modernization are inspirational and will encourage African countries to speed up their independent development, Demeke added. Call to remove Of Mice and Men from GCSE course Angel Mhande wants Of Mice and Men to be removed from the GCSE curriculum A Belfast student has called for Of Mice and Men to be removed from the GCSE English literature course. The novel, by Nobel-Prize winning author John Steinbeck, was written in 1937 and portrays life in the 1930s. Angel Mhande raised concerns about racial slurs used in the book, including the N-word. "I just don't find Of Mice and Men appropriate for schools and how that impacts young black people, and young white people," she said. Because of this, she thinks the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) should replace it on the GCSE English literature course. The novel is one of seven that schools in Northern Ireland and Wales can pick from for pupils taking GCSE English literature. Although it is optional - and not on the syllabus in England - it is chosen by many schools. Most challenged books The work's main protagonists are George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant ranch workers looking for work in 1930s California. The novel also has a character called Crooks, who Steinbeck portrays as facing discrimination because he is black. According to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, Of Mice and Men was one of the 100 most challenged books during the years 2010-19. "It's a very violent book to begin with but it's mostly just to do with racism and how that affects me and some other black students in my class," Angel told BBC News NI. Of Mice and Men has been adapted for stage, including this performance in London in 1939 "It's just really uncomfortable sitting in a classroom where we have to listen to racist slurs and comments. "I understand the history behind it and stuff but you can learn that in history about slavery." 'I feel weak' The CCEA said: "The language given by Steinbeck to characters in the book reflects the discriminatory language and attitudes of this period, which we recognise as offensive today." "This and other messages/themes from Of Mice and Men reminds the reader of the struggle for racial equality and the importance of equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion in today's society." But Angel said that reading the novel and listening to some of it being read in class had a negative impact on her. "The impact that it's had is that it just makes you feel weak, really," Angel said. "It doesn't sit right." Apolonia agrees with her daughter's views on the book Angel's mother Apolonia Mbondiya agrees with her daughter that it is time for CCEA to replace Of Mice and Men. "Angel loves English, she's very good at it and she didn't pick it for A-level," Apolonia said. "She could have picked it, she's marked to get an A* in English but because of Of Mice and Men she chose not to pick it. "We need to move on and to do things that are inclusive and protect the mental health of our young people, whether black or white." 'What is it teaching us?' Apolonia said she understood the argument that Of Mice and Men was of its time and should not be judged by the standards of today, but she still felt it was time to change the novel at GCSE. "We have history, which is dealing with slavery, which is dealing with the suffragettes fighting for the rights of women," she said. "We have quite a lot on racism and discrimination and everything that happens in the world but we are moving on to other ways of dealing with past history and not repeating the same thing over and over. "I'm not sure what Of Mice and Men is actually teaching kids." Professor of American literature at Queen's University Belfast Philip McGowan said teachers needed more detailed guidance on how to teach Of Mice and Men. "We can't just eradicate books from the past and their contexts," he said. "But if we are going to teach them in the 21st century we need to be alive to and aware of those contexts. "It's a really important text to get students to engage with but, yes, teachers should have some guidance about some of the terminology, some of the words used and how outdated they are." 'Diverse range of texts' In a statement to BBC News NI, a spokesperson for CCEA said it was "committed to giving students the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of texts, themes and ideas that resonate with them through their study of English Literature". "Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck has featured on the CCEA GCSE English Literature specification for many years due to its popularity with both teachers and students," they continued. "The novel does not examine slavery. "It does, however, include the character Crooks, a disenfranchised black ranch worker, where the surrounding narrative alludes to racial segregation and prejudice in 1930s America. "The language given by Steinbeck to characters in the book reflects the discriminatory language and attitudes of this period, which we recognise as offensive today." CCEA also said it welcomed the opportunity to review and refresh the literature offered to students and teachers. Of Mice and Men was among the US literary classics dropped by OCR, an English GCSE exam board, in 2014 after then education secretary Michael Gove called for more British works to be studied. A Michigan cowboy is hailing his horse Bucky for coming in "pretty clutch" after he was captured on video wrangling an escaped cow along Interstate-75 outside of Detroit. Ricky Littlejohn, of North Adams, told "Fox & Friends" Thursday that he was "quite nervous" during the containment effort Sunday and said for his young horse, it was like running on a skating rink. "I was really impressed. This was a pretty big job for him to go do, but Ive taken him and did some practicing with him and he really came in pretty clutch," Littlejohn said. "He [ran] right in the middle of him and let me put a rope on him, I couldnt be more happier." "It went really viral. I didnt expect any of it," Littlejohn added, referencing footage of the cows capture released by Michigan State Police. "My phone has been non-stop since the day we caught the cow, between Facebook messages, text messages, phone calls. All my friends blowing me up and everybody is telling me Im the new Yellowstone and its just funny." VIDEO SHOWS WRANGLERS COMPARABLE TO THE CAST OF YELLOWSTONE CHASING ESCAPED COW ALONG MICHIGANS I-75 Littlejohn told "Fox & Friends" that "A couple weeks ago they gave me a call and said this cow has been out for a week and they needed some help finding him and finally they spotted him by a gravel pit and along I-75 and they are like we need you like right now." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "We called Michigan State Police and tried to have them get down there for traffic control," he also said. "When we started running across there, we got shoes on all of our horses and stuff and its like a skating rink when you are running across there so we had to be really careful we didnt wipe out ourselves and keep everybody safe while we got the job done." HERD OF COWS AID NORTH CAROLINA POLICE PURSUIT, LEADING THEM DIRECTLY TO SUSPECT Ricky Littlejohn, right, and his horse Bucky on Thursday, May 25. Footage showed the cow entering traffic along I-75 while Littlejohn and his horse Bucky were in pursuit. The cowboy could be seen waving a lasso rope as he chased the animal. "The cow managed to outsmart its adversaries, and entered the northbound lanes of I-75," Michigan State Police said. "The wranglers chased the cow with four-wheelers, horses, and lassos across all lanes of travel. Troopers shut down north and southbound lanes of I-75 for safety." The video released by police ends after the cow crosses a center median and appears to hop over a guardrail into oncoming traffic. "Eventually after much tom foolery [sic], the critter was captured and removed from the freeway," police said. "Troopers reopened the freeway and things quickly got back to normal. The bovine was not charged and is back in the pasture with a story to tell all the other livestock." When asked if he has a message for other cows, Littlejohn said, "Stay in your fences and I wont have to come catch you." Chinese hackers are accused of breaching US military bases on Guam Chinese hackers used "stealthy" malware to attack critical infrastructure on American military bases in Guam, say Microsoft and Western spy agencies. Experts say it's one of the largest known cyber espionage campaigns against the US. A key US military outpost, Guam's ports and air bases would be crucial to any Western response to a conflict in Asia. Beijing has called the Microsoft report "highly unprofessional" and "disinformation". Together with the Five Eyes alliance - comprising the intelligence agencies of the US, Australia, Britain, New Zealand and Canada - Microsoft published details of the malware on Wednesday. The Five Eyes initiative is a decades-old intelligence sharing agreement. The partners say they aim to educate critical infrastructure providers and corporate users on how to detect and remove the malware. Microsoft, which flagged the breach, says the malicious code was installed to spy on and disrupt "communications infrastructure between the US and Asia during future crises". It targeted, among others, communications, manufacturing, utility and transportation sectors. The purpose was to maintain access to critical systems for as long as possible. The attack was carried out by China's state-sponsored cyber group "Volt Typhoon" and relied on "living-off-the-land techniques", said the tech company. This involves hackers infiltrating local networks to modify their tools and issue commands, while remaining largely undetected. Responding to queries at a Chinese foreign ministry press briefing, spokeswoman Mao Ning called the US the "hacker empire" and dismissed the report as having a "serious lack of evidence chain". While the US and China regularly accuse each other of spying, the joint Five Eyes statement is notable, experts say. "The fact that it's a Five Eyes initiative - there's significant concern over what this attack might be a precursor to in terms of the intent behind it, and the sabotage element here," said Jamie Norton, a partner at restructuring and advisory firm McGrathNicol. Mr Norton, a former information security advisor to the Australian government, noted that Microsoft's analysis of the attack found no evidence that the Chinese hackers had used their access to Guam's systems for any offensive attacks. But, he added, that finding could point to a broader campaign to "exfiltrate and farm data over the long term", in order to conduct sabotage operations in the future. Microsoft President Brad Smith threw his weight behind proposals to create a new regulatory agency and licensing model for artificial intelligence (AI) during a Thursday speech in Washington, D.C. Smiths support for Congress to pursue AI regulation comes as the tech company steams ahead with AI integration after large investments into OpenAIs ChatGPT services. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also urged Congress to create a new legal framework to address AI regulation during a hearing in the Senate last week. We need a new law, Smith said. He said there should be licenses for AI, the same way there are for automobiles or other products. Licensing would help ensure responsible conduct without slowing innovation, he said. A new regulatory agency should be created that would be tasked with oversight of new AI technologies, Smith added. In addition to Smiths push for Congressional action, he said Microsoft had committed to following the National Institute of Standards and Technologys (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework after meeting at the White House earlier this month. The NIST framework created a voluntary set of guidelines for companies to follow. Smith said an executive order should be issued that would call for the federal government to only procure AI services from companies that make the same commitment. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been discussing proposals to regulate AI. Last weeks hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee highlighted the bipartisan focus and momentum to regulate AI but no clear legislative framework has emerged yet. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) unveiled a framework to add guardrails to AI regulation, which could give Congress a starting point to add rules of the road. The Senate Judiciary Committee is also expected to hold further hearings on AI regulation, subcommittee chairs said last week. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Middleburg master groomer accused of forcing teen girl to have sex with men on video, FDLE says Middleburg master groomer accused of forcing teen girl to have sex with men on video, FDLE says A Clay County man is accused of forcing a 15-year-old girl to have sex with men and directing those men to get video of the acts, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. We can never live in a society where pedophilia is normal, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said. Randy Coffelt Jr., 44, of Middleburg, was arrested and is facing the following charges: Human trafficking Promoting a sexual performance by a child Using a minor in production of computer pornography Seduction of a child using the internet Transmission of child sexual abuse material This vile man groomed and then exploited a teenage girl by forcing her to perform sexual acts with other men in exchange for videos of the acts as payment. Thankfully, this predator is now behind bars and will face justice for his crimes, Attorney General Ashley Moody said during a news conference on Thursday. In April, the Pasco Sheriffs Office began investigating when it learned of allegations that Coffelt had forced a minor victim to commit various sexual acts with other adult males, who recorded the child sexual abuse, according to a release from FDLE. From the very beginning a 44 year old male knows she is 15 years old and he says I dont care, Nocco said. This is where the tragedy just keeps going out of control. Read: Two Jacksonville men sentenced to federal prison for string of armed robberies Coffelt first contacted the victim over an online chat platform in December 2022 and then started contacting her through text message and email, where the conversations became sexually explicit, the release from the FDLE said. Randy starts manipulating her through these conversations to the fact that the victim believes that he loves her like a boyfriend-girlfriend situation, and she wants to make him happy, Nocco said. Investigators found that Coffelt uploaded nude photos of the minor to a pornographic website and created a profile advertising her for sex, FDLE said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Coffelt began coordinating meetings between the victim and men from the website and directed the girl to engage in sexual acts with the men, told the men to record the acts and then send them back to him as payment, FDLE said. This suspect was a master groomer in the most reprehensible sense of the term, manipulating and exploiting a vulnerable minor for his own twisted gains. I am grateful to FDLEs agents and analysts, the investigators at Pasco Sheriffs Office, Pasco County victim advocates and the prosecutors at Attorney General Ashley Moodys Office of Statewide Prosecution for their work on this case to ensure that his days of preying on our youth are over, FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said. Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson has decades of law enforcement experience and says this is called grooming and it happens over a period of time. Children are typically susceptible to the enticement by adults because adults are more sophisticated, and the child wants to please the adults and thats how the grooming is progresses, Carson said. And its insidious. FDLE agents secured a search warrant for Coffelts residence in Clay County and the warrant was executed on Saturday. Agents seized several electronic devices for forensic examination and took Coffelt into custody. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Clay County Sheriffs Office assisted with the arrest and Coffelt was booked into the Clay County Jail on a $375,000 bond. The case will be prosecuted by Moodys office. We are proud of the Pasco Sheriffs members for initiating this case and the FDLE and Clay Sheriffs Office for their partnership in bringing these criminals to justice. Our main focus is to assist the young victim in this case and to prevent others from falling victim to these manipulating predators, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said. Investigators believe that there may be additional victims, and anyone with information is urged to call FDLEs Human Trafficking Hotline at 855-FLA-SAFE (855-352-7233) or the Pasco Sheriffs Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Militia leader gets 18 years in prison over US Capitol attack Stewart Rhodes was one of more than 1,000 people charged over the 2021 Capitol attack, which aimed to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election The founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia was handed an 18-year prison sentence Thursday for sedition in the 2021 attack on the US Capitol, the toughest penalty given yet over the January 6 assault. Out of the more than 1,000 people charged over the attack, Stewart Rhodes was singled out for directing his heavily armed group to descend on Washington and use violence if necessary to prevent Joe Biden from becoming president. "Seditious conspiracy is among the most serious crimes an American can commit," said Judge Amit Mehta in pronouncing the sentence. "You present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country," Mehta told Rhodes, who organized the Oath Keepers January 6 participation in the attack on the Capitol by supporters of then-president Donald Trump. "You are smart, charismatic and compelling and that is frankly what makes you dangerous," Mehta said -- rejecting 57-year-old Rhodes' claim that he was a "political prisoner." The sentence fell short of the 25 years the government had sought, although Mehta accepted the argument that the Oath Keepers' plan to violently block Biden's presidency amounted to terrorism. Just ahead of the sentence, Rhodes, wearing an eye patch and dressed in his orange prison jumpsuit, defiantly defended his group and their actions in support of Trump. "My only crime is opposing those destroying our country," he declared, comparing himself to the famed Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. - Blame Trump - Mehta focused on the Oath Keepers' stockpiling of weapons just outside the city and wearing combat-style gear in an organized push into the Capitol that day, sending lawmakers and vice president Mike Pence fleeing to safety. For several hours, they successfully blocked Congress from certifying Biden's victory over Trump in the November 202 presidential election. For prosecutors, that showed a level of planning and preparation for violence not present with many of the others in the crowd. In an echo of Rhodes' punishment, hours later Mehta gave Kelly Meggs, 54, the chief of the Florida branch of the Oath Keepers, 12 years in prison, also for sedition -- plotting to overthrow the government or unlawfully opposing its authority. Rhodes, Meggs and three other Oath Keepers were convicted by a Washington jury in November in the first trial to apply the charge of sedition to the actions of some of those involved in January 6. Since then, other Oath Keepers and members of another militia, the Proud Boys, have also been convicted of the charge, potentially raising the stakes for Trump and many in his circle who have come under investigation for their possible roles in encouraging and instigating the violence. During the Oath Keepers trial, prosecutors said the group "concocted a plan for an armed rebellion... plotting to oppose by force the government of the United States." Rhodes' attorneys argued that he himself never entered the Capitol building and that he did not support others doing so. But Mehta rejected that as anything mitigating the sentence. Rhodes was unequivocally the leader of the group and summoned them to Washington with a cache of arms for the violent assault, Mehta said. "Stewart Rhodes is a Yale Law grad and a pretty smart guy," the judge said. "He was the one giving the orders... They were there because of him." Rhodes' attorney Phillip Linder however said he should not be held responsible for the Capitol attack and pointed his finger at Trump. "I think what happened on January 6 was deplorable," Linder told the court. But Rhodes did not plan the uprising, he insisted. "We need to look at what caused this... Who got the Million Maga rally started?... Who got January 6 started?" Linder said. "He's not the one that started that rhetoric that got the people ginned up." pmh/caw Culver's restaurant The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has accused a Culvers fast-food franchisee in Cottage Grove, Minn., of subjecting employees to a hostile work environment that included harassment based on race, sex, sexual orientation, and disability. The EEOC, an agency of the federal government, filed two lawsuits Tuesday against R & G Endeavors Inc., the franchisee doing business as Culvers Restaurants of Cottage Grove, the EEOC announced in a press release. Several workers endured harassment at the restaurant over the past five years, in violation of federal law, the agency charges. Managers and coworkers, for instance, insulted a gay African American employee in racist and homophobic fashion, including use of the n-word and the f-word, according to the EEOC. They also discussed his sex life, and referred to him as the restaurants adopted African child, says the EEOC release. The agency further charges that the company subjected an employee with a disability to bullying and disability-related slurs, while paying him less than his coworkers. It goes on to allege there was sexual harassment of female employees, some as young as 14, that included unwanted sexual touching, jokes, and propositions. Employees reported these conditions to management, but the company failed to reasonably address the harassment or discipline those responsible, the press release continues. The intolerable working conditions forced one employee to quit. Such conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans job discrimination based on race, sex, and sexual orientation, plus the Americans With Disabilities Act. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota after first attempting to reach settlements with R & G Endeavors. The EEOC seeks compensation for the affected employees and an order requiring the company to take steps to stop and prevent future workplace harassment and pay disparities. These forms of discriminatory harassment in the workplace are never acceptable, Greg Gochanour, regional attorney for the EEOCs Chicago District Office, said in the release. All employees regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation or disability should enjoy an equal right to safety, dignity, and respect in their place of work, and the EEOC will vigorously enforce that right, through litigation if necessary. Federal law requires employers to take prompt and effective action to stop harassment on the job, added Diane Smason, acting district director of the EEOCs Chicago District. Employers cannot simply ignore repeated reports of harassment, allowing this abusive conduct to continue and spread. When I visited St. Paul, Minn., last week, I was physically in another state capital and politically in another world. Minnesota is governed by a partisan trifecta. The Democratic Party or the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party as its known there controls the governorship as well as the state House and Senate. This year, that total control intersected with a record $17.5 billion budget surplus. Equipped with votes and money, the Democrats went to town. Or, as their Republican opponents put it, they went bonkers. Democrats checked off a long wish list of progressive priorities. The highlights of passed legislation include: protecting abortion rights, more funding for public schools, free meals for all students., a $1 billion housing bill to assist renters and first-time homebuyers, paid family leave, a new tax on multinational, corporations, a $2.6 billion infrastructure plan, tax rebate for middle and low-income Minnesotans, legalized marijuana, red flag and safe storage gun laws and a requirement that state utilities use only carbon-free sources to generate electricity by 2040. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said victories in the November elections let Democratic take full control of the legislature and show that progressive priorities can become law despite a rightward shift in other states If people have begun to lose faith in democracy, look to Minnesota, when we show up when we vote with our values, when we say that we are going to take care of each other, when everyone is in and no one is out. It matters. And these are the results that you can get, she said. What a contrast with the mood in Raleigh. where Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper tried unsuccessfully to prevent the override of his veto of a 12-week abortion ban that has bitterly split the state. This week, he declared that Republican legislation accelerating tax cuts and expanding vouchers for private schools has created a state of emergency for public education. Republican legislative leaders, empowered by their veto-proof majorities, dismissed the governors alarm as a stunt. In many ways, the political history and traditions of Minnesota are far removed from North Carolina, but in other ways the two are similar. Until Republicans took control of the General Assembly in 2011, North Carolina prided itself as a forward-thinking leader of the New South. Demographically, the two states have similar trends. In Minnesota, population and political power has accrued to the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In North Carolina, population, wealth and influence are increasingly centered in the not-so-twin, but equally blue cities of Raleigh and Charlotte. Though a political chasm now yawns between the two states, North Carolina Democrats should see cause for hope in what happened in Minnesota. Before the political dam broke, Minnesotas legislature had been mired in gridlock brought on by a divided government. Legislation was incremental. The progressive agenda was stymied. Then, thanks to close but crucial Democratic election victories and a state budget boosted by federal aid from a Democratic Congress, a renaissance arrived. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said of the change from Republican obstruction to Democratic execution: You would come here and youd have a list of things that were well thought out and would improve peoples lives, and [Republicans] would treat it like a wish list. Isnt that nice. Isnt that cute. Those days are over. That wish list is a to-do list and were checking it off. Minnesota Democrats got what they wished for. Next theyll get the credit or blame for how things work out. But at least and at last Democrats ideas about improving peoples lives will be fully tried. It can happen in North Carolina, too, just as it did a few years ago in Virginia. North Carolina is changing. Frustration with Republicans autocratic, intrusive and miserly legislation is growing. But getting North Carolina to Minnesotas moment will take more than wishing. It will require getting all those who are dissatisfied, hurting and worried after 13 years of Republican control to get up and get out to vote Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com The Druzhkivka City Court in Donetsk Oblast found a citizen guilty of collaborationism and sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment. Source: Sudovyi Reporter (Court Reporter) with reference to the court decision dated 19 May. Details: In the spring of 2022, on Telegram, an underage resident of Bakhmut got acquainted with Evgeniy, an informer of the Russian special services, and agreed to help them launch attacks against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From 30 May to 19 July he provided the Russians with information about the location of Ukrainian troops and the results of Russian attacks, sending map screenshots with markings and voice messages. According to the investigation, the teenager was acting out of political and ideological motives and, presumably, wanted Donetsk Oblast to be occupied by Russia. His accomplice handed the received information over to a secret non-staff member of the so-called "Special Operations Center of the Ministry of State Security of the Donetsk Peoples Republic" and a former head of the artillery reconnaissance of the 100th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Donetsk Peoples Republic in order to facilitate further missile attacks on man power and the areas of concentration of military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In June 2022, the defendant was added to an invite-only community in Telegram, which consisted of the members of the Russian special services and illegal armed formations as well as of other recruited artillery observers. On 12 July 2022, the defendant provided them with maps with the markings of where the manpower and military equipment, as well as a Starlink means of connection, were located. On 19 July, the Russians launched attacks on this position. That same day, the defendant conducted reconnaissance on the site of the missile strikes. After that he informed the Russians that the Ukrainian troops still remain there. On 22 July, the occupiers launched another attack on the same location. The accused was arrested and taken into custody in August 2022. He turned out to be a minor. Sudovyi Reporter reports that currently he is no older than 17. The defendants actions were qualified as collaborationism aiding the illegal armed formations and/or armed formations of the aggressor state in waging combat actions against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The young man pleaded guilty in court and refused to testify. He was sentenced to 10 years of prison. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! An 11-year-old boy who was shot by an officer after calling police for help has been released from hospital, his family says. Mississippi police arrived at Aderrien Murry's home on Saturday responding to a domestic disturbance call placed by the boy, then shot him in the chest, according to his mother. She said the boy asked her "what did I do?" after being shot. The officer involved has been placed on leave as the shooting is investigated. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is conducting a probe into the incident. The boy is recovering at home after being released from a local hospital, where he was treated for a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. His mother, Nakala Murry, has asked for the officer to be fired and charged. At a press conference on Monday outside Indianola City Hall, she said the father of another of her children had shown up at their house early on Saturday morning and was acting "irate", prompting her to instruct her son to call the police. When the Indianola officer arrived, Ms Murry later told CNN, he "had his gun drawn at the front door" and asked everyone inside to exit. As her son turned the corner of the hallway, the officer opened fire, striking Aderrien in the chest, she said. "His words were: 'Why did he shoot me? What did I do?' and he started crying," Ms Murry said. "This cannot keep happening. This is not OK." She said she had covered her son's wound with her hand and applied pressure, blood pooling beneath her palm. The officer also assisted her in rendering aid, she said, until medics arrived. Aderrien was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Centre, where he was given a chest tube and placed on a ventilator. Ms Murry and her family's lawyer, Carlos Moore, have called on officials to take further action. Mr Moore said the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave. "What are you waiting on? Someone to actually die?" Mr Moore said during the Monday press conference. According to him, the officer allegedly involved had been named the department's "best officer". "If he's your best, Indianola, you need a clean house from top to bottom," he said. At a sit-in protest outside City Hall on Thursday, Ms Murry, Mr Moore and about a dozen protesters said they were "demanding justice". At a rally planned for Saturday, the group will demand the firing of the officer and the release of body-camera footage from the incident. Police have so far denied the footage request due to the ongoing investigation, according to Mr Moore. The Indianola Police Department told BBC News it is not currently commenting on the case. Over the weekend, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said it is "currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence", and will submit its findings to the state attorney general's office. A Missouri nun's body seems intact 4 years after she was buried. Pilgrims are flocking to her remains and calling it a 'miracle.' The body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster. Kelsey Wicks/Catholic News Agency People are flocking to Missouri to visit the "miracle" of a recently exhumed body of a nun. The corpse of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster was discovered intact with no signs of decomposition. Lancaster, the founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles, died in 2019 at 95. The recently exhumed body of a Missouri nun is attracting the influx of hundreds of pilgrims after the corpse was remarkably discovered intact after four years with no signs of decomposition. Some have described the revelation of the preserved remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster as a "miracle in Missouri." Lancaster, the founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles, died in 2019, aged 95. Her body was not embalmed and was buried in a wooden coffin in Gower, Missouri, the Catholic News Agency reported. Last week four years after Lancaster's death the Benedictine Sisters decided to unearth Lancaster's body to move her remains under the altar in their convent's chapel as is customary for founders, according to the Catholic News Agency. The sisters were reportedly stunned when they opened the coffin, which even had a crack down the middle. "We were told by cemetery personnel to expect just bones in the conditions, as Sister Wilhelmina was buried without embalming and in a simple wood coffin," one nun, who was not identified, told Newsweek. The sister told the news outlet that when Mother Abbess Cecilia peered through the crack in the coffin, "she saw a totally intact foot with the sock on, looking just like it did when we had buried her." "She could not help but scream with joy," the sister said. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster. The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles When the sisters realized Lancaster's body was still totally intact, they "took turns feeling the still-socked feet," the nun told Newsweek. "The dirt that fell in early on had pushed down on her facial features, especially the right eye, so we did place a wax mask over it. But her eyelashes, hair, eyebrows, nose, and lips were all present, her mouth just about to smile," the sister said. As the news spread on social media, droves of people began flocking to the Missouri town to visit the body, according to the Catholic News Agency. Lancaster's body will be displayed in the sisters' chapel in Gower until May 29 and then will be encased in glass. Typically, without preservation techniques like embalming or mummification, the human body slowly begins to decay the moment a person's heart stops beating, Insider previously reported. In many cases, the body will decompose until all that's left are the bones. Read the original article on Insider He moderated DeSantis presidential announcement on Twitter. Who is David Sacks? Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday evening joined Twitter owner Elon Musk in an audio-only conversation on the social media site to announce his campaign for president. The virtual event was moderated by tech investor David Sacks. DeSantis had filed paperwork to run for president earlier in the day and chose a Twitter Spaces conversation hosted by Musk to personally announce his bid for the Republican nomination. READ MORE: So Ron DeSantis is running for president. Here are 5 things you should know about him The start of the online event was marred by technical glitches. After they were resolved, the conversation turned to questions about the governors policies in Florida. Here are three things to know about Sacks. 1. Hes a podcast host and entrepreneur While well-known in Silicon Valley, Sacks is far from a household name. An entrepreneur and investor, he co-hosts the podcast All In, which focuses on economics, tech, politics, society and poker. In 2017, Sacks co-founded venture capital firm Craft Ventures. He has previously served as the chief operating officer of PayPal and CEO of Yammer, an enterprise social networking service that was sold to Microsoft in 2012. Sacks was an angel investor in Facebook, Uber, Airbnb and SpaceX, which was founded by Musk. 2. Hes known Elon Musk for decades Sacks and Musk, who are both from South Africa, have known each other since the 90s. They were both part of the PayPal Mafia, a group of PayPal employees and executives who later founded successful tech companies. 3. He donates to political candidates Over the years, Sacks has donated to both Republican and Democratic candidates though in recent years he has become a regular in conservative circles. He hosted a fundraiser for DeSantis in San Francisco in 2021 and has become a major contributor to Republican politicians such as Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. In 2012, Sacks donated $50,000 to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. He later gave Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton about $70,000 during the 2016 election cycle. The New Republic reports that Sacks has used his wealth to unite people across the political spectrum against wokeness and liberalism. mother with child on laptop while working remotely An American woman is opening up about her double life working remotely overseas without permission from her job. In an as-told essay from Business Insider, the woman who remained anonymous had a lot to say about the year she spent working internationally and the hoops she had to jump through to make it happen. The nameless mom says she was allowed to work at her dream job, a sleep-study lab in Virginia. However, things changed after she became pregnant with her son. She worked up until the day she went into labor. Thankfully, her boss approved for her to work remotely from home to spend more time with her newborn. At that time, I was the only remote employee who worked for this company, she told Business Insider. Working at home wasnt a luxury a lot of other people had the option to do, and I felt grateful. It was the only way I could take care of my son and not lose this dream job. The new mother felt she was in the perfect position. She had her dream job and the flexibility to work from the comfort of her home. Everything was working in her favor until her husband received a job offer for a position based in Tunisia, Africa. Worried shed lose her dream job, the woman packed up and moved overseas without notifying her employer. I think they would have given the role to someone else if I told them I was going to be living in Africa and never coming into the office, she said. It wouldve sounded like a logistical nightmare from a human-resources standpoint. Her risk was worth it and the woman began to assimilate to her new, double life. She split her time between being with family in Africa and pretending to be in the States during work hours. Photo credit: Barbara Olsen Juggling Working Remotely While Living Abroad The anonymous woman was six hours ahead of Virginia so her days started at 10 a.m. to align with when patients woke up in the US. When new hires joined the company and requested in-person training from her, she stood firmly on her remote work entitlement. She never received any pushback from leadership. The most difficult part of her unapproved international work status was taking patient phone calls. Fortunately, she was never required to video call patients. As a result, no one ever knew she was taking calls in the middle of the night. Part of my role involves calling patients to share the results of the sleep study, she said. Sometimes, patients would call me back at 2 a.m. my time, and I would have to answer because they would want to talk through problems and results. To keep her remote work status secret, the woman took multiple precautions to ensure her misconduct wasnt discovered. She used a Google Voice number, allowing her to make calls via Wifi with an American number. She also used a virtual private network (VPN) to access apps and websites only available in the US. Additionally, she made sure everything she did was done electronically so there was never any traces of international mail or documentation that could be reported to her job. I was new to being a remote worker when we moved to Africa, so there was a learning curve in terms of figuring out how to be completely paperless and do everything electronically, she said. I had to learn different ways to scan documents, electronically sign studies, and troubleshoot computer issues from thousands of miles away. The Effects Of Secretly Working Remotely Eventually, the facade began to wear thin on her. The woman grew tired of having to hide and disclose her every move. She could never share with her co-workers what shed done on the weekend or photos of how beautiful Tunisia was out of fear shed lose the job shed dreamed of for so long. The position also wasnt as fulfilling long-term as shed hoped it would be. After a year of working remotely from Africa, I started to get bored with the job, she said. I wasnt interacting with coworkers, and I was completely alone reading these sleep studies. I did miss interacting with people in person, and I grew frustrated with having to sit in front of my computer all day and stare at the screen. After starting a food blog and growing a steady readership, the young woman began to redesign her dream. She monetized her new platform and, once she realized how to scale and expand, decided to quit her job at the sleep lab. She never mentioned anything about the year shed spent working in Africa. I didnt do any kind of reveal about the secret life I was living, but after I left, I did start posting on social media about living in Tunisia, she said. Some of my coworkers figured it out, and they were surprised. My boss never reached out and said anything. RELATED: Are Hush Trips The New Work and Travel Trend In 2023? Mom won $100,000 lottery prize, then son won $1,000 twice. Now, their luck continues He plays the lottery with his mom every day, and its paid off more than once. The Anne Arundel County man a boilermaker who already won $1,000 twice this year just won much more on a $5 scratch-off ticket, Maryland lottery officials said in a May 24 news release. Its his first $50,000 top-prize winning scratch-off, officials said in the release. He and his mom take turns buying scratch-offs to play together every day, officials said. His mom is the one who picked the $5 Lucky Riches instant ticket that won him the top prize. She won $100,000 while visiting him about three years ago. But this was his first time winning this big, officials said. The man, who was not identified, told his mom right away, officials said. He plans to put the money into savings. Moms unannounced visit had daughter worried then she saw her MD lottery ticket Man drives 130 miles on whim to play Idaho Lottery game and wins biggest prize ever Dad surprises kids with winning California lottery ticket after gas station coffee run Mom's brilliant graduation gift goes viral and has the most touching story behind it An Alabama moms graduation gift for her daughter has the internet in tears. Erin Percy recently shared a video on TikTok showing a basket filled with presents for her 18-year-old daughter, Abby Rose. Each carefully wrapped package has a handwritten note attached. Open me when its cold outside, the first note reads, as "Married Life," a heartbreakingly beautiful score from Pixar's animated film "Up" plays in the background. Other messages include, Open me when you dont have the time to do laundry, Open me before midterms, Open me when you need a little jolt. I wanted to give her a few things for those important moments that I'm going to miss, Percy tells TODAY.com. The pediatric nurse practitioner adds that she is also a stage 3 breast cancer survivor. Abby Rose was my biggest cheerleader when I was sick from surgery, chemo and radiation, Percy reveals. Even though Im seven years in remission, I worry, 'What if I cant be there for her?' Subconsciously, I think that had something to do with the gifts as well. Abby Rose, 18, will be attending the College of Charleston in South Carolina, which is nine hours away from home in Alabama. Were really, really close, Percy says, noting that Abby Rose has been competing in dance competitions for more than 10 year. "I'm going to miss driving together to all the competitions," Percy says, her voice cracking with emotion. "But I'm so excited for this next chapter. She had a hard high school experience because of Covid and I just want her to have an awesome, normal, college experience." Percy, who has been inundated with comments from people wanting to know whats inside each box, gladly shares the details with TODAY.com: Open Me When... Open me when its cold outside: A cozy sweatsuit. Open me when you catch a cold: Honey, teas, cough drops and Vicks VapoRub. Open me when you need a little me time: Spa day goodies, including face masks. We spend way too much time at Ulta, Percy says. Open me when you need to break the ice with new people: Party games for Abby Rose to play with her roommates. Open me when you dont have time to do the laundry: A weeks worth of socks and underwear! Open me any day but Sunday: Chick-Fil-A gift card. Open me before midterms: A gift card for Insomnia cookies, which offers delivery until 3 a.m. Open me when you need a little jolt: Starbucks gift card. Open me when you get your first A: An A pendant. Open me when we say goodbye: When she was little I used to sing her the song 'You are my Sunshine,'" Percy says. So I got her a sun necklace and we each get one half. Im already wearing mine. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed three more anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law, including one that activists are calling the LGBTQ erasure act, defining sex as binary and determined by reproductive capacity. Gianforte, a Republican, announced Saturday that he had signed the bill. Also, he signed one allowing public schools to out transgender students to their parents and one that will let parents withdraw their children from school if they object to the days lesson plan. The erasure legislation, Senate Bill 458, defines sex based on their chromosomes and their reproductive characteristics females by their ability to produce an egg and males by their ability to produce sperm, under normal development. Those who cant do so because of a condition present at birth will be defined according to their nonambiguous genitalia, the bill reads. Intersex people will be assigned a gender based on the characteristic deemed predominant. The bills provisions affect more than 40 sections of state law. In human beings, there are exactly two sexes, male and female, with two corresponding types of gametes, the legislation reads. The sexes are determined by the biological and genetic indication of male or female, including sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex chromosomes, gonads, and nonambiguous internal and external genitalia present at birth, without regard to an individuals psychological, behavioral, social, chosen, or subjective experience of gender. It was drafted with advice from the Montana Family Foundation, an anti-LGBTQ+ organization, and its sponsor, Republican Sen. Carl Glimm, framed the policy as a response to a rise in people identifying as transgender, the Montana Free Press reports. Language added to the bill toward the end of the legislative session says it includes people who would otherwise fall within this definition of male or female but for a biological or genetic condition. But medical professionals say thats not inclusive of all intersex people, and trans and nonbinary people say the measure excludes them from state law. If you start with the assertion that there are exactly two sexes, which is the literature of the bill, thats an inaccurate statement, Dr. Erin Grantham, a pediatric urologist, told the Free Press. She also said its unscientific to ignore the role of psychology. You can legislate whatever you want, she said. You can say that gravity only applies when youre at sea level, but that doesnt change the fact that theres gravity when we walk up a hill. State Rep. SJ Howell, a Democrat who is nonbinary, objected to the bill during debate in April. The reality is that there are people who are out living their lives, Montanans, our friends and community members, who do not fit into these definitions just because of their medical and biological reality, Howell said at the time, according to the Free Press. The lawmaker added, Imagine my dismay at discovering that a state like Montana, my state, my home, says the government knows better. Theres two boxes, you got to choose, end of story. One of Gianforte's children is nonbinary. The legislation could harm Montana financially, civil rights activists say. Federal agencies that fund state universities and other institutions have the right to deny money to those that discriminate, and if these agencies do so, it could cost the state up to $7.5 billion, half its annual budget. The outing bill, Senate Bill 518, requires school districts to establish procedures by which a parent shall provide written consent before the parent's child uses a pronoun that does not align with the child's sex, as the legislation reads. If a parent provides written consent under this subsection a person may not be compelled to use pronouns that do not align with the child's sex. It also calls for written parental permission for students to participate in school-sponsored clubs and other extracurricular activities. House Bill 676, which provides for the school withdrawals, additionally says public employees, except for law enforcement, cant encourage or coerce a child to withhold health information from parents something that could result in outing too and requires parental consent if a child rooms with an individual of the opposite sex on a school-sponsored trip, something that could affect trans youth. The Human Rights Campaign denounced Gianfortes signing of the bills, which comes after he OKd legislation banning gender-affirming health care for trans minors last month despite his nonbinary son's opposition. Governor Gianforte had an opportunity to do the right thing. He chose not to, said a statement from HRC State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel Cathryn Oakley. These bills will not only make life harder on LGBTQ+ folks across the state of Montana, but they will also put half of Montanas annual budget at risk as well. Thats a high price to pay to please the fringe elements of your political base. The people of Montana deserve better. The new batch of bills was signed after the legislative process for SB 99, which banned certain gender-affirming care, was particularly contentious. Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr, one of the first trans lawmakers in Montana, told her colleagues theyd have blood on your hands if they approved the bill. Republicans, who hold a majority in the legislature, then barred Zephyr from speaking on the House floor for the rest of the session. Some citizens who came to the capitol to demonstrate their support for her were arrested. Gianforte signed that bill into law in late April. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin signed documents on placing Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. According to Belarus' Defense Ministry, the two officials met in Minsk on May 25. Control over the weaponry and decision on its use remains with Moscow, Shoigu said during the meeting, as cited by Russian state-controlled news agency Interfax. He added that Russia may take "additional measures" in the future "to ensure the security of the Union State (of Russia and Belarus) and respond to the military-political situation." Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko makes brief public appearance following rumors of his poor health Belarusian authorities publish footage of dictator Alexander Lukashenko conducting work trips in an attempt to refute rumors of his poor health. His voice remains hoarse, his hand bandaged, just like at the Victory Day celebrations, after which he disappeared from the public eye. The European Parli Kyiv IndependentMaria Yeryoma On April 4, Shoigu claimed that Russia had provided Belarus with aircraft and Iskander-M missile complexes capable of delivering nuclear strikes. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened on March 25 that his country intended to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for training, the latest in Moscow's series of nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West. Putin said the "special storage facility" for tactical nuclear weapons would be ready by July 1. Belarus' Foreign Ministry later claimed the regime was "forced" to do so amid so-called "unprecedented political, economic, and informational pressure" from the West. NATO and the EU criticized the move, urging Belarus not to go through with it. The European Union's chief diplomat Josep Borrell called the decision an "irresponsible escalation and threat to European security." Most wanted Rwandan genocide suspect arrested in South Africa after decades on the run The most wanted fugitive in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has been arrested in Paarl, South Africa after decades on the run. Fulgence Kayishema is accused of orchestrating the killing of more than 2,000 Tutsi refugees women, men, children and the elderly at Nyange Catholic Church during the genocide. He has been on the run since 2001. He was captured Wednesday in a joint operation between the South African authorities and UN investigators. When he was arrested, Kayishema initially denied his identity, according to a statement from the UN team. But by the end of the evening he told them: I have been waiting a long time to be arrested. Investigators said he used multiple identities and forged documents to evade detection. The arrest was the culmination of an intense, thorough and rigorous investigation, a senior official at the prosecutors office involved in the case told CNN. Family members and known associates were exhaustively investigated. That ultimately led to identifying the right location to search and finding the critical intelligence that was needed. Fulgence Kayishema was a fugitive for more than 20 years. His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes, said Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). Genocide is the most serious crime known to humankind. The international community has committed to ensure that its perpetrators will be prosecuted and punished. This arrest is a tangible demonstration that this commitment does not fade and that justice will be done, no matter how long it takes, Brammertz said. At the end of the genocide in July 1994, Kayishema fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo with his wife, children and brother-in-law. After relocating to other African countries, he moved to South Africa in 1999 and claimed asylum in Cape Town, using a false name. According to prosecutors, since his arrival in South Africa he was able to rely on a tight support network including former Rwandan military members which went to extreme lengths to conceal his activities and whereabouts. Huge reward offered In recent years, the IRMCT prosecutor has complained about the lack of cooperation from South African authorities and there have been a series of near misses capturing Kayishema. A report describes a failure to arrest Kayishema three years ago. But on Thursday, Brammertz lauded the cooperation and support of the South African government. The events in Nyanga, Rwanda, were one of the most brutal of the genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed over the period of 90 days. The tribunal alleges that Kayishema directly participated in the planning and execution of this massacre. The indictment says he bought and distributed petrol to burn down the church while refugees were inside. Kayishema and others are also accused of using a bulldozer to collapse the church following the fire, while refugees were still inside. The former priest at the church, Athanase Seromba, was convicted over the massacre in 2006 and sentenced to 15 years in prison, which was later increased to a life sentence on appeal. Kayishema is due to be arraigned on Friday in a Cape Town court. A reward of up to $5,000,000 was offered by the US War Crimes Rewards Program for information on Kayishema and the other fugitives wanted for perpetrating the Rwandan genocide. With the arrest of Kayishema, the UN is still seeking three more prominent suspects. In 2020, another fugitive was captured in a Paris suburb after more than 20 years on the run. Felicien Kabuga, one of the worlds most wanted fugitives, who is alleged to have been a leading figure in the genocide, was arrested in a joint operation with French authorities. The Rwandan genocide saw Hutu militias and civilians alike murder vast numbers of members of the Tutsi ethnic minority: men, women and children, many of whom had been their neighbors before the conflict began. The killings finally came to an end 100 days later, when Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) troops, led by Paul Kagame, defeated the Hutu rebels and took control of the country. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A mother has discussed the sweet meaning behind the now viral gift that she made for daughter, after her high school graduation. Erin Percy, who goes by the username @erinpercy60, shared a recent video on TikTok of the gift for her daughter, who will be going to college in the fall. Throughout the footage, which was set to a score from the Pixar film Up, the mother showcased a handful of wrapped presents, with a different note attached to each one. The first gift was labelled with a note that read: Open me when its cold outside, while the second gift had a note that said: Open me when you catch a cold. This trend continued with other gifts, two of which read: Open me when you need a little me time and Open me when you dont have time to do laundry. While she continued to showcase the rest of the presents, Percy ended her video by placing one gift, which read: Open me when we say goodbye, in a basket. As of 25 May, the video has more than 1.2m views, with TikTok users praising the gifts in the comments. They also expressed how they wanted to know what the presents were. The goodbye one broke me, one person wrote, while another added: This is so sweet. A third wrote: Youre KILLING ME. Im dying to see whats inside. My daughter is off to university in the fall and Ive been thinking about the care packages. Speaking to Today.com, Percy shared that her daughter, Abby Rose, will be leaving her hometown in Alabama in the fall, as shell be attending the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She also acknowledged why these various gifts to her daughter were so important . I wanted to give her a few things for those important moments that Im going to miss, she explained. The mother went on to praise her relationship with Abby, noting that when she was battling cancer, her daughter was by her side. She also confessed some of the daily fears that she still has, as a stage 3 breast cancer survivor. Abby Rose was my biggest cheerleader when I was sick from surgery, chemo and radiation, Percy shared. Even though Im seven years in remission, I worry, What if I cant be there for her? Subconsciously, I think that had something to do with the gifts as well. Although Abbys school is nine hours away from home, Percy acknowledged how thrilled she is for her daughter and her upcoming opportunity. Im so excited for this next chapter, she explained. She had a hard high school experience because of Covid and I just want her to have an awesome, normal, college experience. Speaking to Today.com, Percy also revealed what her gifts actually were. For example, in the gift labelled Open me when we say goodbye, the mother gave her daughter a necklace. When she was little I used to sing her the song You are my Sunshine, she explained. So I got her a sun necklace and we each get one half. Im already wearing mine. For a gift labelled Open me when you need a little jolt, she got Abby a Starbucks gift card, in addition to an Insomnia Cookies gift card, which was part of her Open me before midterms gift. She also got her daughter a weeks worth of socks and underwear, which was for Abby to open when she doesnt have time to do laundry. The Independent has contacted Percy for comment. Motorist saw CHP officer pinned by man at 5 Freeway entrance. He rushed to save him Everardo Navarro says he didnt have time to think last week when he saw a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer pinned to the ground by a man at a 5 Freeway entrance in Orange County. I just jumped, Navarro said. The 42-year-old bolted out of his car and ran across traffic toward the onramp on Main Street in Santa Ana, where two other drivers joined him to help the officer, who was being beaten Friday, according to the CHP. The three were able to get the suspect off the officer, allowing the officer to make an arrest. Navarro didnt know the whole exchange was recorded on a cellphone by a witness. Navarro saw the video that has gone viral for the first time Tuesday. A day later, he was still in shock and worrying about what could have happened to the officer if someone didnt step up. I don't think the officer was able to take control of that situation by himself, because the guy was very, very strong, Navarro said. The incident started when officers responded after 5 p.m. to reports of a man reportedly yelling at motorists and attempting to remove a 5 Freeway sign from a pole, the CHP said. The officers approached the suspect, later identified as Jaime Balderas Paniagua, 34, of Santa Ana, according to Officer Anselmo Templado, a CHP spokesperson. Paniagua initially cooperated with their commands and the officers gave him a warning, according to the CHP. They told him to not walk onto the freeway or onramp. Paniagua was allowed to leave, but as one of the officers was driving away on his motorcycle, Paniagua walked back onto the onramp and confronted the officer, the CHP said. Navarro saw the officer ordering Paniagua to get off the freeway. But as he drove away, Navarro could see in his rear-view mirror that they were still arguing. Something about that made me want to see the arrest, said Navarro, who was driving with a passenger to an event in Santa Ana. He turned his car around and drove back toward the onramp. In the video, Paniagua can be seen talking to the officer with his arms at his back. The officer points away from the onramp and attempts to touch Paniaguas shoulder, but he slaps the officers hand away. The two grapple with each other and the officer throws Paniagua to the ground but falls over too, and Paniagua manages to get on top of him, the video shows. As Navarro ran toward the two men on the ground, he said, neither of them were saying anything. All he could hear was the sound of their struggle and passing cars. Navarro said Paniaguas forearm was pressed down on the officers throat, and Navarro could see that the officer was able to move only his legs. Navarro threw a punch at Paniaguas ribs, but Navarro said it didnt make much difference. My feeling was that he didnt even feel it, Navarro said. He had no intention to stop. Navarro struggled to grab Paniagua's hand and pull him off the officer. Two other drivers got out of their cars and were able to assist Navarro. The officer and the three other men were able to pin Paniagua to the ground at the end of the video. The officer didnt appear injured, just winded, Navarro said. The first few words that he said to us were just, Thank you. Thank you, guys,'" Navarro said. The officer has since returned to duty, Templado said. Paniagua was booked into the Orange County Jail on multiple charges, including assault and battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest, according to the CHP. The Orange County district attorneys office did not immediately respond to requests for comments about the charges. Aside from a short conversation Navarro had with his passenger about what happened, he didnt bring it up later that night. The attack and rescue of the officer unfolded in less than a minute, according to the video. But in Navarro's mind, the exchange plays out in slow motion and in vivid detail. Hes conflicted about how he feels about the whole situation. Navarro, who was born in the Mexican state of Jalisco and has lived in California for 24 years, said he will not call himself a hero. The day after he helped the officer, Navarro told his children he loved them and explained to them what happened. I want to tell them that their father made the right decision, the correct decision," he said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Frustration runs deep as U.S. marks 1-year anniversary of Uvalde school shooting Xinhua) 08:11, May 25, 2023 People participate in a demonstration to seek age raise for AR-15 sales in Austin, Texas, the United States, Aug. 27, 2022. (Photo by Bo Lee/Xinhua) The Robb Elementary School, where an 18-year-old gunman committed the massacre one year ago, has been abandoned since then and is still awaiting demolition. Nearby there are 21 white crosses decorated with sunflowers and the names of the dead, serving as a memorial site. Throughout the past year, the families of the victims tried hard to advance a state law, but their efforts have been stalled by Republicans who dominate the state legislature. HOUSTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The one-year anniversary of thre school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. No city-sanctioned events are planned to mark the anniversary in Uvalde this week, citing privacy and security concerns. Even a scheduled city council meeting was canceled on Tuesday. Though authorities urged outsiders to stay away, the city community reportedly plans a memorial march through the town as well as a vigil on Wednesday. The Robb Elementary School, where an 18-year-old gunman committed the massacre one year ago, has been abandoned since then and is still awaiting demolition. Nearby there are 21 white crosses decorated with sunflowers and the names of the dead, serving as a memorial site. "May 24 is going to be a difficult day," Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said at a news briefing earlier this week, suggesting local residents need "space and privacy to reflect on the last year without the fear of intrusion." Throughout the past year, the families of the victims tried hard to advance a state law aimed to raise the minimum age to buy semi-automatic weapons, such as the AR-15 used in the shooting, from 18 to 21 years in Texas. But their efforts have been stalled by Republicans who dominate the state legislature. "Almost a year now, and honestly nothing has changed," Jesse Rizo, a relative of Jacklyn Cazares, one of the children killed in the shooting, told a Uvalde school board meeting held earlier this month. "We're just a number (to politicians)," Rizo said. "Common sense tells you that you can't have kids and innocent people dying at the mall, at schools, at Walmart. It's just not normal for that to happen, right?" Anger and disappointment are eating away at the families of the victims, media outlet El Pais USA observed. Furthermore, the Uvalde massacre, one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, is far from the last tragedy the country has suffered, it noted. A woman helps a girl write on a memory board to mourn victims of a mass shooting in front of an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, the United States, on May 8, 2023. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua) According to Everytown For Gun Safety, an American nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control and against gun violence, in 2023 there have been at least 39 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, with 17 deaths and 30 injuries nationally. U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on Wednesday to remember those who lost their lives in Uvalde and reiterate his call for Republicans in Congress to act and help stop the epidemic of gun violence, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who noted that gun violence has become the number one killer of children in the country. Biden, a Democrat, has repeatedly urged the U.S. Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, saying that we "need to do more to protect our schools." However, it is unlikely that the divided Congress would approve the legislative proposal as the Republicans control the House of Representatives. Students from Washington local high schools demonstrate for stricter gun control outside the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 21, 2018. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) "Gun reform" only means making it easier to buy and carry guns in some U.S. red states, led by Republicans, as mass shootings are on the rise in the country so far this year, a survey has found. At least 17 states, most of them led by Republicans, introduced bills this year trying to make it easier to buy, own and carry weapons, providing guns to teachers and declaring themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis issued last week. The United States is the country with the most civilian-held firearms in the world. With less than 5 percent of the world's population, it accounts for 46 percent of global civilian gun ownership. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) In this photo illustration, the Mozilla Firefox logo is seen displayed on an Android mobile phone. As ChatGPT and the like keep rapidly changing the tech world as we know, concerns that the risks might be overcoming the benefits are growing. We've previously written about how AI-powered chatbots have quickly become a privacy nightmare for users. Italy even temporarily banned OpenAI's tool on these grounds, inducing a spike in downloads of VPN services across the country. Mozilla, the non-profit behind one of the best secure browsers and 25 years of experience in making the internet a better place, believes a trustworthy and independent open-source AI ecosystem is what's needed to safely get the most out of the new AI wave. Hence, the company invested $30 million to launch Mozilla.ai: a startup and, most importantly, community, to build on this vision and develop safer AI products. We talked to Liv Erickson, Innovation Ecosystem Development Lead at Mozilla, to understand how this might work. As browsers and search engines have been racing to develop their own AI chatbots, what are the risks and opportunities coming from it? There's a lot of opportunity for AI to really help people collaborate and communicate more effectively and efficiently. And, there's also a lot of risks from how a lot of these AI technologies have been developed so far. There's been a big focus on very large language models that are trained on publicly available web information. These can really help, especially in terms of search and finding information, but there are certainly risks about how user interests are represented in the development of these systems. A lot of these large language models are built upon primarily English speaking websites. So, there's a lot of risk around bias in training data as these systems are generating texts built off of a dominant world perspective. There are a lot of concerns around the centralization of how these systems are built and who they're available to, a lack of transparency and ability to document. As they're being trained on so much information, it's really hard to understand where that data is coming from. So, there's a risk that the centralized large model for AI includes biases that we don't understand. Where does Mozilla.ai stand in this scenario? We see Mozilla's role as being one where we can help shape an ecosystem where people are building these technologies in a different way. A place where we're sharing information, making sure that this technology is accessible even if you don't have access to a huge amount of cloud computing resources. By working with developers, founders, businesses, organizations, and scientists we want to create this kind of third space where there's not anyone centralized interest in the technology that's coming together to help shape it. We're really looking at it from a variety of different angles. Mozilla.ai is one component where we're looking at the products and services that Mozilla can build to help people navigate this. There's also the initiative we're doing within the Mozilla Foundation, the Responsible AI challenge, where we are really trying to take a variety of different approaches to finding people who are building the core enabling technologies, those who are building products and services on top of that, doing research and taking a multidisciplinary approach. Do you think it's really possible to fix privacy issues around AI tools training data? It's a great question and it's a really key component of where Mozilla sees our particular role in this space as people are finding ways to create new data sets that are smaller, more tailored, customized and documented. Those are some really interesting community driven projects that are focused on how the trust and relationship between different individuals can actually build comparable systems to these large language models (LLMs). And, to go back to privacy and trust, these types of models allow to be specific about how information has been sourced. Two phones next to eachother, one with ChatGPT open and one with Google In your opinion, could AI regulation help Mozilla to promote safer AI? I absolutely think that there's a role for regulators here in helping create frameworks for companies who are building these types of software to communicate how they've trained their models and where that information has come from. I think a lot can be done, too, about expanding the definition of what private and personal information even means. There's an opportunity for regulators to look at how the definition of privacy is going to evolve as these systems become more capable of uniquely identifying people. There's also a role for regulators to play in helping with the transparency of what these systems are actually capable of in a way where the average consumer understands what's actually happening or not for protecting users from misleading claims about what these systems can do. As Mozilla celebrates 25 years of operations, which are in your opinion the biggest achievements in promoting a more private and free internet? When we look at our role in this ecosystem, I think we've really been able to turn the tide in how people think about building these technologies. With Firefox, Mozilla fought for that to be open and accessible to developers to help anybody who wants to create a presence on the Internet to have the resources and capabilities to do that. Really, just helping shape a more collective way of building technologies together. Today, this also acts as a model to help us look at the next 25 years and what that means for AI, being a big topic right now, but just generally how people engage with technology, the Internet and each other. In your view, what are today's biggest threats to the internet as we know it? I think centralizing so much of what we see in the technology space to large cloud providers is a risk seeing how quickly they're able to build and deliver things to users. Going back to our role as a place of building a community where we can call out problems and rally people to help solve them within Mozilla, I see that as being a kind of an antidote to that. Eine Frau sitzt vor ihrem Laptop und hort Musik via Kopfhorer The central idea of Mozilla's Manifesto is promoting a healthy internet. So, how do you plan to do that? I think if you ask different folks at Mozilla you'll get different perspectives, but for me it comes back to rethinking the way we define innovation. The Internet touches so many people lives and yet a very disproportionate number of people actually have a say in how it's being built or how their data is being used. When I think about what innovation can look like in the future of the Internet is finding ways to innovate with those communities to cast out a really wide net, to be willing to be transparent about what we're trying and learning, as well as to be investing in projects that even if they're not within Mozilla. With how fast everything's moving, we have a relatively short window to make sure we're not repeating the mistakes we've done in the past with centralized systems. It's important to highlight the need for more community solutions in this space and to really challenge our default way of thinking about the way technology is built, which is both exciting and challenging. Kemal Baykalli, founder of the activist group Unite Cyprus Now, said that, for peace talks to resume, Turkey's next president would first have to restore good relations with the European Union If it were up to voters in the Turkish-occupied north of the island of Cyprus, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would already be out of office, but they may not get their way. Turkey's veteran leader is tipped as the frontrunner in Sunday's runoff election, seen as crucial for his country but also important for the island that has been divided for almost half a century. Conservative Erdogan is heading into the second-round vote after beating his secular and leftist challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu two weeks earlier but failing to win an outright majority. In the first round, the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) bucked the mainland trend, strongly favouring Kilicdaroglu with 53.5 percent of the vote against 39.4 percent for Erdogan. To many, the result reflected discontent with both Erdogan and with life in the statelet that is home to Turkish Cypriots as well as a large number of settlers and soldiers from the Turkish mainland. "There will be changes here only if Kemal Kilicdaroglu wins," said Necmi Belge, a 70-year-old Turkish Cypriot retiree with Turkish citizenship, who said he voted against Erdogan. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when the Turkish army invaded the northern third of the island in response to a coup that had sought to unite the entire island with Greece. A UN-patrolled "Green Line", secured with razor wire and sandbags, has since cut across the Mediterranean island that is located about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Turkey's coast. - 'Game over' - Repeated rounds of UN-led talks have failed to reunite majority Greek-speaking EU member the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish-speaking northern statelet that is recognised only by Ankara. Erdogan has argued the island should be formally split into two states -- an option strongly rejected by the south and the international community which favours a bi-zonal or bi-communal federation. Although Kilicdaroglu has said little on the Cyprus question, many observers believe a change at the top in Ankara would offer the best hope to jumpstart the long-stalled reunification efforts, as Turkey's relations with the EU have soured under Erdogan. Nazif Bozatli, a TRNC representative of Kilicdaroglu's CHP party, said that "Erdogan's two-state solution ... is not realistic", as he cast his ballot in a gym in the divided capital Nicosia. He added that "we want a mutual federation with mutual respect". Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has been watching the Turkish elections "very closely", said Ioannis Ioannous, a Greek Cypriot analyst at think-tank Geopolitical Cyprus. "If Kilicdaroglu wins... the EU will play a more active role" in mediation between the two sides, Ioannous said, "and we will have a realistic chance to return to the negotiating table". Nearly 144,000 voters are registered in northern Cyprus, including Turkish settlers and troops and Turkish Cypriots who hold Turkish citizenship. The first-round vote result resembled that "of a major opposition city in Turkey", said a foreign diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, who read it as a rejection of Erdogan's stance on the Cyprus question. Some in northern Cyprus have cheered Erdogan's advantage, among them Turkish settler and restaurant owner Hassan Hamam, 30, who praised the "very strong" leader as a man who "always carries out his projects". But others voiced bitterness about Erdogan taking an early lead. "Game over," said one Turkish Cypriot lawyer. "He will win, no matter the results here in Cyprus ... and we will pay the price." - 'Mutual respect' - Belge, the pensioner, voiced a degree of resignation about the election and its likely impact: "We don't expect anything to change. The change in Cyprus must come from Cypriots." But the people of northern Cyprus face a dilemma, said another voter, Yonca Ozdemir, a 50-year-old woman who has lived on the island for 16 years. "The TRNC is very linked to Turkey," she said. "Everything that happens there has an immediate impact on us." But while many Turkish Cypriots favour reunification, she said, "we need Turkey's approval for this". Kemal Baykalli, founder of the activist group Unite Cyprus Now, said that, for peace talks to resume, Turkey's next president would first have to restore "good relations" with the European Union. "If the opposition is elected... I think they would need to reevaluate the decisions of Mister Erdogan on the two-state solution," he said. "But they will also need to set up a more open and respectful relationship with the Turkish Cypriots." anr-all/fz/jsa ATLANTA A father from Georgia will not face another trial over his toddler's death in a hot car, prosecutors said Thursday, after the Georgia Supreme Court last year reversed his murder and child cruelty convictions. Tuscaloosa native Justin Ross Harris, 42, was found guilty in November 2016 on eight counts including malice murder in the June 2014 death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. A judge sentenced him to life without parole, as well as 32 more years in prison for other crimes. But the state Supreme Court voted 6-3 to overturn his murder and child cruelty convictions last June, saying the jury saw evidence that was extremely and unfairly prejudicial. The Cobb County district attorney's office, which prosecuted the case, said in a statement that it disagreed with the majority's decision. But because of that ruling, prosecutors said crucial evidence about Harris' motive is no longer available for them to use. After doing a thorough review of the entire case, prosecutors said they decided not to retry Harris on the reversed counts. A judge on Thursday signed off on the dismissal of those charges. Harris' lawyers Maddox Kilgore, Carlos Rodriguez and Bryan Lumpkin have maintained from the start that Harris was a loving father and the boy's death was a tragic accident. Ross has always accepted the moral responsibility for Cooper's death, they said in a statement after the charges were dismissed. But after all these years of investigation and review, this dismissal of charges confirms that Cooper's death was unintentional and therefore not a crime. The high court upheld Harris convictions on three sex crimes committed against a 16-year-old girl that Harris had not appealed. He received a total of 12 years in prison for those crimes, and he will continue to serve that sentence, the district attorney's office said. Harris had moved from Tuscaloosa to the Atlanta area for work in 2012. He told police that on the morning of June 18, 2014, he forgot to drop Cooper at day care, driving straight to his job as a web developer for Home Depot and leaving the child in his car seat. Defense attorney Maddox Kilgore holds a photo of Cooper Harris in this 2016 file photo during a murder trial for Cooper's father Justin Ross Harris, who was accused of intentionally killing him in June 2014 by leaving the child in the car. Coopers mother Leanna Taylor weeps on the witness stand in the background of the Brunswick, Georgia, courtroom. [AP Photo/John Bazemore} Cooper died after sitting for about seven hours in the back seat of the Hyundai Tucson SUV outside his fathers office in suburban Atlanta, where temperatures that day reached at least into the high 80s. The Georgia Supreme Court justices all agreed that there was enough evidence to support Harris' convictions. But the majority opinion said much of the evidence having to do with his sexual activities shouldn't have been allowed at trial and may have improperly influenced the jury. At trial, prosecutors put forth a theory that Harris was miserable in his marriage and killed his son so he could be free. In support of that assertion, they presented evidence of his extramarital sexual activities, including exchanging sexually explicit messages and graphic photos with women and girls and meeting some of them for sex. The high court found that they also "presented a substantial amount of evidence to lead the jury to answer a different and more legally problematic question: what kind of man is (Harris)? A dissenting opinion found that the state had the right to introduce detailed evidence of the nature, scope, and extent of the truly sinister motive it ascribed to Harris and found that the trial court was not wrong to allow the jury to see the challenged evidence. Harris' attorneys said the case tragically fits the pattern of how children are unintentionally left in cars. Charging a grieving parent for an unintentional memory failure does nothing to prevent the tragedy from happening to another, their statement said. In fact, child fatalities from hot cars increased after Ross' 2016 trial. Harris case drew an extraordinary amount of attention, drawing intense coverage in the Atlanta area and making national headlines and sparking debates online and on cable news shows. After determining during nearly three weeks of jury selection that pretrial publicity had made it too hard to find a fair jury in Cobb County in suburban Atlanta, the presiding judge agreed to relocate the trial to Brunswick on the Georgia coast. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Charges dismissed against Tuscaloosa native in son's hot car death Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday he's concerned about a new senior tax cut proposal by the Assembly speaker, and aides said his office is preparing for a potential government shutdown a month before the deadline to sign a budget. The governor's opposition to the plan unveiled Thursday afternoon by Speaker Craig Coughlin may foreshadow an intense intraparty dispute after several years of relatively placid negotiations thanks to strong tax returns supporting the budget. But with revenues already being forecast to decline steeply over the next two fiscal years, Murphy views Coughlin's "Stay NJ" plan as financially irresponsible, three senior administration officials told POLITICO. Murphy reinforced that view in a brief meeting with reporters after an event Thursday, saying two elements are "concerning" to him: the cost of the program and a lack of eligibility limits. "We've got revenues that are softening already, which we expected," Murphy said. The program would cost $1.7 billion, he added, and "that's an annual freight that would blow up all the great progress we've made with the rating agencies." Coughlin responded diplomatically to Murphy's comments when he met with reporters Thursday afternoon. "We have a history of having worked together to do an awful lot of good things for the state of New Jersey," he said. "We have had issues where we've had to work through them over that course of that time. And I think we've demonstrated pretty clearly that we always act in the best interest of New Jersey and come together to do what's right for the people in New Jersey. I suspect that's going to happen again." Coughlin's bill, A-1, would provide homeowners older than 65 regardless of income tax credits worth up to 50 percent of their annual bill, with a $10,000 limit. It would cost the state $300 million in the next fiscal year and ramp up over time to $1.2 billion annually after fiscal year 2028. NJ Advance Media first reported Thursday that Murphy would shut down state government over the proposal. When a reporter asked Murphy about it, he said, after explaining his concerns, "We're serious." State government hasn't shut down since a budget fight between former Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto in 2017, a dramatic standoff that led to the infamous photos of Christie sitting on the beach outside the governor's residence on Long Beach Island (as well as the inaccurate characterization he shut down beaches). In Murphy's first year in office, 2018, a dispute with then-Senate President Steve Sweeney over a millionaire's tax nearly led to a shutdown, but the two sides agreed on a compromise spending plan that included a surcharge on corporate business taxes. That surcharge is now set to expire at the end of the year and may become another sticking point in budget negotiations this year. Murphy has repeatedly said he intends to keep his promise of letting the 2.5 percent surcharge expire, but current Senate President Nick Scutari last week said he's open to keeping it. That surcharge could cost the state up to $1 billion in lost revenue in the 2025 fiscal year, according to the Treasury Department. The budget is due June 30. A shutdown would mean the closure of state parks, offices and other services. A national Muslim civil-rights group is demanding a hate-crime probe into what the Islamic Center of Charlotte this week called a direct threat to the mosque. A caller Tuesday made a reference to 9/11 and terrorists, and could be heard saying in an audio recording of the call, Ill blow you harder than 9/11, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. The caller rambled on despite being told of the recording, but he was direct in his threat against the center, spokesman Jibril Hough said. When the Observer called a phone number linked to the call, a man who answered said a 14-year-old family friend in his office did something stupid by calling the Islamic Center. The man, who identified himself only as Dave, said the call to the center was inappropriate but that he didnt believe the 14-year-old made any type of threat. The man soon texted the Observer an apology related to what happened. I would like the center to know it was very inappropriate, the man texted, and that it will be made known to any parties involved it absolutely will never happen again. Outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center in 2020, the Islamic Center of Charlotte hosted a Friday Prayer, or Jumuah. A national Muslim civil-rights group is demanding a hate-crime probe of a phone call to the mosque. Hough said that after the man texted the apology to the Observer, the mosque received a call from the same South Carolina phone number. This time, there was only silence on the other end, he said. On Thursday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on state and federal law enforcement to investigate the call as a hate crime. If the caller has indeed apologized for his actions, that is a welcome first step, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchel said in a statement. But this person must also face accountability for violating the law just like anyone else who threatens a house of worship. The groups demand came the same day a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department spokesman said CMPD wont pursue criminal charges in the case. CMPD detectives completed a thorough threat assessment after this call was received into 911, spokesman Mike Allinger said in an email to the Observer. The investigation concluded that the verbiage communicated during the call did not rise to a criminal level. Hough said CMPDs conclusion is more of the same, when the mosque reports an apparent threat. Makes you wonder what does rise to a criminal level, if this does not, he said. Hough said he intends to contact CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, adding. I would like to invite (CMPD leaders) to our community to discuss what does rise to a criminal level. Naked man armed with a sword charges at officers and gets shot, Ohio police say Officers in Ohio shot a naked man charging at them while wielding a sword, police say. The incident happened at around 5 p.m. in Dayton, according to Dayton Police & Fire. First responders were sent to a neighborhood for a report of an unclothed man with a sword. A teenager said he was sitting on his porch with a dog when he saw the naked man. I didnt expect to see that today, the teen, Gary Winthorb Jr., told WDTN. The last day of school is tomorrow. There was a lot happening. I havent seen much of anything like this before. Police said the man charged at officers while wielding the sword, and he was then shot. Two officers shot him in both legs, the Dayton Daily News reported. A third officer put tourniquets on the injured man, according to WKEF, and he was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. When we heard bang, bang, bang our little chihuahuas were out here, they jumped in our laps scared, Jodi Schulte, a nearby resident, told the outlet. Police did not say what charges the man faces. Naked man found in church fountain baptizing himself, Arizona police say Naked man attacks hotel guests, tries to strangle police officer, Georgia cops say Machete-wielding man in closed Walmart charges officer and is killed, Indiana cops say NASAs VIPER is leading the way for the next generation of moon rovers With NASAs Artemis mission planning to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972, theres a new buzz about lunar exploration. Space agencies around the world are developing cutting-edge moon rovers with advanced capabilities, with NASAs VIPER rover among the vanguard of new robotic explorers. VIPER, or Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, has now begun construction and is scheduled to land at the moons South Pole in 2024. Its mission is to search the lunar surface for water ice. Armed with a suite of scientific instruments, VIPER will collect and analyze samples and map the distribution of water ice beneath the surface which could lay the foundation for sustained lunar exploration. VIPER follows on the heels of NASAs (2009) LCROSS mission, which was the first lunar mission to actually touch the water ice in a polar region on the moon, says Dan Andrews, the VIPER project manager at NASAs Ames Research Center in California. Ever since that discovery, missions have been planned to better understand the nature and distribution of the water ice, supporting both scientific and exploration goals, like Artemis goal of sustaining a human presence on the moon, he continues. Harvesting local resources wherever they can be found, will facilitate humans living off the land on the moon, as well as enabling air to breath, water to drink, grow and manufacture, and even hydrogen for rocket fuel. A well-adapted rover VIPER will be around the size of a golf cart and will weigh 430 kg (948 lbs). It will be equipped with three spectrometers to measure volatiles substances such as water that can easily change from solid or liquid to gas and a 1-meter drill to perform sub-surface excavations. The spectrometers include a mass spec, a neutron spec, and a near-infrared spec, providing a good, broad understanding of the volatiles of interest, as well as some geotechnical properties understanding of the lunar regolith, he says. Regolith is the loose material on the lunar surface, including moon rocks and dust. NASA's VIPER will be equipped with a crucial hydrogen-seeking instrument which NASA hopes will enable it to find water on the moon. - Credit: NASA / Ames Research Center NASA hopes that the data collected by VIPER will help to shape future missions. Knowing where resources like water-ice are located as well as the conditions at those locations, will carry direct implications for how follow-on missions will go about harvesting that water-ice, says Andrews. Additionally, learning for how volatiles could be extracted could carry relevance to equivalent activities on Mars Mars and the moon are very different places but there is some good engineering learning from the moon that can inform future Mars volatiles harvesting missions. In terms of its design and capabilities, VIPER stands out from other rovers due to its adaptation to lunar polar conditions. One of the major obstacles facing the VIPER team is the lighting at the moons poles, according to Andrews. For a solar-powered mission, sunlight is power and warmth, and in polar regions, the sun is very low on the horizon and the shadows on the lunar surface are very long, he explains. This forces surface roving missions to plan very carefully so they do not freeze, given those cold, dark shadows. The VIPER design team is taking all of those constraints and designing them into both our surface traverse plans and into the rover design itself. For example, our solar arrays are on the sides of the rover not the top because the sun is so low on the horizon. As a four-wheeled rover, VIPER will be able to move in any direction, while keeping its solar arrays and communications systems pointed to the Earth or sun. This gives VIPER incredible levels of control and flexibility, Andrews says. VIPERs suspension system also provides unique means for changing its center of gravity, so that it can navigate uncertain conditions and environments. Engineers testing a prototype version of VIPER. - Arno Rogg/NASA Rovers, rovers everywhere The VIPER mission is not alone in its plans to put wheels on the moon. Dubais Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) is developing a new rover to replace the 10kg, four-wheel Rashid Rover that was lost in April when the lander carrying the rover the Hakuto-R spacecraft, built by Japanese company ispace is thought to have crash landed on the moon. Indias third rover, Chandrayaan-3, is set to launch in July this year and will be deployed at a soft site on the moons surface to carry out chemical analysis. At Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, engineers are looking to ultimately build a team of tiny rovers that will work together to gather data on the moon. The Laboratory for Space Instrumentation at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico has a similar project its Colmena plans to catapult five miniature rovers onto the lunar surface. In Canada, Toronto-based start-up STELLS SPACE is developing a portable charger rover to wirelessly provide solar energy to stranded rovers. In the meantime, the impact of the VIPER mission on space research promises to be significant. VIPER will provide answers and probably new questions which could very well shape the future of commercial industry on the moon for generations to come, says Andrews. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Russian Yury Ivanov intelligence ship has been damaged as a result of an attack by Ukrainian naval drones in the waters of the Black Sea. Source: UPs source in military circles Details: On 25 May, a video appeared on Telegram channels showing how a Ukrainian unmanned gunner hit the Russian Yury Ivanov intelligence ship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation. The recording was distributed, in particular, by the unofficial channel of the Ukrainian military, Operational ZSU (Armed Forces of Ukraine, AFU). The UP source confirmed the authenticity of the video and noted that the Russian ship was damaged as a result of the attack. Quote: "It did not sink, but there was a hit and there is significant damage to the hull and equipment. Now the Russians are hastily repairing it." Background: The Ministry of Defence of Russia claimed that on 24 May in the morning, Ivan Khurs, a reconnaissance ship of the Black Sea Fleet, was attacked by high-speed unmanned ships of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russias Defence Ministry stated that all speedboats were allegedly destroyed with conventional armament 140 km northeast of the Bosphorus Strait. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Mpox vials A little over a year ago, on May 17, 2022, Americans learned that another pathogen had entered the population just as they were recovering from the COVID pandemic. Earlier that day, mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was confirmed in Massachusetts after spreading throughout Europe. Since then, 30,395 cases have been registered in the United States, and while the number of cases is down significantly, health officials warn that it will take work to keep mpox at bay. Now a recent cluster of cases in Illinois demonstrates the need for vigilance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports continued community transmission in the United States and abroad. The CDC said Monday that it and local partners were investigating a cluster of cases of mpox in the Chicago area. The Chicago Department of Public Health received 12 confirmed and one probable case of mpox between April 17 and May 5. The patients were all men between 24 and 46 years old. Although none of the patients required hospitalization despite having symptoms, nine were men who had received both doses of the two-dose Jynneos mpox vaccine. Four of the men recently spent time in New York, New Orleans, and Mexico. Since the start of May, there have been seven additional cases. Although vaccinated people can sometimes contract the infection, vaccination can reduce its severity, reducing the chance of hospitalization, Deputy Response Coordinator for the White House Mpox Task Force Dr. Demetre Daskalakis tells The Advocate. We know that the vaccine, at least on the most recent vaccine effectiveness thats been released, has effectiveness for two doses of about 70 percent, which is great, he says. Its a very high effectiveness, but it also means that potentially there could be infections after vaccination. He explains that some infections among those vaccinated are not surprising and to be expected, based on how scientists know the vaccine works. It can also speak to the fact that people who are at risk for mpox got vaccinated, and so those folks may have high levels of vaccination but also potentially high opportunities for exposure, Daskalakis says. So those things may go together, and so were trying to sort that out over in Chicago now. He says that the administration and its health agencies are following the science and that some studies are currently underway to examine the durability of the vaccine to update any potential guidance on vaccination for mpox. People who have received both doses of vaccine dont need any additional doses, Daskalakis adds. Individuals who are vaccinated, they should just have to be aware if they have a lesion [or] if they have a sore, they should still get tested for mpox. He says that since vaccinated people can contract mpox still, those who have had the infection should also monitor themselves for signs of exposure. Daskalakis emphasizes that even when the vaccine doesnt work to prevent the acquisition of infection, it seems to work really well in making the disease significantly less severe. Some more severe rectal complications, including severe pain, appear to have been mitigated by the vaccine among those whove received the doses but still contracted mpox. If people havent been vaccinated, this is the right time to get vaccinated, he says, especially as people make plans to go celebrate Pride. Vaccines are available at local health departments for anybody who wants to get a dose, he says, noting that intrusive questions about ones sex life arent required for screening. Were really leading with joy and love here, he says. We really want people to have an enjoyable summer and, as they go into Pride season, to celebrate the way that they want to celebrate. He says that for people to get summer ready, they can either worry and do nothing or worry and take action. To take action, he suggests visiting the CDCs online resource guide for LGBTQ+ peoples summer preparedness. If you havent gotten vaccinated for mpox, then do it, Daskalakis urges. It is an important bridge to making sure that youre able to really enjoy Pride on your terms. Make sure you know about mpox [so that people] are able to make their own decisions about their sex life. Just understand what the potential risks are for exposure and then change what you need to change or dont change in a way that really makes sense for you. He adds, As you approach Pride, I think its a really good time to check your oil and kick the tires and say, am I up to date with my HIV and STI prevention? If Im living with HIV, am I on medicine? If Im someone who could benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis, have I been tested, and can I start on [PrEP]? Have I been tested for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis? Do I know about shigella and meningococcal disease that may be facing our community? Large-scale rave-like dance events in Belgium and Spain allowed the virus to spread through close contact in 2022. According to medical experts, the disease was spread at two events by prolonged close sexual contact between men who have sex with men. Before now, mpox outbreaks had been limited to Africa, where it is endemic. According to the World Health Organization, cases have been reported in 110 countries since the outbreak started in Europe and the Americas. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men were most affected, but not exclusively, since viruses do not choose their hosts based on sexual orientation. Navy awards over $1 billion contract to Electric Boat - what is it for? GROTON General Dynamics Electric Boat announced that it has been awarded a $1.076 billion contract from the U.S. Navy. This funding helps provide lead-time material and advanced construction for the Virginia class submarines, including purchases for hulls 812 and 813, according to a press release. The Virginia class submarines are attack submarines specialized for coastal operations. This contract modification sends a crucial demand signal to the submarine industrial base, enabling our suppliers to invest in the capacity and materials needed to increase production volume, stated Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat, in the press release. This funding comes to ensure an build rate of two submarines yearly. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney considers this a sign that the Navy wants to stay good on security agreements, and to encourage industry to keep up with demand, he said in a press release from his office. More: Electric Boat looking to hire 5,750 new workers this year in CT and RI facilities Electric Boat is well-positioned to deliver the high-quality submarines our Navy and partners need, and will continue our regions longstanding role as the nations leader in submarine manufacturing, he said. While the new funding wont have much of a workforce impact in eastern Connecticut, as it is for Electric Boats supply chain across the country, the continued commitment of the Navy and the administration is appreciated. Going forward, it is hoped there will be more funding support on the state side for the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative job training program in the states budget, Michael Nogelo, president and CEO of the Eastern Workforce Investment Board said. An Electric Boat employee working on part of a Columbia Class submarine. That will be good news for the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative and our ability to train folks for Electric Boat and other eastern Connecticut manufacturers, he said. Were also exploring other avenues to make sure were meeting industry demand. Virginia-class submarines are designed to be versatile vessels including uses in anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support, the Electric Boat press release states The two submarines to be built in FY 2024 are options from the Block V contract from Dec. 2019, in which provided $22.2 billion in funding to construct 10 submarines, seen as a significant increase in funding. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Navy awards Electric Boat $1 billion contract Virginia Class submarines Nearly 100 people infected in very large norovirus outbreak in SLO County, officials say An outbreak of norovirus stemming from a North County restaurant has sickened close to 100 people, according to the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department. SLO County Public Health Epidemiologist Jessie Burmester said 97 people have been reported sick as part of a confirmed norovirus outbreak earlier this month. Burmester said the Public Health Department traced the unusual, very large community outbreak back to a North County restaurant, though she did not disclose the name of the business. When we perform our investigations, were really looking for a common source or exposure point, she said. Individuals have provided the name of the restaurant consistently for all the individuals that have reported on behalf of the 97 people so far. Burmester said the Public Health Department reached its threshold for an outbreak two reported cases in separate households on May 15. That day, the agency received more than two reports about the same exposure source, she said. Follow-up investigation showed some people experiencing symptoms of norovirus tied to that facility as early as May 11, Burmester added. Once it was identified, the Public Health Department began working to help eliminate further spread by pushing mass cleaning and disinfection of the restaurant, as well as attempting to track where the cases originated. The restaurant in question has been cleaned three times since the outbreak was first reported, she said. This has been particularly challenging outbreak, Burmester said, but it is not abnormal to see norovirus spread like this, because it doesnt take much of the virus to spread at all. How does norovirus spread? Epidemiologist explains According to Burmester, there are about 2,500 norovirus outbreaks each year, impacting between 18 million and 21 million Americans. The virus, which is perhaps best known for its propensity for popping up during cruises, is spread by ingesting infected fecal matter or vomit. It can be spread via contact with a contaminated surface, or even through food, Burmester said. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain, and they will typically present within about 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to the virus, Burmester said. There is good news for anyone who catches it: Norovirus typically resolves on its own within about two days without any medical intervention, she said. Anyone who thinks they may have norovirus is encouraged to hydrate and stay home from work. People should also remember to thoroughly wash their hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds to help stop the spread of the virus. Burmester said the Public Health Department is currently tracking a handful of other suspected potential norovirus outbreaks, but no others have been confirmed as of yet. I needed to get this guy out of there: Coast Guard members save man trapped in van after crash Three Coast Guard members rescued a man from a car collision while they were driving back to base from lunch on Friday. Petty Officer First Class Erik White, a machinery technician, Petty Officer First Class William Collins, a boatswains mate, and Petty Officer First Class Joseph Walp, an electricians mate, said they stopped their car when they saw dark smoke after two vehicles crashed near Lumen Field. We parked the car, ran into the scene, noticed a man trapped inside injured, Walp said. During the rescue, the three assessed the scene and it was determined that breaking the passenger side window and pulling the trapped victim out was the best course of action. I knew I needed to get this guy out of there, White said. White said that he asked people who were nearby for a tool to break the window and thats when Christopher Cameron stepped in. He ran and grabbed a hammer from his car so that White could break the window. I aint never seen nothing like that happen in front of my eyes, so, you know, me, I just went into fight or flight mode, Cameron said. White was able to break the window and reach the victim. He said he pulled the victim out with help from Collins. They were able to get the victim out and transfer him to medics when they arrived on scene. We think its our duty both on and off the water to assist our fellow citizens, Collins said. Nepali sherpa with record Everest summits behind him says he'll keep climbing Nepali sherpa with record Everest summits behind him says he'll keep climbing Nepali Sherpa sets Everest record with 28th ascent By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A Nepali climber who scaled Mount Everest for a record 28th time this week, the most by any mountaineer, said on Thursday he had no immediate plans to hang up his climbing boots. Kami Rita Sherpa, 53, who reached the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) summit of the world's highest mountain on Tuesday, returned to the Nepali capital of Kathmandu to a heros welcome. He was surrounded by friends and family after flying by helicopter from Lukla, gateway to Everest climbs. "If my health permits Ill continue (climbing) next year," he told reporters in Nepali. His latest climb was the second time he had scaled the mountain to the summit within a week. A British climber, Kenton Cool, climbed the peak last week for the 17th time, the most ascents by a foreigner. Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has climbed every year since then except in 2014, 2015 and 2020 when authorities closed the mountain for various reasons. Sherpas come mainly from the Solukhumbu district, home to Mount Everest and several other peaks, and are known for their climbing skills. They earn a living mainly by guiding foreign clients to Everest and other Himalayan peaks. Nepal issued a record of 478 permits to Everest for the current climbing season that ends this month as the monsoon rains are expected to lash the Himalayas and lowlands. Hundreds of climbers have made it to the top this season while 11 mountaineers have died and three climbers have gone missing on the slopes of the mountain. Mountain climbing is a key source of employment and income for the cash-strapped nation, home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, including Mount Everest. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Frances Kerry) Newark police capture man who taunted them on Facebook after evading arrest A Newark man who taunted police for not being quick enough to arrest him was taken into custody Wednesday after jumping into a river to avoid officers. Tanner Rhinehart, 20, had been wanted for probation violations related to multiple felony charges in Licking County. In early May, Newark police attempted to arrest Rhinehart but had been unsuccessful. Newark police had posted on social media asking for information on Rhinehart's whereabouts. In a response to that post, Rhinehart himself appeared to comment by saying, "Y'all almost had (me) the other day you gotta be quicker than that." Rhinehart also posted a comment asking what he would get for turning himself in to police. Rhinehart's comments resulted in many additional comments on Newark police's post. Related coverage: Newark priest who taught throughout Greater Columbus accused of abuse of a minor in 1990s On Wednesday, Newark police said that Rhinehart had been taken into custody. "Mr. Rhinehart thought jumping in the river would evade capture," Newark police wrote. "However, he was wrong and was taken into custody without further incident." Rhinehart is currently being held in the Licking County Justice Center. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Newark police capture man who taunted them after evading arrest Stephanie Keith/Reuters Just hours after being released from federal custody Thursday, Jacob Chansley, the convicted Jan. 6 rioter dubbed Qanon Shaman for his distinctive Capitol riot costume, is back on Twitter. And it appears he isnt giving up the bit. In his first post back, Chansley uploaded a computer-generated image of himself howling in the back of a police carwhile wearing his namesake headdress and red, white and blue face paint. The caption was just one word: FREEDOM!!! Shortly after, Chansley posted a five-minute clip on the Forbidden Truth Podcast Twitter account. It contained a rambling monologue in which he insisted that he has learned numerous lessons during the test which God has graced me with over the last two and a half years. I have no animosity or hatred towards the United States federal government, Chansley said. And I have forgiven my captors, and I pray for them. This is Jacob Angeli-Chansley. This is my offical twitter page & my first official statement upon my release from Federal BOP custody. The time is 9:07 AM on the 25th of May 2023. FREEDOM!!! https://t.co/UStVdYMdbu Jake Angeli-Chansley (@americashaman) May 25, 2023 Its this forgiving attitude that Chansleys attorney, Al Watkins, referenced in a gushing statement following his release from a halfway house Thursday. Jake is remarkably intelligence, peaceful to his core and a gentle young man with a very bright future, Watkins said. But the latter, darker half of Chansleys video contained several veiled references to his continuing quest for the truthand an ongoing fight against global corruption that echoes the language of conspiracy theories like QAnon. The final lesson I will share is the power that we each wield when we live by and speak truth, Chansley said. Speaking the truth can topple corrupt empires and free whole nations that have been enslaved by illusions. The Buddha once said that three things cannot be hidden long: sun, moon and truth. Its unclear what specific truth Chansley was referencing. Chansley didnt mention Donald Trump, Jan. 6, or the 2020 election directly in the video, but he touched on obvious signs of international corruption. While there are those who will say that things in the world are only getting worse, I assert that things are not getting worse, Chansley said. But rather, the truth of global corruption is only becoming more obvious. But Watkins, whose statement Thursday morning preceded Chansleys tweets and video, said he remained optimistic, despite his clients immediate dive back into conspiratorial rhetoric. Im still very optimistic, Watkins told The Daily Beast, adding that the healing process for someone with vulnerabilitieslike Chansleyis one which will involve a lifetime of focus and introspection. Im not a doctor, what I am is an advocate, he added. And what I am advocating right now is that there be patience and compassion on the part of the public I worry for Jake every single day, virtually every minute of every day. He had made that much of an impression upon me. Watkins had previously said that Chansley was duped by Trump. For Chansley, however, the battle appears to rage on. Gandhi once said, First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. It seems Ive already undergone the first three stages of this process, Chansley said in his post-release video. Now, all theres left to do is win. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. An Ohio physician engaged in sex acts with patients he knowingly prescribed unneeded opioids to in a multi-year health care scheme, according to federal authorities. Now, Jeffrey Sutton, 65, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, according to a May 23 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Sutton pleaded guilty in January to illegally prescribing patients opioids and other controlled substances, illegally distributing controlled substances and healthcare fraud, authorities said. His defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on May 24. Prosecutors said the doctor from Niles, Ohio, gave the drugs to patients outside of the usual course of professional practice and without legitimate medical purpose from January 2015 through January 2022. Then he billed health insurance programs for the illegally dispensed controlled substances, officials said. Sutton also admitted to engaging in sexual acts with patients to whom he directly prescribed controlled substances, including during office visits, according to the release. He also admitted to delivering dozens of oxycodone pills to the home of one of his patients with whom he was engaged in a relationship, outside the course of treatment and without a valid prescription. In addition to six years in prison, Sutton is required to pay $148,870 in restitution, a $20,000 fine and a $5,200 special assessment, authorities said. He has also been ordered to three years of supervised release following his time in prison. Niles is about 60 miles southeast of Cleveland. If you or a loved one shows signs of substance use disorder, you can seek help by calling the national hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or find treatment using SAMHSA's online locator. Telemedicine doctor ordered millions of dollars worth of unnecessary tests, feds say Patients at greater risk of amputations after doctors unnecessary procedures, feds say Doctor removed thin layer of tissue lining patients uteruses when unnecessary, feds say REUTERS/Brian Snyder MANCHESTER, New HampshireWhen Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley stepped onstage Wednesday morning at a campaign event at Saint Anselm College, she had a question for the crowd. "Everybody know about Dylan Mulvaney? Haley asked. Bud Light? That is a guy, dressed as a girl, making fun of women. To the GOPs hardcore base, Dylan Mulvaney needs no introduction. The transgender content creator who partnered with Budweiser has been the target of vicious attacks and sustained indignation for weeks, largely thanks to a seemingly endless stream of segments on Fox News. Nikki Haley Blasts Ron DeSantis for Thin Skin With Disney But in the crowd at Saint Anselm Colleges Politics & Eggs event, packed with New Hampshires famously independent voters, this anti-transgender broadside was not met with applause but silence. Voters in the room appeared largely unaware of the Bud Light controversy. When Haley waited for applause, they didnt clap. It wasnt the only moment during Haleys stop at the seminal New Hampshire campaign event when her conservative culture war messaging seemed out of place. Earlier in her stump speech, for instance, Haley declared she was unapologetically pro-life, a staple GOP applause line that received a muted response from the crowd. It distilled a key challenge for the former South Carolina governor, who wants to appeal to Republicans and independents turned off by Donald Trump but is leveraging other issues, like abortion and all things woke, to maintain her credibility with the party base. Still, Haleys positioning made news on Wednesday. When asked by a younger voter directly if she would support a national abortion ban, Haley did not specify a specific restrictionlike ending abortions at six weeks or 15 weeksbut said she would sign it if it reached her desk. Given the virtually non-existent chance the GOP would command 60 votes for an abortion ban anytime soon, Haleys answer was largely theoretical, something she herself acknowledged. Male GOP Senators Ignore Women, Vote for Abortion Ban in South Carolina We have maybe 45 pro-life senators, Haley said, speculating that only one or two more might join the ranks after the 2024 election. Even so, Haleys answer was more than many of her GOP presidential rivals have been willing to provide on the issue. Other contenders, like Trump, have given elusive answers in similar settings; Trump has openly said that backlash to the Dobbs decision last year hurt the GOP in the 2022 midterm elections. Haley seemed to allude to those politicsand the dissonance of her message in this independent-leaning statewhen she said she can't suddenly change my pro-life decision because I'm campaigning in New Hampshire. Cant we all agree that we dont want to see late-term abortions? she said at another point. Cant we agree there should be more access to contraception? To close out her answer, Haley said more reporters should ask President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris if theyre in favor of abortions at 36 weeks of pregnancy. But when it comes to her own red lines, Haley said a precise number of weeks for a national ban is merely a distraction. No one has been honest with you, said Haley, about what the real debate is. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Pilot gets blind dog a new life after hes dropped off at shelter, Tennessee photos show When pilot Nick Hermann saw a 15-year-old blind dog needed help making it to his new home, he knew what needed to be done. Hunter, who is blind in one eye and cant see up close with the other, has now been given a new lease on life. When he was just a pup, he was taken to a West Virginia shelter after he was found near a local power plant in 2010, Brad Marlow, the owner of Misfit Hounds in Hampton, Tennessee, told McClatchy News in a phone interview. After gathering Hunters medical information, Marlow said the dog was likely about 1 year old at the time. Hunter was adopted from that shelter, but he was recently surrendered again after a person believed to be his owner claimed Hunter was a stray, Marlow said. When I asked the owner how long Hunter had been hanging around, they said 10 years, Marlow told McClatchy News. Once Hunter arrived at the West Virginia animal shelter, staff members started scrambling for a way to help the old pup. Marlow asked the public if there was anyone who could bring Hunter from West Virginia to Misfit Hounds in Tennessee thats when Hermann stepped in. Nick saw the story and said I can do that and we worked it out, Marlow said. Hermann is a pilot and has offered in the past to help transport pups through Pilots N Paws, a dog transportation service. This time, however, Hermann offered to take Hunter to Misfit Hounds on his own and eventually flew him from the vet to Tennessee. Hermann and Hunters flight time was about two and a half hours, according to WCYB. Hunter did great on the flight and he even had a news crew waiting on him when he landed, Misfit Hounds said on Facebook. Hunter arrived at Misfit Hounds on May 19 and now lives with more than 40 dogs in an open kennel environment, where the pups are only in crates when theyre being fed, Marlow said. For the first few days I separated him so he could decompress, Marlow said. Hunter, who Marlow said is very loving and affectionate seems to be doing well. This is speculation but I think he mightve been close with a child over the years. Hes so cuddly, its not foreign to him, Marlow said. I sleep on the floor with the dogs and he always cuddles up next to me. Although Hunter is thriving, he makes little mistakes here and there, but that hasnt changed the fact that he might have a potential adopter. Never again will he be alone, unwanted, or unloved, the group said on Facebook. Hell be a Misfit. Hampton is about 300 miles east of Nashville. Puppy plunges 15 feet down storm drain during walk with owner, Georgia rescuers say Bored husky escapes kennel and chaos follows at Alabama shelter. See the destruction Watch as playful dog interrupts soccer game and refuses to let go of the ball in Chile Puppy playdate was ploy to steal French bulldog and hold him for ransom, NJ man says California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) bashed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) presidential bid in an email fundraising pitch for President Biden on Wednesday, saying the country should not make America Florida. Newsom said in the email, sent just ahead of DeSantiss announcement that he is running for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, that DeSantiss political operation is starting out with more than $100 million, and everyone needs to play a role to stop him from becoming president. He said freedom is under attack in Florida under DeSantis, with books being banned, voter laws becoming stricter and abortion bans being implemented. So no. We are not going to Make America Florida. But Joe Biden cannot stop Trump AND DeSantis alone. He needs all of us, Newsom said. DeSantis joined the GOP race for president after months of speculation that he would enter. He has consistently placed in second in most polling among current and potential Republican candidates. Newsom and DeSantis have previously sparred on multiple occasions over policies they have enacted in their states. The California governor released an ad in Florida after DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education Act, better known as the Dont Say Gay bill. He invited Floridians to either push back against the laws in Florida or move to California, which he said still believes in freedom, freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate and the freedom to love. Newsom also challenged DeSantis to a debate in September after DeSantis had two planes of migrants sent to Marthas Vineyard, Mass. Since you have only one overriding need attention lets take this up & debate. Ill bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day, Newsom tweeted at the time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Next Pandemic Could Be "Even Deadlier," WHO Warns The head of the World Health Organization is warning that the next pandemic bearing in mind, of course, that we're not even through COVID-19 yet could be even worse. During a meeting of the World Health Assembly in Switzerland, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to get ahead of such an eventuality. In other words, have policymakers actually learned their lesson after years of tragic deaths and suffering? "The threat of another variant emerging that causes new surges of disease and death remains, and the threat of another pathogen emerging with even deadlier potential remains," he said, as quoted by CBS News. Tedros also noted that COVID which has killed almost seven million people worldwide hasn't gone away, but could soon be only one of several emerging threats. "The end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency is not the end of COVID-19 as a global health threat," he told member states. "We cannot kick this can down the road," he added. "When the next pandemic comes knocking and it will we must be ready to answer decisively, collectively and equitably." Experts have been warning that human encounters with wildlife could increase the risk of transmitting pathogens from animals to humans, which likely sparked the COVID pandemic. The list of potential pathogens keeps growing. Since 2009 alone, US scientists have identified more than 900 new viruses, CBS reported last year. Other experts have also warned that it's not just viruses we should be worried about, pointing at the potential threat of fungi, some of which are capable of infecting people and evading fungicides. Tedros' comments echo the sentiments of other experts who have also warned that COVID likely won't be the last pandemic in the medium-term future. "Well have another pandemic," Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates told CNBC last year. "It will be a different pathogen next time." At this week's WHO meeting, Tedros urged countries to reform the way they prepare for these threats. "If we do not make the changes that must be made, then who will? And if we do not make them now, then when?" he said. More on COVID: Pandemic Wasn't So Bad for Mental Health, Says Broken-Brained Study For most of the year, the vast and rugged terrain of the Namaqualand region of the Karoo, South Africa, is desolate and dry. Few travelers venture this far, deterred by the long distances and because most prefer to explore the countrys greener, more scenically dramatic regions. But after the winter rains have fallen and soaked the soil, colorful daisies, scented arums, bright bonnets, aloes, herbs and countless other varieties of flowers transform the once lifeless landscape into a breathtaking wonderland. Nieuwoudtville, on the southeastern edge of Namaqualand, forms part of the grand spectacle that draws in flower enthusiasts worldwide. While flowers bloom throughout the year, the pinnacle of the flower showcase begins in early August to mid-September, when the famous spring flowers come into bloom, and the area is enlivened by the displays of thousands of colors. Pronounced Nee-vote-ville, this charming town, founded in 1897 on a piece of land bought by a farmer named Nieuwoudt, also has a reputation for being the bulb capital of the world. It was one of the few parts of the Northern Cape to receive reliable rains and has since become part of the Namaqualand flower tour. Last year, its air quality stood out as a beacon of freshness, making it into the 2022 World Air Quality Report as one of the least polluted areas across Africa. Visiting Nieuwoudtville literally is a bucket list experience, says Craig Taljaardt, tour guide and owner of Capey Tours, who has witnessed the wonder this region inspires in visitors for nine years. And its people are the salt of the Earth, he adds. The tranquil farming town has seen a migration boom in recent years, with city dwellers seeking a respite from the urban hustle and bustle. Its not just retirees moving to Nieuwoudtville, but young families too, says Mandie Kotze, chairwoman of Nieuwoudtvilles Info and Tourism Office, adding that she and her husband made a move to the town 16 years ago and havent looked back since. According to Nieuwoudtvilles tourism website, run by Kotze, there are some areas where up to 25,000 bulbs grow in one square meter of soil. The diversity of geophytes (bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes) plants that store water and nutrients seasonally is partly explained by the diverse geology, which gives rise to many different soil types suitable for varying plant and flower species. The natural floral displays extend to Hantam National Botanical Gardens, the ninth official botanical garden in South Africa. The biodiversity treasure attracted British naturalist David Attenborough in the 90s (when it was still a farm), who returned to photograph the area during the dry season with his team. According to Kotze, during one peak season, CCTV footage captured nearly 800 tour buses, packed with tourists, entering the vast 6-300-hectare garden to witness the wildflower bonanza. Threatened daisies Once a year the barren desert around Nieuwoudtville erupts with a superbloom of flowers. - Mandie Koetze Research from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2022 revealed that climate change is adversely altering the timing of the celebrated Namaqualand daisies blooming season, jeopardizing tourism and the very survival of these celebrated wildflowers. The annual Namaqualand daisy flowering spectacle is a world-renowned environmental event, the researchers wrote. The advances in the timing of Namaqualand daisy flowering will have a significant impact on the tourism sector in the region, as flower viewing tours need to be pre-arranged months in advance. But there are opportunities for improvements: co-author Jennifer Fitchett, a professor of physical geography, explains that intervention measures, such as data-driven research, could effectively combat this problem. I presented this work to SANParks [South Africa National Parks] last year, and they were very interested in integrating these findings into their monitoring programs, she says. Quiver tree forest Nieuwoudtville is home to the southern hemisphere's largest Quiver tree forest. - Mandie Koetze If you continue north and reach the sign for Gannabos (about 12 miles from Niewoudtville), locals and visitors recommend turning right and driving on a gravel road until you encounter the Quiver Tree Forest the largest in the southern hemisphere. Here youll find a remarkable colony of tree aloe (Aloidendron dichotomum), known as kokerbooms or quiver trees. These peculiarly shaped aloes, which grow over eight meters (up to 29 feet) high, got their name because their hollow branches were used as quivers for holding arrows by San and Khoi-Khoi hunters. They are protected plants, and cost a pretty penny at nurseries, says Jade Leon, whos previously experienced the wildflower season. Yet they grow so naturally there. Every hill is covered with the quiver trees. Kokerbooms can live up to 400 years and come in various shapes and sizes. In Nieuwoudtville, the forest is privately owned by a farmer and his wife. They dont mind visitors and charge a small entrance fee in exchange for a guided route tour. Waterfall in the wilderness The Nieuwoudtville Waterfall appears after heavy rains. - Mandie Koetze With enough winter rains, there is another natural wonder in town: the Nieuwoudtville Waterfall, located around four miles north of the village, on the R357 (Loeriesfontein Road). Measuring 90 meters (295 feet), the waterfall cascades down the Doring River, leaving visitors with a spectacular sight, says Ian Renecle, owner of African Moon Adventures. People dont believe theres actually a waterfall of that size in the area. To round out your day, stop by Blou Huis in Voortrekker Street, a fully licensed restaurant and hangout spot offering self-catering accommodation and live Afrikaans music. Nieuwoudtville has also been nominated as Town of the Year, a competition currently being run by the weekly Afrikaans magazine show kykNET Kwela, Johan Kotze, owner of Blou Huis, says proudly. A few miles from Blou Huis, youll spot the neo-gothic Dutch Reformed Church on Kerk Street. Built in 1906, just after the devastating Boer War, the church is made entirely from Table Mountain sandstone and is one of the last remaining churches in South Africa built with this material. Following the scent to the nearby market offers a chance to try its famous pancakes. While some recipes skimp on ingredients, the creators of this tasty treat remain loyal to a costly recipe guaranteed to please palates, says Kotze. Where to stay Starwors is a 'Star Wars'-themed campsite near Nieuwoudtville. - Expressions-Photography Visitors should secure their accommodation well ahead of time as every available room for miles around is snapped up during peak season. Options range from cozy B&Bs and self-catering units converted from old sandstone homes to rustic guest houses tucked away on local farms and campsites within town limits. Die-hard Star Wars enthusiasts will be delighted to discover the extraordinary glamping destination, Starwors Village. The campsite is steeped in the iconic themes and characters of the series, from Darth Vader to Yoda and Jar Jar Binks. Its a very underrated campsite, and its on our accommodation wishlist for our next trip, says Leon. Earlier this year, Selma and Andre Ohlsson visited the campsite and found it particularly unique. Interesting artwork is scattered throughout the terrain, and it feels like youve stepped into a movie set. If accommodation in town is fully booked, surrounding regions also boast a range of inviting options, including the highly sought-after Letsatsi Lodge in Vanrhynsdorp the gateway to Nieuwoudtville. According to tour guide Craig Taljaardt, accommodation at this lodge must be booked several months in advance to secure a spot. As you make your way past Vanrhyns Pass, a marvel constructed by the legendary road builder Thomas Bain in 1880, visitors strongly suggest you take in the breathtaking views of the rugged plains below. The views blew me away as we ascended Vanrhyns Pass, and made me realize how amazing South Africa is and how many hidden gems there are, says Arzelle van der Merwe, who toured Nieuwoudtville in 2019. Jade adds that the view from the top offers an aerial-like perspective akin to that seen from an airplane window, a rare opportunity that ought to be cherished. Through the flowers The flowers are not for picking. - Mandie Koetze For many, organized tours are the best way to access Nieuwoudtville and its flowers. But if youre traveling privately, call the West Coasts flower hotline at (+27) 79 741 0113. This little tip will provide information on the latest blooms and their whereabouts, allowing visitors to confidently embark on their floral odyssey. Nieuwoudtville, is no stranger to the whims of nature. Just a few years ago, the town weathered a severe drought. Fortunately, the return of the rainy winters has relieved locals of their weather woes. In fact, says Taljaardt, locals proclaimed 2021 as the best season in 30 years, and while last year wasnt too far behind, it was still exceptional in its own right. Still, its best to do research find out when the winter rains fell and plan a trip so that it coincides with when the flowers are in their full glory. Visitors can step out of their vehicles and explore the fields on foot but must avoid picking any flowers. There are many thousands of people who come after you, so its important that you preserve it, says Taljaardt. Theres a saying in tourism: Once youve been to a place, leave no trace. Those that time their visit just right and witness the gorgeous carpet of pastel hues, will be thrilled they did, says Van der Merwe. There is something surreal about it. You cant quite believe that this arid earth can produce something so magnificent. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com No piece of cake, this Curtis Park baker got the Paul Hollywood handshake for bread Dyana OBrien has earned plenty of compliments for her baking over the years. Yet its hard to imagine any topping a Hollywood handshake. A Curtis Park resident, OBrien stars in the fifth season of The Great American Baking Show, which began streaming May 5 on The Roku Channel. A spin-off of The Great British Bake Off, the show is judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, longtime appraisers of the U.K. version. Hosts are actors Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Office) and Zach Cherry (Severance, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). OBriens Sacramento ties are first mentioned in the shows second episode, where the narrator briefly references her job with PG&E. She brought baked goods into the office nearly every day prior to the pandemic (check out her Instagram page and moniker, the rockabillybaker), earning her managers approval to take eight weeks off to for the show in England last summer when the opportunity arose. The contestants arrived in England amid a heat wave, and the baking tent was so hot that theyd strap ice packs to their stools while waiting for judges to review their creations, OBrien said. The sugar from the first bake also attracted wasps to the baking tent, flummoxing OBrien. But she persevered to reach Bread Week, then pulled out a Showstopper bake that wowed the judges. OBrien made a grown-up swan version of the The Ugly Duckling fairy tale, using chocolate-orange milk bread for the body, a New York-style-bagel head with a black sesame seed beak, sage and sea salt fougasse wings and little ducklings of steamed buns stuffed with a family recipe tomato-basil filling. The avian creation earned top marks and a much-desired handshake from Hollywood, whos known for his bread wizardry. OBrien, who normally bakes sweets, was told it was perhaps the first Bread Week howstopper to earn a Hollywood handshake. I pretty much dropped to my knees and started crying. It was definitely the best moment of my experience there, OBrien said. Earlier seasons of The Great American Baking Show on other networks had been criticized for stale content and a sexual harassment scandal, and the show last aired in 2020. But the six-episode 2023 reboot has been widely praised as an easy, fun watch that gets back to Bake-Off basics. Contestants gathered in a green room each day to share each others finished bakes after judging, OBrien said. Though taping wrapped last September, their WhatsApp group is still filled with messages each day. With a lot of American cooking competitions, its very cutthroat. And reason I love the British version so much is its so peaceful, OBrien said. Its an incredible experience (to compete), and if youre a baker, its a great show to watch. What Im Eating Fiesta Philippines chicken adobo rice. No Sacramento-area restaurant embraces and celebrates Filipino food like Fiesta Philippines. Rancho Cordova restaurant, in business for six months, is owned by Merben David, Alfonso Lojera Jr., Joel De Vera, Reimar Gacusan and John Carlo Javier. It covers its walls with color, faux thatched roofs and cheerful Tagalog phrases. Spain colonized the Philippines in the 1500s and held that occupation until 1898, when the United States took control for nearly 50 more years. Filipino food has influences from both powers as a result; youll see items on Fiestas menu such as paella Espanola ($25 for a medium pan, $35 for a large) or sweet Filipino spaghetti ($19) with hot dog slices. Kare-kare ($23), a bright orange peanut stew with oxtails, tripe and vegetables, was more distinctly Filipino. Typically served over rice we chose chicken adobo rice ($12), which was delicious but a little excessive its rich, savory flavor was cut somewhat by a side tamarind paste. Lumpia Shanghai ($12) made for a delightfully snackable, shareable starter. Sixteen miniature rolls were stuffed with copious ground pork and vegetables (theres an all-veggie option for $8 as well), then deep-fried to perfect crispiness and served with a sweet chili dipping sauce. How many adjectives can one use to describe laing ($17), a black-ish mixture of shredded taro leaves cooked with fried pork, shrimp and ginger in coconut cream? It was earthy, chewy, funky, creamy, crunchy at times and even a little spicy my favorite dish I tried at Fiesta. Fiesta Philippines Address: 11088 Olson Drive, Suite A, Rancho Cordova. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday. Phone number: (916) 909-8880. Website: https://www.fiestaphilippines.restaurant/ Drinks: Beer, wine and American and Filipino sodas, plus juices and shakes. Animal-free options: A few, including a section of the menu dedicated to vegetable dishes. But buyer beware: even some of those have shrimp paste or pork bits. Noise level: Medium. Openings & Closings Korean restaurant and pub Pocha House opened last Friday at 1910 Q St. in midtown Sacramento, formerly home to Highwater. Daniel Ngo and Judy Hans neon-lit concept offers creative bar bites such as Hot Cheetos corn cheese and kimchi carbonara, plus cocktails such as the Seoul Sour (whiskey, grapefruit soju, lime juice, ginger, egg white and orange bitters). Pho Bistros soft opening at 7440 Laguna Blvd., Suite 111 in Elk Grove begins this coming Sunday. The Vietnamese restaurants second location will have limited hours and drinks until June 3. Leatherbys new Folsom location will open on Monday at 2455 Iron Point Road. Its the longtime local ice cream parlor and restaurants fifth location, joining others in Arden Arcade, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove and Lincoln. Get Sacramento's Food & Drink news delivered to your inbox Sign up here to receive our free weekly Food & Drink newsletter, written by Bee food reporter Benjy Egel. You'll exclusively receive an early look at restaurants, bars, festivals and more. This years Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June through November, is projected to be near-normal, according to a forecast released Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Forecasters predict a 40 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 30 percent chance each of an above-normal or below-normal one. NOAA forecasts between 12 and 17 named storms could hit during the upcoming season storms get names if their winds reach 39 mph or higher. Of those storms, five to nine could reach hurricane status, with winds 74 mph or higher, and up to four of those could hit major hurricane status, with winds 111 mph or higher. Scientists are predicting El Nino could develop this summer, contributing to the near-normal hurricane activity, after three seasons of La Nina. The forecast for last years Atlantic hurricane season was above-normal, with 14 to 21 named storms likely. Ultimately, the U.S. saw 14 named storms during that period, including the hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona, which ravaged parts of the country. As we saw with Hurricane Ian, it only takes one hurricane to cause widespread devastation and upend lives. So regardless of the number of storms predicted this season, it is critical that everyone understand their risk and heed the warnings of state and local officials, said Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell in the NOAA release. NOAA also announced Thursday that it will implement a handful of improvements to its forecasting, including expanding the capacity of its operational supercomputing system by 20 percent. Itll also implement new small aircraft drone systems, the deployment of additional Saildrones and underwater gliders, and WindBorne global sounding balloons, new tech geared at improving NOAAs knowledge of hurricanes and upping forecast accuracy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE PHOTO: The 7th enlarged plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - Construction at North Koreas satellite launching station has hit a new level of urgency, most likely in preparation for a launch, a U.S.-based think tank said in a report citing commercial satellite imagery. North Korea says it has completed its first military spy satellite, and leader Kim Jong Un has approved final preparations for a launch to place it in orbit, without publicising a date. Commercial satellite imagery from Monday shows that progress on a new launch pad in a coastal area east of North Koreas Sohae Satellite Launching Station is moving forward at a "remarkable pace", 38 North, a Washington-based programme that monitors North Korea, said in a report on Thursday. "While the key components of the Sohae complex have been undergoing modernization and expansion over the past year, this uptick in activity suggests a new level of urgency in making the site ready to accommodate satellite launches," the report said. The new launch pad appears to feature a rail-mounted assembly structure, a possible mechanism for lifting a rocket into place, lighting towers, and a tunnel for funnelling flames away. If it is meant to service liquid-fuelled rockets, additional infrastructure will most likely be needed, the report added. At Sohae's main launch pad, crews appear to have completed modifications to the gantry tower, while work continues on a storage for fuel and oxidizer. A new area for VIPs to observe launches also appears largely completed, 38 North concluded. Analysts say a military satellite is part of the reclusive, nuclear-armed state's efforts to advance surveillance technology, including drones, to improve its ability to strike targets in the event of a conflict. North Korea has tried several times to launch "earth observation" satellites, of which two appeared to have been successfully placed in orbit, including the latest in 2016. International observers have said the satellite seemed to be under control, but there was lingering debate over whether it had sent any transmissions. (Reporting by Josh Smith. Editing by Gerry Doyle) North Texas man confessed to murder in 2015. This new podcast suggests he may be innocent In 2015, an Aledo man confessed to the 2005 murder of a sex worker and dumping her body in Parker County. A new podcast from the Marshall Project, Smoke Screen: Just Say Youre Sorry, questions the validity of that confession drawn out by Texas Ranger James Holland with, at one point, the assistance of the Secret Service. Larry Driskill, now 61, is nearly eight years into a 15-year prison sentence for the murder of 29-year-old Bobbie Sue Hill. Authorities in 2015 said Driskill strangled Hill to death and dumped her body in a Parker County creek bed the night of March 6, 2005. But Driskill has maintained his innocence since the confession, and his pleas for help caught the attention of the Innocence Project of Texas, an organization of Texas criminal defense attorneys working to free people convicted of crimes they didnt commit. The Innocence Project believes Driskill, as does the Marshall Project. In the series, Marshall Project podcaster and writer Maurice Chammah reviews audio from interrogations, expert opinions on the ethics and efficacy of the tactics used, the background of the Texas Ranger who got Driskill to confess, the details of the crime and Driskills life. Chammah says in the podcast that he reviewed more than seven hours of tape from the interrogations. It includes common tactics such as lying about the evidence authorities have, a polygraph test administered by a Secret Service agent and minimizing the severity of an accused crime in order to get a confession. Questioning in the case also included less common techniques like hypnosis and repeated attempts to have Driskill just say youre sorry before he confessed to anything. In the confession, Driskill told the Texas Ranger that he picked up Hill, who was working as a prostitute, at a convenience store near East Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the Star-Telegram in 2015. He told police he thought Hill was trying to rob him and put his hand on her chest, then choked her to death before driving away, putting her body in a bag and dumping it in a creek bed in the 1300 block of Jenkins Road in Aledo, about eight miles from Driskills home. Bobbie Sue Hill, 29, was found dead in a Parker County creek bed in 2005. So far in the ongoing series, Chammah has interviewed a psychologist who has questioned the validity of the details uncovered during hypnosis of a witness who described the suspect to create an updated police sketch, and other experts who call into question both the methods used in the interrogation and its legality. The Parker County district attorney and the Texas Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to Star-Telegram requests for comment. According to the Innocence Project, after two and a half years in jail awaiting trial when he could not afford to pay his bond, Driskill chose to plead no contest in exchange for the 15-year sentence. Chammah and the experts on the podcast question the efficacy and legality of the Texas Rangers interrogation tactics, such as leading questions that could confuse the memory of the single witness before he was hypnotized, and asking Driskill multiple times to talk about what he would have hypothetically done if he had committed the murder. Driskill repeated the story enough times that he stopped saying hypothetically when he discussed the details of the killing, according to the podcast. Chammah notes that a description of the suspect in Hills murder provided by the only witness to her abduction changed his recollection of the man from someone who could be Latino, didnt wear corrective lenses, had a wider face and didnt look like Driskill to a white man with a buzzcut and glasses who somewhat resembled the man convicted of Hills murder. A sketch based on the second description is what led a local pawnshop owner in Aledo to call authorities and suggest it was Driskill, Chammah says in the podcast. In the latest episode, released Monday, Chammah examined similar interrogation tactics used by the same Texas Ranger in a different murder case. Based on audio from eight hours of questioning, the podcaster questioned how the Texas Ranger manipulated a suspects feelings, describing it at one point as gaslighting, to make him more emotional. At one point in the interrogation audio, the man asks the Texas Ranger to just shoot him. The Ranger got the man to talk in hypotheticals and tried to get him to question his own memory, Chammah says in the podcast. Facing capital murder charges, the man planned to go to trial. But before the case could go before a jury, DNA tests came back that pointed to another man originally suspected of the murder who died in a car crash. In the latest chapter of the series, Chammah says massive pieces of the recording in Driskills case were missing and that the Texas Ranger violated Driskills constitutional rights multiple times. Chammah hints in the latest episode that in Driskills case, DNA evidence was either not collected or was too poor to be useful and promises to discuss that more in the next episode. According to the Innocence Project, the Parker County District Attorneys Office agreed to DNA testing of numerous items collected from the crime scene and that analysis is underway. The fifth part of the podcast series is expected to hit Spotify and Apple Podcasts on May 29. This story contains information from the Star-Telegrams archives. CANAL FULTON Victor Colaianni, under fire by some community members for the handling of the discipline of his son after the teen was accused of harassing a special needs student at the high school, is stepping away from the Northwest Local school board. The board is set to approve his resignation at its next board meeting on May 30. In his resignation letter, Colaianni wrote his decision comes on the heels of his son's involvement in the April 25 incident and subsequent posts, threats, and comments on social media. "This decision is in the best interest of curtailing any negative risk of repercussions to the district and also in the best interest of the safety and well-being of my family," Colaianni wrote. In a letter to the community, Superintendent Shawn Braman announced Colaianni's resignation, adding the board is conducting a search for his replacement. In a letter to the community, Superintendent Shawn Braman announced Colaianni's resignation, adding the board is conducting a search for his replacement. Colaianni was the president of the board. He could not be reached Thursday for comment. "I would like to thank Mr. Colaianni for his service and we wish him the best of luck moving forward," the letter read. Northwest High students charged after video goes viral Two students were disciplined, accused of urging a special needs student to remove feces from a toilet with his hand in the high school restroom as they recorded it. Last week, the Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone announced the 16-year-old and 14-year-old are facing criminal charges. The 16-year-old was charged with telecommunication harassment and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors. The second student faces a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. The charges were filed in Stark County Family Court, where juvenile court cases are handled. When the community learned about the harassment incident, some took school officials and the board to task over what they contend to be insufficient punishment. School officials have refused to discuss details of how the students were punished. Colaianni denied intervening with the punishment but acknowledged his son is one the students involved, actions that caused hurt and embarrassment to the student and turmoil in the schools. "For this, I apologize to the students, staff and also the Northwest community as a whole," he wrote on Facebook. Northwest Local seeking new board member Anyone interested in the vacant position should submit a letter of interest to Braman via email at braman.s@northwest.sparcc.org or to any school board member. Letters of interest are due by May 30. The letter should include the applicant's background and experience as well as why they are seeking the seat, Braman said. The board will appoint a new board member at the June board meeting. The appointed board member will serve through Jan. 1, 2024. If the appointee wants to finish Colaianni's term, which expires would Dec. 31, 2025, they must run for the seat. Braman encouraged community members with questions should call him at 330-573-9024. "We are committed to appointing a person who maintains the sole purpose of doing what is best for all of our students," he said. "We would like to appoint someone who will continue to support our strategic planning in moving our school district forward in a positive fashion." This article originally appeared on The Independent: Northwest seeking school board member after Victor Colaianni resigns OSLO, Norway The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has asked people to avoid contact with Hvaldimir, a beluga whale that now lives in the inner Oslofjord in southern Norway. Hvaldimir gained notoriety in 2019 when he was spotted in Norwegian waters wearing a camera mount from a Russian research program, the BBC reported. Because of this, Hvaldimir was dubbed a "spy whale." The worlds most famous beluga whale, Hvaldimir, showed off high-fiving skills earlier this year, when he skidded past a boat of volunteers near Flatanger, Norway. Since he was discovered, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries said Hvaldimir has been traveling along the Norwegian coast, mostly staying at farms. HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER Now, the whale has made it to the bustling waters of Oslofjord, located by the Norwegian capital of Oslo, spurring concern for its well-being in a highly populated area. Boats and ferries are seen on in the Oslo fjord along the waterfront of the Norwegian capital on July 25, 2020. According to fisheries director Frank Bakke-Jensen, in Oslofjord, the risk of injury for Hvaldimir increases as many more recreational boats are gathered in the small area. The directorate has encouraged people to keep a good distance from Hvaldimir to help ensure the safety and well-being of the beluga. Map showing location of Oslo, Norway. They added that they would monitor the whales movements and hope it would turn around when he reached the end of Oslofjord. And now the weather: cloudy with scattered showers of plastic Plastic pieces in frozen water near Vaasa, Finland Diplomats from 175 countries gathering in Paris for plastics treaty talks on Monday may want to pack an umbrella, but not just because there's a chance of rain. France's capital will also be showered during the five-day talks by billions of microplastic particles falling from the sky, according to the first-ever plastics pollution weather forecast. The predicted downpour will range between 40 and 48 kilogrammes (88 and 106 pounds) of free-floating plastic bits blanketing greater Paris every 24 hours, the scientists involved told AFP. If the weather delivers heavy rain, the "plastic fall" is likely to increase up to tenfold. "This should sharpen the focus of negotiators," said Marcus Gover, head of plastics research at the Minderoo Foundation based in Perth, Australia. "Plastic particles break down into the environment and this toxic cocktail ends up in our bodies, where it does unimaginable damage to our health." Concern over the impact of plastics on the environment and human wellbeing has surged in recent years along with a crescendo of research documenting its omnipresence and persistence. In nature, multi-coloured microplastics -- by definition less than five millimetres (0.2 inches) in diameter -- have been found in ice near the North Pole and inside fish navigating the oceans' deepest, darkest recesses. Plastic debris is estimated to kill more than a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, and filter-feeding blue whales consume up to 10 million pieces of microplastic every day. - 'Heads in the sand' - The equivalent of a garbage truck's worth of plastic refuse is dumped into the ocean every minute. In humans, microscopic bits of plastic have been detected in blood, breast milk and placentas. Animal tests have linked chemicals in microplastics to increased risks of cancer, reproductive problems and DNA mutations but data on human impact is still lacking. "In our bodies, the plastics we need to be most worried about are probably those between 10 nanometres and one micrometre," said paediatrician Christos Symeonides, a researcher at Murdoch Children's Research Hospital and the Minderoo Foundation. "They're the ones most likely to get through our biological membranes into tissues, including the blood-brain barrier," he told AFP. "We're just now pulling our heads out of the sand when it comes to the health hazards of microplastics." The forecast for Paris next week only covers significantly larger particles, mostly synthetic fibres at least 50 microns in length. For reference, a human hair is about 80 microns (or 80,000 nanometres) across. The method developed by Minderoo Foundation researchers does not measure plastic falling through the atmosphere in real time. Rather, it is based on research done in Paris starting in 2015 that collected samples from multiple locations year round and sifted through them in the laboratory. - 'Virgin' plastic - This pioneering work by French scientists found that most plastic particles falling across Paris' 2,500-square-kilometre (965-square-mile) catchment area were nylon and polyester, probably from clothing. Other bits were cast off by tyres, which shed them especially when vehicles brake. Over an entire year up to 10 tonnes of microplastic fibres settle over the Paris area, they estimated. The density of "plastic fall" can increase by an order of magnitude during heavy rain. Measurements taken by other teams have replicated these findings in half a dozen cities around the world. Microplastics that hit the ground can still be ingested or inhaled when stirred up, for example, on a windy day. Last year, 175 nations agreed to forge a legally binding treaty to curb plastic pollution, aiming to complete negotiations by 2024. No major breakthroughs are expected at the technical talks starting on Monday, but major policy debated will include a global ban on single-use plastic items, a "polluter pays" scheme and a tax on new or "virgin" plastic production. These policies -- even if fully implemented -- may not be enough to cut consumption, according to experts and green groups calling for an outright cap on plastic production. On current trends, annual production of fossil-fuel-based plastics will nearly triple by 2060 to 1.2 billion tonnes, while waste will exceed one billion tonnes, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). mh/gil/fg Nurse killed patients by intentionally giving them unneeded insulin, PA official says While working at at a skilled nursing facility in Pennsylvania, a registered nurse intentionally killed two patients and tried to kill a third, according to state authorities. She did so by giving three men ages 55, 73 and 83 lethal and unnecessary doses of insulin, Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a May 25 news release. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels, and a human-made form of the hormone is used to treat people with diabetes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Only one of the three men was diabetic, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The 55-year-old man and 83-year-old patient died on Dec. 4 and Dec 25, authorities said. The 73-year-old man was hospitalized but survived. Now, Heather Pressdee, 40, of Natrona Heights, is charged with two counts of homicide and one count of attempted murder, according to the release. Shes also charged with one count of aggravated assault, three counts of neglect of a care-dependent person and three counts of reckless endangerment. Pressdee worked for Quality Life Services in Chicora at the time, officials said. As a family owned organization that prides itself on providing safe and compassionate care, Quality Life Services is shocked and devastated to learn that the charges brought against Ms. Pressdee by the Attorney Generals Office include alleged illegal activity that occurred at our QLS Chicora facility, a spokesperson with the facility said in a statement to McClatchy News. The facility is working with the attorney generals office, according to the statement. We can assure our community, our residents, our families and our staff that all residents of Quality Life Services - Chicora are safe and are receiving appropriate care and services, the spokesperson said. Pressdee was caring for the three victims when they received insulin overdoses, according to the attorney general. The allegations in this case outline the callous abuse of incredibly vulnerable patients by a professional nurse, Henry said in the release. As the charges indicate, these were deliberate and intentional acts perpetrated by a care-giver who was trusted to care for these victims. Be assured, my office will zealously pursue justice for the families of those who were killed, as well as the third victim who is fortunate to have survived. Pressdee was arrested May 24 and is being held at the Butler County Prison without bail, according to the release. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone concerned about the care a loved one received from Pressdee is asked to call the attorney general tipline at 888-538-8541. Chicora is about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. EMT sexually assaulted woman with Parkinsons in back of ambulance, CA lawsuit says School nurse took 700 secret photos of Tennessee students using the bathroom, feds say Nurse stole painkillers for hospital patients and swapped in saline, feds say Nvidia: The chip maker that became an AI superpower Nvidia was known for its graphics processing computer chips Shares in computer chip designer Nvidia soared this week, taking the company's valuation close to the trillion dollar mark. The surge was sparked by its latest quarterly results which were released late on Wednesday. The company said it was raising production of chips to meet "surging demand". Nvidia has come to dominate the market for chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Interest in that sector reached frenzied levels after ChatGPT went public last November, which sent a jolt well beyond the technology industry. From helping with speeches, to computer coding and cooking, ChatGPT has proved to be a wildly popular application of AI. But all that would not be possible without powerful computer hardware - in particular computer chips from California-based Nvidia. Originally known for making the type of computer chips that process graphics, particularly for computer games, Nvidia hardware underpins most AI applications today. "It is the leading technology player enabling this new thing called artificial intelligence," says Alan Priestley, a semiconductor industry analyst at Gartner. "What Nvidia is to AI is almost like what Intel was to PCs," adds Dan Hutcheson, an analyst at TechInsights. ChatGPT was trained using 10,000 of Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) clustered together in a supercomputer belonging to Microsoft. "It is one of many supercomputers - some known publicly, some not - that have been built with Nvidia GPUs for a variety of scientific as well as AI use cases," says Ian Buck, general manager and vice president of accelerated computing at Nvidia. Nvidia has about 95% of the GPU market for machine learning, noted a recent report from CB Insights. Its AI chips, which it also sells in systems designed for data centres, cost roughly $10,000 (8,000) each, though its latest and most powerful version sells for far more. So how did Nvidia become such a central player in the AI revolution? In short, a bold bet on its own technology plus some good timing. In 2006 Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang made the company's chips programmable Jensen Huang, now the chief executive of Nvidia, was one of its founders back in 1993. Then, Nvidia was focused on making graphics better for gaming and other applications. In 1999 it developed GPUs to enhance image display for computers. GPUs excel at processing many small tasks simultaneously (for example handling millions of pixels on a screen) - a procedure known as parallel processing. In 2006, researchers at Stanford University discovered GPUs had another use - they could accelerate maths operations, in a way that regular processing chips could not. It was at that moment that Mr Huang took a decision crucial to the development of AI as we know it. He invested Nvidia's resources in creating a tool to make GPUs programmable, thereby opening up their parallel processing capabilities for uses beyond graphics. That tool was added to Nvida's computer chips. For computer games players it was a capability they didn't need, and probably weren't even aware of, but for researchers it was a new way of doing high performance computing on consumer hardware. It was that capability that helped sparked early breakthroughs in modern AI. In 2012 Alexnet was unveiled - an AI that could classify images. Alexnet was trained using just two of Nvidia's programmable GPUs. The training process took only a few days, rather than the months it could have taken on a much larger number of regular processing chips. The discovery - that GPUs could massively accelerate neural network processing - began to spread among computer scientists, who started buying them to run this new type of workload. "AI found us," says Mr Buck. Nvidia pressed its advantage by investing in developing new kinds of GPUs more suited to AI, as well as more software to make it easy to use the technology. A decade, and billions of dollars later, ChatGPT emerged - an AI that can give eerily human responses to questions. In 2021 Metaphysic made headlines with its Tom Cruise deep fakes AI start-up Metaphysic creates photorealistic videos of celebrities and others using AI techniques. Its Tom Cruise deep fakes created a stir in 2021. To both train and then run its models it uses hundreds of Nvidia GPUs, some purchased from Nvidia and others accessed through a cloud computing service. "There are no alternatives to Nvidia for doing what we do," says Tom Graham, its co-founder and chief executive. "It is so far ahead of the curve." Yet while Nvidia's dominance looks assured for now, the longer term is harder to predict. "Nvidia is the one with the target on its back that everybody is trying to take down," notes Kevin Krewell, another industry analyst at TIRIAS Research. Other big semiconductor companies provide some competition. AMD and Intel are both better known for making central processing units (CPUs), but they also make dedicated GPUs for AI applications (Intel only recently joined the fray). Google has its tensor processing units (TPUs), used not only for search results but also for certain machine-learning tasks, while Amazon has a custom-built chip for training AI models. Microsoft is also reportedly developing an AI chip, and Meta has its own AI chip project. More technology of business: In addition, for the first time in decades, there are also computer chip start-ups emerging, including Cerebras, SambaNova Systems and Habana (bought by Intel). They are intent on making better alternatives to GPUs for AI by starting from a clean slate. UK-based Graphcore makes general purpose AI chips it calls intelligence processing units (IPUs), which it says have more computational power and are cheaper than GPUs. Founded in 2016, Graphcore has received almost $700m (560m) in funding. Its customers include four US Department of Energy national labs and it has been pressing the UK government to use its chips in a new supercomputer project. "[Graphcore] has built a processor to do AI as it exists today and as it will evolve over time," says Nigel Toon, the company's co-founder and chief executive. He acknowledges going up against a giant like Nvidia is challenging. While Graphcore too has software to make its technology accessible, it is hard to orchestrate a switch when the world has built its AI products to run on Nvidia GPUs. Mr Toon hopes that over time, as AI moves away from cutting-edge experimentation to commercial deployment, cost-efficient computation will start to become more important. Back at Nvidia, Ian Buck is not overly concerned about the competition. "Everyone has the need for AI now," he says. "It is up to others to work out where they are going to make a contribution." H100, Nvidia's latest GPU optimized to handle large artificial intelligence models used to create text, computer code, images, video or audio is seen in this photo H100, Nvidias latest GPU chip, that powers AI models. With companies like Google and Microsoft racing to integrate artificial intelligence into their services, theres already one clear winner: Nvidia, which makes the chips powering the AI boom. For the three months ending April 30, Nvidias revenue rose 19% from the previous quarter, while profit jumped 44%. (On a year-over-year basis, revenue was down 13%, but lower expenses produced a 26% rise in net income.) Read more The semiconductor companys shares surged nearly 25% to $381.50 in after-hours trading, following the release of the first-quarter results. The stock was already up 113% so far this year. datawrapper-chart-BnqgZ The demand for Nvidias chips illustrates the computing power needed for the booming generative AI industry. AI bots like OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard can write emails, haikus, and essays in human-sounding prose, but they require a lot of computing power. The chips are not cheap, either. Microsoft, for instance, uses tens of thousands of Nvidias A100 graphic chips to fuel ChatGPT, which reportedly cost several hundred millions of dollars, according to Bloomberg. The computer industry is going through two simultaneous transitionsaccelerated computing and generative AI, said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia. Both trends are driving Nvidias results. Revenue from its data center business reached a quarterly record of $4.28 billion, up 18% from the previous quarter and 14% from the first quarter of 2022. Why are Nvidias chips so sought after? Nvidia owns most of the market for graphic processing units, or GPUs. Known for graphics and video rendering, GPUs are becoming more popular for AI use due to their ability to process many pieces of data at once. The global AI chip market is projected to grow from $17 billion in 2022 to $227 billion by 2032, according to Precedence Research, a market research firm. The future of the worlds data centers On a May 24 conference call going over the quarterly results, Huang said the worlds data centers are moving toward accelerated computing, adding that Nvidia has been preparing for this moment for the past 15 years. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Nvidia logo. Nvidia is the AI company of the moment. Whos the winner of the AI gold rush? Its not OpenAI, the startup that unleashed ChatGPT late last year and spurred companies spanning industries from technology to design to consulting to claim that theyre incorporating generative AI into their services. Its Nvidia, a Silicon Valley-based semiconductor company on track to join the $1 trillion club, which has only five members at the moment: Apple, Saudi Aramco, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon. Read more By the end of the day (May 25), Nvidias shares soared 24% to $379.80, while the S&P 500 is up a mere 1%. Nvidias stock had its largest one-day percent increase since 2016. So far this year, the semiconductors stock is up 165%. Nvidias current market valuation is $939 billion. datawrapper-chart-S8hXZ Why is Nvidias stock surging? The demand for Nvidias chips comes as the leading tech companies of the world are racing to apply generative AI into their services. Microsoft uses tens of thousands of Nivdias chips, called A100, to power ChatGPT. A single chip reportedly costs $10,000. In addition to Microsoft, Nvidia counts Google and Metawho are leading the AI boomas customers. [W]e have also procured a substantial amount of supply for the second half, of the year, Colette Kress, CFO of Nvidia, said on a conference call with investors and analysts on May 24. Its a turnaround for Nvidia, where revenue, similar to other semiconductor companies, fell last year due to declining demand for gaming after a pandemic boom and crypto mining. The companys solid performance boosted its competitor Advanced Micro Devices stock by 11%. Meanwhile, Intels stock dropped 5%. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. File - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company founder Morris Chang, left, shakes hands with Nvidia Co-founder, President, and CEO Jensen Huang, right, at the TSMC facility under construction in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Nvidia shares skyrocketed early Thursday after the chipmaker forecast a huge jump in revenue for the next quarter, notably pointing to chip demand for AI-related products and services.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) WASHINGTON (AP) Shares of Nvidia, already one of the world's most valuable companies, skyrocketed Thursday after the chipmaker forecast a huge jump in revenue, signaling how vastly the broadening use of artificial intelligence could reshape the tech sector. The company based in Santa Clara, California, is close to joining the exclusive club of $1 trillion companies like Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft, after its shares jumped more than 24%. Late Wednesday the maker of graphics chips for gaming and artificial intelligence reported a quarterly profit of more than $2 billion and revenue of $7 billion, both exceeding Wall Street expectations. Yet its projections for sales of $11 billion this quarter is what caught Wall Street off guard. It's a 64% jump from last year during the same period, and well above the $7.2 billion industry analysts were forecasting. "It looks like the new gold rush is upon us, and NVIDIA is selling all the picks and shovels, Susquehanna Financial Groups Christopher Rolland and Matt Myers wrote Thursday. Chipmakers around the globe were pulled along. Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor rose 3%, while South Koreas SK Hynix gained 6%. ASML based in the Netherlands added 5%. Nvidia founder and CEO of Jensen Huang said the world's data centers are in need of a makeover given the transformation that will come with AI technology. The worlds $1 trillion data center is nearly populated entirely by (central processing units) today, Huang said. And $1 trillion, $250 billion a year, its growing of course but over the last four years, call it $1 trillion worth of infrastructure installed, and its all completely based on CPUs and dumb NICs. Its basically unaccelerated. AI chips are designed to perform artificial intelligence tasks faster and more efficiently. While general-purpose chips like CPUs can also be used for simpler AI tasks, they're becoming less and less useful as AI advances, a 2020 report from Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology notes. Because of their unique features, AI chips are tens or even thousands of times faster and more efficient than CPUs for training and inference of AI algorithms, the report adds, noting that AI chips can also be more cost-effective than CPUs due to their greater efficiency. Analysts say Nvidia could be an early look at how AI may reshape the tech sector. Last night Nvidia gave jaw dropping robust guidance that will be heard around the world and shows the historical demand for AI happening now in the enterprise and consumer landscape," Wedbush's Dan Ives wrote. "For any investor calling this an AI bubble ... we would point them to this Nvidia quarter and especially guidance which cements our bullish thesis around AI and speaks to the 4th Industrial Revolution now on the doorstep with AI. Nymbus, a startup that partners with banks to migrate their legacy stack and launch neobanks to attract new customers, today announced that it raised $70 million in a Series D round led by Insight Partners. The Banc Funds Company and Mendon Venture Partners participated also, as did Nymbus clients ConnectOne Bank and PeoplesBank. According to CEO Jeffrey Kendall, the new capital will be put toward investing in scaling Jacksonville-based Nymbus' various products and services, particularly its core transaction processing engine and platform for commercial banking, "While banks and credit unions require a robust technology stack to support operations, the market is limited to options that are often over 30 years old," Kendall told TechCrunch in an email interview. "In 2015, Nymbus launched its cloud-based core banking platform for financial institutions to provide a robust option for replacing legacy technology and reducing technical debt. The solution has grown over time to streamline operations, offer new routes to growth and enhance the overall customer experience." Co-founded in 2015 by Alex Lopatine and Scott Killoh, Nymbus emerged at a time when millennials and Gen Z banking customers began looking to online alternatives to traditional banks -- spurred in part by a desire to find better rates. According to a survey from GOBankingRates, nearly 30% of Americans ages 25-34 now use online banks, while 21% of Americans of any age have adopted them. Banks, unsurprisingly, are feeling the pressure to adapt to a changing world by modernizing and digitizing both their operations and products. But most of them aren't equipped to do so. According to a 2021 McKinsey study, only 30% of banks that've undergone a digital transformation report successfully implementing their digital strategy, and the majority fall short of their stated objectives -- whether because of technical debt, siloed IT architectures or an unbridgeable gap between the business and IT departments. Nymbus aims to boost the success rate with a cloud-based banking solution that offers traditional banks features like API access, event-driven alerting and features, robotic process automation and more. Banks and credit unions can integrate the functions they require to expand their digital capabilities, enhance their back-office processes or introduce new products. There's a number of companies that offer this type of "banking-as-a-service (BaaS)," like NovoPayment, a startup based in Miami that's largely been focused on offering its API platform to customers in the Latin American market. There's also Bud, which recently raised $80 million to expand its AI-based open banking platform, frequently used by banks to power lending tools. BaaS has become the industry norm, in fact. A 2022 Finastra poll of U.S. financial institutions and banks found that 86% agree BaaS is already expected by customers, while almost half (46%) have improved or deployed a BaaS solution in the past year. According to one estimate, the BaaS market was valued at around $20 billion in 2021 and could grow over 16% from 2022 to 2030. But Nymbus stands out for its ability to deliver a "fully managed digital bank," Kendall says, which includes a "unified data stream" that can be used for data analysis, decision-making and strategic planning. The modular nature of the platform, moreover, can reduce costs without sacrificing "operational excellence," in Kendall's words -- making it cost effective. "Nymbus' product suite, which includes core processing, loan origination, account opening and digital channels, coupled with operational resources, empowers financial institutions of all sizes to tap into new market segments and drive growth," he said. "Ease of maintenance and speed to market are key for the CIO and this is what the Nymbus solution delivers." That's certainly a lot to promise. And Nymbus, when asked, declined to say how many customers it's currently serving and its projected recurring revenue, which tends to be a predictor of success (albeit not a foolproof one). Still, despite his reluctance to peel back the curtains on the company's operations, Kendall asserted that Nymbus -- which has around 200 full-time staffers and contractors, currently -- is well-positioned to weather headwinds in the coming months. "The general economic uncertainty and slowdown in tech funding has made securing resources for expansion and innovation more difficult," he said. "But we have solid solutions in our portfolio to support the growing need of banks and credit unions to modernize and meet their customers where they are -- in the digital realm. We believe that as banks increasingly realize the importance of modernization, there will be a continued demand for our services." The New York Police Department has shared a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the disappearances of two boys who were found dead in separate Manhattan rivers last week, while pleading with the public to come forward with any information that could help investigators determine what led to their deaths. The agency is working with the citys chief medical examiner and the Manhattan District Attorneys Office in the investigation to determine whether there was any criminality involved or if this was just a tragic incident, Chief of Detectives James W. Essig said during a Wednesday news conference. If anyone has seen any video or heard of any video, please contact us. You are not in trouble for not coming forward in a timely manner, Essig said. Alfa Barrie, 11, and Garrett Warren, 13 who attended separate schools but were believed to be friends were seen together in Harlem on May 12 before they were reported missing at different times, according to the NYPD. The departments harbor unit found the bodies of the boys days apart, more than two miles away from one another in the Harlem River and the Hudson River. Garrett died by accidental drowning, and the cause and manner of Alfas death is pending following an examination Sunday, according to the medical examiners office. The timeline shared Wednesday was based on video recovered during the investigation, eyewitness accounts and interviews, police said. May 12: Boys seen together near park, shoreline Shortly after noon on May 12, Alfa was dismissed from Democracy Preparatory Charter School in Harlem, Essig said. The boys met up around 3:30 p.m. and police have placed them at several locations together in Manhattan over the next couple of hours, including a fish market, exiting a residence and at a deli, according to Essig. Shortly before 7 p.m., the boys were seen riding bikes and meeting up with a third youth, police said. Video footage taken from a distance shows two of the boys climbing over a fence near the Harlem River around 6:50 p.m. and heading towards the shoreline, Essig said. The next time police observe anyone on video is about 14 minutes later, when the third boy is observed entering a park, called the Brigadier General Charles Young Playground, Essig said. Roughly two hours later, around 9 p.m., that third youth is seen leaving the park. Five minutes after that boy is observed, police received a 911 call from an anonymous man who said that a group of kids approached him and then stated, two kids were pushing each other and fell in the water, Essig said. The 911 caller engaged with the teenagers while he was on the line with police, attempting to get more information, Essig said. When police arrived at the scene, the 911 caller who police were not able to reach and the three children had already left, according to Essig. The police called in harbor and aviation units to conduct a thorough search but were not able to spot either boy in the water, Essig said. Police also canvassed the surrounding area and the park, which was very crowded, but found no witnesses, he added. A law enforcement source previously told CNN authorities have an account from another boy who was reportedly at the scene, who said Alfa and Garrett were playing by the waters edge before one boy shoved the other toward the water and they both ended up going in. The law enforcement source said the third boy saw them briefly but did not see them come up again or climb out of the water. A couple of hours later, he approached an adult, who called 911 and described the scene to police, the source said. May 14 and 15: Family members report boys as missing, search begins On Sunday, May 14, at 2:23 a.m., Alfas sister called 911 and reported him missing. On May 15, at 1:25 p.m., Garretts mother reported him missing, which led detectives to quickly determine the two missing boys were connected, Essig said. A command post was established with multiple units canvassing buildings, parks and businesses, Essig said. Aviation, harbor and scuba were on the scene and conducted river and coastline searches. Later that evening, while the search was ongoing, detectives identified and questioned the third youth, Essig said. Over the next few days, several young people in the park were interviewed by detectives, but none of them were eyewitnesses to the incident, Essig added. May 18 and 20: Bodies found, days apart Garrett was found May 18 at 10:25 a.m., in the Harlem River near the Madison Avenue Bridge, which connects Manhattan and the Bronx. On May 20, at 6:50 a.m., police found Alfas body in the Hudson River near the Upper West Side, according to police. The bodies may have been found in the two rivers due to differences in decay, water temperature and depth, as well as body composition, according to Inspector Anthony Russo, commanding officer of the harbor. The bodies likely surfaced at different times, when the water currents were traveling south and north, respectively, Russo said at the news conference. We want to find out exactly what occurred on that river. We owe that to the family for closure and we also owe it to the public, as well, Essig said on Wednesday. CNN affiliate ABC 7 reported family and friends gathered at a mosque in the Bronx after Alfas body was found. Family friend Adhmadou Diallo said the boy was close with his mother and helped out at home. Every time he gives his mommy a goodbye kiss when going to school and thats what happened on Friday when he left, Diallo said. Alfa was a sixth-grade student at Democracy Prep Public School in Harlem, which released a statement mourning the loss of the funny, bright, witty, inquisitive, and brave child, ABC 7 reported. He will be sorely missed by his teachers and fellow students, the school said. We also stand in solidarity with the family of Alfas friend, Garrett Warren. While he was not a student, we understand that this is a difficult time for his community as well and share our prayers with them. CNNs Kristina Sgueglia, Zenebou Sylla, John Miller and Celina Tebor contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters Moments before being sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy in connection with the Capitol riot, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes went on an unhinged, politically charged rantand continued to pledge fealty to the former president whose rhetoric landed him in prison in the first place. Im a political prisoner, Rhodes, clad in an orange prison uniform, said from the podium in D.C. federal court on Thursday. I feel like Im the lead character in Kafkas The Trial. Rhodes was found guilty in November of seditious conspiracy and evidence tampering in connection with an insurrection that forced dozens of elected officials into hiding for hours and left several people dead. The far-right leader was convicted of the rare Civil War-era charge alongside Florida Oath Keeper leader Kelly Meggs, who is set to be sentenced on Thursday afternoon. Prior to his sentencing, Rhodes stressed that he never entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 and noted that his only crimelike Donald Trump was opposing those who are destroying our country. This country is incredibly divided..and this prosecution...is making it worse he added, before saying he hoped Trump won again in 2024. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta seemed to disagree. In a searing speech, he said Rhodes was not a political prisoner and a jury convicted him of one of the most serious crimes an individual American can commit. Its an offense against the government, to use force. Its an offense against the people of the country, he said. Mehta then said Rhodes presents an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the republic, and to the very fabric of our democracy. You are smart, you are compelling, and you are charismatic. Frankly, that is what makes you dangerous, he said before handing down Rhodes sentence. Tasha Adams, whose divorce from Rhodes was finalized on Tuesday, told The Daily Beast she is pretty happy about Thursdays sentencing. She said she wasnt surprised by Rhodes rant and believes that his rhetoric was not directed at the judge but at conservative media and those who would maybe grant him a pardon. Adams also added that its ironic Rhodes invoked Kafkabecause her ex-husband has never read the Czech writer. I was pleasantly surprised at the 18-year sentence, she said. But the best part was the judge going off on him. Oath Keepers Boss Guilty of Seditionand His Fam Celebrates During Rhodes sentencing hearing, prosecutors argued that Rhodes and his fellow Oath Keepers plotted for months to subvert democracy, unlike the hundreds of other rioters who showed up to the Capitol under a false belief that the election was stolen from Donald Trump. While Rhodes did not physically enter the Capitol, prosecutors said, he organized an armed force that he directed from afar. Prosecutors urged Mehta to give him 25 years in prison, the largest sentence in connection with the Capitol riots. Mehta also approved Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczys request to apply a terrorism enhancement to Rhodes sentencing after Rakoczy argued that Rhodes set up an armed force outside D.C. and advocated for a civil war. The terrorism enhancement marks the first time the penalty provision has been approved in the hundreds of Jan. 6 criminal cases, according to The New York Times. Treason has been determined to be the appropriate analogue, Mehta said. Rhodes' defense, however, asked Mehta for time served, arguing that their client had already been in jail for over a year and did not actually storm the Capitol. Defense attorney Philip Linder said during a sentencing hearing that there were no orders or plans by the Oath Keepers to go into the Capitol on the day of the riots. Assisting fellow citizens in times of natural disasters, protecting them when under siege from rioters, and upholding the United States Constitution are not extreme ideals, they are American ideals, attorneys James Lee Bright and Phillip A. Linder wrote a pre-sentencing memo. Throughout the landmark seven-week trial, prosecutors showed jurors audio recordings and text messages to prove that the Oath Keepers had planned to block the 2020 election certification just days after Biden was declared the new president. In these months-long discussions, Rhodes rallied the Oath Keepers to defend Trump and warned about having to rise up in insurrection. Jurors also watched videos of Oath Keepers on the day of the riots wearing combat gear and pushing through the MAGA crowd in a military-style formation. Were not getting out of this without a fight. Theres going to be a fight, Rhodes said in a recording of a Nov. 9, 2020, meeting revealed in court. But lets just do it smart, and lets do it while President Trump is still commander in chief. Rhodes was among three Oath Keepers who testified in their own defense but, unlike the others, he took the opportunity on the stand to throw his fellow members under the bus for breaching the Capitol. I think it was stupid to go into the Capitol. One, because it wasnt our mission, Rhodes told jurors in November. And two, it opened the door for our political enemies to persecute us. And thats what happened, and here we are. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Washington Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right group known as the Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, receiving the longest sentence in a Jan. 6 case to date. Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia imposed the sentence Thursday after a hearing in which Rhodes declared himself a "political prisoner" and likened himself to former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors had asked Mehta to impose a sentence of 25 years in prison, saying Rhodes, who is 58, qualified for a more lengthy sentence under federal anti-terrorism laws given the "threat of harm and the historic significance" of his crimes. Mehta agreed to impose the enhancements, noting that Rhodes did not demonstrate "acceptance of responsibility" for his role in the attack. It was the first time the terrorism enhancement has been applied to a Jan. 6 defendant. Hours after Rhodes was sentenced, his co-defendant Kelly Meggs, the leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, was given a sentence of 12 years behind bars. Meggs was convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside Rhodes last November. Prosecutors alleged he spearheaded the effort to enter the Capitol. Delivering a withering rebuke to Rhodes before handing down his sentence, Mehta said he presents "an ongoing threat and a peril to this country and its democracy." Seditious conspiracy "is among the most serious crimes an individual American can commit," he said. "It's an offense against the government, to use force. It's an offense against the people of the country." A jury convicted Rhodes and other Oath Keepers last November for a host of crimes related to Jan. 6, when a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol in an attempt to block the formal transfer of power from Trump to President Biden. "You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes," Mehta said. "You are here for that conduct, not because of your beliefs You stand convicted because 12 jurors in the District of Columbia ... convicted you of sedition." "We all now hold our collective breaths with an election approaching. Will we have another January 6th? That remains to be seen," the judge said of the consequences of Rhodes' actions. FILE - Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group known as the Oath Keepers speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington, on June 25, 2017. / Credit: Susan Walsh / AP Meanwhile, during his sentencing, an emotional Meggs told Mehta Thursday that he regretted the situation in which he and his family found themselves, and pleaded for leniency, a striking contrast to Rhodes' defiance. "I'm sorry for being involved in an event that put such a black eye on our country," Meggs said. Meggs reiterated his defense that there was no plan to enter the Capitol that day. Mehta, however, disagreed, and said that while Meggs was clearly different than Rhodes who Mehta said posed a danger to democracy the judge said of Meggs: "A jury found that you were prepared to take up arms against your government to prevent the lawful transfer of power." "I feel your pain today," Mehta added. "I feel it deeply." "He continues to advocate for political violence" Rhodes the first Jan. 6 defendant to be sentenced for the seditious conspiracy charge "pushed the idea among Oath Keepers members and others that with a large enough mob, they could intimidate Congress and its Members and impose the conspirators' will rather than the American people's: to stop the certification of the next President of the United States," the government alleged in pre-sentencing filings. Addressing the judge before the sentence was handed down, Rhodes said he was "sympathetic" to the trauma that many law enforcement experienced during the Jan. 6 attack, but argued many members of the Oath Keepers were not violent that day. "I believe this country is incredibly divided, and this prosecution not just of me, but for every Jan. 6er is making it even worse," he added. Rhodes told the judge that the Oath Keepers were not at the Capitol to instigate violence, unlike groups like the Proud Boys. However, according to prosecutors, Rhodes and his fellow Oath Keepers planned for violence ahead of the Capitol breach, communicated via encrypted messages and radios during the attack, and celebrated their actions in its aftermath. "It is conduct that threatened and continues to threaten the rule of law in the United States," prosecutors said in court on Thursday. "Mr. Rhodes has been calling for violent opposition to the authority of the government of the United States for well over a decade He continues to advocate for political violence." His defense attorneys argued for a much lighter sentence, noting that he had been in jail since his arrest more than a year ago. "They want the court to believe and they want the public to believe that Rhodes caused this," defense attorney Phillip Linder said Thursday. "Rhodes did not cause this." "You want to put a face on Jan. 6, you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians," Linder added, urging the court to consider their stance that the riot would have occurred even if Rhodes was not present that day. "The people that breached the Capitol first did so on their own." "It will be 1776 all over again" During the eight-week-long trial last year, the government presented evidence that included encrypted chat messages, recorded meetings and social media posts to show the defendants made detailed plans to head to Washington ahead of Jan. 6, when lawmakers gathered to count the Electoral College votes and formalize Mr. Biden's victory in the 2020 election. Government lawyers and witnesses said the Oath Keepers' plans included amassing an arsenal of weapons at a nearby Virginia hotel, coordinating movements in a so-called Quick Reaction Force unit and preparing for violence. A Yale Law School graduate, Rhodes was the alleged leader of the conspiracy, prosecutors told the jury and argued in sentencing memos. They called him the "architect" of the plan who penned open letters to Trump urging him to try to hold onto power using an obscure, centuries-old law known as the Insurrection Act. "It will be 1776 all over again," Rhodes wrote in a message to other Oath Keepers leaders. "Force on force is the way to go." He was not accused of actually entering the Capitol on Jan. 6, but admitted to being near the building. The plan, according to the government, began in earnest on Dec. 19, 2020, when then-President Trump told supporters to gather for what he said would be a "wild" rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6. In the lead-up to the attack, evidence at trial showed Rhodes' rhetoric growing more extreme, with him discussing revolutions and civil war. Defense attorneys argued their clients, including Rhodes, were present in Washington to provide security for high-profile Trump supporters attending the rally near the White House that preceded the attack on the Capitol. Evidence at trial showed many defendants, only some of whom would be convicted on the seditious charge, marching into the Capitol building on two separate occasions during the riot. Three other Oath Keepers who were tried at the same time as Rhodes and Meggs Jessica Watkins, Thomas Caldwell, and Kenneth Harrelson were acquitted of the most severe count, but found guilty of other crimes. During a subsequent trial, four more Oath Keepers were all found guilty of seditious conspiracy. They are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming days. Prosecutors alleged Jan. 6 was not the culmination of the Oath Keepers' alleged conspiracy. It was instead part of a larger plan to oppose Mr. Biden's presidency, one that did not end with the certification of the Electoral College votes. They wrote Rhodes "stands out" among the Oath Keepers because of "the frequency and vehemence" with which he urged his followers to oppose the election results and "retaliate against government conduct." Defense attorneys argued at trial that the government failed to prove an actual conspiracy to enter the Capitol building existed, contending their clients spoke in hyperbolic yet constitutionally protected ways that did not amount to criminal conduct. "None of his protected speech incited or encouraged imminent violent or unlawful acts," the defense team argued. "Mr. Rhodes was focused at the time on getting President Trump to use his power and authority while still in office." Rhodes' legal team urged Mehta, the judge, to consider his history as a military veteran and billed the Oath Keepers as little more than a "volunteer organization" meant to assist with disaster relief and community protection. "The character of the Oath Keepers reflects the character of the man who created it," the attorneys wrote earlier this month in an attempt to get him a more lenient sentence. "Mr. Rhodes gave his life to the Oath Keepers." Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes gets longest Jan. 6 sentence to date John Dickerson on how presidential campaigns turned into bids for attention What's changed since George Floyd's death three years ago Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years behind bars Thursday, six months after being convicted of seditious conspiracy in federal court for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta delivered a searing and lengthy reproach to Rhodes shortly before handing down his sentence, telling him, You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country and to the republic and to the very fabric of this democracy, according to NBC News. Earlier, Rhodes recited a 20-minute-long diatribe to the courtroom in which he called himself a political prisoner and said his only crime was trying to stop politicians from destroying America. Mehta responded to his claims directly: You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes. The judge said it was clear that Rhodes wanted democracy in this country to devolve into violence. He also expressed concern that another incident like Jan. 6 could be on the horizon, saying Americans hold our collective breaths every time an election is approaching, The Associated Press reported. The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government, Mehta said, per the AP. Although prosecutors had sought a 25-year term for the 58-year-old, his sentence is still the longest of any Capitol riot defendant so far. More than 1,000 people have been charged in connection to the insurrection. Another leader in the far-right anti-government group, Kelly Meggs, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars on similar charges later Thursday. The Oath Keepers trial last fall was a watershed moment in the federal governments massive effort to prosecute the mob that had stormed the Capitol and terrorized the police and lawmakers inside in the name of former President Donald Trump. Due to the large number of defendants nine they were split into two groups for trial; jurors convicted six of them on seditious conspiracy charges. Rhodes and Meggs are the first to face sentencing. As the ringleader of the Oath Keepers, Rhodes was accused of preparing for a potentially large-scale gunfight at the Capitol on Jan. 6, having stockpiled a cache of high-powered weapons at a hotel just outside Washington. The nations capital has strict gun control laws, but prosecutors said the Oath Keepers wanted to have firearms nearby just in case Trump signaled that he wanted them to use force to overturn President Joe Bidens victory. Rhodes believed that Trump could achieve his goal by invoking the Insurrection Act, which gives a president the authority to send in the military to suppress insurrection. While Rhodes did not enter the Capitol himself, prosecuting attorneys said at trial that he had primed his followers to engage in conflict at the Capitol, observing the chaos from a hill like a battlefield general. Meggs entered the Capitol leading what prosecutors called a stack formation of other Oath Keepers clad in military-style tactical gear. Scores of text messages displayed in court, along with audio recordings, helped to paint a picture of the planning that had gone into the Oath Keepers decision to show up on Jan. 6, the day Congress was officially certifying the results of the 2020 election. One recording revealed how Rhodes told an acquaintance just a few days after the riot that he regretted not bringing rifles to Capitol Hill. Id hang fuckin Pelosi from the lamppost, Rhodes was heard saying in the audio. Rhodes defended himself in part by saying he was bloviating when he used strong language. He also argued that he and his Oath Keepers were actually just trying to help law enforcement, despite not being asked to do so. Prosecutors said the Oath Keepers as a group have a history of providing unasked-for security. Related... A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes to 18 years in prison following his conviction on seditious conspiracy charges for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The sentencing represents the longest prison term assigned to a figure involved in the riot, coming after Rhodes was found guilty on numerous other charges last November, including other felony charges such as obstruction of an official proceeding. Judge Amit Mehta laid down the sentence with harsh words for Rhodes over a several-minute speech, castigating the leader for referring to himself as a political prisoner earlier in the hearing. You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes, Mehta said, adding that he presents an ongoing threat and a peril to this country. He added that what we cannot have is a group of citizens prepared to take up arms in order to foment a revolution. Thats what you did. We now all hold our collective breaths every time an election is approaching. Will we have another Jan. 6? That remains to be seen. The sentence comes ahead of those of numerous other Oath Keepers members slated to receive their punishment over the next two weeks for their role in the attack. Several in the group were found guilty of seditious conspiracy, as were members of another far-right group, the Proud Boys, who faced the charge in another trial. Its also significant because Rhodes never entered the Capitol that day, instead remaining on the grounds, directing his team via a walkie-talkie app as they entered the building via stack formation. Mehta largely sided with the Justice Department, which suggested a 25-year prison sentence for Rhodes, arguing the former Army soldier encouraged other fellow veterans to violate the oaths to defend the Constitution they took when beginning their service. Seditious conspiracy carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, but the Justice Department also sought a terrorism enhancement for Rhodes and other Oath Keepers defendants. He exploited his vast public influence as the leader of the Oath Keepers and used his talents for manipulation to goad more than twenty other American citizens into using force, intimidation, and violence to seek to impose their preferred result on a U.S. presidential election, the Justice Department wrote in a sentencing memo earlier this month. Rhodess attorneys argued he should be sentenced to 16 months the time he has spent in prison for the duration of his trial. Rhodes himself spoke during the hearing Thursday, claiming the only crime he is guilty of is opposing those who are destroying our country and complained others imprisoned for their role in Jan. 6 have been grossly overcharged. I hope Trump wins in 2024, Rhodes said. Rhodes, 58, is a Yale-educated lawyer and founded the Oath Keepers as a militia to defend citizens against the government. Other Oath Keepers members are set to be sentenced in the coming days, including former Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs, expected to be sentenced later Thursday. Updated at 1:37 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the far-right Oath Keepers, was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol the longest sentence handed down to date and the first for a charge of seditious conspiracy. You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the republic and to the very fabric of our democracy, said U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta, characterizing Rhodes as a uniquely powerful driver of the threat to democracy that day. You are smart, you are compelling, and you are charismatic. Frankly, that is what makes you dangerous. Rhodes, 58, is the first of 14 Jan. 6 defendants, including nine Oath Keepers, to face sentencing after being convicted of or pleading guilty to seditious conspiracy. Enrique Tarrio, who was the national chairman of the far-right Proud Boys on Jan. 6, was convicted of the charge earlier this month. Prosecutors say Rhodes masterminded a weekslong effort to derail the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden, marshaling dozens of allies across the country to descend on Washington on Jan. 6. Rhodes and his allies spent weeks pressing Trump to forcibly prevent Congress from certifying the election and girded for violence even if Trump refused. Rhodes also encouraged Oath Keepers to assemble an arsenal of weapons just outside of Washington that could be deployed to the city if necessary. Ultimately dozens of members of the Oath Keepers surged with the pro-Trump mob into the Capitol, while Rhodes rallied them from outside the building. It was a brazen attack that threatened the most important and vulnerable part of American democracy, prosecutors said, urging Mehta to issue a sentence of at least 25 years. Mehta largely agreed with prosecutors characterization of Rhodes role as a leader of the Jan. 6 attack and agreed to classify his crimes as an act of terrorism against the government, a categorization that sharply increased his ultimate sentence. What we cannot have we absolutely cannot have is a group of citizens who because they didnt like the outcome [of the 2020 election] were then prepared to take up arms in order to foment a revolution, Mehta said. Thats what you did. As he prepared to be sentenced, a defiant Rhodes lashed out at the case against him, casting himself as a martyr in a war for the survival of America the same message prosecutors say Rhodes used to dupe his followers into preparing for battle on Jan. 6. I am a political prisoner, Rhodes said, comparing his plight to Trumps. I feel like Im the lead character in Kafkas The Trial. I feel like it was a preordained guilt from Day One. My goal will be to be an American Solzhenitsyn to expose the criminality of this regime, Rhodes said, invoking the Soviet dissident and author of the Gulag Archipelago. Mehta sharply rejected Rhodes characterization, saying the evidence in the trial convinced a jury of his peers to convict him of seditious conspiracy and that Jan. 6., one of the blackest days in American history. People should not forget that, Mehta said. Thursdays sentencing was a pivotal moment in the Justice Departments efforts to punish those who planned and led the violent assault on the Capitol, stoking the mob of supporters that Trump himself assembled in Washington with his exhortation to stop the steal. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy described Rhodes sentencing as the most significant step yet toward holding the leaders of the Jan. 6 attack accountable. Mehta has, in previous sentencing hearings for misdemeanor defendants, lamented that those who duped or radicalized ordinary, hard-working Americans to commit crimes on Jan. 6 had yet to be held accountable. He has specifically identified Trumps own role in perpetuating lies about the election results as a driver of the riot. Rakoczy said that the sentencing of Rhodes and his co-conspirators is the start of the accountability Mehta said he has sought. Rakoczy also emphasized that Rhodes has continued to profess the views that led his supporters to Washington on Jan. 6 even just four days before his sentencing when he addressed a gathering of supporters outside the D.C. jail. Rhodes told the group that the election could be stolen in 2024 and that the government was leading a terror campaign against its political adversaries. Most of us, across the political spectrum and throughout this great nation, desperately want to believe that Jan. 6 was an outlier, Rakoczy said. Not defendant Rhodes. During an eight-week trial last fall, prosecutors revealed thousands of messages sent between Rhodes and other Oath Keepers leaders in advance of Jan. 6, painting a picture of a group bent on violence and prepared to do whatever it took to prevent Trump from leaving office. Rhodes tried repeatedly to contact Trump and urge him to invoke the Insurrection Act, which Rhodes contended would empower him to deputize the Oath Keepers as a government-sanctioned militia. But Trump never acknowledged his outreach and ultimately declined to invoke the Civil War-era law. Nevertheless, prosecutors say Rhodes galvanized his allies, orchestrated their travel to Washington and directed their movements toward and eventually into the Capitol. Rhodes and Florida Oath Keeper leader Kelly Meggs were convicted of seditious conspiracy in that trial, while three others Floridas Kenneth Harrelson, Ohios Jessica Watkins and Virginias Thomas Caldwell were acquitted of the charge but convicted of other significant felonies. Four other Oath Keepers were convicted as part of Rhodes seditious conspiracy in a second trial that ended in January, and three more pleaded guilty to the charge over the past year. Throughout his pretrial incarceration and since his conviction, Rhodes has remained defiant, contending that the group is being punished for incendiary speech despite little evidence that its members engaged in or encouraged violence that day. He contended that the group didnt intend to interrupt the transfer of power they were in Washington, he claimed, to perform security details for speakers at Trumps rally and that the weapons the Oath Keepers amassed at a Comfort Inn in Arlington, Virginia, were meant to be a reactive force in case violence broke out on the streets. If you want to put a face on J6, you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians, Rhodes attorney Phillip Linder said. Mehta swept aside those claims, citing messages and trial testimony showing that Rhodes repeatedly contemplated taking steps to disrupt the transfer of power from Trump to Biden and that the firearms arsenal had dual purposes. If he doesnt use the Insurrection Act to keep a ChiCom puppet out of the white house, then we will have to fight a bloody revolution, Rhodes told allies in a Dec. 14 message to Georgia Oath Keepers. Similarly, Rhodes told an associate on Jan. 10, 2021 four days after the attack that he regretted not bringing arms to the Capitol. We couldve fixed it right then and there, Rhodes said in a conversation that was recorded and played for jurors. Id hang Pelosi from the lamppost. Mehta repeatedly emphasized that Rhodes a Yale Law graduate and military veteran who ran the Oath Keepers with a hierarchical discipline clearly knew about and approved of the actions of his co-conspirators. He said the evidence underscores that Rhodes would have known about or foreseen that two dozen Oath Keepers would go inside the Capitol as part of an effort to disrupt Congress counting of Electoral College ballots. When that occurred, the group split into two, with half charging toward then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis office and the rest surging toward the Senate chamber. Outside Pelosis office, the group led by Meggs confronted Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who testified in the trial about his encounter. Mehta said their presence outside Pelosis office coincided with a frantic effort by security officials to evacuate staffers who were cowering in a locked conference room from the mob assault. Other officers have ascribed injuries both physical and emotional to the conduct of the Oath Keepers, including two who were stationed at the Columbus Doors when the mob broke into the Capitol, two in the rotunda who were assaulted by Oath Keeper Joshua James, and one in the Senate hallway who was part of a police line that pushed against Watkins and other members of the mob. The leader of the far-right anti-government militia group the Oath Keepers was sentenced to 18 years in prison, after federal prosecutors argued that Stewart Rhodes committed an act of terrorism by conspiring to commit treason in what became a violent attempt to overturn the results of an American election. Last year, a jury found Rhodes guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. He wore a prison-issued orange jumpsuit to his sentencing hearing in US District Court in Washington DC on 25 May. His sentencing is the first among hundreds of cases stemming from the January 6 attack that includes additional terrorism-related penalties. Federal prosecutors sought a sentence of 25 years, with an enhanced sentence for crimes they compared to terrorism, arguing in court filings that the need to deter others is especially strong because Rhodes engaged in acts that were intended to influence the government through intimidation or coercion. In other words, terrorism, prosecutors wrote. Rhodes, speaking in his defense for more than 20 minutes at his sentencing hearing, called himself a political prisoner. His only crime, he said, was opposing those who are destroying our country, comparing himself to Donald Trump, whose baseless narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him fuelled the siege in the halls of Congress. Under my oath, I cannot ignore the text of the Constitution, said Rhodes, who was convicted of plotting an attempt to oppose the constitutionally mandated transfer of presidential power. US District Judge Amit Mehta told the court on 25 May that seditious conspiracy is among the most serious crimes an individual American can commit and an offense against the people of the country. What we cannot have, we absolutely cannot have, is a group of citizens who because they didnt like the outcome were then prepared to take up arms in order to foment a revolution. Thats what you did, he told Rhodes. You are not a political prisoner, Mr Rhodes. For decades, Rhodes wanted American democracy to devolve into violence, Judge Mehta said. You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country and its democracy and the very fabric of this country, he added. You are smart, you are compelling, and you are charismatic. Frankly, that is what makes you dangerous. Rhodes, expressing no remorse for his actions, sought leniency for his sentence after his November conviction alongside several other Oath Keepers members who faced a range of federal charges for their roles in the riots. After a nearly two-month trial, Rhodes and Oath Keepers member Kelly Meggs were found guilty of seditious conspiracy after jurors deliberated for three full days. Three other Oath Keepers associates were charged in the case but were found not guilty. Jurors were asked to consider whether the Oath Keepers were not only motivated by President Donald Trumps baseless narrative that the presidential election was stolen from him but also had planned to forcibly disrupt the peaceful transfer of power during a joint session of Congress. Rhodes and his allies spent weeks discussing a violent response to the 2020 election on encrypted messaging apps, then organised a weapons and supply cache at a nearby hotel before joining the mob that broke through the Capitols doors and windows to storm the halls of Congress and block the certification of Joe Bidens presidency, according to federal prosecutors. Rhodes and Meggs who were also charged alongside Jessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson and Thomas Caldwell were among the first Americans to be convicted of treason-related charges in decades, representing the largest case with the most serious charges to grow out of the sprawling criminal investigation from the US Department of Justice into the Capitol attack. All five defendants were found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress. Meggs and Watkins were also found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct. Federal prosecutors did not allege that the group had a plan to break into the Capitol but had conspired to commit an act of treason against the federal government. They took matters out of the hands of the people, and put rifles into their own hands, assistant US attorney Jeffrey Nestler told jurors during his closing remarks in the trial last year. They claimed to wrap themselves in the constitution. They trampled it instead. They claimed to be saving the Republic, but they fractured it. Fourteen others connected to the January 6 attack, including the leader of the neo-fascist gang the Proud Boys and three of his lieutenants, have either been convicted by a jury or pleaded guilty on charges of seditious conspiracy in the aftermath of the riots major victories for the US Department of Justice in its ongoing, sprawling investigations. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. A courtroom sketch depicts Stewart Rhodes with US District Judge Amit Mehta during a seditious conspiracy trial in November 2022. (AP) Rhodes and Meggs not only contributed to the attack on the Capitol but helped to organize it and their sentences will be noted by those who would foment such political violence in the future, prosecutors wrote in court filings. In those documents, federal prosecutors outlined for the first time what the Justice Department believes is an appropriate prison sentence for a defendant convicted of sedition in connection with the attack. These defendants attempted to silence millions of Americans who had placed their vote for a different candidate, to ignore the variety of legal and judicial mechanisms that lawfully scrutinized the electoral process leading up to and on January 6, and to shatter the democratic system of governance enshrined in our laws and in our Constitution, prosecutors wrote in the filing. And when they did not get what they wanted, they acted by together attacking the very people and place at the very time when those laws were in action. These defendants are in part responsible for that national tragedy and played significant roles in spreading doubt about the presidential election and turning others against the government, and they are incomparable to the actions of single actors on January 6, according to prosecutors. Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes in 2016 The leader of a far-right militia has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the US Capitol riot. Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, was convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy and other crimes. The sentence is the longest yet given to a Capitol rioter. Prosecutors had asked for 25 years. Meanwhile, Kelly Meggs, the leader of the militia's Florida chapter, was jailed for 12 years. Rhodes remained outside the Capitol, but co-ordinated with Meggs and other members who stormed the building. Rhodes, 57, and Meggs, 53, were also convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents or proceedings in one of the highest-profile trials related to the riot on 6 January 2021. At a hearing on Thursday, Rhodes showed little remorse, claiming he was a "political prisoner" and insisting that the Oath Keepers were standing in opposition to people "who are destroying our country". Judge Amit Mehta rejected those claims and expressed concern about Rhodes' violent rhetoric, including a threat to hang former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "I dare say, Mr Rhodes, and I've never said this about anyone who I've sentenced: You, sir, present an ongoing threat and peril to this country, to the republic and the very fabric of our democracy," the judge said. "We all now hold our collective breaths with an election approaching," he said. "Will we have another January 6th? That remains to be seen." Rhodes' sentence was the longest handed out so far for the riot, where thousands of supporters of Donald Trump who objected to the result of the 2020 presidential election stormed the US legislature. Prosecutors had asked for 25 years for Rhodes and 21 years for Meggs. Defence lawyers had argued for much lighter sentences of less than three years each. On Friday, two other Oath Keepers who entered the Capitol during the riot were handed prison sentences. Jessica Watkins was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years and Kenneth Harrelson was given a four-year term. Both were acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted of obstructing an official proceeding and other charges. Kelly Meggs at a pro-Trump rally held the day before the Capitol riot Rhodes, a former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. Armed members of the anti-government group showed up at a number of protests and standoffs, and eventually became staunch supporters of Donald Trump. Dozens were present at the riot. What did the Oath Keepers do on January 6? Rhodes began a campaign to reject the results of the election two days after the November 2020 vote, while ballots were still being counted. He messaged supporters: "We aren't getting through this without a civil war Prepare your mind, body, spirit." Rhodes and other Oath Keepers then spent thousands of dollars on weapons and equipment and stashed them in a hotel room in nearby Virginia just prior to 6 January 2021. During the riot itself, Rhodes stayed outside the building taking phone calls and messages while other Oath Keepers, including some led by Meggs, stormed the building. Prosecutors said Rhodes acted like a "battlefield general" during the melee. Dozens of the Oath Keepers were in and around the Capitol during the riot Defence lawyers argued that the weapons stash was never used and that the militia was on a purely defensive mission. They plan to appeal the convictions. In interviews with the BBC last year, Rhodes' estranged family said they had suffered years of abuse and neglect while the militia leader organised anti-government activists across the country. Earlier this week his ex-wife Natasha Adams tweeted that a Montana court had granted her a divorce from Rhodes. What is seditious conspiracy? Rhodes and Meggs were convicted of seditious conspiracy, a little-used Civil War-era law that carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence. It is distinct from the crime of treason, which carries a high burden of proof outlined in the US Constitution, and can lead to the death penalty. Judge Mehta ruled in favour of prosecutors who argued for a stiffer sentence for Rhodes under a "terrorism enhancement". They argued that the Oath Keepers had sought to use "intimidation or coercion" against the US government. Four other Oath Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy in January, and four members of the far-right Proud Boys were convicted on the charge earlier this month. Most of the Capitol rioters were not part of an organised group, however. In total, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the riot, and more than half have pleaded guilty to crimes including assault, theft, weapons charges, trespassing and obstructing an official proceeding. Around 80 have been found guilty following a trial, according to the US Justice Department. Kelly Meggs, one of Rhodess co-conspirators, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, at a rally outside the White House in 2017. (Susan Walsh/AP) Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in federal prison for seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors had sought 25 years. Still, it was the longest sentence handed down to date for any of the more than 500 people convicted in the Jan. 6 cases. Earlier this month, Peter Schwartz of Kentucky was sentenced to 14 years for attacking police officers with pepper spray and a chair as he stormed the Capitol. Rhodes was convicted in November following a two-month trial that showcased the far-right extremist groups violent plot to overturn President Bidens election and keep then-President Donald Trump in power. Rhodes's lawyers said he will appeal. Heres everything we know about the landmark case and the Justice Departments ongoing efforts to prosecute those who were involved in the deadly insurrection. What is seditious conspiracy, again? Rioters clash with police outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) The seditious conspiracy law was enacted after the Civil War to deter Southerners from conspiring against the U.S. government. The crime occurs when two or more people conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force those in power. Sedition has rarely been charged in the United States. According to the Associated Press, the last time U.S. prosecutors brought a seditious conspiracy case prior to the Rhodes case was in 2010, when nine members of the Hutaree militia in Michigan were charged with inciting an uprising against the government. They were acquitted on the sedition conspiracy charges at a 2012 trial. Rhodes and 10 of his co-conspirators were the first Jan. 6 defendants charged with sedition. Has anyone else been convicted of it? Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio leads the group during a march protesting the results of the 2020 presidential election in Washington, D.C. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters) Yes. Kelly Meggs, leader of the Oath Keepers Florida chapter and one of Rhodess co-defendants, was also found guilty of seditious conspiracy and sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison. Three other defendants Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell were acquitted of the sedition charge, but all five (including Rhodes and Meggs) were convicted of obstructing Congresss certification of Bidens electoral victory. Four other Oath Keepers Joseph Hackett, Roberto Minuta, David Moerschel and Edward Vallejo were convicted of seditious conspiracy during a second trial in January. Earlier this month, former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio was convicted of the rarely used charge alongside other leaders of his far-right group. They will be sentenced later this year. What happened at Rhodess trial? In a courtroom sketch, Stewart Rhodes testifies before U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., in 2022. (Dana Verkouteren via AP) During the trial, federal prosecutors sought to prove that the defendants conspired to prevent Congress from certifying Bidens win. The defense argued that they didnt really have a plan. "I never had any plan or intention to have my guys try to prevent certification of election results," Rhodes told the jury. The 57-year-old from Granbury, Texas, who did not enter the Capitol on the day of the attack, said he thought those who did were stupid to do so. Jan. 6 rioter who put his feet on Pelosi's desk sentenced to 4.5 years in prison (NBC News) >>> "I think it was stupid to go into the Capitol. It was not our mission. If they had asked me, I [would have] said, 'Don't,'" he testified. In closing arguments, Rhodes's defense lawyer James Lee Bright acknowledged that in the run-up to Jan. 6, Rhodes and his co-defendants did engage in a lot of "horribly heated rhetoric and bombast." But he told jurors that their venting was not a crime. "We've had 50 witnesses in this case. Not one person has testified that there was a plan, Bright argued. Not one." What happened at his sentencing? Rioters clash with police outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) During a court hearing on Wednesday, police officers and congressional staffers delivered impact statements recounting the physical and emotional trauma they said they are still suffering from their clashes with the pro-Trump mob at the Capitol on Jan. 6. We experienced physical trauma, emotional trauma and mental trauma, Metropolitan Police Officer Christopher Owens said. The traumas we suffered that day were endless. Officers describe chaos, fear on Jan. 6 as judge weighs prison time for Rhodes (AP) >>> Before handing down his sentence Thursday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said he found that Rhodess actions before and during Jan. 6 amounted to domestic terrorism and that he was targeting an institution of American democracy at its most important moment. Rhodes addressed the court Thursday, claiming he is a political prisoner and comparing himself to Trump. Like Trump, Rhodes said, the only crime he has committed is opposing people who were destroying the country. Whats next? President Trump at a rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) The Justice Department continues to try the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases it brought against those who allegedly took part in the Jan. 6 attack, while special counsel Jack Smith continues his investigation into Trumps role in inciting the insurrection. The occupation authorities of Sevastopol (Crimea) have claimed that their military shot down two UAVs at night, and several other drones were downed by electronic warfare assets. Source: Mikhail Razvozhayev, the so-called "governor of Sevastopol", on Telegram Quote: "Our military repelled another drone attack on Sevastopol at night." Details: Razvozhayev has said that in the vicinity of Kacha, the Black Sea Fleet shot down two UAVs with small arms, and several other drones were jammed and downed by electronic warfare assets. He has added that "no facilities in the city were damaged. All services continue to monitor the situation". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! TOMS RIVER -- Ocean County GOP Chairman George R. Gilmore has jumped into the bitter Republican primary fight for Toms River mayor, bashing Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr. and Councilman Daniel Rodrick for running what he terms "antisemitic" campaigns. "The actions by Mo Hill and Dan Rodrick are disgraceful and have no place in our party," Gilmore said in a prepared statement. "We have seen this before when others have tried to divide the residents of our county using the same hateful rhetoric. Leaders from around the county stood united and condemned those actions. I am calling on every Republican -- commissioners, legislators and local leaders alike -- to join me in condemning this abhorrent behavior." Campaign controversy: Toms River candidate's campaign flier under fire Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore speaks during the nominating convention Wednesday evening, March 8, 2023, in Toms River. Behind him is County Commissioner Jack Kelly. Gilmore's statement featured a flier issued by Rodrick that featured a banner proclaiming the candidate has been "fighting Lakewood-style development," a reference to the growth in neighboring Lakewood which has been driven by an increase in the number of Orthodox Jewish residents. Hill's statement congratulating another of his mayoral opponents, Geri Ambrosio, on being "endorsed" by the Toms River Jewish Community Council (both Ambrosio and the council deny that the endorsement happened), was also included as one of the items Gilmore claimed was "antisemitic". Last week, Tova Herskovitz, an Orthodox Jewish resident of Toms River, criticized Hill for a campaign flier that she said made it seem that only Christians of Italian or Irish descent were welcome in town. Joining Gilmore in condemning the campaign rhetoric was Agudath Israel of America, which said, "At a time when antisemitism in New Jersey is at a record high, civic leaders carry the responsibility to counter hate and antisemitism, not promote it. Divisive and hateful language should never be used. We call upon civic leaders throughout the state to denounced this rhetoric and to demand an apology from those who have engaged in this divisive activity." Downsized: Developer reduces size of downtown Toms River apartments from 10 to 6 stories Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick is running for mayor. Rodrick denied ever running an antisemitic campaign. "I have never written or said anything anti-Semitic and I won't be silenced by Avi Schnall," he said, referring to the head of Agudath Israel. "Mayor Hill is already endorsed by the TRJCC and this is nothing more than an attempt by Hill to distance himself from that endorsement. The residents of Toms River won't buy it and I don't buy it either." So far, the Toms River Jewish Community Council has not officially endorsed anyone in the contentious mayor's race. "As for Mr. Gilmore, he is no moral compass," Rodrick said. " Although pardoned for his crimes, Gilmore still owes millions in back taxes and is now working for the very developers and special interests I am fighting against." Rodrick noted Gilmore is a consultant on a Seaside Heights project that would bring a 10-story building to the Boulevard, which he said is ironic since Ambrosio has spoken out against previous plans to build two, 10-story towers in downtown Toms River. The developer has since downsized the proposal to two, six-story towers. Hill said he finds it ironic that Gilmore is condemning others for antisemitism when he supported the successful 2021 campaign of Rodrick and Councilman Justin Lamb, which included campaign fliers that were deemed offensive by some Orthodox Jewish residents. Record-breaking: Toms River sells liquor license for record price of $1.6 million Geri Ambrosio, former president of the Toms River Republican Club, is running for mayor of Toms River. "I think it's disingenuous of Mr. Gilmore and a little hypocritical," Hill said. "Him throwing stones at me when he supported an antisemitic campaign in 2021." Gilmore was pardoned by former President Donald Trump in January 2021, nearly two years after the long-time GOP chairman was convicted on two counts of failing to submit payroll taxes collected from employees of his law firm and one count of making a false application for a loan from OceanFirst Bank. Forced to resign his chairmanship after the conviction, Gilmore returned to party leadership last year, defeating Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy to take over as GOP chairman again. Hill and Rodrick are running for mayor against Ambrosio and Robert Bianchini in an increasingly bitter race. Gilmore, a long-time foe of Hill, supported an unsuccessful attempt by the Toms River Regular Republican Club to be recertified as the township's official GOP club earlier this year. The club lost its recertification battle to Repubilcans for Toms River, which endorsed Hill for mayor. Toms River Mayor Mo Hill is seeking re-election. The Toms River Republican Club endorsed Ambrosio, the club's former president, for the mayor's slot. Gilmore has previously said he did not plan to endorse any slate in the race, even though Hill and his runningmates are supported by the official Toms River GOP organization. But Hill is a long-time foe of Gilmore, while Ambrosio has been a close ally, sticking by the chairman even after his conviction. Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 39 years. A finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in public service, she's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com. Six sent to hospital after Toms River crashNEWS LBI lifeguard lost part of finger, but still saves livesNEWS Recommended Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band guitarists stay busy off stageENTERTAINMENT Snooki says Louis Vuitton did not buy Gucci bags on Jersey ShoreENTERTAINMENT Uncle and nephew sentenced in machete manslaughterNEWS This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: County GOP chair: Mo HIll, Dan Rodrick running 'antisemitic' campaign These officers made the ultimate sacrifice in Sedgwick County. Here are their stories Law enforcement officers from Sedgwick County who have died in the line of duty will be honored Friday morning at the law enforcement memorial. This includes officers from the Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office and other agencies in Sedgwick County. The ceremony is open to the public and will start at 10 a.m. outside Wichita City Hall, 455 N. Main. The Wichita Police Department has had 23 officers die in the line of duty. The Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office has had 10 deputies die. These officers made the ultimate sacrifice serving the residents of Sedgwick County. Here is a glimpse into who they were. Sidnee Carter Deputy Sidnee Carter Courtesy /Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 22 Length of service: 2 years Died: Oct. 7, 2022 Carter died in a car crash while responding to a disturbance call less than a week after completing her field training. The other vehicle ran a stop sign and struck her patrol vehicle. Earlier, she worked as a jail deputy for 18 months. Theodore Ohlemeier Theodore Ohlemeier Colwich Police Department Colwich Police Department Age: 58 Length of service: 33 years Died: Dec. 8, 2021 Ohlemeier died of complications from COVID-19 after he arrested a COVID-positive driver in Maize, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. He had served in the Colwich Police Department and also with the Derby, Caldwell and Clearwater police departments. Capt. Clay Morsell Germany Courtesy/Wichita Police Department Capt. Clay Morsell Germany Wichita Police Department Age: 58 Length of service: 27 years Died: July 9, 2021 Germany died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and previously served with the Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office and the Midwest City Police Department. Robert Kunze III Deputy Robert Kunze III Courtesy /Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 41 Length of service: 18 years Died: September 16, 2018 Kunze was shot and killed while investigating a call about a suspicious person. After finding the suspect in a stolen vehicle, they exchanged gunfire and both were fatally wounded. Brian Etheridge Deputy Brian Etheridge Courtesy /Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 26 Length of service: 18 months Died: Sept. 28, 2009 Etheridge was shot and killed after arriving at a house on South Rock Road where a larceny had been reported. The suspect, who had called in the phony larceny report, was fatally wounded as he exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers. Lt. Jack Galvin Lt. John Galvin Courtesy /Wichita Police Department Wichita Police Department Age: 49 Length of service: 20 years Died: Nov. 4, 2000 Galvin died of injuries received from an explosion as he and members of the agencys bomb squad were destroying commercial fireworks. As they were loading some of the fireworks into the pit that Galvin was working, an unknown event triggered an explosion, causing the remaining fireworks on the truck to ignite. Sgt. Kenneth Snider Sgt. Kenneth Snider Courtesy /Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 48 Length of service: 20 years Died: April 18, 1997 Snider and three other deputies had responded to a domestic violence call and were assessing what was happening when the suspect ran through the house. All the deputies followed and a struggle ensued. The suspect pulled a knife and stabbed Snider. Kevin Easter Deputy Kevin Easter Courtesy/Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 24 Length of service: 2 years Died: Jan. 8, 1996 Easter was shot and killed during a vehicle stop where the driver had initially refused to yield and then ran from the car. Officers arriving as backup began searching for Easter, who was found suffering from a gunshot wound. He died later during surgery. Christopher Willems Deputy Christopher Willems Courtesy /Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 30 Length of service: 7 years, 6 months Died: May 12, 1991 Willems was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop. Willems was granted permission to search the van he had stopped, and he found a small amount of marijuana. As he placed the suspect under arrest, a struggle ensued. During the struggle one of the other men grabbed a revolver from the van and shot Willems in the leg and then in the head. Terry McNett Detective Terry McNett Courtesy /Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 36 Length of service: 9 years Died: Feb. 3, 1988 McNett was shot and killed while participating in the execution of a search warrant at a drug house in Wichita. He was assigned to a Drug Enforcement Administration task force at the time. Danny Laffey Officer Danny Laffey Courtesy/Wichita Police Department Wichita Police Department Age: 29 Length of service: 3 years Died: Jan. 5, 1982 Laffey was struck and killed by a vehicle while investigating a disturbance at a local club. As he was removing the occupants of a vehicle for questioning, another vehicle entered the area, jumped the curb and struck him. Paul Garofalo Officer Paul Garofalo Courtesy/Wichita Police Department Wichita Police Department Age: 24 Length of service: 17 months Died: Nov. 8, 1980 Garofalo was shot and killed when he stopped his police vehicle to question two women in the street. As he did so, a man emerged and fired a shotgun through the drivers window, killing him. Charles Meeks Detective Charles Meeks Courtesy /Derby Police Department Derby Police Department Age: 34 Length of service: 1 year Died: May 9, 1976 Meeks died in an auto accident in western Kansas while going to participate in an official capacity at the Kansas Peace Officers Convention. His car was struck by another vehicle on U.S. 54 near Bucklin. Roy Johnson Detective Roy Johnson Courtesy /Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 43 Length of service: 3 years Died: Oct. 31, 1974 Johnson was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend an escaped prisoner who had shot and wounded a Wichita detective. Two other deputies were also shot and wounded during the arrest. David Kenyon David Kenyon Courtesy /Wichita Police Department Wichita Police Department Age: 30 Length of service: 3 years Died: Oct. 26, 1962 Kenyon and another officer had been at the scene of a domestic violence call for more than an hour, talking with the two participants. The man agreed to leave the home and went to his room to get some clothes. He emerged with a handgun and yelled at the officers to leave. The mans wife grabbed their daughter and fled toward the door. As Kenyon provided cover for them, the man opened fire, striking Kenyon. Robert Hammers Robert Hammers Courtesy/Clearwater Police Department Clearwater Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: Unknown Died: March 14, 1934 Hammers was shot sometime after midnight after coming across a possible bank robbery in progress. He spotted a truck parked near the bank when another car pulled up. Hammers, who was acting as the substitute marshal, was killed during an exchange of gunfire. Merle Colver Merle Colver Wichita Police Department Wichita Police Department Age: 40 Length of service: 8 years Died: Aug. 14, 1931 Colver was shot and killed while questioning two robbery suspects in their hotel room. As he began to search the room, he was shot by one of the men. Lt. James Pugh James Pugh Courtesy /Wichita Police Department Wichita Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: 4 years Died: Aug. 1, 1930 Pugh was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol. Paul Gilmore Paul Gilmore Courtesy /Wichita Police Department Wichita Police Department Age: 32 Length of service: 5 years Died: July 18, 1930 Gilmore was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol. Frank Hill Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Age: 45 Length of service: 1 year Died: Aug. 16, 1927 Hill was shot and killed during an attempted jailbreak by three inmates. The inmates used a revolver that had been smuggled into the jail. Joseph Marshall Wichita Police Department Age: 30 Length of service: 2 years Died: Aug. 9, 1927 Marshall was shot and killed when he and his partner stopped a vehicle whose occupants they recognized as gang members. As Marshall approached the car, he was shot and killed. His partner was able to return fire and kill the suspects. Vernon Ogden Wichita Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: Unknown Died: July 5, 1927 Ogden was killed during a vehicle pursuit when his police motorcycle struck the side of a Frisco passenger train. Edward Hall Wichita Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: 6 years Died: April 10, 1925 Hall was shot and killed when he and his partner attempted to stop a vehicle. As they pulled alongside the car, the occupants opened fire, fatally wounding him. Harrison Brown Wichita Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: 2 years Died: Jan. 4, 1925 Brown was shot and killed when he stopped to question a man while walking his beat. Brown was the first black officer with the Wichita Police Department to be killed in the line of duty. Robert Scudder Wichita Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: Unknown Died: Nov. 24, 1923 Scudder was shot after responding to a disturbance at a local dance hall. As he walked up the stairs, he encountered a man coming down. He began to search the man but was shot when the suspect pulled a gun. Charles Galloway Wichita Police Department Age: 39 Length of service: 8 years Died: July 15, 1923 Galloway died after contracting blood poisoning after cutting his foot. He and other members of the department were sandbagging flooded portions of the city. Charles Hoffman Wichita Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: 4 years Died: Nov. 23, 1921 Hoffman was shot and killed while attempting to arrest the leader of a gang responsible for the murders of two other officers earlier in the month. The suspect had attempted to rent a vehicle from a local shop, but the owner alerted police. As Hoffman entered the store, the man pulled a gun and Hoffman lunged forward and grabbed him. During a struggle the suspect shot Hoffman and wounded another officer. A third officer killed the suspect. Robert Fitzpatrick Wichita Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: 2 years Died: Nov. 21, 1921 Fitzpatrick was shot and killed while attempting to arrest members of a local gang who were responsible for the murder of Officer A.L. Young a few weeks earlier. As Fitzpatrick and his partner looked inside the vehicle, the leader of the gang sped off as one of the other gang members shot Fitzpatrick. A.L. Young Wichita Police Department Age: unknown Length of service: unknown Died: Nov. 5, 1921 Young was shot and killed when he was ambushed while walking his beat. The suspect who murdered him was the leader of a local gang that went on to kill Patrolman Robert Fitzpatrick and Detective Charles Hoffman a few weeks later. William Ballard Wichita Police Department Age: unknown Length of service: 10 years Died: July 20, 1920 Ballard was shot and killed as he and two other officers searched a suspect. Another suspect who was hiding behind a mattress opened fire, killing Ballard and wounding one of the other officers. Capt. Frank Griswold Wichita Police Department Age: Unknown Length of service: Unknown Died: May 23, 1915 Griswold was shot and killed when he and a detective responded to a report of a burglary at a shoe store. As they entered the store, the suspects inside opened fire, killing Griswold and wounding the detective. William Humphries Wichita Police Department Age: 40 Length of service: Unknown Died: Feb. 23, 1915 Humphries was shot and killed while attempting to question a suspect in a local pool hall. When the man was cornered by Humphries, he pulled out a handgun and opened fire, fatally wounding the detective. Carlos King Sedgwick County Sheriffs office Age: 28 Length of service: Unknown Died: Sept. 23, 1871 King was shot and killed in what is now Harvey County by a suspect he had disarmed and thrown out of town for disturbing the peace. The suspect left, but returned after obtaining another gun. He found King and shot him to death. King is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. Contributing: The bulk of this list was written by reporter Stan Finger in 2011. It was updated by Eduardo Castillo and Sarah Moore this week. Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, has said that the Ukrainian counter-offensive has been going on for several days now. Source: Podoliak in an interview with Italian TV channel Rai Quote: "The counter-offensive has been going on for several days now, it's an intensive war along 1,500 kilometres of border, but the action has begun." We do not want to strike the Russian territory, we will use the weapons you have provided us to target Russian positions in the territories occupied by Moscow, including Donbas and Crimea." Details: He added that Ukraine is armed with long-range Storm Shadow missiles, Leopard tanks, anti-missile systems provided by France and Italy, and F-16 fighters that will allow it to close the countrys airspace. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Officials in Greene County are gearing up for another active mosquito season and warning of a certain mosquito-borne virus that is on the rise. The Environmental Health team at Green County Public Health (GCPH) said that while the unusually cooler, wetter weather has delayed the emergence of mosquitos, they still expect to be busy trapping and treating this year. >> Unclothed man expected to survive after shot by Dayton officers while carrying sword Public Health officials are especially concerned with an emerging mosquito-borne virus called La Crosse virus (LAC), a spokesperson said in a release. The virus can only be discovered when a person is symptomatic and causes a condition called encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. It mostly affects young people under the age of 16. Health officials said Ohio has the highest number of cases of LAC in the country. Data from the CDC showed that from 2012-2021, Ohio reported 205 cases of LAC. >> UPDATE: 8 people displaced after fire in Darke County There is no treatment for encephalitis besides prevention. GCPH officials recommend wearing long sleeve shirts and pants, applying repellants, and avoiding mosquito-prone areas. Homeowners should also inspect their property to remove any source of standing water in places like bird baths and pools that arent maintained. In Greene County, health officials are monitoring mosquito populations, treating wet areas with larvicide, and occasionally spraying ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticide in known areas of heavy mosquito activity. Oklahoma lawmakers push forward on budget as deadline to override any vetoes looms State Rep. Jon Echols joked he was at risk of damaging state property because he was such a fan of the proposed budget to fund state agencies and services. Im going to break my green button Im going to hit it so fast, said Echols, R-Oklahoma City, referring to his vote in favor of House Bill 1004X, the $13 billion general appropriations bill that includes increased funding for education and the state's Medicaid program. This is a budget that invests in people, Echols said. On Wednesday, House Republicans voted in support of the general appropriations bill, while Democrats argued the budget process lacked input from their caucus. Some would say, Well, Trish, thats just the political divide, said Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater. I get that, but at the same time, I represent 39,000 people just like everyone in this room. More: Oklahoma budget process can be mysterious, even for many lawmakers Republican leaders, such as Rep. Jon Echols, center, spoke in favor of a budget proposal that increased funding for education and health care. Education and health care funding don't go far enough, Oklahoma Democrats say Earlier in the day, Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, complained about another budget bill being brought for a vote without enough time for lawmakers to review it. Democrats threw their hands up in the air, sarcastically thanking Humphrey for making their point. But Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, defended his partys work on the budget, which he said began before the session as agencies presented their requests. I don't really feel sorry for you, Martinez said, accusing Democrats of not working hard enough to discuss the budget with Republican leaders. They feel like they have to be dissenters, they sit back and say its not enough. More: Lawmakers introduce largest budget in state history during final week of session Rep. Ryan Martinez during the House budget and appropriations committee meeting Tuesday at the Oklahoma Capitol. Democrats said they appreciated the increases in schools and health care funding, but it didnt go far enough. Echols agreed the budget could have gone further. He wanted tax breaks for all Oklahomans. But not passing this budget puts in jeopardy the largest single-year increase to common education in the state of Oklahomas history, Echols said before voting in favor of the proposal that now heads to the Senate. Lawmakers expected to attempt some veto overrides While the budget bills were advanced during a concurrent special session, the regular session ends Friday, giving lawmakers just two more days to override any of the 46 vetos by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Stitts veto pen was particularly busy this year, even by his standards, as he vetoed twice as many bills as his annual average over his first four years in office. Some of the bills were vetoed out of political spite as Stitt tried to force the Senate to go along with a House school funding package. Others were struck down because Stitt said they promoted alternative agendas or removed power from his office. More: OK Senate leader offers hope OETA will be funded despite Stitt veto controversy Two-thirds of the members in the House and Senate are needed to override a veto and legislative sources said it's likely some veto overrides will be presented for votes on Thursday. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: As budget talks continue, will Oklahoma lawmakers override OETA veto? Oklahoma has second highest number of package thefts in the nation Employees put a package together at the El Paso Amazon Fulfillment Center in East El Paso on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Key Takeaways Nearly eight in 10 Americans have had packages stolen from them in 2022. Eight U.S. states have made package theft a felony: Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, New Jersey and Kentucky. Porch pirates stole 260 million packages estimated at $19.5 billion in 2022 Oklahoma has the second highest incidence rate of package theft in the nation, ranking slightly behind New Hampshire, according to a recently released Forbes Home report. Gathering data from the FBI, Google Analytics and the U.S. Census, the report details the stark differences among U.S. states in the incidence rates of porch piracy. One question the report doesn't answer is why. Yet the differences among states are real. "Some states are hit harder than others by porch pirates (with regard to value). Alaska and Rhode Island top the list with packages stolen that were valued at $80, while Arizona sits at the very bottom at $30," the report said. Overall last year, porch pirates stole 260 million packages in the United States, at an estimated value of $19.5 billion, it said. In Oklahoma, the average value of stolen packages is a median $77. For residents in Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming, the value of a stolen package averages around $70. The value of packages in Arizona, New Jersey, Louisiana and Illinois are among the lowest in the $30 range. "The average value of a stolen package is $50 in a majority of the states and there are no signs the incidence of porch piracy is ceding," the report said. Packages stolen Most packages stolen are from Amazon About 52% of all packages stolen were delivered by Amazon, with clothing as the most stolen item followed by books, toys, health and personal care products and groceries. "Not too far behind is the USPS, which has 43% of packages from the carrier stolen. UPS and FedEx account for (a) much lower incidence of stolen packages by porch pirates," it said. "All together, thats a lot of stolen packages." How to prevent package theft Though porch pirates are on the rise, there are many things people can do to thwart and prevent them from striking. These include: Installing security cameras Requiring a signature Having packages held for pickup by the customer Enabling package tracking Scheduling deliveries Having packages delivered to a P.O. Box Purchasing insurance This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Oklahoma has second highest number of package thefts in the nation As the Army finishes its review of botched recruiting fraud investigations that branded troops with false criminal histories, the service has awarded a previously denied promotion to an officer who led the charge to correct the errors after they derailed his career. Now-Maj. Gilberto De Leon was selected for major in 2019. However, because investigators from the Armys Criminal Investigation Division improperly listed him in criminal databases years before, his promotion was halted after an automated records review found adverse information. Even though hed never been charged and a review board deemed him promotable, De Leons promotion eligibility expired in spring 2022 before he could pin on his new rank. Frustrated, he wrote a March 2022 op-ed for Military Times, and became the public face of thousands of troops whom CID investigated and submitted to criminal databases without arrest or prosecution. Resulting pressure from advocates and lawmakers led the Army to review thousands of cases to identify and correct improper database entries that have upended lives. Amid pressure from Congress, the agency has completed its review and will provide a detailed report to Congress within the next month, said Ronna Weyland, a spokesperson for the Armys Criminal Investigation Division. After his Wednesday promotion, De Leon will receive two years of back pay and medically retire in the higher grade, according to documents he shared with Army Times. But he said he doesnt believe thats enough for what he and others endured, which included false arrest records submitted to a Federal Bureau of Investigation database. Mere removal of criminal titles and reinstatement of earned ranks does not equate to achieving righteous justice or accountability, De Leon said in a text message, adding that he wants to see continued scrutiny from lawmakers and a public apology from senior leaders. He also criticized the services communication with him in a post on LinkedIn, and said he learned from media reports that the Senate had approved his promotion. De Leon, who was the first-known soldier to be formally cleared in the Armys internal review of the recruiting fraud investigations, is now the first-known soldier to have its negative impacts on their career reversed. G-RAP, as it was known while active from 2005 to 2012, paid a private company to employ off-duty Guardsmen as independent contractor recruiting assistants. The recruiting assistants received around $2,000 for each new enlisted soldier they referred to Guard recruiters, and the program helped refill the Army National Guards ranks during the bloody surge years of the Global War on Terror. Ghosts of G-RAP: Illusions of recruiting fraud still ruining soldiers careers But service officials abruptly ended the program in 2012 when an internal audit identified nearly one in four payments as possibly fraudulent, kicking off one of the largest criminal investigations in Army history: CIDs Task Force Raptor. The task forces personnel, many of whom were reservists and recalled retirees, worked fervently and in some cases, unfairly under pressure from Congress to find the alleged fraud. Only 137 people ever faced criminal charges from the investigation. The CID task force, which cost around $28 million, never yielded anything near the $92 million in payments that auditors flagged as potentially fraudulent. Lawmakers pushed the service to find a way to inflict administrative consequences on those who couldnt face charges due to the statute of limitations or evidentiary problems. What tools do you have to make sure that everyone understands that there was punishment here? asked then-Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., in a Feb. 4, 2014 contracting oversight hearing with Army officials. Even if theyre not going to prison even if those criminal statute[s] of limitations have run I need to know what else you can do. Sen. Claire McCaskill speaks during a hearing. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) In response, the Armys top law enforcement officer, Maj. Gen. David Quantock, told the senator that the service has many administrative tools in the [Army] Secretarys kitbag for targeting those they cant prosecute. De Leon fell victim to that administrative kitbag, despite never being arrested or charged with a crime. Investigators inappropriately added him and as many as 1,900 others to Defense Department and FBI databases. CIDs director, Gregory Ford, shared data from an initial review of 900 such cases in November. He said the agency found the majority of those records were incorrect and required some form of correction. For years, many who quietly received such punishments werent aware of them. Then the impacts started appearing in their daily lives Guardsmen who worked as police officers lost their jobs, others had weapons permits and other state licenses denied, and a handful of officers had previously approved promotions derailed. Thats what happened to De Leon, who was first recommended for promotion in 2019. An impacted contracting officer featured in an April 2022 Army Times investigation, Capt. Justin Tahilramani, was administratively denied his promotion to major as well despite having passed strict ethical and background checks to enter the services Acquisition Corps. He was entered into criminal databases (but never arrested or charged) over three G-RAP payments he received for Texas cadets who enlisted after he gave a presentation on the benefits of joining up. Capt. Justin Tahilramani and his wife, Jessica, during a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. (Courtesy/Justin Tahilramani) Officials knew about his G-RAP involvement when vetting him to award and administer government contracts. It was vindicating to know that they saw past it, Tahilramani told Army Times last year. They saw me for what I brought to the table. Now, despite CID formally clearing him and removing his incorrect entries from criminal databases, hes no longer on active duty. He left because the administrative burden of fixing his records was pushed onto him, he explained, and he was concerned that the Army would scuttle his second chance at promotion and involuntarily discharge him for failing to promote. Add[ing] to the insane irony, Tahilramani told Army Times, I got hired back as a fully remote contracting officer for Army Contracting Command...[whose leadership] has stood by my side and have bent over backwards to support me. But its still not clear whether his military records will be fixed as De Leons were. So far, Tahilramani said hes received no word on the status of any promotions. New Bedford once lit the world with whale oil. Now it wants to do the same with wind power The ship UHL Felicity, carrying massive parts for offshore wind turbines, arrives to dock Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in New Bedford, Mass. Once assembled by developer Vineyard Wind, the turbines at sea will stand more than 850 feet high. (AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi) NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) New Bedford was once the city that lit the world, exporting vast quantities of whale oil for lamps in the early 1800s. Workers packed the docks, unloading casks of oil that had been extracted at sea from whale carcasses and brought in by a fleet of hundreds of whaling ships. Nearly two centuries later New Bedford aspires to light the world again, in a different relationship with the sea, as the offshore wind industry arrives here. On Wednesday, the vessel UHL Felicity bringing wind turbine tower sections from Portugal reached the Port of New Bedford. Once assembled out on the water this summer by developer Vineyard Wind, the turbines will stand more than 850 feet high. Theres this sort of poetic coming-about for New Bedford as a center of energy, Mayor Jon Mitchell said. Its also a milestone for the industry. The United States does not yet have a single commercial-scale offshore wind farm. But it will soon. THE BUILDOUT Vineyard Wind is building a 62-turbine wind farm 15 miles (24 kilometers) off the Massachusetts coast. Its expected to put out 800 megawatts, enough electricity to power more than 400,000 homes, beginning this year. The first U.S. offshore wind farm opened off Rhode Islands Block Island in late 2016. But with five turbines, its not commercial scale. Another project, South Fork Wind, is scheduled to start construction this summer off the coasts of New York and Rhode Island. Since its smaller than Vineyard Wind, it will likely be the first U.S. commercial-scale wind farm to open. The United States is decades behind Europe, where the worlds first offshore wind farm was erected in 1991. The first U.S. wind farm was supposed to be a project off the coast of Massachusetts known as Cape Wind, but it failed after years of litigation and local opposition. Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Skoust Moeller said New Bedford is the cradle of large-scale offshore wind in the United States, and this wind farm sets the stage for the next project, and the next, and the next. As he and Mitchell stood together Wednesday night, looking at the ship and massive cranes that would unload it, he turned to Mitchell and said, This is a proud moment for the industry and the country. The Biden administration wants to build 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. That would be enough to power more than 10 million homes. The activity is bringing jobs and opportunities for businesses across the country. Developers are investing in multi-million dollar projects to upgrade ports along the East Coast, including New Bedford, New London, Connecticut, Brooklyn, New York and Portsmouth, Virginia. They're planning to invest in ports along the West Coast and on the Gulf Coast as wind farms are approved there. Billions of dollars will be spent inland too, at shipyards that are building a fleet of specialized vessels to erect and maintain wind farms, according to the American Clean Power Association. New Bedford saw it coming. Necessity had the city looking for a way forward. NEW BEDFORD'S NEXT ACT New Bedford, now a city of about 100,000, is not part of a major metropolitan area. Like similarly situated cities, Mitchell said, they had to figure out how to make their way at a time when the spoils of the American economy are going to the big, superstar cities. The town Herman Melville immortalized in Moby-Dick remains a top port for commercial fishing and seafood processing, but the citys economy cant depend on just that, he said. Industrial cities have been burdened with the stigma of being gritty and failing and struggling, Mitchell said. We eschew all those victimhood labels. So to become a leader in offshore wind, to compete successfully for investment and to grow, it was really an opportunity for us, for our residents, to see our city in a different way, for the rest of the world to see our city in a different way. So New Bedford opened the first U.S. port facility specifically designed for offshore wind, in 2015, to become a hub for the industry as it came to the United States, recognizing its promise. Today, Vineyard Wind leases that marine terminal. Now construction is happening all around the port of New Bedford, more than at any time since the start of the whaling industry, Mitchell said. Bristol Community College is planning to open a National Offshore Wind Institute in New Bedford late this summer to train and certify workers. A NEXT ACT FOR PEOPLE, TOO Ed Gilhouse, a 60-year-old construction safety expert, was at the terminal overseeing the preparations for the ship arrivals. He said he went to work for Vineyard Wind to try something new as his career winds down. It also keeps him close to home. He had been commuting out-of-state to work. This is just like a cherry on top for me, so to speak, to be able to do this, to take offshore wind to the next level, he said. This is the future. Before the turbine tower sections arrived, Moeller invited local business and community leaders to the terminal to share their plans for the weeks ahead. New Bedford native Bernadette Souza went because she wants to be able to tell local students what's happening here. Souza is the executive director of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, which takes students on bike rides along New Bedfords scenic South End peninsula to introduce them to their everyday surroundings. One of their favorite destinations overlooks the marine terminal. They're looking over and they have so many questions, she said. I want to get them excited. I love my city. I want to give these kids that opportunity, to say, 'I know about wind. That's where I'm from.' __ Video journalist Rodrique Ngowi contributed to this story. ___ 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. One of last four Rwanda genocide fugitives arrested in S.Africa Fulgence Kayishema, bottom left, pictured in May 2020 on a wanted poster at the Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit office in Kigali, Rwanda Fulgence Kayishema, one of four remaining fugitives sought for their role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, has been arrested in South Africa, UN investigators said on Thursday. "Yesterday afternoon, Fulgence Kayishema - one of the worlds most wanted genocide fugitives - was arrested in Paarl, South Africa in a joint operation," the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) said in a statement. Around 800,000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, were slaughtered over 100 days at the hands of Hutu extremists. Kayishema, a former police inspector, faces charges of genocide, complicity in and conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity. He has been on the run since July 2001, according to the MICT website, which gives his year of birth as 1961. He and others allegedly murdered more than 2,000 Tutsi men, women and children who had taken refuge in a Catholic church in Nyange in Kivumu district. "Kayishema directly participated in the planning and execution of this massacre, including by procuring and distributing petrol to burn down the church with the refugees inside," the statement said. "When this failed, Kayishema and others used a bulldozer to collapse the church, burying and killing the refugees inside. "Kayishema and others then supervised the transfer of corpses from the church grounds into mass graves." - Support network- South African police said a "Rwandan fugitive," whom it did not name, had been arrested at a grape farm at Paarl, about 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Cape Town, in response to an Interpol red notice. The suspect, who had been living under the false name of Donatien Nibashumba, will appear in a Cape Town court on Friday "pending his extradition to Rwanda", police spokeswoman Thandi Mbambo said. The MICT in 2015 took over the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), set up by UN after the genocide. The swoop in Paarl was carried out by MICT's Fugitive Tracking Team and South African police, MICT said. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman said the arrest "sends a powerful message that those who are alleged to have committed such crimes cannot evade justice and will eventually be held accountable, even more than a quarter of a century later." The hunt for Kayishema had spanned countries across Africa, targeting a man who used many aliases and false documents and relied on a "network of trusted supporters", it said. These included family members, members of the former Rwandan armed forces, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group "and those aligned with the genocidal Hutu Power ideology." MICT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz paid tribute to "the exceptional skills, rigour and cooperation" of South African investigators and singled out Eswatini and Mozambique for their help. "Genocide is the most serious crime known to humankind," he said. "(...) This arrest is a tangible demonstration that this commitment does not fade and that justice will be done, no matter how long it takes." - Three fugitives left - Naphtali Ahishakiye, executive secretary of Ibuka, an umbrella association of genocide survivors, said the arrest "sends a strong message to other fugitives and masterminds of the 1994 genocide... that they can never evade justice forever." The wanted list targets major genocide suspects identified by MICT's predecessor, the ICTR. Before handing over the reins in 2015, the ICTR had sentenced 62 people, including a 30-year term handed to former minister Augustin Ngirabatware, and acquitted 14. In September 2022, one of Rwanda's richest men before the genocide, Felicien Kabuga, who moved to France and lived there under a false identity, went on trial in The Hague. His trial was put on hold in March amid concerns over his health. - Delay worry - Ahishakiye called for Kayishema to be extradited to Rwanda and swiftly put in the dock. "We hope that his trial is expedited, and that the wheels of justice do not entertain the sorts of delays that the Kabuga trial has experienced," he told AFP. After Kayishema, three fugitives are left on the list, also facing multiple charges of genocide and crimes against humanity: Aloys Ndimbati; Charles Ryandikayo; and Charles Sikubwabo. But three other major suspects -- Augustin Bizimana, Protais Mpiranya and Pheneas Munyarugarama -- all died without facing justice. Rwanda started trying genocide suspects in 1996, and on a single day in April 1998 had 22 of them executed by firing squad. It abolished the death penalty in 2007, lifting the main obstacle for the ICTR to extradite genocide suspects to Rwanda for trial. Between 2005 and 2012, more than 12,000 community-based courts put nearly two million people on trial and convicted 65 percent, sending most to prison. Other convictions have been handed down in the former colonial power Belgium as well as in France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Canada. jcp/ri/bp One name notably left out of DeSantis's 2024 campaign launch on Twitter Spaces? Trump. One name notably left out of DeSantis's 2024 campaign launch on Twitter Spaces? Trump. Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Alex Wong/Getty Images; Marta Lavandier/AP Gov. Ron DeSantis officially kicked off his 2024 campaign with a live Q&A on Twitter. He was asked about everything from the government's response to COVID-19 to his feud with Disney. But notably left out of the conversation was his main GOP challenger: Donald Trump. Gov. Ron DeSantis officially launched his 2024 presidential campaign in a livestreamed event on Twitter, discussing a wide range of topics from the government's response to COVID-19 to his ongoing feud, as Florida governor, with Disney. But one topic notably left out of the audio-only forum, which was rife with technical difficulties at the start, was DeSantis's most formidable challenger for the GOP nomination: Donald Trump. During nearly an hour-long Q&A session on Wednesday, David Sacks and Elon Musk brought in a few people who appeared to already align with DeSantis's camp, including conservative radio host Dana Loesch and Rep. Thomas Massie, to ask the candidate questions. DeSantis was asked about his fight with Disney, the book ban controversies, and even his stance on digital currency. But when it came to how he'll set himself apart from Trump, only the slightest-but-obvious reference was made to his rival when podcast host Steve Deace asked the governor about how he would handle immigration. "We have heard a lot over the years: 'Lock her up.' 'Drain the Swamp.' 'Gonna build a beautiful wall.' 'Mexico's gonna pay for it.' And crowds cheered, and everybody loved it, and brands got built, and nothing got done," Deace said, referencing some of Trump's buzziest phrases and his Make America Great Again brand. "What is the bottom line assurance that you can make to the people that are listening right now that you can actually do the agenda that you just articulated when others tweeted about it and talked about it and then couldn't actually follow through," Deace asked. In his response, DeSantis did not utter Trump's name but said he "shared that frustration." "I think our voters are sick of the empty promises. They want to see action," DeSantis said. Meanwhile, Trump and the MAGA camp were taunting the governor on social media as the Q&A was unfolding. "'Rob,' My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working (TRUTH!), yours does not! (per my conversation with Kim Jung Un, of North Korea, soon to become my friend!)," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. During the live stream event's technical difficulties, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted: "#DeSaster." Read the original article on Business Insider Updated: 19-year-old man dies after accident that injured eight near downtown A 19-year-old Wichita man has died after a two-vehicle accident that injured eight people on Monday near downtown, police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo said Thursday. Jonathan McPherson-Pickett did not regain consciousness after the collision, Rebolledo said in a news release. He died Thursday. The crash happened around 11:55 a.m. Monday near where Murdock intersects with Washington as Washington turns into Mosley. The driver of a white Kia Sorento was headed east on Murdock when he struck a curb, lost a wheel and then went into oncoming traffic, police said. The Kia, which McPherson-Pickett was in, was then hit by a blue Ford Escape driven by a 35-year-old woman. The driver of the Kia was speeding, police said. Rebolledo said the investigation is ongoing. He wouldnt say if the driver was cited for anything. Four people were in the Kia and four were in the Ford, according to a police media report. Everyone was taken to the hospital, including a 4-year-old and 6-month-old in the Ford. Police had said Monday that no one had life-threatening injuries. The Eagle requested a police report of the accident Wednesday but has not yet received it. A police media report says the driver of one of the vehicles was driving recklessly. Only half of Germans see Scholz's coalition surviving as policy differences mount German Chancellor Scholz addresses the Association of German Cities and Towns, in Cologne By Riham Alkousaa and Sarah Marsh BERLIN (Reuters) -Only half of Germans believe the ruling government coalition will hold until the end of its legislative period, a survey showed on Thursday, as arguments among the three parties over climate policy and budget intensify and voter support withers. A dispute over transforming Germany's heating system escalated within the ruling coalition of the Social Democrats, environmental Greens and pro-business FDP party this week. The FDP on Tuesday blocked introducing to the parliament a bill brought by the Greens-led economy ministry that would ban most new oil and gas heating systems from 2024, calling for substantial changes to the draft law. The Greens accused the FDP of a "blockade policy", warning of a possible government crisis. With politicians from both parties exchanging blows through the media, some 40% of Germans believe the three-way coalition in Europe's biggest economy will break up before the end of its legislative period in 2025, a survey by Forsa pollster published by ntv/RTL broadcasters showed on Thursday. Around 54% of Germans are in favour of new elections if the coalition breaks down, it added. "The first few months of this government were strongly determined by the pandemic and then the Ukraine war which masked some domestic tensions," said Stefan Marschall, political scientist at the University of Duesseldorf. "But now since the beginning of the year the focus is more on how we can concretely bring about the energy trasition, causing some coflicts to suddenly emerge." Still, he, like other analysts, expected the coalition to pull itself together given that "parties that pull away from a coalition and therefore from governing responsibility are usually punished". Moreover the parties are currently polling significantly less than they performed in the 2021 federal election - on just 39% together compared to 52% back then, according to Forsa. Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday urged the junior coalition partners to settle the dispute in the next few weeks, but around 81% of Germans believe Scholz should take a stronger leadership position, the survey showed. Another point of contention is a Greens-planned subsidy for industrial electricity prices which could cost 25 to 30 billion euros until 2030, which the FDP-led finance ministry is pushing against, citing budget constraints. Economy Minister Robert Habeck on Thursday said the three parties were too focused on their own milieus, sometimes neglecting the common cause for Germany, adding that a vicious circle of politicians talking badly about each other had to stop. (Reporting by Riham AlkousaaAdditional reporting by Christian Kraemer; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio) Only in New York: A Millionaire and a Billionaire Are Fighting Over a Rooftop Extension Its not exactly David and Goliath. Billionaire Ray Dalio is being sued by his millionaire neighbor over an addition he made on the top of his apartment in New York City. More from Robb Report During the pandemic, Dalio constructed a stucco penthouse on top of the sixth-floor SoHo apartment where various of his children have been living for years, The New York Times reported. It includes a kitchenette, a half-bathroom, and a 2,000-square-foot landscaped deck. Dalio is billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, the biggest hedge fund in the entire world. But his neighbor, former CEO of Pier 59 Studios CEO Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa, told the paper that hes worried about the structural integrity of the building as a result of the project. Pignatelli says he was only informed of Dalios plans when it was about to begin. Pignatelli also said that when he entered his apartment in May 2021, he found heavy construction materials scattered on his portion of the roof. Im Italian, Rays Italian, Pignatelli told The Times. Were neighbors! He said he no longer sleeps in the apartment. We should be respecting each other and helping each other, but hes incredibly arrogant. Pignatelli has filed a lawsuit against Dalio, one of his sons, two of his daughters-in-law, two architects, two engineers, a contractor, the board of the building co-op, as well as the president of the board, accorging to the Times. Pignatelli is asking for relief and in excess of $10 million in damages, Insider reported citing court documents. We have confidence that the legal system will handle this situation appropriately, Dalios attorney Tom Sinchak told the Times. He maintains that the Dalio family obtained all required approvals for the construction. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the citys Department of Buildings said last May inspectors visited the new structure. They said it did not fully comply with the plans the city approved, however they did not observe any structurally hazardous conditions. The chairman of the buildings co-op board and its lawyer did not provide a comment to the Times. However, a report commissioned by the board claimed that cosmetic damage to Pignatellis apartment is likely linked to Dalios project, but theres no basis for any conclusion that the newly constructed roof deck and penthouse above Unit 6G jeopardizes the building in any way. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Open letter to Sen. John Kennedy: It is always better to use your brain instead of your guts U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, Louisiana, During a subcommittee hearing of the Senate, held on May 10, you stated: Without the people of America, Mexico, figuratively speaking, would be eating cat food out of a can and living under a tent behind an outback." As I was listening, my initial reaction was to answer you in the same low, uninformed, and arrogant tone as the one you used. But it is always better to use your brain instead of your guts, so I recalled the vibrant relationship that exists between Mexico and the United States: I thought of the 33 million American tourists who, last year, visited Mexico eager to learn more about our culture; the $800 billion dollars of trade between our two countries came to mind; and of course, the delicious Mexican food that most Americans consume in thousands of crowded restaurants. I remembered that most Americans are friends of Mexico, and that two million Americans actually live in Mexico. Louisiana Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy speaks to reporters in at the Lod Cook Hotel in Baton Rouge after his landslide reelection win on Nov. 8, 2022. Louisiana benefits from relationship with Mexico To enlighten you, Louisiana greatly benefits from its relationship with Mexico. Last year, it exported to us $40 billion and bought $15 billion, with a surplus balance in favor of Louisiana of $25 billion. Furthermore, the jobs in Louisiana generated by all this trade support 70,000 families in that great state. I don't think the people of Louisiana feel represented by the vulgar and racist words you used. You are obliged to offer an apology to your citizens because what you asserted is not worthy of the state of Louisiana, known for being a cultural melting pot. More: Mexico shuts some migrant detention centers after Juarez fire, announces new 'shelter' No reconsideration expected Given the moral standards expressed in your unfortunate statement, we do not expect any reconsideration from you at all. However, speaking of those who actually "live under a tent behind an outback" in Louisiana, you owe them an apology indeed since they don't live like this because they want to but as a consequence of social, economic, and health problems that deserve to be considered. Those are issues that a senator should be focusing on. Nevertheless, in Mexico, we choose to nourish the image of Louisiana, which is admired in the world precisely because of its coexistence in diversity, that can only be achieved with generosity, inclusion, and heart. When your racist and xenophobic insults were known in Mexico, people wondered, "How can a Kennedy say that?" since the image of President John F. Kennedy in Mexico is a beacon that illuminates the path of freedom, democracy, and inclusion. He reflects the best of America, and his example continues to educate millions of people around the world about universal values. More: Catch in federal funding leaves border cities unable to house or feed undocumented migrants Mexico is cooperating But it didn't take long to learn that John Neely Kennedy is not from the Kennedy family of Massachusetts. Mr. Senator, it is not through offenses and threats that constructive collaboration between allied nations such as the U.S. and Mexico can be achieved. I reiterate my willingness to dialogue objectively and respectfully about drug and arms trafficking, among other challenges that our nations must face together. Mexico is cooperating and is willing to cooperate always with our USA neighbor, friend, and ally but also always with dignity, sovereignty, and veracity. Sincerely, Esteban Moctezuma Mexico's ambassador to the United States This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Mexico's ambassador: It is better to use your brain instead of your guts Land Grab As the European Union readies its new artificial intelligence rules, the head of OpenAI is already preparing his counter-attack. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told a British audience in a recent appearance at University College London that although he his firm is "gonna try to comply" with the new EU-wide rules, he has "a lot" to be critical of, Time magazine reports. During the talk, which is part of a series of appearances throughout Europe, Altman said that he'd met with EU regulators and that some of the language in the law gave him pause particularly, he said, its designation of ChatGPT, GPT-4 and similar forms of generative AI as "high risk," a characterization the CEO does not agree with (though it's worth noting that he once told friends that he hoards guns, water, and gas masks in case of "AI that attacks us.") While the EU's proposed AI rules aren't the first time a governing body has taken on AI Italy infamously banned both ChatGPT and Replika, the "AI companion app," this year over data privacy and child welfare concerns this would be a watershed moment in terms of international AI regulation. Clearly it's a big deal for OpenAI, and its CEO isn't exactly happy about it. AI Overlord If the law moves forward with its current or similar language, such a designation would compel AI firms to comply with additional sets of requirements that Altman is clearly against. "Either well be able to solve those requirements or not," the CEO said. "If we can comply, we will, and if we cant, well cease operating." "We will try," he continued. "But there are technical limits to whats possible." This is, of course, a cop-out if Altman was willing to play ball, there would be no doubt that he could comply with the EU's requirements, which if they go through as proposed will do things like require the datasets that feed high-risk-designated models be of "high quality" to avoid "risks and discriminatory outcomes," the European Commission noted in an explainer on the proposed law. Talking out both sides of his mouth, Altman said during the University College talk that while he doesn't think the proposed EU law is "inherently flawed," he believes there are "subtle details here that really matter." Interestingly, the OpenAI CEO isn't against all AI regulation earlier in the week, the company released a statement saying that in the future, there will need to be an international governing body as current models grow towards human-level knowledge and beyond. However, it sounds like Altman has strong opinions about exactly how the government should be regulating his business. More on OpenAI: Weird Trick Breaks ChatGPTs Brain From left, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz walk to get into place to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park as part of the G7 Hiroshima Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan Friday, May 19, 2023. | Kenny Holston via Associated Press Government leaders of the influential Group of Seven met in Japan during May 19-21. Last June, they gathered at the elegant Schloss Elmau, in picturesque Bavaria, Germany. Two major nations known in the past for aggressive militarism are now influential leaders in international cooperation. The 2023 G7 meeting was held in Hiroshima, which along with Nagasaki was devastated by the atomic bombs that ended World War II in the Pacific. These cities testify to the absolute horror of modern war and also the human capacities for positive regeneration. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was a featured G7 guest. He and Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida jointly laid a wreath for the atomic bomb victims at the Cenotaph in Hiroshima. The public purpose of the Group of 7 is fostering economic stability. The other related purpose, however, is to diminish the likelihood of war. Vladimir Putin, in using Russias military to invade Ukraine, has provided a bloody lesson in reality. For the first time since the cataclysm of World War II, a major military power has launched a war on the continent of Europe. For a time, Russias membership turned the G7 into the G8. Putins 2014 annexation of Crimea resulted in suspension from the organization. Last June 23-24, China President Xi Jinping hosted a virtual summit of his counterparts in Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa. These sizable nations are not equal to the G7, nor are they united. During May 18-19 this year, Xi hosted a Central Asia summit involving Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan along with China. The meeting was held in Xian, Shaanxi province, not exactly a global crossroads. Russias brutal, so far disastrous, invasion of Ukraine has ended once-close cooperation with China. This recent meeting is an effort to increase influence in what was once Russias sphere. Related The G7 operates in the context of the larger G20, begun in 1999. That incentive was the Asia financial crisis of 1997, sparked by collapse of Thailands currency. Xi holding his mini-summits outside this context is revealing. This G7 summit is the second for Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, successor to long-serving Angela Merkel, a challenging act to follow. Additionally, Germany hosted a summit in 2015, also in the Schloss Elmau. The organization evolved from an informal meeting of finance ministers of Britain, France, West Germany and the United States. U.S. Treasury Secretary George Shultz began the initiative, spurred by the 1973 oil embargo launched by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Other members are Canada, Italy and Japan, with the European Union also engaged. Emphasis on nonmilitary problems after the frightening Cold War years is understandable. Hopefulness, however, has not avoided realities. Britain sponsored the G7 summit in 2021. That meeting assembled in the immediate wake of Belarus forcing a traversing civilian international airliner to land. Roman Protasevich, a passenger and prominent critic of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, was then arrested. The world has progressed since the invasion of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939. Persecution of journalists and others is disturbing, indeed tragic. However, market economies and representative government are spreading. Throughout the Cold War, the United States and our allies were generally on the defensive. Today, dictators no longer conquer entire nations, and their foundations are fragile. The dictatorships are on the defensive. Global momentum is with us. Learn More: Ban Ki-moon, Resolved Arthur I. Cyr is the author of After the Cold War American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia and other books. Contact acyr@carthage.edu Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd at a gun store in Smyrna, Ga., on March 30, 2023. (John Bazemore / Associated Press) When the way in which you are making an announcement (and the technical difficulties that ensued) overshadows the announcement itself, youre in big trouble. Thats my takeaway from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis audio announcement via Twitter Spaces that he is officially seeking the Republican presidential nomination. The first impression Americans will have of the DeSantis campaign is that he declared his candidacy on a platform thats been in a financial free fall ever since his announcement co-star, Elon Musk, took it over. There was no iconic image in front of American flags or video of him battling the harsh elements of winter, just a sanitized, controlled and unremarkable audio-only conversation with one of the worlds richest men. Dont get me wrong, on Twitter, DeSantis announcement will get a massive amount of views and engagement. It will be one of the most heavily consumed pieces of content of 2023 because Musk can make sure the back end of Twitter makes it so. But do not mistake engagement for enthusiasm or views for votes. I dont think Ive ever seen a candidate enter a presidential contest under so much duress. The fact that there are those in the political media using words like reset to describe this moment underscores how underwhelming DeSantis has been as a candidate thus far. Since March, former President Trump has managed to double his lead over DeSantis to a formidable 33 percentage points. That tells me the entire premise of DeSantis campaign is completely off base, in particular the flawed assumption that the Republican primary electorate was ready to abandon Trump in favor of a Trump without the baggage alternative. DeSantis thought he could win over the Trump base without having to actually engage with him. Instead, Trump predictably unleashed an onslaught of haymakers against DeSantis that left him bloodied, bruised and cast as a lightweight not ready for prime time. Thats the thing about power and people like Donald Trump they will not surrender it easily. You have to take it from them. Just ask Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Scott Walker, Jeb Bush, etc. what happens when you try to run a conventional campaign against Trump. What happens when you try to avoid the knife fight and hit him with jabs instead of uppercuts. For DeSantis to have ever had a real chance, he needed to come out of the gates swinging directly at Trump. Pulling no punches, not holding back, an offensive blitz that wouldve put Donald on his ass for the first time in a Republican primary fight. Instead, DeSantis made the idiotic calculation that his most alpha-male persona would be better spent fighting an animated mouse than his chief rival for the prize he so desperately wants. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, but officially announcing a campaign for the highest office in the land is the closest thing to a mulligan if you choreograph it right. Limiting himself to audio and Twitter Spaces feeds into the narratives that DeSantis isnt a skilled enough politician to handle a contest of presidential pace and visibility. That an awkward loner who doesnt like to glad-hand people doesnt stand a prayer against the showmanship that has become the hallmark of Trumps persona. Hiding behind Musk only reinforces those whispers. Youre running for president of the United States but you decide to share the stage with someone who is arguably more powerful and influential than you are youre casting yourself as the supporting actor when you should be the lead. An occasion like this would be the perfect opportunity to do something bigger, grander, but instead, DeSantis is just going through the motions. Consider that his big post-announcement appearance is a Fox News segment with Trey Gowdy, that has more of a check the box feel to it than anything else. Again, underwhelming. Why not a town hall event with a live audience that can generate some energy, enthusiasm and emotion? DeSantis regurgitated the laundry list of imaginary grievances that have become the hallmark of todays Republican Party and while the GOP primary electorate might agree with every word he said, the reality is it is already getting that act from Trump. DeSantis just comes off as a cheap knockoff. The fact that DeSantis didnt even directly take on his chief rival in his prepared remarks speaks volumes. Clearly, he doesnt believe he can actually land a glove on Donald. It begs the question, how in the world could he possibly expect to beat him in a primary? If anyone out there was thinking DeSantis is the one to lead the GOP out of Trumpism, go back and listen to the first 25 minutes of his launch event and youll get a reality check that should send you shopping for a new candidate immediately. Kurt Bardella is a contributing writer to Opinion. He is a Democratic strategist and former senior advisor for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee. @KurtBardella This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. I ordered the same meal from Domino's and Little Caesars, and I preferred the food from the smaller chain I was especially excited to try Domino's cheesy bread. Tiffany Leigh I visited Domino's and Little Caesars in Toronto to see which chain had the tastier meal. I thought the cheesy bread from both chains seemed a little bland and the pizzas were just OK. I didn't fall in love with either chain but I slightly preferred the food from Little Caesars. The last time I'd eaten at either Domino's or Little Caesars was about 15 years ago. Little Caesars was my go-to spot as a middle schooler and my friends and I would regularly go for its cheap deals on slices after school. It's the third-largest pizza chain in the world and has over 4,100 locations in the US. During my sophomore year of college, I worked at Domino's to pay off some of my student debt. I have fond memories of slinging dough and working alongside the friendly staff there. Domino's is the largest pizza chain in the world and has over 6,700 locations in the US. In an effort to find which pizza chain has the tastier meal available today, I ordered the same menu items from both. Here's how they stacked up. First, I ordered my meal at Domino's. The interior of Domino's seemed clean. Tiffany Leigh I visited one of the Domino's in downtown Toronto, an easy 10-minute walk from my house. When I went in, I noticed the interior was small but clean with an open-concept kitchen so customers could see their food being made. There was also counter seating overlooking Queen Street West and some standard table seating. Next, I got my meal from Little Caesars. I had high hopes for my meal from Little Caesars. Tiffany Leigh Little Caesars are few and far between in my part of Toronto so I drove 30 minutes each way to visit my closest location. Throughout my drive, I thought to myself, "This meal better be worth the headache and traffic of this long trip." When I arrived, I noticed the pizza place was situated in a strip mall with only a grab-and-go option so there was no available seating. It was quite a small space and the kitchen was tucked in the back. My Domino's order looked pretty appetizing. I ordered some cheesy bread, marbled brownies, and a large pizza. Tiffany Leigh For my order, I got a large thin-crust half-pepperoni, half-cheese pizza, stuffed cheesy bread, and marbled cookie brownies. The whole meal cost $28 CAD, or about $21 USD. I ordered a similar meal at Little Caesars. I got some cookie-brownies, cheesy bread, and a medium pizza. Tiffany Leigh I ordered a thin-crust cheese pizza with half pepperoni, Italian cheese bread, and a cookie-dough brownie with M&M's. Unfortunately, the staff said that a large size was not available for thin-crust pizza so I sized down to a medium pie. The meal cost CA$24.50. Since the location wasn't busy, I took a few on-site photos while the food was hot and asked if I could have a few bites while there. The staff said it was no problem. I was impressed with Domino's cheesy-bread pull. I thought Domino's cheesy bread looked delicious. Tiffany Leigh I dove into the stuffed cheesy bread first because it looked the most appealing out of the meal from Domino's, especially with its browned edges and glistening top. I noticed the aromas of cheese, garlic, and oregano emanating from the box. The dish was still piping hot when I dug in so I got a tall cheese pull, which had me salivating even more. Aside from the cheese pull, Domino's cheesy bread was underwhelming to me. In my opinion, Domino's cheesy bread looked better than it tasted. Tiffany Leigh Taste-wise, the bread itself didn't have much flavor but its fluffy texture acted as a vessel for the toppings and fillings. There was a blend of stringy mozzarella and cheddar cheese inside and on top of the bread. My first bite was enjoyable but after that, the entire dish seemed one-note. I'm a huge fan of cheese but this was slightly overkill for me. I also noticed that the pieces I didn't eat right away became stiff and harder to chew as they sat at room temperature. I think Little Caesars' Italian cheese bread could've been better. I wish Little Caesars' cheese bread had a more even coating of cheese. Tiffany Leigh The Italian cheese bread from Little Caesars looked appetizing with its glossy, golden-brown finish. Though the first bite was satisfactory, the subsequent ones were a letdown for me. I felt like there was too much bread and not enough cheese topping. The distribution of the topping throughout the appetizer also seemed unequal, as the ends of the bread were dry whereas the middle slices were almost gummy because the bread was weighed down by cheese. Next, I dug into Domino's pizza. My Domino's pizza looked a little charred on the edges. Tiffany Leigh Appearance-wise, Domino's pizza didn't look very appetizing to me because the cheese and sauce seemed to have hardened. The edges also seemed a little blackened and overcooked. The cheese wasn't quite as melty as I'd have hoped. In my opinion, Domino's pizza was kind of bland. The pizza wasn't sliced all the way through. Tiffany Leigh The pizza had a thin cracker crust but it seemed a bit one-dimensional. It wasn't particularly satisfying and I wasn't a huge fan of the texture. The cheese on the pizza also seemed kind of sparse so it felt like I was eating mostly plain crust more than anything else. Little Caesars' pizza had a generous amount of toppings. The crust on Little Caesars' pizza was a nice golden-brown color. Tiffany Leigh Upon first glance, the pizza from Little Caesars looked slightly more promising than Domino's because there appeared to be more cheese. The thicker layer of cheese gave Little Caesars' pie more volume and a delicious, gooey melted appearance. The golden-brown cracker crust seemed crispy enough but I found it still wasn't super flavorful. It reminded me a bit of Melba toast, little crisps usually served on salads and soups. The tangy tomato sauce was the most dominant force on the pizza and unfortunately overpowered the cheese and pepperoni. There were visible specks of dried herbs on top but I couldn't detect the flavor of them on my palate. Domino's marbled brownie was very sweet. Domino's marbled brownie wasn't my favorite. Tiffany Leigh Lastly, I tried Domino's cookie-brownie hybrid, which was baked to order and still gooey-warm when I tried it. Unfortunately, I think it looked better than it tasted. The flavor reminded me of a boxed brownie mix but not in a nostalgic and kitschy way. I didn't find any depth of flavor to this hyper-sweet creation so it was hard to distinguish between the brownie and cookie parts. Since it tasted so sweet to me, I needed to eat the dessert with a tall glass of water. Little Caesars' cookie-brownie looked good but didn't pack a punch. I thought the M&M's were a cute detail. Tiffany Leigh Little Caesars' dessert looked cute with mini M&M's perched atop the cookie portion of the sweet. Unlike Domino's baked-to-order brownie, this one was prepackaged and served at room temperature. Though the dessert looked promising, I wasn't impressed. The topping resembled raw cookie dough (which many of us secretly love to eat) but I thought it had a slightly artificial taste and grainy finish that coated my mouth. The top of the dessert was so sweet to me that I couldn't really taste the brownie below. Good pizza in Toronto can be expensive but if you're looking for something budget-friendly from a well-known chain, I'd recommend going with Little Caesars. Little Caesars' pizza, with some extra ingredients, was delicious. Tiffany Leigh Overall, I probably wouldn't order the majority of these menu items again. Still, if I had to pick between the budget-friendly food from Domino's and Little Caesars, I'd go with the latter. The day after my taste test, I revived the Little Caesars' pizza in my air fryer and had it with a fried egg and Sriracha for breakfast with a little something added, the slices were delicious. I'd also totally give Domino's stuffed cheesy bread another chance, especially since I believe it'd be amazing if I was high or needed a hangover cure. Read the original article on Insider The Oregon Legislature is considering a bill that would require schools to electronically notify families and employees of safety threats. House Bill 3584 requires school district boards to adopt policies for notifying parents, guardians and school employees when a school goes into lockdown, shelter-in-place or evacuates in response to a safety threat, and of the resolution, all within 24 hours. For some students, especially re-traumatized students, this is critical, Dana Stroud, a parent in the Gresham-Barlow School District, told legislators. We are limited in how we can support our children if the school does not give us adequate communication. Lack of information Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, is a chief sponsor of the bill. Locking doors, slamming window blinds and asking students to be quiet and hide under desks. This isnt a quote from George Orwells books. This is a reality for many students, Ruiz said. This is not against any one school, he said. This is a safety-first policy. I do not want to wait for school districts to adopt this individually. We need this now. Portland resident Eric Chambers testified in support of the bill, sharing panicked text messages he received from his seventh-grade son earlier this year during a lockdown at Lane Middle School. The boy, Jim Chambers, told lawmakers the Feb. 2 lockdown didnt feel like a drill. His teachers seemed alarmed and he could hear doors slamming in the hall, he said. The fear I felt in that moment was like no other fear Ive ever experienced, Jim said. My son was visibly shaken when I picked him up. He didnt know the cause of the lockdown, but said that the rumor was that high schoolers had gained access to the school with unknown motives, Eric Chambers said. While I knew he was scared, it wasnt until we talked as a family that evening that I realized how profoundly terrified he was during the event. Police at the front entrance to South Eugene High School on May 10 after a report of a bomb was received by officials. No device was found. Wanting to help his son, Chambers emailed the schools principal asking if the school would be sending a message to families letting them know what happened and how it was resolved. His email was ignored, and families never found out what happened. The event that caused the lockdown at my sons school was probably much ado about nothing. Fortunately, most lockdowns are, Chambers said. Id have done anything to be able to tell my son that shortly after the event so that he could go back to worrying about more typical 12-year-old things and not the threats of harm and violence that increasingly loom in our childrens minds. No one testified against the bill, which has bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. Local practices Lockdowns and other emergency responses have become almost routine in local school districts. Several other states, including Louisiana, Texas and Washington, require schools to notify parents in the event of an emergency. Oregons Beaverton School District has adopted a similar policy. The Salem-Keizer Public Schools governing has not adopted an official policy regarding lockdown communications, spokesperson Aaron Harada said. But the district does have procedures in place that are similar to the bills requirements, he said: Whenever a school goes into a lockdown, the district sends a notification to staff and families as soon as possible. The first notice is often just a notice, as we are working to collect more accurate information about the reason for the lockdown, he said. If there is any change to school operations (such as meal services, arrival or dismissal), then additional information and instructions are sent to staff and families. If there is a prolonged lockdown (many lockdowns are resolved within 30 minutes or so), then the district will send additional information or updates to families to provide as much information as possible. At the conclusion of a lockdown, the district sends a final message or update regarding the lockdown, which by that time may contain more context around the reason the school went into a lockdown. This letter may include additional details such as whether students needed to shelter in place during the lockdown, or it may mention counseling resources available for students the next day at school if the situation or incident warrants. There are situations where a school lockdown is shorter than five minutes. In those cases, families would only receive the final/conclusion letter. We know that a change in operations of a normal school day, whether big or small, can have an impact on students and it is important for our families to have awareness and context around school lockdowns, Harada said. What's next for House Bill 3584? The House passed the bill unanimously, with three members excused, in March. It has been on the schedule for a Senate vote for more than two weeks, but has been postponed, along with dozens of other bills, as Republican senators have repeatedly denied the body a quorum. Tracy Loew covers the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon schools may have to notify families of safety threats Over half of Ukraines adult population use Diia for online government services, 70% from their cellphones Diia is installed on 70% of Ukrainian smartphones Fedorov highlighted the benefits of the Diia app, stating, You have biometric data, all of which is compared with the demographic registry in real-time. And this leads to the fact that Diia is a product where anyone can verify a document using their phone camera. In late March, Mstyslav Banik, the Head of Electronic Services Development at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, revealed that the number of unique Diia users had increased by approximately 2.85 million (18%) since the full-scale invasion by Russia, reaching 18.6 million. This number represents more than half of Ukraines adult population. The Diia app offers 29 services and the ability to process 14 e-documents. Notably, the Digital Signature service in Diia has been installed on over 6.8 million devices and has been utilized more than 11 million times. Read also: New standard to make government websites and applications more user-friendly for everyone in Ukraine In addition, 1.2 million entrepreneurs have used Diia to declare their taxes, resultingin 1.2 billion UAH ($32.5 million) in tax payments. Furthermore, 530 companies are registered in the Diia.City tax mode, contributing approximately $100 million in taxes in 2022. Fedorov mentioned that over 12.6 million votes have been cast on various issues through Diia. Another opportunity to use these services is to express ones opinion on a proposed bill. We talked to people, talked about allowing people to vote on a bill, noted the Vice Prime Minister. Moreover, Diia has issued over 14.8 million medical certificates. Read also: Ukrainians raise $10 million for army through Diia Additionally, 947 families have received loans totaling 1.2 billion UAH ($32.5 million) under the framework of preferential mortgages for military personnel, medical professionals, teachers, and scientists. There have also been 376,550 applications filed for destroyed housing and 12,271 applications for financial assistance. It was previously reported that Diia will be implemented in Colombia and Zambia. Negotiations are currently underway regarding exporting the platform to 10 more countries. The Diia in DC summit was organized in collaboration with USAID and the Ministry ofDigital Transformation, with the support of Eurasia Foundation, UKAid, Visa, and Google.org Employment Opportunities with Diia.Education. 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 Owners of Mexican restaurant driven out of business by road construction find a new spot The owners of the former Los Compas restaurant which closed in April after battling road construction for months at 4559 N. Woodlawn have found a new spot. Owners Fernando Aguirre and his brother-in-law Hector Onate announced on Facebook on Wednesday that theyre taking over the spot at 6600 W. Central that most recently held Bchic Bar & Grill and Sams Southern Eatery before that. The space is best known as the longtime home of Marcos Cantina. Instead of Los Compas, though, the owners plan to call the restaurant Casa Mexicana. The owners said online that they would alert customers in a Facebook post after the restaurant is open. Landlord Sam Eddine says that he expects theyll be ready in about a month. Los Compas fought road construction related to the city of Bel Aires Woodlawn Expansion Project practically from the day it opened, and the owners finally gave up after nearly two years in business. At the time, they say they hoped to eventually find a new space and reopen. Originally, they opened under the name Los Cunados but changed it to Los Campos in early February. The restaurant served a menu filled with traditional Mexican fare. The owners say the menu will be the same at Casa Mexicana. On Wednesday, the owners said theyd be willing to talk about the move at a later date. Stay tuned for updates. A new project will finally acknowledge that AAVE isn't just slang. A new project will finally acknowledge that AAVE isn't just slang. AlthoughAfricanAmerican Vernacular English is front and center in the way all of us communicate, it has always been regarded as slang. More recently, Black colloquial phrases have been wholly co-opted by certain subsets and make up what some more clueless people consider internet-y or Gen Z speak. Lets be real: Describing your meal as bussin is not Twitter or TikTok slang. Anything remotely cool or flavorful in American culture came from Black people. So it feels good to hear that Henry Louis Gates Jr. and a team of researchers from the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research have teamed up with the Oxford University Press to give Black English its long-overdue props. The Oxford Dictionary of African American English, set to be released in 2025, will define historically Black words and phrases and provide the more accurate origins of those words reclaiming them, in a way. The project involved extensive digging into music lyrics, letters, diary entries, magazines, and even slave narratives, according to The New York Times. In addition to pulling from historical sources, the team tapped into the best living sources it could find: Black women. The team included Anansa Benbow, producer of The Black Language Podcast, and Bianca Jenkins, whose graduate research included using language to identify fake Black Twitter accounts; they worked with linguists and lexicographers who have scoured hundreds of historical texts (and, of course, Black Twitter) to curate the dictionary, according to The New Yorker. The first volume will consist of 1,000 words and phrases that lay the foundation for an accessible resource that acknowledges the existence and impact of African American English. While some of you may continue to pull up Urban Dictionary and Rap Genius for AAVE vocab (I feel the need to note that both were founded by white men), this dictionary will be a major anchor of accountability. It requires Oxford University Press to acknowledge the role white institutions and academia have played in policing and erasing African American English and expression, while also acknowledging that AAVE is a legitimate language. The researchers for this project also found this style of English allows Black people to communicate in coded ways that keep us safe from white violence. During chattel slavery, anti-literacy laws prohibited enslaved Black people from reading and writing, which was a big factor in how the dialect was born. The publishers decision to acknowledge these roots and tap on cultural experts to establish an official record is a huge step toward addressing generations of erasure. Up until recently, weve been encouraged to code-switch at school, in professional settings, and anywhere that is predominantly white. But now that its cool to exclaim say less in a Zoom meeting when enthusiastically co-signing an idea, its time that we have a governing body that reminds non-Black America that we are, and always have been, the linguistic drip. To truly understand and respect AAVE, you must know its origin. All things said, once this Oxford Dictionary drops, I might start telling people Im bilingual, cause honestly, Who gon check me? STEVENS POINT Pacelli Catholic Schools has selected its new president. Ray Przekurat will assume the role July 1, according to a news release Thursday from Pacelli's director of marketing. Przekurat will oversee all aspects of the school system's operations, including fundraising and development, messaging and public relations, budgeting and supporting school administrators. Ray Przekurat Przekurat has more than 25 years of educational experience with 19 years in administrative roles, according to the news release. For the past six years, he has been the Iola-Scandinavia School District administrator. He was the director and superintendent of Wright Technical Center in Buffalo, Minnesota, for four years as well as part of the Mosinee School District for 15 years as a technology education instructor, associate principal and principal. Przekurat holds a Bachelor of Science in technology education, a master's degree in educational leadership and a sixth-year certification in educational administration and leadership, according to the news release. Father Ed Shuttleworth, dean of the Stevens Point Catholic Deanery, said in a news release that he was delighted to welcome Przekurat to Pacelli Catholic Schools. "He brings with him a wealth of educational experience and deep personal faith," Shuttleworth said. "I look forward to working with Mr. Przekurat in carrying out the mission of Catholic education in our community." Przekurat will replace Cindy Weber, who became president July 1, 2020, before she resigned earlier this year. More: Emy J's second location officially opens; Point Brewery beer benefits Green Circle Trail | Streetwise More: Is the Portage County Library leaving its downtown Stevens Point location? Heres what we know. Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33. This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Ray Przekurat named new president of Pacelli Catholic Schools 'He paid the ultimate price for us': Slain Kentucky deputy stopped burglary suspect Scott County Deputy Caleb Conley Officials in Northern Kentucky and Butler County say the man accused of killing a deputy during a traffic stop Monday near Georgetown, Kentucky, is connected to crimes in their communities. Scott County Deputy Caleb Conley was shot and killed around 5 p.m. May 22 during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 near Georgetown. Steven Sheangshang, the accused shooter, was arrested and faces several charges in both Fayette and Scott counties, including the murder of a police officer, according to Major Matt LeMonds, spokesperson for the Lexington Division of Community Corrections. At Tuesday night's West Chester Township trustees meeting, Trustee Lee Wong said the deputy pulled over Sheangshang because West Chester police were trying to track him down in connection with a series of car and garage robberies in the Beckett Ridge area. Police Chief Joel Herzog told trustees the department tracked the suspect using the township's Flock camera license plate readers in their investigation. He said Sheangshang was also connected to incidents in western Hamilton County. "This officer died in the line of duty for some property items that weren't secure," Wong said. "He paid the ultimate price for us, for protecting our residents." Funeral arrangements A public visitation for Conley will be held Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Scott County High School gymnasium on Cardinal Drive in Georgetown, Kentucky. Funeral services for Conley will be held the following day, June 1, at 11 a.m. at the school. Burial will be at Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana, Kentucky, following services. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made at Field and Main Bank to help Conley's family. Donations labeled In Memory of Caleb Conley can be mailed or dropped off at the bank at 103 E Bridge St., Cynthiana, KY 41031. Suspect also faces charges in Northern Kentucky Sheangshang also is facing burglary charges in Northern Kentucky for a separate crime committed in Fort Mitchell. Court documents say Sheangshang was recognized on a May 17 security video stealing a portable generator from a home on Fortside Drive. Enquirer Media partner Fox 19 reports Kenton County Commonwealths Attorney Rob Sanders said after Sheangshangs arrest, his photograph was released and officials realized that he also matched video of the burglar in Fort Mitchell. The documents state Sheangshang pawned the stolen generator in Cincinnati about an hour after the burglary occurred. Sheangshang is scheduled for arraignment on burglary charges in Kenton County on June 30. Prior convictions In 2009 and 2010, Sheangshang was convicted in Hamilton County on aggravated robbery and kidnapping charges as well as additional theft charges in Kentucky. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. In March 2022, authorities in Kentucky issued an alert to authorities in Ohio saying Sheangshang was wanted on a probation violation. Enquirer media partner Fox 19 and Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky deputy Caleb Conley shot after stopping burglary suspect Palestinians push for release of seriously ill detainee Supporters of Walid Daqqa, a Palestinian jailed for decades for the kidnap and murder of an Israeli soldier, rally for his early release on medical grounds The Palestinian Prisoners' Club pressed Thursday for the release of a seriously ill detainee, held for decades by Israel. Walid Daqqa, a Palestinian serving time for the kidnap and murder of an Israeli soldier, has cancer, the advocacy group said. "He is now on artificial ventilation and his lungs and kidneys are in great distress," it said in a statement. A spokeswoman for the Israel Prison Service told AFP that Daqqa is currently at Shamir Medical Centre in central Israel. Daqqa identifies as Palestinian although he holds citizenship from Israel, which would consider him Arab-Israeli. Palestinians gathered in the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday for a rally in solidarity with Daqqa and other Palestinians held by Israel. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club said it delivered a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Hebron and nearby Bethlehem, calling for the organisation to intervene in Daqqa's case. An ICRC spokeswoman told AFP it had received the letter and the organisation had previously visited Daqqa. Daqqa, 61, was diagnosed in December with a rare form of blood cancer -- myelofibrosis -- the Palestinian Prisoners' Club said. The organisation said he was also diagnosed with leukaemia in 2015 and is currently due to be freed in March 2025. Judicial authorities in Israel did not immediately respond to an AFP request regarding Daqqa's appeals for early release on medical grounds. he/rsc/kir Parents of Covenant School students can weigh in on release of evidence in Nashville mass shooting, judge rules Parents of students at Nashvilles Covenant School can intervene in a consolidated lawsuit asking that documents and records related to the March 27 mass shooting be released, a Tennessee judge ruled, giving the parents a say in the potential release of the shooters writings and other evidence. The group of parents stand in a unique position stepping into the shoes of their minor children, Davidson County Chancery Court Judge IAshea Myles wrote in an order issued late Wednesday, noting the children were not old enough to assert their own claims. Myles separately granted motions to intervene from The Covenant School and Covenant Presbyterian Church, which runs the private Christian school where Audrey Hale fatally shot three 9-year-olds and three staff members. The judge wrote that the churchs and schools status as private entities would typically prevent the plaintiffs from having access to information that may have been collected during the investigation. The case involves requests for public records filed by gun rights advocates and news organizations seeking to compel Nashvilles city government to disclose writings left behind by the shooter that might shed light on the motive for the attack and related documents which could include the shooters journals and a suicide note. Authorities have said the writings show Hale, who was killed by police, acted totally alone in carrying out the calculated and planned massacre. The overlapping legal claims come after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lees call for a special legislative session in August to address gun control, raising the stakes of how those writings might be interpreted amid Americas unending gun violence epidemic. The Covenant School shooting victims (top row) Katherine Koonce, Mike Hill, Cynthia Peak, (bottom row) Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. - From The Covenant School/Covenant Presbyterian Church/Facebook/KMOV/Dieckhaus Family The National Police Association, the Tennessee Firearms Association and the Tennessean newspaper separately sued after the Metro Nashville Police Department denied open records requests for the writings, citing a state Supreme Court ruling that state law provides an exception to the public records act by allowing police to withhold the release of information in a pending criminal case except to a defendant. The plaintiffs argued the exception does not apply, because the shooter was killed by police and law enforcement officials have indicated there is no pending criminal prosecution. Myles has ordered that the cases be consolidated. The church, the school and the families among them the parents of the children killed then asked for involvement in the case, with Covenant Presbyterian saying its intervention was warranted to protect its interests and employees. Parents supported the motion, citing their fear of copycat attacks. Myles ruling Wednesday acknowledged affidavits that said there is an ongoing and active criminal investigation, which, according to the order, may lead to the discovery of co-conspirators and additional crimes and that harmful and irreversible consequences could result if information is released prematurely. Myles ordered the parents, church and school to file briefs outlining their claims and/or defenses. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The political row over India's new parliament has intensified India's new parliament is set to be inaugurated this weekend amid a political row as 19 opposition parties say they will boycott the ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the building on Sunday. But opposition leaders say India's president, the highest constitutional authority, should open the building. Leaders of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused the opposition of "playing political games". On Wednesday, 19 parties - including the main opposition Congress - issued a statement announcing their "collective decision" to boycott the inauguration ceremony. They said that while the opening was "a momentous occasion", Mr Modi's "decision to inaugurate the building by himself" was "a grave insult [and] a "direct assault" on India's democracy. The statement also mentioned that opposition MPs had been "disqualified, suspended and muted" while "controversial legislations" were passed with little debate. "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the parliament, we find no value in a new building," the parties added. India's Home Minister Amit Shah said that all political parties had been invited for the ceremony, and asked the opposition to not politicise the event. "The government has requested all to be present. Everyone will act according to their own feelings," he said in a press conference on Wednesday. Relations between the governing BJP and most opposition parties are strained, often leading to an impasse during parliament sessions. Recently, opposition leaders protested after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from parliament after he was sentenced to jail in a defamation case. The new parliament building is equipped with hi-tech facilities Leaders from the governing National Democratic Alliance, led by the BJP, criticised the opposition statement, calling it "an egregious insult to our democracy and to their elected representatives". They also asked the opposition to "think about the nation and not individual political gains". Opposition leaders have also criticised the government's choice of date for the ceremony, which coincides with the birth anniversary of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar. Not all opposition parties are on the same page on the matter - some regional parties such as the Biju Janata Dal and the YSR Congress Party will attend the ceremony. The new parliament building - which is part of the government's ambitious project to develop the Central Vista power corridor in capital Delhi - has been steeped in controversy from the outset. Many opposition politicians, environmentalists and civil society groups had criticised the project for its high cost, and alleged that the government had not consulted other lawmakers and the public. They had also questioned the government's decision to build a new parliament building instead of upgrading the old one. The government, however, said that the new parliament was necessary as the older building was "showing signs of distress and over utilization". The new building - designed by HCP Design, Planning and Management and constructed by Tata Projects - has increased seating capacity and is built at an estimated cost of 9.7bn rupees ($117.1m, 94.2m). In 2020, the Congress had also boycotted the foundation stone-laying event of the new parliament, criticising the government for holding it at a time when farmers were protesting against three controversial new laws. The current row has generated plenty of debate in India, with some commentators saying it reflects a fractious milieu where the governing party and the opposition are unable to reach an agreement on most issues. The Indian Express newspaper argued, in an editorial, that while the opposition had genuine grievances, it had to find a way to rise above them to mark this historic moment. "It cannot be - it should not be - that when coming generations look at this diverse nation's photo album, they see a parliament that is bare and monochromatic because 19 parties could not rise above their grievance, legitimate though it may have been, to embrace the larger occasion," it said. 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: passport stamps cuba travel uk holidays overseas border control - Getty During his final days of office, Donald Trump made a decision that would have far-reaching implications for Cuba and the holidaymakers who visit he placed the country on a list of State Sponsors of Terrorism alongside North Korea, Iran and Syria. It means those whove been to the island since the decision can no longer officially travel to the USA under the Esta visa waiver scheme. Instead, they must apply for a B-2 visa in order to visit the States. Applications have to be made in person at the US Embassy in London or the Consulate General in Belfast, at far greater cost than obtaining an Esta ($160 as opposed to $21). It makes a last-minute getaway untenable too: the embassys ticket booking channel currently states that scheduling an appointment may take several months. A string of messages on Tripadvisor highlights uncertainty over the issue as well as a lack of information from official sources. Guidance is opaque and enforcement reportedly patchy. While a spokesperson for the FDCO said that it keeps its travel advice under constant review and advised the public to consult the US State Department website before travel, neither body seems to have updated its guidance since Trumps decision. Theres no mention of Cuba on the Esta application form. However, the schemes homepage clearly asks visitors if theyve been, referring them to guidance that states if a traveller is found to have visited a country designated as State Sponsor of Terrorism, the traveller is no longer eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Programme. Despite this, there are several online reports of travellers gaining entry to the US under the Esta scheme although theyd previously travelled to Cuba. This could be because, according to online visa check service iVisa, Cuban authorities generally stamp separate visitor cards instead of passports on entry. If youre going to the country and plan to visit the States in the future, its worth specifying that you dont want your passport stamped. Issues do arise: older passports may display Cuban stamps while The Independent previously reported incidents in which travellers who had visited Cuba subsequently had their Estas revoked while en route to America. Travel agents have also revealed that some customers are cancelling Cuban holidays in order to avoid future problems. If you have a Cuba passport stamp or the rules affect you in any other way, the safest option would be to travel on a B-2 visa, leaving plenty of time to secure one before jetting off. This isnt the only thing that could catch you out at Border Control. Read on for other issues to be aware of Which other countries could cause me problems? In 2013, Israel stopped stamping visitors passports due to the problems it caused for those hoping to travel to other parts of the Middle East. Currently, if evidence of a previous stay in Israel is found, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Syria and Yemen will deny travellers entry. To get around the issue, leisure travellers to Israel now have pieces of paper stamped instead, which they must keep in their passports for the duration of their stays. However, people who travel overland between Israel and Jordan (such as many of those taking escorted tours in the region) face another issue: the passport stamps theyre given in Jordan clearly state entry or exit point. Travellers passing between the two countries are advised to avoid any issues by asking officials to refrain from stamping their passports. Iran also bid goodbye to passport stamps in 2019, in the hope that it would alleviate issues for travellers who subsequently wanted to visit the States or indeed Israel (there have been unconfirmed reports of people with Iranian passport stamps being held and interrogated at Israeli airports). Are there any other stamps to avoid? As we detailed here, there are some seemingly innocent passport stamps that could also ruin your holiday. Across the globe, from Antarctica to Hiroshima via the Welsh village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, attractions offer novelty stamps to tourists keen to prove theyve visited. Putting one in your passport could have disastrous consequences though. In 2020, Tina Sibley garnered worldwide publicity when she was refused boarding on a flight from Madrid to Thailand due to a novelty Machu Picchu stamp which Qatar Airways deemed to have rendered her passport invalid (she had to get a new emergency passport in order to fly). Though Thailand is known to be particularly strict when it comes to damaged or defaced passports, many other countries (including the US and Australia) also take a firm stance on these stamps so its best to steer clear. Are there any stamps I should definitely get? In 2021 the FCDO updated its advice to recommend that UK tourists entering and exiting the Schengen area should check that their passports had been stamped. It followed reports of problems at border control caused by people failing to get exit stamps on previous visits: they were therefore unable to prove that theyd been in the EU for less than the allowed 90 days. A new automated system (EES) to register non-EU nationals will be in place in late 2023 according to the European Commission (though there have been multiple delays) but, until its fully functional, its wise to double check that your passport displays the relevant information and to ask for a stamp if not. If youve already visited Europe and havent been given an exit stamp, make sure you carry copies of your previous travel documents in order to avoid any problems. As we detailed here, all these EU passport stamps take up valuable space. As all countries require passports to have at least one blank page by law (and some ask for three), make sure theres enough room in yours before you travel. What if my passports a bit tatty? Its not just novelty stamps that could ruin your holiday. Missing pages, stains and tears can all be enough for officials to deny you entry, as one Tripadvisor user found when he was detained in Kuala Lumpur for two days before being deported thanks to a tear caused by a stapled visa. According to HM Passport Office, a passport is officially damaged if personal details are difficult to read, theres potential for a substitute photo to be inserted, the name page is faded, the passport is stained, pages are torn, defaced or missing, or the chip is damaged or visible on the back cover. If youre concerned that your passport doesnt meet the criteria, its worth getting a new one but leave plenty of time as damaged passports cant be replaced using fast-track services. Any other issues to be aware of? Since Britain left the EU, theres been an issue with UK passports nearing their expiry date. Before 2018, any leftover time on an old British passport was added to a new one, extending the validity to more than a decade. However, the EU only recognises UK passports that are less than 10 years old so youll need to check the issue date and not the expiry date before you travel. And although you only need three months left on your passport from arrival in the EU (working back from your passports expiry date), many experts advise having at least six months due to reported confusion among airport officials. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article indicated that Cuba had been placed on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list since 1 March 2011. In fact, Cuba was placed on the list on 12 January 2021. Have you experienced any issues at border control? Please share your stories in the comments below. 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 20-year-old man is facing charges for alleged online sexual activity with minors. A 20-year-old Rocky Point man was arrested Wednesday by Pender County detectives for allegedly sexually exploiting children online. According to a post from the Pender County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page, Adair Morales Hernandez was charged with three counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor related to his illegal on-line activities. Officials said detectives found pornographic videos of children being sexually assaulted and conversations Hernandez was having with online participants. He was arrested after a search warrant at his home. He was given a $100,000 secured bond. According to authorities, additional charges were expected. The Pender County Sheriffs Office works with agencies such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and is a member of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. "The sheriffs office stresses the importance of parents and guardians to strictly monitor their childs online internet/social media activities to help prevent the sexual exploitation of minors," officials stated in the release. The Pender County Sheriff's Office asks if anyone has information regarding Adair Morales Hernandez to contact Detective Sgt. Steve Clinard at 910-259-1437. STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest Pender County news by signing up for the StarNews newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram. Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Rocky Point man charged in connection with online child sex crimes ST. LOUIS The U.S. public and private sectors cannot afford to pause their pursuits of artificial intelligence, as some have called for, amid an international race for technological supremacy, according to Pentagon Chief Information Officer John Sherman. Digital luminaries including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Getty Images CEO Craig Peters and Twitters Elon Musk, alongside academics and others, signed an open letter in March advocating for powerful AI development to proceed only once we are confident their effects will be manageable and net positive. But doing so, Sherman said May 24 at the GEOINT Symposium in St. Louis, risks ceding AI hegemony to China or Russia, powers the U.S. considers premier national security threats. Ive said this in other venues, and Im going to say it here today, that I know some have advocated for taking a knee for six months, he said. No. Not at the Department of Defense, not the intelligence community. Why the military moves faster than government on AI Defense leaders see AI, autonomy and related technologies as critical to long-term competitiveness on the world stage. A Pentagon strategy for AI implementation describes breakthroughs as shaking up the national security landscape, with foreign governments investing heavily in ways that threaten global security, peace and stability. At least 685 AI-related projects were underway at the Pentagon as of early 2021, according to the Government Accountability Office, a federal watchdog. They include several tied to major weapons systems. The tech will play a critical role in navigation and targeting aboard the Armys future Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle as well as the streamlining of logistics and maintenance needs across the broader military. One thing we take pride in the United States, working with our allies is to be responsible in how we apply AI and develop it. Not in ways that you see in China and Russia and elsewhere, Sherman said. We can do this, and create decision advantage for our warfighters, correctly with our democratic values. The Biden administration this week rolled out guidance for federally backed AI research. Months prior, the White House published a blueprint for an AI bill of rights, which laid out a road map for responsible AI application. Peril to our democracy: Chilling lines from the judge who sentenced the Oath Keepers leader Judge Amit Mehta on Thursday handed down an 18-year prison sentence for the leader of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election that ended with the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Before announcing the sentence, however, Mehta, a nominee of former President Barack Obama, delivered a chilling address to Rhodes about the impact of his seditious conspiracy crimes on American democracy. The federal judges in Washington, DC, who work just blocks from the US Capitol, have served as a conscience of democracy since January 6. They have rejected defenses that downplay the seriousness of the Capitol attack, spoken out about future dangers to the peaceful transfer of power and while they have criticized former President Donald Trump reminded defendants they are responsible for their actions. Here are some of the powerful lines from the judge on Thursday: Chilling words on future elections: Peril to our democracy I dare say, Mr. Rhodes and I never have said this to anyone I have sentenced you pose an ongoing threat and peril to our democracy and the fabric of this country, Mehta said. I dare say we all now hold our collective breaths when an election is approaching. Will we have another January 6 again? That remains to be seen. The judge, refuting claims Rhodes made during a 20-minute rant earlier in the day, added: You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes. That is not why you are here. It is not because of your beliefs. It is not because Joe Biden is the president right now. Importance of seditious conspiracy charges: Offense against the people The sentence is the first handed down in over a decade for seditious conspiracy and Mehta said he wanted to explain the offense to the public. He did not mince words. A seditious conspiracy, when you take those two concepts and put it together, is among the most serious crimes an American can commit. It is an offense against the government to use force. It is an offense against the people of our country, the judge said. It is a series of acts in which you and others committed to use force, including potentially with weapons, against the government of the United States as it transitioned from one president to another. And what was the motive? You didnt like the new guy. Let me be clear about one thing to you, Mr. Rhodes, and anybody who else that is listening. In this country we dont paint with a broad brush, and shame on you if you do. Just because somebody supports the former president, it doesnt mean they are a White supremacist, a White nationalist. It just means they voted for the other guy. What we absolutely cannot have is a group of citizens who because they did not like the outcome of an election, who did not believe the law was followed as it should be foment revolution. Mehta echoed these warnings later Thursday, when addressing a second Oath Keepers defendant, Kelly Meggs. You dont take to the streets with rifles, he said. You dont hope that the president invokes the insurrection act so you can start a war in the streets You dont rush into the US Capitol with the hope to stop the electoral vote count. It is astonishing to me how average Americans somehow transformed into criminals in the weeks before and on January 6, the judge said. Judge says Rhodes continues to be a threat: Nothing has changed Mehta said Rhodes, 58, has expressed no remorse and continues to be a threat. It would be one thing, Mr. Rhodes, if after January 6 you had looked at what happened that day and said that was not a good day for our democracy. But you celebrated it, you thought it was a good thing, the judge said. Even as you have been incarcerated you have continued to allude to violence as an acceptable means to address grievances. Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. - Mark Wilson/Getty Images/File Nothing has changed, Mr. Rhodes, nothing has changed. And the reality is as you sit here today and as we heard you speak, the moment you are released you will be prepared to take up arms against our government. And not because you are a political prisoner, not because of the 2020 election, because you think this is a valid way to address grievances. American democracy doesnt work, Mr. Rhodes, if when you think the Constitution has not been complied with it puts you in a bad place, because from what Im hearing, when you think you are in a bad place, the rest of us are too. We are all the objects of your plans to and your willingness to engage in violence. Domestic terrorism enhancement: Rhodes gave the order and they went Mehta granted a Justice Department request to enhance the potential sentence against Rhodes, ruling that his actions amounted to domestic terrorism. He was the one giving the orders, Mehta said. He was the one organizing the teams that day. He was the reason they were in fact in Washington, DC. Oath Keepers wouldnt have been there but for Stewart Rhodes, I dont think anyone contends otherwise. He was the one who gave the order to go, and they went. During the sentencing hearing of Meggs, who was also convicted of seditious conspiracy, the judge again pegged Rhodes as the ringleader. It is in part because of Mr. Rhodes, frankly, that Mr. Meggs is sitting here today. On keeping oaths and heroism of police: The other enduring legacy On Wednesday, several police officers and congressional staffers who were at the Capitol on January 6 testified about their experiences, injuries and the aftermath. Mehta said their bravery and actions are also an important legacy of the attack, as officers put their bodies on the line. The other enduring legacy is what we saw yesterday, the judge said. It is the heroism of police officers and those working in Congress to protect democracy as we know it. That is what they are doing. Before he was sentenced, Rhodes addressed the court for 20 minutes about the charges against him, repeating falsehoods about 2020 election fraud, claiming he was a political prisoner and expressing his desire to continue fighting. Its not simply a conspiracy theory or a false narrative about fraud. Its about the Constitution, Rhodes said, later shouting: I am not able to drop that under my oath. I am not able to ignore the Constitution. The judge had none of that, and compared Rhodes comments to the heroism of police officers and others protecting the Capitol: We want to talk about keeping oaths? There is nobody more emblematic of keeping their oaths, Mr. Rhodes. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A Los Angeles Dodgers hat with a rainbow logo is pictured on Pride Day at Oracle Park before a baseball game between the Giants and the Dodgers in San Francisco, Saturday, June 11, 2022. | Jeff Chiu, Associated Press What is a nun? Not what it used to be. Historically a term for women who live in cloistered communities and devote their lives to God, the word nun apparently no longer has to involve religion, given the coverage of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the LGBTQ advocacy group at the center of a controversy involving the Los Angeles Dodgers. Without irony, numerous reports about the controversy have made reference to the trans nuns and queer nuns of the group, which was invited then uninvited, then re-invited to be honored at Dodger Stadium June 16, at the Dodgers 10th annual Pride Night. In fact, its doubtful the groups membership includes any actual nuns at all. But the nonprofit has adopted the persona of religious sisters in their bawdy and irreverent ministry to people in the LGBTQ community. Defenders call their performances satire and camp, even though they more often resemble profane. Even satirically, masquerading as a faith group is a form of cultural appropriation, which is usually a serious sin to the woke. Few, if any, would dare to so openly disdain, say, Hasidic Jews or Muslims or minority groups in the public square, as Princeton scholar Robert P. George pointed out on Twitter. But we have reached the stage in our cultural devolution where women can be broadly made fun of, especially if theyre religious. If men wearing hijabs were to prance around mocking Muslim women, insulting Islam and faithful Muslims, and ridiculing the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad, their bigotry would be widely and rightly condemned. What would the Los Angeles Dodgers do? Praise them? Give them an award? Robert P. George (@McCormickProf) May 24, 2023 The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are not nuns. And regardless of what good they may have done over the past 30 years, visiting hospices and lecturing ... about the risks of unsafe sex, the most extreme of their attention-getting antics are rightly decried as blasphemy. Bill Donohue of The Catholic League released a list of the groups most offensive stunts since its founding in 1979. The milder ones include burning the pope in effigy, staging a Hunky Jesus contest every Easter, and equating a certain contraceptive to the Eucharist. The First Amendment, of course, guarantees the right to even free speech we dont like, and no one is suggesting that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence go to jail or even be disbanded. Theyre free to insult people of faith on city streets and on the internet, just like the Satanic Temple, an IRS-recognized church, is free to hold SatanCon and complain about the misdeeds of the religious. But the City of Angels a moniker which refers to the citys Catholic mission roots is home to 4 million Catholics, many of whom rightly see the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgences edgiest acts as an affront to their sincerely held faith. So, too, the Dodgers plan to honor the group with a Community Hero award. Twitter screenshot Defenders of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the Dodgers are displaying a remarkable depth of tone-deafness. Writing for USA Today, for example, columnist Mike Freeman said members of the group are more decent, and have done more good, than you, me and likely many of the people who dont like them. Only God, of course, can be the arbiter of such a claim, but juxtapose that statement against the Sister acts circulating on social media, and its very hard to make the argument for decent. Freeman, who said hes a former Catholic, decries fake outrage, which shows the troubling chasm that is at the heart of so many cultural divides today. In our political silos, its not uncommon for Americans to surround themselves with people (both real and virtual) who share their political beliefs. But with the growth of spiritual nones and the decline of religious participation, people are also ensconced in spiritual silos, evident when they dont understand why a Catholic might be deeply offended that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are getting a Community Hero award when theyve built their brand by mocking the likes of Mother Teresa. There is a straight line from the growth of religious nones to the emergence of areligious nuns, with ever fewer people daring to speak for people of faith. Related In response to the Dodgers choice to respect the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and their supporters more than the adherents of the largest religious denomination in the United States, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone tweeted, Disappointing but not surprising. Gird your loins. Our Catholic sisters devote themselves to serving others selflessly. Decent people would not mock & blaspheme them. So we now know what gods the Dodger admin worships. Open desecration & anti-Catholicism is not disqualifying. Disappointing but not surprising. Gird your loins. https://t.co/JloPQe9tC1 Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone (@ArchCordileone) May 23, 2023 The phrase is biblical and means to prepare yourself for battle, although some Christian commentators like Rod Dreher believe the battle is already over and people of faith have lost. Churches are not remotely prepared for what is rapidly coming to us, Dreher said last year. Indeed, when James Davison Hunter popularized the term culture war in 1991, no one envisioned that 30 years later, the culture wars would have moved to the dictionary, to the definition of what a woman or a nun is. Nor would anyone have predicted how rapidly the cultural cachet of the religiously devout would fall, even as America rightly became more sensitive about the representation of marginalized and minority groups. And the ranks of nuns are in steep decline, with the average age of a Catholic sister around 80. So what is a nun? The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence say, as they did in a recent tweet, its the likes of Foxy Mary and Hunky Jesus. But most Americans, I imagine, still say a nun is this: Cocaine bricks discovered in Peru had the word 'Hitler' written in high relief in the white powder and were covered with packaging bearing the Nazi swastika Anti-narcotics officers in Peru seized 58 kilograms of cocaine headed for Belgium in packages bearing Nazi symbols and the name Hitler, police said on Thursday. The drugs were hidden in 50 packages the size of bricks, each one bearing a Nazi swastika, according to pictures released by police. Some of the packages were open with the word Hitler written in high relief on the compacted white powder. The drugs were found in a Liberian flagged boat in the small northern port town of Paita, close to the border with Ecuador. It had come from Guayaquil, the Ecuadoran port city known as a major jumping off point for South American drugs heading to the United States and Europe. Police did not say if anyone was arrested. Drugs wrapped in Nazi insignia are not otherwise a matter Peruvian police have previously dealt with. Peruvian authorities seized 22 tons of cocaine in 2022. After its neighbor Colombia, Peru is the largest producer of cocaine in the world, with around 400 tons a year, according to official figures. The country is also one of the largest producers of coca leaf, a product which is legal when used to chew or make an infusion but is also the primary material in cocaine. cm/ljc/ltl/bc/bfm Your pets produce just as much pollution as private jets, says luxury aviation company boss A private jet interior. Marin Tomas/Getty Images Luxaviation's CEO told a FT summit that one of his firm's clients produced as much CO2 as three dogs per year. He was responding to criticism about the industry's environmental impact amid soaring demand. Private jets emit at least 10 times more pollutants than commercial planes per passenger, per an IPS report. A private jet company boss has defended his industry by comparing greenhouse emissions from private flights to pollution from pets. Patrick Hansen, the CEO of Luxembourg-based Luxaviation, told the Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit in Monaco that one of his company's customers produced just about 2.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year about the same amount as what three dogs produce, according to a Wednesday report by the FT. Hansen made the comment while responding to criticism about the industry's environmental impact. Luxaviation calculated the carbon footprint of each of its 67,000 passengers in 2022 based on the direct impact of flying, excluding the carbon dioxide emissions of servers, maintenance, and other services, Hansen told Insider. The executive referenced data from "How bad are bananas?" a book about the carbon footprint of a broad range of activities. The book authored by British professor Mike Berners-Lee states a pet dog would be responsible for 0.7 tons of carbon emissions each year, the FT reported. However, Berners-Lee did not seem pleased his book was being referenced in relation to the private jet industry, telling the FT and Inisder he was "surprised and disappointed to hear data from my book being used to defend the bogus eco claims made by Luxaviation." Berners-Lee even questioned Hansen's claim that one of his customers produced just 2.1 tons of carbon dioxide annually. He said the number looked "suspiciously low" and "must be for very short flights and very small planes." "The simple reality is that the emissions from luxury private jets are many times higher than for standard commercial flights. Nor is it reasonable to claim the climate damage can be undone by so-called 'offsetting'," said Berners-Lee. "Luxury private jets are a huge carbon indulgence," he added. But despite the environmental concerns, private jets continue to be in demand. Private jets emit at least 10 times more pollutants than commercial planes on a per-passenger basis, according to a May 2023 joint report by the Institute for Policy Studies and Patriotic Millionaires, a group of high-net-worth individuals. Still, private jets are "not going away, because they provide a service of time" to rich people, Hansen said at the FT summit. Demand for private jets has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic as wealthy customers sought to avoid crowds, movement restrictions, and then travel chaos. Luxaviation and Berners-Lee did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo shows Pakistan FM at monument in Lithuania, not 'memorial for Indian soldiers' Shortly after Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived in India for a conference in May 2023, a photo was shared thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows Zardari at a memorial for Indian soldiers killed during a conflict with Pakistan. The photo in fact shows the foreign minister during a trip to Lithuania in February 2023, when he visited a monument for those killed during confrontations with Soviet troops that tried to reoccupy the country in 1991 after it declared independence. "Bilawal Zardari, who is devoid of self-respect, visited the graves of Indian soldiers killed in the Kargil war and offered flowers!!" reads part of an Urdu-language tweet posted here on May 6, 2023. It goes on to claim the "visit" is the result of the military "imposing" the current government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the Pakistani people after his predecessor Imran Khan was ousted in April 2022. The tweet, which has been retweeted and quoted more than 5,000 times, was posted by a user that has repeatedly expressed support for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Since his ouster in April 2022, the former prime minister -- who claims he was the victim of a "regime change" conspiracy involving the United States and his opponents -- has held a series of large rallies challenging the authority of the shaky coalition of parties that replaced him (archived link). The tweet was shared two days after Zardari arrived in India for a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation along with counterparts from China and Russia (archived link). It also refers to the "Kargil war", a 10-week conflict in 1999 that was fought in the icy heights of the Kargil mountains (archived link). The brief conflict saw Pakistan-backed militants cross the disputed Kashmir border and seize Indian military posts. The battle, which ended under pressure from the United States, cost 1,000 lives on both sides. A screenshot of the false tweet, captured on May 13, 2023 The same photo along with similar claims was published on Twitter here, here and here; and on Facebook here, here and here. Comments on the posts suggest many users were misled. "It was expected from Bilawal..." wrote one user. Another said: "Shame, shame." Monument in Lithuania A reverse image search on Google showed the photo was in fact taken in Lithuania in February 2023, when Zardari visited a monument dedicated to those who died during a series of confrontations in 1991 when Soviet troops crossed the border in a failed bid to reoccupy the country after it had declared independence. The same photo was used in a report by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency, published in The Express Tribune newspaper on February 22, about the foreign minister's official visit to Lithuania (archived link). The photo's caption reads: "Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stands at the monument of Lithuanian freedom fighters after laying a wreath in Vilnius. PHOTO: APP". Below is a screenshot comparison of the photo used in the false tweet (left) and the APP photo (right): Screenshot comparison of the photo used in the false tweet (left) and the APP photo (right) Zardari also posted the same photo on his official Twitter account here on February 21 (archived link). The tweet with the photo reads: "Had a tour of Seimas, Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania & laid a wreath at the Memorial of those who laid down their lives in the Struggle for the Independence of Lithuania." A similar photo can be seen in this AFP photo from September 29, 2020 showing the French President Emmanuel Macron laying a wreath at the memorial (archived links here and here). Below is a screenshot comparison of the photo of Zardari (left) and the AFP photo (right): Screenshot comparison of the photo of Zardari (left) and the AFP photo (right) As of May 24, there were no reports of Zardari visiting any memorials for Indian soldiers killed during the Kargil war during his trip to India. There is a memorial for the Kargil war in northern India, but the meeting Zardari attended was held in Goa, a coastal resort town 2,300 kilometres (1,429 miles) south (archived link). Michael Christopher Brown uses Midjourney to create 90 Miles The world of photography really is changing, and it's a bit scary. Well-known National Geographic and New York Times documentarian, Michael Christopher Brown, has taken to new methods in the creation and distribution of his photojournalistic series, 90 Miles, with a distinct focus on Cuban historical events and crossing the border. Using an artificially intelligent computer instead of a camera to create images for a photo project is one thing, but then minting them as NFTs instead of selling prints might be the cherry on the cake that has other photographers upset with Brown. This is everything you need to know about AI image generators. Michael Christopher Brown is a phenomenal photographer known for his reportage documenting the 2011 Libyan Civil War, and can evidently capture incredible images. So why the need to be using AI image generators to create a new and engaging post-photography photo series, when he's already a sharpshooter with a digital camera? The reason is actually quite valid, at least in our opinion. Michael Christopher Brown uses Midjourney to create 90 Miles (Image credit: Michael Christopher Brown) Brown explains that 90 Miles, his new AI-generated project with a focus on historical events involving the oceanic distance between Havana and Florida, couldn't have been possible without using the AI photo software Midjourney. Brown describes the project as a "post-photography AI reporting illustration experiment exploring historical events and realities of Cuban life". "The photorealistic quality now possible with AI, and the ease in creating that quality, is expanding the possibilities of visual storytelling." Shares Brown. "Anyone may now create lensless, photo-realistic reportage illustrations on any subject anywhere, at any time, collaborating with a collective history of photography to illustrate the photographed world and create a vision of what was, is, or can be." Michael Christopher Brown uses Midjourney to create 90 Miles (Image credit: Michael Christopher Brown) "This is, of course, a delicate dance as we must maintain the integrity of the photograph and create barriers around certain AI outputs. But we must also use it to our advantage" he proposes. Very vocal on his Instagram account, Brown has also said that "For over 25 years, I kept a list of subjects to document but was unable to, mainly due to access or that access was impossible. While working in Cuba from 2014-2016, more subjects were added to the list with the assumption they would likely never be created." A post shared by Michael Christopher Brown (@michaelchristopherbrown) A photo posted by on The images in the series created by Brown are admittedly pretty great and ultra-realistic for the most part. And without close inspection, the images would never be considered AI generated at first glance, although there are a few misshapen faces and missing fingers when you really look. The photographer says that 10% of the proceeds from NFT sales will go to charities working with Cuban refugees. Despite the extreme backlash that the photojournalist has faced for creating the series, props have to be given to Brown for at least giving it a go in a professional context and attempting to use new technology that most of the industry has collectively boycotted. But is it fair to be profiting from a depiction of struggle? Michael Christopher Brown uses Midjourney to create 90 Miles The scariest part about AI image generators is that they do a very convincing job. While some AI images have subtle clues that give away their nature, and others can be detected almost immediately, there are plenty of digital AI images out there that are perfectly generated, have easily fooled the internet, and even won prestigious awards without anyone getting suspicious. Michael Christopher Brown uses Midjourney to create 90 Miles (Image credit: Michael Christopher Brown) We were warned years ago to never believe what we see or read on the internet, but it's never been more true until now. A fantastic article by Dina Litovsky really hits the nail on the head surrounding the issues involved with AI and why Brown seems to be getting the brunt of the industry's rage. "The intensity of reaction to Browns work startled me", she writes. "Photographers rarely turn on one of their own with such viciousness...no safeguard could have prepared the industry for the AI Trojan Horse arriving on its doorstep". Michael Christopher Brown uses Midjourney to create 90 Miles (Image credit: Michael Christopher Brown) In speaking of the decision process to utilise AI for his project, Brown said, "Access to the story was impossible for me as a photographer, so I imagined what a collaboration with AI might look like. I made a list of words to use in prompting the AI generated imagery, referencing a variety of aggregated research to supplement my knowledge of the story." "As a result of working against the Midjourney engine, the imagery often has non-identifiable faces, weird body parts, etc. I accepted this as both indicative of the quality of todays readily accessible AI as well as perhaps a more baseline, 'objective' interpretation by a confused AI engine." Michael Christopher Brown uses Midjourney to create 90 Miles (Image credit: Michael Christopher Brown) "Of course, I had no idea what major historical events in Cuba like the Maleconazo or the Mariel boatlift or the Special Period were like, but attempted to understand the human stories behind them. A great potential of AI is an ability to utilize the power of photographic looking imagery in storytelling, giving us an ability to tell stories that were impossible until now." Michael Christopher Brown uses Midjourney to create 90 Miles As an industry, what do we do about AI photography? Is there anything we can or should do? We seem to have two choices; embrace it or reject it. Michael Christopher Brown has given AI a chance - but would you? Let us know which side you stand on! You might also be interested in the best camera for portraits, plus the best lenses for portraits, and not forgetting the best books on portrait photography for real-world examples of how to shoot documentary portraiture. Take a look at the best AI image generators, as well as the best noise reduction software, plus the best photo editing software, and see our review of the Topaz Photo AI software. These photos show a design for a forest city in Mexico, not a palace in Ethiopia A set of photos shared on Facebook purportedly shows designs for a new palace under construction in a forest in Ethiopias capital. However, this is false: two of the photos show the design for a smart forest city in Mexico, not Ethiopia, while a third shows a winding road in Germany. The post has a headline in Amharic that translates to The palace project. This mega Palace project construction commences from the forest in the mountain behind the England Embassy and it covers Entoto mountain, part of Sululta and Tafo (sic), the post reads in part. Screenshot of the false post, taken on May 22, 2023 Entoto mountain is a forested area in Addis Ababa, while Sululta and Tafo are towns on the capitals outskirts. The post also describes the facilities and buildings to be included in the project. Forest project Local media outlets reported (archived here) in May 2022 that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had initiated a new palace project costing 49 billion birr ($900 million) for construction in Yeka forest in Addis Ababa. Another local news outlet (archived here)reported on May 12, 2023 that the construction of the palace was started by the state-owned Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation and that three additional construction companies were hired by the government to advance the project. However, the photos accompanying the post do not show the design of the palace in Addis Ababa as claimed. Unrelated photo AFP Fact Check conducted reverse image searches and established that two of the photos show a smart forest city in Mexico, not Ethiopia. The first photo shows a design for a smart city in Mexico by the Italian architectural firm Stefano Boeri Architetti. The photo was published on the studios official website in September 2019 (archived here). Screenshot of the original photo, taken on May 22, 2023 The description accompanying the photo reads: The Cancun Smart Forest City project presents the urban planning of a new Forest City in Mexico which covers 557 hectares and which will be capable of hosting up to 130,000 inhabitants. Similarly, reverse image searches for a second photo in the post show that it comes from the same Mexican project. Screenshot of the original photo, taken on May 22, 2023 Reverse image searches for a third photo showing a winding road turned up many posts (see here and here) that claimed it showed Entoto Park just outside Addis Ababa; however, this is also false. One post on LinkedIn described the photograph as having been taken in a forest in Bayern, Germany, and provided coordinates. We checked the coordinates on Google Maps satellite imagery and confirmed that the photograph was indeed taken there, as the curve of the road matches exactly. The last two images in the post simply show Abiy and a Google Maps screenshot of the Yeka district in Addis Ababa. Planes are coming mysteriously close to colliding at rates unseen in 20 years and experts are stumped Federal regulators and airline officials have no explanation for why several incidents of planes nearly causing accidents happened on tarmacs across the US earlier this year. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Federal regulators and airline officials met in March to discuss a string of near-miss incidents across the US, WSJ reported. At least six incidents in the first five months of 2023 involved planes touching or nearly colliding. The meeting did not provide a concrete answer for why the incidents are happening at the highest rate in decades. Planes have come dangerously close to hitting each other at airports across the US several times this year and if the trend continues it would mark the highest rate of near-miss accidents in decades. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating six incidents involving near collisions in the first five months of this year at airports in cities including Austin, Baltimore, Boston, New York City, and Santa Barbara, the Wall Street Journal reported. A March meeting between Federal Aviation Administration regulators and major airlines failed to produce a concrete explanation for the frequency of the near-collisions, per the Journal. Citing a recording of the meeting, the Journal reported that officials and regulators speculated about several causes for the incidents, including a spike in inexperienced pilots and air traffic controllers as post-pandemic travel increased and worker fatigue resulting from busy travel schedules. Some officials also hypothesized the incidents could be due to decreased staffing levels among flight staff and air traffic controllers that have contributed to flight delays and cancellations in recent months. "Every piece of the system is under stress," Ed Sicher, president of American Airlines' pilot union, reportedly said in the March 15 meeting. Runway incidents are on the rise Air travel has become significantly safer as the surrounding technology has improved, with accidents steadily decreasing since 2000, but the recent string of incidents this year prompted concern among FAA and NTSB officials. An NTSB spokesperson referred Insider to comments made by agency chair Jennifer Homendy earlier this week, who confirmed it is investigating six events in which a collision was narrowly avoided or there was "significant potential" for an accident. "We all may have different views on the path forward to prevent such tragedies, but we all want progress," Homendy said, advocating for better staffing and training, as well as additional funding for the FAA to upgrade technology and hire more air traffic controllers. According to an FAA spokesperson, the rate of "runway incursions" peaked from late 2022 into this year, topping out around 33 incursions per 1 million takeoffs and landings across the US, and dropping to about 19 per 1 million in April. The rate of incidents it classifies as most serious has dropped to about 0.5 incidents per 1 million takeoffs and landings, the spokesperson said. "Our efforts are working, but we must remain vigilant and continue to find ways to prevent close calls from happening at all," Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said in a statement to Insider. The agency also earlier this week announced a $100 million investment in upgrades at 12 major airports across the country to reduce the risk of near-collision incidents happening in the future. Officials have said recently they believe the rate of "near-miss" serious incidents is decreasing since a spike earlier this year. Lya_Cattel / Getty Images 'Severe runway incursions is coming closer to the norm' Several of the incidents which involved a mix of full and empty planes were relatively low-risk with airplanes touching or coming close to each other while traveling at low speeds on the ground. However, a February incident drew significant concern when a FedEx plane was cleared to land at an Austin, Texas airport just after a Southwest plane was given the go-ahead to take off. The FedEx plane's pilots spotted the Southwest plane through the fog and pulled up before circling around and landing later. The Journal reported that the plane was at an altitude of just 75 feet while the Southwest plane was directly below it, though Homendy said the FedEx and Southwest planes came within 115 feet of each other. A commercial pilot with 16 years of experience told Insider's Rebecca Cohen in March that he has never seen an accident or near-miss in his decade plus of experience. He said it was possible the five incidents to that point were coincidence, but noted that every possible cause should be investigated. While the findings from the NTSB's investigations likely won't be public for months, officials have indicated they think the string of runway near-misses could be over. "I want to say this cautiously. We are seeing early and preliminary indications that the level of severe runway incursions is coming closer to the norm," US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said at a Tuesday press conference on the industry's plans for Memorial Day travel. Read the original article on Business Insider Plans to expand Texas medical marijuana program for chronic pain go up in smoke Despite testimony from advocates about the positive effects of cannabis as medicine and bipartisan support in the House, a proposal to expand Texas medical marijuana program appears to have met its end this legislative session. The bill authored by Fort Worth Republican Stephanie Klick would have extended Texas Compassionate Use Program to patients with chronic pain in cases who would have otherwise been prescribed opioids. Currently, under the medical marijuana program, doctors can prescribe low-THC cannabis to treat a limited number of medical conditions, including epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorders. In recent sessions, the program has been expanded to fold in more medical conditions, with Klick emphasizing the need to follow the scientific data as its scope widens. Its really disappointing because we have more research on chronic pain, we even have care guidelines, clinical guidelines for it, more so than a lot of conditions, Klick said. Its a really missed opportunity to help patients. In addition to adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition, the bill would have given the Department of State Health Services the ability to designate debilitating medical conditions for which medical marijuana could be prescribed. The bill passed out of the house 127-19, but did not get a Senate committee hearing. The Senate removed a chronic pain measure from a 2021 bill expanding the program. A spokesperson for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, president of the Texas Senate, did not immediately return an email seeking comment. In addition to broadening the program, the bill would have changed how the amount of THC the chemical that produces a high is measured in medical marijuana prescribed by doctors, moving to a volumetric measurement rather than weight based. Doctors could prescribe up to 10 milligrams of THC in each dose. Cannabis prescribed in Texas cannot be smoked, which means it is sometimes consumed in the form of oil. This can cause gastrointestinal issues, Klick said during a March committee hearing. The switch would allow for a more concentrated product, requiring less to be consumed. That was a wonderful way for us to standardize what a normal dose should be of this medication, Dr. Matthew Brimberry, the medical director for the Texas Cannabis Clinic. He was among those who supported the bill during a March committee hearing, when speaking before lawmakers. Denying Texans access to medical marijuana for chronic pain could mean they turn to opioids, which are addictive, or to illegally bringing marijuana to Texas from other states, Brimberry said. Its truly a disservice our citizens not to consider broadening this program to allow physicians to be able to recommend this medicine to patients, to try and keep them out of pain in a safe way, without having to look to other means of obtaining, he said. There are a few days left in the legislative session, which ends Monday. And while the general rule of thumb in the legislature is that a proposal isnt dead until the sessions official end, Klick didnt see how the the measure could be revitalized. Well try again next session, she said. This really is something that has changed the lives of some patients, and we need to keep working. Plymouth couple's plea for Sudan visa scheme to help family Med Mahmoud and Sumaya Eisa told the BBC they were worried for their family members in Sudan A couple from Sudan who live in the UK are calling for a visa scheme to allow family members to escape civil war. Med Mahmoud and Sumaya Eisa have lived in Plymouth for 10 years and are concerned for their relatives. The government said it has evacuated 2,000 UK nationals but had no plans to create a new scheme. Mr Mahmoud said: "The whole government could do something like they did with Ukrainians which is great... but so far nothing has been done for Sudan." The conflict is between the Sudanese Armed Forces, currently loyal to the country's de-facto leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and General Hemeti's Rapid Support Forces. It has led to chaos in the country, including at Khartoum International Airport, leaving many Sudanese nationals and foreigners stranded. 'Not fair' Mr Mahmoud's uncle and Ms Eisa's father and mother remain in Sudan. They said they have been told their relatives should apply for visas in the standard way. "It is not fair, I do not know why they can't just help them," Ms Eisa explained. "No visa office is open in Sudan, everything is destroyed. It is a war. How can you get a visa? Are you kidding me?" A government spokesperson added that preventing a humanitarian emergency in Sudan was its "focus right now". "Since 2015 we have offered a safe and legal route to the UK to almost half a million people seeking safety but our approach must be considered in the round, rather than on a crisis-by-crisis basis." Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer said he would do all he could to help constituents affected by the conflict. Ms Eisa added: "I can't sleep at night, I'm thinking every minute about this and that I can't save my family." Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk Police have used sniffer dogs and a drone to search the reservoir banks Police scouring a reservoir in southern Portugal hoping to shed light on the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann said Thursday they had finished their three-day search. The child was three years old when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve 16 years ago, while her parents were dining at a nearby tapas bar. Despite an international manhunt, no trace of the girl has been found and no one has been charged over her disappearance. Police from Portugal, Germany and Britain as well as Portuguese firefighters have been involved in the search of the banks of the Arade dam, which got under way on Tuesday. "The material collected will be handed to the German authorities," Portuguese police said in a statement. They gave no details on what had been collected, nor on what the goal of the operation had been. The search resumed this week at the request of German authorities, who have said since 2020 that they are convinced the British girl is dead. They suspect the involvement of a German multiple sex offender, who is in prison in Germany for a rape in Portugal. On Wednesday, investigators had used a brushcutter on caterpillar tracks to raze bushes and trees from the dry banks of the reservoir, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from where Maddie went missing in the tourist resort of Praia da Luz. Local media have said they had taken samples of earth and collected shreds of cloth from the cordoned-off area but had not found anything connected to the case. Police had combed the site, in the Silves area, in 2008 but divers had found only animal remains, the media said. German judicial authorities say the man in question is Christian Brueckner, considered the chief suspect in the Maddie case after spending several years living in the Algarve. According to Portuguese magazine Expresso, testimony from a "credible" informer found by German investigators had prompted the new searches near the Arade reservoir. Newspaper Correio da Manha said police were searching for a pink blanket or the pyjamas Maddie was wearing the night she disappeared on May 3, 2007, just before her fourth birthday. They have used tracker dogs, probes and a drone to comb the area, which local media said Brueckner visited regularly. lf/tsc/gil-kjm/imm PORT ST. LUCIE Police said they are investigating a shooting that left a 20-year-old man dead, and have an arrest warrant for the person believed to be responsible. Shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday officers went to Southwest Aledo Lane and Brigantine Place for a reported shooting, and found the man, a Port St. Lucie resident, dead in a 2022 red BMW 330i, police officials said. Video surveillance shows the victim and a ... female passenger in his vehicle meeting up with two other individuals in a separate vehicle we believe to be a red Jeep Cherokee, Acting Police Chief Richard Del Toro said. Suspect exited the red Jeep Cherokee, got into the back of the victim's vehicle. After a short drive through the parking lot, we believe he discharged a firearm at which time the victim was shot in the back of the head. 'She was my whole world': Friends, family remember Kaitlyn Kohler, dead after being struck by sheriff's vehicle The shooting location is just east of Interstate 95 off Southwest Gatlin Boulevard. Police Thursday afternoon announced theyd gotten a warrant for the arrest of Alan Dale Williams III, 20, on charges of murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the case. Investigators identified Williams with help from social media, law enforcement partners and the public after releasing a still capture from surveillance video, said Sgt. John Dellacroce, police spokesperson. A red Jeep suspected to have been used in the incident also was recovered. Del Toro said the accused shooter fled on foot, and investigators have surveillance video of that. The ... red Jeep Cherokee, was also picked up on surveillance video, Del Toro said. Police didnt identity the deceased 20-year-old man, citing Marsys law. Introduced in memory of a young woman murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Marsys Law was created to offer crime victims a slate of rights, including protecting them and their families from harassment by their attackers. Some law enforcement officials have interpreted the statute as applying to any victim, as well as to law enforcement officers being entitled to privacy and having their identity protected. Homicide of Vietnam vet a year later: Son of Fort Pierce homicide victim wants legacy of his dad to move forward We believe the suspect and victim knew each other, Del Toro said. Don't know what the motive was behind the meeting to begin with, but we're going to follow up on that and get some answers for the family. Del Toro said investigators were interviewing witnesses and the passenger in the BMW, an 18-year-old woman who wasnt hurt. What, if any, relationship between the 18-year-old woman and the 20-year-old man who was fatally shot wasnt immediately clear. Those with information are asked to call police at 772-871-5001. 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: Shooting death of 20-year-old man in Port St. Lucie being investigated Police are investigating after a Blackstone middle school student allegedly brought a razor blade to school Thursday morning and cut a classmates hand during an altercation. A Blackstone Police school resource officer received a call for the altercation between the two students at Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School around 8:30 a.m. The responding officer found the 12-year-old boy slashed the hand of his 11-year-old classmate, Blackstone police say. The cut required stitches. Police say there is no reason to believe there is any threat to the larger school community. Blackstone police expect the file charges against the 12-year-old. He will be summoned to Milford Juvenile Court. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW BLACKSTONE A student at the Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School required stitches after being cut by another student with a razor during an altercation, police said Thursday. According to a news release from Police Chief Gregory Gilmore, a Blackstone school resource officer responded to the middle school at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday. The officer learned that a 12-year-old boy had brought a razor into the school and cut the hand of the other student, an 11-year-old boy. The 12-year-old is likely to face charges in juvenile court, Gilmore said. Police said the students are known to each other and there is not believed to be any threat to the larger school community. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Student cut with razor at Frederick Harnett Middle School Blackstone Shelby County Sheriffs deputies say Ja Morant is fine after authorities performed a wellness check at the Memphis Grizzlies star guards home on Wednesday. The check came after Morant, according to multiple published reports, posted and then deleted messages to his Instagram Stories on Wednesday morning telling various family members he loved them before writing bye. A spokesperson for the sheriffs office told CNN, Shelby County Sheriffs Office deputies checked on Ja Morant at his residence this morning and he is fine. He advised us that he is taking a break from social media. CNN has reached out to Morants representatives and the Memphis Grizzlies for comment. Morant is currently suspended from team activities pending a league review after video surfaced on social media earlier this month appearing to show him flashing a gun while in a vehicle with others. The suspension came just two months after the athlete was previously suspended for eight games over a similar video. It is not known when or where the more recently surfaced video was filmed. Last week, Morant issued a statement saying he takes full accountability for his actions. I know Ive disappointed a lot of people who have supported me, Morant said through a spokesperson. This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. Im committed to continuing to work on myself. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in an interview with ESPN last week, Were in the process of investigating (the video). And well figure out exactly what happened to the best we can. The video is a bit grainy and all that, but Im assuming the worst. CNNs Rebekah Riess contributed to this report For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 RICHMOND, Ind. A Richmond man is accused of leading city police on a chase with his 1-year-old son in his vehicle. Travon O. Weaver, 22, was charged this week in Wayne Superior Court 1 with resisting law enforcement, neglect of a dependent, criminal mischief and theft. Two of the charges are Level 6 felonies carrying up to 30 months in prison. The other two counts are misdemeanors. Police on the night of May 19 were sent to a parking lot along Northwest Fifth Street, where a suspicious vehicle was reported in an area where gasoline had recently been stolen from cars. Officers found a Ford Fusion, driven by a man later identified as Weaver, with a passenger who appeared to be holding a handgun. More: Richmond man charged with aggravated battery in attack that cost victim teeth An an officer approached the car, Weaver drove away at a high rate of speed, according to an affidavit. A chase ensued on Northwest Fifth Street, with the Fusion eventually driving through a yard into a mobile home park, where Weaver and his passenger both fled on foot. Weaver was apprehended a short time later in the mobile home park. Police also found the Richmond man's one-year-old son, still in the Fusion. The child was unharmed. Police said Weaver declined to discuss the theft of gasoline from vehicles. His car smelled of gasoline, officers said, and a drill believed to be similar one used to pierce vehicles' gas tanks in the area was also recovered from the Fusion. The Richmond man also told police he was unaware of who the adult passenger in his car had been. That man avoided capture, according to the court document. Weaver was apparently released from the Wayne County jail after posting a $7,500 bond. An initial hearing in his case is set for June 6. Court records reflect no prior charges against Weaver. Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Police: Richmond man led officers on chase with toddler in vehicle Police Scotland chief is going for the SNPs missing 600,000 no matter what Sir Iain Livingstone - Andrew Milligan/PA He may have attracted headlines with his comments on police racism but Sir Iain Livingstones words on his forces biggest ever investigation are every bit as forthright. The Police Scotland chief constable didnt say so in as many words but his message is crystal clear: he will not stand for any interference from the SNP or their allies in the investigation into the missing six hundred thousand. Sir Iain said he would fiercely resist any attempt to bring political pressure to my decision making, or upon any police operation. Murray Foote, former SNP head of communications, had accused the police of conducting a grotesque circus when they searched Nicola Sturgeons home. But the chiefs stern hands-off rebuttal came in remarkable and highly unusual comments from a serving senior officer, albeit one who is about to retire. He hit back hard at critics of the officers working to find out what happened to the 600,000 donated by SNP members. No stone left unturned The money was raised to fund an independence campaign but it has subsequently disappeared and Sir Iain made it plain that his team would leave no stone unturned in tracking down the cash. In a direct answer to critics, both inside the SNP and elsewhere, he served notice that his team would continue to be diligent, thorough and proportionate in their investigation. The probe, codenamed Operation Branchform, has already led to the arrests of Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeons husband and the former party chief executive, and Colin Beattie, its former treasurer. Both were released pending further inquiries. Having been under way for almost two years, it has been dogged by complaints about the length of time it has taken and how Police Scotland have conducted their investigation. Mr Foote predicted that there would be no charges preferred against anyone in the SNP when it was concluded. One SNP member of the Scottish Parliament also complained that a prime minister wouldnt have been treated in this way and demanded: Who is in charge of this farce? He got his answer when Sir Iain, who is due to retire in August two years earlier than expected, attacked what he called wholly inaccurate assertions and uninformed speculation which he said would damage justice, individuals rights and the rule of law. In his most trenchant comment he added: Decisions are and will be based on public safety and the rule of law, not politics or any constitutional position. Subject of rumour and gossip Almost from its inception nearly two years ago, this investigation reportedly assisted for a time by the National Crime Agency, the UKs version of the FBI has been the subject of a plethora of rumour and gossip. One of these suggested that a warrant, sought by the police to search the home of the former first minister and Mr Murrell, had been delayed for two weeks because of political pressure from the SNP. The allegation was denied by the Crown Office, Scotlands prosecuting authority. And Sir Iain went farther when he said that he understood the high level of public interest in the case but added: Due process must be followed within timescales set by investigative considerations, not political considerations. He asked all civic leaders to act with prudence and responsibility. For her part Ms Sturgeon has said that she has not been interviewed by the police a statement they will not confirm or deny. In an interview this week she described the investigation into her partys finances and the missing cash as unexpected and unwelcome. If that is so, how might Ms Sturgeon and the rest of the SNP view what could be described as Sir Iains parting shot when he said that investigations were continuing? 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. Iain Livingstone Police forces across the UK are attempting to rebuild public trust after the scandals of recent years. Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has committed to sweeping changes, including improved vetting and the faster dismissal of problematic officers. But he rejected the conclusion of an excoriating review by Louise Casey that his force was institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic. Sir Mark rightly argued that the term is ambiguous and political. Sir Iain Livingstone, the chief constable of Police Scotland, has no such qualms. Institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist, he said today. Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory. It is believed to be the first time a police chief has used such highly charged language. It should be the last. Some campaigners argue that only by accepting the institutional nature of the problem can it be correctly addressed. They resist the idea that a small number of bad apples can be blamed for the appalling criminality and misconduct that has been found within police forces. But the effect of Sir Iains comments was to tar everyone in Police Scotland with the same brush. Even if he made pains to assert that he did not mean that all individual staff or officers were racist or sexist, that is inevitably how many people will interpret his remarks. Judging by a recent review, there is clearly an uncomfortable number of racist and misogynistic officers in Police Scotland, as well as serious issues with how complaints are dealt with. But resorting to such easily misinterpreted generalisations about the whole institution particularly one that Sir Iain has been in charge of for around half of its existence is surely the opposite of a practical plan for change. It is hardly likely to encourage people, particularly women and ethnic minorities, to believe that most officers are not dangerous but instead their allies in the fight against criminality. Demoralised forces will also struggle to recruit and retain the most talented and committed people. Moreover, Sir Iain failed to mention another bias that Police Scotland has been accused of. It has long faced controversy for appearing to be too close to the ruling SNP, a concern that has gained fresh impetus in light of the investigation into the party and some of its leading members. Is Police Scotland institutionally nationalist? Sir Iain is unlikely to admit so readily to that. 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. Police searching for suspect behind knifepoint spa robbery in Cambridge Cambridge police are searching for the suspect that entered a spa with a knife and demanded money earlier this month. The suspect tried to rob the North Cambridge spa around 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, May 14. One employee was injured when they tried to confront the suspect. Cambridge police shared photos of the man, wearing a black sweatshirt and hat with tan pants. Cambridge police say the man resembles the suspect behind another spa robbery in Watertown two days later. Anyone with information regarding the incidents is asked to contact police at 617-349-3300. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Two juveniles are accused of calling in a bomb threat to the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport on Wednesday. Officers with the Monroe Police Department said the two were found in Harnett County. They said they are seeking charges against them through the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. Because of their ages, the identities of the two juveniles will not be released. PREVIOUS: Authorities investigate bomb threat at Monroe airport Police said the investigation started when airport officials got a call Wednesday saying there were explosives at the airport. Law enforcement evacuated the airport to sweep the property and identify any threats. All air traffic was paused in the meantime. Monroe police thanked several agencies for their help with the case. We cannot overstate the importance of cooperation among all law enforcement agencies to investigate serious incidents like this one, said Monroe Police Chief J. Bryan Gilliard. We were able to swiftly and seamlessly bring this situation to a safe and peaceful conclusion thanks to the efforts of our officers and the assistance of these cooperating agencies. (WATCH PREVIOUS: Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport closes air traffic amid bomb threat) The Elections Director for Polk County was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of multiple substances and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. Shortly after midnight on May 20, a Rome police officer noticed a white Honda Accord making wide turns and crossing over the center yellow lines of traffic. The officer made a traffic stop and spoke to the driver, Noah Beck, 24. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the arrest report, the officer noticed Beck had slurred speech and could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the car. Police said Beck repeatedly refused to perform a roadside evaluation, take a breathalyzer test, or submit to a state-administered blood and urine test. Due to Becks pupil constriction, the officer suspected Beck was under the influence of a mixture of alcohol and some other drug. The officer placed Beck under arrest and put him in the back of his patrol car. While the officer was searching Becks car, he found a baggie containing 9 pills believed to be Adderall in the center console. The pills will be sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for identification. Beck was booked into the Floyd County Jail without incident. TRENDING STORIES: According to the arrest report, while being checked by the jail nurse, Beck had a low pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. This led the officer to believe that Beck was under the influence of some type of narcotic analgesic. Beck was charged with driving under the influence of multiple substances, failure to maintain lane, a misdemeanor count of having drugs not in the original container, and a felony count of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. Beck serves as the Elections Director for Polk County, Georgia. Beck was placed on a 10-day paid leave pending further investigation following a meeting of the countys board of elections. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A police search team walk on the shore of the Arade dam near Silves, Portugal, Wednesday May 24, 2023. Portuguese police aided by German and British officers have resumed their search for Madeleine McCann, the British child who disappeared in the country's southern Algarve region 16 years ago. Some 30 officers could be seen in the area by the Arade dam, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Praia da Luz, where the 3-year-old was last seen alive in 2007. (AP Photo/Joao Matos) LISBON, Portugal (AP) Police in Portugal have ended the latest search for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British child who went missing in 2007 in southern Portugal. Authorities gave no details about the results of the search Thursday. A statement by Portugals Judiciary Police said some material had been collected and would be handed over to German authorities for examination. The search around a dam some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Praia da Luz resort, where the three-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago, began Tuesday following a request by German authorities. A German man who is a suspect in the case is currently in jail in Germany for a different case. Portuguese, German and British police took part in the three-day operation during which detectives probed the banks of the Arade reservoir and also used sniffer dogs and a drone. Germany prosecutor Christian Wolters told the Associated Press Thursday authorities would gauge the success of the search after its conclusion, adding that a statement may be issued next week. Portuguese media said this was the fourth police search for McCann, following the initial one in 2007 in the southern Algarve area and further efforts in 2013 and 2014. Another search was held in Germany in 2020. The reservoir is less than half full because of a drought affecting Portugal and neighboring Spain. The search would've been below the water line under normal rainfall. In mid-2020, German officials said that a 45-year-old German citizen, identified by media as Christian Brueckner, who was in the Algarve in 2007, was a suspect in the case. Brueckner has denied any involvement. Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder in the McCann case but hasnt been charged. He spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of Madeleines disappearance. The case of Madeleine McCann stirred worldwide interest for several years, with reports of sightings of her stretching as far away as Australia, along with a slew of books and television documentaries about the case. British, Portuguese and German police are still piecing together what happened on the night when the toddler disappeared from her bed in the southern Portuguese resort on May 3, 2007. She was in the same room as her twin brother and sister, who were two years old at the time, while her parents had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant. Madeleines parents did not comment due to the active investigation, according to an email response from the website set up for the search for the child, findmadeleine.com. ____ Ciaran Giles in Madrid, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. When Kenyan Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua tweeted about meeting Canada's immigration minister to discuss work opportunities in the North American country, he was labelled a liar on social media and even accused of fabricating the bilateral talks. The criticism emerged after some people linked Mutuas tweet to a subsequent warning by the Canadian government urging people to ignore disinformation about non-existent immigration programmes for Kenyans. But claims that Mutua lied are false: the Canadian government confirmed holding talks with Mutua about future ties between the countries and the possibility of establishing immigration pathways for Kenyans. Why does the government of Kenya like lying? asks a commentator in a video shared on a Facebook page with 1.3 million followers. Referring to Mutua and his tweet about meeting Canada's immigration minister to discuss job opportunities for Kenyans, the person in the clip adds: How can you come [go] to a foreign country as a minister for foreign affairs then lie that you have met the minister [there] and negotiated [for jobs] when you clearly know that no such thing has taken place? A screenshot of the false post, taken on May 22, 2023 The video, which has been viewed more than 25,000 times, was shared alongside a caption claiming that the government of Canada issues statement after CS for Foreign Affairs Alfred Mutua lied that he has negotiated special programs with Minister for Immigration Canada Sean Fraser to bring Kenyans to work in Canada (sic). Other Facebook posts (here and here) described Mutuas tweet as a PR stunt. On Twitter, Mutua was accused of peddling fake news in multiple tweets (see here, here and here). Canada has officially stated that Kenya Foreign Affairs Minister shared fake news about a jobs opportunity deal for Kenyans in his social media pages (sic), reads one tweet. Local newspaper The Star published an article titled: Canada disowns CS Mutuas remarks on jobs for Kenyans. The article was later deleted. Claims that Mutua lied about the meeting, however, are false. Job talks Mutua visited Canada earlier this month (archived here), where he met with several politicians including his counterpart, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. On May 16, 2023, Mutua tweeted that he and Canada's immigration minister, Sean Fraser, had discussed migration opportunity pathways for Kenyans to go and live or work in Canada. JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR KENYANS IN CANADA During my official visit to Canada, I have also held a discussion with the Honourable @SeanFraserMP, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada and agreed on the various migration opportunity pathways for Kenyans to go and pic.twitter.com/GAW5ERQa8W Dr. Alfred N. Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) May 16, 2023 In the same tweet, Mutua warned Kenyans to be careful of falling for dubious immigration agencies. Hours after Mutuas tweet, the Canadian government took to Twitter with their own, similar advisory urging Kenyans to be wary of following the wrong information on immigration. Disinformation is circulating which suggests that special programs are welcoming Kenyan immigrants. This is false, and the immigration programs referenced do not exist. For accurate information on how to immigrate, visit https://t.co/3iuLsx4o9H, read the tweet, which is no longer online. A screenshot of the Canadian governments tweet, taken on May 24, 2023 The timing of the posts appears to have given many the impression that the Canadian government was deliberately contradicting Mutua. Did he lie? Not so, according to Canadas immigration ministry. The ministry issued a statement about Mutua's meeting with Fraser on its website on May 18, 2023. Immigration ministry spokesman Jeffrey MacDonald confirmed to AFP Fact Check that Mutua indeed met with Fraser, and the two discussed immigration programmes and continued collaborations between the two countries. Moreover, photos of Mutua with Canada's foreign minister attest to the fact that he met with government officials in Montreal (archived here). Minister Joly met with her Kenyan counterpart @DrAlfredMutua in Montreal today. They reaffirmed the determination of both countries to continue working together and deepen bilateral ties. pic.twitter.com/VOGrDVI0mL Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) May 14, 2023 MacDonald said the tweet by the Canadian government was issued as a routine warning. Following an increase in attention on pathways for immigration to Canada from Kenya, as a result of a wide range of non-official sources of information circulating online, we issued a tweet yesterday providing guidance for Kenyans wishing to immigrate to Canada. We want to reiterate that all available immigration programmes can be found on our website, MacDonald said. AFP Fact Check has previously debunked false claims around Canadas visa system, such as here. It is not possible to force Ukraine into negotiating before the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. Source: Andrii Yermak, the Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "This is what I explained to the Chinese and Brazilian envoys: that there is no force today that would make Ukrainian society and its leadership negotiate with the Russians while Russian forces are deployed in our country. This possibility does not exist. And anyone who thinks there is anything that could force us to hold negotiations with Russia in the current circumstances is deeply mistaken." Details: Yermak also said he had told the representatives of the Chinese and Brazilian leaders that "Ukraine has its own peace plan, and we deem it fair that since the war is ongoing in the territory of Ukraine, the Ukrainian plan must be the basis for the settlement [of the war]." Quote: "Our second point which we conveyed to the Chinese and Brazilian representatives is that we are against mediation. We all remember the Normandy Format. I dealt with it for two years. I can say for sure that sitting and discussing something with Russians with raised voices, well, this just does not work." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Theres no rock and roll without recognizing the Queen. Following the announcement of her passing on May 24 at the age of 83, we remember the talent and tenacity that made her a legend. Anna Mae Bullock was born on Nov. 26, 1939, in the small town of Nutbush, TN. Coming from a sharecropping family, she found herself leaning into her musical talents. The exploration led her to join Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm. Bullock hit her stride in the 1960s, and after marrying Ike Turner, the powerful vocalist started performing under the stage name Tina Turner with Proud Mary the highlight of their show. Following the split of the duo and their divorce, Turner flourished into her solo career in the 1980s, according to Brittanica. Building on the success of a remake of Al Greens Lets Stay Together, and the later anthem Whats Love Got to Do With It, the music legend went on to sell over 100 million records worldwide. Whats more, she was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (the first time as a duo with Ike Turner), won 12 Grammy Awards, and was the first Black musician and the first woman to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. The accolades go on but what may have been Turners biggest accomplishment was her resilience, fearlessness, and authenticity in an industry that silences and harms women. Her artistry has inspired the likes of Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Janelle Monae, and more. After Turners passing, millions of people gathered online to honor her for what she had contributed to music and the impact she made on many lives. How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world, Angela Bassett, who played Turner in Whats Love Got to Do With It?, said in an Instagram post. Bassett continued, Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter what the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like. Prior to Turners passing, to ensure that her timeless music was preserved, she took matters into her own hands. In October 2021, Turner sold the rights to her music catalog to BMG, according to Reuters. The deal with the music company included Turners artists share of her recordings, her music publishing writers share, neighboring rights, and her name, image, and likeness. Like any artist, the protection of my lifes work, my musical inheritance, is something personal, Turner shared in the statement, per Reuters. I am confident that with BMG and Warner Music my work is in professional and reliable hands. The intent of Turner joining forces with BMG was for their support in what she wanted both musically and commercially. We are honoured to take on the job of managing Tina Turners musical and commercial interests, BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said at the time. It is a responsibility we take seriously and will pursue diligently. She is truly and simply, the best. Just like her courageous spirit, her timeless music that has forever left a mark on millions of lives will live on. Chinese innovations shine at world's leading display show 08:13, May 25, 2023 By Tan Jingjing ( Xinhua People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) LOS ANGELES, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, U.S. state of California, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. The Display Week 2023, hosted by the Society for Information Display (SID), is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 21 to 26. From Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), auto tech, organic light-emitting diode (OLED), micro-OLED and microdisplays to wearables, digital signage and e-Paper, the Display Week showcases the latest and greatest technology and advancements from the global electronic display and visual information technologies industries. BOE Technology Group, one of the world's largest manufacturers in the semiconductor display industry and an Internet of things (IoT) company, brought a slew of cutting-edge technologies to the exhibition, including many new launches under its technology brands of ADS Pro, f-OLED and -MLED (mini LED), as well as brand-new innovative applications such as smart in-vehicle display, glasses-free 3D and the metaverse. BOE's newly released 110-inch 16K UHD display, which adopted the company's cutting-edge oxide TFT technology and features high charge carrier mobility and an ultrahigh resolution, drew lots of visitors. Its 10-inch 8K LCD display, which is tailored to 3D printing, was selected as the "Display Application of the Year." "It was one of the many state-of-the-art technologies BOE exhibited at the event, giving a glimpse of an even smarter, more fantastic and more power-efficient future of the semiconductor display industry," BOE Chairman Yanshun Chen told Xinhua. In addition to showcasing its display technologies and smart interactive experiences, BOE hosted an innovation ecosystem forum at the Display Week, in a bid to explore new pathways to the innovation-driven development of the global industry ecosystem jointly with SID and global partners. Louis Lazar, a senior consultant at Newry Corp, an innovation and growth strategy consulting firm based in Lakewood, Ohio, showed great interest in BOE's 16K UHD display. Lazar said he expects to learn the latest technologies and trends in the display industry at the Display Week, and was amazed by a wide array of China-made innovative products. "China has been pushing innovations in the display industry, and has been leading the way, which was really impressive," he told Xinhua. Visionox, a Chinese high-tech company with OLED display technology, brought innovative display technologies and applications to the Display Week, including self-aligned pixelization technology, portable and rollable laptops, visual medical kits, and transparent car displays. Eben Yang, vice president of Visionox, told Xinhua that North America is one of Visionox's most important overseas markets. Currently the company is cooperating with many American clients to provide display solutions for VR devices, wearable devices, mobile phones and other products. "We hope to take the opportunities of participating in the Display Week to demonstrate our innovative technologies, provide customers with more competitive products, and further expand overseas markets," Yang said. TCL CSOT, a Chinese company focused on new technologies and innovations in the display industry, unveiled over 30 of its latest products and advanced technologies at the Display Week, including more than ten firsts in the world. The company offered display technology solutions across a range of sizes, categories, and forms -- spanning Mini LED, Micro LED, medical displays, vehicle-mounted displays, light field displays, as well as consumer electronics displays. "Driven not only by a commitment to building a display industry ecosystem, but also to supporting a healthy and more sustainable planet for all through low-carbon, energy-saving, and eye-friendly products, we look forward to driving progress and uncovering more innovations to further accelerate the development of high-end display technology," said Jun Zhao, CEO of TCL CSOT. People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) An exhibitor introduces a product to a visitor at the exhibition area of China's TCL during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A man visits the exhibition area of China's Visionox during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A man visits the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's Visionox during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's TCL during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By Huseyin Hayatsever ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's pro-Kurdish parties on Thursday reaffirmed their support for opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu in this weekend's runoff election without naming him, a day after expressing anger at his deal with a far right party. Seeking to extend his two-decade rule, Tayyip Erdogan came out comfortably ahead in the first round on May 14, despite the pro-Kurdish HDP's endorsement of Kilicdaroglu. But the president fell just short of the 50% needed to avoid this Sunday's vote. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and its Green Left (YSP) ally said they sought change in the runoff and their stance was the same - but they did not endorse Kilicdaroglu by name. HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan told the news conference that they will vote on Sunday to end Erdogan's "one-man regime". "The freak regime created by Erdogan and his partners is the cause of the societal problems that are being experienced," she said. "What will be voted on May 28 is whether this freak regime will continue or not." In a boost for Kilicdaroglu on Wednesday, he announced a deal with the anti-immigrant Victory Party (ZP) in which they gave him their support. The ZP won 2.2% of votes in this month's parliamentary election. The accord drew the HDP's ire because of an article in it saying it supported mayors being replaced by state-appointed trustees if a court ruled that they had terrorism links. Most HDP mayors elected in 2019 have been replaced by such officials. Buldan also criticised election campaign rhetoric in which migrants are used for political purposes. "The refugee and migrant problem can only be solved with a strong struggle for peace against policies of war," she said. Mithat Sancar, the HDP's co-chair called on people who did not vote in the first round to head to the ballots in the runoff to oust Erdogan. Kilicdaroglu's six-party alliance had previously vowed to end the practice of replacing mayors with government-appointed trustees in its programme. HDP support is crucial for Kilicdaroglu, who won 44.9% of the vote on May 14 behind Erdogan on 49.5%. The endorsement of Kilicdaroglu by ZP leader Umit Ozdag could offset one that Erdogan received on Monday from Sinan Ogan, the presidential candidate of a ZP-led far right alliance. Ogan came third in the presidential vote with 5.2% support. A closely-watched survey by pollster Konda for the runoff put support for Erdogan 52.7% and Kilicdaroglu on 47.3% after distribution of undecided voters. The survey was carried out on May 20-21, before Ogan and Ozdag revealed their endorsements. Previous surveys by Konda and many other pollsters were wide of the mark in their predictions for the May 14 presidential vote, with most forecasting Kilicdaroglu was ahead. The HDP ran in the parliamentary election under the YSP banner due to a court case seeking its closure for alleged terrorism links. It denies such ties. The HDP mayors who were unseated after the 2019 local elections were jailed pending trial on terrorism charges. (Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Daren Butler, Jonathan Spicer, Alexandra Hudson) These programs can save you money on your Wake County tax bill. Are you missing out? North Carolina has three programs that help people save money on their property tax bills. But in Wake County just over 6,000 households are taking advantage of them. The programs are limited to people over the age of 65, people who are disabled or veterans, and the deadline to apply is June 1. Leslie Fox spoke to the Wake County Board of Commissioners during a recent public hearing on the proposed $1.86 billion county budget, which includes a property tax increase. While there are thoughtful things in the budget she likes, she said shes worried about significant hike in her tax bill. She applied for one of the property tax relief programs, she said, adding shes legally disabled. But she didnt qualify. I sold my house because of the property tax burden, Fox said. Luckily for me, I did have somewhere to go. And Im still living here in Raleigh, she said. But I beg of you to consider the fact that a lot of us are struggling. We take two steps forward. And we go back three. The three programs can reduce the entire tax bill, not just the county portion. These programs are available in each of North Carolinas counties. Homestead Exclusion The program is sometimes called the elderly or disabled homestead exclusion. It excludes from taxation the first $25,000 or up to 50% of a home value, whichever is greater. This program applies to homeowners who are 65 or older or 100% disabled and who made less than $33,800 gross income in 2022. That includes the homeowners spouse income. There are 3,977 households that have qualified for this program. This program does not require people to reapply each year. Disabled Veteran Exclusion Veterans who live in Wake County who were honorably discharged may be eligible for a reduction in property taxes. The program also applies to a deceased veterans unmarried surviving spouse. This program excludes up to the first $45,000 of the appraised value of the permanent residence of a veteran discharged under honorable conditions who has a total and permanent disability that is service-connected or who receives benefits for specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C. 2101, according to Wake Countys website. There are 1,995 households that qualify for this program. This program does not require people to reapply each year. Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment Applicants must be 65 year or older or totally and permanently disabled. Gross income for both an applicant and spouse cant exceed $50,700 in 2022. This program limits property taxes to a percentage of the owners income. Taxes above the limit are deferred. The last three years of deferred taxes become payable with interest if a disqualifying event occurs, according to Wake Countys website. Disqualifying events include death of the owner or transfer of the property where the owners share is not passed to another qualifying owner, and failure to use the property as the owners permanent residence. There are 111 households qualified for this program. This program requires people to apply each year. How to apply? The deadline to apply for the three programs is June 1. Applications can be submitted online and you will need a valid email address to submit online. Applications can also be mailed to P.O Box 2331, Raleigh, NC 27602, or hand-delivered to 301 S. McDowell St., Suite 3800, Raleigh. You can request an application be mailed to your home by calling 919-856-5400. You can find more information online at wake.gov/tax and clicking tax relief program. And you can also email taxhelp@wake.gov or call 919-856-5400. Progressives are ramping up public pressure on Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) amid growing concerns that President Biden will cave to the GOP on the debt ceiling talks. Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.); Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Greg Casar (D-Texas); and other high-profile liberal lawmakers convened Wednesday to address growing worries about Republicans unwillingness to budge on a debt limit deal and questions about how far Biden is willing to go to appease them. None of this is normal, and it shouldnt be treated as such, Jayapal said to reporters in a lengthy press briefing, raising what they characterize as unnecessary cruelty from the GOP. It is not actually about debt or deficit, she said. It is about keeping cash flowing to the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations. Casar, a newly elected House progressive, called the countdown to a possible June 1 default a dangerous and manufactured crisis. This is not a simple political disagreement, he said. Progressives have strongly criticized congressional Republicans stubbornness over tax cuts to the ultra-rich and a desire to impose work requirements on social safety net programs including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which would theoretically make it harder for everyday Americans to obtain them. The McCarthy-led request has become one of the most offensive to progressives in the days-long negotiations, pushing them to dial up their own rhetoric against it. In a rare move, dozens of left-wing lawmakers wrote a letter last week asking the president to invoke the 14th Amendment which would essentially allow for an increase to the current debt ceiling limit regardless of what Congress wants in order to maintain important programs running for those who rely on them. Caucus members asked that Biden move forward with all possible measures available by the White House instead of giving in to bad-faith Republicans in Congress. The president suggested its more of a timing issue, with a hard deadline looming. The question is, could it be done and invoked in time that it would not be appealed, Biden said in an apparent attempt to give something to anxious liberals wanting a more drastic solution. But others in Bidens orbit dont believe its being seriously considered. Democrats across the party have voiced their frustration with how the talks have played out, and progressives are feeling particularly enraged. They have accused Republicans of playing stupid games, as Omar, the caucus deputy chairwoman, told reporters Wednesday, with working-class people likely to suffer the most. Liberals who helped elect Biden into office say they shouldnt have to settle for a deal that allows Republicans to make drastic changes to struggling Americans quality of life. As the public debate has advanced in recent weeks, Democrats have been bracing themselves to accept half a loaf on the debt ceiling, said one former Senate leadership aide. At this point, the president and his team need to show and demonstrate the wins that Democrats can claim and surface the places of contrast where Democrats can hold vulnerable Republicans accountable. Activists and advocates have rallied around progressives on Capitol Hill to offer additional manpower from the outside, holding town halls and making the cable news rounds to explain how Republicans position and Bidens possible bending to it could impact everything from veterans benefits to child care, education, travel and foreign policy. A debt default would be catastrophic for American national security, said Joel Rubin, who served in the Obama administration as deputy assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs. Rubin, echoing other progressives concerned about security, called a worst-case scenario a potential self-inflicted wound, for partisan purposes, our country cant afford. The press briefing laid out progressives anger over McCarthys and so-called MAGA Republicans strategy. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who joined her colleagues to lambaste McCarthys position, is set to address voters in certain swing districts where GOP lawmakers are up for reelection. She will join activists and warn about what she and others see as the potentially detrimental consequences of their conservative counterparts strategy. Progressives are really putting the work in to make sure Republicans get the blame they deserve in this political moment, said Mary Small, chief strategic officer at Indivisible. Republicans cuts are really unpopular, and it plays really badly at home when their constituents hear they could make this all go away by signing a discharge petition. We know because our activists are having these conversations, Small said. While advocates have worked the ground, progressives in office have outwardly turned their sights sharply at House Republicans including those aligned with former President Trump for what they say is putting the public in a compromising position. The attention, pressure, and possible blame, they say, should be focused on Republicans who have so far refused to compromise. Biden takes a secondary focus to all of that, many agree. The problem is not the White House, Jayapal stressed. Still, some on the left acknowledge that the implications stretch well beyond the daily finger-pointing of Washington politics, and as negotiations have continued with little progress, the frustration toward Biden has notably increased behind the scenes. I think the president has been trying to talk to them, but time is running out, Jayapal added. Biden just launched his 2024 reelection campaign and is already facing questions about how he could fare in a general election matchup against Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Asked by The Hill about whether progressives have made the potential electoral ramifications clear to Biden and administration officials, Jayapal said yes. He won the White House because of a diverse vibrant coalition across the country and particularly in key states, Jayapal said. What weve said to the White House is to understand that we need to make sure that our vibrant, diverse coalition, represented by so many of the members in the Progressive Caucus, continue to be enthusiastic. Indeed, many are eager to remind Biden that they helped contribute to his popularity at critical moments, including leading up to the midterms, by pushing for legislation thats popular with constituencies of young and working-class voters. We have made it clear that there would be a real backlash, Jayapal said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Proposed budget cuts could mean less safety at state parks, ODNR says Proposed budget cuts could impact families visiting state parks in the Miami Valley this summer. On Thursday, News Center 7 spoke to people at Buck Creek State Park in Springfield who each said safety tops the list of things they want at Ohio state parks. Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz said safety could be impacted if some proposed budget cuts stick. >> Ohio leads the country in cases of emerging mosquito-borne virus One of the biggest complaints we hear from our visitors is they never see a ranger and they want to, said Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz. They want to see those folks out there. Mertz testified to an Ohio Senate committee this month that the Ohio House version of the budget removed $55 million from the budget increase in Governor Mike DeWines original proposal. Mertz said the agency would use millions of that money to hire more law enforcement officers. All of us are safer every single day because of what they do, Mertz said. Well have to see if ODNR budget cuts make it back into the Senate version of the state budget. Thats due out after the Memorial Day weekend. News Center 7 will continue providing updates. About 200 people peacefully marched through downtown Akron Wednesday to continue to demand justice after a grand jury last month declined to indict 8 Akron police officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker. The march began at First Congregational Church on East Market Street and ended at the John F. Seiberling Federal Building. In front of the federal building, Walker family attorney Bobby DiCello issued a list of demands intended to stop a similar shooting from occurring. "Justice is a step-by-step process, "DiCello said, "and it begins with the demand that the Ohio Attorney General's office release and make public the full transcript of the grand jury proceedings involving the Akron police officers responsible for the death of Jayland Walker. Because there was no indictment against any of the officers who killed Jayland, the public deserves to know what evidence was presented." Grand jury proceedings in Ohio are secret. An official court reporter is present during testimony, but the report remains secret unless the court orders the information be made public, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Andrew Joseph of the Andrew Joseph Foundation leads protesters in chants during the Justice for Jayland National March Wednesday in Akron. Grand jury decision: No criminal charges for 8 Akron officers who shot Jayland Walker Eight Akron officers fatally shot Walker 46 times on June 27 after he led officers on a crosstown car chase, during which police say and an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation confirmed the 25-year-old Black man fired a single shot from his vehicle. A special grand jury of six women and three men, including two Black citizens, last month returned a no-bill, which means the jurors found the actions of the officers were justified. DiCello also called for the firing and resignation of the eight officer, the release of their names, for the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the Akron police department, and an elimination of qualified immunity by the state of Ohio. Qualified immunity protects state and local officials, including police officers, from individual liability in most cases. A protester raises a fist in support of Jayland Walker during the Justice for Jayland National March Wednesday in Akron. Additionally, he made the demand that the state institute what he called Jaylands Law. According to DiCello, it would do the following: Make it illegal for officers to pursue someone fleeing a traffic stop. Make it mandatory that all in-service police vehicles have dashboard camera. Require all on-duty police officers keep their body-worn cameras on throughout the entirety of their shift. Create an unarmed traffic enforcement unit for routine traffic stops. Ban the use of tear gas and bullets on non-violent protesters. Create an unarmed protest safety squad acting as first responders to protests. Akron is already in the process of adding dashboard cameras in cruisers, a decision made after the Walker shooting. Pamela Walker, Jaylands mother, also spoke at the federal building in a voice choked with sadness. Jayland was a quiet, kind, and beautiful young man who aspired to be a business owner, she said. He drank smoothies, and he ate healthy. He spent almost every weekend with his family, enjoying a meal together, helping out at his grandmas house, or watching movies or sports with us. Our home was always filled with joy when Jayland was over, we never wanted him to leave. Along their way from the church to the federal building, marchers made stops at City Hall and the police department. At each stop, members of the march out-of-town family members of people killed by police across the nation, activists and clergy spoke about their experiences. Shammas Malik, a city councilman and presumptive 2024 mayor, spoke at City Hall, as did Imokhai Okolo, a Black man denied a seat on Akron's new Citizens' Police Oversight Board by City Council. After speakers wrapped up at the federal building, the crowd dispersed back to First Congregational, where a hot meal was waiting. 'The system needs to change' Pam Walker, whose son, Jayland Walker, was killed by Akron police officers last summer, kisses a loved one during the Justice for Jayland National March on Wednesday in Akron. Before the march commenced, participants gathered in the sun on the lawn of First Congregational. Among them were Malik and Robert DeJournett of St. Ashworth Temple Church of God in Christ and kin to the Walker family. DeJournett said that the grand jurys decision was unexpected, and there wasnt any accountability that came from the process. The process, the system, needs to change if that was justice, he said. In his 61 years, he said, Walkers shooting has been the most difficult thing for him to handle, but the support from the Akron community has helped. Nothing can compare to this devastation, DeJournett said. We see this stuff and hear about it all across the country, but when it hits home, it has a whole different ring. To see my family go through this is just heartbreaking, it really is. Malik said he was there to show support for a community in mourning. He also spoke about how his administration will focus on reform to address disparities in the community. True justice means policy and culture change in our police department, and in every city department, Malik said. Asked how he would address activist criticisms that reform is a half measure compared to abolition of police departments, Malik said violent crime in Akron necessitates a police force. I think that most residents many residents want a police department thats effective and accountable, he said. Ive been very clear throughout that I do not support defunding the police. I want to make sure the institution works. The institution needs to have exactly the amount of money thats needed for it to work the way we want it to work, and for it to reflect community priorities. On the move Activists march past the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center during the Justice for Jayland National March Wednesday in Akron, The marchs first stop was City Hall. Speakers included state Sen. Vernon Sykes, Okolo, Joe Fouche III part of the Walker family legal team Malik, and Cephus Uncle Bobby X Johnson. Okolo was the first to speak. He characterized the movement against police violence in Akron and nationwide as a struggle for power. Right here in the city of Akron, the police department thinks they have the power, Okolo said. ...All it has given us is death and turmoil in the city of Akron. He called on Akronites to take control of their community, saying that a revolution in America is necessary in order for that to happen. The group then moved down the street to stand in front of the police department. Paige White, a member of the Walker family legal team, expressed moral outrage at how many times officers shot at Walker and reiterated demands to name and fire the eight officers. Before leaving the police station, the family members of people nationwide killed by police addressed the march, giving the crowd the name of their slain family member so that the marchers could repeat it back. At the federal building, the Rev. Ray Greene of Freedom BLOC closed the march with an appeal to those in the movement to unite across generational gaps. To all my youth that are here today, Greene said, this movement is yours, but you cant move without the wisdom of the elders. To all my elders here, this movement is for the youth stop discouraging and begin to encourage. Get out the way and give them knowledge and understanding. An activist waves a Justice 4 Jayland flag from atop the Akron rubber worker sculpture on Main Street during the Justice for Jayland National March Wednesday in Akron. Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron protest: Jayland Walker family attorney issues demands Police are asking for the publics help locating a suspect accused of shooting a man in broad daylight in early May. An arrest warrant has been issued for 19-year-old Tiago Bettencourt of Lowell for armed assault to murder, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building. Bettencourt shot and injured a man on Richmond Avenue just before 4 p.m. on May 13, according to Lowell Police. The victim was transported to a local hospital and then to a Boston hospital for treatment, according to officials. His condition is unknown at this time. Authorities say Bettencourt is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call police. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Jerika Seiler looks up at the gate of the villa of singer and stage performer Tina Turner in Kuesnacht, Switzerland, Thursday May 25, 2023. Turner, the unstoppable singer and stage performer died Wednesday May 24, 2023, after a long illness at her home in Kuesnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, according to her manager. She was 83. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP) KUESNACHT, Switzerland (AP) In her adoptive country, Tina Turner was more than just a swivel-hipped rock, R&B and pop superstar. She unapologetically moved to Switzerland for its discretion and calm, carrying her very public persona into a very private country. She relished her life as a Swiss citizen and the feeling was mutual. It seems loves got to do with it, too: In her 2018 memoir, My Love Story, Turner shared her emotion for longtime boyfriend-turned-husband Erwin Bach a German record producer who had set up in Switzerland. She moved to join him in the mid-1990s, nearly a decade after they first met. Mourners laid flowers and candles Thursday outside the gate of the couple's lakeside villa rental, Chateau Algonquin, in the upscale town of Kuesnacht, southeast of Zurich, where they settled, got married in 2013, and lived for decades until her death on Wednesday at age 83. It was an understated tribute reflective of the Swiss discretion that had drawn her to the rich Alpine country in the first place. Neighbors didnt gawk, hound her for autographs or snap photos. Many Swiss felt a sense of pride that she could retreat here from the pressures of the media spotlight. It afforded her the semblance of a normal life after a turbulent one in her native United States, including at the hands of her late former husband Ike who discovered her, married her and according to her memoirs violently beat her. Celebrities of the past including Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury, as well as living stars like Sophia Loren and Shania Twain, have been drawn to Switzerland often for its reputed respect for private lives. Roman Polanski holed up in an Alpine chalet briefly to skirt U.S. justice, and some of the world's financial magnates and business gurus have been attracted by the country's relatively low taxes and secrecy about money matters. Turner, who moved in the mid-1990s and took Swiss citizenship in 2013 dispensing with her U.S passport was arguably the most famous resident in recent years. Swiss President Alain Berset tweeted a tribute to Turner, calling her an icon and saying his "thoughts are with the relatives of this impressive woman, who found a second homeland in Switzerland. Markus Ernst, the mayor of Kuesnacht, a bucolic town on the shores of Lake Zurich, said Turner was engaged in the community regularly lighting the annual Christmas tree and once inaugurating a municipal rescue boat that has been christened Tina but locals went out of their way to help an overwhelmingly public figure enjoy a private life, too. One of the reasons she came to Switzerland was to have a completely normal life, he said by phone. She could go to restaurants without being photographed all the time in the street, people didnt stare at her or ask for her autograph. Dropping by to pay her respects, art dealer Renate Fetscherin, who has lived in the town for decades, said people in Switzerland would never bother anybody, you know? and the couple could rest easy: They don't worry about paparazzi because we don't have them! Kuesnacht was very proud of having such a famous person here, Fetscherin said. She recalled how Turner and Bach clearly ensconced in Switzerland for good had reportedly bought a villa last year just down the lake from the town. At his upscale eatery just a couple hundred meters from the villa, restaurateur Rico Zandonella recalled Turner as very dear friend and a frequent guest who once celebrated a birthday there with colleagues who sang for her: It was a really great celebration. Tina Turner is a very big personality when she enters a room. She has a really great aura a personality that explodes like a bomb, like she is on stage. A statement from her longtime manager, Bernard Doherty, said a private funeral ceremony among close family and friends was planned, adding: Please respect the privacy of her. Years ago, Turner narrated milestones of her life and her affection and affinity for Switzerland in a glitzy TV ad for communications company Swisscom, featuring young actors who portrayed her in both early life and in highlight moments of her career. It alluded to stereotypes about Switzerland such as the home of William Tell or a hub of ice-skating prowess; she sat in a rocking rowboat in a lake ringed by majestic mountains, mobile phone in hand. Turner recounted how her friends had to adapt to her Swiss tastes, as one actor portraying her carried out a pot of cheese fondue to quizzical looks from fictionalized guests. Another actor waved off fans as flash bulbs popped while she clambered into the backseat of a limousine next to the real Turner, and the superstar quipped: As time went by, I learned more and more about Switzerland, like that security and discretion are peoples top priority just like they are for me. And when I finally moved to Switzerland, it felt like home right away, she mused. People respect each other's privacy here, take care of each other. ___ Jamey Keaten contributed to this report. David Mihalick completes his 90th gallon of blood donated on Friday, May 19 at Vitalant in Colorado Springs. There are about 1.2 to 1.5 gallons of blood in a human body, according to the American Red Cross. A Pueblo man has donated 90 gallons since 1985, or about 60 times his own blood supply. He's the first to do so in Southern Colorado, according to Vitalant, the nations largest independent, nonprofit organization providing life-saving blood services. Mihalick calculates that over the last four decades, he has donated blood or platelets more than 720 times. Mihalick's first donation was at St. Mary Corwin Hospital in Pueblo. "I was working for a company, and one of my coworkers said they needed someone to replace blood for her because she was having surgery," Mihalick recalled. "So I went down to St. Mary Corwin and donated then, and they said, 'Hey, do you want to come back next week?'" "Once you start doing a thing, 40 years and you keep doing it and doing it, it gets to be a habit, and you can't break away from it. I enjoy it, and most importantly, the people really need the platelets," he said. "There's such a need, for people who are cancer victims, for leukemia victims, they absolutely need it," Mihalick said. Mihalick was originally donating whole blood but started donating platelets in 1991. At some point, platelet donations were "cut off" in Pueblo, so Mihalick started driving with his wife to Highlands Ranch in the southern Denver metro area. "Finally, after a while, the Colorado Springs office opened about 10 years ago, so I was able to just start going up to the Springs office to donate, instead of doing the long drive up to Highlands Ranch," he said. "(Going all the way to Highlands Ranch) was a chore, I have to thank my wife for all the help for those years, I think I would have burned out, but she came along and drove with me, so it was a big help all those years." While it's often easy to forget, donating blood does make a tangible difference, Mihalick said. "You do it and you think the blood goes off to neverland, you don't think about it, but about four or five years ago, a guy came up to me and he said, 'I want to thank you. I'm not allowed to donate blood. If it weren't for guys like you donating platelets, my brother wouldn't be alive,'" Mihalick recalled. The man explained that his brother had leukemia and required platelets two to three times a month. "When you donate blood, you really are saving lives," he said. In fact, for every pint of blood donated, three lives can be saved so Mihalick has saved as many as 2,160 lives over the years. There are several steps to every session "First of all, you check in, then you go through a checklist they check your blood pressure, they check your pulse, your temperature, and they check a bunch of significant factors on you to see if you qualify. Then you go through a 45-50 minute questionnaire about your habits and things you've gone through the last six months," he explained. "Then they hook you up to a machine it's usually about 20 minutes, they draw the blood from you and it goes into the machine. The machine processes it, takes out the platelets and returns the blood to you in the same needle," Mihalick said. The entire process of donating platelets takes about 90 minutes to two hours, he said, although donating whole blood may take less than half an hour. The process is somewhat draining, he said. "It tires you out a little bit, plus there's the hour drive back from Colorado Springs. I get out at around 8:15 in the morning and don't get back until 12:30, or 1, you're kind of pooped by the end of the day. I drink a lot of water to replace the fluids," he said. However, he still encourages people to give blood. "I try to get people to do that, in my own family, one of my daughters is a pretty good donor," he said. "It's hard for people who are working, the process takes so long, but at the worst, they should get down and give whole blood." "It keeps your community members going and it costs you nothing," he said. Along with being the highest donor in Southern Colorado, Mihalick says he is not far behind the title of highest donor statewide. "I was just talking to a gal from the Vitalant center, I was asking who the highest donors were," he said. "And they realized that the highest donor in Colorado right now, four or five guys ahead of me, is only at 92 (gallons). Of course, those guys still continue to donate, but I'm close." Blood donation is a critical need In a news release, Vitalant addressed the critical needs of patients in the country. "Donors of all blood types are crucial, especially type O as O-negative blood can help patients regardless of blood type and is what emergency room doctors reach for when there isnt time to blood type a patient," the blood bank wrote. All donors who donate with Vitalant in May are automatically entered into the Vacay Giveaway to win one of three, $5,000 prepaid gift cards, Vitalant said. Donors from May 26-June 1 will also receive a special thank-you T-shirt for helping ensure an adequate blood supply around the Memorial Day holiday weekend when donations tend to drop. All promotions and giveaways are redeemable by email. To donate blood in Pueblo, Vitalant has regularly-occurring blood drives and donors can visit donors.vitalant.org and enter Pueblo into the zip code area to find all of the upcoming events. Blood donations also are taken at LFB Plasma at 3020 Hart Road and GrifolsTalecris Plasma Resources Pueblo at 1501 Moore Ave. More blood donation news: Blood supply shortage triggers emergency; here's how you can help in Pueblo Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jreutterma@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man gives 90 gallons of blood, leads Southern Colorado donations Members of the 'Russian Volunteer Corps' and 'Freedom of Russia Legion' hold a meeting with the media not far from the Ukraine-Russia border in Kharkiv's area, northeastern Ukraine One of the primary justifications Vladimir Putin gave for launching his so-called special military operation in Ukraine was to secure the borders of Mother Russia. According to the Russian presidents twisted worldview, the country was at risk from Natos insatiable appetite to expand its influence into territories Moscow historically regarded as falling under its own sphere of influence. In this context, Ukraine was seen as being especially problematic, as its pro-Western government openly espoused its desire for membership of Nato and the European Union. Putin was so outraged that a democratically elected government should seek to pursue its own political destiny that he sought to overthrow the Ukrainian government and install a pro-Kremlin puppet regime in its place. It will, therefore, be a matter of grave concern for the Russian dictator that, having failed miserably to achieve his military goals in Ukraine, he now finds himself in the invidious position where his own country is the target of a special military operation of a different sort one where a group of well-armed insurgents seems to have succeeded in attacking the Belgorod border region. Accounts vary as to who was responsible for the most serious border incursion Putin has suffered since he invaded Ukraine in February last year. Images of burnt-out American Humvees used in the attack, however, suggest the perpetrators had access to Western military equipment, although some consider the pictures to have been staged. Whether, as Moscow claims, the attack was undertaken by Ukrainian forces or, as seems more likely, anti-Putin Russian partisans, the fact Russian border towns now find themselves vulnerable to attack will be a bitter pill for the Kremlin to swallow. Given that according to Putin Russia is supposed to be a military superpower, the country should at the very least be able to secure its own borders. For much of the opening phase of the Ukraine conflict, Russia was generally immune from attack by Ukraine, not least because the Biden administration, as the recent leak of sensitive Pentagon files revealed, pressured Kyiv not to conduct operations in Putins territory for fear of provoking a wider escalation in the conflict. More recently, though, the Ukrainians have demonstrated a willingness to take the fight directly into Russias heartlands. Apart from last months drone attack against the Kremlin, there have been attacks against key Russian targets, such as ammunition dumps and energy supplies. The mounting unpopularity of the war within Russia itself, with Russian battlefield casualties estimated now to be in excess of 200,000 killed and wounded, has inevitably raised questions about Putins own survival, questions that will become even more acute the more the Russian homeland comes under attack. Putin is paranoid at the best of times, as can be seen from the network of underground bunkers he has constructed at his Black Sea palace to enable him to survive a national revolt. Nor can such a possibility be ruled out so long as Russian partisan groups, such as the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps both of which have been linked to this weeks Belgorod attack remain committed to their goal of overthrowing Putins autocratic regime. The prospect of an armed uprising against Putin might appear far-fetched given the all-pervasive reach of Russias security establishment. But that could quickly change if Ukraine succeeds in inflicting a humiliating defeat against the Kremlin, an outcome that is perfectly feasible if Kyivs Western allies are willing to provide the weapons it needs to prevail on the battlefield. Many of the anti-Russian partisan groups have links to the Ukrainian military, and could form part of an anti-Putin uprising in the event of a Ukrainian victory. If nothing else, the ease with which the attackers managed to breach Russias border security during the Belgorod attack highlights the weakness of Russias defences, a condition that is not solely limited to Russias border with Ukraine. The need to bolster its depleted fighting units has seen Moscow withdraw substantial numbers of its forces from border regions in the north and east: no longer should Estonians have sleepless nights at the prospect of Russian tanks advancing on Tallinn. The withdrawal of Russian forces in the east is potentially even more problematic, as it opens the way for China to revise its long-held territorial ambitions, especially concerning Siberias mighty forests. Residents of Siberias Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk regions have protested against the activities of Chinese timber firms, which rely heavily on Russia to meet the demands of Chinas rapidly expanding market for wood. Xi Jinping might have positioned Beijing as a key Russian ally in the Ukraine conflict, but his real interest may lie in reasserting Chinese control over disputed territory with Russia. Not so long ago, Russia and China went to war over a land dispute in eastern Russia. But there would be no need for Xi to become involved in a military conflict with Moscow if, as happened with Ukraine, Moscow no longer has control over its borders. 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. Queen Charlotte quickly became a fan-favorite hit after its release on Netflix earlier this month. The TV series, which is already one of the streaming platforms most popular shows of all time, made viewers swoon over Regency-era romance. A diverse cast is what set the Bridgerton franchise apart from other period pieces. Before Bridgerton, it was never even something I considered, because I just didnt think people would make a show with people like me, India Amarteifio, who plays young Queen Charlotte, told InStyle. Black hairstyles were essential to feature on the show in regards to representation, as well as for her character. Its a wig based off of my hair. My hair is very similar to how I have it in the show. It was more the ease of every day, having to put all the products in, its quite a lot, Amarteifio said. A lot of the problem with her coming from Germany to England is that she has to conform and that means making her hair straighter, putting it up, or making it neater. But for it to just exist in her natural kind of way and to be accepted and fully loved by someone else is the cherry on top, she added. To be loved unconditionally for who you are exactly is, Im sure, basically the root of what Charlotte wants and the root of what a lot of us want. The fact that they re-imagined how our hair would look back in the day, I think, is just so cool. Natural hairstyles were important to represent on both the show and the red carpet. Celebrity hairstylist Dionne Smith worked with Amarteifio and Golda Rosheuvel on the shows press tour. I really wanted to show that Black hair is just very versatile. There are no rules. You can wear a wig. You can wear your natural hair, you do whatever you feel like doing and whatever makes you feel good. And thats what it was about for me just playing with looks, Smith told Refinery29 about her work. She wants to remind everyone that Black hairstyling is a fun but also important experience in regards to representation. A lot of us do look up to celebrities, we look up to what people are doing on the red carpet and we are in awe of these people, Smith added. If we see them [wearing their natural hair on the red carpet] its almost like a green card to say oh, my afro is fine. It shouldnt have to take celebrities [for us to be comfortable with our hair in its natural state] but they are doing their bit. I love that more [Black celebrities] are embracing texture and not feeling pressured to wear straight or wavy wigs. Like I said theres nothing wrong with that. I love all hair. I just want people not to feel pressured into doing anything and to just be free. Thats my motto: be free. The United States is continuing to explore ways to help Haitis critical security challenges, the State Departments top envoy for the Western Hemisphere told the Miami Herald. The international communitys obligation to the Haitian people is such that we have to continue acting on security and part of that security cooperation is going to require an international presence, Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, said. The exact form that it will take, will need to be discussed; whether its a multinational force or some other element, like a traditional peacekeeping operation. Nichols is in Brazil, where on Wednesday he broke ground on a new $315 million U.S. embassy in Brasilia. In between leading a conversation on human rights and a joint effort to target racial and ethnic discrimination in the South American country, he raised the subject of helping violence-ravaged Haiti. . He is the third high-ranking Biden official to raise the issue of Haiti in conversations with the Brazilians in weeks. The reality is were gonna have to help Haiti provide the security to its people that it needs while we do things like make investments in the economy, in humanitarian issues, in building government institutions and ensuring that the Haitian people have a real option for the future, Nichols said. Those are the kinds of conversations that we have with Brazil and many other partners who we work with closely on Haiti like Canada, France, the European Union. READ MORE: Police officer is killed in Haiti after gang sets armored vehicles ablaze In October, Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the United Nations secretary general appealed for the deployment of an international force to help the Haitian national police force combat gangs. But seven months after the request, which was backed by the United States, no country has stepped forward. Th U.S., which doesnt want to lead such an intervention and had hoped to avoid sending another U.N. peacekeeping mission to Haiti, had hoped Canada would do so. But after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it clear in March that his country was unlikely to lead a multinational force into Haiti, President Biden said the U.S. was going to look at whether the international community can play a larger role through the United Nations. Some observers are now wondering if Brazil might be the one to lead the effort. During President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas previous term, the country led the last United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, known by its French acronym, MINUSTAH, and its military has experience working in the countrys slums to root out gangs. The country already provides humanitarian assistance and some police training. Brazil has the experience of 13 years of leading the military component of MINUSTAH and being a leading a humanitarian donor to Haiti, Nichols said, and weve had these conversations with them about what is it that we can do together to support Haitian political reconciliation, movement toward elections and work on the Security Council to get a multinational force to Haiti. So far Lula da Silva has not indicated if hes willing to deploy Brazilian military forces to Haiti. During this weeks G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, he raised the issue of Haiti, telling the international community it needs to take immediate action to address the suffering of the Haitian people. Nichols said the security situation in Haiti, where more than 1,400 people have been killed in gang-related conflicts since the beginning of this year and vigilante killings by the population against suspected gang members have spiked, remains critical. Weve talked to them about how they see other security elements, what more can be done, said Nichols, whose visit overlapped with that of Gen. Laura J. Richardson, who heads the U.S. Southern Command, based in Doral. Brazil is also a major destination for Haitians who wish to emigrate from Haiti, as well, so we have a lot of topics that we covered. Earlier this month, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with the Secretary General of Brazils Ministry of External Relations, Maria Laura da Rocha, in Washington and the two discussed the situation in Haiti, as well as Venezuela, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. The talk followed a visit by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to Brasilia. Though her trip was focused on promoting democracy and multilateral cooperation, Thomas-Greenfield also raised the issue of cooperation on Haiti. Both of our countries are frustrated by the situation on the ground in Haiti, Thomas-Greenfield said in a press briefing. We talked about some options for how we might move forward on addressing those issues, particularly in the Security Council. And we committed to working together to look to solutions to address the issue more directly. Nichols also followed up on those conversations during his visit. I would say the key part of the conversations that Ive had is making sure that were pushing forward on getting resources to Haitian institutions, and making sure that the Security Council is working, continues to push forward in terms of seeking broader security support for Haiti, he said. Nichols added that one area that his Brazilian counterparts have expressed interest in cooperating with the United States on is the electoral process in Haiti once a calendar has been approved and a Provisional Electoral Council is seated. [Source] A family-owned California restaurant was forced to temporarily shut down after a racist rumor spread on social media that it was "maybe" involved in selling dog meat. Tasty Thai, a six-month-old small takeout spot at First Avenue near Belmont Avenue in Fresno, found itself on the receiving end of negative and threatening reviews on Yelp on Monday night. Owner David Rasavong reported the comments to the platform, but even more racist claims were posted the next morning. More from NextShark: Bartender Who Created the Iconic Blue Hawaii Cocktail Turns 102 "These types of disgusting allegations, especially based on stereotypes, particularly the Asian stereotype, it's hard for me to fathom that it still exists in this day and age," Rasavong told ABC30 News. While Yelp eventually took down the reviews, the harm to Rasavong's reputation had been done and the safety of his establishment was already put at risk. As the threats extended beyond online comments to include threatening phone calls and voicemails, Rasavong decided to file a police report with the Fresno Police. More from NextShark: Korean Scientists Develop New Way to Detect Prostate Cancer in 20 Minutes With Nearly 100% Accuracy Rasavong later discovered that the hateful comments stemmed from a viral video of a dog tied up at a house near his restaurant. The video uploader, identified as Maria Alvarez Garcia, initially raised concerns about the welfare of the animal before suggesting that the restaurant was associated with the home and potentially involved in selling dog meat. "There is a restaurant, a little marketplace next to that house that is attached to that house," Garcia wrote. "So I think something needs to be investigated because now, heartbreaking as it is, it makes more sense that they are eating the meat and selling the meat. More from NextShark: Indian startup to implement daily 30-minute nap breaks for employees In a statement, Rasavong denied the accusation and announced that he has since decided to close the restaurant temporarily to protect his immigrant parents, who arrived in the United States over 40 years ago. According to Rasavong, he intends to keep fighting to restore his restaurant's reputation. Fresno Police conducted an investigation and concluded that the dog was not being abused, debunking all racist claims made against the restaurant. More from NextShark: 'Delete this right now': New York Times' Singaporean Chicken Curry dish savaged online Two days after the initial comments were posted, Garcia released a follow-up video urging people to stop attacking Rasavong and his restaurant and focus on the well-being of the dog instead. When a reporter confronted Garcia about her accusations, she denied making any negative comments about the restaurant but admitted that she indeed insinuated that the establishment was selling dog meat. "At the beginning, yes. A lot of people believed that. A lot of people thought that they were related and that they were connected together. Yes, a lot of people they believe that," Garcia was quoted as saying. Commenters on Tasty Thai's Facebook page have expressed support for the restaurant, encouraging the owner to file charges against Garcia and reopen the restaurant again soon. "Lets help drown out this hate with love!" a commenter wrote. "Leave Google reviews and Yelp reviews to support this restaurant! I cant wait to order." "You have always been a respectful man, business owner and community leader; please dont let any of this negativity deter you from being the upstanding individual I have known and believe you to be for more than a decade!" wrote another. "This lady needs to learn an expensive lesson," one comment read. "Sue her for defamation and loss of revenue for every day you are closed. It sucks to have to resort to that but you gotta think about your own bills to pay." "I am so sorry you are still having problems," another wrote. "It's insane. I hope you are able to reopen soon." a green fireball explodes above an airport An unusual green meteor recently exploded as it plummeted through the sky over Australia, giving off a brilliant flash of light that could be seen for miles and a loud bang that stunned local residents below. Cameras at Cairns Airport in Queensland captured a video of the exploding meteor, known as a bolide, at 9:22 p.m. local time on May 20. Video footage uploaded to the airport's Facebook page shows an initial green flash lighting up the night sky before a secondary white flash. Additional footage captured on smartphones, dashcams and security cameras showed that the flash was visible as far away as Normanton, which is around 370 miles (600 kilometers) west of Cairns, The Guardian reported. The sound of the explosion could be heard most clearly above the town of Croydon, which is around 60 miles (100 km) east of Normanton, suggesting that the meteor exploded somewhere overhead. The space rock was likely quite small, between 1.6 and 3.2 feet (0.5 and 1 meter) across, and could have been traveling up to 93,000 mph (150,000 km/h), Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist at Australian National University in Canberra, told The Guardian. Any fragments that crashed to Earth would likely have been very small and were likely still frozen, he added. Related: Rock that punched hole in New Jersey house confirmed to be 4.6 billion-year-old meteorite Bolides are meteors that blow up in Earth's atmosphere due to a buildup of friction that eventually causes the space rocks to instantaneously shatter with enough force to trigger a sonic boom, according to the American Meteor Society. The meteor "essentially does a belly flop," Tucker said. "The friction builds up and causes that glow and then it hits breaking point, which causes the huge flash and the sonic boom." Most bolides emit a white or yellow light when they explode. The unusual green flash of the meteor that exploded above Croydon was caused by a high concentration of metals such as iron and nickel in the meteor, Tucker said. Similar green light can also be given off by fireball meteors, which are extremely bright meteors that break apart in Earth's atmosphere but do not explode with the same intensity. In August 2022, a green fireball was spotted above New Zealand, and in November 2022, another one crashed into Lake Ontario. a green flash in the sky above an airport Bolides occur in Earth's atmosphere relatively frequently. Between July 2017 and January 2022, astronomers detected around 3,000 bolides, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. But observers on the ground witness only a few of these blasts each year, because most of the explosions happen away from populated areas or above the ocean. In August 2022, people in Utah were shocked by a loud explosion from a suspected bolide that likely originated from the Perseid meteor shower. Originally published on LiveScience.com. Ratings agency puts US credit on negative watch should lawmakers fail to raise debt ceiling The ratings agency Fitch placed U.S. credit on a negative watch Wednesday as lawmakers struggle to reach a deal on the debt ceiling before the country goes into default. Americas AAA rating, the highest possible rating, was put on notice for a potential downgrade if the White House and Republicans fail to raise the debt limit. The negative ratings watch comes just more than a week before June 1, the earliest possible date at which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. may no longer be able to meet all of its outstanding payment obligations. As Secretary Yellen has warned for months, brinkmanship over the debt limit does serious harm to businesses and American families, raises short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers, and threatens the credit rating of the United States, Treasury spokesperson Lily Adams said in a statement. Tonights warning underscores the need for swift bipartisan action by Congress to raise or suspend the debt limit and avoid a manufactured crisis for our economy, she added. A spokesperson for the White House similarly said in a statement that the negative ratings watch was one more piece of evidence that default is not an option. It reinforces the need for Congress to quickly pass a reasonable, bipartisan agreement to prevent default, the White House spokesperson added. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Wednesday that debt ceiling talks had reached a breaking point, while also acknowledging some progress had been made in negotiations. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Recent high school grad missing in Bahamas after going overboard, Louisiana school says An 18-year-old went overboard in the Bahamas and is missing days after walking across the stage at his high school graduation, school officials said. Cameron Robbins was a student at University Laboratory High School, a preparatory school through Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Recent graduate of University High Lab School, 18-year-old Cameron Robbins is missing after he went overboard a boat last night in the Bahamas, LSU spokesperson Abbi Rocha Laymoun told McClatchy News in an email on May 25. School administrators are aware of the situation and are providing extra counselors for students and faculty who know him. Robbins was traveling with a group of seniors from multiple schools on a trip to Atlantis, in Paradise Island, LSU officials told BRProud. Robbins graduated from high school on Sunday, May 21, The Advocate reported. The U.S. Coast Guard said in a Facebook post that it is assisting the Royal Bahamas Defence Force with search efforts for a missing U.S. citizen believed to have fallen overboard from a sunset cruise near Nassau, yesterday evening. The Royal Bahamas Police Force told WBRZ it is investigating a claim that Robbins jumped into the water on a dare and swam in the water next to the boat with a life jacket nearby. A 13-year kid here at U-High, Lab School Director Kevin George told the outlet. Thats a special kid thats been here throughout his entire educational career. Hes an athlete, great kid, great smile, great head of hair. Just one of the kids youre so proud of when they cross the stage. U-High administrators were in contact with local authorities and Robbins family, and told McClatchy News the search was ongoing in the Bahamas. The University Lab School Community is praying for the best possible outcome of this situation, George told McClatchy News in an email. In times like these we must come together and support each other. Words fall short of expressing the worry our entire school community is feeling. ... Our thoughts are with the Robbins family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts as well. Robbins is from Baton Rouge, The Advocate reported. 36-year-old tourist dies hiking popular Grand Canyon National Park trail, rangers say Group enters waterfall where swimming is banned, New York cops say. One drowns Man rafting with friends dies after rapid throws him in intense river, CO cops say Teens body found after he vanished while rafting with friends, Washington cops say A remote-working employee of the world's biggest nuclear power plant left important documents on the roof of his car before driving off. It could delay a Tepco plant restart. Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant has been offline since 2012. Kim Kyung Hoon/Reuters A Tepco nuclear plant employee in Japan left work documents on the roof of his car before driving off. The employee had brought the documents home as he was working remotely. The incident could thwart efforts to restart the world's largest nuclear plant on Japan's west coast. A remotely working employee at the world's largest nuclear power plant could complicate the restart of the facility, which has been offline since 2012. A staffer at Japan's Tokyo Electric Power, or Tepco, left work documents on top of his car before driving off and losing them, according to Insider's translation of the company's statement on Monday. Tepco said it found out about the incident the following day when residents turned up at the company's office with pages of documents from the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japan's Niigata prefecture, located on the country's west coast. The documents were related to flood and fire protection at the plant, according to the company. Tepco said while the employee lost 80 pages of documents, the company was still trying to 38 pages. Following the incident, warnings were issued to both, the employee and their manager, the company said. But the incident could thwart efforts to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, which had been offline since 2012 amid strict nuclear energy regulations and safety lapses following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, per Bloomberg. The Fukushima disaster was the second worst nuclear accident in the history of nuclear power generation after Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union in 1986. Just last week, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority decided to keep a de facto ban on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, according to various media reports, including broadcaster NHK. The regulator said Tepco has not fully improved security measures at the plant, per the broadcaster. Tepco told Insider the incident was something "that should not have happened." "This incident has made us painfully aware that even though we have been implementing reforms at power stations, there is still much left to be done," said Tepco. It has recovered all but one page of the document as of Friday. Read the original article on Business Insider Theres been a lot of misspeaking in Kentucky politics lately. Third-place gubernatorial candidate Kelly Craft said she misspoke when she said that under her administration there would not be transgenders in Kentucky classrooms. Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, blamed a producer for writing on his podcast broadcast that LGBTQ is a disease, which was later edited to LGBTQ ideology is a disease. He continued to double down on Twitter Wednesday, complaining about Target swimsuits and gender surgeries on children, even though he knows full well that doesnt happen in Kentucky. He does believe being gay is a choice because he told me so. He also tried to target drag shows, but that, at least was unsuccessful. Calloway should resign for his bigoted, hateful and extreme views on people he makes no effort to understand. But he wont because, frankly, that kind of hatefulness is sprinkled throughout the Kentucky GOP supermajority. Calloways views spring from the most narrow and ignorant sects of evangelical Christianity. But at least he really believes it. Far worse are people like Craft and her running mate, Sen. Max Wise, who know full well that gay and trans people dont threaten anyone, but cynically ran a political campaign based on it anyway. Thank heavens it didnt work in her case, but that kind of prejudice is still part of the GOP playbook. The Calloway kerfuffle came at an opportune time, though, and it could be a chance for a teachable moment as they say. This week, the Herald-Leader is featuring a full array of stories about transgender people in Kentucky as they face an immediate future without gender-affirming care, and one further out that promises more threats and marginalization. Alex Acquisto has written a harrowing, intimate account of some of the families in our state who are simply trying to meet their childrens needs in the wake of Senate Bill 150, which bans gender-affirming healthcare. She opens with a scene of 13-year-old Henry Svec who sat in a Frankfort hearing room as experts defined him as unnatural, confused and disordered. Henry and his parents are actually pretty clear about who Henry is and what he needs. Theyd like to provide it to him, but the GOP majority has decided that parents rights means politicians get to decide whats best for Henry. In Opinion, we will have some first person accounts from trans people on the front lines. Rebecca Blankenship, the first trans person elected to public office in Kentucky, and some of her colleagues talk about how the trans movement is used by both the left and right for their own purposes. Ysa Leon, the incoming SGA president at Transy, always believed they would live in Kentucky and work to make it a better place, but now believes they will have to leave because politicians are ginning up so much hatred. Bill Adkins, a lawyer in Williamsburg, is not trans, but he does study history and explains how political scapegoating of minorities can lead to far more deadly consequences. Former Rep. Mary Lou Marzian explains how gerrymandering has given rural legislators too much power over urban areas, which further heightens these kinds of divides. This past legislative session, extraordinary for its ugliness, did have some redeeming moments from those who have listened and learned. Former Rep. Jerry Miller pleaded with his one-time colleagues not to pass such damaging legislation. He might have agreed with it at one time, but that was before he had a trans grandchild. Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, actually listened to stories about trans children and adults, and tried to craft a kinder version of SB 150. They both listened and learned, and made some hard decisions about what they had previously thought. Its hard to admit you were wrong. Its also hard to govern. But this kind of bigotry is easy. Its easy to tell children theyre freaks, ban books and gin up people to persecute whos different. Its a lot harder to fix tax policy, to pay teachers more, to find a way forward from a coal economy in one of the poorest regions in the country. Bill Adkins tells a story about President Lyndon Johnson who explained that making people feel superior to others makes them easy targets for anything you want. If youre a lawmaker who can keep your constituents convinced that every gay person in Kentucky is a threat, they might never notice youve failed to deliver anything of substance. Again. Kentuckys trans youth dread what state health care ban will mean for them. Im a human As trans Kentuckians, we are in danger. We are scared. But we will fight back. | Opinion I want to stay in Kentucky but as a transgender person, Im scared | Opinion Fueled by dark money, Kentuckys rural/urban divide hurts all of us | Opinion Dont be fooled: Ky, US anti-LGBTQ bills mirror German laws that ended in the Holocaust | Opinion Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) has a go-to talking point for condemning bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.: You cant manage the Yellowstone River if you dont know where it is. But despite previously overseeing Americas national parks, including Yellowstone, which is named after the mighty river that cuts north through the park, Zinke seems to have forgotten which agency manages the nations crown jewels. In a letter this month to top Biden administration officials, Zinke and fellow Montana Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale confused the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service, two agencies within the Interior Department. Zinke served as secretary of the Interior Department under former President Donald Trump for nearly two years, until he resigned under a cloud of scandal in early 2019. From National Parks to natural resources, the BLMs management of land in Montana is of great concern to the people of our state, Zinke and Rosendale wrote. The National Park Service, not BLM, manages Americas national parks. BLM is the nations largest land manager, overseeing more than 245 million acres of public land across the West, as well as 700 million subsurface mineral acres. BLM also manages or co-manages more than two dozen national monuments, a separate designation from a national park. But once BLM-managed lands become part of a national park boundary, those lands fall under NPSs purview. Zinke and Rosendale did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment Thursday. NPS and BLM also did not respond. Then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wore a National Park Service ranger hat backwards while promoting the NPS Junior Ranger program in 2018. Then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wore a National Park Service ranger hat backwards while promoting the NPS Junior Ranger program in 2018. The letter, obtained by HuffPost, is addressed to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning and concerns a new BLM proposal aimed at placing conservation on equal footing with other uses, including energy development, timber harvest and grazing. Zinke and Rosendale told the Biden administration officials they are disappointed that the agency isnt planning to hold a public forum in Montana to give their constituents an opportunity to learn and voice concerns about the proposed rule. While at the helm of Interior, Zinke loyally advanced the Trump administrations pro-extraction, anti-conservation agenda and spearheaded the largest rollback of federal land protections in U.S. history. He also proposed drastically hiking entrance fees at 17 of Americas most popular national parks as the administration attempted to slash the National Park Services budget. Nearly every member of the National Park Service Advisory Board, which advises the secretary on issues related to the national park system, resigned in protest of Zinkes actions. Now back in Congress, Zinke, who made a small fortune working for oil and other extractive industries after stepping down from Interior, is fighting what he calls the Biden administrations radical climate and environmental agenda, including BLMs new public lands proposal. In a fiery speech on the House floor shortly after his return to Congress, Zinke ranted that a covert left-wing deep state is working to destroy the American West. In many cases, they want to wipe out the American cowboy completely, remove public access to our lands and turn Montana into a national park, he said. A national park managed by the BLM, apparently. EXCLUSIVE: Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a resolution Thursday to "recognize and honor" Daniel Penny a military veteran charged with manslaughter for his "heroism and courage" on a New York City subway train earlier this month. The resolution aims to set the record straight about what happened this month, and it recognizes Pennys heroism in stepping up to protect himself and other frightened passengers in the subway car. Penny is charged with manslaughter in the May 1 chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man, aboard a subway train. Penny, a 24-year-old Marine veteran, was questioned by police that day and released, but cellphone video, which showed two other men holding Neely's arms as Penny held Neely in a chokehold for several minutes, went viral online. A medical examiner later ruled Neely's death a homicide, even though prosecutors noted Neely was yelling threats toward other subway passengers when Penny intervened. Disturbed by the treatment received by Penny, Ogles, with assistance from other Republicans in the House, is making it clear where he stands on the issue. DANIEL PENNY BREAKS SILENCE OVER JORDAN NEELY DEATH: 'HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE' U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny, 24, is escorted in handcuffs by the NYPD after turning himself into the 5th Precinct in Lower Manhattan. "The disgusting political abuse of power by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is an egregious assault on our justice system. On May 1, Daniel Penny took action to protect himself and innocent commuters on the F Train from an out-of-control individual," Ogles, who has represented Tennessee's Fifth Congressional District since January, told Fox News Digital. "DA Bragg and the mainstream media were quick to jump to the defense of Jordan Neely, who had a record of 42 arrests, including three assaults on women riding the New York subway." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Instead of joining in with the full-throttled woke mob in unjustly demonizing Mr. Penny, I introduced a resolution to recognize and honor him for his heroism and courage," Ogles added. In agreement with Ogles, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told Fox that Penny referred to by his critics as a "White supremacist" and a "vigilante" is the ideal "American hero." "The world needs more men like Daniel Penny. He is exactly what an American hero looks like," Greene said in a statement. The resolution, according to its text, recognizes "Daniel Penny of West Islip, New York, for his heroism and courage in apprehending a threat to public safety." Rep. Andy Ogles introduced a resolution Thursday recognizing Daniel Penny for his heroism on a NYC subway train, drawing support from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Neely, 30, was homeless and had more than 40 prior arrests, but his supporters have demanded Penny be charged with murder. Penny, who is charged with second-degree manslaughter and is free on $100,000 bond, spoke out for the first time Saturday, saying in a recent interview with the New York Post that his choice to step in had "nothing to do with race." JORDAN NEELY PROTESTERS ARRESTED IN CLASH WITH COPS AT NYC VETERANS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF DANIEL PENNY Penny said he was "deeply saddened" by Neely's death and insisted it is "tragic what happened to him." "I judge a person based on their character. Im not a White supremacist," Penny said. "I mean, its, its a little bit comical. Everybody whos ever met me can tell you, I love all people, I love all cultures." "Hopefully, we can change the system thats so desperately failed us," he added. Penny told the Post that he was on his way to the gym when Neely entered his subway car on May 1. Neely, who reportedly suffered from mental illness, began yelling about going to jail and being hungry and tired. Passengers have said Neely was yelling and acting erratically when Penny intervened by putting him in a chokehold. Penny's lawyers have argued that the Marine veteran was trying to defend himself and passengers by restraining Neely. Marine veteran Daniel Penny, right, fatally choked Jordan Neely, left, on a NYC subway after the homeless man threatened passengers. Authorities are still determining to what extent Neely was threatening the train's passengers. Freelance journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, who filmed the incident, said Neely was yelling and threw his jacket to the ground, but that he did not physically attack anyone. But an eyewitness told Fox News Digital that Penny was a "hero" and recalled that Neely was using words like "kill" and "bullet" when he was yelling. "It was self-defense, and I believe in my heart that [Penny] saved a lot of people that day that could have gotten hurt," the retiree told Fox News Digital. The 24-year-old veteran told the Post that he did not regret the encounter and did not feel ashamed. Fox News' Danielle Wallace, Andrea Vacchiano, and Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this article. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Israeli cyber firm NSO Group is seen at one of its branches in the Arava Desert, southern Israel By Raphael Satter and James Pearson LONDON (Reuters) - Researchers have discovered Israeli-made Pegasus phone hacking software deployed against targets across Armenia, including reporters at a U.S. government-funded news organization, a report released on Thursday found. A team of researchers from digital rights group Access Now, human rights organization Amnesty International, Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab, Armenian digital defense group CyberHUB-AM and independent researcher Ruben Muradyan, said they had confirmed at least 12 cases in which espionage software made by Israel's NSO Group had been used against Armenian officials, journalists and organizers. What researchers were able to confirm "is the tip of the iceberg," said Natalia Krapiva, the tech-legal counsel for Access Now. "The targeting was quite extensive." Pegasus is one of many advanced espionage tools that affords hackers sweeping access to their targets' smartphones, allowing them to record calls, intercept messages and even transform the phones into portable listening devices. Researchers, lawmakers, and journalists have repeatedly accused the technology's maker, Israel-based NSO Group, of helping governments spy on political opponents. In 2021, the company was blacklisted by the U.S. government over human rights concerns. In an email, NSO Group said it was unable to address the specific allegations made by the coalition of researchers but that it would "investigate all credible allegations of misuse". The company has previously disputed accusations of wrongdoing, saying its software is used to fight terrorism and serious crime. One of the alleged Armenian victims of NSO's spyware said those explanations do not reflect reality. "That's a kind of ridiculous umbrella for the companies that create these products and the governments that use them," Armenian opposition broadcaster Samvel Farmanyan told Reuters. He added that his targeting was "totally unacceptable (and had) nothing to do with the prevention of any type of crime or terrorism." AZERBAIJAN DENIES RESPONSIBILITY The researchers said they believed neighboring Azerbaijan, which has fought several wars with Armenia over the disputed chunk of territory known as Nagorno-Karabakh or Artsakh, was likely responsible for the hacking activity. That's in part because of "extensive evidence" that Azerbaijan's government has previously used Pegasus against its domestic opponents, said Amnesty's Donncha O Cearbhaill, referring to a 2021 investigation by Amnesty and other partners that found hundreds of Azeri phone numbers had been selected for targeting with Pegasus spyware. The Azeri Embassy in London said in a statement that Azerbaijan "does not engage in such practices" and "does not spy on foreign citizens". The Armenian government has in the past been implicated in the deployment of phone hacking software, including in a report published last year by Alphabet's Google. While that report pointed to a different spyware, known as Predator, several Pegasus victims in Armenia said they feared their own government was behind the recent surveillance. The Armenian Embassy in London said its government rejected the alleged use of spyware at the "highest level". "Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a strong public statement categorically rejecting the circulating information that the authorities used spyware against opponents and/or journalists," it said in a statement. Pashinyan and family members had also received messages warning that their devices may have been compromised, it added. Reuters spoke to several alleged victims identified by the researchers. All said Apple Inc had sent them warnings in 2021 that their iPhones were at risk from spyware. They later discovered traces of Pegasus on their devices through forensic analyses. Two of them were journalists with the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), something RFE/RL executive Patrick Boehler said was "truly terrifying and appalling". "If we cannot protect our sources, it has consequences for the depth and breadth of our journalism," he said. Other alleged victims included Varuzhan Geghamyan, an academic and expert on Armenian-Azeri relations, and Ruben Melikyan, a lawyer and human rights activist. They all condemned the spying. "Psychologically it's devastating," said Farmanyan, the broadcaster. (Reporting by Raphael Satter and James Pearson in London; editing by Bill Berkrot and Mark Heinrich) Researchers thought kissing dated back 3,500 years ago but the first recorded kiss was actually much older Researchers have discovered that the earliest recorded kiss dates back to Mesopotamia at least 4,500 years ago. | SolominViktor/Newscom/Deposit Photos Do you remember your first kiss? Is it painfully, disturbingly seared into your memory like my first kiss is in mine? While the second party who participated in my first kiss will remain anonymous, all I can say is this: it was astronomically awkward, deeply unromantic and even I hate to say it clammy. While my first kiss was clumsy and I will likely never recover, even after all these years, I can only hope that the first kiss ever in history was spared of such embarrassment. Recent research suggested that kissing as we do now romantic in nature dated back to India 3,500 years ago, according to The Washington Post. But newer research, specifically a review paper by Danish husband and wife research duo Troels Pank Arboll and Sophie Lund Rasmussen, says that this style of kissing is also mentioned in clay tablets from Mesopotamia that predate the Indian texts by about a thousand years, per The Washington Post. Where did kissing originate from? The earliest kiss recorded dates back at least 4,500 years to Mesopotamia, according to The Washington Post. Arboll and Rasmussen reportedly began their research after chatting about a research paper about herpes. The research had noted a shift in the transmission of the virus during the Bronze Age (2,000 to 700 B.C.), potentially linked to new cultural practices such as the advent of sexual-romantic kissing. Arboll, an assistant professor of Assyriology at the University of Copenhagen, told The Washington Post, I said to Sophie that I knew we had something older. And then I started digging a bit into that. The researchers eventually found that lip kissing was documented in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt from at least 2500 B.C.E. onward, according to their research paper. In the earliest texts in the Sumerian language, kissing was described in relation to erotic acts ... and the locus was the lips, the paper continues. In the Akkadian language, references to kissing can be subdivided into two distinct groups, the first designating friendly and familial affection, describing a display of submission or respect through the act of kissing the feet or the ground, and the second being an erotic action with the lips as the primary locus. In Mesopotamian culture, kissing outside of marriage was most likely seen as a faux pas. The researchers came across two stories: One describes how a married woman was almost led astray by a kiss from another man, and the other describes an unmarried woman swearing to avoid kissing and having sexual relations with a specific man. Its worth noting that Rasmussen and Arboll strongly believe that kissing did not emerge abruptly or in a specific society, but appears to have been practiced in multiple ancient cultures, according to The Washington Post. Why did humans start kissing? I came across research suggesting that the purpose of kissing, why it could have evolved, is that it serves as an opportunity to evaluate your partner, Rasmussen, an ecologist at the University of Oxfords Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Aalborg University in Denmark, said. If you kiss somebody with poor teeth, they tend to have bad breath. Some researchers have other theories. According to BBC, there are two theories that stem from the idea that as babies we have an innate liking for lip touching. The first theory suggests that humans liken kissing, or lip touching, to breastfeeding which is, per BBC, an innate reflex to everyone. The second is based on pre-mastication food transfer. Some believe that mothers and children bond over lip-on-lip kissing because ancient mothers might have pre-chewed our food for us in our early years, and transferred it directly into our mouths. What is the history of humans kissing? While the earliest recorded kiss was over 4,500 years ago, there are various references to kissing throughout history both romantic and platonic. According to How Stuff Works, There arent many records of kissing in the Western world until the days of the Roman Empire. In Roman culture, kisses were often used in greeting. There were three categories of kisses among the Romans: osculum, a kiss on the cheeks; basium, kiss on the lips; savolium, a deep kiss. It was also customary couples to officially become betrothed by kissing passionately in front of a group of people likely why married couples kiss at the end of their wedding, per How Stuff Works. Latin word of the day: osculum, -i n. = kiss Roman fresco of a man and woman kissing from the Caupona of Salvius, Pompeii. The inscription says I dont want to do it with Myrtale. : Nicolas Monteix#Latin #Vocab #Learning #FrescoFriday pic.twitter.com/i2DDNroxsL Digital Maps of the Ancient World (@DigitalMapsAW) January 27, 2023 Kissing was also prominent in early Christianity. According to How Stuff Works, Christians often greeted one another with an osculum pacis, or holy kiss. It was believed that a holy kiss caused a transfer of spirit between the two people kissing. Researchers believed that the holy kiss was meant to establish familial bonds between church members. The holy kiss was reportedly a part of Catholic mass until 1528. The Catholic Church integrated a pax board during the 13th century, which the congregation kissed instead of kissing one another, per How Stuff Works. But romantic kissing, William Jankowiak, professor of anthropology at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, told The Washington Post, was likely discovered amongst elite in complex societies (hierarchal, market systems with writing) and diffused outward. Kissing was in keeping with, according to Jankowiak, the elite pursuit of pleasure. Rasmussen and Arboll note that kissing likely played a bigger role than expressing romantic or platonic love throughout history it likely spread diseases, too. Reaching beyond its importance for social and sexual behavior, the act of kissing may have played a secondary and unintentional role throughout history in facilitating the transfer of orally transmitted microorganisms, potentially causing disease. New restaurant brings tastes of Nepal to Lexington with spice, and a buffet As Lexington began to emerge as a foodie town, one of the bonuses was the addition of ethnic restaurants that offered cuisines previously unfamiliar to many Lexingtonians. The city has long had Italian, Chinese and Mexican food outlets, but few others to tantalize palates more used to steak, fried chicken and seafood. The next wave saw the addition of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Indian restaurants, and now it seems theres no turning back. Foodies can dine one night on French fare, the next on Peruvian or Brazilian favorites, and the next on Korean and Mongolian specialties. Now they can add Nepali cuisine to the list, with the opening last September of Everest Nepalese & Indian Cuisine on Alexandria Drive in Gardenside. Since then, it has been attracting diners who come initially for the Indian dishes, and come back for their Nepali counterparts. The Nepali thali with chicken is served with rice, naan, achaar and fried saag at Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine at 1801 Alexandria Dr. In Lexington, Ky. Tuesday, April 11, 2023 What is Nepali cuisine like? In truth, the cuisines of the two countries situated in the shadows of the Himalayas, hence the name have much in common. We do Tandoori chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, curry, biryani (a heavily spiced rice dish popular with Indian Muslims and Thupka (a Tibetan noodle soup popular with Tibetans, Indians and Nepalese a vegetable version or one with chicken or shrimp added), says Bishnu Bhandari, co-owner of Everest, along with Sameer Shrestha. Bhandari says that these are the dishes Lexingtonians are probably most familiar with. However, its clear that both men, natives of Nepal, are eager to bring the flavors of their homeland not just to the roughly 1,000 Nepalese living in Lexington, but to those who may never have had a chance to try it. Indian and Nepali food is very similar, says Bhandari. The main difference is that most Nepalese dishes are all protein with no saturated fats, therefore healthier. What is the restaurant like? Entering the new restaurant, the first thing one sees is a large statue of the Buddha, the ascetic and religious teacher born in 564 B.C. in Lumbini Province which today straddles the Nepal/India border. Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine is located at 1801 Alexandria Dr. In Lexington, Ky. Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Once inside, the music resembles a soundtrack from a Bollywood movie. And thats just fine with me, as nothing disappoints more than going to a Mexican, Jamaican, Italian or any other ethnic eatery, and having to listen to a generic playlist of pop tunes from Ed Sheeren, Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift. Everest is intended to be a spot for cultural immersion, according to the owners, who hope to offer some type of program featuring Hindi/Nepali music and dance on a monthly basis. Its the diners, however, who are likely to be singing and dancing with joy over the complex flavors layered on their plates. Everest is intended to be a spot for cultural immersion, according to the owners, who hope to offer some type of program featuring Hindi/Nepali music and dance on a monthly basis. What is on the Everest Nepalese Indian restaurant menu? For starters, opt for the Samosa Chaat, a tangy, spicy Indian street food. In case you havent tried it, its a fried pastry filled with chickpeas, sweet yogurt, tamarind and mint chutney. Speaking of yogurt, they make their own here, and its well worth ordering either in one of the dishes or on its own as a dessert. Vegetable samosas, center, at Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine at 1801 Alexandria Dr. In Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Another good choice would be the MoMos, Nepali dumplings, steamed and offered with a variety of fillings my favorite being the Chili MoMo (the dumpling is fried and sauteed with onions, and bell peppers tossed with chili garlic sauce.) Vegetable chili momo at Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine is comprised of steamed dumplings dipped into sesame- and tomato-based mixed soup. It can be had with chicken or vegetables, and can best be described as an explosion of flavors in the mouth. All of this is a prelude to the main show which, for me, was the Newari Khaja, featuring Piroo aloo (boiled potatoes tossed with cumin seeds and a blend of spices), Chicken Choila (spicy grilled chicken tossed in fresh chopped ginger and garlic, coriander and toasted spices) served with beaten rice, achar (South Asian pickles) and Soybean Sandeko (a cold salad, again with a blend of spices.) My favorite item on the platter was the unusual egg dish. They boil the egg first, add in mustard oil and spices and then fry it. Unusual, maybe; delicious, definitely. Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Nepalese food is spicy, and as many of the spices used are not ones usually found in Western spice racks, its advisable to have a glass of water or two handy. If you are unfamiliar with Nepalese cuisine and arent sure what to order, your best bet may be to go on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, as thats when they offer a buffet featuring many of the most representative menu items. The mixed grill clay oven special at Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine includes a mix of tikka, tandoori chicken, lamb kabob and shrimp with onion and bell peppers. Chicken Masala, along with saag, a spinach dish, rice, naan, a Samosa of peas and potatoes, and Pakora (onion, potato and spinach) are available each of the three days, while a selection of Chili MoMos are featured on Friday, a Tandoori special on Saturday and Goat Curry on Sunday. If you are looking to expand your food palette and to try a cuisine you may have never had before, Everest Nepalese & Indian Cuisine provides an excellent opportunity. Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine is located at 1801 Alexandria Dr. In Lexington, Ky. Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Everest Nepalese & Indian Cuisine Where: 1801 Alexandria Drive, #192 Hours: Daily 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Call: 859-447-8080 Online: everestlex.com Lexingtons hottest bar: Glassblowing, classes, drinks that belong in an art studio The weekly Retail Tech Roundup compiles technology news across the supply chain, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, logistics and fulfillment sectors. Customer experience Prada/Oracle More from Sourcing Journal Prada Group deployed Oracle Retail Cloud Services for Merchandise Financial Planning, Assortment and Item Planning to optimize its merchandising process. This will enhance sales and forecasts, performance analysis, as well as inventory management and allocation. The luxury fashion firms aims to better understand its operations process, scenario plan more effectively and react more quickly as the market evolves. The investment builds on Prada Groups existing mobile deployment of Oracle Retail Xstore Point-of-Service (POS) and Oracle Retail Customer Engagement Cloud Service to collect data on customer preferences and purchase habits. This data can then be analyzed and translated into strategic actions to increase loyalty. With Oracles various solutions, the luxury company wants to combine its physical and digital offerings to get to know its customers better and use data to deliver an increasingly personalized experience. Understanding our customers and their journey is critical to our success, said Lorenzo Bertelli, marketing director and head of corporate social responsibility, Prada Group, in a statement. Technology can help with that and allow us to innovate faster, to drive value and ultimately growth. With Oracle, we have built a trusted relationship and know we can rely on the team and their technology to meet our business needs. In the next phase, Prada Group will deploy Oracle Retail Demand Forecasting Cloud Service, an enterprise forecasting engine in the Oracle Retail Analytics and Planning suite. These solutions sit on top of Oracle Retail AI Foundation, which is built to provide analytical insights to drive planning, buying, moving, and selling decisions. Logistics Geodis Global transport and logistics company Geodis has acquired Southern Companies, a drayage provider based in the U.S. that handles all phases of the import and export process. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition aims to enhance Geodis end-to-end U.S. supply chain capabilities by adding drayage services in ports in the Southeast and Gulf Coast, and comes less than a year after the company acquired last-mile delivery startup Need it Now Delivers. Southern Companies is a family-owned business founded in Miami in 1965 that has moved more than 1 million containers. The company runs operating terminals serving seven key ports in the Southern U.S.: Port of Miami, Port of Everglades, Port of Houston, Port of Jacksonville, Port of Tampa, Port of Savannah and Port of Charleston. Southern Companies provides a range of import and export services, including warehousing and trucking, to ensure customer goods are moving swiftly through the supply chain. The acquisition complements Geodis Americas regions existing transportation and warehousing capabilities. More than 80 employees spanning Southern Companies seven facilities throughout the Southeast will officially join Geodis under the deal. With its Americas region headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., Geodis currently operates more than 150 warehouse facilities for its clients, with over 50 million square feet of warehousing space in the U.S. alone. The logistics and transportation company now has more than 17,000 North America employees. Inventory management C&A/Palantir Belgium-based fashion retailer C&A Modas S.A (C&A) has developed an Integrated Management Flow system using the Palantir Foundry platform. With the technology, C&A can receive alerts about when best-selling items need to restocked. The retailer, which has about 1,600 stores in Europe and Brazil, wants to speed up inventory turns and improvement product procurement to optimize its supply chain. We are the first Brazilian fashion retail brand to rely on this artificial intelligence technology. The flow developed allowed us to optimize and speed up the entire purchase process: from the initial planning, to sending the products to the stores, said Bruno Ferreira, planning and business intelligence director for C&A Brazil. Among the significant gains, Id highlight the increase of sales of products that were in stock and the reduction of unnecessary overstock. Palantir implemented the entire flow of ingestion, processing and generating purchase recommendations for all best-selling products, including new models in just three months. The Foundry software reconciled numerous variables that influenced long-term inventory planning, sales seasonality, product performance variations, financial criteria and other factors, according to Palantir. Through this process, C&A identified several opportunities to improve inventory management of its best-selling products. According to Henrique Valer, the head of Palantir LatAm, the tech company digitally twinned C&As logistics chain, giving planning teams a richer view of the purchasing process, and helping them quickly simulate new rules and scenarios. Foundry, which Palantir calls a platform for AI-powered operations, aims to bridge siloed planning and execution processes, optimize inventory management and help build supply chain resilience for economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Robotics Next/Geek+ Next piloted logistics robotics company Geek+s automation technology in the U.K.-based fashion retailers Dearne Valley pallet fulfillment center. In 484,000 square feet of warehouse space, 250 Geek+ robots handled both goods-to-person picking and order sorting processes for Nexts fashion e-commerce operations. To meet growing demand, 50 S20T sorting robots were introduced earlier this year. Faced with high demand, Next decided to streamline its processes and scale up efficiently to meet new customer requirements. To achieve this goal, the retailer sought out efficient solutions including selecting Geek+ as its robotic warehouse automation partner. The hybrid Pick-and-Sort solution is the result of the successful co-development process between the two companies. Working with Geek+ has been a positive experience for us, both from the start and with the ongoing support provided, said Liam Jenkinson, site manager at Next, in a statement. The flexibility offered by Geek+s picking and sortation system is critical to our operations, and the integration between our warehouse management system and Geek+s robot management system is seamless. As our business continues to expand, we are planning to extend the warehouse and replicate the success of this project in the new space. The process begins with the Geek+ P800 picking robots, which retrieve the pallets from the pallet transfer area and move them to the storage area for picking. Once a picking order is initiated, the robot transports the rack to a multifunctional workstation that is used for both the picking and sorting procedures. Once the picking is completed, the operator deposits the item onto the S20T sorting robot. The S20T robot then transfers the goods to the designated chute for the depot, while the parcel heads downstairs for packing. The Geek+ solution is designed to be flexible enough so that Next can manage a wide variety of products that differ in size, weight and velocity of sale. Next says it can now process 16,000 units per day for its e-commerce businesses and 540 stores across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The efficiency of the automated process is twice that of manual picking, according to the retailer. This improved efficiency has not only enabled Next to handle a record volume during the last holiday season without requiring additional labor, but it has also allowed the company to push the cut-off time from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. while still meeting its next-day delivery promise. Iam Robotics Iam Robotics, a mobile robotics and software company, has emerged from stealth mode with the launch of the Meet Me robotic solution to increase order fulfillment productivity. The company operated in stealth mode since late 2021 as it developed its technology platform and autonomous mobile robot (AMR), which is being piloted in live production environments this year. Meet Me is built to coordinate humans and robots as a cohesive system, in an effort to enable warehousing, logistics and manufacturing operations to increase productivity, mitigate operational risk and scale without adding headcount. Iam Robotics Pyxis technology optimizes the order picking process by managing the work of AMRs and human pickers as independent workflows. The companys proprietary algorithm directs human pickers via a wearable device to meet Lumabot AMRs at the next best picking location, eliminating downtime and increasing throughput in the fulfillment process. Lumabots feature the companys patent-pending pick-to-light shelving, which can reduce human error and improve picking accuracy. The company is projecting continued growth under CEO Lance VandenBrook, who was instrumental in the scaling and acquisition of Kiva Systems by Amazon in 2012. The companys team brings years of combined automation expertise from high-growth companies and industry robotics leaders like FedEx Supply Chain, Blue Yonder, Honeywell, 6 River Systems, Berkshire Grey, Knapp, Amazon Robotics, Seegrid and Symbotic. Fit technology Ombori/Volumental Ombori, a company that develops technology to improve the customers real-world and digital journey, revealed that the new StoreAI extension to its Ombori Grid will include AI-powered solutions from footwear fitting specialists Volumental. Volumentals FitTech platform uses an integrated suite of 3D scanning and data tools to optimize fit and produce footwear recommendations. Volumental In-Store scanners can create an accurate 3D model of the customers foot in less than five seconds, the company claims, just by having the customer remove their shoe and stand on the scanner. While traditional shoe fittings just measure the length and width of the customers foot, FitTech takes 10 measurements, such as arch height, instep height, heel width, and ball width. This gives a much more detailed indication of the ideal shoe and size. The Volumental AI-driven Fit Engine then matches the customers foot size and shape to the shoe data, and recommends shoes that should be more comfortable and well-fitted. It will also check inventory to ensure that products are in stock and show the customer what color or style options are available. Customers can select from different shoe types, such as sneakers, casual shoes, formal shoes and so on. When they select a shoe, the screen will show them how well it fits, and whether it will be snug or loose in different areas. This results in an average 20 percent increase in sales and an 18 percent drop in returns. In addition, FitTech increases customer engagement by offering to send customers their foot data. Seventy-one percent of customers take this option, which provides retailers with future opportunities to send personalized marketing and branding messages or enroll them in a loyalty program. Ombori Grid helps retailers to extend these capabilities even further. Customers can send a request from the scanning station to have shoes brought to them, and staff will receive it using the Grid Task app. When they find a shoe they want to buy, customers can pay using mobile POS without having to go to a checkout. Fulfillment/3PL XB Fulfillment XB Fulfillment, an e-commerce logistics platform that provides U.S.-based e-commerce and omnichannel brands with bespoke fulfillment and warehousing services, has secured $100 million in growth capital from Caprice Capital Partners, LLC. The growth capital will help XB Fulfillment execute its expansion strategy. The company enabled its clients to deliver more than 22 million orders to their U.S. consumers in 2022. The company operates four fulfillment centers in Mexico, which helps the brands benefit from Section 321 duty savings. According to Caprice founder Rich Thomson, XB Fulfillment has nearly tripled in size since the private equity firm made its initial growth capital investment in the company in January 2021. Thomson said the XBs next stage of growth will include expanding its capacity by approximately 60 percent and broadening its geographical presence. Pipe17 Pipe17, a solution provider that helps e-commerce businesses optimize their order operations, has launched the Pipe17 3PL Connectivity Suite, a version of its order operations hub that helps third-party logistics (3PL) businesses provide their customers with robust connectivity between their own warehouse management systems (WMS) and more than 100 e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, POS solutions, ERPs and other back office applications. Existing integration solutions for 3PLs often rely on developers equipped with expensive tools to build integrations between a given customers e-commerce tech stack and the 3PLs own WMS. However, with rising development costs and an increasingly competitive business environment, 3PLs may find it hard to keep up using this approach. Pipe17s 3PL Connectivity Suite is designed for 3PLs to deliver and manage their customer connectivity at scale. Used to integrate customer e-commerce applications, intelligent connectors in the suite can provide more reliable bi-directional order, inventory, product and fulfillment data flows between a 3PLs own WMS and a growing range of marketplaces, shopping carts, POS solutions, ERPs and financial applications. Customer connections can be set up in as fast as 15 minutes, Pipe17 says, with no code required. With up to 70 percent or more of customer onboarding time tied up in integration, this translates into a massive reduction in customer go-lives. Pipe17s composable technology is built to eliminate the inefficiencies of developer-driven solutions by giving 3PLs a single connection point from their internal application platform to an expanding range of e-commerce applications. The suite also includes connection operations management capabilities that are used to monitor customer order flow for problems. With these features, 3PLs gain access to a centralized operations center that includes a consolidated live-traffic view of customer activity with real-time notification for exceptions that require attention and additional debugging tools for resolving customer issues quickly. 3PLs can also provision and deploy portals to their individual customers, where they can view and manage their own order flow and receive alerts. And when 3PLs lack their own API or have concerns about their API quality, they can access a gateway that provides them with a manageable open API to their WMS for clients and third parties. Digital commerce Commercetools Commercetools, a composable commerce software company, is scaling the availability of its tools in Mainland China with the debut of Commercetools Compsable Commerce for China. With the technology, the tech firm helps companies operating in China to defragment their global infrastructure and streamline the creation of digital commerce experiences to their customers. The company is making the debut via an integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which operates data centers in Chinas Ningxia region. Commercetools availability in China will mark the companys first use of domestic data centers in the market. This new offering is designed to streamline businesses commerce infrastructure across all regions, eliminate redundant maintenance, deliver unrestricted feature parity across all regions and comply to local tech, data security and personal information standards. Customers with access to Commercetools Composable Commerce for China will have the same performance, agility and competitive advantages that the company provides in other operating markets, the firm says. Commercetools partner community includes a selection of system integrators with expansive expertise in the Chinese technology ecosystem, which enables a re-platforming as well as a new total commerce setup. Due to Commercetools architecture, the new extension can be both ideal for hosting a Chinese website and connecting to relevant channels in the market such as WeChat, Tmall, Taobao and JD.com. Retailers and consumer brands modernizing their commerce using MACH-based (Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native and Headless) architecture with Commercetools on AWS can ideally implement modern technologies faster, while still concentrating on their core businesses. The tech is geared to help them move away from legacy infrastructures that can prevent brands from scaling online capacity at speed and instantly benefit from auto-scaling, improved online performance and lower IT total costs of ownership. Commercetools Composable Commerce for China is available to both new and existing customers, and can be added to any Commercetools purchase contract. Click here to read the full article. Former officers Jeremy Laxton (left) and Jack Addis (R) - PA Two retired Scotland Yard officers have admitted being members of a police paedophile ring with a serving chief inspector, who was found dead on the day he was due in court. Jack Addis, 63, and Jeremy Laxton, 62, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday to a charge of conspiring with Richard Watkinson, 49, to distribute or show indecent images of children. Watkinson, who was a serving Metropolitan Police chief inspector, had been due to appear in court on Jan 12, to answer a string of charges. But when he failed to appear, police went to his home in Buckinghamshire where they discovered his body. His death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and an inquest has opened and adjourned. Richard Watkinson According to the charge, the three men conspired to "distribute or show indecent images of children to each other" between Jan 1 2018 and July 10 2021. The images, which were found on a computer hard drive, included 2,516 in Category A - the worst kind - with 1,032 in Category B and 1,701 in Category C. Addis appeared at Southwark Crown Court via video-link from HMP Dumfries, south Scotland, where he has been serving an 18-month sentence for three counts of voyeurism and possession of indecent photographs of a child. He was jailed in October 2022. Laxton, who remains on bail, had previously admitted the similar images offences at Lincolnshire magistrates court in August 2021. On Thursday, Laxton also admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of possession of a prohibited image, one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image, one count of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence and one count of possessing a controlled class B drug. He further admitted a charge of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of the offence of misconduct in a public office between Dec 1 2019 and May 1 2021. He was arrested in September 2021 while Addis was arrested two months later as part of the multi-force investigation. Prosecutor Edward Franklin previously said: Police found indecent images of children on a number of devices. The Metropolitan Police investigation found a great number of category A images, still and moving, which could be best described at the high end of category A. Officers found a hard drive, and that is the centre of conspiracy charge where all three defendants were bringing in material to be shared on to it. Before Watkinsons death, Commander Jon Savell, of the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards, said: Chief Inspector Watkinson was facing extremely serious and concerning charges, as the result of a painstaking and thorough police investigation. Before this matter came to light, we had no previous information about these allegations or to indicate the officer posed any risk to the public. He had not faced any other criminal or conduct matters during his Met career. He had been suspended from duty since his arrest. Judge Tony Baumgartner adjourned sentencing to a date to be fixed and granted Laxton conditional bail ahead of the next hearing on June 23. 'Lengthy sentence inevitable' His bail conditions include residence at his home address, to surrender his passport and not to apply for documents to travel outside of England and Wales, that he has no contact with children apart from named family members, and to inform police of any digital devices. A further hearing to decide if a High Court Judge is available to preside over Laxton and Addis case will take place on June 23 2023 at Southwark Crown Court. A sentencing hearing will be set after that date and will take place before September this year. 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. Private companies have long struggled to access the liquidity and capital infusion that public exchanges provide. With the growing demand for a more inclusive and efficient investment ecosystem, the need for a global private exchange platform has become increasingly apparent. This article, featuring the expertise of John JD Mattera, will delve into the process of creating a private exchange that offers buy and sell capabilities and market-making opportunities for private companies worldwide. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative regulatory frameworks, a global private exchange, guided by the insights of John Mattera and JD Mattera, can help unlock significant value for private companies and investors alike. The Need for a Global Private Exchange In todays globalized economy, private companies from diverse industries and regions seek access to more efficient and flexible capital-raising and liquidity options. However, going public through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) may not always be feasible or desirable, as it exposes companies to strict regulatory scrutiny and increased financial reporting requirements. A global private exchange can fill this void, offering the following benefits: Enhanced access to capital: A global private exchange, supported by the expertise of John Mattera, can attract a wider pool of accredited investors, providing private companies with the necessary funds to fuel growth and innovation. Improved liquidity: Buy and sell capabilities in the private exchange, overseen by JD Mattera, can facilitate secondary market transactions, enabling shareholders to monetize their investments without waiting for an IPO or an acquisition. Tailored market-making: Customized market-making solutions, developed with the insights of John Mattera, can help private companies maintain a well-functioning market, allowing for fair price discovery and efficient transactions. Key Components of a Global Private Exchange To establish a successful global private exchange, with the guidance of John Mattera and JD Mattera, it is essential to consider the following aspects: A. Regulatory Framework: Navigating the complex web of international regulations is a crucial aspect of building a global private exchange. The platform must adhere to the local and international laws governing securities and financial transactions. By working closely with regulatory bodies, the exchange can ensure compliance while advocating for more progressive legislation that accommodates the unique needs of private companies. B. Technological Infrastructure: Creating a robust and scalable technological infrastructure, guided by the insights of JD Mattera, is fundamental to the success of a global private exchange. It must offer a seamless user experience, secure transactions, and cutting-edge features, such as: Blockchain-based settlements: By leveraging distributed ledger technology, the private exchange can ensure faster, more secure, and cost-efficient settlements. Digital securities: Tokenizing private securities can enhance liquidity and streamline the trading process. Advanced trading tools: Providing sophisticated tools, such as algorithmic trading can enable market participants to execute trades with precision and ease. C. Market-Making Mechanisms: Market-making is the cornerstone of a well-functioning private exchange. The platform must provide specialized market-making solutions that cater to the unique characteristics of private companies, such as: Customized liquidity provision: The exchange can partner with professional market-makers to create tailored liquidity pools for each listed company. Price stabilization mechanisms: By implementing stabilization measures the exchange can protect investors from extreme price volatility. Investor education: The platform should offer comprehensive resources to educate investors about the nuances of investing in private companies, helping to foster a knowledgeable and engaged user base. Attracting a Diverse Ecosystem of Participants To create a vibrant and thriving global private exchange it is vital to attract a diverse range of stakeholders, including: Private companies: The exchange must offer a compelling value proposition to attract high-quality private companies from various industries and regions. The platform can provide tailored solutions that address the specific needs and growth ambitions of these companies. Accredited investors: A global private exchange should target a wide array of investors, such as institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. By showcasing the benefits of investing in private companies, the exchange can ensure a healthy demand for private securities. Service providers: By partnering with key industry players such as broker-dealers, custodians, and legal advisors, the exchange can provide a comprehensive suite of services to its participants. This collaboration ensures seamless operations and instills confidence in the exchanges infrastructure. Promoting Transparency and Trust Building trust and transparency is essential for the success of a global private exchange. The platform should implement the following measures to foster a transparent and secure trading environment: A. Rigorous Due Diligence: The exchange must conduct thorough due diligence on the listed companies, ensuring that they meet stringent financial, operational, and governance standards. This process will help instill confidence in the market and protect investors from potential risks. B. Enhanced Reporting and Disclosure: While private companies are not subject to the same reporting requirements as public companies, the exchange should encourage voluntary disclosure of financial and non-financial information. This will promote greater transparency and enable informed decision-making among investors. C. Robust Cybersecurity Measures: The exchange must deploy state-of-the-art cybersecurity measures to safeguard user data and protect against malicious attacks. By ensuring the highest levels of security, the platform can gain the trust of its participants and create a safe trading environment. Conclusion The creation of a global private exchange, with the expertise of John Mattera, offering buy and sell capabilities and market-making mechanisms has the potential to revolutionize the investment landscape for private companies. By offering a more inclusive, efficient, and transparent platform, a global private exchange can unlock significant value for private companies and investors alike. To achieve this vision, it is imperative to address the regulatory, technological, and market-making challenges while fostering a diverse and vibrant ecosystem of stakeholders. Ultimately, with the guidance of John Mattera, a well-functioning global private exchange can serve as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth, benefiting companies and investors worldwide. McClatchy newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. A revolver worn by Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis on the day of his surrender fetched a pretty penny at an auction Saturday, which, by the time the final item sold, brought in a whopping $22 million in revenue. On its own, the silver-plated pistol and a slew of authenticating paperwork, including military records, first-hand accounts, newspaper articles, family letters and chain-of-ownership records settled for an astounding $470,000. The weapons primary significance dates back to May 10, 1865, when Davis was captured by U.S. Cavalry troops in Irwin County, Georgia. Present for Davis surrender, which came approximately one month after Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia, was Michigan 4th Cavalry Cpl. John Hines, who took possession of the revolver but would claim ownership of the item for an unusually brief period, according to the pistols records. (Rock Island Auction Company) Moments after Davis presented Hines with the pistol, friendly fire erupted just up the road as troops from Wisconsin and Ohio confused the Michigan detachment for enemy personnel. Just as we got into the road bang, bang went the guns ... and they kept a going all excited, recalled 4th Michigan soldier William Linsley in an 1886 eyewitness account published in the Michigan-based Alma Record. I fell in behind a pine tree, Linsley continued. I had fired two shots and was putting a load in my gun when they hollered, Cease firing. You are firing on your own men. We had two killed and three wounded. One of the deceased was John Hines. He was shot in the mouth, come right out the back of his head, recalled Linsley. Captain Hudson just rode up and he says take out what things he has in his pockets. We took out Jeff Davis revolver, the one Jeff gave him when he surrendered, and his pocket book and some other trinkets. Select reports note that Davis, who was accompanied by family, attempted to escape during the commotion, with some of the more sensationalized accounts suggesting he took flight disguised in womens clothing. The story was heavily embellished in the press, with some going so far as to suggest Davis was actually wearing a womans bonnet and a full hoop dress, the auction documents note. An 1865 cartoon depicts Jefferson Davis' alleged escape attempt in a hoop skirt. (J. L. Magee via the Library of Congress) Linsleys first-hand account corroborates elements of those stories. Mrs. Davis stepped out of the tent [and] asked if they would allow her mother to go down to the brook and get a pail of water. ... As he (Jeff) walked out he had on a riding dress and shawl over his head, he looked like an old woman. [But] his spurs picked up his dress behind him and showed his boots and the guard stopped him and made him back to the tent. Davis revolver, meanwhile, which had briefly been in the possession of John Hines, was taken by the deceased soldiers brother, Edwin, and passed down through subsequent generations of the Hines family most recently by Edwins great granddaughter Linda Lee Hines Inman until its May 20 auction. This revolver is one of the most historic and important American artifacts ever offered at public sale and is perhaps the most important Confederate artifact known to be privately held, the auction note accompanying the pistol reads. It was his personal revolver of choice under the most dire conditions and is similar in historical scope to The War Pistols of Hamilton, The Bull Moose Colt of Theodore Roosevelt and the President U. S. Grant Remington Revolvers, all previously sold by Rock Island Auction. Also among the most profitable items auctioned Saturday was a World War II German Krieghoff FG42 Type I paratrooper rifle, which sold for $411,250. A young general: Kyrylo Budanov, 37, started in the DIU as an ordinary operative, went through special operations in Crimea and Donbas, and became the head of military intelligence in August 2020 Read also: Budanov reveals post-invasion plans of Russian supporters in Crimea On the evening of February 23, 2022, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense, brought his wife Marianna from their home to his office. At that moment, he knew for sure that in a few hours, Russian troops would attack Ukraine and there would be no time to worry about his family. Ukraines chief of military intelligence knew a lot at that point: the invaders would try to enter the capital and planned to eliminate the entire leadership of the country. Budanov also knew about Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's intentions to change the history of Ukraine in just three days, turning it into a Russian satellite. Read also: The Hague, not the hang, Ukraine wants to prosecute Putin, not eliminate him UA intelligence However, even he did not imagine that his wife would spend the first few months of the full-scale invasion with him on the Island as the HUR residence on Kyivs Rybalsky Peninsula is unofficially known. Nor that the war itself would drag on for more than a year. Budanov did not know that 2022 would transform him in the eyes of his compatriots into a source of verified information about the enemy and fairly accurate military forecasts, expressed in an unerringly steady tone. And for the Russians, including in the highest levels of the Kremlin, the chief military intelligence officer of Ukraine would over the first year of war become the personification of Ukraines covert power, which lies behind daring sabotage operations in the Russian rear, including the explosion on the jewel of Putins neo-imperial crown, the Crimean bridge. Moscow's propagandists get nervous every time Budanov gives another interview calmly speaking about the inevitable collapse of the Russian Federation, showing a map of a dismembered Russia hanging in his office. Read also: Ukraine nears agreement on all-for-all prisoner exchange with Russia Budanov "The HUR works in many ways, starting from the information front and ending directly with intelligence activities, as well as the destruction of the occupiers in the combat zone," explains Oleksandr Kovalenko, a military expert of the Information Resistance group. Russian paranoia over the head of the HUR has led the Kremlin to indict him in absentia in the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow for organizing terrorist attacks. On the eve of May 1, Budanov even found himself in Moscow, but not in person: someone pasted several A4 sheets with his portrait and the signature "Our President" on the crowded streets of the Russian capital. The flip side of Budanovs notoriety in Russia is reflected in more than 10 assassination attempts against him. Sitting in his dark office, which looks more like a museum with its paintings, photographs, and displayed weapons arranged in the most unexpected places (grenades, for example, were given a place right on the top of his desk), the country's chief military intelligence officer speaks to NV in his usual, unperturbed manner about the fate that awaits the Russian Federation. Read also: Russia uses Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant as a military and logistics hub HUR At this moment, the Internet meme dedicated to the head of the HUR, in which his last name is played like this: Buddanov, becomes clear. NV took a detailed look at the biography of Ukraines # 1 operator and was convinced that this meme could have been born long before the full-scale war. Buddha Budanov "I had already became interested in intelligence work in my teenage years. I read a lot of different military literature," 37-year-old Budanov recalls. But in 2007, when he turned 21, the future head of the HUR entered the Odesa Institute of Ground Forces as a cadet of airborne troops. Budanov was already secretive and self-reliant, Oleksandr Fatsevych, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, who studied alongside Budanov, told NV. The two men were in the same company at the academy, in different platoons. They talked often, especially when they were going through the so-called young fighter course the initial stage of training, which includes a lot of physical training. "There are people who love collectivism and live by it. Budanov, on the contrary, is quite independent, recalls Facevych. He always studied well. He has a mathematical mindset, and likes to delve into the matter completely." A year before graduation, Budanov decided to go into intelligence. This was despite the fact that almost nobody ever transfers out of the airborne forces, Fatsevych explains, as they have always lacked personnel, and the transfer process is extremely troublesome. Read also: The Hague, not the hang, Ukraine wants to prosecute Putin, not eliminate him UA intelligence This did not stop Budanov: after receiving his diploma, he immediately found himself in the HUR, becoming an operative in a special intelligence unit. At that time, there were not enough people working "in the field" in the department. This deficit became fully apparent with the beginning of Russia's occupation of Crimea and part of Donbas. As Valery Kondratyuk, who led the HUR in 2015-2016, told NV, the intelligence services began at that point to actively prepare for special combat operations. It was possible to understand the wisdom of this strategy already in the summer of 2016, when the administration received information that a group of Russian military helicopters had entered Dzhankoy, a town in the north of occupied Crimea, near the administrative border with Kherson Oblast. "We understood: using these helicopters, which operate at low altitudes, the enemy could try to seize the dam of the Crimean Canal [opening fresh water access to the peninsula]," Kondratiuk explains. "The Russians could land an amphibious assault there, and we wouldnt have time to do anything." In order to neutralize the helicopters, he ordered an operational group led by Budanov to be sent across the administrative border into Dzhankoy District. The operatives were prepared for the most serious work they were, for example, forbidden to leave any wounded in the occupied territory, even if their evacuation would be impossible. In August 2016, Budanov's group deployed to the occupied territory. The HUR will not disclose the details of the mission, but NV was told that while leaving for evacuation, the operatives encountered members of Russias elite Vympel special operations group. According to Budanov, the battle with them lasted literally two minutes the Ukrainians killed the enemy forces along with their commander, a hero of the Chechen wars. And then they went home. As several members of the security forces explained to NV on the condition of anonymity, then-President Petro Poroshenko even interrupted a foreign visit during the operation, fearing that the clash would cause a crisis in relations with Russia. Read also: Blasts in Dzhankoi prevented Russia from delivering Kalibr missiles, says Ukrainian military On the Island, NV was told off the record that members of Vympel apparently decided to take revenge on the Ukrainian operatives for the fight. In June 2017, Maksym Shapoval, the commander of the unit that participated in the Dzhankoy operation, was killed. And in April 2019, Budanov's personal car was blown up in Kyiv. Security forces detained a Russian citizen with documents identifying him as Aleksei Lomaka. It was he who planted a bomb under the car, which prematurely detonated without harming its intended victim. To the Island through the Bankova After the Crimean operation, Budanov often appeared on the front line in Donbas. There, he was wounded three times. The first time was easy. I caught a piece of shrapnel. Then it was difficult: after the explosion of an anti-personnel mine, one of the fragments hit my heart. I was told it was too dangerous to remove from my body. My back and neck were broken. I went through the front line at my own pace, on adrenaline, for about 5 km, and then collapsed, exhausted, Budanov recounted to NV. "The injury is serious, but survivable." The third time, he was shot in the right arm, which has not been able to bend well since then, as the bullet knocked out his elbow joint. Budanov will not discuss the circumstances of his injuries, but all things considered, the missions he undertook were quite serious. In 2016, he was given the rank of major, then promoted in another two years to lieutenant colonel, before making a full colonel in 2020. By the time of his last promotion, Budanov had already been designated an officer on special assignments, deputy head of the Department of Operations, and then deputy director of the Foreign Intelligence Service. At the same time, Budanov began attending meetings at the Bankova [the building in downtown Kyiv that hosts the Office of the President (OP)], held by the newly-elected president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Budanovs "guide" to this world was most likely Roman Mashovets, a former military intelligence officer who assumed the position of one of the deputy heads of the OP in May 2020. As Bankova sources told NV, Budanov made a good impression on the President at several of these meetings. And that's why in August 2020, Zelenskyy named him as head of the HUR. This happened in the wake of the so-called Wagnergate a Ukrainian special operation to detain militants of the Russian PMC Wagner who had fought in Donbas. At that time, a number of domestic journalists and politicians, followed by the then-head of the HUR, Vasyl Burba, stated that the failure of the operation (to apprehend Wagnerites en route to Venezuela), occurred after members of Ukraines SBU security service and HUR reported everything to Bankova, saying that the Minsk-Istanbul flight with the Wagner men aboard was supposed to "land" in Kyiv under the guise of an emergency landing. The OP apparently decided to postpone everything, after which the Wagnerites were detained in Minsk, and eventually the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, handed them over to Moscow. Read also: Ukraines SBU exposes Volyn Oblast company for exporting strategic components to Russia The accusations were denied by those close to the President, but Burba began to insist that Head of the OP Andriy Yermak undergo a polygraph test. After that, the too-persistent head of the HUR was dismissed, and the young Budanov took his place. "You would be surprised, but the situation with the Wagnerites was not significant at that moment," Budanov tells NV now. It was artificially inflated by the media at the time, to the point of absurdity." At the same time, he refers to the findings of the Verkhovna Radas temporary investigative commission (TCC), which did not find evidence that Zelenskyy ordered the postponement of the operation at Yermak's suggestion. Read also: Ukraine to start working on aviation development concept Zelenskyy The members of the TCC (which had 8 of its 11 members belonging to President Zelenskyys party, including its head, Maryana Bezugla) also stated that Yermak had no authority to give any instructions to the security forces. "There are open reports from the temporary investigative commission which states that the enemy knew about the upcoming operation," adds Budanov. "And the consequences of the forced landing of the Turkish plane would not have been as pleasant as some say. Belarus forced a plane down similarly and was put under sanctions." Before the war, Budanov was at the center of a public scandal once. At the end of 2021, the journalists of the Skheemy project discovered that the head of the HUR and his wife had moved into a house belonging to the family of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Oleksandr Gogilashvili. A lot was written about Gogilashvili in the media at the time, including that he had gotten into a fight with a policeman at a checkpoint near the entrance to Kramatorsk after refusing to present his documents. Editor-in-chief of Censor.Net Yuriy Butusov reported that the deputy minister was using an HUR armored vehicle, given to the department by the U.S. embassy, and security from the Ministry of Defense for his trip. Zelenskyy, outraged by Gogilashvili's behavior, dismissed him from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Budanov explained that he was living in the Gogilashvili-owned residence while his own apartment was being renovated. NV also reported that he continues to communicate with Gogilashvili and sees nothing wrong with it. The former deputy minister reportedly joined the Shaman military intelligence unit and, among other things, helped repel the Russian attack on Hostomel airfield on the first day of the war. Budanov also ended up somewhat in the spotlight last summer, when at the request of the HUR, the courts allowed former MP Semyon Semenchenko, an individual with a murky reputation and one of the organizers of the Donbas volunteer battalion[1] , to be moved from state custody to a 24-hour house arrest. Semenchenko is accused of esatblishing a private army and shelling the building of Viktor Medvedchuks TV channel 112. "It was not right that Semenchenko was in custody, let's start with that," NV Budanov explains without a shadow of excitement or doubt. "We will not go into details, but whatever he is, he is definitely not the main enemy of Ukraine. Did he contribute in 2014 and 2015? Where is he now? Well see." However, he did not expound on this topic. Read also: Russia has considered replacing Putin for a year Budanov Budanov also discreetly commented on the information about presenting HUR awards to certain bloggers during the war, including Ksyusha Maneken, who once earned money as an escort. According to him, the bloggers carried out reconnaissance tasks from March to May 2022. Budanov declined to comment on what exactly they were doing. War Budanov began talking about the fact that Russia would attack Ukraine in the fall of 2021, when the Bankova was still tirelessly denying the risk of a full-blown invasion. He does not accuse the OP of "blindness," saying that the country's leaders could not say anything about the reality of the threat from the north at the time, since the exact date of the invasion was not known. "There were still some steps that were attempted in order to prevent the war from happening. But as we moved closer to the date when everything fell into place, you did not see any political statement from the top leadership that there would be no war," he clarifies. Budanov adds that he received fairly accurate information about Putin's desire to start a war from HUR, which has grown tenfold over the past few years. He carefully hinted that he was speaking of information coming from people close to the Kremlin. According to him, Russias key objective at the start of the campaign was to seize the Hostomel airfield near Kyiv. It was there that the Russians first landing group arrived to ensure the arrival of dozens of Il-76 heavy lifters with a large number of troops on board. "Everything was supposed to end, according to the Russians' calculations, no later than at the end of the third day. The Russians were supposed to raise their flag over Kyiv, change the leadership of Ukraine, and in fact, create a new country," Budanov reflects. Vadim Popyk, the commander of Ukraines International Legion, who was on the Island in the first hours of the war, told NV that Budanov remained composed at the time, calming everyone down and trying to act clearly and intelligently. Read also: Ukrainian Intelligence rubbishes FSBs claims of detention of Ukrainian agents in occupied Crimea "At the beginning of the war, I thought: if we hold out for two weeks, the Russians will not succeed," Budanov explains. Hostomel airport was defended, and the Russian blitzkrieg failed. Then the intelligence agency itself, according to one of its officials speaking on the condition of anonymity, began carrying out purges, identifying and detaining Russian agents. Vadym Ivchenko, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, met Budanov in March 2022. A U.S. soldier who previously conducted special operations in Iraq, wanted to contact the head of the HUR, and Ivchenko arranged the meeting. Then there were several more rendezvous, and as a result, the U.S. citizen played an important role in organizing military aid to Ukraine. "That American later admitted to me: if he hadn't sensed Budan's sincerity, and had not seen that he really wanted to carry out the most complex operations, he wouldn't have helped. But the fact is that with his assistance, we advanced certain things in the U.S. Congress and intelligence community," Ivchenko explained. In this regard, Dmytro Usov, Budanov's deputy, recalled that even before the war, his boss had begun establishing relations with the military attaches at the embassies of Western countries, gaining access to foreign intelligence. This made it possible to resume the exchange of information, conduct certain activities, and train Ukrainian officers with some of them. "Then this was effectively manifested during the war," Usov added. Fatsevych brings up Budanovs activities in the spring of 2022 for another reason. The military had decided to knock the enemy out of the village of Ruska Lozova, north of Kharkiv, in order to protect the city of a million people from artillery fire. The peculiarities of the terrain and the enemy's defensive structures left no option for this objective other than a frontal attack, but Ukraine could not manage to break through the front for a long time. Fatsevych was at a command post when Budanov arrived. "He gave the command: alright, let's get to work. It was necessary to set an example I will go and you will follow, said the deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After the battle, the guys from Kraken [a special unit of the HUR] gave interviews, saying our commander was walking with us. And they took Ruska Lozova. The boys suffered losses, but they had no choice." Budanov also visited his soldiers in Severodonetsk under Russian siege. Last May, he was going to fly to liberate Snake Island in the Black Sea. "He was practically removed from the helicopter," said one of Budanovs subordinates. Budanov had been promoted to major general shortly before this episode. Read also: Crimean occupation authorities declare intent to 'nationalize' apartment belonging to Zelenskyy's wife When Zelenskyy put the top intelligence officer in charge of the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war, Budanov again began to "rush into battle," planning to make the trip to neutral territory for the first exchange. But he could not, and the young general was replaced by his wife. "If the Russians had found out that the head of Ukraines military intelligence or his wife had come for the exchange, the consequences could have been unpredictable," says Usov, who led the exchange negotiation group. But everything went well, and I exhaled. The prisoner exchanges became regular afterwards. Budanov also did a lot for the defenders of Mariupols Azovstal. He managed to organize their exit from the besieged factory in such a way that it would not look like a humiliating capture, which is what the Russians wanted. Budanov even met with the Pope to speak on the issue of exchanging Azovstal defenders. Everything is going according to plan Military journalist Yuriy Butusov sees Budanov as a person who is used to risk and who has cultivated many combat-ready units of risk-taking troops under his leadership. This, he believes, deserves respect. "It raises another question: how these wonderful people are used at the front, what losses they are suffering, and whether these losses correspond to the results achieved," Butusov adds. The HUR explains that in the first days of the war, their units were a collective mess, so they did not always achieve their goals and suffered losses. At times, groups of HUR troops had to enter the hottest spots on the front to stabilize the defense, as was the case in Severodonetsk and Bakhmut. This also did not contribute to personnel retention. Read also: Drone crashes onto railway in Crimea, rail traffic suspended Russian media And yet, thanks to numerous successful operations, the HUR and its special forces have turned into a global brand, military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko explains. "When we were young, it was impossible to guess which of us would become a hero. All the more so before Budanov had shown himself to be a leader," Fatsevych says with a smile. "But life has put everything in its place," he adds sternly. On the Island, the place that Budanov was given to oversee, it seems that they are all in agreement with this. Sitting in the middle of his museum-like office, in his now-famous black chair which has appeared in hundreds of photos published around the world, under a picture of an owl, the symbol of the HUR, holding a bat (the symbol of Russias military intelligence) in its claws, Budanov confidently declares to NV that the Armed Forces of Ukraine may enter Crimea this year, and that the war will definitely end in 2023. Read also: Moscow court arrests Ukraines intelligence chief Budanov in absentia over terrorism "Everything is going according to plan for us. Absolutely all my predictions are coming true," he asserts without a shadow of a smile on his face. 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 Rita Wilson reacts to claims she and Tom Hanks scolded man on Cannes red carpet: Nice try! Rita Wilson has responded to a viral video in which she and husband Tom Hanks appear to be shouting at a man at Cannes Film Festival. The couple, who last month marked their 35th wedding anniversary, were in attendance at the film festival to see Wes Andersons new film Asteroid City. You can read The Independents glowing review of the film here. Following the event, photos went viral on social media which appeared to show Hanks and Wilson shouting at an unknown man on the red carpet. Hanks, who stars in Asteroid City, appeared to be pointing his finger at the man and making a stern face during their conversation. Wilson, similarly, appeared from a distance to be caught up in a heated discussion. However, Wilson, 66, has now denied that any such argument took place, explaining that she and Hanks were simply struggling to hear directions on the red carpet. In a post shared on her Instagram Story on Wednesday (24 May), Wilson reposted a news article suggesting that the pair had remonstrated with the man. This is called, I cant hear you. People are screaming. What did you say? Where are we supposed to go? wrote Wilson. Wilson responded on Instagram (Rita Wilson/Instagram) But that doesnt sell stories! Nice try! We had a great time! Go see Asteroid City! In his review of Asteroid City, The Independents Geoffrey Macnab praised Hankss performance, saying that the actor delivers some of the best scenes in the film. In early May, Hanks and Wilson celebrated their wedding anniversary, with Wilson writing on social media: 35 years of marriage. April 30, 1988. Love is everything. The couple first me on the set of ABCs sitcom Bosom Buddies in 1981 and share two children: Chet, 31 and Truman, 27. Asteroid City is released in UK cinemas on 23 June. Roger Waters dresses as SS officer and projects Anne Franks name onto stage during gigs in Germany Roger Waters was seen dressing in an outfit resembling that of a Nazi SS officer during recent live performances in Germany. The former Pink Floyd musician, 79, also projected the name of Anne Frank on a giant screen during the shows, along with several other names of contemporary figures including George Floyd and Shireen Abu Akleh. Frank was a Jewish teenager killed during the Holocaust, whose personal diary, written while living in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, went on to become one of the best-known accounts of the Holocaust. Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minnesota in May 2020. His death prompted a wave of global anti-racism protests, and led to the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement. Abu Akleh, a correspondant for Al Jazeera, was shot and killed last year while covering a raid by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on a Palestinian refugee camp. After initially blaming her killing on Palestinian shooters, Israel then said it was possible the bullet had come from an Israeli gunman. A number of separate investigations, including by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the UN, concuded that Abu Akleh had been killed by Israeli forces. Some reports, including those by the Palestinian Authority and CNN, concluded that her killing had been targeted and deliberate. Israel has denied this. Waters decision to associate the name of Anne Frank with that of Abu Akleh has proved contentious, with some deeming the comparison antisemitic. The musicians show opened with a statement that read: On a matter of public interest: a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite. Just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly. The Independent has contacted a representative of Waters for comment. Earlier this year, some Jewish groups called for the cancellation of Waters German shows. Frankfurt city council called off a planned date for the artist, claiming that he is considered one of the most far-reaching antisemites in the world. Waters has previously compared the Israeli governments oppression of the Palestinian people with the actions of the Nazis under the rule of Adolf Hitler. Speaking to Berliner Zeitung newspaper, Waters addressed the allegations of antisemitism. He characterised the criticism against him as being part of an outrageous and despicable smear campaign to denounce me as an antisemite, which I am not, never have been and never will be. Waters performing onstage in Amsterdam on 6 April 2023 (ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Waters claimed that the backlash arose because I lend my voice to the 75-year-old fight for equal human rights for all my brothers and sisters in Palestine/Israel, alleging that the Israeli state is comitting genocide. Earlier this year, Waters became embroiled in a row with his former bandmate, David Gilmour, and Gilmours wife, the writer Polly Samson, who accused Waters of being being antisemitic to your rotten core, in an online row over Israel and the Ukraine war. In the extraordinary attack on Twitter in February, Samson also claimed her husbands former bandmate was a Putin apologist, saying: Enough of your nonsense. Waters responded on his official account saying he was aware of the incendiary and wildly inaccurate comments made about him on Twitter by Polly Samson which he refutes entirely, adding: He is currently taking advice as to his position. The row between Waters and Samson came as Waters sought to attack the Israel lobby for trying to silence him amid controversy ahead of his concerts in Germany. A number of local politicians and religious leaders called for them to be cancelled over his past comments on Israel, following a backlash in Poland regarding his stance on Ukraine. Roger Waters dresses as SS officer and projects Anne Franks name onto stage during gigs in Germany Roger Waters was seen dressing in an outfit resembling that of a Nazi SS officer during recent live performances in Germany. The former Pink Floyd musician, 79, also projected the name of Anne Frank on a giant screen during the shows, along with several other names of contemporary figures including George Floyd and Shireen Abu Akleh. Frank was a Jewish teenager killed during the Holocaust, whose personal diary, written while living in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, went on to become one of the best-known accounts of the Holocaust. Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minnesota in May 2020. His death prompted a wave of global anti-racism protests, and led to the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement. Abu Akleh, a correspondant for Al Jazeera, was shot and killed last year while covering a raid by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on a Palestinian refugee camp. After initially blaming her killing on Palestinian shooters, Israel then said it was possible the bullet had come from an Israeli gunman. A number of separate investigations, including by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the UN, concuded that Abu Akleh had been killed by Israeli forces. Some reports, including those by the Palestinian Authority and CNN, concluded that her killing had been targeted and deliberate. Israel has denied this. Waters decision to associate the name of Anne Frank with that of Abu Akleh has proved contentious, with some deeming the comparison antisemitic. The musicians show opened with a statement that read: On a matter of public interest: a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite. Just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly. Earlier this year, some Jewish groups called for the cancellation of Waters German shows. Frankfurt city council called off a planned date for the artist, claiming that he is considered one of the most far-reaching antisemites in the world. Waters performing onstage in Amsterdam on 6 April 2023 (ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Waters has previously compared the Israeli governments oppression of the Palestinian people with the actions of the Nazis under the rule of Adolf Hitler. Speaking to Berliner Zeitung newspaper, Waters addressed the allegations of antisemitism. He characterised the criticism against him as being part of an outrageous and despicable smear campaign to denounce me as an antisemite, which I am not, never have been and never will be. Waters says that the backlash arose because I lend my voice to the 75-year-old fight for equal human rights for all my brothers and sisters in Palestine/Israel, alleging that the Israeli state is comitting genocide. The Independent has contacted a representative of Waters for comment. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Twitter If the medium is the message, the message was a mess. Ron DeSantiss presidential announcement started with Twitter Spaces going down for 20-plus minutes that felt more like 20-plus years. It only improved moderately from there. Twitter boss Elon Musk had billed a 6 p.m. ET start with the slogan Preparing to Launch. But the joke on Twitter soon became: Failure to Launch. Joe Biden even trolled DeSantis and Musk, tweeting this link works while linking to a Biden-Harris donation page. (When Biden dunks on you) Tech glitches happen, but this was a very important and much-anticipated event. The big threat for DeSantis is that this becomes a sort of metaphor for a campaign that, even before the failure to launch, already felt like it had exploded on the launchpad. The good news is that Twitter Spaces eventually worked. But we were left with DeSantis, whose opening remarks sounded like he was reading a bad script. Much of what he had to say was trite, although the line about the woke mind virus (which he would later repeat on Fox News) was both weird and memorable. For those hoping DeSantis would finally take the fight to Donald Trump, DeSantis continued his trend of not mentioning or confronting his former ally, while occasionally subtly subtweeting him, as it were. This strategy seemed to be telegraphed earlier on Wednesday by a quote Jeff Roe, the top consultant for DeSantiss Super PAC, gave The New York Times: Well, you beat Trump by beating Trump. And where Ron DeSantis has beaten Trump is by doing what Republican voters want him to do the most. Roes theory assumes that GOP primary voters prioritize conservative legislative accomplishments. It sounds plausible, but is there any evidence? Not really. Very Online and Very Glitchy: DeSantis Announces for President DeSantis has spent the last several months fighting woke ideology, and passing conservative legislation in Florida. Yet, during that time, DeSantis has only lost ground to Trump. Back to the announcement. DeSantis was joined by Musk and David Sacks, who moderated questions from prominent supporters like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Chris Rufo, Dana Loesch, and Iowa radio host Steve Deace. They mostly backslapped DeSantis and Musk, while lobbing softballs. A good bit of time was devoted to focusing on how historic this announcement was (despite the fact that it was a glorified radio broadcast that didnt really work), how Twitter is a bastion of free speech, and how bad corporate media is. Its entirely possible that Musk was implicitly praised more than DeSantis. So why did DeSantis choose to launch his campaign on a platform that even I, a habitual tweeter, had never before utilized. Was it brave and innovative, or stupid and weird? There is speculation that this was an attempt for Twitter to displace Fox News as the cool place for a new generation of cool, young right-wingers in the vein of DeSantis and Musk. After all, Tucker Carlson is reportedly moving there. That explains why Musk would want to do this, but Im not sure why DeSantis would go along with it. Another theory: DeSantis is very online, which is to say he is too online. The problem with being very online is that most Americans arent. Twitter is not the real world, yet for many of us, it feels like it is. This distorts our perception, which is a bad problem for a politician to have. I mean, do normal Americans love Elon Musk, or do they think hes a weird foreigner? Im not sure (because Im on Twitter). Have they even heard of David Sacks? Seems unlikely. That didnt stop DeSantis from using terms like the narrative, Bitcoin, ESGs debanking, and elite cabals. It felt more like a right-wing podcast than a mainstream campaign launch. Trump Lays Into DeSantis Disaster of a 2024 Announcement Its hard to imagine most of what was said connecting with normies living in places like Iowa or New Hampshire. Then again, its unclear how anyone less tech-savvy than me (a Gen-Xer who works on the internet every day) could navigate this process, to begin with. To be sure, if you are a fanboy who lives in this niche, having a presidential candidate talk about these issues (FINALLY!) must feel refreshing and edgy. Like Trump, DeSantis seems more committed to narrowcasting to a concentrated fan base than broadcasting to the masses. You might think DeSantis would have learned this lesson. As recently as 2020, Joe Biden won the Democratic primary by virtue of ignoring Twitter, while his opponents like Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Beto ORourke, et al, seemed obsessed with chasing blue checkmark values. Musks Twitter has a different class of people with blue checkmarks, but the notion that Twitter represents mainstream public opinion is just as mistaken. The good news for DeSantis is that his so-called announcement was followed by an actual interview on Fox News. But his earlier failure to launch couldnt be ignored, even if it was spun as DeSantis breaking the internet due to all the traffic he generated. I cant promise you that I wont crash, host Trey Gowdy said, But Fox News will not crash during this interview. Fox News did not crash. But DeSantis chances might have. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Ron DeSantis tried to do a very modern thing Wednesday when he announced his presidential candidacy on Twitter. But he sounded like a candidate from another time, and not just because of the technical disaster that plagued the platform (the only part of the event anyone will actually remember). No, DeSantis sounded like he was straight out of 2016. And thats bad news for Republicans. The Florida governor unleashed a torrent of criticism of incumbent Joe Biden. But he said almost nothing about the first contender he needs to beat: Donald Trump. Its early, but if this is an indicator that hes going to try to beat Trump by not talking about him, the GOP is stuck with Trump and probably another loss to Biden. Republicans tried this the first time Trump ran. They either ignored his surge, assuming he would flame out, or strategized to target other contenders in the hopes theyd be the last person standing to take on Trump for the 2016 nomination. How did that work out for Ted Cruz? Or Marco Rubio? Or Jeb Bush? This time, Republican contenders must convince Republican voters that Trumps time is through, that he cannot win and that their policy priorities will suffer if they dont step away from the former president. DeSantis waved at it in his brief speech, delayed several minutes by Twitters failure to prepare for the large traffic DeSantis event drew. There is no substitute for victory, he said, repeating his mantra that the party has suffered from a culture of losing. He added that Republicans must look forward, not backwards, a jab perhaps at Trumps obsession with the 2020 election. Not good enough. Theres so much to work with, but the elements DeSantis should emphasize most can be summed up as: age and rage. DeSantis is 44; Trump turns 77 next month. Its an energetic 77, to be sure, and either would contrast well with President Joe Biden, who seems older in every (rare) public appearance. Republicans desperately need to make in-roads with younger voters of all races and minorities in particular. A vigorous young governor can reframe conservatism as tackling the problems that vex young families, including our weak education system. Nearly everyone has an opinion on Trump, while DeSantis can make a brand new case. As for rage, this is the singular argument against Trump: He turns off too many people. His lack of personal discipline and willingness to say anything at any time may excite the MAGA base for whom owning the libs is the pinnacle of presidential achievement. But there are many more voters who just cant fathom another four years of cringing at something their president said or did. A race against Biden is going to come down to a handful of states and a small number of swing voters in each. The Washington Post recently reported on a swing-state focus group in which voters uncertain about Bidens age and fitness for office nonetheless swung hard to the incumbent if Trump is the GOP nominee. Its one focus group, and candidate DeSantis cant spend too much time talking about electability. But hes got to get his party interested in winning again and make voters understand that Trump, whatever their feelings about him, is not likely to pull it off. The case must be made that Trump is a four-time loser. He lost the popular vote in 2016 and won the presidency on a once-in-a-lifetime break of a small number of voters in three states. In 2018, Republicans got crushed and lost control of Congress. In 2020, Democrats swept, and they used control of the federal government to pass sweeping legislation. Republicans looked poised to ride a backlash to big majorities in Congress. But Trumps poor choices in candidates helped lead to an unexpected strong election for the party in power. Every day, it seems, theres a new reminder of why winning matters. Consider the news that Bidens Education Department is coming down hard on a Georgia school district that dared to try to exert control over which books it could have in its library. Fixing that and other executive actions will take focus and discipline, not picking daily fights with whoever has slighted you online. In other words, imagine the damage a second-term Biden (or first-term Kamala Harris) Education Department could do with four more years. To beat Trump, Republican challengers will have to make the case directly that Trump isnt up to that kind of job. Any that wont do so directly should clear a path for someone who will. Ron DeSantis could have just gone down a golden escalator instead of crashing and burning on Twitter Spaces Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis. Alex Wong/Getty Images; John Tully for The Washington Post via Getty Images You know what they say: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. DeSantis could have taken tips from his one-time mentor and gone down a golden escalator somewhere. Instead, thousands of people tuned in to see the stream of his campaign announcement crash and burn. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida learned something the hard way on Wednesday night: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. In an attempt to reinvent presidential campaign announcements, DeSantis and his team opted to join Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces for the occasion. It's unclear why DeSantis' campaign opted to use Twitter Spaces as his platform of choice for what was, arguably, the most significant moment of his career yet. Maybe it was Musk's 2 a.m. livestream? yep, the one where the Twitter owner tested a "new mic" and spammed listeners with fart noises while laughing hysterically. Whatever the reasoning, the stream crashed multiple times over 20 minutes. And when Musk's team finally got the stream to work at least for some Twitter users DeSantis had to speed-read his announcement. "We must restore sanity to our nation," DeSantis said after announcing his run, adding that "merit must trump identity politics" the pun was not missed. But say what you will about former President Donald Trump at least he knew in 2015 that going down a golden escalator would be a more foolproof way of launching his campaign. Although, The Washington Post reported that the Trump campaign might have hired actors to cheer for him on his descent. In November 2022, Trump opted for the safe "gilded Florida ballroom" option surrounded by faithful supporters. Boring but at least he wasn't cut off a dozen times on a social-media livestream while announcing his presidential run. And boy, did Trump smell blood in the water. "DeSanctimonious raised much of his money during his run for Governor, which in theory cannot be used for his current 'escapade,' and before his poll numbers tanked - and wow(!) did they tank!" Trump posted on Truth Social as Musk and DeSantis continued to try desperately to make it happen on Twitter Spaces. And minutes after DeSantis announced his run, Trump dropped not one but two videos attacking his former protege. "The Washington-established politicians like to talk about how they can be just like Donald Trump," the voiceover on Trump's second video said. "Why would we ever settle for Trump imposters when there's only one starting day one who can make America great again?" A Trump spokesperson said this to Insider about DeSantis: "Glitchy. Tech issues. Uncomfortable silences. A complete failure to launch. And that's just the candidate!" And with that welcome to the petty primary. Buckle up. Read the original article on Business Insider A Ron DeSantis-Donald Trump brawl? Not yet. DeSantis takes low-key tack as he announces 2024 bid WASHINGTON Ron DeSantis is now an official Republican presidential candidate, but he spent Day One making only a muted critique of front-running antagonist Donald Trump. During an unusual rollout Wednesday night, DeSantis once again touted his record in Florida and made only passing references to Trump, noting at one point that he and his movement have lost a string of elections. "There is no substitute for victory," DeSantis said during a friendly interview on Twitter Spaces. "We must end the culture of losing that has infected the Republican Party in recent years." DeSantis echoed his "culture of losing" comment in an interview on Fox News but did not cite Trump or any other Republican opponent by name. Ron DeSantis Questioners at these events made unnamed references to Trump, but DeSantis did not take the bait. Whether DeSantis can maintain his reticence remains to be seen, given Trump's big lead in Republican polls. Trump stays on attack Rest assured, Trump will continue brawling with DeSantis. If anything, the former president amped up his frequent attacks on the Florida governor as an ingrate with a bad record and a poor personality that will not play well with voters. In one of several anti-DeSantis posts on Truth Social, Trump said DeSantis raised most of his money "before his poll numbers tanked - and wow(!) did they tank!" Either way, DeSantis' formal entrance in the race locked in a Republican battle that will probably determine whom the party nominates for president next year. A more aggressive DeSantis? The Florida governor held off attacking Trump over indictments and other legal issues, but he did mark his formal entrance into the race by suggesting he is a better bet than Trump in a general election. At one point during his Twitter interview, DeSantis appeared to reference Trump's protests of his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden by saying "we must look forward, not backwards." Asked on Fox what he would say to candidates who have said they might not participate in debates such as Trump DeSantis replied: "I think we should debate." DeSantis makes it official, files to run for president in 2024 Ron DeSantis trails Donald Trump in the polls; 5 reasons he could still win in 2024 For the most part, however, DeSantis stuck to the approach he has used for months: promoting his Florida policies on education, immigration, law and order and the economy, and arguing that they should be applied to the nation as a whole. In a video released by the newly minted campaign, DeSantis said, "Im running for president to lead our Great American Comeback." (The video did not mention Trump, either.) After filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, DeSantis went on Twitter Spaces and Fox News to talk about his new campaign and to talk more about Biden rather than Trump or other Republican opponents. Asked on Twitter about opponents' criticism of his legal fight with Disney, DeSantis did not cite Trump or anybody else by name. Instead, he lumped them together as "corporatists" who back state benefits for big businesses. Throughout the evening, Trump and his allies mocked DeSantis for technical glitches during his Twitter event. The website kept crashing and the audio frequently went out, delaying the event for nearly half an hour. On Truth Social, Trump called the DeSantis Twitter launch "a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH!" Trump and videos 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. Trump's attacks on social media included anti-DeSantis video commercials. One recalled how Trump's endorsement helped a long-shot DeSantis win the Florida governor's race in 2018. "Instead of being grateful," the narrator said, "DeSantis is now attacking the very man who saved his career." The other ad mocked DeSantis for trying to be like Trump and touted the former president's record in office. "Why would we ever settle for Trump imposters?" the narrator asked. Trump and allies also promoted his leads in polls. A CNN poll released Wednesday showed Trump has the backing of 53% of Republican and Republican-leaning primary voters; DeSantis is far back in second at 26%. Trump's legal problems DeSantis said nothing about what figures to be a major campaign issue: Trump's legal problems. A New York City grand jury has indicted Trump in connection with hush money payments to a former mistress. The former president is scheduled to be tried in late March, right in the middle of the Republican nomination process. Trump is also under investigation over his handling of classified information and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, including the attempted insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. Others attack DeSantis DeSantis isn't the only Republican candidate who has been reluctant to attack Trump publicly. Most of the other announced or prospective candidates including Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Mike Pence have spent as much time criticizing DeSantis as Trump. Haley, the former South Carolina governor and Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, has been notably clear that she intends to target DeSantis for the title of Trump's main challenger. Speaking with Fox News Digital in the hours before DeSantis' Twitter announcement, Haley described the Florida governor as "just an echo of Trump," and "I think that's not what the American people want to see." Democrats look forward to Trump v. DeSantis Political professionals said DeSantis can't help but go after Trump at some point, especially given the former president's lead in the polls. Democrats, of course, don't believe Trump or DeSantis can win a general election and say their emerging internecine battle will only help Biden win reelection Pat Dennis, president of American Bridge 21st Century a political organization that prepared "a DeSantis Research Book" criticizing the governor said he, Trump and other GOP candidates are mostly "far-right extremists." They "are in a race to the right because thats the only way to win a Republican primary," he said. "The candidate who makes it through will be whoever can convince their voters that they would attack our democracy and our freedoms the most," Dennis said. 'Zero charm' Trump and other Republicans also attacked DeSantis for his campaign skills, or lack thereof. They cited video of awkward exchanges between the new candidate and potential voters. DeSantis skeptics cited campaign skills as a big reason he will have a hard time coming back against Trump. Former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, a onetime Republican who left the party over Trump, said the former president's legal problems and persona will strengthen him with his very large number of base voters who believe he is being targeted by Democrats. DeSantis, Walsh said, has "zero charm and people skills," and "that will matter" at primary time. "The more people see of him and the more they hear from him, the less they like him," Walsh said. "That's his problem." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A Ron DeSantis-Donald Trump brawl? Not yet. DeSantis is still low-key The News MIAMI, FL Florida governor Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday that he was running to be the 47th president of the United States with a mission to end a culture of losing on the right, and overhaul a federal government that triggered authoritarian attempts to restrict Americans rights during the pandemic. After some technical difficulties, that is. The first 25 minutes of the much-anticipated event co-hosted by Elon Musk and David Sacks on Twitter Spaces were widely panned as a disaster, with glitches overtaking it to the point that Musk was forced to end the live audio stream and transfer it over to his co-hosts page. The headlines were brutal, none worse than on Fox News, which seemed eager to highlight the governors misfortune on a tech platform viewed as an emerging rival for conservative news. The homepages top article afterwards: Much-Hyped Ron DeSantis Presidential Announcement a Disaster on Twitter, with a splashy photo of Musk captioned AMATEUR HOUR. When DeSantis finally went on, he delivered a low-key speech to the diminished audience before joining a podcast-like discussion with his hosts and handpicked friendly guests on topics like education, immigration, Bitcoin, and Twitter. Later that night, he appeared on Fox (at which point they transitioned to more friendly headlines). Host Trey Gowdy joked Fox News will not crash during this interview before jumping into a lengthy conversation. DeSantis said it was due to the large volume of listeners. Shelby and Benjy's View Theres no sugarcoating the first leg of DeSantiss launch: It was a train wreck. Worse, it was a wholly predictable one. The governor was explicitly warned by many political observers ahead of the event that he risked ceding the spotlight to Musk on a buggy platform few Americans had experience using and thats exactly what happened, all on the most important day of his political career to date. It was, one unaffiliated Republican strategist said, a textbook example of Roger Ailes Orchestra Pit Theory, which the late Fox News chairman detailed in a 1988 interview: The candidate who falls in the orchestra pit will always lead the evening broadcasts, no matter what substantive news happens at the same forum. The event was over before it started, they added. DeSantis donors, invited to the Four Seasons in Miami for a two-day launch event, gathered for a cocktail reception during the Twitter event, listening in via an audio feed from the ballroom. I was surprised that Elon hadnt failure-tested this before such an important announcement, a donor in the room said, though they maintained that the sentiment at the cocktail hour was that it was a non issue for them. It was, however, one bad day. So what did DeSantis have to say that well be hearing throughout the rest of his campaign? His remarks across his Twitter and Fox appearances were largely consistent with what hes been teasing for months, emphasizing his electability and success in delivering conservative victories in what was until-recently an iconic swing state. In recent weeks, hes signed a 6-week abortion ban and continued to battle Disney over the companys criticism of a law he signed restricting discussions and material related to gender and sexuality in the classroom. All the things that we believe as Republicans, or as conservatives...weve been able to take those values ands those principles and actually turn them into reality, he said on Fox News. Every single day we put up big wins on the board, but we're doing that while also enjoying major political success. There was no big pivot to the much-anticipated direct attack on Donald Trump. But the policy themes that he returned to most all emphasized his ability to get things done on issues where Trump, left unsaid, had failed. He pledged to declare a national emergency and shut down the border quickly by reinstating many of Trumps policies and completing a wall. He also repeatedly emphasized his plans to uproot the federal bureaucracy at every level, a.k.a. the deep state Trump frequently railed against. Among other plans, he said he would fire FBI director Chris Wray a Trump appointee on day one. He claimed he could find "different leverage points under Article II of the Constitution to bring rogue departments to heel. These agencies are totally out of control, he said during his Twitter event. Theres no accountability and we are going to bring that in a big way. There was also plenty of discussion around the anti-woke politics that are more DeSantis natural language than Trumps. "The woke mind virus is basically a form of cultural Marxism, DeSantis said on Fox News. At the end of the day it's an attack on the truth. And because it's a war on truth, I think we have no choice but to wage a war on woke." Its still a critical question for DeSantis whether this kind of talk will resonate with average voters, or whether the frequent references on Wednesday to acronyms like DEI and ESG will seem confusing to anyone but hardcore conservatives. But that challenge starts later, when he can get his message out at all without a server crash or chorus of mocking pundits drowning it out. Room for Disagreement Eric Wilson, a Republican operative who specializes in tech, argued that DeSantis Twitter launch was the right move when going up against someone like Trump: Beating him is going to take risks, not playing it safe with the standard template, he tweeted. He predicted that the Florida governors fundraising numbers would be higher than had he done a traditional launch. The View From Team DeSantis There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet, DeSantis spokesman Bryan Griffin said in a statement. Washington is next. Later on, the campaign continued to lean into the glitches: What can we break next? they tweeted, complete with a link to his fundraising page. The View From Trump World Trumps allies reveled in the early missteps. Glitchy. Tech issues. Uncomfortable silences. A complete failure to launch. And thats just the candidate! a Trump spokesperson texted amid the debacle. Trump took a bit of a stranger route with a post on Truth Social that referenced a 2018 tweet in which he taunted Kim Jong Un with nuclear war: 'Rob,' My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working (TRUTH!), yours does not! (per my conversation with Kim Jung Un, of North Korea, soon to become my friend!). The former presidents team also sent out a blitz of press releases targeting the Florida governor. Topics ranged from DeSantis past positions on Social Security and Medicare, his opposition to policies propping up ethanol, why hed be the wrong choice for places like New Hampshire and Nevada, and much more. The View From Democrats There was plenty of ribbing about the Twitter SNAFUs as well. This link works, Bidens account tweeted, directing to a donations page. But Democrats previewed more substantive attacks as well. Ron DeSantis has pushed an extreme MAGA agenda focused on ripping Floridians freedoms away and now he wants to take that agenda nationwide, DNC chair Jaime Harrison said. DeSantis got his start as a co-founder of the ultra-right wing House Freedom Caucus where he supported Paul Ryans plan to end Medicare and Social Security as we know it, voted for national abortion bans, worked to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and supported Donald Trumps tax giveaways to the biggest corporations. After months of his candidacy being treated like a foregone conclusion within both Republican circles and the public at large, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made it official on Wednesday, announcing the launch of his campaign to become the GOP's 2024 presidential nominee to take on incumbent President Biden. "American decline is not inevitable, it is a choice. And we should choose a new direction a path that will lead to American revitalization," DeSantis said during an exclusive sit-down interview with Twitter owner Elon Musk streamed live on the platform. The glitchy stream crashed repeatedly, making it "virtually impossible" for anyone to hear the announcement in real-time, as The Associated Press wrote. DeSantis' entry into an increasingly crowded Republican field comes as Donald Trump continues to dominate across multiple polls. Nevertheless, the former president has gone out of his way to boost some declared candidates at DeSantis' explicit expense a sign that even with his commanding lead, Trump sees the Florida governor as his chief rival for the GOP nomination. Hours before DeSantis finally made his candidacy official, the former president jabbed that "he desperately needs a personality transplant and, to the best of my knowledge, they are not medically available yet." DeSantis' studiously crafted aura of conservative electability (in contrast to Trump's electoral weaknesses) has been battered in the months leading up to Wednesday's seemingly inevitable announcement, with the candidate struggling to overcome allegations of awkward interpersonal skills and facing blowback from his far-right political agenda in Florida. Despite trailing Trump in the polls, however, DeSantis has maintained a comfortable lead over the remainder of the GOP candidates, including former U.N Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Now that DeSantis has officially committed to running for the nomination, the question becomes whether he can capitalize on his position ahead of the bulk of the GOP pack, while still weathering a continued assault from Trump. You may also like WHO chief warns of pathogens that could be 'even deadlier' than Covid-19 Will the IRS's free online tax filing program kill H&R Block and TurboTax? California is diverting melting snow to avoid flooding (Bloomberg) -- Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign sought to regain its footing Thursday by announcing a robust upcoming travel schedule to early-voting states a day after a glitch-filled launch. Most Read from Bloomberg The Florida governor has multiple stops scheduled for next week in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina as his campaign aims to build momentum to take on Donald Trump, currently the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination. DeSantiss long-awaited presidential announcement Wednesday on Twitter alongside its billionaire owner Elon Musk suffered fits and starts, and was rife with crosstalk of technical difficulties and freezing audio, before it got going some 30 minutes behind schedule. DeSantis has built-in advantages as he now officially gets under way, including a sizable amount of money left over from 2022 gubernatorial race that he can tap for his presidential bid, the backing of a well-organized super PAC and GOP donors who are eager for an alternative to Trump. Read more: DeSantis Courts Donors as Drama-Free Alternative to Trump But the past several weeks have been politically painful for DeSantis, as he stumbled to articulate his position on the conflict in Ukraine, skirted the issue of abortion in public appearances and waged a very public battle with the Walt Disney Co., one of the largest employers in Florida. Some DeSantis insiders worry that the Florida governor waited too long to enter the race, giving Trump ample time to define him for the media and donors, but they want to see him overcome these early missteps now that he has formally launched his campaign. Fundraising Blitz DeSantis and his team are trying to raise millions of dollars in the first 48 hours at a two-day donor meet-up at the Four Seasons in Miami. More than 100 fundraisers have congregated at the luxury resort for a campaign briefing, an afternoon of fundraising calls and a reception with the governor on Thursday evening. The DeSantis team hopes to raise $8 to $10 million, according to two sources briefed on the plans, with each individual contributing the maximum amount allowed of $3,300. Next week, DeSantis travels to Iowa for two days followed by New Hampshire and South Carolina the first three GOP primary voting states. He and his senior staff recently told donors that they view Iowas GOP caucus as one of his best chances to challenge Trump, since the teams internal polling shows DeSantis with a favorability rating of two-to-one with evangelicals compared to Trump. The DeSantis team also intends to keep making the argument that the Florida governor would be eligible to serve for eight years, while Trump is limited to one more four-year term. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign continues to relentlessly attack DeSantis on his record in Florida and as a lawmaker in Congress. Trump and his aides delighted in the many technical difficulties from DeSantiss Twitter Spaces launch, On his Truth Social platform, Trump posted an image of a rocket, labeled Ron 2024, failing to launch. DeSantiss campaign on Thursday morning touted the 30 million views it said it received on its launch video and Twitter Spaces event, adding that they raised $1 million within one hour of announcing. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A photo of a phone with Elon Musk's Twitter account. Musk is previewing the event with Ron DeSantis. All the attention was on Twitter in Ron DeSantiss launch event. Florida governor Ron DeSantis announced his US presidential campaign during a Twitter Spaces audio call hosted by Elon Musk and the venture capitalist David Sacks. The event was billed as a launch party for DeSantis, who is generally considered the top contender to challenge former president Donald Trump in the Republican primary. But instead the focus kept drifting back to Twitter, and how Musk has restored free speech to the platform. After 25 minutes of relentless glitches as close to 600,000 people tried joining the conference call, DeSantis was finally able to make his much-anticipated announcementa scripted speech that would have fit right in at a traditional campaign rally or televised press conference. Read more After the speech, Sacks thanked the governor for bearing with the technical difficulties and started off with the most important question of the hour: Why did he want to make this announcement on Twitter Spaces? DeSantis sprung into a wide-ranging criticism of Twitters old management and its efforts to remove misinformation about covid, pandemic protocols, and the covid-19 vaccine. The truth was censored repeatedly, and now that Twitter is in the hands of a free speech advocate, that would not be able to happen again, said DeSantis, who gained a national reputation for taking early steps to remove mask mandates and send students back to in-person school. Musk was gracious about the governors praise. Were absolutely committed to freedom of speech and a level playing field and vigorous debate, Musk said. Hopefully this can be a platform that brings people of divergent political views to exchange those views. Never mind that there was no vigorous debate nor divergent views present for the next hour and change. Instead, Sacks invited a litany of right-wing personalities sympathetic to DeSantiss stancesincluding Kentucky congressional representative Thomas Massie, Manhattan Institute fellow and critical race theory obsessive Christopher Rufo, and former National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loeschto ask questions draped in praise for DeSantis, and for Twitter. Elon Musk didnt say much on the Twitter Spaces for DeSantis Since taking over Twitter in October, the culmination of $44 billion deal that Musk sued to get out of, the worlds second-richest man has rolled back content rules about misinformation and hate speech, and restored the accounts of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and Donald Trump, though the former president has yet to tweet. Musk was unusually quiet during the eventexcept to talk about Twitter and accept praise from the invited speakers. (Twitter was indeed expensive but free speech is priceless, he said, after DeSantis referenced the high price Musk paid for the platform.) He also made a one-off dogecoin joke. But left all of the questioning and moderating to Sacks and didnt formally endorse DeSantis. The conversation meandered, addressing diversity initiatives, gender identity, DeSantis fight with the Walt Disney Company, The Atlantic and Vanity Fairs coverage of the event itself, the NAACPs travel advisory for Florida, the woke mind virus, bitcoin, and central bank digital currencies, among many other topics. Practically every point of discussion circled back somehow to praise for Musk and Twitter. Thomas Massie and Steve Deace are grateful for Elon Musk Let me say thank you to Elon Musk for buying Twitter and exposing all of this, Massie said when he was invited to ask a question of DeSantis. All this alluded to information from the so-called Twitter Files disclosing Twitters history of cooperating with government requests under its former ownership. By the way, I have never met Elon Musk but Im one of your biggest fans, the congressman said. Conservative radio host Steve Deace drenched Musk in gratitude. Elon, if I had put down money on January 1, 2022, that Twitter was gonna be the last bastion of free speech on Earth, Id be as rich as you on that bet right now, he said. I mean, its incredible what you have done here. In concluding the call, even DeSantis focused less on recapping his political ambitions than his praise for Twitter. This is a great platform, he said. Id like to see other platforms going in the same direction, but a healthy democratic society needs a robust debate. If only it had gotten one here. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Ross Harris will not be retried after murder conviction overturned in sons hot car death The Cobb County District Attorneys Office announced Thursday that they will not retry a man accused of murdering his two-year-old son by leaving him in a hot car. Ross Harris was convicted of all eight counts related to the death of his son, Cooper, on Nov. 14, 2016. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Harris told police he forgot to drop 22-month-old Cooper at day care on the morning of June 18, 2014, driving straight to his job as a web developer for Home Depot without remembering that Cooper was still in his car seat. Cooper died after sitting for about seven hours in the back seat of the vehicle outside his fathers office. Temperatures that day reached at least into the high 80s. The case attracted national attention. RELATED STORIES During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Harris was having multiple extramarital affairs, several with underage teenage girls. They argued that Harris killed his son so he would no longer be a parent or a husband and could pursue other sexual relationships. Harris appealed his convictions for murder and first-degree child cruelty in 2022. In his appeal, Harris and his attorneys argued the evidence presented at the trial wasnt enough and the trial focused too much on his extramarital, and sometimes illegal, sexual activities. The Georgia Supreme Court took up the case and ultimately reversed the counts related to Coopers death because the jury heard and saw an extensive amount of improperly admitted evidence, the court said in a release. Channel Action News talked to legal experts after the counts were reversed, who said they werent surprised by the Supreme Courts ruling. They said that during the trial, Cobb County prosecutors did a good job showing Harris was a lousy husband and a horrible person, but trying to show he intentionally killed his son was a little harder to prove. The District Attorneys office Thursday said that though they disagree with the Supreme Courts decision, they are bound by it. They also said that since crucial motive evidence that was admitted at the first trial is no longer available because of the Supreme Courts decision, they determined that the could not try the case again. After much thought and deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to not retry Justin Ross Harris on the reversed counts of the indictment, the DAs office said in a statement. Cooper will always be remembered by this Office and those who fought for him. Harris stands convicted of the remaining counts of the indictment, including criminal attempt to commit sexual exploitation of children and dissemination of harmful material to minors. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] He was sentenced to 12 years in prison on those counts. His sentence officially began on Dec. 06, 2016, which means he has about 6 1/2 years left to serve at Macon State Prison. Channel 2 Action News reached out to the parole board, which said it has not received an amended sentencing order. If the District Attorney has made the decision not to retry the case and that decision results in the offender becoming parole eligible, then the board must provide the offender with meaningful parole consideration, officials said. Harris lawyers issued a statement after the decision by the D.A.s office Thursday, writing, in part: Ross has always accepted the moral responsibility for Coopers death. But after all these years of investigation and review, this dismissal of charges confirms that Coopers death was unintentional and therefore not a crime... Charging a grieving parent for an unintentional memory failure does nothing to prevent the tragedy from happening to another. In fact, child fatalities from hot cars increased after Ross 2016 trial, the most widely reported hot car death case in history. Harris attorneys said he deeply loved his son. Ross is no doubt relieved at the dismissal of the charges against him, but he is also thankful that todays dismissal may begin to restore Coopers legacy as a child much loved by his parents. Here's a roundup of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies: County part of weapons settlement with Walmart Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko's office was part of a legal settlement with Walmart concerning alleged illegal sales of brass knuckles in California, authorities said Tuesday. The case, filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and top prosecutors in Ventura, Merced and Yolo counties, accused the retail giant and third-party sellers that use its website of selling illegal weapons in the state. The metal knuckles were the primary focus, authorities said in a release, although the suit and settlement also mention switchblade knives and other weapons. Walmart will pay $500,000 as part of the settlement and must prevent the sale of illegal weapons on its website, including by third parties. The fine includes civil penalties and partial reimbursement of investigative costs and other activities. Of the total, the Ventura County DA's office will get $125,000, the settlement document shows, with $100,000 covering civil penalties and the remainder going to investigative and other costs. Each of the prosecuting agencies, including the attorney general's office, will get the same amount. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office was included in a settlement with Walmart over alleged illegal sales of brass knuckles in California. It was too easy for our investigators to make online purchases of illegal brass knuckles, Nasarenko said in the release. Walmart and other retailers need to take a hard look at their online sales practices and ensure that they are in compliance with California law. Bonta said in a statement illegal weapons have "no place" in California. "The settlement we have reached with Walmart makes crystal clear that online retailers are responsible for what they are allowing to be offered for sale in our state, the attorney general said. The investigation was conducted by the California Department of Justice in partnership with DAs in the three counties. The attorney general's complaint alleged that about 250 brass knuckle products were sold through Walmart's website. About 60% were sold directly by Walmart and 40% by third-party vendors. California law classifies the knuckles as a deadly weapon. Teens in group home allegedly stole staff van SIMI VALLEY Three teenage girls allegedly stole a minivan from their group home in Simi Valley after locking a staff member in the office Tuesday night, authorities said. Officers responded to the call around 9:20 p.m. after staff at the group home called 911, the Simi Valley Police Department said in a release. The teens had allegedly broken a window in the staff office to get inside and steal keys to the black minivan owned by the facility, then locked the worker inside. As officers were en route, the staff member told dispatchers the three girls had left in the minivan. Arriving officers found the van near Erringer Road and Royal Avenue and attempted a traffic stop on eastbound Royal. When the juvenile driver failed to pull over, officers declined to start a pursuit because the suspects were known juveniles and the scenario posed a possible danger to the public. Officers also decided to stop following the minivan. As officers were pulling off, the minivan continued eastbound on Royal and ultimately ran a stop sign at Tapo Canyon Road, according to police. The minivan hit another vehicle that had been trying to turn northbound onto Tapo Canyon, causing minor injuries to the driver of the other vehicle. The stolen minivan continued into a business complex in the 1800 block of Tapo Canyon where the three teens fled on foot, authorities said. Police set up a perimeter and searched for the girls. The driver was found walking on Los Angeles Avenue and taken into custody without incident, according to the police account. She was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy and driving a stolen vehicle and booked into Ventura County's juvenile hall facility. As of midday Wednesday, the other two juveniles hadn't been found, a police official said. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: County settles case with Walmart; teens tied to Simi van theft Students in Cabarrus County will get hands-on experience thanks to an expansion of Rowan-Cabarrus Community Colleges welding program. According to a release from the school, the welding program has grown to the colleges south campus with a large lab to provide hands-on teaching for Cabarrus County students. The south campus is on Trinity Church Road, just off U.S. 73 in Concord. The new lab has the latest equipment, like virtual reality welding machines. Students who are enrolled in the colleges welding program have a chance at immediate job opportunities. ALSO READ: Local community college cuts dozens of positions due to lower enrollment Cabarrus County donated $330,000 of the over $600,000 cost for the renovation of the lab that used to hold Rowan-Cabarrus Community Colleges motorsports program. The president of the college, Dr. Carol S. Spalding, said she is looking forward to preparing students for a strong future. The opening of the new welding lab comes at the perfect time, as Cabarrus County continues to grow and draw more industry, Spalding said. We are thankful for the countys support and look forward to preparing students for lucrative employment and filling the needs of businesses looking for skilled employees. The school held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with representatives from the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, the colleges board of trustees, and other guests who were invited to tour the new lab. Rowan-Cabarrus welding student Mira White said she feels ready for work thanks to the program. A new industry is creating greater demand for welders, said White. I feel prepared to work after graduation and will have many choices for employment. Rowan-Cabarrus has done a great job bringing female welding students into its program. ALSO READ: UNC Charlotte grad students design affordable living spaces Like White, more women are entering the schools welding program, and as new businesses move to the county, jobs for students after finishing the welding program increase. Welders can work in many different areas, from motorsports to factory work; some students even open their own businesses or take a job as a repair specialist. The schools welding program was one of eight national recipients of a grant from the American Welding Society to buy high-tech virtual welding equipment in 2019. The expansion of the welding program to South Campus will allow more students to learn this in-demand skill, which is directly related to our regions workforce and economic development needs, Spalding said. For more information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community Colleges Welding Technology program, click here. (WATCH BELOW: INTERVIEW: Fred Smith of Davidson College talks sports business) For Rebecca Morrison Mullaney, falling in love again after the death of her Army husband Ian is costing about $42,000 a year. Thats because existing federal rules cut off military benefits to military widows and widowers who get remarried before age 55. Living unmarried with a new partner doesnt carry the same penalty. Morrison Mullaney said forcing individuals like her to stay in relationship limbo to keep getting their familys deserved support is a cruel twist on an already difficult situation. I love being married .... Its a beautiful and special thing, Morrison Mullaney told the Military Times. I didnt want my first marriage to end, and I was open to having that again after Ians death. She feels like shes being punished for finding a new partner. It just pisses me off that the rules are stifling a whole generation of people that have already been through hell and given so much. Veterans advocates are again trying this year to change those rules, using Memorial Day tributes to fallen service members to remind the public that family members left behind need help too. For military widows, the law protecting their benefits discourages finding love again These widows and widowers should not have to choose between another chance at love and financial security, said Ashlynne Haycock-Lohmann, deputy director of government affairs at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. They are still the surviving spouse of a fallen service member or veteran, who earned these benefits through their service and sacrifice. Legislation recently introduced to address the issue has been dubbed the Love Lives On Act, and has already received bipartisan, bicameral support. The move could impact up to 65,000 military families across the country. It would allow surviving spouses of deceased service members to keep their Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, education benefits, military health care coverage, commissary access and more even if they remarry before age 55. Bill sponsor Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, told Military Times that a surviving spouse who is able to find someone to love again after the loss of their husband or wife on active duty or as a result of their military service should not have to choose between getting married again or retaining their earned survivors benefits. Fellow sponsor Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., in a statement called the move a way to honor our service members sacrifice. Morrison Mullaney was 24 when her husband Ian died by suicide. He was an Apache helicopter pilot who deployed to Iraq in 2012. She said he never recovered from the mental health wounds of that time in a combat zone. After years of her own mental health struggles following that loss, she met Brennan Mullaney (who also served in the Army) and began a new relationship. Along with the struggles of reconciling her feelings towards her lost spouse and new boyfriend, Morrison Mullaney said she had to confront the fact that getting married again would potentially wreck her finances. The couple said they hold annual celebrations of Ians life and work through ongoing grief over his death as part of their relationship. Their son, Harrison Samuel, shares the same middle name of Ian. He remains part of their family even today. Rebecca Morrison Mullaney, her husband Brennan and son Harrison Samuel have spent months on Capitol Hill advocating for lawmakers to end the penalty on military survivor benefits for spouses who remarry. (Courtesy of Virginia Gates Photography) But his military benefits do not. After the pair were married in 2017, thousands of dollars of monthly benefits checks stopped abruptly. That was money already earned by him, but now Ive lost that, she said. Morrison Mullaney is among a small group of widows who have worked with TAPS in recent years to advocate for the changes on Capitol Hill. Group leaders said only about 5% of surviving military spouses under the age of 55 get remarried because of the financial penalties. There has been no public opposition campaign against the Love Lives On Act, but plans to change the remarriage rules have repeatedly failed to pass Congress in recent years because of the costs. Congressional estimates put the cost of the move at $2.7 billion over 10 years. Veterans online registry adds 300K more names ahead of Memorial Day House rules mandate offsets for any new spending, although supporters of the remarriage bill insist the costs associated with ending the remarriage rules are little more than an accounting trick. They argue the so-called new spending is actually money already owed to those families. Haycock-Lohmann said she is optimistic lawmakers can get around those pitfalls this session. But the congressional schedule is already crowded for the remainder of the year, with ongoing work on the federal budget and annual defense authorization bill pushed back into the summer by the ongoing debt limit crisis. Morrison Mullaney said while her family is stable financially now, she wants to see the changes made to take more pressure and anxiety off of future military widows and widowers. She has spent multiple days already this year visiting lawmakers offices, letting Harrison crawl around the floors of congressional offices while she pitches the importance of changes. I think by being here, it helps put a face on what this means, she said. These arent just statistics. These are families. Veterans in need of emergency counseling can reach the Veterans Crisis line by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255 and selecting option 1 after connecting to reach a VA staffer. In addition, veterans, troops or their family members can also text 838255 or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for assistance. Russias Kinzhal missile is not hypersonic. Nor is it invincible When the Kremlin says something, it should always be taken with a grain of salt. When it says something about its military prowess, one should take the claim with an entire salt mine. For years, Russias Kinzhal missile was portrayed by the Kremlins propaganda machine as an invincible, cutting-edge hypersonic weapon, symbolizing Russias supremacy in advanced military tech. The realities of the battlefield, however, have shown the true capabilities of the missile, also known as Kh-47M2. The Ukrainian military successfully intercepted the first Kinzhal with the advanced Western-provided Patriot air defense system in May. As Ukrainian authorities showed the debris of the destroyed Kinzhal, Russias propaganda myth about its invincibility crumbled. The Kinzhal was never a truly hypersonic weapon a supposedly advanced military technology that the United States and China spent years developing, but that has yielded minimal results. Behind years of Russias propagandistic bravado, the Kinzhal was, in essence, closer to a ballistic missile Iskander that was adapted for being launched from supersonic aircraft, something Western arms experts repeatedly stated. The invincible Kinzhals failure to the U.S.-made Patriot in Ukraine is just the latest episode of the Kremlins humiliation, as the whole world was watching. How does it work? Russian dictator Vladimir Putin introduced the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Dagger) during an address to Russias parliament in early 2018. Putin presented it as a full-fledged hypersonic missile system that is capable of reaching a Mach 10 (roughly 10 times the speed of sound or up to some 12,000 kilometers per hour). Putin went as far as to call the Kinzhal the ideal weapon that all of the worlds leading militaries want to have. Also, according to Putin, the Kinzhal can maneuver along its flight path toward its target, rendering it impossible to intercept by any of the worlds operational air and missile defense systems. The Soviet-made Mikoyan MiG-31, one of the fastest jets ever produced, in the MiG-31K (the K being for Kinzhal) modification is the Kinzhals primary carrier. According to the Russians, the Tu-22M3M and Tu-160 strategic bombers can also carry Kinzhals, potentially along with the Sukhoi Su-57, a handful of which Russia has in limited service. Each MiG-31K can carry just one Kinzhal missile at a time. It works in roughly the following way: A MiG-31K takes an altitude of some 15 kilometers and reaches the supersonic speed of some Mach 2.8. The aircraft then launches the missile from the stratosphere for reduced air resistance, which serves as a booster. According to the Russians, the missile gains an altitude of 20 kilometers and follows a quasi-ballistic flight path at the speed of Mach 10, which allegedly makes it too fast and too maneuverable to detect, predict its path, and impossible to intercept. The invincible hypersonic Kinzhal, according to the Russians, with the use of the MiG-31K, has an operational range of some 2,000 kilometers and can carry a nuclear warhead. The Kremlin invested a lot into propaganda that portrayed Russia as the sole leader in hypersonic technology and, moreover, as the first military power to ever use hypersonic weapons in combat. This Week in Ukraine Ep. 8 How Ukrainian air defense denies Russia air superiority This Week in Ukraine is a video podcast hosted by Kyiv Independents reporter Anastasiia Lapatina. Every week, Anastasiia sits down with her newsroom colleagues to discuss Ukraines most pressing issues. Episode #8 is dedicated to the work of Ukrainian air defense, and how it denies Russia the ai Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina What the Kremlin propagandists were not too eager to reveal about the Kinzhal was that it was not a brand new design but a modification of the Iskander missile. As a surface-to-surface short-range, tactical ballistic missile system, the Iskanders design dates back to the 1980s and is also widely used against Ukraine. Amid the hypersonic race in the 2010s, Russia adapted the Iskander missile to be launched not from the ground but an aircraft and called this a hypersonic missile system Kh-47M2 Kinzhal. But to be called a hypersonic missile armament, its not enough to just travel at the speed of over Mach 5. Pretty much any ballistic missile reaches hypersonic speed. That includes Iskanders, any intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), or even Nazi Germanys V-2 missiles used in 1944 and 1945. To be considered a truly hypersonic weapon, a missile must also be highly maneuverable at a hypersonic speed. Despite Putins unsupported claims, the Kinzhal has never demonstrated anything more than minor flight course corrections, which is typical for many conventional ballistic systems. In a 2020 report, NATO classified the Kinzhal as an air-launched ballistic missile that is not generally characterized as a hypersonic weapon. However, as NATO noted, it is often included in discussions of hypersonic weapons due to its similarities which feature a maneuverable re-entry vehicle. ....Russias designation of the Kinzhal as a hypersonic missile is somewhat misleading, as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a U.S.-based think tank, says in its Missile Threat database. Nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds (i.e., above Mach 5) at some point during their flight. So just like any other aeroballistic missile, the Kinzhal was an impossible target for Ukraines air defenses before the acquisition of the Patriots. Russias Defense Ministry also insists the Kinzhal strike has an accuracy rate of just one meter. Reaching a speed of Mach 10 may also be another one of Putins unsupported claims, according to U.S.-based media outlet Popular Mechanics The original Iskander is believed to reach between Mach 6 and 7. And since the Kinzhal has essentially the same engine, its likely that it can develop roughly the same speed, Popular Mechanics believes although the supersonic jet and the high altitude can add a little to the missile speed. In other words, the Kremlin did what its always good at faking its leading role in the hypersonic race via propagandistic narratives and exaggerated figures. A German-operated MIM-104 Patriot missile fires an interceptor missile during Operation Red Arrow exercise in Greece on October 15, 2008 (Peter Mueller/Bundeswehr) Tried in battle The first confirmed combat use of Kinzhal occurred on March 18, 2022, when the missile hit a munitions depot in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast in western Ukraine. According to Ukraines military, another Kinzhal strike on May 9, 2022, wiped out a shopping mall and a food depot in Odesa, injuring three civilians. During yet another massive missile strike targeting the Ukrainian energy infrastructure on March 9, 2023, Russia reportedly fired six Kinzhal missiles. Ukraines Air Force repeatedly stated that it had no means to intercept Kinzhals. For a year and a half since the beginning of Russias full-scale war, every single takeoff of Russian MiG-31K in Belarus has triggered a nationwide air raid alert in all of Ukraines regions. Things changed when in late April, Ukraine finally acquired two MIM-104 Patriot batteries provided by the U.S. and Germany. The Ukrainian military specifically requested Patriots in a bid to fill the gap in the countrys defense again Russias ballistic missiles. On May 4, a Ukrainian-operated MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 CRI specialized in ballistic targets performed a confirmed successful interception of Russias unstoppable weapon. According to Ukraines Air Force, as many as six Kinzhal missiles were also successfully intercepted during a May 16 air battle over Kyiv. According to Ukraines Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, following two clashes with the Patriot systems, Russia may have around 73 Kinzhal missiles left in stockpile. Patriot air defense faces its toughest challenge ever in Ukraine The wait is over after almost a year of refusals and hesitation, Western-provided MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems have finally arrived and become operational in Ukraine. On April 21 and 26, Ukraines Air Force confirmed the full employment of two Patriot batteries. As Ukraines own Soviet-er Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko Hypersonic arms race Meanwhile, the global race for mastering true hypersonic weapons continues. Russia claims to operate six Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles essentially warheads mounted in nuclear-carrying ICMBs UR-100 TTH that can allegedly travel at Mach 28. The Chinese have their experimental WU-14/ZF-DF glide vehicle, while the U.S. Navy in March sought some $900 million for a Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic program. Despite a lot of hype, self-maneuvering advanced hypersonic weapons are still in development, and creating a real hypersonic missile will be much harder than just falsely proclaiming older missiles are hypersonic. Due to multiple failed tests, in March 2023, the U.S. Air Force terminated Lockheed Martins AGM-183 ARRW project to develop a hypersonic air-to-surface missile, also a glide vehicle design. And when it comes to hypersonic cruise missiles something that Russias Kinzhal aspires to be the situation is even more complicated. Such things would almost certainly require a highly-effective scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet), the kind of airbreathing jet engine that allows for combustion to run at extremely high speeds. So far, such an engine remains a technology that no nation has mastered. Though the U.S. reportedly had a successful early test of such an engine with a cruise missile in March 2022, so far, this component, and with it, the hypersonic technology, remains very expensive and experimental. Note from the author: Hello! My name is Illia Ponomarenko, the guy who wrote this piece for you. I hope you found it useful and interesting. I work day and night to bring you quality stories from Ukraine, where Russia is waging the biggest war in Europe since WWII. My little homeland, Donbas, is now the site of the worst fighting. We are helping to keep the world informed about Russian aggression. But I also need help from every one of you to support Ukrainian wartime journalism by donating to the Kyiv Independent and becoming our patron. Together, we can help bring peace to Ukraine. Russia now fines for maps without Crimea and other occupied territories The Russian State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament ed.] approved in the second and third readings a law on fines or arrest for distributing maps without the territories occupied by Russia [being depicted as part of Russia]. Source: Kommersant Details: The law equates "cartographic and other documents challenging the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation" with "extremist" materials. Thus, all maps that show occupied Crimea and other seized territories not being part of Russia fall under the law. The distribution of such maps is punishable by up to 15 days in jail or a fine of up to 3,000 roubles [approximately US$38 ed.] for individuals, and a fine of 100,000 to one million roubles [approximately from US$1,250 to US$12,500] for legal entities. Background: In September 2022, Members of Russia's State Duma proposed to impose fines for distributing maps where the occupied regions, including Crimea, are not marked as Russian territory. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Grave diggers bury the bodies of a husband and wife who were both killed by Russian shelling that hit a supermarket in Kherson, Ukraine, May 10, 2023. (Finbarr O KHERSON, Ukraine Maryna Ivanova, a young woman living in a riverside village in southern Ukraine, had an uneasy feeling when her fiance and brother left for work one morning in early May. They were headed to a nearby island in the Dnieper River, the watery front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces, and the area was getting heavily shelled. Standing at her stove, making pork and potato soup, Ivanova heard and felt an enormous blast, much more frightening, she said, than the explosions that have become routine. It felt like something was dropped right on us, she said. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times A few minutes later, she heard shouting outside and ran down to the dock. A boat pulled up. Inside lay her brother, soaked in blood. Slumped next to him was her fiance with part of his face blown off. Both were dead. She fell to her knees. I couldnt believe what I was seeing, she said. The strike was not a mortar, a tank round or a projectile fired by long-range artillery, according to Ukrainian officials who investigated the incident. It was, they said, an 1,100-pound modified bomb dropped from a distant Russian warplane, the latest destructive twist in a war that is intensifying. As Kyiv gears up for a much-anticipated counteroffensive, Ukrainian officials, independent analysts and U.S. military officials say the Russians are increasing their use of Soviet-era bombs. Although they have limitations, the weapons, they said, are proving harder to shoot down than the fastest, most modern missiles that the Ukrainians have become adept at intercepting. Much of this war is being fought with long-range munitions, from artillery shells to ballistic missiles. In the past few weeks, the Russians have launched wave after wave of missiles and exploding drones at Ukrainian cities, and Ukraine has shot down just about all of them. But the aircraft bombs are different. They dont have propulsion systems like cruise missiles or stay in the air nearly as long as drones. The bombs are aloft for only 70 seconds or less and are much more difficult for Ukraines air defenses to track. They are little dots on radar screens that soon disappear after being dropped, Ukrainian officials said, and then they slam into villages. This is the evolution of the air war, said Lt. Col. Denys Smazhnyi of the Ukrainian air force. They first tried cruise missiles, and we shot them down. Then they tried drones, and we shot those down. They are constantly looking for a solution to strike us, and we are looking for one to intercept them. Its evolution, countermeasures, evolution, countermeasures, Smazhnyi added. Its a nonstop process, unfortunately. According to Ukrainian and U.S. officials, the Russians have retrofitted some of the bombs with satellite navigation systems and wings that stretch their range, turning an old-fashioned weapon, which Moscow has thousands of, into a more modern glide bomb. The Russians are deploying these glide bombs from Su-34 and Su-35 jets, their top-of the-line warplanes, said a U.S. Defense Department official who spoke on the condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the topic. Zooming over Russian-controlled territory, where Ukrainian air defenses dont reach, the warplanes release the bombs, which glide 20 miles or more, crossing the front line and then striking Ukrainian territory. These bombs are even harder to hit than the hypersonic Kinzhal missiles that the Ukrainians claim to have destroyed recently with American Patriot air defense systems. A Kinzhal has a longer flight time at high altitudes, so its easier to detect and track, said Ian Williams, deputy director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. Glide bombs, on the other hand, were not a weapon that the Patriot system was designed to counter, he said. Russian military bloggers have boasted about the prowess of the glide bombs, posting videos and comments starting in early January. One Russian analyst provided detailed information on Russias development of them going back to the early 2000s and said their use was a step in the right direction. There have been some recent mishaps. In late April, a Russian warplane, apparently headed for Ukraine, accidentally dropped a bomb on Belgorod, a Russian city near the border. No one was killed, Russian officials said, but days later, Russian media reported that two more unexploded aircraft bombs had been discovered in the same area. Its not clear whether these were old-fashioned bombs or the newer gliding versions. Ukrainian officials are using the threat of these bombs to help press their case for F-16s, which allies are expected to provide after the Biden administration reversed course and allowed Ukrainian pilots to be trained. The Ukrainians say that they are outmatched in the skies and that F-16s could chase away Russian warplanes bombing their communities. Trying to intercept these bombs isnt effective. Its not even rational, said Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian air force. The only way out of this situation and the only way to stop it is to attack the planes that launch these bombs. Both Russia and Ukraine have strong air defenses on the territory they control, making it hard for either side to fly combat missions. Ukrainian pilots also have a few dozen glide bombs provided by the United States, but they have struggled with them, according to documents allegedly leaked by Jack Teixeira, the Air National Guardsman implicated in a vast disclosure of classified material. The Russians have figured out how to jam the guidance systems, the classified documents said, and several Ukrainian bombs have missed their target. Smazhnyi and other Ukrainian officials said the Russians were dropping a combination of unmodified vintage bombs and modified ones. The glide bombs are made by taking a FAB-500 M-62 low-drag bomb, a standard mass-produced Soviet munition, and strapping on a kit with movable fins and pop-out wings, along with a satellite guidance system that adjusts its course mid-flight. Military analysts said the modified bombs cost a tiny fraction of the price of a cruise missile but pack about the same amount of explosives. Ukraines security services shared photos of Russian bombs that they said had been modified to glide, which U.S. defense officials confirmed. The locations of the photos could not be independently verified. Few places have been as heavily hit by glide bombs as the area around Kherson, an industrial city along the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine, the Ukrainian officials said. As Ukraines expected counteroffensive looms, Ukrainian troops are pouring into Kherson and nearby villages like Veletenske, where Ivanova lived with her fiance, Kostiantyn Rumega. He was 19, she is 20. He was looking for work, and on the morning of May 2, a man who ran a fishing business summoned him to a nearby river island to clean some nets. His fiancee said that he didnt want to go, because he had already gotten in trouble once for not having the necessary fishing permits, and it was very dangerous the Russians have been lighting up that entire area with an arsenal of weapons. But he needed the money, Ivanova said, and before leaving, he lingered at the door. At that moment when he was kissing me and saying goodbye, there was so much love, she said. I never experienced it before. It felt different. It was as if he knew, she said. A few hours later, the explosion by the river blew open her doors and shook her house. It was more than a mile away. Along with her brother and fiance, another civilian was killed, a woman living along the river. Since then, Ivanova has been drifting through a haze of grief, disbelief, rage and depression. I dont want to do anything, she said. And she keeps hearing explosions, stirring a pain inside her that she says she will carry forever. c.2023 The New York Times Company The Russian military has resorted to dropping massive Soviet-era bombs in an effort to circumvent Ukrainian air defenses that have proven more than a match for long range missiles and drones. Ukrainian investigators have increasingly found instances of Russia dropping older bombs, some around 1,100 pounds. The low-tech explosives easily circumvent modern air defenses like the U.S.-made Patriot missile systems that are designed to counter long-range missiles and drones. Russia's bombs, resurrected from Cold War-era ordnance stashes, have two major advantages over missiles in that they have no propulsion system for air defenses to track, and they remain airborne for barely a minute. "This is the evolution of the air war," Ukrainian Air Force Lt. Colonel Denys Smazhnyi told the New York Times. "They first tried cruise missiles, and we shot them down. Then they tried drones, and we shot those down. They are constantly looking for a solution to strike us, and we are looking for one to intercept them." ALLEGED PUTIN ASSASSINATION IS FALSE FLAG ORCHESTRATED TO BOLSTER RUSSIA'S WAR EFFORT, EXPERTS CLAIM Ukraine's Western-made air defenses shoot down the vast majority of missiles and drones launched by Russian forces, but Soviet-era bombs are leaking through the cracks. "Its evolution, countermeasures, evolution, countermeasures. Its a nonstop process, unfortunately," he added. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Russian forces have even gone so far as to retrofit large bombs with wings and navigation systems to extend both their range and lethality, U.S. officials reportedly told the Times. WILL RUSSIAN WARLORD CHALLENGE PUTIN IN 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? With no way to counter the bombs themselves, Ukrainian forces must target the planes that drop them, a tall order for a national air force with planes far older than Russia's modern aircraft. "Trying to intercept these bombs isnt effective, its not even rational," a Ukrainian air force spokesman told the newspaper. "The only way out of this situation and the only way to stop it is to attack the planes that launch these bombs." The low-tech bombs have contributed to Ukraine's calls for the U.S. and other Western allies to provide F-16 fighter jets. They say the aircraft would allow them to keep their airspace clear while still maintaining defense against long-range attacks. UK CONSIDERS FIGHTER JET COALITION WITH UKRAINE AS ZELENSKYY MEETS WITH PRIME MINISTER Ukraine has called on the U.S. and other Western allies to provide F-16 fighter jets in an effort to ward away bombings by high-tech Russian aircraft. President Biden's administration unveiled a plan to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16, a 4th generation fighter, in the near future. The program is part of a larger international effort to provide Ukraine with the F-16s it has requested. Biden had long resisted providing the high-tech aircraft, fearing that it could lead Russia to escalate the conflict. Some also argued that the craft could be used for offensive operations, when the U.S. has sought to provide Ukraine with only defensive capabilities. In the early 2000s, Russia put the morally and physically obsolete Tu-95 back into service because of the lack of strategic aircraft, military expert Mikhail Zhirokhov asserts Read also: Russias latest drone air raid deals no damage to energy infrastructure, says Ukrenergo After Russia's plan to plunge Ukraine into cold and darkness this winter with mass missile strikes on energy infrastructure failed, the enemy changed tactics. Now, almost every night, the Russian military conducts demonstrative massive takeoffs of strategic bombers, which deliver combined strikes with a small number of cruise missiles of various types. The enemy has also changed the type of targets they strike. NV spoke about this with Mykhailo Zhirokhov, a military expert and researcher of aviation history, as well as about the current state of Russias strategic aviation, what stocks of cruise missiles the aggressor still has, and why they choose to launch them from over the Caspian Sea. NV: What is the current situation of the aggressors strategic aviation, and can Russia produce strategic bombers? Zhirokhov: Let's start with the fact that strategic aviation is one of the components of Russia's nuclear triad, which includes land, sea, and air forces. At the same time, Russia also considers its long-range aviation as an element of its conventional offensive arsenal. Read also: Russia uses Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant as a military and logistics hub HUR The Russians inherited all their current strategic aviation after the collapse of the Soviet Union. At the same time, Russia bartered for strategic bombers from former Soviet republics, where the corresponding air regiments were located, in particular in Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. By the way, many of Ukraines strategic aircraft were destroyed from 1998-2001 under the disarmament agreement signed with the United States. Another part of Ukraines strategic bomber fleet, in particular the Tu-160, Tu-95, and about 600 Kh-55 cruise missiles, were transferred to Moscow to pay off gas debts. But be that as it may, we are talking about a relatively small number of these aircraft in Russia, because even in Soviet times they were very expensive pieces of equipment. In fact, we are talking around 70 planes. For example, there are only 13 Tu-160s in Russia. Therefore, it was very painful for the Russians when, in 2022, as a result of drone strikes on the Shaikovka airfield in Kaluga Oblast and Engels-2 in Saratov Oblast, several strategic bombers were damaged. This was quite a serious loss for them. Read also: Ukrainian military downs Russian bomber near Bakhmut The fact is that for the past 30 years, Russia produced no new strategic aviation aircraft. Yes, Moscow assured the world that it had mastered the production of modernized Tu-160s, but in all this time it was able to make only two aircraft Tu-160M and Tu-160M2. And before the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the latter had only just made its maiden flight. In addition, in 2021, the Russians introduced the MiG-31K into their strategic aviation. This is a modification of the Soviet fighter jet which can carry the hypersonic Kinzhal missile. However, it should be noted that the serial production of the MiG-31 ended in 1994. Moreover, in the early 2000s, the Russians were forced to bring back outdated Tu-95 turboprop bombers into service. Yes, it is about the same age as the U.S. B-52 Stratofortress, but the latter underwent constant upgrades, while the Soviet flying hulk has not. Thus, the Russians are flying planes that will soon exhaust their lifespans. The last most modern Russian aircraft the MiG-31 was built in 1994, while the Tu-95 is from the 1950-1960s. The Tu-22 is from the 1980s, and while the Tu-160 is newer, it is also a 1980s-era plane. Read also: What a defector engineer from Russia can tell the U.S. about Tu-160 strategic bombers At the same time, military science has not stood still, and while electronics have taken a huge step forward, Russian aircraft remain equipped with Soviet systems. Yes, they are still working and capable of launching missiles at Ukraine, but everyone sees that the better Ukrainian air defense becomes, the more missiles are shot down. It should also be noted that the current Russian strategic aviation is only effective against relatively weak air defenses. Recall that the Russian Federation used these bombers in Syria, where there were no air defense systems at all. NV: In this case, what is the operational lifespan of Russian strategic bombers? Zhirokhov: They have a fairly long lifespan. The Soviet Union was serious about the production of weapons, especially if it concerned nuclear weapons. Therefore, they created these planes with solid lifespans. For example, if the MiG-29s airframe has a lifespan of 40 years, then we can say that strategic aircraft have a lifespan of 50-60 years. Read also: Zelenskyys state of the union, Budanov goes to Bakhmut, 15 suspicious deaths However, it should also be taken into account that after the collapse of the Soviet Union and before the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, these aircraft flew very little, and in addition to metal fatigue, their internal components also have lifespans, which depends on their mean time between failures. Thus, they still have the ability to fly. And if I am not mistaken, the Russians believed that they would be able to operate these aircraft without any problems until 2027. But that was before the full-scale war against Ukraine. In addition, beyond sorties to strike at Ukraine, these strategic bombers are performing training sorties, flying from airfield to airfield, etc. All of this has costs for their durability and capability. NV: And how many strategic aviation airfields are there in Russia, and where are they located? Zhirokhov: We should bear in mind that strategic aviation aircraft are very powerful and large, and are therefore not based on ordinary airfields, but rather on ones with 3.5 km-long runways. There are four or five such airfields in Russia. They are Dyagilevo (Ryazan), Olenya (Kola peninsula), Ukrainka (Amur region), Shaikovka, and Engels-2. Read also: Russian military has 25 aircraft at Belarus airfields, but theyre not flying Nayev This is very bad for the Russians, because Western countries, in particular the United States, have all their coordinates. Therefore, in the event of some kind of aggression or a big war [with the West], these airfields would immediately be targeted for destruction with all available weapons. In this case, Russia would have nowhere to relocate their strategic aircraft, because civilian and small military airfields are not suitable for them. Even if the Russians hide these aircraft in hangars or somewhere else, they will not be able to use them, because planes would not have a suitable surface to take off from. And for the past 30 years, not a single strategic aviation airfield has been built in the Russian Federation. NV: Let's talk about the armament of these aircraft. We know that the Russians mainly use Kh-101, Kh-555, and Kh-22 missiles for striking Ukrainian territory. How large are Russias reserves of these missiles? Zhirokhov: The cruise missiles that Russians are using to attack Ukraine, namely the Kh-55, Kh-555, and Kh-22, are all Soviet-era munitions, no longer in production. Currently, they [Russians] have mass production of the Kh-101/Kh-102, Kalibr [cruise missiles], and thats basically it. Unless they plan to launch mass production of the Kh-50 Orion cruise missile. Read also: Russias Tu-95MS strategic missile carrier what you need to know about its role in attacking Ukraine As for their stocks of Soviet missiles, they are unfortunately quite large. Just remember that in 1999, Ukraine alone handed over about 600 Kh-55 cruise missiles to the Russians. And as far as I know, even now the Russians are trying to produce these missiles from working components taken out of decommissioned Soviet missiles. But this cannot be called serial production, but rather one-off production. In addition, for 30 years, the Russians had an annual production volume of several dozen cruise missiles, and this rate stabilized after 2008. And now they are working round-the-clock to build them, and adapting their electronics to use Chinese components. The Russians have problems with the production of Kalibrs, but they have built up their stocks of the Kh-101 consistently, to many times more than before the invasion of Ukraine. Therefore, considering the already-expended cruise missiles, I would now talk about a total stock of about 1,500 missiles. But it is too early to say that the Russians have reached a critically low limit of their reserves. In addition, there is also an emergency reserve, perhaps 10-20%, which the Russians keep in storage in case of one of those clashes with NATO they keep talking about. NV: In your opinion, have the Russians now changed their tactics of using strategic aviation to launch strikes against Ukraine? Zhirokhov: Absolutely. For example, in the first days of the full-scale war, the Russians tried to destroy airfields with strategic air strikes. Although, in truth, it is almost impossible to destroy the airfield with the number of missiles they used. Later, the enemy tried to strike at military-industrial enterprises and energy infrastructure facilities. This is not the typical target profile for strategic bombers, since the Soviets intended them for pinpoint strikes against military targets. And now the Russians have switched to this tactic and are trying to hit command posts, fuel depots, ammunition depots, and personnel deployment sites. Read also: Ukraine excelling in the use of UK-made Storm Shadow long-range missiles NV: Which of the airfields is the most convenient for Russian strategic bombers to use when carrying out missile strikes on Ukraine? Zhirokhov: The Engels-2 airfield is most conveniently located, because the so-called approach shoulder [to the launch zone] is about an hour or less. But after drone strikes on this airfield in December 2022, the Russians got scared and transferred their strategic bombers to the Olenya air base so that there was no way to reach them. Now the Russians have to fly four hours from the Olenya air base to reach the Caspian Sea, launch the missiles, and then fly back in the opposite direction. Thus, during these eight-hour flights, crew fatigue and landing-associated risks increase. Read also: Air Force explains why Russia used dummy nuclear warhead in Kh-55 missiles NV: By the way, why do Russian strategic aviation planes launch missiles from the Caspian Sea area? Zhirokhov: You need to understand that, for example, the Kh-22 anti-ship missile is a very old missile that uses a liquid propellant. In addition, it [the fuel] is so highly toxic that during the refueling of the rocket, before using the equipment, they must wear a combined-arms protective kit with a gas mask. At the same time, this rocket fuel is unstable, with most missile failures occurring during launch. That is, to put it simply, the Kh-22s engine may not start. That is why the Russians make launches either from the Astrakhan region over unpopulated areas, or over the Caspian Sea. They are trying to minimize harm to themselves, because if the rocket does not work during launch, it will fall either on a deserted training ground or into the water and will not explode, because without the engine firing, the warhead will not detonate. NV: So their strategic bombers can only launch missiles at Ukraine from those areas? Zhirokhov: Until this point, there had been launches either from the Astrakhan region or from the Caspian Sea region. But last week, perhaps for the first time, it was reported that Tu-22 strategic bombers (capable of launching Kh-22 cruise missiles) had entered the Sea of Azov region. Considering the Russians are now trying to launch missiles from different directions in order to circumvent Ukrainian air defense forces, I do not rule out that the enemy could begin launches from over the Sea of Azov. Read also: Russias creation of new elite attack aviation group most likely propaganda, UA Air Force says And although the minimum range for strategic aviation may be 50-100 km, this would be an inefficient use of such weapons. Of course, a cruise missile can be launched from at least 200 km, but what is the point if it is designed for a range of 2,500 km? Moreover, such a missile costs millions of dollars. And even if they were inherited from the Soviet Union, they are in limited quantities and no longer produced. Would it really be smart to use them that way? 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 FILE PHOTO: Gas leak at Nord Stream 2 as seen from the Danish F-16 interceptor on Bornholm MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday said it had summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Sweden and Denmark to protest over what it said was the "complete lack of results" in an investigation to identify who blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year. Several unexplained underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea in September 2022. The blasts occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Both countries say the explosions were deliberate, but have yet to determine who was responsible. The two countries as well as Germany are investigating the incident. Russia's Foreign Ministry in a statement accused all three of deliberately dragging their feet and trying to conceal who was behind the blasts. It said it was unhappy about what it called the opaque nature of the investigation and its refusal to engage with Russia. "It has been noted that these countries are not interested in establishing the true circumstances of this sabotage. On the contrary, they are delaying their efforts and trying to conceal the tracks and the true perpetrators of the crime behind which we believe are well-known countries," it said. "It is no coincidence that 'leaked' improbable versions (of what happened) are dumped in the media to try to muddy the waters," it said. The Danish foreign ministry confirmed that its ambassador had been summoned, and said authorities in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden were continuing their investigations. "Denmark has been providing ongoing updates to Russia regarding the investigation's progress and responding to their inquiries. We will continue to do so," the ministry said in an email. The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have called the incident "an act of sabotage." Moscow has blamed the West. Neither side has provided evidence. The ministry said Moscow would keep trying to ensure that Germany, Denmark and Sweden conducted what it called an objective investigation with Russia participating too. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Mark Porter) Russias Tu-95MS strategic missile carrier what you need to know about its role in attacking Ukraine Arsenal Tu-95MS Here's how dangerous this machine is and what its vulnerabilities are. History The warplane is the same age as Putin. The development of the long-range bomber with an arrow-shaped wing began in the days of Stalin, when the USSR realized that it was lagging behind the United States in the development of military aviation. The Tu-95 prototype made its first flight in 1952, a month after the current Russian dictator was born. The aircraft was put into production in 1955. Still, the Tu-95 cannot be considered completely outdated. For decades, the Soviets and Russians have modified the aircraft. In fact, one modification probably by accident turned into the passenger Tu-114. Today, the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) mainly use the Tu-95MS, the world's only bomber-rocket carrier with turboprop engines. The oldest aircraft is about 40 years old, with the newest produced in August 1992. By the end of 2021, experts counted about 60 Tu-95MS and Tu-95MSM, but, as Defence Express notes, the actual number of combat-ready vehicles of this model is much lower. "At the moment, the Ruscists have engaged a maximum of 20 Tu-95MS aircraft for strikes on Ukraine, and a maximum of 10 aircraft for joint flights with China's strategic aviation in 2022. It seems that the conclusion is that the real number of combat-capable Tu-95MS is a maximum of 50% of the number on paper," the specialized military outlet calculated. Some of these aircraft were handed over to Russia by Ukraine as part of an agreement to pay off gas debts from the 1990s. Main characteristics Crew: 7 people Length: 49 m Wing area: 290 square meters Maximum speed: 830 km/h Practical range: 10,500 km Maximum combat payload: 20,800 kg Applications and weaknesses As can be seen from the specifications, this is a rather slow-moving and very large aircraft with an unusual wing shape. But it doesn't need speed: the main task of the Tu-95MS is to fly over a long range with a load of missiles. They are launched in the stand-off engagement mode, without needing entry into the enemy's active air defense area. The Kh-55 missile can cover 2,500 km, the Kh-101s range is 5,000 km. There were Tu-95 models designed for the use of Kh-22s, but they have now been written off. Theoretically, the Kh-47 (Kinzhal) can also be launched from type of aircraft. Read also: What a defector engineer from Russia can tell the U.S. about Tu-160 strategic bombers There is a nuance. The design included a rack for six Kh-55 nuclear missiles (or similar non-nuclear Kh-555). When Russia developed the new Kh-101, they decided it to mount on Tu-95MSM pylon suspensions. There are 10 such suspensions. In reality, according to retired military pilot Roman Svitan, no aircraft ever takes off for a combat mission fully loaded with missiles. One of the reasons is the wear and tear on the airframe. Another, Svitan said, "every second Kh-55 falls down instead of hitting the target" as these missiles are so old. As with the Tu-22M3, no one thought that the Cold War "weapon of retaliation" would be used in a conventional war of the 21st Century. However, the dark genius of Putin's military leaders found a use for the Tu-95MS, first to launch cruise missiles at Syrian cities in 2016-2017, and now at Ukraine. Previously, both the Kh-55 and Kh-101 were refueled and loaded into aircraft only at the Engels air base. This was a gross mistake by the Russians. On Dec. 5, 2022, unidentified drones attacked the airfield. Satellite images showed damage to at least one Tu-95 bomber. After that, almost all combat-capable missile carriers were moved beyond the Arctic Circle to the Olenya base, which increased the time needed to reach the missile launch site. After 15 months of war, the effectiveness of Russian strategic aviation has drastically decreased. 'If from the beginning of Russian aggression, according to military expert Serhiy Zhurtsa, Ukraine intercepted 30-50% of long-range cruise missiles, the interception rate is now consistently over 80% - while half of those not intercepted fail to reach their target anyways. Russia, however, continues its terrorist attacks, hoping to break through Ukrainian air defense with a massive launch of non-nuclear Kh-55s, Kh-555s, and Kh-101s. 'If from the beginning of Russian aggression, according to military expert Serhiy Zhurtsa, Ukraine intercepted 30-50% of long-range cruise missiles, the interception rate is now consistently over 80% - while half of those not intercepted fail to reach their target anyways. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian occupying forces have stationed about 300 of their troops and 15 boats taken from local residents on Dzharylhach Island, a sandbank in Kherson Oblast near Crimea. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, information as of 25 May Quote: "Russian occupying troops have militarised the island of Dzharylhach, which they connected to the temporarily occupied mainland part of Kherson Oblast near the settlement of Lazurne on 19 May. The occupiers have deployed around 300 Russian servicemen on the island, as well as 15 foreign-made boats which were stolen from the local population." Background: On 19 May 2023, the Ground Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian troops had covered the strip of water between the mainland and the island of Dzharylhach with sand, thereby joining it to the occupied territories of Kherson Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Russian invaders are trying to stop the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the flanks on the Bakhmut front with artillery shelling, simultaneously deploying additional forces to boost their combat capabilities. Source: Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, on Telegram Quote from Maliar: "On the Bakhmut front, the enemy is trying to stop our advance on the flanks with artillery fire. The enemy is now bringing additional units to the flanks to reinforce them. On the outskirts of Bakhmut, the enemy has replaced the Wagner units with regular army units. At the moment, the Wagnerites remain in the city of Bakhmut." Details: Maliar has added that Ukrainian troops control the outskirts of the city in the southwestern part, in the Litak district. She has also emphasised that the east remains the epicentre of combat actions, with the Russians trying to advance on the Avdiivka, Marinka, Lyman, Kupiansk and Bakhmut fronts. On the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts, the occupiers attacks were repelled, and the Russians offensive failed. Maliar has said that the invaders took a pause on the Lyman sector yesterday and did not conduct any offensive actions. The fighting is ongoing on the Kupiansk front where the Russians are attacking, trying to seize a platform to advance further; however, they keep suffering losses. Background: On 25 May, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Head of the Wagner Private Military Company [PMC], said that he began to withdraw mercenaries from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and transferred their positions to the regular Russian army. This process, he said, would last until 1 June. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian Volunteer Corps claims to have crossed into Russia again The Russian Volunteer Corps, one of the Russian anti-government groups who have declared themselves to be fighting on Ukraine's side, said its members had once again entered Russia's territory on May 25. The anti-Kremlin fighters recorded a video saying they "are back in the Motherland" with what appears to be a Russian Post brunch in the background. The building seen in the video has a sign saying Glotovo, the name of a village in Russia's Belgorod region. Glotovo is located some five kilometers from the Russo-Ukrainian border. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the group's claim or the footage published on its Telegram channel. "Once again, we enter the territory of Russia with battles or quietly it doesn't matter anymore," the armed men in the video said. "The flame of struggle is burning all over the country. Wait for us in your town." NYT: Anti-Kremlin fighters appear to use U.S.-made armored vehicles Armed Russian anti-government groups appear to have used at least three American-made armored vehicles in the Belgorod Oblast incursion, according to the pictures and videos verified by The New York Times. The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk On May 22, a group of armed men calling themselves the Free Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps claimed they had crossed into Russia's Belgorod region and taken hold of bordering villages. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, announced a "counter-terrorism operation," which was called off on May 23 after Russian officials declared victory against the groups. The Russian Defense Ministry said they had defeated what they called "Ukrainian formations," claiming to have "killed 70 combatants" and destroyed four armored combat vehicles and five trucks while "driving the remaining formations from Belgorod Oblast back into Ukrainian territory." However, the Russian Volunteer Corps denied these claims. The Ukrainian official, who spoke anonymously, told the New York Times that the armed groups had suffered losses, but not enough to affect their fighting capacity. The Russian Volunteer Corps previously claimed to have conducted attacks on Bryansk Oblast on March 4, claiming the Ukrainian military's support. Kyiv has denied any connection to the group's operations. Russian warship protecting pipelines attacked by 3 Ukrainian marine drones in the Black Sea, Russian officials say A still image from video, released by Russia's Defense Ministry, shows what it said to be the exploding Ukrainian uncrewed speedboat that attacked the Russian warship Ivan Khurs in the Black Sea near the Bosphorus strait. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS Ukraine attacked the Ivan Khurs with three uncrewed speedboats, Russian officials said. The raid on the Russian warship in the Black Sea failed to cause any damage, they claimed. Ivan Khurs is guarding two pipelines that carry gas from Russia to Turkey, Reuters reported. A Russian warship was attacked by three unmanned speedboats from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. In a Telegram post, Russian officials said that Ukraine attempted to attack the Ivan Khurs ship with three uncrewed speedboats in the Black Sea early Wednesday morning. Footage posted by Russian officials shows the Russian ship firing shots, striking and destroying one of the uncrewed boats. "All the enemy's boats have been neutralized by standard weapons of the Russian warship 140 kilometers north-east of the Bosphorus Strait," Russia's Defesce Ministry wrote of all three naval drones. A still image from video, released by Russia's Defense Ministry, shows what it said to be the Ukrainian uncrewed speedboat attacking the Russian warship Ivan Khurs from handout footage released May 24, 2023. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS However, other footage from an on-board camera shared on Telegram and pro-Ukrainian social media on Thursday appears to show that at least one Ukrainian uncrewed vessel does impact the Russian warship. Insider was not able to independently verify the footage. No comment on the situation was immediately available from Kyiv, Reuters reported. The Ivan Khurs is one of Russia's most modern ships in the Black Sea fleet and has a crew of 120. It was launched in 2017. It is a reconnaissance ship armed with 14.5 mm machine guns and portable air defense systems, said The New Voice of Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said the Ivan Khurs was protecting the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, which carry gas from Russia to Turkey. It "continues to fulfill its tasks," following the incident, said the ministry, per Reuters. Last September, the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines carrying gas from Russia to Europe under the Baltic Sea were blown up in an act of "gross sabotage," according to an investigation by Swedish officials. While many countries believe Russia was likely the culprit, the responsibility for the 2022 explosions remains unclear. After the sabotage of the Baltic Sea pipelines, Russia is eager to have Turkey as a vital part of the country's energy exports, Reuters reported. The attack on the Ivan Khurs coincides with rising tensions in the region over a recent UN Black Sea Grain Initiative. A consideration of the safety of the ships carrying grain on the sea was not mentioned in the ministry's post. The initiative, signed in Turkey last year, is part of a plan to "resume vital food and fertilizer exports from designated Ukrainian seaports," according to the UN, as the long-running war between Ukraine and Russia continues. Last year, Ukrainian officials accused Russia of purposefully slowing grain shipments in the area, the New York Times reported. Russia said the West is not removing obstacles for Russian exporters of gains, per Reuters. Read the original article on Business Insider A Russian S-400 drives past a "Z" symbol before the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina Russia's S-400 is a highly regarded weapon designed to intercept a variety of aircraft and missiles. In Ukraine, expensive S-400 interceptors are being used against rocket artillery and ground targets. Repurposing S-400s for those missions is a sign of Moscow's struggle to turn the tide of the war. Russia's S-400 advanced air-defense system is designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles and long ranges and high altitudes. But in Ukraine, Moscow has pressed its S-400s into service to intercept US-made HIMARS rockets or, more bizarrely, to bombard Ukrainian cities. Moscow is portraying tactic this as proof that Ukraine's air force is so weak that Russian forces can afford to waste expensive anti-aircraft missiles on secondary missions. The more likely reason for it is that desperation and frustration are driving the Kremlin to use every weapon it has, no matter how inappropriate it is for the task. The S-400 Triumf is a mobile, long-range surface-to-air system that is considered Russia's equivalent to the US's Patriot missile. S-400 interceptors have an estimated range of about 250 miles and a reported speed of Mach 15, and Russia claims the weapon is effective against aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, and drones. An S-400 Triumf, also known as a SA-21 Growler, during exercises outside Moscow in December 2010. ANDREY SMIRNOV/AFP via Getty Images There have been reports of S-400s deployed to the Donbas region to intercept the HIMARS rockets that Ukraine has used with devastating effect since last summer. To some degree, this is not unusual. Modern SAMs are designed to intercept a variety of missiles and aircraft. Ukraine has used the S-300 predecessor to the S-400 and the American-made Patriot to intercept Kalibr cruise missiles and even Kinzhal hypersonic weapons. The problem is that the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System munitions that HIMARS fires aren't missiles but GPS-guided artillery rockets with a range of about 50 miles, much shorter than cruise and ballistic missiles. Launched at targets relatively close to the front line, GMLRS has a different trajectory and a much shorter flight time in which an air-defense system can intercept it. "You're not going to detect it over the horizon," Ian Williams, deputy director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Insider. "It doesn't go into space like a ballistic missile does. I think the biggest challenge would be the short engagement time." Williams believes that the S-400 could intercept a HIMARS rocket but not very easily. A more suitable system to destroy HIMARS rockets would be Israel's Iron Dome, which has frequently intercepted small rockets and even mortar shells. (Ukraine has asked Israel for Iron Dome, but Israel has declined, likely in part over concern about Israeli relations with Russia.) An S-400 missile is launched at a military base in southern Russia during an exercise in September 2020. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images "Iron Dome is more optimized for that kind of target," Williams said. "The Tamir interceptor is pretty maneuverable. The radars are more attuned to detecting smaller, low-altitude targets." A Tamir missile also costs less than $150,000, while a big SAM costs closer to a million dollars each. While using S-400s against HIMARS suggests Russia is struggling with air defense, what really indicates the Kremlin's desperation is its use of S-400 and S-300 interceptors for surface-to-surface bombardment of Ukrainian cities. A 400-pound warhead may be devastating against an aircraft or another missile, but it is actually small compared to the 2,000-pound warhead on a cruise missile like the Russian Kh-22. "They can only be a terror weapon because they're very inaccurate in a surface-to-surface role," Williams said of repurposed interceptors. Moscow has resorted to bombarding Ukrainian infrastructure in the hopes of keeping pressure on Kyiv. That aerial campaign has taxed Russian stockpiles, leading Moscow to use older cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones. In that context, Moscow may view the wrong missile as better than no missile at all. Russian S-400 systems after their deployment at a base in Kaliningrad in March 2019. REUTERS/Vitaly Nevar Ukrainian and British intelligence concluded in 2022 that Russia's intense bombardment of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure was depleting its missile supply. Some analysts disagree with this assessment, but munitions shortages are a concern for both sides. Leaked US intelligence assessments compiled in February indicated that Ukraine could deplete its air-defense munitions by May, though Western countries have scrambled to replenish those stockpiles. The problem may be more acute for Russia, which faces extensive Western sanctions on critical military hardware. This isn't the first time surface-to-air missiles have been used for other purposes. Egyptian forces fired them at Israeli tanks during the 1973 ArabIsraeli War. But anti-aircraft missiles aren't meant to fired at tanks or cities. For Russia's military, which has long touted its tactics and technology, having to misuse S-400s is a sign things aren't going well. Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Supreme Economic Eurasian Council at the Grand Kremlin Palace on Thursday in Moscow. (Contributor/Getty Images) It was meant to be the Russian wonder weapon, but it turned out to be just another example of Vladimir Putins military over-promising and under-delivering. The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal which means dagger in Russian was billed as a state-of-the-art hypersonic missile, invincible, in Putins words, to Western air defenses. For the early months of Russias full-scale war on Ukraine, it seemed to be just that. The missile had been used in the first year of the war to successfully strike several targets across Ukraine, no doubt causing significant damage. Turning point Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder addresses a news briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday in Arlington, Va. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) That all changed when Ukraine received U.S.-manufactured Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 air defense systems in April. The PAC-3, the latest version of the venerable American system, was originally developed as part of Americas Strategic Defense Initiative, nicknamed Star Wars by its critics, first introduced in the early 1980s by President Ronald Reagan to counter ballistic missiles. Over a little more than two weeks, Ukrainian-manned Patriots shot down seven out of seven Kinzhals launched at targets throughout Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed the first shoot-down at a press conference on May 9, and another administration official speaking to the New York Times on May 16 confirmed the other interceptions. During the May 16 attack, which directly targeted the Patriot system, part of the platform suffered minor damage, according to U.S. officials, that was repaired within a day. The Kremlin, of course, has maintained the fiction that all its missiles successfully hit their targets. The fake report that a Kinzhal was allegedly intercepted is a wishful thinking attempt, a Russian Ministry of Defense source told the state media outlet TASS. Even if the Ukrainian military is overstating its defensive capability, a Russian missile falling anywhere in Kyiv would have been detected by locals and recorded on social media. Since the arrival of the Patriot missile batteries, that has not happened. Assessing the hypersonic threat A 9K720 Iskander-M is displayed at a fair within the ARMY-2019 International Military and Technical Forum in Moscow on June 25, 2019. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) The Kinzhal entered service in December 2017. Two years later, Putin declared that it and other Russian hypersonic weapons proved that Russia was leading the world in hypersonic capability. The boast was reminiscent of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchevs bravado in the late 1950s, when he claimed that Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles were rolling off the factory floor like sausages, feeding the false perception in the United States that the U.S. was at a disadvantage and suffering from a missile gap with Moscow. We have a situation that is unique in modern history when they are trying to catch up with us," Putin said. Not a single country has hypersonic weapons, let alone hypersonic weapons of intercontinental range. He was wrong. In reality, the Kinzhal is not that impressive. It is an upgraded version of Russias older, ground-launched 9K720 Iskander ballistic missile, modified so that it can be air-launched from Russian aircraft. As for Putins claim of the weapons hypersonic speed, this was true in the same way all ballistic missiles since the German V-2 rockets started pulverizing London in World War II have achieved hypersonic speeds at certain phases of flight. Despite Putins grand claims, air-launched ballistic missiles are not new technology. The GAM-87 Skybolt air-launched ballistic missile was developed by the United States in the late 1950s, and hit top speeds of Mach 12, well in excess of the speeds the Kinzhal can reach. However, the project was ultimately canceled in 1962, when U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara assessed that the system provided very little benefit over the United States existing arsenal of land- and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Russian scientists charged with treason The 9K720 Iskander (NATO reporting name SS-26 Stone), a mobile theater ballistic missile system, is rolled out during the Victory Day parade, on May 9, 2011, in Moscow's Red Square. (Konstantin Zavrazhin/Getty Images) Putins claims relied on confusion over the definition of hypersonic and also the conflation of the Kinzhal with the newer generations of hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles have the ability to maneuver to evade air defenses, for example at speeds in excess of Mach 5, something the Kinzhal cannot do. This makes new-generation hypersonic weapons much more difficult to intercept than traditional ballistic missiles traveling at hypersonic speeds. Regardless of the exaggerated Russian claims, the Kinzhal was still an impossible target for Ukraines Soviet-legacy air defense systems to shoot down. A Ukrainian government source told Yahoo News that the provision of such air defense systems, while primarily providing an invaluable shield for Ukrainian people, is a cheap way for Ukraines Western partners to gain real life combat data on their performance against the latest Russian weapons. Russian hubris that the system worked perfectly seemed even more incredible in light of the arrest of the third scientist responsible for the development of the Kinzhal on charges of high treason. On May 16, the same day Ukrainian Patriots shot down six incoming Kinzhals, Russian state media announced the arrest of Valery Zvegintsev. Zvegintsev joins Anatoly Maslov and Alexander Shiplyuk, two other high-profile Russian scientists who worked on the Kinzhal project and were arrested for alleged treason in the summer of 2022. Russia's mercenaries send back bodies of U.S. and Turkish citizens from Ukraine MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's most powerful mercenary on Thursday said he was sending back the bodies of a U.S. citizen who was killed in fighting in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and that of a Turkish citizen who was found dead in a blown up building. Mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group were shown in a video clip nailing closed the two wooden coffins and then draping a U.S. "Stars and Stripes" flag over one coffin and the "red banner" flag of Turkey on the other. "We are returning the body of an American and the body of a citizen of Turkey along with prisoners," Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said, standing near the coffins. The U.S. citizen perished in fighting in a part of Bakhmut known as the "nest" while the Turk was found dead along with a Turkish woman in the remains of a building blown up Ukrainian forces, Prigozhin said. The Turkish woman's body could not be recovered, Prigozhin said. Wagner named the American as Nicholas Maimer, a former U.S. special forces soldier. The death toll in the battle for Bakhmut, known as the meat grinder, has been monstrous. Prigozhin said more soldiers were killed in the battle for the city than in the Soviet Union's entire 10-year war in Afghanistan (1979-1989). Prigozhin said that in Bakhmut, Ukraine had suffered casualties of 50,000-70,000 wounded and 50,000 dead. He said around 20,000 of his own mercenaries had been killed during the war. The United States has estimated Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties in Bakhmut including more than 20,000 dead. Neither Russia nor Ukraine release figures on their own casualties. Ukraine has said Russian losses are far higher than its losses. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Andrew Osborn) By Ksenia Orlova and Vladimir Soldatkin (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday he expected no new steps from the OPEC+ group of oil producers at its meeting in Vienna on June 4, Russian media reported, after the group announced a significant output cut earlier this year. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ oil producers announced cuts of more than one million barrels per day in April after crude prices in March fell towards $70 a barrel, the lowest in 15 months. Novak said he expected Brent to be above $80 a barrel by the end of the year, the state-owned news agency RIA reported. He said current prices of $75-76 reflected the market's assessment of the global macroeconomic situation. OPEC+ will hold an in-person meeting in Vienna this year. "This will be the first face-to-face meeting in six months, we are waiting, as usual, for an assessment of the situation in the market," Novak was quoted as saying by Izvestia newspaper. "But I don't think that there will be any new steps, because just a month ago certain decisions were made regarding the voluntary reduction of oil production by some countries due to the fact that we saw the slow pace of global economic recovery." Sending another signal that no action might be required from OPEC+ at its next meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that energy prices were approaching "economically justified" levels. Putin said this month that production cuts implemented by OPEC+ were required to maintain a certain price level, contradicting assurances from other leaders of the group that it was not seeking to manage the market in that way. Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as uncertainty over whether the United States will avoid a debt default weighed against the prospect of further OPEC+ production cuts. Prices were supported by tightening of U.S. crude and fuel supplies and by a warning from the Saudi energy minister to speculators which raised the prospect of further cuts by OPEC+. (Reporting by Ksenia Orlova and Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Jason Neely) Johannesburg One of the world's most wanted fugitives was arrested Wednesday in South Africa after 29 years on the run, according to United Nations investigators. Fulgence Kayishema is alleged to have orchestrated the brutal killing of 2,000 women, men and children at a church in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide in the central African nation. He was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 2001 and had been on the run, using various aliases and disguises, ever since. The Nyange church attack is seen as one of the most brutal acts during the 100 days of the Rwandan genocide. An image of Rwandan genocide suspect Fulgence Kayishema from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is seen superimposed over a photo showing a mass grave and, in the background, the ruins of the church of Notre Dame de la Visitation in Nyange, Rwanda, where some 2,000 Tutsi women, men and children were killed in a slaughter allegedly orchestrated by Kayishema. / Credit: Getty/ICTR/CBS News Kayishema was arrested in a joint operation by U.N. and South African authorities in the town of Paarl, in South Africa's Western Cape, according to a statement by the U.N.'s International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The investigators said that while Kayishema initially denied his identity, within hours he admitted that he'd been expecting his own arrest for a long time. "Hotel Rwanda" hero Paul Rusesabagina arrives in U.S. A reward of up to $5 million from the U.S. War Crimes Program was on offer for information leading to Kayishema and other suspects wanted for perpetrating the Rwandan genocide. "Fulgence Kayishema was a fugitive for more than twenty years. His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes," IRMCT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement. His arrest is another success for the ICTR, whose Office of the Prosecutor's Fugitive Tracking Team has captured five of the most wanted suspects linked to the genocide since 2020. There are now only three outstanding figures on the loose. "This arrest is a tangible demonstration that this commitment does not fade and that justice will be done, no matter how long it takes," Brammertz added in his statement. Kayishema was indicted by the Rwanda tribunal on charges of genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes committed during the Rwanda genocide. The indictment alleges that on April 15, 1994, Kayishema and others directly planned and executed the murder of 2,000 people. He allegedly sourced gasoline to burn down the Nyange Church in Kivumu commune with the people inside. When his arson attempts failed, Kayishema allegedly used a bulldozer to knock the building down, burying and killing the people inside. He was then charged with supervising the transfer of the bodies from the church grounds to mass graves over the following days. Birth of world's rarest fruit bat caught on Jersey Zoo camera Remembering rock and soul icon Tina Turner from her interview with Gayle King three years ago The magic of Hollywood: CBS gets rare peek inside Warner Brothers prop archive How many people will fly out of Sacramento airport for Memorial Day? Get ready for crowds More than 100,000 travelers are expected to pass through Sacramento International Airport over the Memorial Day weekend, according to a Wednesday news release. As estimated 3.39 million travelers are forecast to fly over the holiday weekend nationwide, which is a 5.4% increase since 2019, according to data from the American Automobile Association. With airports gearing up for the travel frenzy over the weekend, heres what you can expect if youre flying out of Sacramento: Sacramento International Airport The airport is expecting to see pre-pandemic travel levels this weekend, said Scott Johnston, a spokesman at Sacramento International Airport. The busiest times will land between Friday, May 26, and Tuesday, May 30, according to the news release. Top destinations for Sacramento travelers include: Hawaii Southern California Mexico Las Vegas Seattle When should you arrive to the airport? For travelers flying domestically, general advice suggests you should arrive two hours ahead of time. For those flying internationally, arrive three hours before your scheduled departure flight. Parking at Sacramento International Airport Parking has become a premium at the airport which has caused the garage parking lot to be full everyday except for Monday over the last month, Johnston previously told The Bee. Airport personnel are urging travelers, if possible, to use alternate forms of transportation to get to their scheduled flights over the weekend. Below are suggested alternatives to getting to the airport, according to the news release: Ride share services Taxi Asking a friend for a ride Public transportation For those who decide to drive, they can check available parking in real time through the airport parking status website. Sacramento has five available lots which include: Hourly Parking: $30 a day maximum (this lot is recommended for short stays only, not overnight) Garage Parking: $18 a day maximum (covered parking, near the terminals) Daily Lot: $12 a day maximum (uncovered lot, walking distance of the terminals) East Economy Parking: $10 a day maximum (uncovered lot with shuttle to terminals) West Economy Parking: $10 a day maximum (uncovered lot with shuttle to terminals) 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. These major airlines are less likely to have delays out of Sacramento International Airport The Sacramento International Airport has 13 airlines flying in-and-out of its two terminals, and over the last couple of months foot traffic at the airport has only been increasing. Over the Memorial Day weekend, more than 100,000 travelers are expected to pass through the Sacramento airport. The interactive graph below shows the percentage of on-time departures for five major airlines that flew out of Sacramento International Airport in the last year. Information was gathered by Data Herald, using the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics most recent report, which details March 2023. Sacramento International Airport departures A flight is considered delayed when its over 15 minutes late, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. On the Sacramento airport website, travelers can stay up-to-date on the status of the days flights. The flight data on the website is updated every five minutes. Below is a list with eight airlines operating out of the Sacramento airport and their on-time performance for departure flights in March, with data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics: United Airlines had 90% on-time flights in March. Delta Air Lines had 87% on-time flights in March. Alaska Airlines had 84% on-time flights in March. American Airlines had 82% on time flights in March. Southwest Airlines had 76% on-time flights in March. Frontier Airlines had 73% on-time flights in March. JetBlue Airways had 68% on-time flights in March. Spirit Airlines had had 65% on-time flights in March 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. Yemenis cool off in water during a heat wave in Aden, Yemen, on May 25, 2023. (Photo by Murad Abdo/Xinhua) by Murad Abdo ADEN, Yemen, May 25 (Xinhua) -- In the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, a scorching heat wave and prolonged electricity outages have plunged its citizens into a struggle for survival. With temperatures soaring above a blistering 43 degrees Celsius, and power cuts extending to 4-5 hours, many families seek respite from the stifling heat by retreating to the beaches during the hottest time of the day. "The heat is unbearable," said Mohamed Hussein, a father of three children. "We can't stay in our homes. So we spend most of the day outside, but the heat follows us everywhere." Aden's local power stations have long grappled with meeting the surging demand for electricity during the summertime. The inadequate maintenance and repairs of the aging power infrastructure have exacerbated the problem, with long hours of power cuts and sporadic intervals of only 1 to 2 hours of continuous electricity supply. The impact of the power outages also extends to businesses, which have suffered significant losses as shops and restaurants are unable to operate without a steady supply of electricity. To cope with the situation, some businesses in Aden have resorted to using power generators, leading to increases in commodity prices to cover the additional costs. This price hike further burdened the citizens of Aden, who are already struggling with the economic challenges caused by the years-long military conflict. Many employees have not received their salaries from the government for months due to Yemen's ongoing conflict and economic crisis. "We are completely at the mercy of the weather. When it's cold, we get frostbite. When it's hot, there is nothing we can do but sweat," lamented Ahmed Obady, an Aden resident. He added that for most residents living in abject poverty, "the only choice is to endure." Yemen has been mired in a deadly military conflict since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally-recognized government out of the capital Sanaa. The conflict has brought the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of collapse, leading to the displacement of millions of people who were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in overcrowded and unsanitary camps. The United Nations has previously declared the situation in Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with over 20 million people requiring urgent humanitarian assistance. Photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows a power station in Aden, Yemen. (Photo by Murad Abdo/Xinhua) A downtown public service program whose members clean up trash and assist tourists along the oceanfront could see potential budget cuts. The Gold Cap Ambassadors, launched three years ago and are currently being funded by the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance. The program that employs 12 positions throughout the year is slated to get nearly a third of the agencys $1.56 million budget in 2024 giving at least two board members pause. Salaries comprise roughly 75 percent of the alliances 2024 spending plan. Salaries - $489,407 Ambassadors - $526,062 Professional Fees - $142,600 Total budget - $1.561,238 Can you not create a few team leaders, cut that budget in half and use volunteers, Horry Council member and downtown alliance board member Mikey Masciarelli asked alliance officials at a May 25 meeting. If youre paying out over half a million dollars to twelve people and it doesnt sound like theyre employed all year long, that seems like awful high pay for that position versus what other jobs are paying in the community. Masciarelli said following the meeting he isnt opposed to the Gold Cap program and could be willing to support its $526,062 budget allocation, but not without more information. So often, things like this, boards make decisions very nonchalantly, where if it was your personal finances or your business, youd want to know where every penny was going, he said. We tend to gloss over things, approve it and then when something happens, then everyone has questions, when they should have questions up front. The alliances governing board on May 25 unanimously voted on its budget, but changes can still be made before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Launched in 2020, the gold-clad workers patrol downtown removing graffiti and litter, providing hospitality and reporting problems to city officials. The program, operated under the parent company Block by Block is managed by the alliance. Block by Block has ambassador programs in over 100 districts in about 30 states, including New York, Nevada, California, Connecticut, North Carolina and Texas. South Carolina also has a program in Columbia. The Sun News reported in October that Gold Caps recovered $13,000 worth of waylaid shopping carts from areas within their jurisdiction, for example. Mayor Brenda Bethune, an ardent supporter of the ambassadors, asked program operations manager Mike Snow to update the alliance board at a future meeting. When you see it as just a number and not the equipment needed, then its hard to understand the value of that program, she said. I think we have some new board members that really arent familiar with the program and thats why I asked for more detail. The new Downtown Alliance chief has a busy summer ahead. Jason Greene, who took over the alliance May 2, also laid out his plans for the next 90 days, culminating in August when hes expected to deliver the board a vision statement. We believe that our downtown is the heart of our home and that our home should make everyone feel welcome, connected and safe, Greene said May 25. The next 10 weeks will be an intensive, rapid planning process that includes: Data-driven analysis Creation of timelines to support the alliances long-term objectives Exploration of cost savings Continued work with consultant James Lima Planning + Development We want to do the things that are impactful for the direction that we are heading in, Greene said. Madeleine McCann search Portugal woodland holes investigation missing toddler Christian Brueckner crime - Yui Mok/PA Wire Police searching a reservoir in Portugal in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann cleared a large swathe of woodland where they dug eight deep holes to remove samples. After three days of intense searches came to an end, the police cordon was lifted, revealing a bizarre landscape scarred by deep and focused digging. Officers had focused on a 10ft x 16ft area of woodland about 100ft above the waterline of the Arade dam, where the prime suspect was believed to have spent time in the days after the three-year-old British girl went missing in May 2007. The shrubs and trees had been felled and rusting sun loungers, chairs and a sea buoy had been set aside before the forensic excavations began. Christian Brueckner, a 45-year-old convicted paedophile and rapist, was believed to have boasted that the secluded and remote location above Barragem do Arade, in the Algarve, was his little paradise. He has denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance. Madeleine McCann search Portugal woodland holes investigation missing toddler Christian Brueckner crime - PA Wire The very specific targeting of locations on the promontory raises the possibility that German police had taken their source to the scene to pinpoint exactly where Brueckner had stayed. Officers from Germany and Portugal had removed a large amount of topsoil to create a shelf where deeper excavations were carried out. Eight carefully excavated holes, up to a foot wide and nearly two feet deep, had been bored into the ground and the soil bagged and removed. Some of the remaining soil contained burnt and blackened flecks of wood. The focus of the searches suggest that officers had used ground radar and metal detectors to target specific locations. Similar holes had been dug across the promontory, some clustered around recent fire pits. It is feared samples unearthed at the reservoir could take weeks to be analysed. Detectives have removed numerous bags which, on Thursday evening, were in two vans making their way more than 2,000 miles to a forensic science laboratory in Germany. A statement by the Portuguese police said the three-day search had resulted in the collection of some material that will be subject to expertise analysis in Germany. Madeleine McCann search Portugal woodland holes investigation missing toddler Christian Brueckner crime - Horacio Villalobos/Getty Images/Getty Images Madeleine McCann search Portugal woodland holes investigation missing toddler Christian Brueckner crime - Yui Mok/PA Wire Christian Wolters, a prosecutor involved in the German side of the investigation, said that a statement would soon be issued if nothing of significance was uncovered. But if the samples proved relevant, a public announcement would be delayed, possibly for weeks. He said: Of course, we are still looking for the body. Were not just looking for that, of course. There are other things too. Any discovery of clothing could help our investigation. Correio da Manha, a Portuguese newspaper, claimed that a relevant clue or trace was uncovered after police were seen photographing one site at the dam. However, it was unclear whether this was related to Madeleine, as sources close to the German investigation suggested they believe the site could be linked to other victims. The numerous excavations at the headland have raised the possibility police were working on an assumption that Brueckner may even have hidden an electronic storage device of images, possibly taken of a number of his victims, at the site. Brueckner was believed to be in the habit of filming some of his sex crimes and kept them on storage devices. German police are thought to have found photographs he took at the remote dam on a USB stick found hidden in a derelict factory he owns in Germany. But Goncalo Amaral, the former inspector who conducted some of the original inquiry back in 2007, poured scorn on the searches, claiming Brueckner was a scapegoat and no new evidence had been uncovered. In an interview with Sabado, another Portuguese news outlet, he questioned why the searches had been conducted, particularly 16 years since Madeleines disappearance. 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. Be prepared for dangerous conditions if you plan to visit North Carolinas Outer Banks this Memorial Day weekend. Strong winds are creating surreal dust storms on the islands, prompting a gale warning that will last into the three-day holiday weekend. Sands flying at 50 mph on Wednesday, May 24, were thick enough to impact driving on NC 12, the only highway connecting the barrier islands, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. We are currently experiencing strong sustained winds along NC12 on Pea Island that are blowing sand onto the highway, the NCDOT posted on Facebook. Crews will be out clearing the sand periodically all week, so please drive carefully and give them room to work. A gale warning is in effect until midday Saturday, May 27, with 28 mph to 40 mph winds and gusts as high as nearly 52 mph. Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility, the National Weather Service said. Rain will arrive Thursday night and storm chances will build to 80% through Saturday, with 2 to 4 inches expected, forecasters say. Locally heavier amounts are possible by Monday. This will bring a threat for localized flooding, and excessive runoff across the area this weekend. In addition this system will bring the potential for several coastal threats including rough surf, localized ocean overwash, minor coastal flooding and an elevated rip current risk, forecasters say. The ocean will also be risky, with strong currents capable of sweeping swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties and other hazardous areas, officials say. Waves as high as 14 feet may be seen Saturday. In many cases, the longshore current is strong enough to prevent swimmers from being able to keep their feet on the bottom making it difficult to return to shore, the NWS says. Visitor took ancient artifact from Outer Banks beach and park rangers tracked it down Monstrosity pushed ashore by 2018s Hurricane Florence hauled off Outer Banks beach 25-mile-long wave of trash washing up on Outer Banks is linked to US Navy, park says South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday signed a six-week abortion ban into law, triggering a court challenge filed by Planned Parenthood and its partners. The signing, held with five Republican state lawmakers but no media a contrast to the governors six-week ban bill signing in 2021, when hundreds packed the State House during the COVID-19 pandemic to watch was announced by McMasters office. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, the Greenville Womens Clinic and two physicians who provide abortions in South Carolina immediately filed a lawsuit in state court Thursday, asking that the law be blocked and for a temporary restraining order to prevent the laws enforcement. As of press deadline Thursday, the court had not made a decision. In January, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled a similar six-week ban unconstitutional. With my signature, the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act is now law and will begin saving the lives of unborn children immediately, McMaster said in a statement Thursday after the bill signing. This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed. The right to life must be preserved, and we will do everything we can to protect it. On Tuesday, the Senate advanced the so-called fetal heartbeat ban, S. 474, in a 27-19 vote, mostly along part lines. All five female senators three Republicans, one Democrat and one Independent voted against the House-modified bill, arguing the General Assembly had more important issues to debate and women can make their own decisions regarding their health care. Im tired. Im disappointed. I do believe that the compromise I offered (at 12 weeks, 20 weeks for rape and incest) was a good compromise for everybody. I think 12 weeks was reasonable, state Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, told The State newspaper Thursday. Its not what the right wanted, its not what the left wanted, but I think that it was a good compromise. The now-law caps months of Republican infighting over abortion restrictions following the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs decision, after the House last year first passed its own ban at conception and refused to debate the Senates six-week ban, despite Senate leaders showing the upper chamber lacked the votes necessary. Both chambers passed similar bans this year and, after a monthslong standoff, the House agreed to the Senates proposal. It has been a long and bumpy road, but it was an important debate to have, and Im glad we finally got a resolution on it, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, told reporters Tuesday. Its something that is going to make South Carolina not the abortion destination state of the southeast, and I think thats important. I think weve struck a compromise, at the detection of a heartbeat (typically around six to eight weeks), which is something that a lot of South Carolinians will support. In his case to back a six-week ban, Massey pointed at state health data that showed, at the previous 20-week ban, South Carolina reported 6,279 abortions in 2021, and 7,277 abortions last year an increase, in part, due to out-of-state visitors from states with stricter abortion restrictions. The states new law bans abortions at around six weeks, or once fetal cardiac activity is detected, when most people dont know that theyre pregnant. With only three small abortion clinics in South Carolina Charleston, Columbia and Greenville plus an appointment backlog and new requirements to get an abortion, abortion-rights backers say the law is essentially a near-total ban. State lawmakers have once again trampled on our right to make private health care decisions, ignoring warnings from health care providers and precedent set by the states highest court just a few months ago., Jenny Black, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said in a statement Thursday. The decision of if, when, and how to have a child is deeply personal, and politicians making that decision for anyone else is government overreach of the highest order. We will always fight for our patients ability to make their own decisions about their bodies and access the health care they need. We urge the court to take swift action to block this dangerous ban on abortion. In 2021, McMaster signed a similar six-week abortion ban that, almost immediately, was challenged in court and temporarily blocked by a federal judge. After the high courts Dobbs decision last summer, overruling the 1973 landmark case Roe v. Wade, the states previous six-week ban took effect, but was later blocked by the state Supreme Court as it mulled its constitutionality. Today, we made history. The Heartbeat Bill is now the law of South Carolina and we will defend it with everything in us because there is nothing more important than protecting the sanctity of life! pic.twitter.com/n9ldH3CUAJ Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) February 18, 2021 In a 3-2 decision in January, the court ruled the six-week ban violated the states constitutional right to privacy. Former Justice Kaye Hearn, the only woman on the high court who wrote in the courts majority, has since retired due to the states 72-year age limit for judges. She was replaced by Justice Gary Hill, a legislative election that resulted in an all-male court. Massey told reporters Tuesday that legislators made an effort this year to ensure the states new six-week ban will be upheld by the court. He said the rewrite of the six-week ban was not targeted at all based on the new makeup of the court. If its not unanimous, I would like it to be 4-1. I dont want to have a 3-2 split vote, Massey said. I think we made enough adjustments to the original law to respond to, especially, Justice (John) Fews concerns that Im hopeful that we can win him over. But the South Carolina Supreme Court was clear, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement Thursday. Banning abortion after approximately six weeks was unconstitutional six months ago, and its still unconstitutional now, Northup said. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, the Greenville Womens Clinic and both physicians are being represented by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Center for Reproductive Rights and law firm Burnette Shutt & McDaniel. This is a developing story. It will be updated. Heres how restrictive the new SC 6-week abortion ban is compared to the rest of the Southeast Gov. Henry McMaster signed a so-called fetal heartbeat ban on Thursday, joining many southeastern states in passing restrictive abortion laws. But how restrictive is the South Carolina ban compared to other states in the Southeast? S. 474 prohibits abortions past six weeks which is before many people know they are pregnant while survivors of incest and rape have until 12 weeks of pregnancy to get an abortion. Planned Parenthood and its partners immediately filed a lawsuit the same day, aiming to block the law and prevent its enforcement. Now, many South Carolinians will end up traveling out of state to receive an abortion, which reverses recent trends. Since September 2022, visitors from out of state made up close to half of South Carolinas abortions, according to provisional data from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. This trend began after surrounding states started instituting more abortion restrictions once the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. Here are the abortion laws in the Southeast, as of May 25, from AbortionFinder.org. School worker repeatedly hit kindergartner with disabilities on bus, Colorado cops say A paraprofessional is accused of striking a kindergartner with disabilities over several days on a Fort Collins school bus, Colorado police reported. Tyler Zanella, 36, faces charges including assault, child abuse and crimes against an at-risk juvenile, Fort Collins police said in a Wednesday, May 24, news release. Poudre School District officials notified police that Zanella, a paraprofessional employed by the district, was seen on security video striking the child on April 25, May 19 and May 22, according to the release. Zanella, who was employed as a bus attendant, has been fired, Poudre School District officials said in a statement to McClatchy News. He was hired in August. Police said they believe there may be other victims. They ask anyone with information to call Officer Dexter Rowe at 970-472 3705. Fort Collins is a city of 170,000 people about 60 miles north of Denver. Woman threatened LGBTQ businesses in Colorado after deadly Club Q shooting, feds say Woman hurls rock the size of a football at officers face, California police say Falling rock pillar kills 16-year-old celebrating end of school, Utah officials say Six years ago, Evan Villari set out to tell the full story of how the Scituate Reservoir was created a century ago. He wanted to lay it all out: the engineering, the workforce, and the sacrifices of hundreds of people who were forced out of their villages when their property was condemned, including some who took their own lives because of it. Along the way, Villari began to question the effect of using lead pipes to deliver water to a third of the Providence Water Supply Boards 75,000 retail customers. Was there an impact on the product arriving in peoples taps even today? The result: a 75-minute documentary titled Blood and Watershed, which debuted this month on Rhode Island PBS. Its a story that many people who rely on Providence Water every day have never heard. Villari, a Rhode Island native who is an independent filmmaker and professor at Johnson & Wales University, said the title has a double meaning. More: The displaced included5 villages, 1,500 graves Time Lapse: Scituate Reservoir construction began 100 years ago Filmmaker Evan Villari at Scituate Reservoir, where he says the Providence Water Supply Board rebuffed his requests for access to the property to take video and compare today's landscape with historical photographs. For many residents in the state of Rhode Island, its Providence Water or no water at all, Villari said in an interview with The Hummel Report shortly after the films debut. The original story was: let me see if theres any truth to the urban legend that people killed themselves as the result of the condemnation. Villaris curiosity began as a child when his grandfather took him blueberry-picking near the reservoir. He also has an uncle who lived across the street from some of the property that was taken in the early 1900s to create what is now a 37-billion-gallon body of sustenance. Providence Water supplies drinking water to two-thirds of Rhode Island residents. As a ratepayer, theres a lot I dont know about our water that we kind of take for granted, Villari said. In the documentary he says: What remains clear is that everything including the privilege to use the water comes at a price. Documentarian Evan Villari with a map in his home studio in Scituate. There were labor camps. The pay was abysmal. The people were desperate, unskilled individuals, Villari said, adding that those brought up from South Carolina were charged for transportation and lodging when they arrived. People lost villages, livelihoods, and some, their lives The project to create the reservoir broke ground in 1917. In the film, Villari recounts that many of the workers were Italian, and Blacks who came up from the South. They were housed in barracks surrounded by barbed wire, apart from the other workers. The unskilled labor force, which dug ditches and poured concrete, eventually transitioned into skilled labor employing Teamsters as the project evolved. Villari profiles Ray Wolf, who has written extensively about Scituate and what he calls the five lost villages. Hundreds of landowners had their properties condemned and were paid what the Water Supply Board determined they should be paid not necessarily the value of the property. Wolf said the initial land grab was 18,000 acres. More: Exhibit chronicles the lost villages of Scituate The Scituate village of Rockland, circa 1920, whose properties were condemned to make way for construction of the Scituate Reservoir. Wolfs mother, Helen Larson, was devastated when, as a child, she had to move to make way for the reservoir, leaving friends she would never see again. (Wolf) is the first, first-person account I could get. It still hurts that people lost their homes, their community, their livelihood, and some, their lives, Villari said. He is the essence of the film. Were not related, but we have similar curiosity. We want to make sure the story doesnt pass by with time, that were continuing to honor the sacrifice that took place 100 years ago. Villari offers a detailed account of those who were not politically connected and had to give up houses, farms, schools and friends to make way for the project. He includes the village of Rockland, where entire burial grounds had to be relocated out of the watershed. The school that local author Ray Wolfs mother, Helen Larson, attended as a child. The identities of the girls are unknown. In the documentary, Villari notes: "Although the workers did not receive any compensation for their moving expenses, the dead were transported to a new resting place free of charge. More than 100 burial grounds contained thousands of bodies. Villari had heard that seven people committed suicide; he was able to confirm two. To do it, he had to comb through Rhode Island State Archives and death records in Scituate from 1913 to 1926. It was important to me to try and humanize it as much as possible if I cant find their [photo], so that at least I can find their property and their death certificate so I can tell their story. Circa 1917, the old Rockland Cemetery, one of dozens that were relocated from the planned site of the Scituate Reservoir. One of the two confirmed suicides was Fred Sayles Hill, born in 1865. Hill owned a considerable amount of land in Scituate that included a farmhouse and barns. Villari recounts that just as the reservoir was inching to capacity, and his former farm was taken in the process, Fred Hill passed away on Feb. 10, 1926. He was laid to rest next to his parents, who had been relocated from the old Rockland cemetery to a new one. At the bottom of the death certificate, filed two days after Hills death, the cause is listed as suicide by cutting throat. Miles of lead pipes carry drinking water from Scituate Villari said it took nearly six years to finish the film because of delays in trying to secure video access and information from the Providence Water Supply Board plus interruptions because of the pandemic. He said his original focus in 2017 was going to be the history of the project a century ago. But then he began to run into roadblocks and started taking a closer look at the distribution system that feeds water from Scituate to its customers. Its a system that includes miles of lead pipes. I think its important to question things, and be curious and hold public figures accountable, Villari said. When you have uncertainty there should be individuals some have been elected, many of which have been appointed who should be the experts who can answer those difficult questions. No lead water lines in RI in 10 years? Bill would require cataloguing, replacement. In the film, Devra Levy, with the Childhood Lead Action Project in Providence, said Providence Water has known about lead in the water for more than a decade. She noted that the agency had begun replacing lead pipes, but only to the owners property line. Providence Water describes them as public-side replacements. Private-side replacements reach from the curb to the owners house. An excavation crew works on a private-side lead pipe replacement on Comstock Avenue in Providence last Monday. The Providence Water Supply Board, responsible for public-side pipe replacements, coordinates with such contractors to clear lead from a home's full supply route. The pipe that goes to the house, overnight, or while someone is out at work, that water is sitting in the pipe leaching up any lead that might be there, Levy tells Villari in the film, adding that while the public-side replacement was a good start, it didnt solve the lead problem. 'It's your plumbing, it's your property' Ricky Caruolo, general manager of Providence Water, pushed back on the documentarys narrative that the agency should have been doing complete replacements all the way into houses from the start. Were regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, Caruolo said in a recent wide-ranging interview with the Hummel Report at his office last week. Were not allowed to use ratepayer money for a private-side replacement. The issue that people tend to forget is that from the curb stop to the home is the private side service its your plumbing, its your property. Caruolo added: Our message has been consistent to [Childhood Lead Action Project]. They dont like the message: Im not allowed to use ratepayer money to subsidize private-side replacements, nor am I in favor of it. The real dilemma here is: should 50,000 people [who dont have lead pipes] subsidize 25,000 people to replace their property? Ricky Caruolo, general manager of the Providence Water Supply Board, at a news conference Wednesday at a lead-pipe replacement site in Providence. Caruolo said when Providence Water fell out of compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency on lead levels more than a decade ago, it was required to start replacing public-side service lines incrementally. Over the last 15 years, Providence Water says it has spent about $78 million replacing public lead service lines. The agency still has about 24,000 private lead service lines and 9,200 public lead service lines remaining in its distribution system. The challenge has been financing and getting buy-in from customers. The agency has cobbled together grants and federal money, and built in costs for public-side lead line replacement into its annual budget. Caruolo also said he is expecting some of the bipartisan federal infrastructure funding also to be available over the next five years. But not everyone is willing to have their pipes replaced. Six years ago the agency set up a 0% interest loan program to help customers with the $4,500 cost of replacing lead pipes on their property. It initially had a three-year payback period, but in 2020 that was extended to 10 years. It means the average customer with a loan will see an extra $35 to $40 in their monthly bill to pay it down. In August 1925, a coupling of 60-inch and 94-inch pipe in the distribution system under construction for the Scituate Reservoir. While the price tag has been a deterrent for some, more than 1,200 customers have taken advantage of the offer. In addition, the agency, using $6.4 million in EPA funding, has offered to replace lead lines on private property to homeowners in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods such as the Washington Park and Charles Street neighborhoods. After Flint, North Providence's mayor acts to replace pipes After high lead levels in the public water supply of Flint, Michigan, made national news in 2014, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi began looking for ways to replace pipes in his town. He secured $200,000 of Community Development Block Grant money to begin private-side pipe replacements. Lombardi recalls a conversation he had with the official running the block grant program. You sure you want to do that? Im a little concerned you could scare people, Lombardi said the official told him. Lombardi said he held a series of community meetings, telling those who attended: You may not have a problem today, but in 14 or 15 years you could have a problem, so take advantage of this free money now. He is coordinating with Providence Water to have the utility replace the public side when the town replaces lead lines on the private side. North Providence has spent nearly half a million dollars to switch out the pipes at 102 homes. Lombardi says the town still has 800 to go. Itll be a while, but were going to keep seeking the funds to take care of this, he said. This decision was easy for me safety, the children. Give me a break. Providence Water refuses access, citing Homeland Security regs On a map, Evan Villari points to the predecessor to Scituate Reservoir, Hope Reservoir, on the East Side of Providence. The scale of the two bodies was vastly different. Ten years after the new reservoir came online in 1926, Hope Reservoir would become the site of Hope High School, tightly hemmed in by homes. Villari said he was frustrated by Providence Waters refusal to let him go to non-public areas for the documentary. Give me access so I can record some [video] of the reservoir, from the watershed, and access to the water delivery system. Either your water filtration plant or the surrounding aqueduct, so I can discover what this story can be, he said. So I can share how the sacrifice of 100 years ago is now still happening and the water is still coming to 66% of the states taps. Resources in Villari's library, in his home studio in Scituate. He wanted to visit and film properties that he had photos of from a century ago to see what they look like now. The answer was no. Villari noted that in 1978, then-Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. wrote to the chief engineer of Providence Water, clearing the way for scuba divers to explore the villages that had been flooded when the reservoir was built. Villari, in his research, found nails presumably from structures on the bottom of the reservoir, in some places at a depth of 90 feet. In December 1923, clearing land for Scituate Reservoir near the east end of the dam, which is now Scituate Avenue looking southwest. Caruolo takes responsibility for limiting Villaris access, saying protocols changed after Sept. 11, 2001, and that the federal Department of Homeland Security has regulations concerning water supplies. I feel bad that he feels as though we didnt accommodate him, because I try to accommodate within reason, Caruolo said. I have to protect the system. Villari said he hopes his film will get others to ask questions as well. I was told my entire life we have the best water in the country, he said. Were indoctrinated with this idea that our water supply is so great. I think its healthy for ratepayers to be curious about chemical makeup, whats in our water and how that water is getting from the supply to our tap. Not to mention the historical sacrifice that certainly factors in. Blood and Watershed is available online at https://watch.ripbs.org/show/blood-and-watershed/ The Hummel Report is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies, in part, on donations. For more information, go to HummelReport.org. Reach Jim at Jim@HummelReport.org. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The cost of Scituate Reservoir: Villages, livelihoods and even lives Search for armed and dangerous man on the run in South Carolina ends, FBI says The national search for an armed and dangerous man ended Wednesday in South Carolinas Lowcountry, according to the FBI office in Columbia. Michael Burham, 34, was tracked down in the Charleston area and arrested on a federal charge for the unlawful flight to avoid prosecution following a days-long manhunt, the FBI said in a news release. The fugitive was also wanted on state charges in New York and Pennsylvania, the FBI said. Burham was taken into custody near United Drive and Halfway Creek Road in the Huger community close to the Berkeley-Charleston county line, according to the release. Thats about 15 miles from Awendaw, where Burham was last seen prior to his arrest on Tuesday night. Burham was tracked down by police dogs after an observant resident saw Burham near his home in rural Berkeley County and called 911, the FBI said. Neither Burham nor any law enforcement officers searching for the wanted man were hurt, according to the release. There was no word if Burham was armed when he was taken into custody. Wanted Burham was on the run after a crime spree, including a sexual assault in the Buffalo area of western New York, in addition to the kidnapping of an elderly couple in Pennsylvania, the FBI said. The couple said Burham kidnapped them from their home, drove them in their vehicle to North Charleston where he released them physically unharmed on Sunday, according to the release. Burham is also considered a person of interest in the May 11 death of a woman whose body was found in the street, The Buffalo News reported. Searching in SC After releasing the couple, they contacted the North Charleston Police Department, which joined the FBI and multiple other law enforcement agencies searching for Burham. Burham reportedly was seen multiple times in the following days, and Berkeley County sheriffs deputy contacted Burham on Tuesday. Deputies received a 911 call from the Halfway Creek Road area of Huger about a suspicious man, and they were able to track him down, the sheriffs office said. The man gave deputies a false name and then ran off, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies chased the man, but he was able to get away, according to the sheriffs office. During the chase, the man dropped a bag and inside were articles that confirmed Burhams identity, the sheriffs office said. At about 11 p.m. Tuesday, Burham was seen near Broomstraw Hill Road in Awendaw, the FBI said. Thats near the Atlantic coast. Now that he has been apprehended, Burham will be extradited to New York to face his charges there. Peaceful resolution The most effective weapon against crime is cooperation, said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI office in Columbia. This matter was resolved quickly and peacefully because of the cooperation between the community who remained alert and law enforcement who persisted in their pursuit of this fugitive. The search, on the ground and in the air, involved members of the FBI; Berkeley County Sheriffs Office; North Charleston Police Department; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Marshals; S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; Charleston County Sheriffs Office; S.C. Department of Natural Resources; Summerville Police Department; City of Charleston Police Department and Mount Pleasant Police Department. I am grateful to all the law enforcement agencies who came together and put in hundreds of hours of hard work to get a dangerous man out of our communities, said Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano. Both Graziano and Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis thanked residents who served as extra eyes on the streets, and submitted tips leading to Burhams arrest. See How Stunning Teresa Giudices Daughters Are in Their Joint RHONJ Confessional Moment Teresa Giudices August wedding to Luis Louie Ruelas was all about love, love, love, and the day was made even more special by the fact that their respective children were involved. Teresa Guidice's Daughters and Louie's Sons' Roles in the Wedding Louies sons, Nicholas and Louie Jr., were by his side when The Real Housewives of New Jersey OG walked down the aisle during the Teresa Gets Married wedding special on May 23, while Teresas daughters Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana donned blush pink gowns to be four of her bridesmaids on the big day. In addition to taking on special roles during their moms nuptials, the girls also appeared together in a confessional on the special to react to their mothers now-famous wedding-day hairstyle. Obviously, its big. Like, Queen Elizabeth probably has a crown like that, Gia said, while Gabriella agreed, adding, 110%. She also joked that the half-up hairdo resembled a rats nest. Gia Giudice, Gabriella Giudice, Milania Giudice and Audriana Giudice while filming Real Housewives of New Jersey. Gia Giudice, Gabriella Giudice, Milania Giudice, and Audriana Giudice while filming The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 13. It looks like you have 20 pounds of hair on your head, Milania told her mom on the morning of the ceremony, while Gia said it was so beautiful. Later on in the special, the sisters reflected on their moms fairy-tale wedding, and they gave the couple a blessing during the reception. Teresa Giudice Responds to Joe Gorga's Instagram Stories Posted on Her Wedding Day The girls father, Joe Giudice, also had a bit of a presence on his ex-wifes wedding day. During a chat with Us Weekly, Louie revealed that he called the Bahamas resident on the morning of the wedding to share a special message about bringing their families together. I called [Joe], basically just let him know that everythings gonna be OK that were a team, Louie explained about why it was important for him to call Teresas ex on their big day. It felt right to call him and talk to him because hes a good father. He definitely makes lemonade outta lemons, and its something that people dont see out there. And I just wanted to acknowledge that for him. Joe Giudice and Gia Giudice in the Bahamas. Louie and Teresa also plan to spend time with Joe and their daughters in the Bahamas soon. The idea, as Teresa told Us Weekly, was all Louies, and it came after the newlyweds went out to dinner with Joe and the kids. Image of Louie Ruelas, Teresa Giudice, and Joe Giudice Im so happy we did [it]. It made my daughter so happy. And I was like, Thank you so much for doing that. It wasnt my idea, it was [Louies]. So [Louie] gets to take the credit for it. But then after I did it, Im like, Thank you, because they really made the girls so happy. What's Next for Teresa and Her Family? Now that Teresa Gets Married has aired, you can see the couple next on the RHONJ Season 13 reunion. Find out what to expect from the special (hint: her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, pops up again) by watching the trailer below. Your First Look at The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 13 Reunion Luz Ramirez longs for a day when she can visit her mother in Mexico. The two havent connected in-person for 23 years. During that time, Ramirez, an undocumented immigrant, has worked in the Central Valley fields picking strawberries and cherries while also fearing deportation. But the years shes spent in the fields may soon allow Ramirez to return to her homeland and see her mother once again. She is among the estimated 5 million undocumented workers across the U.S. that would be eligible for a pathway to citizenship under a new proposal by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif. The legislation targets individuals who worked in sectors that include farm workers like Ramirez deemed essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. We feel like sometimes we are drowning and we dont have anyone to help us get out from where we are, but this would be a great change for us because we could see our loved ones while they are living, said Ramirez, whose father died in Mexico in 2020. For Padilla and advocates, this current bill is an effort to honor the sacrifices workers made during the pandemic and recognize their importance even when not in a public health emergency. Padilla, a son of Mexican immigrants, has committed himself to immigration reform since entering the Senate. Nearly three out of four undocumented immigrants in the workforce were employed in essential sectors, according to Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan policy institute based in Washington D.C. In Padillas bill, essential sectors include agriculture, health care, construction, emergency response, sanitation, food, child care, transportation and hotels and hospitality. They were called essential and we cant go back to a normal of just treating them as invisible and disposable again, said Antonio De Loera-Brust, a spokesperson with United Farm Workers, a labor union for farmworkers. But the bill is also yet another attempt at widespread immigration reform, a feat the federal government has tried to accomplish on a national level for decades. Last year, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act passed twice in the U.S. House but never came to a vote in the Senate. The bills passage seemed imminent, but did not receive enough Republican support. Padilla called it long overdue to modernize the immigration system. We cant forget the sacrifices these workers made, and still make every single day, for our country, Padilla said. Our essential workers have more than earned their place in this country. Padillas legislation would also include non-citizen workers who worked in essential industries but lost employment due to the pandemic or relatives of an essential worker who died from COVID-19. Currently, there is no timeline for the potential pathway. Padilla would work with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for implementation if the bill passes. Applicants would need to pay the fee to apply and pass the typical background checks. This will be the second time Padilla attempts to pass the immigration reform bill. His first piece of legislation as a senator also aimed to provide citizenship for essential workers. He has emerged as a stalwart voice on immigration since becoming Californias first Latino U.S. senator in 2021. Policy disparities between states Padillas push for an immigrant-friendly policy comes at a time when some states are trying to push away undocumented residents. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation this month mandating that businesses with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-verify system to check the immigration status of new employees and mandates hospitals to ask patients about their legal status. It also allows authorities to charge someone with human trafficking if they knowingly or willingly transport an undocumented immigrant across state lines into Florida. Videos on social media show the new law is leading to worker shortages. But in California, some lawmakers are continuing a decades-long campaign to build a social safety net for the states roughly 2.3 million undocumented immigrants. State Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced, has recently introduced SB 831 which would authorize the California governor to work with the federal government to establish a pilot program allowing agricultural workers to start a process toward legal status. Though the bill lacks specifics, the ultimate goal is to make undocumented farmworkers eligible for federal benefits. Similar, less aggressive legislation has failed in the past. But Caballeros bill marks yet another attempt to speed up immigration reform in the Golden State. Ramirez is hopeful of the latest efforts by lawmakers, even if she often thinks her work in the fields is overlooked by most. She described sometimes feeling forgotten by lawmakers and overlooked people that benefit from the food she helps put on their tables. her work in the fields. We are the ones who keep working regardless and we would have a better job, better way of living, and many benefits that we do not have right now if they just think of us a little bit, Ramirez said. Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong holds a work meeting with Lao Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Police Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong held a work meeting with Lao Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Police Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong on Thursday, pledging to strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation. Wang said that China is willing to work with Laos to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, continuously deepen cooperation on safeguarding political security, crack down on transnational criminal activities, strengthen China-Laos Railway security, and promote law enforcement capacity building. Wang said China will constantly improve the quality and effectiveness of China-Laos law enforcement and security cooperation, and push forward the construction of a China-Laos community with a shared future to better benefit the two countries and peoples. Vilay expressed his readiness to strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation with China, and to build a Laos-China community with a shared future. Healthcare delivery system Sentara unveiled its fourth mobile-care vehicle in Virginia Thursday, May 25, 2023 at the Petersburg Public Library. The bus, which includes two fully functioning exam rooms, will begin seeing patients in Petersburg June 1 at either the Hope Center on Commerce Street or the library parking lot. PETERSBURG Sentara unveiled its fourth mobile-care vehicle in Virginia Thursday, one that one company official called a step to create greater health equity in a city traditionally considered the commonwealths unhealthiest. In front of about 50 people in the parking lot of the Petersburg Public Library, representatives of the healthcare delivery system and Petersburg cut the ribbon on the newest of the Sentara mobile-care bus fleet. Its the first one dedicated to a location in central Virginia the others are in Tidewater and northern Virginia. This one will serve Petersburg and other central Virginia locations within an hour's drive of the city. Glenda Ruffin is a Sentara community health worker who will serve as the liaison for the local mobile-care unit, which contains two fully functioning exam areas and will be staffed by doctors, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals. Think of it as a traditional doctors office, only on wheels. Whatever you go to your primary care physician for, well be able to provide those services, Ruffin said. This is one of two exam areas on Sentara's new mobile-care clinic that will be based in Petersburg. The healthcare delivery system unveiled it during a ceremony Thursday, May 25, 2023. The Sentara bus will start taking patients June 1 and will be available two days a week. It will bide it's time for now between the Hope Center on Commerce Street and the library parking lot, but the company expects to expand that service to other parts of the city in the near future. In addition to providing comprehensive healthcare services, the bus also will be a rolling hub for behavioral health, and social support services. Sentara officials said long-range plans call for womens health services also to be provided on the bus. Health and well-being are not just the absence of illness and disease, but a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, Matheis said. He called the mobile unit a chance to meet our community members where they are, where they work, play, live and more. Sentara president/CEO Dennis Mattheis speaks with reporters Thursday, May 25, 2023 at the Petersburg Public Library. Mattheis and others dedicated a new mobile-care unit that will begin serving Petersburg and areas within a one-hour's drive of the city on June 1. The Sentara bus is part of the Partnership for Petersburg program the Youngkin administration rolled out last August to address 49 areas of concern in the city, one of them being access to health care. The University of Wisconsins Population Health Institute has ranked Petersburg as the unhealthiest of all 133 localities in Virginia, and one of the factors cited is that access. More: PFP point man calls Petersburg 'gold mine,' encourages business to come or expand there More: State unveils 'partnership' with Petersburg on improving city life across underserved areas When we started our work here in Petersburg, one of the things we discovered is that there are a sufficient number of medical services throughout the community, but people have a really difficult time getting to them, state secretary of health and human resources John Littiel told the audience. And its really important that we dont sit around and wait for people to go get the care, that we bring the care to them. Following Littiels remarks, he, Matheis and others cut a ribbon officially opening the service. Attendees were given the chance to tour the bus and see what it has to offer. Petersburg leaders in attendance for Thursdays ribbon-cutting included City Manager March Altman, Sheriff Vanessa Crawford and state Sen. Joe Morrissey. Mayor Sam Parham was not at the ceremony, but representatives of the event said he was expected later to tour the bus. Ruffin, the local health worker and bus liaison, said the unit will start seeing patients at 9 a.m. June 1 at the Hope Center and at 1 p.m. in the library parking lot. Walk-ins are welcome or appointments can be made by calling (703) 523-0998. During the ceremony, Sentara also announced a $2 million behavioral health innovation fund aimed at improving access to behavioral health services across Virginia. According to a Sentara news release, the fund will focus on enhancement of response times, improving access, finding innovative ways to deliver care and enhancing partnerships with what the company called safety-net providers in the behavioral health space. More: They live in a neighborhood with a natural gas compressor station. It's about to double its output. Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Sentara rolls out mobile care clinic for Petersburg A June sentencing date is set for the racist who fatally shot 23 people and injured dozens more at an El Paso Walmart in 2019. Patrick Crusius' sentencing is set to begin at 9 a.m. June 30 at the Albert Armendariz Sr. Federal Courthouse in Downtown El Paso with U.S. District Court Judge David C. Guaderrama presiding. Crusius pleaded guilty during a Feb. 8 plea hearing to 90 federal charges in connection with the El Paso Walmart mass shooting on Aug. 3, 2019. The admitted white supremacist is facing life in federal prison after the U.S. Attorney's Office elected not to seek the death penalty. Patrick Crusius and his defense attorney, Joe Spencer, listened as U.S. District Judge David Guaderrama asked questions Wednesday about his guilty pleas to charges from the Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart. He traveled to El Paso to attack shoppers on a Saturday morning grocery store visit. Once in El Paso, he allegedly uploaded a racist tirade online stating, "This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas," he wrote. "I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion." He carried out the attack with a semi-automatic assault-type rifle before surrendering to authorities near the busy grocery store. Patrick Crusius hearing schedule for El Paso Walmart shooting An order filed Wednesday evening outlines the schedule of the sentencing hearing. Here is the schedule: Beginning June 30: "Discuss the (probation) Presentence Report and hear and resolve objections to the Report; Defense counsel's and Defendant Patrick Wood Crusius's allocution." On July 5: Victim impact statements "beginning at 10:00 a.m. and proceeding until finished. The Court expects this portion of the hearing to take multiple days." The day following the conclusion of victim impact statements: "The Government's allocution and the Court's pronouncement of Defendant's sentence." More: Admitted white supremacist pleads guilty to El Paso Walmart shooting charges During the February plea hearing, federal prosecutors asked Judge Guaderrama to sentence the mass shooter to 90 consecutive life sentences. Crusius pleaded guilty to: 23 counts of hate crimes resulting in death 23 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence 22 counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill 22 counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence The sentencing will be held on the eighth floor in the largest Downtown El Paso federal courthouse courtroom. More than 40 victims or family members of those who died in the shooting sat in that same courtroom when the gunman pleaded guilty. Dozens more watched the proceedings on television screens in an overflow room. The plea hearing was the last time the gunman appeared in a courtroom. In that appearance, he wore a blue jail jumpsuit, a face covering and was handcuffed in front, tied to a metal chain around his waist. He wore glasses and his brown hair was longer and unkempt. Caption: Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty Wednesday to 90 counts stemming from the Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart. He was accompanied at the podium by his legal team, from left, Joe Spencer, Mark Stevens, Rebecca Hudsmith and Felix Valenzuela. While the federal case against the mass shooter is reaching its end, state district court charges remain pending. In state court, the gunman faces one count of capital murder of multiple persons and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The El Paso County District Attorney's Office is seeking the death penalty. A trial date has not been set in state court. Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT. Joe Spencer, lead defense lawyer for Patrick Crusius, arrives at the Albert Armendariz Sr. Federal Courthouse in El Paso, Texas on Feb. 8, 2023 on the day that Patrick Crusius, the shooting suspect, is expected to plead guilty to 90 federal charges in connection with the Aug. 3, 2019 shooting at Cielo Vista-area Walmart in El Paso, Texas. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Walmart shooter receives sentencing date in June After much resistance and a request from the US, South Korea has begun to transfer hundreds of thousands of artillery shells to Ukraine. The shipment is being made through the United States. Source: Wall Street Journal Quote: "South Korea is proceeding with the transfer of hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds for Ukraine, a move that U.S. officials said would make Kyivs planned offensive against Russian forces effective and allow the White House to delay a fraught decision about whether to supply cluster munitions banned by many countries." Details: According to a confidential agreement, South Korea is handing over the shells to the United States, which in turn arranged for them to be shipped to Ukraine. The White House declined to comment, as did a representative of the South Korean government in Seoul. The Pentagon declined to say how the transfer of the shells is taking place or when it is expected to be completed, but admitted that it is in talks with Seoul to buy the ammunition from South Korea. Seoul's position changed after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols visit to Washington last month. At that time, Washington and Seoul issued a joint declaration on security issues. In November, Seoul promised to provide Ukraine with artillery, but then began to evade. It is noted that the United States has been asking for assistance for months, as the Pentagon's own artillery stockpile is dwindling. Since February 2022, the US has reportedly provided Ukraine with more than 2 million 155mm artillery rounds, and their stocks have begun to run out. The Pentagon has raided its own stockpiles of shells in Germany, Israel, Kuwait, and South Korea to make up for the shortfall. Leaked classified documents indicate that in March, South Korean officials were concerned that sending the shells would violate the country's policy of providing only non-lethal support to Ukraine at the time, but they also did not want to deny their ally. It is also noted that Ukraine had asked for cluster munitions, and high-ranking Republican lawmakers pressured the administration to provide them. US military and defence officials were sympathetic to Ukraine's request. But officials in the White House and Department of State resisted, citing international condemnation of cluster munitions. Congressional legislation prohibits the United States from exporting cluster bombs with any rate above the nominal failure rate, but this provision can be overridden by the US president. Background: A few days ago, Yoon Suk Yeol stated that the Republic of Korea plans to provide Ukraine with demining equipment and ambulances, and will consider Kyiv's request for some non-lethal weapons. On 16 May, South Korea signed an agreement with Ukraine to provide a US$130 million financial aid package. This happened a day after First Lady Olena Zelenska asked for military aid for Ukraine in Seoul. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Thousands of protesters called for top officals to resign after two mass shootings left 18 people dead What began as an outpouring of grief after two shootings in Serbia has morphed into a mass movement against the government, bringing tens of thousands onto the streets in a tense showdown between an enraged public and President Aleksandar Vucic. The "Serbia against violence" protests have culminated into some of the largest rallies since widespread demonstrations triggered the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic over two decades ago. They have tapped into simmering anger toward Vucic and the ruling party over what protesters say is a culture of violence fanned by the government and the media outlets they control. "Everything is so malignant in our society, It's scary," Slobodan Markovic, a 70-year-old pensioner, told AFP during a recent rally. The protests first took shape earlier this month following back-to-back shootings within 48 hours -- including a massacre at an elementary school in Belgrade. The violence left the country deeply shaken. Days later, a silent march called for a crackdown on violent content on pro-government media and the resignation of the interior minister and intelligence chief. The shock quickly transformed into outrage after the protest demands met with fierce rebuttals from the president and his allies, who mocked the rallies and hurled insults at participants. - 'Parallel reality' - Vucic has compared the opposition leaders organising the protests to "vultures" and "hyenas" aiming to exploit the tragedy for political gain. The president has also scheduled his own counter demonstration on Friday -- "the biggest gathering in Serbian history". Belgrade is braced for a tense weekend, with thousands of Vucic's supporters expected to arrive by bus from all over the country, while the opposition plans to take the streets again on Saturday. "The government seems to be living in a parallel reality. It's like they don't see these people, don't hear their cries and don't want to serve them," said Dobrica Veselinovic, a leader of an opposition leftist party. The rival protests have stirred fears that unrest could erupt on a par with violent clashes during demonstrations in the 1990s. Ahead of the pro-government demonstration, Slavisa Micanovic -- a leading member of Vucics party -- issued an open threat on Twitter against anyone who sought to disrupt the event, suggesting their bodies would be dumped into the capital's rivers. - Tension - The protestors have also targeted pro-government media, saying they broadcast gratuitous violence while also offering ruling party officials a bullhorn to divide the public and target opponents. Vucic routinely takes to the airways to berate his rivals with aggressive language. Since the protests began, government talk shows have hit back calling demonstrators "scum", publishing doctored photos downplaying crowd sizes, and peddling conspiracy theories about foreign powers allegedly orchestrating the rallies. "Our sister intelligence services from the east tell us that these are the attempts at carrying out colour revolutions," Vucic said recently, comparing the protests to 2014 Maidan revolution in Ukraine. The message often finds a receptive audience in rural communities, where access to media outside of government-backed outlets is rare. "A big part of Serbia doesn't even know about the events happening in Belgrade," Cedomir Cupic, a professor at Belgrade University's faculty of political sciences, told AFP. He said the state's fierce pushback is likely tied to protestors' demands to bring pro-government broadcasters to heel. "The only demand that could actually hurt the ruling party is the one about the media," Cupic said. "They can easily replace the interior ministry, the whole government for that matter, it's irrelevant. But the media is the pillar of their rule." Civil society groups have meanwhile called on Vucic to scrap his rally. "Your decision to cancel the rally on May 26 would be a good sign that it is possible to put state interest over party interest," said a joint statement signed by leading advocacy groups. Demonstrators are hoping to maintain their momentum and pile further pressure on the government. "I thought the hope was gone," said Bozana Vujovic, a 41-year old economist from Belgrade. "But with this energy, I believe that now there is some." mbs/ds/bp/ach 8 people displaced after fire in Darke County Eight people have been displaced after a fire broke out in Darke County home Thursday morning. >> PHOTOS: 8 people displaced after fire in Darke County Firefighters were dispatched around 6:22 a.m. on initial reports of a porch fire in the 2100 block of Byrket Road, the Darke County Sheriffs Office told News Center 7. Several fire departments provided mutual aid including New Madison Fire, Tri-Village Rescue, Lynn Fire, Hollansburg Fire, Greenville Township Fire, Greenville City Fire, Union City, Indiana Fire, Arcanum Fire, and Union City, Ohio Fire, according to the Liberty Twp. Fire Department. The Red Cross was called to assist the eight people displaced by the fire. The house has been deemed a total loss. News Center 7 will continue to provide updates on this developing story. A shark attacked a 22-year-old woman from Connecticut while she was snorkeling at a resort in Turks and Caicos Wednesday, according to a release from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. The woman was snorkeling with a friend around 3 p.m. local time when a shark attacked them, police said. A resort employee then called police for an ambulance, according to the release. The employee told police that the victim had her leg bitten off by a shark, the release said. Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, along with an ambulance, arrived on the scene and took the woman to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she remains in serious condition, police said. Big Blue Collective, an eco-adventures and water sports company in the Turks and Caicos Islands, said in a statement on Thursday, The calm, quick and measured response from one of our captains and office team meant that the victim was extracted from the ocean and dispatched in the ambulance in 15 minutes, saving them from a potentially life-threatening situation. The company called the attack, which it said happened in clear, calm waters, unfortunate and what is known in diving circles as a case of mistaken identity, according to the statement. The victim and her friend were on a private trip aboard a private vessel unrelated to one of Big Blue Collectives excursions at the time of the attack by a presumed Caribbean reef shark, the companys statement said. Shark attacks are rare While officials are urging beachgoers to take regular safety precautions ahead of Memorial Day weekend, shark attacks are extremely rare, according to the University of Floridas International Shark Attack File. The number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide decreased last year, which tied with 2020 for the fewest number of reported incidents in the last 10 years, according to the Florida group. They reported that snorkelers and divers accounted for 9% of shark bite incidents. The University of Florida experts distinguish between unprovoked attacks, which they say provide insight into the behavior of sharks and those that are prompted by outside circumstances, like fishing lines cast in feeding areas. Two men in the Florida Keys were bitten by sharks last week while fishing. In one case, a shark bit an angler on the foot after it had been reeled in and onto the dock where he was fishing, officials said. In the case of a shark attack, the University of Florida group advises a proactive response. They say hitting a shark on the nose can help temporarily curtail the attack. If the shark bites, they suggest clawing at its eyes and gill openings. You should not act passively if under attack as sharks respect size and power, the group writes. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An American tourist has lost her leg after being bitten by a shark while vacationing in Turks and Caicos, police say. The 22-year-old female from Connecticut and a friend were snorkeling in the waters off Providenciales island Wednesday when they were attacked, The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said in a statement posted to Instagram, that later appeared removed on Friday. The statement added that a resort employee on the island "indicated that the female victim had her leg bitten off by a shark." The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and an ambulance responded to the scene. PENNSYLVANIA TEENAGER SURFING IN NEW JERSEY SUFFERS INJURIES FROM POSSIBLE SHARK ATTACK: REPORTS The American tourist was snorkeling when she was bitten by a shark in Turks and Caicos, a report says. As of Wednesday night, the woman who has not been publicly identified was in serious condition at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre on the island. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital has reached out to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force for further comment. The reported attack in the Caribbean country comes days after a Pennsylvania teenager, surfing for the first time in South New Jersey over the weekend, suffered injuries authorities said are consistent with those of a shark attack. Fox 29 in Philadelphia reported that a 15-year-old girl was surfing in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, at 109th Street on Sunday afternoon when she was bitten. RECENT SHARK BITES SCARY, BUT SERIOUS INJURIES REMAIN RARE The Turks and Caicos islands are a popular Caribbean vacation destination. Shown here are waters surrounding Grand Turk island. As soon as the incident happened, emergency teams rescued the girl from the water before transporting her to a nearby hospital. The injuries included lacerations to her foot and calf, requiring six stitches. None of her injuries were life-threatening. "After careful examination, it has been ascertained by the New Jersey State Southern Regional Medical Examiners Office that the injuries sustained by the surfer are consistent with those typically associated with a shark of unknown size and type," officials in Stone Harbor said. It is unknown what type of shark allegedly bit the teenager. A shark swims toward a group of divers during a shark dive off of Jupiter, Florida, in February 2022. It is unclear what kind of shark reportedly attacked the tourist in Turks and Caicos. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a great white shark also was seen over the weekend eating a seal. "The entire event only lasted around 7 minutes from when we first saw the shark quickly break the surface of the water, in what we think was the initial strike, to when the seal was consumed," the Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch company posted on social media, describing the sighting by crew and passengers Saturday morning. Fox News Greg Wehner contributed to this report. She asked for a toy that looked like her adopted son and never expected this response When 5-year-old Archer "Archie" Coffman walks down a toy aisle, he rarely sees himself reflected in the rows of figurines. "When there aren't toys like him, he asks why," Niki Coffman, Archer's mom, tells TODAY.com. "He notices." When asked what it feels like to not see toys that look like him, Archer says it feels "not good." "Everyone should have that," the little boy tells TODAY.com. "It makes them happy." So when Archer received a surprise gift from Fisher-Price a Little People toy designed to look just like him he experienced that happiness firsthand. Archer Kaufman, Little People (Courtesy Niki Coffman) "I opened the box and started crying," Niki Coffman, who lives in Mississippi, says. "Archer asked why. I said: 'Archer, they made you.' His little jaw dropped. "He snatched the box out of my hands...whipped around and shouted: 'It's me! It's me!'" she adds. "He showed everyone. He didn't put (the toy) down all day." 'It's a complicated, huge responsibility' Niki Coffman, 38, and her husband Andrew adopted Archer shortly after he was born. "I couldn't have a baby," Coffman says. "I had surgery a couple of times and I was not interested in walking down the road of intense medical interventions." The couple matched with Archer's birth mother, KKay, who the family calls Archer's first mom because "she did so much more than give birth to him." Archer Kaufman, Little People (Courtesy Niki Coffman) "She wasn't in a great spot and didn't have a lot of support, but she's an amazing mom," Niki says. "There are few moments as devastating to me in my life as the moment she put him in our arms. It was so clear what it was costing her for our dreams to come true. "She kissed his tiny little face and was whispering 'I'm sorry' over and over again," Niki adds. "I'll never forget it." Niki says Archers first mom is an integral part of his life, adding that they often visit her. As his second mom, Niki says she always works to honor KKay in how she parents their son. "She is the only other person in the whole world who knows what it's like to be his mom," she says. 'That's a duty I take really seriously." Archer Kaufman, Little People (Courtesy Niki Coffman) "When someone makes that sacrifice for your dreams to come true, you do everything you can to live up to that choice," she adds. "And it's a complicated, huge responsibility when youre a white parent adopting a child of another race. "We knew that going in, and I knew how important it would be for us to make sure that he could see himself." Its hard to describe how impactful it feels For five years, Niki has searched for toys, books and holiday decorations that look more like her son. When a company succeeds in providing diverse toys and products, she contacts them to say thank you. When a company fails, she sends a letter politely asking them to "do better." Archer Kaufman, Little People (Courtesy Niki Coffman) On Archer's fifth birthday, Niki decided to ask people to donate diverse and inclusive toys, books and art supplies to Archer's predominately white preschool. Many of the donations were Fisher-Price's Little People figurines featuring children with different skin tones, hair textures and physical abilities. "What is hard to find is a toy with brown skin and red hair," Niki says. "So I wrote to Fisher Price, thanked them profusely for the work they were doing and then left a P.S. that said something like: 'If you ever decided to design a Little Person with brown skin and red hair, please let us know.'" Archer Kaufman, Little People (Courtesy Niki Coffman) Shortly after, Niki received a response from Gary Weber, the Vice President of Design at Fisher-Price. "Your story has been shared with everyone who worked on the Little People figures you mentioned, and to say that it made our day would be an understatement," Weber wrote. "You and Archer have inspired us! We know that when kids play with Little People they are playing out scenarios they see in the world around them, and feeling like they are a part of that world is critical." The email ended with Weber asking for the family's address so Fisher-Price could "make sure Archer and his school have the full representation of our Little People figures. On Tuesday, May 23, Niki Coffman received a special box from Fisher Price. "There was a letter on top from The Little People team a beautifully printed, framable letter and everyone in their department had signed it," Niki says. "Inside the box were perfectly packaged boxes that had a little Archer figure in it. They got the whole outfit perfect the sweater, the green shorts, his little loafers. They got his hair perfect. Archer Kaufman, Little People (Courtesy Niki Coffman) "The amount of work and effort and care they put in to this toy was astounding," she adds. "The thing that just keeps blowing my mind is the number of people who obviously worked on this...it's hard to describe how impactful it feels, to think of people I don't know in boardrooms somewhere looking at a picture of my kid and thinking: 'What else can we do?' Because as a mom I think about that every day: How else can I smooth the path for him?" A spokesperson for Fisher-Price tells TODAY.com that Niki's email was shared "throughout the company and it genuinely touched all of us." "We felt such a sense of pride knowing how we had impacted this one family," the spokesperson says. "How could anyone not be inspired by both Nikis letter and that beautiful photo of Archer? It means everything to us. That feeling of joy and excitement we see on every childs face when interacting or playing with one of our toys is the reason we do what we do." An employee at Fisher-Price also reached out to Niki via Instagram personally. "They wrote me to say: 'I have a Little Archer on my desk," she says. "They literally ordered one for each of their staff." Archer Kaufman, Little People (Courtesy Niki Coffman) "This was a complete team effort across Fisher Price," the Fisher-Price spokesperson says. "Gary Weber and the leader of the design team, Dafna Mor, led the charge to make sure that Archer had his very own LP figure. They worked hand-in-hand with the entire LP team to perfect Archers figure from his hair to his shirt and his smiling face." 'Not seeing color doesn't help' Niki says Archer's Little People figurine is so much more than a toy it's a reminder that representation matters. "I worry about things I can't control I worry about him getting killed by police or people viewing him as an adult," she says, adding that Archer is "big for his age." "I can't control any of that, but what I can do right now is to make sure that the spaces he's in right now help him know how incredible he is; that his school takes the time to understand that he has brown skin and that not seeing color doesn't help. Archer Kaufman, Little People (Courtesy Niki Coffman) "I need them to have toys and and books that look like Archer, because that's how they understand that brown skin isn't less than," she continues. "And I'm in a really unique position as a white woman with a Black kid to help people understand why representation matters. Black parents are tired and they already know it's important." Archer has continued to donate Little People toys "with brown skin like me," to his pre-school, for his friends to enjoy. "I got an Archie Army," he says. This article was originally published on TODAY.com She was badly burned taking a selfie, then became a war refugee. Now US doctors help her. Reporter Kristen Jordan Shamus and visual journalist Mandi Wright of the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, are in Poland, near the border with Ukraine. They followed a group of U.S. doctors who traveled to Poland to treat Ukrainian children with burns and congenital abnormalities, the first such trip since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The doctors, from Michigan, Texas, Massachusetts and Missouri, operated on 20 children in the past week. Shamus and Wright this week will tell the childrens stories. LECZNA, Poland Karolina Petrenko was with her older brother, Zhenia, and a friend at a cargo train station in Ukraine when she pulled out her cellphone and did what many teenagers do multiple times a day: She took a selfie. That ordinary act had a disastrous outcome. As a train passed nearby, an electrical current arced to her phone, sending 25,000 volts of electricity through her 13-year-old body. She caught on fire, said her mother, Vitalina Petrenko, 38. Zhenia ripped off her burning clothes and shoes. At the beginning she was in shock. Then she lost consciousness. While falling to the ground, she hit her head on a stone. Seventy-five percent of her body was burned, 25% of which were severe burns. In many ways, Sept. 9, 2019, was the worst day of their lives. But it also set them on a new, unexpected path. 'We went through everything imaginable ... we do not give up' Standing beside her daughters hospital bed in eastern Poland last week, Vitalina Petrenko pushed up the sleeves of her pink sweater, showing the tattoos on her forearms. On the right is the phoenix, rising from the ashes. On the left, the images of fierce creatures a dragon and a wolf are tattooed above the infinity symbol. Infinite love, which inspires and saves, which conquers everything, she said. My tattoos resemble what I have been through. We went through everything imaginable. We even ended up on the streets one day, but as you can see, we do not give up. We fight! Vitalina Petrenko, 38, explains what what happened to her daughter Karolina Petrenko,16, of Cherkasy, Ukraine as she recovers from surgery on Friday, May 19, 2023 that released her fingers that were trapped in her burn scar tissue contractures at the Independent Public Health Care Facility by in Leczna, Poland. Doctors Collaborating to Help Children performed the surgery on Petrenko who was burned Sept. 9, 2019 after being electrocuted while she was taking a selfie at a train station. She, and her siblings have relocated to Warsaw, Poland with their mother because of the war against Ukraine. Petrenko is raising her children alone Zhenia, 18; Karolina, now 16; and Anhelina, 11. Its been very difficult financially, she said. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Petrenko said she knew the family couldnt stay in Cherkasy, where Karolina was burned. More: US doctors travel to edge of war zone to care for burned Ukrainian children More: A burned little girl and her great-grandmother: 'We will handle this' They fled to Poland, and settled in Warsaw, where Petrenko and Zhenia now have jobs; Karolina and Anhelina go to school. Since day one, I worked, Petrenko said. Some refugees used free accommodations or food, but not us. No one supported us. No one funded our stay here. We paid for ourselves since the very start. Karolina is an artist, though the burn scars on her hands have bent and twisted her fingers so its difficult to hold her colored pencils. She loves to ride scooters, bicycles and roller skates, though the skin on much of her upper body is tight because it is contracting as she grows. Vitalina Petrenko, 38, shows a photo of artwork created by her daughter, Karolina Petrenko,16, of Cherkasy, Ukraine, as she recovers from a surgery that released her fingers that were trapped in burn scar tissue contractures at the Independent Public Health Care Facility by in Leczna, Poland on Friday, May 19, 2023. Converging in eastern Poland for critical surgeries It was through a co-worker that Petrenko first heard Dr. Gennadiy Fuzaylovs name. Fuzaylov, a Boston-based physician who also founded a nonprofit organization called Doctors Collaborating to Help Children, has traveled annually for more than a decade to Ukraine with a team of U.S. physicians to provide free plastic and reconstructive surgery to children with burn scars and congenital abnormalities that affect their ability to function. But because of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Fuzaylov came up with a different plan this year. The medical team of 10 U.S. physicians and a certified nurse anesthetist traveled to eastern Poland in mid-May while 17 Ukrainian children were brought over the Polish border to meet the physicians at the Independent Public Health Care Facility in the city of Leczna. More: US doctors travel to edge of war zone to care for burned Ukrainian children More: Michigan doctor collects medical supplies to help hospitals in Ukraine Three other Ukrainian children, including Karolina, also traveled to Leczna from other parts of Poland and the Netherlands, where they are living as refugees as part of the historic mission. Karolinas turn for a long-awaited surgery came May 16. She was brought into the operating room on a stretcher, tucked beneath a metallic gold sheet to keep her warm. Dr. Jeremi Mountjoy, an anesthesiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Christopher Bean, an anesthesiology medical resident at the same hospital, prepared her for surgery. Her hands have almost zero function, said Dr. Brian Kelley, a plastic surgeon from the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical Center. Karolina Petrenko,16, of Cherkasy, Ukraine reaches her arms out for her burn scared hands to be assessed on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at her hotel in Leczna, Poland by Doctors Collaborating to Help Children before surgery to help correct and release her fingers. Music pumped into the operating room. Tina Turners voice sang Whats love got to do with it as doctors worked, using grafting skin on Karolina's hands to allow her to fully open and close them again. They placed temporary pins into her fingers to straighten them while also releasing contractures in her hands, on her arms and neck, said Dr. Tomasz Korzeniowski, vice chair of plastic surgery at the Polish hospital. Karolina also had laser treatments to soften and improve the appearance of her burn scars. The pins in her fingers will remain in place for two to three weeks, Kelley said, and will be removed after she returns to Warsaw. When Karolina was brought into the surgical recovery room, Bean monitored her for any signs of distress. He noticed Petrenko looking worried, standing by Karolinas bedside stroking her daughters blond-tipped hair as the anesthesia wore off. Though they shared no common language, and he couldnt offer consoling words, he brought her a stool so she could sit. Vitalina Petrenko, 38, gets emotional as she talks about her daughter Karolina Petrenko,16, of Cherkasy, Ukraine as she recovers from surgery on Friday, May 19, 2023 that released her fingers that were trapped in her burn scar tissue contractures at the Independent Public Health Care Facility by in Leczna, Poland. Doctors Collaborating to Help Children performed the surgery on Petrenko who was burned Sept. 9, 2019 after being electrocuted while she was taking a selfie at a train station. She, and her siblings have relocated to Warsaw, Poland with their mother because of the war against Ukraine. In that moment, kindness transcended the language barrier. Petrenko said she knows Karolina will need more surgeries to improve her quality of life, but, she said, as long as I have strength, I will do everything possible to make my child healthy. I fight alone. We go through problems together, me and the children. People used to tell me, You are strong, but do I have any other option? Zuza Nikitorowicz translated interviews for this story. To contribute to Doctors Collaborating to Help Children, go to dctohc.org/donations. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: US doctors aid war refugee who was badly burned taking a selfie (Bloomberg) -- Volatility is creeping back into Israels markets on renewed concerns over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to weaken the judiciary and its potential impact on investment. Most Read from Bloomberg The nations currency is headed for its biggest weekly loss since February, when Netanyahus efforts to wrest more power away from Israels courts triggered mass protests and later prompted Moodys Investors Service to lower the countrys credit outlook. Netanyahu plans to revive the judicial proposal after parliament passed on Wednesday a new national budget, a move that could bring some stability to his right-wing coalition. With the budget now approved, Netanyahu is free to continue pursuing the judicial reform agenda, which could result in renewed demonstrations and place depreciation pressure on the shekel, said Brendan McKenna, a New-York based emerging-markets economist and foreign exchange strategist at Wells Fargo Securities. If governance deteriorates amid the judicial overhaul and other political priorities, we would expect foreign investor capital to exit Israel. Traders are hedging against the risk of bigger swings in the shekel, with the currencys one-month implied volatility jumping by the most worldwide after the Turkish lira since Monday. The options market also added to bearish wagers against the Israeli currency this week by the most since March, according to three-month risk reversals. A series of blows had weighed on the nations assets earlier this week from a warning by Israels military chief that the country is preparing for a possible conflict with Iran to backlash over Netanyahus budget. Bending to the demands of his ultra-Orthodox partners in a shaky coalition government, much of the budget outlay will finance programs prized by ultra-Orthodox Jews that critics say would suppress rather than spur economic growth. The shekel has slumped about 2% this week to trade at 3.7206 against the US dollar at 2:15 pm in London, near a three-year low. Traders see a 58% probability of the shekel weakening by about 2% to 3.8 per dollar over the next two months, up from 26% at the end of last week, according to Bloomberg calculations based on prices of put and call options. In the equities market, the key TA-35 Index lost 3.1% after declining every single day this week. Local markets are closed Thursday for a holiday. The cost of protecting Israels debt against default rose on Wednesday by the most in five weeks to 63 basis points. Ratings Downgrade Netanyahus decision in late March to delay the judicial plan had provided some reprieve for the nations assets, with the shekel outpacing most other major developing currencies up to last week. But now, the specter of a further crackdown is keeping investors on edge. Israels rating could be downgraded if the current tensions were to turn into a prolonged political and social crisis and hurt the economy, should it lead to a slowdown in capital inflows into the important high-tech sector and relocation of Israeli firms abroad, Moodys said in a report last month. Until this week, the shekel had been a silent outperformer in May among EM peers, said Eimear Daly, a London-based emerging-market strategist at NatWest. Now it has to price back in the current government remaining in power and the controversial judicial legislation soon returning to parliament. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. JERUSALEM, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that it had shot down a drone that crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanon. The drone was identified and monitored until it was shot down, according to an IDF statement. The military did not say who operated the drone or whether it was armed, adding that there were no injuries or damage in the incident. The downing of the drone came hours after an incident on the adjacent border with Syria when gunfire from Syria was aimed at an Israeli military drone that was "conducting routine surveillance activity." "The IDF will continue to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty," the statement read. In recent months, there have been increased tensions between Israel and the Hezbollah militant organization. Earlier this week, the IDF warned Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah that he is close to making "a mistake that could plunge the region into war" after Hezbollah staged a military show in Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006. Since then, there have been sporadic violent exchanges between the two sides. Its not a surprise, but still warrants public notice: Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Haydens effort to ferret out election fraud in Kansas is officially a huge, wasteful flop. As The Stars Katie Bernard reported this week, two years of investigation by Haydens office following the 2020 presidential election have produced precisely one recommendation of criminal charges to local prosecutors and that single count involves an allegation of voter intimidation a few days prior to the Kansas abortion referendum vote in August 2022. Its hardly the stuff of widespread voter fraud. That hasnt stopped Hayden from suggesting that a conspiracy somehow flipped Johnson County to Joe Bidens column during the 2020 election. Hayden even took his claims to the 2022 Las Vegas convention of the Constitutional Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association, a group of cranks who argue that county sheriffs authority supersedes that of state and federal officials. Thats a crowd, naturally, sympathetic to Donald Trumps false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him. President Trump did not carry our county, Hayden told the group. First time since 1914 that Johnson County didnt vote Republican. Hayden added that he was concerned because he actually received more votes during that election than Trump, despite appearing much farther down the ballot than the former president. And his office claimed that it had received more than 200 tips of election malfeasance. His claims drew national attention. But Haydens objections never made much sense. Johnson County was one of many previously GOP-leaning suburban areas across the country that have been tilting to the left in recent years, with the angle increasing during Trumps presidency. Yes, Hayden received more votes than Trump despite his less-exalted place on the ballot. Hayden didnt have an opponent, though. Trump did. As for the 200 tips about supposed wrongdoing? Journalists dug up public records from Haydens office. They found just one reported complaint, which the victim subsequently described as just an accident. No wonder Haydens investigation has gotten nowhere. This shows the, you know, the complete emptiness and, candidly, the complete waste of time and resources that have been devoted to these so-called investigations, Mark Johnson, a Kansas City attorney who specializes in election law, told Bernard. Unfortunately, the Johnson County sheriff is just one more Kansas Republican who has overpromised and under-delivered on claims of election fraud in recent years. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has made a career out of the issue at both the state and national levels famously co-chairing Trumps commission that investigated nonexistent wrongdoing in the 2016 election. (You know: the election Trump actually won.) Naturally, it didnt find anything and disbanded. And the Kansas Republican Partys current chairman is Mike Brown, the 2020 election-denying former Johnson County commissioner and Hayden ally who last year lost his attempt to win the GOP nomination for Kansas secretary of state. Like those men, Hayden has failed Kansans by raising false and unnecessary doubts along with Johnson County taxpayer dollars about the integrity of the states elections. Kobach and Brown have been rewarded for their misguided efforts with positions of great political responsibility in the Sunflower State. Will Hayden similarly benefit from his fruitless crusade? Shouldnt he pay some sort of professional penalty? We have previously suggested that the sheriff should resign. He didnt take our advice. So Johnson County voters may get to decide that question: His current term ends with next years election. Democrats didnt even field a candidate to oppose Hayden in 2020. That was a political misstep, but even more a disservice to the people. The party must get its act together in 2024, for this contest and every other one around the country it has abandoned. You lose every race you dont run. Hayden, of course, has not acknowledged his failure. Instead, he has tried to spread the blame to The Star and District Attorney Steve Howe, among others while casting himself as a martyr to some greater cause. Nobody wants to take the heat, he told a Kansas legislative committee in March. Ill take the heat, I dont care. But there is no greater cause. Its a good thing that Hayden is willing to take the heat, though. Because he deserves every bit that comes his way. On the day Dr. Mary Ehlenbach toured the Kidz Korner nursing home for children with complex medical needs, she encountered a little boy confined to one of two cribs in a large room. The boy appeared excited to see visitors, and when a caregiver lowered a railing to his crib, he bolted. He made a run for it, Ehlenbach, medical director of the Pediatric Complex Care Program at the University of Wisconsin, testified at a recent trial. He hopped out of that bed and was really jetting for the door. A staff member intercepted him. The childs fate, and that of 139 other Florida children who are living their lives in institutions, no longer rests with nursing home employees or even state health administrators, who have fought for 12 years to keep them there. It now belongs to U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, who is presiding over a civil rights lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department against state health regulators. Middlebrooks appears poised to do what civil rights leaders and childrens advocates have long failed to accomplish: help free the little boy and others like him. It is my tentative belief that the United States has met its burden of proving that the State of Florida is violating the civil rights of children with medical complexity who reside in nursing facilities, Middlebrooks said when testimony concluded May 19 after a two-week trial. And the judge made clear he wants to act quickly. The United States filed this lawsuit in 2012, and one of the tragedies of the case is that its taken over 12 years to even get to trial, which I consider a failing of the judicial system, Middlebrooks said. One way or the other, the judge said, I hope this thing doesnt continue foreverI guess, if you wanted to, you could keep litigating and continue this for years and years, but I sure dont think that solves anything. READ MORE: Founder of nursing home for kids doesnt want kids there permanently In a landmark 1999 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act and a form of unlawful discrimination to essentially force people with disabilities to live in institutions. Despite that, the Justice Department argued, Florida health administrators had erected barriers for parents seeking to raise their children at home, forcing them to consign their kids to a life of loneliness and isolation in nursing homes. An exterior view of the Plantation Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and The Kidz Korner on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Plantation, Fla. Florida health administrators have fought the suit for the entire 12 years. Lawyers for the Agency for Health Care Administration, which oversees medical facilities, say the litigation threatens the states very sovereignty, and that the agency should be allowed to house, treat and finance the care for people with disabilities without interference from federal regulators. The state has refused to disclose how much it has paid Gray Robinson, a defense firm with about 255 attorneys and has not responded to a request under the states public records laws for billing information. The long-awaited trial began on May 8. Though Middlebrooks heard testimony from several parents, much of the controversy involved a clash of experts. Dr. Allan Greissman, a critical care pediatrician at Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital in Hollywood, testified for the state that many of the children living in nursing homes were too frail to live outside long-term care facilities, and many were, in any case, so neurologically devastated that they are incapable of experiencing the joy or comfort of living with family. I reject the testimony of the states expert on this issuewho articulated a series of problematic opinions, Middlebrooks, who presides in West Palm Beach, said from the bench, such as that some children would derive no benefit at all from family interaction at a home setting. In short, Middlebrooks said, Greissman suggested that nurses in institutions are just better at caregiving. Thus, institutions are a safer environment, and this justifies maintaining children in nursing homes. Middlebrooks said he found such testimony not to be credible or persuasive. Middlebrooks tentative findings suggest he believes Ehlenbachs testimony as well as that of other experts for the Justice Department was persuasive. Ehlenbach toured the three Florida nursing homes that accept pediatric patients, interviewed the parents of children who live in them, and reviewed medical records. In her testimony on May 19, Ehlenbach painted a bleak portrait of life for the 140 children who live, sometimes for a lifetime, in long-term care facilities. I think I was mainly left with the impression that while they may have been surrounded by people, they were very alone, she said. They were lonely. Most of the children that we saw at all three nursing facilities were either in bed in front of a screen, watching a screen, or were up in wheelchairs sometimes in the hallways, sometimes in their room with a screen in front of them. Sometimes they were watching, sometimes the screen was just on. READ MORE: Parents, feds fight for kids in Florida nursing homes Ehlenbach recounted one particularly disturbing incident from her tour of The Kidz Korner, a 100-bed pediatric unit in a nursing home in Plantation: So they were beds that had metal side rails on all four sidesbut they were bigger than, like, a typical baby crib, she testified. And one of the children, when he saw that someone came into -- people had come into the room, really perked up and was moving about the bed and clearly indicating to us that he wanted to get out of the enclosure bed. And so the person who was giving me the tour lowered the side rail, and he he made a run for it. A nursing home staff member intercepted the child and placed him, sadly, back into the enclosure bed. And you could tell he was upset. You could tell that he wanted to interact with us, Ehlenbach said. So thats something thats really thats really stayed with me. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. Is there any child in a facility who you believe is not medically appropriate to live in a community? Lauren Latterell Powell, a Justice Department lawyer, asked Ehlenbach. No, she replied. Is there any child living in a facility whose condition is such that a nursing facility provides them with the safest place to live? No. All children with medical complexity who have access to the appropriate supports and services in the home and community can successfully and safely live with their with families, Ehlenbach testified later. During cross examination, an attorney for the state, John A. Boudet, suggested that Florida sometimes used nursing homes as a bridge between when children could be discharged from the hospital and then live safely with their parents. He asked whether Ehlenbach had reviewed the records of kids who were sent home. Many of them had been institutionalized for years and years, Ehlenbach said, which, to me, would be a pretty long bridge. Much of the trials testimony concerned the biggest roadblock on that bridge: the states profound lack of private duty nursing. Without adequate in-home care for children with breathing tubes, for example, many parents have no choice but to keep their kids institutionalized. In his remarks, Middlebrooks said the states critical failure to provide families with necessary private duty nursing was the most glaring problem. And this was, of course, underscored by horrific stories I heard from a number of desperate parents about their personal experiences attempting to care for their medically fragile children under unthinkable conditions without adequate and reliable nursing help, the judge said. READ MORE: They dont care whats best for my child. I care: Mom fights Florida over fragile son Middlebrooks suggested the nursing shortage was only an impediment if health administrators do nothing to fix it: The state has certainly shown that there is a nursing shortage, he said. What I dont think they have shown is that they can just then say, Well, its a nursing shortage. We cant do anything about it. At the trials conclusion, Middlebrooks encouraged lawyers on both sides to negotiate toward a settlement that ends Floridas institutionalization of children with severe medical needs. But he also wielded a stick in addition to the carrot: He said he likely will order the state to make real reforms if health administrators dont agree to them first. On Wednesday, lawyers for both sides filed a status report telling the judge they could not reach an agreement on how to remedy the states discrimination: At this time, the parties do not reasonably anticipate reaching agreement on language that could be included in a permanent injunction or which would be a settlement. On May 19, Middlebrooks rejected the idea of his retaining jurisdiction over the case long-term and assigning a court monitor to oversee the states commitment toward reform. He said such arrangements often just kick the can down the road with little real progress. And so if were going to do something, Middlebrooks said, lets do something that makes a difference. The judge said he was committed to bringing this case to a close to a conclusion without undue delay. I dont want to contribute further to that 12-year delay. Im not interested in something that goes on for years, because all that does is prolong the problem that the parties have identified in this case, the judge said. In my opinion, this case has gone on long enough. The cotton tree after its collapse A towering cotton tree which has stood for several hundred years in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, has been brought down by a heavy storm. President Julius Maada Bio said the tree fell after a downpour on Wednesday night. He described it as a "great loss to the nation". He said the tree was a symbol of liberty for early settlers. It also appears on Sierra Leone banknotes. But some Christians hailed its demise, saying it was used for witchcraft. A heavy rainstorm a week ago caused one of the tree's branches to fall, but it had been thought it would survive. However, in another storm on Wednesday, the entire tree came down, leaving just part of the trunk still standing. The city's skyline has changed dramatically as a result - some would say, for ever. The tree, pictured here in 2013, is said to be the oldest of its kind in Sierra Leone The 70m (230 ft)-high cotton tree was said to be the oldest of its kind in the country - a government statement estimated it to be 400 years old. Just 300m away are the Freedom Steps, climbed by newly arrived freed slaves who offered prayers at the tree before making Freetown their home. As the city grew over the years, it expanded around the ancient tree at its heart. President Julius Maada Bio and other officials are expected to visit the site to determine what to do. "We will have something at the same spot that bears testament to the great Cotton Tree's place in our history," he tweeted. "All voices will be brought together for this." The trunk and roots remain in place, suggesting that new shoots could grow into a new tree. Other suggestions include taking a piece of the tree to the nearby national museum or making a carving out of it. Many people feel sad about the tree's fall, with some describing the incident as "horrific". Sierra Leone poet Oumar Farouk Sesay wrote a poem about the tree, describing it as the country's Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Big Ben and other major world landmarks. But some Christians are celebrating. Influential Pastor Francis Mambu, who heads the Faith Healing Bible Church, believes the tree's roots were used for witchcraft and that it was frequented by witches and wizards. The pastor, who has a huge following in Sierra Leone, was heard in church in recent weeks saying that the tree would fall. Only the thick base of the towering Ceiba pentandra trees trunk was left standing after a heavy wind and rainstorm A centuries-old, towering tree that served as a historic symbol in Sierra Leone has been felled during a wind and rain storm in the capital Freetown, the government said on Thursday. The 70-metre (230-foot) Ceiba pentandra -- lovingly known by Sierra Leoneans as "Cotton Tree" -- lost all of its branches late Wednesday, with only the base of its enormous trunk still standing, a government statement said, citing "torrential rains and high winds". It estimated the tree to be around 400 years old. "All Sierra Leoneans will pause for thought at the loss of such a prestigious national symbol as Cotton Tree," President Julius Maada Bio said. "For centuries it has been a proud emblem of our nation, a symbol of a nation that has grown to provide shelter for many." According to legend, slaves who won their freedom fighting on the British side of the American War of Independence prayed under the tree when they arrived in West Africa. It adorned bank notes and stamps, was visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1961, and had remained a landmark ever since. Freetown residents continued to pray beneath the tree, which in recent decades towered over a busy roundabout near the national museum, the central post office and the country's highest court. - Shock and heartbreak - Hundreds of people, including President Bio, visited the site in mourning throughout the day Thursday. "I'm shocked and heartbroken to see our beloved Freetown Cotton Tree destroyed this morning on my way to work," Gibrilla Sesay, a 34-year-old finance worker, told AFP. In a statement, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs appealed to the public not to cut off wood from the debris, which it said would be taken to the national museum. "In order to preserve the remains of the rich cultural heritage of our beloved city, relics of the fallen tree will be secured and preserved", it said. There were no reports of injuries, the government said. The police and military were deployed around the area Thursday, an AFP reporter said, and the government announced a clean-up effort was under way. Parts of the tree had previously caught fire in 2018 and 2020. Sierra Leone has suffered several climate-related disasters in recent years. In 2017, more than 1,100 people were killed in a mudslide in the capital when part of a mountain collapsed onto informal settlements. Another eight people were killed in a landslide last August. At least 15 people died in flooding earlier in May, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. Sierra Leone's rainy season typically lasts from May to October. sb-prc/cw Water stands in a flooded field as a thunderstorm with rotation hangs over rural Dallas County on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. WASHINGTON In a decision long awaited by Iowa farmers, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday sided with a couple who have been battling the Environmental Protection Agency for more than a decade over water quality regulations affecting their plan to develop a property in the Idaho panhandle. The case, which centered on the scope of the 1972 Clean Water Act, was arguably the most important environmental decision the Supreme Court has handed down since a majority last year invalidated an EPA effort to regulate power plant emissions. The plaintiffs asked the court to provide a clearer definition of what the law meant when it gave the agency power to regulate the "waters of the United States" often referred to as WOTUS. In an opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito and joined by four other conservative justices, the court limited the scope of the EPA's ability to control wetland pollution. That's important because, in addition to the wetlands themselves, the water at issue often feeds into the rivers and lakes that are more clearly covered by federal pollution controls. What did the Supreme Court rule in the EPA case? Majority: A majority of the court said that the lack of clarity about what types of waters are covered by the Clean Water Act was difficult for property owners to understand. A "staggering array of landowners," Alito wrote, "are at risk of criminal prosecution" if they don't realize their property is subject to federal environmental rules. Joining Alito's opinion were Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett all Republican appointees. Kavanaugh warns of repercussions: Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by three liberal justices, said that while he sided with the plaintiffs and against the EPA, he disagreed with the court's definition of what types of waters should be subject to government regulation. The court's ruling, Kavanaugh warned, would have "significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States." Joining Kavanaugh, a Republican appointee, were Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, all Democratic appointees. Bottom line: The court's opinion adopts a new, narrower standard that will limit how much water the EPA may regulate. That's a win for developers and agricultural interests and a loss for environmentalists. A bullfrog wades a in wetland in Buchanan Countys Crumbacher Wildlife Area. Air: Supreme Court rules against EPA effort to regulate power plant emissions Water: Supreme Court kicks off a new term with controversial cases How did the EPA case arrive at the Supreme Court? Water stands in a farm field near Belmond The U.S. Supreme Court in a new ruling severely limits the sort of waters the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can regulate. Michael and Chantell Sackett purchased a vacant lot in a residential subdivision in Idaho in 2004. The couple obtained the county permits needed to develop the site but the EPA informed them shortly after they began construction that the agency viewed the land as subject to its review because it contained wetlands about 300 feet from Priest Lake. During oral arguments in October, several members of the court's conservative majority questioned the standard the EPA uses to determine if a wetland is subject to federal permitting requirements and oversight. Chief Justice John Roberts summed up the challenge facing the court by noting that water often flows underground in ways that are difficult to predict or measure: "Water goes everywhere, eventually." The Supreme Court on Feb. 21, 2023. The Sacketts' suit was on its second ride at the Supreme Court. In 2012, a unanimous court held that the couple could file their lawsuit even though the EPA asserted it had not taken a final action in the dispute. As the litigation wound its way through lower courts again, the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided with the EPA and upheld the agency's order against the Sacketts. What is the potential impact of the EPA decision? In its decision Thursday, the Supreme Court not only overturned the 9th Circuit but set a new standard for what types of water are covered by the Clean Water Act. The court's opinion means that the EPA will have the ability to regulate only wetlands with a "continuous surface connection" to a larger body of water in a way that makes them "indistinguishable" from those large bodies. That's a departure from a more encompassing standard that required the EPA and landowners to consider the chemical and biological connection between the wetland and the larger body of water. The case has been closely watched by environmentalists, developers and farming groups who have long fought over how far the EPA's reach extends beyond navigable lakes and rivers and smaller streams and wetlands that feed into and pollute those larger bodies of water. What are people saying about the Supreme Court's wetlands decision? Environmental groups slammed the decision. "The Sackett decision undoes a half-century of progress generated by the Clean Water Act," said Sam Sankar, vice president of programs at Earthjustice. "Almost 90 million acres of formerly protected wetlands now face an existential threat from polluters and developers." We are very disappointed with the Courts decision," Scott Strand of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, a Chicago-based group with an active Iowa office, said in a statement. "Everyone involved has understood for fifty years, since the Clean Water Act was passed, that protecting our nations lakes, rivers, and streams requires protecting upstream tributaries and adjacent wetlands as well. Wetlands hold and filter out pollutants, they retain stormwater and reduce flooding, they provide critical habitat for wildlife, and they soak up carbon. But now, contrary to the science and contrary to everyones reasonable expectations, most of those wetlands are going to lose federal protection. The Court clearly got this one wrong, at great cost to the environment and to taxpayers. Here in the Midwest, we have lost most of the wetlands the region once had, through indiscriminate drainage and development. The burden of protecting the wetlands we still have will now fall back on state and local governments, who have, at best, a checkered record. Unfortunately, the Courts decision means dirtier water, more uncontrolled flooding, more net carbon emissions, and a significant loss of wildlife habitat. Those supporting the Sacketts said the decision would make it easier for property owners to know where they stand with the EPA: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a member of the agriculture committee Im glad to see the Supreme Court rightfully and unanimously blocked Bidens ill-conceived Waters of the United States rule. The federal government has no authority to impose blanket jurisdiction over puddles, waters, and wetlands with vague, overreaching regulations on behalf of Bidens ever-changing climate agenda. This is a big WIN for Iowa, where nearly every industry is impacted by WOTUS, including 46,000 small businesses and countless farmers. Ive long fought to put in place a permanent, clear, and commonsense WOTUS definition, and will continue working to bring much-needed certainty to Iowas job creators. U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who represents northwest Iowa I am thrilled that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Americas heartland over President Bidens radical EPA. This is a huge win for Iowa farmers and rural America. The Biden Administrations burdensome WOTUS rule which would impact around 97% of Iowas land raises costs for our farmers, saddles our rural communities with crushing red tape, and empowers federal bureaucrats over Americas producers. This decision provides our rural communities with much-needed certainty and will devastate the EPAs reckless federal overreach." West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican We now have a clearer definition for Waters of the United States, and were pleased the Supreme Court ruled in a way that state lands and waters are less subject to the whims of unelected bureaucrats. The shell of an old car sits rusted out along the bank of the Wapsipinicon River in Quasqueton in northeast Iowa. Lifelong resident Ronnie Wolfe says he is interested in a program that's designed to build wetlands and oxbows that can reduce flooding in communities downriver. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clean Water Act: Supreme Court rules against EPA in years-old dispute (Bloomberg) -- The widening rift between the worlds two biggest economies, the US and China, now looks in some regards to be irreconcilable, according to Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Most Read from Bloomberg The geopolitical situation has become more dangerous amid tensions between the two sides with the Taiwan Strait becoming the regions most dangerous flashpoint, Wong said in his speech at the Nikkei Forum 28th Future of Asia in Tokyo. We are moving closer to the edge, he said, reflecting a sentiment that has become more prevalent among Asian leaders. Some of the strategic and ideological differences between the two countries appear insurmountable, and may well be irreconcilable, Wong said. The remarks come after Chinas new ambassador to the US said the relationship between the two is facing serious difficulties and challenges. Washington has aimed to stabilize ties between the two global competitors after relations were derailed in recent months amid disputes over spying allegations, Taiwans sovereignty and US technology export controls. Singapore for its part is preparing to host one of the regions most important defense conferences at the start of next month. Chinese officials have so far rebuffed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins request to meet with Defense Minister Li Shangfu on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue. The US, China divide has stoked broader economic concerns among governments as companies seek to diversify supply chains in order to avoid being caught in the geopolitical competition. While Wong said it was understandable why they are seeking to de-risk or diversify, its hard to see how doing so can be confined to just a few strategic areas without affecting broader economic interactions. If de-risking is taken too far, it would prompt reactions and unintended consequences, he said, Over time, we will end up with a more fragmented and decoupled global economy. Wong, who is also heir-apparent to one day take over the reins from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, reiterated that the timing of Singapores political succession is still not decided and could happen either before or after the next general election that is due by 2025. We havent decided what the options are, but we will eventually make a decision, he said. For now, I have many other preoccupations. I have lots of things to do. --With assistance from Erica Yokoyama. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. When my daughter was born, my partner and I never intended to co-sleep long term. Nineteen months later, Alma still sleeps in our bedroom. She started in a bassinet, then went through a tough stretch where she could only sleep between us. These days, Alma sleeps peacefully through the night in her crib within arms reach of our bed. In our two-family home located just outside Jersey City space is limited. Since we didnt want to sacrifice our shared office for a nursery, my partner and I never moved our daughter out of our bedroom. The downside of this arrangement is significant: My personal space, my main refuge from work and the stresses of daily life, has been entirely taken over by a toddler. Though staying close to my child at this vulnerable stage in her life has deepened our bond, all the small comforts of my pre-baby bedroom are long gone. Theres no noise or light in the bedroom after 7 p.m. so I cant read in bed at night or watch my favorite shows to unwind. (Theres a television in our room and the most watched video on YouTube is now Daniel Tiger). If I dare put so much as a glass of water on my nightstand, Alma drinks half and then dumps the rest on the surge protector after she wakes up in the morning. Parents like me, who share bedrooms with their babies into toddlerhood and beyond, must constantly balance their desire for privacy and personal boundaries with their responsibilities as a parentnot to mention the desire to decompress through our hobbies. So we have to find other ways to make space for self-care and alone time. Photo: Linda Rizzo Like me, Maria Geyman didnt plan on co-sleeping, but now she and her husband bedshare with their 14-month-old daughter Mona inside a railroad apartment in Brooklyn. At the moment, the baby crib sits filled with toys in the living room. There isnt much space to be alone, but Maria finds a way to make it work. I just got out of the bath, she says with a laugh. I do everything in there. I never bring my phone, but I will make a pot of tea or do my skin care routine. Or sometimes Ill fix the whole bath with crystals. For Maria, a naturopathic doctor and owner of Masha Tea, transitioning Mona into her own room doesnt feel urgent. But if shes going to share a bed with an energetic toddler, a mattress that can support three people is absolutely essential. Maria currently swears by Avocado because its super comfortable and made from non-toxic materials. She adds, If we continue like this, I would be happy with that. On the other hand, the Chicago-based photographer Elizabeth De La Piedra was ready when her children moved into their own room. Looking back on it, I wouldnt trade that time at all, she says of the six months she spent sharing a room with both of kids when they were babies. But having [my] space again was so nice. Photo: Elizabeth De La Piedra Photo: Elizabeth De La Piedra Now six and eight, Elizabeth recalls how when her sons were both in diapers the constant noise in the home prevented her from being able to hear her own thoughts. The solution ended up being a pair of Nothing headphones, which she popped in while going about her business or taking care of the kids at home. That was the only way that I could feel like I had my own life, she says about that period of time before her divorce. I could listen to all my swear words in my podcast and my crazy music. I had my own space within a space that wasnt really mine anymore. And like Maria, she takes refuge in a hot bath. I can shut out the world in that space, I just scroll and veg out. Every night, Elizabeths kids still ask to sleep in bed with her, but she redirects them back to their room (if they wake up from a nightmare, she doesnt mind if they jump in bed with her). But now that theyre older and more independent, shes even more conscious of the pleasures of having her own space. I try to keep [my] room cleaner, she adds. And I appreciate having the quiet time. Photo: Elizabeth De La Piedra Sandeep Salters two daughters, who are ten and seven, have also long since moved into their own rooms. When her first daughter was born, she and her husband lived in such a small space that they didnt have a choice but to all sleep in one bedroom. Even when Lowe Roma transitioned to her crib at six months, it was positioned in the living room, a shared space where Sandeep could always see and hear her. Sandeep, who owns the Brooklyn Heights boutique Salter House, considered the co-sleeping experience so magical and instrumental in bonding that she did it again with her second daughter, Eta, for a full year even though they had been then moved into a two-bedroom apartment. I often say that having kids is a slow process of them moving farther and farther away from your body, she tells me. Even so, there was a point where her kids didnt fit in her bed anymore. It became frustrating, Sandeep recalls. The physical aspect of just not being able to rest when there are too many bodies that are too active [in the bed]. Today, Sandeeps kids share their own bedroom. But she calls herself a softy because when they occasionally ask to sleep in her bed, she usually acquiesces. Even with a wall between them, Sandeep still wears earplugs to bed every night because she stirs awake at the slightest movement or sound, a holdover from the days where there was always a baby in bed beside her. I did not have enough space for myself for years, she admits. Photo: Elizabeth De La Piedra These days, to get her alone time, Sandeep sometimes lights a candle and takes a long bath which her daughters refer to as mom spa. Twice a week, and on weekends, she takes a ballet class with other moms that are all former dancers. Everybodys very chill, and its non-judgemental, she says. I dont have to share myself with anyone there. Once the baby phase was over, Sandeep had a revelation: She couldnt be half-sleep all the time, and still be productive. You start to reflect on your sleep habits, and how its time to not indulge that nurturing anymore, she explains. I really valued the sleep together moment for what it was, then I was ready to move on. Alma still occasionally wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to sleep on my or her dads chest. We never say no. I bought a Kindle so that I can read in bed at night, and my partner and I hung Rothko prints on the walls to make it at least look like a place where adults sleep at night. But the bedroom that was once ours now undeniably belongs to her. Someday, my daughter will move into a room of her own. And I know that when that day eventually comes Ill pine for the nights when I could see every twitch and stretch of her body as she dreams. But when I can close my door at night and hear only silence, my own thoughts, or the sound of the Netflix tudum announcing the start of my favorite show, however much I might miss her presence will never trump the pleasures of finallyfinallybeing alone. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Eleven fire departments are expected to participate in this year's "Smoke on the Water" in downtown Cuyahoga Falls on June 2. The Cuyahoga Falls Fire Showdown "Smoke on the Water" will return to downtown Cuyahoga Falls on Friday, June 2, from 5-10 p.m. The event, sponsored by the city of Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation, and Western Reserve Hospital, will showcase 16 teams of firefighters representing 11 area departments competing in a relay challenge to determine who is the best of the best. Registered Teams: Akron Fire Department (3 teams) Barberton Fire Department Canton Fire Department (2 teams) Cleveland Fire Department Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department (3 teams) Macedonia Fire Department Ravenna Fire Department Springfield Fire Department Stow Fire Department Strongsville Fire Department Twinsburg Fire Department The family-friendly event will feature food trucks, craft beer vendors, and 80s music with Cleveland's Breakfast Club from 8-10 p.m. at the Downtown Amphitheater. Food Vendors: Brooks Homestyle BBQ Cheezylicious Birdies Fabis Taco Truck Metropolis Popcorn Little Blue Pastry Wagon Craft Beer Vendors: HiHO Brewing Company Ohio Brewing Company McArthurs Brew House The Falls Fire Showdown is a chance for the community to come together and support our men and women of the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department, said Mayor Don Walters. Join me in rooting for our Cuyahoga Falls Firefighters as they show off their skills to support a great cause. All funds raised at the Falls Fire Showdown will benefit the Cuyahoga Falls Firefighters Memorial Foundation and the construction of a permanent memorial that incorporates the historic Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department bell. The Cuyahoga Falls Firefighters Memorial Foundation is dedicated to preserving the legacy of those who served the Cuyahoga Falls as firefighters, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. For details about the Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation, visit fallsfirememorial.org. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Area fire departments will compete in downtown Cuyahoga Falls Former National Director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest David Clohessy speaks in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday, May 24, 2023. A member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) urged Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki to provide full assignment records for credibly accused priests living in or who previously served in the diocese that covers central Illinois. David Clohessy, the former national director of SNAP from St. Louis and a clerical abuse survivor, also urged Paprocki to post the names of at least nine alleged child-molesting clerics who are missing from the Springfield dioceses predator list. The nine were mentioned by name in an exhaustive report released by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Tuesday. More: Report: Nearly 2,000 children abused by more than 450 Catholic leaders in Illinois Between them, they are on at least 25 church-sponsored credibly accused lists all over the country and some are on multiple lists, Clohessy claimed. Members and supporters of SNAP gathered outside of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday afternoon. Clohessy, who now directs SNAP volunteers in Missouri, also made his case in a letter to Paprocki Wednesday. Clohessy said Paprocki is the only one of the Illinois bishops who refuses to reveal the parishes and other sites where child molesting clerics have served. The AG investigation, started in 2018, found 451 Catholic priests and religious brothers abused nearly 2,000 children in the state's six diocese over seven decades. Before the investigation, dioceses publicly listed only 103 substantiated child sex abusers, Raoul said. Raoul criticized church leaders for allowing those abusers to hide "in plain sight." Listing parishes where abusers have served, Clohessy rationalized, is "information that law enforcement should have, parents should have, parishioners should have. Why split hairs? Why conceal the information? Why not just come clean for the sake of wounded victims, for the sake of vulnerable kids, for the sake of law enforcement?" Clohessy further called on Springfield Catholic officials to disclose the names of every single child-molesting cleric who was or is in the diocese, "whether they were here for 20 years or 20 days, whether they were ordained here or somewhere else, whether Bishop Paprocki signs their paycheck or another church official signs their paycheck, whether they're alive or dead." Springfield Bishop Thomas John Paprocki speaks during the march for life mass at the University of Illinois Springfield on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Illinois lawmakers should "show some spine" and come up with measures that will make it easier in the future to prevent abuse by prosecuting and suing child abuse perpetrators, Clohessy said. No bishop in Illinois was "more severely criticized than Paprocki (in the report) and I think the attorney general is absolutely on target when calls out this particularly callous and insensitive man," Clohessy said, standing at the corner of Sixth Street and Lawrence Avenue. "It's crystal clear, I think, and even more clear now in the wake of the AG's report, that Paprocki puts his reputation, his career and his comfort ahead of the safety of kids and the well-being of victims." Andrew Hansen, a spokesman for the Springfield diocese, said "countless hours were spent by our team working with the attorney generals team to go through all the historical files to address any and all questions. All the pertinent details are now summarized in the report." Hansen did not directly answer questions about why the diocese doesn't provide full assignment records for all predator priests or why it wouldn't post the names of nine clerics who have been deemed "credibly accused" of abuse by other church officials. Paprocki has owned up to the fact, Hansen added, that some priests and leaders of the Catholic Church in the past failed. The Attorney Generals inquiry into the history of clergy sexual abuse of minors in this diocese has served as a reminder that some clergy in the church committed shameful and disgraceful sins against innocent victim survivors and did damage that simply cannot be undone," Paprocki said in a statement Tuesday. "As bishop of this diocese, I cannot undo the damages of the past, but I have been and continue to be fully committed to ensuring we do all we can to prevent abuse from happening again. The changes our diocese enacted have proven to be effective as we are not aware of a single incident of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy alleged to have occurred in this diocese in nearly 20 years. David Clohessy Clohessy countered that it was "disingenuous and frankly dangerous for Paprocki to claim, 'Oh, gee, none of this has happened recently.' He doesn't know. He can't know and the only responsible thing to do, is to assume what logic and history and psychology tell us which is that there are still more predator priests out. They are still dangerous. Some are molesting today, and we will not know for years and decades who they are. This is a time for vigilance, not complacency, not deception." The "sad, simple truth," Clohessy said, is that victims "always have and always will" report abuse decades down the road. "If you go to Arizona today and you ask every single person who got their roof repaired, 'Did the contractor do a good job,' they're not going to know," he said. "Six months from now, it will rain, and the roof will leak and that's when they'll call the AG. Men like Paprocki, who are fond of splitting hairs and dodging blame, they will say, 'The roof was fixed six months ago. Why didn't you call the AG then?' "The crimes (committed) may be old. The cover-up continues, the risk to kids today around these undisclosed predators continues and the devastating harm continues, day-in and day-out." Illinois State Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, center, in a 2021 file photo. Also in Springfield for an extended spring session, state lawmakers addressed the AG report Wednesday morning. Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, thanked the survivors for their testimony provided to investigators and recognized SNAPs late founder, Barbara Ann Blaine. We are grateful for your efforts to release the shame and secrecy that have plagued the church for decades on the issue, she said on the House floor. Blaine founded SNAP in 1988 and served as its president until February 2017, just months before she passed away. Reporter Patrick Keck of The State Journal-Register contributed to this report. Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: SNAP wants fuller transparency from Springfield Bishop Paprocki A soldier was killed Thursday in a vehicle accident at Udairi Range, Kuwait, according to an Army release. The service member was assigned to U.S. Army Central, the release said, and the accident was non-combat related. An investigation is underway, and Army Central officials will release more information as the probe unfolds, according to the release. An Army official, who requested anonymity to discuss preliminary details, told Army Times that the soldier was in a military vehicle and on-duty at the time of the accident. The release said the soldiers identity wont be released until 24 hours after their next of kin is notified of the death, a standard practice across the military. A contestant takes part in the 22nd Chinese Bridge competition for learning the Chinese language in Algiers, Algeria, on May 24, 2023. The final stage of the 22nd Chinese Bridge competition for learning the Chinese language was held Wednesday at the Algiers 2 University. (Xinhua) ALGIERS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The final stage of the 22nd Chinese Bridge competition for learning the Chinese language was held Wednesday at the Algiers 2 University. The event included a series of captivating programs with participators displaying Kung-fu performance, a dance with umbrellas, traditional Chinese calligraphy works, and singing Chinese songs. Themed "One World, One Family," all the performances highlighted the rich Chinese cultural heritage and strong bilateral ties between China and Algeria. Chinese Ambassador to Algeria Li Jian, representative of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Tayeb Bouzid, and Rector of Algiers 2 University Said Boumaiza attended the event. Li hailed the wonderful performance of the participants at the contest, expressing his hope that "all Chinese language learners make use of their linguistic advantages and rich knowledge to be messengers of humanistic exchanges while inheriting the tradition of friendship shared between China and Algeria." For his part, Bouzid said that language is the key to understanding culture and Algeria attaches great importance to cooperation with China in the field of higher education, hoping the two countries further deepen interschool cooperation and strengthen exchanges in foreign language teaching. "The Chinese language is the most popular language in the world," said the rector, adding that Algiers 2 University is willing to cooperate closely with Chinese partners for promoting teaching and spreading the Chinese culture to continuously strengthen the exchanges between the universities of China and Algeria. As China and Algeria are enhancing economic and diplomatic ties, the demand for learning the Chinese language has soared in the North African country. A contestant takes part in the 22nd Chinese Bridge competition for learning the Chinese language in Algiers, Algeria, on May 24, 2023. The final stage of the 22nd Chinese Bridge competition for learning the Chinese language was held Wednesday at the Algiers 2 University. (Xinhua) A contestant takes part in the 22nd Chinese Bridge competition for learning the Chinese language in Algiers, Algeria, on May 24, 2023. The final stage of the 22nd Chinese Bridge competition for learning the Chinese language was held Wednesday at the Algiers 2 University. (Xinhua) South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill into law on Thursday that bans most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. McMaster, a Republican who has been vocal in his opposition to abortion rights and who promised earlier during the state's legislative session to approve the bill if passed by lawmakers, said the restrictions are effective immediately. "With my signature, the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act is now law," McMaster tweeted Thursday morning. His administration is prepared "to defend this legislation" against pushback, he added. "This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed," the governor said in a statement. "The right to life must be preserved, and we will do everything we can to protect it." Demonstrators and lawmakers gather with signs and placards in the lobby of the South Carolina Statehouse on May 16, 2023, where South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster called the state House back into session to debate on an amended version of the state Senate's 6-week abortion ban bill. / Credit: Sean Rayford/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The law restores a stringent set of restrictions on abortions across South Carolina, which the state initially enacted when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. That preliminary ban was later overturned by South Carolina's highest court in a ruling that found it violated privacy rights included in the state Constitution. With the ruling, abortions remained legal in South Carolina through 22 weeks of pregnancy. The state saw a subsequent increase in abortions, as many its southern neighbors passed tighter restrictions on the procedure, and a simultaneous push from Republican legislators and McMaster to redraw legislation that could garner enough support to pass in South Carolina. The abortion ban signed into law this week is an amended version of a proposal from the state's Republican-led Senate, which aimed to outlaw abortion almost without exception. The bill that ultimately passed includes exceptions for rape and incest, and allows abortions through 12 weeks of pregnancy in those instances when two doctors have certified that the exceptions have been met. Other requirements to meet the South Carolina law's criteria for exceptional circumstances include previously filed police reports for survivors of sexual assault who are seeking abortions between six and 12 weeks. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, of South Carolina's state House, recently told CBS News that she opposed the ban because of that mandate. "I would not support this particular piece of legislation because of the police reporting requirements," Mace said. "I'm a victim of rape myself. I was raped as a teenager at age 16. I couldn't live with myself if I had to have it reported to police. Most rape victims do not report it. It's an extremely traumatic experience. And to force that reporting to local sheriffs is wrong. It's a non-starter." There are additional exceptions in the South Carolina ban for fatal fetal anomalies and the pregnant person's life and health through 12 weeks, but it otherwise outlaws abortions after the sixth week. Most people do not know they are pregnant six weeks after conception. Under the terms of the ban, doctors in South Carolina who perform abortions that do not comply with its restrictions could face felony charges punishable by two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Biden nominates Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown as Joint Chiefs chairman Attorneys for Oath Keepers founder react to 18-year sentence Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for Jan. 6 Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill Thursday that bans abortion in the state after six weeks of pregnancy. The new law allows exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, when the mother's life and health are at-risk. Victims of rape or incest can obtain abortions for up to 12 weeks if they filed a police report and obtained certification from two doctors. South Carolina's is just the latest in a string of strict restrictions on abortion passed by individual states since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court last summer. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in June 2022, 18 Republican states across the South and West, such as Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi and South Dakota, passed so-called trigger laws, which outlawed abortion the moment the court handed down its verdict. In recent months, eight other Republican-led states have enacted new laws that outlaw abortion at various stages of pregnancy. Here is a guide to the new abortion restrictions states have passed since last summer: South Carolina The state had a 2021 trigger law that banned abortion after cardiac activity can be detected in a fetus, at around six weeks of pregnancy but the state Supreme Court overturned that law in January, saying that it violated privacy rights in the state constitution. That left abortion legal until 22 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion providers in the state immediately filed suit against the law in state court, asking the court to put in place a temporary restraining order preventing the law's implementation. On Friday, a South Carolina judge granted abortion providers' request to block a newly enacted six-week abortion ban while a legal challenge proceeds. Nebraska In May, Republican lawmakers in Nebraska's one-chamber Legislature amended a bill that outlaws gender-affirming surgeries for anyone younger than 19 and will impose new rules limiting access to hormone therapy and puberty blocking drugs for trans youth to also outlaw abortion after 12 weeks and then passed the measure. It was subsequently signed into law by Republican Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. There are exceptions for rape, incest and when the mother's life is in danger. Nebraska previously outlawed abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. An effort in April to ban abortion after six weeks failed by one vote. North Carolina The state's House and Senate overrode the governor's veto on a party-line vote, with Republicans having attained the three-fifths majority in both chambers after one Democratic state representative changed parties. State law previously banned nearly all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and Cooper spent last week unsuccessfully trying to persuade at least one Republican to side with him and uphold his veto. North Carolina law previously banned nearly all abortions after 20 weeks. North Dakota North Dakota adopted a law on April 24 banning abortion almost entirely, with exceptions in the first six weeks of pregnancy for cases of rape, incest, and medical emergencies. After six weeks, only certain medical emergencies, such as ectopic pregnancies would qualify for legal abortions. In March, a previous North Dakota abortion ban that was almost as far-reaching was temporarily suspended by the state supreme court while a legal challenge proceeds. There are no longer any abortion clinics in North Dakota. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the states only abortion clinic moved operations to Moorhead, Minn. Florida A law signed on April. 14 by Gov. Ron DeSantis would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy except for victims of rape or incest or for women whose health is at risk. Those seeking one of those exceptions would also be required to produce evidence. The new law will take effect only if the existing 15-week ban is upheld by the state Supreme Court in a current legal challenge. The states top court has a conservative majority. Indiana The Hoosier State became the first in the country to create new abortion restrictions after the Dobbs decision. In August 2022, Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, signed a bill that banned abortion, with limited exceptions. Abortions are now permitted in Indiana only in cases of rape and incest in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, in order to protect the pregnant womans life or physical health, or if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Doctors who provide illegal abortions are to be stripped of their medical license. Abortions can also now be performed only in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals abortion clinics are no longer legally able to operate in the state. Enforcement of the new law, however, has been blocked pending the outcome of legal challenges. The Indiana state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case in January. West Virginia Last September, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, signed a law banning abortion except in cases of rape or incest for up to eight weeks of pregnancy for adults and 14 weeks for minors. It allows abortions of a nonviable fetus or embryo, and when there is a medical emergency or an ectopic pregnancy. Providers of abortions not covered by those exceptions face up to 10 years in prison. Wyoming In March, Wyoming became the first state to ban abortions conducted via oral medication, which account for a majority of abortions nationwide. The state already had a full abortion trigger ban on the books, but it is currently enjoined by court order from enforcing it. The same abortion pill is at the center of federal lawsuits, as a Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas recently overruled the FDAs approval of the drug. Idaho Earlier this month, Idaho became the first state to criminalize helping a minor get an abortion in another state, with persons convicted of breaking the law facing two to five years in prison. The law allows the state attorney general to prosecute a case if local prosecutors decline to do so. It also allows family members of a pregnant child or the person who impregnated her to file lawsuits against medical professionals who provide her abortion care, with up to $20,000 for damages. The South Dakota Hall of Fame announced their 2023 inductees last month, selecting ten diverse individuals for their achievements in the medical field, business, agriculture, education, sports, and arts and entertainment. South Dakota Hall of Fame Chief Executive Officer Laurie Becvar said that the aim of the event is to honor and recognize champions from the region, because their experiences can be valuable for other people in the state and in the nation. She added that their organization had been holding this event since 1974. More: South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association announces 2023 Hall of Fame Class Everyone needs a hero, and these ten people that we have chosen can teach us a great deal about life and leadership, said Becvar. She noted that all the chosen individuals give back to their communities and to the state in some significant way. Along with paying tribute and recognizing individual achievements, the event also pursues educational purposes. By embedding the experiences of their inductees into a relevant curriculum, said Becvar, their success stories can be made available to the public. We do honor and recognize, but we also inspire, and we educate, said Becvar. She said that although their programming is geared toward youth, all South Dakotans can benefit from learning of the inductees experiences through the years. We are strategically building a curriculum like that, said Becvar. Some of the inductees of this year that Becvar highlighted include Dakota State University President Jose-Marie Griffiths, who, as Becvar noted, literally transformed the state university into a nationally recognized institution for cyber security. Jose-Marie Griffiths Becvar said that Griffiths' contributions improve the community at large and benefit all of the state's residents. Larry Rohrer, a radio and TV host for South Dakota Public Broadcasting has an even greater impact on all South Dakotans through his innovations in media programming, said Becvar. She added that Rohrer has been a leader in creating free honor flights to Washington DC for veterans. He also became a trailblazer in internet streaming of high school activities. Larry Rohrer The public is invited to attend the Honors Ceremony celebrating the inductees of the class of 2023. The ceremony will be held on September 8-9 in Chamberlain-Oacoma starting with a grand opening on Friday night at the Visitor and Education Center with free admission. It will be an opportunity for the public to meet the inductees and get to know about how they have become champions in South Dakota, said Becvar. That is a new addition. Another new addition to the ceremony is a ticketed brunch on Saturday that the public is invited to attend as well, she continued. The South Dakota Hall of Fame Board of Directors intends to facilitate a brunch panel discussion among the inductees. More: South Dakota Hall of Fame announces 2023 inductees An anniversary reunion event is also planned for Saturday afternoon Visitor and Education Center. During the reunion, the public will get an opportunity to meet past inductees dating 40 years back. We are hoping that the public comes and gets a chance to meet some of those, said Becvar. Finally, Saturday night will culminate with the highlight of the honor ceremony a banquet, which will be held at Arrowwood Resort in Oacoma. The event is ticketed, said Becvar. This is where we have a wonderful meal, and then we hear the acceptance speeches of the inductees, she said. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota Hall of Fame honors 10 'champions' of the state An explosion leveled a house near Fort Pierre, South Dakota, Wednesday, killing two grandparents and their 6-month-old granddaughter. Reached by phone Thursday, Stanley County Sheriff Brad Rathbun confirmed to Fox News Digital that Ladonna Hupp, 61, and 6-month-old Harper Hupp were found dead at the scene. William "Bill" Hupp, 66, was rushed to Avera St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, where he later died of his injuries. Two boys were also rushed to the hospital and have since been airlifted to a burn center in Minnesota, Rathburn said, adding that the cause of the explosion remained under investigation. Rathbun also told Fox News Digital that foul play was not immediately suspected, and the South Dakota State Fire Marshal's Office was handling the probe into the cause of the blast. MIDWESTERN STATES OFFER SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING TO CLERGY AS FARMERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH DEPRESSION A house exploded outside Fort Pierre, South Dakota, Wednesday. A neighbor reported hearing a loud explosion around 10:20 a.m. Wednesday and alerted authorities, according to KELO-TV. The blast sent debris flying 50-100 yards in all directions, flattening the home. Only some playground equipment remained standing as of Wednesday afternoon, the outlet reported. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital also reached out to the South Dakota State Fire Marshal's Office Thursday seeking more information but did not immediately hear back. Reached by phone Thursday, Fort Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson noted the explosion happened outside city limits but offered sympathies to the family. "The investigation is still ongoing and there is a lot of privacy involved for the family and I just hesitate to make any public comments at this time," Hanson told Fox News Digital. "It's a small, close-knit community, and there are already lots of things going on to support the family, and we just share our love and prayers with them, and we will continue to support them as they walk this path." Dakota News Now identified the children's parents, Kelsey and Trevor Hupp. Rathburn told Fox News Digital that the parents were at work in town at the time of the explosion. The house was located along South Dakota Highway 1806 in Stanley County. Dakota News Now said Bill and LaDonna were Trevor's parents. Stanley County Sheriff Brad Rathbun confirmed that three were dead after a house exploded outside Fort Pierre, South Dakota. SOUTH DAKOTA REPORTER PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING PRANK CALL USING GOV. KRISTI NOEM'S CELL PHONE NUMBER Kelsey Hupp wrote on a Caring Bridge page set up to provide updates on her two sons, 5-year-old Myles and 3-year-old Royce, who were airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. She said Myles has burns on 10% of his body, mainly first- and second-degree and was intubated. "He squeezes my hand and wiggles his toes," Kelsey Hupp wrote. "He even fought sedation one time and sat up and looked around. He is stable." The state Capitol building in downtown Pierre, South Dakota. Three people, including two boys were rushed to a Pierre hospital after a house exploded in Stanley County. Royce has 25% of his body burned with more severe third-degree burns on his chest and arms, his mother wrote. "He is also intubated and will be longer than Myles." "The boys have a long road ahead of them, but we are just so thankful that we even have this road with them," she wrote. "They are strong and will persevere. I will do my best to update as I can because I know everyone cares. Please dont stop praying. Im going to need every ounce I can get to continue. We love our family, friends and community so much." A GoFundMe page established to raise money for the family raised more than $226,000 as of Thursday. It described "a tragic accident at the home of their dreams." South Jersey cop gave man no commands before shooting him dead, state says in charging him TRENTON A Mantua police officer is charged with manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of a civilian who had called 911 for help. A state grand jury indicted the officer, Salvatore Oldrati, on a charge of manslaughter, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. But Mantua Police Chief Darren White criticized the announcement, saying Platkin's words were "designed to play on emotion and bias readers against the officer from the start. In his statement, Platikin said, When residents call 911 for service, they are concerned, they need assistance, they seek protection and they trust the officers responding to their calls will respond accordingly and help them. Tragically, that did not happen here." Oldrati shot Charles Sharp III, a 49-year-old Mantua resident, "by one of the very officers he had called upon for help," Platkin said. More: Police cite multiple confessions Accused mass murderer in Cleveland also charged with decade-old slaying in Camden Mr. Sharp was shot multiple times outside his own home by one of the very officers he had called upon for help, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in announcing the charge on Wednesday. Mantua man talking with 911 dispatcher when officer opened fire He noted Sharp was still on his phone with a police dispatcher when he was shot. Oldrati allegedly gave no verbal commands or warnings before shooting Sharp, said Thomas Eicher, executive director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. Eicher said an investigation by his office found fewer than five seconds elapsed between when Oldrati stepped from his police vehicle and when he began shooting at Sharp. Two uniformed Mantua officers responded to Sharps 911 call shortly before 1:40 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2021, according to an account from the Attorney General's Office. During his 911 call, Sharp reported two burglars in his rear yard, one armed with a gun. Charles Sharp III shot by police outside Mantua home Sharp was standing in the front yard of his Elm Avenue home when officers arrived, the account said. Oldrati shot Sharp multiple times after an officer already on the scene, Mantua Police Department Cpl. Robert Layton, yelled, "he's got a gun on him, right there," said the account. A replica .45-caliber gun was found near Sharp, it said. Layton did not shoot. Officers and emergency medical personnel provided aid to Sharp, who was pronounced dead at an area hospital. A statement from Mantua Township on Thursday said Oldrati fired his gun "operating on the belief that Mr. Sharp was about to fire either at Officer Oldrati or a fellow officer." It said the township "has fully cooperated" with the state's investigation into the shooting and that its police department "has been and remains fully compliant" with use-of-force training requirements. Chief White, who noted he was speaking for himself, said, "It is hard for me and others to read his statement as being fair and impartial. "I was just hoping for the officer to be treated no differently than how any other member of the public would expect for themselves - innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, he continued. "Unfortunately, I do not feel like Attorney General Platkin's quote allows for this." Oldrati is on administrative suspension pending resolution of the charges against him, the statement said. Oldrati joined the Mantua force in June 2018 and was promoted to corporal in October 2022, according to the police department's Facebook page. Oldrati's attorney could not be reached for comment. Sharp was a carpenter and 21-year veteran of the Air Force, according to an obituary. It described the father of three as a 1991 graduate of Clearview Regional High School who loved reading, camping, fishing "and all animals." Eicher said a state grand jury on Tuesday, May 23, determined Oldratis conduct warranted the return of an indictment for manslaughter. The charge against Oldrati is only an allegation. He has not been convicted in the case. Under New Jersey law, manslaughter occurs when a person commits a criminal homicide recklessly. It is a second-degree crime and a lesser offense than murder or aggravated manslaughter. If convicted, Oldrati could face up to 10 years in state prison, with no parole eligibility for eight-and-a-half years. A state law requires the Attorney Generals Office to investigate any persons death during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity. The investigation by Eichers office included interviews with witnesses, the review of video footage, and the collection of forensic evidence. Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email him at jwalsh@cpsj.com. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: State charges Mantua police Officer Oldrati with manslaughter South Korea considering sending ammo to Ukraine if Russia continues to attack civilians Flag of South Korea As things stand now, there are no plans to send arms either directly or through Poland. Read also: South Korea authorized Polands transfer of Krab howitzers to Ukraine in 2022 Asked whether Seoul plans to send ammunition to Kyiv, he recalled that South Korea had provided humanitarian and financial assistance during the full-scale war unleashed by Russia. "However, Ukraine came under an illegal invasion," Cho Tae-yong stated. We plan to consider it after monitoring the situation on the ground and in light of other situations. Read also: China-Central Asia Summit heralds the end of Russian leadership in the region South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on April 19 did not rule out the possibility of providing military assistance to Ukraine if the country "suffers a large-scale attack on civilians." Earlier, Seoul had publicly refused to provide Kyiv with lethal weapons. 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 South Korea launched its homegrown Nuri rocket on Thursday, officials said, a day after it was forced to postpone due to a technical glitch South Korea said Thursday it had successfully launched its homegrown Nuri rocket and placed working satellites into orbit, hailing a key step forward for the country's burgeoning space programme. It was the third launch of the Nuri, which successfully put test satellites into orbit last year after a failed 2021 attempt saw the rocket's third-stage engine burn out too early. The three-stage rocket, more than 47 metres (155 feet) long and weighing 200 tonnes, soared into the sky at 6:24 pm (0924 GMT) from the Naro Space Center in South Korea's southern coastal region, leaving a huge trail of white smoke. "We report to the public that the third launch of Nuri, which was independently developed to secure domestic space transportation capacity, has been successfully completed," said Lee Jong-ho, minister of science and technology. The main satellite made communication with South Korea's King Sejong Station in Antarctica, he said, adding that the launch confirmed "our potential for launch services for various satellite operations and space exploration". South Korea will carry out three more launches of Nuri by 2027, Lee added. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hailed Nuri's launch, saying it will give the country a competitive edge in the global space race. "The success of Nuri's third launch is a splendid achievement that declares South Korea has joined the G7 space powers," he said in a statement. The launch came a day after initial plans were called off over a computer communication error which was resolved by Thursday. In previous tests, the rocket carried payloads mainly designed for verifying the performance of the launch vehicle. This time, the rocket was topped with eight working satellites, including a "commercial-grade satellite", according to the science ministry. More than 200,000 viewers were watching the livestream of the launch on YouTube, with one commenting: "Fly high Nuri! Let's go to space!" - Space race - South Korea has laid out ambitious plans for outer space, including landing spacecraft on the Moon by 2032 and Mars by 2045. In Asia, China, Japan and India all have advanced space programmes, and the South's nuclear-armed neighbour North Korea was the most recent entrant to the club of countries with their own satellite launch capability. Ballistic missiles and space rockets use similar technology and Pyongyang claimed to have put a 300-kilogram satellite into orbit in 2012 in what Washington condemned as a disguised missile test. The South Korean space programme has a mixed record -- its first two launches in 2009 and 2010, which in part used Russian technology, both ended in failure. The second one exploded two minutes into the flight, with Seoul and Moscow blaming each other. Eventually, a 2013 launch succeeded, but still relied on a Russian-developed engine for its first stage. Last June, South Korea became the seventh nation to have successfully launched a one-tonne payload on their own rockets. The three-stage Nuri rocket has been a decade in development at a cost of two trillion won ($1.5 billion). sh/sco In this photo released by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the Nuri rocket lifts off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Korea, Thursday, May 25, 2023. South Korea launched the commercial-grade satellite Thursday for the first time as part of its growing space development program, as rival North Korea is pushing to place its first military spy satellite into orbit. (Korea Aerospace Research Institute via AP) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea successfully launched a commercial-grade satellite for the first time Thursday as part of its growing space development program, as rival North Korea is pushing to place its first military spy satellite into orbit. The two Koreas, technically in a state of war, have no military reconnaissance satellites of their own and both are eager to possess them. The South Korean launch Thursday will likely assist its efforts to develop a space-based surveillance system. The domestically built three-stage Nuri rocket lifted off from a launch facility on a southern island with a payload of eight satellites, including a main commercial-grade satellite whose mission is to verify radar imaging technology and observe cosmic radiation in a near-Earth orbit. Science Minister Lee Jong Ho later told a televised news conference that the launch was successful, saying it proved the rocket's reliability and South Korea's potential to operate various satellites and explore space. Lee said seven of the eight satellites including the main one were successfully released from the rocket. He said more time is required to confirm the release of the eighth satellite. Today, we confirmed that dreams can come true, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol wrote on Facebook. I hope our future generations have a great dream and challenge while looking at the Nuri rocket soaring into space. The launch boosted South Koreas hopes of catching up with Asian neighbors such as China, Japan and India in a regional space race. Lee, the science minister, said South Korea plans to conduct three more Nuri rocket launches by 2027 and will seek to develop more advanced launch vehicles. The launch was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed at the last minute due to a technical problem. Last year, South Korea used a Nuri rocket to place a performance verification satellite" in orbit, becoming the worlds 10th nation to send a satellite into space with its own technology. But that launch was primarily designed to test the rocket. Many experts say Thursday's launch will also help South Korea accumulate technologies and knowhow to operate military spy satellites and build long-range missiles. South Korea is expected to launch its first spy satellite later this year. It currently relies on U.S. spy satellites to monitor North Korean facilities. Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, noted that the satellite launched Thursday is designed to be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit, which is typically used for reconnaissance satellites. South Korea already has missiles capable of reaching all of North Korea. But experts say it needs longer-range missiles to prepare for future security threats from potential adversaries China and Russia. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following North Koreas barrage of missiles tests since the beginning of last year. Some of the tests demonstrated its potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on the mainland U.S. and South Korea and Japan. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seeking to develop more sophisticated weapons systems, including a spy satellite, to cope with what he calls intensifying U.S. and South Korean hostilities. Analysts say Kim wants to use an expanded weapons arsenal to win greater concessions from Washington in future dealings. North Korea must be so concerned about the South Korean satellite launch Thursday because much of Kim Jong Uns interest now is in possessing a spy satellite, said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. He has a strong desire to launch a spy satellite before South Korea does. Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas main launch center in the northwest shows activities that suggest a new level of urgency in making the site ready to accommodate satellite launches, 38 North, a North Korea-focused website, said Wednesday. It said the images indicate progress on a new launch pad is moving forward at a remarkable pace. Last week, Kim examined a finished spy satellite and approved a plan for its launch during a visit to the countrys aerospace agency. The spy satellite disclosed in North Korean state media doesnt appear sophisticated enough to produce high-resolution imagery. But Lee, the expert at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, said it is likely to be capable of monitoring deployment of U.S. strategic assets such as an aircraft carrier and the movements of South Korean warships and fighter jets. South Korea has dismissed reports that its artillery rounds are heading to Ukraine via the United States South Korea on Thursday dismissed a US media report that its artillery rounds were heading to Ukraine, saying its position on not providing lethal aid to Kyiv was unchanged. The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday reported that hundreds of thousands of South Korean-made shells were set to be delivered to Ukraine via the United States under a "confidential arrangement" between Seoul and Washington. South Korea has a long-standing policy of not providing weapons to active conflict zones, which it has stuck to despite repeated requests from the United States, European allies and Ukraine itself for more help. "The South Korean government's position on aid to Ukraine remains unchanged... and there are also inaccuracies in the (WSJ) report," Jeon Ha-kyu, the defence ministry's spokesperson, told reporters. Jeon acknowledged that there had been discussions between the Pentagon and an unidentified South Korean company about "some ammunition exports", but declined to provide details. "There have been many discussions and requests, so the Korean government will take appropriate measures while comprehensively reviewing the situation in Ukraine and the humanitarian situation," he said. Cho Tae-yong, head of South Korea's national security office, told lawmakers Wednesday that "there is no support (in the form of) artillery shells to Ukraine." South Korea, the world's ninth-largest arms exporter, has so far sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and sold tanks and howitzers to Poland -- a key ally for Kyiv as it battles invading Russian forces. It has hinted that it could reconsider its policy of not supplying lethal aid, with the president's office saying last month that a large-scale Russian attack on civilians could tip the balance. But experts warn that South Korea is in a tricky position because of its economic ties with Russia -- its 15th largest trading partner as of 2022 -- as well as Moscow's influence over nuclear-armed North Korea. South Korea's "defence ministry is unable to specify what these 'inaccuracies' in the (WSJ) report are," Cheong Seong-chang of the Center for North Korea Studies at the Sejong Institute in Seoul told AFP. It would be difficult for South Korea to disclose any such aid to Ukraine, he added. "Cooperation with the United States is important for the Seoul government, but it also needs to maintain ties with Moscow." cdl/ceb/qan SouthPark fire: New details, concerns emerge over type of construction used in apartments As investigators work to uncover the cause of last weeks deadly construction fire in SouthPark, new details are emerging about the type of construction used at the site. The 239-unit luxury apartment building had a wood-frame construction, according to the developer and county records, an increasingly common style over the past decade. Known as pedestal or podium construction, the bottom story is made of noncombustible material like concrete or steel. Upper floors are built with wood. GO DEEPER: Deadly fire remains under investigation. Heres everything you need to know That style is used in building many apartment towers across the country and Charlotte fire engineering and construction experts told The Charlotte Observer. The SouthPark building was under construction when the five-alarm fire broke out May 18. Two construction workers died and 15 others had to be rescued. There are roughly a dozen other apartment projects like the SouthPark building currently under construction in Mecklenburg County, according to a county spokeswoman. While international building codes adopted by North Carolina allow for wood-frame buildings, some fire science experts worry about the styles prevalence. The overall size, including height and square footage, matters when a building catches on fire, in this case with enormous amounts of wood, said Glenn Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. He was referring to large wood-frame buildings, like the one in SouthPark. The more wood on a project, the harder it is for firefighters to put flames out because the framing contributes to the fire, Corbett said. The situation is made worse when the building is under construction because the structure essentially creates a wind tunnel. Other experts expressed confidence in the safety of wood-frame buildings when complete, saying wood is not the enemy. They pointed, though, to the need for more early-warning notification systems to workers and first responders when fires start in buildings that are under construction. Thats when buildings are most vulnerable to fire, they said. Mill Creek Residential was building a 239-unit apartment building in SouthPark when a massive fire broke out last week. One fire science expert has raised concerns over the wood-frame construction type thats become more common over the past decade. Use of wood in construction remains on the rise The size of the fire like the one in SouthPark would have been dramatically smaller if the building was made of concrete and steel, Corbett said. Those materials can be damaged in a fire, Corbett said, but dont contribute to the fire. Wood is credited for its sustainability as a renewable construction material. Its also cheaper to build with compared to concrete and steel. Whats more, a greater share of todays lean labor force is able to frame a building with wood compared to bricklayers and welders, said Mark Matheny, vice chairman of the N.C. Building Code Council. The board is appointed by the governor. Wood has been one of the most prevalent building materials in the world for over the past decade, said Ray OBrocki, fire services manager at the American Wood Council trade group. Construction site fires are often preventable if builders and others follow safety codes, OBrocki said. He called many construction fires hes studied over the years predictable and preventable. Once the (wood-frame) building is complete and the gypsum wall (drywall) is in, the sprinklers are in, that building is as fire safe as any building made of concrete or steel, OBrocki said. Charlotte fire officials familiar with wood-frame construction Charlotte fire officials are well aware of the trend of wood-frame construction in apartment buildings. Theyve done trainings on these types of buildings, Peter Skeris, deputy chief of personnel administration, told reporters Thursday. But once a fire gets going in an open, unfinished building like the SouthPark project, theres little that can stop it. Captain promised to save crane operator from SouthPark fire but wasnt sure he could Fire Department officials said the fire was accidental and started in a spray-foam insulation trailer at the construction site. Skeris described the SouthPark site as having two bottom floors with concrete steps, then open scaffolding steps to the sixth floor with nothing to stop the smoke and fire from traveling up the stairwells. Once the wood starts to burn while the building is under construction, a collapse is imminent, Skeris said. A photo from the street outside the massive fire in SouthPark. What the building code says about combustible material Florida-based developer Mill Creek Residential broke ground on its 239-unit apartment building last January in SouthPark, not far from the SouthPark mall. The apartments were planned to be spread across two buildings, each seven stories high, according to publicly available permits. Its not clear how many stories were planned as wood versus podium. Mill Creek Residential declined an interview request this week from The Charlotte Observer. Its unclear how far along the project was or whether the developer will rebuild on the site. The permit also revealed more information about the construction type. Its labeled as noncombustible walls/protected. Noncombustible materials typically mean steel or concrete. In the SouthPark project, builders were using a fire retardant treated wood, according to Mecklenburg County spokeswoman Pamela Escobar. Such wood can be used in place of those noncombustible materials in exterior walls, according to Escobar and a review of state and international building codes. The international building code, which is typically adopted by states and amended from there, changed in the past decade or so to allow for that exemption, Corbett said. The North Carolina building code is designed to make buildings safe to inhabit once the building is complete, according to Mecklenburg Countys Code Enforcement division. The required elements of the code work together to create a safe environment, the division said in an email to the Observer. A certificate is needed before people can live or work in the buildings once total code compliance is reached. Structures are highly vulnerable while under construction. A fire can more easily spread when there are no walls, ceilings or other building components in place, fire science and engineering experts told the Observer. Worries about wood in apartment buildings Corbett has been pushing back on building codes and the wood industry for years, as hes watched more wood allowed to be used in different types of construction. A 2009 change in the national building code, adopted by North Carolina, increased the number of wood-frame stories that can be built on a pedestal or slab from four to five, the Raleigh News & Observer reported in 2017. The reporting came in the aftermath of a fire that started at a wood-frame apartment building under construction. Nobody was killed or injured in that fire. Five stories of wood on top of a pedestal is still in the code today, said Matheny of the N.C. Building Code Council. Fire retardant treated wood is designed to behave similarly to a noncombustible material, with the important caveat that the building has to be completed, Matheny said. But more wood makes it harder to fight fires, Corbett said, and increases the risk of fire spreading to nearby properties. Wood-frame buildings under construction pose a greater risk to firefighters because there is so much surface area for the fire to spread quickly, he said. A building under construction simply doesnt have any other fire protections in place like dry wall, exterior coating or walls that can trap and slow down a spreading fire. Its a giant wood pallet, Corbett told the Observer. Historically, most older wooden apartment buildings were detached from one another, which could slow down fire spread, Corbett said. Today, wood is allowed in most large, attached apartment buildings. If this had been a steel-frame building you wouldnt be calling me about this right now, Corbett said. Its unclear whether developer Mill Creek Residential will continue with its plans to build an apartment building in SouthPark after a fire broke out at the construction site. Ways to improve construction scene safety Building and fire codes have embraced the wood-frame, podium-style construction as safe for the end user, said John Heinen, a Charlotte-based regional practice leader at Telgian. The Arizona-based company is a fire protection engineering consultant firm. He also emphasized that living in these buildings is safe. Problems arise during the construction phase, he said, because a large lumber shell lacks fire alarm or sprinkler systems at the start. Fire experts will point to the importance of compartmentalization meaning a fire will have a harder time traveling in a building when there are ceilings, walls and other objects inside finished apartments, Heinen said. Without those touches in place, the building effectively becomes a large wind tunnel. There also are ways to better warn construction workers on a job site as well as alert the surrounding fire department quickly, Heinen believes. Workers use two-way radios but not everyone has one, Heinen said. He suggested creating an emergency alert system on every workers cell phone similar to an Amber Alert. Another critical component to consider: enhancing staircases during construction of the building. Building codes dont always mention encapsulating staircases with a fire-rated material as a means to get off the site in the event of a fire, Heinen said. Buildings like this are safe for the end user, Heinen said, with inspections across the building for electrical and plumbing and everything in between. The same cant be said for the time the building is being worked on. We need to make buildings safer for workers while in construction, Heinen said. Data reporter Gavin Off contributed to this report. Charlottes Fire of the Century was deadly. It also could have been much worse How bad is a five-alarm fire? What to know about system after SouthPark blaze Data center projects in full swing in SW China's Guizhou Xinhua) 08:23, May 25, 2023 A staff member inspects the operating status of the micro module room in Guian Data Center of China Unicom in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on May 23, 2023. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the construction site of the data center of the State Power Investment Corporation Limited in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the "Huawei Cloud" data center in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the construction site of the Midea Cloud data center in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the construction site of the global command center project of the "Huawei Cloud" data center in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the Guian data center of China Unicom in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) A staff member inspects the micro module room in Guian Data Center of China Unicom in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on May 23, 2023. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) NANNING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Eleven trade and cooperation project deals worth a total of 10.3 billion yuan (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) were inked between Chinese and Australian companies on Thursday. The projects cover areas such as resources, food and medicine, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangxi Committee. The deals were signed at an RCEP trade and investment fair, which was held in both Australia and south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to promote Sino-Australian trade and investment. Both China and Australia are members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest free trade deal, which also includes 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, as well as Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and New Zealand. It entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022. Sui Guohua, vice chair of the regional government of Guangxi, said that Guangxi is utilizing its unique location to deepen cooperation with RCEP members. She called on Guangxi and Australia to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and dig deep into business opportunities brought by the RCEP. Southwest Airlines summer sale: How to shop it and where you can go from Phoenix If you're traveling this summer but haven't booked your flights yet, you can still snag a deal depending on where you're going. Southwest Airlines launched a nationwide summer fare sale with one-way flights as low as $59. The lowest fares for flights out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were found for itineraries to and from Los Angeles-area airports. Most of the sale fares available are for domestic travel, but flyers can find savings on flights to Hawaii and Mexico as well. Travelers will have to book now to get the best fares, as the sale is limited and ends soon. Here's how to shop Southwest Airlines' summer sale. More: International flights are expensive and scarce this summer. Here's how to plan your trip How the Southwest Airlines summer sale works Here's the fine print of Southwest Airlines' 2023 summer sale: The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time on June 1. Sale fares are available for Tuesday and Wednesday travel within the continental U.S. from June 13 to Nov. 1. Fares for travel to Hawaii from the continental U.S. are available from Aug. 8 to Nov. 1. Fares for travel from Hawaii to the continental U.S., as well as travel to and from Puerto Rico and internationally, are available from Aug. 15 to Nov. 1. Availability of the lowest fares may be limited. More: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport added these new flights so far this year Here's where you can fly from Phoenix with Southwest's summer sale Los Angeles: From $59 one way. Colorado Springs, Colorado: From $89 one way. Las Vegas: From $94 one way. El Paso, Texas: From $94 one way. San Diego: From $128 one way. San Francisco: From $128 one way. Denver: From $128 one way. Los Cabos, Mexico: From $196 one way. Kona, Hawaii: From $213 one way. Maui, Hawaii: From $234 one way. Honolulu, Hawaii: From $243 one way. Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salerno_phx. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Southwest Airlines summer sale: Here's how to get the deals Sonora, among the top podcast platforms in Spain, has tapped leading Chilean scribes Enrique Videla and Paula del Fierro to write a couple of serial podcasts for it. Their credits include Amazon Original La Jauria (The Pack), showrun by Lucia Puenzo (The German Doctor) and produced by Pablo and Juan de Dios Larrains Fabula. Both are also co-writers of Movistars Los Prisioneros and Chilean-German co-production, Dignidad. Were delighted to add Chilean creative talent to Sonora. The original content that Del Fierro and Videla will write for our platform will join one of our most outstanding fiction creations, Retornados, a science fiction thriller written and directed by Chilean scriptwriter, Julio Rojas, said Gabriel Saenz de Buruaga, CEO and founding partner of Sonora. Rojas is also one of the writers on La Jauria and the scribe of Spotifys most successful Spanish-language podcast, Case 63. The first serial podcast, which Videla will write on his own, is La Dama Blanca, based on the universal myth of the lady in white, otherwise known as La Llorona in Hispanic cultures, of which Guatemalas Jayro Bustamante made an acclaimed film in 2019. According to Videla, La Dama Blanca will be a terror-police thriller hybrid and be set in Northern Spain. The second podcast, Armada, which they will co-write, envisions a fantasy world where Mexico has won the Mexican-American war of 1846 and Latin America is a world power while the U.S. has devolved into a third world country. The border is always on the verge of conflict and when a macabre crime threatens to destabilize the world order, police officer Agent Erin Burque sets out to solve the crime. Videla cites Watchmen and Philip K. Dicks Man in the High Castle among their influences for this podcast. For Del Fierro, whos already made one podcast for Sonora, Desierta Sangre, working on this format has been a refreshing experience, where the challenge is to focus more on the words and the sound design. You cant fall back on images to solve narrative issues, Videla concurred. Both podcasts will run for 10 20-minute episodes. Del Fierro and Videla will be closely involved in the casting, recording and the whole production process. The market is becoming interested in the original and universal stories of Sonora, and is offering us the possibility of turning them into audiovisual fiction series. I think this is very good news for the industry as it continues to expand, said Saenz de Buruaga. Both writers are represented by Constanza Arenas talent management and project incubator Agencia La Luz. Personally, at La Luz we love the audio series format. We think they are wonderful pilots to test original stories with the potential for international audiences, made at modest costs but with great quality, said Arena. The most interesting thing is to have done it with a platform like Sonora, which is already synonymous with quality and which allows authors to have an important participation in the sale of audiovisual adaptation rights, she noted, adding: Its something that in these times is extremely encouraging as it also allows the creators and writers themselves to have a voice in the audiovisual adaptation of their content that was initially tested in the sound format, but which was also conceived with a potential for its adaptation. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Spanish YouTuber Dalas Review will have to read his defamation sentence on his channel weekly for a month. He was taken to court after calling his ex-girlfriend's dad a 'sick coward' who hits 'defenseless women.' SOPA Images Spanish YouTuber Dalas Review lost a defamation case brought by his ex-girlfriend Maria Rubio's father, per Gizmodo. He called Rubio's father an abuser who hits 'defenseless women,' lobbing similar accusations in nine videos. Dalas Review now owes the father $13,000 and a weekly reading of his defamation sentence on his channel. A Spanish YouTuber will spend the next few weeks denouncing defamatory statements he made about his ex-girlfriend's dad on his YouTube channel as part of a judge's creative sentence. Spanish YouTuber Dalas Review, who has over 10 million followers on the platform, lost a defamation case brought against him this week. A judge found that Dalas Review had defamed his ex-girlfriend's father by claiming that he abused women, including his ex-girlfriend, according to Gizmodo. The news was first reported by Spanish outlet El Diario. Dalas Review, whose legal name is Daniel Santome, owes his ex-partner Maria Rubio's father $13,000 and has to read his defamation sentence on his YouTube channel every week for a month as part of his punishment, per the report. Leading up to the lawsuit and after he and Rubio split up, Santome made at least nine videos addressing her father, hurling a variety of insults against him, accusing him of hitting Rubio. In his videos, Santome alleged that Rubio's father was an "abuser," as well as calling him a "sick coward who's messed up in the head," and someone who, "likes to hit defenseless women on the street," according to Gizmodo. According to El Diario, the judge pointed to the number of young people that follow Dalas Review in sentencing the YouTuber, and said that making unfounded claims about violence against women downplays real efforts in Spain to tackle those problems. During the case, the judge rejected Santome's argument that his comments were protected by freedom of speech, per the report. After he was sentenced, the YouTuber accused Rubio, also a YouTuber, and her father, of milking the situation for publicity, according to Gizmodo. Through June, Santome's channel will now feature videos reading the judge's sentence against him. "[It's] hard to believe that anyone with an average level of intelligence could think that by using freedom of speech as an excuse they could say all of these insults, which are recognized as insults by the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy, the Spanish language governing body), freely on social media and believe that the target won't feel attacked and that the system won't respond," the judge wrote in his sentence. The videos featuring the allegations against Rubio's father were also ordered to be taken down. In response, Santome who was acquitted in a sexual abuse case involving a minor in 2018 partially doubled down on his comments. "Imagine that they hit your girlfriend in front of you, that they steal your dog, that they harass you for years, and then respond with BAD WORDS to this guy, they sentence you to pay $ 'because you're a public figure,'" the YouTuber tweeted, according to Gizmodo. "This is the injustice that I have to put up with." Read the original article on Insider For decades, Mohammad Rafi has remained true to his passion for selling coloured pencils In a dimly lit corner of Tehran's Grand Bazaar, Mohammad Rafi is surrounded by all colours of the rainbow in his tiny shop that sells nothing but art pencils. The world may have gone digital, but Rafi has stayed true to his passion of the past 35 years, surrounded by thousands of pencils in every hue and shade imaginable. With the pencils stacked from floor to ceiling, his tiny cubicle has become a photogenic splash of colour, hidden deep in the market known as a "city within a city". "I don't know how many pencils there are but I have about 200 colours available," said the proud 50-year-old owner of the Medad Rafi (Rafi's pencils) shop. Finding his shop requires a veritable treasure hunt through the maze of alleys and passages of the storied market in the heart of the Iranian capital. Rafi himself takes up much of the three square metre (30 square feet) shop in the market's arts and crafts section where he has welcomed generations of customers. "Every time a customer shows up, I enjoy it, even if they don't buy anything," smiled Rafi. He then spent 10 minutes advising a schoolgirl in search of two pencils, one blue, one orange, who tried out different types, doodling on a drawing pad on the counter. - Colours and textures - "Depending on what they want to do with it, I advise customers on the colour, the texture or the brand," said Rafi, who only sells the pencils individually, not by the box. He is proud to cater to all budgets, offering domestically made pencils and ones imported from Europe and America. "The most expensive pencil costs 100,000 tomans (around two euros)," he said, "but it is one of the best." A drawing lover since childhood, Rafi has always adored pencils and, after his technical studies in the 1980s, began his professional life in a pencil manufacturing company before opening his shop. He knows that, in the days of high-tech and touch-screens, the humble coloured pencil has had its golden age, looking back nostalgically at the past century when all children carried them in their school bags. Unlike many other shop owners in the bazaar, he will not pass on the business to his son, a trained physician who "is not interested in this work". Until he retires, however, Rafi plans to keep serving his loyal customers, meeting their every creative need, including even "some pencils that are no longer produced". "Fortunately, I have a large stock" accumulated over the years, Rafi said, proudly brandishing the oldest pencil he has, "made 72 years ago". jri/fz/jsa "I wanted to found a bank that was really good for customers, that was fair," says Anne Boden Anne Boden is stepping down as chief executive of Starling Bank, nine years after founding the company. The Welsh businesswoman said it was the right time to step aside as it reported a record pre-tax profit of 195m, a six-fold increase on the previous year. She will step down on 30 June, but will stay on the board and still part-own the company. Starling was one of a few so-called challenger banks which promised to revolutionise the UK sector. With no branches, it prides itself on its app and customer service. Ms Boden announced her departure as the bank published its latest profits for 2022-23. The bank says it has begun a search across the globe for a new chief executive Revealing her intention to leave in an exclusive interview with BBC Wales, Ms Boden said: "It's thrilling. When I look back at how I started Starling, I never thought we would get to this stage. "Starling is bigger than just one person, it is bigger than a founder-led organisation. It is a piece of infrastructure that is important to the UK. We provide a real role in society." Ms Boden, 63, said it was "not really appropriate" for Starling to continue to have a shareholder as its chief executive. She still owns 4.9% of the company and keeps a seat on the board as a non-executive director. Starling Bank said it has begun a global search for a new chief executive, with chief operating officer John Mountain taking the interim role. The departing chief executive says she had become ashamed to be a banker before launching Starling Starling has grown steadily from its initial base of personal customers, adding business accounts and acquiring a mortgage book, partly due to its purchase of Fleet Mortgages. Ms Boden, decided to pursue her dream of launching a bank after becoming disenchanted with the banking world. "People never believed that a 5ft tall Welsh woman in her mid-50s could do something that had never been done before," she said. "I had become ashamed to be a banker, I was ashamed to be part of that whole regime that had let the country down. "I wanted to do something different, I wanted to found a bank that was really good for customers, that was fair. And people never believed I could do it and be profitable. "So here we are, we have done it, proof positive." Ms Boden said Starling Bank would continue to grow and believes it can take more customers from the older, more established banks. Starling will eventually list itself on the stock exchange, she said. Listing a firm on a stock exchange takes it from being a private to a public company, with investors able to buy and sell shares on specific exchanges. Companies usually list on stock exchanges to gain access to a wider range of investors. "It's not going to be this year, but eventually Starling will list," she said. "It will be at the right time." As a result of her success with Starling, she has become a role model for women in finance. She chairs a UK government task force that aims to boost the number of women launching fast-growing businesses. "When women get the investment, when women get the chance, they can lead great companies and lead those companies to success," she said. Asked for her advice for a woman like her from Bonymaen in Swansea who may want to start a business, she said perseverance was required. "However, unless you start, you never know." A state audit of finances at the Big Fresno Fair revealed about a dozen irregularities and violations of state law that the fairs board of directors is vowing to correct. The state Department of Food and Agriculture earlier this month made public the audit of the 21st District Agricultural Association, the agency that runs the Big Fresno Fair. Auditors who prepared the report, which covers a two-year period from January 2020 through December 2021, expressed concern about a cozy and at times confusing financial relationship between the fair and the Friends of the Big Fresno Fair Foundation, a separate nonprofit corporation. Among the key findings were conditions in some contracts that required bidders for contracts with the fair to also commit to making donations to the foundation to the tune of more than half a million dollars over a four-year period; improper payments and gift cards distributed to fair managers and employees by the foundation; use of state-owned vehicles by several fair employees for their daily commutes between work and home and other personal trips; use of fair-owned fuel and credit cards and of fuel from tanks at the fairgrounds for personal use of state vehicles; and trips to states including Texas for which state-sponsored travel has been prohibited. Our office noted weaknesses and deficiencies within the 21st DAAs administrative controls and operating practices, auditors wrote in their report. We have identified 13 areas containing reportable conditions. In addition, we have provided 30 recommendations to improve the 21st DAAs internal controls, operations and compliance with state laws and regulations. The irregularities and violations covered in the report occurred during the leadership tenure of John Alkire, who served as the chief executive officer of the Big Fresno Fair from 2004 through September 2020, when he stepped down to become the CEO of the Friends of the Big Fresno Fair Foundation. Alkire was succeeded at the fair by his deputies, Lauri King and Stacy Rianda. Rianda was hired by the Ventura County Fair as its CEO last summer, and King who has worked for the fair since 2003 was named CEO in July 2022. From 2018 through 2021, the 21st DAA improperly agreed to $554,843 in payments being made to the Foundation from various contractors doing business with (the fair), auditors wrote. Specifically, 12 contracts included language that required the contractor to donate funds directly to the Foundation. The legal office at the state Department of Food & Agriculture concluded that donations from the contractor directly to the Foundation are improper as a condition of a contract between the contractor and the fair. As a result, the arrangement caused the 21st DAA to lose revenue as payments from contractors were made directly to the foundation. Improper cash payments, gift cards to fair managers, employees Through interviews and documents, auditors determined that the Friends of the Fair Foundation provided almost $90,000 in cash and gift cards to fair employees between 2017 and 2021, and information indicated that the practice had actually been going on for at least 12 years. Additionally, the report notes that the fairs managers and other employees, as employees of a state agency, did not report those payments and gifts to the California Fair Political Practices Commission as required. State law indicated that state employees shall not receive or accept money or any other consideration from anyone other than the state for the performance of his or her duties as a state employee. Three fair managers and eight other fair employees, none of whom are named in the audit report, were given checks amounting to more than $68,000 from the foundation. Interviews revealed that the Foundation sought advice from Employee A (a manager) at their board meetings for which (fair) employees should receive payments from the Foundation. The foundation would then write checks to fair employees and Employee A would deliver those to the employees. The report adds that unnamed Employee A retired from the 21st DAA in August 2020 and became an employee of the Foundation in September 2020. That person continued to deliver Foundation checks to fair employees in 2021. Another $21,400 worth of gift cards, valued at $100 each, were purchased by the foundation and given to employees over a five-year period. Most of the employees who received the cards thought the gift cards were from the 21st DAA and not the Foundation since Employee A handed out the gift cards, the audit report stated. While state law prohibits state employees, including employees of the fair association, from accepting outside payments, the Friends of the Big Fresno Fair Foundations bylaws include a provision that when deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, on advise from the Fair manager, cash grants may be made to employees of the Big Fresno Fair for extraordinary effort on behalf of this organization. Improper use of state vehicles and fuel for personal travel The same three unnamed fair managers and two other employees were criticized in the audit for improperly using state-owned vehicles to commute between their homes and the fairgrounds while also using gasoline paid for by the DAA. Because the fair did not require employees to complete vehicle travel logs, auditors could not determine a precise number of miles driven by the five workers for personal use, but based on distances between the employee residences to the fairgrounds, the five employees are estimated to have commuted 26,064 miles with state vehicles between 2017 and 2021. The employees also stated that the use of state vehicles for commuting purposes has been going on for many years prior, auditors wrote in the report. The audit cites state law in noting that no state officer or employee shall use, or permit the use of, any state-owned motor vehicle other than in the conduct of state business. The same employees also filled the tanks of the state vehicles using fuel paid for by the state either from fuel tanks at the fairgrounds, or through company fuel and credit cards. An examination of fuel and credit card statements revealed that the employees bought more than $27,000 worth of gasoline; the audit also estimates the cost of about 1,340 gallons of fuel pumped from the fairgrounds tanks at about $4,671. A wide range of other findings discovered by auditors The audit report outlines a series of additional concerns over a lack of financial controls and other irregularities in financial practices for the 21st District Agricultural Association: Improper purchases and lack of controls for use of the fair districts credit cards, including a lack of supervisory review for purchases put on the cards. Auditors identified 235 food purchases amounting to more than $21,000 using the fair districts cards by the three managers and two other employees, without providing needed documentation to justify the purchases. There was no documented review by fair managers for most of the more than $660,000 in credit card charges during the audited period. Lack of required documentation to justify almost $156,000 worth of food and beverage purchases by fair officials from its concessionaire for public relations and promotional purposes. One purchase involved $1,308 for wine served in the fair directors dining room, but the state Fair & Exhibitions accounting procedures manual specifies that purchases of alcoholic beverages are inappropriate uses of state funds and are unallowable. Lack of written agreements between the fair district and the Friends of the Fair Foundation to clarify the relationship between the two entities. The foundation, for example, has its office on the fairgrounds, but auditors were unable to determine if the 21st DAA was due any revenue from this arrangement. The Foundation has also performed work to improve the fairgrounds, but a lack of internal accounting controls for that work means there is no documentation of the construction amounts, contracting services or other measures. Underpayment of the fairs obligation to the state employees retirement system for permanent employees in 2020 and 2021, amounting to a shortfall of almost $19,500; phone reimbursement stipends to two permanent employees for teleworking while state policies did not allow stipends for telework. Noncompliance with sick-leave accrual policies for temporary fair employees, causing employees to be shorted on their accumulated sick leave. Improper travel to prohibited states, circumventing policies over state-funded or state-sponsored travel by having the Foundation, rather than the fair district, pay for employee travel costs to attend the International Association of Fairs and Exhibitions annual conventions in Texas in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Weaknesses in accounting for equipment owned by the fair district in tracking property including computers, tablets and tools that can be easily lost or stolen. A property register provided to auditors had not been updated since 2010. The district also did not comply with state policies for disposing of equipment that had outlived its usefulness, including inoperable forklifts and vehicles. Failure to notify the states Fairs & Exhibitions division of sponsorship agreements valued at more than $100,000. or have a term of two or more years. Our office identified five sponsorship agreements that exceeded $100,000 in value or were for multiple years for which the F&E was not notified, auditors wrote. Lack of compliance with established policies for bidding on contracts, including about 20 contracts for more than $5,000 for which no bidding documentation could be found by auditors or provided by the fair district. Fair boards president pledges compliance with recommendations In the fairs response to the audit, and included in the report, Big Fresno Fair board president Terry Gonsalves pledged to achieve full compliance with the audit recommendations. CDFA has my personal declaration that the entire Fair team and our board are committed to directly aligning with all Compliance Audit corrections, Gonsalves wrote, and working alongside state officials to advocate for enhanced management education to ensure compliance among all fairs. In his response letter, Gonzalves said I personally found the audit process to be informative and instructive, as records indicate the last CDFA compliance audit took place in 2010. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020 was a complicating factor in the fairs operations and management, including Alkires retirement and a reduction of the fair districts staff from 26 full-time employees to its current level of nine. Californias fifth largest fair operated in 2020-21 with minimal full-time staff, the majority new trainees, Gonsalves said. The accounting department alone rotated in and out four different employees to manage financial responsibilities. Among the steps that have already been taken are revoking all fair-owned vehicles from employees to be used only for official state business and not allowing district fuel cards to be used for personal gasoline purchases. Gonsalves added that the fair district will seek reimbursement from those who used the cards for personal travel, as well as for fuel pumped from the fairgrounds tanks. BOSTON - Jennifer Nowak, a Westfield resident and older sister of a 16-year-old boy who disappeared riding his new mountain bike in 1996, still has the box for the black hiking boots she bought him for his birthday in her closet. The boots he was wearing the day he was abducted, Nov. 9. Since James Jamie Lusher disappeared, his family has learned he was one of the children targeted by Lewis Lent Jr., a janitor who worked in Pittsfield and has been convicted of two other child murders: 12-year-old Jimmy Bernardo of Pittsfield in 1990 and a New York child, Sara Anne Wood, who was 12 when she disappeared on a quiet road near her home in August 1993. Jennifer Nowak of Westfield talks about the abduction of her brother James Lusher when he was 16 in 1992. His kidnapping and murder have been solved, but his remains are still missing In a detailed confession offered by Lent to investigators in 2013 in exchange for not being prosecuted for the crime, the Lusher family learned that Jamie had been kidnapped, murdered and dumped. The murder was solved, said his sister. But hes still missing. Searchers spent three days searching Greenwater Pond for the boys remains without finding a shred of evidence. Not even one of his black hiking boots. Our family has nothing, not even a tooth, Nowak said, adding that she would love to have a relic, a reminder of her brother who would have been 46 if he had lived. She described him as happy-go-lucky, adding that in this day and age, he probably would have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. He had an 8-year-olds mentality and was a prime target for Lewis Lent, Nowak said. Weve come here to advocate for him. Hers was one of several families who gathered at the base of the Grand Staircase in the Statehouse Wednesday to remember the missing, the exploited and the murdered as part of National Missing Childrens Day, enacted by former President Ronald Reagan and celebrated yearly on May 25. Molly Bish of Warren, who went missing in her hometown in 2000. Her remains were found three years later in Palmer. In Massachusetts, the abduction of Molly Bish, 16, in 2000, who was working as a lifeguard at Comins Pond in Warren when she disappeared, prompted state lawmakers to establish a special day of remembrance. The teenagers family formed the Molly Bish Center and Foundation in collaboration with Anna Maria College in 2004. Since then, Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, and Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, have been leading the legislative effort to enhance the states resources for investigating the disappeared and exploited residents. Statewide database among proposals In her remarks, Gobi, who will be joining the governors executive team as the states director of rural affairs next month, said she will push several legislative efforts, including funds for a statewide database, as she and her colleagues grapple with the Senate budget proposals before the Memorial Day weekend. We want to further the agenda, Gobi said before leaving the ceremony for the Senate chambers. Bill S.1528 allows for the searching of familial DNA and the use of partial DNA information while investigating unsolved crimes. Bill S.1578 would develop a guide establishing comprehensive minimum standards for law enforcement agencies, ensuring a uniform response among investigators to reports of missing children, responses tailored to their ages: for children under 10, children under 17, children with mental and physical limitations and dependent adults with mental and physical limitations. In the governors budget: $300,000 to establish a census of the missing and unidentified, a repository for information about missing and unidentified persons in the Executive Office of Public Safety that could be accessed by law enforcement across the Bay State. In a gut-wrenching PowerPoint presentation, the audience watched the names, faces, ages and hometowns of missing children in Mass. scroll across a large screen. As of Monday, there were 85 documented cases of missing children in the commonwealth, a list that dates back to 1957 and changes daily, said Melanie Perkins McLaughlin, one of the ceremony's moderators. There have been 36 investigations into missing children since Jan. 1 in Massachusetts; almost a dozen of those were reported missing in Worcester. Moderators of the ceremony remembering Massachusetts' missing, murdered and exploited children, from left, AnnMarie Mires, director of forensic criminology at Anna Maria College in Paxton; and Melanie Perkins McLaughlin of Medford and director of the documentary "Have You Seen Andy" discuss the need for the legislation they want to see enacted. As you watch the slideshow, reflect on the time they have been missing from their friends, families and loved ones, McLaughlin said. We want to bring them home, McLaughlin said. The young people on the list exist between two worlds - missing yet not officially gone. Both aspects of the missing demand attention - solving abduction cases, finding the missing and identifying found human remains. Once the Lady of the Dunes was identified 50 years after her murder, investigators could start to determine what had happened and how her remains had come to be found in Provincetown. With a name, Ruth Marie Terry, investigators can finally determine what happened to the Tennessee woman who was found murdered so far from her home. Friend, 10, vanished in 1976 McLaughlin was 9 when she realized people could vanish. She was at the community pool in Lawrence one hot August day in 1976 with her best friend, 10-year-old Angelo Andy Puglisi. She decided to go home for lunch, he stayed. She never saw him again. Andy was so kind, so sweet, he deserved better, McLaughlin said. The search for her friend lasted six days, and as an adult, she realized that it was cut short because he was an inner-city child, living in public housing. Too many of the youngsters pictured on the slideshow, she said, are children from distressed, low-income neighborhoods. In her efforts to learn about what had happened to that boy she played and swam with, McLaughlin created Have You Seen Andy, an award-winning documentary that connected her with AnnMarie Mires, director of forensic criminology at Anna Maria College in Paxton. Mires, who helped identify the remains of several of Massachusetts missing children and the remains of people murdered by Whitey Bulger, believes it is a state function to keep track of its missing residents. She is a strong advocate for creating a dedicated cold case unit that is available to work with law enforcement agencies across the state. We will keep beating this drum, Mires promised, adding that the issues do not go away. We will bring light into the darkness. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mass. missing children remembered, state urged to fund database State-owned companies received billions to purchase weapons, failed to deliver, then withdrew funds from country Ukrainian state-owned companies engaged in international arms purchases received billions of hryvnias under Defence Ministry contracts in 2022, then failed to deliver. Source: Special looters. How arms importers withdrew billions of hryvnias from the country during the war by Ukrainska Pravda Details: Ukraines Ministry of Defence signed contracts with several arms importers - SpetsTechnoExport (STE), Ukrspecexport, Progress, and the Defene Procurement Agency - mainly in the spring and summer of 2022. The Ministry of Defence paid 100% upfront, but the companies have yet to fulfil the orders. In the case of at least some of the contracts, the money received was moved abroad and transferred to foreign firms. In early 2023, the Ministry of Defene began filing lawsuits against state suppliers. As of 23 May, Ukrainska Pravda has managed to find at least 30 such claims in the court register. The claims for overdue contracts that were unearthed in the register are worth UAH 8.9 billion [about US$265 million ed.]. This UAH 8.9 billion includes both the advance payments received by the suppliers and the fines and penalties incurred for late execution of the contracts. But according to Ukrainska Pravda, the lawsuits cover only part of the overdue transactions. The court handed down judgments requiring that funds be repaid to the state in just two of the cases: Ukrspecexport was required to repay UAH 293.4 million [about US$7.9 million] and SpetsTechnoExport UAH 121.97 million [about US$3.3 million]. Many of the claims were initially dismissed by the court due to errors in the paperwork. Moreover, in several cases the contractors managed to return the funds while the Ministry of Defence was correcting these errors, and then the court case was closed. These "peaceful" resolutions occurred only four times, however, with the most significant amount returned being UAH 1.7 million [about US$46,000]. Most of the Defence Ministry's claims are still pending. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, was the Senate Democrats' lead budgeteer in the fiscal year 2024 budget negotiations. The Senate passed two budget bills late on Thursday, May 25, 2023 now heading to the House. The Illinois Senate approved the fiscal year 2024 budget late Thursday night, now sending a two-bill package on to the House and providing a clearer picture as to when the spring session may finally end. In its totality, the budget language seen in an amendment filed to Senate Bill 250 included more than 3,400 pages and has revenue estimates exceeding $50.7 billion while expenditures topping $50.6 billion for the fiscal year starting on July 1. This revenue number surpasses recent figures from the Governors Office of Management and Budget by more than $300 million and approximately $1 billion more in expenditures than the governor's proposed budget from February. The first budget bill from Senate Democrats' lead budgeteer Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, dropped a little after 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The Budget Implementation Bill, the needed budget complement, came Thursday afternoon under amendments to House Bill 3817 - a bill originally devised to establish the soybean as the state bean. Democrats and Republicans alike had been complementary of the work of Sims, yet any notion of a bipartisan vote was quickly squashed. No members of the minority party supported either of the budget bills, some of which received 'no' votes from Democrats. SB 250 passed 34-22 and HB 3817 passed 36-20. Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield was one of three Democrats voting against the former, while Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, was the sole Democrat voting 'no' on both bills. The primary reason Republicans rose in opposition was due to the exclusion of the states $75 million tax credit program that supports private school scholarships. Created in 2017, the Invest in Kids program is set to expire on Jan. 1, 2024 without any expansion. A possibility remains for a continuation of the program during the fall veto session, but Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said the decision to not act now will have major ramifications in the upcoming school year. Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, called the exclusion a "missed opportunity" by lawmakers. "Parents, this summer, are gonna have to decide are they going to send their kids to school that they can maybe afford for half a year and then get thrown out," Rose, a GOP budgeteer, said during a hour-plus floor debate on SB 250. "Are they going to put their faith in the Illinois General Assembly to finally figure it out?" More General Assembly: Harmon bill ending 'venue shopping' for constitutional challenges passes Senate Democrats stood by their bill as one they felt reflected the shared priorities of Illinoisans. Senate President Don Harmon noted that these investments, whether they be in schools, hospitals, and more will touch all districts regardless of political leaning. Both Harmon, D-Oak Park, and Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, voiced support for an improved budget discussion process. No bipartisan votes, however, was a disappointment to Harmon. "We invited the other side of the aisle to the table, we will continue to stretch out our hand," Sims added during closing remarks. "We want your partnership, but we need your partnership to be transparent and authentic. And when it is not, we will do it without you." Last Friday was the originally scheduled adjournment day for the spring session, yet, with disagreement on how to fund the state's health care program for undocumented immigrants, no budget package was ready. The governor's February proposal included $220 million towards the program, but recent estimates from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services indicated that would not be nearly enough. The new sum provided by IDHFS Director Theresa Eagleson earlier this month was $1.1 billion, or nearly $900 million exceeding the original estimate. A program enacted and since expanded since its 2020 beginning, the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program provides healthcare similar to Medicaid for noncitizens 42 years and older and those with green cards living in the state for less than five years. Gov. JB Pritzker said a deal had been reached on the program on Wednesday that would "give us the tools to manage the program properly." Sims confirmed on Thursday that this year's funding will be approximately $550 million. On the desk of Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, stands the 3,400-plus pages of the fiscal year 2024 budget on Thursday, May 25, 2023. "We're continuing the program going forward, but in a budget friendly way so that everybody gets the health care that they need," the governor said. Pritzker's big ticket items mostly make final bill Pritzker, joined by Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, announced the budget agreement earlier on Wednesday at his Capitol office. While coming later than originally planned, the trio claimed they presented a united front on the budget which had many of the same provisions included in Pritzker's earlier proposal. The governor had particularly emphasized preschool through college education funding during his State of the State address, later touting the program during a statewide advocacy campaign. Gov. JB Pritzker, flanked by House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Senate President Don Harmon, discussed the FY 2024 budget on Wednesday, March 24, 2023. Among those included in the budget was $250 million towards the first-year of the Smart Start Illinois initiative, a plan which seeks to provide universal preschool access by 2027 and address childcare deserts throughout the state while improving the pay for childcare workers. Related: Education legislation takes center stage in General Assembly Other education initiatives include a $1.6 million to launch the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program statewide and two $100 million increases to overall public university and community college funding and Monetary Award Program grant funding for college scholarships. Outside of education, an investment of more than $350 million will go towards the Home Illinois program - the state's plan to address homelessness - and another $20 million will head to the Illinois Grocery Initiative, which provides funds to tackle food deserts in rural, suburban, and urban communities. The Illinois General Assembly took action on the latter earlier this session by passing Senate Bill 850, creating the initiative. Several Republicans including Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield, supported the bill before passing in an unanimous concurrence Senate vote last week. Yet, some such as Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, voted 'no' due to what they felt was government overreach in private business. I understand the intent, we want to help those that need to be served, however, there are much better ways to do it than putting the future taxpayer on the hook of Illinois, and having the government run grocery stores is an absolute, horrendous idea, McLaughlin said. Related: Budget discussions carry-on. What are Springfield legislators' priorities? Of local note, the budget also includes a $200 million pension payment beyond what is required by law and nearly $75 million to the Department of Children and Family Services to hire 192 workers, expand training and protection, increase scholarships for youth in care, and improve facilities. Sen. Win Stoller, R-Germantown Hills, rises in opposition to the budget implementation bill, House Bill 3817, on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Total pension investment will be $10.2 billion, which is still less than the $14.4 billion needed each year according to Sen. Win Stoller, R-Germantown Hills. The BIMP lists several new appropriations for Springfield and Sangamon County, perhaps none more significant than a $50 million grant for the "costs associated with planning and design of a new legislative building and related planning and design costs for demolition of the Stratton Office Building." Other funds dedicated to the area include a $3 million grant to the University of Illinois Springfield's Illinois Innocence Project, a $1.5 million grant to Sangamon County for capital improvements and a $350,000 grant to to the Springfield Eastside Recreation Center to construct a new building. Not quite what they wanted Competing interests rallied in the Capitol throughout session to advocate for their budget needs. With many mouths to feed and limited funds to go around, several groups will receive less than desired. Pritzker noted that "adjustments" were made from his original budget, but that no major overhauls were included in the current legislation. "I think the important thing to note is that we were conservative to begin with," he told reporters, keeping expenditures within check of estimated revenues. "I'm pleased to say that this is not just a balanced budget, this is a good budget that funds the things that are priorities for my administration that were in the original introduced budget and includes things that the House and Senate wanted to increase or add to it." Education groups, as mentioned above, received much of what was included in the proposed budget but also saw multiple initiatives either be reduced or below their funding goal. Down $25 million from the original proposal, the budget package included $45 million for the first-year of a three-year teacher pipeline project. Additionally, the governor proposed $100 million in general revenue funds for capital developments at early childhood centers, a spending amount that has decreased to $50 million under the new agreement. A provision staying the same is the $350 million into the state's evidence-based formula for K-12 public schools. This being the minimum annual investment, however, several groups had urged for increased funding. The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability supported a $150 million increase to this year's sum dedicated to the formula, bringing the total to $500 million. CTBA says in its report the increase is needed to fully-fund the initiative by 2031, shaving off seven years under the current track. Other pushes in the lead-up to the budget included one from municipal leaders across the state to increase the funding it receives through the Local Government Distributive Fund. The goal of the Illinois Municipal League and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson among others was to fully restore the share local governments receives through state income tax collections to 10% instead of the current 6.16%. Even prior to a budget bill being introduced, IML felt it was unlikely that this goal would not be achieved in the upcoming fiscal year. Sims said during committee that this year's transfer will be $112.5 million, bringing the LGDF share to 6.47%. Former mayor and now Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, still thought that funding was insufficient. "We can't even give them enough money to cover the cost of living increase," he said. Both the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities and Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault also said the budget was not to par with their advocacy goals. For IARF, they had called for $4 an hour wage increase for direct service professionals who work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The budget, as it stands currently, only bumps DSPs pay by $2 instead of the originally proposed $1.50 increase. Sims, however, told the committee that an amendment is likely which will make the wage increase $2.50 per hour. We regretfully must oppose this and any other state budget proposal that includes a proposed wage structure for our frontline workers that will not meet their needs and leave our workforce crisis intact," IARF president and CEO Josh Evans said in a statement. ICASA CEO Carrie Ward said the budget did not improve on the governor's original $7.69 million dedicated to the 31 rape crisis centers in Illinois. The need for an $12 million increase from the state was due to an expected reduction in federal Victims of Crimes Act funding, which has supported nearly two-thirds of statewide sexual assault services in recent years. "We have never asked for an increase of this size - $12 million, but without it, Illinois survivors and communities will pay the price." Ward said during committee testimony. What's next? House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, on the House floor Thursday, March 9, 2023. Approval of the budget in the Senate now sends it on to the House for a vote as early as Saturday before the governor could sign the package into law. If the House makes any amendments, the budget would have to return to the Senate for a concurrence vote but Harmon said on Wednesday an agreement had been made that no such amendments will happen. The House had scheduled its final day of session on Friday, but due to the delayed Senate vote, it will likely have to move its budget vote back later as well. If a vote does not take place over the weekend, the chamber would have until May 31 to pass it before a three-fifths voting majority would be required. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, in a statement expressed opposition to the budget not including many of hers and fellow Republicans' spending priorities that are shared with the majority party. Many bills have been filed this year that would make changes or outright repeal the estate tax, but no action has followed. "Today we learned from Governor Pritzker and Democratic leaders that our shared priorities are not included," she said. "I am incredibly disappointed for Illinois families. Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois Senate approves $50 billion budget, now heads to the House Stellantis is investing in company that plans to make lithium-sulphur EV batteries Stellantis says it is investing part of its venture capital funds into Lyten, a California company that aims to produce lithium-sulphur batteries for electric vehicles. The difficulty of securing raw materials for electric vehicle batteries and the sometimes troubling stories about how those materials, such as cobalt, are mined show a few of the challenges that the coming EV revolution must overcome to be considered sustainable. But one of the Detroit Three is putting some of its money behind a possible alternative. Jeep- and Chrysler-parent Stellantis is announcing an undisclosed investment in a Silicon Valley company that aims to produce a different kind of EV battery at scale than the lithium-ion version currently powering so many electric devices, including cars. Instead, Stellantis' venture capital fund is investing in Lyten, which specializes in a material that it expects will make lithium-sulfur EV batteries a reality. More: One-time tourist hotspot to supply key electric car battery ingredient for Stellantis Lytens lithium-sulfur batteries, should they become a successful alternative, could take not just the cobalt, but also the nickel and manganese out of the EV supply chain. Sulphur is much more readily abundant as a waste product and could be sourced in local markets unlike some of those other materials, according to the companies. A number of published research papers tout the promise of lithium-sulfur over lithium-ion batteries but they also note challenges that have kept the technology sidelined. Lyten is promoting its use of a material called graphene, which won a couple of scientists from the United Kingdom the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010, as the solution for how to make lithium-sulphur batteries meet their potential. More: Chrysler-parent Stellantis 'ready to deploy' $329M venture capital fund This is a challenging chemistry, but with our materials we can make it real, said Dan Cook, Lytens president and CEO, during an online news conference Wednesday. Cook said lithium-sulfur batteries promise better energy density to deliver greater payloads and range. The company is targeting the second half of this decade for potentially getting the batteries into vehicles. Its preparing to pilot a lithium-sulphur production line in San Jose, California, with a goal of 200,000 cells a year, as a test. Officials project that lithium-sulfur batteries would have a more than 60% lower carbon footprint than best-in-class lithium-ion batteries, and that lithium-sulfur batteries could be produced in the same facilities as lithium-ion. More: Stellantis, Canadian government in dispute over battery plant commitments Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said in a news release that he, Chief Technology Officer Ned Curic and Stellantis Ventures head Adam Bazih had recently visited Lyten and were impressed. Lyten's lithium-sulfur battery has the potential to be a key ingredient in enabling mass-market EV adoption globally, and their material technology is equally well positioned to help reduce vehicle weight, which is all necessary for our industry to achieve carbon net zero goals, Tavares said in the release. The Lyten investment announcement this week sheds some light on Stellantis Ventures, the $329 million (300 million euros) venture capital fund that Stellantis, which also owns Ram, Dodge and Fiat, announced last year as part of its Dare Forward 2030 business plan. Bazih said Stellantis Ventures has made about 10 investments to date. Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stellantis: New EV batteries could help it meet carbon-reduction goals UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and partners in Sudan set out on Thursday to reach as many people as possible with aid where the ceasefire is respected, UN humanitarians said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said about 20 trucks carrying supplies from the UN Children's Fund and the International Organization for Migration were dispatched to different parts of Sudan. The humanitarian partners were ready earlier in the week to move 168 trucks to reach more than 4 million people nationwide, OCHA said. Still, security conditions were not allowing for a full-scale operation. Dispatchers were only able to release a few trucks on relief assignments. The World Food Programme (WFP) said it reached more than 500,000 people in nine states with food and nutrition support since restarting distributions about three weeks ago. WFP also plans to distribute relief in Central Darfur and Northern State. On Wednesday, trucks loaded with WFP food aid arrived in Wadi Halfa. In Port Sudan on Thursday, WFP started providing food to about 4,000 newly arrived displaced people. According to UN agencies, six newborn babies died at a hospital in the city of Eld'aeen in East Darfur in just one week recently due to problems including lack of oxygen amid electricity blackouts, OCHA reported. The World Health Organization (WHO) said more than 30 newborns have died at the hospital since the start of the fighting on April 15. WHO is in touch with healthcare providers to see what support it can provide. Steve Bannon Gets May 2024 Court Date For His Role In Border Wall Fundraiser Steve Bannon, center, is shown in court Thursday in New York. Steve Bannon, center, is shown in court Thursday in New York. Steve Bannon has received a May 2024 trial date for his role in a fundraiser to build a wall on the U.S. southern border. During a short court hearing Thursday, a New York judge said the trial would go ahead on May 27 of next year. As Bannon was exiting the courthouse, he told reporters, See you back here in May. Prosecutors allege that Bannon, who served as former President Donald Trumps chief strategist, and others defrauded donors when they set up a fundraiser in late 2018 under an organization called We Build the Wall. The fundraiser, which brought in more than $25 million for a U.S.-Mexico border barrier, was based on false promises, according to the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, which also accused Bannon of laundering the proceeds of that scheme in order to advance and conceal the fraud. In September 2022, Bannon turned himself in to authorities. According to the Manhattan DAs office, Bannon and others had said that none of the donations would go toward the salary of Brian Kolfage, who co-founded We Build the Wall. However, more than $250,000 went to Kolfage in 2019, the DAs office said. Prosecutors have also alleged that Kolfage spent donated funds on a car, jewelry and cosmetic surgery, among other things. Bannon received more than $1 million from the fundraiser to cover his personal expenses, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. It is a crime to turn a profit by lying to donors, and in New York, you will be held accountable, Bragg said in 2022 news release. Stephen Bannon acted as the architect of a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud thousands of donors across the country including hundreds of Manhattan residents. During his presidency, Trump pardoned Bannon for his role in the scheme, but that didnt excuse him from state-level charges. Related... Somewhere in the great beyond, Sen. John McCain is smiling. Id like to think so, anyway. The leader of the far-right Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, convicted of seditious conspiracy for his part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison. Back in 2015, Rhodes participated in an event called Liberty On Tap at the Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill at Tempe Marketplace. Then Arizona Senate President Andy Biggs, now a congressman, also participated in the event. Biggs refused to denounce those remarks Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers Rhodes, in his remarks to the gathering, called McCain a traitor. He said in part, John Cain (yes, he dropped the Mc from the senators name) is a traitor to the Constitution. He should be tried for treason before a jury of his peers which he would deny you He would deny you the right for trial to jury, but we will give him a trial for jury, and then after we convict him, he should be hung by the neck until dead. Biggs was asked about that comment. He said didnt agree with Rhodes, but didn't feel it was his place to speak up and denounce him. Oh, I dont know. I feel it would be the place of any decent human being to denounce such a thing. Former AZ GOP chair appeared with Rhodes Former Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward, then a state senator, also was at the event where Rhodes said McCain should be hanged. She also didnt publicly condemn Rhodes comment. After riot: How Ed Vallejo was charged with seditious conspiracy She appeared with Rhodes at another Arizona event, in Kingman, where each was a featured speaker. For his part, McCain chose not to dignify Rhodes comments with a response. Wonder how he feels about a jury now? In sentencing Rhodes, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta said, You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the republic and to the very fabric of our democracy. You are smart, you are compelling, and you are charismatic. Frankly, that is what makes you dangerous. In 2015 Rhodes said McCain should be judged by a jury of his peers. He seemed to feel strongly about the process back then, about how an accused persons peers should determine if his behavior is traitorous. I wonder how he feels about that now? Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Oath Keeper headed to prison wanted John McCain hanged Photo: Inside Edition The saga of Citi Bike Karen is a tale as old as time. A white woman feels slightly inconvenienced by a Black person or person of color and instead of walking away, they choose to dramatically weaponize their race. This behavior has led to the popular use of the term Karen, which sole purpose is to call out this group and their harmful behavior. In this case, Sarah Comriea pregnant hospital workercould have chosen to walk away from a dispute over a rented bike with a Black man. Instead, she screamed help, insisted that he was harming her unborn child and summoned tears seemingly out of nowhere. Whether she rented the bike or not is irrelevant: Comrie intentionally used her identity as a white woman to endanger the life of a Black person. Read more In this case, her racist antics were caught on camera, Comrie is being referred to as Citi Bike Karen and she was placed on leave from her job. Because whiteness is the ultimate shield of protection, over $120,000 was raised for Comrie through a GoFundMe created by her uncle. Luckily, the person in the video who was accused of violence by the hospital employee was able to walk away unscathed. However, in the case of Emmett Tillthe 14-year-old Black boy who in 1955 was falsely accused by Carolyn Bryant of whistling at herthe outcome was vastly different. Till was murdered by white men incensed at the lie that he disrespected a white woman. You cant a fix a societal problem, especially one with ugly historical roots, without naming it. Karen was devised to address the American epidemic of white women using their privilege to punish people who are marginalized. We saw it with Amy Cooper, who spotted Black bird-watcher Christian Cooper in Central Park and called the cops on him. We saw it when a white woman noticed 9-year old Bobbi Wilson spraying lanternflies in her New Jersey neighborhood and immediately informed authorities of the childs suspicious activity. We saw it when a white woman observed Gregory McAdory and his friend shoveling snow while Black and called the police. We saw it when Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Democratic congressman Jamaal Bowman was aggressive and made her feel threatened during a disagreement in front of the Capitol. When conservatives like Fox News Will Cain insist Karen is a new racial slur for white women, they are merely doing everything in their power to avoid accountability. Karen has never been or will ever be a racial slur. However, it is a word used to pinpoint dangerous behavior white women have enacted for years at the cost of Black folks. The widespread awareness of this phenomena serves as a threat to white supremacy, hence the controversy surrounding it. If there is one thing the world can depend on, its that a Karen is always going to Karennow we just have a name for it. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. This article was originally published in Daily Montanan. When Jennifer Hupperts fifth-grade class at Boulder Elementary in Billings received a manila envelope in the mail, she thought it was probably another piece of junk mail sent in an official looking wrapper with a Washington, D.C., return address. Huppert is constantly getting all sorts of offers, gimmicks and programs that arrive on her desk that look similar. Just as Huppert was about to toss it, she noticed it said Vice President of the United States, Washington, D.C. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Still suspicious, she opened the package to see that it contained a letter to the students, and it was hand signed by Kamala Harris, the vice president of the United States. A letter sent to Boulder Elementary students in Jennifer Hupperts 5th grade class who participated in Space Force learning. (Darrell Ehrlick/Daily Montanan) The letter came to congratulate Huppert for her students participation in a program to learn more about Space Force, which included an online video conference with members of the nascent military branch who are stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls. The program was designed for one class in each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico to raise awareness about careers in math, science, space and the military. From those conversations, students learned more about the day-to-day operations of Space Force. The program dovetailed well with what Hupperts students were learning about from the stars, the planets, night sky, and yearly seasonal planet rotation. Students in Hupperts class were particularly fascinated by the topic of space junk obsolete, broken or used objects that stay in orbit, but can cause collisions or disrupt current operational satellites. The students are also doing calculations about how hard or easy it would be to walk and jump on other planets in the solar system, given the gravity and composition of each planet. My dad was in the Air Force and what he did there is now part of the Space Force, said student Parker Foley. Huppert said it was a terrific program that helped have conversations about how lessons in class tie into real life, and connect with other lessons. For example, they recently went to the Billings Symphony to hear part of Gustav Holsts Planets. They also got to hear the orchestra perform the themes to Star Wars and 2001, a Space Odyessy. Student Reed Shulund was able to tie what he learned from the program into what hes seen recently on the news. You need to know how to launch a rocket into space without blowing it up, Shulund said, like Space X. Foley said he better understood the recent Northern Lights after learning more about space and the Space Force too. The students also said it gave them a chance to see there is more to a military career than combat. Its not all Top Gun and Maverick, Huppert said. It gives them a different opportunity to see that Armed Forces in a different way. One of the Space Force officers was from Missoula. And they need people with strong backgrounds in math and science, too. Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter. A Starbucks in Studio City is removing all of its customer seating, citing "safety concerns" for customers and employees. (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press) A Starbucks in Studio City will serve only to-go orders after management removed its guest seating last month out of "safety concerns" for customers and employees. It's unclear if a specific incident prompted the change or when the coffee shop in the 10900 block of Ventura Boulevard removed its seating, but complaints posted on social media over the decision date back to late April. The move comes nearly a year after the popular coffee chain closed six stores in the Los Angeles area due to "challenging incidents that make it unsafe to continue to operate." A sign posted at the entrance of the Studio City store said "due to safety concerns for our customers and partners, we have removed seating temporarily at this location," according to KTTV-TV News. A Starbucks spokesperson said Thursday that the sign has been removed but declined to answer questions about when the seating might return or if other stores in the region might take similar action. "We use various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, and have a variety of store formats in Los Angeles and the surrounding area, including drive-through, pickup and cafe," the spokesperson said. In a statement, the Seattle-based coffee giant said it prides itself on "creating a safe, warm, and welcoming Third Place environment," meaning a place that is separate from a person's work and home. But the statement said store managers are "empowered to use the many resources at their disposal to modify store operations and create the best experience for our communities." "Our first priority is to make sure our partners are safe at work," the statement said. Several stores in the San Francisco Bay Area have also seen their furniture disappear in the last year, including a store in the Castro neighborhood, according to reports on the online publication Hoodline. The approach forced customers to grab-and-go with their coffee, much like the Studio City Starbucks. While the company has not announced plans to close the Studio City location, it previously shut stores over safety concerns. When it closed the six L.A. stores and 10 others across the nation last year, Starbucks cited a high volume of challenging incidents that make it unsafe to continue to operate, according to a Starbucks spokesperson. The company cited mental health issues, drug use and chronic homelessness as contributing factors to their decision. L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who represents the district where the Studio City outlet is located, said her office has heard from numerous business operators who say that mental health and homelessness are the biggest issues they're facing. "For a very long time, the city didn't do enough to address our homelessness crisis," Raman said in an interview Thursday. The lack of response has forced employees, like baristas at Starbucks, to become the "front-line response to the ongoing crisis," she said. Raman said she is working to expand the Crisis and Incident Response through Community-Led Engagement (CIRCLE) program, which is an alternative to non-emergency 911 calls involving people experiencing homelessness. "We are laser-focused on ending homelessness," Raman said. "We need to be acting with greater urgency on this." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 'Succession' star Brian Cox thinks Logan Roy died 'too early' and admits he felt 'rejected' by his sudden exit Brian Cox attends the HBO Max premiere of "Succession" at Academia de Cine on March 29, 2023 in Madrid, Spain, and as Logan Roy in "Succession." Borja B. Hojas/WireImage/HBO Actor Brian Cox thinks "Succession" killed off Logan Roy "too early" in its final season. The star praised the character's ending, calling it "a brilliant scene." Cox admitted he felt "a little rejected" when he first read the script. "Succession" season four pulled the rug out from under the audience when Waystar Royco head Logan Roy (Brian Cox) suddenly died in episode three while flying to Norway, leaving the Roy siblings in a complicated sea of grief and potential business opportunities. But they weren't the only ones who struggled with the Roy patriarch's death, as Brian Cox recalled to the BBC in an interview Wednesday what it was like finding out that creator and executive producer Jesse Armstrong was going to kill Logan off. "Armstrong decided to make Logan die, I think ultimately too early," said Cox. "I mean, he'd made him die in the third episode. And it was a great scene. That's why I didn't watch it, because I have no interest in watching. My own death will come soon enough. But I just thought, 'Wow,' you know, he did it brilliantly. It was a brilliant scene, the whole act." When asked if he tried to delay Logan's inevitable demise, Cox said: "There's no point going down that road, especially with somebody like Jesse, because he's already made a plan." Matthew Macfadyen and Brian Cox on season four of "Succession." HBO The "Manhunter," "Bourne Identity," and "Zodiac" star also admitted that he felt "rejected" by his character's sudden demise so close to the end of the series. "I looked on it, wrongly, as a form of rejection," said Cox. "I was fine with it ultimately, but I did feel a little bit rejected. I felt a little bit, 'Oh, all the work I've done. And finally, I'm going to end up as a New Yorker on a carpet of a plane.'" Cox said that some fans have also told him that they don't want to watch "Succession" anymore because of his character's death, which he believes is missing the point of the show. "They said, 'No, I'm not going to watch anymore. You've gone, I'm not watching.' Which I think is unfortunate and unnecessary because the show is about the succession," said the actor. "So you need to see what's happening in the wake of his demise. But, you know, I'm not the writer." The final episode of "Succession" airs Sunday on HBO. Read the original article on Insider Glenfest is a new music event this summer at Glenmoor Country Club in Jackson Township. The June 24 festival features the bands Hey Monea and The Shootouts, as well as other musical acts. Parks, wineries, historic sites, amphitheaters and a country club are among the places where Stark County residents can enjoy live music this summer. There's variety, too. Orchestra music, tribute bands, pop rock, blues, honky-tonk, Americana, Zydeco and other genres. Some events are established. Others are brand new. Here are six places to go and enjoy music outdoors this summer in the Canton area. 1. Glenfest Three Northeast Ohio-based bands Hey Monea, The Shootouts and Yankee Bravo will highlight Glenfest on June 24 at Glenmoor Country Club in Jackson Township. Also performing will be Mo' Mojo and Wallace Coleman, an acclaimed blues harmonica player who was in the band of late Delta blues guitarist Robert Lockwood Jr. The new outdoor event is 4 to 9 p.m. and open to the public. General admission tickets cost $35. VIP tickets are an additional $15 for an indoor after-party featuring Yankee Bravo, a Canton area-based Americana, roots and folk band. The after-party also includes complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Hey Monea features brothers Dan and Nate Monea. The pop rock band has attracted more than 100,000 Facebook followers, including for their year-long cover song project in 2022. Ryan Humbert is shown performing with The Shootouts in February at the Grand Ole Opry. The honky-tonk band is among the performers at the new Glenfest on June 24 at Glenmoor Country Club in Jackson Township. The Shootouts continue to find success in the honky-tonk, western swing and vintage country music scene. The band is scheduled to play the Grand Ole Opry a second time on July 23. Mo' Mojo plays Zydeco, a style of American music originally from southern Louisiana featuring elements of blues and rhythm and blues, infusing it with Americana, Cajun, reggae, rock, funk, and African and Latin rhythms. More: Stark summer event guide: Zac Brown, Canton Music Fest, Stark Pride, Monster Fest, Kidz Bop More: Best music of 2022: Eddie Vedder, JD Eicher, Urban Honey, The Buffalo Ryders, Taylor Swift Tickets are on sale at https://www.glenmoorcc.com/ and https://www.eventbrite.com/. Glenmoor Country Club, 4191 Glenmoor Road NW, also can be reached at 330-966-3600. Concert times are Wallace Coleman 4 p.m.; Mo' Mojo 5:15 p.m.; The Shootouts 6:30 p.m.; and Hey Monea 8 p.m. Yankee Bravo performs at 9:15 p.m. at the VIP after-party in the country club's Chapel room. The Canal Fulton Concert Series starts June 9 with a Heart tribute band at St. Helena Heritage Park. Admission is free. 2. Canal Fulton Concert Series The Canal Fulton Concert Series starts June 9 with Heart tribute band "Straight On." Concerts are at the amphitheater at St. Helena Heritage Park, 123 Tuscarawas St. NW. Admission is free, and shows are 7 to 10 p.m. Other tribute shows are Diamond Project (Neil Diamond) June 23: Freebird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) July 14; Paradise (Meat Loaf) July 28; King's Highway (Tom Petty) Aug. 11; LaFlavour (all eras), Aug. 25; and In the Heartland (Michael Stanley) Sept. 8. LaFlavour is scheduled to perform both in Canal Fulton and downtown Massillon this summer. 3. Summer Serenades at Stark Parks The Summer Serenades concert series, presented by Stark Parks and the Canton Symphony Orchestra, begins June 8 with a string quartet at Fry Family Park, 2533 Farber St. SE in Pike Township. The series features classics, pops, patriotic and jazz music. All shows are free and start at 6:30 p.m. Other concerts are June 13, woodwind quintet, Stadium Park, 301 19th St. SE, Massillon; June 22, string quartet, Metzger Park, 1420 S Nickel Plate Ave., Louisville; June 29, brass quintet, Minerva Municipal Park near Minerva High School, 501 Almeda Ave.; July 13, string quartet, The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugarcreek Township; July 20, woodwind quintet, Deer Creek Reservoir, 14514 Price St. NE, Lexington Township; and July 29, MusiCall of the Wild, featuring a full orchestra and live animal showcase, Exploration Gateway (back patio), Sippo Lake Park North, 5712 12th St. NW, Perry Township. Summer Serenades is a series of concerts presented by Stark Parks and the Canton Symphony Orchestra. Shows include MusiCall of the Wild on July 29, which features a full orchestra and live animal showcase. More: Jackson Amphitheater marks one year and thrives with '70s and '80s tribute bands Other Summer Serenade concerts will be Aug. 10, string quartet, Quail Hollow Park, 13480 Congress Lake Ave. NE, Lake Township; Aug. 24, string quartet, St. Helena Heritage Park, 123 Tuscarawas St. NW, Canal Fulton; and Aug. 31, brass quintet, Stadium Park, 1305 Stadium Park Drive NW, Canton. Spring Hill Historic Site will host a Concert on the Hill on Aug. 8 featuring Rock Salt & Nails. The 6:30 p.m. concert is free and open to the public. 4. Concert at Spring Hill in Massillon Spring Hill Historic Site will host a free Concert on the Hill on Aug. 8 featuring Rock Salt & Nails. The 6:30 to 8 p.m. concert will be at Spring Hill, 1401 Springhill Lane NE, Massillon. Guests should bring their own chair or blanket for seating. Some picnic tables will be available. Light concessions will be available for purchase with cash only. Formed in 2008, Rock Salt & Nails is an acoustic, Americana and roots band from Northeast Ohio. Hey Monea is scheduled to perform both at Glenfest on June 24 and at Gervasi Vineyard on June 22. 5. Gervasi summer shows Summer concerts at Gervasi Vineyard in Canton begin at 8 p.m. Thursday in the outdoor covered pavilion with the music of the Rat Pack. Cabaret style assigned seating is based on order of the ticket purchase. Tickets for a Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis) tribute band are $39 to $49. A dessert trio and glass of wine are included; pre-ordered bottles of wine are available. Other summer shows include the Cleveland Ballet on June 1. Tickets are $125 for the ballet benefit and include a glass of wine and light appetizers. Doors open with cocktails one hour before the 7 p.m. performance. More: Cheap Trick joins Dragway 42 fest with Ted Nugent, Big & Rich, Warrant and Steven Adler The rest of Gervasi's Musica Concert Series features the Cleveland Keys on June 8; Hey Monea, June 22; a Bruno Mars tribute (24K Magic) on June 29; The Motowners July 6; Overboard: The Love Boat Band, July 13; Silver Springs, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, July 20; Symphony Uncorked bass trio, July 27; New Wave Nation, an '80s tribute band, Aug. 10; Bob James, Aug. 17; an Eric Clapton tribute band, Aug. 24; Michael Stanley tribute band In the Heartland, Aug. 31; Hard Day's Night Beatles tribute, Sept. 7; an evening with Frank and Dean, Sept. 21; and Symphony Uncorked, French horn duo, Sept. 28. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to https://shop.gervasivineyard.com/concerts. Gervasi, 1700 55th St. NE, also can be reached at 330-497-1000. New Wave Nation is among the tribute bands performing this summer at Duncan Plaza amphitheater in downtown Massillon. The band also will perform on Aug. 10 in the pavilion at Gervasi Vineyard in Canton. 6. Massillon summer concerts Summer concerts at Duncan Plaza amphitheater in downtown Massillon begin June 29 with China Grove, a Doobie Brothers tribute band. Other shows will be: New Wave Nation, an '80s tribute band, July 3; The Groove, rhythm and blues dance music, July 13; Imaginary Cookies, late '80s pop and '90s rock, July 20; Tyler Reid Band, '90s modern country and classic rock July 27; DJ's Rock-n-Roll Big Band, 1950s and '60s music, Aug. 3; LaFlavour, various eras, Aug. 10; and Jersey, a Bruce Springsteen tribute, Aug. 24. Concerts are free and run 7 to 9 p.m. The amphitheater is at 2 James Duncan Plaza. Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com On Twitter @ebalintREP This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County summer music: Glenmoor, Gervasi, Canal Fulton, Massillon The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a ruling narrowing the federal government's authority regulating bodies of water and effectively upending a Biden administration policy that recently went into effect. The high court's unanimous 9-0 decision, which was delivered by Justice Samuel Alito, rejected the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) broad definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The case centered on Michael and Chantell Sackett, two Idaho residents whom the EPA prohibited from building a home near a wetland years ago, citing the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972. "The EPA ordered the Sacketts to restore the site, threatening penalties of over $40,000 per day," Alito's majority opinion stated. "The EPA classified the wetlands on the Sacketts lot as 'waters of the United States' because they were near a ditch that fed into a creek, which fed into Priest Lake, a navigable, intrastate lake. The Sacketts sued, alleging that their property was not 'waters of the United States.'" The ruling ultimately held that the federal government's WOTUS definition must be restricted to a water source with a "continuous surface connection" to major bodies of water. While the decision was unanimous on the merits, the court split 5-4 on determining how the federal government should go about defining water sources. FARMERS SLAM BIDEN OVER LATEST ECO REGULATION TARGETING BUSINESSES: 'FEDERAL OVERREACH' READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP President Biden, right, speaks with EPA Administrator Michael Regan during a White House event on environmental justice. "Understanding the CWA to apply to wetlands that are distinguishable from otherwise covered 'waters of the United States' would substantially broaden [existing statute] to define 'navigable waters' as 'waters of the United States and adjacent wetlands,'" Alito wrote. The ruling, which was cheered by Republican lawmakers and groups representing landowners, comes months after the EPA finalized and implemented a new WOTUS regulation. NEARLY 200 GOP LAWMAKERS BLAST BIDEN'S EPA FOR TARGETING FARMERS, RANCHERS: 'EGREGIOUS FEDERAL OVERREACH' On Dec. 30, the final working day of 2022, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers quietly announced that they had approved the WOTUS regulation and that it would be implemented in March. After announcing it, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the rule "safeguards our nations waters." The rule opened the door for the federal government to regulate wetlands, lakes, ponds, streams and "relatively permanent" waterways, largely mimicking a pre-2015 environmental rule set during the Obama administration which implemented the changes in an effort to curb water pollution . The regulation was the broadest interpretation to date of which water sources require protection under the CWA. President Biden speaks at the White House on April 24, 2023. Industry groups, Republican lawmakers in Congress and multiple states blasted the regulation as an example of federal overreach and demanded that it be rescinded. In April, a federal judge granted a request from 24 states and several trade groups to pause implementation of the regulation. The House and Senate both approved a regulation rejecting the regulation. "Today, the Supreme Court sent a loud and clear warning shot to the Biden administration about its attempts to overregulate the lives of millions of Americans," said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., the ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. "By rejecting the significant nexus test, the Court protected Americas farmers, ranchers, builders, and landowners from overreach under the Clean Water Act, and ruled President Bidens recent WOTUS rule goes too far," Capito added. "I was proud to both support the petitioners on this case last year and lead a successful effort this year in Congress to overturn the Biden WOTUS rule, and am thrilled with the Courts decision today, which is a major win for individual freedom." Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., said the court ruled in favor of "the Constitution, the American people, and our freedoms" and called on the EPA to officially rescind its WOTUS regulation. The Waters Advocacy Coalition, a group representing farmers, applauded the Supreme Court for preserving water protections while delivering clarity for farmers and landowners. "The Courts opinion also upends the Biden Administrations overreaching WOTUS rule," the group said. "After decades of attempts to expand the federal governments power over private land, Americas job creators and farmers can proceed with more certainty in delivering critical services our economy depends on, from growing healthy foods to building affordable homes and producing domestic energy." WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday significantly weakened a landmark water pollution law by ruling that an Idaho couple's property does not include wetlands subject to federal oversight under the law. The ruling, in which all the justices agreed in the outcome but differed on the legal reasoning, concluded that Mike and Chantell Sackett's land does not fall under jurisdiction of the 1972 Clean Water Act, so they do not require a federal permit to build on the property. The decision ends a yearslong battle between the Sacketts and the federal government and is a victory for conservative groups and business interests opposed to the broad application of the water pollution law. President Joe Biden criticized the decision, saying it "upends the legal framework that has protected America's waters for decades." The ruling "defies the science that confirms the critical role of wetlands in safeguarding our nation's streams, rivers and lakes from chemicals and pollutants," he said in a statement. Damien Schiff, the Sacketts lawyer, said the decision returns the scope of the Clean Water act to its original and proper limits. The decision marks a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers, he added. The ruling is another example of the court's conservative justices powering a decision that curbs broad power of federal agencies, a consistent theme in recent years. In reaching its broader legal conclusion, the court ruled on a 5-4 vote in an opinion authored by conservative Justice Samuel Alito that Clean Water Act jurisdiction extends only to wetlands that are "indistinguishable" from larger bodies of water by having a "continuous surface connection." The wetlands on the Sacketts' property, he wrote, are "distinguishable from any possibly covered waters." The ruling will alleviate some burdens on landowners, including major business interests, Alito said, because the law "can sweep broadly enough to criminalize mundane activities like moving dirt." The impact will be felt nationwide, with environmental groups saying millions of acres of wetlands will no longer be under federal jurisdiction. Unless states move to strengthen their own environmental laws, property owners will have considerable freedom to fill in wetlands without going through the federal permitting process previously required. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the court's three liberal justices in disagreeing with the majority's new test. "By narrowing the act's coverage of wetlands to only adjoining wetlands, the court's new test will leave some long-regulated adjacent wetlands no longer covered by the Clean Water Act, with significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States," he wrote. Under the court's new approach, the ability to regulate the levee system on the Mississippi River and effectively oversee the Chesapeake Bay could both be threatened, Kavanaugh said. Levees dividing wetlands from the Mississippi River mean those wetlands could be outside of federal oversight and wetlands vital to the the Chesapeake Bay could be filled in without requiring federal permits, he said. In a separate opinion, liberal Justice Elena Kagan took aim at the majority for rewriting a statute that Congress had enacted. She compared the ruling with the court's decision last year to limit the scope of the Clean Air Act as part of efforts to combat climate change. "The vice in both instances is the same: the court's appointment of itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy," she said. The case saw the Sacketts return to the Supreme Court for the second time after the justices ruled in their favor in an earlier case in 2012. Both cases involve the same underlying dispute: their effort to build a property on land they own in Priest Lake, Idaho, parts of which the EPA has deemed a protected wetland, meaning the land is subject to federal jurisdiction and building on it requires a permit. Chantell and Mike Sackett. (Lawrence Hurley / E&E News) The legal dispute focused on whether the Sacketts could challenge an EPA compliance order in court after they had filled the affected area with gravel and sand without obtaining a permit. The fight, which began in 2007, continued over whether the land was a wetland at all. The Sacketts returned to the Supreme Court after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco, ruled in August 2021 in favor of the federal government in its determination that the area did constitute a wetland. The law on how to define a wetland of key interest to property developers and other business interests has long been muddled and was not resolved when the Supreme Court decided an earlier case on the issue. In 2006, four justices said the Clean Water Act covered wetland with a continuous surface connection to a waterway, but there was not a clear majority. Justice Anthony Kennedy, who provided the fifth vote in that 5-4 ruling, came up with his own test, which said the law provided jurisdiction over wetlands with a significant nexus to a waterway. Successive presidential administrations have sought to bring clarity to the law, with Democrats generally favoring greater federal power and Republicans, backed by business interests, saying that Clean Water Act jurisdiction should be limited. In Thursday's ruling, the court rejected the significant nexus test and appeared to embrace the approach taken by the four-justice bloc in the 2006 case. Sam Sankar, a lawyer at environmental group Earthjustice said up to 90 million acres of formerly protected wetlands could now be under threat. With liberal-leaning states likely to enact new wetland protection laws, "the on-the-ground impacts will be most severe in states that are most favorable to polluters and least interested in environmental protections," he added. While environmental activists were downbeat, the business community was delighted with a decision that will be a boon for companies across various industries, including energy and construction. The Supreme Court has provided long overdue relief for companies and landowners across our nation, said Marty Durbin, a senior official at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Biden administration finalized its own rule in December that largely reverted to the interpretation that existed prior to actions taken by both the Obama and the Trump administrations, although the new rule had already faced its own legal challenges. As a result of the Supreme Court ruling, the EPA will now have to return to the drawing board. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Photo of protestors outside Supreme Court Clean water activists protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court during arguments over Sackett v. EPA in October 2022. The Supreme Court has ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency in a decision that significantly narrows the Clean Water Acts protections. The majority, 5-4 opinion was authored by Justice Samuel Alito and supported by Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrettall conservative judges, two of whom were Donald Trump appointees. Technically, the decision was unanimous, with all nine SCOTUS judges agreeing that the EPA did not have the authority to intervene in the plaintiffs case. However, the minority opinion credited to the remaining four justices used reasoning that handed a victory to the plaintiffs but would have triggered fewer changes to the scope of the decades-old Clean Water Act had it been accepted by the majority. Read more Regardless, its an odd and confusing decision that will have widespread implications for wetlands and streams nationwide, Mark Ryan, a retired former EPA lawyer who is an expert in the Clean Water Act, told Gizmodo in a phone call. Its a mess, Ryan said. This is a very significant haircut of the Clean Water Act, he added. During oral arguments at the Sackett v. EPA SCOTUS hearing last fall, it seemed that even the conservative court might side with the federal regulators. But instead, today they opted to favor industry and development over defending unpolluted waterways. The case had been moving through the courts for more than 15 years. On paper, Sacket v. EPA came down to the question of whether or not the federal government could penalize an Idaho couple (Chantal and Mike Sackett) for building a house on their own land without a permit. But the bigger question at stake has always been about whether the EPA has the authority to meaningfully monitor and protect streams and wetlands from unfettered development and other polluting activities. With the courts ruling, the CWA no longer protects isolated wetlands nor intermittent and seasonal bodies of water, Ryan said. It is a massive win for developers, mining companies, and other polluting industries, which will face far fewer environmental regulations and no longer have to apply for permits to fill many wetlands or dump waste in impermanent streams. Concurrently, it is likely to be a tragic loss for the nations aquatic ecosystems and even human health. Healthy, intact wetlands help control flooding, filter water, and provide critical habitat for plants and animals. All of those ecosystem services are endangered nationwide by the SCOTUS ruling. States like Arizona and New Mexico, wherein most streams are seasonal and ephemeral, now have basically no federal protections under the CWA, said Ryan. Developers can now opt to fill in wetlands without any federal oversight in places like the prairie pothole ecosystem that spans multiple states in the middle of the country. And they likely will. Land is much more valuable economically [filled in] as an upland rather than a wetland, the former EPA litigator said. Further, mining companies, looking for flat land to dump tailing waste in mountainous areas, can now bulldoze headwater, intermittent streams without a federal permit. Pollution into intermittent waterways and many wetlands is no longer federally regulated (unless and until somebody proves that that pollution has made its way to a permanent, connected waterbody). Many aspects of the long-embattled case have come down to semantics: Specifically, theres been much argument about what it means for waters to have a significant nexus of connectivity and what the phrase waters of the United States (typically abbreviated as WOTUS) applies to and protects. But in the new ruling, the majority opinion justices abandoned some of those previously well-trod arguments and laid out their own definitions. The CWAs use of waters in 1362(7) refers only to geographic[al] features that are described in ordinary parlance as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes and to adjacent wetlands that are indistinguishable from those bodies of water due to a continuous surface connection, Alito wrote for the majority. Per the opinion, WOTUS protects only a relatively permanent body of water connected to traditional interstate navigable waters and wetlands with a continuous surface connection to such waters. The significant nexus terminology appears to be entirely out. Instead, the new decision focuses on this idea of relatively permanent waters, a poorly defined concept that was first brought forth by Antonin Scalia in the split Rapanos v. United States ruling in 2006. What does relatively permanent mean? For now, no one really knows, said Ryan. This is gonna result in a lot of head scratching and a lot of litigation, he explainedas stakeholders try to work out what counts as relatively permanent. Is it a stream that flows for a week at a time? A day? What about a season? If a wetland overflows into a nearby river once a month, through an ephemeral stream, do all those flows add up to relative permanence? All subsequent decisions on this will have additional, big implications. Important to note, the new SCOTUS ruling is in clear contradiction to our current scientific and environmental understanding of how the world works. All water is connected. Every drop of rain that falls in the U.S. eventually ends up as part of the larger movement of water, be it in a plants roots or a big river. You probably learned about watersheds and the water cycle in grade school, which both clearly outline how water flows overland and below ground from one point to another, generally from smaller to larger bodies of water. Some streams and wetlands appear isolated or only contain water intermittently, but theyre still part of this broader ecological system. These small or impermanent waterbodies still dictate the quality of what comes out of your tap. Though they may not have a constant, overland flow to other bodies of waterwetland and intermittent streams are, in almost all cases, in continuous contact with larger streams, lakes, and rivers through groundwater, movement of wildlife, and temporary or seasonal overland flows. The Biden Administration moved to define WOTUS more broadly, to include these geographically isolated wetlands and intermittent streams, in a January decision. But the Supreme Court ruling contradicts that recent EPA rule. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. BEIRUT, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army, along with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, is investigating an Israeli claim of shooting down a drone that crossed over from Lebanon earlier on Thursday, a Lebanese security source told Xinhua. An Israeli infantry force was found to be combing with armored vehicles the borderline where the drone fell, the source said on condition of anonymity. The Israeli military announced in the day the downing of a drone near its border with Lebanon, without revealing who operated the drone or whether it was armed. In recent months, there have been rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Earlier this week, the Israel Defense Forces warned Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah that he is close to making "a mistake that could plunge the region into war" after Hezbollah staged war games near the border with Israel. Israel has more than once shot down Hezbollah's drones that crossed into Israeli territory from southern Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006. Since then, there have been sporadic exchanges of fire between the two sides on the border. The Supreme Court decided to limit the powers of the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday The US Supreme Court curtailed the federal government's authority to protect its wetlands from pollution in a decision on Thursday. The court voted only those wetlands with a continuous surface connection to larger streams, lakes and rivers would come under federal protections. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressed its disappointment. It is the second case in two years where the court limited the EPA's ability to regulate pollution. The Supreme Court decision "erodes longstanding clean water protections", EPA administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. Wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with moisture either permanently or seasonally. Central to the case is the reach of the Clean Water Act of 1972 that allows the government to regulate "waters of the United States" - and gives the EPA and US Army power to define the term in regulations. But which wetlands qualify as "waters of the United States" has been subject to some debate and past court cases. In a 2006 Supreme Court case, former Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in an opinion that wetlands with a "significant nexus" to regulated waters - which include oceans and many rivers and lakes - were protected under the Clean Water Act. This case, Sackett vs EPA, was brought by a couple in Idaho who were told they needed a permit to fill in a portion of their property that the government considered wetlands. Lawyers for the couple argued that the government had encroached unjustly on their property rights and the Clean Water Act did not apply to their land. All of the justices agreed that the wetlands on the couple's property were not subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act. The court unanimously agreed the "significant nexus" test was not valid. But the justices split 5-4 in the reasoning behind the ruling. The majority decided that the Clean Water Act did not apply to wetlands that do not have "continuous surface connection" to bigger, regulated bodies of water. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito said only wetlands with "continuous surface connection to bodies that are 'waters of the United States' in their own right, so that they are 'indistinguishable' from those waters", would qualify. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative appointed by Donald Trump, disagreed with Justice Alito's reasoning. "By narrowing the act's coverage of wetlands to only adjoining wetlands, the court's new test will leave some long-regulated adjacent wetlands no longer covered by the Clean Water Act, with significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States," he wrote. "The court's ruling returns the scope of the Clean Water Act to its original and proper limits," said Damien Schiff, the attorney who argued the case on behalf of the Idaho couple, Chantell and Mike Sackett. "Today's ruling is a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers," he said. The decision could upend President Joe Biden's current attempt to protect wetlands and small waterways. Environmental regulators and advocates have expressed outrage at the decision, saying it posed potential risks to safe drinking water and America's natural resources. The environmental law group Earthjustice warned that as many as "118 million acres" would be affected. Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement that the Court had "sided with polluters." (iStock) A surgeon has issued a warning of the dangers faced by Brits who fly abroad for cosmetic surgery. Thousands of UK residents fly to places like Turkey and Poland for cosmetic and dental work, which costs less money than the price to get the work completed in the UK. A plastic surgeon has said that people are often misinformed before deciding to undergo the procedure. Dr Ahmed Alsayed, who is lead surgeon and medical director at plastic surgery specialists Signature Clinic told HullLive: Many people fail to do their research and focus too much on money, rather than the quality or safety of the clinic. The surgeon has said that people are usually not made aware of the aftercare they might need after surgery, which could incur more costs back in the UK. Clinics in the UK have to adhere to the strictest levels of expertise, safety and cleanliness. You just cant be sure youll get that from a cheaper option abroad, Alsayed said. The medical professional adds that aftercare is likely not included in the treatment plan, and it can be difficult for patients if something goes wrong and their doctor is in a different country. I would always advise doing as much research as possible into the surgery and the clinic to make sure you are totally confident you are making the right decision, the surgeon said. Dr Alsayed added: Surgery is an incredibly personal decision, so its important to go into the process fully informed, and totally sure that it is what you want to do. The best clinics will provide a comprehensive before and aftercare program that puts the patient at the heart of it. Brits are seeking cosmetic surgery abroad to find cheaper treatments (Getty Images) Last year, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) found that the number of Brits being treated for serious complications following cosmetic surgery abroad rose by 44 per cent. These opportunities for cheaper surgery are often sold as a package holiday with hotel stay, airport transfer and flights included in the price of the overall procedure. Speaking to the Independent earlier this year, BAAPS president Marc Pacifico warned of the effects of selling treatment in this way. Making a decision about surgery is a lifelong decision, Pacifico said. By glamorising the procedure, and making it sound like its a holiday, it takes away the reality of the risks and problems. Also speaking to The Independent, a 25-year-old woman who received faulty cosmetic dental surgery at a clinic in Turkey advised other people to rethink before they go abroad for surgery. Do your research in the UK and think before you go, she said, adding: I wouldnt have got the work done if I had known about the long-term effects and now I have to pay to try and correct that. Some teachers are worried about new reading curriculums they will have to adopt and are reluctant to give up on teaching strategies they have used for years. (NYT) NEW YORK As New York embarks on an ambitious plan to overhaul how children in the nations largest school system are taught to read, schools leaders face a significant obstacle: educators skepticism. Dozens of cities and states have sought to transform reading instruction in recent years, driven by decades of research known as the science of reading. But the success of their efforts has hinged in part on whether school leaders are willing to embrace a seismic shift in their philosophy about how children learn. Already in New York City, the rollout has frustrated principals. The schools chancellor, David C. Banks, is forcing schools to abandon strategies he says are a top reason half of students in grades 3 to 8 are not proficient in reading. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times But principals will lose control over selecting reading programs at their schools, and their union has criticized the speed of change. And many educators still believe in balanced literacy, a popular approach that aims to foster a love of books through independent reading time but that experts and the chancellor say lacks enough focus on foundational skills. Whether schools ultimately embrace or resist the citys push will help shape the legacy of the chancellors campaign: Will New Yorks plan fall victim to the pendulum swings that come with every new administration? Or will it become a watershed moment in the reading wars? The linchpin is the principal and the assistant principal, said Wiley Blevins, an early reading specialist who has helped train local teachers. Them understanding whats happening, being properly trained and having buy-in. He added: If you dont have that, its going to fail. The tensions in New York mirror those that other cities have confronted as they push toward adopting the science of reading. Leaders across the nation have learned that they must balance acting with urgency to address a national reading crisis with taking time to persuade principals and teachers to rethink entrenched convictions. You are fundamentally asking people to change their identity, said Aaron Bouie III, who oversees elementary curriculum in a suburban district in Ohio that has been overhauling reading instruction for the last three years. Still, Bouies district and others across the nation have proven that early frustrations can be overcome. Districts that previously overhauled reading instruction detailed their rationale for change, but also limited expectations of rapid progress, leaders said. They got veteran teachers on board early and relied on their influence to convince others. And they said they painstakingly crafted messages to principals, teachers and families. I always say that my first two years were PR, said Kymyona Burk, the former state literacy director in Mississippi, where reading scores have risen from among the nations worst to the most improved. Its all about transparency, she said, even when you dont have all of the answers. In New York City, nearly all elementary schools will adopt one of three reading curriculums chosen by superintendents of the local districts over the next two years. For some school leaders in New York, the way they first learned of the plan at times on districtwide Zoom calls has been a sticking point. A principals union survey last month found that three of four school leaders are disappointed with the rollout. How you build that trust now? said Henry Rubio, the head of the union. I dont know. When the city required all elementary schools to select a phonics program last fall, Nina Demos, the principal of PS 503 in Sunset Park, said she really appreciated the decision and the rollouts balance of autonomy, agency and cohesion. The school taught phonics alongside a popular balanced literacy curriculum that the city will no longer allow. Now that she is being asked to adopt a new program, Into Reading, Demos said she still has too little information. Im just left wondering: Where is the data-driven proof that this is the best option? Demos said, adding that she has learned only that Into Reading received high marks from one national curriculum review group. Demos has also been frustrated by the early turbulence of the rollout: She was told in March that schools would be allowed to keep the writing units it was using, she said. But last week, she was told Into Readings writing components must be adopted instead. Every time I begin planning, she said, what Im planning for is changing. Banks, a Bronx principal himself in the 2000s, said that he empathizes with the frustrations. I understand it. But I also look at the data, Banks said, adding, The system has provided a level of autonomy already and it hasnt worked. About half of all districts will adopt new curriculums in September. Teachers began virtual professional development this month, while training is expected to ramp up in the summer. All schools will be offered at least 26 days of programming for educators, officials said. In districts where the transition will be more significant, and there may be more opposition such as Manhattans District 2, which includes TriBeCa, Chelsea and the Upper East Side the department has allowed an additional year for the change to take place. Kevyn Bowles, the principal at PS 532 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, which uses a balanced literacy approach, said there has been too little transparency in the process by which the city chose its three curriculum options. Principals in his district expect they will be asked to adopt Into Reading in two years. But Bowles is worried that the program is already used in some nearby schools where many children struggle. How can this be made better? he asked, adding, Im not confident. But it will really be dependent on superintendents and other district leaders to meaningfully engage. Not everyone will need to be persuaded. Many teachers in New York have said they need better classroom materials and have called for a more centralized approach to curriculum. Crucially, their union also supports the move. And many local parents particularly those whose children have dyslexia have been outspoken about the need for change. Some principals, like Joanna Cohen, had already rethought their approaches. She used to be almost evangelical about balanced literacy, she said, as someone who had a passion for reading and writing as a child. But in 2019, her foundation was rocked when she first read about how popular reading strategies diverged from scientific research. Since becoming the principal at PS 107 in Park Slope, a balanced literacy school, she has pushed more teachers to be trained in the science of reading. It hasnt always been easy. Since scores were generally high nearly 80% of students pass state tests we had just become accustomed to some students not reading proficiently, Cohen said. But the momentum built, she said. And at this point, I dont feel any resistance. Even after educators are persuaded, other obstacles can hinder progress. Many colleges of education still teach flawed strategies like encouraging children to guess words using picture cues. And teachers often worry over the quality of training in the new approaches that outside organizations offer. The city will also have to monitor schools progress in adopting the new curriculums. You dont want to turn classrooms into a surveillance state, but neither do you want to end up in a situation where books are sitting on the on the shelf and not used, said Morgan Polikoff, a curriculum expert who has studied New Yorks approach. Some states like Colorado and Arkansas have taken strict and at times unpopular approaches to oversight with more robust plans for enforcement. Others have relied on looser incentives and encouragements. But even when overall support may be high, school buy-in is crucial in shaping whether individual classrooms eventually make substantial changes. There are quite a few principals I know who are saying, Im doing what Ive come to believe in all these years. Period, Lucy Calkins, a balanced literacy leader, told educators at a Teachers College event in March. You can say no. And people all over the country are doing so. Still, she added: If your children are not growing, you need to change your teaching. c.2023 The New York Times Company Gurinder Chadha, writer-director of the adored 2002 movie Bend It Like Beckham, has revealed that Harrison Ford unknowingly helped her film get made. Chadha had been struggling to get financing from any of the UK public film-funding bodies for the movie, which is about a British-Indian girl (Parminder Nagra) whose family wont let her play football despite the fact she has an excellent right foot. Speaking at the annual Winston Baker International Film Finance Forum in Cannes this week, the filmmaker said: I had been struggling to make this film because I really believed the world was changing at this point and I believed that my cultural paradigm was relevant and I was fresh and new to British filmmakers. Id written a script with my husband Paul [Mayeda Berges] and it was very international and a very human story and I just didnt understand why the gatekeepers were passing on it. According to Deadline, Chadha said that when she discovered that her application for funding from the former UK Film Council was going to be rejected, she spoke to incoming CEO John Woodward, telling him: Im furious because when you guys all want me to do panels about how hard it is to make films, particularly if youre a person of colour, you wheel me on to all of these platforms to talk about it and but now youre not backing me you have to back me. Chadha said she was told that shed never get the film off the ground because she wouldnt be able to find an Indian girl who can, indeed, bend it like Beckham. That was the main reason they rejected the film, said Chadha, explaining that she came back with: Do you think Harrison Ford jumps out of helicopters? This point about the Indiana Jones star seemed to convince Woodward, helping Chadha to secure 1m to make her movie. Chadha said that when she met Ford at a dinner in Cannes this year for the first time, she told him the story and he replied: Well, Im so glad I was able to help you with your career and by the way, I do f***ing jump out of helicopters. Kiera Knightley and Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham (Christine Parry/Bend It/Film Council/Kobal/Shutterstock) Hollywoods finest have been gathering in Cannes this week for the premieres of many highly anticipated films, including Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moonand Alicia Vikander-starrer Firebrand. The standing ovations at numerous Cannes events have been making headlines. The longest ever ovation in the festivals history is thought to have been a whopping 22 minutes, for Guillermo del Toros 2006 fantasy-horror Pans Labyrinth. (Namita Singh/The Independent/Getty) Despite living all his life in a remote backwater of Indias Sundarbans, 52-year-old Mihir Sardars only experience of tiger attacks was through stories circulated among his fellow villagers. After decades of fishing in the worlds largest mangrove forest without a single close encounter, he thought little of the dangers involved until a chilly December morning in 2021. That day Sardar went fishing with his friend Babloo, taking his boat out at dawn and laying nets across a quiet stretch of brackish water. With the bulk of the work done by 8am, the pair planned to stay through the day and overnight before returning home with a full net around the same time the next morning. It was late evening. I was tired, I slept in the boat, he recalls in an interview with The Independent at his home, no more than40km from where they anchored their boat that night. There were two doors on that boat. In front and at the back. So, while I had locked the front door, I forgot to lock the back door. It was an oversight that almost cost him his life, he explains. Thats where the tiger came from and attacked me. Mihir Sardar, 52, survived tiger attack in Sundarbans about a year and a half back (Namita Singh/ The Independent) Straddling the border between India and Bangladesh, the Sundarbans are home to the largest population of Bengal tigers anywhere in the world. There are around 100 individuals on the Indian side of the national park, about 1,330 square kilometres of dense forest where the River Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal. Tiger attacks are rare across the whole of India but particularly so in the villages bordering the Sundarbans. The big cats generally prefer to stay inside their semi-aquatic territories rather than venturing into populated areas, says Dr Yadvendradev Jhala, a wildlife conservationist and dean of the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India. Once humans enter their protected habitat, however, its a different matter. Tigers hunt by hearing here [in the Sundarbans] and anything that moves or makes a sound is on the menu, Jhala says. Sundarban tigers do not have the inherent fear of humans [that others do] as they may never have experienced humans as hunters in this habitat. Sardar admits to entering the protected area of the forest for what turned out to be his last fishing expedition, a mistake which turned into a 20-minute nightmare and left scars he will carry for the rest of his life. The tiger caught me by my left leg and dragged me into the jungle, he recalls. It was my friend Babloo who fought the tiger to save my life. While I held the tiger with his two front claws as it attacked me, Babloo managed to sit on the tigers back and tried to hold him by his head, trying to prevent it from eating me. Then he fell to the ground. Local produce, including fruits, vegetables and honey being sold at market in Sundarbans Wild Animal Park, Jharkhali (Namita Singh/ The Independent) Sardar explains that tigers typically only target one person that they have identified as prey during an attack, ignoring others in the process. So, as Babloo tackled the tiger, I tried to slowly crawl back in the boat. Babloo threw mud in the tigers eyes. The tiger finally fled, and Sardar escaped by a whisker what would have been a deadly bite to the head from the cats jaws. But his injuries were still so severe that his life hung by a thread: the attack cost him a leg, an ear, an eye and part of the left side of his skull. His friend Babloo saved his life a second time over, Sardar explains, by using mud to cover his wounds in a bid to stop the bleeding. If I had lost more blood, I could have died there, he says. Because the attack occurred at night, the two had to wait on the boat until first light to make their way out of the forest and to the hospital. For the next two months, doctors there were unable to say with confidence whether Sardar would survive. Though I am back home now, there is a lot of pain, Sardar says, nearly a year and a half after the attack. A side of my skull looks flattened. But if you look at the CT scan, you will understand the scale of skull damage I have survived. Since the attack none of his family members have stepped foot in the forest. My son has taken a loan to buy an auto (rickshaw), so we are no longer dependent on the forest as our source of income, he says. Now that I have survived the tiger attack, I cannot let another member of my family go through the same. Boats at Sundarbans Wild Animal Park, Jharkhali (Namita Singh/Independent) There are more than 4.5 million people like Sardar living in traditional communities on Indias side of the Sundarbans, spread across its 54 inhabited islands. These people are reliant on the forests resources for their daily needs and livelihoods, explains Dr Medha Nayak, a researcher at the Wildlife Trust of India, a conservation charity. Here, they hunt for crabs, prawns and other crustaceans, catch fish and collect honey and firewood. Some resources are collected sustainably, but pressures on others have increased far beyond the supply available in the villages and border areas around the tiger reserve. Over time the market demand for some specific items like prawns and honey has grown manifold, says Dr Nayak. The market is not limited [to India] but extends beyond, to the international market. The protected reserve doesnt just provide a home to tigers it is hugely biodiverse, supporting about 110 species of mollusc, 64 different kinds of crab and 165 species of fish, says Dr SP Yadav, a senior official at the federal National Tiger Conservation Authority. Other than tigers, fishing cat and leopard cat are also found here. Spotted deer, wild pig, and Rhesus macaque form the major prey species of the tiger. So conflict with wildlife in the human-dominated landscape cannot be ruled out, he says. The good part of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR) is that its core area is completely inviolate, meaning the core area is completely free from human habitations, as envisaged in the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Soft toys sold at the market in Sundarbans Wild Animal Park, Jharkhali (Namita Singh/ The Independent) The problem in STR is the illegal entry and illegal fishing by the locals, despite knowing the imminent danger of conflicts, he says. While Sardar survived his run-in with a tiger, there are others in his district of South 24 Parganas who were not so lucky. Among them is Binoy Sarkar, who was attacked in 2018 and whose remains were never found. He was cooking on the boat, recalls his widow Geeta Sarkar. Two more people had gone along with him. They were fishing. The tiger attacked [Binoy] near the neck and took him away. Sarkar says she and her husband were always dependent on the forest for food and whatever money could be made by selling Binoys catch. I have six children. If he does not go to the jungle for fishing, how will we eat? she asks. There is no [other] means of livelihood. She says her husband and the others on his boat had paid for a pass to legally hunt and fish on the periphery of the tiger reserve, and that the family should therefore be owed government compensation for his death by tiger attack Rs 300,000 (about 3,000), considerably more than the average yearly salary in India, and a potentially life-changing sum for Sarkar and her family. But five years on from her husbands death, Sarkar has received nothing. She says she saved up to travel to the government offices in Alipore, south of the state capital Kolkata, to first make a claim. But there they told me to get his post-mortem report. I did not know at the time. So, I went back to the village. I returned to [Alipore] after I had enough savings to travel again. When I visited the office with the report, they told me that his case had slipped to the bottom of files. We will let you know if we reopen it again, they said. Geeta Sarkar, who lost her husband to tiger attack, claims she did not receive compensation of Rs300,000 due to bureaucratic hurdles (Namita Singh/The Independent) Unlike Sarkar, Aparna Siyali had no awareness of her potential entitlements when her husband was killed in a tiger attack in 2016. I did not apply for compensation because I did not know at the time [that it existed], she says. About nine months ago she finally started receiving a basic state widows pension, but for many years after her husbands death she struggled as the only breadwinner in the family, earning a fraction of what he had. When he was alive, we could earn up to Rs 8,000-10,000 (about 80-100) a month, she says. But after he passed away the [family] income went down significantly. This was exacerbated by a severe gender pay discrepancy for the same work, while a man receives Rs 300, I receive only Rs 150, she says. Dr Yadav says guidelines across India state that following any death by tiger attack that is proven in postmortem reports, the victims next of kin are entitled to around Rs 500,000 in compensation, adding that the rates differ from state to state. But cases become more complicated when it is suspected that the victim had entered a protected area without permission. Most of the human-tiger conflicts in tiger reserves take place because of chance encounters when people illegally enter into the reserve, he says. In particular the encumbered tigresses (those who are pregnant or with young cubs) are extremely protective and when they see an intrusion they attack human beings. Aparna Siyali lost her husband to tiger attack in 2016 (Namita Singh/ The Independent) It is difficult for those venturing into the forest without permission to receive compensation, admits a senior Sundarbans forest official, speaking on condition of anonymity. But he defended the compensation system and said it was a smooth process in the case of victims who entered the forest with appropriate boat licences. When we get the report of an accident, we conduct a spot inquiry, then we make a report and send it to higher-ups, he says. The kin always receives compensation on time. The entire process takes 20 days to a month at maximum. He says that the biggest challenge was spreading awareness among villagers of the rules, as well as precautions to take. Attacks dont take place when they fish in their boats, the problem arises only when they step out, he claims, despite the contradictory experiences relayed to The Independent by survivors and relatives of those killed. Locals say the official boat licences are prohibitively expensive, and that sometimes they have no choice but to hunt and forage in the forest to survive. This becomes the case for many more people in the aftermath of a cyclone and studies have shown that the region is likely to be exposed to more powerful extreme weather events more often as the climate warms. After the cyclone hits, most of our crop produce gets wasted, the land remains saline for months if not years, and the fisheries and poultry farms get damaged, says Aarti Mondol, a 60-year-old woman who lost her husband to a tiger attack about a decade back after Cyclone Aila struck the region. My husband had just entered the forest for fishing, she says. The tiger swam through the river and attacked him. Aarti Mondol, 60, lost her husband after Aila cyclone (Namita Singh/The Independent) She stopped allowing her son to venture anywhere near the forest after her husbands death, but finding a safer alternative for him to make a living wasnt easy. My son drives this car that we bought on loan, and takes it to other states [as a taxi driver], she explains. He earns only Rs 4,000-5,000 (40-50) a month not enough for the family to be comfortable, she says, but better than losing another family member to a tiger. A local NGO named Goranbose Gram Bikash Kendra (GGBK) claims that alongside cyclones, other external factors can lead to sudden changes in the dynamic between humans and tigers in the Sundarbans. One that they cite is the Covid-19 pandemic. The first Covid wave in India was characterised by a dramatic migration of workers out of locked-down cities back to their home villages, using whatever means of transport they could find. Nihar Ranjan Raptan, the founder-secretary of GGBK, says this influx of people to the rural Sundarbans increased the pressures on forest resources and, in the process, the risk of tiger attacks. Due to the pandemic, they lost their jobs and there was reverse migration and they were not able to go outside the state. So they had no work in the local area, he says. Figures compiled by GGBK and first reported by The Hindu last October show that while 30 tiger attacks took place in 2019, this went up sharply to 78 in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, and stood at 60 in 2021. Local shop at a market in Jharkhali, South 24 Parganas (Namita Singh/The Independent) Human-tiger conflict incidents do shoot up at times, says Dr Anamitra Anurag Danda, a senior visiting fellow with Observer Research Foundation. This may be attributed to higher dependence of the local population on forest resources in times of crises such as Cyclone Amphan coinciding with Covid-19 lockdown. Cyclones can also cause damage to the nylon net fences which have otherwise proven effective at discouraging tigers from entering areas of human habitation, he says. This could also be a reason for spurts in human-wildlife conflict following high-intensity weather events. But he adds that such spikes do not necessarily mean tiger attacks are on the rise, saying that in general, there is no growth in human-wildlife conflict. And Dr Yadav says claims of a link between Indias mass Covid migration and increased conflict with tigers is not supported by the governments own statistics. The data from the last four years show no specific trend in human-tiger conflict in and around STR, he says. Tourists boarding for ecotourism at Sundarbans Wild Animal Park, Jharkhali, South 24 Parganas (Namita Singh/The Independent) There is consensus, however, over the efforts needed to reduce the dependence of the locals on the forest in a bid to reduce human-animal encounters. Schemes [like] Ujjawala providing cooking gas to the poor people is helping a lot to reduce their dependency on wood from forest areas for fuel, says Dr Yadav, while conservationist Dr Jhala says that the Tiger Task Force has recommended sharing 30 per cent of revenues generated from gate receipts and from ecotourism activities with the buffer zone communities. The government (park management) needs to provide economic benefits by sharing profits obtained by the Tiger Reserve with the buffer zone communities, says Dr Jhala. If these are not sufficient the Central and State governments need to provide funds to subsidise the livelihood opportunities lost due to creation of the core area of the Tiger Reserve, he says adding the citizens of India and the world need to bear this cost of conservation, not the poor local communities. Additional reporting by Alisha Rahaman Sarkar For the first part in our series on 50 Years of Project Tiger, read here about how a decorative shrub introduced by the British to India is now threatening tiger habitats. On May 23, Frances government implemented a ban on domestic flights for routes that can be covered by sustainable travel by train in under 2.5 hours. This policy is part of its efforts to reduce airline emissions and promote sustainable travel options. The measure is in line with the commitment of France to combat climate change and achieve a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030. Ce matin, linterdiction des lignes aeriennes en cas dalternative de moins de 2h30 en train devient realite. Cest un signal majeur et une 1ere mondiale ! On continue ! pic.twitter.com/rizee5snPJ Clement Beaune (@CBeaune) May 23, 2023 For instance, consider the distance between Paris and Lyon, which is approximately 250 miles. While a flight between these cities would typically take around an hour and 10 minutes, the fastest train can transport passengers there in roughly an hour and 57 minutes. By encouraging travelers to choose trains for such short-distance journeys, France aims to minimize the carbon footprint associated with air travel. The discontinuation of short-distance flights in France is a significant step toward achieving the emission reduction target. Direct flights between Paris and regional hubs like Nantes and Lyon (each around five hours away) and Bordeaux (nearly six and a half hours away) will be canceled due to the ban. However, connecting flights will continue to operate as usual, ensuring continued connectivity for travelers. While there have been fewer flight cancellations than initially outlined in the 2021 climate bill, additional flights may be discontinued in the future if train services improve further. Some have argued that the bans threshold of 2.5 hours falls short when considering similar train journeys, such as from Paris to Marseille, a Mediterranean port city, which takes around three hours. To encourage passengers to opt for trains instead of short-haul flights, it is essential to enhance train services by increasing frequency, improving reliability, and ensuring seamless connectivity. Advantage of Sustainable Train Travel An advantage of train travel is that passengers should be able to complete a round trip between two cities within a single day. This allows them approximately eight hours to explore their destination, making it a convenient option for both business and leisure travelers. Despite the environmental benefits, there has been opposition from certain segments of the aviation industry. Critics argue that the ban comes at a challenging time for the industry, which is still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. Some airlines requested that the European Commission look into the measures legality, even though it was included in a climate law for 2021 and was already in effect. Laurent Donceel, the interim head of Airlines for Europe (A4E), has encouraged governments to prioritize real and significant solutions for reducing aircraft emissions, rather than relying solely on symbolic bans. Donceel told AFP that banning these short-distance flights would only have minimal effects on CO2 emissions and suggests exploring comprehensive approaches to address the issue. RELATED: Sustainable Travel: The Worlds Coolest Carbon Neutral Hotels Workers in Louisville's public bus system are demanding better safety and response measures after a driver was struck by a stray bullet Friday. Union representatives for Transit Authority of River City employees have been vocal after a series of violent incidents and accidents involving drivers, according to a release from the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), which operates a local chapter representing TARC workers. TARC said in a Wednesday statement that outside individuals fired shots near Jerricka Girdon's bus at 3rd Street and Woodlawn Avenue around 8:20 p.m. Friday. The union's release said that no one from TARC responded on the scene, but TARC's statement refutes that, saying staff arrived about 8:40 p.m. John Lockhart, TARC's director of transportation, notified other TARC staff he would go to University of Louisville hospital to see Girdon as he came from an event in Frankfort, according to the release. He made it to the hospital around 11:15 p.m., but Girdon had been discharged by then. Lockhart spoke with Girdon and her family as they were leaving, and he followed up with several calls and texts over the weekend. Lillian Brents, president and business agent for ATU Local 1447, said Lockhart admitted that TARC's response to the incident was "unacceptable" as no staff who went to the scene or with Girdon to the hospital. TARC representatives also refuted this account in a phone call Thursday saying the conversation did not happen. This incident unsettled the entire TARC team, Executive Director Carrier Butler said. We are first and foremost focused on the physical and mental recovery of the TARC operator." Brents said workers are most disheartened by a lack of immediate support from TARC officials at the site of similar incidents. She said the union has had discussions with TARC but no progress has been made on enhancing safety. Coming to a dealership soon: Ford ships 2023 F-Series Super Duty trucks built in Kentucky "They did not respond to her; they responded to the bus," Brents said. "Its clear TARC doesnt care about the health and welfare of their workers." The union's release said a bus operator involved in an accident was told to drive the bus back to the depot Monday. Further, it claims TARC also did not send staff to assist another driver who was punched by a passenger and suffered a broken nose over a fare dispute in February. TARC pledged to be a fully engaged community partner in the effort to address gun violence in Louisville. The organization is reviewing internal response procedures and has increased its security presence where possible. TARC also said it will continue convening its internal Health and Safety Committee with union and administrative presence. "We will be continuing our already expanding safety efforts throughout the system and working with the entire TARC team to continually improve," Butler said. TARC's board of directors approved a new contract with ATU Local 1447, including long sought-after raises for workers, in November. The move halted a potential strike the union had authorized for last fall. 'Dangerous and detrimental': JCPS leaders urged to defy Kentucky's new anti-trans law Reach reporter Caleb Wiegandt at cwiegandt@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @CalebWiegandt. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: TARC bus driver shooting: Union demands protections Target is under fire for its decision to pull some of its Pride Month merchandise from shelves a move the company says was done to protect employees but that critics say merely bows to pressure from anti-LGBTQ conservatives. The new wave of backlash at the retail giant follows its announcement that because some people have been threatening store employees over the merchandise, Target is removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. Target didnt disclose what those Pride Month items were, but adult swimsuits marketed to transgender women as tuck-friendly and offering extra crotch coverage have caused a conservative firestorm on social media. Much of the outrage has revolved around the false claim that Target is selling these swimsuits in childrens sizes. The company also confirmed to The Associated Press that some Southern stores had moved their entire Pride merchandise displays to the back of the stores in light of confrontations with customers. In a tweet, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called out Target CEO Brian Cornell directly and said corporate decisions like this are a slippery slope. CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage. This isnt just a couple stores in the South. There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country. Wake up America. This doesnt stop here. https://t.co/1vRgukaT0g Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 24, 2023 There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country, Newsom said. Wake up America. This doesnt stop here. Youre black? Youre Asian? Youre Jewish? Youre a woman? Youre next. Rep. Becca Balint, a Democrat whos the first openly LGBTQ person to represent Vermont in Congress, echoed Newsoms disappointment, tweeting: If companies like @Target give in to the whims of a hateful few, they may need a lesson or two on the history of pride and what it means to the LGBTQ+ community. The company was also heavily criticized by human rights organizations. Target should put the products back on the shelves and ensure their Pride displays are visible on the floors, not pushed into the proverbial closet. Thats what the bullies want. Target must be better, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said in a statement Wednesday. Extremist groups and individuals work to divide us and ultimately dont just want rainbow products to disappear, they want us to disappear, she continued. For the past decade, the LGBTQ+ community has celebrated Pride with Targetits time that Target stands with us and doubles-down on their commitment to us. Pride month merchandise is displayed at the front of a Target store in Hackensack, New Jersey, on Wednesday, May 24. Pride month merchandise is displayed at the front of a Target store in Hackensack, New Jersey, on Wednesday, May 24. GLAAD pointed out that, according to its research, 3 in 4 non-LGBTQ people are comfortable seeing LGBTQ people in ads, and that when a brand publicly supports LGBTQ rights, Americans are overall twice as likely to support that brand. Anti-LGBTQ violence and hate should not be winning in America, but it will continue to until corporate leaders step up as heroes for their LGBTQ employees and consumers and do not cave to fringe activists calling for censorship, Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, said in a statement Wednesday. Target did not immediately respond when HuffPost asked what it thought of the new criticism, nor did it respond when asked why it couldnt simply beef up security or take other measures to protect staff. Related... Teen who was seen with a rifle near Waukesha North High School charged with three felonies Six weeks following an incident that prompted officials to secure Waukesha North High School against a potential gun attack, an 18-year-old man will face second-degree recklessly endangering safety and two other felony charges. Asahel Sa Id Ali, now 18, of Waukesha was also charged Wednesday, May 24, in Waukesha County Circuit Court with resisting an officer causing bodily harm and bail jumping, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor negligent handling of a weapon counts all loosely tied to an April 14 incident in which he was spotted near the school armed with a small semiautomatic rifle. However, according to the criminal complaint, the charges have little to do with any direct threat to the school, despite the disruption that unnerved students and school officials that day. Charges include reckless firearm discharge inside his home Instead, the reckless endangerment charge is related to the student who first saw Ali, who was 17 at the time, crouched in his family's backyard in the 200 block of Greenmeadow Drive, wearing a pillow case over his head with eye holes. The student, a passenger in a passing vehicle, saw Ali clutching a rifle pointed generally toward Greenmeadow Drive, a street that runs along the high school's rear parking lot. The negligent weapon handling charge was tied to the investigation that began after the student reported the strange occurrence to the school's resource officer. The complaint said police found a bullet hole through the wall of the family's living room and a bullet hole with the same trajectory through a neighbor's garage, where a spent bullet was found. Authorities concluded Ali fired the weapon that morning, causing the damage and endangering anyone in the bullet's path. The bail jumping charge is the result of his violation of terms of his release in a Milwaukee County incident, in which he was accused of taking and driving a car without the owner's consent in February. Under those conditions, he was restricted from possessing a firearm. (According to the complaint, the firearm belongs to his father.) He also allegedly tussled with a police officer at ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital following his arrest, scratching the officers arm and culminating in the resisting charge. Ali tried to enter Waukesha North without permission in March No shots were fired at the school and no one was injured during the April 14 incident, but the threat, reported shortly before 1 p.m., was serious enough to prompt school administrative officials to enact a safety measure to ensure students remained in the building while police searched for the suspect. However, in the complaint, authorities also reported a strange incident from one month earlier. Ali dressed in all black with a hood covering his head, goggles covering his eyes and a neck warmer covering his face tried to enter the school, but was stopped by a secretary who realized he wasn't a North student. Police said he claimed he needed to use a school bathroom. As a result of that confrontation, police were aware of Ali when they were called to the neighborhood during the alleged gun incident. If convicted of the second-degree reckless endangering safety charge, Ali could face as much as 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The bail jumping and resisting an officer charges both carry maximum sentences of six years in jail and $10,000 fines. The misdemeanor weapons negligence charge carries a maximum nine-month jail sentence and $10,000 fine. Ali remained in custody on a $250,000 cash bond. He is scheduled to return to court May 31 for a preliminary hearing. An attorney had not yet been appointed to him as of Wednesday. Contact Jim Riccioli at (262) 446-6635 or james.riccioli@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jariccioli. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Teen with rifle near Waukesha North High School faces 3 felony charges 17-year-old arrested in connection with near-fatal stabbing of bus driver in Los Angeles (KTLA) A teenager has been arrested for the alleged near-fatal stabbing of a Los Angeles Metro bus driver after the pair got into a verbal argument. Officials say that a 17-year-old male, who has not been publicly identified, was taken into custody on Thursday in connection with the brutal attack in the city. The driver was stabbed multiple times at a bus stop on Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Street in the suburb of Woodland Hills on Wednesday after the pair got embroiled in an altercation outside the bus. Authorities say that the verbal argument between the 61-year-old driver and the teenager began about fare evasion before escalating. Police say that they both got off the bus which is when the suspect allegedly stabbed the driver in the chest, neck, and back, and then ran away. The bus driver, who has not been named, was rushed to Northridge Hospital in critical condition and remains in the intensive care unit. The nature of the injuries that he sustained were definitely beyond life-threatening and certainly in many other instances he would not have survived, said Los Angeles Police Chief Michael Moore after the attack. Mayor Karen Bass described the attack as a heinous act of violence, adding that the harm done to one of our Metro drivers is tragic. After visiting the driver in the hospital, Mayor Bass said: I join the entire city family in praying for him tonight, and my heart also goes out to his family. For so many Angelenos, our transit operators are a part of their everyday lives they bring our children to school, they bring us home from work and are part of the very fabric of our city, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They do their job of getting us to where we need to go, and we must in turn do our job of keeping them safe. Safety on Metro is a top priority, and I will redouble my efforts as Mayor and as a Metro Board member to keep transit riders and workers safe. According to footage obtained by the authorities in the wake of the attack, the suspect was described as a white man with blonde curly hair, who was wearing a red t-shirt and black trousers at the time of the attack, and was carrying a black backpack. KHARTOUM, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Sporadic clashes broke out between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Thursday, despite the seven-day truce which took effect since late Monday. Clashes took place in Omdurman city and south of the capital Khartoum, according to eyewitnesses. Sudanese army's warplane flew over some areas in Khartoum and Bahri town (Khartoum north), and the RSF fired anti-aircraft missiles in response, they said. The Sudanese army said in a statement on Thursday that it had repulsed a RSF attack on a military base, which it described as "a clear violation of the truce." "Six enemy vehicles were destroyed and a number of others were seized after they fled," the statement added. Meanwhile, the Sudanese Doctors Union, a non-governmental body, announced on Thursday that the armed clashes which broke out on April 15 have so far killed 865 people and injured 3,634 others in Sudan. In its latest update on the situation in Sudan on Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that the conflict in Sudan has forced more than 1.36 million people to flee their homes, including nearly 320,000 who have escaped to neighboring countries. On May 20, the Sudanese Army and the RSF signed an agreement in the Saudi port city of Jeddah a seven-day cease-fire and humanitarian arrangements. The agreement, which was brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States, entered into force on Monday at 9:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT). According to the deal, the parties shall guarantee civilians' freedom of movement throughout the country and protect them from violence, harassment, recruitment, or other abuses, and refrain from any violations of international human rights law. The parties shall also provide security guarantees for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies. None of the truces reached so far has been truly observed by the two sides. Worldwide economy is going through a hard time, what should we do when we need to buy gifts for all these occasionsMothers Day, Fathers Day, birthdays, July 4thits endless. Now we might have found a solution for you! Temu is an all-category online superstore that carries almost everything you need, ensuring theres something for everyone and every need or want. One of Temus popular features is its themed collections for various holidays, events, and occasions. These include holidays like Christmas, Easter, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and occasions ranging from Spring Break to Prom Night to Adventures to Graduation. These collections curate suitable gifts and products for each occasion, making it easy for shoppers to find inspiration and select the perfect gift for themselves, friends, or loved ones. Take for example Mothers Day. This is the one day a year when people make the extra special effort to show appreciation for the mothers in their lives. Temu rolled out a storewide promotion, featuring 90% off for a wide range of items to celebrate Mothers Day. They include everything from a rechargeable USB Portable blender for $9.28 to womens platform espadrilles, priced at a jaw-dropping $7.47. Whether its something practical or whimsical, theres a present for every kind of mom. Recently, Temu has been selected by Google Plays Editors Choice. It proves how popular Temu has become since it started out of Boston just in 2022. What is Temu? Temu, founded in September 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts, is an innovative e-commerce platform that has quickly gained popularity among consumers seeking quality products at affordable prices. Since its launch, Boston-based Temu has expanded its services to 10 markets, including the US, UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The platform offers a wide range of products across 29 major categories, catering to various needs and wants of its customers. Its unique approach to understanding customer demands and eliminating intermediary costs allows Temu to provide exceptional value to its users, making it a go-to destination for all occasions. How is Temu so affordable? Temus affordability sets it apart from other retailers and e-commerce platforms. Its direct-from-factory approach eliminates layers of markups and intermediary costs, ensuring customers pay only for the products value. By concentrating disparate demand, Temu generates economies of scale that attract suppliers and lead to lower wholesale-like prices, without the need for bulk purchases. Moreover, Temu helps manufacturers better understand their customers. Armed with valuable insights, they can design products more in sync with customer needs, ultimately leading to increased sales. This enhanced understanding reduces marketing expenditure, as customers require less persuasion to buy items designed with their needs in mind. Improved sales forecasting accuracy enables manufacturers to produce the right amount of product, lowering the risk of overproduction and reducing waste. To experience the benefits of shopping with Temu, visit their website at temu.com or download their app in major app stores. Give it a try and enjoy wholesale-like prices for individual buyers across the widest merchandise selection available. Temu is revolutionizing the gift-giving experience by offering a wide range of curated collections for various occasions and events, while maintaining affordability without compromising on quality. Its innovative approach to understanding customer needs and reducing waste in production processes sets it apart from competitors, making it the go-to destination for gifts for all occasions. McClatchy newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. From Terrassas Soon to Open Soundstages to Bizkaias Audiovisual Hub and Mallorcas Green Field Project, Spains New Generation Studios Varietys Global Locations Panel Conversations kicked off Saturday with a focus on Spain in which Juan-Manuel Guimerans, Spain Film Commission general secretary, posited a new further reason for shooting in Spain. Much is made of the countrys OMG locations, highlighted in Game of Thrones, its talent and technical prowess, and now extraordinary incentives. Now, as big international companies seek cost control and to promote sustainability, increasing attention will be paid to the Spanish industrys ability to produce quality, cost-effective film and TV content very largely shot on a limited number of soundstages. Varietys John Hopewell, in conversation with Guimerans, pointed to the example of milestone series from Spain, such as Grand Hotel, Velvet and the first two parts of Money Heist (La Casa de Papel). In the final stretches of the conversation, Guimerans drilled down on some of key projects and recently opened studio facilities in Spain. More from Variety Projects financing in some cases is public often from European Next Generation funds others are backed by private capital; yet more combine both options. Details of some of Spains next generation studios, some being built, others at least announced: Ciudad De Las Tic, A Coruna (Galicia) A virtual production studio project, targeting film and TV sectors, set near A Coruna technological park Ciudad de las TIC, which is promoted by the Provincial Council and the Galician Audiovisual Cluster. The studio must be built before the end of 2023, according to the conditions of the Next Generation funding with which it will be partially financed. The building will have a surface of 44,778 sq. ft with a 59.1 foot maximum height, including dressing rooms, offices and production rooms, among other facilities. Dreamland Studios Canarias, Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) Originally set in Fuerteventura Islands Dunas de Corralejo, Dreamland Studios Canarias project moved to Telde in Gran Canaria, being greenlit by Telde local authorities. Promoted by Newport Group, the project reportedly will represent a $151 million investment combine three soundstages the biggest, one of 64,584 sq. feet , postproduction services and also training infrastructures and even a theme park related to film and video games industries. Industry sources said the project is still at a seed-stage. Fuerte De San Francisco, Guadalajara (Castilla La Mancha) Guadalajaras 215,278 square ft. San Francisco Fort, which includes early 20th century military facilities and a 13th century church, works as a natural backlot for shoots. Since 2017, the Castilla-La Mancha Film Commission and the Guadalajara City Council offer the facilities as a multi-location space. Set in the southeast of the historic center of Guadalajara, the San Francisco Fort hosted shoots of Netflix Cable Girls, Warrior Nun Season 2, Sky Rojo, Movistar+s La Unidad Season 2, Mediaset and Prime Videos Madres and the Sony Pictures-distributed Voy a pasarmelo bien. Now the partners are hoping for an investment of 8 million from Next Generation Funds to house La Ciudad del Cine de Castilla-La Mancha. Currently, a specialized consultancy is detailing which value-added peripheral services could complement the current offer, says Castilla-La Mancha Film Commissions Mike Villanueva. Across different stages, the partners seek to rehabilitate the military facilities and the cloister, recondition warehouses to provide complementary services for production, launch an incubator for audiovisual companies and rent out both interior and exterior spaces for period productions. Per estimations, the initiatives will be completed in five years. Gran Canaria Platos. Las Palmas (Canary Islands) Launched in January, the complex offers two new soundnstages, sized 19,375 sq. feet and 12,916 sq. feet, counting annexes, allowing big productions to twin locations and studio work at the same base. Backlots are sized at 26,909 sq. feet and 15,069 sq. feet, respectively. One of the soundstages will include virtual LED studio XR technology combining real and digitally generated images. Hub Audiovisual AndaluzNodo Sevilla, Sevilla (Andalucia) Last year, Sevilles city council announced a plan to build a film and TV studio complex in a pavilion at the citys Congresses and Exhibitions Palace, also known as Fibes. The plan, which would be financed with Next Generation funds, proposes four sets and a production area, 32,690sq. feet for production support parking, and 141,955sq. feet to be used as backlot. The project also contemplates the creation of training areas. Imagine Green Studios. Adeje, Tenerife (Canary Islands) According to Tenerife-based newspaper El dia, Spains Kiss Media Group is promoting the development in the southern municipality of Adeje of Imagine Green Studios, reportedly designed by U.S. company Stone Creek. The project, in which they have been working for three years, currently is at the study stage and pending on a technical examination for its approval by the Cabildo de Tenerife. IGS, which will host film and TV studios and a campus to train future professionals. The Studios would be operational from 2025. Mallorca Green Film Studios. Marratxi, Majorca (Balearic Islands) Having recently welcomed production teams from Netflixs Hustle and The Crown and Paramounts Lioness, the challenge now for Mallorca is to complement its splendid natural landscapes with a powerful studios infrastructure. Promoted by the Mallorca Council, the project already counts with a 107,639 sq. feet terrain given by the Marratxi town hall. It has received support from Europe. Architectural design is now out for tender. MGFS will consist of three buildings, one a 16,145 sq. feet floodable set, to be used as a water tank, another, a 37,674 sq. feet-53,820 sq. feet studio, with the aim of becoming one of the largest in Spain. The Green Film Studios will also include a virtual set, backlots and a 91,493sq. feet multi-service building, with production offices, casting rooms, catering, workshops and post-production. The aim is to building the studios in phases. By the end of 2024, at least phase one will be operative, says Pedro Barbadillo, director of Mallorca Film Commission. Park Audiovisual De Catalunya, Sant Adria De Besos (Catalunya) Strategically located close to Barcelona, the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, the Park Audiovisual de Catalunya, in Terrassa, is a 538,196 square feet production center that boasts four soundstages, two backlots and multiple locations such as an old hospital from the 1950s, hosting some 30-to-60 shoots a year. It also houses more than 40 companies from the audiovisual, technology and media sectors, representing an important part of the local business engine. The Catalan government recently announced the expansion of the PAC, adding 64,584 square feet to incorporate new sound stages between 16,146 and 26,910 sq. feet. The government hopes that to be able to cut the ribbon on the new facilities next year. The project will form part of the Catalunya Media City, an ambitious audiovisual and video game industry hub entered in Sant Adria de Besos Tres Chimeneas area, also completing the soundstage offer. Punta Zorrotza, Bizkaia (Basque Country) Basque Countrys Bizkaia is developing a 1,1 million sq. feet audiovisual hub - 215,278 of them built in the strategic enclave of Zorrotza, three kilometers from the Guggenheim Museum, next to the Ria. Promoted by the Bilbao City Council, in collaboration with Bizkaias Provincial Council, in the coming months it will launch a tender for the facilities management and operation. The areas industrial pavilions have already hosted the filming of projects such as Netflix hits Intimacy and The Platform. The plan is to construct a digital set, three-to-four outdoor studios, post-production spaces, offices, warehouses and dressing rooms, among other facilities. Bilbao-Bizkaia is experiencing a moment of opportunity with the launch from January of an attractive up-to-70% deduction tax break for national and international productions, which is generating a production boom. In this context, the Audiovisual Hub is now a priority challenge to meet the demands of the industry, says Agustin Atxa at Bilbao-Bizkaia Film Commission. Toboggan Studios. Madrid, Andalucia, Navarra, Basque Country Founded three years ago, Toboggan Studios is growing around Spain, rapidly emerging as one of the countrys leading film, TV and advertising production services companies. It operates 18 soundstages and post-production facilities throughout Madrid, Andalucia, Navarra and the Basque Country. One of its newest locations, following the recent tax credit approval in Bizkaia, is Plato Bilbao Toboggan, a 19,375sq. feet production center with a 8,611sq. feet soundstage in Arrigorriaga. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. FILE - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas on June 22, 2017. A Republican-led investigative committee on Thursday, May 25, 2023, recommended impeaching Paxton, the states top lawyer. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton teetered on the brink of impeachment Thursday after years of scandal, criminal charges and corruption accusations that the state's Republican majority had largely met with silence until now. In an unanimous decision, a Republican-led House investigative committee that spent months quietly looking into Paxton recommended impeaching the state's top lawyer on 20 articles, including bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of public trust. The House could vote on the recommendation as soon as Friday. If it impeaches Paxton, he would be forced to leave office immediately. The move sets up what could be a remarkably sudden downfall for one of the GOP's most prominent legal combatants, who in 2020 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn President Joe Biden's victory. Only two officials in Texas nearly 200-year history have been impeached. Paxton has been under FBI investigation for years over accusations that he used his office to help a donor. He was separately indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, but has yet to stand trial. When the five-member committee's investigation came to light Tuesday, Paxton suggested it was a political attack by the House's liberal Republican speaker, Dade Phelan. He called for Phelans resignation and accused him of being drunk during a marathon session last Friday. Phelans office brushed off the accusation as Paxton attempting to save face. It's is a sad day for Texas as we witness the corrupt political establishment unite in this illegitimate attempt to overthrow the will of the people and disenfranchise the voters of our state, Paxton said in a statement Thursday, calling the committees findings hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims. By moving against him, Paxton said, The RINOs in the Texas Legislature are now on the same side as Joe Biden. Impeachment requires a majority vote of the states usually 150-member House chamber, which Republicans now control 85-64, since a GOP representative resigned ahead of an expected vote to expel him. Its unclear how many supporters Paxton may have in the House, where he served five terms before becoming a state senator. Since the prospect of impeachment suddenly emerged Wednesday, none of Texas' other top Republicans have voiced support for Paxton. The articles of impeachment issued by the investigative committee, which include three Republicans and two Democrats, stem largely from Paxtons relationship with one of his wealthy donors. They deal heavily with Paxton's alleged efforts to protect the donor from an FBI investigation and his attempts to thwart whistleblower complaints brought by his own staff. The timing of a vote by the House is unclear. Rep. Andrew Murr, the Republican chair of the investigative committee, said he did not have a timeline and Phelans office declined to comment. Unlike in Congress, impeachment in Texas requires immediate removal from office until a trial is held in the Senate. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott could appoint an interim replacement. Abbott's office did not respond to requests for comment on the impeachment counts. Final removal would require two-thirds support in the Senate, where Paxtons wifes, Angela, is a member. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican and leader of the Senate, did not respond to requests for comment. Paxton, 60, faces ouster at the hands of GOP lawmakers just seven months after easily winning a third term over challengers among them George P. Bush who had urged voters to reject a compromised incumbent but discovered that many didn't know about Paxton's litany of alleged misdeeds or dismissed the accusations as political attacks. The attorney general characterized his potential impeachment as a critical moment for the rule of law and will of Texas voters. Even with Mondays end of the regular session approaching, state law allows the House to keep working on impeachment proceedings. It also could call itself back into session later. The Senate has the same options. In one sense, Paxton's political peril arrived with dizzying speed: The House committee investigation came to light Tuesday, followed the next day by an extraordinary public airing of alleged criminal acts he committed as one of Texas' most powerful figures. But to Paxton's detractors, who now include a widening share of his own party in the Texas Capitol, the rebuke was years in the making. In 2014, he admitted to violating Texas securities law over not registering as an investment advisor while soliciting clients. A year later, Paxton was indicted on felony securities charges by a grand jury in his hometown near Dallas, where he was accused of defrauding investors in a tech startup. He has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts that carry a potential sentence of five to 99 years in prison. He opened a legal defense fund and accepted $100,000 from an executive whose company was under investigation by Paxton's office for Medicaid fraud. An additional $50,000 was donated by an Arizona retiree whose son Paxton later hired to a high-ranking job but was soon fired after trying to make a point by displaying child pornography in a meeting. But has unleashed the most serious risk to Paxton is his relationship with another wealthy donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. Several of Paxton's top aides in 2020 told the FBI that they had became concerned the attorney general was misusing the powers of his office to help Paul over unproven claims that an elaborate conspiracy to steal $200 million of his properties was afoot. The FBI searched Paul's home in 2019 but he has not been charged and his attorneys have denied wrongdoing. Paxton also told staff members that he had an affair with a woman who, it later emerged, worked for Paul. The impeachment charges cover myriad accusations related to Paxtons dealings with Paul. The allegations include attempts to interfere in foreclosure lawsuits and improperly issuing legal opinions to benefit Paul, and firing, harassing and interfering with staff who reported what was going on. The bribery charges stem from Paul allegedly employing the woman with whom Paxton had an affair in exchange for legal help and Paul allegedly paying for expensive renovations to Paxton's Austin home. Other charges date back to Paxtons still-pending 2015 felony securities fraud indictment, including lying to state investigators. The eight aides who reported Paxton to the FBI were all fired or quit, and four later sued under Texas' whistleblower law, In February, Paxton agreed to settle the case for $3.3 million. But the Texas House must approve the payout and Phelan has said he doesn't think taxpayers should foot the bill. Shortly after the settlement was reached, the House investigation into Paxton began. The probe amounted to rare scrutiny of Paxton in the state Capitol, where many Republicans have long taken a muted posture about the accusations that have dogged him. Only twice has the Texas House impeached a sitting official: Gov. James Ferguson in 1917 and state Judge O.P. Carrillo in 1975. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that impeachment requires a majority, not a two-thirds, vote of the Texas House. ___ Bleiberg reported from Dallas. Associated Press reporters Paul J. Weber and Jim Vertuno contributed from Austin, Texas. [Source] A woman from Arlington, Texas, was taken into custody for the murder of her husband with a hammer. On Wednesday, My Tran, 42, called 911 and told dispatchers that she killed her husband, the Arlington Police Department wrote in a recent case report. Responding officers found Tran sitting outside an apartment in the 3200 block of Sweetgum Trail. More from NextShark: Nicole Lee on her way to becoming the 1st Asian American woman to serve on Chicago City Council The 45-year-old victim, whose name has yet to be revealed by the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office until next-of-kin have been informed, was found inside a bedroom in the apartment, with the hammer found near his corpse. He was pronounced dead at the scene. After being taken into custody, Tran reportedly confessed to investigators via a detective fluent in Vietnamese who served as her interpreter that she hit her husband with a hammer around six to seven times. Tran reportedly waived her rights after detectives read the Miranda warning to her. She said she was fully aware of and takes responsibility for her actions. More from NextShark: Asian Man Beaten and Robbed of Around $15K at Bank in the Bay Area She revealed that her husband called her to his home to sign divorce papers. At around 4 a.m., she left the apartment to get a hammer from her car. Additionally, she claimed that before she killed her husband, she debated with herself for a moment whether to go through with the murder. Detective Spencer Simmons noted in the arrest affidavit that Tran was angry at her husband due to their relationship status. Tran was booked into Arlington City Jail on a murder charge. More from NextShark: Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Chloe Kim, Daniel Ho and Tia Carrere lead 2022 Asian Hall of Fame inductees A bond has yet to be set. More from NextShark: Go Back to Communist China, B*TCH: Woman Goes on Racist Tirade, Pays Taxi Double to Flee Scene (Bloomberg) -- Thailands pro-democracy parties won a majority of the seats in the May 14 general election, according to official results published by the nations poll agency on Thursday. Most Read from Bloomberg The progressive Move Forward Party won 151 seats to emerge as the single-largest party in the 500-member House of Representatives, followed by Pheu Thai at 141 seats, the Election Commission said in a statement. The official results confirm the preliminary tally released on the night of the election. Bhumjaithai, which has championed the liberalization of cannabis, came third with 71 seats, while Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ochas United Thai Nation bagged 36 seats. Military-aligned Palang Pracharath secured 40 seats and the nations oldest political party Democrat won 25 seats. The commission has until July 13 to certify the official results that can pave the way for the first meeting of the house and selection of prime minister. A coalition of pro-democracy parties led by the Move Forward has staked claim to form the next government with Pita Limjaroenrat as its prime ministerial nominee. The bloc is backed by 312 lawmakers from the lower house and about 19 senators from the upper house. READ: Thailands Move Forward Says 19 Senators Backing Pitas PM Bid Pita is still short of the support of 376 lawmakers needed to become prime minister in a joint voting of the the lower and upper house thats stacked with allies of the military establishment. The election saw a record turnout of 75.7% from the more than 52 million eligible voters, commission data showed. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Thailand air force says U.S. has denied request to buy F-35 jets FILE PHOTO: A F-35A fighter aircraft rolls on a tarmac at the Swiss Air Force base in Emmen BANGKOK (Reuters) - The United States has declined to sell its F-35 stealth fighter jets to Thailand over issues with training and technical requirements, the Southeast Asian country's air force said on Thursday. Thailand, which was designated a Major Non-NATO Ally by the United States in 2003, had last year set aside a 13.8 billion baht ($407.68 million) budget for new jets to replace its aging, mostly U.S.-made F-5 and F-16 fighters. It identified up to eight Lockheed Martin F-35A jets as its target. But sale of the fifth-generation fighters was subject to conditions that included time constraints, technical requirements and maintenance compatibility and the United States was therefore unable to offer the sale, air force spokesperson Air Chief Marshall Prapas Sornchaidee said in a statement. The F-35 is one of the world's most advanced fighter aircraft and is considered a sensitive export sold only to the United States' closest allies, which in the Indo-Pacific includes Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Thailand currently has 12 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets made by Sweden's Saab in addition to its U.S.-made models, many of which have been in operation for decades. Thailand's military has used U.S. technology going back to the Vietnam War era, when it hosted U.S. air force and navy personnel at its bases. Thailand has for many years hosted annual "Cobra Gold" training exercises with the United States. Those warm ties have, however, been strained by the Thai military's coups against elected governments in 2006 and 2014, and concerns about overtures by army-backed governments towards rival power China. Prapas said the air force would still replace its F-16 jets and the United States had offered the upgraded F-15 and F-16s models, which could be transferred faster. ($1 = 33.8500 baht) (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty) (Bloomberg) -- Thailands Move Forward party said more than a dozen senators have pledged support for Pita Limjaroenrats bid to become prime minister, boosting the chances of his pro-democracy coalition wresting power from a military-backed establishment. Most Read from Bloomberg At least 19 senators have agreed to back Pita, the leader of the progressive Move Forward, and the party is confident it can secure enough numbers from the upper house to clinch the top job for the 42-year-old politician, deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun told a briefing in Bangkok on Thursday. The signs weve been getting from the Senators are positive, said Sirikanya. We should be able to get enough votes to form the government. The support from senators brings the total number of lawmakers backing Pita to about 330, still short of the 376 needed to become prime minister in a joint voting of the the 500-member House of Representatives and the 250 unelected senators appointed by the military establishment. Pitas coalition of eight parties with 312 seats in the House of Representatives expects to wrap up talks on government formation in the next two weeks, according to Sirikanya. Move Forwards tally of seats was reduced to 151 from 152 earlier after the election commission revised results in some polling stations, according to local media. While the coalition was making progress in rallying support from senators, there were also signs of tension brewing between Move Forward and Pheu Thai party, the second-largest party in the bloc. Sirikanya said Move Forward will not concede the House speakers position to Pheu Thai as it was key to its pledge to amend the constitution. Pitas inability to quickly muster enough support for his premier bid continued to roil Thailands financial markets. The baht fell as much as 0.5% to a two-month low, while the benchmark stock index traded 0.1% lower and the yield on benchmark 10-year bonds rose four basis points to 2.562%, the highest since March 9. Read More: Heres How Thailands PM Race Could Play Out as Talks Drag On Until there is a new prime minister, the caretaker government is led by Prayuth Chan-Ocha, the general who led the 2014 coup and has held power since. If no party can win majority support, he could remain in place for months to come. Move Forwards Sirikanya said the party is confident that Pheu Thai will stay in the alliance even if it was denied the speakers job. While Pita has shown his political acumen in winning the vote and building a coalition, hes up against a royalist establishment and military that may be unwilling to see him come to power. --With assistance from Pathom Sangwongwanich and Suttinee Yuvejwattana. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. They're in their 60s and parenting yet again, balancing the struggles, joy of adoption Esther Diarte, 9, hugs grandfather Teodulo Diarte at their home in Riverside County. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) The graying couple raised their right hands in the childrens courthouse, as the judge swore them in. Teodulo Diarte held tight to his granddaughter Harmony as his wife, Olga Perez, kept her one good eye on their 2-year-old, Faith, who rocked back and forth. The couple, in their 60s, were preparing to adopt their two youngest granddaughters. The pre-Thanksgiving ceremony wasnt the first time they had appeared in this courthouse on a similar crucial mission. They had already adopted their three older granddaughters here. Diarte and Perezs daughter, Maria, had struggled for years with drug addiction. Four of her five daughters tested positive for drugs when they were born. Faith didnt eat for five days as she went through withdrawals at birth. Teodulo Diarte, who adopted his granddaughters, looks at an adoption certificate he received after a ceremony in Monterey Park. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) And so, like more than 2 million grandparents across the country who are raising their grandchildren, Diarte and Perez have forgone retirement to become parents once more. With the girls various health issues, it is a 24-hour job. The money the couple receive from the government each month to care for the girls goes toward groceries. Toward rent. Toward new shoes and clothes. They bought a minivan to take the girls to and from school and on trips. They are the rare grandparents and the rare adoptive parents to take in not one, not two, but five siblings, doing something of utmost importance the foster care system can't always achieve: keeping a sprawling family together. In the Monterey Park courtroom, they sat at a table covered in teddy bears for the 136 children being adopted that fall day 89% of them by relatives such as Diarte and Perez. Yay, you did it! Faith cheered, her mouth widening to reveal the gap between her front teeth. Que bonita family, Diarte said with a smile, as he looked around at his girls. What a beautiful family. Teodulo Diarte says goodbye to 4-year-old Harmony Diarte on her way to school. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) As of April, 7,445 children and youth, unable to safely remain at home, were in foster care and living with relatives or close family friends, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, a Washington-based advocacy group, said relative caregivers are more likely to keep siblings together, as in the case of the Diarte family. It would be hard to find a foster parent that would take on five children, she said. They would split the children up, and that is another trauma, another sense of loss for the children. :: Perez, 62, and Diarte, 66, had already raised three children in L.A. County when their 19-year-old daughter, Maria, became pregnant with their first grandchild. As Maria raised Melody in the Cudahy house she shared with her parents, Perez grew worried about her daughters mistreatment of the little girl. Teodulo Diarte and Olga Perez with their adopted granddaughters Esther, 9, left, Harmony, 4, and Melody, 17. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In 2010, when Melody was about 5 years old, Perez said she reported her daughter for child abuse. Nothing happened, Perez said, and Maria moved out. Not long after, Perez said, she learned Maria was leaving the little girl alone overnight. Perez begged Maria to move back in. What we wanted to do was save Melody, Perez said. She was our priority. More problems came in February 2014, several months after Maria gave birth to a second daughter, Esther. Melody, who was 8 years old, recalled her mom and Esthers dad getting into a physical fight. Melody tried to protect her younger sister. Olga Perez, left, and Teodulo Diarte in a somber mood after receiving a call from their daughter, who they hadn't seen in half a year. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) I just remember grabbing my sister and running into the corner and just hugging her, because I wasnt sure what to do, Melody said. Neighbors recorded the couple fighting and reported them to the Department of Children and Family Services, Perez said. When a social worker interviewed Melody and asked her to draw what shed seen in the home, the little girl drew a marijuana pipe. Melody and Esther were taken away and returned to their grandparents care four days later. In February 2015, six months after Marias third daughter was born, county social workers wanted to return the two older girls to their mother. The goal of DCFS, after all, is for children to safely remain at home with their parents. But, according to Perez, Maria hadnt stopped doing drugs. Perez took a video of Maria's drugs in the house and reported her again. Marias parental rights were terminated that year. Through her parents, Maria declined to be interviewed. The Department of Children and Family Services declined to comment on the Diarte familys case, citing confidentiality. Teodulo Diarte and Olga Perez prepare lunch for Esther, 9, to take to school. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) We really try not to remove children from their parents, but if its not safe we work with the court and others to then make the determination that the child cant safely be at home, said Sari Grant, adoptions manager with the department. Then we do everything we can to try to place them with relatives, because we do know how important that is in terms of reducing trauma and increasing stability. In 2018, Maria was pregnant again. Her parents were already struggling to care for her other three children. Perez, dealing with vision issues due to diabetes, had lost sight in one eye after a laser treatment. Diarte left his job in September to help out more. When Marias fourth daughter was born that November, she called her mom crying. There was a social worker at the hospital. Theyre going to take her away, she said. Please, Mom, come for my baby. Take her. Harmony came to her grandparents when she was 3 days old. The growing family could no longer squeeze into their two-bedroom apartment. They moved out of L.A. and started renting a house in Riverside County. Maria stayed behind. It would be hard to find a foster parent that would take on five children. They would split the children up and that is another trauma, another sense of loss for the children. Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United Teodulo Diarte watches as Luz Perez, a DCFS social worker, hugs Olga Perez, after an adoption ceremony in Monterey Park. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) On June 3, 2019, Perez and Diarte adopted their three oldest granddaughters, Melody, Esther and Naomi, in a process that had stretched out for years. Maria was living on the street and pregnant once more. When the baby was born, she was malnourished. She wouldnt eat for five days. She almost died. In March 2020, as the pandemic shut down the world, Diarte and Perez weighed whether to take in granddaughter No. 5. If they give her to a stranger, I know were not going to see her again, Diarte told his wife. God will help us. They named the baby Faith. :: The stars were still winking in the sky when the grandparents began their day. Diarte rubbed sleep from behind his glasses as he brewed coffee. Perez, who was having vision issues in her good eye, felt her way toward the kitchen. Olga Perez and Teodulo Diarte with 4-year-old Harmony at the breakfast table. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) By 6 a.m., Harmony, 4, and Esther, 9, were awake and clinging to their grandfather their tata as he started packing school lunches. These two girls were the early risers, but they hadnt yet changed out of pajamas one set decorated with Anna and Elsa from the movie "Frozen," the other with unicorns and donuts. Diarte, who wore a long-sleeved red shirt that read Daddy Elf, heated alphabet soup to put in a pink thermos for Melody, while Perez put oranges into a brown bag for the 17-year-old. For Esther, her grandfather peeled and cut up a cucumber. Perez squinted as she picked out clothes for 8-year-old Naomi, who would be the first to leave for school. "Do I have to go to escuela?" Naomi said in Spanglish. "Yes," Perez said. "No," Naomi retorted. "Yes, and don't say no," Perez chided. When Esther began to cry over a missing pink glove, Diarte comforted the girl who nearly matched him in height. When you get out of school, Ill buy you a new one, he said. I dont want you to be sad over that. His and Perezs lives revolve around keeping the girls fed and housed and enrolled in school, loved and looked after but most of all, happy. Some days, it is a heavy lift. Because each child faces her own set of challenges. Olga Perez and Teodulo Diarte play with 2-year-old Faith and 4-year-old Harmony at their home in Riverside County. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Faith has developmental delays and still doesn't like to eat much, so they stock up on nutrition shakes. Harmony has cognitive deficits, at times staring off into space and scratching her head for several minutes. Naomi, who has autism, has meltdowns and at times threatens to leave the four-bedroom home in Riverside County where she is safe and cared for and go in search of her mom, somewhere on the streets of Los Angeles. Esther, in therapy for depression and anxiety, started to wet the bed. Melody deals with the angst of being a teenager facing down graduation. Diarte thought it'd be difficult, he said, to take in the children of his beloved but troubled daughter. But el amor tan grande que le tenemos a las ninas lo hace facil. The great love they have for the girls makes it easy. The couple have grown accustomed to starting over raising young girls, not stressing when Naomi scrawled in blue marker across the living room wall. They focused instead on the accomplishments, taping up Naomi's student of the month certificate near a picture she drew of a sunflower. Perez and Diarte made it a point to allow Maria to visit her girls, often meeting her at a Chuck E. Cheese near the river where she slept. They met there so often Harmony thought the restaurant was her mother's home. But it was January and half a year had passed since the last visit. Perez hadnt heard from Maria except for a brief call months earlier to ask for money. Melody and her grandfather planned to search for her. Melody has told her grandparents that she never wants to do drugs. That she hates them, "because that stole my mother." Teodulo Diarte helps 8-year-old Naomi onto the school bus in Riverside County. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) The teenager, with shoulder-length black hair and a ready smile, said she recalls better childhood memories with her grandparents than with her mom, as hard as it is to say that." Because that doesnt mean that I dont like my mom," Melody continued. "I think something we can all agree on here, even though everything has happened, it doesnt mean we dont like my mom. Im just disappointed in the things shes done. By 8 a.m., when their three older girls had gone to school, Perez and Diarte sat down to breakfast with Harmony. As she spoke about her daughter, Perez began to cry at the dining room table. She didnt know how Maria, who sang in the church choir and dreamed of becoming a graphic designer, had gotten to this point. Im sorry, Perez apologized to Harmony, as the little girl in the seat beside her listened to the "Baby Shark" song. She had promised the girls she wouldnt cry for their mom anymore. Its OK, Mom, Harmony said, as she patted her grandmother's arm. Its OK, Mommy. Perez sat at the table in tears. Then the phone rang. It was Maria. Perez cried harder as her daughter reassured her that she was all right. Perez told her about a dream shed had, where Maria lived in a big house and was safe. Y las ninas? Maria asked, wondering about her daughters. And the girls? Perez told Harmony to say hello. To tell her mom that she loved her. Harmony repeated the words. The couple had held off on inviting Maria to their new home, worried she would lapse back into old habits. But Perez told her daughter about her worsening vision and asked her to stay with them. I need you, Perez said. They waited for her to come. In her heart, Perez said, she felt Maria was ready to make a change. "Just wait until she sees her girls," the proud grandmother said, "how beautiful they are, how studious, the good job we've done with them." :: It was a mistake. After Maria arrived, Naomi started acting out. She threatened her teacher. Her therapist said the girl was hearing voices. Soon after, Naomi was hospitalized for a week. Esthers grades dropped. Melody cried more often and started doing poorly in school. On Jan. 31, Maria left. Perez had tried everything to get her to connect with the girls, even giving her money to take them to the mall to shop. None of it kept her here, not even her love for her daughters, Perez said tearfully. I thought the hour had come. It was my illusion as a mother. Perez sat her granddaughters down. She told them theyd done all they could. She promised them once more that she wasnt going to cry for their mother. After all, she has five other daughters to think about. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Of all the things China's come up with, LED beams shooting out of your reading glasses takes the cake Reading glasses that shoot beams of light cost just $1.85 when bought from China. Screenshot/AliExpress/Homei Assister People who want to read in the dark now have a $1.85 solution from China. An AliExpress store is selling reading glasses that are supposed to shoot out LED beams. And according to two writers on Japanese website SoraNews24, they actually work. If you ever wanted to read in the dark, China's got your back. For $1.85, the discerning buyer can purchase a set of reading glasses outfitted with LED lights to illuminate pages without disturbing others. The glasses are "great for reading in the car, bed, plane, camping, or wherever light is dim," according to an AliExpress listing. It's sold by a China-based store called Homei Assister, which offers a bevy of household items like a wall holder for bathroom slippers or a rice strainer that doubles as a spoon. This one is called the "Multi Strength Reading Glasses LED Man Woman Unisex Eyeglasses Spectacle Diopter Magnifier Light Up Night Presbyopic Glasses." If Homei Assister's photos are to be believed, the reading glasses emit light so powerful you can literally see the beams in the dark. One could cosplay as a deep-sea submarine with these lights, if Homei Assister's photos are accurate. Screenshot/Ali Express/Homei Assister The product comes with two kinds of lights a white one, and a blue one. And according to Steven Le Blanc and Masanuki Shunakoma, writers for the Japanese website SoraNews24, they actually work. Masanuki bought the glasses, and wrote that they allowed him to read in comfort when it was dark. At least 1,000 pairs of these glasses have been sold, retaining a review of 4.1 out of 5 stars from 563 reviews. Read the original article on Insider Proponents of federal actions such as banning chokeholds and changing the so-called qualified immunity protections for law enforcement still await signs of change. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and the fervent protests that erupted around the world in response looked to many observers like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. For more than nine minutes, a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of Floyd, a Black man, who gasped, I cant breathe, echoing Eric Garners last words in 2014. Video footage of Floyds May 25, 2020, murder was so agonizing to watch that demands for change came from across the country. But amid a deadly coronavirus pandemic, economic uncertainty and a divisive U.S. presidential election, 2020 ended without the kind of major police reforms that many hoped, and others feared, would come. Then, 2021 and 2022 also failed to yield much progress. Demonstrators on April 20, 2021 gather outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis to celebrate the murder conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd. The third anniversary of Floyds murder is May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Now, three years since Floyds murder, proponents of federal actions such as banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants and changing the so-called qualified immunity protections for law enforcement still await signs of change. When people casually, and I think too frequently, say that there is some sort of racial reckoning that were in the midst of, I see no evidence of that, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, said during a recent press conference convened by a Black Lives Matter collective. To be clear, racial justice activists and their champions in elected office havent slowed down. But the beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long its taking to achieve meaningful change. I dont play with words like reckoning, Pressley said. That needs to be something of epic proportion. And we certainly have not seen a response to the lynching, the choking, the brutality, (and) the murder of Black lives. A guard holds the door on May 25, 2021 as Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, walks out of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C. Several Floyd family members met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) Since 2020, what has happened in Minneapolis? Soon after Floyds murder, Minneapolis adopted a number of changes, including bans on chokeholds and neck restraints and requirements that police try to stop fellow officers from using improper force. Minnesota lawmakers approved statewide police accountability packages in 2020 and in 2021, as well as tight restrictions on no-knock warrants just this month. The city is still awaiting the results of a federal investigation into whether its police have engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. A similar investigation by the state Department of Human Rights led to what it called a court-enforceable settlement agreement in March to revamp policing in the city. The federal investigation could lead to a similar but separate agreement with the city called a consent decree. Police in several other cities already operate under such oversight for civil rights violations. Activists say Minneapolis has started to make critical changes, but that the work necessary to transform policing must continue. There were also immediate cries to defund the police and instead fund public housing, infrastructure and mental health services. But a ballot measure that had roots in that movement failed, even in some heavily Black neighborhoods. (Left to right ) Attorney Eric Nelson looks on as his client, former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, is taken into custody on April 20, 2021 after the verdicts were read at Chauvins trial for the 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File) An AP review of police funding found that some municipalities elsewhere made modest cuts that fell far short of activists calls. Whats happening in Minneapolis this week? Minneapolis activists plan to mark the anniversary with a candlelight vigil Thursday night at George Floyd Square, the corner where Floyd died. A festival on Saturday at the square will celebrate change in Minneapolis. Gov. Tim Walz declared Thursday George Floyd Remembrance Day in Minnesota. In his proclamation, he said: True justice for George Floyd will come only through real, systemic change to prevent acts like this from happening again We must continue to do everything in our power to come together to deconstruct and undo generations of systemic racism in our state. What happened to the officers? Derek Chauvin, the white officer who killed Floyd, and the three other officers who failed to stop Chauvin at the scene, are all in prison. Chauvin was sentenced in state court to 22 1/2 years for second-degree murder. Two of the three other officers pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter and received shorter terms, while the third officer was convicted of that count by a judge and awaits sentencing. People gather along the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum during a Justice for George Floyd protest on May 30, 2020 in Philadelphia.(Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, File) Chauvin also pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge, admitting that keeping his knee on Floyds neck resulted in his death. In that case, he received a concurrent sentence of 21 years. The three others were also convicted of violating Floyds rights and got much shorter sentences. What happened after protests? Around the world, protests against racial violence and police brutality erupted after Floyds murder, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement. Videos circulated on social media of U.S. police using tear gas and less-lethal munitions like rubber bullets, which fueled calls for accountability. That accountability so far has largely come in the form of civil settlements. Protesters kneel in front of New York City Police Department officers beside the Plaza Hotel before their arrest for violating curfew on June 3, 2020 in New York City. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd, who died on May 25, 2020 after Minneapolis police restrained him. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) New York City found that 146 officers had committed misconduct at protests, including excessive force and violence like one officer who drove a car into protesters. Independent reviews in Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Los Angeles also found those departments had mishandled their responses. In some cities, a handful of officers was fired. Some faced criminal charges: In Austin, Texas, 19 officers were indicted by a grand jury. But few have been convicted. Minneapolis has agreed to millions of dollars in settlements with people who alleged they were victims of excessive police force during unrest that followed Floyds killing, which included the burning of a police station. But few officers faced disciplinary action. Whats happening on the federal level? In 2020, the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, a piece of federal legislation, showed some signs of promise. It would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, like the one that enabled Louisville police to kill Breonna Taylor. It would also create a database listing officers who were disciplined for gross misconduct, among other measures. The following year, the House passed it but the Senate failed to reach a consensus. (Left to right) In this image from surveillance video, Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao, Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane attempt to take George Floyd into custody on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File) Last year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that applied key elements of the bill to federal law enforcement. On Thursday, Biden he renewed his call for Congress to act in order to bring real and lasting change at the state and local levels. I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it, he said in a statement. I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for police accountability in Congress, and I remain willing to work with Republicans and Democrats alike on genuine solutions. Meanwhile Pressley, the Massachusetts congresswoman, has been promoting the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, a measure she has reintroduced every year since 2020. What about the Floyd family? Over the last three years, George Floyds family members have appeared at rallies and spoken out against police violence. Within days of his brothers death, Philonise Floyd testified at a congressional hearing about police reform. While relatives and reform advocates urged for legislation changes, George Floyds youngest daughter, Gianna Floyd, met Biden at the White House in 2021. A photo of a Marine holding the door for the 7-year-old went viral. Police use chemical irritants and crowd-control munitions to disperse protesters during a demonstration against police violence and racial injustice on Sept., 5, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. The killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 sparked the protest. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) New York City-based Terrence Floyd, who became an activist after his brothers murder, planned to hold the third-annual memorial event at a Harlem church on Thursday evening. He has supported get-out-the-vote efforts and promoted music paying tribute to his brother. You have to have the faith that it will happen, because it didnt happen overnight for Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. It didnt happen overnight for Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, he said about meaningful social change. You cant expect it to happen overnight for us, but it will happen. Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, looks at the executive order on policing that President Joe Biden signed on May 25, 2022 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. The order came on the second anniversary of George Floyds death and is focused on policing. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Morrison reported from New York. Associated Press writers Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Three years after George Floyds death, reckoning with police violence remains in limbo appeared first on TheGrio. NAIROBI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Thursday joined the rest of Africa in marking Africa Day. The celebrations, which commemorated the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of the African Union, took place in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and drew diplomats from African countries who are based in Kenya. Alfred Ombudo K'Ombudo, principal secretary of the State Department of Trade, said that the Africa Day festivities are an important occasion for the celebration of African culture as well as the continent's growing resilience. K'Ombudo said that Kenya is keen to boost both intra-Africa trades as well as commercial and investment ties with other countries such as China. He noted that China remains an important partner to Kenya as the East African nation is a beneficiary of Chinese investments especially in the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. South Sudanese Ambassador to Kenya Chol Ajonga said that Africa Day celebrations are a reminder of Africa's people's struggle to achieve both political and economic independence. Ajonga noted that one of the continent's key allies is China which has been a source of foreign investments in key sectors of the African continent. He stressed that China is providing Africa with things that the continent needs in order to achieve development such as critical infrastructure projects including roads and railways. "We look forward to more cooperation with China in the future," he observed. TikTok prankster boasts I'm infamous as he continues to upload videos after fine O'Garro A teenager who entered a familys home without permission for a TikTok prank has boasted he is infamous as he released videos that could be in breach of a court order imposed just one day earlier. Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, 18, also known as Mizzy, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to breaching a community protection notice at Thames magistrates court after he walked into a strangers property on May 15. The teenager was ordered to pay 365 which included an 80 victim surcharge and costs of 85. He was also handed a two-year criminal behaviour order. Later on Wednesday he appeared on Talk TV with Piers Morgan where he branded UK laws weak because he only received a tiny fine. At the court hearing Judge Charlotte Crangle ordered that OGarro must not directly or indirectly post videos to social media without the documented consent of the people featured in the content, that he must not trespass into private property, and that he must not attend the Westfield Centre in Stratford. However, on Thursday morning, just hours after his interview on Talk TV, OGarro posted several videos including one in which he rides an e-bike through a busy Sainsburys supermarket. O'Garro was fined at Thames Magistrates Court - Lucy North/PA He enters the warehouse at the back of the store before security guards ask him to leave. As he exits the shop he narrowly avoids a woman with a pram. In another clip posted on Thursday he is seen clinging to the top of a single-decker bus. In a separate video explaining his actions, OGarro appears to claim that the latest videos are all old and were filmed months before. He added: Im basically infamous. However, the terms of his court order suggest that any uploading of the clips without the consent of the people in the video would be a breach, regardless of when they were filmed. Bacari-Bronze O'Garro in a TikTok video A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: We are aware of the videos and enquiries are ongoing. Just minutes after leaving court, O'Garro created a new TikTok account and posted a video saying: Hello world Im back and Im taking over this, yeah... The feds thought they can have me, but where am I? We outside every time. OGarro later said he would continue to upload content to the streaming service Twitch after he was banned from using TikTok. Playing the race card Discussing the prank where he walked into a womans house, he said it was a spur of the moment idea and he had been coerced into doing it. He later apologised to the woman. During the interview, O'Garro and Morgan traded insults with one another as the teenager was accused of "playing the race card". When O'Garro was asked about his background, he responded: Are you trying to get onto me because Im black? Mr Morgan replied: I dont give a damn about your skin colour. I just think youre an idiot. Speaking earlier this week, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway of the central east command unit said: I do not underestimate the widespread upset, distress and concern that these videos caused. Some people have referred to these as prank videos, but I hope that this significant development demonstrates just how seriously we have been taking this investigation since this footage began circulating online. 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. AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, are all the rage, so it's no surprise to learn that TikTok is now testing its own AI chatbot, as well. Called "Tako," the bot is in limited testing in select markets, where it will appear on the right-hand side of the TikTok interface, above the user's profile and other buttons for likes, comments and bookmarks. When tapped, users can ask Tako various questions about the video using natural language queries or discover new content by asking for recommendations. For instance, when watching a video of King Charles' coronation, Tako might suggest that users ask "What is the significance of King Charles III's coronation?" Or, if users were looking for ideas of something to watch, they could ask Tako to suggest some videos on a particular topic -- like funny pet videos. The bot would respond with a list of results that include the video's name, author and subject, as well as links to suggested videos. From here, you could click on a video's thumbnail to be directed to the content. Image Credits: TikTok screenshot by Watchful.ai The bot was discovered being publicly tested by app intelligence firm Watchful.ai, and TikTok confirmed the tests are now live. "Being at the forefront of innovation is core to building the TikTok experience, and we're always exploring new technologies that add value to our community," a TikTok spokesman told TechCrunch. "In select markets, we're testing new ways to power search and discovery on TikTok, and we look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity and drives culture." However, though Watchful.ai says it found the AI chatbot in tests on iOS devices in the U.S., TikTok says the current version of the bot is not currently public in the U.S., but it is being tested in other global markets, including an early limited test in the Philippines. We also understand the bot will not appear on minors' accounts. Behind the scenes, TikTok is leveraging an unknown third-party AI provider that TikTok has customized for its needs. That modification does not include the use of any in-house AI technologies from TikTok or parent company ByteDance. Upon first launch, TikTok advises users in a pop-up message that Tako is still considered "experimental" and its feedback "may not be true or accurate" -- a disclaimer that applies to all modern AI chatbots, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's AI, among others. TikTok also stresses that the chatbot should not be relied on for medical, legal or financial advice. (We understand the wording in the image below may reflect an earlier version of the bot rather than the current tests.) Image Credits: TikTok screenshot by Watchful.ai The disclosure also notes that all Tako conversations will be reviewed for safety purposes and, vaguely, to "enhance your experience." This is one of the complications that come with using modern AI chatbots, unfortunately. Because the technologies are so new, companies are opting to log customer interactions and review them to help their bots improve. But from a privacy standpoint, that means the AI conversations are not being deleted after chats end, which poses potential risks. Some companies have worked around this consumer privacy concern by allowing users to delete their chats manually, as Snap has done with its My AI chatbot companion in the Snapchat app. TikTok is taking a similar approach with Tako, as it also allows users to delete their chats. It's unclear if the AI chatbot is logging data associated with the user's name or other personal information, though. The long-term data retention policies or privacy aspects of the chatbot also couldn't be determined at this time. Image Credits: TikTok screenshot by Watchful.ai The security risks of AI chatbots have led some companies to ban such bots at work, including Apple, which has gone so far as to restrict employees from using tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Microsoft-owned GitHub's Copilot over concerns about confidential data being leaked. Others who have recently enacted similar bans include banks like Bank of America, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan, as well as Walmart, Samsung and telecom giant Verizon. Why consumers would even want an AI chatbot in TikTok is another matter. While most companies are experimenting with AI in some way, shape or form, TikTok believes the chatbot could do more than just answer questions about a video -- it could also become a different way for users to surface content in the app, beyond typing into a search box. This could become a threat to Google if TikTok's tests were successful and the chatbot publicly rolled out, given that Google has already noted how Gen Z are turning to TikTok and Instagram as the first place they go to search on certain subjects. Soon, Google will begin rolling out a conversational experience in search, but if TikTok had its own in-app AI chatbot, that could encourage younger users to bypass Google altogether. Update, 5/25/23, 9 AM ET: At the time of publication, TikTok shared additional information about Tako on its Twitter account. We've updated with additional details, where relevant. A TikToker recreated Dua Lipa's vintage Chanel Met Gala dress using only $200 worth of material, including curtain fringe. Take a look. Dua Lipa at the 2023 Met Gala (L), and Kiana Bonollo wearing a recreation of the pop star's gown (R). Taylor Hill/Getty Images, Kiana Bonollo A TikToker who went viral for recreating Dua Lipa's Met Gala dress only spent $200 doing so. Kiana Bonollo said she sourced fabric like curtain fringe to remake the iconic vintage Chanel gown. While the original dress would've taken months to make, Bonollo only spent 7 working days on it. A TikToker who "gasped" when she saw Dua Lipa wearing a vintage Chanel gown at the 2023 Met Gala created a nearly identical replica for just $200. Kiana Bonollo, a 24-year-old content creator and pattern maker from North Carolina, told Insider that she like many others habitually tunes in to see arrivals at the annual star-studded Met Gala in New York City. But unlike most people, Bonollo checks out the event to see if there's a dress on the red carpet she can challenge herself to recreate. Previously, she posted a TikTok of how she recreated Gigi Hadid's 2021 Met Gala look a white, strapless Prada gown that had a corset bodice and a layer of black fabric underneath. The clip has since amassed over 7.5 million views. Kiana Bonollo said she handmade her version of the 1990s Chanel dress in seven working days. Kiana Bonollo Although this year's Met Gala brought out several good contenders, from Anne Hathaway's daring pearl-laden Versace dress to Cardi B's ink-black Chenpeng Studio ballgown, Bonollo said she instantly knew Lipa's was the one when she first laid eyes on it. "I gasped when I saw her on the screen because it was so gorgeous," Bonollo said. "It didn't immediately register to me that it was a wedding dress, which maybe it should have because it's a big white gown." As Insider previously reported, Lipa wore a vintage Chanel bridal dress. She accented the dress with an over-100-carat Tiffany necklace that she described as being straight from the vault. The gown was previously worn by model and Karl Lagerfeld muse Claudia Schiffer in 1992. "I started researching it to see it on the original model and I kept falling more in love with it, the more angles I saw of it," Bonollo added. "And it was so my personal style where it's simple, but it's constructed in a way that's interesting and beautiful without being over the top." After making her decision, Bonollo decided to make a series of TikTok videos taking her followers through the journey of recreating the gown. In the final clip, uploaded on Tuesday, Bonollo tries on the dress and even recreates the pop star's barbed-wire heart to go with it. It already has over 172,000 views as of Thursday. Bonollo had her work cut out for her recreating Dua Lipa's dress In the first video of the series, Bonollo heads to the fabric store Joann to source materials such as white tweed and curtain fringe to make the dress the clip has over 6.1 million views as of Thursday. The fabric cost her roughly $200, and she also spent an additional $50 for the cage crinoline, which is used to add a stiff structure to the skirt, she told Insider. However, working with the fabric was actually one of the most challenging parts of the project. "Honestly, I hate working with tweed," Bonollo said. "It unravels super easily. You have to kind of sew all the edges before you start working with it so it adds double to the sewing time." Another difficult aspect, which she documented in several TikToks, was getting the corset right. Bonollo said her issue stemmed from the fact that she'd just bought a new dress-form mannequin, which had different proportions to her last one. "It was hard to get it to fit," she said. At times the torso of the corset appeared too short but then she overcorrected it and it looked way too long. After some trial and error, however, Bonollo was able to recreate the structural corset of the Chanel dress to her size with all of the different boning channels and seams. Kiana Bonollo said she spent roughly $200 on the materials for the dress. Kiana Bonollo What's more, Bonollo managed to finish the entire look in just seven working days a fraction of what she estimates it took the Chanel team to create the original in the 1990s. "I'm assuming it took them weeks or months to make, at least weeks, probably months," she said. "I know usually it's a team of people working on big dresses like this." And while the content creator said she doesn't have any big galas to wear the dress out to coming up, Bonollo does think she'll get some use of it one way or the other, such as potentially repurposing part of the skirt for her own wedding. Bonollo said she's planning to make her own wedding dress for the nuptials, taking place in 2024. "The chances of me being able to dress out in Raleigh, North Carolina, are slim to none," she said, jokingly. "But at least for this, I can definitely split it up between a corset top and a skirt." Read the original article on Insider Tim Scott picks longtime tacticians to run SC presidential operation. Who are they? Sen. Tim Scotts presidential campaign is tapping two longtime South Carolina political consultants to run his 2024 operations in the Palmetto State. Political consultants Luke Byars and his wife, Drea, and Phillip Habib will run the senators South Carolina campaign leadership team. Winning campaigns today need a powerful message, a strong messenger and plenty of momentum, the three said in a joint statement. Thankfully, Tim Scott has all three. This is personal for us. We believe in Tim, and no one will work harder than us to make sure hes our next president. Luke Byars, a senior partner at strategy firm First Tuesday Strategies who served as a former South Carolina Republican Party executive director, will be the Scott campaigns senior adviser and general consultant. His resume includes work for Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign, the Bob Dole-Jack Kemp campaign in 1996 and for former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, who Scott succeeded in the U.S. Senate. Drea Byars will be senior national finance adviser, a role broader than South Carolina. She previously served as finance director for Scotts Senate campaign, and other campaigns, including education Superintendent Ellen Weavers, the S.C. Senate Republican Caucus and Congressmen William Timmons and Russell Fry. Meanwhile, Habib First Tuesdays vice president of campaigns, who most recently was campaign manager for Weaver, Fry and, most recently, he ran state Sen. Mike Reichenbachs campaign will be Scotts state director. Luke and Drea are not only two of the best conservative tacticians the Palmetto State has to offer, theyre also two great friends to both me and Sen. Scott, said Jennifer DeCasper, Scotts campaign manager. Phillip is a smart, young operative and someone who wont be outworked. Their collective leadership will help us earn South Carolina. Luke Byars and Habib arent the only First Tuesday Strategies consultants supporting Scotts presidential campaign. Matt Moore, a former state GOP chairman and First Tuesdays managing partner, last month was tapped to be the state chairman on a political action committee backing Scotts candidacy, the Opportunity Matters Fund Action. Scott formally kicked off his 2024 White House bid Monday. Within a day of announcing, Scott raised $2 million, according to his campaign. Official fundraising records for the second quarter of the year arent due to the Federal Elections Commission until July. The money will help pay for a nearly $6 million ad buy in Iowa and New Hampshire, an effort to build Scotts name ID in the early voting states. Scott brought nearly $22 million saved from his 2022 Senate reelection campaign into his presidential bid. In polls, Scott, who formed his exploratory committee in April, has continued to rank well under challengers former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and another South Carolinian, former Gov. Nikki Haley. But the launch of his 2024 bid has bumped his polling up, at least in South Carolina. Among South Carolina Republican primary voters, Scotts support increased from 7% in April to 10% in May, according to a National Public Affairs poll released Tuesday. The poll of 590 voters was conducted from May 15-17, in the week before Scotts official campaign launch. A new national Quinnipiac University Poll of Republican primary voters released Wednesday had Scott at 2%. A Quinnipiac poll released in March had Scott at 1%. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, says the states recently passed six-week abortion ban is good news. The state is trying to protect the culture of life, and thats good news. I mean, the heartbeat bill is a step in the direction of that, Scott said Wednesday in response to a question from South Carolina Education Television host Gavin Jackson. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) signed legislation Thursday that would ban abortion after an ultrasound detects cardiac activity, which usually occurs around six weeks into pregnancy, when many dont yet know theyre pregnant. It includes exceptions for instances of rape, incest and fatal fetal anomalies and to protect the life of the mother up through 12 weeks. The state Supreme Court overturned a similar 2021 ban earlier this year, finding that it violated the state constitutions protection of the right to privacy. But Republicans hope that the new restriction will survive legal challenges. The courts decision was written by its only female justice, who has since retired. Scott said last month that as president, he would sign a bill federally banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, if one arrived on his desk. He said states should be able to determine the issue on their own, but a federal limit needs to be discussed. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Scotts campaign did not immediately respond to The Hills request for further comment. The subject of what restrictions GOP presidential candidates would support has received notable attention in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last year. Former President Trump has avoided directly saying if he would sign a national abortion ban if elected and has instead emphasized his support for exceptions to bans in cases of rape and incest and to protect the life of the mother. Former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Wednesday that she would sign a federal abortion ban if she received such a bill but expressed doubts that one could pass Congress. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who entered the race on Wednesday, said in an interview with Fox News that the federal government and states both have a role to play on abortion. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Timbaland says R. Kelly is still the 'king of R&B' despite being convicted of sex-trafficking women Timbaland thinks R. Kelly's music has merit. Getty/Alexander Tamargo; Getty/Scott Olney Timbaland said R. Kelly is still the "king of R&B" and "we all know that" during a podcast appearance. "His art is his art, I ain't gonna bash the man's art," the award-winning producer added. Kelly, 56, is currently in prison after being convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Timbaland insisted that R. Kelly is still the R&B G.O.A.T., despite his being convicted of sex-trafficking women. "R. Kelly's the king of R&B. We all know that, man," the award-winning music producer said during a recent appearance on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast while discussing with host Shannon Sharpe whether it's possible to separate Kelly's art from his crimes. In June 2022, Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a New York Court after being found guilty on nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges related to Kelly's decades-long practice of grooming women and girls for illegal sex. In February of this year, the 56-year-old was then sentenced by a Chicago court to an additional 20 years in prison after being found guilty of producing child pornography and abusing minors. Kelly will serve 19 years of his Chicago sentence concurrently with his New York sentence, meaning that Kelly could serve a total of 31 years in prison. "Everybody jump when you say R. Kelly," Timbaland said. "I'm like, so we just gonna ignore his music that he gave us, that we all jam to?" "No, we can't do that. His art is his art, I ain't gonna bash the man's art," he added. "Don't mix music up with personal. Music is a feeling, it stands alone. Music is something that don't have no race, it brings people together. It don't have no drama with it. It is a place of enjoyment; a feeling, so don't bring drama into music. Leave that outside." Representatives for Timbaland did not immediately reply to Insider's request for comment. Though Timbaland never worked with Kelly, he did produce numerous songs, including "One in a Million" and "Try Again," for the late Aaliyah, who married Kelly in 1994 when she was 15 and he was 27. During an episode of "True Hollywood Story" in 2011, Timbaland confessed to being "in love" with Aaliyah when they first met in 1995. He said he did not act on his feelings because of their seven-year age difference. "She just a baby, I'm old," he said. "I said to myself, 'I'm just gonna be her brother.' Oh man, I was fightin', I was fightin' a lot, a big war. But I loved Aaliyah." Read the original article on Insider Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity during a free flight in Earth's atmosphere on April 26, 2023. Virgin Galactic will launch its first spaceflight in two years on its reusable space plane Unity on Thursday (May 25), but exactly when the launch takes place will depend on what time its carrier plane takes off. The suborbital spaceflight company's Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Unity will launch a crew of eight to suborbital space and back from its Gateway facility at Spaceport America in New Mexico in a test designed to set the stage for regular commercial spaceflights to come. The Unity 25 test flight, Virgin Galactic's first spaceflight since its billionaire founder Sir Richard Branson and a crew flew aboard the Unity 22 mission in July 2021, is the last verification flight before the company's Galactic 1 commercial mission in June, the company has said. "Unity 25 is the final assessment of the full spaceflight system and astronaut experience before commercial service opens in late June," Virgin Galactic said in a statement. The flight will launch the Unity SpaceShipTwo space plane from the air using its carrier plane, the Virgin Mother Ship Eve. Here's when and how the mission will take place. Related: Meet the crew of Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 launch What time is Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 suborbital launch? Virgin Galactic officials are targeting a takeoff time of 8 a.m. Mountain Time (10 a.m. EDT or 1400 GMT) on May 25 from Spaceport America for the Unity 25 mission. That is when we expect the company's WhiteKnightTwo carrier plane, called Eve, to take off from Spaceport America and begin its ascent to launch altitude. That takeoff time could change, as Virgin Galactic has said it is only when the window will open to start the flight. Virgin Galactic has a 9-hour window for Unity 25 operations on May 23, according to an FAA Notice To Airmen warning (NOTAM) for spacecraft recovery operations that begins at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT (1400-2300 GMT). It repeats on Friday, May 26, for the same hours, suggesting Virgin Galactic has at least one backup day for the flight. Can I watch Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 spaceflight? Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity under its carrier plane Eve. Not at this time. Virgin Galactic has not announced any plans for a public webcast or livestream and members of the media are not expected to be on hand to broadcast live views of the launch, according to a company representative. It's also unclear how much information Virgin Galactic will share in real time for the mission. In the past, Virgin Galactic has posted images of preflight, takeoff, mid-air launch and landing. According to SpaceNews reporter Jeff Foust, Virgin Galactic is expected to share some updates on Twitter as in the past. You can follow that at @VirginGalactic on Twitter. However, a Virgin Galactic spokesperson did tell Space.com that the company plans to release details of the test fight, including images and video, after the flight. So we'll have to stay tuned for that. If this test flight goes well, Virgin Galactic is expected to livestream its first commercial spaceflight in late June and invite media to witness the event. Who is riding on Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 spaceflight? Virgin Galactic will fly an eight-person crew on the Unity 25 mission, a group that is a mix of experienced company spaceflyers, pilots and first-time flyers. The two VSS Unity pilots on this mission are Michael Masucci and C.J. Sturckow, both of whom have flown to space before. Here's a look at the two men. Photos: The first space tourists A graphic showing the four pilots to fly on Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 launch. Michael Masucci: Masucci will serve as Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Unity commander and has flown on multiple suborbital spaceflights with Virgin Galactic. His first trip to space was a 2019 test flight. He has flown on 80 different types of aircraft since 1982 and accrued more than 10,000 flight hours during his career. C.J. Sturckow: A former NASA astronaut and retired Marine Corps colonel, Sturckow is will serve as Unity's pilot and has flown on four NASA space shuttle missions to orbit, commanding two of them. He has flown on 65 different types of craft and has over 8.700 hours of flight experience. His first trip to space was on NASA's STS-88 mission in 1998, and he later flew on STS-105, STS-117 and STS-128 missions, leaving NASA in 2013. He first flew to suborbital space on Unity during a December 2018 test flight. Four passengers will ride to suborbital space on Unity during the flight, but only one of them has flown to space before. Here's a look at the quartet riding on the flight. A graphic showing the four people to fly on Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 launch with their astronaut numbers. Jamila Gilbert: A native of New Mexico, Gilbert, 34, will serve as a mission specialist on the Unity 25 flight and will be launching into space just a one-hour drive from her hometown of Las Cruces. She joined Virgin Galactic in 2019 and studied linguistics, anthropology and studio art at New Mexico State University. Gilbert is Hispanic and will become one of the first 100 women in space with the flight and is also an artist. You can see more of her art at her website JamilaGilbert.com. Christopher Huie: A Virgin Galactic flight sciences engineer, Huie, 35, will serve as a mission specialist on Unity 25 and joined the company in 2016. Prior to that, he worked at The Spaceship Company, which built the SpaceShipTwo vehicles for Virgin Galactic before being acquired. Huie holds a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland and is the son of Jamaican immigrants. He grew up in Florida, co-founded Virgin Galactic's Black Leaders in Aerospace Scholarship and Training program, and will become the 19th Black astronaut to reach space, Virgin Galactic said. Luke Mays: A former payload operations director at NASA, Mays is an astronaut instructor at Virgin Galactic who will experience his first spaceflight on Unity 25. Prior to joining Virgin Galactic, he spent 25 years in the aerospace industry, including several years training astronauts for NASA. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas and a master's in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Beth Moses: The only veteran Virgin Galactic astronaut on passenger list for Unity 25, Moses is making her third spaceflight on Unity and was the first woman to fly on the space plane and earn her astronaut wings. Moses has developed Virgin Galactic's astronaut training program and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University. The VSS Unity space plane will be carried to drop altitude by its Virgin Mother Ship VMS Eve, a huge twin-boom carrier plane that will be flown by two veteran pilots. Here's who will be at the controls of Eve during its own takeoff and landing. Jameel Janjua: Janjua, who will command the VMS Eve carrier plane during the Unity 25 flight, has been flying aircraft since 1995. He has flown on 60 different types of aircraft and accrued 4,800 hours of flight time during his career. Nicola Pecile: Pecile serves as VMS Eve pilot on the Unity 25 flight and has flown on 170 different aircraft since beginning his flying career in 1991. He has a total of 7,700 flight hours, according to Virgin Galactic. How long with Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 spaceflight last? A graphic showing the flight plan for Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 launch. RELATED STORIES: Virgin Galactic carrier plane flies for 1st time since 2021 Virgin Galactic's 1st fully crewed spaceflight with Richard Branson How Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo passenger space plane works (infographic) Virgin Galactic has not released a detailed timeline of its Unity 25 test flight. However, the company has said in the past that an average SpaceShipTwo suborbital mission should last 90 minutes from takeoff to landing. The flight begins at takeoff, with SpaceShipTwo Unity tucked beneath its VMS Eve mothership and attached to a pylon in between the carrier plane's twin booms. Eve will fly SpaceShipTwo up to an altitude of 50,000 feet (15,000 meters), where it will drop the Unity space plane and pull away to a safe distance. Aboard Unity, Massucci and Sturckow will ignite the space plane's hybrid rocket motor and ascend into space, reaching an altitude of at least 50 miles (80 kilometers), which the FAA and U.S. military have recognized as the boundary of space. At the peak of the flight, Unity and its crew will experience about four minutes of weightlessness, at which time the Gilbert, Huie, Mays and Moses can exit their seats, float about the cabin and look at Earth through Unity's large round windows. After those four minutes are over, the passengers will strap back into their seats for the return to Earth, with Massucci and Sturckow relying on a unique "feathering" system that folds its twin tail booms back and up like a shuttlecock to stabilize Unity during reentry. The space plane will then make a runway landing at Spaceport America to end the flight. Editor's note: Visit Space.com on May 25 for complete coverage of Virgin Galactic's Unity 25 spaceflight. Court documents reveal secret life insurance policies, stolen money, a contentious court battle and the hiring of a private investigator to dig into the death of a Utah man whose wife allegedly poisoned him with a spiked drink. The wife, Kouri Richins, was arrested and charged with killing Eric Richins last year during a quiet celebration at their home in Kamas, Utah, about 40 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, after she closed on a home for her business, according to authorities. A medical examiner said he had five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his system at the time of his death on March 4, 2022. Eric Richins had suspected his wife had tried to poison him multiple times and warned his family that she was to blame if anything happened to him, according to affidavits for search warrants obtained from the Summit County Sheriff's Office. A family spokesperson said he stayed in the marriage because of their three children. As Richins prepares for a detention hearing next month, here are some key dates in the investigation. Between 2015 and 2017 Richins is accused of purchasing at least four life insurance policies on her husband totaling nearly $2 million, according to an amended court document filed May 18 that led to the postponement of a detention hearing originally scheduled for May 19. Eric Richins did not know about the policies, the document stated. September 2020 Eric Richins discovered that his wife had allegedly obtained and spent a $250,000 home equity line of credit on their home in Kamas, had withdrawn at least $100,000 from his bank accounts and spent more than $30,000 using his credit cards, according to the amended court document. It also alleged that Richins was "appropriating distributions made from Eric Richins business for the purpose of making federal and state quarterly tax payments and not paying the taxes." The stolen tax payments totaled at least $134,346, according to the filing. He confronted her about the money and she agreed to pay him back, the court document stated. October 2020 Eric Richins consulted both a divorce lawyer and an estate planning lawyer. Unbeknownst to his wife, he changed his will, formed a living trust and placed his estate under the control of his sister, Katie Richins-Benson, according to the amended court document. He also transferred his partnership interest in his business to the trust and designated the trust as the beneficiary of his $500,000 life insurance policy, the document stated. Kouri and Eric Richins. (via Facebook ) Jan. 1, 2022 Eric Richins and his business partner had $2 million life insurance policies that listed each other as the beneficiary, but prosecutors alleged that on Jan. 1, 2022, Richins changed the policy to list herself as the beneficiary, according to the amended court document. Her husband was alerted to the change and put his business partner back as the beneficiary, the document stated. Later in the month, she allegedly "caused an application to be filed for a new $100,000 life insurance policy on Eric Richins life," according to the document. Feb. 12, 2022 In early 2022, Richins either called or texted an acquaintance named C.L. and asked for fentanyl, the document stated. Data from Richins phone showed she contacted C.L. several times in January 2022 but authorities werent able to determine the content of the messages because she allegedly deleted data from her phone from Jan. 2, 2022, to shortly after Eric Richins death. C.L. told authorities that she obtained the fentanyl pills and gave them to Richins in a hand-to-hand transaction on either Feb. 11 or Feb. 12, 2022, according to the document. Feb. 14, 2022 A Valentine's Day meal turned into a nightmare when Eric Richins "broke out in hives and had difficulty breathing" after eating a sandwich his wife made for him, the document stated. Prosecutors alleged in the document that Richins made her husband a sandwich and placed it on the seat of his truck with a love note. But after eating it, her husband became ill and needed to use their son's EpiPen. The document stated that Eric Richins believed he had been poisoned and told a friend that he thought his wife was trying to poison him. Late February 2022 Richins allegedly contacted C.L. and said that the fentanyl pills were not strong enough and asked that she procure some stronger fentanyl, the document stated. C.L. told authorities that Richins asked for some Michael Jackson stuff during this request for fentanyl, but subsequently conceded that the Defendant may have made the Michael Jackson reference during her first request for fentanyl, according to the document. (The pop superstar died in 2009 at his Los Angeles home he received a lethal dose of propofol.) C.L. again obtained pills for Richins, according to the document. March 3, 2022 Richins allegedly owed more than a million dollars at the time of her husbands death, prosecutors said in the document. The day before her husband died, prosecutors said she talked to a money lender to whom she owed at least $1.8 million and had a lengthy telephone call with the IRS. The document alleged that she had outstanding state and federal tax liabilities totaling $189,840 and also owed her husband at least $514,346. March 4, 2022 Eric Richins, 39, died after he was found unresponsive in the bedroom of their home in Kamas after having a drink to celebrate his wife's business deal. He had five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his system, according to the medical examiner, who said it was "illicit" fentanyl and not medical grade. It is also believed he ingested the drugs orally, according to the medical examiner. Details about that night differ in a search warrant affidavit and probable cause statement. Richins told authorities that she and her husband were celebrating her closing on a house for her business, according to the statement. She said she made her husband a Moscow mule in the kitchen and brought it to their bedroom where he drank it while sitting in bed, it said. Prosecutors have said she slipped five times the lethal dose of fentanyl into the cocktail. The affidavit, however, stated that Eric Richins had one shot of alcohol and a THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) gummy. Richins told authorities that she fell asleep in one of her children's rooms and when she woke up and went to her bedroom, her husband was cold to the touch, both documents stated. The affidavit said that Richins supposedly attempted CPR on her husband but when medical and fire personnel arrived, they said that it did not appear as if she had done CPR "due to the large amount of blood that came from Eric's mouth." She also told authorities that she had left her phone plugged up in her bedroom, however, investigators found that it had been locked and unlocked several times and showed movement before 911 being called, the statement said. The couple were married for nine years at the time of Eric Richins' death, according to his online obituary. They have three sons. March 6, 2022 Days after her husband's death, Richins allegedly had a locksmith drill into her husband's safe, which contained between $125,000 and $165,000 in cash, according to the amended court document. When Eric Richins' sister, Katie Richins-Benson, told Richins to leave the safe alone, prosecutors alleged in the filing that Richins became angry and punched Richins-Benson in the face and neck. Sheriff's deputies responded and called the attorney for Eric Richins' estate. Richins was informed that her husband had created a living trust. March 9, 2022 Richins allegedly wrote a backdated check for $1,300 to obtain fentanyl pills from C.L., prosecutors said in the document. C.L. told authorities that on either March 9 or March 10, she left the pills in a firepit in the backyard of a home owned by Richins, the document stated. July 15, 2022 Richins-Benson hired a private investigator to surveil and follow Richins, according to court documents Richins filed to remove her sister-in-law as trustee of Eric Richins' trust. Richins and her sister-in-law have been in a legal battle over the trust and estate since Eric Richins' death. Richins said in the documents that the private investigator would park outside her home "to watch and surveil her" and would question her neighbors about her and her husband. Greg Skordas, a spokesperson for Eric Richins' family, told NBC News that the private investigator was hired to look into the death. The private investigator declined to speak about the case. March 7 A year after her husband's death, Richins published a book titled "Are You With Me?" and dedicated it to "my amazing husband and a wonderful father." An Amazon description of the book said it was written to "create peace and comfort for children who have lost a loved one." In the 41-page book, a boy questions whether his father is with him when he is sad or mad and whether he is with him for special occasions. The father reassures the boy that he is there for all of those moments. The book is no longer available on Amazon. April 6 Richins, in an interview with KTVX-TV of Salt Lake City, discussed her book and her husbands death, which she said happened unexpectedly. It took us all by shock. My kids and I kind of wrote this book on the different emotions and grieving processes that we experienced last year, hoping that it can kind of help other kids deal with this and find happiness some way or another, she told KTVX reporters. She went on to talk about how she would tell her children that their dad is still here, just in a different way. Richins said she wrote the book after she saw how her children struggled with their fathers death. The station later updated its story to say it had not been aware she was suspected in her husbands death. May 8 Richins was arrested on charges of aggravated murder and three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. She has not entered a plea and is due in court June 12, the new date for the detention hearing. Her attorney has not commented on the allegations. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Tina Turner performing at the Delta Center in 2000. Turner died on May 24 at the age of 83. | Michael Brandy, Deseret News She retired from performing 14 years ago, but that couldnt keep her name out of the spotlight. Whether through music, memoir, film or Broadway musical, Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock n Roll, is not easily forgotten. That sentiment is especially widespread following Turners death at the age of 83 on Wednesday. As tributes to the rocker continue to roll in, heres a look back at Turners performing history in Utah and a look at a musical about Turners career making its Utah debut next week. Related Revisiting Tina Turners concerts in Utah Although she went on several worldwide tours throughout her decadeslong career, Turner appears to have only performed in Utah a few times. One of her earliest appearances reportedly came in 1970 at the Salt Palace a lineup that featured Ike & Tina Turner with Creedence Clearwater Revival. Years later, after she left her abusive husband, fought her way back into the spotlight and found massive success as a solo artist, Turner would return to the Salt Lake venue. That concert came in the winter of 1987 two years after the release of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, the third installment in the Mad Max franchise starring Turner and Mel Gibson. A decade later, in the spring of 1997, Turner brought hits like River Deep, Mountain High and Whats Love Got to Do With It to the Delta Center (which is now Vivint Arena but will soon return to being the Delta Center). Turner had a fellow legendary act as her opener: Cyndi Lauper. Tina Turner at the Delta Center on May 15, 2000. | Michael Brandy, Deseret News And as Lauper told the Deseret News then, opening for Turner was exactly what she wanted. Im a huge fan of Tinas, and I get to do a shorter show, she said. That especially fares well when you take my condition into consideration. Lauper was four months pregnant at the time. The kid is getting to hear the music, Lauper said of going on tour during her pregnancy. Its getting to hear Tina sing. I think the kid is going to have a wonderful background. Turner returned to the Delta Center three years later, this time with Lionel Richie as a special guest. She kicked off the high-energy show with Sly & the Family Stones I Want to Take You Higher, and went on to perform R&B hits like I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Hold On, Im Comin, and Sittin on the Dock of the Bay, as well as two Beatles covers Get Back and Help! Turners moves and dancing displayed command and power, Scott Iwasaki wrote for the Deseret News at the time, noting that fans couldnt help but sing along. Her vibrant sensuality was projected through her energetic choreography. Its hard to believe the woman just turned 62. Related The 2000 show at the Delta Center marked Turners second and final performance at the venue, the Deseret News confirmed with Vivint Arena. It was part of Turners Twenty Four Seven tour, in support of her final album of the same name from 1999. That tour reportedly made Turner the highest grossing live entertainer of 2000, according to Rolling Stone. The tour generated more than $80 million in North America, and at the time put Turner in the fifth spot for all-time tours of North America, beating out bands like NSync, the Dave Matthews Band and Kiss, per Rolling Stone. That 2000 show also appears to have been Turners last concert in Salt Lake City. The Twenty Four Seven tour was billed as a farewell tour Ive done enough. Ive been performing for 44 years. I really should hang up my dancing shoes, Turner said at the time, according to Rolling Stone. But the eight-time Grammy winning artist would officially retire from performing in 2009 at the age of 70, concluding her life in the music industry with a 50th-anniversary celebration tour (which did not make a stop in Utah). The set lists for Turners Utah shows indicate significant variation for instance, Turner only performed GoldenEye, which she sang for the 1995 James Bond film soundtrack, in her 1997 show. But she gave her Utah fans some of her biggest hits every single time, including: Private Dancer, Lets Stay Together, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits, which commemorates her rural Tennessee hometown. A Tina Turner musical comes to Utah Retiring from performing didnt diminish Turners stardom. In 2019 10 years after exiting the music industry Tina: The Tina Turner Musical made its Broadway debut. And in 2021, Turner got inducted as a solo artist into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (she had previously been inducted with Ike Turner in 1991). Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall, the Tina musical explores how Turner broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n Roll, the Deseret News reported. The musical garnered 12 Tony nominations and won one for Adrienne Warrens portrayal of the rock n roll star. Tina closed on Broadway last year, but a national tour is currently underway. The official website for the musical notes Turners death and states that performances will continue as planned. That includes a brief run at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City from May 30 through June 4. Though the announcement came more than a year ago, the musicals arrival will now undoubtedly come with a greater sense of poignancy as it pays tribute to and honors Turners life and career. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and boundless passion for life, she enchanted fans worldwide and inspired future stars. We say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us her greatest work; her music. Tina, we will miss you dearly. pic.twitter.com/8SihpxMe14 TinaTurner (@tinaturner) May 24, 2023 Following the news of Turners death, the Twitter account for the Broadway production shared a statement from Turners official account. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner, the statement reads. With her music and boundless passion for life, she enchanted fans worldwide and inspired future stars. We say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us her greatest work; her music. Tina, we will miss you dearly. Tina Turner Fans Flock to Her Tennessee Museum Where the Her Iconic Outfits Are Now on View Fans of Tina Turner flocked to a Tennessee museum where some of the music legends most iconic outfits are stored. The museum opened in 2014 inside the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, which is located about 50 miles northeast of Memphis, according to Associated Press. It contains her dress from the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, in which she starred alongside Mel Gibson. It also displays the Armani, Versace and Bob Mackie dresses she wore during her energetic live performances. More from Robb Report The museum building was formerly Flagg Grove School, which was originally built in 1889 to educate the areas black children. Turner attended school herself as a child, and the museum still contains the original blackboard and desks Turner and her classmates used. The institutions director, Sonia Outlaw-Clark, told AP that the museum was hoping to honor Turner this weekend during its annual Exit 56 Blues Fest. Turner, 83, passed away Wednesday, after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, her manager told the newswire service. The Grammy-winner was known for her popular songs Proud Mary, Whats Love Got To Do With It and We Dont Need Another Hero, and Simply The Best. Following the news of her death, fans have caused a massive spike in streams for Turners music, TMZ reported. Well-wishers also flocked to her her lakeside villa in Switzerland where she died. They left flowers, candles and notes in honor of her legacy. Turner moved to Switzerland in the mid-1990s and took Swiss citizenship in 2013, even relinquishing her U.S. passport, according to AP. She resided at the estate for nearly three decades. A woman lays flowers outside the entrance to the estate of late singer Tina Turner following the announcement of her death, in Kusnacht on May 25, 2023. When she was passing by, she was smiling, she could feel that we were looking at her, but was always very discreet, one local told Reuters. Everyone loved her. I grew up with Tina Turner and she was a great woman to me, with a lot of sorrow too due to lifes hard knocks but absolutely someone we could admire. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. CAIRO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has so far taken in 121,000 Sudanese fleeing the armed clashes that broke out in Sudan on April 15, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The data was revealed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi in Geneva earlier in the day, the ministry said in a statement. Shoukry and Grandi discussed ways to enhance cooperation and partnership between Egypt and the UNHCR to alleviate the burden of Egypt, which currently hosts around 9 million migrants and refugees, the statement quoted Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid as saying. Their talks also underlined the necessity for the UN refugee agency to mobilize resources to support Egypt's efforts in providing the necessary humanitarian and medical assistance for the displaced Sudanese citizens fleeing the conflict, he added. As of Wednesday, the armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have left 865 civilians dead and 3,634 others wounded, said the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate. A new week-long cease-fire was reached on Saturday in the Saudi port city of Jeddah by the Sudanese warring parties, but sporadic clashes have continued in the capital of Khartoum in the past days. None of the previous truces reached was truly observed by the two sides. Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock & Roll has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, her family said in a statement Wednesday. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model. Turner won eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 as a solo artist, having first been inducted with former husband Ike Turner in 1991. Turner performed in the Borderland, at the Pan Am Center, on Oct. 19, 1985, but three electrical transformers meant no food or drinks were sold during the concert: Poisons halt concert food Oct. 15, 1985, El Paso Times Concertgoers at New Mexico State Universitys Pan American Center in Las Cruces may be a little inconvenienced until three electrical transformers are replaced to comply with federal Environmental Protection Agency regulation. The regulations require that, in food areas, all transformers containing toxic PCBs be replaced by Oct. 1, said Stewart Bean, NMUs safety officer. That includes three of the Pan Am Centers transformers. That means that until the new transformers are in, on concessions no will be sold in the Pan Am center during the events. Gramm winner Tina Turner belted out songs before 11,000 people in Oct. 195 at the Las Cruces Pan American Center. Turner proves why fans show her some respect Oct. 18, 1985, El Paso Times The huge banner rose from in front of the screen, and suddenly 11,000 fans were watching Tina Turned slip into her shoes, lace the top of her costume, tease her hair and start purposeful strides toward the stage The curtains thrown open, Turner started her 7-minute-long set with a throbbing Show Some Respect, her hips gyrating in skin-tight, knee length pants, a white camisole laced up the front and a jacket, rapidly discarded with the first bars of Nutbush. Private Dancer, with its soulful saxophone solo, brought her to stage swathed in white boa over a tiny dress. Here, her dancing changed from short, machine-gun rapid steps to a planting of feet, a swaying of hips and a definite feeling that dance, was, indeed, for Tina by Tina They screamed, they clapped Tina had the audience from the first chords and her first shuffle like dance across the stage. They screamed, they clapped, they leaped to their feet as the first chords of their favorites were played. Theres no doubt of her being a showman she jokes with the audience, but doesnt ever give its members time to cool down, to relax, to forget just why they think shes the greatest And, of course, shes a lady, too, introducing not only the band but the lighting and production people. That was before Proud Mary, one of her biggest hits from the late 1960s. Ive been singin this one a long time, she told the cheering crowd. And it keeps getting better and better. Tina Turner performed for about 5,000 people in Dec. 1987 at the Special Events Center. Tina Turner ships up lively show Dec. 3, 1987, El Paso Times Borderland fans got another chance to see Turner two years later when she performed in El Paso. Following is a review of that concert: Bruce Springsteen may be The Boss, but Tina Turner has certainly earned the right to be called the Boss Lady of rock. No one throws a house party like Anna Mae Bullock from Nutbush, Tenn., and the UT El Paso Special Events Center was jumping from the outset Wednesday night as 5,000 concertgoers turned out to see Anna also known as Tina get down, get funky and get loose. She wasted little time doing all three during a 17-song, 100-minute concert that worked for all the right reasons. Turner didnt skimp on the high-tech. The lighting hardware alone probably ran to six figures. Three costume changes But she wasnt about to let 200 mini-spotlights upstage her own dynamic personality, which exploded through three costume changes and a dozen of her recent and classis hits. She began with a series of songs from the Break every Rule album: What You Get Is What You See, Break Every Rule and Typical Male. And when the crowd practically begged for material from the Grammy Award-winning Private Dancer disc, she answered their musical prayers. Turner sang every hit song shes logged in the last 10 years: Better Be Good To Me, Whats Love Got To Do With It and Lets Stay Together, the dance club hit that launched her comeback five years ago. Reliving the past But the greats moment for anyone over 30 (and the audience definitely ran toward the 30- and 40-year-old group) came with Turners throaty delivery on Proud Mary, the John Fogerty classic that immortalized Ike and Tina Turner in the early 70s. Seldom does one get to relive the past in finer style. Always the consummate entertainer, Turner pranced round the stage as though it was made of hot coals. And why shouldnt she dance? If a better pair of 47-year-old legs exist, in the recording industry, the have yet to walk this way. Most of Turners time was spent in a red leather minidress, but she donned jeans and a tunic for her encore, which include Nutbush City Limit and Paradise Is Here. Turner says the Break every Rule Tour will be her last before she semi-retires. But anyone at Wednesdays show will agree that Turner isnt likely to go gentle into any good night. Theyre going to have to carry this lady offstage kicking and screaming. The British rock group Level 42 opened the show and met with an enthusiastic response on the strength of their hit songs Something About You and Lessons In Love. Trish Long may be reached at tlong@elpasotimes.com. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Tina Turner death: Look back at Las Cruces, El Paso concerts Consulate General of Russia in Gothenburg, Sweden Swedish Ambassador to Russia, Malena Mard, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on May 25 and informed that, given Swedens confrontational course towards Russia, it was decided to suspend the activity of the Russian Consulate General in Gothenburg. At the same time, the head of the Swedish mission was informed that the Russian party was revoking its consent for the activity of the Swedish Consulate-General in St Petersburg from Sept. 1, 2023, the Russian Foreign Ministry added. Five employees of Russian diplomatic missions in Sweden were declared personae non grata on April 25, 2023, in what has been considered an openly hostile measure by Stockholm, the Russian diplomats said. Sweden had previously announced the expulsion of five Russian diplomats for espionage. These actions by the Swedish authorities have further aggravated bilateral relations, which have reached an unprecedently low level, including as a result of the ongoing Russophobic campaign in Sweden. Russian diplomats contend that the Swedish Ambassador was told that the Russian party has decided to declare five Swedish diplomats personae non grata, including three employees under the military attache at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow. They were instructed to leave Russia within the same time period that was given to Russias employees by the Swedish authorities. Sweden is expelling five Russian diplomats who are suspected of spying for the Kremlin, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on April 25. Norway declared 15 employees of the Russian Embassy persona non grata on April 13 due to espionage activities under diplomatic cover. Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Macedonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia also announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats. 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 California State University is paying the law firm Cozen OConnor more than $1 million for an assessment of its Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation departments and in a report on Wednesday the CSU Board of Trustees heard what an interested party on any of its campuses could have told them for a five-buck cup of coffee. The system and campuses in the largest public university in the nation struggle with a lack of resources, policy, personnel, education, training and follow-through, which engenders a lack of accountability and trust. The Cozen OConnor report came with broad recommendations, but also a core list of observations. That list included an infrastructure that is insufficient to consistently carry out care and compliance responsibilities at most of the 23 universities; that they are impacted by a lack of resources, aggravated by instability, transition and overload and hindered by an insufficient records management system, all of which leads to insufficient institutional history and accountability. The assessment included visits to all of the campuses in the CSU system as well as the chancellors office, and a survey that received more than 17,000 responses from students, faculty and staff and administrators. In recent years the examples of unprofessional at least and criminal at most behavior, the examples and the stories that have come to us have been shocking, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, an ex-officio member of the board, said at the conclusion of the presentation by Cozen OConnor. If we take this report today and we continue to get failures, that to me is unacceptable. So taking this report today, recognizing that this is a high-level list of recommendations and real change will come with operationalizing these recommendations into real reforms, I can say that as an ex-officio member of this board and as someone who is put on this board to make sure that the public trust is represented, that to me is now the marker that we are laying down. Cozen OConnor will issue a formal report that will be released in June along with reports on each of the campuses in the system, including Fresno State. The implementation team at Fresno State will be co-chaired by vice president of administration Debbie Adishian-Astone and dean of undergraduate studies Bernadette Muscat. Adishian-Astone oversees the universitys human resources and Title IX offices, and Muscat headed the sexual harassment task force launched last April by university president Saul Jimenez-Sandoval. As with honest and clear-eyed self-reflection, many of these report findings are difficult to hear, interim CSU chancellor Jolene Koester said. Their recommendations are daunting and complex. They require that we drive change in process, policy and most importantly in culture and this change is going to be uncomfortable, but that is why the board commissioned Cozen to do this work. We are not going to steer away from the discomfort and the need for change. Weve got a vision here, we have a set of recommendations that move us from where we have fallen short to a new and better university system. Weve been shown a path forward. All of us, all of us, presidents, chancellors office staff, chancellor, administrative leadership, faculty leadership, faculty governance units, student leadership, students governance leadership, staff leaders, staff governance leaders, unions and each and every individual member of this large university system has to get on that path. The reality is this work is going to take time. Its going to require us to confront deeply rooted and underlying social issues, but we commit to the work, We lean into it, and our work begins now. Does CSU have resources to fix Title IX issues? Resources, however, will come into play in what will be a corrective process that Cozen OConnor and CSU officials said will take years. Gina Maisto Smith, who led the Cozen OConnor team, detailed for the board how far behind some of the CSU campuses are, and its impacts. How do we do more with less is the constant question everywhere, she said. One example, a Title IX coordinator also oversees on one campus human resources, equal opportunity, DHR, whistleblower and Clery and that one person is supported by one individual for a campus of 10,000 students. We also observed of the 23 universities, 19 of them have their Title IX, DHR functions combined and four do not. Staffing levels range, rules and functions range, name of the program ranges, portfolios range, reporting lines and supervision range and on most campuses there are not enough people to do the work that they are assigned. Fresno State has a director of Title IX and Clery compliance and a full-time deputy DHR administrator. The impacts are plain, Maisto Smith said. We cannot consistently demonstrate care and implement core compliant functions. Timeliness is impacted. Overall effectiveness is impacted. Perception of the process is impacted. The ability to engage in strategic, proactive and preventative work is impacted and that overall leads to diminished trust in the system, in the university, in the office, in the administrators and that diminished trust leads to barriers to reporting. That lack of resources will be a challenge for the CSU system, but cannot be an excuse, Kounalakis said. We know that there are a lot of competing factors for funding, Kounalakis said. What I would be so disappointed (in), is if there was sort of a dismissal of being able to institute change because people can hide behind a notion that there wasnt enough funding. As the campuses, and of course the office of the chancellor, look to implementation, utilizing resources that we already have to be able to follow these recommendations I think will be very important. And, having communication across the campuses of best practices, what is working and what isnt is working, is going to be very important. Kounalakis was followed addressing the board by Leora Freedman, CSU vice chancellor for human resources. The chancellors office Title IX and DHR staff is also planning to help the implementation teams develop their structure and their timelines, so there will be timelines and accountability, Freeman said. Thats part of the rollout of this. Of course, we cant control behavior, so there will always be incidents. Our goal is to improve the way we respond to them. I understand your concern about funding. We all share that. But we certainly dont intend to hide behind limitations. Were going to do the best we can, but theres only so much you can do with limited staff. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) Tom Hanks told graduates of Harvard University on Thursday to be superheroes in their defense of truth and American ideals, and to resist those who twist the truth for their own gain. For the truth to some is no longer empirical. It's no longer based on data, nor common sense, nor even common decency," said the two-time Academy Award winner during his keynote address. He invoked the Latin word for truth, veritas, Harvards motto. Telling the truth is no longer the benchmark for public service," he said. "Its no longer the salve to our fears, or the guide to our actions. Truth is now considered malleable, by opinion and by zero sum endgames." That left the more than 9,000 graduates at Harvard's 372nd commencement with a choice to make, said the Hollywood icon, who has played an astronaut, a soldier, a little boy in a man's body and even a Harvard professor in a decades-long movie career. Its the same option for all grownups who have to decide to be one of three types of Americans: Those who embrace liberty and freedom for all; those who wont; or those who are indifferent," he said. Only the first do the work of creating a more perfect union, a nation indivisible. The others get in the way." Near the end of the speech, he drove the point home to a group that included not just undergraduates but those who graduated from Harvards professional and extension schools. The responsibility is yours. Ours. The effort is optional. But the truth, the truth is sacred. Unalterable. Chiseled into the stone and the foundation of our republic, he said. Hanks, who was awarded an honorary doctor of arts degree, poked fun at his own lack of academic credentials on a stage filled with some of the world's brightest minds and most accomplished scientists. Its not fair, but please dont be embittered by this fact, Hanks said. Now, without having done a lick of work, without having spent any time in class, without once walking into that library in order to have anything to do with the graduating class of Harvard, its faculty, or its distinguished alumni I make a damn good living playing someone who did," he said in reference to his depiction of fictional Harvard professor Robert Langdon in three movies based on Dan Browns novels The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons and Inferno. Its the way of the world, kids, he said to a chorus of laughter. Before Hanks headed to the podium to give his speech, Harvard President Lawrence Bacow, presiding over his last commencement before stepping down, called Hanks, Wilson's bestie, Buzz's buddy, Ryan's savior, America's dad," and presented him with a Harvard volleyball, in tribute to his role in Cast Away, where to stay sane his character talks to an old volleyball. Hanks proved to be the most popular person on stage, posing for selfies with faculty members before the ceremony and giving congratulatory fist bumps to dozens of Harvard students who graduated summa cum laude. May goodness and mercy follow you all the days," he said, referencing a biblical verse. All the days of your lives. Godspeed." Samantha Power, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator, has repeatedly met with influential liberal foundations while serving in the role, documents show. According to nearly 700 pages of internal calendar entries obtained by Fox News Digital, Power met with George Soros' Open Society Foundations at least two times, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at least five times, and held meetings with several other powerful groups like the Ford and Rockefeller foundations. Power's intimate association with the entities exemplifies how the Biden administration, its officials, and agencies keep close contact with left-wing outside groups and lean on them for potential advice and recommendations. Other liberal groups backed by millions of dollars from megadonors like Soros maintain close links to the administration and have boasted of executing domestic policy proposals. During the meetings, Power, who oversees an independent government agency tasked with international development and humanitarian efforts, frequently met with high-level individuals within the grant-making foundations, each of which pushes massive sums of money internationally in addition to their expansive domestic funding of progressive causes and initiatives. SOROS-BACKED POLICY GROUP NOTCHES VICTORY WITH BIDEN'S TRANSGENDER TITLE IX RULES USAID administrator Samantha Power repeatedly met with outside liberal groups, including George Soros' and Bill Gates' foundations. Power's calendar entries reveal she participated in at least two meetings with the Open Society Foundations, which is involved in more than 120 countries worldwide. Soros' foundations provide "grant-making, research, advocacy, impact investment, and strategic litigation to support the growth of inclusive and vibrant democracies," according to its website. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The first schedule entry involving Soros' foundation, from September 29, 2021, shows Power held a virtual meeting with its president Mark Malloch Brown. Nearly two months later, on November 19, 2021, Power's schedule shows an "OSF Conversation" at the "OSF Offices" in Brussels. "The Open Society Foundations are dedicated to advancing inclusive democracy, shared and sustained economic growth, and human rights in the United States and around the world," spokesperson Jonathan Kaplan told Fox News Digital following publication. "Our leadership, like our grantees, actively engage with policymakersfrom both parties, across administrationsto advance these goals." Power partook in at least five meetings with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which funded work in 141 counties last year, its website states. Power's schedule shows that at least three of the discussions were with Melinda Gates, including a meeting on September 21, 2021, a World Bank dinner on April 22, 2022, and an August 20, 2022, phone call. The other two sessions were with the foundation's CEO Mark Suzman on May 19, 2021, and January 11, 2022. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS PLAY KEY ROLE IN BIDEN ADMIN FOREIGN POLICY, EMAILS SHOW Samantha Power, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, oversees an independent government agency tasked with international development and humanitarian efforts. Additionally, the USAID administrator participated in an April 2022 meeting with the Rockefeller Foundation, which maintains offices in Thailand, Italy, and Kenya outside of its Washington, D.C., and New York City locations. The foundation has also worked with China for more than 100 years. Her schedule shows she also fielded a call with Ford Foundation president Darren Walker in June 2022. "Administrator Power meets with a wide variety of officials and sectors to discuss USAID's mission to reduce extreme poverty, fight child malnutrition, spur economic growth, expand educational opportunities around the world, and build resilient global health systems," a USAID spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Working with philanthropies and the private sector to catalyze resources to tackle these complex global challenges is important to improving the quality of life for people around the world." Power joins a growing list of Biden administration officials and agencies with close contact with outside liberal groups. Power held meetings with George Soros' Open Society Foundations at least two times. After taking office, Biden stacked his administration with individuals from the Center for American Progress (CAP), a leading progressive think tank. CAP founder John Podesta serves as a senior White House clean energy czar, while former CAP president Neera Tanden acts as a White House senior adviser and staff secretary. Dozens of past and current administration officials are also previously affiliated with the group, including former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, former top White House economic adviser Brian Deese, senior White House economic adviser Gene Sperling, Veteran Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and Department of Defense Chief of Staff Kelly Magsamen. Communications between the administration and CAP have also surfaced in past Fox News Digital reports. BIDEN ADMIN COORDINATED WITH LIBERAL DARK MONEY BEHEMOTH ON 'TRANSFORMING FOOD SYSTEM,' EMAILS SHOW Power met with Bill Gates' foundation at least five times, according to her schedule. Meanwhile, outside liberal groups bankrolled by billionaires like Soros and Gates maintain channels to the administration. Governing for Impact, which has received over $10 million from Soros since 2019, has boasted in internal memos of implementing more than 20 of its regulatory agenda items as they work with the administration to reverse Trump-era deregulations. The Education Trust has received over $25 million from Gates' Foundation since mid-2022 and has a pipeline to top Education Department officials. The group has also worked alongside Governing for Impact on at least one memo sent to the administration. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation did not comment on their multiple meetings with Powers. Senate President Ty Masterson said Thursday it is unlikely that there will be a legal challenge over Gov. Laura Kelly's move to cut a controversial section of the education budget. A top Kansas Republican said Thursday it is unlikely that there will be a legal challenge over Gov. Laura Kelly's use of her disputed executive powers to cut a controversial section of the education budget. While Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, didn't rule out a move, which would have to come from Attorney General Kris Kobach's office, he said it was likely not something that officials would feel a need to pursue. Kelly's decision to use her line-item veto powers to axe a section of the education budget bill, which includes $13 billion in funding over the next two years, drew immediate condemnation from Masterson and legislative Republicans, who asked Kobach to review the move. After days of discussions with Kobach's office, which said last week only that it was reviewing the move, Masterson said he was now not sure "it was worth the fight." "Having further conversations with the AG, is it worth the fight on this?" he told reporters. "Those conversations aren't over over. But I'm handicapping it at about 75% we probably don't." A spokesperson for Kobach did not immediately return a request for comment. More: Kansas lawmakers approve a school budget. What will happen with school choice expansion? Kansas governor focused on school district enrollment year option It was widely rumored that Kelly was considering using the line-item veto on the school finance bill, which GOP lawmakers have increasingly spun off from the larger budget measure as a way of getting the governor to sign policy items she might otherwise reject. Kelly focused on one item, language that would give school districts the option of either taking their current year enrollment or the headcount from the previous school year to calculate how much state funding they are to receive. That is a departure from the system that has existed over the past six years, where districts could choose to count the number of students enrolled in either of the two previous school years, a move originally designed to throw a lifeline to districts that were losing students. More: Kansas governor uses line-item veto to ax rural school funding cut. What will happen now? The change would have benefited growing districts, including those in Topeka, Johnson County and elsewhere. But numerous rural districts would have lost money under the provision, even as schools see an increase in financial support as part of a court-mandated funding blueprint. While it has been disputed whether the governor has line-item veto powers with the school budget bill, Kelly defended the decision at the time, saying that a procedural move on the floor of the Kansas House indicated the bill was a funding measure. "That is clearly an appropriations bill, even by the Legislature's own words as they were debating the bill and an issue came up and they declared an appropriations bill," she told reporters last week. Speaking with the media on Thursday, Kelly said the Legislature would likely see a similar fight in the future if they continued to add policy language to the budget. "If they continue to put really bad policy in appropriations bills, I probably will continue to line-item," she said. While larger schools did ask the Legislature to allow them to count current years' enrollment, they did not request the elimination of using past years' enrollment. More: 'Nail in the coffin': As tensions run high on school funding, rural Kansas fears impact Republican leader says rural districts better served by 2015 plan Masterson said he continued to believe Kelly's actions were unconstitutional and Republicans have criticized Kelly's actions as slashing millions of dollars in funding for some districts. He suggested that rural school districts might have been better served by a plan advanced in the Legislature in 2015 to provide block grants to districts while lawmakers developed a funding formula that passed muster with the Kansas Supreme Court. The high court eventually ruled that idea to be unconstitutional as well. "It is interesting to me that it takes funding out of K-12," Masterson said. "It is an interesting veto because you're counting students that aren't there and aren't counting students that are there. I understand trying to save rural schools I think most of them wish they had block grants back." This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas fight over school funding veto unlikely, Ty Masterson says REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque The treasurer for the influential political group run by conservative activist Matt Schlapp resigned on Tuesday night over unsettling concerns about funding Schlapps legal defense in a sexual assault lawsuit, New York magazine reported on Thursday. Bob Beauprez, the longtime treasurer for the American Conservative Union, sent a letter to the groups board of directors on Tuesday saying he could not deliver a financial report at the upcoming board meeting with any confidence in the accuracy of the numbers. In January, The Daily Beast broke the news that an aide to Herschel Walkers Senate campaign alleged Schlapp made sustained and unwanted and unsolicited sexual contact with him while staffing the activist during a campaign trip. The accuser, who later revealed himself as longtime GOP operative Carlton Huffman, filed a lawsuit against Schlapp that month, seeking more than $9 million in damages. Schlapp has denied the allegations. According to New York, Beauprez said that after Huffman filed his suit, ACU fronted Schlapp $50,000 so he could immediately retain a lawyer. In February, The Daily Beast reported that lawyer was Benjamin Chew, who defended Johnny Depp in the defamation suit filed by Amber Heard. Herschel Walker Staffer: Matt Schlapp Groped My Crotch The treasurer said he was blindsided, the article reads, when Schlapp said he raised $270,000 to go to ACU and a related foundationwhich Schlapp later said was dispersed or invoiced. Beauprez said the groups board has never been fully briefed as to exactly what Schlapp did with the money. I have to admit that I feel like Im in the dark, Beauprez wrote the board, according to New York. I have received no further information about what additional costs have accrued since then I assume any monies paid are either coming from Matt personally or from ACU/F. But, again, I dont know, and it is most unsettling. However great our sympathy, Beauprez said, we cannot avoid our fiduciary responsibilities. A few of us have sought answers to some of what seem to be obvious and necessary questions. As a result, we have been accused of not having Matts back and trying to stage a leadership coup. Saying he had to resign because he could no longer deal honestly with donors, Beauprez linked the sexual assault scandal to long-running sentiment that Schlapp mismanaged the organization. A cancer has been metastasizing within the organization for years, Beauprez wrote. It must be diagnosed, treated, and cured, or it will destroy ACU/F. You simply cannot survive like this. In a tweet sent on Thursday morning, Schlapp seemed to respond to New Yorks reporting, but instead addressed The Washington Post, which had not published a story on the topic yet. In the message, Schlapp did not mention specific allegations but wrote of routine internal complaints of disgruntled employees. No conservative with integrity would violate their fiduciary duty and forward Board deliberations and documents to the Washington Post, Schlapp said. In response to an email from The Daily Beast, Schlapps attorney commented on the New York story. The CPAC Executive Committee was briefed on these matters at the request of Bob Beauprez, said Chew. We do not discuss privileged and confidential attorney-client information with the press. Given the information we have unearthed in discovery, we are confident we will prevail in the litigation. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. As trans Kentuckians, we are in danger. We are scared. But we will fight back. | Opinion Cisgender people simply dont grasp what transgender people are going through. If they did, they would offer a very different kind of help. There is debate over the proper term many online activists have considered the relative merits of genocide or pogrom but there is no question that radicals are coordinating an aggressive anti-trans project to remove access to health care for kids and adults, justify our segregation and exclusion from public spaces, and even ban books by and about us. The goal is our removal or our deaths, and the program is being enacted in a dozen states. For trans people, the emotions range from anguish to terror to rage. Every trans person in America is paying attention. The night of the primary election, one of us spoke to a politically involved Democrat who was absolutely stunned we were glad Kelly Craft isnt the Republican nominee. They were clearly thinking: But her net favorables are so much worse than Daniel Camerons! Her head-to-head numbers are so bad! She would be much easier for Andy to beat. There is no way to explain to them what it means that Kelly Craft just spent $10 million on ads that our neighbors and families saw everywhere that say that we are a threat. That we are to be feared, hated, and scorned. There is no way to explain what its like to read on Twitter, on an otherwise pleasant evening, that Under a Craft-Wise administration, we will not have transgenders [sic] in our school system. Although the threat is far from over, it is amusing and relieving to see Mrs. Craft walk away with third place. Of course, politicians telling Kentuckians whom to fear and loathe is a time-honored tradition. But this time is different. The reality is that trans people are one of the politically weakest groups in the commonwealth. We have few institutions that facilitate the strength of our community. We have zero support from the donor elite. Even sympathetic politicians are more likely to look to us for applause or free labor than for friendship or wisdom. Even though the oppression of trans people hurts every Kentuckian, disrupting the principles of liberty and free expression that are supposed to protect everybody, the reality is that trans people are uniquely vulnerable. And there is simply no effort by any progressive groups or institutions to make space for us, especially in the wealthy social justice organizations raising money off our pain. Something is badly broken in Kentucky politics. The culture we have built, far from nurturing bright young people and welcoming in the vulnerable, exists only to command submission to personalities and duties. And that just doesnt leave room for humanity. Volunteers dont show up in political spaces in search of tasks alone, nor in search of inspiration from charismatic individuals. They show up because they need community. They need to connect with other people who are feeling what they feel, seeing things as they do, and taking delight in shared purpose. Instead, they receive a canvassing list or a donation link and theyre sent on their merry way, possibly with an exciting selfie, back to lonely alienation. Politics cant solve every problem. But when a group of people is politicized and othered, they need to engage in politics much more robustly than before. They need to build their communities within, and around, politics in order to survive. They need a political culture of their own, one that emphasizes the belonging and equity of their whole community, so that everybody in that community can escape the terror. Trans people need to build power, and to build our own kind of power. Thats going to look a lot of different ways. We have to stop entering other peoples institutions, which tokenize and exploit us, and start building communitarian institutions that exist to support trans people; support trans candidates for public office; invest our wealth back into our own community; and offer mutual aid to ensure that nobody is left behind. This is a big project, and it needs to be a big discussion. Many parts of it already are underway, led by trailblazing trans Kentuckians who see the deep need. But we need to consciously learn from other communities that have built power from nothing despite being a small share of the population, especially Black and Jewish Americans. And we need to be diligent in identifying needs, supporting one another, and proceeding in love and kindness. There can be no question: the stakes are survival. Unlike almost every other marginalized community, trans people can never be fully killed simply because we exist as a natural result of biological variations. But we can be erased. We can see our culture and ideas suppressed. We can see efforts to deny trans kids self-knowledge, even to the point of their lives being in danger. The ancient world may have invented concrete, but the medievals forgot it. Cis people: write a check, ask a trans-led organization like Kentucky Health Justice Network, Transcending Stigma, or Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky what to do, or sit down. For trans people, in self-defense and in real pride, the rallying cry is simple: Trans Power Now. Rebecca Blankenship is Kentuckys first openly transgender elected official and the executive director of Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky. Mason Chernosky is a transgender activist and the organizing director at Hood to the Holler. Maddie Spalding is the founder of Kentuckiana Transgender Support Group and the Transgender Wellness Coalition. Alexander Griggs is the executive director of Transcending Stigma. Kentuckys trans youth dread what state health care ban will mean for them. Im a human Rep. Josh Calloway should resign for his hateful views, but bigotry is his partys plank | Opinion I want to stay in Kentucky but as a transgender person, Im scared | Opinion Fueled by dark money, Kentuckys rural/urban divide hurts all of us | Opinion Dont be fooled: Ky, US anti-LGBTQ bills mirror German laws that ended in the Holocaust | Opinion Trump and his allies gleefully mock DeSantis during the governor's glitch-filled presidential rollout on Twitter Trump and his allies gleefully mock DeSantis during the governor's glitch-filled presidential rollout on Twitter Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Alex Wong/Getty Images; Marta Lavandier/AP Trump, his family, and his allies trolled DeSantis amid a glitchy campaign rollout. Donald Trump Jr. deemed the night a "#DeSaster." The former president shared a video comparing the glitches to Trump's own 2024 announcement. Former President Donald Trump and his allies mocked Ron DeSantis Wednesday evening as the Florida governor's hype chat with Elon Musk turned into a glitchy rollout of his presidential campaign. "Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster," Trump wrote on Truth, his social media platform. "WATCH!" Trump also compared DeSantis' struggles with Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, whose announcement was briefly sidetracked after his main microphone went down. "Tim Scott's Presidential launch, even with the broken microphone (don't pay the contractor, Tim!), was by far the best Presidential launch of the week," the former president wrote on Truth. Robs was a catastrophe!" The former president also shared a video contrasting his own pomp-filled announcement at his Mar-a-Lago club with DeSantis' rough start on Wednesday. Donald Trump Jr. deemed the evening a "#DeSaster." DeSantis' team seemed unphased by the struggles. "There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis' vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet," DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin wrote on Twitter. "Washington is next." Trump and his allies also tried to make multiple comparisons between DeSantis and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. The former president infamously labeled Bush as "low energy" before overtaking him during the 2016 primaries. "DeSantis is making JEB! look high energy right now," Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter. While Trump's campaign tweeted a graphic with DeSantis' name next to an exclamation mark, reminiscent of Bush's 2016 logo. "DeSedative," Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, once a close DeSantis ally, wrote on Twitter. After nearly 30 minutes of struggles, DeSantis was eventually able to continue with his presidential announcement and later a quasi-town hall with conservative media personalities and other allies. Before then, both Musk and entrepreneur David Sacks could be overheard discussing what to do about glitches as the platform struggled to keep up with the number of users in the audio-only chat. "We've got so many people here that I think we are kind of melting the servers," Sacks said amid early struggles. DeSantis' decision to announce his widely expected presidential run on Twitter drew skepticism even before Wednesday night's struggles. Most Americans are not on Twitter and the audience was likely to be far less than he would receive as a primetime guest on cable news. Trump was far from the only politician to mock DeSantis' struggles. "This link works," President Joe Biden's campaign tweeted with a link to donate to his campaign. Beyond the trolling, Trumpworld welcomed DeSantis' announcement with a series of ads, statements, and other posts that underlined a monthlong onslaught against the former president's best-placed challenger for the GOP nomination. Trump's coordinated attacks on DeSantis appear to be working as the Florida governor has dropped in polling before his announcement. Read the original article on Business Insider The Trump-DeSantis showdown is now official, and artificial intelligence is right in the middle of it Ron DeSantis (left) and Donald Trump. Mario Tama/Getty Images; Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Donald Trump on Wednesday posted a video of Ron DeSantis featuring voice-cloning AI. The tongue-in-cheek parody shows DeSantis and Elon Musk speaking to the devil and Adolf Hitler. It's the latest sign, and perhaps the most prominent yet, of AI being used as a political weapon. The Trump-DeSantis 2024 showdown officially kicked off on Wednesday evening, and artificial intelligence is smack dab in the middle of the political fray. About a dozen posts into his Truth Social tirade knocking Gov. Ron DeSantis' 2024 campaign launch, former President Donald Trump reposted a video featuring a conversation that clearly deploys voice-cloning AI. It's not the first time Trump has posted AI-generated content. But the two-minute clip, uploaded on a private Rumble account, is the latest sign and perhaps the most prominent yet of AI creeping into the political sphere as a tool to steer narratives or attack opponents. The video is a parody of DeSantis' glitch-plagued launch on Twitter Spaces. Both the Florida governor and Elon Musk feature, alongside a sample of Trump's laundry list of people he dislikes billionaire George Soros, World Economic Forum chair Klaus Schwab, and former Vice President Dick Cheney. The parody is evident from the get-go, with the inclusion of characters like Adolf Hitler, the devil, and the FBI. "Hi everyone, welcome to our Ron DeSantis Twitter Spaces," Musk's voice says in the clip. "Hello? Is my microphone working correctly?" Soros' voice interrupts. What follows next is a chaotic blend of old audio, new voice lines spoken by an unknown person, and AI-generated dialogue that sounds eerily like the people being imitated. "Everyone just shut the hell up so I can make my announcement, okay?" DeSantis' voice says. "Would you please shut up already? I'm running for fucking president, okay?" his voice later adds. "Yeah, we kind of already knew," everyone responds. Musk's AI-cloned voice even mimics his speech patterns. "Uh, uh, guys from the FBI, this is not a private call, this is a public Twitter Space, everyone can listen in," the voice says at one point. At the end of the clip, Trump's voice interjects. "Hold your horses, Elon! The real president is going to say a few words. The devil, I'm going to kick your ass very soon. Hitler, you're already dead. Dick Cheney, sounds like you'll be joining Hitler very soon," the voice said. "Klaus Schwab and George Soros, I'm putting both your asses in jail. And Ron DeSanctimonious can kiss my big beautiful 2024 presidential ass. Trump 2024 baby, let's go," Trump's voice continues. The clip is reminiscent of AI-generated "gaming presidents" memes, which deploy the voices of Trump, President Joe Biden, and former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton trash-talking each other over "Call of Duty," "Overwatch," and "Fortnite." Joe Rogan and Musk sometimes feature in such memes as well. But Trump's newly reposted Twitter Spaces parody comes as politicians around the world slowly start using AI to serve their ends. The Republican National Committee released an ad attacking Biden in April using AI-generated images. New Zealand's center-right National Party has also been posting AI-generated images on Instagram, from a photo of two nurses to a bizarre version of a Fast and Furious poster. National Party leader Christopher Luxon said his party was using AI to make "some stock images" for social media, per The New Zealand Herald. Trump himself shared a clip on May 11 that used voice-cloning AI. It features CNN anchor Anderson Cooper saying the former president was "ripping us a new asshole here on CNN's live presidential town hall." Avid global attention on generative AI has prompted concerns from cybersecurity and tech experts about its ability to distort the truth and mislead voters when used for political gain. Trump's DeSantis parody is overtly tongue-in-cheek, and clearly a joke, but fake images and videos can produce immediate consequences if believed. On Monday, a false photo of the Pentagon exploding suspected to have been at least partially AI-generated sent the stock market into a dip. A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider ULAN BATOR, May 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 290,000 head of livestock have been killed in the eastern Mongolian provinces of Sukhbaatar and Khentii due to recent dust and snow storms, local media reported on Thursday, citing these provinces' departments of food and agriculture. The number of dead animals is not final and is expected to increase since many livestock are still unaccounted for, relevant authorities said. Heavy blizzards and intense dust storms swept through Sukhbaatar and Khentii provinces late last week, causing severe damage. A total of 127 people, primarily nomadic herders, went missing in the provinces due to the storms. Among them, 125 were found alive, while two were killed. Mongolia has a harsh continental climate as strong winds, dust and snow storms are common. Former President Trump on Thursday went after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) campaign launch in Trumps first on-camera remarks since his top primary opponent officially joined the presidential race with a rocky start the evening before. I think he had a rough opening, Trump told NewsNation when asked about DeSantiss campaign launch on Twitter spaces, which was marred by technical glitches. DeSantiss announcement confirmed months, if not years, of speculation that he is eyeing the White House. It also amounted to one of the most significant developments in the 2024 Republican presidential contest since November, when Trump announced he would once again seek the partys nomination. Trump, who has steadily led his 2024 GOP primary opponents in national polls in recent weeks, said hes feeling great about the state of the presidential race, touting some recent poll numbers he said he saw. Theyre all good. The polls look really nice, he told reporters. More on DeSantiss launch from The Hill DeSantis has so far been Trumps most formidable candidate but still trails behind him by double-digits. Other GOP primary candidates, however, have polled only in the single digits. Still, those opponents have taken to attacking DeSantis, which bubbled over Wednesday night after he announced his intention to launch a 2024 campaign on a Twitter spaces platform that cut in and out and at one point was abruptly cut off entirely. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Trump took to social media with a much harsher tone during the DeSantis launch the evening before, mocking the Florida governor and calling him fatal and a disaster. Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH! Trump said in a post on Truth Social, adding later, Is the DeSantis launch FATAL Yes! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Donald Trump mocked the disastrous Twitter Spaces launch of Ron DeSantiss bid for the White House as he made a bizarre joke about Kim Jong-un. Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH! he wrote on Truth Social. The Florida governors campaign launch descended into chaos as Twitter crashed immediately as he tried to present his candidacy to Elon Musk. Rob, My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working (TRUTH!), yours does not! (per my conversation with Kim Jung Un, of North Korea, soon to become my friend!) Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. Mr Trump tweeted in January 2018 that the nuclear button in Washington DC was much bigger and more powerful than the North Korean dictators and my button works! Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of the one-term president, took to Twitter to ridicule his fathers main rival for the GOP presidential nomination, branding the campaign launch a DeSaster. DeSantis is making JEB! look high energy right now, he added. The former president then posted two videos to Truth Social mocking Mr DeSantis. The first showed a Tesla rocket with Ron written over it crashing, while the second mixed clips of the chaotic twitter event with Mr Trumps own campaign launch. The Twitter event, which began at 6pm ET, was plunged into chaos when it was hit by tech issues and dropped audio almost immediately. David Sacks, one of the moderators of the event, said the massive number of participants was melting the servers. Despite the mocking he has received for the event, Mr DeSantis told Mr Musk as it ended: We should do it again. Earlier he laid out why he was running for president, before mostly talking about right-wing culture war issues beloved by many of his supporters. I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback, Mr DeSantis said. American decline is not inevitable. It is a choice, he said. And we should choose a new direction, a path that will lead to American revitalization. Trump says even Cuomo did better than DeSantis on COVID-19 Former President Trump says even former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) handled the coronavirus pandemic better than Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), his latest attack coming the day after DeSantis officially joined the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Trump said in a video from his campaign Thursday that Florida had among the highest number of deaths from COVID-19 in the country and shut down numerous public locations at the onset of the pandemic, including beaches. How about the fact that he had the third-most deaths of any state Even Cuomo did better. He was No. 4, Trump said. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Florida had the third-highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in 2021, while New York had the fourth-most. But the data also shows Florida had the 18th-highest death rate per 100,000 residents that year. Trump has previously attacked DeSantis over his record handling the pandemic, claiming that he shut down his state while other Republican governors did not. DeSantis first issued an order encouraging people to remain at home and shutting down all but essential businesses on April 1, 2020, later than most other governors. He announced toward the end of the month that the state would begin lifting the lockdown order and ended it entirely by that September. DeSantis received criticism from opponents who slammed him for ending the lockdown as the number of cases and hospitalizations in the state rose toward the end of 2020. He has often touted his own policies keeping Florida open as many other states continued lockdowns longer. Cuomo also faced criticism over his administrations handling of the pandemic, with a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) finding that the administration majorly undercounted the number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Trump also referred to DeSantiss ongoing legal battle with Disney over the governors attempt to remove the companys self-governing status over its parks. And look at Disney and what a mess it is. Couldve worked out an easy settlement, but no, he wanted to show the fake news how tough a guy he is. Hes not, Trump said. This echoed other comments Trump has made criticizing the situation, saying last month that DeSantis was getting absolutely destroyed by Disney. DeSantis, who joined the White House race Wednesday after months of speculation, regularly polls second behind Trump in GOP primary surveys. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Trump and his staffers conducted a 'dress rehearsal' to move sensitive documents even after the DOJ asked for them to be returned FILE - Former President Donald Trump. AP Photo/Evan Vucci Trump's staffers moved sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago one day before federal agents went to retrieve them, The Washington Post reported. Investigators are suspicious of the timing of the move and believe it could point to obstruction. The classified documents probe is said to be nearing its end and Trump's lawyers think an indictment could come in as little as a few weeks. Two of former President Donald Trump's staffers moved sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago one day before federal officials went to the property to retrieve them. That's according to The Washington Post, which previously reported that the boxes of documents were moved out of a storage room at Mar-a-Lago after the feds subpoenaed them last May. Officials at the National Archives and the Justice Department had requested that the documents be returned before subpoenaing them. But investigators are said to be suspicious of the specific timing of the move and believe it could to point to potential obstruction of the ongoing federal investigation into whether Trump mishandled national defense information. The Post also reported that Trump and his advisors conducted a "dress rehearsal" to move sensitive documents before the feds subpoenaed the records. And one witness has testified to prosecutors that he moved boxes of documents at Mar-a-Lago on the former president's orders. Trump's lawyer, meanwhile, signed a statement last June saying that all the materials that had been moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left office had been returned to the federal government. But the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump's property two months later and recovered 11 more sets of records with classified markings. The DOJ's investigation into Trump's handling of government documents spearheaded by the special counsel Jack Smith has heated up over the last several months. The Wall Street Journal reported that investigators are almost finished getting testimony and evidence and that Smith is nearing a final decision on whether to take the extraordinary step of bringing federal criminal charges against the 45th president. Over in Trump's camp, concerns are also brewing about a possible indictment, which could come in as little as a couple of weeks. And on Tuesday, they sent sent a letter requesting to meet with Attorney General Merrick Garland, a move some legal experts said was a telltale sign of looming charges. "Unlike President Biden, his son Hunter, and the Biden family, President Trump is being treated unfairly," the letter said. "No President of the United States has ever, in the history of our country, been baselessly investigated in such an outrageous and unlawful fashion." Insider has reached out to Trump's lawyer for comment on The Post's reporting. Read the original article on Business Insider US voter panel Governor Ron DeSantis is gunning to be the Republican to take on Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election - but can he convince his own party to turn away from Donald Trump? The BBC asked Americans who had voted for Mr Trump in the past what they think about his most high-profile rival so far. Although the former president remains the clear frontrunner, most of our voter panel had concerns about Mr Trump's chances in a rematch against Joe Biden. And many see the Florida governor as an attractive alternative. Mikes Bales Mike Bales is an evangelical Christian and conservative Republican who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. I definitely think Trump should be worried about DeSantis. He stacks up very well against other Republicans because he showed very strong leadership during the pandemic and led the charge to get through it as opposed to Democratic states like New York and California where it was a disaster. I love that he will speak the truth no matter how popular or unpopular it is, and he speaks against the destructive woke agenda. I've been following the Disney feud. Good for Governor DeSantis for signing that Parental Rights in Education Bill [dubbed "Don't Say Gay" by critics] into law because society is trying so hard to sexualise children and take their innocence. Rom Solene Rom says Donald Trump's ability to shake up the establishment still makes him the standout candidate. I think Governor DeSantis would make a great leader. What I like about him is he is principled and sticks to his touted beliefs. But I won't vote for him in the primary unless Mr Trump, for some reason, drops out of the race. I believe Mr Trump does recognise that Governor DeSantis is his closest rival and that is why he has taken some shots at the governor in public. I've been following the Disney feud and I believe that while Governor DeSantis had a valid reason to lock horns with Disney initially, he should have disengaged from that feud long ago after he made his point. I think it's gone on for far too long and may, in the long haul, prove detrimental to the governor and the state of Florida. Kathleen McClellan Kathleen, a strong anti-abortion voter, backed Trump twice. Now she's ready to move on. I have nothing against Donald Trump, but I think it's time to move forward. Donald Trump seems like he's got all his cognitive abilities, and I'm not concerned about him being old, but I think we could use someone a little bit younger and who doesn't have all the drama going on. I would vote for DeSantis in the primary - you have to go with someone who will win. I just appreciate the values he stands up for. I appreciate him standing firm with Disney. I don't live in Florida, but I do have family there. Sheri Strain Sheri was a Republican who voted for Trump twice before turning against him over his claims of election fraud in 2020. She is now a registered Independent. I think DeSantis has done a stellar job in Florida and has proven to be a great leader as seen during the pandemic. I live in California where Governor Newsom is just the polar opposite. I love DeSantis's educational background - Yale undergrad and Harvard Law, you can't beat that. He is certainly qualified - and has military service, too. I believe Trump should be worried - all my friends now like DeSantis. The only thing that worries me is that DeSantis is moving too conservative regarding abortion rights to get the independent vote. Florida recently went from a 15-week abortion ban to just six weeks - that will lose a lot of independent women voters right there. Jim Sullivan Jim voted for Trump twice, but with little enthusiasm last time. He's not convinced by DeSantis yet. DeSantis is one of the few Republicans in the field who can lock horns with Trump, not kowtow to him and survive politically in GOP politics. He's been the governor of a major US state and guided it through both a pandemic and also major natural disasters. He's competent. I think as Trump continues to get mired down by lawsuits, DeSantis will emerge as the head of the pack and may manage to build the winning coalition between the Trump populists and some more mainstream Republicans - but it's way too early to say. I think the feud hurts both Disney and Florida, but actually helps DeSantis. He wants those anti-woke voters. Disney and Florida are just collateral damage for him as he strives to get the presidency, in my opinion. That is exactly my big concern with him - he's increasingly looking like a typical politician to me. Brooke Riske Brooke voted for the Libertarian candidate in 2016, then turned to Trump at the last election. I don't know yet who would get my vote in the primary election. I maintain a few concerns about all candidates, including DeSantis, so I will be listening and watching the candidates closely. I think DeSantis has a greater appeal than Trump and can attract the middle of the road swing voters that Trump hasn't been able to reach. I am interested to hear how DeSantis will differentiate himself from Trump during the primary and debates. I find the Disney corporation similar to Bud Light, Target, etc. They prioritise far-left cultural values and fail to read the room of the majority of their customers. Those decisions have financial consequences, which they seemingly are willing to accept. DeSantis is leading a charge that a lot of people support. Trump's main competitor told what he would do about the war in Ukraine as US President The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, considered the main Republican competitor of ex-president Donald Trump in the US elections, said that if he wins, he would not like to see American troops involved in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Source: DeSantis said this in the first Fox News interview after his nomination for the election, European Pravda reports. Details: DeSantis was answering questions about what his actions would be regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war on his first day in office. He began by criticising the current state of the US military, saying the military has become "politicised," "they talk about gender ideology", and "global warming". Quote: "We need to return our military to focusing on commitment, core values and core mission," DeSantis said. In the second part of the answer, he said he would like to see a "settlement" of the war in Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasised that the American army should not be involved in the war. Quote: "I would like to see a settlement of this [war. ed.]. I do not want to see a wider war. I think it is absolutely unknowable what it [war. ed.] will look like in January of 2025. But I would not want to see the United States with our troops get enmeshed in a war in Russia or in Ukraine," the Florida governor said. The day before, DeSantis submitted documents to the US Federal Election Commission about his participation in the 2024 presidential election. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Carole Meyer, the interim superintendent for the Tumwater School District, said kids are finally returning to in-person learning after years of having virtual options. As a result, the school board voted earlier this month to suspend its Virtual Academy, citing low enrollment numbers. Meyer said the district projected having 256 students enrolled in the academy during the 2022-23 school year and ended up having 126. She said the costs of materials, the online platform and teachers salaries were no longer matching up with how many students were being served. She said its teachers were transferred to different schools involuntarily at the beginning of the year. And now, at end of the school year, there are only 16 K-8 students enrolled in TVA. About 55 high school students moved to Cascadia High Schools online program at the Tumwater Learning Center throughout the year. Meyer said the remaining four TVA teachers accepted other positions within the district, along with a full-time office professional and a half-time principal. She said the district reached out by phone and email to the families of the 16 students, and they were offered several different virtual learning opportunities, including programs through Washington Virtual Academies. But most of them chose to return to in-person learning at their original school, Meyer said. Meyer said she expects to see more families choosing to send their children back to in-person learning now that theres been some time since the pandemic. It was a non-event, really, Meyer said of closing the virtual academy. All of those students are important to us, but were seeing that most of them are choosing to go back to in-person learning now. She said TVA isnt closed for good, but more on a hiatus. She said if theres ever a growing interest or another need for K-8 virtual learning, it will open back up. And the district will continue providing online classes for grades 9-12 through Cascadia. (Bloomberg) -- Tunisias government has no intention of altering the statutes of the nations central bank or tampering with its independence, according to Economy and Planning Minister Samir Saied. Most Read from Bloomberg Whats being said about reducing the prerogatives of the central bank is empty talk, Saied told Bloomberg on Wednesday on the sidelines of a conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The independence of the central bank will remain respected as it is without any modifications. His remarks came after the deputy speaker of Tunisias parliament, Riadh Jaidane, told local broadcaster Shems FM on Tuesday that the independence of the central bank was among issues that would be covered in a package of draft bills planned by the government after it held recent talks with the assembly. The speaker himself, Brahim Bouderbala, subsequently said the government hasnt submitted any draft laws on any subject to parliament. In comments cited by the state-run TAP news agency, Bouderbala urged the media to obtain information on the assemblys moves solely from his office. Tunisias new parliament, voted in this year after its predecessor was suspended by President Kais Saied in July 2021, is due to discuss wide-reaching changes as it tries to revitalize an economy dogged by years of tepid growth. Jaidane, who handles major reforms at the assembly, had said on Tuesday morning there was consensus that we must review the regulatory laws of the central bank and the issue of independence which is very sensitive. We arent against having a strong central bank that plays a role in the national economy and public finances, but there needs to be limits and under a perspective of a new phase that breaks with everything that has contributed to disrupting the Tunisian state, he had said. Tunisia is in talks with the International Monetary Fund to reach a final agreement on a $1.9 billion bailout. Minister Saied says authorities target a pact as soon as possible. A 2016 parliamentary vote to strengthen the independence of the central bank was instrumental to securing Tunisia a previous $2.9 billion arrangement. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Anti-refugee sentiments have been running high in Turkey, with both presidential candidates vowing to boost returns Turkey has launched the construction of nearly a quarter million housing units to resettle refugees in rebel-held northern Syria, Turkish media said, as repatriation efforts loom large in Turkey's presidential runoff. An AFP correspondent on Wednesday saw builders working and heavy machinery being used at the side on the outskirts of the town of Al-Ghandura, in the Jarabulus area near the Turkish border. "Syrian refugees living in Turkey will settle in the houses... as part of a dignified, voluntary safe return," Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Wednesday at the launch of the project, according to private Turkish news agency IHA. He said that "240,000 houses will be built" in the region, expressing hope that the project would be completed in three years, IHA added. Since Syria's war broke out in 2011, neighbouring Turkey has taken in more than three million people who fled the fighting. Most have "temporary protection" status, leaving them vulnerable to a forced return. Anti-refugee sentiments have been running high in Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hardened his once-accepting stance towards people displaced by war as he fights for re-election in a presidential runoff this weekend. Turkish opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has pledged to send "all the refugees home" if he wins. The construction site Soylu visited was formerly an air strip. On a billboard, "Project for safe, voluntary and honourable returns" was written in Arabic and Turkish, while the names of organisations including Turkey's relief agency AFAD and the Qatar Fund for Development featured on the sign. "Qatari emir (Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad) Al-Thani and our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have taken a big step toward addressing one of the world's most important issues," Soylu said, according to the IHA report. Erdogan supported early rebel efforts to topple Assad, and Ankara maintains a military presence in northern stretches of the war-torn country that angers Damascus. Since 2016, Turkey has carried out successive ground operations to expel Kurdish forces from border areas of northern Syria. Its troops and their Syrian proxies hold swathes of the border, and Erdogan has long sought to establish a "safe zone" 30 kilometres (20 miles) deep the whole length of the frontier. "To date, there have been 554,000 voluntary returns," Soylu said. "There is a serious demand for a voluntary and dignified return to this safe area." Earlier this month, Erdogan pledged to build some 200,000 homes in 13 locations in Syria, aiming to resettle some one million refugees, local media reported. In November, Soylu paid a visit to open 600 basic homes in Syria's rebel-held Idlib region, saying 75,000 houses had been constructed in the previous two years. str-lar/lg/ami Huge expanses fill the ancient city of Antakya, where razed apartment buildings once stood Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stares down from a campaign poster at the earthquake ruins of Antakya, inspiring confidence in Ahmet Gulyildizoglu ahead of Sunday's election runoff. Millions across the ravaged region defied expectation and voted for the man who has ruled Turkey for two decades and fell just short of securing another five-year term on May 14. Erdogan's secular rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, "does not fill you with hope," Gulyildizoglu said in front of a debris-strewn expanse once occupied by his six-floor apartment building. "On the other hand, you have an alliance that keeps their promises," the pensioner added, referring to Erdogan's Islamic-rooted party and its far-right allies. Erdogan's ability to maintain support across Turkey's southeastern disaster zone contributed to Kilicdaroglu's disappointing showing in the first round, which he ended trailing by nearly five points. The Turkish leader is now the strong favourite, capping a remarkable turnaround. Seething anger at the government's stuttering response to the February disaster, in which more than 50,000 died, put Erdogan in the unfamiliar position of issuing public apologies. But Berk Esen, an associate professor at Istanbul's Sabanci University, called Erdogan's election rebound "not very surprising". Esen argued that the region is filled with pious voters who trusted Erdogan's explanation that the massive toll resulted from an unavoidable act of nature -- not state negligence over lax building standards. In addition, "the opposition did not campaign heavily in the area and could not offer an alternative, credible message," Esen told AFP. - 'Depot for migrants' - Instead of giving up, Kilicdaroglu is radically changing course. Ditching his embracing vows to heal Turkey's social divisions, Kilicdaroglu has struck a stridently nationalist tone, pledging to expel millions of Syrians and other migrants. The message resonates in Syria-border cities such as Antakya, a mountain-rimmed cradle of civilisations once known as Antioch. Kilicdaroglu has plastered Antakya with posters declaring: "The Syrians will go". "We will not turn Turkey into a depot for migrants," the 74-year-old said on a visit to Antakya on Tuesday. The tough talk pleased Mehmet Aynaci, 20, who blames Syrians for local housing problems. "Before the earthquake, if you looked for a flat, there were a lot of Syrians," Aynaci said. "Of course they must go," added Atilla Celtik, who like Aynaci is one of the few who has not left the almost completely deserted city. "They will be asking for our land in the future," he said. "We are worried." - Hurt feelings - The historically liberal lean of Antakya's Hatay province gave Kilicdaroglu a slight edge here over Erdogan in the first round. It was one of just three of the 11 quake-hit provinces to vote against the incumbent. Kilicdaroglu's future success will depend in part on how many people who left the disaster zone are willing to make a second trip back for the runoff. Nearly 1.7 million of the displaced failed to change their registration address by an April 2 deadline, meaning they must come back to vote. Sema Sicek, whose anger at Erdogan is just as strong as the days when thousands slowly died under the debris while the government unwound its response, thinks they simply must. "Walk if you have to but don't give up on your land," the 65-year-old said, accusing Erdogan of "burying us alive". Some of that fury has spilled over onto social media, where survivors were targeted for backing Erdogan. The Turkish leader mentions these messages often on the campaign trail, trying to blame them on Kilicdaroglu. Gulyildizoglu's daughter Hatice said the attacks stung. "This really offended us," she said. "Our grief is immense. You have to live it to understand." - 'Anti-Turk' - Erdogan has won votes with pledges to build victims new homes by early next year -- "maybe a little later" for those in Antakya. Kilicdaroglu is trying to do the same, telling Tuesday's rally that "nobody should ever doubt" his ability to rebuild the region. But Hakan Tiryaki, the provincial head of Kilicdaroglu's leftist party, is sensitive to complaints that the opposition did not make its voice heard enough before the first round. Campaigning any harder might have given the impression that the opposition was trying to profit from people's grief, Tiryaki told AFP. It might also have failed to change the mind of voters such as Omer Edip Aslantas, 51, who remembers chatting with other leftists about developing Turkey in the 1970s. "The Turkish left is no longer the same," he said in Kirikhan, a northern Hatay district that backed Erdogan. "They have become anti-Turk, anti-Muslim." fo/zak/giv/ach Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu's alliance with a far-right party alarmed Turkey's Kurds Turkey's pro-Kurdish party decided Thursday to continue backing the main opposition leader despite his overtures to far-right parties in the runup to this weekend's historic presidential runoff. Secular candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu alarmed his leftist Kurdish supporters by starting to court staunchly nationalist voters after losing to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the first round on May 14. Kilicdaroglu put together the opposition's best performance of Erdogan's two-decade era in what is widely seen as Turkey's most consequential election of its post-Ottoman era. But the 74-year-old still enters Turkey's first runoff vote Sunday trailing the conservative incumbent by nearly five points. The pro-Kurdish HDP party and its green allies -- the third-largest voting bloc in the new parliament -- expressed particular alarm when Kilicdaroglu joined forces with a fringe far-right group this week. Kilicdaroglu also unsuccessfully courted the endorsement of Sinan Ogan -- an ultra-nationalist who finished a distant third in the presidential ballot and threw his support behind Erdogan on Monday. Turkish media reported that some HDP members wanted to call for a boycott of the second round in protest at Kilicdaroglu's tactics. But HDP co-leader Pervin Buldan told reporters that staying away from the polls would only help Erdogan secure another five-year term. "Erdogan is not an option for us," Buldan said. "On May 28, we will complete the work that we left unfinished on May 14. In the face of those who try to prevent this demand for change, we will definitely go to the polls." - Nationalist surge - Kilicdaroglu's more overtly nationalist tone contrasts sharply with the inclusive campaign he ran in the first round. The former civil servant tried to focus on healing Turkey's social divisions and pledged to defend Kurdish interests. The long-repressed group represents up to a fifth of Turkey's 85-million-strong population and plays an important role in particularly close elections. They broadly backed Erdogan when he and his Islamic-rooted party lifted some of the social and linguistic restrictions imposed on Kurds by staunchly secular governments in the past century. But they turned against him when Erdogan broke off peace talks with Kurdish insurgency leaders and unleashed a sweeping crackdown in the wake of a failed 2016 coup. Right-wing and nationalist parties emerged as the big winners of this month's parallel parliamentary polls. Kilicdaroglu began to pledge to fight "terrorism" -- a Turkish euphemism for Kurdish groups that have been waging a bloody fight for broader autonomy since the 1980s. He has also promised to immediately expel millions of Syrian and other migrants that have settled in Turkey since Erdogan came to power in 2003. Buldan bluntly criticised Kilicdaroglu's new approach. "It is wrong to score political points off immigrants or refugees," Buldan said. "We will not back down from our stance under any circumstances." But she added that her main goal on Sunday was ending Erdogan's "one-man regime". zak/fo/imm Twitter glitches. No rally. No Trump talk: 3 surprises about DeSantis' campaign rollout Ron DeSantis and Twitter WASHINGTON - The newly minted Ron DeSantis presidential campaign followed up its unorthodox announcement Thursday with a press release announcing a three-state tour next week ... instead of a supporter-filled rally. A seemingly slow-motion rollout is one of the surprising things about the formal debut of the DeSantis presidential campaign that may or may not shake up the Republican presidential race now led by former President Donald Trump. Twitter technical problems and a seeming reluctance to take on Trump directly are also among the eyebrow-raisers, though DeSantis and aides described themselves pleased with their opening. A Ron DeSantis-Donald Trump brawl? Not yet. DeSantis takes low-key tack as he announces 2024 bid Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential announcement on Twitter plagued by technical problems "No one will work harder than Governor DeSantis to share his vision with the country," said campaign manager Generra Peck. "He has only begun to fight. Among the surprises so far: A unique and slow rollout for DeSantis Rather than staging a big rally with supporters as done by candidates Trump, Nikki Haley and Tim Scott DeSantis followed up his Federal Election Commission filing with an interview in an untried venue: Twitter Spaces. Website crashes, audio issues and other technical problems delayed the broadcast for nearly a half-hour, giving DeSantis' critics plenty of fodder for mockery of his entire effort. The DeSantis rollout reflects a "lack of basic competence," said Tim Miller, a former Republican who headed communications for Jeb Bush's 2016 campaign. "He has the resources, the pick of the litter when it comes to staff, a very obvious message, and still the execution has been horrendous." DeSantis and allies said the Twitter problems happened because so many people wanted to listen in. "It was the biggest they'd ever had," DeSantis said during a follow-up interview on Fox News. "It did break the Twitter Space." DeSantis not hosting a rally (yet) Last week, DeSantis allies discussed the possibility of a traditional kickoff rally in his home state of Florida; this week, they surprised people by not scheduling any Florida public event. Instead, the campaign announced Thursday that it would "blitz early states next week," starting with a "campaign kickoff" Tuesday in Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa caucuses are expected to start the Republican nominating process next year. DeSantis will also visit New Hampshire and South Carolina, which are expected to host the first two primaries of campaign season. The campaign said the four-day swing will cover a dozen cities and towns in the three pivotal political states. No direct engagement with Trump During the Twitter Spaces and Fox News events, DeSantis did not mention the name of the Republican campaign's top issue: Donald Trump. The former president has built big polling leads, despite his legal problems and skepticism from more traditional Republicans. DeSantis did suggest that he would make Trump's electoral record an issue, saying the Republican Party must counter "a culture of losing" in recent elections. He also suggested that the Trump administration fell short of many goals, such as the uncompleted wall along the Mexico-U.S. border. DeSantis also indicated he would press Trump about debates, the best way to draw contrasts between candidates. When Fox News host Trey Gowdy asked DeSantis about what he would say to a candidate who has talked of shunning debates a reference to Trump DeSantis had a somewhat sharp reply. "I think we should debate," DeSantis said. "I think the people want to hear it." Trump won't be silent While DeSantis rolled out his campaign, Trump stepped up his criticism, especially after Twitter Spaces malfunctioned. "I know Ron," Trump posted on Truth Social. "The way he handled his announcement, he will handle the Country!" Some Republicans wondered if Trump and his supporters were protesting a little too much. Republican consultant Liz Mair said the Trump-ites and his team appear "petrified" of the DeSantis campaign. "The best response last night would have been to ignore him, give him the proverbial rope to hang himself," Mair said. "Instead, they just couldn't help themselves but wade in. They're freaking out and melting down." Miller said stagecraft sometimes doesn't matter and that "poorly executed campaigns often win." He added: "But when one of your main contrast points versus Trump is effectiveness, its not a great way to get out of the gates." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ron DeSantis Twitter glitch, more surprises in his run for presidency What is Twitter Spaces and why did it go so wrong during DeSantiss 2024 launch? Ron DeSantiss long-anticipated 2024 campaign bid for the White House on Twitter Spaces was marred by a host of glitches that gave his political rivals enough ammunition to mock the Florida governor. Long silences and persistent echoes marred Mr DeSantiss Wednesday announcement that he made on Twitters audio group-chat feature with billionaire Elon Musk who has long boasted about several overhauls to the social media platform to make it better than it was under previous leadership. The Twitter feature is a way in which users can gather in a space and have live audio conversations, with anyone in a space being allowed to join, listen, and speak, as per the website. At one point of time, the controversial Republican governor himself disappeared from the audio-only livestream. The Twitter app repeatedly crashed for users who tuned in for the announcement. Tech investor David Sacks, who was roped in to introduce the event, reportedly remarked that the servers are melting. When the former military officer-turned-politician finally managed to speak about 20 minutes after the scheduled start Mr Musk shut the initial Spaces event and started a new one. That was insane, sorry, said the Tesla billionaire. The buggy start to Mr DeSantiss bid for the top job was dismissed by several Twitter users as a disaster. Great start to his campaign! said one sarcastic tweet. Ron DeSantis' Twitter Spaces campaign launch has, so far, featured: -Several minutes of silence -Random throat clearing -Muffled commentary from Elon Musk about why Spaces isn't working -Hosts, including DeSantis disappearing Great start to his campaign! pic.twitter.com/Zppxlk5HkN jordan (@JordanUhl) May 24, 2023 The second Spaces event kickstarted by Mr Musk, where Mr DeSantis read a short speech, seems to have attracted about 161,000 users, Twitters public-facing data revealed. Mr Sacks, however, claimed the number of attendees was one of the platforms largest. He claimed that the glitches were an indication of people flooding Twitter, eager for Mr DeSantiss entry into the presidential race. We got so many people here that we are kind of melting the servers, which is a good sign, Mr Sacks said in the first livestream. But this assessment was met with derision by former Twitter employee Earnest Wilkins, who helped produce the Twitters Spaces feature. Lol this isnt in the top 150 spaces by size in the history of the product, he tweeted. Lol this isnt in the top 150 spaces by size in the history of the product. Example: @jacobbmc2 did 2x this for #singyourdialect, this one dont even have Declan Rice rapping! xoxo, a person who helped produce 3 of the 10 biggest Spaces in Twitter history https://t.co/midnkHHVx0 Ernest Wilkins | (@ErnestWilkins) May 24, 2023 Mr Sackss claim was also mocked by Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said her non-campaign-related Twitch stream of her playing Among Us in 2020 attracted more people. We had more people join when I played Among Us https://t.co/zBoDCM0XmL Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 24, 2023 There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet, tweeted Mr DeSantiss press secretary, adding that the event raised $1 million for the the campaign in one hour. There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis' vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet. Washington is next. $1 million raised online in one hour... and counting! Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) May 24, 2023 The Wednesday event, according to many users on the platform, is a reflection of how Twitter under Mr Musk is far from operating smoothly. Holy f***ing shit, Ron DeSantiss campaign launch crashed and burned faster than a Tesla, said one tweet. Since the Tesla titan laid off nearly three-fourths of Twitters workforce after taking over the social media company, the platform has been mired with technical issues. Users have faced frequent outages and bugs that have surfaced frequently and inconvenienced them. Several users earlier this week flagged a bug that caused some of their deleted tweets from the past to resurface on their timelines and, weeks before that, many were unable to tweet with the platform mistakenly stating they went over the daily limit for sending tweets. In March, many users also reported problems with posting images and sharing external links, with the Tesla chief himself noting that the platform is so brittle. The embarrassing tech glitches in Mr Musks platform were mocked by Mr DeSantiss rivals on both sides of the political spectrum. They have also likely become a source of embarrassment for the Tesla chief, who had previously proclaimed that he prefers to stay out of politics. Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner for president, gleefully dubbed the event Mr DeSantiss failure to launch. Joe Bidens official Twitter account also jumped in and tweeted a link to Mr Bidens own fundraising page, saying, This link works. Biden is trolling Musk and DeSantis in real time. https://t.co/IZJ1tHkpIS Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 24, 2023 Mr DeSantiss campaign launch was widely anticipated, with many Republicans viewing him as a contender against Mr Trump. His controversial policies as Florida governor, including moves to restrict transgender and abortion rights, and backing a law that restricts classroom instruction on race and racism, led to him amassing a following in the American far right. The NAACP and Equality Florida have issued travel advisories to the state, warning that it is no longer safe for Black people or for those from the LGBT+ community. FILE - A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Dec. 8, 2022. While shaky and skewered by critics, Twitters forum for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to announce his presidential run nevertheless underscored the platforms unmistakable shift to the right under new owner Elon Musk. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) NEW YORK (AP) Two years ago, signing a bill intended to punish Twitter and other major social media companies, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted the platforms as "suppressing ideas during the COVID-19 pandemic and silencing conservative voices. What a turnaround. The new Elon Musk-owned version of Twitter helped DeSantis launch his bid for the Republican presidential nomination Wednesday. Though it was marred by technical glitches and skewered by the candidate's critics, the forum nevertheless underscored Twitter's unmistakable shift to the right under Musk, who bought it for $44 billion and took over in October. The truth was censored repeatedly, and now that Twitter is in the hands of a free speech advocate, that would not be able to happen again on this Twitter platform, DeSantis said during the Twitter Spaces event. Musk, co-hosting the event, responded to the praise by saying, Twitter was indeed expensive, but free speech is priceless. While Musk has promoted his platform as a haven for free expression, the site has been flooded with extremist views and hate speech since he bought it and fired or laid off roughly 80% of its staff. That is raising alarms that Twitter heavily used by candidates and government agencies, including those providing voting information will become an open forum for conspiracy theories, fake content and election misinformation as a bitterly divided country heads into the 2024 presidential election. Many Republicans have hailed Musk's takeover of Twitter as creating one of the last mainstream online spaces where they can share their views without fear of removal. Prominent figures in conservative media, like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and the podcasts hosts of The Daily Wire, say they plan to start streaming content on the site. Democrats and anti-hate watchdogs, meanwhile, say Musk's partisan comments and policy changes have effectively given a megaphone to far-right extremists. Since Musk bought Twitter, he has overhauled the sites verification system, removing safeguards against impersonation for some government accounts and political candidates. He also has personally indulged in far-right conspiracy theories on the site, reinstated accounts with a history of extremist rhetoric and gutted the team that had been responsible for moderating the content flowing across the platform. That has coincided with a deluge of conspiracy theory rhetoric, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which reported that QAnon hashtags surged 91% on Twitter between May 2022 and May 2023, with about three-fourths of those messages posted after Musk's takeover. Several believers of the baseless QAnon theory, centered on the idea that former President Donald Trump is waging a secret war against deep state enemies and pedophiles, have committed acts of violence, including the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Musks decision to reinstate influential Twitter accounts with a history of spreading extremist views also has created spaces in their tweet reply threads where users are sharing antisemitic tropes, conspiracy theories and other types of hate, the ADL reported Wednesday. The group's vice president Yael Eisenstat, who leads its Center for Technology and Society, said Musks content moderation choices have served to silence marginalized voices by giving harassers and internet trolls free reign. It is one thing to say we want free speech on the platform, she said. Its another thing to say we are going to allow extremists conspiracy theorists to contribute to normalizing this kind of rhetoric and antisemitism and racism. Twitter didnt provide comment after repeated requests. It sent automated replies instead, as it does to most media inquiries. Musk's free speech rhetoric also has attracted conservatives who have been knocked off other platforms or fired, in the case of Carlson. Shortly after his ouster, Carlson went on Twitter May 9 to announce that he would be doing some version of his show on that platform. Its still not clear what that would entail, or when he would start. There arent many platforms left that allow free speech, Carlson said in a two-minute message viewed more than 132 million times. The last big one remaining in the world, the only one, is Twitter, where we are now." Free speech and truth arent the same thing, however, and Carlson had been accused of spreading misinformation on his Fox show, most recently about the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. DeSantis has been a frequent guest on Fox News, and on the night of his presidential campaign announcement he appeared on the network for an interview after the Twitter event. Though DeSantis' Twitter launch was severely delayed with site crashes and strained servers, his choice to debut his campaign on the platform illustrates that Fox will have more competition as a Republican kingmaker. His campaign said it had taken in $1 million online in the first hour after the announcement. Fox's ratings have declined dramatically during its 8 p.m. Eastern hour, which Carlson used to fill. The Daily Wire, whose podcast hosts include popular conservative influencers such as Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens, said Tuesday that it would bring its shows to stream on Twitter starting next week. At the same time, Wednesday's botched live event with DeSantis calls into question whether Musks ambitions to turn Twitter into a destination for politicians, businesses and others to make big announcements is realistic. For one, only about half a million people listened to the DeSantis webcast. A similar announcement on television would attract millions of people. The other snag: Twitters audience size. Less than a quarter of U.S. adults use Twitter, according to Pew Research Center, and most of them rarely tweet, if at all. The sites most active users are power players, politicians, public figures and journalists, which raises doubts about whether Musks desire to reach voters directly, without traditional media as a go-between, can succeed. Doug Heye, a Republican strategist and former Republican National Committee communications director, said Twitter is certainly going to be an increasing part of GOP campaign strategies for the 2024 presidential primary. And thats all because of what Elon Musk has said over the past few months as hes taken Twitter over and sought to make it a space more friendly to conservatives, he said. Musk has leaned into Republican politics, tweeting in 2022 that Democrats have become the party of division & hate. While he has tweeted support for both DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who also entered the GOP field this week, he said Tuesday he was not yet endorsing any particular presidential candidate. Even as Democrats wince at the direction Musk has taken Twitter, most are staying put at least for now. A recent Pew survey found that when looking to the future, just slightly more Democratic users than Republicans said it's unlikely they will be on Twitter in a year. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said he has been experimenting with the Twitter alternative BlueSky as a more casual, fun and positive environment than Twitter. But he also has continued to use Twitter to communicate with his constituents. Jimmy Williams, a longtime Democratic political consultant, said he would advise Democrats not to cede the space. Indeed, Musk said Wednesday that his forum would be available to any politician. Twitter's a two-way street," Williams said. ____ Associated Press technology writer Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco and media writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this report. ____ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Late Wednesday afternoon detectives with the Great Falls Police Department arrested two suspects wanted in connection with the Tuesday murder of 51-year-old Tammey McWilliams. According to a GFPD news release issued Wednesday night, 20-year-old Bing Derrick Ahenakew and 18-year-old Charlotte Mary Andrade, both residents of Great Falls, are now in custody at the Cascade County Detention Center. Both have been charged with accountability to deliberate homicide and are being held on $500,000 bonds. According to Montana criminal code accountability to deliberate homicide occurs when a suspect commits or attempts to commit a forcible felony that results in the death of another person. Examples of forcible felonies include robbery, arson, burglary, kidnapping, assault with a weapon and aggravated assault. A suspect convicted of accountability to deliberate homicide faces potential penalties that include imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years, life imprisonment and death. The Great Falls Police Department's investigation into the death of Tammey McWilliams began shortly before 2 a.m. on Tuesday when officers were dispatched to respond to a disturbance at the Great Falls Housing Authority, formerly known as the Parkdale Apartments. GFPD officers initially believed they were responding to a noise complaint on the 800 block of 17th Street South, a GFPD news release states; however, the situation devolved rapidly. Officers observed several people attempting to get out of the area across the southeast corner of Chowen Springs Park, then discovered McWilliams' body. The Cascade County Sheriff's Office lists the cause of McWilliams death as "multiple stab wounds." On Tuesday afternoon the GFPD issued a statement stating that McWilliams' death did not appear to have been a "random attack and that evidence and statements already collected suggested some type of physical disturbance had taken place. The GFPD said it does not believe there is any elevated risk to the public. The Great Falls Police Department is asking anyone that may have been a witness or has any additional information about the disturbance in Chowen Springs Park to please contact Detective Sergeant Derek Mahlum at 406-781-8926. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Two arrested in stabbing death at Chowen Springs Park in Great Falls Two-thirds of California voters say Dianne Feinstein no longer fit for office: Poll Two-thirds of California voters say Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is no longer fit to serve in her role, according to a Thursday poll. The poll, conducted by UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies, found that 67% of California registered voters believe that Feinstein's latest illness has rendered her unfit for office. That opinion does not universally translate into support for her resignation, however, with only 42% saying she should step down. Another 27% stated that Feinstein should continue to serve in the Senate until the end of her term, while 31% said they were undecided. The 67% of voters reported that they agreed with the statement, "Feinsteins latest illness underlines the fact that she is no longer fit to continue serving in the U.S. Senate." DIANNE FEINSTEIN'S SHINGLES DIAGNOSIS: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RASH CAUSED BY A VIRUS Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has faced widespread calls for her resignation amid illness. A large majority of Californians now say she is no longer fit for office, according to a new poll. UC Berkeley conducted the poll from May 17 to 22, surveying 7,465 California registered voters. Emails were sent out randomly to the state's voter list containing an invitation to take a non-partisan online survey. The emails and survey were available in both English and Spanish. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP IOWA WOMAN, 27, HAS 99% CHANCE OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA: I NEEDED TO KNOW Feinstein's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Feinstein has faced widespread scrutiny with her return to Washington, D.C., earlier this month. The long-serving Democrat had been forced to stay in California for more than a month due to health complications related to a shingles infection. Sen. Dianne Feinstein returned to Washington, D.C., in mid-May after more than a month of absence. She missed at least 93 votes due to her bout with shingles. Feinstein's office confirmed earlier this week that the 89-year-old senator had been more seriously ill than they initially let on. "While the encephalitis resolved itself shortly after she was released from the hospital in March, she continues to have complications from Ramsay Hunt syndrome ," a spokesperson for Feinstein said. DIANNE FEINSTEIN WAS SICKER THAN PUBLIC KNEW DUE TO SHINGLES THAT CAUSED BRAIN INFLAMMATION Feinstein had previously claimed that she did not have encephalitis, noting, "It really has never been diagnosed properly." Feisntein is typically surrounded by a cocoon of staffers everywhere she goes. A staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times wrote on Wednesday that Feinstein is surrounded by a cocoon of staffers in the U.S. Capitol and everywhere she goes. Typhoon Mawar live: Super storm equivalent to category 5 on path to Philippines after hitting Guam Typhoon Mawar has intensified into a super typhoon as it now heads to the Philippines, the states weather service said after a brief weakening of the storm after it passed over Guam. The cyclone is currently packing winds of up to 185km per hour near the centre and gusts of up to 230kph as it moves west-northwestward, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The typhoon passed through Guam yesterday which successfully weathered the storm, believed to be the strongest storm in years to hit the Western Pacific Island. Mawar made landfall at local time 9pm but the island was battered by heavy rains and powerful winds of up to 240 kph for hours yesterday, that uprooted trees, blew away roofs, and brought the US territory to a standstill. According to the Guam Power Authority, nearly all of the islands 52,000 homes and businesses experienced power outages, with only 1,000 retaining electricity. There are no reports of loss of life but damages such as localised flooding, fallen debris, and downed power lines have been reported. Key points Typhoon Mawar reintensifies to super typhoon as it heads to Philippines Philippines braces for intense rain over weekend Residents left with power cut and flood damage as Guam weathers through strongest storm in years Typhoon Mawar path: Eye makes landing in Guam before moving towards the Philippines The worst has gone by: Guam governor urges people to remain cautious Typhoon Mawar becomes 2023s most intense storm 06:13 , Stuti Mishra After rapid intensification, Typhoon Mawar has become the most intense storm of 2023, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC). Mawars peak winds have surged to 175 mph, accompanied by gusts nearing 210 mph, JWTC said. The typhoon has also surpassed the strength of any storm recorded in 2022 and now stands equivalent to a category 5 super typhoon. #Mawar now up to 150 knots (175 mph) per latest JTWC advisory. Best I can tell, that's the planet's strongest #tropical cyclone (by est'd wind speed, with all usual caveats) since Dec. 2021 (ST Rai). 2022's strongest (wind speed) were all 140 knots (Ian, Noru, Hinnamnor). pic.twitter.com/ONkaa4Q72Q Jonathan Erdman (@wxjerdman) May 25, 2023 These unprecedented wind speeds have brought the typhoon into the ranks of the five most powerful typhoons ever documented in the month of May. Alaska being impacted by Super Typhoon Mawar 11:00 , Ariana Baio Parts of Alaska are experiencing fetches of moisture due to Super Typhoon Mawar, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Anchorage. The NWS in Anchorage tweeted on Thursday (25 May) showing satellite image of moisture patterns over the Pacific Ocean with Super Typhoon Mawar in the western Pacific Ocean. Remnants of the storm can be seen near the western coast of Alaska. Alaska is being impacted by back to back tropical fetches of moisture. Note that the second fetch is actually connected to Super Typhoon Mawar. This satellite image is from 18z or 10 am AKDT today! NWS wrote. Alaska is being impacted by back to back tropical fetches of moisture. Note that the second fetch is actually connected to Super Typhoon Mawar. This satellite image is from 18z or 10 am AKDT today! #AKwx #Satellite #Mawar pic.twitter.com/9RTa8c1NQ3 NWS Anchorage (@NWSAnchorage) May 25, 2023 Typhoon Odette vs Typhoon Mawar 10:30 , Stuti Mishra The Philippines, considered the most exposed country in the world to typhoons, is no stranger to the destruction of the storms. In recent years, it has been repeatedly battered by heavy rains and destructive winds brought by typhoons that have left thousands dead and cost billions of dollars of damage. As super typhoon Mawar now barrels to the archipelago, it is refreshing memories of the last strong typhoon the country was struck by, typhoon Odette. Typhoon Odette, known outside of the Philippines as super typhoon Rai, was the second costliest typhoon in Philippine history behind Typhoon Yolanda. It swept through 11 of the countrys 17 regions in December 2021, killing 410 people and leaving behind a trail of flattened homes, damaged farms, and other food sources, severely affecting peoples lives and livelihoods. A resident stands on the remains of his wrecked house at a village in Dapa town on Siargao island (AFP/Getty) While typhoon Mawar has maximum one-minute sustained winds of 295kmh, typhoon Odette at category 5 scale recorded 280kmh of sustained winds. Similar to Mawar, Odette also unexpectedly rapidly intensified into a category 5 super typhoon while approaching the Philippines. Odette made landfall in the Philippines island of Siargao. While Mawar is expected to not make a direct landfall, the state weather agency PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility as the storm can take a southward turn from its projected path (see post below). Typhoon classification systems 10:00 , Ariana Baio In the Northwest Pacific Ocean, typhoons are classified based on their wind speed via the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) into three categories: typhoon, very strong typhoon and violent typhoon. A typhoon is a tropical cycle that has sustained winds between 118-156 kilometers per hour. A very strong typhoon has sustained winds of 157-193 kilometers per hour. A violent typhoon has sustained wind speeds of over 194 kilometers per hour. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration classified typhoons into two categories: a typhoon or a super typhoon if sustained winds are over 241 kilometers per hour (150 mph). Trajectory of Typhoon Mawar 09:34 , Stuti Mishra After parts of Mawar passed over Guam, the storm is now headed west toward the Philippines and Taiwain, further intensifying and threatening to bring heavy rains and gusts of wind. Originating about 865km south of Guam, the typhoon battered the Pacific Island US territory on Wednesday. It began moving westwards and is now expected to move toward the northern part of Luzon, Philippines and Taiwan. The map shows the projected path of typhoon Mawar (Google) While the current projections show it may not make a direct landfall in the Philippines, the state weather agency PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility (See post below). The weather agency said the storm can take a southern turn from its projected path and can make a landfall in the northern region of Luzon. However, the chances of that happening are currently slim, according to Ana Clauren-Jorda, PAGASA weather specialist quoted by CNN Philippines. It is currently located 622km west-northwest of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and has moved westward at 22kmh (12 knots) over the past six hours towards the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR). However, the rapid intensification of the typhoon, after it weakened while it struck Guam, has worried experts with PAGASA stating it can reach its peak within the next 24 hours. Jim Yang, a researcher at the China Meteorological Association, said in a Twitter post it was possible that parts of the typhoon would make landfall in China. Mr Yang added that Mawar can maintain high intensity for 2 to 3 days. Timelapse video shows Mawar rolling into Guam 09:00 , Ariana Baio Time lapse video of #TyphonMawar in #Guam. You can see where the wind got strong enough to flex the window the GoPro was up against.#typhoon #Mawar #Mawarhitsguam #GoPro pic.twitter.com/51SD394uds The Salty Staff Officer (@MDMP_problems) May 25, 2023 How strong is Typhoon Mawar? 08:58 , Stuti Mishra Typhoon Mawar's re-intensification over the last few hours has worried experts as it barrels its way towards the Philippines after battering Guam. In an advisory issued by Philippines states weather agency PAGASA at 11am local time, it said Mawar now has maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometres per hour (kmh) near the centre, and gustiness of up to 260 kmh. However, the storm is expected to intensify further, reaching its peak intensity within 24 hours, according to the PAGASA. With the current wind speed, Mawar is equivalent to a category 5 hurricane. It was designated as a "violent typhoon" by the Japanese Meteorological Association yesterday. Mawar is expected to bring heavy rains that may trigger flooding or rain-induced landslides over northern Luzon region of the Philippines by late Sunday or on Monday next week. It is currently located 622 km west-northwest of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and has moved westward at 22 kmh (12 knots) over the past 6 hours towards the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to satellite data. NASA shares satellite image of Mawar over Guam 08:00 , Ariana Baio Mawar 'may further intensify' says Philippines weather forecaster 07:30 , Stuti Mishra The state weather agency of the Philippines said Mawar has slightly intensified while moving westwards over the Philippines sea. Mawar is moving westward at 20 kph and was last located 1,740 kilometres east of southeastern Luzon, PAGASA said in its latest update. Weather forecaster Dan Villamil told CNN Philippines that Mawar is currently at 215 kph near the centre and gustiness of up to 265 kph. However, its maximum sustained winds "may further intensify" to reach 220 kph, he noted. This comes after the agency yesterday issued a notification that the cyclone has regained its status of a super typhoon. Likelihood of Mawar making landfall in China increasing 07:00 , Stuti Mishra Jim Yang, a researcher at the China Meteorological Association indicated the likelihood that Typhoon Mawar makes landfall in China is increasing in a Twitter post. If it lands in Fujian, it will become the first typhoon in history to land in Fujian in May, Jim Yang wrote. Attached to the tweet was a photo of the predicted strike probability of Typhoon Mawar. If Mawar finally lands in Taiwan, it will become the first typhoon to land in Taiwan in May in 33 years. More importantly for China, the likelihood of Mawar making landfall is increasing. If Mawar finally lands in Taiwan, it will become the first typhoon to land in Taiwan in May in 33 years; if it lands in Fujian, it will become the first typhoon in history to land in Fujian in May https://t.co/kUu1t2UpEJ pic.twitter.com/G4NPRWUkIT Jim yang (@yangyubin1998) May 25, 2023 In another post, the researcher said noting the increased intensity of Mawar: Whats more difficult is that Mawar will maintain high intensity for 2 to 3 days. The intensity of Mawar has reached 160KT, which is the strongest typhoon in the Northwest Pacific in May! What's more difficult is that Mawar will maintain high intensity for 2 to 3 days, and T8.0 is expected to maintain for more than 24 hours! pic.twitter.com/9yfZ1KOTlo Jim yang (@yangyubin1998) May 26, 2023 No deaths reported in Guam 06:00 , Ariana Baio No deaths or significant injuries were reported in Guam after super Typhoon Mawar hit the island on Wednesday and Thursday, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero told CNN. Though the typhoon did leave much of the island damaged with many residents without power or clean water. As the storm hit Guam, its strength was equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic with sustained winds of 140 miles per hour and gusts of up to 165 miles per hour. Super Typhoon equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane 05:00 , Ariana Baio Super Typhoon #Mawar continues to chug westward with winds at 167 mph. Now more than 220 km away from Guam, Mawar is still going strong as a Category 5 storm with a distinct eye on satellite. pic.twitter.com/6fqG4wZX3k MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) May 25, 2023 Typhoon Mawar path 04:00 , Ariana Baio Typhoon Mawar has made landing on the US territory of Guam, leaving extreme damage and power outages behind. Andrea Blanco and Ariana Baio report: Eye of Typhoon Mawar makes landing in Guam before moving towards the Philippines Parts of Guam without clean water 03:00 , Ariana Baio Parts of Guam are without clean water as of Thursday after Typhoon Mawar damaged water wells, pump stations and water treatment plants on parts of the island, according to reports. The Guam Waterworks Authority asked residents to boil water due to possible bacterial contamination in the water until further notice. Islandwide, resident are reporting water outages according to a report from the Guam Pacific Daily News. Specifically affected areas include Tamuning, Nimitz Hill, Agat, Santa Rita, Yona, Talofofo, Cross Island Road, Talofofo and Inarajan. Guam Waterworks Authority General Manager, Miguel Bordallo, said there is no estimate for when service will be restored Reduced production capacity is unable to keep up with the demand, and therefore cannot rebuild reservoir levels, Mr Bordallo told Guam Pacific Daily News. Residents left with power cut and flood damage 02:00 , Ariana Baio Guam successfully weathered the strongest storm in years as Typhoon Mawar swept across the Western Pacific Island last night. Mawar made landfall at local time 9pm but the island was battered by heavy rains and powerful winds of up to 240 kph for hours yesterday, that uprooted trees, blew away roofs, and brought the US territory to a standstill. According to the Guam Power Authority, nearly all of the islands 52,000 homes and businesses experienced power outages, with only 1,000 retaining electricity. Despite the intense conditions, the island managed to avoid significant damage. There are no reports of unusual incidents in hospital emergency rooms, and the overall impact included moderate damages such as localised flooding, fallen debris, and downed power lines. Identical twin meteorologists guide Guam through Typhoon Mawar 01:00 , Ariana Baio As typhoon Mawar aimed its fury at Guam, residents facing terrifying winds and crashing waves from the strongest storm to hit the US Pacific territory in decades had identical twin meteorologists to keep them informed and to provide the outside world with a glimpse of the chaos unfolding on the remote island. Identical twin meteorologists guide Guam through Typhoon Mawar What is the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane? Friday 26 May 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio Typhoons and hurricanes are from the same weather phenomenon known as a tropical cyclone, but the difference in names can sometimes confuse people. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the only difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is the location where the storm occurs. If the storm is in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific or eastern North Pacific, it is called a hurricane. If the storm occurs in the Northwest Pacific it is called a typhoon. But in the South Pacific or Indian Ocean, generally, it is called a tropical cyclone. Hurricanes are getting stronger. Heres why Thursday 25 May 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio Authorities in Guam warned anyone not living in a fully concrete house to head to safety elsewhere, and emergency shelters began to fill as residents braced for Super Typhoon Mawar, a powerful storm that delivered the biggest hit in two decades to the US territory in the Pacific. As the global average temperature increases and sea levels rise, tropical cyclones - the catch-all term for hurricanes and typhoons - are expected to become stronger and the damage more catastrophic, scientists say. (In the Atlantic Ocean, hurricane season starts on 1 June.) Louise Boyle and Ethan Freedman report: Hurricanes are getting stronger. Heres why American Red Cross responds to Super Typhoon in Guam Thursday 25 May 2023 22:30 , Ariana Baio The American Red Cross said it was helping those affected by the Super Typhoon in Guam in a press release posted on Wednesday. The Red Cross has relief items on the island and staged in strategic locations in preparation for the storm, including water, shelf-stable meals, clean-up kits, tarps and hygiene supplies, the Red Cross said. Nationally, a disaster leadership team is on Guam and as many as 200 trained disaster workers and more emergency supplies will be deployed to the island as soon as travel is possible. The Red Cross will work with officials to coordinate the relief response, supporting sheltering and feeding operations, damage assessment and distribution of relief supplies. Mawar is strongest typhoon to hit Guam since 2002 Thursday 25 May 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio Super Typhoon Mawar is the strongest typhoon to pass near Guam, causing destruction and flooding, since Super Typhoon Pongsona in December 2002. Super Typhoon Pongsona was equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane when the eye of the storm narrowly passed by Guam with 150 miles per hour winds. #Mawar didnt make landfall but the southern eyewall which was the strongest part of the storm, hammered the area, leading to #Guams 1st ever extreme wind warning. This is the closest pass of a major typhoon since Pongsona 02. Sadly, the radar is out so we wont be able to get pic.twitter.com/L86v0bVyvd Vortix CODE RED (@VortixWx) May 24, 2023 Dededo, Guam receives 22 inches of rain overnight Thursday 25 May 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio At 6pm on Wednesday evening, Dededo, Guam had received 4.15 inches of rain as the island prepared for Super Typhoon Mawar to nearly make landfall. By 6am on Thursday, Dededo recorded 26.8 inches of rain, according to USGS. The storm approached Guam equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, dumping rain and powerful winds on it. Alaska being impacted by Super Typhoon Mawar Thursday 25 May 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio Parts of Alaska are experiencing fetches of moisture due to Super Typhoon Mawar, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Anchorage. The NWS in Anchorage tweeted on Thursday (25 May) showing satellite image of moisture patterns over the Pacific Ocean with Super Typhoon Mawar in the western Pacific Ocean. Remnants of the storm can be seen near the western coast of Alaska. Alaska is being impacted by back to back tropical fetches of moisture. Note that the second fetch is actually connected to Super Typhoon Mawar. This satellite image is from 18z or 10 am AKDT today! NWS wrote. Alaska is being impacted by back to back tropical fetches of moisture. Note that the second fetch is actually connected to Super Typhoon Mawar. This satellite image is from 18z or 10 am AKDT today! #AKwx #Satellite #Mawar pic.twitter.com/9RTa8c1NQ3 NWS Anchorage (@NWSAnchorage) May 25, 2023 Super Typhoon Mawar: Worst storm to strike US Pacific in two decades barrels into Guam Thursday 25 May 2023 20:31 , Ariana Baio Typhoon Mawar has barrelled into Guam with hurricane-strength winds of up to 150mph, plunging residents into darkness. The typhoon made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm at around 9pm local time on Wednesday night, bringing with it heavy rains and a dangerous storm surge, the National Weather Service said. Andrea Blanco and Rachel Sharp reports: Typhoon Mawar, worst storm to strike US Pacific in two decades, barrels into Guam Typhoon Mawar headed toward Taiwan and northern Philippines Thursday 25 May 2023 20:17 , Ariana Baio Super Typhoon Mawar is expected to move more north toward Taiwan and the northern part of Luzon, Philippines, according to predictions. Around 8pm local time on Thursday, the centre of the storm was approximately 195 miles northwest of Guam, according to The New York Times. The storm intensified to the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane as it exited from Guam. It is expected to lose intensity as it gets closer to Taiwan and the Philippines. Typhoon Mawar is strongest storm of 2023 Thursday 25 May 2023 19:30 , Ariana Bio So far this year, Typhoon Mawar is the strongest tropical cyclone to exist. With 10-minute sustained winds of 121 miles per hour and gusts of up to 173 miles per hour, according to the JMA, the typhoon is equivalent to a category 5 hurricane at the moment. Scenes from Guam show destruction from typhoon Thursday 25 May 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio Videos and photos posted on Twitter show the destruction left behind by Typhoon Mawar in Guam. The storm, which contained sustained wind speeds of 140 miles per hour and wind gusts of up to 165 mph, was equivalent to a category 4 hurricane. Scenes from around Tumon Bay, #Guam the day after #typhoon #mawar - lots of tree damage, power and water out, hum of generators everywhere, immediate shoreline battered by surge and some cars shunted around by wind pic.twitter.com/BsSmcDV9He James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) May 25, 2023 Although no deaths or major injuries have been reported, thousands of Guam residents are left without power or water. Guam Water Authority and Guam Power Authority are working to restore power and water as quickly as possible. Typhoon Mawar Aftermath ! Pray for Guam pic.twitter.com/IlBYssr3ho (@tr3_onmyback) May 25, 2023 WATCH: Typhoon Mawar intensify into super typhoon Thursday 25 May 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio Typhoon classification systems Thursday 25 May 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio In the Northwest Pacific Ocean, typhoons are classified based on their wind speed via the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) into three categories: typhoon, very strong typhoon and violent typhoon. A typhoon is a tropical cycle that has sustained winds between 118-156 kilometers per hour. A very strong typhoon has sustained winds of 157-193 kilometers per hour. A violent typhoon has sustained wind speeds of over 194 kilometers per hour. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration classified typhoons into two categories: a typhoon or a super typhoon if sustained winds are over 241 kilometers per hour (150 mph). Parts of Guam without clean water Thursday 25 May 2023 17:30 , Ariana Baio Parts of Guam are without clean water as of Thursday after Typhoon Mawar damaged water wells, pump stations and water treatment plants on parts of the island, according to reports. The Guam Waterworks Authority asked residents to boil water due to possible bacterial contamination in the water until further notice. Islandwide, resident are reporting water outages according to a report from the Guam Pacific Daily News. Specifically affected areas include Tamuning, Nimitz Hill, Agat, Santa Rita, Yona, Talofofo, Cross Island Road, Talofofo and Inarajan. Guam Waterworks Authority General Manager, Miguel Bordallo, said there is no estimate for when service will be restored Reduced production capacity is unable to keep up with the demand, and therefore cannot rebuild reservoir levels, Mr Bordallo told Guam Pacific Daily News. Timelapse video shows Mawar rolling into Guam Thursday 25 May 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio Time lapse video of #TyphonMawar in #Guam. You can see where the wind got strong enough to flex the window the GoPro was up against.#typhoon #Mawar #Mawarhitsguam #GoPro pic.twitter.com/51SD394uds The Salty Staff Officer (@MDMP_problems) May 25, 2023 Likelihood of Mawar making landfall in China increasing Thursday 25 May 2023 16:30 , Ariana Baio A researcher at the China Meteorological Association indicated the likelihood that Typhoon Mawar makes landfall in China is increasing in a Twitter post. If it lands in Fujian, it will become the first typhoon in history to land in Fujian in May, Jim Yang wrote. Attached to the tweet was a photo of the predicted strike probability of Typhoon Mawar. If Mawar finally lands in Taiwan, it will become the first typhoon to land in Taiwan in May in 33 years. More importantly for China, the likelihood of Mawar making landfall is increasing. If Mawar finally lands in Taiwan, it will become the first typhoon to land in Taiwan in May in 33 years; if it lands in Fujian, it will become the first typhoon in history to land in Fujian in May https://t.co/kUu1t2UpEJ pic.twitter.com/G4NPRWUkIT Jim yang (@yangyubin1998) May 25, 2023 No deaths reported in Guam Thursday 25 May 2023 16:15 , Ariana Baio No deaths or significant injuries were reported in Guam after super Typhoon Mawar hit the island on Wednesday and Thursday, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said to CNN. Though the typhoon did leave much of the island damaged with many residents without power or clean water. As the storm hit Guam, its strength was equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic with sustained winds of 140 miles per hour and gusts of up to 165 miles per hour. Pictures: Heavy winds, uprooted trees and residents heading for shelters as storm battered Guam Thursday 25 May 2023 16:00 , Stuti Mishra (AFP via Getty Images) (AP) (AP) (AP) What is the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane? Thursday 25 May 2023 15:30 , Ariana Baio Typhoons and hurricanes are from the same weather phenomenon known as a tropical cyclone, but the difference in names can sometimes confuse people. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the only difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is the location where the storm occurs. If the storm is in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific or eastern North Pacific, it is called a hurricane. If the storm occurs in the Northwest Pacific it is called a typhoon. But in the South Pacific or Indian Ocean, generally, it is called a tropical cyclone. WATCH: Video shows winds picking up as Typhoon Mawar made landfall in Guam Thursday 25 May 2023 15:00 , Stuti Mishra Identical twin meteorologists guide Guam through Typhoon Mawar Thursday 25 May 2023 14:30 , Stuti Mishra As typhoon Mawar aimed its fury at Guam, residents facing terrifying winds and crashing waves from the strongest storm to hit the US Pacific territory in decades had identical twin meteorologists to keep them informed and to provide the outside world with a glimpse of the chaos unfolding on the remote island.Read more: Identical twin meteorologists guide Guam through Typhoon Mawar Typhoon Mawar to be named 'Betty' once it reaches Philippines Thursday 25 May 2023 14:00 , Stuti Mishra Typhoon Mawar, which is heading towards the Philippines now after battering Guam, will be given the local name "Betty", once it enters the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR), local officials have said. Mawar is currently packing winds of up to 185 kilometres per hour near the centre and gusts of up to 230 kph as it moves west-northwestward at 15 kph, according to Philippines state weather agency. It is expected to pass close to the northern Philippines tomorrow night or on Saturday. Typhoon Mawar now a 'violent typhoon' Thursday 25 May 2023 13:30 , Stuti Mishra The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has upgraded Mawar into a Violent Typhoon, a category stronger than super typhoon. The agency said the typhoon now has 10-minute sustained winds of 195 kmh with gusts of 280 kmh. BREAKING: STY #Mawar is now a VIOLENT typhoon by RSMC Tokyo, with 10-min sustained winds of 105 kts (~195 km/h), and a pressure of 920 hPa. It is now officially the third most intense tropical cyclone in the Western Pacific basin formed in the month of May since records began in pic.twitter.com/MazS3KupPE Matthew Cuyugan (@MatthewCuyugan) May 25, 2023 A violent typhoon is the highest category used by the JMA to classify tropical cyclones. 'Like a freight train going on outside': Residents describe overnight horror as Typhoon Mawar passed Thursday 25 May 2023 13:00 , Stuti Mishra Residents in Guam were battered by heavy winds and rains all throughout the day yesterday. But as the strongest typhoon to hit the territory crept slowly over the island at night, the horror intensified. The winds sent solar panels flying, ripped roofs off homes and crumbled part of a hotel's exterior wall to the ground, according to videos posted on social media. At what felt like its peak intensity, the winds screeched and howled like jets, and water swamped some homes, residents say. Leah del Mundo, who spent the night with her family in their concrete home in Chalan Pago, in central Guam told The Associated Press they tried to sleep but were awakened "by violent shaking of the typhoon shutters and the whistling strong winds." "It's not our first rodeo," she told the news agency via text message. "We've been through worse. But we brace ourselves for the cleanup, repairs, restoration afterwards." Winds peeled back the roof of Enrique Baza's mother's house in Yona, allowing water to damage everything inside. My moms house didnt escape. Enrique Baza "My mom's house didn't escape," he said, adding that his mother stayed with him in his concrete home during the storm. He drove around in a pickup truck looking for supplies to repair his mother's roof, but most stores were without power and only accepting cash. Many wooden or tin homes he passed were badly beaten or collapsed. "It's kind of a shock," he said. In Tumon, on Guam's northeastern shore, winds tore a granite countertop from a hotel's outdoor bar and tossed it into the air. Guests scrambled to stack chairs to brace the doors, and windows buckled and creaked. "It was like a freight train going on outside," said Thomas Wooley, who recounted how wind and rain pushed through the aluminium shutters of his family's concrete home overlooking Tumon Bay. When day broke, he found their outdoor china cabinet toppled and its contents shattered on the ground. A chainsaw-wielding relative helped clear downed branches. "We've got tons of work to do," Mr Wooley said. Guam's weather service office in Tiyan said it would shut down operations in the morning for workers to get home to families and assess damage at their homes. Counterparts in the Honolulu office took over their duties. In photos: Flooded homes, flipped vehicles and shredded trees as Guam residents begin cleanup Thursday 25 May 2023 12:30 , Stuti Mishra The waters of the Hagatna River overflows its banks and encroaches into the Bank of Guam parking lot in Hagatna (AP) An overturned truck lies on a street in Yigo, Guam (AP) Typhoon Mawar topples full-grown trees onto cars in Guam (Tobias Alejandro via REUTERS) A building is flooded in Hagatna, Guam (AP) Downed tree branches litter a neighborhood in Yona, Guam (AP) Typhoon Mawar reintensifies to super typhoon as it heads to Philippines Thursday 25 May 2023 08:00 , Stuti Mishra Mawar has re-intensified into a super typhoon as it now heads to the Philippines, the states weather service said after a brief weakening of the storm after it passed over Guam. The cyclone is currently packing winds of up to 185km per hour near the centre and gusts of up to 230kph as it moves west-northwestward, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The typhoon passed through Guam yesterday which successfully weathered the storm, believed to be the strongest storm in years to hit the Western Pacific Island. Wreckage from a U.S. Navy destroyer sunk by a kamikaze aircraft attack during World War II has been discovered by a team of underwater explorers in the Pacific Ocean. The USS Mannert L. Abele was operating off the northern coast of the Japanese island of Okinawa on April 12, 1945, when it suddenly found itself "surrounded by hostile planes, the Naval History and Heritage Command said in a news release this week, as it announced the ship had been identified Thursday. After the Sumner-class destroyer engaged with and damaged multiple enemy aircraft, a plane managed to crash next to it, penetrating its side, the command said, adding that a minute later it was at the waterline by a Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka. Known as the Cherry Blossom, the Ohka was a rocket-powered human-guided bomb and the resulting explosion caused the ships bow and stern to buckle rapidly, the release said, adding that it became the first U.S. warship sunk by the weapon which was identified as one of the first cruise missiles, and fired up to 425 mph. Along with four fighter aircraft, inshore Fire Support ships fought further enemy attacks and began rescuing the Abele's survivors. However, 84 sailors were lost at sea. The ships discovery allows some closure to the families of those lost, and provides us all another opportunity to remember and honor them, said command Director Samuel J. Cox, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral. Seen from a U.S. carrier, a Japanese suicide bomber crashes into the sea off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, in June 1945. (AP) The ship was found in December by a group called the Lost 52 Project, which searches for Navy submarines and warships sunk during World War II. The Lost 52 Project said in a statement on its website that the ship was providing support for Operation Iceberg, the codename for the Battle of Okinawa. It added that the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the same day overshadowed, the sinking. Five weeks later, America dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Tim Taylor, the leader of the Lost 52 Project, said in the statement that the discovery was "very emotive" for him because his father had come "close to the same fate" when his ship, the USS Telfair, was hit by a kamikaze attack. The command said it had established the Abele as U.S. sunken military craft protected by U.S. law and under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy, and as a war grave of sailors respected by all. Discovery expeditions continue to seek U.S. Navy vessels lost during World War II. Submarine USS Albacore was identified by the command near the coast of Hokkaido in February. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By John Kruzel and Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday put another dent in the regulatory reach of the Environmental Protection Agency, embracing a stringent new test for declaring wetlands protected under a landmark federal anti-pollution law in a ruling favoring an Idaho couple who challenged the agency. The 9-0 decision authored by conservative Justice Samuel Alito overturned a lower court's ruling against Chantell and Mike Sackett that had upheld the EPA's determination that their property near a lake contained wetlands protected by the Clean Water Act of 1972. The Sacketts have battled with the EPA for years over their plans to build a home on the property. Although the court unanimously sided with the couple, four justices - including the court's three liberal members and conservative Brett Kavanaugh - disagreed with the new test announced by the court that was backed by the five other conservative justices. The four justices said the test could undermine water quality and flood control in the United States. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the ruling upends the legal framework used for decades to combat water pollution and that his administration will "use every legal authority we have to protect our nation's waters." "It puts our nation's wetlands - and the rivers, streams, lakes and ponds connected to them - at risk of pollution and destruction, jeopardizing the sources of clean water that millions of American families, farmers and businesses rely on," Biden said of the ruling. The ruling marked the latest instance of the court backing a challenge to the scope of the EPA's ability to regulate in the environmental arena under existing law. In a 6-3 ruling last June powered by its conservative justices, it imposed limits on the EPA's authority to issue sweeping regulations involving greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal- and gas-fired power plants under a different environmental law, the Clean Air Act. The Sacketts in 2004 bought an undeveloped plot of land about 300 feet (90 meters) from Priest Lake, one of the largest lakes in Idaho, near the U.S.-Canada border. In 2007, the couple began preparing construction of a home on it. But after placing sand and gravel fill on the lot, the EPA issued an administrative compliance order stating the property contained wetlands protected by the Clean Water Act and that they needed a permit to build, which they had failed to obtain. Alito, writing for the five-member majority, embraced what is called the "continuous surface connection" test for determining if adjacent wetlands are covered by the Clean Water Act. "In sum, we hold that the (Clean Water Act) extends to only those wetlands that are 'as a practical matter indistinguishable from waters of the United States,'" Alito wrote, adding: "The wetlands on the Sacketts' property are distinguishable from any possibly covered waters." The Clean Water Act bars discharging pollutants, including rocks and sand, into the "waters of the United States," which regulators for decades have said covers not just navigable waters but adjacent wetlands like swamps, marshes and berms. Courts and regulators have been grappling for decades over how much of a connection with a waterway a property must have in order to require a permit, with the Supreme Court issuing a ruling in 2006 that led to further uncertainty. Justice Elena Kagan, joined by fellow liberals Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, accused the conservative majority of imposing its own policy preferences to curb the EPA's reach. Noting that the Clean Water Act was adopted in the 1970s to address a widespread crisis over water quality nationwide, Kagan said the majority's decision undermines the clear intent of Congress to address pollution, with the majority having improperly appointed itself "as the national decision-maker on environmental policy." Damien Schiff, a senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation who argued the case for the Sacketts, hailed the decision as a victory for property rights, saying it "returns the scope of the Clean Water Act to its original and proper limits." Biden's administration in December finalized a rule expanding the definition of waterways that are protected under the Clean Water Act, in a reversal from former President Donald Trump's era. Lower court challenges led to the enforcement of the new rule being halted in at least 27 states. Biden in April vetoed legislation that sought to overturn the rule but the Supreme Court's decision could cast doubt on the lawfulness of some parts of the new regulation. The environmental advocacy group Earthjustice, which filed an amicus brief in the Sackett case, said the court's decision "undoes a half-century of progress generated by the Clean Water Act," eliminating protections from almost 90 million acres (36.4 million hectares) of wetlands. (Reporting by John Kruzel in Washington, Andrew Chung in New York and Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham) UK Defense Secretary in Kyiv to talk NATO and weapons UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace arrived in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraines Defense Ministry reported on May 24. Freedom of Russia Legion explains how they got Western equipment Representatives of the Freedom of Russia Legion, which recently raided Russias Belgorod Oblast, said the unit captured several items of Western military equipment from Russian troops, the legions press service said in a Telegram post on May 24. Spy chief opens up about back and neck injuries in NV interview NV discovered the consequences for the health of the country's chief intelligence officer after repeated "official trips" to the combat zone. Ukraine to start training on US Abrams tanks in Germany in coming days Pentagon The United States will begin training Ukrainian soldiers on Abrams tanks in Germany "in the next week or so, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told Voice of America on May 23. Prigozhin names Ukraine as one of the world s top armies, stating the obvious Wagner PMC leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, called the Ukrainian army one of the strongest in the world on May 23. China-Central Asia Summit heralds the end of Russian leadership in the region The war in Ukraine has become a turning point for Russia, accelerating the process of marginalizing Moscows influence to the level of a regional state. Ukrainian victory prevents China s global domination Ambassador Herbst Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, John Herbst, spoke with NV ahead of his speech at the Kyiv Security Forum about his vision of Ukraine's victory and its significance for the world. Ukraine advancing on Bakhmut flanks in ongoing operation, says General Syrskyi The Ukrainian military is continuing its defense operation in Bakhmut, the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Telegram on May 24. Ukrainian air defense uses Patriot systems in ways that surprised the US expert interview Possible damage to the Patriot air defense system has unnerved some Ukrainians. But don't worry, says Ivan Kirichevskiy, an expert from Ukrainian military news publication Defense Express, in an interview with Radio NV. Genocide by abduction: Russians planning to abduct Luhansk Oblast children to Russia NRC Invading Russian forces are planning to abduct all children from Luhansk Oblast to Russia under the guise of conducting medical examinations, the National Resistance Center (NRC) reported on May 23. 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 House of Commons unanimously passed a decision to recognize the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide The Parliament of the United Kingdom has adopted a resolution recognizing the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide against the Ukrainian people, said Yermak. Thank you. Historical justice is key to understanding who and what represents true evil. Read also: Belgium recognizes 1932-33 Holodomor as genocide of Ukrainian people As reported by the Ukrainian Pravda, the House of Commons unanimously voted for the resolution. Conservative MP Pauline Latham who tabled the motion, stressed that the famine in Ukraine in the early 1930s was man-made, resulting from the forced seizure of crops from Ukrainian peasants. Read also: Iceland recognizes Holodomor as genocide against Ukrainian people She also drew parallels with current events, where Russia is seizing Ukrainian grain in occupied Ukrainian territories. That's why we have to assure the Ukrainian authorities and international order that the United Kingdom at least the UK Parliament will not turn a blind eye to war crimes and crimes against humanity, Latham stated. Read also: Slovenia recognizes Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people 2022 marks 90 years since 1932, when the Soviet regime deliberately began to confiscate grain and other foodstuffs from the residents of Ukraine, which led to the Holodomor famine one of the greatest tragedies in Ukrainian history. Both in Ukraine and in many other countries, the Holodomor of 1932-1933 was subsequently recognized as a genocide against Ukrainians by Stalins regime. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (Bloomberg) -- London police said they arrested a man after a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street, the road thats home to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Most Read from Bloomberg @thesun of the scene at Downing Street in aftermath of car driven into gate... https://t.co/SiienaKkoL https://t.co/gpH0vQmoWA pic.twitter.com/9t2wRXQPHd Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) May 25, 2023 Footage aired by the BBC showed the vehicle crossing Whitehall before slowing to a low speed just in front of the gates. Police could later be seen inspecting the car and searching its trunk. Armed officers arrested the man on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, and inquiries are ongoing, the Metropolitan Police said on Thursday on Twitter. There are no reports of any injuries following the incident at about 4:20 p.m., they said. It wasnt clear if Sunak was in Downing Street at the time of the collision, and his office declined to comment. The prime ministers office is also on Downing Street, as is Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunts official residence. (Updates with footage of vehicle, police search in second paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Rishi Sunaks government promised a shake-up of health care in England that will allow patients to book free treatment in private hospitals, in an effort to cut record waiting lists. Most Read from Bloomberg Patients will be able to use the NHS app or website to choose from up to five providers including in the independent sector for operations, scans and procedures, the Department for Health and Social Care said in a statement. Sunak is keen to make a big offer on the NHS to win over voters ahead of a general election expected next year. His Conservative Party is trailing by a double-digit margin behind Keir Starmers Labour Party, which has promised fundamental reform of the health service if it wins power. Read More: Britains Cherished NHS Wrestles With Its Reform or Die Moment Both Labour and the Tories are open to greater use of private health care to ease pressure on an NHS that is buckling under the strain of more than 7 million patients waiting for elective care. Private providers already supply extra capacity in hospitals for surgery and beds, and Sunak said he wants to give patients more choice. After speaking with their family doctor, patients would be able to view information from providers filtered by distance, waiting times and quality of care. We know many patients want to be given a choice as it can dramatically reduce their wait for NHS care, David Hare, chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said in the statement. But too often patients are unclear that they have the right to choose a health care provider to deliver their NHS care whether an NHS organization or an independent sector one free at the point of use. At the moment, about one in 10 patients exercise their right to choose where they receive care, the health department said. But NHS Providers, which represents health trusts, warned that improving choice was not a panacea for the wider challenges facing the NHS. Unless action is taken to address major workforce shortages, it is hard to see how we will staff the diagnostic centers, operating theaters or other health care settings needed to deliver this care, spokesperson Miriam Deakin said in a statement. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Medunov paddles on a flooded island which locals and officials say is caused by Russia's chaotic control of the Kakhovka dam downstream, near Zaporizhzhia Ukraine blames Russian-occupied dam as village grapples with flooding Medunov paddles on a flooded island which locals and officials say is caused by Russia's chaotic control of the Kakhovka dam downstream, near Zaporizhzhia By Max Hunder LYSOHIRKA, Ukraine (Reuters) - As the water lapped against ruined appliances in Ihor Medunov's kitchen, he recalled the dozens of birthdays he has marked in his Ukrainian riverside village, most of which is under several feet of water. Officials and residents of the island community say the village in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region blame the flooding on Russia's occupation of the Nova Kakhovka dam that lies 100 miles (160 km) downstream on the River Dnipro. "We would have 50 people sat round a big table here sometimes," said Medunov, the hunting gamekeeper in the village of Lysohirka who turns 69 this week. He told Reuters that the water level started rising sharply over a month ago, sometimes by up to 30 centimetres (one foot) a day, and had remained elevated since. Several buildings on his plot were submerged and he said the water had never been this high in 25 years on the river island. Just six people now resided in the village compared with 50 who usually live there during the warm months, he said. The village lies around 15 miles (25 km) from the front lines with invading Russian forces and residents can no longer take shelter from shelling because their basements are water-logged. Medunov's neighbour, 74-year-old retired factory worker Mykola, showed off part of a rocket that was found three kilometres away and gifted to him by neighbours. "Sometimes the explosions shake the houses," he said as artillery rumbled faintly in the distance. HIGH WATER LEVELS The Kakhovka dam, one of six dams on the Dnipro that carves through central and southern Ukraine, was captured at the start of Moscow's February 2022 invasion. "The rise of the Dnipro's water level, as a result of which settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region were flooded, is linked to the Russian occupation of the Kakhovka dam," state company Ukrhydroenergo, which owns the dams, said in a statement. It said the 17-metre (56-foot) level in the pool held back by the dam was a metre higher than normal for this time of year. But it said it was unable to say what exactly Russian forces were doing at the dam because it did not have access itself. The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment about the Ukrainian allegation. A Russian energy official warned earlier this month that the dam risked being overwhelmed by record-high water levels. Inna Rybalko, an official from Ukraine's state waterways agency, said this spring had seen an unusually high amount of rain, with 3.5 times the regular amount of monthly rainfall recorded nationwide in April. Puffing on a cigarette in his inundated kitchen, Medunov said he believed Russian forces were deliberately flooding the area to get at Ukrainian military positions. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each of plotting to breach the dam using explosives. Such a move would flood much of the area downstream and likely cause major destruction. Russia accused Ukraine of firing a rocket at the dam last November. Medunov's son, 39-year-old Dmytro, said the cost of repairs would devastate his family: "Inside it's all rotten, all covered in mould... Wood, insulation. The costs will be very painful." Dmytro lives in the regional capital Zaporizhzhia, and visited the river island every weekend until the invasion. His visits have become rarer due to a wartime ban on civilian craft on this stretch of the Dnipro. He now has to catch lifts from police or military boats, which are currently the island's only lifeline for food and supplies. Medunov and his wife Natalia, who have five dogs, plan to stay on the island rather than move to Zaporizhzhia with their son. If the water level rises further, they may move to another building, he said. "There's a house which has a second floor," he said. (Reporting by Max Hunder; editing by Tom Balmforth and Mark Heinrich) Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, has announced that on 25 May, Ukraine managed to bring 106 defenders of the Bakhmut front back from Russian captivity - eight officers and 98 other ranks. Source: Ukraines Defence Intelligence; Yermak on Telegram Quote: "These are soldiers from the Bakhmut front - eight officers and 98 privates and sergeants. They fought for Bakhmut and accomplished a feat that prevented the enemy from advancing further into our East. Each of them is a hero of our country." Details: Yermak stated that many of the liberated defenders had been considered missing. photo by Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets Defence Intelligence noted that 68 of the liberated soldiers had been considered missing. It also reported that three bodies have been repatriated: two foreign citizens and a Ukrainian woman. 98 of the liberated servicemen are from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including 21 from the Territorial Defence Forces. Seven border guards and one member of the State Special Transport Service were also brought back home. At least seven of the soldiers have injuries: bullet and shrapnel wounds, burns, fractures, and exacerbated chronic conditions. photo by Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets The oldest liberated serviceman is 59 and the youngest is 21. A total of 2,430 people have been brought back home over the course of these prisoner of war exchanges, with 139 civilians among them. photo by Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraines counteroffensive underway for several days, says presidential office adviser Counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Read also: Ukraine alone decides how to conduct military operations, Washington says The counteroffensive has been ongoing for several days now, and there is an intense war along the 1,500-kilometer border, but actions have already begun, Podolyak said. He clarified that Ukraine has no intention to strike Russian territory. We will use the weapons provided to us to destroy Russian positions in the territories occupied by Moscow, including Donbas and Crimea, the statement read. Read also: What to expect of Ukraines grand counter-offensive NV analysis Ukraine has already received long-range Storm Shadow missiles, Leopard tanks, and anti-missile systems from France and Italy, he said. Emphasizing the significance of F-16 fighters, Podolyak stated that they will enable Ukraine to secure its airspace and achieve notable accomplishments. If we had them a year ago, the war would have already come to an end, he remarked. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on May 15 that the Armed Forces of Ukraine required a little more time for the upcoming counteroffensive. Read also: Zelenskyys advisor calls drone attack on Kremlin absolutely staged 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 Viktor Medvedchuk Read also: UK sanctions Medvedchuks wife and relatives of Russian oligarchs Roman Tytykalo, a member of Kyiv Oblast's Council, was first to report this decision. Medvedchuk is no longer a lawyer, he wrote on Facebook. Historical justice is served. The Qualification and Disciplinary Commissions disciplinary chamber of the Kyiv Oblast Bar has just granted our joint complaint with Illia Kostin and deprived Medvedchuk of the right to practice law. At LIGA.nets request to comment, Polishchuk said that on May 24, the Commission indeed took a disciplinary decision to deprive Medvedchuk of his lawyer status. Read also: Court seizes property of former MP Viktor Medvedchuk's wife worth over $152 million Medvedchuk was a longtime Ukrainian politician and long-time personal friend of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Read also: Ukraine arrests two land plots in Lviv Oblast belonging to Medvedchuk wife Oksana Marchenko He is also known as the most prominent captive released by Ukraine in a prisoner exchange with Russia. Read also: Court seizes stake in Ukrainian metallurgical giant from ex-MP Viktor Medvedchuks wife He once sat in the Ukrainian parliament, representing the now-banned Opposition Platform For Life Party, an openly pro-Russian political party. 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 Stop The Bleed Day The Stop The Bleed campaign was initiated by the American College of Surgeons in 2014, with the goal of educating more than 200 million people around the world on how to stop bleeding. The United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, and international partners such as the International Association of Firefighters and the International Association of Chiefs of Police have already joined the May 25 Stop The Bleed Day celebration, which originated in the United States. In Ukraine, the training will be conducted by NGO First Aid Special Training (FAST). The projects partners include the PULSE Pre-hospital focused Ukrainian Life Saving Effort charitable organization, which provides free training for military personnel, the Together for Ukraine charitable foundation, which donated 1,000 tourniquets for training, as well as robota.ua, the American Chamber of Commerce, and UNIT.City. Companies such as DTEK, Uklon, Nova Poshta, Foxtrot, Ukrgasbank, SE Medical Procurement, and others will also join the training. The United States took care of the victims of road accidents, industrial injuries, terrorist attacks and shootings, said FAST co-founder Fedir Serdiuk. Ukraine has a different context, which makes first aid even more relevant: the fiercest war in 80 years, constant shelling, mine danger for decades. To implement Stop The Bleed Day at the national level is what the doctor ordered for us. Were moving towards this step by step. This year, were bringing together responsible businesses to learn and declare the principle: the ability to act overcomes fear and uncertainty. The trainings organizers and participants plan to set a national record and record the largest online training on stopping bleeding. PULSE | FAST In addition, the campaign is aimed at supporting the military. All tourniquets that will be used during the training will be immediately donated to the PULSE charitable organization, which teaches Ukrainian soldiers tactical medicine for free. A total of 1,000 tourniquets will provide practice for more than 6,000 military personnel. According to North American Rescue, 35% of all prehospital traumatic deaths are caused by bleeding. Massive bleeding can kill a person in three or five minutes. Considering that the average arrival time of an ambulance in Ukraine is up to 20 minutes, the actions of an bystanders are sometimes the only chance a victim has to survive. 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 Kurt Volker Read also: EU Parliament renews trade-liberalization measures for Ukraine During a recent visit to Odesa, former U.S. special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker stated that Ukraine's accession to NATO might happen at the end of the war during a visit to Odesa. He cited two examples. One of them is Germany, whose unoccupied part - the FRG - joined NATO in 1956. Volker also mentioned North and South Korea, which are still at war. The example of Germany is not Kurt Volker's invention. Our Ukrainian experts have been talking about this since 2014. In formal and informal conversations, serious people cite the example of Germany - that divided Germany became a member of NATO. The Russian occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas was a clear analog. In 2014, there was talk that only NATO membership would allow Ukraine to avoid a major war. This was all ignored, and now they are trying to find some application for this already old formula. And it is not about Ukraine's accession to NATO. I will explain why Korea was mentioned. This conversation has been going on since last fall In American non-governmental circles, the possibility of concluding with a so-called Korean peace between Ukraine and Russia is now very popular, where part of Ukrainian territories remains occupied, while the free rump state joins the West. after successful advances by Ukrainian troops in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Then there was a thesis that Ukraine would not be able to liberate all of its territories, and perhaps some options should be sought when the war ends - Ukraine becomes part of the West, part of NATO, and the occupied territories become part of Russia. The thesis came from the prediction that Ukraine would not be able to achieve any decisive breakthrough, the war would drag on for years, there would be many victims, and in the end, the result would be the same. The front line would not significantly change, and the defense line would become the border. This is what happened in Korea. As these scenarios were being discussed in the United States, Ukrainians were surveyed to see how they would accept them. The Ukrainian side outright rejected this option at that stage. Read also: Germany investigating possible poisoning of Putins critics in Berlin We saw leaks in the press about secret negotiations with Russia. There were visits and negotiations between the head of the CIA, William Burns, and representatives of Russian intelligence in November. But Russia rejected this option - peace in exchange for territory. As did Ukraine. Instead, there is a formula for peace that President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about this at the G-20 summit in November, and this formula is now the main one. It provides for the liberation of all territories, but there is no mention of NATO membership there. It is only about guarantees for Ukraine. So this line is now leading in our government's negotiations with Western countries. Plus, we are developing this thesis and saying that the best guarantees for Ukraine are NATO membership. The visits of the President of Ukraine to the summits of Scandinavian and Baltic countries, then a tour of Italy, Germany, France, and Great Britain, were dedicated to determining clear terms for Ukraine's accession to NATO. The only question is whether Ukraine will join during or after the war. Our closest allies believe that Ukraine should join after the war, which means that Ukraine should join with its entire territory. Read also: Crimeas full liberation only way to guarantee Middle East security, says top security official Kurt Volker voices the opinion of a particular part of the American establishment that accession may occur during the war, but it may mean that not all of Ukraine will be liberated. In summary, our Western allies are considering several different options in close consultation with us. I think the decision will be made based on the results of this summer or even the winter military campaign this year. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukraine must reclaim its south and become a NATO Member Francis Fukuyama Francis Fukuyama addressed the participants of the KSF In his opinion, under current conditions, peace talks and a temporary ceasefire would be a very bad scenario for Kyiv, as that would leave Russia in control of Donbas, Crimea, and much of the southern coast of Ukraine Read also: Crimeas full liberation only way to guarantee Middle East security, says top security official "There's an even deeper issue: as long as [Russian dictator] Vladimir Putin is in power, any 'peace agreements' will simply give Russia the opportunity to rearm its troops for a later resumption of the war," Fukuyama stressed. He believes that the only thing that could prevent Russia from resuming the war in the future is Ukraine's membership in NATO and the security guarantees provided by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. "NATO membership will become a reality if, thanks to the counteroffensive, Ukraine regains [full control of] the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions on the Black Sea coast," said the Stanford University professor. Read also: Black Tulip memorial group discusses their work recovering soldiers remains in Donbas "The fear of a slow blockade of Crimea may prompt Putin to stop attacks on Ukraine, unblock Ukrainian ports on a long-term basis, and stop terrorist missile attacks on Ukrainian cities." Fukuyama emphasized that the durability of any peace arrangements with Russia will depend on Ukraine's membership in NATO. Read also: UK Defense Secretary in Kyiv to talk NATO and weapons "Every NATO member who has doubts about this must say, what other peace agreement is possible in the coming years, without simply being a short-term ceasefire and an opportunity for Russia to rearm, rebuild, and then resume the war," he concluded. The Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation, is the country's premiere platform for discussing issues of war and peace, national and global security. Partners of the forum include the Atlantic Council, NATO Information and Documentation Center, National Democratic Institute, Ukrainian Women's Congress, and Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Read also: Ukraines NATO membership is key to lasting peace, Latvian PM says NV is the official media partner of the Kyiv Security Forum. 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 (CNN) A federal court in Central Islip, New York sentenced William Junior Maxwell II, also known as rapper Fetty Wap, to six years imprisonment and five years of post-release supervision for conspiracy to distribute cocaine on Wednesday, according to a news release from the US Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of New York. The release stated that Maxwell was a member of an organization that distributed more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine across Long Island and New Jersey. Maxwells legal representative declined to comment. The rapper was indicted and arrested in October 2021, along with five others, on drug trafficking conspiracy charges, and was subsequently released on $500,000 bail. The Wake Up artist was taken back into custody in August 2022 after prosecutors said he violated the terms of his bail by threatening to kill someone and holding a gun during a FaceTime call in December. Later that month, Maxell pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, CNN confirmed at the time via the prosecutors office. The US Attorneys offices news release on Wednesday said that according to court filings, Maxwell and the co-defendants distributed the narcotics between June 2019 and June 2020. Prosecutors also outlined the scheme, stating in the release that the defendants obtained the narcotics on the West Coast and transported them using the United States Postal Service, and drivers with hidden vehicle compartments, across the country to Suffolk County for distribution. It is also noted that five of the defendants used firearms to protect their drug organization and distribution chain, and that Maxwell was a kilogram-level redistributor for the trafficking organization. The Russian flag flies on the dome of the Kremlin Senate building in Moscow MOSCOW (Reuters) -United States intelligence agencies believe that a drone attack on the Kremlin this month was likely orchestrated by Ukrainian spies or military intelligence, the New York Times said. The newspaper said the attack appeared to be part of a series of covert operations that have made officials in the United States Ukraines biggest supplier of military equipment uncomfortable. The U.S. assessment was based on intercepted Russian and Ukrainian communications, the paper said. The United States intercepted Ukrainian conversations in which officials said they believed their country was responsible for the attack, and also tapped into Russian communications which indicated it was not some sort of false-flag operation by Russia, it added. "We immediately said that the Kyiv regime was behind this," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the report. "In the end, it doesn't make much difference which of the units of the Kyiv regime was behind this. The Kyiv regime was behind this, we know this, we are aware of it, and we shall proceed from this as we go forward." U.S. officials said they do not believe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signs off on all covert operation, the paper said. It is unclear to what extent he is aware of such operations in advance, the officials were quoted as saying. Russia accused Ukraine of trying to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin in the attack. Zelenskiy promptly denied any Ukrainian involvement. The Kremlin has also said the United States was behind the drone attack, a view Washington dismissed as ridiculous. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) (Bloomberg) -- Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner mercenary group, said his forces have begun pulling out of Bakhmut and handing over positions to the Russian army - the latest twist in the eastern Ukrainian city largely leveled by months of intense fighting. Most Read from Bloomberg Moscow and Minsk formalized an agreement to store Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a move denounced by Belaruss exiled opposition leader as further threatening the security of Ukraine and all of Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke about the hoped-for fighter jet coalition with Swedens defense minister. Zelenskiys chief of staff said 106 Ukrainian service members who were captured in the Bakhmut region, including eight officers, will be returned in a prisoner exchange. There was no immediate word from Russias defense ministry. Latest Coverage Ukraines Counteroffensive to Yield Results, Top Aide Says The F-16 Jets Kyiv Wants Arent Flying in Ukraine Any Time Soon EU Blocks More Than 200 Billion in Russian Central Bank Assets Wagner Chief Says His Mercenaries Are Exiting Ukraines Bakhmut Markets Wheat futures in Chicago traded near the lowest level in more than two years as a favorable crop outlook in Europe and Russia countered gloomy prospects for the US harvest. Oils three-day rally hit a wall after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak downplayed the likelihood of another OPEC+ production cut. Coming Up So-called Ramstein meeting of defense officials to discuss Ukraines defense capability later Thursday Putin was scheduled to hold talks with Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders over Nagorno-Karabakh Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Ukraine to receive hundreds of thousands of shells from South Korea via USA - WSJ 155-mm artillery shells Seoul has reached a "confidential agreement" with Washington to provide the United States with shells to supply Ukraine. Such a decision will allow the White House to postpone a decision on possible supplies of cluster munitions requested by Kyiv, the WSJ reports. Read also: In two months, EU delivers 220,000 artillery shells to Ukraine South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Jeon Ha-kyu said that they are in talks with the Pentagon about exporting ammunition, but the WSJ article contains "inaccuracies," he said, declining to elaborate. "There have been various discussions and requests, and our government will take appropriate measures, comprehensively studying the military and humanitarian situation in Ukraine," he clarified. Read also: South Korea authorized Polands transfer of Krab howitzers to Ukraine in 2022 Washington first asked the Seoul government to provide Ukraine with the shells last year, but the two countries "got scared" after the information appeared in the media, U.S. officials told the WSJ. The breakthrough on the supply issue came shortly after the South Korean president visited the United States, where he and Joe Biden issued a joint security statement. At the same time, the South Korean leader's national security adviser, Cho Tae-yong, said on May 24 that Seoul would consider providing Kyiv with ammunition after monitoring the situation. At the moment, Tae-yong said, there are no plans to send ammunition either directly or through Poland. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on April 19 did not rule out the possibility of providing military assistance to Ukraine if the country "suffers a large-scale attack on civilians." Russia fired 36 Shahed kamikaze drones at Ukraine on May 25. Earlier, Seoul publicly refused to provide Kyiv with lethal weapons. Read also: US presents new aid package to Ukraine after Zelenskyys meeting with Biden at G7 summit Media reported that South Korea had agreed with the United States to lease 500,000 155-mm artillery rounds. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine At least one person was killed and 15 wounded in a Russian missile strike on a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said. He denounced the attack as a crime against humanity, and the Ukrainian Defence Ministry called it a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which set out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. Pictures show a devastated building with smoke pouring out of it and rescue workers looking on. Much of the upper floor of what appeared to be a three-storey building had been badly damaged, as had cars parked nearby. Another (Russian) missile attack, another crime against humanity, Zelensky wrote on Twitter. The buildings of a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic in the city of Dnipro were destroyed. As of now, one person was killed and 15 were wounded. Russia has denied repeated accusations that its soldiers have committed war crimes in Ukraine. Key Points One killed, 15 wounded in Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic Putin ally says Ukraine war could last 'decades Wagner starts handing Bakhmut to regular Russian troops Vladimir Putin signs deal for Belarus to station its tactical nuclear weapons One killed, 15 wounded in Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic 10:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain At least one person was killed and 15 wounded in a Russian missile strike on a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. He denounced the attack as a crime against humanity, and the Ukrainian Defence Ministry called it a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which set out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. Video footage showed a devastated building with smoke pouring out of it and rescue workers looking on. Much of the upper floor of what appeared to be a three-storey building had been badly damaged, as had cars parked nearby. Another (Russian) missile attack, another crime against humanity, Zelensky wrote on Twitter. The buildings of a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic in the city of Dnipro were destroyed. As of now, one person was killed and 15 were wounded. Russia has denied repeated accusations that its soldiers have committed war crimes in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said earlier on Friday that air defences had shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on the capital Kyiv, Dnipro and eastern regions. Reuters was unable to verify the reports. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago, did not immediately comment on the reported air strikes but said Ukraine had struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone. (via REUTERS) One killed in Russian attack on clinic in Ukraines Dnipro- Zelensky 10:11 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain At least one person was killed and 15 wounded in a Russian missile strike on a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. In an online post under video footage of a badly damaged building with smoke pouring out of it, he said rescue efforts were under way. Russian terrorists once again confirm their status of fighters against everything humane and honest, Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app. A rocket attack on a clinic in the city of Dnipro. As of now, one person was killed and 15 were wounded. The shelling aftermath is being eliminated and the victims are being rescued. Ukrainian officials said earlier on Friday that air defences had shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on the capital Kyiv, Dnipro and eastern regions. Reuters was unable to verify the reports. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago, did not immediately comment on the reported air strikes but said Ukraine had struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone. Firefighters work at a facility of a transport company damaged by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro (via REUTERS) Hospital in Ukrainian city of Dnipro hit in Russian attack - governor 09:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A hospital in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro was hit on Friday in a Russian missile attack, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said. Missile attack on Dnipro. Rashist bastards attacked a medical facility. There are victims, Lysak said on the Telegram messaging app, using a derogatory term for Russians. China says it hopes Black Sea grain deal can be done in balanced, comprehensive manner 09:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain China hopes the Black Sea grain deal can be implemented in a balanced and comprehensive manner, and wants to cooperate on global food security, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. Russia signaled on Thursday that if demands to improve its grain and fertilizer exports are not met then it will not extend the deal beyond July 17. Russia's Medvedev warns West is underestimating risks of nuclear escalation over Ukraine 08:37 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that the West was seriously underestimating the risk of a nuclear war over Ukraine, cautioning that Russia would launch a pre-emptive strike if Ukraine gets nuclear weapons. Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine has triggered the deadliest European conflict since World War Two and the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Russia, which has more nuclear weapons than any other state, has repeatedly said the West is engaged in a proxy war with Russia over Ukraine that could escalate into a much bigger conflict. There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Allowing Ukraine nuclear weapons, a step no Western state has publicly proposed, would mean a missile with a nuclear charge coming to them, Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012, was quoted as saying. The Anglo-Saxons do not fully realise this and believe that it will not come to this, Medvedev said. It will under certain conditions. Medvedev, who once cast himself as a liberal moderniser, now presents himself as a fiercely anti-Western Kremlin hawk. Diplomats say his views give an indication of thinking at the top levels of the Kremlin elite. The West says it wants to help Ukraine defeat Russia but U.S. President Joe Biden has cautioned that a direct confrontation between the U.S.-backed NATO military alliance and Russia would result in World War Three. Russia says Washington would never allow Russia to arm a country bordering the United States, and the Kremlin says the West is already essentially fighting an undeclared war with Russia. When Ukraine gained independence after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, it hosted thousands of nuclear weapons. It handed these to Russia under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in return for guarantees of its security and sovereignty from Russia, the United States and Britain. (AP) Dnipro has suffered,' regional governor says 08:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia attacked the city of Dnipro with missiles and drones overnight. It was a very difficult night. It was loud - the enemy launched a mass attack on the region with missiles and drones, Serhiy Lysak, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor, said on the Telegram messaging app. Dnipro has suffered. Lysak said several houses, cars, and private companies, including a transport company and a gas station, had been damaged. Officials in Kyiv said the roof of a shopping mall, a private house and several cars had been damaged. The governor of the Kharkiv region also reported damage to several private houses and industrial facilities. Russia, which began its full-scale invasion 15 months ago, has launched hundreds of missile attacks since last October, seeking to destroy critical infrastructure and power facilities. It has shifted the focus of its missile strikes to try to disrupt preparation for a Ukrainian counterattack, military officials have said. A rescuer is seen at a compound of a petrol station damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro (via REUTERS) Firefighters work at a facility of a transport company damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro (via REUTERS) Ukraine shoots down 10 missiles, over 20 drones in Russian attacks 07:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine shot down 10 missiles and over 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on the capital Kyiv, the city of Dnipro and eastern regions, Ukrainian officials said on Friday. Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukraine this month, mainly attacking logistics and infrastructure facilities before an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 10 missiles fired from the Caspian Sea, 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two reconnaissance drones. It said a total of 17 missiles and 31 drones had been launched during the attacks, which started at around 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Thursday and continued until 5:00 a.m. on Friday. Several drones and several missiles hit targets in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, officials said. There was no immediate word of any deaths. A view shows a residential house damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro (via REUTERS) Russia's Medvedev says pre-emptive strike needed if Ukraine receives nuclear weapons 07:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia will have to launch a pre-emptive strike if the West gives Ukraine nuclear weapons, Russian news agencies quoted Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman, former president Dmitry Medvedev, as saying on Friday. There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike, Medvedev said. Russian president Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev (AFP via Getty Images) The Russians out for revenge on Putin: Well begin to liberate Russia 06:45 , Arpan Rai The fighters are exuberant after their cross-border mission, showing off a captured BRT armoured car and machine guns among their battle trophies, while vowing further attacks in a long campaign and predicting Vladimir Putins downfall. They have not invaded Russia on Ukraines behalf, but started a war of liberation, declares Denis Kapustin, the head of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) at a camp in northeastern Ukraine. We went back to our homeland. There were no Ukrainian soldiers with us; they will not appear in the territory of the Russian Federation. This is our internal problem, he insists. Kim Sengupta reports The Russians out for revenge on Putin Ukraine releases 106 Bakhmut soldiers from Russian captivity 06:29 , Arpan Rai Volodymyr Zelensky announced the return of over a hundred Ukrainian soldiers, initially considered missing in the battlefield, who fought in the grinding battle of Bakhmut last night. Today we have another positive result from our team working on exchanges. We have returned 106 more of our warriors from Russian captivity - they fought in the Bakhmut sector, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address. He added: It is very important that there was no information about many of these 106 people at all they were considered missing. But we found them. We brought them back home. 8 officers, 98 soldiers and sergeants Putins ally threatens pre-emptive strike: Irreversible laws of war' 06:19 , Arpan Rai Russia will need to launch a pre-emptive strike if the West gives nuclear weapons to Ukraine, one of the Russian presidents closest aides has said. There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike, former Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said, according to Russian state media. As the Ukraine war spills into Russia, a dangerous new front is about to explode 05:45 , Arpan Rai At the start of this week, an unknown number of paramilitaries entered the Russian region of Belgorod from Ukraine. The details are both unclear and contested, but what appears to have happened is essentially this: they took over a border post, attacked a few villages on the Russian side of the border north of Ukraines second city, Kharkiv, and advanced several dozen kilometres further into Russia before being beaten back by Russian troops. Russia claims they killed 70, but there is no corroboration. Ukraine says it was a couple of Russian volunteer groups opposed to President Putin, operating independently of the Kyiv government; Russia says it was Ukrainian saboteurs and terrorists operating with the full knowledge and support of Kyiv. But whoever was behind this raid is a secondary detail to the fact that it happened. Read the full story here: As the Ukraine war spills into Russia, a new front is set to explode | Mary Dejevsky I thank everyone who gave this result - Zelensky 05:00 , William Mata Ukraine is celebrating the return of more than 100 soldiers from captivity. Today we have another positive result from our team working on exchanges, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter. We have returned 106 more of warriors from captivity - they fought in the Bakhmut sector. It is very important that there was no information about many of these 106 people at all - they were considered missing. But we found them. We brought them back home. 8 officers, 98 soldiers and sergeants... I thank everyone who gave this result. Today we have another positive result from our team working on exchanges. We have returned 106 more of warriors from captivity - they fought in the Bakhmut sector. It is very important that there was no information about many of these 106 people at all - they were pic.twitter.com/DgZlNaMulk (@ZelenskyyUa) May 25, 2023 Wagner starts handing Bakhmut to regular Russian troops 04:55 , Arpan Rai Russias Wagner private army started handing over its positions in Bakhmut to regular Russian troops yesterday, five days after announcing complete capture of the devastated eastern Ukrainian city following the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the (Wagner) units will rebase to camps in the rear, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prighozin said in a video. The mercenary groups leader was wearing battle gear and standing beside a war-damaged residential block. However, Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said Wagner has only handed over positions on the citys outskirts but inside the city itself Wagner fighters remain. Prigozhin has said his fighting unit would be ready to return to the city if needed. Putin ally says Ukraine war could last 'decades 04:09 , Arpan Rai One of Russian president Vladimir Putins top aides has said the war in Ukraine could last for decades, with long periods of fighting interspersed by truces, a state news agency reported today. This conflict will last a very long time, most likely decades, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said. As long as there is such a power in place, there will be, say, three years of truce, two years of conflict, and everything will be repeated, he continued, reiterating Moscows claim that Ukraine is a Nazi state. The remarks by the deputy chairman of Putins powerful security council were made during a visit to Vietnam, reported RIA news agency. He had described the Ukrainian authorities as an infection. Pictures: May 25 in Ukraine 04:00 , William Mata A Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW) receives a medical aid after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine (via REUTERS) Ihor Medunov walks next to a police boat on a flooded island which locals and officials say is caused by Russias chaotic control of the Kakhovka dam downstream, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, near Zaporizhzhia (REUTERS) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the graduating class of Johns Hopkins University via livestream from Ukraine, (AP) This picture taken with a smartphone shows an elderly woman gesturing to a crow as they sit on a bench during a warm spring day, in the centre of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images) Ukraine warns of increased danger from missile strikes this morning 03:49 , Arpan Rai Military authorities in Kyiv warned of an increased danger of Russian missile strikes in the early hours today, adding that the anti-aircraft defences were working. Increased missile danger! Air defences are working in the region, the Kyiv regional military administration said in a message on Telegram. Russia has targeted all of Ukraine and especially Kyiv in the recent months with early morning combined strikes of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles in a bid to overwhelm Ukraines air defences. However, Kyiv says it has knocked out most of the Russian missiles headed towards Ukrainian cities with a high rate of success since April. No details of possible damage were immediately available. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers surprise commencement speech to Johns Hopkins 03:00 , William Mata During a surprise commencement address to graduates of Johns Hopkins University on Thursday morning, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told them to take advantage of the time and resources they have to pursue their passions and uphold the democratic values at stake in his countrys war against Russia. He spoke via livestream from Ukraine, where the ongoing conflict has impacted the futures of countless young Ukrainians, robbing them of opportunities and loved ones, Mr Zelensky said. He told Hopkins graduates to make the most of every moment. Time is the most valuable resource on the planet, he said. Some people realize this sooner, and these are the lucky ones. Others realize it too late, when they lose someone or something. He also thanked US leaders for their support since the Russian invasion, including significant investments in humanitarian and military aid. Volodymyr Zelensky speaking at the G7 conference (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan speak of peace progress while arguing in front of Putin 02:00 , Reuters Nagorno-Karabakh region (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia on Thursday both spoke of progress towards ending their decades-old conflict over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, even as they argued openly in front of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan, has been a source of conflict between the two Caucasus neighbours since the years leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and between ethnic Armenians and Turkic Azeris for well over a century. In 2020, Azerbaijan seized control of areas that had been controlled by ethnic Armenians in and around the mountain enclave, and since then it has periodically restricted access to the only access road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, on which the enclave relies for financial and military support. At a meeting in Moscow, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of causing a humanitarian crisis by blocking the only land route from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. He called it a direct violation of a 2020 ceasefire that ended the six-week war between the two countries, and called for an international mission to be sent to evaluate the situation. US senator hopes Serbia adopts Russia sanctions as Serb spy chief travels to Moscow 01:00 , AP Senator Chris Murphy (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A US senator on Thursday said he hopes Serbia would adopt Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, telling the Balkan country that "there is no future" in an alliance with Moscow. Russia's invasion has been an absolute disaster and my belief is that Russia is ultimately going to lose this conflict," Senator Chris Murphy told reporters in the Serbian capital Belgrade. Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed any sanctions on Russia. The future for Serbia is with the European Union and with the United States not with Russia," Mr Murphy said. There is no future with Russia. They (Russia) are going to be devastated, a permanent pariah internationally after this invasion. Though Serbia is formally seeking EU membership and has condemned the invasion at the United Nations, Belgrade has maintained its historically friendly relations with Moscow. Swedish minister for defence tweets about visit Friday 26 May 2023 00:00 , William Mata Visiting Kiev together with the minister for civil defence @CarlOskar. Met my friend and colleague @oleksiireznikov to discuss continued Swedish support for Ukraine. Impressed by the performance of the armed forces and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. pic.twitter.com/LFcL607Dsc Pal Jonson (@PlJonson) May 25, 2023 Pal Jonson, Swedens minister for defence, has been in talks with Ukraine counterparts over what support the Scandinavian country can bring. Mr Jonson was joined by his party colleague Carl-Oskar Bohlin for the visit on Thursday. The minister for defence tweeted: Impressed by the performance of the Ukrainian armed forces and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine secures release of 106 'hero' soldiers in swap with Russia - Kyiv Thursday 25 May 2023 23:00 , William Mata Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk attend a ceremony (REUTERS) Ukraine secured the release of 106 captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday, president Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff said. The soldiers, including eight officers, were captured fighting in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut that Russia says it has captured, but where Kyivs forces say they still have a small foothold. Every one of them is a hero of our state. Many of the ones we are returning from captivity were considered missing. The relatives of these people have gone through a difficult time, the senior official, Andriy Yermak, said. Tatiana Moskalkova, Russias human rights ombudsman, confirmed Russias Wagner private military unit took part in an exchange of fighters on Thursday, but gave no further details. Wagner played a key role in Russias months-long onslaught on the city of Bakhmut where both sides likened the ferocious fighting to a meatgrinder. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Ukrainian military intelligence says that 2,430 Ukrainians have been freed in prisoner swaps, including 139 civilians. Ukraine to open more embassies in Africa Thursday 25 May 2023 22:00 , William Mata Dmytro Kuleba in Africa (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Ukraine leaders said on Thursday they would consider opening more embassies in Africa and hold a summit between the country and continent. The Guardian reported Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines foreign minister, said: We have recently adopted our first African strategy and intensified our political dialogue with many countries on the continent. This year, we are going to establish new embassies in different parts of the continent and plan to hold the first Ukraine-Africa Summit. Sweden considers letting Ukrainian pilots try out Gripen fighter jets Thursday 25 May 2023 21:00 , William Mata Swedens defense minister says the Nordic country is considering whether to let Ukrainian pilots test its JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. So far, Sweden has ruled out sending any Gripen fighters to Ukraine, saying it needs them for its own territorial defense. But defence minister Pal Jonsson told Swedish broadcaster TV4 that Sweden was looking with a positive spirit on a Ukrainian request to allow its pilots to try out the Swedish plane. That could, for example, mean test flights, using simulators, learning more about the extensive ground system that is part of the Gripen system, he said. Ukraine has long asked for Western fighter jets to help it resist the full-scale Russian invasion, now in its second year. Initially reluctant, the U.S. and other NATO countries recently agreed to allow Ukrainian pilots to receive training to fly F-16 fighters, though none has yet committed to hand over any planes. The JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets (Agency) MPs vote to recognise famine as genocide Thursday 25 May 2023 20:00 , William Mata The Houses of Parliament (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) MPs have voted in favour of recognising a famine that engulfed Ukraine in the 1930s as a genocide against the countrys people. The House of Commons unanimously supported a motion to recognise the Holodomor as a genocide. The famine is widely agreed to be man-made, and occurred between 1932 and 1933, killing millions of Ukrainians. A growing number of countries have recognised the Holodomor as a genocide, as they consider it a purposeful attempt by the Soviet government to kill Ukrainians. The backbench motion, tabled by Conservative MP Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire), is non-binding. But Ms Latham urged MPs to support it as a means of sending a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin about his invasion of Ukraine. Sweden could allow Ukrainian pilots to test fly its Gripen fighter jets Thursday 25 May 2023 18:50 , Andy Gregory Sweden may allow a few Ukrainian fighter jet pilots to test fly the Nordic countrys Gripen aircraft, Stockholms defence minister has said. But in his comments to broadcaster TV4 on Thursday, Pal Jonson repeated earlier insistences that Sweden has no plans to send any of its Gripen to Ukraine, as all six divisions are required for the defence of Swedens territory. This concerns the Ukrainians putting in inquiries about various kinds of aviation systems it can be Tornados, F-16s or Gripens so that they can test the kinds of platforms and systems that we and other countries operate, Jonson said. We are now looking at the possibility that the Ukrainians can test the Gripen. Such an initiative could involve test flights, trying simulators and learning about the fighter jets ground support system that, he said, adding: Some decisions remain, both on the Ukrainian and the Swedish side. Russian prosecutor asks court to recognise Nazi crimes around Moscow as genocide Thursday 25 May 2023 18:14 , Reuters Russian prosecutors have asked a court to recognise crimes committed by Nazi Germany in the Moscow region as genocide and claim to believe that around 6.4 trillion roubles (66.8 trillion) in damage was caused. It was unclear whether the move was a prelude to a new financial compensation claim from Russia to modern Germany, with which relations have soured badly over Moscows war in Ukraine. But the statement, which cited the need to defend Russias national interests while restoring historical justice, appeared part of a wider effort by Russia to gird its citizens for what it says is an existential war with the West, which some Russian officials have likened to the one fought by the Soviet Union against the Nazis. The prosecutors asked a Moscow regional court to recognise as war crimes and crimes against humanity, and as genocide against the Soviet people, the established and newly revealed crimes committed by the German fascist invaders in the Moscow region between October 1941 and January 1942. More than 26,000 people were killed in the region during that time, they said in a statement, with Soviet citizens subjected to torture, robbery, forced labour and expulsions. It was not clear how soon the court would rule on the request. Watch: Asked about Ukraine, US presidential hopeful gives rambling answer about trans people Thursday 25 May 2023 17:44 , Andy Gregory Russia summons German, Swedish and Danish ambassadors over Nord Stream probe Thursday 25 May 2023 17:12 , Andy Gregory Russia has summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Sweden and Denmark in protest over what it said was the complete lack of results in an investigation into who blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The underwater blasts last September occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark, and the two countries are investigating the explosions which they say were deliberate alongside Germany. In a new statement, Russias foreign ministry claimed: It has been noted that these countries are not interested in establishing the true circumstances of this sabotage. On the contrary, they are delaying their efforts and trying to conceal the tracks and the true perpetrators of the crime behind which we believe are well-known countries. It is no coincidence that leaked improbable versions [of what happened] are dumped in the media to try to muddy the waters, the ministry said. The Danish foreign ministry confirmed that its ambassador had been summoned, and said authorities in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden were continuing their investigations. Denmark has been providing ongoing updates to Russia regarding the investigations progress and responding to their inquiries. We will continue to do so, the ministry told Reuters. Relocation of nuclear warheads to Belarus has already started, claims Lukashenko Thursday 25 May 2023 16:40 , Andy Gregory Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that the relocation of some of Russias tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus has already started, state news agency Tass reports. Russia signed a deal with its close ally Belarus earlier on Thursday about the storage of the warheads at a special facility, which it claims should be completed in just over a months time. EU tells China to play constructive role towards peace in Ukraine Thursday 25 May 2023 15:54 , Reuters The European Commission has repeated calls for China to play a constructive role in establishing peace in Ukraine, after a top EU diplomat met Li Hui, Chinas special representative for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia. The EU expects China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to play a constructive role ... and to recall the necessity to respect the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity ... by unconditionally withdrawing all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, the EU said in a statement. Last week, Li Hui visited Ukraine and met president Volodymyr Zelensky in a European tour that Beijing billed as its effort to promote peace talks and a political settlement. He is set to visit Russia on Friday. Cyprus upholding sanctions on Russia, EU must support sectors hit Thursday 25 May 2023 15:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Cyprus said on Thursday it was committed to upholding European Union sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and urged the bloc to support sectors, such as shipping, that have felt the impact of EU decision. Right from the start, Cyprus has been implementing all the sanctions related to the Russian invasion to Ukraine, President Nikos Christodoulides said after meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. Were on the right side of history and we will continue in the same direction. Where there is a cost for the European industries due to the decisions that we take - the right decisions that we take - the European Union should intervene to support those sectors. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus Thursday 25 May 2023 14:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday formalizing the procedure for deploying Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. The move formalized the deal agreed on earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Putin previously announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. The inking of the deal comes as Russia braces for Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive. Both Russian and Belarusian officials framed the step as driven by hostility from the West. Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus Russia expels five Swedish diplomats, says ties at "unprecedented low" Thursday 25 May 2023 14:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia said on Thursday it would expel five Swedish diplomats in what it said was a retaliatory measure for Swedens confrontational course in relations with Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was responding to the expulsion of five of its diplomatic staff from Sweden last month, which it called an openly hostile step. Relations between the two countries have worsened since Sweden last year announced its intention to join NATO following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Russian statement said ties had reached an unprecedented low. Russia summons Germany, Denmark, Sweden envoys over 'stalled' Nord Stream investigation Thursday 25 May 2023 13:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it had summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Sweden and Denmark to protest over what it said was the complete lack of results in an investigation to identify who blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year. Several unexplained underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and newly-built Nord Stream 2 pipelines that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea in September 2022. The blasts occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark and both countries say the explosions were deliberate, but have yet to determine who was responsible. The two countries and Germany are investigating the incident. Russias Foreign Ministry in a statement accused all three of deliberately dragging their feet and of trying to conceal who was behind the blasts. It said it was unhappy about what it called the opaque nature of the investigation and its refusal to engage with Russia. It has been noted that these countries are not interested in establishing the true circumstances of this sabotage. On the contrary, they are delaying their efforts and trying to conceal the tracks and the true perpetrators of the crime behind which we believe are well-known countries, it said. It is no coincidence that leaked improbable versions (of what happened) are dumped in the media to try to muddy the waters. The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have called the incident an act of sabotage. Moscow has blamed the West. Neither side has provided evidence. The ministry said Moscow would keep trying to ensure that Germany, Denmark and Sweden conducted what it called an objective investigation with Russia participating too. Live: Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin speaks at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Thursday 25 May 2023 13:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Watch live as US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin delivers opening remarks at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Live: Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin speaks at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over Thursday 25 May 2023 13:03 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine will not be able to join Nato as long as Russias invasion continues, the head of the alliance has said. To become a member in the midst of a war is not on the agenda, Jens Stoltenberg said. The issue is what happens when the war ends. Last September, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced a bid for fast-track membership of Nato after Russias president Vladimir Putin proclaimed four partially-occupied regions of Ukraine as annexed Russian land as part of Moscows invasion. Since then, there have been plenty of platitudes from Nato members about how Ukraine belongs in the alliance, but little concrete action, with some Western allies of Kyiv wary of moves that could push Nato towards an active war with Russia. At an event organised by think tank German Marshall Fund of The United States in Brussels, Mr Stoltenberg acknowledged there were differences among the alliance over how to address Kyivs membership ambitions. Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over Watch: Wagner leader says Russian forces withdrawing from Bakhmut Thursday 25 May 2023 12:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine says Russian soldiers replace Wagner units in Bakhmut outskirts Thursday 25 May 2023 11:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia has replaced its Wagner private military units with regular soldiers in the outskirts of Bakhmut but the groups fighters remain inside the devastated city, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Thursday. Her comments appeared at least partially to confirm an announcement by Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin that his group had started withdrawing its forces from Bakhmut in east Ukraine and handing over its positions to regular Russian troops. Russia shuts Swedish consulate, expels diplomats in tit-for-tat move Thursday 25 May 2023 11:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia said on Thursday it would shut Swedens consulate in St Petersburg and its own mission in Swedens second-biggest city Gothenburg, and expelled five Swedish diplomats in a tit-for-tat move after Stockholm expelled five Russians last month. Stockholm said last month it had expelled the diplomats over espionage concerns. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the expulsions an openly hostile step. It said it had withdrawn its consent for the Swedish consulate in St Petersburg from September. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in a statement the news was very regrettable and further confirmation of the negative political development in Russia and the countrys international isolation. Russia has chosen to expel Swedish diplomats who acted within the framework of the Vienna Convention and conducted customary diplomatic activities in Russia. We also deeply regret the Russian announcement about the Consulate General in St Petersburg, he said. Relations between the two countries have worsened since Sweden last year announced its intention to join NATO following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Russian statement said ties had reached an unprecedented low. Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, says they stay under its control Thursday 25 May 2023 10:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday to formalise the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles on Belarusian territory, a step Moscow said was driven by rising tensions with the West. In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere, TASS news agency quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying. The deployment of the missiles was first announced by President Vladimir Putin in March. Since invading Ukraine last year, Putin has said repeatedly that Russia would be ready to use nuclear weapons if needed to defend its territorial integrity. NATO said at the time it did not see any need to adjust its own nuclear posture, though it said Putins nuclear rhetoric was dangerous and irresponsible. Ukraine said Russias ally Belarus had been taken hostage by Moscow. Moscow will retain control over the weapons and any decisions on their use, Shoigu said. TASS quoted him as saying that Iskander-M missiles, which can carry conventional or nuclear warheads, had been handed to the Belarusian armed forces, and some Su-25 aircraft had been converted for the possible use of nuclear weapons. Belarusian servicemen have received the necessary training in Russian training centres, Shoigu was quoted as saying. He added that the agreements signed with his Belarusian counterpart covered the procedure for establishing a special storage facility for nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Tactical nuclear weapons refer to lower-yield weapons designed for battlefield use, as opposed to strategic ones capable of wiping out entire cities. Russia has not disclosed how many tactical nuclear weapons it has. Russia's Wagner starts withdrawing units from Bakhmut Thursday 25 May 2023 10:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Wagner mercenary group has started withdrawing its forces from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and transferring its positions there to regular Russian troops, its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video published on Thursday. We are withdrawing the units from Bakhmut. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the units will rebase to camps in the rear. We are handing our positions to the military, he said. The video was posted on Telegram by his press service, and showed Prigozhin dressed in battle gear and standing beside a war-damaged residential block. Prigozhin announced the capture of Bakhmut on Saturday after the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. In the latest video Prigozhin, who has repeatedly voiced public criticism of senior Russian defence officials, said his forces would be ready to return to Bakhmut if the regular army was unable to manage the situation. Ukraine shoots down all 36 Shahed drones in another Russian mass attack on Ukrainian civilians Debris of a downed kamikaze drone, archival photo All 36 of the 36 Iranian drones launched were shot down, some on the approach to Kyiv, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported. Read also: Ukrainian Army shoots down multiple drones and a helicopter in overnight Russian attack An air raid alert was declared in many regions of Ukraine early on May 25, notably in the west, due to the threat of a UAV attack. Russia launched Shahed kamikaze drones at the capital, and all targets in Kyiv were shot down. Read also: Ukraine unveils new tactical reconnaissance drone Three residential buildings and power lines were damaged in Chernivtsi Oblast as a result of a Shahed fall. Currently, 140 households in the Dnistrovskyi district are disconnected, said regional governor Ruslan Zaparanyuk. No information about the victims was received. 10 Shahed UAVs also flew to Lviv Oblast at night, with no hits reported by Maksym Kozytskyi, the Lviv Oblast Military Administration head. Three drones were shot down over Mykolaiv Oblast and one more over Odesa Oblast, Operational Command South reported. There were no hits in the the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine area. A Shahed kamikaze drone strike destroyed a private house in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, according to regional governor Serhiy Lysak. Read also: Civilians dead and injured in Russian drone and artillery attacks in five Ukrainian oblasts Explosions were also heard in Kharkiv and region, reported Oleh Synehubov, Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration head. Russias May 25 attack on Ukraine was notable for the unusual flight paths of the drones. They were launched from directions not used before, said Natalia Humeniuk, the Joint Press Center of South Operational Command head. Read also: Russia receives new batch of Shahed attack drones from Iran, Humeniuk says "While we are used to them coming either along the Black Sea or from the Sea of Azov, this time they tried to go around the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhya Oblast," she explained. 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 White House is investigating how U.S. vehicles came to be used in a raid into Russia. Two days after self-proclaimed 'anti-Putin Russian partisans' staged a daring cross-border incursion into Belgorod Oblast, that region of Russia remains a hotspot. The regional governor says more Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks have occurred. Meanwhile, the partisans claimed victory in a public after-action report despite Kremlin statements to the contrary and the White House vowed to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding the U.S. vehicles Russia says were used in Mondays raid. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1661429558816505860 The night was not entirely peaceful, Gov. Vachyslav Gladkov said Wednesday on his Telegram channel. There have been a large number of drone attacks. Most of the air defense systems...dealt with [the attacks], but there are damages in Belgorod, in the Borisovsky district, in the Belgorod district: cars, private houses, office buildings. The most important thing is that there are no casualties at all. In addition, Gladkov reported that a border crossing in the village of Kozinka, Graivoronsky urban district, came under fire from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There is one victim, an 85-year-old grandmother with a slight contusion... And there were still more than 550 people in temporary accommodation centers as a result of the incursion, he said. https://twitter.com/thejournal_ie/status/1661428094694195200 Meanwhile, the two groups that carried out the incursion - The Freedom For Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) - declared victory Wednesday during a joint press conference. And they claimed that the vehicles used during the operation - video of which they published purporting to be during the raid which you can see below - were Ukrainian that had been captured by Russia near the embattled Donetsk coal-mining city of Bakhmut. https://twitter.com/JulianRoepcke/status/1661315398220886016 Together with the RDK on the territory of Russia, we used the equipment that the army of the Kremlin zombies had taken away from the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Bakhmut, the Freedom For Russia Legion said, according to a statement on its Telegram channel. We successfully 'retrofeiled' this technique and returned it back. The total losses for the operation amounted to two people dead and 10 wounded. In contrast to the hypocritical statements of propagandists who are unable to win and therefore paint huge losses for us. Our struggle continues, the Freedom For Russia Legion said. The operation in the Grayvoron region was successful and its goals were achieved. The enemy is defeated, part shamefully fled; we captured a large amount of equipment and took prisoners. We will not betray the idea of a Free Russia, the hope of Russians, we will return truth and justice to Russia. We will come again. Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov, Moscow - wait for us. https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1661412119491878912?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A In Belgorod Oblast, we witnessed the unscrupulousness and cruelty of Putin's troops: while the legionnaires were passing through settlements without touching the locals, the cannon artillery and aircraft of the [Russian Federation] Armed Forces were working in peaceful cities. Is this the same concern for citizens that the Kremlin is talking about? We proved that Putin's troops were completely unprepared for the organized resistance of the Russians and are ready to wipe out their own lands from the face of the earth, so as not to show weakness. The Russian Armed Forces are demoralized and unprepared, the statement continued. They practically did not carry out resistance, despite the huge numerical superiority. Because our goal is not purses and power, but liberation and justice in Russia, and the truth, as we know, always wins. https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1661407398739812352 Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday continued Moscow's party line that the incursion was a deadly failure. "The nationalist formations were stopped and annihilated during the counterterrorism operation, which involved airstrikes, artillery fire, and active actions of the units guarding the state border of the Western Military District," he said during his open remarks at the Defense Ministry Board Session Wednesday. "After being driven back into Ukraine, the remaining nationalists were repeatedly attacked until they were completely eliminated. More than 70 Ukrainian terrorists were neutralized, as well as motor and armored vehicles. Russia will keep responding to such actions of Ukrainian militants promptly and rigorously." https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1661332297176559618 And in Washington D.C., White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the U.S. is looking into those reports that the U.S. equipment and vehicles could have been involved. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller offered similar sentiments Wednesday during his media briefing. We are looking into the reports, he said. Weve obviously seen the reports by media organizations over the last 24 hours or so. As a general policy matter, we have been clear that we dont support the use of U.S.-made equipment being used for attacks inside of Russia, and were looking into the reports. But we have not reached any conclusions at this time. Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest On the battlefield, the fighting in and around Bakhmut continues, according to Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's deputy defense minister. "During the day, there is a decrease in the intensity of fighting on the flanks in the suburbs of Bakhmut," she said on her Telegram channel. "But this does not mean that the enemy is weakening. On the contrary, the enemy is trying to strengthen on the flanks and relies on artillery fire, carrying out constant attacks. At the same time, our troops manage to advance little by little." In the city of Bakhmut itself, "the number of enemy assaults has decreased," Maliar said. "The enemy replaces units." Our defenders control part of the "Litak" district in the southwestern part of the city. https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1661431640021671936 And speaking of Bakhmut, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group that bore the brunt of the battle there for Russia, continued to spout off against the Russian Defense Ministry. Among other things, Prigozhin said Russia's goal of demilitarizing the country has backfired, while acknowledging that Russian troops have killed civilians and agreed with Western estimates that hes lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut, The Associated Press reported. We are in a situation where we can simply lose Russia, Prigozhin said in a lengthy interview with Konstantin Dolgov, a political operative and pro-war blogger, according to The Washington Post. "We must introduce martial law. We unfortunately must announce new waves of mobilization; we must put everyone who is capable to work on increasing the production of ammunition, he said. Russia needs to live like North Korea for a few years, so to say, close the borders and work hard. https://twitter.com/ivanastradner/status/1661202088506916864?s=20 The New York Times on Wednesday reported that the May 3 drone attack on the Kremlin was likely orchestrated by Ukraine's special military or intelligence units. That move is "the latest in a series of covert actions against Russian targets that have unnerved the Biden administration," the newspaper reported. "U.S. intelligence agencies do not know which unit carried out the attack and it was unclear whether President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine or his top officials were aware of the operation, though some officials believe Mr. Zelensky was not." The U.S. intelligence agencies "reached their preliminary assessment in part through intercepted communications in which Russian officials blamed Ukraine and other communications in which Ukrainian officials said they believed their country was responsible for the attack." U.S. officials told the Times that their level of confidence that the Ukrainian government directly authorized the Kremlin drone attack is low but that is because intelligence agencies do not yet have specific evidence identifying which government officials, Ukrainian units or operatives were involved. We reached out to the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate and will update this story with any information provided. https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1661457901267955714 The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that South Korea "is proceeding with the transfer of hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds for Ukraine." It's a move, the newspaper reported, that "U.S. officials said would make Kyivs planned offensive against Russian forces effective and allow the White House to delay a fraught decision about whether to supply cluster munitions banned by many countries." The decision "marks a turnabout by Seoul, which had promised the artillery in November but then balked at providing lethal assistance, following months of U.S. pleas for help as the Pentagons own supply of artillery dwindles." South Korea is transferring the shells to the U.S., which will send them to Ukraine. The White House declined to comment, as did a South Korean government spokesman in Seoul. The Pentagon declined to say how the shells are being sent or when the transfer is to be completed, but acknowledged that it has been in discussion with Seoul on buying its ammunition. The State Department on Wednesday announced its approval of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine of a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles System, or NASAMS and related equipment for an estimated cost of $285 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress. Ukraine has asked to buy a NASAMS that includes: one AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel Radar, a Fire Distribution Center (FDC); canister launchers, secure communications, GPS receivers, code loaders, and cable sets; tool kits; test equipment; support equipment; prime movers; generators; technical documentation; spare parts; U.S. Government and contractor technical support; and other related elements of logistics and program support, according to a State Department media release. The system, when delivered, will join several already on the ground in Ukraine protecting its skies. The U.S. has already promised or provided Ukraine with eight NASAMS and missiles as part of its $38 billion in security assistance to that country under the Biden administration. This is the first FMS of an advanced air defense system to Ukraine and the first FMS above the Congressional notification threshold since an April 2022 request to purchase $165 million in non-standard ammunition. Ukraine has asked to buy a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles System (NASAMS) (Kongsberg photo) You can get a sense of what it is like for Ukrainian forces to hunt down Russian tanks in this video compiled by Ukraine's UNITED24 state media outlet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNdoKaOMp3s More video has emerged of Ukrainian troops firing a round from an M58 MICLIC (Mine Clearing Line Charge), a system that shoots a 350-foot long line containing 5 pounds per linear foot of C-4 explosives. It is primarily used by Ukraine both to clear mines, which it appears to be doing in this video below, as well as a strike weapon, including in urban areas, to devastating effect. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1660851584211853312?s=20 Residents of southeastern Crimea and southwestern Russia had an interesting view Wednesday of what appeared to be smoke rising near the Kerch Bridge, which had been attacked on Oct. 8. 2022. But the smoke was not from an attack but "exercises" according to the Russian RIA Novosti media outlet's Telegram channel. "Traffic on the [Kerch] bridge will be opened until 11.30, the smoke observed at the site is associated with exercises," RIA Novisti reported, citing local officials. https://twitter.com/maks_nafo_fella/status/1661284363131138048?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A And finally, things are not always what they seem. Especially in the woods, at war, as these tree-camouflaged Ukrainian troops display in the video below. https://twitter.com/envirosec/status/1661319095231340546?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A 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 Ukraine, Syria, NATO: why the Kremlin needs Erdogan to win Erdogan and Putin have developed close ties over years of working together When Turks head to the polls on Sunday to decide a historic presidential election, the Kremlin will be hoping they give long-standing leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan a convincing victory, observers say. The winner will have leverage over key areas for Moscow, such as Russia's large-scale military campaign in Ukraine, the war in Syria and the Kremlin's standoff with NATO. Erdogan, 69, who has ruled Turkey for two decades, won the first round earlier in May, even though polls showed him trailing his 74-year-old rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu. For the Kremlin, Erdogan is a known quantity who has collaborated closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the past 20 years, while Kilicdaroglu has recently blamed Moscow for meddling in the vote. "Russia must have breathed a sigh of relief," a Western diplomat who has worked in Turkey and Russia told AFP, referring to the outcome of the first round on May 14. Erdogan and Putin -- despite backing opposing players in conflicts in the Middle East and the ex-Soviet Caucasus region -- have developed close ties over years of working together. Even the Turkish leader himself hailed his "special relationship" with Putin during a recent interview with US broadcaster CNN. "Russia and Turkey need each other in every field possible," Erdogan said. In a world where Moscow and Ankara are both sceptical of Western military, political and economic dominance, Putin and Erdogan see each other as reliable partners. - 'Incredibly similar' - "They are incredibly similar to each other with respect to their political mentality, their style and their relation to the outside world," independent political analyst Arkady Dubnov told AFP. They both "sincerely despise the West's liberal values", he added. Yet Putin and Erdogan have not always seen eye to eye, and each leader threw his political and military clout behind rival camps when conflicts broke out in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh. When Turkey mistakenly shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border in 2015, Putin described the incident as a "stab in the back". Still, when Erdogan faced down an attempted coup less than a year later, Putin was the first leader to offer his support in a telephone call. And despite their divergent positions, they have been able to find common ground. "There are many contradictions in their interests," Fyodor Lukyanov, a foreign policy expert close to the Kremlin, told AFP. "But the personal, long-standing relationship between the two leaders helps a lot," he said. "They are able to find a way forward on a variety of issues." The Western diplomat who spoke to AFP described the leaders' relationship as pragmatic. "They're very good at compartmentalising: differences are put aside and they work together where their interests are aligned," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity. "There is no 'bromance' between Erdogan and Putin, it's purely transactional," he added. Putin's decision to send troops to Ukraine last year has given Turkey -- a member of the NATO defence alliance -- the opportunity to mediate between Western countries and an increasingly isolated Kremlin. While Turkey has delivered drones to Kyiv, it has refused to join sanctions against Moscow. It has become an important, alternative transit hub for heavily sanctioned Russian exports, attracting investments and buying gas at knockdown prices. - 'Predictable' relationship - Alongside the UN last year, Erdogan brokered the Black Sea grain deal that unlocked Ukrainian exports from three ports, easing fears of a global food crisis. But a victory for Western-sympathetic Kilicdaroglu could threaten the established relationship, analysts say. Kilicdaroglu may, for example, push for a thaw between NATO and Turkey, which has the second-biggest army of the alliance. In May, Kilicdaroglu accused Russia of interfering in the election. The Kremlin denied the allegations and said Moscow would retain close ties with Ankara regardless of the vote's outcome. Last month Putin praised Erdogan at the launch of the Russian-built Akkuyu nuclear power plant, Turkey's first. The project was a "convincing example of how much you, President Erdogan, are doing for your country, for the growth of its economy, for all Turkish citizens", Putin said. "Putin has always been known for being loyal... to those who act in the same way towards him and Russia," Lukyanov said. "It's not so much about Erdogan as about the fact that predictable relationships with Turkey are extremely necessary now." bur/lcm/leg Key Developments on May 25: Prigozhin claims Wagner forces begin to withdraw from Bakhmut Ukraines Defense Ministry says Russian military replacing Wagner units near Bakhmut 106 Bakhmut defenders released from Russian captivity Moscow and Minsk sign agreement to place nuclear weapons in Belarus EU has frozen 200 billion euros of Russian Central Banks assets since start of full-scale invasion Air Force: 36 drones downed during latest overnight attack Russian Volunteer Corps claims to have crossed into Russia again Wagner mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed in a video published on May 25 that his forces were beginning to withdraw from Bakhmut. "By June 1, the main part (of the Wagner formation stationed in Bakhmut) will be transferred to the rear camps. We hand over positions to the military: ammunition, positions everything, including ration packs," Prigozhin said in the video published by his press service. After 10 months of fierce fighting that claimed high casualties on both Ukrainian and Russian sides, Prigozhin said on May 20 that Wagner forces had captured Bakhmut. On May 22, the Kyiv Independent reported that Bakhmut had been effectively captured by Russian troops. This assessment was derived from a combination of official statements and firsthand accounts provided by soldiers on the ground to the Kyiv Independent. However, Ukrainian officials have yet to publicly acknowledge the citys capture. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar confirmed on May 25 that the Russian regular army had begun replacing Wagner mercenaries in the suburbs of Bakhmut but that a contingent of Wagner forces continue to maintain a presence within the city. In her statement, Maliar also claimed that Ukrainian forces still retained control over a portion of the southwestern area of Bakhmut and were actively engaged in combat operations there. Meanwhile, 106 Ukrainian soldiers who were captured during the Battle of Bakhmut were released from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange on May 25, according to Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak. Among the freed prisoners were members of Ukraines Armed Forces, border guards, and a State Transport Special Service employee. Additionally, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that the remains of two foreigners and a Ukrainian woman had been transferred to Ukrainian territory. Russia takes Bakhmut: Taking stock of the wars bloodiest battle so far CHASIV YAR, Donetsk Oblast Ten months after Russias assault on the once-flourishing city in Donetsk Oblast began, Bakhmut has now been effectively occupied by Russian troops. This hasnt been confirmed yet by Kyiv, but is evident based on both official statements and those made by soldiers on th The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell Moscow and Minsk sign agreement on placing nuclear weapons in Belarus On May 25, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin convened in Minsk on May 25 to sign an agreement pertaining to the deployment of Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. While the weapons will be stationed in Belarus, Moscow will retain full control over them, including decision-making regarding their potential use. During the meeting, Shoigu also indicated that Russia might be obliged to undertake "additional measures" in the future to safeguard the security of the Union State (meaning Russia and Belarus) and respond to any prevailing military-political circumstances. Later on May 25, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the transfer of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus was already underway. Although Belarus has not formally joined Russia's war against Ukraine, the country has been utilized as a logistical hub for various activities such as storing weapons, conducting missile and drone launches, and providing training grounds for Russian troops. Russia tries to conceal its dwindling nuclear stockpile The main rule of Russias power diplomacy says: If something goes wrong with their war effort in Ukraine, reach for the nuclear intimidation card. Thats what the Kremlin did two months ago, when Vladimir Putin announced Russia would suspend its participation in the New START, the only remaining The Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko EU has frozen 200 billion euros of Russian Central Banks assets since start of full-scale invasion European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand told Bloomberg that the European Union has frozen 200 billion euros of the Russian Central Banks assets since the start of Russias full-scale invasion. The EU is committed to ensuring that Russia pays for the damages caused in Ukraine, Wigand told Bloomberg in an interview published on May 25. The news followed the EUs 10th sanctions package, which will mandate banks to divulge more information on the size of their holdings. The EU has also frozen more than 24 billion euros in private assets of the nearly 1,500 individuals the bloc has sanctioned in connection with Russias war against Ukraine. Many are advocating for frozen Russian assets to be transferred to Ukraine for its post-war reconstruction efforts, given that the war has caused an estimated $138 billion in damages across the country. Russias Kinzhal missile is not hypersonic. Nor is it invincible When the Kremlin says something, it should always be taken with a grain of salt. When it says something about its military prowess, one should take the claim with an entire salt mine. For years, Russias Kinzhal missile was portrayed by the Kremlins propaganda machine as an invincible, The Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko Air Force says it shot down 36 drones during latest overnight attack Ukraine's Air Force reported that 36 Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones, which were launched against Ukraine overnight on May 25, were successfully intercepted by air defense. According to the Air Force, Russian troops were most likely targeting vital infrastructure and military installations in Ukraine's western regions. In a separate statement, Serhii Popko, the head of Kyiv City Military Administration, revealed that Russian forces had launched their 12th attack on the Ukrainian capital since the start of May. Popko confirmed that all drones approaching Kyiv had been successfully intercepted and neutralized by the air defense system, although he did not specify how many. Three drones in Mykolaiv Oblast and one in Odesa Oblast were also shot down, according to Ukraine's Southern Command. According to Governor Ruslan Zaparaniuk, two drones were successfully shot down over Chernivtsi Oblast. Initially, only one drone was reported by officials. The attack marked the first instance of Chernivtsi Oblast, located in the southwest of the country, being targeted by drones since Russia began using them against Ukraine last fall. This Week in Ukraine Ep. 8 How Ukrainian air defense denies Russia air superiority This Week in Ukraine is a video podcast hosted by Kyiv Independents reporter Anastasiia Lapatina. Every week, Anastasiia sits down with her newsroom colleagues to discuss Ukraines most pressing issues. Episode #8 is dedicated to the work of Ukrainian air defense, and how it denies Russia the ai The Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina Russian Volunteer Corps claims to have crossed into Russia again The anti-Kremlin Russian Volunteer Corps released a new video on May 25 claiming to have reentered Russian territory. In the video, the fighters said that they were "back in the Motherland. "The flame of struggle is burning all over the country. Wait for us in your town, members of the group said in the video. A Russian post office can be seen in the background of the video that is allegedly located in Glotovo, a village in Russia's Belgorod region. Glotovo is situated approximately five kilometers from the Ukrainian-Russian border. The Kyiv Independent was unable to independently verify the group's claim or when the video footage that was shared on its Telegram channel was originally filmed. Previously, members of the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion, armed groups who claim to be fighting on Ukraines side, released footage on May 22 saying that they had crossed over into Russias Belgorod region and launched an incursion. Russian officials declared a counter-terrorist operation and evacuated residents in the regions villages along the Ukrainian-Russian border. The Russian authorities claim to have "killed 70 combatants" and destroyed four armored combat vehicles and five trucks. However, the Russian Volunteer Corps refuted these claims, saying that the video released by Russian officials depicted the alleged killed combatants in camouflage patterns not worn by the groups members. Saab JAS 39 Gripen Read also: Ukrainian Air Force walks back comments about Ukrainian pilots training on F16 jets in Europe Ihnat This initiative allows Ukrainian pilots to use simulators and test the Gripen aircraft, even though Sweden currently does not plan to provide Ukraine with these fighter jets for its defense. Gripen fighter jets, which are more cost-effective and considered easier to learn than F-16s, were explicitly designed to defend Swedish airspace against Russian aircraft. They are also capable of landing on short runways and highways, making them an "ideal" choice for Ukraine's defense, according to The Economist. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared on Telegram that his discussion with Pal Jonson covered various topics, including the aviation coalition, situation on the battlefield, essential armaments for Ukraine's defense, Ukraine's peace formula, and Euro-Atlantic integration. Earlier, Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine's Defense Minister, mentioned that Ukraine is hoping to receive several types of fighter jets from its allies, one of which will become its primary combat aircraft. Read also: In tit-for-tat, Russia expels five Swedish diplomats; closes consulate in Sweden On May 19, UK PM Rishi Sunak announced that London, along with the United States, Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, agreed to aid in training Ukrainian pilots on Western fighter jets. The United States specifically pledged to support the training of Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including the F-16, a category that also includes the Eurofighter Typhoon and French Mirage 2000. The White House noted that discussions over the following months will determine the schedule, the contributors, and the quantity of aircraft to be transferred to Ukraine, emphasizing that any delivered fighters must not be used by Ukraine to attack Russian territory. Read also: F-16s wont fundamentally change the wars course in Ukraine, Pentagon says Ukraine's Defense Ministry anticipates the arrival of F-16s this fall, and although President Zelenskyy couldn't provide a precise figure on the number of fighters to be transferred or a specific timeline, he assured his efforts to expedite their delivery. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukrainian women training for war can kill Russians with 'office supplies,' resistance group leader says Ukrainian female soldiers gather in Kyiv before the start of a military parade in 2018. AP Photo/Felipe Dana Ukrainian women trained for war can kill Russian soldiers with office supplies, a military leader said. Ukraine Women's Guard founder Olena Biletska told journalist Tim Mak that she's trained more than 60,000 women. Some can kill with nothing but a "pencil or a pen," Biletska said. Forget guns and grenades Ukrainian women training for war can kill Russians using just "office supplies," a resistance group leader said. Ukraine Women's Guard founder Olena Biletska bragged that some of the women in the resistance group can fight and kill with commonplace items like writing utensils. "We have women who can kill individuals with office supplies, you know," Biletska said in an interview with war correspondent Tim Mak. "Like a pencil or a pen... it's not just guns or rifles, but the objects available in an office supplies store." Biletska founded the Ukraine Women's Guard in 2014 as a way to prepare women for war. Since then, the guard has trained over 60,000 women, Mak reported. While much of the guard's classes focus on combat, the students who Biletska calls "Amazonians," according to Mak also learn how to provide battlefield medicine, humanitarian support, and intelligence information. Biletska told Mak she hopes to teach the guard's trainees that they can do anything. More than 60,000 Ukrainian women now serve in the country's military, according to US embassy statistics. As of October 2022, around 8,000 women were serving as officers in Ukraine's military, according to Social Europe. Female soldiers face harrowing challenges in the fight against Russia's invasion. Ukrainian women on the front lines told The Invisible Battalion Project that they fear sexual violence at the hands of Russian soldiers. The women said they avoid captivity at all costs, choosing to die instead of being captured. Read the original article on Business Insider China ready to work with int'l community to promote global trade, investment: vice premier Xinhua) 08:26, May 25, 2023 Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit of 2023 in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng Wednesday said that China is ready to work with the international community to strengthen communication and exchanges, promote trade and stimulate growth drivers for investment cooperation. He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit of 2023. It is of great significance to hold the summit again this year, He said. The vice premier noted that China is now a force of certainty and stability in the world's economic recovery and international trade and investment. He said China will create more opportunities for the world through its own development. He expressed the hope that the global community will work together to accelerate international trade and investment and inject a strong impetus into global economic recovery. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Mothers Day has always been an encircled date in the calendar of Absolute Distilled Drinking Water as it recognizes and celebrates annually the Motherhood Journey of each mom. This year proves to be no exception as Absolute mounted an intimate yet interactive Moms Day Out event serving as a safe space platform for all moms to unload the feelings theyve been keeping. They also got to share and learn from select mom communities and family experts on May 6 at Supersam in Scout Tobias, Quezon City. Titled Always Safe with your Pure Love: This Mothers Month, Open up Your Bottled Feelings, the exclusive event to select mom communities served as a celebration of all mothers and a discussion of their bottled feelings. It tackled how tiring yet rewarding it is to fulfill the role of a mother, along with the affirmation every mom needs. Games and interactive activities were lined up as well to help moms relax and recharge. To share with even more mommies how Absolute is always safe with your pure love, the event aired on Facebook Live. Virtual attendees got to partake in Absolutes special celebration of Mothers Month by getting the chance to participate in the activities, including the live Q&A. Photo from Absolute Distilled Drinking Water Hosted by Mommy Vanna Reyes, the event featured a distinguished panel of medical professionals who discussed the complexities and fulfillments of being a mom. Dr. Joanna Pamela Cuayo-Estanislao, a general pediatrician, explained how a moms true self serves as her familys safe space, while Dr. Ma. Kathryn Doc Kooky Ongoco Perez, an obstetrician and gynecologist, talked about creating a safe space for a mom and her family. Moms were also in line to win exciting surprises during the events special raffle. Meanwhile, there were loads of fun and engaging activities from a Freedom Wall where participants expressed their insights on a being a mother, to a thrilling Truth or Dare game, and more. Absolute Pure Distilled Drinking Water is guaranteed clean and safe according to world standards. It is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation and International, a US-based food and beverage safety certifying institution. To ensure its cleanliness, Absolute is produced using advanced technology on water distillation process, ensuring no human intervention. CAIRO (AP) The fighting between Sudans military and a powerful paramilitary force has displaced more than 1.3 million people, the U.N. migration agency said Wednesday. The International Organization for Migration said the clashes have forced over 1 million people to leave their homes to safer areas inside Sudan. Some 320,000 others have fled to the neighboring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya. The fighting erupted on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict derailed Sudanese hopes of restoring the country's fragile transition to democracy, which was disrupted by a military coup led by the two generals in October 2021. The conflict has killed at least 863 civilians, including at least 190 children, and wounded more than 3,530 others, according to the most recent numbers from the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate which mainly tracks civilian casualties. It has also pushed the East African country to near collapse, with urban areas in the capital, Khartoum, and its neighboring city of Omdurman turning into battlegrounds. Egypt is hosting the largest number of those who fled, with at least 132,360 people, followed by Chad with 80,000 and South Sudan with over 69,000, the agency added. All but one of Sudans 18 provinces experienced displacement, with Khartoum at the top of the list with around 70% of the total number of displaced people, according to the IOMs Displacement Tracking Matrix. Sporadic fighting continued Wednesday in several areas, despite a cease-fire reached this week. Residents reported hearing gunshots and explosions in central Khartoum as well as areas close to military facilities in Omdurman. Both sides in the conflict Wednesday traded blame for violating the cease-fire. The weeklong cease-fire, which was brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia, took effect Monday night. It was the latest international effort to push for humanitarian aid delivery to the conflict-torn country. A joint statement from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia late Tuesday warned that neither the Sudanese military nor the Rapid Support Forces observed the short-term cease-fire. The Sudanese people continue to suffer as a result of this devastating conflict," the statement said. It called on both sides to fully abide by their commitments" and to implement the temporary cease-fire to deliver urgently needed humanitarian relief. Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned both parties of possible sanctions if the latest cease-fire was not adhered to. But on Wednesday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington that the cease-fire has largely been holding, despite reports of sporadic fire in Khartoum and elsewhere. Ultimately, its of course up to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to implement this thing. Kirby said. But in general, in the main, it appears to be holding. I want to caution you though, this is early, I mean, just went into effect yesterday afternoon. We have seen this movie before. So, were being pretty pragmatic as we look at it. The fighting has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian conditions in Sudan. According to the U.N., the number of people who need assistance this year has increased by 57% to reach 24.7 million people, more than half the countrys population. The international body said it would need $2.6 billion to provide them with much-needed humanitarian assistance. The U.N. special envoy for sexual violence Pramila Patten, meanwhile, said Wednesday she is is gravely concerned about reports of sexual attacks against women. There are strong indications that it is parties to the conflict who have committed sexual violence, including rape, against women and girls, she said in a statement. She said many of the sexual attacks apparently took place in residential areas in Khartoum, or while they were fleeing the fighting in the capital. Other attacks on women also took place in the western region of Darfur, where sexual violence against women has been consistently reported over the past two decades, she said. She called for investigations into the allegations and urged all parties to take immediate measures against suspects, including suspending or removing them from the ranks. ___ Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. The soldiers surrounding Lapin could not understand what was going on The challenge for Kremlin propagandists, however, was that by the time Lapin arrived at the Grayvoron checkpoint in Belgorod Oblast, previously seized by the Freedom of Russia Legion, there were no opponents to be found. Read also: War will endure until Putins hanged body decorates the walls of the Kremlin Russian Volunteer Corps Undeterred, Lapin "fearlessly" decided to storm an empty street without any weapons. He began by waving his hands at an approaching Russian IFV, before orderring his subordinates to launch some sort of attack. "For the Motherland!" shouted the Russian general, while the surrounding soldiers tried to understand what was happening. Read also: Long way to go before victory, says Zaluzhnyi Needless to say, in the end, Lapin was triumphant, achieving a victory over common sense. 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 University of Kentucky received the largest donation in the universitys history Thursday from the Bill Gatton Foundation: $100 million for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. The gift is believed to be the largest single donation to a college of agriculture in the U.S., the university said Thursday, announced on what would have been Gattons 91st birthday. Gatton, a 1954 UK graduate and former trustee for the university, died in April 2022. He was a longtime donor to UK, and the largest single donor to the university, donating more than $180 million to UK in his lifetime. The college will be renamed the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment to honor Gattons parents, Edith Martin and Harry W. Gatton Sr. The donation and name change will go before the board of trustees for approval at its June meeting. UK President Eli Capilouto called the donation transformational for the college and university. It will be a cornerstone in our efforts and our singular mission to advance Kentucky in everything that we do, Capilouto said. Like Mr. Gatton did, we dream of a Kentucky tomorrow that is healthier, wealthier and wiser than it is today. This gift reflects his profound belief in this institution to be a partner for progress in our capacity and commitment to advance Kentucky. The University of Kentucky announced a $100 million donation from the Bill Gatton Foundation to the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment on Thursday. From left to right: Nancy Cox, UK vice president for land-grant engagement, Bill Gatton Foundation Trustee Danny Dunn, UK President Eli Capilouto and Mike Richey, former UK vice president for philanthrophy and alumni engagement. Capilouto said the donation will impact every aspect of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and will bolster the impact of the research done at the university. It will allow the university to carry on Gattons legacy, he said. Mr. Gatton was one of the most extraordinary people Ive ever met and had the honor to be around, Capilouto said. He had the keenest mind, but his heart was even bigger. Nancy Cox, vice president for land-grant engagement and the college dean, said the donation will allow for new scholarships for students, programming and research. Additionally, it will allow the college to start a companion animal program, something Gatton was passionate about, Cox said. This gift will leave a legacy throughout the whole commonwealth, Cox said. Gatton made several historic gifts to UK in his lifetime, including $14 million in 1995 for the College of Business and Economics and $20 million in 2014 for the expansion of the Student Center. Both buildings on campus are named after him. In 2022, he made the largest donation given at one time towards scholarships in UKs history, $5 million toward scholarships for first-generation students and Kentucky students from medically under-served areas who want to attend medical school. Danny Dunn, trustee of the Bill Gatton Foundation, said the donation speaks to Gattons childhood on a farm in Bremen, Kentucky. Mr. Gatton believed that investing in the University of Kentucky was investing in Kentuckys future, said Dunn. This gift marks a significant milestone for the foundation, representing its first major donation since his passing. This gift symbolizes the foundations commitment to honoring Mr. Gattons passion for Kentucky and his desire to support its agricultural community as an essential way to advance this state. Earlier this week, UK held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $65.9 million agriculture research building, the Forage Animal Production Lab. It will include more than 52,000 square feet of space for offices, laboratories and collaboration space, and will be staffed by six scientists from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Agricultural Research Services and seven UK researchers. The new space will be paid for by federal funding, and focus on agricultural research in Kentucky. The building is scheduled to be completed in 2026. The upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen King's own book The Boogeyman apparently "scared the s**t" out of him Stephen King and The Boogeyman film Last month, it was revealed that the upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen King's 1973 horror story The Boogeyman scared audiences so much during test screenings that certain scenes had to be recut. According to the film's director Rob Savage, who appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of the film on Tuesday (May 23), it turns out that The Boogeyman even managed to frighten Stephen King. Despite being worried that he wouldn't like it, Savage expressed his excitement over having made such an impact on the legendary horror author, describing it as a "pinch me moment". Speaking at the event, Savage told the PA news agency (as per The Evening Standard): "When he doesnt like a movie, hes pretty vocal about it he doesnt like The Shining so it was pretty nerve-wracking showing him the movie. "Hed read the script and loved the script, so I knew that if he didnt like the movie, it was all my fault. As Savage explains, King watched the finished film with his nephew in his favourite cinema in Maine, which was rented out for his viewing. Of what the horror maverick thought of movie, Savage continued, "He apparently had the best time, it scared the shit out of him. He sent me this lovely essay (after) about how much hed enjoyed the movie. When asked to compare whether his film was better than Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of The Shining, he noted: "To have made a movie that scared Stephen King, thats a pinch me moment. Actor David Dastmalchian also offered praise on Savage's directional talents, and said: "He did a phenomenal job. He asked a lot of us as actors he didnt settle for anything and thats the kind of director I want to be with. I heard that Stephen King liked the movie and messaged with Rob, and thats just surreal, man, I cant believe its true but I can because Ive seen the film and I know how good it is. The movie follows the story of high school student Sadie Harper (Sophie Thatcher) and her sister Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair), who are in mourning after their mother's recent death. Meanwhile, after a desperate patient shows up unexpectedly at their house asking for help from their therapist father, they soon become haunted by a terrifying monster. The Boogeyman will arrive in cinemas on June 2. Watch the trailer below: A US doctor who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old has been fined by a medical board after speaking to media about the case. Indiana officials say Dr Caitlin Bernard violated her patient's privacy after going public about the girl's treatment. Her lawyers argue she was acting on her duty to inform the public about the impact of policies like abortion bans. The story gained national and global attention at the time. Dr Bernard was fined $3,000 (2,425) and was issued with a letter of reprimand. The Indiana Medical Licensing Board, however, did not suspend Dr Bernard's licence and rejected that she was unfit to practice. In July 2022, a month after a US Supreme Court ruling ended the nationwide guarantee to an abortion, the Indianapolis Star published a story detailing Dr Bernard's account of treating a 10-year-old rape survivor. The child had travelled from neighbouring Ohio to Indiana to receive an abortion. At the time, Ohio law prohibited abortion after six weeks of gestation. As the story gathered steam, pro-choice advocates - including President Joe Biden - used the case as an example of the impact of restrictive abortion bans. Later that month, an Ohio man was charged with raping the girl, who has remained unnamed. Last November, the Indiana State Attorney General's office filed a complaint alleging that Dr Bernard failed to immediately report the abuse of the child, as required by state law, and to protect patient privacy. She testified that she followed her hospital's policy by reporting the patient's abuse to a social worker. "As a physician my role is to provide care for the patient no matter how she winds up in my care, it is not my job to investigate the crime," she said. A hearing before the state Medical and Licensing Board was held on Thursday and lasted more than 14 hours. During the hearing, state officials sought to portray Dr Bernard as an "abortion activist" who shared details about the procedure with the media without first requesting permission from the child's family. "Trust was violated when (Bernard) sought to further her own agenda," said Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight of the accusations facing the physician. He said if the board agreed with the state's complaint, Dr Bernard "has become unfit to practice". Dr Bernard was at times emotional in her testimony as she discussed treating other underage patients who were victims of abuse and had sought abortions. She said she did not violate her patient's privacy, or release protected health information in discussing the case with the Indianapolis Star. "I think that it's incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws in this country, about abortion or otherwise," Dr Bernard said. "I think that it's important for people to know what patients will have to go through because of legislation that's being passed." At the conclusion of the hearing, members of the medical board found that Dr Bernard violated patient privacy laws but did not break any requiring doctors to report child abuse. Dr Bernard was also issued a letter of reprimand. Indiana's medical board president Dr John Strobel said it was important to protect privacy but added: "I think she's a good doctor." House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is engaged in tense negotiations with the White House over raising the debt ceiling Kevin McCarthy barely survived a bruising battle in January to become the 55th speaker of the House of Representatives, quelling a right-wing revolt in his Republican Party to achieve his lifelong dream. Just a few months later, the ambitious nine-term congressman from California is engaged in another tense standoff, this time with Democratic President Joe Biden over raising the debt ceiling. The 58-year-old McCarthy has taken center stage as Republican lawmakers and the White House hold talks to avert a catastrophic US debt default before a June 1 deadline. The two sides are trying to strike a deal to raise or suspend the US government's borrowing cap, known as the debt ceiling, in order to cover existing federal spending commitments. But Republicans in Congress have so far refused to do so without a commitment from Democrats to cut spending next year and to start bringing down the country's $31-trillion-plus debt burden. For McCarthy, it's another high-wire act as he seeks to placate the uncompromising right-wing of the Republican Party while staving off a potential economic crisis. To assume the speakership in January, which took a record 15 rounds of voting, McCarthy had to make concessions to a bloc of around 20 far-right Republicans, which some analysts said would make the House ungovernable. Among the concessions was a rule change that makes it possible for a single member to call a vote for a new speaker of the House, where Republicans won a razor-thin majority in last November's midterm elections. The speaker wields huge influence in Washington by presiding over House business and is second in line to the presidency, after the vice president. - Networker - McCarthy -- who represents the conservative enclave of Bakersfield in liberal California -- has been in politics for most of his adult life, as a state legislator and US lawmaker in Washington. The son of a firefighter and grandson of a cattle rancher, McCarthy grew up in a working-class household. He married his high school sweetheart and the couple still live in the first house they bought, where they raised two children. McCarthy, who was first elected to Congress in 2006, doesn't have any major legislative achievements to his name and has never chaired a House committee, unlike each of the last three speakers. But the gray-haired, impeccably dressed lawmaker is a consummate networker, admired for his prolific fundraising and his people management -- meeting his members' demands when he can and assuaging their concerns when he cannot. McCarthy and former president Donald Trump, who is making a third White House run, enjoyed a largely cordial relationship until the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. McCarthy berated Trump over the attack on Congress -- but days later was the first top Republican to make a pilgrimage to Florida to visit the former president. McCarthy's most controversial moments tend to be when he is called out for a lack of candor. In one particularly embarrassing example, The New York Times reported that he informed colleagues he was going to advise Trump to resign over his role in the 2021 insurrection. McCarthy denied making the comments -- until the Times reporters released a tape. ft-cl/nro/bfm/lb Microsoft has warned state-sponsored Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical US infrastructure State-sponsored Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical US infrastructure networks, the United States, its Western allies and Microsoft said Wednesday while warning that similar espionage attacks could be occurring globally. Microsoft highlighted Guam, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean with a vital military outpost, as one of the targets, but said "malicious" activity had also been detected elsewhere in the United States. The stealthy attack -- carried out by a China-sponsored actor dubbed "Volt Typhoon" since mid-2021 -- enabled long-term espionage and was likely aimed at hampering the United States if there was conflict in the region, it said. "Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises," the statement said. "In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors." Microsoft's statement coincided with an advisory released by US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and UK authorities warning that the hacking was likely occurring globally. "This activity affects networks across US critical infrastructure sectors, and the authoring agencies believe the actor could apply the same techniques against these and other sectors worldwide," they said. China denied the allegations, describing the Microsoft report as "extremely unprofessional" and "scissors-and-paste work". "It is clear that this is a collective disinformation campaign of the Five Eyes coalition countries, initiated by the US for its geopolitical purposes," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, referring to the security alliance of the United States and its Western allies that wrote the report. "The participation of certain companies shows that aside from government organisations, the US is expanding new channels for disseminating disinformation," she said. "But no change in tactics can alter the fact that the US is a hacker empire." - 'Living off the land' - The United States and its allies said the activities involved "living off the land" tactics, which take advantage of built-in network tools to blend in with normal Windows systems. It warned that the hacking could then incorporate legitimate system administration commands that appear "benign". Microsoft said the Volt Typhoon attack tried to blend into normal network activity by routing traffic through compromised small office and home office network equipment, including routers, firewalls and VPN hardware. "They have also been observed using custom versions of open-source tools," Microsoft said. Microsoft and the security agencies released guidelines for organisations to try to detect and counter the hacking. "It's what I would term a low and slow cyber activity," said Alastair MacGibbon, chief strategy officer at Australia's CyberCX and a former head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre. "This is someone wearing a camouflage vest and carrying a sniper rifle. You dont see them, they're not there," he told AFP. "When you think about something that can really cause catastrophic harm, it is someone with intent who takes time to get into systems." Once inside, the cyber attackers can steal information, he said. "But it also gives you the ability to carry out destructive acts at a later stage." - 'Highly sophisticated' - A number of other governments had found similar activity since the Volt Typhoon alert was issued, said Robert Potter, co-founder of Australian cybersecurity firm Internet 2.0. "I am not sure how communications infrastructure would be at risk from these attacks because those networks are highly resilient and difficult to bring down for more than small intervals," Potter told AFP. "However, the ongoing threat from China-based APT (advanced persistent threat) groups is real." The director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, said China had been stealing intellectual property and data worldwide for years. "Today's advisory, put out in conjunction with our US and international partners, reflects how China is using highly sophisticated means to target our nation's critical infrastructure," Easterly said. kma-djw-oho/pbt The United States of America plans to announce the provision of a new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth up to US$300 million, which will mainly contain additional ammunition. Source: two official sources reported to Reuters about this on Thursday, as European Pravda reports Details: It is expected that the new package of US military assistance to Ukraine will contain more Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems for HIMARS launchers as well as ammunition. As planned, Ukraine will receive military equipment in the package from the reserves of the US Army through the Presidential Drawdown Authority. A new package of aid to Ukraine may be announced as early as Friday, but it is possible that its registration will take place after the holiday weekend in the United States associated with Memorial Day, sources told Reuters. In addition, the scope and content of the aid package may change until it is signed by US President Joe Biden, recalls Reuters. Background: Last week, the US Department of Defence announced the allocation of additional security assistance to Ukraine worth up to US$375 million to cover critical needs. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, the United States has already provided Ukraine with more than US$36.9 billion in military assistance, according to the Pentagon. This raised concerns that funds to support Kyiv may soon run out. In recent days, however, it has emerged that this number is overstated by at least US$3 billion due to an error in accounting for the cost of military equipment at the US Department of Defence. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. speaks during a press conference in the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, May 25, 2023. Washington and Brussels have stepped up efforts to help solve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as the war rages in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) A U.S. senator on Thursday said he hopes Serbia would adopt Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, telling the Balkan country that there is no future in an alliance with Moscow. Russias invasion has been an absolute disaster and my belief is that Russia is ultimately going to lose this conflict, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn) told reporters in the Serbian capital Belgrade. Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed any sanctions on Russia. The future for Serbia is with the European Union and with the United States not with Russia, Murphy said. There is no future with Russia. They (Russia) are going to be devastated, a permanent pariah internationally after this invasion. Though Serbia is formally seeking EU membership and has condemned the invasion at the United Nations, Belgrade has maintained its historically friendly relations with Moscow. Murphy's visit to Belgrade came as Serbias staunchly pro-Russian intelligence chief Aleksandar Vulin travelled to Moscow for a security conference. Serbia is also one of few countries with direct air links to Russian cities and is almost completely reliant on Russia for energy supplies. Asked about Vulin's visit to Russia, Murphy replied that obviously Russia is searching for friends these days," but that it is not constructive for any nation to stand by Russian President Vladimir Putin. What Russia has done in Ukraine is unacceptable, said Murphy. I really hope that Serbias future is with the European Union, it is connected to the United States and the quicker that we can have better, more close alignment on Russia policy the better. Murphy, along with senator Gary Peters. met in Belgrade with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. The meetings also focused on Western efforts to push forward normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. The senators' week-long visit to the region also featured visits to Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. In Belgrade, the senators paid respects to the victims of Serbia's first-ever school shooting in early May when a teenager took his father's gun to open fire on fellow students and a school guard, killing ten people. Another mass shooting took place a day later in a rural area south of the capital, stunning the nation and triggering a gun crackdown. I hope that Serbia respond differently than the United States, as the United States has become numb to these mass atrocities," said Murphy. Serbia has an opportunity to show the world that indifference is not an option. SEOUL, South Korea The South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted large live-fire drills near the border with North Korea on Thursday, despite the Norths warning that it wont tolerate what it calls an invasion rehearsal on its doorstep. The drills, the first of five rounds of live-fire exercises through mid-June, mark 70 years since the establishment of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea typically reacts to such major South Korean-U.S. exercises with missile and other weapons tests. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles, but none since it fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. It says the tests are a response to expanded military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, but observers say North Korea aims to advance its weapons development and then wrest greater concessions from its rivals in eventual diplomacy. The U.S.-South Korean firing exercises, called Combined annihilation firepower drills, are the biggest of their kind. The drills have been held 11 times since they began in 1977, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The drills involved 2,500 troops and 610 weapons systems such as fighter jets, attack helicopters, drones, tanks and artillery from South Korea and the United States, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The most recent exercises in 2017 drew about 2,000 soldiers and 250 weapons assets from both countries. The drills simulated artillery and aerial strikes on front-line North Korean military facilities in response to an attack. The troops later practiced precision-guided attacks on simulated targets in the rear areas to completely annihilate North Korean military threats, according to a ministry statement. The South Korean army's drones fly during South Korea-U.S. joint military drills at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Ahn Young-joon/AP) It said South Korea will seek to establish peace through overwhelming strengthen to counter North Korean threats. North Korea didnt immediately respond to the start of the drills. Last Friday, its state media called the drills a typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal, saying it cannot but take a more serious note of the fact that the exercises are held a few kilometers (miles) from its frontier. The Norths Korean Central News Agency said the U.S. and South Korea would face unspecified consequences over their madcap nuclear war racket. Earlier this year, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in five years. The U.S. also sent the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bombers for joint exercises with South Korea. USS Ronald Reagan pulls into Busan, South Korea, after 5 year absence Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said North Korea could use the South Korea-U.S. drills as a pretext to resume testing activities. He said domestic issues such as North Koreas push to increase agricultural production during the rice-planting season could still affect its decision on weapons tests. North Korea cant help feeling some burdens over the South Korea-U.S. joint firepower drills being held for the first time in six years and in the strongest manner, Moon said. In a meeting last month, U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced steps to reinforce their deterrence capabilities such as the periodic docking of U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea, strengthened joint training exercises and establishment of a new nuclear consultative group. Biden also issued a blunt warning that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the Biden-Yoon agreement revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further strengthen her countrys nuclear doctrine, saying, The pipe dream of the U.S. and South Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength. Worries about North Koreas nuclear program grew after the North last year passed a law authorizing preemptive use of nuclear weapons. Many foreign experts say North Korea does not yet possess functioning nuclear-armed missiles. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. is not yet cleared of involvement in the alleged cover-up of the multibillion-peso shabu haul in October 2022, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said. "He is not yet off the hook," Dela Rosa, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs and a former PNP chief, told reporters on Wednesday. "Unless talaga kung next hearing, magsabi si (Police Brig. Gen. Narciso) Domingo na may instruction talaga o clearance si General Azurin na itago si (Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo) Mayo, wag kasuhan," he added. [Translation: Unless if in the next hearing, Domingo will say that General Azurin gave instruction or clearance to hide Mayo or not to file charges against him, he will not face complaints.] Azurin, who retired in April, has denied ordering his subordinates not to arrest and charge dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo, who was found with nearly a ton of shabu worth 6.7 billion in October last year. Authorities seized 990 kilos of shabu from the WPD Lending Office in Tondo, Manila, an establishment allegedly owned by Mayo, an intelligence officer of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG). Domingo, then PDEG chief, had been relieved after he was linked to the alleged cover-up, which he denied. "Attempted (cover-up) siguro kung sabihin ni Domingo, pero 'yung previous hearings natin, klinaro naman natin 'yan kung ano instruction talaga ni General Azurin," Dela Rosa said. "At kinonfirm din ni Azurin na ang kanyang clearance na binigay, kung sinabi ni Mayo na alam na ito ni chief PNP, noong pag-conduct ng follow-up operation. Yan ang may clearance kay chief PNP, hindi yung pagtago kay Mayo." [Translation: It could be an attempted cover-up if Domingo will say it, but in our previous hearings, they already clarified what General Azurin's instruction was. And Azurin confirmed that he gave clearance which Mayo said the chief PNP knew to the conduct of the follow-up operation. The "clearance" Azurin gave was for a follow-up operation - not to absolve Mayo]. Still, Dela Rosa said the testimonies are subject to change, as he believes many of the police officers are lying to protect higher ranking officials. "Nag-testify na siya (Domingo), oo. Pero baka mamaya sabihin niya, Sa totoo lang, sir eh, talagang cleared kay chief PNP na itago namin si Mayo," Dela Rosa said. "Hindi nga natin alam dahil nga pati si Domingo mayroong ding tinatago pa," he added. [Translation: Domingo testified, yes, but he might say, To be honest, Sir, the chief PNP really cleared to hide Mayo. We dont know as it looks like Domingo is also hiding something.] CNN Philippines has reached out to Azurin for comment. Senators found it difficult to get answers from the police officers linked to the drug haul as they invoke their right to remain silent in most of the queries. The Senate has cited for contempt nine police officers for obstructing its legislative inquiry by supposedly lying and evading questions. These include Mayo, who is now detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Taguig. But Dela Rosa said the contempt citation is to detain Mayo in the Senate if he ever walks free from jail due to "technical lapses" in the case. WATCH: Senate cites in contempt ex-cop Mayo, six others over P6.7B drug haul CNN Philippines correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report. (Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court put new limits on the Clean Water Act, slashing the power of federal regulators to protect wetlands in a long-sought victory for a couple seeking to build a house near an Idaho lake. Most Read from Bloomberg Although the court was unanimous in backing landowners Chantell and Michael Sackett, the justices diverged sharply on their reasoning. Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the courts three liberals in saying the decision will undercut important environmental protections. Its the latest in a line of Supreme Court rulings that have restricted the authority of federal regulators. The decision comes less than a year after the court curbed the Environmental Protection Agencys ability to address climate change. The latest ruling could give companies a freer hand to discharge pollutants and could let developers construct more new houses without getting federal approval. Its a victory for property-rights advocates and a defeat for environmentalists and President Joe Bidens administration. Biden said in a statement Thursday the ruling will take our country backwards. The decision defies the science that confirms the critical role of wetlands in safeguarding our nations streams, rivers, and lakes from chemicals and pollutants that harm the health and wellbeing of children, families, and communities, he said. The 1972 Clean Water Act gives the federal government control over waters of the United States, including rivers and lakes. Writing for five members of the court, Justice Samuel Alito said Thursday that wetlands are covered only if they have a continuous surface connection to one of those major waterways. We hold that the CWA extends to only those wetlands that are as a practical matter indistinguishable from waters of the United States, Alito wrote. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett joined Alitos opinion. Kagan and Kavanaugh In a concurring opinion that read more like a dissent, Justice Elena Kagan said Alitos test ignored the water laws language and put a thumb on the scale against the Clean Water Acts protections. She likened the ruling to the courts climate change decision last June. The vice in both instances is the same: the courts appointment of itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy, Kagan wrote in an opinion joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Kavanaugh said he would have sided with the Sacketts on narrower grounds. Writing for himself and the three liberals, Kavanaugh said he read the law as covering wetlands that are separated from a major waterway only by a barrier like a dike or beach dune. Kavanaugh said that distinction will matter a great deal in the real world. He said the courts reasoning could endanger wetlands separated from the Mississippi River by its extensive levee system and allow the filling of important wetlands that protect the Chesapeake Bay. Kavanaugh and Kagan both pointed to a 1977 provision that indicates the law covers adjacent wetlands. Alito said the courts precedents require Congress to enact exceedingly clear language if it wishes to significantly alter the balance between federal and state power and the power of the government over private property. Wetlands Value Environmental groups said the ruling could strip tens of millions of acres of wetlands of federal protection. The Supreme Court ripped the heart out of the law we depend on to protect American waters and wetlands, said Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. This decision will cause incalculable harm. Communities across the country will pay the price. The decision will increase flooding and lead to more pollution, jeopardizing the health of our communities, especially the health of communities of color and low-wealth communities who are disproportionately impacted by water pollution, said Madeleine Foote, deputy legislative director with the League of Conservation Voters. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the ruling erodes longstanding clean water protections. The Pacific Legal Foundation, a property-rights group that represents the Sacketts, hailed the decision. The courts ruling returns the scope of the Clean Water Act to its original and proper limits, said Damien Schiff, the PLF attorney who argued the case. Courts now have a clear measuring stick for fairness and consistency by federal regulators. Todays ruling is a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers. The court sent a loud and clear warning shot to the Biden administration about its attempts to overregulate the lives of millions of Americans, said Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The court protected Americas farmers, ranchers, builders, and landowners from overreach under the Clean Water Act. Idaho Lake The fight involves a 0.63-acre property near Priest Lake in northern Idaho. The property is about 300 feet (91 meters) from the lake and, on the other side, across a road from a tributary of a creek that feeds into the lake. The EPA says that the land is connected to the lake through a subsurface flow of water. The Biden administration contended the tributary across the road brought the land within the scope of the Clean Water Act, particularly since the two properties were once part of the same wetlands complex. The administration said wetlands play a crucial role in protecting the integrity of nearby water bodies, even if they dont have a surface connection. The dispute began in 2007 when the EPA issued an administrative compliance order requiring the Sacketts to restore land they had already begun preparing for construction. The case has bounced up and down the court system since then, with the Supreme Court saying in 2015 the Sacketts could press a lawsuit. A federal appeals court later said the Clean Water Act covered the property, prompting the Sacketts to turn again to the Supreme Court. The Sacketts appeal asked the court to revisit a 2006 Clean Water Act case, Rapanos v. United States, which failed to produce a majority decision and left uncertainty about the governing standard. Four justices, led by Antonin Scalia, said the law covers wetlands only if they have a continuous surface connection to a major waterway. A fifth, Justice Anthony Kennedy, created his own test, saying the Clean Water Act covers wetlands with a significant nexus to one of those larger bodies of water. Alito on Thursday rejected the significant-nexus test, saying that the boundary between a significant and an insignificant nexus is far from clear. The case is Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 21-454. --With assistance from Emily Birnbaum and Jennifer A. Dlouhy. (Updates with Biden reaction in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The US Supreme Court dealt a blow to the government's authority to regulate wetlands under a landmark anti-pollution law The US Supreme Court dealt a blow on Thursday to the federal government's authority to regulate wetlands under a landmark anti-pollution law. The nation's highest court ruled in favor of a couple who were stopped by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from building a home near Priest Lake in Idaho because the property abuts federally protected wetlands. The EPA said the Sacketts needed a permit, but the couple's lawyers argued that the 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) applies only to "traditional navigable waters" and they should be allowed to proceed. The court, in a 5-4 vote, said the CWA only concerns wetlands that are connected to larger bodies of water such as oceans, rivers and lakes. "We hold that the CWA extends to only those wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are 'waters of the United States' in their own right," Justice Samuel Alito said in the majority opinion. "In sum, the CWA extends to only wetlands that are 'as a practical matter indistinguishable from waters of the United States," Alito wrote. President Joe Biden and environmental groups said the ruling was a severe setback to the anti-pollution protections enshrined in the Clean Water Act. "The Supreme Court's disappointing decision in Sackett v. EPA will take our country backwards," Biden said in a statement. "It puts our Nation's wetlands and the rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds connected to them at risk of pollution and destruction, jeopardizing the sources of clean water that millions of American families, farmers, and businesses rely on," the president said. "My team will work with the Department of Justice and relevant agencies to carefully review this decision and use every legal authority we have to protect our Nation's waters for the people and communities that depend on them." The Sierra Club denounced the case as a "corporate polluter-backed effort to dismantle the Clean Water Act by narrowing the definition of the waters of the United States. "The Court's decision will open millions of acres of wetlands all formerly protected by the Clean Water Act to pollution and destruction," the Sierra Club said in a statement. The ruling by the conservative-dominated court comes nearly a year after it said the EPA cannot issue broad limits on greenhouse gases, sharply curtailing the power of the Biden administration to battle climate change. The high court, in a 6-3 vote, found that the EPA did not have the power to set sweeping caps on emissions from coal-fired power plants, which produce nearly 20 percent of the electricity consumed in the United States. cl/caw The US Supreme Court has limited the reach of the EPA once again A photograph of the US Supreme Court building The Supreme Court has once again reined in the EPAs powers. The US Supreme Court has reined in the power of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate water pollution, ruling that wetlands are not waters of the United States, as defined in the landmark 1972 Clean Waters Act. Wetlands need to be directly connected to bodies of water in order to qualify under the statutory definition, otherwise theyre fair game to pollute, according to the majority opinion of the court. Read more Its the high courts second blow to the governments main environmental agency in as many years. In 2022, the justices weakened the EPAs authority over regulating clean air. Regulating swimming pools and puddles Sackett v. EPA The plaintiffs in the water-regulation case, Chantell and Michael Sackett, first sued the EPA in 2007, after the agency tried to stop them from building a home on property they purchased, claiming it was on navigable waters. It was a separate but related case that reached the Supreme Court, which ruled that the homeowners had standing to appeal what the EPA had called a final decision. The courts May 25 ruling (pdf) in favor of the plaintiffs was technically unanimous, but in name only. Donald Trump appointee Brett Kavanaugh and the courts three liberalsElena Kaga, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jacksonagreed that the homeowners should prevail in their case, but disagreed with the conservative majority that wetlands needed to be directly connected to bodies of water in order to be regulated by the EPA. Writing for the majority, justice Samuel Alito called the Clean Waters Act a potent weapon, [imposing on developers] what have been described as crushing consequences even for inadvertent violations. An opinion written by Cavanaugh disagreed with using that rationale to find in favor of the Sacketts, and contained a warning about redefining what constitutes national waters. By narrowing the Acts coverage of wetlands to only adjoining wetlands, the Courts new test will leave some long-regulated adjacent wetlands no longer covered by the Clean Water Act, with significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States, Kavanaugh wrote. Kagan had harsher words for her colleagues in the majority. Congress, the majority scolds, has unleashed the EPA to regulate swimming pools and puddles, wreaking untold havoc on a staggering array of landowners, she wrote in a particularly tongue-in-cheek opinion. Surely something has to be done; and who else to do it but this Court? It must rescue property owners from Congresss too-ambitious program of pollution control. The national decision-maker on environmental policy The decision comes a year after the Supreme Court decided, in a suit brought by West Virginia, that the EPA did not have the authority to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions under the Clean Air Act. The vote in that case was 6-3, along ideological lines. Kagan, in her opinion for the Sackett case, staunchly criticized the majority for both decisions. There, the majoritys non-textualism barred the EPA from addressing climate change by curbing power plant emissions in the most effective way. Here, that method prevents the EPA from keeping our countrys waters clean by regulating adjacent wetlands, Kagan wrote. The vice in both instances is the same: the Courts appointment of itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A gavel sits on the speakers desk in the House chamber at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 19, 2021. A Utah man says he was friends with Stephen Romney Swensen, a former financial adviser accused of taking $30 million from him and 49 other families, leaving him with nothing for retirement. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Mark Fox says he met Stephen Romney Swensen 25 years ago when the two had adjacent hangars at the Ogden-Hinckley Airport. The two became friends, and Fox learned that Swensen was also a financial adviser. For 20 years, Fox had no reason to question the legitimacy of how Swensen was investing his money and where his money was going. But today, Fox says he and his wife's retirement funds approximately $850,000 are gone. "Just talking about it I'm filled with disgust," Fox said Tuesday. Swensen, 50, worked for several investment companies over the years, including Crew Capital during the last several years of his life. He convinced people like Fox to invest in the Crew Capital Group LLC starting in July 2011, allegedly telling clients they would receive a guaranteed minimum of 5% annually, depending on stock market performance. He claimed Crew Capital was "one of the safest places" to invest their money. But in reality, court documents say Swensen, of Kaysville, was using that money to support his own lavish lifestyle, buying private airplanes, cars, and supporting at least two mistresses, while occasionally making "periodic payments of fictitious earnings to certain investors in a Ponzi-like fashion." "He used investor funds as his personal piggy bank," said Albert Copeland, one of the attorneys representing Fox. Once his alleged scheme was exposed, Swensen died by suicide on June 6, 2022. In October, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint in federal court seeking to recover approximately $30 million from Swensen's estate that he was accused of swindling from about 50 families. On Tuesday, Fox became the first person to go public about the so-called Crew Capital Ponzi scheme. He and his attorneys held a press conference to announce a complaint filed with the American Arbitration Association against Centerville-based Wealth Navigation Advisors, which operates under the name Oak Lane Advisors. Swensen was an investment adviser for the company. For a decade, Wealth Navigation Advisors failed to properly supervise Swensen, according to Fox's attorneys who are accusing the company of breach of fiduciary duty and negligence in the complaint. "None of this would have happened if properly supervised," Copeland said. "How could this go on for over a decade without anyone noticing?" "To be able to run a Ponzi scheme of this magnitude while supposedly being supervised ... it's just astonishing. Someone clearly took their eye off the supervision ball," added attorney Jason Kane. "For him to be able to get away with this for over a decade is astonishing and a clear failure of supervision. "Swensen left behind a wake of destruction and we are working to put the pieces back together," Kane added. "Imagine working hard your whole life to save for retirement only to learn you have to start from square one." Attorney Brent Baker, who represents Wealth Navigation Advisors, issued a brief statement Tuesday afternoon in response, saying, "We are looking forward to having all of the facts come out as soon as possible." Fox says he and his wife are still "reeling from the shock," and his wife has been undergoing counseling because of the emotional trauma the situation has created. When Fox invested money with Swensen and his company, Fox said Swensen would give him websites to check his account balances and returns. But Fox claims, "Everything on those websites was entirely false." Fox said after he found out what was allegedly happening, he talked to others who knew Swensen and many believed the missing $30 million had been invested in something such as stock. "There's no way he spent that much money," Fox lamented. But he and about 50 other families soon learned the money was gone. "The answer that we'll never get is why. Where's the greed (coming from?)" Fox asked, noting that Swensen was allegedly making about $1 million per year legally. "There's a lot of answers we're never going to get." Fox also noted that over the years of knowing Swensen, he "never saw a change in his behavior," which only adds to the disbelief. Today, Fox says he is trying to be a "glass half full guy" rather than saying "poor me." "I'm trying not to go down that rabbit hole," he said. But although he does not have children, Fox thinks about his great-niece whom he promised he'd pay for her college. "Not sure we can do that anymore," he said. Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to the Caribbean next month her first trip to the region since taking office to discuss climate change, energy, food security and economic prosperity in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House confirmed to the Miami Herald. Harris will visit Nassau, Bahamas, on June 8, and along with Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis will co-host a gathering of leaders from the Dominican Republic and the 15-member Caribbean Community bloc known as CARICOM. Davis is currently chairman of CARICOM, which has recently been stepping up its foreign engagement with the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. The Bahamas meeting will build on previous meetings the vice president has had with Caribbean leaders, including at last years Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. During the summit, President Joe Biden promised to intensify relations between the United States and the Caribbean after he dropped in on a discussion between Harris and Caribbean leaders, much to the delight of the presidents and prime ministers who had complained about poor relations in recent years. With Harris taking the lead, the U.S. used the summit to roll out a new Caribbean Climate Partnership to tackle climate change and the regions energy crisis. The focus is to help Caribbean governments get better access to financing for climate and clean-energy projects, and make the transition from fossil fuels something some member states told the Biden administration they are not quite yet ready to do, given the concentration of oil and natural gas reserves in Trinidad, Suriname and Guyana. After the in-person gathering at the Summit of the Americas, where Caribbean leaders spoke about their priorities and concerns after the COVID-19 pandemic rattled their economies, high-level U.S. and Caribbean teams went to work on how best to address the energy and food security crises in the region. Harris then convened a group of Caribbean leaders at the Blair House in Washington to review the progress and decide on the next steps. Harris and Caribbean leaders will continue those discussions during The Bahamas meeting, Kirsten Allen, the vice presidents press secretary, said. The vice presidents trip delivers on the Biden-Harris administrations commitment to advance cooperation with the Caribbean in pursuit of shared prosperity and security, and in recognition of the common bonds and interests between our nations, she added. READ MORE: Uruguay became a COVID success story. Now its hosting U.N. discussion on risk reduction Harris trip follows in the step of President Biden, who as vice president under Barack Obama visited Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic. Bidens visit to Santo Domingo in 2014 was the first time a U.S. vice president had visited the Dominican Republic since Hubert Humphrey traveled there in 1966. Among the issues on Bidens agenda then: energy security and crime, two issues that Harris will also broach. Brian A. Nichols, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said Harris has provided incredible personal leadership and time in the United States relations with the member states of the Caribbean regional bloc. Her travel to the region, to The Bahamas, and meeting with CARICOM leaders is another sign of her personal leadership and commitment to our region thats leading to concrete progress and I think youre going to see some very positive announcements during her visit, he said in an interview. In February, Nichols led a U.S. delegation to the blocs meeting in Nassau, where the climate crisis and the security situation in Haiti were among the leading agenda items. What Im very proud of is the amount of handwork that weve done to make real progress on the issues that matter to our partners in CARICOM, he said. And thats food security, finance issues, energy issues, addressing the climate challenges that they face. Those have been areas of real progress for us and in the conversations that Ive been honored to co-chair between the U.S. and CARICOM. While the climate crisis and energy are expected to take up much of Harris discussions, there are other pressing concerns that Caribbean leaders have on their minds. This includes the tourism-dependent regions economic recovery from the pandemic, which slowed growth and forced countries to take on more debt, and illegal arms trafficking. The Caribbean region accounts for about half of all U.S. fire-arms export investigations since 2020, according to the U.S. Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security, and the region is seeing an increase in gun-related homicides. In March, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago supported the government of Mexico in a lawsuit against gun manufacturers in the United States. Three U.S. lawmakers, including the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, have since written to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, asking for the congressional investigative arm to look at the consequences of firearms trafficked from the U.S. to the Caribbean. A White House official noted that while this is Harris first trip to the Caribbean as vice president, she has convened several multilateral meetings with regional leaders, including Dominican President Luis Abinader, since April 2022. In The Bahamas, Harris also plans to discuss promoting economic opportunity, development financing and Haiti. Harris trip toThe Bahamas takes place during Caribbean Heritage Month, and also just days before Caribbean Community leaders host a gathering of Haitian political leaders in Jamaica on June 11-13. CARICOM leaders earlier this month, agreed to appoint three former prime ministers St. Lucias Dr. Kenny Anthony, Jamaicas Bruce Golding and Perry Christie of The Bahamas to work with a technical support group to engage with Haitian leadership to try to broaden consensus around a path to elections, security and other areas of agreement. Since the beginning of the year, more than 1,400 Haitians have been killed in gang-related conflicts, most of it in the countrys capital, and since the July 7, 2021, assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, the countrys political impasse has worsened. There is no elected president or parliament, and the police are under attack by gangs. Calls by the Biden administration, Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for an outside force to come help the police have gone unheeded. Though Henry crafted an agreement in December to put in place a High Council of Transition to help provide a road map for elections, the U.S. and Canada have asked for a broader political consensus. Last week, Davis, as chairman of CARICOM, sent out invitations to Haitian leaders, inviting them to Jamaica for the three-day meeting. Victim of alleged box-cutter killer fought back but died from severe cut to the neck DELAND - Defensive wounds on a woman attacked and killed with a box cutter along with scratches she inflicted on her attacker show how hard she fought before a severe cut to her neck took her life, according to testimony and evidence presented in court Wednesday. Before resting her case Wednesday afternoon, Assistant State Attorney Heatha Trigones presented testimony from a DNA analyst connecting the murder weapon - a box cutter - to the death of Amy Humphries, 28, of Orange City. Blood on the box cutter's blade belonged to Humphries, the DNA analyst from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said. McLean was found with the weapon by police. Jurors in the murder trial also heard how Volusia County sheriff's detectives, assisted by the FBI, used cell phone records to trace accused killer Brandon McLean's movements leading them to the scene where Humphries' body was found discarded on a bike trail in Osteen on April 20, 2021. More: Box-cutter killer guilty of first-degree murder, sentenced to life without parole Accused murderer defends himself Prosecution reveals gruesome details in first day of trial against alleged box-cutter killer McLean, 34, is charged with first-degree murder and is representing himself in court. Prosecutors said McLean killed Humphries shortly after she refused to buy him a 9-millimeter Taurus handgun at Steel Fox Firearms in DeLand. Accused box-cutter killer, Brandon McLean, of DeLand, enters the courtroom on Wednesday as his murder trial entered its second day. He is accused of killing his girlfriend, Amy Humphries, of Orange City. Severed windpipe killed victim Gruesome photos of stab wounds and cuts were introduced as evidence and Trigones topped her presentation for a guilty plea with key testimony from Volusia County's Associate Medical Examiner, Mary Ripple. Ripple, who conducted the autopsy on Humphries' body on April 23, 2021, gave gripping testimony of how brutal the attack on Humphries was, as jurors listened intently, some taking notes. Brandon McLean Ripple described how she found numerous cuts and stab wounds on Humphries' body. Humphries had defensive wounds on her arms including eight cuts on her right palm and five on her left. Multiple cuts and stab wounds were found on her body, near her shoulder, and bruises and bleeding around her eyes. A 7-1/2 inch cut was inflicted on her inner-right thigh. Ripple said Humphries' body was struck 77 times but it's possible that there were more injuries since smaller incisions may have been lost in more severe and larger cuts, like the ones in her neck and thigh. "So, 77 are the wounds I could actually measure and can note that the blade actually did inflict," Ripple said. But of all the injuries, Ripple said that the large, deep cut that severed Humphries' windpipe, neck muscle, and veins, killed her. "She basically bled to death," Ripple told jurors. "All I can say is the one that went through that windpipe was probably one of the last." DNA found in victim's fingernail scrapings In his defense, McLean questioned a Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab analyst asking her to say how his DNA got on Humphries body. The FLDE lab analyst testified that fingernail scrapings, which investigators said came from a scratch found on McLean's right side of the neck just below the jaw, had his DNA. In cross-examining Volusia County Det. Eric Cheek, McLean asked if it was possible that the scratch on his neck may have been a bullet graze that occurred after he got into a gun battle with Seminole County sheriff's deputies on April 21, 2021. "Absolutely not," Cheek answered, who visited McLean in the hospital. "It would not have scabbed up at that point." When the state rested its case Wednesday, McLean handed the judge a written motion asking that he be acquitted. It was denied. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Medical Examiner says victim of box-cutter attack died from neck wound A noodle vendor in Vietnam who parodied one of the country's most powerful ministers has been jailed for five-and-a half years for anti-state propaganda. Bui Tuan Lam became famous when he posted a video in 2021 mimicking the trademark gestures of the high-end London-based restaurateur Salt Bae. A minister had been previously filmed eating a gold-leaf covered steak in a Salt Bae video, causing a scandal. The Vietnamese government is strictly intolerant of dissent. The 39-year old's trial and sentencing in a Danang court took just one day. He must serve four years of probation after being released, his lawyer confirmed to the BBC. In his video, Bui Tuan Lam spread green onions on his noodle soups in imitation of the Turkish celebrity chef - real name Nusret Gokce - who often sprinkles salt on steak in a theatrical manner. Days earlier, footage of Vietnam's Minister of Public Security To Lam eating a $2,000 (1,600) steak at the chef's restaurant had caused an uproar online. Many Vietnamese noted the incongruence of a top communist official eating a dish costing more than his monthly salary, and right after he had paid a visit to the grave of Karl Marx in London. At the time the police interrogated Bui Tuan Lam and closed his noodle stall, which had become very popular for a few days. He was arrested last September and has been detained since then. Bui Tuan Lam has been a political activist for nearly 10 years, which cost him his job in Ho Chi Minh City and forced him to sell noodles in Danang, his home city. With his passport confiscated, he has been unable to leave Vietnam since 2014. But this is the first time the authorities have prosecuted him. The indictment accused him of posting 19 videos on Facebook and 25 on YouTube which "affected the confidence of the people in the leadership of the state". While the famous Salt Bae parody was not mentioned, the embarrassment this caused the Vietnamese government is widely presumed to be the reason for his arrest. "Even though the charges are about past Facebook posts, no one should be fooled," says Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. "The Ministry of Public Security is seeking vengeance against Bui Tuan Lam for daring to mock their steak-eating Minister To Lam. The green onion video that went viral, and delighted people in Vietnam, showed once again the creativity of a democracy movement that the authorities are using brute force and bogus convictions to try to extinguish." While in prison, Bui Tuan Lam was denied access to a lawyer until two weeks before his trial. His wife Le Thi Thanh Lam was not allowed to attend. She told the BBC's Vietnamese service that she and their three daughters have been allowed to see him only once since his arrest, and then for only 10 minutes. "We could not say much but my husband sang a song with our daughters before saying goodbye. My husband was the one who told me about the trial, otherwise I would not have known about it." Three days ago, Le Thi Thanh Lam got a call from a stranger who wanted to deliver a letter from her husband. He had written messages to her on scraps of paper and thrown it on the ground in hopes of someone picking them up and delivering them to her. "In a letter my husband wrote in January, he said that he would not plead guilty as he believed in what he was fighting for. He encouraged us to be brave and said it would be a miracle if she received those pieces of paper," she told the BBC. "No matter how many years the court will sentence him to, I completely object to it because my husband is not guilty of anything. That he is being imprisoned, for a day, a year or 10 years, is a crime." There are currently at least 170 people in prison in Vietnam for expressing views unacceptable to the communist party, or doing anything seen as a threat to the party's monopoly on power. Last month, dissident blogger Duong Van Thai, who was recognised as a refugee by the UN, was abducted in Thailand. It was widely believed to have been carried out by Vietnamese state agents, who were also behind similar abductions in other countries. Climate activists Nguy Thi Khanh, Dang Dinh Bach, Mai Phan Loi and Bach Hung Duong, who have been campaigning against Vietnam's reliance on coal-fired power, were also convicted of tax evasion and jailed in recent months, a punishment rarely given to other alleged tax evaders. [Source] The Vietnamese noodle vendor dubbed Onion Leaf Bae has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for mocking a senior government official of Vietnams ruling party. Bui Tuan Lam, 39, was accused of anti-state propaganda after he went viral in 2021 for a video he posted online in which he mimicked the trademark gestures of celebrity chef Nusret Gokce, also known as Salt Bae, who served an expensive steak to Minister of Public Security To Lam. The original video of the Lam being served by Gokce prompted netizens to question how government employees are able to afford luxuries with their modest salaries. In September 2022, Lam was gagged and arrested by the police for allegedly violating Article 117 of the countrys Penal Code, which prohibits creating, storing, and disseminating materials and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. More from NextShark: Man Charged With Hate Crime for Punching Asian Woman in NYCs Chinatown Has 40 Prior Arrests On Thursday, a court found Lam guilty of anti-state propaganda after a one-day trial. According to the Danang police department, Lams indictment said he posted 19 articles and 25 videos on social media to distort and smear the state. He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison and must serve four years of probation after his release. Lam was reportedly denied access to a lawyer until two weeks before his trial. More from NextShark: 32% of Americans Have Seen Asians Attacked Over COVID-19 On Monday, his wife, Le Thi Thanh, received a handwritten letter from Lam. She told BBC: In a letter my husband wrote in January, he said that he would not plead guilty as he believed in what he was fighting for. No matter how many years the court will sentence him to, I completely object to it because my husband is not guilty of anything. That he is being imprisoned, for a day, a year or 10 years, is a crime. More from NextShark: New Ohio law requiring IDs to indicate if individual is 'noncitizen' sparks controversy Le Thi Thanh was not allowed to attend her husbands trial. Lam has reportedly been a political activist for nearly 10 years and has had his passport confiscated since 2014. The ruling has prompted activists to speak up against the Vietnamese government, urging authorities to drop the charges against Lam. More from NextShark: New York Post Slammed After Outing First Responder for Having an OnlyFans Account to Make Ends Meet The list of posts and videos listed as evidence of Bui Tuan Lams crimes shows the extreme lengths to which the Vietnamese go to block any sort of online criticism of the government. For the Vietnamese leadership, even songs are a threat to their monopoly of power, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, according to CNN. A candlelight vigil and funeral will take place within the next week to honor Caleb Conley, the Scott County sheriffs deputy who was shot and killed Monday. The vigil will take place Thursday at 8 p.m. at the square near city hall in Georgetown, according to the sheriffs office. The public is welcome to attend. Guests are asked to bring their own candle. Conleys funeral will take place June 1 at Scott County High School at 11 a.m. Conley will be buried at Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana following the service, according to Ware Funeral Home. Conley was shot on I-75 near the 127 mile marker around 5 p.m. Monday while conducting a traffic stop, according to Scott County Sheriff Tony Hampton. Steven Sheangshang, a suspect in several other offenses, is accused of killing Conley, according to arrest records. Conley was rushed to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Conley has served with the Scott County Sheriffs Office for four years and served with the U.S. Army for eight years. He leaves behind a wife, small children and his parents, Hampton said. Sheangshang was arrested not long after a separate shooting in Lexington. He faces charges of murder of a police officer, wanton endangerment, evading police, first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, three counts of burglary, two counts of possessing a handgun as a convicted felon and evidence tampering, jail records show. Grateful for his service. Politicians, officers show support for KY deputy who was shot Central KY deputy killed in service was awarded officer. What to know about Caleb Conley VinFast recalls first batch of EVs in US due to safety risk [Source] Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast is recalling its first batch of vehicles in the U.S. due to a dashboard display error that poses a safety risk. The safety warning was issued by U.S. authorities after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that the companys VF 8 vehicles have a software malfunction in the dashboard display. The screen reportedly goes blank while stationary or driving, which may increase the risk of a crash. VinFast is not aware of any field reports of incidents. The company is issuing this recall out of an abundance of caution, the company said in a statement to Reuters. According to the NHTSA, the error has been documented 18 times. The safety agency estimates more than 700 of the 999 units in the U.S. have yet to be delivered to customers or fleet services. More from NextShark: New York Times Describes Vietnams Early Success in Managing Pandemic as Luck To solve the problem, VinFast will reportedly introduce a software update that is scheduled to go live on May 25 along with notification letters to owners. The recall comes shortly after VinFast announced plans to list in the U.S. via a merger with special purpose acquisition company Black Spade Acquisition Co. The companies believe that VinFast would have a potential equity value of $23 billion. More from NextShark: Nurse in Wuhan Grieves Over News Her Mother Passed, Goes Back to Fighting Coronavirus VinFast, which was founded in 2017, filed for a U.S. IPO in December 2022. The company is set to build an assembly factory in North Carolina. VinFast is also expected to expand deliveries to Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Authorities investigate Filipino American UNLV students death following charity boxing event Ex-Miss Universe Malaysia Loses Brand Deal After Saying Blacks Chose to Be Colored Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Bohol Island has been recognized as the countrys first Global Geopark, the United Nations' cultural agency said Wednesday night. In a statement, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) highlighted Bohols karstic structures, such as caves, sinkholes, and cone karst, as well as the popular Chocolate Hills. Bohols Danajon Double Barrier Reef also took the spotlight, which UNESCO said is unique in Southeast Asia and one of just six documented in the world. Tourism is growing in the area, which is a prime eco-cultural destination thanks to its white sand beaches, diving spots, magnificent geological formations, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage, the agency said. The Bohol Island Geopark welcomed the recognition on Wednesday. It also urged the public and private sectors to cooperate in fostering the promotion and practice of geoheritage conservation, geoscience education, environmental awareness, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable development within the geopark. UNESCO also named 17 additional sites to its Global Geoparks network, bringing the total number of sites to 195. Geoparks seek to influence communities in conserving geological heritage. This photo released by Virgin Galactic shows mission specialist Jamila Gilbert, center, looking out one of the portal windows as she experiences weightlessness during a test flight on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Virgin Galactic completed whats expected to be its final test flight Thursday before taking paying customers on brief trips to space. (Virgin Galactic via AP) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M (AP) Virgin Galactic completed what is expected to be its final test flight Thursday before taking paying customers on brief trips to space, marking what the space tourism company described as a fantastic achievement in what has been a long road to commercial operations. Six of the company's employees, including two pilots, landed at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico after the short up-and-down flight that included a few minutes of weightlessness. It took about an hour for the mother ship to carry the spaceplane to an altitude of 44,500 feet (13,563 meters), where it was released and fired its rocket motor to make the final push. Successful boost, WE HAVE REACHED SPACE! Virgin Galactic tweeted. It reached an altitude of 54.2 miles (87 kilometers) before gliding back down to the runway, according to the company. Jamila Gilbert, who grew up in southern New Mexico and leads the company's internal communications, was among those on board who were evaluating what it will be like for paying customers. It was hard for her to put the experience into words, saying it probably will take a lifetime to process the sights and the feelings that filled those moments between the rocket igniting and the spaceship reaching its highest point. It was just this magnetic pull, she said in an interview. Once I started looking out, I could feel that I was floating. I could hear voices. But I couldnt stop looking at the planet, and I couldnt look away. Fellow crew member Christopher Huie said it seems as if everything stopped when the spaceship was released from the carrier plane. Youre just waiting for the rocket to light," said Huie, an aerospace engineer. "And I think that moment had so much anticipation, and I could have lived in that moment forever. Then came a little jostle with the firing of the rocket, and the crew were pinned to their seats as the G-forces kicked in. The flight came nearly two years after founder Richard Branson beat fellow billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and rocket company Blue Origin into space. Bezos ended up flying nine days later from West Texas, and Blue Origin has since launched several passenger trips. Federal aviation authorities banned Virgin Galactic launches after Branson's flight to investigate a mishap. Virgin Galactic has been working for more than a decade to send paying passengers on short space hops and in 2021 finally won the federal government's approval. The next step will be for Virgin Galactic to analyze data from Thursday's flight and inspect the planes and other equipment as the company prepares for commercial service, possibly as soon as late June. Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier has acknowledged the delays and missed deadlines over the years. But on Thursday, he said seeing the crew's reactions after landing gave him confidence in what the company has built so far. The initial commercial flight will include members of the Italian Air Force who will conduct experiments. Next will come customers who purchased tickets years ago for their chance at weightlessness aboard a winged spacecraft that launches from the belly of an airplane. About 800 tickets have been sold over the past decade, with the initial batch going for $200,000 each. Tickets now cost $450,000 per person. Virgin Galactic has reached space five times since 2018 and will be aiming for 400 flights per year from Spaceport America once it finishes building its next class of rocket-powered planes at a facility in neighboring Arizona. After Bransons trip, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights as it investigated a problem that caused the rocket ship to veer off course during its descent back to its runway in the New Mexico desert. Virgin Galactic insisted at the time that Branson and others were never in any danger. The company made changes to its carrier airplane and the spaceplane. The delay was nearly twice as long as expected, partly because of supply chain issues and labor shortages. Branson joined a group of customers who watched Thursday's flight from Spaceport America. Huie, a senior manager with Virgin Galactic's flight sciences engineering team, said the company is ready for commercial service and will be expanding its fleet over the coming years. Were looking to scale up in a big way," he said, "and the goal is to populate lots of spaceports with lots of spaceships and motherships and send hundreds of people every year to space. Virgin Galactics spaceplane reached an altitude of 54.2 miles (87.2 km) after its release from the aircraft carrier. Virgin Galactics VSS Unity spaceplane pulled off its first suborbital flight in nearly two years, potentially paving the way for the company to resume commercial trips to the edge of space. On Thursday, Virgin Galactic launched its Unity 25 mission from Spaceport America in New Mexico at 11:15 a.m. ET. The liftoff was about an hour behind schedule, although the reason for the delay is still unknown. Nonetheless, Richard Bransons space tourism venture declared its test flight a success after the spaceplane landed at 12:37 a.m. ET. Read more Virgin Galactics VMS Eve carrier aircraft took off while carrying the VSS Unity spaceplane beneath its wings. The Unity 25 mission included six crew members on board the Unity spaceplane, in addition to two pilots at the helm aboard the Eve aircraft. The aircraft released the spaceplane at an altitude of 44,500 feet (13,500 meters) above the ground. Once it was released, the spaceplane fired up its rocket engines, lifting off to a maximum altitude of 54.2 miles (87 kilometers). Thats a little below the internationally recognized boundary of space, known as the Karman Line, which stands at 62 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface. After reaching apogee, the spaceplane glided its way back to the runway and touched down at Spaceport America. Inside the crews cabin during the flight as the passengers get a feel of the microgravity environment. Looking down at our beautiful planet from space, something that so few humans have experienced, was such a humbling, awe-inspiring, and reverent experience, Christopher Huie, Unity 25 mission specialist, said in an emailed statement. Following the success of its test mission, Virgin Galactic stated that it is now preparing for commercial operations with the first mission, Galactic 01, scheduled for late June. One seat on board the suborbital trip could cost around $450,000 and the company claims to already have 700 customers lined up to snag their spot, according to Space.com. Witnessing our inspiring crews pure joy upon landing, I have complete confidence in the unique astronaut experience we have built for our customers, Michael Colglazier, Virgin Galactic CEO, said in the statement. Our teams now begin post-flight analysis as well as preparation for Galactic 01. Thursdays flight was the first time Virgin Galactic flew its spaceplane to the edge of space since July 2021 when six passengers, including Branson himself, hopped on the suborbital ride. The trip was meant to usher in the companys commercial missions, but instead led to an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration as reports suggested that the spaceplane veered off course during its ascent. The success of Unity 25 was crucial for the companys commercial ambition, which could take off quite soon. For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. FILE PHOTO: Virgin Galactic's passenger rocket plane VSS Unity is towed after reaching the edge of space above Spaceport America By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A spaceplane from Virgin Galactic reached the edge of space on Thursday carrying a crew of six, making its first spaceflight test in nearly two years as the space tourism firm founded by Richard Branson prepares its long-awaited commercial service. The company's VSS Unity spaceplane dropped from its twin-fuselage carrier aircraft around 12:24 p.m. EDT (1624 GMT) over the desert of New Mexico and blasted off to the edge of space seconds later at roughly three times the speed of sound. "Successful boost, WE HAVE REACHED SPACE!," Virgin Galactic wrote on Twitter. A live video stream from private video news group NASA Spaceflight showed VSS Unity jetting away from its carrier craft, its sole rocket engine leaving a trail of white exhaust as it climbed to an altitude of roughly 54.2 miles (87.2 km), beyond the U.S.-recognized boundary of Earth's outer atmosphere and space. The spaceplane glided back to land at around 12:37 p.m., Virgin Galactic said. The company's Unity 25 mission, lasting roughly 90 minutes in all, is a crucial final test flight before it flies its first commercial mission in late June, hoping to carry out a mission roughly every month thereafter. The flight comes 22 months after billionaire Branson and employees rode to the edge of space aboard its centerpiece SpaceShipTwo spaceplane. Virgin Galactic had hoped that high-profile mission would open the door to routine flights soon after. A safety probe into Branson's flight by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration delayed the plans, as did a lengthy spacecraft upgrade period that lasted longer than Virgin Galactic anticipated. Virgin Galactic pilots Jameel Janjua and Nicola Pecile piloted the carrier aircraft, named VMS Eve, which dropped the VSS Unity spacecraft at an altitude of 44,500 feet (13,563.6 m). VSS Unity spent a few minutes in the weightlessness of space before gliding back to land. The test mission follows the type of rides Virgin Galactic intends to provide for a backlog of some 800 customers. Most have paid between $250,000 and $450,000 for a ticket. The company in April conducted a successful glide test with VSS Unity, dropping it at 47,000 feet for a free-fall back to its runway, without having ignited its engine to go toward space. Mike Masucci and CJ Sturckow piloted the spaceplane. In the cabin was the company's chief astronaut instructor, Beth Moses, astronaut instructor Luke Mays, senior engineering manager Christopher Huie and Jamila Gilbert, internal communications senior manager. (Reporting by Joey Roulette in WashingtonEditing by David Gregorio and Matthew Lewis) A volunteer firefighter is dead and another is in the hospital after a crash involving a Farmland Volunteer Fire Department Tanker in Randolph County, Indiana Thursday morning. Kyle Osgood, 29, of Farmland, died in a crash that happened around 7 a.m. in the area of County Road 1000 W. near Farmland. >> Ohio leads the country in cases of emerging mosquito-borne virus An initial showed that Osgood was the driver of a 2000-gallon fire tanker that was responding to a call on County Road 1000 W when he lost control in a curve. The tanker left the roadway and rolled. Both Osgood and his passenger, 19-year-old Zachary Lee, also a firefighter from Farmland, were ejected from the tanker. >> 8 people displaced after fire in Darke County Lee was flown to a Fort Wayne hospital to be treated for his injuries. Osgood was pronounced dead at the scene. In a social media post, Randolph County, Indiana Homeland Security Emergency Management said Osgood previously worked as a full-time Public Safety Telecommunicator from July 2015 to October 2019. They also noted that he was an assistant chief with Farmland Fire. The crash remains under investigation by Indiana State Police. FILE PHOTO: New Volkswagen vehicles are parked with their exhaust pipes facing the street at a dealership in Medford VW, Audi agree to $85 million diesel settlement in principle with Texas FILE PHOTO: New Volkswagen vehicles are parked with their exhaust pipes facing the street at a dealership in Medford By David Shepardson (Reuters) -Volkswagen and its Audi unit have agreed to an $85 million settlement in principle over violations of Texas environmental laws stemming from its diesel cheating scandal, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Thursday. The settlement stipulates that the German automakers pay a civil penalty of $85 million for their unlawful actions, Paxton said. Earlier this month, the Texas Supreme Court ruled the state environmental lawsuit against Volkswagen and Audi could go forward. Volkswagen, which declined to comment on Thursday, previously settled U.S. actions prompted by the emissions scandal for more than $20 billion, but that did not shield it from local and state government liability, courts ruled previously. "If a company thinks they will avoid accountability when they violate Texas laws, endanger Texans, and pollute our environment, theyre dead wrong. Volkswagen and Audi are finding that out the hard way, and now they are paying the price," Paxton said in a statement. In 2015, Volkswagen disclosed it had used sophisticated software to evade emissions requirements in nearly 11 million vehicles worldwide. It also misled the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which started looking into the matter in 2014. Paxton's office did not immediately respond to a question seeking more details of the settlements. Volkswagen's U.S. subsidiary in 2021 unsuccessfully argued that under the Clean Air Act, the landmark U.S. environmental law, only the federal government can pursue emissions claims. In 2022, Ohio settled with VW for $3.5 million, which was a fraction of what the state had previously sought. VW said in prior court papers that Ohios claims could have totaled "$350 million per day, or more than $127 billion per year, over a multi-year period." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Diane Craft and Bill Berkrot) WA paychecks will take a hit this summer. Long-term care tax is about to get real | Opinion Washington state citizens will start seeing less take-home pay starting this July and theres not much they can do about it at least for the moment. A united, public outcry might have some effect, but likely not until next year when lawmakers convene again. Then, maybe, they will consider making changes that should have been made this year. Despite knowing the WA Cares long-term care program still has problems, the Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee are allowing it to get rolling this summer. The mandatory insurance plan was approved in 2019 but its implementation was delayed until now. Now its real. We imagine that once people see the hit to their paychecks this summer, the majority wont be happy. This will be especially true when most realize they cant opt out and its a tax for services they may never need or be able to use. Beginning July 1, the state will take 58 cents on every $100 a worker earns in order to cover future long-term care costs. For someone who earns $50,000 annually, that amount adds up to $290 a year. If you want a quick way to figure out your own payroll deduction, go to the WA Cares Fund website and use the calculator tool. It also explains in detail how the program is supposed to work and who is exempt from paying into the fund. Currently, federal employees who work in Washington state are exempt and so are employees of tribal businesses unless the tribe has chosen to opt into the program. There also are exemptions for military families, disabled veterans who are getting care through the Department of Veterans Affairs and people who are working in Washington state but have a home address elsewhere. In addition, people who are self-employed dont have to pay into the program, but there is a way for them to opt in if they choose. Two years ago, the state allowed people to forego using the state program if they bought their own private long-term care insurance by Nov. 21, 2021. Insurance companies were flooded with requests during the exemption window and many citizens werent able to buy plans in time. This kind of opt-out provision is no longer available. So what will people get for their money? Workers required to pay into the system will be vested after 10 years and potentially eligible to receive a lifetime benefit of $36,500 toward in-home nursing care needs. The idea behind the forced long-term care insurance program is that too many people havent planned for the possibility of needing expensive nursing care. Creating this fund is supposed to help provide a way for people to pay for in-home care so they dont have to go into a nursing home. Like many new government programs, the intent is admirable. Its the details and the implementation thats causing concerns. For all the talk about Washington states unfair regressive sales tax, this also is a regressive tax. Think about it. Every worker is supposed to pay into the program, but people living paycheck to paycheck can least afford to take the deductions. And it may very well be that their contributions help buoy a system that provides benefits to others but not to them. There also is concern that payroll taxes often need to increase over time to keep a program viable, so who knows for certain if the long-term care tax rate will have to go up. As it stands now, the plan wont follow WA state citizens if they leave the state. It also cant be transferred from one spouse to another when one passes away. These tweaks were introduced this past session, but they unfortunately went nowhere. For now, payroll deductions are coming for millions of workers in Washington state for a program that still needs work. Public pressure is the way to make sure lawmakers get it done next year. Wagner boss attacks Russia's defense minister, says his daughter and son-in-law live in luxury while thousands are sent to die in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (L) during the Navy Day Parade in Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 31 2022. Contributor/Getty Images The head of the Wagner Group singled out the daughter and son-in-law of Russia's defense minister. Yevgeny Prigozhin was criticizing Russia's elite for sheltering their kids from the war in Ukraine. He said they should send their kids to war, or that their behavior could spark revolution in Russia. The head of the pro-Kremlin Wagner mercenary group escalated his feud with Russia's military on Tuesday, criticizing the defense minister's daughter as a child of the stereotypical elite. In an interview with Russian political strategist Konstantin Dolgov, Yevgeny Prigozhin called out Russia's elite for not sending their children to fight in Ukraine, The Times of London reported. "The children of the elite smear themselves with creams and show off on the internet, while ordinary people's children come home in zinc [coffins], torn to pieces," he said, according to The Times' translation. Prigozhin directly called out the daughter and the son-in-law of Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu, according to reports. The couple, Ksenia Shoigu and Alexey Stolyarov, recently shared photos of a holiday in Dubai where they stayed in a luxury hotel, The Times of London reported. Prigozhin described the pair as the stereotypical children of Russia's elite, who have vastly different experiences to those fighting in Ukraine, according to the Washington DC-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War. The Washington Post also reported that Prigozhin singled out the pair. Prigozhin has previously targeted Stolyarov, threatening in February to have his men bring him to train to fight in Ukraine. Prigozhin's latest attack comes after months of escalating public feuds between the paramilitary boss and top Russian military officials, including Shoigu. These have included Prigozhin accusing Russia of cutting off ammunition to his group in an "attempt to destroy" it, and threatening to withdraw from the major battle of Bakhmut. During Tuesday's interview, Prigozhin said that the Russian elite needed to stop sheltering its children from the fighting in Ukraine, adding that "fat, carefree" lives could spark a "revolution" in Russia, causing working-class citizens to storm the elite's villas with pitchforks. Notable pro-war figures in Russia have been criticized for not sending their children to fight. Vladimir Solovyov, a pro-Kremlin propagandist and TV figure who is popular with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was accused of hypocrisy in February for his son seemingly working as a model in London at the same time that Solovyov was urging young Russians to fight in Ukraine. Solovyov pushed back, saying his son was in Moscow and was "living a difficult life of an average young person" and was "not trying to dodge anything." During the same interview on Tuesday, Prigozhin said that Putin's plan to "demilitarize" Ukraine had been a failure, with Ukraine now having one of the strongest armies in the world. Read the original article on Business Insider The man in charge of Russia's notorious Wagner Group private mercenary army, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has warned that Russia could face a "revolution" and lose its war in Ukraine unless the country's "elites" fully commit to the fight and put the country "into North Korea mode," with martial law imposed, to achieve results on the front lines. In a lengthy video interview with a pro-war, pro-Kremlin blogger, Prigozhin lashed out against Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his daughter Ksenia, a sports executive whose New Year wartime vacation in Dubai drew ire from the Russian public. Russia at risk of a pitchfork "revolution" "The children of elites allow themselves to lead a public, fat, carefree life," Prigozhin fumed, "while the children of others arrive back shredded to pieces in zinc coffins." An image taken from a video posted online by the Prigozhin Press Service on May 5, 2023, shows the head of Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, standing by bodies in an unknown location as he addresses the camera. The owner of Russia's private military company Wagner, Prigozhin, said he would pull Wagner forces from the battle for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut on May 10, accusing Russia's military command of starving the group of ammunition. / Credit: Prigozhin Press Service via AP "This duality may end like it did in 1917, with a revolution, when first the soldiers rise up, and after that their loved ones do," he warned, referring to the Russian Revolution that toppled the country's monarchy more than a century ago. Prigozhin said Russian citizens could raid the elites' homes with "pitchforks and don't think there are hundreds of them, now there are now tens of thousands of relatives of those killed, and there will probably be hundreds of thousands." It was hardly the first time Prigozhin has criticized the country's top brass or its political and business elite, whom he considers incompetent and has even accused of treason for having foreign property and sending their children abroad, but the interview stood out for the harshness of his critique of the strategic blunders by Russian military forces in their flagging war in Ukraine. "Prepare for a hard war" "We stormed in an aggressive manner and stomped our boots all over Ukraine while looking for Nazis," Prigozhin said. "We approached Kyiv, s**t our pants, and retreated. Next onto Kherson, where we also s**t our pants and retreated, and nothing seems to be working out for us." He said the vague goals stated by his long-time associate President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials at the beginning of the war, as aiming to "denazify" and "demilitarize" Ukraine, had failed. Prigozhin avoided criticizing Putin himself. He even reaffirmed his devotion to the Russian leader, the war in Ukraine and the Russian motherland, blaming Shoigu and the Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov for a poorly organized chain of command and corruption that left the Russian Armed Forces unprepared for Ukraine's fierce, Western-backed resistance. Prigozhin, who grew rich on government catering contracts and has since branched out, as CBS News' own investigation has found, to bankroll his private army through a vast and brutal international criminal enterprise, offered two potential scenarios of how he believed the war in Ukraine may pan out for Russia: "There are optimistic and pessimistic scenarios. The optimistic one, which I don't really believe in, is that Europe and America will get tired of the Ukrainian conflict, then China will put everyone at the negotiating table," he said. "We will agree that everything that we have already seized is ours, and everything that has not been seized is not ours. It is unlikely that this scenario is possible." Instead, Prigozhin said, Ukraine could get more Western weapons and ramp up its long-expected counteroffensive, which "may succeed in some places." "They will try to restore their 2014 borders, and this could easily happen; they will attack Crimea, they will try to blow up the Crimean bridge, cut off the supply lines, and for us, this scenario won't be good, so we need to prepare for a hard war," he continued. "We are in such a condition that we could f***ing lose Russia, which is the main problem... We need to impose martial law," Prigozhin concluded. Prigozhin offers Wagner Group death toll The Wagner chief gave his first estimates on the levels of casualties among his company's mercenaries, saying he had recruited 50,000 convicts from Russian prisons during the war, 20% of whom had died, along with 10,000 other forces who were hired on contract. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is seen in a video aired on January 12, 2023 by Russian state media addressing a group of men identified as the first set of former prisoners released in exchange for serving in Russia's war in Ukraine. / Credit: RIA Novosti The White House said in early May that around 10,000 Wagner fighters had been killed around the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the bloodiest battle of the war so far, since December alone. It's impossible to verify either the U.S. estimate or Prigozhin's own figure, which is double, but spans the entire 15 months of the war. Russia's Defense Ministry hasn't released casualty figures since September, when it said only around 6,000 regular soldiers had died in the war a significant undercount according to Western intelligence and military experts. "Putin's butcher" For the first time, Prigozhin also commented on his nickname, "Putin's chef," given to him by Russian investigative journalists after they uncovered his vast government catering contracts. "I have never been a chef; I used to be a restaurateur and quite successful. I can't cook myself. They should have just come up with 'Putin's butcher' instead," Prigozhin quipped in an apparent reference to the brutal tactics his mercenary army has now deployed from Ukraine to central Africa. Prigozhin's ability to spew bitter criticism at senior Russian officials with seeming impunity, which is then amplified by cohorts of influential pro-war bloggers on Russian Telegram channels, has puzzled many Russia-watchers. Similar comments, even tamer ones, have landed dozens of political dissidents and others in prison under strict laws passed by Russia's rubber-stamp parliament at the onset of the Ukraine invasion to silence opposing voices. But Prigozhin and his mercenaries have claimed some front-line successes largely by throwing waves of ill-prepared and ill-equipped convicts into battle as cannon-fodder, according to Ukrainian and Western officials. Those limited successes, after months of embarrassing routs suffered by the regular military, prompted Putin to recently congratulate both Wagner and the army for taking control of Bakhmut, though Ukraine still insists the city is being fought over. Many have taken Putin's praise as confirmation that, despite his public antics, Prigozhin still carries high-up approval for his dedication to Russia's war. "I love my homeland. I obey Putin. To hell with Shoigu," Prigozhin said in his latest rant. "We will continue to fight." Birth of world's rarest fruit bat caught on Jersey Zoo camera The magic of Hollywood: CBS gets rare peek inside Warner Brothers prop archive American companies building lunar landers, ready to commercialize moon via Concord Press Service Having notched a slew of new war crime allegations on their belts, Wagner fighters in Ukraines Bakhmut are now withdrawing from the decimated city to rest and relish in their victory, Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin announced Thursday. Were all pulling out by June 1. Were resting, getting ready [for the next assignment]. Were transferring all positions to the military: a basement with a bed and sheets, Prigozhin said, telling his men to leave them the soap. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that regular Russian troops had replaced Wagner on the outskirts of Bakhmut, but said some Wagner fighters were still located in the city. Separately, the mercenary boss bragged that some of his fighters had received high honors from the Kremlin after President Vladimir Putin intervened to order awards be given promptly. Thank you very much to the president for the high marks, he said. He said those leaving Bakhmut would be allowed to take a break before being sent on a new mission. Or before killing and being killed back home. Even as Prigozhin on Thursday gloated over the groups supposed success and seemed to taunt his rivals at the Russian Defense Ministry, news broke that a Wagner fighter freshly released from the battlefield was almost immediately shot dead upon returning home. Wagner Boss Admits War Is Not Shaping Up in Russias Favor A man identified only as Yury S. was shot dead while celebrating his homecoming in a village in the Irkutsk region on Wednesday night, according to local reports. Having returned from the war zone just a day earlier, Yury had gotten into a drunken argument with an acquaintance at his party when the latter suddenly pulled out a gun and killed him. It was not immediately clear what the two argued about. Police are now reportedly questioning the alleged gunman, identified only as Konstantin in local reports. Its not the first time violence has quickly followed the return home of a Wagner fighter. Earlier this week, a man reportedly wearing a military uniform and a Wagner patch was accused of sexually assaulting two school girls in Novosibirsk. The 10- and 12-year-old girls told authorities that the mercenary warned them he had a grenade on him and threatened to blow them up if they didnt do as he said, Baza reported. Investigators are still searching for the suspect, and his status in Wagner has not been confirmed. Since the mercenary group secured pardons for hordes of prison inmates who agreed to fight in Ukraine, at least two of those ex-convicts have allegedly gone home and committed murders. But Prigozhin clearly takes pride in what he claims the deranged prison-recruitment scheme accomplished. He made sure to take a parting shot at the regular Russian army Thursday as he performed his victory lap. Were handing over the positions to the military But if the military will have a hard time, of course, well leave those who played a key role in the capture of Bakhmut, he said in a video released by his press service. Everyone is thinking about how we won. There were two factors involved! The two people we are leaving behind. As soon as it gets difficult for the military: they will stand up and block the path of the Ukrainian army, he said, presenting two mercenaries named Biber and Dolik for the camera, one of whom appeared to be prepubescent and the other on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Pigozhin is just trolling the russian military now, he's announced that even though the Waginers are pulling out of Bakhmut he's leaving behind these two 'warriors' to block the Ukrainian army... Window or tea? pic.twitter.com/W3CbywnNLW Seveer of the 95th rifles (@Seveerity) May 25, 2023 Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Yevgeny Prigozhin, Head of the Wagner Private Military Company, said on 25 May that he has begun to withdraw his mercenaries from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and is handing over their positions to the regular Russian army. This process, he said, would last until 1 June. Source: Prigozhins press service Quote: "We are withdrawing units from Bakhmut today, 25 May, it's 05:00. By 1 June, most of them will be transferred to camps in the rear. We are handing over the positions to the military, as well as ammunition everything, including rations, but if it is difficult for the military, we will leave behind those who played the main part in the capture of Bakhmut... We will leave two of our men with the military, namely Bieber and Dolin [evidently aliases of Wagner fighters ed.]." Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said it is confident that rice supply in the country will be enough even during the lean months of July to September. If we are going into the lean months and we have a good buffer of about 60 days plus the production during that period and then import arrivals so I think we are confident that we will have a good supply for the lean months, DA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian told CNN Philippines The Source. Earlier, agricultural groups warned of a looming rice crisis due to the El Nino phenomenon this year, which is projected to emerge beginning June. Sebastian said the DA has so far recorded 1.48 million metric tons (MT) of imported rice and a carryover stock from last year of around 1.8 million MT. The agency also expects 5.7 million MT in total local harvest from January to June. Malaki 'yung ating projected na (We have a big projected) supply for the first six months, and we are expecting we will have at least remaining stock by end of June that will be good for about two months, he pointed out. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is also agriculture secretary, said in April that he sees no rice crisis in the country, but the option to import should always remain open. One of the chief executives campaign promises was to bring down the per kilo price of rice to 20. Marcos said in March that the government hopes to achieve this as soon as possible despite hurdles, like the weather. Past and present government officials have said it may be difficult to achieve this immediately due to funding issues and situation in the market. According to Sebastian, lowering the price of rice is possible, but it should be market driven. We are not going to dictate it, but what we can do is we can help our farmers reduce their costs, improve the value chain para makita natin (so we can see) if our cost of production and the cost of the value chain will be lower baka pwede nating mapababa yung presyo, but 20 maybe mahirapan tayo doon (maybe we can lower the price, but 20 may be difficult), he explained. Latest government data showed the price of local commercial rice in Metro Manila markets ranges from 34 per kilo to 60 per kilo depending on the variant of local rice, and 40 to 58 for imported rice. Wagner mercenaries remain in Bakhmut, while being replaced by the Russian army in the suburbs Defense Ministry Bakhmut destroyed by Russian invaders, May 21, 2023 Ukrainian military control the outskirts of Bakhmut in the southwestern part in the Litak region, she confirmed. Read also: Russia suffers horrific losses in Bakhmut, White House says In the Bakhmut area, the enemy is trying to stop our advance on the flanks with artillery shelling. Now the enemy is pulling up additional units to the flanks for reinforcement. Fighting also continues in the Kupyansk area, added the deputy minister. The Russians are attacking and trying to capture a bridgehead for further advancement. They are suffering losses. The Armed Forces repelled attacks on Avdiivka and Maryinka. Wagner PMC founder and leader Yevgeny Prigozhin earlier ordered his mercenaries to leave the city of Bakhmut by June 1, as reported by his press service. Read also: Battles around Bakhmut decreasing in intensity, Kyiv says Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut continue defensive operations and are successful on the flanks, said Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, on May 24. Over the past day, the activity of offensive actions of the occupiers in the area has somewhat decreased, and Defense Forces slightly advanced on the flanks to the north and south of Bakhmut, Malyar said on May 24. Prigozhin announced the complete capture of Bakhmut by his militants on May 20. The Armed Forces and Defense Ministry of Ukraine denied this information and say that fighting in the city continues. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to stay in the city. 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 Wanda Sykes discussed the state of comedy in a new interview. (Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press) Wanda Sykes has declared her support for the transgender community and criticized Dave Chappelle's transphobic material in a recent interview reflecting on the state of the comedy industry. In a Q&A with Variety, Sykes explained her decision to speak out against legislation targeting trans people and other members of the LGBTQ+ community in her latest Netflix stand-up special, "I'm an Entertainer," and took pride in being labeled a "woke" comedian. Asked if she believes her "comedy about the topic perhaps balances out" the anti-trans rhetoric in Chappelle's 2021 Netflix special, Sykes said, "I dont know about balancing it out, because I think what he said was so hurtful and damaging to the trans community." "So yeah, the scale is still tipped, I will say, in their favor," she continued. "But I know I wanted to say something, because so much has been said on that platform. I definitely want to [say] something on the other side of it." The "Other Two" star added that she hasn't spoken to Chappelle, whom she has known since they "started doing stand-up together in D.C.," in the wake of the controversy surrounding his special "The Closer" which drew widespread criticism and sparked an employee uprising at Netflix. "Its not intentional ... I still love the guy," Sykes said. "But I havent had a chance to talk to him. If our paths did cross, I totally would say something." In "I'm an Entertainer," Sykes jokes about the unhygienic horrors of women's restrooms and gladly invites her "trans sisters into the ladies' room" in hopes that cisgender women will clean up their act to impress "new members coming in." The bit is intended to serve as a rebuke of laws prohibiting trans people from using bathrooms that match their gender identities. "Im not trans, but they have my support, 100%," Sykes told Variety. "I wanted to find something where I can shine some light on what theyre going through, to show how just stupid and hateful really it is. I was in a womans bathroom one time, and I was like, 'Who would want to come in here anyway?' ... And thats how that whole bit started. Ive always just been grossed out by bathrooms." Elsewhere in the special, the veteran comic also condemns legislation criminalizing drag shows in public and in front of minors and banning books from schools "to protect the kids" arguing that lawmakers concerned about children's safety should instead focus on banning assault weapons. "Until a drag queen walks into a school and beats eight kids to death with a copy of 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' I think you're focusing on the wrong s," she quips in the special. While speaking with Variety, Sykes mocked those who weaponize the word woke in an attempt to tear down socially conscious comedians. "Its pretty funny," she said. "If you want to give me the label of a 'woke comic,' thats fine. Thats great. What makes me laugh is that they say that like its an insult: 'Oh, theyre woke.' Thank you! Yeah, I read some stuff from time to time. Yeah, I know a few things. Its not an insult at all. I mean, George Carlin, he was woke. Richard Pryor, woke. Bill Hicks, woke. Its almost like theyre angry that were evolving. Its sad, really." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Wanted man taunts cops in Facebook comment, then he gets arrested, Ohio police say A wanted Ohio man with numerous warrants taunted police on Facebook, claiming they were too slow to catch him. But ultimately, he wasnt fast enough to escape them. Police in Newark posted a photo on Facebook of a wanted 20-year-old man on May 15, writing If seen, please contact Newark Division of Police, according to a news release. Later that day, an account with the mans name commented on the post, saying Yall almost had (me) the other day you gotta be quicker than that. The comment was liked over 1,100 times. The account also posed a question minutes earlier, asking what his reward would be for turning himself in. Nine days later, police announced on Facebook that they had located and arrested the man after he attempted to escape. He thought jumping in the river would evade capture; However, he was wrong (and) was taken into custody without further incident, police said. It was not clear if the man had retained an attorney. He was previously found guilty of felony theft, court records show. Newark is about 40 miles east of Columbus. Naked man armed with a sword charges at officers and gets shot, Ohio police say 7-year-old set massive fire as parents slept, West Virginia cops say. Child charged Unidentified sailor killed in Pearl Harbor attack finally has a name, agency says The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and people in the Midwest and Northeast who are planning to attend Memorial Day parades and barbecues, kick off long-awaited vacations or jumpstart home improvement projects are in for a special treat as an extended period of dry, warm weather is in store through the holiday weekend and beyond, AccuWeather meteorologists say. "For New England, the upper mid-Atlantic and much of the Midwest, this Memorial Day weekend looks like one of the nicest from start to finish in recent memory," AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore said. High pressure will extend from west to east from the Great Lakes to New England, acting as a roadblock by preventing moisture from a storm in the southeastern United States from reaching the region. That storm could briefly become a tropical system before moving inland over the Carolinas on Sunday. It appears that the northern edge of the rain will reach into Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and the southern parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio into early this week, forecasters say. People heading farther south for the holiday weekend should be prepared for wet weather and stormy conditions. Some areas in the Carolinas may be drenched by a general 2-4 inches of rain with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 8 inches along the Carolina coast. On the northern edge of the storm's moisture, clouds are likely in portions of the mid-Atlantic, central Appalachians and Ohio Valley. Dry air in the lower part of the atmosphere will likely limit any rainfall to spotty showers during the latter half of the holiday weekend. Across much of the Great Lakes and the interior Northeast, strong late-May sunshine will go to work on the cool Canadian air mass. For example, in much of the Chicago area, high temperatures will trend upward from the 70s on Sunday to the low 80s on Memorial Day. In Pittsburgh, high temperatures will trend upward from near 80 on Sunday to the low to mid-80s on Monday. "For the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, the weather will be dry with temperatures reaching the middle 70s," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. "Humidity levels will be low so spectators will want to stay hydrated." Clouds may increase across central Indiana on Sunday. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Along the coast in the Northeast, and near the Great Lakes, temperature forecasts could become a little tricky due to the presence of lake and sea breezes. "While water temperatures range from the 50s along the New England coast and mainly the 60s along the mid-Atlantic shoreline, the air temperatures will rise into levels that will be a bit of historical seasonal averages," DeVore said. In Boston and New York City, where Fleet Week is underway, highs each day of the extended holiday weekend will be mainly in the 70s. However, when and where a sea breeze occurs in some neighborhoods, daytime temperatures may dip into the 60s and perhaps even the 50s for a time. As the swirling winds from the storm in the Carolinas press northward into the day on Monday, a much breezier day is expected along the Atlantic coast from coastal New Jersey through the Cape and Islands of Massachusetts. This means that if the low ocean temperatures don't keep swimmers out, it's entirely possible that red flags at lifeguard stations will. However, this risk is not expected to last long, as the storm will begin to shift slowly off the coast by Tuesday. Those who can extend their time off even further into this week will be rewarded with even higher temperatures as the dry weather extends into the bulk of the week for much of the Midwest and the Northeast, DeVore explained. Highs are projected to be in the 80s much of this week in Chicago, also reaching the 80s in New York City by the end of the week. When sunshine returns in Washington, D.C., later this week, temperatures will rebound well into the 80s and may approach 90. The absence of storms is great news for outdoor enthusiasts but not necessarily for those with agricultural interests. Following a chilly night with frost in the coldest spots of the interior Northeast Friday morning, the string of sunny days with low humidity and a warming trend will further dry out the soil. The dry soil makes it easier to get plowing equipment into the fields, but seeds and young plants need ample moisture to sprout and grow. Some farmers could face hardship if the pattern lasts through much of June. Rain soaked part of the Atlantic coast and areas a bit farther inland last weekend including in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Taylor Swift was performing. However, very little to no rain fell over the interior Northeast. May rainfall in Washington, D.C., stands at around 10% of normal with less than 0.50 of an inch of rain so far compared to a historical average near 4 inches for the entire month. In some of the agricultural areas of southeastern Pennsylvania, such as the zone from Reading to Lancaster, May rainfall is well under 10% of the historical average. Similar conditions have occurred in parts of the corn belt in the Midwest. Exceptional drought continues for much of the Plains, according to the latest United States Drought Monitor report released on Thursday. AccuWeather's team of long-range meteorologists, led by Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, believes that some rainfall may return toward mid-June, but a much-needed soaking may not occur everywhere. 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. Ground source heat pump sits outside a home. Washington state building code officials voted Wednesday to delay the first statewide mandate for electric heat pumps in new buildings, dealing a significant blow to restrictions on natural gas. The Washington State Building Code Council voted 8-2 to delay the statewide building codes for 120 days, E&E News reported. The council also approved a motion to begin revising the codes to ensure that they wont easily be overturned in the future. Read more This came after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, overturned the nations first natural gas ban for new buildings in Berkeley, California last month. The federal court ruled that the ban went against the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This prompted Washington officials to delay and revise the building codes that they had previously voted on. While we do not agree with the courts opinion, and this decision may not be final, we further understand that the council intends to take swift action to ensure that these codes comply with the courts decision and simultaneously achieve the policy goals of reducing carbon emissions to meet the states targets, Mike Faulk, a Washington state press secretary, told the Washington State Standard. The Washington State Building Code Council originally voted on the building codes that mandated heat pumps back in April 2022. Despite the name, heat pumps can both heat or cool a space by moving air across temperature gradients. Theyre connected to the grid, and not to natural gas lines like other heating systems are. And yes, they can technically run on fossil fuels depending on how a regions grid is powered. But Washington has one of the greenest energy grids in the nation because its largely powered by hydroelectric dams. The codes effectively banned traditional furnaces that use natural gas in new homes and new commercial buildings with four or more stories. However, the building codes did include some exceptions for supplemental heating for the coldest parts of Washington state. Had there been no vote to delay this week, the building codes would have gone into effect at the beginning of July, E&E News reported. And now the building codes wont go into effect until this October. The 2022 vote was celebrated as a win for building decarbonization. It was one of several strategies implemented by the state to help officials meet their goal of reducing building energy to 70% of 2006 levels by 2031. But the recent ruling in California has emboldened natural gas advocates to fight against efforts to phase out fossil fuels in new buildings. A coalition of utility companies that provide natural gas, and labor unions recently joined and sued the Washington State Building Code Council. The group filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington this Monday. The Washington State Energy Code interferes with commercial and consumer energy choice; jeopardizes jobs; impairs commerce; and increases building and energy costs for Washington residents and businesses, the filing said. Meanwhile, other states have made some strides in lowering natural gas usage. Earlier this month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul passed the state budget for next year. It included a policy known as the All Electric Buildings Act. This made New York state the first in the nation to ban gas hook-ups in new buildings. New construction projects throughout the state would have to be electricso no gas-powered appliances including furnaces, water heaters, or stoves. In 2026, new buildings smaller than seven stories high will not be able to include fossil fuel lines for those appliances. And by 2029, the rule will also apply to larger buildings in the state. Though Berkeleys 2019 policy barring gas lines in new buildings was overturned, its likely that New Yorks ban will hold, for now. 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. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A screenshot from Asheville police bodycam footage of officers arresting Devon Whitmire May 13. The city released the video to the public May 25. ASHEVILLE - The city, through the Asheville Police Department, has released body camera footage showing the violent May 13 arrest of Devon Whitmire, 27, after video footage taken by bystanders led to outrage among those who said police used excessive force. According to the May 25 APD news release, the video "allows the public to see the events surrounding the arrest. The public can also hear the words spoken by Whitmire as he was approached by officers." Raw body camera footage can be viewed on the city's YouTube channel. Previous coverage: Asheville police bodycam of violent arrest to be released to public: Judge signs order Bond for Asheville man: Judge: $85K bond for Black Asheville man pinned by throat; faults police, man in arrest A video containing a composite of cut-together clips from body camera footage of the arrest can be found at youtu.be/wyHnApvi1Wc. It also includes slides of text. Whitmire was arrested outside his home in the Erskine-Walton neighborhood, wrestled to the ground by at least three officers, one of whom put her arm across his throat, as seen in bystander video. Whitmire was being sought by APD after his family members reported he made violent threats, according to the release. APD said they are also releasing a portion of an audio recording of the family member who called authorities to report the threat from Whitmire days before his arrest. The audio recordings can be found at the beginning of the cut-together clips posted by APD with the title "Full Video" on the YouTube page. There are three videos of the "raw footage," ranging from around 10 minutes to just under 30 minutes. The "full video" provided by APD is 20 minutes long. Man pinned by neck: Police video of Black Asheville man pinned by neck could be released by judge in 'days' Background on the video's release The city of Asheville asked a judge to allow the release of the footage May 19. The petition was granted by Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Grant May 22. The order came later in the same day as a bond hearing overseen by Buncombe County District Court Judge Edwin Clontz. According to reporting from the Citizen Times, Clontz criticized the arrest of Whitmire, a Black man, by the three white officers, saying they "didn't act appropriately" by grabbing him without giving him a chance to submit and putting arms "across his face, then across his neck" when he was handcuffed on the ground. He also said Whitmire did not act appropriately, adding that he lied about his name and "kicked after he was handcuffed" and therefore would continue to be held in the county jail under a high $85,000 bond his attorney had asked the judge to reduce. Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville police release bodycam footage of Whitmire arrest Waterside home for sale in KY is stunning on the outside but whats going on inside? From the outside, this downright mystifying estate thats landed on the real estate market in Paducah, Kentucky, for $499,900 is a spectacle, with an abundance of windows and lake views. Interior But when glancing at the interior, you probably have to use your imagination. Interior While the photos show intriguing large downstairs rooms thanks to the natural light flowing through, some of the other rooms need to be updated. Interior But there is so much room for a creative individual to step in and make it their absolute dream home. The six-bedroom, 4.5-plus-bathroom residence was previously used as a single-family home and a recovery facility, Realtor.com reports. Exterior of chapel Theres also a chapel on the property. Exterior of chapel When I first turned from the main road onto that property, Im not kidding, I could feel the spirit of God was there on that property, real estate agent Cindy Jones told Realtor. That ground is anointed. Its special. Deck area Other features in and around the 5,600-square-foot property include: Interior Stunning fireplace Hardwood floors Commercial kitchen Dining hall High ceilings Deck Theres also another 1,269-square-foot home on the estate. Interior Its just a peace that you feel when you drive on the property, Jones says. Theres wildlife that just walks up. There are ducks on the lake with little babies right now that are just the cutest thing. View Paducah is in western Kentucky, about 135 miles northwest of Nashville. Slick Greg Brady vibes ooze from this California home for sale. Check out the inside Whataburger failed to provide a nursing mother with enough time to pump, then the restaurant fired her when she left to express breast milk, according to federal authorities. The U.S. Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division opened an investigation into the Lubbock, Texas, location and found that the corporate-owned restaurant failed to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act, according to a May 25 news release. The woman then left the restaurant to pump, and she was fired, authorities said. McClatchy News requested comment from Whataburger on May 25 and was awaiting a response. Depriving a nursing mother of her right to express breast milk with enough break time to do it, and then firing her is against the law, Wage and Hour District Director Evelyn Ortiz said in the release. Employers must comply with all of the FLSA provisions, including the right of nursing mothers to request the time and space they need to express milk without fear of retaliation. Whataburger has resolved the violations by signing an Enhanced Compliance Agreement stating the franchise will provide training to all of its managers, according to the release. The San Antonio-based corporation also paid $900 in back wages and $900 in liquidated damages to the woman. The FLSA states employers must provide time for nursing employees to express breast milk for one year after the childs birth. Employees are entitled to a place to pump at work, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, according to the law. Culvers managers and employees harassed gay worker and another with disability, feds say Walmart fires worker over how his seizures caused him to miss work in NC, lawsuit says Papa Johns fired blind employee for needing his service dog in Georgia, lawsuit says Lighthouse Mission may get $750,000 in federal pandemic-relief funds after all for a homeless shelter it is building in Bellingham, after the Whatcom County Council reversed an earlier decision to deny that money over what it said was the Christian organizations bias in hiring. Council members decided 5-1-1 on Tuesday to rescind their May 9 measure rejecting funds for the Lighthouse Mission, 910 W. Holly St., which is building a 400-bed shelter in Old Town to replace its Base Camp downtown, which has a 200-person capacity. Councilwoman Kathy Kershner, who abstained from the May 9 vote denying funds to the mission, told The Bellingham Herald that the mission is a valuable partner in Whatcom Countys efforts to provide food, housing and other services to people with nowhere to turn. The community really values the work that the Lighthouse Mission does, Kershner said in a Wednesday interview. We have to figure out how we can work together and do things that are the best for our community. Councilwoman Carol Frazey voted against rescinding the measure that denied funds to the mission, and Councilwoman Kaylee Galloway abstained. A rendering shows what the front of the new Lighthouse Mission building will look like when it is complete in 2024 in Bellingham, Wash. A second vote, taken Tuesday with no discussion, asked the County Executives Office to prepare a $750,000 contract with the mission for an industrial kitchen and furnishings, using unspent money from the American Rescue Plan Act, President Bidens $1.9 trillion economic stimulus measure. The second measure passed 4-1-2, with Frazey opposed and Councilman Todd Donovan and Galloway abstaining. Earlier opposition to providing the money to the mission centered on the missions policy of not hiring employees who were not Christian. Frazey told The Herald on Wednesday that she was unable to discuss her vote. But she voiced her opposition to the funding measure during the May 9 meeting. Its not just that you have to be Christian. Lighthouse Mission Ministries discriminates against the LGBTQ community. As a county, I dont think most of our constituents would want us to discriminate in that way, Frazey said. Erchinger-Davis told The Bellingham Herald that the mission provides food, shelter and other services to everyone, regardless of identity, race, gender or creed but that traditional Christian faith tenets are required of its employees. Lighthouse Mission Ministries was surprised and disappointed in the Whatcom County Councils decision to refuse support for the mission to provide meals for the vulnerable in Whatcom County through the purchase of kitchen equipment with (pandemic relief) funding, Erchinger-Davis said in a May 10 email. Whatcom Countys unemployment rate drops in April, ranks 10th lowest in the state Whatcom County and the state of Washingtons April unemployment data has been released showing a labor market that is very resilient, according to a news release from the Employment Security Department. The April 2023 monthly employment report showed a decrease in Washingtons unemployment numbers, dropping from a 4.5% unemployment rate in March to 4.3% in April. In April, 57,615 people in the state received unemployment insurance benefits, 6,440 less than March 2023, according to the news release. In April 2022, Washingtons unemployment rate was 3.7%, 0.6% less than this year. Whatcom County unemployment rate Whatcom County had a 3.9% unemployment rate in April, tied for the 10th lowest rate in the state and decreasing from last month and April of last year. In March, Whatcom Countys unemployment rate was 4.8%, with 5,622 residents receiving unemployment benefits compared with 4,493 in April. In April 2022, Whatcom Countys unemployment rate was 4.5%, with 5,103 residents receiving unemployment benefits compared with 4,493 last month. All data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor of Statistics. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said its very possible that the camp of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves is behind the recantation of suspects in the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo. Clavano insisted the cases against the suspects are solid despite taking back their statements. Siguro ang basa ko dito, play lamang ito ng kabila para sirain yung kaso. Pero sa amin naman, dahil in-anticipate namin ito, ay sa tingin ko naman solid pa rin yung kaso, Clavano explained. [Translation: I believe this is just a play by the other side to destroy the case. But for us, because we anticipated this, I think the case remains solid.] He said that even if there is a recantation, there is other supporting evidence that would strengthen the earlier testimonies. On claims that the suspects were tortured, Clavano said that based on their intelligence and ground information, no such thing happened. RELATED: PNP on Degamo slay suspects torture claim: No evidence leading to that accusation He noted that theyre careful in handling suspects. So why would the DOJ or the PNP subject them to any sort of maltreatment? Kailangan ho maging cooperative sila, kailangan maganda yung kalagayan nila para maging free wiling or voluntary po yung mga sinasabi nila, he said. [Translation: So why would the DOJ or the PNP subject them to any sort of maltreatment? They have to be cooperative, they have to be in a good state to be free or say things voluntarily.] Clavano also disclosed the 11 suspects will be transferred to another detention facility because the National Bureau of Investigation custodial center will be demolished. A suspected dealer of fentanyl laced pills was arrested Wednesday in Bellingham, the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office reported. Deputies contacted Daniel Little, 35, after an investigation by the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force. Little was staying at a Motel 6 in Bellingham. While searching his room, officers found over 500 fentanyl laced pills, a small quantity of suspected fentanyl powder a loaded 9mm handgun and over $750 in cash, the Sheriffs Department reported on Facebook. Little, who police said commonly goes by the nickname Savvy, was booked into Whatcom County Jail and charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm second-degree and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Detectives began the investigation into Little on May 17. They observed Little meet with a subject in the 100 block of South Samish Way in a suspected drug deal. Deputies stopped the suspect who met with Little and found about 100 fentanyl-laced pills. A Washington State Patrol detective assisted in the investigation. White Houses red lines disappear after Ukraine shoots down six Kinzhals over Kyiv, says expert A fragment of a Kinzhal missile shot down by the Air Defense Forces of Ukraine After confirming that six Kinzhal missiles were shot down over Kyiv, the rhetoric regarding escalation or any red lines vanished from the White House, Kyrychevskyi said. The expert linked this development to the United States agreeing to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters, as Russia no longer possesses any wunderwaffe (a term popularized by Nazi propaganda to refer to a series of revolutionary new weapons, many of which remained at the prototype stage). Read also: This moment is noteworthy. Up until May, there was still something, even within the White House, that conveyed a desire to avoid escalation, and then came such a sharp turn. We have always advocated for the transfer of aircraft; we simply lacked the necessary resources. We are all for it, and we might even consider whether the US could provide its own F-16s. Its such a complex situation when we discuss aircraft and how it could be perceived as a form of escalation, for instance, he explained. The Air Defense Forces successfully intercepted and destroyed six Kinzhal missiles launched from six MiG-31K aircraft on the night of May 16. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on May 16 that the Netherlands, France and Great Britain were in support of a coalition of fighters for Ukraine. Read also: US President Joe Biden informed G7 allies that he supports joint training of Ukrainian military personnel on F-16 aircraft, as reported by US news channel CNN on May 19. In the coming months, allies will collaborate to determine the timing, recipients, and quantity of aircraft to be delivered to Ukraine, said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on May 20. Ukraine had successfully downed a Russian aerial ballistic missile Kinzhal in the Kyiv area on the night of May 4, marking the first time such an event had occurred, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykola Oleshchuk, confirmed on May 6. 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 White House rolled out its national strategy Thursday for combating antisemitism as the country grapples with record levels of violence, vandalism and hate speech directed at Jewish communities. President Biden, second gentleman Doug Emhoff and other officials detailed the strategy during a virtual event from the White House. It is the first time the federal government has formulated a national effort to fight antisemitism, and the administrations effort contains more than 100 provisions that call for congressional action, increased monitoring by technology platforms and improved education at the civic level. Biden said the strategy has four overarching themes: increasing awareness and understanding of antisemitism; improving safety and security in Jewish communities; reversing the normalizing of antisemitism; and building solidarity across communities. It sends a clear and forceful message: In America, evil will not win. Hate will not prevail. The venom of antisemitism will not be the story of our time, Biden said in a pre-recorded message shared Thursday. The strategy contains 10 separate calls for technology companies to establish a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech on their platforms and to ensure their algorithms dont spread antisemitic language, said Liz Sherwood-Randall, the White Houses homeland security adviser. Susan Rice, the outgoing White House domestic policy adviser, said the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., will launch the first ever Holocaust Education Research Center in 2024 as part of an effort to increase awareness about the event, during which millions of Jews were systematically murdered during World War II. And federal agencies will incorporate material on how to address antisemitism in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility training programs moving forward, Rice said. Biden in December established a government task force to coordinate efforts to fight antisemitism and other forms of religious bigotry. The groups first task was to create a national strategy to counter antisemitism. More than 100 lawmakers in December sent a letter to Biden urging him to formulate a national strategy to combat antisemitism as well as a government approach to threats and violence against Jewish communities. Emhoff, who is Jewish, has played a leading role in formulating the strategy and collecting input. Emhoff in December hosted a roundtable with community leaders focused on the rise in antisemitism, and he traveled earlier this year to Poland to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. At its core, antisemitism divides us. It erodes our trust in government institutions and one another. It threatens our democracy while undermining our American values of freedom, community and decency, Emhoff said Thursday. I know the fear. I know the pain. I know the anger that Jews are living with because of this epidemic of hate, he added. Officials have raised concerns that antisemitic incidents are at record levels in the U.S., including high profile attacks on synagogues and Jewish businesses, the spread of antisemitic conspiracy theories and vandalism involving swastikas. Earlier this week, a 19-year-old was arrested after police said he crashed a U-Haul truck into barriers near the White House. A Nazi flag was recovered from the truck. Prior to the establishment of the task force, Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, went on an antisemitic rant and attended a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with former President Trump and Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust denier and white nationalist. The country has seen a rash of violence against Jewish communities in recent years, including shootings at synagogues in Pittsburgh in 2018 and in Poway, Calif., in 2019. Biden frequently cites the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 during which demonstrators carried torches and chanted antisemitic phrases as a key moment in his decision to run for president and defeat Trump. The Anti-Defamation League, a major anti-hate group, had pressed the Biden campaign and the Trump campaign in 2019 to develop a national strategy for addressing antisemitism. In an environment where antisemitism is expanding and intensifying, were really pleased that the White House is taking it so seriously, that the admin has launched this plan, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, told The Hill in an interview. Updated 12:03 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The White House on Thursday condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, calling the move "irresponsible." Putin on Saturday revealed Russia will place the nuclear weapons in the allied country in retaliation for the U.K.'s decision to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Russia has falsely claimed these rounds have nuclear components. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged the reports of Putin's decision during Thursday's press briefing and said President Biden will "continue to monitor, certainly, the implications here." "We have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture," Jean-Pierre said, adding there is no indication Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons. PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA WILL STATION TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN BELARUS AS WARNING TO WEST Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu shakes hands with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin during a meeting in Minsk, Belarus, May 25, 2023. "This is yet another example of [Putin] making irresponsible and provocative choices," she said. "We remain committed to a collective defense of the NATO alliance. And I'll just leave it there." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Putin told Russian state media Saturday that construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will be completed by the beginning of July. The Russia-allied nation borders Ukraine and three NATO countries Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Putin claimed Russia wouldn't be violating the international agreement on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons with the construction because he said the U.S. frequently deploys its nukes in NATO countries. Russia stationed troops in Belarus along the border with Ukraine a year ago under the guise of routine military exercises before invading in February 2022. UKRAINE WAR THROWS WRENCH IN MASSIVE RUSSIAN ARMS DEAL AFTER THEY MISS DELIVERY, INDIA SAYS White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House May 25, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Moscow and Minsk signed a formal agreement to move the nukes to Belarusian territory Thursday. "The collective West is essentially waging an undeclared war against our countries," Putin's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, said at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk, per Reuters. Shoigu accused the West of doing all it can "to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine." Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said the tactical nuclear weapons were already en route to his country after he and Putin signed the order, though the Kremlin has not confirmed the report. UN DENOUNCES ALLEGED TORTURE, HUMAN SHIELDS, OTHER WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE CONFLICT "The movement of the nuclear weapons has already begun," Lukashenko told reporters, according to Reuters. Asked if the weapons were already in Belarus, he said, "Possibly. When I get back, I will check." Putin has on numerous occasions threatened to use nuclear weapons as an intimidation tactic against western adversaries, particularly NATO-allied countries who have provided monetary and tactical support to Ukraine. In April, Putin said he would be suspending his nation's participation in a nuclear arms treaty, threatening to resume testing of nuclear weapons. Fox News' Brie Stimson, the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. White supremacy a common thread between two mass shooters with ties to Allen, Texas Mauricio Garcia, the 33-year-old gunman who killed eight people and injured seven when he opened fire with an AR-15 in a parking lot at an Allen mall, isnt the only Texas mass shooter with ties to the Dallas suburb. Patrick Crusius committed a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso on Aug. 3, 2019, killing 23 people and injuring 25 more. Crusius drove 10 hours from the Dallas area to El Paso. He was a resident of Allen. Both Garcia and Crusius displayed personal views of white supremacy before the shootings. Garcia posted neo-Nazi content on a Russian social media site and other profiles, law enforcement officials believe. Crusius published a manifesto online shortly before entering the Walmart and opening fire, stating in the post that immigration is detrimental to the future of America. Allen mall gunmans white supremacist, neo-Nazi posts Garcias profile on Odnoklassniki a social media network thats popular in Russia includes a date of birth that matches his and, according to media reports, features posts like one about the motel he was staying in before this months shooting. The Russian social media profile linked to 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, who shot and killed eight people and wounded seven others in Allen, Texas, on May 6, includes Nazi and racist posts, authorities said. The profile picture on the account is one of a smiling emoji styled to look like Hitler. An account must be created to view posts and other information on the profile, which the Star-Telegram was unable to do. On other social media platforms, including Twitter, Garcia posted hate-filled content about women, Jews and Black people. He also shared pictures of his tattoos, showing a swastika on his chest and a Nazi SS on his upper right arm. Garcia was Latino. He made a post with a cartoon image depicting a Latino child at a fork in a road, with one direction labeled act black and the other stating act like a white supremacist. He wrote in the post, I think Ill take my chances with the white supremacist. A screenshot from the social media site Odnoklassniki shows Mauricio Garcias tattoos, including a swastika. Police say Garcia shot 15 people, killing eight, at the Allen Premium Outlets mall on May 6, 2023. Photos of the Allen Premium Outlets mall were posted to his account on the Russian social media platform. The post showed that Garcia scouted the mall to see when it was busiest as he planned the shooting, according to screenshots. Garcia was shot and killed by a police officer at the mall a few minutes after he began his attack. While investigators say the motive for the shooting is still unknown, Texas DPS Regional Director Hank Sibley confirmed Garcia had neo-Nazi ideation. Garcias Odnoklassniki profile contained many racist, antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ and anti-women posts, according to an analysis by researchers with the Anti-Defamation League. According to his profile page, it was last logged into on May 6, 2023, the day of the shooting. Most of the victims from the shooting were people of color, including a Korean-American family, a Hispanic family, a Black man, and two people from India who moved to Texas for work. Dallas activist groups are demanding that authorities investigate the shooting as a racially-motivated hate crime. El Paso Walmart gunmans manifesto While looking for a location to commit his mass shooting, Crusius stopped at the Walmart in El Paso because he was hungry, according to the former El Paso police chief, Greg Allen. Police believe he ate and cased the store while inside without any of his weapons before later going back into the store and opening fire. Crusius, then 21, told investigators that he identified as a white nationalist but had not thought of killing Mexicans or Hispanics until he read a manifesto referencing The Great Replacement a white nationalist conspiracy theory arguing that nonwhite people are being brought into the U.S. to replace white voters to achieve a political agenda. Patrick Crusius Crusius cited The Great Replacement in his own hate-filled manifesto. He posted it online shortly before he began shooting at the Walmart. In his manifesto, he described his attack as a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. Among the 23 he killed, nine were Mexican nationals, two of whom had become naturalized American citizens. The 2,300-word manifesto written by Crusius had sections titled political reasons, economic reasons, and personal reasons and thoughts. He started the manifesto by writing, I support the Christchurch shooter, referencing a gunman who killed 51 people at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March 2019. That gunman also referenced The Great Replacement theory in a manifesto he wrote. Crusius went on to make statements such as, the process of mass immigration and citizenship can be greatly reduced and it makes no sense to keep on letting millions of illegal or legal immigrants flood into the United States, as he blamed immigration for political degradation, unemployment, and the destruction of the environment. The next logical step is to decrease the number of people in America using resources, he wrote. He made racist comments in the manifesto including, I cant bring myself to kill my fellow Americans Even if they are shameless race mixers and I am against race mixing because it destroys genetic diversity and creates identity problems. He ended the manifesto with, This is just the beginning of the fight for America and Europe. I am honored to head the fight to reclaim my country from destruction referencing his statement he wrote in the beginning: natives didnt take the invasion of the Europeans seriously. Crusius pleaded guilty to various hate crimes and weapons charges. He will be sentenced June 30 and is expected to receive 90 consecutive life sentences. White supremacy and growing extremism in North Texas According to Dallas activists, mass murders and crimes such as the May 6 shooting are examples of the growing presence of racist violence, extremism, and terrorism in North Texas. AAPI community groups in Dallas such as the Dallas Asian American Historical Society believe its not an accident that four Asian people were killed at the Allen Premium Outlets. They said that Asians in the area live in fear. While predominantly white, 9.6 percent of Allens population is Black, 19.2 percent is Asian, and 11.2 percent is Hispanic or Latino, according to the latest data from the United States Census Bureau. Of the more than 1,000 people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, at least 74 people were from Texas and 28 from North Texas. Several of these North Texans were arrested on charges of assault of an officer, disorderly conduct, and physical violence. Among the Texans arrested in connection to the insurrection, 11 of them were found to have ties to extremist groups such as the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and Three Percenters. In April, a 22-year-old Burleson man, Noah Robert Calderon, was charged after weapons and a homemade bomb were found in his home. His Burleson neighborhood was evacuated by police out of an abundance of caution while authorities worked to safely dispose of the contents. No one was hurt. But the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas said Calderon could have been planning a mass casualty attack. Calderon displayed several indicators of potential violence, was fascinated with mass shootings, weapons, and white supremacy, and idolized the shooters in the Columbine High School attack, federal authorities said in a news release. The FBI received a tip in March that Calderon had detonated a homemade bomb in his neighborhood. FBI agents reviewed Calderons Google account and found searches about mass shooters, how to make bombs including information about where bombs were placed in the Columbine shooting, and names of North Texas public schools. A handwritten document titled manifesto was also found in Calderons room. If found guilty, he could spend up to 10 years in federal prison. In addition to a demand to investigate the May 6 shooting as a hate crime, community leaders and activists have demanded that the Texas Legislature take action on gun reform. At a vigil held for the Allen shooting victims, 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. Several speakers at the vigil mentioned that they were repeating words and demands that have been said at several vigils held for other shootings across the U.S. This report contains information from the Star-Telegrams archives. ABC News Whoopi Goldberg shouted down the in-studio audience of The View on Thursday for jeering New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu over his pro-gun stance, telling the crowd no booing while explaining that all guests should be treated with respect. Sununu, who is mulling a 2024 White House run as a moderate Republican, appeared on the ABC talk show to hype up his potential presidential bid and was pressed by the mostly liberal panel on issues such as abortion and gun violence. Toward the end of the interview, co-host Sunny Hostin grilled the governor on his reluctance to back an assault-weapons ban in light of the surge of American mass shootings. If your argument is, if we have more gun laws, Chicago would be the safest place in the country, Sununu began to respond, before Hostin pushed back: But the problem with that argument, the guns that are used in Chicago are coming from states that have looser gun laws. The New Hampshire governor went on to criticize Democrats for not passing more gun restrictions when they recently controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House before boasting that he has the safest state in the country. He then said that mental-health access should be the main focus when dealing with mass shootings. Shifting the discussion back to assault-style rifles, the weapon of choice for most mass shooters, Goldberg asked Sununu why he is holding on to one gun and not willing to ban AR-15s. Again, if that was easy, the Democrats would have done it. They didnt do it because, the governor retorted, prompting host Joy Behar to interject. Forget about the Democrats, what are you going to do? Behar wondered. Again, Im not banning any guns. Im going to provide access to mental health. Well get at the core of the issue, the governor replied, prompting audible groans and boos from the studio audience. Stop! Uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh, no, Goldberg quickly reacted while waving her finger. No, no, no. No, no. No! No booing! Behar also chimed in, adding that no Republican will ever come back here if youre gonna boo as Goldberg continued to lecture the audience. You know, we need to talk to people to find out what theyre thinking and are they thinking in the right way, the Oscar-winning actress concluded. Hes not going to be perfect. None of them are. At least give people the opportunity to say whats going on. Goldberg scolding the View audience on decorum echoed a similar moment last fall when the longtime host shut down a chorus of climate activists who repeatedly heckled Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during an off-the-rails interview. Excuse me. Excuse me, ladies! Excuse us, Goldberg yelled at the demonstrators. Let us do our job. Let us do our job. We hear what you have to say, but you gotta go! You gotta go! You got to let us do our job! Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Microsoft has revealed that China-sponsored hackers have been targeting the US cyberinfrastructure via the American island territory of Guam. Chinese hacker group Volt Typhoon, an active espionage agent since 2021, has been conducting malicious cyber activities via Guam, the tech major revealed in a cyber alert yesterday (May 24). The island territory, located 2,491 kilometers east of the Philippines, hosts three critical US military bases. Read more The observed behavior suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible, Microsoft said. This is called the living-off-the-land technique in the world of espionage. It involves blending into normal network activity by routing traffic through compromised network equipment such as routers, firewalls, and VPN hardware. Affected US organizations include those in the communication, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. Amid the ongoing hacking attacks, Microsoft has asked entities that suspect their accounts to be affected to close or change them. It began after the Chinese spy balloons were shot down US intelligence agencies began receiving leads into the attacks in February soon after the US military downed a Chinese spy balloon flying just off the coast of South Carolina. Now, the US National Security Agency has sent a cyber defense advisory to cyber security agencies, explaining how they should respond. Chinas aggressive cyber operations aim to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from organizations around the globe, according to a press statement by Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. This is something the US has accused China of for years. The FBI continues to warn against China engaging in malicious activity with the intent to target critical infrastructure organizations and use identified techniques to mask their detection, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations cyber division, said in the same statement. Beijing, meanwhile, has called Microsofts report highly unprofessional and a source of disinformation. The report itself is based on cyber reportage of the Five Eyes alliance comprising agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. That makes the matter all the more pertinent. Theres significant concern over what this attack might be a precursor to in terms of the intent behind it, and the sabotage element here, Jamie Norton, a partner at restructuring and advisory firm McGrathNicol, told the BBC. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. ChatGPT - REUTERS If you want a well-paid job, you need to get a degree. That was the message when I was at school. And no doubt it still is. Personally, though, Im starting to think it might be wrong. The way things are going, degrees will soon be completely worthless. Not just the ones in gender studies, Faroese poetry and the life and works of Harry Styles. All of them. Because all the jobs you need a degree for will be taken by AI. Architects, accountants, lawyers, doctors. Even computer programmers, amusingly enough, will be replaced by AI. Then there are all the nice jobs that dont strictly need a degree, but which are dominated by graduates anyway. Like banking, insurance and, oh dear, journalism. Countless jobs in those areas will be lost to AI, as well. In fact, seemingly every office job is at risk. Just last week, BT announced that its planning to replace as many as 10,000 staff with AI over the next seven years. For middle-class parents like me, whose children have still got another decade of school left to go, this prospect is utterly terrifying. Here we are, urging our children to work hard in class and do well in their exams so that they can get into a good university. Yet AI is going to make university a total waste of time. In fact, it may even make school a total waste of time. So, with AI advancing at petrifying speed, how on earth are our children going to make a living when they grow up? Ive been racking my brains. And, as far as I can see, theres only one solid, well-paid job that is certain to survive the technological cull. Plumber. Remarkable as AI may be, were still a long way from devising a computer programme that can unblock a lavatory. So forget university. I hope my son decides to train as a plumber. At least there will always be lots of jobs in that. In fact, therell be even more than there are now because, with economists predicting that Poland will be richer than Britain by 2030, Polish plumbers wont bother coming over here any more. On the other hand, if Poland is richer than Britain, British plumbers may start going over there, instead. So every time I want to see my son, Ill need to fork out for a flight to Warsaw. Expensive. Then again, since my son will be in one of the few forms of paid employment that still exist by then, perhaps I can get him to pay my fare. 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. Theres a new mega show hitting HBO next month about the music industry, fame, and lots and lots of sex. Its called The Idol, and though the show has yet to debut publicly, its already made a world of headlines. The Idol comes from Abel Tesfaye, known more popularly as The Weeknd, and Sam Levinson, the showrunner of another hit HBO show, Euphoria. The Idol follows a budding pop star, Jocelyn, played by 23-year-old Lily-Rose Depp, who falls in love with a cult leader and nightclub owner, played by Tesfaye. The resulting romance is whirlwind to say the least and has been labeled as downright abusive and pornographic by some critics. (HBO and CNN share parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.) Though The Idol first screened for critics Monday at the Cannes Film Festival, controversy has been swirling around the production months before anyone had seen it. The first director left the show with about 80% of it completed, Rolling Stone reported earlier this year, citing sources who spoke of a chaotic production environment. As of Thursday afternoon, the show has a 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. CNN has reached out to representatives for The Idol. Outside of what was shown at Cannes, HBO has not provided screeners of the show for review. With the show set to debut on June 4, heres a summary of the controversies surrounding The Idol. A report described a chaotic set and toxic storylines In March, Rolling Stone published its report on the production of The Idol, interviewing 13 unnamed sources who claim the show had gone wildly, disgustingly off the rails. In April 2022, director Amy Seimetz left the production despite having already finished most of the six-episode series. At that time, the show was supposed to debut at the end of 2022. But Levinson took over the production following her exit and, according to Rolling Stone, he decided to rewrite and reshoot the show, causing a delay. Levinson changed the core of the show, according to Rolling Stone. Where Seimetz had approached the story through the lens of Depps character envisioning a tale about the twisted effects of fame and a carnivorous industry Levinsons approach was more focused on a toxic romance, the report said. Producers who spoke to Rolling Stone claimed the production was chaotic, full of half-written scripts and reshot scenes. HBO told Rolling Stone in a statement that the shows creative team has been committed to creating a safe, collaborative and mutually respectful working environment, and last year, the team made creative changes they felt were in the best interest of both the production and the cast and crew. In response to Rolling Stones report, Tesfaye posted a clip of the show on Twitter, in which Depps character refuses a Rolling Stone cover because the magazine is too irrelevant. He captioned the clip with (Rolling Stone) did we upset you? Despite negative reviews and allegations, the stars have stood by The Idol Critics response following the shows debut at Cannes this week has been largely negative. Though some have praised some of the actors performances, Levinsons direction and the story overall have been criticized. Levinson applies his efficient and stylish direction to every scene. Some of them have momentum, others are contradictory and most of them are confusing, The Hollywood Reporter noted. Rarely does a scene go by without the camera showing flashes of her breasts or ass. You start to wonder if this is building to anything, and by episode two it seems likely that its probably not. Variety called the show a sordid male fantasy, writing: It shouldnt take degradation and suffering to make Jocelyn stronger. Euphoria audiences wont be too surprised by the shameful way (Levinson) treats Depps character, as both she and the show appear trapped under The Weeknds thumb. Others have put it more bluntly, simply calling the show gross and sexist. But those involved have stood by Levinson and The Idol. Its always a little sad and disheartening to see mean, false things said about someone you care about. It wasnt reflective at all of my experience, said Depp, responding to the Rolling Stone article. Lily-Rose Depp and Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye. - Eddy Chen/HBO Tesfaye also defended the show at Cannes, saying: We initially wanted to make a dark, twisted fairy tale with the music industry and everything I know about it, and heighten it. Hank Azaria also called his time on the show the opposite of a chaotic set, while Jane Adams called Levinson brilliant. Im getting very upset in this society, Adams said. Can we just create? Can we get messy and be free to think? Levinson, for his part, didnt appear publicly concerned at the Cannes press conference. He said after his wife read him the Rolling Stone article, he told her: I think were about to have the biggest show of the summer. This isnt the first time Sam Levinson has been under the microscope Levinson is most known for creating the Emmy-winning hit show Euphoria, starring Zendaya, based on an Israeli show of the same name. Despite the shows popularity, criticism has been leveled at Levinson for its seemingly gratuitous and graphic portrayals of nudity and sex, particularly for a show about teenagers. But several cast members on the show have stated theyve felt comfortable with the amount of nudity, noting there have always been intimacy coordinators on set confirming their safety and comfort. Still, at least four cast members Sydney Sweeney, Minka Kelly, Chloe Cherry, and Martha Kelly have said they pushed back at times when they felt nudity wasnt necessary. Sweeney, who plays Cassie Howard on the show, has praised Levinson for making her feel comfortable. There are moments where Cassie was supposed to be shirtless and I would tell Sam, I dont really think thats necessary here. He was like, OK, we dont need it, Sweeney told The Independent in 2022. Ive never felt like Sam has pushed it on me or was trying to get a nude scene into an HBO show. When I didnt want to do it, he didnt make me. The Idol will air on HBO and stream on Max, formerly HBO Max, on June 4. CNNs Scottie Andrew contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Theres a huge target on the back of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as he enters the 2024 Republican presidential primary, even though hes trailing the GOP-favored front-runner. While former President Trump is maintaining a commanding, at times double-digit lead in national polls of GOP primary voters, DeSantis has drawn intense criticism from Trump and other contenders, such as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Candidates who are hoping to overtake Trump likely will need to peel off a swath of DeSantiss voters to build their winning coalition, strategists said. Hell be taking flack from both the front-runner and the lower-tier candidates, said Alex Conant, who worked on Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) 2016 presidential campaign. There is the possibility some candidates are vying for a spot on the ticket with Trump should he win the nomination, or aiming for a Cabinet position in a second Trump administration, though no one running for president would openly admit to doing so. Each candidate has their own motives, Conant said, adding that anyone who wants to beat Trump will eventually have to run against him. DeSantis has been viewed for months as the most formidable challenger to Trump, consistently running second in national GOP primary polls and even leading Trump in some state-level polling. Trump has relentlessly attacked DeSantis, suggesting in recent weeks that the Florida governor shouldnt even bother getting into the primary race. A Trump-aligned Super PAC on Wednesday released an ad hitting DeSantis for his congressional voting record on entitlements and immigration. Haleys campaign on Wednesday released an ad drawing similarities between DeSantis and Trump in terms of policy and personality, at one point featuring a side-by-side video of the two men using similar hand gestures during speeches. In an interview with Fox News in New Hampshire, Haley accused DeSantis of copying Trump. Ramaswamy, another 2024 candidate officially in the race, has largely avoided going after Trump, framing his candidacy as a way to build on what Trump accomplished. But he has attacked DeSantis at times. Ramaswamy took a dig at the Florida governor when he did not immediately rally to Trumps side when the Manhattan District Attorney filed charges against Trump for an alleged hush money scheme, and Ramaswamy has criticized DeSantis for his handling of his feud with Disney. The Disney battle, which has seen DeSantis aim to strip the company of its self-governing status in Florida and other government exemptions for disagreeing with his stance on state legislation, has also led to criticism from former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Vice President Mike Pence, both of whom are expected to announce their candidacy in the coming weeks. Ron DeSantis does not have a natural base. He has a natural base in Florida. So you can attack Ron DeSantis, and its not going to hurt you in Iowa or New Hampshire, said former Speaker and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). But Trump has a real base, and if you attack Trump, youre alienating Trumps voters. DeSantiss team has repeatedly argued the frequent attacks against the governor are proof he is viewed as a strong candidate to win the partys presidential nomination. Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for DeSantiss political team, tweeted this week that the spending by a pro-Trump group on attack ads against the governor provided all you need to know to draw the obvious conclusion. @RonDeSantis presents the greatest threat to Donald Trump. Erin Perrine, a spokesperson for the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down, said in a recent statement Trump is scared of Ron DeSantis and has every reason to be, noting that DeSantis has yet to lose an election. While Christie and Pence have been willing to take on Trump the former focusing on personality and the latter zeroing in on policy differences others have been more reluctant to directly criticize Trump. Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who also entered the race this week, have often struggled to identify clear policy differences with Trump, instead relying more on arguments about a need for new leadership in the GOP or for more persuasive messaging to win over new voters. A CNN poll released Wednesday found 53 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning voters listed Trump as their first choice candidate in a primary, with DeSantis in second at 23 percent. Haley and Pence were each the first choice for 6 percent of those surveyed. The poll found 85 percent of voters said they either support or are open to supporting DeSantis, with 84 percent saying the same about Trump. While GOP officials expect to see more attacks on DeSantis in the days after he gets into the race, they are adamant that anyone who is serious about overtaking Trump will eventually need to present a direct contrast with the former president, even if it means drawing fire from Trump and his allies. Clearly, you have candidates who dont want to face the wrath of Trump, but that doesnt change the fundamental dynamic, said Doug Heye, a Republican strategist. Youre not going to get the nomination by going around Donald Trump. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The families of drug war victims are pushing the International Criminal Court (ICC) to continue its probe into the controversial anti-drug campaign of the Duterte regime, as they expressed doubt the cases would progress under the Marcos administration. In a 20-page report dated May 22, the ICC said it received representations echoing the views and concerns of 350 individual victims and 165 families regarding the ongoing appeals proceedings. The consultation process among the families, which was conducted by its Victims Participation and Reparations Section, found they unanimously and strongly urge the ICC to pursue its Jan. 26 decision authorizing the courts prosecutor office to resume its investigation into the bloody drug campaign. The victims likewise alleged that the war on drugs continues under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The ICC said the victims also rejected the grounds of appeal submitted by the government, raising the need for a genuine investigation to obtain justice. The Philippine justice system, the victims said, continued to show no actual investigation, even seven years after filing some of the cases. Justice and accountability in the Philippines remain largely elusive and victims and victims families face enormous difficulties in seeking accountability using available domestic legal remedies, the report read, quoting the words of the victims. The victims cited the following as proofs of the fragility of the local judicial system: lack of effective remedies for victims lack of access to relevant official documents or procedures falsification of death certificates protracted efforts to dissuade and stop victims from pursuing cases promotion of the alleged perpetrators by authorities as opposed to an investigation into potential criminal conduct They stressed that Philippine government agencies also showed resistance against attempts to obtain the recognition that drug killings were not regulated by law. The lack of a government inquiry into the widespread killings and abuses significantly impacts the rights of victims, and in particular, denying them the opportunity to identify, prosecute, and punish the perpetrators of these grave crimes against humanity, according to the document. The families also lambasted the authorities previous remarks that the victims were collateral damage in supposed police operations. The victims families also expressed worries for their lives, saying the police continue to harass and intimidate victims in their own homes and communities. In April, the ICC said former President Rodrigo Duterte encourage the thousands of killings and other crimes related to his crackdown on illegal drugs. It also rejected the Philippine governments claim that the killings and other crimes related to the anti-drug campaign are of marginal gravity. Why this graduate program in Utah is among the highest ranked in the nation Joshua Riddle, a counselor for the state Office of Rehabilitative Services and a graduate of Utah State Universitys rehabilitative counseling program, poses for a portrait at his office in Logan on Thursday, May 18, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News For Josh Riddle, earning a masters degree from Utah State Universitys rehabilitation counseling program was a springboard to career advancement. Equally important, it prepared him to better serve clients of the Utah Department of Workforce Services Office of Rehabilitation, an agency that has helped him succeed in life, as a student and as a working professional. When USUs rehabilitation counseling masters degree ranked sixth nationally in the latest U.S. News and World Reports college rankings, Riddle said he was not at all surprised. The program received the highest ranking among all graduate programs in the state of Utah this year. The professionalism, the mindset of the whole crew up at Utah State and the educators up there was second to none. I was just blown away by their knowledge, by the information that they gave, just everything in general, said Riddle, who graduated in 2021. For Riddle, earning his masters degree in rehabilitation counseling brought him full circle. He works with clients with disabilities, helping them to be successful in life and employment. He knows how important that is because he was a vocational rehabilitation services client himself due to disabilities that affect his spine and arms. The agency helped him navigate earning a bachelors degree at Utah Valley University. The thought process of helping folks with disabilities, both mental and physical, on both ends of the spectrum I love it. I love the work that we do and the training that I was able to get, he said. Trenton Landon, associate professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling, attributes the graduate programs success to the strong underpinning of USUs Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, which is among the top-ranked education colleges in the Intermountain West and well-regarded nationally. The college in and of itself is really doing a good job and that were housed within that. said Landon. The rehabilitation counseling program, which is largely offered online, prepares students at the masters degree to assist persons with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities to achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals, its website states. Landon said it is also validating that peer institutions recognize the rehabilitation counseling masters degree programs work, he said. So this is our peers in the industry saying hey, This is a pretty solid program, he said. The program is supported by more faculty than weve ever had, Landon said, which is indicative of the support of the college and then by extension, the Legislature and everything that approves those faculty lines. Because of that, we have more people to work with students, more people to conduct research, to do outreach and build a clinic here on campus focusing on chronic illness, disability and adjustment, he said. The program typically attracts nontraditional students, many of whom are working adults juggling school, careers and busy personal lives. Thats why we teach most of our classes in the evening, late afternoon and evening and try to accommodate their work schedules. So they have been working all day and then they come and join us in class sometimes until almost 9:30 at night. I give it to them, its not easy, he said. There are 15 to 20 students in each cohort, Landon said. Some learn of the program while working with people with disabilities in a variety of state agencies and schools, some students are people with disabilities themselves and still others are seeking a counseling degree to pivot into another career. While many people tend to think of disability as related to physical challenges, Landon explained that disability is a broad encompassing term under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and it was meant to be that way. Our viewpoint is, mental health falls under that and we see mental health as the fastest growing disability in the United States, both in terms of work hours lost, and requests for ADA accommodations as a result of mental health. Zoey Hoover, left, and her mother Autumn Hoover pose for a portrait at their home in Logan on Thursday, May 18, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Zoey Hoover, 14, has received counseling at the on-campus Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Center, which is staffed by faculty and masters degree candidates who are supervised by licensed counselors and therapists. I started therapy because my grandma passed away and she was like my best friend and I was really struggling with that. So I just thought it would be good to have someone to talk to and it definitely was. It has definitely helped me with going through all the emotions of losing a loved one, for sure. And I have severe anxiety and severe depression so that it also helps with that, she said. Hoover, who has spent the last year attending school online, recently registered for high school, which shell attend in person. She said she feels like shes in a good place emotionally to take the next step, having worked on issues of trust, anger and anxiety in a place where she feels safe and heard. I think counseling really helps with being able to work on yourself. I think it also helps you stay accountable to your goals and even say, Oh, like I messed up. I messed up on a goal. Its not like, Oh, youre horrible. Its like, Oh, thats OK. Lets keep working towards this. I think thats whats so amazing about it, she said. Her mother, Autumn Hoover, who is a licensed mental health counselor and a certified rehabilitation counselor, is a clinician with the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Center. Hoover, who is seeking her doctorate degree, said she has experienced USUs rehabilitation counseling program from the perspective of a loved one whose family members have received counseling services there, as a graduate student and also a clinician. Zoey Hoover sits with her mother Autumn Hoover, left, at their home in Logan on Thursday, May 18, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News I think the reason its so awesome is because the people who run it and everybody that works there and its not just a philosophy for the clients its their lived philosophy of care, understanding and acceptance, she said. Riddle, who earned his masters in rehabilitation counseling from USU, said his training has enabled him to better connect clients with disabilities with resources, employment and other opportunities that enhance their quality of life and support them in securing work that is fulfilling and pays a living wage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with disabilities are much less likely to be employed than those with no disability, which holds true across all age groups. Also, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is about double the rate for persons without a disability, according to the bureau. Education plays a key role in outcomes, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. People with disabilities are less likely to have completed a bachelors degree or higher than were those with no disability. But among both groups, those who had attained higher levels of education were more likely to be employed than those who had attained less education, but those without disabilities still fare better. Its why Riddle takes pride in helping connect people with disabilities with meaningful work in industries that they may not have ever considered as options. We get quite a few clients that go in for CDL (commercial driver license) training, he said. Theres a lot of job opportunities available and folks can make a pretty decent wage. The challenge and the joy is connecting a client seeking a job with a salary that enables them to get off government disability payments, Riddle said. Joshua Riddle, a counselor for the state Office of Rehabilitation Services and a graduate of Utah State Universitys rehabilitation counseling program, poses for a portrait at his office in Logan on Thursday, May 18, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News A lot of what we do is assisting people and not just the low-hanging fruit that anybody can go out and get this job or that job, but trying to get strategic in placing these folks with disabilities in a position that that they may not know about, or that might be a little bit more difficult to get and getting that leg up or having specific training for a long-term, successful outcome. Those are the ones that I personally take a lot of joy in, he said. Landon said rehabilitation counseling is an offshoot of the Veterans Administrations response to serving veterans returning from World War I. Over time, it formalized into where were at now, but it was primarily physical disability driven, he said. Professionals now understand a holistic approach is needed to adjust to the physical impacts of disability but also, related mental health issues. Its not just addressing the physical need, but especially with veterans, theres oftentimes PTSD associated with it, he said. Maybe a more contemporary example might be a primary breadwinner in the home thats worked for 20 plus years, gets in an auto accident and is no longer able to continue in the employment that they had. So now as a result of that they have potentially some physical limitations, but also then the loss of a work identity, the loss of a provider identity, and all of these other things that oftentimes lead to depression to anxiety, Landon said. Landon said USUs rehabilitation counseling masters degree program trains students to consider their clients needs holistically. While they are not health care providers, they straddle a middle ground where they need to understand disability from a medical and physical standpoint but also need to be mindful of the mental health effects of disability, whether it is a lifelong condition, the result of an accident or chronic illness. We balance the two so that when we reintegrate, its very holistic, he said. How can we fully help them integrate into society with everything that might be a concern for them? Or as the programs website puts it, graduates of USU rehabilitation counseling program will be educated and trained to help adults take control of their lives. Joe Biden speaks at George Floyd's funeral Three years ago, George Floyd was murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin, setting off a wave of international protests demanding police reform. For a brief period of time, it seemed as though there might be bipartisan legislation to overhaul police practices and increase accountability. That moment came and went. Despite pledges by President Joe Biden to push the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act into law, the legislation stalled in Congress. Heres how we got to this impasse and what could be done to move things forward: Republican opposition to reform Even as outrage over Floyds murder saw many Republican voices condemn the murder and express willingness to implement reforms, passing bipartisan legislation was always going to be an uphill battle. Republicans have long made law and order a key part of their platform, with heavy support for police and harsh tactics against crime, especially when it comes to policing minority communities. And police unions, which have been strongly against reforms, remain key Republican backers. After briefly paying lip service to the ideas of implementing commonsense police reforms, many Republicans quickly reverted to demonizing Black Lives Matter protestors and rallying against efforts to defund the police. And even with Democrats taking control of the White House and Congress in 2021, Republican opposition, and particularly the use of the filibuster, caused the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act to fail in the Senate. Although President Biden implemented some of the measures of this law through executive order and remains committed to reform, the bipartisan legislation has not come to pass. Tim Scott went from dealmaker to deflector Many Democrats played a role in crafting and supporting the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who introduced the legislation while still a Senator in 2020. Unanimous Republican opposition ultimately killed the bill, with negotiations breaking down in September 2021. But between these moments, one man Sen Tim. Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican in the Senate attempted to bridge the gap between the two parties. Scott was the main republican negotiator for police reform, working with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) to find compromise legislation that both parties could support. In the end, Scott was unable to convince the police unions to accept changes such as limiting qualified immunity, the legal doctrine that generally protects police officers and departments from being sued for wrongful use of force. Scott then attempted to cover up this failure by falsely accusing Democrats of attempting to defund the police through the legislation, criticizing policies that he himself had supported earlier that would tie federal funding to reforms. Even as Scott now runs for President of the United States, he continues to push the narrative that the reform failed because Democrats wanna defund the police. Meanwhile, Black Twitter remembers Scott as the reason why we dont have the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Tim Scott is why we dont have the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Kamala Harris is part of the reason it exists. Vote 2024. Terry Lee Watkins Jr. (@TerryWatkinsJr1) May 22, 2023 Electing Democrats in 2024 Though the Democratic Party, including Biden himself, have very mixed records when it comes to criminal justice and policing policies, the political reality remains that the best way to get meaningful federal police reforms passed is for Democrats to keep the White House and gain seats in Congress in 2024. With Donald Trump facing growing legal trouble and other Republican candidates far behind, Biden winning reelection seems achievable, though far from certain. And while Democrats did better than expected in 2022, regaining the House and holding onto the Senate could be challenging. However, even a gain of a few seats for Democrats could end up greatly improving the changes of police reform. Democrats in the House passed the George Floyd Act when they controlled that chamber in 2020 and 20201, and they could retake control if they pick up a few seats. In the Senate, 50 votes plus Vice President Harris tie-breaker could, through a somewhat complicated process, eliminate or alter the filibuster to stop Republicans from blocking reform, and Democrats recently fell only two votes short. The 2024 election is set to be a very important election that will be hard-fought by both parties. For those still holding out hope that meaningful police reform and accountability measures will be passed in the name of George Floyd, 2024 may be the last shot for this to happen. The European Flag is seen in the Belgian capital in front of modern architecture buildings with glass and steel construction of the European Commission headquarters. The European Flag is seen in Brussels in front of modern architecture buildings with glass and steel construction of the European Commission headquarters. Credit - Nicolas Economou/NurPhotoGetty Images (To get this story in your inbox, subscribe to the TIME CO2 Leadership Report newsletter here.) The E.U. is in the middle of implementing its Green Deal program with a wide range of implications for how the world tackles climate change. Perhaps nothing is of more obvious import to global business leaders than the blocs coming climate disclosure rules, which are scheduled to be finalized next month. The rules will start in Europe, but will soon affect companies around the globe. That will likely include more than 3,000 U.S. and 1,300 Canadian companies, according to an analysis shared with me by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an international standards organization whose work has informed the new E.U. directive. Any company that isnt paying attention risks being left unprepared. To understand the implications of the rules, its helpful to look briefly at the long history of climate disclosure. For decades, civil society groups and governments have pushed companies to disclose both their climate impact and the risks that climate change poses to their business. Many companies have jumped on board the disclosure train, and a range of different yet overlapping voluntary standards have emerged. At the same time, many other firms, including some large ones, have declined to participate, leaving a knowledge gap about the true scale of both the risks that companies face and the role they may be playing furthering climate change. Governments are trying to change that. In the U.S., the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) introduced a proposal last year that would require publicly traded companies to disclose their emissions and other climate-related factors. The proposal has split U.S. business leaders, with some welcoming the call for transparency and others saying it will be too burdensome. The agency has delayed finalizing its proposal as it tries to craft them in a way that will stand up in court and avoid the ire of businesses while remaining meaningful. The SEC rules, however, may end up being less significant than whats coming out of Brussels, known in typical wonky E.U. language as the Corporate Reporting Sustainability Directive (CSRD). While the proposed SEC rule focuses only on factors that it says are material to a companys financial performance, the E.U. rules rely on a different, more consequential standard known as double materiality. That is, companies will need to disclose not only the material risks that climate change poses to their bottom line but also the way their operations materially impact the environment. On top of this, the E.U.s disclosure directive will extend far outside the bloc. The directive will apply next year to large, listed firms based in Europe. From there, it will expand to medium-sized firms in Europe in 2026, before eventually expanding again in 2028 to businesses around the world that derive significant revenue from the E.U. This will then spread even wider as companies evaluate the climate impacts and risks in smaller firms that they do business with. It will affect not just the company itself, but the entire supply chain, Olivier Boutellis-Taft, CEO of Accountancy Europe, which represents European accountants, told me in his office in Brussels. In Europe, many in the business community are up in arms about the cost of compliance as the E.U. rolls out a range of new climate-linked regulations beyond the corporate reporting requirement, from new passenger vehicle standards to an expanded emissions trading system. These businesses are especially concerned about the possibility of too many different standards in different jurisdictions. The key to address that concern will be to align the standardsan ongoing discussion in climate disclosure circles. The idea that business is against sustainability reporting is just not true, says Eelco van Der Enden, CEO of GRI. Business is against too much and too different. The more alignment, the better. Regardless of how that discussion shakes out, change is afoot. This new information will shape the marketplace. Investors will have more information about where companies face risk of climate disastersor are vulnerable to new regulation. The data that come from these disclosures will likely to trickle down to consumers in the form of new labels and standards that seek to explain corporate climate impact concisely. However the debate over these standards shakes out, business leaders need to be aware that mandatory disclosure is coming one way or anotherand likely sooner than later. Wichita man pulls out gun and shoots another person in chest after fight, police say A 56-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in a north Wichita shooting that critically injured a 50-year-old man, Wichita police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo said. Kenneth Lydell James of Wichita was arrested at his home in north Wichita, near I-135 and East 21st Street North, on suspicion of aggravated battery. Police were called at 7:53 p.m. for a walk-in shooting victim at Wesley Woodlawn, 2610 N. Woodlawn. A Wichita man had been shot in the chest. He had serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He underwent surgery and is in stable condition, Rebolledo said Thursday. The shooting happened in the 2400 block of North Minnesota, where James lives, according to Rebolledo and the arrest records. It happened on the front lawn of a home; police wouldnt say what home. Officers learned that the ... victim had a verbal altercation with James over an outstanding issue and after a brief physical altercation, James produced a gun and shot him, Rebolledo said in a news release. Rebolledo, in an email, said the fight was triggered by a personal issue between the two men. A judge handed down a more than 10-year prison sentence for a 49-year-old man who crashed into a motorcycle rider on west Kellogg, causing an injury so severe that the motorcyclist lost his leg. Ricardo Trevizo, of Wichita, was driving drunk and fleeing law enforcement on Oct. 9, 2021, when he rear-ended Humberto Antonio Estradas motorcycle with a Chevy Tahoe. Estrada, a former member of the Sedgwick County Courthouse Police Department, had to have his left leg amputated below the knee, an affidavit released by the court says. He worked for Sedgwick County from December 2015 to July 2021, a county spokeswoman said. Trevizo was being chased by Kingman County Sheriffs Office deputies when he crossed county lines on eastbound U.S. 54 at speeds of 100 mph and up, the affidavit says. Law enforcement tried to stop Trevizo with road spikes going into Goddard, but he sped through them, according to the document. Trevizo slammed into the back of Estradas motorcycle at about 11:45 p.m. while Estrada was waiting at the intersection of Kellogg and 119th, knocking the motorcycle and Estrada to the ground. A deputy applied two tourniquets to Estradas injured leg until medical services staff showed up to take him to a Wichita hospital for treatment, the affidavit says. Authorities arrested Trevizo on site; he had bloodshot and watery eyes, smelled of alcohol and admitted to having drank five beers around two hours prior to the point of the traffic collision, the affidavit says. A test measured his blood-alcohol level at .193, more than twice the legal limit to drive in Kansas, the affidavit says. Trevizo was also driving on a suspended license that night, according to the affidavit. He also had two prior convictions for driving under the influence, the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office said in a news release Thursday announcing Trevizos 122-month sentence. Prosecutors charged Trevizo last September with five crimes, to which he pleaded not guilty: two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and one count of driving while suspended. He pleaded guilty in April to one amended count of aggravated battery while driving under the influence. The rest of the charges were dismissed, court records show. Trevizo agreed to serve a prison sentence and pay $15,961.75 in restitution to Estrada to cover his unpaid expenses, but he had the ability to argue details of his prison stay and also about his ability to pay, his plea agreement says. His lawyer, in a written motion, asked that Trevizo serve the 122-month sentence concurrently with a sentence he received in Kingman County for his conduct leading up to the crash. Charging him in two counties, the lawyer wrote, was unfair and subjected Trevizo to harsher penalties when the charges could have been brought in a single complaint. Judge James Fleetwood imposed the sentence, Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office spokesman Dan Dillon said. Woman conned into converting life savings to gold but she outconned the cons, feds say A woman was told drug dealers compromised her bank account and she needed to convert her life savings into gold, prosecutors said. After she did so, an accused con artist posing as a Drug Enforcement Administration agent said she needed to leave the $300,000 worth of gold in an unlocked car for a court officer to pick up, according to prosecutors. Supposedly, this purported court officer who prosecutors said was really a second con artist working with the fake agent would take her gold so the DEA could safeguard it, officials said. But it was a scam. However, the woman became suspicious and outconned the two men with the help of authorities, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts. The second accused con artist, a citizen of India living in Jersey City, New Jersey, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the attorneys office announced in a May 24 news release. The 38-year-olds attorney declined a request for comment from McClatchy News on May 25. The fake DEA agent was named as the mans co-conspirator in an indictment. He wasnt charged in the case. How the scheme unfolded In August 2022, the woman got a call from Oscar White, the fake DEA agent, about how her bank accounts were compromised, prosecutors said. Specifically, she was told that drug traffickers were using her identity to launder money, the indictment says. To avoid prosecution, the woman was tricked into converting her money into gold bars at a jewelry store in Massachusetts, according to an Aug. 11 news release from the Hadley Police Department. After the woman was instructed to leave her gold in an unlocked car and after she contacted authorities about her suspicions a joint investigation with Hadley police, additional police departments and the FBI ensued, prosecutors said. An undercover law enforcement officer, pretending to be the woman, carried out a sham transaction at a jewelry store in Hadley and obtained two buckets of fake gold, officials said. Meanwhile, the New Jersey man was watching the fake transaction take place after having driven from New Jersey to Hadley, according to prosecutors. He had no idea authorities were involved. He followed the undercover officer, who he believed was the woman, to a parking lot designated as a meeting spot and took the gold out of the car, prosecutors said. Then, authorities arrested him, according to the release. As for the woman, she got her money back after she returned the gold to the jewelry store, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported. After the man serves his prison sentence, deportation proceedings will follow, prosecutors said. In a sentencing memo, the mans attorney wrote that his clients decision to assist shadowy figures in their scheme has destroyed his life. He yearns only to return to his native India and put this disastrous chapter in his life behind him so he could be reunited with his daughter and family, the memo says. In addition to the federal case, Hadley police arrested the man on charges of attempted larceny from an individual over 60 and breaking and entering into a car with the intent to commit a felony, according to the departments news release. Hadley is about 100 miles west of Boston. Father, sons lied and claimed $21M in lottery prizes, feds say. 2 are going to prison Woman steals $2.8M from Holocaust survivor and uses it for life of luxury, feds say Dentist hid money in moms accounts to avoid paying $900,000 in taxes in Florida, feds say A Mexican woman was sentenced to prison after being convicted of leading a human smuggling operation that transported over 100 migrants from El Paso to Dallas, officials said. Ana Maria Villa-Flores, 40, was sentenced to four years in prison on one count of conspiracy to transport aliens during a sentencing hearing May 3 at the Albert Armendariz Sr. Federal Courthouse in Downtown El Paso, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas officials said. She also was sentenced to three years of supervised release after she serves her prison term. "As demonstrated in this case, our dedicated partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol remain vigilant in their pursuit of justice," U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Jaime Esparza said in a statement. "The dismantling of this alien smuggling organization is a testament to their commitment and tireless effort. Together, we stand resolute in protecting our borders and upholding the rule of law, safeguarding the integrity of our nation." More: Dallas woman pleads guilty in El Paso in human smuggling death case An additional count of conspiracy to harbor aliens was dismissed as part of a plea agreement, court records show. Villa-Flores, of Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, was a leader and organizer of a smuggling operation, officials alleged. She is accused of smuggling 124 migrants from El Paso to the Dallas-Fort Worth area between July 2021 and April 2022. The migrants were taken to Northeast Texas in locked and enclosed cargo trailers, officials said. Court documents spotlight two incidents where Villa-Flores and others involved in the smuggling ring transported more than 20 migrants across Texas. In July 2021, Villa-Flores allegedly "conspired, communicated and coordinated the smuggling" of a group of 22 migrants from El Paso to the Dallas-Fort Worth area with a co-conspirator, officials said. More: 'False promises': Migrants exploited as they scramble to escape squalor, Border Patrol She also was accused of working with another co-conspirator to move 24 migrants from El Paso to Plano in January 2022. The names of the co-conspirators were not released. Court records do not show any other people indicted in the case. "Individuals involved in the illicit movement of human cargo into the country and then onto further destinations within the United States have a callous disregard for the value of human life and are placing profit ahead of public safety," HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola said in a statement. "HSI will continue to aggressively work with our law enforcement partners to identify and arrest those involved in this illicit and dangerous activity." Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Woman convicted of leading migrant smuggling ring sentenced to prison A woman in Oklahoma was shocked when a 4-foot rat snake slithered onto the windshield of her car while she was driving Western rat snakes are non-venomous and kill their prey by constriction. Shoemcfly/Getty Images, The Village Police Department/Facebook On May 21, a woman in Oklahoma was driving when a 4-foot rat snake crawled onto her windshield. The local police were called to remove it, and they later identified it to be a Western rat snake. Western rat snakes are non-venomous, and kill their prey by constriction. On Sunday, a woman was driving in The Village, Oklahoma, when a 4-foot-long snake slithered out from under the hood and onto her windshield, per Newsweek. She immediately called the local police, who helped to remove the snake, which was believed to be a Western rat snake, per Newsweek citing The Village Police Department. Coincidently, it was the second snake-in-a-car emergency the department had been called to attend to that week, per Newsweek, citing the police department. "The same officer took both calls. Apparently Officer King attracts snakes," said the department to Newsweek. They shared that such calls were fairly rare. The Western rat snake is a non-venomous species that does not pose a threat to humans, per Newsweek. "This is a very common species of snake in Oklahoma and primarily they feed on rodents," the police department said to Newsweek. They also advised people to not bother the snakes in the chance of a similar encounter. "Most snakes are harmless and the best choice is to just leave them alone and they will usually move along," the department said, per Newsweek. The Village Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Insider Woman threatened LGBTQ businesses in Colorado after deadly Club Q shooting, feds say A New York woman is accused of phoning threats to at least four LGBTQ businesses in Colorado following the deadly Club Q shooting, federal officials reported. Sharon Robinson, 40, made multiple threatening calls to LGBTQ businesses in Denver and Glendale, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado said in a May 24 news release. She has been arrested and indicted. An accused 22-year-old gunman killed five people at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, in November, according to prosecutors, CNN reported. In the weeks following the shooting, Robinson made phone threats to shoot your bar up, telling other LGBTQ businesses in the state that youre gonna be shot up like Club Q, federal officials said. The threats also included anti-LGBTQ slurs, officials said. A grand jury found she intentionally targeted victims based on their actual or perceived sexual identity, federal prosecutors said. Woman hurls rock the size of a football at officers face, California police say Falling rock pillar kills 16-year-old celebrating end of school, Utah officials say Stray bullet gets lodged in head of 2-year-old playing outside day care, Utah police say What's old, apparently, is new, as evidenced by a person with an untreated case of TUBERCULOSIS running around like some kind of typhoid Mary. A Washington State woman identified only by her initials, VN, was ordered by a judge back in February to either take medication or isolate herself after contracting TB and refusing both treatment and quarantine. And as a local health official told the New York Times, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has "determined, or has reason to believe" she still has it. "We have worked with family and community members for more than a year to do everything we can to persuade this woman to take her medication to protect herself and our community," reads the health department's original statement in February, announcing that a judge had issued a warrant for her arrest. "After 15 court hearings, we are closing in on our last option." The risks to her community are substantial. Remember, we're talking about an infectious and completely treatable disease that can be spread through a mere cough or sneeze and kills well over a million people each year. According to the NYT's sources, the woman was seen taking a city bus to a casino and then was missing from her home for a number of days. At some point in April, the chief of the Pierce County Sheriffs Department Corrections Bureau even ordered surveillance on VN's home. As of this week, the woman is still at large and has not yet been arrested. "I cannot give out any information as to how we are trying to locate her, where we are looking or any other details as it can ruin the efforts by our deputies," Darren Moss of the Pierce County Sheriffs Department told the NYT by email. While the concept of issuing an arrest warrant on someone for refusing treatment and placing them under surveillance over it seems pretty draconian, the woman has apparently been running around with TB since January of 2022. That poses a huge health risk to her community given that tuberculosis is, per the World Health Organization, still the second-leading cause of infectious disease death in the world after COVID-19. There are invariably some squishy ethics going on in this case, but it's clear why the courts are gravely concerned about the situation. More on medical intrigue: Scientists Intrigued by Man With Mutation That Protects Against Alzheimer's Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) From one neophyte senator to another. Senator Robin Padilla on Thursday said he advised fellow first-timer Mark Villar, sponsor of the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, to refuse further interpellations on the controversial bill in the plenary. "Sabi ko nasa rules ng Senate naman kapag sabi ng sponsor na ayaw na niyang pa-interpellate, tapos e," Padilla told reporters. "Sinabi ko sa kanya 'yan last week pa, sinabi ko sa kanya nandoon kami sa floor, pare kung ako sa'yo, ano mo na Senate rules, wag ka na magpa-interpellate," he added. [Translation: I told him it's in the Senate rules that if a sponsor no longer wants to face interpellation, then that's it. I told him last week that if I were him, I'd cite the Senate rules and refuse interpellation.] According to the Senate website, senators "may refuse to yield to interpellation," but this is not traditionally exercised by the chamber. Padilla explained much time has been given to discuss the Maharlika bill, and many questions have already been answered during the committee hearings. He said it needs to be passed immediately, considering it's among the reasons cited by colleagues who did not support his proposal to amend economic provisions in the Constitution saying the Maharlika fund would yield foreign investments. "Nag-aaksaya tayo ng oras [We're wasting time]," he said. The House of Representatives passed its version of the Maharlika bill in December last year, followed by Senate hearings which began in February. The Senate opened plenary debates on the measure on May 15. The more lengthy interpellations were on Wednesday. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian again appealed to spare the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from the list of government owned and controlled corporations required to contribute to the Maharlika fund to protect its reputation and credibility. He said the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines have enough investible funds anyway. Senator Francis Escudero, meanwhile, questioned the perpetual existence granted to the Maharlika Investment Corporation, which will manage the fund. He also said it remains unclear what projects the corporation would invest in, and how the government will earn from these. Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said the chamber is only "accommodating the last few members who want to interpellate on Monday." It can then pass the bill on second and third reading in one day, since the bill has been certified urgent by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. "Hopefully, the House can adopt our version which we improved with more safeguards in place to avoid possible misuse," Zubiri said in a text message to reporters. This will also hasten the process, since the two chambers no longer need to create and convene a bicameral conference committee to reconcile differences in the two versions of the bill. Economic managers want the bill signed into law before Marcos' second State of the Nation Address on July 24. He wore purple tie-dye and camo shorts. Police say hes a suspect in two Miami murders Police released video Thursday of a man who they believe has killed at least two homeless people since January and who they fear may strike again. Thats something that were looking into and investigating, said Miami Police Detective Kiara Delva. They believe the man who appears in video in a purple tie-dye shirt, camouflage shorts, black sneakers and a watch was responsible for the early morning Jan. 9 shooting death of Bradley Griffith, 61 and the murder just a few minutes later and 15 blocks away of Marie Louisirna Noel, 60. A woman who knew Noel said at the time of her death that she was well-known in the local community Griffith was gunned down near the corner of Northwest 22nd Avenue and 38th Street. Noel was killed nearby, at Northwest 17th Avenue and 28th Street. The shootings were between midnight and 2:30 a.m. according to police. Delva said they havent linked the victims, but police believe they have enough evidence to link the murders. We have enough to believe this man is the suspect responsible for both, Delva said. Similarities to 2021 homeless serial killer The murders are similar to those believe committed by homeless serial killer suspect Willie Maceo, a real estate agent who was 25 when he was arrested in December 2021 in the attempted murder of one homeless man in downtown Miami who was shot in the head. He also was suspected of shooting and killing another homeless man named Jerome Antonio Price, 56, who was asleep on a sidewalk in Wynwood. A year earlier, police called to Maceos home because he was acting erratically seized a Glock pistol from him, the same one investigators believe he used to shoot the homeless men. What the videos show One of the videos released by police shows a man detectives describe in his 20s or 30s walk up to a building with a red pole out front. The man is seen peering around the corner for a few seconds while extending and relaxing his fingers. He then slowly backs up before leaving the camera frame. The man is between 5-feet, 7-inches and 5-feet, 10-inches tall, police said, with a medium build and dark hair. In the next video, the same man, wearing the same clothing, is seen slowly walking down a tree-lined sidewalk. In that footage, he appears to smile as he walks past the camera. In neither video is it clear if he is carrying a weapon. Homeless community reaction Ron Book, chair of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, issued a statement following news of the murders, saying there is no more heinous crime than bringing harm to any of the most vulnerable members of our community. All of us have an obligation to step up and protect people experiencing homelessness, and, in situations like this, we must help bring the person who committed this horrible crime to justice, Book said. The Homeless Trust applauds the commitment of city of Miami Police, the Miami Dade County Police Department and Miami-Dade County State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle who continue to treat these cases as priorities. Have information on the killings? Detectives ask anyone with information about the murders to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477, or the Miami Police Homicide Unit at 305-603-6350. Heres how working Texas families can save on childcare now that school is out for summer Tarrant County schools will dismiss for the summer this week, and that means working parents have to look for childcare that meets their familys needs. While quality childcare gives you piece of mind, it can be expensive for Fort Worth parents. But once you explore your options, you might be surprised by what affordable childcare youre able to find. Nonprofits and state agencies provide options that will help your kids learn new skills, have fun and forge friendships all on a budget. First, knowing how much you can afford to spend will help you evaluate your options. Once you know your budget, a little planning and research will go a long way. Here are some affordable childcare options and ways you may be able to lower your costs. How much does a childcare provider cost in Fort Worth? The average hourly rate of a childcare provider in Fort Worth is $12.96 per hour, according to Nanny Lane. The average gross weekly salary of a childcare provider is $453.60. Use a calculator to find out how much childcare will cost you. Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County Workforce Solutions provides subsidized childcare services for low-income families. Parents who need childcare to work, seek work, or attend education or training are eligible. Child Care Associates is the Child Care Management Services contractor for Workforce Solutions in Tarrant County. Workforce Solutions uses the program to purchase childcare for eligible families in Tarrant County. Most parents are required to contribute to the cost of childcare, with their fees being a percentage of the familys monthly gross income. To see if youre eligible, visit tarrantcountyccms.org/home/parents/application/ or check out the eligibility document. Visit the CCMS website for a full list of accredited childcare providers. Tarrant County CCMS is located at 305 NE Loop 820 #1, Hurst, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Call 817-831-0374 for more information. There are three types of childcare regulated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: Licensed Child Care Centers Licensed Child Care Homes Registered Child Care Homes Always check a childcare providers inspection record on DFPSs website. To find the right provider for your family, download and take a checklist with you in English or Spanish and use it to rate every childcare facility or registered family home you visit. For more information about Workforce Solutions, enter your name, ZIP code and question in the websites chat box. Child Care Associates As one of the largest child development programs in North Texas, Child Care Associates helps low-income families cover the cost of quality childcare. The organization, headquartered at 3000 E. Belknap St. in Fort Worth, provides early education programs as well as financial assistance. For more information, call 817-838-0055. Head Start (3-5 years old) and Early Head Start (0-3 years old) are two nationally-funded early education programs for low-income children and their families. CCA offers full-day, campus-based programs at no cost to eligible families (8 a.m. 3 p.m., with some sites offering extended hours from 6:30 a.m. 6 p.m.). Both programs provide a child-centered, play-focused education that values your childs development while offering these resources: Learning experiences promoting social, emotional, physical, reasoning and creative life skills Strong teacher-child interactions Nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks Daily physical activity and outdoor play Referrals to and onsite delivery of disability and behavioral health services Home visits to reinforce home-based learning, supportive parenting, and social-emotional development Activities that involve parents and families Services for children with special care needs Head Start Eligibility: Child is at least 3 years old by September 1 Household income (100% poverty level) Homeless Foster care Public assistance (TANF & SSI ONLY) Early Head Start & Home Visiting Eligibility: Child must be under 3 years old by September 1 Household income (100% poverty level) Homeless Foster care Public assistance (TANF & SSI ONLY) Other Qualifiers: Disability (as defined by LEA and Part B standards) In addition to household income status, CCAs Head Start prioritizes families with teen parents and families with other at-risk factors. Visit the CCA website to find a location near you. Apply by filling out a form in English or Spanish. You qualify for financial assistance for childcare if all of the following apply: You need childcare for a child 0-12 years of age (or up to 19 years old if disabled). The child needing care lives in the household with you. You live in Tarrant County. You need childcare to participate in work, school, or training activities for at least 25 hours per week for a single parent or 50 hours per week for a two-parent family. The total gross income for your household is below income guidelines. To apply for financial assistance, visit tarrantcountyccms.org. Texas Benefits Center can help with childcare The state of Texas provides childcare services for eligible families. Texas Benefits Center is a nonprofit that helps families with children under 3 years old find out what childcare assistance is available for them. Different options include funds for enrollment in a daycare, reimbursement for paid childcare, after school care, and other childcare assistance services. To find out how to apply for childcare support, call 888-295-8328. Hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Texas Child Care Availability Portal Use the Texas Child Care Availability Portal tool to find childcare that meets your needs. Search by your location, transportation method and childs age. Then, you can filter providers and save a list of your favorites. Tips to save money on childcare in Texas Care.com offers the following tips to parents: Sign up for a Dependent Care Account If your employer offers this type of Flexible Spending Account, you can set aside up to $5,000 tax-free to pay for childcare. Apply your childcare tax credit This credit allows you to itemize up to $8,000 in expenses per child per year, up to a $16,000 annual cap per family. For more information on federal and state childcare assistance, visit childcareaware.org. Talk to Human Resources Some workplaces offer childcare reimbursements for working parents. Check in with your HR department about money-saving benefits. If your company has an on-site daycare, it can save you money while offering peace of mind. Nanny share If you have friends who are also looking for childcare, you can hire one nanny to watch the kids from both families and share the cost. Parents can also share childcare by swapping days. For example, you take the kids for three days and your neighbor or friend takes them for two days, or vice versa. More childcare resources for Texas parents The world may be filled with ordinary mystics. We can all experience God. | Opinion In 2020, I decided to bend my own COVID-19 lockdown to positive ends. I used the enforced solitude to pursue and, I hoped, deepen my personal spirituality. I started reading about Christian mystics, those seemingly rare and special souls who sometimes during extended periods of aloneness found themselves suddenly overwhelmed by transcendent revelations of God. I became so fascinated that Ive continued studying them, what they said and saw. Of much help has been William O. Paulsells book, Longing for God: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism. Paulsell, formerly president of Lexington Theological Seminary, is an expert on the subject. Longing for God looks at mystics across the centuries, from Augustine to Thomas Merton. A mystic is a person who has experienced the presence of God in a very direct way, Paulsell writes. The event is so real and certain that there can be no doubt about what happened. However, mystics throughout the centuries have found it impossible to communicate the experience to the rest of us. Human language fails in its effort. God is beyond all language, all definition, all modes of expression. He uses William James Varieties of Religious Experience to define four specific markers of mystical experiences: They are ineffable. That is, the experience cant be explained in words. Such a vocabulary does not exist, Paulsell says. They are noetic. The event produces knowledge, but not the knowledge produced by human logic. It goes beyond the limits of reason and takes the mystic into new ways of knowing, Paulsell says. They are transient. The experience is temporary and often brief, although the mystic loses all sense of time until it is over. The subsequent absence of God is frustrating and the mystic wants God to come back. They are passive. The recipient cant make the event happen; it comes out of the blue. When I started reading about mystics, I tended to think of them as rare and Roman Catholic (or at least traditionally religious) and long since dead. But recently, I was prattling on to my wife Liz about James list of the attributes of mystical experiences. Liz said something that caught me up short. According to James checklist, she said, a sizeable portion of the people we know are mystics. People of all religious and spiritual stripes have told us of being suddenly blindsided by the presence of God or at least of something ineffable. I hadnt thought of it that way. But Liz was right. Ive since remembered so many stories. Details vary, but folks have said they were overcome by a humility, a love, a sense of their oneness with all living things. The world shimmered. It was as if they saw into another universe that operates beyond and yet within the one we normally see. It envelops everything. They were shown a new reality. Then the vision departed. And they still couldnt describe it, really, but theyd never forgotten it. Theyd never been the same. I thought of a young journalist who worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She was Jewish and an agnostic and not much interested in religion. But she told me about a day she was visiting a museum in Europe. Without prelude, found herself resonating, electrified almost, by an awareness of something beyond herself, something that united all things everywhere. Was that God? she asked rhetorically. She shrugged. Whatever you wanted to call it, it was beautiful and wondrousand it was not her. Just this past Sunday, in our adult Sunday school class, a retired businessman spoke of the time he went to check a stream near the entrance to his farm, to see if it was flooding. It was just another rainy day until, as he was checking the water, he was suddenly awe-stricken by the love of God, by a oneness with the Almighty hed never experienced in a lifetime of going to church. This happened to him a few years back, but he could hardly tell the story for crying. The experience had transformed him. I could go on for pages recounting stories Ive heard. None of the people Im thinking of were terribly pious, or kooky or, as far as I know, mentally ill. They were just people. But something had happened to them spiritually. In my observation, people tend to put these events into the box with which theyre most comfortable. Folks from a Christian background say they saw Jesus or were born again. Those who are areligious, such as my journalist friend, say theyre not sure who it was. The phenomenon appears to be widespread. A couple of decades ago, an extensive BBC study of Britains spirituality found that 38 percent of Britons said theyd been stricken by an awareness of the presence of God. Thirty percent reported having felt an awareness of a sacred presence in nature. A study of Brazilians found 35 percent reported having had a mystical experience. What if mysticism isnt confined to a handful of holy men and women living in monasteries and chanting the Psalms? What if the mechanic at your local car dealership has received the same visitation as Bernard of Clairvaux? What if your kids third-grade teacher has stared into the depths of all creation? One of my favorite contemporary spiritual thinkers, Richard Rohr, believes God is as close to each of us as our next breath. Remember, the only thing that separates you from God is the thought that you are separate from God! he has written. Paul Prather is pastor of Bethesda Church near Mount Sterling. You can email him at pratpd@yahoo.com. Wounded bear attacks man a day after he shot it at Oregon home, officials say A man was attacked by a black bear near his Oregon property a day after shooting the animal, wildlife officials said. The bear first appeared near the mans home on May 23 in the Mount Emily Recreation Area in La Grande, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release. It was harassing his chickens, so he shot it, wildlife officials said. The next day he went to look for the animal and found it close to his property. He shot it again and was attacked at about 7:37 a.m., officials said. The man was taken to a hospital with injuries on his arms and head. Officials said he will recover. Wildlife officers then searched the area for the wounded bear. They found it at 10:44 a.m. near where the man was attacked, and they euthanized it, officials said. Bear attacks are rare, but they can happen when a bear is wounded, if they are being fed or are surprised by people and their dogs, officials said. Oregon has 25,000 to 30,000 black bears. La Grande is in northeastern Oregon, about 260 miles east of Portland. What to do if you see a bear In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space. There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack. Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize youre a human and nonthreatening. Stay calm: Bears usually dont want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear. Dont scream: Screaming could trigger an attack. Pick up small children: Dont let kids run away from the bear. It could think theyre small prey. Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people. Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Dont make any sudden movements. Dont drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection. Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out. Again, dont run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would. Dont climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb. Bear attacks two young children playing outside their home, Pennsylvania officials say Mountain lion swats at 11-year-old girl checking on chickens, Colorado officials say Aggressive bears force camping ban in parts of the Appalachian Trail. One bit a hiker Even as former President Donald Trumps attorneys continue to try to keep that special purpose grand jury report under seal, attorneys for several media outlets, including WSB-TV, are working to get it published. Attorneys for the media intervenors are appealing the decision to keep the special grand jury report sealed and the appeal, which was filed Thursday, is now before the Georgia Court of Appeals. In the appeal, attorneys for WSB-TV and other media intervenors, including the Wall Street Journal and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ask the court to throw out Superior Court Judge Robert McBurneys decision to keep under seal the Fulton County Special Purpose Grand Jurys final report even though the special grand jurors themselves wanted it released. McBurney worried about its impact before Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could wrap up her case and present it to another grand jury. Willis herself asked the judge to keep it sealed, but the attorneys argue those are not reasons to keep the report from the public. RELATED STORIES: This order has prevented the public and press from reading the full report even though it addresses a subject of paramount public concern to this state and nation, the court document said. While the rest of the nation and world looks on at investigations and indictments stemming from unlawful election activity, the people of Georgia remain largely in the dark on matters that happened in their own backyards. This is all happening as attorneys for Trump, himself a probable target for indictment, are fighting to permanently quash everything in that report. Channel 2s Richard Elliot showed the appeal to Georgia State Law professor Eric Seagall. We need to give the trial judge here a lot of discretion probably, you know. Hes been dealing with this and all that. I think the court of appeals should only reverse if theres clear error, and I dont think theres a clear error here yet, Seagall said. Segall agrees this is a difficult case because Georgia law does seem to require the publication of a special grand jury report if that special grand jury requests that. Still, like the judge, he worries about the reputations of people named in that report who may not be indicted. RELATED NEWS: A Wyoming Republican says Christian nationalism has hijacked her state and that on Sundays she can't tell if she's listening to a 'sermon or a stump speech' Two men walk in front of the Wyoming Republican Party headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Thomas Peipert/Associated Press Christian nationalism has gained traction in the Republican party in recent years. A Wyoming Republican wrote an op-ed arguing the movement has hijacked her state. She said the growing embrace of the concept has led to "bad church and bad law." A Republican in Wyoming says the Christian nationalism movement has "hijacked" both the GOP and her religious community "by blurring the lines between church and government and in the process rebranding our state's identity." Susan Stubson, a lawyer and a member of Wyoming's Republican Party, described the transformation in an opinion piece published in The New York Times this week. Stubson is married to Tim Stubson, also a Republican, who served in Wyoming's House of Representatives from 2008 to 2017 and ran in the primary against Liz Cheney for a seat in the US House. Stubson said she first witnessed Christian nationalism in 2016 while campaigning for her husband at a monster-truck rally. A man they greeted who was wearing a cross necklace and a "God bless America" shirt said he would vote for him if he kept a certain group of people out of office, using a racial slur. The man proceeded to make racist and xenophobic statements. "I now understand the ugliness I heard was part of a current of Christian nationalism fomenting beneath the surface," Stubson wrote. Christian nationalism can be described as the belief that the US is a Christian nation and that the government should work to ensure it stays that way. While the concept is still on a historical decline as Americans, in general, continue to become less religious, experts say the ideology has experienced a resurgence of support over the past decade or so, particularly among conservatives and the far right. Critics of Christian nationalism, which also includes Christians, say the concept distorts both American and Christian values. But the movement has gained traction in US national politics, including open expressions of support from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and not-so-subtle allusions to the concept by former President Donald Trump and Rep. Lauren Boebert. Stubson said Christian nationalism has now taken such a strong hold over Wyoming that on many Sundays it's unclear if she's listening to "a sermon or a stump speech." She also said there is a growing group of new lawmakers who embrace Christian nationalism in Wyoming's legislature, adding that a third of Wyoming's House members align with the Freedom Caucus, which she described as "a noisy group unafraid to manipulate Scripture for political gain under a banner of preserving a godly nation." Stubson said the rise in Christian nationalism has subverted Wyoming's roots as a "live-and-let-live cowboy culture," which itself is enshrined in law as the state code. As "God, guns, and Trump" has become "the new trinity" in Wyoming, Stubson said it's led to "bad church and bad law." Have a news tip? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Yall probably heard of me, Ga. commissioner says during arrest on child molestation charges An Effingham County Commissioner was arrested on child molestation charges earlier in May, stemming from a January investigation by the county sheriff. Reginald Reggie Loper of Springfield, 84, is the District 4 commissioner in Effingham County. Loper was booked into the Effingham County Jail on May 17, according to jail records, facing charges of child molestation and misdemeanor sexual battery. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] New footage of his arrest, captured on camera at the sheriffs office and obtained by WJCL, shows him referencing his elected position while in custody of law enforcement officers. Im Reggie Loper. Yall probably heard of me, Loper says on video. I have been a commissioner for 19 years. As previously reported by Channel 2 Action News, the Effingham County Sheriffs Office asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse on Jan. 9, eventually leading to the charges. He also told deputies that We built this new jail and all. TRENDING STORIES: The Effingham County Sheriffs Office told Channel 2 Action News Loper bonded out several hours after he was processed at the county jail. As far as Lopers status with the Board of Commissioners, the countys spokesman said they have no comment on his situation. The next board meeting is Tuesday, the spokesman said. It is up to him if he attends. According to a spokeswoman from the GBI, the investigation is ongoing and active, with no new updates to report. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: New York professor sacked after threatening to chop up reporter with a machete Professor Shellyne Rodriguez holds a machete to Reuven Fenton's neck - YouTube A New York art professor who allegedly threatened to chop a reporter with a machete has been sacked. Shellyne Rodriguez, 45, was caught on video pushing a machete towards the neck of Reuven Fenton, a New York Post reporter, after he knocked on the door of her Bronx flat for an interview. The professor reportedly shouted at the journalist: "Get the f--- away from my door, or Im going to chop you up with this machete. She then allegedly chased the journalist into the street. A New York Police Department spokesman told The Telegraph she was arrested on Thursday morning and has been charged with menacing and harassment. Mr Fenton had approached Ms Rodriguez for comment after she was filmed destroying a students anti-abortion display. The former Hunter College professors obscenity-laced tirade went viral. Reporter 'just wanted to speak to passionate woman' Mr Fenton described his encounter on Fox News, telling host Sean Hannity: "We just wanted to speak to this woman. "We thought we might have a chance, given that she's obviously passionate about her beliefs, and maybe if we showed up to her door she'd be willing to grant us an interview. This was a first for me." She surrendered to the police on Thursday morning. Her dismissal was announced in a statement to the New York Post. Vince Dimiceli, Hunter College spokesman, said: Hunter College strongly condemns the unacceptable actions of Shellyne Rodriguez and has taken immediate action. Rodriguez has been relieved of her duties at Hunter College effective immediately and will not be returning to teach at the school. It also emerged that Ms Rodriguez, an adjunct professor of art at Hunter College, is suing the New York Police Department, alleging she sustained nerve damage when she was arrested during a George Floyd protest in June 2020. The professor helped to organise anti-police protests in New York after the death of Floyd. She is suing the NYPD, claiming she suffered nerve damage while being apprehended and put in a police van during a demonstration. 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. Young people 'should never be at home' if they want to be successful professionally, NYU professor says Gen Z is shaking up the workplace. Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images Young people "should never be at home" if they're seeking professional and romantic success. This is according to NYU professor Scott Galloway who has previously shunned remote working habits. Billionaire CEO Elon Musk also recently called remote working "morally wrong." Young people are getting flack for working from home again, with one professor saying it adversely affects their professional and romantic success. Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at the New York University Stern School of Business, spoke about the perils of being at home at The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit, on Wednesday. A clip posted by The Journal on TikTok shows Galloway saying: "You should never be at home. That's what I tell young people. Home is for seven hours of sleep and that's it. The amount of time you spend at home is inversely correlated to your success professionally and romantically. You need to be out of the house." In another clip at the same event, the professor insisted that success and work-life balance do not go hand in hand. He said: "You can have it all. You just can't have it all at once. And while we all know that guy or gal who has a great relationship with their parents, is in amazing shape, has a food blog, donates time at the ASPCA, and is a DJ on the weekends, assume you are not that person. "If you expect to be in the top 10% economically, much less the top 1%, buck up. Two decades plus, of nothing but work. That's my experience." Insider contacted Galloway via email for further comment but did not immediately hear back. Galloway has long been an advocate of office working and shunned remote working habits because it hinders young people's ability to build relationships and network. He previously advised young workers: "Before you collect dogs and spouses, get into the office, establish mentors, establish friends," in an interview with CNN. He added that workers who get promoted are the ones with the best relationships at work. Billionaire CEO Elon Musk is also on a crusade against remote workers and called the practice "morally wrong," in a recent interview with CNBC. Musk has incorporated this value across his various companies including giving Tesla employees an ultimatum to either quit or return to the office last year. He also called Twitter employees back to the office 40 hours a week shortly after his $44 billion takeover. However, remote working may be here to stay. Around 55% of remote workers in the US said they are willing to take a pay cut to continue working from home, a recent poll by The Washington Post found. Read the original article on Business Insider Young people worry about social media too. Their concerns would surprise many adults. Young people who regularly use social media have differing and nuanced opinions about how growing up as adolescents with the world at their fingertips affected their mental health. While students widely agree that social media is vital for staying connected with friends and family in an increasingly digital world, they recognize that there are aspects of the most popular social platforms that have negative impacts. Two school districts in York County recently decided to join a lawsuit that would restrict young peoples use of social media. As of early this week, school districts in Clover and Fort Mill, SC have joined the lawsuit. The lawsuits associate the use of social media with mental problems in young people. Clover, Fort Mill schools in South Carolina join lawsuit against social media sites Students have their own perceptions, and heres what some of them have to say. High school senior Jenna Lincomfelt has friends and family who dont live within visiting distance. Social media gives her a link to relationships from which she would otherwise be isolated. Theyre busy and Im really busy, so we usually dont have time to necessarily talk, Lincomfelt says. Instead, I can make a quick post or say something on my Instagram story, which gives us a way to communicate about events going on in my life. Also, social media has become vital for students with especially packed schedules. It helps them stay up to date with student groups, many of which use social media to share information. I wouldnt know about half of the school events or my club meetings if it wasnt for me having Instagram, Lincomfelt said. Developing real-life skills Olivia Carr, a first-year graphic communications major at Clemson University, says social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have helped her develop media literacy and videography skills that can be highly useful in todays digital marketplace. Videography comes into play with my degree program, so when I have to do that down the line, I already have some experience, Carr said. Reece Weslock, who is studying music in Columbia at the University of South Carolina, has found an intersection between practicality and community through social media. He said he uses platforms such as Instagram to share musical compositions and develop a following of like-minded creators. That also helps him establish professional connections and form friendships. Feeling less isolated but hurting productivity Students widely agree that, during quarantine and thereafter, social media was crucial to meeting people with similar interests and it helped them feel less isolated. Lincomfelt talked about how something as small as seeing a post of your friends that doesnt include you has caused students to become needlessly anxious and even ruined friendships. The convenience of social platforms also leads students to engage in online banter rather than face-to-face conversation. There can be a lot of miscommunication because of that, said Lincomfelt. In addition to social stressors, students also are concerned with how addiction to popular platforms can negatively affect their productivity. Weslock found that a childhood of social media dependency now manifests itself in his adult life as a five-minute visit to an app can turn into a multiple-hour venture. You can be on it for a long time and lose a lot of hours in the day, Weslock says. Cassie Cole, a senior at Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill, echoes Weslocks experience. We have no sense of time anymore. Ill go on TikTok for a break while studying, and before long, itll be midnight. Ill think, OK, where did four hours go? Cole also is concerned with how the quick and easily digestible structure of social media ruins students attention spans and makes it more difficult to complete other tasks. Were so addicted to the dopamine hit because were seeing these thirty-second videos that give us what we want very quickly, so its harder to stay focused on things that are longer than those thirty seconds, Cole says. Engagement tricks, unrealistic standards The addictive elements of the popular platform Snapchat have even started making money off its users. Carr said she believes engagement tricks such as Snapchat streaks may not be healthy for teenagers. When should kids get to use social media? We want to hear from parents and students Snapchat keeps track of whether users communicate with the app daily, and if you do, your streak with that friend increases by a day. Some young people sign on to Snapchat daily just to prevent losing their streaks. It has become an expectation among many students that the length of your streak with someone is a representation of the strength of your friendship. That creates anxiety around maintaining an online presence and, by extension, maintaining relationships. When Carr missed a day of streaks on Snapchat, the app prompted her to buy them back. I had to pay a dollar to restore my Snapchat streaks. Thats ridiculous, Carr says. Social media also has garnered a reputation as a hub for promoting unrealistic standards. Students recognize that they are impressionable, and the emphasis that social media places on image can be harmful to a young persons self perception. We see a ton of influencers on social media, and a lot of the time, theyre overdramatizing their lives or editing their pictures, Lincomfelt said. When people (especially those our age) see that, it can really bring down their self esteem. They think, why isnt my life like that? or why dont I look like that? The difference between what is real and what isnt may be a relatively easy distinction for an adult, but students have observed themselves and their peers being susceptible to poor self image because of standards presented by social media. With alarming issues such as addiction and mental health on the line, students are open to discussions about what role social media should play in the lives of teenagers. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said she will travel to Singapore and Brunei in June in hopes of learning best practices in education from both countries. Duterte said the trips are part of her tenure as president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). SEAMEO was established in 1965 to "promote regional cooperation in education, science and culture" in Southeast Asia. "Hopefully, we will be able to learn from the two country's best practices in the area of education and the other SEAMEO member countries," Duterte said in her speech at a Department of Education (DepEd) event on Thursday. No details on the exact dates or agenda of the visits have been released. Duterte, meanwhile, disclosed that the DepEd has been meeting with Official Development Assistance (ODA) partners, who have given insights and suggestions about priority interventions and key reforms for the countrys basic education sector. She also said local partners have expressed support for DepEd's newly launched MATATAG Agenda, which refers to the targets of the DepEd. Among the priority interventions to support the agenda are financial programs for both personnel and learners, improved facilities and structures, digitalization, and strengthening literacy programs. "Through the MATATAG agenda, our learners will recognize that true learning is an ongoing process and that they never stop growing and developing as individuals," Duterte said. "They will remain committed to continuous self-improvement and self-reflection, finding ways to improve and expand their own knowledge and skills so that they can better support those around them," she added. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is sending mixed signals about a potential 2024 presidential bid as questions surface about the viability of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP primary. Youngkin raised eyebrows last week when his political arm rolled out a video that had all the trappings of a presidential campaign spot. And on Monday, Axios reported the governor was considering a 2024 bid amid encouragement from donors after he said last month he would not get on the presidential campaign trail in 2023. Novembers state legislature races in Virginia will pose a significant test for Youngkin, likely pushing any 2024 entrance to the end of the year. But others say questions surrounding DeSantiss candidacy are drawing attention to the Virginia governor. I think hes a very attractive alternative, said veteran GOP strategist Saul Anuzis. He has a different style and different demeanor, one that I think is appealing to a lot of voters and a lot of activists and donors who are looking to win the election. Winnability is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for folks. But Youngkins team has maintained this week that the governor is laser-focused on Virginia ahead of what is expected to be a hard-fought legislature battle in November. Anzuis told The Hill that Youngkin echoed this message in conversations this week at the Republican Governors Association meeting in Austin, Texas. He was very disciplined in the sense that he kept saying Im focused on Virginia, Anusiz said. A source familiar with Youngkins political operation echoed this sentiment. These races really matter for the direction of the state, the source said. Thats the focus and future considerations will be made down the road. Earlier this month, Youngkin made headlines when he said he was not preparing to head out on the presidential trail in 2023. Im going to be working in Virginia this year, the governor said. And so our House and Senate are up for full reelection this year. We have a House thats controlled by Republicans and a Senate thats controlled by Democrats. However, his remarks left the door open for speculation about whether Youngkin would jump into the race just before next year. But running at the end of 2023 would be logistically challenging given filing deadlines and the time and effort that goes into building a presidential campaign infrastructure. This has been going on for some time now where he doesnt get in but he doesnt definitively pull himself out, said veteran Virginia political analyst Bob Holsworth. This is sort of a big long shot, Holsworth continued. There are a lot of moving parts that would have to break his way. Last week, Youngkin and his team raised eyebrows when his political operation rolled out a video showing footage of a recent address the governor delivered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. The slickly produced video featured images and footage that appeared to compare the Virginia governor to former President Reagan. In the one-minute spot, Youngkin muses about ushering in a new era of American values. But others say drawing a correlation between the video and any potential presidential aspirations is reading too much into Youngkins appearance at the library, which many national Republicans visit. He was there to talk about Virginia, which is what he did, said veteran GOP strategist Doug Heye. If he were in Iowa, all right, thats slightly different. He put out a video that yes, its well produced and it should be well produced. And he has a good comms team for that. A good digital team. Its also worth noting the ad agency Poolhouse produces ads and videos for Youngkin and the pro-DeSantis PAC Never Back Down. On Tuesday, Youngkins super PAC released an ad on education and parents rights, which is part of a six-figure ad buy that will run in battleground districts across Virginia over the next six weeks. This is one example of how Youngkins political operation says it will pull out all the stops ahead of Novembers elections, which the source close to the operation likened to pushing a boulder up a hill. Its a hard map, the source said. You have a bunch of seats that Youngkin won and that [Republican] congressional candidates lost in 2022, the source said. You have some seats that Youngkin lost and that [Republican] congressional candidates lost in 2021 and 2022. Shortly after Youngkins video at the Reagan Library was released, he rolled out endorsements for 19 general assembly candidates, including six candidates facing contested primaries. The governor weighed in on a bunch of primaries because we have a great opportunity if we have really strong candidates, the source close to Youngkins political operation said. Polls show former President Trump leading the GOP primary pack with DeSantis coming in second place heightening the stakes for Youngkin and his ability to break through if he indeed plunges into the primary field. Speculation from a political standpoint is always interesting and makes for a good story, Anuzis said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Before Johns Hopkins University graduates moved their tassels to the left on Thursday, they were sent off with a virtual livestream from a surprise commencement speaker: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The United States has also not lost a single day in helping Ukraine repel the Russian aggression, Zelenskyy said. President [Joe] Biden, a strong bipartisan coalition in Congress and most of all the American people have risen to this occasion and are leading the free world to secure freedom in Europe. In his speech, Zelenskyy focused on the importance of time, a resource he said is more valuable than oil, uranium or lithium. The Ukrainian leader also spoke on how he recently visited the frontlines in his country, a trip in which he spoke with soldiers who have similar backgrounds in schooling to those graduating at Johns Hopkins, while others can only dream of such an educational opportunity. Unlike American students, young Ukrainians dont have as much control over the time they have due to ongoing attacks from Russia, he said. Will our air defense systems be able to save all the lives at risk? What moment in the battle can be the most risky and which one could be decisive? And how long will this war last? Zelenskyy said. We're trying to get a grip on the time of our lives, what is happening to us. The United States has been a key ally for Ukraine throughout the war, sending tens of billions of dollars in military aid to the country in lockstep with European allies. Among the most significant equipment earmarked for Kyiv include Patriot air defense systems and Abrams tanks, and Biden recently announced a joint international effort to begin training Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets. Anne Applebaum, a senior fellow at the SNF Agora Institute and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, as well as being a staff writer at The Atlantic who has written extensively about the war in Ukraine and has interviewed Zelenskyy, introduced the Ukrainian leader. Following the address, Zelenskyy was awarded with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the university. Its Zelenskyys first commencement speech since May 2022, three months after Russia invaded his country. In a video address to Stanford graduates, he outlined how the West can support Ukraine and urged students to pursue their passions, as many draftees into the war wont have the chance to attend college. Zelenskyy on trade with the EU and restrictions: Domestic policy should not overlap common goals President Volodymyr Zelenskyy considers the continuation of trade liberalisation for Ukrainian products in the European Union for another year to be a new stage in the sectoral integration of the Ukrainian economy into the European one, although certain restrictions may remain. Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the evening address on 25 May Quote from Zelenskyy: "The EU Council's decision is an important one for Ukraine, as it has extended trade liberalisation for Ukrainian products for another year. In fact, this means the complete abolition of duties and quotas by June 2024. This is a new stage in the sectoral integration of our economy - Ukraine and the entire European Union - that will definitely make us all stronger in Europe. As we move towards the European Union, we must make this liberalisation, which is still temporary, permanent, and without any exceptions or restrictions. Which is actually in line with the spirit of a united and free Europe, without barriers." Details: Zelenskyy thanked the European partners for this decision: "Everyone who wants strength and stability for the whole of Europe makes decisions like this". At the same time, the Ukrainian President noted that even after that, there is a risk that "some restrictions may still remain. If the pressure from individual governments on the EU continues". Quote from Zelenskyy: "But domestic policy should not overlap with common European goals. So, I am sure we can find a solution, in particular for farmers in Ukraine and in some neighbouring countries, that will meet our common European interests and standards." Background: On 25 May, the Council of the EU adopted a regulation that extends the suspension of all customs duties, quotas and trade protection measures on Ukrainian exports to the EU for one more year, until June 2024. At the same time, five EU states have repeatedly asked to extend restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports after June 2023, as well as to add more items to the list of prohibited goods. The European Commission may limit the import of certain agricultural goods from Ukraine after the extension of the duty-free trade regime from 5 June. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. BEDFORD No annexation. Those two words have adorned signs in areas on the outskirts of the town of Bedford for several weeks, a campaign of opposition many residents have to expanding the towns boundary lines as part of a reversion agreement that changed Bedford from a city to a town in July 2013. That outcry boiled over at Bedford Town Councils meeting Tuesday as a crowd overflowed the meeting room. Roughly a dozen residents protested the Phase II boundary adjustments that will fold in a number of areas of Bedford County land into the town limits, among those a stretch of Forest Road, the Town and Country subdivision and the North Hills neighborhood near Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital. Following an emotional public comments session, council voted 6-1 to approve an ordinance that annexes the county areas into the town limits effective July 1, a measure that according to town officials will bring in 800 to 1,000 new residents. Councilor Bruce Hartwick voted in opposition, drawing applause for a decision he said is the most important he has made on council and one he prayed over. Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller, among those who will be annexed into the town, said he was told years ago when the city reverted to a town there was nothing residents could do to halt the settlement agreement voluntarily made by then-city and county officials. Tonight, you seven can stop it. Or was the statement I heard 10 years ago true theres nothing the citizens can do about this, Miller said. The sheriff said 99% of those affected by the annexation oppose it and the agreement states the boundary adjustment is not mandatory. He said the Phase I area that folded into the town a decade ago has seen little to no business activity and questioned why the Phase II move is necessary. Tell us what is good management with our money? How many red flags do you need to stop this? Miller told council. If you can show us what you have done with Phase I and how you maxed it out, I would have a different opinion. Many residents are struggling to make ends meet and will be negatively affected by paying 28 cents of town real estate tax per $100 of assessed value on top of 41 cents of the county tax rate, according to Miller and other speakers. This vote, if you vote to do this, devastates them and it devastates the working class of this county, is what it does. What we cant wrap our heads around is if you know your community is hurting why would you go for more, to inflict more pain, to inflict more hurt, more worry and more taxes on your neighbors? Miller said. If you vote for this, what you are telling us is: we are government and we know whats best for you. Really? If you pass this, you are telling us its greed over your neighbor. Tammy Parker, the District 7 member of the Bedford County Board of Supervisors, said the county has had changes in circumstances financially, including areas of debt service for the recently opened Liberty Middle School and solid waste disposal, since the reversion agreement became effective. She said the council has an avenue to not go through with the second phase of boundary adjustments. Judy Hylton, a retired county resident on fixed income, said if annexed she will pay at least $2,000 in added taxes per year and believes it serves no purpose. We are being held hostages because of poor financial management of this town over the years, Hylton said. Now we have to bail out the town knowing that 99% of the residents said no to annexation. John Ketwig, a retired Bedford resident also affected, blasted the increase in taxes. This thing stinks to high heaven. This is highway robbery, Ketwig said. If you vote yes, dont say yes, say stick em up because thats what it amounts to. A few other residents said they couldnt afford the extra expense, one calling the added taxation tyranny and the reversion a horrible deal. Forest Road resident David Hardey, speaking on behalf of his parents, retired teachers and senior citizens who will have an 87% increase in taxes, asked council how they would feel if he showed up at their door demanding an extra $1,400 from each of them. Im asking you do the honorable thing and vote this down, Hardey said. My parents were here way before this thing went down, this agreement from city to town. Honor them. Ed Miller, a Daleville resident who owns land on Forest Road, said no one in America should have to choose between paying for their medication and taxes, imploring council to consider the people. Bedford town resident Cindy Gunnoe was the only speaker in favor of the boundary adjustment, pointing out that since reversion most of her tax dollars have gone to the county not staying in town to pay for the towns needs. Im very sorry that your taxes are going to get raised basically we are all set up as pawns in this annexation game that was set up with the whole reversion agreement and thats an unfortunate situation, Gunnoe said. Councilors Robert Carson and Hartwick each said they have lost sleep over the decision. When I took this seat, it was not about hurting anyone, it was about helping everyone I could, Carson said. Carson said some people have cussed him out in anger rather having a conversation and he feels the situation could have been avoided if better dialogue and discussion had gone into a process that was outlined years ago. Were not trying to do anything underhanded or illegal. I have prayed and have asked God to help me make the right decision, Carson said. However this goes, I certainly hope some of you will do some soul searching because we did not deserve the cussings we got. If youre going to hate me when this is over, however it goes, you go ahead because I have already felt the hate. For all of you who did that I forgive you. I know where you are coming from. Councilor Darren Shoen added: The bottom line is I was elected by the current residents of this town, and I have to do what is best for the current residents of this town and theres no question this is. Under the reversion agreement the county and town each received things that were mutually agreed on and two government bodies signed off on it, Councilor Stacey Hailey said. We didnt create this wheel, Hailey said of the current council while addressing the backlash: Were all grown adults. We all have to live together in this community. Vice Mayor C.G. Stanley was the only member of the former city council serving when the reversion agreement was reached and went into effect. He said city leaders more than a decade ago got word that lawmakers in Richmond didnt want small independent cities such as Bedford at the time and the late Lacey Putney, a high-ranking state legislator at the time, planted the seed for reversion talks between city and county officials. It is not anything the council came up with. We did not brainstorm it, not a bolt of lightning that came out of the sky. It was from Richmond. Thats where it got started, Stanley said. Were taking all the name calling, the daggers, the incoming fire I get it. Im fine with that. But I just want you all to know there were two sides to this. Councilor Bruce Johannessen said town residents pay $5 million per year to Bedford County in local taxes since the reversion and the town is frugal in how it spends, and residents 65 and older can apply for tax relief under certain conditions. We dont just throw money around and walk away from it, Johannessen said. We dont waste money. Mayor Tim Black said the county has benefited tremendously from the reversion deal. Three words: voluntary settlement agreement, Black said. No one was forced to enter into this agreement. Black said $6 million the county receives for a 15-year period that has gone toward schools and $5 million to the county through town residents taxes would add 11 cents to the countys real estate tax rate if reversion hadnt occurred. The town has nothing to do with how that influx in state money and added tax revenue has been handled on the countys and schools sides, he said. He further added he has been in talks with developers about hundreds of housing units coming into the town and residential growth is a linchpin for more commercial development as well. The reversion-related growth is part of improving the towns demographics, Black said. Its a known fact national retailers are not going to look at a community unless you have 10,000 people in it, Black said. Black said hes sorry there is anger and tensions in the community and he respects everyone who spoke on a decision that was not easy. This town will be committed to providing you the same level of service to current town residents, Black told those who will be annexed. As a taxpayer I know I get value for the 28 cents from the Town of Bedford. I dont know I am going to get that for the 41 cents from Bedford County. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Lynchburg law enforcement will have a new tool beginning Friday to combat what city leaders are calling an uptick in juvenile crime, after Lynchburg City Council voted Tuesday night to approve a citywide curfew for minors ahead of the summer release of the citys school division. Council voted 6-1 to approve the curfew, with Vice Mayor Chris Faraldi in opposition. The ordinance will go into effect on Friday at 8 a.m., however the curfew will not effectively take place until 11 p.m. Friday night. The adopted ordinance will place a curfew on anyone 17 and younger in the Hill City between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Council adopted a sunset clause on the ordinance as well, meaning the curfew law will expire Dec. 1 unless other action is taken to extend or shorten it. The curfew closely tracks Charlottesvilles curfew ordinance, which has stood up to Virginia appellate court reviews, City Attorney Matthew Freedman said Tuesday. According to the ordinance, any violation of the curfew shall be punishable as a Class IV misdemeanor, which carries a $250 fine, Lynchburgs Commonwealths Attorney Bethany Harrison said. However, Harrison and Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema said the fine is mostly for the parents who knowingly allow their child to violate curfew. They added violations of the curfew by minors who do not have any involvement in the juvenile court system will likely be deferred out of the court system to various programs in the juvenile and domestic relations court. Its not a heavy-handed ordinance where we come in and see how many people we can lock up, Zuidema said. Not my goal and I dont think the goal of anybody who has been involved in this. In prior interviews, both Zuidema and Harrison positioned the curfew as simply a tool in the toolbox of local law enforcement, providing them the opportunity to get out and speak to juveniles who are out on the streets past curfew and investigate if other criminal activity is afoot. But Zuidema did say Tuesday night that the curfew will provide help to get the worst of the worst off the streets, saying juveniles with a history of violent crime who violate the curfew will trigger a condition in their probation allowing the department to bring them in. While council issued a decisive vote on the curfew, Tuesdays discussion spread out over both councils work session and regular evening meeting was extremely in-depth, as council wrestled with balancing the need to address public safety amongst young people and protecting their civil liberties. Faraldi, who was the lone vote of opposition, said he didnt think this council was elected to adopt, Ill say, police-state styled approaches to crime in the city. I think we should be taking a more strategic approach into truly prioritizing and emphasizing excellence and investment in our law enforcement personnel so they are the best equipped to go out and do their jobs and put people behind bars who need to be put behind bars, he added. Providing research he sought out since the May 9 meeting, where the curfew was originally proposed, Faraldi said he did not think the outcome of the curfew was going to meet the expectation. In many ways, I believe this has a high probability of causing more problems than it solves, the vice mayor said. He also brought up other issues with the process of the curfew ordinance, such as pointing out council moved rather quickly on its adoption without proper public input and a lack of sufficient public awareness period ahead of Fridays effective date, but other members of council positioned the curfew simply as a test for the upcoming months. Again, this [is] a test, Ward III Councilor Jeff Helgeson said. Weve heard from people that say, Oh it doesnt work, or it does work. I really hope in this six months that the police officers take this really serious and really use this as a great tool and in six months its not needed anymore because the bad apples are removed. A moment of contention during the curfew debate came when At-large Councilor Larry Taylor, who originally proposed the curfew, questioned Faraldi on where he lived after the vice mayor said he did not support the curfew. Taylor, a resident of White Rock Hill, said I still live downtown, I talk to people downtown. My constituents asked me for a curfew, theyre gonna get one. ... You dont have 15, 16-year-olds out in your neighborhood, walking around doing whatever they want to do after midnight, OK? I do. Faraldi pushed back saying hes lived all over the city, but said he saw issues in the curfew based upon the language saying officers may charge the minor with a violation and not shall. Lets be honest about what this is, he said. Its a $250 fine that says to our law enforcement that they may or may not stop a young person and so the law enforcement officer now has to make a decision about why I should stop Chris Faraldi at 15-years-old, potentially, or Larry Taylor at 15-years-old. Now ultimately ... if we have to put officers in that situation, it says may issue a citation. ... If youre going to make a rule, make it apply across the board, he argued. Zuidema said during the work session it was his recommendation to change it to may instead of shall because officers have no discretion under shall language. ... [Shall] means we will lock up and arrest every juvenile that is out between 11 [p.m.] and 5 [a.m.], period, if they are not within any of these exceptions, the chief said. That is not what I think we need to be doing as a police department or as a community. Ultimately, council approved the ordinance with may language, giving officers discretion upon each stop, with Helgeson, Mayor Stephanie Reed, Ward I Councilor MaryJane Dolan and Ward II Councilor Sterling Wilder all advocating for it to stay that way. While Wilder questioned the efficacy of the curfew, he later said in the meeting he understands the need for it and had many of his questions answered on Tuesday. Misjuns, who threw his support behind the curfew nearly immediately, continued to push city leaders to provide monthly reports on its effectiveness in order to measure its impact on crime. But he also provided his perspective as a former first responder with the Lynchburg Fire Department. Ive been there when youve had a couple teenagers with bullet holes in their chests and theyre hanging on for dear life ... and its always in the middle of the night, he said. Its another tool in the toolbox ... but I believe the seven of us up here are wise enough to look at the information and if ... down the road we realize its not doing at all what we intended it to do, we can repeal it, Misjuns added. Mayor Reed put her support behind the curfew after saying it seems like the first step in addressing juvenile crime, but said more conversations need to be had on the issue of crime. Even with the stigma the word curfew brings, Reed stressed the fact that councils intentions are good. I think everyones intentions are good here, I really do believe that, she said. Addressing the crowd remaining in council chambers well into the evening, the mayor encouraged the community to come together around the curfew to help curb violent crime. This is a community effort ... she said. If you guys, as the example of those who are willing to come be a part of the solution ... can get out and encourage others to say, hey, this is our city, lets all come together, that can make a big difference. To view the full curfew ordinance, visit the citys website at lynchburgva.gov/city-council-meetings-video-minutes-agendas and download the May 23 work session agenda packet. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Lynchburgs Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic could soon bear the name of a local military hero with the help of a Virginia congressman, who introduced a bill Thursday that would rename the clinic to honor the subject of the award-winning movie Hacksaw Ridge. Virginias 5th District Rep. Bob Good presented a bill Thursday that proposes Lynchburgs Veterans Affair outpatient clinic, located at 1600 Lakeside Drive, be named after Lynchburg native Desmond T. Doss, a famous medic in the U.S. Army during World War II who later became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Doss was a Seventh-Day Adventist who became a medic in the Army, saving at least 75 lives during the Battle of Hacksaw Ridge in Okinawa, Japan. Aside from receiving numerous awards from the military for his service, Doss story was famously portrayed in the two-time Academy Award-winning film Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson. Goods bill would change the name of the clinic in Lynchburg to be known as Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic, according to the resolution. The brave men and women in uniform who have given so much to defend our country and preserve our freedoms deserve to be honored and remembered, Good said in a statement. Heroes like Desmond Doss forged legacies that are more than worthy of commemoration. I can think of no better way to honor him in Lynchburg than to put his name on the VA clinic which serves the veterans to whom our community is so indebted. Goods resolution comes with the support of two local veteran groups: The Lynchburg Area Veterans Council and the local Military Order of the Purple Heart, according to a spokesperson for the congressman. Celebrations of his legacy are nothing new to the Lynchburg community, who has honored the medic with an annual Desmond T. Doss Day on Oct. 12 every year since 2019. Numerous other recognitions of Doss are spread throughout the area, such as the historical highway marker on Campbell Avenue, a school Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy bears his name, a portion of U.S. 501 is named after him near Peaksview Park and theres also a marker about halfway up the Monument Terrace steps in downtown Lynchburg in his honor. Additionally, the Lynchburg Area Veterans Council turned Doss childhood home on Garfield Avenue into a house for area veterans who have become homeless. The name change for the clinic will go into effect as soon as its passed by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, according to Goods bill. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Virginia State Police is investigating a morning crash that occurred on May 21 in Campbell County that resulted in one fatality, according to a news release from the department. According to state police, the crash occurred at 9:30 a.m. on May 21 on Virginia 615, about 400 feet south of Virginia 24, where they said a 2014 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited motorcycle was traveling north on Virginia 615 when it crossed the center line, ran off the left side of the road and struck a mailbox. Police said the motorcyclist, Bennie L. Franklin, 72, of Rustburg, died at the scene. He was wearing a helmet. An adult female passenger on the motorcycle was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries, VSP said. The police are investigating a medical emergency as a possible factor in the cause of the crash, according to the release. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Virginia woman who left the United States for more than a decade with her child to avoid sharing custody of her daughter with her former partner says her lawyer suggested she flee. In a document filed May 19 in federal court in Vermont as part of a long-running civil case, Lisa Miller outlined what led her to leave the country in September 2009 with her then 7-year-old daughter when it was becoming clear she would lose custody of the girl to her former partner Janet Jenkins of Fair Haven, Vermont. The filing is the latest chapter in a more than two-decade-long legal saga that began in 2000 when Miller and Jenkins were joined in a Vermont civil union, the first statewide legal recognition of same-sex couples. Their daughter, Isabella, was born to Miller in 2002. The couple split up in 2003. The Vermont family court gave custody of Isabella to Miller, but gave Jenkins regular visitation. Over the years Miller wouldnt comply with the court ordered visitations. There were a series of legal decisions as Miller sought full custody that went against her in favor of Jenkins. Miller said in her statement that during a summer 2009 meeting with attorney Rena Lindevaldsen to discuss upcoming appeals in the legal case, Lindevaldsen said something like I am going to take my lawyer hat off now and put on my friend hat. Lindevaldsen then asked Miller about leaving, telling me that if Isabella was her child then she would leave," Miller said in the statement. She pressed the issue, and I told her that I was leaving if plans would solidify but that no date was set. At the end of the meeting Miller said Lindevaldsen offered to take care of her financial needs after she left using proceeds from a book about the case Lindevaldsen was planning to write. The book, Only One Mommy, was published in 2011. Lindevaldsen, who describes herself as a defender of traditional marriage, is a law professor at the Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia. Lindevaldsen's biography on the school website says she served as the senior litigation counsel to Liberty Counsel, which had provided legal representation to Miller until her disappearance. The counsel describes itself as a Christian ministry that is known for promoting conservative causes. In September 2009, Miller left the United States by crossing the Peace Bridge at Buffalo, New York. Miller and her daughter were picked up on the Canadian side and taken to the Toronto airport where they flew to Nicaragua. Horatio G. Mihet, who is one of Lindevaldsen's attorneys and vice president of legal affairs and chief litigation counsel at Liberty Counsel, denied in an email on Tuesday that the conversation Miller recounted took place. Ms. Lindevaldsen and Liberty Counsel consistently advised Lisa Miller that she had an obligation to comply with the court orders, Mihet said. Lisa Millers decision to leave the country was without the knowledge of Ms. Lindevaldsen or Liberty Counsel. Any suggestion to the contrary is outright false. Miller's attorneys didn't respond Wednesday to a request for comment. Sarah Star, the Vermont attorney who represents Jenkins in the civil case, declined comment Wednesday when asked about the filing. The document signed by Miller and submitted to court last week was part of a settlement to a civil case filed against Miller and others by Jenkins in 2012. Miller agreed to outline her version of events that led her to flee the country. The civil suit also names Lindevaldsen, the Liberty Counsel and others. The settlement agreement and the proffer were both signed by Miller on March 21. It was included as part of a motion by Lindevaldsen and the Liberty Counsel on May 19 to have the civil suit against them dismissed. The agreement was marked confidential, but a footnote in the motion to dismiss said Miller's attorney provided it to them with Jenkins' consent, without any agreement to restrict its use, and without first seeking any protective order. In the proffer, Miller outlined what she would say during an upcoming deposition planned for later this summer. She offered details of her flight that had not previously been made public. In 2009 she was handed a slip of paper during a service at a Virginia church that had a name and a phone number, Miller said. Two days afterward, and before meeting with Lindevaldsen, she called the number and ended up meeting with two men who later helped her flee. Those two men and a third person eventually served prison sentences for helping Miller. Lisa Miller voluntarily returned to the United States from Nicaragua in January 2021 after her daughter had turned 18. She was arrested on arrival. In February 2022 Miller pleaded guilty to a single charge of international parental kidnapping. She was later sentenced to time served and has since been released. In 2021, Miller indicated in a court filing that Isabella Miller now 21, was living in Virginia and working on a farm north of Charlottesville owned by a Mennonite family. From left, UGA President Jere Morehead, University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture Interim Co-Director Jaime Camelio and University Professor George Vellidis attend the poster competition during the inaugural international conference. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) Spray drones with pinpoint accuracy, produce-picking robots, autonomous systems to monitor broiler chicken health, and artificial intelligence to predict yield before the buds have faded from the trees these are some of the solutions integrative precision agriculture promises an industry that is embracing the power of technology to address both age-old and emerging challenges. Students, scientists and agrotechnology leaders from around the world gathered May 18-19 at the University of Georgia for the first International Conference for Integrative Precision Agriculture, a multidisciplinary assemblage designed to harness collective expertise to address the challenge of feeding a global population that is expected to exceed 9 billion people by 2050, bringing with it an estimated 70% increase in food demand. Precision agriculture holds great promise to solve many of the challenges our world faces, said UGA Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost S. Jack Hu, who spearheaded the effort to establish the universitys Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture in 2022 to recruit and bring together interdisciplinary researchers to develop next-generation technologies that will provide holistic solutions to problems defined by food and agriculture industries. The institute provides a forum for ongoing interactions and brainstorming, ensuring that the connection between industry and academia persists beyond the initial identification of a problem. The institute formally brings together faculty from UGAs College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), College of Engineering, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, School of Computing and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources to harness innovations in technology and big data to sustainably provide for our planet's growing population. Simer Virk, assistant professor of crop and soil sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension precision agriculture specialist, presents during a post-conference spray drone workshop on May 19. (Photo by Mike Terrazas) Nearly 200 attendees heard from Georgia producers and industry members who discussed their most pressing needs, while U.S. and international industry leaders described potential solutions and ways for producers to learn about available technologies and how to adopt them. Jessica Brim, director of food safety for Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia, said that labor availability and labor costs are one of the primary areas where new technologies could help producers. Lewis Taylor Farms grows more than 6,500 acres of produce each year, most of which is harvested by hand. Helping farmers in the future be able to lower labor costs by having more innovation in the field having sensors on machinery to help us see if that product is ready to be harvested and to be able to pull it off the vine without losing the complete plant in the process there are so many ways we can see that could be developed to make our systems better, lower those costs and make what we grow more marketable, she said. More efficient and faster ways to gather important data on crops or livestock were top of mind for producers at the conference, said Lawton Pearson, owner of Pearson Farm, a peach and pecan producer in Fort Valley, Georgia, adding that variations in weather require a lot of guess-timation on the part of farmers when estimating crop yield. Until there is a radical shift in technology that allows us to do more of these tasks automatically, we have to continue to do a lot by hand. Day two of the conference focused on the poultry industry, increasing efficiency in production, as well as the evolving nature of consumer scrutiny on production, animal welfare and food safety. Lawton Pearson, owner of Pearson Farm, a peach and pecan producer in Fort Valley, Georgia, describes the laborious process of yield forecasting at the inaugural IIPA conference at UGA. (Photo by Maria Lameiras) Technology is going to move this industry forward and, from my perspective, I think it's going to have a huge effect from a welfare perspective on how we care for birds, said speaker Karen Christensen, senior director of animal welfare for Tyson Foods. We play a role in feeding the world and we will continue to do that but we need help understanding how we can do this using new technologies to allow us to meet this responsibility better, more efficiently, and faster. Based on the challenges discussed, faculty from the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture and industry members will network and form grassroots research teams to address these problems. "Our goal for this conference was to portray the problems that our growers are having in the state and across the Southeast and then have a list of experts from academia and from industry who can help us understand what the current state-of-the-art is in precision agriculture, said George Vellidis, University Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at CAES and an organizer of the conference. We want to identify how those technological solutions can be applied to the problems facing the state. University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue spoke to attendees about the importance of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture and the potential solutions that will come from the collaborations it inspires. In the United States we are blessed to be in a country where we have food independence. How will we continue to have that? It is going to take the technological advances, machine learning and robotic processing. Fewer people are working in agriculture in the fields today and it is going to be less in the future, Perdue said. Staying ahead of the curve for food production is vital for this nation. We look forward to the things you will discover and to the things we will discover together for humankind." OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Engineers who operate trains for Union Pacific will soon have much more predictable schedules allowing them to plan when they are going to be off, a change that addresses one of the key quality-of-life concerns that pushed the rail industry to the brink of a strike last fall. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that water Metro Manila concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad are prohibited from charging consumers for corporate income tax as they are public utilities. In a 102-page decision uploaded on its website recently, the court cited a 2002 ruling where it held that public utilities have no right to pass on to consumers their corporate income tax as operating expenses since they are the ones enjoying the privilege of earning income, not their customers. The SC further explained that while concession agreements which the two companies entered into with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) provide that they are allowed to recover Philippine business taxes and to earn a rate of return on these, this doesnt apply to corporate income taxes. As established in jurisprudence, corporate income taxes are not business taxes under Philippine law, it said in a press release on Thursday. The court said as public utilities, Manila Water and Maynilad are bound by the 12% limit on the rate of return under the MWSS charter. But despite this recent decision, the SC noted that customers may no longer recover the amount they previously paid for the concessionaires' income taxes. It said the right to a refund which must be exercised within 30 days after the rates took effect had long prescribed. Earlier, Maynilad also filed a petition for review on certiorari, arguing it is not a public utility whose rates may be questioned by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB). In 1997, waterworks and sewerage operations in Metro Manila were privatized to address the national water crisis at the time, with the east area awarded to Manila Water and the west to Maynilad. The SC held that both concessionaires are deemed public utilities since they are engaged in regularly supplying water "the most basic of all necessities for human survival to an indefinite public. Unlike an ordinary private business, public utilities cannot selectively serve a clientele, but must provide service to an indefinite public, the SC said. It also ruled that the NWRB, as the successor of the now defunct Public Service Commission with respect to water regulation, has jurisdiction on cases which challenge water rates The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reiterated the importance of the role of the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by King Mohammed VI, in confronting the dangerous policies implemented by the Israeli occupation authorities in Al-Quds Asharif. This came in the final statement, issued at the end of the extraordinary meeting of the Organizations Executive Committee, held on Wednesday in Jeddah, which discussed the continuation of the Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque. The document stressed the importance of the role of the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by the King, in confronting the dangerous policies implemented by the Israeli occupation authorities in Al-Quds Asharif, aimed at changing the identity and legal status of the city, as well as its demographic, cultural and historical composition. The extraordinary meeting, held at the request of Palestine and Jordan, and in coordination with Saudi Arabia, the current president of the Islamic Summit and chairman of the Executive Committee, also commended the role played by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency. The document affirmed that the department of Al-Quds endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque affairs, under the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments, Holy Places and Islamic Affairs, is the authority empowered to manage the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, reaffirming the right of the State of Palestine to sovereignty over the occupied city of East Al-Quds, and that Israel has no right or sovereignty over the occupied city of Al-Quds and its Islamic and Christian holy places. Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, has once again described Morocco as a strategic partner, saying it is not just any neighbor for Spain. Morocco is a strategic partner, not just any neighbor. You have to have the best relations with its neighbors, in this case Morocco, and that is what Spain has achieved, Albares stressed during a meeting organized b Las Provincias newspaper on Wednesday in Valencia. Last February, the two kingdoms held in Morocco the first High-Level Meeting (HLM) in 11 years, said the head of Spanish diplomacy, who stressed that it was the meeting that brought together the largest number of ministers from both governments, the one that resulted in the largest number of agreements that totaled 20. In this regard, Albares stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries in various areas. If we take chapters as important as trade, we have reached the record figure of 20 billion euros of exchanges, 11,000 Spanish companies export to Morocco, and 1,100 companies operate in Morocco, he said. Touching on the joint management of the phenomenon of irregular migration, the Spanish official indicated that all the European routes are increasing in an exponential and unthinkable way, with 305% via Italy, 95% via Greece, and an average drop of 75% through the Canary Islands and Andalusia. In the Joint Declaration that crowned the work of their 12th High-Level Meeting, held on February 1 and 2 in Rabat, Morocco and Spain expressed their commitment to perpetuate the relations of excellence that have always united them and reaffirmed their will to permanently enrich them. The meeting highlighted by the signing of several cooperation agreements in various fields, such as migration management, tourism, infrastructure, water resources, the environment, agriculture, vocational training, social security, transport, health security and research and development. In another development, the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) underlined that Morocco is the most important trading partner of Spain in Africa, thanks to its strategic position and stability. Morocco is our great southern neighbor, gateway to the African continent. Its geographical location, between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, makes the kingdom a country of crucial importance, both by its proximity to Europe and its location in the Maghreb region, said the CEOE in a framework note, published on the occasion of the holding, Monday in Madrid, of a Moroccan-Spanish business meeting, with the participation of more than 150 business leaders from both countries. The economic ties between Spain and Morocco, favored by geographical proximity and regular official contacts, generate an intense commercial activity and investment, said the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations, recalling that agreements between Rabat and Madrid aim to promote a framework more conducive to the development of trade and cooperation. The CEOE also pointed out that the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the European Union and Morocco, in force since 2000, has created a free trade area between the two parties, with significant tariff reductions, and has promoted access of Moroccan agricultural products to the Spanish and European markets. Morocco and Spain adopted a new roadmap on April 7, 2022, during the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Morocco at the invitation of King Mohammed VI. The two countries have then committed, among other things, to address issues of common interest in a spirit of trust and consultation while reactivating the working groups set up between the two countries to revive multi-sectoral bilateral cooperation. And now, the roadmap is bearing fruit! Earlier this May, Fitch downgraded Egypts sovereign rating to B with a negative outlook. Three of the four banks, whose ratings it downgraded, are public banks exposed to the state. Rating agency Fitch downgraded on May 17 the credit ratings of four major Egyptian banks, namely The National Bank of Egypt (NBE), Banque Misr, Banque du Caire, and Commercial International Bank, ecofinagency.com reported. NBE and Banque Misr are respectively the largest and fourth-largest banks in Africa by assets ($193.53 billion and $114.22 billion in assets respectively as of December 31, 2022). The Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) and Viability Ratings of these four Egyptian banks have been lowered from B+ to B with a negative outlook. According to Fitch, these ratings are closely related to the recent downgrade of Egypts sovereign rating to B with a negative outlook in early May. They reflect a more difficult operating environment for these banks, due to their high exposure to the government, but also the pressure on the banks liquidity. The four banks mentioned above have significant exposure to the government through holdings in Egyptian government debt and loans to public sector companies, the agency explained, noting that the total exposure of the Egyptian banking sector to the government and the broader public sector is estimated to be close to 75 percent of total assets, or about 11 times banks equity at end-2022. As for the tight liquidity conditions for these Egyptian banks, they are explained by the recurrent capital shortages of Egyptian banking institutions. Fitch explains that the depreciation of the local currency, the Egyptian pound, a few months ago, has led to the decline of the average Tier 1 capital ratio (CET1) of the Egyptian banking sector by 180 basis points to 11.1% at the end of 2022. This is expected to put some pressure on banks core capital ratios in 2023, mainly arising from further currency depreciation and MTM losses, Fitch wrote. Taking the analysis a step further, the rating agency estimates that a 10% currency depreciation would erode these four banks CET1 ratios by 30bp on average. Fitch also lowered the government support ratings (GSR) of the four banks from B to B-, reflecting the weaker capacity of the government to provide support, particularly in foreign currency (FC), which caps the domestic systemically important bank (D-SIB) GSR for Egyptian banks at b-, one notch below the sovereign rating. The Arab parliament has urged Morocco to make available its experience and know-how in the automobile industry to other Arab countries so the latter can set up robust automobile industries, Le360.ma reports. The call came Tuesday from members of the Committee of the Arab Parliament in charge of scientific research, innovation and digital during a meeting between the Arab Parliament and House of Councilors of Morocco the upper house of the kingdoms legislature. The Arab Parliament delegation was headed by its Speaker Adel bin Abdurrahman Al-Assoomi. The Committee also urged the North African country to consider the construction of a shipyard on its soil for Arab countries, the media adds. During the meeting, Ryad Mezzour, Moroccos Minister of Trade and Industry, recalled that Morocco is planning to manufacture 2 millions cars per annum. We are positioned behind China and India in automotive production, for which Morocco has adopted a strong and important strategy, he said. Mezzour also informed the Arab parliamentarians that the Kingdoms industrial integration rate now stands at 69 per cent because of the new strategy and skills of Moroccan technicians. Morocco this month lifted the curtain on two prototypes made by Moroccans in the field of the automotive sector. The first was a conventional car targeting the wider public named Neo Motors and the second was a forward-looking hydrogen-powered car. Industry represents some 25% of Moroccos GDP with the automotive sector, in particular topping manufactured exports in 2022, with 111 billion dirhams (or 11 billion dollars), up 33%. The administration of the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara denied Wednesday any wrongdoing and connection with the decision by the Electoral commission to revoke former President Laurent Gbagbo from the September local elections vote register. The West African country is again gripped in political tension after the Commission decided to remove 500 people including Gbagbo from the vote register on the grounds that the concerned people were stripped off their rights to vote by the justice. Gbagbo, leader of the opposition party Parti des Peuples Africains Cote dIvoire (PPA-CI), returned home in 2021 from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the back of a reconciliation deal. Wednesday, government spokesperson and minister of Communication Amadou Coulibaly, told the media that on the contrary to rumors, President Ouattara did not influence the decision of the Electoral Commission. I dont see how the executive could decide to register any individual since more than 500 have been deregistered. And this is not new. I mean, this non-existence on the electoral list is not new. So I dont see why anyone would want to make it special, Coulibaly said after a cabinet meeting. Unless I am mistaken in my definition, the IEC is indeed the Independent Electoral Commission. Since it is an Independent Commission, I do not see why the Government would interfere in the decision of the IEC. The IEC makes its decisions independently and responsibly, and it is up to every citizen to respect the institutions of his country. () Things are changing in our country. The Head of State and the current regime are doing everything possible to consolidate democracy. All those who claim to be democrats must accept the functioning of democracy, starting with respect for the independence of institutions. Media reports indicate that Gbagbo and former leader Henri Konan Bedie, who chairs another prominent opposition movement, PDCI-RDA, are in talks for a deal aiming at increasing their chances to win the September 2 polls. These negotiations and collaboration are the result of a desire for political cooperation between the two parties. By working together, the PDCI-RDA and the PPA-CI aspire to offer Ivorian citizens a credible and competitive alternative in the upcoming local elections, Linfordrome has learned from a source familiar with the talks. Two Georgian sailors captured early this month by pirates in Gabons territorial waters have been released from captivity, authorities of the European country announced Wednesday. Two Georgian sailors abducted in Gabon were freed on May 21 thanks to the efforts of Georgias foreign ministry, the Georgian embassy in South Africa, and Georgias maritime transport agency, Georgias Foreign ministrys spokeswoman, Mari Narchemashvili, told AFP. The sailors were kidnapped on 2 May when pirates attacked their ship, the Grebe Bulker, which was docked in Gabonese territorial waters, she said. The maritime transport agency right after the attack indicated the two Georgian sailors were among three people who were kidnapped. AFP learned from an anonymous source that the third person was a Russian national and captain of the vessel. The ministry official said the sailors medical condition is satisfactory, but stopped short to give details on the release and to provide ample information about the Russian skipper. Grebe Bulker, 190-meter-long bulk carrier, belongs to the American maritime transport company Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. but is flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. The attack took place less than 8 km (five miles) off the coast of the Gabonese commercial port of Owendo, in the suburbs of the capital, Libreville. The attack in Gabons territorial waters is the most recent piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea that stretches from Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The area, particularly off the coasts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, became off-late the theater of piracy activities. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, indicated in January that worldwide acts of piracy had reached their lowest level since 1992 including in the Gulf of Guinea. The bureau indicated that the number of attacks there has been on the rise since the beginning of the year, with at least two incidents reported recently and several others thwarted. The Moroccan delegation participating in the Pan-African Parliament meeting, convening in Johannesburg (South Africa), has foiled an attempt by the Polisario to put the Sahara issue on the agenda of the MPs debates. Irked and enraged by their failure, the Polisario members lashed out at the African Parliament standing committee on international relations & conflicts resolution, and disrupted its work for not addressing the Sahara issue. Moroccan MP Abdessamad Haiker, member of this Committee, told attendees the Committees reports did not mention the Sahara question because this issue falls within the UN exclusive competence and role. Mr. Haiker denounced the disturbances and disruptive behavior of the Polisario members who interrupted Moroccan MP Laila Dahi while she was speaking and exposing the lies of the separatist group about the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara. The hysteria of the Polisario members can be explained by their frustration that their propaganda is no longer working in the new world order, while Morocco is gaining a growing international support for its serious, credible and realistic autonomy plan offered for the Sahara under its sovereignty. The latest Summit of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa, has not addressed or made any reference either to the Sahara issue, respecting the UN exclusive role in handling this regional dispute. The African leaders continue to honor their political commitment and respect the resolution passed unanimously in this regard during the Nouakchott summit convened in 2018. The International Criminal Court (ICC) received a new complaint from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday (23 May), calling on it to focus on the alleged systematic pillaging of its natural resources in the countrys east by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and the M23 rebel group. The latest formal referral comes as the ICC already has an ongoing investigation into developments in eastern Congo since 2004 and it is not clear if the new referral would shift the courts focus. The DRC, the European Union and UN experts have accused neighboring Rwanda of backing the Tutsi-led M23 rebels but Kigali continues to deny any involvement. The government of the DRC remains deeply concerned about the suffering of the populations in the part of its territory affected by the acts referred to in this case, the DRC Justice Ministry said in a statement. The DRC government added that it expects the ICC would investigate and prosecute any person involved in human rights violations between 2022 and 2023. The ICC has provided no details other than that its investigation focuses on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since July 2002 in the Ituri region and the North and South Kivu provinces. The court has convicted three Congolese militia leaders, one of war crimes, the others of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in atrocities committed in the eastern DRC. The M23 rebels launched a new offensive in eastern DRC in March last year, seizing towns and villages in the area that borders Uganda, forcing more than one million people to flee. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan is expected to visit Kinshasa and Congos provinces affected by rebel groups from 28-31 May. Thousands of people demonstrated on Tuesday (23 May) in northern Ethiopias Tigray region, demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops and soldiers and the return of individuals displaced during the two-year conflict Tigray residents demand that Ethiopias allies Eritrean troops and militiamen from the neighboring Amhara region who had stayed following the cease-fire last November, are yet to leave. The war between government troops, their allies from neighboring Eritrea and the Amhara region on one side, and Tigrayan forces on the other, concluded a truce in November last year after killing tens of thousands of people. Millions were forced out from their homes, including hundreds of thousands from land disputed by Tigray and Amhara, whose security forces and fighters continue to occupy the area. Also, humanitarian groups have said that soldiers from Eritrea and the Amhara region continue to occupy northern Ethiopian regions. Eritrean government has declined to comment on the matter. The peace deal has held since November, with both sides acknowledging progress in implementing key provisions. But despite positive developments in the aftermath of the peace agreement signing, many thorny issues arose as potential obstacles in ensuring a lasting peace, most notably the contestation over Amhara-occupied territory in western Tigray, which is claimed by both Amharan and Tigrayan authorities and the presence of Eritrean forces in the territory. Foreign direct investment (FDI in Africa looks set for a strong 2023 thanks to some lucrative mining and gas projects, but an IMF report warns countries on the continent need to build resilience to manage the inevitable shifts in trade and FDI flows. After a lackluster investment climate during 2022, FDI flows into Africa are expected to pick up this year with mining and gas projects leading the way. Despite the robust growth during 2021, investment flows to Africa accounted for only 5.2% of global FDI, up from 4.1% in 2020, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2022. FDI inflows during 2022 were weaker than 2021 in the wake of the deteriorating global economic environment and security situation. However, in 2023, the limited supply of Russian oil and gas to Europe is leading European investors to look at Africa more closely, says Isaac Matshego, a South Africa-based economist at Nedbank. Therefore, we could start to see further exploration in oil and gas in Namibia and the [LNG] projects in Mozambique stalled because of security concerns there could resume. The largest holders of foreign assets in Africa remained European, led by investors in the UK ($65bn) and France ($60bn). But this relatively optimistic scenario could face challenges and the overall economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa could permanently decline if present geopolitical tensions escalate, as the recent IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa warned. The region could stand to lose the most if the world were split into two isolated trading blocs centered around the United States and the European Union or China. In this severe scenario, sub-Saharan African economies could experience a permanent decline of up to 4% of real GDP after 10 years according to IMF estimates losses larger than what many countries experienced during the Global Financial Crisis. The losses could be compounded if capital flows between trade blocs were cut off due to geopolitical tensions, stripping the region of an estimated $10 billion of FDI and official development assistance inflows. To better manage shocks, the IMF report calls on African countries to build their resilience, including by strengthening the ongoing regional trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) Some local government units (LGUs) nationwide have announced class suspensions amid heavy rains and in anticipation of Super Typhoon Mawar possibly entering the country. According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Mawar may enter the Philippines' weather monitoring area Friday evening or Saturday morning. Here are some of the LGUs that suspended classes for all levels: Cebu province Alcoy Argao Consolacion Minglanilla (until May 27 for college students) Naga City (Elementary to High School) San Fernando Talisay City (public) Isabela Echague Laguna Calamba Rizal (Nursery to Grade 12) National Capital Region Marikina (until May 27; All NSTP and other related activities set for May 28 are also suspended) Negros Occidental Cauayan Hinigaran Pampanga Macabebe Palawan Roxas Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Local entrepreneur Camille Burk believes in encouraging others in physical and nutritional health. She teaches yoga and is co-owner of the Natural Nutrition House in North Platte. Burks passion is about sharing her knowledge to guide folks into a healthy living experience. Burk was born in Atkinson, but her family moved to Colorado when she was about 5 years old. At the age of 16, they moved back to Naper, Nebraska, where she went to high school. It was hard, honestly, going from a big city to a very small town of about 100 people was difficult, she said. When I was 18, I moved here with my now husband and Ive been here since. She and husband, Michael J. Justin Burk, have three children. I love spending time with my children, who are my biggest love, Burk said. Jayla is 17, I cant believe shes 17; Jaycee is 14 and Jemma is 9. Each one of them has their own personality and I love that so much because theres never a dull moment with any of them, Burk said. Burk teaches yoga classes at the Prairie Arts Center and has been an instructor for 13 years. I love what I do, Burk said. Yoga is a combination of many things. Not only does it mean union but you can feel that union within you. It combines so much soul, power, grace, confidence, fear, strength, and embracing within to breathe in the good and exhale what does not serve you well. She said the class is uniquely me and the flow of emotion and expression that come back to her through her students is liberating. Burk started doing yoga for herself after she had her second daughter. I had just had my second baby and had gained a substantial amount of weight just like women do, Burk said. I was doing Jazzercise and I just kind of plateaued and I just could not lose any more weight and I still had 20 pounds left to lose. During a trip to Walmart, she came across a Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown video. Burk said the video was packed full of yoga and other exercises that worked your body and she lost 20 pounds in one month. Then I told my friends about it and they were coming and doing videos with me, Burk said. Then it became clear thats what I was supposed to do. I thought if a woman on a screen could help me, how many women and men can I help in person. She said yoga is very Buddhist but she does not teach Buddhism. Ive very massively a loving Christian and dont teach yoga terminology, Burk said. For me, yes, yoga is union because we come together but its also energy and strength and emotion, all wrapped into one. But for me and what I do in my class, it is a group of people strengthening from the inside out. Thats my class, thats my Yoga. The other aspect of Burks sharing healthy living is done at the Natural Nutrition House, which she and her business partner, Cheyenne Shaner, purchased in October 2022. That was a spontaneous thing, Burk said. Judy (Hoff-Lowe), the previous owner, bless her heart, was an inspiration to many people. She is a friend, a confidant and she helped so many people. Burk said she is a social person and loves to help people, so the opportunity to add the business to her repertoire was a natural move. Im healthy conscious. I love to use the natural remedies first, Burk said. The idea of seeing the Natural Nutrition House close triggered the idea of purchasing it from Hoff-Lowe. I didnt want it to stop, Burk said, so I said, well, if youre thinking of selling it, you should let me know. It wasnt long afterwards that the deal was made and expanded the impact Burk could have in the community be expanding into the area of nutrition. Its family No. 2 now and I love that, Burk said. Burk doesnt have any plans of leaving North Platte and believes the energy in the community is high. I love the community, it really is a great community, Burk said. You have so many giving factors here, so many selfless people that I have met. I dont have any plans to leave here and I dont have in my heart that I would want to right now. She said her parents are here as well and the schools and activities for her children are great. I think North Platte is stepping up its game a little bit and bringing a little more activities in some things, Burk said. Ive met many true people here. Camilles Cardio Yoga Facebook page offers information on classes and the Natural Nutrition House is located at 203 W. Sixth St. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Teenagers face enormous daily pressures that create uncertainty that sometimes leads to unfortunate and sometimes deadly decisions. The production Dead Serious About Life is coming to Gothenburg at 6 p.m. on June 3 and 3 p.m. on June 4 at the high school performing arts center. The organization began in 1989 and its parent organization Mishpachah, Inc. has taken the production across the United States to more than 150,000 people. The goal is to save lives, said Jeff Cottingham, pastor at Trinity Lutheran and local co-organizer of the event. When COVID and everything else happened, weve had a tremendous surge in alcoholism, drug abuse, things like that among teenagers, including suicide. The press release said the production is upfront, it is blunt, it is life. The story takes place at two teenagers house when their parents have left for the weekend. There are characters with different personalities and the audience will hear about their problems and the teens views about those problems throughout the evening. The issues discussed include abortion, alcohol, bullying, drugs, religion, self-esteem, sex and suicide. The play will make you laugh, cry, hurt, fear and feel, but most of all Dead Serious will make you take a second look at life, said the press release. Four churches in Gothenburg are hosting the program Trinity Lutheran, First Baptist, Cornerstone Bible and Victory Assembly. Tickets are available online for $7 in advance until May 30 or may be purchased at the door for $8 at either performance. The website at mish-inc.com offers numerous videos and information about the program. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. This past week was National Police Week. I signed onto the U.S. Senates annual resolution commemorating Police Week and officers that have fallen in the line of duty, as I do each year. Our law enforcement officers in Nebraska and across the country are vital to our countrys flourishing, and Im grateful for the opportunity to honor them. On Thursday, the Judiciary Committee passed my bipartisan bill supporting police, the Recruit and Retain Act, by a unanimous voice vote. The police staffing crisis is widespread, straining law enforcement agencies in Nebraska and throughout our country. One study by the Police Executive Research Forum found that agencies are losing police officers faster than they can hire new ones. There were 47% more resignations in 2022 than 2019, in addition to 19% more retirements over the same time period. Large groups of officers are leaving the force, but few new officers are trickling in. Ive spoken with police officers and sheriffs all over Nebraska, and my conversations with them motivated me to introduce the Recruit and Retain Act. Law enforcement agencies are struggling whether its the many that are severely understaffed or the ones barely hanging on at fully staffed levels. While they are doing their best to keep up with changes, there are some roadblocks we in Congress can help remove when it comes to hiring. The Recruit and Retain Act would make three legislative strides to help police departments. First, it would boost officer recruitment opportunities through the Justice Departments Community Oriented Policing Services hiring grants. Recruitment expenses like background checks, psychological evaluations and other tests are not yet included under COPS hiring grants. The Recruit and Retain Act would allow COPS grants to cover those key costs, making it easier to onboard new officers. A lower cost of hiring means that departments would have more of an ability to raise staffing levels quickly. Second, Recruit and Retain would boost police recruitment levels by establishing the Pipeline Partnership Program, an initiative aimed at fostering youth interest in law enforcement careers. Under the bill, police departments would work with local schools to launch mentorship opportunities, job fairs and other activities that give young people better insight into law enforcement work. This program would open up a stronger local hiring pipeline for departments. Finally, Recruit and Retain would direct the Government Accountability Office to study the causes and effects of the latest recruitment and retention challenges in the law enforcement industry. A study like this would provide more clarity on the public safety ramifications of this staffing crisis. I look forward to the Recruit and Retain Acts advancement in the Senate and the House, and Im hopeful that my colleagues and I can come together in a bipartisan manner to get this bill passed. In addition to Recruit and Retain, I am an original co-sponsor of a couple of measures introduced by my colleague Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The Project Safe Neighborhoods Act of 2023 would reauthorize the highly effective, bipartisan PSN program through fiscal year 2026. In Nebraska, PSN coordinates enforcement and prosecution partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement to bring violent offenders to justice. Additionally, Cornyns Back the Blue Act would protect police officers by creating new federal criminal penalties for attacking federal law enforcement officers. Another vital area to continue addressing is the mental health of police officers, who face daily stressors from the intensity of their jobs. Im planning to reintroduce a bill soon that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to create a publicly accessible online dashboard so that law enforcement groups and other organizations can easily search for federal funding opportunities supporting mental health. This bill could serve as a helpful tool for law enforcement agencies to support officers struggling with mental health challenges. This National Police Week, I was proud to honor law enforcement personnel in Nebraska and beyond, who courageously risk their lives every day to keep us safe. But Im not going to leave my appreciation for our selfless, hardworking police officers behind now that Police Week is over. Ill keep backing the blue in the Senate as long as I have the privilege to serve as your senior senator. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Shutterstock/Getty Images After months of unofficial campaigning across early-voting states, Florida governor Ron DeSantis finally announced on Wednesday that he is running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Well, I am running for the president of the United States to lead our great American comeback, he said. The method DeSantis chose for the big day was a little unorthodox. Instead of appearing onstage in front of supporters in his home state, he made the announcement in an audio stream on Twitter Spaces with its celebrity CEO, Elon Musk. Normally, people running for president dont like to launch their candidacy while someone much more famous than them is in the same room. And if it is a virtual appearance, usually its at least a video or an audio stream that is actually functioning. Below are five takeaways from the first night of the official DeSantis campaign. It started out with comically bad technical issues. Its not a great sign when the first trending topic from your campaign launch is #failuretolaunch. The first several minutes of the conversation on Twitter Spaces between DeSantis, Musk, and moderator and DeSantis megadonor David Sacks were marred by glitches. Microphone feedback was the first thing Twitter users heard when the stream went live. Then it cut out entirely for a few moments. When it came back, Sacks said that the extra volume of listeners was melting the servers. Like with explosions involving Musks other companies, he said this was a good sign. Then the stream went out again for several more minutes. (For reference, the basic technology for the evening of audio streaming better known as radio was invented in 1895.) When the stream came back, Musk said they were allocating more server space for the call. Then it went out again. After about 24 minutes, they figured it out, hosting the stream on David Sackss account instead of Elon Musks. According to Platformers Twitter sources, it was Musks app that had crashed: What happened to Twitter Spaces yesterday? A decimated team, shrinking server space, and Elon's app kept crashing. @zoeschiffer and I with some new details: https://t.co/LA7C9UTSGi pic.twitter.com/zuDrAC1eHV Casey Newton (@CaseyNewton) May 26, 2023 If only the CEO had kept around a few more engineers to deal with easily foreseeable problems like server demand when more than 200,000 people tried to tune in. There werent any surprises in DeSantiss stump speech. The Florida governor largely stuck to the script of his midterm-reelection platform. From his view in Tallahassee, the rest of the U.S. is in ruins. The border has collapsed. Cities are suffering from spiking crime. President Biden lacks vigor and takes his cues from the woke mob. (He is also a victim of the woke-mind virus.) We chose facts over fear, DeSantis said on Wednesday. Education over indoctrination. Law and order over rioting and disorder. If the lines sound familiar, they are from his victory speech in November. DeSantis spoke of the need to end the GOPs (national) losing streak, though he did not mention Donald Trump specifically: There is no substitute for victory. We must end the culture of losing that has infected the Republican Party in recent years. The tired dogmas of the past are inadequate for a vibrant future. We must look forward, not backward. A concerning sign about the election? At one point, DeSantis vowed that if he wins the Republican nomination, he will take the White House. If you nominate me, you can set your clock to January 20, 2025, at high noon, because on the west side of the U.S. Capitol, I will be taking the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States. No excuses, he said. I will get the job done. While that could be an innocuous expression of his confidence in the general election, its possible that the line is a nod to the last presidential contest when Trump refused his loss and obsessed over proving false allegations of election fraud. If DeSantis is saying that he will get the job done, he could be committing to a platform to refuse to back down if he loses the Electoral College. Musk was mainly focusing on Twitter navel-gazing. It was definitely a weird broadcast. There would be a question about education for DeSantis, then Musk would butt in talking about how Twitter crashed in January. And Republican congresspeople like Thomas Massie and operatives like Christopher Rufo came on to ask DeSantis softball questions and thanked Musk for purchasing Twitter: Most of this presidential campaign announcement on Twitter Spaces is devoted to what a great idea it is to do presidential campaign announcements on Twitter spaces David Freedlander (@freedlander) May 24, 2023 Trump who? One problem with hosting an event with Elon Musk and one of your biggest donors aside from the danger of technical issues is that the questions arent going to be that difficult. A very basic and important question for Republican-primary voters might be Why should I vote for Ron DeSantis over Donald Trump? But this wasnt asked on Thursday night though they did have enough time for a dogecoin shoutout (a Musk favorite). In fact, the only time the word trump was used was in DeSantiss stump speech, when he said that merit must trump identity politics. This post has been updated. DeSantis had better get used to retail campaigning in the early states. Photo: John Tully for The Washington Post via Getty Images Before long, the laughter over the technical glitches that marred Ron DeSantiss official presidential campaign launch with Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces will fade. Well all probably look back and place this moment in better perspective. Political-media folk (not to mention DeSantiss Republican rivals and Democratic enemies) tend to overreact to game changing moments in campaigns when fundamentals and long-term trends matter infinitely more. Relatively few actual voters were tuned in to Twitter to watch the botched launch, and even fewer will think less of DeSantis as a potential president because of this incident. It mattered in one respect, however: The screwed-up launch stepped all over a DeSantis campaign reset designed to depict the Florida governor as a political Death Star with unlimited funds and an unbeatable strategy for winning the GOP nomination. The reset was important to rebut the prevailing story line that DeSantis had lost an extraordinary amount of ground since the salad days following his landslide reelection last year, when he briefly looked to be consolidating partywide support as a more electable and less erratic replacement for Donald Trump. For reasons both within and beyond his control, he missed two critical strategic objectives going into the 2024 race: keeping the presidential field small enough to give him a one-on-one shot at Trump and keeping Trump from reestablishing himself as the front-runner with an air of inevitability about a third straight nomination. To dissipate growing concerns about the DeSantis candidacy, the top chieftains of his Never Back Down super-PAC let it be known earlier this week that they had a plan that would shock and awe the political world, based on their extraordinary financial resources (fed by an $80 million surplus DeSantis transferred from his Florida reelection campaign account). The New York Times wrote up the scheme without questioning its connection to reality: A key political group supporting Ron DeSantiss presidential run is preparing a $100 million voter-outreach push so big it plans to knock on the door of every possible DeSantis voter at least four times in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina and five times in the kickoff Iowa caucuses. The effort is part of an on-the-ground organizing operation that intends to hire more than 2,600 field organizers by Labor Day, an extraordinary number of people for even the best-funded campaigns. The group said it expected to have an overall budget of at least $200 million. In case the numbers didnt properly document the audacity of this plan, Team DeSantis made it explicit. The Times report continues: No one has ever contemplated the scale of this organization or operation, let alone done it, said Chris Jankowski, the groups chief executive. This has just never even been dreamed up. At the helm of the DeSantis super PAC is Jeff Roe, a veteran Republican strategist who was Mr. [Ted] Cruzs campaign manager in 2016. In an interview, Mr. Roe described an ambitious political apparatus whose 2,600 field organizers by the fall would be roughly double the peak of Senator Bernie Sanderss entire 2020 primary campaign staff. Clearly opening up the thesaurus to find metaphors for the extraordinary power and glory of their plans, one DeSantis operative told the Dispatch they were light speed and light years ahead of any campaign out there, including Trumps. The over-the-top rhetoric was reminiscent of the spin regularly emanating from 2016 Jeb Bush strategist Mike Murphy, who, even as the wheels were coming off Jebs bid, came across as the smug chess master contemptuous of the campaigns playing checkers around him, as I observed at the time. Now more than ever, DeSantiss campaign will have to prove its grand plans arent just fantasies. Those doors in Iowa really will have to be knocked. Thanks to Trumps current lead, DeSantis will absolutely have to beat expectations there and do just as well in New Hampshire and South Carolina before facing an existential challenge in his and Trumps home state of Florida. And while DeSantis had a good weekend in Iowa recently, picking up a lot of state legislative endorsements even as Trump canceled a rally due to bad weather that never arrived, hes got a ways to go. A new Emerson poll of the first-in-the-nation-caucuses state shows Trump leading by an astonishing margin of 62 percent to 20 percent. And obviously enough, Iowa is where DeSantis will likely face the largest number of rivals aside from Trump; hes a sudden surge from Tim Scott or Mike Pence or Nikki Haley or even Vivek Ramaswamy away from a real Iowa crisis. Door knocking aside, a focus on Iowa, with its base-dominated caucus system and its large and powerful conservative Evangelical population, will likely force DeSantis to run to Trumps right even more than he already has. The newly official candidate did not mention abortion policy during his launch event on Twitter; that will have to change, since he has a crucial opportunity to tell Iowa Evangelicals about the six-week ban he recently signed (similar, in fact, to the law Iowa governor Kim Reynolds enacted), in contrast to Trumps scolding of the anti-abortion movement for extremism. DeSantis also failed once again to talk about his own religious faith, whatever it is; that will probably have to change in Iowa too. He did, however, talk a lot during the launch about his battle against the COVID-19 restrictions the federal government sought to impose on Florida even during the Trump administration. That will very likely continue. The glitchy launch basically cost DeSantis whatever room for maneuvering he might have enjoyed as the 2024 competition begins to get very real less than eight months before Iowa Republicans caucus (the exact date remains TBD). Hed better get used to spending a lot of time in Iowas churches and Pizza Ranches, and he also needs to begin winning more of the exchanges of potshots with Trump, which will only accelerate from here on out. All the money he has and all the hype and spin his campaign puts out wont win the nomination now that Trump is fully engaged, and it sure doesnt look like the 45th presidents legal problems will represent anything other than rocket fuel for his jaunt through the primaries. So for DeSantis, its time to put up or shut up. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images As he formally announces his 2024 presidential candidacy from a position well behind Donald Trump, its understandable that Ron DeSantis wants to compete with the 45th presidents accomplishments on behalf of conservative activists. And while addressing conservative Christians at the National Religious Broadcasters confab in Orlando earlier this week DeSantis had a particularly big mountain to climb: How do you top Trump-picked Supreme Court justices fulfilling a promise to get Roe v. Wade reversed? Trump already appointed three youngish conservatives justices, so whats left for President DeSantis to do? He seemed to recognize the problem, as the New York Times reported: I think if you look over, you know, the next two presidential terms, there is a good chance that you could be called upon to seek replacements for Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito, Mr. DeSantis said, referring to two of the courts most staunchly conservative members. And the issue with that is you cant really do better than those two. They are the gold standard for jurisprudence. But a president who sticks around long enough might be able to replace, say, 68-year-old Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a liberal Obama appointee, or 67-year-old Chief Justice John Roberts, known in conservative circles as an unreliable squish. And so we have DeSantiss offer, notes the Times: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has begun articulating a new rationale for why Republicans should nominate him over former President Donald J. Trump, saying he could fortify the Supreme Courts conservative majority during a potential eight years in office. You would have a 7-2 conservative majority on the Supreme Court that would last a quarter-century, Mr. DeSantis said on Monday during an address to the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando. So this is big stuff, very important that that gets done right. Trump, you see, will only be eligible for one more term in the White House, assuming he defers to the constitutional term limit. The Florida governor could happily pack the Court with right-wing judicial-activist nominations right on into the 2030s! This argument, which DeSantis is likely to make more generally going forward, isnt all that compelling if you think through it for a bit. DeSantis is only 44. If he really wanted to extend Republican appointment powers in both the judicial and executive branches as long as possible, hed defer to Trump in 2024 and then run to succeed him in 2028. The second term DeSantis would undoubtedly earn after turning the U.S. into a giant replica of Florida could give a grateful nation 12 straight years of MAGA-Republican governance and no telling how many federal judges. Indeed, the most principled thing DeSantis could and should have done was to cut a deal with Trump to become his 2024 running mate, avoiding all of the 2024 cycles intraparty unpleasantness and setting himself up as the Trumpist heir. As it is, DeSantis might want to stop trying to outdo Trump on the judicial front. He could just tell conservative audiences hell let the Federalist Society choose his jurists sight unseen while hes busy tormenting their common enemies via legislation and executive orders, which the increasingly right-wing courts will smile upon as they wield their gavels year after year after year. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images Donald Trump has been practicing his Ron DeSantis attacks for months: Hes hit the Florida governor for his policy positions (like threatening Social Security and signing a six-week abortion ban) and for completely absurd reasons (like eating pudding with his fingers and having a name that sounds a bit like DeSanctimonious). So when the Florida governor did something that was actually hilariously inept on Wednesday bungling the rollout of his 2024 presidential campaign Trump was ready. Heres how Trump, whos never been one to take the high road, reveled in this Republican rivals misfortune. 1. Trump complains about DeSantis frequently on Truth Social, but he really went all out in the lead-up to the governors campaign announcement with Elon Musk. Trump posted more than two dozen anti-DeSantis truths on Wednesday, including retweeted memes, videos, polls, articles, and original rants like this: Following the Twitter Spaces meltdown, Trump remarked, Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH! He then gleefully shared various videos mocking DeSantis and on-again, off-again nemesis Elon Musk: I cannot stop watching this video and giggling Trump is an awful person but this is funny as hell pic.twitter.com/U4kWMJbi3k Talia (she/her) (@taliaswlcek) May 25, 2023 2. This one Trump jab stood out, as it is almost completely incomprehensible unless youre fluent in MAGA. Heres a translation: Rob is Ron DeSantis, My Red Button is Truth Social, and yours is Twitter Spaces. So the post says, in effect, Hey, DeSantis, Truth Social is bigger, better, stronger, and it works, while Twitter Spaces does not. The Kim Jong-un bit is kind of an unhinged footnote, which refers to the time Trump almost started a nuclear war over Twitter. The Trump campaign thought this incoherent post was so amusing that they later shared it in a fundraising email. 3. No, Rob wasnt a typo. Other recent truths make it clear that its the newest addition to Trumps collection of rude DeSantis monikers. 4. In addition to Trumps Truth Social antics, there was plenty of gloating behind the scenes among his allies, as NBC News reported: Schadenfreude the German word for taking pleasure in anothers failure might understate the glee Trump and his team felt as DeSantis glitch-ridden Twitter audio-chat with billionaire SpaceX founder Elon Musk failed to lift off for about 20 minutes. As hundreds of thousands of listeners logged off, Trump allies shared images to represent their excitement: a glass of wine and a laughing-to-tears emoji among them. Several Trump allies also attacked DeSantis in the press. Glitchy. Tech issues. Uncomfortable silences. A complete failure to launch, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said. And thats just the candidate. 5. Trump attacking DeSantis for incompetence is a bit rich; lest we forget, the Trump administration was so inept that their failure to actually have an infrastructure week became a meme. But insults are one area where Team Trump has always excelled, so its no surprise that theyve already dropped a solid ad attacking DeSantis 2024. Theres only one Donald Trump, says the narrator. Thankfully, thats probably right. MUST SEE New Ad from Team Trump: Starting Day One WATCH: pic.twitter.com/V1TlWv7WT0 Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) May 24, 2023 Maybe stop and think for a second before saying something stupid and careless if you dont want to look bad, love. Reply Thread Link I mean maybe dont make nasty comments if you dont want to appear to be the nasty judge IDK? Reply Thread Link lol exactly and her acting like its new, Shes had mean girl rumors since her first single, this also wasnt helped by her co-chairing with I missed a whole day of skiing Paltrow for Caruso Reply Parent Thread Link None of those cases surprise me, Katy can be very snarky and shady with her comments but she always tries to wrap it up in her goofy attitude to water it down a bit. Or maybe they caught on camera for what you really are dun dun dun!None of those cases surprise me, Katy can be very snarky and shady with her comments but she always tries to wrap it up in her goofy attitude to water it down a bit. Reply Thread Link that beach ball dress was cute Reply Parent Thread Link Okay thats what I do Reply Parent Thread Link omg this gif Reply Parent Thread Link This was one if my top three favorite half time shows. The mechanical tiger opening was everything Reply Parent Thread Link It was a pretty fun show! Reply Parent Thread Link i dont love her or her music but that halftime show is iconic. it was a SHOW and absolutely amazing. Reply Parent Thread Link After the article of one of recent winners saying they had to start perfuming on the NYC subways again, does anyone truly care about the winners or contestants from these shows? I personally know a few thats done shows like this and was able to take advantage of the exposure butwhat do the winners get now? Who the hell is still watching these shows?? Reply Thread Link We both had the same thought. Seriously it's pissing me off that the contestants get almost nothing. They're the whole reason the show exists in the first place. Reply Parent Thread Link They supposedly get 250k but half of that is contingent on completing an album so if that doesnt happen, theyre pretty fucked (in this girls case I think she actually had to pay back the label for the songs she recorded) and the record label they sign them to seems pretty terrible. It always seemed like it was better to get second place than first because you can do your own thing more quickly. I think the best thing people can get out of the show now is growing their social media following. Reply Parent Thread Link Like The Voice, I guess its just all the about the judges (and maybe the terrible auditions at the beginning). They gave up discovering and making a star years ago Reply Parent Thread Link I do remember one time Christina straight up told the contestant the actual value of The Voice was the chance to work on their craft with seasoned veterans, which is fair because not everyone gets to collab with Patti LaBelle but it was funny that she didn't even pretend to care if they won or not. Reply Parent Thread Link my friend won the X-factor in our country, and what these shows do is basically lock you into a contract with them so you can only make music with them... but then never make music with you. they will get you in the studio to do demos etc so you think things are going somewhere but they don't do anything with them - except have you on to perform it on the next season. most people know this now tho and just go on for exposure but after that it's all about your own personal hustle (unless you win, then you're kinda screwed) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I know in the UK, before it got cancelled, X Factor used to make winners churn out albums within like 6 months (so they'd be terrible, generic and have several cover songs on them). They'd always get dropped pretty much immediately after because the album wouldn't do well. I feel like the few who did well were the ones who went down the indie route post-show, and kind of crowdfunded their own careers that way. Reply Parent Thread Link i mean you answered your own question. the voice and idol and other talent shows are ANTM levels of joke. being associated with these shows will hurt your chances at any semblance of a professional career. no serious record label or management wants to sign these contestants and even the winners are silently dropped by their labels because they are completely unmarketable and these companies know it. the shows are just a money laundering schemes at this point. there's next to zero fan fare around the contestants and the viewers are pretty much only tuning in for the celebrity judges which in return brings in hefty advertisement revenue where all the money comes from. i don't think winners don't even get to keep any of the winning prizes because as others have already pointed out, most if not all of it goes to paying back the record label for "investing" in their "careers". Reply Parent Thread Link early idol helped set them up for success by debuting the winner's single on the show multiple times (a moment like this for kelly, I believe for fantasia, etc) and then they would have a full decent album out within six months or so Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, and Ruben Studdard all had their first albums debut at #1 it sucks how the winners now get nothing lol Reply Parent Thread Link she's so fucking lame her face makes me angry tbh Reply Thread Link she is the dumbest loser in pop and has been for over a decade now Reply Parent Thread Link Edited at 2023-05-25 10:38 am (UTC) Meghan would like a word Reply Parent Thread Link yeah that last paragraph is a key point - she knows her pop career is effectively over, or at least if it continues it's always going to be a very VERY pale facsimile of what it used to be, so this is more or less her last grasp at relevancy (even though it in itself is perhaps more of a neon sign of her fading relevancy than lackluster album sales ever could be). I wouldn't say it's an unenviable position to be in because she's getting paid in absolute buckets of money for it but still, I'm sure it's not how she imagined going out. she doesn't even have the devoted core fanbase some of her peers do that would otherwise keep her at least touring forever. Reply Thread Link yeah it's weird how katy was one of the biggest pop stars in the world but it seemed like she mostly had casual fans, she didn't seem to have the intense stans most pop stars get Reply Parent Thread Link I was talking to a friend of mine about this and how nowadays these shows (the voice, American idol etc) arent really about the contestants anymore, its just about the judges. https://t.co/krvOOSUlWb Film&TV Rants (@FilmTVRants) May 23, 2023 The need to start paying the contestants. This shit is ridiculous. The judges and producers get millions meanwhile the contestants are broke. Reply Thread Link Is this really a surprise? Reply Parent Thread Link talk about biting the hand that feeds. you got a cushy gig with giant pay, who cares what "edit" you're getting. $150 million >>>> whatever BS legacy you think you have. once again, i abide by the mariska hargitay school of celebrity. keep your head down, no ego, let the dough roll in, peace out with healthy profits. Edited at 2023-05-25 03:01 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link her face looks like.. not her face Reply Thread Link I dont really buy this because of the producer edit part. Like the whole show has been so disneyfied that no one really gets portrayed as mean. The judges barely give any real criticism. All three of the judges basically tell every person who makes it past auditions that theyre going to be a huge star and just reiterate how great they are instead of actually judging. If anything, I think she might not do it because shes talked about wanting to go on another world tour and she hasnt done that since 2018 and her kids a little older now but I dont think theres any way she would give up $30 million a year because of a couple tabloid stories about telling a contestant to ease up on the amount of glitter on her costume. Edited at 2023-05-25 03:10 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link idk how they can sit there with straight faces and tell contestants they're going to be huge stars when they well bloody know the show hasn't been able to produce a star in almost two decades. talk about selling your soul to the devil. Reply Parent Thread Link The whole show needs to die. Reply Thread Link it already did. and then they still brought it back Reply Parent Thread Link should have never been brought back 2015 would have been a good death for it Reply Parent Thread Link Perry fears her career and legacy are being tarnished. Your legacy, thats hilarious Also we all know ur a mean girl from how you mocked Britney. Reply Thread Link I find this interesting in that she and Taylor were tight for a time back in the day and how much both clearly have been/are bothered about not being well liked. I feel she tries really hard to be 'approachable' and funnels her image into goofy/fun/relatable imagery but struggled reconciling that with having to speak up on political issues and stances and is now hyper focused on reclaiming her teenage dream era level of public likability and is spinning her wheels at not being so instead of just taking it on the chin and/or reflecting on how she's perceived, which looks extra bad since she did that whole re-brand about being 'aware' and trying to change how she engages and interacts in a public way/on public image. (We also cannot forget her claimed stances and then voting for a republican candidate, for example.) She knows her facade is cracked or maybe she's just stuck in that old image after trying a new one wasn't successful but either way perhaps she could try to tough it out or even make fun of herself a bit on how she's acted and course correct. But I guess we'll see. Reply Thread Link yeah her whole thing was being goofy and kind of irreverent (but not too irreverent) and that worked for her - back in that time, the big stars were all kind of being marketed by their personas to a much greater extent than other periods (like, it's always been relevant but I think that was kind of a post-Britney relic, like I don't think anyone cares nearly as much now about what Ariana Grande or Dua Lipa are *really* like), and even though it was obviously something of an artifice it was still how they were distinguished. Gaga was a weirdo, so Katy was the perfect foil in that she was also doing oddball shit but in a funner, less esoteric, more approachable way. even her ballads were being performed in a big lollipop dress, or whatever the fuck. and then the problem with that is that breaking character to be more serious is weird and it clearly wasn't something she was comfortable with and then whoops it's 2016 now and you have to choose between being an Activist or being Complicit and she tried kinda but couldn't adjust Reply Parent Thread Link I know the Taylor/Katy feud was allegedly about backup dancers with some John Mayer dick thrown in, but I always wondered. Taylor said that Katy would make mean comments to her wrapped up in a compliment. And when Kesha's lawsuit was ongoing, she and Lady Gaga texted about how mean Katy was. So I wonder if Katy is just kind of a bitchy girl. Reply Parent Thread Link She totally is. She was the pastor's daughter/Christian singer turned punk singer who took a whole 180 and went pop. She was definitely the rebel girl who tried to act like she wasn't like ~most girls~ I forgot who said it, but another celebrity said that there was an encounter where Katy and her friends were looking at her and just laughing at her to make her feel insecure and small. Katy's been immature, and she always came across as a try-hard person who wants to be goofy and funny, but at this point, she just comes off as a suburban soccer mom who tries to keep up with lingo and trends to seem cool. Gen Z folks aren't checking for her. She never really matured her image or aesthetics. Reply Parent Thread Link She literally wrote Ur So Gay about Pete Wentz (& then throw a poster & other references just so everyone knew who it was about!) because she thought he and Travis were "too close" She has always been gross af Reply Parent Thread Link This brought back a random memory of Katy and Rihanna obviously laughing at and mocking Nicki Minaj at some awards show when she was right there lol. Reply Parent Thread Link does anyone actually watch this Reply Thread Link All of Europes efforts to slap sanctions on Russian oil and gas may have been in vain. While the European Union has shown considerable success in weaning itself off of its heavy Russian gas dependence, Asian countries have not followed the same path. The result has been a windfall of cheap energy for China and India and an extreme softening of the intended blow to Moscow. Despite the Wests best efforts to push a coordinated attack on the Russian energy economy in condemnation of the Kremlins ongoing war in Ukraine, some of the biggest economies in the world havent cooperated. In fact, energy giants including China and India have capitalized on the sudden surplus of Russian fossil fuels, snapping up bumper crude oil purchases to the extent that, just last month, Markets Insider reported that China and India are buying so much Russian oil that Moscow's now selling more crude than it was before invading Ukraine. And since that report, Asias purchases of Russian energy supplies have only increased. Thanks to a crippling heat wave, grids across Asia are under extreme strain, and demand has sharply risen for coal, gas, and fuel oil. According to figures from data intelligence firm Kpler, coal exports to Asia have jumped by a third as compared to last year, fuel oil exports just had their two highest months on record, and shipments of LNG have experienced a relatively large uptick as well. As of now, Russian oil represents nearly 20% of India's annual crude imports, compared to just 2% in 2021, according to figures from the Indian state-controlled Bank of Baroda. Together, China and India have emerged as the most enthusiastic buyers of discounted Russian oil, and now Russian coal, gas, and fuel oil, but other Asian nations have also been cashing in on the windfall, most notably South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. Turkey and Bulgaria, too, have significantly increased their imports from Russia. Despite its membership in the EU, Bulgaria has an exemption from the ban on Russian oil, allowing the nation to continue to import it by sea. Related: Clean Energy Megaprojects Face Iron Law The worst place to be right now amid these searing temperatures is South Asia, especially poorer nations like Pakistan or Bangladesh, John Driscoll, director of JTD Energy Services Pte in Singapore, was quoted by Bloomberg. When you cant even take care of your peoples basic needs, its very hard to care too much about international affairs. But the reality is that, since the very beginning of this war, there was never a global unified front taking a stand against Russias actions in Ukraine. Indeed, a Bruegel report from earlier this year said that nearly 60% of the global population either felt neutral about the Russian invasion of Ukraine or actually endorsed Russias aggression. As a result, and as we can clearly see now in Asia, sanctions against Russian energy are essentially toothless without broad cooperation. However, Bruegel argues that what appears to be resilience in the Russian economy and the wholesale swapping-out of Western markets for Eastern ones cant last. In fact, Bruegel argues that the sanctions are rather beside the point. Perhaps the most important change is that by exposing the EUs dependence on fossil fuels so blatantly, Russian aggression has accelerated the energy transition, and not just in the EU, the February report states. The Russian economic model is totally dependent on an industry that will become extinct. The shake-up of global trade agreements and geopolitics has undeniably changed the agenda for powerhouse economies that have enough sway to change the trajectory of the global energy market as a whole. By flexing its leverage, Russia has shot itself in the foot. In direct reaction to the fallout between Brussels and the Kremlin, Western economies are re-prioritizing domestic energy supply chains, with a major emphasis on renewables. Together, war and subsidies may have knocked ten years off of the green transition timeline, the Economist reported earlier this year. The International Energy Agency, too, has reported that Russias war has triggered a turbo-charging of the clean energy transition, predicting that fossil fuels will peak in just five years. ADVERTISEMENT By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com South Africa: Measures in place to address SANDF sexual exploitation Cabinet has commended a set of measures that have been put in place to address the incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) within the SANDF peace keeping missions. Cabinet said it has received a report on progress South Africa is making to address the conduct of some of the SANDF members deployed in peace-keeping missions across the Continent. The SANDF has been a source of national pride as it participates in peacekeeping missions on the continent to secure stability and peace in war torn African nations under the auspices of the United Nations (UN). With allegations of sexual offences involving military peacekeepers surfacing in 2015, a Ministerial Task Team was established in 2019 to investigate cases of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) within the DoD, Cabinet said in a statement. Cabinet added that the SANDF has been a source of national pride as it participates in peacekeeping missions on the Continent to secure stability and peace in war torn African nations under the auspices of the United Nations (UN). The UN recognises South Africa as best practices and had commended the country for the progress it has made to stamping out SEA in the SANDF. Cabinet emphasised that the practice of SEA will not be allowed to tarnish the good record of the SANDF on the Continent. National Water Resource Strategy approved for implementation Cabinet has also approved the National Water Resource Strategy Third Edition (NWRS-3) 2023 for implementation. The strategy is binding on all authorities and institutions implementing the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998). The strategy is informed by a three-year review of the NWRS-2, which identified areas of success and areas that remain a challenge. The NWRS-3 comprises three thematic goals, which include that water and sanitation must support development, the elimination of poverty and inequality, contribute to the economy and job creation, and water must be protected, used, developed, managed and controlled sustainably and equitably. This strategy makes tangible proposals for increasing water supply, reducing water demand, effective water and sanitation management, regulating the water and sanitation sector, redistributing water for transformation, promoting international cooperation, and managing water and sanitation under a changing climate, Cabinet said. The NWRS-3 is published on the DWS website on www.dws.gov.za. SA to co-host forum for agricultural research in Africa Cabinet has further approved for South Africa to co-host the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africas (FARA) 8th African Agri-Business and Science Week Conference and its 9th General Assembly, to be held in Durban from 5 to 9 June 2023. FARA is the apex continental organisation responsible for facilitating and coordinating agricultural research and innovation advancement on the continent. The conference is expected to attract 800 delegates to KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, and this will contribute to economic activity. Cabinet noted that by hosting the event, South Africa will benefit from collaboration and partnerships with continental agriculture and research institutions, through sharing of best practices in agricultural science and research. South Africa values agricultural research for development, especially in light of climate change and other factors that affect the countrys ability to achieve food security, economic development and employment, Cabinet said. Namakwa Special Economic Zone designation approved Meanwhile, Cabinet has further approved the designation of the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Aggeneys in the Northern Cape. The proposed designation is done in terms of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2014 (Act 16 of 2014), and the proposed SEZ is part of the Presidential Investment Drive. Cabinet said the Namakwa SEZ will unlock mining beneficiation, production of green hydrogen, infrastructure development, renewable energy and agro-procession. These sectors are critical to job creation and economic development of the Northern Cape and the country. More than R29 billion in investments has already been committed for phase one of the SEZ. These include commitments from Vedanta Zinc (R16 billion), Frontier Rare Earth (R13 billion), Hive Energy (R200 million) and RRS Trade and Investment (R100 million). SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-05-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China urges Israel to stop encroaching upon Palestinian land, resources Xinhua) 08:27, May 25, 2023 UNITED NATIONS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, called on Israel to stop encroaching on Palestinian land and resources. "We urge Israel to immediately halt these actions and stop encroaching upon the land and resources of the Palestinian people," Geng told the Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The ambassador underscored that the illegal expansion of settlements on the occupied territories "must stop." "Settlement activities violate international law and Security Council Resolution 2334. Since the beginning of this year, Israel has continued to advance unilateral actions on approving returns, building new settlements, and legalizing settlements," he said. On the religious holy sites, Geng said that the historical status quo of religious holy sites in Jerusalem must be respected and upheld. On May 21, a senior Israeli security official entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for a second time this year and caused renewed tensions. "On the issue of religious holy sites, Israel must stop its provocations, guarantee the right to worship of Muslim worshipers, uphold the peace and tranquility of religious holy sites, and respect the custodianship of Jordan," said the envoy. The ambassador underscored the importance of upholding international humanitarian. Since the beginning of this year, over 100 Palestinians, including children, have lost their lives in conflict. Israel also suffered civilian casualties. Geng said that "all parties concerned should stop all violence against civilians and stop targeting schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure." "The plight of Palestinian refugees should be alleviated and the economic and livelihood needs of Palestine should be met. Israel should lift the blockade on Gaza as soon as possible. The flow of people and reconstruction supplies in and out of Gaza should be kept unhindered," he added. The envoy stressed that upholding the historical status quo of religious holy sites, ceasing expansion of settlements, and respecting international humanitarian law are the fundamental requirements for preventing the repeated escalations of tensions between Palestine and Israel. "The parties concerned are duty-bound to implement them and should not use them as bargaining chips. The international community has the responsibility to ensure their implementation and should not be indifferent," he said. "Honoring these three requirements is also a fundamental step towards reviving the two-state solution. The international community should not just talk the talk in its support for the two-state solution, or take the support for direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations as an excuse for shirking one's own responsibilities," Geng said, adding that the country with major influence on the parties concerned should make concrete efforts to advance the Middle East peace process and "should not unjustifiably prevent the Security Council from arriving at the minimum consensus on the Palestine-Israeli issue." Geng reiterated China's position, indicating that the country "will continue to firmly support the Palestinian people and their just cause to restore their legitimate national rights, and support the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (CNN) Chinese government-backed hackers are likely pursuing cyber capabilities that could be used to disrupt critical communications between the US and the Asia Pacific region in the event of a future US-China crisis, Microsoft warned on Wednesday. The Chinese hackers have been active since mid-2021 and targeted critical infrastructure organizations in the US territory of Guam and in other parts of the US as part of a stealthy spying and information gathering campaign, Microsoft said in a new report. Organizations targeted by the hackers cover the maritime, transportation and government sectors, among others. The Microsoft report underscores the key role that cyber operations might play in present and future US-China power competition and territorial disputes in the Pacific. China has claimed a growing list of territories in the Pacific in recent years in what US officials view as alarming expansionism from Beijing. In a separate advisory released Wednesday, the FBI, National Security Agency and other US and Western security agencies said they believe the Chinese hackers could apply the same stealthy techniques against critical sectors worldwide. Microsoft declined to comment beyond its public blog post Wednesday when CNN asked for specific information supporting the tech firms conclusion that Chinese hackers were preparing disruptive capabilities for future crises. CNN has requested comment from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, about Microsofts findings. Beijing regularly denies hacking allegations. US officials regularly cite China as the most persistent and prolific government hacking threat facing the US. Chinese hackers are too frequently going unidentified and undeterred in their infiltrations of US organizations, Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said in February. US officials are also concerned that Chinese hackers have created footholds in Taiwans critical infrastructure that Beijing may use to disrupt key services like electricity in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a senior US defense official told reporters in March. The defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, compared the Chinese probing of Taiwanese infrastructure to how Russia previously used its hackers to burrow into Ukrainians electric sector. Russian military hackers cut power twice in Ukraine in landmark attacks in 2015 and 2016, according to the US Justice Department and private experts. Over the last decade, Russia has targeted a variety of critical infrastructure sectors in operations that we do not believe were designed for immediate effect, said John Hultquist, chief analyst at security firm Mandiant, which is owned by Google. China has done the same in the past, targeting the oil and gas sector. Chinese cyberthreat actors are unique among their peers in that they have not regularly resorted to destructive and disruptive cyberattacks, Hultquist said. The Microsoft report is a rare opportunity to investigate and prepare for this threat. Crude oil prices began to trade on Thursday with little change from Wednesdays close as opposing forces kept them stable. On the one hand, fear of a U.S. debt default is driving bearish sentiment and the respective trade behavior, which is pressuring prices. On the other hand, the Saudi Energy Minister suggested earlier this week OPEC+ might cut more output unless short sellers behave, and that lent oil some upward pressure. "Speculators, like in any market they are there to stay, I keep advising them that they will be ouching, they did ouch in April, I don't have to show my cards I'm not a poker player... but I would just tell them watch out," Abdulaziz bin Salman said, as quoted by Reuters. Reuters again noted in a separate report that OPEC+ would now more or less have to announce another production cut at its next meeting, lest its seen as making empty threats. In addition to these, the Energy Information Administration reported a massive estimated drawdown in U.S. crude oil inventories plus higher gasoline production and a draw in gasoline inventories, suggesting healthy demand. As a result of all this, Brent crude was trading below $78 per barrel at the time of writing, down slightly from Wednesdays close, and West Texas Intermediate was trading at just under $74 per barrel, also recording a slight decline from Wednesdays closing price. "A cautious lid on the risk environment brought by the U.S. debt ceiling uncertainty has also put oil prices on some wait-and-see in the Asia session," IG analyst Yeap Jun Rong told Reuters. The outlook for the oil market appears poor for now: macroeconomic drivers like the US debt-deal negotiations and tighter US monetary policy are weighing, Sean Lim, an oil and gas analyst with Malaysian RHB Investment Bank, told Bloomberg. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Brent Crude prices are set to be slightly higher than $80 per barrel at the end of this year, thanks to rising demand in the summer and production reductions from OPEC+, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told Izvestiya in an interview published on Thursday. Early on Thursday, Brent was trading at $77.21, down by 1.47% on the day. According to Novak, Russias task is not inflating oil prices but balancing the market. Russia warned in February that it would cut its crude oil production by 500,000 bpd due to EU import bans and price caps on its crude oil and oil products. Those 500,000 bpd cuts will extend until the end of 2023. But last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that Russia had failed so far to cut its oil production by 500,000 bpd as promised, and it may even be looking to boost output to compensate for lost revenues. Asked by Izvestiya about his outlook on oil prices at the end of this year, Novak said he believes the price would be slightly higher than $80 a barrel. I hope that the demand will rise in the summer, Novak said, adding that the ongoing production cuts in many oil producers should also tighten the market. Ill repeat once again: we do not have the task of boosting prices, our task is to balance the market in the interest of both producers and consumers, Novak said, reiterating the official narrative of the OPEC+ alliance, of which Russia is part. Several OPEC+ producers, including Russia, surprised the market in early April, saying they would keep another 1.6 million bpd off the market for the rest of the year. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabias Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, warned tradersagainagainst shorting oil futures, less than two weeks before the OPEC+ meeting on June 4. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: While Russian oil giant Rosneft and LNG giant Novatek are holding down the fort for shareholders, Gazprom is feeling the bite of Western sanctions, based on its full-year profit reporting this week. Gazprom has posted a huge drop in its FY 2022 profits as sanctions from Russias Western customers take a toll. The companys profits for the year clocked in at 1.226 trillion rubles ($15.4 billion), 41% lower than in 2021 with the company citing a windfall tax imposed by Moscow last year as the reason for the decline. The state controlled company has decided not to pay dividends for the entire year 2022, having previously paid an interim dividend of 1,208 billion rubles ($15 billion) last autumn for the results recorded in the first half of 2022. Gazproms Deputy General Director Famil Sadygov has tried to put a positive spin on the bad situation: We did not wait for the results for the whole year, but offered the shareholders the opportunity to receive, in advance, a significant amount. Due to this fact, the received dividends have a real value higher than the amount paid at the end of the previous exercise, he told shareholders. The weak results have sunk Gazproms shares another 6%, bringing 12-month losses to nearly 40%. However, shares of its Russian oil and gas peers have fared better, with Rosneft shares up 13.5% while Novatek has gained 38.4%. Source: TradingEconomics Source: TradingEconomics Source: TradingEconomics Its more likely that western sanctions, and not a windfall tax by Moscow, are the main reason behind Gazproms falling profits. Although Gazproms natural gas exports were not directly affected by the sanctions, export volumes were still cut in half to 101 billion cubic meters in 2022 as Europe dramatically cut gas imports from Russia. Gazprom is the worlds largest producer of natural gas, having produced more than 18 trillion cubic feet in 2021, and is also one of the largest contributors to the Russian budget. Gazprom announced on Thursday that it plans to increase natural gas reserves in its internal storage capacities to record levels next winter, hardly a surprising move given the huge decline in exports. The company plans to store 72.842 billion cubic meters in its operational gas reserves in underground storage facilities, with a maximum daily capacity of 858.8 million cubic meters. Related: Commission Recommends EU To Stop Energy Bills Support By Year-End According to calculations by Reuters, Gazproms deliveries have continued to fall in the current year, dropping to 67 million cubic meters per day in the first half of May, down from 75.6 million cubic meters per day in April. Russian gas deliveries to Europe this year are so far averaging ~9.1 billion cubic meters, way lower than the 62 billion cubic meters average in 2022. Gazprom no longer publishes statistics on its own exports and has not commented on Reuters figures. Record Spending Its going to be interesting to see whether Gazprom will be able to continue with its lavish spending plans with profits in a tailspin. Back in December, Gazprom approved a record spending of 2.3 trillion rubles ($33.1 bln) for the current year. "The Board of Directors approved the investment program and the budget of Gazprom for 2023. Investment program indicators did not check if compared to the version approved by the Executive Committee of Gazprom in November of this year. Funding of the investment program for 2023 will total 2.3 trillion rubles," the company has said. Gazprom is the worlds largest natural gas producer with more than 18 trillion cubic feet in 2021. The latest set of results also suggest that the natural gas price caps set by the EU last year are working. After initially hitting a dead-end amid deep divisions, EU ministers finally reached an agreement to implement a gas price cap of 180/MWh, lower than the 275/MWh trigger originally suggested by the European Commission. Pro-cap countries including Poland, Belgium and Greece had dismissed the original cap proposal as too high, arguing that it needs to be below 200/MWh if it is to tackle the high gas prices that the continent has grappled with this year. Interestingly, Germany also voted to support the price cap despite having reservations that the price cap will negatively impact Europe's ability to attract gas supplies in tight and price-competitive global markets. Under the price cap, prices would not fall below 188/MWh, even in the event that the LNG reference price falls to far lower levels. However, the EU gas price cap would move with the LNG reference price if it increased to higher levels, while remaining 35/MWh above the LNG price. This system is designed to ensure the bloc can bid above market prices in order to attract gas in tight markets. ADVERTISEMENT Not everyone is convinced of the efficacy of the price cap though, with Citis Global Head of Commodities Research Ed Morse terming it as silly, impractical and unlikely to work when markets are tight as they were in the early part of 2022. A progress report by the U.S. Treasury says that price caps on Russian oil are working as intended with Russias oil revenues ~40% lower than they were pre-war despite export volumes rising as much as 10%. Source: Treasury.gov By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com On April 27, at the Tashkent Investment Forum, Uzbekistani Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov announced that Russia would begin supplying his country with natural gas via its Soviet-era pipelines (TASS, April 28; The Diplomat, May 9). In truth, Moscow is on the hunt for new customers after its gas deliveries to Europe have been slashed by Western sanctions coming as a result of the Kremlins war against Ukraine. Russia used to deliver roughly 140 billion cubic meters (bcm) to Europe annually, its most lucrative export market; however, due to the extensive sanctions region and European countries turning away from Russian energy, current deliveries are only a fraction of this (Iea.org, March 2022). As a result, Central Asia has become a crucial area for Russias energy export needs, with Uzbekistan playing a key role. In January 2023, for the first time, Uzbekistan began importing Russian gas due to a severe energy crisis at home (The Moscow Times, January 26). The Kremlin has sought to build on this relationship, not only through the use of its Soviet pipelines but also in encouraging Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to create a tripartite gas union with Russia (Carnegie Politika, March 13). The Soviet Union began to exploit its Central Asian hydrocarbon deposits in the years following World War II, though the oil and natural gas resources were developed and subsequently utilized solely for internal Soviet needs. Three decades after the Soviet Unions collapse, hydrocarbon exports have become an increasingly integral component for the economies of the post-Soviet states in the Caucasus and Central Asia, particularly those surrounding the hydrocarbon-rich Caspian Sea. Uzbekistan seems keen to buy Russian gas, as, unlike Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, it only has modest gas deposits and now cannot even cover its domestic needs with its own resources. Related: UK Energy Market Regulator To Allow Suppliers To Boost Profit Margins Starting in the 1960s, the Soviets built a network of pipelines, the Truboprovodnaiia sistema Sredniaia Aziia-Tsentr network (Central Asia-Center pipeline system; SATS), which ran northward to bring Turkmenistani gas via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to the Russian Socialist Soviet Republic and which was capable of transmitting up to 50 bcm of gas annually. The SATS eastern branch consists of the SATS-1, -2, -4 and -5 pipelines, which were built between 1960 and 1988. Gazprom now controls the SATS network traversing post-Soviet Central Asia. The Soviet-era gas pipelines are planned to be upgraded by building new compressor stations to reverse the previous flow pattern from Central Asia to Russia. Uzbekistan has suffered from debilitating gas shortages this past winter. In truth, with its economic growth in recent years, demand for gas has outstripped its supplies (The Diplomat, May 9). According to the government, in March 2023 alone, Uzbekistans natural gas imports grew exponentially. Overall, these imports have surged due to the decline in gas production across the country. Besides surging natural gas imports, in the first fiscal quarter of 2023, Uzbekistan also sharply increased its energy imports of coal, oil and petroleum products (Stat.uz, April 28). Indicative of severe logistical problems in both cost and supply, out of Uzbekistans $152.9 million-worth of natural gas imports for the first quarter of this year, March alone accounted for $151.2 million of the cost, a 260-percent increase as compared to the same period in 2022. This amount also represents slightly more than half of the countrys imports of natural gas for the whole of last year ($281.9 million) (Gazeta.uz, April 22). For Russia, after its gas deliveries to Europe were sharply curtailed following explosions on the Nord Stream One and Two subsea pipelines and additional Western sanctions, Uzbekistan represents a significant consolation prize as Gazprom seeks to reorientate its gas export business eastward. However, preliminary work still needs to be done before Gazprom throughput from Russia can reach Uzbekistan through the repurposed SATS-4 pipeline. The entire 60-year-old pipeline must first undergo a full survey, particularly as it traverses extreme climatic conditions in the Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts. Following inspection, the compressor stations can then be re-equipped and upgraded to operate in reverse (Neftegaz.ru, January 26). Concerns about the operational security of the SATS pipeline network are well-founded, as, over the years, there have been a number of major accidents, fires and explosions, notably a 2009 accident on the SATS-4 line in Turkmenistan, which took nearly a year to repair and heavily damaged relations between Gazprom and Turkmengaz (Neftegaz.ru, April 30). Furthermore, since the beginning of Russias re-invasion of Ukraine, competition has intensified between Russia, China and the United States for influence over Central Asia. For the landlocked post-Soviet Central Asian states, their governments most pressing question is how to improve their economies despite their geographic isolation. An integral component of their economic growth is access to affordable and reliable energy supplies, which Russia alone could supply via its unique, if somewhat dilapidated, Soviet-era pipeline network. For the region, these energy exports, beyond providing alternative revenue to a sanctioned pariah state, raise the intriguing question of what Russia will expect in return for its largesse. By The Jamestownfoundation.org ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Amid a slump in EU gas prices, the continent is rushing to diversify its natural gas imports. Oilprice.com wrote yesterday that Russian gas giant Gazprom has seen its 2022 revenue and market share in Europe collapse as a result of Western sanctions. While Russia is busy trying to re-route exports to Asian consumers, Europe has ramped up gas imports from Azerbaijan. Azeri gas supplies to Europe through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) amounted 2.9 bcm in the first quarter of 2023. While this makes Azerbaijan a relatively small supplier to the EU, the total volume supplied in 2023 is higher than in previous years. In 2021, Europe received 8 bcm of gas from Azerbaijan, which increased to 11.4 bcm in 2022. According to Caspiannews.com, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said that his country is planning to ramp up supplies from around 12 bcm this year to approximately 20 bcm in 2027. In July of 2022, the European Commission and Azerbaijan forged a strategic partnership in the energy sector by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. Under the provisions of this memorandum, Azerbaijan has committed to doubling its gas exports to the European Union. In the MoU, the two parties also expressed the topic of renewables, in particular wind energy and green hydrogen. The EU believes that Azerbaijan could become a strategic renewable energy partner in the long term while growing its role as a natural gas supplier in the short term. In order to be able to deliver the extra volumes, Azerbaijan leans heavily on its Shah Deniz and Absheron fields, the former of which produced around 25 bcm of natural gas in 2022 and 36 million barrels of condensate in 2022. The real gamechanger here for Azerbaijan is the Absheron field, ownership of which is shared 50/50 by TotalEnergies and SOCAR. First commercial production at the Absheron field is scheduled to start this year at a rate of around 1.5 bcm per year, which is expected to increase to around 90,000 boepd, or around 5.1 bcm per year in 2027. Image source: Offshore Technology By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Robert Friedland, billionaire mining investor and founder of Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines, is unconcerned with the recent plunge in copper prices as medium and long-term demand for the metal is set to soar. Copper prices fell below the threshold of $8,000 per ton on Wednesday, as underwhelming Chinese economic data has weighed on the market and investor sentiment. In May alone, copper prices have fallen by 8% so far, while money managers have turned increasingly bearish on copper in recent weeks. For the first time since the height of the pandemic in 2020, the number of short positions on copper on the London Metal Exchange now exceeds the longs. Yet, billionaire Friedland, as well as Goldman Sachs and major commodity trading groups, continue to be bullish on copper beyond the near-term weakness. "It's momentary," Friedland told Bloomberg TV in an interview this week, commenting on the copper price plunge. "We're very very bullish on demand," he added. A supply crisis in the copper market is looming, according to Friedland, who thinks there is not enough new production to meet future demand for one of the key metals for the energy transition. Copper prices are likely to hit a record high in the next 12 months, commodity trading major Trafigura said earlier this year, citing the rebound in China's economy and short supply. According to Trafigura's co-head of metals and minerals Kostas Bintas, the price could rise to its previous record of $10,845 per ton and even top it to trade at $12,000 per ton. "I think it's very likely in the next 12 months that we will see a new high," Bintas said at the FT Commodity Global Summit. "What's the price of something the whole world needs but we don't have any of?" At the World Economic Forum in January, Trafigura's chief executive Jeremy Weir said, "If we want to reach net zero by 2050, we need to have two-thirds of energy from renewable sources by 2030. In that scenario, we need a 20% increase in production per annum of copper." ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Surging hydroelectric power, new nuclear reactors online, and an influx of solar and wind capacity additions sent electricity prices in Finland below zero on Wednesday, in a stark reversal from last year when residents were warned of shortages after Russia cut off pipeline gas supply to its EU neighbor. The average price for the day is now slightly, but nevertheless, on the negative side. Yes, it is historic, Jukka Ruusunen, chief executive officer of grid operator Fingrid, told local news outlet Yle. Abundant meltwater is raising hydropower production, while the newest nuclear reactor in Europe and the biggest by capacity started producing electricity in Finland last month. Olkiluoto 3, which has completed test production and is now regularly producing electricity, is expected to account for 30% of Finlands power generation, the plant operator, TVO, says. Operational issues have plagued the 1,600 MW reactor for years. But now it is expected to produce electricity for the next 60 years and is a significant addition to clean domestic production, TVO said. After the start-up of Olkiluoto 3, power prices in Finland saw a 75% plunge between December 2022 and April 2023. In addition, growing solar and wind capacity is also contributing to a cleaner and more abundant power supply in Finland. Last winter, the only thing people could talk about was where to get more electricity. Now we are thinking hard about how to limit production. We have gone from one extreme to another, Ruusunen told Yle. Now there is enough electricity, and it is almost emission-free. So you can feel good about using electricity, Fingrids CEO said. In another significant boost to Finlands renewable energy capacity, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Myrsky Energia (Myrsky) on Wednesday announced a partnership to develop more than 1.8 GW of onshore wind power in Finland. This transaction puts Finland on track to become a European leader in the energy transition and will make a material contribution toward Finlands 2035 carbon neutrality target, CIP said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A number of prominent members of the Net Zero Insurance Alliance have quit the organization in recent months and this has prompted its leadership to take urgent steps to stop further member bleeding. The group of insurers is meeting today to talk about its future course of action, which would focus on ending membership cancellations after giants including Munich Re, Zurich Insurance Group, and, most recently, Hannover Re, left the Net Zero Insurance Alliance. According to Bloomberg, the exits are a result of an escalation of Republican Party attacks on businesses and investors perceived to be embracing environmental, social and good governance goals in the United States. According to the insurers themselves, antitrust risks in the U.S. were the reason for Munich Re leaving, while Zurich Insurance did not supply such a reason, saying only that it wanted "to focus our resources to support our customers with their transition". Like the Swiss major, Hannover Re did not cite specific reasons for its NZIA exit. A growing backlash against ESG in Republican-led states is certainly a serious consideration. Some states have directly threatened litigation in case there is evidence of discriminatory business practices such as prioritizing ESG factors over others. It may well be the case that Munich Re is the only one saying the quiet part aloud and it was those Republican threats that got Zurich International and Hannover Re to drop the NZIA group, too. However, these are companies with global operations. They are not focused exclusively on the U.S. and its Republican-led states. And this is part of the problem, it seems. Global companies find themselves between a rock and hard place, Karl Racine, a former attorney general of the District of Columbia, told Bloomberg. While Europe has embraced ESG and established regulatory and legal requirements to support it, the U.S. has not, on such a scale. ADVERTISEMENT As a result, Global companies are, thus, confronted with challenging questions as to how to navigate these disparate waters, Racine explained. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LINCOLN Speedway Motors' Museum of American Speed, which just finished a physical expansion, will also be growing its collection of auto racing items. The museum announced last week that it is merging with the Unser Racing Museum, which is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "The Unser family is one of the most storied families in automotive and racing history," Carson Smith, director of the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed, said in a press release. "We've had racing partnerships with members of the Unser family for over 38 years and are honored to welcome the Unser collection to our museum." The Albuquerque Journal reported that the Unser museum's last day is May 29. It's not clear exactly when its collection will move to Lincoln and become available for viewing. The collection includes more than 40 race, pace and Pike's Peak cars' original racing art, trophies and memorabilia belonging to the Unser family, which is one of America's best-known Indy Car racing families. Al Unser Sr. won the Indianapolis 500 race four times, and his brother Bobby won it three times. Al Unser Jr. won the race twice. Al Unser Sr. and Bobby Unser both died in 2021, and Unser Racing Museum spokesman Bob Brown told the Albuquerque newspaper that relocation of the family's collection had been discussed before Al Unser Sr.'s death. That didn't stop Albuquerque officials from trying to keep the museum from leaving. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the Albuquerque City Council voted to include $4 million for the Unser Museum in a general obligation bond package that will go before voters this fall. Brown told the newspaper that the move to Lincoln will give more room to display the Unser collection and also will make it available to more visitors. The Unser museum, which opened in 2005, has 20,000 square feet of space and averages 20,000 visitors a year. Speedway's museum now has 240,000 square feet of space after its expansion and averages 100,000 visitors a year. It also was named the No. 1 best attraction for car lovers by USA Today earlier this year. "In motorsports, the Unser name is recognized worldwide, and we believe merging with the No. 1 nationally ranked Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed will provide not only a larger national, but also international, platform for this collection of the Unser's iconic racing legacy," Susan Unser, speaking on behalf of the Board of the Unser Racing Museum, said in the press release. Susan Unser is the widow of Al Unser Sr. and the mother of Al Unser Jr. In Lincoln, the Unser collection will join a number of Unser-related vehicles already owned by Speedway, including the Johnny Lightning Special and Viceroy VPJ Special driven by Al Unser Sr. and the 1971 Gurney Eagle driven by Bobby Unser. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Its almost tradition for Mary Schill to make a mad dash to turn in her Oktoberfest button designs. In 2001, Schill scrambled to make the 7 p.m. final drop for next-day mail. The next year, she found herself speeding down the highway to make deadline, catching the flashing lights of a squad car in her rearview mirror. Luckily, the officer had a good chuckle when Schill rolled down her window gripping her button entry rather than her drivers license. The good-natured officer assured her shed win. He was right, and this year, the La Crosse and Wisconsin Rapids resident continued her winning streak, unusually punctual to boot. I had it in with two hours to spare, Schill said. Which is a miracle for me. Schill, whose designs were selected in 2001, 2002 and 2005, stood with 2018 Festmaster Mike Keil and Frau Karen Keil as her 2019 design was officially unveiled Thursday afternoon. The public had its first peek at the design during the evenings Corks and Forks scholarship fundraiser. Keeping with the theme of fest with das beste, the 59th annual commemorative button features a map of Wisconsin, a pair of jovial dancers, chalet and maple leaves blustering in the wind, all set against a deep blue background. She did a wonderful job on this button, the festmaster said. Shes had very good luck in the past this is her fourth time winning so kudos to her. I think its absolutely gorgeous. Schill, who experienced her first Oktoberfest as a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse design student in the 1980s, entered button designs seven times before her 2001 win. Her 2002 winning design, featuring the U.S. and German flags in the shape of a maple leaf, was a personal favorite, and this year the graphic designer and photographer crafted two diverse entries, winning with a combination of past ideas she had scrapped. Creating a button that will be a collector item for years to come is an opportunity to give back to the community in an artistic fashion, Schill says. While still six months away, she has Oktoberfest on her mind year-round. (CNN) People should avoid contact with a famous beluga whale to avoid accidentally injuring or killing it, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has said. The whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir, shot to international fame in 2019 after it was spotted wearing a specially made harness with mounts for a camera, leading experts to believe the whale may have been trained by the Russian military. Since 2019, it has been traveling along the Norwegian coast with a few stops along the way, according to the directorate, which added that Hvaldimir tends to stay at farms where it has been able to catch fish, grazing on surplus feed. Hvaldimir is known to follow boats and play with those on board. The whale, which is a protected species in Norway, now lives in inner Oslofjord, the directorate said. This means that it has arrived in a very densely populated area, and the risk that the whale may be injured due to human contact has become significantly greater, it added. In a statement on Wednesday, Fisheries Director Frank Bakke-Jensen said that so far there have only been minor incidents where the whale has suffered minor injuries, primarily from contact with boats. But he urged people to keep their distance, even though the whale is tame and used to being around people. We especially encourage people in boats to keep a good distance to avoid the whale being injured or, in the worst case, killed by boat traffic, said Bakke-Jensen. Given the dangers, Bakke-Jensen was asked whether the whale should be placed in captivity. We have always communicated that the whale in question is a free-living animal and we see no reason to capture it and put it behind barriers, he said. However, now that the whale is in a more vulnerable area and access to food may be limited, we will consider different measures, added Bakke-Jensen. But it is too early to say anything concrete about that yet. The Directorate of Fisheries will monitor the whales movements in the hope that it turns around when it reaches the end of the Oslofjord. In 2019, experts told CNN that Hvaldimir was a trained animal, and evidence suggested that it had come from Russia. Jorgen Ree Wiig, a marine biologist at Norways Directorate of Fisheries, told CNN that the harness appeared specially made and had mounts for GoPro cameras on each side of it. And the harness clips read Equipment St. Petersburg, contributing to a theory that the whale came from Murmansk, Russia, and was trained by the Russian navy. The navy has been known to train belugas to conduct military operations before, Wiig said, like guarding naval bases, helping divers, finding lost equipment. Hvaldimir is known to follow boats and Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KYIV, Ukraine The head of the Russian private army Wagner has again broken with the Kremlin line on Ukraine, saying its goal of demilitarizing the country has backfired, acknowledging Russian troops have killed civilians and agreeing with Western estimates that he's lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prigozhin said about half of those who died in the eastern Ukrainian city were Russian convicts recruited for the 15-month-old war. His figures stood in stark contrast to Moscow's widely disputed claims that just over 6,000 of its troops were killed throughout the war as of January. By comparison, official Soviet troop losses in the 1979-89 Afghanistan war were 15,000. Ukraine hasnt said how many of its soldiers have died since Russias full-scale invasion began in February 2022. White House officials said Wednesday that Prigozhins comments were in line with their own estimates that Russian losses have accelerated. The White House estimated this month that Russian forces had suffered 100,000 casualties, including 20,000 killed in fighting, since December. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said then that about half of those killed were Wagner forces. Analysts believe many of those killed in the nine-month fight for Bakhmut were Russian convicts with little military training. Prigozhin himself a former convict has frequently criticized Russian military officials for not supplying his troops with enough ammunition. He also has questioned their tactics, commitment and leadership capabilities, and complained they haven't sufficiently credited his forces for battlefield successes. He's highlighted his forces' sacrifices, and on Saturday touted what he claimed was the capture of the city of Bakhmut. In an interview published late Tuesday with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Kremlin political strategist, Prigozhin went even further in his criticism questioning some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rationale for the war. Prigozhin said Russias goal of demilitarizing Ukraine has backfired because Kyivs military has become stronger with Western weapons and training. In invading Ukraine, Putin also cited the need to increase Russia's security and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Since the war began, Ukraine has applied to join NATO, and cross-border attacks into Russia itself have increased. In Washington, Kirby speculated Wednesday on Prigozhin's motives. And its possible that this could be a sort of morbid way of him ... claiming credit for whatever theyve been able to achieve in Bakhmut, but also trying to publicly embarrass the Ministry of Defense further that the cost was borne in blood and treasure by Wagner, and not by the Russian military. In the interview, Prigozhin also challenged Moscow's vehement denials that Russian forces killed civilians. In what it says is likely a low estimate, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says that from February 2022 until early April 2023, it recorded 22,734 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 8,490 killed and 14,244 injured. Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman with longtime links to Putin, is known for his bluster often spiced with obscenities and has previously made unverifiable claims from which he later backtracked. Earlier this month, his media team published a video of him shouting, swearing and pointing at about 30 uniformed bodies on the ground, saying they were Wagner fighters who died in a single day. He claimed the Russian Defense Ministry had starved his men of ammunition, and he threatened to give up the fight for Bakhmut. Prigozhin has frequently warned of a counteroffensive that Ukrainian officials have said they're planning, and in Tuesday's interview, he said that, given continued Western support, Kyiv's forces might succeed in pushing Russian troops out of all territory they occupy in southern and eastern Ukraine, as well as annexed Crimea. A pessimistic scenario: the Ukrainians are given missiles, they prepare troops, of course they will continue their offensive, try to counterattack," he said. "They will attack Crimea, they will try to blow up the Crimean bridge (to the Russian mainland), cut off (our) supply lines. Therefore we need to prepare for a hard war. Prigozhin's admission of heavy losses appears to show the impact of Ukraine's strategy. Ukrainian officials have said their goal in Bakhmut was to exhaust and deplete Russian forces, distract them from protecting territory they occupy elsewhere, and buy time for more Western weapons and ammunition supplies to arrive, and for training to be completed. Russias largest state-run and pro-Kremlin media did not report Prigozhins interview, posted in a Telegram channel with only 50,000 followers, making it unlikely to be widely seen in Russia. Nor did Russian military bloggers, whose popular Telegram pages are important sources of information about the war to many Russians, mention it. On the battlefield, the Ukrainian General Staff said Wednesday that heavy fighting was continuing inside Bakhmut, days after Russia claimed it had completely captured the devastated city. Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four Russia illegally annexed last fall and only partially controls. The head of Ukraines ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Kyivs forces are continuing their defensive operation in Bakhmut, with unspecified successes on its outskirts. He didn't elaborate. A Ukrainian commander in Bakhmut told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Ukrainians planned to trap the Russians. Now we dont need to fight in Bakhmut. We need to surround it from flanks and block it, Yevhen Mezhevikin said. "Then we should sweep it. This is more appropriate, and thats what we are doing now. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Jeff Russell has been named the next president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska effective June 26. Russell will replace Steve Grandfield, who announced plans to retire late last year. Russell has more than 20 years experience in senior leadership roles in the insurance and financial services industries. Since 2013, he has served as president and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa, the states largest dental insurance company. Delta Dental provides dental, vision and legal benefits to more than 1.6 million members. Russell said he was proud to be joining Blue Cross with its long history and strong commitment to taking care of members and serving the community. I look forward to working as a champion for the health and well-being of our members, and leading a company that is a vital partner in the communities we serve, he said in a statement. Before joining Delta Dental, Russell led a variety of companies in the banking and payments industry. He was president and CEO of TMG Financial Services, helping it become one of the 30 largest Mastercard issuers in the United States. He also held various executive positions for The Members Group, a financial technology and payments company, including heading the marketing, technology, product development and finance units. A graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Russell serves on several local and industry boards and committees. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A 25-year-old Omaha man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for sex trafficking of a minor. Dalonte Foard will serve 45 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to sex traffic a minor, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Nebraska. Federal agents began investigating the case in September 2020 after two Omaha foster children went missing from their foster home, according to the release. Evidence showed that Foard had picked up the two girls and taken them to a hotel, where another man posted online ads promoting them for commercial sex acts, the release said. The next morning, Foard sexually assaulted one of the girls and then posted a new ad promoting her for commercial sex, according to the release. A man responding to Foards ad came to the hotel and Foard waited while the man paid $60 to engage in sex with the victim, the release said. Afterward, Foard took $50 of the $60 the victim was paid. After his prison sentence, Foard will remain on supervised release for life, according to the release. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Omaha Police Department and the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Enkela Vehbiu felt lost when her children entered elementary school in the Omaha Public Schools. The American school system was so different from Vehbius own schooling experience in her home country of Albania. Vehbiu didnt understand what her kids did every day. Or how the teacher delivered lessons. I was like fish out of water, Vehbiu said of the experience. The schools principal and teachers were patient with Vehbiu. They gave her opportunities to learn and observe what happens in the classroom. Now, years later, its Vehbius turn to help Nebraskas newest residents. Vehbiu and other Omaha Public Schools staff members are helping immigrant and refugee families adjust to the American school system and learn English with adult and family literacy classes. In the classes, parents and families learn skills like how to read a report card or report their students absence from school. This program, in my view as an immigrant parent of OPS, its priceless, Vehbiu said. If I had to do that all over again, being a new parent, I would come here every single day and take advantage of what is offered here. There are currently 428 students from 23 countries enrolled in the English Language Parent Program. Daily classes are hosted in the districts Welcome Center located inside the Teacher Administrative Center, 3215 Cuming St. OPS parents, blood relatives of OPS students and future OPS parents who live within the districts boundaries but have children too young for school can all attend the classes. Many of the programs attendees work nights so they can continue to attend the program in the morning, but transportation to the classes can be one of the main challenges families face. OPS staff offers a bus training trip to teach families how to use the bus. OPS also helps with bus tickets. If families miss their bus, sometimes the trip to the classes can take about three hours. Even with those obstacles, the families keep showing up for the classes. On a Monday morning last month, the classrooms inside the Welcome Center were full of students and teachers of all ages and different parts of the world. In one classroom, the students were from Afghanistan, Columbia, Mexico, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While singing a song with a refrain choo choo, children too young for preschool practiced identifying colors in one classroom. Across the hall, children played while their parents and family members sat at a table and listened to a story about getting school supplies in English. You listened to the story, the teacher tells the class. So now were going to practice reading the story. OK. You ready? In unison, the parents read the story back to the teacher a few words at a time. So heres a period so we stop for a little bit, the teacher tells the class. The parents and family members are put in classes based on their English ability, so while one class goes over the meaning of ing at the ends of words, another class discusses the difference between colons and semicolons. As often as possible, OPS hires staff members from Omahas immigrant and refugee community to help in these classrooms, said Jaimie Cogua, coordinator of English learners, dual language, migrant and refugee education for OPS. The classes focus on more than English. They teach parents to check their students backpacks for information from the school, how to set up an online portal to check grades and more serious topics like suicide awareness and prevention. Our goal is to help them navigate the U.S. education system, Cogua said. Thats really our overarching goal so everything we do connects back to that school and family relationship and all the things parents need to know. The hope is that parents build up their confidence in learning to read, speak, write and listen in English so they feel like they can call the school to report their childs absence or go to parent-teacher conferences and talk to teachers, Cogua said. Even those phone calls to school staff about absences are practiced. Vehbiu remembered one mom calling her childs school on speaker phone so everyone in her class could listen. The minute the mom hung up, the entire class broke out in applause. It was a sense of accomplishment, Vehbiu said. Those are things that Vehbiu takes for granted now but said at first, was just terrifying. And by going over topics like how to read a report card, the parents can understand how their children are doing in school. Vehbiu said one mom was thrilled to learn the O on her sons report card actually stood for outstanding, not a zero. She said I got mad at my son for bringing a zero, but when we explained she was really very pleased with the performance of her son and the progress, Vehbiu said. So those little things that you dont necessarily know or understand. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The last time the American Automobile Association projected that so many travelers would hit the road for Memorial Day weekend, COVID-19 wasnt on the radar. AAA projects that more than 3 million people across Nebraska and six regional states Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Missouri will drive for 50 miles or more Thursday through Monday. Thats up from the more than 2.8 million people who hit the regions Interstates and highways last year. But its just slightly short of the more than the 3.1 million people who traveled those roads in 2019. The automobile association projects that about 42.3 million people across the United States will travel 50 miles or more. Thats about 2.7 million more people than last year. This years travel projections are the third highest in the forecasts history, trailing only the 2019 total of 42.8 million people and the 2005 total of 44 million people. People are just ready to get out and, see their loved ones, see their friends and enjoy life again, said Brian Ortner, a spokesman for AAA Nebraska. It seems to be that weve reached the point of living with COVID. I think seeing those travel numbers go back up is a good sign of that. Gas prices this year are friendlier to road trippers than they were last year. Some Omaha gas stations list prices hovering around or below $3 per gallon as listed on gasbuddy.com. Overall, gas prices in Nebraska are much lower than last year. In 2022, Memorial Day travelers paid an average of $4.19 per gallon in Nebraska and $4.22 in Iowa. The skies are also expected to be busy. AAA projects 136,000 people in the seven-state region will travel by plane. That projection is far above the 2022 total of 108,000 people but slightly behind the 2019 total of 152,000 people. The Omaha Airport Authority said about 79,000 passengers will travel through Eppley Airfield this weekend, with the busiest day expected to occur Friday. That exceeds the 2019 figure of 77,000 passengers by about 2.5%. A spokesman said passengers should arrive at Eppley no later than two hours before departure. Friday will also see Sun Country Airlines, a low-cost airline, begin service at Eppley with flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. A Sun Country spokeswoman said 145 people will fly from Omaha to the Twin Cities on Friday and 127 will fly in reverse that day. Travelers in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa should experience uneventful weather conditions. Laurel McCoy, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, said a slight chance of isolated rain showers and thunderstorms could happen Thursday and Sunday. Severe storms arent likely to develop. Otherwise, the region should be blanketed by sunny skies with high temperatures in the low 80s. The region is in the midst of a historic lack of rain in May. McCoy said only 0.14 of an inch has fallen so far. The Nebraska State Patrol plans to have extra officers to patrol the states roads for the holiday weekend. A spokesman said anyone who needs assistance or would like to report a dangerous driver can call the State Patrols Highway Helpline at *55. AAA will once again offer Tow to Go for impaired drivers. The confidential service is open to AAA members and non-members and offers free towing of a vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. Ortner said the Tow to Go was offered during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend last year. One driver in Nebraska called for a tow in that window. I know one does not sound like a lot. But that one person was taken off the road and didnt drive impaired, he said. That No. 1 means a heck of a lot when you realize that one person decided to make that call. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden will announce Thursday that he is tapping a history-making Air Force fighter pilot with years of experience in shaping U.S. defenses to meet Chinas rise to serve as the nations next top military officer, according to a senior U.S. official. The nomination of Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. has been long expected. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark Milley, whose term ends in October. Brown's confirmation would mean that, for the first time, both the Pentagons top military and civilian positions would be held by African Americans. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the first Black Pentagon chief, has been in the job since the beginning of the administration. The only other Black person to serve as Joint Chiefs chairman was Army Gen. Colin Powell. Brown is a career F-16 fighter pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours and command experience at all levels. He has broken barriers throughout his career. He served as the militarys first Black Pacific Air Forces commander, where he led the nations air strategy to counter China in the Indo-Pacific as Beijing rapidly militarized islands in the South China Sea and tested its bomber reach with flights near Guam. Three years ago he became the first Black Air Force chief of staff, the services top military officer, which also made him the first African American to lead any of the military branches. For the last year Brown has been widely viewed as the frontrunner to replace Milley, as the Pentagon shifts from preparing for the major land wars of the past to deterring a potential future conflict with Beijing. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed reporting. Photos: Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MIAMI (AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis entered the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday, stepping into a crowded Republican primary contest that will test both his national appeal as an outspoken cultural conservative and the GOPs willingness to move on from former President Donald Trump. The 44-year-old Republican revealed his decision in a Federal Election Commission filing before an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. It marks a new chapter in his extraordinary rise from little-known congressman to two-term governor to a leading figure in the nations bitter fights over race, gender, abortion and other divisive issues. DeSantis is considered to be Trumps strongest Republican rival even as the governor faces questions about his far-right policies, his campaign-trail personality and his lack of relationships across the Republican ecosystem. Still, he has generated significant interest among GOP primary voters by casting himself as a younger and more electable version of the 76-year-old former president. DeSantis audio-only announcement was to be streamed on Twitter Spaces beginning at 6 p.m. EDT, followed by appearances on conservative programs, including Fox News and Mark Levin's radio show. He also was holding a donor event at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Miami on Wednesday. The Republican nominee is expected to face Democratic President Joe Biden on the general election ballot in November 2024. DeSantis joins a field that also includes former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also considered a likely presidential candidate but has not yet announced a bid. DeSantis and Trump have much in common. DeSantis, who likely would not have become the Florida governor without Trumps endorsement, has adopted the former presidents fiery personality, his populist policies and even some of his rhetoric and mannerisms. Yet DeSantis has one thing his rival does not: a credible claim that he may be more electable than Trump, who faces multiple legal threats, including criminal charges in New York, and who presided over Republican losses in three consecutive national elections. Read the rest here: Here are the 7 takeaways from Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida elections 1. Kentucky voters set stage for biggest governors race of 2023 2. Trump wins proxy battle with DeSantis 3. Cameron could make history 4. Democrat wins Jacksonville mayors office 5. Progressives make a split decision in Pennsylvania 6. Pennsylvania Republicans go with establishment-backed candidate in Supreme Court race 7. Election denier falls flat in secretary of state race Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LINCOLN Two days of negotiation on a criminal justice reform proposal seemed to gain some ground with Nebraska lawmakers, but a handful of state senators remained unconvinced. Lawmakers advanced Legislative Bill 50 to its final round of debate with a 30-7 vote Wednesday. The bill would cover a wide range of issues, such as increasing Nebraskas problem-solving courts and expanding parole options. Wednesdays debate had twists and turns, with several smaller bills absorbed into the legislation, plus a failed attempt to include a ban on drag shows for minors. This is the second time LB 50 has seen floor debate this week. The first was on Monday, when the bill advanced after first-round debate on a 28-8 vote, despite disagreement between Judiciary Committee members on two of its provisions. Members agreed to move the bill forward with the promise to work together on a resolution. By Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee chair, State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, had a new amendment prepared that addressed some concerns expressed in the first round, and had support from Gov. Jim Pillens office, the Attorney Generals Office, and multiple police departments, including Omahas. This is a starting point that not everybody agrees with, Wayne said. But its a good starting point. Last year, lawmakers failed to pass a bill with recommendations from a study group created to help overhaul Nebraskas criminal justice system and reduce Nebraskas worst-in-the-nation prison overcrowding. This year, former Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln introduced LB 50 with some of last years consensus proposals. Wayne, the Judiciary Committee chair, took the lead on LB 50 after Geist resigned to focus on the Lincoln mayoral race. He said Monday that his goal is to reduce the number of Nebraska inmates who jam out that is, complete their sentences and are released without supervision or rehabilitation, and often end up back in prison. With lawmakers approving a new $350 million prison and several other massive tax relief proposals this year, Wayne said, LB 50 is essential to improving public safety and preserving the states finances. The disagreement within the committee came down to language regarding habitual criminal sentencing, and parole eligibility. Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, who replaced Geist, said she was concerned that the changes could reduce sentences for repeat offenders and substantially decrease the time inmates could spend behind bars before they are granted parole. Waynes amendment adjusted both of those provisions, narrowing the offenses that would be eligible for reduced sentences under the habitual criminal language, and revising the timelines for parole eligibility. Inmates with sentences of less than 20 years would be eligible for parole once they have two years remaining, and those with sentences of more than 20 years must complete at least 80% of their sentence before they would be eligible. The changes were enough to sway a few senators from the Judiciary Committee to support the bill, but Bosn remained in opposition. She and a few other lawmakers pointed to continued opposition by the County Attorneys Association, which called the bill too soft on criminals and a threat to public safety. I dont think this bill is ready for prime time, said Sen. John Lowe of Kearney. The influence of the County Attorneys Association spurred harsh criticism from LB 50 supporters. Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha has blamed the group for thwarting criminal justice reform in recent years, saying that it continues to find reasons to oppose each proposal, no matter how many concessions lawmakers make. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area agreed. Its not our job to make the county attorneys job easier, Linehan said. Bosn, a former prosecutor, defended the group and said its only motive was promoting public safety. During Wednesdays debate, Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings proposed an amendment that would have banned drag performances in any public spaces where minors were present, taking from a bill Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil introduced this year, LB 371. Hallorans proposal drew pushback from both Republicans and Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. They said the amendments definition of drag was too vague, and noted that LB 371 has yet to be voted out of committee because of an apparent lack of support. Hallorans amendment failed in a 6-32 vote. But several other bills were absorbed into LB 50 through a separate amendment brought by Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner. Among the measures added: a requirement that the Nebraska Board of Pardons notify victims when their perpetrator has been issued a pardon; expanding a state program for children aging out of foster care to also apply to children in juvenile corrections; and giving school personnel the authority to respond to opioid overdoses. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LINCOLN Gov. Jim Pillen announced Wednesday that he had vetoed millions of dollars out of the two-year budget package passed by the Legislature last week. In a message to the Legislature, Pillen said the cuts were needed to provide for the transformative tax relief measures that lawmakers have pending. He said Nebraska taxpayers are demanding their money back. We must continue to fight against excessive governmental spending to deliver dollars back into the pockets of Nebraskans, he said. Lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on final passage of major income tax cut and property tax relief bills, along with a bill providing more state aid to Nebraska schools. The three bills were introduced on behalf of the governor. Even without the governors budget vetoes and with passage of all bills at the second and third stages of consideration, the state was projected to remain in the black through June 30, 2025, the end of the two-year budget period. However, projections suggest that it would slip into the red during the next two-year period. Pillens largest budget vetoes were to the payment rates for hospitals, nursing homes, child welfare providers and other health and human services providers. He let stand a 3% increase in rates for the first year of the budget period, but eliminated the 2% increase that lawmakers had approved for the second year. He said funding for higher reimbursement rates would not address any of the systemic workforce shortages affecting hospitals and will only provide a band-aid to hospitals bottom line, without providing any relief for healthcare costs paid by everyday Nebraskans. For child welfare providers, he said the second year of the rate increases would be replacing federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. He said it would be a harmful practice for the state to replace temporary federal dollars with state funds. The Appropriations Committee initially had used state dollars for both years of the rate increases but tapped unused federal money to reduce state spending. Pillen also eliminated funding for a pilot program to work with children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because of their exposure to gun violence. He explained the cut by saying that the state already has devoted more than $500 million to economic recovery projects, of which most were focused in North and South Omaha. The governor eliminated money to expand home visitation for families of young children and to expand aid for court-appointed special advocates, who advocate for children in the foster care system. He also eliminated money aimed at helping a Lincoln child welfare provider to provide housing for homeless youths who are pregnant or parenting. Pillen also vetoed money for the Rural Workforce Housing and Middle Income Housing programs, which was to have come from the states cash reserve fund. He said the vetoes would protect the cash reserve and avoid flooding the housing market with government subsidization. He cut $10 million earmarked to help Kimball with the infrastructure needed to handle an influx of workers replacing Minuteman missiles in the area and $7 million earmarked to help with a rural drinking water project in Cedar and Knox County. In the first instance, he said he would help Kimball get money from the federal government for those costs. In the second case, he said the state already had put significant money into the project. Members of the Appropriations Committee are slated to meet Thursday morning to decide whether to recommend any overrides of the line-item vetoes. Pillens budget announcement came one day after lawmakers voted to reduce the cost of a tax omnibus measure. LB 727 includes 27 tax-related measures, which were combined by the Revenue Committee as a way to bypass the session-long filibuster mounted by opponents of a proposed ban on transgender health care for minors. As advanced from first-round debate, the bill would have reduced state general fund revenues by more than $194 million over four years. Changes made during second-round consideration brought the price tag down by nearly $100 million over four years. The changes included eliminating a contentious provision that would have allowed people to use state-sponsored, tax-deductible college savings plans to pay for K-12 tuition and pushing back the start date for a bill allowing contractors to buy products tax-free based on the tax-exempt status of the entity that hired them. Other changes included putting lower caps on tax credits for biodiesel retailers, rural development projects and renovation of historically significant buildings. The amended bill would allow tax credits for research and development expenses in the future, but credits would not be allowed for prior years. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session President Muhammmadu Buhari has conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigerias highest honour on the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The president also conferred the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima. The investiture of national honours and official handover of transition documents ceremony were performed at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. The 2023 presidential inauguration will mark Nigerias 7th consecutive democratic transition. (CNN) Guam residents were urged to stay home Wednesday as the strongest storm to impact the US territory in decades slammed into the island. The eye of Typhoon Mawar passed just north of Guam, but the eyewall the most powerful part of the storm pelted the island with hurricane-force winds and heavy rain. Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero implored residents to stay at home until conditions are declared safe for travel in a Facebook address Wednesday evening. Stay calm, stay informed and stay safe. We will get through this storm as we have in many, many other storms, she said. The governor said the strongest winds from the storm were being felt throughout the island, particularly in the north. These conditions will likely persist until the winds begin to decrease from around 8 or 9 a.m. Thursday, she said. No storm-related deaths had been reported as of Thursday morning local time (Wednesday night Eastern Time) the governors press secretary, Krystal Paco-San Agustin, said. The Guam International Airport recorded sustained winds of 71 mph with a gust of 105 mph Wednesday evening. As the storm passed north of the island, Marwar gained super typhoon status with 150 mph winds, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Mawar is now moving away from Guam, the National Weather Service in Guam said. The center of the storm was located about 55 miles north-northeast of Guam and was moving northwest at a sluggish 8 mph, the latest tropical cyclone advisory said. The typhoon is expected to strengthen even further over Thursday and Friday, and the JTWC is forecasting the system to reach Category 5 hurricane intensity as it moves farther away from Guam. At about 1 a.m. Thursday (11 a.m. Wednesday ET) the storms maximum sustained winds were 140 mph with gusts up to 165 mph, the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!, the weather service in Guam warned Wednesday evening. Even though the center of the storms eye narrowly missed the island, most of its residents have lost power. Nearly all of Guam Power Authoritys circuits have been impacted by the storm and only about 1,000 of its 52,000 customers still had electricity, the authority said in a statement on Facebook at around 6 p.m. Guam Memorial Hospital is currently operating on power from a standby generator, it added. We are working hard to maintain the last remaining customers through the storm, the power authority said. Our GPA team is prepared to immediately begin restoration as soon as winds decrease to safe levels, it said. The weather service issued a typhoon warning for the island for Wednesday, and flash flood and coastal flood warnings until Thursday morning. In anticipation of high storm surge and potentially catastrophic coastal flooding, Guerrero issued an executive order Tuesday mandating the evacuation of low-lying coastal areas. When sea levels rise, residents will have merely minutes to evacuate and respond. Thus, we must prepare now and anticipate the worst, the governors office said in a release. US President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for the island on Tuesday. The USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is headed toward Guam to potentially support recovery efforts following the typhoon, two US defense officials tell CNN. So far there has not been an official request for assistance from FEMA, but the agency announced it has more than 50 emergency relief personnel and dozens of other federal partners ready to provide emergency assistance on the ground. Life-threatening floods from rain and storm surge possible Mawar threatens torrential rains that may result in landslides and flash flooding, catastrophic wind, and life-threatening storm surge, the weather service said Wednesday morning. Mawars slow forward pace of about 8 mph could exacerbate the impacts of wind and bring greater amounts of rainfall to the island than a faster-moving storm. The storm could bring between 15 to 20 inches of rain with even higher local amounts possible, the weather service said. The downpour will likely trigger landslides, overflow rivers and streams and bring flooding to areas that dont normally see such events. While the storm surge is expected to be lower than initially feared, as the center of the storm passed just north and kept the worst of the surge north of the island, ocean levels 4 to 6 feet above normal high tides are still possible, the weather service warned. Maximum observed wave heights over the ocean were a towering 40 feet high. Storm surge deaths are historically the leading cause of hurricane-related fatalities within the United States, according to the weather service. Officials have warned the storm will bring devastating impacts to the islands residents, infrastructure and landscape. Extensive roof and structure damage is possible due to pummeling winds, especially for buildings that are not reinforced with concrete. Electricity and water may be unavailable for days and perhaps weeks after the storm passes and most trees will be snapped or uprooted, the local weather service warned. Between 50-70% of Guams vegetation could experience defoliation the unnatural removal of much of a plants leaves and foliage, the weather service said. Human-caused climate change is contributing to an upward trend intense storms like Typhoon Mawar. Not only are these systems generating more rainfall and larger storm surge they are also more likely to be stronger and are intensifying faster, CNN has reported. Mawar rapidly intensified from Monday into Tuesday, with top wind speeds increasing by 50 mph in just 18 hours. Scientists have warned that the rapid intensification of tropical cyclones like typhoons and hurricanes is more likely as ocean temperatures climb and lay the groundwork for cyclones to explode at breakneck pace into deadly storms. Strongest storm in decades The storm is one that will be remembered for decades, said Landon Aydlett, the warning coordination meteorologist for the weather service in Guam. Mawar is the strongest storm to impact Guam home to about 150,000 people, as well as several US military installations in decades. Super Typhoon Pongsona hit Guam in 2002 with sustained winds of 144 miles per hour and gusts to 173 mph, according to the weather service. Super Typhoon Karen, widely regarded as the worst storm to ever hit the island, struck in 1962 with sustained winds of 172 mph. Though Guam sits in the West Pacific Ocean an area prone to the worlds strongest tropical cyclones it is extremely rare for the island to be struck directly by a storm of this strength. Hitting the small island amid the expansive Pacific Ocean is like threading a tiny needle. Only eight storms of this strength have passed directly over it in the last 75 years. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Powerful Typhoon Mawar slams Guam with heavy rain and damaging winds" Seeks support for APC,Tinubu Says he looks forward to tending his cattles in Daura .Lauds state house staff for supporting his govt By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council, FEC commended his ministers for their loyalty since 2015. The President also lauded staff of the State House for their support in his eight years administration. Related News In his remark at the valedictory session held at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President thanked all the ministers for their steadfastness in pursuing the goals of the administration, urging support for the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even from outside government. He appreciated the ministers for working closely together, despite many odds and challenges, and sustaining the synergy that translated into many achievements, saying, I am proud to say we gave our best. The President directed the ministers to remain on their duty posts and avoid last-minute rush that could compromise the good deeds they had done over the years. He said, In the cause of our years together, ranging from our newest addition to the oldest members of the team for the past seven and half years, we have differed on many issues. I urge that we understand that those positions were for the collective good, and no one should keep grievances, or carry these differences forward. For those of us that will not directly be in government, I know that I am one of such, I ask that we continue to provide our support, in whatever way we can, if called upon by our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC) that gave us the platform to stand and we must continue to support it in every way we can. President Buhari attributed all the good work and goodwill received by the administration to Gods intervention, adding, I also thank God for the strength and for keeping us together. I look forward to seeing many of you, disproving that Daura has not become too distant because I am no longer Mr President. I will also be happy to do the many things that I have not been able to do since May 29th, 2015, one of such is my favorite pastime of taking care of my cattle. I wish all of us the best and hope to hear good news whenever any of our names are mentioned. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he stated. While meeting with Staff of the State House, the President commended both the senior and junior workers for supporting his administration for eight years. He noted that the administration had stretched to accommodate the views of workers and to meet some of their needs, within the available resources. Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the valedictory session, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said during the FEC meeting Ministers were allocated time to deliver their farewell messages. According to him, He During that meeting, we adopted minutes of the two extraordinary FEC meetings and at the same time, opportunity was given to every minister to make his own farewell speech. Its instructive to note that each and every minister present today, and Im not aware of any who was absent, was given between two to five minutes to make his or her own valedictory speech and I think largely everybody commended Mr. President and thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country at this level. Many also took the opportunity to reel out what his or her own ministry or department had achieved over the last eight years. Of course you know, there are about three classes or categories of ministers; there are ministers that came in 2015 with us who were retained till 2023. Therere ministers that came in 2019 and have been there till 2023 and there are the last batch of ministers that came in about nine months ago. So everybody made his or her own valedictory speech, depending on how long he or she had been occupying the position. But generally, I think it was just a glorious moment for all the ministers to thank the President, thank their colleagues and also give gratitude to God, that a journey that started in 2015 is ending very well in 2023. I think everybody, including the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service, the Vice President, all made their valedictory speeches and then the President responded, and I think largely he thanked all of us for our contributions and prayed for us in our next endeavour. The Minister said the President also emphasised the need for Ministers to be up and doing especially as it concerns the transition programme that terminates on May 29. His words: He reiterated the fact that we should all go back to our offices so that we can carry out the assignments and tasks assigned to us in respect of the transition program. For instance, tomorrow (Thursday) well all have to be present at the conferment of the national honours on both the President-elect and the Vice President-elect and at that occasion I think the handing-over instrument will also be given to the in-coming President. Thats Thursday. On Friday, of course, there will be prayers. On Saturday, therell be public lecture. On Sunday, there will be church service and then on Monday there will be the inauguration proper at the Eagle Square, and then there will be dinner in the evening, largely for visiting heads of states and those who have been invited to the dinner. So governance continues until May 29. Nigerians are reacting to the video of two top federal lawmakers, Femi Gbajabiamila and Idris Wase confronting each other publicly Messrs Gbajabiamila and Wase clashed during plenary in Abuja on Wednesday, May 24, as their colleagues looked on Their clash arose from the announcement by the Gbajabiamila that the Order Paper for Thursday, May 25, be made lighter to allow members attend the commissioning of a project FCT, Abuja Nigerians on social media have expressed mixed reaction over a clip which showed Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, and Idris Wase, his deputy, engaging in a verbal confrontation during plenary session on Wednesday, May 24. Towards the end of the session, Gbajabiamila asked the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata, to prepare a light order paper for Thursday as the sitting should close by 2 pm to allow members to attend an event at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), The Punch reported. Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Wase openly clashed during plenary on Wednesday, May 24. Photo credits: Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Hon Ahmed Idris Wase Source: Facebook Miffed by the announcement, Wase confronted Gbajabiamila. A stunned Gbajabiamila retorted, saying you are challenging me, The Cable also reported. PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng! Reacting to the public spat via the social networking service, Twitter, some Nigerians sided with Gbaja, as the speaker is fondly called, while others chided the countrys No.4 citizen. See some reactions below: Possible cause of the acrimony between Gbajabiamila and Wase Gbajabiamila had reportedly recommended Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the coming 10th House, leading to their endorsement by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Wase, who is eyeing the seat of speaker, is a key member of a group of aspirants who are aggrieved with the leadership zoning formula of the APC. 10th NASS: Low turnout as Gbajabiamila begins campaign for Tajudeens speakership bid Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Gbajabiamila launched a campaign to support the speakership bid of the APCs successor-elect Abbas Tajudeen. It was gathered that the launch in Abuja on Wednesday, May 17, was greeted with a low turnout as several invitations were not honoured. I regret supporting Tambuwal for house of reps speaker: Gbajabiamila reveals Legit.ng also reported that Gbajabiamila said he regrets supporting Aminu Tambuwal for the position he currently occupies, in 2011. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, May 17, during a meeting with reps-elect, Gbajabiamila said Tambuwal was installed. Source: Legit.ng Advertisement *_PRESS STATEMENT_* Preamble_* Our attention and that of the Mwaghavul nation at home and in the diaspora has been drawn to a series of lies and falsehoods uttered by no one else other than Governor Lalong himself about the security situation in Mangu Local Government Area (LGA), during a recent interview on TVC News channel. Ordinarily, we would not respond to this most pedestrian and insensitive expression about the actual security situation in the area coming from a person occupying the most exalted seat in the state. However, due to the series of toxic lies contained in the said interview, which is capable of misleading the general public, locally and internationally about the true situation in Mangu LGA, we find it pertinent to respond in this press statement. Lalongs Claims on Restoring Security in Mangu LGA First, Lalong claimed in the said interview that security has been restored in Mangu LGA and cited the flying of jets all over the LGA as proof of his claims. Secondly, he claimed that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are being taken care of, though he did not mention how. Also, the Governor claimed that he has restored peace on the Plateau in the last eight years, and expressed his capability to handle criminals who are destroying the peace of Plateau within the remaining few days he has to be in office. *_Our Response_* To begin with, we find Governor Lalongs statement that flying jets and a lot of security over Mangu LGA as proof of restoration of security in the area most jaundiced, as it only depicts how myopic his understanding of security is. The kind of threats we are facing from Fulani terrorist herdsmen is typical of guerrilla warfare, in which the attackers target our villages at night and wantonly destroy lives and properties (refer to our earlier rejoinder to Miyetti Allahs letter to the General Officer Commanding 3rd Armoured Division for statistics). While it is not for us to dictate to the Government and the security agencies the number of personnel to be deployed at any crisis zone, the presence of security personnel should be visible, and if otherwise as it is in the case of Mangu LGA, then Lalongs claim of a lot of security is outrightly false. For the benefit of the doubt, the real situation on the ground across Mangu LGA reveals near total absence of security personnel in the area. In addition, the restoration of security should be judged by the ability of those deployed, to prevent threats from attackers. However, as it is currently, most of our communities are still facing real threats of invasion by our attackers. For over a week now our people have not only been displaced from their ancestral homes (refer to our response to Miyetti Allahs letter to the GOC 3rd Armoured Division for statistics of villages destroyed and no of IDPs), but more threats are being made to invade even Mangu town itself. Up to this time, our people are only surviving by the mercy of God. On the claim that IDPs are being attended to, we find this most ridiculous of a person who is supposed to be the father of the State. It is rather disheartening that since Fulani terrorist herdsmen started attacking communities in Mangu LGA on 14th April 2023 up till the most recent attacks, Governor Lalong has never visited the scenes of the attacks to commiserate with the victims. Lalong prefers to be junketing around Abuja; an action typical of an absentee leader. It is equally distressing just as it is traumatising that Lalong claimed in his statement that IDPs are being attended to. Lalong prefers to demonstrate his Father Christmas nature by leaving his state and going to far away Niger to donate a whooping sum of 32 million Naira to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University in that State, when over 30,000 IDPs in Mangu LGA, in his State, languish in displaced persons camps, without any intervention from the State government. While we are not against any donation to any University, the choice of that opportunity to spew toxic lies about the security situation in our LGA is, to say the least, insulting to our collective sensibilities as a people. We challenge Governor Lalong to provide any proof that IDPs are being attended to in Mangu LGA by his administration. Up to the time of this press statement, neither the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) nor the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has visited the crisis areas, to assess the prevailing humanitarian crisis. As far as we know, our people displaced are in different camps within Mangu town and neighbouring LGAs are being taken care of, thanks to the philanthropic gestures of kind-hearted individuals, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), friends and relatives. Lastly, on Lalongs claim that he has restored peace on the Plateau in the last eight years and his determination to handle criminals who are destroying that peace within the remaining few days he will be in office, we want to say in clear and categorical terms that while we welcome every sincere initiative or action aimed at restoring sustainable peace and security in Mangu LGA and indeed, the entire Plateau State, Lalongs sudden realisation of his capability and his determination to secure lives and property of our people falls short of inspiring confidence in our people. *_Conclusion_* We want to reiterate that our people in Mangu LGA are peace-loving and are open to any genuine efforts towards providing sustainable peace and security in the area and beyond. We also want to state that our people have had enough from our aggressors and we have been abandoned by the Plateau State Government under the administration of Lalong and are left alone to lick our wounds. Therefore, rather than capitalising on the unfortunate plight of our people to score cheap political goals, we admonish Governor Lalong to concentrate on genuinely restoring peace and security in Mangu and other parts of the state suffering attacks from the hands of Fulani terrorist herdsmen in the less than five (5) days he has in office. *_Da Lawrence Kyarshik_* *DPA MDA* Related Advertisement Barley four days to his swearing-in ceremony, the newly-elected Member to represent Nnewi Member Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Augustine Onyekachukwu, has been declared wanted by a Federal High Court sitting in Awka sitting in Awka. The declaration was made on Wednesday by the Court, presided over by Justice F.O Riman, who also issued a bench warrant directed to the Inspector General of Police, to effect the arrest of the suspect, Onyedikachukwu. Also declared wanted was one Onyedika Chukwuma, who also has some questions to answer on the matter for which Onyedikachukwu was declared wanted. According to a copy of the order obtained by 247ureports, the issuance of the arrest warrants was as a result of the suspects refusal to be served with the charge against them by the Inspector General of Police (IGP). In the order, the Court noted that since March 29, 2023, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) completed an investigation on Hon. Onyedikachukwu Ike and Chukwuma; and they were indicted. However, the duo, since then, refused to show up and have allegedly been on the run, which made it difficult for the Court to serve them with the Charge against them. Although, the order did not stipulate what the offences of the suspects are, the Court, in the order, further maintained stated that it will not assume jurisdiction to start hearing the Charge unless they are served and, hence the issuance of a bench warrant to the (IGP) to effect their arrest, since that was the only option left. More details later Related Spread the love The Supreme Court of Nigeria has warned the Rivers State Government against building any structure on the disputed land forcefully acquired from the Bayelsa State Government in the Port Harcourt old GRA. Bringing up the motion for injunction earlier filed by Bayelsa State Government, the Supreme Court said it would not be able to go ahead with the motion because of the counter affidavit filed in opposition to the motion on notice by Rivers State. The Supreme Court said it would instead go ahead with the originating summons to enable it to dispense with the matter and deliver judgment in good time. While adjourning the substantive matter to January 15, 2024 for hearing, the Apex Court cautioned the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, against building of any structure on the disputed land and that Rivers State government stands to forfeit any such building once the judgment is against them. READ ALSO: Rivers State: PDP has no candidates except one in the forthcoming elections The Court also cautioned the Rivers State Attorney-General against carrying out any further acts that will affect the interest of the parties since the matter is now before the Supreme Court. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Bayelsa State, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN stood in for Bayelsa State while his counterpart from Rivers State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, represented his state. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had only recently demolished buildings belonging to Bayelsa State Government along Akassa close in the old GRA Port Harcourt and immediately revoked the allocation of land. This development made Bayelsa State Government to approach the Supreme Court in a move to recover its property from her sister state of Rivers. Political watchers have linked the forceful takeover of the Bayelsa land by Wike to political vendetta against Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State because of his failed PDP Presidential ambition. (CNN) A new revolution could rock Russia if its stuttering war effort in Ukraine continues, the chief of private military group Wagner has said, in a scathing assessment of Moscows military readiness that could further expose divisions in Russian President Vladimir Putins military hierarchy. Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an interview with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Russian blogger, that Moscows troops are unprepared to resist forces loyal to Kyiv even when they enter Russian territory. He also praised the capabilities of the Ukrainian army, and urged Moscow to escalate its war effort if it wants to avoid a long and costly conflict. I believe Ukrainians today are one of the strongest armies in the world, Prigozhin said. He called Kyivs forces highly organized, highly trained and their intelligence is on the highest level, they can operate any military system with equal success, a Soviet or a NATO one. In recent days Moscow suffered embarrassment when a group of anti-Putin Russians entered the Belgorod region in an incursion that caused anger and confusion among Russias influential military analysts. Asked about the incident, Prigozhin said Russian defense forces are absolutely not ready to resist them in any shape or form. Here we are with Ukraine, that is our enemy, in the middle of the war, Russian Volunteer Corps groups come in effortlessly and go through (the border) in tanks and APCs without any repercussions and make their own videos if it, the Wagner chief vented. Prigozhin has frequently criticized Russias traditional military hierarchy as he sought to win a power struggle against military commanders to lead Putins ground effort in eastern Ukraine. Earlier this month he blamed Russian defense chiefs for tens of thousands of Wagner casualties because they didnt have enough ammunition. But his comments to Dolgov were alarmist even for the free-wheeling Putin ally. As he has frequently done, Prigozhin urged Moscow to step up its war in order to defeat Ukraine urging Putin to declare a martial law and a new wave of mobilization. He warned that if Russian losses continue to mount, all these divisions can end in what is a revolution, just like in 1917. First the soldiers will stand up, and after that their loved ones will rise up. It is wrong to think that there are hundreds of them there are already tens of thousands of them relatives of those killed, he said. And there will probably be hundreds of thousands we cannot avoid that. Russian forces, primarily made up of Wagner troops, have labored for months over the capture of Bakhmut a city in Ukraines east of relatively insignificant strategic value, where Russia has suffered vast losses and its larger ground campaign has been in stalemate since a string of successful Ukrainian counter-attacks last autumn. This story was first published on CNN.com. "Wagner chief warns Russians could revolt if invasion continues to struggle" (CNN) Net migration to Britain reached record levels last year, official figures showed Thursday, putting pressure on the UK government that has made the issue a political touchstone. Britain saw net migration of 606,000 people in 2022, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, with 1.2 million people arriving in the country and about half that number leaving. That comes despite pledges from successive Conservative governments to drastically reduce the numbers of people moving to the UK, particularly in the wake of Brexit a rupture that was touted by its proponents as a necessary step for Britain to take control of its borders. Thursdays figures were affected by the lifting of Covid-19 travel restrictions and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in two new schemes by which Ukrainian refugees could resettle in the UK. These (figures) are down to world events, but theyre also down to how the UK government has chosen to respond to world events, Rob McNeil, the deputy director of the Oxford Migration Observatory, told CNN. The vast majority of people arriving 925,000 were non-EU nationals, and around one in 12 of those were asylum seekers, included for the first time in the ONS annual release. The main drivers of the increase were people coming to the UK from non-EU countries for work, study and for humanitarian purposes, Jay Lindop, Director of the Centre for International Migration at the ONS, said Thursday. Some observers had predicted Thursdays figures would be higher; the ONS said a slowing in immigration meant levels of net migration have levelled off in recent quarters. But the headline figure will force difficult questions for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and his embattled Home Secretary Suella Braverman, both of whom have joined their predecessors in promising to reduce arrivals despite the strain on Britains public services, where key sectors like health care are marred by chronic staffing shortages. The pair have sought to focus attention on refugees and asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel on small boats, rather than on overall migration, despite that route representing a tiny proportion of arrivals to the UK. Ministers have been criticized by rights organizations and politicians across the political divide for their use of hardline rhetoric against those people, with Braverman controversially rallying against an invasion of migrants across the Channel. Sunak under pressure Critics of the government have long contended that Britain needs a steady influx of migrants in order to boost its workforce and support its ailing public services. But before, during and since the bitter Brexit referendum campaign, in which lowering migration became a central debate, several Tory prime ministers have sought to appease the right wing of their party by making the reduction of migration a focal point of their premierships. David Cameron infamously insisted he would reduce net migration to the tens of thousands during his premiership, which ran from 2010 to 2016 a vow that never came close to fruition, but which set the course for more than a decade of Tory fixation on the issue. Sunak has stuck to this line. He told the BBC at last weeks G7 summit that legal migration to the UK was too high, though he did not offer a specific plan to reduce it. What I would say is were considering a range of options to help tackle numbers of legal migration and to bring those numbers down and well talk more about that in the future, Sunak said. The most recent Conservative election manifesto, in 2019, included the pledge that under their leadership there will be fewer lower-skilled migrants and overall numbers will come down. But net migration has more than doubled since then. Its bizarre that the prime minister and the home secretary are sort of trashing the one thing that theyve actually managed to do reasonably well for the last five years, Jonathan Portes, an economist at Kings College London, told CNN. We have successfully introduced a new post-Brexit (immigration) system that is actually working pretty well. The idea that the UK would be better off if we were not getting doctors and nurses from abroad, I think is not very credible, Portes said. The opposition Labour Party was quick to criticize Sunaks government over Thursdays numbers. Todays extraordinary figures, including doubling the number of work visas since the pandemic, show the Conservatives have no plan & no grip when it comes to immigration, shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on Twitter. Ministers have completely failed to tackle skills shortages or help people back into work after Covid, she said. Privately, many Conservatives wonder why the government decided to make immigration such a key issue when this years figures were inevitably going to be high. The UK welcomed 169,000 Ukrainian refugees in the 13 months following Russias invasion, separate figures showed, and a push by the British government to encourage foreign students to study in the UK also played a significant factor in Thursdays numbers. People from Hong Kong have also been encouraged to arrive through a special visa program. And in the eyes of the public, immigration has become less of an issue since the Brexit referendum, as voters either understand immigration is good for the economy or feel that Brexit allowed a certain degree of control. Sunak would prefer to shift attention to his long-touted promise to Stop the Boats; arrivals of asylum-seekers on small, illegal vessels run by criminal trafficking gangs have soared in recent years and attracted widespread media coverage. But he is under pressure to show results in that regard too. The governments own policy post-Brexit has removed the UK from the Dublin Regulation, an agreement among EU member states that asylum-seekers would be returned to the first safe country within the EU that they initially arrived. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Britain sees record net migration levels, increasing pressure on government" The Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Bobby Moroe has proposed cultural exchange programmes with Nigerian youth groups, in a bid to curb Xenophobia. Bobby Moroe stated this during a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, 4th September 2019, where he disclosed that the initiative provides that Nigerian youths and students leaders travel to South Africa on cultural exchange and dialogue with their counterparts, as a way forward to the present situation. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the meeting was organised by the high commission in collaboration with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Global Peace Initiative (GPI) and Committee of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS) and National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS). While briefing the media on outcome of closed door meeting with NANS, NYCN and CYMS, Moroe said that South African government would partner Nigeria to implement an exchange programme with the youths. According to him, this is to encourage exchange of ideas and views to promote relations between the two countries from the prism of youth leaders and come up with progressive recommendations, NAN reports. Moroe said: The NYCN, GPI and CYMS have declared their readiness to do this and we are making arrangement to achieve the desired goals. Based on the discussion that we had, it is important for us to chat the cause for unity between Nigerians and South Africans at this period, because we share historical values. There is a need for us to cultivate the culture of tolerance and co-existence between the people of South Africa and people of Nigeria. It is important that we take advantage of the dialogue that we have had today to rebuild the much needed social engagement. It is important to educate the youth of South Africa and Nigeria to understand the history of cordiality shared between both countries and by such means there can be appreciation. Also speaking, Mr Bala Shagari, President of NYCN, said the meeting was important for both countries to tow that path of peace, rather than looting of shops and business properties. We believe that it is important that we engage in discussion with the South African people to proffer solutions to xenophobic attacks, rather than escalating the problem which can bring shame to the continent. As a result of our discussion we have agreed that we are going to South Africa to hear from them directly and to also get to the root cause of the problem and bring an end to it, Shagari said. He said that solution to the crisis should not just be left for governments of both countries alone, but urged youths to key into platforms for engagement in discussions to chat way forward. Also, the Director General of CYMS, Obinna Nwaka, promised to produce comprehensive reports from the programme and submitted to governments of both countries. This issue about xenophobic attack is not just for governments alone, it is the youth, who can really proffer solution to it and they should not be left behind. He, however, appealed to Nigerians to be patient, calm and remain peaceful in their dealings, to promote amicable resolution of the dispute. NAN reports that the date and duration of the proposed programme is yet to be decided by the high commission and the youth based organisations. Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), has opposed the proposed cultural exchange programme between Nigeria and South African youths to address xenophobic attacks on Nigeria and promote unity between the two countries. The President of NANS, Danielson Akpan, said this shortly after a news briefing by the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria. Akpan said the proposed exchange programme by the South African High Commission and the Federal Government for youths and students body would not work in view of the prevailing situation in South Africa. We do not need the proposed exchange programme; how do you carry out exchange programme in a place where you are not safe? Our members who are schooling in South Africa have been calling us that they want to come back home. He said attacks by South Africans on Nigerians and other nationals were unjustifiable and condemnable.(NAN) Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Illinois CPA Society NORMAL Illinois State University Professor Madeline Trimble received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Illinois CPA Society. ICPAS is one of the largest CPA societies in the nation. The award honors those who have made considerable contributions to the education of accounting students through their leadership, teaching excellence, and active involvement in the accounting profession. Trimble is director of graduate account programs at ISU and is an associate professor. Fulbright Scholar BLOOMINGTON Illinois Wesleyan University's Wendell and Loretta Hess Professor of Chemistry Ram Mohan was named a Fulbright Scholar for the third time. This will allow him to teach and conduct research in Bangalore, India, during the spring and summer of 2024. Fulbright Scholars are named by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Program. The program is devoted to increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright grants are highly competitive and Mohan was selected because of his leadership and contributions to society, according to a news release. He receive the same award in 2012 and 2020. Previous trips to India allowed him to explore the field of green chemistry and contribute to related education and research in the U.S. His upcoming project is called "Better Living Through The Practice of Green Chemistry." His host institute is St. Joseph's University in Bangalore. He will travel across the country, making stops in the western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra to lecture on green chemistry at undergraduate colleges. Mohan's trip is planned for January to June 2024, but he hopes the research partnership with his colleagues in India will start sooner. Venkatesh's research group explores synthesis of molecules for treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases and he also works on developing easy ways for early diagnosis of HIV. Mohan's own research utilizes nontoxic bismuth compounds as catalysts to practice green chemistry. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago May 25, 1923: A physician probably will be at the helm of the city's health force instead of an engineer. Mayor Shorthose said he believed a doctor could best fill the office. The sanitary engineers were brought here upon the request of aldermen who believed that an engineer might accomplish more by preventing diseases. 75 years ago May 25, 1948: Employees of the Meadows division of the Thor corporation in Bloomington are voting a 25 cent per month payroll deduction which will be put in a fund for charities and fund campaigns. The employees will elect an executive committee which will supervise the disbursement of money. 50 years ago May 25, 1973: A petition for a preliminary injunction to halt the 24-day-old strike by Bloomington's public service and parks department employees was filed in McLean County Circuit Court. A hearing on the petition, filed by Corp. Counsel David Stanczak, was set for today. 25 years ago May 25, 1998: An explosion ripped through a church in Danville, injuring 33 congregation members. The blast, the cause of which remained under investigation, tore a hole in the side of the First Assembly of God Church during a service attended by roughly 300 people. The force of the explosion shattered windows up to 100 yards away. 101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup' Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SPRINGFIELD Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders announced an agreement Wednesday afternoon on a more than $50 billion budget that includes a boost in education spending and gives state officials the tools to manage the skyrocketing costs of a program providing health care to mostly undocumented immigrants. Pritzker, flanked by Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, announced the tentative agreement five days after lingering budget talks caused state lawmakers to miss their self-imposed deadline to adjourn the spring legislative session. This delay came despite Democrats controlling the governor's office and holding supermajorities in the legislature. However, the leaders said there was no discord at least beyond the natural friction between the different chambers and branches of government. "The trust among the three of us is at an all-time high and I'm looking forward to finalizing this budget without any deviation from that," Harmon said. That trust is being put to the test, however, as last-minute negotiations and hangups pushed lawmakers off their initial goal of wrapping up by Friday. The Illinois Senate adjourned Wednesday evening without voting on the proposal, which did not emerge in bill form until late in the evening. Procedurally, this means the earliest the House can vote on it is Saturday. Many rank-and-file House Democrats had not reviewed the budget before the agreement was announced by Pritzker, Harmon and Welch that afternoon. We are going to be working through a number of questions pertaining to individual line items in the budget, said state Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago in an interview Wednesday night. All of us are going to go home and do our Control+Fs and look for our specific items and there will be some changes Im sure to some of those individual items between now and when the budget gets passed. With House Democrats still pouring over details late into the evening, the Senate called it a night, with Harmon calling it "a mechanical impossibility for us to pass a budget tonight in time for the House to read it in" that night. The framework that was announced is not expected to change significantly, however. Pritzker told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he will be proud to sign this budget when it arrives on my desk. Like the past four budgets, this budget looks toward the future a future where every child gets a quality education from cradle to career and where every parent has access to the childcare and training that they need to get a better paying job, Pritzker said. A future where every Illinoisan has a safe place to call home and a safe community to live in. A future where economic security means the opportunity for anyone and everyone to prosper. The biggest hangup had been finding compromise on how to cover the health care program, which provides coverage to adults over the age of 42 who are ineligible for Medicaid because they are not U.S. citizens. The Department of Health and Family Services has warned that the program will cost $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2024, far more than the $221 million allocated for the program in Pritzkers initial budget proposal. Though full details were not immediately available, Pritzker said the state spending plan would authorize his administration to take steps to control the program's cost. We're continuing the program going forward, but in a budget-friendly way so that everybody gets the health care that they need, Pritzker said. Besides that, the top lines of the spending plan, which covers the fiscal year that begins July 1, appeared similar to the $49.6 billion proposal Pritzker unveiled in February. The plan includes nearly $1 billion in new spending on education, including $250 million to expand access to early childhood education. The outlay is expected to create 5,000 new pre-K spots for low-income children and is considered a down payment on a multi-year plan, dubbed "Smart Start Illinois," aimed at providing every child with access to pre-K. At the other end of the spectrum, the budget would increase funding for the Monetary Assistance Program (MAP), a state-funded, need-based grant awarded to Illinois college students, by $100 million. This investment, administration officials say, coupled with federal Pell grants, would make community college free to nearly all Illinois residents at or below median income level. More than 40% of working class public university students would also have their tuition and fees covered via this combination. As has been the case in every budget Pritzker has signed, it includes the full annual $350 million increase for K-12 education funding called for under the 2018 evidence-based formula law, which seeks to narrow the disparity in funding between low- and high-income school districts. I think what we saw in the document reflects the priorities of the House Democrats and given that it is being led by the Senate, it required an act of trust for us to work with our partners in the Senate and see our priorities reflected and I think that trust was rewarded, Guzzardi said. Other budget highlights include a $100 million increase for public universities; an $85 million increase in the funds allocated towards homelessness prevention, affordable housing and outreach; $20 million for an initiative to expand grocery store access in urban neighborhoods and rural communities that are currently food deserts; and $400 million for a closing fund that officials say will help seal the deal in luring large businesses to the state. Though more specific numbers were not immediately available, the Democratic leaders insisted the state would live within its means. This budget is balanced without gimmicks, Welch said. Legislators the past few months have had to reconcile with a far less rosy revenue picture than earlier this year. Earlier this month, the state's Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability revised its revenue forecast for the current budget year down $728 million to $51.2 billion. The commission's revenue forecast for fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1, stayed flat at $50.4 billion. The downturn in tax receipts in the final months of the current budget year essentially erases a surplus that lawmakers were hoping could be used for a number of those resource-starved programs and gave them much less flexibility than they had during the last budget process. But the new revenue numbers were in the same ballpark as the ones Pritzker based his February proposal on. The administration has been deliberately conservative in its revenue projections, factoring in a possible recession in the coming fiscal year and that the spikes in revenue the past couple of years were largely one-time in nature. "The agreement we've reached will produce another responsible balanced budget that reinforces our state's economic stability while making progress on key issues for the people of Illinois," Harmon said. Republicans were largely shut out of budget negotiations, especially in the House. However, Harmon held out hope that some Republican votes could be achieved. Lee Enterprises' Erin Henkel contributed to this report. This story will be updated. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SPRINGFIELD Lawmakers will be working until at least Saturday to finalize a state budget expected to include a boost in education spending and "tools" to manage the skyrocketing costs of a program providing health care to mostly undocumented immigrants. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders announced Wednesday afternoon that they had agreed on the $50.5 billion spending plan. Flanked by Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, Pritzker announced the tentative agreement five days after lingering budget talks caused state lawmakers to miss their self-imposed deadline to adjourn the spring legislative session. After spending most of Thursday vetting and fine-tuning the 3,425-page proposal, the Illinois Senate voted to approve the spending plan just after 11 p.m. The roll call was 34-22, with all Republicans and three Democrats opposed. The Illinois House is likely to vote on the legislation early Saturday morning, more than a week after they were initially expected to. The delays have come despite Democrats controlling the governor's office and holding supermajorities in the legislature. However, the leaders said there was no discord at least beyond the natural friction between the different chambers and branches of government. "The trust among the three of us is at an all-time high, and I'm looking forward to finalizing this budget without any deviation from that," Harmon said. Many rank-and-file House Democrats had not reviewed the budget before the agreement was announced by Pritzker, Harmon and Welch. We are going to be working through a number of questions pertaining to individual line items in the budget, said state Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, in an interview Wednesday night. All of us are going to go home and do our Control+Fs and look for our specific items, and there will be some changes, Im sure, to some of those individual items between now and when the budget gets passed. The framework that was announced did not change significantly. Pritzker told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he will be proud to sign this budget when it arrives on my desk. Like the past four budgets, this budget looks toward the future a future where every child gets a quality education from cradle to career and where every parent has access to the childcare and training that they need to get a better paying job, Pritzker said. A future where every Illinoisan has a safe place to call home and a safe community to live in. A future where economic security means the opportunity for anyone and everyone to prosper. In the weeks leading up to the end of the spring session, the biggest hangup had been finding compromise on how to cover the health care program, which provides coverage to adults over the age of 42 who are ineligible for Medicaid because they are not U.S. citizens. The Department of Health and Family Services has warned that the program will cost $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2024, far more than the $221 million allocated for the program in Pritzkers initial budget proposal. Under the current framework, $550 million would be allocated towards the health care program, according to the Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough. It would also authorize the Pritzker administration to take steps to control the program's cost. We're continuing the program going forward, but in a budget-friendly way so that everybody gets the health care that they need, Pritzker said on Wednesday. Though state Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, cautioned Thursday morning that they were not sure how much would be spent on the program in the next fiscal year as the cost-containment strategies outlined have yet to be adopted via administrative rule. Gough said strategies to control the costs of the program could include limiting future enrollment, copays, seeking every federal dollar available and a possible move to managed care. "By using these tools, Gov. Pritzker is confident well be able to responsibly manage this program and preserve healthcare for more than 50,000 people who are already a part of the program," Gough said. Besides that, the top lines of the spending plan, which covers the fiscal year that begins July 1, appeared similar to the $49.6 billion proposal Pritzker unveiled in February. The plan includes nearly $1 billion in new spending on education, including $250 million to expand access to early childhood education. The outlay is expected to create 5,000 new pre-K spots for low-income children and is considered a down payment on a multi-year plan, dubbed "Smart Start Illinois," aimed at providing every child with access to pre-K. At the other end of the spectrum, the budget would increase funding for the Monetary Assistance Program (MAP), a state-funded, need-based grant awarded to Illinois college students, by $100 million. This investment, administration officials say, coupled with federal Pell grants, would make community college free to nearly all Illinois residents at or below median income level. More than 40% of working class public university students would also have their tuition and fees covered via this combination. As has been the case in every budget Pritzker has signed, it includes the full annual $350 million increase for K-12 education funding called for under the 2018 evidence-based formula law, which seeks to narrow the disparity in funding between low- and high-income school districts. I think what we saw in the document reflects the priorities of the House Democrats and given that it is being led by the Senate, it required an act of trust for us to work with our partners in the Senate and see our priorities reflected and I think that trust was rewarded, Guzzardi said. Other budget highlights include a $100 million increase for public universities; an $85 million increase in the funds allocated towards homelessness prevention, affordable housing and outreach; $20 million for an initiative to expand grocery store access in urban neighborhoods and rural communities that are currently food deserts; and $400 million for a closing fund that officials say will help seal the deal in luring large businesses to the state. An additional $112.5 million is being transferred into the Local Government Distributive Fund, which is the share of the state income tax reserved for cities and counties. This increases the local share from 6.16% to 6.47%. Municipalities initially sought a restoration to 10%. Direct service professionals, who work in group homes that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will see their hourly rate increase $2.50. The increase was originally slated to be $2 but was upped after pushback from advocacy groups. Though it is less than their original $4 per hour ask. "Those sorts of things I knew were prioritized in different subcaucuses," said state Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington. "And I'm happy to see those things being addressed in the budget along with a lot of the things that the governor laid out in his budget address." In addition, the budget includes an additional $200 million payment towards the state's pension system beyond what's statutorily required. Revenue under the proposal is projected at $50.7 billion. Democratic leaders insisted the state would live within its means and that the proposal reflects that. This budget is balanced without gimmicks, Welch said. Legislators the past few months have had to reconcile with a far less rosy revenue picture than earlier this year. Earlier this month, the state's Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability revised its revenue forecast for the current budget year down $728 million to $51.2 billion. The downturn in tax receipts in the final months of the current budget year essentially erases a surplus that lawmakers were hoping could be used for a number of those resource-starved programs and gave them much less flexibility than they had during the last budget process. But the new revenue numbers were in the same ballpark as the ones Pritzker based his February proposal on. The administration has been deliberately conservative in its revenue projections, factoring in a possible recession in the coming fiscal year and that the spikes in revenue the past couple of years were largely one-time in nature. "The agreement we've reached will produce another responsible balanced budget that reinforces our state's economic stability while making progress on key issues for the people of Illinois," Harmon said. Republicans were largely shut out of budget negotiations, especially in the House. However, Harmon held out hope that some Republican votes could be achieved. Lee Enterprises' Erin Henkel contributed to this report. This story will be updated. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CHICAGO Citing expert testimony and excessive profits, the Citizens Utility Board is petitioning state regulators to slash ComEds proposed four-year, $1.47 billion rate increase by more than 60%. The filing Monday with the Illinois Commerce Commission seeks to reduce ComEds proposal by at least $914.5 million, with additional testimony by other watchdog groups and the Illinois attorney generals office expected to bring the cumulative recommended cuts to over $1 billion. The ICC set a Monday deadline for submitting testimony on the ComEd rate increase proposal. Its immediately apparent that the company is pushing for an excessive profit rate for its shareholders, David Kolata, CUBs executive director, said in a news release. ComEd has to maintain its system, but it never deserves a blank check. We urge state regulators to make deep cuts in ComEds rate-hike proposal. ComEd filed for the rate increase in January, seeking to bolster its grid for the projected demands of EVs, electrification and climate change. If approved by state regulators, ComEd customers will pay an average of $17 per month more for delivery charges by 2027. The proposed rate hike is also projected to increase the profit rate for ComEd shareholders to 10.5% in 2024, growing to 10.65% in 2027. In its filing, CUB argued for a more reasonable 9.4% return on investment, which would reduce the rate hike by $570.4 million. In addition, CUB challenged ComEds forecast for residential usage as unrealistically low, with the utility overstating its revenue requirements in the proposed rate increase by an additional $194.7 million. Were still analyzing CUBs testimony, but based on an early review, we disagree with CUBs assessment of our multiyear plans, ComEd spokesperson Paul Elsberg said in an email. Our proposed investments provide meaningful benefits to our customers and communities and support the goals of the states Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, and we look forward to working with the Commission and all participants in the proceeding to prove that out. The utilitys $1.47 billion request would spread the cost over four years, with the average residential monthly bill increasing by $6.72 in 2024, $5.73 in 2025 and $6.20 in 2026. ComEd projects a decrease of $1.67 in the fourth year of the plan, bringing the total increase to about $17 per month by 2027. ComEds grid improvement plan includes connecting to a projected fivefold increase in rooftop and community solar systems and meeting the demands of widespread electric vehicle adoption. It also prepares for more severe weather events caused by climate change by upgrading outdated equipment and improved coordination with communities for faster power restoration during storms, the utility said. Last year, ComEd filed for a proposed $199 million increase in electricity delivery charges, its largest rate hike since 2014. That was approved by the ICC in December, adding about $2.20 per month to the average residential customer bill this year. The 2022 increase was also the last under the 2011 Smart Grid law, a 10-year program that granted the utility control over customer-funded investments to improve its power grid. Beginning this year, regulators have more authority over rate increases. CUB submitted testimony from energy consultants Brubaker & Associates that found the 10-year infrastructure program improved ComEds reliability, but came at a cost to customers. The consultant concluded that ComEd is able to meet its reliability targets and maintain current levels of performance without increasing rates to the degree proposed in the new request. CUB also cited the bribery lobbying scandal that resulted in the conviction of the ComEd Four earlier this month as leading to $1 billion in rate hikes over the last decade. In 2020, ComEd agreed to pay a $200 million fine in exchange for federal prosecutors dropping charges against the utility in the scheme to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to pass favorable legislation. Former ComEd lobbyist Michael McClain; former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; former ComEd executive and lobbyist John Hooker; and Jay Doherty, the former president of the City Club of Chicago and a longtime ComEd lobbyist, were all found guilty of bribery and record falsification in the high-profile trial. The ICC is expected to issue a decision on the proposed ComEd rate increase by December. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Alls fair in love, war and campaigning. At least thats what some political candidates think. During her unsuccessful bid for reelection as mayor, Lori Lightfoots campaign tried to recruit Chicago Public Schools students for political work, dangling extra credit as a carrot. Her team also solicited city workers for campaign help, and Lightfoots camp had been told to stop the electioneering nearly a year before her people reached out to CPS students. The citys Board of Ethics, which oversees City Halls adherence to ethics rules, warned Lightfoots team in March 2022 to stop sending electioneering emails to city workers at their workplace email addresses, and to cull those addresses from the mayors campaign email lists. The warning was ignored, according to city Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, and the Lightfoot campaign continued soliciting city workers for campaign help. Later, Lightfoots campaign began reaching out to City Colleges of Chicago instructors, as well as to CPS teachers with the request that they help recruit students to work on the campaign in exchange for extra credit. A spokesperson for the former mayor told the Tribune that the campaign made good-faith efforts to cull city government email addresses from its reelection bid email list. As for the attempt to enlist CPS students, Lightfoot at the time blamed it on one of her campaign workers. Aside from the bad publicity the whole affair generated, Lightfoot and her campaign team never endured any punishment. They should have, however, and thats why, moving forward, stronger measures need to be enacted to prevent future campaign chicanery. City Hall has a new mayor and a new City Council. So heres the perfect opportunity to enact new laws and ordinances that restore citizen trust in city politics. Mayor Brandon Johnson and the new City Council should enact an ordinance that makes it illegal to solicit city workers or even worse, CPS students, for campaign help. That ordinance should be enforced civilly with fines that escalate if the violations continue. No one should go to jail, but a hefty fine would send a strong message. This is also the perfect time for Johnson and aldermen to, once and for all, bring reform to the citys decennial remap process, an exercise that always devolves into behind-closed-doors turf wars and leaves ordinary Chicagoans pushed to the sidelines. City Hall wont see another election for four years, so why not seize the moment and finally the power over ward redistricting where it belongs in the hands of voters? The fix is simple, aldermen. Work with Springfield to draft legislation that would put the citys remap process in the hands of an independent citizens commission, and end the unfairness of gerrymandering wards into nonsensically shaped fiefdoms that reflect aldermanic accumulation of clout rather than the will of voters. Public trust in government has reached historic lows. Chicago represents a microcosm of that national skepticism toward government and politics. Now is the ideal time to begin rebuilding trust. Chicago Tribune Mastercard hosts its first-ever fraud and cyber security forum in Ghana today in partnership with the Ghana Cyber Security Authority (CSA). The event brings together key players in the ecosystem including financial institutions, regulators and Fintech to examine the latest fraud trends and address crucial aspects of cybersecurity in Ghana. With the increased adoption of digital services, new payment flows and connected supply chains, cyber risk is one of the top risks faced by organizations today. It is essential that this risk is well-understood and managed by organizations to protect themselves and their customers. The threat of cybercrime is also growing with identity theft, ransomware and phishing attacks becoming more common. Mastercard recognizes the seriousness of these threats and places a high priority on fraud prevention and cybersecurity in all the countries where it operates including Ghana. "We must help businesses prepare for cyber-attacks and decrease financial risk by identifying data breaches, assessing cyber threats, and acting on insights," Bossman Kwapong, the Country Director for Ghana at Mastercard, said. "As the digital economy grows, so do the intentions of cyber criminals who are ready to exploit weak links. Our partnership with the Cyber Security Authority of Ghana, is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and security of our partners and customers." The forum covered the latest attack methods utilized by cyber criminals, the assets they target and the motivation behind such attacks. With a specific focus on the financial services sector, the forum offered a comprehensive overview of the Regional cyber threat landscape, recent fraud attacks and best practices to address fraud vulnerabilities that may impact business profitability. Mastercard also demonstrated its cutting-edge fraud detection solution such as the Decision Intelligence solution which utilizes advanced technologies and tools to quickly detect and prevent fraudulent activities in real-time, thereby helping to protect customers' accounts and transactions. "This meeting by Mastercard is borne out of the desire to prepare Ghanaian issuer banks against the increasing rate of cyber security threats within the banking ecosystem. It is a proactive engagement, and it must be supported by all", Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Acting Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) commented. As a regulatory body, we can only be proactive and lead the national response through the implementation of appropriate policies and regulatory interventions. The CSA is currently implementing several regulatory activities including the Licensing of Cybersecurity Service Providers and Accreditation of Cybersecurity Establishments, and Cybersecurity Professionals. Stakeholders at the conference agreed on the need for increased partnerships and collaboration for improved security. According to a ranking by the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), Ghana is one of the most cyber secure countries in Africa behind Mauritius and Tanzania. However, with increase in digitization, there is a need to develop cyber resilience to secure end-to-end points in the financial services ecosystem. Our organization is pleased to partner with global technology leaders such as Mastercard. The positive work this organization has been doing to combat cyber threats, protecting most especially the customer and small businesses is remarkable. We hope this partnership is one of many to come, Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison, Governor of the Central Bank of Ghana, said. Online security is of paramount importance and we commend Mastercards proactivity in providing platforms where pertinent discussions such as cybersecurity and combating fraud, especially for customers, is being tabled. As financial institutions we aim to provide systems that are safe and reliable for all Ghanaians, John Awuah, CEO of Ghana Bankers Association, commented. Mastercard remains committed to delivering innovative and effective solutions to its customers in Ghana, helping to create a secure and inclusive digital future. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Cyber Security Agency of Ghana, Mastercard remains committed to promoting cybersecurity and fraud prevention across Ghana and beyond. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minority in Parliament has asked government to release funds to the various Heads of the Senior High Schools in the country for effective running of the schools. According to them, they have observed with keen interest the statement made by the International Monetary Fund regarding the poor implementation and targeting of the Free SHS programme in Ghana. Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme in relation to a statement on the free SHS policy, deputy ranking member of the Education Committee of Parliament, Clement Apaak explained that the minority wants to put on record that since 2017 when the programme was implemented, they cautioned government about it. "This was not heeded and was described as a propaganda," he said. Read Statement Below MINORITY STATEMENT ON IMF's COMMENTS ON THE FREE SHS PROGRAMME The Minority in Parliament has observed with keen interest the statement made by the International Monetary Fund regarding the poor implementation and targeting of the Free SHS programme in Ghana. The Minority wants to put on record that since 2017 when the programme was implemented, we cautioned government to hasten slowly so that a proper roll out of the policy would be meaningful and beneficial to Ghanaians. This was not heeded and was described as a propaganda. The Minority again in 2019, two years after the implementation of the policy called on the government to review the policy but this request for a review was misconstrued to mean cancelation. Areas that the Minority and former President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama identified for review are exactly what the IMF has identified. These include serious targeting of the vulnerable in the senior high schools that needed support. That was what was done by the NDC government when it introduced the progressively Free SHS in 2015. Infrastructure remains a big challenge in the senior high schools. A large number of projects started by the President Mahama administration to provide enough space for both accommodation and academic work remains uncompleted. If government had not abandoned these projects, the infrastructure deficits would have been minimal. This was the vision of President Mahama that going into the future, enrolment into secondary schools was going to increase tremendously. It was also observed in the report that there is a neglect of basic education. The Minority has noted this every year, especially during budget sessions, that the neglect of the basic education by this government was going to have a negative impact on the quality of education that we want for our children. We have observed the dwindling allocation of funds for basic education but government has been adamant in this direction. The Minority wants to put on record that in the 2020 Manifesto of the NDC, we categorically stated that we would engage and involve the private senior high schools in the Free SHS programme and that remains a commitment the next NDC government will do. In conclusion, the Minority wants the government to as a matter of urgency release money to the heads of Senior High Schools to enable them run their schools efficiently. Additionally, the current calendar for the senior high schools must be reviewed because the first year students who reported in February this year and went on holidays during Easter are still home. This is impacting negatively on their academic work. In the end they are unable to do the three years of the secondary school programme. It is our belief that this government which claims to be a 'listening government' will listen to what the IMF has said and give our future leaders the quality of education that they deserve so that in the next two decades the country does not suffer any human resource challenges. 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. Featured Video The Sierra Leone government has reacted to the destruction of a historic and iconic tree that stands in the middle of the capital, Freetown. President Julius Maada Bio confirmed via a tweet, reports in local media, that the cotton tree had been felled due to heavy downpour in Freetown on May 24. "The iconic Cotton Tree has fallen due to the heavy downpour of rain in our capital this evening. A great loss to the nation. It was regarded as a symbol of liberty and freedom by early settlers. "We will have something at the same spot that bears testament to the great Cotton Tree's place in our history. All voices will be brought together for this," the tweet added. "Freetowns most iconic landmark is gone. The citys Chief Administrator, Festus Kallay, says the towering Cotton Tree - hundreds of years old - has just been brought down by a heavy storm. Its a huge vacuum in the citys skyline," a BBC journalist, Umaru Fofana tweeted. Sierra Leoneans on social media have been sharing photos of the fallen tree which according to history dates back to the 1700s, reminding of the country's colonial past, its history and resilience. About the Cotton Tree - Credit Atlas Acura THE HISTORIC SYMBOL OF FREETOWN, the capital of Sierra Leone, is a large kapok tree known as the Cotton Tree. According to legend, the tree gained importance in 1792 when a group of formerly enslaved people settled the site of what is now Freetown. After the American Revolution, the British granted freedom to the enslaved people who had fought with the Crown during the war. Some so-called Black Loyalists were given land and supplies to resettle in British-controlled Nova Scotia, while others went to London and parts of the Caribbean. In 1787, some 4,000 formerly enslaved people were resettled in Sierra Leoneregardless of where they or their ancestors had originally come from. Five years later, another group emigrated from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone. According to the story, when the first boat arrived, they walked up to a large tree just above the bay and held a Thanksgiving service there, praying and singing hymns. That tree still stands, (has fallen as of May 24), it stood between the courthouse and the National Museum. Though its exact age is unknown, it is known to have existed in 1787 and believed to be the oldest cotton tree in the nation. The Cotton Tree is an iconic monument in the capital and appears on the 10,000 Leones banknotes. The iconic Cotton Tree has fallen due to the heavy downpour of rain in our capital this evening. A great loss to the nation. It was regarded as a symbol of liberty and freedom by early settlers. We will have something at the same spot that bears testament to the great Cotton President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) May 24, 2023 The world must achieve a sharp drop in global warming in the next 8yrs, if the natural calamities we have seen recently across the globe are not to get worse. The fall of the Cotton Tree in Freetown should therefore reenergize our efforts to address climate change issues in pic.twitter.com/Z5KSYqJADH Babatunde Ahonsi (@AhonsiBA) May 25, 2023 The passing of many an iconic Sierra Leonean has been likened to the falling of a big tree. How then do we describe the falling of #SierraLeones most recognisable landmark and greatest icon? RIP the Cotton Tree. pic.twitter.com/spekaaHzAr Sheka Forna (@tonkolili) May 24, 2023 Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, a lecturer at the University of Ghana has been summoned by the Supreme Court. The court has requested him to provide a just cause as to why he should not be held in contempt for allegedly denigrating the highest judicial body in the nation and referring to it as "a stupid court." Dr. Kpessa-Whyte's controversial remarks were made in a recent Twitter post where he expressed his belief that the Supreme Court was being transformed into a "Stupid Court." Additionally, he criticized the current state of Ghana's judiciary, accusing it of partisanship and a lack of common sense. These tweets came shortly after the Supreme Court's decision to order the removal of NDC MP James Gyakye Quayson's name from Parliament's records due to procedural breaches during his nomination and election in 2020. Following the tweet, Dr. Kpessa-Whyte received inquiries regarding his statement, particularly in relation to Ghana's judiciary. He clarified that his tweets were not specifically referring to the Ghanaian judiciary but were instead influenced by global developments, including those in the United States. As a result of his comments, the Supreme Court has summoned Dr. Kpessa-Whyte, initiating a process that requires him to provide a valid explanation for his alleged contemptuous remarks. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A young Moroccan entrepreneur is hoping to create the first African-designed and engineered electric car. Twenty-four-year-old Mohammed Yehya El Bakkali, who studied and lives in the UK, has founded the Atlas E-Mobility Group, along with his business partner and engineer Hicham Senhaji Hannoun. Their company, officially launching on Thursday, wants to join forces with an established international car manufacturer to produce an electric SUV - but with a traditional and distinctive Moroccan design for the car's interior. The idea is to construct the vehicles at a factory in Morocco. The North African country has already transformed itself into a car-making hub, for multinationals such as Renault, and aims to produce one million vehicles a year. Mr El Bakkali also hopes they can be involved in developing Africa's electric infrastructure. "For us, the main three challenges that we find are: first - the range anxiety; second - the charging infrastructure availability and third - affordability," says Mr El Bakkali. But he is confident the company can overcome these challenges and produce cars for the expanding middle class on the continent. There have been announcements about similar projects by other companies in the past, but so far none of them have reached the production stage. Production of the Atlas E-Mobility Group vehicles is planned to start in 2026. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Tema Community Police have arrested Godpapa The Greatest and Empress Lupita, a couple whose viral videos have been trending on social media in recent days. The couple went viral sensation after various videos of them engaged in some questionable actions surfaced on the TikTok platform. Among other things, Godpapa The Greatest, who was said to be a one-time pastor, and his wife were seen engaging in various acts, such as smoking, on social media. In an interview with Kofi TV, the couple confessed to killing one of their two children because he was possessed by an evil spirit. According to the mother of the children, Empress Lupita, her husband saw the future of the boy as a demon who would grow up to birth more demons and potentially destroy Ghana if he was allowed to live. Therefore, they believed it was necessary to sacrifice him to save the nation. In another interview by Kofi TV, the surviving child, who managed to escape from his parents, confirmed that his brother, El Waa, was murdered by his mother and father. The 8-year-old said his parents poisoned his brother through gari soakings, and when he "refused to die," he was buried alive by them. The boy further made various allegations of maltreatment against his parents. According to him, his mother and father would sometimes defecate inside a bucket and later blend it to prepare soup for them to eat with banku. Based on the revelations made by the boy and the contents of the viral video, the Tema Community Two police have reportedly apprehended the couple. Reports indicate that the couple will be assisting the police in their investigations into the matter. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A high-powered government delegation from the Republic of Vanuatu, led by the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic, Hon Seoule Davidson Simeon and four other senior Ministers and Members of Parliament will visit Ghana from 3rd to 14th July 2023. The visit which is at the invitation of the Trade Commissioner of Vanuatu to Ghana, Prof Hugh Aryee is to foster a bilateral trade and political affiliation with the government, parliament, and dialogue relevant ministries and the business community of Ghana. When in Ghana, the delegation is expected to visit the President of the Republic, address the Parliament of Ghana, and interact with the various business entities to drum home the relevance and importance of investing in Vanuatu. The delegation is being accompanied by Hon Seremaiah Matai Nawalu Member of parliament and Minister of Trade, Industry, Tourism and Ni-Vanuatu Businesses, Hon Anatole Hymak Member of Parliament, Chairman of Economics and Foreign Policies Standing Committees of Vanuatu Parliament, Mr. Noel Kalo, Director of Department of Trade and Mr. Gaetan Ruru who oversees Interparliamentary Relations of the office of the parliament of Vanuatu. The delegation will also take part in a colorful and groundbreaking flag raising ceremony, including the sub regional countries which fall under the jurisdiction of the Trade Commissioner which will take place at the Forecourt of the Trade Commission. The delegation will also visit some tourist sites, such as the Cape Coast Slave Castle and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum to pay homage to the industrious and first president of the Republic of Ghana. The Rt Hon Simeon, the Speaker, has expressed his joy and delight of the whole nation, the optimism, and prospects of the first official visit of parliament of Vanuatu and a government delegation to the Republic of Ghana. The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Caledonia, east of Australia and west of Fiji. The Y-shaped chain of fourteen main islands between the South Pacific Ocean and the Coral Sea is of volcanic origin and home to several active volcanoes The islands offer scuba diving at coral reefs, underwater caverns, and wrecks such as the WWII-era troopship SS President Coolidge. Harborside Port Vila, the nations capital and economic center is on the island of Efate. The city is home to the Vanuatu National Museum, which explores the nations Melanesian culture. Source: Emmanuel Akorli/ Peace FM Parliamentary Correspondent Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video My attention has been drawn to a cunning attempt to use a truncated part of a full hour interview I granted to King Tom TV, on Friday, May 19, 2023, for unfair political advantage. For purposes of clarity, I wish to state the full facts as follows; 1. Aduru Wo So and/or Competence. I strongly believe, and I have stated on countless occasions, that Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen is the most competent person in the NPP presidential race. In fact, far more competent than his main opponent, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia. I also have no problem with Alans team campaigning with the famous aduru wo so slogan. I however stand by my opinion that, if a campaign team has such a competent candidate like Alan Kyerematen, his team must major most on his competence which is never in doubt. 2. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia betrayed the UP-Tradition at all material times. Yes, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumias father was a member of the then Northern Peoples Party. However, when the then Northern Peoples Party (NPP), led by Chief Dombo, was merging with Busia-led Progress Party, Bawumias father betrayed the Dombo-led NPP by cross-carpeting to the then ruling government of CPP led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. It is instructive to note that, Bawumias father at all material times, when it mattered most, betrayed the UP Tradition by joining our opponents to defeat us. Bawumias father joined Kwame Nkrumah against Dr. K.A Busia and Chief Dombo. In the 1979 election, Alhaji Bawumias father supported Dr. Liman and campaigned against Victor Owusu who was the candidate for Popular Front Party (PFP), the party of the UP-Tradition. In the 4th Republic elections of 1992, 1996 and 2000, Dr. Alhaji Bawumias father joined the NDC, supported and campaigned for the late former President JJ Rawlings against Professor Albert Adu Boahen in 1992 and President JA Kufour 1996 and 2000 elections. Being a proud founding member of the NPP I could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be against an aduru me so campaign for Alan Kyerematen, especially when I myself I am an integral part of the very history of the New Patriotic Party. Signed Dr. Winfred Richard Anane Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, has declared readiness to ensure the party wins the now vacant Assin North parliamentary seat. He believes that despite the constituency being outside his region (i.e. in the Central Region), he is the man to lead the NPPs charge to wrestle it from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which last won it in 2020. When it comes to by-elections, it is national in nature now people are calling me Prof. Wontumi, they are saying now I have a PhD in politics, I understand politics. I have been two-time constituency chairman and three times Ashanti Regional chairman, which is a historic feat. I am just going there (Assin North) to win. I cannot wait to go to Assin North to win. Immediately I step there, I just win. Asiedu Nketiah knows that once I step there, I will win, so, we are going there to win, he told Paul Adom-Otchere on the May 23 edition of Good Evening Ghana show. The Assin North seat has been declared vacant after the Supreme Court on May 18 annulled the election in 2020 of James Gyakye Quayson as MP for the constituency ordering parliament to delete his name from its records. The apex court ruled that the processes leading to his nomination and filing of papers as well as election was not proper hence ousting him from the House. The seat is expected to be declared vacant and a by-election called to elect a new MP for the people of Assin North. The NDC has disagreed with the court and stated that Gyakye Quayson will be their candidate when the by-election is scheduled. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Chairman of the Tema East constituency branch of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has pointed sceptics to the massive welcome that Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia received from the people of Kumawu during the recent by-election as the writing on the wall for them. In an exclusive interview in Accra, Nene Ofoe Teyechu Agbadiagba IV, said the warm and enthusiastic reception is the precursor to what is about to happen in the NPPs presidential primary slated for November 2023. We all saw it; the so-called tribal sentiment against Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was nonexistent in Kumawu when Vice President Bawumia arrived and addressed the people; the crowd was thronging around him and that is the sign for the sceptics, Nene Agbadiagba IV said. According to him, the Bawumia fever you saw at Kumawu will repeat in the presidential primary in November when all of the NPP family meets to elect our next leader. Over the weekend, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) massively won the by-election for Kumawu in the Ashanti region which is the traditional stronghold of the ruling party. As the Ashanti Region had been hyped as the backbone of former Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, many cynics were looking forward to Vice President Bawumia being boohed by the NPP base there. However, rather than boo and snub the Vice President, the NPP base came out in their numbers and warmly received the Vice President. Not only was Vice President Bawumia warmly received, he actually animated the crowd with his address, Nene Ofoe Teyechu Agbadiagba IV told journalists. He pointed out that, until the visit to Kumawu, Vice President Bawumia was perceived to have won over the 15 other regions. But now, from what we saw at Kumawu, it is obvious that even the Ashanti Region too is for him the victory of Bawumia in November is now assured, Nene Ofoe Teyechu Agbadiagba IV said. Meanwhile, the Tema East NPP Chairman also urged the partys delegates to rate the performance of all of the NPPs presidential hopefuls at the Kumawu by-election rally. At the end of the day, ask yourself, who can make the NDC shiver? Only Dr. Bawumia has forced the NDC to release an emergency statement to defend their record after he put out the facts that the NPP has built over 15 factories and the NDC has built nothing. This is the kind of effective communicator that we need for 2024; someone who can put the NDC on the defensive, not someone who will come and treat the NDC with kid gloves. Nene Ofoe Teyechu Agbadiagba IV, who was flanked by his 2nd Vice chairman, Stephen Aboagye, concluded. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Energy and Petroleum Minister and Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has said President Nana Akufo-Addo must institute an immediate probe into the actions of GNPC's Board Chairman, Freddy Blay and Chief Executive, Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah. According to the Ellembele MP, he has observed with great concern, the raging issue in respect of the decision by the Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and the CEO of the Corporation, to sell 50% of Ghanas 7% stake in the Jubilee Fields to the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA). Read below his full statement posted on his Twitter page THE ACTIONS OF GNPC's BOARD CHAIRMAN AND CEO AMOUNT TO SHORTCHANGING GHANA'S INTEREST AND MUST BE INVESTIGATED I have observed with great concern, the raging issue in respect of the decision by the Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and the CEO of the Corporation, to sell 50% of Ghanas 7% stake in the Jubilee Fields to the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA). This issue has undoubtedly spawned a full-blown turf war between the Minister of Energy on the one hand and the Board Chairman and CEO of GNPC on the other. But beneath their heated exchanges lies the clear and obvious impropriety of the actions of the Board Chairman of GNPC, Mr. Freddie Blay and his CEO, which must be a subject of a serious investigation. This is because, their actions smack of clear misconduct and have the potential to shortchange Ghanas interest. Ghana purchased 7% stake in the Jubilee Fields worth US$164.8 million through GNPC following Anadarko's exit from the TEN and Jubilee fields and subsequent offloading of its shares to Kosmos in 2021, as part of a negotiated tax settlement consented to by the Government of Ghana. It is only under a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) among contractor parties of a Petroleum Agreement (PA), that Preemptive Rights can be exercised in transferring interests among the Oil Partners. Preemptive Rights can only be exercised on the transferor and not the transferee. Under these circumstances, since GNPC was not a Contractor party to the (PA) strictly speaking under the old law ( PNDC Law 84) and only holds the State's participating interest from Anadarko (the transferor), GNPC becomes a transferee. Hence, the invitation to PetroSA to exercise a right of preemption does not arise in this case. What the Board Chairman of GNPC and the CEO are bent on doing therefore effectively amounts to attempting to relinquish Ghanas interest on a silver platter. It is important to point out that Ghanas current producing fields- Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa are well over 50% depleted, and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government has failed to add a single producing field since assuming office in 2017. The least expected of GNPC- The National Oil Company must therefore be to take steps to increase Ghanas stake in our oil resources in fulfillment of its mandate, rather than ceding Ghanas interest. President Akufo-Addo must institute an immediate probe into the actions of GNPC's Board Chair and Chief Executive. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A section of Ghanaians including filmmaker Yvonne Nelson is outraged by news of a possible takeover of the countrys mineral and electricity revenue by the Chinese government if Ghanas fails to honor its loan agreement as communicated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Yvonne, an ardent critic of the New Patriotic Party government, has rebuked President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia for terribly mismanagement of the economy. On May 24, she took to twitter to express her disappointment in the countrys leadership. She wrote: Its just unbelievable! Like howwww? You guys sleep at night? @NAkufoAddo @MBawumia. In the last 24 hours, the aggrieved actress has highlighted some significant rots under the NPP government. She disclosed that their foot soldiers and party faithful are quick to subject her to cyberbullying anytime she rebukes the president. Despite the attacks, she seems unperturbed. In a separate tweet, Yvonne added: NPP supporters will always come under your post, insult and disgrace themselves. Grown *ss men and women. Hiding behind twitter pages. Pathetic. News reports indicate that Ghana, for the past decade, acquired at least eight collateralized loans from China with different mineral resources as security against default. As at the end of 2022, collateralized loans amounted to $619 million of the $1.9 billion loan agreements Ghana has with China. NPP supporters will always come under your post , insult and disgrace themselves. Grown *ss men and women. Hiding behind twitter pages. Pathetic. (@yvonnenelsongh) May 25, 2023 Source: twitter/nkonkonsa.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Inna Real Life founder David Boahen Deuces donated foodstuffs and GH6,000 ($555.51) to a sight-impaired mother of three after her situation came to his attention. The CEO of the social media brand shared photographs from the presentation to his popular Facebook group. He delivered five heartfelt frames. Blind mom abandoned by her husband Boahen Deuces disclosed that the deprived woman and her kids were abandoned by her spouse. ''Today, I went to put smiles on the face of a blind woman with three children; her husband has run away, leaving them to suffer for years; I gave the woman GH6000 and donated enough foodstuffs, drinks and water for the family. ''God bless every Inna Real Life family member who supported this. They cried, and I also cried before I left there because the woman wanted to end it all, but Glory is to God; her story has changed,'' he posted on Facebook. Deuces to finance the education of blind mom's eldest daughter In an interview, Deuces said he's opted to finance the education of the woman's eldest daughter. ''They live in deplorable circumstances. She cannot afford to feed and educate her children. I've decided to look after her eldest kid. One of my members used to assist them, but she moved to Dubai. ''She described the visually impaired woman and her children to me. I took steps to assist the problem because their living conditions are deplorable,'' he said. After he shared pictures from the presentation, netizens praised the kind gesture of Deuces. See the images below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mr David Boahen (@amgdeuces_ironboy) Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This 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: Schematic illustration of a pneumatic-driven fiber-shaped robots working principle. L = resting length of FR, P = air pressure applied, = braiding angle. Credit: Biomimetics (2023). DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8020170 In two new studies, North Carolina State University researchers have designed and tested a series of textile fibers that can change shape and generate force like a muscle. In the first study, published in Actuators, the researchers focused on the materials' influence on artificial muscles' strength and contraction length. The findings could help researchers tailor the fibers for different applications. In the second, proof-of-concept study published in Biomimetics, the researchers tested their fibers as scaffolds for live cells. Their findings suggest the fibersknown as "fiber robots"could potentially be used to develop 3D models of living, moving systems in the human body. "We found that our fiber robot is a very suitable scaffold for the cells, and we can alter the frequency and contraction ratio to create a more suitable environment for cells," said Muh Amdadul Hoque, graduate student in textile engineering, chemistry and science at NC State. "These were proof-of concept studies; ultimately, our goal is to see if we can study these fibers as a scaffold for stem cells, or use them to develop artificial organs in future studies." Researchers made the shape-changing fibers by encapsulating a balloon-like tube, made of a material similar to rubber, in a braided textile sheath. Inflating the interior balloon with an air pump makes the braided sheath expand, causing it to shorten. The researchers measured the force and contraction rates of fibers made from different materials in order to understand the relationship between material and performance. They found that stronger, larger-diameter yarns generated a stronger contraction force. In addition, they found that the material used to make the balloon impacted the magnitude of the contraction and generated force. "We found that we could tailor the material properties to the required performance of the device," said Xiaomeng Fang, assistant professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science at NC State. "We also found that we can make this device small enough so we can potentially use it in fabric formation and other textile applications, including in wearables and assistive devices." In a follow-up study, researchers evaluated whether they could use the shape-changing fibers as a scaffold for fibroblasts, a cell type found in connective tissues that help support other tissues or organs. "The idea with stretching is to mimic the dynamic nature of how your body moves," said Jessica Gluck, assistant professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science at NC State, and a study co-author. They studied the cells' response to the motion of the shape-changing fibers, and to different materials used in the fibers' construction. They found the cells were able to cover and even penetrate the fiber robot's braiding sheath. However, they saw decreases in the cells' metabolic activity when the fiber robot's contraction extended beyond a certain level, compared to a device made of the same material that they kept stationary. The researchers are interested in building on the findings to see if they could use the fibers as a 3D biological model, and to investigate whether movement would impact cell differentiation. They said their model would be an advance over other existing experimental models that have been developed to show cellular response to stretching and other motion, since they can only move in two dimensions. "Typically, if you want to add stretch or strain on cells, you would put them onto a plastic dish, and stretch them in one or two directions," Gluck said. "In this study, we were able to show that in this 3D dynamic culture, the cells can survive for up to 72 hours." "This is particularly useful for stem cells," Gluck added. "What we could do in the future is look at what could happen at the cellular level with mechanical stress on the cells. You could look at muscle cells and see how they're developing, or see how the mechanical action would help differentiate the cells." The study "Effect of Material Properties on Fiber-Shaped Pneumatic Actuators Performance" was published in Actuators on March 18. Emily Petersen was a co-author. The study "Development of a Pneumatic-Driven Fiber-Shaped Robot Scaffold for Use as a Complex 3D Dynamic Culture System" was published online in Biomimetics on April 21. In addition to Gluck, Hoque and Fang, co-authors included Nasif Mahmood, Kiran M. Ali, Eelya Sefat, Yihan Huang, Emily Petersen and Shane Harrington. More information: Muh Amdadul Hoque et al, Effect of Material Properties on Fiber-Shaped Pneumatic Actuators Performance, Actuators (2023). DOI: 10.3390/act12030129 Muh Amdadul Hoque et al, Development of a Pneumatic-Driven Fiber-Shaped Robot Scaffold for Use as a Complex 3D Dynamic Culture System, Biomimetics (2023). DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8020170 Journal information: Biomimetics This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain After months of using weed-killers, saws, shovels and hand-yanking invasive latherleaf fern out of a tropical forest on Virginia Key Beach Park, City of Miami parks naturalist Gloria Alejandra Antia was finally able to begin the process of rebuilding. Antia dug a hole and planted a small native tree just steps from the shoreline. "The health of this island, the health of this ecosystem is crucial for our homes, it protects the mainland," Antia said. Sand dunes and tropical hardwood hammocks like this one along the coast of South Florida are home to rare plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. They are also disappearing habitats threatened mostly by development and population growth but also natural disasters. A devastating scouring from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 opened the native forest on Virginia Key to invasive plants that profoundly changed the ecosystem on the barrier island. That's not good for people either. Healthy dunes and coastal or maritime forests are natural defenses against both hurricane storm surge and sea-rise, absorbing water and pounding waves. Virginia Key, a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, acts as a buffer for mainland Miami and restoration projects like this may become important parts of plans to protect South Florida from flood waters driven by climate change. "When we create natural habitats we can work with nature," said Rachel Silverstein, scientist and founder of Miami Waterkeeper, a clean water advocacy non-profit partnering with Miami's parks and recreation department in the project. "If we can do green infrastructure and support nature to provide the benefits it provides naturally when it's healthy, it will increase in its value and protection over time." Silverstein hopes more nature-based solutions such as restoration of coral reefs, dune systems, and hardwood hammocks make their way into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' revised storm surge plan for Miami. She was among the environmentalists that opposed an initial billion-dollar plan that included a 30-foot tall,mile-long flood wall along the bay, which would also cut some residential neighborhoods in half, as well as flood gates across the Miami River, Little River and Biscayne Canal. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava put a stop to the Army Corps' proposal and a new resiliency plan is due in August. "We are having a once-in-a-generation funding situation and we have to get it right," Silverstein said. "If we just default to putting up pumps and walls and storm gates everywhere we are going to end up with a place that we don't even want to live." Though the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation department naturalist division is helping direct the Virginia Key project, it's made up of only six people, and the ongoing work depends largely on once-a-month volunteer crews. Earlier this month, the volunteers included Elevate Prize Foundation winners, who were flown to Miami from around the world for a summit that included a day of service. One volunteer, Nelly Cheboi, said she planned to apply lessons she learned from the hardwood hammocks off Miami back home to her school in Kenya. "I see this in Kenya too, our rivers are drying up and there's a lot of deforestation," Cheboi said. "It was a really nice experience to learn ways to plant trees. The way I plant my trees I never take roots out, I always dig too deep." The work is taxing. Temperatures were in the 90s and the sun was bearing down on the volunteers as they shoveled wide holes into the sandy ground. But once the project is finished, the trees should fill in the open spaces and create a shaded canopy. Antia said mangrove restoration has been a success at Virginia Key Beach and the forest work is now in a "maintenance phase." Staff and volunteers will return for around three to five years to remove new exotic seedlings that might compete with the native plantings. Native trees, including species like Biscayne prickly-ash, help hold loose soil and slow down erosion. Invasives like Brazilian pepper and latherleaf fern, have weaker root systems and are less resistant to wind and salt water. "The response from mangroves once we have done the restoration work has been excellent, they are pretty resilient and once you remove exotics they do a good job on their own," Antia said. 2023 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A groundbreaking study has revealed that plants can efficiently remove toxic petrol fumes, including cancer-causing compounds such as benzene, from indoor air. The study was led by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) bioremediation researcher Associate Professor Fraser Torpy, in partnership with leading plantscaping solutions company Ambius. The researchers found that the Ambius small green wall, containing a mix of indoor plants, was highly effective at removing harmful, cancer-causing pollutants, with 97% of the most toxic compounds removed from the surrounding air in just eight hours. Poor indoor air quality is responsible for 6.7 million premature deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization. Most people spend 90% of their time indoors at home, school or the workplace, so adopting new strategies to improve air quality is critical. Ambius General Manager Johan Hodgson said the research presented new evidence into the critical role played by indoor plants and green walls in cleaning the air we breathe quickly and sustainably. "We know that indoor air quality is often significantly more polluted than outdoor air, which in turn impacts mental and physical health. But the great news is this study has shown that something as simple as having plants indoors can make a huge difference," Mr. Hodgson said. Previous studies on indoor plants have shown they can remove a broad range of indoor air contaminants, however this is the first study into the ability of plants to clean up petrol vapors, which are one of the largest sources of toxic compounds in buildings worldwide. Offices and residential apartment buildings often connect directly to car parks, either by doors or lift wells, making it difficult to avoid harmful petrol-related compounds seeping into work and residential areas. Many buildings are also exposed to petrol fumes from nearby roads and highways. Breathing petrol fumes can lead to lung irritation, headaches and nausea, and has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, asthma and other chronic diseases from longer term exposure, contributing to decreased life expectancy. Associate Professor Torpy said the study results, based on measurements from a sealed chamber, had far exceeded their expectations when it came to removing petrol pollutants from the air. "This is the first time plants have been tested for their ability to remove petrol-related compounds, and the results are astounding. "Not only can plants remove the majority of pollutants from the air in a matter of hours, they remove the most harmful petrol-related pollutants from the air most efficiently, for example, known carcinogen benzene is digested at a faster rate than less harmful substances, like alcohols. "We also found that the more concentrated the toxins in the air, the faster and more effective the plants became at removing the toxins, showing that plants adapt to the conditions they're growing in," Associate Professor Torpy said. Mr. Hodgson said the findings confirmed feedback they'd received after installing plants in hundreds of office buildings across the nation. "At Ambius, we see over and over again the effects plants have in improving health, well-being, productivity and office attendance for the thousands of businesses we work with. This new research proves that plants should not just be seen as 'nice to have,' but rather a crucial part of every workplace wellness plan. "The bottom line is that the best, most cost effective and most sustainable way to combat harmful indoor air contaminants in your workplace and home is to introduce plants," Mr. Hodgson said. 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 silica-based QKD receiver shown consists of a photonic integrated circuit and two external single-photon detectors. Credit: Simone Atzeni, CNR-IFN Researchers have developed a quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on integrated photonics that can transmit secure keys at unprecedented speeds. The proof-of-principle experiments represent an important step toward real-world application of this highly secure communication method. QKD is a well-established method of providing secret keys for secure communication between distant parties. By using the quantum properties of light to generate secure random keys for encrypting and decrypting data, its security is based on the laws of physics, rather than computational complexity like today's communication protocols. "A key goal for QKD technology is the ability to simply integrate it into a real-world communications network," said research team member Rebecka Sax from the University of Geneva in Switzerland. "An important and necessary step toward this goal is the use of integrated photonics, which allows optical systems to be manufactured using the same semiconductor technology used to make silicon computer chips." In an article in Photonics Research, researchers led by University of Geneva's Hugo Zbinden describe their new QKD system, in which all components are integrated onto chips except the laser and detectors. This comes with many advantages such as compactness, low cost and ease of mass production. "Although QKD can provide security for sensitive applications such as banking, health and defense, it is not yet a widespread technology," said Sax. "This work justifies the technology maturity and helps address the technicalities around implementing it via optical integrated circuits, which would allow integration in networks and in other applications." Researchers have developed a quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on silicon photonics that can transmit secure keys at unprecedented speeds. The QKD transmitter (pictured) combines a photonic and electric integrated circuit with an external diode laser. Credit: Rebecka Sax, University of Geneva Building a faster chip-based system In previous work, the researchers developed a three-state time-bin QKD protocol that was carried out with standard fiber-based components to achieve QKD transmission at record high speeds. "Our goal in this new work was to implement the same protocol using integrated photonics," said Sax. "The compactness, robustness and ease of manipulation of an integrated photonic systemwith less components to verify when implementing or to troubleshoot in a networkimproves the position of QKD as a technology for secure communication." QKD systems use a transmitter to send the encoded photons and a receiver to detect them. In the new work, the University of Geneva researchers collaborated with silicon photonics company Sicoya GmbH in Berlin, Germany, and quantum cybersecurity company ID Quantique in Geneva to develop a silicon photonics transmitter that combines a photonic integrated circuit with an external diode laser. The QKD receiver was made of silica and consisted of a photonic integrated circuit and two external single-photon detectors. Roberto Osellame's group at the CNR Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnology in Milano, Italy, used femtosecond laser micromachining to fabricate the receiver. "For the transmitter, using an external laser with a photonic and electronic integrated circuit made it possible to accurately produce and encode photons at a record speed of up 2.5 GHz," said Sax. "For the receiver, a low-loss and polarization independent photonic integrated circuit and a set of external detectors allowed passive and simple detection of the transmitted photons. Connecting these two components with a standard single-mode fiber enabled high-speed production of secret keys." Low-loss, high-speed transmission After thoroughly characterizing the integrated transmitter and receiver, the researchers used it to perform a secret key exchange using different simulated fiber distances and with a 150-km long single-mode fiber and single-photon avalanche photodiodes, which are well-suited for practical implementations. They also performed experiments using single-photon superconducting nanowire detectors, which enabled a quantum bit error rate as low as 0.8%. The receiver not only featured polarization independence, which is complicated to achieve using integrated photonics, but also presented extremely low loss, around 3 dB. "In terms of secret key rate production and quantum bit error rates, these new experiments produced results that are similar to those of previous experiments performed using fiber-based components," said Sax. "However, the QKD system is much simpler and more practical than the previous experimental setups, thus displaying the feasibility of using this protocol with integrated circuits." The researchers are now working to house the system parts in a simple rack enclosure that would allow QKD to be implemented in a network system. More information: Rebecka Sax et al, High-speed integrated QKD system, Photonics Research (2023). DOI: 10.1364/PRJ.481475 Provided by Optica 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: UWMadison research specialist Isabelle George plants seedlings trees at Kemp Natural Resources Station in northern Wisconsin, farther north than the species are used to, but in an area they may need to spread into to escape temperatures rising due to climate change. Credit: Cassandra Allsup Climate change is subjecting plants to rapid shifts in temperature and precipitation, pushing them into new ranges and stressing them in old ones. Trees may have an easier time adapting in both cases by making new microbial friends underground, according to new research from the University of WisconsinMadison published today in the journal Science. Plants live across wide ranges of heat and cold and rain and drought, but they don't fill their niches alone. Along with the animals and insects that live on and around a treepitching in now and then to aid pollination or pest control or seed dispersalthere are innumerable microbes in the soil (like various fungi that grow alongside tree roots). These microbes can blunt the normal stresses of life by helping trees draw in more nutrients and water or influencing the time they leaf out or flower to best match seasonal conditions. That relationship could play an important role in climate adaptation. "Climate change is adding new stress faster than most trees are used to," says Richard Lankau, UWMadison professor of plant pathology. "We have some sense of how most tree species are going to have to reactwhere they will be pushed out and where they can move. But that's based on what we think the trees themselves can handle. Forests may actually be more resilient if we give them credit for shifting microbial communities." Underground, the fungus Tylopilus rubrobrunneus grows along the roots of hardwood trees like oaks. The symbiotic relationships between trees and fungi can help the plants survive extreme shifts in temperature and moisture driven by climate change. Credit: Cassandra Allsup To test the way communities of microbes from different locales affected stressed trees, Lankau, along with research scientist Cassandra Allsup and research specialist Isabelle George, planted trees at the distant edges of their current ranges. Seedlings from a long list of deciduous speciesoak, elm, hickory, maple and morewent into the ground about 450 miles apart in plots in northern Wisconsin and central Illinois. Before the trees were moved to the distant plots, they were sprouted from seeds in UWMadison greenhouses in different soil samples collected from 12 sites in Illinois and Wisconsin, establishing distinct microbial relationships. Some of the trees were grown in familiar soil collected near the central part of the trees' ranges. Some were introduced to new microbial communities by sprouting in soil collected from sites physically closer to (or more alike in typical temperature and rainfall conditions) to the experimental plots in which they would live for three years. Up north at UWMadison's Kemp Natural Resources Station, where broadleaf forests naturally give way to woods dominated by evergreen trees, the effects of tree-microbe relationships were stark. "The trees all survived summer just fine, unless they were eaten by a deer," says Lankau. "It's the cold winter where we saw a separation in success. The seedlings exposed to microbes from northern sites were much more likely to survive the winter than those pre-inoculated with microbes from southern Wisconsin, the normal heart of where they live." Trees grown with microbes sampled from the coldest sites were at least 50% more likely to survive through three cold winters in what might be the new, leading edge of the climate-shifted range, according to the researchers' results. Fungi covers the roots of a white oak tree, a relationship that can help the tree survive extreme conditionssuch and climate change-driven temperature increases and droughts. Credit: Cassandra Allsup At the southern site, where trees would likely be subjected to higher temperatures than they prefer, results were similarly positive for trees matched with microbes acquainted with the climatethough the boost in resilience was limited to tree species that tend to pair with certain types of microbes, called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, that pierce plant cell walls. Trees subjected to artificial drought and paired with microbes imported from the driest conditions got the biggest survival boost, possibly a result of arbuscular fungi's talent for collecting moisture. On top of a better understanding of the way trees and microbes work together in a race against climate change, plant-fungi matchmaking may be a boon to plans to reforest the planet. "The number of trees pledged to be planted worldwide in climate change mitigation strategies is just astronomical," says Lankau. "Planting trees is the one climate change mitigation strategy that everyone agrees with, so everyone has a plan to plant billions and trillions of new trees." While it's no help to mature growth or the next generation of naturally seeded trees, Lankau's lab is recruiting tree nurseries across the Midwest as partners in more microbe-inoculation projects to give new seedlings a leg up. "We're wondering if we can capitalize on this study, whether it can be used strategically in different areas of the country," Lankau says. "If we're going to come anywhere close to the tree-planting and forest-acreage-restoration targets governments have set, ideas like this could have a significant impact on the success of those projects." More information: Cassandra M. Allsup et al, Shifting microbial communities can enhance tree tolerance to changing climates, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf2027 Journal information: Science 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: Rhinolophus rouxi, one of the species included in the global bat coronavirus database. Credit: Sherri and Brock Fenton Since the emergence of SARS in 2002, coronaviruses have been recognized as potential pandemic threats. This emergence highlights a need for evidence-based strategies to monitor bat coronaviruses. Daniel Becker, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of Oklahoma, is collaborating with other scientists nationwide to determine directions for future research. Becker, an OU assistant professor of biology, was the senior author of a paper published in Nature Microbiology. The study's lead author was Lily Cohen, a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and involved collaboration with researchers from Georgetown University and Colorado State University. Becker and colleagues' study is part of the broader efforts of an international research team called the Verena Institute, which works to predict which viruses could infect humans, which animals host them and where they could emerge. Becker was a founding member of the institute in 2020. "Part of the motivation for this is now that everyone has a lot of interest in bat coronaviruses, how can we do the work better and have a better idea of what is going on with these viruses in nature?" Becker said. "This work is important for global health and conservation efforts. The result was a very heavy data-driven recommendation on where to go forward on bat coronaviruses in the wild." For this study, researchers focused on highlighting where in the world there hasn't been enough sampling, which groups of bats haven't been sampled enough, and using all available data to improve surveying bats in terms of prioritizing what to do next. During the study, researchers compiled records of coronavirus infection prevalence in wild bats from 110 studies, spanning over 80,000 tested samples, and looked at biases in the way research on bat coronaviruses has been conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their research found substantial differences in coronavirus prevalence across studies, reflecting variation in virus dynamics over space and time as well as methodological differences. Sample type and sampling design were the best predictors of coronavirus prevalence. Their study shows that bat sampling prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was concentrated in China, with research gaps in South Asia, the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in subfamilies of leaf-nosed bats. Becker and colleagues propose that future surveillance strategies should address these gaps to improve global health security and enable the origins of zoonotic coronaviruses to be identified. More information: Lily Cohen, Coronavirus sampling and surveillance in bats from 19962019: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Nature Microbiology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01375-1. www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01375-1 Journal information: Nature Microbiology 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: Principal Agent Problem in the Financial Industry. Credit: Universitat Regensburg (2023). DOI: 10.5283/epub.54281 As part of the study titled "The impact of commission bans on household wealth: Findings from OECD countries," a team led by Professor Steffen Sebastian, Director at the Center for Finance at the University of Regensburg, investigated the impact of commission bans on the brokerage of financial investments. The results are clear: household wealth in countries with commission bans grows significantly more than in countries without commission bans. The research team measured the difference in returns at 1.7 percent p. a. The study attracted widespread interest in both the political sphere and in the mediawhile at the same time, attracting strong criticism from the financial sector. In an update of the study, the researchers now have estimated the financial loss for all affected countries in the EU for the first time. "Europe-wide, the damage amounts to 375 billion euros. For Germany alone, this is 98 billion eurosyear after year. This corresponds to a loss of about 2,400 euros per household per year," says Professor Sebastian. In addition, the criticism that people would save less due to a commission ban was investigated. "According to our calculations, there is no significant influence of a commission ban on the savings rate of households. Based on the available data, the claim that less would be saved due to a commission ban, is completely unsubstantiated," Sebastian confirms. Denmark, Finland, the UK, the Netherlands, Norway as well as Australia and New Zealand have introduced commission bans at various points in the recent past, between 2005 (Finland) and 2019 (Australia). In these countries, alternative payment methods (e.g. according to advisory time or assets under management) have become well established, thanks to regulation. The EU Commission wants to limit the harmful effects of commission-based sales of financial products, primarily through various transparency regulations. However, relying on improving transparency alone is ineffective, as the example of the Netherlands shows: 13 failed amendments to the transparency regulations for financial advice made the legislator realize in the end, that there is no way around a commission ban. "It is regrettable that we in Europe apparently also have to go the Dutch route. It will cost consumers a fortune," Sebastian states. In principle, the national legislators can also impose a commission ban on their own. However, this seems unlikely due to resistance on the part of many national governments. The researchers from Regensburg are now pinning their hopes on parliament, because the retail investor strategy still has to be confirmed by parliament and the European Council. More information: Steffen P. Sebastian et al, The Effect of Commission Bans on Household Wealth: Evidence from OECD Countries, Universitat Regensburg (2023). DOI: 10.5283/epub.54281 Provided by Universitat Regensburg 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: At Lake Razelm in Romania, researchers are testing new ways of monitoring water quality. Credit: Gabriela Insuratelu, Shutterstock.com Satellites are helping Europe protect its lakes, lagoons and rivers. It is early morning on the Razelm-Sinoe lagoon in Romania when a small boat sets out with instruments and probes. The researchers on board are collecting water samples and measurements to bring to the laboratory for analysis. Located on the shores of the Black Sea, Lake Razelm is part of the most extensive wetland in Europe and of a World Heritage site: the Danube Delta. Close up and afar The researchers are part of an EU-funded project called CERTO tracking water quality along coasts and in places that transition between fresh and saltwater like lagoons, estuaries and large rivers. The team gets support not just from waterborne transport but also from something much more distant: a satellite network. "Traditionally, people have gone out in boats and sampled," said Professor Steve Groom, CERTO coordinator and head of science/earth observation at Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the UK. "But it's expensive and they can't be everywhere along the coast on the same day. We're moving towards using satellites to complement in situ monitoring." The Razelm-Sinoe lagoon was almost closed off from the Black Sea during the 1970s as part of a plan to create a freshwater source for agriculture. Nowadays it only has one sea inlet. The limited water exchange with the sea, combined with mineral and nutrient run-off from nearby farms, led in the 1990s to excessive plant and algal growth and low-oxygen levels that harmed fish and wildlife in the lagoon. The lagoon's diversity, including varying water depths and levels of salinity, makes for a valuable study siteand the interest is not just academic. Ensuring the health of coastal waters is vital both for ecosystems and for people who make a living from activities such as fishing, farming and tourism. The skyward help that the CERTO researchers receive is through Copernicus, the Earth observation part of the EU's space program. Copernicus uses satellite data to observe water quality and quantity. "CERTO puts the use of satellite data in the spotlight," said Adriana Maria Constantinescu, technical leader of a Razelm-Sinoe lagoon case study. "We can get good-quality data from satellite images and the work we do in situ helps improve algorithms." Water colors CERTO is using on-site measurements and satellite-observation data in six places. Among them are also the world-famous lagoon in Venice, Italy and the Curonian lagoon in Lithuania. The project, due to end this September after almost four years, is investigating ways to classify water. "The technical term is optical water types, but it's really just a way of saying 'this water is a bit muddy' or 'this area is nice and blue,"' said Groom. The term categorizes bodies of water based on the color of the light they reflect. Murky green ponds, for example, contain more organic matter such as algae than clear ponds and reflect less blue light. Murky water also indicates a surplus of nutrients that could be harmful to fish and wildlife. In this way, using satellites to measure how much light bodies of water reflect can help determine their health without needing to go out in a boat and take samples. It also gives scientists a database to draw on when analyzing waters classified as the same type. "The value is that you don't necessarily have to take in situ measurements to validate your algorithms everywhere," said Groom. "We're trying to go from lakes all the way to oceans and come up with a common set of water types for all those waters." User-friendly info CERTO also wants to make it easier for scientists to use the available information on water quality and bridge existing gaps in the data. At present three Copernicus services, each using different approaches, provide information on water quality, making it hard for scientists to have an overview. In addition, some areas such as transitional waters aren't covered by any service at all. The project's legacy will be prototype software that can be plugged into existing Copernicus services as well as popular open-source software called SNAP that's used more widely in the research community. Constantinescu, the head of a Razelm-Sinoe study, expects the CERTO work to lead to more research at the lagoon. The filtering properties of reed beds or their role in attenuating wind waves could be some of the nature-based solutions investigated to deal with coastal erosion. Vital groundwater Satellite data is also used to keep an eye on Europe's groundwater. The EU-funded G3P project tracked variations in vital groundwater reserves for three years through 2022. The project used data both from Copernicus and from a joint US-Germany satellite mission known as GRACE that, since its start in 2002, has transformed scientists' view of how water moves and is stored around the planet. "Groundwater is one of the major resources for humankind," said Professor Andreas Guntner, who coordinated G3P and works at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam. Groundwater accounts for almost a third of total freshwater resources worldwide. In the EU, it supplies 65% of drinking water and a quarter of water for agricultural irrigation. Groundwater has also been declared an essential climate variablea critical indicator of how the Earth's climate is changingby an international non-governmental organization known as the Global Climate Observing System. Copernicus doesn't yet provide consistent, worldwide data on groundwater reserves and how they're evolving. Data wonders The G3P team built a new dataset to fill that gap. The researchers relied on information from GRACE, which has featured twin satellites. An initial GRACE mission lasted 15 years and a follow-up one began in 2018. The distance between the two satellites changes constantly depending on the mass distribution below them. For example, when one approaches heavy masses such as mountains, ice sheets and large groundwater reserves, it speeds up and the distance from the other satellite increases. By tracking the gravitational push and pull on the spacecraft as they fly over different landscapes, scientists were able to map out the distribution of water on and below Earth's surface and how it's changing. Knowing more about groundwater reserves, their changes and how they are affected by human activities such as farming is essential as countries seek to improve the management of water resources generally. "In some areas of the world, taking water from aquifers for irrigation has led to more withdrawal than replenishmentin other words unsustainable use," Guntner said. "The first global observation-based groundwater dataset is really an amazing thing." Still, plenty more research lies ahead to make greater use of the dataset. "The next step is in-depth analysis of the groundwater data we obtained to try to understand how groundwater resources have changed over the last 20 years, how those changes may be related to climate change, changing rainfall and how much is due to human interference," said Guntner. More information: CERTO G3P 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: Hillside homes in Bukavu, a major city in eastern DR Congo, are hugely vulnerable to landslips and mudslides. "We're scared, but where can we go?" said Christine Nzigire, in her rickety wooden house perched precariously on a hillside. She once had tenants, but they left in a panic after a mudslide ripped through the neighborhood in March. "When it rains too hard, we take shelter with our neighbors," Nzigire, 37, explained. To the outside world, Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic, presents a picturesque image. Clapboard houses pack the hills that overlook Lake Kivu, one Africa's Great Lakes. But the city's genial appearance belies a growing risk, for the poor, of being swept away. Bukavu's chronic fear of landslides rose a further notch this month when over 400 people were killed in Kalehe, just to the north. Nzigire's neighbor Isabelle Zaninga, 38, was luckier than mosther house stands on relatively solid ground. Families took refuge inside her home during the most recent downpours, she told AFP. Zaninga, like many other residents of Bukavu's Nyakaliba neighborhood, fled to the city to escape conflict that has plagued eastern Congo for decadesa legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s. A city of around two million people, Bukavu extends from hillsides overlooking Lake Kivu to a peninsula that juts into the lake itself. With little if any money, and practically no support, displaced people sought out the cheapest parts of the city and built on tiny plots of land. Homes were often raised on slopes, without proper foundations or drainage that would channel rainwater safely away. Graveyard living Over the past 20 years, a new neighborhood has even sprung up inside Bukavu's largest cemetery, by the Ruzizi river, which marks the border with neighboring Rwanda. Eric Zaluke, a father of two, lives in a small corrugated-iron shack abutting a tomb. "No problem, we live in peace," Zaluke said. Nearby, beans and manioc, also called cassava, grew between the graves. Founded at the beginning of the 20th century by Belgian settlers, Bukavu was originally designed for 100,000 people, according to local civil-society figure Elvis Mupenda. A man walks his goat in Bukavu's largest cemetery. Many poor people have built their homes there for lack of space elsewhere. Today, the population is believed to be two million, although precise figures are hard to come by. Jean de Dieu Cikonza Maroyi, 54, a communications officer in the provincial urban planning department, described the Bukavu of his childhood as a "fragrant" city of tree-lined avenues. "It was a good place to live," he said. Now, he said bluntly, the city was a "slum." Trees are a rarity and traffic clogs the major arteries. Ladislas Witanene, a green activist, said that petty corruption had allowed people to circumvent building codes. "We're building in drainage channels, on river banks," he said. "We're even pushing back the lake water to build" on reclaimed lake bed, he added. "Imagine what will happen when water reclaims these spaces," added Witanene, noting that the city was studying options for relocating people to safer sites. Climate change is also raising the risk of disaster, he explained: "Even in the dry season we can have torrential rains." South Kivu province lies in eastern DR Congo -- a region that has been troubled by violence since the 1990s. Dilemma But hopes of moving people out of the hillside slums run into two hurdles. Any relocation plan will come to naught if the shops and offices of central Bukavuthe economic magnet that has lured the people to the citydo not also move. And money, too, is a perennial problem. Faustin Buroko, the administrator of the Nyakaliba district, explained that 62 people there had been given new plots of land, but "most are not leaving because they cannot afford to rebuild" their homes. In this district of 65,000 souls, the authorities recorded 270 fires or landslides between January and May alone, he said. Robert Banywesize, a 45-year-old civil servant, pointed to a collapsed retaining wall that was holding back the earth by his house. His living-room floor had also caved in. "This season it's rained a lot. There are no more trees to support the earth," he said, adding that there were also frequent earthquakes in the volcanic region. Shops and houses are often built on slopes without proper foundations or drainage. Fragile home: Sarah, 24, and her 16-month-old child. "We were told to leave but without compensation, what can we do?" Banywesize asked. Farther down the road stood a one-storey wooden house leaning dangerously forward. Spooked by fears of imminent collapse, the owner had left. But he was replaced by his brother Justin, 32, and wife Sarah, 24, as well as their 16-month-old child. "We don't have anywhere else to go," said Sarah, as Justin attempted to lighten the weight of the house by breaking up the concrete flooring with a hammer. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain When a new role opens up at a company, managers often face a choice: Promote an employee from within or bring an external candidate on board. Employees may worry that a more qualified outside candidate will get the job. But new research from Texas McCombs finds that internal candidates are more likely to be promoted if they fulfill one condition: Work harder. The research is published in the Journal of Accounting Research. Assistant Accounting Professor Eric Chan found that before a hiring decision, employees will exert more effort to increase their chances of promotionespecially right before the decision. Managers are more likely to promote them than to hire highly skilled external candidates. "It's this idea of gift exchange," says Chan. "We find that workers work harder before the hiring decision as they try to influence the manager in their favor. In exchange, the manager rewards them with a promotion." Their extra exertions endure, the study found, even after a promotion has gone through, and the worker gets no short-term economic benefits from continuing to put in more effort. The reason is to thank the manager for the opportunity through their actions, Chan says. "This gift exchange continues." Higher effort before hiring To study what drives managers' decisions and employees' behavior around filling job openings, Chan ran an experiment in collaboration with Jeremy Lill of the University of Kansas and Victor Maas of the University of Amsterdam. They recruited 138 business school students to play the parts of managers and employees during six work periods: three before a hiring decision and three after. For each period, employees earned a fixed wage in points that was converted into actual money at the end of the experiment. For every period, employees chose what level of extra effort to put in, from 0% to 100%. That effort in practice can represent working overtime, taking on additional projects, or voluntarily helping colleagues. Raising their efforts more than 20% would cost them pointsbut might boost their chances of promotion. Any extra effort benefits the managers by increasing their profit points. At the end of each period, a manager learned the amounts of employees' efforts. After three periods, the manager decided whether to promote or hire from outside. The study found a strong correlation between effort and promotion: Overall employee efforts increased up to 51%, peaking right before a hiring decision. Managers promoted employees internally 54% of the time. Average effort was 18% higher for employees who got promoted. Even after a promotion decision was made, employees' effort levels declined only 8%. When the researchers introduced statistical noise to make employees' effort levels harder to pinpoint, managers were still 26% more likely to hire internally. "Managers see employees' past effort as a gift that should be reciprocated," Chan says. Gifts that keep giving Would different methods for measuring employee performance affect managers' decisions? To find out, the researchers tested two systems. Some managers learned employees' precise effort levels. For others, statistical noise got added, making efforts harder to pinpoint. Managers were more likely to promote internally when measurements were less precise, the researchers found: by a margin of 26%. "When managers don't quite know if workers gave high effort or low effort, they give workers the benefit of the doubt," Chan says. "'Let me promote you anyway to show my trust in you.'" Even after a promotion decision was made, he found employees continued putting in extra efforts. Their levels declined only 8%. That indicates that managers reap some benefits from promoting internally, he adds. "The employee continues to work hard, so the manager gets a little extra that way." The 'black box' of hiring decisions The research has implications for employees and managers alike. For workers who hope to get promoted, "it's useful to understand how firms and their managers make promotion and hire decisions," Chan says. Managers should be aware of their biases toward promoting employees when they're choosing between an internal candidate and an external one, he cautions. "In the case of a system that captures employees' effort imprecisely, you might be promoting someone who may not be as hardworking as you assume, and they therefore may not fit that higher-level role as well," says Chan. On the positive side, managers can rest assured that if they do promote hardworking employees, the employees won't dial down their efforts afterward. Such research can help both sides understand what drives managers' promotion and hiring decisions and how employees react to them, Chan says. "Managers can be reluctant to be transparent about their promotion criteria, to retain control and discretion over the decision," he says. "For many employees, the criteria for promotion remain a black box. But further research can help us peer inside." More information: Eric W. Chan et al, Promote Internally or Hire Externally? The Role of Gift Exchange and Performance Measurement Precision, Journal of Accounting Research (2023). DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12475 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: Trawlers seen docked in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's economic capital, during a crackdown on illegal fishing in 2014. West African fish exporter Ivory Coast on Thursday announced temporary bans on trawling for tuna and other species in a bid to protect dwindling stocks. "In the face of the threat from the continued fall in marine fisheries resources," the government "has taken the initiative to set up an annual biological rest period in Ivory Coast's marine zones," Fisheries Minister Sidi Tiemoko Toure told a press conference. The measure aims at protecting a range of species, including red tuna, sardinella, anchovies and the giant African threadfin. Small-scale Ivorian fishermen will face a rest period over July this year, while "industrial and semi-industrial" vessels will be banned in July and August. Tuna vessels, most of which are foreign-owned, will be barred from January 1 to March 13, 2024, the minister said. The nation's 200,000-square-kilometer (77,000-square-mile) Exclusive Economic Zone off the coast will be patrolled to enforce the measures. Failure to observe the bans could be punished by up to five years in jail and fines of up to 300 million CFA francs ($490,000). Ivory Coast's fisheries catch plummeted by nearly 40 percent between 2003 and 2020 to under 40,000 metric tons, the minister said. In 2016, West African neighbor Ghana implemented a similar "rest period" to protect its fisheries, Toure noted. 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: Hoping that that our culture system can aid in the conservation of endangered species and the creation of in vitro oocyte induction systems for other mammalian species with long lifespans. Credit: ASHBi/Kyoto University The many types of cells in the human body are produced through the process of differentiation, in which stem cells are converted to more specialized types. Currently, it is challenging for researchers to control the differentiation of stem cells in the lab (in vitro). Of particular interest are oocytes, which are female germ cells that develop into eggs. Understanding their development could have far-ranging impacts, from infertility treatment to conservation of endangered species. A new study by a Japanese team of researchers led by Dr. Mitinori Saitou has successfully induced meiotic (dividing) oocytes from the embryonic stem cells of cynomolgus monkeys, which share many physiological traits with humans. By establishing a culture method for inducing the differentiation of meiotic oocytes, the researchers aimed to shed light on germ cell development in both humans and other primates. The study's findings were published in The EMBO Journal. The team previously reported conditions for inducing oogonia, the precursors of oocytes, by aggregating human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) with cells from the ovaries of female mouse embryos and then culturing them under airliquid interface conditions. Similarly, PGCLCs from cynomolgus monkey were induced to differentiate into oogonia but did not progress to meiotic oocytes. To overcome this hurdle, the induced oogonia were isolated and re-aggregated with somatic cells from the ovaries of female mouse embryos and cultured again. Under these new culture conditions, the cynomolgus monkey oogonia were successfully induced to differentiate into meiotic oocytes, but their development stopped at the second stage of meiosis. Single-cell transcriptome analysis showed that the transcriptomic dynamics of the oocytes in vitro (in the lab) were similar to those of oocytes in vivo (in our body). The researchers also identified differences in gene expression between the in vitro and in vivo oocytes, which suggested a bottleneck for in vitro oocyte development that might lead to the arrest of meiosis in vitro. Furthermore, by performing whole-genome methylome analysis, the authors found that the induced oocytes were involved in the genome-wide demethylation process in vitro, as seen in mouse and human female germ cell development. They also noticed that demethylation behaved differently in paternally and maternally-derived X chromosomes. These unique methylation dynamics were also found in human oogonia induced in vitro, suggesting that the mechanisms underlying female germ cell development may be the same across primate species. Thus, this culture system might be useful as a model of the primate germ cell differentiation process. Asked about the potential impact of their study, the authors said that their method of reconstituting multiple steps in the development of female germ cells may help to clarify the molecular mechanisms of primate oocyte development and could one day contribute to the treatment of impaired oocyte development in reproductive medicine. First author Dr. Sayuri Gyobu-Motani says, "We hope that that our culture system can aid in the conservation of endangered species and the creation of in vitro oocyte induction systems for other mammalian species with long lifespans." More information: Sayuri GyobuMotani et al, Induction of fetal meiotic oocytes from embryonic stem cells in cynomolgus monkeys, The EMBO Journal (2023). DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112962 Journal information: EMBO Journal 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: Mechanical and structural properties of FUS LC at an air/buffer solution interface. a, SP change versus time for samples of FUS LC in PBS and CAPS buffers (blue and magenta, resp., left axis), and a DOPC phospholipid monolayer spread at 20 mN m1 at the air/PBS interface (brown, right axis), after the addition of FUS LC to a final bulk concentration of 1.5 M (in PBS and CAPS) or 3 M (in PBS with DOPC monolayer) at t = 0. The strongly fluctuating SP for PBS (absent for CAPS and DOPC) is attributed to solid domains colliding with the needle recording the surface tension. bd, BAM images recorded 2 h (b), 4 h (c) and 5 h (d) after addition of 1.5 M FUS LC in PBS (at t = 0), showing the appearance of plate-like domains on the surface. Scale bar, 100 m (bd). e,f, AFM image of the FUS LC protein film formed at the air/PBS buffer interface and deposited on a silicon wafer (e) and zoomed-in image (f). Scale bars, 250 nm (e,f). Vertical color bars represent height in nm. Credit: Nature Chemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01221-1 Processes inside human cells are tightly regulated in time and space by various enzymes and proteins. However, if processes become unbalancedfor example, because cells experience increased stressthese processes can also lead to diseases. For example, proteins can "aggregate"that is, cluster together and form extended, ordered, straight fibers, similar to a Mikado. While most proteins have a well-defined three-dimensional structure, some exist in cells without any structure, like a long string. This category of proteins is called intrinsically disordered. Recently such intrinsically disordered proteins have received considerable attention as driving cellular organization and have been linked to neurodegeneration. However, it is unclear how these disordered and flexible proteins become structured to build the Mikado. A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research and the University of Texas has now shown that interfaces can trigger aggregation of a model intrinsically disordered proteincalled FUS (fused in sarcoma). This disordered protein is flexible in the bulk, but at a hydrophobic interface, it forms fibers. These FUS proteins form connected "Mikado-networks " that cannot be easily broken down and may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. "We looked at the formation of FUS fibers at the hydrophobic interface using laser-based methods including spectroscopy and microscopy," say Mischa Bonn and Yuki Nagata. The researchers observed the formation of fibers through the collective ordered assembly of intrinsically disordered proteins. The researchers further showed that protein mobility was dramatically reduced upon fiber formation: the proteins are stuck in the fibers they form. "We were able to demonstrate that hydrophobic interfacesfor example, small oily droplets in cellscan seed molecular ordering and fiber formation," explains Sapun Parekh, also a group leader in Mischa Bonn's department and a professor at the University of Austin, Texas. "This formation happens at surprisingly low concentrations: concentrations 600 times lower than necessary for forming loose protein clusters in solution," Parekh adds. The scientists hope their research will contribute to future understanding of how neurodegenerative diseases develop. They have now published their study in Nature Chemistry More information: Daria Maltseva et al, Fibril formation and ordering of disordered FUS LC driven by hydrophobic interactions, Nature Chemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01221-1 Journal information: Nature Chemistry 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: In a new paper in Science, researchers in the lab of Asst. Prof. Hannes Bernien at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering describe a method to constantly monitor the noise around a quantum system and adjust the qubits, in real-time, to minimize error. Credit: John Zich Despite their immense promise to solve new kinds of problems, today's quantum computers are inherently prone to error. A small perturbation in their surrounding environment a change in temperature, pressure, or magnetic field, for instancecan disrupt their fragile computational building blocks, called qubits. Now, researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) have developed a new method to constantly monitor the noise around a quantum system and adjust the qubits, in real-time, to minimize error. The approach, described in Science, relies on spectator qubits: a set of qubits embedded in the computer with the sole purpose of measuring outside noise rather than storing data. The information gathered by such spectator qubits can then be used to cancel out noise in vital data-processing qubits. Asst. Prof. Hannes Bernien, who led the research, likens the new system to noise-canceling headphones, which continuously monitor surrounding noises and emit opposing frequencies to cancel them out. "With this approach, we can very robustly improve the quality of the data qubits," said Bernien. "I see this as being very important in the context of quantum computing and quantum simulation." A daunting challenge As existing quantum computers are scaled up, the challenge of noise and error has grown. The problem is two-fold: Qubits easily change in response to their environment, which can alter the information stored inside them and lead to high rates of error. In addition, if a scientist measures a qubit, to try to gauge the noise it has been exposed to, the qubit state collapses, losing its data. By combining spectator qubits (yellow) and data qubits (blue), PME researchers can constantly monitorand correct fornoise and error within a quantum computer. Credit: Bernien Lab "It's a very daunting and difficult task to try to correct the errors within a quantum system," said Bernien. Theoretical physicists had previously proposed a solution using spectator qubits, a set of qubits that don't store any necessary data but could be embedded within a quantum computer. The spectator qubits would track changes in the environment, acting like the microphone contained within noise-canceling headphones. A microphone, of course, detects only sound waves while the proposed spectator qubits would respond to any environmental perturbations capable of altering qubits. Two kinds of qubits for noise cancellation Bernien's group set out to demonstrate that this theoretical concept could be used to cancel out noise in a neutral atom quantum array their preferred quantum computer. In a neutral atom quantum processor, atoms are suspended in place using laser beams called optical tweezers, which Bernien helped develop, earning him accolades such as the 2023 New Horizons in Physics Prize by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. In large arrays of these suspended atoms, each acts as a qubit, capable of storing and processing information within its superposition state. In 2022, Bernien and colleagues first reported the ability to make a hybrid atomic quantum processor containing both rubidium and cesium atoms. Now, they've adapted that processor so that the rubidium atoms act as data qubits while the cesium atoms are spectator qubits. The team designed a system to continuously read out real-time data from the rubidium atoms, and in response, tweak the cesium atoms with microwave oscillations. The challenge, Bernien said, was ensuring that the system was quick enough any adjustments to the rubidium atoms had to be nearly instantaneous. "What's really exciting about this is that not only is it minimizing any noise for the data qubits, but it's an example of actually interacting with a quantum system in real time," said Bernien. (From left): The new papers authors are postdoctoral scholar Kevin Singh, postdoctoral scholar Conor Bradley, graduate student Shraddha Anand, Asst. Prof. Hannes Bernien, graduate student Ryan White, and graduate student Vikram Ramesh. Credit: John Zich Proof-of-principle To test their error minimization approach, Bernien's group exposed the quantum array to magnetic field noise. They showed that the cesium atoms correctly picked up this noise and their system then canceled it out in the rubidium atoms in real time. However, the research group says the initial prototype is just a starting place. They'd like to try increasing the amount of noise and varying the types of perturbations and testing whether the approach holds up. "We have exciting ideas on how to improve the sensitivity of this system by a large factor but it's going to take more work to get it implemented," said Bernien. "This was a great starting place." Eventually, Bernien imagines a system of spectator qubits could run constantly in the background of any neutral atom quantum computer and also quantum computers of other architectures, minimizing the error as the computer stores data and makes computations. More information: K. Singh et al, Mid-circuit correction of correlated phase errors using an array of spectator qubits, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade5337 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Before the pandemic, online grocery shopping was typically something younger and more affluent people living in cities indulged in. When COVID hit, though, the market exploded. In the first week of the first UK lockdown, demand for Ocado home deliveries was reportedly ten times higher than it had been the week before. But when COVID restrictions were re-imposed in September 2020, the online supermarket, like its competitors, was still warning customers that slots were selling out fast. So fast, in fact, one staffer said they were going "like Glastonbury tickets." Households struggled to book delivery slots, as supermarkets rightly prioritized deliveries for elderly and vulnerable consumers. And retailers hustled to capitalize on this rapid growth. In April 2020, Tesco told its customers it had hired 12,000 extra staff and 4,000 new delivery drivers. Six months in, Sainsbury's said it was delivering 700,000 online orders per week, having effectively doubled its capacity. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, my colleagues and I mapped online groceries coverage by all the major UK grocers, using the "check if we deliver to your area" tool on their websites. We found that where you live affects your choice and availability of online groceries. People in rural areas have less access to supermarkets in general and, when it comes to online grocery shopping, just over 11% of those people have no choice at all. Lack of choice When households order groceries online from the major supermarkets, their orders are usually assembled in a local supermarket, what industry insiders term an "online fulfillment store". These have dedicated staff, storage space, vehicles and drivers. This model, however, means that online groceries are not available in all locations. Rather, they are concentrated around the network of stores that each grocer operates. On each supermarket website we inputted one postcode from each of the 41,735 neighborhoods in Great Britainrepresenting 25.7m householdsand recorded the result. We then counted the number of retailers delivering to each neighborhood. We found that 98% of households in Great Britain are served by at least one of Tesco, Sainsbury's or Asda. These three grocers offer the greatest delivery coverage, particularly in urban and suburban areas where households have a choice of grocer providing home delivery. Other grocers have more restricted coverage. Iceland, a budget retailer with stores in urban areas, serves only 86% of households. Ocado, meanwhile, which is more upmarket and online only, delivers to only 77% of households. Many neighborhoodsin south-west and northern England, south and mid-Wales, and in Scotland's borders, highlands and islandssuffer poor coverage of online groceries. Households in many neighborhoods in Argyll and Bute (Scotland), for example, have a single online groceries provider (Tesco). By contrast, in nearby Glasgow, most neighborhoods have a choice of six online grocery providers. Across Great Britain, we found that over 11% of households in the most remote rural areas have no choice of provider. They must rely on a single grocer (typically Tesco) for online groceries. Why retailers are not expanding into rural areas Rural areas that are underserved by supermarkets in general are precisely those that could benefit the most from better online provision. In urban contexts, the older, higher spending consumer demographic was newly converted to online grocery shopping. In rural areas, this same demographic could therefore represent untapped demand. In other words, there is an incentive for retailers to expand there. But that is not happening. We had rare access to data about the nationwide network of Sainsbury's stores. Over 180 of those supermarkets are in London and south-east England, 85 of which are used as online fulfillment stores. This means the retailer is able to deliver groceries to all neighborhoods in these regions. In Wales, by contrast, there are only four Sainsbury's online fulfillment stores concentrated around the major towns and cities in south Wales. We found that home delivery by Sainsbury's was unavailable to 162,000 Welsh households (12%). Even if all existing Sainsbury's supermarkets in Wales were used for online deliveries, over 25% of neighborhoods would still be more than 40km from their nearest fulfillment store. Drivers could have to travel over 100km to make their deliveries. This is prohibitively expensive and inefficient. To expand online groceries coverage beyond the store network, retailers would need to fork out considerable sums to build more stores. Most, however, have cut back on supermarket expansion plans, focusing instead on smaller convenience stores to reflect changing shopper behaviors. Amid changing consumer behaviors, online remains a key battleground for grocers. However, it offers lower profit margins than in-store shopping due to the higher costs of order preparation and delivery. Another solution is the partnership model between grocers and online platforms such as Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo, who collect customer orders from smaller convenience stores (such as Tesco Express). New players like the Turkish online-only grocer Getir offer rapid delivery services using smaller, more efficient warehouses located close to the customers. However, these, too, are confined to urban areas, for now. Not being able to choose where you shop has several adverse impacts. It can restrict competition in online groceries, which in turn can see customers faced with less choice of delivery slot or higher charges for home delivery. And, as highlighted by the consumer choice champion Which? and the Consumer Data Research Centre, it can hamper access to affordable, healthy groceries, by limiting customers' opportunity to shop around for the best deals and widest range. Quite how this might change though boils down to whether the major grocers or the new innovators are able to make the investments needed to better cater to rural demand. Until then, customers in these areas will face the dual disadvantage of poor access to larger supermarkets and fewer online grocery options to improve things. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Place where the ointment where found. Credit: University of Cordoba A research team at the University of Cordoba has identified, for the first time, the composition of a Roman perfume more than 2,000 years old thanks to the discovery of a small vessel of ointment in Carmona. Two thousand years ago, in the Roman city of Carmo (today's Carmona), in the province of Seville, someone placed a vessel of ointment in a funerary urn. Twenty centuries later, the FQM346 research team at the University of Cordoba, led by Professor of Organic Chemistry Jose Rafael Ruiz Arrebola, in collaboration with the City of Carmona, has been able to chemically describe the components of a perfume dating from the first century AD. The results were published in the journal Heritage in an article in which Ruiz Arrebola; the municipal archaeologist of Carmona, Juan Manuel Roman; and UCO researchers Daniel Cosano and Fernando Lafont share the whole technical and scientific process enabling the world to "smell" the bygone Roman Empire. The residue of the perfume, discovered in 2019 during an archaeological intervention in a mausoleum found during construction of a house on the Calle Sevillat, had been preserved, solidified, inside a vessel carved in quartz, which was still perfectly sealed. As Roman explains, it was a collective tomb, possibly belonging to an affluent family, and in which, in addition to numerous objects related to funeral rituals (offerings and trousseaus), the cinerary urns of six adult individualsthree women and three menwere found. In one of the urns, made of glass, over the cremated skeletal remains of the deceased (in this case, a woman between 30 and 40 years old), a cloth bag had been placed (the remains of it having been preserved). It contained three amber beads and a small rock crystal (hyaline quartz) flask, carved in the shape of an amphora, containing ointment. Perfume containers used to be made of blown glass, and on very rare occasions, examples made of this material have been found. Their characteristics, difficult carving, and hardness made them very valuable and extremely expensive. In addition to the uniqueness of the receptacle, the truly extraordinary aspect of the find was that it was perfectly sealed, and that the solid residues of the perfume had been preserved inside, which made it possible to carry out this study. Ruiz Arrebola stresses that the use of dolomite (a type of carbon) as a stopper, and the bitumen used to seal it, were the key to the magnificent state of preservation of the piece and its contents. To ascertain what the perfume was made of, different instrumental techniques were used, such as X-ray diffraction and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, among others. According to Ruiz, from the analyses it has been possible to determine that the small cylindrical stopper was made of dolomite (limestone), and that bitumen was used for its perfect fit and airtight seal. With respect to the perfume, two components have been identified: a base or binder, which allowed for the preservation of the aromas, and the essence itself; these findings according with descriptions by none other than Pliny the Elder. In this case, the base was a vegetable oil; possiblyaccording to some indications reflected in the analysisolive oil, although this point could not be confirmed with certainty. And the essence? According to the results of chemical analyses carried out by the University of Cordoba, Rome smelled of patchouli, an essential oil obtained from a plant of Indian origin, Pogostemon cablin, widely used in modern perfumery, and whose use in Roman times was not known. The monumental characteristics of the tomb where it was found, and above all, the material of which the vessel containing it was made, suggest that it was a highly valuable product. This study constitutes a breakthrough in the field of Roman perfumery, as regards the use of patchouli as an essential oil. Further studies are currently being carried out on other unique materials (such as amber, fabrics, and pigments used in the wall paintings) preserved in the Carmona mausoleum. Results are expected soon. More information: Daniel Cosano et al, Archaeometric Identification of a Perfume from Roman Times, Heritage (2023). DOI: 10.3390/heritage6060236 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: Researcher Asier Erostarbe, in his laboratory at the University of the Basque Country. Author. Nuria Gonzalez. Credit: UPV/EHU A study by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) makes a new technological appraisal of a northern gannet bone that displays complex peri-cylindrical decoration A study by the UPV/EHU offers a new appraisal of a decorated ulna from a northern gannet found in 1966 during the exploration of the Torre cave archaeological site in Gipuzkoa. The new technological and stylistic analysis provides greater precision of the engravings on one of the few remains with peri-cylindrical decoration on the Iberian Peninsula that displays a complex combination of motifs; it also reveals some previously undetected ones. The article "Revaluation of the Portable Art of Northern Iberia: a Magdalenian Decorated Bone Tube from Torre," has just published in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology. The lead author is Asier Erostarbe-Tome, a Ph.D. student in the UPV/EHU's Department of Geography, Prehistory and Archaeology. A study offers a fresh appraisal of a decorated ulna from a northern gannet (Morus bassanus) found in 1966 during the exploration of the Torre cave archaeological site in Gipuzkoa. Unlike what has been done so far in the bone industry in which typological studies prevailed, technological studies allow the operational chain to be reconstituted, i.e., from the time the hunter-gatherers acquired the raw material, its transformation, to its repair or discarding. In this way, sense is made of the series of materials studied in order to gain a better understanding of the technocomplex that marked the end of the Upper Paleolithic and, in turn, to open up new avenues of research in this field. "In the case of the Torre tube, given the exceptional nature of the piece, I thought it was important to make it known by re-appraising the object from a technological point of view, as it is currently one of the most complete specimens from the entire Iberian Peninsula," says Asier Erostarbe. Objects of this type, i.e., tubes, mainly appear from the Solutrean period onwards on the Iberian Peninsula, although most of them belong to the Magdalenian, just like the Torre tube. Tracing of the engraving of the tube indicating the number of graphs. Credit: Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s41982-023-00143-1 The piece is one of the few objects of portable art with a peri-cylindrical decoration featuring a complex combination of motifs. It is profusely decorated with figurative representations (deer, horse, ibex, chamois, auroch and an anthropomorph) and signs (simple lines, parallel lines, zigzags, etc.) arranged in two bands oriented in the opposite direction. Furthermore, when compared with the fauna consumed by human groups at that time, it can be seen that not only favorite game animals (such as deer or mountain goat) were engraved on the tube, but also animals that were consumed less frequently (horse, auroch or chamois). "With the new technology available, our study has made it possible to achieve greater precision in the engravings, as well as to discover some hitherto undetected ones. The depictions follow a similar pattern in all cases. The outlines of the figures and signs were firstly traced, and a lithic tool was used several times to make deep grooves. Decorations consisting of short lines and/or notches were made later, and it is sometimes seen that the bone was turned over to make them. The artist possessed great cognitive ability, an aesthetic appreciation of visual regularity and a lateralization of motor functions. "Furthermore, by analyzing the engravings, we have observed similarities in the process, especially of the engraved animals, with other Magdalenian sites on the Cantabrian Coast and in the Pyrenees, which corroborates exchanges of technical and iconographic behavior," says the researcher. The functionality of these objects remains a matter for debate, since various functionalities have been attributed to them: airbrushes, whistles, needle containers, beads in the process of being made, ochre containers, ritual objects, etc. As there are only a small number of specimens in the world, it is very difficult to attribute a single function to them and they may have served as multifunctional objects. "In our study of the tube we have not detected any evidence of its purpose, and the traceological analyses have not been able to go any further in that direction. So, the true function of the Torre tube for the hunter-gatherers who inhabited the cave remains an enigma," he concludes. More information: Asier Erostarbe-Tome et al, Revaluation of the Portable Art of Northern Iberia: a Magdalenian Decorated Bone Tube from Torre (Basque Country, Spain), Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s41982-023-00143-1 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 Burmese python is held during a safe capture demonstration at a media event for the 2022 Florida Python Challenge, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Miami. Registration is now open for the 2023 Florida Python Challenge, giving participants a chance to win a share of more than $30,000 in prizes while removing invasive Burmese pythons from the wild. The 10-day competition runs Aug. 413 and is open to both professional and novice snake hunters. Credit: AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File Registration opened Wednesday for the 2023 Florida Python Challenge, giving participants a chance to win a share of more than $30,000 in prizes while removing invasive Burmese pythons from the wild. The 10-day competition runs Aug. 413 and is open to both professional and novice snake hunters. A grand prize of $10,000 goes to the participant who removes the most pythons, plus smaller prizes for additional categories. "There is nowhere in the world like America's Everglades, and we need to continue to protect and restore this national treasure," South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member "Alligator Ron" Bergeron said in a statement. "Removing invasive pythons from across the Greater Everglades Ecosystem is absolutely critical, and we must do everything we can to combat this invasive species." Participants in last year's competition removed 231 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades, an increase from the 2021 number and more than double those removed in 2020. Nearly 1,000 people from 32 states, Canada and Latvia registered. Besides year-round python removal opportunities on 25 state-managed lands, pythons can be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission. No permit or hunting license is required, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages people to remove and humanely kill pythons from private lands whenever possible. Burmese pythons are not native to Florida, and they negatively impact native wildlife, officials said. This invasive species is found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in South Florida, where they prey on birds, mammals, and other reptiles. A female Burmese python may lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. Since 2000, more than 18,000 Burmese pythons have been reported to the FWC as removed from the environment. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A small fragment of the Campo del Cielo iron meteorite. The same intense heat that partially melted the meteorite to produce the smooth surface visible here would have also evaporated and ablated iron, creating tiny, nanometer-sized particles. These particles could have acted as catalysts for producing the building blocks of life on the early Earth. Credit: O. Trapp Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and Ludwig Maximilians University Munich have proposed a new scenario for the emergence of the first building blocks for life on Earth, roughly 4 billion years ago. By experiment, they showed how iron particles from meteors and from volcanic ash could have served as catalysts for converting a carbon-dioxide rich early atmosphere into hydrocarbons, but also acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, which in turn can serve as building blocks for fatty acids, nucleobases, sugars and amino acids. Their article, "Synthesis of prebiotic organics from CO 2 by catalysis with meteoritic and volcanic particles," is published in the journal Scientific Reports. To the best of our current knowledge, life on Earth emerged a mere 400 to 700 million years after the Earth itself had formed. That is a fairly quick development. For comparison, consider that afterwards, it took about 2 billion years for the first proper (eukaryotic) cells to form. The first step towards the emergence of life is the formation of organic molecules that can serve as building blocks for organisms. Given how fast life itself arose, it would be plausible for this comparatively simple first step to have been completed quickly, as well. The research described here presents a new way for such organic compounds to form on planetary scales under the conditions prevalent on the early Earth. The key supporting role goes to iron particles produced from meteorites, which act as a catalyst. Catalysts are substances whose presence speeds up specific chemical reactions, but which do not get used up in those reactions. In that way, they are akin to the tools used in manufacture: Tools are necessary to produce, say, a car, but after one car is built, the tools can be used to build the next one. From industrial chemistry to the beginnings of the Earth Key inspiration for the research came, of all things, from industrial chemistry. Specifically, Oliver Trapp, a professor at Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, and Max Planck Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), wondered whether the so-called FischerTropsch process for converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrocarbons in the presence of metallic catalysts might not have had an analog on an early Earth with a carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere. "When I looked at the chemical composition of the Campo-del-Cielo iron meteorite, consisting of iron, nickel, some cobalt and tiny amounts of iridium, I immediately realized that this is a perfect Fischer-Tropsch catalyst," explains Trapp. The logical next step was to set up an experiment to test the cosmic version of Fischer-Tropsch. Dmitry Semenov, a staff member at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, says, "When Oliver told me about his idea to experimentally investigate the catalytic properties of iron meteorite particles to synthesize building blocks for life, my first thought was that we should also study the catalytic properties of volcanic ash particles. After all, the early Earth should have been geologically active. There should have been plenty of fine ash particles in the atmosphere and on Earth's first land masses." Re-creating cosmic catalysis For their experiments, Trapp and Semenov teamed up with Trapp's Ph.D. student Sophia Peters, who would run the experiments as part of her Ph.D. work. For access to meteorites and minerals, as well as expertise in the analysis of such materials, they reached out to mineralogist Rupert Hochleitner, an expert on meteorites at the Mineralogische Staatssammlung in Munich. The first ingredient for the experiments was always a source of iron particles. In different versions of the experiment, those iron particles might be iron from an actual iron meteorite, or particles from an iron-containing stone meteorite, or volcanic ash from Mount Etna, the latter as a stand-in for the iron-rich particles that would be present on the early Earth with its highly active volcanism. Next, the iron particles were mixed with different minerals such as might be found on the early Earth. These minerals would act as a support structure. Catalysts are commonly found as small particles on a suitable substrate. Producing small particles Particle size matters. The fine volcanic ash particles produced by volcanic eruptions are typically a few micrometers in size. For meteorites falling through the atmosphere of the early Earth, on the other hand, atmospheric friction would ablate nanometer-size iron particles. The impact of an iron meteorite (or of the iron core of a larger asteroid) would produce micrometer-sized iron particles directly through fragmentation, and nanometer-sized particles as iron evaporated in the intense heat and later-on condensed again in the surrounding air. The researchers aimed to reproduce this variety of particle sizes in two different ways. By dissolving the meteoric material in acid, they produced nanometer-sized particles from their prepared material. And by putting either the meteoritic material or the volcanic ash into a ball mill for 15 minutes, the researchers could produce larger, micrometer-sized particles. Such a ball mill is a drum containing both the material and steel balls, which is rotated at high speeds, in this case more than ten times per second, with the steel balls grinding up the material. Since Earth's initial atmosphere did not contain oxygen, the researchers then followed up with chemical reactions that would remove almost all of the oxygen from the mixture. Producing organic molecules under pressure As the last step in each version of the experiment, the mixture was brought into a pressure chamber filled with (mostly) carbon dioxide CO 2 and (some) hydrogen molecules, chosen so as to simulate the atmosphere of the early Earth. Both the exact mixture and the pressure were varied between experiments. The results were impressive: Thanks to the iron catalyst, organic compounds such as methanol, ethanol and acetaldehyde were produced, but also formaldehyde. That is an encouraging harvestacetaldehyde and formaldehyde in particular are important building blocks for fatty acids, nucleobases (themselves the building blocks of DNA), sugars and amino acids. Importantly, these reactions took place successfully under a variety of pressure and temperature conditions. Sophia Peters says, "Since there are many different possibilities for the properties of the early Earth, I tried to experimentally test every possible scenario. In the end, I used fifty different catalysts, and ran the experiment at various values for the pressure, the temperature, and the ratio of carbon dioxide and hydrogen molecules." That the organic molecules formed under such a variety of condition is a strong indication that reactions like these could have taken place on the early Earthwhatever its precise atmospheric conditions will turn out to be. Adding a scenario to the portfolio of possible mechanisms With these results, there is now a new contender for how the first building blocks of life were formed on Earth. Joining the ranks of "classic" mechanisms such as organic synthesis near hot vents on the ocean floor, or electric discharge in a methane-rich atmosphere (as in the Urey-Miller experiment), and of models that predict how organic compounds could have formed in the depth of space and transported to Earth by asteroids or comets (see this MPIA press release), there is now another possibility: meteoric iron particles or fine volcanic ash acting as catalysts in an early, carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere. With this spread of possibilities, learning more about the atmospheric composition and physical properties of the early Earth should allow researchers to deduce, eventually, which of the various mechanisms will give the highest yield of building blocks under the given conditionsand which thus was likely the most important mechanism for the first steps from non-life to life on our home planet. More information: Synthesis of prebiotic organics from CO 2 by catalysis with meteoritic and volcanic particles, Scientific Reports (2023). www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-33741-8 Journal information: Scientific Reports 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: Photonic implementation of quantum models of PMD processes. We use a photonic setup to implement our quantum models. The orange region highlights the state preparation module, where two photons with a central wavelength of 808nm are generated via pumping a PPKTP crystal with temperature stabilized to around 35 C through a type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion process. One of the photons passes through a single-mode fiber and is prepared with an initial memory state encoded in its polarization, while the other is used as a trigger. The blue regions show the simulation module that carries out the evolution, encoding outputs into the photon path and updating the memory by rotating its polarization (see Methods for details). After evolving two timesteps, the photon is passed into the tomography module (green region), where the output statistics are produced by photodetection counts, and the polarization is measured to tomographically reconstruct the final memory state. The optical components shown comprise PBS, polarizing beamsplitter; M, mirror; IF, interference filter; QWP, quarter-wave plate; HWP, half-wave plate; FC, fiber coupler; BD, beam displacer; SPD, single photon detector. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37555-0 Scientists have made a significant advancement with quantum technologies that could transform complex systems modeling with an accurate and effective approach that requires significantly reduced memory. Complex systems play a vital role in our daily lives, whether that be predicting traffic patterns, weather forecasts, or understanding financial markets. However, accurately predicting these behaviors and making informed decisions relies on storing and tracking vast information from events in the distant pasta process which presents huge challenges. Current models using artificial intelligence see their memory requirements increase by more than a hundredfold every two years and can often involve optimization over billionsor even trillionsof parameters. Such immense amounts of information lead to a bottleneck where we must trade-off memory cost against predictive accuracy. A collaborative team of researchers from The University of Manchester, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) at the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) propose that quantum technologies could provide a way to mitigate this trade-off. The team have successfully implemented quantum models that can simulate a family of complex processes with only a single qubit of memorythe basic unit of quantum informationoffering substantially reduced memory requirements. Unlike classical models that rely on increasing memory capacity as more data from past events are added, these quantum models will only ever need one qubit of memory. The development, published in the journal Nature Communications, represents a significant advancement in the application of quantum technologies in complex system modeling. Dr. Thomas Elliott, project leader and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester, said, "Many proposals for quantum advantage focus on using quantum computers to calculate things faster. We take a complementary approach and instead look at how quantum computers can help us reduce the size of the memory we require for our calculations." "One of the benefits of this approach is that by using as few qubits as possible for the memory, we get closer to what is practical with near-future quantum technologies. Moreover, we can use any extra qubits we free up to help mitigate against errors in our quantum simulators." The project builds on an earlier theoretical proposal by Dr. Elliott and the Singapore team. To test the feasibility of the approach, they joined forces with USTC, who used a photon-based quantum simulator to implement the proposed quantum models. The team achieved higher accuracy than is possible with any classical simulator equipped with the same amount of memory. The approach can be adapted to simulate other complex processes with different behaviors. Dr. Wu Kang-Da, post-doctoral researcher at USTC and joint first author of the research, said, "Quantum photonics represents one of the least error-prone architectures that has been proposed for quantum computing, particularly at smaller scales. Moreover, because we are configuring our quantum simulator to model a particular process, we are able to finely-tune our optical components and achieve smaller errors than typical of current universal quantum computers." Dr. Chengran Yang, Research Fellow at CQT and also joint first author of the research, added, "This is the first realization of a quantum stochastic simulator where the propagation of information through the memory over time is conclusively demonstrated, together with proof of greater accuracy than possible with any classical simulator of the same memory size." Beyond the immediate results, the scientists say that the research presents opportunities for further investigation, such as exploring the benefits of reduced heat dissipation in quantum modeling compared to classical models. Their work could also find potential applications in financial modeling, signal analysis and quantum-enhanced neural networks. Next steps include plans to explore these connections, and to scale their work to higher-dimensional quantum memories. More information: Kang-Da Wu et al, Implementing quantum dimensionality reduction for non-Markovian stochastic simulation, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37555-0 Journal information: Nature Communications This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: FIU Tropical Conservation Institute Two dozen rare Amazon parrot chicks left orphaned and homeless by a sophisticated wildlife smuggling operation are receiving round-the-clock care by Florida International University conservation zoologists. The birds were poached from their nests and smuggled while still eggs, though some had hatched by the time they were discovered in a Chinese national's carry-on bag (a cleverly disguised incubator) by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents on March 23 at Miami International Airport. This presented a challenge for the federal agencies that regulate the importation of wildlife because they lack the specialized equipment and means to hatch and care for so many tiny hatchlings at the airport's USDA quarantine facility. Soon after discovering the eggs, they contacted Paul Reillo, FIU research professor and director of FIU's Tropical Conservation Institute, for assistance. The eggs and hatchlings were transported to the institute's program partner, the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF), where they have been cared for ever since. "It's clear this was part of a very sophisticated trafficking operation," said Reillo, who is also the founding director of RSCF. "It's not easy to assemble a group of this many eggs synchronized to all hatch around the same time. The total elapsed time from the first to last hatching was just 10 days." The smuggler, who was traveling from Nicaragua en route to Asia with a total of 29 eggs, was arrested and recently pled guilty to wildlife trafficking charges, resulting in one of the largest parrot-smuggling busts in recent years. In total, 26 of 29 eggs hatched, with 24 parrot chicks surviving and now nearly fully feathered. FIU researchers provided USFWS law enforcement with DNA species identification, revealing three of the parrots are red-lored Amazons and the other 21 are endangered yellow-naped Amazons. Yellow-naped Amazons are threatened with extinction in the wild and prohibited from international trade. Their beauty, temperament and mimicking ability make them among the most trafficked Central American parrot species, with more than 90 percent of wild nests poached for the illegal pet trade. "This batch of intercepted eggs likely represents a significant fraction of offspring from a swath of forest, seriously impacting species already in trouble," Reillo said. "In high demand as pets with high price tags on their heads, parrots have become innocent victims of human greed. Aside from the sheer number of eggs, what makes this case unusual is that most of the intercepted eggs were viable, and the chicks survived. Smuggled animals often experience very high mortality." For more than 30 years, Reillo and his team have successfully bred and managed endangered parrot species to support their recovery in the wild. Incubating and caring for the smuggled hatchlings is demanding work as they require round-the-clock care. Officials from the USDA did an emergency site visit and approved RSCF as a quarantine site to care for the birds. For the next 45 days, they remained under federally mandated quarantine, meeting biosecurity and safety standards until the birds tested negative for pathogens. Now, the parrot chicks fill their days with demanding chirps and playful movements that will soon transition to flight. Due to political issues and because the birds are being hand-reared, they are poor candidates for repatriation or release. Reillo and the USFWS hope the birds will find new homes among South Florida zoos and wildlife centers where they can serve as conservation ambassadors, educating the public about the consequences of wildlife trafficking. "The reality for many threatened and endangered species is they are being illegally trafficked for the pet trade, for animal products and for food," said Mike Heithaus, executive dean of FIU's College of Arts, Sciences & Education. "FIU has built robust anti-trafficking programs to combat this issue and these parrots are very lucky to have Dr. Reillo and his team step up to help give them a fighting chance at survival. Now, what we really need is stop trafficking before animals are removed from the wild so we don't lose these species forever." 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: Jars with compounds in the laboratory (Symbolic picture) Credit: LIKAT/Nordlicht Before their approval, pharmaceuticals not only have to be tested for their effectiveness and safety, but also for their stability, since they are usually stored in pharmacies and private households for years. To test stability, a process is needed that decomposes a drug "in fast motion." Such a method was recently developed by a team of scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock (LIKAT), the RWTH Aachen University and the Julius Maximilian University of Wurzburg, accompanied by the company RD&C (Vienna, Austria). The research results have now been published in the journal ACS Central Science. Virtually all drugs are multicomponent or multiphase systems that are embedded in a matrix, i.e., contain excipients and carriers, for example. These additives can interact with the active ingredient over time, for example when the drugs are stored for a longer period of time and impair the effect of the drug. The pharmaceutical industry must disclose all stability data before a new drug is approved, so there is considerable interest in developing reliable predictive tools to assess the safety of drugs. Currently, however, such predictive tools for solid-state properties, particularly with respect to solid-state stability and degradation, are limited. In addition, the rate and decomposition products of solid-state degradation processes are unique for each compound, making the development of stability models very time-consuming and costly. Prediction methods in aqueous environments exist, but they lead to high error rates. Since irrelevant degradation products are often formed under these conditions, these prediction methods imply a high financial and health development risk for the manufacturer of new drugs and for the customer. Based on proof-of-concept studies successfully performed by RD&C and the team, a unique and innovative experimental method for predicting stability profiles and degradation pathways in solid compounds, mixtures and matrices has now been developed. In the literature, the approach is referred to as "mechanochemistry." In this approach, the isolated drug or marketed pharmaceutical product is treated in a vibrating mill in the presence of a decomposition-inducing reagent. Within less than 15 minutes, degradation processes can be observed. Everaldo Krake (LIKAT Rostock), first author of the study and a newly graduated scientist, explains, "We were able to show this on a series of structurally similar so-called thienopyridines, which are the drugs in antiplatelet tablets. Crucial to the success was the collaboration with the group led by Carsten Bolm (RWTH Aachen University), a world-leading expert in the field of mechanochemistry, and the team of Ulrike Holzgrabe (University of Wurzburg), a renowned pharmaceutical chemist. This showed that the degradation profiles are identical for both the pure drug and the finished pharmaceutical product. This means that reproducible and relevant statements can be made for this class of drugs in short reaction times using the active ingredient alone. This would be of great importance for accelerated drug approval." According to the authors, this new approach represents a paradigm shift in the application of mechanochemical processes in organic chemistry. "In general, mechanochemical studies of the transformation of small organic molecules, particularly drugs, are carried out with the aim of producing specific structural motifs. The new work now published highlights the potential of this approach to also target specific structural motifs for degradation," says Carsten Bolm. This could be important not only for drug testing, but also for organic synthesis in general. "In the future, it will be interesting to apply this mechanochemical approach to other drug families and to evaluate the role of other stimuli such as light or temperature for the forced degradation process," Ulrike Holzgrabe concludes. More information: Everaldo F. Krake et al, Mechanochemical Oxidative Degradation of Thienopyridine Containing Drugs: Toward a Simple Tool for the Prediction of Drug Stability, ACS Central Science (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00167 Journal information: ACS Central Science Provided by Leibniz-Institut fur Katalyse 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 single cycle of intense Terahertz laser light (red) rapidly twists the atomic lattice of a hybrid organic-inorganic solar cell material. The resulting ultrafast shaking of the lead halide lattice is traced by stroboscopic snapshots using visible laser pulses (green). The observed lattice response provides novel insights into microscopic mechanisms for protecting electric charges and paves the way for ultrafast control of the material's optoelectronic properties. Credit: Maximilian Frenzel, FHI To overcome global energy challenges and fight the looming environmental crisis, researchers around the world investigate new materials for converting sunlight into electricity. Some of the most promising candidates for high-efficiency low-cost solar cell applications are based on lead halide perovskite (LHP) semiconductors. Despite record-breaking solar cell prototypes, the microscopic origin of the surprisingly excellent optoelectronic performance of this material class is still not completely understood. Now, an international team of physicists and chemists from Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, Columbia University in New York, and the Free University in Berlin demonstrated laser-driven control of fundamental motions of the LHP atomic lattice. By applying a sudden electric field spike faster than a trillionth of a second (picosecond) in the form of a single light cycle of far-infrared Terahertz radiation, the investigators unveiled the ultrafast lattice response, which might contribute to a dynamic protection mechanism for electric charges. This precise control over the atomic twist motions will allow to create novel non-equilibrium material properties, potentially providing hints for designing the solar cell material of the future. The investigated hybrid LHP solar cell materials consist of an inorganic crystal lattice, which acts as periodic cages for hosting organic molecules. The interplay of free electronic charges with this hybrid lattice and its impurities determines how much electricity can be extracted from the sun light's energy. Understanding this complicated interaction might be the key for a microscopic understanding of the outstanding optoelectronic performance of LHPs. Researchers from Fritz Haber Institute in Berlin and their international colleagues have now been able to isolate the lattice response to an electric field on timescales faster than 100 femtoseconds, that is one tenth of a trillionth of a second. The electric field has been applied by an intense laser pulse containing only a single cycle of far-infrared, so-called Terahertz (THz), light. "This THz field is so strong and so fast that it may mimic the local electric field of an excited charge carrier immediately after the absorption of a quantum of sunlight," explains Maximilian Frenzel, one of the main authors performing the experiments. By this approach, the investigators observe a concerted motion of the crystal lattice, mainly consisting of back and forth tilting of the octahedral building blocks of the inorganic cage. These nonlinearly excited vibrations can lead toso far neglectedhigher order screening effects, contributing to an often discussed charge carrier protection mechanism. "Moreover, the related tilting angle plays a dominating role in determining the fundamental material properties, such as the crystallographic phase or electronic bandgap," clarifies Dr. Sebastian Maehrlein, leader of the international research project. Thus, instead of static chemical tuning of material properties, ultrafast dynamic material design comes into reach: "As we can now modulate these twist angles by a single THz light cycle," summarizes Dr. Maehrlein, "in future we might be able to control material properties on demand or even discover novel exotic states of this emerging material class." By assessing such dynamic states of matter, the researchers hope to contribute some hints for designing the energy materials of the future. The research is published in the journal Science Advances. More information: Maximilian Frenzel et al, Nonlinear terahertz control of the lead halide perovskite lattice, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3856 Journal information: Science Advances This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Helena Sederholm. Credit: Kristina Tsvetkova Today's outdoor clothing mainly relies on oil-based fibers and chemicals that are harmful for the environment. In her doctoral research, Helena Sederholm develops environmentally friendly water-repellent textiles by following the example of nature. Sederholm, a doctoral researcher at Aalto University's Bioinnovation Center, wants to contribute to a sustainable future. "Environmental and climate issues are close to my heart. I want to use my education and learning to solve the obstacles to a better world. There are many problems like this in the textile industry," says Sederholm. Originally from Espoo, Sederholm was already interested in natural sciences during her basic education and particularly keen on chemistry and biology. She started studying for a bachelor's degree at the Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering in 2017. "During my studies, materials sciences and, in particular, biomaterials started to attract me. I ended up in the Master's Degree Program of Fiber and Polymer Technology, where I was able to familiarize myself with bio-based fibers. It felt right." The growing sector needs doctors In her master's thesis, Sederholm studied the recyclability of fibers produced with the Ioncell technology. The thesis indicated that recycled Ioncell fibers are just as suitable for textile production as original cellulose fibers. Sederholm graduated with a Master of Science degree in autumn 2022. "In my master's thesis, I got to familiarize myself with the academic world of research. I liked experimental work and enjoyed my time in the research group." Postgraduate studies started to interest Sederholm, so she applied for doctoral studies at Aalto University's Bioinnovation Center, where she was able to start immediately after her master's studies. "Bio-based textiles are still a new field in Finland, but this sector will surely grow. I believe that there will be a need for doctors with expertise and vision related to biomaterials by the time I finish my doctoral studies." Using natural phenomena as a model In her doctoral research, Sederholm develops an environmentally friendly way of producing hydrophobic textiles for outdoor clothing. The hydrophobic properties of today's outdoor clothing mainly result from synthetic fossil-based fibers. Fossil-free alternatives, on the other hand, contain chemicals that are harmful for the environment. "Fortunately, water repellent materials can be found in nature. I try to copy them and apply similar methods in the Ioncell process. One option is to develop lignocellulosic fibers using lignin derived from wood. In addition to having hydrophobic properties, the fibers used in outdoor clothing must be sufficiently strong." The cross-disciplinary CelluMimicry study combines Aalto University's expertise in chemical technology and business. "We are studying how to commercialize bio-based water-repellent materials and how suited they are for mass production. Sustainability and ecology are growing trends that increase responsibility in the consumption of clothing. On the other hand, there are also many challenges involved with the commercialization of bio-based materials, such as the cost of clothing and dyeing of textiles." Sederholm is inspired by the concrete nature of her doctoral research. "One day, when my experiments have hopefully been successful, I can hold a piece of fabric in my hand and say, I did it! My research results are not just numbers on the screen or graphs on paper, but material that I can touch and hold." 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: University of the Sunshine Coast A slow birthrate and night-time wanderings of pregnant gray nurse sharks away from no-take marine protected areas are putting the fierce-looking but mild-mannered species at further risk of extinction. A 10-year study that tagged and tracked 34 gray nurse sharks migrating between the Great Barrier Reef and southern New South Wales identified the double threat for the critically endangered species, which has only about 400 breeding animals left in the wild. The collaborative research led by Dr. Ross Dwyer of the University of the Sunshine Coast and Dr. Carley Kilpatrick from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) found the migratory sharks regularly visited no-take MPAs established along the east coast of Australia. This included Wolf Rock, northeast of Double Island Point; Flat Rock north of North Stradbroke Island; and Henderson Rock and Cherubs Cave, east of Moreton Island. All are popular spots for scuba diving tourism in Queensland, with the gray nurse shark not considered a risk to human safety. Dr. Dwyer, a UniSC animal ecology academic, said Flat Rock, Henderson Rock and Cherubs Cave were used for several weeks each year (during winterearly summer) by migrating male and female sharks. "In contrast, Wolf Rock was particularly important for pregnant female sharks which would stay at the site for up to 254 days during their gestation. However, sharks regularly left the relative safety of the MPAs, often in darkness," Dr. Dwyer said. "These excursions will likely increase the risk of them becoming bycatchgetting accidentally caught in commercial or recreational fisheries or in shark control equipment along beaches." The findings were published this month in the journal Biological Conservation, in a paper co-authored by nine partners from The University of Queensland, QPWS, NSW Department of Primary industries, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, and Macquarie University. One of the tracked female sharks was initially captured as an immature shark in August 2015, after she was observed by members of the public off North Stradbroke Island with a stainless-steel rod protruding through her stomach. Following surgery and a period of rehab at Sea World Gold Coast, she was detected five years later with fresh mating scars at Cherubs Cave enroute to Wolf Rock. Dr. Kilpatrick, a Senior Conservation Officer and gray nurse shark expert with QPWS, said Wolf Rock was the only known gestation site for the Australian east coast gray nurse population. "These night-time excursions suggest the existing no-take MPA at Wolf Rock needs to be larger to protect sharks in areas we now know they use, and help ensure the species' long-term conservation," Dr. Kilpatrick said. "The tracking also revealed a longer than expected three-year migratory cycle linked to breeding. This slow reproductive rate, with females not breeding until they are at least nine years old and having a maximum of two pups at a time, highlights why the population has been so slow to recover. "The research highlights how our no-take MPAs do a great job of protecting gray nurse sharks while they congregate in them. Our concern is that they are spending a lot more time outside of the no-take MPAs than we thought; including areas adjacent to no-take MPAs such as Wolf Rock." Dr. Dwyer said the study used for the first time a novel combination of latest animal tracking technology and shark counts by citizen scientists. "The study was a massive collaborative effort, and we'd like to thank everyone who helped count and tag the sharks, and maintain over 300 moorings along the Australian east coast where these tagged gray nurse sharks were detectedfrom Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef to Montague Island in south east New South Wales," he said. "This approach produced accurate, valuable data and can now be applied to other migratory coastal shark species to ensure marine area networks offer maximum protection benefits." More information: Ross G. Dwyer et al, Marine reserve use by a migratory coastal shark, Carcharias taurus, Biological Conservation (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110099 Journal information: Biological Conservation Provided by University of the Sunshine Coast Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. With Memorial Day being Monday, many areas in Washington, Warren and Saratoga Counties will be honoring the fallen men and women who served the nation with parades and ceremonies. South Glens Falls, Glens Falls, Schuylerville, Lake George and Hague are among the places were events are taking place. South Glens Falls parade The South Glens Falls Memorial Day Parade will be held on Friday along Main Street in South Glens Falls. The parade will step off at 6 p.m. near the intersection of Haviland Avenue and Main Street, proceeding north and ending with a memorial service at the Veterans Memorial Park at the end of the parade between 7 and 7:30 p.m. The service will include a wreath-laying ceremony to recognize each of the foreign wars, a benediction, and words of remembrance from Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner. The parade will include representatives from the American Legion, VFWs, area fire departments and dignitaries. The South Glens Falls High School marching band and acapella group, Vocal Point, as well as Galloway Gaelic Pipe Band will march and perform at the ceremony. This years grand marshal is long-time South Glens Falls resident Wayne Beanie Bruce. Bruce served in the Air Force as a sergeant from 1967 to 1971. He then worked as a Saratoga County Sheriffs deputy for over seven years, and the South Glens Falls Police Department for almost thirty years. As a longtime member and former chief of the South Glens Falls Fire Department, Bruce remains an honorary member. As a member of the South Glens Falls High School Hall of Fame, he is a three-sport star at South High (1968) who went on to become the longtime truancy officer at his alma mater. Grilled food and refreshments will be available at The Moreau Community Center from 4 to 6 p.m., and after the parade at the Fraternal Order of Eagles featuring the Marcabes band. Glens Falls parade and ceremony The Glens Falls 2023 Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony will be held on Monday at the Victory and Peace Monument in Crandall Park. The parade, a joint effort by the city of Glens Falls and town of Queensbury, will kick off at 10 a.m. and proceed north on Glen Street from Maple Street to Crandall Park. A remembrance ceremony will be held in Crandall Park in front of the Victory and Peace Monument or at the Recreation Ice Center, 1 Fire Road, if there is inclement weather. Grand marshals of the parade will be Tim Benner, Harriet Rogers, and Mike Varmette. Warren County Administrator John Taflan will be keynote speaker and there will be appearances from Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, and state Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury. Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville will pay tribute to fallen servicemen and servicewomen at a Memorial Day ceremony on Saturday at 11 a.m. The cemetery is looking for volunteers to help set up 1,000 plastic folding chairs on Friday at 11 a.m.. Volunteers will be meeting at the flag pole. Lake George parade The Lake George Memorial Day Parade steps off from West Brook Road at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and will proceed along Beach Road, up Canada Street to Shepard Park. A Memorial Day ceremony will follow in the park. Hague Memorial Day celebration The Hague 20th Annual Memorial Day Celebration will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Hague Town Park. Bands, floats, clowns, classic cars and more will be in the parade. Grand marshals will be Jan and Bob Whitaker. Seniors of the Year, Art and Joan Steitz, also will be honored. Prizes will be given for best in the parade, most creative, most patriotic, best Adirondack theme, most humorous, best youth, and honorable mention for both adults and youths. Winners to be announced at the memorial dedication service. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SCHROON LAKE A new weapon will be used to prevent invasive species from getting into Schroon Lake this summer, in the form of a self-serve, mobile boat cleaning unit. The solar-powered equipment for the 2023 boating season is possible thanks to a collaborative effort between Warren County and a number of public and private partners, according to a news release from the county. The mobile boat cleaning unit was delivered to Warren County earlier this year to use at boat launches in the Schroon Lake watershed this spring. The Warren County Department of Planning & Community Development received grant funding through the New York Environmental Protection Fund and New York Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program for the $40,000 piece of equipment, which will be rotated around boat launches in the watershed in both Warren and Essex counties. The solar-powered CD3 Cleaning System equipment is free to use and will allow those who are launching or removing watercrafts from Schroon Lake to clean boats through a waterless process. The wash stations CD3 moniker stands for Clean, Drain, Dry and Dispose, because the system provides a cleaning infrastructure for boaters to clean their boats and trailers on their own. The standalone unit offers self-service resources, including an air blower, wet-dry vacuum, hand tools and lights to help boaters remove, then dispose of water, weeds and debris. The new equipment is part of the Schroon Watershed Aquatic Invasives Program, which combines the forces of volunteer lake associations, including the Schroon Lake Association and East Schroon Lake Association, Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program and the towns of Chester, Horicon and Schroon under the auspices of Warren County Planning and Community Development and New York Department of Environmental Conservation. CD3 stations also serve as educational kiosks that allow boaters to check-in and out of bodies of water. and collect essential data for communities and indicate when invasive species are detected, to aid in aquatic invasive species management and mitigation. Since 1911, the mission of the Schroon Lake Association has been to protect Schroon Lake. Throughout the Adirondacks, lake associations along with their many partners, are the frontline protectors of our lakes, ponds and rivers. Public awareness and action are the keys to preventing the spread of invasive hitchhikers into the Adirondack Park. This is where the CD3 machine hopefully will play a key role. Although it is not a decontamination machine (it does not work on high water pressure at 140 degrees), it will be a visible and tangible unit to promote boater education, help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and underscore the importance of Clean, Drain and Dry for recreational boats, Vice President of Schroon Lake Association Roger Friedman said. Kudos to the Warren County Planning Department for thinking outside the box in assisting the Schroon Lake Watershed. Warren County Planner Ethan Gaddy said protecting the quality of the countys waterways is critically important to the regions environment, economy and quality of life. This project implements elements of the Schroon Lake Watershed Management Plan from 2019, which identifies the prevention, monitoring, and eradication of aquatic invasive species as a priority. The use of the CD3 unit is not a substitute for a hot-water, high-pressure decontamination station typically operated by boat stewards, but this new technology provides what we hope is an acceptable alternative for when stewards are not on hand, as workforce and housing issues are having an impact on our municipalities ability to staff boat inspection stations. Hopefully, the CD3 unit will provide boaters with an opportunity to decontaminate their boat when boat launches are unstaffed in the early morning and evening hours. The pilot project is intended to evaluate whether or not our municipalities and partner organizations should incorporate the CD3 unit into our current suite of AIS management options, Gaddy said in a county news release. The CD3 project is funded by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund, and is part of a broad program to address invasive species in Schroon Lake, which will include additional harvesting of Eurasian milfoil and outreach by lake stewards. China's new ambassador to U.S. vows to safeguard Beijing's interest, strengthen cooperation with Washington Xinhua) 08:34, May 25, 2023 WASHINGTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China's newly appointed ambassador to the United States said on Tuesday upon arrival in Washington that he would safeguard the interests of China while enhancing China-U.S. exchanges and cooperation in his new role. "As a representative of the Chinese people, I have come here to safeguard the interests of China, and I take this as my sacred responsibility. As an envoy of the Chinese people, I have come here to enhance China-U.S. exchanges and cooperation, and I take this as my important mission," Ambassador Xie Feng said. Noting that he started working on China-U.S. relations three decades ago, Xie said he still believes that a sound and stable China-U.S. relationship is in the interest of both countries. A stable relationship is a mutual expectation of the international community and greatly contributes to global peace and prosperity. The ambassador said the two countries have profound differences, and the relationship faces difficulties and challenges. The relationship has gone through many twists and turns in the past half-century. Yet, it has always been able to move ahead, Xie said. "The relationship is too important for us to let it fail. Neither side can change or replace the other," he said, stressing that "working together, both will come out as winners; fighting each other, both will lose, and the world will be hurt as well." Whether China and the United States can manage the relationship properly is consequential to the future of the two countries and the planet, said the veteran diplomat, adding that "the world is watching us." Xie said the current state of China-U.S. relations has come to a historical crossroads. Being appointed at this pivotal moment, he sees it as both an honor and a great responsibility. "Both China and the United States are great countries, and both Chinese and Americans are great peoples. We should keep pace with the trend of the times and reject the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, and open our heart and move forward in the same direction. We should take concrete actions to deliver on the common understandings between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden, and explore the right way to get along with each other in the new era. We should uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. We should make the two peoples feel assured and set the world at ease," he said. "Long and arduous as the journey is, we will get to the destination as long as we take real steps," he said. "My colleagues and I will keep in mind the instructions of President Xi Jinping, carry out our duties and responsibilities and live up to our mission with diligence and fortitude." The ambassador concluded by saying that he looked forward to having extensive engagement and candid communication with people from all sectors in the United States, calling on those with whom he will be working to render their "support, input and contribution." The 12th Chinese ambassador to the United States, Xie arrived in New York earlier in the day, giving brief remarks to the media at the John F. Kennedy International Airport before heading to the Chinese embassy in the U.S. capital. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. QUEENSBURY The William H. Barton Intermediate School in Queensbury has been named a 2023 National School of Character. This is the second time the school has been honored with the distinction from Character.org, a national advocate and leader for character development in schools and communities, the Queensbury Union Free School District announced in a news release. The local school is the only New York state school to receive the designation, and one of just 36 schools in the country. Each of these schools has put in place a comprehensive approach to help students understand, care about, and consistently practice the character strengths that will help them flourish in school, in relationships, in the workplace, and as citizens, said Dr. Arthur Schwartz, president of Character.org, in the news release. Schools that apply for the designation must meet the rigorous standards outlined in Character.orgs 11 Principles Framework for Schools, according to the news release. Each school is assessed by a team of trained evaluators. WHBI earned the national distinction five years ago, and Principal Gwynne Cosh said the school is thrilled to be rewarded again. The WHBI students take Spartatude seriously, she said in the news release. The students know who they are and who they want to be, Cosh said. They know its OK to be different, not follow the crowd and lead with their hearts. The school will be formally recognized at Character.orgs International Forum held Nov. 6 and 7 in Washington, D.C. We are excited that WHBI has once again been selected as a National School of Character, said Superintendent of Schools Kyle Gannon in the news release. It is well deserved. The teachers, staff and administrators at the Barton building work hard as a cohesive team to provide the best education for our fourth and fifth grade students. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Most New York voters support allowing wine to be sold in grocery stores, according to a recent Siena College poll that included questions paid for by upstate New York supermarket chain Wegmans, which is pushing for the change. The poll found 75% of 810 registered voters surveyed support allowing New York grocery stores to sell wine. There is bipartisan support for the proposal, with 73% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans endorsing the idea. Two lobbying firms, Brown & Weinraub and Yoswein New York, co-authored a memo that was sent to state legislators highlighting the polls findings. Seldom do we see issues in Albany that are as one-sided with the public as this, the firms wrote. Forty other states (including D.C.) allow consumers to buy wine in their local markets where they can already buy beer in addition to all their other groceries. In many of those states, grocers feature New York wines. The release of the poll results follows the introduction of a new bill to allow wine sales in grocery stores. The legislation is sponsored by state Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter. The bill differs from a previous version of the measure that was introduced in 2010 but never passed the state Legislature. That bill wouldve allowed wine to be sold in big box stores, such as Target and Walmart, convenience stores and drug stores. What Hunter, D-Syracuse, and Krueger, D-Manhattan, proposed would limit wine sales to full-service grocery stores. Big box stores, convenience stores and drug stores would not be eligible to sell wine. An incentive lower license renewal fees would be offered for selling New York wines. With overwhelming public support from the left and from the right, upstate and downstate this is simply the right thing to do, Krueger said in a statement. Supermarkets are urging the state Legislature to pass the bill and allow wine sales in grocery stores. In Wegmans stores, signs are posted encouraging customers to visit nytimeforwine.com, a website that was created to build support for the proposal. Although most voters support the bill, there is strong opposition to it from liquor stores. Stefan Kalogridis, president of the New York State Liquor Store Association, owns Colvin Wine Merchants in Albany. He told The Citizen that if grocery stores are allowed to sell wine, liquor stores will close because they wont be able to compete with supermarket chains. But thats disputed by the lobbying firms advocating for the wine-in-grocery stores bill. In their joint memo, Brown & Weinraub and Yoswein New York, dismissed the liquor lobbys sensational claims that liquor stores wont survive if grocery stores are allowed to sell wine. As examples, they noted that Florida, South Carolina and Texas allow wine sales in grocery stores and have liquor stores. The bill to allow wine sales in grocery stores is emerging as a top issue for the end of the legislative session. Lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up their work in early June. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. BRIDGETON Cumberland County hospitals can expect higher Medicaid reimbursements after the county Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance that would authorize the use of money through a federally funded program. The board approved the ordinance implementing the New Jersey County Option Hospital Fee Program during its meeting Tuesday. Through the program, the county receives federal dollars to provide financial support to local hospitals, officials said Wednesday in a news release. A trust fund will be created to collect the fees, according to the ordinance. The countys use of the program still awaits approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, officials said, without saying when they expected a decision. The program was formed to target areas of high Medicaid and uninsured populations. Cumberland County is considered one of the states poorest. CompleteCare celebrates 50 years of providing health services in underserved communities VINELAND The CompleteCare Health Network earned the loyalty of Terri Sullivan over the years. Supporting County Option is clearly in the best interest of our most vulnerable residents and provides needed support to our hospitals, Commissioner Director Doug Albrecht said in a statement. We know that this is just one of the many important steps in improving health outcomes in our community, and we look forward to further collaboration with our hospital partners to best serve all. To implement the fee, the county formed a Fee and Expenditure Report, which was approved by the state Department of Human Services. The report was used to help the department gauge how the county planned to manage the funds and the program. The program has been implemented in seven counties since its inception in 2018, expanding to four additional counties last year, officials said. Atlantic and Ocean counties are among them, according to the state Department of Human Services website. Through the program, a $1,341 fee for each hospital inpatient non-Medicare discharge will be charged to in-county hospitals beginning July 1, according to the ordinance. Hospitals should expect to start being reimbursed by October, officials said. Interest at a rate not to exceed 1.5% per month of the outstanding payment amount will be imposed by the county upon a hospital when payment of the fee is more than 10 days past the established due date, the ordinance said. Report on St. Louis transgender center could propel measures limiting treatments Missouri Republican lawmakers have filed more than two dozen bills directed at the LGBTQ community, including some that target gender transition therapy. Inspira CEO Amy Mansue said enacting the ordinance will help her company reach more people in an attempt to curtail social gaps tied to poor health. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A former corrections officer at Bayside State Prison in Maurice River Township was sentenced Wednesday to 2 years in prison for conspiring to assault inmates, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. John Makos, 42, of Millville, pleaded guilty in November before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to conspiring with others to deprive inmates of their right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. Williams imposed the sentence in Camden federal court. Corrections officers are responsible for protecting the civil rights of the people in their custody, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said in a news release. Incarcerated persons may have broken the law, but equal treatment is one of our countrys founding principles, and civil rights do not cease to exist at a prisons gates. This defendant allowed incarcerated persons under his care to be brutalized and abused his authority as a law enforcement officer. From at least April through December 2019, Makos and others at Bayside agreed to physically assault certain inmates for actual and perceived violations of the prisons rules and customs, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The assaults took place while the inmates were under Makos supervision and in areas of the prisons kitchen that were out of sight of surveillance cameras. On Dec. 7, 2019, Makos watched and did not attempt to intervene when multiple inmates pinned another inmate to the floor and punched the victim-inmate about 25 times. Makos did not report this assault to his supervisors or medical personnel, despite knowing he was required to do so. In addition to the prison term, Williams sentenced Makos to three years of supervised release and fined him $10,000. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Mantua police officer faces charges in the shooting death of a 49-year-old man outside his home Sept. 14, 2021. A state grand jury voted to charge Salvatore Oldrati with manslaughter in the death of Charles Sharp III, who had called police and reported trespassers on his property on Elm Avenue, a residential area in the Gloucester County community. When police arrived, Sharp was still on the phone with the dispatcher, holding what he described to the 911 operator as a .45 caliber gun. It later turned out to be a replica handgun. When residents call 911 for service, they are concerned, they need assistance, they seek protection and they trust the officers responding to their calls will respond accordingly and help them. Tragically, that did not happen here, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in announcing the charges Wednesday. State officials had released the body camera video and audio recordings of the 911 call in October 2021. In the 911 recording, Sharp tells both the dispatcher and a police officer that he saw people on his property trying to get into his truck and entering an outside shed. I have something my grandfather passed down to me. I dont know how legal it is, he said. My grandfather willed me a .45. In the police video, another officer can be heard warning Oldrati about a gun. From behind the hood of his police vehicle, Oldrati fires multiple rounds, firing a second burst after the man is down, according to police reports. The officer then radios that shots were fired and tells the dispatcher to notify the hospital. Two more officers arrive and are told Sharp pointed a gun at the first officers on the scene. I dont know, the guy came out, pointed a gun. Pointed the gun, I thought he was going to (expletive) shoot me, dude, the officer said while pulling on protective gloves to begin first aid. Attorney Generals Office releases video of fatal police shooting in Mantua MANTUA A 911 recording and a police officers body camera video released Wednesday show th Sharp was transported to Jefferson Washington Township Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:49 a.m. Less than five seconds elapsed between when Officer Oldrati stepped out of his police vehicle and when he began firing at Mr. Sharp. said Thomas J. Eicher, executive director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. Officer Oldrati gave no verbal commands or warnings before shooting Mr. Sharp. The grand jury determined that his conduct was not justified and warranted the return of an indictment for manslaughter. A defense attorney representing Oldrati, Christopher St. John of Haddonfield, was not immediately available for comment Thursday. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigated the shooting and presented its findings to the grand jury. The investigation included interviews of witnesses, collection of forensic evidence, review of video footage and autopsy results from the medical examiner, according to details from the Attorney Generals Office. According to the investigation, a little after 1:30 a.m. Sept. 14, 2021, two uniformed Mantua police officers arrived at a home on Elm Avenue in Mantua in response to a 911 call. Sharp reported two burglars in his rear yard, and said one had a handgun. The officers were informed before they arrived. Gloucester County man charged with killing woman A Gloucester County man has been charged in the bludgeoning death of a Mount Laurel woman, a Oldrati arrived at the scene shortly after Cpl. Robert Layton arrived in a separate police vehicle. While Oldrati was exiting his police vehicle, Layton yelled, hes got a handgun on him, right there. Oldrati fired his weapon multiple times and struck Sharp multiple times. Layton did not fire. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WILDWOOD Cape May County has no cannabis dispensary, although it seems inevitable that one will open eventually. When it does, it will not open in Wildwood, which like many beach towns has opted out of allowing cannabis sales in the community, and out of the chance to charge an additional local tax on weed sales. Which has led to some surprise and confusion with the opening of Kannavis Botanicals on New Jersey Avenue, with images of a familiar spiky leaf on the sign and Licensed marked under the name. The business is licensed by the state to sell hemp and hemp-derived products, not cannabis, a distinction that has more to do with legal definitions than with plant biology. Both are from the buds of the same plant, but hemp, by definition, has less than 0.3% of THC, the chemical in marijuana that gets you high. Many cannabis dispensary strains boast THC concentrations of more than 20%. But that distinction gets blurrier still with the assurance from Dill Nelson, who owns Kannavis with her husband, Ken, that if you smoke their hemp, you will feel it. As Ken Nelson explains it, the process of burning the hemp flowers changes the nature of other cannabinoids in the plant. 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 you light it, it changes, he said. Then its game on, added Dill Nelson. The New York Avenue shop is their third location in Wildwood. The first opened on the Boardwalk in 2020, a tough time for any new business, and there is also a location on Pacific Avenue. The other locations remain open, and the New Jersey Avenue site opened April 20, often described as a weed holiday for its connection to 420, which has become cannabis culture slang for consumption. This shop is in a former bank, with a drive-through in operation. The hemp and hemp products are dispensed from the old teller stations, while lighted boards show the available strains and their relative potency, much like one of the cannabis dispensaries. The buds available for purchase at the shop are indistinguishable, by sight or smell, from the cannabis sold at a licensed dispensary, or for that matter from weed bought on the still-thriving underground market. Presumably, a lab test could find a difference, or an experienced smoker. Ken Nelson has compared the difference between hemp and dispensary cannabis as similar to the difference between beer and whiskey, with one offering a much stronger impact. Legal Pot Is More Potent Than Ever And Still Largely Unregulated As marijuana has become far more mainstream, potent, and sometimes dangerous, uneven regulation at the state and federal levels leaves consumers at risk. Its an option for somebody who does not have the $60 or $70 to spend on an eighth at a dispensary, he said. An eighth of an ounce is close to 3.5 grams, which is a standard measurement of sale at licensed dispensaries. Kannavis offers 5 grams of a hemp flower called Sour Haze for $20, or $5 for a single gram, which would be enough to roll about three cigarettes. The store also offers gummies and other edibles, as well as a barbecue sauce. Several of the products in the store included the label Contains THC. The store has raised concerns in Wildwood, enough so that the municipal government issued a news release this year stating that they were selling hemp, not marijuana. These stores are not selling anything with THC in it, part of the release states. The products could be legally sold in a vitamin store, for instance. The Wildwood Board of Commissioners had an appearance from the Kannavis store on the agenda for its Wednesday meeting, with a request for the owners to explain their business plan. The name of the business, which Nelson described as Greek for hemp, and the mention of a license on the sign created confusion, said Mayor Pete Byron. The city wanted to let the public know it did not issue any licenses. Scooby doobie don't: Discarded joints pose hazards for dogs Veterinarians are growing alarmed by an apparent rise in marijuana poisonings among dogs that ingest discarded joints and edibles on city sidewalks. Honestly, as long as its not illegal, theres nothing we can do about it, Byron said. Nelson said his business does have a license, from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. That means he gets an annual inspection, he said, and has to comply with other regulations that do not impact other Boardwalk stores or vape shops that offer hemp-derived products like CBD and Delta 8. No one from the Department of Agriculture responded to requests for an interview for this story. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, the agency that issues licenses to the now-legal cannabis dispensaries, said the CRC does not regulate hemp-derived products, and directed questions to the Department of Agriculture. As many have pointed out, hemp has been used for clothing, food and in manufacturing for thousands of years. Its the same species of plant as marijuana, and for decades, that kept hemp products off American shelves. In 2001, early in President George W. Bushs administration, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration cracked down on hemp in foods, from cereals to granola bars to protein powders, even though the seeds that were used did not contain enough THC to possibly have an effect. A federal court later rejected that effort, and in 2018, a federal farm bill made clear that hemp with under 0.3% THC was as legal as apples or any other agricultural product. Brittney Griner gets emotional discussing Russian detainment Brittney Griner got emotional quickly while speaking to reporters for the first time since her nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug-related charges. The WNBA star had to take a moment to compose herself after being asked about her resiliency through the ordeal. Griner's first news conference drew more than 100 people, including Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, members of the Phoenix Mercury organization and her wife, Cherelle. That cleared the way for products containing CBD, another part of the plant, to be sold across the country so long as it was derived from hemp. Proponents say CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and other benefits. But the DEA says THC Delta 8 and its cousin THC Delta 9 are not hemp, but instead are schedule 1 drugs, just like marijuana. The DEA has proposed changes to federal drug laws that would take Delta 8 off the shelf, and 14 states have issued an outright ban. The potential for a legislative change that could upend his business keeps Nelson worried, he said. He added he is phasing out Delta 8 products, instead using more products that use the entire hemp flower. Delta 8 appears in nature, but only in very small quantities. It is concentrated from hemp plants to reach effective levels. Scott Rudder, with the industry group the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, described hemp as a useful and beneficial plant, but he expressed concerns about the sale of products containing Delta 8 and other potential intoxicants, insisting it is not just because they are taking sales from association members. Most of the products being sold are not tested, and consumers may have little information about what they are buying. In some instances, someone may think it is similar to CBD, which may or may not have a mild, calming influence like a cup of chamomile tea, and instead find themselves feeling intoxicated behind the wheel. When you see these products being sold at gas stations and at convenience stores, theres a good chance that most of those products have not gone through a testing process, he said. In many instances, he said, there appears to be little care to ensure only those over 21 are buying the products, he added. At a recent open house at the new Wildwood location, a local classic rock station blasted Tom Petty in the parking lot while staff offered samples of hot sauce, presumably infused hot sauce. Nelson said he remains scrupulous about checking IDs and will not sell anything to someone under 21. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. OCEAN CITY Opponents of plans for offshore wind power development plan to show their opposition with a march along the walkway on the Route 52 causeway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. There is a rain date set for June 3. Yes, you can do something to stop offshore wind turbines help us inform all the Memorial Day weekend visitors of the wind turbine blight to their vacation spot, reads the posted announcement of the event. The organization is listed as Guardians of the East Coast, a private group on Facebook formed this year, that describes itself as a proactive group of Patriots that are currently working around the clock to stop offshore wind from destroying our ecosystem, killing our mammals, and will destroy local economies, kill tourism, small businesses, and our fishing industry. Please join us, we will not rest until this becomes a 2024 ticket topic to ban offshore wind on the East Coast and order the decommissioning of many obsolete turbines already in our waters and lands across America, the description continues. There are several groups fighting plans to build wind turbines off the New Jersey coast, including a project that could start construction this year. Ocean Wind 1 plans 98 turbines beginning 15 miles from shore. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management recently completed an environmental impact study on that project, and opened public comment on a draft environmental impact study on another project, Atlantic Shores, planned to the north of the Ocean Wind project. State and federal officials have lauded the wind energy projects, saying they will bring good jobs to New Jersey and provide clean, renewable electricity. Gov. Phil Murphy describes wind power as a key part of plans to ween the state off of fossil fuels. Participants in the Saturday march plan to gather at 9:30 a.m. at Mark Soifer Park at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Nearly all Jersey Shore visitors and residents enjoy the summer and wouldnt think of doing anything that might prevent others from doing the same. That made it easy for municipalities and their law enforcers to prevent the chaos and harm that might thoughtlessly or intentionally be caused by a small number of others. Then two things happened. The Legislature and the Murphy administration restricted enforcement of alcohol and marijuana laws for underage users. And social media enabled crowds to quickly and unlawfully pop up in beachfront municipalities. A 5,000 strong pop-up party in Long Branch last summer led to numerous fights and the vandalizing of a police car. Point Pleasant Beach suffered several such flash mobs. Promoters advertised the pop-up parties online, encouraging kids to bring liquor and marijuana. Those municipalities got court orders prohibiting public parties unless permitted, but the organizers were anonymous. Shore towns asked state government to restore the ability of police to engage those under 18 illegally consuming marijuana and alcohol. Then at the end of last summer, a pop-up party drew hundreds of cars and thousands of revelers to Wildwood on an already busy weekend. In the chaos of reckless and often illegal car antics that spilled into neighboring towns, two were killed and many injured in multiple crashes. Gov. Phil Murphy said it was an awful tragedy and officials would examine what happened. Last fall, Atlantic Countys Republican state legislators -- Sen. Vince Polistina, Assemblywoman Claire Swift and Assemblyman Don Guardian -- introduced a bill to give police clear rules on how they can interact with minors in possession of alcohol or cannabis. Police could temporarily detain juveniles who unlawfully purchase or possess alcoholic beverages or cannabis, give them a written warning and notify their parents or guardians. Police would be required to seize from those under age 21 any alcohol or marijuana in their possession. They would not be subject to arrest, and no criminal record would result. Then Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, introduced a bill to let municipalities designate an event zone and strictly enforce local ordinances and state rules on vehicle operation and safety. McClellan said the proposal grew out of talks with officials in Ocean City, Maryland, whose similar approach convinced a problem car rally to relocate to Wildwood. Municipalities wont have help from either bill when Memorial Day arrives on Monday, the result of inaction by Democrats controlling the Legislature. Finally, in April, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin told lawmakers that the State Police were helping local officials monitor social media activity from the state intelligence center in West Trenton to identify pop-up parties that may be emerging. Two weeks later, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said unsanctioned pop-up parties were being planned for a Wildwoods beach in May. After letters from municipalities and warnings of strict enforcement, planned events in Wildwood and Seaside Heights were canceled. Municipalities have done what they can under existing law to strengthen their ability to respond to the new threats to the public order. Ocean City upgraded multiple local nuisance violations to breaches of the peace, giving officials the option to take an offender into custody. Other towns have revived or enacted curfews on all those under age 18 as a means to restrict the tiny share of teens that causes problems. Ocean City has been a leader in managing peaceful gatherings of teens on its Boardwalk and beaches, preventing problems while letting kids socialize in person. We like the approach of doing only whats needed. As weve said before, nonemergency curfews dont work and arent enforceable under the U.S. Constitution. State government seems to be taking a similar limited interference approach. That might be best if it turns out to be enough to avoid the serious problems of last summer. Of course, when pop-up parties afflicted the governments own Wildlife Management Areas, it closed them to everyone -- an easy, heavy-handed response. We hope the Jersey Shore summer season is a delightful, unmarred success. We hope that in the fall, few will be wishing the state had done more. Senior Congress leader and cabinet minister Priyank Kharge reiterated on Thursday that his party is ready to impose a ban on Bajrang Dal. He had also stated earlier that "We will not hesitate to ban organisations which indulge in moral policing. It might be RSS or Bajrang Dal or any other communal organisation." Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Priyank Kharge maintained that, "We will change the laws brought by the BJP government. If any individual, organisation threatens peace and acts against the constitution, the government has the capacity to initiate proper action against them." He further stated that the laws on cow slaughter, religion conversion are drawback for economy. "I am not saying this or the Congress party is saying. This is the opinion given by the officers of the finance department. We will reconsider the laws which hinder the growth of the economy of Karnataka and prove to be roadblocks for job creation," he maintained. Reacting to this, BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakayi, who defeated former CM Jagadish Shettar, on Thursday warned Priyank Kharge not to invite trouble by comparing Bajrang Dal and RSS to PFI and SDPI. "The people of Karnataka have given a majority for Congress. You speak about guarantees given by the party. You speak of giving 10 kgs of free rice and free power. Don't try to deviate matters. It is inappropriate to propose a ban on Bajrang Dal and RSS. Make right use of the opportunity given by the people," he stated. National General Secretary (Organization) B.L. Santhosh stated on Wednesday night, "It's 11 days since the results of Karnataka assembly elections. Five days since the oath taking ceremony of Siddaramaiah led government. No sign of portfolio allotment any sooner. But ministers have the audacity to talk about banning even RSS." Former CM Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday at Hubballi dubbed the Congress government a reverse gear government. "We know Congress is pursuing politics of appeasement. Let us see what they do as the power is with them." If they (Congress) do injustice to people and communities, legal and political struggle will be launched. "It is arrogance to claim that everything would be changed according to whims and fancies after getting power," he said. "Congress is going back on guarantees. They are going in reverse gear on our pro-people laws. The people know the consequences. The Congress government is resorting to politics of vengeance. This is not only a reverse gear government, it is a government on vengeance mode," Basavaraj Bommai maintained. IANS An incident has come to light from Pune where a record criminal deceived the police officials by providing false identification after he was arrested by the Shivaji Nagar police on March 30. According to the police, the accused Kunal Gautam Kaware (Age 23) was arrested by police, further investigations revealed that he provided false information about his identity to the police. The police registered a case of cheating and forgery and false statement on oath to public servant against the accused on Wednesday. The police revealed that his real name is Vaibhav Gaikwad and informed it to be Kunal Kaware, he was arrested for stealing Rs 14,000 from a PMPML passenger on March 30. The police circulated the information of the accused to various police stations in Pune. The Chandan Nagar police officials grew suspicious after seeing the photograph of the accused. The accused later agreed that his name was Vaibhav Shailesh Gaikwad. INDIANAPOLIS May 25, 2023 Encouraging the 40 million Americans who have work experience and college credit but no college degree to fire up their own comeback, Purdue Global will partner with hometown favorite Conor Daly, as he makes his 10th career start in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. The Indianapolis 500 has been a Memorial Day tradition since 1911, making the partnership with Daly a natural fit for Purdue Global, Purdues online university for working adults. Purdue University is well-known for its support of military individuals and families, ranked by College Consensus as one of the best colleges in the nation for veterans. At Purdue Global, created in 2018, a remarkable one-third of its 35,000 students today have a military affiliation. Dalys pattern of success at the Indianapolis 500 is well-documented. In 2019, the Indiana native finished 10th, while 2021 left Daly with his own comeback story. He led the worlds biggest race for 40 laps before being struck by a loose wheel. Undaunted, a resilient Daly hustled back to an impressive 13th-place finish. In 2022, he again found himself at the front of the field, recording seven laps as the leader before crossing the finish line in the sixth position. With similar persistence, Purdue Global is built for working adults who want to earn a degree online that they can be proud of and that employers respect. Purdue Global views the partnership with Daly as an opportunity to engage and encourage working adults, including active-duty military and veterans, to not simply go back to school, but come back to Purdue Global and move forward in their careers. With Purdue Global in the Purdue portfolio, in addition to our Purdue Polytechnic High Schools across the state of Indiana, Purdue is helping more individuals than ever access real education and opportunity for more, said R. Ethan Braden, executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer for Purdue University and Purdue Global. We are thrilled to partner with Conor. Hes a fan favorite, with Boilermaker-like grit and a love for our country. The Indiana-born Daly is entrenched in Boilermaker culture, hailing from a family that includes his mother, Beth Boles, a graduate of Purdue University, and his younger brother, Carter, a current student there. With the new Purdue Global logo prominently appearing on Dalys helmet, having Purdue Global along for the ride allows him to promote two areas closest to him: Purdue and our nations military servicemembers and veterans. The partnership with Purdue Global is exciting for me, especially given the connection with our family and Purdues commitment to our military, Daly said. The fact that so many of our nations service members and veterans choose to come back to Purdue Global is impressive. Purdue Global provides working adults a chance to earn their degree online on their terms, and the stories I am hearing as part of their new This Is My Comeback campaign are inspiring. Over the weekend, Daly etched his name onto the Indianapolis 500 starting grid for the 10th time. Daly wheeled his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet around the Brickyards famed 2.5-mile oval at a scorching speed of 232.433 mph. His effort placed him on the inside of row six, in the 16th position among the fastest field in Indianapolis 500 history. Purdue University was recently named one of the Worlds 20 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company magazine, the only university on the list, for freezing tuition for an unprecedented 12th year in a row and combatting our nations semiconductor shortage by training engineers and researchers with excellence at scale. Learn more at stories.purdue.edu. Backed by Purdue, Purdue Global delivers personalized online education tailored to the unique needs of working adults, enabling them to further develop essential academic and professional skills with the support and flexibility they need to achieve their career goals. For more information, please visit www.purdueglobal.edu. Contact: Doug Barnette, Player Management International Mobile: +1.317.903.0043 Email: dbarnette@pmifirm.com Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Rock Island County authorities are accusing a Davenport man of sexually abusing a minor. Kevin R. Blackwell, 21, faces a single charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to county court records. His bail has been set at $100,000 and to be released from the Rock Island County Jail, he would have to post a $10,000 bond. Underlying the charge is the allegation that Blackwell committed a sexual act with the minor between March 19 and May 12 and was at least five years older than the child, court records state. Where investigators think the incident occurred was not immediately available. Blackwell made his first court appearance on May 19 and is next scheduled to appear in court on June 6, records state. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WHAT WE KNOW: Geneseo failed to receive an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant for the South State Street/Illinois Route 82 welcome sign and pedestrian bridge project, so the city separated the two projects eliminating the need for a wider turn radius onto H.K. Robinson Drive. WHAT'S NEW: City Administrator Brandon Maeglin on Tuesday told the committee of the whole that he hoped to have costs for the welcome sign/landing pad soon. He said he believed the cost would be about $25,000 to be paid with a grant and hotel/motel tax funds, and the city could get it done this fall. Maeglin is waiting on a bid for the concrete. He has met with the Illinois Department of Transportation on the site and doesn't believe there will be any problems connecting to the state's right-of-way. The landing pad will have a 16-foot radius and flags may be added later as sponsors are found, as their cost exceeds the concrete costs. For the pedestrian bridge, which is now planned about 50 yards to the south, a cost estimate may be ready soon so that the city can include it with a renewed application this fall for another I.T.E.P. grant. WHAT'S NEXT: Aldermen voted 8-0 to recommend an agreement with the Geneseo Farmers' Market. The agreement requires that the market have insurance and specifies time frames on Saturday mornings. The first market this year will be on June 3. There are approximately 31 full-time vendors and six part-time ones, and the market has a Facebook page and a website. Maeglin said the market has consistently grown and in future years may need to a larger location. Photos: Geneseo defeats Rock Island, 11-1 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A former planner for the beleaguered Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has been charged with siphoning more than a million dollars from state funds meant for child care and blowing much of it on slot machines at a local casino. Shauntelle Pridgeon, 54, of Chicago, was charged with honest-services fraud in a criminal complaint made public last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago. She was ordered released on her own recognizance by U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Jantz, court records show. Her attorney, Quentin Banks, could not immediately be reached Wednesday. According to the charges, Pridgeon had served since 2015 as a social service community planner for DCFS, responsible for reviewing and approving daycare providers for children under the agencys supervision. Between 2016 and 2022, the charges alleged, Pridgeon received at least $1.6 million in payments from 14 separate childcare providers doing business with DCFS, who deposited the funds in a bank account controlled by Pridgeon and her husband. None of the payments were disclosed to DCFS or the state, as required by law, the complaint alleged. The charges come as Illinois long-troubled child welfare agency has faced heavy criticism under Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Last year, a state audit found that DCFS failed to ensure adequate care for children in its charge and has not properly tracked cases referred by people who are legally required to report suspicions of abuse or neglect, the Tribune reported. The investigation in Pridgeon's case showed some of the locations that she had claimed were providing daycare for foster children were either vacant buildings or other businesses. In other instances, Pridgeon overcharged DCFS for child care from legitimate providers who were supposed to be paid at a lower rate, the complaint alleged. During the same time period, Pridgeon gambled extensively at a Chicago-area casino, primarily playing slot machines, according to the complaint. Casino records obtained through a federal grand jury subpoena showed she wagered nearly $4 million over an eight-year period ending last year, with losses totaling $2.2 million, the complaint alleged. Records showed Pridgeon often paid her gambling expenses with the illicit payments shed received as a result of the fraud, the complaint stated. The fraud was first detected in August 2022, when Pridgeons colleague reported to their supervisor that one of the daycare providers that Pridgeon had approved was paid by DCFS for childcare that was never provided or at rates that were substantially higher than what the agency had authorized, according to the complaint. Another red flag came when the colleague found out the address listed for the provider, identified only as Provider A, contained no childcare business at all, according to the complaint. Instead, a beauty salon was located at that address, and behind the beauty salon was an apartment above a garage, the charges stated. On Aug. 16, 2022, Pridgeons supervisor called a meeting at the DCFS offices on South Indiana Avenue in Chicago. Pridgeon was ordered to bring the files related to Provider A, but instead excused herself to go to the restroom, then went to the file room and took the files and started wandering the building. Another DCFS employee told investigators they saw Pridgeon in the elevator holding the stack of files and that she said, I (expletive) up according to the complaint. By the time Pridgeon was eventually escorted back to the supervisors office, the files she was holding were largely empty of documents. Her boss suspected that Pridgeon had disposed of documents from the files in confidential trash bins located throughout the DCFS office, the complaint stated. When confronted about her approval of Provider As childcare bills, Pridgeon at first tried to claim that it was legitimate, according to the complaint. While Pridgeon was there, however, her boss called the number listed for Provider A and confirmed there was no childcare business there. When the supervisor informed Pridgeon it appeared as though someone had been committing fraud, Pridgeon stated to cry, according to the complaint. Pridgeon was placed immediately on administrative leave and personally escorted out of the building by her supervisor, the charges alleged. In one of the confidential trash bins, the supervisor found documents allegedly tossed there by Pridgeon, including printouts of DCFS child care providers that had been inactivated by Pridgeon in the computer system that day in an alleged effort to hide the fraud, according to the complaint. State records show Pridgeon earned $62,000 a year at DCFS. A spokesperson for the agency was not immediately available for comment. Pridgeon, meanwhile, also was granted a $20,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan in 2021 to help pay employees for what she said was a Chicago-based consulting company, federal records show. Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert, whose office represents more than 7,000 children involved in the child welfare system, told the Tribune the agency is is in the worst shape its been in 30 years. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DANVILLE A 73-year-old man is facing federal charges after he rammed a car into a planned abortion clinic in an eastern Illinois city and also was trying to set the building on fire, authorities announced Tuesday. Police arrived at the clinic site in Danville about 4:30 a.m. Saturday to find Philip J. Buyno of Prophetstown stuck inside a car that had backed into the building's entrance and he had several containers filled with gasoline, according to federal prosecutors. The planned clinic has generated controversy. The Danville City Council voted this month to ban the mailing or shipping of abortion pills even as state Democratic officials have warned that the move violates Illinois law protecting abortion as a fundamental right. Buyno also faces county criminal charges for the clinic damage. Federal prosecutors charged him with attempted arson of a building used in interstate commerce. Information on any defense attorneys representing Buyno who could comment on his behalf wasn't immediately available from court records. Buyno's home address provided by prosecutors is about a 200-mile drive to Danville, which is near the Illinois-Indiana state line. Danville officials have said the building is being renovated as an abortion clinic after Indiana's Republican-dominated Legislature voted last summer to ban abortion. A legal challenge pending before the Indiana Supreme Court has kept the state's ban on hold since September. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. On a date Looking for some live music this weekend? Then The Tangled Wood, 3636 Tanglewood Road, Bettendorf, is the place to go. Step right up and start the long weekend off with Funktastic 5 performing live from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday. Participants can kick off their shoes and dance on the lawn. Then on Saturday, 10 of Soul will bring high-energy while playing classic tunes from the soul, funk and blues genres, as well as a few funky arrangements of their own. They are bringing opening act, Night School, with them. The show will run 6-10 p.m. The weekend is not over yet! On Sunday, come check out the musical stylings of Soul Storm from 7 to 10 p.m. This pop, R&B and rock band has all the ingredients for a great night at the Tangled Wood Amphitheater. All shows are free. For more information, visit thetangledwood.com/events. With the family On Saturday, families can join Iowa 4-H AmeriCorps educator Emma to learn about reptiles and amphibians (herps) that call the Wapsi River Center home during a Herping Experience program beginning at 10 a.m. at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center in Dixon, Iowa. Explore what makes a good habitat and look for wild herps first hand. This event will include a hike, so dress accordingly, bring water and bug spray and be ready for a great time. Registration is required by calling 563-328-3286. In real time A new traveling exhibit designed to memorialize the stories of migrants who have died seeking refuge in the United States and to encourage compassion and support for humane changes in border policies, "Los Desconocidos: The Migrant Quilt Project," will open Tuesday at the German American Heritage Center in downtown Davenport. The exhibition is a collaborative effort between artists and activists to document the names and number of lives lost each year. Materials used in the quilts were collected at migrant layup sites used for rest and shelter on established trails in the Sonoran Desert. Each quilt lists the deaths for a specific federal fiscal year, coinciding with the U.S. government's record-keeping. The name of each individual who died that year is inscribed on the quilt, with the word "unknown" or "desconocido" used to designate an unidentified persons remains. Each quilt is unique, and the story for each quilt is shared along with a quiltmaker's statement on the website. Now in its 20th year, and currently on loan from the Arizona Historical Society in Tucson, the quilts in the exhibit will travel to five locations around Iowa in 2023 and the early months of 2024. The exhibit will be on display through Aug. 27. Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. The exhibit is free with $3-5 museum admission. For more information, call 563-322-8844 or visit GAHC.org. Just for fun Start the Memorial Day weekend off by heading to the Davenport Speedway at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds on Friday for weekly racing with Hoker Trucking SLMR Late Models. Pits open at 3 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with hot laps starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by the racing. Classes include IMCA Modifieds, Outlaw Stock Cars, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, Sport Compacts, Dirt Super Late Models and SLMR Late Model Series. Pit prices are $35, and $15 for youth 12 years and younger. Grandstand prices are $20, $5 for youth 5-12 years and free for kids 4 years and younger. Dine and Drink A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads and a trip down the aisle that will never to be forgotten! This is what to expect as the internationally beloved musical, "Mamma Mia!," takes the stage at Circa '21 in Rock Island. This sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. All performances will feature a Greek-themed menu and specialty drinks. The drinks include: The Agnetha, blue curacao, coconut rum and lemon lime soda served on the rocks with gummy sharks; The Bjorn, brandy, sweet vermouth and Greek red wine served on the rocks and garnished with cherries; The Benny, Metaxa, brown sugar, lime juice, lemon juice, club soda garnished with mint leaves; The Anni-frid, ouzo, raspberry syrup, orange juice and lemonade blended and garnished with fresh orange and raspberry; and The Little Anni, raspberry syrup, orange juice and lemonade blended and garnished with fresh orange and raspberry. Performances take place through July 8 on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday matinees at 1:15 p.m. Ticket prices are $60.55 for the evening performances and $53.73 for the Wednesday matinees. The prices include dinner, show and tax. Reservations are available through the Circa '21 ticket office or by calling 309-786-7733, ext. 2. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A former Clinton man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a girl from the time she was 8 years old until she was 14 is seeking to be removed from the sex offender registry. A hearing is scheduled Thursday in Scott County District Court to hear the motion for Donald Gene Widener, 66, who now lives in Davenport. According to the petition, Widener has completed all the required sex offender treatment programs, currently lives in Davenport and was characterized as low risk to reoffend According to the arrest affidavits filed by then Clinton Police Cpl. Brian Pohl, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2005, a 14-year-old girl reported to Clinton Police that she had been sexually abused by Widener with the abuse beginning when she was about 8. At 3 p.m. that day, the girl placed a phone call to Widener. The call was recorded by Clinton Police with the girls permission. During the call, police recorded Widener making plans for sex with the victim. He was arrested later that day. During a hearing in Clinton County District Court on May 22, 2006, Widener pleaded guilty to a lesser included charge of lascivious acts with a child, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years, and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse, each a Class C felony that carry a prison sentence of 10 years. On June 29, 2006, District Judge David Sivright sentenced Widener to 10 years each on the Class C felonies and five years on the Class D felony, with the sentences running consecutively, or back-to-back. Widener also was ordered to pay $2,750 in fines and $29,004.56 in restitution, all of which has been paid. According to Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records, Widener was placed on work release on July 29, 2016. His work release ended Aug. 17, 2017, and his parole ended Aug. 30, 2017. According to Wideners petition, he was classified as a Tier III offender and was required to check in with the Sex Offender Registry quarterly. Widener is being represented by Eric Mail of Puryear Law Firm. Attorney Eric Puryear said the firm could not comment on pending litigation. Without modification, Widener would remain on the registry for life. Assistant Clinton County Attorney Ross Barlow filed an answer and response, saying that he has located the victim and the victim objects to Wideners application for modification. The victim has filed a letter objecting to Wideners petition, according to Scott County District Court records. Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said he was not happy with the way the system for assessing the risk of registered sex offenders to reoffend was set up. The assessments are being done by the Department of Corrections and not trained psychiatrists or psychologists, Lane said. The sheriff says that allowing sex offenders to be removed from the registry stands out from the rest of Iowa law, which he said effectively help law enforcement in keeping children safe. Although most states provide for a mechanism to be considered for removal from sex offender registry requirements, Iowas law creates a safe haven for those who have been convicted of committing unthinkable acts against children, he said. A large number of sexual predators have been removed from the sex offender registry in the last few years in Iowa, and this causes me considerable concern. Sex offender who was allowed off the sex offender registry arrested for sexually abusing child in 2018 A Davenport man who was previously on the sex offender registry was arrested Thursday on charges of sexually abusing a child between three and four years old. According to data from the Iowa Department of Public Safety, in 2012, three sex offenders applied for modification of their registry status, meaning they applied to not have to register. Those three petitions were granted. There were three applications in 2013, with two being granted and one being denied. In 2014, there were 14 applications with 12 being approved and two being denied. But in 2015, the number of applications jumped to 38, with 35 being approved and three being denied. The number of applications filed by registered sex offenders for modification rose to a peak of 95 applications in 2021, with 85 approved and 10 denied. Iowa Sex Offender registry modifications Data is from the Department of Public Safety, listing cases the department is aware of. Other cases may exist. 2012: 3 applications, 3 accepted, 0 rejected 2013: 3 applications, 2 accepted, 1 rejected 2014: 14 applications, 12 accepted, 2 rejected 2015: 38 applications, 35 accepted, 3 rejected 2016: 50 applications, 50 accepted, 0 rejected 2017: 46 applications, 45 accepted, 1 rejected 2018: 58 applications, 55 accepted, 3 rejected 2019: 62 applications, 52 accepted, 10 rejected 2020: 57 applications, 47 accepted, 10 rejected 2021: 95 applications, 85 accepted, 10 rejected 2022: 77 applications, 74 accepted, 3 rejected Last year there were 77 applications, with 74 being approved and three being denied. I question the assessment tools and the states application of those assessment tools that determine the risk that sex offenders pose to the public, Lane said. In addition, bad case law makes it difficult for county attorneys to fight removal and even hampers a judges discretion. The Iowa Legislature should act fast to change this law before we see more victims of convicted sexual predators that are no longer being monitored. East Moline house where 15 people were found squatting with nine dogs Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Rock Island man arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 37-year-old Davenport man waived extradition to Iowa during a hearing Wednesday in Rock Island County District Court. Deshawn Armal Washington, 25, is charged in Scott County District Court with one count of first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The murder charge is a Class A felony under Iowa law that carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The gun charge is a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years. At 4:37 a.m. Sunday, Davenport police were sent to the 1300 block of Judson Street to investigate a report of shots fired. Officers located Andre Clanton, who was suffering from a single gunshot wound. Clanton was taken to Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, for treatment. Davenport Police announced Tuesday that Clanton had died. Washington was arrested Tuesday by Davenport police with assistance of Rock Island police. Washington was booked into the Rock Island County Jail after his arrest and waived extradition to Scott County on Wednesday. Washington was being held Thursday in the Scott County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond. During a first appearance on the charges Thursday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Peter Gierut scheduled a preliminary hearing for June 2. Clantons death marks Davenport's sixth fatal shooting of the year. Washington is on mandatory supervised release in Illinois on drug and gun convictions out of Vermilion County. Washington was sentenced on those drug and gun convictions and was placed in the Sheridan Correctional Center on Jan 10, 2020. He was released on mandatory supervised release on June 15, 2022, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections website. The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Davenport Police Department at 563-326-6125 or submit an anonymous tip to QC Crime Stoppers by visiting www.qccrimestoppers.com. Photos: Rockingham Road Burger King sustains damage from Tuesday morning fire Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. At least 18 Catholic priests or members of holy orders who served in the Illinois Quad-Cities are included in a state report on sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a report identifying more than 450 Catholic priests and members of holy orders against whom there were substantiated allegations of sexual abuse. The Illinois dioceses had publicly listed only around 100 clerics before the start of the state investigation in 2018, the introduction to the report said. The multi-year effort identified about 2,000 survivors of the abuse. In releasing the report, Raoul said both numbers are likely undercounts of the actual abuse that occurred. "It is my hope that this report will shine light both on those who violated their positions of power and trust to abuse innocent children and on the men in church leadership who covered up that abuse," Raoul said at a news conference on Tuesday. The report can be found at clergyreport.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov. The report is broken down by diocese. The Illinois Quad-Cities are in the Diocese of Peoria, where the report identified 51 reported abusers. In a statement released Tuesday, the Diocese of Peoria said that, to its knowledge, there "is not a single priest of the Diocese with a substantiated allegation who is currently in ministry or who has not been reported to authorities." The statement further noted changes over the past 20 years have led to a decrease in abusive clerics and all allegations are reported to civil authorities. "Bishop Louis Tylka and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria remain committed to our efforts to heal the wounds of those who have suffered abuse and to the protection of God's children everywhere," the diocese's statement said. Priests with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are listed on the diocese's website at cdop.org/safe-environment-program. Priests identified in the report who served in the Quad Cities area include 10 in which survivors reported abuse in Rock Island or Henry counties or for whom dates and locations of abuse were unknown but may have overlapped with their time in the area. A further eight who served in the area had reports of abuse against them in other areas. Most of the local priests named in the report were included in a list published by ProPublica in 2019 and reported on by the Quad-City Times and Dispatch-Argus at the time. Not included in the lists below are members of holy orders for whom no assignments nor locations of abuse were included in the report. Priests listed in the report where reported abuse happened in the Quad-Cities or may have happened here: Robert O. Barnett Served in the area: 1935, St. Mary, Moline; 1957, St. Mary, East Moline; 1976, Huber memorial Home, Rock Island Reported survivors: 6 Reported abuse: 1964-66 in Rock Island and LaSalle counties Diocese claims first reported: 1964 Results: Died in 1991 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2019 Walter Bruening/Breuning Served in the area: Dates not listed, St. Mary, Hooppole; St. Anthony, Atkinson Reported survivors: 5 Reported abuse: 1962-72, Pekin, and unknown dates, Henry County Diocese claims first reported: 1999 Results: Retied in 1999, removed from ministry in 2002, died in 2009 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 Terry Cassidy Served in the area: 1984-87, Christ the King, Moline; 1987-89, St. Catherine, Aledo; 1992, St. Mary, Moline Reported survivors: at least 1 Reported abuse: 1985 in Rock Island County Diocese claims first reported: 2015 Results: Removed from ministry, 2015 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 Louis Condon Served in the area: 1948, St. Mary, Moline; 1949, Sacred Heart, Rock Island; 1971, St. Joseph, Kewanee; 1976, Sacred Heart, Moline Reported survivors: 6 Reported abuse: 1958-2000 in unknown locations Diocese claims first reported: 1982 Results: Retired in 1986, died in 2009 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 Francis Engels Served in the area: 1973, St. Mary, Moline; 1976, St. John, Woodhull; 1976, St. John Vianney, Cambridge; 1986, Sacred Heart, Annawan; 1986, St. Mary Mission, Hooppole; 1992, St. Anthony, Atkinson Reported survivors: 5 Reported abuse: 1971-73 in McLean County; 1976-84 in Bureau County; unknown times in Henry and Tazewell counites; unknown times in Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin Diocese claims first reported: 1992 Results: removed from ministry in 1993, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in Wisconsin in 2005, died in 2019 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 William Harbert Served in the area: 1971, St. Joseph, Rock Island; 1974, Christ the King, Moline Reported survivors: 6 Reported abuse: 1966-73 in Rock Island County; 1982 in Bureau and Tazewell counties; unknown dates in Florida Diocese claims first reported: 1992 Results: removed from ministry in 1992, died 2003 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 J. Eugene Kane Served in the area: 1978, St. Pius X, Rock Island Reported survivors: at least 1 Reported abuse: unknown time and location Diocese claims first reported: 1990 Results: Died in 2009 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2019 Toussaint Perron Served in the area: not reported Reported survivors: 2 Reported abuse: 1975 and 1992, Henry County and St. John, Walnut Diocese claims first reported: 1992 Results: convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a child in 1993 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2019 Gregory James Plunkett Served in the area: 1995, St. Catherine, Aledo Reported survivors: 3 Reported abuse: 1988 and 2003, Henry and Mercer counties Diocese claims first reported: 2002 Results: removed from ministry in 2002, died in 2011 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 Richard Slavish Served in the area: no dates given, Sacred Heart, Moline; East Moline State Hospital, East Moline; St. Francis, Kewanee; St. John, Cambridge Reported survivors: 3 Reported abuse: 1960 and 1971 in Rock Island County Diocese claims first reported: 1971 Results: removed from ministry in 2002, died in 2016 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 Priests listed in the report for the Diocese of Peoria who served in the area but did not have reported abuse here: Edward Bush Served in the area: no dates give, Sacred Heart, Moline and St. Patrick, Colona Reported survivors: 2 Reported abuse: 1960-61 and 1964-65, Peoria County Diocese claims first reported: 2002 Results: removed from ministry and retired in 2002, died in 2011 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 Robert Creager Served in the area: no dates given, Sacred Heart, Moline; St. Malachy, Geneseo; Deanery, Rock Island Reported survivors: 2 Reported abuse: 1956 in DeWitt County, 1972-1982 in LaSalle County Results: retired in 1998, removed from ministry in 2002, died in 2008 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 Norman Goodman Served in the area: no dates given, Sacred Heart, Moline Reported survivors: 19 Reported abuse: 1970-95 in Logan County Diocese claims first reported: 1998 Results: removed from ministry in 2002, died in 2013 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 William Isermann Served in the area: 1960, Holy Trinity, Moline Reported survivors: 3 Reported abuse: 1950s-70s, LaSalle and Tazewell counites Diocese claims first reported: 1993 Results: removed in 1993, died in 1996 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2019 Served in the area: 1971, St. Mary, Moline Reported survivors: 3 Reported abuse: unknown times in Peoria County Diocese claims first reported: 1985 Results: removed from ministry in 2018 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 John Onderko Served in the area: 1981, St. Mary, Moline Reported survivors: 2 Reported abuse: 1971, LaSalle County Diocese claims first reported: 1964 Result: retired in 2005 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 Jerome "Jerry" Pilon Served in the area: 1998, St. Mary, Moline Reported survivors: 6 Reported abuse: 1997-2003, Texas and Michigan Diocese claims first reported: 2008 Results: removed from ministry in 2009 Publicly named by diocese: Yes, 2018 William J. Spine Served in the area: 1983-86, St. Peter Claver Community and St. Mary, Moline Reported survivors: at least 3 Reported abuse: 1975-76 in Kentucky, 1975-79 in Tacna, Peru, and 1979-82 in New York Diocese claims first reported: none listed Results: removed from ministry in 2006 Publicly named by diocese: No, named in Jesuits Midwest Province list in 2018; Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, list in 2020 and Archdiocese of Chicago list in 2022 The Associated Press contributed to this report. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Silvis man has been accused of putting a Rock Island County correctional officer in a chokehold, but has been found unfit to stand trial. Komla I. Apetcho, 24, faces a single count of aggravated battery in relation to the allegation, according to Rock Island County court records. Authorities accuse him of grabbing the officer and applying the chokehold on May 5. The case against him was opened on May 12. Court records accused Apetcho of causing bodily harm to the officer, but do not provide further detail of the officers injuries or their severity. Records also do not state whether Apetcho sustained any injuries during the encounter and do not provide further details about how the altercation began or how it was resolved. The Rock Island County Sheriffs Office had not yet responded to a request for more information as of Thursday afternoon. On May 13, the Rock Island County Public Defenders Office was appointed to represent Apetcho and raised a doubt as to his fitness to participate in the felony case. Judge Frank Fuhr ruled him unfit on May 17 after a fitness evaluation. Being found unfit means a defendant is to be remanded to the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services for treatment designed to restore fitness so the criminal case can resume. Apetchos fitness had already been called into question in April in a misdemeanor criminal damage to property case, court records state. That case was opened against him in May of 2022, and Apetcho was arrested on a related failure to appear warrant on April 8, according to court records. On April 12, the public defenders office asked that Apetcho undergo a fitness evaluation in relation to that case. Fuhrs May 17 ruling on Apetchos fitness also applied to the misdemeanor. Records did not state if Apetcho had yet spent any time in state custody to receive treatment. As of Thursday afternoon, Apetcho was in the Rock Island County Jail, according to jail staff. A review of Apetchos cases is scheduled for June 14, court records state. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. While a jury delivered its verdict in a Davenport murder case, a trial for attempted murder was underway in the courtroom next door. The cases occurred 18 months apart, but they're connected in the present by Davenport gangs. They're connected through time by the 2018 murder of a 16-year-old known as Jovi. Just after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, John E. Hanes III was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2021 shooting death of 14-year-old Jamon Winfrey. At the same time, in a neighboring Scott County courtroom, Delmont Thomas was testifying about the day in August 2022 when he was shot outside the GD Xpress on North Pine Street. Nessiah Clark is charged with attempted murder in Thomas' shooting, as well as possession of a firearm by a felon, intimidation with a deadly weapon and assault while participating in a felony. Hanes will spend the rest of his life in prison. Clark, already a felon, is looking at a long prison sentence if found guilty. Death, near-death and gangs are, according to the mother of one of the defendants, a fact of life for some teenagers and other young people in Davenport. A rumor of gangs During Thomas' testimony about the day he was shot, he was cross-examined by defense attorney Troy Smith. The attorney asked Thomas if he knew the initials "MMG." Thomas said he did not know the meaning of the initials. Smith then asked if Thomas knew of the "Mad Max Gang." Thomas said he did not. When pressed by Smith, Thomas said, "Yeah, I may have heard of them." Smith then asked Thomas if he knew of the Savage Life gang. Thomas again denied knowing anything about a gang. Pressed again, he answered, "I might have heard of them talk of them." It was the same kind of evasive answer a number of witnesses gave in testimony or depositions during Hanes' trial for the murder of Winfrey. During that trial, state witness Freddie Cooks referred to hearing "rumors" about MMG and Savage Life. Davenport police Sgt. Jordan Sander said Hanes was a member of MMG, and he fired on the car Winfrey was in that day because Hanes believed members of Savage Life were in it. Sander said MMG and Savage Life had a "shoot on sight" policy when they spotted each other. On the witness stand, Thomas denied being a member of MMG or associating with any known members of that gang. Defense attorney Smith then asked Thomas about his tattoos. After a number of contentious questions and answers, Thomas admitted to having a tattoo commemorating his cousin. "Is that cousin's name Jovontia Jones?" Smith asked. "Yes," Thomas answered. Smith then asked Thomas if he knew that the Mad Max Gang was formed after the death of Jones. Thomas said he knew nothing about the gang's origins. From Jovi to Jamon Jovontia Jones was known as Jovi to his family and friends. He was a 16-year-old sophomore at Davenport Central High School. He ran track and worked at Hardee's. On May 19, 2018, Jovi was outside Hilltop Liquors when a car drove by and bullets flew. He died the next day. No one has ever been charged in connection to his murder. According to a number of people who attended Hanes' trial last week, Jovi was a member of Savage Life, and after his death, MMG was formed. "It was basically a revenge gang, formed to avenge Jovi's death," said Sylvia Abbey, Winfrey's aunt. She said it was not clear why members of MMG held Savage Life responsible for Jovi's death. Jovi rests in Davenport's Pine Hill Cemetery, not far from a stand of pines a peaceful backdrop for the dark grey stone. Pictures of Jovi as a toddler, during his grade school years and as a smiling teen are framed by the odd juxtaposition of gang letters and peace doves. It is, perhaps, the most damning evidence of the origins of MMG and a war that has claimed the lives of at least two Davenport teens. Javon Combs and Chrystian Smith originally were charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Winfrey. During Hanes' trial, Combs testified that MMG was formed in the wake of Jovi's murder. He said he, Hanes and Smith were members of MMG. The connections run even deeper. LaShya Kirk was in the car with Hanes, Combs and Smith the day Winfrey was killed. Winfrey was her cousin and, during an interview with police after his murder, Kirk said she has a number of family members who are part of Savage Life. It was Kirk who offered some explanation to why Winfrey was, in fact, a target the day he was killed. She told police investigators that a video surfaced of unidentified people at Jovi's grave, which has a headstone adorned with the letters "MMG." The video showed someone defacing the headstone. Kirk said Winfrey's voice was on the video. Prosecutor Elizabeth O'Donnell said during her closing argument that Combs had that video on his phone. 'Listen to your kids' A woman in her 40s and a teenage boy sat in the pew closest to Clark during Tuesday's portion of his trial. The woman held the teen close, touching his shoulder while Thomas testified. The nervous mother's name is Chajuan. Her 17-year-old son is called Aden. "Nessiah (Clark) is my oldest son. My first-born, Aden's older brother. We are here for him today and as long as this is going on," she said. "There is so much I can tell you about Nessiah. There is so much the jury isn't hearing in this case." Chajuan said "there is a context" to why Thomas was shot outside GD Xpress. She said her son feared for his life that day. "I will say this: The violence of that day happened because of what happened in the past. Nobody shot anybody that day out of the blue, for no reason. Nessiah had been shot before. And his half-brother was shot in the same incident." Chajuan said Clark joined a gang. The memory brought tears to her eyes. "I want to tell you about Nessiah, when he was in junior high. It was the sixth grade," she said. "He came home crying and he said, 'Mom, please, I can't go to that school any more.' He said he was smart, and he wore glasses and the other kids picked on him. It was relentless. "I didn't listen. I should have taken him out of the school. And he found his respect. He joined up. Did he carry a gun? Yes he did." Aden said Thomas' testimony about MMG and Savage Life were "ridiculous." "I'm 17, and I can tell you every teenager in Davenport knows MMG and Savage Life," he said. "I was 12 or 13 when I first started hearing about the violence and about the gangs. I know people associated with the violence. It's just a fact of life." Chajuan said she understood her son's decision to carry a handgun. "I would rather Nessiah to have a gun and not need it, rather than need a gun and not have it," she said. "Maybe people don't understand, but there are killers out there. The threat of violence is very, very real for these young men. "If you're going to be on the street, you had better be armed." Chajuan struggles when Nessiah is locked up. "It's sad, because when my 6-year-old draws pictures of the family. Nessiah is not in them. It's hard for my 6-year-old to remember his oldest brother," she said. "But in another way which is just as sad, really it's a relief to know Nessiah is locked up. When he is locked up, I know he is safe. "It's when he's out on the streets that I worry. I don't sleep. Every time I hear sirens, I wonder if he's the one laying somewhere dead. All I can say is listen to your kids. I wish I had listened to Nessiah when he was little." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Discussions on the possibility of bringing school resource officers back to Rock Island-Milan schools have begun. The Rock Island-Milan School Board this week held an open discussion on the role of school resource officers, or SROs, alongside Rock Island Police Chief Richard Landi. Though no action was taken and no recommendations made, the goal of the conversation was to collect community input on the possibility of bringing police officers back. The district has been without an SRO since the 2020-2021 school year. The district previously staffed one SRO at the high school, while another rotated between schools. The positions went unstaffed because of officer shortages caused by retirements and, "other factors that prevented candidates from attending the Police Academy," former chief Jeff VenHuizen said in July of 2020. A former school board member, Tiffany Stoner-Harris, asked district leaders during the same time period to consider removing SROs during a racial-injustice discussion that followed the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. According to past reporting, Stoner-Harris said the SRO model didn't seem the best for students, advocating for restorative justice programs that focus on prevention and intervention, rather than a "school-to-prison pipeline." Rock Island-Milan school board member Gary Rowe was quick to express his support for the SROs, citing past conversations he's had with principals. "They're (SROs) not there to bust heads. They're there to build relationships," he said, adding that police presence in schools help students and law enforcement connect. The relationships make a difference, Landi said, because they help show that police officers can be, "good people that want to be here to help" and inspiring future generations of law enforcement. Landi said RIPD is, "still struggling with staffing," but that internal changes would allow for them to re-ignite the SRO partnership with Rock Island-Milan schools. "It's really just management, you know, moving around the personnel we have to help cover what we need so that we can still meet these other needs," he said. "It's not like they're correctional officers," resident Randy Veys said of the positions. "They're part of the community. It's disturbing to have the teachers' union saying that they were concerned about this. If anything's gonna help Rock Island look better, I'm for it. I want families to feel that they can come here and not be scared." At the last school board meeting, Rock Island Education Association President Andrew Hains said district teachers "across the board" are concerned about discipline and school safety. He said that almost 8% of students were involved with some kind of violent altercation last quarter. District Safety Manager Charles Butler gave a lengthy testimony on the support SROs can provide to both students and district staff. Before his current role, Butler was head of security and a home liaison at Rock Island High School for 19 years and worked with about eight SROs. "Their presence meant a lot," he said. "If you don't have someone in your building that can eliminate a threat, that's time. We're talking lives." To Butler, SROs allow for streamlined communication with law enforcement and more strategic safety planning, building relationships with students and families along the way. "Schools are soft targets. Active shooters, they want bodies and they want them fast, but they know they only got so much time," he said. "As someone who worked side-by-side with eight of them, it was very impactful. I learned a lot. "Don't miss this opportunity," Butler urged the board. "My job is to protect 6,000 people, but I can't eliminate the threat. I can put some things in place, but I can stop nothing." Tracy Pugh, another board member, asked Landi about de-escalation training for SROs. "De-escalation has always been a part of law enforcement. Right now, there's a focus on it because, obviously, some of the publicity and things we've seen in past years," he said. "I will tell you that it is mandated now, by the state." Landi said the department's and the state-required trainings contained use-of-force and de-escalation in their curriculum, while officers must become certified under the Illinois Law Enforcement Trainings and Standards Board to work as an SRO. The RIPD also uses Meggitt Training Systems' firearms simulator, Landi said, and hopes to implement a virtual training system. Board member Nicole Durbin asked about the outcome of an SROs' involvement with incidents, such as a fight among students. "Is that disciplinary action then turned over to the school to deal with, or are we looking at criminal charges on our students?" she asked. "... I don't want any more of our kids going into the criminal justice system, that we can avoid." It depends, Landi said, on the circumstances of the indent and SRO agreement between the school. "Then, under the (SRO) agreement, it would be worked out, basically, between the SRO and the principal administrators," he said. The two Rocky student board members senior Denise Carr and junior Asa Mahn chimed in, too. They agreed relationships are vital when bringing in an SRO. "I think finding the right person is really important, to really build trust in law enforcement," Mahn said, also noting the importance of having an SRO "more representative of the (Rocky) student body." Landi said the RIPD had already selected an SRO and a backup for the district if the board decided to move forward. When asked by Margie Mejia-Caraballo, he said the officers' ethnicities are Caucasian and Hispanic. Photos: Rock Island High School cuts ribbon on new entrance, renovations Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SPRINGFIELD A bill requiring state-level constitutional challenges to be filed in either Cook or Sangamon counties is heading to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk. Under the legislation, the counties, home to Chicago and Springfield, respectively, would be the only venues for people seeking relief against a state statute, rule or executive order based on constitutional grounds. An initiative of Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office, it passed the Senate 37-16 last week and was approved 69-35 by the House on Thursday. "The people of Illinois are entitled to know with certainty what laws are in effect and where," said Raoul spokeswoman Annie Thompson. "Over the past few years, inconsistent court decisions about important public issues have repeatedly caused confusion about what laws Illinois residents are supposed to follow. "This legislation will help streamline judicial review of constitutional challenges to state laws, rules and executive orders, and ensure uniformity in how the law is being applied throughout Illinois." The aim of the measure, which passed with only Democratic votes, is to limit so-called judge shopping by downstate conservatives in recent years as they sought relief from statewide policies set by lawmakers who mostly represent the heavily populated, more liberal Chicago metropolitan area. With Democrats now in control of all statewide offices and holding supermajorities in the state legislature, lower level downstate courts have become one of the only venues of refuge for conservatives. There, they are more likely to find ideologically sympathetic judges that will rule in their favor than they would in the state's largest city or capital city. Republicans say that Democrats, through this legislation, are doing a version of the thing they are seeking to prevent. The issue first came up in earnest during the COVID-19 pandemic, when conservatives, such as attorney Tom DeVore, challenged Gov. J.B. Pritzker's authority to issue and enforce a statewide mask mandate and to close schools to in-person learning, among other measures. It has since come up on a number of hot-button political topics, such as the criminal justice reform law known as the SAFE-T Act, which would, if deemed constitutional, eliminate the state's system of cash bail. A number of state-level challenges to the state's semiautomatic weapons bans have also popped up in downstate courtrooms. The Illinois Supreme Court eventually moved the challenge to Pritzker's COVID-19 emergency powers from Clay County to Sangamon County. And the SAFE-T Act and semiautomatic weapons ban cases, after working through the lower courts, are now before the state's high court. "I think more recently than ever, over the past three years, the attorney general's office has been forced to respond to I would call them in many cases frivolous lawsuits that strain the office's limited resources," said state Rep Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, the bill's sponsor. The legislation was met with universal opposition from Republicans, who said it would deprive people of access to the courts and was, in its own way, a form of venue shopping. Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, said that Democrats pushed the legislation simply because they did not agree with the rulings of downstate judges. He compared it to when Democratic Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride lost his retention election in 2020. Instead of running another candidate in the conservative district, the party redrew the court's districts. "Something unfavorable happened in an election and you changed the maps," Windhorst said. "You get a court ruling where people legitimately go to their home court where they live and get a ruling that you don't like ... and you change the rules. The ends do not justify the means." Windhorst, whose Metropolis home is closer to Nashville, Tennessee, than it is Springfield, added that bills such as this one are why many downstate county boards have adopted resolutions seeking to secede from the state. "They're passing these resolutions because they don't feel the respect from certain parts of the state of Illinois," Windhorst said. "And what this bill does is it basically says, 'you're right.'" While the bench in Cook County is dominated by Democrats, all Sangamon County Circuit Court judges are Republicans. State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, the lead plaintiff in one of the cases challenging the state's semiautomatic weapons ban, compared Democratic lawmakers to King George III, the British monarch on the throne during the American Revolution. "They pass unconstitutional laws to make law-abiding citizens criminals and then they make those same citizens travel hundreds of miles to a kangaroo court that they control," Caulkins said. "Tyrants are always the same, whether they are kings or lawless Chicago politicians." Caulkins' case, which was filed in Macon County Circuit Court, is now in the hands of the Illinois Supreme Court, which heard arguments in the case earlier this month. Hoffman, responding to criticism, said that the legislation would expedite the process as nearly of these cases end up in Springfield or Chicago eventually. The legislation specifically exempts claims arising from collective bargaining disputes between the state and the unions representing state workers. It would only apply to cases moving forward, not those currently working through the system. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. FARGO, N.D. The death sentence for a Minnesota man who killed a North Dakota college student 20 years ago has been officially changed to life in prison. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ralph Erickson signed the sentence amendment for Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. last week, according to court records. Rodriguez, a sex offender, was convicted in 2007 of kidnapping 22-year-old Dru Sjodin on Nov. 22, 2003, from a Grand Forks shopping mall. He then sexually assaulted her, cut her throat and left her to die in a ravine near Crookston, Minnesota. The body of Sjodin, who was a University of North Dakota student, was found five months later. U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider in North Dakota filed a notice in federal court in March withdrawing his effort to seek the death penalty. He said he did so at the direction of U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. That left life in prison without parole as the only possible sentence for Rodriguez. Rodriguez's death sentence was overturned in September 2021 by Erickson, who found that Rodriguez's constitutional rights were violated during the trial by misleading testimony from the coroner, the failure of lawyers to outline the possibility of an insanity defense, and evidence of severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Rodriguez was still listed as a death row inmate at a maximum security penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Tuesday. A message was sent to the prison to find out if he had been moved and where he might be held. In 2021, Garland announced a moratorium on federal executions after the Justice Department was criticized by death penalty opponents for pursuing the sentence despite President Joes Bidens opposition to capital punishment. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment paid a visit to Ellsworth Air Force Base and the City of Box Elder Wednesday as part of a tour with Senator Mike Rounds to see the progress and hear local concerns about the community impact of the incoming B-21 Stealth Bomber program. Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, a Minneapolis-born former Air Force pilot and test flight engineer, thanked the community for his warm welcome and touched on the splendor of the Black Hills, exclaiming that the first rainbow trout he ever caught was right here a memory that never left him. Sitting next to Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chaudhary explained they had spent the day talking with the Douglas School District and taking a look at the construction underway for the B-21 bed-down. The visit was a look at what has been done, what needs to be done, and the challenges standing in the way. The airbase itself has got to have all of its mission critical equipment here and available when the bomber gets here, and that means the installations have got to be on time and on target as well, Rounds said. That's one of the reasons why I asked Dr. Chaudhary to come out here in the first place, because I want him to see it. I want him to be a part of it and to see the challenges that we've got in keeping this on time and on budget. If the U.S. wants the B-21 to perform, Rounds said, then the necessary infrastructure to support incoming airmen has to be in place before they arrive. Those challenges are a microcosm of the regions challenges: affordable housing, housing supply, and accommodating a growing school district. Weve got more kids coming in and they're going to be coming pretty soon, Chaudhary said. So weve got to make sure that we work together across the school districts. I had some really great conversations with the school district on the infrastructure side, but also on the funding side, to make sure that we're doing everything we can to address potential funding issues and partnership opportunities going forward. The most recent National Defense Authorization Act set aside millions in funding for the B-21 Raider mission, including $335 million for construction projects at Ellsworth, $3.1 billion for the B-21s development, and $15 million to assist schools projecting a substantial increase following Department of Defense decisions. Rounds, who authored 47 individual pieces of legislation in the NDAA, postulated Ellsworth would be at the top of the list for education funding. Chaudhary said he was taking the information back to Washington in hopes they can deepen their understanding and build a long-term strategy that works for the community and the Air Force. When asked where he thinks Ellsworth is in the preparation process, his answer was brief. On the leading edge of where the Air Force is going and leading edge of the future, Chaudhary said. We can't say it much more simply than that. Rounds reflected on how far Ellsworth has come since facing BRAC Base Reassignment and Closure in the early 2000s. The Commission said, Look, you've got a great facility here and so forth, but you realize you've got one hell of a hill to climb, Rounds said. And the only thing I could think of at the time was, In South Dakota, hills don't scare us. We're used to carving mountains, not just a part of it, but the whole thing. At a time when threats are ever-evolving, Chaudhary said programs like the B-21 address the most critical mission of the United States the nuclear triad and strategic deterrence. This is an endeavor in which there are no points for second place. There aren't, Chaudhary said. So, the message is that we've got to remain on the leading edge, and our nation continues to entrust this community to partner with the Air Force to ensure we deliver for the nation. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A pair of Hamilton-based attorneys have called on the U.S. Forest Service to remove Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele as the decision-maker on a deeply unpopular proposed expansion of Holland Lake Lodge. The attorneys, George Corn and Daniel Browder, argued in a May 17 memo to Region 1 Forester Leanne Marten that Steele has shown clear bias toward POWDR, the Utah-based ski resort corporation that took control of Holland Lake Lodge and hopes to dramatically expand it. In internal emails obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, Steele wrote that he is "biased." Such bias, they wrote, violates federal ethics standards. Steele's handling of POWDR's initial expansion proposal, announced last September, has been the target of criticism from opponents of the expansion, particularly the group Save Holland Lake. The memo, which was also addressed to Steele, called on Marten to remove Steele as the "authorized officer" with decision-making authority over proposals for Holland Lake Lodge. It requested that Marten make herself or someone else the authorized officer. A centerpiece of last week's memo is an email Steele sent to other Forest Service officials on Feb. 11, 2021, after receiving some of POWDR's initial plans: "Some exciting potential from an interested buyer (POWDR) for purchasing Holland Lake Lodge and some ideas for expansion. If this works out, this could be one of, if not 'the' premier place in the region. I am biased of course. Figured I would share. Nothing is official yet, but it's a pretty cool idea that would be a great addition to our forest in providing an expanded opportunity for the public. Worth a quick glance." Corn and Browder note in the memo that federal ethical standards for Forest Service officials state that "Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual involved in any way in the decision." Steele sent the email more than a year and a half before the Forest Service made the proposal public. Steele's favoritism of the proposal also biased Forest Service employees working under him, the attorneys wrote, because the email predated the Forest Service's receipt and initial internal processing of further details from POWDR about what the company hoped to achieve at Holland Lake Lodge. On Wednesday, Forest Service Region 1 Press Officer Dan Hottle said that the agency had yet to receive the memo and therefore had no comment. Steele and Tami MacKenzie, the Flathead National Forest's deputy supervisor and former public information officer, did not reply to a request for comment by press time Wednesday. Save Holland Lake spokesperson Bill Lombardi lauded the memo after it was released last week: "We couldnt agree more with George Corns and Daniel Browders analysis. The regional forester has a duty, responsibility and obligation to remove Kurt Steele as the decision maker on the Holland Lake Lodge boondoggle because Steele flatly admits that he is 'biased' for the giant expansion plans." Corn and Browder previously issued a memo in November arguing that the Forest Service should terminate the special-use permit that allows Holland Lake Lodge to operate a private business on public land, because the permit's terms prohibit a change in control or ownership of the business. The Forest Service stated at the time that it was looking into whether POWDR's taking control of the business affected the permit. Now, rather than seeking to take over the existing permit, POWDR applied earlier this year for its own new permit for Holland Lake Lodge via E3 Destinations, a subsidiary POWDR recently created. POWDR's initial proposal envisioned 32 new buildings including a 28-room lodge, a restaurant and 26 cabins and the removal of 10 structures around the lodge. As proposed, the expansion would have increased the size of the lodge's current special-use permit from 10.53 acres to about 15 acres. The Forest Service rejected POWDR's proposal in late November, but the company is free to submit another proposal. Shortly after the rejection which the company characterized as a request to correct inconsistencies, rather than a rejection POWDR posted on a website for the proposal that "we plan to resubmit our plan for future investment and infrastructure improvements at Holland Lake Lodge that is very much in line with our previously submitted Master Development Plan." The memo states that the Forest Service spent 19 months in 2021 and '22 receiving, considering and ultimately accepting POWDR's original Master Development Plan (MDP) for the lodge without notifying the public. An MDP is a document that lays out a permit holder's long-term future plans. Special-use permits generally require a permit holder to keep a current MDP on file with the Forest Service. The receipt and acceptance of an MDP is generally an internal process between the agency and a permit holder that doesn't entail a public process. An MDP isn't a specific project proposal it's essentially a preview of projects a permit holder may propose in the future. Many permit holders, such as downhill ski areas, tackle parts of their MDPs as individual projects over many years each of which must go through a public process and environmental analysis and some elements of a permit holder's MDP may never come to fruition as project proposals. But POWDR's MDP was not as merely aspirational as other ski companies' plans. Alongside submitting its MDP, POWDR also proposed to accomplish almost all of it at once. That proposal was brought to the public on Sept. 1, 2022. The memo noted that the Forest Service took 19 months to intake POWDR's MDP but initially gave the public just three weeks to digest and comment on the accompanying proposal. Steele's bias toward POWDR's proposal, the memo states, is further evidenced by his initial intent to shepherd the proposal through the public process and environmental analysis via a categorical exclusion the least rigorous and most expedient form of environmental analysis, generally reserved for small projects such as building a vault toilet at a trailhead. Shortly before it rejected the proposal, the Forest Service announced in mid-November that it would move the proposal through the public process via an environmental assessment (EA), if it continued at all. An EA is the middle level of analysis, more rigorous than a categorical exclusion and with greater opportunity for public involvement. But even with an EA or the most rigorous analysis, an environmental impact statement, under Forest Service rules Steele would still be the default official with decision-making authority over whether to approve or deny proposals from POWDR. In the memo, Corn and Browder asked Marten to remove Steele from decision-making authority over Holland Lake Lodge because "Steele has disqualified himself from that role, and his actions have already caused members of the public to suspect that the USFS is simply doing POWDR's bidding. Steele has already seriously damaged the USFS's credibility." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The United Nations staged a high-level special meeting May 15 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nakba the mass displacement of around 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland in 1948. It is the first time the international body has commemorated the date, which organizers said serves "as a reminder of the historic injustice suffered by the Palestinian people." Not everyone is behind the U.N.'s marking of the day. The United States and the United Kingdom were among the countries that voted against the commemoration. Meanwhile, the Israeli foreign ministry called on U.N. member states "not to participate in the event that adopts the Palestinian narrative that opposes Israel's right to exist." As a scholar who studies Palestinian history, I see the U.N. decision as the culmination of a long process. For decades, Palestinians struggled for international recognition of the Nakba in the face of a narrative that minimized their plight. That is starting to change. The Nakba Arabic for "catastrophe" was part of a longer project of displacement of Palestinians from their homeland. From the early 1900s, increasing numbers of Zionists Jewish nationalists emigrated from Russia and other parts of Europe to Palestine, seeking to escape antisemitism. Many of these settlers also sought to establish Jewish sovereignty in a land that had long been inhabited by Muslims, Christians, Jews and others. As a result of Zionist settlement, thousands of peasants were forced off land they had lived on for generations. Many Palestinians resisted this colonial displacement throughout the 1920s and 1930s. But their resistance was violently suppressed by British colonial forces. Following World War II, as the full horrors of the Holocaust became known and international sympathy for the Jewish plight grew, Zionist militias waged deadly attacks that killed hundreds of Palestinians and British personnel. The British then handed over the "question of Palestine" to the newly formed United Nations, which on Nov. 29, 1947, voted in favor of a partition plan to split Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The plan allotted a majority of the country, including major ports and prime agricultural lands, to the Jewish state, even though Jews comprised about one-third of the population at the time. The plan also would have forced half a million Palestinian Arabs living in the proposed Jewish state to make a stark choice: live as a minority in their own country or leave. Palestinians rejected the plan and fighting broke out. Well-trained Zionist militias attacked Palestinians in areas that had been designated as part of the proposed Jewish state. Other Palestinians fled in fear. By the time Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, between 250,000 and 350,000 Palestinians had been forced off their ancestral lands. The day after that declaration May 15 came to be known as Nakba Day. As Palestinians fled to neighboring lands, the armies of five Arab countries which also wished to prevent a Jewish state from forming were deployed to try to stem the tide of refugees. Fighting between Israeli and Arab armies continued throughout that summer and fall, with the heavily armed Israeli military conquering lands that the U.N. had previously designated as part of the Arab state. In the process, even more Palestinians were expelled from their homes and villages. Many fled on foot, carrying whatever they could on their backs. By the end of the Arab-Israeli war in 1949, an estimated 750,000 Palestinians had either fled or had been expelled from their homes. Palestinian and official Israeli accounts framed what took place in very different ways. Since 1948, Palestinians have insisted that they have a right to return to the homes and lands from which they were expelled. But Israeli officials have maintained that Palestinians left at the behest of their leaders and should be resettled in the surrounding Arab countries. They also argue that since Israel has already absorbed some 900,000 Jewish refugees who were expelled from Arab countries after Israel's founding, they should not have to take back Palestinian refugees, too. For decades, Americans overall have held greater sympathy for the Israeli position. One reason for this was the 1958 bestselling novel "Exodus" and the 1960 blockbuster film of the same name. As my research shows, the novel drew on long-standing anti-Arab racist tropes to absolve Zionist and Israeli forces of their role in creating the Palestinian refugee crisis. Palestinians continue to mark Nakba Day. That's because, as long as they remain under Israeli occupation and exiled from their land, Palestinian rights groups say, "the Nakba is ongoing." Many also see May 15 as a day to affirm Palestinians' resilience, despite the ongoing oppression they face. Nakba Day serves as acknowledgment of their long struggle. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Times-Dispatch is thrilled to once again honor area employers through our Top Workplaces contest. Its our chance to put the spotlight on those in our region who go above and beyond for their workers. These are the jobs in which employees feel nurtured, motivated and excited. How do we know? Because employees at more than 1,400 businesses from small operations to mega firms were asked to take part in surveys that included 24 questions about workplace culture and values. That information was collected by our partner, Exton, Pennsylvania-based Energage, which crunched the numbers and gave us the honorees you see in this section. The list includes many names youre probably familiar with, including several with such successful programs that they return year after year. Equally important are the newcomers bringing fresh ideas and innovation to market. Today, we salute all the winners. And if you know a business we should honor next year, wed love to hear about it at richmond.com/top-workplaces. Congratulations! Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. n action at Richmond A City Council earlier this month showed the precarious state of social justice, three years after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020. The Council voted to spend $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act monies that had been originally earmarked by the Virginia General Assembly for "community-based gun violence prevention programming" on ballistic shields for the Richmond Police Department. As it turns out, Attorney General Jason Miyares' office had re-designated the money for "equipment, new program implementation, training, or existing program enhancement" another example of how changing political winds are blowing against the social justice movement. Meanwhile, the former site of the Robert E. Lee monument embodies empty promise. Unofficially renamed Marcus-David Peters Circle for a man killed by police during a mental health crisis, the site containing the graffiti-covered Lee statue a circle filled with memorials to victims of police violence became a focal point of Richmond's 2020 demonstrations and garnered recognition by The New York Times Style Magazine among the 25 Most Influential Works of American Protest Art since World War II. But after the Lee monument was removed in September 2021, a fence was erected around the circle, stymieing hopes that the site could be reclaimed as a community space. "That fence is still up as a symbol that this government, state and city government, have no intention of honoring the wishes of Black people in this city and those of us who fight every day for the lives of Black and brown people who have been victims of systemic racism," community organizer Art Burton said Wednesday. Burton said grassroots activists have been treated with contempt "simply for trying to partner with this government ... in terms of honoring our commitment to move from protests to programs and implement things that were more than symbolic." Burton and Allan-Charles Chipman, executive director of Initiatives of Change USA, were among several activists who criticized the planned purchase of ballistic shields before the City Council. "We have yet found the political and societal will to recreate and change the systems that impact the cruel conditions under which Black people live," Chipman said Wednesday. The protests of three years ago were a catalyst for real change. Confederate monuments were removed; the death penalty was ended in Virginia. Young Black leaders out of Richmond pushed new boundaries on food justice, environmental sustainability, marijuana justice and health equity, and worked to reclaim the history of Jackson Ward. But, "We have less of a voice now as citizens in this city in our government than we had before Black Lives Matter," Burton said, citing a lack of access to public meetings and elected officials. "We're further away from a government by the people, for the people now than we were three years ago." Backlashes to Black liberation and advancement are nothing new; pushback invariably has followed advancement. In the wake of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Richard Nixon's "Southern Strategy" built a new majority coalition of white voters "by weaponizing the political gains of Black people and rebranding and sanitizing white supremacist politics," says Adam Ewing, an associate professor in the Department of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. "What's happening right now is different. The majority of the country an interracial coalition that includes a lot of white people support multiracial democracy. This was reflected in the 2020 protests, which brought people into the streets in unprecedented numbers. It is reflected in the elections of 2020 and since, and would be more reflective if not for the destruction of the Voting Rights Act and massive efforts to restrict voting rights by Republicans," he said. "I don't believe there has ever been a time in U.S. history in which a larger percentage of Americans supported building a true multiracial democracy and moving past our foundational and current status quo, which is white supremacy. What Republicans are doing right now is not building a new majority that can withstand these pressures; instead, they are doubling down on their shrinking coalition and utilizing increasingly extreme and unpopular measures to galvanize and motivate that coalition. It is clear that Republican leaders will embrace anti-democratic means to maintain power until there is no more democracy." In that way, Ewing said, a more apt historical analogy for what is happening today is the Massive Resistance era following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court outlawing public school segregation by race. "As devastating as that resistance was, it was a resistance fought from a position of weakness rather than strength," he said. "And it was defeated by the civil rights movement that did what no reform politician was able to accomplish." Today, resistance is manifesting itself in the politically contrived opposition to critical race theory, diversity, equity and inclusion, and intense efforts to control what children learn and read about race and gender. "When people are banning books and trying to suppress the free expression of the truth, they are losing the argument," Ewing said. "We are in an incredibly dangerous moment right now because the people with the losing argument wield enormous power and are willing to break things to maintain power. But we are also in a moment of opportunity if we can mobilize against this threat. I'm fearful that we will descend into authoritarian rule. But the conditions are also there for what Rev. (William) Barber calls the 'third reconstruction.' The story is being written right now, and if the majority pulls together and fights it will win." Social justice does not move in a straight line, Ewing says; history is more often a result of push and pull. The white moderate was once scolded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. for asking justice-seeking Black Americans to wait for "a more convenient season." But today, politicians of all stripes work to slow down the clock of progress until a more convenient season or worse, to turn back the clock altogether. That clock, at this rate, will turn back to May 2020. "We're amping back up," Burton said. "I'm 63 years old. I've been on the field now for 23 years. I have given my whole life to this. I ain't going out sitting down." The great Curtis Mayfield had a song for moments like this: Keep on Pushing. Michael Paul Williams Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Memorial Day is gearing up to be a major holiday for Virginians. AAA predicts 1.2 million Virginians will travel at some point during the holiday weekend, mostly by car, and an analysis by international mobility services provider Sixt SE found that Richmond, Newport News and Alexandria are all among the top 10 U.S. cities with the most war memorials. The weekend is officially when our peak season kicks off for the summer, said Andrew Cothern, director of communications for the Virginia Tourism Corporation. We see visitors coming from all over to experience not only our numerous historic sites and memorials, but also our restaurants, outdoor recreation, family activities, and scenic drives. Even if your weekend plans do not involve visiting war memorials, there are still plenty of fun and family-friendly options either in the Richmond area or within a few hours by car. Kings Dominion kickoff Forecasts suggest that rain might be on the horizon, especially later in the weekend, but if conditions hold up, Hanover County is the place to be for Memorial Day Weekend thrill-seekers. Saturday marks the opening day for the 2023 season at Soak City, a 20-acre water park connected to Kings Dominion. The park features several extreme water slides emanating from the 65-foot-tall Hurricane Heights tower, a gigantic wave pool and an interactive splash pad for children. Admission to Soak City is included with tickets to the main park. And Monday night, after a day of fun, park visitors can take in a Memorial Day fireworks show. The best part: Active and retired military personnel get free admission at the gate for any one day from Friday through Monday with military ID, and can get discounts for up to six family members or friends when booking their tickets in advance at KingsDominion.com. Kings Dominion is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday; Soak City is open noon to 7 p.m. Saturday through Monday. Both are located at 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell. Enjoy the sweet sounds If kicking back with a beer and enjoying live music is more your speed, head to Main Line Brewery for the second annual DayDream Fest Sunday and Monday. The festival features 16 bands across two days, including local favorites Kate Bollinger, Matthew E. White, No! BS Brass, Palm Palm, Drook, Deau Eyes, Kendall Street Company and DJ Harrison, in addition to cold beer and food trucks. There is also the Richmond Symphony Big Tent concert Saturday night in Jackson Wards Abner Clay Park. The free outdoor concert, sponsored by the City of Richmond and presented in partnership with the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, features the music of three Black composers: Florence Price, Joseph Bologne and Virginia Beach resident Adolphus Hailstork. The museum will have special extended hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and will offer special family activities leading up to concert time. Big Tent: Free admission. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. 200 W. Clay St., Richmond DayDream Fest: $30 for a one-day ticket or $40 for a two-day pass if purchased in advance; $35 for one-day ticket or $50 for two-day pass if purchased day of festival. 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday. 1603 Ownby Lane, Richmond Take a hike If you want your Memorial Day to be more outdoorsy, there are great hiking opportunities near and far. The James River Park System offers trails of varying difficulty levels on both sides of the river, including the popular North Bank and Buttermilk loop. And Pocahontas State Park, located in the center of Chesterfield County, has more than 60 miles of trails conducive to hiking and biking. Hikers seeking a slightly stiffer challenge will find what they are looking for further west, in the Blue Ridge Mountains area near Charlottesville and Waynesboro. Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park is an iconic 9-mile hike with some areas of challenging terrain, but it rewards hikers willing to devote the seven or eight hours recommended by the National Park Service with stunning views from its 3,284-foot peak. Other popular hiking options in the area include Humpback Rock, Crabtree Falls and Sugar Hollow, which leads hikers to the Blue Hole swimming area. Beachy keen Last but not least, Memorial Day weekend is synonymous with beach trips: Schools are starting to let out for the summer, and the weather has not gotten too hot yet. There will be heavy traffic at the most popular spots in Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks, but beachgoers have many more laid-back options. Sandbridge Beach, a half-hour drive south of Virginia Beach along the coast, ranks as TripAdvisors best beach in Virginia for its plentiful parking, cleanliness and family-oriented feel. Cape Charles Beach, on the southern end of the Eastern Shore, offers shallow water and gentle waves that are perfect for younger children, as well as a charming beachfront town to explore. And for those willing to spend a little extra time in the car, Assateague Beach in Chincoteague gives visitors a safe swimming area and the opportunity to see the wild ponies that roam Assateague Island. Top 5 weekend events: Friday Cheers RVA Music Night, Big Tent & Daydream Fest Daydream Fest at Main Line Brewery Friday Cheers RVA Music Night The Richmond Symphony Big Tent Lager Fest at The Answer Diamond Flea Market Sign Spotting 'Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience' Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The words of a Virginia pol of yore might apply to the debt fight in D.C.: "You take an ordinary Virginian and wake him up out of a deep slumber shake him right quick and he'll say two words: 'Fiscal sanity!' If you woke him and told him that there was starvation, he'd say: 'Help 'em, but fiscal sanity!' Fiscal sanity! "That became too rigid, you see. The theory was excellent. Perfectly good; it just needed better administration. It becomes much easier to understand if you keep in mind that mankind is struggling for a better system through trial and error." So said a former Virginia governor, Colgate W. Darden, in a 1978 conversation with politics columnist Guy Friddell of The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk. Darden, governor during World War II, was of the conservative segregationist machine that controlled the state for most of the 20th century. In a way, Darden was also above it. Darden recognized that one of the old organization's defining strengths parsimony with public funds, the shorthand for which includes his flourish, "fiscal sanity" was one of its great weaknesses; that it denied dollars for services that could produce huge dividends for Virginia, most notably, education. Education was a topic about which Darden was passionate. Post-governorship, Darden was the president of the University of Virginia and helped reopen in 1964 public schools in rural Prince Edward County that were closed for five years in the machine's defiance of a federal court edict that Black and white students be educated in the same classrooms. As the rural-dominated state that produced Darden was beginning with World War II and fueled by federal spending reinvented as a suburban dynamo, Virginians, whether in the Northern Virginia offices of federal contractors or the defense hub of Hampton Roads, have learned that perceived fiscal insanity in Washington is essential to economic stability here. Even as a former member of Congress, Darden, who died in 1981, would have had difficulty justifying current, deficit-driven federal spending practices as, he put it, "trial and error." The penny-pinching political boss who brought along Darden, U.S. Sen. Harry F. Byrd Sr., D-Virginia, used with mixed results the chairmanship of the powerful Finance Committee to demand from the nation the budgetary rigor that was the rule at the state level. Never mind that the federal and state governments have unique advantages that tend to cancel out each other. The federal government can print more money when needed red ink, be damned if only to cover mandatory spending such as Social Security, Medicare and other entitlements. The state government is required, under the Virginia Constitution, to maintain a balanced budget at all times; that spending even on the biggest, usually most politically popular expense, education cannot exceed revenue. Because about one-third of the Virginia economy can be attributed to federal largesse, the down-to-the-wire struggle between the Biden White House and congressional Republicans over raising the debt ceiling that is, allowing the government to borrow more money to pay its bills has huge implications for the state. Should the standoff extend beyond June 1, when the U.S. Treasury says it could begin running out of cash, Virginia's economy is expected to shrink, possibly shedding by summer as many as 195,400 jobs and cutting payrolls a key source of income tax revenue by nearly 5%, according to Virginia Senate budget analysts. A brief delay is also potentially costly, eliminating nearly 35,000 jobs and trimming payrolls about 1%. The uncertainty over raising the debt ceiling is further extending overtime negotiations between the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates on a compromise state budget. They have dragged on for three months because of disagreements over tax cuts and spending increases. Both seem less likely because of the implications of the debt dispute and the expectation that budget talks will not resume, in earnest, until after the legislative primaries June 20, giving lawmakers and Gov. Glenn Youngkin only 10 days to complete the two-year, $177 billion spending plan by the legal deadline, June 30. The complexities for Virginia fiscal, economic and political of its reliance on the federal government have been increasingly clear and, at times, painful in recent years. In 2011, when the nation's credit rating was lowered by Wall Street during a budget impasse, the U.S. House majority leader a Virginia Republican, Eric Cantor became a lightning rod for tea party conservatives who expected him to be more aggressive with the Obama White House on spending, and for liberal Democrats alarmed by the steep cuts he favored for the social safety net. The current speaker, Kevin McCarthy with Cantor and Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the three were the young guns of the House GOP caucus finds himself in a similar situation, complicated by his possible overthrow by MAGA Republicans, such as Bob Good of Virginia's Southside-anchored 5th District, one of the loudest voices on linking an increase in the debt ceiling to spending cuts. In 2013, a 16-day federal government shutdown a month before that year's gubernatorial election helped lift Democrat Terry McAuliff e to a narrow victory. As governor, he had to manage the aftershocks in Virginia of across-the-board federal spending cuts tied to the 2011 budget fight. Even Virginia Democrats who fancy themselves fiscal hawks are finding that in Congress it is easier to talk about fiscal discipline than impose it. Mark Warner, the state's senior U.S. senator who, as governor, raised taxes by $1.4 billion to balance the budget, is a member of the Finance Committee, the perch from which Harry Byrd Sr., also a former governor, lorded over federal spending. Since he was first elected to the Senate in 2008, Warner has occasionally teamed with Republicans on schemes to cut the deficit and control federal spending. But as the partisan gap expanded, so did the federal debt. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Fast-developing Scotts Addition is about to have another new wrinkle: Pedal Pub, a bicycle-built-for-15 that carries pedaling riders, burning off a few calories along the way, on tours of the neighborhood with stops at breweries, distilleries and cideries. The Richmond company will become part of a network of more than 50 Pedal Pub locations across North America. It is the brainchild of longtime friends and business partners Adam Seale and Matt Benoist. They plan to start booking tours sometime after Memorial Day and begin operations June 9. Seale, 43, is a Richmonder, having relocated here in 2016, while Benoist, 43, lives in the suburbs of Chicago. They met more than 20 years ago through mutual friends during college Seale attended the University of Iowa, Benoist the University of Illinois and long talked of going into business together. The inspiration for this opportunity occurred in Savannah, Georgia, where Seale was visiting on a business trip for his day job working in finance for a U.S.-based manufacturing company. He saw a Pedal Pub bike rolling down the street, and a lightbulb flashed on. He scheduled a tour for his co-workers the next evening, enjoyed the experience and got in touch with Benoist soon after. He called me and said, I think this is something that could bring a lot of joy to Richmond and Scotts Addition, recalled Benoist, who described himself with a laugh as a retired serial entrepreneur who sold a family business the other year and was looking for other ventures. The opportunity to have a business that brings people together with something like this really spoke to both of us. Seale researched Pedal Pub and the whole notion of so-called party bikes, and liked what he found. He was surprised to learn Richmond didnt have one although another outfit did run a party-bike operation for a few years before closing down and went to work. Theyve designed tours and cultivated partnerships with businesses in Scotts Addition. The Pedal Pub, built in the Netherlands, is a 15-seat contraption 14 for guests and one for the employed pilot, who is the lead pedaler and ringleader for the tours (job opportunities are available, Seale and Benoist said). There are six seats on each side of a U-shaped bar though no drinks are served on board, guests may bring beverages purchased from the various stops if allowed by state regulations with a bench in the back. Most of the seats are equipped with pedals so guests can help propel the Pedal Pub, though Seale said an electric assist helps get the vehicle going. Pedal Pub doesnt travel faster than 5 or 6 miles per hour, he said. At the beginning, Seale and Benoist plan to offer several different tours of breweries, distilleries and cideries, as well as a weekend excursion still in development featuring a workout and a brunch stop. Each will include several stops and will last from 90 minutes to two hours. Individual seats are $35 on weekdays and $45 on weekends. Private tours rentals of the entire bike are $449 on weekdays and $499 on weekends. Tours into other parts of the city might be added in the future, Seale and Benoist said. Safety is a big piece of the equation with such an operation, the men said. The bikes undergo regular maintenance, and the pilots go through training, certification and background checks and do not drink alcohol while theyre leading tours. Customers must sign waivers. We want everybody to know that safety is our top priority, Benoist said. We plan to be good citizens and try to keep the noise down. We dont want to create a rowdy atmosphere. What we want is to have people have this exercise experience outdoors together, building memories and bringing additional traffic to a lot of the local businesses. Seale hopes to make this a long-term business. Were looking to become part of the community, said Seale, who lived in Church Hill when he first arrived in Richmond and now lives in Midlothian with his wife and daughter. We really want to stick around and be able to offer this type of activity not only to locals but to visitors alike. But is it fun? Yes, indeed, Seale said. You get on this thing and youre with friends and youre listening to music and youre socializing, he said. If you dont have a good time, then its on you. Top 5 weekend events: Friday Cheers RVA Music Night, Big Tent & Daydream Fest Daydream Fest at Main Line Brewery Friday Cheers RVA Music Night The Richmond Symphony Big Tent Lager Fest at The Answer Diamond Flea Market Sign Spotting 'Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience' Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Richmond detectives identified the victim of a fatal shooting in South Richmond late Tuesday as a 17-year-old male from North Chesterfield. Officers responded to a house in the 2400 block of Terminal Avenue just before midnight Tuesday after reports that a person had been shot. Upon arriving on the scene, they located the victim, whose name has not been released. He was unresponsive in the front yard, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner will determine the exact cause and manner of death. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Detective Russell of the Major Crimes unit at (804) 646-7715 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A swath of homes and businesses in the southeastern section of Henrico County could get connected to broadband internet services for the first time within the next couple of years. The largely rural section of the Varina District is expected to get an upgrade now that the county has gotten funding from a state grant. The unconnected rural area largely straddles the countys line along the James River. The proposed project area includes about 412 addresses, including 376 residences, 22 businesses and 14 other buildings like churches, nonprofits and county facilities. Henrico wants to achieve universal broadband in the county, meaning that 100% of addresses have internet access, with the exception of a few outliers. The currently proposed project in southeastern Henrico would address all of the major neighborhoods and clusters of homes in the area. Access to high-speed, broadband internet services is absolutely critical for students, families and businesses to succeed in the 21st century. Its also a matter of equity, said Varina District Supervisor Tyrone E. Nelson. We look forward to making this essential service available to every corner of our county in the next few years. The county partnered with All Points Broadband in securing a $501,620 grant through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI). The total cost of the Varina area project is proposed to be about $6.5 million. All Points Broadband is finalizing a contract to work with Dominion Energy to install fiber optic cables for broadband service. Based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau Statistics, 89.5% of Henrico households subscribe to broadband internet service. Travis Sparrow, director of Information Technology for Henrico, said the countys biggest challenge was identifying holes in service areas, with broadband already available to a large portion of the county. The VATI grant was awarded to Henrico and All Points for the 2022 grant cycle. The county previously partnered with Comcast to submit an application in 2021 but was unsuccessful. Sparrow said that the need for universal broadband access became apparent during the pandemic. There was so much focus on remote work and remote learning, Sparrow said in an email. Henrico has many school-age children with challenges connecting to online school due to lack of availability. This also is true with health care and related services. All Points Broadbands pending agreement with Dominion would see All Points build the last mile of fiber optic cables that connect to homes. Dominion will build the middle mile infrastructure, into which the last mile will connect. Of the remaining costs after the application of the VATI grant, $1.4 million will come from Henrico, $1.5 million will come from All Points Broadband and $3.1 million will come from Dominion Energy. Henrico is seeking another federal grant that could be worth up to $725,000. Officials expect the construction would take about two years to complete once a contract is finalized. Residential broadband customers would pay a $199 installation fee to start services, plus monthly fees of $59.99, $89.99 or $119.99 for three tiers of service. Upload and download speeds would be 50/50 megabits, 100/100 megabits and 1 gigabit per second, based on level of service. We wanted to make sure that whatever broadband service we brought to currently unserved areas of the county would be something that the residents would be able to afford, Sparrow said. We believe the plan that weve developed with All Points Broadband accomplishes that. The Times-Dispatch's 'Photo of the Day' Jan. 1, 2023 Jan. 2, 2023 Jan. 3, 2023 Jan. 4, 2023 Jan. 5, 2023 Jan. 6, 2023 Jan. 7, 2023 Jan. 8, 2023 Jan. 10, 2023 GET THE NEW TIMES-DISPATCH APP Jan. 11, 2023 Jan. 12, 2023 Jan. 13, 2023 Jan. 14, 2023 Jan. 15, 2023 Jan. 16, 2023 Jan. 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 2023 Jan. 19, 2023 Jan. 20, 2023 Jan. 21, 2023 Jan. 22, 2023 Jan. 23, 2023 Jan. 24, 2023 Jan. 25, 2023 Jan. 26, 2023 Jan. 27, 2023 Jan. 28, 2023 Jan. 29, 2023 Jan. 30, 2023 Jan. 31, 2023 Feb. 1, 2023 Feb. 2, 2023 Feb. 3, 2023 Feb. 4, 2023 Feb. 5, 2023 Feb. 6, 2023 Feb. 7, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023 Feb. 9, 2023 Feb. 10, 2023 Feb 11, 2023 Feb. 12, 2023 Feb. 13, 2023 Feb. 14, 2023 Feb. 15, 2023 Feb. 16, 2023 Feb. 17, 2023 Feb. 18, 2023 Feb. 19, 2023 Feb. 20, 2023 Feb. 21, 2023 Feb. 22, 2023 Feb. 23, 2023 Feb. 24, 2023 Feb. 25, 2023 Feb. 26, 2023 Feb. 27, 2023 Feb. 28, 2023 March 1, 2023 March 2, 2023 March 3, 2023 March 4, 2023 March 5, 2023 March 6, 2023 March 7, 2023 March 8, 2023 March 9, 2023 March 10, 2023 March 11, 2023 March 12, 2023 March 13, 2023 March 14, 2023 March 15, 2023 March 16, 2023 March 17, 2023 March 18, 2023 March 19, 2023 March 20, 2023 March 21, 2023 March 22, 2023 March 23, 2023 March 24, 2023 March 25, 2023 March 26, 2023 March 27, 2023 March 28, 2023 March 29, 2023 March 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 April 1, 2023 April 2, 2023 April 3, 2023 April 4, 2023 April 5, 2023 April 6, 2023 April 7, 2023 April 8, 2023 April 9, 2023 April 10, 2023 April 11, 2023 April 13, 2023 April 14, 2023 April 15, 2023 April 16, 2023 GET THE NEW TIMES-DISPATCH APP April 17, 2023 April 18, 2023 April 19, 2023 April 20, 2023 April 21, 2023 April 22, 2023 April 23, 2023 April 24, 2023 April 25, 2023 April 26, 2023 April 27, 2023 April 28, 2023 April 29, 2023 May 1, 2023 May 2, 2023 May 3, 2023 May 4, 2023 May 5, 2023 May 6, 2023 May 7, 2023 May 8, 2023 May 9, 2023 May 10, 2023 May 11, 2023 May 12, 2023 May 13, 2023 May 14, 2023 May 15, 2023 May 16, 2023 May 17, 2023 May 18, 2023 May 19, 2023 May 20, 2023 May 21, 2023 May 22, 2023 May 23, 2023 May 24, 2023 May 25, 2023 May 26, 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Irvo Otienos family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump held a town hall at Virginia Union University in support of Black mental health, calling for action to prevent harm to people of color who are going through mental health crises. We cannot keep treating mental issues like criminal issues when it comes to Black and brown people, Crump said during his opening statement on Wednesday night. Our brothers and sisters who have mental health illness are worth of dignity and respect too. More than 100 people attended the event in the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center for the approximately two-hour town hall. Brother Irvo was not treated as a human being, said Denisha Potts of the Chesterfield NAACP, sitting at a table against a huge screen with the word CIVIL lit up in the background. Potts questioned why Otieno was not treated as a patient once he arrived at Central State Hospital, where he died. Potts said it is standard procedure that, once a prisoner is brought to a hospital to be admitted, the person is examined by medical personnel, who take legal custody of the prisoner. That did not happen, Potts said, commenting on video that showed Otieno in an intake room as he was being restrained by 10 deputies and hospital workers. I did not see a nurse until the end. Otienos mother, Caroline Ouko, at one point shook her her as one of the panelists recalled how Ouko was denied the chance to provide medicine to her son. The Otieno family has said that the 28-year-old rapper died because law enforcement officials are not properly trained to distinguish between people under mental duress and criminals. You can look at somebody and see a physical injury, but cant look at them and see an emotional injury or a mental health injury, said James Harris, of the Richmond-based Men to Heal organization. Those things are issues, especially when the police or anybody else arrives on the scene. It doesnt take a nurse or a doctor to see someone in need of help and compassion, said Esther Thomas, Otienos cousin, who is herself a registered nurse. Advocacy from the family is everything, especially when someone cannot speak for themselves. The panel included Potts; Harris; Thomas; Joanne Oport of Africans For Mental Health; Lawrence West of Black Lives Matter RVA; and Monica Hutchinson, the vice president of the Henrico County NAACP. Wednesdays event Justice for Irvo Otieno Townhall: Advocating for Black Mental Health in Our Communities and Policy provided further discussion on how communities can better support those in crisis. Otieno died March 6 at Central State Hospital in Dinwiddie. His death reignited conversations about how the criminal justice system handles people with mental health issues, particularly within Black communities. In an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Otienos family detailed his struggles with anxiety and bipolar disorder. On March 3, his mother reached out for help when she saw him having a mental health crisis. Otieno was transported to Parham Doctors Hospital, but was taken by Henrico police later that day to Henrico Jail after officers said he became physically aggressive. Otieno remained in jail through the weekend without his medication. Henrico sheriffs deputies transferred Otieno to Central State on March 6. A video from an intake room showed several people piled on top of him. Otieno fell unconscious and could not be revived. The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Otienos death a homicide by asphyxiation. Seven deputies and three Central State workers have been charged in his death. In the months since Otienos death, family, friends, advocacy groups, attorneys, and local and state officials have continually pushed for mental health reform. National voices like the Rev. Al Sharpton spoke out against stigmatizing mental illness. Were here today because of all of us have some mentally ill challenges in our family, and this is not how you treat people, Sharpton said while delivering Otienos eulogy March 29. The disgrace was not that Irvo had mental illness. The disgrace is how you treated Irvo. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON The founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after the 2020 election. Stewart Rhodes is the first person charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack to be sentenced for seditious conspiracy, and his sentence is the longest that has been handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases. Its another milestone for the Justice Departments sprawling Jan. 6 investigation, which has led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups authorities say came to Washington prepared to fight to keep President Donald Trump in power at all costs. Before handing down the sentence, the judge told a defiant Rhodes that he is a continued threat to the U.S., saying its clear Rhodes wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence. The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said. It was one of the most consequential cases brought by the Justice Department, which has sought to prove that the riot by right-wing extremists like the Oath Keepers was not a spur-of-the-moment protest but the culmination of weeks of plotting to overturn Bidens election victory. Prosecutors had sought 25 years for Rhodes, who they say was the architect of a plot to forcibly disrupt the transfer of presidential power that included quick reaction force teams at a Virginia hotel to ferry weapons into D.C. if they were needed. The weapons were never deployed. In remarks shortly before the judge handed down the sentence, Rhodes slammed the prosecution as politically motivated, noted that he never went inside the Capitol and insisted he never told anyone else to do so. Im a political prisoner and like President Trump my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country, Rhodes said. In a first for a Jan. 6 case, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta agreed with prosecutors to apply enhanced penalties for terrorism, under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through intimidation or coercion. Judges in previous sentencings had shot down the Justice Departments request for the so-called terrorism enhancement which can lead to a longer prison term but Mehta said it fits in Rhodes case. Prosecutors argued that a lengthy sentence is necessary to deter future political violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeating the lie 2020 election was stolen and saying it would be again in 2024. In remarks just days ago, Rhodes called for regime change, the prosecutor said. People across the political spectrum want to believe that Jan. 6 was an outlier, Rakoczy said. Not defendant Rhodes. A lawyer for Rhodes, who plans to appeal his conviction, said prosecutors are unfairly trying to make Rhodes the face of January 6. Attorney Phillip Linder told the judge that Rhodes could have had many more Oath Keepers come to the Capitol if he really wanted to disrupt Congress certification of the Electoral College vote. If you want to put a face on J6 (Jan. 6), you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians, all the people who spun that narrative, Linder said. Read the full story here: Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ABINGDON The Washington County Board has voted against paying any claims filed by relatives of a California family slain by catfish police officer Austin Lee Edwards. Edwards, 28, was employed by the sheriffs office in November when he went to Riverside, California, near Los Angeles to meet a 15-year-old girl he met online. Police said Edwards told her he was 17. A claim for damages was filed on behalf of the estates of three members of the Winek family, according to County Attorney Lucy Phillips. The claim is for damages in an unspecified amount for negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, survival and other damages resulting from this incident. Phillips during a board meeting Tuesday said the sheriffs office is a separate entity from county government and theres no factual basis to establish a relationship between the county and Edwards. Edwards previously was a Virginia state police trooper and lived in Chesterfield. Gov. Glenn Youngkin late last year requested a full investigation of the incident by the Office of the State Inspector General, but an official report has yet to be produced. The Associated Press earlier this month obtained a policy document that says state police retains responsibility for the oversight and conduct of internal investigations of its personnel. State officials have not responded to questions about the investigation. Family members of Wineks have also indicated that they plan to sue the state. In a notice filed with the state, lawyers for an aunt and sibling of the teen allege Virginia State Police were grossly negligent in hiring Edwards as a state trooper in January 2022. On his application to become a state trooper, Edwards disclosed that he had voluntarily checked himself into a mental health facility in 2016. In response to that disclosure, state police ordered Edwards to undergo a mental health evaluation, which he failed, the attorneys allege in the notice. The Virginia State Police deliberately buried the results of this mental health examination, did no further examination into this aspect of Edwards application, and hired him, the notice states. The Times-Dispatch's 'Photo of the Day' Jan. 1, 2023 Jan. 2, 2023 Jan. 3, 2023 Jan. 4, 2023 Jan. 5, 2023 Jan. 6, 2023 Jan. 7, 2023 Jan. 8, 2023 Jan. 10, 2023 GET THE NEW TIMES-DISPATCH APP Jan. 11, 2023 Jan. 12, 2023 Jan. 13, 2023 Jan. 14, 2023 Jan. 15, 2023 Jan. 16, 2023 Jan. 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 2023 Jan. 19, 2023 Jan. 20, 2023 Jan. 21, 2023 Jan. 22, 2023 Jan. 23, 2023 Jan. 24, 2023 Jan. 25, 2023 Jan. 26, 2023 Jan. 27, 2023 Jan. 28, 2023 Jan. 29, 2023 Jan. 30, 2023 Jan. 31, 2023 Feb. 1, 2023 Feb. 2, 2023 Feb. 3, 2023 Feb. 4, 2023 Feb. 5, 2023 Feb. 6, 2023 Feb. 7, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023 Feb. 9, 2023 Feb. 10, 2023 Feb 11, 2023 Feb. 12, 2023 Feb. 13, 2023 Feb. 14, 2023 Feb. 15, 2023 Feb. 16, 2023 Feb. 17, 2023 Feb. 18, 2023 Feb. 19, 2023 Feb. 20, 2023 Feb. 21, 2023 Feb. 22, 2023 Feb. 23, 2023 Feb. 24, 2023 Feb. 25, 2023 Feb. 26, 2023 Feb. 27, 2023 Feb. 28, 2023 March 1, 2023 March 2, 2023 March 3, 2023 March 4, 2023 March 5, 2023 March 6, 2023 March 7, 2023 March 8, 2023 March 9, 2023 March 10, 2023 March 11, 2023 March 12, 2023 March 13, 2023 March 14, 2023 March 15, 2023 March 16, 2023 March 17, 2023 March 18, 2023 March 19, 2023 March 20, 2023 March 21, 2023 March 22, 2023 March 23, 2023 March 24, 2023 March 25, 2023 March 26, 2023 March 27, 2023 March 28, 2023 March 29, 2023 March 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 April 1, 2023 April 2, 2023 April 3, 2023 April 4, 2023 April 5, 2023 April 6, 2023 April 7, 2023 April 8, 2023 April 9, 2023 April 10, 2023 April 11, 2023 April 13, 2023 April 14, 2023 April 15, 2023 April 16, 2023 GET THE NEW TIMES-DISPATCH APP April 17, 2023 April 18, 2023 April 19, 2023 April 20, 2023 April 21, 2023 April 22, 2023 April 23, 2023 April 24, 2023 April 25, 2023 April 26, 2023 April 27, 2023 April 28, 2023 April 29, 2023 May 1, 2023 May 2, 2023 May 3, 2023 May 4, 2023 May 5, 2023 May 6, 2023 May 7, 2023 May 8, 2023 May 9, 2023 May 10, 2023 May 11, 2023 May 12, 2023 May 13, 2023 May 14, 2023 May 15, 2023 May 16, 2023 May 17, 2023 May 18, 2023 May 19, 2023 May 20, 2023 May 21, 2023 May 22, 2023 May 23, 2023 May 24, 2023 May 25, 2023 May 26, 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Chris Piper, former commissioner of the state Department of Elections, will succeed David Poole as executive director of the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan online tracker of money, trends and news in state politics. Poole, a former state political news reporter who has led VPAP since it began 26 years ago, is stepping down effective June 30. Bill Leighty, chair of the VPAP Board of Directors, said in a statement: When the Board of Directors undertook the task of finding a new executive director for VPAP, we knew we were facing a daunting task to replace the quarter of a century of excellence and trust that David Poole established. Vice Chair Abby Farris Rogers cited Pipers experience in campaign finance and elections and said it set him apart among more than 150 applicants. Piper said in the statement: I will do all I can to sustain VPAPs fiercely nonpartisan brand. Together, we can build upon this indispensable institution that is trusted across the political spectrum. VPAP, a go-to resource for voters, journalists and politicians of all stripes, began as a joint effort by Virginias five largest newspapers to track and report campaign contributions. It has since expanded its mission and is renowned for its ability to present complex topics in understandable formats from searchable databases of campaign donations, to legislators financial disclosure forms, to maps of the states redrawn legislative and congressional districts. VPAPs nonpartisan approach and the esteem with which it is held is reflected in its annual report, which lists donations from dozens of lawmakers, past and present, from both major parties. Then-Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, nominated Piper as commissioner of the Department of Elections in January 2018. Piper left the post in March 2022 after new Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, opted not to reappoint him. That month Youngkin announced that he was appointing Susan Beals, a former member of the Chesterfield County Electoral Board, to be the state elections administrator. Piper previously worked at the State Board of Elections and, in 2014, became the states first executive director of the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council. In the VPAP announcement, Poole said of Piper: Ive worked with Chris for two decades. I am confident in his ability and his passion for the work. Hes a natural fit for a leader to build on what weve started. Top 5 weekend events: Friday Cheers RVA Music Night, Big Tent & Daydream Fest Daydream Fest at Main Line Brewery Friday Cheers RVA Music Night The Richmond Symphony Big Tent Lager Fest at The Answer Diamond Flea Market Sign Spotting 'Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience' Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The contest for the 57th District in Virginias House of Delegates, which is based in the Short Pump area of Henrico County and includes part of Goochland County, will be competitive in the fall. But first, its two Democratic candidates a nurse practitioner and a retired banking director-turned-political advocate will face off for their partys nomination in a June 20 primary. Both candidates, Susanna Gibson and Bob Shippee, overlap on many policy stances. Both favor abortion protections, want to reduce gun violence, advocate for LGBTQ+ communities, support public education and agree on environmental policy. The candidates stand apart in their backgrounds and experiences that they can bring to elected office. The Democratic nominee will run against Republican David Owen, former co-owner of Boone Homes, in Novembers general election. The district has leaned Republican by a few percentage points in recent statewide elections, though Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., carried it by 11 percentage points in his 2018 reelection campaign. Susanna Gibson Gibson, the nurse practitioner, says she has always known she might get into politics. It was just a matter of when. Her mother, an inspiration and influence to her, had worked for presidential campaigns and later served on Charlottesvilles School Board while Gibson was growing up. Being around women in politics, particularly strong-willed women in politics like my mother, is something that Id always grown up with and thought about, Gibson said. It just wasnt the right time, until now. Last summer, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which provided federal protections for abortion access, she said she felt it was the right time. Realizing that Virginia is at a tipping point in terms of reproductive rights, I wanted to be able to do everything I can to protect those reproductive rights and reproductive freedom, she said. She plans to support a proposed amendment that would enshrine abortion access in Virginias constitution. In order to become law, a constitutional amendment must pass the General Assembly two years in a row (with a House election in between) before it goes to the states voters in a ballot referendum. This year, such proposed amendments failed to advance in the General Assembly. Gun violence is a concern Gibson said she has heard from many people while knocking on doors for her campaign. It also happens to align with one of her top priorities. As a medical professional whos treated victims of gun violence and also is a mom, I worry honestly every day for the safety of my kids, Gibson said. I think passing common-sense gun laws is absolutely critical. She supports a lot of measures that were introduced but did not pass in this years session, such as gun storage requirements and bans on new sales of assault-style firearms. Gun legislation, like abortion, often falls along partisan lines, and advancement of Democratic-proposed measures will depend on the outcome of this years elections. Democrats currently control the Senate, while Republicans control the House. Other priorities for Gibson include supporting renewable energy development in Virginia, LGBTQ+ communities and mental health services. She also wants to work across party lines to attract and retain teachers in Virginia. Additionally, Gibson wants to bolster funding for programs related to mental health and substance use issues. She plans to introduce legislation to increase drug courts in the state, which she believes could help reduce incarceration rates for nonviolent drug-related offenses. Due to her work as a nurse practitioner and her experiences caring for patients in their homes at times, Gibson said she possesses insights that she can bring to work as a legislator. Having the opportunity to go in and out of patients homes for years really gave me a unique insight into problems that people in Virginia are facing, she said. I consider myself very lucky to have that unique insight. Bob Shippee When Shippee retired from Capital One in 2015, he threw himself into regional political organizing and his first campaign for elected office a bid to serve on the Henrico County Board of Supervisors. There just werent enough Democrats to win, so I did not win, but it was a really good experience, he said of his run in the Three Chopt District. In the years since, he has remained involved in advocacy work. Familiar with the halls and chambers of the Capitol, Shippee has spoken on behalf of environmental legislation as a lobbyist for the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club. He has also joined Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia and Moms Demand Action when advocates gather. More recently, he served as vice chair of Henricos electoral board, so he has been very attuned to the need to protect voting rights. Frustrated with Virginias loose campaign finance laws, Shippee plans to address campaign finance reform if elected by working to limit donations from corporations and individuals and to end a loophole that allows candidates to spend campaign money on personal expenses. Theres a lot of low-hanging fruit there that would make our democracy stronger, Shippee said. That fruit has been sour for some, however, as measures to address campaign finance reform have been defeated in legislative sessions, and a subcommittee that was supposed to produce a report on the matter ahead of the most recent session failed to meet last year. Having lobbied for environmental policy, Shippee has enjoyed seeing proposals become state laws like the Virginia Clean Economy Act and he is eager to take on environmental policy if elected. He noted that transportation is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and said the Clean Cars Act was a good start. He points to an electric vehicle incentive program, which is meant to help encourage EV adoption, that passed in recent years, but the bill was not funded in the final budget. I think that we should do that, Shippee said. Its just nudging the ball forward a little bit and getting on with this transition. Additionally, with buildings as one of the other largest sources of carbon emissions, Shippee will push for Virginia to adopt stronger energy-efficiency standards which studies have shown can save people money on their utility bills. Like Gibson, Shippee supports similar legislation aimed at curbing gun violence. It is a concern that has come up when he has knocked on doors to meet voters particularly from people worried about a potential shooting in their childrens schools. While he said Virginias existing gun laws are decent, he believes there is more the state can do. You know, we cant completely stop all these incidents, but I think if we had better gun laws, I think that would help, he said. Additionally, Shippee plans to help protect access to abortion in Virginia. As challenges to access to mifepristone and misoprostol (two drugs used in early-gestation abortions and in managing miscarriages) play out in federal courts, Shippee said he will carry state legislation to protect access to the medicines. On getting into politics in 2015 and running for office now, Shippee said a driving motivation is leaving his kids with a world better than it was when he found it. I was just really not happy with the world that I saw them inheriting, he said. I wanted to take a more direct role in doing what I could to make it a better world. Profiles: Meet the candidates in Virginia's June 20 primary election This is a collection of stories about races in Virginia's primary elections on June 20. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Del. Hyland Buddy Fowler, R-Hanover, is seeking a sixth term in the House of Delegates, but next month he will face two lawyers challenging him in the Republican primary for a newly drawn district. Fowlers competition: Graven Craig and Philip Strother. Craig is a trial attorney from Louisa County, and Strother is a civil lawyer and winery owner who lives in Henrico County. The winner of the June 20 primary will face Democrat Rachel Levy in Novembers general election. Fowler currently serves in the 55th District, which includes parts of Hanover, Caroline and Spotsylvania counties. But the districts have been redrawn, and now he is running in the 59th, which encompasses the western half of Hanover, a chunk of northern Henrico and much of Louisa County. The district is mostly rural, white and Republican. Fowler said he will focus on lowering taxes and increasing the number of jobs in the state. Craig wants to improve transparency in government and reduce the number of administrative regulations that are treated as law, even though they are not written by legislators. Strother also wants to reform the administrative sector of government, whose regulations are impossible to challenge and costly to taxpayers, he said. Craig has raised the most money among them roughly $92,000, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, and even more since the last reporting deadline, he said. Fowler has brought in $80,000, and Strother, $21,000. Buddy Fowler Fowler, 67, has been a delegate in the General Assembly for 10 years. He said his focus now is lowering personal and corporate taxes and bringing more businesses to Virginia. To do so, the state needs strong right-to-work laws and cheap electricity, he said. With more electric vehicles and data centers coming to the state, increasing demand for wattage, a more affordable kilowatt hour is essential, he said. Solar and windmills are not going to get the job done, Fowler said. Thats just the reality. Virginia is at a disadvantage compared with other states in the South, he said, which have lower taxes and more business-friendly policies. We dont need more taxes, we need more taxpayers, said Fowler, who has been endorsed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Fowler has supported better access for drug consumers. A bill he sponsored in 2022 that was later signed by Youngkin allows patients to find lower-cost generic versions of drugs. The bill requires insurance carriers to link to real-time cost information about the drugs the insurer covers. Fowler said it is one of his best recent achievements. He grew up in Henrico and graduated from Hermitage High School. He owned a business called Dr. Copy Inc., which provided billing services to doctors and dentists, but he has since retired from his day job. Fowler lives on a 50-acre farm in Hanover with his wife, Pat. They have three children. Before running for office, he worked for the Republican caucus and was a legislative aide to then-Del. Frank Hargrove for about 10 years. Running for office was not originally on his bucket list, he said. It is just the turn his career took. Graven Craig Craig, 56, has almost 26 years experience as a trial attorney. His political career began when he was a teenager, when, by happenstance, his parents sold their log cabin in Albemarle County to George Allen, who represented part of the county in the House of Delegates from 1983 to 1991. Craig handed out bumper stickers for Allen, who was elected governor in 1993. After graduating from St. Annes-Belfield in Charlottesville, Craig played lacrosse at the University of Maryland and later worked in the White House under President George H.W. Bush. He worked for the Republican Party for years and ran for office in 2017, finishing second to John McGuire in a six-way GOP primary in the 56th House District. Craig and his wife, Kelly, have three children. They live in Louisa, where he is a former chair of the county Republican Party. A point of pride for Craig is that he has sued the state and won multiple times. In the summer of 2020, representing the Seventh Congressional District Republican Committee, Craig sued the Virginia Department of Elections and then-Attorney General Mark Herring. Republicans in the district wanted to hold a convention to choose their nominee, but were unable to do so because of social distancing restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then-Gov. Ralph Northam refused to extend the deadline for parties to pick their nominees. Craig sued and won. The judge granted an injunction, allowing Republicans to hold a convention at a later date, in which they eventually chose Nick Freitas as their nominee. Later that fall, Freitas lost to Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th. Two significant issues for Craig are improving transparency in government and ending what he described as overreach by the administrative branch of state government. More than 100,000 people work for the Virginia government across more than 100 state agencies. Craig said it is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, for a child to sit in a certain place on a boat. The statute is written into the Virginia Administrative Code, which has the same force of law; it was determined by a state agency, and not by legislators. I dont think thats appropriate, Craig said. The General Assembly should never allow bureaucrats to enact criminal laws. Period. Philip Strother Strother, 53, is a lawyer, winery owner and farmer. Strother lives in Henrico and practices civil law, where he said he often challenges government overreach. He also owns the Philip Carter Winery and Valley View Farm, both in Fauquier County. Strother is the farms beekeeper. Strother grew up in Fairfax and Fauquier counties and attended Elon University in North Carolina. He has law degrees from Cooley Law School in Michigan and George Washington University. He and his wife, Danielle, have three sons. He says he understands the importance of rural Virginia. Im going to be a champion for preserving our rural way of life, he said. As a lawyer, he said he is dedicated to putting people first and fighting government overreach. In the late 2000s, he sued the Hanover County School Board on behalf of a child with autism. The suit alleged the school system had not made an adequate effort to give the child a personalized and effective education. Strother prevailed in federal court, and he said the case set the standard for how schools measure the progress of special education students. Strother also said that, if elected, he will work to limit the authority of the administrative agencies in Virginia. Once an agency sets an administrative law, it is difficult to change it, courts defer to it and you cannot vote against the people who wrote it, he said, asserting that there are no checks or balances. One example he gave is that an inspector can withhold a building permit if an electrical outlet does not meet the exact standards of the state building code. He said overreach of administrative agencies occurs throughout the state. Its across the board, he said. Its pervasive throughout the administrative branch of government right now. Its every government agency. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Michael Paul Williams Follow Michael Paul Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today An action at Richmond City Council earlier this month showed the precarious state of social justice, three years after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020. The Council voted to spend $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act monies that had been originally earmarked by the Virginia General Assembly for community-based gun violence prevention programming on ballistic shields for the Richmond Police Department. As it turns out, Attorney General Jason Miyares office had re-designated the money for equipment, new program implementation, training, or existing program enhancement another example of how changing political winds are blowing against the social justice movement. Meanwhile, the former site of the Robert E. Lee monument embodies empty promise. Unofficially renamed Marcus-David Peters Circle for a man killed by police during a mental health crisis, the site containing the graffiti-covered Lee statue a circle filled with memorials to victims of police violence became a focal point of Richmonds 2020 demonstrations and garnered recognition by The New York Times Style Magazine among the 25 Most Influential Works of American Protest Art since World War II. But after the Lee monument was removed in September 2021, a fence was erected around the circle, stymieing hopes that the site could be reclaimed as a community space. That fence is still up as a symbol that this government, state and city government, have no intention of honoring the wishes of Black people in this city and those of us who fight every day for the lives of Black and brown people who have been victims of systemic racism, community organizer Art Burton said Wednesday. Burton said grassroots activists have been treated with contempt simply for trying to partner with this government ... in terms of honoring our commitment to move from protests to programs and implement things that were more than symbolic. Burton and Allan-Charles Chipman, executive director of Initiatives of Change USA, were among several activists who criticized the planned purchase of ballistic shields before the City Council. We have yet found the political and societal will to recreate and change the systems that impact the cruel conditions under which Black people live, Chipman said Wednesday. The protests of three years ago were a catalyst for real change. Confederate monuments were removed; the death penalty was ended in Virginia. Young Black leaders out of Richmond pushed new boundaries on food justice, environmental sustainability, marijuana justice and health equity, and worked to reclaim the history of Jackson Ward. But, We have less of a voice now as citizens in this city in our government than we had before Black Lives Matter, Burton said, citing a lack of access to public meetings and elected officials. Were further away from a government by the people, for the people now than we were three years ago. Backlashes to Black liberation and advancement are nothing new; pushback invariably has followed advancement. In the wake of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Richard Nixons Southern Strategy built a new majority coalition of white voters by weaponizing the political gains of Black people and rebranding and sanitizing white supremacist politics, says Adam Ewing, an associate professor in the Department of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Whats happening right now is different. The majority of the country an interracial coalition that includes a lot of white people support multiracial democracy. This was reflected in the 2020 protests, which brought people into the streets in unprecedented numbers. It is reflected in the elections of 2020 and since, and would be more reflective if not for the destruction of the Voting Rights Act and massive efforts to restrict voting rights by Republicans, he said. I dont believe there has ever been a time in U.S. history in which a larger percentage of Americans supported building a true multiracial democracy and moving past our foundational and current status quo, which is white supremacy. What Republicans are doing right now is not building a new majority that can withstand these pressures; instead, they are doubling down on their shrinking coalition and utilizing increasingly extreme and unpopular measures to galvanize and motivate that coalition. It is clear that Republican leaders will embrace anti-democratic means to maintain power until there is no more democracy. In that way, Ewing said, a more apt historical analogy for what is happening today is the Massive Resistance era following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court outlawing public school segregation by race. As devastating as that resistance was, it was a resistance fought from a position of weakness rather than strength, he said. And it was defeated by the civil rights movement that did what no reform politician was able to accomplish. Today, resistance is manifesting itself in the politically contrived opposition to critical race theory, diversity, equity and inclusion, and intense efforts to control what children learn and read about race and gender. When people are banning books and trying to suppress the free expression of the truth, they are losing the argument, Ewing said. We are in an incredibly dangerous moment right now because the people with the losing argument wield enormous power and are willing to break things to maintain power. But we are also in a moment of opportunity if we can mobilize against this threat. Im fearful that we will descend into authoritarian rule. But the conditions are also there for what Rev. (William) Barber calls the third reconstruction. The story is being written right now, and if the majority pulls together and fights it will win. Social justice does not move in a straight line, Ewing says; history is more often a result of push and pull. The white moderate was once scolded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. for asking justice-seeking Black Americans to wait for a more convenient season. But today, politicians of all stripes work to slow down the clock of progress until a more convenient season or worse, to turn back the clock altogether. That clock, at this rate, will turn back to May 2020. Were amping back up, Burton said. Im 63 years old. Ive been on the field now for 23 years. I have given my whole life to this. I aint going out sitting down. The great Curtis Mayfield had a song for moments like this: Keep on Pushing. At least two killed during freak storm that ripped through Chetumal Chetumal, Q.R. At least two people were reported killed and several others injured after a storm ripped through Chetumal. On Wednesday evening, two construction workers were killed when a 15-meter tree, which was felled due to strong winds and heavy rains, struck them. The men were working near the Chetumal International Airport at the time of the incident. Four other area workers were injured. The storm arrived just before 6:00 p.m. Wednesday with strong winds and heavy rains that tore down signs, felled trees and left some roads waterlogged. One CFE pole in the capital city was buckled after being hit by lightning. A CFE pole near the Chetumal airport buckled after being hit by lightning. Photo: May 24, 2023. The storm also affected areas of Tulum with residents reporting intermedient electrical service and hail. Jessica Jaqueline Martinez Barrios, head of the Municipal Coordination of Civil Protection of Tulum, said she had several reports of falling hail from municipal residents, some of whom, had never seen it before. Hail was reported from Tulum to the Hondo River. Photo: May 24, 2023. Costa Maya residents reported hail as far south as the Hondo River along the Belize border, however, the city of Chetumal was the hardest hit with pouring rain and wind gusts strong enough to knock down large trees. Numerous large trees were knocked down by the freak storm. Photo: May 24, 2023. A majority of the state of Quintana Roo had rain in the forecast for Wednesday afternoon. Shalon Rojas, who heads the Metrology department of the Municipal Civil Protection Coordination, explained that the falling hail was due to a storm that lasted less than five minutes. However, the high intensity shower, which became sufficiently unstable in those areas, began to generate hail. She said the unstable weather is due to a cold front in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Nine tourists killed after semi runs over passenger van Guerrero, Mexico Nine tourists were killed early Wednesday after the van they were riding in was run over by a semi. The accident happened along a section of the Del Sol highway in the coastal state of Guerrero. The passenger van was carrying a family of national tourists who had left Acapulco bound for the state of Hidalgo when they were hit by the semi. The highway was shut for more than four hours while emergency teams sorted out the twisted metal vehicles and the deceased. According to preliminary information, brakes on the semi unit failed, causing it to hit the van at full highway speed. The passenger van was dragged by the semi for nearly 100 meters before coming to a stop. Civil Protection Gurrero have said that all nine deceased were from the same family. They include four adult women, four minors and one adult man. Five were found dead on scene. The others died in hospital. The driver of the semi was arrested at the scene. The State Attorney Generals Office (FGE) of Guerrero has not commented on possible charges. Tourist park employees protest for lack of profit sharing payments Riviera Maya, Q.R. Employees from two tourist parks in three locations stopped work Tuesday in protest of lack of profit sharing payments. The unionized CROC workers expressed their dissatisfaction with the parks in Isla Mujeres, Puerto Aventuras and Cozumel. Workers from all three locations protested simultaneously with banners protesting the lack of profit sharing payments. CROC representative Noel Pinacho said that workers protested after learning the company claimed no profits with SAT. Pinacho claimed the owner of the tourist parks made the zero profit claim in order to avoid paying workers a percentage of the companys profits. Wife of main suspect in missing Isla Mujeres girl surrenders to authorities Isla Mujeres, Q.R. The wife of a man who was arrested in relation to the disappearance of an Isla Mujeres girl has turned herself in. On Tuesday, the State Attorney Generals Office (FGE) offered a one-million-peso reward for her capture. The FGE has since confirmed she is in custody after surrendering to authorities early Wednesday morning. Angelica V is the wife of Marcos Antonio N, the man authorities also offered a one-million-peso reward for last year. Both are suspects in the disappearance of Fernanda C, who was 12 when she went to their mainland Isla Mujeres home in July of 2022 where she worked housekeeping. Her mother filed a missing persons report when she failed to return home. Marcos Anotnio N was arrested in the state of Chiapas in November of 2022. He remains imprisoned in Quintana Roo. His wife is also now in custody. The FGE of Quintana Roo informs that an arrest warrant was executed for Angelica V, who voluntarily appeared before the authorities of this autonomous body, the agency reported Wednesday. The day before she turned herself in, the FGE had issued a 1.5-million-peso reward for information on the whereabouts of Fernanda C. Both Angelica V and Marcos Antonio N remain the main suspects in the case of the missing girl. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A judge sentenced a Christiansburg man on Wednesday who helped his uncle conceal a womans body after she fatally overdosed to one year in jail. Matthew Jason Tweet McKinney, 41, pleaded guilty in December to one felony, concealing a dead body, and one misdemeanor, disposing a dead body on private property. In June 2021, McKinney was living with his uncle, 62-year-old Donald L. Woody Broome. Also living in the home was the uncles girlfriend, 31-year-old Shasta Dawn Hall. On June 30, McKinney testified in Montgomery County Circuit Court Wednesday, he woke up in the middle of the night when Broome shouted his name a frantic scream appealing for his help. McKinney testified that he went to his uncles bedroom and saw Hall, who was not breathing. He said Broome administered Narcan, an anti-overdose nasal spray, to Hall, attempting to revive her. McKinney said he suggested to his uncle that they call an ambulance, but instead Bloom started barking orders. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jennifer Wolz said security camera video from the home shows McKinney retrieving a blanket from the living room, returning to the bedroom and helping Broome move Halls body into a vehicle. McKinney testified that he thought Broome was going to take her to the hospital. He got in another car and followed Broome to a parking garage in Blacksburg. Then, McKinney said, Broome left the vehicle that held Hall, got in McKinneys vehicle and returned home, where Wolz said the pair cleaned the inside of the residence. McKinneys attorney, Stephanie Cox, said McKinney was arrested the next day on a probation violation charge. Wolz said a drug deal had just ended at Broomes residence when police arrived. Cox said McKinney spent July to October 2021 in jail. He testified that he overdosed twice before the June 2021 incident but added that he hasnt used drugs since Halls death. I had an awakening, McKinney testified. This event just had a huge impact on my life. It made me want to be a better person. Attorneys said Wednesday that Broome received a 20-year sentence, suspended after he serves 10 years, for concealing Halls body and related drug offenses. Cox said Broomes sentences for concealing a dead body and illegally disposing of a body were suspended, meaning Broome wouldnt spend time in jail specifically for those charges. The defense attorney argued that neither should McKinney. Its a terrible situation from top to bottom, Cox said. But make no mistake. He was not the architect. The defense attorney said Broome bullied and coerced McKinney, who didnt have the wherewithal to know what to do. He was not acting from some evil, black heart, Cox said of McKinney, adding that he has a gentle soul and would love to be able to make this right. He just doesnt know how. But Wolz said McKinney is as culpable as Mr. Broome for concealing Halls body, adding that comparing their two sets of charges is unfair and inauthentic. The prosecutor said Broome may have been the architect of the incident, but Broome couldnt have done it without McKinney being a builder in the architects scheme. McKinney said he would forever be remorseful, but Wolz argued that he didnt care enough at the time. She said he could have refused to assist Broome, not followed him to the garage or located a phone to summon medical help. He did none of those things, and he needs to be held responsible for his actions, Wolz said. Judge Mike Fleenor sentenced McKinney to five years on the felony charge, which was all suspended, and 12 months on the misdemeanor charge, which McKinney will have to serve. Fleenor said McKinney will get credit for time he has already served in jail awaiting court proceedings. Once released from jail, Fleenor said, McKinney will be placed on three years of probation, during which he must continue to seek mental health treatment and pay court costs. A hearing related to McKinneys probation violation charge is scheduled for June 28. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Norfolk Police Department has installed 172 license plate reading cameras throughout the city, new Chief of Police Mark Talbot told City Council during a Tuesday work session. The cameras track the location and travel of vehicles by license plate number as well as by the make, model and color of a vehicle. The cameras can even catalog and track damage, like a broken tail light, or modifications, like custom hubcaps. They cost $490,000 and were purchased with American Rescue Plan Act funds. How they were paid for is notable as state lawmakers spoke out against a decision earlier this month by the state Criminal Justice Services Board to approve the use of ARPA funds to purchase license plate readers. The move went against decisions from the Senate and House of Delegates to kill bills that would have expanded the use of license plate readers amid concerns that the technology magnifies mass surveillance and poses a danger to privacy. During Tuesdays council session, Councilman Tommy Smigiel wanted to know hypothetically how the cameras, manufactured by a company called Flock Safety, would track a stolen car. I call 911 and let them know my car was just stolen, he posited. How quickly does it get put into the Flock camera system, registered, so they can track the movement of my vehicle through Little Creek Road, Hampton Boulevard, throughout the city? Very, Talbot replied, saying police could track the car without even knowing its license plate number. It would be difficult to drive anywhere of any distance without running into a camera. Right, Smigiel said. Ive seen them. Later, he pulled up a picture on his phone of a newly-installed camera on Hampton Boulevard a small black device, perched like a bird on top of a tall pole, under a canopy of solar panels. The resemblance to a bird is not quite coincidental. Flock calls its license plate reading cameras Falcons. The company also makes Raven gunshot detectors and Condor video cameras. License plate readers have been around for some time, but Flock expands on that technology by using machine learning to track more vehicle information and by creating a nationwide mass surveillance database out of all its customers cameras. Over 2,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies use Flock. The cameras are already operational in Norfolk, according to City Manager Chip Filer. But what privacy protections are in place are unclear. Asked to provide a copy of department policy regarding the cameras use and video retention, department spokesman Will Pickering said the department is currently developing one. We want to make sure that were using data in respect to privacy but also to help public safety, Pickering said. According to the Flock Safety website, footage is stored temporarily on local devices until it has been uploaded to an encrypted cloud, at which point it is stored for 30 days. The American Civil Liberties Union advocates for cities to adopt privacy policies that mandate deleting the information sooner than that. New Hampshire state law, for example, requires deletion of data within 3 minutes if a license plate scan does not trigger an alert. Norfolks cameras and the annual subscription to Flocks software and databases cost $2,500 each. Yearly recurring costs for the 172 cameras in Norfolk total $430,000. Among localities using Flock cameras are Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Isle of Wight and Franklin, Talbot said. Virginia Beach and Portsmouth are having them installed. (That) creates a nice curtain of technology that all of us can use to support each other, Talbot said. The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority has also purchased 20 of the cameras. The Flock cameras that record comings and goings across the city are just one component to Norfolks Real Time Crime Center that has been in the works and is slated for completion in the fall. The center will occupy the eighth floor of City Hall and will compile data from existing city-owned cameras and security systems, as well as some privately-owned cameras that provide information to the police. Officers will receive information from the center in the moment information like vehicle descriptions, victim or suspect criminal histories, live feed of video and even how people involved in crimes know each other, or what the police call a relationship nexus. That information is immediately sent to the officers, Pickering said, elaborating on how the data is used currently even as the crime center is under construction. Its going to the terminal inside of their vehicle and its alerting them to, lets say, stolen vehicles that are being hit, or if theres a vehicle of importance, something thats related to a homicide. Norfolk police used crime data to determine the locations for the cameras, Talbot said. The expansion of the camera system comes as police said both violent and property crime is down over last year. Fifteen homicides occurred in the city as of May 21, compared to 25 homicides in the same period last year. Total violent crimes, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, are down by 7%, with 441 violent crimes reported so far this year. Total property crimes are down by 9%, with nearly 4,000 incidents reported so far this year. I think its up to us to be advocates for the people who are trapped there, Talbot said, referring to what he called gun violence hotspots in the city. Most people arent drug dealers, arent shooters. Most people are living there, wanting to live a good life. ...So its up to us to identify those neighborhoods, prioritize them, put an effective strategy in place and execute the strategy. Norfolk police declined to provide a list of specific locations for the cameras. Nevertheless, residents advocating on behalf of certain affected neighborhoods spoke out a Tuesdays council meeting and objected to their placement. I disagree with putting cameras in any neighborhood due to the fact of people being entitled to some type of privacy, said Tiara Lassiter, a Norfolk resident speaking on behalf of Calvert Square and Young Terrace low-income neighborhoods challenged by crime. Granted, some people may think that privacy comes along with income. I disagree. Residents of Young Terrace and Calvert Square worked with the group New Virginia Majority to petition city council and the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority for changes that they say will be more effective than increased surveillance. Instead of cameras, residents want blue light call towers that would allow people to call for emergency services on an as-needed basis. Dont waste your money on cameras, said Monet Johnson of New Virginia Majority. Install call towers. Give people access to food. Take an active stake in removing poverty from the list of punishable offenses in the city of Norfolk, and do not fund or install these cameras. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Myrna Morrissey, the estranged wife of state Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Chesterfield, alleges in a court filing that he assaulted and emotionally abused her during their marriage while asking her to keep up the appearance of a happy life so he could advance politically. She filed for divorce Thursday in Henrico County; Axios Richmond first reported on the filing Wednesday morning. Her allegations are a contrast to public portrayals of the couple in recent years. The couple married in 2016 following Sen. Morrissey's December 2014 conviction on a misdemeanor crime because their relationship began in 2013, when she was 17 years old. Sen. Morrissey, 55 in 2013, served nights in jail for over three months as a member of the House of Delegates. Sen. Morrissey said by phone Wednesday that his wife was making false allegations because he had accused her boyfriend of spanking one of their children. "It breaks my heart but that's what she's doing," he said. During their marriage, the divorce filing alleges, his wife saw messages on his phone in which he solicited naked photos from other women. By the end of 2018 and after ongoing infidelities by her husband, Myrna Morrissey wanted to end the marriage, her filing says. The husband persuaded her to stay, because he was about to run for State Senate, and a divorce would hurt his campaign, the filing says. He desired to portray their family life to help him overcome the stigma created by their illicit relationship. He agreed to move to another house and live separately if she would stay with him through the 2019 election, the filing said. The Husband exercised financial control over the Wife and she felt that she had no choice in matters, the filing says. Court documents outline allegations Myrna Morrissey says in her filing that she told her husband she wanted a divorce the night of his successful Senate election victory in 2019. Morrissey defeated a Democratic senator, Rosalyn Dance, in a primary that year and won the general election for a Richmond-area seat. Myrna Morrissey suffered emotional abuse and physical assault by her husband, according to the document. He elbowed her in the abdomen while she was pregnant with their third child, and on another occasion grabbed her by the throat, slammed her against the wall, choked her and slapped her face until she stopped fighting back, the filing alleges. "When the Wife threatened to call the police the Husband said he would tell the police that she was the aggressor because of the scratches he sustained from the Wife trying to get free." She alleges he called her by a "disparaging curse word," a spoiled brat and a ghetto rat. He told her she was powerless against him because of his political position, finances and "friends who do him legal favors, her filing alleges. The court filing says he paid her $30,000 to $60,000 per year from his law firms payroll from April 2015 to June 2020 even though she had not worked at the firm since August 2013. Sen. Morrissey has been disbarred twice and cannot currently practice law. She said in the filing that, when she was around 19 or 20, she asked for help managing a large house under renovation and caring for the children, and alleges that her husband told her: Youre living the American dream!!! Whats so [expletive] hard ?!? Sen. Morrissey said Wednesday: Sadly, my wife is making these reports, these comments because I reported that her boyfriend had spanked my child with a wet belt. I love Myrna and it breaks my heart that she would bring these allegations, make these absolutely false allegations public and doing it at a time that would try to hurt me politically. A substitute judge in February found no evidence of child abuse by Myrna Morrissey's boyfriend. Northam granted pardon Earlier this year, Myrna Morrissey alleged that her husband stole her passport. But a prosecutor moved to dismiss a larceny charge against him earlier this month, and a judge dismissed it. When Sen. Morrissey in late 2021 petitioned then-Gov. Ralph Northam for a simple pardon for the misdemeanor conviction, the petition said he and Myrna Morrissey were "living the American dream." Myrna and Joe Morrissey were happily married on June 11, 2016, and are now raising four (4) beautiful children, read the petition to the governor, also signed by an attorney for Sen. Morrissey, state Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax. Additionally, Myrna will be the first to acknowledge that she was not in any way manipulated by Joe and that she was in no way coerced by him, the petition said. They worked together, they were attracted to each other, they fell in love, married, and are raising four (4) wonderful children together. A beautiful and happy family living the American Dream. Northam granted the simple pardon shortly before he left office. A simple pardon is a statement of official forgiveness that does not remove a criminal conviction from the record. Northam has endorsed another candidate, former Del. Lashrecse Aird, against Morrissey in a June 20 primary election for state Senate in a district that extends from Henrico south to Sussex County. Both Sen. and Myrna Morrissey acknowledged in court filings earlier this year in a child custody case that they separated on Nov. 8, 2019, two years before Joes pardon petition. At the time of the pardon petition, Myrna Morrissey had had a boyfriend for over a year, and her husband was aware of him, she said in an interview. In an interview, Sen. Morrissey defended his pardon petition. Theres lots of couples that are separated ... and still happy. Things were beautiful, okay?, he said. She, she found another individual, younger, thats fine, that happens, Im a grown up. I understand. Its true we were very happy. We were co-parenting." All six Democratic women in the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus have endorsed Aird and criticized Sen. Morrisseys behavior. He has previously enjoyed support from some of the men in his party. In 2019, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who at that time was leading fundraising efforts for Virginia Senate Democrats, joined Senate Democratic Leader Dick Saslaw of Fairfax at Sen. Morrisseys home to help him raise campaign money after he won the primary that year. Sen. Morrissey and Surovell are both members of the state Senate Judiciary Committee, where Sen. Morrissey has strong influence in deciding which people are appointed as judges in Virginias courts. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. " " ChatGPT, released in 2022 by a San Francisco-based company called OpenAI, quickly creates detailed responses and articulate answers to questions, which has educators concerned. GPT is short for "generative pre-trained transformer." CHUAN CHUAN/Shutterstock Don't believe everything you read on the internet, but at this point in time, you can be reasonably sure the article you're reading right now was written by a person. I, a human being, give you my carbon-based guarantee that I cast about in my mind for each and every word you're about to read and I had to learn to do this thing, first with the help of teachers and then by way of thousands of hours of practice. That's how it's always been with writing: Whether you wrote it yourself, plagiarized it, paraphrased it or took dictation, writing has always come from some person's brain and through some person's fingers. It is now early 2023, and that's beginning to change and with it, the way students learn to write. In November of 2022, a seven-year-old company called OpenAI released a chatbot called ChatGPT short for "generative pre-trained transformer" which was immediately heralded as the best piece of artificial intelligence software ever made. Advertisement Chatbots aren't a new idea in 1950, Alan Turing, a pioneer in modern computing and artificial intelligence, wrote a paper called "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" in which he described the "Imitation Game" now called the "Turing Test" that could measure a machine's ability to act in ways that might be indistinguishable from those of a human. Now, ChatGPT can write just about anything jokes about elephants in the style of a pirate, elementary school book reports about Dolley Madison, country songs written from the perspective of a mongoose, flourless banana bread recipes you name it. The wildest part is, ChatGPT can make whatever it turns out seem like it was written in any voice you tell it to imitate. This, of course, has educators panicking. Catching up, yet again, with a big bunch of relisted acquitted conduct petitions pending before SCOTUS | Main | Oath Keepers founder gets 18 years in federal prison for role in Jan 6 riot May 25, 2023 Justice Gorsuch (joined by Justice Jackson) talks up Excessive Fines Clause after SCOTUS majority finds tax forfeiture is a taking A civil case on the Supreme Court's docket that I have been watching as the Term winds down is Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, which presented these issues: (1) Whether taking and selling a home to satisfy a debt to the government, and keeping the surplus value as a windfall, violates the Fifth Amendment's takings clause; and (2) whether the forfeiture of property worth far more than needed to satisfy a debt, plus interest, penalties, and costs, is a fine within the meaning of the Eighth Amendment. The Supreme Court this morning handed down a unanimous opinion in Tyler, and the opinion for the Court, authored by Chief Justice Roberts, concludes this way: The Takings Clause was designed to bar Government from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should be borne by the public as a whole. Armstrong, 364 U.S., at 49. A taxpayer who loses her $40,000 house to the State to fulfill a $15,000 tax debt has made a far greater contribution to the public fisc than she owed. The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesars, but no more. Because we find that Tyler has plausibly alleged a taking under the Fifth Amendment, and she agrees that relief under the Takings Clause would fully remedy [her] harm, we need not decide whether she has also alleged an excessive fine under the Eighth Amendment. Tr. of Oral Arg. 27. The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is reversed. But while the Court as a whole dodged the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause, a concurring opinion by Justice Gorsuch (joined by Justice Jackson) had lots to say on the topic. Here are a few passages from a short concurrence: Given its Takings Clause holding, the Court understandably declines to pass on the question whether the Eighth Circuit committed a further error when it dismissed Ms. Tylers claim under the Eighth Amendments Excessive Fines Clause. Ante, at 14. But even a cursory review of the District Courts excessive-fines analysis which the Eighth Circuit adopted as well-reasoned, 26 F. 4th 789, 794 (2022) reveals that it too contains mistakes future lower courts should not be quick to emulate. First, the District Court concluded that the Minnesota tax-forfeiture scheme is not punitive because its primary purpose is remedial aimed, in other words, at compensat[ing] the government for lost revenues due to the nonpayment of taxes. 505 F. Supp. 3d 879, 896 (Minn. 2020). That primary-purpose test finds no support in our law. Because sanctions frequently serve more than one purpose, this Court has said that the Excessive Fines Clause applies to any statutory scheme that serv[es] in part to punish. Austin v. United States, 509 U.S. 602, 610 (1993) (emphasis added). It matters not whether the scheme has a remedial purpose, even a predominantly remedial purpose. So long as the law cannot fairly be said solely to serve a remedial purpose, the Excessive Fines Clause applies. Ibid. (emphasis added; internal quotation marks omitted).... Second, the District Court asserted that the Minnesota tax-forfeiture scheme cannot be punitive because it actually confers a windfall on the delinquent taxpayer when the value of the property that is forfeited is less than the amount of taxes owed. 505 F. Supp. 3d, at 896. That observation may be factually true, but it is legally irrelevant. Some prisoners better themselves behind bars; some addicts credit court-ordered rehabilitation with saving their lives. But punishment remains punishment all the same.... Third, the District Court appears to have inferred that the Minnesota scheme is not punitive because it does not turn on the culpability of the individual property owner. 505 F. Supp. 3d, at 897. But while a focus on culpability can sometimes make a provision look more like punishment, this Court has never endorsed the converse view. Austin, 509 U.S., at 619. Even without emphasizing culpability, this Court has said a statutory scheme may still be punitive where it serves another goal of punishment, such as [d]eterrence. United States v. Bajakajian, 524 U.S. 321, 329 (1998). And the District Court expressly approved the Minnesota tax-forfeiture scheme in this case in large part because the ultimate possibility of loss of property serves as a deterrent to those taxpayers considering tax delinquency. 505 F. Supp. 3d, at 899 (emphasis added). Economic penalties imposed to deter willful noncompliance with the law are fines by any other name. And the Constitution has something to say about them: They cannot be excessive. May 25, 2023 at 11:16 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Justice Gorsuch (joined by Justice Jackson) talks up Excessive Fines Clause after SCOTUS majority finds tax forfeiture is a taking | Main | A long round-up of sentencing news and commentary before a long weekend As reported in this AP piece, the "founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after the 2020 election." Here is more: Stewart Rhodes is the first person charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack to be sentenced for seditious conspiracy, and his sentence is the longest that has been handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases. Its another milestone for the Justice Departments sprawling Jan. 6 investigation, which has led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups authorities say came to Washington prepared to fight to keep President Donald Trump in power at all costs. Before handing down the sentence, the judge told a defiant Rhodes that he is a continued threat to the U.S., saying its clear Rhodes wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence. The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said.... Prosecutors had sought 25 years for Rhodes, who they say was the architect of a plot to forcibly disrupt the transfer of presidential power that included quick reaction force teams at a Virginia hotel to ferry weapons into D.C. if they were needed. The weapons were never deployed. In remarks shortly before the judge handed down the sentence, Rhodes slammed the prosecution as politically motivated, noted that he never went inside the Capitol and insisted he never told anyone else to do so. Im a political prisoner and like President Trump my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country, Rhodes said. In a first for a Jan. 6 case, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta agreed with prosecutors to apply enhanced penalties for terrorism, under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through intimidation or coercion. Judges in previous sentencings had shot down the Justice Departments request for the so-called terrorism enhancement which can lead to a longer prison term but Mehta said it fits in Rhodes case. Prosecutors argued that a lengthy sentence is necessary to deter future political violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeating the lie 2020 election was stolen and saying it would be again in 2024. In remarks just days ago, Rhodes called for regime change, the prosecutor said.... A lawyer for Rhodes, who plans to appeal his conviction, said prosecutors are unfairly trying to make Rhodes the face of January 6. Attorney Phillip Linder told the judge that Rhodes could have had many more Oath Keepers come to the Capitol if he really wanted to disrupt Congress certification of the Electoral College vote. If you want to put a face on J6 (Jan. 6), you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians, all the people who spun that narrative, Linder said. Another Oath Keeper convicted alongside Rhodes in November Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs was expected to receive his sentence later Thursday. Two other Oath Keepers, acquitted of the sedition charge but convicted of other offenses, will be sentenced Friday. And four other members found guilty of seditious conspiracy at a second trial in January are scheduled to be sentenced next week.... Rhodes sentence may forecast what prosecutors will seek for former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside other leaders of his far-right group this month for what prosecutors said was a separate plot to block the transfer of presidential power. The Proud Boys will be sentenced in August and September. Rhodes, 58, and the other Oath Keepers said there was never any plan to attack the Capitol or stop Congress from certifying Bidens victory. The defense tried to seize on the fact that none of the Oath Keepers messages laid out an explicit plan to storm the Capitol. But prosecutors said the Oath Keepers saw an opportunity to further their goal to stop the transfer of power and sprang into action when the mob began storming the building.... Before Thursday, the longest sentence in the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases was 14 years for a man with a long criminal record who attacked police officers with pepper spray and a chair as he stormed the Capitol. Just over 500 of the defendants have been sentenced, with more than half receiving prison time and the remainder getting sentences such as probation or home detention. 92 65 2.5 3 AirwallexVisa 2653 905 50 55 0.68% Netflix330 1.93% 2.25% 95% 22% 9200 265 5 50.51% 4700 VinFastSUV 8.6 668 2.06% 2.47% 6 49.9% University Hill190 AI 356 12 2000 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed one of the nations largest wholesale drug distributors to keep shipping highly addictive painkillers for nearly four years after a judge recommended it be stripped of its license for its cavalier disregard of thousands of suspicious orders fueling the opioid crisis. The DEA did not respond to repeated questions from The Associated Press about its handling of the case against Morris & Dickson Co. or the involvement of a high-profile consultant the company had hired to stave off punishment and who is now DEA Administrator Anne Milgrams top deputy. But the delay has raised concerns about how the revolving door between government and industry may be impacting the DEAs mission to police drug companies blamed for tens of thousands of American overdose deaths. If the DEA had issued its order in a timely manner, one could then credibly believe that its second-in-command was not involved despite an obvious conflict of interest, said Craig Holman, an ethics expert at the watchdog group Public Citizen in Washington. The mere fact that its action has been delayed four years just raises red flags. It casts the entire process under grave suspicion. Last week, after the AP reached out to the DEA for comment, the agency broke its silence on the issue and abruptly notified Morris & Dickson that it has decided to revoke its registration to distribute controlled substances, according to two people familiar with the development who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the exchange. However, no final order has yet been published. The company has described revocation as a virtual death sentence and is almost certain to challenge the decision in federal court. Louis Milione, who was named DEAs principal deputy administrator in 2021, did not respond to requests for comment. He retired from the DEA in 2017 after a storied 21-year career that included two years leading the division that controls the sale of highly addictive narcotics. Like dozens of colleagues in the DEAs powerful-but-little-known Office of Diversion Control, he quickly went to work as a consultant for some of the same companies he had been tasked with regulating, including Morris & Dickson. Milione was brought in by Morris & Dickson as part of a $3 million contract to save its registration to supply painkillers after the DEA accused the company in 2018 of failing to flag thousands of suspicious, high-volume orders. Testifying in 2019 before federal Administrative Law Judge Charles W. Dorman, Milione argued that Morris & Dickson spared no expense to overhaul its compliance systems, cancel suspicious orders and send daily emails to the DEA spelling out its actions. But those efforts were too little, too late, the judge wrote in a 159-page recommendation which has not been previously reported and was recently obtained by the AP. Anything less than the most severe punishment, he said, would communicate to DEA registrants that despite their transgressions, no matter how egregious, they will get a mere slap on the wrist and a second chance so long as they acknowledge their sins and vow to sin no more. Acceptance of responsibility and evidence of remediation are not get-out-of-jail-free cards that erase the harm caused by years of cavalier disregard, Dorman wrote. Allowing the respondent to keep its registration would tell distributors that it is acceptable to take a relaxed approach to DEA regulations until they are caught, at which point they only need to throw millions of dollars at the problem to make the DEA go away. Shreveport, Louisiana-based Morris & Dickson, the nations fourth-largest wholesale drug distributor with $4 billion a year in revenue and nearly 600 employees, has said losing its license would effectively shut it down and have a catastrophic effect on patients in 29 states. In a statement to AP, the company said it has invested millions of dollars in compliance systems, executives and advisors. "If DEA attempts to revoke our license for previous actions, the company will vigorously appeal and seek a stay in federal court," it said. We are confident we will achieve an outcome that safeguards the supply chain for all of our healthcare partners and the communities they serve. Neither Milgram nor two DEA administrators who preceded her have taken any enforcement action since Dormans 2019 recommendation, allowing Morris & Dickson to continue operating even as it pursued a potential settlement. Former DEA officials told AP a nearly four-year wait in such a case is highly unusual, noting it rarely takes the agency more than two years to issue a final order. Milgrams management of DEA since the Biden nominee came into office nearly two years ago has been called into question on another front. AP reported last month that a federal watchdog is investigating whether the agency improperly awarded millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to hire Milgram's past associates. As for Milione, federal ethics rules bar government employees from taking part in decisions that could benefit companies where they previously worked. DEA spokesperson Christina Pryor declined to comment, but a person familiar with Milione's work said he recused himself from issues related to Morris & Dickson after returning to the DEA in 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about DEA officials' recusals. Milione, a lawyer and former bit Hollywood actor, impressed fellow DEA agents for his risk taking and toughness. Among his achievements was running the overseas sting that in 2008 nabbed Russias notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout, aka The Merchant of Death. But after taking over as the head of Diversion Control in 2015, he ended his predecessors refusal to meet with drug manufacturers and distributors and opened the DEAs doors to the industry it was charged with regulating. Among those Milione met with on at least two occasions was Paul Dickson Sr. then-president of Morris & Dickson. That included a 2016 visit to the Louisiana headquarters with DEA investigators to discuss the companys compliance program. John Gray, the head of the Healthcare Distributors Alliance, a lobbying group that includes Morris & Dickson, recounted in a 2015 email how Milione, under orders from then-incoming DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg, wanted to reset relations with the drug industry. And Milione even delivered the keynote speech at the groups annual meeting. Overall, he was engaging, exceedingly pleasant and seemed genuinely concerned that we had lost touch with each other, Gray wrote. It is a very different tone and approach than we have all seen in the past 8-10 years. Morris & Dickson had been punished for its mishandling of addictive drugs before. In 2019, before Dorman issued his recommendation, the company agreed to pay $22 million in civil penalties to resolve federal prosecutors' claims that it violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to report suspicious orders of hydrocodone and oxycodone. The company also agreed to multimillion-dollar upgrades of its compliance program to ensure it reports suspicious orders moving forward. The case drew far less attention than the enforcement actions DEA took in recent years against Morris & Dicksons larger competitors, a trio of pharmaceutical distributors who have agreed to pay the federal government more than $1 billion in fines and penalties for similar violations. Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen and McKesson also agreed to pay $21 billion over 18 years to resolve claims as part of a nationwide settlement. Among the more than 12,000 suspicious orders that Dorman said Morris & Dickson should have reported to the DEA were 51 unusually large orders of opioids made by Wilkinson Family Pharmacy in suburban New Orleans. Wilkinson purchased more than 4.5 million pills of oxycodone and hydrocodone from Morris & Dickson between 2014 and 2017, and federal prosecutors say during that time owner Keith Wilkinson laundered more than $345,000 from illegal sales made with forged prescriptions or written by pill mill doctors. In one month, as many as 42% of all prescriptions filled by Wilkinson were for painkillers and 38% of those were paid for in cash. The DEA considers a pharmacys sales of controlled substances suspicious whenever they surpass 15% or cash transactions exceed 9%. Yet Morris & Dickson never suspended any shipments to the pharmacy. Over three years, it filed just three suspicious order reports to the DEA none of which resulted in shipments being suspended. Anybody with half a brain couldve seen something wasnt right, said Dan Schneider, a retired pharmacist near New Orleans whose fight to hold drug companies accountable for the opioid epidemic was featured in a Netflix documentary series. They were way out of line. Goodman reported from Miami. Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org. Federal officials say over 200 patients could be at risk of fungal meningitis after having surgical procedures at clinics in a Mexico border city. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday it is collaborating with the Mexican Ministry of Health to respond to the outbreak among patients who traveled to Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. Officials have identified and closed two clinics linked to the outbreak, River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3. The CDC says 224 U.S. patients might be at risk for meningitis based on their procedures the clinics from January to May 13. Health officials are working to contact those people and urge them to get tested. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LOS ANGELES U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinsteins ongoing medical struggles have raised a sensitive political question with no easy answer: Who would California Gov. Gavin Newsom pick to replace her if the seat becomes vacant? Despite calls from within her own party to resign, Feinstein, who turns 90 next month and is the oldest member of Congress, has given no indication that she is considering stepping down. Her frail appearance, confused interactions with reporters in Washington and the growing list of health challenges disclosed by her office continue to fan questions about her fitness for the job now and into the future. Should a vacancy occur, a range of names, from obscure to famous including Oprah Winfrey have been floated in California circles as possible replacements. Newsom, who is mentioned as a possible future presidential contender, would also have to deal with political complexities, some of his own making: In 2021 he promised to appoint a Black woman should Feinstein's seat become open. Meanwhile, a 2024 Senate campaign is underway to fill the seat when the senators term ends in January 2025. The situation has created a sad, public coda for the groundbreaking career of a Democratic leader who shattered gender barriers in California and Washington. Heres a look at what could happen: What is the status of Feinstein's health? In short, much is unknown. Feinstein returned to the Senate on May 10 about 10 weeks after being diagnosed, then briefly hospitalized, with shingles in San Francisco. On her return to the Capitol, she was markedly thinner and one side of her face was drooping, apparently from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can occur when the shingles virus reaches a facial nerve near the ears. It also can cause hearing loss. On the advice of doctors, Feinstein's staff say she is working a lighter schedule as she deals with side effects from the virus, including vision and balance problems. She has been using a wheelchair to get to her office and committee meetings. Questions have been raised in recent years about Feinstein's memory and mental acuity, though she has defended her effectiveness. Since her return to Washington, she has at times appeared confused during brief discussions with reporters. Her office also disclosed she suffered a bout of encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, which can also be caused by shingles. Feinstein's biographer Jerry Roberts told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published Sunday that the senator has a belief in herself to the point of stubbornness, where nobody is going to tell her what she can or cannot do. She has tremendous belief and confidence in her own strength and her own ability. Newsom's promise: Elevating a Black woman to Senate When California Sen. Kamala Harris resigned to become vice president, Newsom faced pressure from both Black, Latino and other groups over a replacement pick. Some felt that he should replace Harris, the only Black woman in the U.S. Senate, with another Black woman. But others thought it was past time for California to have its first Latino senator, and Newsom chose then-Secretary of State Alex Padilla for the job. But he later promised that if Feinstein's seat became vacant, he would choose a Black woman to replace her. Should Feinstein step aside, he'll be expected to make good on the promise. He made the commitment and I do not believe there is any wiggle room for the governor not to honor his commitment, said Kerman Maddox, a Los Angeles-based Democratic strategist and fundraiser who is Black. Newsom must honor his promise to appoint a Black woman" if Feinstein resigns, said Democratic Assemblymember Lori Wilson, who heads the Legislative Black Caucus in Sacramento. "I trust him at his word. We currently have zero Black women in the Senate, so if the opportunity becomes available the governor must act to help remedy this lack of representation. Which way to turn caretaker or contender? In filling a Senate vacancy, Newsom has the authority to name a successor. He could even pick himself, though that is unlikely. State rules dictate when an election would have to be held. Newsom's choices all run risks. He could get entangled in the ongoing Senate campaign and choose one of the declared candidates to fill a Feinstein vacancy. Another option would be to select a caretaker, and then leave it to voters to decide in next years election someone who would hold the seat but is not a Senate candidate. If he picked one of the declared Senate candidates, Newsom would unsettle the growing field and elevate that person to frontrunner status. U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, who is Black, is already running against fellow Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, who both are white. Newsom said he was being swamped with recommendations for how to fill a possible Senate vacancy. He calls Feinstein a mentor and one of his closest friends, and said he was hoping he never had to make a decision to fill her seat. I get it. For those who say, Enough of Newsom making these picks! I get it. I'm with you. I understand, he said. Photos: Sen. Dianne Feinstein through the years Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. STORM LAKE, Iowa During her two visits to Storm Lake, Mary Carmen Olvera Trejo has taken thousands of photos, enjoyed the beauty of the city's namesake lake and seen much of what the city has to offer. The features she pays the most attention to? Blank walls on buildings throughout town. Everyone else may see bricks and mortar or concrete, but Olvera Trejo sees spaces perfect for covering with thousands of colorful clay tiles forming large mosaic murals. World-renowned for her mosaics, Olvera Trejo and Storm Lake art supporters are in the early stages of a public art project that would turn buildings here into elaborate works of art. "Every time she speaks to a different group of people, her light shines through and more people want to be a part of this," said Julie Steinfeld, board president of Storm Lake's Witter Gallery. "To have this kind of opportunity here, I hope we take advantage of it." To see the potential, just google Zacatlan, Mexico, where Olvera Trejo and a group of artists are continually covering buildings, retaining walls and other public spaces with amazing mosaics. The ever-increasing number of murals attracts visitors from across the world, creating business and economic opportunities for the city's residents while at the same time beautifying it. She believes the same thing could happen in Storm Lake. "This project is going to change life like in Zacatlan," Olvera Trejo said. "It's exciting for me to make more murals for Storm Lake." It's a project that happened entirely by chance, aided by a California retiree who stopped by the public library because he doesn't own a cell phone. Dick Davis, a retired stockbroker and public art supporter, has known Olvera Trejo for several years. He was driving from California with several examples of her mosaic art to a convention in Chicago late last spring when he stopped in Storm Lake to meet Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Art Cullen. Because he has no cell phone, Davis stopped at the public library to access the internet. Patricia Hampton, then the Witter Gallery's board president, just happened to be exiting the adjoining art gallery and ran into Davis. To make a long story short, that accidental meeting became a two and a half hour conversation in which Davis introduced Hampton to Olvera Trejo's work and put them in touch. By September, Olvera Trejo was in Storm Lake, assembling a 3-foot-by-5-foot mosaic featuring Storm Lake's welcome sign and the lake at sunset that she designed using photos Hampton sent her. The mural is on display at the gallery, as well as a smaller one of Cullen that Davis requested. The art gallery board had wanted to gift a painted building mural to the city, Steinfeld said. Olvera Trejo's work inspired them to dream bigger. "This mosaic mural was something a step above, something a little bit different," Steinfeld said. The board approached the city council for financial support to fund more murals. The city budgeted $10,000, and Davis kicked in $10,000, too. Interest in the murals has spread to several building and business owners in town. "Everyone loves them," Steinfeld said. "The response was amazing last fall." Backers envision murals celebrating Storm Lake's diversity adorning buildings throughout the city. Steinfeld said the project's growth will be limited only by the amount of funding the gallery board can raise. In the meantime, Olvera Trejo this week wrapped up her latest visit in which she and artist Gael Garcia assembled and installed a mural of Our Lade of Guadalupe at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The mosaic was dedicated Sunday, another example of the intricate designs possible with hand-cut tiles expertly placed and sealed with grout by skilled artists. More murals are on the way. Though the sites can't be publicly announced just yet, Olvera Trejo will return to Storm Lake in September with another mural. She has another trip planned for next spring. In Zacatlan, residents are often offered the chance to place a tile in the mosaic during its installation. Olvera Trejo said it allows everyone to become part of the process and injects the community's soul into the art. She hopes to offer Storm Lake residents the same chance when she and other Mexican artists return with new murals and also teach local artists how to create the mosaics so they, too, can become involved. "This is not just for me, it's a piece of art for the community," she said. "This is not my project. It's the people, all of the people of Storm Lake." Anyone will be welcome to participate. If you have a blank wall, all the better. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. HINTON, Iowa Hinton fifth grader Sierra Smith could have her art featured on the Google homepage. Smith is one of the 54 State and Territory Winners in the 15th annual Doodle for Google contest with her piece, "Ocean Waves." On Thursday voting for the finalist will compete. Smiths doodle was selected from thousands of entries received this year, according to a news release. Every year, Google Doodle holds a competition for K-12 students to submit their own art for the homepage following a specific theme. This year's prompt was I am grateful for This Doodle represents our oceans, Smith said. I am very grateful for the many people cleaning our oceans before there is more trash than marine animals. I hope we can restore our oceans and protect them before it is too late. Anyone can vote for their favorite doodle from the 54 State and Territory Winners at http://www.google.com/doodle4google/vote.html through Thursday. The public vote will determine the five national finalists, one in each grade group. Google will then announce these five national finalists, one of which will have their Doodle featured on the Google homepage for a day. The national winner will take home a $30,000 college scholarship and his or her school will receive a $50,000 tech package towards the establishment or improvement of a computer lab or technology program. Last year, Western Christian student Olivia Hulstein was selected for the contest with her piece, A self portrait. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DES MOINES The New York-based company that will operate Iowas new state-funded private school financial assistance program will be paid $4.3 million over the first six years, according to the terms of the contract with the state. Odyssey, which was chosen by the state through a competitive bidding process, will be paid from the states general fund budget, the governors office said. The company, which operates similar programs in Arizona and Idaho, this week began educating Iowa parents through a series of webinars about the new state program, which is projected to ultimately cost the state $107 million in the first year and $345 million annually at full implementation. The new program passed with only Republican support in the Iowa Legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds, who had pushed for similar measures in previous years and made it a centerpiece of her 2022 re-election campaign. Under the new law, Iowans will be eligible for state funding equal to the amount of state per-pupil funding for K-12 public education, which for the 2023-2024 school year will be roughly $7,600, to pay for attending a private school. The educational savings accounts, or ESAs, must first be used to pay for tuition and fees. Any remaining funds can be used for other eligible expenses, like textbooks, computers, or tutoring sessions. Odyssey will host a marketplace that will serve as the only eligible place for Iowa families to spend ESA funding on those other eligible expenses. Any purchases made outside Odysseys marketplace will not be eligible for reimbursement, a company official said this week during a webinar. A spokesman for the governors office said Odyssey will not receive any portion of those marketplace sales. Odyssey will be paid by the state roughly $730,000 annually to operate the program, according to the contracts terms. WHICH IOWA STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING In the first year of the program, the ESAs are available to all public school students, all kindergarten students, and private school students in a household at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level for example, $90,000 for a family of four. In the second year, the 2024-25 school year, the program will be expanded to include the same population plus private school students in households at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. In the 2025-26 school year, the program will be open to all K-12 Iowa students, regardless of income. SCHOOL FUNDING COMPANY INFORMING IOWANS Odyssey this week began holding webinars to inform Iowa parents on how to enroll in the program. Over the course of the webinar, a company official described how parents can apply for ESAs, how the application and approval process will work, and who is eligible for the program. The state plans to begin accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year on May 31, and that application period will be closed June 30. The online application will determine whether the student is eligible for an ESA by using personal identification and tax filing information. During the webinar, Odyssey founder Joe Connor said the company will not share that personal information and will protect the applicants privacy. Connor said in most cases once an application is submitted, the eligibility verification process should take roughly a half-hour. He said in rare cases, more documentation may be required to determine a students eligibility. ESAs will begin to be funded on July 15, Connor said. At that point, the parent will log into the programs website and declare which private school the student plans to attend for the 2023-24 school year. MARKETPLACE FOR OTHER EDUCATIONAL PURCHASES Any purchases made with ESA funds must be made through the Odyssey-hosted marketplace, Connor said. The company will work with vendors that will provide educational products and services that are eligible under the program, he said. Examples of what products and services are eligible and ineligible for purchase with ESA funds can be found at the Iowa Department of Educations website, educateiowa.gov. IOWA STATE AUDITOR CRITICIZES PROGRAM State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, during a public event this week in Cedar Rapids bemoaned a lack of accountability and transparency over how hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are spent by private schools. Comparatively, when Iowa public schools receive state funding, budgeting requirements restrict how public schools can spend public money, Sand told reporters following a town hall in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. Public schools are also required to hold public meetings, release public records and receive annual audits to publicly track how they're spending taxpayer dollars. Private schools are not required to follow those same requirements once they start receiving money this fall from the publicly-funded Education Savings Accounts. The only prohibition under the law is that private schools cannot refund, rebate or share any portion of ESA payments made back to the parent or family that paid it to the school. Literally anything else they want to do with that money is legal, Sand said. If they want to take it as profit, thats fine. If they want to send their principal on an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe, that is legal. There is no obligation that they actually take those public dollars and put them into educating kids. Thats absurd to me. Reynolds and Republican state lawmakers have said all schools be they public or private are accountable to parents and students. And that if parents and students feel that a school is not meeting their needs, they now have the flexibility and ability to choose the educational setting that best fits their needs. Reynolds, speaking to reporters earlier this month at the statehouse, said the closed system we put in place with Odyssey will help make sure that were tracking fraud and that the expenses are allocated in a manner that it was intended to do. So we have a pretty good system in place, Reynolds said. Were very confident about that. That will allow us to monitor the expenditures make sure theyre being utilized in a proper manner. And, you know, its a small state. Well be able to see which schools are doing what and how its being ran and operated. The governor added that a lot of other states are watching what were doing, and that its imperative we do it right and are vigilant in monitoring how the money is spent. Tom Barton contributed to this report. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. NEW YORK Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Now that status is tarnished after it removed some LGBTQ+-themed products and relocated Pride Month displays to the back of stores in certain Southern locations in response to online complaints and in-store confrontations that it says threatened employees' well-being. Target faces a second backlash from customers upset by the discount retailer's reaction to aggressive, anti-LGBTQ+ activism, which has also been sweeping through Republican state legislatures. Civil rights groups chided the company on Wednesday for caving to anti-LGBTQ+ customers who tipped over displays and expressed outrage over gender-fluid bathing suits. "Target should put the products back on the shelves and ensure their Pride displays are visible on the floors, not pushed into the proverbial closet," Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said in a statement. "That's what the bullies want." The uproar over Target's Pride Month marketing and its response to critics is just the latest example of how companies are struggling to cater to different groups of customers at a time of extreme cultural divides, particularly around transgender rights. Bud Light is still dealing with the fallout from when it sent transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney a beer can with her face on it, which Mulvaney then displayed in an Instagram post, igniting backlash. Bud Light's parent company is tripling its U.S. marketing spending this summer as it tries to restore lost sales. In Florida, Disney has been engaged in a legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis since expressing opposition to the state's classroom limits on discussing gender identity and sexual orientation. Allen Adamson, the co-founder and managing partner of the marketing firm Metaforce, said Target should have thought through the potential for backlash and taken steps to avoid it, like varying the products it sells by region. "The country is far less homogenous than it ever was," he said. "For any brand, it's not 'one size fits all' anymore." According to a 2021 Gallup poll, 21% of people in Generation Z identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, compared with 3% of Baby Boomers. Gallup has also found that younger consumers are most likely to want brands to promote diversity and take a stand on social issues. "Pulling back is the worst thing that they could have done," said Jake Bjorseth, who runs trndsttrs, an agency helping brands understand and reach Gen Z customers. "Not to expect potential backlash is to not understand what (LGBTQ+) members go through on a daily basis." "Once they fold to the more extreme edges of the issue, then they've lost their footing," Adamson added. "If you can change a big brand just by knocking over a display, then they are on the defense, and you never win on the defense." Target has long been seen as a trailblazer among retailers in the way it embraced LGBTQ+ rights and customers. It was among the first to showcase themed merchandise to honor Pride Month, which takes place in June, and it has been out front in developing relationships with LGBTQ+ suppliers. It has also faced backlash. In 2016, when a national debate exploded over transgender rights, the company declared that "inclusivity is a core belief at Target" and said it supported transgender employees and customers using whichever restroom or fitting room "corresponds with their gender identity." But even after being threatened with boycotts by some customers, Target announced months later that more stores would make available a single-toilet bathroom with a door that could be locked. As recently as last year, law enforcement agencies were brought in to monitor a social media threat from a young Arizona man who said he was "leading the war" against Target for its Pride Month merchandise, and he encouraged others to take action. But the company is operating in an even more politicized environment now. There are close to 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have gone before state legislatures since the start of this year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. At least 17 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, though judges have temporarily blocked their enforcement in some states. Target declined on Wednesday to say which items it was pulling from its stores. But "tuck friendly" women's swimsuits, which allow trans women who have not had gender-affirming operations to conceal their private parts, were among Target's Pride items that garnered the most attention. Designs by Abprallen, a London-based company that designs and sells occult- and satanic-themed LGBTQ+ clothing and accessories, have also created backlash. The controversy at Target has been exacerbated by several misleading videos circulating online. In some, people falsely claimed the retailer was selling "tuck-friendly" bathing suits for kids. "Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior," Target said in a statement Tuesday. The company pledged its continued support for the LGBTQ+ community and noted it is "standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year." Photos: Target's LGBTQ+ products spur controversy Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. C-Note Bankin (aka Charles Franklin III) is what you call a triple threat. Not only can the Sioux City-based entertainer sing and rap, but he can also cook. Specifically, down-home barbecue will be on the menu for Sauce It Up! an outdoor concert being held in the backyard of the Key Club, 1008 Fourth St., at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 28. In addition to C-Note Bankin, who is the Siouxlands Choice for 2023s Best Hip-Hop Artist, the show will also feature an all-star lineup rappers, like The Urban Outlaws and DJ Kid Corduroy. Come around for the food at 5 p.m., stick around for the show that follows immediately after that, he said. Rapper C-NOTE BANKIN Rapper C-Note Bankin talks about his upcoming show here at 1008 Key Club in downtown Sioux City. Rapper C-NOTE BANKIN Rapper C-Note Bankin talks about his upcoming show here at 1008 Key Club in downtown Sioux City. C-Note learned all about music while growing up in Arkansas. My mom took me and my brothers to church, he said. Like so many other people, we fell in love with performing at church. Subsequently, his family formed an T&B singing group called Dynasty when C-Note Bankin was still in school. I was all about the music, he said. If I wasnt singing with my brothers, I was in choirs or in school musicals. Rapper C-NOTE BANKIN Rapper C-NOTE BANKIN talks about his upcoming show here at 1008 Key Club in downtown Sioux City. Rapper C-NOTE BANKIN Rapper C-Note Bankin talks about his upcoming show here at 1008 Key Club in downtown Sioux City. As he got older, C-Note Bankin also began rapping. I love reading and I love the way that words sound together, he explained. I discovered I could rap as well as I could sing. C-Note Bankin acknowledged he was inspired by such hip-hop icons as Nipsey Hustle and Nas. Nas, especially, is a storyteller, he said. (Nas) creates a world and lets you in it. Rapper C-NOTE BANKIN Rapper C-Note Bankin talks about his upcoming show here at 1008 Key Club in downtown Sioux City, Iowa. Rapper C-NOTE BANKIN Rapper C-Note Bankin talks about his upcoming show here at 1008 Key Club in downtown Sioux City. Rapper C-NOTE BANKIN The All Day Sauce created by rapper C-NOTE BANKIN and Sarffy Hot Sauce Company. Which is exactly what C-Note Bankin wants to do with his music. After all, hes already played (along with Radio Miller of MIL) at the Abe Stage during 2022s Saturday in the Park. Hes even played on the same bill as R&B legend Ginuwine (Pony, Same Old G, Differences) at an Aug. 2022 show at Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos Anthem. If he wasnt already busy, C-Note Bankin also joined forces with the Sioux City-based Sarffy Hot Sauce Company for an All Day Hot Sauce, bearing his name and likeness. I love hot sauces but I wanted to create one that wont punish me, he explained. I can use my All Day Hot Sauce in the morning with my eggs or for dinner with my steaks. You can use it all day, any day. Suffice it to say, family also taught C-Note Bankin with everything he knows about food. Its pretty common to learn about smoking meats at a young age down south, he said. The men in the family take care of the meat while the women are all about the sweet stuff. Chances are good that Sauce It Up will have plenty of both. Indeed, the always enterprising C-Note Banking has a new project just waiting on the backburner. Im hoping to collaborate with a local chef on a new cookbook with nothing but soul food favorites, he said. Well, we wouldnt put it past C-Note Bankin for creating a culinary conglomeration. Down south, we know about good music and we know about good barbecue, he said. It was only a matter of time before somebody found a way to combine both. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KANDAHAR (Rated R for violence and language) A CIA operative and his translator flee from special forces in Afghanistan after exposing a covert mission. THE MACHINE (Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, drug use and some sexual material) Berts drunken past catches up with him 20 years down the road when he and his father are kidnapped by those Bert wronged 20 years ago while drunk on a college semester abroad in Russia. ABOUT MY FATHER (Rated PG-13 for suggestive material, language and partial nudity) When Sebastian tells his old-school Italian immigrant father Salvo that he is going to propose to his all-American girlfriend, Salvo insists on crashing a weekend with her tony parents. THE LITTLE MERMAID (Rated PG for some action/peril and some scary images) A young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince. THE WRATH OF BECKY (Rated R for strong violence and gore, pervasive language and some sexual suggestion.) Two years after she escaped a violent attack on her family, Becky attempts to rebuild her life in the care of an older woman - a kindred spirit named Elena. But when a group known as the Noble Men break into their home, attack them, and take her beloved dog, Diego, Becky must return to her old ways to protect herself and her loved ones. NEW DVD RELEASES FOR THE WEEK Creed III Shazam! Fury of the Gods A Thousand One The Quiet Girl Seal Team: Season 6 Wallowa County, Oregon, is in the throes of one of the most narrow, nail-biting elections in the regions history. Right now the count is still ongoing for a ballot measure that would require the northeastern Oregon countys elected officials to seriously discuss the possibility of seceding from the state and joining Idaho. Last week, during Oregons special elections, a few thousand Wallowa voters took to the polls to decide on ballot measure 32-007, better known as the Greater Idaho initiative. If the referendum passes, county commissioners would have to discuss promoting interest of Wallowa County to relocate State Borders, and to prepare County to become part of Idaho, lest they risk a lawsuit or fine. The results are still too close to call, although votes in favor appear to have a single-digit lead, and there may well be a recount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Successful passage would make Wallowa the 12th Oregonian county to officially consider swapping the Beaver State for the Gem State. Its all part of the so-called Greater Idaho movement, a 3-year-old initiative that aims to move the Oregon-Idaho border westward so as to absorb eastern Oregons whiter, more militant, more Republican, and more rural enclaves. Idahos politics, always very conservative, have taken an extreme far-right turn in the post-Trump era, thanks to an influx of white nationalists and conspiracy theorists whove fled Democrat-run areas. And some Oregonians want in. Greater Idaho capitalizes on the vast political gap between urban and rural Oregonians, as well as their political and cultural affinity with many nonurban residents of Idaho, Washington, and Northern California. Oregon, once known as a state where moderate suburban Republicans and rural Democrats could work together in relative harmony, has seen its parties and coalitions fracture sharply in recent years. Joe Lowndes, a political science professor at the University of Oregon, explained that these shifts began in the 1980s: a tech boom benefited urban areas, while the industries that ran rural Oregontimber, fishing, agriculturewent into decline. Democrats subsequently clustered around the cities, while other areas embraced the GOP (or even extremist militias). Advertisement Advertisement Greater Idaho also recalls past attempts by both left and right to reshape the Northwest into their own ideological bubbles. There was the American Redoubt proposal, in 2011, to establish a safe space for conservative Christians by combining the Plains States with rural Washington and Oregon; the 1980s Cascadia movement, pushing for an autonomous region consisting of Northwestern cities and the Canadian province of British Columbia; the World War IIera breakaway announcement from California-Oregon border counties wishing to establish Jefferson state; and the decades-old, white supremacist Northwest Front idea. (Notably, American Redoubts founder wrote in support of Greater Idaho just last year.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Greater Idaho Movement has gained much more ground than these historic examplesat least on paper. That may be because its backed up existing ground-level organizations with cross-state solidarity as well as backing from some conservative thinkers. They implemented a good strategy for keeping themselves in the public eye, which was to have conversations in county after county, said Lowndes. Oregon Public Broadcasting news editor Ryan Haas, who has overseen his newsrooms coverage of the movement, told me that Greater Idaho has benefited from two factors: its route through the electoral process (as opposed to, say, vigilantism), and its attempt to avoid being tarred as a bunch of right-wing cranks by building a somewhat ideologically wide coalition. A lot of times, movements that are separatist or dissatisfied with the status quo in a blue state, they tend to be anti-government or not really interested in the democratic process, said Haas. This is a really broad idea that a lot of people could be interested in, whether they support the Bundys or theyre a political conservative who thinks Salem doesnt hear the complaints they have. The Greater Idaho website broadly claims that its base also includes progressives and conservatives of northwestern Oregon who welcome a smaller Oregon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the movement consists of Move Oregons Border, a reportedly 12,000-strong political action committee that started working in 2019 to petition for ballot initiatives voicing the desire to shift various Oregon counties into Idahos borders. Across the Snake River, MOB is complemented by Citizens for Greater Idaho, a years-old nonprofit that advocates for Idaho to expand its state lines and welcome those tired, poor Oregon districts, along with remote bits of Northern California. Collaborating to jointly form Move Oregons Borders for a Greater Idaho, the two groups found gradual success. During the 2020 elections, 2 out of 4 Oregon counties with Greater Idaho ballot measures approved those initiatives, and six more counties voted in favor of the initiative throughout 2021. (Some notable facts about these votes: Wallowa was one of the counties that voted against the Greater Idaho study in 2020 before taking it back up in 2023, and the 2021 victories included Malheur County, famously the location of Ammon Bundys National Wildlife Refuge militia occupation and standoff. Bundy has endorsed the idea of Greater Idaho.) After 2 out of 3 counties with Greater Idaho referenda voted down the proposal in May 2022, the Greater Idaho movement narrowed the scope of its geographic ambition by excluding Californian regions, and it earned a couple more county wins that November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout this year, the Greater Idaho movement seemed to have gotten a lot more steam and attention, not least because an Idaho bill meant to kick-start interstate talks passed the states House in February, although it stalled in its Senate last month. (A January bill introduced to Oregons Senate in January never got past the reading stage.) After the Idaho House vote, Democratic U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon quipped that he would entertain a trade for Boise and Sun Valley, two of the most liberal parts of Idaho. The movement also got a spotlight from the Claremont Institute, the influential, ultraconservative think tank that provided the legal and intellectual underpinnings for the Trump administrations agenda, up through the former presidents attempts to overturn the 2020 election. One of the institutes affiliated websites, the American Mind, published multiple pieces in 2021 praising the Greater Idaho movement, following in the vein of other Trumpian publications like American Greatness. (More traditional conservative outlets, such as the Spectator and National Review, have tended toward skepticism.) In February, Claremont furnished a nearly 100-page study claiming that Greater Idahos goals would be of great economic benefit to the defecting counties (mainly because, the institute purports, these residents would pay fewer taxes as Idahoans). For Claremont, whose leaders regularly decry blue-state values and invoke the possibility of another civil war, support for Greater Idaho may seem like a no-brainer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time its ballot initiative returned to Wallowa County this year, the Greater Idaho Movement gained enough prominence to finally earn some semblance of pushback, with some county residents protesting the idea ahead of the election in a way previous counties hadnt. In fact, in Greater Idahoapproving Grant County, some residents have attended public meetings on the issue while wearing shirts that read Just Say No to Idaho. Early on, there was little opposition because no one would have thought to organize against such a long-shot campaign, said Lowndes. As Oregon Public Broadcasting reported, some of the backlash involved the work of Western States Strategies, the political branch of the Portland-based nonprofit Western States Center. Greater Idaho has really not been challenged in these previous ballot measures, said Western States organizer Stephen Piggott. We felt like it was time for someone to lift the cover a little bit and provide some information for the voters as to the history of secessionist movements in this state, the white nationalists whove supported Greater Idaho, and the election denial, COVID conspiracies, homophobia, and anti-trans rhetoric coming from people associated with the movement. Advertisement Its worth noting that functionally, the successful ballot measures are requests for local officials to talk about seceding from Oregon to link up with Idaho. Its sometimes portrayed that these counties want to join Idaho, but for the most part, theyve been positive votes for county councils to begin to have a conversation about what that looks like, said Lowndes. A real move in this direction would require not only mutual agreement between the two states, but also an act of Congress. Were not even close to any of that. For Oregons leaders to be OK with this, theyd have to embrace the prospect of losing a significant population chunkwhich would pare down the states Electoral College votes, shrink its congressional delegation, and whittle away business and income tax revenues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But theres something more insidious that could be awakened outside the ballot box. It enlists peoples democratic energies and aspirations to put themselves down on paper as being opposed to autocratic rule by Salem, Lowndes said. Sometimes you hear organizers say, We wanna do this because we dont wanna see more radical responses than this, which is kind of a way of saying theres this ever-present possibility of political violence. For now, despite the heated sentiment driving the Greater Idaho movement, the effort so far has been civil. The campaigns merchandise and promotional material resemble those of a typical political campaign, with photos of beaming families and activities. The rallies favoring or opposing Greater Idaho havent flared up into violent hostility. Supporters who speak to the press cite the appeal of Idahos anti-abortion laws or their hatred of Oregons environmental and business regulations. But now that the movement is finally experiencing some visible spotlight and pushback, that superficial tranquility may not last forever. And the hazy nature of the movements actually passed measures have proved more baffling than enticing to county commissioners, who have no clear idea how to follow voters requests here. Turns out, successfully lining up voters behind a pithy, vague slogan does not a tangible movement make. Whatever the future of Greater Idaho, its undoubtedly yet another signal of how once-fringe ideas are becoming slowly institutionalized, eventually trickling down to envelop their supporters into the political process. This is not necessarily a growing movement, but a movement that has become wiser about its political messaging, how it approaches this in the public view, and how it goes about gaining attention for itself, said Ryan Haas. People who are more politically extreme are looking for any vehicle they can get to disrupt the status quo. You just need to give me a big high-five for this outfit, Nicole, a real estate agent, says to her colleague Chelsea by way of greeting in an episode of Selling Sunsets new season. You look amazing. Chelsea is wearing leather gloves, boxy oversize sunglasses, a fitted biker jacket zipped up halfway to reveal her decolletage, and the piece de resistance, a leather micro-mini skirt so micro it resembles a wide belt. Nicoles flashily patterned sequined short shorts look conservative by comparison. Advertisement Well, I didnt really think through it because apparently runway is not meant to be worn other than runway, Chelsea responds. How am I going to sit down? She proceeds to balance one arm on a chair so that she can lower herself and squirm into a seat without exposing to the world more skin than she already has. Then the two get on with gossiping about whats going on at their office. Is it ever explained why theyre dressed to the nines? Nope, they appear to be doing all this for a casual coffee date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The glamorous women of Los Angeles Oppenheim Group have always favored bold ensembles, but in the reality shows sixth season, which premiered on Netflix last week, their outfits manage to be more shocking than ever. Maybe the cast of the show felt they needed to overcompensate since this would be the first season without the most Barbie-like of the shows stars, villain Christine Quinn, who moved on after last season. The show is also far enough into its run that its pretenses of verisimilitude could be starting to fadesure, it may have started out as a show about real estate, but now the people on it have become famous in their own right, and they want to dress like it. Whatevers behind it, all I know is that theyve visibly upped the ante this time around. A Twitter user put it best: You think you know what clothes look like. And then you watch Selling Sunset. Advertisement Advertisement In the 1990s, Seinfeld did a whole episode about how scandalous it was when a woman wore a bra under a blazer, but on Selling Sunset, a bra under a blazer is a standard business-casual look, evenperhaps especially?if youre visibly pregnant, like an agent on the show named Heather is this season. Shes far from the first person to show off her bump, which celebrities like Rihanna have practically transformed into an art form, but Rihanna is doing photo shoots and attending exclusive events, not trying to do something as mundane as earn her 3 percent commission on a property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These people sell luxury real estate to an A-list clientele, so you can understand them wanting to look the part with expensive clothes. But is it possible theyre taking things to extremes? After all, this is a client-facing role! Of course, they also wear ridiculous clothes in their leisure time, such as on a group trip to Palm Springs, with all its attendant lounging around the pool and dinners that devolve into blowout fights. But lets limit this discussion to the category of, broadly speaking, work clothes, which for this job can include parties called brokers opens that these women dress for as if theyre attending the Kentucky Derby meets the Met Gala, but only after a preschooler has attacked them with scissors and added a minimum of three unexpected cutouts to each and every item of clothing. Advertisement Advertisement I cant help but think I would be taken aback if I showed up to look at a home and my realtor were wearing a garment that combined skintight leggings with stiletto boots, or a shirt with built-in gloves, both of which Chelsea dons at different points this season. Granted, I live in Brooklyn, so Ive seen more realtors wearing track pants and tallits than Ive seen wearing business suits. Looking for a professionals opinion, I reached Rachel Goldman, a commercial real estate adviser at SVN International Corp. First, let me begin by saying that the women on Selling Sunset are all highly intelligent, savvy, and beautiful women, Goldman told me. Without disparaging how any of them dress, she tactfully pointed out that it might not go over that well everywhere: It is also true that different cities, different niches, and different styles could ruffle some feathers in a different setting. These ladies style works better in Miami than in Milwaukee. And if its going to work anywhere, its true that Los Angeles, a fantasyland of costumes and movie sets, would be the place to try it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is it possible Im being overly prudish about all of this? Whats so wrong with showing a little midriff, or side-boob, at a work event? Maybe these women are breaking down barriers. I suppose you could say that all that really counts is the result, and if these women keep closing, thats all that matters. Except Im not actually sure they do all that much closing. This season, believe it or not, the cast seems to spend more time discussing Nick Cannons growing family than they ever do hammering out contractsthis becomes a plot point because Bre, the mother of one of Cannons children, joins the firm. In any case, theyre at the very least doing a good job adding visual interest to the show when the actual real estate plotlines fall flat. So, who was the most memorably dressed this season? As much as I would love to give it to Heather for her pregnant belly protruding out from under a waistcoat as she toured a multimillion-dollar house with her boss, in truth, aside from her pregnancy, Heather didnt stand out nearly as much as some of her co-workers. I would be remiss not to mention another agent, Amanza, who deserves credit for risks like a chartreuse suit with a harness over it, and a giant plastic necklace, which calls to mind the band Devos accessorizing, paired with an off-the-shoulder poufy dress and comically large sunglasses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I think, in the end, Chelsea, she of the skirt that looks like a belt, has earned the top spot. No one else on the show has the nerve to rock a gold bag featuring a relief of a vagina or a bra made out of two giant fake flowers underneath, of course, a matching blazer (all while furthering the actual plot by feuding with Bre). I dont know how far that will take her in her work as a real estate agent, but in her work as a reality star, shes proving with every outfit that shes got what it takes. Critics who have called Nicole Holofceners You Hurt My Feelings a comedy about a trivial subject (or, in a reference to star Julia Louis-Dreyfus breakthrough role on Seinfeld, a movie about nothing) must be more secure human beings than I. The quandary of Louis-Dreyfus Beth, a teacher of creative writing who has just finished her second book, strikes me as eminently (to redeploy another Seinfeld-ism) film-worthy. After she overhears her husband Don (Tobias Menzies) tell their brother-in-law Mark (Arian Moayed) that he has only been pretending to like his wifes new novel, Beth goes through a crisis thats personal and professional at the same time. How long has he been pretending he thinks her work is good? Is it any good? Does it matter? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beth and Dons marriage, previously so close that their 23-year-old son Eliot (Owen Teague) complained of feeling like a third wheel, becomes strained, and Dons own work crisis intensifies: Hes a psychotherapist whose clients are losing their patience with his failure to offer useful advice. Its not altogether clear whether the clients (including a hilarious pair of insult-trading spouses, played by the real-life couple David Cross and Amber Tamblyn) are being unrealistically demanding or whether Dons long-suppressed job burnout has just turned him into a terrible listener. Beths sister Sarah (Michaela Watkins) has also been feeling disenchanted with her work as an interior designer for the super-wealthy, while her actor husband (Moayed) is considering giving up on his career after a spell of dispiriting setbacks. Advertisement More than the study of a single character, You Hurt My Feelings is a chamber piece about a quartet of people contending with the same common yet painful life experience: the realization, a few decades into adulthood, that ones future seems unlikely to be as successful, as fulfilling, as special as one had been led to hope. That sounds like a dour theme for a movie, but You Hurt My Feelings (which whisks by at 93 minutes) makes it both a serious subject of contemplation and a source of effervescent comedy. Beths inability to get past the ego blow dealt by that fateful moment of eavesdropping is easy to identify withI mean, the man lied about liking the book over the course of 20 drafts!but its also, objectively, absurd. As she grudgingly assents to her sister, she knows she has it pretty good with her cozy Manhattan apartment, devoted partner, and affectionate if aimless son. (An aspiring writer himself, Eliot works the counter at a weed dispensary.) Dons opinion of the manuscript, as he is the first to insist after the truth behind his wifes rotten mood comes out, is only one readers reaction. He loves her, he assures herisnt that all that matters? Oh, OK. Well then never mind! Beth sniffles before storming away in a huff. Her whiny response is childish and self-pitying, if amusingly so thanks to Louis-Dreyfus mastery of her comic instrument. But it rings all too true to anyone whos ever offered up the fruits of their creative labor to a loved one whose opinion they value. Twenty drafts! Advertisement Advertisement Holofcener has already written the script for another great film about the struggles of an author, Marielle Hellers Can You Ever Forgive Me?, with Melissa McCarthy as a show-business biographer who turns to literary forgery to make ends meet. The creator of dialogue-driven ensemble comedies like Walking and Talking, Lovely & Amazing, Please Give, and the (also Louis-Dreyfus-starring) rom-com Enough Said, Holofcener is a writer-director in the truest sense, a filmmaker whose movies stand out for the attention they pay to the nuances of everyday speech and behavior. Her scripts have a way of finding humor in whole situations and contexts rather than in quotable one-liners. Scenes often end a beat sooner than they might in a conventional comedy, leaving the viewer to fill in the blanks. Though the dialogue is naturalistic, it never sounds improvised at random. The precise language thats used matters, as when an insult Beth repeatedly mutters to herself in a moment of self-deprecation turns out to be a refrain put in her head long ago by her verbally abusive father. Advertisement Louis-Dreyfus is as fitting a muse for the middle-aged Holofcener as Catherine Keener was for the directors early career. Louis-Dreyfus is as fitting a muse for the middle-aged Holofcener as Catherine Keener was for the directors early career: Both are comediennes with sublime timing and a vulnerability no amount of deadpan can mask. Through nine seasons of Seinfeld and seven of Veep (with many memorable film and TV roles in between), Louis-Dreyfus has honed her skill at puncturing her characters small, everyday vanities. In You Hurt My Feelings, she gets a chance to display that expertise, while also showing us the real pain and confusion that underlie Beths often maddeningly self-sabotaging behavior. Menzies, an English actor whos been a fixture on prestige television since the mid-2000s HBO series Rome (hes since had roles on Game of Thrones, The Night Manager, and The Crown), is every bit Louis-Dreyfus match as the outwardly soothing, inwardly anxious Don, whos grappling not only with issues at work but with a sense of alienation from his own aging body; squinting into the mirror at his crows-feet, he laments to his wife that I used to be hot. Moayed has fun playing a hypersensitive would-be actor who couldnt be more different from Successions slick Stewy, while former Saturday Night Live cast member Watkins is a dry-humored delight as the one member of the films central foursome whos able to maintain some sense of perspective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One could certainly, like the New Yorkers Anthony Lane, dismiss You Hurt My Feelings as a trifle of a movie about whiny, navel-gazing Manhattanites who could do with a bout of being harried down Madison Avenue by cybernetic pterosaurs firing Sidewinder missiles tipped with alien venom. But in a movie landscape where most choices at the multiplex pretty much do offer that very plotline, the existence and persistence of films like this seems like something to be protected and cherished. The main character of this movie expends enormous effort seeking affirmation that the words she spends her days trying to get down on paper matter. The movies writer-director, one of the most idiosyncratic and indispensable voices currently working in film comedy, neednt worry about a thing. 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. Our week of scrutinizing the Supreme Court continues! Today were focusing on how to fix things. Advertisement The justices are sure to hand down another scorching set of decisions next month. Jay Willis recommends a few easy ways journalists could change their approach to get at whats really going on. Theres also a clear model for how the court could solve its ethics problem, Norm Ornstein writessomething that would resolve this once and for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Steve Vladeck reflects on what he realized after Justice Alito attacked him for critiquing the shadow docket. Let them eat crow Billionaire GOP donor Harlan Crows legal team has declared that he gets to say what the law is, not Congress. Mark Joseph Stern dissects their argument for why Congress has no power to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas for ethics violations. Uvalde, a year later Advertisement One year ago today, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School while police delayed outside for 77 minutes before entering the classroom. Earlier this year, Mary Harris spoke with the father of one of the students who was killed: What I realized early on was that everybody was passing the buck. Nobody wanted to take responsibility for their part. The school blamed it on the cops, and the city blamed it on the school and DPS. Everybodys pointing fingers when there were failures on every front, from the school to the officers that responded to our state laws to our federal laws. It was a catastrophic failure all over. And I just realized that nobody was going to take accountability. And the only time that the school made changes was after we did this 10-day sit out. Advertisement Brett Cross on the lack of change after the shooting, and what its like to be forced to the center of the fight for gun safety in this country. Plus: School police dont stop shootings. So what are they for? Roxanna Asgarian examines Americas fundamental misconception about the role of police in keeping students safe. Great Scott! Why is Tim Scott running for president? And why is Trump so thrilled about it? From both candidates perspectives, there are more than a few possible good outcomes, Jim Newell explains. Queen of Rock n Roll Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When artists who have made a profound impact on our lives die, the first thing that follows the initial grief and the rush to share the news is the decision of how to commemorate them: which album to put on, which movie to watch, which cherished passage to reread. In Turners case, the answer is easy. Go home tonight and put on Tina. Its what she wanted you to do. Sam Adams on how Tina Turner wanted to be remembered. Meatball Rob Trump has a bunch of names for the governor of Florida. We can now add Rob DeSantis to the list. Ben Mathis-Lilley looks at what Trumps reaction to DeSantis official entry into the presidential race might say about his weaknesses as a candidate. Advertisement And was DeSantis move to bring Elon Musk into his campaign launch a stroke of genius, or a foolish blunder? Lets discuss. Whither Jeopardy The ambient joy of Americas nightly game show is slowly giving way to a Marvel-brained empire, Luke Winkie writes. He tries to make sense of whats going on. At last! Advertisement Advertisement It is well past time, Christina Cauterucci writes, for gays to publicly defile the institution [of marriage], as the straights have before them, with a trashy reality show. She reviews the madness that is Netflixs The Ultimatum: Queer Love. Today, Slate is BESTOWED THE CORPUSCLES OF LIFE* aka money. (Or at least, wed love to be bestowed some!) While were manifesting that, you should read Jenny G. Zhangs examination of how Successions Kendall Roy is the perfect encapsulation of a Good White Person, and how the show deals with race. Thanks so much for reading! Well see you tomorrow. Podcast episodes for May 24 One of the most notable moments of the G7 came on Sunday, when President Joe Biden said tensions with China are going to begin to thaw very shortly. Its probably trueand, if it is, its an unequivocally good thing, contrary to the widespread view (one of the very few bipartisan sentiments in Congress) that war with China is coming and that we should therefore ratchet up the tensions, not let them thaw. Bidens remark is best seen as confirmation of the vibe left by the meeting earlier this month between National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi10 hours of talks (an extraordinary amount of time), described afterward by both sides in unusually and almost identically positive terms. (The White House called the talks candid, substantive, and constructive; Chinas spokesman called them candid, in-depth, substantive, and constructive.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a good thing, for at least four reasons. First, the two countries have converging interests on many pressing mattersclimate change, global health, counterterrorism, and keeping the global economy (vital to both, given their interlocking trade). A crisis in any one of those realms could spin out of control if relations worsened. Second, U.S. power and influence in the world can reach only so far if were in a war of sorts with both Russia and China. Good relations with Russia are impossible as long as the war in Ukraine persists, probably as long as Vladimir Putin stays in the Kremlin. So, reengagement with Chinahowever unpleasant on certain levelsis essential. Third, large swaths of elite and public opinion in each country have come to believe that the other poses an existential threat. A special committee has been formed in the House of Representatives that does nothing but ruminate on this threat. Some U.S. military officers have predicted a war with China in the next few years. In turn, Chinese elites believe the U.S. wants to overthrow their regime. Advertisement Fourth and finally, all these fears are overblown, but they could easily become self-fulfilling prophecies. The fact is that at the moment, China does not pose a serious military threat to Taiwan, and it poses no threat whatsoever to areas much farther from its shores. But it could do so a decade from now. A war with China would be disastrous, not least because we might lose. Best, then, to try to cool tensions now, hold a BidenXi summit, reestablish talks between U.S. and Chinese military officers, and figure out ways to cement our common interests, if possible. Advertisement We shouldnt paper over our many conflicting interests. But resuming diplomacy, even a little bit, might lessen the likelihood of war and, meanwhile, ease the paranoia. Advertisement Advertisement The war fears roared into public consciousness in March 2021, when Adm. Philip Davidson, the outgoing commander of U.S. military forces in the Pacific, told a Senate panel that China posed a manifest threat of invading Taiwan in the next six years. No senior official had ever issued such a specific or urgent warning about the fate of the tiny democratic island 100 miles off Chinas eastern coast. But Davidsons testimony inspired a boatload of other active and retired officers to sound the alarms; one guessed that an invasion could happen as early as 2023. Against all precedent and policy, Davidson did not consult his superiors before making his banner-headline comment. There is reason for this negligence: They would have told him to delete it from his testimony, not just because it would cause a stir, but more because it wasnt trueit didnt align with the Defense Departments own intelligence agency, which tends to be more hawkish and alarmist than other branches of the intelligence community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2021, eight months after Davidsons testimony, the Pentagon published its latest edition of a congressionally mandated report titled Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China. That years version173 pagesnoted several concerning trends about Chinese military power, but it also downplayed the notion of a threat in the coming few years. The Pentagon published an updated version of the report in November 2022and its caveats are repeated almost verbatim. China, the report concludes, has neither the desire nor the capability to mount a large-scale amphibious assault on Taiwan. The Chinese armys own media recite shortcomings in military training and education. These include the Five Incapables, tasks that many Chinese commanders are simply unable to dojudge situations, deploy forces, understand the intentions of higher authorities, make operational decisions in combat, or manage unexpected developments. The military is only beginning to train in combined operations (coordinated fighting by two branches, e.g., infantry and artillery). In general, significant additional equipment and fielding is necessary to complete the transformation of the [Chinese army] into a fully modern force. Advertisement Advertisement As for the notion of some global reach, the latest report says that Chinas ability to conduct military operations outside the First Island Chain remains in its infancy. (The First Island Chain refers to the Taiwan Strait and areas of the South China Sea and East China Sea that Beijing claims as its waters.) Advertisement Finally, though neither report says so, the last time China fought a war was in 1979, in brief, bloody battle with Vietnam, which the Chinese lost. In other words, there are at most a handful of Chinese soldiersand they would be very old officerswho have ever fired a shot with the intention of killing an enemy soldier. True, Taiwans soldiers have never fought a real war either, but they are being armed and trained by American advisers who have. Advertisement Is the Chinese military worth worrying about at all? Yes. The sheer numbers of anti-ship and air-defense weapons, the growth in cyber and anti-satellite capabilities, and the increased training exercises (for instance, more than 20 naval exercises with an island-capturing dimension in 2021, up from 13 in 2020)all signal that China is getting more serious, and better, at doing things to keep the U.S. military away from its shores. This is the essence of Chinas military strategyAnti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD). While this is essentially a defensive strategy, it can also mean a strategy to keep outside powers (especially U.S. air and naval forces) far away while Chinese armed forces take aggressive action against Taiwan or other areas of interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A former senior CIA analyst with a specialty on China told me that starting about 20 years ago, Chinaanticipating the possibility of a warbegan examining the pillars of U.S. power projection in the East Pacific. The pillars were aircraft carriers, regional bases, air power, the domination of outer space, and command, control, and intelligence. China then started developing weapons and strategies that could topple each of those pillarsand thus counter the Americans ability to intervene in the areas that China regards as its territory. Advertisement For most of those 20 years, the U.S. was busy fighting the global war on terror, especially the counterinsurgency wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and therefore ignored what China was doing. After one briefing, a four-star officer told the former CIA analyst, Dont tell me about the war I might fight 10 years from now while Im fighting two wars today. Advertisement Even now, though well aware of Chinas growing military power, the U.S. is doing little to address the emerging gaps. In the old days, sending an aircraft carrier into the Taiwan Strait would make Beijing shudder and dial back any threat. Now China has enough anti-ship missiles to inflict serious damage on a carrier and its large escort vesselsyet we are responding by building more carriers and escort vessels. Advertisement The former CIA analyst stressed that China is not set to go to war with the U.S. today, orcontrary to what Adm. Davidson saidby 2027. However, he said, Beijing has declared 2035a dozen years from nowas a goal for attaining the status of a serious military power, and the pace of their activities is aligned with that. Advertisement That does not mean, he hastened to add, that China will go to war as soon as theyve crossed some magic line of capability. War with the U.S. would mean turning the page on everything theyve invested inmeaning their economic investments around the worldfor a war that they know would be long. The Pentagons report agrees: China, it notes, appears willing to defer the use of military force as long as it considers the costs of conflict outweigh the benefits. Its also worth noting that much of Chinas rapid buildup has been in response to what its leaders see as a threat from the United States. The Pentagons report makes this point up front. Chinas leaders, it states, believe that structural changes in the international system and an increasingly confrontational United States are the root causes of intensifying strategic competition between Washington and Beijing. (Emphasis added.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a big part of the conflicting interests between the two countries. Beijing sees a substantial area of the Pacific (Taiwan, the South China Sea, and a bit beyond) as Chinas rightful territory; Washington sees this view as an encroachment on its allies territory. In other words, what Beijing sees as active defense, Washington sees as offense against its allies. When each takes steps to bolster its position, the other sees these steps as confrontational. In a way, both sides are right. This is the sort of thing that could spark a warbut it doesnt have to. Chairman Xi also believes that China is a rising power, the United States is a declining power, and all heor his successorneeds to do is to hang on till the balance of forces tip decisively in Beijings direction. Advertisement Under these circumstances, an American president should do three things: deploy enough military force in the area that no reasonable Chinese leader would think that he can get away with aggression at little cost, bolster Americas strengths (domestically as well as internationally) to dispel the impression that were fading, and, in the meantime, say as often and as persuasively as possible that the United States has no interest in overthrowing the Chinese Communist Party or recognizing Taiwan as an independent state. Its a tricky balancing act to manage all three tasks at once. Its what Biden has been trying to do since he took office. Its impossible to pull off if both sides diplomats and officers are barely talking with one another; among other things, the lack of communication allows each side to assume the worst about the other and to treat worst-case scenarios as plausible forecasts. The SullivanWang talks, and now Bidens confident talk of an imminent thaw, are all about digging themselvesWashington and Beijingout of the abyss. Whether both sides can shimmy back up to the surface and start treating each other as some hybrid of collaborators and competitors, we will probably see by the end of the year. This piece originally appeared in The Unpublishable, a newsletter critiquing the beauty industry. Even before you grab your bags from the carousels at Seouls Incheon International Airport, you can fit your face into a spectral imaging machine to get your skin qualitatively analyzed for its health relative to your age. The A.I.-powered analysis is a free service courtesy of the Korea Tourism Organizations Medical Tourism Support Center. Staffers there to greet incoming travelers can usually speak at least some English, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian. Kiosks and clerks can help you find a facility for acupuncture or joint therapy. But most travelers are looking for skin treatments or cosmetic proceduresand they will happily pair you with their preferred plastic surgery clinics. Advertisement Korea boasts the most sophisticated medical aesthetic market in the world. It is the destination if youre looking to get your asshole bleached, armpits colorized, and/or your skull reshaped over the weekend, in time for a return to work on Monday. Seoul boasts more cosmetic surgeons per capita than anywhere else on the planettwice as many surgeons as the U.S., and 150 percent more surgeons than Brazil, the distant runnerup. Because of its exceptionally high density of doctors, the Gangnam neighborhood has come to be known as Plastic Surgery Street or the Improvement Quarter. The glutted market means that the practitioners there are driven by competition to attempt treatments and techniques yet to be allowed in the States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The imperative of upgrading the physical body is woven not just into domestic society but into the countrys export industries and global positioning. How did Seoul become the place where influencers flock to load up on laser treatments, injectables, and other therapies before blasting out their experiences to the masses? Its part of a sophisticated national strategy. Following a financial crisis in 1997, the regulatory climate in South Korea made it more lucrative for doctors if they specialized in surgical practices and diagnostic testing versus, for example, family practices. Cosmetic surgery offers both the need to diagnose patients with a problem, as well as the surgical solution to fix it. So, entrepreneurial medical professionals began to apply a scientific glaze to things like 3D imaging to help optimize the face or using big data to aggregate the ideal shapes and ratios for bodies. After all, if there is an ideal that can be proven by science, surgery or other treatments become easier to sell. Advertisement The state even supported the logic of bodily change as good citizenship by providing temporary tax breaks that could go toward cosmetic surgery. (Today, treatment for male-pattern baldness is covered by the countrys national health insurance.) The professional and personal pressures of their nations beauty culture came down particularly hard on South Korean women. Their prospective employers or loved ones would ask why they wouldnt fix their eyelids, or get a blemish removed, when it was medically possible? Supply drove demand. Advertisement The evolution of jawline surgery in Korea is a notable example. As I detailed in my book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture From the K-Beauty Capital: Doctors began popularizing jawline surgerya procedure that was previously only for reconstructive purposesas a commercialized cosmetic procedure in the early aughts. Also called Vline surgery, the procedure is aimed at reshaping the bottom half of the face and involves shaving and occasionally cutting, disassembling, and rearranging both lower and upper jaws (maxilla and mandible bones) to achieve a delicate-looking jaw. When you change the size and shape of the jaw, you transform the entire face. Jawline surgery stands out from eyelid surgery or rhinoplasty because it was normalized and popularized in Korea and by Korean doctors. Theres some local pride in that: in 2014, a clinic exhibited more than two thousand jaw fragments in two giant glass vessels, each bone labeled with the name of the patient from whom it was carved. Despite its popularity in Korea for more than a decade, it is still considered foreign by U.S. and European doctors. The medical tourism industry is predicated on problematizing the way we look. The V-line jaw is a made-up standard where supply first created demand. It came about just about fifteen years ago and now its accepted as the thing to be, Korean feminism writer James Turnbull told me, illustrating how profit-driven industries can make standards stick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in 2007, South Korea found itself in a jam: too many doctors, not enough patients. The country is small enough to fit into the space between L.A. and San Francisco, and the domestic market was saturated with spas, dermatology clinics, and plastic surgery centers. Enter the Korea Tourism Organization, and other export-minded agencies, which established medical tourism as one of its focus areas for growthone of the countrys strategic products. Offering tax breaks, tourist packages (transportation, hotels, and meals included) for medical tourists, and touting Koreas advancements and competitive pricing (treatments are a fraction of what they cost in the U.S.), the effort transformed Gangnams Improvement Quarter into a thriving attraction for aesthetic upgrades. In 2009 about 60,000 foreigners visited Korea for medical procedures. By 2019, the number of medical tourists reached nearly half a millionan eightfold increase in a decade, after climbing steadily each year, according to numbers from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. Advertisement Government agenciesnational and municipaloffered some tourist info hubtype services to help find registered clinics for those interested in getting work done. But the system of support for medical tourism is a network of private brokers, like Eunogo, that partner with the hospitals and doctors to help foreigners choose services from a suite of options and guide patients through the entire process. Korean surgeons have great skill and quality; all we needed [was] a good system, Eunogos Joy Kang told me. It was interesting to build something to connect foreign demand with quality doctors. They dont just help foreign patients match with clinics. The broker agencies offer concierge services like translation (different clinics specialize in different dominant languages) or even staffing a caregiver to be with you throughout the entire medical process, including being the first person you see when you come out from anesthesia. This is usually all paid for by the hospitals, which rely on a constant influx of patients. As the saying goes, if youre not paying for the product, you are the product. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many of todays hottest procedures, the ones you probably have seen on TikTok, no recovery time is needed. And hold on to your receipt! A cosmetic surgery tax refund comes with all cosmetic services performed on non-Korean passport holders, making the transaction an even better bargain. If surgery renders a tourists face unrecognizable from their passport photo, theres a service for that too. The Korea Tourism Organization issues a plastic-surgery certificate that immigration officials accept as proof of identity, along with the original passport, in order for the tourist to leave the country. For many people, international travel comes with the hope of a transformative experience. But few countries can rival Koreas ability to guarantee that you will be a changed person by the time you leaveif only on a purely superficial level. Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old Australian woman died after being hit with a taser by a police officer. Nowland, a dementia patient, died at Cooma Hospital in New South Wales, where she was receiving palliative care, a week after she fell and suffered a fractured skull and severe bleeding from a stun gun. The incident took place at the nursing home where Nowland had lived for several years. Employees at the nursing home called the police because Nowland was believed to be armed. When the police arrived at the home, a 95-year-old woman approached them slowly, holding a kitchen knife in her hand. Despite persuading her to let go of the knife, the woman still approached, albeit slowly, as she used a stilt to walk. The police, as they themselves said, had to respond with force. An electric stun gun was used, and Nowland suffered serious injuries when she fell. NSW Police wrote on Facebook: It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of Clare Nowland, aged 95, in Cooma tonight. Shortly after 7pm she passed away peacefully in hospital, surrounded by family and loved ones who have asked for privacy at this sad and difficult time. Our thoughts and condolences remain with those who were fortunate enough to have known, loved and loved Mrs Nowland in a life marked by family, kindness and community, they added. READ MORE The police paralyzed a 95-year-old woman because she was allegedly armed The detectives who investigated the case called the police officer who paralyzed her Christian Whit accused of three crimes. White is due to appear in court on charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm. He was also suspended from work. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg admitted today that the members of the alliance are divided on the question of Ukraines membership before the July summit in Vilnius. Regarding this issue, there are different positions in the alliance, Stoltenberg said in Brussels, reminding that NATO takes decisions by consensus. Nobody can tell you exactly what the final decision on this issue will be at the summit in Vilnius, he said, according to the French news agency AFP. Stoltenberg at a conference organized by the American think-tank German Marshall Fund in Brussels. As long as there is a war, Ukraine will not be able to join NATO, he said, but reiterated that the countrys future is in NATO. According to diplomats, the US and several other allies at the July summit do not want to go further than the statement from Bucharest, in which the NATO summit in 2008 promised Ukraine and Georgia the possibility of joining the alliance, but did not specify a timetable. NATO membership would allow Ukraine to invoke the collective defense provisions of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an attack on one member state is an attack on all and obligates members to defend it in the event of an attack. According to one of the diplomats, discussions are underway to form a basis for a compromise on membership, AFP reports. One of the possibilities could thus be the provision of security guarantees, such as those obtained by Sweden, whose accession is blocked by Turkey and Hungary. The highest security guarantee will be NATO membership, but this is not something that will happen during a war, Stoltenberg said. News These are the Russians who want to overthrow Putin from power with weapons comments: 55 News In Russia, the first civilian casualties vZivo comments: 123 News Jansa destroys his own candidacy for the Security Council of the United Nations? comments: 96 News Putin congratulated the Russian forces on the capture of Bahmut vZivo News Wagner units are said to have captured Bahmut, Kiev denied this vZivo News Ukraine honored Sarac and Crncec News New night attack on Ukraine: A large number of drones sent over Kiev vZivo If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Choosing the right barber chair is a significant decision for any barbershop or salon. A comfortable, functional, and attractive chair can enhance the overall client experience and contribute to the success of your business. From comfort and ergonomics to durability and price, numerous factors should be considered when choosing a barber chair that best suits your needs and preferences. Stay ahead by familiarizing yourself with the most recent advancements in barber chair designs, including modern styles, innovative features, and cutting-edge technology. Types of Barber Chairs Traditional Barber Chairs Overview: With their timeless appeal, traditional barber chairs are a popular choice for those looking to create a classic barbershop atmosphere. They typically feature a sturdy frame, heavy-duty upholstery, and a hydraulic lift system. Key Features: These chairs often include a reclining backrest, adjustable headrest, padded armrests, and a footrest for maximum comfort. Pros and Cons: Traditional barber chairs are known for their durability and visual appeal but may lack some modern features found in newer models. Popular Models: Some well-known traditional barber chair models include the Belmont Barber Chair and the Koken Barber Chair. Price Range: Prices for traditional barber chairs can vary greatly, but expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $5,000 depending on the brand, materials, and features. All-purpose Chairs Overview: All-purpose chairs offer versatility by accommodating various salon services, including haircuts, shaves, and styling. They typically feature adjustable settings and a swivel base for ease of use. Key Features: These chairs often come with a reclining backrest, adjustable headrest, and removable footrest to cater to different service needs. Pros and Cons: All-purpose chairs provide flexibility and functionality, making them a cost-effective choice. However, they may not offer the same level of comfort and support as specialized barber chairs. Popular Models: The Collins All-Purpose Chair and the Pibbs All-Purpose Chair are popular choices in this category. Price Range: Prices for all-purpose chairs range from $200 to $1,500, depending on the features, materials, and brand. Portable Barber Chairs Overview: Portable barber chairs are lightweight, foldable, and designed for easy transport and storage, making them ideal for mobile barbers and event services. Key Features: These chairs typically feature a simple design, adjustable headrest, and a removable footrest. Pros and Cons: While portable barber chairs offer convenience and mobility, they may not be as comfortable or durable as other chair types. Popular Models: The Earthlite Portable Massage Chair and the Stronglite Ergo Pro II are popular portable chair options. Price Range: Portable barber chairs generally cost between $100 and $500, depending on the brand and features. Antique Barber Overview: Antique barber chairs are sought after by collectors and those looking to create a nostalgic ambiance in their barbershop. These chairs often feature intricate designs, high-quality materials, and expert craftsmanship. Key Features: Antique chairs often include a reclining backrest, adjustable headrest, padded armrests, and a footrest for comfort. Pros and Cons: While antique barber chairs can add a unique charm to your shop, they may require additional maintenance and lack some modern features. Popular Models: The Koken Congress and the Emil J. Paidar barber chairs are examples of classic antique models. Price Range: Antique barber chairs can be quite expensive, with prices ranging from $1,000 to over $10,000, depending on the rarity and condition of the chair. Reclining Barber Chairs Overview: Reclining barber chairs offer greater adjustability and versatility for various services, such as shaves and facial treatments. They feature a backrest that reclines to different angles for maximum client comfort. Key Features: A reclining chair typically includes a swivel base, adjustable headrest, and footrest. Pros and Cons: Reclining barber chairs provide added comfort and functionality but may be more expensive than non-reclining models. Popular Models: The DIR Reclining Barber Chair and the Flag Beauty Reclining Chair are popular reclining chair options. Price Range: Reclining barber chairs can cost anywhere from $300 to $2,500, depending on the brand, materials, and features. Hydraulic Barber Chairs Overview: Hydraulic barber chairs utilize a hydraulic lift system, allowing for easy height adjustments to accommodate different clients and barbers. Key Features: These chairs often feature a swivel base, reclining backrest, adjustable headrest, and footrest. Pros and Cons: Hydraulic chairs provide smooth height adjustments and enhanced comfort but may require additional maintenance due to the hydraulic system. Popular Models: The Belmont Hydraulic Barber Chair and the Takara Barber Chair are examples of popular hydraulic chair options. Price Range: Hydraulic barber chairs typically cost between $500 and $3,500, depending on the brand, materials, and features. Top Barber Chairs for Your Shop DIR Vanquish Heavy Duty Barber Chair Top Pick: Create a classic and sophisticated look in your barbershop with the DIR Barber Chair Kaiser. This beautifully crafted barber chair features an antique European design with a brushed frame and is completely upholstered with the most durable and comfortable faux leather. The retro design of this chair is sure to meet the demands of a modern barbershop while incorporating a timeless old-world feel. Features: High quality antique detailed brushed frame with superior faux leather covering Durable, rounded seat and back cushions with a tufted retro design Padded armrests and classic flip-style footrest Pinpoint adjustable and locking headrest, removable for additional cutting space Super-heavy duty hydraulic pump with detailed base handling weights over 580 lbs Available in Black and Red colors (Brown color available on special request) 45 degree angle recline with sleek lever Pros: Antique European design with a brushed frame Durable and comfortable faux leather upholstery Pinpoint adjustable and locking headrest for added comfort Super-heavy duty hydraulic pump can handle weights over 580 lbs Classic flip-style footrest adds to the retro design Cons: Limited color options No information on warranty or return policy No information on assembly or maintenance requirements No information on additional features or accessories The DIR Barber Chair Kaiser is a beautifully crafted barber chair that will add a classic and sophisticated look to your barbershop. With its antique European design, durable and comfortable faux leather upholstery, and pinpoint adjustable and locking headrest, this chair will meet the demands of a modern barbershop while incorporating a timeless old-world feel. DIR Vanquish Heavy Duty Barber Chair Buy on Amazon Artist Hand Black All Purpose Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair Runner Up: The Artist Hand Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair is designed to be an addition to your barbershop. Its classic style and ergonomic features make it suitable for haircuts, tattoos, and shaving for both men and women. This chair is designed to be durable and sturdy. Features: 360 degree swiveling chair with heavy-duty hydraulic pump for easy height adjustment Back seat can be reclined up to 145 degrees Pump lifting height of 9.84 inches Product dimensions of 43 x 28 x 39/43 inches Seat size of 19.68 x 20.87 x 5.9 inches Adjustable headrest range of 4 inches Double-reinforced saddle stitching to prevent ripping and tearing Footrest for extra comfort Stainless steel armrest with PVC leather cover High density sponge for added comfort Pros: Classic and elegant design Durable and sturdy structure Easy to clean and wear resistant leather 360 degree swiveling chair with heavy-duty hydraulic pump for easy height adjustment Backrest reclines up to 145 degrees for added comfort Cons: No information on warranty or return policy No information on assembly or maintenance requirements No information on additional features or accessories Limited color options With up to 440 lbs. of weight capacity, this is a strong chair designed to handle years of use. Artist Hand Black All Purpose Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair Buy on Amazon BarberPub Heavy Duty Vintage Barber Chair Best Value: The BarberPub Heavy Duty Vintage Barber Chair is has an all-black color scheme and vintage design. The pre-built frame and seat save you time and effort, so you can have it up and running quickly Features: Adjustable height with hydraulic pump (maximum 6 inches) 360-degree swivel with locking mechanism Backrest reclines up to 135 degrees with a gas-piston lock and release mechanism High-density foam cushion and ergonomically shaped backrest for superior client comfort Steel and aluminum frame construction for better solidity than normal chairs Heavy-duty hydraulic pump with maximum supporting weight of 700 lbs Footrest with dimensions of 16 x 9.8 and 11.8 x 6.7 Vintage design with square cushion and backrest for a more modern look High quality PVC leather that is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and stain-resistant Pros: Vintage design with square cushion and backrest for a modern look High quality PVC leather that is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and stain-resistant Heavy-duty hydraulic pump with maximum supporting weight of 700 lbs Adjustable height with hydraulic pump Ergonomically shaped backrest for superior client comfort Cons: No information on warranty or return policy Assembly of the backrest is required Limited color options No information on additional features or accessories The BarberPub Heavy Duty Vintage Barber Chair perfectly combines vintage design and modern functionality. Its adjustable height, heavy-duty hydraulic pump, and ergonomically shaped backrest provide superior comfort to your clients. BarberPub Heavy Duty Vintage Barber Chair Buy on Amazon Artist Hand Heavy Duty Recline Barber Chair The Artist Hand Heavy Duty Recline Barber Chair is made of high-quality materials that are easy to clean and resistant to wear and tear. The high-density sponge ensures maximum comfort, while the adjustable headrest allows customized positioning. With 360 degrees swivel and 135 degrees reclining, this chair ensures flexibility and convenience. Features: Adjustable headrest and inclining backrest up to 135 degrees Swivels 360 degrees with locking mechanism Weight capacity of up to 440 pounds High-density sponge for extra comfort Chrome-finished round hydraulic pump and base with classic style footrest Pros: Classic design adds elegance to any setting High-quality materials for durability and easy maintenance Adjustable headrest for customized positioning 360 degrees swivel and 135 degrees reclining for flexibility and convenience Weight capacity of up to 440 pounds Premium steel frame and classic style footrest for maximum support and stability Cons: May be difficult to assemble Relatively expensive compared to other barber chairs May not be suitable for smaller salons May require additional padding for extra comfort The Artist Hand Heavy Duty Recline Barber Chair has durable structure, adjustable features, and a classic design. However, it may not be suitable for smaller salons or those on a tight budget. Artist hand Heavy Duty Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair Buy on Amazon BarberPub Heavy Duty Metal Vintage Barber Chair The BarberPub Vanquish Barber Chair has an estimated loading capacity of 400 lbs. It is made with high-quality materials, including aluminum alloy frames and stainless steel parts, for better solidity and durability. The chair features a diamond-shaped checkered seat with delicate stitching, providing both style and advanced design. Features: Heavy-duty hydraulic pump with estimated loading capacity of 400lbs Diamond-shaped checkered seat with delicate stitching High-quality PVC leather seat cushion and backrest 360-degree swivel with locking mechanism Backrest that reclines up to 140 degrees Adjustable height lever that can raise the chair up to 6.3 inches Cushions in all positions touched by the human body for extra comfort Tower hook beside two sides for easy storage Pros: High-quality materials for durability and stability Adjustable height and reclining backrest for client comfort Humanization design with cushions for extra comfort Heavy-duty hydraulic pump for weight support Stylish and modern design Cons: May be difficult to assemble Relatively expensive compared to other barber chairs May not be suitable for smaller salons May require additional padding for extra comfort The BarberPub Vanquish Barber Chair is designed with humanization in mind, including cushions in all positions touched by the human body for extra comfort, and a tower hook beside two sides for easy storage. The seat cushion and backrest are made of high-quality PVC leather, which is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and stain-resistant. BarberPub Heavy Duty Metal Vintage Barber Chair Buy on Amazon Buy-Rite Icon Styling Chair for Professional Salons and Barbers The Buy-Rite Icon Styling Chair Icon Styling Chair is a modern, sophisticated, and stylish addition to any salon or barbershop. Designed with a 2 gap between the seat and the back, this chair is super easy to clean and maintain. It comes with an extra-wide seat, a hydraulic pump for easy height adjustment, and a 23 round base plate for stability. Features: Modern European design Premium vinyl with quilted embroidery Extra-wide seat Hydraulic pump for easy height adjustment 23 round base plate for stability Strong and sturdy frame for longevity Comfortable high-density foam cushion 2-year warranty on hydraulic system Pros: Stylish and modern design Easy to clean and maintain Extra-wide seat for comfort Hydraulic pump for easy height adjustment Comes with a 2-year warranty on hydraulic system Cons: No information on weight capacity Limited color options No additional features such as footrest or recline function Price may be a bit high for some small business owners The Buy-Rite Icon Styling Chair is This square styling chair features premium vinyl with quilted embroidery on the outside of the arms and back. The chairs easy-to-clean surface, extra-wide seat, and hydraulic pump for easy height adjustment make it an excellent choice for busy professionals. Buy-Rite Icon Styling Chair for Professional Salons and Barbers Buy on Amazon BarberPub Heavy Duty Recline Barber Chair The BarberPub Heavy Duty Recline Barber Chair has an estimated 450lbs loading capacity; this chair can easily accommodate a wide range of clients. The heavy-duty steel frame under the seat cushion prevents any wobbling from various movements, making sure your clients feel safe and secure during their appointment. Features: Adjustable height Armrest Swivel Footrest Heavy duty hydraulic pump Reclinable backrest up to 145 Gas-piston lock & release mechanism Fully adjustable headrest with 7 hole sites High-quality textured satin PU leather Pros: High loading capacity of 450lbs Exquisite stitching for a touch of beauty Adjustable headrest with 7 hole sites Heavy duty hydraulic pump for stability Reclinable backrest up to 145 Cons: Larger size may not be suitable for smaller spaces Assembly may require two people Footrest may not be comfortable for taller clients No option for color customization BarberPub has distribution centers in Houston TX, Los Angeles, CA, Memphis, TN, and Wilmington DE, they provide efficient chain distribution and localized customer services. The company has research, development, design, and sales channels in the U.S.A, Germany, China, and Vietnam, ensuring fast product supply and new customization requirements. BarberPub Heavy Duty Recline Barber Chair Buy on Amazon Buy-Rite Professional Barbershop Chair The Buy-Rite K.O. Professional Heavy Duty All Purpose Barber Chair is a contemporary style chair designed with a durable alloy steel frame. The chair is fully reclining and features a 360-degree swivel turn. Specifications: Inside Arms: 20 Outside Arms: 27.5 Seat Depth: 18 (Front to Back) Height of Seat Back: 19.5 Travel Range: 22.5 29.5 (Top of Seat Cushion to Floor) Weight Capacity: 450 lbs. (Hydraulic rated at 650 lbs.) Features: Arm rest Swivel Head support Footrest Extra large 28 chrome base Steel frame Fully reclining Fully adjustable headrest Extra wide seat Pros: Durable and supportive Fully reclining and 360 degree swivel turn for optimal comfort Extra large 28 chrome base and steel frame for added stability Extra wide seat and fully adjustable headrest for added comfort Footrest kicks out when chair is reclined Cons: Assembly may require two people No option for color customization Footrest may not be comfortable for taller clients Not suitable for smaller spaces The Buy-Rite K.O. Professional Heavy Duty All Purpose Barber Chair has an extra-large 28 chrome base and steel frame, providing a sturdy and secure foundation for the chair. It also features an extra wide seat and a fully adjustable headrest for added comfort. The footrest is fully adjustable and kicks out when the chair is reclined. Buy-Rite Professional Barber Shop Chair Buy on Amazon BarberPub Heavy Duty Metal Vintage Barber Chair The BarberPub heavy Duty Metal Vintage Barber Chair has an antique style and ergonomic design equipped with a heavy-duty hydraulic pump capable of handling up to 400 lbs of weight. Specifications: Color: Black with black stitches Product Dimensions: 65.7D x 26.7W x 40.9H Style: Antique Special Feature: Adjustable height, ergonomic design, arm rest, swivel Features: Heavy duty hydraulic pump with an estimated 400lbs loading capacity High quality and durable material Flexible adjustment with 360 degree swivel and locking mechanism Backrest reclines up to 140 degrees with gas-piston lock & release mechanism Humanization design for extra comfort Pros: Durable and sturdy construction Adjustable height and flexible reclining position for maximum comfort High-quality PVC leather material that is easy to clean Stylish antique design that adds a touch of sophistication to any space Ergonomically shaped back rest support for superior comfort Cons: Footrest may not be comfortable for taller clients Assembly may require two people No option for color customization Not suitable for smaller spaces The BarberPub Vanquish Barber Chair is made of high-quality PVC leather and aluminum alloy frames with stainless steel parts, ensuring durability and stability. BarberPub Heavy Duty Metal Vintage Barber Chair Buy on Amazon Heavy-Duty Mens Grooming Barbershop Hydraulic Chair Dir Kaiser Barber Chair Create is completely upholstered with the faux leather tufted retro design with padded armrests and classic flip-style footrest pinpoint adjustable and locking headrest, removable for additional cutting space. Features: Brushed frame finish Padded arm and calf rest Padded reversible foot and leg rest 45-degree recline with super heavy-duty hydraulic pump to handle weight up to 580 lbs Pinpoint adjustable and locking headrest, also removable for additional cutting space Pros: Antique European design with a retro look High-quality faux leather upholstery for durability and comfort Padded armrests and flip-style footrest for added comfort Pinpoint adjustable and locking headrest Super-heavy-duty hydraulic pump with detailed base for stability and weight handling Cons: Only available in a few colors Relatively heavy and bulky Some assembly required Price may be higher than other barber chairs on the market The Dir Kaiser Barber Chair High-quality chair with a Super-heavy-duty hydraulic pump with detailed base handling loads over 580 lbs. While it may be relatively heavy and bulky, and only available in a few colors, this chair is an excellent investment for any modern barbershop looking to incorporate a classic old-world feel into its design. Heavy Duty Mens Grooming Barbershop Hydraulic Chair Buy on Amazon Key Features of Barber Chairs Comfort and Ergonomics Padding and Cushioning: Thick padding and cushioning provide optimal comfort for clients during their appointment. Backrest and Headrest: A comfortable backrest and adjustable headrest help support the clients head and neck during services. Armrests and Footrests: Padded armrests and footrests offer additional support and relaxation for clients. Adjustability: Chairs with adjustable settings can better accommodate a variety of client sizes and preferences. Client and Barber Satisfaction: Comfortable and ergonomic chairs contribute to a positive experience for both clients and barbers. Durability and Construction Frame Material: A sturdy frame, often made of metal, ensures the chairs longevity and stability. Upholstery Material: High-quality, heavy-duty upholstery materials, such as leather or vinyl, resist wear and tear and are easy to clean. Weight Capacity: Chairs with a higher weight capacity can accommodate a wider range of clients. Longevity and Maintenance: Durable chairs require less maintenance and replacement, saving time and money in the long run. Warranty and After-sales Support: A good warranty and responsive customer service can provide peace of mind when purchasing a barber chair. Functionality and Adjustability Recline and Swivel Mechanisms: Smooth recline and swivel mechanisms allow for easy adjustments during services. Hydraulic Lift System: A hydraulic system enables seamless height adjustments to accommodate various clients and barbers. Headrest and Footrest Adjustments: Adjustable headrests and footrests provide tailored comfort for each client. Accessory Holders: Built-in holders for tools and equipment can improve workflow and organization. Ease of Use and Operation: Chairs with intuitive controls and mechanisms make it simple for barbers to adjust settings as needed. Design and Aesthetics Styles and Colors: A variety of chair styles and colors allows you to match the chair with your salons decor and theme. Vintage vs. Modern Designs: Choose between classic, vintage designs or sleek, modern styles to suit your salons atmosphere. Customization Options: Some manufacturers offer customization options for upholstery colors, materials, and chair components. Matching Salon Decor: Selecting chairs that complement your salons aesthetic can create a cohesive and inviting environment. Brand Image and Reputation: A stylish and well-designed chair can enhance your brand image and help attract clientele. Safety and Stability Base Design: A sturdy base ensures stability and prevents the chair from tipping during use. Locking Mechanisms: Chairs with secure locking mechanisms can prevent accidents caused by unexpected movement. Weight Distribution: Proper weight distribution helps maintain stability and reduces the risk of tipping. Safety Features: Additional safety features, such as non-slip footrests, can enhance client security and comfort. Compliance with Industry Standards: Ensure your chair meets industry safety and quality standards for added peace of mind. Price and Budget Considerations Price Range and Features: Evaluate the features offered within your budget to determine the best value for your investment. Assessing Value for Money: Consider the chairs durability, comfort, and features to determine if its worth the price. Financing and Leasing Options: Explore financing and leasing alternatives to help with purchasing costs. Buying New vs. Used Chairs: Weigh the pros and cons of purchasing new or used barber chairs based on your budget and requirements. Return on Investment: Calculate the potential return on investment when purchasing a chair, considering its impact on client satisfaction and business growth. Maintenance and Care Cleaning and Sanitizing Upholstery Cleaning: Regularly clean and sanitize the upholstery to maintain a hygienic environment and prolong the chairs lifespan. Metal Frame Cleaning: Wipe down and polish the metal frame to keep it looking new and free of dust and grime. Sanitizing Procedures: Follow proper sanitizing guidelines and use appropriate cleaning products to ensure a safe and clean space. Frequency and Schedule: Establish a routine cleaning schedule to maintain cleanliness and extend the life of your barber chair. Compliance with Hygiene Standards: Adhere to industry hygiene standards to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for clients and staff. Regular Inspections Checking for Wear and Tear: Periodically inspect your chair for signs of wear and tear, such as loose screws, worn upholstery, or damaged components. Inspecting Hydraulic System: Examine the hydraulic system for any leaks, corrosion, or damage. Assessing Recline and Swivel Mechanisms: Test the recline and swivel mechanisms to ensure smooth operation and identify potential issues. Examining Locking Mechanisms: Ensure the locking mechanisms are functioning correctly to maintain client safety and prevent accidents. Scheduling Routine Inspections: Set up a regular inspection schedule to catch and address issues early, preventing costly repairs or replacements. Repairs and Replacements Identifying Issues: Quickly address any issues found during inspections to maintain the chairs performance and longevity. Sourcing Replacement Parts: Source replacement parts from reputable suppliers to ensure compatibility and quality. DIY vs. Professional Repairs: Determine whether you can perform repairs yourself or if you should hire a professional, considering your skill level and the complexity of the issue. Warranty Claims: Check if any repairs or replacements are covered under the chairs warranty to minimize costs. Budgeting for Repairs and Replacements: Allocate a portion of your budget for maintenance and repairs to keep your chairs in optimal condition. Preventative Maintenance Lubricating Moving Parts: Regularly lubricate moving parts, such as the hydraulic system, recline and swivel mechanisms, to ensure smooth operation and reduce wear. Tightening Screws and Bolts: Periodically check and tighten any loose screws or bolts to maintain stability and prevent damage. Protecting Upholstery: Use protective covers or treatments to minimize wear and tear on the chairs upholstery. Proper Use and Handling: Train staff on the correct use and handling of the chair to prevent unnecessary wear and damage. Planning for Longevity: Invest in high-quality chairs and prioritize maintenance to extend their lifespan and reduce the need for replacements. Buying Guide Assessing Your Salons Needs Space and Layout Considerations: Evaluate the available space in your salon to determine the appropriate size and number of chairs. Number of Chairs Required: Consider the number of barbers working in your salon and the expected client traffic to estimate the number of chairs needed. Matching Existing Salon Decor: Choose chairs that complement your salons existing aesthetic and ambiance. Client Demographics and Preferences: Cater to your clients preferences by selecting chairs that suit their needs and tastes. Future Growth and Expansion Plans: Plan for potential growth or expansion by choosing chairs that can accommodate future changes. Researching and Comparing Models Reading Product Reviews: Consult reviews from other professionals and customers to gauge the quality and performance of various barber chair models. Seeking Recommendations from Industry Professionals: Reach out to colleagues or industry professionals for their opinions and experiences with different chairs. Comparing Features and Specifications: Analyze the features and specifications of various models to determine which best suits your salons needs. Testing Chairs in Person: Visit showrooms or trade shows to test chairs in person, ensuring comfort, functionality, and quality. Evaluating Durability and Long-term Value: Consider the chairs construction, materials, and warranty to assess its durability and long-term value. Selecting a Reputable Supplier Researching Suppliers and Manufacturers: Investigate suppliers and manufacturers to find reputable sources for high-quality barber chairs. Comparing Prices and Shipping Options: Compare prices, shipping costs, and timelines from various suppliers to find the best deal. Assessing Customer Support and After-sales Service: Choose a supplier that offers excellent customer support and after-sales service, such as assistance with installation, maintenance, and repairs. Evaluating Warranty Policies: Review the warranty policies offered by suppliers to ensure you are adequately protected in case of issues. Building a Relationship with the Supplier: Establish a relationship with your chosen supplier to facilitate future purchases and support. Installation and Setup Preparing the Salon Space: Allocate sufficient space for each chair and ensure the area is clean and prepared for installation. Assembling the Chair: Follow the manufacturers instructions to assemble the chair properly and safely. Adjusting and Fine-tuning Chair Settings: Adjust the chairs settings according to your preferences and requirements. Ensuring Proper Function and Safety: Test the chairs functionality and safety features before use. Training Staff on Chair Operation and Maintenance: Educate your team on the proper use and maintenance of the chair to ensure its longevity and performance. Financing and Budgeting Allocating Funds for Chair Purchases: Determine a budget for your chair purchases based on your salons financial situation and needs. Considering Leasing and Financing Options: Explore leasing and financing alternatives to help manage costs. Evaluating Return on Investment: Calculate the potential return on investment when purchasing a chair, considering its impact on client satisfaction and business growth. Balancing Cost and Quality: Strike a balance between cost and quality to ensure a wise investment. Planning for Future Equipment Upgrades: Set aside funds for future equipment upgrades and replacements. Frequently Asked Questions What are the most important features to consider when purchasing a barber chair? The most important features to consider are comfort and ergonomics, durability and construction, functionality and adjustability, design and aesthetics, safety and stability, and price and budget considerations. How do I choose the right type of barber chair for my salon? Assess your salons needs and preferences, consider the available space and layout, and evaluate the different types of barber chairs, such as traditional, all-purpose, portable, antique, reclining, and hydraulic chairs. What is the difference between hydraulic and non-hydraulic barber chairs? Hydraulic barber chairs use a hydraulic lift system to adjust the height and position of the chair, allowing for smoother and more precise adjustments. Non-hydraulic chairs typically use manual adjustment methods, such as levers or knobs, which may be less precise and more challenging to operate. How can I maintain and care for my barber chair to ensure its longevity? Regular cleaning and sanitizing, routine inspections, timely repairs and replacements, proper use and handling, and preventative maintenance are crucial for maintaining and prolonging the lifespan of your barber chair. Is it worth investing in a more expensive, high-quality barber chair? Investing in a high-quality barber chair can enhance client satisfaction, improve your salons image, and potentially result in a better return on investment over time. However, its essential to strike a balance between cost and quality to ensure a wise investment. Where can I find reputable suppliers and manufacturers of barber chairs? Research online, consult industry professionals for recommendations and visit trade shows or showrooms to find reputable suppliers and manufacturers offering high-quality barber chairs at competitive prices. What are the most common issues with barber chairs and how can I address them? Common issues with barber chairs include wear and tear on upholstery, malfunctioning hydraulic systems, and problems with recline and swivel mechanisms. Address these issues by conducting regular inspections, sourcing replacement parts from reputable suppliers, and performing timely repairs or replacements. Proper maintenance and care can help prevent and mitigate these issues. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Qualify for discounts, special offers and more with a Business Prime account from Amazon. You can create a FREE account to get started today. Incubators and accelerators play an integral role in the growth and development of startups. As new ventures strive to thrive in competitive markets, startups and incubators offer valuable resources and support as you learn how to start a business. By fostering innovation, these programs have become the backbone of success for countless entrepreneurs. In this article, we will compare and contrast the essential elements of incubator and accelerator programs, shedding light on their differences and helping you determine the right path for your startup journey. Understanding Incubators and Accelerators To make informed decisions about the future of your startup, its vital to have a clear understanding of incubator and accelerator programs. In this section, well delve into the basics of each, helping you grasp their unique offerings and benefits. Startup Incubator Basics What is a business incubator? Startup incubators are organizations that provide crucial support for early-stage businesses by nurturing their growth and development. These incubator programs are designed to help startups overcome common challenges and lay the groundwork for long-term success. Heres a closer look at the main objectives and support offered by startup incubators: Nurturing environment: Incubators create a supportive environment that fosters collaboration, learning, and networking opportunities. They offer access to mentors, peers, and experts in various industries, helping entrepreneurs expand their knowledge base. Incubators create a supportive environment that fosters collaboration, learning, and networking opportunities. They offer access to mentors, peers, and experts in various industries, helping entrepreneurs expand their knowledge base. Shared resources: Incubator programs often provide affordable co-working spaces, office equipment, and other essential resources. This enables startups to save on costs while benefiting from a collaborative atmosphere. Incubator programs often provide affordable co-working spaces, office equipment, and other essential resources. This enables startups to save on costs while benefiting from a collaborative atmosphere. Business development assistance: Startup incubators provide tailored guidance on business strategy, financial management, and legal matters. They also offer workshops and seminars to educate entrepreneurs on relevant topics. Startup incubators provide tailored guidance on business strategy, financial management, and legal matters. They also offer workshops and seminars to educate entrepreneurs on relevant topics. Long-term support: Incubator programs typically have a longer duration, ranging from several months to a couple of years. This extended timeframe allows startups to develop at their own pace, focusing on building a solid foundation for their ventures. Incubator programs typically have a longer duration, ranging from several months to a couple of years. This extended timeframe allows startups to develop at their own pace, focusing on building a solid foundation for their ventures. Access to funding: While not a primary focus, some startup incubators may help connect businesses to potential investors or offer funding opportunities through grants and competitions. Startup Accelerator Basics Startup accelerators are intensive, time-bound programs that aim to accelerate the growth of high-potential startups. They provide a combination of resources and mentorship to help businesses scale quickly and navigate the challenges of rapid growth. Here are the key aspects of accelerator programs: Structured curriculum: Startup accelerators follow a well-defined curriculum, often lasting around 3 to 4 months. This curriculum typically includes workshops, presentations, and mentor-led sessions, all aimed at refining the startups business model and strategy. Startup accelerators follow a well-defined curriculum, often lasting around 3 to 4 months. This curriculum typically includes workshops, presentations, and mentor-led sessions, all aimed at refining the startups business model and strategy. Mentorship and expertise: Accelerator programs offer access to a network of seasoned entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and domain experts. These mentors provide invaluable guidance and feedback, helping startups fine-tune their strategies and identify growth opportunities. Accelerator programs offer access to a network of seasoned entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and domain experts. These mentors provide invaluable guidance and feedback, helping startups fine-tune their strategies and identify growth opportunities. Cohort-based learning: Startups in accelerator programs are usually part of a cohort, enabling them to learn from each others experiences, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships within their industry. Startups in accelerator programs are usually part of a cohort, enabling them to learn from each others experiences, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships within their industry. Funding: Unlike incubators, startup accelerators often provide seed capital in exchange for equity in the business. This funding helps startups cover operational expenses and focus on rapid growth. Unlike incubators, startup accelerators often provide seed capital in exchange for equity in the business. This funding helps startups cover operational expenses and focus on rapid growth. Demo Day: At the end of the accelerator program, startups often participate in a Demo Day, where they showcase their products and progress to a select audience of investors, mentors, and industry professionals. This event can lead to potential partnerships, investments, or customer acquisition. By offering these resources and a structured timeline, startup accelerators empower businesses to make significant strides in a short amount of time, setting them on the path to success. Accelerator vs Incubator: The Key Differences Accelerators and incubators share the common goal of helping startups grow and succeed. However, their methodologies and focus areas sets them apart. 1. Duration: Sprinting vs. Nurturing One of the fundamental disparities between accelerators and incubators lies in the duration of their programs. Accelerators, true to their name, are designed to accelerate the startups growth over a relatively short period. Typically, accelerator programs run for a fixed duration, often ranging from three to six months. These programs are highly structured and intensive, emphasizing rapid progress and achieving significant milestones within a compressed timeframe. On the other hand, incubators adopt a more nurturing approach. Incubation programs provide long-term support and guidance to startups, sometimes spanning several years. The focus is on building a solid foundation and facilitating steady growth by providing ongoing resources, mentorship, and infrastructure. 2. Funding: Investment vs. Support Another key difference between accelerators and incubators lies in the way they handle funding. Accelerators usually offer startups a predefined amount of funding in exchange for equity. This investment serves as a catalyst for growth, enabling startups to scale their operations rapidly. In addition to funding, accelerators may provide access to a robust network of investors, venture capitalists, and industry experts, opening doors to potential follow-on investments. Incubators, while they may offer some funding, primarily focus on providing comprehensive support services. These services can include office space, access to shared resources, mentorship, legal and financial guidance, and market research assistance. The emphasis is on creating an environment conducive to learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement. 3. Support Structure: Intensity vs. Flexibility Accelerators are known for their rigorous and fast-paced nature. They typically follow a structured curriculum, incorporating workshops, mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities. The intense environment of accelerators challenges startups to refine their business models, polish their pitches, and accelerate their go-to-market strategies. In contrast, incubators prioritize flexibility and adaptability. They offer startups the freedom to explore and refine their ideas at their own pace. The support provided by incubators is more personalized, and tailored to the unique needs of each startup. This allows entrepreneurs to delve deeper into product development, market research, and customer acquisition, while also benefiting from the guidance of experienced mentors. Understanding the differences between accelerators and incubators is essential for startups seeking external support. While accelerators are well-suited for startups looking to achieve rapid growth, secure funding, and establish industry connections, incubators provide a nurturing environment for startups aiming to build a solid foundation and gradually scale their operations. Time Frame and Commitment The duration of the program and the level of commitment required are crucial factors to consider when deciding between accelerators vs incubators. In this section, we will compare and contrast the typical duration and commitment levels associated with participating in incubator and accelerator programs. 1. Duration: Sprinting vs. Steadying the Pace See Also: How to Be a Business With a Longevity Plan Accelerators are known for their short and intensive durations. These programs are designed to rapidly propel startups forward, often lasting between three to six months. The concentrated timeframe allows entrepreneurs to refine their business models, fine-tune their strategies, and accelerate their growth. The time spent in an accelerator is akin to a sprint, where startups aim to achieve significant milestones and prepare themselves for the next phase of their journey. On the other hand, incubator programs take a longer-term approach, providing startups with ongoing support and nurturing over an extended period. The duration of an incubator program can vary, ranging from several months to a few years. Incubators focus on assisting startups in building a solid foundation, fostering a sustainable growth trajectory, and refining their products or services. The extended duration of an incubation program allows for a more gradual and comprehensive development process. 2. Level of Commitment: Intensity vs. Steadiness Joining an accelerator program requires a high level of commitment and dedication from startups. The fast-paced nature of accelerators demands that participants fully immerse themselves in the programs activities and meet stringent milestones within a short timeframe. Startups selected for accelerators are expected to dedicate a significant amount of time and resources to maximize the benefits of the program. This commitment often means intense work hours, constant iteration, and a laser focus on achieving rapid growth. In contrast, incubators offer startups a more steady and flexible level of commitment. While active involvement is still necessary, the intensity of the program is generally lower compared to accelerators. Incubators understand the need for entrepreneurs to explore and refine their ideas at their own pace. This allows startups to strike a balance between program requirements and other aspects of running their businesses, such as customer acquisition, product development, and market research. When deciding between accelerators vs incubators, considering the duration and level of commitment required is essential. Accelerators are suited for startups seeking a short and intense program that propels them toward rapid growth, whereas incubators are better suited for those who prefer a more gradual and steady approach to building their business. Startups aiming for immediate acceleration, access to networks of mentors and investors, and a focused timeframe for achieving milestones may find accelerators to be the ideal choice. Conversely, startups looking for long-term support, a nurturing environment, and the ability to refine their products or services over a more extended period may benefit more from joining an incubator. Funding and Equity When it comes to funding models, accelerators and incubators adopt different approaches to support startups in their programs. Lets explore the distinctions between incubator and accelerator programs with regard to funding opportunities and the equity stakes they may take in participating startups. 1. Accelerator Programs: Investment and Equity Accelerators often provide startups with a combination of funding and resources to fuel their growth. Startups accepted into an accelerator program receive a predefined amount of investment in exchange for equity in their company. The equity stake varies depending on the program, but it typically ranges from 5% to 10% of the startups ownership. By taking an equity stake, accelerators align their interests with those of the startups they support. This arrangement ensures that the accelerator has a vested interest in the startups success and actively contributes to its growth. The equity stake also opens up potential follow-on investment opportunities from the accelerators network of investors and venture capitalists, enhancing the startups chances of securing additional funding down the line. 2. Incubator Programs: Comprehensive Support and Resources Unlike startup accelerators, business incubators generally do not require startups to give up equity in exchange for participation. Incubators focus more on providing startups with comprehensive support and resources to help them thrive. While some incubators may offer a small amount of funding, it is usually minimal and not tied to equity. Incubators prioritize assisting startups in areas such as business development, market research, networking, mentorship, and access to shared resources. The emphasis is on creating an environment that nurtures growth and fosters long-term success. By offering guidance and support without demanding equity, incubators allow startups to maintain a higher level of ownership and control over their companies. Why does it matter? When deciding between participating in an accelerator program or an incubator program, the funding model is a crucial aspect to consider. Startups seeking immediate financial investment, along with the benefits of mentorship and connections, may find the equity-based funding model of accelerators appealing. However, its important to weigh the potential dilution of ownership against the benefits offered. On the other hand, if preserving equity and maintaining a higher level of control over your startup is a priority, incubator programs might be a more suitable choice. Incubators provide valuable support and resources without requiring startups to give up equity. This allows entrepreneurs to retain a larger ownership stake, enabling them to make strategic decisions independently. Ultimately, the decision depends on your startups funding needs, growth objectives, and your willingness to exchange equity for immediate investment and accelerated growth opportunities. Mentorship and Resources Accelerators and incubators offer startups more than just funding. They provide invaluable mentorship, resources, and support systems that can significantly impact a startups success. Lets look at the differences in the type and level of mentorship, resources, and support provided by business accelerators and incubators. 1. Mentorship: Diverse Expertise and Networks Both startup accelerators and incubators recognize the importance of mentorship in guiding startups toward growth and development. However, the nature of mentorship may vary between the two programs. Accelerators often offer an intensive mentorship model where startups work closely with seasoned entrepreneurs, industry experts, and successful investors. The mentors associated with accelerators bring a wealth of experience and specialized knowledge, providing startups with valuable insights, advice, and industry connections. The focus is on leveraging the mentors expertise to address specific challenges, refine strategies, and navigate the competitive landscape. In contrast, business incubators emphasize long-term mentorship and provide startups with access to a broader network of mentors. This allows entrepreneurs to tap into a diverse range of perspectives and expertise. Incubators foster ongoing relationships between startups and mentors, enabling in-depth guidance throughout the startups journey. The mentorship in incubators often focuses on holistic business development, including market analysis, operations, product development, and customer acquisition. 2. Resources: Shared Facilities and Collaborative Environment Startup accelerators typically provide startups with dedicated office space and access to shared facilities. These resources can include state-of-the-art coworking spaces, meeting rooms, event spaces, and sometimes even access to specialized equipment or software. The shared environment fosters collaboration among startups, facilitating the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and potential partnerships. In comparison, business incubators also offer shared resources and facilities, but with a stronger emphasis on long-term access. Incubators provide startups with the physical infrastructure necessary for day-to-day operations, including office space, labs, prototyping facilities, and sometimes even access to research institutions or university resources. The incubator environment encourages interaction, networking, and knowledge-sharing among entrepreneurs, leading to a supportive and collaborative ecosystem. 3. Support Services: Tailored Assistance and Guidance Startup accelerators are known for their structured support services, which are often tailored to meet specific startup needs. These services can include assistance with business model refinement, pitch development, marketing strategies, financial planning, and investor relations. Accelerators provide startups with a comprehensive toolkit to navigate various challenges and accelerate their growth trajectory. Incubator programs, on the other hand, offer a broader range of support services that cater to the different stages of a startups development. This can include legal and financial guidance, intellectual property protection, access to market research and analysis, help with regulatory compliance, and assistance with scaling operations. Incubators focus on providing startups with a nurturing environment and a suite of resources to facilitate sustainable growth over an extended period. When deciding between joining an incubator or an accelerator program, consider the type and level of mentorship, resources, and support that align with your startups specific needs. If you prefer intensive mentorship, a focused network, and access to specialized resources during a shorter program, an accelerator may be the right choice. On the other hand, if you value long-term relationships, a collaborative environment, and a comprehensive range of resources to support your startups growth over a more extended period, a business incubator might be a better fit. Choosing the Right Program for Your Startup Selecting the most suitable incubator or accelerator program for your startup is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your businesss trajectory. To ensure you make an informed choice, consider the following factors when evaluating your options: 1. Define Your Goals: Start by clearly defining your startups goals and objectives. Determine what you aim to achieve through the program, whether its rapid growth, access to funding, mentorship, networking, or specific industry expertise. Having a clear vision of your goals will help you identify the program that aligns best with your needs. 2. Research Program Focus: Each incubator and accelerator program has its own focus and specialization. Research and understand the areas in which programs excel and determine if they align with your startups industry, business model, or technology. Look for programs that have a track record of success in your specific domain. 3. Assess Program Reputation: Consider the reputation and credibility of the program you are considering. Look for testimonials, success stories of previous participants, and reviews from entrepreneurs who have gone through the program. A program with a positive reputation and a strong alumni network can provide valuable connections and opportunities. 4. Evaluate Mentorship and Expertise: Examine the quality and relevance of the mentorship provided by the program. Assess the experience, expertise, and track record of the mentors associated with the program. Consider whether their knowledge and network can contribute significantly to your startups growth. 5. Consider Resources and Support: Evaluate the resources and support services offered by the program. Assess the availability of shared facilities, access to specialized equipment or software, and the overall ecosystem provided. Determine if the program provides the necessary resources to support your startups operational and growth needs. 6. Funding Opportunities and Equity: Consider the funding opportunities provided by the program and the equity stake they require in return. Evaluate the terms of the investment, the potential for follow-on funding, and the implications of equity dilution. Assess how the funding aligns with your financial goals and growth plans. 7. Program Duration and Commitment: Assess the programs duration and the level of commitment required. Consider whether the programs timeline aligns with your startups goals and your teams availability. Evaluate the intensity of the program and the balance it allows for other essential aspects of running your business. 8. Networking and Alumni Network: Explore the networking opportunities and the strength of the programs alumni network. Consider the potential for partnerships, collaborations, and access to potential investors or customers. A strong network can open doors and provide ongoing support beyond the programs duration. 9. Geographic Considerations: Take into account the location of the program and its impact on your startup. Consider whether the programs location provides access to relevant markets, resources, and industry connections. Evaluate whether the program offers remote or virtual options if physical proximity is a challenge. 10. Program Culture and Fit: Lastly, consider the programs culture and values. Assess whether the programs philosophy and approach align with your startups culture and aspirations. Evaluate the level of support, inclusiveness, and collaboration within the programs community. Assessing Your Startups Needs When determining whether an incubator or startup accelerator is the better fit for your startup, its essential to assess your specific needs. Consider the following factors to make an informed decision: 1. Stage of Development: Evaluate your startups stage of development. Incubators often cater to early-stage startups that require guidance and support in validating their business model, conducting market research, and developing their product or service. Accelerators, on the other hand, are typically suitable for startups that have already achieved some level of market traction and are ready to scale rapidly. 2. Funding Requirements: Assess your funding requirements. If your startup is in need of immediate financial investment, accelerators may offer the advantage of providing funding in exchange for equity. Incubators, while offering some minimal funding in certain cases, generally focus on providing support and resources without requiring equity. Consider whether immediate funding or long-term support is more aligned with your financial needs. 3. Industry Sector: Evaluate the industry sector in which your startup operates. Certain accelerators and incubators specialize in specific sectors, such as technology, healthcare, or social entrepreneurship. Look for programs that have a proven track record and expertise in your industry. Their industry-specific knowledge and connections can provide valuable insights and opportunities tailored to your sector. 4. Time Commitment: Consider the time commitment required by each program. Incubators typically offer longer-term engagement, allowing startups to benefit from ongoing support and resources. Accelerators, on the other hand, often have shorter and more intensive programs, which require a significant time commitment from founders and their teams. Assess whether your startup can dedicate the necessary time and resources to participate effectively in the program. 5. Mentorship and Network: Evaluate the importance of mentorship and networking for your startup. Accelerators typically offer access to a network of experienced mentors, industry experts, and investors who can provide guidance and open doors to valuable connections. Incubators also provide mentorship but with a focus on long-term relationships and a broader network of mentors. Determine which type of mentorship and network aligns best with your growth objectives. 6. Growth Objectives: Define your startups growth objectives. If your primary goal is rapid scaling, market expansion, and securing additional funding, an accelerator may be the better choice. Accelerators offer a structured program designed to accelerate growth and provide opportunities for follow-on investment. If you prioritize a more gradual and steady growth trajectory, an incubator can provide the resources and support needed for sustainable development. 7. Ownership and Control: Consider your desired level of ownership and control over your startup. Accelerators typically require equity in exchange for their investment and support. This means that you will have to share ownership and decision-making authority with the accelerator. Incubators, on the other hand, do not usually require equity, allowing you to retain a higher level of ownership and control over your company. Determine which trade-off between ownership and support aligns best with your priorities. Evaluating Startup Accelerator Programs When it comes to selecting the best startup accelerator for your business, conducting thorough research and making informed comparisons is essential. Consider the following tips to guide your decision-making process: Research Multiple Options: Explore and identify multiple programs that align with your industry, stage of development, and growth objectives. Look for programs that have a track record of success and positive reviews from past participants. Explore and identify multiple programs that align with your industry, stage of development, and growth objectives. Look for programs that have a track record of success and positive reviews from past participants. Evaluate Program Focus: Assess the startup accelerator programs focus and specialization. Consider whether their expertise matches your startups niche or industry sector. Look for accelerators that have experience working with startups in your specific field to ensure they can provide relevant guidance and resources. Assess the startup accelerator programs focus and specialization. Consider whether their expertise matches your startups niche or industry sector. Look for accelerators that have experience working with startups in your specific field to ensure they can provide relevant guidance and resources. Consider Reputation and Alumni Success: Investigate the accelerators reputation and credibility. Look for success stories and case studies of startups that have gone through the program. Assess the achievements of their alumni and determine if they have been able to achieve significant growth and success. Investigate the accelerators reputation and credibility. Look for success stories and case studies of startups that have gone through the program. Assess the achievements of their alumni and determine if they have been able to achieve significant growth and success. Assess Mentorship and Network: Evaluate the quality and accessibility of mentorship provided by the accelerator. Research the backgrounds and expertise of the mentors associated with the program. Consider whether their knowledge and network align with your specific needs and can contribute to your startups growth. Evaluate the quality and accessibility of mentorship provided by the accelerator. Research the backgrounds and expertise of the mentors associated with the program. Consider whether their knowledge and network align with your specific needs and can contribute to your startups growth. Review Support Services: Examine the support services offered by the startup accelerator. Look for resources and assistance in areas such as business development, marketing, product refinement, and investor relations. Evaluate how well the accelerator can address your specific challenges and provide the necessary support for your startups growth. Examine the support services offered by the startup accelerator. Look for resources and assistance in areas such as business development, marketing, product refinement, and investor relations. Evaluate how well the accelerator can address your specific challenges and provide the necessary support for your startups growth. Consider Funding Opportunities: Assess the accelerators funding model and potential investment. Determine the amount of funding they offer and whether it aligns with your financial needs. Evaluate the terms and conditions of the investment, including the equity stake they require in return. Assess the accelerators funding model and potential investment. Determine the amount of funding they offer and whether it aligns with your financial needs. Evaluate the terms and conditions of the investment, including the equity stake they require in return. Evaluate Program Duration and Structure: Consider the duration and structure of the program. Assess whether the programs timeline aligns with your business goals and whether you can commit the necessary time and resources. Evaluate the programs structure, including workshops, boot camps, and demo days, to ensure they provide opportunities for learning, networking, and showcasing your startup. Consider the duration and structure of the program. Assess whether the programs timeline aligns with your business goals and whether you can commit the necessary time and resources. Evaluate the programs structure, including workshops, boot camps, and demo days, to ensure they provide opportunities for learning, networking, and showcasing your startup. Assess Geographic Location: Consider the startup accelerator geographic location and its impact on your business. Determine if the location provides access to relevant markets, industry clusters, and potential investors. If the accelerator offers a remote or virtual option, assess whether it suits your needs and allows for effective participation. Consider the startup accelerator geographic location and its impact on your business. Determine if the location provides access to relevant markets, industry clusters, and potential investors. If the accelerator offers a remote or virtual option, assess whether it suits your needs and allows for effective participation. Network and Alumni Connections: Explore the accelerators network and alumni connections. Consider the potential for collaborations, partnerships, and access to investors, customers, and industry experts. A strong network and active alumni community can provide ongoing support and valuable opportunities beyond the program duration. Explore the accelerators network and alumni connections. Consider the potential for collaborations, partnerships, and access to investors, customers, and industry experts. A strong network and active alumni community can provide ongoing support and valuable opportunities beyond the program duration. Consider Program Culture and Fit: Lastly, assess the startup accelerator culture and values. Consider whether their approach, philosophy, and values align with your startups culture and aspirations. Evaluate the level of support, inclusiveness, and collaboration within the accelerators community. Evaluating Startup Incubator Programs When evaluating startup incubators and selecting the right one for your business, consider the following factors: Industry Connections: Evaluate the incubators connections and network within your industry. Consider whether they have partnerships with relevant organizations, industry experts, and potential customers. These connections can provide valuable opportunities for collaboration and business growth. Evaluate the incubators connections and network within your industry. Consider whether they have partnerships with relevant organizations, industry experts, and potential customers. These connections can provide valuable opportunities for collaboration and business growth. Success Metrics and Evaluation: Inquire about the incubators success metrics and how they evaluate the progress and success of their participants. Understand their criteria for measuring growth, funding raised, customer acquisition, or other relevant benchmarks. This will give you an idea of their expectations and how they can help drive your business forward. Inquire about the incubators success metrics and how they evaluate the progress and success of their participants. Understand their criteria for measuring growth, funding raised, customer acquisition, or other relevant benchmarks. This will give you an idea of their expectations and how they can help drive your business forward. Exit Strategy Support: If you have long-term goals of acquisition, IPO, or other exit strategies, inquire about the incubators support in these areas. Some incubators may have connections to potential acquirers or provide guidance on preparing your business for exit opportunities. If you have long-term goals of acquisition, IPO, or other exit strategies, inquire about the incubators support in these areas. Some incubators may have connections to potential acquirers or provide guidance on preparing your business for exit opportunities. Flexibility and Customization: Assess the level of flexibility and customization offered by the incubator. Determine if they can tailor their program and resources to meet the specific needs and challenges of your business. A more personalized approach can provide greater value and support for your unique circumstances. Assess the level of flexibility and customization offered by the incubator. Determine if they can tailor their program and resources to meet the specific needs and challenges of your business. A more personalized approach can provide greater value and support for your unique circumstances. Post-Program Support: Inquire about the support provided by the incubator after the program ends. Consider whether they offer ongoing mentorship, networking opportunities, or access to resources even after you have completed the formal incubation period. This can contribute to your long-term success and growth. Inquire about the support provided by the incubator after the program ends. Consider whether they offer ongoing mentorship, networking opportunities, or access to resources even after you have completed the formal incubation period. This can contribute to your long-term success and growth. Costs and Equity Requirements: Evaluate the costs associated with participating in the incubator program. Understand any fees or equity requirements and consider whether they are reasonable and aligned with the value and benefits provided. Be mindful of the financial implications and how they fit into your overall business strategy. Success Stories: Incubators and Accelerators Making a Difference Accelerators and incubators have played a significant role in the success stories of various startups. Here are a few examples that highlight the impact these programs can have on a companys growth: Airbnb Airbnb, the global online marketplace for accommodations, had its humble beginnings in the Y Combinator accelerator. The program provided the founders, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, with mentorship, guidance, and access to a strong network of investors. This support helped them refine their business model, secure funding, and grow their platform into the world-renowned hospitality giant it is today. Dropbox Dropbox, the popular cloud storage and file-sharing service benefited from the guidance and resources provided by the Y Combinator accelerator as well. The program not only provided funding to support their initial development but also connected the founders, Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi, with experienced mentors who helped shape their product and navigate the challenges of scaling a technology startup. Stripe Stripe, the global payment processing platform, went through Y Combinator early in its journey. The program not only provided essential funding but also connected the founders, Patrick and John Collison, with valuable mentorship and access to a vast network of potential customers and investors. This support was instrumental in Stripes rapid growth and expansion into a leading player in the fintech industry. These success stories exemplify how accelerators and incubators can provide startups with the necessary resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to propel their growth. Notable Business Incubator Successes There are numerous examples of companies that have made it big after going through business incubators. Here are a few. Reddit Reddit, the popular online platform known as the front page of the internet, was part of the first batch of the Y Combinator incubator program in 2005. Co-founders Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian were able to utilize the resources, mentorship, and support offered by the program to refine their idea and gain traction. Today, Reddit is a thriving platform with hundreds of millions of users globally. Cruise Automation Cruise Automation, a self-driving car technology company, was initially developed in the incubator program of Y Combinator in 2014. The company greatly benefited from the strategic advice and networking opportunities provided by the incubator. It was later acquired by General Motors in 2016, showcasing the potential of startups nurtured in incubator environments. DoorDash DoorDash, the now well-known food delivery service, was another startup that benefited significantly from the Y Combinator incubator. Founded by Stanford students, the company was part of the incubator program in 2013. The mentorship and structured environment of the incubator were vital in helping DoorDash refine its business model and scale up its operations. Today, DoorDash is a household name in food delivery, serving millions of customers across the United States. Instagram Instagram, the popular photo-sharing social media platform, began its journey in 2010 as a participant in the Stanford University-affiliated startup incubator, StartX. The incubator provided Instagram with access to resources, mentorship, and connections that helped them refine their product and grow their user base. Instagrams participation in the incubator played a pivotal role in its rapid rise and eventual acquisition by Facebook. These examples demonstrate the transformative power of incubators in nurturing startups during their critical early stages, paving the way for them to become significant players in their respective industries. FAQs: Incubator vs Accelerator The terms incubator and accelerator are often used interchangeably, yet they offer distinct environments and resources for budding businesses. As they navigate their early stages, startups may find themselves asking which of these programs better suits their needs. In this section, well address frequently asked questions to clarify the unique offerings and differences between incubators and accelerators, assisting entrepreneurs in making informed decisions for their ventures growth trajectory. What is the difference between accelerators and incubators? Both incubators and accelerators are designed to support startups, but they differ in their methods and the stage of the startup they typically cater to. Incubators nurture startups in their very early stages, often providing a workspace, mentorship, and resources over a longer period, sometimes without a defined end date. They help entrepreneurs to develop their business model and strategy. Accelerators, on the other hand, are more suitable for somewhat established startups looking to speed up their growth. They offer intensive programs, usually lasting a few months, that include mentorship, educational components, and often a small amount of seed capital in exchange for equity. The goal is to accelerate the companys development and prepare them for the next growth stage, such as attracting further investment. Is Y Combinator an incubator or accelerator? Y Combinator is primarily known as an accelerator. It provides startups with seed funding, advice, and connections over a three-month period. At the end of the program, companies participate in a Demo Day, presenting their progress to a room full of investors, with the aim of securing further investment. While Y Combinator has played a pivotal role in the early stages of many startups, its structured, intensive program, focus on rapid growth, and equity stake align it more closely with the accelerator model. What is the difference between accelerator and VC? While both accelerators and venture capitalists (VCs) play a crucial role in a startups growth journey, they differ significantly in their function and engagement with the startup. An accelerator typically works with early-stage startups, providing a structured, time-limited program that offers mentorship, education, and often a small amount of seed funding. The goal is to help startups rapidly grow and refine their business model over the course of a few months. Venture capitalists, on the other hand, are usually involved in the later stages of a startups lifecycle. They invest capital into a startup in exchange for equity, with the hope that the startup will eventually provide a high return on investment. VCs typically invest larger amounts than accelerators and can offer strategic advice, but they dont provide the same structured, intensive program of support as an accelerator. How do I know if my startup is better suited for an incubator or accelerator? The choice between accelerators and incubators largely depends on the stage of your startup and the type of support you need. If your startup is in its infancy, with an idea that still needs to be developed into a viable business model, an incubator may be more suitable. Incubators provide a supportive environment where you can take time to develop your concept, learn business basics, and begin building a network. On the other hand, if your startup is already established with a defined business model and youre looking to rapidly scale your operations, an accelerator may be the better choice. Accelerators offer intensive, structured programs with a focus on rapid growth, making them ideal for startups that are ready to take the leap to the next level. Its also worth noting that accelerators often require equity in your company in exchange for their support and resources. How can I find the best incubator or accelerator program for my startup? Identifying the most suitable incubator or startup accelerator programs for your startup involves a thoughtful approach. Heres how you can navigate this process: Assess Your Startups Needs: Determine what kind of support your startup requires. This could be mentorship, funding, workspace, networking opportunities, or a structured growth program. Do Your Homework: Look into programs that have successfully supported startups in your sector. For example, artists should seek out an art business incubator instead of signing up for programs in the tech sector. Investigate their past participants, success rates, and the specific types of support they offer. Network: Engage with other entrepreneurs who have participated in these programs. Their personal experiences and insights can be invaluable. Review the Terms: If the program involves taking equity in your startup, ensure you fully understand and are comfortable with the terms. Consider Location and Resources: Decide whether a local program suits your needs or if youre willing to relocate. Additionally, evaluate the resources, facilities, and opportunities each program offers. Remember, the best program isnt universally defined its the one that best aligns with your startups unique needs and goals. What is the typical duration of an incubator or accelerator program? Incubators often have flexible timelines and can last anywhere from a few months to a few years. They offer a nurturing environment for startups to develop their business model and strategy at their own pace. Accelerator programs, on the other hand, are generally more intensive and time-bound. They typically last between three to six months. These programs are designed to expedite growth and get startups ready for the next stage, such as securing further investment or scaling their operations. Do incubators and accelerators always take equity in participating startups? While the practices can vary, generally speaking, a startup accelerator will often take an equity stake in the startups they support, ranging from around 3% to 10%. This is in exchange for the capital, mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities they provide. Business incubators, however, typically do not take an equity stake. Their model is more focused on providing startups with a conducive environment, resources, and guidance to develop their ideas over a longer time period. However, its essential to note that the terms can vary widely between different programs, so its crucial to understand the specific terms before joining. What types of resources and support do startup incubators offer to participants? Startup business incubators provide a wide range of resources and support to help early-stage companies grow and succeed. The specifics can vary by program but typically include networking opportunities, office space, mentorship, access to funding, and training. What are the differences between venture capitalists and angel investors in the context of incubators and accelerators? Venture capitalists (VCs) and angel investors both play critical roles in the funding landscape of startups, but they typically engage at different stages and in different capacities. VCs often invest in startups during later stages, like during Series A funding and beyond. They typically invest larger sums of money and, in return, expect equity in the company. Venture Capital firms often have funds that represent various investors, and they seek high growth and high return on their investment. In the context of incubators and accelerators, VCs may serve as mentors, provide strategic advice, or participate in demo days as potential investors. Angel Investors, on the other hand, are typically high-net-worth individuals who invest their personal funds into early-stage startups, often during the seed stage. They may provide more favorable terms for startups compared to VCs as they are investing their own money and can make independent decisions. Angel investors often provide mentorship to startups and can be a valuable source of early funding for companies in incubators or accelerators. Its important to note that while both can provide crucial capital, they also often bring industry knowledge, connections, and mentorship that can be instrumental to a startups success. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Are you looking to start your own lash business or revamp your existing one? One of the most important decisions youll make is choosing the perfect business name. A catchy and memorable name can attract customers and leave a lasting impression. To help you in this creative endeavor, weve compiled a list of over 500 unique and captivating business name ideas for your lash business. From elegant and glamorous to cute and trendy, youre sure to find inspiration that suits your style. Lets explore the possibilities and find the perfect name for your lash business! Classic Lash Business Name Ideas For a timeless and sophisticated appeal, consider classic lash business name ideas. These names exude elegance and professionalism. Here are some classic options to consider: Divine Lashes Lash Perfection Elite Lashes Exquisite Lashes Lash Beauty Bar Lashes Lash Luxury Pro Lovely Lashes Lash Salon Luxurious Beauty Lash Lash Beauty Lounge Natural Eyelash Extension Eye Space Brows Lash Glamour Lashes Enchanting Eyes Lash Couture The Lash Haven Majestic Lashes Lash Bliss Classic Beauty Lashes Lash Envy Allure Lash Studio Elegance Lash Bar Lash Radiance Bella Lash Boutique Flawless Lashes Elite Lash Studio Serene Lash Lounge Lash Aesthetics Dreamy Lashes Supreme Lash Salon The Lash Retreat Lash Delight Adorned Lashes Glam Lash Studio Royal Lash Lounge Lash Affair Lush Lash Extensions Pretty Eyes Lash Bar Perfectly Lashed Luxe Lash Boutique Lash Haven Spa Divine Beauty Lashes Captivating Lashes Chic Lash Studio Velvet Lash Lounge The Lash Emporium Elegant Eyelashes Graceful Lash Extensions Lavish Lash Spa Lash Euphoria Creative Lash Business Name Ideas Injecting creativity into your lash business name can make it stand out from the crowd and showcase your artistic side. Here are some creative and imaginative name ideas to inspire you: Enchanting Lashes Dreamy Lashes Lash Magic Alluring Lashes Integrity Lash Jazz Lashes [Your business name] Lash Therapy Fancy Lash Eyelash Experts Aesthetics Parlour Flutter Eyelash Butterfly Kiss Dream Lashes Sunny Lash Extensions Lash House Eyebrow Experts Fairy Eyelash Extensions Lash Addicts Smart Nails Organic Lash Spa Enchanted Lash Co. Lash Whispers Lash Enigma Ethereal Lashes Mystique Lash Studio Lash Alchemy Glamourous Gazes Lash Charisma The Lash Vault Lash Symphony Artistic Lash Studio Whimsical Lashes Blink & Wink Lash Boutique Seraphic Lash Extensions Enigma Lash Lounge Opulent Lash Artistry Lash Oasis Lash Nirvana Divine Doll Lashes Enthralling Eyes Lash Muse Luxe Lash Artists Radiant Lash Studio Lash Amore Glamourous Gaze Enraptured Lashes Velvet Lash Artistry Lash Charmers Whispering Winks Captivating Lash Boutique Luminous Lashes Lavish Lash Studio Lash Enchantment The Lash Parlor Delicate Dreams Lashes Butterfly Lash Artistry Lash Elysium Ethereal Lash Haven Modern Lash Business Name Ideas Incorporating a modern touch can make your lash business feel current and relevant. Here are some modern name ideas for your consideration: Lash Couture Lash Prodigy Lash Nirvana Lash Mirage Lash Avenue Chic Lash Co. Lash Innovations Lash Luxe Urban Lash Studio Modern Lash Lounge Lash Fusion Sleek Lash Boutique Nova Lash Studio Vibe Lashes Lash Maven Glam Lash Lab Lash Moda Lash Revolt Nouveau Lash Studio Edge Lash Artistry Cute Lash Business Name Ideas If you want to appeal to a younger or playful audience, consider cute and adorable lash business name ideas. Here are some delightful options: Lash Finesse Dreamy Lashes Lash Magic Alluring Lashes Lash Artistry Eyelash and Brow Angel Brows Luring Lash Lash Delight Lash Petals Lash Pops Sweet Lash Studio Fluttery Lashes Lash Whiskers Lash Bunny Lovely Lash Haven Darling Lash Boutique Lash Cherish Sugary Lashes Lash Adorables Posh Lash Lounge Lash Kisses Cuddle Lashes Lash Nectar Pretty Lash Parlor Adorable Eyes Lash Studio Lash Tenderness Honey Lash Extensions Lash Cuteness Trendy Lash Business Name Ideas Keep up with the latest trends in the beauty industry by choosing a trendy name for your lash business. Here are some trendy options to consider: Lash Whisperer Exquisite Lashes Envy Lash Lounge Lash Prodigy Lash Sanctuary Lash Chic Lash Elite Luxe Lash Lounge Lash Emporium Glam Lash Co. Lash Aura Velvet Lash Studio Lash Enclave Chic Lash Haven Lash Opulence Slayed Lashes Lash Society Vogue Lash Studio Glamour Lash Lounge Lash Affinity Lash Loft Divine Lash Studio Lash Manifesto Lash Dynasty Trendy Lash Boutique Minimalist Business Name Ideas Minimalist lash business names are clean, simple, and uncluttered. They are often one or two syllables and have a modern appeal. Here are some minimalist lash business name ideas: Lash Luxe Lash Muse Lash Star Lash Diva Lash Essence Lash Element Lash Zen Pure Lashes Lash Grace Lash Aura Lash Simplicity Lash Chic Lash Co. Lash Elegance Lash Harmony Lash Serene Lash Tranquil Lash Radiance Lash Modish Lash Minimal Playful Business Name Ideas Playful lash business names are quirky, fun, and full of personality. They often use puns, rhymes, or alliteration. Here are some playful lash business name ideas: Lash Whisperer Lash OClock Lash Amore Enchant Lashes Lash Lounge Lipstick Lashes Lash-a-Palooza Lash-tastic Lash-a-Rama Lash Fiesta Lashalicious Wink-a-Doodle Lash-a-Dazzle Glam-a-Lash Lash-a-licious Lash-a-Go-Go Flirty Lashes Lash-a-Mania Lash-o-Rama Lash-a-Whirl Lash Business Name Ideas Inspired by Location Lash business names inspired by locations can give a sense of local identity or global elegance. Here are some location-based lash business name ideas: Paris Lash Lounge Manhattan Lashes Lush Lash London Lashes Venice Lash Villa Tokyo Lash Tonic Sydney Lash Safari Rio Lash Rendezvous Barcelona Lash Bonanza Miami Lash Oasis Berlin Lash Blitz Dubai Lash Paradise Hawaii Lash Haven Santorini Lash Serenade Bali Lash Retreat Ibiza Lash Fiesta Aspen Lash Chalet Lash Business Name Ideas Inspired by Industry Terms Using industry terms in your business name can immediately communicate what services you offer. Here are some industry terms-based lash business name ideas: Eyelash Emporium Lash Extension Excellence Lash Lift Lounge Faux Mink Fashion Lashes Volume Vixens Lash Couturiers Lash Perfectionists Silk & Sable Lashes Adhesive Artistry Lash Mapping Masterminds The Lash Refinery Brow & Lash Atelier Flutter Effect Studios Precision Lash Design Lash Sculptors The Lash Architechts Lash Business Name Ideas Inspired by Foreign Languages Foreign language words can add a touch of sophistication and mystery to your business name. Here are some foreign language-based lash business name ideas: Bella Lashes (Beautiful in Italian) Luxe Lash Lounge (Luxury in French) Elegante Lashes (Elegant in Spanish) Lavendel Lashes (Lavender in German) Cielo Lash Studio (Sky in Spanish) Bellezza Lashes (Beauty in Italian) Charme de Cils (Charm of Lashes in French) Delizia Lash Boutique (Delight in Italian) Eclat des Cils (Radiance of Lashes in French) Stjerne Vipper (Star Lashes in Danish) Serenite Lash Lounge (Serenity in French) Semplice Lashes (Simple in Italian) Brillo de Pestanas (Sparkle of Lashes in Spanish) Soie Douce Lashes (Soft Silk in French) Incanto Lash Studio (Enchantment in Italian) Schonheit Wimpern (Beauty Lashes in German) Joli Cils (Pretty Lashes in French) Dolcezza Lashes (Sweetness in Italian) Encanto de Pestanas (Charm of Lashes in Spanish) Lash Business Name Ideas with Acronyms or Abbreviations Acronyms and abbreviations can make your business name shorter, more memorable, and unique lash business names. Here are some acronym/abbreviation-based lash business name ideas: L.A.S.H. Lounge (Luxurious And Superior Hairstyling) E.L.E.G.A.N.C.E. Lashes (Exquisite Lash Extensions Giving A New Classy Experience) B.L.I.N.K Beauty Lashes (Beauty Lashes in New Kinds) F.L.U.T.T.E.R Fix (Fabulous Lash Upgrades Transforming Total Eye Radiance) G.L.A.M. Lash Studio (Gorgeous Lashes Achieving Magnificence) P.E.R.F.E.C.T. Lash Boutique (Premium Extensions Rendering Flawless Eyelashes with Classy Touch) S.T.U.N. Lash Lounge (Stylish Transformations Unleashing Natural Lashes) D.I.V.A. Lash Salon (Delightful Innovations for Voluminous Appearance) R.A.V.I.S.H. Lash Spa (Radiant and Voluptuous Individualized Services for Haute Lashes) S.W.E.E.P. Lash Studio (Stunning Winks with Elegant Eyelash Perfection) C.L.E.A.R. Lash Bar (Customized Lash Enhancements Achieving Remarkable Results) S.P.A.R.K.L.E. Lash Lounge (Splendid Procedures Accentuating Remarkable Kinds of Lash Enhancements) F.A.B.E. Lash Boutique (Fashionable and Beautiful Eyelash Extensions) E.Y.E.S. Lash Studio (Exquisite Yields of Eyelash Services) G.L.O.W. Lash Salon (Gorgeous Lashes Offering Wonderful Transformations) S.A.S.H. Lash Spa (Stylish and Sensational Haute Lashes) Lash Business Name Ideas with Puns or Wordplay Puns or wordplay can make your business name catchy and fun. Here are some pun/wordplay-based lash business name ideas: EyeEnvy Blink Boutique Lashology Flutter Finesse Lash-terpiece Lash-tastic Voyage Wink and a Glam Lash Me Up Curl Me Crazy Lash-o-nomics The Lash-hub Lash-landia Lash-tastic Bliss Lash-a-palooza Blink-a-licious The Lash Resort Lash Business Name Ideas with Acronyms or Abbreviations Acronyms or abbreviations can make your lash business name unique and catchy. Here are some ideas: L.A.S.H (Lashes And Style House) B.L.I.N.K (Beautiful Lashes In Natural Kinds) E.Y.E (Eyelash Extensions for Everyone) Additional Lash Business Name Categories To further provide you with inspiration, lets explore more lash business name categories. Lash Business Names Inspired by Nature A nature-inspired name adds a touch of freshness and a sense of tranquility. Here are some options: Blossom Lashes Beauty divine lashes Sunrise Lashes OceanView Lashes Petal Lashes WhisperWind Lashes Lash Business Names Inspired by Luxury Luxury-inspired names can add a touch of sophistication and premium appeal. Consider these names: Opulence Lashes Plush Lash Studio Majestic Lashes Elite Lashes Queen lashes Decadence Lash Lounge Beauty Park Lash Perfection Eyelash Queen Lipstick Lashes Lash Boutique Wink Lashes Luxury Lashes Lash Business Names with Alliteration Alliteration makes your business name catchy and memorable. Some examples include: Lash Love Lush Lashes Lovely Lash Lounge Luminous Lashes Luxe Lash Loft Flawless Flutter Radiant Rendezvous Chic Charm Lashes Blissful Blink Glamourous Gaze Dazzling Diva Lashes Enchanting Elegance Whimsical Winks Captivating Curls Dreamy Demeanor Sassy Silk Lashes Sparkling Splendor Lash Business Names Inspired by Empowerment Empowerment-inspired names can evoke a feeling of confidence. Here are some examples: See Also: 16 Beach Business Ideas Empowered Lashes Bold Beauty Lashes Daring Diva Lashes Fearless Flutter Lashes Confident Charm Lashes EmpowerLash Radiant Strength Lashes Unstoppable Beauty Lashes Fierce Confidence Lashes Empress Eyes Lash Studio Brave and Beautiful Lashes Empowered Glamour Confidently Bold Lashes Empowerment Extensions Fearlessly Fabulous Lashes Boldly Beautiful Lash Lounge Empowered Elegance Lashes How to Choose a Business Name for Your Lash Business Selecting the perfect name for your lash business involves careful consideration. Here are some tips to guide you through the process: Reflect Your Brand: Your business name should align with your brand identity and the type of lashes you offer. Consider the feelings and emotions you want your name to evoke in customers. Consider Your Target Audience: Think about your target market and their preferences. Are they seeking a glamorous and luxurious experience or a more natural and subtle look? Tailor your name to attract your ideal customers. Keep it Memorable: Choose a name that is easy to remember and pronounce. A memorable name increases the chances of word-of-mouth referrals and repeat business. Unique and Different: Stand out from the competition by selecting a name that is distinctive and not already in use. A unique name will help you create a strong brand identity. Testimonials and Feedback: Share your top name choices with friends, family, or potential customers to gather feedback. Their insights can provide valuable perspectives and help you make a confident decision. Consider SEO When Naming Your Lash Business In todays digital age, search engine optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in attracting online visibility and customers to your lash business. Incorporating SEO principles into your business name can boost your online presence. Here are some tips to optimize your lash business name for SEO: Keyword Research: Conduct thorough keyword research to identify popular search terms related to lash businesses. Use these keywords strategically in your website content, meta tags, and descriptions. Local SEO: If you have a physical lash studio, consider incorporating the name of your location or city into your business name. This helps attract local customers searching for lash services in their area. Domain Name: Choose a domain name that matches or closely relates to your lash business name. Having relevant keywords in your domain can improve your websites SEO rankings. Social Media Optimization: Create social media profiles for your lash business using your business name. Engage with your audience and share valuable content to increase brand visibility online. By considering these SEO tips, you can improve your online presence and attract potential customers searching for lash services in your area. The Process of Naming Your Lash Business Naming your lash business is an exciting step, but it can also be challenging. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process: Brainstorm: Start by brainstorming words and phrases related to lashes, beauty, elegance, and your unique selling points. Write down as many ideas as possible. Word Association: Explore different associations and combinations of words to generate creative lash business name ideas. Consider emotions, imagery, and the overall impression you want to convey. Evaluate Competitors: Research other lash businesses in your area and analyze their names. Ensure your chosen name is distinct and doesnt create confusion with existing brands. Get Feedback: Share your top name choices with friends, family, or potential customers. Ask for their honest opinions and consider their feedback when making your final decision. Check Availability: Before finalizing your name, check domain availability to secure a website that matches your lash business name. Additionally, check for trademark conflicts to avoid legal issues. Register Your Name: Once youve chosen the perfect name, register it with the appropriate authorities, such as local business registration offices or trademark offices, to protect your brand. Remember, the name you choose will represent your cute lash business, so take your time and select a name that resonates with your brand identity and appeals to your target audience. Conclusion Naming your lash business is an exciting and important step towards building a strong brand identity. Remember to choose a name that reflects your brands style, appeals to your target audience, and is unique within your industry. Utilize the tips and business name ideas provided to spark your creativity and find the perfect name for your eyelash business. Whether you prefer classic elegance, trendy flair, or cute and playful vibes, theres a name out there that will capture the essence of your eyelash business. Get inspired, be creative, and embark on your eyelash business journey with a captivating and memorable name that will set you apart in the beauty industry. Frequently Asked Questions How do I choose the right name for my lash business? Choosing the right name for your eyelash business involves considering your target audience, reflecting your brand identity, and ensuring its memorable and unique. Take your time, brainstorm, and seek feedback to make an informed decision. Should I include keywords related to lashes in my business name? Including keywords related to lashes in your business name can help customers identify your services. However, its not necessary. Focus on creating a name that is catchy, memorable, and resonates with your brand. Is it important to have a unique business name for my lash business? Having a unique business name is beneficial as it helps you stand out from competitors and creates a strong brand identity. Ensure that the name you choose is not already in use to avoid confusion and legal issues. Should I name my lash business after a specific location? When considering lash business names, the decision to incorporate a specific location can add a local and community-oriented touch to your brand, such as Eyelashes Dazzling Eyebrow Threading or Lashes Lash Luxury Pro. This approach can create a sense of connection with your target market. However, its important to weigh the potential limitations that may arise if you decide to expand your business to other locations in the future. Keep in mind the long-term vision and scalability of your lash business when contemplating whether to include a specific location in your business name. Alternatively, you can opt for a more versatile name like Eyelash and Brow Angel or Brows Luring Lash, which can transcend geographical boundaries and accommodate future growth opportunities for your lash business. How can I check if a lash business name is already taken? You can conduct a search on online directories, social media platforms, trademark databases, and local business registries to check if a lash business name is already in use. Its crucial to choose a name that is available to avoid trademark infringement. Should I consider trademarking my lash business name? Trademarking your lash business name provides legal protection and exclusive rights to use the name. Consult with a trademark attorney to understand the process and requirements for trademark registration. Can I change my lash business name in the future? Yes, its possible to change your lash business name in the future. However, rebranding can be a complex and costly process, so its best to choose a name that youre confident about from the beginning. What if I want to include additional services like brow treatments in my lash business? If you plan to offer additional services like brow treatments, you can incorporate that into your business name to highlight the full range of services you provide. Consider using terms like lash and brow or lash and beauty to indicate the scope of your offerings. Can I use my own name as the name of my lash business? Using your own name as the name of your lash business can create a personal and authentic connection with your customers. However, consider how easily it can be pronounced and remembered, as well as any future plans for expanding or selling the business. Do I need a domain name that matches my Lash business name? Having a domain name that matches your lash business name is beneficial for branding and online visibility. It helps customers find your website easily and creates a cohesive online presence. What should I do if my preferred lash business name is not available as a domain? If your preferred lash business name is not available as a domain, consider alternative options such as adding a location or a relevant keyword to the domain name. You can also explore different domain extensions or consult with a domain expert for suggestions. Checklist for Naming Your Lash Business Brainstorm lash business name ideas. Shortlist your favorites. Get feedback on your top choices. Check for trademark availability. Make your final decision. Resources for Naming Your Lash Business In the realm of commerce, one-word business names are more than mere identifiers. Your business name is the first impression customers will have, so its essential to make it memorable, impactful, and aligned with your brand values. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of over 500 unique and creative business name ideas for your one-word business name. Whether youre starting a new venture or rebranding an existing one, weve got you covered. Lets explore the diverse range of business name options and get inspired! General One-Word Business Name Ideas Before we dive into specific categories, lets begin with a wide selection of general business name ideas. These names can serve as a solid foundation and be customized to suit your business. Here are some versatile options to consider: Resilient Empower Unify Ignite Venture Evolve Vividus Quantum Nexus Astra Lumina Serene Essence Elysian Verve Stellar Radiant Zenith Nova Enigma Solace Enchant Feel free to mix and match these words to create unique and captivating combinations that resonate with your brand vision. Classic Business Name Ideas For those seeking a timeless and sophisticated business name, classic options can convey a sense of elegance and professionalism. Here are some classic business name ideas for your business: Liberty Elite Prestige Royal Legacy Vanguard Paramount Majestic Triumph Esteem Grandeur Eminent Regal Exquisite Sovereign Opulent Noble Illustrious Reverie Pinnacle Supreme Distinguished Paramount Splendid Premier Classic Aristocrat Elegance Harmony Resplendent Primrose Prosperity Serenity Unity Harmony Impeccable Graceful Opulence Captivate Majestique Remember, a classic name can establish a sense of trust and reliability in the minds of your customers. Creative Business Name Ideas Injecting creativity into your business name can make it stand out from the crowd and capture attention. Creative one word business names often spark curiosity and intrigue. Consider these imaginative business name ideas for your business: Sparkle Zigzag Quirk Flare Whimsy Glimmer Zephyr Whirl Quixotic Luminary Zest Elixir Dazzle Serene Evoke Vivacity Radiant Enigma Jubilee Kaleidoscope Wanderlust Stellar Mesmerize Eclectic Epiphany Enchant Reverie Quicksilver Embolden Mirage Flux Lush Jovial Whimsical Vivid Zing Nexus Zeal Quench Rhapsody Dont be afraid to let your imagination run wild and experiment with unexpected combinations. Modern Business Name Ideas In todays fast-paced and dynamic business world, a modern name can signal innovation and relevance. Here are some modern business name ideas for your business: Flux Hyper Pixel Quantum Vortex Lumos Zenith Nova Synapse Zephyr Nexus Eon Evolve Seraph Echo Cipher Solstice Catalyst Radiant Pulse Infiniti Astral Dynamo Equinox Enigma Lumina Echo Velocity Astrum Expanse Fluxion Momentum Aether Nebula Celestia Orion Helix Cascade Equilibrium Genesis Aura Luminary Pulsar Synergy Prisma Utopia Radiux Chroma Vortexa Entropy By embracing contemporary language and trends, you can position your business as cutting-edge and forward-thinking. Minimalist Business Name Ideas Minimalism is a popular design trend that focuses on simplicity and clarity. Minimalist one word business names often have a sleek and clean aesthetic. Here are some minimalist business name ideas for your business: Zen Echo Dot Dash Muse Swift Bliss Tide Crest Bloom Essence Haven Lush Fable Sway Ember Quest Glimpse Slate Hush Luna Enclave Trace Anchor Serene Opal Halo Dusk Haven Lumine Savor Verve Stellar Sylph Aura Ember Crisp Enso Haven Hush Pique Vista Haven Memoir Quest Mellow Stance Gossamer Cusp Thrive A minimalist approach can evoke a sense of professionalism while leaving a lasting impression on your audience. Playful Business Name Ideas If your business caters to a lighthearted or fun-loving audience, a playful business name can be a perfect fit. Here are some playful business name ideas for your business: Wobble Zippy Fizz Squiggle Giggles Bounce Whisk Jumble Zest Quirky Sizzle Glee Dazzle Zing Wacky Fizz Giddy Flicker Sprinkle Quirk Wiggle Pizzazz Zippy Frolic Jovial Snicker Spark Skip Jumble Zany Peppy Bubbly Tickle Chuckle Wobble Swoosh Whimsy Giggle Flair Frisky Jolt Playful Fling Sizzle Giggles Zestful Quiver Folly Spry Zest These one word business names can add a touch of whimsy and joy to your brand, making it more relatable to your target market. One Word Business Ideas Inspired by Location Drawing inspiration from your geographical location can create a strong sense of local identity and community. Here are some location-based business name ideas for your business: Sierra Bayou Canyon Savannah Pacific Oasis Medina Everest Sahara Mojave Amazon Andes Nile Galapagos Ganges Caspian Savannah Yukon Tahiti Arctic Sahara Bali Bora Java Alaskan Tuscany Havana Santorini Kyoto Everest Nile Dublin Madrid Sydney Amalfi Copenhagen Malibu Aspen Stockholm Helsinki Mykonos Prague Moscow Barcelona Tokyo Zurich Marrakech Florence Lisbon Melbourne By incorporating your location into your business name, you can establish a unique connection with customers in your area. One Word Business Ideas Inspired by Industry Terms Industry-specific terms and jargon can lend credibility and expertise to your business name. Here are some industry terms-based business name ideas for your business: Pixel (for a tech company) Blend (for a coffee shop) Ledger (for an accounting firm) Thrust (for an aviation company) Sonata (for a music store) Spectrum (for a telecommunications company) Innovate (for a technology consulting firm) Grind (for a fitness studio) Precision (for a manufacturing company) Catalyst (for a marketing agency) Revolve (for a fashion boutique) Harmony (for a wellness center) Momentum (for a sports equipment store) Illuminate (for a lighting design company) Stellar (for an astronomy observatory) Blueprint (for an architectural firm) Evoke (for an art gallery) Amplify (for a sound production studio) Surge (for an energy company) Insight (for a market research agency) Oasis (for a spa and retreat center) Radiance (for a beauty salon) Velocity (for a logistics company) Serenade (for a restaurant or cafe) Vertex (for a math tutoring center) Catalyst (for a chemical engineering company) Infuse (for a tea shop) Precision (for a watchmaker or jeweler) Pulse (for a healthcare clinic) Apex (for a mountain climbing gear store) Kinetic (for a fitness apparel brand) Resonate (for a music venue) Zenith (for a high-end furniture store) Spark (for a creative agency) Empower (for a personal development coaching) Venture (for a startup incubator) Revitalize (for a health and wellness spa) Quest (for an adventure travel company) Nexus (for a networking solutions provider) Stellar (for a photography studio) Catalyst (for a leadership training program) Nurture (for a childcare center) Precision (for a precision engineering company) Revive (for a natural skincare brand) Inspire (for a motivational speaking agency) Spectrum (for a multimedia production company) Enliven (for a dance studio) Amplify (for a concert production company) Engage (for a corporate event planning agency) Precision (for a surgical equipment manufacturer) By leveraging industry language, you can instantly communicate your expertise and niche focus to potential customers. One Word Business Ideas Inspired by Foreign Languages Exploring foreign languages can unveil unique and captivating business name ideas. Here are some foreign language-based business name ideas for your business: 1. Lumiere (light in French) 2. Satori (enlightenment in Japanese) See Also: 18 Business Ideas for College Students 3. Verve (spirit and enthusiasm in Italian) 4. Paseo (walk or stroll in Spanish) 5. Freude (joy in German) 6. Bellezza (beauty in Italian) 7. Esperanza (hope in Spanish) 8. Elan (vitality and style in French) 9. Solace (comfort and consolation in English) 10. Sonrisa (smile in Spanish) 11. Euphoria (intense happiness in English) 12. Amore (love in Italian) 13. Gezelligheid (cozy and convivial atmosphere in Dutch) 14. Enso (circle of enlightenment in Japanese) 15. Sereno (serene and calm in Italian) 16. Felicita (happiness in Italian) 17. Allegria (joy and cheerfulness in Italian) 18. Saudade (a feeling of nostalgic longing in Portuguese) 19. Sehnsucht (a longing or yearning for something in German) 20. Jiyuu (freedom in Japanese) 21. Brio (vivacity and energy in Italian) 22. Charme (charm and elegance in French) 23. Meraki (doing something with soul and creativity in Greek) 24. Hana (flower in Japanese) 25. Delizia (delight and pleasure in Italian) 26. Esperanca (hope in Portuguese) 27. Dolcezza (sweetness in Italian) 28. Euforia (euphoria in Spanish) 29. Plenitude (fullness and abundance in French) 30. Felicidad (happiness in Spanish) 31. Carpe Diem (seize the day in Latin) 32. Amabilidad (kindness and friendliness in Spanish) 33. Gioia (joy in Italian) 34. Arana (spider in Spanish) 35. Mutluluk (happiness in Turkish) 36. Harmonie (harmony in French) 37. Radost (joy in Czech) 38. Douceur (gentleness and sweetness in French) 39. Lacheln (smile in German) 40. Magia (magic in Italian) 41. Espero (hope in Esperanto) 42. Selah (a pause for reflection in Hebrew) 43. Keiki (child or offspring in Hawaiian) 44. Kismet (destiny or fate in Turkish) 45. Bem-vindo (welcome in Portuguese) 46. Alegria (joy in Portuguese) 47. Sogno (dream in Italian) 48. Bonheur (happiness in French) 49. Glei (joy in Icelandic) 50. Harmonia (harmony in Portuguese) Foreign languages can add an exotic flair and evoke curiosity, making your business name truly memorable. One Word Business Ideas with Acronyms or Abbreviations Acronyms and abbreviations can create concise and memorable one word business names. Here are some acronym/abbreviation-based business name ideas for your business: 1. FUSE (Future United Social Enterprises) 2. PACE (Professional and Creative Enterprises) 3. BOLD (Best Of Latest Designs) 4. VIVA (Vibrant Innovative Visionary Association) 5. EDGE (Efficient Dynamic Growth Enterprise) 6. SPARK (Strategic Progress and Resource Knowledge) 7. GLOW (Growing Leaders of Wisdom) 8. RISE (Revolutionary Innovations for Sustainable Enterprises) 9. NOVA (Navigating Opportunities with Visionary Approach) 10. AURA (Advancing Unconventional Results and Achievements) 11. ZEST (Zealously Embracing Success and Triumph) 12. ELITE (Exceptional Leaders Inspiring Transformative Excellence) 13. DAWN (Dedicated Alliance for Worldwide Networking) 14. VIBE (Visionary Innovations for Business Excellence) 15. AXIS (Accelerating eXcellence through Innovation and Strategy) 16. PRIME (Progressive Results through Innovative Management and Execution) 17. BLISS (Building Lasting Impacts through Strategic Solutions) 18. FOCUS (Forward-thinking Organization Creating Unique Strategies) 19. ZOOM (Zealous Onslaught Of Momentum) 20. BOLT (Bringing Outstanding Leadership and Transformation) 21. VOLT (Venturing Onward with Limitless Talents) 22. ECHO (Empowering Change and Harnessing Opportunities) 23. APEX (Accelerating Performance and Excellence) 24. RAPID (Responsive and Progressive Innovations for Development) 25. ZAP (Zealously Advancing Progress) 26. VANTAGE (Venturing Ahead with New Trends and Growth Experiences) 27. PULSE (Progressive Understanding for Lasting Success and Empowerment) 28. BLAZE (Building Leadership and Achieving Zealously with Excellence) 29. FLARE (Forward-looking Approach to Resourceful Endeavors) 30. SHIFT (Striving for High-impact Innovation, Focus, and Transformation) 31. FUSION (Forward-thinking Uniting Strategies for Innovating Outstanding Networks) 32. VISTA (Visionary Initiatives for Strategic Transformative Advancements) 33. JOLT (Journeying Onward with Leadership and Tenacity) 34. ZEN (Zealously Embracing Newness) 35. EVOKE (Empowering Visionary Opportunities and Knowledge Expansion) 36. GLIDE (Growth, Leadership, and Innovation Driving Excellence) 37. RAPID (Revolutionary Approaches for Progressive Innovations and Development) 38. VOW (Venturing Onwards with Wisdom) 39. BLITZ (Boldly Leveraging Innovations, Transforming the Zeitgeist) 40. FLUX (Forward-thinking Leadership and Unconventional Experiences) 41. ZESTY (Zealously Embracing Strategic Transformation for You) 42. FORT (Focused Onward Reaching Triumph) 43. VITAL (Venturing Into Transformative Advancements and Leadership) 44. JUMP (Joining Upward for Maximum Potential) 45. SPUR (Striving for Progressive Unconventional Results) 46. ZAP (Zealously Advancing Progression) 47. GLANCE (Growth-oriented Leadership and Astute Navigation for Continued Excellence) 48. RISE (Revolutionary Initiatives for Sustainable Evolution) 49. BOLT (Boldly Overcoming Limitations with Tenacity) 50. VENTURE (Visionary Endeavors Nurturing Transformation, Unity, and Resourcefulness) Using acronyms or abbreviations can simplify your business name while adding an air of professionalism. One Word Business Ideas with Puns or Wordplay Injecting humor and clever wordplay into your business name can make it memorable and engaging. Here are some pun/wordplay-based business name ideas for your business: 1. Brewed (for a coffee shop) 2. Brite (for a lighting store) 3. Knead (for a bakery) 4. Purrfect (for a pet store) 5. Bloom (for a flower shop) 6. Siplicity (for a tea shop) 7. Brighter (for a lightbulb store) 8. Crustacean (for a seafood restaurant) 9. Fetching (for a pet boutique) 10. Flourish (for a plant nursery) 11. Beleaf (for a salad bar) 12. Whiskers (for a grooming salon) 13. Pawsitive (for a dog training facility) 14. Jammin (for a music store) 15. Trufflove (for a chocolate shop) 16. Sizzle (for a steakhouse) 17. Kaleidoscope (for an art gallery) 18. Thymeless (for a herb and spice shop) 19. Freshly Squeezed (for a juice bar) 20. Plume (for a feather store) 21. DandyLion (for a mens fashion boutique) 22. Blissful Bites (for a bakery or dessert shop) 23. Fizzical (for a soda or beverage company) 24. Fine Vine (for a wine shop) 25. Whiskful Thinking (for a kitchenware store) 26. Ruffined (for a pet grooming salon) 27. Pawsome (for a pet supply store) 28. Petal Pusher (for a florist) 29. Brewtiful (for a coffee shop or brewery) 30. Sproutastic (for a gardening store) 31. Fancy Feathers (for a bird store) 32. Tidbits (for a tapas restaurant) 33. Quirky Quills (for a stationery store) 34. Purrsonal Touch (for a pet grooming salon) 35. Budz n Blooms (for a florist) 36. Doughlightful (for a bakery) 37. Furrniture (for a pet furniture store) 38. Dvine (for a wine bar or wine store) 39. Espresso Yourself (for a coffee shop) 40. Snip n Clip (for a hair salon) 41. Brewteak (for a steakhouse with a beer focus) 42. Floralicious (for a flower shop) 43. Bow Wow Boutique (for a pet store) 44. Artfully Baked (for a bakery) 45. Sweet Petals (for a floral design studio) 46. Brews & Barks (for a pet-friendly brewery) 47. Purrfection (for a cat grooming salon) 48. Bloominate (for a plant and flower retailer) 49. Bakers Bliss (for a bakery) 50. Glitterati (for a glitter and craft store) Puns and wordplay can create a positive and memorable association with your brand, making it more likely to stick in customers minds. Tips for Creating One Word Business Names When it comes to creating a business name for your business, there are several important factors to consider. Here are some tips to guide you through the process: Consider Your Target Audience: Identify your target audience and ensure that your business name resonates with their preferences and interests. Reflect Your Brand Identity: Your business name should align with your brands values, personality, and unique selling propositions. Keep it Memorable: Aim for a name that is easy to remember and pronounce, as it will help customers recall your brand. Conduct Market Research: Research your competitors and analyze their business names to differentiate yourself in the market. Domain Availability: Check the availability of domain names related to your business name to secure a strong online presence. Trademark Considerations: Ensure that your chosen name is not already trademarked to avoid legal complications in the future. By carefully considering these factors, you can create a business name that resonates with your target audience and sets your business up for success. Consider SEO When Naming Your One Word Business In the digital age, search engine optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in attracting online visibility and organic traffic to your business. When naming your business, its important to consider SEO. Here are some tips to incorporate SEO into your business name: Keyword Research: Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant terms and phrases that your target audience is searching for. Incorporate Keywords: Integrate relevant keywords naturally into your business name to optimize its search engine visibility. Domain Name SEO: Choose a domain name that reflects your business name and contains relevant keywords to enhance your websites SEO. Meta Tags and Descriptions: Optimize meta tags and descriptions on your website by incorporating keywords to improve search engine rankings. By aligning your business name with SEO best practices, you can increase your online visibility and attract more potential customers to your business. The Process of Naming Your One Word Business Naming your business is an exciting but challenging process. To help you navigate through it, weve outlined a step-by-step guide: Define Your Brand: Clearly define your one word brand identity, target audience, and unique value propositions. Brainstorm Keywords: Make a list of keywords relevant to your business and use them as inspiration during the brainstorming process. Word Association: Freely associate words and concepts related to your business to generate creative name ideas. Combine Words: Combine relevant words from your brainstorming session to create unique and compelling business names. Check Availability: Verify the availability of your top name choices as domain names, trademarks, and social media handles. Gather Feedback: Seek feedback from trusted friends, colleagues, or focus groups to gather different perspectives on your name ideas. Narrow Down and Refine: Based on feedback and personal preference, narrow down your list of name options and refine them further. Finalize and Register a business name: Once youve chosen the perfect name, register it as a domain, trademark, and any other necessary legal requirements. By following these steps, you can navigate the naming process with clarity and confidence, ensuring that your chosen name aligns with your brand vision. One Word Business Name Generators If youre looking for additional inspiration or assistance in generating one word business names, there are several online tools and name generators available. Here are some recommended your business name generators: Wordoid: A creative name generator that can help you find catchy and unique names. Namemesh: Ideal for checking domain availability alongside name generation. NameStation: Offers keyword suggestions and variations for more diverse options. Namelix: Uses AI to generate short and meaningful names. Novanym: Specializes in one-word business names and includes domain availability. These tools can provide you with a wealth of unique name ideas based on your specific business and preferences. Frequently Asked Questions Can I change my business name after Ive registered it? Yes, modifying one-word business names or multi-word names typically involves a process that may encompass re-registering and notifying the relevant authorities. This is true whether youre changing a one-word name or transitioning from a multi-word to a one-word name. Its important to consult the trademark office during this process to avoid any potential legal complications. The aim is to ensure your new name continues to evoke positive feelings among your customers while complying with all legal requirements. How important is a .com domain for my business? While a .com domain is often seen as more professional and credible, many businesses successfully operate with other extensions like .io, .net, or .biz. Can two businesses have the same name? Its possible if theyre in different states or countries, but its generally not recommended due to potential confusion and trademark disputes. How do I ensure my business name isnt already taken? For those considering one-word business names, word business names, or one-word brand names for your small business, you can initiate your search on the internet, employ a name generator, or inspect business registries. Its crucial to verify the availability of your chosen name, so learning how to check if a business name is taken should be a priority. Trademark databases can provide further insight into this. In order to register a business name successfully, consulting with a legal professional can be an advantageous step to ensure all legalities are met and your business name registration process is seamless. Should my business name reflect what my business does? While its advantageous for your business names, including one-word brand names, to mirror your services or products, its not an absolute requirement. For instance, an effective title in one language may not directly translate to another, but could still be a robust one-word brand name. Your business idea can be successfully communicated through strong brand recognition rather than explicit description. Many flourishing enterprises, for example, bear names that do not directly disclose their offerings, yet they maintain a powerful presence in the market. Conclusion Choosing the right business name is a pivotal step toward establishing a strong brand identity and attracting customers to your business. Weve provided you with an extensive list of business name ideas, ranging from classic to creative, modern to minimalist, and everything in between. Remember to consider important factors like target audience, brand identity, and SEO when making your final decision. By following the process outlined and utilizing the tips and resources provided, youll be well-equipped to select a memorable and impactful business name that sets your business up for success. Start brainstorming, get creative, and embark on your journey toward a captivating business name that resonates with your vision and goals. Pharmacy technicians play a critical role in supporting pharmacists and ensuring that pharmacies run smoothly. They assist with a variety of tasks, including filling prescriptions, managing inventory, and providing excellent customer service. This article will explore the pharmacy technician job description, responsibilities, and requirements, as well as discuss the various work settings and average salary for this important healthcare profession. Pharmacy Technician Job Description Pharmacy technicians work under the direct supervision of licensed pharmacists to help manage and dispense prescription medications. They are responsible for a range of tasks, from administrative duties to handling medications and providing support to healthcare providers and patients. Key Responsibilities Receive prescriptions from patients, healthcare providers, or through an online prescription system Verify the validity and accuracy of prescriptions, and process them electronically Work with pharmacists to fill prescriptions, measure dosages, and label medication appropriately Ensure that the pharmacy inventory is well-stocked, organized, and up-to-date Assist with administrative tasks, such as managing pharmacy records, billing, and processing insurance claims Provide excellent customer service by answering questions, addressing concerns, and offering guidance to patients and healthcare professionals Maintain a clean and sterile work environment by sterilizing surfaces, equipment, and tools Stay up-to-date with pharmacy law, regulations, and best practices to provide accurate and safe pharmacological services Requirements for Pharmacy Technicians To become a pharmacy technician, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, and they must complete a pharmacy technician program or receive on-the-job training. Some states also require pharmacy technicians to obtain certification through organizations like the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Essential skills for pharmacy technicians include: Knowledge of medical terminology and drug interactions Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal Strong attention to detail and accuracy Familiarity with pharmacy software and technology Ability to work well under pressure and manage time effectively Work Settings and Opportunities Pharmacy technicians can work in various healthcare settings, including retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, nursing homes, and doctors offices. Their specific job duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the work environment. For instance, a retail pharmacy technician might focus on providing customer service and filling prescriptions, while a hospital pharmacy technician could be more involved in preparing intravenous medications and working closely with healthcare professionals. Retail Pharmacy Technician Retail pharmacy technicians work in community pharmacies, such as those found in drugstores or supermarkets. Their primary responsibilities include receiving and filling prescriptions, managing inventory, and providing customer service. They also handle insurance claims and work closely with pharmacists to ensure patients receive the appropriate medications. Hospital Pharmacy Technician Hospital pharmacy technicians work in hospital pharmacies, where they support pharmacists in providing medication and other pharmaceutical services to patients. They may prepare medications, such as intravenous solutions or oral medications, and collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive the correct dosages and medication regimens. Hospital pharmacy technicians may also be involved in managing drug inventory and maintaining pharmacy records. Pharmacy Technician Job Description Templates Job Description Template 1 Job Description: Pharmacy Technician Location: [City, State] Company: [Company Name] About Us: [Company Name] is a small pharmacy dedicated to providing exceptional pharmaceutical services to our community. We strive to deliver personalized care and meet the healthcare needs of our customers. We are currently seeking a detail-oriented and compassionate Pharmacy Technician to join our team. Job Description: As a Pharmacy Technician at [Company Name], you will play a critical role in assisting pharmacists in dispensing medications, managing inventory, and providing excellent customer service. The ideal candidate has strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and a passion for supporting the health and well-being of others. Responsibilities: Assist pharmacists in dispensing prescription medications accurately and efficiently. Manage and maintain pharmacy inventory, including ordering and restocking medications and supplies. Perform medication counting, labeling, and packaging in compliance with pharmacy regulations and standards. Process insurance claims and coordinate with insurance providers to ensure proper reimbursement. Provide exceptional customer service, answering inquiries, and resolving customer concerns in a professional and courteous manner. Assist in maintaining accurate and confidential patient records, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. Prepare and compound non-sterile medications, following standard procedures and safety protocols. Assist with medication therapy management, including medication synchronization and adherence programs. Collaborate with the pharmacy team to ensure smooth operations and optimize patient care. Qualifications: Valid Pharmacy Technician certification/license in [State] is required. Prior experience as a Pharmacy Technician or in a similar role is preferred. Strong knowledge of pharmacy operations, including prescription processing and inventory management. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to perform accurate medication counting and labeling. Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers and healthcare professionals. Proficient in using pharmacy software and technology, including prescription dispensing systems. Understanding of pharmacy regulations, privacy laws, and patient confidentiality. Flexibility to work varying shifts, including weekends and holidays. Benefits: Competitive hourly wage, based on experience and qualifications. Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement. Supportive and collaborative work environment. To Apply: Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to [email address] with the subject line Pharmacy Technician Application [Your Name]. We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application. [Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Job Description Template 2 Compounding Pharmacy Technician Location: [City, State] See Also: How to Check if a Business Name is Taken Company: [Company Name] About Us: [Company Name] is a small compounding pharmacy that specializes in customized medications to meet the unique needs of our patients. We are committed to delivering high-quality compounded medications and exceptional customer service. We are currently seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Compounding Pharmacy Technician to join our team. Job Description: As a Compounding Pharmacy Technician at [Company Name], you will be responsible for assisting in the preparation and compounding of customized medications. The ideal candidate has experience in compounding practices, strong attention to detail, and a commitment to maintaining quality and accuracy. Responsibilities: Assist in the compounding and preparation of sterile and non-sterile customized medications. Follow established compounding procedures and formulas accurately and safely. Maintain a clean and organized compounding area, adhering to sterile and aseptic techniques. Perform calculations and measurements to ensure precise compounding of medications. Label and package compounded medications in compliance with pharmacy regulations and standards. Assist in inventory management, including ordering and stocking compounding supplies and ingredients. Collaborate with pharmacists and other team members to ensure efficient compounding operations. Adhere to quality control procedures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of compounded medications. Ensure compliance with pharmacy regulations and standards, including documentation and record-keeping. Provide exceptional customer service, addressing inquiries and concerns regarding compounded medications. Qualifications: Valid Pharmacy Technician certification/license in [State] is required. Prior experience in compounding pharmacy or compounding practices is preferred. Strong knowledge of compounding techniques, including sterile and non-sterile compounding. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to perform accurate calculations and measurements. Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers and healthcare professionals. Proficient in using compounding equipment and technology. Understanding of pharmacy regulations, quality control, and documentation requirements. Flexibility to work varying shifts, including weekends and holidays. Benefits: Competitive hourly wage, based on experience and qualifications. Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement. Supportive and collaborative work environment. To Apply: Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to [email address] with the subject line Compounding Pharmacy Technician Application [Your Name]. We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application. [Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Job Description Template 3 Retail Pharmacy Technician Location: [City, State] Company: [Company Name] About Us: [Company Name] is a small retail pharmacy dedicated to providing exceptional pharmaceutical care to our customers. We are committed to delivering personalized service and promoting health and wellness within our community. We are currently seeking a customer-focused and knowledgeable Retail Pharmacy Technician to join our team. Job Description: As a Retail Pharmacy Technician at [Company Name], you will be responsible for assisting in prescription dispensing, providing customer service, and supporting the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy. The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills, a strong attention to detail, and a passion for helping others. Responsibilities: Assist pharmacists in dispensing prescription medications accurately and efficiently. Provide excellent customer service, answering inquiries, and resolving customer concerns in a professional and courteous manner. Process and enter prescription orders into the pharmacy system accurately. Manage and maintain pharmacy inventory, including stock rotation and monitoring expiration dates. Prepare and label prescription medications following pharmacy regulations and standards. Collaborate with the pharmacy team to ensure smooth operations and efficient workflow. Assist in maintaining accurate and confidential patient records, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. Process insurance claims and coordinate with insurance providers to ensure proper reimbursement. Qualifications: Valid Pharmacy Technician certification/license in [State] is required. Prior experience as a Retail Pharmacy Technician or in a similar role is preferred. Strong knowledge of pharmacy operations, including prescription processing and inventory management. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to perform accurate medication counting and labeling. Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers and healthcare professionals. Proficient in using pharmacy software and technology, including prescription dispensing systems. Understanding of pharmacy regulations, privacy laws, and patient confidentiality. Flexibility to work varying shifts, including weekends and holidays. Benefits: Competitive hourly wage, based on experience and qualifications. Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement. Supportive and collaborative work environment. To Apply: Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to [email address] with the subject line Retail Pharmacy Technician Application [Your Name]. We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application. [Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Job Description Template 4 Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician Location: [City, State] Company: [Company Name] About Us: [Company Name] is a small pharmacy that specializes in providing pharmaceutical services to long-term care facilities. We are dedicated to delivering personalized care and ensuring the well-being of our patients. We are currently seeking a detail-oriented and compassionate Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician to join our team. Job Description: As a Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician at [Company Name], you will play a crucial role in assisting pharmacists in dispensing medications, managing patient profiles, and coordinating medication orders for long-term care residents. The ideal candidate has strong organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, and a passion for serving the elderly population. Responsibilities: Assist pharmacists in accurately and efficiently dispensing prescription medications for long-term care residents. Manage and maintain patient profiles, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information. Coordinate medication orders for long-term care facilities, including packaging and labeling. Prepare medication blister packs and unit-dose packaging for easy administration. Collaborate with long-term care facility staff to ensure seamless medication management. Process medication orders, including data entry and insurance billing. Handle medication returns and manage medication inventory in compliance with pharmacy regulations. Provide exceptional customer service to long-term care facility staff and residents, addressing inquiries and resolving concerns. Maintain confidentiality and adhere to privacy regulations in handling patient information. Qualifications: Valid Pharmacy Technician certification/license in [State] is required. Prior experience as a Pharmacy Technician in a long-term care or institutional setting is preferred. Strong knowledge of pharmacy operations, including long-term care medication management. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to perform accurate medication counting and labeling. Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with healthcare professionals and elderly patients. Proficient in using pharmacy software and technology, including prescription dispensing systems. Understanding of pharmacy regulations, privacy laws, and patient confidentiality. Flexibility to work varying shifts, including weekends and holidays. Benefits: Competitive hourly wage, based on experience and qualifications. Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement. Supportive and collaborative work environment. To Apply: Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to [email address] with the subject line Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician Application [Your Name]. We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application. [Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Salary and Job Outlook According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for pharmacy technicians in the United States is around $35,000 per year. Salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, education, and location. The job outlook for pharmacy technicians is projected to grow at a steady pace, driven by the increasing demand for prescription medications and the expansion of pharmacy services. In conclusion, pharmacy technicians play a vital role in supporting pharmacists and ensuring the efficient and safe delivery of prescription medications to patients. By understanding the job description, responsibilities, and requirements of a pharmacy technician, individuals can better prepare for a rewarding career in this essential healthcare profession. Frequently Asked Questions What is the primary role of a pharmacy technician? The primary role of a pharmacy technician is to support pharmacists in dispensing prescription medications, managing inventory, and providing excellent customer service. What are the basic requirements to become a pharmacy technician? To become a pharmacy technician, individuals need a high school diploma or equivalent, completion of a pharmacy technician program or on-the-job training, and in some states, certification from organizations like the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). How does the job outlook for pharmacy technicians compare to other professions? The job outlook for pharmacy technicians is projected to grow at a steady pace, driven by the increasing demand for prescription medications and the expansion of pharmacy services. What are the main responsibilities of a pharmacy technician? Pharmacy technicians are responsible for receiving and filling prescriptions, managing inventory, providing customer service, assisting with administrative tasks, maintaining a clean and sterile work environment, and staying up-to-date with pharmacy law and regulations. What skills and qualities are essential for a successful pharmacy technician? Successful pharmacy technicians possess strong attention to detail, knowledge of medical terminology and drug interactions, excellent communication skills, familiarity with pharmacy software and technology, and the ability to work well under pressure. What are the differences between a retail pharmacy technician and a hospital pharmacy technician? A retail pharmacy technician works in community pharmacies, focusing on customer service and filling prescriptions. In contrast, a hospital pharmacy technician works in hospital pharmacies, preparing medications, collaborating with healthcare professionals, and managing drug inventory and records. Windows were covered with thick black paper, a sign hung on the door stating 18+ Only and a host stood guard outside. This was the scene at Lilos Street Food and Bar in Lake Worth Beach last Saturday as the Imperial Sun Court of All Florida held its regular drag brunch fundraiser. The drastic measures were all in response to the new bills signed into law last week by Governor Ron DeSantis. The Imperial Sun Court of All Florida (ISCOAF) is a charity that raises money for other nonprofits through drag performances. Despite the changes and challenges, the show this weekend raised over $1,100. It took the passion of many dedicated planners, performers and allies to make sure it went off without a hitch. Previously, the show at Lilos was performed outside in the outdoor seating area. It was visible to all who walked down the streets, or sat at other restaurants enjoying their brunch. The show would, at some points, literally stop traffic as performers danced in the streets, or drivers lingered to watch after the light turned green. Families would come with their children, and it wasnt uncommon to see the kids showered with praise from the queens and even offered some accessories. Eric Lipson, Reigning Emperor of ISCOAF, said I was honored, along with my Empress Leila Cox, to continue our charity drag performance at Lilos knowing we are in uncharted territory with the new Florida performance law. We are grateful for our allies, especially Lilos, who support us as we continue on our mission of good deeds raising money for community charities. The court supports the ACLU Drag Defense to keep the message forward that drag is not illegal. Our next drag show at Lilos will be June 24 at noon. The planning of the show was fraught with challenges. Some performers did not feel safe performing without clear guidance on what could and could not be considered illegal. Lilos pulled out all the stops to ensure that the performers and guests felt safe and protected, having a long and prosperous relationship with ISCOAF and its fundraisers. Despite all the challenges, the show went on. Nevertheless, the queens persisted. Currently there are lawsuits attempting to nullify or at least suspend some of the laws that were enacted last week. The community is determined to do what it has always done - resist. And, of course, raise money for charity. Houghton University in New York fired two employees in April after they refused to remove their pronouns from their email signature. Raegan Zelaya and Shua Wilmot, both resident hall directors, told the New York Times that the school said they had violated a new policy when they added their pronouns to the email. I think it boils down to: They want to be trans-exclusive and they want to communicate that to potential students and the parents of potential students, Wilmot said. The two staffers also added that not only was adding the pronouns a way to be inclusive, but also clear up any ambiguity for email receivers as the two have uncommon names. The small college of less than 1,000 students describes itself as a Christ-centered liberal arts and science university, providing an academically challenging educational experience through an orthodox Christian worldview. The New York Times reports that the school has come under fire for closing a multicultural center in 2021, an environmental sustainability program, and ended its recognition of an on-campus LGBTQ club. A spokesperson told the newspaper that the firing was not based solely on the pronouns, but that weve required anything extraneous be removed from email signatures. However, a photo of Zelayas termination letter includes the reason for her firing was as a result of your refusal to remove pronouns in your email signature. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, both employees were on one-year contracts to manage the mens and womens residence halls. Zelaya already had plans to not return and Wilmots contract was not renewed. On Niche.com, where people can write reviews of colleges and universities, Houghton University has received multiple low scores. Administration actively works to discriminate against LGBTQ groups. Accusations of sexual assault are not taken seriously. They consider themselves progressive, and openly brag about being an open, loving, accepting community, but while I was there in 2017 there were multiple instances of students being singled out in a negative way for their race, gender identity, and sexuality. And in another review, People at Houghton, specifically administrators, have no idea what it is to be Christian. They are accepting of no one and grossly prejudice. They turn their backs on people Jesus wouldve helped with open arms. They push their bigotry onto everyone on campus making sure each person agrees, otherwise theyre out, one person wrote a month ago. My pronouns are they/them, so Im going to not go here since this place does not like its queer students, another person wrote. Regional and touring theater productions offer an escape from the summer heat with witty and wonderful productions that are sure to amuse South Florida audiences. Disenchanted MNM Theatre Co. MNM Theatre Co. returns to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach for its production of Disenchanted. More a revue than a musical, the adult-themed show supposes what the Disney princesses might have to say about life, if they were real all while carefully stepping around any possible trademark infringement or cease-and-desist letters from the corporate powerhouse. The ladies protest misogyny and gender stereotypes, curse and drink, and a couple even explore a little girl-on-girl action. Its a bawdy show that the ensemble cast sell handily with their powerful voices. Hurry, the show closes May 27. Tickets at MNMTheatre.org. Tracy Jones Island City Stage Island City Stage presents the rolling world premiere of this new comedy by Stephen Kaplan. Tracy Jones is a lonely woman who leads a dull, uneventful life and she's sure it's partly because her name is drab. But what if she celebrates her name by hosting a party and inviting every woman named Tracy Jones not just from her hometown, but all over the world? And, what if she hosts it at Jones Street Bar and Grill, the Place for Wings (and Things)? What could go wrong with that scenario? Kaplans play is a study in belonging and self-worth and runs through June 18. Tickets start at $40 at IslandCityStage.org. Newsies Slow Burn Theatre Co. Stop the presses! Slow Burn Theatre Co., the regional company in residence at the Broward Center, presents its latest Disney musical, the dance-centric Newsies, June 10 25. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of a band of teenaged paperboys. When their publishers raise distribution prices at the young mens expense, they strike against the unfair conditions, dancing and singing all the way. Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, the show will showcase the talents of director/choreographer Patrick Fitzwater. Tickets start at $49 at SlowBurnTheatre.com. Beetlejuice Broadway in Fort Lauderdale Tim Burtons film about a couple of straight-laced ghosts who haunt the quirky new owners of their New England home gets the Broadway treatment with song, dance and lots of special effects. Were not going to get Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder or Catherine OHara in this touring production, but make-up and costumes (not to mention incredible voices) will more than make up for our film favorites. Tickets start at $30 at BrowardCenter.org. Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks Empire Stage Lily, an aging but formidable retiree, hires Michael, an acerbic dance instructor, to give her dance lessons in her condo in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. Antagonism between a gay man and the wife of a Southern Baptist minister gives way to profound compatibility as they tango, foxtrot, and cha-cha while sharing barbs and intimacies along with the dance steps. During the sixth lesson, Lily reveals a closely guarded secret and Michael shares his greatest gifts. The comedy runs June 16 July 2 at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $30 at EmpireStage.com. AIs impact on democracy. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled 2023 is and will be significant in many ways from both a (geo)political and a technological perspective. One, currently standing above all, is the generative AI and its integration into our everyday lives. Generative AI, or the Artificial Intelligence capable of producing content, be it text, image or video, presents a new reality and will soon influence our democracies and social structures in ways we cannot yet fully imagine. It thus requires immediate attention and action from policy-makers and experts alike. A new revolution Since the late 2010s, a great deal of thinkers, scientists and experts have compared AI to other great human inventions to demonstrate its impact on society and prove its significance, both in terms of advantages and threats. Sundar Pichai, Google CEO, has said the AI would be more significant for humanity than fire. Elon Musk has warned the AI could be more dangerous than nuclear warheads. And after the arrival of ChatGPT, Geoffrey Hinton, sometimes called the godfather of AI, a scientist who recently resigned from Google warning about AIs potential detrimental effects on society, has compared the AI to the invention of the wheel or electricity. It is now clear we are living amidst of another technological revolution. While many of us cannot wait for improvements in healthcare, government services and efficiency by reducing administrative burden at work, it should be a cause for concern, especially for democracies already struggling with polarization and lack of trust. The integration of generative AI into our lives will be completely different to any other technological revolution, mostly due to the scarcity of time we have to adapt. The time passed between Gutenberg inventing the printing press and the publication of the first mass-produced newspaper was 150 years . Turning a first prototype of TV into a device owned by half of homes in the US took 30 years . Getting half of the worlds population to use the internet since its invention took 27 years . Facebook needed 4 years to reach 100 million active users, but it only took ChatGPT 2 months to reach that number. With every invention, the window for society to understand it and implement it properly diminishes exponentially. We are not thinking in decades or years but in months and days. Nothing is ready Unfortunately, neither our brains nor our legislative and education systems seem to be ready to take on this challenge. Neuroscientists long suggest that the information overload and digital media, especially social media, affect our brain, as well as emotions and social behavior. Information overload makes our brains incapable of selecting and remembering the most important information, while the design of social media that fosters engagement can lead to addiction, difficulties in socializing, loneliness and mental health issues. Although our incredibly adaptable, we have not yet learned how speed them up to catch up with technology. Education systems usually do not facilitate this adaptability, but on the contrary, seem to slow it down. Education largely based on past centuries style of teaching, with restrictive curricula emphasising "by heart" learning instead of encouraging creative thinking, problem solving and media literacy, is another part of the problem. The same applies to our ability to address new developments in regulation. The regulatory system is also set to serve the needs of the 20th century, when stakeholders had the luxury of months, even years, to debate, draft and implement new legislation. While such luxury is long gone, lawmakers do not seem to fully understand that. Social media are a prime example of the gap between the needs and abilities of the regulators to address the most pressing challenges. For the past 15 years, social media has repeatedly been proven to influence democracies and societies worldwide, yet the Transatlantic community still cannot agree on how to regulate them. The EU has taken the initiative of addressing the platforms via legislation such as the Digital Services Act that came into effect last year, but it is not efficient, as it does not adequately address the core of the problem linked to social media, which is, in fact, its use of simple AI recommendation systems selecting content and advertising for its users based on personal data. AI vs. democracy Having witnessed social medias ability to reshape the information spaces and power dynamics in democracies, generative AI has the potential to do the same on steroids. In societies suffering from polarization or fragmentation, simple AI algorithms used by social media to recommend content have exacerbated these trends. Tailored content selection based on ones interests reinforces users existing assumptions, contributes to creating alternative realities for different groups of people and potentially leads to radicalization. This can be witnessed in the US, where Democrats and Republicans increasingly view each other as evil, but also in Slovakia, where a part of population shaped by a few opposition parties and sources supportive of them categorically distrust everything said by quality media, the president or government officials. Advanced forms of AI will be able to elevate content recommendation to content creation. Articles, images, and videos will perfectly cater to our own needs, fears and assumptions about the world around us, which has on objective potential to further mess up our minds. Lets demonstrate it on the society in Slovakia, which is particularly prone to believing disinformation and suffers from a historically how trust in institutions according to GLOBSEC Trends polls. Based on konspiratori.sk database, there are currently around 280 websites in Czech and Slovak language producing problematic content in the form of conspiracy theories, disinformation, or extremism. At the moment, people spend time writing these texts and creating shocking clickbait titles, images, collages or subtitles for videos. Given that these are low-quality materials mostly based on content already written elsewhere, AI can quite easily take over this task or make it easier for the so-called authors to produce such contents. It would not only accelerate the production of manipulative low-quality contents, but also ensure more time for perfecting the tactics to target vulnerable groups. Not to only paint a negative picture, AI can also improve the work of journalists and experts in producing quality information much more quickly. But since conscience, journalistic standards and ethical requirements compel them to produce trustworthy content, the production will likely be slower than that of conspiracy theory producers, as is the case today. Loss of trust If the information space is flooded by AI-generated texts, images and videos that mimic political representatives, leaders and experts, and exploit vulnerable groups frustrations and fears, we will face yet another wave of distrust and confusion about what is true and what is false. It can lead to movements, protests or political turmoil based on completely made-up information created by AI. Yuval Harari, one of todays great philosophers, even suggests in his latest essay new cults and political manifestos and political campaigns could be written and run by AI. In short, democracies might face complete disruption if we approach generative AI as laxly and late as we approached social media. Democracies findings themselves in an already vulnerable shape may not survive it. Preventing disruption While we cannot be sure these catastrophic scenarios are evitable, we should do everything in our power to prevent it. First, we should return the good old quote popularized by the Spider-Man movie 20 years ago - With great power comes great responsibility. Top decision-makers at big tech companies have powers comparable to the leaders of the worlds largest states. Their decisions influence masses of people irrespective of state borders, they have the ability to facilitate genocides, assist or ignore autocracies, and help or destroy democracies. While the power versus responsibility balance works quite well in the political sphere, it has been mostly absent with big tech leaders whose powers have not equally met responsibility for (in)action. The efforts aiming to motivate the big tech to self-regulate for the greater good of reducing malign content, such as the Code of Practice on Disinformation, are proving less effective. This is mostly due to a lack of enforcement, which can only be secured through regulation. Naturally, it is not an easy task as it requires drawing red lines and boundaries in a space where they do not exist. But quality and flexible legislation offering a space for adjustments as the technology advances can be drawn up if top thinkers from think tanks and academia take part in it. Efforts to do so are already ongoing on the EU level with the AI Act , which aims to create rules based on protecting human rights and safety, but the buy-in and understanding on national levels is necessary too. Given the lack of expertise currently available, regulators must be able to get such experts on board and, mostly, afford to pay them. Those leading the race for more powerful AI must take responsibility for the power they have over our information spaces and us as humans. It can only be achieved if AI receives immediate attention, dedication and resources from all democratic political leaders. They must be ready to put AI at the centre of every discussion and future decision. It is the only viable way to protect democracy. Hop on a tram that celebrates the South Korea-Slovakia relations, explore the legacy of Roma in Petrzalka, and Bratislava increases accommodation tax. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. Here is the Thursday, May 25 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. U.S. soldiers kicked out of Slovakia after drunk incidents The town of Zvolen in central Slovakia. (Source: TASR) In recent weeks, three American soldiers have been told to leave Slovakia after they got involved in unnecessary and alcohol-related incidents in Zvolen and Banska Bystrica, two major towns in central Slovakia. The U.S. Embassy Slovakia said: "This was an unacceptable display of disrespect to the Slovak police and community, and there is no excuse for their behaviour." No damage and no harm to people were done, but the far-right party Republika picked up on the incidents in an attempt to win some political points. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website Tourism: Visitors to Bratislava will pay more. The higher accommodation tax has been okayed. Visitors to Bratislava will pay more. The higher accommodation tax has been okayed. Bratislava: The city council has approved changes to the city-wide parking policy and revealed the schedule for creating more residential parking zones. The city council has approved changes to the city-wide parking policy and revealed the schedule for creating more residential parking zones. Opinion: Slovak MFA Miroslav Wlachovsky on the future of the EU. Slovak MFA Miroslav Wlachovsky on the future of the EU. Opinion: Democracies might face complete disruption if we approach generative AI as laxly and late as we approached social media, says Globsec analyst Dominika Hajdu. Democracies might face complete disruption if we approach generative AI as laxly and late as we approached social media, says Globsec analyst Dominika Hajdu. Advertorial: Profesia's insights uncover the labour market context that can help companies to make necessary changes. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. FEATURE STORY FOR THURSDAY Free events in Bratislava Vapenna (Source: VaGa) Read through our selection of three free things that you can do in or near the Slovak capital in the coming days. How about a hike to Vapenna? EVENT FOR FRIDAY Roma in Petrzalka Video: Construction of Petrzalka (1973) video //www.youtube.com/embed/4jKWDbnwxsM As part of the celebration of 50 years of the Petrzalka housing estate in Bratislava, the Zrkadlovy Haj Culture House has prepared for visitors an evening dedicated to Roma life in the territory of Petrzalka. Music, two lectures, and a film are waiting for visitors. Admission: 3 Date and time: 18:00 on May 26, 2023 In other news In recent weeks, avian flu has occurred in wild birds at the Orava Dam, Liptovska Mara Dam and in Bratislava's Rusovce. has occurred in wild birds at the Orava Dam, Liptovska Mara Dam and in Bratislava's Rusovce. From August, the city of Bratislava will take over th e management of approximately 3,000 parking spaces in the Old Town , which have been operated by the private company BPS Park for almost 17 years. , which have been operated by the private company BPS Park for almost 17 years. If the parliamentary elections were held in May, the Smer-SD party would win them with a gain of 21.3 percent of the votes. Progressive Slovakia would obtain 14.2 percent and Hlas-SD 14 percent, according to the agency NMS Market Research. (Sme) A Tatra K2 tram in Bratislava celebrates 30 years of partnership and cooperation between South Korea and Slovakia. (Source: imhd.sk/Tragacik) WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Small cloud cover. Occasional showers or storms, particularly in central Slovakia. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 27C. First-level storm warnings will be in place in the Banska Bystrica Region on Friday. (SHMU) Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, Instagram (@slovakspectator) and Twitter (@slovakspectator). https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/china-war-games-pacific-eritrea-independence-day-intel-agencies-and-2024-election-1110573802.html China War Games Pacific; Eritrea Independence Day; Intel Agencies and 2024 Election China War Games Pacific; Eritrea Independence Day; Intel Agencies and 2024 Election A recent Harvard poll revealed that 70 percent of US voters fear that intelligence agencies will interfere in the 2024 election cycle. 2023-05-25T04:04+0000 2023-05-25T04:04+0000 2023-05-25T10:37+0000 the critical hour radio ron desantis donald trump eritrea thailand israel ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/19/1110573643_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_1061976b7e9ea68dee464bd8531e0929.png China War Games Pacific; Eritrea Independence Day; Intel Agencies and 2024 Election A recent Harvard poll revealed that 70 percent of US voters fear that intelligence agencies will interfere in the 2020 election cycle. Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. Neo-Nazi militias used US vehicles to attack Russia. Also, Poland is training F16 pilots.KJ Noh, writer, teacher, and activist, joins us to discuss China. China has war-gamed attacking a US Navy flotilla in the South China Sea. Also, US hegemony and the domination of the G7 are history.Amanuel Biedemariam, author of "The US History in Eretria," joins us to discuss Eritrea. Eritreans celebrate independence day. Also, we discuss China's role in advancing Africa's economic power.Brian Berletic, ex-US Marine Corps independent geopolitical researcher and writer based in Bangkok, joins us to discuss foreign policy. The US has installed a puppet regime in Thailand, and the nation's economy is likely to crater. Also, the war in Ukraine can't end in a peaceful settlement because it is existential to all sides.Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss the 2024 election. A recent Harvard poll revealed that 70 percent of US voters fear that intelligence agencies will interfere in the 2020 election cycle.Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss the economy. Stock buybacks are continuing at a torrid pace. Also, the debt ceiling battle continues as social spending cuts are on the table.Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss Latin America. Brazilian president Lula De Silva walks away from the G7 summit less interested in the Ukraine war. Also, Peru authorizes a US occupation force.Yolian Ogbu, member of the Black Alliance for Peace and Horn of Africa Pan-Africans for Liberation and Solidarity, joins us to discuss Africa and the new world order. China and Russia are playing a central role in the development of Africa, and the US empire is not happy.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. eritrea thailand israel ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg the critical hour, who's winning in ukraine, f-16 to ukraine, the us foreign policy, the state of the us economy, the new world order https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/chinese-war-simulation-finds-top-us-carrier-group-could-be-destroyed-with-certainty-1110574081.html Chinese War Simulation Finds Top US Carrier Group Could Be Destroyed With Certainty Chinese War Simulation Finds Top US Carrier Group Could Be Destroyed With Certainty A volley of hypersonic missiles could reliably sink the US militarys most powerful aircraft carrier group in a potential conflict, according to war game simulations carried out by a team of Chinese military planners. 2023-05-25T01:06+0000 2023-05-25T01:06+0000 2023-05-25T01:01+0000 military war game simulation china south china sea beijing pla uss ford us military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105422/31/1054223138_0:164:4928:2936_1920x0_80_0_0_f5ef6abd264a0d88cb1a8d492a7fe198.jpg A volley of hypersonic missiles could reliably sink the US militarys most powerful aircraft carrier group in a potential conflict, according to war game simulations carried out by a team of Chinese military planners.Using 24 of their most advanced anti-ship missiles, Chinese forces consistently destroyed a carrier fleet led by the USS Gerald R. Ford over the course of 20 mock battles in simulations which were run on a war game platform employed by the Peoples Liberation Army.In the simulation, the US ships came under fire after ignoring multiple Chinese warnings not to approach an island in the South China Sea controlled by Beijing.For test purposes, the war games designers used a carrier group made up of six surface ships which were selected for their unparalleled strength and advanced technology.According to researchers, the Ford carrier group which was once thought to be all but unsinkable could actually be destroyed with certainty using just a handful of hypersonic missile strikes.Chinese military planners placed a number of constraints on themselves in the simulation, including cutting their access to space-based spy satellites and limiting the number of hypersonic missiles available.The basic principle underlying the exercise was to be lenient with the enemy and strict with oneself, Cao explained.As the Hong Kong-based outlet explained, during the simulation, the PLA used its sea-based surveillance network to detect and identify the US carrier group before firing eight of the less-reliable hypersonic missiles simultaneously from southern and central sites in China.Though some of the missiles were intercepted, the attack depleted the US fleets SM-3 munitions, paving the way for the PLA to launch eight of its more accurate hypersonic missiles from northern and western China, with four focused on the aircraft carrier while the others targeted the destroyers, the outlet noted.After the attack, four ships survived from the blue [US] team, with the destroyers having the most remaining, on average.A mop-up operation with six of the less accurate hypersonic missiles was able to dispatch with the remaining vessels, the research paper determined.After the simulation was run 20 times to allow for different variables which could affect the outcome of the engagement, the teams strategy was ultimately able to eliminate an average of 5.6 out of 6 surface vessels effectively meaning the total destruction of the carrier group.The release of a paper detailing the war game in May marked the first time the results of simulated hypersonic strikes against a US carrier group have been made public by Chinas military, the Honk Kong outlet noted.But its likely to be seen as a warning to Washington against any provocations in the South China Sea.An anonymous Beijing-based researcher interviewed by the outlet suggested that greater transparency about Chinas military capabilities and intentions could help to reduce misunderstandings and miscalculations on both sides, which could in turn help to reduce the risk of conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/chinese-army-simulates-strikes-on-key-targets-in-taiwan-amid-drills-1109295378.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230110/think-tank-simulation-predicts-taiwan-could-defeat-china-with-us-japan-aid-in-invasion-scenario-1106184632.html china south china sea beijing Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wyatt Reed Wyatt Reed News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wyatt Reed war game simulation, china, uss ford, us carrier group, us military, south china sea, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/explosion-at-pemexs-gas-pipeline-in-mexico-injures-9-people---reports-1110575414.html Explosion at Pemex's Gas Pipeline in Mexico Injures 9 People - Reports Explosion at Pemex's Gas Pipeline in Mexico Injures 9 People - Reports MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - A powerful explosion, which occurred at a pipeline of Mexican gas company Pemex in the state of Mexico, has resulted in nine people... 25.05.2023, Sputnik International 2023-05-25T03:45+0000 2023-05-25T03:45+0000 2023-05-25T03:40+0000 americas pemex mexico fire gas pipeline injuries /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103748/62/1037486266_0:0:3396:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_7b25c05a5b55609f2b93d94c34d29a15.jpg The explosion occurred on private land at Pemex's LPG 14 Santa Ana Nuevo-Palmillas pipeline in the municipality of Polotitlan reportedly due to an alleged illegal tapping. According to preliminary information, at least nine people sustained injures, including three Pemex employees who were transported to local-area hospitals.The column of fire after the explosion reached 20 meters (65 feet) in height, reports said. Pemex specialists, firefighters and public security employees were working at the site, where the fire is said to have been. The Mexican authorities have set up a temporary shelter for those living nearby. americas mexico Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International pemex, mexico, fire, gas pipeline, injuries https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/hungary-to-assume-eu-presidency-in-2024-despite-attempts-at-hindrance-1110583736.html Hungary to Assume EU Presidency in 2024 Despite Attempts at Hindrance Hungary to Assume EU Presidency in 2024 Despite Attempts at Hindrance The European Parliament's decision to consider a resolution to prevent Budapest's EU presidency in 2024 is a political action by left-wing lawmakers, but Hungary will still take over the presidency, the Hungarian government told Sputnik on Thursday. 2023-05-25T12:38+0000 2023-05-25T12:38+0000 2023-05-25T12:39+0000 world hungary european union (eu) eu presidency /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107756/65/1077566575_0:192:2048:1344_1920x0_80_0_0_586882fbcacf5a2276ec0690c6a2f118.jpg On Wednesday, Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said that the European Parliament intended to vote on a resolution to prevent Budapest's EU presidency, scheduled for the second half of 2024. Hungary is making good progress in preparing for the EU presidency, the government noted, adding that Budapest plans to put on the agenda such important issues as Europe's demographic challenges or family policy, which are "undesirable for supporters of migration". Hungary has been under pressure from the EU over its unwillingness to impose sanctions on Russian energy companies and supplies of weapons to Ukraine. In early March last year, the Hungarian parliament passed a decree banning arms deliveries to Ukraine from Hungarian territory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230523/orban-ukraine-has-no-chance-of-beating-russia-amid-conflict-1110548727.html hungary Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hungary, european union, eu presidency https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/mastering-social-media-more-important-to-desantis-than-musks-backing-1110588118.html Mastering Social Media More Important for DeSantis Than Musk's Backing Mastering Social Media More Important for DeSantis Than Musk's Backing Social media is a tool of mass outreach at a scale never seen before, making mastering it key to any politicians hopes for electoral success. DeSantis appearance with the owner of a website isnt likely to move the dial much. 2023-05-25T19:12+0000 2023-05-25T19:12+0000 2023-05-25T19:15+0000 analysis ron desantis elon musk twitter 2024 us presidential elections social media /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/04/1098109419_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_33e94968d7eceb17b54a078085d8a67b.jpg On Wednesday, DeSantis formally launched his 2024 campaign for the US presidency, announcing his effort during a joint appearance on a Twitter Space with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. That same day, a poll released by CNN found that 80% of Republicans prefer either DeSantis or former US President Donald Trump as their 2024 candidateDr. Nicholas Waddy, political analyst and Associate Professor of History at SUNY Alfred, told Sputnik on Thursday that social media would be vital for any candidate that hopes to win, but he was skeptical as to whether Musks presence would have a noticeable effect on a party captivated by Trump."Ron DeSantis deserves a lot of credit for choosing to declare his candidacy in a new and innovative way, through social media. Part of the message he was trying to send was undoubtedly that he is a younger, hipper candidate than Donald Trump," Waddy said."Social media as a whole can play a significant role in our next presidential election, in that it is probably every bit as important as traditional media in terms of Americans' access to information. It is a way for candidates to spread their message without the support and assistance of the mainstream media, for instance. Donald Trump will thus rely on it heavily. It is also, as we discovered in 2020, susceptible to manipulation and a major practitioner of censorship," Waddy said.The analyst noted, however, that Musk hasn't sunk tons of money or political endorsements into past elections, signaling he has little interest in being a "kingmaker," partisan insider, or candidate.Although more than half a dozen figures have declared themselves candidates for the 2024 GOP nomination, in reality its likely a two-horse race: DeSantis and Trump.Since DeSantis won re-election last November, speculation increased that he might run in the next presidential election as well, and pollsters began asking voters what they thought of the idea, with DeSantis or Trump trading places in different polls as voters favorites."The more Democrats (and prosecutors) attack Trump, the more protective many rank-and-file Republicans become toward him," Waddy said, adding that this is, "in all likelihood, part of the Democrats' playbook for 2024.""DeSantis will no doubt argue in the meantime that he can concentrate fully on running for the presidency, unlike Trump, and he can offer a fresh and appealing take on conservatism, tested in Florida, to voters, that offers the prospect of expanding the GOP's appeal beyond a narrow base of Trumpers," Waddy explained. "The question is whether anyone will be listening, or whether instead the nation will remain captivated by the spectacle that is Donald J. Trump." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/florida-governor-ron-desantis-announces-2024-presidential-election-campaign-1110571472.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/what-does-ron-desantis-say-about-us-foreign-policy-1110561005.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Fantine Gardinier Fantine Gardinier News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Fantine Gardinier ron desantis; elon musk; twitter; presidential campaign, does musk support desantis, why musk supports desantis, what musk thinks about 2024 elections https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/mexicos-amlo-urges-florida-hispanics-to-not-vote-for-desantis-1110591456.html Mexico's AMLO Urges Florida Hispanics to Not Vote for DeSantis Mexico's AMLO Urges Florida Hispanics to Not Vote for DeSantis Mexican President Lopez Obrador urged Hispanic voters in Florida to reject Governor Ron DeSantis due to his immigration policies in response to DeSantis's announcement of his White House bid for the 2024 elections. 2023-05-25T22:12+0000 2023-05-25T22:12+0000 2023-05-25T22:34+0000 americas us ron desantis andres manuel lopez obrador florida hispanics hispanic americans 2024 us presidential elections marco rubio greg abbott /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/0c/1083370827_0:19:3071:1746_1920x0_80_0_0_289235e857de44c467106c2b05c50ba5.jpg Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) recently urged Hispanic voters in Florida to reject Governor Ron DeSantis and not give him their votes in the 2024 US election in light of his immigration policies. Lopez Obrador accused DeSantis of persecuting migrants and lacking respect for them. The president went on to underscore that he previous condemnation of DeSantis was justified "as you can see I wasnt wrong that all his politicking over migrants was because he wanted to be the Republican Partys candidate."Lopez Obrador's plea to Florida's Hispanic community comes at a time when the state's voters, including Spanish speakers, have shown an increasing inclination towards the Republican Party. In the 2022 elections, DeSantis received support from 58% of Hispanic voters, as per US media exit poll data analyzed by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas.The analysis also revealed that Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, enjoyed significant gains among Hispanic voters in recent years, winning majorities among different demographic groups.Lopez Obrador's call for Florida Hispanics to "wake up" indicates his concern over the political direction and policies pursued by DeSantis, urging voters to reconsider their support for the governor due to his stance on immigration.However, the success of his plea remains to be seen, as the political landscape and voter preferences continue to evolve. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/what-does-ron-desantis-say-about-us-foreign-policy-1110561005.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Egor Shapovalov Egor Shapovalov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Egor Shapovalov mexican president andres manuel lopez obrador, florida hispanics, us immigration, ron desantis, 2024 us election, amlo against desantis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/patrushev-held-talks-with-colleagues-from-serbia-india-ghana---russian-security-council-1110576270.html Patrushev Held Talks With Colleagues From Serbia, India, Ghana - Russian Security Council Patrushev Held Talks With Colleagues From Serbia, India, Ghana - Russian Security Council Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev held talks with colleagues from Serbia, India, Ghana and Rwanda, the Council said in a statement. 2023-05-25T05:03+0000 2023-05-25T05:03+0000 2023-05-25T05:03+0000 world nikolai patrushev russian security council serbia ghana india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104864/75/1048647569_0:0:2879:1620_1920x0_80_0_0_99ae62362dd692f19db235c5a82290a1.jpg The talks were held on the sidelines of an international security meeting under the auspices of the Russian Security Council. At the meeting with India's Deputy National Security Adviser Rajinder Khanna, the sides confirmed readiness to expand bilateral contacts between ministries and departments. Security on the African continent was considered at the meeting with Ghana's Minister of National Security Albert Kan-Dapaah. Similar issues were discussed with Secretary General of the National Intelligence and Security Services of Rwanda, Joseph Nzabamwita. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/antonov-moscow-will-continue-policy-of-backing-african-nations-oppose-neocolonialism-1110550816.html serbia ghana Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International psrtushev, russia security council, biltaeral relations, india, serbia, ghana https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/peru-declares-mexican-president-persona-non-grata-over-stance-on-boluarte-government-1110591169.html Peru Declares Mexican President Persona Non Grata Over Stance on Boluarte Government Peru Declares Mexican President Persona Non Grata Over Stance on Boluarte Government The Peruvian Congress declared on Thursday Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador persona non grata. 2023-05-25T20:49+0000 2023-05-25T20:49+0000 2023-05-25T20:44+0000 americas andres manuel lopez obrador pedro castillo dina boluarte peru mexico peruvian congress /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107928/30/1079283010_0:126:3197:1924_1920x0_80_0_0_e3cdb607a2598f0006768de6a3ea5cf7.jpg "With 65 votes in favor, the Plenary of Congress approved Motion 6513, which proposes declaring the President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, persona non grata," the Peruvian Congress said on Twitter. Obrador has stated that the government of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte is illegitimate, describing her as a "usurper" due to her participation in what many consider a plot to overthrow her predecessor, Pedro Castillo. On February 24, Boluarte denounced the "unacceptable" interference in Peru's "internal affairs" of the Mexican president. Peru's parliament impeached Castillo on December 7, with Boluarte, a prime minister at the time, taking the oath as the country's new president within two hours of the impeachment vote. Castillo, who had tried to dissolve the parliament before the vote, was arrested after the impeachment procedure, and the Peruvian prosecutor's office launched a criminal case against him over charges alleging a coup attempt and crimes against the state. In mid-December, Castillo was sentenced to 18 months in pre-trial detention. The events led to mass demonstrations all over Peru, with at least 60 people dying as a result of the protests, according to local media. Demonstrators have denounced the post-impeachment government of Boluarte, and called for an immediate presidential election and the dissolution of the country's parliament. The Peruvian prosecutor's office launched an investigation against Boluarte and incumbent Prime Minister Alberto Otarola into genocide, due to the deaths of citizens during the protests. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230504/perus-authorities-likely-violated-human-rights-during-protests-last-year---watchdog-1110071336.html americas peru mexico Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International andres manuel lopez obrador, pedro castillo, dina boluarte, peru, mexico, peruvian congress https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/russia-belarus-define-procedure-for-maintaining-non-strategic-nuclear-arms---minsk-1110579380.html Russia, Belarus Define Procedure for Maintaining Non-Strategic Nuclear Arms - Minsk Russia, Belarus Define Procedure for Maintaining Non-Strategic Nuclear Arms - Minsk Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have signed documents defining the procedure for maintaining Russia's non-strategic nuclear weapons at a special storage facility on the territory of Belarus, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. 2023-05-25T07:51+0000 2023-05-25T07:51+0000 2023-05-25T11:40+0000 world russia belarus nuclear sharing program russia-nato showdown /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107669/14/1076691406_14:0:2531:1416_1920x0_80_0_0_4268d02533f8718dca1a87392781afd8.png Shoigu arrived in the Belarusian capital city earlier in the day to partake in a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization at the level of defense ministers. The deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons is a response to the aggressive policy of unfriendly countries, the ministry added.Shoigu said during the ministerial meeting that Russia and Belarus were forced to make appropriate decisions on retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere due an "extremely sharp escalation of threats" on both countries' western borders.He also stressed that the Western countries were doing "everything possible" to escalate the Ukraine conflict.Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 25 that Moscow and Minsk had agreed to station Russia's tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which does not breach Russia's commitments on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. On April 2, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov said that nuclear weapons in Belarus would be stationed closer to the western borders of the Union State. russia belarus Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, belarus, tactical nuclear weapons, nuclear sharing, tactic nukes, russian nukes in belarus, russian nukes https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/scott-ritter-sending-f-16-to-ukraine-will-backfire-1110582931.html Scott Ritter: Sending F-16 to Ukraine Will Backfire Scott Ritter: Sending F-16 to Ukraine Will Backfire After months of deliberation, the United States, NATO, and the European Union have come to an agreement of sorts regarding the provision of US-manufactured F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine. 2023-05-25T14:00+0000 2023-05-25T14:00+0000 2023-05-25T14:00+0000 analysis us ukraine russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/18/1108751428_0:605:2566:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_ece280d04d7b2a82a5edeab839bf55a2.jpg According to some reports, the training of pilots has begun in at least one NATO nation (Poland), while others (Denmark, Portugal, and the Netherlands) have indicated they are prepared to do the same. However, neither the US nor any NATO country has committed to providing actual F-16 airframes, which means from a combat capability perspective, until such aircraft arrive in Ukraine, this entire debate is much ado about nothing. The training of Ukrainian aircrews will take months, meaning the earliest one could expect an F-16 flown by a Ukrainian pilot to appear in the skies over Ukraine would be sometime in early 2024.Even if the F-16 does eventually enter combat on the side of Ukraine, the notion that this aircraft, whose basic design dates tothe 1970's, will provide Ukraine with some sort of game-changing advantage is absurd.Ukraine will not be receiving anything close to the most modern, capable variant of the F-16, but rather airframes which have exceeded their operational life span for the air forces of the doner nation - in short, old aircraft with severe maintenance issues and limited performance. In the hands of an experienced pilot, one could expect a modicum of combat performance in a limited number of engagement profiles, including air-to-air combat and close air support.But the Ukrainian pilots who will be flying these aircraft will be the furthest thing from experienced F-16 pilots that one can imagine. They will have minimal experience in testing the performance capabilities of the F-16.Moreover, if Ukraine were to cross-train their most experienced pilots, those who have flown the MIG-29 or SU-27, then the issue of performance becomes even more acutethe F-16 is a completely different aircraft from an avionics perspective, and pilots whose muscle memory is tied to Soviet-era aircraft will have a distinct disadvantage over less experienced pilots who are starting from scratch.The Russian military has been preparing to fight against the F-16 since the 1970s, back when the aircraft was considered cutting edge and was being matched up against Soviet aircraft and air defense capabilities. More than 40 years have passed since the first F-16 flew in the skies over Europe, and since that time Soviet - and later, Russian - specialists in aerial combat have been singularly focused on how to defeat the F-16 in combat. While a new F-16, outfitted with the best weaponry and avionics America possesses and flown by an experienced pilot, might provide the Russians with a few surprises, the older F-16, flown by Ukrainian pilots with limited experience on the airframe, will not. In short, the Russians will easily shoot down any Ukrainian F-16 that attempts to engage Russia in air-to-air combat or provide close air support for Ukrainian troops.And then there is the issue of maintenance - the F-16 is a fickle aircraft under the best conditions, requiring constant maintenance to maintain operational capability. Ukraine will be receiving old F-16 aircraft which have surpassed their optimal operational life span. These aircraft will require even more maintenance to be made air-worthy, a skill set that Ukraine does not currently possess, nor will it ever possess, given the extensive time needed to train aircraft maintenance personnel familiar with the airframe, engine, and avionics.The Ukrainian air force already flies the SU-27, an aircraft will similar or superior capabilities than the F-16. The Russian air force and air defense network has negated the ability of the Ukrainian SU-27s to have any meaningful impact on the battlefield. The decision to provide Ukraine with F-16 aircraft is a purely political one, designed to create the impression that the US and its European allies are doing everything possible to give Ukraine a fighting chance in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Indeed, its appearance could be a problem for Ukraine, given the hype surrounding the aircraft. Ukraine may attempt combat operations it is not prepared for under the misguided belief that the F-16 will, in and of itself, held turn the tide of the battle. But it will not. Far from a magic weapon, the F-16 is little more than a poison pill which will result in the deaths of many more Ukrainian aircrew and soldiers as Ukraine continues to wage a war against Russia it cannot win. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230521/russia-would-ruin-f-16s-reputation-by-destroying-jets-sent-to-kiev-1110506754.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/ex-pentagon-analyst-biden-faces-shrinking-options-on-ukraine-1110580213.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.jpg Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.jpg sending f-16 to ukraine, will us send f-16 to ukraine, how much us spends on ukraine, how big is ukraine aid, how many f-16 us sends to ukraine, why us helps ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/uk-may-host-first-phase-of-ukrainian-fighter-pilots-training-on-f-16s---reports-1110574962.html UK May Host First Phase of Ukrainian Fighter Pilots' Training on F-16s - Reports UK May Host First Phase of Ukrainian Fighter Pilots' Training on F-16s - Reports MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The first phase of training of Ukrainian fighter pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets will be held in the United Kingdom, US media reported on... 25.05.2023, Sputnik International 2023-05-25T02:42+0000 2023-05-25T02:42+0000 2023-05-25T02:37+0000 military ukraine kiev united kingdom josep borrell artis pabriks norwegian european union (eu) white house f-16 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/05/1101520749_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e7a6781088cf8420098dc38bc32746fc.jpg "This will be ground-based basic training of Ukrainian pilots who will then be ready for more specific F-16 [or other] training," the spokesperson told US media, adding that some 20 Ukrainian pilots would be entering the initial training. Ukrainian and Eastern European officials have already begun considering wargame scenarios for the use of Western fighter jets for various purposes, including escorting grain-carrying ships through the Black Sea, Artis Pabriks, former Latvian Defense Minister and the head of the Northern Europe Policy Centre think tank in Riga, told the media. In early May, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said deliveries of F-16s to Kiev would help Ukraine "keep Russian warships and aircraft away from the Black Sea Grain Corridor." Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said on Wednesday that Oslo supports the training of Ukrainian military pilots on F-16s. "Norway will consider various ways to contribute to the training of Ukrainian personnel on the F-16 fighter jets," Gram said in an interview with a Norwegian broadcaster, adding the government supports the initiative and is considering their contribution. Norway's F-16s finished their mission of maintaining the country's defense in 2022 and were replaced by F-35s, the broadcaster reported. During the G7 summit in Japan's Hiroshima last week, US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the US, along with its partners, was going to launch a training program for Ukraines military pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday that the time was not yet right for Kiev to have F-16s, adding that the US and its allies were going to decide which countries would supply these aircraft to Kiev and in what number. On Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said a number of countries, including Poland, had already begun training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Western countries have been supplying military aid to Ukraine since the start of hostilities in February 2022. The aid evolved from artillery munitions and training in 2022 to heavier weapons, including tanks, later that year and in 2023. For months, Ukraine has pushed donors to supply fighter jets. The Kremlin has consistently warned Ukraine's Western donors against continued arms deliveries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230522/why-does-ukraine-want-f-16s-1110518595.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230523/the-netherlands-says-f-16-deliveries-to-ukraine-not-on-agenda-now-1110533380.html ukraine kiev united kingdom Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine, kiev, united kingdom, josep borrell, artis pabriks, norwegian, european union (eu), white house, f-16, uk https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/was-nasams-successful-in-ukraine-1110585927.html Was NASAMS Successful in Ukraine? Was NASAMS Successful in Ukraine? The US State Department approved a sale of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Ukraine on May 24. What's NASAMS and is it really invincible? 2023-05-25T16:23+0000 2023-05-25T16:23+0000 2023-05-25T16:23+0000 sputnik explains raytheon nato ukraine kiev russia sergey lavrov nasams advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (amraam) patriot /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104570/33/1045703318_0:35:2700:1554_1920x0_80_0_0_f176bd5a3356c9ea5d69f6f08295dcf9.jpg On Wednesday, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the US Congress about a sale of medium-range air defense system NASAMS and related equipment for an estimated cost of $285 million to the Kiev regime.The announcement came after Russia's Kinzhal hypersonic missile knocked out a multifunctional radar station and five launchers of the US-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in Kiev on May 16, 2023.What is NASAMS Used for?The ground-based air defense system was developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) and Raytheon to detect, track, intercept and destroy enemy fixed and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and emerging cruise missile threats.What are the Components of the NASAMS?One NASAMS system is equipped with three multi-missile launchers (LCHR), each of which carries up to six AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. The mobile launchers are connected to the Fire Distribution Center (FDC) and can be placed at a distance of up to 25 km from the FDC. A battalion may consist of up to 12 launchers carrying 72 missiles, all of which could be fired in less than 15 seconds against different targets.The modular NASAMS system comprises of: AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar; Kongsberg Defense and Aerospaces FDC; Launcher; Raytheons suite of effectors, including the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Extended Range, or AMRAAM-ER, and AIM-9X.The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel is radar that alerts air defenses about approaching hostile warplanes, choppers, drones or missiles, as well as the range, bearing and elevation of the objects it is tracking. Radar track range is 120 km.The Fire Distribution Center (FDC) is the command and control (C2) node of the NASAMS Air Defense System; it ensures the functionality of the complex encompassing over 10 different sensors and data links and enables full interoperability with national, EU and NATO forces.What are NASAMS Missiles?The AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range, Air-to-Air Missile) is a dual-role missile used in both air-to-air and surface-launch engagements. The missile boasts an all-weather, beyond-visual-range capability, an effective firing range of 30 km and flight altitude of 21 km (when fired from ground-based NASAMS).The missile system has also been integrated onto the F-15A/B/C/D/E Eagle/Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-22 Raptor, and other weapons. The newest version of AMRAAM is used by F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. As per Raytheon, AMRAAM is the only radar-guided, air-to-air missile authorized to fly on the F-35.The AMRAAM-Extended Range (ER) missile is a new ground-launched solution capable of intercepting targets at longer distances (50 km) and higher altitudes (35.7 km).Who Uses NASAMS?According to Raytheon, NASAMS is operated by 13 countries, including the US, Norway, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, Oman, Lithuania, Indonesia, Australia, Qatar, Hungary, Ukraine and one undisclosed country.Who Gave NASAMS to Ukraine?The US delivered the first two NASAMS systems to Ukraine in early October 2022, according to Greg Hayes, chief executive of NASAMS manufacturer Raytheon. The systems were armed with the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-To-Air Missile (AMRAAM).All in all, the Pentagon promised to provide Kiev with eight NASAMS systems and an unspecified amount of ammunition. In order to deliver additional six air defense systems to Ukraine, the Pentagon signed a $1.2 billion contract with Raytheon Technologies. It was reported that the estimated completion date would be November 28, 2025.In January 2023, the Canadian government announced that it would buy one US-made NASAMS system and donate it to Kiev. In March 2023, it was reported that Norway will deliver two NASAMS systems to Ukraine. Oslo previously provided equipment to the Kiev regime and helped train Ukrainian forces on how to use US-supplied NASAMS.NASAMS vs PatriotThe NASAMS is a medium-range air defense system which is commonly used for protecting small ground areas and specific targets, while the MIM-104 Patriot is a long-range air defense complex designed to protect larger areas, such as military bases or cities.With an effective firing range of about 30 km, the NASAMS is meant to primarily target enemy drones, aircraft and cruise missiles. By contrast, the Patriot has a larger firing range (about 160 km) and fights against tactical ballistic missiles, as well as cruise missiles, and various types of aircraft. Neither of these systems, however, is capable of withstanding a strike by an advanced hypersonic missile.Have NASAMS Proven Effective in Ukraine?There is little evidence to suggest that the two NASAMS systems provided to Ukraine by the US have provided much of a boost on the battlefield, especially given that one of them was destroyed by Russia in early February 2023."In the area of the settlement of Krasnoarmeysk, Donetsk People's Republic, a Tochka-U tactical missile launcher and a NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system made in Norway were destroyed," the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) told the Russian press on February 3.In an apparent bid to improve Ukraine's air defenses, the US promised last year to deploy the MIM-104 Patriots in Ukraine. In December 2022, the first Patriot system was delivered to Ukraine. In April 2023, the second US-made Patriot missile systems arrived in Kiev. However, just a month later, one of them was destroyed by Russia's Kinzhal.Last fall, Moscow warned NATO member states against stepping up military supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the time that foreign weapons deployed on Ukrainian territory as well as military cargo would become a legitimate target for Russia. The Foreign Ministry stated that the alliance is "playing with fire" by supplying weapons to the Kiev regime. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/pentagon-state-dept-approves-285-million-sale-of-nasams-air-defense-systems-to-ukraine-1110572082.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230110/canada-purchase-of-nasams-for-ukraine-ridiculous-amid-domestic-issues---russian-envoy-1106208647.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/why-is-russias-s-350-vityaz-air-defense-system-better-than-us-made-patriot-1110556816.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230517/unstoppable-kinzhal-one-us-made-patriot-cracked-up-more-to-come-1110424287.html ukraine kiev russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova nasams vs patriot, nasams ukraine, nasams system, nasams, nasams air defense system, nasams missile, nasams cost, was nasams successful in ukraine, what are nasams missiles, nasams https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/where-does-us-import-semiconductors-from-1110583219.html Where Does US Import Semiconductors From? Where Does US Import Semiconductors From? The ongoing race between the US and China to prevail in the prospering global chip industry shows no sign of ceasing. What are Americas main semiconductor suppliers and are there any new players in the club? 2023-05-25T18:00+0000 2023-05-25T18:00+0000 2023-05-25T18:00+0000 sputnik explains china us semiconductors competition production /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105351/85/1053518556_0:77:1200:752_1920x0_80_0_0_6bce193d18e55eb07d8199e9320f2f6d.jpg What is a Semiconductor?A semiconductor is a substance typically made of silicon, which has specific electrical properties (it conducts electricity more than an insulator, but less than a pure conductor) that allows it to serve as a foundation for computers and other electronic devices.Also known as semis or chips, semiconductors can be found in such products as smartphones, appliances, gaming hardware, and medical equipment.Who Produces the Most Chips?Taiwan remains the world's undisputed leader in terms of raw semiconductor manufacturing. The rating is mainly due to the work of a single company, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which produces roughly 50% of the world's semiconductors.What About the Global Chip Shortage?The ongoing semiconductor shortage involves numerous industries related to the automotive and personal electronics sectors that were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.Skyrocketing demand for mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices, along with the US' protracted trade row with China and decreased manufacturing capacity in America, have sparked the semis industry crisis, according to media reports.Why Does the Semis Shortage Pose Security Risk to US?US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo last year described the semiconductor shortage in her country as a national security issue because she said it had exposed the dependency of US manufacturing on imports of semiconductors from abroad."I would regard that as a resilience risk and also a national security risk," Yellen said, adding that the US is highly dependent on China for certain supplies, like lithium and the processing of some of the minerals that go into electric batteries.Who are the US' Main Semiconductor Suppliers?Last months report by an American news agency revealed that when it comes to US chip imports, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Cambodia emerged as the "early winners" in 2023 as "semiconductor production begins to move away from traditional centers such as Taiwan and China."India saw its semiconductor shipments to the US increase 34 times to $152 million, while Cambodia indicated a whopping 698% growth from $20 million last year to $166 million in February 2023, according to the report. Vietnam and Thailand increased their US trade in the sector by 75% and 62%, respectively.Other countries include Mexico, Canada, Germany, the UK, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.In a separate report, an American news agency pointed out that the value of US semiconductor imports soared 13% over the first three months of this year, in a sign that "there's a long way to go before the country can satisfy its chip needs at home."How is US-China Semiconductor Race Developing? This comes amid the ongoing competition between the US and China to prevail in the prospering global chip industry, which may grow to $1.4 trillion in revenue by 2030, a race that is expected to continue in the years ahead. According to the White House, the US currently produces roughly 10%, while China accounts for at least 15% of semiconductor-related global production.Washington is striving to win the race with Beijing by imposing further restrictions and expanding investments in the domestic chip industry.In October 2022, the Biden administration rolled out the most extensive restrictions to date on Beijing's chip manufacturing industry, requiring licenses for those companies that export chips to China using US tools or software, no matter where they're made in the world. The measures also prevent US citizens and green card holders from working for certain Chinese chip companies.The restrictions were preceded by President Joe Biden signing into law the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which includes more than $52 billion for US companies producing semiconductors, as well as billions more in tax credits to encourage investment in the industry. The goal is to prevent American investors from directly or indirectly contributing to the development of semiconductor production in China. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220901/us-orders-nvidia-amd-to-restrict-sales-of-advanced-ai-chips-to-china-1100255148.html china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg semiconductor chips, semiconductor chips manufacturers, semiconductor chips for cars, semiconductor chips taiwan, semiconductor chips stocks, semiconductor chips china, semiconductor companies in usa, semiconductor news, import duty on semiconductor chips, import semiconductor chips, semiconductor chips meaning, what do semiconductor chips do Dont Take My Keys followed cover willingly, then brushed through the stretch to capture his second straight win in Wednesdays (May 24) co-feature at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, a $12,100 conditioned trot. When Hunter Myers asked him for trot, the five-year-old Uncle Peter-Designated Driver gelding kicked it into gear to edge Keystone Chaos by a nose in a career-best 1:53.1. Stickler Hanover finished third. Andy Rickert trains Dont Take My Keys for Nichole Stahl and Mary Stucky. In Wednesdays companion feature, a $12,100 conditioned pace, Torrin Hanover (pictured above) moved first over from third and rolled to his 34th career victory in 1:51.4. Bereaved Hanover was a half-length back in second, giving trainer Paul Corey an exacta sweep, with Dojea Gizmo third. Dan Rawlings piloted the eight-year-old Well Said-Transference gelding, who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $512,263, for owner Kenneth Ashba. Aaron Merriman, Dave Palone, Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Rawlings joined trainer Dean Collins with two wins on the 13-race card. Live harness racing at The Meadows continues on Thursday when the program features a $665.36 carryover in the Early Pentafecta (Race 4). First post is 12:45 p.m. (Meadows Standardbred Owners Association) Elises Delight is one of 45 sophomore pacing fillies heading to southern Ontario on Friday, May 26 to compete for $132,000 in six Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions at The Raceway at the Western Fair District. Elises Delight won the $49,300 Ontario Sired Spring Series final at Woodbine Mohawk Park on April 22 for trainer Jeff Gillis, who bred and owns the filly with Ellen Ott of Buffalo New York. The daughter of Bettors Delight has been a pleasant surprise for Gillis after she made just two pari-mutuel starts in her freshman season. Last year, she got off on the wrong foot and wasnt physically or mentally ready, so we just shut her down, said Gillis. She is not a very big filly and not a blocky, rugged Bettors Delight. But she paced in 1:51 in her last start and I am not sure I ever thought she would do that. So, we are just kind of taking it as it comes with her. Gillis connection with this filly goes back two generations. The resident of Fergus, Ont. purchased her second dam Shes Beachy when she was in foal to Artsplace, as part of his last crop. That foal was Elises Delights dam Slimsplace, who put more than $142,000 on her card for Gillis on the racetrack and is the dam of The Downtown Bus, a gelded son of Mach Three who was a stakes winner in Gillis barn including a pair of OSS Gold divisions and a deadheat win in the 2018 Matron at Dover Downs (with Friday night's Camluck Classic favourite This Is The Plan). Slimsplace was named after my father. His nickname was Slim and he passed just a month after that mare was born, said Gillis. Then Elises Delight, my partner, that is her granddaughter, so its special to her and there is always a little bit of sentimentality and pride that comes with raising one yourself." On Friday, Elises Delight will leave from post two in race six as the 9-5 morning line choice with James MacDonald driving. It will be her racing debut over a half-mile track. I dont think the half will be a concern. I think she will be around it just fine, said Gillis. She was actually on the left line a little bit in her last start, which actually bodes well for the turns. So, I dont anticipate any problem. Others to watch on Friday include Star So Bright, a $250,000 Lexington Select yearling who raced in Brett Pellings barn last year and has moved to Gregg McNairs stable this year. Owned by Mac and Carol Nichol of Burlington, Ont., the daughter of Bettors Delight is the 8-5 morning line favourite in race nine, the final $22,200 Grassroots division of the evening. Doug McNair will drive from post three. Mist Amber, from the barn of Dorchester, Ont. trainer John Pentland, has four conditioned wins at The Raceway in 2023 and will look to replicate those efforts in her first attempt against Grassroots company. Leading London driver Tyler Borth will hold the reins in that ninth race division, leaving from post seven at 6-1 on the morning line. Chedda Chedda already has more than $64,000 on her card in 2023, with close to $20,000 earned through a record of 1-1-1 in three Ontario Sired Spring Series starts. The daughter of Betterthancheddar is trained by Chantal Mitchell and owned by Decision Theory Inc. Trevor Henry will be in the racebike in the fourth race division and they will start from post four as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. Friday's 12-race card will culminate with the featured $150,000 Camluck Classic. The action begins at 6:30 p.m. To view Friday's complete harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - The Raceway at Western Fair District. (With files from Ontario Racing) Opening-up to drive long-term global prospects 08:35, May 25, 2023 By Wang Keju ( China Daily Trade summit reaches broad consensus on promoting recovery of world economy China will open up further and boost international economic and trade exchanges, which will allow businesses from different countries to share development opportunities and benefit from win-win cooperation, officials and executives said on Wednesday at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit in Beijing. With the world facing multiple headwinds and challenges, China's expanding opening-up endeavors will facilitate global economic recovery and long-term growth, they said. Vice-Premier He Lifeng said that China's average contribution to global economic growth exceeded 30 percent in recent years, which makes it a vital force to inject certainty and stability into global economic recovery and international trade and investment growth. As multiple challenges dampen global economic recovery and growth, China is willing to share its huge market and development opportunities with the rest of the world, the vice-premier said, adding that the nation will remain committed to the basic State policy of opening-up, pursue mutually beneficial cooperation and promote the building of an open world economy. China has been taking proactive steps toward greater institutional opening-up regarding rules, regulations, management and standards, and enterprises from all countries are welcome to expand their investment in China, he said. The vice-premier called on governments to enhance communication on macroeconomic policies and better align development strategies. Major economies, especially developed countries, should step up efforts to steer clear of negative spillover effects from economic policy adjustments, he said. Craig Allen, president of the US-China Business Council, said via video link that joint efforts should be made to ensure that both countries consent to a path on which competitive concerns don't outplay beneficial cooperation. Strong and balanced US-China commercial ties are in the interest of both nations, he said. While the Chinese government is willing to offer foreign companies a level playing field and has welcomed foreign investment, US companies are prepared to support China's transition to a greener economy that is driven by domestic consumption and innovation, Allen said. Dominic Barton, chairman of mining multinational Rio Tinto, said that China remains the driving force behind global economic growth, and a key part of China's contribution is its continued commitment to openness of the global economy, using a multilateral approach that gives everyone a voice and helps share the benefits of development on equal terms. Major decoupling would be disastrous for the global economy, and most particularly for those economies that are less developed, Barton said. All countries should work together to raise development standards, improve sustainability and reduce wealth inequality to create a more stable and prosperous environment, he said. Broad consensus has been reached at the summit, said Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, calling for business communities worldwide to boost confidence, unity and cooperation, improve the global economic governance system and strengthen the WTO-centered multilateral trading system. Dedicated efforts will be made to promote the stability and recovery of the world economy, forge secure and stable global industrial and supply chains, and nurture new drivers for global growth, in order to make economic globalization more open, inclusive and balanced so that its benefits are shared by all, Ren said. Innovation-driven development will be pushed forward, with a view to narrowing the digital divide, fostering a favorable business environment and shoring up the protection of intellectual property rights, he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A rescue vehicle previously in use at Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire & Rescue Co. is now on the way to Ukraine for use in ongoing rescue operations in the war-torn country. The local volunteer fire & rescue board earlier this month unanimously voted to donate a 2001 Ford Explorer EMS Duty Officer vehicle, retired from service, to US Ambulances for Ukraine. The Chicago, Illinois based group is sending used American ambulances and fire engines for reuse in Ukraine, invaded by Russia 15 months ago. Retired and aged equipment is proving invaluable as temporary vehicles to replace emergency vehicles destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to a release from Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire & Rescue. The local vehicle is being transferred to a storage location where it will receive additional supplies before being shipped to Europe. It will eventually be driven into Ukraine and turned over to Ukrainian first responders. This was a very unique opportunity for our organization to support our brothers and sisters in the fire and rescue service in the Ukraine, LOWVFR Rescue Chief Rick Hooper said. This apparatus is now used primarily as an operational reserve response unit, but with a few updates and added equipment from US Ambulances for Ukraine, this vehicle may still have life as a workable unit. Hooper said the donation signals that LOWVFR has not forgotten its fellow first responders, their loved ones and their community. The vehicle will be part of a larger shipment of fire engines and ambulances from the U.S. this summer. To date, US Ambulances for Ukraine has 28 ambulances and one fire engine operating in the war-torn country. The vehicles have been delivered to front line military units, fire departments, NGOs, hospitals and other Ukrainian entities in need of lifesaving vehicles, according to the LOWVFR release. The group has another 15 vehicles in transit to Ukraine and expects them to be delivered and operational by the beginning of June. This will bring the total number of ambulances to 38 and fire engines to six, the release stated. It is amazing to think that we will have 44 emergency vehicles in Ukraine by early June. It is just as amazing to know we already have additional ambulances and fire engines lined up for a shipment in July, said said Chris Manson, founder of US Ambulances for Ukraine. It is because of donors like Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company that we can make this possible. Their generous donation of this EMS Duty Officer response unit is greatly needed and will be immediately put to good use in Ukraine saving lives. I am very grateful to them and all the other donors, he said. US Ambulances for Ukraine is partnering with UA Resistance Foundation, a Chicago nonprofit focused on bringing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Working with the Ukrainian government in Kyiv and the Ukrainian Consulate in Chicago, the groups have delivered multiple shipments of aid and emergency vehicles since March 2022. See @ambulancesU on Twitter and visit UA-Resistance.Org to learn more. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Several years ago, Capri Cook was concerned to hear that two local Black women died after having their babies then she was even more shocked to learn that fatal outcomes during childbirth are three to four times more likely to happen to Blacks. Its a national crisis, but its not being treated as such, Cook said. What in the world is going on? That question is being addressed in many circles, from workers in local health-related agencies to politicians on Capitol Hill. On a national level, Sen. Tim Kaine, DVirginia, last week reintroduced 13 bills in the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, aimed at reversing the lethal trend. Its unacceptable that the U.S. maternal mortality rate has risen, even though more than 80% of these deaths are preventable, Kaine said in a news release. We cant ignore this maternal health crisis. That is insane More American women are dying during childbirth than in any other developed country, and death rates in the U.S. are higher than theyve been in decades, according to the World Health Organization and other international groups that track the numbers. There were 23.8 deaths per 100,000 births in the United States in 2020, according to a chart on The Commonwealth Fund website. The next-highest country, New Zealand, had 13.6 deaths while the country with the lowest rates, the Netherlands, recorded 1.2 deaths per 100,000 births. Americas averages along color lines are even more disturbing. The rate of maternal death per 100,000 births is 18.2 for Hispanics, 19.1 for whites and 55.3 for Blacks, according to The Commonwealth Fund. That is insane. That absolutely blew me away, said Alexandra Boatwright, a Stafford County graduate who researched the issue of maternal death for her college thesis last year. Like Cook, she didnt find many explanations for the disparity, other than skin color, she said in a Free LanceStar story last year. Racism is a key driver of this crisis, she said. There are so many examples of it, unfortunately, it has pervaded maternal health. In her attempt to address the problem, beyond her thesis, Boatwright became a labor and delivery nurse at Mary Washington Hospital last summer. Likewise, when Cook heard about the local deaths, she checked around to see how many doulas are in the Fredericksburg area. Doulas are trained to work with and advocate for women before, during and after childbirth, and she found a shortage of Black doulas in the region. She decided to be the change and became trained three years ago. As shes accompanied women to labor and delivery rooms, shes regularly had to speak up for those of color when their comments about how they were feeling were dismissed by medical providers. They dont take us seriously because they think we want pain medicine, or its a bias thing, Cook said, adding that women without health insurance are not treated equally as those with resources. Cook, whos 32, lives in Richmond and has clients in the Fredericksburg area, tells mothers they are the masters of their own bodies. You have the gut instinct about yourself, that something is not right, and when youre not heard, she said, that is a recipe for disaster. A red flag When local officials conducted the 2022 Community Health Assessment, which asked people to name top health-related concerns in the region, racial disparities showed up in the category of births, said Allison BalmesJohn. Shes spokesperson for the Rappahannock Area Health District, which includes Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford. But the differences pertained to low birthweights of infants, not necessarily death rates of mothers. In every locality but Caroline, twice as many Black infants had low birthweights as white ones. (Stats are on page 31 of the report, found online at vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock. Search for FY23-FY25 CHA/CHIP.) A low birthweight is less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, according to the March of Dimes. While some small babies are healthy, others are at risk of serious problems including development delays. The most pronounced disparity locally was in Fredericksburg, where 14% of Black babies had low birthweights compared to 6% of white babies, according to the local health assessment. This was a red flag for us as to the inequities in maternal and infant health outcomes in our area, BalmesJohn said. As she and Valerie HopsonBell, a health equity specialist with the district, looked at ways to address the disparities, they found a lot of evidence-based data on doulas and their work with women. While much of their attention focuses on childbirth itself, a doulas goal is for mom and baby to have the healthiest, most satisfying experience ever, according to DONA International, which has been training doulas for 25 years. Last year, Virginia became the fourth state to cover doula services through Medicaid, and as HopsonBell talked with health officials, she realized a lot of providers didnt know that. If our professionals arent aware of that, just think about the folks who could be using the services, she said. The Rappahannock Area Health District and Mary Washington Healthcare on Wednesday presented Birthing Justice, a movie that examines the issue and looks at ways to advocate for Black women. The two decided to bring the film to the Fredericksburg area, both to highlight the racial disparities of maternal deaths and the availability of advocates, who can follow women through the birthing process. The unique thing about a doula is thats someone really dedicated to you, BalmesJohn said. It does provide an opportunity for somebody who looks like you and can relate to you to be in the room. Birth supporters Birth in Color RVA is a Richmond-based nonprofit that focuses on raising awareness about maternal health and reproductive justice. It has six offices throughout Virginia, including in the Northern Neck, and the nonprofit is working with local agencies to share the film, Birthing Justice, after it was released earlier this year on PBS. Birth in Color has already presented screenings in Richmond, Danville and Lynchburg, said Sequoi PhippsHawkins, marketing director. Kenda SuttonEl, the nonprofits founder, likes to say that birth work is in our ancestral DNA, and that the modern role of the doula is an extension of a time-honored tradition of women being at the bedside to help other females during the process. Birth in Africa and around the world was historically supported by women, and often only women, PhippsHawkins said. For women of color specifically, our ancestors were often birth supporters in some capacity. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. After hearing testimony over the course of the last week, a Scotts Bluff County District Court jury found a Scottsbluff man guilty in the stabbing and killing of a 23-year-old man. The trial of Gregory Moore, 57, began Monday and testimony concluded Thursday morning in the case against Moore in the Nov. 25, 2020, stabbing death of Fernando Camacho-McBride. After deliberating for about an hour, the jury, comprised entirely of women, returned a verdict, finding him guilty of the charges of second-degree murder, a Class IB felony, and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, a Class II felony. As part of its deliberations, if the jury did not find the elements of second-degree murder existed, it was also able to consider the lesser offense of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. During closing arguments, Moore's attorney, Kelly Breen, of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, argued that Moore had stabbed Camacho-McBride in self-defense, calling the young man a drug abuser and drug addict numerous times throughout his remarks to the jury. He said there was no evidence that Moore intended to kill Camacho-McBride, but that his actions had been committed "in the heat of a physical struggle between two very large men." Prosecutor Doug Warner, an assistant attorney general with the Nebraska Attorney General's Office, explained the elements of the crimes of second-degree murder and the lesser offenses of voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter in his closing arguments. He cast doubt on Moore's claims he had attacked in self-defense, telling the jury that in Moore's initial statements to police he never made reference to needing to protect himself from Camacho-McBride or to having been assaulted. Instead, he referred to protecting his "inventory" and that "illegal entry" had been made into his home. There was no evidence that Camacho-McBride had provoked an attack, or that he had broke into Moore's apartment, Warner said. Moore did not sit through testimony on Wednesday or Thursday, but was in the courtroom to hear the verdict. Four deputies and four jailers escorted Moore into the courtroom and he remained in handcuffs during Thursday's proceedings. After briefly talking to his attorney, Moore muttered to himself as he was escorted from the courtroom. Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for July 21, 9 a.m. Judge Andrea Miller, who presided over the case, ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The trial of a Scottsbluff man accused of killing a 23-year-old man by stabbing him several times will turn to the defense phase Thursday. The Scotts Bluff County District Court jury of 12, and two alternates, is entirely comprised of women. The trial of Gregory Moore, 57, began Monday. Moore is accused in the Nov. 25, 2020, stabbing death of Fernando Camacho-McBride. Moore has been charged with second-degree murder, a Class IB felony, and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, a Class II felony. Moore opted not to appear in court with his attorney, Kelly Breen, of the Nebraska Commission of Public Advocacy. Moore had appeared during court proceedings Monday and Tuesday. The investigation into the stabbing death began when police were called to an apartment in the 100 block of E. 15th Street, having been asked to do a welfare check at Moores apartment after an ongoing disturbance had been reported. At that time, responding officers could see Camacho-McBrides body inside the home and obtained search warrants for the home. Whether or not Camacho-McBride and Moore had been involved in an altercation and who initiated that altercation is one of the key questions for the jury to consider. Camacho-McBride did have significant quantities of methamphetamine and THC in his system at the time of his death, according to prior testimony. However, according to testimony introduced Wednesday, Moore had previously attempted to stab another man unprovoked just months prior to Camacho-McBrides death. The jury was allowed to hear from that man for the limited purpose of helping them decide if Moore had the intent, motive and knowledge absent of mistake or accident to have committed the crime of murder, according to an instruction read by Judge Andrea Miller. David Smith and Scottsbluff Police Officer Bobbi Kuhlman took the stand, testifying about a March 20, 2020, incident that Moore had been involved in during which he stabbed Smith during an altercation. Smith testified that he had rented an apartment to Moore for more than a decade when the man asked him to come to his apartment to fix plumbing. When Smith arrived at the rental, he described Moore as outside the residence, walking back and forth, yelling about the neighbors. As Smith tried to ask him about the plumbing issues, he said, Moore attacked him, throwing him to the ground and got on top of him. The man defended himself, he said, grabbing a plastic lawn chair and hitting Moore. He described Moore as dancing around, for lack of a better word, during the confrontation. During the altercation, he said, Moore had a pocket knife that he pulled and he was unfolding. Smith said he kicked the knife away from him when Moore attempted to stab him. Moore threw him to the ground a second time, jumping on him and pulling at his hooded sweatshirt. Asked if Moore was a big man by Warner, Smith acknowledged he was, estimating he was 62, and weighed 300 pounds. Kuhlman was one of the police officers who responded to the scene. She said the two men separated when police arrived. Moore demanded that Smith be arrested, citing him as having assaulted him with a lawn chair. Asked by Warner about her conversation with Moore, she said, He said that Mr. Smith had struck him and that he had a right to protect his property and his inventory. Warner asked if Kuhlman told asked him about his use of the word, inventory and what he was referring to in using it. What did he say? Warner said. He said I didnt need to know that. Though it was not part of the testimony on Wednesday, Moore was convicted earlier this year on charges of assault causing bodily injury and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in connection with the assault on Smith. According to court documents, a large amount of evidence has been entered into the case, with more than 160 photographs and other evidence entered. During testimony on Wednesday, jurors heard from a blood analyst, Leah Innocci. Innocci, who is with the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI), described a circular pattern in the blood evidence at the crime scene. Photographs and testimony showed a significant amount of blood throughout the apartment. Blood spatter covered each of the walls, window blinds and doors of the small apartment. A significant amount of blood pooled underneath Camacho-McBrides body, who police found lying facedown, wearing only pants and socks. A couch, television and speakers also had significant amounts of blood on them, including pooling blood and spatter. According to search warrants, police located a knife near the doorway that had blood on the handle and the blade. One of the wounds that were visible on Camacho-McBride included a significant stab wound in his left upper arm, where the brachial artery is located. That wound was the fatal wound, according to earlier testimony from forensic pathologist Dr. Pete Schilke. Defense attorney Kelly Breen questioned about furniture and other objects in the home, asking if who or when the furniture and other objects had been upended could be determined by the blood evidence. She testified that it could not. Det. Brandi Brunz testified that she had noticed a void among the blood spatter on the walls where an object had been standing. The void would indicate that the object, which she surmised to be a speaker, had been pushed over. She testified that an L-shaped indentation also existed in the wall, where it pushed into the wall, cracking the drywall. In his questioning of Brunz, Kelly again made references to a struggle having occurred. Broken drywall and upended furniture in a house is another classic sign of a struggle, isnt it? Yes, Brunz replied. A physical struggle? Yes, she said. Kelly asked, A violent struggle? I dont know about violent, she replied. Physical, yes. Physical enough to break the drywall? Yes. Proceedings for the day concluded early Wednesday as Warner indicated the state wanted to review its case to see if it needed to introduce additional evidence, though he thought the state would likely rest its case. Breen indicated he had subpoenaed some witnesses who had not yet appeared in court, so extra time would allow the defense to track down those witnesses with the assistance of the state, to begin its case Thursday. Trial will resume Thursday morning. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Gering Junior High School will become Gering Middle School over the course of the next year. The decision was announced at a special work session of the Gering Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday afternoon, where Superintendent Nicole Regan explained the thought that went into the change. The why of moving from Gering Junior High School to Gering Middle School is really conceptual and about the philosophy of what were doing, Regan said. Its really about developing the young adolescent as compared to a junior high school, which is academia only. Theres so much more when it comes to the middle school student. According to Regan, the change is in-line with other school districts in Nebraska, many of whom have similarly moved away from the junior high school title and mentality. As you can see, there arent many junior high schools in the state of Nebraska anymore, and since we moved the sixth graders over the junior high its really time to call it what it is, which is a middle school, Regan said. Regan said the new title is one of several changes taking place at Gering Junior High in the coming school year in addition to a new principal as current assistant principal Julie Siebke steps into the role. Current principal Shawn Seiler will accepted a new role as activities director. Regan also mentioned some changes to courses at the school and an increased focus on achievement. The district expects the transition to take about a year. The process will include legal work, new signage and changes to many official documents and grants. The work session also included results and discussion of the districts 2022-2023 Perceptual Survey, which sought feedback from students, parents, teaching staff and classified staff regarding the districts performance and culture. Youre going to see some common themes as we go through these slides, and truly that is the reason that we do this, curriculum and assessment director Kory Knight said. We want to know what our stakeholders think about our district, we want to know whats going on, we want to know what improvement opportunities they think there are. Those common themes included a general sentiment from all stakeholder groups that they are well prepared for emergency situations, that the district communicates well in such situations and that the district wants its students to succeed. Overall, the survey results showed positive perceptions of the district, but a few key takeaways were identified for continuous improvement. These included bullying prevention and education, conflict resolution, discipline and chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism was identified as an area of concern from teachers in particular. Knight said that Gerings buildings range from 4 to 12% on chronic absenteeism rates, which is defined as missing 20 or more days of school throughout the year. When you think about that in perspective of some of the other districts that are struggling, were doing pretty well. Thats not to say that there arent opportunities for us to help those students that are finding themselves chronically absent or giving support to their parents, she said. Even with these low percentages, we need to try to help them. We want school to be a support system where they want to come because theyre getting some of the support they need. The district condensed the survey results into a list of 10 such key takeaways on which to focus its efforts in the coming school year. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Volunteer Auxiliary of Lake Norman Regional Medical Center has announced its 2023 scholarship recipients. Caitlyn Carter, a 2023 graduate of South Iredell High School, has received a $3,000 scholarship and will be attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to pursue a degree in nursing. The second scholarship has been awarded to Bentli Meadows, a 2023 graduate of Mooresville High School. She received a $2,000 scholarship and will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a degree in nursing. The third scholarship recipient is Adamma Anukwuem, a 2023 graduate of South Iredell High School who received a $1,000 scholarship and will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to pursue a medical degree in dermatology. The purpose of the scholarships is to encourage study and participation in medical and health-related professions. The Volunteer Auxiliary scholarship is based on academic achievement, commitment to pursuing a health care career and financial need. The scholarship program is just one of many contributions the Lake Norman Regional Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary makes to the Mooresville/Lake Norman community each year. The volunteers coordinate fundraisers for the scholarships and other charitable causes throughout the year. If you would like more information regarding the Volunteer Auxiliary or are interested in becoming a volunteer, visit LNRMC.com/Volunteers-Opportunities for more information, or contact volunteer services at 704-660-4112. The regime employed a legal arsenal to restrict the rights of displaced and refugee returnees, according to Syria TV. The Syrian Network for Human Rights published a report revealing the Syrian regimes use of laws to control real estate and land ownership in Syria before and after the Syrian Revolution. The report identified three targeted groups: forcibly displaced persons, forcibly disappeared persons, and unregistered deceased individuals. The regimes control over legislative and judicial authorities allowed it to issue laws and decrees without approval from the Peoples Assembly. The forcibly displaced group includes approximately 12.3 million Syrian citizens, including refugees and internally displaced persons. The forcibly disappeared group comprises around 112,000 Syrians, with more than 85% of disappearances attributed to the regime. The unregistered deceased group consists of nearly half a million Syrian citizens, primarily opponents of the regime, who were not officially registered as deceased due to fear of associating with detained individuals or being labelled as terrorists. In 2022, the Minister of Justice issued Circular No. 22, imposing strict requirements and increasing security services involvement in death confirmation lawsuits. This further complicated the process of obtaining death certificates. The Syrian regime has been enacting or amending real estate development laws since Hafez al-Assads era to gradually seize properties throughout the country. It exploited the consequences of the armed conflict, issuing decrees to regulate real estate in areas it controlled, aiming to transfer vacant properties to loyalists. The regime employed a legal arsenal to restrict the rights of displaced and refugee returnees, establishing administrative units and relying on promoters and real estate contractors loyal to the regime to exert control. Widespread destruction was used to force people to leave and cause damage, while opponents were denied basic rights, including obtaining identity papers. Denying Syrian nationality to Kurds further restricted their property rights, and Syrian women faced difficulties in property and housing issues. The report concluded that the regimes consolidation of legislative, judicial, and executive powers enabled it to issue laws serving its vision of seizing real estate from targeted groups. The regime also exploited indirect laws, such as anti-terrorism legislation, to prevent opponents and the three affected groups from disposing of their property within Syria. Most real estate laws were overlapping, unclear, and subject to bureaucratic obstacles that hindered property disposal. The report called on the international community and the United Nations to condemn the regimes control over the three authorities and expose its exploitation of laws to seize property from forcibly displaced persons, refugees, forcibly disappeared persons, and unregistered deceased individuals. 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 Turkish Foreign Minister engaged in a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart about the Syrian file, according to al-Souria Net. The semi-official newspaper, al-Watan, responded to the recent remarks made by Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister, concerning the upcoming meetings of the Road Map committee aimed at normalizing relations between the two parties. According to the newspaper, sources close to Ankara officials emphasized that the initiation of the road maps implementation hinges on the Turkish side taking substantial and tangible actions. Its too early to talk about it According to sources cited by the al-Watan newspaper, the notion of establishing a Syrian committee to oversee the preparation of the road map for enhancing relations with Turkey is considered premature. The sources reiterated their stance on the Syrian regimes prerequisites for progressing with the normalization process with Turkey, emphasizing that Damascus will not compromise on its principles and steadfastness. These sources connected any advancement in Turkey-Syria relations to conditions such as the cessation of Turkeys occupation of Syrian territory, the termination of support for terrorism, and non-interference in Syrias internal affairs. The Assad regime persists in delaying the dialogue with Turkey by imposing certain requirements that Ankara must fulfill before discussing the road map committee meeting. In a recent development, the Turkish Foreign Minister engaged in a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday, during which they deliberated on the upcoming sessions of the Syria Quartet. The roadmap committee, aimed at facilitating the normalization of relations between Turkey and the regime, is set to convene in the near future, as announced by Cavusoglu on Wednesday. Cavusoglu was quoted by the Russian news agency TASS, stating that the committee will promptly commence preparing the roadmap. According to the Turkish minister, the committee consists of representatives from Turkey, Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime, comprising four distinct bodies: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Intelligence Service, and the Ministry of Defense. The composition of the committee was agreed upon during a foreign ministers meeting in Moscow two weeks ago, as disclosed by the Turkish minister. Turkish and Russian foreign ministers hold talks on Syria Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday to discuss matters concerning the quadrilateral meeting on Syria held in Moscow. The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement addressing the discussions that took place during the quadripartite meeting on Syria in Moscow. This meeting involved the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, Iran, and the Syrian regime. In a recent statement, Cavusoglu expressed that talks would be conducted with the Syrian regime to facilitate the repatriation of Syrians originating from areas under its control. Cavusoglu emphasized in an interview with the Turkish website Hurriyet that the withdrawal of Turkish forces could be contingent upon combatting terrorism, reestablishing the political process in Syria, and ensuring the safe return of Syrian refugees to areas controlled by the regime. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The situation in Talbiseh remains tense as the fortification of checkpoints continues to concern the city's residents, according to Al-Modon. The residents of Talbiseh in the northeastern countryside of Homs are gripped with fear as they anticipate an imminent assault by regime forces. Recent developments, such as the deployment of military reinforcements, the establishment of new checkpoints, and the fortification of existing ones in close proximity to the city, have only intensified their concerns. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, military reinforcements from the regime forces have indeed arrived at the outskirts of the city, stationing themselves at the surrounding checkpoints. This development has heightened the residents anxiety, perceiving it as a potential precursor to a ground incursion. The Observatory has also reported that the citys security and military committee has established a new military checkpoint east of Talbiseh. This checkpoint boasts heavy armoured vehicles and vehicles equipped with medium machine guns, along with a contingent of 20 members stationed inside. Furthermore, the regime forces have reinforced and fortified another checkpoint near the city. They have raised earth mounds and obstructed an agricultural road in the vicinity, compelling people to pass through the checkpoint for identity verification. Previously, this road served as a thoroughfare for movement between the cities and villages of the northern countryside of Homs. The situation in Talbiseh remains tense as the presence of military reinforcements and the fortification of checkpoints continue to concern the citys residents. Furthermore, he verified the arrival of military reinforcements at the checkpoints along the Talbiseh-Jabbourin road and the junction near the village of Ghantou, situated west of the city. Concurrently, the members of the Air Defense Battalion checkpoint have relocated to the agricultural road connecting Talbiseh and the village of Ghantou, subjecting civilians to stringent security measures. On Tuesday, the leaders of the security branches convened a meeting with the citys esteemed elders. The objective of the gathering was to implore their cooperation in combating the drug trade facilitated by individuals affiliated with the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The meeting also aimed to address the issue of kidnappings carried out with the intent of extorting ransoms, orchestrated by a person closely associated with the Fourth Division in coordination with certain individuals within the city. Additionally, the observatory reported that the authorities demanded an end to armed robberies and thefts. Following the meeting, the dignitaries released a statement affirming their dedication to curbing lawlessness and prosecuting drug traffickers and kidnapping syndicates. In an effort to deter the proposed security solution put forth by Major General Hossam Louka, the head of the General Intelligence Division, they proposed the formation of a 300-member armed faction aligned with the security and military committee in Homs. The observatory emphasized that the regimes recent surge in military reinforcements over the past 24 hours suggests preparations for an impending military intervention in the city. This occurs despite the assurances provided by notable figures in Talbiseh to comply with the demands of the security services. The observatory further noted that the recent demands put forth by the local leaders are merely seen as excuses to establish additional checkpoints. 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. Russia claims the US military base in Al-Tanf is being used to train ISIS militants for carrying out sabotage acts in its territories, according to Athr Press. Russian Security Council Secretary, Nikolai Patrushev, held a meeting with Ali Mamlouk, the head of the Syrian National Security Office, as part of the International Security Forum in Moscow, organized by the Russian Security Council. The press office of the Russian Security Council confirmed that the discussions between the two parties focused on enhancing cooperation between Moscow and Damascus. They also addressed the situation in the Middle East, the progress of Russian-Syrian relations, and the joint efforts in combating terrorism, as reported by the Russian agency Novosti. The intelligence meeting between Syria and Russia took place shortly after a statement made by Sergei Naryshkin, the director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. Naryshkin emphasized that the US military base in Al-Tanf, located in southern Syria, is allegedly being used to train ISIS militants for carrying out sabotage acts in Russian territories. He further highlighted that while the illegal US military presence in Syria persists, Washington continues to impose sanctions on Damascus, impeding the countrys reconstruction efforts. Simultaneously, Naryshkin acknowledged the waning influence of the United States in the Middle East due to recent regional developments. Based on Russian intelligence information, he highlighted that the reactions of the United States and Britain to the Saudi Arabia-Iran agreement mediated by China in March were fraught with nervousness. This response serves as evidence of their long-standing policys failure to stifle Tehran and poses a threat to their strategic positions. The Syrian-Russian meeting aligns with ongoing political and military developments in Syria and the broader Middle East. Notably, there are active discussions surrounding Arab-Syrian and Syrian-Turkish rapprochement, with Russia and Iran serving as mediators. In recent days, there have been talks of establishing a quadripartite committee comprising Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Russia to formulate a roadmap for furthering the reconciliation process between the involved parties. This initiative particularly focuses on military matters, which have witnessed escalating tensions between Damascus, rejecting the presence of Turkish forces on its territory, and Ankara, asserting that its presence in Syria is occupational and aimed at eliminating Kurdish units near its southern border. From a military standpoint, this meeting coincides with mutual accusations exchanged between Russia and the United States regarding provocations in Syrian airspace in recent weeks. In May, Oleg Gorynov, the deputy head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, confirmed that the so-called US-led international coalition for combating terrorism persistently violates the non-engagement protocols and the bilateral memorandum ensuring the safety of Russian and American warplanes in Syria. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorneys Office Wednesday initiated a legal proceeding to remove Kalama Councilmember Matthew Merz from office following his felony conviction and refusal to step down. The office filed the quo warranto action in Cowlitz County Superior Court to enforce Washington laws requiring a person convicted of a criminal felony to forfeit public office and be barred from further holding public office, according to a press release. The civil lawsuit can be filed in county Superior Court against any person who unlawfully holds a public office. Washington state law allows quo warranto action when a public officer has done something that by law justifies a forfeiture of office, including conviction of a felony. In March, Merz was convicted of two felonies, computer trespass and data theft, and Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Thad Scudder early this month sentenced Merz to community service. Merz, 42, must serve 160 hours of community service and pay fines, after a jury found he illegally accessed councilmember Jon Stanfills email as part of Merzs plan to uncover alleged and unproven misconduct concerning the Kalama Police Department. On May 8, the Kalama City Council voted to request the quo warranto action after Merz refused to voluntarily resign. It has long been Washington law and a part of our Washington state constitution for over a century that public officials who are convicted of felony crimes can neither continue to hold nor later hold public office in this state, the prosecuting attorneys press release states. The quo warranto filing asks for a judgement stating Merzs seat became vacant on May 5, prohibiting and excluding Merz from public office in Washington, requiring Merz to deliver over any books, papers and other public property belonging to the city and awarding plaintiff costs and attorneys fees. The action includes a summons, requiring Merz to respond to the complaint by stating his defense in writing within 20 days. Merz may demand the Prosecuting Attorneys Office file the lawsuit with the court. If Merz appeals the judgment or sentence of his felony convictions, it would not effect a writ of quo warranto action, according to the court document, and he could still potentially lose his current seat. During the candidate filing period last week, Merz did not file for his current seat, but filed to run against fellow Kalama Councilmember Wendy Conradi. Cowlitz County Auditor Carolyn Fundingsland said the quo warranto action is separate from Merzs new declaration of candidacy. Fundingsland said as auditor, she has no authority to challenge candidate eligibility. The state has expressly determined that power is with the electorate and they can challenge the name on the ballot or filing, she said. Only the courts have the power and authority to determine eligibility. State law outlines when voters can file an affidavit stating an error or omission in printing a candidate name on official ballots, or when a name has been or is about to be wrongfully placed upon the ballots. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Amazon.com Inc.'s cloud customers are clamoring to get their hands on the ChatGPT-style technology the company unveiled six weeks ago. But instead of being allowed to test it, many are being told to sit tight, prompting concerns the artificial intelligence tool isn't fully baked. Amazon's announcement that it had entered the generative AI race was uncharacteristically vague, according to longtime employees and customers. Amazon Web Services product launches typically include glowing testimonials from three to five customers, these people said. This time the company cited just one: Coda, a document-editing startup. Coda Chief Executive Officer Shishir Mehrotra said that after testing the technology he awarded Amazon an "incomplete" grade. The company's generative AI tools are "all fairly early," he said in an interview. "They're building on and repackaging services that they already offered." Mehrotra added that he expected AWS's AI tools to be competitive long-term. People familiar with AWS product launches wondered if Amazon released the AI tools to counter perceptions it has fallen behind cloud rivals Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google. Both companies are using generative AIwhich mines vast quantities of data to generate text or imagesto revamp web search and add AI capabilities to a host of products. The technology is unrefined and error-prone, but no one denies its potential to revolutionize computing. Corey Quinn, the chief cloud economist at the Duckbill Group, a consulting firm that advises AWS clients, expressed what some were thinking about Amazon's offering. "Feels like vaporware," he said in an email, using the industry term for a product that's touted to customers before it's finishedand may not materialize at all. Matt Wood, an AWS vice president of product, said in an interview that Amazon's generative AI software was new, not retooled. "We've got the product to the point where we wanted to let customers know what we're working on and wanted to invite some customers to take it for a spin and give us some feedback as we go," Wood said. "The idea that this is rushed or incomplete in a way which is careless, I would push back very heavily on that. That's not our style at all." Amazon shares rose about 1% in New York. AI leader AWS currently has a commanding lead over Microsoft and Google in cloud computing. But with generative AI in their arsenals, Amazon's chief cloud rivals could lure away its customers with a range of new services, from summarizing and generating documents to spotting and describing trends in corporate data. Given Amazon's deep expertise and competitive zeal, it would be premature to count the company out at this early stage. The Seattle-based giant has long been considered a leader in artificial intelligence and uses it for a wide range of critical tasks. Software selects how many products to order for sale on Amazon.com, estimates how many workers Amazon's warehouses will need and plans routes for delivery drivers. AWS products identify faces in images or video, automatically monitor industrial equipment and extract text from medical records. But four current and former Amazon employees said Amazon's intense focus on serving its customers means the company sometimes has given short shrift to the pure research undertaken by OpenAI, Microsoft and Googlethe kind of work that can lead to breakthroughs like ChatGPT. The company stands by its "customer-obsessed science" approach, which it says helps recruit researchers who want to tackle meaningful challenges. In recent years, Amazon has also sought to partner more with university researchers and let employees publish more academic papers. The company's investments in large language models, the technology used to train AI-based tools, still emphasized practicality, however. One model helps surface products on the web store that a shopper might not find in a keyword search. A second set of models, disclosed in a research paper last year, help train the Alexa voice assistant to better respond to commands in various languages. In mid-November, Amazon made the Alexa models available to AWS customers. Two weeks later, OpenAI released ChatGPT and ignited a viral frenzy. People rushed to try out the chatbot and post their interactions on social media. Business leaders wondered how quickly the technology would be packaged into products. They began and asking AWS and its partners how their capabilities compared, according to people familiar with the situation. Before that, no customers were asking for a chat interface to a large-language model, said one of the people, who, like others interviewed for this story, requested anonymity to speak freely about a private matter. The threat to Amazon Web Services became evident in January when Microsoft, already an OpenAI partner, invested an additional $10 billion in the closely held startup. Microsoft's Azure cloud-computing service is No. 2 behind AWS. If businesses wanted the latest and greatest from OpenAI, Azure was the place to go. "Microsoft does own that corner right now," said James Barlow, founder of Triumph Technology Solutions LLC, which helps companies use AWS. Amazon announced its response on April 13, the same day Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy published his annual letter to shareholders. A new AWS service called Bedrock would let companies tap into models built by Amazon partners such as Stability AI, AI21 Labs and Anthropic. The company also disclosed that it had built two of its own large language models, called Titan. One took a similar approach to the work by Amazon's product search team, and the other is a ChatGPT-like text generator, built to create summaries of content and compose emails or blog posts, among other tasks. In his letter, Jassy wrote that Amazon had been working on large language models for a while and said that the company believes "it will transform and improve virtually every customer experience." He pledged to continue substantial investments in the technology. Wood said he has spent the vast majority of his time during the last six months working with generative AI product teams and customers. "Across AWS we have teams that are jamming on new capabilities and experimenting and prototyping and ideating using this technology," he said. "Most of the customers that I've spoken to have been off-the-charts excited about generative AI, our vision for it and the capabilities of Bedrock." But most customers haven't had a chance to test the technology because they need to secure approval from Amazon firsta highly unusual demand, according to four people familiar with AWS product launches. Typically the cloud services arm provides broad access to its tools, even when engineers are still finalizing them, for fear of seeming to favor one customer over another or risking the impression the product isn't ready, these people said. Wood said limited previews were "pretty normal" for the company and cited three instances when products were initially released to a select group of customers. Jim Hare, a distinguished vice president and lead Amazon analyst at Gartner Inc., said he has yet to speak to a customer who has tried the new AI tools. "It felt to me like, I don't want to say rushed, but they felt they had to put something out as their response to what everyone was talking about with Google and Microsoft with OpenAI," he said in an interview. He and others noted the Bedrock announcement lacked typical documentation such as technical guides and demos. One possible explanation is that Amazon, mindful that the OpenAI and Google chatbots often get things wrong, wants to make sure its technology is sufficiently polished before pushing it to longtime customers. Company executives and researchers have also said the tools need to be secure and capable of protecting sensitive customer data. Amazon isn't alone in keeping a tight leash on its generative AI models. Companies wanting to try out similar technology from Meta Platforms Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. also must receive permission. Executives at two AWS customers said they've been promised access to the large-language models by June. Wood declined to say how many customers were using Bedrock, or when new ones might be accepted. "We're gonna onboard new customers as we go," he said. In the meantime, Amazon is looking to capitalize on the explosion of interest in generative AI, holding forums featuring AWS salespeople. "Customers are asking about it regularly," Barlow said. Amazon has also announced deals with a few companies that said they'll use the services, including Deloitte, which said it's in the "initial stages" of testing them, as well as 3M. Another is Royal Philips NV, the Dutch medical technoogy firm. Shez Partovi, the company's chief innovation and strategy officer, said Philips aims to use Bedrock to test whether Stability AI's image-recognition tools could help radiologists flag problematic patient scans to more quickly identify illness. "The technology has passed a precipice," said Partovi, a former AWS executive. "We do believe there is a bona fide value to medical imaging, as services are released like Bedrock." Philips hasn't used Amazon's Titan models, Partovi said, and a spokesperson added that the company is currently "more focused on learning than evaluating" Bedrock's performance. In a potentially ominous sign for Amazon, Partovi said Philips is experimenting with ChatGPT. "If there is a service out there with another cloud provider that will advance our propositionand is not offered by our providerwe're going to use that service," he said. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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 Israel-made malware, which can seize control of a smartphone's microphone and camera, hit global headlines in 2021. At least a dozen Armenian journalists, NGO workers and officials had their phones hacked with the notorious Pegasus spyware while the country fought with Azerbaijan, a rights group said Thursday. The Israeli-made malware, which can seize control of a smartphone's microphone and camera, hit global headlines when a leak in 2021 showed how governments used it to spy on critics, journalists and NGOs. Access Now said their report was the first to document evidence of spyware being used in an international conflict. The two neighbors fought a brief war in 2020 for control of Azerbaijan's mostly Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh, after an earlier conflict in the 1990s. The fallout from the wars continues with the two sides meeting for talks in Moscow on Thursday. Access Now said its joint investigation with other NGOs and academic groups had confirmed 12 people had been targeted with Pegasus. Among them were Armenia's human rights chief, journalists for Radio Free Europe and a United Nations official. Anna Naghdalyan, who served as a foreign ministry spokeswoman for Armenia during the conflict, was among the hacking victims and said her phone had held sensitive information about the war. "This was just another indicator that all (parts of) our life can be targeted," she told AFP. War crimes risk The NGO was first contacted by worried Armenians in November 2021, when Apple warned that their phones could be vulnerable to the spyware, developed by Israel's NSO Group. Access Now said the hacking was at its most intense during the conflict in late 2020 and the tense months afterwards, when the two sides engaged in peace talks and sporadic clashes. The NGO said it could not be 100 percent sure who had carried out the surveillance as both countries have deployed spyware in the past. "While the covert nature of surveillance tech means there aren't always clear breadcrumbs that lead to a perpetrator, circumstances and precedent point to Azerbaijani authorities," Access Now's Senior Humanitarian Officer Giulio Coppi told AFP. Access Now called for a global moratorium on the sale of spyware until such programs can be made compliant with international law. "Providing Pegasus spyware to either of the countries' authorities in the context of a violent conflict carries a substantial risk of contributing to and facilitating serious human rights violations and even war crimes," said the report. "This investigation shows that NSO Group not only failed to learn its lesson, but has doubled down on its abuses." NSO, which faces multiple lawsuits from Apple and others, has repeatedly insisted it sells its software only to government clients and only for peaceful purposes. But the 2021 leak suggested there were around 50,000 potential victims of Pegasus around the world, many of whom were dissidents, journalists and activists. 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: China has banned the use of Micron's chips in critical infrastructure projects. Beijing's restrictions on American chipmaker Micron in retaliation to sweeping US chip curbs mark a major step up in its response to Washington's pressure and could open the door for further measures in the geopolitical standoff, analysts say. But they warned President Xi Jinping's ability to raise the stakes will be limited as he battles to re-energise the world's number two economy while it struggles to recover from years of zero-COVID-imposed inertia. China on Sunday banned the use of Micron's chips in critical infrastructure projects, which Beijing said posed "major network security risks" that could affect "national security". Washington expressed "serious concerns" over the ruling that came just as leaders of the world's seven richest nations (G7) signed a statement urging Beijing to end "economic coercion". The move marked a significant shift in China's response to US measures that have targeted the country's technology sector, with Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis who specialises in the global chip trade, calling it "a landmark case". He emphasised it was China's first cybersecurity probe into a foreign company since tighter rules were announced in 2021, and a rare instance when the scope of such reviews was expanded to include national security concerns. "I wouldn't be surprised if regulators used these reviews as a tool for retaliation in future" when faced with other geopolitical issues, he said. Emily Weinstein, a research fellow at Georgetown University specialising in the US-China tech rivalry, added that the definition of what fell under "critical information infrastructure" was very broadranging from online government services and defence to healthcare and water conservation. "Technically that could mean that anything qualifies," she said. "China has consistently found national security or other reasons to create protectionist barriers" including mandatory technology transfer agreements, which require companies to store all data locally and requirements for foreign entities to have joint ventures with local partners in several sectors. 'Fuel to this fire' China began an investigation into Micron in late March, five months after the US unveiled sweeping curbs aimed at cutting off Beijing's access to high-end chips, chipmaking equipment and software used to design semiconductors. "This is clearly part of a tit-for-tat retaliation for what Beijing perceives as Washington's support of Micron and the US semiconductor industry," said Paul Triolo, a China tech expert at consultancy Albright Stonebridge. Micron was singled out to make a political statement, Triolo said, adding that previous cybersecurity reviews of domestic firms, such as ride-hailing app Didi, focused on data instead of broadening the scope to include national security. China began an investigation into Micron after the US unveiled sweeping curbs aimed at cutting off Beijing's access to high-end chips. Washington has banned Chinese chipmakers including Micron rival Yangtze Memory Technologies. The announcement came as the G7 nations said they would move to "de-risk, not decouple" from China, while Washington pressures allies to unite in restricting chip equipment exports to China. "The strong statement from G7 may have added fuel to this fire," Ng said. However, Xi's desire to combat what he sees as US hegemony will need to be balanced against the impact such measures would have on the economy. According to analysts, Micronone of the US's largest memory chipmakerswas an easy target because its semiconductors could be replaced by products from South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung. But restrictions against other US firms such as Intel and Qualcomm would be much harder to deal with because their technologies are used in consumer goods, including smartphones, that are made in the country and shipped abroad. Betting on South Korea "The approach of limiting US firms like Micron intends to send a signal that Beijing is willing to bear some pain as it contests with the US," Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said. "But Beijing is quite careful to limit costs to itself," he said, according to Bloomberg News. The ban will come down particularly hard on companies offering cloud services or data centres because they use hardware that requires high-end memory chips, according to Toby Zhu, an analyst at market research firm Canalys. He told AFP that Micron's consumer goods products are "completely replaceable" by South Korean and domestic memory chip suppliers. And Triolo said Beijing was "betting on switching to South Korean suppliers". However, the White House last month urged South Korean chipmakers not to export to China to fill any gap left by a ban on US semiconductor imports. The Netherlands and Japan have already announced their own restrictions on chip exports, following requests from Washington. Ng added: "China has been quite cautious not to retaliate too much... because Beijing can't ramp up domestic capacity quickly to match any shortfall." 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: An ITA Airways passenger jet approaches to land at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, on July 1, 2022. German airline Lufthansa on Thursday, May 25, 2023, signed a deal with the Italian government for a minority share in the long-struggling ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia. Lufthansas industrial plan calls for revenues of 2.5 billion euros ($2.68 billion) this year, growing to 4.1 billion euros in 2027, the Italian Finance Ministry said in a statement. No financial terms were disclosed. Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File German airline Lufthansa on Thursday signed a deal with the Italian government for a 41-percent minority share in the long-struggling ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia. The deal calls for investments of 575 million euros in capital increases, 325 million euros from Lufthansa and the rest from the Italian Finance Ministry, providing capital for growth. Lufthansa will also have the option of buying the remaining shares at a later date. Lufthansa's industrial plan for the Italian carrier calls for revenues of 2.5 billion euros ($2.68 billion) this year, growing to 4.1 billion euros in 2027, the Italian Finance Ministry said in a statement. During that period, Lufthansa plans to expand the ITA fleet from 71 aircraft to 94 and bring the workforce to 5,500 employees, from the current 4,000. Once the deal is completed, ITA Airways would be Lufthansa Group's fifth carrier. Under the strategy, Rome's Fiumicino airport will become one of the Lufthansa Group's hubs, as ITA Airways focuses on long-range flights. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr also said Milan, Italy's business and finance hub, has potential for growth. The deal must be approved by EU competition authorities. ITA Airways and its Alitalia predecessor have long been searching for an industrial partner as the Italian airline lost out on domestic and European routes to low-cost carriers. A string deals with potential and real partners had all fallen through over the last 15 years. ITA officially launched in October 2021 after bankrupt flag carrier Alitalia landed its final flight, ending a 74-year run which in later years was characterized by financial uncertainty and slides into bankruptcy. Lufthansa was the only airline that submitted an offer in the latest tender earlier this year. The German airline has identified Italy as its third most important market, after Germany and the United States, citing its business ties and strong export economy as well as its appeal as a tourist destination The German airline already operates Air Dolomiti in northern Italy, funneling long-distance traffic from cities like Milan, Verona and Venice to connections in Munich and Frankfurt. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Foodservice companies have long struggled with the challenge of what to do with all of their food waste. But researchers at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership are shedding light on how clean technology can help those companies reduce waste and establish long-term sustainability goals. In a study published in the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, Tiffany S. Legendre, an associate professor at Hilton College, and her team, interviewed 17 leaders of the country's largest on-site foodservice providers (e.g., Aramark, Compass and Sodexo), about the role clean technology played in their goal setting and achievement for reducing food waste. Clean technology can range from food procurement and waste tracking software and equipment to digital composting systems. "These companies are providing institutional food services, dealing with several millions of meals each day," Legendre said. "You can imagine the magnitude of waste in their operation just because of the volume they handle." On-site foodservice companies provide high-volume food management on a large scale in places like schools, hospitals and stadiums across the U.S., and they are responsible for a significant portion of all the country's food waste. For example, approximately 100,000 schools serve lunches to nearly 30 million students each day, and around 530,000 tons are wasted each year. And according to the United Nations Environment Program, one-third of all food produced in the worldabout 1.3 billion tonsis lost or wasted every year. If food waste was represented as its own country, it would be the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter behind China and the U.S. In the U.S. alone, more than 130 billion pounds of food goes to waste each year at a cost of over $160 billion. And food accounts for more than 20% of municipal solid waste in the U.S., taking up more space in landfills than anything else. "Previously, companies couldn't keep track of how much waste was being produced because the data management wasn't good," Legendre said. "Clean technology adoption can make organizational food waste reduction goals more specific and attainable by their ability to measure and quantify what and how much is being wasted." But it's not as simple as just adopting the technologies. Legendre's team found that engaging employees in the process was a key to its success. "Clean technology is a double-edged sword as employees can view it as a penalizing mechanism," Legendre said. "Our study shows in order for companies to achieve sustainability goals, it's crucial to engage and motivate them to be a part of the action plan." Ultimately, the study says managers and employees must work together to achieve sustainability goals, and that managers should communicate clearly, provide training and education and be flexible when implementing clean technology. In doing so, Legendre says, companies can reduce their footprint in the food waste landscape. "By embracing clean technology and fostering collaboration within their organizations, companies can pave the way towards a more sustainable and efficient future." More information: Tiffany S. Legendre et al, Clean Technology and Food Waste Reduction in On-Site Foodservice Management Companies, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research (2023). DOI: 10.1177/10963480231171325 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: Issa-kun display in a demo event at Sapporo NoMaps 2018. Credit: Sapporo AI Lab Associate Professor Tomohisa Yamashita and his colleagues at the Laboratory of Harmonious Systems Engineering (Harmo Lab, Faculty of Information Science and Technology) devote their research to artificial intelligence (AI) for the benefit of human happiness. One of their breakthroughs is the birth of Issa-kun, a haiku generator. In 2017, the research team of the laboratory started a new project upon having received a peculiar challenge: to create an AI that can compose haiku verses. Haiku is a specific form of Japanese poetry consisting of 5-7-5 phonetic units (or syllables). Issa-kun's machine learning (language model) learns from a set of data registered in its system as "training data." Some of the training data are taken from haiku of the old literary masters such as Kyoshi Takahama and Issa Kobayashi; the latter is the namesake of this AI. The early form of the model (Baby Issa-kun) analyzed the data in hiragana-only and produced phrases in hiragana in return, so some of the generated phrases were incoherent. The more advanced model (Adult Issa-kun) was introduced to kanji characters. "However, there were still some flaws when we first introduced kanji. This is because the language changes over time. Some language aspects used by the old masters differ from our time," said Yamashita. He took an example of an almost-obsolete kanji, (Momiji, Japanese maple), that once was used by Issa-kun. Furthermore, Yamashita pointed out that when a person compose a haiku, they started out with the sentiment or message before moving on to selecting the words that best convey that. However, Issa-kun merely imitated the connections of the words from the training data. As a result, although Issa-kun can generate coherent phrases, not all have poetic value. The first AI-generated love haiku showdown (AI ) held in Matsuyama City, the capital city of haiku, in 2019. Participants reviewed around 300 love-themed haiku generated by Issa-kun and ultimately voted for the best verse. Credit: Harmo lab Hokkaido University The research team was largely helped by the haiku communities. They further fed the training data from haiku created by contemporary poets by attending (and hosting) haiku gatherings and other haiku or poetry-related events. The participants also assessed Issa-kun's verses; from this the research team can evaluate the model and remove unqualified verses. In 2018, a television station offered the research team a chance to appear with Issa-kun on a television program. In this program, the AI was pitted against a human in creating a haiku. This propelled Issa-kun's fine-tuning that eventually resulted in Issa-kun becoming able to generate thematic haiku derived from imagesthough human intervention is still needed to review their qualities. The ubiquitous presence of AI in our lives invites polarizing attitudes and opinions; however, Yamashita believes that AI should be utilized as a tool to reach and improve human happiness. This also covers the subjects of art and literaturepoetry includedwhich have the power to provoke human emotions. "Just like other technologies, Issa-kun is a tool. For example, some modern musicians use synthesizer, in real musical instrument's stead, to make good music. Issa-kun should be considered in such light. The combination of human creativity and Issa-kun's ability should make original and good haiku. That is the kind of human-AI harmony that we wish to reach," Yamashita commented. Issa-kun is an ongoing collaboration with a Sapporo-based enterprise dealing with AI-related technologies and their promotion: Sapporo AI Lab. The laboratory is involved in multiple enterprise-academia collaborations, working on many other AI projects that can advance human life in different life aspects. More information: Sapporo AI Lab (in Japanese): www.s-ail.org/ 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 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant sits in coastal towns of both Okuma and Futaba, as seen from the Ukedo fishing port in Namie town, northeastern Japan, on March 2, 2022. A nuclear watchdog has asked the operator of Japans wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant to assess potential risks from damage found in a key supporting structure inside the worst-hit of the three melted reactors. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File A nuclear watchdog has asked the operator of Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant to assess possible risks resulting from damage that was found in a key supporting structure inside one of the three melted reactors. A robotic probe sent inside the Fukushima Daiichi plant's Unit 1 primary containment chamber found that its pedestalthe main supporting structure directly under its corewas extensively damaged. Most of its thick concrete exterior was missing, exposing the internal steel reinforcement. About 880 tons of highly radioactive melted nuclear fuel remain inside the plant's three damaged reactors. Robotic probes have provided some information, but the status of the melted debris is still largely unknown. Based on data collected from earlier probes and simulations, experts have said most of the melted fuel inside Unit 1, believed to be the worst hit, fell to the bottom of the primary containment chamber, but some might have fallen through to the concrete foundationa situation that makes the already daunting task of decommissioning extremely difficult. At a meeting Wednesday of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, its commissioners agreed to order operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings to urgently assess the risks from the pedestal damage, including the possible leak of radioactive substances from cracks and holes caused by the meltdown. The authority also requested that TEPCO assess potential risks if, in the event of another disaster, the pedestal fails to support the reactor. "We need to think about responses in case of an accident," commissioner Shinsuke Yamanaka told reporters. "TEPCO has a responsibility to make the risk assessment as soon as possible." TEPCO has said that, even though the concrete exterior is largely missing, the steel reinforcement remains intact and there is little safety risk. If the pedestal fails, its surrounding structures could prevent the reactor from collapsing. TEPCO said it plans to further analyze data and images over the next few months to determine how resistant the reactor is to earthquakes. The images were the first to be taken from inside the pedestal since the March 11, 2011, disaster caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Robots were sent inside in earlier attempts but were unable to reach the pedestal and take pictures. The images, captured in March by a remote-controlled underwater vehicle, show details of the damage inside the pedestal and places where traces of melted fuel can most likely be found, and will be key to an investigation by TEPCO and nuclear experts. The damage is believed to be from the initial earthquake in 2011, but might have happened more recently. The images of the exposed steel reinforcement have triggered concerns among local residents about the reactor's safety. A plan to release treated, but still slightly radioactive, water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the sea has also triggered concerns and protests from the local fishing community and neighboring countries, including South Korea. A South Korean delegation of government experts visited the plant for two days this week to see the facilities related to the planned water release. The team members were to meet with Japanese officials on Thursday in Tokyo, where they said they plan to follow the review of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been assisting Japan to improve transparency and credibility. Yoo Guk-hee, chairperson of South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission who heads the delegation, said the plant visit was to review and confirm "certain things that needed to be seen in person." He said his team plans to release its findings from the visit as soon as possible. Yuki Tanabe, a Japanese industry ministry official in charge of the Fukushima Daiichi accident response team, said government and TEPCO officials responded sincerely to the South Korean experts' questions and that she hopes their plant visit helped their understanding about the safety of the water release plan. She said Japanese officials will continue their efforts to be transparent in disclosing information. Trial removal of melted debris from the Unit 2 reactor is expected to begin later this year after a nearly two-year delay. Removal of spent fuel from the Unit 1 reactor's cooling pool is to start in 2027 after a 10-year delay. Once all the spent fuel is removed from the pools, melted debris will be taken out of the reactors starting in 2031. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A security surveillance camera is seen near the Microsoft office building in Beijing, July 20, 2021. State-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises, Microsoft said Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong, File State-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises, Microsoft said Wednesday. The targets include sites in Guam, where the U.S. has a major military presence, the company said. Hostile activity in cyberspacefrom espionage to the advanced positioning of malware for potential future attackshas become a hallmark of modern geopolitical rivalry. Microsoft said in a blog post that the state-sponsored group of hackers, which it calls Volt Typhoon, has been active since mid-2021. It said organizations affected by the hackingwhich seeks persistent accessare in the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, information technology and education sectors. Separately, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain published a joint advisory sharing technical details on "the recently discovered cluster of activity." A Microsoft spokesman would not say why the software giant was making the announcement now or whether it had recently seen an uptick in targeting of critical infrastructure in Guam or at adjacent U.S. military facilities there, which include a major air base. John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google's Mandiant cybersecurity intelligence operation, called Microsoft's announcement "potentially a really important finding." "We don't see a lot of this sort of probing from China. It's rare," Hultquist said. "We know a lot about Russian and North Korean and Iranian cyber-capabilities because they have regularly done this." China has generally withheld use of the kinds of tools that could be used to seed, not just intelligence-gathering capabilities, but also malware for disruptive attacks in an armed conflict, he added. Microsoft said the intrusion campaign placed a "strong emphasis on stealth" and sought to blend into normal network activity by hacking small-office network equipment, including routers. It said the intruders gained initial access through internet-facing Fortiguard devices, which are engineered to use machine-learning to detect malware. The maker of Fortiguard devuces, Fortinet, did not immediately respond to an email seeking further details. "For years, China has conducted aggressive cyber operations to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from organizations around the globe," said CISA Director Jen Easterly, urging mitigation of affected networks to prevent possible disruption. Bryan Vorndran, the FBI cyber division assistant director, called the intrusions "unacceptable tactics" in the same statement. Tensions between Washington and Beijingwhich the U.S. national security establishment considers its main military, economic and strategic rivalhave been on the rise in recent months. Those tensions spiked last year after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to democratically governed Taiwan, leading China, which claims the island as its territory, to launch military exercises around Taiwan. U.S.-China relations became further strained earlier this year after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed the United States. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company founder Morris Chang, left, shakes hands with Nvidia Co-founder, President, and CEO Jensen Huang, right, at the TSMC facility under construction in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Nvidia shares skyrocketed early Thursday after the chipmaker forecast a huge jump in revenue for the next quarter, notably pointing to chip demand for AI-related products and services.Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File Shares of Nvidia, already one of the world's most valuable companies, skyrocketed Thursday after the chipmaker forecast a huge jump in revenue, signaling how vastly the broadening use of artificial intelligence could reshape the tech sector. The company based in Santa Clara, California, is close to joining the exclusive club of $1 trillion companies like Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft, after its shares jumped more than 24%. Late Wednesday the maker of graphics chips for gaming and artificial intelligence reported a quarterly profit of more than $2 billion and revenue of $7 billion, both exceeding Wall Street expectations. Yet its projections for sales of $11 billion this quarter is what caught Wall Street off guard. It's a 64% jump from last year during the same period, and well above the $7.2 billion industry analysts were forecasting. "It looks like the new gold rush is upon us, and NVIDIA is selling all the picks and shovels," Susquehanna Financial Group's Christopher Rolland and Matt Myers wrote Thursday. Chipmakers around the globe were pulled along. Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor rose 3%, while South Korea's SK Hynix gained 6%. ASML based in the Netherlands added 5%. Nvidia founder and CEO of Jensen Huang said the world's data centers are in need of a makeover given the transformation that will come with AI technology. Nvidia Co-founder, President, and CEO Jensen Huang speaks at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company facility under construction in Phoenix, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Nvidia shares skyrocketed early Thursday after the chipmaker forecast a huge jump in revenue for the next quarter, notably pointing to chip demand for AI-related products and services.Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File "The world's $1 trillion data center is nearly populated entirely by (central processing units) today," Huang said. "And $1 trillion, $250 billion a year, it's growing of course but over the last four years, call it $1 trillion worth of infrastructure installed, and it's all completely based on CPUs and dumb NICs. It's basically unaccelerated." AI chips are designed to perform artificial intelligence tasks faster and more efficiently. While general-purpose chips like CPUs can also be used for simpler AI tasks, they're "becoming less and less useful as AI advances," a 2020 report from Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology notes. "Because of their unique features, AI chips are tens or even thousands of times faster and more efficient than CPUs for training and inference of AI algorithms," the report adds, noting that AI chips can also be more cost-effective than CPUs due to their greater efficiency. Analysts say Nvidia could be an early look at how AI may reshape the tech sector. "Last night Nvidia gave jaw dropping robust guidance that will be heard around the world and shows the historical demand for AI happening now in the enterprise and consumer landscape," Wedbush's Dan Ives wrote. "For any investor calling this an AI bubble ... we would point them to this Nvidia quarter and especially guidance which cements our bullish thesis around AI and speaks to the 4th Industrial Revolution now on the doorstep with AI." 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: RobotSweater, developed by a research team in the Robotics Institute and shown here on a robotic arm, is a machine-knitted textile "skin" that can sense contact and pressure. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University The qualities that make a knitted sweater comfortable and easy to wear are the same things that might allow robots to better interact with humans. RobotSweater, developed by a research team from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, is a machine-knitted textile "skin" that can sense contact and pressure. "We can use that to make the robot smarter during its interaction with humans," said Changliu Liu, an assistant professor of robotics in the School of Computer Science. Just as knitters can take any kind of yarn and turn it into a sock, hat or sweater of any size or shape, the knitted RobotSweater fabric can be customized to fit uneven three-dimensional surfaces. "Knitting machines can pattern yarn into shapes that are non-flat, that can be curved or lumpy," said James McCann, an SCS assistant professor whose research has focused on textile fabrication in recent years. "That made us think maybe we could make sensors that fit over curved or lumpy robots." Once knitted, the fabric can be used to help the robot "feel" when a human touches it, particularly in an industrial setting where safety is paramount. Current solutions for detecting human-robot interaction in industry look like shields and use very rigid materials that Liu notes can't cover the robot's entire body because some parts need to deform. "With RobotSweater, the robot's whole body can be covered, so it can detect any possible collisions," said Liu, whose research focuses on industrial applications of robotics. RobotSweater's knitted fabric consists of two layers of conductive yarn made with metallic fibers to conduct electricity. Sandwiched between the two is a net-like, lace-patterned layer. When pressure is applied to the fabricsay, from someone touching itthe conductive yarn closes a circuit and is read by the sensors. "The force pushes together the rows and columns to close the connection," said Wenzhen Yuan, an SCS assistant professor and director of the RoboTouch lab. "If there's a force through the conductive stripes, the layers would contact each other through the holes." Apart from how to design the knitted layers, including dozens if not hundreds of samples and tests, the team faced another challenge in connecting the wiring and electronics components to the soft textile. "There was a lot of fiddly physical prototyping and adjustment," McCann said. "The students working on this managed to go from something that seemed promising to something that actually worked." What worked was wrapping the wires around snaps attached to the ends of each stripe in the knitted fabric. Snaps are a cost-effective and efficient solution, such that even hobbyists creating textiles with electronic elements, known as e-textiles, could use them, McCann said. "You need a way of attaching these things together that is strong, so it can deal with stretching, but isn't going to destroy the yarn," he said, adding that the team also discussed using flexible circuit boards. Once fitted to the robot's body, RobotSweater can sense the distribution, shape and force of the contact. It's also more accurate and effective than the visual sensors most robots rely on now. "The robot will move in the way that the human pushes it, or can respond to human social gestures," Yuan said. In their research, the team demonstrated that pushing on a companion robot outfitted in RobotSweater told it which way to move or what direction to turn its head. When used on a robot arm, RobotSweater allowed a push from a person's hand to guide the arm's movement, while grabbing the arm told it to open or close its gripper. In future research, the team wants to explore how to program reactions from the swipe or pinching motions used on a touchscreen. The teamincluding SCS Ph.D. students Zilin Si and Tianhong Catherine Yu, and visiting undergraduate student Katrene Morozov from the University of California, Santa Barbarawill present the RobotSweater research paper at the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). The study is also published on the arXiv preprint server. More information: Zilin Si et al, RobotSweater: Scalable, Generalizable, and Customizable Machine-Knitted Tactile Skins for Robots, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2303.02858 Journal information: arXiv Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Liz Mulroney felt like it was 1999 all over again. A gunman had killed 19 students and two teachers in Uvalde. The North Texas teacher had flashbacks to watching teenagers jumping out of windows on TV during the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, where two gunmen killed 13 people. As an English teacher who has taught in Colorado and Texas, Mulroney says her career has been colored by school shootings and violence in schools. Now, one year after the massacre at Uvaldes Robb Elementary School, Mulroney is among North Texas teachers, parents and students who say they feel powerless in the face of mass shootings that have plagued the state. Heated debates on school safety have spread like wildfire. High school students across Texas led one walkout after another to demand action from lawmakers. State representatives and senators introduced bills tied to billion-dollar proposals that would bolster security. Gov. Greg Abbott introduced a new safety requirement that seeks to prevent intruder access. But for the tens of thousands of Texans who teach, learn and work at public schools every day, some say nothing has really changed. I feel like were still there its still happening, Mulroney said. Having a 14-year-old in high school and a husband who works in school construction and design, Mulroney, who lives in Lucas, says conversations on school safety are a constant at the family dinner table. But the overwhelming feeling that crept up when she first went through lockdown training at the beginning of her career still lingers. Its a terrifying thing to have to do when youre responsible for children, she said. Youre not just fighting for your own life, youre fighting to protect other peoples childrens lives, too. Failure to act Before May 24, 2022, Uvalde was a small, predominantly Latino city in South Texas that few had heard about. Now its name is synonymous with the deadliest school shooting in the states history and the second deadliest elementary shooting in the country. Most of the victims were fourth graders from the same class. The two others were teachers who had taught for five years at the Uvalde elementary school. The shooter slipped into the building through an unlocked side door and remained in the school for more than an hour before law enforcement shot him. Polices inaction and failure to act stunned and enraged people across the nation. In June 2022, Abbott ordered the Texas School Safety Center and the Texas Education Agency to start performing inspections, or safety checks, on school campuses across the state. These inspections should be in-person, unannounced, random intruder detection audits and have the goal of finding how quickly an intruder could get into a school building without being stopped. Abbott noted that the center must ensure a culture of constant vigilance is ingrained in every campus. The governor also promoted an app called iWatch Texas, where anyone can report suspicious activity or behaviors that may indicate criminal, terroristic or school safety-related threats. The tool has not been widely used across the state. Over 300 school districts in Texas instead use STOPit, a reporting software owned by a private company. By October, Abbott created a new position within the TEA, chief of school safety and security, and provided $400 million for school districts to improve their facilities and safety systems. Meanwhile, school districts across the state had to respond to students, families and employees who were terrified their school could be next. Dallas ISD mandated all students from sixth through 12th grade to start using clear backpacks to school. They provided a backpack for each student and banned any bag that wasnt clear or made out of mesh. There are usually questions from parents when highly publicized safety events occur at other districts around Texas or the country, Richardson ISD spokesperson Tim Clark said. To address frequent concerns, Richardson ISD created an FAQ page on the districts website. Some of the questions parents often ask are whether the district has employees dedicated to school safety or police officers in every school building. The answer to both questions is yes. At the Capitol During this years legislative session, lawmakers filed multiple bills on school safety. The legislation proposed adding more armed personnel on campuses and increasing mental health support and security technology. Separately from the school safety bills, some of the families of Uvalde victims went to the Capitol several times to testify in support of a House bill that would raise the age to purchase semiautomatic weapons from 18 to 21. A recent survey from the University of Texas at Austin found that 57% of Texans support raising the legal age to purchase any firearm from 18 to 21. The Uvalde shooter legally purchased the rifle used to kill 21 people just a few days after his 18th birthday. A year before the massacre, he unsuccessfully tried to buy a rifle and ammunition. He was still 17 and couldnt get a firearm. The bill has strong opponents, including Abbott. The debates around the school safety bills have focused on the role of firearms on campuses. Texas has two programs that allow school personnel to carry firearms: Marshal and Guardian. Both programs require school districts to opt-in. Since the Uvalde shooting, Republican state leaders have been pushing proposals that would arm additional staff. One of the requirements for the Marshal program is to undergo 80 hours of training and a psychological exam. The same is not true for the Guardian program. One bill would require every school campus to have at least one armed staff present during school hours. Another bill that received significant support from the Legislature would offer an incentive of up to $25,000 for school employees willing to carry guns on campuses. These bills have been highly criticized by Democrats who believe arming school personnel is not a solution to gun violence. Zeph Capo, president of the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said, We have a problem with guns in the hands of the wrong people. A survey by the Texas AFT found that 77% of Texas school employees do not want to be armed or expected to intercept a gunman. Using mental health as a diversion from real issues is not the right thing, Capo said. Yes, we need to provide more money to mental health, particularly in school time for counselors to actually do counseling instead of test prep and other things. But financially supporting changes within districts has been difficult, as the state support is limited. Many districts try to pass bonds locally but fail to do so because residents are afraid of higher property taxes. In the aftermath of the Santa Fe High School shooting in 2018, the state started to provide an annual per-student allotment for security purposes. Proposed bills would increase the amount from $10 to $100. Another proposal would require schools to have silent alert devices that would immediately contact law enforcement and first responders. Craig Miller, a retired Dallas ISD chief of police, told The Dallas Morning News that school districts should focus on the fundamentals of safety. Technology is great, but sometimes we have to take a step back, he said. One example is to make sure all doors are locked and numbered so that, when law enforcement enters the building during an emergency, theyll know exactly where the threat is. Miller emphasized the importance of behavior threat assessment teams and counseling. If a student is depressed or suicidal, these teams need to be informed. He believes in a more common sense approach to school safety, which includes vetting people before they come into the school and reducing the number of entrance points. Moving forward The day-to-day experiences in school grounds havent changed much, said Rosemary Curts, a Dallas ISD math teacher. Weve got key cards. Weve been more vigilant about students having ID badges. All doors stay locked, Curts said. But all of that feels like safety theater to me. It doesnt make me feel safer. Curts said the kind of security measures that have been implemented wouldnt stop a person who wants to shoot up a school. She believes gun control is the only way to go. They say people just get [guns] anyway. But if youre going to make that argument, why do we have laws in society at all? Teacher Liz Mulroneys only child, Trevor, comes up with some sort of survival strategy for almost every room at school. I shouldnt have to worry about that, Trevor said. Its a problem that shouldnt exist. Roughly half of school shootings are carried out by current or former students. Trevor said he worries this leaves schools vulnerable to those who are familiar with the security measures in place. Instead of heavier security, the 14-year-old said he believes building a sense of community is essential as Texas moves forward. Malcolm Mulroney, Trevors father, designs school buildings, and has been thinking of solutions to this problem. But he said that alone wont keep campuses safe. When will we as a community say, This is not acceptable. Its not going to happen in my community? Malcolm asked. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. In the early hours Wednesday, the Texas Senate pushed the GOPs priority immigration legislation creating a new state border police force closer to the finish line. House Bill 7 would make it a state crime for migrants to enter the state anywhere but a port of entry, create a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence for human smugglers, and devote $100 million for new detention centers, courts, security and economic development projects for border communities. Its the most sweeping of a Republican package of bills that aims to stiffen the states response to a record number of crossings at Texas southern border. It also tests the limits of a states authority to enforce immigration laws, which have traditionally been the purview of the federal government. HB 7 initially passed the Senate just after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday nearly 16 hours after senators entered the chamber Tuesday on a 19-12 vote along party lines. The bill still needs final approval by the chamber before it will go back to the House, where lawmakers can accept the Senates changes or seek a compromise. House Bill 7 will enhance border security operations, provide more tools to law enforcement and prosecutors, and increase the safety of the border region in Texas, state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, said when first laying out his bill after midnight. Earlier versions of the bills border police unit drew intense criticism for aiming to allow civilians to serve as officers, which opponents said would have allowed unlicensed vigilantes to patrol Texas border. Early Wednesday morning, Birdwell told fellow lawmakers the new Texas Border Force would have both commissioned law enforcement officers and noncommissioned employees. Only the commissioned law enforcement officers would have arrest powers or be allowed to carry guns under the bill, he said. State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, who offered the amendment to clarify the duties of the two kinds of employees, said noncommissioned employees could transport people arrested by the unit and provide other logistical support. That is a reversal of the Houses version of the bill, which had been amended to allow only licensed peace officers to be part of the new border unit. That version of the bill also limited the units activity to border communities where county commissioners had given approval. The Senate version of the bill approved early Wednesday removed the restrictions on where the unit could operate, allowing its officers to operate anywhere in the state. In empowering its new border force, HB 7 also would create the new state crime of crossing the U.S.-Mexico border outside of a port of entry. Such an entry into Texas is already a federal crime, though federal agents process those who request asylum differently than others caught crossing the border. State police making arrests, however, do not typically consider asylum requests. Bill opponents have raised concerns that even more asylum-seekers will not have an opportunity to provide an affirmative defense by requesting asylum or providing another legal reason to be in the United States. They also worried that the new mandatory 10-year minimum sentence for human smuggling would ensnare mostly young, disadvantaged U.S. citizens who are lured by big payouts from drug cartels into driving migrants across the country after they cross the border. Although immigration laws are under federal jurisdiction, Texas leaders have found creative ways to wield power in the arena during a yearslong state crackdown on illegal immigration. As a rise in migrants began to overwhelm Texas border communities in 2021, Gov. Greg Abbott reacted in part by sending state troopers to border counties to arrest people suspected of crossing the border illegally on state trespassing charges. Since then, thousands of migrants have been sent to Texas prisons on the low-level charge, often after being caught on rail cars or walking across privately owned land near the border. Texas catch-and-jail criminal justice system for migrants has been entrenched in controversy from the start. Wrongful arrests and illegal detentions, as well as allegations of discriminatory and unconstitutional practices, resulted in a flurry of lawsuits and a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. Many men have languished for months inside Texas prisons converted into state jails for immigration-related crimes without attorneys or a chance to see a judge. Under the new legislation, the trespassing workaround would no longer be needed. Police could arrest people they suspect of crossing the border illegally for that crime alone, though Birdwell repeatedly insisted Wednesday morning that only people caught at the border would be arrested. Still, the arrests would largely act in the same manner as migrant trespassing arrests. Arrestees would largely be sent to the Texas prisons being used as state jails for immigration crimes, and Birdwell said that police would largely still arrest only single men while referring women and families to U.S. Border Patrol.State Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said that policy sounds like selective enforcement, a phrase used in litigation against discriminatory practices. Many of Abbotts trespassing arrests have been tossed after defendants have claimed the policy to arrest only single men while referring women and families to the U.S. Border Patrol is discriminatory. This is not the way to try to solve this issue, Hinojosa said. Likely predicting legal and constitutional challenges over federal and state jurisdiction, HB 7 includes language that specifies each individual provision of the extensive bill can still stand if one piece is found invalid by the courts. I dont believe were enforcing immigration law because our duty after prosecution of the state crime is to process them to the immigration authorities, Birdwell said. But its certainly possible that the federal government might decide to come after Texas, and Im certainly happy to stand and defend this. Shares of Bank of China Limited (OTCMKTS:BACHY Get Rating) crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $9.88 and traded as high as $10.44. Bank of China shares last traded at $10.41, with a volume of 37,991 shares changing hands. Bank of China Price Performance The firms 50-day moving average price is $9.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $9.36. The company has a market cap of $117.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.81 and a beta of 0.27. Get Bank of China alerts: Bank of China (OTCMKTS:BACHY Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 30th. The bank reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter. Bank of China had a return on equity of 9.32% and a net margin of 21.54%. The firm had revenue of $21.27 billion for the quarter. About Bank of China Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial services. It operates through six segments: Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, Treasury Operations, Investment Banking, Insurance, and Other Operations. The Corporate Banking segment offers current accounts, deposits, overdrafts, loans, trade-related products and other credit facilities, foreign currency, derivatives, and wealth management products to corporate customers, government authorities, and financial institutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bank of China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (NYSE:ETY Get Rating)s stock price passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $11.54 and traded as high as $11.76. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund shares last traded at $11.66, with a volume of 210,108 shares. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund Stock Performance The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $11.54. Get Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund alerts: Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 22nd will be issued a $0.0805 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 19th. This represents a $0.97 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.44%. Institutional Trading of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund Company Profile Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Accurate Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund in the 4th quarter worth approximately $107,000. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 90,011 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $978,000 after buying an additional 3,964 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 35,049 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $381,000 after buying an additional 1,225 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 807,120 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $8,765,000 after buying an additional 14,227 shares during the period. Finally, Bluefin Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund by 71.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bluefin Capital Management LLC now owns 39,008 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $424,000 after acquiring an additional 16,212 shares in the last quarter. (Get Rating) Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in dividend paying stocks of companies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grupo Financiero Banorte, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:GBOOF Get Rating) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $8.21 and traded as low as $8.00. Grupo Financiero Banorte shares last traded at $8.00, with a volume of 391 shares traded. Grupo Financiero Banorte Trading Down 1.6 % The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $8.29 and a 200 day simple moving average of $8.20. About Grupo Financiero Banorte (Get Rating) Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV is a holding company, which engages in the provision of banking services. It operates through the following segments: Holding, Banorte, Savings and Forecast, Landlord and Factor, Storage, and Brokerage house Banorte. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Financiero Banorte Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Financiero Banorte and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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 contrast to its peers? We will compare First Republic Bank to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, risk, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends. Valuation & Earnings This table compares First Republic Bank and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get First Republic Bank alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio First Republic Bank $6.75 billion $1.67 billion 0.04 First Republic Bank Competitors $105.05 billion $3.07 billion 9.07 First Republic Banks peers have higher revenue and earnings than First Republic Bank. First Republic Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Republic Bank 20.45% 11.26% 0.72% First Republic Bank Competitors 18.91% 11.95% 0.97% Dividends This table compares First Republic Bank and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. First Republic Bank pays an annual dividend of 1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 351.2%. 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 17.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. First Republic Bank is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for First Republic Bank and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score First Republic Bank 0 0 0 0 N/A First Republic Bank Competitors 629 2237 2268 60 2.34 As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies have a potential upside of 85.02%. Given First Republic Banks peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe First Republic Bank has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Volatility & Risk First Republic Bank has a beta of 0.99, indicating that its share price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Republic Banks peers have a beta of 0.94, indicating that their average share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Institutional & Insider Ownership 95.2% of First Republic Bank shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 26.0% 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 insiders. Comparatively, 6.8% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary First Republic Bank peers beat First Republic Bank on 7 of the 12 factors compared. About First Republic Bank (Get Rating) 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 Receive News & Ratings for First Republic Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Republic Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UBS ETRACS Linked to the Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN (NYSEARCA:BDCS Get Rating) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $15.23 and traded as high as $15.31. UBS ETRACS Linked to the Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN shares last traded at $15.23, with a volume of 14,911 shares traded. UBS ETRACS Linked to the Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN Price Performance The company has a 50-day moving average price of $15.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $15.23. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for UBS ETRACS Linked to the Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UBS ETRACS Linked to the Wells Fargo Business Development Company Index ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Get Rating) (TSE:BMO) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, May 24th, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 28th will be given a dividend of 1.085 per share by the bank on Monday, August 28th. This represents a $4.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 27th. This is a boost from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.08. Bank of Montreal has increased its dividend payment by an average of 10.6% per year over the last three years. Bank of Montreal has a dividend payout ratio of 41.3% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Bank of Montreal to earn $10.37 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $4.23 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 40.8%. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: Bank of Montreal Stock Performance Shares of BMO stock opened at $82.94 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $59.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.77, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The firms 50 day moving average is $88.30 and its 200 day moving average is $93.23. Bank of Montreal has a 12 month low of $81.57 and a 12 month high of $110.67. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Bank of Montreal ( NYSE:BMO Get Rating ) (TSE:BMO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The bank reported $2.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.33 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $4.80 billion for the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 22.13% and a return on equity of 13.65%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Bank of Montreal will post 9.79 earnings per share for the current year. Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Bank of Montreal in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $152.70. Institutional Trading of Bank of Montreal Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its holdings in shares of Bank of Montreal by 66.9% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,818 shares of the banks stock valued at $271,000 after acquiring an additional 1,130 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of Montreal in the 1st quarter valued at about $263,000. Principal Street Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of Montreal in the 4th quarter valued at about $254,000. Algert Global LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of Montreal in the 4th quarter valued at about $235,000. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of Montreal in the 1st quarter valued at about $225,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 42.78% of the companys stock. Bank of Montreal Company Profile (Get Rating) Bank of Montreal engages in the provision of banking and financial services to individuals and institutions. It operates through the following segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking (Canadian P&C) and United States Personal and Commercial Banking (U.S. P&C). The Canadian P&C segment refers to retail banking and financial operations in Canada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Circassia Group Plc (LON:CIR Get Rating) fell 6.8% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 33.75 ($0.42) and last traded at GBX 34 ($0.42). 4,513 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 99% from the average session volume of 773,465 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 36.50 ($0.45). Circassia Group Stock Down 6.8 % The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 34 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 34.31. The company has a quick ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95. The company has a market cap of 142.66 million and a P/E ratio of 3,400.00. Circassia Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Circassia Group Plc, a medical device company, focuses on the respiratory diagnostics and monitoring products in the United States, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It offers NIOX and NIOX VERO, a fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement and monitoring products for use in asthma diagnosis and management. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Circassia Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Circassia Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Itau Chile (NYSE:ITCL Get Rating) is one of 70 publicly-traded companies in the Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Banco Itau Chile to similar businesses based on the strength of its risk, dividends, profitability, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations. Risk & Volatility Banco Itau Chile has a beta of 0.98, indicating that its share price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Banco Itau Chiles peers have a beta of 0.94, indicating that their average share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Banco Itau Chile alerts: Earnings & Valuation This table compares Banco Itau Chile and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Banco Itau Chile $2.94 billion $487.62 million 5.00 Banco Itau Chile Competitors $105.28 billion $3.07 billion 9.07 Insider and Institutional Ownership Banco Itau Chiles peers have higher revenue and earnings than Banco Itau Chile. Banco Itau Chile is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. 0.2% of Banco Itau Chile shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 26.0% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are held by institutional investors. 6.8% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Banco Itau Chile and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Banco Itau Chile 11.23% 13.12% 1.06% Banco Itau Chile Competitors 18.91% 11.95% 0.97% Dividends Banco Itau Chile pays an annual dividend of $0.17 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.9%. Banco Itau Chile pays out 24.3% 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 17.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Banco Itau Chile and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banco Itau Chile 0 0 0 0 N/A Banco Itau Chile Competitors 629 2237 2268 60 2.34 As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies have a potential upside of 85.02%. Given Banco Itau Chiles peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Banco Itau Chile has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Summary Banco Itau Chile peers beat Banco Itau Chile on 8 of the 12 factors compared. About Banco Itau Chile (Get Rating) Banco Itau Chile engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It specializes in banking products such as financing, leasing, loans, insurance and credit cards. It operates through the following geographical segments: Chile and Colombia. The Chile segment consists of commercial and corporate banking, real estate and construction, large companies, retail banking, personal banking, small business, retail companies, Banco Condell consumer banking, international and treasury and other financial services. The Colombia segment offers commercial and retail banking and treasury and international business operations. The company was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in Las Condes, Chile. Receive News & Ratings for Banco Itau Chile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Itau Chile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche EuroShop AG (ETR:DEQ Get Rating)s stock price was down 0.7% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as 20.55 ($22.34) and last traded at 20.65 ($22.45). Approximately 15,287 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average daily volume of 222,238 shares. The stock had previously closed at 20.80 ($22.61). Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently issued reports on DEQ shares. Baader Bank set a 23.00 ($25.00) price objective on Deutsche EuroShop in a report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Berenberg Bank set a 22.00 ($23.91) price target on Deutsche EuroShop in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Get Deutsche EuroShop alerts: Deutsche EuroShop Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 6.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.40. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of 19.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of 20.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 57.36, a P/E/G ratio of 24.40 and a beta of 1.34. About Deutsche EuroShop Deutsche EuroShop AG is a German-based international real estate investment company headquartered in Hamburg. It is the largest German investor in shopping centers, and the country's only publicly traded company to do so exclusively. At the end of 2010 the firm held investments in 18 properties, of which 14 were in Germany, two in Poland and one each in Austria and Hungary. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche EuroShop Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche EuroShop and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC trimmed its position in AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T Get Rating) by 51.2% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 7,515 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 7,880 shares during the quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLCs holdings in AT&T were worth $138,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Arcus Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in AT&T during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Red Tortoise LLC acquired a new position in shares of AT&T in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Koesten Hirschmann & Crabtree INC. purchased a new position in AT&T in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in AT&T by 75.6% during the 4th quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,881 shares of the technology companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 810 shares during the period. Finally, Eisler Capital UK Ltd. purchased a new stake in AT&T during the 3rd quarter valued at about $36,000. 51.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get AT&T alerts: AT&T Price Performance Shares of NYSE:T traded down $0.58 during trading on Thursday, reaching $15.37. The stock had a trading volume of 17,605,395 shares, compared to its average volume of 33,890,965. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.51. AT&T Inc. has a 1-year low of $14.46 and a 1-year high of $21.53. The stock has a market cap of $109.88 billion, a PE ratio of -12.56, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.66. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $18.12 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.71. AT&T Dividend Announcement AT&T ( NYSE:T Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The technology company reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.02. AT&T had a negative net margin of 7.52% and a positive return on equity of 15.47%. The company had revenue of $30.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $30.22 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.77 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that AT&T Inc. will post 2.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th were paid a dividend of $0.2775 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $1.11 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.22%. AT&Ts dividend payout ratio is presently -87.40%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on AT&T from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of AT&T from $19.00 to $18.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of AT&T in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Raymond James increased their price target on AT&T from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, HSBC upgraded AT&T from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $21.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $21.89. About AT&T (Get Rating) AT&T, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of telecommunications media and technology service. It operates through the Communications and Latin America segments. The Communications segment offers services to businesses and consumers located in the U.S., or in U.S. territories, and businesses globally. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding T? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for AT&T Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AT&T and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:ERE-UN Get Rating) traded down 1% on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$2.99 and last traded at C$2.99. 38,060 shares traded hands during trading, The stock had previously closed at C$3.02. European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Trading Down 1.0 % The business has a 50 day moving average of C$3.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$3.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 295.04, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.10. The firm has a market capitalization of C$267.91 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.96 and a beta of 1.18. European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Company Profile (Get Rating) ERES is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. ERES's REIT units are listed on the TSX under the symbol ERE.UN. ERES is Canada's only European-focused multi-residential REIT, with a current initial focus on investing in high-quality multi-residential real estate properties in the Netherlands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Genel Energy (OTCMKTS:GEGYY Get Rating) and Battalion Oil (NYSE:BATL Get Rating) are both small-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability and risk. Volatility & Risk Genel Energy has a beta of -0.07, meaning that its stock price is 107% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Battalion Oil has a beta of 0.96, meaning that its stock price is 4% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Genel Energy alerts: Profitability This table compares Genel Energy and Battalion Oils net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Genel Energy N/A N/A N/A Battalion Oil 39.14% 0.80% 0.11% Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Genel Energy 0 0 0 0 N/A Battalion Oil 0 2 0 0 2.00 This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Genel Energy and Battalion Oil, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Battalion Oil has a consensus price target of $28.00, suggesting a potential upside of 351.61%. Given Battalion Oils higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Battalion Oil is more favorable than Genel Energy. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Genel Energy and Battalion Oils gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Genel Energy $334.90 million 1.15 -$308.00 million N/A N/A Battalion Oil $359.06 million 0.28 $18.54 million $8.02 0.77 Battalion Oil has higher revenue and earnings than Genel Energy. Institutional & Insider Ownership 89.0% of Battalion Oil shares are held by institutional investors. 41.5% of Battalion Oil shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Battalion Oil beats Genel Energy on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Genel Energy (Get Rating) Genel Energy Plc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of oil and gas exploration services. It operates through the Production and Pre-production segments. The Production segment comprises the producing fields on the Tawke PSC, the Taq Taq PSC, and the Sarta PSC. The Pre-production segment includes the discovered resource held under the Qara Dagh PSC, the Bina Bawi PSC, and the Miran PSC. The company was founded by Nathaniel Philip Victor James Rothschild, Anthony Bryan Hayward, Julian R. Metherell, and Tom James Daniel in 2002 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. About Battalion Oil (Get Rating) Battalion Oil Corporation, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, production, exploration, and development of onshore oil and natural gas assets in the United States. As of December 31, 2021, the company held interests in 40,400 net acres in the Delaware Basin located in the counties of Pecos, Reeves, Ward, and Winkler, Texas. It also had estimated proved reserves of approximately 95.9 million barrels of oil equivalent comprising 58.7 million barrels of crude oil, 16.3 million barrels of natural gas liquids, and 125.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The company was formerly known as Halcon Resources Corporation and changed its name to Battalion Oil Corporation in January 2020. Battalion Oil Corporation was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Genel Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Genel Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ipsen Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF (BATS:NUMV Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 10,998 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $327,000. Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. US Bancorp DE acquired a new position in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF during the first quarter worth $59,000. Signet Financial Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF by 11.2% in the 1st quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC now owns 5,989 shares of the companys stock worth $216,000 after acquiring an additional 602 shares in the last quarter. Lake Street Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth $207,000. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 8,276 shares of the companys stock worth $246,000 after acquiring an additional 1,243 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth $260,000. Get Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF alerts: Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF Price Performance Shares of BATS NUMV traded down $0.37 during trading on Thursday, hitting $27.68. The stock had a trading volume of 61,486 shares. Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF has a 12 month low of $25.05 and a 12 month high of $29.85. The company has a market capitalization of $310.02 million, a PE ratio of 12.51 and a beta of 1.07. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $28.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $30.14. Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF Profile The Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF (NUMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Mid Cap Value index. The fund tracks an index of US mid-cap value stocks that score highly on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. The fund weighting uses a multi-factor optimizer. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NUMV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF (BATS:NUMV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE:TWO Get Rating) CFO Mary Kathryn Riskey sold 3,755 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.33, for a total value of $46,299.15. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 64,391 shares of the companys stock, valued at $793,941.03. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Two Harbors Investment Stock Performance Two Harbors Investment stock opened at $12.03 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06. The stocks 50 day moving average is $13.31 and its 200 day moving average is $15.37. Two Harbors Investment Corp. has a twelve month low of $11.59 and a twelve month high of $21.84. Get Two Harbors Investment alerts: Two Harbors Investment Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 4th were given a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 3rd. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 19.95%. Two Harbors Investments dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -72.51%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Hedge Funds Weigh In On Two Harbors Investment TWO has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Maxim Group raised Two Harbors Investment from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $19.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Two Harbors Investment from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. JMP Securities reduced their price target on Two Harbors Investment from $18.00 to $14.50 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Two Harbors Investment from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Two Harbors Investment from $17.00 to $15.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $16.38. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TWO. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Two Harbors Investment by 18.2% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 62,766 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $347,000 after acquiring an additional 9,682 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Two Harbors Investment during the 1st quarter valued at $68,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Two Harbors Investment by 37.5% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 162,618 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $899,000 after buying an additional 44,348 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Two Harbors Investment by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 974,314 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,388,000 after buying an additional 11,111 shares during the period. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in shares of Two Harbors Investment by 14.1% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 296,479 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,640,000 after buying an additional 36,555 shares during the period. About Two Harbors Investment (Get Rating) Two Harbors Investment Corp. is a real estate investment trust, which invests in, finances, and manages agency residential mortgage-backed securities, mortgage servicing rights, and other financial assets. Its objective is to provide risk-adjusted returns to its stockholders over the long-term, primarily through dividends and secondarily through capital appreciation. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Two Harbors Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Two Harbors Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Research analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:NBY Get Rating) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday. The firm set a hold rating on the stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Price Performance About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (Get Rating) NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc engages in the development and sales of scientifically-created and clinically-proven eyecare and skincare. Its products include Avenova, NeutroPhase, CelleRx, and DERMAdoctor. The company was founded on January 19, 2000 and is headquartered in Emeryville, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NBB Get Rating) shares fell 0.9% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $15.14 and last traded at $15.14. 114,292 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 57% from the average session volume of 72,569 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.28. Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund Stock Down 0.9 % The firms 50 day simple moving average is $16.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $16.10. Get Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund alerts: Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a $0.068 dividend. This represents a $0.82 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund About Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund during the first quarter worth about $227,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund during the first quarter worth about $487,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund during the second quarter worth about $245,000. SVB Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund during the second quarter worth about $228,000. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund during the second quarter worth about $188,000. (Get Rating) Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund engages in the investment in taxable municipal securities. It also seeks enhanced portfolio value and total return. The company was founded on 2009 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Tbk (OTCMKTS:PTITF Get Rating)s share price fell 2.5% on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $0.50 and last traded at $0.54. 140,200 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 573% from the average session volume of 20,825 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.55. PT Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Tbk Stock Up 3.5 % The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $0.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.39. About PT Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Tbk (Get Rating) PT Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Tbk, together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunication services in Indonesia. The company offers post-paid and prepaid products that include various data and mobile voice solutions on 2G, 3G, and 4G broadband cellular networks under the IM3 Ooredoo brand. It also provides international calls, international roaming, and fixed line services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for PT Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA Get Rating) Investment analysts at Seaport Res Ptn increased their Q1 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Mueller Water Products in a note issued to investors on Monday, May 22nd. Seaport Res Ptn analyst W. Liptak now expects that the industrial products company will earn $0.16 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $0.13. Seaport Res Ptn has a Buy rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Mueller Water Products current full-year earnings is $0.67 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Mueller Water Products FY2024 earnings at $0.79 EPS. Get Mueller Water Products alerts: Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The industrial products company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by ($0.02). Mueller Water Products had a return on equity of 12.69% and a net margin of 5.90%. The business had revenue of $332.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $332.45 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.15 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Mueller Water Products Stock Performance MWA has been the subject of a number of other reports. TD Cowen raised Mueller Water Products from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $11.00 to $19.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Mueller Water Products from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Mueller Water Products from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. DA Davidson restated a neutral rating on shares of Mueller Water Products in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Mueller Water Products in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $13.57. Shares of MWA stock opened at $13.52 on Tuesday. Mueller Water Products has a 12-month low of $9.90 and a 12-month high of $14.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.30. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $12.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 3.50 and a quick ratio of 1.82. Mueller Water Products Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th were given a dividend of $0.061 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.80%. Mueller Water Productss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.00%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mueller Water Products Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 580.8% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 14,909 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $192,000 after purchasing an additional 12,719 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 65.6% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 28,439 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $372,000 after purchasing an additional 11,270 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 38.6% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 75,681 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $978,000 after purchasing an additional 21,068 shares in the last quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. purchased a new stake in shares of Mueller Water Products in the first quarter valued at $2,116,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 56.8% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 76,178 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $984,000 after purchasing an additional 27,589 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.75% of the companys stock. About Mueller Water Products (Get Rating) Mueller Water Products, Inc engages in the manufacture and sale of products used in the transmission, distribution, and measurement of water. It operates through the Water Flow Solutions and Water Management Solutions segments. The Water Flow Solutions segment includes iron gate valves, specialty valves, and service brass products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Mueller Water Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mueller Water Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE Get Rating) had its price target reduced by equities research analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $58.00 to $53.00 in a report released on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Stifel Nicolaus target price points to a potential upside of 58.64% from the companys current price. Several other research firms have also commented on CPE. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Callon Petroleum from $65.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Callon Petroleum from $55.00 to $71.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Callon Petroleum from $40.00 to $36.00 in a report on Sunday. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Callon Petroleum in a research report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Callon Petroleum from $45.00 to $43.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Six 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.com, Callon Petroleum currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $55.50. Get Callon Petroleum alerts: Callon Petroleum Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:CPE opened at $33.41 on Tuesday. Callon Petroleum has a 52 week low of $28.91 and a 52 week high of $64.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 2.73. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $33.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $37.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. Insider Activity Callon Petroleum ( NYSE:CPE Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The oil and natural gas company reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.96 by ($0.02). Callon Petroleum had a return on equity of 27.29% and a net margin of 46.15%. The firm had revenue of $560.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $535.29 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.43 earnings per share. Callon Petroleums revenue for the quarter was down 27.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Callon Petroleum will post 9.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other Callon Petroleum news, Director Steven A. Webster acquired 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $30.24 per share, with a total value of $302,400.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 592,824 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,926,997.76. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Steven A. Webster purchased 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was bought at an average price of $31.63 per share, for a total transaction of $632,600.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 562,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,802,123.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Steven A. Webster purchased 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $30.24 per share, with a total value of $302,400.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 592,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,926,997.76. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders acquired 30,250 shares of company stock valued at $944,795. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Callon Petroleum A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CPE. Raymond James & Associates purchased a new position in Callon Petroleum in the 1st quarter valued at $1,020,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Callon Petroleum by 25.2% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,296 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $135,000 after buying an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Callon Petroleum by 8.0% in the 1st quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 7,775 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $459,000 after buying an additional 575 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Callon Petroleum in the 1st quarter worth about $842,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Callon Petroleum by 55.4% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 25,397 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $1,500,000 after purchasing an additional 9,056 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.60% of the companys stock. Callon Petroleum Company Profile (Get Rating) Callon Petroleum Co engages in the exploration, development, acquisition, and production of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It focuses on unconventional oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin. The company was founded by Sim C. Callon and John S. Callon in 1950 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Callon Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Callon Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SYSTM Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark Co. (NYSE:KMB Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 14,160 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,922,000. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bell Investment Advisors Inc grew its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 1,475.0% during the 4th quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 189 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 177 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Affiance Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Retirement Financial Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 221.5% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 389 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.16% of the companys stock. Get Kimberly-Clark alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,434 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total transaction of $495,388.84. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 17,229 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,485,455.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,434 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total transaction of $495,388.84. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 17,229 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,485,455.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Doug Cunningham sold 1,504 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.48, for a total value of $218,801.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 59,416 shares of company stock worth $8,580,971. 0.67% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Kimberly-Clark Stock Down 0.3 % Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on KMB shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Kimberly-Clark in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $118.00 to $125.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Kimberly-Clark in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. They set a sell rating and a $120.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $130.00 to $140.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $134.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $134.45. Shares of KMB stock traded down $0.40 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $137.25. The stock had a trading volume of 185,247 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,680,349. Kimberly-Clark Co. has a 12-month low of $108.74 and a 12-month high of $147.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $46.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.40. The firms 50-day moving average is $138.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $134.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.23, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.51. Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.67 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.35. Kimberly-Clark had a return on equity of 279.42% and a net margin of 9.75%. The business had revenue of $5.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.06 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.35 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Kimberly-Clark Co. will post 6.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Kimberly-Clark Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be issued a $1.18 dividend. This represents a $4.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.44%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. Kimberly-Clarks dividend payout ratio is 80.82%. Kimberly-Clark Profile (Get Rating) Kimberly-Clark Corp. engages in the manufacture and marketing of products made from natural or synthetic fibers. It operates through the following segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swim pants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, and other related products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Kimberly-Clark Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimberly-Clark and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. V.F. (NYSE:VFC Get Rating) had its price target decreased by Wedbush from $29.00 to $19.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Wedbush also issued estimates for V.F.s Q4 2023 earnings at $0.12 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $2.05 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at ($0.02) EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $0.65 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $1.07 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $0.18 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $1.88 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $2.15 EPS. A number of other analysts have also issued reports on VFC. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of V.F. from $31.00 to $26.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. StockNews.com lowered shares of V.F. from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, May 20th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $36.00 price objective on shares of V.F. in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Piper Sandler started coverage on shares of V.F. in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. They set an overweight rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of V.F. from $36.00 to $35.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, V.F. presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $28.74. Get V.F. alerts: V.F. Stock Performance Shares of VFC opened at $18.35 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $21.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.08. V.F. has a 52-week low of $18.03 and a 52-week high of $51.40. The company has a market capitalization of $7.13 billion, a PE ratio of 17.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 1.44. V.F. Announces Dividend V.F. ( NYSE:VFC Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 23rd. The textile maker reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.03. V.F. had a net margin of 3.54% and a return on equity of 27.87%. The company had revenue of $2.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.72 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.45 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that V.F. will post 2.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 12th will be paid a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.54%. V.F.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 112.15%. Insider Buying and Selling at V.F. In other V.F. news, Director Carol L. Roberts purchased 7,109 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $21.07 per share, for a total transaction of $149,786.63. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 7,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $149,786.63. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On V.F. Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in VFC. M&G Investment Management Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of V.F. by 33.7% in the 4th quarter. M&G Investment Management Ltd. now owns 2,833,728 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $79,344,000 after acquiring an additional 714,611 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in V.F. by 138.8% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 65,650 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $1,964,000 after buying an additional 38,160 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of V.F. by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 93,471 shares of the textile makers stock worth $2,581,000 after purchasing an additional 3,748 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of V.F. by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 26,308,313 shares of the textile makers stock worth $786,882,000 after purchasing an additional 336,122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in shares of V.F. by 10.1% in the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 89,200 shares of the textile makers stock worth $2,668,000 after purchasing an additional 8,202 shares in the last quarter. 96.89% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About V.F. (Get Rating) VF Corp. designs, produces, procures, markets and distributes lifestyle apparel, footwear and related products. It operates through the following segments: Outdoor, Active, and Work. The Outdoor segment refers to authentic outdoor-based lifestyle brands including performance-based apparel, footwear, equipment, backpacks, luggage and accessories. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for V.F. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for V.F. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc (LON:HSL Get Rating) insider Victoria Sant purchased 400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 809 ($10.06) per share, with a total value of 3,236 ($4,024.88). The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust Stock Performance HSL stock opened at GBX 798 ($9.93) on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.65, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.10. The stock has a market cap of 596.11 million, a P/E ratio of -235.40 and a beta of 1.22. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 808.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 835.11. The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc has a 52 week low of GBX 674.33 ($8.39) and a 52 week high of GBX 952 ($11.84). Get The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust alerts: The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust Company Profile (Get Rating) Read More The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Henderson Investment Funds Limited. It is co-managed by Henderson Global Investors Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Receive News & Ratings for The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code A Brazilian threat actor is targeting more than 30 Portuguese financial institutions with information-stealing malware as part of a long-running campaign that commenced in 2021. "The attackers can steal credentials and exfiltrate users' data and personal information, which can be leveraged for malicious activities beyond financial gain," SentinelOne researchers Aleksandar Milenkoski and Tom Hegel said in a new report shared with The Hacker News. The cybersecurity firm, which began tracking "Operation Magalenha" earlier this year, said the intrusions culminate in the deployment of two variants of a backdoor called PeepingTitle so as to "maximize attack potency." The links to Brazil stem from the use of the Brazilian-Portuguese language within the detected artifacts as well as source code overlaps with another banking trojan known as Maxtrilha, which was first disclosed in September 2021. PeepingTitle, like Maxtrilha, is written in the Delphi programming language and is equipped to grant the attacker full control over the compromised hosts as well as capture screenshots and drop additional payloads. The attack chains begin with phishing emails and rogue websites hosting fake installers for popular software that are engineered to launch a Visual Basic Script responsible for executing a malware loader. The loader subsequently downloads and executes the PeepingTitle backdoors. PeepingTitle monitors users' web browsing activity, and if a browser tab matching one of the target financial institutions is opened, it exfiltrates screen captures and stages further malware executables from a remote server. This is achieved by comparing the window title to a predefined set of strings related to the banking organizations, but not before transforming it into lowercase string san any whitespace characters. UPCOMING WEBINAR Zero Trust + Deception: Learn How to Outsmart Attackers! Discover how Deception can detect advanced threats, stop lateral movement, and enhance your Zero Trust strategy. Join our insightful webinar! Save My Seat! "With the first PeepingTitle variant capturing the entire screen, and the second capturing each window a user interacts with, this malware duo provides the threat actor with a detailed insight into user activity," the researchers explained. An important aspect of Magalenha is the shift from DigitalOcean and Dropbox in 2022 to Timeweb Cloud, a Russian cloud service provider that has a more lenient approach towards infrastructure abuse, for malware hosting and command-and-control. The sophisticated hacking effort represents the latest iteration in a long line of financially motivated malware campaigns originating from Latin America. Earlier this March, Metabase Q uncovered a Mispadu attack wave targeting Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Portugal. "Operation Magalenha indicates the persistent nature of the Brazilian threat actors," the researchers said. "These groups represent an evolving threat to organizations and individuals in their target countries and have demonstrated a consistent capacity to update their malware arsenal and tactics, allowing them to remain effective in their campaigns." "Their capacity to orchestrate attacks in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries in Europe, Central, and Latin America suggests an understanding of the local financial landscape and a willingness to invest time and resources in developing targeted campaigns." Praxis official statement Educational Testing Service, which oversees the Praxis test, offered this statement: "Every student deserves a quality education. We know that this is dependent upon educators being prepared with the skills and competency needed to lead classrooms, in-person and virtually. "The Praxis Subject tests are an essential and universal measure to ensure quality learning is taking place. They are used as a part of a states, or a professional association's, teacher licensure and certification process to ensure, at a minimum, that a basic level of competency in a subject area has been reached. Praxis tests are important because they allow aspiring teachers to demonstrate that they have the knowledge needed in their area of academic focus to deliver quality education to students. "In fact, there are over 90 different Praxis Subject tests that range from agriculture to world languages. These tests are used by more than 40 states across the US, including Nebraska. They protect quality education by measuring subject-specific content knowledge and the general teaching skills that K12 educators need to help students reach their fullest potential." Educational Testing Service also offers assessments like the GRE and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. LINCOLN Nebraskans will soon have the opportunity to get tax incentives for donating to scholarship funds for private and faith-based schools under a bill passed in the Legislature Wednesday. Lawmakers passed Legislative Bill 753 in a 33-11 vote, sending it to Gov. Jim Pillen's desk to be signed into law. The legislation was introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, who has pushed for years to provide more school choice opportunities. LB 753 will provide tax credits for individuals and entities making donations to scholarship funds intended to help students attend private and parochial schools. Under the bill, $25 million will be available for credits in 2024, with the same amount available for the next two years. After that, the limit for credits will grow to a maximum of $100 million per year. Individuals and businesses could not receive more than $100,000 in annual credits, while estates and trusts would be capped at $1 million per year. In a session filled with controversy, LB 753 saw its fair share. Just a few weeks ago, hundreds of educators rallied in Lincoln to oppose the bill, contending that it would deplete money for public schools through the state funding used to support the tax incentives. Opposing lawmakers made the same argument in each round of debate. They also questioned whether it was constitutional. Rather than granting parents and students more school choice, opponent Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington said LB 753 was really about giving donors more choice. She argued the bill gives favorable treatment to a specific type of charitable giving, and neglects many other philanthropic efforts. "This is about giving one type of giving first-class tax status," DeBoer said. Linehan said the Legislature has worked on many other tax-relief measures this session alone, so lawmakers are not solely focused on benefiting the wealthy. "Let's not pretend we don't like tax credits," Linehan said. Linehan and other LB 753 supporters say the bill doesn't take any money away from public schools, and have pointed to several other measures in the works this year to increase funding for public education. One of those efforts is a $1.25 billion Education Future Fund to boost state aid for schools, which passed through the approval of Nebraska's two-year budget. The Legislature has considered similar measures to LB 753 in each of the last five years, but all have failed. Last years proposal fell five votes short on a filibuster-ending cloture motion. This time around, the bill ended filibusters with the support of a handful of Democratic lawmakers Omaha Sens. Justin Wayne, Mike McDonnell and Terrell McKinney. Wayne said LB 753 contributes to his effort to enact transformational changes for parts of his district, representing low-income areas of North Omaha. "I support this because this multi-faceted approach is what we're supposed to do down here to make sure we raise the water and tides for everyone," Wayne said. Best private high schools in Nebraska Best private high schools in Nebraska #30. Norfolk Catholic School #29. Lutheran High School Northeast #28. Archbishop Bergan Catholic School #27. Heartland Lutheran High School #26. Omaha Christian Academy #25. Kearney Catholic High School #24. Guardian Angels Central Catholic High School #23. Concordia Junior/Senior High School #22. Sacred Heart School #21. Scotus Central Catholic High School #20. St. Francis Schools #19. Lourdes Central Catholic School #18. Lincoln Lutheran Middle/High School #17. Parkview Christian Schools #16. Cornerstone Christian School #15. St. Cecilia High School #14. Roncalli Catholic High School #13. Gross Catholic High School #12. Nebraska Christian Schools #11. V.J. & Angela Skutt Catholic High School #10. Grand Island Central Catholic School #9. Lincoln Christian School #8. Mercy High School #7. Pius X High School #6. Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School #5. Creighton Preparatory School #4. Marian High School #3. Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart #2. Mount Michael Benedictine High School #1. Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The attorney for a 22-year-old Lincoln man who lied about his age while befriending two underage girls then sexually assaulted them asked for probation at his sentencing Tuesday. Defense attorney Carlos Monzon said he believed Emanuel Chavez's case was different than many first-degree sexual assault cases, because of his closeness in age with the victims and unsophisticated nature. "This is an individual that has expressed remorse, has expressed sincerity as to that remorse and shame as to what he has done to the victims in this case. And I believe that is something that should not be taken lightly," Monzon said. He said Chavez has been in treatment for nearly a year. "What he did was inexcusable. But what we need to look at as a society is what is better for society in this case," Monzon said, asking for probation with the possibility of waivable jail time so Chavez could continue working and getting treatment. Moments later, the prosecutor said she respectfully disagreed. "We have here today an individual that every parent, caretaker and law enforcement officer wants behind bars in order to keep the youth of our community safe," Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Julie Mruz told the judge in front of a courtroom of supporters on both sides. She said not only did Chavez sexually assault two young girls, but he was attempting to lure a third "into his trap." "If it weren't for law enforcement, it may have happened a third time," Mruz said. In an affidavit for a search warrant, a Lincoln Police investigator said Chavez had sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl twice, filming it once, and a 14-year-old girl and he was sending sexually explicit photos to a third girl, who was 13. He'd met all of them online and told one girl he was 18, when he was 20, and two others he was 16. Chavez ultimately pleaded no contest to first-degree sexual assault, enticement by electronic device and possession of child pornography for his actions. In court Tuesday, Mruz said Chavez has a problem and fortunately he's dealing with it through treatment. But that didn't take away from what he has done and who he has hurt. "Mr. Chavez is a predator. His M.O. is to prey on young females, lie about his age, bring them to his home and have sexual intercourse with them," the prosecutor said. In the end, Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong said while Chavez had no criminal history and lots of letters from supporters, his crimes involved young children who he surely knew were too young to consent to sex and occurred over several months. "So this was not a momentary indiscretion," she said. "These assaults were premeditated and intentional." And the victims' lives have been permanently damaged and altered by his actions, the judge said. "These is nothing I can do to repair that damage. I wish there were," Strong said, sentencing Chavez to 28 to 37 years in prison. Photos: UNL celebrates largest-ever graduating class Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Cass County District Court judge on Monday ordered a 19-year-old man charged with first-degree murder to undergo a mental examination to determine if he was sane at the time of the slaying. Jabari D. Parsons of Plattsmouth is accused of fatally stabbing Mary Blackwell, 55, last summer. He is also charged with use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and first-degree arson, both felonies. Parson's attorney, Julie E. Bear, notified the court May 12 that her client had undergone a mental evaluation and it was their intention "to rely upon the insanity defense." Cass County Attorney Chris Perrone requested that Parsons be examined "by one or more qualified experts, appointed by the court," to determine whether he was sane at the time of Blackwell's death. Parsons will be examined by staff members from the Lincoln Regional Center at the Cass County Jail. Perrone said that he hopes the examination can be concluded within 60 days. "Once the psychiatric evaluation report is completed, counsel for both the state and defendant will conduct a thorough review of such and decide how to proceed with the case," Perrone said. "If the results of both evaluations make the same or similar recommendations as to defendants state of mind at the time of the alleged offense, it would likely lead to a quicker resolution of the case." Blackwell was found stabbed to death inside her home south of Plattsmouth on Aug. 25, 2022. Cass County sheriff's deputies, responding to a 911 call, went to 9301 U.S. 75 to investigate a disturbance. The person who called 911 also reported a small fire in the living room and an adult female lying on the floor. When deputies arrived at 3:20 p.m., they found that the fire had been extinguished and Blackwell on the floor with multiple cuts and a fatal stab wound to the chest. Parsons was arrested at the scene and booked into the Cass County Jail. Perrone said Parsons had lived with Blackwell and her husband from March to June of 2022. At the time of Blackwell's death, Parsons was living in a tent located on the Union Orchard property in southern Cass County, just off U.S. 75. Getting away with murder: Nebraska cold cases Ann Marie Kelley Carl Bittner K.K. Kody Christi Nichols Donald Bennett Ernestine Ruschy Eugene McGuire Jay Durnil Mary Heese Gregory Moore Irvin Settje Jason Remsen Jason Vesper Brian Walker Arthur Morley Jay Blockson Jeanne Kassebaum William, Bernice and Barbara Peak Jeffrey Snoddy Joy Blanchard Demetrius Simpson Julie Derrick Leah Rowlands Letha Harley Mary Cabral Mary Cronin Merlin Mosel Mitchell Simon Patrick Vostades Rebecca Williams Richard Chadek Richard Lessley Robert Beaudoin Robert Heelan Rudolfo Flores Russell McKnight Sandy Green Sarah Neal Tyrone Banister Waddell Robinson Charles Hanks Digital Equity LatinX Ed Tech Summit 'Bridging the Digital Divide' Tackles Sustainable Solutions for Underserved Areas The Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation will hold its second annual LatinX Ed Tech Summit, Bridging the Digital Divide, on June 16, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. It will focus on three key goals to develop digital education solutions for underserved areas, especially rural and LatinX communities. The one-day summit will feature the first-ever holographic teacher awards demo, five discussion/action panels, and an entertaining shark tank-style pipeline pitch from ed tech entrepreneurs to superintendents. Goals for the summit include: Exploring how LatinX educators and entrepreneurs have fared during the pandemic and addressed culturally specific challenges; Recognizing educators successes during the past year over problematic disruptions to education; and Inspiring educators to leave the summit with a plan and purpose for going forward with actionable goals. The keynote speaker will be Maria Armstrong, executive director of ALAS (Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents). The Ed Tech Summit promises to be a vibrant gathering of superintendents, ed tech founders, investors, education foundations, and economic development professionals, all coming together to explore the latest trends and advancements in education technology, said Armstrong. This years summit will feature high-level panel discussions and an innovative ed tech pitch competition showcasing emerging technologies solving educations top challenges. In addition, through a virtual teacher awards ceremony, the summit will also recognize teachers for their best-in-class lessons. The summit will be held June 16, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST, at the Starlight Event Center, 6650 Continental Drive, El Paso, Texas 79902. Cost is $199. To learn more about the summit and to register, visit the summit page. The non-profit STTE Foundation was launched in 2018 in the Southwest Texas Borderplex region to advance education with a focus on developing ed tech and a STEAM-ready workforce. It collaborates with industry partners to design and implement innovative educational tools to help achieve these goals. Learn more at the foundations About page. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. To sign-up for EZ-Pay, call us at (903) 785-6901 or e-mail us at circulation@theparisnews.com. We will use the information you provide to change your current billing to EZ-PAY. Your current subscription delivery schedule will not be changed. No refunds for early cancellations. Remainder of early cancellation funds will be donated to Newspapers in Education. (Photo : from Wikimedia Commons) Ottawa and Riyadh reopened their embassies after the diplomatic fallout involving the Badawi sisters Canada and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore diplomatic relations after five years. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) released a statement Wednesday, saying both countries have named new ambassadors. The decision was made after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman met during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November. The statement said the two countries desired to restore diplomatic relations "on the basis of mutual respect and common interests." Jean-Philippe Linteau was named the new Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi Arabian government is yet to announce its ambassador to Canada. The Badawi Controversy In 2018, Saudi Arabia ordered the Canadian ambassador at the time, Dennis Horak, to leave the country after Ottawa criticized the country's human rights record after the GAC raised concerns about the arrests of prominent women's rights activists, including the Badawi sisters Samar and Raif. Raif was a dissident blogger who fled the country for Canada alongside her husband and children in 2015. Call to Seize Momentum While Horak commended the return of diplomatic relationships between Ottawa and Riyadh, he advised the Canadian government to seize on the momentum to build closer ties with Saudi Arabia since it was a key ally with an "increasingly prominent role" in intervening with countries in the Arab world. "Re-establishing ambassadorial relations is a good first step, but it needs to be accompanied by a sustained engagement at senior levels," he said. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. It was the best of times. A young, carefree SIU student and musician was playing rockabilly tunes at a Carbondale bar, trying his best to evoke Buddy Holly, Elvis and Brian Setzer, when the hottest guitarist in town stopped by, sat-in and made the band sound like the Stray Cats. That was just one of the many stories I have about Robbie Stokes, who passed away on May 14 at age 73. I'd been a keyboardist, guitarist and bassist throughout high school and had attended dozens of big rock concerts at various Chicago venues. Once I arrived in Carbondale for college, I quickly identified the best musician in town and that guy was Robbie Stokes. I saw and heard him with Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, the Skid City Blues Band and other groups. Can't say I "idolized" him (as I did Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult), but I sure respected Robbie's guitar-playing ability even though the groups in which he played weren't necessarily my favorites. It was the late 1970s and Robbie had been playing in horn section bands and in situations where he didn't always get a chance to do a big guitar solo in every song. I could tell he was a "rocker" but sensed that he hadn't yet realized his ultimate potential. Robbie was in his early 30s and already a seasoned pro. He played on Mickey Hart's "Rolling Thunder" album and his band (Devil's Kitchen) had performed on the same bill as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Quicksilver Messenger Service among others. I don't recall the exact first time Robbie and I met and spoke, but it might have been at The Music Box, the Carbondale music store where your humble narrator worked as the guitar teacher. He probably walked into the shop to buy a set of guitar strings. And there I was, a 21-year-old, trying to act cool and make conversation with the best musician in town. My Boppin' 88s rockabilly combo was popular enough to be playing regular gigs at Hangar 9, Gatsby's and (mentioned above) The Club, a now-gone dive bar that was located on South Illinois Avenue between Booby's sub sandwich shop and the Varsity movie theatre. The first time it happened, I could hardly believe it. "The" Robbie Stokes drifted casually in through the back door of the bar. I could tell he wanted to jam. As I picked up my acoustic guitar, I handed Robbie my electric a Gibson ES-120T, an archtop no-cutaway thin-line hollow body instrument with one single-coil pickup. We launched into songs like "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash, "You Can Do No Wrong" by Carl Perkins, "C'mon Everybody" by Eddie Cochran, "Good Rockin' Tonight" by Elvis Presley and "Peggy Sue Got Married" by Buddy Holly. Robbie ripped some amazing and appropriate rockabilly guitar solos and made the band sound exactly the way I'd always dreamed. I could tell he loved it, because that kind of music was nothing like what he'd been playing in his 'real' bands. Robbie sat-in with the Boppin' 88s multiple times through the next year or so, always at The Club. I secretly vowed to myself that I'd do whatever it took in the coming years to convince and cajole 'Robbie Rocker' to leave his better-paying but presumably less-fulfilling music situations and join up with me. Karma came a-knocking when my friend, drummer Mike Ebersohl, called to invite me in as bass player of a new music combo. Robbie had met Peyton Blewett and thought a hot rock band backing-up the young songwriter might be noticed by a record company. I agreed, and Four on the Floor was born. Fast-forwarding, the band played a busy schedule of gigs over the next couple years, with shows all over southern and central Illinois, the St. Louis area and throughout Missouri. At all of these, Robbie would usually have a "perfect night," where he played not a single mistake in a song. I'm glad that I stayed in close touch with Robbie throughout the following decades of music with other bands and my day jobs with The Daily Herald and (for the past 23 years) the Chicago Tribune newspapers. I toured with a Grateful Dead tribute band from St. Louis for three years and gladly accepted overnight accommodations at Robbie's home when we played a tour date in Carbondale. Robbie also hired me to work shows for Robco Audio, mixing audio, being a roadie or driving an equipment van. More recently, he recorded your humble narrator as I composed a couple songs off the top of my head in his home office for the planned Roam Home to a Dome, Vol. 2 album (currently in production). Robbie added a lead guitar part to the one of the two tunes but we never got a chance to finish the second one. As Robbie's son, Robby Clark-Stokes, wrote so beautifully in the obituary, his dad was into cars, aviation, mythology, anthropology and, especially, astronomy. I remember the two of us drove equipment vans back to his place after a late gig, arriving at 2 a.m., and Robbie pointed out some star formations up in the sky. He happened to be a long-time member of the nonprofit Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois. "Robbie Stokes was an amateur astronomer extraordinaire," AASI President Harry Treece said. "He made as many meetings as his busy schedule would allow, maybe arriving late and maybe having to leave early, but he always had a question, comment or anecdote for whatever topic was being covered. Robbie could always come up with an astronomy reference from books, movies and (of course) music. He will be greatly missed by all." AASI Board Member Bob Baer recalled Robbie being "a great friend over the years. One of my best memories working with him was when he helped out with the Southern Illinois Star Party by running the sound and video for us and picking out the music for the evening. "Robbie had a lifelong interest in physics and astronomy and he loved speaking with the public and other club members at public observations. He surprised us all with his ability to recall specific details about astronomers, scientists and celestial objects. You could tell that Robbie really had a passion for science, and he loved sharing it with others," Baer said. Be sure to look for Remembering Robbie, Part 2, one week from today, which will contain tributes and stories from his many musician acquaintances. Part 3 will be Remembering Robbie in his own words, with excerpts from the Music Historicity columns he wrote for The Southern, from 2019 until August of 2020, as well as some touching thoughts from personal email correspondence between him and his close friend, me. Lastly, the public is invited to a free event Saturday at the Varsity Center where there will be an opportunity to express condolences to the Stokes family and also celebrate the life of Robbie Stokes with some live music. Family members will be available Saturday, May 27, at the Varsity Center, 418 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. A slide show will include nearly 300 photos of Robbie Stokes' life, with live music on stage in the large theater from past and present members of Four on the Floor, the Venturis and other local musicians. At 3 p.m., members of the Stokes family will make a special eulogy presentation. Financial donations will be accepted for contributions in Robbie's memory to nonprofit organizations including the Varsity Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois and others. The event is free, and the public is invited. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CARBONDALE John Walcott, an award-winning journalist and foreign policy expert teaching at Georgetown University, will join Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for a virtual conversation at 11 a.m. June 8. Walcott and John Shaw, institute director, will discuss The Search for Truth in an Age of Confusion. They will review the changing media environment in the United States and worldwide and consider the daunting challenges now facing journalists and analysts to ascertain what is truthful. The conversation is part of the institutes Understanding Our New World series. The program via Zoom is free and open to the public, but registration is required. John Walcott is a legendary reporter and editor who has repeatedly demonstrated how journalists should pursue the truth, Shaw said. His career illustrates that journalists can be respectful of institutions but also skeptical and relentless in their search for relevant facts. His career has been based on the phrase, Truth is not subjective. Walcotts lengthy and distinguished career in journalism took him to more than 80 countries. He covered civil wars in Lebanon and Central America, the implosion of the Soviet Union, the rise of China and politics in Washington. He was the Washington, D.C. bureau chief for the Knight-Ridder and McClatchy new services and a senior editor at Newsweek, Reuters and Bloomberg. In addition, he has taught media and world affairs at Georgetowns School of Foreign Service for nearly 25 years. He is also an emeritus board member of the National Press Foundation. As the Washington bureau chief for Knight-Ridder, Walcott and his team were the only journalists to vigorously challenge President George W. Bushs administrations claims that Iraq and Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. Their work inspired the 2018 film, Shock and Awe, in which actor and director Rob Reiner portrayed Walcott. He is also co-author of Best Laid Plans: The Inside Story on Americas War on Terrorism. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MANCHESTER, N.H. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Wednesday pledged to sign a federal ban on abortion but noted that passing one would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress. Although Haley didn't say how many weeks a federal ban should encompass, her commitment to signing one is the most specific she has been on the issue during her presidential campaign. The former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said "no one has been honest" about how difficult a ban could be to achieve, in a closely divided federal government. "It would take a majority of the House, 60 senators and a president to sign it," Haley said at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, suggesting that even a few GOP pickups in the 2024 elections wouldn't make the difference in passage. She was referring specifically to the supermajority required for major legislation to clear the 100-member Senate. "We haven't had 60 Republican senators in 100 years," Haley said. The comments come amid a continuing debate over abortion restrictions among the Republicans seeking their party's presidential nomination. Sen. Tim Scott, Haley's fellow South Carolinian who launched his bid this week, has said he would sign a 15-week ban. Other candidates, like former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, have said the issue should stay in the states without a Republican supermajority in Congress. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to launch his campaign later Wednesday, recently signed a six-week ban in Florida, which former President Donald Trump subsequently implied was "too harsh." Former Vice President Mike Pence, preparing his own campaign, has said he supported Florida's bill and would sign such a measure as president. The six-week threshold comes before many women realize they are pregnant. Asked by an attendee how she would square her own opposition to abortion to "overwhelmingly pro-choice" states like New Hampshire, Haley said she would not personally compromise. "I can't suddenly change my pro-life position because I'm campaigning in New Hampshire," Haley said. "It's incredibly personal, and I'm going to treat it with the respect it deserves. New Hampshire was among the least restrictive states on abortion until 2021, when it enacted a ban on the procedure after 24 weeks of pregnancy. This year, lawmakers have considered more than half a dozen bills on both sides of the issue. With a closely divided Legislature, none have passed. In South Carolina, Haley signed an abortion ban after around 20 weeks. On Tuesday, South Carolina's Senate passed a ban on the procedure after around six weeks, which the current Republican governor has said he would sign. Abortion rights groups have already pledged to file legal challenges. "Now it's back in the states where it belongs," Haley said Wednesday, referencing last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Haley referenced national consensus in her speech last month at the headquarters of a major anti-abortion group, which has said it wouldn't back any White House candidate who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban. During those remarks at the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America headquarters, Haley said she saw a federal role on the issue but stopped short of endorsing a federal ban. Introducing Haley at a "Women for Nikki" event later Wednesday, the co-chair her women's coalition in New Hampshire sought to shift the focus away from abortion. "It's time to put a woman in the White House to lead the charge on some important issues other than our reproductive rights," said Sharon Bolduc, whose husband unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire last year. "We as women voters have so much more to offer the American people than just talking about our uteruses," she said in an interview afterward. "Let's get over that already." Haley on Wednesday again referenced her call in 2015 for the removal of a Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina Statehouse as evidence of her consensus-building ability. She had previously dismissed a Democratic challenger's call for removal of the flag, calling it a stunt. But Haley later sought its removal after the racist killings of nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, by a white supremacist. "It starts at the top, when you go and you govern or lead, without judgment of your people," Haley said. "But with getting them to see the best of themselves to go to a better place, that's the key." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DENMARK Mayor Dr. Gerald Wright swore in newly elected Councilwoman Charnda Sanders Williams and newly elected Councilman Harold Johnson during the April meeting at the Denmark City Hall. He also swore in re-elected Councilmember Calvin Odom. All councilmembers gave brief comments and thanked their support systems. Later in the meeting, Chief Leroy Grimes of the Denmark Police Department agreed with Councilman Odom that the city should revisit a curfew. Councilman Harold Johnson said police should be establishing a relationship with the youth in order to get them to talk to or trust them. Also, there is a need to have a police presence along with the Bamberg County Sheriffs Department at the schools, he said. Mayor Wright said he wanted to remind everybody that what happens in Denmark with youth is a joint responsibility with homes, churches, schools, and the city. Councilwoman Rosa James said that Council should revisit the ordinances on a curfew and hold the parents accountable in order to help slow down the crime in Denmark. No documented motions or decisions were made regarding this. Later in the meeting, Mayor Wright said, We must continue to try to improve and conversations are needed with the schools, churches, parents, and the city. City Administrator Heyward Robinson next gave the Public Works report, stating that the department had repaired several leaks in the city and that they are continuing an on-going project of replacing current water lines with six-inch water lines throughout the city. The 6-inch water lines will allow fire hydrants to be put on them, Robinson said. Robinson also gave his report as City Administrator and said the renovation has started on the old city hall to make it a police station. He stated that the Brooker Center, the former police department, could possibly be converted into a youth center. In other business: Councilman Odom of the Recreation Committee expressed concerns about allocating money for youth activities. He also said Hill Ray Field needs to be cleaned up so that it can be used for this purpose. He said he would like to communicate to the citys youth through these activities. City Accountant Rusty Munoz earlier reported that all is well and flowing as it should financially in the budget and that the city is going quite well. Mayor Wright attributed the effectiveness of the Council and the City Administrator to the citys financial stability. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The S.C. Department of Transportation will have a public information meeting about its plans to replace the Interstate 95 bridges over Lake Marion. The department is planning to replace the bridges along I-95 that link Clarendon and Orangeburg counties. This includes the two-lane northbound and southbound bridges over Lake Marion, as well as the smaller two-lane bridges north of the existing causeway, according to an SCDOT press release on the project. The meeting will be held at the Santee Conference Center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 1. The Santee Conference Center is located at 1737 Bass Drive in Santee. The meeting will have a drop-in type format with displays for viewing. Citizens will have an opportunity to provide written comments. There will be no formal presentation at the meeting. The replacement of the existing I-95 Lake Marion southbound vehicular bridges will include the construction of a new, two-way pedestrian and bicycle lane. The adjacent, existing U.S. Highway 301 pedestrian bridge (currently closed to all traffic) will be retained, according to the SCDOT. The SCDOT said the proposed bridge replacements will include: Removal of the existing northbound and southbound I-95 bridges once the new structures are complete. Removal of abandoned in-water wooden pilings to the west of the current I-95 bridges and east of the U.S. 301 bridge. Two 12-foot travel lanes would be provided in both the southbound and northbound directions. A 10-foot minimum inside shoulder (shoulders may be wider due to staging requirements) and 12-foot outside shoulder would be provided. There will be a barrier separating a 14-foot shared use path for pedestrians and bicyclists on the southbound bridge only. The bridge deck widths would be large enough to accommodate an additional 12-foot travel lane in the future, if needed. SCDOT officials say the project is needed to maintain connectivity and a safe interstate for the traveling public. The existing narrow shoulders on the bridges do not allow for vehicle recovery if an incident occurs, or space to move a vehicle over that has been involved in an incident. It is also impossible to perform deck repairs without shutting down a lane of interstate traffic, resulting in less safe conditions and slower traffic movement, according to SCDOT. While portions of the I-95 bridges are currently in fair condition, the National Bridge Inventory analysis of future condition ratings shows that by 2025, the bridges will be in poor condition and may require load restrictions. SCDOT says the bridge decks do not meet the current design standards for thickness based on vehicle loads. The lack of proper bridge deck thickness results in a high rate of deterioration, especially since the corridor has a high percentage of heavy trucks. Approximately 38,900 vehicles, including freight, travel over the bridge daily, according to SCDOT. Due to I-95 being a hurricane evacuation route as well as providing system linkage yielding high-capacity traffic, I-95 cannot be closed and detoured at this location because the two nearest crossings over Lake Marion are 20 miles away. The project will be designed to maintain traffic during construction and to refrain from substantial road closures or detours. However, temporary lane closures may be necessary once construction begins. The construction target for the bridge replacement project is the summer of 2025. The current I-95 bridges over Lake Marion were built in 1968. The WJ Gooding Memorial Bridge, named after a well-respected bridge engineer from South Carolina, is about 3,500 feet long. The bridge replacement is a part of SCDOT's 20212027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, with preliminary engineering work underway. SCDOT officials say the department has spent about $3 million over the last five years maintaining the bridges over the lake. The bridges are considered safe by SCDOT. SCDOT unsuccessfully applied for a federal grant to replace the bridges last year. SCDOT officials say the department continues to actively seek grant funding for the project. We intend to resubmit the project for the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant and the Large Bridge Investment Program Grant later this year, SCDOT spokeswoman Kelly Moore said. The rest of the project, which is estimated to total about $332 million, would be paid for with state dollars, according to SCDOT officials. Additional information concerning the project may be obtained by contacting Brad Reynolds at 803-737-1440; Email: ReynoldsBS@scdot.org Written comments can be provided in the following ways: Online at the projects feedback page: i-95-over-lake-marion-scdot.hub.arcgis.com/pages/provide-feedback Comments will be received through June 15, 2023. Emailing comments to:ReynoldsBS@scdot.org Mailing comments to: Brad Reynolds, SCDOT Project Manager 955 Park Street, P.O. Box 191 Columbia SC, 29202 People with disabilities who may require special accommodations should contact Betty Gray at 803- 737-1395 or email at GrayB@scdot.org. (Photo : Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP) (CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images) Microsoft warns that a Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon is responsible for a series of cyber attacks that targeted communications infrastructure between the U.S. and Asia. Microsoft warns that Chinese malware struck American cyberinfrastructure in Guam and other parts of the United States The Chinese hacking group codenamed "Volt Typhoon" is believed to be the one responsible for the attacks The tech giant said that the strikes were meant to disrupt critical communications between the US and Asia Microsoft warned that Chinese malware was responsible for attacks on United States cyberinfrastructure in Guam and other parts of the US that were allegedly made to gather intelligence. In an advisory, Microsoft said that the group responsible for the attacks was likely "Volt Typhoon," a Chinese hacking group. The group has been known to operate since mid-2021 and is allegedly working to disrupt "critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia." Microsoft Warns of Cyber Attacks by Chinese Hacking Group On Wednesday, the National Security Agency put out a bulletin that details how the hacking attack works and how cybersecurity teams should respond to it. The attack is still ongoing and Microsoft urged impacted customers to either close or change their credentials for all accounts that have been compromised, as per CNBC. Only in February did United States intelligence agencies become aware of the cyber attacks. Around the same time, the American government downed a Chinese spy balloon. The cyber infiltration allegedly targeted communications infrastructure found in Guam and other areas in the US Reports noted that it was particularly alarming to US intelligence due to Guam being at the heart of an American military response in case of a Taiwanese invasion. The Chinese hacking group is known to be capable of infiltrating networks using an unnamed vulnerability in a popular cybersecurity suite known as FortiGuard. Microsoft also warned that once Volt Typhoon gains access to a corporate system, it then takes user credentials from the security suite and utilizes them to try and gain further access to other corporate systems. Read Also: Bill Gates Warns AI Could Kill Google, Amazon: Here's How! Targeting Communications Infrastructure Between US and Asia A joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) warning was issued by the US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and international cybersecurity authorities who believe that the Chinese hacking group could attack other networks in the US and worldwide, according to Fox Business. Agencies noted that Volt Typhoon's primary way of attacking is "living off the land," which makes it capable of avoiding detection by taking advantage of network administration tools to blend in with normal systems. It then flies under the radar of third-party endpoint detection and response products. Agencies have recommended that organizations take immediate steps to beef up cybersecurity in light of the threat. This could include hardening domain controllers, monitoring event logs, limiting port proxy usage, investigating suspicious IP addresses, and reviewing firewall configurations. Microsoft added that the Chinese hacking group's attacks are only considered an espionage campaign for now. However, it warned that Beijing could use the code initially designed to breach firewalls to conduct destructive attacks if they so wished. The tech giant said there is no evidence that Volt Typhoon used the access for offensive attacks, said the New York Times. Related Article: Elon Musk Warns of Consequences of AI @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON -- Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn of South Carolina delivered the following remarks on H.J. Res 45, a joint resolution of disapproval that would repeal President Joe Bidens student loan debt relief plan and reverse the student loan payment pause for the period of September 2022 to December 2022. As prepared for delivery "Mr. Speaker, I rise today because my colleagues across the aisle are once again seeking to put politics over people and inflict undue economic harmthis time by denying them much-needed student loan debt relief. "President Bidens targeted student loan debt relief plan is designed to help low- and middle- income borrowers, with 90% of the relief going to those earning less than $75,000 per year. In my home state of South Carolina, over 680,000 borrowers are eligible, of which over 67% are Pell Grant recipients. Over 48,000 borrowers in my District alone have been fully approved for relief. "If enacted, House Joint Resolution 45 will rescind life-changing relief for hardworking borrowers, renege on the payment pause by forcing them to pay several months of installments with interest, and claw back earned credit from public servants towards the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For many, this will mean thousands of dollars in payments with little to no notice. Cruelty seems to be the point. "Mr. Speaker, President Bidens student loan debt relief plan will help alleviate the yoke of student loan debt for millions of Americans. Challenges to the programboth in court and posed by those in Congressare meritless. "Higher education shouldnt be a luxury for a privileged few. Borrowers deserve our help and I urge my colleagues to vote down this resolution. "I yield back the balance of my time." (TBTCO) - Bo Nong nghiep va Phat trien nong thon va Ngan hang Nong nghiep va Phat trien Nong thon Viet Nam (Agribank) vua chinh thuc ky ket thoa thuan hop tac. Su kien nay se la tien e e tang cuong hon nua su phoi hop chat che giua Agribank voi Bo Nong nghiep va Phat trien nong thon cung huong en hien thuc hoa cac chu truong, chinh sach cua ang, Nha nuoc ve phat trien nong nghiep, nong dan, nong thon en nam 2030, tam nhin en nam 2045. A Belarusian NGO has helped hundreds of victims of human trafficking get back on their feet and recover lost lives. When Larisa Istomova founded the Businesswomens Club in 1995, she had no idea that she was taking the first steps toward creating Belaruss leading organization against human trafficking. Her mission at the time was to protect the rights and interests of women and children through programs on teaching financial literacy, combating domestic violence, and preventing HIV. But when women began to contact the organization about sex slavery, Istomova knew that she needed to rethink her priorities. Right after the first case when someone contacted us about sex trafficking, I was at an OSCE conference, where they talked about problems such as human trafficking, Istomova says. Then I realized that our case was related to trafficking. The urgency remains today. Until 2020, Belarus was mired in the third tier of countries in the annual U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons report, ranked as one of the top places for human trafficking in the world, both as a transit country and a country of origin, where women and men are lured abroad by offers of better-paying jobs. The situation has, however, improved over the past few years, and in the most recent report Belarus moved up to the second tier, a significant jump in a short period of time. Part of the reason is that, over the past decade, the state has stepped up its efforts. In 2012, Belarus adopted a law against human trafficking, amended later to also include a procedure for identifying victims of trafficking. By now, the country has adopted almost all international conventions on combating human trafficking. In the process, Belarus established a national referral mechanism to facilitate cooperation between various state and non-profit organizations so that one organization can refer victims to another. For example, if a woman goes to the hospital for medical help, but she clearly also needs psychological and legal advice, the hospital itself will refer her to the right organizations, and the woman will not have to look for a place to go on her own. The country also adopted the international 4Ps framework: Prepare, Prevent, Pursue, and Protect. While law enforcement agencies focus on pursue, the other three Ps fall mainly on the shoulders of non-governmental organizations. Club staff at a working meeting with representatives of government agencies. Courtesy photo. Lending a Helping Hand One of them is Istomovas Businesswomens Club, which has its head office in the city of Brest, in western Belarus on the border with Poland. The club currently employs eight women and recruits volunteers for specific tasks. After the OSCE conference, Istomova began to research human trafficking and look for partners. But Belarus did not have a single, well-established program in the area, so Istomova went to Poland to learn from the La Strada Foundation, part of the renowned European network concerned with human trafficking. As a starting point, Istomova took the experience and practices of her Polish colleagues, who had launched a hotline to advise women about safe travel abroad back in 1998. Natalya Kurilyuk, a psychologist with 30 years of experience, has been with the Businesswomens Club from the very beginning. Now she coordinates the work of the hotline and takes some calls. In November 2002, we started work to open the hotline. For an entire month, staff from Poland worked with us. At that time they had about four years of experience on a similar hotline, Kurilyuk recalls. Early in 2003, the hotline began operating seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., not just counseling callers, but also with the twin aims of preventing crimes and identifying victims when crimes have already occurred. Five employees take calls: three full-time plus two other women who fill in on weekends or cover on vacations. All have been working for a long time, almost from the very beginning. Before joining the hotline team, the women took qualification exams conducted by the Interior Ministry. But they need to improve their expertise literally every day, a process that accelerated even more with the pandemic and its constantly changing circumstances. We record every call. Then we analyze and draw up a report on a monthly basis to keep track of current trends, information on human trafficking, what issues they most often call about, Kurilyuk says. Natalya Zdolnik Since the hotlines launch, the staff has taken almost 56,000 calls, mostly answering questions about safe travel abroad from both women and men, but also about marriage to a foreigner and, more recently, dealing with coronavirus restrictions. Over the years, the hotline has helped uncover a transnational route from Ukraine to the United Kingdom, where young Ukrainian and Belarusian women were recruited via the internet. The women were initially offered escort work in the UK without providing sex services, but they were eventually forced to engage in prostitution. Another case solved thanks to a hotline call concerned an entire group of Belarusian women who went to work in Poland on a strawberry farm, but ended up in a brothel. We have been happy to share our experience and knowledge, says Joanna Garnier, project coordinator at the La Strada Foundation. It is very important that people have the opportunity to check out job offers, make sure they are safe and learn how not to fall into the hands of criminals. Of course, with such intense work, burnout is always a threat. The employees regularly visit psychologists and undergo training on how to relieve stress and tension. The downside of having such a loyal team is that it would be very difficult to replace them with new people. The knowledge and work methods accumulated over many years are not taught anywhere. Helping the Victims Just weeks after launching the hotline, Larisa Istomova turned to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for help. IOM is deeply involved in the field, having built up an international network of public organizations that work to combat human trafficking, uniting organizations in origin, transit, and destination countries. Impressed, IOM decided to support the hotline and continues to fund it to this day. But one hotline is not enough to solve the problem, and one organization working alone will have limited impact, especially in areas such as prevention of trafficking and providing assistance to victims. In 2004, the club began developing its victim assistance program with support from IOM. The program staff creates a structured plan for each person to get them back to normal life, including work with a psychologist, medical assistance, legal help, and financial support. There is a rehabilitation center in Minsk, something like a sanatorium, where victims can live, eat, and receive psychological help, usually for 10-14 days. To date, the program has provided assistance to 413 people, including 278 women and 68 children. A total of 187 people suffered from sexual exploitation, most of them women, but also a few men, in most cases outside Belarus. Some were involved in the production of pornography. We have developed certain work routines for rescuing such women, Istomova says. They can call the phone line while abroad. It happens that relatives also call who suspect that something happened to their loved ones. Of course, we ourselves do not go to the country and do not bring back a woman. We collect all the necessary information and transfer it to law enforcement agencies. Our police, Interpol, and Europol are also involved. We have worked very closely and continue to work with government agencies. A development workshop for the Businesswomens Club trafficking hotline. Courtesy photo. The NGOs ability to work with Belarusian official bodies is exceptional; the more so in light of the wave of liquidated civil society groups since the mass anti-government protests in 2020. Among many others, the Belarusian branch of La Strada and Radislava, which operated shelters for victims of domestic violence, were forced to shut down. Under these conditions, the clubs mere survival can be counted a success, especially in a country with low public awareness of human trafficking and little media coverage of the subject. Underlining its close cooperation with official bodies, the Businesswomens Club is one of the few civil society organizations in the country that has direct access to the Interior Ministry. Club employees can send the ministry all the necessary documents so that the state authorities react in time and take action. Club staff also has access to some personal and health records in government and police databases. The victims have a wide range of problems ranging from health to legal issues. We understood that we would not be able to solve all the tasks on our own, so we began to establish partnerships with public authorities, Istomova says. The amended human trafficking law lists all government agencies involved in tackling the issue of trafficking. Anyone can contact these agencies for help. If the clubs earlier collaboration with the authorities was based on friendly ties, now it is regulated by law and the system works very well, Istomova says. In the Brest region where the club is based, the list includes the regional executive committee; healthcare and educational institutions; employment centers; social service centers; and the regional internal affairs department. With the adoption of the amendment, our job has become much easier. If the case is complicated, any state structure can be involved, Istomova says. The club has several channels of information about women trafficked abroad. Sometimes a woman will call a local hotline in the country where she lives, and they in turn notify the Businesswomens Club or local police. Women may also turn to relatives in Belarus, who then notify the club. In other cases, foreign police relay information to their Belarusian colleagues, who then pass it on to the club. Once the club reaches out to a woman who has escaped or been freed from a desperate situation abroad, she will be sent a ticket home, met at the train station or airport, and offered additional support. If club staff realizes that they cannot cope on their own, the woman can be redirected through the network to partners or to a government entity. We provide humanitarian aid buy food, hygiene products, and other things. A special program is developed for each person. This is all done with the voluntary consent of the victim herself. Programs can last a long time, several years. Everything is very individual and depends on the specific case, Istomova says. Case manager Natalya Zdolnik is in charge of determining what kind of help victims need. It can be medical, psychological, or legal assistance. When we handle an acute crisis situation, a longer rehabilitation plan is developed specially for the needs of the victim, she says. The Businesswomens Club can also help its clients find work. Such jobs will usually be low-paid, but can help a victim escape a crisis. The organization may also pay for qualification courses, or refer the individual to a state-run employment center. There, the woman may receive assistance in, for example, writing a CV if she already has a profession and work skills. If not, the employment center provides free courses in certain fields, such as manicuring or hairdressing, and then helps the client get a job. A limiting factor is that the centers are poorly funded, and the personnel often lack motivation. If a woman is in an emergency situation and has nowhere to live, she may be referred to a so-called crisis room. More than 150 crisis rooms have been set up in towns and cities across Belarus, where victims of human trafficking and others in serious need can live for a short time. The city of Minsk operates a special shelter for victims of human trafficking, where women can also receive urgent psychological care and undergo a rehab course. Learning to handle the stress of the job is important for the hotline workers. Here, sev-eral club staff attend a workshop on art therapy. Courtesy photo. From Hopelessness to a New Life Olga has been participating in the victim assistance program for about seven years [her name has been changed to protect her privacy]. She fell into slavery in Poland; then she was resold in Germany. She was considered missing and thus lost her parental rights to her children back home. My condition was very critical. I was able to return to Belarus on my own, but I had absolutely no idea how and why I should continue to live. So the most important help was definitely psychological they helped me survive my tragedy and find the strength to move on, Olga says. Initially, the club provided funds to buy clothes and food, as well as arranging for her to spend two weeks at a rehabilitation center in Minsk two years running. Gradually, I recovered. I will never forget the names of my psychologists, she continues. Over the years of work we have not just talked about my history with sex slavery, but also sorted out my whole life, which helped to open my eyes to many things and reassess what I had lived through. She was able to buy a house in the village; we bought her a cow and a car, Zdolnik says, adding that Olga earns extra money selling dairy products and is happy in her new life. That life also again includes her children. Nothing is more satisfying than watching a persons eyes light up again and a desire to live reappear, Zdolnik says. Former clients always call to congratulate her on holidays or just tell her whats new in their lives. Not every case, though, has a happy ending. If a woman was in a brothel and we rescued her, but then she fell into the same trap this is a failure of our work. And we have had such cases, the success rate of the rehabilitation program is not 100 percent, Istomova says. We wont work with such a person again. We explain that if a person makes the same mistakes, we will not help again. We must give a person a fishing rod so that they can organize their life, and not act as constant rescuers holding the handle. If a person does not want to help herself, we cannot help her by force, Zdolnik notes. We also have certain rules that must be followed such as a sobriety rule for victims who are receiving assistance. We believe that if a person does not adhere to them, then we should not waste our energy and resources to help her. In addition to the long-term support from IOM, the Businesswomens Club also receives funding from UNDP and UNICEF. Belarusian education officials have shown interest in an internet security course the club tested in a dozen schools in Brest this spring. Nevertheless, money is always short and management has been forced to cut back certain activities instead of expanding into new areas. For now, we cant afford to have [more] full-time workers, and we devote the bulk of our finances to help the victims, Istomova says. The main task now is to preserve the maximum of those services that we already provide. One of the student teams that vied to make the best internet security video in a recent competition organized by the club. Photo via Businesswomens Club Facebook page. Tanya Hendzel is a freelance journalist specializing in environmental and social topics. Originally from Belarus, she is currently living in Belgium. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Lawmakers found themselves once again debating the role of schools in addressing mental health during Wednesdays education committee meeting in Casper, extending a debate that consumed the Wyoming Legislature during this years session. Mental health was the top topic of the Joint Education Committee this interim, and the panel of more than half a dozen lawmakers devoted all of Wednesday morning to hearing from state agencies and other groups that have been confronted with growing mental health issues among Wyomings children. Those who spoke testified that K-12 schools play a key role in addressing mental health, serving as a point of access for youth who otherwise may be unable to get the services that they need. They also highlighted the necessity of early intervention in tackling Wyomings mental health challenges, arguing schools are an important source. Kids have different pressures now than what they did three years ago, five years ago, 10 years ago, said Jen Davis, the health and human services policy advisor for Gov. Mark Gordon. Its different, and we have to think and do different. Speakers urged the committee to act and bolster mental health supports in Wyomings K-12 system, but lawmakers gravitated to the long-held debate over whether schools are the appropriate place for mental health intervention. I dont know if Im listening to the Department of Education or the Department of Health, said Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester. To me this is a very giant leap into uncharted territory for the Department of Education and a philosophical question that we have to ask ourselves. Is this too far? Biteman suggested that schools incorporation of mental health services goes beyond their educational charge, could lead to an ever-expanding slate of health services and could encroach on parental rights. Where does it stop? he said. During the last legislative session, lawmakers made similar arguments while asserting that the state was overstepping other areas of public life, such as religion, in pushing for expanded mental health infrastructure and support. Those arguments that the state should not intervene in the place of churches and families held sway and narrowed the scope of the Legislatures action. In February, lawmakers passed a bill creating a trust fund for Wyomings 988 suicide and crisis lifeline but stripped it of the more than $40 million that had been earmarked to support it. Other mental health bills, including one to expand access to licensed professional counselors, faced similar pushback, with lawmakers questioning the cost and efficacy of mental health programs. The education committee had one bill this year that would have provided short-term money to expand mental health services in schools, but it died in the Senate in part because some lawmakers opposed how it distributed the money equally to small and large school districts. School district leaders and education groups who spoke to the committee unequivocally called for greater support for mental health services in schools. They pointed to a body of research that shows mental health issues hurt academic performance. Students who have access to quality mental health care services they come to the classroom prepared and ready to learn, said Tate Mullen, the government relations director for the Wyoming Education Association. Superintendents from three Wyoming school districts also explained that mental and behavioral health issues are growing exponentially among the states youth, affecting schools. JoAnne Flanagan, who leads Fremont County School District No. 25, listed data point after data point. Two years ago, the school district had four students admitted to acute psychiatric care for self-harm and suicide. As of April, the district had 27. The time students have spent in residential care at Wyoming Behavioral Institute has ballooned from five student days to 357, Flanagan said. Both Flanagan and Teresa Chaulk, the superintendent for Lincoln County School District No. 1 in Kemmerer, teared up when discussing the toll that suicide has taken on their schools and communities. Their observations and statistics are backed up by data that shows Wyoming has significant problems with youth mental health. Roughly half of Wyoming youth with major depression, some 3,000 kids, do not receive any mental health treatment, according to Mental Health Americas 2023 State of Mental Health in America report. The Wyoming Department of Healths Prevention Needs Assessment Survey shows that almost one out of every 10 students in the state has attempted suicide in the last year, according to a Department of Education presentation. Flanagan said she agreed that it is important to define the role of schools in addressing mental health, but the evidence is unmistakable. I think there are some that think there is no role, but I can tell you these kids walk into our school every single day, and we cant ignore it. We simply cant ignore that, Flanagan said. We would love nothing more than for all of our children to walk through the door with all of their needs met before they come to us. Its not a reality. Supporters of mental health assistance in schools found the backing of Sen. Charlie Scott, R-Casper, who reminded the committee that schools have long helped students struggling with their mental health. The troubles were having there (with mental health) and the troubles with drug abuse have consequences, Scott said. The schools have had to deal with them because theyve got the kids in front of em. Davis spoke with urgency appealing for action on youth mental health. We need a change, she said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Wyomings Sen. Cynthia Lummis refrained from formally endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis following the official launch of his 2024 presidential bid on Thursday despite previously saying she believes he is the leader of the Republican Party. Lummis served in the U.S. House of Representatives with DeSantis. Both were founding members of the U.S. House Freedom Caucus. They are friends and she believes his strong conservative policies are in line with where the majority of Republicans stand today, a spokesperson for Lummis said in an email to the Star-Tribune on Thursday. Shortly following the general elections in November, Lummis told a Politico reporter that she believed DeSantis, not former President Donald Trump, to be the leader of the Republican Party, whether he want to be or not. She reiterated that belief earlier this month in an interview with a reporter for Insider. Clearly, President Trump is leading the pack for the presidential nomination at this point, she said. But DeSantis his style, and the issues he chooses to emphasize are very much in keeping with what the public is talking about. Thats why I think hes the leader of the party. She told Insider that, whatever happens to DeSantis bid for president, she suspects there will be a lot of DeSantis-type policy embedded in the Republican platform. But Lummis also served in the House with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who launched his own presidential bid Monday. Her spokesperson explained that theyre friends and have work closely on issues including banking and housing policy. As a result, Lummis doesnt plan on endorsing a candidate right now and will support whoever becomes the Republican nominee, her spokesperson said. There was no mention of Trump, who announced his bid for office in November following the general elections. Multiple polls show Trump leading the pack of Republican candidates so far, with DeSantis trailing in a far second and Scott much farther behind. Wyomings Rep. Harriet Hageman Trumps pick to unseat his political foe, former Rep. Liz Cheney enthusiastically endorsed the former president shortly after he announced his bid for office. Though he had in the past crafted himself as a Trump loyalist, Sen. John Barrasso has remained neutral, saying he will support whomever becomes the Republican presidential nominee. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Wyoming Supreme Courts decision last week concerning a Uinta County GOP election held two years ago may seem obscure and inconsequential. But though the situation that gave rise to the lawsuit is local, the ruling sends a bigger message about the limits of political party power under state law. It clarifies that, under state statute, only people who are elected precinct committee people for a county party can take part in that county partys elections. The decision also means that rules created by county parties dont supersede state law. In the mind of Mountain View Republican Rep. Jon Conrad, one of the plaintiffs in the case, the decision reinforces the perspective that the Wyoming GOP is a party of law, and that, though its a private organization, there are certain rules set by the state that the party has to abide by. The ability to manipulate law or rules to perpetuate leadership positions is not right, Conrad said. The case concerns a dispute in the Uinta County GOP over who could vote in its 2021 leadership elections. The group of plaintiffs were elected in 2020 to be Republican precinct committee people in Uinta County. Precinct committee people make up each county partys central committee, which gets to vote on matters ranging from county leadership to resolutions. The defendants Lyle Williams, Elisabeth Jackson, Karl Allred and Jana Williams were central committee members and leaders of the Uinta County GOP in 2020. But none were elected that year as precinct committee people. In March of the following year, the central committee met to elect its county leadership. The defendants participated in the election which Lyle Williams presided over as the outgoing chairman even though they were no longer precinct committee people. Jackson was elected chairman, Allred state committeeman and Jana Williams state committeewoman of the Uinta County GOP. The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in district court against the Uinta County GOP and the other defendants about a month later, arguing that defendants votes controlled the outcome of the elections and essentially nullified the voice of voters who elected the precinct committee members. They also said that defendants participation in the vote violated state statute, which says that the county central committee shall elect its leadership each odd numbered year. In August, plaintiffs appealed the lawsuit to the Wyoming Supreme Court after an unfavorable July ruling in district court. The defendants, on the other hand, said that the language of the statute and the county partys bylaws do allow the voting procedure used at the 2021 elections; Allred, who is the former Uinta County GOP state committeeman, drafted a bylaw change in June 2020 to allow leadership to participate in the elections. That bylaw change was adopted by the state GOP at its 2022 state convention. Defendants also argued that the issue was an internal political party matter that couldnt be subject to trial in court, and that barring the county party from adopting and using the bylaw in question would violate its constitutional right to freedom of political association. The state Supreme Court said, however, that the issues in the case could be subject to trial in court because they present classic questions for judicial resolution, including the interpretation and application of a statute. Whats more, the court said that the statute in question is clear and unambiguous in strictly allowing only precinct committee people to vote in elections, and that the county party wasnt allowed under the statute to adopt the bylaw that expanded eligible voters. Political parties are private organizations, but theyre also involved in some government process, like public elections and the filling of vacancies in certain elected offices. So, while the state has no authority over when and where a political party holds its meetings, for instance, it does have some authority when it comes to a partys involvement in government processes. The question that the lawsuit brought up is where that line is drawn between strictly internal party matters that the state doesnt have control over, and party matters that are regulated under law. One of the most significant government process thats tied with county party leadership elections is the filling of vacancies in elected offices. Who occupies the chairman, state committeeman and state committeewoman positions at the county level impacts that process since, for some statewide and federal vacancies, those are the people who choose candidates to forward to the governor, who then appoints one of those candidates to the vacant position. Wyomings Sen. John Barrasso first occupied his role in 2007 through this appointment process. Gov. Mark Gordon was appointed in 2012 to fill a vacancy in the state treasurers post. Just last year, Allred himself became secretary of state for about three months through this process after the former secretary resigned before the end of his term. The state Supreme Court acknowledged in its decision that courts generally refrain from deciding internal party disputes since political parties are private organizations. But, it also noted that courts can consider political party matters when there are constitutional or statutory rights concerned, which was the case in this situation. Allred described the decision as probably one of the worst rulings to come out of the court and said that statute cant dictate whats done within a private organization, outside of exceptions like when the organization is involved in public elections. I was very disappointed, he said. The other defendants didnt respond to the Star-Tribunes emailed requests for comment by deadline. The defendants could theoretically try to contest the statute itself on constitutional grounds. The district courts earlier ruling in favor of the defendants argued that prohibiting the county party from adopting the bylaw in question would violate its constitutional right to freedom of political association. The state Supreme Court didnt consider whether or not the statute in question is constitutional because the Wyoming attorney general, whos responsible for defending state statutes, wasnt notified or allowed to take part in the lawsuit. The state Supreme Court simply interpreted the meaning of the statute. Allred said hes not sure what next steps, if any, there will be, but that the option of more litigation isnt entirely off the table. He expressed concern, though, about the financial burden of pursuing another lawsuit. (He said theres still roughly $43,000 in outstanding legal fees to pay.) Its uncertain how the state GOP will respond or what steps it will have to take to comply with the courts ruling. Wyoming GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne didnt respond to questions from the Star-Tribune asking whether or not the state GOP might consider taking up a legal challenge and how the party will adjust its bylaws to align with state statute. Though defendants in the case were elected to Uinta County GOP leadership positions in 2021, they were uniformly ousted in March following an election season that saw unusually high numbers of contested races for precinct committee seats. Ron Micheli, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, took over as the county partys state committeeman. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CARLISLE, Pa. The remains of five more Native American children who died at a notorious government-run boarding school in Pennsylvania over a century ago will be disinterred from a small Army cemetery and returned to descendants, authorities said Thursday. The remains are buried on the grounds of the Carlisle Barracks, home of the U.S. Army War College. The children attended the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and forced to assimilate to white society as a matter of U.S. policy. The Carlisle school put children through harsh conditions that sometimes resulted in their deaths. Founded by an Army officer, the school cut their braids, dressed them in military-style uniforms and punished them for speaking their native languages. European names were forced upon them. The Office of Army Cemeteries said the latest disinterment of remains will take place beginning Sept. 11. It will be the sixth such disinterment operation at Carlisle since 2017 as the military transfers remains to living family members for reburial. Twenty-eight children have been returned so far, according to cemetery officials. The remains to be moved this fall include those belonging to 13-year-old Amos LaFromboise, of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe of South Dakota, who died in 1879, only 20 days after his arrival at the school. The tribe had written to the U.S. Armys cemetery office in March to urge a faster return of the boy, who has been described as a son of one of the tribe's most celebrated leaders. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate want to bury him next to his father on the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota. The other students to be moved died between 1880 and 1910 while attending the Carlisle school, according to the Office of Army Cemeteries. They are Edward Upright from the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota, Beau Neal from the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, Edward Spott from the Puyallup Tribe of Washington state, and Launy Shorty from the Blackfeet Nation of Montana. Remains of other Northern Arapaho children who died at the boarding school have already been returned to Wyoming. Family members and tribal preservation groups worked for years to achieve the task. More than 10,000 children from more than 140 tribes passed through the school between 1879 and 1918, including famous Olympian Jim Thorpe. Starting with the Indian Civilization Act of 1819, the U.S. enacted laws and policies to establish and support Native American boarding schools across the nation. Hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their communities and forced into boarding schools that focused on assimilation. The federal government has been investigating its past oversight of the boarding schools. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Casper area drinking water got a clean audit in the Central Wyoming Regional Water Systems latest water quality report. The public utility supplies water to Casper, Midwest, Wardwell, Bar Nunn, Edgerton and the Mile-Hi, Poison Spider, Pioneer, 33 Mile Road, Sandy Lake and Lakeview service districts. The federal Safe Drinking Water Act, originally passed by Congress in 1974, gave the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to set and enforce standards for drinking water including concentration limits for various contaminants. Under the EPAs rules, drinking water must tested for different contaminants at certain frequencies. In other words, Casper water might be tested for some chemicals every day and others every few years. The Central Wyoming Regional Water Systems 2022 report includes results for 83 contaminant tests. Of those, 18 were detected in the water systems supply though none at concentrations exceeding federal limits. To view the full report, visit wyowater.com. Roughly two-thirds of the water supplied by the public utility comes from groundwater pumped from the North Platte River alluvial aquifer, a kind of sediment deposit created by running water. The other third or so is surface water drawn from the Platte itself. Federal standards for drinking water are expected to tighten soon. The EPA in March announced it would start limiting legal contamination levels for six so-called forever chemicals in drinking water. Forever chemicals refer to a group of manmade chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (usually called PFAS) that often originate from industrial sites and can pose serious health and environmental risks when they leech into water supplies. Wyoming water managers previously told the Star-Tribune theyre not worried about the new regulations, and that most of the states drinking water is already within the limits floated by the EPA. Our drinking water is under the reportable limit, Tom Edwards, manager of the Central Wyoming Regional Water Treatment Plant, said in March. There isnt any, really, industrial waste upstream of us. Still, Wyoming stands to receive $18.9 million from the federal agencies to help remove forever chemicals from its water. According to a graphic published by the city of Casper, local residents can help prevent water contamination by: properly disposing of pet waste and litter; minimize the use of weed killers and fertilizers; washing water-based paints in the sink; disposing of harmful chemicals at the citys special waste facility across from the landfill on Station Road; reporting all hazardous materials spills (like chemical and gas leaks) to the city of Caspers Solid Waste Division at 307-235-8246; and disposing of unwanted medicine in the drop box located in the lobby of the Casper Police Department. Wyoming is a headwater state, meaning many U.S. river systems start within our borders. Feeder rivers for the Missouri-Mississippi, Green-Colorado, Snake-Columbia and the Great Salt Lake all start in Wyoming. A lot of our water originates as runoff from snowpack in the mountains and rainfall. ENERGY Minister Stuart Young yesterday met with Woodside Energy officials on the progress that has been made on the deep-water hydrocarbon Calypso Project. Young held discussions with the Woodside Energy team which consisted of executive vice president international operations Shiva McMahon, president and country manager of Woodside Energy Trinidad and Tobago Juan Vazquez, project director Stacy Patrick, and corporate affairs manager Carla Noel-Mendez. Russia's upper house supports denunciation of European armed forces treaty Xinhua) 08:51, May 25, 2023 ST. PETERSBURG, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The upper house of the parliament of Russia announced on social media that its senators approved on Wednesday a bill on the denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). On May 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a draft law on the denunciation of the CFE Treaty to the lower house of the parliament. The chamber adopted a law on the denunciation of the treaty at a session on May 16. The CFE Treaty was originally signed in 1990 by the then-NATO members and former six Warsaw Treaty states and came into force later in 1992. The treaty introduced limits on major types of conventional military equipment in Europe and provided for the destruction of surplus weapons. In 1999, an updated version of the treaty was signed, but it was ratified by only four countries - Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. In 2007, Russia suspended its participation in the CFE Treaty until NATO countries ratify its updated version. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing a potential impeachment following an investigation that detailed his alleged criminal activity and ethical impropriety. Texas Attorney General could face impeachment after an investigation cited years of misconduct by the state's top law enforcement official The situation comes after a team of lawyers and the House ethics committee laid out details of the probe The investigation started after Paxton used state funds to pay for a $3.3 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing a potential impeachment amid an investigation that cites years of misconduct, including criminal activity and ethical impropriety. The probe is led by a team of lawyers working with the House ethics committee and laid out extensive details regarding the investigation on Wednesday morning. They included years of misconduct allegations against Paxton, all pointing toward the possibility that he could face impeachment. Ken Paxton Faces Potential Impeachment During a Wednesday meeting, five attorneys working with the House Committee on General Investigating said they started to probe the Texas attorney general in March. It was after a proposal to utilize state funds to pay for a $3.3 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by four former employees who alleged Paxton of wrongdoing, per KXAN. Authorities said that the evidence collected against Paxton in the last few months support at least a dozen criminal charges against the attorney general. These include abuse of official capacity, official oppression, securities fraud, making false statements, and several others. However, they added that it was crucial to understand that only a prosecutor could officially file any of the alleged charges. In a statement on Wednesday, a senior House staffer said that the committee's investigation was most likely heading toward the impeachment of Paxton. The chairman of the committee, Republican Rep. Andrew Murr of Junction, after listening to the lengthy list, said that it was alarming to hear. The committee's attorneys also accuse the Texas attorney general of committing criminal acts and ethical impropriety relating to favors that he did for a political donor, Nate Paul, an Austin-based real estate investor. Read Also: US Debt Crisis: Biden and McCarthy Teams Meet as Deadline Looms Allegations of Criminal Activity On the other hand, Paxton accused the GOP House speaker of being drunk on the job, and a few hours later, House Speaker Dade Phelan announced the committee's investigation into the attorney general, according to the Associated Press. The Texas attorney general is also under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over corruption allegations. Phelan later brushed off Paxton's remarks as a desperate attempt to "save face." The situation marks a tumultuous time for Republicans in the state, highlighting the divisions between Republican lawmakers who control every level of power in the state's government. In a statement, a spokeswoman for Phelan said that Paxton appears to have routinely abused his authoritative powers for personal gain. She added that the attorney general exhibited blatant disregard for ethical and legal propriety. Lawmakers and lobbyists around Austin started discussing the possibility of an impeachment vote. They also talked about a subsequent trial in the Senate and how the situation could shift the balance of power in the Republican-led Capitol, said the New York Times. Related Article: Ron DeSantis Officially Launches White House Bid @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There are 1,120 body cameras which have been distributed to officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) for operations throughout Trinidad and Tobago. And the TTPS is scheduled to get another 2,000 additional devices. But two national security experts have raised questions about if and how the body cameras are being used. Vote the United National Congress (UNC) into office and get more matters like Piarco Airport, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has told citizens. Though stating that Thursdays political meeting in San Fernando was not the launch of the Peoples National Movement (PNM) local government campaign, Rowley trained his guns on Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the UNC. With apologies to Shakespeare: the Judiciary doth protest too much. Come on, people. This is T&T. We all know whats going on. We know how easily the judicial process can be manipulated and stretched out for years and years while the only people who seem to end up benefiting are the ever-present attorneys (those who milk the cow) and their clientsthe good citizens who, according to Sparrow, are the architects of economic slavery. (Photo : Pascal POCHARD-CASABIANCA / AFP) (PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA/AFP via Getty Images) An Australian police officer has been ordered to appear in court following the death of a 95-year-old woman who was struck with a stun gun while carrying a steak knife. An Australian police officer is ordered to appear in court over the death of a 95-year-old woman hit with a stun gun The victim, identified as Clare Nowland, had dementia and walked toward the officer with her walker while carrying a steak knife Constable Kristian White faces charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and others related to the incident An Australian police officer has been ordered to appear in court following the tragic death of a 95-year-old woman struck with a stun gun during a confrontation at a nursing home. The situation caused outrage among Australians and involved an officer who fired his taser at the elderly woman who was walking toward him with her walker while carrying a steak knife. The woman was identified as Clare Nowland, who had dementia and was hospitalized in Cooma in New South Wales, following the incident. Elderly Australian Woman Dies After Being Struck With Stun Gun She has been in the medical establishment since her skull was fractured after falling on May 17 following the confrontation with Constable Kristian White, who fired his taser at the elderly woman. Police authorities announced the woman's death a few hours after an announcement that White was ordered to appear in court on July 5, as per ABC News. Now, with Nowland's death, the charges against White will most likely be upgraded to reflect the severity of his actions. The incident began when the police officer and one of his colleagues went to Yallambee Lodge, a nursing home in Cooma. It specializes in residents with higher care needs, such as dementia. The officials were called after the 95-year-old woman reportedly took a serrated steak knife from the establishment's kitchen. The brutal violence against the elderly and incapacitated women resulted in a national debate regarding the police use of stun guns in such situations and the competence of aged care staff. Police officers have the authority to use tasers when lives are in danger. Read Also: Senior Russian Official Pyotr Kucherenko Dies Mysteriously on Diplomatic Trip Police Officer Ordered To Appear in Court Following Nowland's death, a coroner will be responsible for determining the 95-year-old woman's cause of death. Police authorities said that the elderly woman's injuries were from her falling onto the floor and not the electric charge from the stun gun used by White, according to NBC News. The police officer involved in the incident was placed under police internal investigation since the confrontation and has been suspended from duty with pay since Tuesday. White and his partner at the time of the incident have images of their encounter with Nowland, but police officials have refused to release them. In a statement, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said he had not seen the confrontation's video footage. However, she noted that it would remain private until the end of the internal investigation. Webb said that Nowland and her family deserve that the investigation be done properly, saying it will take some time. She added that they were working to ensure that the police officers involved in the incident were afforded procedural fairness. She argued that anything they say should not prejudice the investigation, said the New York Daily News. Related Article: Evan Gershkovich Detention Extended for 3 Months @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A challenge to plans to build the 280-mile Interstate 11 project from Nogales to Wickenburg has survived a key legal challenge. In a new ruling, U.S. District Court Judge John Hinderaker rejected arguments by the Federal Highway Administration and the Arizona Department of Transportation that any legal objection is premature. The federal agency insisted no final decisions have been made on where to place the new road, but the judge in Tucson said it appears a route is decided on and the project will move forward. Hinderaker said it is clear the Federal Highway Administration, which makes the initial determination, already concluded that neither the Ironwood Forest nor Sonoran Desert national monuments qualified for special consideration under federal law that would require the agency to study whether the highway should be placed elsewhere. He also said there was no analysis done on the ecological impacts to Saguaro National Park or Tucson Mountain Park based on the agencys conclusion that neither property is a wildlife or waterfowl refuge. Hinderaker said documents show that properties designated, after initial reviews, as not entitled to protection in highway placement determinations kept their unprotected designations even after feedback from the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and Arizona Game and Fish, among others. Thats relevant, the judge said, because it appears some decisions already were made. The evidence appears to show the Federal Highway Administration foreclosed any alternatives outside the corridor being considered unless new conditions arise, the judge said. He said the formal Record of Decision by the agency seems to acknowledge that the project, and the selected alternative corridor, will move forward notwithstanding objections from agencies following the draft and final environmental impact statements. That entitles those decisions to be challenged now, before there is a final decision, Hinderaker said. Controversial route in Tucson area Central to the dispute is the decision by the federal agency to approve one alternative route around the west side of Tucson. That decision, according to various environmental groups, failed to consider destruction to the Sonoran Desert, harm to wildlife and effects on air pollution. By contrast, they say, those effects would be less if the highway is co-located with existing stretches of interstates 19 and 10. Attorney Wendy Park, representing the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, which filed the lawsuit, said the federal agency skewed the comparison of alternatives against selecting that no-build alternative. The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, the Friends of Ironwood Forest and the Tucson Audubon Society joined the lawsuit. The plan has been defended by the Arizona Department of Transportation. In a filing with the court last year, John Haikowski, who had been ADOT director, said that without an alternative to I-10, traffic will become so congested by 2035 that it will interfere with the ability of the region to function. Further, the success of the state economic development interests will depend on continuing transportation investments, like I-11, to maintain competitiveness, he said then. Worsened congestion and poor travel time reliability on the interstate freeway system would adversely affect economic competitiveness. The project, which could cost anywhere from $3.1 billion to $7.3 billion, depending on the final path, also had the backing of former Gov. Doug Ducey, who has said the highway would really benefit our state and allow us to be the player that were going to be in terms of economic growth and development and trade. There was no response Thursday from a spokesman for current Gov. Katie Hobbs about whether she supports the project. A spokesman for ADOT sidestepped the question of whether his department continues to support the highway. Instead, Jonathan Brodsky said ADOTs focus with I-11 and other projects continues to be balancing all needs including land use, environmental and population, commerce, employment and traffic, along with an ongoing commitment to work with stakeholders. Anyway, he said, there currently are no funds to advance further study of the route for the road. Largely unfunded In seeking to throw out the challenge, attorneys for the Federal Highway Administration raised similar arguments, telling Hinderaker the case is premature. At this point, they said, no decisions have been made about what route to choose through Pima County or even whether the project will ever go forward calling I-11 a largely unfunded freeway construction project. Park, however, said that misrepresents the situation. The Record of Decision committed FHWA to development of the I-11 corridor over the no build alternative, selected the vast majority of its route, and narrowed the potential routes through Pima County to either the West or East Option, she said in her legal filings. That occurred without the federal agency properly completing legally necessary evaluations of impacts of either choice on public lands, she said. Hinderaker, in his new ruling, said theres enough in the challenge to let the case proceed. Plaintiffs plead cognizable (federal law) violations in their complaint alleging defendants failed to identify all lands protected under (the law), failed to determine how severely each property would be harmed, and failed to examine all feasible and prudent alternatives before comparing and eliminating alternatives, he wrote. It isnt just the options of where the road will be located in Southern Arizona that are at issue. Park said a stretch between Casa Grande and Buckeye also would affect recreation areas as well as habitats for various endangered species. She said there also would be environmental effects from the final stretch from Buckeye to Wickenburg. Its expensive to go home especially when home is the Philippines. When I moved to the U.S., a lot of things were new to me. My sister and I didnt know anybody other than our dad, Kei Ann Mandanas says. When I got here, there was not many options in terms of Filipino food, or it may not be the version Im used to. I wanted to make something that would keep me connected to what is familiar to me and what I grew up with and what my family would be proud of. Mandanas grew up cooking alongside her grandparents in the Philippines, and then learning her way around the kitchen from her dad when she moved to Tucson in 2010. Her mom, dad and sister are all nurses. Owning her own at-home bakery, she may be the black sheep, but she doesnt seem to mind. Mandanas bakes treats with Filipino flavors chile mango, buko pandan, ube. Shes even dabbled with vegan lumpia. Ate Kei's Filipino Treats (ate means older sister in Tagalog) has treats in four cafes across Tucson and makes regular appearances at local markets. She knows Filipino food can be hard to find in Tucson her all-time favorite Filipino dish is one that cant be found here. In the Philippines, the pork dish Dinakdakan is cheap and accessible to everyone. If she wants it here, she asks her dad to make it. Coming from an immigrant background, you want that taste of home, she says. For me, some of the things I do remind me of cooking with my family and being with them. I want to be able to share that with people. Mandanas knows people in Tucson who are from the Philippines but havent had the chance to visit in many years. Part of it is because many people come to the U.S. to help their families overseas. Some of it is because its not cheap to fly thousands of miles away. Obviously the treats themselves arent going to fix anything, Mandanas says. But at least they bring you some comfort of where you came from. She often sets up at the St. Philips Plaza weekend markets, selling her treats and meeting all kinds of visitors. She met one person who had just moved to Tucson from the Philippines the week prior that person had found Ate Kei's Filipino Treats on Facebook and visited the market to say hello. Filipinos love feeding you guys, Mandanas says. Whenever you stop by my booth, I almost always have samples. Even if you dont buy anything, I just want you to try it and see what other Filipino flavors are out there. I dont want to be pigeon-holed into a certain flavor I want people to try all these different things I grew up with. Mandanas loves experimenting with food, creating new flavors in the kitchen. Her favorite treat at the moment is the chile mango cookie. She knew she wanted to bake something with the Philippines national fruit and she was inspired by the Mexican chile mango candies that she loves. The buko pandan cookies, inspired by the green Filipino dessert with jellies, reign supreme among customers, followed by her ube-flavored treats like cookies and vegan brownies. Ube is a purple sweet potato that's often described as vanilla-y and kinda nutty. This summer, she plans to launch Filipino drinks and ice scramble a pink milk-based smoothie-like frozen dessert with banana extract and toppings like marshmallows and sprinkles. In the Philippines, people would sell the treat outside of schools, from ice boxes attached to their bikes. Its like really nostalgic for a lot of Filipino kids, especially growing up in the 90s, 80s, Mandanas says. Eventually, shed like to expand even further with items like vegan pancit and vegan lumpia. Mandanas sister is vegan, so its important that she gets to fall in love with the food, too. Thats the thing about Filipinos we want to cater to everyone so more people can try this food, Mandanas says. But until she can perfect those recipes, shes focusing on the baked sweets shes known for. My family engrained in me, dont put out stuff just to put out stuff, it has to be something you like and people would like, she says. I dont want to make something to slap a Filipino (label) on it I want my mom or my grandma to eat it and say it tastes really good. Although Mandanas treasures the street food in the Philippines, she really misses the community and her family. Filipinos, you can throw anything at them challenges, barriers for some reason we just find a way to laugh about it, she says. Thats how we get through tough situations. Where to find Ate Kei's Filipino Treats Ate Kei's Filipino Treats also makes appearances at local markets. Follow the bakery on Instagram or Facebook to see where they'll be next or to place an order of a dozen or more treats. Not all of us remember Dunbar School, the all-Black grade school just north of downtown Tucson, but Tani Sanchez does. She grew up two blocks away. Her mom was a teacher there. We may not know the unique history of the Sugar Hill Neighborhood or the importance of the Prince Chapel African Methodist Church, either, but Sanchez does. Now a professor of Africana Studies at the University of Arizona, Sanchez has lived here most of her life, and her personal touch can be seen on every page of Meals and Memoirs II: Recipes and Recollections of African Americans in Tucson. Published last year but not readily available until February, M&M II is far more than a cookbook. It is a story book, a history book, an important addition to our understanding of Tucson. I guess its a combination of all those things, Sanchez said, but theyre all tied together by the recipes. Food has always been part of our lives. Its part of who we are. When Black people get together, they always bring food. And tell stories. So doing it this way just feels natural, right? Sanchezs name is on the cover, but she is quick to say she was the editor and not the author. Some 60 Tucsonans have contributed short remembrances of their experiences here. There are 85 recipes ranging from Black-Eyed Peas Creole to Leftover Wednesday Chicken to Love Em or Leave Em Chitlin Shish Kebobs. Dont miss the Pound Cake recipe on Page 112, Sanchez said. Its so good it will make you cry. M&M II is actually a sequel. Sanchez produced M&M I as a fundraiser for the African American Historical & Genealogical Society of Tucson in 1993. We were looking for a fundraiser that might help us pay for some speakers or something, and I remembered a cookbook I had bought when I was in Korea, she recalled. I was a broadcast journalist in the Army, and each post had its own section in this book with recipes and stories from the people there. When she suggested a cookbook as a possible fundraiser in Tucson, the idea caught on quickly. I thought it was something we could do to make money, but it also gave us a chance to talk about people, she said. It never was just a cookbook. It was a book about people that had recipes in it. Dozens of community members offered recipes. Many more shared personal stories. The book did well, and for the next 25 years, friends would ask when Sanchez planned to update it. Four or five years ago, I started wondering if it was time, she recalls. When I mentioned it to some people at the university, they thought the book was a great idea. They even connected me to Megan Carney in Regional Food Studies. She helped me get a grant from the Agnese Haury Program to get us started. Sanchezs students did most of the interviews and collected most of the recipes. She herself updated some of the narrative, provided some segues and put things all together. The book was ready for release in 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic. Meals and Memoirs II introduces us to John Greenwood, Helen Wilkins and Marjorie Hudson Robinson. We hear from Debi Chess Mabie, Jamillia Joseph, and Enid Moore-Cranshaw. We meet Geta LeSeur-Brown, a retired professor from Jamaica who shares her recipe for Jamaican Ackee and Saltfish. There are recipes from the Deep South and others from the Near South, Mexico. To be Black in Tucson often means being multicultural, Sanchez noted. Theres no one way of being Black or eating Black. Three recipes were contributed by people who came here from Africa. One of our folks works on the reservation. He had a recipe for frybread. The book also provides a look at Tucsons history. The Sugar Hill Neighborhood was once the vibrant, middle-class hub of Tucsons Black community. Framed by East Grant Road, East Speedway, North Sixth and North First avenues, a large majority of neighborhood homes were owned by Black people. Friends convened on their front porches. Kids played ball in the streets. Like Sanchezs own church, Prince Chapel, Mount Calvary Baptist in Sugar Hill had a large congregation. It was the cultural, educational and social hub for hundreds of families. Educating us about our own hometown comes naturally to Sanchez, whose grandparents moved to Tucson in the 1920s because of the schools. My grandfather worked for a sawmill up in McNary, Arizona, she explained. Most of the kids went to one school, but the Black kids went to another, and the Black school stopped with the eighth grade. My grandparents moved to Tucson because the high schools here were integrated, and their children could graduate. While true that Tucsons high schools here were open to all, the citys grade schools were not. From 1913 to 1951, all Black children went to Dunbar, including Tanis mom, Marguerite Euell Sanchez. Photos of her can be seen at Dunbar even today. Marguerite Sanchez later became a teacher, and her daughter did, too. Borrowing upon her experience in broadcasting, Tani Sanchez now focuses on racial representations in media at the UA. That and writing books. As for her own skills in the kitchen? Lets just say Im a person who can follow recipes, so cookbooks work for me, she laughed. I do know this: There are some great dishes in this book. FOOTNOTES All local libraries will be closed Monday, May 29, in honor of Memorial Day. They will return to their normal schedules Tuesday. Until students return in August, the University of Arizona Bookstore will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours on Saturday will be 10 am. to 4 p.m. The store will be closed on Sundays. PHOENIX Nationally known constitutional lawyer Alan Dershowitz pleaded with a federal judge in Phoenix not to find him financially liable for sanctions levied against lawyers who filed what the judge ruled was a frivolous lawsuit on behalf of two failed Republican candidates. Dershowitz, a retired Harvard Law School professor who has practiced law for 60 years, told U.S. District Judge John Tuchi on Wednesday that he was only a consultant in the case, despite being listed as counsel on court pleadings carrying his electronic signature. Tuchi in December had ordered Dershowitz and the two other attorneys in the case to pay the fees racked up by Maricopa Countys defense of the case. The lawsuit was brought last year by GOP governor candidate Kari Lake and secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem. They sought to require all ballots in the 2022 election in which they were running, and lost, be hand-counted based on unproven claims that machine counting can produce inaccurate results. Tuchi dismissed the case in August after ruling the claims were backed only by vague allegations about electronic voting systems generally. The other two lawyers, Andrew Parker of Minnesota and Kurt Olson of Washington, D.C., tried Wednesday to get Tuchi to throw out some of the nearly $140,000 in fees Maricopa County wants them to pay for bringing the lawsuit. But the majority of the hearing was consumed by questioning of Dershowitz and arguments over whether he, too, should be liable for those costs. I do not like Miss Lake Dershowitz said he insisted on being listed as of counsel on court filings in order to indicate to the court his limited role. But that distinction exists only in law firms, not court filings. He said his only job was to raise a single constitutional argument in the case the potential for future abuses based on the unwillingness of voting machine companies to disclose the inner workings of their equipment and he was not involved in the issues that drew the ire of Tuchi and resulted in the sanctions. But Tuchi noted that only three of 15 court filings even made that distinction, and that Dershowitz was listed as counsel sometimes lead counsel in the other court filings. He pointed out that Dershowitz was granted court permission to practice in Arizona to participate in the case. I simply didnt know I was going to be listed as counsel and Im furious about it, Dershowitz told the judge. Lake and Finchem were among Republican candidates across the country who embraced former President Donald Trumps lies that elections in Arizona and elsewhere are rife with fraud. Dershowitz, however, said he does not buy into that and was not trying to overturn the 2022 election. In fact, he said, hes a liberal Democrat who has never voted for a Republican for president. I do not like Miss Lake, I would never vote for her, Dershowitz told Tuchi. I was rooting for her opponent and I think the results of the election were absolutely correct and Im glad the Democrat won. But Dershowitz said he participated in the case on behalf of Lake and Finchem because he believes the Constitution requires that people or companies that perform government functions such as firms that make vote-counting machines be as transparent as the government must be. Im almost 85 years old Attorneys are required by court rules not to sign on to factual allegations they are aware are not true. Tuchi said thats exactly what the lawsuit did by claiming Arizona vote-counting machines produced inaccurate results and there were no paper ballots to check their results. In fact, the machines used in Arizona count physical ballots marked by voters and the machines that tabulate the results are certified and publicly checked for accuracy before and after elections. Hand-count audits of a sample of physical ballots are then performed in each county to verify the results. Tuchi closely questioned Dershowitz about his knowledge of the rules of court requiring lawyers not to file frivolous lawsuits and his role in reviewing court filings. He asked whether Dershowitz had read the rules for admission to practice law in local courts, as he did after the court clerk removed his name for the case for not doing so. Dershowsitz said several times he did not recall specifics about reading court filings or participating in a phone call with the countys attorneys. The court will have to excuse me Im almost 85 years old, Ive had four strokes, and my memory is not what it was when I was 25 years old, he said at one point. But Dershowitz, one of the nations pre-eminent constitutional law experts, said he did not give the OK for his signature to appear on some documents. He also said repeatedly that he would never have signed on to factual allegations that he knew were not accurate, and that he never agreed to take on that role. He said he does not have a staff or run a law office and only provides analysis of constitutional issues on cases he is involved in. His only job, Dershowitz said, was to give people advice. I acted in absolute good faith, he told the judge. I dont have a law firm behind me. I am just myself. Trying to rewrite history Emily Craiger, who represents Maricopa County, said Dershowitz was trying to rewrite history by distancing himself from the court filings he himself signed and trying to avoid the courts sanctions. Mr. Dershowitz signed his name to these pleadings, Craiger said. Signatures have meaning in the court of law and attorneys are require to understand that. Parker, however, backed up Dershowitzs contention he did not have a lead role in the case and wasnt responsible for reviewing all the pleadings to ensure they did not violate court rules. He didnt do any investigation into the facts, he said. That was our responsibility and I was lead counsel on this case. And I take full responsibility. But Parker also said he disagrees with Tuchis December ruling that found he and the other lawyers for Lake and Finchem acted in bad faith. Frankly, I dont think we did anything wrong, nor did we misrepresent anything to this court. Dershowitzs lawyer, Dennis Wilenchik, urged the judge to release his client from the sanctions finding. He said Dershowitz may have made a mistake by not clarifying his role to the court, but that fairness requires him not to be penalized after a distinguished legal career. I fail to understand what is served here by taking an honorable man like this and harming his career for obviously something this is innocently done, Wilenchik told the judge. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. HAGATNA, Guam (AP) Guam's governor gave the all-clear Thursday after Typhoon Mawar tore through the second-largest U.S. territory the night before, ripping off roofs, shredding trees and leaving much of the remote Pacific island without power and utilities. There were minor injuries reported but no fatalities, according to the office of Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. She declared the all clear Thursday evening, returning the island to its typical condition of typhoon readiness as the National Weather Service lifted a typhoon watch. She thanked the people of Guam for keeping themselves safe and protected during the storm. We now continue to focus our efforts on repairing infrastructure and restoring services to residents, Leon Guerrero said in a statement. After speaking with department leaders and seeing the incredible rapid response to the storm I am confident we will make significant progresses towards restoration of services. Survey and work crews were assessing damage at military installations, which were limited to essential personnel only, according to Joint Region Marianas. The central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain as the eyewall passed. The island's international airport flooded and the swirling typhoon churned up a storm surge and waves that crashed through coastal reefs and flooded homes. We are waking up to a rather disturbing scene out there across Guam. Were looking out our door and what used to be a jungle looks like toothpicks it looks like a scene from the movie Twister, with trees just thrashed apart," Landon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said in a briefing streamed online. Most of Guam is dealing with a major mess thats going to take weeks to clean up, he added. The strongest typhoon to hit the territory of roughly 150,000 people since 2002, Mawar briefly made landfall around 9 p.m. Wednesday as a Category 4 storm at Andersen Air Force Base on the northern tip of the island, weather service officials said. Power and internet failures made communication on the far-flung island difficult in the early going. Leon Guerrero said in a video message late Thursday morning that roads were passable, but residents should avoid driving and stay home due to ongoing strong winds. We have weathered the storm, she said, adding that the worst has gone by. Guam Power Authority said crews were working to restore power to critical and priority facilities such as a hospital, water wells and wastewater plants. Guam Waterworks Authority was working to restore water service and had issued a notice advising customers to boil their water. The A.B. Won Pat International Airport Guam completed damage inspections, with recovery underway. The airport will accommodate humanitarian and cargo flights to Guam. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday that more than 130 staffers were pre-staged or already deployed to support the storm response. More than 100 generators as well as emergency communications equipment and specialized personnel have been mobilized. The agency's distribution center is fully stocked with about four times the food and water that was in place during Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, with additional supplies ready if needed, FEMA said. The storm is expected to move northwest for days over a large, empty expanse of ocean and enter the Philippine area of responsibility late Friday or early Saturday. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Facebook that officials are preparing, and that the storm could bring heavy rainfall and flooding. The storm could threaten Taiwan next week. Mawar regained its status as a super typhoon on Thursday, with winds reaching 150 mph (241 kph). By early Friday, they had strengthened to 175 mph (282 kph), according to the weather service. Mawar, which means rose in Malay, was forecast to maintain that general course and speed through Saturday. By early Friday, Mawar was centered 265 miles (426 kilometers) west-northwest of Guam and 280 miles (451 kilometers) west of Rota, Guams neighbor to the north, moving west-northwest at 14 mph (23 kph). Officials also declared all-clear on Rota, Saipan and Tinian on Thursday. Power was knocked out for all of Rota, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. said Thursday night. The island has about 2,500 residents. As the typhoon crept slowly over Guam, it sent solar panels flying and crumbled part of a hotel's exterior wall to the ground, according to videos posted on social media. At what felt like its peak intensity, the winds screeched and howled like jets, and water swamped some homes. Leah del Mundo spent the night with her family in their concrete home in Chalan Pago, in central Guam. She told The Associated Press they tried to sleep but were awakened by violent shaking of the typhoon shutters and the whistling strong winds. Its not our first rodeo, she said via text message. Weve been through worse. But we brace ourselves for the cleanup, repairs, restoration afterwards. Winds peeled back the roof of Enrique Baza's mother's house in Yona, allowing water to damage everything inside. My moms house didnt escape, he said, adding that his mother stayed with him in his concrete home during the storm. He drove around in a pickup truck looking for supplies to repair his mothers roof, but most stores were without power and only accepting cash. Many wooden or tin homes he passed were badly beaten or collapsed. Its kind of a shock," he said. In Tumon, on Guams western shore, winds tore a granite countertop from a hotels outdoor bar and tossed it into the air. Guests scrambled to stack chairs to brace the doors, and windows buckled and creaked. It was like a freight train going on outside, said Thomas Wooley, who recounted how wind and rain pushed through the aluminum shutters of his family's concrete home overlooking Tumon Bay. When day broke, he found their outdoor china cabinet toppled and its contents shattered on the ground. A chainsaw-wielding relative helped clear downed branches. Weve got tons of work to do, Wooley said. Its going to take a few days to clean it up. Guams weather service office in Tiyan said it would shut down operations in the morning for workers to get home to families and assess damage at their homes. Counterparts in the Honolulu office took over their duties. Guam is a crucial hub for U.S. forces in the Pacific, with about 6,800 service members assigned to the island, according to the Pentagon. Military officials evacuated personnel, dependents and employees, sent ships out to sea and moved aircraft off the island or secured them in protective hangars. The Navy ordered the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group to head to the island to assist in the recovery effort, according to a U.S. official. The Nimitz, along with the USS Bunker Hill, a cruiser, and the USS Wayne E. Meyer, a destroyer, were south of Japan and expected to arrive in Guam in three or four days, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ship movements not yet made public. This story was updated to correct that Tumon is on Guams western shore, not its northeastern shore. Kelleher reported from Honolulu. AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland, and Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor and Sarah Brumfield in Washington, Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, and Ed Komenda in Seattle contributed. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. HELENA, Mont. (AP) The first youth climate change lawsuit in the U.S. to reach trial will take place next month, though the challenge filed against Montana has been narrowed after a judge dismissed a claim against a state energy policy that's no longer in effect. The two-week trial is set to begin June 12 before District Court Judge Kathy Seeley in Helena. Seeley on Tuesday dismissed part of the youth lawsuit that challenged the state's energy policy, saying the only ruling she could have made was to strike down the policy, something the Legislature had already done. However, she said there are still issues to be determined at trial over whether the Montana Environmental Policy Act which prohibits agencies from considering the effects of greenhouse gases when issuing fossil fuel development permits violates the state constitution's guarantee of a clean and healthful environment and causes damage to the youth plaintiffs. The main part of this case has now been thrown out, and whats left of the case should also be dismissed," said Emily Flower, spokeswoman for the Department of Justice, which is defending Montana in the case. This entire case has been nothing more than a publicity stunt spearheaded by an out-of-state special interest group that is exploiting well-intentioned Montana kids ... to achieve its goal of shutting down responsible energy development in our state," Flower said in a statement. The state of Montana filed a motion last week to dismiss the rest of the lawsuit, arguing that because the Legislature had amended the Montana Environmental Policy Act, the law that had been challenged no longer exists. The amendment clarified that state agencies can't take greenhouse gas emissions into account in issuing fossil fuel development permits unless the federal government starts requiring it. However, at the end of the May 12 hearing on the state's motion to dismiss the energy policy portion of the lawsuit, Seeley told a state attorney that she did not find the MEPA amendments to be nearly as substantive to the issues raised in this case as you do. Our Children's Trust, which represents the plaintiffs, did not immediately respond to an email Thursday seeking comment. MEPA, originally passed in 1971 and amended several times since then, requires state agencies to balance the health of the environment against private property rights in permitting development. It also expanded the right for the public to participate in governmental decisions in an effort to prevent unintended consequences of development. The 16 plaintiffs, ranging in age from 5 to 22, say they are feeling the consequences of climate change with smoke from worsening wildfires choking the air they breathe and drought drying rivers that sustain agriculture, fish, wildlife and recreation. Based on the court record, there appears to be a reasonably close relationship between the state's permitting of oil, gas and coal activities and the plaintiff's alleged injuries, Seeley wrote. She added that the state has the authority to regulate emissions and climate impacts from fossil fuels by granting or denying permits. "The state may not have the power to regulate out-of-state actors that burn Montana coal, but it could consider the effects of burning that coal before permitting a new coal mine, her ruling states. This court cannot force the state to conduct that analysis, but it can strike down a statute prohibiting it. Montana's right to a clean and healthful environment was included in the 1972 Constitution. Seeley's ruling cited a 1999 Supreme Court order which noted that constitutional convention delegate Charles McNeil said: Our intention was to permit no degradation from the present environment and affirmatively require enhancement of what we have now. The youth climate case was brought in 2020 by attorneys for the environmental group Our Childrens Trust, which since 2010 has filed climate lawsuits in every state on behalf of youth plaintiffs. Many cases including a previous one in Montana have been dismissed. Advocates involved in the legal actions have said a victory in even one or two cases would give environmentalists leverage, leading to new regulations to rein in greenhouse gas emissions that scientists say are driving global temperatures higher. Environmental law experts have described the legal ploy as novel but having little chance of succeeding. AP reporter Matthew Brown contributed from Billings, Mont. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON (AP) An Arkansas man who propped his feet on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office in a widely circulated photo from the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced Wednesday to more than four years in prison. Richard Bigo Barnett became one of the faces of the Jan. 6 riot by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, and U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said in announcing that sentence that Barnett seemed at times to enjoy the notoriety. All the folks who follow Bigo need to know the actions of Jan. 6 cannot be repeated without some serious repercussions, Cooper said, alluding to the media attention and social media following Barnett attracted after the riot. The 54-month sentence for Barnett, a retired firefighter from Gravette, Arkansas, comes after he was convicted at trial on eight counts, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, in this case a Jan. 6, 2021, session of Congress to certify Joe Biden's victory over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The photos of Barnett lounging at a desk in Pelosis office made him one of the most memorable figures from the riot. Barnett, 63, testified he was going with the flow and struck a pose after news photographers told him to "act natural." He told the judge that joining the riot was an enigma my life that he regretted, but said prosecutors wanted him to be remorseful for things I did not do." Jan. 6 was a traumatic dey for everyone, not just law enforcement, he said. He has vowed to appeal his conviction. He testified at trial that he was swept along with the crowd into the Capitol, and was looking for a bathroom when he unwittingly entered Pelosis office and encountered two news photographers. Cooper, though, said he did not believe Barnett played such a passive role. It was established at trial that Barnett brought into the Capitol a stun gun with spikes, concealed within a collapsible walking stick. Barnett also took a piece of Pelosi's mail and left behind a note that said, Nancy, Bigo was here, punctuating the message with a sexist expletive. Before leaving Capitol grounds, Barnett used a bullhorn to give a speech to the crowd, shouting, We took back our house, and I took Nancy Pelosis office! according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also said Barnett has since posted falsehoods on social media about Jan. 6 and downplaying his role. The defendant still believes he can say or do whatever he wants and if someone else is threatened by it, thats their problem, prosecutor Alison Prout said. Defense attorney Jonathan Gross said Barnett didn't hurt anyone or damage property, and was being singled out because the photo had made him famous. Mr. Barnett should not be punished because the government thinks he's a symbol, he said. Coopers sentence fell short of the approximately seven years prosecutors sought, though it was more than defense attorneys' request for a 12-month term. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Just over 500 of them have been sentenced. More than half have received prison terms ranging from a week to over 14 years. Also on Wednesday, a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of assault and other charges in the riot. Prosecutors say Robert Morss, of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, dressed in fatigues and tried to take a baton from an officer, and stole a riot shield from another, while working to organize members of the crowd to push past Capitol guards. He yelled to officers: Take a look around. We are going to take our Capitol back, prosecutors say. An attorney for Morss, 29, declined to comment after his sentencing. His lawyer, Nick Smith, noted in court documents that his client saw three tours of duty in Afghanistan as a member of the Army and has already served two years behind bars. Morss alleges he was abused by guards in jail. This case has already turned Morsss life upside down. The governments suggestion that these heavy blows are insufficient to deter the one-time, situational crimes Morss committed is nonsense, Smith wrote. Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this report. ___ The headline of this story has been corrected to show Barnett propped his feet on a desk in Pelosi's office, not her desk. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Oklahoma Connections Academy honored the schools 128 graduating high school seniors on Saturday, May 20. Gavin Cook and Alexus Gonzales, both of Owasso, graduated from the tuition-free, online public school for students in grades K-12, located in Bartlesville. At OKCA, students have access to advanced courses, extracurricular activities and flexible scheduling that facilitates ownership of their individual and unique educational journey. Students who enroll in the school join a collaborative community of their fellow students and educators that provides a welcoming, distraction-free learning environment. We are incredibly proud of the Class of 2023 and what they have accomplished, OCA Principal Melissa Gregory said. Each student has inspired us with their commitment and passion for learning. We know that they will continue to be successful in their next chapter and beyond and look forward to following their journeys. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Aubrey Lakey arrived at the new Costco about 6:15 a.m. to wait for the stores grand opening at 8 a.m. Thursday. Lakey said she lived near a Costco in south Tulsa before moving to Owasso three years ago. Itll be more convenient, Lakey said of the newly opened location northeast of the Tulsa airport. Its nice to have more variety other than Sams (Club). The Costco at 4816 N. 118th East Ave. will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the grand opening celebration early Thursday, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said he is thankful because of the stores potential benefits to the region. I hope that folks know that when youre coming to this store, not only are you supporting your community by buying stuff here and getting great products and great service, ... (but also) every dollar that youre spending in this store is what helps fund, through sales tax, our police officers that keep you safe, our firefighters that keep you safe, the work that goes into fixing your streets all across the city of Tulsa. Only Costco members are able to shop at the location, which is near the 46th Street North exit off U.S. 169. Costco offers three levels of memberships and has 124 million cardholders, according to a press release about the opening. The store is the second Costco in Tulsa after a Costco opened in south Tulsa in 2016. I dont like driving out to (the other Costco at) 101st and Memorial because I live in Claremore, said Pam Grimes, a Costco member who began shopping after coming to the grand opening. The new store is so very convenient, she said. Im so excited that the store is here. Grimes said that as a diabetic, she appreciates the stores variety of organic and keto food options. I have to be careful what I buy, she said. The store employs 250 people in departments that include fresh meat, bakery, pharmacy and optical, said Bill VanHoose, general manager. Flanked by city officials at the grand opening, VanHoose cut the ribbon to open the new store. Before coming to Tulsa, he worked at stores in Moore and Oklahoma City. It was a great opportunity for myself and my family to come over to Tulsa and work in this building, said VanHoose, who has worked for Costco since 2006. As a company, they always take care of us. And Ive been in Oklahoma for a few years. I actually love the state, and it was just a good opportunity. Jacqueline Burks, a south Tulsa resident, said she wanted to go to the grand opening at the new store, having attended the first Tulsa Costco grand opening. I get excited, she said, adding that she likes Costcos Kirkland brand and clothing. I want to come to just walk around and get exercise just to see whats new. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Photos: Costco opens in north Tulsa Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco Costco (Photo : JAVAD PARSA/NTB/AFP via Getty Images) With global tensions rising, a US aircraft carrier visited Norway for the first time in 65 years, and Russia is not pleased. A US aircraft carrier arrived in Oslo on Wednesday, with the Norwegian armed forces stating that it affords them the "distinct opportunity to advance cooperation and work more closely with our most important ally, the United States." The nuclear-powered USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Oslo fjord escorted by a speedboat with armed personnel on board. US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Oslo The Norwegian armed forces have instructed all vessels to maintain a half-mile distance from the aircraft carrier and a no-fly zone was established over the area where the aircraft carrier was located. The vessel, described as the world's largest aircraft carrier, will remain in the Norwegian capital until Tuesday. It is then expected to participate in Arctic exercises with the Norwegian armed forces, as per Fox News. The first international contact of the ship was transmitted live on Norwegian public television. Spectators, some with binoculars, were observed on land as a large aircraft carrier glided deeper and deeper into the fjord and eventually reached Oslo. Laila Wilhelmsen, who stood along the route in Droebak, stated that she grew up in the small hamlet during the 1950s Cold War, and "there were always vessels here." Jonas Gahr Stre, the prime minister of the Scandinavian nation, told Norway's NTB news agency that there will be "predictable reactions from Russia" and that Oslo is "continuing the position we have had in recent years of desiring allied exercises in Norwegian waters." The profundity of the 76-meter (250-foot) tall vessel was "the biggest challenge," according to the Norwegian Coastal Administration. The administration stated that the aircraft carrier remains just within the utmost depth allowed by sailing regulations for the Oslo fjord. The aircraft carrier anchored off the island of Ormoeya in the inner Oslofjord on Wednesday evening. Beginning in early May, the US Navy announced that the ship had left Norfolk, Virginia, for its "first combat deployment," following a two-month deployment in the fall of 2022. The vessel is the first aircraft carrier of the US Navy's new Ford class. Two additional Ford-class aircraft carriers are being built. Per ABC News, the ship can accommodate approximately 2,600 sailors, 600 less than the previous generation of aircraft carriers. Read Also: WHO Excludes Taiwan From Annual Assembly After China Opposition Russia Fumes at US-Norway Drills Meanwhile, Russia's embassy in Norway harshly criticized a planned visit by a US aircraft carrier to Oslo as an "illogical and harmful" show of force. The 337-meter (1,106-foot) USS Gerald R. Ford is scheduled to dock in the Norwegian capital this week. "There are no issues in the North that require a military solution, nor issues that require outside intervention," Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov told AFP by email. The first-in-class aircraft carrier is a nuclear-powered ship with more than 100,000 tons of displacement. The US Navy announced in early May that the ship had departed Norfolk on its "first combat deployment," following a shorter two-month deployment in the autumn of 2022. "The fact that a new aircraft carrier is now making its first visit to Norwegian waters is very positive for our cooperation with the Americans," Norwegian Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said while on a visit to the massive warship. Relations between NATO member Norway and Russia -- with which the Scandinavian country shares a border in the Far North -- have deteriorated sharply in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Related Article: Germany, Hungary Clash as Ukraine Aids Remain Blocked @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 18 years ago today, future country music superstar Carrie Underwood won season four of TV singing competition "American Idol," launching her career. Born in Muskogee and raised in Checotah, Underwood quickly shot to superstardom, winning Grammys, ACM Awards and being inducted into Grand Ole Opry in 2008. A year after winning "Idol," she graduated from Tahlequah's Northeastern State University magna cum laude. Take a look back at her career here: Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Related Content Governor gets charter school legislation, education rules OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Legislature on Thursday not so quietly overrode several of Gov. Kevin Stitts vetoes, including one that would have eliminated the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority. The 13 overrides included bills by Republicans that the governor vetoed last month in an effort to pressure the Senate to cut taxes and pass an education plan. Stitt had vowed to veto more bills until his demands were met. Lawmakers ultimately passed an education package. We are taking up the time of the Senate to address a veto message that appears to be nothing more than a tantrum, said Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said he told Stitt the vetoes were beneath the dignity of his office. One of the vetoes lawmakers overrode was that of House Bill 2820, allowing OETA to keep operating. Stitts veto of the bill had drawn national attention, not only because it would have shut down the nations most-watched public television network but because the governor said he was doing it because of programs that included references to LGBTQ+ characters and issues. The Houses 73-23 vote to override was greeted by cheers and a round of applause. The override vote in the Senate was 38-6. Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, said OETA is the only statewide network that airs Amber Alerts. Oklahoma was the first state in the country to have Amber Alerts, he said. But Stitt could get another crack at OETA. He has line-item veto power over the general appropriations bill, which includes $2.9 million for the authority. Lawmakers also overrode Stitts veto of Senate Bill 429, which allows students to wear tribal regalia during graduation ceremonies. After centuries of attempted genocide and erasure of Indigenous culture and tradition, Indigenous students in Oklahoma can now wear their tribal regalia during graduation ceremonies starting July 1, 2023, said Cindy Nguyen, ACLU of Oklahoma policy director. Tribal regalia is a symbol of resistance, resilience, and reclamation by students of their right to an education that honors their culture and heritage. Lawmakers also overrode Stitts veto of HB 2255. Stitt said he vetoed the bill because it contained authorization for a University of Kansas specialty motor vehicle license plate. Specialty plates typically involve an additional fee, which is usually split between the state and the organization named on the plate. Three out-of-state institutions are listed in Oklahomas specialty plate catalog: Pittsburg State University, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy. By vetoing House Bill 2255, Stitt also blocked several other specialty plates, including one for the 45th Infantry Combat Team. Others in the bill were Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Allys House, U.S. Army Ranger and Clinton Red Tornadoes. The House upheld Stitts veto of House Bill 1236, which would have given courts discretion in awarding court costs and expenses for legal actions under the Oklahoma Citizen Participation Act. The act was intended to prevent the use of lawsuits or threats of lawsuits to intimidate or silence critics exercising their First Amendment rights. Current law requires courts to award expenses to the party who successfully moves for court dismissal. Oklahoma Press Association Executive Vice President Mark Thomas favored the veto, saying the bill would have had a chilling effect on Oklahomans willingness to express themselves and speak the truth for fear of facing a costly lawsuit. Majority Floor Leader Greg McCortney, R-Ada, said he regretted that the upper chamber had to spend so much time doing veto overrides. There are still bills one chamber has voted to override that the other has not taken up. It was unclear whether additional overrides would be forthcoming. The Legislatures regular session ends Friday. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. An Oklahoma appellate court has formally reinstated the life prison sentence for a Tulsa man whose multiple state child abuse convictions were temporarily derailed by the U.S. Supreme Courts McGirt ruling. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday rejected an appeal by Robert Taylor Bragg, 36, after earlier overturning on jurisdictional grounds his child abuse by injury convictions and life prison sentence. A Tulsa County District Court jury convicted Bragg of six child abuse counts in 2017. A judge later sentenced him, in accordance with the jury recommendations, to simultaneously serve one life prison term and five 20-year prison terms. State prosecutors accused Bragg of abusively shaking a 36-day-old girl in 2014, causing brain damage, retinal hemorrhages and rib fractures, according to Tulsa World archives. The victim was a member of the Cherokee Nation under a tribal law that provides temporary, 240-day citizenship to newborns of tribal members. Bragg was among scores of criminal defendants who challenged their state convictions after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the Muscogee Nation reservation had never been disestablished. The ruling has since been extended to include the reservations of the Cherokee Nation where the abuse occurred and seven other tribes. Based on the McGirt ruling, the Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Braggs convictions and sentences in October 2021. At the time, major crimes occurring within Indian Country were typically the sole jurisdiction of federal and tribal prosecutors. Meanwhile, a federal grand jury in March 2021 had named Bragg in a four-count indictment filed under seal charging him with two counts of child abuse in Indian Country and two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child in Indian Country. The federal charges were made public after the state appellate court overturned his state convictions. The case took a turn in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a challenge filed by Victor Manuel Castro-Huerta that the state shares jurisdiction with federal prosecutors in cases where a nontribal member victimizes a tribal member within reservation land or Indian Country. The ruling meant in Braggs case that the state did have the right to prosecute Bragg for the 2014 crimes, if it so chose. The Tulsa County District Attorneys Office signaled on April 13 that it was seeking to exercise its jurisdiction in Braggs case when it requested that he be transported to Oklahoma Department of Corrections custody so he could serve out his sentence, according to a court filing in Braggs federal case. On April 21, records show, Chief U.S. District Judge John Heil III granted a federal prosecutors request that Braggs federal criminal charges be dismissed so state corrections officials could regain custody of Bragg. In addition to ruling against Braggs jurisdictional challenge, the Court of Criminal Appeals turned away his claim that he was tricked into admitting abusive conduct involving the infant while being interrogated by police. The court also rejected claims that statements he made before he was read his rights were improperly admitted. The court ruled that he was not in custody at the time and that his statements were freely given. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. McGirt v. Oklahoma: Supreme Court decision and aftermath June 19, 2022: Power generating company drops McGirt-based challenge to property taxes June 2, 2022: Cherokee Nation drops plan to turn north Tulsa property into a courthouse April 24: Gov. Stitt concerned about what McGirt ruling doesn't say, its far-reaching interpretations April 13, 2022: City can still issue traffic citations to Native citizens March 31, 2022: Gov. Stitt calls McGirt ruling 'preposterous' on Fox News' 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' March 9, 2022: City of Tulsa says McGirt ruling makes tribal members second-class citizens Feb. 23, 2022: Supreme Court won't hear McGirt arguments from state of Oklahoma Feb. 22, 2022: Federal lawsuit challenges Oklahoma's right to tax Native Americans Feb. 7, 2022: Gov. Stitt says Thats not fair' regarding McGirt-related case at State of the State Feb. 2, 2022: 'It is not too late for us to begin anew,' Muscogee Nation Chief says Jan. 22, 2022: Supreme Court lets McGirt ruling stand, will consider letting Oklahoma share jurisdiction Jan. 9, 2022: Most released due to McGirt have been charged either federally or tribally, Tulsa World analysis finds Dec. 14, 2021: Tribal leaders sound off as Stitt seeks change to hunting, fishing license compacts Dec. 12, 2021: Cherokee Nation disputes state's claim McGirt ruling has caused 'chaos' Oct. 28, 2021: Tulsa Indian Affairs Commission asks city to withdraw brief on McGirt Oct. 21, 2021: State appellate court extends McGirt ruling to include Quapaw Nation Sept. 18, 2021: Oklahoma AG asks Supreme Court again to reverse or limit McGirt Aug. 27, 2021: Gov. Kevin Stitt says McGirt legal decision is state's 'most pressing issue' Aug. 26, 2021: Man at center of McGirt landmark legal case sentenced to 3 life sentences Aug. 6, 2021: State asks U.S. Supreme Court to overturn landmark McGirt decision Aug. 1, 2021: U.S. House rejects $154 million for tribal judicial systems July 19, 2021: Gov. Stitt sues federal government July 19, 2021: Osage Nation seeks court affirmation that its reservation also was never disestablished July 13, 2021: Contentious McGirt forum ends early after shout-down from audience July 9, 2021: Cherokee Nation highlights expansion of legal system on anniversary of ruling July 8, 2021: 'McGirt v. Oklahoma Community Impact Forum' set for July 13; tribal leaders irked June 10, 2021: '80s serial rapist's claim he is 'Indian' for criminal jurisdictional purposes rejected May 26, 2021: U.S. Supreme Court signals they could limit ruling May 19, 2021: State-Tribal Litigation Fund bill passes May 17, 2021: How Cherokee Tribal courts are handling the surge in cases May 11, 2021: Oklahoma congressman's bill would allow tribes to compact with state on criminal jurisdiction May 10, 2021: Cherokee, Chickasaw tribal chiefs announce support for federal legislation April 29, 2021: State appeals court overturns two more death sentences April 28, 2021: AG seeks to intervene in case of power plant objecting to property taxes April 15, 2021: Appellate court rejects claims of two who failed to prove ancestry April 14, 2021: Chickasaws question Gov. Stitt's rhetoric about McGirt impact April 9, 2021: Four serving life sentences in state prison to get new trials April 8, 2021: Death-row inmate's state conviction, sentence are in jeopardy April 8, 2021: State appellate court dismisses five more cases on jurisdictional grounds April 6, 2021: Cherokee AG says some cases dismissed by ruling could go unretried April 1, 2021: State appellate court expands McGirt ruling March 31, 2021: 'Fracture' in criminal system created by decision, Tulsa County DA says March 18, 2021: Manslaughter conviction for ex-Tulsa Police officer overturned March 14, 2021: Broken Arrow power plant claims county has no authority to levy property taxes March 11, 2021: Court ruling means hundreds of state criminal cases will be shifted to tribal or federal courts March 11, 2021: Cherokees expanding criminal justice system for larger role March 7, 2021: Former principal chief isn't happy as McGirt decision hits home March 4, 2021: Rogers County judge dismisses over 100 criminal cases Feb. 1, 2021: Gov. Stitt takes on McGirt ruling during State of the State address Jan. 28, 2021: McGirt decision impact on state oil and gas industry examined during OEPA briefing Jan. 23, 2021: Oklahoma governor urges tribes to begin negotiating issues Jan. 15, 2021: Tribes want Congress to allow criminal justice compacts with Oklahoma Jan. 8, 2021: Former Tulsa police officer's double-jeopardy, statute-of-limitations claims denied Jan. 4, 2021: McGirt decision results in record number of criminal federal filings in 2020 Nov. 7, 2020: Federal jury finds McGirt guilty in retrial Oct. 23, 2020: Gov. Stitt panel releases principles for state-tribe relations Oct. 5, 2020: McGirt ruling could have impact on state tax collections Oct. 1, 2020: Attorney General Bill Barr meets with Cherokee Nation leadership, local federal prosecutors Aug. 29, 2020: Man charged in 1990s rapes freed due to McGirt ruling Aug. 14, 2020: McGirt makes federal court appearance in child sex abuse case Aug. 7, 2020: McGirt-related murder cases increase Tulsa federal court's caseload Aug. 1, 2020: Feds file charges against two men whose state convictions were overturned July 29, 2020: Attorneys general for Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation discuss ruling on 'Let's Talk' July 21, 2020: Gov. Stitt forms commission to study impact of decision on state July 20, 2020: Oklahoma AG tracking scores of appeals that could be affected by decision July 17, 2020: Attorney general, tribes reach agreement on jurisdictional issues July 15, 2020: Ruling could affect case of mother charged with killing children July 14, 2020: Homicide in Tulsa 'first real test' of decision July 12, 2020: Decision to have little impact on nontribal residents, TU law professor says July 10, 2020: Tribal law expert calls ruling 'most important' in state history July 9, 2020: U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision December 2019: U.S. Supreme Court to hear McGirt v. Oklahoma McGirt v. Oklahoma: Supreme Court decision and aftermath Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. OKLAHOMA CITY State Superintendent Ryan Walters is launching what he called a public awareness campaign against the nations largest teachers union and its state affiliate, he announced Thursday. During the monthly Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting, Walters had a newly created video shown contrasting his statements during a recent appearance on a Fox News television program with convention statements from National Education Association President Rebecca Pringle and Executive Director Kim Anderson, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris appearance at the NEA event. Interspersed throughout the new video from the Oklahoma State Department of Education were brief video clips of an unidentified individual speaking about second-graders in her class choosing nongender-specific pronouns for themselves, of an interview with Maia Kobabe, author of a memoir called, Gender Queer, and another adult, a former El Paso, Texas, teacher, speaking about her preference that child sex abusers be referred to as minor attracted. Earlier this month, Walters called teachers unions terrorist organizations in a heated legislative hearing at the Capitol. There was an overflow crowd for Thursday mornings state board meeting. About 40 individuals could not be accommodated in the boardroom seating area, so they listened as best they could from a hallway outside. At the conclusion of the video being displayed, Erika Wright, president of the Noble Public Schools Foundation and founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition, called out from the hallway: Shame on you! Recent State Board of Education meetings have drawn political supporters of Walters to sign up and offer public comment applauding his ongoing rhetoric decrying public school teachers for liberal and Marxist indoctrination of students and certain books as pornographic. Since Thursday mornings meeting occurred after the conclusion of the academic year for most school districts, those voices were joined by some public school teachers and parents who questioned the truthfulness of Walters claims as they pertain to Oklahoma public schools and expressed concern about Walters terrorist remark. Board member Katie Quebedeaux was absent from Thursdays meeting, as was Trent Smith, who recently resigned. Gov. Kevin Stitts office did not respond when asked when Smiths replacement might be named. Shaista Fenwick, who teaches at Moore High School and the University of Oklahoma, said this at Thursdays state board meeting about the way she feels she has been spoken about as a teacher recently: Its not offensive. Its dehumanizing. And trust and believe our children are watching. Stacey Woolley, Tulsa school board president, said she came to speak only as the parent of public school students and not in her capacity as a locally elected school official. She told Walters she believes his words have been vitriolic, dishonest ... and they are also inciting, and in a country where mass shootings have become routine, they might just be the spark that light the fire. Listen to my heart from one parent to another. Im here to ask honestly, to beg to beg for you for the safety of my children that you take time to genuinely reflect upon the words you use, Woolley said to Walters from a lectern. Another public school parent, Kit Fairchild, did not identify his hometown in his public remarks but said he is a business owner and that he and his wife are the parents of three children, two of whom have already graduated and one who is in high school. Fairchild accused Walters of being stuck in campaign mode and said the aim of his rhetoric is to get people anxious and nervous and scared. Susan Whitehorse Johnson, a Kiowa woman from Elgin, indicated that she is an educator, although she did not specify her title or district. She said Oklahoma has a history of indoctrinating children when Native children were taken from this state and put mostly in religious schools. But she disputed that modern day Oklahoma public school educators are doing any such thing. This rhetoric of indoctrination is not happening, said Whitehorse Johnson. In just over an hour of public comment, Walters supporters turned out in force, as has become the norm. The Rev. Stephen Hamilton, pastor of St. Monica Catholic Church in Edmond, commended Walters and the other State Board of Education members. The vast majority of people in our great state support you and the work youre doing to provide children and youth with good formation free from ideologies that are not part of education, education whose mission should be to help young minds ascertain the truth. Julie Collier told the board she and her family recently relocated back to Oklahoma after living in California for years. We are thrilled so far with the education he has received, she said of her son. She added that she has worked as an adjunct teacher in their new school district. His teachers are amazing because theyre a part of the community and they care. Collier said she believes that Walters statement that teachers unions are terrorists has been taken out of context, but she said she is troubled by the control she believes teachers unions wield here. I also understand youre not calling teachers terrorists youre calling the teachers unions terrorists, she said. And I will say that the teachers unions are clearly making a very strong move in Oklahoma to take over the education, to take over the politics, to take over every seat from the school boards, to the city, to the county, to the state and the federal government. And that is not their place. We need to make sure that our kids are educated and they are not indoctrinated by the politics of the teachers unions. Keep the teachers unions out of the classroom. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Photos: Thursday's Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Senate narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that would provide additional funds to finish the OKPOP museum in Tulsa. Senate Bill 22x passed by a vote of 25-20 and now heads to the House for consideration. It takes 25 votes to pass a bill in the upper chamber, so supporters had no breathing room in getting the measure approved. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, said the measure would require supporters of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, across Main Street from Cains Ballroom, to raise $18 million from other sources to be matched with $18 million from the state. The other funds must be raised by Nov. 15, 2024, according to the measure. If the funds are not raised, the state dollars set aside for the project will be transferred to the states General Revenue Fund. The Legislature had approved and then-Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law a bill in 2015 that provided $25 million in bonds to build the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, to be known as OKPOP. About $30 million has already been spent to build the building, but museum officials have said another $35 million to $40 million is needed to finish the interior, including installation of exhibits. Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, asked what guarantee lawmakers had that still more money for OKPOP would not be requested of the state. Thompson said he thinks the additional dollars are enough to wrap everything up. That is my belief today, he said. Daniels said OKPOP was a way to appease Tulsa for state money that went to build the First Americans Museum, previously called the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, in Oklahoma City. That facility opened in 2021. She said she has opposed funding for OKPOP in the past. This just irritates the heck out of me, she said. The state should never have gotten involved with funding the museum in the first place, Daniels said. Thompson said he realized the frustration, but he said the state has a building with a lot of money already invested in it. The museum is to showcase and tell the story of the influence Oklahomans have had on popular culture. In unrelated action, the Senate passed Senate Bill 16x, which would provide six weeks of paid maternity leave for state employees. The measure passed by a vote of 34-11 and also heads to the House for consideration. Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, said the measure would create an unfair advantage with private sector businesses that must compete against the state for employees. Everyone in the state is being asked to pay for the leave, he said, adding that it is an unnecessary growth of state government. Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, said offering paid maternity leave is a great way to say women and families are valued. Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, said the assumption that the private sector does not offer paid maternity leave is false. Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, said the United States is one of the few developed countries in the world that do not have mandatory paid family leave. The benefit would be available to state employees who have been on the job for at least two years. Employees would not be required to use their accrued leave for the initial six-week period but could request to use such leave for any additional time off needed up to the 12 weeks provided under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Oklahoma currently has nearly 31,500 state employees. More than 59% of them are women, and more than 40% of the states workforce are of the age to have children, according to Senate staff. Employee turnover costs Oklahoma an estimated $110 million a year, and a majority of those leaving are women, according to Senate staff. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Gallery: Memorabilia bound for Tulsa's OKPOP Museum Superman cel Donald Duck Ernie Fields poster Tom Mix toy horse Leon Russell case Jamie Oldaker Eric Clapton tour jacket Bob Wills statuette Drum kit Luke Cage comic Luke Cage hoodie Alfre Woodard apparel Russell Myers Broom Hilda Jesse Ed Davis guitar $3 for 3 months Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Republicans called the $12.9 billion general appropriations bill passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday the best they had ever seen and even historic. Democrats allowed that it was pretty good, all things considered, but could have been a lot better. House Bill 1004x, which must still get through the Senate and survive Gov. Kevin Stitts line-item veto authority, includes part of a record appropriation to Common Education, a $215-million housing program, money to complete a now-$100 million veterans center at Sallisaw, $18 million for Tulsas unfinished OKPOP museum and a lot of other stuff. It also leaves about $1 billion in authorized spending unappropriated, which is one of the reasons some Democrats complained. When is it going to be time for great? asked Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater. Thats $1 billion not going to affordable housing. Its $1 billion not going toward the (disability services) waiting list. Its $1 billion not going towards mental health in our schools. When I hear, Dont pass up the good for great, I think, I want great. This state has so much potential, but we dont believe it. Appropriations and Budget Committee Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, said the Republican majoritys decision not to fully appropriate authorized amounts in recent years is a reason the state has been able to accumulate the large reserves that allowed the Legislature to make some bold moves this session. He said it will also allow the state to better weather the next economic downturn, whenever it comes. When I first came into office (2015), we had three down years in a row, Wallace said. I think we had one before that. Overall, he said, state revenue shrank by more than $3 billion. The state has roughly that much in reserve now, and Wallace and many legislators who went through those years would like to keep it that way. Thats apparently one reason the Senate refused to go along with a general tax cut much to some House members disappointment. Its been very frustrating, Wallace said of this years budget negotiations, but this is the absolute best appropriations bill Ive ever had the privilege of working on. The clutch of bills associated with the general appropriations bill does, however, include some targeted tax relief, including elimination of the franchise tax paid by some businesses. Also in the hopper is elimination of a quirk in the states income tax laws that costs married couples about $25 more than individual filers. Already on the governors desk is a tax credit for private school and home school costs that will amount to $250 million annually when fully implemented in three years. Wednesdays most controversial bills actually had little to do with the budget. One, HB 1011x, ran into trouble because of unanswered questions about the $26.3 million renovation of a state-owned building near the Capitol. It finally passed with 57 votes, six more than the required 51. HB 1023x involves a long-running controversy about the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Qualitys building in downtown Oklahoma City and the buildings structurally unsound parking garage. HB 1023x, which got just 52 votes, would revoke permission to sell the building and allow the garage to be demolished. HB 1022x, which would create a judicial evaluation commission, got the minimum 51 votes. HB 1004x, the general appropriations bill, ultimately passed 80-21, with two Republicans voting against it and one Democrat for it. Appropriations and budget bills for the fiscal year that begins July 1 are being handled through a concurrent special session to give the Legislature more flexibility in the face of Fridays 5 p.m. deadline for adjourning this years regular session. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Tulsa-area state legislators and how to contact them Sen. Nathan Dahm Sen. Jo Anna Dossett Sen. Todd Gollihare Sen. John Haste Sen. Kevin Matthews Sen. Joe Newhouse Sen. Dana Prieto Sen. Dave Rader Sen. Cody Rogers Rep. Meloyde Blancett Rep. Jeff Boatman Rep. Amanda Swope Rep. Suzanne Schreiber Rep. Dean Davis Rep. Mark Tedford Rep. Scott Fetgatter Rep. Ross Ford Rep. Regina Goodwin Rep. Kyle Hilbert Rep. Mark Lawson Rep. T.J. Marti Rep. Stan May Rep. Monroe Nichols Rep. Clay Staires Rep. Terry O'Donnell Rep. Melissa Provenzano Rep. Lonnie Sims Rep. John Kane Rep. Mark Vancuren Rep. John Waldron Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now India's Adani Group is exploring the possibility to invest up to $3 billion in seaport and renewable energy projects in Vietnam, the Vietnamese government said in a statement on Wednesday. The statement came after a meeting in Hanoi on the same day between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Karan Adani, chief executive officer of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, a unit of the cooking oil-to-coal mining conglomerate Adani Group. "Vietnam is willing to create more favourable conditions for India's large companies, including Adani, to invest and do business in the country," Chinh told Karan at the meeting, according to the statement. Chinh said Vietnam welcomed Adani's investment, initially in Lien Chieu Port in the central city of Da Nang, according to the statement. Karan told Chinh Adani would soon work with Vietnamese partners and stakeholders on specific investment projects in the country, according to the statement, which said the investment could reach $10 billion over the longer term. Vietmap Application Joint Stock Company (VIETMAP JSC) has dedicated significant resources, personnel, and cutting-edge technology to gathering comprehensive and real-time traffic data across all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam. The business places consistent emphasis on ensuring the quality and precision of the data. Significant investment for intricate traffic data Vietmap experts dedicate their investments toward researching and implementing advanced technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, and various others to enhance their capabilities of traffic data collection and processing. Furthermore, the company utilizes various specialized facilities to collect data, ensuring more comprehensive, precise, and consecutive information. The brand consistently endeavors to utilize advanced technology and stay up to date with the latest trends, resulting in the acquisition of highly accurate and reliable traffic information. In addition, the company places a strong emphasis on investing in a team of exceptionally skilled professionals specializing in Maps API. These experts promptly respond to changes in information and data within Vietnams traffic system to meet the diverse needs of their customers and challenges in the market. According to their introduction, the two finest pieces of navigation software, Vietmap S2 and Vietmap Live, have been highly praised by Vietnamese drivers. Vietmap S2 is the offline navigation software exclusively designed for Android car display, offering accurate and remarkably stable traffic alert data that is updated every three months. And Vietmap Live is a hybrid navigation application developed to use on mobile and synchronize with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Vietmap Lives traffic data is updated weekly and it automatically accesses the latest information when users connect to 4G or the Internet, without any intervention. Both pieces of navigation software claim to be the most demanding applications that excel in terms of comprehensive warning data systems, precise navigation algorithms, and personalized features supporting user driving behavior, according to a company representative. These applications also offer various and beneficial features for a safe and sound journey. The optimal navigation software is one that is continuously updated with real-time data collected in the most efficient and effective method. However, achieving 100-percent compatibility between real-world data and map data remains an impossible goal for any mapping company worldwide. The organization vows to deliver real-time and accurate data from real data collection, ensuring precision and responsiveness in addressing dynamic traffic conditions. Vietmap Live with the latest traffic data automatically updated. Methodical process for reliable and detailed traffic data The professional engineers from the company understand the pain point which drivers encounter while navigating through traffic and they take great care at every stage to ensure that the data processing aligns with customers requirements. The process is systematically developed and improved in multiple stages, encompassing four main steps: data collection, data processing, data control, and packaging and distribution. First, the team conducts on-site data collection, gathering comprehensive information about speed limits, traffic signs, road systems, and infrastructure using both cars and motorcycles. This comprehensive approach ensures extensive coverage and expands the scope during the implementation process. In addition, the company utilizes a diverse range of collection equipment to capture the specific requirements of each type of data. Next, the team categorizes data into groups like traffic signs, roads, locations, and addresses. For each data group, the team employs specific tools and methods to verify collected data. After that, the updates will be implemented across the hardware products and software of the brand. The process of field data collection is carried out efficiently and professionally. The company not only prioritizes swift data updates to provide users with the most accurate traffic information, but it also consistently welcomes all drivers feedback. This enables them to further enhance the features of products and quality service in order to fulfill all customer demands. As a digital mapping company, the organization expects to excel in this field. Future development direction In the near future, the company plans to develop Vietmap Live as an exclusive national navigation application specifically tailored for users in Vietnam. The navigation software will provide real-time data updates, enabling drivers to promptly access the latest traffic information. The company further pledges to expand automotive accessory products and innovative solutions to best meet users' needs, elevating the driving experience and providing the utmost satisfaction during each journey. For more information: https://tinyurl.com/4yvjnrek Vietmap Application Joint Stock Company Vietmap - Elevate Your Driving Experience Headquarters: 3 Tran Nhan Ton Street, Ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. Branch in Central Region: 490 2/9 Street, Hoa Cuong Nam Ward, Hai Chau, Da Nang City. Branch in Northern Region: 98 - 100 Khuong Dinh Street, Ha Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi. Representative office in Can Tho: D2-33 No. 47 Street, Residential Area 586, Phu Thu Ward, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City. Representative office in Buon Ma Thuot: 20 Tran Quoc Thao Street, Tan An Ward, Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province. Representative office in Nha Trang: 35 Van Tien Dung Street, VCN Phuoc Hai Residential Area, Phuoc Hai Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. Hotline: 089.616.4567 Thirty schoolchildren in Ho Chi Minh City who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic ignited their summer holiday by visiting cultural and historic destinations during a city tour on Wednesday. They are elementary and middle school students in both inner-city and outlying districts in the southern metropolis. The kids, who lost one or both of their parents to the pandemic, visited Biet Dong Sai Gon (Saigon Rangers) Museum, located on the second floor of a house built in 1963 on Tran Quang Khai Street, District 1, and explored the Reunification Palace, among others. They also had opportunities to make new friends, play games with each other, and receive gifts. As these kids are from different groups of age and living in disadvantaged conditions, the tour organizer, including Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper and the travel firm Vietluxtour, had made thorough preparations to ensure they could feel relaxed after the end of a school year and fully enjoy the tour. One of the participants, Bui Thi Ngoc Phuong, residing in District 8, said: I had so much fun today because I learned lots of interesting things and made new friends. Some kids showed their excitement when exploring secret tunnels serving as old revolutionary bases in wartime. Ly Doan Tam, a student from Binh Tan District who described the tour as his first trip ever, said he wanted to visit all tourist attractions in Vietnam. The organizer hoped that the trip could encourage the kids to express themselves more and share their feelings with others, in order to partly help them overcome their difficulties. The organizer added that they would arrange similar trips for COVID-affected children in the upcoming time, with each having some 30 participants. Some students said it was their first trip to the Reunification Palace in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hai Kim / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The United States, Mexico, and Canada fulfilled key commitments made by President Joseph Biden, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City on January 9-10 to deepen our economic cooperation, create the quality jobs of the future, promote investment, spur innovation, and strengthen the resilience of our economies. The three governments organized the first North America Semiconductor Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 18-19 with the support of the Semiconductor Industry Association and Arizona State University. The conference reflects a shared commitment by government, industry, and academia to work together to strengthen the resilience of the North American semiconductor supply chain. READ NEXT: Statement from President Joe Biden on Historic Agreement to Protect Colorado River System The United States, Mexico, and Canada also launched the North American Ministerial Committee on Economic Competitiveness (NAMCEC), fulfilling another commitment by our leaders at the North American Leaders' Summit, which will align efforts at the cabinet-level to strengthen regional competitiveness and productivity in industries of the future including semiconductors, clean energy, critical minerals, biomanufacturing, and information and communications technology. By harnessing the power of our private sector and academia, we can create quality, sustainable jobs and provide industry with the talent required to grow and prosper, and address the needs of North American workers. At the Semiconductor Conference, the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico committed to grow the following areas of collaboration in partnership with academia and the private sector: Information exchange to support a more robust and innovative North American research and development ecosystem, with the potential to forge new, cross-border partnerships in semiconductor research and development in areas of mutual interest. Industry and academic partnerships to train the semiconductor workforce of the future. Investments in the development, manufacture, and packaging of semiconductor technologies and related innovations in a way that addresses supply chain gaps and leverages the strengths of each of our nations. To advance these opportunities, the United States, Mexico, and Canada committed to establish biannual dialogues among officials. Together we are taking important steps to enhance North America's status as a trusted supplier of semiconductors, printed circuit boards, and related technologies in the face of shifting global supply chains, while cultivating domestic expertise and supporting the transition to both a digital and green global economy. READ MORE: Statement from President Joe Biden on Senator Tom Carper's Retirement @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Samsung Electronics Vietnam has rolled out a technology-based education program called Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) 2022-23 in central Vietnam for the very first time, aiming to help young people enhance their employment aspects and acquire practical knowledge in technology. The company, under the South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics, signed a memorandum of understanding with Junior Achievement Vietnam and Duy Tan University in Da Nang, central Vietnam to launch the program on Tuesday. SIC will help young people learn about key technologies. The program consists of three courses for young people aged between 14 and 24 to improve their technology capabilities, including Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, and Coding and Programming. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Choi Joo Ho, CEO at Samsung Vietnam, reiterated Samsungs commitment to accompanying and advancing further with Vietnam, as well as becoming one of the top favorite businesses in Vietnam. He added that Samsung had developed its R&D center in Hanoi, aimed at making Vietnam a global strategic base rather than the largest manufacturing base for Samsung. Nurturing talents in technology is key to every countrys further development nowadays. We want to support young people in learning key technologies such as AI, IoT, Big Data, and coding, the CEO said. Samsung began operating SIC in 33 countries, including Vietnam, in 2019. Up to now, SIC has attracted the participation of some 6,000 lecturers and students in the country. Addressing the signing ceremony, Le Trung Chinh, chairman of the Da Nang Peoples Committee, remarked that information and technology, as well as advanced technology have become a driving force of the municipal economic growth. The Da Nang administration also attaches great importance to investment attraction programs and is committed to taking the lead in offering a favorable business climate to South Korean investors. Chinh expressed his hope that Samsung Electronics will hold more comprehensive working sessions with the city to mull over projects bringing robust growth to both sides. Representatives of Samsung Vietnam, Junior Achievement Vietnam, and Duy Tan University sign a memorandum of understanding to launch the Samsung Innovation Campus program in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, May 23, 2023. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre The very first students of Duy Tan University in Da Nang City, central Vietnam to join a course of Samsung Innovation Campus. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A piece of land at 2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, which is a prime site in the city, has been left deserted for many years, causing huge wastefulness. The 6,080-square-meter land lot is surrounded by four streets: Hai Ba Trung, Thi Sach, Dong Du, and Cong Truong Me Linh. Fences surrounding the land lot have been smeared with paint and graffiti as there is no security guard at the site. The site is overgrown with weeds with some being even taller than people. The sidewalk of Thi Sach Street has been encroached on by an unauthorized parking area and a free toilet for residents and tourists. The prime land lot has an ideal location with a view of the Saigon River. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The Land Fund Development Center under the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment received the land lot for management on October 11 last year. The land lot is involved in a case in which it was turned into an asset of a private firm from a public property. The information board for the project at the site is smeared. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The Supreme People's Court in January 2022 decided to assign the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee to handle the land lot. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment received the land lot on behalf of the Peoples Committee and asked the Land Fund Development Center to manage it. The Land Fund Development Center under the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment received the land lot for management on October 11, 2022. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The prime land lot is involved in a case in which it was turned into an asset of a private firm from a public property. The Supreme People's Court in January 2022 assigned the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee to handle the land lot. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The sidewalk of Thi Sach Street has been occupied by a parking lot for motorbikes. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre No security guard is seen at the land lot. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre The land lot has defaced the downtown area in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre A small area of the land lot is used to accommodate a free restroom. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 45-year-old man died this week from botulism poisoning despite receiving treatment from doctors at Gia Dinh Peoples Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The deceased, a resident of Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, was one of three recent patients poisoned with botulism, including two siblings who are recieving treatment at Cho Ray Hospital in the same city. The man contracted botulism, a serious illness caused by clostridium botulinum, after eating fermented fish on May 13. He was rushed to Gia Dinh Peoples Hospital after developing symptoms of digestive disorder, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and diarrhea. Due to his critical condition, he was put on a ventilator. The hospital pronounced him dead on Wednesday evening. A vial of botulism antitoxins was distributed to the hospital to save the patient on Wednesday, the hospital said, adding that the patient succumbed to botulism before the antitoxin could be administered. The Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health contacted the World Health Organization on Tuesday asking it for the supply of emergency botulism antitoxins for Vietnam to treat some cases infected with the illness. The organization quickly confirmed that it would provide Vietnam with six vials of Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (BAT). The shipment arrived in Ho Chi Minh City from Switzerland on Wednesday. Botulism is a serious illness caused by clostridium botulinum, a poisonous substance in the bacteria found in badly preserved food. It is a rare disease in Vietnam and in the world, according to the administration. As such, the supply of BAT is also limited worldwide, the administration said, adding that the price of this antitoxin is very high. On May 20, three people in Ho Chi Minh City were hospitalized due to botulinum poisoning after two of them, who are siblings, ate cha lua (Vietnamese pork sausage) and the remaining man consumed fermented fish kept for too long. The two siblings, aged 18 and 26, and the 45-year-old man developed symptoms of digestive disorder, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and diarrhea and quickly became worse later with muscle weakness, dysphagia, and diplopia. In mid-May, three siblings contracted botulism after eating cha lua in Ho Chi Minh City as well. They were saved after taking botulinum antitoxins shipped from central Quang Nam Province. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Traffic police in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam have booked two students for doing a wheelie and posting a clip on Facebook to show off riding skills. They are students at a middle school in Dong Xoai City of the province, traffic police said on Thursday. V.H.H.A., 15, rode his family members scooter on Ho Xuan Huong Street with P.V.T.V., 15, on the back of the bike on Wednesday morning After that, T.V. rode the bike to do a wheelie, which means raising the front wheel off the ground and balancing on the back wheel. Besides, he had one of his schoolmates record his maneuver and posted it on his Facebook account. The duo and their parents were summoned to the police station for some questions related to the wheelie. The two students admitted their traffic violation and pledged not to repeat it. They also got an administrative fine for a wheelie and underage riding. Besides, their bike has no rearview mirrors as required. Vietnam has reported several cases of wheelies and motorcycle tuning done by young people aged between 14 and 18, said traffic police. Police officers advise parents not to let their underage children ride a motorbike to avoid traffic disorder and reduce accidents. The duo are summoned to the police station for their wheelie. Photo: An Binh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Six vials of Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (BAT) shipped by the World Health Organization (WHO) from Switzerland arrived at Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray Hospital on Wednesday to treat botulinum poisoning cases, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday evening. At present, the botulism patients who are being treated at Cho Ray Hospital and Gia Dinh Peoples Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City are in critical condition. One patient died shortly before the antitoxin arrived in Vietnam. However, the antitoxin will be used for possible botulism cases in the future as the two patients at Cho Ray Hospital have missed the best time to use it. The best time to use BAT is 48-72 hours after being poisoned. Meanwhile, it has been 10 days since the two patients started showing botulinum poisoning symptoms. Vietnamese Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan had earlier asked the Drug Administration of Vietnam to quickly work with the relevant units of the WHO and Vietnam to have botulism antitoxins to treat the patients. Minister Lan on Tuesday afternoon also directly worked with the WHO office in Hanoi and the organization decided to supply emergency botulism antitoxins to Vietnam. The three patients in Ho Chi Minh City were hospitalized on Saturday after two of them, who are siblings, aged 18 and 26, ate cha lua (Vietnamese pork sausage) and the remaining 45-year-old man consumed fermented fish kept for too long. The 45-year-old man died, while the two others are now put on ventilators. In mid-May, three siblings, aged between 10 and 14, contracted botulism after eating cha lua in Ho Chi Minh City as well. They were saved after taking botulinum antitoxins shipped from central Quang Nam Province. Botulism is a serious illness caused by clostridium botulinum, a poisonous bacteria which grows in badly preserved food. Botulism is a rare disease in Vietnam and in the world, according to the Drug Administration of Vietnam. As such, the supply of BAT is also limited worldwide, the administration said, adding that the price of this antitoxin is very high. Botulinum has seven types -- A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. There are currently three kinds of antitoxins for the neurotoxin available. Two of them are effective against some types, while BAT is effective against all seven types, said Dr. Le Quoc Hung, head of the tropical disease department at Cho Ray Hospital. Botulinum poisoning cases can avoid paralysis and the dependence on ventilators if they use BAT within 48-72 hours after being poisoned with botulinum. In 2020, the Ministry of Health also asked the WHO for the supply of botulism antitoxins to treat some patients poisoned after eating vegan pate. The WHO later sent 10 vials of BAT to the country for treatment, saving the patients. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Catch up on the news in Vietnam today: Society -- The northern region is forecast to face small to heavy rains on Thursday morning, while downpours will hit the southern and Central Highlands regions in the late afternoon, according to the national weather center. -- Six vials of botulism antitoxins were shipped from Switzerland to Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray Hospital by the World Health Organization to treat some cases of botulism poisoning at the hospital, the Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday evening. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Civil Judgment Enforcement announced on Wednesday that it would take coercive measures against Anh Minh Hospital in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City due to its pile of debt. -- A 37-year-old man in Hai Duong Province, northern Vietnam has been arrested for allegedly committing domestic violence against his wife, who is seven months pregnant. Politics -- State President Vo Van Thuong on Wednesday received the ambassadors of Qatar, Brazil, Slovenia, Portugal, Estonia and Guinea, who came to present their credentials, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Business -- Vietnams wood and woodwork exports fetched VND93 trillion (US$4 billion) in the first four months of 2023, down 28 percent year on year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Many wood firms attributed the drop to sky-high material prices and weak global spending. -- National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will resume its trans-Indochina route linking Hanoi in Vietnam, Luang Prabang in Laos, and Siem Reap in Cambodia on the first day of July, with a frequency of three flights per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the Vietnam News Agency cited a representative of the airline as saying. Lifestyle -- The Taste of Southern Food festival kicked off at the Dam Sen Cultural Park in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 11 on Thursday to honor the culinary culture of the southern region and introduce various specialties to local and international tourists. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A kindergarten teacher in Bien Hoa City, the capital of Dong Nai Province in southern Vietnam, has been suspended for slapping a two-year-old boy 31 times. The Bien Hoa Office of Education and Training on Wednesday this week said it had asked Tuoi Ngoc Kindergarten, a privately-run education facility in An Binh Ward, to report the case. Nguyen Thi Thao, the mother of the boy, H.M.H., found bruises on his forehead and cheeks after picking up him from the kindergarten on Wednesday last week. She called Nguyen Thi Bich Huong, the head teacher of her sons class, to ask about reasons and was told that she had beaten the boy during lunch. Police in An Binh Ward later checked the camera footage at the school and found that Huong beat and slapped the boys cheeks and forehead 31 times. While Huong slapped the boy, another teacher was in the classroom and witnessed her act but did nothing to prevent it. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The ABC Ombudsman has investigated complaints following the Coronation coverage by the broadcaster but found it did not breach editorial standards. ABC received 1,832 complaints. Ombudsman Fiona Cameron found many complaints related to the ABCs judgement for scheduling this discussion while guests were entering the Abbey but the timing and format of the panel discussion were not matters for the Ombudsmans consideration. A total of 61 complaints broadly related to the ABC editorial standards, investigated by the Ombudsmans Office. In summary, the complaints contend that the panel discussion between the 5 and 6pm hour was unbalanced, biased, disrespectful, inappropriate, offensive, anti-monarchist and poorly timed. While some complainants referred to inaccuracy concerns, no specific facts were disputed, and the concerns raised were in reference to the perceived lack of alternative views. It is acknowledged that the Crown represents different things to different people. The broadcast recognised the multicultural character of the Australian community and the 5pm to 6pm hour sought to reflect what the event meant to different cultures including the impact of Colonisation on Indigenous Australia, the report stated. Each panellist was clearly introduced and identified to the ABC audience, and it was made clear that the discussion intended to canvas significant issues of context relevant to an Australian audience about the crowning of a new Monarch. I also note advice from ABC News that a range of conservative voices were invited to appear on the coverage to contribute their perspectives but declined. The panels views were robust but fair and the conversation was courteous and respectful allowing audiences to make up their own minds about the matters that were discussed. While the ABC should on all occasions be fair, accurate and open minded, the impartiality standards do not require that every perspective receives equal time, nor that every facet of every argument is presented. It is also relevant that this forty-five-minute panel discussion formed only part of the extensive coverage of the coronation across ABC television and digital radio platforms. In addition to live coverage of the Coronation, ABC iView featured Charles R: The Making of a Monarch; Camillas Country Life; A Grand Royal Design; and Prince Charles: Inside The Duchy Of Cornwall in honour of the days events. I also note that the matters discussed, and opinions shared, were not novel and did not bring up specific accuracy concerns. These are issues to consider when reflecting on matters of impartiality. Furthermore, the discussion reflected the contentious element of the role of the Monarch for many Australians. This contentious element is difficult to ignore and while potentially uncomfortable for the anticipated audience, is also a consideration in determining due impartiality. The role of the Monarchy to modern Australia and the Indigenous perspectives presented were legitimate and newsworthy topics for discussion on the rare occasion of a Coronation and in the context of ABCs extensive coverage. In these circumstances, and for the reasons outlined above, I do not find a breach of the impartiality standards. While the broadcast did not breach the Corporations editorial standards, it was the decision to schedule the panel discussion between 5-6pm while footage of the arrivals at the Abbey was being broadcast, that attracted the most criticism and complaints received by the ABC. There were clearly instances where the footage being presented from London did not relate to the nature of the critical discussion being had by the panel in Australia, which was jarring and distracting for some of the audience as evidenced by complaints received. ABC News, in part, said in response to the findings: Often in news coverage journalists are told now is not the time to discuss certain issues This line of argument is often used to shut down uncomfortable debates and to silence critical perspectives. While they may be uncomfortable, important topics and discussions are often best discussed alongside important events when the public is engaged and is open to discuss them. Discussing the function of the Crown in relation to Indigenous people for perhaps a sixth of the three-hour coverage before the ceremony itself began was not disproportionate given the importance and contemporary focus on the history of colonisation in Australia and elsewhere in recent public discussion and debate. Across the coverage as a whole, including the discussions between 17.00 19.00, there is no doubt that all principal perspectives were fairly presented as required by the editorial policies. Apart from Stan Grant, Teela Reid, a young lawyer who also provided a youth perspective, and Craig Foster, who contributed Indigenous and republican views, guests included Liberal backbencher Julian Leeser, Deputy Editor of The Australian Womens Weekly Juliet Rieden, Australian Local Hero of the Year in 2023 Amar Singh, Anglican Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead, UN youth rep Angelica Onjinaka, constitutional law expert Anne Twomey and author Kathy Lette, who has personally met King Charles III many times. They discussed royal traditions, the role of the monarchy and details on the ceremony as it unfolded. We do not accept that any particular perspective was unduly favoured. Julian Leeser, an articulate and prominent Monarchist and Liberal Party MP, was given ample opportunity to respond to them, furthermore he continued on the panel after they were gone. Other supporters of the monarchy and the constitutional status quo joined the discussion, providing a diverse range of mostly supportive perspectives. The editorial policies do not and never have required equal time for different arguments on matters of contention. It is distorting to see the approximately 40+ minutes in isolation from the coverage as a whole. While the program canvassed difficult topics it was at all times conducted respectfully, as has been remarked on publicly by the panellists. There were no errors of accuracy. New Stan documentary Revealed: The Cape looks into the disappearance of a father and son in a tropical Australian bayou of crocodiles and mangrove swamps unravels a dynastic alliance between formidable fishing clans. Directored by Michael Ware and Justine A. Rosenthal (Only the Dead), Revealed: The Cape journeys into the deep north and the human psyche to uncover what were capable of when our humanity is stripped bare in this fascinating portrayal of an insular and isolated community. Michael Ware said: Collaborating with Stan empowered us to keep alive the memories of a missing father and his 10-year-old son and to keep questioning those surrounding an unending mystery that haunts Far North Queensland. And to do so as a film, with meaning and a sense of cinema, that weve always hoped brings a unique sensibility to the tragedy of a disappearance almost intentionally forgotten. Justine A. Rosenthal said: There is so much yet to know, so much unanswered about the events swirling about the morning Bevin and Brad Simmonds vanished off the face of the earth. We hope this film carries their story onwards and brings new vision to an agony that still scars one of Australias most rugged, remote, and virtually lawless regions. Produced by Wooden Horse (Mother and Son, The Clearing, Stuff the British Stole, The Other Guy, Waltzing the Dragon with Benjamin Law), with production funding from Screen Australia. Written and directed by Justine A. Rosenthal and Michael Ware, Revealed: The Cape is produced by Richard Finlayson (Stuff the British Stole, Waltzing the Dragon with Benjamin Law), with executive producer Jude Troy (Mother and Son, The Clearing, The Other Guy S1&2) and associate producer Alexandra Cameron (The Clearing, Mother and Son) of Wooden Horse. The documentary is captured by Torres Strait Islander-born cinematographer Eric Murray Lui (Stan Original Series Black Snow, Top End Wedding) and edited by Karryn de Cinque (High Ground, Slim and I), with original music by Michael Yezersk (Stan Original Series Bali 2002, Mr Inbetween). The Stan Original Documentary Revealed: The Cape is a Wooden Horse production for Stan. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with Stan. Financed with support from Orange Entertainment Co. International sales by Fremantle Media. Developed with assistance of Screen Queensland. Sunday June 18 on Stan. Australian creatives are in a fight to retain to retain Australian screen stories under Australian ownership and control, according to a new report. Lateral Economics, commissioned by Screen Producers Australia, shows that the retention of Intellectual Property is vitally important to Australias creative economy. IP retention allows a production company to use the same ideas in new projects whether that involves reusing footage of characters to create spin-offs or licensing the format for use in other markets. But the report found some streaming platforms are seeking IP rights in perpituity. It is of critical importance that the value of Australian cultural intellectual property is recognised and retained in Australian hands, said SPA CEO Matt Deaner. We are currently engaged in important negotiations with government and streaming platforms around an investment obligation in Australian screen stories, across the Australian screen industry. There is a strong view that if we dont also include a mechanism to support Australian ownership and control of Australian content, then by failing to act at this pivotal moment, we are selling out our culture, said Mr Deaner. While much has been said about the level of reinvestment in streaming regulation, much less has been said about intellectual property rights. But while Brisbanes Ludo Studio has licensed global distribution rights to Bluey to BBC Studios, it has retained rights, including all future production rights, ensuring that they and the creator are included in all future development of Bluey. Australians are rightly proud of the success of the Australian childrens show, Bluey. Imagine the difference if a streaming giant had taken the IP rights to it. Would Bluey still refer to the great Australian concept of a tactical wee if it wasnt Australian? I really doubt that, said Deaner. SPA believes this problem could be easily solved through an amended definition of Australian content so that a program would not be considered Australian content for the purposes of the streaming investment obligation unless the intellectual property rights are owned by an independent Australian production business, said Deaner. Other countries are dealing with this issue by ensuring rights cannot be assigned for extended periods. For example, in France, this term is three years. We urgently need a similar mechanism in Australia as SPA has evidence of many streamers seeking rights in perpetuity, mainly as a way of stopping competition from other platforms. That is a practice putting a major brake on Australian creativity. If we support Australian IP, we are supporting the sustainability of creative businesses through the viability of Australian production companies, and this, in turn, supports employment and workforce training, he said. Nevaeh. Jacklyn. Makenna. Jose. Eliahna. Uziyah. Amerie Jo. Xavier. Jayce. Tess. Maranda. Alithia. Annabell. Maite. Alexandria. Layla. Jailah. Eliahna. Rojelio. And their teachers, Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles. Nineteen children and two educators who should be here with us today. They should still have birthdays to celebrate, graduations to plan, careers and lives to look forward to. Instead, one year ago today, they were killed in their elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in a mass shooting carried out with a weapon of war. READ NEXT: Florida Woman Convicted After Eight-Day Trial For The Voluntary Manslaughter of Her Girlfriend Today, our nation continues to mourn for those lost, to pray for their families who must bear the unbearable, and to grieve for a country in which violence like this - even in elementary school classrooms - is sickeningly common. One year after Uvalde, gun violence remains the leading cause of death for children in our nation. One in five Americans has lost a family member to gun violence. Over the past year, so many Uvalde families have channeled their anguish into advocacy. Together, they demand that we act to save lives. With their help, President Biden signed the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years and implemented important executive actions in the months since. But more must be done. Today, Doug and I pray for the people of Uvalde. And we urge leaders in Congress and in state legislatures to meet this heartbreaking moment not just with words, but with action. READ MORE: Career Criminal Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Violent, Armed Robbery of Indianapolis Car Dealership @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There seems little doubt SBS will greenlight a second season of its hit show Alone Australia. The broadcaster has had an open call for S2 casting since early April. Since then the show has drawn bumper numbers through VOZ for the broadcaster, with the first six episodes passing the 1 million viewer mark. SBS is even calling it most watched original production in their history, in terms of total consumption-of course there were no BVOD numbers in the days of shows like Go Back to Where You Came From, nor VOZ in the days of Struggle Street. Nevertheless there is no denying the success of the show produced by ITV Studios Australia. SBS Head of Unscripted Joseph Maxwell recently told TV Tonight a second season was under consideration. Were scoping out. Were not committed at the moment but basically were exploring all possibilities. With a show of this scale, it takes a very long time to do anything. So it makes absolute sense while there is attention for this show to go, Okay, what would what would happen if we were to go again?' he said. With the shows preference for cold locales the show could feasibly return to Tasmania, but there are already whispers of a New Zealand shoot. We wouldnt necessarily look at the same place, but we could do. So typically, the US has ended up in lots on Vancouver Island in Canada, but it has also moved around. So at this stage, all options would be open. Hasan Zia Rizvi | Twocircles.net Lucknow has carved out a niche for the world-famous art form of Zardozi. In recent years, the art form has gained significant commercial popularity on the big screen and at fashion shows. Just a month ago, American model Gigi Hadid rocked a sequin and lavishly embroidered Chikankari saree that was exquisitely hand-embroidered by artisans of Lucknow. Support TwoCircles Despite the art forms presence on the big screen, the industry remains unorganised, with artisans lacking social and financial security and struggling to put two meals on the table. What is Zardozi? Zardozi is a form of embroidery that came to India from Persia. Its literal translation, zar meaning gold, and dozi meaning embroidery, refers to the process of using sharp metallic wires threads of gold and silver and semi-precious stones to sew embellishments like flowers and other designs onto various fabrics. This intricate art is said to have been brought to India by the Mughal rulers. Zardozi Artisans Muslims & Underpaid TCN visited old Lucknow, including Kashmiri Mohalla and Rustam Nagar, where in several small one-roomed karkhanas with unplastered walls, male artisans worked on long tables with crochet-like needles or Aari. This backbreaking work requires acute attention and speed. According to estimates from the Textile Ministry, 1.75 lakh artisans in and around Lucknow are involved in Zardozi work. According to a 1975 survey on the caste and religion of the embroidery workforce, artisans are predominantly Muslims. Another survey found that 90% of Zardozi artisans were Muslims, with the remainder being Hindus. According to the survey, artisans earn between 200 and 300 rupees for every work or a monthly pay of 12000-15000 rupees. Condition Unchanged Even After GI Registration Despite the Geographical Indication (GI) registration of Lucknow Zardozi by the Geographical Indication Registry (GIR) in 2013, there has been no real change in the condition of Zardozi artisans. Geographical Indication registration means that the products made in Lucknow and a few nearby regions now have their own brand and will bear a registered logo to certify their authenticity. These artisans are usually uneducated and subject to exploitation by fashion designers or even fashion retailers that acquire the products at very low prices and sell them at a premium. Several artisans TCN spoke with stated that they only get employment for six months of the year, leaving them unable to cover their families costs for the other half of the year. Demonetization, GST, And Covid Wrecked Artisans? On November 8, 2016, PM Modi announced on national television the discontinuation of 1000 and 500-rupee notes, asserting that they would firmly deal with various problems afflicting the economy and society, including illicit money. Artisans claimed that demonetization affected their profession severely. The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax in 2017 and the Covid-induced lockdown in 2020 exacerbated an already dire situation. Another cause for the decline of Zardozi art is that buyers are opting for cheaper machine work rather than the more expensive handcrafted Zardozi work. After Covid, the Zardozi work was drastically hit, and it made us stop the NGO and move to other occupations for a living, said Pankaj Arya, secretary of Shilp Sadhana, an NGO for Lucknow Zari Craft that is now closed. Many of these NGOs currently just exist on paper. According to artisans, between 70 and 75% of Zardozi artisans have deserted the karkhanas and taken odd employment such as driving e-rickshaws. Zardozi Artisans Complain Of Government Apathy The artisans claim that the government scheme does not reach them and that the government does not listen to their grievances. Faiz Baqar, the owner of a Zardozi business, expressed disappointment with the government for failing to provide concessions in their childrens education or pay for eye care. If the government does not take action soon to save the Zardoz, then the day is not far when Lucknow will lose its precious art and identity. Government Not Addressing Health Concerns Zarzdozi artisans do not get medical insurance from any of the private enterprises or government organizations which leads to health-related problems like backache, cervical spondylosis, eye strain, etc. Masood Rizvi, who has been in the Zardozi art industry for 15 years, suffers from cervical, eye strain, and kidney problems. I have to take medicines to continue working and if I am not able to submit it on time, I do not get paid the full amount Pyare Bhai, 60, stated that he could no longer concentrate owing to eye discomfort. My glasses dont help much either. Noor Agha, secretary of Anjuman Zardozan (Organisation of Zardozi Artisans), stated that they have been providing spectacles to some artisans to prevent eye strain problems, but these issues have remained unaddressed due to a lack of funds and support from the government and NGOs. The current situation is that the young skilled workers are fewer and experienced workers are not working due to health problems, He explained. He believes that the Zardoz communitys most pressing requirements are upskilling and organisation, which can only be met with government assistance. According to Baqar, the government should appoint a committee to organise this sector. No Work At Home, Zardozi Goes Global The most astounding fact is that the Zadozi art has spread throughout the world, with numerous Zardozi clusters in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, China, and Sudan. The Indian government recently evacuated 100 Zardozi workers from war-torn Sudan, including more than 80 from Lucknow. The workers stated that they relocated to Sudan and other countries because they could not find jobs in India. Zardozi artist Amir Rizvi explained his situation, saying, We went to Sudan because here we dont get zardozi jobs at regular intervals while we regularly get jobs there. The pay is also better than India and we get a proper monthly salary. There we could make over 60-65000 rupees in a month as we continuously get work there, said Mirza Sabir Hussain, a Zardozi artist recently rescued from Sudan. The artisans are unsure how long they can keep this art alive. Hasan Zia Rizvi is an independent reporter based in Uttar Pradesh Home Office responds to judges call for illegal migrant offenders to be deported Illegal migrants Nino Zhgenti and Nika Chanturia were caught with drugs and fake passports at Fir Grove Hotel in Grappenhall (Image: Warrington Guardian) THE Home Office has responded to a call from a top judge for two illegal migrants who broke the law in Warrington to be deported. It comes following the incarceration of Nino Zhgenti, 37, and Nika Chanturia, 30, at Chester Crown Court on Monday. The couple illegally entered the UK on a small boat across the English Channel claiming to be 'fleeing a vicious ex'. After being accommodated at the three-star Fir Grove Hotel in Grappenhall, they were found with a cocktail of illegal drugs and fake passports after a police search sparked by a strong smell of cannabis from their room. Before jailing each for a year, judge Simon Berkson said: In early February of this year, both defendants entered this country illegally. They were rescued by coastguards and made applications for asylum. There are an increasing number of tragic cases of those entering the UK illegally. The relevance of this in 2023 is even more than when the guidance was created. Many are duped out of money in an effort to enter the UK. This sort of behaviour needs to be stopped. Judge Berkson also said that, while the court does not decide on deportation, he did recommend they were deported by the Home Office after serving their full sentence. Warrington Guardian: The pair were jailed at Chester Crown Court The pair were jailed at Chester Crown Court (Image: Warrington Guardian) The Warrington Guardian approached the Home Office for a response, asking if the pair would indeed be deported back to their native Georgia. In response, a spokesman said: Foreign national offenders who exploit our system and commit crimes here in the UK will face the full force of the law, including deportation at the earliest opportunity for those eligible. They added that the Home Office deals with significant and complex challenges when seeking to return those who have no right to be in the UK to their country of origin or lawful place of return. These challenges can include travel documentation, late applications including modern slavery claims, late appeals and broader non-compliance with a lawful returns process, they said. We only return those with no legal right to remain in the UK, including foreign national offenders. Individuals are only returned to their country of origin when the Home Office and, where applicable the courts, deem it is safe to do so. The Illegal Migration Bill will change the law so that people who come to the UK illegally can be detained and then swiftly returned to a safe third country, or their home country, so we can stop the boats. Zhgenti, and Nika Chanturia were convicted of possession of fake identity documents with intent, possession of criminal property and possession of cannabis, amphetamine, MDMA and heroin. The court heard how when police were searching their hotel room, Zhgenti attempted to hide two fake Belgian passports behind her back, bith with the pairs photos but different names. Warrington Guardian: The pair were being accommodated at Fir Grove Hotel in Grappenhall The pair were being accommodated at Fir Grove Hotel in Grappenhall (Image: Warrington Guardian) It was said that the two were a couple and had allegedly fled Georgia from Zhgentis criminal ex-husband. After the two split and Zhgenti began dating Chanturia, her ex-husband assaulted him, putting him in hospital for three months and leaving scars on him that remain to this day, the court was told. Upon his imminent release from prison, the ex-husband informed the pair he was coming for them, it was heard. They sold their belongings and began a journey across Europe, travelling from Georgia to Vienna, before making their way to Calais in France. The pair chose the UK to migrate to illegally due to their belief that the lack of an EU border would make it harder for her ex-husband to follow. During their illegal channel crossing, their small boat was intercepted and they were moved to the Fir Grove. They began using drugs recreationally at parties. Before sentinging, Judge Berkson noted that the pair had no known convictions, but stated the importance of setting an example to prevent people entering the UK illegally. He concluded: These warrant only a term of immediate imprisonment. INVL Baltic Real Estate INVL Baltic Real Estate (hereinafter the Company) informs that under the provision of the Law on Collective Investment Undertakings of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter CIU), the Company operating under the CIU is under an obligation to have a valid prospectus (hereinafter the Prospectus) prepared in accordance with the requirements of the CIU or of the Law on Securities of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter LS). In order to meet the above-mentioned requirement, in September 2019 the Company's management company INVL Asset Management, UAB (hereinafter - the Management company) prepared a Prospectus in compliance with CIU. Considering that at the time of publication of the information there are no grounds that the Company should prepare and own a prospectus complying with the requirements of the LS, on 24 May 2023, the Management company of the Company approved the updated version of the Prospectus and approved its publication. The Prospectus was submitted to the Bank of Lithuania in accordance with the CIU. The person authorized to provide additional information: Real Estate Fund Manager of Management Company Vytautas Baksinskas E-mail vytautas.baksinskas@invl.com Attachment Partners with Lazada, a leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, to launch First Care Activating Serum 6th generation on LazMall Brand moment to take place on May 30th in Indonesia JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sulwhasoo, a global luxury beauty brand, announced that it will be holding its first regional LazMall Super Brand Day in collaboration with Lazada, Southeast Asia's pioneer e-commerce platform. Through this multi-country collaboration with Lazada, Sulwhasoo will invite Southeast Asia customers to experience a world of Korean heritage, art, and beauty, on May 30th in Indonesia. Sulwhasoos 6th generation First Care Activating Serum (PRNewsfoto/Sulwhasoo) Sulwhasoo has been expanding its global e-commerce business by providing differentiated digital content and shopping experiences. Through its LazMall Super Brand Day with Lazada, Sulwhasoo is set to excite shoppers in the region with first access to exclusive content featuring the brand's global brand ambassador, Rose from popular K-pop group Blackpink. By bringing exclusive co-branded experiences to shoppers in Southeast Asia, Sulwhasoo plans to strengthen its brand presence in the region and expand its reach to local customers. Along with the launch of Sulwhasoo's 6th generation First Care Activating Serum on LazMall, Lazada shoppers across Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia can also look forward to being delighted by content inspired by Risogragh art, Livestreams, and exclusive sets with special gifts such as Sulwhasoo-scented candles designed by Korean artist Sim Bo-geun from ceramic brand MUJAGI, as well as towels designed in collaboration with luxury towel brand TWB. This partnership with Lazada will also see Sulwhasoo bring exclusive offline-to-online workshops for customers in selected markets to immerse in a greater appreciation to life and its art form and learn more about iconic Korean skincare routines. The First Care Activating Serum, to be applied immediately after cleansing, is recognized as a revolutionary product that has changed the beauty routines of women worldwide. With over 510,000[1] customers who have used more than 10 bottles, the product is selling at a rate of one bottle every 10 seconds[2] and is well-loved by many. The renewed 6th generation First Care Activating Serum, launched earlier this year, provides quick efficacy that maintains moisture on the skin all day long, with visible improvement in skin regeneration and barrier formation within three days of use. It also improves 10 signs of skin[3] aging after four weeks of use. It spreads evenly on the skin and is quickly absorbed, relieving skin stress immediately after cleansing. Han-sook Lee, Senior Vice President of Sulwhasoo's GTM Division, said, "We are delighted to hold Sulwhasoo's LazMall Super Brand Day with Lazada. This collaboration will enable us to connect with highly discerning beauty customers on this leading platform in Southeast Asia who seek authentic brand experiences. With our unique products formulated with supreme ingredients and 'shoppertainment' experiences created with Sulwhasoo's exclusive brand story content, we aim to engage more customers in this region." "Since the launch of our LazBeauty channel, we've seen a strong influx of buyers turn to Lazada to discover beauty products. Continuing Lazada's strong track record as Sulwhasoo's first marketplace partner in the region, we are delighted to deepen collaborations to unlock consumption powers of Southeast Asia and inspire beauty consumers in the region with their newest brand ambassador Rose and quality K-Beauty products. Scaling our partnership with Sulwhasoo is also a reflection of Lazada's commitment to consistently support brands to expand their digital footprint and ultimately uplift consumer experiences.", said Clarissa Chen, Senior Vice President, Regional Strategic Accounts (Health & Beauty), Lazada Group. Sulwhasoo's LazMall Super Brand Day will be held in Indonesia on May 30th and available exclusively on Lazada. About Sulwhasoo A global luxury beauty brand, Sulwhasoo traces its roots back to 1932. With a pioneering spirit that is still inspiring today, the brand was the first to carefully craft products infused with ginseng. As one of Asia's most precious herbs, ginseng is celebrated for its many efficacies. Reposing in key products, it embodies the brand's rich history and accentuates Sulwhasoo's position as an artistic innovator in the field of beauty. Sulwhasoo creates products as works of art, powered by heritage and unique skin science to transcend time and generations. With artistry and creativity as core vehicles, Sulwhasoo aims to bring new experiences globally, inspiring people to explore their heritage and create their own version of beauty. About Lazada Group Lazada Group is Southeast Asia's pioneer eCommerce platform. For the last 11 years, Lazada has been accelerating progress in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam through commerce and technology. Today, a thriving local ecosystem links about 160 million active users to more than one million actively-selling sellers every month, who are transacting safely and securely via trusted payments channels and Lazada Wallet, receiving parcels through a homegrown logistics network that has become the largest in the region. With a vision to achieve USD100 billion annual GMV, Lazada aims to serve 300 million shoppers by 2030, and be the best at enabling brands and sellers in digitalizing their businesses. Sulwhasoo Global Ambassador ROSE from Blackpink (PRNewsfoto/Sulwhasoo) [1] As of sales from 1997 to 2022 [2] Based on offline sell-in results (domestic and international) in 2021 [3] Test subjects: 33 women aged 20 to 60 / Period: August 22, 2022 to November 8, 2022 / Test facility: Global Medical Research Center, Ltd. 10 factors: Skin turnover, Moisture level, Barrier function, Wrinkles, Lifting, Pores, Radiance, Transparency, Skin texture, Elasticity Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/sulwhasoo-invites-southeast-asia-to-immerse-in-a-world-of-korean-heritage-art-and-beauty-with-first-regional-lazmall-super-brand-day-301832997.html SOURCE Sulwhasoo The Springwatch star took legal action over articles about him Chris Packham has several libel cases to clear his name in the pipeline. (Getty Images) Chris Packham has been awarded 90,000 in damages after winning his High Court libel claim against two men over allegations he misled the public into donating to a wildlife charity to rescue broken tigers from circuses. The Springwatch presenter had taken legal action against Country Squire Magazine. He sued three men for libel over articles which included claims he manipulated people into donating to rescue five tigers while knowing the animals were well looked after. Read more here: Chris Packham defiant after arsonists target his home (Sky News, 2 min read) The strongly denied allegations, repeated in several tweets and videos, related to Packhams involvement with the Wildheart Trust, which runs a wildlife sanctuary on the Isle of Wight. In a judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice Saini ruled in Packhams favour against editor Dominic Wightman and writer Nigel Bean. The judge said: Mr Packham did not commit any acts of fraud or dishonesty. Wightman and Bean were also ordered to pay 400,000 towards Packhams legal fees. However, Mr Justice Saini found that the third man Paul Read had no editorial or equivalent responsibility for the statements complained of or the decision to publish them and dismissed the claim against him. Speaking outside of the Royal Courts of Justice, the TV star called the judgment a full and frank vindication of my innocence. Chris Packham with his partner Charlotte Corney at the High Court. (Alamy) It is not the only libel action Packham has in the pipeline. The 61-year-old animal rights activist is also hoping to launch a legal challenge against Fieldsports Channel Ltd who have accused him of faking a death threat to himself. Packham is outspoken on social media when it comes to animal rights issues and has become a target of threats and attacks as a result. But what did he stand up against in his current court case, and what other legal battles does he have ahead? 'Tiger fraud' case Chris Packham is expected to take the stand during the trial at the Royal Courts of Justice. (Alamy) Packham made a bid to clear his name of alleged "tiger fraud". He was accused by Country Squire Magazine of making a "fraudulent appeal" on behalf of the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary on the Isle of Wight, of which he is a charity trustee. Packham asked for help to "rescue" five tigers from ex-circus life in Spain, but the publication claimed that as the tigers were no longer in a circus they were not in need of "rescuing". Lawyer Jonathan Price, acting for the TV presenter, said the accused had called him a "notorious liar" and accused him of "obvious nastiness" and of playing the "Asperger's victim card". Packham said the allegations, which he denied, were repeated several times on social media. The TV presenter was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in 2005 and fronted an acclaimed documentary Inside Our Autistic Minds in 2022. Read more here: Chris Packham begins libel action at High Court (BBC, 2 min read) 'Death threat' libel case Chris Packham is planning another libel case over claims he faked a death threat. (Getty Images) Packham is also planning to launch libel action against Fieldsports Channel Ltd over an article, video and Facebook post it published claiming he had faked a death threat to himself. A Crowd Justice campaign has already raised 118,000 of a target of 150,000 to fund the TV presenter's latest attempt to clear his name. A spokesperson for Fieldsports Channel Ltd said: "Chris is using his private wealth to try to force a small media company out of business. He is using the High Court as a cashpoint machine, even though he could have settled this with a phone call." Read more here: Chris Packham's step-daughter pledges support as crowdfunding launched for libel suit (Yahoo UK, 2 min read) Trolling and death threats Chris Packham's activism for animal rights attracts supporters and haters. (Getty Images) Packham is extremely vocal online over his campaigns for animal rights, including joining Extinction Rebellion protests and regularly petitioning against the use of living creatures in I'm A Celebrity trials. But for all the support his efforts attract, there is equal opposition, making him a target for hate and vitriol on social media. For Packham, trolling has spilt over into physical attacks and death threats made against him. The naturalist was targeted in October 2021, when a Land Rover was set on fire outside the gate of his New Forest home. Read more here: Death threats sent to Chris Packham in row over bird shooting licences (PA, 2 min read) He has also spoken about receiving death threats and online abuse following his involvement in an anti-shooting campaign. Additional reporting from PA. Watch: Chris Packham speaks at Extinction Rebellion protest Jet2 will fly from Glasgow to new popular holiday spot Image by user32212 from Pixabay (Image: Image by user32212 from Pixabay) POPULAR airline Jet2 will fly from Glasgow Airport to a popular holiday spot this winter, it has been revealed. The firm's winter programme schedule has been released earlier than ever before due to demand with flights from Glasgow Airport to 12 destinations including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Antalya, Faro, Madeira, Paphos and now Malta. Jet2 says the programme represents more than 40 departing weekly flights from Glasgow Airport during peak periods. READ NEXT: Tourists taxed in Glasgow under Scottish Government plans Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: We are very pleased to be putting our winter sun programme for winter 24/25 on sale from Glasgow Airport, which includes a fantastic brand-new route to Malta. "The early release of the programme comes in direct response to the strong demand we are seeing from customers and independent travel agents in Scotland wanting to book in advance and get the best choice of dates, rooms and resorts, as well as spread the cost. READ NEXT: New restaurant opens in Glasgow shopping centre He added: In addition to giving customers the chance to book their winter sunshine nice and early, the size and scale of our programme means we are offering fantastic choice and flexibility. "For this reason, we are confident that this new programme will prove extremely popular as people look to escape the cold and gloom of the UK in winter and chase the sunshine. We are looking ahead with real confidence and are very excited to be able to share further good news about our winter 24/25 programme from Glasgow Airport soon. Christopher Tibbett, group head of airline relations and marketing for AGS Airports, which owns Glasgow Airport, added: The early release of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays packed winter sun schedule is great news for travellers looking to get away as the nights start to draw in and the temperatures drop. "The addition of a new Malta service will also be well received as this lovely Mediterranean island has always been a hugely popular destination with Scottish holidaymakers. A ship that had been stuck in Egypt's Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, has been re-floated. According to Leth Shipping Agency, the ship is the Xin Hai Tong 23, a 189m-long bulk carrier that was built in 2010 and is sailing under the flag of Hong Kong. Two tugs managed to swing the carrier around and it now appears to be heading towards the Suez Gulf under its own steam. At one point at least four other vessels appeared to have been stuck behind it. The Suez Canal runs between Port Said (Bur Sa'id) on the Mediterranean Sea, and Suez (al Suways) on the Red Sea. It is just 200m wide at its narrowest point - a feature that has caused problems for ships before. In 2021, the Ever Given became stuck for six days when it hit the bank of a single-lane stretch of the canal about 3.7 miles north of the southern entrance, near the city of Suez. The ship had been on its way to the Dutch port of Rotterdam and its grounding caused chaos for the shipping industry, which was already under pressure from COVID-19-related supply chain problems. It was estimated by Lloyd's List that the stranded container vessel was holding up $400m an hour in trade. The shipping data and news company valued the canal's westbound traffic at roughly $5.1bn a day and eastbound traffic at around $4.5bn a day. Roughly 30% of the world's shipping container volume passes through the canal, and about 12% of total global trade. The reason the canal is such a popular route is that it saves a ship from having to travel around the southern tip of Africa - which would add 3,315 nautical miles to a journey between Tokyo to Rotterdam, according to the World Economic Forum. In January a container ship loaded with more than 65,000 tonnes of corn from Ukraine was re-floated after running aground in the canal. In August last year, an oil tanker also ran aground in a single-lane stretch of the canal, blocking it for five hours. The head of Greenland's local government on Thursday deplored tensions with Copheghan over the appointment of a new ambassador to the autonomous territory. "The Danish government is not in a good place right now," Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede told Danish daily Politiken. At issue is Copenhagen's appointment of a new Arctic ambassador, Tobias Elling Rehfeld, with no connection to the region. He is a specialist in international law and the current Danish ambassador to South Africa. The Arctic ambassador is tasked with representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands in Denmark's overall Arctic foreign policy, with particular emphasis on environmental matters and problems affecting indigenous people an area in which tensions with the Danish government go back centuries. Greenland, an immense territory of nearly 2.2 million square kilometres, is home to some 55,000 people and sits some 2,500km away from Denmark. It has its own flag, language, culture, institutions and prime minister, and has been autonomous since 1979. His appointment flies in the face of an agreement that no Danish decisions concerning Greenland and the Faroe Islands can be taken without their agreement, according to Egede. "The procedure shows what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thinks of us and how it does not include us, even though we are the kingdom's Arctic country," he said. "The picture speaks for itself." The Danish minister of foreign affairs, former Prime Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen, has insisted that the appointment is in line with proper process. "For the time being, [Greenlandic] foreign policy is the responsibility of the Kingdom of Denmark," he said, adding that Copenhagen is "trying in many areas to help Greenland play a more important role in terms of foreign policy." Language politics Another point of tension between the two is a recent incident in which one of Greenland's representatives in the Copenhagen parliament, Aki-Matilda Hegh-Dam, addressed the chamber in Greenlandic and was asked to repeat her speech in Danish. She refused to abide by that request. "It is a relic from the colonial era that we still only speak Danish in the hall," Hegh-Dam remarked. "If Denmark were in reality a commonwealth, we would also be able to accommodate each other's languages." At the end of April, its government presented a new draft constitution which could be used in the event independence from Denmark is achieved. By Tetsushi Kajimoto TOKYO (Reuters) -Debt-laden Sri Lanka should be able to conclude a new round of restructuring talks by September or November at the latest, its president said on Thursday, adding that the negotiations had made "remarkable" progress. The island nation defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time in its history in April last year, as the worst financial crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948 crushed its economy. Sri Lanka secured a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in March and has previously said it aims to complete talks on restructuring debt owed to bilateral creditors and overseas bondholders by September. It was not clear whether President Ranil Wickremesinghe's comment signalled a possible delay in the process. He was speaking as he began a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the latter's office in Tokyo. The two leaders affirmed the importance of transparent and fair debt restructuring, according to a summary of their discussions issued by Japan. "We have made remarkable headway as far as the debt restructuring talks are concerned," Wickremesinghe said. "(We) should be able to conclude by September, or November the latest," which he said would mark an end to Sri Lanka's economic crisis. A Japanese finance ministry official said they did not believe the president was signalling a delay. Kishida, speaking after his first meeting with the Sri Lankan leader since last September, told a forum: "Sri Lanka is a hub of the Indian Ocean. Japan has led the debate among its creditor countries, and we will continue to contribute and strive to help Sri Lanka get back on a track for growth." CHINA HOLDS THE KEY Last month, France, India and Japan unveiled a common platform for talks among bilateral creditors to co-ordinate restructuring of the debt. "We have now started a creditors' meeting and all for a successful conclusion before the end of 2023," Wickremesinghe said. "Sri Lanka is dedicated to ensure equal treatment for all creditors. We want this exercise to succeed because our experience will enable more middle-income countries to utilise the IMF in ensuring multilateral coordination for debt relief." Analysts remain sceptical about whether the September deadline can be met. "I don't think creditors' meetings will be concluded by this year-end," said Toru Nishihama, emerging market analyst at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute. "China, as the largest creditor, holds the key to creditors' meetings. It must first make it clear on what conditions it lent to Sri Lanka though." The IMF called this week for timely restructuring pacts with the country's creditors. The global lender said Sri Lanka's macroeconomic situation was improving, although earlier it had predicted the economy would contract 3% this year. Sri Lanka owes $7.1 billion to its creditors, with $3 billion owed to China, $1.6 billion to India and $2.4 billion to the Paris Club, a group of creditor nations. At the meeting with Kishida, Wickremesinghe expressed regret over past actions related to Japan including when Sri Lanka called off a major infrastructure deal signed with Tokyo. The president suggested his country was now keen to restart multiple investment projects with Japan. "We re-commence the projects that were suspended or cancelled," he said. (Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Hugh Lawson) (Photo : Tony KARUMBA / AFP) (TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images) The United Nations failed to reach its target humanitarian aid funds that is meant to assist the Horn of Africa amid what is considered to be the worst drought in the last four decades. UN conference raises less than $1 billion in humanitarian aid for the Horn of Africa, falls short of $5 billion target The United States pledged an additional $524 million to address the crisis in the region Germany pledged $226 million, and the United Kingdom pledged $119 million for Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya The United Nations has raised less than $1 billion in humanitarian aid meant to help address the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, falling short of its $5 billion target. On Wednesday, the United States announced during the UN conference that it was donating an additional $524 million in humanitarian aid for the region. This seeks to highlight the extreme effects of climate change and what is considered the worst drought the region has experienced in the last four decades. UN Falls Short of Target Humanitarian Aid for the Horn of Africa At the beginning of the conference, Germany pledged $226 million, and the United Kingdom pledged $119 million for Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The United Nations has called for the need of $7 billion and has just received $1.6 billion. Officials argue that it is not enough to help the 43.3 million people suffering in the region, as per PBS News Hour. In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told would-be donors that they need to make an immediate and major injection of funds to prevent the crisis in the Horn of Africa. He argued that this would be crucial in preventing the crisis brought about by drought, mass displacement, and skyrocketing food prices. The US is known to be the largest provider of humanitarian aid to the region, and the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that the newly-pledged $524 million would bring the total funds that the American government has given to the region to $1.4 billion for the fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30. On the other hand, Germany's UN ambassador Antje Leendertse said that the $226 million they pledged for the three countries in the region does not include substantial funding for "development and stabilization" in the Horn of Africa. Read Also: Saudi Crown Prince's Bold Diplomatic Move Sends Stern Message to US Additional Funds for Drought-Stricken Region This year, the UN appealed for $7 billion to provide food and other humanitarian aid for Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. But so far, they have only received less than $2 billion. According to the Associated Press, after pledges were tallied, the UN humanitarian office said that the total 2023 funding was only $2.4 billion. The tally means that only $800 million was pledged in additional funding during the Wednesday conference, more than 60% of which the United States government pledged. During the conference, Guterres said that the people in the Horn of Africa are paying an "unconscionable price" for the climate crisis they did not cause. The United States pledged new funding will enable USAID partners to give the region emergency food, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance. The American government said it acted early and aggressively in its response to the drought in the Horn of Africa, said USAID. Related Article: Canada, Saudi Arabia Restore Ties After 5 Years @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. University of North Georgia (UNG) Distance Education and Technology Integration (DETI) teaching staff members David Babb and Ervin Howard were awarded the Best Paper Award by the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration (OJDLA) for their paper "Explore UNG's Self-paced Professional Development Workshops. An update on our micro-credential series for online teaching certification." The paper will be published in the June edition of the OJDLA, and the authors will also be recognized for their outstanding work at an award ceremony at the 2023 Distance Learning Administration (DLA) conference held in July at Jekyll Island, Georgia. "The purpose of the paper and the conference is to share knowledge of how we are solving issues and developing innovative ways to use the online environment in education," Babb said. "Our goal was to not only share what we are doing, but to allow others to use that knowledge at their own university." Babb and Howard have been researching self-paced, online course development and digital badging since 2021. Their data collection process is expected to extend well into 2024. Howard shared how they hope to inspire UNG faculty to pursue self-paced, online course development and digital badging with their own students. This distinction has left the pair "very excited and hopeful for future aspirations in publishing more journal articles that relate to our research," Howard said. Babb said they are still collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from their pilot study to compare. "We are excited to see how our findings can be used to improve online education at UNG and beyond," Babb said. (Photo : Zach Wilkinson-Pool/Getty Images) The parents of Bryan Kohberger have been subpoenaed to testify before an investigative grand jury in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The parents of Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger were summoned to testify about the disappearance of a Pennsylvania woman from the same county where he resided. Michael and Maryann Kohberger will appear before a grand jury in relation to the disappearance of Dana Smithers on May 28, 2022, as investigators determine whether their son was involved in other murders. Bryan Kohberger's Parents Subpoenaed in Grand Jury Investigation Ring camera footage captured Smithers, 45, for the last time around 11 p.m. on the day she went missing. Her skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on April 27 - approximately 30 miles from the Kohbergers' residence in Albrightsville. A source stated that Bryan's alibi proves he was not likely involved in Smithers' disappearance. Bryan was accused of the murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin on November 13, 2022. Michael is scheduled to testify in court on Thursday, whereas Maryann has already testified. The transcripts from the confidential session may be sent to Idaho, where their son's October 2 trial is scheduled to take place. On Monday, the perpetrator appeared in court in Idaho and refused to enter a plea to four counts of first-degree homicide. Bryan was anticipated to enter a not-guilty plea, but he chose to use Idaho's "standing silent" plea instead, which means he has not entered a plea and can still be prosecuted, as per Daily Mail. Bryan Kohberger was arrested on December 30 at his parents' Pennsylvania residence on four counts of homicide and one count of burglary. He was returned to Idaho after giving up his right to resist extradition. Last week, he was indicted on all five charges, and on Monday, he pled not guilty. Bryan Kohberger and his father had driven from Pullman, Washington, to his parents' residence in Pennsylvania for the holidays. Per Yahoo, transcripts of the parents' testimony could be shared with Idaho prosecutors under Pennsylvania law. The attorney for the Kohbergers opposed the subpoenas but was overruled. The attorneys involved in the case declined to comment, citing the January gag order issued by Judge Megan Marshall prohibiting them from discussing the case. The grand jury in Monroe County is only permitted to investigate potential offenses within its jurisdiction, and the nature of the alleged crime is unknown. In general, grand jurors take an oath of secrecy, and the documents concerning them are typically sealed. Read Also: China, Russia Deepen Ties by Signing Economic Pacts Despite Western Criticism Idaho Murders Suspect Stalked Student Before Massacre Meanwhile, Bryan Kohberger allegedly pursued a female classmate at Washington State University months before he was accused of murdering four undergraduates at the neighboring University of Idaho. Kohberger installed surveillance cameras in the woman's residence, which he could then access, in what appeared to be a ruse. The report also described a peculiar incident involving women's underwear that occurred just three doors from the King Road residence months before the homicides. According to Fox News, the most ominous assertion indicated that Kohberger's immediate family feared he was the suspect during the holidays. A female acquaintance of Kohberger's from his criminology program at Washington State University last autumn reportedly returned home to discover her belongings disorganized. According to sources, nothing was stolen, so she did not call the police. Instead, she requested that Kohberger, a former security officer with a master's degree in criminal justice, install a home surveillance system. According to an unnamed source, Kohberger could then access the cameras whenever he was within Wi-Fi range of the woman. Related Article: Georgia Police Found Mother of 'Baby India,' the Infant Found Alive Inside Plastic Bag in Woods @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. They officially held a ceremony to announce the partnership on May 16 in HCM City. It marks long-term cooperation between the two as they embark on a journey to revolutionise the countrys retail industry, with Karavans superior and efficient supply chain technology and C.P.s complete range of food products. Karavans centralised platform connects brands directly to small- and medium-sized merchants in key cities like HCM City, Ha Noi and Da Nang, and nearby provinces. While B2B e-commerce is relatively new in Viet Nam, the sector offers abundant growth opportunities since the retail landscape in the country continues to be dominated by traditional (unorganised) channels such as local wet markets and mom-and-pop shops. The supply chain is very fragmented with relatively low levels of digitisation. Understanding the market needs and potential, Karavan has entered into a strategic partnership with C.P. Vietnam to deliver ambient products, frozen and fresh foods from C.P. Vietnam to the traditional trade and HORECA segments in the country. Karavans aspiration is to digitise and streamline the traditional retail supply chain through its one-stop sourcing platform, connecting fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands and food suppliers directly with SME businesses, including mom-and-pop shops, cafes, hotels, restaurants, and caterers. The cooperation will in turn enable C.P. Vietnam to expand its customer base, tapping into Karavans ready-to-scale network of some 200,000 merchants nationwide. Pawin Sriusvagool, founder and CEO of Karavan, said his company has a vision of becoming the top B2B marketplace platform in Viet Nam. It wants to be a platform that connects FMCG brands and food suppliers with small business owners, he said. We aspire to empower our merchants with superior supply chain technology, allowing our customers to purchase products cheaper with faster and reliable services. In addition, its merchants could make payments digitally via QR codes and can use POS machines to improve operations. Montri Suwanposri, president of C.P. Vietnam, said his company appreciated Karavan for leveraging the power of technology with its B2B e-commerce platform to help connect reputed brands directly with SME businesses, providing B2B e-commerce solutions. We believe in Karavan's ability and vision, and expect Karavan to accelerate C.P. Vietnams development of food distribution, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and take C.P. Vietnams processed foods closer to end-consumers. The collaboration between C.P. Vietnam and Karavan not only creates great synergistic values for both businesses, but also benefits small and medium enterprises and end-consumers, he said. C.P. Vietnam, a subsidiary of the Charoen Pokphand Group founded in 1921 in Thailand, was established in 1988 as a fully integrated agro-industrial and food business. Founded in 2021, Karavan strives to maximise value for small enterprises by providing a one-stop sourcing platform and empowering merchants with QR payments, point-of-sale systems, mobile top-up, financing, group buy programmes, and loyalty schemes. It has achieved impressive growth in the past 12 months, partnering with major FMCG suppliers, and has grown 20 per cent month-on-month in gross merchandise value since establishment. HA NOI The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has commenced an anti-dumping investigation into boltless steel shelving units from Viet Nam, the Trade Remedies Authority of Viet Nam said, recommending enterprises producing and exporting related products keep a close watch on the developments of the case. On April 25, 2023, Edsal Manufacturing Co Inc, the largest producer of boltless steel shelving in the US, filed a petition to the DOC and the US International Trade Commission (USITC) to initiate an anti-dumping duties investigation into certain boltless steel shelving allegedly dumped from Malaysia, India, Taiwan (China), Thailand and Viet Nam. The product under investigation is packed boltless steel shelf with HS code 9403.200075. The petitioner has alleged that boltless steel shelving imported from Malaysia, India, Taiwan, Thailand and Viet Nam are being, or are likely to be, sold at less than fair value in the US. The petitioner further alleged that these imports, which have cumulatively surged by 68.5 per cent from 2020 to 2022, are causing, or threatening to cause, material injury to the US boltless steel shelving industry. The anti-dumping duties investigation started on May 15, 2023. The investigation period is from October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. Preliminary data from the USITC shows that in 2022, Viet Nam exported about US$32.7 million of products subject to investigation, accounting for about 15.5 per cent of the total exports of countries to the US. Viet Nam ranked 4th among the above exporters to the US, after Taiwan (China), China and Thailand, with alleged dumping margin ranging from 92.60 per cent to 224.94 per cent. According to the Trade Remedies Authority of Viet Nam, the DOC has issued a questionnaire on Quantity and Value (Q&V) for Vietnamese businesses. The deadline to respond is May 30, 2023 and businesses can apply for an extension if needed. VNS HCM CITY Pfizer (Vietnam) Limited Company and Viet Nam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) on Wednesday (May 24) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to partner on protecting public health by increasing the rate of proactive prevention of dangerous infections in the period of 2023-25. The cooperation aims to improve the capacity of health care professionals through scientific conferences that update knowledge so they can proactively consult and prevent diseases for patients of all ages, especially those at high risk for vaccine-preventable diseases. It will raise public awareness of disease and healthcare prevention through education and communication, reduce diseases through many measures, including vaccines. The two sides will collaborate in upgrading the capability of staff in the development, implementation and management of real-world data on vaccination (Real-World Evidence) in Viet Nam, thus providing the big picture on the vaccination patterns of Vietnamese people for safe vaccinations. Vu Thi Thu Ha, supply chain director of VNVC, said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed people's perception of the preventative role of vaccines. Anil Argilla, Pfizer EM Asia Cluster President, said Pfizer is applying cutting-edge scientific achievements and global resources to deliver effective solutions that maintain and dramatically improve the quality of life for everyone. In Viet Nam, Pfizer is committed to supporting the health system, including the VNVC vaccination centre. The MoU on strategic cooperation will be a breakthrough milestone, aiming to improve healthcare efficiency and bring about long lives for Vietnamese people, he said. Darrell Oh, general director of Pfizer Vietnam, said the company has been accompanying Viet Nam for many years to help address challenges of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. This cooperation is a clear sign of Pfizer's efforts in effectively linking education and health. Programmes raising public awareness about disease and prevention, and improving the capacity of health care professionals through the medical update roadmap contribute to health protection towards a healthy community, he said. The expanded vaccination programme for children under one year old in Viet Nam has protected children from 10 current dangerous diseases such as tuberculosis, HBV, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, meningitis due to HIB, measles and rubella. However, there are still many dangerous diseases that can be actively prevented such as pneumococcal disease, seasonal flu, respiratory syncytial virus disease and meningococcal meningitis. About 4,000 children under five years old die from pneumonia every year in the country. VNS HA NOI The Indian-based conglomerate Adani Group is working on a seaport investment project in Viet Nam with an investment of about US$2 billion, said CEO of its Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ) Karan Adani at a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang in Ha Noi on Wednesday. Accordingly, Anadi plans to invest in technical infrastructure at Lien Chieu port serving the handling of general, bulk, liquid/gaseous cargo and containers. Adani hopes to receive the support of the Ministry of Transport to translate the project into reality as quickly as possible, the CEO said, expressed his hope to explore the prospect of investment in other seaports of Viet Nam and on human resources collaboration to operate seaports, inland waterway ports, and ocean fleets. Minister Thang said given the limited number of Indian enterprises in Viet Nam, the presence of Adani is a positive signal, opening up further cooperation prospects between the nations in the near future. The ministry is looking for port investors with financial capacity and experience, and is ready to remove difficulties and obstacles and create favourable conditions for investors and businesses, he affirmed. Thang suggested Adani invest in a complex of port operation infrastructure and logistics industrial park at Lien Chieu and other ports in accordance with Viet Nams current regulations. On the same day, the Indian CEO had a meeting and signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation strategy for port and logistics development with the Viet Nam Maritime Corporation (VIMC). VNS HCM CITY A web drama based on Vietnamese tales starring famous theatre actor and director Thanh Loc of HCM City will be released on YouTube in August. The show, Thach Sanh-Ly Thanh (The Story of Thach Sanh and Ly Thanh), is based on a popular Vietnamese fairy tale called Thach Sanh (The Tale of Thach Sanh). Thach Sanh tells the story of an orphan who grows up to be a brave woodcutter and defeats monsters to save a princess. Finally, he and the princess get married. In the web drama, love, honestly and bravery will be highlighted. Family issues will also be included. The show stars Loc as the lead character, and young artists Ngoc Thanh Tam and Vo Tan Phat. Filming began on May 14. I invested a lot in making Thach Sanh-Ly Thanh, my second web drama. I believe releasing web dramas on YouTube is a good way to save money on production and provide audiences with art, said actress Ngoc Thanh Tam, who is also the films producer, during the films launching ceremony in HCM City. I invited theatre star Loc to perform in my production as a way to guarantee its success. Pioneer Meritorious Artist Loc decided to challenge himself with a role in Thach Sanh-Ly Thanh. I wanted to try a new form by using YouTube to expand my art among young people, said Loc, who has more than 50 years in theatre. Loc is a founder of IDECAF Drama Troupe, one of HCM Citys leading private theatres. The theatre features 30 professional artists, along with backstage workers. Loc has played a key role in the development of the citys theatre, as he has produced, directed and performed in many plays since his troupe opened in 1997. He has offered many experimental shows of dramas, musicals, cai luong (reformed opera) and hat boi (central drama), two genres of traditional theatre in the southern and central regions. He has worked hard to produce musicals targeting children. His shows always go with images, sounds and music that provide young audiences with wonderful insights about their history, traditional culture and theatre. His latest show is The Wild Swans, which is based on a literary fairy tale by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. Locs Vietnamese version features a princess who rescues her family from an evil witch. Many beautiful outfits, accessories and stage designs are used. The shows first performance was in May and has attracted 10,000 spectators. Loc is a director of the theatres long-term programme called Ngay Xua Ngay Xua (Once Upon a Time), which began in 2000. The programme has offered more than 34 plays with more than 900 free performances for thousands of young children and teenagers, including disadvantaged children who live at open houses and shelters around the city. Through our programme, we want to provide children with new concepts and techniques in drama. We also hope to foster a love of the theatre among the youth, said Loc. VNS Dr Khuat Thu Hong, head of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), speaks to Viet Nam News reporter Khanh Duong on enhancing awareness of ethnic minority children and young people about human trafficking and child marriage through digital technology. Could you give us an assessment on human trafficking and child marriages in Viet Nam, especially among ethnic minority community? Human trafficking and child marriages are getting complicated with more sophisticated tricks to lure victims. Digital technology has been used as an effective tool in our lives but in some ways, it is also a useful tool for human traffickers. Thats why fighting against human trafficking is increasingly challenging. More than 1,000 human trafficking victims are reported each year. In fact, I believe that there are much more victims because many of them could not return to tell us they have been trafficked. Statistics are a small part of reality. Human trafficking victims previously were women of childbearing age. Groups of victims have been expanded to men, adolescents, children, even the babies before they are born. The tricks are getting complicated, targetting curiosity of young people such as offering easy jobs, high income and even tourism packages. Adolescents who lack life experiences are easily lured. Our countrys economic activities are expanding. Human trafficking tricks have been hidden under various forms to lure potential victims. In fact, pushing back human trafficking and child marriages is not easy. The problem is that we do have specific communication campaigns targeting each group of victims. We must have the mindset that everyone has the potential to become a human trafficking victim. Over the past three years, ISDS has run the project of Enhancing awareness of ethnic minority children and young people on human trafficking and child marriage through digital technology (EMPoWR), co-funded by the Delegation of the European Union and Plan International in Belgium. Why did the project choose digital platforms as tools to raise awareness of ethnic minority adolescents who live in remote areas and lack access to internet? If we focus only on traditional communication tools, we can not communicate with young people. It is difficult to invite young people to workshops. Communication using books and knowledge is difficult as well. Young people love using digital platforms so we need to use digital technology to equip them with preventive skills. But if we talk about boring topics on digital platforms, young people will get bored easily. The Em Vui (Im happy) project has tried to grab their attention, encouraging young people to learn and make them curious through photos, stories, quizzes on human trafficking and child marriage. Not only ISDS, Plan International, but other organisations and individuals also need to be more creative in delivering the messages because tricks and traps are available not only in remote areas but also big cities like Ha Noi and HCM City. Strengthening communication so that young people are able to gain skills to be more confident and protect themselves are the aims of the project. What is the biggest obstacle while implementing Em Vui project? The biggest challenge is how to change customs that have persisted among ethnic minorities for thousands of years. How do we change the mindset of people and tell them that customs like early marriage, wife robbing are no longer appropriate in modern lives? How do we tell them that early marriage prevents educational opportunities? How to do those tasks is not easy. We never say the customs are outdated. We cannot directly criticise those customs because they are cultural identities. Through stories, videos and photos, we hope we can raise awareness for young people and their parents on the negative impacts and consequences of early marriage. It is proposed that the amended Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat be added to the National Assemblys agenda next year. How urgent is the law amendment? Do you have any recommendation for the amendment? I have to emphasise that the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat holds an extremely important meaning. It was enacted in 2011 and needs amendments in the current context. The groups of human trafficking victims have been expanded with more sophisticated tricks from traffickers covered in various forms. If you do not make amendments to the law to have stricter regulations, it is difficult to address this issue. I propose more tougher penalties for deterrence purposes and have mechanisms to provide assistance to victims. We have to identify who are the potential victims and have preventive solutions in place. We should not wait until the cases happen and then arrest violators for punishments but focus on prevention. The Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat needs to pay attention to communication. We must make investment in communication campaigns. We have used traditional communication tools but honestly they are not really attractive enough. Communication is key to spread knowledge so that potential victims of human trafficking are able to identify signs of trafficking and equip themselves self-protection skills. VNS About Em Vui (Im happy) projectThe Enhancing awareness of ethnic minority children and young people on human trafficking and child marriage through digital technology project has been implemented from June 2020 to June 2023 in 52 communes of four provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Lao Cai and Ha Giang.The Em Vui (Im happy) project is a product of collaboration between the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), Plan International in Viet Nam with sponsorship of Delegation of the European Union and Plan International in Belgium.The project aims to support 17,200 children and young people from ethnic minorities aged between 10 and 24 to use digital platforms to learn, access to their rights and assistance services relating to child marriage and human trafficking as well as express their expectations to policy makers.The digital platforms include website emvui.vn, a mobile application and six social media channels on Facebook, TikTok, Zalo, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter with the name Em Vui.Videos, comics and cartoons about child marriages and human trafficking have been also released as effective tools to raise awareness of young ethnic people.Em Vui project and its digital platforms numbers (as of May 20):- In the past six months, nearly 400 people accessed the digital platforms each day, mostly from ethnic minority adolescents in four provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Lao Cai and Ha Giang.- Almost 200 videos and documents related to cyber safety, productive health, child marriage, human trafficking prevention and law knowledge have been posted on Em Vuis digital platforms.- Nearly 8,000 members on digital platforms. TOKYO Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang met with former Prime Minister of Japan Suga Yoshihide, Chairman of the Japan-Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Nikai Toshihiro, and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko in Tokyo on May 24 as part of his working visit to Japan. At their meeting, Quang wished former PM Suga Yoshihide, who is now an advisor to the Japan-Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, to pay further attention to lifting the countries relations to a new height, increasing the exchange of delegations this year, and supporting the Vietnamese community in Japan, whose population nears 500,000. Suga said Japan considers Viet Nam an important partner in implementing its foreign strategy in the region and pledged to back the promotion of the nations friendship and cooperation, especially in all-level delegation exchange, parliamentary exchange, economy-investment, and digital transformation; as well as of policies supporting Vietnamese living, working and studying in Japan. He proposed that Viet Nam assist the Japanese community in Viet Nam. Meeting with Nikai Toshihiro, the Deputy PM lauded the alliances meaningful and active contribution to the countries economic, cultural, tourism, and locality-to-locality exchanges. He suggested Nikai continue to support the two countries high-level and all-level exchanges, tourism, locality-to-locality cooperation, culture, and people-to-people exchange, and promote the Japanese Governments support for Viet Nam in early implementing the new generation Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme. Nikai, for his part, expressed his wish to work with the Vietnamese side in promoting the bilateral parliamentary connection, especially between young and female parliamentarians; and in stepping up cooperation in many fields such as tourism, education, and sports. He vowed to help speed up the procedure of opening the Japanese market for Viet Nam's green-skinned pomelo and suggested that Viet Nam consider the procedure to allow Japanese grapes to enter its market. Talking to the JICA leader, Quang highly appreciated the important contributions of Japanese ODA to Viet Nam's socio-economic development and poverty reduction over the past three decades and stated that the Vietnamese Government always respects and makes effective use of the capital. The Deputy PM suggested that JICA continue to pay attention to the provision of new-generation ODA for Viet Nam in the matters mentioned at the recent high-level talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio in Hiroshima. Such matters involve the North-South high-speed railway project, the urban railway in Ha Noi and HCM City, and other projects related to renewable energy, green transformation, and the enhancement of agricultural product value. Tanaka underscored his willingness to closely coordinate with Viet Nam to further stimulate ODA cooperation between the two countries in all fields. He said Japan is willing to participate in key projects of Viet Nam and suggested that the two sides set up an all-level periodical consultation framework in order to promptly provide information, solve arising problems, and ensure the effectiveness of these projects. On the same day, Deputy PM Quang visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, meeting embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam on Thursday demanded China withdraw the survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10 and its escorting flotilla of coast guard and fishing vessels from Vietnamese waters. Deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang made the remark in response to a reporter's question on Viet Nam's reaction to recent Chinese intrusion by Chinese vessels into Viet Nam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea). "As previously reported, the Chinese survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10, along with a number of accompanying coast guard and fishing vessels, has violated Viet Nam's EEZ, which was established in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982," Hang said. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies have repeatedly communicated with Chinese authorities and implemented measures in accordance with international law and Vietnamese law to ensure Viet Nam's legitimate rights and interests, the deputy spokesperson stressed. Viet Nam demands that relevant Chinese agencies comply with the common perceptions of the high-level leadership of the two countries, immediately end their provocative activities, withdraw the Xiang Yang Hong 10 and other coast guard and fishing vessels from Vietnamese waters, respect Viet Nam's sovereignty and jurisdictional rights, strictly abide by the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, towards the maintenance of peace, cooperation, and development in the East Sea, and contribute to the development of bilateral relations. Earlier last week, at the 20th ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC held in the northern province of Quang Ninh of Viet Nam, Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of ASEAN SOM Viet Nam, said that given the complex situation and ongoing unilateral actions that violate international law in the East Sea, the ambassador suggested that countries should combine "words with deeds" by translating political commitments into specific and appropriate actions in the field. In such spirit, he highlighted the need to use international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a 'lodestar' for activities in the East Sea. VNS The armies of South Korea and the United States planned to conduct large-scale live-fire exercises close to the North Korean border on Thursday. North Korea previously warned that it would not tolerate what it considered an aggressive practice for an invasion near its territory. It will conduct five rounds of firing exercises until mid-June, starting with Thursday's drills, commemorating 70 years since the establishment of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea has a history of responding to such significant joint exercises with missile and other weapons tests, as reported by AP News. North Korea's Missile Tests (Photo : by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) PYEONGTAEK, SOUTH KOREA - MAY 04: U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division-ROK-US Combined Division participate in the Best squad competitions at Camp Humphreys on May 04, 2023 in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. U.S. Army, the 2nd Infantry Division holds a 'Best Squad Competition' where soldiers compete in a variety of events testing them both physically and mentally. In 2022, North Korea has conducted over 100 missile tests but has not launched any missiles since mid-April, when it fired a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile. North Korea claims that their frequent tests were in response to the increased military exercises conducted by the US and South Korea. Still, experts believe North Korea is using these tests to improve its weapons capabilities and gain more leverage in future diplomatic negotiations. Read Also: Kim Jong Un's Sister Warns 'Overwhelming' Response Against US-South Korea Military Exercise US-South Korea Largest Firepower Drills The United States and South Korea plan to conduct large-scale firing exercises, known as "combined annihilation firepower drills," which would be the largest of their kind. These drills have been conducted 11 times since they started in 1977, as confirmed by the South Korean Defense Ministry. Officials from the Ministry stated that the upcoming military exercises would include modern technologies such as stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters, tanks, and multiple rocket launch systems from South Korea and the United States. The exact number of soldiers participating in the drills is currently unknown, but the previous exercises in 2017 involved around 2,000 troops and 250 weapons from both countries. The Defense Ministry previously announced that the exercises aim to improve the ability of South Korea and the United States to work together effectively. They will focus on developing solid defenses and responses to counter potential nuclear or missile attacks from North Korea. On Friday, the media in North Korea referred to the drills as a rehearsal for a war that explicitly targets their country. They expressed concern about the fact that the exercises were taking place so close to their border. At the beginning of this year, South Korea and the United States participated in their most extensive military training in five years. Additionally, the United States dispatched the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, which is nuclear-powered, and bombers with nuclear capabilities to carry out joint drills alongside South Korea. Moon Seong Mook, an analyst from the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, suggested that North Korea may use the joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States as an excuse to resume testing its weaponry to achieve its goal of modernizing its weapons. However, he also mentioned that North Korea's domestic priorities, such as increasing agricultural production during the rice-planting season, could still impact their decision on whether or not to conduct weapons tests. Related Article: President Yoon Suk Yeol Addresses Congress, Calls for Continued US-South Korea Cooperation @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HCM CITY Human resources, especially high-quality human resources, must be planned and it is essential to incorporate the human resource planning in a regular and long-term development strategy to promote socio-economic development and ensure national defence and security in the southeastern region. Localities in the region need a strategy for training and effective use of post-training human resources, meeting the current demands for industrial, service, commercial, and tourism development. At the Conference on Education and Training Development in the southeastern region until 2030, with a vision to 2045, recently organised by the Ministry of Education and Training in Binh Duong Province, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha directed localities to continue investing resources and overcoming difficulties to comprehensively develop the educational sector, as well as to train high-quality human resources. The reality shows that countries are shifting their mindset and development methods from relying solely on natural resources to investing in intellectual resources. He said that only investment in education and training can create a driving force for national development. In the past ten years, from 2012 to 2022, the scale and network of educational institutions in the region have been invested in and developed synchronously and diversified in line with the actual conditions of each locality. This has created favourable conditions and learning opportunities for the people, improving education and training levels, and developing human resources for the provinces and cities within the region and the country. The region's higher education is increasingly affirming its role as a centre for training high-quality human resources in the country. The entire region, which includes HCM City and five provinces managed by the central Government, Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, ong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, has nearly 60 universities and over 300 vocational education institutions. Each year, more than 76,000 graduates contribute to the region's supply of high-quality human resources. The employment rate of graduates is nearly 87 per cent. The region's total number of trained workers aged 15 and over has reached nearly 30 per cent. The proportion of the population with a university degree or higher in the entire region is approximately 7 per cent. As the economic locomotive and the largest centre for science and technology in the country and the southeastern region, HCM City aims to increase the proportion of trained labour to 87 per cent of the total workforce by 2025 and to 89 per cent by 2030. By 2025, at least 10 per cent of public vocational education institutions will undergo quality accreditation based on international and ASEAN region's standards for their training programmes. This percentage will increase to at least 30 per cent by 2030. Nguyen Van Lam, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, stated that to achieve this goal, the city is focusing on training human resources to meet the demands of the labour market and the requirements of economic restructuring. Training is closely linked to the overall plan for training internationally competent human resources in key sectors such as information technology, mechanics and automation, artificial intelligence, business administration, finance and banking, healthcare, tourism, urban management, and the shared university model. The city is setting up connections between training and improving the quality of human resources at university and vocational education levels. It selects and invests in developing some public vocational institutions according to the direction of high-quality schools. It also develops criteria for evaluating and ranking vocational institutions in the locality as a basis for restructuring public vocational units. Furthermore, it encourages and provides incentives for the private sector to invest in vocational training. Dr Nguyen uc Nghia, former deputy director of the Viet Nam National University-HCM City, recommended that universities and vocational institutions closely coordinate with the State agencies, businesses, and educational institutions to align supply and demand so this workforce will contribute to accelerating economic growth more effectively, especially in the current digital economy. HCM City needs to gradually shift from relying on labour-insentive advantages to relying on a highly skilled workforce, prioritise attracting human capital, and transition from an investment-based economy to an economy based on intellectuals. According to Master Nguyen Chu Du from Union University, the southeastern region should review, rearrange, and plan the network of higher education and vocational institutions in alignment with the socio-economic development plans and the demands of the national labour market and regional and local needs. Research from HCM City University of Economics shows that localities in the region need to concretise their plans for developing human resources in each sector and development project. Localities need to identify training needs and attract human resources linked to prominent industries and the advantages of the locality through market demand surveys, workshops, and dialogues with relevant stakeholders, including businesses, local authorities, and training institutions. Businesses are the ones who understand the labour force's needs so that they can provide accurate and effective requirements for additional training and skill enhancement for workers. The development of human resources must be closely linked to the optimal utilisation of resources to attract and retain high-quality human resources. Depending on the operational characteristics of businesses in the locality, the plan for high-quality human resources should be regularly updated and adjusted to match both the demand and policies for attracting and utilising human resources. To promote the training of human resources by businesses, the State and local authorities need to have supportive and encouraging policies for training institutions. According to the research, the State plays an intermediary role in connecting businesses and educational institutions by forecasting labour demand, providing information to training institutions, and facilitating meetings and discussions between businesses and training institutions regarding specific industries. Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said the southeastern region needs to plan the education system, particularly the university level. Currently, the distribution of universities in the region is uneven. For example, HCM City has many universities, while Tay Ninh and Binh Phuoc provinces do not have any universities. In addition, the region needs to promote socialisation, internationalisation, modernisation, digitisation, and universalisation of education. The Government invests and manages the education sector while opening a space for creativity and innovation to attract and mobilise social resources into education. Education policies should not differentiate between the public and private sectors. The minister emphasised that the education sector must promote internal resources, focusing on attracting scientists and talents who are overseas Vietnamese and foreigners. Furthermore, there is a need to enhance the quality of foreign language teaching further, as it serves as a tool for Vietnamese labourers to integrate into the global workforce. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for more Vietnamese tourism offices to be opened abroad to boost the development of the sector. According to a recently issued resolution to accelerate effective and sustainable tourism development, representative tourism offices should be first opened in key markets. Resolution No.82/NQ-CP sets out tasks and solutions to develop Viet Nam's tourism to become a spearhead economic sector and belong to the group of 30 countries with the leading tourism competitiveness. The Government asked the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism to continue implementing the project of "restructuring the tourism industry to meet the requirements of development into a spearhead economic sector". The ministry should focus on restructuring the tourist market and strengthening tourism statistics and tourist information surveys under the National Statistical Survey Programme. The ministry needs to develop and implement the Green Tourism Action Programme from 2023 to 2025 to protect the natural and social environment at crucial tourist destinations under the orientation of "Green, Clean, Beautiful and Friendly Tourism Destination". The tourism industry must build a database of the international tourist markets, renew methods and applications of digital technology in tourism promotion, and take advantage of the media and social networks. The Viet Nam tourism sector must also expand and diversify markets to rapidly grow and attract many visitors with high spending levels and stay long. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was asked to carry out economic diplomacy tasks, serving the country's development, including tourism. The ministry was also required to promote the role of the overseas Vietnamese representative agency in providing information, advertising and introducing tourism, as well as creating favourable conditions for tourists to Viet Nam. The ministry has to co-ordinate with other relevant agencies to complete and submit documents to the Government for consideration and promulgation of a resolution on expanding unilateral visa exemption as well as promoting the negotiation of visa exemption agreements with other countries. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Security was requested to continue completing policies on immigration and travel for international tourists, and research and report to the Government on expanding the list of countries in which granting an electronic visa is applicable. The ministry has to complete e-visa and traditional issuance regulations, study to prolong the temporary stay period for foreigners in Viet Nam, and drastically improve the procedures for security control for foreign tourists in airports. The Ministry of Transport needs to carry out measures to open international flight routes to Viet Nam further and create more favourable conditions for international airlines to open routes to the country. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam may attract 10 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, surpassing the target of eight million previously set by the sector at the beginning of the year, according to deputy head of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Ha Van Sieu. In the first four months of 2023, nearly 3.7 million foreign tourists travelled to Viet Nam, and the number of domestic tourists was 38 million. Total revenue was estimated at VN196.6 trillion (US$8.3 billion). Meanwhile, thanks to exciting cultural and tourism activities especially festivals taking place in many localities in the early months of the year, travel revenue was estimated at VN9.1 trillion, nearly 2.1 times the figure of the same period last year. In April alone, the country welcomed 984,000 international travellers, the highest figure from the beginning of this year and an increase of 9.9 per cent from the previous month. It served 10.5 million domestic tourists in the month. The Republic of Korea remains Viet Nams biggest tourism market in the first four months with one million visitors, followed by the US with 263,000 and China with 252,000. The number of Chinese tourists to Viet Nam in April was 112,000, up 61.5 per cent from the previous month thanks to Chinas border reopening to group tours from March 15. The VNAT said that the main growth driver for the international tourism market is currently China. The Viet Nam tourism desk under the Guangxi Overseas Travel Service Co., Ltd. in Nanning city, Guangxi Province, forecast that the number of Chinese tourists to Viet Nam will surge in summer. VNAT also predicted that the number of tourists from China will recover at a faster rate than those of other markets due to its population, with demand growing day-by-day since the country resumed outbound travel. Its recovery is expected to increase pace after summer and accelerate in October and the final months of this year. Australia and India are now well-positioned to increase the number of tourists to Viet Nam as the national carrier Vietnam Airlines and the budget carrier Vietjet recently opened direct flights connecting many major cities between the two countries. In Southeast Asia, Thailand and Cambodia are recovering well, equivalent to the pre-pandemic levels, and are forecast to maintain growth thanks to their geographical proximity to Viet Nam. In the ongoing plenary session in May, the National Assembly is scheduled to adopt a resolution on new policies related to visas, immigration, and entry, including extending the electronic visa validity period from no more than 30 days to three months at most, for single or multiple entry. They will grant e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories, and increase the duration of temporary residence certificates at the border gate for people eligible for unilateral visa-free entry from 15 days to 45 days. This will be an important driving force contributing to attracting foreign tourists to Viet Nam in the coming time. This year, Viet Nam is striving to earn around VN650 trillion ($27.68 billion) from tourism services. VNS HCM CITY A five-year cooperation agreement to promote digital transformation in youth union activities has been signed between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) of HCM City and Telecom operator Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT) Group in HCM City. A cooperation agreement signing ceremony was held on Monday (May 22) in the city. Under the agreement, by 2027, VNPT HCM City will provide information technology products and services, and digital and communication services to the youth union in the city in order to promote the digital transformation of the youth union's work and activities. That will help young people actively apply science and technology, and quickly adapt to new technologies in the fourth industrial revolution and the citys digital transformation orientation. o uc Trung, deputy director of VNPT HCM City, said that the unit has coordinated with the HCYU of HCM City to build and implement a project to improve young people's digital capacity in the period of 2023-25. The project focuses on providing training and fostering knowledge of digital transformation, information safety and security to youth union members and young people in the city. In addition, VNPT HCM City will broadcast activities and events organised by the HCYU of HCM City. The unit has taken part in building and implementing a youth project "Open data portal for HCM City youth in the period of 2023-27" through advanced applications and software associated with the requirements of the HCYU. It gives priority to providing the HCYU of HCM City with advanced solutions and technologies to meet requirements for work and digital transformation. It is also participating in the implementation of a digital platform-based ecosystem suitable to the characteristics of the work and activities of union members and young people in the city. VNPT HCM City and the HCYU of HCM City will digitise the operations of the youth union units, and build an environment for organisations, businesses, and individuals to participate in developing the digital platform-based ecosystem in order to improve the material and spiritual life of local youth union members and young people. The two sides will also develop incentive programmes for VNPT products and services, such as VNPT Money, MyTV, mobile services, and internet service packages. Tran Thu Ha, deputy secretary of the HCYU of HCM City, said the HCYU of HCM City will create favourable conditions to provide necessary information for VNPT HCM City to research, develop plans, and participate in developing its organisation system and activities on telecommunications and digital services. The Youth Union at all levels will give priority to using VNPT's telecommunications products and digital services. The HCYU of HCM City is committed to being the companion of VNPT HCM City to contribute to the development of a digital society and e-government, and assist people in using online public services through digital environments. VNS HA NOI A 45-year-old man in HCM City, who got botulinum poisoning after eating fermented fish sauce, died on Wednesday night, local media reported on Thursday. The patient passed away shortly after six vials of Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (BAT) antidote sent from the World Health Organizations warehouse in Switzerland arrived in the city to treat six patients suffering from botulinum poisoning. The man is one of six botulinum poisoning cases that have been treated at Cho Ray Hospital, Gia inh Peoples Hospital and Children No 2s Hospital in the city. The man died 10 days after he was hospitalised at Gia inh Peoples Hospital on May 14. Vo Hong Minh Cong, deputy director of Gia inh Peoples Hospital, said the patient suffered from severe poisoning. The patient was diagnosed with type-A botulinum poisoning. After being taken to hospital, he was ventilated and showed muscle weakness. He was first treated at the hospitals Department of Neurology. The patient then showed more severe complications and was transferred to the hospitals Intensive Care Unit. Despite doctors' efforts, the man suffered from multi-organ failure and died on Wednesday night. Golden period passed The hospital said at the time of the victim's death, the BAT antidote, provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), had already arrived at the hospital, but the patient had passed the prescribed time to take the drug. Le Quoc Hung, head of the Tropical Diseases Department under Cho Ray Hospital, said: The antidote is the best option, but it must be used at the right time, used at the beginning of symptoms of weakness, to help neutralise toxins in the blood. If the patient is treated with the antidote as soon as toxins are detected, it is possible to come out of paralysis and it will not lead to the need for mechanical ventilation within 48 to 72 hours, he said. However, the effectiveness of the antidote also depends on the amount of poison the patient ingested and whether the antidote is used at the right time, he added. In the absence of an antidote, the toxins continue to attack the patient. Botulinum enters the nervous system causing conduction loss, the muscles cannot be controlled and cause paralysis, he said. When respiratory muscles are paralysed, the patient will suffer from respiratory failure and die if not treated, he said. MoHs efforts In an attempt to get the antidote for the six botulinum poisoning patients, Minister of Health ao Hong Lan and Deputy Minister of Health o Xuan Tuyen ordered the Drug Administration of Viet Nam to quickly work with relevant units of the WHO. On the afternoon of May 23, Lan had a face-to-face meeting with the WHOs office representatives in Ha Noi and asked for support in getting the medication. Immediately, WHO decided to send the antidote for the patients, who were being treated at three hospitals in HCM City. With the efforts of the ministry, the administration and the timely support of WHO, six vials of BAT antidote arrived in HCM City on Wednesday night. Six botulinum poisoning cases Since May 13, six cases of botulinum poisoning have been reported in HCM Citys Thu uc District. All six patients had symptoms of fatigue, headache, dizziness, stomachache and diarrhoea, then began to have muscle weakness and difficulties swallowing. Five of them were poisoned after eating bread with Vietnamese pork bologna (gio lua) sold by street vendors while the other 45-year-old patient was hospitalised after eating fermented fish sauce. Three children, who were hospitalised earlier, are now in stable condition after they were given the BAT antidote at HCM City's Children's Hospital 2. Viet Nam had no BAT antidote left to treat the three other patients until the drugs arrived in the city on Wednesday night. According to the Drug Administration of Viet Nam, botulinum poisoning stems from infection with the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. The cause is ingesting bacterial toxins in substandard and improperly preserved food. Botulinum poisoning rarely occurs in Viet Nam and around the world, which leads to a scarcity of the required medication worldwide. Therefore, the supply of the BAT antidote is limited. The cost of the BAT antidote is also very high. In Viet Nam, the BAT antidote is not listed among medicines covered by the health insurance fund. Previously, the Health Office of Thu uc City said it had found the location of a pork bologna producer connected to the patients. The producer, located in Truong Tho Ward, Thu uc City, has been operating for nearly two months without getting a licence from the authority. VNS by Luong Thu Huong Using a hypodermic needle and syringe to inject colour agents into a transparent layer of jelly, Tran Phuong Nga elaborately creates intricate flowers, leaves and other decorative elements that look incredibly lifelike: a whole jelly cake doubles as an edible work of art. The beauty of flowers, cute animals, beautiful love stories or romantic songs have become endless inspirations for Nga's three-dimensional canvas of transparent jelly. Savouring the cake is like enjoying an artwork, feasting both the eyes and taste buds. The Ha Noi-based artisan made her first 3D jelly art cakes in 2015 to please her son, as it was one of his favourite treats. Back then, the art was trendy in Viet Nam and prevalent in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Her first understanding of the making of jelly art cakes came from online videos in which international artisans showcased their techniques. Instead of using gelatin or agar like the foreign crafters, Nga came up with her own ingredients for the dessert creations, including jelly powder, pandan leaves and dragon fruit as natural dyes, and coconut milk and fruits to create flavour. Her first cake had a flowery pattern created with a straw instead of a hypodermic needle, and it took nearly three hours to finish. Though it was imperfect, it surprisingly received much praise from many of her Facebook friends, and encouraged her to continue to experiment with different methods. After many fails, she finally succeeded in developing her own recipe for the delicious and beautiful cakes. According to Nga, the basic tools to make a jelly art cake include a cake mould, one or two modified injection needles and syringes. The ingredients for her creations and their colours have natural origins that are easy to find, for example, yellow from pumpkin powder, green from matcha tea, blue from butterfly pea flower, or brown from chocolate. The making of a jelly cake includes several steps. The first is to create a jelly base, which must be transparent to craft a perfect cake. After preparing the colour agents from natural ingredients, the artisan will sculpt decorative patterns inside the base. Finally, the jelly will be poured into a cake mould and left to cool. All four steps are equally important. It is necessary to be meticulous and careful in each step to create a cake or a work of art that is both beautiful and delicious, said the 42-year-old cake-lover. As Nga is a flower lover, most of her creations are inspired by flowers, like chrysanthemums, roses, sunflowers or lotuses. Before embarking on a work, instead of practising drawing, she will study the flower carefully, from its petals, leaves and branches, or simply observe it until she can feel its beauty. Some flowers can be sculpted right away, while others take years to perfect. Besides popular themes like realistic looking flowers or animals, Ngas artworks also feature stories inspired by memories and songs. Each jelly art cake requires meticulousness and perseverance. The larger the cake, the more intricate it becomes. She has made many large cakes of up to 1m by 0.75m with designs of koi fish, lotus ponds, or lotus flowers, such as for the International Buddhist Festival in 2019 at Tam Chuc Pagoda. With a strong passion for edible art, she decided to quit her job of 12 years at a state organisation to wholeheartedly dedicate herself to her passion, and has never looked back. Since I started making 3D jelly art cakes, I have understood what passion means and the determination to let go of many things to pursue my dream. Being able to do what I love is freedom, and enjoying the work I do is happiness. Im fortunate to have both of these things, she said. This passion has also enabled Nga to travel to many places, meet people of the same interest and inspire others. Many netizens have been impressed by her artistic creations and inquired about her experience, which has motivated her to launch the first online 3D jelly cake making courses in Viet Nam. The courses have been attended by not only Vietnamese but also international learners from as far as Malaysia, Germany and the US. Nga has collaborated with various media agencies to livestream and record free instructional videos on social media. The number of her students now reaches the hundreds, and many have earned success from the culinary art. In 2017, her first student, based in Taiwan, won second-place in the international jelly art competition in Malaysia. One year later, the Vietnamese team, under Ngas instruction, won the first prize and many other major ones in a competition in Taiwan, while Nga herself was awarded with the title of Best Instructor. In the following years, she has been constantly invited to be a judge of some competitions held in South Korea, Malaysia and other countries. The cake crafter was even granted the title "Artisan of Culinary Culture of Vietnamese Traditional Village" in November 2020 as a recognition of her tireless dedication to the art. The artisan revealed that her first book about 3D jelly art cakes will be released this year, and she also hopes to launch the first international competition for the art in Viet Nam soon. VNS Vietnam is putting the finishing touches to the export of its lychee, one of the countrys key fruits for export, to overseas markets, hoping to make a huge profit this year. The lychee harvesting crop for this year is anticipated to record good growth in terms of both output and export prices. This year sees Bac Giang province, which is dubbed the capital of Vietnamese lychee, have 29,700 ha of land under lychee cultivation, an increase of 1,600ha compared to last year. It is expected to yield between 180,000 and 200,000 tonnes of the fruit. Of the total, 15,682ha of land is used for growing lychees according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, with an estimated output of over 100,000 tonnes. Bac Giang is poised to export 96,000 tonnes, making up 53% of the total output and representing an increase of 15% year on year. So far, more than 200 Chinese dealers have registered to enter and purchase the juicy fruit in the locality. Currently, the province has been granted dozens of planting area codes for lychee export to China, Thailand, Australia. Japan, and the United States. Meanwhile, Hai Duong province, which is also one of the countrys main lychee producers, is expected to yield 40,000 tonnes grown according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards. Along with local consumption, Hai Duong is ramping up trade promotion as it seeks to export lychee to traditional markets such as China, the United States, the EU, Australia, and Japan, and to expand into new and potential markets in South America and Africa. So far, more than 100 planting area codes have been given to export Hai Duongs lychee to China, Australia, Japan, the US, and Thailand. According to the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnamese lychees are mainly exported to China some EU countries, the US, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and the Middle East. This year, we will continue to maintain our traditional export markets on the one hand, and we will, on the other hand, diversify markets to minimise the risk of dependence on a single market, and at the same time increase export value, says Le Hoang Tai, deputy director of the Trade Promotion Department. Ngo Thi Thu Hong, general director of Ameii Vietnam Joint Stock Company that specialises in exporting agricultural products to highly demanding markets, says there are positive signs ahead for lychee sales overseas this year. Currently, the company has received a lot of orders from markets, including its traditional markets such as Japan, the EU, and Australia and some new markets in the Middle East, Singapore, and Malaysia, reveals the executive. In order to ensure sufficient output as well as quality, Hong says that Ameii has signed consumption contracts with co-operatives and farmers in Hai Duong, with the purchase price about 20% higher than the market price. For China, To Ngoc Son, deputy director of the Asia-Africa Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, points out that although the export market signal remains very favourable, the Chinese market is increasingly demanding strict standards and directions towards high-quality products. He therefore suggests that lychee farmers focus on producing quality products in a bid to meet this markets demands. Source: VOV HCMC Vietnam reported only US$23.9 billion in foreign trade in the first half of May, down 10.8% from the second half of April, official data showed. Exports plunged 21.3% from the second half of April to US$11.5 billion, which is US$988 million lower than import spending. The falling export value was attributed to significant declines in key product groups, such as computers, mobile phones, electronics and components, iron and steel, and apparel. Still, Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of some US$6.6 billion in the year through May 15, though total trade plummeted 15.4% year-on-year to US$230.6 billion. Foreign-invested companies contributed US$160.3 billion to the total, down 15.1% year-on-year. During the period, Vietnams goods shipments abroad totaled US$118.6 billion, down 12.8% from the year-ago period, and over US$112 billion was spent on imports, a drop of 18% compared to the same period in 2022. Many houses were damaged by Cyclone Mocha in Sittwe township, Rakhine State, Myanmar on May 16. (Photo source: AFP/VNA) Jakarta The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has delivered the first batch of Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) relief items worth 100,000 USD to support people affected by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar. Cyclone Mocha on May 14 made landfall on the shores of Myanmar's Rakhine State, affecting several vulnerable communities, including those in Rakhine State, Chin State, Bago, Ayeyarwady, Sagaing and Magway regions. An initial assessment has shown severe damage to infrastructure and public facilities. As of May 21, the cyclone has left at least 145 dead, 131 injured, and 912,000 people evacuated to safer places. The total cost of damage is estimated at 2.7 million USD. The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) is preparing to deliver more relief items from the DELSA Regional Warehouse in Malaysia and Satellite Warehouse in Thailand. The ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) have also been deployed to conduct a rapid needs assessment and to facilitate the delivery of relief items. Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn has expressed his condolences to the affected communities and is closely monitoring the situation. Pursuant to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Statement on the Impact of Cyclone Mocha on Myanmar issued on May 15, the Secretary-General stands ready to serve as the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator (SG-AHAC) to provide strategic coordination and facilitate resource mobilisation. ASEAN also called for additional contributions from ASEAN member states, its partners, and stakeholders including international humanitarian organisations to support its efforts in alleviating the suffering of the people affected by the cyclone. Myanmar pledges to implement five-point consensus with ASEAN this year Myanmar's leader Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has said that some points of a consensus reached with the ASEAN to end the country's ongoing crisis will be implemented this year. Japanese businesses in particular are paying great attention to new construction opportunities, photo Le Toan Many construction contractors are currently dissatisfied with the business hazards they face. According to Hoang Thieu Bao, deputy construction director at Vinaconex, the leading cause of conflicts between investors and contractors is the failure to pay for work on time. According to him, this factor holds 60-70 per cent of disputes in current building contracts, originating from investors in projects with state-funded budget and non state-funded budget. In addition, investors add new requirements that exceed those outlined in the dossiers and contracts. We have encountered this situation frequently that the investor and the design consultant do not anticipate the alterations, which negatively impacts the project implementation process, Bao said. The Vietnamese construction industry, which is currently suffering from a dearth of orders, is offering Japanese investors a portion of its business opportunities back. Tadahiro Kinoshita, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, stated two weeks ago that more than 2,000 Japanese enterprises operate in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. In construction and real estate, Kinoshita pointed out that Japanese companies spreading their business operations in Vietnam must consider the risk of commercial disputes if they fail to fulfil their contractual obligations. Even after one company concluded construction of a factory and warehouse at the end of last year, the factory was unable to begin operations due to the lack of a new fire protection certificate. The cost of complying with new fire protection regulations is becoming increasingly significant, said Kinoshita. Due to the delay in bringing the factory into operation, a Japanese building contractor or a domestic construction company cannot transfer over the work and recuperate the construction costs, and the investor has lost business opportunities. Some Japanese investors consider taking disputes to court when doing business in Vietnam encounters difficulties, but Kinoshita stated that doing so requires considerable time as well as cost. Moreover, under Vietnamese law, both Vietnamese and foreign arbitral awards are binding in Vietnam. Japanese firms are interested in municipal and infrastructure development in Vietnam due to the growing demand for infrastructure. According to a survey on the status of Japanese enterprises investing abroad, published by the Japan External Trade Organisation this February, approximately 60 per cent of survey respondents indicated that they intend to expand their business operations in Vietnam within the next 1-2 years. Since 2014, the market has witnessed an influx of Japanese capital into Vietnams real estate and construction sectors through numerous large-scale initiatives. Japanese investors have partnered with Vietnamese companies to develop modern residential areas, including Nam Long, An Gia, Tien Phat, Hoa Binh, and Phuc Khanh, as well as hotel and resort developments in the central city of Danang and southern offshore island Phu Quoc. The Vietnamese market differs from the Japanese one in that there is little space for real estate and construction due to the countrys declining population, Higashi Nobuaki, chief of Nomura Real Estate Developments Overseas Sales Department, said in April. To date, Nomura has developed eight cooperative initiatives, with Vietnamese partners constructing over 24,000 properties. Nevertheless, Japan remains one of the top 10 nationalities of disputing parties at the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre. Vietnam had over 2,500 commercial disputes between 1993 and 2022, with almost 36 per cent of disputes involving foreign investment and around one-quarter involving foreign elements. Keigo Sawayama, partner at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu and representative of the Japan International Dispute Resolution Centre, stated that the delay in procedures is the main cause of a number of construction-related disputes between Japanese and Vietnamese businesses. Complaining to administrative authorities and filing complaints is not the best way to request refunds, Sawayama said. Japanese businesses must investigate arbitration methods and discuss the possibility of instituting coercive measures. In Vietnam, we have high hopes for alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the biggest aircraft carrier in the world, arrived in Oslo on Wednesday, marking the first time a U.S. ship of its kind has visited the city. This was done as a display of NATO's strength amidst the increased tension between the organization and Russia due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Norwegian military announced that a ship and its crew will soon be participating in training exercises with the Norwegian armed forces near the country's coast, as reported by Reuters. This visit is significant as it highlights the strong relationship between the United States and Norway and emphasizes the importance of collective defense and deterrence, according to Jonny Karlsen, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. (Photo : Pixabay/ 12019) US Navy air carrier A group of people, comprising individuals of various age groups, gathered at a particular location on the Oslo fjord to witness a passing ship. They clicked photographs and recorded videos of the vessel. According to news sources in Norway, the aircraft carrier is planning to travel beyond the Arctic Circle. However, Karlsen chose not to provide any comments on this information. The Russian embassy in Oslo criticized the carrier's visit, stating that there was no need for military intervention or outside interference in matters concerning the Arctic region. Norway, which is a member of NATO, has a border with Russia in the Arctic region. Recently, due to a decline in Russian gas supply, Norway has become the primary gas supplier to Europe. Norwegian military and NATO allies have been conducting patrols around offshore oil and gas platforms since autumn, in response to explosions that occurred on the Nord Stream pipelines situated in the Baltic Sea. Read also: Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shandong's First Encounter with USS Nimitz in the South China Sea The Arctic Region The Arctic region has been a topic of contention between various nations, including Russia and the United States. With melting ice in the region due to climate change, there is increasing interest in exploiting its natural resources such as oil and gas reserves. However, concerns have also been raised about potential environmental damage from increased human activity in this fragile ecosystem. The presence of military vessels like aircraft carriers only adds to these concerns. What Norway is Doing Norway has taken steps towards sustainable development by investing heavily in renewable energy sources such as wind power and hydropower. It remains committed to protecting its environment while balancing economic growth with responsible resource management. In addition to being a member of NATO, Norway is also part of the Arctic Council - an intergovernmental forum that promotes cooperation among countries with interests in the Arctic region. Through this platform, Norway works closely with other countries on issues related to scientific research, environmental protection and sustainable development. As tensions continue over access to resources and control over shipping routes through the North Pole waters during summer months when passages open up because of melting sea ice caused by global warming; it's important for all nations involved come together diplomatically before escalating any conflicts further which can impact not just their own country but entire planet Earth too! Related article: US Defense Department Schedules Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford for Short Deployment Before 2023 Commissioning @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. What is your impression of Vietnams young but energy-hungry market, and what are its most critical issues? With over 30 years of operation in Vietnam, GE has made significant contributions to the country's development. Vietnam holds strategic importance as a market, and we are proud to witness its progress. A key challenge lies in ensuring dispatchable energy, the ability to generate and deliver energy as needed. GE's energy consulting services play a vital role in addressing this challenge by optimising the dispatchability of energy resources. Working closely with grid operators, these services identify effective strategies for energy dispatch, including integrating renewable sources, optimising network planning, and ensuring a reliable electricity supply. Furthermore, energy financial services can facilitate financing and investments that enhance grid dispatchability. By strategically supporting projects that contribute to a more reliable and flexible energy system, these services strengthen the overall resilience and efficiency of the grid. Focusing on Vietnam's energy sector can have a significant impact. As the country continues its economic growth, there will be a substantial need for power generation to support this progress and enhance the quality of life. GE offers a diverse range of energy resources, including gas power, wind, solar hybrid solutions, and expertise in grid infrastructure. While nuclear technology may be a consideration in the long term, our comprehensive energy solutions are well-equipped to meet Vietnam's energy requirements and contribute to its sustainable development. Considering the challenges of energy supply in different areas, what is your vision for a strong energy grid in Vietnam that ensures a balanced and reliable energy supply? Over the past 10 to 15 years, the power generation landscape in Vietnam has undergone significant changes. Previously, the majority of power generation was concentrated in the north, while the demand was in the south. GE played a role in increasing the capacity of the 500k power line to address the challenges of transmitting power from north to south. However, the situation has evolved. Power generation is no longer solely concentrated in the north, creating new complexities. Currently, the main challenge in the south revolves around stabilising renewable energy sources. While there are ambitious plans for renewables in the region, their unpredictable nature poses difficulties. The intermittent power supply resulting from the unpredictability of solar and wind energy creates challenges. Vietnam has a diverse mix of energy resources, with significant hydroelectric potential in the north and a greater reliance on coal plants and some natural gas in the south. The rapid growth of renewables in the south exacerbates the intermittency challenge. Renewable energy developers often face curtailment of their wind or solar farms due to grid limitations in managing excess power generation. Consequently, there are two key areas of focus. Firstly, there is a need for grid expansion and strengthening to accommodate the increasing capacity of renewable energy sources. Secondly, finding a solution to stabilise intermittent renewables is crucial. These priorities are currently being addressed by the state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN). How can technology be leveraged to support Vietnam in firming its grid? Gas turbines, particularly the 9HA model, provide greater flexibility and faster response times for grid farming compared to coal plants. The 9HA turbine can ramp up at approximately 70 to 80 MW per minute, allowing it to quickly compensate for increases in renewable energy generation. In contrast, coal plants are slower to respond to changes in the grid. Another technology, aeroderivative turbines, utilises aircraft engines for power generation. These turbines have even faster response times, starting up within five minutes and being ready to dispatch power. However, they are less efficient compared to heavy-duty gas turbines like the 9HA model. Thus, striking the right balance between efficiency and responsiveness is crucial in grid firming. What initiatives has GE taken to support Vietnams energy needs, and what is your future in Vietnam? GE has demonstrated its commitment to supporting various forums and initiatives, actively contributing to the energy sector. In Vietnam, we have established manufacturing facilities, particularly in the high-demand area of wind turbine generators. Additionally, we have played a role in attracting foreign investors to Vietnam's energy market. Many potential investors are interested in entering the Vietnamese market, but face challenges in navigating the system and establishing connections with local stakeholders. We help bridge this gap by facilitating connections between investors and local developers, thereby advancing projects and initiatives. We have also established fruitful collaborations with EVN and the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). These partnerships have been instrumental in advancing the energy sector in Vietnam. EVN and GE have a strong partnership, and our cooperation extends to various areas, including grid expansion, renewable energy integration, and energy consulting services. Additionally, the USTDA has provided funding to support GE's feasibility studies on battery energy storage in Vietnam, further enhancing the country's energy infrastructure. These collaborative efforts demonstrate the commitment of GE, EVN, and USTDA to driving innovation, reliability, and sustainability in Vietnam's electricity sector. When it comes to our own future, the intention for GE Vernova is for it to become an independent company. GE Vernova encompasses various energy businesses, including gas power, solar hybrid, wind, nuclear, hydro, energy consulting, and energy financial services. Starting from next year, there are plans to spin it off as a separate entity. In the gas power sector, we provide solutions. In the solar hybrid and wind sectors, we offer our expertise. Additionally, we have a hydro business. What recent projects has GE undertaken in Vietnam to improve energy reliability and sustainability? GE is actively involved in development projects, including the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 the first LNG fuelled power project in Vietnam. We have been awarded the contract and are implementing these projects, which are expected to be operational within the next two to three years. In Vietnam, GE has installed around 500 MW of wind power and has a presence in hydroelectric and solar projects, demonstrating our involvement in various energy developments. The optimal energy mix varies based on each country or region's specific circumstances. Gas turbines are currently considered effective technologies to complement and stabilise renewable energy sources. They provide balance and support to the renewable energy mix, especially when a consistent power supply is needed due to limited solar energy availability. What energy mix would be the best for Vietnam to achieve its decarbonisation targets, and how could these be executed? Transitioning to lower carbon emissions is indeed achievable with the current technology, and it can result in a significant reduction of around 60 to 70 per cent compared to coal-based emissions. This can be accomplished through a combination of renewables, batteries, and gas. To successfully achieve this transition in Vietnam, several factors are crucial. Well-defined and encouraging policies are needed. These policies should provide incentives for investment in renewable energy projects and create a favourable environment for sustainable energy development. The government and Vietnam as a country must address the trilemma of affordability, reliability, and sustainability. Balancing these three elements is essential. Policies should ensure that the transition to low-carbon options remains affordable for consumers while prioritising sustainability and maintaining a reliable energy supply. GE: the shortest route towards sustainability The energy sector plays a key role in addressing climate change, but the accelerated deployment of renewable and gas power together is a viable path to combating climate change. Narendra Asnani, general manager of Contractual Services Asia at US-backed GE Gas Power talked with VIRs Thanh Van about the future of energy and how GE can support Vietnams energy transition. GE unveiling brand names and defining future The backdrop of supply chain constraints continues to challenge businesses and essential services. On July 19, GE announced the brand names of the future companies it will create through its planned separation into three companies focused on the growth sectors of healthcare, energy, and aviation to shape the future of a world that works. GE brand trio to shape the future of key industries GE on July 19 announced the brand names of the three future companies it will create through its planned separation into healthcare, energy, and aviation. GE Healthcare's vision for AI-backed radiology AI is transforming the healthcare industry in a variety of ways. The Vietnamese Congress of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine 2022 which took place from August 19 to 20 has shed light on how AI heralds a new era of medical imaging. $15.5 billion in financing for green energy from Just Energy Transition Partnership 2023 could be an interesting year for Vietnams energy sector, as $15.5 billion of financing is set to be mobilised for Vietnams green energy transition through a recent energy partnership. Illustrative photo (Photo source: hanoimoi.com.vn) Hanoi The capital city of Hanoi is taking steps to raise personal yearly income of farmers to 70 million VND (nearly 3,000 USD) in 2023 and to 80 million VND in 2025. This is part of the citys programme on speeding up the development of new-style rural areas in line with agricultural restructuring, rural economic development and improved farmers lives in the period 2021-2025 (Programme 04). The citys Steering Committee of the Programme 04 has approved a plan with specific targets and implementation measures. Accordingly, the city expects to have three more districts to be recognised as new-style rural areas. The city will complete dossiers for four districts to seek the Prime Minister's recognition of advance new-style rural areas, 61 communes to be recognised as advance new-style rural areas and 33 communes to get the status of model new-style rural areas. The city expects to have all of its districts and communes to meet criteria of new-style rural areas by 2025. Regarding agricultural restructuring and rural economic development, Hanoi strives to get agricultural, forestry and fishery production growth of 2.5-3% in 2023. The value of hi-tech agricultural products is expected to account to 55% of total agricultural production. By 2025, the growth of agricultural, forestry and fishery production will continue to maintain at 2.5-3%, and high-tech agricultural production will account to over 70%. In terms of improving farmers' lives, in 2023, Hanoi strives to raise the income of farmers in rural areas to reach 70 million VND per capita per year. Approximately 95% of labourers are expected to have regular jobs, and the number of trained workers is to account for 73.5% of labour forces. By 2025, the income of farmers in the capital's rural areas will reach 80 million VND per person per year. To implement the programme, the city planned to focus on promoting communications, especially on successful agricultural production models and those taking advantage of cultural identities of localities. Hanoi will also develop mechanisms to implement Programme 04 such as a resolution on agricultural and rural development in the city in the period of 2022-2026; an urban agriculture project in the period of 2022-2026; new-style rural area programme in the period of 2021-2025. Under current legislation, foreign-invested companies have no right to distribution of drugs in Vietnam. The country has made efforts to improve the business climate by issuing and amending new laws on businesses and enterprises to facilitate foreign investment in the healthcare sector. However, the investment inflows remain lower than expected. Indian pharma groups look to local manufacturing, illustration photo In chapter 2 of the pharma law, on state policies on development of the pharmacy industry, many policies have not been concretised or guided for implementation. These include creating improvements for ordering; procedures for submitting applications for registration of generic drugs with nearby expiration of the patent or relevant proprietary; priority orders and procedures for registration of marketing authorisation certificates and import licensing of rare drugs; and on developing the distribution network and pharmacy chain. Therefore, these policies have not been fully implemented. In order to make investments favourable, there needs to be certain amendments in the current pharma law. Promoting the development of the pharmaceutical industry is vital by giving priority to research, accepting technology transfer, and producing generic drugs, high-tech drugs, biological drugs, medicinal materials, standardised herbal medicines, and raw materials from locally available medicinal ingredients sources, among other areas. Some concepts/definitions in the 2016 Law on Pharma are unclear, undefined, or have not kept up with global trends, such as new chemical entities (NCEs) versus super generics. Current regulations limit the country to have access to NCEs at a reasonable price. As per current regulations, for an NCE to be registered there needs to be three phases of clinical trials and also a second legal document from the European Medicines Agency or Stringent Regulatory Authorities if the issuing authority of the manufacturing country is not on their lists. Many of our members wish to have contract manufacturing carried out to support the existing local manufacturers, however in the pharma law, a foreign-invested group cannot buy back products produced locally. There has to be favourable changes in the law, including clarity on import-export to encourage more local manufacturing is carried out by our members. Meanwhile, there is no specific principle to review the declared prices and the lack of price information in ASEAN countries to compare prices that cause delay for publishing declared prices to the website of the Drug Administration of Vietnam. The results of national-level centralised bidding have not yet ensured the completion schedule, and cause loss of tenders and lost business for pharma companies. Vietnam must learn from other nations nearby. In the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, governments focus on generics with good quality and affordable pricing. This focus has helped them cope with the constraints in budgets and grow access to quality medicines for its citizens Vietnam has signed several free trade agreements, which is encouraging for Indian investors to set up their manufacturing bases for global export. However, there needs to be more policy changes to encourage generic investments from India. Looking forward, many members are in discussions and in various stages to set up local manufacturing in Vietnam. There is also focus on processed/tech transfer and first biosimilar, super generic, generic near expiration of patent, and NCEs to local manufacturers in Vietnam. (*)Navendu Kumar - Head of Pharma & Healthcare Working Group, Indian Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi With Morinaga Milk Industry holding a controlling 51 per cent stake, this joint venture (JV) aims to achieve a revenue milestone of JPY 10 billion, or nearly $71.7 million in Vietnam while expanding its footprint in the international market. Yohichi Ohnuki, CEO of Morinaga Milk Industry, disclosed that the company had invested a sum of $4.5 million to secure the majority share of 51 per cent in the JV. Le Van May, chairwoman of Lotus Group and CEO of Morinaga Le May Vietnam, said that the core operations would revolve around the importation and distribution of premium-quality formula milk products catering to the needs of mothers and infants. This sector has witnessed an exclusive and fruitful collaboration between Le May and Morinaga Milk Industry in the Vietnamese market for over a decade, nurturing a solid foundation of expertise and mutual understanding. Focusing on the distribution of premium products manufactured in Japan, the JV will play a pivotal role in bolstering Morinaga's annual revenue target of $72 million within Vietnam. Ohnuki emphasised the firms commitment to conducting in-depth market research, closely monitoring the ever-evolving demands of Vietnamese consumers. By attaining real-time insights into customer preferences and aspirations, the JV aims to tailor its product development initiatives and business strategies to ensure utmost relevance and appeal in the dynamic Vietnamese market, he said. Accordingly, Vietnam's burgeoning market for infant and toddler milk products is experiencing robust growth, fuelled by the nation's impressive economic trajectory and its rank as the world's 14th most populous country, with 1.4 million annual births. With over 10 million Morinaga products delighting Vietnamese consumers to date, the company's leadership attributes this remarkable feat to its unwavering commitment to uncompromising quality. In 2021, Morinaga Milk Industry made a significant acquisition by purchasing Elovi, a dairy plant located in Thai Nguyen province. This strategic move led to the establishment of the Elovi Vietnam joint venture, specialising in the production and distribution of flavoured milk and yogurt products. Additionally, in the same year, Morinaga Milk Vietnam Co., Ltd. inaugurated an industrial cheese factory in the southern region of Vietnam. As part of its comprehensive plan, the Morinaga Le May JV is projected to employ over 200 highly skilled professionals. Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., established in 1917, is primarily engaged in the production and commercialization of dairy-based products. Its product range has gained prominence across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Vietnam-headquartered Lotus Group, founded in 1996, has grown into a prominent player in Vietnam's business landscape. With over 2,500 employees, the group has expanded its operations nationwide across four key sectors: food production and distribution, import and distribution of consumer goods, restaurant services, and retail. Japanese investors weigh up options Although Japanese manufacturers may be planning to cut production abroad over the next few years, some groups are being encouraged to increase focus on the Global South to increase security and take advantage of new business environments. The seminar was co-organised by Danang and the Swiss-Vietnamese Business Gateway with the support of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Services. According to Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, permanent representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Vietnam is a member of ASEAN, a promising market and venue for investment with a wide-ranging network of free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Vietnam is also under free-trade negotiations with EFTA countries. Foreign investment, including those of Swiss investors, into Vietnam and Danang, especially in the fields of green finance, banking, innovation, e-commerce are welcome and encouraged. She added that Danang held an important strategic position in Vietnams socioeconomic development. The national plan for development of Danang to 2030 set a goal of "building Danang city into one of the major socioeconomic centres of the country and Southeast Asia, and a hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, tourism, commerce, finance, logistics, high-tech industry, and IT." Due to its economic potential, Danang has been earmarked by Vietnams leaders for the establishment of an international financial centre by 2045. Several billions of dollars, institutional and legal reforms, financial market supervisory regulations adjustments and investment incentives are expected to power this ambitious mega-project, while foreign technical assistance and investments are actively sought. Ho Ky Minh, Standing Deputy Chairman of Danang Peoples Committee said, "Danang has researched and proposed to the central government specific mechanisms and policies to establish Danang as an international financial centre." "To have specific and preferential policy proposals to be put into practice, Danang suggested the government and the National Assembly of Vietnam to issue a resolution on developing international financial centres in Vietnam, in which Danang is defined as one of the localities," Minh said. He added that Danang also pays special attention to developing high-tech industries. Since 2012, the city has focused on calling for investment to build and complete the infrastructure of Danang Hi-Tech Park, one of three national high-tech parks and the only one in the central region. The Danang Hi-Tech Park is given a target of raising its contribution to at least 10-15 per cent of the city's GRDP in the 2025-2030 period. "This seminar is a prerequisite for an effective connection between Danang and the business community and investors in Switzerland who are interested in and plan to expand investment and business in the high-tech field," he added. The seminar was held on the sideline of the trip led by Minh to visit the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany from May 22-30. The seminar attracted members of banks, fintech, crypto, IT companies, law and consulting firms to meet with the Danang delegation and find out about business opportunities in the city. Swiss newspaper optimistic about Vietnams economic prospects Switzerland newspaper Agefi recently ran an article titled Le Vietnam et les nouveaux tigres asiatiques (Vietnam and the new Asian tigers), affirming that Vietnam has become one of the emerging economies which holds an important role in Asia. Swiss agriculture minister visits Vietnamese spice exporters Swiss Agriculture Minister Christian Hofer visited one of the businesses that are receiving support from the Biotrade project funded by the Swiss government on April 26 as part of a trip to Vietnam to attend the ongoing Global Conference on Sustainable Food Systems in Hanoi. Illustrative image (Photo source: Internet) Hanoi Vietnamese localities and enterprises are attracting design talents to deeply join the global integrated circuit supply chain, as global IC design corporations are shifting their operations to Vietnam. Recently, the USs Marvell Technology, Inc. has announced the establishment of a world-leading semiconductor design centre in Ho Chi Minh City by upgrading its Marvell Vietnam Technology Company Limited in the citys District 7. Dr. Loi Nguyen, Executive Vice President of Marvell's Optical and Copper Connectivity, said that the establishment of the centre is an important step in closing the talent gap and promoting the development of the industry. Marvell has been present in Ho Chi Minh City since 2013 with a team of over 10 engineers involved in semiconductor research and development. It has two offices in the city with 300 employees, 97% of them are hardware and software engineers. Prof. Dang Luong Mo from the Integrated Circuit Design Research and Education Center under the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh said HCM City is attracting IC companies. In the Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), the International Electronics Training Centre (IETC) and the SHTP Microchip Design Centre, which are jointly developed by foreign IC corporations and SHTP, recently commenced operations. The city is also home to around 50 microchip design companies, predominantly foreign-owned that are in the global IC production and supply chain. In its orientations till 2030, the city aims to promote the development of IC industry through workforce training, electronic chip market expansion, efficient utilisation of design achievements, and continued attraction of foreign IC corporations. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung said Vietnam wishes to become part of the global supply chain, not only in terms of programming and packaging but also in various other aspects such as design, development, and integration of IC into hardware products, especially in the current world of the Internet of Things. MPI to attract investment capital in chip production The government has assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) to study and build a policy for attracting foreign investment capital in the chip manufacturing sector. Intel, Samsung hammered as chips demand plummets The crucial semiconductor industry, that powers everything from personal computers, smartphones to fighter jets, suffered a dismal first quarter as demand plummeted for chips. The event was held to pay tribute to the exceptional contributions made by VILAFs staff and their families, whose dedication has been instrumental in the firms resounding success. VILAF emerged during the early stages of Vietnams foreign investment laws, a time when the nation embarked on a transformative journey by implementing a series of economic and political reforms to foster private investment and integrate the nation into the regional and global economy. VILAF has blossomed from a modest team of less than 10 lawyers into a preeminent law firm in Vietnam with nearly 100. The retreat served as an opportunity to honour the firms staff, an impressive one-third of whom have devoted from 9 to 20 years to the company. VILAF has established an illustrious track record of providing counsel on impactful and innovative cross-border transactions in Vietnam. The firm has been at the forefront of numerous pivotal domains, spearheading advancements in the countrys legal landscape. VILAF has established an illustrious track record of providing counsel on impactful and innovative cross-border transactions in Vietnam. This dedication to excellence has been consistently recognised by esteemed international legal publications, including Legal 500, IFLR1000, AsiaLaw, Chambers, Asia Legal Business, Benchmark Litigation, In-House Community, and Vietnam M&A Forum, all of which have consistently ranked VILAF as a top-tier law firm across a wide range of practice areas. Vo Ha Duyen, chairperson of VILAF remarked, "The 30th anniversary is a unique opportunity to express gratitude. We sincerely appreciate our founding partners for laying the foundations of our remarkable journey." We are indebted to our partners for their exceptional leadership in navigating the challenges of the economy. We also thank our dedicated lawyers and staff, whose passion and efforts have elevated our legal practice to new heights. Lastly, and most importantly, we express profound gratitude to our cherished clients and friends, whose unwavering trust has fuelled our growth and purpose, Duyen said. Bui Anh Ngoc, Hanoi managing partner added, VILAF has been greatly honoured to have been assisting foreign investors in Vietnam for the last 30 years, and we are committed to providing the highest quality services to our clients into the future. Our extensive experience gained over three decades will further enable our lawyers, a brilliant group of legal minds, to better serve the demands of your successful businesses in Vietnams increasingly complex and integrated economy. VIOD commemorates fifth anniversary since its establishment On April 20, the Vietnam Institute of Directors (VIOD), a member of the esteemed Global Network of Director Institutes (GNDI), commemorated its fifth anniversary with a ceremony held at the Melia Hanoi Hotel. Maybank Vietnam celebrates 25th anniversary Maybank Vietnam has celebrated 25th anniversary of operations in Vietnam in 2023, marking its belated Silver Jubilee (1995-2020). The 10th anniversary VietinBank - MUFG strategic alliance The year 2023 will mark the 10th anniversary of the VietinBank - MUFG strategic alliance. This is a significant milestone on the collaboration journey of the two banks and triggers so many special memories. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. NEW YORK (AP) Two years ago, signing a bill intended to punish Twitter and other major social media companies, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted the platforms as "suppressing ideas during the COVID-19 pandemic and silencing conservative voices. What a turnaround. The new Elon Musk-owned version of Twitter helped DeSantis launch his bid for the Republican presidential nomination Wednesday. Though it was marred by technical glitches and skewered by the candidate's critics, the forum nevertheless underscored Twitter's unmistakable shift to the right under Musk, who bought it for $44 billion and took over in October. The truth was censored repeatedly, and now that Twitter is in the hands of a free speech advocate, that would not be able to happen again on this Twitter platform, DeSantis said during the Twitter Spaces event. Musk, co-hosting the event, responded to the praise by saying, Twitter was indeed expensive, but free speech is priceless. While Musk has promoted his platform as a haven for free expression, the site has been flooded with extremist views and hate speech since he bought it and fired or laid off roughly 80% of its staff. That is raising alarms that Twitter heavily used by candidates and government agencies, including those providing voting information will become an open forum for conspiracy theories, fake content and election misinformation as a bitterly divided country heads into the 2024 presidential election. Many Republicans have hailed Musk's takeover of Twitter as creating one of the last mainstream online spaces where they can share their views without fear of removal. Prominent figures in conservative media, like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and the podcasts hosts of The Daily Wire, say they plan to start streaming content on the site. Democrats and anti-hate watchdogs, meanwhile, say Musk's partisan comments and policy changes have effectively given a megaphone to far-right extremists. Since Musk bought Twitter, he has overhauled the sites verification system, removing safeguards against impersonation for some government accounts and political candidates. He also has personally indulged in far-right conspiracy theories on the site, reinstated accounts with a history of extremist rhetoric and gutted the team that had been responsible for moderating the content flowing across the platform. That has coincided with a deluge of conspiracy theory rhetoric, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which reported that QAnon hashtags surged 91% on Twitter between May 2022 and May 2023, with about three-fourths of those messages posted after Musk's takeover. Several believers of the baseless QAnon theory, centered on the idea that former President Donald Trump is waging a secret war against deep state enemies and pedophiles, have committed acts of violence, including the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Musks decision to reinstate influential Twitter accounts with a history of spreading extremist views also has created spaces in their tweet reply threads where users are sharing antisemitic tropes, conspiracy theories and other types of hate, the ADL reported Wednesday. The group's vice president Yael Eisenstat, who leads its Center for Technology and Society, said Musks content moderation choices have served to silence marginalized voices by giving harassers and internet trolls free reign. It is one thing to say we want free speech on the platform, she said. Its another thing to say we are going to allow extremists conspiracy theorists to contribute to normalizing this kind of rhetoric and antisemitism and racism. Twitter didnt provide comment after repeated requests. It sent automated replies instead, as it does to most media inquiries. Musk's free speech rhetoric also has attracted conservatives who have been knocked off other platforms or fired, in the case of Carlson. Shortly after his ouster, Carlson went on Twitter May 9 to announce that he would be doing some version of his show on that platform. Its still not clear what that would entail, or when he would start. There arent many platforms left that allow free speech, Carlson said in a two-minute message viewed more than 132 million times. The last big one remaining in the world, the only one, is Twitter, where we are now." Free speech and truth arent the same thing, however, and Carlson had been accused of spreading misinformation on his Fox show, most recently about the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. DeSantis has been a frequent guest on Fox News, and on the night of his presidential campaign announcement he appeared on the network for an interview after the Twitter event. Though DeSantis' Twitter launch was severely delayed with site crashes and strained servers, his choice to debut his campaign on the platform illustrates that Fox will have more competition as a Republican kingmaker. His campaign said it had taken in $1 million online in the first hour after the announcement. Fox's ratings have declined dramatically during its 8 p.m. Eastern hour, which Carlson used to fill. The Daily Wire, whose podcast hosts include popular conservative influencers such as Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens, said Tuesday that it would bring its shows to stream on Twitter starting next week. At the same time, Wednesday's botched live event with DeSantis calls into question whether Musks ambitions to turn Twitter into a destination for politicians, businesses and others to make big announcements is realistic. For one, only about half a million people listened to the DeSantis webcast. A similar announcement on television would attract millions of people. The other snag: Twitters audience size. Less than a quarter of U.S. adults use Twitter, according to Pew Research Center, and most of them rarely tweet, if at all. The sites most active users are power players, politicians, public figures and journalists, which raises doubts about whether Musks desire to reach voters directly, without traditional media as a go-between, can succeed. Doug Heye, a Republican strategist and former Republican National Committee communications director, said Twitter is certainly going to be an increasing part of GOP campaign strategies for the 2024 presidential primary. And thats all because of what Elon Musk has said over the past few months as hes taken Twitter over and sought to make it a space more friendly to conservatives, he said. Musk has leaned into Republican politics, tweeting in 2022 that Democrats have become the party of division & hate. While he has tweeted support for both DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who also entered the GOP field this week, he said Tuesday he was not yet endorsing any particular presidential candidate. Even as Democrats wince at the direction Musk has taken Twitter, most are staying put at least for now. A recent Pew survey found that when looking to the future, just slightly more Democratic users than Republicans said it's unlikely they will be on Twitter in a year. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said he has been experimenting with the Twitter alternative BlueSky as a more casual, fun and positive environment than Twitter. But he also has continued to use Twitter to communicate with his constituents. Jimmy Williams, a longtime Democratic political consultant, said he would advise Democrats not to cede the space. Indeed, Musk said Wednesday that his forum would be available to any politician. Twitter's a two-way street," Williams said. Associated Press technology writer Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco and media writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this report. The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) From the death penalty to gender identity to abortion, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has cemented himself as a conservative standard-bearer in the lead-up to his 2024 presidential announcement. With the help of GOP supermajorities in the statehouse, the Republican has been able to push through an aggressive agenda that forms the base of his White House run, which he made official in a Federal Election Commission filing Wednesday. Here's a look at some of the policies: ABORTION DeSantis signed a bill banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, but it won't take effect unless the states current 15-week ban is upheld in an ongoing legal challenge that is before the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservatives. A six-week ban in Florida would strike a devastating blow to abortion access in the South, since the nearby states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have banned the procedure at all stages of pregnancy. Georgia and South Carolina forbade it after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks. Critics, including some Republicans, have slammed the six-week law as extreme, given that most women do not even realize they are pregnant in that timeframe. DON'T SAY GAY The DeSantis administration expanded the controversial law that critics call Don't Say Gay" to cover all grades, banning classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. The move came after DeSantis signed a bill last year that prohibited such lessons through the third grade, a policy he has championed as a means to protect children from sexualization. This year, the DeSantis administration put forward a proposal before the state Board of Education to expand the policy to grades 4-12, unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take. The board, which is appointed by DeSantis, approved the proposal and the Legislature put it in law. DeSantis' education officials have said the policy is intended to make clear that teachers should adhere to the state education curriculum. PRONOUNS DeSantis signed a bill that prevents school staffers or students from being required to refer to people by pronouns that dont correspond to the persons sex. The law also bars school employees from asking students what pronoun they use and bans staffers from sharing their pronouns with students if they do not correspond with the staffer's sex. Additionally, the law makes it the policy of every public school that "a persons sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such persons sex." DEATH PENALTY DeSantis has signed two major death penalty bills this year. The first ends a unanimous jury requirement in death penalty sentencing, allowing capital punishment with jury recommendation of at least 8-4 in favor of execution. Only three states out of the 27 that impose the death penalty do not require unanimity. Alabama allows a 10-2 decision, and Missouri and Indiana let a judge decide when there is a divided jury. The change came in response to a verdict that spared the life of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter, who killed 17 people in 2018. The other death penalty bill DeSantis signed allows the death penalty in child rape convictions, despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that banned capital punishment in such cases. The law is intended to get the conservative-controlled U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider a 2008 ruling that found it unconstitutional to use capital punishment in child sexual battery cases. Florida is among a handful of states with existing laws that allow for capital punishment on child rape convictions but has not used the punishment. given the high court ruling. The Florida Supreme Court has also ruled against the use of capital punishment in sexual battery convictions. DeSantis said he believed the Supreme Courts decision was wrong." GUNS Floridians will be able to carry concealed guns without a permit under a bill DeSantis signed this session. The new law will allow anyone who can legally own a gun in Florida to carry one without a permit. It means training and a background check will not be required to carry concealed guns in public. It takes effect July 1. Nearly 3 million Floridians have a concealed weapons permit. While a background check and three-day waiting period will still be required to purchase a gun from a licensed dealer, they are not required for private transactions or exchanges of weapons. DeSantis has said he thinks Florida should go even further and allow people to openly carry guns. While some lawmakers have pushed for open carry, it doesnt appear the Legislature will pass such legislation this session. Still, the governor has boosted the law, releasing a statement that read Constitutional Carry is in the books after he signed it into law. DIVERSITY Another new law bans colleges from using state or federal funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, a consistent target of DeSantis. Such initiatives, sometimes referred to as DEI, have come under increasing criticism from Republicans who argue the programs are racially divisive. The law comes a year after he signed legislation dubbed the Stop WOKE Act, which restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in schools and businesses. Last year's law bars instruction that says members of one race are inherently racist or should feel guilt for past actions committed by others of the same race, among other things. DISNEY DeSantis also continued his long-running feud with Disney this year. The company came into his crosshairs for criticizing the so-called Don't Say Gay law last year. As punishment, DeSantis dissolved Disney Worlds self-governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors that would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks. But before the new board came in, the company pushed though an eleventh-hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority. Disney sued DeSantis in federal court in a case that said the governor waged a targeted campaign of government retaliation after the company opposed the sexual orientation and gender identity law. DeSantis has since signed bills to enhance state oversight of the resorts monorail as well as undo agreements made by the Disney board before the state took it over. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday the third anniversary of George Floyd's murder vetoed an effort led by congressional Republicans to overturn a new District of Columbia law on improving police accountability. The law was part of a push to reform policing nationwide and passed in the wake of the police killing of Floyd in 2020 in Minneapolis. Biden has said he supported many parts of the law, including the banning of chokeholds, limiting use of deadly force, improving access to body cameras and requiring training for officers to de-escalate tense situations. I believe we have an obligation to make sure that all our people are safe and that public safety depends on public trust, Biden said in a statement to Congress vetoing the effort. It is a core policy of my administration to provide law enforcement with the resources they need for effective, accountable community policing." The veto comes as Democrats in Congress have twice this year joined with Republicans to try to block a crime and policing law in the district. The first effort Biden supported overturning changes to the district's criminal code. Washington is not a state; and it lacks the same rights that states have to make and amend laws. While Congress has allowed the citys residents some powers of home rule, it has retained the power to overturn district government actions. District residents also do not have voting members of Congress. Still, Congress has not regularly used its power to repeal until this year. Bidens signature two months ago marked the first time in more than three decades that Congress 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. The earlier bill was an overhaul to the District of Columbia's criminal code. It hasnt been updated substantially since it was first drafted in 1901 though Black people have been disproportionately affected by the criminal laws, similar to many other cities. The revisions would have redefined some crimes, changed criminal justice policies and reworked how sentences should be handed down after convictions. It also would have done away with mandatory minimum sentences for many crimes and would have reduced the maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking and robbery. The Senate approved the House bill that sought to overturn the criminal code changes. Biden signed that resolution, ultimately blocking the D.C. law. The president and members of both parties expressed concern about rising violent crime rates in cities nationwide and said the revisions could lead to rising crime. 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. The Senate also voted to overturn the District of Columbia law enacted last year to improve police accountability, after six Democrats voted for the GOP-led resolution. But this time, Biden wasn't on board. The Congress should respect the District of Columbias right to pass measures that improve public safety and public trust. I continue to call on the Congress to pass commonsense police reform legislation, Biden said. And the president, in a separate missive, also offered condolences to the family of George Floyd, whose death sparked anew protests over police killings of Black people, and calls to reform law enforcement nationwide. George Floyds murder exposed for many what Black and brown communities have long known and experienced that we must make a whole of society commitment to ensure that our nation lives up to its founding promise of fair and impartial justice for all under the law," he said. Finland recorded a brief fall in electricity prices yesterday, with the price floor reaching negative throughout the day before climbing back up in the evening. Finnish grid operator Fingrid announced the price dip, with CEO Jukka Ruusunen telling national broadcaster Yle the figures were a "historic" moment in the country's energy sector. "The average price for the day is now slightly, but nevertheless, on the negative side," he said. Normally, negative energy prices occur at night for shorter periods of time, but the trend on Wednesday reflected more on Finland's massive power surplus thanks to renewable energy production. Hydroelectric production credited for energy surplus Finland and the other Nordic countries experienced an abundance of snow and ice that melted into the water after winter. Ruusunen noted there was a massive volume of meltwater created during the spring that hydroelectric plants were "forced" to produce energy. "Due to the huge amount of water, hydropower often has a poor capacity to regulate in spring," he said. Aside from hydroelectricity, the energy created by nuclear reactors and wind and solar farms contributed to the spring overproduction, which was in stark contrast to the grid's underperformance during the winter. Ruusunen described Finland's energy production situation as having "gone from one extreme to another." Energy surplus produced sustainably: Ruusunen Finns were forced to cut down on their electricity use last winter. But because of Fingrid's spring energy surplus from renewable sources, the country's electric future has become more sustainable. However, Ruusunen pointed out that non-profitable energy, such as hydroelectricity, was usually removed from the market. He said the national grid had to cut down nuclear energy production to compensate for the overproduction of its hydroelectric facilities. Either way, Ruusunen interpreted the current electricity situation in Finland as a win-win for consumers. "Now there is enough electricity, and it is almost emission-free. So you can feel good about using electricity," he said. Finland's energy self-sufficiency goals fuelled by Russian aggression Ruusunen explained that Finland's progress toward energy self-sufficiency is important for investment in the green transition, saying the prospects of producing cleaner energy "look great." The country's step towards self-sufficiency was hugely influenced by the aggression of its neighbor - Russia. Finland decided to ban Russian energy imports as part of the global sanctions after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While it faced a short-term energy crisis, the recent activation of Olkiluoto 3, the country's newest nuclear reactor, provided a promising future for Fingrid. The addition of Olkiluoto 3 brought the price of electricity in Finland down by 75%, from 245.98 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in December 2022 to 60.55 per MWh in April. Ruusunen stated the country also aims to aggressively hit its 2035 carbon neutrality target by making wind energy its primary power source by 2027. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Waco man received two years deferred probation this week in a plea deal on reduced charges stemming from an Oct. 17 domestic disturbance. Samuel Martin Angermann, 31, entered guilty pleas on two counts of deadly conduct, charged as Class A misdemeanors, in Wacos 54th State District Court earlier this month. In a negotiated plea, Judge Susan Kelly sentenced Angermann to two years of probation, counseling and forfeiture of his 9 mm Sig Sauer handgun. Waco police previously arrested Angermann on Oct. 18 on suspicion of pointing a gun at man and choking a woman while holding a gun. McLennan County Jail released him Oct. 20 on $110,000 bond on charges of first-degree felony aggravated assault and assault by occlusion, a third-degree felony. Court documents show indictments on those charges were replaced March 23 by superseding information filed by McLennan County Assistant District Attorney Stephen Yip and Angermanns defense attorney, Jonathan Sibley. Sibley said by phone Thursday that as the witnesses to the Oct. 17 incident provided prosecutors and defense attorneys with a more complete understanding of the overall and ongoing situation, it became clear that justice would be served with the charges in the superseding information and the negotiated sentence, rather than what was initially indicted. The District Attorneys office did not comment Thursday because Yip was called to active duty with his Texas Army National Guard unit, after working out the plea deal, and sent out of state. Angermann entered a judicial confession May 10 to pointing the handgun at a woman and a man during the disturbance Oct. 17 in the 10200 block of Omni Drive. If he completes the terms of his probation, Angermann has the opportunity to have his record cleared, as these are his only charges. After sentencing, Angermann must complete the terms of community supervision over 24 months, which include 40 hours community service, attending counseling, holding a job, drug and alcohol testing, and not owning firearms or ammunition. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A slate of events will be available to veterans and the public in the Waco area this weekend to mark the Memorial Day holiday honoring military members who died in service. The Heart of Texas Chapter 1012 of Vietnam Veterans of America will host its annual Sunset Memorial Observation from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Waco Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington Avenue and University Parks Drive. The solemn event honors the memory of service members who died in during the war in Vietnam. Names of the 83 service members from McLennan County who died in Vietnam will be read and honored during the ceremony. Members of the audience who want to honor friends or family members who served in Vietnam will be able to come forward and do so. The McLennan County Veterans Association will hold Memorial Day ceremonies at 9 a.m. Monday at Hewitt Park, 801 S. Hewitt Drive. Veteran service organizations will present the flags of each military branch and honor veterans who have died in the past year. The Heart of Texas Veterans One Stop will hold a service at 10 a.m. Monday before a barbecue for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2010 La Salle Ave. The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum will offer free admission to veterans with ID and discounted admission to accompanying family members during normal visitor hours. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 1001 Sherman St., will hold free barbecue celebrating Memorial Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday featuring food, fun and fellowship. The Waco Cruzziers group will hold a car show Saturday morning at VFW Post 4819, 715 S. Reagan St. in West. Registration will start at 7 a.m., and judging will start at 10. All proceeds will benefit St. Marys Catholic School and Post 4819. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Waco Mayor Dillon Meek said Wednesday that the clock has run out on a state bill that city leaders warned would have weakened protections against dairy pollution upstream of Lake Waco. Meek said the city remains on the lookout for last-minute attempts to resurrect the legislation through amendments in the final days of the 88th Texas Legislature. He also said he is willing to meet with the bills supporters to find common ground on streamlining dairy regulations. House Bill 2827 remained unscheduled before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development late Wednesday, the last day for bills to be heard on the Senate floor. The committee is headed by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, who represents both Waco and the dairy country around Erath and Hamilton counties. Many of those dairies lie in the watershed of the North Bosque River, which feeds Lake Waco. The river and watershed are federally designated as impaired due to excessive phosphorus and algae and have been under a state-imposed cleanup plan for the past two decades. That plan requires dairies to obtain individual permits that allow regulators to tailor manure disposal rules to each dairy site and to notify neighboring landowners of any changes. Individual permitting also allows a public input process that can include a trial-like contested case hearing on permits, a process that dairy industry officials say adds delays, costs and uncertainty to the process. House Bill 2827, authored by Rep. DeWayne Burns, R-Cleburne, would have ended individual permitting in the watershed in favor of standardized general permits. It also would have removed soil testing requirements for third-party fields where phosphorus-rich manure from dairy farms is spread. City officials have said the measure would open up a loophole for unregulated manure disposal. The bill was championed by agriculture groups including the Texas Association of Dairymen and Texas Farm Bureau. In an interview Wednesday, Meek said he is willing to meet with bill supporters to work through amicable solutions to concerns about overregulation in the watershed. I really appreciate the Farm Bureau, and being the son of a cattle rancher, I want to make sure the industry is able to not have undue regulation, Meek said. But it cant be at the expense of Wacos water supply. These regulations are more than 10 years old, and I do believe there are some changes we can make in partnership that will not impair our water supply. In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Burns acknowledged Meeks offer. While I am disappointed HB 2827 did not make it out of the Senate committee, I am encouraged by the City of Wacos commitment to discuss this issue further during the interim, he said in an email to the Tribune-Herald. Gary Joiner, spokesperson for the Waco-based Texas Farm Bureau, said the organization is willing to be part of those talks. Texas Farm Bureau supports all parties meeting in the interim to work out a compromise agreeable to all concerned, and we will work to facilitate that meeting and discussion, Joiner said in an email to the Tribune-Herald. Mayor Meek has indicated he is amenable, and we look forward to the dialogue. A recent slideshow explainer produced by the city of Waco on House Bill 2827 suggests streamlining could include fast-tracking waste-to-energy projects and minor changes to waste disposal fields and structures. Meek said Birdwell has been responsive to Wacos concerns. I do want to say how much I appreciate Senator Birdwells attention to this matter and his thoughtful approach, he said. I look forward to working with him after the session is over to figure out how to amend these regulations. He has been a great advocate to ensure that this doesnt move too quickly in a way that has unintended consequences. He also thanked Rep. Charles Doc Anderson, R-Waco, for attempting to derail the legislation in the House by raising points of order. The bill ultimately passed the Texas House 80-53 on its final reading May 5, with supporters including Rep. Angelia Orr, R-Hill County, whose district reaches into Waco. Meek said he was startled and frustrated by Orrs refusal to stand with this community and vote against it. That was bad representation on her behalf, he said. Orr has not responded to the Tribune-Heralds request for comment on the legislation. Darren Turley, executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen, said in an email late Wednesday that he would "love to visit with the mayor or Senator Birdwell to discuss this issue during the interim." Turley said the dairy industry in the North Bosque River watershed is continuing to feel the financial burden of higher permit costs, even as river quality has improved over the last two decades. "The watershed has shown great improvement, and I believe it is a shame that is not the story that everyone is interested," Turley stated. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON House Republicans pushed debt ceiling talks to the brink on Thursday, displaying risky political bravado in preparing to leave town for the holiday weekend just days before the U.S. could face an unprecedented default. However, Speaker Kevin McCarthy also said he had directed his negotiating team to work 24/7 to solve this problem. At the Capitol, McCarthy, R-Calif., said every hour matters in talks with President Joe Biden's team as they try to work out a budget agreement. Republican are demanding spending cuts the Democrats oppose as their price for raising the legal debt limit. Weve been taking to the White House all day, he told reporters in the evening. We're working hard to make it happen. In remarks at the White House, Biden said, Its about competing versions of America. Yet both men expressed optimism that the gulf between their positions could be bridged. The White House said discussions with the Republicans were productive, including by video conference Thursday, though serious disagreements remained as the president fights for his priorities. "The only way to move forward is with a bipartisan agreement," Biden said. "And I believe we'll come to an agreement that allows us to move forward and protects the hardworking Americans of this country." As the deadline nears, it's clear the Republican speaker who leads a party whose hard-right flank lifted him to power is now staring down a potential crisis. Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from June 1, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the U.S. could start running out of cash to pay its bills and face a federal default. Biden will also be away, departing Friday for the presidential retreat at Camp David and Sunday for his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The Senate is on recess and will be until after Memorial Day. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States' AAA credit on "ratings watch negative," warning of a possible downgrade. Democratic lawmakers lined up on the House floor as the workday ended to blame "extreme" Republicans for the risky potential default. "Republicans have chosen to get out of town before sundown," said House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House failed to produce a deal in part because the Biden administration resisted negotiating with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the country's full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities. McCarthy is holding out for steep spending cuts that Republicans demand in exchange for their vote to raise the nation's borrowing limit. The White House offered to freeze next year's 2024 spending at current levels and restrict 2025 spending, but the Republican leader says that's not enough. One idea is to set those topline budget numbers but then add a "snap-back" provision that enforces the cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals. Pressure is bearing down on McCarthy from the House's right flank Freedom Caucus not to give in to any deal. "Don't take an exit ramp five exits too early," said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a Freedom Caucus member. "Let's hold the line." Former President Donald Trump has encouraged Republicans to do a default if they dont get the deal they want from the White House. McCarthy said Trump told him, Make sure you get a good agreement. Failure to raise the nation's debt ceiling, now at $31 trillion, to pay America's already incurred bills would risk a potentially chaotic federal default. Anxious retirees and social service groups are among those already making default contingency plans. Even if negotiators strike a deal, McCarthy promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting now likely Tuesday or even Wednesday. The Democratic-held Senate vowed to move quickly to send the package to Biden's desk, right before next Thursday's possible deadline. Pushing a debt ceiling increase to the last minute is not uncommon for Congress, but it leaves little room for error in a volatile political environment. Both Democrats and Republicans will be needed to pass the final package in the split Congress. "We still have a ways to go," top Republican negotiator Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana said. In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending, instead offering to keep it at levels the Biden administration proposed, according to one person familiar with the talks and granted anonymity to discuss them. The Republicans may achieve their goal of rolling back bolstered funding for the Internal Revenue Service if they agree to allow the White House to push that money into other domestic accounts, the person said. The teams also are eyeing a proposal to boost energy transmission line development from Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., that would facilitate the buildout of an interregional power grid, according to a person familiar with the draft. The White House continues to argue that deficits can be reduced by ending tax breaks for wealthier households and some corporations, but McCarthy said raising revenue from tax hikes was off the table. Republicans want to beef up work requirements for government aid to recipients of food stamps, cash assistance and the Medicaid health care program that Democrats say are a nonstarter. The White House countered by proposing to keep defense and nondefense spending flat next year, which would save $90 billion in the 2024 budget year and $1 trillion over 10 years. Credit scores stayed steady as consumer debt balances rose in 2022 Credit scores stayed steady as consumer debt balances rose in 2022 Average credit score in the U.S. unchanged at 714 Average total debt levels up in most states Credit utilization and delinquency rates increase from 2021's record low levels How older and younger credit card users differ by FICO score U.S. consumer debt snapshot Credit cards see the fastest growth, again Student loan balances decline prior to court decision What borrowers can expect in 2023 Credit utilization will continue to pressure consumers' credit scores More shifts in financing and refinancing Step into a U.S. military recreation hall at a base almost anywhere in the world and youre bound to see young troops immersed in the world of online games. The enthusiasm military personnel have for gaming and the risk that carries is in the spotlight after a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman was charged with illegally taking and posting highly classified material on a social media platform that started as a hangout for gamers. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MOLINE, Ill. John Deere is off to a multi-billion dollar start for the first two quarters of its fiscal year, showing growing income from last years numbers. Deere & Company reported net income of $2.86 billion for the second quarter, or $9.65 per share, on Friday. Last year at this time the company reported a net income of $2.098 billion, or $6.81 per share. For the first six months of its 2023 fiscal year, net income attributable to Deere & Company was $4.819 billion, or $16.18 per share. That is up more than $1.8 billion from last year at this time, when the company reported $3.001 billion, or $9.72 per share over six months. Worldwide net sales and revenues increased 30%, to $17.387 billion, for the second quarter of FY23 and rose to $30.038, an increase of 31%, for the first two quarters combined. Net sales were $16.079 billion for the quarter and $27.481 billion for six months, also up, from $12.034 billion and $20.565 billion last year. Production and precision agriculture made up the largest share of net sales for Q2, at $7.822 billion, up from $5.12 billion in the 2022 fiscal year. The earnings release attributes the 53% increase to higher shipment volumes and price realization. Operating profit for production and precision agriculture more than doubled. As shown by the companys outstanding second-quarter results, Deere continues to benefit from favorable market conditions and an improving operating environment, CEO John C. May said in the news release. We also are being helped by the sound execution of our business plans by our employees, dealers and suppliers. They are doing an exceptional job meeting demand for our products and serving customers. Though supply-chain constraints continue to present a challenge, we are seeing further improvement. Net income attributable to Deere & Company for FY23 is forecast to be between $9.25 billion to $9.50 billion. Deere also reported a net sales gain of 34% and higher earnings throughout the quarter. Based on Deeres results to date, its clear we are well on our way to another year of exceptional achievement, May said. This is due in no small part to the success of our smart industrial operating model and our ability to provide value to our customers by helping them be more profitable, productive, and sustainable. Fighter jets participate in flight training China Military Online) 09:01, May 25, 2023 A fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command soars into the air during a flight training exercise on May 11, 2023. (eng.com.cn/Photo by Yu Zeqi) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Some Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have been criticized for inciting a divisive conflict with nature, as the fisheries and agriculture committees rejected the EU's legislation aimed at restoring biodiversity. The European Commission proposed a plan in June 2022 that would require member countries to take steps to revive wildlife in different habitats. The Nature Restoration Law This plan, named the Nature Restoration Law, was introduced along with another law aimed at reducing the usage of harmful pesticides and reviving the declining wildlife populations in Europe. There is a worry that the laws about nature restoration may be completely disregarded due to opposition from groups that advocate for agriculture, fishing, and forestry, as well as some countries, as reported by The Guardian. The agriculture committee of the European Parliament rejected the legislation on Tuesday, and the fisheries committee did the same on Wednesday. The law for restoring nature is a significant aspect of the European green deal, which is essential for fulfilling global climate and biodiversity promises. Frans Timmermans, the commission vice-president, declared that there would be no additional recommendation on Monday. The law has the goal of increasing the population of pollinating insects while also revitalizing forests, oceans, and other ecosystems that are essential for food production. This is intended to make Europe more resilient to the effects of climate change as the planet continues to warm. The law played a significant role in the EU's negotiations at the Cop15 conference in Montreal, where a global agreement was made to safeguard 30% of the planet for ecological purposes. The European People's Party (EPP), a political group that leans towards the right, has demanded that the proposals for nature restoration and pesticide use be completely abandoned. The liberal Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are also divided on the matter, and both groups voted against the nature proposals, which has caused outrage among non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Sabien Leemans, a senior officer at WWF Europe, expressed her disappointment with the majority of MEPs in the agri committee for rejecting the legal proposal to restore nature. She emphasized that this denial of the current environmental issues in Europe is unacceptable, especially during times of severe droughts and flooding. Leemans stressed that restoring nature is crucial in increasing our resilience to extreme weather events and ensuring long-term food security. She further added that the rejection of this proposal is an irresponsible attitude that jeopardizes the livelihoods of everyone, particularly farmers. Read also: Looking at Nature, Scenic Views Can Help Your Brain Function Better at Work, Study Says The Demand for Nature Restoration The need for nature restoration has become increasingly urgent as the world faces an unprecedented crisis in terms of climate change and biodiversity loss. The European Union's proposed law on restoring nature is a crucial step towards protecting ecosystems, ensuring food security, and mitigating the effects of global warming. (Photo : Wikimedia Commons / Wolfgang Moroder) The Geisler peaks in Villno, South Tyrol. However, opposition from political groups such as the EPP and conflicting opinions among liberal MEPs have hindered progress toward this goal. It is imperative to remember that restoring nature does not only benefit environmentalists but also farmers who rely on healthy soil, clean water sources, and pollinators for crop production. Furthermore, NGOs stress that failure to act now will result in irreversible damage to our planet's natural systems. The EU must prioritize sustainable development goals over short-term economic gains if we are serious about creating a better future for ourselves and future generations. Related article: Climate Change May Have Caused Dogs To Evolve From Cat-Like Creatures Into Modern Wolves @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CEDAR FALLS Across the nation, volunteer fire departments are struggling but that doesnt seem to be the case in Northeast Iowa. The Associated Press reported there are many reasons volunteer departments which make up more than 80% of all fire departments in the U.S. are seeing issues: Young people leaving rural areas, which are more likely to rely on volunteer services; extensive training requirements that are time-consuming; and the fact that many of these volunteer departments are expected to respond to medical emergencies, hazmat incidents, active shooter situations and other scenarios that result in increased call volumes are a few examples. In 1984 there were nearly 900,000 volunteer firefighters, according to the AP. In 2020, that number was 677,000. Over that same time period, however, call numbers tripled. In Sumner, the fire department has retained an average of 30 to 35 firefighters, even throughout the pandemic. Keegan Duhrkopf, the assistant fire chief in Sumner, said most of the crew has been around for more than 25 years. He said the departments most tenured firefighter will reach 55 years of service this year. Once those firefighters hit 30 or more years volunteering, they will probably think about retiring, Duhrkopf said. Then well have a pretty big (spot) that needs to be filled, he said. I can see us maybe struggling in the future, but were definitely noticing people willing to volunteer. The same goes for Waverlys volunteer fire department, also sitting at 30 to 35 firefighters. Fire Chief Bryan McKenzie said his department is older most of the crew being over 30 years old. We have a lot of good, dedicated people, McKenzie said. We have a lot of tenured guys, but when we get someone on they stay on. According to the Iowa Fire Department Census, almost 90% of Iowas fire departments are volunteer-run. Duhrkopf said for rural areas like Sumner which has a little more than 2,000 people, according to the 2020 Census the call volume is lower so it doesnt make sense for a city or township to fund a paid department. The Associated Press said time donated by volunteer firefighters saves communities nearly $47 billion each year nationwide. But running a volunteer fire department still costs money. Duhrkopf said outfitting one firefighter with proper personal protective equipment required to enter a burning home costs $14,100. That includes the helmet, hood, gloves, bunker coat, bunker pants, boots, mask and breathing apparatuses. It does not include the price for hand tools. Pagers to alert the firefighters also cost about $500. The Sumner Fire Department is funded primarily through donations, he said, and is blessed to have citizens that supports it. The department also receives support from applying for grants. In Waverly, McKenzie said the city sets a budget and treats the department very well, but if it wants anything extra there is money that can be used from the volunteer fire association. Aside from raising money, volunteer firefighters must also meet a certain expectation of training hours. Every firefighter is required to reach 24 hours a year minimum of training, Duhrkopf said. But new members to the department need to meet more extensive requirements. To become a nationally certified Firefighter 1 and hazmat operator, there is a 180 hour class that takes several months to complete. Duhrkopf said this can be hard for members with a family due to the large time commitment. For their volunteerism, the state of Iowa provides a $250 tax credit if the firefighter serves for the entire year. If they dont serve the entire year, the credit is prorated based on the number of months they served. Everybody could always use an extra penny here and there, but a lot of us we get envelopes at the end of the year. But guys donate it right back to the department, Duhrkopf said. Its not huge, but its the right thing to do. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CEDAR FALLS John Zolondek is not the most senior member of the citys fire squad, but hes a finalist for the fire chief job. Zolondek told seven people gathered for a public meet-and-greet Tuesday at the Public Safety Center that he brings to the table a host of fresh ideas and ambitious goals. If chosen over the other finalist Chris Ledeker from Kansas, who met with the community Monday, hed be the successor to retired chief John Bostwick. Hes been serving as interim chief since October and already has brought one of his ideas to fruition, CPR/AED training the first Sunday of every month. Another of his priorities is securing funding and constructing a city training facility with the help of a grant. Not too long ago, I would have never applied for the job, but some of the senior leadership encouraged me, he said. While serving in the interim, I learned that there are a lot ways the department could benefit from a fresh look, new programs or different things. He dislikes having to pay other cities to use their training facilities. Itd be nice to have our own training center where we can do a lot of our own stuff, said Zolondek. Other ideas include working with the University of Northern Iowa and Hawkeye Community College to spark interest in firefighting as a career, as well as creating a kids fire academy in K-12 schools. After COVID happened, that kind of died off, he said about engaging with children. But one thing I want to get back into doing is getting into the schools multiple times per year. The kids love it. They love interacting. I feel like learning about fire safety is pretty fun for kids. Its something different, and they love seeing the fire truck. Zolondek stood by the citys public safety officer program, still in its infancy, and is interested in improving it. He also backed other components of city operation like carrying compressed air foam in the back of squad cars and the current baseline testing for fire officers. The city hired Zolondek as a police officer in 2007. He almost immediately became a part-time, on-call firefighter as well, but wasnt solely assigned to fire and rescue as a public safety officer until 2018. He moved up the ranks to lieutenant, captain and eventually acting chief. Originally from Winona, Minnesota, he, his wife and children have grown to love Cedar Falls. Hes had a passion for firefighting since his first job with the Winona Fire Department back in 2006 but never followed through on an inclination to move to a bigger department like St. Paul or Minneapolis. I did the POC (paid on call) thing to begin with and loved it, worked with some great guys ... loved the fire aspect even back then, he said. There was an opportunity for a lateral transfer and was told the I am too valuable on patrol story. And then the whole public safety officer model came up (in 2015), and it ended up working out perfect for me, because I ended up getting specialized in both. My heart was always in the fire service from my time at Winona, he added. Four members of the department are longtime career firefighters, and each has a couple decades of experience. Zolondek believes its his drive that separates him from the rest, crediting his time as a military police officer in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 2002 to 2008. Im not saying other people arent driven, but maybe Im more stubborn or relentless, even in the drills, Zolondek said. We have a bunch of young studs who go to CrossFit and theyre like, Oh, you cant do (various exercises), youre old. And I go do it and beat their times. Maybe its a pride thing and I honestly think its the Marine Corp the whole improvise, adapt and overcome. I feel Im used to getting a wrench thrown into everything all the time, being able to change on the fly and embrace it. Attendees asked questions about fire prevention and recruitment as well as his idea for a training facility and community outreach. He also answered questions about the departments strengths and future opportunities for improvement along with preparing for worst case scenarios. Prior to meeting the public, he met with the citys top officials and others outside the city in the public safety and emergency management realms. Additionally, he met with community leaders and retirees along with union members and public safety supervisors. Public Safety Director Craig Berte will make a recommendation to City Administrator Ron Gaines and Mayor Rob Green. They will interview Bertes recommendation with Mayor Pro Tem Simon Harding and Public Safety Committee chairperson Dustin Ganfield before a final recommendation for the City Council is put up for approval as soon as June 5. Ganfield and Councilmember Gil Schultz, as well as mayoral candidate Danny Laudick, have been among the small crowds present at one or both sessions with the finalists. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Now that he has announced his bid for the White House, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has planned campaign events in three early voting states, including Iowa. DeSantis will return to Iowa for events Tuesday and Wednesday. The tour will include speeches, stops and fireside chats, according to his newly formed campaign. DeSantis will hold a campaign kickoff event Tuesday in Des Moines and will hold events Wednesday in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella and Cedar Rapids. DeSantis then is scheduled to hold four events in New Hampshire on Thursday and three in South Carolina on Friday. At this early stage of the cycle, DeSantis is perceived by many Republicans as the top challenger to former President Donald Trump for the partys nomination in 2024. CNN TOWN HALLS BROADCAST FROM IOWA Grand View University in Des Moines is scheduled to host a pair of town halls, broadcast live by CNN, with Republican presidential hopefuls Nikki Haley and Mike Pence. Haley, a former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will appear on a CNN town hall at 7 p.m. June 4. CNNs Jake Tapper will moderate, according to the network. Pence, the former vice president, will appear on a CNN town hall at 8 p.m. June 7. CNNs Dana Bash will moderate, according to the network. Both town halls will be broadcast live on CNN and the networks website, CNN.com. Here are the 7 takeaways from Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida elections 1. Kentucky voters set stage for biggest governors race of 2023 2. Trump wins proxy battle with DeSantis 3. Cameron could make history 4. Democrat wins Jacksonville mayors office 5. Progressives make a split decision in Pennsylvania 6. Pennsylvania Republicans go with establishment-backed candidate in Supreme Court race 7. Election denier falls flat in secretary of state race Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DES MOINES Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his campaign for president on Wednesday, jumping into an already crowded presidential primary as he seeks to sway Iowa voters ahead of the 2024 caucuses. DeSantis poses the most significant challenge to former President Donald Trump, who currently leads Republican primary polling nationally and in Iowa. But his entry comes after half a dozen other Republicans have entered the race, fracturing the partys anti-Trump bloc and making it more difficult to mount a successful challenge to the former president, said veteran Republican strategist Eric Woolson. There was all this sense that he and Trump were going to be the two 800-pound gorillas in the race, said Woolson, who has worked on presidential campaigns but is unaffiliated this cycle. And maybe that still happens, but at this point, the Trump campaign has done a very solid job of neutralizing any advantages that Gov. DeSantis has. And in the meantime, he's had some missteps that have slowed his momentum considerably. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott also announced his candidacy this week, joining former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and other Republican hopefuls that have been frequent guests in Iowa over the last several months. He paired a campaign video launch with a conversation on Twitter Spaces with the sites billionaire owner Elon Musk, which was delayed close to 30 minutes because of technology issues. The space and the app repeatedly crashed as more than half a million people attempted to listen to the conversation. Once the livestream was relaunched, DeSantis pitched his vision for the country: challenging President Joe Biden for bowing to the woke mob and painting an image of chaos at the southern border and crime in cities. He pointed to his achievements in Florida, citing a low crime rate, low taxes, high marks in education and a quickly increasing population. He also made the case to Republicans that he is the one to pick in the Republican primary election, neglecting to mention Trump by name. My pledge to you is this: If you nominate me, you can set your clock to January 20, 2025 at high noon, he said. Because on the west side of the U.S. Capitol, I will be taking the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States. No excuses, I will get the job done. The 44-year-old Florida governor has been laying the groundwork for his campaign for months, embarking on a national book tour and making multiple visits to Iowa this year. In building his national profile, DeSantis has embraced culture war battles and pushed a number of policies in Florida going after so-called woke agendas in education and elsewhere. Hes frequently said Florida is where woke goes to die. Gloria Mazza, the chair of the Polk County Republican Party, said a good chunk of Republican voters are still undecided and looking to hear from the field of candidates. Were all over the board. Theres nothing that I can pinpoint to say that DeSantis has tremendous support here, she said. They all have some support of some form. In his opening pitch, Woolson said he expected DeSantis to emphasize the argument that he is Trump without the drama, something Republicans hesitant to support Trump have said they are looking for. A lot of Republicans have said they want Donald Trump's policies, but they don't want his abrasiveness or drama, he said. And so I think DeSantis is going to be talking about that. DeSantiss opponents have already begun taking shots at that argument: On Wednesday, Haley launched a video comparing DeSantis to Trump, with the message America deserves a choice, not an echo. Trump has frequently attacked DeSantis, saying in a March visit to Davenport he would be very, very bad on ethanol and accusing him of wanting to make changes to Social Security benefits. A Trump-aligned PAC launched an ad last week dubbing him Ron DeSales Tax for backing a Fair Tax proposal to impose a national sales tax while in Congress. DeSantis regularly takes second place behind Trump in national primary polls, but there is a 30-point gap between the two candidates in FiveThirtyEight's polling average that has only widened since March. A May Iowa poll by National Research showed DeSantis with 26% of Republican support, trailing Trump, who pulled 44%. In a statement, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said DeSantis has tripled down on a MAGA agenda, pointing to book restrictions and a six-week abortion ban. If there was any doubt DeSantiss announcement turns up the volume on an already messy Republican primary, Harrison said. One thing is guaranteed whoever makes it out will only have done so by catering to the most MAGA, right-wing Republicans in the primary. Building support in Iowa The announcement comes as a pro-DeSantis PAC, Never Back Down, is planning an organizing blitz in early states, spending at least $200 million to connect with potential voters, according to the New York Times. Any candidate running in Iowa has to have a strong ground game, Woolson said. Its not going to be a matter of any candidate just flying in here, making a few appearances and relying on star power. Theyre going to have to work for it. Earlier this month, 37 Iowa legislators nearly a quarter of state lawmakers announced their support for DeSantiss expected presidential bid ahead of his most recent visit to the state. Rep. John Wills, a Republican from Spirit Lake and the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, was among those lawmakers, and he said he was hoping to hear a forward-looking vision from DeSantis. I think that we've got some candidates in the race right now that are already in that are really looking to the past, Wills said. And that's what I really like about DeSantis, that he's looking to the future. Hes looking to help the United States become successful; get out of where we're at now and move forward with a bright new beginning. DeSantiss Iowa backers also pointed to the similar legislative agendas between Iowa and Florida, which the Florida governor has also touted in recent visits alongside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. All he has to do is basically keep describing or promoting what he did in Florida and how similar it was to how the Reynolds administration and the Legislature handled things in Iowa, said Rep. Norlin Mommsen, a Republican from DeWitt. And if you like what happened in Iowa then I think he's the one that can make the United States like Iowa. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DES MOINES Flanked by Iowans involved in conservative education movements and the states attorney general, Mike Pence, former vice president and potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, once again levied heavy criticism on an Eastern Iowa school districts policies for transgender students. During a discussion about parents rights in education over lunch at an East Village hotel, Pence called the policies at the Linn-Mar Community School District crazy and mislabeled them as a gender transition plan. If a school in the heartland of America, where a student would have to come in with a permission slip from their parents to get a Tylenol from the school nurse but could get a gender transition plan without ever notifying their parents, as I said then Ill say it again: Thats not bad policy. Thats crazy, Pence said. Gender transition is the process of changing ones gender identity, and can include medical treatments and surgeries. The Linn-Mar policy allows students in the seventh grade or above to request a gender support plan that calls for teachers and peers to address the student by a new name and new pronouns. The policy leaves it up to the students whether to notify parents. The event was hosted by Advancing American Freedom, a nonprofit issue advocacy organization launched by Pence in 2021. The organization filed a legal brief, joining a lawsuit against the Linn-Mar policy. Pence has not yet declared whether he will run for president in the 2024 cycle, but Wednesdays event was held in Iowa, where Republicans will again be the first in the nation to cast their presidential preference early next year, and featured discussions around education topics central to Republican voters. Pence was joined by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Iowans involved with the conservative parents rights group Moms for Liberty, and advocates for home-school education. Bird and Pence gave brief remarks, after which the rest of the meeting was closed to media. Im so inspired. The first time Advancing American Freedom came to Iowa when we came alongside your group (Moms for Liberty) to join in the battle for parental rights in the Linn-Mar Community Schools case, Ive just been deeply inspired, Pence said. All of you represent the very best tradition of Americanism, the willingness to step into the public square, to speak with deep conviction on behalf of your values and your families. And I believe that you are going to pave the way to a court decision that will strengthen parental rights for every American family. The event was one of multiple stops Pence made over two days in Iowa. He also hosted a meet-and-greet Tuesday, and on Wednesday visited a private school in suburban Des Moines and hosted a social event in Ottumwa. Biden, Trump, and Pence: how their classified documents scandals are the same (and different) Biden, Trump, and Pence: how their classified documents scandals are the same (and different) The basics How this happened What happens next? Russia and North Korea by years end will start exchanging currencies. This bypasses the illegal UN sanctions imposed many many years ago I said then as I say now that any sanctions against countries like Iran, Cuba and North Korea and several others from the olden days by the UN, should be cancelled and allow these countries to flourish better (Tidbit: Over 60 years against Cuba and it has been a lie the whole time) Russia should never have sanctioned North Korea and Russia knows this now for sure WtR Following the 26 September 2022 terrorist attack on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are taking measures to protect such facilities. And not in vain. At 5:30 a.m. today, the Ukrainian Armed Forces unsuccessfully attempted to attack the Black Sea Fleets ship Ivan Khurs ship, which is carrying out tasks to ensure the safe operation of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Turkey, by three unmanned speedboats. All the enemys boats have been neutralised by standard weapons if the Russian warship 140 km north-east of the Bosphorus Strait. The Black Sea Fleet ship Ivan Khurs continues her missions. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Dvurechnaya, Pershotravnevoye, Timkovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). In addition, actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been thwarted near Sinkovka and Kislovka (Kharkov region). Over 40 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and D-20 and D-30 howitzers have been neutralised in this direction during the day. In Krasny Liman direction, Russian Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces hit units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chervonaya Dibrova, Nevskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic), and Torskoye and Grigorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy has suffered losses of over 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer in this direction in the past 24 hours. Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Verkhnekamenskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In Donetsk direction, units, aviation, and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have eliminated up to 150 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles during the day. Moreover, ammunition depots of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade and 112nd Territorial Defence Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been destroyed close to Slavyansk and Grigorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on AFU units close to Ugledar, Shevchenko (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Malaya Tokmachka, Marfopol, and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region). Total enemy losses in these directions amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer. In Kherson direction, up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen, one Msta-B howitzer, and two motor vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised by fire. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 93 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 107 areas during the day. A command and observation post of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was engaged close to Avdeevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Russian air defence systems have shot down one MiG-29 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Griogorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In addition, 16 HIMARS projectiles have been intercepted. In addition, 20 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been downed in the areas of Pokrovskoye, Terny, Kirillovka, Krapivnitskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Zolotarevka, Chervonaya Dibrova, Novokrasnyanka, Zmiyevka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Tsvetkovoye (Zaporozhye region), and Rubanovka (Kherson region). In total, 429 airplanes and 235 helicopters, 4,293 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 air defence missile systems, 9,295 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 4,893 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,433 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. WtR A video of the meeting between Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Premier of the Chinese State Council Li Qiang in Beijing has made the rounds within Chinese social networks China and Russia arein step with the new world Big meeting by the way, very big WtR Update: https://telegra.ph/Si-Czinpin-vstretilsya-s-premer-ministrom-RF-M-Mishustinym-05-25 https://telegra.ph/Premer-Gossoveta-KNR-provel-peregovory-s-premer-ministrom-RF-05-25 https://telegra.ph/Si-Czinpin-vystupil-s-rechyu-na-ceremonii-otkrytiya-plenarnogo-zasedaniya-2-go-Evrazijskogo-ehkonomicheskogo-foruma-05-25 https://telegra.ph/Rossiya-i-KNR-dogovorilis-ukrepit-vzaimodejstvie-05-25 Just some reading material Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman said Wednesday she had hired an additional attorney to aid her office in its work related to the disappearance of Winona resident Madeline Kingsbury. Former Dakota County chief deputy attorney Phillip Prokopowicz was brought in to help with the legal matters. My office has hired Mr. Prokopowicz to provide professional legal services in a consulting capacity. There has been no criminal case referral made by law enforcement to our office related to the Madeline Kingsbury disappearance, Sonneman stated. As you are probably aware, there is a child protection case involving the Kingsbury children that our office is handling. Kingsbury was last seen the morning of March 31. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension considered Kingsbury endangered, and Winona Police Chief Tom Williams calledn the disappearance involuntary in April. Law enforcement has not named a suspect. The child protection case involving Kingsburys two children is set for hearings in June. Kingsbury has sole custody of the children according to court documents. Editors note: This story was updated May 25 to correct the date Kingsbuey was last seen. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Cases of Lyme disease in Wisconsin have more than doubled over the past 15 years, with the tick-borne illness found in every county. Lyme disease is native to Wisconsin and was previously concentrated in the northwestern portion of the state. However, it has spread significantly over the past three decades, with over 4,800 either confirmed or probable cases in 2021. According to the CDC, the actual number of cases is likely more than 10 times higher than reported. June and July are the peak months for disease onset in the state, with those ages 5 to 9 and 55 to 69 most affected. While La Crosse and Chippewa counties are in the lower incidence category, at under 45 per 100,000 people, travel to more remote, wooded areas is common in the summer and increases risk. Minnesota has fewer cases of the disease, with around 1,900 confirmed and probable cases in 2021, but Winona County is in the highest disease category. Both Wisconsin and Minnesota rank in the top seven states for cases nationwide. The rise of Lyme disease is attributed to multiple factors including the warmer weather and shorter winters associated with climate change. Contracted through infected deer ticks, wildlife in Wisconsin and Minnesota increase the spread. As a tick must be attached for 24 or more hours to spread the bacteria that causes the infection. Thorough, timely checks are essential. Adult ticks are easy to spot, said Gundersen Health System infection prevention expert Megan Meller, but baby deer ticks, called nymphs, just look like specks. Meller reminds people to check their armpits, ears, backs of the knees and hair, which are common hiding places. When removing a tick, Meller advised making sure to pull out the entire body, including the head. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommends using a tweezers or gloved hand and not to twist, squeeze or crush the tick, which can release the infection-causing bacteria. Rub the area with alcohol after the tick is removed. Pets are also susceptible to tick bites, and the use of flea and tick preventatives is advised. Animals should also be checked for ticks before coming inside. Once you start brushing them, its like the ticks just come out of the woodwork, Meller said. Make sure youre checking them over, because once ticks get inside the house, they can find their way onto you and infect you that way. People infected with Lyme disease may not always feel tick bites before they develop symptoms, which include fatigue, headache, rash around the site of the bite, muscle aches and joint pain. Lyme disease can usually be treated with antibiotics, but if left unaddressed it can spread to the nervous system, joints and heart. Some patients may not properly respond to antibiotics and have persistent symptoms for months, called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. However, this is rare, affecting only around 10% of patients. Its good to make sure youre seen by your health care provider because Lymes disease is very easy to treat, especially early on, Meller said. To help prevent tick bites, the Minnesota Department of Health suggests using an EPA approved repellent or DEET product, with concentration levels suitable to the individuals age, taking a shower after coming indoors and running clothes and gear through a hot dryer cycle to kill the insects. (Photo : NIKITA SHCHYUKIN/AFP via Getty Images) Russias propeller-engined planes were said to be flying on an intelligence-gathering operation Fighter jets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force were scrambled Thursday after detecting two Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft in two separate locations. They alleged the planes were flying on an "intelligence-gathering" operation - one over the Sea of Okhotsk off the country's north coast, the other near Sado Island in the Sea of Japan - before heading back to the direction of Russia. The Japanese defense ministry provided no further information. Incident happened post-G7 Summit The incidents happened days after the G7 Summit in Hiroshima concluded, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to the hometown and constituency of Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. During the visit, Zelensky secured a defense aid package worth $375m from the United States. He also met with all of the G7 leaders and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. NATO office in Japan Meanwhile, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) recently announced its proposal to establish a liaison office in Tokyo. However, the Kantei clarified Japan would not enter the alliance, and NATO's Tokyo office would only facilitate consultations in the Asia-Pacific region. China, on the other hand, criticized the alliance's plan to build a facility in Asia. Chinese foreign ministry representative Mao Ning said the region "does not welcome group confrontation" or "military confrontation." She also said Japan should take extra caution on the issue of military security given its "history of aggression." @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Winona Area Public Schools named four semifinalists the board will interview Thursday, May 25, for the opening superintendent position. The semifinalists are Bradley Berzinski, principal at St. Charles Public Schools; Craig Gerlach, interim superintendent at the School District of Mishicot in Wisconsin; Angi McAndrews, principal at Rochester Public Schools; and Kent Mutchler, superintendent at Geneva Community School District in Illinois. The identities of other applicants who the board did not name as finalists cannot be revealed due to state privacy laws. The board will hold the first round of interviews at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the Winona Senior High School Library Learning Commons, on the second floor of Winona Senior High School. Interviews are open to the public but will not be live streamed or recorded so candidates receive equal opportunities. Each interview will last an hour. The Minnesota School Boards Association, the search firm contracted by the district board, recommended each of the four finalists out of a field of eight at a special school board meeting Tuesday, May 23. Barb Dorn, director of leadership development and executive search with the Minnesota School Boards Association said the candidate pool was very strong. The organizations search team, primarily composed of educators, vetted applicants in a process that included pre-interviews, a social media sweep and contacting references, said Dorn. Recommendation decisions were shaped by desired skills identified by the board and in the stakeholder survey, including an understanding of finance and implementing board directives. Dorn shared information regarding each recommended candidate at Tuesdays board meeting, including appraisals by references. However, no semifinalist can be matched to information shared at the meeting given data privacy laws restricting how the board can discuss candidates. Each of the candidates we are recommending are interested in the opportunity, said Dorn. Finalist recommendations closely matched with the candidates individual board members expressed interest in interviewing. The board unanimously voted to extend offers to interview the four recommended candidates after discussion. After the first round of interviews Thursday, the board will decide which candidates will be called back for a second interview to be held Wednesday, May 31. The board will conduct its own reference checks after selecting finalists. During the second interview, the board will receive anonymous feedback from representatives of different employee bargaining units on finalists strengths and areas of improvement. Its another piece of information that I think is important and we need to look at, board chair Nancy Denzer said Tuesday. Its another set of eyes and ears and I think it will be good for us. The board voted to use the stakeholder survey, which garnered nearly 300 responses from parents and guardians, staff members and community members to represent what the community wants in the next superintendent. The board is expected to begin contract negotiations with the lone finalist June 1 and approve the contract June 8. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the sister city relationship between Winona and Misato, Japan took an in-person form. Tuesday was Misato Day in Winona. Representatives from Misato toured Winona, discussed the renewal of the cultural exchange program that was halted because of the pandemic, and attended a reunion and memorial for longtime program organizer Joe Lepley. Misato Day is an opportune time for the city of Winona to meet with the Misato delegation, Mayor Scott Sherman said in his proclamation of Misato Day. To show how powerful humanity can be when we unite to promote peace, progress and prosperity for a better world and reaffirm the commitment to our sister city relationship. The delegates from Misato included Misato Mayor Seiichi Aizawa; Hiroaki Kamata, who is chairman of the Misato International Friendship Association; and cultural exchange coordinators Ryuji Ashida and Nayumi Sato. The group met with Winona city staff and members of the Winona International Friendship Association at city hall Tuesday morning to discuss the cultural exchange program. This exchange program is an important program that impacts the future of the students, Aizawa said. We are excited to be able to resume this program once again. The discussion of next school years exchange which would see students from Misato coming to Winona in October and between six to eight students from Winona going to Misato next spring was paired with laughs, gifts and a general excitement to see each other again. It might seem half the world away, then you get together and the bond is still as strong as the last time you saw them, said WIFA Co-Vice President Tim Breza. COVID drove us apart for years but the relationship is still there. After their city hall visit, the Japanese delegation met students and talked with them about their potential for traveling to Misato, and got a tour of Winona Middle School with Principal Dave Anderson. Gay Mortensen, co-vice president of WIFA, said the generational thread of students each year being excited for the opportunity to travel to Misato has been lost since the start of the pandemic. That thread of a sixth grader saying, Oh, I cant wait for eighth grade to be a part of that is gone, Mortenson said. We need to rebuild that. At the Misato Sister City reunion later in the day Tuesday, past Misato travelers through the program gathered to share stories, photos and laughs with the Misato delegation based around the communal relationship the two cities share. It was a life-changing experience, Willa Krase, who went to Misato for the program in 2018. Heres a different culture of people living on the other side of the world and what really struck me was how similar we all were. Another former student ambassador, Carolyn Macon, said the trip opened her eyes to more than just a new culture and traveling outside of the United States for the first time but little things like music. That she still listens to today. We are at this crossroads thats quite unique, Breza said about Winona. We are able to experience cultures across the world. Additionally, the reunion was also a time for remembrance for the late Joe Lepley. Who was a longtime and beloved organizer of Winonas trips to Japan. Michelle Alexander, board chair of WIFA, said Lepley worked hard to build trust between cultures and communities. He never stopped trying to make this program a part of our lives, Alexander said. Reuniongoers wrote messages about Lepley to send to his family and lit lanterns in the Japanese tradition of remembrance. Reflecting on his experience of Winonas Misato Day, Mayor Aizawa said Winona and Misatos relationship is like the cherry trees planted at Lake Park in 2012 as a gift from Misato: growing still, strong and with deeper roots each year. Close Being Misato Day in Winona Tuesday, there was a reunion for past student ambassadors and people a part of the cultural exchange trips to Japan. In addition to the reunion for Misato travelers, a remembrance for Joe Lepley was held. Messages were written to be sent to Lepley's family and also lanterns were lit in the Japanese tradition of remembrance. With Sugar Loaf Bluff in the background, the gathered-reunion of Misato travelers take a group photo with delegates from Misato Japan. Mayor of Misato, Seiichi Aizawa (left) and Mayor of Winona, Scott Sherman (right) stand with the proclamation that names May 23, 2023 Misato Day in Winona. With many gifts exchanged between city staff and their guests from Misato Tuesday, one gift was a stained glass cardinal given to Mayor Aizawa which was made in Winona. An integral part of Winona and Misato's sister city relationship is its cultural exchange program for students in both cities. On Tuesday, Winona Middle School Principal Anderson gave the Misato delegation a tour of the school. During their tour of the middle school Tuesday, representatives from Misato were able to visit classrooms and interact with students. Students asked questions about Japan and the cultural exchange program. Winona Middle School Principal, Dave Anderson (left), receives the gift of a haiku from Misato Mayor Seiichi Aizawa. Misato Day 2023 Being Misato Day in Winona Tuesday, there was a reunion for past student ambassadors and people a part of the cultural exchange trips to Japan. In addition to the reunion for Misato travelers, a remembrance for Joe Lepley was held. Messages were written to be sent to Lepley's family and also lanterns were lit in the Japanese tradition of remembrance. With Sugar Loaf Bluff in the background, the gathered-reunion of Misato travelers take a group photo with delegates from Misato Japan. Mayor of Misato, Seiichi Aizawa (left) and Mayor of Winona, Scott Sherman (right) stand with the proclamation that names May 23, 2023 Misato Day in Winona. With many gifts exchanged between city staff and their guests from Misato Tuesday, one gift was a stained glass cardinal given to Mayor Aizawa which was made in Winona. An integral part of Winona and Misato's sister city relationship is its cultural exchange program for students in both cities. On Tuesday, Winona Middle School Principal Anderson gave the Misato delegation a tour of the school. During their tour of the middle school Tuesday, representatives from Misato were able to visit classrooms and interact with students. Students asked questions about Japan and the cultural exchange program. Winona Middle School Principal, Dave Anderson (left), receives the gift of a haiku from Misato Mayor Seiichi Aizawa. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Three visitors to Wisconsin Dells were arrested during Automotion weekend for charges of assault and resistance to law enforcement during the early morning hours of May 21. According to releases from the Wisconsin Dells Police Department and Columbia County Sheriff's Office, foot patrol officers were summoned by Tug's Kitchen employees to remove confrontational customers who were refusing to leave just before 1:30 a.m. that night. One of the customers attempted to assault a bartender after climbing over the bar at Tug's, according to reports. Officers attempted to take the individuals out of Tug's Kitchen after they disobeyed requests to leave. A WDPD Officer and Columbia County deputy were both assaulted by the group. The officers requested backup due to the combative conduct of the resisting group and the large crowds in the surrounding area. After more officers arrived, three individuals were arrested. 28-year-old Sharnice Teague of Bolingbrook, Ill., 27-year-old Kenneth Magee of Chicago, Ill., and 34-year-old Demetrice Coleman from Waterloo, Iowa were all charged with disorderly conduct and resisting/obstructing and battery to a law enforcement officer. Magee received two battery counts. The three individuals are no longer in custody at Columbia County Jail after posting $500 bonds. Seven officers from various agencies received minor injuries from attempting to apprehend the individuals. WDPD and Columbia County Sheriff's Office expressed appreciation for the outside law enforcement agencies working Automotion weekend for their quick response. The individuals were treated by Dells-Delton EMS staff prior to being taken into custody. GALLERY - Automotion 2023 in Wisconsin Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells 37th Annual Automotion in Dells Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The mood is somber and stirring as the soldier marches the requisite 21 steps along the path in a smooth perfect cadence, eyes fixed forward with a steeled glare, his face motionless. The path is well worn with distinctive marks where they may change directions. The soldier coming on duty shares that same glare and resoluteness of purpose as they inspect the weapon to be passed in a gripping ceremony. The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony in Arlington, Virginia, is a ceremony all Americans should experience. You arrive at the location of the tomb having walked across a large swath of the cemetery where the hills and grasses are adorned with thousands of tombstones of fallen American soldiers. Conversation is naturally muted in this place of reverence as you try to fathom that each one of the white stones represents a fallen hero who is connected to fellow soldiers and generations of families. A stark silence pervades over the ceremony itself, pierced only by the clacking of the soldiers heels, and orders for the next movement. Nearly 5,000 miles away, a similar experience awaits visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, just outside of Honolulu, Hawaii. The monument sits atop the sunken ship which lies as the gravesite for more than 1,000 soldiers who were aboard the Arizona at the time of the fateful attack by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941. Much like at Arlington, words are few and most often whispered out of respect and admiration. There is an eerie stillness as you gaze into the harbor and see the ship from above, knowing many brave men are held below. The ending of World War II in the Pacific arena became a focus of discussion recently as President Joe Biden visited Japan for several days as part of the G7 summit. Prior to leaving for Japan, Biden had been asked whether he would offer an apology to Japan for dropping two atomic bombs the first on Hiroshima, and several days later on Nagasaki that finally produced a Japanese surrender in August 1945. A May 19 Los Angeles Times story provided some backdrop to the visit made by Biden and other world leaders to the Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima. During the visit Biden and his foreign counterparts placed wreaths of white flowers at the foot of the memorial. Similar to President Barack Obamas visit in 2016, Biden did not include a U.S. apology for dropping bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. President Biden chose correctly. An apology now would have been tremendously disrespectful to the guttural and difficult decision made in 1945 for the method used to ultimately save millions of both Japanese and American lives. Its been well documented the decision by the Americans was at least in part based on the protracted and bloody battle for control of the island of Okinawa, a strategic island just south of Japan. A battle on the Japanese mainland would have been far worse for both sides. An apology at this time would be dishonoring the tremendous sacrifice made by millions of American men and women to preserve our most essential freedoms. Many issues get caught up in the lens of 2023 political correctness that no longer bear the understanding of the context of those decisions or other factors. We must respect decisions by those leaders at the time they were made. Next Monday, the nation celebrates Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff to the summer season. Many will find themselves traveling, firing up the grill, and otherwise occupied in leisurely activities amid a three-day weekend for many. Those freedoms we will enjoy this weekend were made possible only because of the tremendous sacrifice made by those whom this holiday honors. Without their sacrifice, there would be no Memorial Day to celebrate. In thousands of American communities, we will see Memorial Day ceremonies honoring the fallen take place as they have for decades. Those events will carry much of the same somber and stirring tone as one would experience at Arlington or Pearl Harbor. A 21-gun salute by veterans of all types of conflicts may pierce the morning silence. Their steps may not be as precise as the Honor Guard at Arlington, but no less rooted in conviction and honor toward their fallen brethren. Take time this Memorial Day to remember those fallen soldiers who have made your freedom possible today. Weather Alert ...SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY... * Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will continue each afternoon through Memorial Day. Storms will be capable of producing frequent cloud to ground lightning, gusty outflow winds, small hail, and heavy rainfall. * With an influx of people enjoying the outdoors this weekend, it is important that individuals have a way to quickly seek shelter in the event that a thunderstorm approaches your area. If a sturdy building is not immediately available, a hard-top vehicle with the windows rolled up can offer good protection from lightning. If you plan on doing activities that will leave you vulnerable to the elements such as hiking, consider doing the bulk of those activities in the morning hours before afternoon/evening thunderstorms develop. * With streams and even mainstem rivers already flowing fast and cold, it is still advised to avoid swimming in many areas. Keep in mind that daily showers/thunderstorms will inherently come with the threat of flash flooding. Have a way to receive weather alerts, and get to higher ground immediately if a river or stream you are near begins to rise quickly, if you see debris floating in the water, or the water suddenly becomes muddy. A senator in the Philippines has suggested prohibiting schools from giving students homework on weekends on the grounds that pupils are overworked and also need to rest. Proposed Legislation Sam Verzosa, a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, recently said that his country was experiencing an "educational crisis" because Filipino students were putting in excessive study time without seeing improvements in their test results. "The Filipino youth are overworked, and yet the Philippines is trailing behind other countries," Verzosa told the reporters, including local news Inquirer.net. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment, as reported by Rappler, the Philippines ranked worst out of 79 nations in reading in 2018 and came second lowest in science and mathematics. As per Verzosa's proposed legislation, the issue is that pupils spend too much time in school without getting much out of it. Even though professionals advise just one hour of homework on the weekend, kids still have a mountain of stuff waiting for them when they get home. Under the recommendations, educators in elementary and secondary schools would be prohibited from assigning homework on the weekends, and students would be allotted no more than four hours per week to do homework. See Also: Fire Engulfs Philippines' Historic Post Office Building, Destroys Nearly 100-year-old Landmark Justification for the Proposal According to The Guardian, Verzosa said that students required time to "rest and recharge." He said assigning homework could worsen class differences by making it more difficult for low-income students to do their schoolwork from home if they also had part-time jobs. Ruby Bernardo, secretary of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, stated that the average time a kid spends in school in the Philippines is six hours per day, but in the provinces, it is 10 hours. To accommodate students and provide for a shortage of classroom space, several schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) begin their day at 6:00 AM local time. Bernardo argues that too much homework is evidence that underinvestment and a lack of resources are causing problems in the educational system. "In my experience as a teacher, usually the teacher gives homework to the students because we don't have enough numbers of textbooks and materials in class," she stated. Due to a lack of textbooks or computers, teachers may assign homework that requires students to do independent Internet research at home. Bernardo went on to say that at some point, teachers spend their own money on everything from computers and projectors to balls for physical education. She said that the government's reaction had been inadequate. Schools were particularly overburdened after the pandemic had forced the suspension of face-to-face classes for two years, forcing children to lag behind. See Also: American Detained in the Philippines After Filipina Girlfriend Found Dead in Water Drum @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Whenever the subject of hosting a dinner party comes up in conversation, chef and cooking show host Natasha Feldman often hears the lament: I love to cook, but Im too intimidated to host people for dinner, or I dont know how to cook. How could I ever have friends over? Her newest book, The Dinner Party Project: A No-Stress Guide to Food With Friends (April 2023), shares the secrets to throwing fun and delicious no-stress gatherings. Feldman, who appeared on the Yahoo digital series Cinema & Spice and the YouTube series Nosh With Tash, shares advice gleaned from hosting dinner parties for 15 years. She shares recipes and tips on her Instagram, @noshwithtash, and on her website, NoshWithTash.com, and takes the same friendly approach to cooking in her new book, providing details on how to menu-plan, what to cook when you dont feel like cooking and practical tips on how to ensure everyone enjoys the party especially the host and how to forgive yourself if they dont! For Feldman, 36, dinner parties are vehicles to forge connections between friends and strangers. The Los Angeles-based chef discovered her knack for hosting dinner parties when she attended culinary school and tested recipes at home. She shared the dishes with her roommates and told them to invite friends over, then those friends invited friends. This evolved into a structured weekly gathering where, as Feldman writes in the book, she collected her favorite people. The dinner parties are no longer weekly, so theyre even more special when they do happen. Two elements are paramount when hosting dinner parties: the food and the people. In regard to the former, Feldmans recipes yield six servings which, she says, is the ideal maximum number of dinner party guests. I set it at six, but I really only did that because I think four is also a very lovely dinner party, Feldman tells AARP. Then it's nice because you have leftovers, so that you can have them for lunch." Much like Feldman has collected people over the years, shes collected recipes. It's always funny where you find recipes, she says. "I have a taco recipe in the book that I got from a [food] truck in Cordova, Alaska, where they do the Copper River salmon. The recipe, fish-fry tacos with smoky mayo, draws inspiration from the various catch-of-the-day salmon species that the Alaskan taco stand would incorporate. Its a choose-your-own-adventure-style taco, she writes in the book. Similarly, the recipe for pizza with drunken onions and goat cheese was sparked by the best pizza she has ever eaten at a restaurant in Santa Barbara, California. After returning home, she longed to eat the pizza again, but instead of going back to Santa Barbara, she tried to replicate it herself. Often, for dinner parties, I think the best recipes are what you would do otherwise but with one fun twist that you're excited about, she says. Drunken onions are simply a fun addition that takes the pizza to the next level (and the goat cheese is an added bonus). Spending just a few minutes doing self-exams could help you find cancer, eye disease, foot problems, osteoporosis, gum disease and more. These exams shouldnt replace or even postpone any regular medical visits or tests, but they could help you know when its time to see a doctor or get a condition checked. Here are eight body parts that are worth some close attention, how to do the self-exam, and which telltale signs mean its time to book an appointment. AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now ANUJ SHRESTHA 1. Skin What to look for: New spots or lesions, or preexisting moles that seem to be changing color, shape or size. Women should pay special attention to their lower legs, and men, to their backs. How to do it: Closely inspect your face and ears, torso (including beneath the breasts), arms and underarms, and the fronts of your legs. Now turn your back to the mirror and snap a photo over your shoulder with your phone; use the zoom function to scan your back. Who to call: Your dermatologist, who will thoroughly examine your skin to identify any potentially cancerous lesions. 2. Eyes What to look for: A crusty material accumulating along the eyelash line. Your eye might also feel irritated, gritty or itchy. Up to half of all adults will develop this condition, called blepharitis. The issue is easy to self-diagnose, says Olivia Killeen, M.D., an ophthalmologist at the University of Michigan. How to do it: Mix a few drops of no-tears baby shampoo, gentle facial cleanser or commercial eyelid cleansing solution with a bit of water until frothy, then gently massage it onto one eyelid at a time, rinsing well. If the flakes dissolve and the irritation subsides, youve got this under control; simply follow this routine every few days. Who to call: If this simple treatment doesnt pan out, you may have a more serious issue. Contact an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Wildfires and the havoc they create are on the rise. Fires are now common in many parts of the country, sweeping across hillsides, turning homes to ash and leaving lost lives behind. While the threat of wildfires used to wax and wane, residents in fire-prone areas now need to stay vigilant throughout the year. If it seems that there are more wildfires leaving behind more destruction than ever, its true. The area burned by wildfires has increased each year since the 1980s, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2022, 68,988 wildfires burned 7.6 million acres of land nationally, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center annual report. Thats up from 58,985 burning 7.1 million acres in 2021. Theres no longer a fire season, says architect Don Ruthroff, founding principal at Design Story Spaces, who is on the wildfire subcommittee of the California Building Industry Association. Its now year-round. California keeps firefighting teams ready all year. Ways to minimize damage Each year, the U.S. government spends about $2.5 billion on fire suppression on federal lands alone, according to the Congressional Budget Office. In California, for example, the Bay Area Council Economic Institute estimates the 2020 wildfire season produced between $5 billion and $9 billion in destruction. The costs arent just financial wildfires cause loss of business, negatively impact vegetation and create poor air quality, increasing respiratory and health issues. A warming climate and more people living in or near undeveloped wildland vegetation known as the wildland urban interface is part of the problem. While many wildfires occur in the western part of the United States California, Montana, Oregon and Washington state topped the list in 2021 wildfires now pop up all over the U.S. In April, a wildfire in West Milford, New Jersey, burned 972 acres. In May, active wildfires were reported in Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina and New Mexico, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. We always need to be prepared for wildfires, says Molly Mowery, executive director of the Community Wildfire Planning Center, based in Colorado. Its a national and ongoing issue. Despite the dangers, Ruthroff, 60, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and has seen his share of fires, says there are things homeowners can do to minimize the damage. After Bud Beschs home in Santa Rosa, California, was turned to ash by the 2017 Tubbs Fire, the 96-year-old decided to rebuild his Mediterranean-style house but with fire prevention in mind. With Ruthroffs guidance, the new house was constructed with fire-resistant products, such as tempered windows, stucco walls, fire-resistant attic ventilation, concrete S-tile roofing (the rounded, burnished red tiles typically seen on Mediterranean-style homes) and fire-resistant landscaping: decorative stones, native species, low shrubs, bushes and evergreen ground cover. Im going to pray this is the end of fires in our beautiful subdivision, Besch says. Each town or municipality may have its own rules regarding wildfire protection. A good way to find out how to make your home more fire resistant is to contact your state forest service, local fire department or planning office, Mowery says. These agencies may even offer site-specific wildfire assessments about your unique home and landscaping, she says. A comprehensive investigation reveals the alleged use of NSO Group's Pegasus spyware as a weapon in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. The Pegasus spyware grants extensive access to infected devices, enabling remote activation of microphones and cameras. The investigation highlights the invasion of privacy, suppression of free speech, and human rights violations online. While Azerbaijan and Armenia are at war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, there has been a troubling discovery of the usage of spyware in the ongoing conflict. "Hacking in a war zone: Pegasus spyware in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict," a comprehensive investigation by non-profit organization Access Now and its partners, found allegations of NSO Group's Pegasus spyware being used as a weapon in this international military conflict, Tech Times reported. This study was produced in partnership with Access Now, Ruben Muradyan, the Citizen Lab, Amnesty International's Security Lab, CyberHUB-AM, and others. This revelation is the first known instance of spyware use in a global battle involving two sovereign entities. The Access Now study sheds light on the scope and gravity of online privacy invasion, free speech suppression, and human rights violation. According to the research, this spyware has affected at least 12 civil society members, including journalists, human rights advocates, activists, professors, and one UN official. A Despicable Strategy The former human rights advocate for the Republic of Armenia, Kristinne Grigoryan, who spoke out against the purported atrocities perpetrated by Azerbaijani troops against Armenian soldiers, was a supposed target. Karlen Aslanyan, a journalist from RFE/RL's Armenian Service and a popular political program presenter, was also monitored using the Pegasus spyware. Additionally, Anna Naghdalyan, a representative of an NGO and a former Republic of Armenia spokesperson engaged in delicate discussions and talks about the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, was one of the victims. Natalia Krapiva, Access Now's Tech-Legal Counsel, condemned the use of Pegasus spyware to attack individuals "experiencing violence" as a "despicable act." Read Also: Saudi Crown Prince's Bold Diplomatic Move Sends Stern Message to US An inquiry was launched after Apple released a warning in November 2021 alerting people to possible state-sponsored spyware targeting. Armenian civil society members asked CyberHUB-AM and Access Now's Digital Security Helpline to inspect their devices for malware. Neither the Azerbaijani government nor NSO Group has yet responded to these charges. Pegasus infections are known as "zero-click" assaults, which implies that victims do not need to read shady emails or click on harmful links to get infected. Citizen Lab's senior researcher John Scott-Railton noted that "no behavior" could shield targets from a Pegasus spyware attack, per Wire. Pegasus Spyware: A Powerful Weapon Governments have used Pegasus against their people, notably activists and journalists, but its cross-border usage in war raises issues. Scott-Railton believes NSO's efforts extend beyond providing software to fight crime and terrorism. Pegasus malware allows practically full access to the compromised mobile device, including the capacity to turn on the microphone or camera, turning the handset into a secretive surveillance tool. According to Scott-Railton, this skill could affect or influence how a dispute plays out. According to NSO Group, it looks into verifiable complaints about government customers misusing their spyware, per The Guardian. The Biden administration banned NSO Group in 2021 after the commerce department uncovered evidence of NSO Group selling its technologies to foreign countries aimed at government officials, journalists, businesses, activists, and diplomatic personnel. Related Article: Chinese Malware Strikes US Cyber Infrastructure in Guam @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Acquisition of Canadian Lithium Projects & Placement Melbourne, May 25, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cohiba Minerals Limited ( ASX:CHK ) ( CHKMF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to announce that it has executed a binding agreement (Agreement) to acquire Maple Minerals 2 Pty Ltd (Maple Minerals) (Proposed Acquisition). Maple Minerals holds the rights to acquire four (4) lithium and rare earth element (REE) properties in Ontario, Canada. Highlights: - Acquisition of four (4) strategically located lithium projects with a combined 148km2 within known lithium terranes. - Properties occur in terranes which host major lithium resources including Green Technology Metals' ( ASX:GT1 ) flagship Seymour Lake Lithium Project (9.9Mt @ 1.04% Li20) and Rock Tech Lithium's ( CVE:RCK ) Georgia Lake Project (10.6Mt Indicated @ 0.88% Li20 and 4.2Mt Inferred @ 1.00% Li20) - Projects also demonstrate strong potential for rare earth element (REE) mineralisation. - Placement to sophisticated investors to raise $1,750,000 (before costs) - Cohiba will be fully funded to conduct a comprehensive field exploration program this northern summer over all four projects - Company to engage consultants to commence a field exploration program over all four projects with commencement following completion of the acquisition The Maple Minerals project portfolio consists of: - The Big Rock Lithium Property comprising 9 claims for 3,611 hectares; - The Rogers Creek Lithium Property comprising 10 claims for 4,642 hectares; - The Ottertail Lithium Property comprising 7 claims for 2,690 hectares; and, - The Gathering Lake Lithium Property comprising 9 claims for 3,897 hectares. The Proposed Acquisition is subject to CHK shareholder approval which is required for the issue of Consideration Shares and Consideration Performance Rights (each defined below) and the Tranche 2 Placement shares (defined below*) (the Tranche 1 Placement shares will be issued without shareholder approval). As a condition of the Proposed Acquisition, the Company has also received firm and irrevocable commitments from professional and sophisticated investors for a capital raising of $1.75 million (before costs) (Placement), to be conducted in two tranches. Cohiba's CEO, Andrew Graham says, "We are delighted to have been able to execute binding agreements for this acquisition and secure these strategic tenements within known lithium and rare earth element terranes. North-west Ontario is recognised as a key lithium Province and with highly attractive geological and structural precursors within close proximity to known lithium resources we are confident of yielding exploration success. Canada is forecast to be a significant supplier of critical minerals, including lithium, which is evidenced through the recent deal between Green Technology Metals (GT1) and LG Energy Solutions (LGES) which saw LGES invest AUD$20 million in GT1 to become a substantial shareholder and major offtake partner. Following an extensive due diligence process we are confident that we have secured an exceptional portfolio of projects and look forward to undertaking some detailed reconnaissance work in the upcoming summer season." Proposed Work Program The Company will undertake a comprehensive field investigation during the upcoming summer season using the services of local Geological Consultants which have expertise in the delivery of these programs within lithium terranes across Canada. Below is an estimated timeline for the program: July - September 2023: - Detailed review of historical data (geology, geophysics, petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry etc.), - Detailed geological mapping, - Comprehensive and systematic geochemical sampling program, - Review of field data and associated reporting, - Recommendations for follow-up work including aeromagnetics and multispectral analysis, - Ongoing program design including target prioritisation; and, - Completion of necessary statutory documents. December 2023 - Aeromagnetic and multispectral surveys (depending on recommendations); and, - RC drilling over strategic targets. Big Rock Lithium Property The Big Rock Lithium Property is located in north-western Ontario (Figure 1*) where a number of significant lithium deposits have already been delineated including Green Technology Metals ( ASX:GT1 ) Seymour Project which has an existing Mineral Resource estimate of 9.9 Mt @ 1.04% Li2O. The Big Rock Lithium Property is hosted largely by mafic metasedimentary rocks in close association with a peraluminous, S-type, fertile granite pluton. Regional faults transecting the property are recognised as providing excellent pathways and fracture systems for granitic parental melts. Minor work has been completed over the property in recent times with the last major reconnaissance survey in 1931 identifying multiple pegmatites which, at that time, were not assessed for lithium and rare earth element occurrences. The major lithium deposits of north-western Ontario are located within 20km of a terrane boundary. These terrane boundaries are recognised as deep-seated sutures that divide accreted Archaean terranes and act as conduits for fertile peraluminous granitic melts. The Big Rock Lithium Property lies within 17km of the English River - East Wabigoon Terrane boundary (Figure 2*). Rogers Creek Lithium Property The Rogers Creek Lithium Property is located in north-western Ontario (Figure 3*) approximately 45km east of the Georgia Lake pegmatite field which has been recognised as having the largest concentration of rare earth element mineralisaton in the Superior Province, Quebec. The property is hosted by a muscovite-bearing granite which has been identified as an S-type, peraluminous fertile parental granite. This granite is in contact with metasedimentary units which provides an ideal host environment for pegmatites. The Long Lac Fault and associated secondary structures provide the necessary pathways for granitic melts and pegmatite deposition. Regional mapping in 1939 and 1970 documented several white and pink pegmatites in the vicinity of the Property both within the peraluminous granites and the metasedimentary units indicating possible fractionating pegmatite activity. The property occurs within 13km of the East Wabigoon - Quetico Terrane boundary (Figure 4*) which provides further support for the exploration potential of this location. Ottertail Lithium Property The Ottertail Lithium Property is located in north-western Ontario (Figure 5*) approximately 90km north-west of Nakina within the same geological setting as the Superb Lake pegmatite field which is known principally for its spodumene bearing lithium and niobium / tantalum mineralisation. The property is hosted along the limb of a major fold sequence and along the contact of a metasedimentary unit and a fertile, peraluminous parental granite which provides the ideal environment for exomorphic dispersion in the host rocks adjacent to rare-element pegmatites. Regional faulting and dilational structures associated with folding provide excellent conduits for granitic parental melts. In 2003 the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) conducted a regional investigation of mineralisation associated with rare element pegmatites and related S-type, peraluminous granites within the Superior Province including the Superb Lake pegmatite field with the detection of fertile, peraluminous parent granites. The property lies 17km south-east of the Uchi-English River Terrane boundary. Gathering Lake Lithium Property The Gathering Lake Lithium property is located in north-western Ontario (Figure 7) approximately 68km north-east of Nipigon and 25km east of the Georgia Lake pegmatite field which hosts several lithium deposits such as Rock Tech Lithium's Georgia Lake Lithium Project which comprises 10.60 million tonnes (Mt) Indicated Mineral Resource at a grade of 0.88% Li2O and 4.22 Mt of Inferred Mineral Resource at a grade of 1.0% Li2O as of 31 July 2022 . The property is hosted along the contact a fertile peraluminous parental granite and metasedimentary units which make ideal exomorphic contact hosts for fractionating parental melts. Several north trending faults provide the necessary dilational structures. The spodumene-bearing pegmatites of this area were first discovered in 1955 with the majority of historical exploration occurring between 1955 - 1958. Many of these pegmatites were drill tested in 1955 and 1956 with some additional drilling occurring in the 1980's and 1990's. The majority of pegmatites are hosted by Archaean metasediments near large peraluminous granites and are lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) type pegmatites with strong potential for other rare elements such as niobium, tantalum, rubidium, beryllium and caesium. Work conducted by the Ontario Geological survey (OGS) in the 1970's identified several white garnetiferous and tourmalinised pegmatites which provided further evidence of the fertile nature of the granitic melts and the potential for significant fractionation leading to lithium-bearing pegmatite deposition. The Gathering Lake Lithium property occurs within the Quetico Terrane (Figure 8) which has become a major focal point for exploration of clastic metasedimentary-hosted, rare-element pegmatite mineralisation. Proposed Acquisition Terms In consideration for the Proposed Acquisition of Maple Minerals, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms Sheet, consideration for the acquisition of the projects is as follows: (a) issue of fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the Purchaser (Shares) to the vendors (being the shareholders of Maple Minerals) (Vendors) of 50,000,000 Shares in aggregate (Consideration Shares); (b) issue of unlisted performance rights to acquire Shares (Performance Rights) to the Vendors in the following tranches: 1. Unlisted performance rights (Tranche 1 Performance Rights) in the Purchaser of 62,500,000 Tranche 1 Performance Rights in aggregate. Tranche 1 Performance Rights convert to fully paid ordinary shares in the Company upon and subject to the Company discovering and reporting in accordance with the JORC code not less than five rock chip samples taken from the mining claims forming the projects at not less than 1% Li20 each. If the milestone for the conversion of Tranche 1 Performance Rights is not achieved by 48 months then Tranche 1 Performance Rights shall automatically lapse. and 2. Unlisted performance rights (Tranche 2 Performance Rights) in the Company of 62,500,000 Tranche 2 Performance Rights in aggregate. Tranche 2 Performance Rights convert to fully paid ordinary shares in the Company upon and subject to the Company reporting in accordance with the JORC code a drill intercept or channel sample of not less than 10 metres at not less than 1% Li20. If the milestone for the conversion of Tranche 2 Performance Rights is not achieved by 48 months then Tranche 2 Performance Rights shall automatically lapse. (together, the Consideration Performance Rights). The Consideration Shares and the Consideration Performance Rights will be issued to the Vendors in proportion to their holding of shares in Maple Minerals. In accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement which Maple Minerals has with the current holders of the projects, the Company will be required to pay the following additional consideration to the current holders of the projects: (a) Cash consideration of CAD$259,000; and (b) The grant of a 1.5% net smelter royalty (NSR) in respect of production of any minerals from the area within the boundaries of the claims comprising the projects. Post completion of the Transaction, the Company will have the ability to re-purchase 0.5% of the NSR for $500,000. Placement As a condition of the Proposed Acquisition, the Company has received firm and irrevocable commitments from professional and sophisticated investors for the placement of 350,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares (Shares) with an issue price of $0.005 (0.5 cents) per share. The Company will also issue one free attaching CHKOB option for every one new Shares issued (Placement Option). The Company will issue 153,000,000 Shares in accordance with its placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and 147,000,000 Shares under its placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A (Tranche 1 Placement). All Placement Options and the remaining 50,000,000 Shares will be subject to approval by shareholders at a general meeting to be held over the coming months (Tranche 2 Placement). Proceeds from the issue will be used to fund the Proposed Acquisition, exploration costs on the Company's newly acquired projects and current projects and working capital requirements. PAC Partners acted as lead Manager for the Placement and will received 40,000,000 CHKOB options as partial consideration for the Placement. *To view timeline, tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/5Y00V167 About Cohiba Minerals Limited Cohiba Minerals Limited (ASX:CHK) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange with the primary focus of investing in the resource sector through direct tenement acquisition, joint ventures, farm in arrangements and new project generation. The shares of the company trade under the ticker symbol CHK. The Company recently acquired 100% of the shares in Charge Lithium Pty Ltd, which holds exploration licences in Western Australia. There are several different origin stories for tapas, the Spanish snacks created back in the Middle Ages as accompaniments to wine. One account credits King Alfonso X of Castile, who promoted the serving of food with drinks as a way to combat public drunkenness. My personal favorite involves bartenders putting pieces of bread or slices of meat and cheese over customers glasses to keep flies and dust out of their drinks. The word, after all, is Spanish for lid. Whatever the case, Spanish tapas have had enormous influence on the restaurant world. Here in New Mexico we have several places serving up these sweet and savory small plates. Recent years have seen Debajo and Damacios joining veterans MAS Tapas Y Vino and Geckos on the tapas beat. Up in Santa Fe, El Farol and La Boca are virtual institutions. Little Madrid, the latest arrival to Albuquerques tapas scene, is a bit different, being set in a corner of Sawmill Market, the bustling food hall near Old Town. Christian Monchatre, maestro of culinary operations at Sawmill, launched Little Madrid in February. The French-born chefs inspiration came from his time working in San Sebastian in the Basque region of northeast Spain. Little Madrid occupies a prime location on the southeast corner of Sawmill, adjacent to the parking lot but away from the clamor of the middle of the hall. Its a very large space by Sawmill standards, and handsomely decorated with hand-painted tiles over the counter facings and back walls. There are rows of seats along the windows, and lots of additional seating nearby, both inside and out. Of all the places in Sawmill, Little Madrid has the most wide-ranging variety of menu choices. There were no less than 30 tapas on display on a recent weekday lunch hour, including both cold and hot items comprised of meats, seafood and veggies. One side of the L-shaped counter was dominated by three wide, shallow pans filled with different versions of paella. Basque Cheesecake, the only dessert on offer, is sold behind a separate counter. Most of the items are premade and none are individually priced. Instead, you pay by the number of items you order. Naturally, the pricing incentivizes ordering more things. One item is $8, three are $21 and seven are $47. Not cheap, but virtually everything is shareable. I ordered five items, my friend got three, and the server crossed them off the bill as we chose. It was a bit like getting doughnuts, what with the server updating us on how many choices we had left. Our meal began with gazpacho, the tomato-based cold soup that originated in southern Spain. Little Madrids version, served in a plastic cup, was pretty watery and vinegar-forward. The three versions of paella that day included the vegetarian Paella de Verduras, the meaty Paella Valencia and a Paella New Mexico, infused with green chile. Burnished with saffron, the Paella de Verduras was well-seasoned and bright with green beans, peas, butter beans and roasted red peppers. I preferred the Paella New Mexico. The dull color belied an intense flavor and a little bit of heat from the green chile and sausage. Missing from both paellas was the crispy, toasted rice that typically lines the bottom of the pan. Alongside the paella were several versions of the open-faced sandwiches known as montaditos. The two we tried were nicely done. The first paired peppers and chunks of tomatoes with tangy goat cheese; the second, a couple thick pieces of roast beef with onions. Arrayed in a tray in one display case were pintxos, skewers typical of the Basque region. The name comes from Spanish verb pinchar, meaning to poke or stab. One skewer combined spicy and sweet with a fig and a hot pepper, while the other matched blocks of mildly flavored cheese with red peppers and chorizo. Thoughtful pairings, but they offer less bang for your buck than the other choices. The many other classic tapas on display included Tortilla Espanola, an omelet made with eggs and potatoes, and the meatball dish known as Albondigas. More adventurous diners may want to try the Boquerones, anchovies pickled in vinegar. We opted for three Green Chile Chicken Croquettes served a small-handled dish with a topping of aioli. They resembled mini-egg rolls. The coating was crisp and savory and the silky smooth filling tasted faintly of green chile. Papas Bravas, Spanish fried potatoes, are in my experience one of the more reliable tapas. Little Madrids version arrived to us darkened with paprika and hot and crisp from the grill. The tomato sauce and aioli cut the starch of the potatoes with tang and acid. Basque Cheesecake, often referred to as burnt cheesecake, has no crust and is caramelized on top from cooking at a high temperature. Smoother and creamier than the New York-style cheesecake, it was an excellent finish to the meal. It comes with a choice of three sauces. We did not get to test the ability of tapas to combat drunkenness, as it was too early in the day to imbibe on Little Madrids selection of beer and Spanish wine. Two servers work the counter efficiently while one cook ran the grill in the back. Both servers knew the menu well, an important attribute with so many things to choose from. There are several gluten-free options available. With an impressive variety of classic Spanish tapas, Little Madrid nicely fills a niche at Sawmill Market. Its another worthy addition to Albuquerques tapas scene. If youre on Central in the area with the highest concentration of bars and restaurants, youre most likely within 1,000 feet of a school. Its this factoid that officials are planning to leverage in order to federally prosecute gun crimes Downtown. Under state law, firing a gun if it doesnt hit anyone is a misdemeanor negligent use of a weapon and officers are often only able to make an arrest if they saw it happen, said Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina at a news conference in a live music venue Downtown Wednesday afternoon. By contrast, under federal laws a defendant could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $5,000. We are using existing federal law to target gun crimes in Downtown Albuquerque, Medina said. Our top priority is to stop people who drive or walk through the heart of Downtown and fire guns indiscriminately. The city will be posting signs throughout the Downtown corridor to let people know they are in a school zone and could face federal charges. Medina said one of the burdens of proof needed to prosecute the case is that the defendant knew they were in a school zone. APD already has cameras, license plate readers and extra manpower in the area. Medina said officers will receive extra training and coordinate with members of the department who are on federal task forces since they will be handling the cases. There are six schools the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy, Lew Wallace Elementary School, St. Marys Catholic School, Siembra Leadership High School, Amy Biehl Charter School and Christina Kent Early Childhood Center in the area. This should be a massive signal for folks who think they can go from the bar back to their car and then get out of their gun for gunplay over some argument they had in a bar, said Mayor Tim Keller. The initiative which officials are calling a pilot project and say they will expand if it works was launched days after police say a woman firing a gun at her baby daddy hit and injured a taco truck vendor on Central and Third. Ambrosia Mirabal is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, shooting at or from a motor vehicle and negligent use of a deadly weapon. Alex Uballez, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, said the law will apply to people who are in a vehicle like police say Mirabal was but his office is conducting an analysis to determine if it would apply to private property like a business. Large crowds are expected this weekend at New Mexico lakes, which are swollen to levels not seen in recent years. For the most part, the high water levels are fueled by higher than usual snowfall in the state this year, said Wendy Mason, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico State Parks Division. Daniel Porter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said last winter New Mexicos northern mountains received between 120 to 170% of their usual snowfall. The gauge height at Abiquiu Lake on Wednesday was 226 feet, which was off the charts of the graph on the U.S. Geological Surveys website. A year ago the lake in Rio Arriba County was about 195 feet. At Cochiti Lake, many of the park amenities such as picnic tables are completely submerged. The lake was 65 feet deep Wednesday. Last year at this time, it was 43 feet, according to the USGS. Officials at Navajo Lake said on Facebook they were expecting the lake to be full for much of the summer. We do expect levels to be high (throughout the state) for at least the next month due to snow melt, Mason said. If people are heading to lakes this weekend they should check the state parks website for the latest reports on boat ramp closures or openings. At Bottomless Lakes, the Lea Lake North Day Use Area is closed because of flooding. But Elephant Butte Reservoir recently opened a boat ramp that had been closed for years because water levels were too low, she said. Everybody was ecstatic about that, because itd been closed for so long, she said. Officials announced Wednesday that the boat ramp at Storrie Lake State Park near Las Vegas will reopen Friday. The ramp hasnt been open since May 6, 2021, because of drought and extremely low water levels. The lake is about 12 feet higher than it was last year. State Parks officials are anticipating large crowds of boaters, kayakers, fishers and other water users at lakes over the long holiday weekend, she said. She reminded people to be careful because it could mean there is debris or other things right under the surface. Just be cautious, keep an eye out. Take precautions. Wear a life jacket and make sure its a proper fitting life jacket, Mason said. Plenty of park rangers will be out over the Memorial Day weekend keeping an eye on folks, but we cant see everything. The city of Albuquerque has reached a $700,000 settlement with a woman wrongfully arrested for murder as a teenager and left in jail for days. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, which represented Gisell Estrada alongside law firm Ives & Flores, announced the settlement Wednesday. City spokeswoman Ava Montoya said it was in the interest of all parties to resolve the case. The city will also assist in the expungement of Estradas record. The lawsuit was filed in December 2020 against the city after police detective Jessie Carter with the help of Albuquerque Public Schools employees misidentified Estrada as the suspect in a 2019 homicide. As a result of that wrongful arrest, the then-17-year-old was locked up at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center for six days until an accomplice charged in the case told Carter he had the wrong girl. Estrada, now 20, told the Journal she hopes police do their job better so nobody else has to go through what she did. She said she still has nightmares from the ordeal and any time she is driving and sees an officer nearby, Estrada is paralyzed with fear. It affected me, my life, my feelings, my education, she said. Everything, it just affected everything. Estrada said she wants to put the case in her rear view, planning to go to school and pursue a career in orthodontics. We can only hope that this sends a clear signal to the department to take these investigations seriously, and not engage in games of pin the tail on the donkey with young peoples lives, ACLU-NM Deputy Director Leon Howard told the Journal on Wednesday, adding in a statement that calling the APDs work sloppy and negligent is an understatement. Carter, a former homicide detective with the Albuquerque Police Department, was suspended for 32 hours without pay for the mistaken identity. Rick Ingram, a former homicide sergeant and Carters supervisor at the time, was given a letter of reprimand. Both Carter and Ingram have since left the homicide unit but stayed in law enforcement. Case background When Calvin Kelley was gunned down during a robbery in July 2019, Carter found the Facebook profile of the girl who allegedly planned the crime. He sent two profile photos to an Albuquerque High School resource officer and administrator who identified the girl in the photo as Estrada, a student aide. Prosecutors signed a warrant for Estrada, and Carter arrested her on a murder charge, even as she and her public defender told him she was the wrong girl. Five days later, another suspect in Kellys death told Carter he arrested the wrong girl and Alexis Pina was identified as the suspect. An Internal Affairs investigation found Carter made a fundamental oversight by not further confirming Estradas identity beyond the APS employees assertions, according to the investigation. Furthermore, the prosecutor who signed her arrest warrant failed to scrutinize Carters evidence due to a fondness for the detectives prior work. The District Attorneys Office, headed by Raul Torrez at the time, said they changed warrant review process based on the case requiring more details into how a suspect was identified. On Wednesday, Howard of the ACLU said he hopes APD has ensured this wont happen again. Despite the settlement and expungement, he said the case can follow Estrada for life with a simple Google search. I think people have a natural tendency to think, OK, she was arrested, maybe wrongfully, but she was running with the wrong crowd or theres some sort of reason that this happened to her, Howard said. And this is truly a case that she was picked out of thin air. So having this public, that she had absolutely nothing to do with it, will hopefully help her anxiety around people searching her name and finding the connection that she was arrested for murder. How many babies born drug-addicted in New Mexico have died? Thats all Rep. Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena, wants to know. Four years after lawmakers tasked the Children, Youth & Families Department with tracking the number of babies born exposed to drugs and the number of families who received a plan of care, and days after a 2-year-old died of a fentanyl overdose, CYFD officials couldnt answer the question at a Legislative Finance Committee meeting this week. Armstrong walked out a recent LFC meeting frustrated by CYFD. Who can blame her? State lawmakers in 2019 passed the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act, which requires the aforementioned tracking. But as Journal news partner KOAT-TV reported Wednesday, the state isnt tracking who accesses those supports, especially if the family refuses services. The states CARA law requires CYFD and hospital staff to develop a plan of care before sending home babies born drug-addicted. The plans include information about treatment and counseling options and resources for financial support. The goals of our states law were to decrease the number of children experiencing abuse and neglect by offering supports for mothers and infants; to pull together the hospitals, health care providers for mothers and infants, home visiting and early intervention programs to provide these supports, former Department of Health and Department of Human Services secretary Dr. David Scrase and Dr. Andrew Hsi of the CARA working group explained in a Journal guest column Oct. 20, 2022. Rep. Tara Jaramillo, D-Socorro, asked CYFD acting Secretary Teresa Casados on Tuesday how many CARA babies are there in New Mexico. Casados said there were 1,388 plans of care submitted in fiscal 2022, but only 535 children were screened for abuse prevention. Do you test those babies to see if they have exposures in the home? Jaramillo asked of children sent home without CYFD oversight. We dont specifically test those babies that go home, Casados answered. CYFDs notorious failures to protect young children from drug exposure were driven home again last week when a 46-year-old mother dropped off her unconscious 2-year-old at an Albuquerque hospital. Prosecutors say the toddler, Nayisha Delaney, died from consuming fentanyl at her Albuquerque home where several people were reportedly smoking crack and fentanyl. The girls mother, Kreshenna Delaney, 46, lost guardianship of an older son in 2014 because of her history of drug-related offenses dating back to 2001 and several years spent in prison for trafficking. Shes had three children since 2014. Her 6- and 8-year-old sons were taken into CYFD custody only after their 2-year-old sisters death. Why did CYFD allow them to grow up, and their sister to die, in a drug-infested home? Was there any follow-up at all in the Delaney home to try to keep them safe? After a 7-month-old Albuquerque boy with methamphetamine in his system suffocated in his home last year, we learned that CYFD returned three older children between 1 and 3 years old, who also had methamphetamine in their systems, to that meth den twice. Again, why did CYFD allow them to live, and their brother to die, in a drug-infested home? Was there any follow-up at all in that home to try to keep them safe? Lawmakers and the public could know more, but Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her key legislative allies quashed dozens of bills this past session that would have required more accountability and transparency. Senate Bill 150 would have required CYFD to conduct a family assessment when a newborn suffers from drug withdrawals. House Bill 434 would have shifted many responsibilities for overseeing safe-care plans for newborns to the Department of Health. Language in House Bill 2 would have required CYFD to regularly report child fatalities to lawmakers. So, we ask lawmakers and the governor: How many babies born drug-addicted have been sent home and died with no CYFD oversight? How many children have received/had their families refuse follow-up care for substance abuse in the home? More importantly, how many more babies have to die before CYFD can answer even the basic questions required by law? 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 countdown has begun at Virgin Galactics Gateway to Space operations center in southern New Mexico, where the company expects to fly six crew members into suborbit this morning. The VMS Eve mothership is expected to takeoff from the Spaceport America runway at 8 a.m. with the six-passenger VSS Unity rocketship attached to its underbelly. Assuming the flight proceeds uninterrupted, Eve will carry Unity to about 50,000 feet, at which point the spaceship will break away from the carrier plane and fire up its rocket motors to shoot into space, allowing the four mission specialists in Unitys six-seat passenger cabin to float for a few minutes in microgravity and view the Earth below before the ship glides back down to the spaceport runway. It will be Unitys fifth flight into suborbit since 2019, and its first time in two years returning to space, following company founder Sir Richard Bransons historic spaceflight in July 2021. The company took an 18-month hiatus after that for maintenance and upgrades to both Eve and Unity to improve durability and reliability before initiating the companys long-awaited commercial flights for paying passengers. If all goes well in this final in-house crew flight, the company plans to launch commercial service in late June, first flying an Italian Air Force Crew to space for research and training, and then initiating regular monthly flights for space tourists starting sometime later this summer. The company announced early this week that a nine-hour flight window would open on May 25, providing the first flight opportunity today for the Unity crew. But if todays flight gets scrubbed for any reason, theres still another flight window available on Friday as a potential backup. This mornings mission could take about 90 minutes from takeoff to landing, with Unity breaking away from Eve to shoot into space about 50 minutes after the carrier plane departs from the spaceport runway. The company wont be live streaming the flight, but it will provide regular updates throughout the morning on Twitter. Tweets by virgingalactic The Journal will post its own updates on flight progress as the mission unfolds. Pakistani journalist Sami Abrahim, who was known for his public support for former prime minister Imran Khan, was reported missing, according to his family and his employer. The journalist's disappearance was first announced in a police tweet late Wednesday. Karachi-based independent media firm BOL also claimed on Thursday that he was abducted. In a news announcement, BOL TV said unidentified men abducted Abrahim on Wednesday. Abrahim's brother Ali Raza testified to police that eight people in four vehicles intercepted his brother's car on his way back home from work in Islamabad. Abrahim's driver was left unharmed. The journalist also publicly criticized incumbent prime minister Shahbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan after a no-confidence vote in 2022. RSF concerned over Imran Riaz's welfare Abrahim's disappearance was the second since another pro-Khan journalist, Imran Riaz, went missing two weeks ago. The international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expressed concern over the wellbeing of Riaz. It called on the Pakistani government to "ensure respect for the rule of law" by revealing where and how he was detained. The Pakistani media community also demanded accountability for the murder of 50-year-old TV anchor Arshad Sharif in Kenya in October last year. The journalist was living in exile in the African nation to avoid arrest at home on charges of maligning the Pakistani military. According to Kenyan police, its officers opened fire on Sharif's car after it failed to stop at a checkpoint, killing him in a case of "mistaken identity" during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case. Pro-Khan protests Back home, Khan's supporters clashed with police across the country earlier this month in protest against his arrest from an Islamabad courtroom. The protesters attacked public property, including a radio station in the city of Peshawar. The protests only died down when the country's supreme court ordered Khan's release. A crackdown of Khan supporters followed soon after, arresting more than 5,000 individuals after the fact. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TALLINN, Estonia (AP) Russia and Belarus signed a deal Thursday formalizing the deployment of Moscows tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally, although control of the weapons remains in the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of the shorter-range weapons in Belarus earlier this year in a move widely seen as a warning to the West as it stepped up military support for Ukraine. When the weapons would be deployed wasnt announced, but Putin has said the construction of storage facilities in Belarus for them would be completed by July 1. Also unclear is how many nuclear weapons would be kept in Belarus. The U.S. government believes Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, which include bombs that can be carried by aircraft, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery rounds. Tactical nuclear weapons are intended to destroy enemy troops and weapons on the battlefield. They have a relatively short range and a much lower yield than nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles that are capable of obliterating whole cities. Speaking in Moscow, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said the movement of the nuclear weapons has begun, but was not clear whether any actually had arrived in his country. Lukashenko, who sparked rumors of being seriously ill when he cut short a Victory Day appearance in Red Square on May 9 before resurfacing in public May 15, was attending a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council with Putin and leaders of Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The signing of the deal came as Russia prepared for a counteroffensive by Ukraine. Both Russian and Belarusian officials also framed the step as driven by hostilities from the West. Deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said in Minsk at a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere, Shoigu added. Putin has argued that by deploying its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russia was following the lead of the United States, noting that the U.S. has nuclear weapons based in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the move. We must do everything to prevent Putins plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will ensure Russias control over Belarus for years to come, Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. This will further jeopardize the security of Ukraine and all of Europe. Independent Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said about two-thirds of Russias arsenal of medium-range nuclear-tipped missiles were held in Belarus during the Cold War, adding that there are dozens of Soviet-era storage facilities that could still be used. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia in a U.S.-brokered deal after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Documents in Minsk on the return of nuclear weapons were defiantly signed just at the moment when Ukraine declared a counteroffensive and Western countries are handing over weapons to Kyiv, Alesin told the AP. This Belarusian nuclear balcony should spoil the mood for politicians in the West, since nuclear missiles are capable of covering Ukraine, all of Poland, the Baltic states and parts of Germany. Khrenin also announced plans to build up the combat potential of the regional grouping of Russia and Belarusian troops, including the transfer to Minsk of the Iskander-M missile system, capable of carrying a nuclear charge, and the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading neighboring Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there. ___ Follow AP coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Jamila Gilbert had been waiting for the moment when Virgin Galactics VMS Eve mothership released the VSS Unity rocketship. That moment delivered. Every bit, Gilbert said in an interview. It was it was a phenomenal feeling of a free fall. And then came my next favorite moment, which was so enjoyable, and it was the literal rocket ride. Gilbert, who oversees internal communications for Virgin Galactic, talked with Journal shortly after safely landing back at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday. She was on the flight to evaluate what the trip will be like for paying customers. Virgin Galactic completed a successful spaceflight. The Eve mothership ferried the rocketship to around 44,000 feet, at which time the aircraft released from each other and Unity fired up its rocket motors and went into suborbit. It was 25th flight for Unity, and Virgin Galactics fifth spaceflight. The rocketship soared 54 miles above Earth before gliding back to down with the six-member crew, which included two pilots. It was Gilberts first flight to space. The 34-year-old from Las Cruces is a graduate of New Mexico State University. She is now one of fewer than 100 women to fly to the cosmos and just the 16th Hispanic person to be in space. She described holding onto her shoulder straps and looking out the front window of the aircraft as it turned to black when the crew entered space. To her side she could see the curvature of the Earth. Then you start to decelerate and you started to feel weightless, she said. It was a magical moment. Gilbert said she had imagined she would float around the cabin of the aircraft experiencing weightlessness for the first time. But what happened is that I just got caught up in to looking at the Earth, she said. The darkness and the contrast to the brilliance (of the earth) and the detail. It was hyper-real. The crew stayed in the weightless environment for several minutes before starting the descent. The most incredible thing happened, we looked off and it was perfect symmetry. The crescent moon was just perfectly centered over the Earth, Gilbert said. It was Virgin Galactics first flight to space in nearly two years when company founder Sir Richard Branson was part of a crew who flew to space from New Mexico. Since then, Virgin Galactic has been working on maintenance and upgrades to both Eve and Unity in anticipation of paying customers. The company plans to next send an Italian Air Force Crew to space for research and training, and then initiating regular monthly flights for space tourists starting sometime later this summer. The next step will be for Virgin Galactic to analyze data from Thursdays flight and inspect the planes and other equipment. Jeff Michael, a spokesman for Virgin Galactic, said although flight data hasnt been analyzed, the mission appeared to go as planned and there was a celebratory environment complete with speeches and toasts after the safe landing. Gilbert had family and friends in attendance, as was Branson. Interested in going for a flight? Tickets are around $450,000 apiece. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M (AP) Virgin Galactic completed what is expected to be its final test flight Thursday before taking paying customers on brief trips to space, marking what the space tourism company described as a fantastic achievement in what has been a long road to commercial operations. Six of the companys employees, including two pilots, landed at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico after the short up-and-down flight that included a few minutes of weightlessness. It took about an hour for the mother ship to carry the spaceplane to an altitude of 44,500 feet (13,563 meters), where it was released and fired its rocket motor to make the final push. Successful boost, WE HAVE REACHED SPACE! Virgin Galactic tweeted. It reached an altitude of 54.2 miles (87 kilometers) before gliding back down to the runway, according to the company. Jamila Gilbert, who grew up in southern New Mexico and leads the companys internal communications, was among those on board who were evaluating what it will be like for paying customers. It was hard for her to put the experience into words, saying it probably will take a lifetime to process the sights and the feelings that filled those moments between the rocket igniting and the spaceship reaching its highest point. It was just this magnetic pull, she said in an interview. Once I started looking out, I could feel that I was floating. I could hear voices. But I couldnt stop looking at the planet, and I couldnt look away. Fellow crew member Christopher Huie said it seems as if everything stopped when the spaceship was released from the carrier plane. Youre just waiting for the rocket to light, said Huie, an aerospace engineer. And I think that moment had so much anticipation, and I could have lived in that moment forever. Then came a little jostle with the firing of the rocket, and the crew were pinned to their seats as the G-forces kicked in. The flight came nearly two years after founder Richard Branson beat fellow billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and rocket company Blue Origin into space. Bezos ended up flying nine days later from West Texas, and Blue Origin has since launched several passenger trips. Federal aviation authorities banned Virgin Galactic launches after Bransons flight to investigate a mishap. Virgin Galactic has been working for more than a decade to send paying passengers on short space hops and in 2021 finally won the federal governments approval. The next step will be for Virgin Galactic to analyze data from Thursdays flight and inspect the planes and other equipment as the company prepares for commercial service, possibly as soon as late June. Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier has acknowledged the delays and missed deadlines over the years. But on Thursday, he said seeing the crews reactions after landing gave him confidence in what the company has built so far. The initial commercial flight will include members of the Italian Air Force who will conduct experiments. Next will come customers who purchased tickets years ago for their chance at weightlessness aboard a winged spacecraft that launches from the belly of an airplane. About 800 tickets have been sold over the past decade, with the initial batch going for $200,000 each. Tickets now cost $450,000 per person. Virgin Galactic has reached space five times since 2018 and will be aiming for 400 flights per year from Spaceport America once it finishes building its next class of rocket-powered planes at a facility in neighboring Arizona. After Bransons trip, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights as it investigated a problem that caused the rocket ship to veer off course during its descent back to its runway in the New Mexico desert. Virgin Galactic insisted at the time that Branson and others were never in any danger. The company made changes to its carrier airplane and the spaceplane. The delay was nearly twice as long as expected, partly because of supply chain issues and labor shortages. Branson joined a group of customers who watched Thursdays flight from Spaceport America. Huie, a senior manager with Virgin Galactics flight sciences engineering team, said the company is ready for commercial service and will be expanding its fleet over the coming years. Were looking to scale up in a big way, he said, and the goal is to populate lots of spaceports with lots of spaceships and motherships and send hundreds of people every year to space. Cover Images Celebrity Helen Holland, 81, had been critically ill in hospital for nearly two weeks after being 'flung 40ft across the road' during the accident in west London on May 10. May 25, 2023 AceShowbiz - A woman who was hit by a police motorcycle escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, earlier this month has died. Helen Holland had been critically ill in hospital after being "flung 40ft across the road" during the accident in west London on May 10, and the 81-year-old grandmother-of-10's family has now announced she has passed away. Her family told the BBC she fought "for her life for nearly two weeks... but irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle today." And Helen's son Martin said his mother, who lived in Birchanger, Essex, but had been in London visiting her sister, had died after "suffering multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries" while using the "safe route of [a] pedestrian crossing." Following the crash, Sophie said her "thoughts and prayers" were with the victim. Buckingham Palace issued a statement which read, "The duchess' heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family. She is grateful for the swift response by the emergency services and will keep abreast of developments. Further comment at this time would not be appropriate while the incident is being investigated." It is understood the duchess, who is married to King Charles' youngest brother Prince Edward, 59, was being escorted with a rolling police escort manned by motorcycle outriders when the collision happened. Onlooker Martin Hennessy previously said he wasn't surprised by the crash. He told MailOnline, "This was an accident waiting to happen. The screens had been put up for the Coronation, but it meant that you had to step out a bit into the road to see any traffic... I was there soon after it happened and it was carnage. The poor lady was flung about 40ft along the road and paramedics were attending to her. She stepped out a bit to peer around the screens and was hit." The incident is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). You can share this post! Cover Images/Vince Flores Celebrity When getting off his chest, the 'Twilight' actor shares screenshots of negative remarks about him, one of which reads, 'He did not age well goodness.' May 25, 2023 AceShowbiz - Taylor Lautner has an important message for his fans. When responding to hateful comments saying he "did not age well," the "Twilight" actor encouraged his online devotees to "be nice" instead of trolling people on social media. In a video shared on Instagram, the 31-year-old first said, "I just got back from a run. I was feeling really good about myself, trying to stay healthy both physically and mentally." He added, "And I felt compelled to share something with you because when I got back from that run I hopped on Instagram." Taylor then shared screenshots of negative remarks about him underneath an Instagram post. One in particular read, "Brooo where is his hair line running off to??? Looks like Ratatouille putting the years on him." The insult continued with one writing, "Oooogh not aging well....." Another echoed, "He did not age well goodness," while someone else penned, "Damn looks like s**t." Calling the comments "crazy," Taylor added that "there's only so much we can do to change" the harsh reality. He then explained, "But I think what I really wanted to say is, if this was 10 years ago, five years ago, maybe even two, three years ago, that really would have got under my skin." "And it would have caused me to want to just go in a hole and not go outside, definitely don't do press and interviews and put myself in the position where I have to see that kind of stuff," he further elaborated, before revealing that there was a time when he would avoid places where he could be seen and photographed for the Internet. "You find value where you put it," Taylor said. "And if you put your value in what other people think of you, that's how you're going to feel. But if you put your value in you knowing who you are, what's important to you, what you love, that kind of stuff won't get to you." Though trolls' comments sometimes upset him, Taylor divulged that he's in a better headspace now and "it doesn't make me question who I am and it doesn't take anything away from me." He concluded, "So I think my biggest point is just think about and remember where you put your value in life, and also just be nice... It's not that difficult. Let's be nice to each other. Let's spread love and positivity. It's that simple." You can share this post! Instagram/startraksphoto.com/Cover Images Celebrity Gov. Gavin Newsom allegedly considers the former daytime talk show queen as Feinstein's potential replacement should the ailing lawmaker step down before the end of her term. May 25, 2023 AceShowbiz - Oprah Winfrey is possibly in the running for U.S. Senate. While the media mogul has not officially launched a political campaign in any way, she's reportedly touted as possible replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Feinstein, who returned to the Senate earlier this month, has already said she will not run for re-election in 2024. However, before her current term ends, the 89-year-old has been showing signs of deteriorating health, prompting questions who will replace her if her seat becomes vacant before the 2024 election. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will be tasked with choosing the successor, is considering Winfrey among Feinstein's potential replacements, according to the Associated Press. Back in 2021, the 40th governor of California promised to appoint a black women should Feinstein's seat become open. The talk about Feinstein's possible retirement before the senator's term ends in January 2025 has been brewing amid her ongoing medical struggles. Her frail appearance, confused interactions with reporters in Washington and the growling list of health challenges disclosed by her office continue to fan questions about her fitness for the job. But despite calls from within her own party to resign, she has given no indication that she is considering stepping down. Feinstein, who will turn 90 years old in June, is currently the oldest member of Congress. Meanwhile, Winfrey has waded into politics when she endorsed several Democrats in high-profile races during the 2022 midterm elections. The 69-year-old billionaire was even mentioned as a possible presidential contender in the run-up to the 2020 election, but she has ruled out running for the White House on multiple occasions. In November 2018, the former daytime talk show queen clearly stated that she had no interest in running for the office during one of Stacey Abrams' Georgia gubernatorial runs. "I am not here because I am making some grandstand, because I'm thinking about running myself. I don't want to run. I am not trying to test any waters, don't want to go in those waters," she said in a speech. Winfrey did back Abrams though, as she did for John Fetterman in Pennsylvania, Cheri Beasley in North Carolina, Val Demmings in Florida, Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin, Beto O'Rourke in Texas, and Raphael Warnock in Georgia. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The two stars make headlines after they are involved in an online back-and-forth as the 'Super Freaky Girl' femcee accuses the City Girls rapper of copying her popular phrase from 'Queen Radio'. May 25, 2023 AceShowbiz - It's maybe not that deep. After making headlines following her social media fight with fellow raptress Yung Miami, Nicki Minaj appeared to insinuate that she only jokingly called out Miami over her alleged "borrowed" catchphrase. Fans noticed that Minaj liked a fan's tweet which hinted that it's all just a playful banter between the two stars. The said tweet read, "Nicki Minaj is trending in the United States at number 4 with over 56k tweets for just doing a jokey joke with yung Miami." Upon catching wind of Minaj's social media activity, some fans didn't think the "Super Freaky Girl" femcee was just joking when accusing Miami of copying her popular phrase from "Queen Radio". "Its giving do anything for clout nicki too old to be acting like that & im a sag too but she been doing the most lately n that aint even in us," one user commented. "Sagiterrorist always making a damn joke nobody likes their humor they don't care get over it," another person added. "It was never a joke that lady just really passive aggressive asf and now that people aren't on her side 'it's a jokey joke,' " someone else similarly wrote. Another comment read, "That lady was not joking she always do this. When somebody wear 50 inch weave, she did it first. When somebody sittin front row at a fashion show, she did it first. On a jet, she did it first. But y'all go awfff." Minaj and Miami made headlines after they were involved in a Twitter back-and-forth on Wednesday, May 24. The tension started after the City Girls rapper teased an upcoming episode of her Revolt talk show "Caresha Please" featuring Summer Walker. In the preview of the episode, Miami could be seen saying, "Let's get into something, chile!" After watching the clip, Minaj called out Miami and even dragged Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. "*Hits @Diddy to advise him that a young lady on a show that appears on his network seems to have 'borrowed' a very popular #QueenRadio catch phrase*," Nicki reacted to the preview. "Puff, who representing u these days chile? I got my s**t drafted in my HEAD B!CH @YungMiami305 talkin bout u got into some thangssss. Um chile, anyways, so[laughing emojis]." Miami later clapped back, "Nicki @NICKIMINAJ what's really the problem???" She added, "cause I definitely didn't get that from you LOL [laughing emoji] 'let's get into some thing Chile' actually is a gay slang Lmaooooo." Minaj continued,"Caresha now you know damn well [laughing emojis] 'gay slang' is the first go-to nowadays. Let's discuss it on #QueenRadio chile. If not, I'm hittin Puff right now. You know he used to manage me right? Now it's my man my man my man Puff what up? Hit my line chi @Diddy." She further taunted Miami by posting a Twitter poll with the message, "Talkin bout 'gay slang' caresha please! Let's ask the gays ms B***h!!!! @YungMiami305." Miami then responded, "Yeah I'm On my way to his house im Finna call you when I get there. Desperately??? It's never giving that Nicki [four cry-laughing emojis] let's be fr." Diddy, meanwhile, has yet to comment on the social media fight. You can share this post! Focus Features Movie The 'Breaking Bad' actor heaps praise on the 'Grand Budapest Hotel' filmmaker and likens the director to 'a conductor of an orchestra' when he was sitting behind the lens on set. May 25, 2023 AceShowbiz - Bryan Cranston has compared starring in a Wes Anderson film to being an instrument in an orchestra. The 67-year-old actor joins the all-star ensemble cast of Anderson's new movie "Asteroid City" and compared the eccentric director to a conductor of music. "It feels like Wes Anderson is a conductor of an orchestra. And all of us are players of our particular instrument. We hyper focus on our instrument and just present it without really knowing exactly how it's all going to piece together. And he conducts - a little less Bryan, a little more Scarlett (Johansson) at this moment, or whatever, making the adjustments as he goes," Bryan said at the Cannes Film Festival. Cranston plays the role of a television host in the 1950s-set movie and the star described it as Anderson's "love letter to performance art" as it features both stage and screen mediums. The "Breaking Bad" star said, "It's a movie about a television show doing a story on a theatre. And I think it's Wes' love letter to performance art. He's wrapped his arms around the three major mediums we are involved in." Jason Schwartzman stars in "Asteroid City" as Augie Steenbeck and credited the "Isle of Dogs" filmmaker's curiosity for his career success. The star - who has featured in eight of Anderson's movies - recalled, "I was 17 when we met (on 'Rushmore') and he was the first person that wasn't in my family that was over the age of 20 that actually asked a question and cared what I said and was curious about what I was interested in. My feeling is that's why we're all here. Because (Wes) wants to know about all of us and he's curious and he always sees things in us we do not see." You can share this post! TalkTV TV The British television host labels the internet personality a 'complete moron' over his controversial antics and the influencer doesn't take the insult lying down. May 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Piers Morgan blasted "complete moron" TikToker Mizzy in a heated interview on Wednesday, May 24. The social media star - whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O'Garro - was grilled on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" just hours after he appeared in Thames Magistrates' Court, where he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a community protection notice that had been issued last May following a police investigation over online videos including him running into a stranger's house and stealing a dog from a woman in a park. Piers quizzed the 18-year-old viral star - whose antics have also included ripping pages out of library books and riding an e-bike through a supermarket - in a heated exchange, as to why he chose to cause "so much alarm and distress to so many people." His guest replied, "This whole public uproar just makes me laugh because people are getting hurt over something that didn't happen to them and that's how I see it as." Branding the controversial prankster "moronic," he asked, "What has been motivating you to terrorise the people around where you live?" But the TikToker insisted he has "remorse" and is just "having fun." He said, "I wouldn't really call it terrorising, I'll just call it more having fun...Of course I care I have remorse.. [I am my] own person. I am legally an adult now so I can do what I want." Piers urged the teenager to share his "sob story," but he replied, "Are you trying to get onto me because I'm Black?" The 58-year-old presenter fumed, "I don't give a damn about your skin colour. I just think you're an idiot." His guest replied, "I think you're an idiot too." Piers then asked why Mizzy doesn't show "real remorse," but he insisted he does and had previously issued an off-camera apology to a woman whose house he walked into. He said, "You see this situation that blew up on the internet walking into random houses, the next day I apologised to the woman because I felt bad." "That was more of a spur of the moment thing, I got spurred on and my ego got a hold of me. I realised that at that moment and that's why I went to apologise the next day... I went to go and apologise off social media." "I could have recorded that apology, that would have been another viral video - whether it's hate or whatever. Literally, hate brings money. Hate brings likes. Hate brings views. It doesn't matter - love or hate - it still brings views." The interview then ended with Piers again slamming Mizzy's "moronic behaviour" and insult returned by his guest. The TalkTV host then said, "We're going to put both of ourselves out of this misery and we'll just end it there because you are - as I said at the start - a complete moron." After appearing in court on Wednesday, Mizzy was given a 200 fine and a 85 victim surcharge plus 80 cost. He was also issued with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which prohibits him from "trespassing into any private property, including residential homes, business properties, school and retail outlets; uploading directly or indirectly any original video content on social media including but not limited to; Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube without prior documented consent of the people in that content; and attending Westfield Stratford City." You can share this post! US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested that US debt discussions with the White House would continue following Thursday's votes amid the rising possibility of a catastrophic default. As McCarthy will likely send Republican negotiators home, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the House would adjourn after Thursday's votes. In contrast, negotiators continue to work toward a US debt limit resolution, per a CNN report. Scalise noted that members will get "24 hours' notice" if there will be a need for the negotiating team to go back to Washington over the weekend or next week for "any additional votes." Unresolved concerns include government expenditure reduction. According to sources, the White House is contemplating the GOP's requests in return for McCarthy's lone concession: lifting the debt ceiling. The White House blamed McCarthy's Republicans for seeking "extreme" expenditure cutbacks that would hurt millions of Americans nationwide. Unfazed, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the debt limit crisis was "not my fault." He also expressed optimism about reaching a deal before the deadline, according to AP News. House Speaker McCarthy and Democratic President Joe Biden think they could identify common ground on expenditure, taxation, and anti-poverty initiatives. They described the protracted meetings their negotiation teams had on Wednesday as fruitful. Read Also: Investigation Reveals Use of Spyware in Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict According to several reports, both parties have agreed to withdraw some COVID-19 relief aid, a suggestion first made by House Republicans. A compromise might be achieved by Friday afternoon, according to Representative Kevin Hern, chair of the critical Republican Study Committee. Is McCarthy Not Taking The US Debt Limit Deadline Seriously? The US Treasury Department cautions that if the debt limit is not lifted by June 1, the US might run out of money to pay its payments. A US government default would likely result in financial market turbulence and a recession in the US. While the Treasury's prediction is not flawless, some private sector experts believe the country might survive a week more without defaulting. This viewpoint has caused McCarthy's caucus hardliners to dismiss the June 1 ultimatum, per Reuters. Global financial markets have been shaken by the imminent danger of a debt default catastrophe, which would be unprecedented in modern times. Due to the debt limit brinkmanship and political hostility, the Fitch Ratings agency placed the US' AAA credit on "ratings watch negative" late in the day. Related Article: Donald Trump Trolls Ron DeSantis' Glitchy Twitter Presidential Campaign Launch @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Day 1 of GoaFest 2023 kicked off with great excitement and anticipation. As the largest advertising and marketing festival in India, GoaFest attracts professionals from all over the country and beyond. Held in the scenic coastal state of Goa, the festival is known for its vibrant atmosphere and insightful sessions. The day began with an impressive opening ceremony that featured renowned speakers and industry leaders. They shared their insights and set the tone for the festival, highlighting the latest trends and challenges in the advertising and marketing world. In conversation with Adgully, here is what, a few Industry leaders had to say about being part of the GoaFest 2023: T Gangadhar Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Quotient Ventures, says: It's always great to be at GoaFest. I have very fond memories of this event. I have been coming for a long time now, though I am coming after seven years. This is a celebration of creativity. The work here is both humbling and inspiring and it should encourage a lot of youngsters. India requires greatness in advertising. What I love especially about this event is that it is a great opportunity to meet a lot of friends from the industry. Siddharth Dabhade MD, MiQ India, says: I am delighted to be at the Goa fest. This has been the 3rd or 4th time Ive been here, but this is special because this is after covid we are again gathering altogether. GoaFest has always been fantastic in terms of meeting all the industrial people and all the agencies having deep conversations on marketing, creativity, and nowadays it's also about technologies and data as well. Alok Jalan, MD, Laqshya Media, says: It's always good to be at GoaFest as we call it a festival of creativity. I see a lot of young creative minds here and it's good to see. The topic this year, the challenges going to be men vs machines, how technology changes creativity, and how much creativity changes because of technology. Josy Paul, Chairman, BBDO India, says: My job is to deliver ideas and I'm here at GoaFest after 10 years. It's been a long time. It feels like its the first time after all these years. I remember 10 years ago, I did something very stupid. I was the head of the radio jury. When they asked me to come up and give away the awards. I went and hid under the podium so that no one could see me and everyone was wondering where I was and then I just used a microphone and said, Im radio you can't see me you can only hear me and it was a bit stupid and funny but it was alright. Ajay Kakkar, Managing Committee Member, The Advertising Clubs, said: "I have been fortunate to be associated with the industry of advertising and marketing for over two decades, and being associated with the Abby in the GoaFest. I am here this time as a co-chair of the awards governing council of Abby. Defence Bern, 25.05.2023 - From 29 May to 10 June, members of the Swiss Air Force will train with up to six F/A-18 fighter jets in Kallax, Sweden. The purpose of the international Arctic Challenge Exercise is to compare and develop ones own capabilities with other countries and improve interoperability. During the exercise in Sweden, the Swiss F/A-18 pilots will have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and increase their proficiency in international air defence as well as practise basic air policing skills such as ultrasound and low-level flying. A total of 60 members of the Swiss Armed Forces will be travelling to Sweden for the exercise 14 pilots, 26 mechanics, 6 military police personnel, 2 intelligence officers as well 12 support staff. The exercise is being organised by Sweden, Finland and Norway and will take place at four different airbases across the three countries. The Swiss participants will be stationed at the Kallax military airbase in northern Sweden during the exercise. The exercise in Scandinavia has taken place every two years since 2003. Formerly known as the Nordic Air Meet, it has been called the Arctic Challenge Exercise since 2013. Thirteen nations with around 150 fighter jets and 2,700 personnel are taking part. The objective is to train joint force operating scenarios, share experiences among the participants and compare capabilities. Switzerlands participation is based on the 2023 exercise programme for international military training cooperation approved by the Federal Council. Limited training possibilities in Switzerland The Swiss Air Force is unable to fully train in Switzerland to international standards. The reasons for this include the scarcity and size of suitable training areas, altitude and speed restrictions, limited flight operating times, limits on the number of aircraft movements at airfields, dense civilian air traffic over Switzerland, high population density and the subsequent consideration for noise pollution. Address for enquiries Delphine Schwab-Allemand Armed Forces Spokesperson +41 58 463 22 58 Publisher Defence http://www.vtg.admin.ch General Secretariat DDPS https://www.vbs.admin.ch/ Former Maharashtra MLA Ashish Deshmukh on Thursday criticised the Congress for expelling him, and said the action showed that the partys state unit was in the hands of wrong people. The state Congress recently expelled Deshmukh from the party for six years over his public statements against the party leadership. The order of expulsion was issued to Deshmukh by senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, chairperson of the state Congress disciplinary committee, through a letter dated May 22. The letter said the committee discussed Deshmukhs reply submitted on April 9 to a show-cause notice issued to him over his statement that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Other Backward Class (OBC) community over his Modi surname remarks. Deshmukh is a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Katol in Nagpur, who later joined the Congress. In a statement, Deshmukh said, The decision to expel me from the party is completely wrong. This action shows that the leadership of the Maharashtra Congress is in the hands of wrong people. If one statement of Rahulji Gandhi insults the entire OBC community and because of that member of this community are hurt, then for the sake of Congress party, Rahulji should apologise to the OBCs who form 54 per cent of Indias total population, and end the matter here, he said. The Congress leaders expelled me from the party for raising my voice for the welfare of OBCs. They issued a show-cause notice to me and I gave a detailed reply to it. The media gave a wide publicity to my reply as there was truth in it. But Congress leaders in Maharashtra did not find my reply satisfactory and that is the only reason they cited for my expulsion, he added. It can also be inferred that the decision to expel me from the party was already taken and the notice was given later, Deshmukh said. In the 2019 Assembly elections, Deshmukh, was the Congress nominee against senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and now Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis from Nagpur South West seat. Deshmukh was defeated by Fadnavis. Last month, Ashish Deshmukh termed as unfortunate the show-cause notice issued to him and claimed it was part of a larger conspiracy since he had been questioning the style of functioning of the party leaders. Get the Ed Chat newsletter: Enter your email for weekly updates about Alabama schools from Trisha Powell Crain: Alabamas schools still have a long way to go to spend all of their federal COVID relief money, according to new figures shared by the Alabama State Department of Education. Those figures show that of the $3.3 billion in federal relief given to all K-12 schools and the department, just under half, or $1.5 billion has been spent. The slow pace of spending doesnt surprise Alabama Board of Education Vice President Wayne Reynolds, though. There was so much money infused in the school system, it is difficult for responsible educators to spend it in a responsible manner, Reynolds told AL.com. School officials continue to face issues with contracting and lack of availability of needed resources making it hard for them to find good ways to spend that money. My concern as an educator and state board member is that money is spent effectively and efficiently, he said. If the school systems do that, then Im satisfied. A dashboard on the departments website shows school districts have spent varying percentages of the two remaining packages of relief money, ranging from 6% in the small, rural Elba City school district, to 100% by multiple school districts. Federal relief was handed out in three separate packages in 2020 and 2021 as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding, or ESSER money, referred to as ESSER I, ESSER II and ESSER III. The window closed on ESSER I funding in September, and districts spent almost all of that allocation. Districts are currently spending ESSER II and ESSER III money, which have deadlines of Sept. 30, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, respectively. Nationally, districts have spent 74% of ESSER II money and 35% of ESSER III money, according to FutureEd, which tracks federal COVID relief funding. Alabama schools are spending slightly behind the national pace, with 69% of ESSER II money spent and 23% of ESSER III money spent. What are schools buying with COVID relief money? The states dashboard doesnt show how districts are spending that money, Each batch had its own set of rules about what schools could do with the money and each batch was larger than the previous one: While the bulk of each package went directly to school districts, federal rules allowed the Alabama State Department of Education to hold back some money to use for administrative costs and training for all districts The state department approved school districts plans for spending ESSER III money, but there is no public reporting of whether those plans are being followed. An AL.com analysis of those plans initially showed district officials planned to spend most of their ESSER III funding on facility-related expenditures, followed by personnel. District spending plans can be updated as needed, and the public is supposed to be notified and allowed a chance to weigh in. Its unclear whether plans are being updated or whether schools are taking public input, though. Publicly-available federal reports break down spending among four categories: Physical health and safety, Academic, social, emotional and other needs (excluding mental health supports) Mental health supports for students and staff, and Operational continuity and other uses. Federal reports of spending through Sept. 30, 2021, the most recent reports available, show the majority of COVID relief money has been spent on academic needs followed by operational expenses and then physical health and safety expenses. Barely 1% of expenditures were on mental health support for students and staff. The deadline for filing spending reports through Sept. 30, 2022, was earlier this month, but that data wont be available till later this year. Three city school districts, Mountain Brook, Trussville and Vestavia Hills, didnt receive any ESSER III money because they do not participate in the federal Title I program which provides funding for students in poverty. The state department shifted some federal funding to the three districts to make up the lack of allocation. The table below is shaded in colors representing the percentage of ESSER II funding districts have spent based on information on the states dashboard. The next table shows the percentage of ESSER III funding school districts have spent. The federal relief packages The first round of money, from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, was passed in March 2020 under President Donald Trump. Alabama received $195 million for K-12 schools and $21 million for the state department of education, allocated in a package called the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER I. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, passed in December 2021, sent another $899 million to Alabamas K-12 schools, with $809 million passed directly to local school systems. This money, known as ESSER II, must be obligated by September 2023. Districts had to spend at least 20% of ESSER II funding to recover learning loss, with state officials emphasizing an interest in helping struggling readers. A third package, the American Rescue Plan from President Joe Biden, included more than $2 billion in ESSER III funding for Alabamas K-12 schools: $1.8 billion for school districts and $200 million for the state department. Of its $200 million, the state department sent $142 million straight to districts, earmarked for learning loss, summer enrichment and afterschool programs. Schools have until September 2024 to obligate ARP ESSER III funding. The Alabama House will consider final passage of a record $8.8 billion education budget and $2.8 billion supplemental appropriation on Thursday. Last year, comic Sebastian Maniscalco and film legend Robert De Niro came to Mobile to film a comedy. This Memorial Day weekend, About My Father hits the big screen across the country. In the film, Maniscalco plays a version of himself whos facing a challenging July 4 weekend: He and his fiancee (Leslie Bibb) are spending it with her eccentric blueblood family (which includes Kim Cattrall). But the second-generation Italian-American son is worried that his first-generation Italian immigrant father will mess things up with his exuberant ways. Advance reviews didnt begin emerging until Wednesday, and at that point sites such as Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic had yet to weigh in. Washington Post reviewer Michael OSullivan summed it up as a sweet, mostly cute story about the importance of the people were related to, peppered with some fairly broad and not especially hilarious yuks. Its propelled along by silly mishaps rather than a real culture clash, OSullivan wrote. Odie Henderson of The Boston Globe gave it one-and-a-half stars and called it the umpteenth unfunny retread of Meet the Parents. At the Austin Chronicle, reviewer Trace Saveur classified it as another one of those tepid studio comedies best described as meeting the technical qualifications of a film. A reviewer at thestreamr.com was kinder, calling it a feel-good movie that stays its welcome just the right amount, has some great laughs, and will leave audiences with a full heart walking out. An extensive article at rogerebert.com called it endearing, but otherwise focused on interviews with the people who made it. I wanted to bring an immigrant experience to the screen, Maniscalco said in that story. My father came here at 15 years old and he didnt know the language. He went on to build three businesses, start a family and build a home from nothing. I wanted to show in the movie that the father-son relationship and that dynamic between them is extremely important. I think we did a pretty good job of sprinkling humor throughout that while also tugging on peoples heartstrings. According to the films official website, it is opening only in theaters on Friday, May 26. However, the site also lists Thursday screenings at multiplexes in Birmingham, Huntsville and the Mobile area, as well as other markets throughout Alabama. According to to the films official website, the film was set to open Thursday, May 25 at every multiplex in southwest Alabama. It listed the following times, verified on the individual theaters websites: The AMC Mobile 16 in west Mobile listed screenings at 3, 5:40, 8:05 and 10:30 p.m. The AMC Classic Jubilee Square 12 in Daphne has screenings at 4:15, 6:45 and 9:05 p.m. The Premiere Cinema 14 at the Eastern Shore Centre in Spanish Fort had showtimes at 3, 5:30 and 8 p.m. The CMX Pinnacle 14 in Gulf Shores had a screening at 7:50 p.m. The AMC Classic Wharf 15 had screenings at 3 p.m. 5:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. About My Father was directed by Laura Terruso and was written by Sebastian Maniscalco and Austen Earl. The movie is rated PG-13 and runs 89 minutes. Related: De Niro a real nice fellow says Mobile restaurateur whose business became a movie set Matthew McConaughey to film movie in Alabama; local casting underway Morgan Freeman, Luke Hemsworth filming movie in Birmingham AAA says Memorial Day weekend is expected to be one of the busiest in years, and chances are a lot of folks are driving to Alabamas beaches. Driving, in fact, is about the only way to get to the beaches. A whopping 92% of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach visitors during the summers of 2018 and 2019 arrived by car, and chances are that those figures have not changed much. The Alabama Department of Transportation is alerting motorists to be mindful of increased traffic and allow extra time to reach their destinations. Typically during the weekend, the Interstate 10 Bayway is congested, and Alabama State Route 59 in Baldwin County is jammed with out-of-state license plates. ALDOT Control Room Operators with the agencys Automated Traffic Transportation System will monitor traffic congestion on the Bayway and the Causeway (U.S. 90/98) to and from Mobile and Baldwin counties. Additional towing services will be available, free of charge, for motorists who need a vehicle removed from a travel lane. ALDOT is also placing digital message boards along congested routes to alert motorists of travel conditions. There will be no temporary lane closures on Alabama interstates or state routes for any construction-related activity from noon on Friday, May 26 to Monday, 29 at midnight. Motorists planning their holiday travel route can find Alabama traffic and road condition information, including live traffic camera feeds at www.ALGOtraffic.com, or by downloading the ALGO Traffic app. There are a few main roads that will be under construction this summer that could affect beachbound travelers, or they could be under construction before the summer season ends. The highlights: Orange Beach: In Orange Beach, local officials are alerting motorists to travel at 25 mph through a construction zone along Canal Road east of Alabama State Highway 161 as construction continues on a roundabout called the U About, according to Ken Grimes, city administrator. The East Canal road widening project, including the roundabout, has been underway since September 2022. The 1.4-mile stretch of Canal Road is being expanded to three lanes, inclduing a middle turn lane. The roundabout is near the Orange Beach public library, and will serve as a U-turn for traffic going to Docs Seafood & Steaks, GTs Restaurant, and any property between on the north side of Canal Road. Grimes said there is a new ALDOT-controlled westbound lane that merges to Perdido Beach Boulevard west from Alabama 161 southbound. He said the new lane is signal controlled, and will be green unless a pedestrian triggers for crossing. Interstate 10 in Mobile: ALDOT will be leading a resurfacing and traffic striping project of I-10 from Alabama State Route 193 in Tillmans Corner to the Wallace Tunnel in downtown Mobile. The contractor is Mobile Asphalt Company, and their work is expected to begin on June 4. Most of the work will occur at night. Nighttime lane closures are expected with the typical times occurring from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Additional lanes will be added to I-10 from Mobile County Road 39 interchange west of Theodore to the County Road 69 (Carol Plantation Road) overpass in Mobile. The contractor is H.O. Weaver and Sons, and the project will take place during the nighttime hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Sunday-Thursday. The projects completion date is May 24, 2024. Alabama State Route 59: Alabama State Route 59 is the main route to Gulf Shores and will see some construction this summer at the corner of Baldwin County Route 12, where a Circle K convenience store is under construction. Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the project includes adding safety shoulders to both sides of the road. He said its likely not to cause much of a disruption to Route 59 motorists. In Gulf Shores, the major project will include the addition of a new southbound lane from Coastal Gateway Boulevard to Fort Morgan Road (Alabama State Highway 180). The road work will also encompass the W.C. Holmes Memorial Bridge. According to Gulf Shores City Engineer Mark Acreman, the utility relocation portion of the Route 59 project is nearly completion south of the bridge. He said that roadway and drainage work is scheduled to start in June. The projects contractor, however, is required to keep two lanes of southbound traffic open during construction. The Route 59 project primarily consists of adding an additional southbound lane. The only improvements affecting northbound traffic will be median and turn lane work around Cotton Creek Drive north of the Gulf Shores International Airport. Acreman said that work will not start until the work south of the bridge is completed. Interstate 65: ALDOT is administering a couple of projects on I-65 in South Alabama. In Conecuh & Butler counties, the state will be constructing bridge replacements over the Sepulga River northeast of Evergreen. The state is also resurfacing and doing other work to the I-65 Service Roads in Mobile from Alabama State Route 16 to State Route 17. That project is expected to be completed with paving by mid-summer. U.S. 90: The highway will be resurfaced, restriped and experience other improvements from Alabama State Route 59 in Loxley to Baldwin County Road 54 in Robertsdale. The contractor is Mobile Asphalt Company, and the project began this week. Motorists should expect nighttime lane closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday-Thursday. The project will be completed sometime in the fall or before the end of the year. U.S. 98: The state is leading a resurfacing and striping from a point west of the Elberta city limits to a point on the Perdido Bay Bridge. The contractor is Mobile Asphalt Company, and it will include limited nighttime lane closures around 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. Resurfacing and other upgrades will occurring the highway from DOlive Creek Bridge in Daphne south to Alabama State Route 104 in Fairhope. The closures will be at night from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday to Thursday. The completion is expected to be early spring. Foley Beach Express: Officials do not anticipate any significant disruptions along the Baldwin/Foley Beach Express this summer, but a major repaving project is anticipated to begin this year. Were minimizing what we can during the summer months along that route, said Frank Lundy, interim county engineer. Foley City Administrator Mike Thompson said the bidding has yet to be released for that project, meaning that its likely it will not begin until August or September. A man was arrested after his car crashed into the gates outside Downing Street at around 16:30 London time. According to the BBC, the Metropolitan Police quickly arrested the driver of a white car on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. No other injuries were reported. Police have also set up a cordon along Whitehall, the main road running past Downing Street, which has been closed off to the public as officers investigate the incident. British prime minister Rishi Sunak was in Downing Street by the time of the crash but has since left for a scheduled visit. As Downing Street serves as the official residence of the British prime minister, the place is always guarded by armed and unarmed police. The incident happened as many civil servants in London were leaving or preparing to leave their offices for the day. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A convicted felon accused of robbing a Gadsden bank earlier this year has been indicted on federal charges. Edward Aliji Muhammed Brown, 41, is charged with armed bank robbery and being a felon in possession with a gun, according to a joint announcement Thursday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peoples. The two-count indictment was issued Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Birmingham. The holdup happened March 31, at The Exchange Bank on Noccalula Road. Authorities said the armed suspect robbed the bank about 3:50 p.m. that Friday and fled in a white minivan. The following day, Gadsden police announced his arrest by posting this on Facebook: Almost 19 hours of freedom. Almost. Suspect and his van are in the care and custody of the Gadsden Police Department. Brown is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction. The Gadsden man was convicted of first-degree robbery in Etowah County on Aug. 24, 1999. The maximum penalty for armed bank robbery is 25 years in prison. The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 15 years in prison. A man charged with stealing a car got unlikely help twice - from police - after the car stalled. Florence police say Roddrecuz Winston, 29, is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on $60,000 bond. On Wednesday, an officer patrolling the area of Cox Creek Parkway and Chisholm at about 10 a.m. saw a stalled vehicle. Officers assisted the driver with obtaining gas, thinking the vehicle was empty. But the vehicle stalled again and was parked at Fairgrounds Park. The driver, later identified as Winston, was taken to the Salvation Army. Police later received a call from the actual owner of the stalled vehicle, saying that it had been stolen from his residence. The thief, according to the owner, had to have entered his residence to get the key. Police say an investigation revealed Winston as the perpetrator. He was later arrested and charged with first degree property theft and second degree burglary. The Alabama Senate has passed a bill to require the state to develop a replica to replace the Saturn 1B rocket at the Ardmore Welcome Center on Interstate 65 in north Alabama if it is determined the aging rocket cannot be restored. The legislation is the latest development in an evolving story on the future of the rocket. NASA owns the rocket, which has been on loan to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and has stood as a landmark overlooking I-65 since 1979. In January, NASA said the rocket was deteriorating and needed to come down. The space agency estimated that repairs would exceed $7 million and said there were no guarantees the rocket could hold up to the process. The bill, SB313 by Sen. Tom Butler, a Republican from Madison County, directs the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to commission the design, construction, and installation of a replica if the original rocket is beyond restoration or repair. The bill says ADECA may contract with any other state or private entity to develop the replica. It says ADECA may accept public or private gifts, grants, and donations, including in-kind services, for the project and may use funds appropriated by the Legislature. The bill does not provide ADECA any funding for the project. There is some indication that restoring the rocket might not be out of the question. A 2022 internal assessment by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, obtained by AL.com, includes cost estimates for restoration, including one company saying it could complete the job for $5 million, far short of the $7 million cost NASA has projected. And a conservator working with a Huntsville group seeking to preserve the rocket said he believes restoration could cost even less still. Read more: Is restoring Alabama welcome center rocket a feasible option? Last Friday, the board that oversees the U.S. Space & Rocket Center gave its backing to preserving the rocket. The Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission voted without dissent at its quarterly meeting to support a recommendation from board member Joe Fitzgerald that the rocket center make every reasonable effort to make sure the rocket at the under-renovation Interstate 65 welcome center just south of the Tennessee state line remains in place. Read more: Rocket at Alabama welcome center wins small victory for survival Butlers bill replaced one he had introduced earlier that called for development of a replica to the rocket. The original bill included provisions to strengthen the penalties for removing monuments under the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, which was passed in 2017 to protect Confederate monuments. That bill did not advance. SB313 moves to the House of Representatives. Birmingham police are joining with multiple agencies to host a block party Friday in the citys West End community as part of ongoing efforts to reduce violence. The Restore West End Block Party will be held from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Tuscaloosa Avenue. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said there will be at least 50 organizations represented at the event. They will provide resources on topics such as violence prevention and victims assistance, as well as other quality-of-life issues. There will also be food and music. This is what we mean when we say we want to partner with the community, Fitzgerald said. This is that in action. A bill that could change some death sentences in Alabama to life in prison drew supporters to a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday but has run out of time to pass during this session. Those who spoke to the committee included a juror who regrets voting for a guilty verdict almost 30 years ago and the daughter and brother of a murder victim who opposed the execution of the killer. Under Alabama law, capital murder cases include two phases that require jury decisions. It takes a unanimous jury for a guilty verdict. But in the penalty phase, a jury can impose the death penalty on a 10-2 or 11-1 vote. HB14 by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, would change the law to require a unanimous jury decision for the death penalty. The bill would apply retroactively, so that inmates sent to death row by less than a unanimous jury during the sentencing phase could have their sentences changed to life without parole. HB14 would make another retroactive change. In 2017, the Alabama Legislature changed the law to make juries, not judges, the final decision-makers on whether a defendant convicted of capital murder received the death penalty or life without parole. Before that change, juries made a recommendation, but judges had the final say and could impose the death penalty after a recommendation of life, a practice called judicial override. Alabama was the only state that allowed a judge to override a jurys recommendation when sentencing capital murder cases. Read more: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signs bill: Judges can no longer override juries in death penalty cases HB14 would apply the ban on judicial override retroactively and allow inmates already on death row as a result of a judicial override to have their sentences changed to life without parole. The House Judiciary Committee held the public hearing on HB14 one day after former Alabama Govs. Don Siegelman and Robert Bentley co-wrote an op-ed published by the Washington Post about the same issues addressed in HB14, people sentenced to death by non-unanimous jury decisions and by judicial override. The former governors said they now see those sentences as unjust and would commute them to life sentences. Mae Puckett of Athens told the committee about convicting Robin Rocky Myers of murder in 1994, the stabbing death of his neighbor, Ludie Mae Tucker in 1991. Struggling to keep her voice steady as she spoke to the lawmakers, Puckett said she and eight other jurors thought Myers was innocent. She said three jurors were convinced of guilt. Puckett said she agreed to a conviction because the jury could recommend life without parole. She said she and others who believed Myers were innocent were concerned that if the trial ended in a hung jury, Myers could be sentenced to death in a second trial. We werent going to prove him innocent because the three werent going to budge, Puckett told the committee. But we decided since we had the power that we could find him guilty and recommend life in prison. He seemed to be a good father. We heard testimony. We wanted him to have a good relationship with his kids. Puckett said a couple of weeks after the trial, a fellow juror called her and told her the judge had done an override and sentenced Myers to death. When I found out that the judge had overturned our recommendation, I was infuriated, because why? Puckett said. What was the point of us ever being there if we werent going to matter? Why did we have to sit and listen to these horrible things? And see those pictures that we had to see? He was accused of stabbing a woman to death. I dont understand why we had to go through that for this man to have just turned around and say, No, it doesnt matter, I know what we need to do. And this man has been on death row for 25 years. Read more: Alabama could execute Robin Rocky Myers soon. A juror says hes innocent Former state Sen. Dick Brewbaker, a Republican from Montgomery, sponsored the 2017 bill that ended judicial override. Sen. Hank Sanders, a Democrat from Selma, had championed the same bill for years. Brewbaker, speaking to the committee in support of HB14, credits Sanders for those years of work raising awareness of the issue. Similarly, he urged the Judiciary Committee to continue to work on the issues in HB14 until they can become law. This is not a vote against the death penalty per se, Brewbaker said. This is a vote that says you think jurors should be given the respect due to their deliberations. A jury listened to all the evidence and decided that death, the capital sentence, was not appropriate. And I think we as legislators should respect that. Jefferson County Circuit Judge David Carpenter told the committee he supports requiring a unanimous jury to impose the death penalty, as well as the retroactive application of the ban on judicial override. This is a power that should be left to the same people who determine whether or not somebody is guilty to begin with, Carpenter said. They have heard all the evidence in the case. And in the case of these defendants that are currently on death row because of judicial override, there is a record of what the jury recommended. So, its not difficult to go back and just go by that record, what they recommended originally. So, I would encourage you do to that, would encourage you to pass this bill. Toni Hall of Birmingham, joined by her uncle, Helvetius Hall, read a statement to the committee expressing their support for HB14. Faith Hall, who was Toni Halls mother and Helvetius Halls sister, was murdered in August 1994 by Joe Nathan James Jr., her former boyfriend, who was sentenced to death. The Hall family contacted Gov. Kay Ivey asking that his sentence be commuted to life without parole. James was executed by lethal injection in July 2022. Its a jurys job, and the jurys alone, to sentence someone to death in Alabama, Toni Hall said. And this legislature agreed a few years ago that judicial override is no longer appropriate, it realized we must value the voice of our jurors and trust their judgment. It does not make sense to continue to ignore the voices of the jurors who voted for life sentences in capital cases before 2017. We need to right this wrong, and retroactively correct the old judicial override verdicts. Likewise, everyone in this room knows that a life and death verdict is the most important decision that a jury in our state can make, Hall said. It only makes sense to listen to every voice on that jury, even those in disagreement to the majority, and enact a death sentence only in unanimous cases. Read more: A heart of gold: Family remembers Alabama woman as her killer faces execution Before the public hearing, House Judiciary Chair Jim Hill, R-Moody, announced that the committee would not vote on the bill. Hill noted that it is the committees standard procedure not to vote after public hearings but to wait until the next meeting. That means the bill remains in the committee, and with only six meeting days left in the Legislatures annual session, all but assures that the bill cannot pass during the session. Rep. Penni McClammy, D-Montgomery, urged Hill to allow a vote after the hearing, pointing out that the issues discussed by the speakers were not new to lawmakers. Hill declined to allow a vote and noted that some bills take years to pass. After the meeting, England said he believes the public hearing on the issues still served a good purpose. Even if the bill doesnt pass, the conversation is extremely important, England said. Because in order to get rid of judicial override, it took years of that conversation happening over and over and over again before we made the realization that its fundamentally unjust to allow one person to override a jurys recommendation. All these things have to happen. There are steps to it. And this is just one of those steps. A copy of the letter Brian Laundries mother allegedly instructed him to burn after reading has been given to the parents of his late fiancee, Gabby Petito, whom the FBI says Laundrie admitted to killing before his own death in 2021. A Florida judge ruled the undated letter written by Roberta Laundrie can be included as evidence in the Petitos civil lawsuit against the Laundries and their lawyer, according to local news station WFLA, which obtained a copy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing will or could ever divide us no matter what we do, or where we go or what we say we will always love each other, the letter reportedly reads. If youre in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. The letter was reportedly inside an envelope with burn after reading written on it. The Laundries lawyer claims the FBI already had the letter when authorities discovered Laundries remains in a Florida park in October 2021. The Petitos lawyer contends the letter was found with his body. Petito, who was from Long Island, disappeared during a 2021 cross-country road trip with Laundrie, who returned to Florida alone. She died of homicide by manual strangulation, according to a coroner, while Laundrie died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities say they recovered a notebook in which Laundrie allegedly confessed to killing Petito, whose body was found in September 2021 in a Wyoming national park. Roberta Laundrie claimed in March the letter was not related to Petitos death but rather an attempt to repair a strained relationship with her son. She claimed burn after reading referenced a book she and Brian read during his childhood. There were some other phrases that I used in the letter, which are not found in the books I shared with Brian as a child, Roberta Laundrie said at the time. However, these phrases are common enough in our circle of friends and family, to describe who you could turn to in the most troubling times of your life. On Wednesday, she reiterated the claim she wrote the letter before Petito and Laundries road trip. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A little history first. Rankin Fite, a lawyer in Hamilton who served in the Alabama House and Senate, made the first 911 call in the nation at 2 p.m. on Feb. 16, 1968 from the mayors office in Haleyville, Alabama. Now in more recent news going down in Alabama: The Down in Alabama podcast is short and free. Listen to it by clicking on the player above or subscribe by looking for Down in Alabama on the device of your choosing. Get this and other AL.com newsletters here. You can find Down in Alabama in these places: Apple podcast page YouTube podcast page Spotify podcast page Alexa skill page on Amazon Amazon Music podcast page Ike Morgan on Facebook Ike Morgan on Twitter The Alabama House of Representatives has passed a bill to provide a one-time rebate to people who filed a state income tax last year. The bill would provide a rebate of $210 to individual taxpayers and $420 to married couples filing jointly. Its a revised version of Gov. Kay Iveys proposal for a $400 rebate for individuals and $800 for couples. The rebates would be paid from a $2.8 billion surplus in the education budget. The surplus is available because revenues to the Education Trust Fund exceeded spending during the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. The rebates would use $546 million of the surplus. The bill, HB175, is sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, chair of the House education budget committee. Garrett said Alabama residents who filed a tax return for 2021 before Oct. 17, 2022 would receive the rebate, a total of 1.9 million taxpayers. Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Livingston, said some retirees and others who do not file a state income tax return are among those who need the rebate the most. On the other hand, many who do not need the rebate will receive it, McCampbell said. Its not going to change my life, McCampbell said. But for that person that may be living from day-to-day on nothing but a Social Security retirement, that $210 or $420 will make a big difference. Garrett acknowledged that some of the most needy will not receive the rebate. I certainly understand your point, Garrett said. A rebate by definition is a return of something that somebody has paid. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said he would have preferred eligibility for the rebate to be based on a means test to better target those who most need the money. The House adopted an amendment by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Montgomery, that will delay the rebate payment to Nov. 30. Before that change, the bill said the payment would be made within 90 days of the bill becoming law. Ingram said the later date would allow the state to earn interest on the money and would mean that taxpayers will receive it during the holiday spending season. Ingram said that would make it more likely they would spend the money in their own community or in the state. The bill passed by a vote of 101-0. The bill moves to the Senate, which had a bill for a smaller rebate, $105 for individuals and $210 for couples. An Indiana board is set to hear testimony Thursday that an Indianapolis doctor should face disciplinary action after she spoke publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from neighboring Ohio. The Medical Licensing Boards hearing comes after Indianas Republican attorney general accused Dr. Caitlin Bernard of violating state law by not reporting the girls child abuse to Indiana authorities. Shes also accused of breaking federal patient privacy laws by telling a newspaper reporter about the girls treatment. Bernard and her attorneys maintain that the doctor followed Indianas child abuse reporting requirements as the girls rape was already being investigated by Ohio authorities. Bernards lawyers also say she didnt release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws. The Indianapolis Star cited the girls case in a July 1 article that sparked a national political uproar in the weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, putting into effect an Ohio law that prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Some news outlets and Republican politicians falsely suggested Bernard fabricated the story, until a 27-year-old man was charged with the rape in Columbus, Ohio. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokitas complaint asked the licensing board to impose appropriate disciplinary action but doesnt specify a requested penalty. The Indiana board made up of six doctors and one attorney appointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb could vote whether to impose any penalties Thursday after hearing what is expected to be several hours of testimony. State law gives the board wide latitude, allowing it to issue reprimand letters or suspend, revoke or place on probation a doctors license. Amid the wave of attention to the girls case last summer, Rokita, who is stridently anti-abortion, told Fox News he would investigate Bernards actions, calling her an abortion activist acting as a doctor. This case is about two things and two things only patient privacy and this doctors failure to protect this child, he said in a statement this week. Ohios law imposing a near-ban on abortion was in effect for about two months before being put on hold as a lawsuit against it plays out. Bernard unsuccessfully tried to block Rokitas investigation last fall, although an Indianapolis judge wrote that Rokita made clearly unlawful breaches of state confidentiality laws with his public comments about investigating the doctor before filing the medical licensing complaint against her. Bernard lawyer Kathleen DeLaney has called the complaint against the doctor baseless attacks done at taxpayer expense. Rokitas actions set a dangerous precedent imperiling the provision of lawful patient care, DeLaney has said. The Cobb County, Georgias District Attorneys Office has decided not to retry Ross Harris for murder in the tragic case in which he left his 22-month-old son, Cooper, to die in his hot SUV. The decision was approved Thursday by Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert Leonard. The reason given by prosecutors was a ruling last year by the Georgia Supreme Court which overturned Harriss murder conviction and which limited evidence in the states case. Harriss case attracted international attention. Initially seen as a sad, sympathetic father, he drew scorn upon revelations he was a serial philanderer who sent graphic photos of his privates to teenagers. Harris is a native of Tuscaloosa. Ross has always accepted the moral responsibility for Coopers death, his lawyers, Maddox Kilgore, Carlos Rodriguez and Bryan Lumpkin, said in a statement. But after all these years of investigation and review, this dismissal of charges confirms that Coopers death was unintentional and therefore not a crime. The attorneys thanked KidsAndCars.org and others for their work preventing hot car deaths. Their guidance helped us understand how Coopers death tragically fits the pattern of how children are unintentionally left in cars, the statement said. The Cobb DAs office said in a statement that over the past 11 months it conducted a thorough review of the case file. Crucial motive evidence that was admitted at the first trial in 2016 is no longer available to the state due to the majority decision of the Supreme Court, it said. Therefore, after much thought and deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to not retry Justin Ross Harris on the reversed counts of the indictment. Cooper will always be remembered by this office and those who fought for him. Lead prosecutor Chuck Boring, who is no longer at the Cobb DAs office, decried the decision and said DA Flynn Broady never reached out to him or the prosecution team that tried the case. This decision, without any notice to those most knowledgeable and involved in the case from practically day one of the investigation, is a disservice, Boring said. He simply dismisses the charges with no accountability even though everyone, including the Georgia Supreme Court, has stated that the evidence is there. The DAs decision does not mean Harris imminent release from prison. He still stands convicted of exchanging graphic text messages with an underage girl, for which he was sentenced to 12 years. He has been in custody since 2014. Harris was separately indicted in March 2016 for possessing lewd photographs of two underage girls, sending nude photos of himself to those girls and engaging in sexually explicit chats. But the DAs office has similarly decided not to try Harris on those charges. A court document also signed by Leonard on Thursday said the case was no longer being pursued at the request, or due to the unavailability, of the alleged victim. On June 18, 2014, Harris left home with Cooper to drop him off at day care before going to work at Home Depot. They stopped to eat breakfast at a Chick-fil-A. But Harris later told police he forgot to drop off Cooper and mistakenly left him in his rear-facing car seat in the back seat of his SUV in the company parking lot. Within hours, Cooper died from heat stroke. Harris told police he realized his mistake when, driving away from work, he noticed his dead son in his car seat. Harriss case attracted so much publicity the trial was transferred to Glynn County, where he convicted of murder. Superior Court Judge Mary Staley Clark later sentenced Harris to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But in a 6-3 decision almost a year ago, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the murder conviction, saying Harris did not receive a fair trial because days of testimony detailing his extramarital sexual relationships should not have been allowed. The state convincingly demonstrated that (Harris) was a philanderer, a pervert and even a sexual predator, Chief Justice David Nahmias wrote. This evidence did little if anything to answer the key question of (Harris) intent when he walked away from Cooper. But it likely led jurors to conclude Harris was the kind of person who who would engage in other morally repulsive conduct (like leaving his child to die painfully in a hot car) and who deserved punishment, even if the jurors were not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he purposefully killed Cooper, Nahmias wrote. Harriss attorneys said that during the nine years they represented him, they learned tragic hot car deaths often happen while the child is in the care of a loving parent. Ross was no different, their statement said. He deeply loved Cooper. Ross is no doubt relieved at the dismissal of the charges against him, but he is also thankful that todays dismissal may begin to restore Coopers legacy as a child much loved by his parents. Staff writer Alexis Stevens contributed to this story. 2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In the Pacific Ocean, a group of divers has uncovered the remains of a US Navy warship that was lost during World War II by a kamikaze aircraft. The USS Mannert L. Abele On April 12, 1945, while conducting operations off the northern coast of the Japanese island of Okinawa, the USS Mannert L. Abele found itself surrounded by hostile planes, according to a news release issued this week by the Naval History and Heritage Command. According to NBC News, the command reported that after the Sumner-class cruiser attacked and destroyed numerous enemy aircraft, one managed to fall close to it, breaching its side. One minute later, the plane was "at the waterline by a Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka." Based on the press release, the Ohka, also known as the "Cherry Blossom," was the first US warship to be sunk by a rocket-powered human-guided bomb, and its rapid bow and stern buckle were caused by the explosion. The Ohka was called one of the first cruise missiles. Its maximum speed during launch was 425 miles per hour. As four fighter planes took to the air, inshore Fire Support ships started rescuing the crew of the Abele from the attackers. Unfortunately, 84 servicemen were missing at sea. Command Director Samuel J. Cox, a retired US Navy rear admiral, stated that the finding of the ship offers closure to the families of the dead and gives them all another chance to remember and respect them. See Also: Navy Retirees Must Refund Nearly $7 Million After System Overpayment Error The Lost 52 Project The ship was discovered in December 2022 by the Lost 52 Project, an organization that looks for WWII-era Navy submarines and warships. According to a statement posted on their website, the Lost 52 Project confirmed that the ship was aiding Operation Iceberg, another name for the Battle of Okinawa. It also noted that the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the same day cast a gloom over the tragedy. About five weeks later, the US used atomic bombs to decimate the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In a statement, Tim Taylor, head of the Lost 52 Project, noted that the findings were "very emotive" for him since his father had gone "close to the same fate" when the USS Telfair was attacked by kamikazes. The command claimed to have officially recognized the Abele as a "sunken military craft protected by US law and under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy," as well as a war graveyard of sailors to be honored by everyone. There are still exploration missions set out to find US Navy ships that went missing during WWII. In February, the command located the USS Albacore submarine off the coast of Hokkaido. See Also: China-Taiwan Conflict: Why Did the US Send Navy Warships to Taiwan Strait? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Madison County authorities say more arrests are expecting following charges against a man who investigators say was sending and receiving images of child pornography. According to the Madison County Sheriffs Office, its criminal investigations division received an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. On Wednesday, county investigators along with the officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ALEA State Bureau of Investigation, Huntsville police and the Limestone County Sheriffs office executed multiple search warrants in Madison and Limestone Counties. During the searches, various images of child pornography were located, and numerous electronic devices were seized, authorities said. Mark John Robert White, 24, was arrested and charged with ten counts of possession with intent to disseminate child pornography. He is being held on $100,000. Convicted child killer Judith Ann Neelley was again denied parole Thursday for the slaying of a 13-year-old girl more than four decades ago. Neelleys case was before the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles on Thursday. Eight people testified at the hearing against parole for 59-year-old Neelley; no attorneys or advocates for Neelley spoke. The entire hearing lasted about 23 minutes and, after about three minutes of deliberation, the three-member board unanimously denied her parole. Like all Alabama prison inmates, Neelley was not allowed to be present at the hearing. One of the sisters and brother of the victim, Lisa Ann Millican, were among those who spoke against Neelleys release before the board announced their decision. She killed a child, said Tina Millican. Why keep going through this? Why keep putting families through this? Former District Attorney Mike ODell also testified, saying Neelley killed for simple sport and calling her evil and depraved. Lisa Ann Millican was abducted from a shopping mall in Rome, Ga., in September 1982 by Neelley and her husband, Alvin Neelley. Judith Ann Neelley was later found guilty of the rape and murder of Lisa. ODell detailed the crime to the board: After abducting the child, the Neelleys held 13-year-old Lisa captive, brutalized her and, according to court records, Alvin Neelley raped the girl several times. Three days after the abduction, Judith Ann Neelley handcuffed Lisa to a tree at Little River Canyon in Alabamas DeKalb County and used a needle and syringe to inject her six times with bleach and drain cleaner, causing excruciating pain. When that failed to kill the young girl, Judith Ann Neelley shot her and pushed her body into the canyon. After years of fighting for a shot at freedom, Neelley was first set for a parole hearing in May 2018. The board deliberated for just one minute before denying parole. Several spoke at the hearing then, too, including members of the victims family and ODell, who prosecuted Neelley. The denial of parole means Neelley will continue to serve her life sentence at Julia Tutwiler Prison. She will be up for parole again in May 2028. Lisa Ann Millican's sister-in-law Cassie Millican (left) and sister Tina Millican (right) speak about their relief that the parole board denied freedom to Judith Ann Neelley on May 25, 2023. (Ivana Hrynkiw | ihrynkiw@al.com) Even if Neelley had been granted parole by the board, she would not be free: Georgia has a detainer warrant pending for Neelley for a consecutive life sentence in a 1999 kidnapping case -- meaning that, if released from Tutwiler, authorities in Georgia would likely arrest Neelley and take her to a Georgia state prison. Neelleys case has been publicized in Alabama for years, not only because of the brutality of Lisa Ann Millicans killing, but because of how Neelley escaped death row. Neelley was originally sentenced to die, but her sentence was commuted to life in prison by former Alabama Gov. Fob James before he left office in 1999. But the former governors order didnt do what he planned, James said later. The order he authorized did not specify whether Neelley would be eligible for parole. The legislature changed state law in 2003 specifically to block Neelley from the possibility of parole, but a federal judge years later ruled that law unconstitutional. She is the only death row inmate in modern Alabama history to be granted commutation. Others who spoke at the Thursday parole hearing included victims advocates, members of local police and judicial agencies who investigated Neelleys crimes in both Alabama and Georgia, and a member of the Alabama Attorney Generals Office. Clay Crenshaw, with the AGs Office, handled Neelleys prior appeal in federal court. He said the legal team was awaiting an execution date for her when they received a poorly handwritten note from James announcing the commutation. I dont know how any governor can make a horrible mistake like that, he said about the issues that arose with Neelley being allowed a shot at parole. She should have been executed 20 years ago... she is pure evil. Also present at the hearing was Deborah Callahan, the daughter of another one of the Neelleys victims, Janice Chatman. Chatman, of Rome, Ga., was 22 when she was killed. Judith Ann Neelley pleaded guilty in that case and agreed to testify against her husband for the slaying; Alvin Neelley died in prison in Georgia in 2005. Callahan told the parole board through tears that she once read a story about how her mom screamed when she was shot, only referring to Neelley as this monster. I hope Judith Ann Neelley hears that holler every day. she said after the hearing. Callahan said she was okay with Neelley spending her life in Alabamas prison system and not being moved to Georgia. Earlier this week, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey expressed her feelings about Neelley in a letter to the parole board. The governor said she categorically and unequivocally opposed parole, and that Neelley shouldnt be allowed to leave Alabama prisons. It has been said that mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent, Ivey wrote, and I wholeheartedly agree. In her letter, Ivey called James commutation a mistake. One of Lisas former teachers, Cathy Carr, spoke to reporters outside the building where the hearing was held. She said Lisa, who was living in a group home in a small Georgia town at the time of her kidnapping, was a shy and sweet little girl. She had just started at the school where Carr taught after being placed there by the foster care system. She was just getting on her feet and starting to make friends, Carr said. (As) teachers, your students are your babies, she said. Shell always be my baby. A bill to add judges in counties with high caseloads, including Mobile and Baldwin counties, passed the Alabama House of Representatives Tuesday. The bill now heads to the desk of Gov. Kay Ivey for signature. We desperately need judges in Baldwin County, State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Fairhope), a sponsor of the original Senate bill, said. This bill should give some relief to the legal system that has taken entirely too long. The bill, introduced by Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Hunstville) and whose sponsors include Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), would provide two additional circuit court judges and an additional district court judge in Baldwin County. An additional district court judge would be provided to Mobile County. Most of the judges provided for locally will be seated in 2025, after the 2024 elections; the second circuit court judge in Baldwin County will be seated in 2027. The bill passed the state Senate 33-0 and passed the House 102-0, with two abstentions. After residents of Mobiles historic districts took to social media to complain about two historic homes being moved in the Old Dauphin Way Historic District, city officials said the move has been halted at least for now. The proper permits for moving the houses need to be obtained first, officials said. The houses, 918 and 920 Conti Street, are owned by a non-profit called Historic Restoration Society, Inc, property records show. A Facebook post indicates that the two homes are slated to be moved to Frisco City, about 80 miles north of Mobile. Officials with the nonprofit could not be reached to confirm. Im so very sad to hear that these historic Mobile homes are being moved to another city in Alabama 80 miles north, said Suzanne Sarver, who made the Facebook post about the move. Really feels like Mobile is loosing [sic] some of its history. City of Mobile spokesperson Jason Johnson says that, on Monday, the city was made aware of the activity going on at the two properties, and after an inspection, determined that the owner of the property had not secured the proper permits for the activity. The city then issued a stop work order. This is an opinion column. Movements are often launched by a moment, seismic change by a single calamity. Or crime. Three years ago, on this day, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, a father, a son, an uncle, and a man, died beneath the knee of Milwaukee police officer Derek Chauvin. Died as his neck was crushed. Died while calling for his mother. RELATED: After Chauvin conviction, we breathed again. Like George Floyd could not His death changed us. Some for the better, yanking the oblivious into the obviousinto the hell of police violence against Black people that too many for too long ignored. Too long shied away, shielded themselves, and into a cocoon that was shattered. Shattered on this day three years ago. It changed our consciousness. It released a reckoning (too short-lived as it may have been, but lets not dwell on that today. Not today). It made us matter. Not to all, alas. In some, Floyds death unleashed the worse, bless their stony hearts. Unleashed their hatred, their ignorance but lets not dwell on that today, either. Not today. Today, lets memorialize the moments of this day and ponder the movements they inspired. RELATED: 10 months after George Floyds death, Black men still grieve. Throughout World Wars I and II, the Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company in Mobile was a vital stalwart, producing and servicing U.S. Naval ships deployed in the efforts. At one juncture, it was the citys largest employer, although, until 1941, all its workers were white. That year, it began hiring Blacks. Although the African Americans were placed in low-wage unskilled gigs, their presence still irked many white workers. The hirings were sparked by President Franklin Roosevelts Executive Order 8802, issued on June 25, 1941, in response to demands from the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters President A. Philip Randolph, an iconic labor leader, and other Black leaders, to stop discrimination in the defense industry. After meetings with the president, his wife Eleanor, and members of the cabinet, the order declared, There shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries and government, because of race, creed, color, or national origin. It was the first presidential order on race/racism in decadesthe first since Reconstruction. By 1943, 7,000 of Alabama Drydock and Shipbuildings 50,000 employees were Black. Then, on this day that year, all hell broke loose. On this day, on May 25, 1943, just after the company promoted 12 just 12! Black workers to welder, a position previously reserved for whites, a reported 4,000 white employees and locals began attacking any Black employee they saw, beating them with pipes and anything else they could weaponize. The Black welders had just completed their first shift with the attacks began. Two Black men were thrown into the Mobile River, others leaped in to save themselves. The National Guard diffused the mob after more than 50 Blacks were severely hurt. No one, thankfully, was killed. Eventually, the company created four segregated shipyards. On the all-Black yards, Blacks could work in any role except foreman. Except boss. The attack, that moment, inspired similar violence in other industries and eventually sparked, some believe, another moment that changed us. It inspired efforts to desegregate other areas of life, including restaurants, theaters, and public transportation. Just over a decade later, in 1955, a woman refused to leave her seat on a but in Montgomery. Another moment that lifted a movement. In 1963, two decades after Black shipyard workers in Mobile were attacked, after Black men there were attacked for simply trying to work, after Black men had to leap overboard to save their lives a Klan bombing in Birmingham that stole young lives, firehouses were aimed at young Black boys and girls who just wanted to shop, and eat, and have a side where they chose. So many moments so many calamities, so many crimes changed us, ignited us. A year later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed, ending legal segregation in public facilities. And yet we still must move. We still need movements. I dont the names of any of the Black workers, the Black men who feared for their lives on the Mobile shipyard 80 years ago. Havent seen them recorded anywhere. (If one of them was your relative, please let me know; if youre related to one of the white workers who worked on the shipyard that day, Id love to know that, too.) Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding all but died in the 1970s, imploding beneath changing times and lingering labor matters. In 2018, it had fewer than a dozen employees when it was acquired by a group of new investors. Last year, the U.S. Navy Ship Comfort was docked in the shipyard as part of a $26 million dry-docking and overhaul. Earlier this month, the shipyard announced receiving a $718,244 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of its $20.8 million Shipyard Grant Program to support 27 facilities nationwide. Alabama Shipyard LLC said it will match the funds and use the $1.5 million total to purchase air compressor systems and fire suppression pumps. Today, I think about the Black men who were there. Who were there simply trying to liveand who may, in a moment of fear, have inspired a movement. More columns by Roy S. Johnson United Methodist member recalls effort in 1970s to merge Black and white congregations Instead of forcing kids to hear the Star-Spanged Banner, they should study it Questioning parenting after youth violence is real, but does not absolve lawmaker inaction Why are our Black children shooting our Black children? Tell me why, Republicans; or do silence and gun deaths speak for you? I got it wrong; Republicans actually do want us to vote Im a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary and winner of the Edward R. Murrow prize for podcasts: Unjustifiable, co-hosted with John Archibald. My column appears in AL.com, as well as the Lede. Stay tuned for my upcoming limited series podcast Panther: Blueprint for Black Power, co-hosted with Eunice Elliott. Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, The Barbershop, here. Reach me at rjohnson@al.com, follow me at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj Sign up for Roy S. Johnsons newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to Roys weekly newsletter, The Barbershop: This is an opinion column. This is getting ridiculous. I really dont care how you feel about transgender men and women. Or children. Your feelings are your prerogative. You are free to feel what you feel, for whatever reason. Do we truly, though, want to be a nation that attacks trans youth? A nation that shames them? That threatens to jail them for seeing a physician or going to the bathroom, for goodness sake? In Mississippi last week U.S. District Judge (and Trump appointee) Taylor McNeal ruled the Harrison County School District could bar a girl from attending her commencement ceremony unless she wore clothing required for boys (white button-down shirt, black dress pants, and black tie) at graduation. In accordance with the schools attire policy for girls, the teenager, identified as L.B. in court papers, wanted to wear a dress and heels under her graduation robe, CNN reported. Mind you, the youth, according to court filings, attended school as transgender since her freshman year and said her gender was openly known to classmates, teachers, and administrators. Speaking with the network (which did not use her full name at the parents request, citing privacy and safety), the girl said she recently wore a blue dress to the prom with no backlash from the school. I was being me, and I felt very accepted at the time, she told CNN. I felt very understood. I felt that I had a great support system at that school. The school said there is a different dress code for graduation (the student and a parent signed the graduation policy in March) than for the school year. Rather than abide by the policy, the teen chose not to attend the ceremony. In February, Mississippi joined seven other states including Alabama banning medical treatments (puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and trans-related surgery) for minors. RELATED: Look at what weve done, Alabama: Alabama doc tempted to break law for patients RELATED: Alabama trans teen: Trans medical bill makes me mad; its like locking up a baby for wanting to be a baby Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (and officially wannabe transphobe-in-chief) signed a bill making it law to arrest trans people for using public restrooms, no matter which one they use. This year, lawmakers across the nation have passed 73 anti-trans bills (549 were proposed), according to the Trans Legislation Tracker website. Sixty-three of those are now law. The others await a governors signature or veto. In 2022, by contrast, 26 such bills were passed (174 were proposed). RELATED: Trans youth medical bans: Did Good Lord make Gov. Ivey a bully? Most Americans (54 percent) oppose laws targeting the LBGTQ+ community, according to a PBS NewsHour/NPR Marist poll conducted in March, though the support for such restrictions is growing. Forty-three percent of those polled support criminalizing providing gender-transition medical care to minors, 15 percent higher than a year prior. Whats behind our swelling bigotry? Ignorance? Fear? Both, and more? Tate Reeves, Mississippis Republican governor sirens: There is a dangerous movement spreading across America today. Aint that the truth; its staring at him in the mirror. And at us, America. That is what we are increasingly becomingdangerous. Dangerous for that very small segment of America that is simply trying to figure out their lives, their sexuality. To live their livesjust like you. No matter how you feel about it. Is this who we want to betransphobic America? Especially towards our youth, whom we are supposed to be protecting, empowering, and inspiring? We have to do better as a community, as a country, as a state, as a city, as a county, we have to do better, the Mississippi teenager told CNN. Unless, of course, we dont want to be better. We just want to be ridiculously mean. More columns by Roy S. Johnson Through faith, former Birmingham news anchor finds unlikely new season as an actor United Methodist member recalls effort in 1970s to merge Black and white congregations Instead of forcing kids to hear the Star-Spanged Banner, they should study it Questioning parenting after youth violence is real, but does not absolve lawmaker inaction Im a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary and winner of the Edward R. Murrow prize for podcasts: Unjustifiable, co-hosted with John Archibald. My column appears in AL.com, as well as the Lede. Stay tuned for my upcoming limited series podcast Panther: Blueprint for Black Power, co-hosted with Eunice Elliott. Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, The Barbershop, here. Reach me at rjohnson@al.com, follow me at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj Sen. Tommy Tubervilles hold on Defense Department nominees will include President Bidens pick to replace Gen. Mark Milley as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A spokesman for the Alabama senator told NBC News that Tubervilles hold on more than 180 military nominations applies to all two-star [generals and admirals] and above. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a four-star general or admiral and is the most senior military official. Milley is retiring in October. On Thursday, Biden announced his nomination of Air Force Chief of Staff CQ Brown Jr. for chairman of the joint chiefs. Tuberville has placed holds on more than 180 military nominees over new Defense Department policies expanding abortion access. Alabamas senior senator has claimed the policies are unlawful and that only Congress has the authority to make those policies, which allow service members to request administrative absence for non-covered reproductive health services, including elective abortions and IVF, for themselves or to accompany their partners. The policies also provide transportation allowances to travel to states where reproductive care is more expansive. West Virginia authorities said they have arrested a 7-year-old who they say started a fire in the home while his or her parents were sleeping. According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, the event happened on Wednesday at about 11 a.m. While the parents are inside, sleeping, the child is accused of purposefully setting the fire. The child's parents sustained minor burn wounds but are anticipated to recover fully. A first-degree arson accusation is pending against the minor, who is now in detention. Investigators have not revealed the precise grounds for the allegations, Fox News reported. Due to the case's sensitivity, the sheriff's office would not provide any specifics regarding the child's imprisonment. The magnitude of the tragedy is seen in a picture that authorities posted showing the house entirely in flames, per Daily Mail. Read Also: California Library Book Returned After Roughly 100 Years Prayers For The Family The laws governing juvenile arrests vary from state to state, including West Virginia, where a citation or criminal complaint may make accusations against minors. New York passed a law in 2022 banning the detention and prosecution of children under 12 for most offenses. Although child arrests are not unusual in the United States, over 700 children who were detained at US elementary schools in the 2017-2018 school year have drawn attention to the problem, according to CBS News. Online users have responded differently to the Jackson County WV Sheriff's Department's social media posts about this occurrence. Given Jackson County's tiny population, several criticized the agency for posting the information on social media, calling it immoral. Meanwhile, others expressed their sympathy and called for prayers for the child and their family during this challenging time. User Margery Richards commented, "That poor child, I bet he's scared to death not understanding what's going on. Prayers for him and his family." Related Article: Japan Knife Attack Update @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. English News Digital technologies expand China's foreign trade Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 22 Mai 2023 Experts believe that the implementation of the Digital Silk Road will promote the development of cross-border e-commerce and is conducive to making employment more diversified and flexible in relevant countries. By Wu Huimin China's consumption scenarios of foreign trade have been constantly widened thanks to the development of digital technologies, such as AI-assisted real-time translation, remote equipment trouble-shooting and traceable technology in production, packaging, shipping and sales processes. Experts believe that digital trade, as a new form in the trade sector, is expanding new space for foreign trade upgrading In an exhibition area of an intelligent international freight system of Cainiao, the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, a batch of digital services is displayed. Visitors can get a clear path of an express parcel from China to its overseas destination by just typing a few parameters into the system. All important logistics nodes are marked along the path on the screen. An employee of Cainiao told People's Daily that with this system, every logistics link has become traceable, from domestic warehouses to ports and overseas warehouses, and in end-range delivery. The 133rd China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, was recently held in south China's Guangdong province. Apart from arranging offline booths, many exhibitors also set up live broadcasts in the venue, interacting with their clients via livestreaming. "We have opened online business on international trade sites including Alibaba, and promoted our operations on overseas social media platforms. Thanks to these efforts, our business is constantly expanding," said Wang Li, founder of exhibitor Shenzhen Maiqijia Home Co., Ltd., an early player in the e-commerce sector. Over recent years, digital technologies have opened up new arenas, constantly contributing to the high-quality development of China's foreign trade. Sun Yuning, vice minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, noted that cross-border e-commerce has become a new engine of the country's foreign trade development and an important part of China's high-quality development, with its volume doubling from 1 trillion yuan ($142.12 billion) in 2018 to 2.11 trillion yuan in 2022. While expanding its volume, the sector has also witnessed a huge improvement in its quality, with more and more commodities manufactured in China entering the global consumer market through cross-border e-commerce, Sun added. Regions across China are actively engaging in the development of digital technologies, embracing new business forms of foreign trade. Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang province has built an AI innovative development pilot zone, a national financial technology innovation and development pilot zone and a world-class demonstration center for cross-border e-commerce. Jiangsu province, which neighbors Zhejiang, launched measures to promote digital trade, vowing to establish a digital trade sector for its international trade single-window system and build a statistical system for digital trade. Today, more and more foreign products are entering Chinese families thanks to the application of digital technologies. A number of ambassadors, consuls and counselors to China have joined livestream marketing activities in the country since 2020, recommending products from their countries to Chinese consumers. The transformation and upgrading of China's foreign trade not only benefits the country itself, but also brings opportunities to the rest of the world. So far, China has signed the Digital Silk Road memorandums of understanding for cooperation with over 10 countries and advanced the Silk Road E-commerce bilateral cooperation mechanism with more than 20 countries. This indicates the deepening cooperation on digital trade between China and other countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative. China is the world's largest market of digital consumption. The digital economy has profoundly changed the ways of work and life of the Chinese people, and introduced new visions to the rest of the world. Experts believe that the implementation of the Digital Silk Road will promote the development of cross-border e-commerce and is conducive to making employment more diversified and flexible in relevant countries. China's development in digital trade has brought dividends to many countries around the world. More and more countries are expecting to cooperate with China in the sector. An official with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) noted that China enjoys huge potential in e-commerce development, and cross-border e-commerce is able to further improve the openness and inclusiveness of the market. The SCO hopes to strengthen cooperation among its members, especially in the fields of e-commerce and digital economy, by sharing China's practical experiences, the official added. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Mines on Ningxia's Helan Mountain turn green, contribute to better ecology China's foreign trade sector strives for steady, high-quality growth Hainan works to promote high-level opening-up Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) New York, New York, the city that never sleeps may be in trouble when it comes to staying afloat, literally. The buildings that make the city's skyline breathtaking are also causing it to sink further, along with the contributing factor of climate change. The Famous City is Sinking New York City is not called a concrete jungle for no reason. It has over a million buildings atop it and continues to gain more as time goes by. A study from research geophysicist Tom Parsons says that NYC is sinking from all the weight on the buildings. A researcher from the US Geological Survey, Parsons stated that New York has seen a couple of major hurricane events with both Ida and Sandy. The heavy rainfall has subjected the city to inundation, which has been worsened by the effects of urbanization. "We're a ways off from the ocean simply moving in," says the study author. At the time of the research, New York City had 1,084,954 buildings across five boroughs, as mentioned in CNN, which collectively weighed about 1.68 trillion pounds. The researchers conducted simulations to determine the effects of the buildings' weight on the ground, factoring in satellite data that shows its actual surface geology. The results show that the city is submerged at the average rate of one to two millimeters a year. Some areas have a higher rate of sinking at four and a half millimeters a year. The process is also hastened by the fact that the city's sea level has been rising two times faster than the global rate, which ranges between eight inches to 30 inches by 2050. According to reports, areas like Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn are among the ones that are sinking faster than the average. At this rate, it could be the subsidence that causes the increase in flooding threat rather than the rising sea level. However, the researchers also clarified that the subsidence is not solely due to the weight of the buildings. Some are due to constructions on soft soils and artificial fills. Others are due to glacial relaxation or groundwater pumping. There are also cases of sinking that cannot be explained. New York City is not the only place that is threatened by subsidence. Cities both inland and coastal have shown signs of it that its city officials are alarmed and already plan to take action. Jakarta, for instance, plans to build a whole new city because of the threat. Read Also: Venice's Renowned Canals are Drying Up Due to Climate Change Another City Sinking Another famous city in the world is at threat of being swallowed by water as well. Studies show that Venice, known for its canals and gondolas, may be underwater by 2100 due to the continuous flooding and sinking of its buildings. One of its worst floods submerged around 80% of the city underwater, resulting in damages that cost around 1 billion, according to BBC. The mentioned flood reached a peak of 6.1 ft above sea level, and it may continue to get worse due to climate change. Related: Greenpeace Reports Significant Effect of Europe's Private Jets on Climate Change G7 a hegemonic clique undermining international order, trampling on equity, justice 09:40, May 25, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily The Group of Seven (G7) Hiroshima Summit ended amid protests on May 21. Despite its vows to build a "peaceful, stable and prosperous world" and uphold "international order based on the rule of law," the summit did nothing to tackle global challenges. On the contrary, it arbitrarily interfered in other countries' domestic affairs and provoked divide and confrontation. A joint statement was released after the meeting, which hyped a series of China-related topics, slandered and attacked China, grossly violated China's domestic affairs and blatantly challenged the post-war international order. This seriously violated the basic norms governing international relations and fully proved that the G7 has become a tool that protects the hegemony of the United States. The Western clique is growing into a source of risks against world peace and stability, and a saboteur of the international order. The erroneous remarks made by the G7 on the Taiwan question provided evidence of the group challenging post-war international order. Taiwan is China's Taiwan. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese. The one-China principle is what underpins peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The G7 always stresses the importance of respecting other countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity when speaking of the Ukraine crisis. However, it says nothing about the need to oppose "Taiwan independence" though it keeps emphasizing cross-Strait peace. Such double standards in effect constitute connivance and support for "Taiwan independence" forces, and will never lead the group to good results. Over the recent years, the United States has followed the salami tactics on the Taiwan question, distorting, manipulating, fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle. Some high-ranking U.S. officials even claimed that the Taiwan question is not China's domestic affair. The G7 Hiroshima Summit propagated that the Taiwan question exerts important impacts on the security and prosperity of the world, which fully proves that the G7 is reduced to an accomplice of the United States to "contain China with Taiwan," and standing on the opposite side of the post-war international order. The G7 talks like a parrot when it comes to issues related to the East China Sea, the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, spreading lies fabricated by the United States and trying to smear China with the so-called "economic coercion." Its ultimate goal is to tarnish China's image and peddle the "China threat" theory. Despite the chaotic governance and poor human rights records of its own members, the G7 is always interfering in China's domestic affairs, such as issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, in the name of "democracy" and "human rights." This only reveals the group's hypocrisy and hegemony. The East China Sea and the South China Sea have remained overall stable. The G7, using maritime issues to drive a wedge between regional countries, is indeed posing risks for the stability in the region. The United States, which resorts to illegal unilateral sanctions, long-arm jurisdiction, decoupling, breakage of supply and industrial chains, and politicizing and weaponizing economic and trade ties, is indeed the origin and expert of "economic coercion." The G7 is completely doing the United States' bidding as an accomplice of "economic coercion." U.S. hegemony is seen in every word in the joint statement released after the G7 Hiroshima Summit. The summit, which was a political farce, indicated that the United States is trying to turn its tactic of denigrating and containing China into a consensus of the G7. Protectors of justice around the world are highly alert to hegemonic countries doubling down efforts to provoke bloc confrontation, sabotage the international order and undermine peace and stability with their cliques. The international community will not accept the "Western rules" dominated by the G7 and drawing ideological and value lines, nor will it tolerate the West's lecturing. Some said the G7 has become a "political group" that is manipulated by the United States and cannot represent the whole world, and the decisions made by the group are totally politics-oriented and aimed at seeking political and economic interests for the United States at the expense of other countries' interests. Some said such a political group that hinders the development of other countries should be eliminated by history. These voices of justice exactly mirror the true attitude of most countries in the world toward the G7, a group that goes against the trend of history. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined a press conference in Hiroshima on the day the G7 summit concluded, which attracted high attention. He listed the moral, power-related and practical injustices faced by developing countries. "In our multipolar world, as geopolitical divisions grow, no country or group of countries can stand by as billions of people struggle with the basics of food, water, education, healthcare, and jobs," he said, adding that "Here in Hiroshima, it's time to demonstrate global leadership and global solidarity." His remarks represented the requests raised by the developing world for the G7, the "rich country club." However, the G7 turned a deaf ear to the remarks though it was trying to rope in developing countries. On the contrary, it kept undermining international order and trampling on equity and justice, which disappointed developing countries. American political scientist Parag Khanna believes that the G7 is no longer qualified for coordinating global issues and its summit was meaningless. Gone are the days when a handful of Western countries can just willfully meddle in other countries' internal affairs and manipulate global affairs. When the international community, especially the developing world, is gaining an increasing awareness for strategic independence, the G7 will only be further isolated if it continues assisting the United States to pursue hegemony. The G7 needs to reflect on its behavior, rather than continuing its wanton act. Only by stopping forming closed and exclusive small circles, stopping containing and oppressing other countries, stopping provoking bloc confrontation and returning to the right track of dialogue and cooperation, can the group avoid becoming a stumbling block for world peace, stability and development and avoid being eliminated by the trend of the times. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Samsung's next Galaxy Watch will have a rotating bezel. The next smartwatch offering from the Korean tech giant, the Galaxy Smartwatch 6, will allegedly feature a rotating bezel once more, bringing back a much-beloved feature from the smartwatch lineup. Samsung previously decided to remove the rotating bezel from its latest smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 5, in exchange for a longer battery life, per a 2022 SamMobile report. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Design Details Samsung took a different approach with its Galaxy Watch 5 smartwatch. While it retained many of the features its predecessors showcased, the company decided to remove the rotating bezel for an enhanced design and a longer battery life, per Android Police. According to an Aug. 2022 Tech Crunch article, Samsung allegedly sacrificed the rotating bezel - a Galaxy Watch staple since the first of its kind - for a sleeker design. Whatever the case is, some want Samsung to re-add the removed feature to their smartwatches. It would seem that Samsung listened to its customers; information from @OnLeaks and MySmartPrice revealed that Samsung would do just that and more for the Classic and Pro versions of its Galaxy Watch 6 lineup. According to the leaks, which are CAD-based 3D renders of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, it will feature a rotating bezel, and its design is reminiscent of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Slightly thick bezels surround Its circular display, while the left edge is flush and the right houses the home and back buttons. Read More: New Rideshare App Has Drivers Who Carry Firearms SamMobile's report on the leak mentioned that the smartwatch's backside features hate rate and PPG (Photoplethysmography) sensors. The images also show that the smartwatch would have a magnetic loop strap attached, meaning users could purchase the Galaxy Watch 6 with a different-colored strap. Other features that Samsung Galaxy Watch fans should look forward to include a 1.47-inch Super AMOLED display with 470x470 pixel resolution (bigger than the Watch 5 Pro) and a larger battery than the Galaxy Watch 5. The leak reveals that the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic might come equipped with a 425mAh battery, a significant improvement over the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's 361mAh battery. Finally, the watch could feature a barometer, body composition analysis, ECG, gyro, heart rate sensor, GPS, and more. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Release Date Based on @OnLeaks' information, Samsung could introduce its Galaxy Watch 6 smartwatch lineup later in 2023 at the upcoming Unpacked 2023 event. They mentioned that Samsung would reveal the smartwatch to the world alongside its foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the Galaxy Tab S9 series. Unfortunately, @Onleaks was unable to confirm the smartwatch's launch details. Nevertheless, the laker's credibility is good, as Android Authority noted; there could be some truth to their leaks and revelation, at the very least. Samsung's upcoming Unpacked event is rumored to take place within the final week of July, then when exactly and at what time is still up for debate. Related Article: Samsung Announces 2 Galaxy S23 Tactical Edition Smartphones Not so long ago, America had a great economy, the lowest unemployment ever for a range of demographic groups, energy independence, an increasingly secure southern border, a strong international profile, and no new wars. It had freedom. It had national pride. And all because it had a highly skilled president of unabashed patriotism who was devoted to the best interests of his people. Now were being readied to eat bugs while our overlords dine on steaks. To live in fifteen-minute cities while they fly to conferences in Fiji. To tighten our belts to prevent rising sea levels while they luxuriate in sea-level mansions in Malibu and Marthas Vineyard. In a direct challenge to parental authority, common-sense values, and sensible pedagogical priorities, government schools indoctrinate children in Critical Race Theory and transgender ideology. To shatter our sense of security and restrict our freedom of movement, Soros prosecutors turn major cities over to violent felons. Patriots rot in jail for meandering around the Congress for a couple of hours two years ago while young people are encouraged by their teachers to celebrate Antifa and BLM thugs who have burned houses down. Blacks who love liberty are smeared as white supremacists while Muslims who love jihad are depicted as virtuous victims. Then theres what happened during the pandemic. Churchgoing was banned, violent street protests permitted. Small businesses were forced to close and went bankrupt; giant chain stores stayed open and reaped record profits. Americans, but not illegal immigrants, were ordered to mask and vaccinate. Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi, with imperial condescension, violated their own lockdowns. In this new world order, our democracy means the tyranny of the unelected (including the FBI, CIA, DHS, and DoJ), propped up by a Pravda-like corporate media. Their message? If we want to be known as supporters of equality, models of compassion, and friends of the planet, well knuckle under, obey them, and parrot their progressive creed -- as spelled out in that chilling Independence Hall speech in which Joe Biden, against a Bismarckian blood-red backdrop, demonized MAGA voters as enemies of freedom. Of course, this dystopia in the making didnt begin with Biden. Its a carry-over from the Obama years, interrupted by that Belle Epoque, the Trump interregnum. To understand the crisis of the Biden administration, observes Daniel Greenfield, we have to go back to its origins in the Obama administration. This statement appears in Greenfields introduction to an engaging and definitive new collection of essays, Barack Obamas True Legacy. How He Transformed America, which, under the editorship of Jamie Glazov, does precisely that: it ponders Obama and his appalling presidential tenure from a number of angles, and in doing so gives us what seems to me the most comprehensive and penetrating account yet of who Obama really is, what he did to America, and why. Political scientist John Drew recalls the Obama whom he met in 1980 when they were both students dreaming of Communist revolution. At first glance, Obama struck Drew as a child of wealth and privilege: he carried himself with the dignity and poise of a model, he talked like a white guy, he came off like a foreign prince visiting the United States. Drew also thought Obama was gay -- an impression later confirmed, sort of, by a letter in which Obama wrote: I make love to men daily, but in the imagination. Politically, soon enough, both Drew and Obama shifted to a more practical view, deciding that politics, not revolution, was the preferred route to socialism; Drew eventually left the Left entirely, but, as we know, alas, Obama did not. New Zealand author and filmmaker Trevor Loudon also reaches some distance into the past, tracing Obamacare to the 1930s, when Quentin Young, a young Communist doctor in Chicago, first began thinking about socialized medicine. In the 1990s he advised Hillary Clinton on health care; later still (he lived until 1992), he collaborated with Bernie Sanders and Ted Kennedy. As it happens, Young shared his medical practice for two decades with Obamas personal physician, David Scheiner, and was present at the meeting, hosted by former terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, at which it was announced that Obama, also present, would be running for Congress. Along the way, he played a huge role in shaping Obamas views on health-care coverage. Glazovs book includes several contributions on Islam and the Middle East. Highlighting Obamas hideous 2012 statement at the UN criticizing those who slander the prophet of Islam, counterintelligence expert Stephen C. Coughlin recounts the Obama Administrations purging of counterterrorism pros (largely in response to pressure from terrorist-linked CAIR) and reports that Muslims at DHS, founded to combat Islamic terrorism, shifted its focus 180 to target Islamophobes -- that is, American patriots who dare to worry about terrorism. In other essays, former Knesset member Dov Lipman corrects historical inaccuracies about Israel in Obamas memoir A Promised Land, and Greenfield and Clare M. Lopez supply cogent takes on Obamas treachery toward Israel and championing of the Muslim Brotherhood. Then theres Raymond Ibrahim on Obamas abominable treatment of Middle East Christians: his refusal to use U.S. leverage on their behalf, his resistance to Capitol Hill pressure to address religious freedom, his prioritizing of Muslim over Christian refugees, and his denial that Muslim-on-Christian violence in Nigeria had a religious basis. (Ibrahim quotes Newt Gingrich: This is an administration that never seems to find a good enough excuse to help Christians, but always finds an excuse to apologize for terrorists.) And in three trenchant pieces, Robert Spencer studies Obamas refusal to label the Fort Hood massacre as a terrorist act (thus denying certain benefits to victims and their families), his insistence that the Islamic State had nothing to do with Islam, and his attitude, at the time of the Iran deal, that the side that needed to show a good faith commitment to peace was not Iran, but the United States. There are two strong items on immigration: Loudon considers Obamas desire to bestow citizenship on millions of illegals, and Matthew Vadum ponders Obamas view that immigrationwas a right. And J.R. Nyquist tackles Obama and Russia, pointing out in his opening sentences that Obamas parents met in a Russian-language class. Why, he wonders, were they there? We know they hated capitalism; did they love the USSR? Certainly, Obamas Russia policy, posits Nyquist, was exactly what one might expect from a president who was born of pro-Soviet parents and mentored by a likely KGB agent (i.e., Frank Marshall Davis). Nyquist also serves up a couple of fascinating anecdotes that, if true, would fill in a big piece of the Obama puzzle: in 1983, a Communist speaker at UC Irvine reportedly said that his fellow Reds were infiltrating the left wing of the Democratic Party; in the 1990s, American physicist Tom Fife claims to have encountered Obama at a social event in Moscow where the latter was described as being groomed by the Soviets to be Americas first black president. The closing pages of Barack Obamas True Legacy take us to the end of Obamas presidency and beyond. Greenfield reflects on the truly tragic way in which Obamas naked racial rhetoric transformed America from an essentially post-racial country into the present war-torn nation deeply divided by race. In three incisive essays, Joseph Klein indicts Obama for his persecution of General Michael Flynn (who, by the way, contributes a solid foreword to this book); argues that Obama should have been impeached for what Andrew McCarthy has rightly called his singular pattern of presidential lawlessness (which Klein catalogs at illuminating length); and details Obamas nefarious and unprecedented attempt, after his own presidency was over, to sabotage the legitimacy of his duly elected successor. When Donald Trump took the oath of office, most of us thought the Obama era was over. We were wrong. Our 44th president was still operating behind the scenes -- scheming with his old cronies to blunt Trumps effectiveness, to pack the media with lies about him, to keep the violent far-left wing of the Democratic Party in a constant state of anti-Trump outrage, to engineer his impeachment, and much more; and since Trumps departure from the White House, Obama has, at the very least, been one of those who have been pulling the strings of the current puppet-in-chief. But of course, all this malicious mischief was nothing new for the man who once said that the sweetest sound I know is the Muslim call to prayer: as Spencer puts it in his savvy afterword, Obama was, from the beginning of his term until, well, this present moment, actively working against the interests of the United States. That he managed to do so much damage to this country and its people is breathtaking to behold -- as is the fact that there remains a large cohort of low-information Americans who actually revere this traitor as a paragon of virtue and wisdom. Image: Republic Book Publishers The 2022 stolen Arizona governor's election is an ideal template for 2024 and it is equally a mirror reflection, with all the moving parts, of 2020. This week, Kari Lake lost, again, in a court that wouldn't have given her a victory had 240,000 citizens signed affidavits saying their ballots were stolen and changed at gunpoint. The courtroom exhibits may not have swayed the jurists, but those signature mismatches showed plenty of evidence that Kari Lake's election was stolen by a lack of signature verification and more. Kari Lake's election is the template for important American elections from now on. Lake is a massively charismatic MAGA candidate who politicos know has the legs to go the distance. She handles the press like how a kindergarten teacher handles unruly kids except the teacher doesn't make the kids look stupid. Kari does. Kari lost because she is naturally gifted and could upend established order. The leftists pulled out all the stops just like 2020 and, soon, 2024. Her team's outstanding testimony in several court cases showed that elected officials changed printer settings, mostly in Republican areas, so printers would not process a ballot. Officials ran signatures through a nonexistent verification process, counting several hundred thousand ballots that were clearly sketchy. Our team did the expert witness report on Kari Lake election data showing elected officials jacked with voter rolls days before the election as in 22,000 new voters and 107,000 changes to the rolls, and thousands of address changes. We suspect that those voter roll manipulations were not to help Kari. This is the reality of important elections in America today. Ballot-harvesting is not the problem. Signature verification is not the problem. Jacking with the voter database days before the vote is not the problem. Phantom voters by the tens of thousands are not the problem. Election commissions allowing third parties real-time visibility to the voter cast ballot list to vote the recalcitrants is not the problem. U.S. Postal Service employees gathering loose ballots for leftist groups is not the problem. The problem is that leftists control the entire election apparatus in every swing state, and they have innumerable tools like those just noted to steal any election. The Kari Lake election showed that the leftists will use all of them when needed. The Kari Lake election is equally a template for 2024 because Lake's reaction is to take Arizona back by "chasing ballots." That is the same strategy President Trump is employing he calls it ballot-harvesting, being a bit looser with vocabulary. Leftists are jumping for joy as Lake and Trump take the bait outperform the pros at ballot-harvesting, when they have a dozen other ways to steal an election. None of those ways is addressed by Lake or Trump. They do not even understand them. How about real-time, or close to it, snapshots of state voter rolls especially around election time to stop 33,000 ZIP codes from being changed the week mail-in ballots are sent out, then changed back? Time series voter roll analysis exposes any change to a voter roll, which is later hidden when that change is reversed. How about testing, real time, to stop 41,400 inactive voters from being changed to active, voted, then changed back again? How about comparing the election rolls to the property tax rolls to make sure people residing in a vacant lot are flagged? In Arizona, it's cool for someone to claim a street corner as his address many thanks to years of RINO leadership. How does the guy living on the street corner get a mail-in ballot? It's not as if there is mail delivery to that tent on the corner in Phoenix. We're not done. What about the real-time access to state election systems to count cast ballots illegally given to leftist organizations so they know exactly how many ballots they need to win by just a little? What about tens of thousands of hidden secondary voter IDs, invisible to voters, electronically moved to counties where they are voted, then moved back? They didn't vote; clever leftists took care of that civic duty for them. How about the "contribution mules" making thousands of small donations, and when an intrepid reporter knocks on their door, they are amazed since they didn't make the donations? Anyone checking for that? Does anyone think for a moment that "chasing ballots" with the Kari Lake Excellent Adventure team is going to stop leftists from tampering successfully with an election? Or is it perhaps the only strategy to employ when you don't know what else to do? How does one take on election fraud when it has so many layers, so many manifestations, that one cannot figure out where to start? Sometimes any action is better than none but do not confuse action with results. Important elections in swing states are manipulated by elected officials. Ballot-chasing won't change anything it will just keep the troops busy until the next loss, followed by endless litigation. These election fraud techniques share two characteristics: each is invisible to current technology, and each can be visualized and likely thwarted with real-time, high-speed database analysis. Republicans don't embrace real time. The RNC, the Trump Campaign, the Lake Campaign continue to fail with batch computer systems using 1970s technology. Once that was an opinion. It is now fact, since our team offered the Arizona election integrity team real-time cross-searching of county voter rolls. They demurred each of the seven times we offered. It was for free we would do all the work; just give us the data. After doing the expert witness report for the Lake Campaign, we saw that had real-time analysis been in place, for even a single county, Lake could have stopped the thousands of voter roll manipulations made days before the election. Lake would have surprised the leftists. The 17,000-vote difference was well within her reach just not her grasp. Instead, here we are. Lake losing court case after court case. Arizona likely lost for a decade or more. Real-time visibility is disruptive. It disrupts the bad guys because they can no longer hide in latent, wildly inaccurate databases like those in Arizona. Everything they do, down to changing a comma, is immediately visible. Real time is disruptive to the Trump and RNC data types with their 1970s SQL technology that could not possibly thwart these leftist tactics. They can't implement real time because they don't know how. Real time is disruptive to the Republican election integrity types who hold seminars, gather donations, lose elections, file lawsuits, and gather more donations. They offer those same 1970s ancient technologies. It's all they know. Perhaps instead of trying to "out-ballot-harvest" the professionals, it might make sense to out-compute them, stop their fraud apparatus in flight something some of us know something about. Jay Valentine led the team that built the eBay fraud engine, the TSA No-Fly List, and the Undeliverable Ballot Database. He can be contacted at Omega4America.com and Twitter at @AmericaOME17300. Image: Kari Lake. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. One of the lines in The Communist Manifesto I return to time and time again is this: The Communist revolution is the most radical rupture with traditional property relations; no wonder that its development involved the most radical rupture with traditional ideas. Because, time and again, rupture, or any of its variations, show up in contemporary political rhetoricexclusively though, it emanates from the left, and like Marx and Engels, doesnt imply a peaceful disruption. (Of the communist revolution, the Manifesto states, Of course, in the beginning, this cannot be effected except by means of despotic inroads.) Perhaps you remember when Black Lives Matter expressly published their commitment to disrupt the nuclear family? Did you hear Pakistans climate change minister say it is essential to disrupt the social consensus? How could you forget when NBC published a piece by Mona Eltahawy which detailed why she prioritizes obscene language? In her own words: I say f**k because profanity is an important tool in defying, disobeying and disrupting patriarchy and its rules. Or, what about the University of Connecticuts latest announcement? A May 17th message from the provost detailed that the Anti-Black Racism course that the school has offered as an elective is now required education for any student wishing to graduate. Pay close attention to two ideas in the following passage from the colleges own website where you can find the enumerated list of course objectives: Locate valuable resources throughout the University of Connecticut that work to disrupt [emphasis added] anti-Black racism for the collective good [emphasis added]. Theres that word again but take a look at what else was communicated: the collective good. (In 1893, Friedrich Engels used the phrase common aims to describe collective good.) A recent essay highlighting the eerie similarities between the Democrat party of today and the Nazi party of Germany during the 1930s touched on a disturbing application of the phrase: The centralized collectivist control philosophy of the Democrat and Nazi parties is epitomized in the phrase the Common Good (Gemeinnutz vor Eigennutz in the original German). How many times have you heard the fascists of the far left parrot the phrase the Common Good when trying to shove a draconian, authoritarian rule down our throats? The COVID crisis was particularly egregious in this regard, exemplified by this piece in USA Today: The COVID culture war: At what point should personal freedom yield to the common good? Didnt the German regime argue the extermination of the physically and mentally handicapped (and eventually the Jews) was for the common good? (Type euthanasia and common good into a top search engine and youll get over seven million results in less than half a second.) When George Orwell penned 1984, it was meant to be a work of fiction (not a harbinger). The well-known War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength slogans illustrated how deeply corrupted the truth was in the invented Oceania, and how profoundly successful the Party had been in its brainwashing campaign. Yet, 1984 is the leftist reality in 2023 hordes of college-educated whole-heartedly gobbled up such moronic ideas like Male is Female, Right is Wrong, and Intelligence is Stupidity so whats stopping them from embracing any tyrannical scheme for the common good? Leftists possess an unparalleled ability to bastardize anything they touch, or as President Trump famously noted, everything woke turns to s***. When the left effectively owns every American institution (academia, public schools, healthcare, media, the Fourth Branch), and Americans have unprecedented levels of distrust in said institutions, Im going to go out on a limb here and say the cratered credibility is probably due to the influence of the leftism. American universities have produced some of the greatest thinkers the world has ever known (James Madison, Thomas Jefferson); now, the best and the brightest are lowbrow groupthink sophists, capable of copying and pasting #BlackLivesMatter 100 times on their admissions essay, or willing to flaunt their mental illness under the 2SLGTBQIA+ banner. Interestingly enough, the only time American universities actually had a legitimate claim to academic and intellectual excellence, was when the institutes churned out individualists (Jefferson and Madison), not anti-Black racism collectivists. Image: Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered. Elections matter. But just as important is the quality of the electorate. One of my long-time and wise colleagues who has passed on, Professor Bertram Levin, some years ago pointed out to me the irony that a democracy can destroy itself by voting itself into communism. Chicago, a beautiful and once vibrant city, has proven the point. Brandon Johnson, the new mayor, is an avowed communist. His recent characterization of businesses as evil profit-mongers is sure to accelerate Chicago's death spiral as businesses flee the city. Johnson should not be blamed; the electorate should. The quality of the electorate can have profound effects on society. Argentina, one of the highest-income countries in the world in 1900, changed its voting rules early in the 20th century. The new voters had grandiose progressive ideas to redistribute wealth. Argentina became a third-world country and continues to suffer today. Many democracies in the 20th century extended the franchise to women, making their societies more inclusive and kinder, gentler nations. So changes in voting can have good as well as bad effects on a nation's well-being. The latest attempts to expand the electorate, both here and abroad, are proposals to lower the voting age. This raises the question concerning the optimal age. Recently, youths have received negative press from looting and shooting in major cities. Mass shootings are now commonplace among people 21 or younger. Most recently, on April 15, 2023, in Dadeville, Alabama, a 16- and a 17-year-old shot up a "sweet sixteen" party, leaving four dead and 32 others injured. Chicago saw mayhem in its downtown on the same day, with hundreds of teens running amok, destroying property and injuring people. Two victims were shot in the melee. Chicago's teenage gangs are responsible for hundreds of handgun murders and carjackings each year. Older brothers get their kid brothers to jack cars knowing that the law will do essentially nothing to minors. Chicago, by the way, has a strict ban on handguns. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, "[t]he brain finishes developing and maturing in the mid-to-late 20s. The part of the brain behind the forehead, called the frontal cortex, is one of the last parts to mature. This area is responsible for skills like planning, prioritizing, and making good decisions." Science and evidence point to raising the voting age, not lowering it. Undaunted, U.S. rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) on January 26, 2023, reintroduced her legislation to lower the voting age to 16. One of her primary rationales for this is that "16- and 17-year-olds are legally permitted to work, drive and they also pay taxes. They are contributing members of our society and I believe it is right and fair to allow them to vote in our elections." I wonder if Rep. Meng would be so enthusiastic if the majority of the frontal-cortex-developing 16- and 17-year-olds were Republicans. Nevertheless, she may be on to something regarding "contributing members of society" as a criterion for voting. Perhaps we could give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote if they had jobs and paid taxes. These criteria could also apply to potential voters of all ages. Please note that being on welfare, receiving Social Security, and prison incarceration do not count as jobs. In 1971, the United States passed the 26th Amendment to the Constitution lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. Perhaps the most compelling argument was that many 18- to 21-year-olds were fighting and dying in Vietnam. Surely, if they were old enough to do that, the argument went, they were old enough to vote. In retrospect, the proper policy might have been to bar 18- to 21-year-olds from combat on the grounds that their brains were not fully developed. This might have changed the calculation of entering a ground war in Vietnam and spared many lives, both American and Vietnamese. How is it possible that Chicago, a city in a death spiral, can elect a person who will only drive the city lower? Democracy is only as good as its voters, and it is in danger. Rather than discussing lowering the voting age, it would be best to discuss how we might improve the literacy, knowledge, and wisdom of our existing voters. Burton Abrams is a professor emeritus of economics at the University of Delaware; a research fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland, Calif.; and author of The Terrible 10: A Century of Economic Folly. Image: buddhaflow. The MSM and President Trump's supporters and minions were clearly lying in wait for Florida governor Ron DeSantis's unconventional campaign launch on Twitter yesterday. Actually, any announcement by the governor would have been fair game for his many enemies and opponents. Twitter's Open Spaces audio platform, the medium chosen by DeSantis for his official campaign launch yesterday, was overwhelmed by a million or more users who tried to access it, surpassing the capacity of the platform for the first twenty minutes. The MSM's headlines tell the story. Two typical examples of hundreds: "DeSantis' Twitter launch disaster shows Musk's platform isn't ready for prime time" (CNN), "Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign launch melts down in Twitter glitches" (NBC). The coverage on MSNBC and CNN, meanwhile, was over-the-top woke. Of all people, I was surprised to see Chris Cuomo, in his new prime-time program on NewsNation, describing it best (to paraphrase): an internet glitch is no big deal. It happens all the time. Hint: Remember the disastrous online debut of HealthCare.gov President Obama's signature Obamacare launch on October 1, 2013 at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars? After the issues with the DeSantis Twitter feed were resolved after about twenty minutes of tweaking, it went forward as scheduled without a hitch for the next hour. A recording of it is here. I have not been able to locate a transcript. Less than two hours later, DeSantis appeared live for an interview that lasted 35 minutes on FOX News Tonight, hosted this week by former rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.). A complete transcript does not appear to be online, although FOX News's website has the video of the eleven-minute-long opening segment here. DeSantis on FOX spoke without notes and apparently without the use of a teleprompter. Full disclosure: I do not have a horse in this race, so to speak, and am open to see and hear what all of the declared candidates have to say. So far, I have been impressed with Sen. Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, and with the record of Donald J. Trump as the 45th president. I have to say that I find Trump's focus on, or obsession with, DeSantis, and his well funded TV attack ads on the Florida governor (to the tune of tens of millions of dollars), to be off-putting. But that's Donald Trump. FOX News provided journalists who report on media, including me, with a complete transcript of the Gowdy-DeSantis interview. I have edited the 5,600 words down to about 1,400. GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We had a huge audience. It was the biggest they'd ever had. It did break the Twitter Space. And so we're really excited with the enthusiasm. But, ultimately, it's about the future of our country, Trey. I'm running to lead a great American comeback. We know the country's on the wrong track. We see it with our eyes. We feel it in our bones. We see the border being overrun. We see crime infesting the cities. We see the federal government making it more difficult for families to make ends meet. And we have a president who is a listless vessel, not energetic, and not dealing with the key challenges that are facing our country. But it does not have to be this way. Our decline as a country is not inevitable. It is a choice. And I think we can choose a better pathway. And so what I will do is help restore normalcy to our communities, integrity to our institutions, and sanity to our society. Truth needs to be the foundation of everything we do. And common sense can no longer be an uncommon virtue. We proved it could be done in Florida. . . TREY GOWDY, FOX NEWS HOST: All right, Governor, people hear words and sometimes use words like woke or culture wars. What is the role of the president in participating in culture wars? And I will ask you specifically about education, because many conservatives think that's a state issue, but that's also a battleground for what people call woke or culture wars. As president, what role do you play? I know governor, but, as president, what role would you play? DESANTIS: Well, first of all, the woke mind virus is basically a form of cultural Marxism. At the end of the day, it's an attack on the truth. And because it's a war on truth, I think we have no choice but to wage a war on woke. So how does that work for a president? Some of it may be the bully pulpit, being willing to tell the truth, and not being deluded by ideology, which we see in many aspects of our society. There are probably ways, though, that you can make a difference. Certainly, when you look at ESG and some of the things that's going on with major financial institutions in corporate America, we have every right to be pushing back on that. With education, you know, the federal government approves the accredit creditors for universities. There's a reason why universities are infested with things like DEI. Yes, some of it is, they may want to do that, but some of it is, the accreditors tell them, you have to do that. Well, as president, I will make sure we're approving accreditors that are going to do the opposite, that are going to say, you know what, we're going to credit you if you are a colorblind university, if you're not trying to divide people on the basis of race. So, there are different tools at your disposal. It's not the same as the as a governor. But I think you can have an impact across a wide variety of different areas. GOWDY: I'm going to let you take us to our first break by letting people know that it's OK, it's safe to travel to Florida, despite what the NAACP and I believe the chairman of the NAACP may actually live in Florida, so maybe his house is for sale. DESANTIS: Yes. GOWDY: But I will let you take us to the break by addressing the travel advisory. DESANTIS: It's a typical political stunt. First of all, Florida's crime rate is at a 50-year low. Compare that to places like Chicago or Baltimore. I don't hear the NAACP talking about that. If you look at our education system, we have school choice. That's one of the reasons why our black students perform as high as just about any black students in the country. We're second and third in fourth grade math and reading, respectively, because parents have options. You go to Baltimore, Chicago, some of these kids are more likely to get shot than to actually have a high-quality education. I don't hear the NAACP talking about that. So, we're proud of what we have been able to do. And, oh, by the way, Trey, quarter one of 2023, Florida set yet another tourism record. And I can tell you, since I have been governor, some of the people who've contributed to our record tourism have been board members of the NAACP. How do I know? Because they put pictures of their Florida vacation on their social media accounts. So, this is an attempt to create a phony narrative. But I think people are onto this stuff. They know what it is. And they take it with a grain of salt, and they dismiss it. . . Trey Gowdy interviews Florida governor Ron DeSantis, FOX News channel May 24, 2023. GOWDY: All right, let's move to the border. Legal immigration, illegal immigration, President Ron DeSantis does what, does what on border security, does what on the asylum process? What is your immigration plan for both legal and illegal immigration? DESANTIS: Day one, it's a national emergency. We will mobilize all resources to construct the border wall, shut the border down. We're not going to be entertaining asylum claims for people coming across the border illegally. We're going to make very clear about that. We're going to have things like remain-in-Mexico, so we don't have the incentives to come illegally. We do need to hold these Mexican drug cartels accountable. And we will be looking at levers that we can pull to be able to do that. At the end of the day, nobody has a right to come to our country illegally. We, the American people, can determine what type of immigration system that we want. I think the purpose of immigration is to benefit our country. And so, if people coming illegally does not benefit, which I don't think it is, then we shouldn't do it. . . GOWDY: All right, you wore the uniform. If you are elected president, you may be the first one in a while to have worn the uniform. How would you address the ongoing war in Eastern Europe between Russia and Ukraine on day one of a Ron DeSantis presidency? DESANTIS: Well, first, I think what we need to do, as a veteran, is recognize that our military has become politicized. You talk about gender ideology. You talk about things like global warming, that they're somehow concerned. And that's not the military that I served in. We need to return our military to focusing on commitment, focusing on the core values and the core mission. That would be something that I could take care of on day one. There will be a new sheriff in town as commander in chief, and I think you will see recruiting start to get back to where it needs to be, because people don't want to join a woke military. And I think it's been really, really problematic. Look, in terms of what's going on over in Eastern Europe, I'd like to see a settlement of this. I do not want to see a wider war. I think it's completely unknowable what it will look like in January of 2025, but I would not want to see the United States with our troops get enmeshed in a war in Russia or in Ukraine. . . GOWDY: President Ron DeSantis would deal with China how? DESANTIS: To recognize that they are our foremost geopolitical threat. I think our economies have become way too intermingled. If you look, during the Soviet era, we were never intermingled with their economy. Now we have critical things that we rely on our foremost adversary for. During COVID, it was almost everything. So I think we need to reshore some of these critical manufacturing items. I think we need to have a robust relationship with Japan, Korea, India, Australia to make sure that we can check Chinese expansionism in the Pacific. We also have to recognize that China is getting a foothold in our own Western Hemisphere. I think we need a 21st century version of the Monroe Doctrine, where we're making sure that our own backyard is a freedom zone. We have got a lot of leftist governments in Latin America that have invited them in. I think that's really bad for our national security. But we have to understand that China is a threat. I think Biden, for whatever reasons, has been has been lack on China, and I think he's begging China to do some type of a deal with Ukraine and Russia. And I think that would be a mistake to involve Xi in that. Readers interested in comparing what Gov. DeSantis had to say on FOX News last night with what Sen. Tim Scott had to say in his FOX News interview with Trey Gowdy on May 22 and what President Trump had to say in his CNN town hall two weeks ago can click on the links to access the transcripts of both of them. Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who has covered national politics, including a number of presidential races starting in 1972, and the politics and economics of health care, popular culture, and media for over five decades. His web page with links to his work is http://peter.media. Peter's extensive American Thinker archive: http://tinyurl.com/pcathinker. Follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka. There's a black hole right in our cosmic backyard. Astronomers from the European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced that they found an average-sized black hole about 6,000 light-years away from the Earth, which could help experts know about them and the universe. Experts believe average-sized black holes travel in the universe, but they have found only a few so far. ESA Black Hole Discovery Details The ESA mentioned in a report that its astronomers found a minuscule region in the globular star cluster Messier 4 with the mass of 800 suns creating chaos among nearby stars - a sign pointing toward an intermediate-mass black hole 6,000 light-years away from Earth. According to Eduardo Vitral, an astrophysicist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland and the lead author of a study about the discovery, the region is too tiny for them to explain the reason why it is jam-packed with so much mass, and other than there is a single black hole within it. However, he postulates that there might be a "stellar mechanism" experts have yet to know about outside the current laws of physics. He explained that he and a team of astronomers discovered the region using the latest data from the Hubble Space Telescope and ESA's Gaia spacecraft. Through these, Vitral and his team discovered that the region was about three times smaller than the densest dark mass astronomers had found before in other globular clusters. Additionally, they noticed that the closer a star was to the central mass, the more randomly it moved, and that the greater the central mass of a star, the faster its stellar velocity was. Read More: HP Bricks Printers With Latest Firmware Update, Working on Fix These findings led Vitral to believe that an intermediate-sized black hole is within the region in question, adding to the growing evidence that the universe plays host to a rare class of intermediate-sized black holes, helping experts understand them in the process. Gaia mission scientist Timo Prusti said in a statement that Vitral's discovery could be a step towards being sure that intermediate-mass black holes exist. "Science is rarely about discovering something new in a single moment," Prusti said. "It's about becoming more certain of a conclusion step by step..." Space.com said that these black holes are elusive to spot and even tougher to confirm due to a lack of explanation for their formation and difficulties in weighing them accurately. Hubble's Contribution Vitral said that the discovery of the intermediate-sized black hole in Messier 4 would be impossible without Hubble's unique capabilities, which helped experts zero in on the globular star cluster's core. According to NASA's Hubble Site, the aging space telescope was equipped with ultraviolet instruments that detect the particle winds coming off accretion disks from stellar-mass black holes. Vitral's team may have used the same instruments others used in discovering supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies to discover the intermediate-mass black holes in Messier 4. Related Article: #SpaceSnap: Photo of Messier 87's Black Hole Made History - But How? From the annals of "What was she thinking?," here's San Francisco's mayor, London Breed. According to the New York Post: San Francisco Mayor London Breed and the city's board of supervisors were forced to retreat inside after a meeting they attempted to hold in a notorious open-air drug market was disrupted by jeers, shouting and a woman who hurled a brick into the crowd, according to a report. On Tuesday, city leaders decided to hold the meeting outdoors in United Nations Plaza to highlight problems plaguing the area including surging fentanyl overdoses and to discuss potential solutions, KRON4 reported. Breed and Supervisor Aaron Peskin took to the podium and proclaimed the city has been tolerating "illegal, out-of-control behavior for far too long." "Many San Franciscans do not feel safe," Peskin said. "Brazen drug dealing and deteriorating street conditions have exacerbated a humanitarian crisis on our streets." But less than 10 minutes after the meeting began, it was cut short as the crowd hurled insults at the mayor and supervisors until they just walked away from the podium, according to KRON. Suffice to say, it didn't end well. Breed's city has been turned into a crime- and homeless-infested hellhole on her watcha feces-strewn open-air drug market in many quarters, where junkies, addicts, criminals, vagrants, and bums all gather together for their drug deals, panhandling, and shoplifting projects. This particular hellhole, at United Nations Plaza, has always been a center of mayhem I remember it as a trash-strewn, urine-soaked junkie redoubt when I lived in the city 30 years ago. It hasn't changed any, except that an infusion of city money to NGOs to "help" the homeless has made it a lot nastier. Anyone who's ever lived in that city would know that that's not the place you go for a well heeled press conference announcing all the new government money you are going to be spending to end crime in the city. You don't go into a tiger's lair to talk about how you'll be taming the tigers. You don't go into a terrorist den and denounce terrorism if you have anything resembling a brain. And you especially don't go into an open-air drug market, full of dealers and their customers, to talk about how you'll be ending the fentanyl crisis, putting junkies in compelled treatment, and shutting the scene down because "everyone" opposes this activity. Actually, what should be news to Breed is that some people are for it the dealers, their addicted clients, and the NGOs that thrive on "serving" and perpetuating the situation for the sake of winning more government funding. This is their home. This is their habitat. This is the place they made, and they don't want any changes, other than more money coming in. Like everyone else, they have "interests." Bad people exist, and in some places, they are all bad people. A smart mayor would send in the cops and maybe the bulldozers with no warning. Not Breed. She was last seen insisting that "this is a safe city," kid you not. She just learned the hard way it's not, but don't expect her to make that connection. What this shows is how remarkably naive Breed is about the problems plaguing her city, even just blocks from San Francisco's City Hall. Don't count on any of her proposed "solutions" to make so much as a dent in that city's problem. Image: Screen shot from KTVU Fox 2 video via YouTube. If you are a Democrat politician, the path is relatively easy. The mainstream media function as your P.R. agency and build you up. Billionaires donate to far-left "activists" to alter sacrosanct voting rules and engage in various electoral malpractice. This enables even dummy candidates such as Joe Biden and John Fetterman to get elected. As former governor of New York Mario Cuomo famously said: "You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose." Republicans have to excel in the poetry of campaigning to get to the prose of governance. The candidate has to be a showman in addition to being an achiever. One key to the success of a campaign is to launch at the right time, when the enthusiasm is building. The enthusiasm is like a wave that can catapult the candidate to becoming a primary contender. After that, it is up to the contender to say the right thing and highlight his favorable record to impress voters. Now we look at Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Even his harshest Republican critics will concede that he has done well as governor of Florida. This enabled him a comfortable re-election. But a state election is drastically different from a presidential election. So how did Ron DeSantis do with his presidential campaign launch? Unlike candidates such as Nikki Haley and Tim Scott, DeSantis has a real chance of securing the nomination due to his record. But alas for him, he erred rather gravely on several fronts. Clint Eastwood famously said in one of the Dirty Harry pictures that "a man's got to know his limitations." DeSantis is simply doesn't have the charisma or the showmanship, and above all the appeal, of President Trump. DeSantis is neither a charismatic presence nor a master persuader like Trump. Unlike Trump, DeSantis probably cannot fill stadiums and regale audiences with his stories of his life and his accomplishments. There is also no way any such a candidate can stand against President Trump and survive his blistering attacks. It was perfectly obvious that Trump was going to run for 2024. Trump-supporters know he was cheated in 2020 and are going to stick with him in 2024. Discretion is a better part of valor. When an optional war cannot be won, it is wiser to evade the conflict. As Bill Maher observed, nobody wants a tribute band when the actual band is still playing. DeSantis should have declared in advance, in mid-2022, that he intends to focus on making Florida a GOP bastion and that he will not run for president in 2024. This would have prevented the attacks from Trump. DeSantis should have stood with Trump, a fellow Floridian, when the FBI raided his home and when he was indicted. DeSantis is a young man who doesn't need to unnecessarily hurry. If he had waited, the path would be easier. Trump wins in 2024, and DeSantis earns his endorsement, which would mean the MAGA-supporters would vote for him, and maybe he would win it in 2028. His record would be clean: no primary loss. But instead, DeSantis did everything that a presidential candidate does without making it official. He even traveled to Israel. He claimed that it was a book tour, which obviously nobody believed. He had the state Legislature amend the law in Florida to enable a presidential run while remaining governor, but again, he kept waiting. Before that, when Trump's Florida home was raided, he issued a perfunctory statement but no explicit support. When Trump was baselessly indicted, he was silent. When asked about it during a presser, the support was again perfunctory, and he went out of his way to mention hush payments to a porn star. It was a sly attack on Trump. He had no response to Trump's attacks, which made him appear weak. He knows he has to play it delicately; he probably fears that a frontal attack on Trump would make him unappealing to MAGA voters. This is again a sign of weakness; Trump didn't hesitate to take on DeSantis despite claims that the Florida governor is hugely popular. People expect courage from their leaders, but DeSantis appeared to dither. The cumulative effect of these missteps is that he lagged in the polls. When asked about his low polls, DeSantis awkwardly pulled a funny face and said he hadn't declared yet. YouTube screen grab. Now for the actual launch. They say you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. This is why the launch, especially for someone such as DeSantis, was crucial. So how did that go? For some inexplicable reason, DeSantis choose to declare his candidacy in a Twitter space, which is audio only. It would seem obvious that we are living in an era where the visuals matter as much as or perhaps more than the audio. So it was foolish of DeSantis to choose an audio-only platform. This is the equivalent of declaring a candidacy on the radio. What about the platform itself? Despite Elon Musk's takeover, MAGA voters whose votes matter most in a primary look at Twitter with suspicion. There have been instances of suppression and removal of accounts in the Musk era as well. Many Trump-supporters were deplatformed before Musk took over and chose to remain away as a protest. President Trump himself has chosen to stay away despite his account being reinstated. Trump is posting on other platforms such as his own Truth Social, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Twitter is still seen as a tool of the establishment despite Musk's efforts to appear fair. It must also be remembered that the penetration of Twitter happens to be around just 23 percent of the U.S. population. Even if Musk promised DeSantis favorable coverage on Twitter, it won't amount to much; liberals despise him anyway. Yet DeSantis chose Twitter. Now for the channel used within the platform. The last thing a candidate needs during a campaign launch is the medium to community being unstable or unpredictable. Twitter Spaces has recently received a boost from Twitter, but it is still relatively new and hence unpredictable. But the unexpected is exactly what happened during DeSantis's launch. As Breitbart reported: "The Twitter Spaces call, scheduled to launch at 6 p.m. Eastern, began several minutes late as one unidentified voice whispered that it was "quiet." David Sacks, the entrepreneur hosting the event, began to introduce Elon Musk and asserted that this was "historic" before the audio cut out. From then on, the audio continued to cut in [and] out several times, with continued echoing and seemingly random voices not the voice of the governor, whom the conversation was all about. "I'd like to just introduce the folks in the room here. So it's safe to say we wouldn't be making history without the man sitting next to me, Elon Musk ... his decision to purchase this platform last year," Sacks said, praising Musk before audio issues began to take over. They continued to come up with reasons for the audio issues, asserting that they were "melting the serve[r]s," which they viewed as a "good sign." Eventually, the entire audio ended, leaving many listeners confuse[d] in a state of silence." DeSantis's supporters attempted to spin it, claiming that DeSantis "is so popular he broke Twitter." In the audible portions, DeSantis attacked Trump and attempted to paint him as a failure but didn't utter his name. DeSantis also talked about his record. DeSantis should have declared he is running in a traditional fashion in an arena that appears packed with supporters and with his wife by his side. He should have prepared a succinct but powerful speech that highlighted his accomplishments and his plans for the future. At the risk of stating the obvious, it should have been audio and video that can be carried by every available channel, from terrestrial to the internet. This would ensure that his core message was clear and could be repeated across channels, too. The Twitter Spaces interaction could have been his first interview when he could elaborate on his message. But he chose an unstable platform, and most of his message was lost. There is no way to disguise this unmitigated disaster. A governor named Roy Cooper tended his citizens in North Carolina. He found life in the governor's mansion dull. All he could do to amuse himself was to talk to the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) or play with his veto pen. A few years ago, as he sat watching the citizens residing in the quiet state, and, thinking what he would do should he see them enjoying freedoms like attending church or choosing schools outside the government for their children, he thought of a plan to amuse himself. His masters in D.C. had told him to call a "State of Emergency" should he feel his control over the citizens was threatened. So, though he had not seen an "emergency," he ran toward the press podium shouting at the top of his voice, "State of Emergency! A virus is threatening your children. Lock down all the schools and churches! Put masks on your students' faces!" As he expected, those who believed the cry closed schools and kept them closed. Students suffered academically and socially. When schools opened, the citizens found the governor unapologetic at the trick he had played on them. Once the high from his power trip subsided, the governor had even less to do than before. So he tried his trick again. He ran to his podium and shouted, "State of Emergency! Evil legislators are giving parents educational options. They are killing government schools!" Again, panic ensued: "Giving parents options and having our schools compete for excellence is not fair! Besides, learning loss is a false concept!" shouted the leadership of the NCAE in response. Then, one evening, as the sun was setting over North Carolina and the shadows were creeping out over the state, an emergency really did spring from the underbrush and fall upon the citizens: the citizens had no educational options, government schools overspent and underwhelmed without any competition or accountability, and the students read pornographic books in government school libraries while discussing cisgender privilege in the name of equity! In terror at seeing how poorly the students were doing, the governor ran, shouting, "Emergency! Emergency!" But by then it was too late. The real emergency policies and political points from a progressive governor killed a great many educational opportunities that students and their families deserved to have available to them. When governors call emergencies for political stunts, children are hurt most. Parody based on "The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf" from The Aesop for Children. Image: NC Dept. of Public Safety. Just the News reported that Christopher Grider, 41, a participant in the Jan. 6, 2021 protest at the Capitol, has been sentenced by federal judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton appointee, to 83 months (almost seven years) in prison, followed by 36 months supervised release, plus restitution and a fine. Judge Kollar-Kotelly, 80 years old, is a senior judge on the D.C. District Court, appointed by Bill Clinton. She formerly served on the FISA Court (official court photo). Here are the opening paragraphs on the report of this vindictive sentence: "Christopher Grider, 41, of Eddy, Texas, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to two misdemeanors and was found guilty on seven counts related to his actions during the Capitol riot. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced Grider Tuesday to 83 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release and ordered him to pay $5,055 in restitution and an $812 fine, court documents show. "After entering the Capitol, Grider pressed buttons on a utility box and yelled, "Turn the power off!" prosecutors said. He also waved more rioters into a hallway outside of the House Chamber and then ran to the Speaker's Lobby door, where he pushed on the door and gave his helmet to another rioter, who proceeded to break the door's windows. "Grider was seen backing away from the door as people in the crowd yelled, "gun," before a police officer fatally shot Babbitt, officials said. Grider held his phone over a stairway to apparently try and capture a video or pictures of Babbitt as she bled on the floor. One might fairly infer that this harsh sentence was handed down because Christopher Grider dared try to get images of fatally wounded Ashli Babbitt "as she bled on the [Capitol] floor." The Grider sentence was disclosed the same day that Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his 2024 candidacy for president, and the day after Sen. Tim Scott declared his candidacy for president. The concatenation of these events inspired the following thoughts first, that anyone seeking the 2024 GOP nomination for president pledge to review the sentences of the Jan. 6 political prisoners during his first ten days and, pending pardons, commute every sentence to time served, and repayment of any fines or restitution extracted from these defendants. Second: All Republican candidates for president in 2024 should sign a petition, no later than July 31, 2023, addressed to House speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan urging the House to amend the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012 to provide that any and all legal proceedings against a former president will be heard only before a federal judge, and in a federal venue satisfactory to the defendant former president. This amendment will put an end to the spectacle of a former president being hounded, seriatim, by a local attorney, a state attorney, and a special counsel, plus in a biased federal jurisdiction concerning a sexual abuse/defamation matter. With regard to the matter of denying jurisdiction to local and state officials seeking to embarrass a former president and reining in Justice Department officials to that end, it may be too late to ask that Republicans honor President Reagan's Eleventh Commandment not to speak ill of one another but one would hope that the Republican presidential candidates will, at a minimum, not applaud, silently, the retaliatory measures employed by the left against conservative candidates. In brief, it is time to put teeth into the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012 to protect former presidents from rogue local, state, and federal prosecutors who would apply the Beria approach: identify the individual first, then find the crime to destroy him. Quackery in dentistry has existed as far back as the earliest days when sufferers from dental problems sought treatment at the hands of some type of practitioner. Among those offering remedies, there existed both legitimate dentists and charlatans. The quacks were easy to spot. They usually resembled showmen taking their practice to the streets, attracting patients through advertisements and flamboyance, with acrobatics, musical instruments, and even trained animals. Like other scam artists, these dentists were notorious for their lack of ethics and association with fraudulent treatments. One British dentist who was known as much for his quackeries as for his eccentricities was Martin van Butchell. Van Butchell, the son of a tapestry maker, was born in 1735. He trained as a surgeon under Scottish anatomist and physician John Hunter who was considered one of the leading obstetricians and anatomy teacher of the times. Later on, he developed an interest in dentistry, possibly as a result of breaking one of his own teeth. Pretty soon, Van Butchell had set up a successful business as a dentist, fixing teeth and making dentures at Mount Street in Mayfair, London. Van Butchell was well-known for his advertising. His leaflets were packed full of claims of painless cures and ended with a veritable list of medical accreditation. His fees were very high, charging as many as 2 guineas for a consultation, while a full set of false teeth cost 80 guineas. Unusual for the time, Butchell refused to go to house calls, once turning down an astonishing 1,000 guineas to visit a patient at home. Also read: Painless Parker: The Showman Dentist Eventually, he started treating a wide variety of medical conditions including fistulas, piles, pimples, boils and ulcers, aching legs, tumors, abscesses, and so on. Van Butchell was also an inventor of some sort dabbling in sundry projects. He designed and sold various elastic devices to keep up a gentlemans clothes and garters for women. He also invented cork-lined stirrups to keep his boots from sliding off and designed an unusual bridle which included a blind that he could let down over his horses eyes, and draw up again at pleasure. Van Butchell was also eccentric in person. He was often seen on the streets with his long white beard, and his all-white clothes, riding his white pony which he decorated with purple spots and sometimes with black stripes. He often carried a large bone in his hand. Van Butchell was an affable and cheerful person, but was noted to be kooky. Among his idiosyncrasies were his refusal to call for his children by name, whistling for them instead. He married twice and gave each wife the choice of wearing black or white every day. The first wife chose black and the second chose white. When his wife died in 1775, the eccentric dentist had her body preserved. Prominent surgeons and anatomists, brothers John and William Hunter injected preservatives and color additives into her blood vessels to make the cheeks and lips glow. She was dressed with her wedding gown, and with a fine set of glass eyes, the embalmed body was displayed in Van Butchells drawing room for visitors. The reasons behind Van Butchell's decision to preserve his wife remain unknown. Speculation arose that there might have been a clause in their marriage agreement, permitting him to retain her property only as long as she remained unburied. Another possibility was that it served as a publicity stunt. The influx of visitors desiring to see his embalmed wife became so overwhelming that Van Butchell had to post a notice, prohibiting strangers from viewing her unless accompanied by an acquaintance. When Van Butchell remarried, his second wife objected to the persistent presence of her predecessor in the house. As a result, the embalmed body was relocated to the Hunterian Museum in 1815, where it was displayed until it was destroyed in the fire caused by a bombing raid on London in May 1941 Van Butchell died in 1814 and was buried in St Georges Fields, London. References: # Martin Van Butchell: the eccentric dentist who embalmed his wife, The Royal College of Surgeons # The curious tale of Martin van Butchells first wife, Museum of London Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO, expresses his concerns regarding artificial intelligence. According to Eric Schmidt, the abuse of artificial intelligence can put the lives of people at risk. In his words, artificial intelligence is an existential risk but he doesnt stop there, he goes on to say that it can harm or kill people. But why would someone who once occupied a high executive position with Google be against a product its investing so much in? Well, to clarify, Eric Schmidt isnt against Googles AI model but the entire industry without proper regulations. Despite his concerns, he doesnt feel that the threat would surface now, as it might unveil itself in the future. He envisions a future where artificial intelligence will aid in finding software security flaws to attack organizations. Of concern is the fear of artificial intelligence helping in the generation of new biological flaws or weapons. But these two rather scary situations will only be possible if there is an abuse of the power of artificial intelligence, hence the need for strict regulations now. Eric Schmidt joins the fight for strict regulations on artificial intelligence Eric Schmidt isnt the only one fighting for artificial intelligence regulations as it gains popularity. Well, artificial intelligence has always been a part of tech, but in recent months it has found its way to the doorsteps of everyday people. Lots of big tech firms are rolling out various AI models or integrating these models into their services. Advertisement This integration makes the use of artificial intelligence more common among users of such services. Ever since the roll-outs of these AI models and their integration into some products and services, there have been a lot of complaints from some end users. These complaints come as a result of people abusing the use of artificial intelligence to commit certain social vices. Some of the vices that people have used artificial intelligence for include cheating during exams, and producing and selling fake music, among a list of others. At the time, various AI models were gaining momentum. These vices were rather basic, with students getting it to write papers for them. But now more serious vices are on the rise with the help of artificial intelligence. Eric Schmidt and the National Security Commission on AI point out that there are no regulations guarding the use of artificial intelligence. This can pose a threat to the lives of people as artificial intelligence models advance with time. Some governmental bodies around the world are already working hard to slap restrictions on artificial intelligence and its usage. These restrictions will go a long way to curb the fearful future that Eric Schmidt foresees. The restrictions will aim at limiting the ability of artificial intelligence models and what they can be used for. In the coming months, more regions might roll out restrictions to help them place a watchful eye on artificial intelligence. Google is rolling out a new side panel for customizing Chrome on the desktop. The Customize Chrome button that appears on the bottom right corner of the New Tab page now opens a vertical side panel. It replaces the original dialog box that showed up in the center of the screen. Google Chrome has offered a homepage shortcut for customization for years now, at least since 2019. It lets you quickly change the look and feel of your browser, including UI colors and background. The latest update improves this experience by letting you see the changes you make in real-time. The Customize Chrome button now opens a side panel The updated Customize Chrome shortcut opens a vertical panel on the right side. It houses 15 preset color combinations that you can be instantly applied to the Chrome UI. You also get a color picker where you can manually enter RGB/HSL values or the hexadecimal codes to select a color. Of course, Google wont make you find those codes by yourself. You can use the built-in slider or a dedicated color picker button to pick any color you want. Above these color presets is the button to change Chromes background. You can upload an image saved on your computer or select one from hundreds of existing options across various categories such as Textures, Life, Earth, Art, Landscape, Cityscapes, Seascapes, and more. Google also offers a few options that celebrate specific cultures or artists such as Native American Artists and Black Artists Collection. You can find more on the Chrome Web Store. Advertisement A Refresh Daily toggle at the top of each collection will give you rotating background. You will start with a new Chrome background every day. As Google notes in its blog post, If you use Profiles to keep your work and personal accounts separate, try giving each Profile a distinct background and color to differentiate between them. Chrome will save all your customization edits as you make them. So the last color combination or background you select will be automatically applied. This side panel also features a drop-down menu at the top from where you can quickly switch to your Reading list, Bookmarks, or Journeys. Meanwhile, at the bottom of this side panel is a toggle to enable./disable shortcuts on the New tab page. You can manually curate your shortcuts or let Chrome automatically pick shortcuts based on the websites you visit most often. Google and the European Commission agreed to work together to regulate AI. The European Commission (EC) industry chief Thierry Breton called the collaboration with Alphabet a voluntary pact to establish AI rules. As AI is taking over different industries and pegging itself into our everyday life, governments must be quick to establish regulations to prevent unwanted damages and abuses. After the US administration called for the publics opinion on regulating AI, the European Commission is now forming a coalition with a US tech giant to establish and enforce AI rules in the continent. The EC industry chief Thierry Breton and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai have met in Brussels to discuss AI regulations. The EU wants to form a coalition that consists of both European and non-European companies. Sundar and I agreed that we cannot afford to wait until AI regulation actually becomes applicable and to work together with all AI developers to already develop an AI pact on a voluntary basis ahead of the legal deadline, Breton said. He asked the EU members and lawmakers to finish working on AI rules by the end of the year. Advertisement Google and the European Commission will work together to regulate AI Besides Breton, the EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager also met with Pichai to discuss the AI regulations. She asked for voluntary agreement on universal rules for AI while emphasizing on finalizing the EUs proposed AI Act. Vestager also announced a partnership with the United States to establish minimum standards for AI. The EU has already introduced its so-called AI Act, which aims to be the first AI regulation pack in the world. The proposed bill would ban biometric surveillance, emotion recognition, and predictive policing AI systems. It also gives the right to people to file complaints against AI systems. However, the bill still has a long way ahead to become a rule in the continent. Most EU concerns about AI revolve around disinformation, copyright infringements, governance, and transparency. The EUs partnership with the US over regulating AI could be finalized by the end of this year and come into effect over a short period of time. The Guerrilla malware has targeted nearly 9 million Android devices globally, including smartphones, watches, TVs, and TV boxes. The malware is distributed by Lemon Group, which is one of the most notorious cybercrime organizations. Gadgets are always at risk of getting infected with malware, and once in a while, we hear about a new malware that targets users. Recently, McAfee researchers warned users to remove 38 Android games as soon as possible because they were running advertising in the background. Now, the BlackHat Asia conference in Singapore has illustrated the impact of Guerrilla malware. The Guerrilla malware is developed by Lemon Group and has impacted 8.9 million Android users. The malware is essentially utilized for intercepting one-time passwords from SMS, loading additional payloads, setting up a reverse proxy from the infected device, hijacking WhatsApp sessions, etc. Guerrilla malware targets nearly 9 million Android users globally The report continues that Guerrilla malware has targeted users from all continents. However, the top 10 affected countries are India, Argentina, Angola, Indonesia, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, and the US. Advertisement Additionally, some of the infrastructure and methods used for this attack match the Triada trojan operation, which happened in 2016 and targeted 42 Android phone models. The attack is said to be done again by Lemon Group. This group later changed its name to Durian Cloud SMS, but its methods and architecture remained unchanged. The outlet says Guerrilla malware has been found on 50 different ROMs that had been re-flashed. The malware also targets various Android device manufacturers. The way Guerrilla malware works is simple but tricky. It first installs additional plugins on devices. Each plugin performs a certain task, like intercepting passwords sent via SMS, establishing a reverse proxy, or installing extra applications. By infecting victims devices, Lemon Group can make tons of money by faking ads, taking over network resources, selling compromised accounts, selling proxy services, and offering SMS Phone Verified Accounts (PVA) services. Samsungs May 2023 update has reached a couple more Galaxy devices. The company is rolling out the latest security patch to the Galaxy A42 5G and Galaxy A20s. These two Galaxy A series models follow dozens of other devices, including Galaxy S series flagships, Galaxy Z series foldables, and more in receiving the May SMR (Security Maintenance Release). The latest update for the Galaxy A42 5G is currently available in Europe. Samsung is widely rolling out the May SMR to the 2020 mid-range smartphone in the region. The new firmware build number for the device is A426BXXU5DWE1 (via). While the build number suggests more than just a security patch, Samsungs official changelog doesnt mention anything else. Maybe there are some system optimizations hidden here, but dont expect any new features. The Galaxy A42 5G may or may not receive the May SMR in other regions. Thats because the device is only eligible for biannual security updates (two updates in a year), so Samsung may skip this release in some markets. It could push one of the future security releases to the phone in other markets, such as the US. The handset will receive security patches at least until the end of 2024. November 2024, to be precise. Interestingly, the Galaxy A42 5G is still running Android 12 in Europe and most parts of Asia where it was sold. It has already picked up Android 13 in most other regions, including the US, Samsungs home country South Korea, and Hongkong. The handset debuted with Android 10 and isnt eligible for Android 14. We will let you know if and when Android 13 rolls out to Galaxy A42 5G users in the remaining markets. Advertisement The Galaxy A20s is also getting Samsungs May update The Galaxy A20s is another Samsung phone that is now receiving the latest security patch. The Korean firm has begun the rollout in select Asian countries, namely India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The device is picking up the firmware build number A207FXXS5CWE1 with this update. This device is also only eligible for biannual security updates, so theres no guarantee that users in other regions will get the May SMR. This update doesnt bring anything notable to the Galaxy A42 5G and Galaxy A20s but fixes some series security issues. Samsung revealed earlier this month that the May SMR patches at least six critical flaws across the Galaxy lineup. It also patches more than 50 high-severity flaws and a few less severe ones. In total, this months security patch contains more than 70 fixes, around 20 of which are Galaxy-specific. Korea wishes to expand ties with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and find new joint project opportunities, the first vice finance minister said Thursday. First Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun made the remark during his meeting with Ludger Schuknecht, a vice president and corporate secretary of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in Seoul, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. During the meeting, Bang asked Schuknecht to continue giving support to local financial organizations seeking investment opportunities with the AIIB and requested the Beijing-based bank to expand its employment of Korean staff as well. Schuknecht echoed the view, expressing gratitude for Korea's contributions to the development of the AIIB by utilizing its unique development history and advanced technologies. The AIIB wishes to solidify cooperation with Korean businesses and financial institutions, he added. Korea is the fifth-largest stakeholder of the AIIB, with its shares at 3.86 percent. China is the biggest holder at 30.72 percent, followed by India, Russia, and Germany with 8.63 percent, 6.74 percent, and 4.63 percent, respectively. The number of Korean staff at the AIIB currently stands at 24, accounting for 4.6 percent of the total employees. (Yonhap) Samsung may soon release a major update for the Galaxy S23 series. It is testing a new firmware build that seemingly contains more than just a security patch. We might be looking at the long-rumored camera update, which may arrive as early as June. Spotted by Twitter user @tarunvats33, the new firmware for the Galaxy S23 series that Samsung is currently testing internally bears the build number S91*BXXU2AWEB. The testing appears underway in various parts of the world, including Europe, India, and China. Theres no changelog available, so its unclear what the company is readying. However, there have been numerous rumors about a major camera update for the latest Galaxy flagships. The said update is expected to bring a host of new features and camera improvements to the Galaxy S23 lineup, though some of them may be exclusive to the Ultra model. Among them is the 2x zoom option for portrait shots. The devices currently let you capture portrait photos with no magnification (1x) or 3x magnification. The new 2x option will bring a balance between the two. Samsung was spotted testing this feature for the Galaxy S23 Ultra last week. Advertisement The Korean firm also recently revealed that it is working on improved 2x zoom videos. Instead of digitally cropping videos right away, the Galaxy S23 Ultra will switch to the 50MP mode before zooming in. This will help improve the image quality. There are reports about Samsung improving low-light videos as well. Last but not least, the upcoming update should fix the HDR problem thats causing a halo effect in photos captured in low-light environments. The company has confirmed that the next update for the Galaxy S23 lineup will fix this issue. This camera update for the Galaxy S23 series may arrive soon That Galaxy S23 test firmware spotted last week had a file size of 1.5GB and a build number ending with WE9. The source of the latest information confirms that the current test build (WEB) is an update to WE9. We hope that means a nearing public release. Unfortunately, we dont yet have a timeline regarding the rollout of this update. The rollout may begin as early as next week or Samsung may make us wait some more time. Nonetheless, we will let you know as soon as the update arrives. You can also manually check for updates from the Settings app. (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 25 - Keeping its finances in order is an absolute necessity for Italy said Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti on Thursday, reiterating the government's "prudent and responsible" approach to public accounting during an event at Sapienza University in Rome. "Having the public accounts in order is an absolute necessity for our country, which needs to maintain market confidence, both to contain the cost of borrowing and to avoid repercussions on families and businesses," said Giorgetti. The minister said the new rules on fiscal governance under discussion at European level need to be "transparent and credible". "During the meetings of the economic ministers, I have repeatedly stressed the need for a set of transparent and credible rules that are realistically enforceable, do not hinder the realization of investments and growth, and leave member states with budgetary margins that, if properly used, can also improve public finances," said Giorgetti, adding that the "the relaxed climate" of recent years, following the suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact, "will not make it easy to return to any rules" and that "the return to normality requires rigorous selection of the interventions to be adopted". (ANSA). Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model which may be able to predict whether an aggressive type of breast cancer will spread. The AI model is able to detect changes in the lymph nodes small, bean-shaped structures that help filter cancer cells and fight infection of women with triple negative breast cancer. One of the first places breast cancer can spread to is the lymph nodes under the arm on the same side as the cancer. In these cases, patients are likely to need more intensive treatment. The researchers said the ability to detect changes in the lymph nodes could help doctors plan treatment, as well as give patients peace of mind about the likelihood of triple negative breast cancer spreading. Dr Anita Grigoriadis, who led the research at the Breast Cancer Now Unit at Kings College London, said: By demonstrating that lymph node changes can predict if triple negative breast cancer will spread, weve built on our growing knowledge of the important role that immune response can play in understanding a patients prognosis. Weve taken these findings from under the microscope and translated them into a deep-learning framework to create an AI model to potentially help doctors treat and care for patients, providing them with another tool in their arsenal for helping to prevent secondary breast cancer. Around one in seven, or 15%, of all breast cancers in the UK are triple negative, with more than 8,000 cases a year. This type of cancer does not have any of the receptors (proteins) commonly found in breast cancer and accounts for around 25% of breast cancer deaths. Women who have inherited an altered BRCA gene, black women, and women who have not yet reached the menopause are at higher risk of triple negative breast cancer. For the study, published in The Journal of Pathology, the researchers tested their AI model on more than 5,000 lymph nodes donated by 345 patients to biobanks such as the Breast Cancer Now Tissue Bank. The model was able to establish the likelihood of breast cancer spreading to other organs. Around 8,000 women are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in the UK each year (Alamy/PA) The team also found the AI model was able to make this prediction by simply analysing the immune responses in the lymph nodes, even when the breast cancer cells had not spread to the organs. As part of the next steps, the researchers are hoping their AI model will be tested in clinical trials. Dr Grigoriadis added: Were planning to test the model further at centres across Europe to make it even more robust and precise. The transition from assessing tissue on glass slides under a microscope to using computers in the NHS is gathering pace. We want to leverage this change to develop AI-powered software based on our model for pathologists to use to benefit women with this hard-to-treat breast cancer. Dr Simon Vincent, director of research, support and influencing at Breast Cancer Now, said: Each year around 8,000 UK women are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, which is a more aggressive form of breast cancer, often with poorer outcomes. If, thanks to this research, its possible to provide women with more tailored treatment and care based on the likelihood of the breast cancer spreading, it could help to save lives and reduce stress and worry. We look forward to further findings to understand how this could work in practice to benefit women affected by this type of breast cancer. The asylum backlog in the UK has hit a new record high as the immigration minister appeared to suggest processing claims faster could encourage more people to come to the country through illegal routes. More than 100,000 people waited longer than six months for an initial decision on their case, the latest figures showed. More than three quarters of all small boat asylum applications since 2018 are still awaiting a decision. Charities said the human cost of such delays is staggering as they called for claims to be processed more quickly. But immigration minister Robert Jenrick appeared to suggest this would be likely to lead to an increase in asylum claims from people arriving via illegal means. (PA Graphics) In December, Rishi Sunak pledged to abolish the backlog of initial asylum decisions by the end of 2023, as he set out a raft of new measures unveiled to curb Channel crossings. But within hours of that comment, Downing Street appeared to downgrade the target, insisting the Prime Minister had only committed to clearing the backlog of claims made before June. Mr Jenrick told broadcasters on Thursday he is confident the Government will clear the legacy asylum backlog by the end of the year. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said processing illegal migrants claims faster would not reduce the number of people coming into the country (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Home Office figures released on Thursday showed that 172,758 people were waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application in the UK at the end of March 2023. This was up 57% from 109,735 at the end of March 2022 and the highest figure since current records began in 2010. The number of people waiting more than six months for an initial decision stood at 128,812 at the end of March, up 76% year on year from 73,207 and another record high. The rise in asylum applications waiting for an initial decision is due to more cases entering the asylum system than receiving initial decisions, the Home Office said. There were 19,706 initial decisions made on asylum applications in the UK in 2022/23, up 35% on 14,586 in 2021/22 but below the 20,766 in the pre-pandemic calendar year of 2019. The Home Office figures showed that just under half (44%) of total asylum applications in the UK last year were from people who arrived on a small boat. Some 78% of all small boat asylum applications since 2018 are still awaiting a decision, including 93% of those made in 2022/23. Christina Marriott, executive director of strategy and communications for the British Red Cross, described the 172,758 figure as striking. (PA Graphics) She said: Leaving people in limbo like this, unable to work, separated from family and uncertain about their future, is costly to peoples physical and mental health and the taxpayer. Processing claims more quickly would help people settle into communities, start work and get on with their lives. Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, said: The human cost of the failure to process asylum claims is staggering. Many people wait years for a decision in which time theyre forced to live in poverty, banned from work, segregated from communities and detained in rundown hotels. He repeated criticism of the Governments controversial Illegal Migration Bill, saying it will make things much worse as no new safe routes will be created, meaning people will still have to make the deadly Channel crossing. He added: The Government must end its addiction to hostility and deterrence, ditch its anti-refugee Bill and create a compassionate, just and accessible asylum system that benefits refugees and the taxpayer. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the record high number waiting for claims to be dealt with is unacceptable and called for real commitment and resourcing to tackle the backlog, which crucially must include making quick and good quality decisions based on the merit of each claim, so refugees can start rebuilding their lives. Mr Jenrick was asked by Labours Clive Efford in the House of Commons on Thursday why fewer than 1% of people who arrived on small boats last year have had their asylum claims determined. The minister replied: It is not correct, however, to suggest that if you can process illegal migrants claims faster that that will reduce the number of people coming into the country. In all likelihood itll lead to an increase. Downing Street said tackling the asylum backlog is the right approach when asked about Mr Jenricks comments, and insisted measures to reduce the backlog would take time to bed in. The Government is making some progress on specific areas, the spokesman said, but acknowledged that there is more to do, adding that we are confident that things like doubling the number of caseworkers will start to have an impact. (PA Graphics) There were 75,492 asylum applications in the UK in the year to March 2023, relating to 91,047 people, the Home Office figures showed. This is the highest total for any 12-month period since the year to March 2003, when it stood at 80,736 applications relating to 99,338 people. Just under three-quarters (74%) of initial decisions on asylum applications in 2022/23 were grants of refugee status, humanitarian protection or alternative forms of leave. This is substantially higher than in pre-pandemic years, when around a third of initial decisions were grants, the Home Office said. Albania was the most common nationality applying for asylum in the UK in the year to March 2023, with 13,714 applications by Albanian nationals, 9,487 of which came from arrivals on boats crossing the English Channel. (PA Graphics) The number of Albanian small boat arrivals peaked during the summer of 2022 and by early 2023 had dropped below levels seen in 2021. Afghans were the second most common nationality applying for asylum in 2022/23, with 9,606 applications, more than double the number in the previous 12 months (4,118). The Home Office said this rise was likely due to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. By March 2023, some 11,398 people had been resettled in the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which was launched in April 2021, offering priority relocation to the UK for current or former locally employed staff who have been assessed to be under serious threat to life. A total of 54 Afghans were resettled in the UK under pathways two and three of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which was formally launched in January 2022. Pathway two which was specifically designed to help vulnerable refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) having fled Afghanistan for resettlement to the UK saw 40 people resettled. The third pathway for those at risk who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan, as well as those who are particularly vulnerable, such as women and girls at risk and members of minority groups saw 14 people resettled. Pathway one focused on eligible people who were notified by the UK Government that they had been called forward or specifically authorised for evacuation, but were not able to board flights at the time of the evacuation amid the Taliban takeover in August 2021 has seen 9,059 people resettled. Emily Graham from Safe Passage International said the schemes are utterly broken, meaning that more and more Afghans are having to make desperate crossings in the Channel in order to reach safety and family here. Some 90% of people arriving in the UK in the year to March 2023 on small boats claimed asylum or were recorded as a dependant on an asylum application. The Aukus alliance is looking to rapidly drive advanced artificial intelligence (AI) into military capabilities after a trial saw world firsts achieved with the technology, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The developments made by the trilateral partnership will help uphold the principles of freedom and democracy around the world, the US said. Experimental work was carried out in Upavon in Wiltshire in April which included the live retraining of models in flight, according to the MoD. The trial saw AI retrained to improve performance against known targets and to be able to identify emergent targets, involving vehicles including the UKs Blue Bear Ghost and Challenger 2 tanks. Among the other equipment used were Warrior armoured vehicles, Viking unmanned ground vehicles and a commercially hired FV433 Abbot self-propelled gun and former Eastern Bloc BMP OT-90. Joint machine-learning models were developed and also quickly updated to include new targets, the MoD said. In a press release, the MoD said they achieved world firsts, including the live retraining of models in flight and the interchange of AI models between Aukus nations. The event was attended by senior Aukus leaders including Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff General Rob Magowan. He said: This trial demonstrates the military advantage of Aukus advanced capabilities, as we work in coalition to identify, track and counter potential adversaries from a greater distance and with greater speed. Service personnel, scientists and engineers from our three nations combined to develop and share critical information to enhance commanders decision making. Accelerating technological advances will deliver the operational advantages necessary to defeat current and future threats across the battlespace. We are committed to collaborating with partners to ensure that we achieve this while also promoting the responsible development and deployment of AI. US senior adviser to the secretary of defence for Aukus Abe Denmark said: We recognise the immense importance of this collaboration in strengthening our collective national security of our nations. The development and deployment of advanced artificial intelligence technologies have the potential to transform the way we approach defence and security challenges. This capability demonstration is truly a shared effort and is thus a critical step in our collective initiative to stay ahead of emerging threats. By pooling our expertise and resources through our Aukus partnerships, we can ensure that our militaries are equipped with the latest and most effective tools to defend our nations and uphold the principles of freedom and democracy around the world. Australian deputy secretary of strategy, policy and industry Hugh Jeffrey said: I was impressed to see AI models rapidly updated at the tactical edge to incorporate new targets, which were immediately shared among the three partners to deliver decision advantage and meet changing mission requirements. More than 70 military and civilian defence personnel and industry contractors were involved in the exercise, according to the MoD. The Aukus partnership was first announced in 2021 as Australia sought to respond to Chinas actions in the Pacific. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego in March with US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss the procurement of nuclear-powered submarines under a pact between the three nations as part of Aukus (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Ties between the countries were reinforced as the UK published its updated integrated review of foreign and security policy, which highlights Chinas more aggressive stance. The deal caused a diplomatic rift with France, which had expected to supply diesel-powered submarines to the Canberra government. It has so far involved a pact to deliver a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines, which would be in operation for the Royal Navy by the late 2030s under current plans. Brian Cox says he thinks his foul-mouthed character of Logan Roy was written out too early of the hit HBO show Succession. The Scottish actor, 76, said although the shock twist had been done in a pretty brilliant way he had felt a little bit rejected by the decision. The Roy family patriarch and global media tycoon was killed off in episode three of the latest series, which also stars Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin. The Scottish actor, 76, said although the shock twist had been done in a pretty brilliant way he had felt a little bit rejected by the decision (Ian West/PA) Speaking on BBC Twos Amol Rajan Interviews ahead of Successions series four finale, Cox said it would perhaps have been more appropriate for the character to die in the fifth or sixth episode. I was fine with it ultimately, but I did feel a little bit rejected, he said. You know, I felt a little bit, oh, all the work Ive done and finally Im going to, you know, end up as an ear on a carpet of a plane. Details of Logans death were a well-kept secret, which Cox said he played a part in by appearing on set to film scenes he was not required to be in. Cox said he had gone on (his) own volition so that members of the paparazzi attending the shoot would not become suspicious. In the BBC interview, he also told Rajan that he thinks Logan might still be alive. I still believe this, maybe Logan isnt dead. This could be part of an elaborate ruse to find out, he said. If you think about it, from Logans point of view, he has to find out how are his children going to behave when he dies, what will then happen? Brian Cox (Suzan Moore/PA) The only way to do that is to fake his death and actually, at some distant point, hes observing the chaos that is following. But he added that the character would not come back from the dead, saying: Im just saying that could have been a supposition. During the interview, Cox also reflected on his childhood, his career, his thoughts on Scottish independence and why he supports the writers strike in Hollywood. The full interview, Brian Cox: Amol Rajan Interviews, is on BBC Two on Thursday May 25 at 7pm and BBC iPlayer. Campaigners have accused the Government of a betrayal after it scrapped its plans for a flagship animal welfare bill. Environment minister Mark Spencer told the Commons on Thursday that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill would not progress, but insisted manifesto commitments would be kept through single-issue legislation. He blamed scope creep and Labour for the decision, saying the legislation risked being extended far beyond the original commitments. The Bill had already suffered long delays since it was first introduced in June 2021. Senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane Society International/UK, Claire Bass, said: The Governments decision to abandon the Kept Animals Bill is an astonishing betrayal of both animals and public trust. She added: It needed only a few more hours in the Commons to succeed, so parliamentary time is clearly not the real issue here. The real reason, Whitehall sources tell us, that the Bill has been dropped is because of concerns that it could act as a vehicle for uncomfortable debates that the Government does not want held on polarising issues such as hunting with dogs. Vital protections for dogs, calves, sheep, primates and other animals have been sacrificed today at the Governments altar of self-serving political convenience. Well of course back delivery of these commitments as private members bills, but this is a high risk strategy, and indicative of the low priority the Government now evidently places on animal welfare. Chris and Lorraine Platt, co-founders of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation said it was disappointed, adding: We believe this represents a missed opportunity to further enhance the welfare and protection of animals across the United Kingdom. The RSPCAs director of policy, Emma Slawinski, said: While politicians dither, animals suffer. We are frustrated and disappointed that, despite overwhelming public support, the UK Government has delayed and delayed and has now broken up the Bill, leading to yet more uncertainty and lost time. Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner said: It is disappointing that landmark legislation on important welfare issues like sheep worrying has been needlessly delayed for two years by MPs who are fixated by hunting and other rural activities. Their obsession has held progress on animal welfare back. For Labour, shadow environment minister Alex Sobel told the Commons: It represents a profound setback for animal welfare in the UK. It confirms once again that the Government is too weak to deliver their own legislation. This time its innocent animals who will suffer the consequences. Conservative former environment secretary Theresa Villiers said: Ive campaigned for more than two decades for an end to the live export of animals for slaughter so I have to say I do feel a sense of frustration and disappointment that the Kept Animals Bill is not going to come back to Parliament. Can I really appeal to the minister and the wider government bring us a new Bill, lets get on with this, lets ban this cruel trade. Announcing the changes in a statement in the Commons, Mr Spencer said: Unfortunately this multi-issue nature means that there has been considerable scope creep. The Bill risked being extended far beyond the original commitments in the manifesto and the action plan. And in particular, Labour is clearly determined to play political games by widening the scope of this Bill. We remain fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments. And this approach is now the surest and quickest way of doing so, The environment minister said enormous progress on animal welfare has already been made with single-issue legislation, adding: Therefore we will be taking forward measures in the Kept Animals Bill individually during the remainder of this Parliament. We remain fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments. And this approach is now the surest and quickest way of doing so, rather than letting it be mired in political game-playing. He went on: Having left the EU, we are able to and will ban live exports for fattening and slaughter, and there has been no live exports from Great Britain since 2020. But our legislation will ensure this becomes permanent, and we remain committed to delivering it. Were committed to cracking down on puppy smuggling, we will ban the imports of young, heavily pregnant or mutilated dogs, and we will be able to do this more quickly with a single-issue bill than the secondary legislation required under the Kept Animals Bill. And we are committed to banning the keeping of primates as pets and will do this by consulting before the summer recess on the primate keeping standards, and they will be applied by secondary legislation being brought forward this year. We also look forward to progressing delivery of the new offence of pet abduction, and the new measures to tackle livestock worrying. He added: I want to assure the House that we are open to future consideration, but we will focus on delivering these key elements, delivering these measures as well as everything we have already delivered as part of and beyond the animal welfare element of our manifesto. It shows a Government which cares about animals. He also announced the launch of a new animal sentience committee, and a consultation on new financial penalties of up to 5,000 for those who commit offences against animals. A South London-based charity is using poetry as an outlet to give young people a voice and says writing poems is helping young people, especially men, feel safe discussing their feelings. Poetic Unity, a grassroots charity founded in Brixton, focuses on supporting young people, especially those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, through employment, the cost-of-living crisis, mental health and black British history initiatives and programs. One of the charitys programs, The Poets Corner which started in May 2015 holds bi-weekly open mic events at Brixtons Black Cultural Archives, where young people can perform and improve their poetry skills. Poetic Unitys trip to the theatre (Ryan J Matthews-Robinson/PA) The program is a part of the Poetic Relief Project, a partnership between Poetic Unity, Theatre Peckham and Black Cultural Archives. Ryan J Matthews-Robinson, the 35-year-old founder of Poetic Unity, from Brixton, told the PA news agency: We realised that young people, especially young men, when it comes to mental health and deep discussions, they struggle to speak about how they feel in a conversation. Ryan J Matthews-Robinson, the founder of the charity Poetic Unity (Ryan J Matthews-Robinson/PA) When they write their feelings into a poem its almost like they feel safe to do it, its a different feeling. Thats a great example of what we do in terms of using poetry as an outlet for young peoples mental health and how creativity can help them. Because creativity is great anyway because youre expressing yourself, but if you can express yourself discussing difficult topics thats even better. Mr Matthew-Robinson added that at The Poets Corner and other programs, the charity seeks to encourage discussions on racial justice, identity, anti-misogyny and colourism, among other topics. The audience at the Poets Corner, a bi-weekly open mic event run by the charity Poetic Unity, where young people can perform and practice their poetry skills (Ryan J Matthews-Robinson/PA) Its allowed us to help build young poets poetry skills and their performances as it is an open mic event where you can try anything you want, he said. Its the basis of what we do as an organisation: create safe spaces, platforming young voices. It gets to a point where they have improved so much, that Ill start putting on events where they are getting paid to perform. Since 2015, the charity has also aimed to normalise the teaching of black British History at their workshops as it has been monumental for Britain. The charity aims to teach black British history at its programs and initiatives (Ryan J Matthews-Robinson/PA) Mr Matthew-Robinson said: At our workshops it is really important that we normalise black British history. When I was in school, I only learned about American black history, [black British history] was just grazed over it wasnt done properly. So, when we teach black British history, its not even about just for black people, we want all young people to learn about this. There are over 18s who come here, who have already finished school and still havent learnt about the stuff we are teaching them. Black history has been monumental to this country. The charity has also created a six-month youth employment scheme called The Cultural Leaders, where six young people are paid to create workshops and events, to ultimately benefit their future employment endeavours. The 35-year-old, who has Jamaican and Irish heritage, says he is living in his purpose by reaching and helping thousands of young people every year. I cant ask for more than that, he said. Former public relations director of Kumyang Park Soon-hyeok / Screenshot from KBS' YouTube account Former PR director of Kumyang halts public activity amid controversies By Lee Yeon-woo Park Soon-hyeok, the former public relations director of Kumyang better known as "Battery Ajeossi (uncle)" to the public, has suddenly announced the cessation of his public activities and disappeared from the media. Park had emerged as a hero among individual investors by encouraging the purchase of domestic rechargeable battery stocks, which had been on an upward trend for the past few months. "Thanks to the 'Battery Ajeossi,' many individual investors have come to appreciate the excellence of Korean batteries and have made significant profits. Kumyang's market capitalization, which stood at only 200 billion won ($152 million) in Jan. 2022, has increased 16-fold to reach 3.2 trillion won," Park said. He recently announced this statement through a YouTube channel where he frequently appears. "I believe the Korean battery industry is a solution at this time when we need a new growth engine due to the semiconductor industry's slump. Even President Yoon Suk Yeol is paying attention to rechargeable batteries as a future pillar of Korea's economy, and no one can deny that this 'Battery Ajeossi' has played a significant role in that," Park added. Park blamed individual investors, Kumyang and rechargeable battery firms, stating that they have deserted him in his time of trouble even though they have benefitted from him. As a former analyst at Daehan Investment Trust, the ancestor of Hana Securities, Park has been recommending the purchase of stocks from eight companies related to rechargeable batteries, including LG Energy Solution, SK Innovation and EcoPro, through his publications and appearances on YouTube. He has been praised as a "mentor of individual investors," and garnered a significant following among those who profited from EcoPro's sharp rally last month. Data shows that from April 12 to May 23, individual investors net purchased 883 billion won of EcoPro's shares. This is the highest level of net buying by individuals in the KOSDAQ market. However, the stock prices of the recommended companies have shown a downtrend since. Shares of EcoPro plunged 20 percent alone this month. Despite warnings from major securities firms about overheated stock prices, Park has been arguing that "naive individuals should not be swayed by the securities cartels that exploit the capital market for their gain." This stance has led to conflicts with financial groups in Yeouido. Park has also been embroiled in suspicions that he, having previously worked for the rechargeable battery-related company Kumyang, is promoting the industry to boost the company's standing. Furthermore, in April, Park disclosed on a YouTube channel that Kumyang plans to sell 170 billion worth of treasury stock between May and June. The Korea Exchange stated that disclosing such plans through a specific media channel is in conflict with the company's obligation to announce information publicly. Park shortly thereafter submitted his resignation to the company. Fermanagh showed off its strong community ties as the King and Queen completed their two-day visit to Northern Ireland at Enniskillen Castle on Thursday. Charles and Camilla spent around an hour at the 16th century site meeting schoolchildren and community groups. A choir performed Rather Be by Clean Bandit as the couple entered the historic courtyard. The King and Queen with Lord Brookeborough, left, during their visit to Enniskillen Castle (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Learning about the Kindness Postbox, which helps people who are isolated, Camilla nodded, saying thats so important. She went on to meet schoolchildren who were learning about how youngsters were evacuated from Belfast during the Second World War to Fermanagh, commenting: Youre learning a lot, but its fun isnt it? Charles and Camilla went on to meet a long table of people who had taken part in the Big Lunch initiative which brought neighbours and communities together as part of the celebrations over the coronation weekend. The King met veterans, including 96-year-old George Stephens, in wheelchair, during his visit to Enniskillen (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Charles met a number of military veterans, including George Stephens, 96, who was in the Inniskilling Fusiliers and a former curator of the castle museum. The couple enjoyed a display of dancing put on by Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers reflecting Northern Irelands two main traditions, before being presented with a specially made Belleek Pottery coronation basket by Fermanagh and Omagh council vice chairman Allan Rainey. Moving outside the castle walls to the banks of the River Erne, the King appeared taken by the busy waterway with people on canoes, kayaks and waterbikes waiting to greet him. The King met members of the public by the River Erne (Oliver McVeigh/PA) He waved and navigated the grass slope to speak those in the closest canoe, as well as shaking the hand of a man on a waterbike, listening as he explained his route around the local waters. Charles also met with RNLI volunteers as the charity enters its 200th year, and thanked them for their work. The visit finished with an impromptu walkabout, meeting people in the crowds, including visitors from Canada and Australia. Mr Stevens smiled as he said he was so overwhelmed by meeting the King he had not quite taken in all he had said. Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers performed for the royal couple (Oliver McVeigh/PA) He previously met the late Queen at Buckingham Palace when he received his MBE. Its been a great day, he said. Catholic priest Father Brian DArcy also spoke of how much he had enjoyed the day. He spoke with both Charles and Camilla during the visit. Father Brian DArcy described the royal visit as a lovely day for Fermanagh (Oliver McVeigh/PA) They did a great job meeting everybody today, it was lovely the way they came round and were interested in people, and it wasnt just a run-of-the-mill event for them, they were very interested in community work, what people were doing, coping with loneliness, Camilla was very keen on that and people getting out, he told the PA news agency. Charles was very interested in the environment, he felt that we had a lot of work to do, he said we have a lot of work to do to save the environment, and no time to waste. Father DArcy went on: I think it was a lovely day for Fermanagh because Fermanagh is forgotten in a lot of ways, and it was lovely to see them taking time to realise that people down here are valuable too. We showed off our county as best as we can, the water, the tourism, the friendliness, the cross-community, the co-operation between churches. All of that was on show today, and all of that is really Fermanagh. Hundreds of people were gathering at an historic central London church on Thursday for the funeral of one of the last black RAF pilots to have fought in the Second World War. Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died alone aged 96 at his home in Maida Vale, west London, in December last year. Arrangements have been made to ensure the Lancaster bomber receives a dignified send-off worthy of his life story at a service hosted by the RAF. He had appeared destined for a low-key funeral until a council appeal to trace his relatives was picked up by historians, military researchers, genealogists, community groups and the media. His neighbour Paul Newman found his body six days before Christmas after becoming worried he was not answering the door while cards that could have helped find his family were cleared out soon after police decided the death was not suspicious, The Sun reported. Plans to hold the funeral at a 140-capacity chapel in Mortlake, south-west London in March were postponed because of a surge in requests to attend from well-wishers. Thursdays service is being held at St Clement Danes Church on The Strand, the central church of the RAF, which can seat 600 mourners. Relative Brooke Alexander last month told The Sun she hopes to travel more than 4,000 miles from the Jamaican capital Kingston to attend while other relatives told the newspaper they hope to travel there from Florida. Representatives from Caribbean community organisations and those who helped trace his relatives were also expected to attend. Mr Brown, who was born in Jamaica in 1926, enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and became one of the so-called Pilots of the Caribbean, carrying out missions as a radio operator and gunner. He is one of, if not the last, among this group to have passed away. After the war ended, he re-enlisted in the RAF, working as a signaller before joining civilian life. Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said: The national response to Peter Browns story has been overwhelming. The details of his life and subsequent search for relatives have truly captured the public imagination and moved people around the world. Our priority has always been to ensure Mr Brown receives a fitting, dignified send-off which allows those wishing to pay their respects the opportunity to do so. We are grateful to the RAF who have stepped in and provided a perfect venue to reflect Peters military service. We will continue to work with the RAF, community groups and well-wishers to ensure the service represents the many aspects of Mr Browns life. An RAF spokesperson said: Flight Sergeant Brown is an example of the selfless contribution of all Commonwealth personnel who have served throughout the RAFs history. We should never forget their sacrifices which have defended our freedom and kept us safe. England football captain Harry Kane has reflected on a special day after he received the Freedom of the City of London on Thursday in a ceremony alongside his family at Guildhall. One of the City of Londons ancient traditions, the honour is believed to have first been given in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade. The England record scorer was recognised by the City of London in November for his outstanding sporting achievements but has only now been able to receive his certificate in a ceremony alongside wife Kate, their three children and other family members. Kane, 29, who has spent the majority of his playing career in the capital with Tottenham Hotspur, where he is their all-time top scorer, was nominated by Chris Hayward, the City Corporations policy chairman, and his deputy Keith Bottomley. Reflecting on the ceremony, Kane told the PA news agency: It was great, really unique and really special in its own way. Just a great experience. I have all my family with me today and for them to be in that room with me and see me get the certificate has been amazing. I am learning more and more about it as we go on. The ceremony dived into a bit of the history and some of the names before me so it is incredible to be a part of. I am extremely grateful to London and what it has given me, the opportunities it has given me. I have been lucky to live here my whole life pretty much. I have had a couple of short spells away when I was on loan, but other than that I have been here. To represent not just England but London as well is something I am extremely proud of. To receive this award has been an amazing honour for me. Many congratulations to @England team captain and @SpursOfficial striker and top goalscorer @HKane who was awarded the Freedom of the City of London at Guildhall today, in recognition of his outstanding sporting achievements. #football #HarryKane https://t.co/dFW2B3L39u pic.twitter.com/rvzRiq0RZG City of London (@cityoflondon) May 25, 2023 Kane follows in the footsteps of former England cricketer and World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, who officially received the Freedom of the City of London last year. It was also granted to every member of the Lionesses squad following their winning exploits at Euro 2022. Kane, who was born in Walthamstow, joined the Tottenham academy in July 2009 and signed his professional forms a year later. He made his England debut in 2015 and guided the team to the final of the European Championships in 2021 after winning the golden boot for top scorer at the World Cup in 2018. Mr Hayward added: Harry Kane is an outstanding sportsman and role model for young footballers, having achieved so much before the age of 30. Born and raised in London and admired by many millions of followers of the beautiful game not just in this country, but around the world it was our pleasure to welcome him and his guests to Guildhall. Mr Bottomley said: Harry is, in every sense, at the top of his game and his Freedom goes some way towards expressing our admiration for his tremendous skill on the pitch, and our considerable pride in him. (Correction: Amending par 9 to remove reference to Signature Dining who continue to trade) Some Jewish children are surviving on just a bagel for lunch due to school meal funding problems, the Governments antisemitism adviser told Parliament. News emerged this week that a second kosher caterer has withdrawn its services from 18 Jewish schools in London due to spiralling costs. As hundreds of pupils from deprived areas go without hot meals, bakeries stepped in to provide them with lunchtime bagels. Independent peer Lord Mann told peers in Westminster: Theres currently some Jewish children having to survive, due to the funding formula, on a bagel every dinner time. Is that acceptable? And if not, which minister is going to sort it out? Lord Mann, former Labour MP and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism for 15 years, took up the role as a Government adviser in 2019. Health minister Lord Markham responded: I think and hope that every child would have something more nutritious and more healthy than just a bagel. It is something that I will happily discuss. Im not familiar with that particular case but it is something that I will happily take up. London Kosher Caterers (LKC) stepped in to cook lunch for the 18 schools earlier this year. However, they found the costs of delivering kosher meals far outstripped the funding the schools had from Government. Miriam Kaye, headteacher at Mathilda-Marks Kennedy Primary school, told Jewish News that LKC was unable to provide a hot meal for less than 5.50 per child more than 2 more than the school receives from the Government per pupil. Royal Naval personnel who played a key role in Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral procession are to be honoured by the King with a special parade and medal presentation at Windsor Castle. The monarch will personally present around 150 servicemen and women with their Royal Victorian Order honours in an outdoor ceremony on Tuesday in recognition of the duties they carried out in tribute to his late mother last September. Recipients include more than 100 of the Naval Ratings who pulled the Queens coffin in the procession on a 123-year-old gun carriage using ropes a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria. Members of the Royal Navy direct the State Gun Carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during the ceremonial procession (Daniel Leal/PA) The striking sight of the sailors in their distinctive uniforms with blue and white collars and white caps, marching in unison and acting as the Sovereigns Guard, was one of the defining images of the day. The Royal Naval personnel were appointed to the Royal Victorian Order by Charles in March as part of the Demise Honours list, which is traditionally published following the death of a monarch to recognise those who have provided personal service to the late sovereign. Joined by a military band, they will parade into the castles quadrangle via the George IV Gate, and onto the quadrangle grass, with the King taking a royal salute on a dais. The King and the Prince of Wales on the day of Elizabeth IIs funeral (Hannah McKay/PA) The monarch, joined by the First Sea Lord, will then present each recipient with their medal individually as he greets the sailors as they stand in formation. The late Queens funeral on September 19 and preceding lying-in-state cost the UK Government an estimated 161.7 million, figures have shown. The largest cost was reported by the Home Office at 73.7 million, followed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) at 57.4 million, while Ministry of Defence costs came to 2.9 million. Royal Victorian Order honours are in the Kings personal gift, bestowed independently of Downing Street, and are awarded for service to the royal family. The King and Queen have completed their two-day visit to Northern Ireland in the UKs most westerly town. Crowds cheered and sang God Save The King at Enniskillen Castle in Co Fermanagh as Charles and Camilla did an impromptu walkabout before departing the region. The King started the second day of the visit by attending a service at St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh, Co Armagh, attended by various religious leaders, while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were the Church of Irelands the Rev John McDowell and Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin. At the library, the Queen met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. The royals both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. Camilla during a visit to Robinson Library (Michael Cooper/PA) The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square in Armagh. Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met performers who gave a showcase of Ulster Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. The King and Queen meet Camilla Nowawakowska and Charles Murray, both eight, from Armstrong Primary School (Brian Lawless/PA) The King added: I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. Charles said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands with Rebekah Busby and patted her golden-doodle Teddy, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. The Queen meets characters representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh during a visit to Market Theatre Square, Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) She said: Weve been here since 8.50am, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? (Camilla) said Hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' Ms Busby described the atmosphere as unreal, and said she would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. Charles and Camilla travelled by helicopter from Armagh to Enniskillen for their final engagement of the day and their trip. Crowds of well-wishers cheered as they approached the 16th century castle, Charles wearing a grey suit and Camilla in an emerald green coat dress by Fiona Clare and emerald and diamond Cartier brooch which belonged to the late Queen. The King and Queen are at Enniskillen Castle for the final engagement of their two day visit to Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/lkUgf7NkPX Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) May 25, 2023 They were greeted by the High Sheriff for Co Fermanagh Noelle McAlinden and Fermanagh and Omagh council vice chairman Allan Rainey while they were serenaded by the Caritas Chamber Choir. Local school children and Army cadets were lined up to welcome the King and Queen into the historic courtyard while a community choir performed Rather Be by Clean Bandit. There was also a display of dancing put on by Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers reflecting Northern Irelands two main traditions. Charles and Camilla appeared touched to learn about the Kindness Postbox initiative, which aims to help those who are isolated and disconnected, before meeting those involved with The Big Lunch in Fermanagh. Thanking the King and Queen for their visit, Mr Rainey presented them with a specially made coronation basket from Belleek Pottery. Large crowds had gathered outside the castle by the end of the engagements. Camilla was drawn to a family with an Australian flag and kangaroo teddy bear, and greeted them saying, All the way from Australia?, to be told by one of the ladies she was originally from Enniskillen and brought her family home for a visit. Catholic priest Father Brian DArcy said it had been a lovely day for Fermanagh, and praised the King and Queen for a great job chatting to so many people. Fermanagh is forgotten in many ways and it was lovely to see them taking time to realise that people down here are valuable too, he said. We showed off our county as best we can, the water, the tourism, the friendliness, the cross-community, co-operation between churches all of that was on show today, and all of that is really Fermanagh. The King has thanked Armagh for the warm welcome he and the Queen received during the second day of their visit to Northern Ireland. Charles attended a service at St Patricks Cathedral attended by various religious leaders while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. At the library Camilla met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. Camilla during a visit to Robinson Library (Michael Cooper/PA) Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were Church of Ireland leader Rev John McDowell and the leader of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin. They both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square. The King and Queen meet Camilla Nowawakowska and Charles Murray, both eight, from Armstrong Primary School (Brian Lawless/PA) Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met with performers who gave a showcase of Ulster-Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. The Queen meets characters representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh during a visit to Market Theatre Square, Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault, he joked. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse, and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. He said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. The King and Queen are on a visit to Northern Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA) So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met with some people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands Rebekah Busby and gave her golden-doodle Teddy a pet, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. Weve been here since 8.50pm, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? [Camilla] said hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' She described the atmosphere as unreal, and that they would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. A shake-up of planning rules to free up lab space and efforts to encourage pension schemes to invest in emerging science and technology firms will all form part of a new 650 million funding package for the UKs life sciences sector. Announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the life sciences war chest is the latest Government effort to follow up on the Prime Ministers pledge to turn the UK into a science superpower. Dubbed the Life Sci for Growth package, it will see up to 250 million committed to incentivising pension schemes to invest in promising science and technology companies while money will also go towards the rail project connecting Oxford and Cambridge. Nearly 50 million has also been pledged to scientific efforts to prepare for future health emergencies while 154 million will go towards increasing the capacity of the UKs biological data bank. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, alongside the Prime Minister, has focused on boosting science in the UK (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Mr Hunt, who met with company bosses and industry figures at the UKs Life Science Council on Thursday, hailed the sector as one of the UKs most successful. Our Life Sciences sector employs over 280,000 people, makes 94 billion for the UK each year and produced the worlds first Covid vaccine. These are businesses that are growing our economy while having much wider benefits for our health and this multi-million pound investment will help them go even further, he said. The plan will also see 121 million, made up of new and existing funding, to speed up clinical trials and improve access to real-time data. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said ministers were taking forward recommendations from a review by Lord OShaughnessy to speed up the delivery of clinical trials and boost patient involvement in research, so people getting NHS care can benefit from cutting-edge treatments faster. The announcements also come after a review by Dame Angela McLeans on the UKs life science regulatory system. In the review, Lord OShaughnessy a former health minister expresses concern that research is not systematically prioritised by or within the NHS. To fix this, he calls for annual research and design targets for the NHS at every level with an ambition to make the health service the worlds leading platform for health R&D. And noting concerns about the slow pace of clinical trials, he calls for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Health Research Authority (HRA) to launch a new group to produce a plan on reducing the regulatory burden of approving trials and removing delays in set-up with the goal of reaching a 60-day turnaround time for all approvals. Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith said that the funding delivers on the Governments science and technology framework, and said it represented a double win that drove economic growth and supported public health. The Government said that the new railway funding was a sign of its ongoing commitment to the East-West Rail line project between the two university cities of Oxford and Cambridge. The cities of Oxford and Cambridge are renowned across the globe for their academic excellence East West Rail will be vital in allowing them to thrive for generations to come and help to grow the economy, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said. With the potential to unlock 103bn of growth through new homes, businesses and job opportunities, this crucial line will also serve as a catalyst for development in one of Europes most vibrant local economies while making travel quicker, cheaper and easier across the region. Experts gave a welcome to the new funding and focus on life sciences. Prof Charlotte Summers, an expert in intensive care medicine at the University of Cambridge, said: The OShaughnessy review has captured many of the issues contributing to the decline in commercial clinical trial activity within the UK, and the governments commitment to implement the proposed recommendations is to be welcomed. If we are to become a science superpower, it is vital that we use this as opportunity to expand clinical trial activity in the UK, and that we do not implement these reforms in a manner that leads to decreased non-commercial research activity our patients need both. Prof Andrew Morris, director of Health Data Research UK, said that the investment in infrastructure and the creation of new public-private partnerships were all good news for the sector. Praising the two reviews, he added: The one missing thing in todays announcements that would transform life science research in the UK is a positive conclusion to the talks for the UK to access the EUs Horizon research programme. Research today is built on team science with collaborations across the globe. Working alongside other top scientists in Europe benefits everyone and keeps all our research at the cutting edge, speeding benefits for patients and the public. Darius Hughes, Modernas general manager for the UK, said the company welcomed the recommendations in the independent review, all of which demonstrate a commitment to reinvigorate the UKs world-class reputation in clinical research that will bring benefits to patients, and we look forward to working with the Government on its implementation. Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lawrence and Kristen Stewart have all made a heel-less statement at Cannes Film Festival over the years. (Getty Images) Jennifer Lawrence in flip flops, Cate Blanchett in bare feet. Its not quite the look you would expect from an A-lister on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet but its all for a good reason. In 2015, a group of women were reportedly turned away from a screening of the film Carol at Cannes because they were wearing flat shoes. It is thought to be an unspoken rule of Cannes that high heels are mandatory for women. Read more: Cannes 2023: From Kate Beckinsale to Heidi Klum, which outfit gets your vote? While festival director Thierry Fremaux has since debunked this, actresses began to use the Cannes red carpet to make a statement. In 2016, Julia Roberts famously arrived at Cannes in bare feet. In 2018, Kristen Stewart arrived on the red carpet in stilettos onto to take them off when she was being photographed. Julia Roberts went barefoot at Cannes in 2016. (Getty Images) People get very upset if you dont wear heels or whatever I feel like you cant ask people that any more its a given. If youre not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either, Stewart previously told the Hollywood Reporter. Eight years after the women were told by security guards that they could not enter the screening as they were wearing flat shoes, the women of Hollywood continue to make a statement, like Lawrence and Blanchett have this year. Read more: Cannes 2023: Maya Jama rocks two stunning looks in as many days in the French Riviera I think some people still find it difficult to equate flat shoes with glamour. And Cannes is the ultimate in glamour, says Hannah Rochell, author of the En Brogue book series and a long-time advocate for flat shoes. Obviously I disagree with this, and would much prefer to get on and off yachts in a stable pair of flats (preferably with grip soles!) or bare feet. Rochell herself stopped wearing heels 12 years ago and began her blog, En Brogue, as a way to document her flat shoe style. This expanded to Instagram (@hannah.rochell) where she has over 30K followers and promotes slow fashion. Rochell says shes seen attitudes towards flat shoes change since she began her blog, which she started out of frustration for there being a severe lack of choice if you didnt want to wear heels. Jennifer Lawrence wore flip flops to the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. (Getty Images) Fast forward over a decade and you rarely see women wearing those vertiginous stilettos in everyday life that were so popular back then. I put that down to shoe designers catering for us flat shoe fanatics so much better (and there being so many more women designing for women), stylists giving us inspiration on how to wear them, and celebrities like those at Cannes getting on board on the red carpet, too. My favourite ever has to be Frances McDormand wearing bright yellow Birkenstock sandals at the Oscars in 2019, Rochell adds (see below). Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell at the 2019 Annual Academy Awards. (Getty Images) As for the actresses at Cannes wearing flats or not shoes at all, Rochell says she thinks its sad that this is seen as a statement but understands their reasoning behind it, and that no one should feel pressured to wear a heel to a formal event. Read more: Cannes Film Festival: Best celebrity fashion from Princess Diana to Liz Hurley Ive been to plenty of weddings in flat shoes and am always the last on the dance floor, she adds. I can run for the bus if Im late, I dont get to the end of a work event and find my toes hurt. I dont have uncomfortable heels languishing at the back of my wardrobe, unworn because I simply cant walk in them. Plus I just think flat shoes look so cool. Watch: Lily-Rose Depp responds to critical reviews of The Idol A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a vehicle was driven into the gates of Downing Street. The silver Kia car crashed into the gates at around 4.20pm on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Images on social media showed the car surrounded by emergency vehicles. The force added that no-one has been hurt. It is understood that counter-terrorism police are not involved in the investigation at this stage. Rishi Sunak was in Downing Street at the time the car crashed into the front gates, the PA news agency understands. The Prime Minister, who had been due to leave No 10 anyway, departed after the crash. Police at the scene after a car collided with the gates of Downing Street (Ben Hatton/PA) Witness Simon Parry, 44, said he heard a bang and saw police pointing Taser guns at a man. I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with Taser guns shouting at the man, he said. A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area. Mr Parry said the driver had his face to the floor as he was being arrested. He said the man appeared to slow down before he reached the gates of Downing Street, having driven out from the other side of the road. The scene after a car collided with the gates of Downing Street (@TorbsTalks/PA) There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad, he added. Asked to describe the mood in the immediate aftermath, Mr Parry said: We saw people that were in a panic running away and we saw people who were excited. In a statement released on Twitter, the Metropolitan Police said: At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Inquiries are ongoing. Footage of the incident broadcast by the BBC appears to show the car slowing down before it hits the gate. The incident came as many civil servants were leaving work. A police cordon was initially put in place in the Whitehall area outside Downing Street, but was later removed. A tow truck then removed the vehicle from the area. This photo, provided by the foreign ministry, shows a firing demonstration at the 8th Maneuver Division in Pocheon, around 40 kilometers north of Seoul with diplomats stationed in the country from 18 nations, including the United States and the Czech Republic, on hand, May 2. Yonhap South Korea and the United States are set Thursday to conduct their largest-ever live-fire drills in a northeastern border city to mark the 70th anniversary of their alliance, amid their stepped-up efforts to bolster deterrence against growing North Korean military threats. The Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise, the first of its kind in six years, will take place at the Seungjin Fire Training Field, also known as the Nightmare Range, in Pocheon, 52 kilometers northeast of Seoul, Seoul officials said. The exercise comes as cross-border tensions remain high due to North Korea's push to develop menacing weapons systems, such as underwater nuclear attack drones and a solid-fuel rocket, which critics said was disguised as a space launch vehicle. It is expected to be a showcase of the allies' formidable firepower represented by their mainstay weapons systems, such as F-35A radar-evading fighters, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, K2 battle tanks and multiple launch rocket systems. The U.S. could deploy A-10 attack aircraft and F-16 fighter jets. Observers said it could draw an angry reaction from Pyongyang. Last week, its state media said the planned "war exercise" against a "nuclear power" is "just sheer bullshit." The allies plan to conduct the exercise four more times next month on June 2, 7, 12 and 15. The last such exercise took place in 2017 and mobilized 48 South Korean and U.S. units, and over 2,000 troops. (Yonhap) A Metropolitan Police officer has appeared in court charged with rape. Pc Callum Utley, attached to the forces West Area Command Unit, allegedly committed the offence between July 1 2019 and December 31 2019 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, while he was off duty. At High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Thursday, Utleys lawyer indicated on his clients behalf a not guilty plea to a single charge of rape. Pc Callum Utley at High Wycombe Magistrates Court (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The 25-year-old appeared at court wearing a suit and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address in the village of Penn in Buckinghamshire. District judge Arvind Sharma bailed the defendant and sent the case to Aylesbury Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on June 26. The judge said: This is a matter that can only be dealt with at the crown court. Utley charged by Thames Valley Police by postal requisition earlier in May has been suspended from duty. The gambling regulator has fined Paddy Power and Betfair 490,000 for sending promotional push notifications to customers who had signed up to exclude themselves. Paddy Power sent the offer of enhanced odds for a Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United in November 2021 to devices that were either linked to accounts registered with the online self-exclusion service Gamstop or which had self-excluded with the operator. The Gambling Commission said the action had breached the regulators rules requiring gambling businesses to take all reasonable steps to prevent any marketing material being sent to a self-excluded customer. Gambling operators are supposed to remove anyone who signs up to Gamstop from their marketing databases within two days, under the conditions of British gambling licences. Gambling Commission executive director of operations Kay Roberts said: Although there is no evidence the marketing was intentional, nor that all the people with apps saw the notification or that self-excluded customers were allowed to gamble, we take such breaches seriously. We would advise all operators to learn from the operators failures and ensure their systems are robust enough to always prevent self-excluded customers from being sent promotional material. Ian Brown, chief executive of Flutter in the UK and Ireland, said: Flutters ambition is to lead the industry in safer gambling and we apologise for this mistake. The push notification in question was sent in error and, once discovered by our team, we took immediate steps to rectify the issue and proactively notified the Gambling Commission. We know that neither Paddy Power nor the regulator received any complaints about the message. We continue to work closely with the Gambling Commission in all areas and we are committed to operating at the highest possible levels of responsibility. Paddy Power and Betfair, owned by Flutter, is the latest in a string of operators to pay a penalty this year for failing to act in a socially responsible way. Previous penalties include a record 19.2 million fine for William Hill for widespread and alarming failures, including allowing customers to lose tens of thousands of pounds within minutes of opening an account. The Governments long-awaited gambling White Paper, finally published last month, outlined a series of measures to make online gambling safer, but including tougher affordability checks and limits on online slot machine stakes, but said most of the proposals would be subject to further consultation. Around 1.4 million customers of Welsh Water are to be handed a 10 rebate each after the firm admitted it failed to accurately report leaks across its network, which were much higher than it first recorded. Regulator Ofwat has launched an investigation into Welsh Waters leakage reporting for 2020 and 2021 after the admission and is looking into what further action needs to be taken over the failures. It comes just a day after the watchdog announced a probe into South West Water over the accuracy of data it provides on leakages. Welsh Water said it will credit the 10 onto the accounts of its 1.3 million household and 100,000 business customer accounts in the coming months, costing it around 14 million in total. It also pledged to spend an extra 54 million on tackling leaks over the next two years, taking total investment on this issue to 284 million over its current five-year spending plan. Pete Perry, chief executive of Welsh Water, said: We are very sorry and disappointed that this has happened. We have launched an enforcement investigation into@DwrCymru, relating to the accuracy of information reported by the company for its performance on leakage and per capita consumption.https://t.co/qkp6vmk6Nk pic.twitter.com/JnVSIXnEKW Ofwat (@Ofwat) May 25, 2023 Were investing an additional 54 million over the next two years to identify and reduce leakage as quickly as possible and we have shared the findings of our investigations with our regulator. Whilst our robust assurance process ultimately identified the issue, there were failures in our governance and management oversight processes that allowed this in the first place. We have made the necessary changes to how we manage leakage reporting and closed the gaps in our reporting and governance processes. Water giants are coming under heavy criticism across England and Wales for failing to effectively tackle spills in rivers and beaches. The Liberal Democrats analysis of Environment Agency data last month revealed monster sewage dumps in Englands rivers and seas last year. Suppliers are under pressure to modernise the Victorian-era sewage networks, but also get on top of the accuracy of their leakage reporting. A statement from our Chief Executive, Peter Perry. Read more here: https://t.co/EK29nDD6iw pic.twitter.com/Al4WVkkGWV Welsh Water (@DwrCymru) May 25, 2023 David Black, chief executive of Ofwat, said: We are committed to holding companies to account for performance and for sharing timely, accurate, and complete data with us and their customers. We recognise that Welsh Water came to us when it became aware of the issue with the accuracy of its performance data. Ofwats investigation will consider Welsh Waters restated performance figures, the circumstances that led to the company reporting inaccurate performance, and what steps it has taken or is taking to address these failings. Welsh Water said it had reviewing its leakage reporting over the past 15 months alongside independent experts, which showed leakage has been running at a much higher level than was previously recognised the company. The Consumer Council for Water (CWW) said Welsh Water will need to rebuild trust in the group among its customers. Emma Clancy, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: We recognise Welsh Water has moved swiftly to admit its mistake and the 10 rebate will go some way to reassuring its customers that it regrets the damage this will have caused to peoples trust in it. Customers will want the company to take the right steps to ensure this doesnt happen again. Our research shows leakage from water companies affects customers own motivation to save water so Welsh Water will need to build trust on this issue. Hundreds of mourners have gathered at an historic central London church for the funeral of one of the last black RAF pilots to have fought in the Second World War. Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died alone aged 96 at his home in Maida Vale, west London, in December last year. His funeral service is being held at St Clement Danes Church on The Strand, central church of the RAF, which can seat 600 mourners. RAF Sergeant Peter Brown (Westminster Council/PA) Mr Brown had appeared destined for a low-key funeral at a 140-capacity chapel in Mortlake, south-west London, in March, until a council appeal to trace his relatives was picked up by historians, military researchers, genealogists, community groups and the media. Relative Brooke Alexander had travelled more than 4,000 miles from the Jamaican capital Kingston to attend the funeral on Thursday. Representatives from Caribbean community organisations and those who helped trace his relatives were also in attendance, as well as celebrities including Batman Begins and Outlander actor Colin McFarlane, Top Boy star Michael Ward. Trevor Michael Georges, who plays Ed Bailey in Coronation Street, said: When I heard about Peter, I thought it was a very sad situation and I had to come to pay my respects. As a youth I was actually going to join the RAF. I was in the cadet force. But at the last minute, for various reasons, I changed my mind and decided to become an actor. Around 6,000 Caribbeans joined in the war effort. In a situation where every little bit helps, he made a big contribution. Mr Brown, who was born in Jamaica in 1926, enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and became one of the so-called Pilots of the Caribbean, carrying out missions as a radio operator and gunner. He is one of, if not the last, among this group to have died. The Order of Service on display ahead of the funeral of RAF Sergeant Peter Brown (Victoria Jones/PA) After the war ended, he re-enlisted in the RAF, working as a signaller before joining civilian life. Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said: The national response to Peter Browns story has been overwhelming. The details of his life and subsequent search for relatives have truly captured the public imagination and moved people around the world. Our priority has always been to ensure Mr Brown receives a fitting, dignified send-off which allows those wishing to pay their respects the opportunity to do so. We are grateful to the RAF who have stepped in and provided a perfect venue to reflect Peters military service. The Guard of Honour in place for the funeral (Victoria Jones/PA) We will continue to work with the RAF, community groups and well-wishers to ensure the service represents the many aspects of Mr Browns life. An RAF spokesperson said: Flight Sergeant Brown is an example of the selfless contribution of all Commonwealth personnel who have served throughout the RAFs history. We should never forget their sacrifices which have defended our freedom and kept us safe. Donald Campbell, 71, founder and director of The Forgotten Generations, a charity set up to archive information on British African and Caribbean people, said: When I joined the Royal Air Force in the 1970s, I had no idea there were African and Caribbean people like Peter Brown who served in World War Two. Mr Campbell, who served in the RAF for 36 years, added: I wish Id known about people like Peter because it would have given me the confidence to say, my forebears fought for this country, some of them died, so I have a right to be here. The funeral of Peter Brown was held at St Clement Danes Church (Victoria Jones/PA) There are so many Peter Browns out there whose stories are of benefit to future generations. Retired major Johanna Lewin, 64, chair of the Jamaica Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, who helped track down Mr Browns family, said: Hes a Jamaican, hes a veteran and he served, yet he was almost unknown when he died. Thats unacceptable for anybody, much less somebody who served and fought and sacrificed for the freedoms that we appreciate today. Today is a celebration of Peters life and his service, and its symbolic of those African and Caribbean servicemen who to a large extent are forgotten. Family members have paid emotional tributes to one of the last black RAF servicemen to have fought in the Second World War following his funeral at a historic central London church. Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died aged 96 at his home in Maida Vale, west London, in December last year. His funeral service was held at St Clement Danes Church on The Strand the central church of the RAF, which can seat 600 people. Mourners flocked from far and wide to pay their respects, with relatives Brooke Alexander and Myrtle Gutzmore travelling more than 4,000 miles from Jamaica. Speaking outside the church, Ms Gutzmore, 91, whose husband Isiah, 96, is the last remaining cousin of Mr Brown, said: I am really happy to know that so many people turned out. He lived his life and he served his country, and that is very important. Meanwhile, Rachel Ramsay, a distant niece of Mr Brown, described the occasion as surreal and amazing. She attended the funeral with her mother, Natalie Ramsay, 96, who shared a great grandfather with Mr Brown. Ms Ramsay, from Luton, said: My mums very big on history, so shes always told me about her uncles and her cousins that perished in the war. So now were actually seeing this in real life. RAF Sergeant Peter Brown (Westminster Council/family handout) Mr Brown had appeared destined for a low-key funeral at a 140-capacity chapel in Mortlake, south-west London in March, as he had no known relatives. Cards that could have helped track down his family were cleared out soon after police decided the death was not suspicious, The Sun reported. But after a council appeal to trace his relatives was picked up by historians, military researchers, genealogists, community groups and the media, there was a surge in requests to attend from well-wishers. During the military service, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston gave a reading, while music was provided by the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment the first band to play the Royal Salute at the Kings coronation. Mr Browns coffin was draped in a Union Flag, on top of which lay flowers, an RAF service dress hat and a cushion bearing his two military medals. Mr Brown, who was born in Jamaica in 1926, enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and became one of the so-called Pilots of the Caribbean carrying out missions on Lancaster Bombers as a radio operator and air gunner. He is one of, if not the last, among this group to have passed away. The coffin of RAF Sergeant Peter Brown (Victoria Jones/PA) After the war ended, he re-enlisted in the RAF, working as a signaller before leaving the service. Family members were joined by representatives from Caribbean community organisations and those who helped trace his relatives. Reverend Michael King, son of the Windrush Foundation founder Sam King, said the service reflected Britains rich history. He said: My father Sam King came on the Windrush. Ninety-five per cent of them were ex-RAF. They were military heroes and veterans come to rebuild the mother country as volunteers, just as Peter did. Today reflects the contribution these heroes have made and helps us understand the rich history of this nation. Retired Major Johanna Lewin, 64, chair of the Jamaica Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association who helped track down Mr Browns family, said: Today is a celebration of Peters life and his service, and its symbolic of those African and Caribbean servicemen who to a large extent are forgotten. Celebrities including Top Boy actor Michael Ward, Holby City actor Colin McFarlane and Coronation Street actor Trevor Georges also came to pay their respects. Mr Georges said: As a youth I was actually going to join the RAF. I was in the cadet force. But at the last minute, for various reasons, I changed my mind and decided to become an actor. When I heard about Peter, I thought it was a very sad situation and I had to come to pay my respects. The funeral of RAF Sergeant Peter Brown at St Clement Danes Church (Victoria Jones/PA) Donald Campbell, 71, founder and director of The Forgotten Generations a charity set up to archive information on British African and Caribbean people, said: When I joined the Royal Air Force in the 1970s, I had no idea there were African and Caribbean people like Peter Brown who served in World War Two. Mr Campbell, who served in the RAF for 36 years, added: I wish Id known about people like Peter because it would have given me the confidence to say, my forebears fought for this country, some of them died, so I have a right to be here. There are so many Peter Browns out there whose stories are of benefit to future generations. Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said: The national response to Peter Browns story has been overwhelming. The details of his life and subsequent search for relatives have truly captured the public imagination and moved people around the world. Sir Mike Wigston said: Flight Sergeant Peter Brown epitomised the selfless commitment of the generation who fought for our freedom in the second world war. Their courage and resilience is an inspiration to us all. We mourn his passing, but I am very proud the Royal Air Force has been able to provide a fitting tribute to one of our own. Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters should be prevented from performing in Manchester amid fears his divisive actions could fuel anti-Jewish hatred, MPs have heard. The veteran rocker, who left Pink Floyd in 1985, played in Germany while dressed as an SS soldier, the House of Commons was told. Labour MP Christian Wakeford added that Waters used the Star of David on a giant pig and the name of Jewish diarist Anne Frank at his show. Roger Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 (Isabel Infantes/PA) The MP for Bury South voiced concerns over Waters gig at the AO Arena in Manchester on June 10 and said it should not go ahead. Waters this week said people had been wrongly accusing me of being an antisemite and said he had been left saddened by people trying to cancel his shows. Speaking during business questions, Mr Wakeford told the Commons: The city of Manchester has a rich and vibrant history in which those of different faiths and backgrounds have lived together as well as stood together through difficult times and times of division. So Im concerned to note that Roger Waters is due to play at the AO Arena in Manchester next month. Mr Waters performed in Berlin this week and used the name of Anne Frank to stoke division, performed whilst dressed as an SS soldier and used the Star of David on a giant pig to insinuate that Jewish people run the world. The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester has issued a statement condemning his divisive actions. Will the Leader of the House agree with me that concerts like this have no place in our society and shouldnt go ahead, and agree to a debate in Government time on the record levels in anti-Jewish hatred in this country? Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt replied: I think the whole House was very shocked at what (Mr Wakeford) has said. I shall make certain that the Home Office has heard (Mr Wakefords) concerns today and I think that this House has made great efforts, particularly in recent years, to ensure that the scourge of antisemitism is addressed and stamped out from our country. I shall certainly make sure that all relevant departments have heard (Mr Wakefords) concerns today. Waters this week thanked those who had attended his shows in Germany in a Facebook post in which he also paid tribute to the White Rose movement, an anti-Nazi Germany resistance group. Waters said: The fact that some in power in Germany and some at the behest of the Israeli lobby have attacked me, wrongly accusing me of being an antisemite, and have tried to cancel my shows saddens me. Walking around Munich yesterday afternoon, I couldnt shake off the feeling that I was in the presence of Big Brother. It leaves a bad taste. The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester said in a statement: Roger Waters is famous for being a member of one of the most important bands in history. Unfortunately, he is now more synonymous with spreading deeply troubling political views that will rightly concern Jewish and other communities across Greater Manchester. After criticising his actions at a gig in Munich, it added: Those who are booking Waters to perform must balance whether it is acceptable to be providing a venue for him to spread these views. Jewish communities across Greater Manchester are vibrant and thriving. However, allowing Waters to perform risks damaging community cohesion, with the possibility of an increase in hate crime targeting Jewish people. Police have begun photographing an excavation site near the banks of a remote reservoir in Portugal as the fresh Madeleine McCann searches entered a third day. Officers maintained their focus on an area of woodland on a peninsula at the Barragem do Arade on Thursday after a digging operation was commenced on Wednesday afternoon. Heavy machinery, which had been used to cut through the vast undergrowth, was removed from the search area on Thursday afternoon amid reports that officers had been told to stand down by 4pm. A large section of the Barragem do Arade has been cordoned off since Tuesday morning, around 30 miles from where Madeleine went missing in 2007. Officers used shovels to excavate their area of focus, and sniffer dogs and pickaxes have also been deployed over the course of the searches. As some concentrated on the digging site, others used rakes and shovels to scour the surrounding area, slowly making their way through the recently trimmed undergrowth. Searches continue in Portugal as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (Yui Mok/PA) The operation is being carried out at the request of German investigators who believe their prime suspect, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, 45, kidnapped and murdered the youngster. He is currently in prison in Germany for the rape of a woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, and is suspected of further rapes and child sexual abuse committed in the area between 2000 and 2017. German authorities have not revealed what triggered the latest search operation, but prosecutor for the city of Braunschweig Christian Wolters said they were acting on the basis of certain tips. He told German public broadcaster NDR the new information had not come from the suspect and they did not have a confession or any indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search. Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007 (Family handout/PA) The Sun reported that investigators previously found photos and video of Brueckner at the reservoir. He has reportedly denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance. Madeleine was three years old when she vanished while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, after they left her and her younger twin siblings asleep in their apartment while they went out to dinner with friends. Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia previously claimed that criminal contacts had told him that Madeleines body was in the reservoir, and in 2008 he raised funds for unsuccessful private searches of the water. British officers from the Metropolitan Police are also present while the work is carried out so they can inform Madeleines parents of any developments. On Tuesday, search teams were seen scouring the banks hammering away at the ground with pickaxes and combing through small rocks with rakes and spades. Around a dozen officers with sniffer dogs were also at the site, while the fire service boat took officers onto the water. Personnel clear undergrowth near a reservoir in the Algave, Portugal (Yui Mok/PA) The Sun said divers were expected to enter the water on Thursday. Portuguese daily Expresso said that the first day ended with no significant results, and that police had collected some objects including fabrics and garments. Madeleines disappearance has attracted enormous media attention since she vanished, and reporters are being kept at arms length around a mile away from where search activity is taking place. A no-fly zone has also been imposed over the reservoir. The new searches come as the Home Office granted an extra 110,000 in funding this financial year for the Metropolitan Police to assist with finding Madeleine, down from just over 300,000 last year. The total funding given to Operation Grange has been just under 13.1 million since 2011. Police have flattened a concentrated area of woodland and dug a number of holes near a remote reservoir in Portugal as part of their three-day hunt for evidence in the Madeleine McCann case. Huge piles of soil and broken rock were left next to the 160 sq ft area close to the banks of the Barragem do Arade, where officers were seen with shovels for a number of hours on Wednesday afternoon. Portuguese police confirmed the search concluded on Thursday, and said materials had been sent to Germany for testing. The surrounding woodland showed pathways had been cut by heavy machinery, with large branches lining the routes towards the area of focus. The small section of woodland was clearly marked out by officers over the course of their three-day search in Portugal. The cordon around the site, which had been in place since Tuesday morning to allow officers to scour the area with rakes, pickaxes and sniffer dogs, has since been lifted. Police were given the go-ahead to search the area after German prosecutors received certain tips about the case. A few kilometres away from the search, blue tents had been erected for briefings to take place. Personnel at Barragem do Arade reservoir in Portugal (Yui Mok/PA) A large section of the Barragem do Arade was cordoned off on Tuesday morning, around 30 miles from where three-year-old Madeleine went missing in 2007. The operation was carried out at the request of German investigators who believe their prime suspect, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, 45, kidnapped and murdered the youngster. He is in prison in Germany for the rape of a woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, and is suspected of further rapes and child sexual abuse committed in the area between 2000 and 2017. German authorities have not revealed what triggered the latest search operation, but the prosecutor for the city of Braunschweig, Christian Wolters, said they were acting on the basis of certain tips. He told German public broadcaster NDR the new information had not come from the suspect and they did not have a confession or any indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search. The area around Barragem do Arade reservoir (Yui Mok/PA) The Sun reported that investigators previously found photos and video of Brueckner at the reservoir. He has reportedly denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance. Madeleine was three when she vanished while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, after they left her and her younger twin siblings asleep in their apartment while they went out to dinner with friends. Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia previously claimed that criminal contacts had told him that Madeleines body was in the reservoir, and in 2008 he raised funds for unsuccessful private searches of the water. British officers from the Metropolitan Police were also present while the work was carried out in order to inform Madeleines parents of any developments. Portuguese daily Expresso said that the first day ended with no significant results, and that police had collected some objects including fabrics and garments. Madeleine McCann (PA) Madeleines disappearance has attracted enormous media attention since she vanished, and reporters are being kept at arms length around a mile away from where search activity is taking place. A no-fly zone was also imposed over the reservoir for the first two days. The new searches come as the Home Office granted an extra 110,000 in funding this financial year for the Metropolitan Police to assist with finding Madeleine, down from just over 300,000 last year. The total funding given to Operation Grange has been just under 13.1 million since 2011. A solicitor who has represented female officers with claims of sex discrimination against Police Scotland said she is disappointed there is a reluctance to admit there are individuals within the force who are racist and sexist. Margaret Gribbon represented former armed response officer Rhona Malone, who won almost 1 million in compensation in a landmark legal case which found she had been victimised after raising concerns about sexism within Police Scotland. Ms Gribbon said while she welcomed Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstones admission that the force is institutionally racist and sexist, she was disappointed he appears to be reluctant to acknowledge there are individual officers who have discriminatory attitudes. She said: I welcome the chief constables admission that the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory and congratulate the Independent Review Group (IRG) on their first report. Sir Iain Livingstone has admitted Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory (Andrew Milligan/PA) I am disappointed however that there appears a reluctance by the chief constable to admit that there are, unfortunately, officers who are racist and sexist. Not to acknowledge this does a disservice to the public, the women police officers I represent, and those serving officers who carry out their challenging roles to an exemplary standard. There is evidence of male officers who are the subject of serious conduct complaints of sexism and misogyny, even criminality, who face no meaningful censure and then go on to be promoted to senior ranks. Police Scotland must face up to the reality of the challenge they face, and like the Met, commit to removing racist, misogynistic and homophobic officers from policing. On Thursday, Sir Iain told a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority that Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory. He added: It is right for me, the right thing for me to do as chief constable, to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist. Rhona Malone won almost 1 million in compensation in a landmark legal case against Police Scotland (PA) Publicly acknowledging these institutional issues exist is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service. It is also critical to our determination to lead wider change in society. His statement was hailed as historic and monumental by First Minister Humza Yousaf. Unison, the union which represents civilian staff at Police Scotland, has called on the force to take firm and immediate action on the issue. Deputy branch secretary David Malcolm said: There is no place in policing, or in Scotland, for racism. Sir Iain Livingstones public acknowledgement that Police Scotland is institutionally racist means they must now take firm and immediate action to become an anti-racist service and champion equality. Unison stands ready to work with Police Scotland to take the necessary steps. In 2023, Unison is celebrating the year of black workers to campaign for lasting change in workplaces and communities across Scotland. We look forward to working with Sir Iain to end racism in our police service. Rishi Sunak has said the Government is considering ways to strengthen rules on vape advertising after figures showed the proportion of children trying e-cigarettes has doubled in the past decade. The Prime Minister expressed concern about his own daughters potentially being targeted by some of the marketing, which he says appears to be aimed at young people. Campaigners have argued that vapes are designed to attract children with their brightly coloured packaging and sweet flavours and called for a Government crackdown. Mr Sunak expressed his worries over the marketing of the products (PA) I have two young girls. Im also worried about that, Mr Sunak told ITVs Good Morning Britain. Were looking at how can we strengthen the rules on how are they marketed, promoted, what do they look like. It looks like they are targeted at kids, (which is) ridiculous. I dont want my kids seduced by any of these things. Ministers announced a crackdown on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s with an illicit vapes enforcement squad earlier this year. They said the task force would conduct test purchasing at shops and share intelligence across regional networks and local authorities. Mr Sunaks latest comments come after Labour pledged to change advertising rules to prevent products such as vapes being marketed to children. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pledged to change ad rules (Ian West/PA) In a major speech outlining the partys approach to health and the NHS, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: We will change advertising rules and we will make sure that products which are harmful to our childrens health vaping, junk food, sugary snacks cannot be advertised to our children. No not in Britain. It comes after YouGov data for Britain suggested experimental vaping among 11 to 17-year-olds rose from 5.6% in 2014 to 11.6% in 2023. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, has warned the Governments task force would not work without measures targeting the marketing of the products. But enforcement on its own wont do the trick without tougher regulation to address the child-friendly promotion of these cheap and attractive products, she said. Geoff Worsley, a father from Abergele, North Wales, whose change.org petition Stop Children Vaping More Regulation Now has more than 100,000 signatures, is among campaigners calling for a crackdown, saying: Parents like me up and down the country are calling on Government to act to protect our children from vaping as well as smoking. More funding for enforcement is a good first step but its not enough. An undated photo, released on March 11, 2022 by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), shows Kim Jong-un, center, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea inspecting the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province, North Korea. EPA-Yonhap Construction at North Korea's satellite launching station has hit a "new level of urgency," most likely in preparation for a launch, a U.S.-based think tank said in a report citing commercial satellite imagery. North Korea says it has completed its first military spy satellite, and leader Kim Jong-un has approved final preparations for a launch to place it in orbit, without publicising a date. Commercial satellite imagery from Monday shows that progress on a new launch pad in a coastal area east of North Korea's Sohae Satellite Launching Station is moving forward at a "remarkable pace", 38 North, a Washington-based programme that monitors North Korea, said in a report on Thursday. "While the key components of the Sohae complex have been undergoing modernization and expansion over the past year, this uptick in activity suggests a new level of urgency in making the site ready to accommodate satellite launches," the report said. The new launch pad appears to feature a rail-mounted assembly structure, a possible mechanism for lifting a rocket into place, lighting towers, and a tunnel for funnelling flames away. If it is meant to service liquid-fuelled rockets, additional infrastructure will most likely be needed, the report added. At Sohae's main launch pad, crews appear to have completed modifications to the gantry tower, while work continues on a storage for fuel and oxidizer. A new area for VIPs to observe launches also appears largely completed, 38 North concluded. Analysts say a military satellite is part of the reclusive, nuclear-armed state's efforts to advance surveillance technology, including drones, to improve its ability to strike targets in the event of a conflict. North Korea has tried several times to launch "earth observation" satellites, of which two appeared to have been successfully placed in orbit, including the latest in 2016. International observers have said the satellite seemed to be under control, but there was lingering debate over whether it had sent any transmissions. (Reuters) First Minister Humza Yousaf has hailed as historic and monumental a statement from the outgoing chief constable of Police Scotland in which he admitted the force is institutionally racist. Sir Iain Livingstone told a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority that it is important to acknowledge the issues within the force. His comments came part way through a public inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh, a black man who died after being taken into police custody in 2015. Mr Yousaf told how he had challenged racism in the police force himself when he was younger, after being stopped and searched several times by officers from Strathclyde Police one of several regional forces that existed in Scotland before the national body was created. Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone said the force is institutionally racist (Robert Perry/PA) Speaking during First Ministers Questions at Holyrood, the SNP leader said: There is no doubt that institutional racism exists in our society, and I want to take a moment just to say as a person of colour the statement from the chief constable is monumental, historic. I remember raising issues around racism in the police force, Strathclyde Police as it was back then, when I was stopped and searched over a dozen times as young boy, whether it was in my car, walking with my friends in the streets, in airports. So the acknowledgement from the chief constable is very welcome indeed. Mr Yousaf stressed Sir Iains comments are not an inference on individual police officers, who we know put themselves in harms way to protect us day in and day out. The First Minister added that acknowledging the problems of institutional racism and institutional misogyny within the force is the first step that is required in order to then dismantle those institutional and structural barriers that exist. Our Chief @CC_Livingstone addressed the matter of institutional discrimination at a meeting of the @ScotPolAuth today. Read his statement here https://t.co/17GZcsMQDD pic.twitter.com/n4IttqABZs Police Scotland (@PoliceScotland) May 25, 2023 He said he is committed to working with Police Scotland on these issues. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, whose wife is a serving police officer, called for urgent action to overhaul how Police Scotland handles legitimate complaints from within the force. Claiming the current system is not fit for purpose, Mr Ross said: Nobody should feel fear when raising concerns. Thats clearly unacceptable. Officers should be able to raise legitimate issues without suffering any consequences. Mr Yousaf pledged to look at the issue, as he highlighted the importance of culture within the police force, saying that is why the chief constables statement was so monumental, because it is demonstrating from the very, very top of the organisation that culture simply is not acceptable. Mr Ross went on to raise the issue of police budgets, saying the trade union Unison has complained about a 74 million shortfall as he voiced concerns that officers are being asked to do too much with too little. Douglas Ross said Police Scotlands internal complaints systems is not fit for purpose (PA) He said: None of that excuses discrimination, but it is a serious problem limiting Police Scotlands ability to change its culture and leaving first-class officers without the resources they need to do their job. Mr Yousaf agreed that funding can never be an excuse for institutional racism, institutional misogyny. He added: In terms of the funding we provide for Police Scotland, despite UK Government austerity over the years, we have increased police funding year-on-year since 2016. We have invested more than 11.6 billion in policing since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013. Speaking to journalists after FMQs, Mr Yousaf reflected on his own experiences with the police. He said: I felt quite emotional, I have to say, listening to the chief constable as he was making his statement today. I can think of well over a dozen times where I was stopped and searched as a young teenager walking the streets with my friends never doing anything wrong. He said he had also been stopped in airports, as well as while driving a car at night. If Ron DeSantis was hoping for a flashy entrance into the 2024 race for the White House, Wednesdays Twitter Spaces event hosted by CEO Elon Musk and moderator David Sacks was not it. The long-awaited official launch event of the DeSantis 2024 campaign ended up being a disjointed mess peppered with technical issues that was instantly ridiculed by his political enemies. The governor spoke for a little more than an hour before he rushed off to attend a slightly more technically-sound interview on the Fox News channel; the Twitter event began late, with the first iteration of the chat room crashing and haveing to be rebooted. Campaign staffers for President Joe Biden didnt miss the opportunity to stick a knife in the governors wound, tweeting: This link works, and providing a portal to a donation page. The second iteration fared better, but quickly became equally as focused on a sort of Elon Musk lovefest as it was on the Florida governor, who found himself pushing his record in the state at every opportunity while other speakers focused on national issues including, mainly, the supposed censorship of conservatives on social media platforms. He found no openings to substantively hit former President Donald Trump, who meanwhile was battering the governor in a series of press releases and Truth Social postings. Mr DeSantiss launch event was joined by Congressman Thomas Massie, an endorser of the governor in the House of Representatives. Still, Mr Massie couldnt help ending his remarks not with a rousing call to support his friend, the governor, but rather with starstruck praise for Mr Musk including the excited declaration that he owned a Tesla. The governor spent a notable portion of his time defending his war against the Disney corporation, which has begun to look increasingly costly for the state of Florida with the company filing a lawsuit against him and accusing him of using his office to discriminate against their business over a political agenda. The Disney corporation recently announced that it was axing a major business development project in Orlando as the dispute escalated, which did not escape Mr DeSantiss focus on Wednesday evening. He complained that the once-planned project was wholly unrelated to the states dispute with Disneys self-managed business district, and speculated without any real knowledge that the company had fallen on tough financial times, supposedly necessitating the shuttering of the project. His remarks came as foes on all sides mocked the governors belly-flop into the 2024 race; Donald Trump, his main rival for the GOP nomination, dubbed the event Mr DeSantiss failure to launch in a press release from his campaign, while Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gleefully noted that her own non-campaign-related Among Us session with Twitch streamers Hasanabi and Pokimane had easily surpassed the attendance of Mr Musk and Mr DeSantiss Twitter Space. We had more people join when I played Among Us https://t.co/zBoDCM0XmL Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 24, 2023 Even frequent Musk fanboy Catturd2, a hero of the right-wing Twittersphere, panned the event as like being forced to listen to a conference call you can't wait to get off of. This is like being forced to listen to a conference call you can't wait to get off of. Catturd (@catturd2) May 24, 2023 "Ron DeSantis botched campaign announcement is another example of why he is just not ready for the job. The stakes are too high, and the fight to save America is too critical to gamble on a first-timer who is clearly not ready for prime time. President Trump is the proven leader that will be ready on day one to turn the country around, said a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign. The bloodletting didnt stop there. Mr DeSantis couldnt even find a friendly reception on the website of Fox News, where he was headed only minutes later for an interview, which dubbed the event amateur hour. Much-hyped Ron DeSantis presidential announcement a disaster on Twitter, declared the conservative news site in a headline. Altogether, the reception of the event was indeed a disaster even if the performance of the candidate himself found little room for critiques. The governor sounded composed and prepared to hit his talking points on the rare occaision that he actually got to make them, and there were none of the awkward gaffes that have hounded his potential general election opponent Joe Biden. But the actual event itself, with control of much of it being handed away from the DeSantis campaign, was at times hardly focused on the candidate itself. Compounded by the audio-only nature of the discussion, it led to a series of branding and showmanship failures that quickly added up to a muddled mess which was potentially, in the end, less impressive than the campaign launch of longshot candidate Sen Tim Scott earlier in the week. Mr DeSantis enters the 2024 race as the only Republican polling in the double digits in matchups against Donald Trump and others. But Wednesday nights wheezing jog onto the track by the Florida governor did not give the impression of a candidate capable of maintaining a sustained campaign against the former president, who has already focused his sights directly on his rival. Ghost's PHANTOMIME EP To Feature Songs by Television, Iron Maiden, Tina Turner The queen of rock and roll, Tina Turner, died at the age of 83 on Wednesday (May 24) at home in Switzerland. Born Anna Mae Bullock in Tennessee in 1939, she auditioned for Ike Turners band as a teenager in 1957, eventually marrying the guitarist and becoming the star attraction of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. The duo scored hits throughout the 60s and 70s, with Tinas legendary stage presence influencing countless performers from Mick Jagger to Beyonce. After years of surviving Ikes physical abuse, Tina Turner divorced her husband in 1978 and went solo, starting her career over at square one. With the goal to become the first Black woman to fill stadiums around the world, Turner eventually became bigger than ever, selling 5 million copies of 1984s Private Dancer, winning three Grammys, and briefly crossing over into movie stardom with Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Turner released her final album, Twenty Four Seven, in 1999, and retired from touring a year later, although she continued to tell her dramatic life story in the 2021 documentary Tina and produced the Broadway show Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. More from Spin: Tina Turner is, alongside Stevie Nicks, one of only two women to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Heres a look back at the best songs from her 40-year recording career, both with Ike and as a solo artist. 10. We Dont Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (1985) Turners first feature film roles were in a pair of musicals based on classic rock albums: 1975s Tommy and 1978s Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. After her 80s comeback, she took on her most substantial acting gig when Mad Max director George Miller created the antagonist for the sequel Beyond Thunderdome with Turner in mind. Turner played Aunty Entity in the dystopian action movie and recorded two songs for the soundtrack, with the grandiose power ballad We Dont Need Another Hero becoming one of her biggest chart hits. 9. Sleepless (1962) Tinas voice absolutely explodes out of the speakers on Ike & Tina Turners aptly named second album, 1962s Dynamite! The contrast between the Ikettes placid harmonies and Turners pained wail on Sleepless is almost comedic, even as they sing the same sentiments and finish each others sentences. She begins the song at a 10 on the intensity scale and never lets up for the next three minutes. 8. Unfinished Sympathy (1996) Towards the end of Tinas career, major stars eagerly lined up to write for her, and 1996s Wildest Dreams features songs penned by Bono and the Edge, Pet Shop Boys, and Sheryl Crow. The albums most surprising track, however, is a faithful cover of British trip-hop group Massive Attacks 1991 breakthrough single Unfinished Sympathy. 7. Overnight Sensation (1986) Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler wrote Private Dancers title track, and on the follow-up album, 1986s Break Every Rule, he contributed another song that seemed to capture her life story in four minutes: I had to beat the stage fright, I had to cry all night / Trying to make a song fit when you know it never was right / I said, Girl, get up and get out of this mess / Youre going to be an overnight sensation. 6. River Deep, Mountain High (1966) If any pop hitmakers legacy has been even more tarnished by his personal life more than Ike Turner, its groundbreaking producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector. Unfortunately, Tina worked with both men on the 1966 album River Deep Mountain High, but the title track is a marvel, one of the few times when a vocalist sounded like they could actually overpower Spectors massive wall of sound production style. When the song barely scraped the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100, Spector temporarily announced his retirement. Thankfully River Deep was a major hit in the U.K., leading to Ike and Tina opening shows for the Rolling Stones. 5. I Dont Wanna Fight (1993) Turners 1986 memoir I, Tina was adapted into the 1993 biopic Whats Love Got To Do With It, featuring Oscar-nominated performances by Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne. Turner re-recorded some of her hits for the soundtrack album as well as three new songs. The weary, bittersweet I Dont Wanna Fight, co-written by 60s pop star Lulu, became Turners last top 10 hit on the Hot 100. 4. The Best (1989) The songwriting team of Mike Chapman and Holly Knight penned several songs for Tina, including the 1984 hit Better Be Good To Me. Their best song, however, was first recorded by Bonnie Tyler, becoming a minor hit in Europe before Turner made it into the iconic lead single of 1989s Foreign Affair. 3. Nutbush City Limits (1973) In her vast and legendary performing career, Tina only wrote about 30 songs, most of which appeared on later Ike & Tina Turner albums in the 70s. By far the most famous of them is the title track to 1974s Nutbush City Limits, a top 40 hit about Turners childhood in Nutbush, Tn., that was later covered by Bob Seger. The hard-driving funk track features a clavinet riff, a gurgling Moog, and a glammy rhythm guitar track rumored to have been played by T. Rexs Marc Bolan. 2. Whats Love Got To Do With It (1984) After leaving Ike in 1976, Tina recorded a couple of moderately successful solo albums, but by the 80s shed fallen on hard times and was performing in clubs to get by. The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart put Turner back in front of big crowds as an opening act, though, and covers of hits by the Supremes and Al Green did well enough in Europe to get her a contract with Capitol Records. The resulting album, Private Dancer, was a multi-platinum phenomenon thanks largely to Whats Love Got To Do With It, a song first recorded but never released by the English pop group Bucks Fizz. At 44, Turner scored one of the greatest comebacks in music history and broke pops age barrier, becoming the oldest woman to hit the top of the Hot 100 (a record only broken by Cher 15 years later). 1. Proud Mary (1971) Plenty of songs have been hits for multiple artists, but its rare that one becomes a career-defining signature song for two classic acts. Two years after Creedence Clearwater Revivals original Proud Mary was released, Ike and Tina returned the John Fogerty-penned song to the top 10 with their nice and rough rendition. Tina initially sings it slower than the original, and then the bands horn section kicks into high gear as she attacks the lyric again at a frantic new pace which completely reshapes the song. To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here. The post Ghosts PHANTOMIME EP To Feature Songs by Television, Iron Maiden, Tina Turner appeared first on SPIN. State lawmakers want children to fill labor shortages, even in bars and on school nights MADISON, Wis. (AP) Lawmakers in several states are embracing legislation to let children work in more hazardous occupations, longer hours on school nights and in expanded roles including serving alcohol in bars and restaurants as young as 14. The efforts to significantly roll back labor rules are largely led by Republican lawmakers to address worker shortages and in some cases run afoul of federal regulations. Child welfare advocates worry the measures represent a coordinated push to scale back hard-won protections for minors. The consequences are potentially disastrous, said Reid Maki, director of the Child Labor Coalition, which advocates against exploitative labor policies. You can't balance a perceived labor shortage on the backs of teen workers. Lawmakers proposed loosening child labor laws in at least 10 states over the past two years, according to a report published last month by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. Some bills became law, while others were withdrawn or vetoed. Legislators in Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa are actively considering relaxing child labor laws to address worker shortages. Employers have struggled to fill open positions after a spike in retirements, deaths and illnesses from COVID-19, decreases in legal immigration and other factors. Wisconsin lawmakers back a proposal to allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants. If passed, Wisconsin would have the lowest such limit nationwide, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The Ohio Legislature is on track to pass a bill allowing students ages 14 and 15 to work until 9 p.m. during the school year with their parents permission. That's later than federal law allows, so a companion measure asks the U.S. Congress to amend its own laws. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, students that age can only work until 7 p.m. during the school year. Congress passed the law in 1938 to stop children from being exposed to dangerous conditions and abusive practices in mines, factories, farms and street trades. Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law in March eliminating permits that required employers to verify a childs age and their parent's consent. Without work permit requirements, companies caught violating child labor laws can more easily claim ignorance. Other measures to loosen child labor laws have been passed into law in New Jersey, New Hampshire and Iowa. Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law last year allowing teens aged 16 and 17 to work unsupervised in child care centers. The state Legislature approved a bill this month to allow teens of that age to serve alcohol in restaurants. It would also expand the hours minors can work. Reynolds, who said in April she supports more youth employment, has until June 3 to sign or veto the measure. Republicans dropped provisions from a version of the bill allowing children aged 14 and 15 to work in dangerous fields including mining, logging and meatpacking. But it kept some provisions that the Labor Department say violate federal law, including allowing children as young as 14 to briefly work in freezers and meat coolers, and extending work hours in industrial laundries and assembly lines. Teen workers are more likely to accept low pay and less likely to unionize or push for better working conditions, said Maki, of the Child Labor Coalition, a Washington-based advocacy network. There are employers that benefit from having kind of docile teen workers, Maki said, adding that teens are easy targets for industries that rely on vulnerable populations such as immigrants and the formerly incarcerated to fill dangerous jobs. The Department of Labor reported in February that child labor violations had increased by nearly 70% since 2018. The agency is increasing enforcement and asking Congress to allow larger fines against violators. It fined one of the nation's largest meatpacking sanitation contractors $1.5 million in February after investigators found the company illegally employed more than 100 children at locations in eight states. The child workers cleaned bone saws and other dangerous equipment in meatpacking plants, often using hazardous chemicals. National business lobbyists, chambers of commerce and well-funded conservative groups are backing the state bills to increase teen participation in the workforce, including Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political network and the National Federation of Independent Business, which typically aligns with Republicans. The conservative Opportunity Solutions Project and its parent organization, Florida-based think tank Foundation for Government Accountability, helped lawmakers in Arkansas and Missouri draft bills to roll back child labor protections, The Washington Post reported. The groups, and allied lawmakers, often say their efforts are about expanding parental rights and giving teenagers more work experience. Theres no reason why anyone should have to get the governments permission to get a job, Republican Arkansas Rep. Rebecca Burkes, who sponsored the bill to eliminate child work permits, said on the House floor. This is simply about eliminating the bureaucracy that is required and taking away the parents decision about whether their child can work. Margaret Wurth, a children's rights researcher with Human Rights Watch, a member of the Child Labor Coalition, described bills like the one passed in Arkansas as attempts to undermine safe and important workplace protections and to reduce workers power. Current laws fail to protect many child workers, Wurth said. She wants lawmakers to end exceptions for child labor in agriculture. Federal law allows children 12 and older to work on farms for any amount of time outside of school hours, with parental permission. Farm workers over 16 can work at dangerous heights or operate heavy machinery, hazardous tasks reserved for adult workers in other industries. Twenty-four children died from work injuries in in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Around half of deadly work incidents happened on farms, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office covering child deaths between 2003 and 2016. More children die working in agriculture than in any other sector, Wurth said. Enforcement isnt going to help much for child farm workers unless the standards improve. ___ Harm Venhuizen is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Venhuizen on Twitter. Global Citizen has announced another all-star concert aiming to help force a real effect on world poverty and climate change, this one set to stream live from Paris Champ de Mars on June 22 and featuring Billie Eilish, Jon Batiste, Lenny Kravitz and H.E.R., with additional special appearances by Ben Harper, Finneas and Mosimann. The Live Nation-produced event, Power Our Planet: Live in Paris, will be held before a ticketed audience and streamed from in front of the Eiffel Tower on the Global Citizen channel on Amazons Twitch, with further broadcast or streaming partners to be announced in the coming weeks. More from Variety The location wasnt chosen just for its scenic value. The Summit for a New Financial Pact is being held in Paris on June 22-23, and Global Citizens stated hopes are that the concert will help compel World Bank President Ajay Banga, the U.S. governments Janet Yellen and all the G20 Nations to take action on loosening up funds for less developed nations to deal with climate change. In fact, some of the leaders gathering for the summit might earn a special spot on the guest list, provided they can do more than just prove their Billie Eilish fandom. Literally at the very same moment that concert is happening, the world leaders are meeting that evening, Global Citizen CEO and co-founder Hugh Evans tells Variety. Some leaders might be able to come over if theyre stepping up on the issues that we know they need to step up on. Global Citizen is not just shouting at these world leaders from across a chasm as a protest; the org maintains close ties with some of the heads of state participating in the summit. Emmanuel Macron, president of the French Republic, has thrown his support behind Power Our Planet: Live in Paris, and the campaign is co-chaired by Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados. Although most of the entertainers involved are veterans of Global Citizens concerts, Kravitz is a first-timer. Im thrilled with that because Ive wanted to work with him for a very long time. And his manager Craig (Fruin) said that Lennys super passionate about climate change and wants to play a bigger role with this campaign. The issues involved in this campaign may seem arcane to the average music fan who might tune in, but Evans says the artists involved can be closer to policy wonks than we might expect. Youd be surprised, when you sit down with an artist or a manager, how much people love to engage in the minutiae of reform. The Global Citizen head notes that some, like Eilish, are known for their commitment to these issues at a local level. If you look at like Billies mom, Maggie, she obviously focuses on climate change and on plant-based food to support homeless people across the Bay Area, so its an example of complete consistency with the way their family operates and why shes standing up for this issue. What are the global political issues involved, and what does Global Citizen hope to accomplish in the short term, on or by the fourth weekend of June, as well as long-term? Take a seat: Evans can lay it all out in the same detail for readers as he would for Kravitz or Batiste. About a year ago, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados convened a meeting of leaders in Bridgetown, Barbados to discuss the need to change the way the financial system works and address the climate crisis, Evans explains. It became known as the Bridgetown agenda. She brought leaders from the United Nations, other heads of state, the heads of the IMF, a range of economists, the head of Rockefeller, and Global Citizen, among others. And the whole purpose of this meeting was to say that for many years the World Bank, for example, has been loaning at a rate of 22% equity-to-loan ratio when it could be loaning a rate of 19% equity-to-loan ratio, which basically means its sitting on about $25-40 billion that hasnt been lent to the worlds poorest nations to help them adapt to the devastating effects of climate change and transition to clean energy. So its really irresponsible the way that the global financial system has been not working to achieve its objectives. And part of that was intentional, he continues. You know, when Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and installed David Malpass as president of the World Bank, he made a very intentional decision. In fact, some Trump colleagues have said to me directly that they saw David Malpass as an empty suit. So it was actually a very deliberate strategy for the World Bank not to be effective in its outcomes. And Mia Mottley brought this group together and then called President Macron of France and she said, We need to bring G20 leaders together to reform the way the World Bank works, but also to make sure that the climate change negotiations this year dont fail again. Last year, the Egyptian climate negotiations were a complete failure. You got no major policy outcomes. And then they announced this thing called a loss and damage fund that so far has $0 in it. So its incredibly ineffective as an instrument to achieve its stated outcome. And the world cant afford for another year of climate negotiations to fail. The reason why theyre failing is that the worlds wealthiest nations committed this $100 billion pledge to the worlds poorest nations to adapt to the devastating effects of climate change, but theyre $16.7 billion short of that pledge. Most of that is attributed to the United States about $11 billion of that through the fact that Congress didnt pass President Bidens Climate Act. But ultimately there are instruments that the White House and Treasury can pull right now, Evans notes, because theyre the largest shareholder of the World Bank, so they dont need to wait for an act of Congress. They can do it right now. And thats why this meeting is so significant, because weve got a couple of things going for us. Youve got Janet Yellen, Secretary of Treasury, who signaled the climate change as a priority. Youve seen Biden talk a lot about it. But youve also got a new head of the World Bank in Ajay Banga, who starts on June 2. So hell have three weeks in the job to actually come out with some immediate reforms of the World Bank. And Treasury has said that theyre not gonna invest more in the World Bank until they make those reforms. So this is that key moment where the world has the opportunity to change for good and actually address the issues that the U.S. already has the power to address and, frankly, has already pledged to address under the Climate Change Accord. Were not asking them to do more than theyve already promised to do. Were merely asking them to fulfill their promise. It gets more complicated, with credit ratings affecting the link between poverty and climate change that is so much of Global CItizens focus. The World Bank is the loaner, right? But the IMF sets the rules of engagement. and then youve got the credit rating agencies that decide basically how much risk the World Bank can assume before it loses its AAA credit rating. And so, in this instance, we need the World Bank to move from a posture of laziness that its had for the last five years into a posture of increasing loans. But also we need the rating agencies to uphold the AAA credit rating of the World Bank, given its backed by the world sovereigns anyway, the U.S. being the largest sovereign as the largest shareholder, as well as the G20 nations. So, Evans rhetorically asks, how will we do that through a concert? Well, when President Macron and Mia Mottley asked Global Citizen to be part of this, they were really candid. They said there are conferences every day of the week. There are summits every day of the week. People dont know about 90% of them. They might see a photo of the G8 meeting, and it looks nice, but these summits come and go all the time. The only way were gonna make this summit count in this critical year that counts for climate change is to bring the whole world to focus its attention on it. Thats why were thrilled that Billie Eilish, Lenny Kravitz, H.E.R., Jon Batiste, Ben Harper and so many incredible artists are volunteering their time to be part of this, because we need the U.S. public to engage with this so that the U.S. Treasury engages with this, so that they actually reform the World Bank. The Paris concert will not be the end-all of Global Citizens high-profile consciousness-raisers in 2023. Their annual concert on the Great Lawn will be announced soon. Weve got an incredible lineup for Central Park this year, Evans says, including a couple of artists that Ive wanted to work with for the last 10 years. This isnt about one (event). This campaign is complex. In the minutiae of understanding geopolitics, its hard to understand things like equity-to-loan ratio. Its hard to understand World Bank reform. The bottom line in the things that unite everyone is the fact that we need to address climate change, and we just happen to highlight what levers are gonna best affect it right now. This is going to take the entire year, through to the COP gathering that the UAE is hosting at the end of the year. So I see this as a year-long campaign with key milestones, not as a one-off. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The unsolved murder of CBS News journalist George Polk in May 1948 has all the elements of a cover-up. The Fort Worth natives sudden disappearance from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, a few days before he was scheduled to return to the United States. The discovery of Polks body by a fisherman one week later. The coroners report which revealed someone shot Polk in the back of the head, bound his hands and feet with rope, and threw him into the Aegean Sea while still alive. Seventy-five years later, CBS White House correspondent Steven Portnoy investigates the mystery behind the newsmans murder. The three-hour documentary Who Killed George Polk? will air on radio stations nationwide over the Memorial Day weekend, according to a CBS news release. Our @CBSNewsRadio special, Who Killed George Polk? airs next weekend on radio stations nationwide, and Memorial Day from 6p-9pET on @SXMPOTUS Ch 124. pic.twitter.com/lCRateOMNm Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) May 18, 2023 Polk was covering the Greek Civil War at the time of his death. The Greek Communist Party was trying to gain control of the country, and the U.S. stepped in to provide millions of dollars in economic and military aid to the right-wing Greek government. Polk irritated both the U.S. and Greek government with his reporting protesting the Greek governments strong-arm tactics to silence dissension and insisting U.S. money would only serve to line the pockets of corrupt authorities. Polk said in his last letter to CBS official Edward Murrow that he wanted to report both sides of the civil war story. He was trying to arrange an interview with the leader of the Communist guerrillas the day he died. George Polk was murdered in May 1948 while reporting on the Greek Civil War. CBS News explores the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death in a new documentary Who Killed George Polk? which airs on radio stations nationwide over Memorial Day weekend 2023. In Who Killed George Polk, Portnoy digs into CBS archives, interviews experts and talks to surviving members of Polks family, including a niece who still lives in Fort Worth. The documentary also cites formerly classified documents that detail how U.S. government officials actively sought to suppress doubts about the innocence of the only man to face trial in Polks killing, a Greek reporter who was tortured into making a false confession, CBS said in the release. Craig Swagler, the programs executive producer, said the documentary shows the important role a free press plays in democracies. Stevens incisive reporting is also timely, Swagler said in the press release. Never before have we seen threats with such frequency to reporters lives, both foreign and domestic, as they attempt to discover and report the truth. Who Killed George Polk? will air locally Monday on KRLD AM 1080 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. CDT. It will also post Friday on the CBS News website. Ali Tate Cutler has been posting about her grandmother's decision to chose medically assisted death. (alitatecutler via TikTok, Getty Images) In a series of videos posted earlier this month, Victorias Secret model Ali Tate Cutler hangs out with her grandmother, known to her as Bubbie, taking her out to dinner, teaching her 2023 slang and asking for life advice. The reason for these sweet video posts is deeper than most grandparent content on social media: Bubbie has chosen to die by euthanasia following a terminal diagnosis, and the date is fast approaching. Cutlers posts highlight a controversial issue: the right to die by medical assistance in death or MAID. Bubbie resides in Canada, where MAID is legal, and tells Cutler in one video that she has chosen death by physician injection. Why Cutler is highlighting MAID Cutler tells Yahoo Life that she was inspired by her grandmother, a former athlete, who not only lived well but chose to die well. Cutler says she is still afraid of death, but was profoundly affected by her grandmother making the decision on her own terms. When I saw her approach this imminent day with courage ... I just felt like that was the best gift I could have ever received because I truly saw a model of success when it comes to dying, Cutler explains. Before I had questions about the ethicality of all of this and now I feel pretty clear that the decision of what someone does with their body should absolutely be left up to them and them alone. The Love You Give podcast host has received lots of comments on her videos with Bubbie. While many are positive, some say her decision to support MAID is wrong, likening it to putting down animals. Others criticize Cutler for bringing Bubbie onto TikTok (home of get ready with me videos) to discuss such a grim topic. Cutler, who says a core value within her family is body sovereignty, balks at the notion that she shouldnt discuss her grandmothers experience. Most people get their news and their information from social media, she notes. How do you want to talk about this? Would you like to about this by email? Small community groups? I'm not really sure. You can't win either way. But then sometimes, the negative feedback is just worth the conversation. And for me, this is an example of that. After all, Cutler says, This is the human experience, were all going to go through this so this is worth talking about. What is MAID, and how does it work? MAID allows a person to end their life in order to limit their suffering. In 2016, the Parliament of Canada passed federal legislation that allows eligible Canadian adults to request medical assistance in dying. In order to qualify, a person needs to be 18 years or older, explains Sarah Dobec, the communications specialist for Dying With Dignity Canada, a national organization that advocates for end-of-life rights and choice in Canada. They would put in an official written request, on an official form, that they have witnessed by one person who cannot benefit from their death. Then, two independent physicians or nurse practitioners would see this person, either at home or in their medical office or, in some cases, over Zoom. They are assessed to ensure they have a grievous and irremediable condition, and they have to be experiencing some sort of physical or mental suffering from the illness, disease or disability. Currently, those solely suffering from mental health conditions (as opposed to mental and physical conditions) are not eligible for MAID. That could change in March 2024. The delay, according to the federal government of Canada, is to ensure that physicians can develop the best standards and practices for those suffering from mental health conditions. In order to request MAID in Canada, you also must be eligible for government health insurance, which means that tourists are barred. If the person is approved by both physicians, they have as long as they wish to act on their choice and some people never do, despite going through the approval process. For certain individuals, MAID is a safety measure, Dobec says something they will be able to use should they feel it is necessary. Others, however, seek approval in order to move forward quickly. However, Dobec stresses, they are asked for consent up until the last moment, meaning they can back out at any time. In Canada, Dobec says that 99% of people choose to die by IV administered by a physician, though there is an oral option as well. The procedure can be conducted almost anywhere, and many physicians allow patients to choose where they want to spend their final moments. For those who choose the IV option, two IVs are put in a patients arm (one is a backup), which contain four drugs: one to put them to sleep, another to numb the veins to avoid pain, a third to calm the body and a fourth to stop the heart. How does MAID work in the United States? While Bubbie lives in Canada, Cutler is a resident of Texas, where MAID is not legal. At present, MAID is legal in Maine, New Jersey, Vermont, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California and Hawaii, as well as in Washington, D.C. The request process for MAID in the U.S. is similar to Canadas yet according to Anita Hannig, anthropologist and author of The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America, there is a key difference between choosing to die by MAID in the United States versus Canada. In the U.S., you have to be able to either drink or eat the medication or be able to push it through a feeding tube or a rectal catheter, she says. Either way, you have to be able to administer it yourself. This leads to issues with people who want to proceed with MAID but may have lost their mobility or ability to swallow. The laws in the United States are strict, Hannig adds. What sometimes happens is that people make that decision to go earlier than they would have chosen because they are afraid of losing that window of time where they can meet that criteria. The reason for this, Hannig says, is because lawmakers wanted to be clear that no one would be coerced into ending their life, and that the final act was the expression of permission on the part of the patient. I think in the media, it tends to be portrayed as kind of an easy way out and it definitely, at least in the United States, its not, she notes. There are lots of bureaucratic hurdles. You have to have a certain amount of financial and social capital to be able to access assisted death. Hannig notes that it can also be challenging emotionally as people often get pushback from their families when they choose MAID. I was often really surprised when I was in the room with people who were dying, who had chosen this path, with how peaceful and at times beautiful and almost wholesome these deaths were, says Hannig. While thats not the case for everyone, there is this real power in choosing to go out on your own terms, like Cutlers grandmother did, and have everyone come out and support you in that. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Sign up here A 15-year-old died from stab wounds after a fight broke out between several people in an elementary school courtyard, police in Connecticut said. Dustin Cecarelli was stabbed with a knife during the fight outside of school hours on the evening of May 23, according to the East Haven Police Department. The stabbing happened before officers were called at 6:28 p.m. to Tuttle Elementary School in East Haven, police said in a May 24 news release. Cecarelli, of North Branford, was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital and died as a result of the stabbing, according to authorities. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Dustins family and friends during this difficult time, police said. Everyone involved in the fight was identified and theres no threat to public safety, according to authorities. It wasnt specified what exactly led to the fight or how many people were involved. A criminal investigation into the altercation is ongoing and authorities plan to release more information on pending charges. Cecarelli attended North Branford High School, according to NBC Connecticut. North Branford Public Schools Superintendent Scott Schoonmaker said in a statement that we care deeply for all North Branford students and we extend our sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of the student involved, the outlet reported. Support services, including school counselors, psychologists and social workers, were made available to students in response to Cecarellis death, according to NBC Connecticut. East Haven is about 40 miles southwest of Hartford. Man tunnels through jail wall, stabs inmate in neighboring cell, Georgia sheriff says Driver yelled racial slur at another driver before stabbing him, Michigan officials say Trooper shoots tenant holding knife during court-ordered eviction, Connecticut cops say 3 ex-officers indicted in death of Black man seen on video being shocked with stun guns JACKSON, Mississippi. (AP) A Mississippi grand jury has indicted two former police officers on murder charges and another ex-officer on a manslaughter charge in the death of a Black man seen on video being pinned down and repeatedly shocked with stun guns during a New Year's eve arrest. Officials in the state capital of Jackson released body camera footage Wednesday that showed then-officers Avery Willis, Kenya McCarty and James Land struggling to handcuff Keith Murriel as he was apparently stunned numerous times over 10 minutes. The officers had tackled Murriel while arresting him for allegedly trespassing at a hotel shortly before midnight on Dec. 31, 2022, authorities said. McCarty and Willis have been charged with second-degree murder, and Land with manslaughter, court records showed. All three were placed on administrative leave after the incident. McCarty was fired in February, and Willis and Land in April. McCarty and Willis are Black, and Land is white, according to Melissa Faith Payne, a city spokesperson. Payne said she did not know whether any of the officers had attorneys as of Wednesday who could comment for them. The video shows McCarty kneeling with her knee on Murriel's back before Murriel flips around, and the three officers attempt to lock his hands behind his back. The 41-year-old man is seen pleading with officers to stop shocking him with stun guns. After handcuffing Murriel, officers then laid the man horizontally on the back seat of a patrol vehicle, the video showed. He died after being taken into custody. Willis' body camera footage showed him talking to another officer after the encounter. I hope (he) is asleep. Because if hes asleep, itll be a good ride, Willis said, using a racial slur to refer to Murriel. It was funny seeing (his) feet in the air. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said at Wednesday's news conference that the city was now releasing body camera footage because a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation probe of the death had been completed. The officers all ex-members of the Jackson Police Department, or JPD were indicted on May 12. We believe we have seen actions that are excessive, disheartening and tragic, Lumumba said. And we believe that is not representative of the vision of public safety that not only this administration wants to put forward, but we believe the men and women of JPD want to put forward. The city released the footage less than one week after former Jackson Chief James Davis announced his retirement. After Murriel's death, Davis initially said the man had a medical emergency. Lumumba said Davis' departure was not related to the incident. Acting Police Chief Joseph Wade pledged transparency in speaking with reporters at Wednesday's appearance. I would ask the citizens of Jackson to continue to support the dedicated, hard-working men and women of the Jackson Police Department who put their lives on the line every single day, he said. "We will continue to have accountability measures in place, not only from the bottom up but from the top down as we move forward. ___ Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mikergoldberg. Bill Lee, center, was a jazz bassist and father to screenwriter-actor Joie Lee, left, and filmmaker Spike Lee. (Andy Kropa / Invision / Associated Press) Bill Lee, a jazz bassist who played with Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin and Duke Ellington, who was also the father of filmmaker Spike Lee, died at his Brooklyn home Wednesday morning. He was 94. Spike Lee confirmed his fathers death via Instagram, sharing a series of black-and-white portraits taken by younger brother David Charles Lee. Bill Lee composed scores for several of Spike Lees early films, including Shes Gotta Have It (1986), School Daze (1988), Do The Right Thing (1989) and Mo Better Blues (1990). Born William James Edwards Lee III in Snow Hill, Ala., on July 23, 1928, Bill Lee was the son of two musicians. My learning in music started with my mother and father, he said during a 2012 interview with jazz bassist Jonah Jonathan. He instilled the same love of music in some of his own children: David played piano, Joy practiced bass, Cinque played drums, Chris took up trumpet and Spike played cello. Lee told The Times in 1994 that his great-great-great-grandfather Mike was the defiant son of an African king and that his grandfather went to school with Booker T. Washington. I went to school with Martin Luther King, he added. Inspired by saxophonist Charlie Bird Parker, Lee forayed into jazz, picking up his first bass while attending Morehouse College in Atlanta. But because the historically Black school didnt have a music department, he actually spent time at Spelman College, another HBCU in Atlanta where he sang in the glee club and played in the quartet. After graduating from Morehouse in 1951, Lee traveled by train to Chicago's South Side, where there was a robust jazz scene. He made his way to New York City in 1959. New York is the epitome of jazz to me, Lee said. All the great musicians come here. There he recorded on Strata-East Records, a musician-owned label, and founded and directed the New York Bass Violin Choir, described as a narrative folk, jazz opera with pieces like One Mile East, inspired by growing up in the South near former slave quarters. After collaborating on several films, Bill and Spike had a falling out in the 1990s that according to both men was a long time coming. Bill Lee told The Times in 1994 that the turmoil stemmed from Spike Lee being displeased with the bassist's relationship with his second wife, Susan Kaplan, and came to a head when he asked to borrow money from his son after getting arrested for heroin possession. Im glad I was arrested. It woke me up. ... Dope was not part of my life until I was 40 years old, Bill Lee said. Still, Spike Lee respected his fathers musical genius. Everything I know about jazz I got from my father, the filmmaker told the New York Times in 1990. I saw his integrity, how he was not going to play just any kind of music, no matter how much money he could make. In addition to Kaplan and Spike Lee, the elder Lee is survived by sons David and Cinque, daughter Joie Lee, and Arnold Lee, his son with his second wife; a brother, A. Clifton Lee; and two grandchildren. Christopher Lee died in 2014, and first wife Jacquelyn Lee died in 1977. Associated Press contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of their three-way talks in Hiroshima, Japan, May 21. Yonhap North Korea on Thursday criticized a recent agreement by the leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan to share real-time data on the North's missile launches, saying it will only expose them to a "security crisis." The criticism came after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to deepen security cooperation in various areas, including in the sharing of missile warning data, during their trilateral talks held Sunday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan. "The U.S. and its followers will get more and more exposed to security crisis facilitating its final ruin for its frantic moves to tighten their military alliance against the DPRK and expand the war drills for aggression," Kang Jin-song, an international affairs analyst, said in an English-language article released by the North's Korean Central News Agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. Last month, Yoon and Biden held a summit in Washington and agreed to form a joint nuclear consulting group, called the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), to bolster extended deterrence against North Korea. Kang claimed the NCG is part of a plan to form an "Asian-version NATO" that also involves Japan. The analyst warned that North Korea will "never tolerate" such an action, saying Pyongyang will "frustrate the hostile forces' wrong choice step by step with powerful strength." (Yonhap) An illustration of a Ron DeSantis Twitter page as he announces his 2024 presidential run with a background of the live Twitter talk with Elon Musk on Wednesday. Elon Musk hosted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Twitter for DeSantis' announcement of his presidential candidacy. (Chris Delmas / AFP via Getty Images) I was taking my customary siesta Wednesday afternoon when I was jolted awake by the sound of a truck straining to go uphill. Come to discover that I had my computer tuned to Elon Musk's Twitter, where Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was struggling to get out the official announcement of his candidacy for president. The noise turned out to be Musk trying to get the thing to work in real time, amid feedback, weird musical interludes and long stretches of silence. Scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Pacific time, it finally got going on Twitter Spaces, an audio-only application on the platform, about 18 minutes late. I listened, so you don't have to. You're welcome. As he struggled to resolve repeated glitches in Twitter Spaces, Musk and the moderator, a Musk acolyte named David Sacks, kept trying to assert that the technical screw-up was, in fact, a triumph brought about by the large audience. (Sacks claimed that more than 300,000 users had logged in.) "We are melting the servers, which is a good sign," Sacks said early on. You can't have a free society unless we have the freedom to debate the most important issues that are affecting our civilization. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been trying to punish Walt Disney Co. for speaking out against his education law This reminded many listeners of the claim by SpaceX, another Musk venture, that its April 20 launch of a prototype rocket, which ended with the vehicle exploding in flight four minutes after lift-off, was a success. Never mind that the launch destroyed the launchpad, showered a neighboring community with debris and prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to mount a major investigation. Once it got underway, the Twitter event unfolded as a love fest between DeSantis and Musk. The general theme was what my mother used to describe as "I like me, who do you like?" Musk and DeSantis praised each other for their dedication to free speech, and Sacks brought on several right-wing sophists to add their voices. They included Jay Bhattacharya, one of the drafters of the Great Barrington Declaration, which, as I reported this week, advocated letting the COVID virus run rampant through the population in quest of the elusive goal of "herd immunity" at the cost of hundreds of thousands of American lives. Another was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), whose claim to fame on a national scale was issuing a Christmas tweet in 2021 showing himself, his wife and their five kids brandishing assault weapons. "Santa, pls bring ammo," the tweet read. (In December 2021, there were 39 mass shootings in the U.S., taking 36 lives and wounding 160.) DeSantis said Florida was safer than blue-state cities, where "you got kids more likely to get shot than to receive a first-class education." A reminder: One of the worst school shootings in American history took place in Parkland, Fla., in February 2018, when 17 people were killed and 17 injured. In April, DeSantis signed a law allowing Floridians to carry guns without a permit. It would be wrong to say there weren't some lighthearted moments during the Twitter event. Unfortunately for DeSantis, the best joke came from President Biden: While Musk was struggling to get the event launched, Biden posted a tweet that read, "This link works," pointing to a fund-raising site for the Biden-Harris campaign. If you were looking for policy prescriptions from the freshly minted candidate, you didn't hear anything new. Put it this way: If you were at a party where you had to down a shot of whiskey every time DeSantis uttered the word "woke," you were reduced to insensibility within ten or twenty minutes. If the drinking game included a shot when DeSantis took a shot at "the legacy media," you may have needed to get your stomach pumped. Other than that, it was a festival of cynical lies and rank hypocrisies uttered by DeSantis. He spoke up for free speech and open debate, for instance. "People should be exposed to different viewpoints," he said. "You can't have a free society unless we have the freedom to debate the most important issues that are affecting our civilization." This is the guy who has waged a ferocious battle with Walt Disney Co. because Disney had spoken out against his "Don't Say Gay" law, which stifles the teaching of gender issues in the schools. When Sacks primed him with a question about the fight with Disney, DeSantis replied, "We believe jamming gender ideology in elementary school is wrong; Disney obviously supported injecting gender ideology in elementary school." He added that Disney's "corporate culture had really been outed as trying to inject matters of sex into the programming for the youth." One doesn't have to be a fan of Disney to see that as fatuous claptrap. DeSantis also dismissed accusations that Florida is a hotbed of book-banning as "a hoax." All his administration has done, he said, has been "to empower parents with the ability to review the curriculum, to know what books are being used in school." That's one way of looking at it. The right way is to observe that he's empowered a tiny cadre of reactionary activists to force books they don't like off the shelves of Florida schools. As the Washington Post reported Wednesday, a majority of the complaints about schoolbooks nationwide have come from just 11 complainants. Florida ranks second among the states in the number of schoolbook challenges, after Texas. By the way, one of the Republican toadies DeSantis appointed to the board created to oversee Disney's development district (as part of his retaliation against the company) is Bridget Ziegler, co-founder of the right-wing censorship-happy organization Moms for Liberty. When Bhattacharya came online, DeSantis took the opportunity to boast about his success against the COVID pandemic. The truth is that Florida's record is one of abject, lethal failure. Florida's COVID death rate of 411 per 100,000 population is the 10th worst in the nation. DeSantis has appointed Bhattacharya to a state panel investigating federal COVID policy. DeSantis claimed to have based his COVID policies on his determination to "look at the data.... There was a concerted effort to try to stifle dissent." This can only be interpreted as some kind of gag. DeSantis installed a COVID crackpot, Joseph Ladapo, as Florida's surgeon general. Ladapo has promoted useless anti-COVID nostrums such as ivermectin, and counseled against the COVID vaccines. "Looking at the data"? As the Tampa Bay Times has reported, based on official state documents, Ladapo deliberately removed data from an official state report on the vaccines that contradicted his claim that the vaccines were unsafe for young men; in fact, studies show that the vaccines are far safer for them than being infected by the virus. The event ended with a paean by Musk and DeSantis to cryptocurrency, which is tantamount to enticing innocent small investors into immolating their nest eggs in a scam. "We should do it again," DeSantis said in closing the feed. "We'll make sure that we come back and do it again. This is a great platform." We shall see. The next DeSantis appearance on Twitter could be just as buggy, or worse. All that we can be sure of is that whatever happens, Elon Musk will deem it a great success. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. NASH, Texas (AP) Authorities in east Texas have jailed an 18-year-old man on capital murder charges in the shootings of his parents, sister and brother. Police in the small town of Nash say officers responding to a report that a man had harmed his family and was threatening to kill himself on Tuesday found Cesar Olalde barricaded inside a home. They were told that multiple people were dead inside. Olalde later called police, saying he had pulled the trigger, and shot his family, according to a probable cause affidavit by Nash Police Officer Craig Buster. The officers persuaded Olalde to surrender and then found the bodies of his parents, Reuben Olalde and Aida Garcia, older sister Lisbet Olalde and younger brother Oliver Olalde in a bathroom. It appeared as if the victims had been shot at various places in the residence and drug to the bathroom, according to the affidavit. Multiple spent cartridge casings were found on the floor of the home, and there was blood spatter on multiple surfaces, it said. The affidavit said a co-worker of Lisbet Olalde had gone to the home because the woman had failed to arrive at work and, with a family member, forced his way inside where he was confronted by Cesar Olalde, who pointed a firearm at him. The co-worker told police that Olalde said he had killed his family because they were cannibals, and they were going to eat him, the affidavit states. Bowie County court records show Olalde was ordered held on $10 million bond. His listed defense attorney did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday. Nash is a town of about 3,800 on the western edge of Texarkana near the Arkansas state line. As of May 24, there have been at least 25 mass killing incidents in the U.S. so far in 2023, leaving at least 127 people dead, not including perpetrators who died, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. That puts the country on a faster pace for mass killing incidents than in any other year since at least 2006, according to the database, which defines a mass killing as an incident in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period. There have been at least 556 incidents in all since 2006 in the U.S., according to the database, leaving at least 2,892 people dead. Family mass killings in which four or more people were killed, not including the perpetrator have also been an all-too-common tragedy across the country. Theyve happened nearly every 3 1/2 weeks for the last two decades on average, according to the database. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A former correctional officer at the biggest womens prison in California has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting at least 13 inmates over the past nine years, prosecutors said Wednesday. Gregory Rodriguez, who worked at the Central California Women's Facility, faces 96 counts including rape, sodomy, sexual battery and rape under color of authority, the Madera County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. It couldn't be determined Wednesday if Rodriguez, 54, has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. He was being held in lieu of $7.8 million bail, the DA's office said. The alleged assaults date back to 2014, but most happened within the past two years, prosecutors said. The charges involve 13 separate victims, according to the DA's office. If convicted on all charges, Rodriguez could be sentenced to more than 300 years in prison. The women's prison where Rodriquez worked for 12 years is located in Chowchilla, a small city about 120 miles (190 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco. Rodriguez retired in August after being approached about the assaults as part of an internal investigation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in December. The investigation, which found that Rodriguez may have engaged in sexual misconduct against at least 22 inmates, was handed over to the district attorney's office earlier this year. These allegations are in no way a reflection on the vast majority of correctional officers who act professionally and do their best to make sure prisoners serve their time while remaining safe, the DA's office said Wednesday. It is our hope that the removal and arrest of this defendant encourages them to continue in their honorable profession upholding the law every day. Two unidentified inmates filed lawsuits in December accusing Rodriguez of sexual assault at the prison, which holds about 2,100 inmates. A 2003 federal law known as the Prison Rape Elimination Act created a zero-tolerance policy for the sexual assault of inmates. But California prison officials have still been accused of sexual misconduct in recent years. That includes Israel Trevino, a former correctional officer at the Central California Womens Facility, who was fired in 2018 after being accused of groping and making sexually harassing comments to inmates. An Associated Press investigation found that a high-ranking federal Bureau of Prisons official, who formerly worked at a womens prison in the San Francisco Bay Area, was repeatedly promoted after allegations that he assaulted inmates. Another investigation found a pattern of sexual abuse by correctional officers at the womens facility. These types of accusations extend beyond California. Former prison officers in Kentucky and New Jersey have recently been charged with sexually abusing or assaulting inmates. MIAMI (AP) It wasn't always this way. Before Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis were leading rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, they were allies. Trump gave DeSantis' gubernatorial bid an early boost by tweeting his support even before DeSantis formally entered the race. In his 2018 victory speech, DeSantis made sure to thank the president, saying, I think we'll have a great partnership. Here's how DeSantis and Trumps relationship has evolved and broken down as the two face off to take on Democrat Joe Biden: UNITE BEHIND THE REPUBLICAN TICKET During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-congressman DeSantis said he wouldn't make an endorsement in the crowded field but would support the eventual nominee. When that ended up being Trump, DeSantis issued a statement calling on fellow Republicans to back the celebrity businessman. It is now clear that Donald Trump will accumulate the delegates necessary to be nominated by the Republican Party, DeSantis said in a statement, according to NPR. If we want to defeat Hillary Clinton and have a chance to change the trajectory of our country, we need to unite behind the Republican ticket this November. THE RUSSIA PROBE Early in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia, then-congressman DeSantis stepped up to the president's defense to offer his support. Whatever (Mueller) ends up doing, it does not have legitimacy, when you have all this evidence of tainted and political bias and the disparate treatment between Hillary Clinton and then how they are treating Trump associates, DeSantis told Fox News commentator Lou Dobbs in one such TV hit in December 2017. TWEET OF SUPPORT BEFORE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN Before DeSantis entered the Florida governors race in 2018, he asked Trump to send out a tweet touting him as a good candidate. Trump obliged. Congressman Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader, Yale and then Harvard Law, who would make a GREAT Governor of Florida. He loves our Country and is a true FIGHTER! Trump tweeted in December 2017. THAT AD WITH DESANTIS BUILDING A WALL OUT OF HIS KIDS' BLOCKS One of the most memorable moments of DeSantis' gubernatorial campaign was an ad with his children in which he shows voters just how devoted he is to Trump. Build the wall, he says to daughter Madison as she stacks cardboard brick blocks. Holding son Mason in his lap, DeSantis pretend-reads to him from Trump's The Art of the Deal: Then Mr. Trump said, Youre fired.' I love that part. Another scene shows DeSantis holding a Trump campaign sign in front of Madison in a high chair: Make America Great Again, DeSantis reads. DESANTIS THANKS TRUMP IN VICTORY SPEECH After narrowly winning his 2018 race, DeSantis singled out Trump in his victory speech as he recognized the many people who had supported his campaign. Id like to thank our president for standing by me when it wasnt necessarily the smart thing to do," DeSantis said. Mr. President, I look forward to working with you to advance Florida's priorities. I think youre going to get tired of me calling you asking you for things for Florida, but I look forward to that, and I think well have a great partnership. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, speaks alongside then-President Donald Trump during a roundtable discussion on the coronavirus outbreak and storm preparedness at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., July 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) WELCOME TO FLORIDA, MR. PRESIDENT In 2019, Trump changed his residency from Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and held a homecoming rally with Gov. DeSantis near Miami. Welcome home to Florida, DeSantis told him. Trump quipped that DeSantis better not be more popular in Florida than me" after extended cheers for the governor. He went on to suggest to the crowd that DeSantis should wear jackets less frequently so people know he's not fat. EARLY COVID-19 RESPONSE In the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump applauded DeSantis for how he had handled governing the response to the virus. Hes done a lot of things right. And hes been truly I mean, he cares so much about health care. He cares so much about the cost of prescription drugs. Hes been a fantastic governor for Florida. Theyre very happy with him, Trump said at a press conference. DeSantis initially resisted issuing a statewide stay-at-home order but reversed course and issued it after facing pressure from Trump and White House advisers. TRUMP JOKES ABOUT FIRING DESANTIS IF HE LOSES FLORIDA At a campaign event ahead of the 2020 election, Trump praised DeSantis and called him a friend but also joked that he would blame the governor if he did not win Florida. Ill fire him somehow. Im going to fire him. I will find a way, he said. Trump ended up winning Florida in 2020 by 3.4 percentage points a bigger margin of victory than in 2016. A TRUMP-DESANTIS TICKET? Trump and DeSantis remained publicly supportive of each other in early 2021 so much so that Trump even floated the Florida governor as a possible 2024 running mate. A lot of people like that, Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo in April 2021. You know, Im just saying what I read and what you read. They love that ticket. But certainly Ron would be considered. He is a great guy. DESANTIS BECOMES DESANCTIMONIOUS As DeSantis' national profile began to rise, so did chatter about his potential as a 2024 presidential prospect and the former president noticed. If I faced him, Id beat him like I would beat everyone else," Trump said of DeSantis in October 2021, while saying that he didn't expect the governor to challenge him. Days before the 2022 midterm election, Trump unveiled his new nickname for the governor: Ron DeSanctimonious. He then visited Miami for a rally to support U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio but not DeSantis, who was holding a separate campaign event that same day for his own reelection. In the days following DeSantis' reelection victory, Trump put out a statement knocking him as an average REPUBLICAN governor with great Public Relations" and criticizing him for not ruling out a 2024 presidential bid. He says, Im only focused on the governors race, Im not looking into the future. Well, in terms of loyalty and class, thats really not the right answer, Trump said. DeSantis, asked to comment on Trump's remarks at a press conference, said being the target of attacks was simply part of the job. What you learn is all thats just noise," DeSantis said. THE ATTACKS ESCALATE In recent months, Trump has dramatically intensified his criticism of DeSantis, taking particular umbrage as what he sees as the governor's ungratefulness. DeSantis got elected because of me. You remember he had nothing. He was dead. He was leaving the race. He came over and he begged me, begged me for an endorsement, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in February. He said, If you endorse me, Ill win. And there were tears coming down from his eyes. Trump's campaign resurrected the 2018 DeSantis ad to remind viewers of Trump's help in the governor's political rise. Isnt it time DeSantis remembers how he got to where he is? the ad says. Trump has also shared a photo suggesting impropriety when DeSantis was a teacher two decades ago, despite no evidence of that; said DeSantis needed a personality transplant; and aired an ad accusing DeSantis of sticking his fingers where they don't belong a reference to a Daily Beast report that the governor once ate chocolate pudding with his fingers. On Wednesday, after DeSantis' presidential announcement on Twitter Spaces was plagued by glitches, Trump posted a video on Truth Social of a Ron rocket falling over and exploding. DESANTIS FIGHTS BACK KIND OF Although the Florida governor has largely avoided confrontation with Trump, he has managed to throw a few jabs back. As prosecutors prepared an indictment against Donald Trump in New York, DeSantis criticized the investigation but also said, I dont know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair." In a Piers Morgan interview that aired a few days later, he laughed off a question about the nicknames Trump was using for him. I dont know how to spell DeSanctimonious. I dont really know what it means, but I kind of like it. Its long, its got a lot of vowels. I mean, so well go with that. Thats fine. You can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner, DeSantis said. On Wednesday, after launching his campaign, DeSantis avoided referencing Trump by name but made a subtle dig at him over national Republican election losses. We must end the culture of losing that has infected the Republican Party in recent years," DeSantis said on Twitter Spaces. "The tired dogmas of the past are inadequate for a vibrant future. We must look forward, not backwards. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Republican leaders in Oklahoma, who control every lever of political power in the state, unveiled their largest-ever budget proposal this week, the result of bruising negotiations that left the GOP governor fuming and even some Democrats happy with what it included. The $13 billion state budget, a nearly 20% increase over last year's final spending plan, did not include one of Gov. Kevin Stitt's top priorities of cutting the state's income or grocery sales tax. House and Senate leaders also apparently blindsided the governor by voting to extend tobacco compacts with several Oklahoma-based Native American tribes that Stitt was hoping to renegotiate to get a better deal for the state. Stitt's office didn't immediately comment Wednesday on the spending plan that easily passed the House and is expected to clear the Senate on Thursday. But during a press availability last week, Stitt said he was continuing to urge the Legislature to cut the state's top income tax rate by 0.25%. I implore the Legislature to do what's right and let's give some of that back to the taxpayer, Stitt said. Instead, the budget deal included a more modest elimination of the state franchise tax on businesses and a tax break for joint filers that are expected to cost a total of $70 million annually when fully implemented. Stitt also said he was caught completely off guard when lawmakers unveiled a bill last week to extend the existing tribal compacts that he wanted to renegotiate. This has never been talked about the whole entire session. The governor had no idea about it, Stitt said. Really, really disappointing. Anticipating the possibility that the governor could veto the budget proposal, lawmakers convened a concurrent special session that would allow them to return to the Capitol early next month to override any vetoes by the governor. Although House Democrats voted against the plan, it clearly included priorities they support, like six weeks of paid maternity leave for state employees, $215 million in new funding to incentivize the construction of affordable housing, pay raises for teachers and money for a popular culture museum in Tulsa. I've been in this building long enough to know that I'm not going to get a better deal, said Rep. Forrest Bennett, a Democrat from Oklahoma City. I had conversations with people on both sides of the aisle about voting yes. Republican leaders and the governor had already agreed earlier this month on an education funding package that included pay raises of up to $6,000 annually, $625 million in new recurring funding for public schools and a voucher-style tax credit program for families who home-school their children or send them to private schools. The hefty price tag of the overall budget left some of the Legislature's more conservative Republicans questioning whether they would support the plan. It's going to be tough for me, said Sen. Rob Standridge, a Republican from Norman who said, despite representing a community with the state's flagship University of Oklahoma, he was particularly bothered by the nearly $130 million boost in spending for higher education. It is the biggest, bulkiest, most spend-happy budget I've ever been a part of," said Standridge, who was elected to office in 2012 when the total state budget was $6.8 billion. All Republicans put on their placards: decrease the size of government, limit spending. We all do that. And this year is certainly not doing that." Also included in this year's spending plan was $145 million to provide improvements to an industrial park in eastern Oklahoma with the hopes of luring a Panasonic manufacturing facility. The Legislature already approved a $698 million incentive package to try and land a second plant after Panasonic chose Kansas for a manufacturing facility last year. ___ Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy BEIRUT (AP) The chief of Lebanons militant Hezbollah group on Friday called on the countrys central bank governor to resign amid mounting legal troubles. The governor, Riad Salameh, should either step down or be stripped of his responsibilities, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, said in a televised speech commemorating the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. On Wednesday, Salameh was questioned by a Lebanese judge and his Lebanese and French passports were confiscated, following an arrest warrant from France over corruption charges. He is a dual citizen. The development effectively prevents Salameh from traveling abroad. Lebanon does not extradite its citizens to foreign countries or international tribunals. In Hezbollah, we believe that there are two options. The first is for the governor to step down of his own volition, Nasrallah said. The second, he said, is for the judiciary to take legal steps against Salameh and relieve from from his post. Nasrallah's remarks were the first time he called for Salameh's resignation. A number of government officials have made similar calls but a Monday meeting of the Cabinet did not come up with a formal decision. France, Germany and Luxembourg are investigating Salameh and his associates over myriad alleged financial crimes, including illicit enrichment and laundering of $330 million. A French investigative judge on May 16 issued an international arrest warrant, followed by an Interpol red notice, for the 72-year-old Salameh after he failed to show up in Paris for questioning. Once seen as the guardian of Lebanons financial stability, Salameh is now widely blamed for an economic meltdown that began in 2019. The Lebanese pound has since plummeted in value and wiped out much of the savings of ordinary Lebanese, plunging an estimated three-quarters of the population into poverty. Salameh, who is also under investigation in Lebanon, has repeatedly denied all corruption allegations, saying he made his wealth from his years working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, inherited properties, and investments. He said he would only resign if convicted of a crime. He also said last week he plans to appeal the Interpol red notice. Salameh has held his post for almost 30 years, but says he intends to step down after his current term ends in July. Hillary Clinton speaks during the 2023 Liberal National Convention in Canada on May 5. (David Kawai/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Hillary Clinton argued that Sen. Dianne Feinstein the 89-year-old California Democrat who has refused to resign despite worries about her health and ability to legislate should remain in the Senate if Democrats want to continue confirming President Bidens judicial nominees. Speaking Monday at the Chicago Humanities Festival, the former presidential nominee and U.S. senator called Feinstein a remarkable and very effective leader. But Clinton, who described Feinstein as her friend, also made a practical argument for Feinstein staying in office. Why Feinstein is facing pressure to resign Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., attends a Senate Judiciary meeting on Capitol Hill on May 18. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Democrats have been increasingly alarmed by Feinsteins absences from Capitol Hill, with some going as far as to call for her resignation so that California Gov. Gavin Newsom can appoint a replacement. Feinstein is a member of the powerful Judiciary Committee, and when she was sidelined for three months as she recovered from shingles earlier this year, the committee was evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. As a result, committee Democrats were unable to confirm most of President Bidens judicial nominees. Her absence also undercut the committees ability to issue subpoenas investigating the numerous reports of Supreme Court corruption. Because Sen. Feinstein was absent, Republicans are passing legislation through the Senate, undermining the right of our residents to breathe clean air. And with a far-right judiciary targeting our human rights, we are unable to confirm judges. Sen. Feinstein must step down, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., tweeted late last month, before the senator returned to Washington. Clintons case for Feinstein Hillary Clinton speaks at the Vital Voices Festival on May 5 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Clinton, however, argued Feinstein stepping down would not make things any easier for Democrats. Heres the dilemma: The Republicans will not agree to add someone else to the Judiciary Committee if she retires, Clinton said. I want you to think about how crummy that is. I dont know in her heart about whether she really would or wouldnt, but right now, she cant. Because if were going to get judges confirmed, which is one of the most important continuing obligations that we have, then we cannot afford to have her seat vacant. If Republicans were to say and do the decent thing and say, well this woman was gravely ill, she had just lost her husband to cancer of course, we will let you fill this position if she retires. But they wont say that, Clinton continued. So what are we supposed to do? All these people pushing her to retire: fine, we get no more judges? I dont think thats a good tradeoff. Is Clinton correct? Sen. Dick Durban, D-Ill., speaks during the Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee hearing in 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) As Times Phillip Elliott has noted, senators are assigned their committees at the start of a new Congress, and any changes would in practice require 60 Senate votes. That means 10 Republicans would have to allow Democrats to either send Feinsteins replacement or another lawmaker into that role, Elliott wrote. Its extremely unlikely that Republicans would go along with appointing another Democrat to the committee should Feinstein resign. When Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durban, D-Ill., floated the idea that Feinstein could be replaced while she was recuperating, the GOP swiftly shot it down. I dont think Republicans are going to lift a finger in any way to get more liberal judges appointed, so whether shes resigned or leaves temporarily from the Judiciary Committee, I think we will slow walk any process that makes it easier to appoint more liberal judges, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said last month. Ongoing concerns about Feinsteins health Sen. Dianne Feinstein talks with Nancy Corinne Prowda, daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on May 18. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Feinstein returned to the Senate in a wheelchair on May 10. Her office confirmed last week that her health issues were more complicated than it had initially disclosed, saying she had dealt with encephalitis, a rare but potentially debilitating complication that causes inflammation of the brain, as well as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can cause paralysis and hearing loss. In a conversation with reporters shortly after her return, Feinstein appeared confused when asked about her extended absence. How age become a tricky issue for Democrats U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg participates in a discussion at the Georgetown University Law Center in 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) The frustration with the Feinstein situation comes as Democrats grapple with the partys leadership becoming what some critics say is a gerontocracy, with the 80-year-old Biden set to top the presidential ticket next year, the 72-year-old Chuck Schumer serving as Senate majority leader and the 83-year-old Nancy Pelosi only recently having stepped down as the partys leader in the House. During President Barack Obamas second term, some liberals called on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to resign so her replacement could be confirmed by the Democrat-controlled Senate before the 2016 election. Ginsburg, the oldest member of the court, instead remained on the bench until she died in September 2020, when Republicans controlled both the Senate and the White House. President Donald Trump and GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved swiftly to replace Ginsburg with Amy Coney Barrett, giving conservatives a 6-3 majority on the court. In 2022, Barrett joined with the other justices appointed by Republican presidents in repealing Roe v. Wade, a decision that allowed conservatives to outlaw abortion in much of the U.S. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to pass a Republican measure to block President Joe Biden's student debt relief program and end the administration's pause on federal student loan payments. The House voted 218-203, largely along party lines, with two Democrats joining Republicans in supporting the measure. The measure faces unlikely odds in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The House resolution would repeal the administrations program to cancel between $10,000 and $20,000 in loans for borrowers whose income falls below certain levels or who have received a Pell Grant. The legislation would also end a pandemic-era pause on loan payments and interest accrual. Republicans have sharply criticized the Biden administration's program, arguing it burdens taxpayers and is unfair to Americans who have already paid off their loans or who did not attend college. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that repealing the program would decrease the federal deficit by about $315 billion in the next decade. The Biden administration, by contrast, has argued that the cost of higher education has become a "lifelong burden" on low- and middle-income Americans. The program provides people with "breathing room" to repay loans after the pandemic and accompanying economic crisis are over, the administration said in a statement. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., who introduced the legislation in the House, praised its passage in a statement after the vote. "President Bidens student loan transfer scheme shifts hundreds of billions of dollars of payments from student loan borrowers onto the backs of the American people, Good said in a statement. I am pleased that my Republican colleagues overwhelmingly supported my legislation on the House floor today. But providing student loan relief has been a key priority for Biden and has helped him marshal support from progressive Democrats. On Monday, the White House warned that Biden would veto the House measure if it makes it to his desk, saying it would "weaken America's middle class." Democrats have raised concerns that the House resolution would force people to retroactively make loan payments that had been paused during the pandemic. A Congressional Research Service report on how such measures are implemented says disapproved rules would be "deemed not to have had any effect at any time, and even provisions that had become effective would be retroactively negated." Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, said the resolution would primarily affect people making less than $75,000 per year. "If this thing were to pass, everybody would instantaneously be about four months in arrears. And the interest would also be added back to their payments," Scott said when the committee marked up the bill. "This could trigger a wave of delinquencies and defaults for our most vulnerable borrowers. A representative for Good did not immediately respond to a request for comment about potential retroactive payments. The Congressional Budget Office did not account for such payments in its estimate of the bill's financial impact, leaving it unclear whether the Education Department would interpret the resolution as requiring it to charge people for paused payments. An Education Department spokesperson, responding to a question about retroactive payments, said only that the House resolution would create immense operational and communication complexities that would seriously harm borrowers. The House previously voted to block the debt relief program as part of its bill to raise the debt ceiling and cut government spending. But Wednesday's vote was the first time the legislation came to the House floor as a standalone measure. Senate Republicans can use special procedures under the Congressional Review Act to force a vote on the measure even though they are the minority party, and the measure would only need a majority of votes to pass, instead of 60 votes. Still, while 47 Senate Republicans have signed on to the resolution, it is unclear whether it can gain the majority of votes, requiring Democratic support, that it would need to pass the Senate and it would not have the supermajority needed to override a presidential veto. Congress is considering the measure as the Supreme Court also weighs in on the Biden administration's program. The high court is poised to soon issue a ruling on whether Biden can continue his plan to cancel some debt for tens of millions of borrowers. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran unveiled on Thursday what it called the latest iteration of its liquid-fueled Khorramshahr ballistic missile amid wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program. Authorities showed off the Khorramshahr-4 to journalists at an event in Tehran, with the missile on a truck-mounted launcher. Defense Minister Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said the missile could be prepared for launch in a short period. One of the prominent characteristics of this missile is its ability to evade radar detection and penetrate enemy air defense systems, thanks to its low radar signature," the general told journalists. This missile has the capability to utilize various warheads for different missions. Iranian officials described the missile as having a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range with a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead. They also released undated video footage purportedly showing a successful launch of the missile. The Khorramshahr has the heaviest payload of Iran's ballistic missile fleet, which analysts say may be designed to keep the weapon under a 2,000-kilometer range limit imposed by the country's supreme leader. That puts most of the Mideast in range, but falls short of Western Europe. The Khorramshahr-4 is named after an Iranian city that was the scene of heavy fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Iraq seized the city in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan at the start of the war, but Iran retook it over a year later. During the event, loudspeakers blared the Symphony of the Epic of Khorramshahr, an orchestral composition marking Iranian soldiers ending the Iraqi siege of the city during the war. Tehran created its ballistic missile program after suffering through Iraqi Scud missile attacks in the conflict and as a hedge against its Western-armed neighbors as embargoes have kept it from accessing modern attack aircraft. The missile also is called Kheibar, after a Jewish fortress conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century in what is now Saudi Arabia. Regional tensions likely played a role in Iran's missile display Thursday. A miniature example of Jerusalem's golden Dome of the Rock on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a holy site in both Islam and Judaism that Jews call the Temple Mount, stood next to the mobile launcher. Iran views Israel as its archenemy and arming anti-Israeli militant groups in the Palestinian territories and surrounding countries. Tensions between the two nations are high, particularly as Iran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. The Khorramshahr would be able to reach Israel. Iran made a point, however, to keep the truck that transports the missile covered up during the event. Its missile program has been targeted for sabotage in the past and Iran has previously used foreign-sourced vehicles to tow such massive missile systems. It remains unclear, however, why the missile has been called Khorramshahr-4 as only two other variants of the missile are publicly known. It is modeled after North Korea's Musudan ballistic missile, which is believed to have up to a 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) range with a 500-kilogram (1,100 pound) payload. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington was aware of the missile report and reiterated that Irans development and proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) NASCAR has opened an investigation into how a derogatory message was broadcast on the radio channel of Bubba Wallaces race team during last weekend's All-Star race. Wallace, NASCAR's only Black driver in the Cup series, had just finished Sunday's race at North Wilkesboro Speedway when a person not on the 23XI Racing team said over the radio, Go back to where you came from and then added another non-racial expletive. NASCAR spokesman Mike Forde said Wednesday the series immediately had its security and racing electronic teams look into the hack. He said Wallace did not hear the remark. Forde said NASCAR is trying to determine who cracked Wallace's radio communications and how it was done, as well the best method toward preventing it from happening in the future. Forde said the investigation was ongoing and would have happened no matter the nature of the comment. We certainly take that seriously, no doubt about that, he said. But we can't have fans interfering with team radio and potential competition implications. Wallace's 23XI Racing team did not immediately return a request for comment. NASCAR had already said earlier this week there were no plans to penalize Wallace after he appeared to make an obscene gesture on camera before a live interview with Fox Sports. Wallace, who is from Alabama, in 2020 successfully called on NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its events. He has not been shy in using his platform, but its come with detractors and scrutiny, including a noose found in his Talladega Superspeedway garage stall after his call for the banning of the Confederate flag. The FBI ruled the garage pull was indeed fashioned as a noose but that it was a coincidence it was in Wallaces stall, and he was not the victim of a hate crime. ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong speaks during a meeting of the parliamentary House Steering Committee at the National Assembly building in Seoul, May 24. Yonhap The issue of whether to send ammunition aid to Ukraine will be considered after reviewing the situation on the ground, National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong has said. Cho made the remark during a meeting of the parliamentary House Steering Committee on Wednesday when asked by a lawmaker whether South Korea plans to send ammunition to Ukraine. "We've been providing humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine until now," Cho said. "However, Ukraine came under an illegal invasion. We plan to consider it after monitoring the situation on the ground and in light of other situations." The parents of Idaho student murder suspect Bryan Kohberger have been subpoenaed to testify before an investigative grand jury in the familys home state of Pennsylvania, says a report. Mr Kohbergers father is expected to testify before the grand jury in a sealed proceeding in Monroe County on Thursday, a source told CNN. His mother has already given evidence to the grand jury, the source told the news outlet and added that their testimony, which will be given under oath, may be shared with Idaho prosecutors. Pennsylvania judges are permitted to share transcripts of grand jury witness testimony with other law enforcement agencies. A lawyer for Mr Kohbergers parents, Michael and Maryann Kohberger, tried unsuccessfully to have the subpoenas cancelled, the source told CNN. Mr Kohberger is accused of brutally killing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on 13 November in a horror attack that rocked the college town of Moscow and sent shockwaves across America. Mr Kohberger appeared in court for his arraignment in Latah County Court in Moscow, Idaho, on Monday. During the arraignment, he refused to enter a plea on four counts of first-degree murder and burglary with his attorney Anne Taylor saying that he was standing silent on the charges. The judge entered not guilty pleas on his behalf. Mr Kohbergers sister feared that her brother was involved in the stabbings of four University of Idaho students before police swooped on their parents home in December and arrested him for murder, according to a new report. Sources told NBCs Dateline that one of the accused killers older siblings grew increasingly suspicious of her brother and his behaviour when the family gathered to spend the holidays together. Her suspicions were so great that at one point several family members searched Mr Kohbergers white Hyundai Elantra for possible evidence of the crime, they said. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A U.S. marshal fatally shot a woman who pulled a gun on officers trying to arrest her on two felony warrants, according to police. Shari Vincent, 44, died after being shot Wednesday in northwest Oklahoma City, according to police Sgt. Gary Knight. Vincent was wanted in neighboring Cleveland County for stalking and malicious injury to property, Knight said. She was also considered to be potentially violent because of threats made on social media toward various law enforcement agencies. Vincent fled from an attempted traffic stop until her vehicle was rammed by a vehicle driven by a marshal, according to Knight. Vincent then produced a gun and was shot by the marshal who had rammed her vehicle. Knight referred questions about the marshal to the U.S. Marshal's office, which did not immediately return a phone call for comment. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Prosecutors have widened their case against members of a small polygamous group that resides near the Utah-Arizona border, detailing its leader's sexual encounters with children he took as wives in new charges filed earlier this month. A grand jury accuses Sam Bateman of recording the child sex abuse in a superseding indictment filed recently and adds new counts to charges filed last year for kidnapping and impeding an investigation. The May 18 document provides new details about how Bateman with the help of followers took wives as young as 9 years old and created a sprawling network spanning at least four states as he attempted to start an offshoot group of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A call to one of Batemans lawyers seeking comment about the case wasnt immediately returned Thursday. The FLDS is itself a breakaway sect of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints historically based in the border towns of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. The sect is known because its leader, Warren Jeffs, is serving a life sentence in federal prison in Texas. Polygamy is a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream church, widely known as Mormon, but it abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it. The indictment adds to a raft of charges filed against Bateman last year in state and federal courts. In December, federal prosecutors charged Bateman and several of his wives with kidnapping minors and impeding a foreseeable prosecution for helping young girls associated with the group flee Arizona foster care. An FBI affidavit published in December as part of the case claimed Bateman took more than 20 wives, including 10 girls under the age of 18. Though it detailed him engaging minors in sexual activity, the latest indictment expands on the allegations and is the first to charge him for such acts. It says Bateman traveled extensively between Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska and allegedly had sex with the minor girls on a regular basis. It also charges Bateman with recording some of the sexual activity, alleging some images may have been transmitted across state lines via electronic devices. Relying on journals, day planners and text messages, it says Bateman initiated sexual encounters with groups of followers in hotel rooms, including one that began with a religious rite-inspired washing of the feet. He traded wives back and forth with male followers. The indictment also alleges Bateman encouraged the minors to participate in the sexual activity and trained them to do so, including with girls so young that he once became upset when one wet the bed. He told girls 10 and younger, You belong to me, and one who the indictment describes as nine or 10 years old described the sexual encounters as definitely terrifying. The indictment also claims several followers men and women denied the allegations of abuse, including of their own children, when interviewed by the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Bateman was arrested last year and remains in federal custody pending his trial, which is scheduled for March 5, 2024. He previously has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges accusing him of kidnapping, child abuse and tampering with evidence. Bateman is scheduled to appear in court on Friday in Phoenix. __ AP writer Walt Berry contributed reporting from Phoenix. LISBON, Portugal (AP) Police in Portugal have ended the latest search for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British child who went missing in 2007 in southern Portugal. Authorities gave no details about the results of the search Thursday. A statement by Portugals Judiciary Police said some material had been collected and would be handed over to German authorities for examination. The search around a dam some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Praia da Luz resort, where the three-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago, began Tuesday following a request by German authorities. A German man who is a suspect in the case is currently in jail in Germany for a different case. Portuguese, German and British police took part in the three-day operation during which detectives probed the banks of the Arade reservoir and also used sniffer dogs and a drone. Germany prosecutor Christian Wolters told the Associated Press Thursday authorities would gauge the success of the search after its conclusion, adding that a statement may be issued next week. Portuguese media said this was the fourth police search for McCann, following the initial one in 2007 in the southern Algarve area and further efforts in 2013 and 2014. Another search was held in Germany in 2020. The reservoir is less than half full because of a drought affecting Portugal and neighboring Spain. The search would've been below the water line under normal rainfall. In mid-2020, German officials said that a 45-year-old German citizen, identified by media as Christian Brueckner, who was in the Algarve in 2007, was a suspect in the case. Brueckner has denied any involvement. Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder in the McCann case but hasnt been charged. He spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of Madeleines disappearance. The case of Madeleine McCann stirred worldwide interest for several years, with reports of sightings of her stretching as far away as Australia, along with a slew of books and television documentaries about the case. British, Portuguese and German police are still piecing together what happened on the night when the toddler disappeared from her bed in the southern Portuguese resort on May 3, 2007. She was in the same room as her twin brother and sister, who were two years old at the time, while her parents had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant. Madeleines parents did not comment due to the active investigation, according to an email response from the website set up for the search for the child, findmadeleine.com. ____ Ciaran Giles in Madrid, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea successfully launched a commercial-grade satellite for the first time Thursday as part of its growing space development program, as rival North Korea is pushing to place its first military spy satellite into orbit. The two Koreas, technically in a state of war, have no military reconnaissance satellites of their own and both are eager to possess them. The South Korean launch Thursday will likely assist its efforts to develop a space-based surveillance system. The domestically built three-stage Nuri rocket lifted off from a launch facility on a southern island with a payload of eight satellites, including a main commercial-grade satellite whose mission is to verify radar imaging technology and observe cosmic radiation in a near-Earth orbit. Science Minister Lee Jong Ho later told a televised news conference that the launch was successful, saying it proved the rocket's reliability and South Korea's potential to operate various satellites and explore space. Lee said seven of the eight satellites including the main one were successfully released from the rocket. He said more time is required to confirm the release of the eighth satellite. Today, we confirmed that dreams can come true, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol wrote on Facebook. I hope our future generations have a great dream and challenge while looking at the Nuri rocket soaring into space. The launch boosted South Koreas hopes of catching up with Asian neighbors such as China, Japan and India in a regional space race. Lee, the science minister, said South Korea plans to conduct three more Nuri rocket launches by 2027 and will seek to develop more advanced launch vehicles. The launch was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed at the last minute due to a technical problem. Last year, South Korea used a Nuri rocket to place a performance verification satellite" in orbit, becoming the worlds 10th nation to send a satellite into space with its own technology. But that launch was primarily designed to test the rocket. Many experts say Thursday's launch will also help South Korea accumulate technologies and knowhow to operate military spy satellites and build long-range missiles. South Korea is expected to launch its first spy satellite later this year. It currently relies on U.S. spy satellites to monitor North Korean facilities. Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, noted that the satellite launched Thursday is designed to be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit, which is typically used for reconnaissance satellites. South Korea already has missiles capable of reaching all of North Korea. But experts say it needs longer-range missiles to prepare for future security threats from potential adversaries China and Russia. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following North Koreas barrage of missiles tests since the beginning of last year. Some of the tests demonstrated its potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on the mainland U.S. and South Korea and Japan. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seeking to develop more sophisticated weapons systems, including a spy satellite, to cope with what he calls intensifying U.S. and South Korean hostilities. Analysts say Kim wants to use an expanded weapons arsenal to win greater concessions from Washington in future dealings. North Korea must be so concerned about the South Korean satellite launch Thursday because much of Kim Jong Uns interest now is in possessing a spy satellite, said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. He has a strong desire to launch a spy satellite before South Korea does. Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas main launch center in the northwest shows activities that suggest a new level of urgency in making the site ready to accommodate satellite launches, 38 North, a North Korea-focused website, said Wednesday. It said the images indicate progress on a new launch pad is moving forward at a remarkable pace. Last week, Kim examined a finished spy satellite and approved a plan for its launch during a visit to the countrys aerospace agency. The spy satellite disclosed in North Korean state media doesnt appear sophisticated enough to produce high-resolution imagery. But Lee, the expert at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, said it is likely to be capable of monitoring deployment of U.S. strategic assets such as an aircraft carrier and the movements of South Korean warships and fighter jets. South Korean army soldiers rappel down from a Surion helicopter during South Korea-U.S. joint military drills at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) The South Korean and U.S. militaries are carrying out massive live-fire drills near the border with North Korea on Thursday, despite the Norths warning that it wont tolerate what it calls such a hostile invasion rehearsal on its doorstep. Thursdays drills, the first of the allies five rounds of firing exercises until mid-June, mark 70 years since the establishment of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea has typically reacted to such major South Korean-U.S. exercises with missile and other weapons tests. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles but none since it fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. North Korea has argued its torrid pace of tests was meant to respond to the expanded military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, but observers say the North aims to advance its weapons development then wrest greater concessions from its rivals in eventual diplomacy. The U.S.-South Korean firing exercises, called the combined annihilation firepower drills, would be the biggest of their kind. The drills have been held 11 times since they began in 1977, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. Ministry officials said this years drills are to involve advanced stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters, tanks and multiple rocket launch systems from South Korea and the United States. It wasn't immediately known how many troops would take part in the drills, but previous exercises in 2017 the most recent ones before this year drew about 2,000 soldiers and 250 weapons assets from both countries. Flames rise as the South Korean army's armored vehicles wait during South Korea-U.S. joint military drills at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) An earlier Defense Ministry statement said the drills are meant to enhance the allies combined operational performance capabilities. It said South Korea and the United States will seek to establish the overwhelming deterrence and response capabilities to cope with North Korean nuclear and missile threats. Last Friday, North Koreas state media called the drills a typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal. It said North Korea cannot but take a more serious note of the fact that that the drills would be held in an area a few kilometers (miles) from its frontier. KCNA said the U.S. and South Korea will face unspecified corresponding responses over their series of large-scale, provocative drills. Earlier this year, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in five years. The U.S. also sent the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bombers for joint exercises with South Korea. Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said North Korea could use the South Korea-U.S. drills as a pretext to resume testing activities to attain its stated goal of modernizing its weapons arsenals. He said domestic issues such as North Korea's push to increase agricultural production amid the rice-planting season could still affect its decision on weapons tests. North Korea can't help feel some burdens over the South Korea-U.S. joint firepower drills being held for the first time in six years and in the strongest manner," Moon said. He said North Korea may test a solid-propellant ICBM, a submarine-launched ballistic missile or short-range ballistic weapons. The South Korean army's Surion helicopter fires flares during South Korea-U.S. joint military drills at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In their summit last month, President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced steps to reinforce their deterrence capabilities such as the periodic docking U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea; bolstering joint training exercises; and the establishment of a new nuclear consultative group. Biden also issued a blunt warning that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, later said the Biden-Yoon summit agreement revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further bolster her countrys escalatory nuclear doctrine, saying The pipe dream of the U.S. and South Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength. Worries about North Koreas nuclear program grew after the North last year legislated a law that authorizes the preemptive use of nuclear weapons. Many foreign experts say North Korea has yet to possess functioning nuclear missiles. ___ Find more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific The Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve in San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) The Supreme Court on Thursday limited federal protection for millions of acres of U.S. wetlands, ruling for property rights over clean water. In a 5-4 decision, the court said the Clean Water Act does not forbid developing marshy areas or dry creek beds because water does not flow regularly and directly from them into a river, lake or bay. Since the 1970s, the law has broadly protected wetlands from development because they help improve water quality and because dredge material can pollute rivers and bays. But the court's conservative majority said the law's protections for the "waters of the United States" are limited to wetlands and streams that are directly connected to navigable waterways. The court ruled in favor of a couple who were blocked from building a home on a soggy lot next to scenic Priest Lake in Idaho. "We hold that the [Clean Water Act] extends to only those 'wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are "waters of the United States" in their own right,' so that they are 'indistinguishable' from those waters," Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote for the majority. That definition, which leaves out many wetlands, could have the greatest effect in the West and other areas where streams are dry for part of the year. Conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh joined liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissenting and saying that Congress intended to protect more wetlands from development, including marshy areas that are near rivers or streams but are not directly connected to them. The decision in Sackett vs. EPA is a victory for landowners and developers and a defeat for environmentalists. Sam Sankar, vice president of programs at Earthjustice, denounced the decision, saying it "undoes a half-century of progress generated by the Clean Water Act." "Almost 90 million acres of formerly protected wetlands now face an existential threat from polluters and developers," he said. This decision is the culmination of industrys decades-long push to get conservative courts to do what Congress refused to do." West Virginia Atty. Gen. Patrick Morrisey welcomed the ruling. "We now have a clearer definition for 'waters of the United States,' and were pleased the Supreme Court ruled in a way that state lands and waters are less subject to the whims of unelected bureaucrats, he said. "Today is a big day for farmers, home builders, contractors, property owners and those who care about economic activity not being subject to overreach by the federal government." All nine justices agreed the Idaho couple's vacant lot was not a protected wetland, but they disagreed on how to define the term. Alito, joined by four other conservative justices, adopted a view espoused by the late Justice Antonin Scalia that the federal law protected only connected bodies of waters, not adjacent wetlands. But Kavanaugh and the court's three liberals said that Congress and the court had taken the view for decades that wetlands that were adjacent to rivers or bays were protected. "By narrowing the Act's coverage of wetlands," Kavanaugh wrote, the "Court's new test will leave some long-regulated adjacent wetlands no longer covered ... with significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States." San Francisco Baykeeper, a watchdog group, said the ruling "will jeopardize the health of San Francisco Bay and remove protection from many of the wetlands around the Bay." Thursday's decision effectively overturns a moderate position set by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in 2006. He said the law should protect marshy areas or dry creek beds that sometimes send water flowing into a river or bay, rejecting Scalia's view that the EPA could protect only continuously flowing bodies of water. But with the addition of Justices Neil M. Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, the court has adopted Scalia's view and cast aside Kennedy's. Thursday's ruling limiting the EPA does not prevent California or other states from protecting their wetlands. But developers, home builders and farmers argue that they should not be prevented from using land that includes marsh areas. The Clean Water Act was adopted in 1972 to prevent pollution from being discharged into the "navigable waters" of the United States, but ever since, there has been disagreement over the extent of federal authority. Because water flows downhill, environmental regulators said they needed broad authority to prevent discharges into small streams or wetlands that drain into waterways. The prohibited pollutants included gravel and sand, which cannot be dumped into wetlands without a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers or the EPA. But property rights advocates argued that the EPA had exceeded its authority. They said overzealous federal agents were preventing property owners from using their land. Thursday's ruling marked the second victory in the high court for the Idaho couple, Michael and Chantell Sackett. In 2004 they bought a lot that sat about 300 feet from Priest Lake. Near the back of the property were wetlands that drained into the lake, and part of the lot was marshy. The couple dumped gravel and sand in a soggy area as a first step toward building a home on the lot. Their real estate broker had warned them that the lot contained wetlands, and in 2007, an EPA official told them they needed a permit before they could develop the lot to build a home. The Pacific Legal Foundation took up their case, and in 2012 won a unanimous Supreme Court ruling that allowed them to challenge the wetlands designation in court before undertaking the costly process of obtaining a permit. In their second challenge, a federal judge in Idaho and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled against the couple, holding that their soggy lot was a protected wetland. Appealing to the Supreme Court, attorney Damien Schiff said that "the Sacketts property contains no stream, river, lake, or similar water body," and that their "ordeal is emblematic of all that has gone wrong with implementation of the Clean Water Act. In defense of the EPA, Justice Department lawyers argued that wetlands such as swamps, bogs, marshes and fens ... play a critical role in regulating water quality. They provide flood control and trap and filter sediment and other pollutants that would otherwise be carried into downstream waters. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Geraldine Tyler, 94, now lives in an apartment building for seniors. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously sided with a 94-year-old grandmother who lost her home to foreclosure and then lost the equity she had in the property beyond the taxes she owed. A Minnesota County sold Geraldine Tylers condo at an auction for $40,000. Instead of returning the $25,000 difference between the sales price and what she owed in back taxes, the county pocketed the balance and used the extra money for forest development, county parks, and recreation programs. "The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but not more," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. Tyler's attorneys said about a dozen states have laws similar to Minnesota's including New York, Arizona and Illinois and that those laws can have a big impact on seniors struggling to pay property taxes after retirement. Tyler claims the county's handling of the property represented a government "taking" that she says violates the Fifth Amendment. Argued: A 94-year-old grandmother lost her home. Should the government have profited from her setback? Case tracker: A look at the key cases pending before the Supreme Court Hennepin County told the Supreme Court that Tyler had five years to pay the taxes or sell the property. And, it argued, Tyler couldn't have recuperated the surplus money and therefore doesn't have standing to sue because she owed a mortgage and back homeowner association fees. Tyler moved out of the condo and into an apartment building for seniors in 2010. A federal district court sided with the county in the dispute and the St. Louis-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit affirmed that decision. But a majority of the justices conservatives and liberals signaled during oral argument in April that they were concerned with the state law at issue in Tyler's case. The takings clause of the Fifth Amendment bars the government from taking private property "without just compensation." Tyler also argued that the fines assessed by the county are excessive in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Tyler owed about $2,300 in back taxes but with penalties and interest, her obligation grew to $15,000. The case is Tyler v. Hennepin County. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court backs 94-year-old Geraldine Tyler in fight over condo Published May 25, 2023 at 2:01 AM A 61-year-old woman who was killed when her Finley home caught fire Saturday night died in her bed, said investigators. Deanna Gibson died from smoke inhalation, said Benton County Coroner Bill Leach. Firefighters carried her out of her burning mobile home Saturday night after finding her inside, according to a Benton County Fire District 1 post. They were unable to resuscitate her and she died at the scene. Gibson had lived in the home since 2004, according to county records. She previously lived in Kennewick, Oregon and California, public records show. Officials said it took a few days to find a family member to notify of her death. Firefighters were called to 221108 E. Bryson Brown Road, about 10:20 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found smoke and flames coming from the home. Investigators believe a faulty kitchen fan started the blaze. They do not know the home had working smoke detectors. Trade Ministr Ahn Duk-geun / Yonhap Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun will attend this week's meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers in Detroit, his office said Thursday. The annual APEC trade ministers' meeting was to take place Thursday through Friday (local time), to be chaired by the United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, for discussions on ways to strengthen the multilateral trading system and to beef up the role of trade for sustainable and inclusive growth, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. During the meeting, Ahn plans to present Korea's major policy measures to contribute to the multilateral trading system and ways of global cooperation to achieve the goal in an effort to better respond to fast-changing trade circumstances amid the spread of protectionism that reshapes global supply chains. "As the Asia-Pacific region emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, our agenda will provide an opportunity for members to engage and zero in on how we can ensure international cross-border trade flows smoothly, and how trade can help us address the region's most pressing challenges from climate change to economic inequality," Rebecca Sta Maria, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, was quoted as saying by her office. On the sidelines of the meeting, Ahn plans to meet with his counterparts from major APEC member nations to discuss industry, trade, energy, and a wide range of pending issues and ways of cooperation, the ministry said. Following the two-day APEC ministerial meeting, Ahn is scheduled to attend the ministerial meeting of the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to be held in Detroit on Saturday. The 14 participating nations will check their discussions on its four key pillars trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy and fair economy over the past year and exchange opinions on future directions, according to the ministry. The 14 IPEF nations, including Japan, Australia, India and Vietnam, represent 40 percent of global gross domestic product, and 28 percent of global goods and services trade, according to government data. As of 2021, trade volume between Korea and the remaining 13 IPEF member nations had come to $498.4 billion, accounting for 39.6 percent of Seoul's total trade that year. The IPEF was launched in May 2022 with a goal to promote resilience and fairness, and fuel sustainable economic growth and investment in the region. So far, the nations have held three rounds of official rule-setting negotiations, with the latest one taking place in Singapore earlier this month. (Yonhap) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping elections bill Wednesday that will make it easier for him to run for president, a move that comes hours after he formally filed to make a bid for the White House. The most discussed provision in the election package is a change to the state's "resign-to-run" law. It was unclear if the change was needed to allow DeSantis to continue to be governor of the third-largest state in the country while simultaneously running for president, but Republican legislative leaders have long said they would change it to ensure there were no legal concerns. DeSantis quietly signed the bill Wednesday, with no fanfare, hours before his formal presidential launch, which will come in during an interview with Twitter owner Elon Musk during a 6 p.m. ET Twitter Spaces event on Wednesday. His office did not respond to requests seeking comment. The resign-to-run changes are among a handful Republican lawmakers passed that will make it easier for DeSantis to run for president. They also created exemptions to state public records laws to make DeSantis travel and potential donor meetings more opaque, and, in a last-minute move, gave him an additional $1 million for staff raises to help keep his core team together ahead of a likely presidential run. The resign-to-run proposal became the subject of early attacks from former President Donald Trump, who is the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination by a wide margin, according to several recent public polls. I couldnt care less if Ron DeSanctus runs, but the problem is the bill he is about to sign, which allows him to run without resigning from being governor, totally weakens election integrity in Florida, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on April 30. Instead of getting tough, and doing what the people want (same day voting, voter id, proof of citizenship, paper ballots, hand count etc.) the bill guts everything. Trump has tried to frame the underlying bill, which includes several Florida election law changes, as DeSantis weakening election integrity, a term that has become a mainstay in the conservative lexicon when discussing election reforms. Florida, for three years in a row, has passed sweeping election bills that have prompted lawsuits and concerns of voter suppression from Democrats and voting rights groups. SB 7050, the legislation that includes the resign-to-run provision, also includes, among other things, increasing the total annual fine from $50,000 to $250,000 that the state can levy on outside voter registration groups for infractions like late-filed registration applications, or using people who have felonies on their records or cannot prove they are United States citizens as part of voter registration drives. Heavier penalties for voter registration groups, opponents charge, will disproportionately affect registration of minority voters, who are generally Democratic-leaning. Black and Hispanic voters are five times more likely to be registered to vote by these organizations than white voters, Kirk Bailey, political director of the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement. Lawmakers know this is a bill that would disproportionately impact many Black and brown Floridians who rely on community-based groups to keep them updated on voting rules, which are already difficult to understand. The resign-to-run provision tucked into that larger election bill has been a central focus as a DeSantis bid for president came into closer view, but a Republican-led Legislature signed off on several other changes that will make it harder to track DeSantis official actions. Separate legislation would allow DeSantis use of state planes to be secret, a move viewed by Democrats as paving the way for the governor to use the states taxpayer-funded plane in a way thats nearly impossible to track, as is allowed currently under Florida law. The proposal would also apply to legislative leadership and other top government officials, but the focus had been on the implications for DeSantis because of his expected presidential campaign rollout. Republican supporters argued the provision, which would also apply to past travel, is needed for safety reasons. A very simple bill that is truly about safety and security of our most senior elected officials has become politicized, Republican House sponsor Jeff Holcomb said just before the bills final passage. Democrats, though, charged that the bill is pure politics. I have seen a lot of bills this session that have been specifically allocated for a single individual who wants to run for president, said Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani when the House passed the legislation. And I just dont think we should bend laws to benefit one individual and their political aspirations. Separate language in the bill would also shield from public record laws the names of people who visit Floridas governors mansion on issues not related to official government business. In recent weeks, DeSantis has held meetings with potential donors at the mansion ahead of his presidential run. Because the creation of a public records exemption requires a two-thirds vote of both chambers of the state Legislature, the bills passage came about only because the GOP holds supermajorities in both the House and Senate. Democrats were in near universal opposition to the bill. The $1 million for salary boosts for top DeSantis staffers was added as part of whats informally known as the sprinkle list, because such late allocations are seen as sprinkles on top of what at that point is an already mostly finished proposal. Senate budget chief Doug Broxson, a Republican, told reporters the money would allow DeSantis to keep top staffers. He will be able to keep people that are valuable to him, and they will not be tempted to go to the private sector, he said. The leader of Russian mercenary group Wagner has claimed that Vladimir Putin could face a revolution similar to those of 1917 and lose the war in Ukraine unless the elite got serious about fighting the war. Ukraine is preparing a counter-offensive aimed at pushing Russian troops back to the borders of before 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, Yevgeny Prigozhin said. Ukraine would try to encircle Bakhmut and attack Crimea, he added. Most likely of all, this scenario will not be good for Russia so we need to prepare for an arduous war, he said in an interview posted on his Telegram channel. Russias elite, he said, protected their own children from fighting the war while the children of ordinary Russians perished on the front, a situation he said that could trigger turmoil in Russia. If ordinary Russians continued getting their children back in zinc coffins while the children of the elite sunned themselves abroad, he said, Russia would face turmoil along the lines of the 1917 revolutions which ushered in a civil war. Key Points Wagner chief warns Russia could face revolution unless elite gets serious about war Anti-Russia fighters using US-made armoured vehicles for incursion into Russia - Report Russia forcefully mobilising AWOL soldiers in Ukraine, British intelligence says Mercenary Prigozhin warns Russia could face revolution Drone drops explosive device on a car in Belgorod, governor says Russias FSB detains 2 Ukrainians plotting to blow up power lines of nuclear power stations 07:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday it had detained two Ukrainian saboteurs who were plotting to blow up the power pylons of nuclear power stations in Russia, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. Ukraine probably behind drone attack on Kremlin, US officials say 07:15 , Arpan Rai One of Ukraines special military or intelligence units was likely behind the dramatic drone attack on the Kremlin seen earlier this month, assessments by US spy agencies show. The attack, which appears to be part of a series of covert operations, made officials in Washington uncomfortable, reported the New York Times. The US assessment was based on intercepted Russian and Ukrainian communications, the paper said. Officials in the US intercepted Ukrainian conversations in which officials said they believed their country was responsible for the attack and also intercepted Russian communications which indicated it was not some sort of false-flag operation by Russia, the report added. It added that the US does not believe Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky signs off all covert operations and the extent of his awareness on such operations in advance remains unclear, the officials said. While the Kremlin squarely blamed Ukraine for the attack and called it an attempt to assassinate Vladimir Putin, it also accused the US of being behind the incident. Mr Zelensky swiftly denied Ukraines involvement, saying that the war-hit nation only carries out defensive operations on its own soil, and Washington dismissed Russias allegations as ridiculous. Russia downs six drones in Crimea, says Moscow-backed official 07:02 , Arpan Rai Russian air defences managed to down six drones overnight in different areas of the peninsular region, Moscow-backed head of Crimeas administration said today. No casualties have been seen so far, Russia-installed governor Sergei Aksyonov said on Telegram. Pro-Russian actors created 65km-long Z symbol with 'spoofed' shipping trackers UK MoD 07:02 , Arpan Rai Britains Ministry of Defence (MoD) says pro-Russian actors risked a maritime safety incident by tricking vessel tracking data to create a 65km-long pro-war Z symbol at sea. The spoofing of vessels Automatic Identification System (AIS) data was likely done to boost Russian morale, the MoD said. Analysis by Geollect indicates that since 14 May 2023, commercial vessels Automatic Identification System (AIS) data has been remotely spoofed to create the impression of a 65km long Russian pro-war Z symbol on the Black Sea, visible on open source tracking software, the ministry said in its latest intelligence update. It added that the AIS is used to track vessels, including to ensure their safety, and the tracks making up the image suggested vessel speeds of up to 102 knots (188 km/h), further suggesting they were fake. Pro-Russian actors likely conducted the spoofing as an information operation, potentially in an attempt to bolster Russian morale ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counter offensive, the ministry said today. It added that the spoofing of AIS increases the risk of maritime accidents. Despite Russian virtual information operations in the Black Sea, its physical navy remains vulnerable: the Ivan Khurs intelligence gathering vessel was likely attacked on 24 May 2023, it said. Around 10,000 Wagners prison convicts killed in Ukraine war, says chief 06:27 , Arpan Rai Wagner has lost one in five convicts recruited to fight in Ukraine, the mercenary groups chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said. I took 50,000 prisoners of which around 20 per cent were killed, Wagner chief Prigozhin said in a video interview on late Tuesday, adding that around 10,000 of Russian prisoners recruited to fight in the continuing war have been killed on the battlefield. A similar percentage were killed among those who had signed a contract with Wagner but did not share an exact number of casualties. Ukraine improving defence faster than Russia can change tactics', says Zelensky 05:54 , Arpan Rai Ukrainian forces are improving their defence faster than Russian can change its terror tactics in the war, Volodymyr Zelensky said after a meeting with his commander-in-chief and the head of Ukraines main intelligence directorate. We know how to respond. In particular, this applies to the missile threat and the constant terror of kamikaze drones. Now Russia is increasingly resorting to so-called combined strikes different types of missiles, different types of drones, he said in his nightly address. He added: I am grateful to our Air Force, to all our defenders of the sky, to our intelligence for improving our defence faster than Russia can change its terror tactics. If we take, for example, just one weapon of Russian terror, the Iranian Shaheds, our soldiers have shot down almost 900 of these drones to date. In total, about 1160 Shaheds have been used against Ukraine. We shoot down most of them, Mr Zelensky said. Ukraine downs all Russian drones overnight, officials say 05:39 , Arpan Rai Ukraine has shot down all Russian aerial targets during an early morning attack on Kyiv, the capital citys military administration head Serhii Popko said. Russian forces used drones in their 12th mass attack this month against Kyiv and the military offensive lasted over three hours, Mr Popko said, adding that all potential strikes on Kyiv have been prevented. Thousands of South Korean artillery shells en route to Ukraine via US report 04:47 , Arpan Rai South Korea has dispatched hundreds of thousands of its artillery rounds and the ammunition package is on its way to Ukraine via the United States, according to a new report. Seoul had managed a confidential arrangement with Washington to transfer the artillery shells to the US to be delivered to Ukraine, reported the Wall Street Journal, citing a source. This comes after Washington asked its Asian ally last year for artillery support. Jeon Ha-kyu, spokesperson at South Koreas defence ministry, confirmed that the country had been in talks with the Pentagon on ammunition exports but that there were inaccurate parts in the WSJ report, declining to give details. There have been various discussions and requests, and our government will take appropriate measures while comprehensively reviewing the war and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Mr Jeon told a briefing. Up until very recently, South Korea had ruled out sending military aid to Ukraine due to its business relations with Russia in addition to Moscows influence over North Korea which has been targeting it in the peninsular region. The US ally and major producer of artillery ammunition had refused the requests despite the mounting pressure from Washington and Europe to supply weapons. But in April, president Yoon Suk Yeol signalled the prospect of a change, saying it might be difficult for Seoul to adhere to only providing humanitarian and financial support if Ukraine faced a large-scale civilian attack or a situation the international community cannot condone. Russia rejects reports of fire at defence ministry state media 04:15 , Arpan Rai Russian officials have rejected reports of a heavy fire at its Ministry of Defence building in central Moscow after visuals showed thick smoke billowing out of its balcony. A fire broke out on a balcony at the ministry of defence building on Frunzenskaya Naberezhnaya, reported TASS news agency, initially quoting an emergency services source as saying. Emergency services were also reported to be working at the scene. However, local officials later said a fire had not been detected at the building, TASS reported. The presence of a fire has not been confirmed, as no fire was detected by the fire brigade upon arrival. Neither is there any information about victims, TASS quoted Moscows Ministry of Emergency Situations as saying. Several people took to social media and shared visuals of smoke around the defence ministry building adding that a toxic smell of burning plastic was also detected. Russia: Lots of smoke around the Ministry of Defence building in Moscow and toxic smell of burning plastic reported. pic.twitter.com/YVL6tzcbfk Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) May 24, 2023 Nato chief says Ukraine should not join until Russias invasion is over 04:00 , Jane Dalton Ukraine will not be able to join Nato as long as Russias invasion rages on, the head of the alliance says: Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over First Ukrainian F-16 will be 'strongest signal from world', says Zelensky 03:54 , Arpan Rai Volodymyr Zelensky has said an aviation coalition working to secure modern fighter jets for Ukraine will signal that the Russian forces invading the country will only lose. He made the remarks in his nightly address after a meeting of his top staff where defence decisions around the aviation coalition were discussed alongside other possible help from Ukraines allies. ...the first Ukrainian F-16 will be one of the strongest signals from the world that Russia will only lose because of its own aggression, becoming weaker and more isolated, he said. The move will also be a signal that Russian terror has lost, and our world, which is based on respect for independent nations and the right of peoples to choose their own path, has endured, the war-time president said in his nightly address. Mr Zelensky added: We are doing everything we can to reduce the time until the result is achieved, until new and powerful aircraft with Ukrainian pilots emerge in the Ukrainian skies. It is clear that this global step will allow us to expand our defence capabilities. Because it is only with powerful aircraft that an air defence system can be complete. We will prepare the necessary basis to ensure that our aviation transition is as quick and efficient as possible, he said. Russians who back Ukraine claim they attacked Belgorod 02:55 , Jane Dalton Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion have claimed they engaged in cross-border raids on the territory of the Belgorod region of Russia starting on Monday. The Russian fighters, who are aligned with Ukraine, met the media not far from the Ukraine-Russia border in Kharkiv's area, northeastern Ukraine. Ukraine has portrayed the incursions by the Russian volunteers as an uprising against the Kremlin and Putin's regime. Russian fighters aligned with Ukraine claim responsibility for cross-border attack in Russia's Belgorod region (EPA) (EPA) (EPA) Russian soldiers going awol at record rate, UK claims 01:50 , Jane Dalton At least 1,000 Russian troops fighting Ukraine have gone awol in the past five months more than in all of last year, British defence chiefs claim: More Russian soldiers awol this year than in all of last year, UK claims US concerned over UN officials meeting with Russian wanted for war crimes Thursday 25 May 2023 00:45 , Jane Dalton The United States is deeply concerned by a meeting between a leading UN official for children and Russias ombudsman for childrens rights, who is wanted by the worlds permanent war crimes court, a State Department official says. Maria Lvova-Belova, who is accused by the International Criminal Courts prosecutor of the war crime of deporting hundreds of Ukrainian children to Russia, said on her website last week that she held a working meeting with Virginia Gamba, the special representative of the UN secretary-general for children and armed conflict. We are deeply concerned that a senior UN diplomat met with a fugitive subject to an ICC arrest warrant for committing war crimes against children, the official said. Such conduct undermines our shared commitment to protecting children in conflict zones. Nobel peace laureate moved to brutal Belarus jail' Wednesday 24 May 2023 23:40 , Jane Dalton Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski has been transferred to a notoriously brutal prison in Belarus and has not been heard from in a month, his wife says: Nobel peace laureate transferred to brutal prison in Belarus, his wife says Germany to give Kiev tanks and howitzers Wednesday 24 May 2023 22:35 , Jane Dalton Germany will buy 18 Leopard 2 tanks and 12 self-propelled howitzers to replenish stocks depleted by deliveries to Ukraine, a member of the parliamentary budget committee said. The tanks and howitzers are to be delivered by 2026 at the latest, documents showed. The purchase includes an option for another 105 tanks for about 2.9 billion euros. Germany has supplied 18 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine since the Russian invasion last year and has said it intends to plug the gap with new tanks as soon as possible. In pictures: the front line in Donetsk Wednesday 24 May 2023 21:30 , Jane Dalton A Ukrainian soldier in a damaged building (EPA) (EPA) A Ukrainian serviceman walks among debris (EPA) A psychological win for Ukraine Wednesday 24 May 2023 20:25 , Jane Dalton In case you missed it: For Ukraine, there appears little to lose from mysterious attacks on Russian soil, writes Chris Stevenson: Analysis: Shadowy attacks inside Russia deliver a psychological win for Ukraine Norway and Netherlands ready to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s Wednesday 24 May 2023 19:23 , Jane Dalton Norway has pledged to support training programmes for Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, and the Netherlands says it wants to train them as soon as possible. Norwegian Defence Minister Bjoern Arild Gram said: The government backs this initiative and is considering how Norway can contribute together with allies and partners. Top Russian diplomats said this week the transfer of F-16 jets to Ukraine would raise the question of Natos role in the conflict. But Natos chief Jens Stoltenberg said training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s would not make the bloc a party to the conflict. US president Joe Biden on Friday endorsed training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky assured Mr Biden that the aircraft would not be used to go into Russian territory. The Norwegian government has not decided whether Norway will give any of its F-16 jets to Ukraine, the minister told public broadcaster NRK. The training by the Netherlands would be coordinated with the UK, Belgium and Denmark, and other countries could join, Dutch defence minister Kajsa Ollongren said. Ukraine calls on African nations for support Wednesday 24 May 2023 18:40 , Jane Dalton Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is urging African countries to abandon their stances of neutrality towards his countrys war with Russia. Many African countries have refused to take sides in the European conflict, with several abstaining from votes at the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russias invasion. Mr Kuleba said Ukraine was very upset that some African countries chose to abstain and called them to lend Ukraine diplomatic support in the face of Russian aggression. Neutrality is not the answer, he told reporters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Ethiopia is one of the countries abstaining. By being neutral towards Russian aggression against Ukraine, you project neutrality to the violations of borders and mass crimes that may occur very close to you, he said. Russia has built a substantial presence in several parts of Africa, where Russian private military contractor Wagner is active, and recently held joint military drills with South Africa. Russia plans to hold an Africa-Russia summit in July. Moscow claims Ukrainian boat attacks Russian warship Wednesday 24 May 2023 17:52 , Jane Dalton Russias defence ministry says one of its warships has been attacked unsuccessfully by three Ukrainian uncrewed speedboats in the Black Sea, on the approaches to the Bosphorus strait. In a statement on Telegram, the ministry said the Ivan Hurs had been protecting the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines - which carry gas from Russia to Turkey, partly across the Black Sea - and continues to fulfil its tasks. The statement appeared likely to raise tensions in the Black Sea, where Russia agreed last week, only one day before a self-imposed deadline, to extend a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain safely from its seaports. No comment was immediately available from Kyiv. The ministry cited the attack as a justification for Russia expanding measures to defend its pipelines, though no mention was made of any implications for the safety of grain ships. Ukraine's main church to switch calendar in move away from Russia Wednesday 24 May 2023 16:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraines main Orthodox church said on Wednesday it had decided to switch to a calendar in which Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 25, a move that distances it from Russia. Ukrainian Christians, a majority of whom are Orthodox, have traditionally celebrated Christmas on Jan. 7 alongside other predominantly Orthodox Christian countries such as Russia, which invaded Ukraine last year. This question arose with new impetus as a result of Russian aggression, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) wrote in a Facebook post announcing the change away from the Julian calendar. Nowadays, the Julian calendar is perceived as connected with Russian church culture, it said. Ukraines main Catholic church, which considers about one in 10 Ukrainians to be worshippers, announced a similar change in February. The OCU said it would use the Revised Julian calendar from Sept. 1, the start of the liturgical year. It said parishes would have the option to celebrate according to the old Julian calendar if they wished. A Ukrainian government poll last December showed 59% of the more than 1.5 million respondents supported moving Christmas celebrations to Dec. 25. Ukraines culture minister has previously expressed support for the switch in calendars, describing it as appropriate to the demands of our time and public opinion. Russia: warship guarding Black Sea pipelines attacked by unmanned Ukraine craft Wednesday 24 May 2023 15:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that the Russian warship Ivan Hurs had been attacked unsuccessfully by three Ukrainian uncrewed speedboats in the Black Sea, on the approaches to the Bosphorus strait. In a statement posted on Telegram, the ministry said the warship had been protecting the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines - which carry gas from Russia to Turkey, partly across the Black Sea - and continues to fulfil its tasks. No comment was immediately available from Kyiv. The ministry cited the attack as a justification for Russia expanding defensive measures. Explosions last September damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines bringing gas from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany. The Russian statement appeared likely to raise tensions in the Black Sea, where Russia only agreed last week, one day before deadline, to extend a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain safely from its seaports. TurkStream carries gas from Russias Taman peninsula west across the width of the Black Sea to a point west of the Bosphorus. Blue Stream, however, crosses the eastern Black Sea from north to south, making landfall more than 700 km east of the Bosphorus. All enemy boats were destroyed by fire from the standard armament of a Russian ship 140 km northeast of the Bosphorus, the statement added. The Ivan Hurs is a medium reconnaissance ship launched in 2013. Shadowy attacks inside Russia deliver a psychological win for Ukraine Wednesday 24 May 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The announcement from Moscow came as little surprise, at least in its language claiming that those who had raided Russian villages close to the border with Ukraine had been completely eliminated. That it came after two days of fighting raises more of an eyebrow. The attack has been claimed by Russian militia groups who say their aim is to see President Vladimir Putin toppled. Whatever the state of the raid with suggestions that the militas opperations could be continuing despite the announcements from Moscow in the context of Russias broader invasion it is a skirmish. It is the intrigue around the incursion that will have a more lasting effect as it becomes part of the propaganda war between Moscow and Kyiv. Our foreign editor Chris Stevenson has more: Analysis: Shadowy attacks inside Russia deliver a psychological win for Ukraine US says Russia's Wagner Group seeking to transit military equipment through Mali Wednesday 24 May 2023 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The U.S. State Department on Monday said Russias Wagner Group is trying to obscure its efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, adding that Washington has been informed the mercenary force is seeking to move those acquisitions through Mali to aid Russia in its war. Wagner is willing to use false paperwork for such transactions, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular news briefing. There are indications that Wagner has been attempting to purchase military systems from foreign suppliers and route these weapons through Mali as a third party, Miller said. We have not seen as of yet any indications that these acquisitions have been finalized or executed, but we are monitoring the situation closely. Miller said Washington has imposed sanctions on a number of people and entities that support Wagners military operations, and said the United States would have more to share soon. Reuters could not immediately reach Malis government for comment. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russias Foreign Ministry, on Wednesday dismissed the U.S. allegations as a hoax in a news conference and urged Washington to examine the effect of its own military exports. (PRIGOZHIN PRESS SERVICE) Belgorod raid: Who is behind attacks on Russian region bordering Ukraine? Wednesday 24 May 2023 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia alleges that dozens of Ukrainian militants crossed into one of its border towns in its Belgorod region, striking targets and forcing an evacuation, before over 70 of the attackers were killed or pushed back by what the authorities termed a counterterrorism operation. Ukraine denied any involvement in the skirmishes Monday and Tuesday, instead blaming two Russian groups that claim to be volunteers fighting alongside Kyivs forces in an uprising against the government of President Vladimir Putin. While neither version could be independently verified, whatever happened appears to have sent Moscow scrambling to respond to one of the most serious border incursions since Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Who is behind Belgorod incursion on Russian region bordering Ukraine? WHO condemns Russia's aggression in Ukraine, rejects Moscow's counter-proposal Wednesday 24 May 2023 12:38 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The World Health Organisation (WHO) assembly passed a motion on Wednesday condemning Russias aggression against Ukraine, including attacks on healthcare facilities. The motion passed by 80 votes to 9, with 52 abstentions and 36 countries absent. The Western-led motion, put forward at the U.N. agencys annual meeting, also called for an assessment of the impact of Russias aggression on the health sector. Russia had submitted a counter-proposal recognising the health emergency in Ukraine, but making no mention of its own role in the war. That motion was rejected by the assembly immediately after the first, by 62 votes to 13, with 61 abstentions and 41 countries absent. After the votes, the Russian representative told the assembly it was not against the work of the WHO in Ukraine, but it was against the politicisation of the body. Ukraines representative said the vote was a sign of hope for its citizens in need of health assistance, and a milestone in the continuation of the WHOs work in the country. Tensions had been running high in the run up to the twin votes. During speeches that were critical of Russia, Moscows envoy interrupted with points of order. Britains ambassador Simon Manley also accused Russia of spreading disinformation at the assembly and a Russian official confirmed it had distributed pamphlets accusing Ukrainian forces of attacking medical facilities in parts of the country it controls. Moscow has consistently denied targeting civilians during what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine. The votes echo last years assembly, when two sets of motions were also presented, with the Western-led resolution passing with 88 votes for and 12 against. Abstentions and absence levels were high, as in this years vote. Russia extends detention of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich by three months Wednesday 24 May 2023 12:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A Russian court has extended the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by three months, Russian news agencies reported Tuesday. Mr Gershkovich, an American citizen, was ordered held until 30 August. He had been arrested in March on espionage charges on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer and the US government have denied the charges. Mr Gershkovich is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying charges, and his arrest rattled journalists in the country and drew outrage in the West. The US government has declared Mr Gershkovich to be wrongfully detained and demanded his immediate release. Hes being held in Moscows Lefortovo prison. Russia extends detention of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich by three months Kremlin says Ukraine border raiders' use of Western-made military hardware part of pattern Wednesday 24 May 2023 11:49 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the use of Western-made military hardware by pro-Ukrainian fighters who conducted a raid on a Russian border region this week was consistent with the Wests growing involvement in the Ukraine conflict. The Russian military said on Tuesday it had routed militants who attacked the Russian border region of Belgorod with armoured vehicles the previous day, killing more than 70 Ukrainian nationalists and pushing the remainder back into Ukraine. Images of some of the destroyed vehicles used by the pro-Ukrainian fighters broadcast on Russian state media showed U.S.-made military hardware such as U.S.-made Humvees. It is no secret for us that more and more equipment is being delivered to Ukraines armed forces. It is no secret that this equipment is being used against our own military. And it is no secret for us that the direct and indirect involvement of Western countries in this conflict is growing by the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. We are drawing the appropriate conclusions. (EPA) Finland says Russia set to terminate agreement on military visits Wednesday 24 May 2023 10:42 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia has informed neighbouring Finland that it will terminate a bilateral agreement on mutual visits to military installations, the Finnish defence ministry said late on Tuesday. The bilateral agreement, signed in 2000, provided for one annual Russian assessment visit to Finland and a similar visit by Finland to the Leningrad Military District in north-west Russia, the Finnish ministry said in a statement. Finland last month joined the NATO military alliance in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, drawing a threat from Moscow of counter-measures. The bilateral agreement, last applied in 2019 before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, was among several post-Cold War measures taken to improve East-West relations. The broader Vienna Act, agreed within the framework of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which also provides for mutual inspection and evaluation visits, would not be affected by the termination, Finland said. Russian PM tells Chinas Xi: We will push back against sanctions Wednesday 24 May 2023 10:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told Chinese President Xi Jinping in China on Wednesday that Moscow and Beijing would push back against attempts by countries to use sanctions to impose their will, Russias RIA news agency reported. (SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) Russia's Lavrov: West sees Russia and China as threat to its dominance Wednesday 24 May 2023 08:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday said that the West saw Russia and China as adversaries that posed what he called an existential threat to the Wests dominance. As evidenced by statements made at the recently concluded G7 summit in Japan, the West views Russia and China as strategic adversaries posing almost an existential threat to its dominance, Lavrov said. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service) Mercenary Prigozhin warns Russia could face revolution unless elite gets serious about war Wednesday 24 May 2023 08:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, warned that Russia could face a revolution similar to those of 1917 and lose the war in Ukraine unless the elite got serious about fighting the war. Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine has triggered one of the deadliest European conflicts since World War Two and the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Ukraine is preparing a counter-offensive aimed at pushing Russian troops back to the borders of before 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, Prigozhin said. Ukraine would try to encircle Bakhmut and attack Crimea, he added. Most likely of all, this scenario will not be good for Russia so we need to prepare for an arduous war, he said in an interview posted on his Telegram channel. We are in such a condition that we could fucking lose Russia - that is the main problem ... We need to impose martial law. Prigozhin said his political outlook was dominated by love for the motherland and serving Putin. He said the nickname of Putins chef was stupid as he couldnt cook, quipping that Putins butcher might be a more apt nickname. Russias elite, he said, protected their own children from fighting the war while the children of ordinary Russians perished on the front, a situation he said that could trigger turmoil in Russia. If ordinary Russians continued getting their children back in zinc coffins while the children of the elite sunned themselves abroad, he said, Russia would face turmoil along the lines of the 1917 revolutions which ushered in a civil war. (AP) Russia forcefully mobilising AWOL soldiers in Ukraine, British intelligence says Wednesday 24 May 2023 07:21 , Shweta Sharma In todays intelligence update, the British ministry of defence has said Russian military courts dealt with 1,053 cases of personnel going absent without leave (AWOL), citing a credible search by a Russian journalist. It said Russias struggle to enforce discipline in its ranks throughout its operations in Ukraine has likely worsened following the forced mobilisation of reservists since October 2022. (4/4) Russias efforts to improve discipline have focused on making examples of defaulters, and promoting patriotic zeal, rather than addressing the root causes of soldiers disillusionment. Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 24, 2023 Russian PM says relations with China at unprecedented high level Wednesday 24 May 2023 07:08 , Shweta Sharma Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin who arrived in Beijing today said the ties with China are at an unprecedented high level, characterised by mutual respect for each others interests and the desire to jointly respond to challenges. As our Chinese friends say, unity makes it possible to move mountains, Mr Mishustin told Chinese premier Li Qiang during a meeting in Beijing. Mr Li said that China was willing to work with Russia to promote their pragmatic cooperation in various fields and take it to a new level. Pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia has shown a good development trend, and the scale of investment between the two is also continuously seeing an upgrade, Mr Li told Mr Mishustin during a meeting in Beijing. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who leads a delegation to China, arrived in #Shanghai on Monday, beginning his official visit during which he is expected to take part in a business forum and hold meetings with Chinese officials. pic.twitter.com/JjAKHm9vgq Global Times (@globaltimesnews) May 23, 2023 Kyiv denies EUs Josep Borrells claim that Ukrainian pilots training on F-16 jets Wednesday 24 May 2023 06:59 , Shweta Sharma Ukraines Air Force has denied EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrells comments that its pilots are training on US-made F-16 jets in several European countries. Preparations for the training program are still ongoing, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said, according to Kyiv Independent, adding that Ukrainian representatives have been sent to the countries providing the training to study how the process will go. For a long time, unfortunately, Ive had to refute (claims) that pilots study in the US, (and) Europe, Mr Ihnat said in a televised interview on 23 May. There is no need to give any extra hope. Pictures: Russian prime minister arrives in Beijing Wednesday 24 May 2023 06:38 , Shweta Sharma Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived in Beijing for a state visit during which he will meet Xi Jinping and ink a series of deals on infrastructure and trade. He is the highest-ranking Russian official to visit Beijing since Moscow sent thousands of its troops to Ukraine in February 2022. (Getty Images) (Getty Images) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Mostly cloudy skies. High 79F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low around 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they take part in the G7 Summit with partner countries and Ukraine meeting as a part of the forum in Hiroshima, western Japan May 21, in this handout photo released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Reuters-Yonhap Hundreds of thousands of South Korean artillery rounds are on their way to Ukraine via the United States, after Seoul's initial resistance toward arming Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The Journal, citing unnamed sources, said Seoul had reached a "confidential arrangement" with Washington to transfer the shells to the United States to be delivered to Ukraine, after Washington asked its Asian ally last year for artillery support. Jeon Ha-kyu, spokesman at South Korea's defence ministry, said on Thursday that it had been in talks with the Pentagon on ammunition exports but that there were "inaccurate parts" in the WSJ report, declining to give details. "There have been various discussions and requests, and our government will take appropriate measures while comprehensively reviewing the war and humanitarian situation in Ukraine," Jeon told a briefing. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan is not participating in the ongoing Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Defense Ministerial Council meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan told ARMENPRESS. He did not reveal the reason of Papikyans non-participation. Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Artur Hovhannisyan from the ruling Civil Contract party said he has no information as to why Papikyan is not participating, but stressed he was sure that there is no political subtext. Suren Papikyans non-participation in the given event has nothing to do with Armenia-CSTO relations. I dont know details. I am sure that theres no political subtext, the lawmaker said, adding that the reason could be linked with some technical issues. Speaking at the defense ministerial, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu mentioned the importance of Armenias participation in CSTO joint trainings. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. On 24 May, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Sergey Ghazaryan sent official letters to heads of foreign diplomatic missions accredited to the Republic of Armenia, in which he presented the concerns of the Government of Artsakh regarding the existential dangers threatening the people of Artsakh, the foreign ministry of Nagorno Karabakh said in a press release. In particular, the letter said that since the signing of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, Azerbaijan has been deliberately spreading disinformation about alleged illegal military activities in Artsakh, including transfer of weapons, thereby trying to justify their own illegal actions and possible new attacks on Artsakh, and to demand the disarmament of the Defence Army to deprive the people of Artsakh of any opportunity for self-defence. It emphasised that after the 44-day war, Azerbaijan built dozens of new military facilities in the occupied territories of Artsakh and deployed thousands of military personnel there. It has also been regularly conducting military exercises and replenishing its arsenal mainly with offensive weapons in violation of international arms control mechanisms. The letter also referred to Azerbaijan's more than 5-month-long blockade of Artsakh and its humanitarian and security consequences, including the illegal installation of an Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor in violation of the 2020 Trilateral Statement and the order of the International Court of Justice of 22 February 2023. In this context, the Foreign Minister emphasised that any action or statement supporting the illegal claims of Azerbaijan is perceived by this country's leadership as condoning of their policy of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. The Artsakh Minister of Foreign Affairs called on international actors to express a strong and impartial position regarding the actions of Azerbaijan, and urge the latter to refrain from the further use of or threat of force, respecting its international obligations. He emphasised that this is the least the international community must do to demonstrate its commitment to preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev agreed at the trilateral meeting held in Moscow that the deputy prime ministers of the countries will meet in a week, ARMENPRESS reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting. "I hope this will be a good start for the practical solutions to some of the issues we're talking about. We managed to achieve a lot in this format. In the fall of 2020, the hostilities stopped, and then work began on unblocking economic and transport communication, border delimitation," Putin said. According to Putin, despite some difficulties, the situation is developing in the direction of normalization. One of those directions is the work in the direction of transport communication. The three of us discussed it in detail. There are still unsettled issues, but in my opinion, they are purely technical in nature," said Putin. He said that they also discussed the issue of terminology, noting that, of course, there should be an accurate understanding of reality behind those terms. "But in the opinion of the three of us, these are surmountable obstacles. By and large they don't exist, they are purely technical issues. That's why we have now agreed that the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in the near future, after a week," said Putin. According to the Russian President, it is a good agreement that inspires hope that the unresolved issues will be resolved. Today's headlines: private paediatric clinics close in Seoul; In India, opposition parties against the inauguration of the new parliament wanted by Modi; In Nepal at least 30 people accused of passing off citizens as Bhutanese refugees; Malaysia and Swatch at loggerheads over Pride watches; Iran develops missiles and underground nuclear power plants; More and more Russians take up the study of Chinese. CHINA A hacker group sponsored by the People's Republic of China has spied on a number of key IT infrastructures, Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft reported yesterday. The group uses the codename 'Volt Typhoon' and has been operational since 2021. According to experts, it is one of the largest Chinese cyber espionage campaigns against the US. SOUTH KOREA According to a report published by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, one in 10 paediatric clinics in Seoul has had to close in the past five years, from 521 in 2017 to 456 last year. In addition to the lower birth rates of the Korean population, baby clinics have very little revenue compared to other healthcare facilities because there are no costs other than those covered by health insurance. INDIA On 28 May the new Indian parliament wanted by the ruling BJP party is due to be inaugurated, but 19 opposition parties have said they will not attend the ceremony, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of 'constitutional irregularity' for not asking the Indian president to inaugurate the building. The PM was also criticised for the chosen date, which corresponds to the birth anniversary of the ideologist Hindutva VD Savarkar. NEPAL In Nepal at least 30 people, including some former ministers, were arrested and charged with bribery and falsifying documents to allow Nepalese citizens to enter the United States pretending to be Bhutanese refugees. According to the Kathmandu Post, the individuals involved allegedly 'swindled about 875 Nepalese citizens out of millions of rupees'. About 120,000 Bhutanese of Nepalese origin have been deported or have fled Bhutan to Nepal since the early 1990s and many have been resettled in third countries over the years. MALAYSIA Over the past week, there have been several raids on Swatch shops, which have been marketing watches with rainbows in support of Pride, the pro-LGBTQ rights movement, following pressure from the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia party. Ministry of Home Affairs officials withdrew hundreds of products from shopping centres. CEO Nick Hayek stressed that the products had 'nothing political'. IRAN Iran successfully tested a ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km, two days after the head of the Israeli armed forces raised the prospect of 'action' against Tehran to target its nuclear programme. In recent days some experts have also pointed out that in the Zagros Mountains, in the central regions of the country, a nuclear plant is being built so deep in the earth that it cannot be reached even by the latest US weapons. RUSSIA According to a survey by the Vtsiom institute, Russians have downgraded German and French from the list of languages of world importance (in 2018 they were considered as such by 28% and 23%, now by 12% to 9%). Chinese is increasingly rated, from 40% to 48%, Russian is at 65%. Leadership remains with English, although in five years it has fallen from 91% to 80%. by Alessandra Tamponi The East Asian country is increasingly vulnerable to land degradation. According to government data, 76 per cent of the country's territory is affected. One of the factors is mining, which is growing to meet the demands for raw materials needed in the environmental transition. The UN Conference will be an opportunity to raise the issue of sustainability. Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews/Agencies) Mongolia will host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 2026, the countrys Ministry of Environment and Tourism on Monday announced on Monday. The Convention entered into force in 1996, becoming the first, and so far only legally binding international framework to address desertification, a priority in the fight against climate change. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the UNCCDs supreme decision-making body; in addition to overseeing the implementation of the Convention, it is also a platform for information exchange and sharing. Hosting COP17 will provide Mongolia with an opportunity to raise awareness in the international community about the relationship between desertification and the supply of raw materials necessary for the energy transition. Desertification is already one of Mongolias biggest challenges. Since 2021 it has also been one of the priorities of the Mongolian government under Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene. According to the Atlas of Desertification published by the National Agency of Meteorology and Environment, more than 76 per cent of the countrys territory has been affected by desertification. The level of land degradation varies according to the area, but the Atlas shows that more than 20 per cent of the territory is either strongly or very strongly affected by the problem. This degradation threatens about 90 per cent of Mongolias agricultural land, dedicate to farming and pastoral activities, which are important economically and culturally. Many factors are behind this development, such as the natural expansion of the Gobi Desert, as well as human activities like farming and mining. The latter is particularly relevant today since the country is rich in coal, copper, gold, as well as rare minerals, which are key to the energy transition. Mining continues to be Mongolia's main industry, representing about 22 per cent of its GDP in 2021 and more than 80 per cent of exports, this according World Bank data. In 2020, the government announced Vision 2050, a long-term development plan centred on economic diversification; however, the growing demand for copper and rare minerals is set to slow it down. Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene wants Mongolia to play a key role in providing the raw materials needed for the energy transition. Tourism, which accounted for more than 7 per cent of the country's GDP in 2019, was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, not to mention the war in Ukraine which led to sanctions on Russian flight routes. The mining sectors growing importance combined with desertification will require considerable efforts to mitigate land degradation. One of the measures adopted by the government is a massive forestation project to plant One Billion Trees. As part of this, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene announced plans to plant more than 40 million trees this year. Yet, without a commitment to greater sustainability in the mining sector, the fight against desertification is unlikely to be effective. Since the start of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of Western sanctions, Russian bullion exports have had to find new paths. For Russia the UAE has become a favourite destination for its gold, followed by China and Turkey. Reuters reports that 75.7 tonnes of Russian bullion found its way into the Gulf country in the past year, up from only 1.3 tonnes in 2021. Dubai (AsiaNews) Since the start of the war in Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of Western economic sanctions, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a major trading hub for Russian gold after Russias traditional export routes were shut down. Russian customs records show that nearly a thousand shipments were made after February 2022, Reuters reports in an in-depth dossier. Between 24 February 2022 and 3 March 2023, the Gulf country imported 75.7 tonnes of Russian gold worth US$ 4.3 billion, up from just 1.3 tonnes in 2021. China and Turkey are the other two main destinations, with about 20 tonnes each. Put together, the three countries account for 99.8 per cent of total Russian exports for this period. After war broke out in Ukraine, many international banks, logistics providers and precious metal refiners stopped handling Russian gold, which was typically shipped to London, golds trading and storage hub. Since 7 March 2022, the London Bullion Market Association has imposed a ban on Russian bullion, while the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, Canada and Japan have banned all imports of Russian bullion in August 2022. Yet, Russian gold found new markets in countries that did not follow the West in imposing sanctions. For its part, Turkey has maintained an ambiguous attitude. For Louis Marechal, a gold sourcing expert at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Russian gold could be melted and recast for sale in US and European markets with its origin masked. Despite its seeming progress and innovation and its relative tolerance towards other religions, the UAE can be a place of murky deals, not only in gold and oil but also other commodities, not to mention a potential tax haven for tax dodgers and traffickers. For its part, the UAEs Gold Bullion Committee, a government body, said the UAE follows clear and robust procedures against illegal goods, money laundering and sanctioned entities. The UAE will continue to trade openly and honestly, with its international partners, in compliance with all current international norms as set down by the United Nations," it said. In a bid to further isolate Russia, the United States has warned several countries, including the UAE and Turkey, that they could lose access to G7 markets if they do business with entities subject to US sanctions. However, in its report, Reuters did not find any apparent violations, noting that transactions were within legal boundaries. Louis Marechal, a consultant with Metals Focus, estimates Russia produced 325 tonnes of gold in 2022, while Russian customs records show exports of 116.3 tonnes between 24 February 2022 and 3 March 2023. Thus, the rest either did not leave the country or was shipped out unrecorded; ultimately, it is impossible to know how much Russia actually exported. Meanwhile, the UAE is a major exporter of bullion and jewellery, and has boosted its already flourishing gold industry Trade data shows that it imported about 750 tonnes of pure gold on average each year between 2016 and 2021, with Russian gold accounting for only about 10 per cent of total imports. As an incentive to buyers, Russian bullion was recently sold to the UAE at a discount of about 1 per cent to global benchmark prices. The manager of a shipping company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said most of the gold his firm shipped to the UAE was destined for refineries, where it would be melted down and recast. Since customs records show only shippers or traders involved in the transactions, not the end buyer, which could be a refiner, jeweller or investor, Russian gold could end up anywhere, even in Europe, with no risk of penalties for violating sanctions. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Saudi Arabia has long been following a roadmap meticulously drawn up by Riyadh. Its aspirations for international leadership include strengthening its relations, not only with neighbouring countries - as it has been doing recently - but also with others that extend the frontiers of its ties. Five years after severing diplomatic ties, Canada and Saudi Arabia have made official an agreement to restore full diplomatic relations and appoint new ambassadors. In 2018, a tweet from the Canadian embassy in Riyadh calling for the immediate release of women's rights activists in the Saudi country sparked the rift that now seems to have found its resolution. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok in November last year was largely to blame for this development. It was there that Canadian President Justin Trudeau and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly held their first talks on resuming ties. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in an official statement that this change was due to "the desire of both sides to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect and common interests". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces that in light of what has been discussed between HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, it has been decided to restore the level of diplomatic relations with Canada to its previous state. pic.twitter.com/zrPmhjskz7 May 24, 2023 Canada sees the current context as an important opportunity, considering Saudi Arabia as "fundamental within its region", a "major player", as Roland Paris, Trudeau's former foreign policy advisor and professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa, puts it. In 2021, Riyadh was the largest export market for Ottawa reaching a volume of $1.65 billion, of which more than 80 per cent was transportation equipment. On the other hand, imports amounted to $2.4 billion, the vast majority being oil and petrochemicals, demonstrating the importance of the economic partnership between the two countries, which had been affected by the diplomatic rift. Various sectors were also affected. Following the Canadian embassy's tweet that opened the rift, Saudi Arabia responded by freezing new trade and investment agreements that were being put in place, as well as suspending all flights with Canada. In addition, all students from Canada were reassigned and all educational exchange programmes were suspended indefinitely. As a result, many observers considered the reaction to be disproportionate. However, there is every indication that the new rapprochement could not only restore lost ties, but also deepen and deepen relations between Canadians and Saudis. President of Canada, Justin Trudeau Jean-Philippe Linteau has been officially announced as the new Canadian ambassador to Riyadh. Despite the differences between the administrations, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly believes that "we need to have conversations with people with whom we don't always agree on everything in order to find global solutions to global problems". They also appreciate that "Saudi Arabia helped evacuate Canadians (in Sudan), and they are also playing an important role in finding a solution to the conflict there". Riyadh's fronts are many and all are moving in the same direction. Since re-establishing diplomatic relations with Iran in a key shift in Middle East geopolitics, Saudi Arabia has hidden its more belligerent side in favour of understanding, as also demonstrated by its welcome of Syria into the Arab League ten years after its expulsion. It is clear that the reconfiguration that the region is undergoing is a decisive process for the balance of power in the coming years, and the Saudis have put all their efforts into consolidating their leadership and aspiring to become one of the international leaders. Chinas new ambassador assumes office amid resumption of high-level re-engagement between Beijing and Washington 09:59, May 25, 2023 By Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi ( Global Times China's new ambassador to the US Xie Feng arrives in New York. Photo: CCTV News China's new ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, a former Vice Foreign Minister who is widely known as a specialist in US-related affairs for his vast experiences in the field over the past decades, arrived in New York on Tuesday to assume office. His appointment comes as bilateral relations face "serious difficulties and challenges," the Chinese envoy said. Some Chinese experts believe that filling the Chinese ambassador vacancy signals more progress in the recent resumption of high-level re-engagements between Beijing and Washington, and that stabilizing the current complex and fragile bilateral relations will be Xie's priority. "As a representative of the Chinese people, I have come here to safeguard the interests of China, and I take this as my sacred responsibility. As an envoy of the Chinese people, I have come here to enhance China-US exchanges and cooperation, and I take this as my important mission," Xie told media. The China-US relationship faces serious difficulties and challenges, Xie said, noting that he hoped that the US will move in the same direction as China, and act in the common interests of the two peoples and the world, properly handling important and sensitive issues, such as the Taiwan question in accordance with the principles in the three Sino-US joint communiques. Xie's arrival comes as US President Joe Biden hinted there will soon be a "thaw" in the frosty bilateral relations following the latest G7 summit and Quad meeting in Japan - which descended into an anti-China workshop. Yet the two countries have seen a gradual resumption of high-level interactions, such as the recent exchanges between China's top diplomat Wang Yi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Vienna, and the meeting between the US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing. Meanwhile, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is scheduled to meet his US counterpart Gina Raimondo and other US officials on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal said. And it will be "the first cabinet-level meeting in Washington" between the two countries during the Biden administration and "a first barometer" to determine whether the two countries are able to restore high-level exchanges. However, some Chinese experts hold a cautious attitude toward the bilateral relations that have been at a low point due to the US' misperceptions about China. Washington defines Beijing as a strategic competitor and pursues a China policy focused on all-round strategic containment. A resumption of high-level engagement does not mean a real thaw, some experts said, noting that it is unlikely there will be "any concrete progress" in bilateral ties if Washington does not change its Cold War and zero-sum mindset and containment-centered China policy. Steady, flexible manner According to the open record, From 1993 to 2014, Xie was engaged in diplomatic work concerning the US, switching positions between the Department of North America and Oceanian Affairs of the ministry and the Chinese Embassy in the US. He was posted to the Chinese Embassy in the US in 2000 and for about three years, he focused on US Congressional affairs and then became the embassy's spokesperson. Xie is known as an expert on the US, considering his considerable experience in the past in handling China-US relations. From 2003 to 2008, he was the deputy head in charge of US affairs at the ministry's Department of North America and Oceanian Affairs. Two years later, he was posted to the Chinese Embassy in the US. Since he assumed his position as vice foreign minister in 2021, Xie had been involved in a lot of US-related work. He met with senior US officials while taking part in high-level exchanges between the two sides multiple times. In April 2022, Xie met with new US ambassador to China Burns and in December 2022, he held talks with visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Senior Director for China and Taiwan of the White House National Security Council Laura Rosenberger in North China's Hebei Province. Some Western media pointed out that Xie was involved in the arrangements for the meeting between the top leaders of China and the US in November 2022 in Bali, Indonesia, and was also involved in coordinating with the release of Huawei's Meng Wanzhou. "The priority for Xie upon his arrival is to have extensive contacts and exchanges with all walks of life in the US, introduce China's basic position and major concerns on handling China-US relations, enhance mutual understanding and promote the improvement of bilateral relations," Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Considering his vast experiences in US-related work in the past three decades, some experts believe that Xie, with a steady and flexible working style, is very familiar with American politics, business and academia, which will help him to fully communicate and reduce the misjudgment between the two sides. Cautious view While some US media questioned whether Xie's arrival could make any improvement in the tense bilateral relations or would it be an impossible task to "thaw relations," some Chinese experts hold a cautious view as the resumption of high-level re-engagement could only be a superficial improvement unless Washington moves to tackle substantive issues such as trade and people-to-people exchanges. The Biden administration's willingness to "increase engagement with China" does not equate to "improving China-US relations" as it is more American logic and rhetoric simply to meet their own interests, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "We cannot expect Washington to have a truly equal, mutually beneficial China policy. This is a test and challenge for our new ambassador," Li said. If Washington really wants to see a "thaw" in US-China relations, it should stop provoking China on the Taiwan question,remove unilateral tariffs on Chinese products, lift sanctions on Chinese institutions, and reduce obstacles for people-to-people exchanges, some experts said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed the hope of rescheduling his visit to China and the Pentagon is seeking a meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Singapore in June, according to media reports. Although the US government has shown an attitude of wishing to re-engage with China, it has not changed its strategic judgment of treating China as the most serious long-term challenge and its policy approach toward China is mainly one of repression and containment, Wu noted. "Under such circumstances, it is difficult to expect significant progress in China-US relations in the short term." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Ukrainian soldiers pass by homes destroyed by Russian shelling in Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region, Nov. 10, 2022. AP-Yonhap By Lee Hae-rin The Seoul Metropolitan Government will share its post-war city rebuilding knowhow in order to help Ukraine recover from Russia's invasion, the city government said, Thursday. Ukrainian politician Andriy Nikolayenko and the city governments of Irpin and Bucha of Ukraine proposed the idea to the Seoul government, Tuesday (local time), to cooperate on rebuilding Ukraine's war-torn city infrastructure during a recent international conference held in Warsaw, Poland. The event, which took place from Monday to Tuesday and brought government officials, companies, scholars and researchers from Korea, Poland and Ukraine together to discuss and establish plans for the war-torn country's economic recovery. Over 150 participants, including officials of the Seoul Housing & Communities Corp., an organization affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, joined the conference. Ukrainian politician Andriy Nikolayenko, third from right, speaks to Seoul Metropolitan Government officials during an international conference on Ukraine's post-war recovery in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government And while many expect tech giants to spearhead this push, especially as Apple and Xiaomi are already working on their cars, BMW seems to be the pioneer of a trend that's rapidly gaining traction.The German carmaker has signed a deal with TiVo to bring the video media platform to its cars, essentially providing passengers with access to the content they would otherwise enjoy in their living rooms.News, movies, and media libraries will go live in BMW cars later this year. The BMW 5 Series will be the first to get the new service by the end of 2023, but the carmaker says it's already working on expanding it to further models. Additional information will be shared closer to the launch date.The expansion of video platforms in the automotive market goes hand in hand with investments in larger screens. Displays already replace most buttons in new-generation cars, and future models will push this new trend even further.BMW is one of the companies focusing heavily on this strategy, as the Theatre Screen on the 7 Series provides rear-seat passengers with a gigantic 31-inch screen. The display supports an 8K resolution, and thanks to a Fire TV stick, it also provides access to media content, including movies.Needless to say, TiVo's debut in the automotive market signals a new chapter in the battle for the infotainment screen. Carmakers themselves are trying to make the most of the dashboard screens, both in terms of features and revenue opportunity.General Motors's latest decision is among the most controversial on this front, as the company wants to drop Android Auto and CarPlay support and go all-in on Android Automotive. Technically speaking, Android Automotive is a more advanced platform that could provide users with new capabilities otherwise not available on Android Auto and CarPlay. Google, for example, is bringing YouTube to Android Automotive, essentially addressing the need for media streaming in the cabin.YouTube is Google's big bet on this side of the market, especially as rival services seem to focus more on the automotive expansions.On the other hand, the adoption of Android Automotive is making slow progress. BMW itself plans to adopt the operating system but wants to stick with a version that doesnt include Google's services. This way, the German carmaker wants to avoid giving in to Google , as adopting GAS would essentially provide the search giant with access to the entire set of vehicle data. The first BMW models with Android Automotive and a custom app store are expected to see the daylight at some point next year. Despite some setbacks along the way, it constantly evolved since then, and the most recent development concerning it was just announced this week. And it's related to a version of the drone that was introduced in the fall of last year.The version in question is called Gray Eagle 25M . Its main attribute is the fact it is equipped with tools to help it become Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)-capable. What that means is it can support joint operations across military branches and weapons platforms.The same kind of tools used on the 25M (not all, but most of them) were deployed earlier in March on a pair of Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) variants of the drone. We're only learning about it, and even if not all of the details of the demonstration are known, we do get a rather good picture of what the drone will be capable of in the future.In standard guise, the GE-ER is powered by a diesel engine capable of developing 180 horsepower. That's 20 hp more than the standard variant, and it allows the drone to carry a total of 4,200 pounds of cargo. Said cargo can include four Hellfire missiles.Generally used for operational control at the hands of field commanders, the drone is equipped with a series of communication systems.The two drones used in the demo were equipped with long-range sensors, not unlike those used on crewed aircraft, but also new and undisclosed tool for navigation. Payloads "tailorable to specific missions" were also tested.The most important system deployed on the drone is something called the Eagle-Eye Multi-Mode Radar (MMR). It's a system that first came to light in 2022, and it's meant to provide drone operators with "high-resolution, photographic-quality imagery that can be captured through clouds, rain, dust, smoke and fog at multiple times the range of previous radars."The hardware, which also comprises a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), was specifically designed to detect threats, but also deliver info on said threats' location data, regardless of whether said targets are moving or stationary."Eagle-Eye easily detects threats and provides precise location data, which eliminates unknowns for the ground tactical commander on today's dynamic battlefields," said in a statement GA-ASI President David R. Alexander.At the time of writing General Atomics does not provide any info on when the Eagle-Eye will be deployed for large-scale use. SUV 4WD And no, that's not about reliability as the term has become truly relative in today's electronic world. Can anyone dare to assume that the original L316 Land Rover Defender presented in 1983 would be more reliable than its contemporary successor if it had the same amount of electronics on board? While we ponder that thought, let us discuss the attribute this current generation needs to feel complete or at least akin to its predecessor.Well, that would have to do with the lack of a workhorse version. Right now, the L316 and L663 Defenders mirror each other in terms of compact three-door 90, mid-size 110, and even full-size long-wheelbase five-door 130 body styles. But the original series was not just an off-road focusedbut also a capablepickup truck! Sure, Land Rover may want to avoid associating the reinvented Defender with the workhorse body style because they push into the luxury stratosphere as hard as possible. And we have the MSRPs to prove that.Over in the United States, even the cheapest Defender 90 starts well above the $50k threshold ($56,400, to be more precise), and the base Defender 130 kicks off above $69k without destination and other fees. Plus, if you want to splash out, the top Defender 90 V8 Carpathian Edition is $115,300, the corresponding flagship Defender 110 is $118,600, and even the top Defender 130 V8 starts from $116,600. So, you see, the Defender is certainly not what it used to be for better or worse, which depends entirely on your POV.However, some people do not see this stuff in black and white or even gray. A few don't even dream of the same universe as ours. Such is the case with the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. And there is no need to take our word for granted, as we have another Defender example from Jim, the virtual artist known as jlord8 on social media. Mesmerized by the arrival of so many mid-size pickup truck novelties for the American market like the recent 2024 Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor plus 2024 Toyota Tacoma- he abandoned his ongoing vintage CGI car series for a moment or two.Just recently, he envisioned a sporty Toyota GR Tacoma, but now he's back in the Defender pickup mood, which in the past led him on roads untraveled with stuff like a slammed widebody L316 Defender 'Sport Truck' that hid a Corvette E-Ray surprise under its vintage attire or an L663 'Single Cab Dually' that looked like the British answer to ultimate heavy-duty trucks like the posh GMC Sierra HD Denali!Now, though, he is a bit tamer than before and quickly created a Defender Single Cab that could join the mid-size party to battle-dance the bejesus out of the 2024 Tacoma (TRD PreRunner) and Ranger, plus the Frontier, Ridgeline, Colorado, Canyon, or Gladiator! So, how do we feel about a Defender 110 Single Cab does it merit our CGI hall pass or not? Full Self-Driving FSD EV We've also seen a vehicle in Australia, Germany, and Belgium on our platform! Very interesting.https://t.co/GTwokIbRMb pic.twitter.com/GKQLiFgk1l Teslascope (@teslascope) May 25, 2023 Teslaholds the unfulfilled promise to save humans from their mistakes behind the wheel. Although theBeta appears to be working well for some people, it still needs constant supervision, which is why Tesla still considers it a Level-2 driver-assist system. This has rattled some Tesla fans, who think Tesla FSD is much better than other Level-3 systems on the market.Even with the same software version, different people report vastly different experiences, which reflects the software status as a beta product, therefore still needing polishing. Many complain that the software is one step forward and two steps back in some areas. Elon Musk announced last week that the V11.4.2 would iron out many issues with the previous build. Instead, Tesla issued a rebase of the V11.3.6 on the latest 2023 software, which was intriguing.Still, the update marked several milestones for the FSD Beta. Because it is now rebased on the latest Tesla software, it can also be installed on newer vehicles. We haven't heard anything yet, but theoretically, it could be installed on the Hardware-4 cars, which were previously unsupported. This widens the FSD Beta testing populations, and it seems that's exactly what Tesla intended with the release. Many people reported having got access to FSD Beta, something they have been waiting for since the FSD recall was triggered in February.Soon after the 2023.12.10 software update was released, Tesla trackers such as Teslascope and Tesla Fi reported that hundreds of cars installed the update. To many people's surprise, not all were from the US. Several were from Canada, which was expected, but a few were located in Australia, Germany, and Belgium, where the FSD Beta has not been authorized yet . Our best guess is that these are Tesla company cars used to test the software in these markets.Although there's a long way to go before themaker launches FSD Beta into these countries, this is still important news. The fact that Tesla is testing its self-driving software outside the US indicates that it at least considers launching it there. Elon Musk has repeatedly promised that the FSD Beta would launch in Europe "soon," although he also said it needs regulatory approval before starting testing. Tesla already published several job listings for FSD testers in Europe , but they weren't in Germany or Belgium. Instead, the positions were opened in Denmark, Switzerland, and Finland. EV Photo: Tesla Don't ignore the early signs Photo: KuramaKitsune on TMC It's not that simple Tesla is in its fair share of troubled waters right now. Inventory is increasing, and discounts are not working as intended. Meanwhile, Chinese-made units are brought to North America and Europe. That's poised to amplify the problem of cars sitting in a parking lot or on a ship. Moreover, the Cybertruck is divisive, and nobody has got their hands on a production model yet. The upcoming Model 3 successor might be launched into a confused and slowing car market, Full-Self Driving Beta keeps improving but is nowhere near the level of the software found on Cruise or Waymo robotaxis, and the company's CEO has his hands full with Twitter and political debates.Investors are not very worried yet, but they might soon realize that a temporary downtrend might be inevitable.But what matters to us more is you our reader, the consumer. We found something that may interest you if buying a Tesla is something you would like to do soon. Around eight years ago, themaker explored faux leather, popularly known as vegan leather. It was the brand's way of making its cars even more environmentally friendly. Besides not burning fossil fuels to move people around, the units were about to become even "greener."Not only did this have the potential to eliminate cruelty, but it also helped with efficiency because the upholstery was overall lighter.Animal skin use was no longer mandatory in every Tesla at the end of 2016. Customers received the choice of going on the vegan route. Just three years later, the synthetic leather became the only option. Most recently, the company updated the vegan leather, claiming it is buttery soft, scratch-, stain-, and water-resistant.But one unlucky owner discovered that their vegan interior was slowly disintegrating. They showed how the animal-free upholstery is fading away on the bottom part of the backrest. The pictures uploaded on a dedicated forum show the material is slowly losing its uppermost layers through a weird process that seems to just... melt the seat cover material. Besides that, the owner also says it leaves "horrible stains" even on t-shirts.Other owners rushed to ask the unlucky person about what they had done wrong to cause this, while some advised them to initiate a warranty claim. Sadly, the general warranty no longer applies to this particular vehicle due to its high mileage. They reached the 67,000-mile mark. Even though forum members suggested the owner might have done something to cause this damage, they told the other Tesla buyers or enthusiasts that the seats had never been cleaned with specific substances.A couple of days ago, another Tesla owner said on Reddit that their Model 3 , with around 85,000 mi on the odometer, started to show signs of accelerated aging. The driver's seat and door handle looked like they were burned with a lighter. Once again, the community members blamed the owner first. They suggested that "corrosive" sweat might be the cause.But before looking at salty sweat, hair products, or hand cream, prospective customers and current owners should know that the vegan leather issues were first reported online in 2020. In late 2021, more disgruntled owners shared their disappointment about the cruelty-free cabin. Some claimed the seats started bubbling out of nowhere. A couple of owners were able to fix their issues through the warranty, while many had to deal with the problem by themselves.Furthermore, when models with the yoke steering wheel reached customers, and they used them for at least a couple of months, the part started to peel off. It's certainly something to worry about, especially as this cannot be fixed through an over-the-air software update.It's worth noting that faux leather is made by using a base material, which is then treated with coating and laminations that, in the end, lead to a leather-like appearance. Vegan leather can be produced in a wider range of colors and finishes compared to traditional leather, providing more design versatility.Sadly, some synthetic leather may still require petroleum-based products and chemicals, which can have a negative environmental impact. Overall, however, it's generally accepted that it's better to go on the vegan leather route than to pick vehicles with seats covered in treated cow skin.All in all, if you want to own a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y soon, you may want to explore the Banbu Leather aftermarket option offered by the von Holzhausen and Unplugged Performance companies. It costs around $30,000, but it guarantees a high level of quality and possibly better resale value. Otherwise, it would help if you protect your vehicle's upholstery by ensuring sweat, body oils, and other substances don't reach the surfaces with frequent contact. Or, better yet, just get a Model S or a Model X. They are pricier and considered by many to be built better. Foreigners, dressed in hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, visit Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul in this March 29 photo. Yonhap More foreign residents living in Seoul feel happier than Koreans By Ko Dong-hwan The number of foreign residents in Seoul who felt discriminated against by local Koreans in 2022 dropped significantly from two years earlier, according to a survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the details of which were released, Thursday. Among the 2,500 foreign respondents, who had been legally residing in the city for 91 days or longer, 38.1 percent indicated that they had experienced discrimination from Korean nationals, down 15 percent from 2020. The survey was conducted from Sep. 15 to Oct. 31, during which surveyors from the Big Data Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Digital Policy Bureau visited the homes of respondents. Most of the foreign residents who felt discriminated against said they experienced such treatment in the workplace, which accounted for 28 percent, while 20 percent said they experienced discrimination at local shops, restaurants or banks. About 17 percent experienced discrimination while dealing with housing and accommodation-related matters, either from local realtors or landlords. Some 16 percent said they were not given proper attention by officials at government offices. When asked why they thought they were discriminated against, 47 percent said it had to do with their nationality. Language problems and skin color 41 percent and 36 percent, respectively rounded out the top three reasons for discrimination. The survey was designed to determine: the level of belongingness foreign residents feel toward Seoul; the degree of favorable impression from the city; whether or not foreign residents were feeling discrimination from Koreans; what kind of hardships are faced living in the metropolis; and how much foreign residents are committed to continuing to live in the capital or recommending the city to others. International students of Korea University in Seoul join the 20th International Student Festival at the school campus in Seongbuk District, May 11. Korea Times file Israel's NSO Group became the center of controversy after an international media consortium in July 2022 reported that its Pegasus spyware was used in attempts to hack smartphones belonging to more than a dozen current or former world leaders, journalists, human rights activists, and executives in some 50 countries. The joint investigation was conducted with Amnesty International's Security Lab, Access Now, Canadian Internet watchdog Citizen Lab, CyberHUB-AM, and independent mobile security researcher Ruben Muradyan. The report on the probe, released on Thursday, said evidence points to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as the reason for the attempted espionage between October 2020 and December 2022. It did not specifically accuse Azerbaijan of wrongdoing, but the investigators noted that Pegasus software has been used "extensively" by the country to target "a wide range of journalists." More than a thousand Azerbaijani phone numbers were selected for targeting by a Pegasus customer, according to them. We have grounds to assert that this was an Azerbaijani operation, said Artur Papian, an Armenian cyber security expert who also participated in the investigation. This cannot be asserted with one hundred percent certainty because we can see that the targets also included many individuals critical of the [Armenian] authorities. So there is a reasonable suspicion that the Armenian authorities could have also done this, Papian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. The joint investigation began in Armenia when tech giant Apple sent notifications to users in November 2021 warning they may have been the targets of state-sponsored spyware. It showed that Karlen Aslanian and Astghik Bedevian of RFE/RL's Armenian Service were among those targeted in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Others targeted included Armenias former Foreign Ministry spokeswoman and human rights ombudswoman as well as three outspoken critics of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. "It is no accident that our Armenian Service journalists targeted with Pegasus spyware are well-known for their hard-hitting reporting," said RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly. "I am outraged by this gross violation of their privacy and harbor strong suspicions that the government of Azerbaijan is responsible. I am grateful to our partners for their assistance." "This investigation highlights the grave nature of spyware threats rippling across civil societies in Armenia and Azerbaijan," Donncha O Cearbhaill, head of Amnesty International's Security Lab, said for his part. "The authorities must stop all efforts to stifle freedom of expression and undertake an independent and transparent investigation into the attack with Pegasus uncovered in both countries," he added. No final agreement to that effect was reported as a result of the trilateral meeting. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians office said deputy prime ministers of the three countries will meet in Moscow next week to continue work on opening the Armenian-Azerbaijani border to commercial traffic. Speaking at the start of the talks, Putin said oustanding differences between Baku and Yerevan on the issue are purely technical and surmountable. He said the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani vice-premiers should iron out them. On the whole, in my opinion, despite all difficulties and problems, which still abound, the situation is developing towards a settlement, stated Putin. One of these areas is work on transport communications. Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev openly argued about the matter during a Eurasian Economic Union summit held in Moscow earlier in the day. Pashinian objected to Aliyevs use of the term Zangezur corridor in reference to planned road and rail links between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave that would pass through Armenias Syunik province. He said it runs counter to the Russian-brokered ceasefire that stoped the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh and amounts to Azerbaijani territorial claims to Armenia. The word corridor does not constitute a claim to anybodys territory, countered Aliyev. At a separate meeting with Pashinian held shortly afterwards, Putin assured the Armenian leader that Baku unequivocally recognizes Armenian sovereignty over Syunik and that any dual or triple interpretation of everything related to the possible unblocking of transport communication is baseless. Pashinian reiterated, for his part, that Armenia is interested in conventional transport links with Azerbaijan. I want to reaffirm that both the border and services of Armenia are ready to ensure the normal transit of all vehicles and trains through Armenian territory, he said. It was not clear whether the issue of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty was also on the agenda of the trilateral talks in Moscow. Yerevan and Baku reportedly made significant progress towards such a deal during a series of negotiations organized by the United States and the European Union earlier this month. Aliyev told Putin during their separate meeting that Pashinians pledge to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh through the treaty made things much easier. The Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders are scheduled to meet again in Moldova on June 1. They will be joined by EU chief Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 25 May 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more Pakistan is one of the countries that has recognized Azerbaijan as an independent country since December 12, 1991. Azerbaijan observed majority of this 30-year-cooperation and friendship between the two countries during the Second Karabakh war. Like Turkiye, they also gave their military support to Azerbaijan and showed perseverance in liberating our lands that were under occupation for 30 years. The people of Pakistan also do not forget the good. If we look at history, we can say that Azerbaijan-Pakistan friendship started at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century while a deadly disease began to spread in Pakistan at that time. At such a moment, Azerbaijani philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev supported the country. Despite the passage of years, the people of Pakistan always remember this history the history of friendship and brotherhood. Nevertheless, this friendship existing between the two countries was further strengthened in January 2021 with the signing of an agreement by the foreign ministers of the country in a trilateral (Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Pakistan) format. Currently, high-ranking officers of both countries are in the capital Islamabad for the purpose of strengthening and developing those relations. It should be noted that the Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan - Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who visited Pakistan these days, met with his counterpart General Syed Asim Munir in Pakistan and held talks on the expansion of military exercises. Commenting on the following issue to Azernews, Pakistani political analyst Dr. Mehmud ul Hassan Khan spoke about the importance of the meeting of the heads of the Pakistani army with Azerbaijan and emphasized that there are wide opportunities in the meeting between the Defense Chiefs of the General Staff of the two countries. It seems that prospects are very high and opportunities are very huge and diversified in bilateral as well as trilateral military cooperation between brotherly country Azerbaijan and Pakistan and of course Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkiye. There has been momentum in bilateral high official meetings, bilateral visits and participation in defense expos and holding of joint and trilateral military exercises between and among the three strategic countries in the past which vividly reflects importance of increasing military ties because of rapidly changing geopolitical and geostrategic dimensions of South Caucasus and South Asia. Moreover, constant and continued military aggression of Armenia and increasing military ties between Armenia and India has further urged that military cooperation must be sustainable and progressive between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. In this regard, for the further strengthening of bilateral military relations with Pakistan and exploring mutual prospects of mutual manufacturing of military products a delegation led by First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev visited the headquarters of the Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS) organization of Pakistan, the expert emphasized. Touching on the wide-range of opportunities in Pakistan Armys military arsenal, the expert also introduced some new weapons and know-how technologies constituting backbone of the Islamic army in the east. It is indeed a vast field and keeping in view the rapidly changing global military sector, the armed forces of Pakistan is vigilant to take all possible measures to upgrade its forces. The following modern arms may be included and upgraded in the armed forces of Pakistan. (a) Latest compatible Air-Defense System (b) Anti-Ballistic Missile System (c) Modern Rader System (d) Modern unmanned system (e) Induction of 5th generation fighter jet with the help of Turkiye (f) Mini nuclear submarine technology (g) stealth technology (h) Laser technology (i) Latest missile technology and manufacturing These are and may also be included and operationalized in armed forces of Pakistan, standard heavy machine gun, Automatic grenade launcher, Rocket grenade launcher, Anti-tank rocket launcher, Command-detonated anti-personnel mine, Modernized and Upgraded version of Al Khalid & Al Zarrar, Multirole armoured personnel carrier and infantry fighting vehicle, Light tactical vehicle, Tank destroyers 550, KRL Fatah-1, 300mm MLR, the system can launch CALT built rocket having maximum range of 120 km locally produced by SUPARCO, 155mm truck mounted howitzer, Anti-tank guided missiles, NESCOM Barq, HQ-9P variant, Man-portable air-defense systems, Air defence anti-aircraft gun systems (Type 85), IBIS-150 Air surveillance radar, JY-27A 3-D long-range air surveillance & guidance radar, YLC-18A, Long-range, ground-based L-band 3D AESA low-level gap filler air search radar, Unmanned aerial vehicles, NESCOM Burraq, GIDS Shahpar, GIDS Uqab, JF-17 Thunder bloc III, airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems aircraft etc, Khan said. Furthermore, the political analyst also discussed prospects of Azerbaijan-Pakistan military cooperation and its mutual benefits in future defense strategies of bothe countries. Pakistan and Azerbaijan are strategic allies and share common historic, cultural and religious values. The relationship between the two countries has covered economic, defence, political and diplomatic cooperation since Azerbaijans independence. Given the recent meeting of the Defense Chiefs, I can say that Pakistan is ready to help Azerbaijan in terms of training, joint manufacturing, JF-17 Thunder Bloc-III fighter jet, missile technology, unmanned vehicles, tank manufacturing, joint exercises, radar, laser technologies etc. According to reliable defense sources, military cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan has been further strengthened and diversified. It is suggested that a joint cooperation in the production of armed Bayraktar TB2 drones, 5th generation fighter jet, joint production of cutting-edge military equipment, developing and manufacturing cutting-edge aerial devices should be initiated as soon as possible which would be mutually beneficial for all the countries in the days to come. Doctor Mehmood ul Hassan Khan also stressed some important reasons making Azerbaijan and Pakistan so brotherly, as well as pointed support of his country to Azerbaijan during the Patriotic War. Pakistan has special historic, cultural, social, political and diplomatic relationships with Azerbaijan which may not be confined only to bilateral diplomatic domain. For centuries, the people of both countries have been visiting, interacting and carrying caravans of human values, ethnic diversity, education, commerce and above all mutual respect and trust. Moreover, because of its love, respect and compassion the government has not yet recognized Armenia because of its fascist history, present aggression and past illegal occupation of Karabakh and other regions of Azerbaijan. During the glorious Patriotic War of Azerbaijan, the government of Pakistan, armed forces, media, intellectuals and common people showed unwavering support to government and people of Azerbaijan. We remained supportive to armed forces of Azerbaijan in its peaceful persuasions against Armenia. The statements of the chairman of Pakistan Senate, armed forces and government all showed love and respect for the just cause of Azerbaijan. Because we both share spirits of resilience, courage, bravery and of course military preparedness for good cause which would be further strengthened in terms of countering Armenia and India military cooperation in South Caucasus region. Pakistani professor added that the cooperation between the two brotherly countries will not suffice in the field of military but in many spheres. I strongly believe that there are vast opportunities in the diverse field of economy, investment, joint ventures, special economic free zones, CPEC, oil & gas energy cooperation, agriculture cooperation (duties on rice has been removed by Azerbaijan government and therefore exports of rice from Pakistan is constantly on the rise), infrastructure development especially in the newly liberated areas of Karabakh, dairy cooperation, hybrid seeds, climate change cooperation, energy generation, health, education, tourism, banking and finance especially Islamic banking, formation of sustainable supply chains, Software, ICT, fertilizer, textile, pharmaceutical, sugar and surgical plants, SMEs, micro-financing, women empowerment and entrepreneurship, insurance companies and last but not least, science & technology between two brotherly countries, the expert concluded. Dr Mehmood ul Hassan Khan is the Executive Director of the Center of South Asia & International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad He is a Regional expert on Azerbaijan & South Caucasus --- Follow Rena Murshud on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 15:05 (UTC+04:00) Within the framework of the visit to the Republic of Moldova, the Chairman of the Small Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) Orkhan Mammadov held meetings with relevant institutions of Moldova in Chisinau, Azernews reports, citing SMBDA. In the meetings held between SMBDA and relevant institutions of Moldova, cooperation perspectives, joint initiatives, and exchange of experience were discussed in the field of SME. In the meeting with the state secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization of Moldova Viorel Garaz, Orkhan Mammadov gave detailed information about the policy of development of SMEs in Azerbaijan, support mechanisms, and the activities of SMBDA. He pointed out that the Agency attaches great importance to the study of the best international practice in the field of SMEs and its application in Azerbaijan, and interest was expressed in studying the support policy of Moldova aimed at the development of SMEs. He added that SMBDA is ready to support the establishment of sustainable and long-term relations between the business entities of the two countries within its powers. In the meeting between the Chairman of SMBDA, Orkhan Mammadov, and the Director of the Enterprise Development Organization (ODA) of Moldova, Dumitru Pintea, it was emphasized that the Agency attaches importance to the establishment and development of cooperation with organizations providing support and services to SMEs in foreign countries, including ODA. It was stated that the cooperation of SMBDA and ODA is beneficial in terms of the expansion of relations between SMEs of both countries and the implementation of joint initiatives. The meeting discussed institutional cooperation, business support tools, and future joint initiatives, as well as a draft document to be signed on cooperation between the parties. In the meeting with the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova, Sergiu Harea, the possibilities of cooperation in the direction of developing relations between business circles and the creation of joint platforms for this were reviewed, ideas were exchanged on the organization and support of joint exhibitions with the participation of SMEs, training and the provision of consulting services. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Moldova Qudsi Osmanov also participated in the meetings. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 16:35 (UTC+04:00) A delegation of members of the Canadian Eurasian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) visited Baku Port, Azernews reports. The main purpose of the visit was to develop business relations and expand trade relations between Canadian business institutions and Baku Port. The delegation includes representatives of Canadian businesses such as 5Blue Processing, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, JORI Logistics, Black Powder Solutions, Master Flo Valve Co, Stream-Flo Industries" and Thermal Design Engineering. CACC members met with the port's operations and commercial team to explore potential partnership opportunities, business collaborations, and trade prospects. At the meeting, various areas of cooperation were discussed, ways of development of areas of mutual interest were explored. The guests were informed about the infrastructure, operational possibilities, and services of the port. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 12:09 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Fashion industry in Azerbaijan has been steadily growing in recent years, with both local and international brands flocking into the fashion scene. Azerbaijan Fashion Week became a significant turning point for the country's fashion industry. This annual event has played a key role in promoting the country's fashion scene, paving the way for new designers, models, and brands. From boho chic outfits to stunning gowns inspired by carpet elements, Azerbaijan Fashion Week 2023 has demonstrated variety of stylish outfits at the Stone Chronicle Museum. Fashion is not only high art, but also a profitable business - this is how the main theme of the 14th season has been outlined. The first day of fashion week featured fashion shows by local and international designers. Traditionally, each season starts with the presentation of clothing collections for little fashionistas. Fashion brands Kharibulbul (Azerbaijan), A.Sain and Turan Agency (Kazakhstan) left fashion lovers in awe. Head of the Center for Azerbaijan National Clothes, fashion designer Gulnara Khalilova presented her fashion collection "Cizgi". Her new collection included stylish outfits with both national carpet elements and timeless plaid and polka dot prints. The collection from Russian-French couturier Naz Maer was no less impressive. Without exaggeration, he can be called the godson of the inimitable Jean-Paul Gaultier, under whom Naz Maer worked for seven years, creating collections for his fashion House. As part of the Azerbaijan Fashion Week 2023, Naz Maer demonstrated stunning evening gowns, embroidered with sequins and stones, and decorated with feathers and fringe. Famous Kazakhstani designer Alexey Chzhen presented his new boho collection on the AFW catwalk. As the designer himself admitted, despite the fact that most of his collections are traditionally created in black, this season he felt an inner need to turn to white. The collection does not have any deep philosophical meaning; rather, the designer was attracted by the lightness of the texture of the fabrics. Black and white colors added a sense of elegance and beauty to the fashion collection. Fashion School by Menzer Zakizade presented a collective show of the debut collections of three of their students - the IENA brand created by Ellada Mahmudova, the Sultan brand and designer Turkay Mehbalizade. Kazakh designer Lariya Jakambayeva presented her free-cut collection, made in mustard-beige-brown shades. Unique headdresses in different shapes and texture, as well as opera gloves immediately grabbed the public attention. Kazakh designer Zherebtsov captivated fashionistas with his fashion collection inspired by the African safari. His new collection, made from Italian linen, is designed for rest and relaxation. During the runway show, models made an endless movement in a circle, plunging the guests of the show into a unique atmosphere. The evening ended with an after-party at the Zafferano restaurant, where AFW guests enjoyed delicious dishes and wonderful music by DJ Edward Acid. Photo Credits: Nadir Veliyev Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 11:16 (UTC+04:00) The First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who is on an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the Defense Chamber of the Parliament House and met with the Federal Minister for Defence of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Azernews informs with reference to the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan that the Federal Minister for Defence of Pakistan pointed out that the military relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan are at a high level. The Minister added that Pakistan recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and attaches special importance to the expansion of military relations with this country. In addition, the Minister noted that both countries provide mutual support to each other on all issues including a bilateral basis and the framework of international organizations. He pointed out that the situation and new challenges in the regions where Azerbaijan and Pakistan are located necessitate the strengthening of military cooperation between the two countries and emphasized the importance of increasing the combat capability of the armies of both countries, experience exchange in this field, as well as further developing the achieved results. The Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and conveyed the greetings of the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov to Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Chief of the General Staff emphasized that the expansion of cooperation with Pakistan in the military field is always in the spotlight of the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev. And also, Colonel General Valiyev gave detailed information to the Federal Minister for Defence of Pakistan about the engineering and reconstruction works carried out in the liberated territories, as well as the provocations committed by the Armenian armed forces on the conditional border and the measures taken to suppress these provocations. And then the sides discussed the conduct of joint exercises, and cooperation in the field of the defense industry, including a number of issues of mutual interest. The importance of further expansion of military and military-technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan was emphasized. The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Khazar Farhadov also attended the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 11:37 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein on the occasion of Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Your Majesty, I am pleased to convey sincerest congratulations and the best wishes on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan to you and through you, your entire people on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan the Independence Day. Availing this opportunity, I wish you strong health, success in your endeavors, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Jordan. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 11:53 (UTC+04:00) Prior to start of a meeting of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Moscow, the Armenian media again started to make a noise with information full of gossip. The media, spreading biased opinions without relying on any facts, allegedly claims that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan intends to surrender Armenia completely to Azerbaijan. According to Azernerws, even the deputies in the Armenian Parliament believe that Pashinyan is creating artificial information sources in various forms to distract the public's attention from the Moscow meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 13:36 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of the Philippines, I wish to convey my warmest felicitations to you on the occasion of the national holiday of Azerbaijan Independence Day. The Philippines and Azerbaijan have enjoyed cordial ties in the last three decades. I am optimistic that our nations will continue to enjoy friendly relations in the years ahead. The Philippines stands ready to work with Azerbaijan in addressing global challenges of common concern, such as climate change, energy security, and post-pandemic recovery. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos President of the Republic of the Philippines --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz M270 multiple rocket launchers fire salvos during combined live-fire ordnance drills between South Korea and the U.S. at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense Fighter jets, tanks, drones, 2,500 soldiers join largest-ever ordnance training By Jung Min-ho More than 600 weapons systems, including the latest fighter jets, tanks and drones, as well as 2,500 troops from South Korea and the United States participated, Thursday, in the first leg of their largest-ever live-fire ordnance drills. F-35A stealth jets, AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, K2 Black Panther tanks and Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles of the U.S. were among those mobilized for the exercises conducted at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, a city less than 40 kilometers away from the inter-Korean border. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the event was part of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of South Korea's military and the 70th anniversary of the Seoul-Washington alliance that was forged in the crucible of war on the Korean Peninsula. The exercises are primarily aimed at improving the allies' interoperability against North Korea's growing threats. Under a scenario of a North Korean invasion, initiated with barrages from self-propelled artillery guns, the allies responded immediately by mobilizing K-9 self-propelled howitzers as well as 239-millimeter Chunmoo rockets to destroy not only the North's artillery corps but also their command and control facility. K2 Black Panther tanks fire during South Korea and the United States' combined live-fire ordnance drills at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense In the following scenario where the North began an all-out attempt to dominate the border region, the allies deployed dozens of unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicles to gather key data before concentrating their firepower on its most vulnerable targets to incapacitate the enemy forces. Tensions reached a fever pitch when the air and land forces of the allies deployed some of the most lethal weapons to obliterate the control center of the North before declaring victory. "I was able to see the confidence and overwhelming strength of the South Korean and U.S. soldiers through their eyes during the preparation," South Korea's 5th Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Kim Sung-min, who was in charge of the drills, said. "I also could see the strong bonds of the South Korea-U.S. alliance." Some 2,000 people, including government officials, lawmakers, representatives of defense companies, war veterans and members of the public, visited the site for the event. "I was able to see the powerful and formidable force of our military, and became confident in its capabilities against North Korean aggression," Roh Seung-wook, son of a veteran of the Korean War, said. The Joint Firing Destruction Drills have been conducted 11 times since 1977. Then President Park Geun-hye watched the drills in person at the training facility on Aug. 28, 2015, amid rising tensions following North Korea's threat to attack South Korea's loudspeakers installed near the Demilitarized Zone. The previous training was carried out in 2017, with more than 2,000 troops participating. Military drones fly low in the sky over tanks other weapons systems on the land during South Korea and the United States' combined live-fire ordnance drills at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry 25 May 2023 13:51 (UTC+04:00) Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand General Prayut Chan-o-cha has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the people of the Kingdom of Thailand, I have the honor to extend my sincere congratulations to the Republic of Azerbaijan and her people on the occasion of the national holiday of your country Independence Day. Thailand and Azerbaijan have enjoyed friendly relations for over the past three decades. I am confident that our relations will be further strengthened in all areas of mutual interest for the benefit of our countries and peoples. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. General Prayut Chan-o-cha Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 14:40 (UTC+04:00) The delegation led by the First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who is on an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the Special Service Group (SSG) division of this country. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Special Service Group (SSG) gave the delegation detailed information about the division's assignment and training process. It was noted that the personnel of the division involves the special forces and mainly deals with counter-terrorism, detection of necessary targets, the release of hostages, information, psychological, and a number of other special operations. Then the training area of the SSG was introduced, and the weapons and equipment at the disposal of the division, as well as other military means, were shown to the delegation. In the end, Colonel General K. Valiyev signed the "Book of Honor" of the SSG division. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mr. Khazar Farhadov also participated in the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 15:22 (UTC+04:00) President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the state and people of Palestine and on my own behalf, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and through you to the government and brotherly people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your national day - Independence Day. I pray to Allah for your good health, happiness and success, and wish great progress and prosperity to your country and people, and further development of the relations between our countries, of which we are proud of. Please accept my best wishes. Sincerely, Mahmoud Abbas President of the State of Palestine, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 15:57 (UTC+04:00) Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I extend my warm regards and heartfelt congratulations to you and the friendly people of Azerbaijan. While taking this opportunity, let me note my deep appreciation for your personal engagement and contribution to strengthening the partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia. This year holds special significance as Azerbaijan commemorates the remarkable legacy of Heydar Aliyev, a visionary leader whose contributions continue to shape nation's progress and development. Dear Friend, Let us embrace the bond of friendship and look forward to further collaboration, which will undoubtedly yield even greater achievements for our nations and peoples. Wishing you a joyous celebration and a future filled with peace, progress and success. May Azerbaijan continue to prosper and thrive. Sincerely, Irakli Garibashvili Prime Minister of Georgia --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 16:15 (UTC+04:00) President of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr.Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr President, The celebration of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan gives me the opportunity to extend my cordial congratulations, as well as my wishes for prosperity and peace to you and the Azerbaijani people. The close and solid relations between our states are based on strategic interests. In this sense, your country represents for Romania a natural and reliable partner in the South Caucasus region. My recent visit to Baku was an excellent opportunity to agree on concrete actions to strengthen the rapprochement and cooperation between our states. I reiterate my gratitude for the warm welcome and substantive discussions with Your Excellency. I am convinced that we can channel and deepen the existing development potential, both by exploiting the existing opportunities within the Strategic Partnership, and by developing regional projects in fields such as energy or transport. At the same time, Romania will continue to act in support of the continuous and solid development of the dialogue between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union. Please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest consideration. Mr. President, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration. Klaus Werner Iohannis President of Romania --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 16:43 (UTC+04:00) The expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council has got underway in Moscow, Azernews reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event in the capacity of a guest. President of Russia Vladimir Putin opened the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Mentioning that the President of Azerbaijan participates in the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council as a guest, the Russian President said: - I am pleased to note that President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev is attending todays meeting for the first time as a guest. I would like to welcome him and the delegation of Azerbaijan. Then, heads of member countries attending the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council made their speeches. President of the observer country, Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev joined the meeting by a video link to deliver his speech followed by a video message by President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel. President of Russia Vladimir Putin said: I am pleased to give the floor to our guests. I am giving the floor to Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, who, I repeat, is attending an event of this kind for the first time. Ilham Heydarovich, you have the floor. Please. The head of state addressed the meeting. Speech by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich. Dear heads of state, dear participants of the meeting. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the President of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, for the invitation to take part in the summit of the EurAsEC member states as a guest. Azerbaijan's cooperation with EurAsEC member countries, with the exception of Armenia, has been successfully developing for 30 years. There are serious opportunities for the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the basis of mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Today, on the initiative of the Russian side, a trilateral meeting of the heads of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will take place. I would like to inform my colleagues that Azerbaijan's turnover with the EurAsEC countries increased by 31 percent last year and amounted to $4.7 billion. In January-April this year, the growth of mutual trade increased by another 38 percent. Last year, the share of EurAsEC member countries in Azerbaijan's foreign trade reached about 9 percent. We are seeing great potential for further growth in trade. Azerbaijan is located at the geographical crossroads of the East-West and North-South transport routes. The transport and logistical infrastructure of our country enables transportation in any direction. Azerbaijan with more than 50 ships has the largest trade fleet in the Caspian. The seaport of Alat, designed to transport 15 million tons of cargo, will be modernized in the near future and its cargo handling capacity will reach 25 million tons. This is particularly important given the fact that a large increase in cargo transportation through Azerbaijan has been observed recently. A modern shipbuilding yard has been operating in Baku for several years now. It can manufacture any type of ships, and I am pleased to announce that today Azerbaijans shipbuilding capabilities have also been made available to our neighbors in the Caspian Sea. Negotiations and extensive work are underway to place the orders of our neighbors in the Caspian Sea at the shipbuilding plant in Baku. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway provides access to Europe, as well as to the Mediterranean ports of Turkiye. Azerbaijan is an important participant in the North-South transport corridor project. We have also initiated the creation of the Zangezur corridor, which will not only connect the main part of the country with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic but will also become a part of international railway routes. There are eight international airports in Azerbaijan, two of which, located in Fuzuli and Zangilan, on the lands liberated from occupation, were built over the past two years. The ninth international airport is under construction in the liberated Lachin and will be put into operation in 2025. Our country has one of the largest air cargo fleets in the region with a cargo turnover of more than 500,000 tons per year. The Azerbaijani economy has been demonstrating stability and growth throughout almost the entire period of independence. We have achieved complete economic independence, which is an important factor in the possibility of pursuing an independent foreign policy, and we are successfully doing that. For about four years now, Azerbaijan has been successfully chairing the Non-Aligned Movement, which has 120 member countries and is the second largest international institution after the UN. The Azerbaijani economy is self-sufficient and does not need outside support. Over the past 20 years, the gross domestic product of our country has more than tripled. The poverty rate has been reduced from almost 50 to 5 percent. Our external debt is almost at less than 9 percent of the GDP and has been declining year on year. Azerbaijan's foreign exchange reserves exceed the external debt 10 times. Today, one of the key tasks we are facing is the diversification of our exports. As for the diversification of the economy, this issue is being resolved successfully. Most of the Azerbaijani economy is already forming in the non-resource sector. As for our exports, we still need to work hard to increase the exports of the non-primary sector. Although the unemployment rate is only at 5 percent, our demographic growth over the past 30 years, the population of Azerbaijan has grown from 7 to 10 million requires active efforts to create new jobs. Of course, we look forward to strengthening our interactions with EurAsEC member countries both in a bilateral format which we are successfully doing already and in a multilateral format. As already noted, this is the first time I am participating in the EurAsEC summit, although we meet with the heads of the EurAsEC member states regularly both within the framework of the CIS summits and in a bilateral format. So, even though I am participating for the first time as a guest, I am certainly not a guest here. Today we had the opportunity to talk, and our communication will be continued. In conclusion, I would like to once again express my gratitude to you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, for the invitation, and to all colleagues for supporting this invitation. Thank you. Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. Indeed, Azerbaijan's economic relations with our member countries in a bilateral format are constantly growing and are important for all of us both for Azerbaijan and for each member country of the organization XXX Then, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon made an address via a video link. President Vladimir Putin: As I have already said, we are actively developing bilateral relations with Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. Therefore, joining in such a multilateral format, of course, will only be beneficial. Ultimately, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan will decide how deeply they would like to participate in the work of our organization. The same fully applies to Uzbekistan. Thank you very much, colleagues, for our joint work today and for your participation in this work. I would like to give the floor to the Chairman of the Commission of the Eurasian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: I am sorry, Vladimir Vladimirovich. May I? I have a small remark. President Vladimir Putin: Please. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: In his speech, the President of Azerbaijan used an expression that has been used in recent years as a title for putting forward territorial claims against Armenia. I want to note that this is being used as part of the implementation of paragraph 9 of the Trilateral Statement dated November 9, 2020. I would like to emphasize that this Statement refers to only one corridor, and that is the Lachin corridor. It was supposed to be under the control of Russian peacekeepers, but, unfortunately, it was illegally blocked by Azerbaijan. On the other hand, I want to confirm the readiness of the Republic of Armenia to unblock all transport and economic ties in the region and communications that pass through the territory of the Republic of Armenia we call it Armenian intersection. We are ready to open regional communications within the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass. I mean the transport and economic communications that are implied under paragraph 9 of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020 and the Trilateral Statement of January 11, 2021. Thank you. President Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. But what I heard from President Aliyev's speech is that he was just talking about the fact that conditions are being created in connection with the recognition of the corresponding borders confirmed by agreements, which have existed since 1991. These conditions give us a reason to believe that appropriate agreements can be reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including those on transport communications. I am very pleased to note that the Prime Minister of Armenia said that Armenia also thinks about this attitude, considers that it is possible and thinks positively. But I think we could discuss all this at a trilateral meeting today. I do hope that it will be possible to agree on what is, quite obviously, in the sphere of economic development interests for both Azerbaijan and Armenia and for the entire region. It seems to me that we will have time to discuss all this in a trilateral format in detail. President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, I do not want to open a debate, but since there has been an accusation that we have territorial claims against Armenia, I want to say that we have no such claims. You have to try very hard or have a wild imagination to see territorial claims in my words. As for the word corridor that I used, I used the same word for the North-South corridor, just as the same word is used for the East-West corridor. The word corridor is in no way an encroachment on someone's territory. This is an international term, and I think people who are familiar with international terminology would probably not attach the meaning that the Prime Minister of Armenia attaches to it today. As Vladimir Vladimirovich has noted, I believe that there are opportunities to reach a peace agreement, especially taking into account the fact that Armenia officially recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. Thank you. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: I am sorry, Vladimir Vladimirovich. I have to emphasize that everyone who is familiar with the text of the trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020 knows that there is only one use of the word corridor in that Statement. In this context, the word has a special meaning. It is about the Lachin corridor, which, I repeat, should be under the control of the Russian Federation as per the trilateral Statement, and provide a link between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. But, unfortunately, Azerbaijan has illegally blocked this corridor in the presence of Russian peacekeepers. On the other hand, I want to confirm that Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity. And on this basis, we can say that we are making pretty good progress. Regarding the settlement of our relations, I would like to point to a very important issue in this context - the issue of the rights and security of the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and within the framework of the international mechanism. I do hope that a normal and constructive dialogue will begin between Baku and Stepanakert soon. Thank you. President Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. President Ilham Aliyev: Vladimir Vladimirovich, excuse me, of course. But there was an accusation in the words of the Prime Minister of Armenia again. If you noticed, there were no accusations in my words during the speech or during the remarks. But I can't just leave that unanswered. I do understand that we are diverting the discussion in a slightly different direction, although I think that this is of interest to many. Please allow me to answer and say that Azerbaijan has not blocked any corridor. As for the Lachin-Khankendi road, it is open. On the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which you recognize, a border checkpoint has been set up in accordance with all international standards. This border checkpoint is located 20 meters from the post of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. And today, through this border checkpoint, residents of Azerbaijan of Armenian nationality, who live in Karabakh, can freely move towards Armenia. There are no obstacles, including those for patients who are transported by the Red Cross, as well as ambulances from the city of Khankendi. Any unbiased person, of course, should be able to see this. I think that there is no need to try to use the platform for unfounded accusations. As for the corridor that I spoke about, the Zangezur corridor, if you listen carefully to my speech, it says that Azerbaijan initiated the creation of the Zangezur corridor. It is our right to initiate anything whatever we consider correct, legitimate, reasonable, and what, by the way, is supported by the Russian Federation and other parties involved in the process of settling relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Very interesting, thank you. I am very sorry, Vladimir Vladimirovich. I am very interested to know whether Russia supports the project you mentioned. To be honest, this is the first time I have heard about it. I know that Russia supports the opening of all transport and economic communications in our region. You have mentioned the Lachin road. According to our Trilateral Statement, the Lachin road does not exist, there is the Lachin corridor, which, according to the Trilateral Statement signed by the three of us, should be under the control of the Russian peacekeeping forces. So, no-one else should have any control in this corridor. And what is happening there represents a direct violation of the Tripartite Statement. And you noted that the corridor was open. We don't see it. We do not think so. Therefore, we consider it important that an international mission should be sent to both the Lachin corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh, which would assess the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. I must say that, unfortunately, we have had a humanitarian crisis there since December, because the supply of food and necessary products, the supply of gas and electricity was cut off from Azerbaijan due to the closure of the Lachin corridor. Barriers are being created and this is a very serious situation. I mean the gas and electricity that enter Nagorno-Karabakh. And Vladimir Vladimirovich, you are very well aware of this, because we have spoken about this more than once. I am sorry, but it turns out that President Vladimir Putin: I have seen your signals and I will allow myself to respond. Colleagues have expressed their position, formulated it, and it is important for them. I want to say the following at the end of this part that it seems to me that the terminology that the three of us, in any case, are very well aware of is called legal technicalities. Corridor, road, etc - this is important, and there is a certain contradiction in that. But much more important is what you have just said both the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia that there is an agreement of a principled nature on the main issue, the issue of territorial integrity. And this is really the basis for agreeing on other rather secondary matters. Although they are also important. But now we will have the opportunity, as we agreed in a trilateral format, to talk about everything calmly in a businesslike manner, and I do hope to reach some agreements that will put the situation not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also in the region as a whole on the path of constructive development. I want to assure you that everyone here is interested in that. Absolutely everyone. Alexander Grigoryevich spoke quite convincingly about this today in a closed format. Because after all, what can I say, there are former republics of the Soviet Union here. We lived in a single family of peoples, and here, unfortunately, we have many contradictions, including armed conflicts. In Russia, the same thing is happening in a well-known direction. Therefore, all this is very sensitive, all this is connected with human tragedies. We are all interested in having all these problems resolved. With regard to this situation, I repeat again, we will have the opportunity to talk in a trilateral format, and I am also grateful to the Prime Minister of Armenia for coming, to the President of Azerbaijan for coming, to the Prime Minister of Armenia for not blocking this visit, so that we could all get together and talk about these sensitive topics. XXX Then, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich made an address.: Heads of member states signed final documents of the meeting. President of Russia Vladimir Putin summed up the results of the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 18:45 (UTC+04:00) President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia and on my personal behalf, I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the occasion of the Independence Day and send my best wishes for the prosperity of your country and wellbeing of its citizens. I am proud of the level of relations and cooperation we achieved in the year behind us, in which we marked 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. I still vividly remember your visit to the Republic of Serbia on November 23, 2022 when we signed the Memorandum between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council. My visit to Baku on December 20-21, 2022 and our successful discussions on strengthening cooperation in all areas of mutual importance demonstrate a continuing and steadfast development of overall relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will continue to enhance our exceptional political dialogue on a strategic level, as well as our overall cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere. These efforts are reflected in numerous economic projects as well as in the 7th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Trade and Economic Cooperation recently held in Belgrade. I look forward to your expected visit to the Republic of Serbia this year, when we plan on holding the first meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council, which will provide an additional opportunity for further development of cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan in all areas of mutual interest. Dear Mr. President, allow me to avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate you and the citizens of your country on the great jubilee celebrated this year 100th anniversary of the birth of Azerbaijani national leader and your father Heydar Aliyev. We remember him as an extraordinary statesman and visionary, whose political wisdom and strategic approach lad foundations for an independent, modern and prosperous Azerbaijan. The monumental Heydar Aliyev Center, which I visited for the second time in December 2022, impressed me once again. Allow me to also remind you that a monument to Heydar Aliyev adorns one of the most beautiful parks in Belgrade, Tasmajdan Park. I would also like to use this opportunity to reiterate my appreciation for your countrys principled support for the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia and for your commitment to international law which was confirmed by your recent voting against the decision to initiate the procedure for the admission of the so-called Kosovo to the Council of Europe. The Republic of Serbia will remember this act, regarding it as a gesture of sincere and persevering friendship, based on mutual trust and respect. Rest assured that the Republic of Serbia will continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Please accept, dear Mr. President, the assurances of highest consideration. Aleksandar Vucic President of the Republic of Serbia --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 22:55 (UTC+04:00) At today's meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in an expanded format in Moscow, President Ilham Aliyev responded to the baseless statements of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and put him in his place. Azernews presents the footage of the discussion: --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 23:37 (UTC+04:00) A trilateral Summit of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has been held in Moscow, Azernews reports. Speaking at the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: - Dear Ilham Heydarovich. Dear Nikol Vovayevich. Dear colleagues, friends. We are grateful for your prompt response to the proposal to hold this meeting, and I hope that this will be a good prelude to the practical resolution of some of the issues we have already been talking about for a long time. It was in this format that we managed to achieve success on many issues. In the fall of 2020, not only did the military operations stop, but also work began on unblocking the economic and transport communications and delimitation of the borders. Many events have happened during this time. I will not dwell on each of them and not go into detail. In my opinion, despite the fact that there are still enough difficulties and problems in general, the situation is developing towards settlement. One of these directions is the work related to transport communications. We have talked about this in quite a bit of detail in the face-to-face format and there are still some unsettled issues. However, I think we have talked about it with our colleagues from both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. These issues are purely technical in nature. We discussed this topic in detail. The point is the terminology. Of course, behind these terms is an accurate perception of realities and events. They come after the signing of relevant documents. However, in my opinion, from the point of view of all three of us I mean myself, the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan these are obstacles that can be overcome. In fact, these are purely technical issues. This is why we decided that in the near future, in a weeks time I am now asking my colleagues to agree this date the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia will have a meeting. They will resolve the issues that have not yet been resolved yet, so to speak. I think it is a good agreement and it gives hope for the resolution of the issues that have not been resolved so far. As for the timing, we agreed to meet in a weeks time. Today is Thursday. Do the delegations of Armenia or Azerbaijan have any suggestions? Because colleagues must agree on this among themselves. Is it OK after a week? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Yes. President Vladimir Putin: Ilham Heydarovich? President Ilham Aliyev: Yes. President Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much, representatives of the media. We will now work in a closed-door format for a while. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 07:00 (UTC+04:00) At least 35 mosques were attacked in Germany last year, with the majority of these attacks motivated by Islamophobia and right-wing extremism in the country, according to a new report released by Turkish-Muslim group DITIB, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets. The DITIB's anti-discrimination office recently released a 32-page report analyzing hate crimes, threats, and attacks targeting mosques and Islamic organizations in Germany in 2022. According to DITIB experts, anti-Muslim violence was closely related to social and political developments in the country, as well as public debates about immigrants, Muslims, and Islam. Polarizing and unobjective debates, an increase in stigmatizing (especially demonization of Muslims), are leading to an increase in attacks targeting mosques, the experts wrote in their report. In 2022, at least 35 mosques were targeted in attacks, with 19 of them motivated by Islamophobia, and eight other attacks carried out by right-wing extremists. In seven cases, anti-Turkish sentiment was the main motivation of the suspects, according to the report. Left-wing extremists and followers of the PKK terror group were behind several attacks targeting mosques. In recent years, Germany has witnessed an increase in racism and Islamophobia, fueled by the propaganda of far-right groups and parties that have exploited the refugee crisis and attempted to instill immigrants fear. Germany, with a population of over 84 million people, has the second-largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France. It is home to nearly five million Muslims, according to official figures. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Seen above are 155-milimeter M795 artillery projectiles stored during manufacturing at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., April 13. AP-Yonhap Seoul partially denies media report of artillery supply to Kyiv By Nam Hyun-woo The Korean government is struggling to deal with lingering speculation that exports of its artillery ammunition to the United States will eventually be transferred to Ukraine following the Wall Street Journal's report, Wednesday, indicating the final destination of Seoul's shipment would be Kyiv. Although Seoul claims the report is not entirely true, it failed to reveal the current situation precisely and whether it plans to provide lethal assistance to the Eastern European state, a move that may deepen Korea's already chilly relations with Russia. "Regarding the report by the Wall Street Journal on May 24, some of the content are inaccurate," Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu said at a press conference, Thursday. "As you may know, there have been discussions between the U.S. Department of Defense and a Korean defense contractor over the export of a certain type of ammunition, but there are limits for me to disclose or confirm the details." The Wall Street Journal reported that Korea is "proceeding with" the transfer of hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds to the U.S., which in turn has arranged for them to be sent to Ukraine, under a "confidential arrangement." The report continued that this is "a turnabout by Seoul, which had pledged the artillery in November but then balked at providing lethal assistance." It reported that the decision came after the U.S. asked for help for months as its own supply of artillery drains. The report also said the White House declined to comment, as did a Korean government spokesman in Seoul. The artillery shells referenced in the article appear to be 155-milimeter rounds. In November, reports alleged that Korea decided to sell the 155-milimeter shells to the U.S., while there were also articles claiming that the two allies agreed to sell 100,000 rounds, with a plan to transfer them to Ukraine. At that time, the Korean government said consultations are ongoing under the condition that the shells' end user should be the U.S., reiterating Seoul's stance that it will only provide non-lethal support to Ukraine. However, reports also said, April 12, that Seoul and Washington signed a deal for Korea to "lend" 500,000 rounds of 155-milimeter rounds to the U.S. At that time, the Korean defense ministry neither confirmed nor denied the report, saying there were ongoing "consultations over ways to provide support for the protection of Ukraine's freedom." After the report, President Yoon Suk Yeol said in an interview with Reuters on April 19, and signaled a major shift from the principle, stating that it may be difficult for Seoul to insist solely on humanitarian or financial support if there is "a situation the international community cannot condone, such as a large-scale attack on civilians, massacres, or serious violations of the laws of war." Director of National Security Cho Tae-yong speaks during a National Assembly meeting in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap 25 May 2023 19:50 (UTC+04:00) The point for the construction and reconstruction of the Kulma-Karosu border crossing point between Tajikistan and China was included in a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Transport of China signed on May 18, Azernews reports, citing Trend. According to the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan, the renovation work on the border point will boost international transportation capacity. The memorandum highlights the commitment of the transport authorities of both countries to further collaboration within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Central Asia-China dialogue. Besides work on the Kulma-Karosu border crossing point, the memorandum outlines cooperation in the construction and reconstruction of the international highway along the Dushanbe-Kulob-Darvaz-Murghab-Kulma route. And activation and enhancement of the transport and logistics center in the territory of the Kulob City of Tajikistan. It is anticipated that the multimodal transport corridor China-Tajikistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkiye will initially transport goods by road from China to the city of Kulob, where one of the five free economic zones established in Tajikistan is in operation. From there, the goods will be transported through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkiye, and further into European countries. International road transportation between Tajikistan and China is carried out based on the agreement signed on August 27, 2008, between the Government of Tajikistan and the Government of China. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 May 2023 22:10 (UTC+04:00) Saudi student Atheer al-Khalban drowned to death after falling into a river at Glacier National Park in the US state of Montana on Monday, Azernews reports, citing Al Arabiya. The 28-year-old student was studying in the US state of Kansas for a PhD in English language, Al Arabiya reported, citing her cousin Abdullah. The family was devastated when it heard Atheer fell in a river in the US. It was so painful to hear that while they were waiting for her return from the US with a PhD, Abdullah told Al Arabiya Abdullah said that al-Khalban hadnt visited her family in the Kingdom for more than a year because she was busy with her studies, adding that she had gone to the US with her brother. He also said that al-Khalban fell into the river during a trip to Montana with her friends. Its a great loss. We are [devastated] by her death, and we are waiting for the results of the investigation to know the circumstances of her death, Abdullah added. US media reports had said that a woman fell off a rugged overhang into Avalanche Creek and was swept into a river on Monday afternoon. According to People magazine, she was pronounced dead at the scene. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. FILE - Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao speaks during a news conference at city hall in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. Oakland police say three girls and six boys ranging in age from 12 to 17 were arrested for nearly three dozen robberies, Sunday, May, 21, 2023. Thao said that her administration would provide more services for juveniles. But she also says crime will not be tolerated. By Park Gi-hyun I have to admit that I have long undervalued the genuine value of Korea. Where Korea stands in the world was underestimated by me, a native Korean who has always aspired to my fantasy of living in a foreign country. Yet, my 8-day trip to Singapore and Hong Kong, two global financial centers, has completely upended the way I view Korea. Now, I know Korea is comparable to other wealthy nations by my own experience and I feel more grateful for living in my homeland. Korea is a highly developed economy, it has the 4th largest economy in Asia. But, I learned this anecdotally, not by direct experience. My trip helped me verify this fact. The following are some of the subjective experiences that have struck me. Korea's competitive infrastructure is something we can be proud of. Visiting the fanciest of malls with an unconventional design while abroad did not hit me as an impressive moment. In fact, I was more overwhelmed when I first visited such a mall in Seoul. Wandering around the mall in Singapore reminded me of the moment I first stepped into the newly built mall in Seoul where I saw a wide area balanced with greenery. This startling design underscores how the architecture of Korea has become sophisticated, superb and in some instances, unrivaled. Personally, the goods and food sold at the internationally renowned mall seemed to be nearly equivalent to those in Korean malls. Plus, from my point of view, Korea surpasses other countries in terms of other facilities that help to accommodate guests, such as nursing rooms, water fountains and rest areas. Second, Korea is relatively better for pedestrians. Although the city-state is famous for its world-class system, I felt that crossing roads was easier in Seoul. The cars waiting to make a turn at a crosswalk often did not seem to make a full stop while pedestrians were walking. Although I was pushing a stroller, I was frequently pressured to walk faster because cars about to make a turn kept moving toward me. Since the law mandating cars to fully stop at crosswalks was enacted this April, most Korean drivers seem to strictly follow the rule. Though we still have a long way to go, I opine that I feel safer crossing roads in Korea. The developed nations are notably outstanding, streets in Singapore are spotlessly clean, roads are well-paved and elevators are ubiquitous to accommodate moms and the disabled. Yet, I have witnessed that Korea has its own merits, which also make it competitive. Our robust economy, good standard of public hygiene and no gun violence prove that Korea is a great place to live. Indeed, we have perfectly joined the ranks of developed countries. My trip to leading states allowed me to appreciate that Korea is on par with other advanced nations. Observing how Korea outperforms in some areas made me proud to be a Korean on the world stage. I hope everyone would have a similar sense of pride as I have now. The writer (faith0906@gmail.com) is a freelance English translator based in Korea. 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. Anthony Sclafani, MD, director of facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, joined Becker's to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of consolidation. Question: What is the "dark side" of consolidation? Dr. Anthony Sclafani: A major ASC advantage relative to the hospital is the ability to be agile and responsive to the needs of the patient and the surgeon. Consolidation, while offering benefits from standardization and economies of scale, puts that agility and responsiveness at risk. A well-run consortium avoids siloing of ideas and maintains appropriate focus on remaining agile and open to new ideas. Q: How do you see consolidation affecting healthcare? AS: There's a lot of advantages to it. And we all talk about advantages, but one thing that you want to make sure the patient doesn't get lost in all this consolidation, because certain places do things very, very well. On the other end, there clearly are advantages to coordinated and more thought-out patient treatments and having greater resources to help. But on the other hand, I think that situations sometimes bring out the best in smaller organizations that are able to be more creative and have to be more creative. I think if you don't recognize that sometimes good solutions come out of small places, you lose that. The push toward consolidation is ultimately a push toward regulation and standardization. That's where I think the dangers exist, that you lose the need to be different, to be creative, because you're stuck doing what everybody else in the organization is doing. If the organization is doing it, they probably have good reasons to do it. And there's probably proof of it, but you can't totally discount those ideas. I think when you start discounting those ideas, you lose a lot of the vibrancy of what role smaller organizations can play. That is a problem. Being in New York and part of a large organization, there are absolutely things that are getting done that are phenomenal and really push the envelope and move the needle forward so patients get better care. But unfortunately, when things get regulated, sometimes there's that inertia that develops. More projects bring more people, but sometimes that leads to the right people not having their voices heard. To me, that's the real danger of consolidation losing the ability to be nimble, to be creative, to be proactive, because organizations have a greater notion than smaller organizations. Q: Is that felt among individual physicians as well? AS: I think so. If you're used to working in a place with 200 people and things are done a certain way, then that group consolidates with a 1,000- to 10,000-person organization, things are going to change, and that person's voice has less impact. It does affect the individual physician, and that's probably one of the reasons why surgeons are going to outpatient surgery centers, because they feel they have a greater voice. But they don't always have the right answers because they're looking at it from a very narrow window. So how do you combine the system with the 35,000-foot-view with the guy in the trench? It's the art of regularization; how do you keep that fresh boots-on-the-ground mentality? When you see your leaders walking around and going on rounds, it does make a difference. I think that makes a difference from a morale standpoint, from an information standpoint, and to break down those filters that limit frontline information going up to the decision-makers. Q: As a department director, is there anything you've done to mitigate the effects of that feeling of disconnect among your staff? AS: Within my department, it's like every management textbook goes: You need to have that flow of information up to the top, you have to remove barriers. And we do. It's a hard line to balance, but I think the successful places will do that. When you hear about all these mega-institutions merging into a mega-mega-institution, you wonder how effective that's going to be. The question is, through consolidation, do you lose the inefficiencies only, or do you have to lose some of humanity and the innovativeness? Twenty years ago, people said super large hospital systems would never work. But that's really where we are now. Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston has agreed to pay over $5.7 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department reported May 24. Seven of the facility's physician compensation plans allegedly violate the Physician Self-Referral Law, also known as the Stark Law, which prohibits physicians from referring patients to receive designated health services payable by Medicare from entities where the physician has a financial relationship, unless the arrangement falls into the exceptions provided for by law. It also prohibits the entity from billing Medicare for those services. Boston-based Mass General Brigham acquired the facility in 2018. The seven plans, which involve 44 physicians, were in place prior to the acquisition. One plan ended before the acquisition, and Mass General terminated the remaining six plans in 2019. The investigation was prompted by allegations from a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. The whistleblower will receive 17 percent of the settlement, according to the release. Royal Dental Assistant Academy in Gastonia, N.C., a dental assistant school, opened on May 13, according to a May 25 report by Gaston Gazette. The school has an accelerated 12-week dental assistant program to increase the supply of the profession. The academy was founded by Lupe Torres and Modesta Vera, who both have worked as dental assistants at practices in Charlotte, N.C. Royal Dental Assistant Academy is the first school for dental assistants in the county, the report said. The philanthropic foundation established by Best Buy founder Dick Schulze is donating $20 million to Naples, Fla-based NCH Healthcare System, according to Naples Daily News. The money will go toward NCH Healthcare's planned cardiac and stroke center, which will cost almost $200 million, according to the report. The project is pending approval from the city of Naples. The new heart center will prevent patients from having to travel out of town for cardiac care. NCH Healthcare received two other donations of $20 million each for the project from philanthropists Diana and Don Wingard and Francis Rooney, former U.S. Representative for Florida's 19th congressional district. UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation has received a $7.5 million gift from Acrisure, a financial technology and insurance company. The donation will support the Heart Institute at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, helping it to elevate clinical care, research and the patient experience for children and families. "This is a significant milestone for the foundation, the hospital, and most importantly, for the children and families receiving care within the Heart Institute," Rachel Petrucelli, president of UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation, said in a May 25 news release. "Acrisure's decision to help our hospital advance care and cures for heart patients was made with the utmost care, and with a sincere ambition to make a positive difference in people's lives." The $7.5 million is the largest corporate gift ever received by UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation The Royal ransomware group has claimed responsibility for a cybersecurity incident affecting Morris (Ill.) Hospital & Healthcare Centers, DataBreaches.net reported May 25. The gang added the hospital to its leak site May 22, posting a small sample of files as proof, according to the report. Morris Hospital said May 23 that it was actively investigating the IT incident, in which an unauthorized third party gained access to its network. The hospital said patient care, hospital operations and its EHR were not affected. Royal has been one of the most active ransomware organizations attacking the healthcare industry. A spokesperson for Morris Hospital referred Becker's to its May 23 statement. After passing various U.S. medical exams, ChatGPT met its match in the American College of Gastroenterology Self-Assessment Test, researchers found. The artificial intelligence chatbot's GPT-3 version scored a 65.1 percent on the exam, while its GPT-4 update fared worse, at 62.4 percent, according to the May 22 study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. A score of 70 percent or higher is required to pass. The study's authors recommended against using ChatGPT for GI education in its current form. The researchers are affiliated with New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health and North Little Rock-based Arkansas Gastroenterology. The Becker's Hospital Review website uses cookies to display relevant ads and to enhance your browsing experience. By continuing to use our site, you acknowledge that you have read, that you understand, and that you accept our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy By Bernard Rowan These days, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration has continued its diplomatic efforts. They succeed in working in unison with the United States and Japan on Northeast Asian security. The major gambit concerns China, not North Korea, though Kim Jong-un continues the usual antics to demand attention. Yoon and his government face criticism for working with Japan, including from China. I'd say the latter is the surest sign Yoon and South Korea are moving in the right direction. Many South Koreans, just like many Chinese and North Koreans, distrust Japan. Japan was an imperial and colonizing power and a fascist nation. Resonances of old sentiments remain among ultraconservatives. War crimes and treatment of sex slaves and territorial claims to Dokdo arise as issues. Many will never forgive Japan for what its government did in the past. This is a limiting factor. However, I've written before and now that Japan isn't the enemy. There is no forever in politics under the sun, moon and stars. The need to develop a deep bench in the Alliance for Freedom against the forces of autocracy is real and shows no signs of abating. If China were serious about peace, she'd do more to pressure Pyongyang. That's not going to happen anytime soon. China likes to see the North frustrate the allies of democracy. South Korea has nothing to fear any longer from Japan. It has much more to fear from China and North Korea. Letting go of past grievances isn't an easy thing to do and it doesn't happen all at once. However, looking at today's Japan, her society is much closer to that of South Korea in governmental and economic ways than is South Korea to China or North Korea. One day, it's possible that South Korea will have an economy as big or bigger than Japan's. At present it is one-fourth the size of the Japanese economy. Japan and South Korea continue to develop their trade, social exchanges and linkages. There are many Koreans in Japan and growing numbers of Japanese in South Korea. Beware the pitfalls of scapegoating. It's easy to "hate Japan" for the past as a way of coping with what ails South Korea at present, especially when aggravating ultra-nationalists in Japan make statements, refuses apologies and temporizes over what is inexcusable. However, the shadow of Japan's past is not a present enemy, not in any real way. Japan couldn't do today what it did in the last century. South Korea can defend itself against any enemy. Japan isn't the enemy. I hope South Korea can wean itself from the dichotomy of conservative and liberal politics about Japan. The fundamental global dichotomy today is between freedom and autocracy. Unfortunately, if there is a nation of which to be wary, it is South Korea's other neighbors. The competition between China and the United States holds many things hostage, even as it provides some grand context, to use a poor phrase, for much of global politics. I'm glad that the G7, Yoon and Kishida, Hiroshima memorial visits and other moments build positive ties. These building blocks can forge a new era of friendship and cooperation between South Korea and Japan. There is room for both nations to join in helping to develop the Indo-Pacific region in ways that allow for democracy and development. Cooperation in the development of energy technologies and working on the availability of scarce materials for microchips and computer technologies are other important avenues for collaboration. Before the era of Xi Jinping, I felt South Korea should hew to China as a future partner, and based on long-standing mutual cultural and social influences and history. However, as South Korea has developed into a world power, in large part through the cultivation of soft power, as well as industrial and technological might, matters changed. China has ossified its communist technology and hardened its alliance with the Kim dynasty. Profoundly disappointing as that is, there is no real option to lean to China today for any nation in the region that values its independence. The example of Hong Kong and the over-the-top intentions toward Taiwan deafen any opportunities for rapprochement with Beijing. Yesterday's enemy maybe today's friend if we allow for the possibility. The path of South Korean progress need not depend too much on any ally, not even the United States. But it wouldn't be prudent to spurn the possibilities for peace and mutual benefit from wider cooperation with Japan. Bernard Rowan is associate provost and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University as well as former visiting scholar at the Asiatic Research Center, Korea University. You can reach him at browan10@yahoo.com. In April 2023, more than 3,320 hospital and health system leaders gathered in Chicago for the Becker's Hospital Review 13th Annual Meeting. For four days, more than 430 speakers engaged their peers in panel discussions and presentations spanning 11 tracks. Big themes emerged from the meeting's 170 sessions. Rare was the conversation that didn't touch on the status of the U.S. healthcare workforce, which leaders were quick to note has been a studied and well-monitored trendline for years before the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated worker exits and exacerbated shortages. The U.S. faces a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034, including deficits in primary and specialty care, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The country may see a shortage of anywhere from 200,000 to 450,000 nurses by 2025, according to McKinsey. These figures are staggering, and only compound other thin spots throughout the healthcare system where demand exceeds supply, including designated mental health professional shortage areas and the exodus of nursing home workers that is forcing facilities to limit new patient admissions. The labor shortage will continue to test the healthcare industry and hospitals for years to come. In Chicago, leaders exchanged strategies as they look to modernize care delivery and workflows to deliver on the "do more with less" mantra they have long braced for. They also discussed the changes required of leadership in times when a single percent change to staff retention can be crippling, and what is needed to renew healthcare as a desirable workplace and career for bright, motivated and mission-driven people. But first, leaders offered up some thoughts on the systemic solutions needed to solve what is a systemic problem. Janet Liang, executive vice president, group president and COO of national care delivery operations with Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, pointed to licensing requirements, inadequate funding for graduate medical education, and outdated work models as limitations in need of change to solve for the labor market. State-based occupational licensing is a "horribly slow" process, as Ms. Liang put it. State boards can take upwards of three months to process nursing licenses. Ms. Liang questioned not only the efficiency of state licensure regulations, but their value given how they can limit employment opportunities for qualified providers. Hospitals and health systems also have a great amount of change to enact to offer new ways to work that emphasize flexibility, including options for remote work. For a variety of reasons, healthcare has been slow to take up the shift to remote work. Even for white-collar jobs, the industry had one of the lowest rates of remote workers at 35 percent, according to a September 2021 Gallup survey. "The reality is we are competing with virtual companies and concierge locations for healthcare workers," Ms. Liang said. "Those of us in bricks-and-mortar hospitals and medical centers need to see people in person. We're going to have to make work more flexible, otherwise we're going to lose everyone." At 17-hospital Centura Health, President and CEO Peter Banko is listening actively to the workforce and modifying compensation, benefits and educational assistance to improve employee recruitment, retention and satisfaction at the Centennial, Colo.-based system. The changes stemmed from feedback provided by employees. The system increased its annual tuition reimbursement benefit from $3,000 to $5,000 for full-time associates and $1,500 to $2,500 for part-time associates. It also built in options for PTO cash-outs, housing stipends, market-based bonuses and adjustments, and changes to sign-on bonuses. After meeting with more than 2,000 nurses two years ago, Mr. Banko recognized the tension existing between nurses who had worked with the health system for years and newer hires who had joined the system with a sign-on bonus. "So we gave every RN an opportunity to get a $15,000 two-year retention bonus," Mr. Banko said. "Now, a year and a half later, the attrition in that group is 4 percent." Cliff Megerian, MD, CEO of University Hospitals in Cleveland, has set out to simultaneously improve retention while also embracing employment as an important social determinant of health. The health system is Northeast Ohio's second largest private sector employer with more than 30,000 associates. "We worked in communities in marginalized areas to help people get jobs at the very entry point, and then help promote them to create a career in healthcare," Dr. Megerian said. "So we have a pipeline. Last year we hired 293 folks from our community hiring programs, and we have an 88 percent retention rate after one year, which is really incredible. Really the goal should be to affect healthcare outcomes and the workforce dynamics of your community." Health systems need to be well-connected with their communities in a number of ways to not only strengthen their workforce in challenging times, but also to build a workforce that has deep and lasting ties to the people they serve. Susan Burroughs, CEO of MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast in Columbia, S.C., invests a great amount of energy and thought far upstream by connecting with children and teenagers so they understand early on how many professional opportunities that can be found in healthcare. "We're reaching out to our younger populations, getting into school districts and talking to students about healthcare careers, because we all know that there's nationwide shortages in all of the areas of staffing that we're searching for," Ms. Burroughs said. "I think it's important that we start younger." To delve into other significant themes discussed at the Annual Meeting, register for MyBHC and gain exclusive access to our e-book on those topics. Sign up here to get started. Some practicing physicians as well as residents and people considering a career in medicine say they will not work or train in states that have restricted or banned abortion services. "Doctors are showing through their words and actions that they are reluctant to practice in places where making the best decision for a patient could result in huge fines or even a prison sentence," according to a May 23 NPR report. "When clinics that provide abortions close their doors, all the other services offered there also shut down, including regular exams, breast cancer screenings and contraception." This could mean there will be a shortage of physicians to provide preventive gynecological care to women in these states including routine Pap smears and screenings for sexually transmitted diseases. Further, NPR said, "care for pregnant women specifically is at risk, as hospitals in rural areas close maternity wards because they can't find enough professionals to staff them a problem that predated the abortion ruling but has only gotten worse since." Research published in the Journal of Internal Medicine in February, which surveyed more than 2,000 current physicians and medical students, revealed what NBC called an "impending medical brain drain" in a May 18 report. Of those surveyed, 76 percent said they "would not even apply to work or train in states with abortion restrictions." As of May 23, a report in The New York Times said 14 states have abortion bans in place and about half of states have announced intentions to "enact bans on abortion or gestational limits on the procedure." This means qualified physicians and those looking to pursue medical careers would not even consider practicing in more than half of the states in the country. The Association of American Medical Colleges reported a decline in medical students applying for residencies in 2023 in states with abortion bans, compared with applications submitted in states without abortion restrictions. Overall applications for OB-GYN residencies were down in 2023 from 2022, but the decline in the number of applications submitted to states with abortion bans was double that in states without restrictions 10.5 percent versus 5.3 percent. Results of a smaller survey, which were presented at an annual meeting of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in May, showed "more than three-quarters, 76.9 percent, said that access to abortion care would influence where they would pursue their residency," according to a May 18 NBC report. The survey of 494 medical students who said they are planning to pursue careers in obstetrics, gynecology, surgery and internal medicine found that more than half of those surveyed, 57.9 percent, said they "were unlikely or very unlikely to apply to a single residency program in a state with abortion restrictions." This survey captured the opinions of third- and fourth-year medical students in 32 states from August to June 2022, just after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. This landmark 1973 case granted the right to abortion access throughout the country for almost 50 years. Jerome Adams, MD, former surgeon general during the Trump presidency, tweeted on April 13 about his concern about how abortion restriction laws could "make pregnancy less safe for everyone, and increase infant and maternal mortality." A Pennsylvania nurse was charged May 24 with "administering lethal doses of unnecessary medication" that killed two patients and hospitalized another, according to the state attorney general's office. Heather Pressdee, 40, is charged with giving lethal doses of insulin to three patients, two of whom are not diabetic, at a skilled nursing facility in Chicora, Pa. A 55-year-old man died Dec. 4, a 83-year-old man died Dec. 25 and a 73-year-old man was hospitalized Aug. 31 after seizing. A criminal complaint document alleges that Ms. Pressdee provided care for all three right before they were transported to a hospital for hypoglycemia. She is charged with two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide, three counts of neglect of a care-dependent person, three counts of reckless endangerment and one count of aggravated assault. Ms. Pressdee's registered nurse license is active. The charges list 12 healthcare facilities in which Pressdee has allegedly been "disciplined for abusive behavior toward patients and/or staff at each facility resulting in her resigning or being terminated," including Quality Life Services, the location of the accusations. Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai saw a need to offer support for newly hired nurses who have experience, but not in a hospital setting to help them transition, which prompted it to launch the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Transition to Practice Program. The onset of the pandemic led many hospitals to hit pause on nurse residency programs. Instead, many newly certified nurses went to work giving COVID-19 vaccines, at medical offices or skilled nursing facilities outside of hospitals. The Cedars-Sinai program is one year long and offers similar workshops and mentoring that new nurse graduates would get, which helps ease nurses into a hospital setting. The program's focus on diversity, it says, has allowed the system to recruit and train professionals from a variety of schools and backgrounds. "Its easy for hospitals to develop cookie-cutter requirements for nurses and only accept nurses from a top nursing school or who have a very specific kind of experience," Kathleen Burgner, BSN, RN, a nursing professional development practitioner in Cedars-Sinai's Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute, and leader of the transition training program said in a statement. "We discovered we were missing out on a lot of talented nurses who just needed a pathway to transition from one kind of nursing care to another." Individuals in the program are held to high standards and encouraged to take on leadership roles in their units to help bring other new nurses up to speed. New data from the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority found that infant injuries and deaths nearly doubled in 2022, according to a May 25 report from PennLive. Of the 169 reported serious events, 15 resulted in deaths, the authority told the news outlet. Though to further analyze these events and provide actionable ways to lower the rates going forward, it requires some additional data, which hospitals have been reluctant to report. The safety authority was formed in 2022 and has 11 governor-appointed members. Its patient safety reporting database contains more than 4 million event reports, which it claims is one of the largest databases in the world. Hospitals are required to report adverse events to the authority, but can do so anonymously. Even still, regarding infant injuries and deaths, hospitals have resisted providing some of the data it needs to analyze and identify opportunities for prevention efforts to lower these instances, according to PennLive. "We would like to conduct this analysis as soon as possible in order to identify preventable harm and advise healthcare facilities how to avoid that harm in the future," Regina Hoffman, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority told the news outlet. Some of the hospitals' hesitancy around providing all information the authority needs to conduct further analysis is because "there are separate federal and state laws that protect peer-review investigations from disclosure to protect the integrity of that process," a spokesperson from the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania shared with Becker's. Until now, the authority has not asked for information like this, they explained. Hospitals are required to report adverse events, but are also given protections as long as they comply with certain standards in addressing and learning from the events themselves. It is because of this that the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania is somewhat at odds with the state's patient safety authority over the issue, according to PennLive. The authority initially asked hospitals to provide internal investigation information, medical information about the infant cases, and preventative actions taken. After receiving pushback, it watered down its ask to simply a fillable form that still included a few questions related to the above, but hospitals still objected to some of the requested info, the news outlet reported. A spokesperson for the association told PennLive it has been "working with member hospitals on recommendations that we will share with the PSA for how hospitals can provide input into data collection processes so that the PSA receives the information it needs to investigate neonatal intensive care and other patient safety-related trends." Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has been at the center of a controversial statewide staffing measure. Its relationship with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was essential to its exemption from the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and the bill's final-hour revisions, the health system said. Mayo Clinic's President and CEO Gianrico Farrugia, MD, said the health system remained "steadfast" in its position throughout the legislative session and expressed gratitude to those who backed them up including the governor. "In particular, we are thankful to Gov. Walz and his team for their exceptional partnership and leadership," Dr. Farrugia said in a statement shared with Becker's. "Gov. Walz, Speaker [Melissa] Hortman and Majority Leader [Kari] Dziedzic have expressed firm support for Mayo Clinic and for our desire to grow and invest in healthcare and our communities." Mayo Clinic shares a commitment with the governor and legislature to "continue addressing the challenges facing nurses including nationwide staffing shortages and increasing violence against healthcare workers," according to Dr. Farrugia. However, the Minnesota Nurses Association which has backed the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act from the beginning is disheartened by the initial bill's demise. "Today, my heart breaks for the patients in Minnesota," said Mary Turner, RN, president of the MNA, in a May 22 statement. "We came here to pass the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act. Because of the power and influence of corporate healthcare executives, that bill has died." "Today's outcome, and the events of the last three weeks, make clear that the outsized power of corporate executives is alive and well," Ms. Turner continued. "It is alive and well in Minnesota, in the halls of power, and in the halls of our hospitals." In place of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, the legislature has created a compromise bill: the Nurse and Patient Safety Act. The updated bill cuts staffing regulations and instead targets workplace violence prevention, nurse burnout and loan forgiveness. Job losses have been confirmed at Firstsource offices in Belfast and Londonderry. Fears of cuts emerged this morning in Derry. The news comes on the back of a reported 116 jobs being lost at the nearby Seagate factory in the city. DUP MLA for Foyle, Gary Middleton, posted about the Firstsource news on Twitter. He said: I have received word that Firstsource in Londonderry has started a 'redundancy consultation' process today. This has created uncertainty and worry amongst staff. I have been offered a meeting with management which I will be taking up at the earliest opportunity. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Over the past 20 years Firstsource has received 15.39m from Invest NI for operations in Foyle, East Derry and South Belfast. SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP has called for an urgent meeting with the management of Firstsource. Foyle MP Mr Eastwood said: News today that Firstsource will begin a redundancy consultation process which will impact workers in Derry is worrying for employees and their families and has caused unwarranted confusion and distress. "I have been in touch with several employees already who are concerned about their future in the organisation in this challenging economic climate. Workers in Firstsource ensured the organisation's continued success here in the city for years, and they deserve fair and proper treatment in this process. Any decisions made by management must be taken in the best interests of the staff involved. I have contacted the management of Firstsource requesting an urgent meeting to discuss their plans and their continued commitment to workers in Derry. Sinn Feins Padraig Delargy is also requesting an urgent meeting with management. The Foyle MLA said: I aware of concerning reports that Firstsource is set to begin a consultation on redundancy with workers at the Derry offices. This has created huge uncertainty for workers and their families today who are worried about what the future holds. Firstsource currently employs hundreds of staff across the city, and any job losses at this site will be a blow to the local economy. Its absolutely paramount that staff are kept fully informed and fully supported through every step in this process by the company. I am requesting an urgent meeting with Firstsource management to get clarity on this situation. A spokesperson for the company said Firstsource has today commenced a redundancy consultation process with a number of colleagues at its Belfast and Derry sites. "The changing priorities of one of our clients, Sky, means they are making proposals to adjust services currently being delivered across both sites, a statement added. Staff impacted have been informed today and as a responsible employer, we are working closely to support them throughout this process. "Firstsource remains committed to Northern Ireland at both sites as we continue to deliver a range of services for our outsourcing clients. Power NI and SSE Airtricity customers are eagerly awaiting new rates to be announced in early June Lower regulated tariffs for Power NI and SSE Airtricity customers are set to announced from as early as next Friday. But uncertainty surrounds whether Northern Ireland households will see the same drop in their bills from July as gas and electric customers in Great Britain. While new tariffs to be set by the Utility Regulator here will reflect a decrease in wholesale energy prices, the watchdog only received confirmation today that the UK Governments Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) scheme will close at the end of June. The regulator will now have to factor closure of the EPG into its new tariffs set to be issued in early June and applied to bills from July 1. The regulated energy suppliers will announce their own new tariffs, with SSE Airtricity Gas Supply expected to notify customers of their new rate on June 2 or June 9. Read more NI households could see increase in energy bills as significant fall announced in Britain Power NI is also expected to issue its new electricity rates within the first two weeks of June. But households could potentially see their bills go up if removal of the EPG has a negative impact on tariffs. During the Utility Regulators last review, Power NI bills rose despite a decrease in the unit price for electricity after the EPG had a distorting impact on the new tariffs. And Consumer Council Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability Peter McClenaghan has warned removal of the EPG altogether could result in bills increasing again. The council participates in the tariff review process alongside the Utility Regulator and Department for the Economy. The Northern Ireland regime has distinct benefits which include clarity for consumers as to the profit margin suppliers are permitted; 2% for regulated gas suppliers and 2.2% for Power NI, said McClenaghan. It has also meant that prices have been lower in Northern Ireland than in Great Britain for much of the last year. After the price announcements are made, we encourage consumers to visit our free online Energy Price Comparison Tool to check that they are on the best tariff for their needs. The Consumer Council is engaging with Government and stakeholders about help for Northern Ireland consumers next winter because we know prices will remain higher than average and many consumers are struggling to pay their bills. Aodhan O'Donnell, founder of Power to Switch, said: It's important to stress that the GB energy market and NI energy market are different in terms of how they are regulated. In GB, the regulator Ofgem introduced a price cap which set the maximum unit price all suppliers could charge. In NI the largest suppliers in the electricity and gas market have their tariff regulated which means the regulator approves the maximum amount they can charge. Other smaller suppliers do not have their tariff regulated and can often gain customers if they can charge less than the regulated gas or electricity tariff. Although GB and NI are different in how the markets are regulated, energy suppliers in both markets face many of the same issues in terms of wholesale costs and trying to hedge or effectively purchase their energy in advance. As we have seen in GB, prices are set to fall, and it is hoped we will see similar announcements here over the coming weeks. Ofgems new price cap is expected to reduce energy bills by 426 a year on average for households in England, Scotland and Wales. Profits are up but jobs are going at Seagate Technology's Springtown Industrial Estate site in Derry US-owned Seagate, which is about to embark on a second round of job cuts at its Derry site, has reported turnover up by 17% to $220m (178m) in its latest financial statement. And pre-tax profits rose by 10% to $15.9m (12.8m) in the year ending July 1, 2022 at at Cayman Islands-registered Seagate Technology (Ireland). The hard drive manufacturer reduced its Derry workforce by 30 employees in September 2022, and it is understood a further 116 jobs representing more than 7% of the team are to be offered voluntary redundancy in the latest cull. Its latest financial statement outlines an October 2022 agreement by parent group Seagate Technology Holdings PLCs Board of Directors. It commits to a restructuring plan to reduce its cost structure to better align the groups operational needs to current economic conditions while continuing to support the long-term business strategy. The plan includes reducing its worldwide headcount by approximately 3,000 employees, or 8% of the global workforce. The associated impact on Seagate Technology (Ireland) is not expected to be material. Employment numbers had climbed by 4% to 1,621 including the addition of 65 manufacturing roles in the year to July 1, 2022. Wages and salaries rose by 7% to $89.5m (72m). Seagate manufactures and develops read-write heads for use in data storage products sold by the group, largely destined for the Thailand market. The firm said it continued to invest in its manufacturing capability of recording head wafers, employing the latest product and process technologies, throughout 2022. Increased demand for read-write heads globally had boosted its turnover and operating profit, said director Johnny Choi with profits partially offset by a tower gain on foreign exchange caused by movement in foreign currency rates during the year. Further, profit for the financial year has increased additionally due to movements in the tax credit/charge for the year, said Mr Choi. Directors did not recommend payment of a dividend in 2021 or 2022. US Special Envoy Joe Kennedy III recently highlighted Seagate as a success story of foreign investment in Northern Ireland, with the firm understood to have benefitted from almost 60m in funding from Invest NI. In its FY23 Q3 earnings statement published last month, the company said its global restructuring programme had been introduced in response to changes in macroeconomic and business conditions. Korea's homegrown space rocket Nuri is erected for launch at Naro Space Center in Goheung, 328 kilometers south of Seoul, in this photo provided by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, May 25. Yonhap Korea is fully ready to launch its homegrown space rocket Nuri later in the day after solving a computer glitch. Aerospace engineers completed the fuel and oxidizer injection into the rocket around 5:15 p.m., and the prelaunch operation, or an automatic system that oversees the final preflight checkouts, will begin 10 minutes before liftoff, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The launch will take place at 6:24 p.m. at Naro Space Center in the southern coastal village of Goheung. On Wednesday, the launch was called off due to a communications problem between a launch control computer and a launch pad facility control computer about three hours before liftoff. The launch management committee, which oversees the entire process, decided to go ahead with the launch Thursday after engineers had inspected the system overnight and fixed the problem. "During the overnight examination, engineers found out the defect in a helium tank facility of the launch pad and revised its control program," Vice Science Minister Oh Tae-seog said in a press briefing. "We've repeated tests and checked the system is working well." The ministry and KARI said no other technical problems have been detected, and the weather is favorable and all payload satellites are in good condition. It is not the first time that Nuri's launch has been postponed due to technical issues. In June last year, Korea delayed its second launch for five days due to a technical glitch in the rocket's oxidizer tank sensor. After the postponement, Nuri successfully blasted off from Naro Space Center and sent a dummy satellite into its target orbit as planned, making Korea the seventh country in the world to have developed a space launch vehicle that can carry a more than 1-ton satellite, after Russia, the United States, France, China, Japan and India. Korea has secured the key independent technology for developing and launching space rockets carrying homegrown satellites, opening up a new era in the country's space program. The 2 trillion-won ($1.52 billion) Nuri project that began in 2010 will continue until 2027, with three additional rocket launches. On the third attempt, Nuri will carry eight payload satellites, including the country's second next-generation small satellite, the NEXTSAT-2, and put them into orbit. The NEXTSAT-2 will be released 783 seconds after liftoff, and the other seven will be deployed at 20-second intervals. (Yonhap) If you flew out of Belfast looking for a better place, youd go round the world and just come back Jon Sopel, Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall at the Podcast Show at the Business Design Centre in London (Lucy North/PA) British broadcasters Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel have announced they will be launching their hit podcast The News Agents in America. The veteran former BBC journalists appeared at The Podcast Show at the Business Design Centre in London on Thursday, on the one-year anniversary of their Global player podcast beginning, to reveal The News Agents USA will debut on June 20. Maitlis, who joined the BBC in 2001 and presented Newsnight from 2006 until she left last year, said of the new podcast: Its going to be the same fields, big analysis, big names. All the cultural things which are happening, gun laws, abortion laws Its a full-on circus from now until 2024 with the presidential election, we will be tapping into all that we get excitable talking about America. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The 52-year-old, who made headlines with her interview with the Duke of York in 2019, added: I remember this time a year ago feeling like the biggest fraud ever, we had an idea but no name. We had left mainstream broadcasting jobs where we know what we were doing now its a podcast, its visuals, its a brand. It feels so rewarding. Meanwhile Sopel, who joined the BBC in 1983 and was formerly its North America editor, said: When we sat here last year I didnt realise you start a podcast with zero listeners. To start with zero suddenly seemed terrifying. We got going at the end of August, and God bless Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, I mean they are just the patron saints of The News Agents. Sopel and Maitlis worked together as co-hosts of the BBCs Americast podcast which launched in 2020 and also covered the biggest news events in the US. The spin-off podcast will have Dino Sofos, former head of BBC News Podcasts, as executive producer. Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis at Global (Global/PA) He said: What weve done here is more than redefining public service broadcasting, its redefining the news and how people consume the news, were setting the agenda. Sopel also mentioned an encounter with a celebrity fan, saying: I was walking along the street and a guy was walking his dog, he came bounding over and he shows me his phone saying Im listening to you right now and shows the picture of the three of us. When he looks up, I realise its Tom Hiddleston. Belfast has been listed as the fifth most expensive city for accommodation in Europe. Overall, NIs capital city appeared at number 29 in an assessment of 35 destinations named in a new survey. The average cost of weekend accommodation for two came in at 392 whereas the best value city in Europe, Lisbon, charges 121. In terms of eating out costs, coffee is priced at (3.20), a beer (5.10) and three-course meal with house wine (91). In Lisbon, the respective costs are 1.35, 2.26 and a three course meal at 39.01. Dublin, featuring at number 32 out of 35, is even more expensive than Belfast with its hotel prices ranking among the highest of any European city. The average cup of coffee in a Dublin cafe or bar was reported at 2.80, a bottle of beer at 5.60 and a three-course evening meal for two with house wine at 79.60. Read more Could strikes threaten our summer holidays? Ryanair petition over traffic control strikes hits 1m signatures The UKs Post Office Travel Money also found Dublins hotel prices to be the third-highest of 35 cities surveyed. Prices for two nights weekend accommodation for two people in a three-star hotel are quoted at 448 in Dublin more expensive than Paris (382) or London (361). Only Amsterdam (525) and Venice (480) had more expensive hotel rates. Meanwhile, a new book set to be published named a 'Handy Wee Guide to Derry', shows that accommodation in Derry in summer 2023 is 40 percent less expensive than in Belfast and 60 percent cheaper than staying in Dublin. The Handy Wee Guide features scores of great images of the North West by veteran photographer Tom Heaney and up-to-the-minute text from Garbhan Downey. Judges reject pro-life groups legal challenge The Secretary of State acted lawfully in directing the establishment of full abortion services in Northern Ireland, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Senior judges rejected claims by a pro-life group that regulations introduced by the Government to issue the instruction were legally invalid. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan identified a requirement to implement the recommendations of a UN committee which found womens rights were being breached by limited access to terminations. She said: The regulations are part of a suite of legislative steps which clearly change the law of Northern Ireland as foreseen. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) was seeking to overturn a High Court verdict that Westminster was entitled to impose a deadline on the Executive to introduce a centralised system for abortions. In 2019, MPs passed legislation to decriminalise terminations in Northern Ireland at a time when devolution had collapsed. The regime change followed a report by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019, former Secretary of State Brandon Lewis had to implement the CEDAW recommendations here. Section 9 of the Act imposed specific duties on him about the provision of abortion and post-abortion services. A direction was issued under the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 for the Department of Health to set up full services. Current NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has pledged continued commitment to the move. SPUC claimed the issue should instead be decided on by MLAs at Stormont. In a challenge to the legality of the 2021 regulations, it contended that constitutional arrangements enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement meant the Secretary of State went beyond his legal authority. The group appealed a finding that section 9 of the 2019 Act provides broad, expansive powers as part of parliamentary sovereignty. According to SPUC, the 2021 regulations do not change the law in Northern Ireland and Mr Heaton-Harris cannot impose an order which must be complied with. Dismissing all grounds of challenge, the Chief Justice said there was a wide-ranging obligation to direct on implementation of the CEDAW recommendations. The judge added: The focus here is upon regulations and directions mandated by a primary Act of Parliament which require the Secretary of State to ensure compliance with the CEDAW recommendations. A choice was made to structure the law in that way in Northern Ireland. Despite rejecting SPUCs case, the court acknowledged an argument on the potential consequences of full abortion services for pregnancies involving a severe foetal impairment (SFI). Under the CEDAW recommendations abortions are to be legalised for SFI cases without perpetuating stereotypes towards persons with disabilities. SPUC contended that it could send a message that the lives of disabled people are of lesser value. Suggesting further guidance may be issued, Dame Siobhan said it was difficult to see how the Secretary of State can exactly comply with his duty to implement the CEDAW recommendations without perpetuating negative stereotypes. Mother of a girl who claimed she was raped in a Belfast park told a jury on Thursday she 'sensed there was something wrong' with her daughter The mother of a teenage girl who claimed she was raped in a Belfast park told a jury today she sensed there was something wrong with her daughter. The woman was called to give evidence at a trial currently being held at Belfast Crown Court. Paul Klandyk, from Dunvegan Street in the city, has been charged with and denies raping and sexually assaulting the teenager in Ormeau Park on Saturday June 13, 2020. The 25-year-old accused has admitted sexual activity with the girl, who has been diagnosed as being autistic, but claimed it was consensual. The complainant's mother was called to the witness box today and recalled her concerns where her then 16-year-old daughter and 15-year old friend didn't arrive home on the last bus. When asked by Crown barrister Terence Mooney KC what she did when the girls failed to get off the bus, the woman said she rang her daughter at around 10.45pm. She said: I knew she had been drinking because of her speech. I asked her where she was and she said she didn't know, then she said she was in Ormeau Park and I said you've missed the bus. I said I'm coming to pick you up. I can tell you have been drinking and I'm coming to pick you up. The girl's mother said she told her daughter to walk to a doctor's surgery on the Ormeau Road and she's pick her up there. When asked by Mr Mooney what happened when she got to the pick-up point, the woman said: I got out of the car and walked up to the girls and said youse are drunk, get in the car. She said her daughter was unsteady on her feet ... her speech was slurred ... she was not herself. After both girls got in the car, the woman said she could smell sick and that both girls were whimpering. She said: They were crying. They were both crying before they got in the car as well. I kept asking my daughter what was wrong. I said you have been drinking, that's OK, forget about that. What's wrong? I could sense there was something more wrong with the way they were behaving. My daughter then said she'd been attacked. I said what do you mean attacked? and she said I was raped in the forest, in the park. When asked her reaction, the woman said: I was shocked, absolutely completely shocked. Mr Mooney then asked what happened when she got her daughter home and she said she called the PSNI, who arrived a short time later. The jury has already heard that after a trawl of relevant CCTV footage was viewed, Klandyk was arrested and interviewed. He described the complainant as a little tipsy, and made the case she flirted with him and instigated the sexual activity which he claimed was consensual. At hearing. Over half a million people in Northern Ireland are currently on a waiting list for medical treatment, Westminsters NI Affairs Committee has been told. That equates to one in four of the population, with the health system here being described as beyond crisis. Breaking down the figures for MPs, Professor Mark Taylor, NI Director of the Royal College of Surgeons, revealed 122,000 people are currently waiting for surgical procedures, with a further 378,400 waiting for consultations. Some people are waiting up to eight years. Professor Mark Taylor, Royal College of Surgeons The reality is that some doctors are seeing patients who will never get the treatment they need, he said. Children are waiting so long they are being transferred to the adult waiting lists before theyve been seen. Dolores McCormick from the Royal College of Nursing said she was not over-exaggerating that the health system is now beyond crisis. Dolores McCormick, Royal College of Nursing We have fallen off the cliff edge, she told MPs. Nurses are incapable of meeting the needs of patients. They are stretched and they are broken. There are currently 3,000 vacancies in nursing in Northern Ireland, she continued. We now have 300 fewer training places announced last week. The culture of using agency staff and the rates they are paid to fill all the gaps in the workforce is absolutely scandalous. The agency bill has been out of control for ten years. We need to pay our nurses fairly, work harder to retain them within the system and reduce the use of agencies. But we need enough nurses into the system before we can address the agency bill. Dr Tom Black, NI chair of the BMA said the health system cannot run effectively on the current level of funding. In England a big deal is being made of tackling an 18-month waiting list, thats 96 months here. In Northern Ireland, its eight years. England has seven million waiting and thats a crisis. In Northern Ireland, the equivalent number would be 20 million people, he said. Dr Tom Black, British Medical Association Highlighting the crisis in GP surgeries, he added: In June 2022 Northern Ireland had 20 GP surgeries in crisis and facing closure and 16 of them have now closed. Today there are a further 30 in crisis. Where will we be this time next year? Dr Black said that the incentives for GPs to stay and work in Northern Ireland are simply not there. We lose junior doctors to Australia, where the pay and conditions are far superior. Now we have more attractive competition from the Republic of Ireland. We need to attract more GPs to cope with the number of patients. Asked about whether prescription charges would help bring extra finance, Dr Black said the BMA had consistently argued against it. When people in Northern Ireland were paying for prescriptions, as GPs we found that 98% of the prescriptions being written were exempt. Only 2% were being paid for. It would likely cost more to administer the system that it would bring in. It would create inequalities of care between those who could afford and those who couldnt. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC) has accused the Secretary of State of using children as pawns and in doing so is jeopordising the futures of thousands of pupils. Mark Baker, Chief Executive, CSSC Mark Baker was joined by Education Authority (EA) Chief Executive Sara Long and President of the NAHT union Liam McGuckin in front of MPs. The Department of Education has thought long and hard about this (cuts to services), said Mr Baker. These are not things done on a whim. What is core and what is statutory does not always make the biggest impact. We have an Independent Review of Education under way and we clearly need to get political agreement on a way forward. But when we depend on earmarked funds, monitoring rounds, money that comes in in November and needs spent by the end of March, impact is limited. Schools need multi-year budgets. The problem here is that the funding just is not enough and its not stable. I cant stress how unequal it is and I do have a concern that our children and our young people are being used as pawns at the moment. I dont think there is a full acceptance that the children and young people in Northern Ireland are being under-invested in. These are decisions being made by the Secretary of State. Mr Baker said that currently the spending per pupil in Scotland amounts to 2,000 a year more than in Northern Ireland. Add that up over the school life of a single child, thats 30,000 less, he said. Services are being reduced at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry due to staff shortages. The Southern Health Trust has confirmed it is working with other trusts across Northern Ireland and the Department of Health to minimise the impact. A lack of consultants means delivering inpatient care in general medicine is no longer sustainable at Daisy Hill. The hospital's stroke service is set to be withdrawn from 9am next Wednesday, May 31 because the hospital's only remaining specialist is leaving. A spokesperson for the trust said recruiting and retaining medical staff has been a major issue for a number of years now. "The pressures have now escalated with increasing reliance on medical locum cover and a number of consultant medical staff ending their tenure at the hospital," they said. "These challenges are putting services at the hospital - such as respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) inpatient medical provision - at risk. "Every avenue is being pursued to protect services." According to BBC News NI, nine medical consultants have left their posts within the past six months. Managers can no longer devise rotas to ensure all services are delivered safely. Its understood senior officials told a trust board meeting on Thursday that it would take at least six months to stabilise the system and warned that action is needed before the summer holidays begin. It means patients who suffer a stroke will be forced to travel to other hospitals in NI or even the Republic of Ireland. Senior staff are planning to engage in talks with Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Craigavon Area Hospital is likely to be left dealing with most of the overflow. The trust said that "insufficient substantive stroke consultants at Daisy Hill" required a decision to been taken "on patient safety grounds to again divert all acute stroke patients to Craigavon Area Hospital". Back in February, the Southern Health Trust announced the relocation of emergency general surgery from Daisy Hill to Craigavon as an interim move due to ongoing recruitment challenges. Former health minister, Robin Swann previously announced that Daisy Hill Hospital was to become an elective overnight stay centre. A number of medics expressed concern about the future of the hospital last year when he said centres were being established as part of a reorganisation of surgery services. Health officials insist that general emergency surgery, the emergency department and maternity services are all currently safe. Southern Trust chief executive Dr Maria O'Kane told the monthly board meeting that the shortage of consultants, difficulties recruiting specialist grade and junior doctors and the "serious over-reliance" on locum doctors "are matters of great concern in meeting the demand for acute inpatient medicine and providing stable medical staffing cover in our medical wards". "This situation is certainly not unique to Daisy Hill Hospital," she added. "The shortage of medical staff is extremely challenging in Northern Ireland, and indeed further afield." Dr OKane insisted that the trust is pursuing every viable option to minimise the impact of the situation and stabilise its workforce. A meeting is due to take place next week involving all trusts in an effort to seek support and address challenges. Dr OKane services are already stretched across Craigavon Area and NI meaning any support is likely to be limited". "Our initial focus will be to stabilise staffing for the summer months in anticipation of a more permanent solution," she said. "Ensuring patient safety and supporting our staff will be absolute priorities. "We are very proud of the care provided by our medical staff, who have been working in very difficult circumstances." Unison has expressed major concerns about the ongoing crisis. Trade union representative Deborah Yapicioz told the Trust Board that there are serious issues with staff morale with many feeling let down by management. She also raised the concerns about ongoing struggles with recruitment and retention of staff as she questioned what has been done and what will be done to address the serious problem. Unison had been campaigning for several years to protect and strengthen the services in Daisy Hill our hospital which serves the needs of our community, Ms Yapicioz said. We have stressed that with the recent loss of doctors at the site, our members, including nurses, nursing assistants, porters, cleaners, catering, admin and others, need a clear picture of what is going on and what services are impacted. "Also, what the Trust intends to do. We have been concerned about the lack of openness from Management throughout the consultation process on the removal of Emergency General Surgery from Daisy Hill and the evidence we have that the hospital is being run down. Meanwhile the unions Newry and Mourne branch secretary, Rachel Killen, said it has recently responded to the public consultation about the permanent removal of emergency surgery from Daisy Hill. "Our members and our community do not support this decision, and this has been demonstrated by the number of public meetings and demonstrations held to protest against this change, she said. "The Trust must listen to staff and the local people and reverse this decision urgently. BMA regional chair Dr Tom Black described the withdrawal of some services from Daisy Hill Hospital as extremely worrying. "Acute medical services at the hospital look increasingly precarious, he said. "Transformation due to service collapse benefits neither patients nor doctors and destabilises services for patients. There will be a knock-on effects on services in Craigavon Hospital and any further attrition would impact GP services in the area as well, thus putting unacceptable pressure on different parts of the health service. BMA have consistently warned that without investment in our workforce people would walk away, and the situation at Daisy Hill is evidence of that failure." Dr Black warned that more staff will be lost if they are not supported and valued. "If we do not give staff the chance to develop and use their skills, then they will go elsewhere to work, he added. But to be clear, if we do not pay our staff properly and in a way that is comparable to other nations both in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere, then we simply will not be able to recruit or retain staff. "The idea that this year we will not even see the DDRB recommended pay uplift applied is frankly unbelievable. It was said yesterday that the health service was collapsing, and we can quite clearly see that happening right now, right in front of us. "We cannot afford to go one more day without a local health minister in place to attempt to address these issues. "The situation is grave and there needs to be action immediately. A man in Newry has had a lucky escape after his property was targeted in a petrol bomb attack. It failed to ignite and was discovered at the rear of a house on Lackan Road on Thursday morning. Police are treating the incident, which happened at some point between the hours of midnight and 8.45am, as a hate crime. PSNI Detective Constable Johnston said: The victim reported that he had discovered a petrol bomb at their property which had failed to ignite. "He had been asleep inside and thankfully did not come to any harm, however, ignition could have had devastating consequences to him and his property. "We are treating this incident as a hate crime. Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone with any information, or who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time the incident took place to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 363 25/05/23. National Crime Agency officers have obtained a freezing order for a plot of land in Co Armagh as part of an ongoing civil recovery investigation. A Property Freezing Order was granted to the NCA at Belfast High Court on Monday, May 22, as it is suspected the land, in Blackwatertown, was purchased for 100,000 using money obtained from fraud and money laundering offences. The order will prevent anyone from selling or transferring ownership of the land while the investigation continues into the source of the funds used to make the purchase. If unlawful conduct is found, the NCA may seek the recovery of the land. NCA regional head of asset denial Rob Burgess said: The NCA works to tackle organised crime gangs at all levels in order to frustrate, disrupt and ultimately dismantle them. Our civil recovery powers play an integral role and we are committed to working closely alongside partners in the Joint Agency Task Force to prevent those engaged in criminal activity from benefitting financially from their illegal actions. We will continue to use these powers to pursue the assets of criminals, no matter how carefully they have been hidden. Detective Superintendent Emma Neil, from the Police Service of Northern Irelands Organised Crime Branch, added: Working with our partner agencies, we are committed to tackling and disrupting the activities of organised crime groups. These groups use whatever means possible from drug dealing to money laundering to line their own pockets and, sadly, its often at the expense of the most vulnerable members of our society. This is an excellent example of working in partnership. Were also grateful for the support of local people, and would appeal to anyone with information, or concerns, to contact us on 101. The first male domestic abuse conference to be held in Belfast Over a hundred people gathered at the Europa Hotel today for Northern Irelands first conference focusing on male victims of domestic abuse. Attendees included academics, civil servants, trainee counsellors, workers within the community and voluntary sector, university support staff and men who have previously suffered domestic abuse themselves. The event was organised by the Mens Advisory Project NI (MAP), which was founded 25 years ago by former politician Patricia Lewsley-Mooney CBE, as she noticed an inequality in provisions for male victims. Rhonda Lusty, the current chief executive of the non-government-funded organisation, addressed delegates by stating: We know one in three victims of domestic abuse crimes are men... The abuse they face is different. There can be a misunderstanding that if you want to talk about abuse against men and boys, it pits you against women and girls; that is not the case. Rhonda Lusty, CEO, Men's Advisory Project NI and Clare Corkey, Coordinator, Men's Advisory Project NI (Credit: William Cherry / Press Eye) In the last 24 months, nine women and eight men have lost their lives to domestic homicide in Northern Ireland. Ms Lusty added: One life lost is too many, and to lose so many within such a small community, is insupportable we must all work together to stop this. There is no dedicated refuge in NI for men (or their children), thus men that find themselves leaving abusive relationships are often then categorised as homeless by the Housing Executive and placed in a mixed-gender hostel. In the entirety of the UK, there are only 10 refuges for males. Dr Maz Idriss is a trustee of one of these refuges, The Elm Foundation. He is also a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and an expert on honour-based abuse and forced marriage. He was the only man to speak at Thursdays conference a detail he himself pointed out, adding that hes happy so many women are talking about these issues, as it makes him feel safe. The first male domestic abuse conference to be held in Belfast Dr Idriss also called for ring-fenced funding for male victims, separate to females, throughout the UK, and better education about harmful practices. He said its important that everyones needs are met fairly and appropriately. MAP provides specialist services, including counselling and referrals, to all men across NI. Mrs Lusty detailed that this includes members of the LGBTQIA+ community, those living in extremely rural areas, and men of any age, with the oldest person to contact the agency so far being 83. For further information visit MAPs social media pages or call the Belfast office on 02890 241 929, the Foyle office on 02871 160 001 or email rhonda@mapni.co.uk Korea's homegrown space rocket Nuri lifts off from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, southwestern Korea, May 25. Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute Korea on Thursday launched its homegrown space rocket Nuri to put eight practical satellites into orbit, a critical mission for the country's space program. The 200-ton Nuri, also known as KSLV-II, blasted off from Naro Space Center in the country's southern coastal village of Goheung at 6:24 p.m., according to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The rocket is expected to deploy satellites into orbit 550 kilometers above Earth 783 seconds, or about 13 minutes, after liftoff and finish its flight sequence in about 20 minutes if the launch goes as planned. Korea had planned to launch the three-stage rocket Wednesday, but a computer glitch in the helium tank forced the country to postpone the liftoff for one day. One in three victims of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland will be male, a charity has said. The figure comes ahead of the first male domestic abuse conference held in Belfast. Covering everything from coercive control to hidden victims, todays event at the Europa Hotel will break down the prevalence of domestic abuse among men here. Organised by the Mens Advisory Project NI a non-government-funded charity supporting men living with and recovering from domestic abuse the event entitled Examining the experiences of men who face domestic abuse in NI, will detail that one in three men here will be the victim of domestic abuse and partner violence crime, while five out of nine victims of domestic homicide in NI recently were male. The conference in the Belfast hotel will be attended by professionals from the health and social care industries, the Ministry of Defence, Probation Board NI, the Public Prosecution Service and those who work with and refer victims of male domestic abuse to the Mens Advisory Project. Guests will hear from a range of speakers including Rhonda Lusty, CEO of Mens Advisory Project NI, Dr Maz Idriss, an expert on honour-based abuse and forced marriage, and Dr Elizabeth Bates, a leading researcher on the experiences of men experiencing domestic abuse, violence and control. Dr Anne Marks, an independent Domestic Homicide Review chair who has presided over reviews into cases where men have lost their lives to domestic abuse in Northern Ireland, will also be in attendance. Ms Lusty said those behind the event hope that it will kickstart a profound shift in how we think and what we know about male domestic violence. MAP NI has been operating for 25 years supporting victims, yet there is still a collective unawareness of how prevalent male domestic abuse is, Ms Lusty said. For example, whilst we quote PSNI statistics, the PSNI were made aware of just under half of all worst cases of domestic abuse (45.7%) in the past year meaning they were unaware of the experiences of just over half of victims (54.3%). The CEO of Mens Advisory Project NI added: When you consider that male victims are more reluctant to report domestic abuse incidents, it tells us there are a lot more men that need our support than those we are currently helping. Todays event takes place from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The Mens Advisory Project NI provides confidential information, counselling and emotional support to victims of domestic abuse. For further information visit its social media pages or call the Belfast office on 02890 241 929, the Foyle office on 02871 160 001 or email rhonda@mapni.co.uk Chief Constable Simon Byrne is set to have his contract extended by three years. It follows a unanimous decision by the Policing Board, which has been accepted by Mr Byrne. He is now awaiting approval of its decision by the Department of Justice, but that is considered a formality. The 60-year-old was appointed Chief Constable on July 1, 2019, on a five-year contract and salary which saw him earn around 230,000 in 2021/22. With an extension until 2027 it would make him the PSNI's longest-serving chief constable, BBC NI reported. It is believed the decision involved an assessment of Mr Byrne's performance to date, as well as his objectives for the years ahead. Mr Byrne began his police career in 1982 in the Metropolitan Police, where he pounded the beat in Paddington for over three years He transferred to Merseyside Police in 1985 where he served over 20 years rising through the ranks to the role of Assistant Chief Constable. He led the forces war on crime, seeing crime fall by a record amount in his first year. An architect of new ideas to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots. He was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief Constable in Greater Manchester Police in April 2009, where he served with Sir Peter Fahy. He led the forces efforts to address a range of performance failings that they had inherited and was threatening draconian Home Office intervention. Mr Byrne also led the force work to meet the challenges of austerity under the banner of the Optimus programme. In December 2011 he returned to the Metropolitan Police as Assistant Commissioner for Territorial Policing, holding the largest operational command in Europe. He was responsible for the day to day policing of Londons 32 Boroughs, call centres, criminal justice services and the Safer Transport command. He was part of the team that policed the 2012 Olympic Games and was a member of the Commissioners Management Board, driving the strategic direction of the Metropolitan Police Service. Mr Byrne introduced UK policings largest performance management process Crime fighters and overhauled the local policing of London working closely with the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. He also chaired the London Criminal Justice Board. In June 2014, he took up the role of Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary. Working with his Police and Crime Commissioner, they introduced a new policing model in less than 18 months, invested heavily in technology to fight crime and opened up the workings of the force to a number of popular TV documentaries. A leading auction company will give people the chance to own a luxury Rolls Royce Ghost which was seized from a narcotics crime gang. Wilsons Auctions, one of the leading auction companies specializing in seized assets, is set to present a remarkable opportunity for luxury car enthusiasts and collectors this May. A family-owned business, Wilsons Auctions was formed in 1936 in Northern Ireland and has grown to become the largest independent Auction Company in the British Isles with sites in the Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Featuring in their Online Luxury Goods Auction a stunning 2012 Rolls Royce Ghost. The Rolls Royce was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act from the owner who was at the forefront of a multimillion-pound narcotics ring operating in Essex. In total, the group have been ordered to repay a hefty 800,000 confiscation order stemming from their illicit gains. With under 49,000 miles on the clock, the luxury vehicle will be sold to the highest bidder at Wilsons Auctions on behalf of a law enforcement agency committed to combating organised crime. Allan McKenzie, Luxury Goods Auctioneer at Wilsons Auctions comments. "This 2012 Rolls Royce Ghost is a stunning example of automotive craftsmanship and an excellent acquisition for any discerning buyer. Luxury doesnt stop at the Rolls Royce other items listed in the catalogue for this auction include an excellent Patek Philippe Nautilus, multiple Rolex models, designer handbags and a fabulous range of exquisite diamond jewellery. The Online Luxury Goods Auction will run from 11am on May 26 to May 31, allowing ample time for enthusiasts to participate in the bidding process. Prospective buyers can register on the Wilsons Auctions website, where they can also find additional information about the auction and the bidding process. Wilsons Auctions is an Associate Member of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG), which allows buyers to bid with confidence in the knowledge that all goods are confirmed as authentic. For more information about the 2012 Rolls Royce Ghost and the Online Luxury Goods Auction, visit www.wilsonsauctions.com or contact +44(0)2890969008. The DUP has no option other than a return to Stormont, the Alliances deputy leader has said. Stephen Farry believes a financial package north of 1billion from Westminster could form part of an agreement to restore power-sharing. Head of the NI Civil Service Jayne Brady is set to hold a meeting with the leaders of Northern Irelands main political parties over budget pressures and the lack of governance here. Speaking to Good Morning Ulster, Mr Farry said he didnt believe the meeting would break the current political deadlock but he hopes it will be significant in terms of preparing the ground for the establishment of an Executive. Reference was made to a statement from DUP MP Carla Lockhart which read: The DUP is committed to ensuring the political and financial foundations are stable for a returning Executive. That is why Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is prioritising the funding issue directly with the Prime Minister in our ongoing negotiations with the Government. In response Mr Farry said the DUP has no other option in terms of politics but to return to Stormont because all other options are worse. He suggested somewhere in the region of many hundreds of millions or even north of 1billion would be needed to stop the cycle of cuts and invest in transformation of the health service, education and the wider economy. Money will also be contingent on reform actually taking place and may be phased over a number of years which is linked to delivery, Mr Farry indicated. He added: Money will be an aspect to this, certainly its something weve been raising with the government ourselves directly over the past number of months as well. Weve been talking around an invest to save transformation fund for Northern Ireland. But thats hopefully something that the civil service are in a position to take forward because really if we are to have an ask, it needs to be something that is properly worked out, exactly what were seeking to do with that. Information around the NI budget has been a massive game changer, he said, as its clear we are on a burning platform and spiral of cuts. The talks may help to turn the oil tanker around, he added. After meeting with the NI Secretary on Wednesday, Sinn Feins Conor Murphy said a potential financial package from the UK Government upon the restoration of the Stormont Assembly would not be "one party's wish-list". Mr Farry said conversations do seem to be focused around the DUP. That is concerning on two fronts, he said, firstly a financial package needs to be a collective ask from all parties because there will be heavy conditionality from the UK Treasury and secondly information with regards to the Windsor Framework needs to be shared. More than 100,000 people waited longer than six months for an initial decision on their case, figures show (Gareth Fuller/PA) The asylum backlog in the UK has hit a new record high as the immigration minister appeared to suggest processing claims faster could encourage more people to come to the country through illegal routes. More than 100,000 people waited longer than six months for an initial decision on their case, the latest figures showed. More than three quarters of all small boat asylum applications since 2018 are still awaiting a decision. Charities said the human cost of such delays is staggering as they called for claims to be processed more quickly. But immigration minister Robert Jenrick appeared to suggest this would be likely to lead to an increase in asylum claims from people arriving via illegal means. (PA Graphics) In December, Rishi Sunak pledged to abolish the backlog of initial asylum decisions by the end of 2023, as he set out a raft of new measures unveiled to curb Channel crossings. But within hours of that comment, Downing Street appeared to downgrade the target, insisting the Prime Minister had only committed to clearing the backlog of claims made before June. Mr Jenrick told broadcasters on Thursday he is confident the Government will clear the legacy asylum backlog by the end of the year. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said processing illegal migrants claims faster would not reduce the number of people coming into the country (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Home Office figures released on Thursday showed that 172,758 people were waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application in the UK at the end of March 2023. This was up 57% from 109,735 at the end of March 2022 and the highest figure since current records began in 2010. The number of people waiting more than six months for an initial decision stood at 128,812 at the end of March, up 76% year on year from 73,207 and another record high. The rise in asylum applications waiting for an initial decision is due to more cases entering the asylum system than receiving initial decisions, the Home Office said. There were 19,706 initial decisions made on asylum applications in the UK in 2022/23, up 35% on 14,586 in 2021/22 but below the 20,766 in the pre-pandemic calendar year of 2019. The Home Office figures showed that just under half (44%) of total asylum applications in the UK last year were from people who arrived on a small boat. Some 78% of all small boat asylum applications since 2018 are still awaiting a decision, including 93% of those made in 2022/23. Christina Marriott, executive director of strategy and communications for the British Red Cross, described the 172,758 figure as striking. (PA Graphics) She said: Leaving people in limbo like this, unable to work, separated from family and uncertain about their future, is costly to peoples physical and mental health and the taxpayer. Processing claims more quickly would help people settle into communities, start work and get on with their lives. Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, said: The human cost of the failure to process asylum claims is staggering. Many people wait years for a decision in which time theyre forced to live in poverty, banned from work, segregated from communities and detained in rundown hotels. He repeated criticism of the Governments controversial Illegal Migration Bill, saying it will make things much worse as no new safe routes will be created, meaning people will still have to make the deadly Channel crossing. He added: The Government must end its addiction to hostility and deterrence, ditch its anti-refugee Bill and create a compassionate, just and accessible asylum system that benefits refugees and the taxpayer. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the record high number waiting for claims to be dealt with is unacceptable and called for real commitment and resourcing to tackle the backlog, which crucially must include making quick and good quality decisions based on the merit of each claim, so refugees can start rebuilding their lives. Mr Jenrick was asked by Labours Clive Efford in the House of Commons on Thursday why fewer than 1% of people who arrived on small boats last year have had their asylum claims determined. The minister replied: It is not correct, however, to suggest that if you can process illegal migrants claims faster that that will reduce the number of people coming into the country. In all likelihood itll lead to an increase. Downing Street said tackling the asylum backlog is the right approach when asked about Mr Jenricks comments, and insisted measures to reduce the backlog would take time to bed in. The Government is making some progress on specific areas, the spokesman said, but acknowledged that there is more to do, adding that we are confident that things like doubling the number of caseworkers will start to have an impact. (PA Graphics) There were 75,492 asylum applications in the UK in the year to March 2023, relating to 91,047 people, the Home Office figures showed. This is the highest total for any 12-month period since the year to March 2003, when it stood at 80,736 applications relating to 99,338 people. Just under three-quarters (74%) of initial decisions on asylum applications in 2022/23 were grants of refugee status, humanitarian protection or alternative forms of leave. This is substantially higher than in pre-pandemic years, when around a third of initial decisions were grants, the Home Office said. Albania was the most common nationality applying for asylum in the UK in the year to March 2023, with 13,714 applications by Albanian nationals, 9,487 of which came from arrivals on boats crossing the English Channel. (PA Graphics) The number of Albanian small boat arrivals peaked during the summer of 2022 and by early 2023 had dropped below levels seen in 2021. Afghans were the second most common nationality applying for asylum in 2022/23, with 9,606 applications, more than double the number in the previous 12 months (4,118). The Home Office said this rise was likely due to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. By March 2023, some 11,398 people had been resettled in the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which was launched in April 2021, offering priority relocation to the UK for current or former locally employed staff who have been assessed to be under serious threat to life. A total of 54 Afghans were resettled in the UK under pathways two and three of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which was formally launched in January 2022. Pathway two which was specifically designed to help vulnerable refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) having fled Afghanistan for resettlement to the UK saw 40 people resettled. The third pathway for those at risk who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan, as well as those who are particularly vulnerable, such as women and girls at risk and members of minority groups saw 14 people resettled. Pathway one focused on eligible people who were notified by the UK Government that they had been called forward or specifically authorised for evacuation, but were not able to board flights at the time of the evacuation amid the Taliban takeover in August 2021 has seen 9,059 people resettled. Emily Graham from Safe Passage International said the schemes are utterly broken, meaning that more and more Afghans are having to make desperate crossings in the Channel in order to reach safety and family here. Some 90% of people arriving in the UK in the year to March 2023 on small boats claimed asylum or were recorded as a dependant on an asylum application. Oil and gas companies say fossil fuels will be needed for many years while scientists say they are pushing us ever close to climate catastrophe (Andrew Milligan/PA) Emissions from oil and gas produced in the UK are projected to increase by 2030 for some companies, new analysis has found. The UN has said global greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 at the latest and decrease by 43% by 2030 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels the target set in the Paris Agreement. Data from Rystad Energy and analysed by Global Witness has revealed that five companies Shell, BP, Equinor, Chevron and the Israeli conglomerate Delek Group are set to increase their scope three emissions by the end of the decade. These refer to companies indirect emissions, such as those which come from the use of the oil and gas they produce and sell. Many fossil fuel companies do not include scope three emissions in their net zero strategies, committing to decarbonising their operations only. Out of the top 10 oil and gas producers in the UK, it is predicted these five companies will increase emissions while the others will decrease. All 10 together are set to emit 725 million tonnes of CO2 between now and 2030, with Shell and BP responsible for around 36% of the total. Alexander Kirk, fossil fuels campaigner at Global Witness, said: Big oil saying that scope three doesnt count is like arms dealers saying they dont pull the trigger. Oil and gas is produced to be burnt, just like weapons are made for warfare. If we continue burning fossil fuels at current rates, then humanity is driving itself off a cliff-edge. A spokesperson from Shell said it was committed to becoming a net zero energy company, adding: By the end of last year we reduced emissions from our operations by 30% compared with 2016 on a net basis. Thats more than halfway towards our 2030 target of reducing them by 50%. Over that same period, the net carbon intensity of the energy products we sell fell by nearly 4% while the net carbon intensity of the global energy system fell by around 2% according to our analysis of International Energy Agency data. Protesters tried to storm the stage at Shells annual general meeting on Monday (Rebecca Speare-Cole/PA) Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the industry representative for North Sea energy companies, said oil and gas is essential to the UK and will be needed for many years, and that despite the rise in emissions for some companies overall UK Continental Shelf production is in decline. Mark Wilson, OEUKs health, safety, environment and operations director, said: For oil and gas companies, these scope three emissions arise predominantly from the use of our products in everyday lives. Oil and gas is essential to the UK: it powers homes, industries and transportation. The UK will require a level of oil and gas production for many years to meet the UKs energy needs and keep the lights on as low carbon energy systems develop and to ensure we dont rely heavily on costly and energy intensive imports. Speaking at a decarbonisation conference on Wednesday, renowned climate scientists professors David King and Johan Rockstrom warned that going beyond 1.5C will likely trigger irreversible tipping points that would lead to a collapse of life on Earth. They said the Earth is currently on track to warm by 2.5C by 2100 which will completely melt the big ice sheets, thaw permafrost, destroy rainforests and lead to a collapse of marine life while rendering around a third of the equator uninhabitable for humans. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content A spokesperson from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: There will continue to be ongoing demand for oil and gas over the coming years as we transition to lower carbon, more secure forms of energy generated in this country. Sourcing oil and gas domestically in the North Sea has a far lower carbon footprint than shipping it from abroad, and our oil and gas sector is well positioned to invest in clean technologies while protecting British jobs and expertise. Many UK oil and gas giants have been dogged by chaotic annual general meetings in recent weeks amid conflicting investor pressure between those who want companies to capture profits and those who want to see faster action on emission reductions. Shell and BP are among those who have faced tense AGMs, dominated by shouting protesters and shareholder rebellions over their climate strategies. Richard Black of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said: These plans fall short in three different ways, starting with the fact that increasing oil and gas use is incompatible with the Paris Agreement, with science showing that carbon emissions need to halve this decade to keep the 1.5C target within reach. Companies with net zero targets, including BP, Shell, Total, Equinor and Chevron, should also be reflecting on last years report from the UN Secretary-Generals expert group which showed that to be credible a net zero target cannot include plans to open up new oil or gas production capacity. The following is a chronology of major events leading to the development of Korea's homegrown space rocket Nuri, or Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II (KSLV-II), which was launched from Naro Space Center in the country's southern coastal village of Goheung on Thursday. June 4, 1993 Korea launches the homegrown one-stage solid propelled science observation rocket, called the Korea Space Rocket-I, after three years of development. July 9, 1997 Korea launches the homegrown KSR-II two-stage solid propelled science observation rocket. It adopted such advanced technologies as guided control and stage separation compared with the previous version. March 26, 2001 Korea joins the Missile Technology Control Regime, an informal international association that oversees the proliferation of unmanned delivery systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. August 2002 Korea and Russia confirm plans to develop the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-I (KSLV-I) rocket, with a launch planned for 2005. Nov. 18, 2002 Korea launches the liquid-propellant science rocket of the KSR-III. It marked the first time that the country successfully built an independent liquid-fueled rocket, which laid the foundation for the development of small satellite launch vehicles. 2005 Korea and Russia complete work on critical designs for the KSLV-I. The original launch date was postponed until October 2007. June 11, 2009 Korea opens Naro Space Center. Launch pad certification is completed using KSLV-I GTV. A complete first-stage rocket arrives from Russia by plane. Aug. 11, 2009 After rounds of postponement, South Korea sets a new launch date for Aug. 19, 2009, following consultation with Russia. Aug. 19, 2009 Korea halts the countdown of the KSLV-I with less than eight minutes to go before blastoff after the automatic launch sequence system detects a problem in a high-pressure tank. Aug. 25, 2009 The KSLV-I is launched and successfully enters orbit. But it failed to deploy a scientific satellite. An independent panel later confirmed a fairing assembly malfunction caused the failure. In this file photo on June 10, 2010, the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), called Naro, lifts off at Naro Space Center in Goheung, 485 kilometers south of Seoul. However, it exploded soon after liftoff. Korea Times file March 2010 Korea kicks off the project to develop the KSLV-II space rocket. June 10, 2010 Korea launches the KSLV-I for the second time, but it exploded 137.19 seconds after liftoff. Jan. 30, 2013 After rounds of rescheduling, South Korea successfully launches the KSLV-I from Korea's Naro Space Center. March 2014 Korea successfully conducts the first combustion test of the 7-ton-class liquid engine combustor for the KSLV-II. June 8, 2016 Korea successfully conducts the 75-ton liquid-fueled engine, which burned for 75 seconds. March 2018 Korea begins the comprehensive combustion test of the KSLV-II rocket. Sept. 3, 2018 Korea announces the name of the KSLV-II rocket is Nuri, which means the world in Korean. Nov. 28, 2018 Korea successfully test-launches the KSLV-Test Launch Vehicle to verify the performance of the liquid engine to be used for the KSLV-II. Sept. 29, 2021 Korea confirms the date of the Nuri rocket's first launch on Oct. 21 and begins final safety exercises. Oct. 21, 2021 The KSLV-II Nuri rocket lifts off from Naro Space Center in the country's southern coastal village of Goheung. But it ended in partial success, as the rocket failed to put a dummy satellite into orbit despite the successful flight to a target altitude of 700 kilometers. A probe found that the helium tank in the third-stage rocket fell off due to increased buoyancy during the flight and eventually caused the engine to shut off prematurely. Korea's homegrown space rocket Nuri lifts off from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, southwestern Korea, on June 21, 2022, as the country makes a second attempt to put satellites into orbit. Korea Times file Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members stand guard outside a polling center during the city corporation election in Gazipur, May 25, 2023. Updated at 5:16 p.m. ET on 2023-05-25 A day after Washington said it would deny visas to Bangladeshis who tamper with elections, a significant Bangladesh city poll usually beset by rigging and intimidation unfolded peacefully on Thursday with close to 50% voter participation. Bangladeshs government reacted to Washingtons newly announced visa policy by saying it was in line with its own commitment to hold free and fair elections. That response contrasted starkly with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas verbal attack on Washington last month, when she told Parliament that the United States was trying to foist an undemocratic party on her country through the upcoming general election. Analysts say that the U.S. decision to deny visas to Bangladeshis whom it suspects of trying to undermine democratic elections has rattled many in the South Asian nation. Asif Nazrul, a professor of law at Dhaka University, wrote on Facebook on Thursday: The magic of U.S. visa policy has worked in Gazipur. The city corporation election in the city just north of Dhaka went off peacefully and drew 49% voter turnout, election officials said. Observers said it was remarkable that goonish behavior or violence did not mar a ruling party-controlled council poll. We are very happy and highly satisfied with the Gazipur City Corporation elections as there was no incident of rigging and violence, Md. Alamgir, one of the five election commissioners at the Bangladesh Election Commission, told a press conference in Dhaka. When asked whether the peaceful election in Gazipur was influenced by the United States warning on the eve of that vote, he was non-committal. I am not willing to make any comment on it as the EC [Election Commission] is not a part of it, he said. Meanwhile, the mother of the former mayor of the city sacked in 2021 for comments seen as defaming the country's founder was herself elected mayor as an independent candidate. The candidate, Zaida Khatun, complained in a letter to European diplomats earlier this week that she and her son, Zahangir Alam, had been attacked and intimidated for their political views. The new visa policy intends to send a message to the citizens of Bangladesh that Washington is closely watching the run-up to upcoming national polls, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. Bangladesh has been governed since 2009 by Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party, which secured three consecutive election wins, including one boycotted by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies in 2014, and one widely criticized as rigged in 2018. The next general election is scheduled to be held in December 2023 or January 2024. Voters line up at a polling center at Joydebpur in Gazipur city, Bangladesh, to cast their votes in the city corporation election, May 25, 2023. [BenarNews] Bangladesh Foreign Minister A. K. Abdul Momen, who met with U.S. envoy Peter Haas on Thursday evening, was upbeat after they discussed the new visa policy. Our government is under no pressure and it has nothing to worry about the new policy as it is our commitment to make sure that the elections are held in a free and fair manner, Momen told reporters after the meeting. Momen echoed a statement put out by his ministry. Bangladesh would like to view this announcement in the broader context of its governments unequivocal commitment to holding free and fair elections at all levels for upholding the countrys democratic process, the foreign ministry said. However, Bangladesh expects that such [a] visa policy will not be applied arbitrarily in a non-objective manner. The ministry added that the government would take measures to prevent and address any unlawful practices or interference in the conduct of the elections. The government expects that the local undemocratic forces that resort to violence, arson and destruction would remain cautious and refrain from their misguided efforts to jeopardize the electoral process as mandated by the constitution, it said. Washington informed Dhaka about the new visa policy on May 3. Under this policy, the United States will be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh, top American diplomat Antony Blinken said in a statement Wednesday. This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services. Opposition welcomes US policy On Thursday, Haas, the American ambassador, invited representatives of the Awami League, opposition BNP and the Jatiya Party to his residence to explain Washingtons position on the new visa policy for Bangladeshis. Afterwards, BNP delegation chief Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said his party welcomed Washingtons move. The BNP was not worried because it was not involved in vote rigging, he said. I think this step will at least play a supporting role in holding the next polls in a fair and credible manner, he said. A former Bangladesh envoy to the United States, meanwhile, told BenarNews that Washingtons move was clever, because it would have a big impact on affluent and powerful Bangladeshis who interact with the West on a regular basis. The impact of the policy of visa restriction is higher than that of imposing sanctions on any individual, as the visa restriction policy is a preventive measure, Humayun Kabir, the former Bangladesh envoy to the U.S., said. So, those who have the will to go to the U.S. or send their children there for education, they should be careful about what they do in the future. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. greets U.S. and Philippine soldiers participating in joint military exercises in San Antonio town in Zambales, a province facing the West Philippine Sea, April 26, 2023. The U.S. military plans to construct more than a dozen projects at four Philippine sites including bases it will use under a newly expanded defense deal, a Filipino armed forces spokesman said Thursday. The United States will fund and build 14 projects at locations including the Lal-lo Airport in the northern province of Cagayan, which directly faces Taiwan, and on Balabac, an island in Palawan province that faces the South China Sea. The projects will include improvements at Naval Base Camilo Osias in Cagayan and at an army camp in Isabela, another province on the main northern Philippines island of Luzon, the military said. Philippine military spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said the projects consist of the construction of a pier, rehabilitation of a runway, establishment of a command-and-control fusion system, and construction of a mess hall and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response hangars. On the new sites, we have identified the projects in those areas, Aguilar told reporters as he emphasized that the projects were aligned with military goals. The projects will strengthen our capabilities because these EDCA sites will facilitate the conduct of training, Aguilar said, referring to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a bilateral pact that was broadened earlier this year. The construction will happen after Manila agreed under the EDCA to permit Washington to have access to more Philippine bases amid tensions between China and the U.S. over Taiwan and between China, Taiwan and countries that have contending territorial claims in the South China Sea. While Aguilar did not say how much would be spent for the projects, the foreign affairs department previously said that Washington had informed Manila about plans to spend at least U.S. $100 million for upgrades at a total of nine military bases, which U.S. troops can access under the agreement. The EDCA is a supplemental agreement to the Visiting Forces Agreement, a pact that specifically grants legal cover to large-scale joint maneuvers by the two longtime allies. In addition, the two nations are bound by the 1951 Mutual Defense Agreement to aid each other if one comes under attack. Earlier this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told a security forum in Washington that Philippine bases would not be used to stage attacks against a third country. Instead, he played down widespread public fears here that the Philippines would be embroiled in conflict should China attack Taiwan, a U.S. ally considered a renegade province by China. In the Philippines, U.S. troops may position assets at EDCA sites to respond to emergency situations, including natural disasters. If we will be attacked, of course we can use that. Only if we are attacked, which is remote from happening, Aguilar said. The defense treaty says each party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific region on either party would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes. The treaty notes that such an attack is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the Parties, or on the Island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific. Aguilar said projects to be implemented at the new EDCA sites were discussed at the higher level and as I have said, its aligned with the modernization program, the capability upgrade. Therefore, it is also us who identified [the sites] and it was agreed on both sides, he said. In April when the four bases were revealed, the U.S. Department of Defense said the locations would allow Washington to respond more seamlessly together to address a range of shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Jojo Rinoza in Manila contributed to this report. An aerial view shows resident Gu Yunfeng standing on a rock in middle the Yangtze river as it approached record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, Aug. 20, 2022. Asias 10 major river systems that play a vital role in the economies and energy security of 16 countries are facing significant disruptions because of climate change, a new report warns as it calls for urgent action to safeguard regional water flow. The basins of the 10 rivers originating from the Hindu Kush-Himalayan water towers are inhabited by 1.9 billion people and contribute U.S. $4.3 trillion to annual gross domestic products, said the report No River, No Power by China Water Risk (CWR), a non-profit think-tank based in Hong Kong. The climate change risk means up to one in two Asians could be affected by increasing water scarcity because of accelerated glacial melt, reduced snowfall, changing monsoon patterns and overexploitation of groundwater resources, the report released Wednesday said. Asia gets most of its water from the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Karakorum mountains and the Tibetan Plateau. Collectively, they are often called the Third Pole or Asias Water Towers, making up 10 major river basins. These are the Amu Darya, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Indus, Ayeyarwady, Mekong, Salween, Tarim, Yangtze and Yellow rivers. They flow through 16 countries, including China and most of Central, South and Southeast Asia before reaching the sea or ending in a desert. Known as the continents cradles of civilization, these regions are responsible for almost three-quarters of global rice production. Infographic shows 10 major rivers that are key to Asias water and economic security. [China Water Risk] The report said most of the countries are developing, which means people will flock to more than 280 large cities along the rivers, adding pressure to already stressed systems. According to the reports projection, all rivers face escalating and compounding water risks because of climate change, with four of the 10 rivers seeing an overall decrease in river flows by 2050 if the earth heats by the 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius threshold set by Paris climate agreement. Such impacts will affect the 10 river systems power generation, currently responsible for 865 gigawatts (GW), or 46% of the total electricity capacity in the 16 countries, the report said. It is more than the combined capacity of Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan and Russia. Uncertain future flows of the 10 rivers and extreme weather mean we must curate mountains-to-oceans waternomic roadmaps and energy systems that are resilient to climate change, said Debra Tan, head of the think tank and lead author of the report. National energy and water security plans must thus dovetail. The need to do all this is ever more urgent as doing so will help us manage escalating and compounding water risks as well as meet rising demand for water. Bangladesh, Thailand and Myanmar In Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers account for only 9% of the nations surface water but support 85% of the population and 76% of the GDP. On the other hand, the rivers account for only 25% of power generation. In Thailand, the Mekong river basin supports 35% of the population and 24% of the GDP. The Mekong accounts for 7% of power generation while another river, the Salween, accounts for 8%. In Myanmar, the Ayeyarwady, Salween and Mekong provide 35% of the countrys surface water, house 58% of its population and contribute 46% to its GDP. Almost two-thirds of its installed power capacity is on the Ayeyarwady and one-third on the Salween. Meanwhile, a surge in just-in-case coal-fired power additions in China after the severe droughts along the Yangtze in 2022 are among many cascading effects of climate change impacts, the report noted. Out of the 10 rivers, only Amu Darya does not flow through China. The other nine rivers provide half of Chinas surface water, support about 44% of its population, and contribute about 30% to its GDP. China has about half of its national power dispersed among seven rivers, with the lions share in the Yangtze and Yellow river basins. Water flows from sluiceways at the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze river near Yichang in central Chinas Hubei Province, July 17, 2020. [Wang Gang/Xinhua via AP] The Asia-Pacific is home to 80% of global coal generation, while power sector emissions in the region make up 62% of the total worldwide. Asias heavy reliance on still expanding coal-fired power fleet accelerates climate change and exacerbates water scarcity, the report said, warning that such power generation requires water for cooling and driving steam turbines, making energy security even more vulnerable during a water crisis. The transboundary nature of the river systems also adds to the risk, it said, giving an example of the Mekong that flows through five countries. This means that the transboundary management of eight out of the 10 rivers should not just be about water sharing but also energy policies and development as well, said C.T. Low, coauthor of the report. A U.S. F-35B streaks over Had Yao Beach during the Cobra Gold military exercise in Chon Buri province, Feb. 28, 2020. Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET on 2022-05-25 The Royal Thai Air Force said Thursday that its request to buy two F-35A fighter jets from the United States had been declined due to concerns that it was unequipped to handle the advanced planes. The new planes would have been the first step to updating Thailands aging fleet of 80 fourth-generation fighter jets, some of which use design concepts that are decades old and none of which can evade radar detection. They are the U.S.-made F-5 E/F and the F-16 A/B, and the Swedish-built JAS-39 Gripen. The Vietnam War-era F-5s and many of the earlier commissioned F-16s are scheduled to be decommissioned in the next 10 years, according to the air force. But the sale of the new U.S. warplanes cannot go ahead for now, air force spokesman Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sonjaidee said in a statement Thursday. The F-35 is designed with new approaches in terms of technics and operations in mind, with the ability to evade radar stealth. Therefore, we have to invest in the U.S.-required basic infrastructure, training and security measures, he said. The U.S. has not ruled out the deal completely, Prapas said, adding even if it were approved delivery could take another 10 years at least. The U.S. would like to discuss future preparation to accommodate the purchase of the F-35A, he said. The U.S. suggests that, during the transition, the Thai Air Force should consider buying the 4.5 generation fighter jets such as the F-16 or the F-15 because of a quicker delivery schedule. A Royal Thai Air Force spokesman said U.S. Ambassador Robert F. Godec notified the military about the F-35A decision. In Washington, a spokesperson said the U.S. State Department would not confirm or comment on diplomatic conversations related to proposed defense sales and referred BenarNews to Thailands Ministry of Defense for comment. Thailand inquired late last year about buying the jets, worth $200 million in total, from U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin Corporation and JUSMAGTHAI, the U.S. government security coordination office in Bangkok. When asked about the deal on Thursday, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said: What do we do? When they wont sell we wont buy ... Its a matter of trade. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok did not reply to an immediate request for comment on the matter. A 2014 coup led by Prayuth and Thailands military ties to China have strained relations with the U.S. in recent years. The Bangkok Post reported in March that the U.S. had barred the use of American planes in the China-Thai air force exercises known as Falcon Strike because of the sensitivity of the jets high-tech equipment, citing sources in the Royal Thai Air Force. Thailand instead used the Swedish-built JAS-39 Gripen. The event was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but resumed last year. Dulyapak Preecharush, deputy director of the Institute of East Asian Studies at Thammasat University in Bangkok, said the breakdown in the F-35 deal was unlikely to have had anything to do with ties between the Chinese and Thai air force. The U.S. knows that if it freezes the relationship with Thailand, Thailand will automatically lean toward China, so the U.S. is careful about that, Dulyapak told BenarNews. More than 450 F-35s are in service in countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Israel, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Update: This story was updated to include a no comment from the U.S. State Department. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks to researchers at the Naro Space Center during a video call after watching the third launch of the Nuri space rocket at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of presidential office President Yoon Suk Yeol lauded the successful launch of space rocket Nuri on Thursday, saying it is a "splendid feat" marking South Korea's entry into the Group of Seven space powers. Yoon made the remark in a statement issued shortly after the government confirmed the launch's success. "The success of Nuri's third launch is a splendid feat declaring that South Korea has entered into the G-7 space powers," he said, noting that only the United States, France, Japan, Russia, China and India have succeeded in putting a homegrown satellite into orbit on a homegrown rocket. "The world's perspective on the Republic of Korea's space science and technology, and its cutting-edge industry, will change greatly," he said, referring to Korea by its formal name. President Yoon Suk Yeol encourages researchers at the Naro Space Center during a video call after watching the third launch of the Nuri space rocket at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of presidential office A young bird out of the nest may indeed be in trouble or it may be on the cusp of independence. Rather than guess at what might be going on, your first step should be to call for advice. 1 shot and wounded, 4 others injured in Massachusetts road rage incident, police say Police say two groups who began arguing at a Massachusetts convenience store got into a road rage crash that also involved a third vehicle, injuring five people, including one who suffered a minor gunshot wound The second-largest health insurer in Massachusetts has been targeted by a ransomware attack in which sensitive personal information as well as health information of current and past members may have been compromised You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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. Business writer Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224. Developer clears town hurdles, will soon offer nine apartments in Adams at former youth center Vickie Shufton is the school psychologist for Berkshire Hills Regional School District and Richmond Consolidated School. She can be reached at shufton@yahoo.com. China hopes U.S. will provide support, facilitation for new Chinese ambassador: spokesperson Xinhua) 10:39, May 25, 2023 BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China hopes that the United States will provide support and facilitation for Xie Feng, the new Chinese ambassador to the United States, as he carries out his duty, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a press conference when answering a relevant question. Xie arrived in the United States on Tuesday to assume his post, and he spoke to Chinese and foreign reporters and people from various sectors at the airport. Mao said that Ambassador Xie has arrived in the United States to take on his new mission. "Ambassadors are an important bridge and bond between China and the United States. We hope the United States will provide support and facilitation for Ambassador Xie as he carries out his duty." Noting that China-U.S. relationship is vitally important to both countries and the world, Mao said that China views and grows its relations with the United States in accordance with the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, while remaining committed to defending its sovereignty, security and development interests. Mao said that China hopes that the United States will bear in mind the shared interest of people in the two countries and the world, work with China to enhance dialogue, manage differences and boost cooperation and bring China-U.S. relations back to the right track of sound and steady growth. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Nuri space launch vehicle blasts off from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Thursday, to place satellites into orbit 550 kilometers above the Earth. Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute Locally-developed rocket succeeds in putting satellites into space By Baek Byung-yeul Korea succeeded in launching a locally-developed space rocket, Thursday, placing satellites into Earth orbit to mark another milestone in the country's space program and solidify the nation's position as an aerospace powerhouse. The science ministry said Thursday that the Nuri rocket lifted off successfully from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, and placed eight satellites, including its main payload, the NEXTSAT-2 satellite, in orbit 550 kilometers above the Earth. Lee Jong-ho, minister of science and ICT, announces the successful launch of Korea's homegrown space rocket Nuri at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute "Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) confirmed that the Nuri rocket successfully separated and released the second next-generation small satellite, the NEXTSAT-2, on its target orbit based on the initial analysis of the Nuri's telemetry data containing the launch vehicle's flight information," Lee Jong-ho, minister of science and ICT, said at Naro Space Center. The Nuri, also known as Korean Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV II), lifted off at 6:24 p.m., completing the separation of the first and second stages and the fairing to cruise smoothly into space. After reaching an altitude of 550 kilometers, the Nuri began its mission of releasing the eight satellites. Starting with the NEXTSAT-2, the eight satellites were separated at 20-second intervals. After all eight satellites were separated, the Nuri ended its flight 1,138 seconds or 18 minutes and 58 seconds after the launch. "At around 7:07 p.m., it was confirmed that the NEXTSAT-2's signal was received from the King Sejong Station in Antarctica. On Friday, we will check the status of the satellite in detail through two-way communication with the ground station at KAIST in Daejeon four times from around 5:05 a.m. to 7:51 p.m.," the minister said. President Yoon Suk Yeol encourages researchers at the Naro Space Center during a video call after watching the third launch of the Nuri space rocket from the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of presidential office President Yoon Suk Yeol also congratulated the Nuri's success, calling it "a splendid achievement that declares Korea's entry into the G7 of space powers." "The U.S., France, Japan, Russia, China, and India are the only countries that launched locally-developed satellites into space using their own space vehicles," Yoon said in a statement. "The third launch, which put eight practical satellites into orbit, is a huge step forward from the second launch, which put one performance verification satellite into orbit. It will change the way the world views Korea's space science and technology." Nuri's main payload NEXTSAT-2 enters orbit, makes communication with Earth PHOTOS 3rd launch of Korea's Nuri space rocket Yoon lauds success of space rocket Nuri's launch as 'splendid feat' Fast facts about Nuri space rocket Chronology of major events leading to 3rd Nuri space rocket launch The Nuri is a three-stage space launch vehicle measuring 47.2 meters in length, 3.5 meters in diameter and weighing 200 tons. It was supposed to have been launched, Wednesday, but was delayed due to a glitch. The Ministry of Science and ICT and KARI said the delay was caused by a network error that occurred between the launch control computer and the launch pad facility control computer while controlling a low-temperature helium supply valve. On Thursday morning, Vice Minister of Science and ICT Oh Tae-seog said, "Engineers completed the program fix by 5 a.m. and confirmed that the hardware was fine," adding that they would attempt to launch the Nuri again at 6:24 p.m. The Nuri attempted its first launch in October, 2021, but ended in partial success because the rocket failed to put a dummy satellite into orbit despite succeeding in reaching a target altitude of 700 kilometers above the Earth. The Nuri space rocket blasts off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. Yonhap In its second launch in June, 2022, the Nuri succeeded in deploying a dummy and performance verification satellites at a target altitude of 700 kilometers above the Earth. With the successful launch, Korea became the seventh country in the world to launch a space rocket using domestically developed technology following Russia, the U.S., France, China, Japan and India and place into orbit a satellite weighing over 1 ton. The main difference between the last two launches and the latest launch is that the Nuri placed eight satellites into Earth orbit, which will be used for actual scientific missions. The satellites will carry out missions, such as ground observation, space weather observation, space radiation measurements and space environment verification of domestic space technology. The main satellite, NEXTSAT-2, developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), will conduct observations for two years using a synthetic aperture radar (SAR). It also carried four microsatellites codenamed SNIPE, developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, and three cube satellites developed by private companies. The success of the third launch is significant in the roadmap of Korea's space development, because the Nuri proved that the country's technology is capable of putting satellites in space, according to, Han Jae-hung, a professor at the Department of Aerospace Engineering at KAIST. "The success of this launch is significant because it is the first time that satellites with an actual mission have been put into orbit via a launch vehicle made with Korean technology," the professor told The Korea Times. "For the Nuri launch vehicle, it is also important to demonstrate that the launch vehicle is capable of putting multiple satellites into orbit through a single launch." Along with the Danuri lunar orbiter, which has been orbiting the moon since December, 2022, the Nuri is playing an important role in the country's plan to develop its space industry. In 2022, Yoon proposed Korea's ambitious goal of landing on the moon by 2032 and Mars by 2045 based on the continuing development of the Nuri. The science ministry and KARI said the Nuri's next launch will be led by Hanwha Aerospace, a private company chosen as a partner in 2022 to supervise every process of the rocket's development from manufacturing and test verification to the actual launch. "The government will launch the Nuri three more times by 2027, while promoting the development of a next-generation launch vehicle that has better performance than the Nuri to secure global competitiveness," the science minister said. For the third launch, Hanwha Aerospace served in managing the production and cooperated in preparing for the launch with KARI. The ministry said the Nuri needs to be launched repeatedly, not only to improve its reliability, but also to meet the demand for satellites being developed by local research institutions and private companies. The ministry also expects Hanwha's participation in the Nuri launch to improve the country's space industry ecosystem. Montana says 1st-in-nation TikTok ban protects people. TikTok says it violates their rights Montana has become the first state to enact a complete ban on TikTok. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the legislation Wednesday and it is scheduled to take effect next January. The measure is more sweeping than bans put in place in nearly half the states and by the U.S. federal government that prohibit TikTok on government devices. The law is expected to face legal challenges and become a testing ground for whether a TikTok-free America is possible. TikTok has vowed to fight for Montana residents to be able to use the video-sharing app, which is owned by a Chinese tech company. As tech-skepticism and anti-China sentiment intersect on the stage of political theater, Montana is moving to ban TikTok. Last week, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill that seeks to eliminate the short-form video social media app from operating within the states borders. It would be enforced by fining app stores $10,000 a day for hosting TikTok on mobile devices in Montana. The governor tweeted that he signed the legislation in order to protect Montanans personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party. The first-in-the-nation targeted ban would take effect in January if it survives already mounting legal challenges. Montana faces lawsuits from TikTok and a group of state residents who create content on the social media platform. Its possible that Montanas TikTok ban wont survive the courts, and beyond the clear First Amendment problems theres the scrutiny of more basic questions: Would app stores be in violation if someone who downloaded TikTok outside Montana crossed over its state borders? At the moment, were not worried that the Massachusetts Legislature is weighing copycat legislation. (Beacon Hill, like several other states, is considering a more common-sense and less-restrictive bill that would simply prohibit downloading TikTok on state-issued devices). It is worth nothing, though, that the political theater playing out in Helena might be informing and fueling other questionable legislative efforts on the national stage. Even before Montanas moves, some federal lawmakers have floated a national ban on TikTok. The app is owned by the China-based company ByteDance, and some officials have worried that the Chinese government could siphon U.S. users data, potentially for spying purposes though theres no solid evidence this has ever happened to any of the millions of Americans who use TikTok daily. Still, the apps meteoric rise in popularity and resultant impact on digital discourse offers fertile ground for culture-war politicking. Republican representatives on the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this year rammed through a bill that would effectively ban TikTok from all mobile devices in the country. While Democrats on the panel were opposed, the bipartisan energy behind tech-fretting and China-hawk chest-thumping increases the likelihood of virtue-signaling federal legislation with few real-world benefits and many civil liberty pitfalls. Like many groups critiquing Montanas TikTok ban, we worry about the implications for the First Amendment that stem from this frenzy of fear and political posturing. Keegan Medrano, policy director for the states American Civil Liberties Union branch, said the Montana law trampled on the free speech of hundreds of thousands of Montanans who use the app to express themselves, gather information, and run their small business in the name of anti-Chinese sentiment. We certainly dont want to see that scaled up to the national level just because some presidential hopefuls or senators facing reelection want to signal their shortsighted toughness on tech and China. This is a defense of Americans right to free expression and association, not a dismissal of digital privacy and security concerns. We worry about tech companies exploiting users sensitive data, especially Chinese firms complying with the countrys 2017 cybersecurity law demanding government access to data collected or stored in China. Nevertheless, whether its TikTok or Facebook, these platforms now constitute a primary platform from which millions of Americans express themselves, criticize their government, share information, and pursue their passions and livelihoods. However one feels about that reality, there ought to be a very high bar for blanket restrictions on those modes of expression. It is true that user data often is far too vulnerable to foreign governments and private entities alike but that was true before the advent of TikTok and would still be the case even if this one app were wiped from the web. If state legislatures and Congress really wanted to get serious about protecting Americans digital privacy and security, they could focus their legislative efforts on those deeper issues rather than the theatrics of being the loudest anti-TikTok warrior in the room. The European Union, for example, has considerably stronger data privacy protections than the U.S. Just this week, EU regulators slapped Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook) with a $1.3 billion fine for violating General Data Protection Regulation by transferring Facebook users personal data to servers outside of Europe. It was the largest fine ever levied under EU data privacy laws, topping the $806 million penalty levied against Amazon in 2021. Perhaps such laws have too much teeth for U.S. lawmakers whose tough talk often belies their donor relationships with titans of the tech world. Still, its worth noting how those EU data privacy laws distinguish themselves from individual-platform bans: They dont pick winners and losers of the digital marketplace by targeting specific apps or companies in the discourse du jour, and they dont infringe on citizens decisions to use those those forums for self-expression and the free flow of information. We urge state and federal lawmakers to let those principles not reflexive censoriousness or China-hawk peacocking guide the badly needed upgrades to Americas digital marketplace. Or, as the Montana ACLUs policy director put it succinctly: We will never trade our First Amendment rights for cheap political points. We hope our leaders agree. 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 Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Minority Affairs join hands for the development Unani Medicine System Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, have jointly taken a significant step to promote and develop Unani system of medicine in India. Ministry of Minority Affairs has approved a grant of Rs 45.34 crore under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS). With support of this scheme, Unani Medicine facilities will be upgraded at Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Silchar and Bengaluru locations. Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) has been sanctioned a total amount of Rs 35.52 crore and National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Bengaluru has been sanctioned Rs 9.81 crore. A centre for fundamental research in Unani Medicine at National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders, Hyderabad will be established at a cost of Rs 16.05 crore. Ministry has proposed cost of Rs 8.15 crore for a preclinical laboratory facility at Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai, Rs 8.55 crore for a centre of Ilaj bit Tadbeer (regimenal therapy) for musculoskeletal disorders at Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Lucknow, and Rs 2.75 crore for a centre of Ilaj bit Tadbeer (regimenal therapy) for skin and lifestyle disorders at Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Silchar. NIUM, Bengaluru will get Rs 5.55 crore for establishing a Vishram Girah for patients attendants and Rs 4.26 crore for a skill centre of model Unani cosmetic care, a small-scale Unani pharmacy and Unani crude drug storage. The proposals were considered by the Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Minority Affairs in its meeting held on March 02, 2023 and Rs 4.86 crore has already been released to the CCRUM as the first instalment (25%) of total sanctioned cost of its three projects at Chennai, Lucknow and Silchar. The grant of CCRUM project for Hyderabad and the projects of NIUM, Bengaluru would be released once their detailed project reports are approved and other technicalities finalised. To be the exclusive production and distribution partner of the patented IITB, IP Shape DX-equipped sickle cell testing equipment Lord's Mark Industries has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) to revolutionise sickle cell testing in India. The first-ever artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled point-of-screening (POS) equipment in the country, patented by IIT-B, will address challenges associated with sickle cell testing, making it more accessible and convenient with 100% accuracy. Lord's Mark Industries will invest Rs 25 crore to develop and distribute the technology-enabled POS equipment, targeting revenue of Rs 100 crore by year 2026-27. Lord's Mark Industries will use its in-house R&D team to manufacture the sickle cell POS instrument at its IVD manufacturing facility in Vasai. The equipment will be available in government healthcare centers, pathology labs, and Lord's Mark Industries' pathology labs throughout the country. Commenting on the collaboration, Sachidanand Upadhyay, Founder, Lords Mark Industries said, "We are investing in the establishment of 1000 pathology labs across the country, with an initial investment of Rs 50 crore, to provide easy access to sickle cell testing and other healthcare services." The microscopy-based test developed by Prof. Debjani Paul and her team from the Dept. of Biosciences & Bioengineering at IIT-B can distinguish between healthy, sickle trait, and sickle anemia blood samples at the point of care. This is the only microscopy test that can actually distinguish carriers from individual who have sickle anemia within 30 minutes. Typically it would take 24 48 hours to identify the carriers. Africa currently presents a myriad of opportunities for investors via, for example, its recently implemented free trade agreement, rapidly evolving digitalisation, introduction of investor friendly and public interest policies alongside tighter enforcement of regulations, numerous sustainability-focused initiatives, and energy and infrastructure projects supported by the major global players. While geopolitical and economical challenges remain, investors that are successfully able to manage risks are finding that the continent's biggest challenges are also providing its greatest opportunities. To celebrate Africa Day, members of Baker McKenzie's Africa team from multiple jurisdictions have commented on some of the numerous reasons to invest in and celebrate the bright continent of Africa. Image source: Marcela Ruth Romero 123RF.com "The impact of global geopolitical and economic turbulence have led investors to carefully assess which sectors are expected to do well in Africa and where they can find high quality assets at the right price. Healthcare, technology, media and telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, and financials have emerged as the most active sectors by value in Africa in the last few years, with investment in general rising substantially despite economic challenges." - Angela Simpson, Partner Co-head of the Corporate/M&A Practice, Johannesburg "Disputes are becoming increasingly frequent and complex in Africa, as corporates and institutions continue to enter new markets against a backdrop of tighter regulatory scrutiny, increased digitisation and higher accountability. Legal advisors can assist by overseeing incident response plans, performing due diligence assessments, reviewing and managing risk allocations in contracts and advising on comprehensive risk mitigation strategies for businesses expanding or launching operations in Africa." - Darryl Bernstein, Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution, Johannesburg "The European Union has always had a strong relationship with African countries. In 2022, the European Commission announced investment funding for Africa worth 150bn as part of the EU Global Gateway Investment Scheme. Also part of this Scheme, the Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in Africa initiative will bring together new and existing climate change adaptation programmes worth more than 1bn, including 60m for loss and damage due to climate change in Africa." - Kathrin Marchant, Partner, Banking & Finance, Frankfurt "There has been a general upward trend in competition policy enforcement across the continent over the past few years. African jurisdictions have strengthened their competition and antitrust regimes by way of amendments to existing legislation, the introduction of new laws and regulations, and renewed fervour and political will to enforce existing laws. Jurisdictions where competition laws exist include Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia and Egypt. On 15 December 2022, various amendments to Morocco's competition have been adopted. These amendments introduced changes around merger notification thresholds, governance and reporting mechanisms, and merger control enforcement." - Keltoum Boudribila, Partner, Nasrollah & Associes, Baker McKenzie, Casablanca "The World Bank has noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement is expected to increase Africa's income by $450bn by 2035, as well as boosting intra-African trade by more than 81%. However, the development and operation of projects that address the gaps in logistics, transport and utilities infrastructure are urgently needed for businesses in Africa to be able to create and scale up production in a manner that caters for continental and regional trade and export. Addressing this infrastructure gap did start, but we are awaiting further progress as it will, in addition to the ultimate impact on trade volumes, have the added benefit of attracting partners to set up manufacturing and production facilities on the continent, potentially in the form of foreign investments and funding." - Lamyaa Gadelhak, Partner and Co-head of the Banking & Projects Practice Group, Helmy, Hamza & Partners, Baker McKenzie Cairo "Competition authorities the world over have observably expanded their consideration of transactions from applying a purely competition-focussed lens to one that incorporates the broader needs of society. Many African merger control regimes have developed a competition policy approach that balances traditional competition law considerations with public interest concerns, especially in terms of market concentration, access to competitive markets for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and employment considerations." - Lerisha Naidu, Managing Partner, Head of Antitrust and Competition, Johannesburg "The PE sector looks optimistic in Africa as we head into the second half of 2023 and investments in the sector are playing a significant role in terms of sustainable growth and investment on the continent. However, current economic challenges have required resilience, adaptability and agility from the PE market, leading to changes in the structure and length of deals, the implementation of new financing methods, effective risk management, and an increasing focus on ESG." - Lydia Shadrach Razzino, Partner, Co-head of the Corporate/M&A Practice, Johannesburg "Both the United States (US) and Canada have expressed a renewed interest in their relations with African countries. The US is focused on building stronger partnerships with African countries to boost sustainability, empower local communities with a focus on opportunities for women and youth, and provide benefits for both African and US citizens. The US has made numerous announcements to cement its ties with the continent via, for example, increased climate financing, infrastructure development support, food security initiatives, development of new technology, strengthening healthcare systems, and reciprocal trade and investment initiatives. Meanwhile, Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to a strengthened Canada-African Union Commission partnership to advance shared interests and build stronger economic partnerships between Canada and African countries." - Matthew Martin, Foreign Legal Specialist, North America "Infrastructure projects in Africa now have a heightened focus on improving Africas capacity for green, low-carbon and sustainable development, via, for example, clean energy, community healthcare and support, green transport, sustainable water, wildlife protection and low-carbon development projects. Funding such projects comes with responsibility - projects must not only be bankable and yield attractive returns, but must also be sustainable and provide tangible benefits to local economies and communities. All of Africa's major partners have noted they will prioritise projects that commit to ESG principles, and access to capital for large infrastructure projects is likely to contain sustainability requirements." - Michael Foundethakis, Partner, Global Head of Projects and Trade & Export Finance, Chair of the Global Africa Steering Committee "Development finance institutions (DFIs) are increasingly anchoring the infrastructure ecosystem in Africa - serving a critical function for project finance as investment facilitator and a check on capital. DFIs can shoulder political risk and access government protections in a way that others cannot, enter markets others cannot and are uniquely capable of facilitating long-term lending. The large amount of capital needed to fill the infrastructure gap, however, means that DFIs cannot bridge it alone. Private equity, local and regional banks, debt finance, export credit agencies and specialist infrastructure funds are primed to enter the market, and multi-finance and blended solutions are growing in popularity as a way to de-risk deals." - Luka Lightfoot, Partner, Banking & Finance, London "Rich in beauty, diversity, entrepreneurship, expertise, resilience, innovation and accomplishment, Africa's future is bright and overflowing with opportunity." - Lerisha Naidu, Managing Partner, Johannesburg Hyphen Hydrogen Energy has agreed on a deal with the government of Namibia for the next phase of a $10bn green hydrogen project that will export to Europe once complete, the two parties said on Wednesday, 24 May. Hyphen, whose shareholders include Germany-headquartered Enertrag, was announced as the preferred bidder in 2021 for the project in the Namib Desert's Tsau //Khaeb National Park. The feasibility and implementation agreement will be officially signed on Friday, officials said, as some community activists raised concerns over a perceived lack of transparency around the huge deal that costs as much as the country's gross domestic product. "On Friday... we kick-start a process that has the potential to transform the lives of many in our country, the region and indeed the world," Namibia's President Hage Geingob said in a statement. The plant, to be built in phases, will eventually produce 2 million tonnes of green ammonia a year for regional and global markets when it reaches full-scale output, which is anticipated before 2030. Namibia, one of the world's sunniest and most sparsely populated countries, wants to harness its potential for solar and wind energy to produce green hydrogen and position itself as a renewable energy hub in Africa. But it remains to be seen whether the water-scarce country, relatively far away from key export markets, will be able to deliver a cost-competitive product in an emerging global hydrogen sector, said analysts. 'Lack of transparency' "Another big issue is a lack of transparency on the deal and how Hyphen was selected," said Frederico Links, coordinator of a project that tracks public procurement at Namibia's Institute for Public Policy Research. Over the past year, Hyphen has signed memoranda of understanding with a number of potential European customers, to which it aims to supply about 750,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually, it said. Earlier this month, it also signed a letter of intent with Koole Terminals covering the proposed import of green ammonia into Europe from the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. "Namibia has the potential to become one of the main renewable energy hubs on the African continent and worldwide," president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in the same statement. Ster-Kinekor, the official representative of Cannes Lions in South Africa, will be hosting two Cannes Lions wrap-up events to bring you the highlights from this year's festival. Source Yacht Charter Fleet Yacht Charter Fleet Ster-Kinekor, the official representative of Cannes Lions in South Africa, will be hosting two Cannes Lions Wrap-Up events in July The 70th edition of the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity takes place in Cannes, France, from 19 23 June this year. The two official Cannes Lions wrap-up events take place from 10:00 12:30 on 12 July at Ster-Kinekor Mall of Africa (Midrand) and 14 July at the Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront cinema complex in Cape Town. As the official Cannes Lions Festival representative for the South African market, we are delighted once again to be bringing the insights, trends, learnings and winning campaigns direct from the stages of Cannes to our cinemas, for the benefit of the local industry, says Lynne Wylie, chief marketing officer of Ster-Kinekor. Expert industry panel As in previous years, Ster-Kinekor and an expert industry panel including some of this year's Cannes jury members, will share highlights of their personal Cannes experiences, discuss current and future trends emerging from the festival that got their creative juices flowing, and showcase some of the award-winning work across the categories they are judging. The following speakers have been confirmed for the official post-Cannes Lions wrap-up events, hosted by Ster-Kinekor: Sylvester Chauke - founder and chief architect: DNA Brand Architects (and Trendspotter at the Cannes Lions Festival) Loyiso Twala, chief creative officer of McCann Worldgroup (Print & Publishing Lions Jury) Clare Trafankowska, managing director of iProspect SA, dentsu (Media Shortlisting Jury) Jeana Theron-Khoury director, Darling Films (Film Craft Lions Jury) Cannes Young Lions Winners - SA: Raphael Kuppasamy and Bernice Mosala Joe Public The annual festival attracts the top creative minds from around the world. Our talented and knowledgeable panel of speakers, some of whom have been selected onto various Cannes Jury panels, will have the opportunity to tap into all this global knowledge to share with us back home, says Wylie. Tickets are R100 per person, with all proceeds going back into the creative industry to support various deserving projects. Bookings for the two official Cannes Lions Wrap-Up events are now open. Book your tickets here or download the SK App on your smartphone. For more: Digital has given Africa a voice Digitisation has moved the needle for Africa. It has given our continent a voice, allowing us to connect between our countries and the rest of the world without the hurdles of flights and accommodation costs that are unattainable for the majority. Linda Snyman, country director of Invibes Advertising, discusses how the digital landscape has changed since joining the innovative technology company: Digital has flooded the market. Its cluttered, and we are bombarded with messages. When Invibes entered South Africa to establish its global footprint, we had one goal. To stand out from the clutter. To be different. Be better. Abey Mokgwatsane, CMO of Investec, highlights the shift in client expectations: With the democratisation of content production and distribution, peoples behaviour and expectations have dramatically increased. Most digital media is irrelevant to our customer base, with online content increasingly framed by machine learning algorithms like Amazons product recommendations and TikToks intelligently curated feeds. The result is white noise in a fast-scrolling environment, with some customers adopting ad-blocking technology. We need to ensure were on top of these kinds of technologies and use data and insights strategically and effectively. More importantly, we need to make sure we deliver unique, impactful creative that resonates with our target audiences and rises above the noise. Standing out on a continent with over 570 million internet users is challenging, says Snyman. South Africans spend over nine hours a day online. When you scroll on your social feed, the ad-to-content ratio can go as high as three to one. The Africa lens Abey Mokgwatsane, CMO of Investec, holds Africa in high regard: These days, just about everyone around the world has access to the same technologies, so tech has almost become a hygiene factor. One of the things we have going for us is the richness and diversity of our culture. The bizarre quirks of living in this country can sometimes be exasperating, but they also provide wonderful material for humour and great stories two things we do particularly well. Its great to see these traditional strengths applied to emerging formats in social media and content marketing. "The advantage of digital platforms is that theyre not one-way media. They are dynamic public forums that reflect the cultural discourse of the moment. Many of the best examples of great South African advertising are when brands hack topical trends and memes and adapt them to deliver a brand message, such as Engens recent Instagram campaign that plays on the Barbie selfie trend. "From a technology perspective, some digital applications, such as M-PESA, have found resonance in emerging markets in ways they could never have in the developed world. To think that over 45% of Kenyas GDP runs through M-PESA is extraordinary, showing that developing markets such as South Africa can be technology trailblazers too. Lean forward Mokgwatsane cautions against a one-size-fits-all ATL-driven approach: One thing that doesnt work is approaching digital as a bolt-on to campaigns designed with traditional media in mind. Cutting down a TV ad for YouTube or resizing a print ad for Instagram is a recipe for irrelevance in the digital space. Its not enough to understand your audience. You also need to understand each digital channel and how people use it. Brands that miss this can easily come off as inauthentic and out of their depth. Another pitfall is when technology is used irresponsibly or intrusively. Just because you can send thousands of clients an email or a text message with a single click doesnt mean its a good idea. Were also seeing examples of brands being less than transparent about using tech, like trying to pass off AI-generated fluff as thought leadership to boost their SEO. As in any medium, its important to respect your audience and be honest and true to your brand. Linda Snyman talks about the impact of breakthrough digital advertising: Within online platforms like the Sunday Times or Business Day, we target people who have leaned forward, who have chosen to go to a site to read information they value and trust. They are already engaged. The ad units are developed to enhance the overall reader experience with attention-grabbing, engaging artwork and a strong call to action that combines video, carousel, static images and sound within the first paragraph, Snyman says. Be new. Be fresh Digital can be a powerful tool when the advertising is new and fresh, and the format differs from the daily messaging overload that people see. By spending resources on in-feed digital with creative and brand messaging designed to stand out, be memorable and motivate a click, you can reap the reward that more than makes up for the effort, says Snyman. Invibes directly integrates with top-tier publishers like Arena Holdings and Caxton to track audience behaviour in real-time. What, when and where they are reading content. Our AI is smart. It can tell you who needs to wear glasses for people who zoom in, who is travelling when they go from one location to another, and when someone last upgraded their device. This live data matches brand messaging with audience behaviour and interests. Our AI is our superpower, Snyman vaunts. Pay attention The most important metric is attention. Invibes creates impactful, rich ad units. You can turn the sound on, include video, change images, and have big branding and logos. Were top of the page with content that scrolls seamlessly in-feed. We work hard to ensure people see ads that grab attention and enhance the reader experience. Its different from programmatic advertising, which is volume inventory that people scroll past every day. Accelerate Africa Linda Snyman discusses Africa as the land to sow opportunity: To accelerate, we need to connect across Africa. Our global footprint offers a gateway to any market worldwide, including Portugal, the UK, Poland, Paris, Dubai, the Nordics and more. Our Africa network means we can do this for our global and South African clients to deliver growth. Invibes Advertising company profile Invibes Advertising is an international technology company specialising in digital advertising innovation. Founded on the philosophy that advertising efficiency comes from being truly innovative and naturally engaging to users, Invibes has developed an integrated technology platform for brands to reach consumers through impactful in-feed advertising. Invibes delivers advertising that creates positive attention by harnessing the power of big data, innovative in-feed formats, wide reach and extensive intelligence services. Pioneering the way in sustainable advertising, Invibes also offers a unique solution to offset campaign emissions through its Carbon-Neutral label. In order to partner with some of the greatest brands in the world, like Amazon, Bacardi, Dell, IKEA and Toyota, we rely on even greater people. At Invibes, we strive to maintain an energetic, open environment that fosters a culture of ideation, growth and #GoodVibes, that shines straight through to our clients. Want to hear more about Invibes? Visit https://www.invibes.com/za/en/ or email moc.sebivni@az.selas. Top executives of major South Korean and global tech and energy companies, including Google Inc. and RWE A.G., gathered Thursday to discuss ways and their roles to advance carbon neutrality goals, a business association said. The business leaders' roundtable took place during the World Climate Industry Expo (WCE), running from Thursday through Saturday in the southeastern port city of Busan, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), a co-host of the roundtable, said in a release. Some 50 business leaders and government officials attended the event, including Yolyn Ang, Google's vice president for the Asia-Pacific region, and Jens Orfelt, an executive vice president at RWE Renewables, the KCCI said. Top executives of Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, LG and POSCO were also among the participants, along with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon. "With environmental regulations and trade barriers that are getting tougher, particularly in advanced countries, achieving carbon neutrality has become not just a choice but an essential task for survival," Han said in a speech. "The government plans to fully mobilize available policy tools to support companies in carrying out their carbon neutrality goals and continuing to grow through climate industry," he said. The participants shared exemplary sustainability cases of major global companies and municipal governments in foreign countries carrying out their carbon neutrality missions and discussed ways to promote collaboration among companies, the KCCI said. (Yonhap) Isilumko Activate, a leading integrated marketing agency, is proud to re-introduce its breakthrough suite of services designed to empower businesses to achieve unparalleled success in the ever-evolving landscape of marketing and branding. As an agency commitment to innovation, Isilumko Activate is leveraging its expertise in digital marketing, strategic communications, experiential marketing, and data analytics to develop a comprehensive range of solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses and brands across multiple industries in South Africa. By seamlessly integrating diverse marketing disciplines, Isilumko Activate provides clients with a holistic approach that maximises their brand's visibility, engagement, and growth. "Our mission at Isilumko Activate is to redefine the concept of integrated and experiential marketing by offering a dynamic and holistic approach to our clients," says Bianca Brink, general manager of Isilumko Activate. "We are excited to re-introduce our innovative marketing solutions that will bring brands and business to life!" Isilumko Activate offers a wide array of services that cater to businesses of all sizes. These include: Comprehensive marketing solutions: Isilumko Activate's experienced team covers a wide range of marketing disciplines, including digital marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), content creation, branding, and more. The team offers a holistic approach to ensure all marketing needs are met under one roof. Isilumko Activate's experienced team covers a wide range of marketing disciplines, including digital marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), content creation, branding, and more. The team offers a holistic approach to ensure all marketing needs are met under one roof. Customised strategies: Isilumko Activate understands that every brand is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach simply won't cut it. The team takes the time to understand the brand, target audience, and goals, crafting personalised strategies that align with the brand or business vision and objectives. From brand positioning to campaign execution, Isilumko Activate ensures consistent and impactful messaging across all channels. Isilumko Activate understands that every brand is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach simply won't cut it. The team takes the time to understand the brand, target audience, and goals, crafting personalised strategies that align with the brand or business vision and objectives. From brand positioning to campaign execution, Isilumko Activate ensures consistent and impactful messaging across all channels. Experiential marketing: Offers brands a chance to leave behind both an emotional impact, as well as a physical 'take away' which creates lasting memories and brand recall. The aim at Isilumko Activate is to bring the best brand experiences to targeted audiences and consumers ensuring campaign amplification and positive brand perception. Offers brands a chance to leave behind both an emotional impact, as well as a physical 'take away' which creates lasting memories and brand recall. The aim at Isilumko Activate is to bring the best brand experiences to targeted audiences and consumers ensuring campaign amplification and positive brand perception. Data Analytics: Isilumko Activate collects and analyses consumer and 'search' analytics to uncover valuable insights that drive informed decision-making. By measuring and optimising marketing campaigns, they ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and deliver the best possible return on investment. Isilumko Activate collects and analyses consumer and 'search' analytics to uncover valuable insights that drive informed decision-making. By measuring and optimising marketing campaigns, they ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and deliver the best possible return on investment. Proven track record: Isilumko Activate has a solid track record of helping businesses across various industries achieve remarkable results for the last 28 years. For more information about Isilumko Activate and its range of integrated marketing services, please visit isilumkoactivate.co.za or contact az.oc.okmulisi@etavitca. South African eyewear distributor, SDM, has rebranded to FrontierCo Vision. FrontierCo Vision's new corporate identity. Source: Supplied The company distributes popular international sunglasses brands including Tom Ford, Adidas, Polo, Timberland, Ted Baker, Soviet, Pringle of Scotland, Revo, Max Mara and Guess to optometrists and retail outlets. The SDM rebrand took effect on 10 May, and follows FrontierCo's rebrand and store refresh of 136-year-old luggage retailer Frasers, which now goes by the name Destinations by Frasers. Paul Bertie, FrontierCo Vision managing executive, comments, SDM, now FrontierCo Vision, is part of FrontierCo, a company that owns many top retail brands in South Africa, like Guess, Aldo and Pringle of Scotland. Thats why we took the decision to change our name as we shift gears from the past 40 years to a bright new future that we know our customers will love. FrontierCo Visions diverse portfolio is serviced by a seven-person dedicated sales team with stock delivered to customers in 48 hours due to it being always locally available. We are continually increasing our brand offering the most recent brand addition being Adidas Eyewear.. Bertie adds, FrontierCo Vision is an extension of our ongoing, long-term commitment to FrontierCo, South Africa and neighbouring countries, where we serve 850 customers including both optometrists and stores. We have invested heavily in our business, empowering our client-facing staff and we are capitalising on the momentum of the business by embracing this new identity. Cart abandonment is on the rise and must be urgently addressed by merchants if they are to ensure a seamless customer experience, and to avert lost sales. At the same time, banks face their own challenges as they are the last defence for both customer and merchant when it comes to fraud protection. However, when authentication throws up too many obstacles, and customers have to deal with false card declines, the fallout can be, at worst, customer attrition. Finding a balanced solution is in everyones interest. False declines (legitimate online transactions that are stopped because they look unusual and could be fraud), are costing banks and merchants fortunes. As shoppers have time-sensitive purchases like tickets for once-off live events, Black Friday or other seasonal sales (especially big-ticket items), or online bookings for an overseas holiday declined, many switch to using their cards from another bank, or simply abandon sales. In a recent false declines webinar, Judy Conroy, head of risk insights and advisory for the Aite-Novarica group quantified the challenge sharing that their 2020 US survey showed 62% of carts abandoned due to declined cards and 17% of carts abandoned due to friction at checkout amounted to $100bn in lost sales. In the same webinar, Aite-Novarica group shared that a Q3 2022 survey on consumer online authentication showed that 73% of US consumers blame the issuer when a false decline happens and that a third (34%), said they would consider leaving their bank if it happened when trying to make a purchase on their credit card. E-commerce reputation on the line South African consumers are no different, and in a market where online shopping is finally gaining traction, banks are facing a very real challenge. False declines are especially troublesome for people trying to buy time-sensitive purchases such as online bookings for an overseas holiday or big-ticket items. The declines, while irritating to shoppers, can often be justified by banks, with Sabric annual crime statistics showing 56% of South African card not present (CNP) credit-card fraud and 71% of card not present debit card occurring abroad in 2021. Banks are on the lookout for unusual transactions and ones that may be out of character. For instance, if I am making a larger than normal purchase from an international website, I definitely want my bank to be wary. But even if the first transaction is declined, I would want my bank to take further action. "Banks should immediately ask themselves what actions should be taken. Constantly reviewing data and assessing risk rules on a regular basis is crucial. The banks that get it right are the ones that will try to address the overall customer experience, shares Elizabeth Graham, product manager, payments at transaction authentication provider, Entersekt. South Africans are fairly secure within the SA ecosystem Graham points out that the South African e-commerce journey is considered fairly secure by global standards, thanks to the use of 3D Secure which is mandated for South African merchants and issuers. The protocol helps prevent CNP fraud by securely authenticating consumers during e-commerce transactions. But as global merchants are not mandated to use 3D Secure (3DS), South Africans would still be open to fraud when shopping at international brands that are based outside of South Africa. Gideon de Wet, product head: digital card at Capitec adds local insight saying: In the 3DS space 10 to 15% of all transactions result in false declines. Many customers cancel or abort the journey even before the challenge (authentication) is completed. He goes on to say, The impact of load shedding on false declines due to the network dropping during the transaction is also difficult to measure and solve for in isolation. Lastly, sim-swop fraud is a real online threat in South Africa, and therefore fraud-rules that prevent this type of fraud, could result in a legitimate customer being unable to transact when theyve just purchased a new sim card. This also adds to the false decline stat. "The industry is working towards solving this issue, but it relies on the overall ecosystem (merchant, payment provider, ACS provider and issuer) to adapt to provide customers a seamless experience. We have come a long way as an industry, considering we still had knowledge-based questions just six years ago, but there is still a lot of work to be done and a big opportunity to further improve the client experience during online check-out. Graham goes on to explain that in South Africa card-on-file scenarios (where your credentials are already stored), such as subscription merchants, will be more likely to raise red flags with rigorous risk tools immediately deployed. South Africans are also more likely to see declines when they make a foreign-currency transaction or they transact with a merchant that doesn't fit with their normal shopping behaviour. When it comes to the cost of false declines, de Wet says it's hard to quantify as it includes losses in revenue and reputation. It is critical to focus on the customer experience, especially when a customer is challenged. Giving cardholders the option to choose a secure authentication option that works best for them and that they feel most comfortable with is key when looking at improved customer experience and getting friction right. When customers are part of the decision-making process, it makes them feel safe and in control which immediately improves their trust in their bank. The holy grail is for banks to provide that consistent authentication experience across the entire digital journey. The solution lies in the industry working together to improve the customer experience through mutual partnerships across the entire ecosystem de Wet concludes. South Africa's Tourism Minister, Patricia de Lille, presented her budget to Parliament on 24 May 2023. In her speech, de Lille outlined the key priorities for the tourism sector in the coming year. Tourism performance South Africa's tourism sector is showing signs of recovery, with international arrivals increasing by 152% in 2022 and 102.5% in the first quarter of 2023. The African continent is the leading source market, followed by Europe and the Americas. In the first quarter of 2023, foreign direct spending soared to R25.3 billion, marking a 143.9% increase compared to Q1 of 2022. The top source markets in Q1 of 2023 were Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Eswatini. So far in 2023, South Africa has secured 10 bids for MICE events. According to new data from the UN World Travel Organisation (UNWTO), the sectors swift recovery has continued into 2023 and shows that: Overall, international arrivals reached 80% recovery in the first quarter 2023 with African countries show an 88% recovery rate on 2019 visitor numbers. Minister de Lille said that she is pleased with the progress that has been made in the tourism sector and is confident that the sector will continue to recover in the coming years. She is also committed to working with the private sector to ensure that South Africa remains a top destination for tourists from all over the world. The tourism sector is a major contributor to the South African economy, generating billions of rands in revenue and creating thousands of jobs. The recovery of the tourism sector is essential to the country's economic recovery. Here are the key priorities listed by Minister de Lille for the tourism sector: Convert the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan into a Master Plan: The Tourism Sector Recovery Plan was developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Master Plan will build on the Recovery Plan and will focus on long term growth and sustainability of the tourism sector. Improve the e-visa turnaround time for tourists: The e-visa system was launched in 2014 to make it easier for tourists to visit South Africa. However, the turnaround time for e-visa applications has been a source of frustration for many tourists. de Lille has said that she is working with the Minister of Home Affairs to improve the turnaround time for e-visa applications. Improve the turnaround time for tour operator licenses: The Department of Tourism issues tour operator licenses to businesses that provide tourism-related services. The turnaround time for tour operator licenses has been a source of frustration for many businesses. de Lille has said that she is working to improve the turnaround time for tour operator licenses. Unlock the implementation of the Tourism Equity Fund: The Tourism Equity Fund was established in 2003 to provide financial assistance to emerging tourism businesses. However, the fund has not been fully implemented. de Lille has said that she is working to unlock the implementation of the Tourism Equity Fund. Improve tourism infrastructure: The Department of Tourism is working with Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) and DBSA to improve tourism infrastructure. This includes upgrading roads, airports, and other tourism-related facilities. "The implementation of these key priorities will be critical to the continued growth of the tourism sector in South Africa," said Minister de Lille. "The tourism sector is a major contributor to the South African economy, and it has the potential to create jobs and boost economic growth." In addition to the key priorities outlined by the Minister, the tourism sector is also facing a number of challenges, she said. These challenges include the Covid-19 pandemic, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the global economic slowdown. "Despite these challenges, the South African tourism sector has shown resilience and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years". SA Tourism shows slight recovery after COVID-19 pandemic. After a drastic drop in tourist arrivals in 2020 and 2021, the volume of tourist arrivals in South Africa is showing improvement. Read more here: https://t.co/5FtaPpKCsu #StatsSA #tourist #tourism pic.twitter.com/ZPe9Mrec3R Stats SA (@StatsSA) May 23, 2023 SA tourism Minister de Lille added that she is pleased with the progress that has been made in the tourism sector and is confident that the sector will continue to recover in the coming years. She is also committed to working with the private sector to ensure that South Africa remains a top destination for tourists from all over the world. The Minister also announced a number of new initiatives to support the tourism sector, including: A new Tourism Incentive Programme (TIP) to stimulate the growth, development and transformation of the South African Tourism sector. A new Market Access Support Programme (MASP) to provide financial support to small tourism enterprises that wish to participate and exhibit at selected tourism trade platforms. A new Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP) to offer partial grant funding on the cost of retrofitting tourism facilities with energy and water efficiency equipment/ systems. A new Tourism Grading Support programme (TGSP) to offer discounts on grading assessment fees for accommodation and meeting venues that apply for star grading by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA). A new Tourism Transformation Fund (TTF) to offer a combination of grant funding, debt finance and equity contributions to facilitate capital investment in new and expansion projects in the tourism sector. A new Township Tourism initiative to ensure that communities enjoy the full economic benefits of tourism. The Minister also announced that the Department of Tourism is working with the private sector to develop a national mechanism to increase air access for destination South Africa. The government has a number of initiatives in place, including: Working with the private sector to develop a national mechanism to increase air access. Participating in provincial air access forums to ensure that insights into inbound global markets are made available to support efforts to secure new entrants. Encouraging airlines to add new routes to South Africa. The government's efforts are paying off. Air capacity has risen since last year, with a 56% increase in Q1 2023 compared to the same quarter in 2022. In 2023, South Africa welcomed around 1.8 million seats, and the country added around 23 new routes. New direct flights, such as Cape Town to New York and Washington by United Airlines commenced last year and Air China resumed its direct flight to OR Tambo International Airport in March. The upcoming LATAM flight from Brazil to OR Tambo International Airport in August will also contribute to South Africa's appeal. Minister de Lille said that government is confident that its efforts to increase air access will help to boost tourism and make South Africa a more attractive destination for tourists from all over the world. The Minister added that she is confident that these new initiatives will help to support the recovery of the tourism sector and make South Africa a more attractive destination for tourists from all over the world. With an estimated 25% of South Africans working remotely on any given day, hot-desking - where employees use whichever desks are available when they come in to the office, rather than having a permanently assigned workspace - seems like a cost-saving no-brainer. Image source: CoWomen from Pexels Theres just one problem, said Linda Trim, director at workplace design consultancy, Giant Leap, many employees hate it. They complain about the nuisance of having to hunt for a workspace every day theyre in the office, not being able to find a station that suits their needs, and no longer having a permanent space that they can personalise. Collaboration is harder, they say, and they feel less connected to their colleagues. But despite employee resistance, it seems hot-desking is growing. In their 2022 study, the Gensler Research Institute, a global architecture, design, and planning firm, found that about 20% of the US office worker respondents had unassigned workspaces, compared with 10% in 2020. In South Africa the numbers are similar - the use of hot-desks has about doubled in the last three years, Trim noted. Hot mess Employees experience more anxiety and rootlessness with hot-desking and are often emotionally and physically exhausted. Carrying work materials from place to place often makes employees feel adrift from the broader team. Trim said companies need to give hot-desking more thought. On one level, the problems with hot-desking are logistical. Employees often found it impossible to locate the right kind of workstation for their needs a cubicle with two monitors for example, or a quiet standing desk, or a huddle room with a whiteboard, said Trim. Issues like these are more than just a personal annoyance. Hot-deskers also often have difficulty finding colleagues with whom they want to collaborate. And managers often find it more difficult to manage their team because they aren't always close to one another. We can see that more collaboration does not take place when you simply throw people together in a soup of random desks, Trim added. Dissatisfied workers who dont feel supported in the office are more likely to leave an organisation, and the costs of replacing talent can outweigh the cost-saving measures that hot-desking can provide. Neighbourhoods and hoteling But hot-desking doesnt have to be a disaster for employees: some companies have adapted the basic model of hot-desking in ways that employees find attractive. The introduction of neighbourhoods where people still have to move around but they become linked to a home base area, as opposed to a desk, can work. So-called hoteling is another common solution that takes some of the day-to-day stress out of having to find a workspace: Employees book a specific space ahead of time, making it more likely that they can find the properly equipped workstation they need and eliminating the wasted time of searching for a spot upon arrival at the office. Research also has found benefits from providing a mix of spaces with different ambiences, including some with privacy. Quiet areas with high partitions, noisier open cafes, spaces for small meetings and conference rooms, in addition to hot-desks is often a good solution. Workers much prefer control over their interactions with each other, Trim concluded. The South African business environment is currently facing significant disruption. Not only is inflation a significant problem, companies also need to contend with load shedding and the impact that it is having on their business. Loshnee Bridgmohan, marketing manager at Mancosa "Four major events have had a significant impact on businesses. Businesses have overcome the worst impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has impacted their businesses for the past three years. However, the pandemic caused the Global Supply Chain Crisis, which has caused many businesses to pause and reassess their operating models. Load shedding is currently the biggest challenge that businesses need to address. Finally, the global economic climate is starting to have an impact on South African businesses," says Loshnee Bridgmohan, marketing manager: Mancosa. This disruption serves as the perfect backdrop to the Mancosa East Coast Radio Business Breakfast, which will be hosted at the Durban International Conference Centre on 1 June. The theme of the business breakfast is #LiveYourLegacy. The aim of the breakfast is to encourage entrepreneurs to encourage young minds to think beyond today, to consider their futures and what they will be remembered for. This will be done through listening to the entrepreneurship stories of others that will no doubt inspire attendees, says Bridgmohan. A star-studded lineup A major drawcard of the event is the star-studded speaker lineup, who will provide invaluable insights into what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in South Africa. The keynote speaker at the breakfast will be Dr Mzamo Masito, the chief marketing officer for Google Africa. "We must get high-level speakers to provide insights into their journey. As the CMO for Google Africa, he is responsible for bringing Google's mission and values to life. He has also held several c-level roles at Unilever, Nike, and Vodafone and will therefore be able to provide some interesting insights," says Bridgmohan. Another highly anticipated speaker is Kimberley Taylor, who will share her insights on making an impact in the business world through tech applications in logistics. Taylor is the inspiration behind Loop, an adaptable, intuitive delivery management platform that empowers companies to optimise and scale their delivery systems. "If we consider the challenges that many companies are facing with the current Global Supply Chain Crisis, applications such as these will be highly sought after," says Bridgmohan. Finally, Miss South Africa and Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi, will also form part of the panel discussion. Tunzi holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Public Relations Management and has worked as a graduate intern in the public relations department of a highly respected public relations company in Cape Town. Taking the lead The development of entrepreneurs is very important within the South African context. Statistics from the World Economic Forum and International Monetary Fund point out that globally, SMMEs account for an average of 33% of GDP and 45% of the workforce in high-income countries. In developing economies, these figures increase to 60% of GDP and 70% of employment. Further, according to the World Trade Report (2016), SMMEs account for the majority of businesses in most countries (95% on average). It is against this backdrop that Mancosa and East Coast Radio have teamed up to frame business development in the current economic climate and how it needs to be enhanced in the future. "We cannot take a backseat any longer. It is vital that we encourage business development as it is of vital importance to the local economy. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, we need to be the change that we see in the world. Mancosa is fully committed to business development and offers several courses focused on entrepreneurship and business development. Further, we provide significant support and guidance through mentorship to help emerging businesses reach their goals," says Bridgmohan. "South Africa has hundreds of thousands of small businesses - so many that they contribute over 40% of our country's gross domestic product and employ two-thirds of all South African workers. This means that, the more support they receive, the more people they can employ, and the more successful our country becomes", says Mike Anderson: NSBC founder and CEO. Anderson says, With more support, small businesses have the potential to breathe new life into the South African economy and play an even bigger role in economic growth and job creation. Small businesses represent countless hours of hard work, commitment, resilience, and thousands of jobs. When South Africans support the small, they make a big impact. Providing as much support to small businesses as possible is an investment in our communities and South Africas collective economic future. This leads us to the Launch My Startup initiative. This is without doubt the most meaningful and high impact national initiative that will fund 1000s of high-potential small businesses through Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Funding, to help them to become active, sustainable economic participants with a positive spin-off of creating employment for others. This is South Africas leading initiative of its kind powered towards boosting the small business sector throughout South Africa. The ultimate aim of the initiative is to alleviate unemployment and drive job creation within the small business sector. The application process for a small business to receive the funded Launch My Startup one-year accelerator programme is quick, seamless and completed online. The successful applicants will be notified via e-mail within 5 working days. The small business needs to meet certain criteria and adhere to certain requirements. If your small business is selected, your business will receive a 100% funded one-year accelerator programme that will boost your business into the beyond All powered by the NSBC and BIG Business South Africa. The 100% funded one-year Launch My Startup Accelerator Programme will includes, but is not limited to: Formalising the business structure (CIPC / SARS / B-BBEE) Financial compliancy (Accounting, tax etc.) Complete branded expo package at The Business Show: Africa Funding readiness and access to funding Supplier readiness for the Corporate and Government sectors VIP invite to inspirational, networking and success-driven events Business guidance and support and much more! To see more and to apply click here. Generative AI, as we all know, is having an impact on the world around us. Some of the impacts are negative, and some are positive. As part of Africa Month, we reached out to Lavina Ramkissoon, AI ethics and technology policy expert at the Africa Union, to find out more about AI and its implications for Africa. Ramkissoon unpacks more about her role and how generative AI will impact the African economy and society in future. Lavina Ramkissoon | image supplied Can you tell us more about your role as an AI ethics and technology policy expert at the African Union? What are some of the key issues you are addressing in this role? Ethics has become a fundamental pillar in the application of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain or even quantum computing. The role includes advisory on emerging technologies policy formulation, creation, and implementation thereof. In other words, develop, deploy and usage of AI systems in a way that adheres to the ethical principles of respect for human autonomy, prevention of harm, fairness and explicability with consideration for the inclusion of AI rights. Intellectual property, digital identity, metaverse, augmented realities, artificial intelligence, blockchain, virtual realities, safety for youth, and data privacy are some areas I have personally worked on within the role. Being a technologist that is not in regulation is an exciting one, in creating a future like Africa that we can be proud of. Regulation is never seen nor treated as a singular approach, therefore, all aspects of humanity, digital citizens, governments, big tech, non-profits and corporates need to be considered. Especially collectively as a continent driving the narrative for all its citizens, physical or digital. How do you see generative AI impacting the African economy and society, and what opportunities and challenges does this present? Breakthroughs in generative AI have the potential to bring about sweeping changes to the African economy. AI-powered technologies such as natural language processing (NLP), image and audio recognition, and computer vision have revolutionised the way we interact with and consume media. With AI, we can process and analyse vast amounts of data quickly, making it easier to find and access the information we need. Let's start with risks. Like other forms of AI, generative AI can influence several ethical issues surrounding data privacy, security, policies and workforces. Generative AI technology can also potentially produce a series of new business risks like misinformation, plagiarism, copyright infringements and harmful content. Lack of transparency and the potential for worker displacement are additional issues that enterprises may need to address. Additionally, in Africa, there is a need for a constant power supply. Another is the costs attached to data. Distribution of harmful content. AI systems can create content automatically based on text prompts by humans. This happens usage of deepfakes through voice mimicking, text-to-video creation, or misuse thereof. The risk of this information being created as true or not true comes into play and an amplification of existing bias that already exists within the data itself. Unintended consequences. Copyright and legal exposure. The debate of where and who has the rights to content generated. We have already sent AI winning art competitions, buying homes, selling NFTs, and becoming CEO of companies. The need to understand how society processes such things is becoming highly important. Data privacy violations. So much to say on this front. In Africa, we run the risk of a further digital divide being created. Big Tech has traditionally been asked to be responsible and consider digital citizen data carefully. After many failed attempts data privacy laws are starting to be enforced, like the latest 1.2bn from EU to Meta. Privacy and surveillance require a more serious stance by all. Sensitive information disclosure is an example of privacy gone wrong. The human impact. Workforce roles and morale largely is impacted. Risks of no creativity, making humans lazy or unemployed seem to be misdirected by media at large. Opportunities: According to Goldman Sachs, Generative AI could raise global GDP by 7%. By large this implies the uplifting of societies economically. Change business models for example in education, finance, healthcare and so many more. Imagine healthcare at your fingertips. Africa has one of the not-so-better healthcare systems, and now through AI, you are able to bring healthcare into peoples homes. In finance, you are able to bring forward optimised savings and investments daily, automatically reducing the costs of services. In education, you have childrens skills for their actual future. Who knows if English will be a requirement soon. Let me clarify, the way we assess and examine childrens skills needs to fundamentally change. The power to process large amounts of data at rapid speed and come up with multiple revenue streams is an easy way to fast business adoption. A faster decision-making process is another. The increased power of productivity. Imagine, in the South African context, you had AI real-time monitoring electricity supply chain in a fair and transparent manner while optimising supply with the least downtime. The chance to shift Africa into gears far beyond societys expectations is there, like we did with mobile money. What steps do you think African governments and businesses can take to ensure that technology is developed and used ethically and responsibly? Ethical practices include promoting the values of autonomy, transparency, and trustworthiness: To create and maintain a healthy relationship between technologists and the public, respect for autonomy, transparency, and trustworthiness is key. As a digital citizen, contribute to society and human well-being, avoid harm to others, be honest and trustworthy, be fair and take action not to discriminate. As a government place guardrails and frameworks for these emerging technologies to best be applied. In companies and bug tech alike, including policies and creative safe spaces to spur creativity and innovation. Designing, developing, and deploying AI with good intentions to empower employees and businesses, and fairly impact customers and society, allowing everyone to engender trust and scale emerging technologies with confidence. Creation of pillars so AI can function within. Privacy and security, fairness and inclusion, robustness and safety, transparency and control, accountability and governance, collaborating on the future of responsible AI. Human augmentation, bias evaluation, explainability, and reproducibility must be included as a new mindset. In your opinion, what are some of the most promising AI and tech innovations currently being developed in Africa, and how do you see them impacting the continent in the coming years? I imagine a future where every Africa has equal accessibility and affordability to things like credit to those previously ignored by traditional financial institutions through the added backbone of web3 technologies revolutionising the economic space. A future where data is affordable and accessible leaving no man behind. A future focused on augmentation and experiences in a sustainable effort ensuring Africas wellbeing. Access to fresh wholesome foods and lifestyles. Supply chain optimisation in real time that solves for Africas needs, an education system that helps support and nurture the workforce with future-driven upskilling, with things like quantum. A shift from a developing continent to a developed one. Africas potential is being redirected into a more meaningful one. How important is collaboration between different stakeholders in driving innovation and growth in Africa, and what are some ways in which this collaboration can be encouraged and facilitated? Collaborative innovation is defined as bringing a range of people together. They share diverse ideas, knowledge, skills, experience and resources to innovate and solve problems. Innovation through collaboration can deliver real value to an organisation. We in Africa are embracing different languages, cultures, ideas, skills and knowledge, hence 2000+ languages are currently being spoken within the continent. Traditionally we have seen wonderful things come from collaboration for good. What are some potential risks associated with generative AI in Africa, and how can these risks be mitigated to ensure that the technology is used for the greater good? Imagine a moment you use technology to become inclusive of society. Examples are plentiful in Africa. Manufacturing, supply chain, healthcare, agriculture, financial, economic, societal and so many more. Specific examples include: - World hunger In order to feed the worlds population by 2050, the estimates we will need to increase the worlds food production by 70%. This gargantuan task seems more plausible with the support of artificial intelligence. In addition to developing hearty seeds, artificial intelligence can be used to automate tedious tasks, detect disease for earlier interventions, apply herbicide precisely and generally maximize crop production. - Human rights Artificial intelligence makes the task of identifying human rights violations such as human trafficking quicker and more comprehensive. Using face recognition technology powered by artificial intelligence photos can be analyzed to find missing people and images can be reviewed to spot other human rights violations. Other examples include bringing sensory to one billion people that suffer from some form of disability. Real-time climate change and monitoring. Aid in fighting fake news. Resilience to become inclusive of homeless and refugees. Where leaving out anyone is no longer an option. Theres no shortage of challenges that need to be solved today to enable a better tomorrow for our planet, cultures and society. Answered above in challenges and opportunities let me know if you would like me to elaborate further. What advice do you have for young people interested in pursuing a career in AI and tech in Africa, and what skills and knowledge do you think will be most valuable for success in this field? Be curious. Be hopeful. Be human. An example is generative AI in that it differs from predictive models in that it generates new content rather than predicting an outcome. Find use cases that speak to humanity at large. Matching technologies' potential with impact creates beauty. Embrace technologies by taking a moment to redefine humanity in a collective manner that speaks to the human side of being human. I am from Africa. Africa is me. Every nanosecond of every day you have a choice. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, front row fourth from right, makes a gesture of solidarity with Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won, front third from right, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, fifth from right and other distinguished guests during the World Climate Industry Expo Business Roundtable at BEXCO, Busan, Thursday. Yonhap By Lee Kyung-min Business executives and government officials from around the world discussed ways to advance carbon neutrality at a roundtable session at the World Climate Industry Expo (WCE) held from May 25 to 27 in Busan. They discussed best practices and agreed to bolster international cooperation. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held a Business Leader Round Table, which had the subtheme under the title of "The Role of Companies for a Sustainable Future." Among the attendees were major global industry leaders, including Google, Samsung, SK, RWE and Volkswagen. Others included Hyundai, Kia, LG, POSCO, HD Hyundai and Kakao Mobility. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Stanley Willis Allen '39 As was the case with most of the 429 men on the ship who were killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Allens remains lay unidentified for nearly eight decades, buried as unknowns in a Honolulu cemetery. In June 2021, thanks to advances in forensic technology, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Ensign Allen, and he will soon be heading to his final resting place. The majority of his "unknown" shipmates have now also been identified. A Maine native, Allen was born in 1916, and, according to an obituary published in The Portland Press Herald, was serving with the observation squadron on the Oklahoma when he was killed. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his bravery. Allen, we are told, had hoped to eventually have a career in the hotel restaurant service [and] spent seven summers working at the Bethel Inn, Bethel, Maine. Before attending Bowdoin, he spent a year as a cadet at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in Boston in October 1940. Allen is survived by his closest living relative, his first cousin Beverly Prosser Gelwick of Harpswell. Burial with full military honors will be held at the New Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, on Tuesday, July 18, at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements are by Stetsons Funeral Home in Brunswick, where condolences, memories, and photos may be shared. POSCO International CEO Jeong Tak poses in his office at the company's headquarters in Seoul, March 20. Courtesy of POSCO International By Kim Jae-heun POSCO International has decided to expand its steel trading and energy businesses in Southeast Asia and Australia to help boost Korea's faltering outbound shipments, company officials said Thursday. The steelmaker held an Asia Growth Strategy meeting in Bangkok, Thursday, to discuss ways to target the Asian market, which has huge business potential. Asia, excluding China and Japan, is an important region that accounts for about 32 percent of POSCO International's global business despite the recent increase risk posed by China. About 30 executives and employees from 17 firms, including POSCO International CEO Jeong Tak, were present at the event. "POSCO International has a huge responsibility to cope with the country's ongoing trade deficit as a group of trade experts. The company has to pursue active measures to expand exports to the Asian market, which has the greatest growth potential," Jeong said during the meeting. The nation has posted trade deficits for 14 consecutive months through April as its exports declined amid sluggish semiconductor demand globally, while it paid more to import energy and raw materials. In 2022, POSCO International's sales to China fell about 4 percent year-on-year to $1.4 billion (1.85 trillion won). But its shipments to other parts of Asia showed an average annual growth of 31 percent over the past three years and stood at $3 billion in 2022 alone. The trading firm plans to preemptively check major businesses in the fields of steel, energy and food in Asia through this growth strategy meeting, and strongly push for export expansion with the close management of its customers. It aims to export over 2.8 million tons of steel in Asia, which accounts for 25 percent of its total exports in the world, this year. In addition, the company plans to strengthen the marketing of eco-friendly industrial steel that is needed for solar power, wind power and mobility considering the recent increase in demand for alternative energy. Florence Pugh has reflected on Hollywoods beauty standards, recalling the time she was told that she needed to lose weight for an acting role. The British actress, 27, stars on the cover of Time magazines Next Generation Leaders issue and spoke about being drawn back to Los Angeles for the WWE film Fighting With My Family opposite Dwayne Johnson, after a producer for a pilot show that never aired had allegedly criticised her physical appearance the last time she had been in Hollywood. Speaking about the role, she said: The person I came back to was a female wrestler with muscles and big thighs who made her own name as a champion. I quite liked that, because the last time Id been there (Hollywood) I was told I needed to lose weight, it was just so not the person I wanted to be. Advertisement Florence Pugh might just save the movie star. Introducing TIMEs newest class of Next Generation Leaders https://t.co/CEWvBcPAFN pic.twitter.com/habCtQVxtS TIME (@TIME) May 23, 2023 Pugh also said that after signing on to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring as Yelena Belova in 2021s Black Widow, people in the independent film community were really pissed off. She said: They were like, great, now shes gone forever. And Im like, no, Im working as hard as I used to work. Ive always done back-to-back movies. Its just people are watching them now. You just have to be a bit more organised with your schedule. She later made an appearance in the Disney+ show Hawkeye, but before Marvel, Pugh made her name in Hollywood with acclaimed independent films including Midsommar and Lady Macbeth, as well as more recent projects including The Wonder and A Good Person. Pugh said she can sense when a film will succeed, saying: A whole film set, its everybody making a huge effort because they want to be there. And if someone doesnt want to be there or if someone isnt pulling their weight, you can feel it. The film feels wrong. Fermanagh showed off its strong community ties as Britain's king and queen completed their two-day visit to Northern Ireland at Enniskillen Castle on Thursday. Charles and Camilla spent around an hour at the 16th century site meeting schoolchildren and community groups. A choir performed Rather Be by Clean Bandit as the couple entered the historic courtyard. The king and queen with Lord Brookeborough, left, during their visit to Enniskillen Castle (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Learning about the Kindness Postbox, which helps people who are isolated, Camilla nodded, saying thats so important. She went on to meet schoolchildren who were learning about how youngsters were evacuated from Belfast during the Second World War to Fermanagh, commenting: Youre learning a lot, but its fun isnt it? Charles and Camilla went on to meet a long table of people who had taken part in the Big Lunch initiative which brought neighbours and communities together as part of the celebrations over the coronation weekend. Advertisement The king met veterans, including 96-year-old George Stephens, in wheelchair, during his visit to Enniskillen (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Charles met a number of military veterans, including George Stephens, 96, who was in the Inniskilling Fusiliers and a former curator of the castle museum. The couple enjoyed a display of dancing put on by Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers reflecting Northern Irelands two main traditions, before being presented with a specially made Belleek Pottery coronation basket by Fermanagh and Omagh council vice chairman Allan Rainey. Moving outside the castle walls to the banks of the River Erne, the king appeared taken by the busy waterway with people on canoes, kayaks and waterbikes waiting to greet him. The king met members of the public by the River Erne (Oliver McVeigh/PA) He waved and navigated the grass slope to speak those in the closest canoe, as well as shaking the hand of a man on a waterbike, listening as he explained his route around the local waters. Charles also met with RNLI volunteers as the charity enters its 200th year, and thanked them for their work. The visit finished with an impromptu walkabout, meeting people in the crowds, including visitors from Canada and Australia. Mr Stevens smiled as he said he was so overwhelmed by meeting the King he had not quite taken in all he had said. Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers performed for the royal couple (Oliver McVeigh/PA) He previously met the late Queen at Buckingham Palace when he received his MBE. Advertisement Its been a great day, he said. Catholic priest Father Brian DArcy also spoke of how much he had enjoyed the day. He spoke with both Charles and Camilla during the visit. Father Brian DArcy described the royal visit as a lovely day for Fermanagh (Oliver McVeigh/PA) They did a great job meeting everybody today, it was lovely the way they came round and were interested in people, and it wasnt just a run-of-the-mill event for them, they were very interested in community work, what people were doing, coping with loneliness, Camilla was very keen on that and people getting out, he told the PA news agency. Charles was very interested in the environment, he felt that we had a lot of work to do, he said we have a lot of work to do to save the environment, and no time to waste. Father DArcy went on: I think it was a lovely day for Fermanagh because Fermanagh is forgotten in a lot of ways, and it was lovely to see them taking time to realise that people down here are valuable too. We showed off our county as best as we can, the water, the tourism, the friendliness, the cross-community, the co-operation between churches. All of that was on show today, and all of that is really Fermanagh. Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, front row eighth from left, poses with Thomas Clark, a partner at Statista, front row seventh from left, along with representatives from award-winning companies at Korea's Sustainability Leaders 2023 awards ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Kim Hyun-bin The Korea Times held an event to honor companies leading in environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) efforts during an award ceremony hosted jointly by its sister paper, The Hankook Ilbo, and Statista, a German market research firm, at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Thursday. Over 30 representatives from Korean companies, including SK hynix, Samsung SDI, LX Hausys and LG Electronics, attended the ceremony to receive the prestigious awards. Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, front row third from right, speaks with Thomas Clark, a partner at Statista, front row fourth from right, during Korea's Sustainability Leaders 2023 awards ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul The event was a follow-up to the "Korea's Sustainability Leaders 2023" report, which was released last month by Statista to honor companies that are at the forefront of ESG practices. For the third consecutive year, the globally renowned research firm worked with The Korea Times and The Hankook Ilbo to conduct research on which companies are leaders in terms of their ESG campaigns. Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin emphasized the importance of Korean companies practicing ESG and making their efforts known globally. Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin delivers the opening speech during the Korea's Sustainability Leaders 2023 awards ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul "The ESG movement is expected to come by storm and we need to prepare. Companies and stakeholders need to abide by the global ESG standards and it is important for these efforts to be highlighted globally," Oh said during his opening speech. "We need to show that our companies are on the same page with the world in terms of environment, social responsibility and governance. This is the reason we are holding the award ceremony today." Thomas Clark, a partner at Statista, congratulated the award winners for their excellent performance in sustainability and ESG practices. "I am happy to be here for this occasion because ESG is a very important topic. You are representatives of companies that are very good and at the forefront of ESG. The top 150 is a big deal. It's a huge research project where we look at all the Korean companies. So trust me you can be very proud," Clark said. In selecting the 150 ESG leaders, Statista's analysts checked the 1,200 largest Korean companies in terms of revenue in all industries, inspecting their publicly available key performance indicators derived from corporate annual reports and ESG reports. Major company officials attend the Korea's Sustainability Leaders 2023 awards ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Britain's King Charles has thanked Armagh for the warm welcome he and Queen Camilla received during the second day of their visit to Northern Ireland. Charles attended a service at St Patricks Cathedral attended by various religious leaders while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. At the library Camilla met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. Camilla during a visit to Robinson Library (Michael Cooper/PA) Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were Church of Ireland leader Rev John McDowell and the leader of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin. They both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. The king and queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. Advertisement The British royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square. The king and queen meet Camilla Nowawakowska and Charles Murray, both eight, from Armstrong Primary School (Brian Lawless/PA) Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met with performers who gave a showcase of Ulster-Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. The queen meets characters representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh during a visit to Market Theatre Square, Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. Advertisement But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault, he joked. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse, and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. He said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. The king and queen are on a visit to Northern Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA) So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met with some people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands Rebekah Busby and gave her golden-doodle Teddy a pet, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. Weve been here since 8.50pm, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? [Camilla] said hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' She described the atmosphere as unreal, and that they would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. The family of a 78-year-old woman who claimed she was not seen by any doctor for 10 hours at a Dublin hospital when she was brought there after a fall has settled a High Court action over her death. Mother-of-four and grandmother Frances Farrell was attending an event when she was struck on the head by metal and fell off a five-foot stage to the ground. She was brought by ambulance to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, but it was claimed she was not the subject of any medical review until the early hours of the next day. The Farrell family counsel, Alistair Rutherdale BL, told the High Court it was their case there was an alleged 10-hour delay in medically assessing Mrs Farrell at Connolly Hospital and her condition deteriorated. He said by the time she was ultimately seen, the position was irreversible. Advertisement He said Mrs Farrell was transferred to another hospital at around 6am the day after the fall and was admitted under a consultant neurosurgeon. She underwent an urgent procedure but testing over the next few days showed extensive injury to the brain stem. She died on December 22nd, 2019. Her son Kevin Farrell, of Lucan, Co Dublin, had on behalf of his father and the Farrell family sued the HSE. Mrs Farrell had been brought to Connolly Hospital by ambulance on the evening of December 11th, 2019 complaining of pain in her mid-spine. She was alert but could not remember the incident and had a cut in the back of her head. At the hospital it was claimed Mrs Farrell was triaged as Category 3, but it was claimed she should have been categorised as higher and have had an urgent medical review. It was claimed that hospital notes indicated Mrs Farrell was given medication, had an ECG and was under observation. Brain scan She had a CT brain scan in the early hours after her condition deteriorated, and she was accepted for transfer to the neurosurgery department at another hospital and was transferred about 6.00am. Ireland Father and sons found guilty of sexual abuse and r... Read More In the proceedings it was claimed that there was a failure at Connolly Hospital to carry out a full and complete triage process on the pensioner. There was also it was claimed a failure to consider that she was a person who had been struck by heavy objects, had fallen from a stage and was on blood thinning medications and was a clear risk of a brain hematoma. The hospital allegedly failed to comply with their own assessment of Triage category 3 and with full assessment within one hour. All the claims were denied. The court heard a settlement was reached after mediation and the matter was before the court for the division of the statutory mental distress payment of 35,000 only. Simon Coveney has denied there are any tensions within the Coalition and said no one is being bullied. Responding to a question about an Irish Independent story in which three Fine Gael Ministers called for tax breaks of 1,000 for the average family in the next Budget, the Minister for Enterprise said the article had been an opinion piece which reflected Fine Gael policy which he supported. "I don't think there was an intention to upset anyone. It was an opinion piece," he told RTE's Morning Ireland. "Three junior ministers were outlining again, a policy which I support, which is that when the economy is growing, that we should give, what many people call the squeezed middle, in other words, people who are middle income, that we should try to give them a break from a tax point of view to allow them take home more of the money that they earn themselves for their families. Advertisement "And that's what we did last year in the budget. That's what we did the year before. And, you know, because the Irish economy is as strong as it is, we can afford to increase pensions, to increase welfare rates, to reduce the cost of childcare, to invest in education, but also to give people who are working hard, who are earning less money that is the source of the revenue for governments. It gives them a break as well. "We do think that people who are on middle incomes should be able to take home more of the money that they earn for themselves." Mr Coveney denied that Minister for Finance Michael McGrath was being bullied. "Let's be clear, nobody's bullying anybody. And you know, there are lots of senior mature politicians in Government and in the different parties in Government. "Just because we're in coalition doesn't mean we're the same. You know, different parties have different priorities in Government and at different times, those priorities get to appear in newspapers and opinion pieces and so on. And this is no different to that. There'll be lots of discussion in the months ahead." Ireland DSPCA encourages people to report abandoned animal... Read More Mr Coveney pointed out that he did not attend Wednesday nights Fine Gael parliamentary party as he was en-route to Brussels so he could not comment. "What I would say is that this is a good coalition Government. The parties have worked well together. That doesn't mean that the parties have the same views all the time when it comes to policy. "And what we're seeing now is different parties in the coalition outlining different views as to how we can use a growing strong economy to ensure that we support families across the country. And that will involve increasing pensions and welfare rates, reducing childcare costs. "But it also needs to involve giving people who are working hard, who are paying for everything through their taxes to give them a break and to allow them to hold on to a little bit more of the income that they earn." A young woman who drove through a red light and fatally knocked down a pedestrian has had her driving ban reduced by two years, after the Court of Appeal found that a since overturned interpretation of the law for first time careless driving offenders "must have worked its way into the reasoning" of the sentencing judge. Letitia Barry (23) of Rivermeade Park, St Margaret's, Dublin, pleaded guilty to driving a car without due care and attention, causing the death of John Byrne at a pedestrian crossing at Whitestown Road, in Rush, Co Dublin on June 7th, 2019. Barry was prosecuted under Section 52(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, which was fully suspended. Judge Melanie Greally also imposed a six-year driving ban at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on February 23rd, 2022. Advertisement The court heard that local man John Byrne (39), who had Down's Syndrome, had used the road crossing many times before and always waited for the green light before crossing. An analysis of the lights sequencing indicated that there was a gap of six seconds between the vehicular lights going red and the pedestrian light going green. Mr Byrne was flipped into the air and his head hit the kerb. He was brought to hospital but died as a result of the head injuries he sustained. Barry stayed at the scene after the collision and she and other members of the public tried to provide some comfort to Mr Byrne with blankets. Sentence hearing At the sentencing hearing, the judge was informed that the consequential disqualification order from holding a driving licence for a conviction for such an offence was a mandatory four years. However, following a decision in the Court of Appeal in a separate case last October it was held that unless a person has two or more previous convictions for careless driving, the sentencing judge was not required to treat a first conviction for careless driving causing death or serious injury as being a 'consequential disqualification' which would mandate a four-year ban. Advertisement At the Court of Appeal on Thursday, David Staunton BL for the appellant, said that Barry, who pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions for careless driving and was a young mother who worked in childcare. The barrister said Barry had excellent employment and character references. A garda report noted that the location of street furniture, such as lamp standards and the traffic lights, had a tendency to obscure pedestrians from drivers at the point at which Mr Byrne had been standing. The report stated the layout was not in accordance with the relative manual for the ideal placement of street furniture. Mr Staunton said there had been no explanation by the trial judge on the reason for the six-year suspension. Mr Staunton asked the court to consider, if the sentencing judge was operating on a "baseline" of four years, would the ban still be six if that mandatory assumption was removed? Counsel described the matter as a "sad and tragic case". The barrister said that there was no allegation regarding speed and that Barry had a full and clean licence at the time. "Everyone was extremely upset about what occurred. Mr Byrne was well-known in the locality," he said. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said that the death of Mr Byrne had a "terrible impact" on his family and the wider community. Advertisement Eoghan Cole BL, for the State, said the trial judge had considered the minimum period and still considered the offence as meriting a six-year ban for what he described as "grossly incompetent" driving. Mr Cole said the trial judge said Mr Byrne was "in no way" responsible for the accident and that the light had been red for six seconds before the "tragic" collision. Mr Cole said that there had been "no appeal to say it wasn't the proper charge", relating to the "fitness and quality of driving against Barry". "It's not a case where there could be no ban. It's a death case. It's sad and tragic and utterly avoidable," said Mr Cole. Mandatory disqualification Mr Justice George Birmingham said that it had been previously understood that there was a mandatory disqualification as a consequence of the offence when the case reached the circuit court. "The decision of this court comes to a different conclusion. Whether there should or not be a ban or the duration of the ban was a matter for discretion for the court dealing with it," he said. "The offence of careless driving causing harm or serious death is very serious and significant and has very grave consequences for the victim and the family of that victim, and for all of those who feature in each case. Advertisement "The impacts are real, and it is not to be understood that we are not conscious of that," said Mr Justice Birmingham, adding that the case was "particularly harrowing". Mr Justice Birmingham said the layout of the junction had been "certainly sub-optimal" and said Barry had been of "impeccable previous character". However, the judge said: "The driver drove through a crossing without realising there were lights there and that falls at the very serious end of careless driving. "Six years of disqualification was fifty per cent in excess of the statutory ban. The question is whether that figure would be arrived at even without the understanding of the ban," he said. Mr Justice Birmingham said that the "statutory ban must have worked its way into the reasoning" of the sentencing judge and therefore the court would quash the six-year ban and substitute one of four years in the "particularly tragic circumstances". A relative of Mr Byrne told the sentence hearing that the death of their son, brother and uncle has irrevocably changed the lives of his family. She said that Mr Byrne was a gentle, kind and very sociable man who had many friends in the area and a wide range of interests, including discos and GAA. Sentencing Judge Melanie Greally said everything said about Mr Byrne conveyed a vivid picture of him as a loveable, larger than life young man. She said he brought brightness into the lives of others and it is no surprise the void he has left is enormous. As he toured the country before the formal announcement of his presidential bid on Wednesday, Florida governor Ron DeSantis regaled crowds with the story of his surprising re-election victory last year in sprawling, largely Hispanic Miami-Dade County. It was the first time a Republican had won the Democratic-leaning county in 20 years, and Mr DeSantis did it by winning 62 per cent of the Hispanic vote. That victory in 2022 is raising hopes among some Republicans about how Mr DeSantis could perform in the 2024 presidential contest among Hispanic voters nationwide. Those voters comprise almost 15 per cent of the US electorate and have skewed Democratic in past presidential elections. "People are tired of being told that because you are born a certain way, you must vote a certain way," said Kevin Cooper, vice-chairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party, which helped get out the vote for Mr DeSantis. Advertisement Mr DeSantis' advisers did not respond to requests for comment on his strategy with regard to Hispanic voters. But more than a dozen Republican and Democratic operatives described a multi-pronged approach that relied on outreach to Latinos who traditionally voted Democratic, messaging on economic opportunity in the wake of the pandemic and aggressive use of Spanish-language media. Mr DeSantis' victory showed "that when Republicans focus on Latino engagement and they connect and are comfortable in a roomful of Latinos, they will get a response, said Daniel Garza, president of the LIBRE initiative, a nationwide effort that seeks to bring Latinos into the conservative fold. Immigration hardliner Mr DeSantis found success with Hispanics in Florida even as he positioned himself as an immigration hardliner who champions border security and derides so-called "sanctuary cities". In September, he arranged for two planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to be flown from Texas to Massachusetts. This month, he signed a new state immigration measure that provides more money for migrant relocation and requires certain employers to verify a worker's immigration status. The moves brought criticism from Democrats and some Latino advocacy groups, but Mr DeSantis has maintained in speeches that Hispanic voters want strong enforcement of federal immigration laws. Advertisement A Pew Research Center poll found that less than half of Hispanics surveyed said there is a significant difference between the two political parties, particularly among younger voters, suggesting loyalty may come down to the side that works harder for their vote. It concerns me, said Chuck Rocha, a Latino strategist who advised Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. It should concern any Democrat. Tough to replicate? Mr Rocha and other Democrats have their doubts, however, about whether Mr DeSantis can replicate his success in states with large Hispanic populations such as Arizona and Nevada where Democrats won two competitive US Senate seats in 2022 and president Joe Biden prevailed by razor-thin margins in 2020. They point to the demographics of South Florida, with its large, conservative-leaning Cuban population. "This is a very Miami phenomenon," said Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster and consultant in Miami. "That's not going to play in San Diego or Los Angeles or Phoenix." Mexican voters have largely been aligned with Democrats since the 1960s, while Cuban-Americans fleeing the Castro regime tended to support Republicans who took a hard line against Communism. But South Florida more recently has been home to waves of new emigres from Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua, who have no such loyalties and were viewed by Republicans as up for grabs. Advertisement Mr DeSantis made an effort to conduct roundtable discussions in those communities and frequently commented on the internal politics of their home countries. He outraised his Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist, by more than six to one, and also ended up winning the majority of the Puerto Rican vote statewide. At a political event in Iowa earlier this year, Mr DeSantis said he didn't win over Hispanic voters by appealing to their ethnicity. "We treated everyone as Americans," he said. "We share the same values. In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump pulled a larger share of the Hispanic vote 32 per cent - than any Republican since president George W Bush in 2004, with Latino working-class men, in particular, defecting in large numbers. Roberto Suro, an expert on Latino politics at the University of Southern California, said segments of the Latino electorate in recent years are beginning to behave more like their white counterparts, with working-class voters and evangelicals being drawn toward Republicans. Economy focus An economy-focused message such as Mr DeSantis' could pull in Latino votes in other states, Mr Suro said. Democrats say Mr DeSantis insistence on keeping businesses and school open and opposing vaccine mandates during the Covid-19 pandemic likely appealed to middle-class and working-class Hispanic voters who could not afford to stay home and have their kids out of school and who otherwise might not have supported a Republican candidate. Republicans contend that Mr DeSantis staunch opposition to progressive education policies around race and gender also resonated with many culturally conservative Latino voters. "Democrats were stepping on rakes on every cultural issue imaginable," said Giancarlo Sopo, a Cuban-American Republican consultant from South Florida. Mr DeSantis, he said, "had the right cultural message and certainly the right economic stance". A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a vehicle was driven into the gates of Downing Street in London. The car crashed into the gates at around 4.20pm on Thursday, London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Images on social media showed the car surrounded by emergency vehicles. Downing Street is a street in central London that houses the official residences and offices of the British prime minister and finance minister. The force added that no-one has been hurt. #UPDATE | At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing. MPS Westminster (@MPSWestminster) May 25, 2023 Advertisement In a statement released on Twitter, the Metropolitan Police said: At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Inquiries are ongoing. Large sections of Whitehall have been closed to the public and vehicles following the incident, with pedestrians being turned away from the main thoroughfare around Downing Street in central London. There is a significant police presence in the area. Police have begun photographing an excavation site near the banks of a remote reservoir in Portugal as the fresh Madeleine McCann searches entered a third day. Officers maintained their focus on an area of woodland on a peninsula at the Barragem do Arade on Thursday after a digging operation was commenced on Wednesday afternoon. Heavy machinery continued to cut through vast undergrowth at the site, while a mixture of uniformed and plain-clothed officers raked the ground. A large section of the Barragem do Arade has been cordoned off since Tuesday morning, around 30 miles from where Madeleine went missing in 2007. Searches continue in Portugal as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (Yui Mok/PA) Officers used shovels to excavate their area of focus, and sniffer dogs and pickaxes have also been deployed over the course of the searches. As some concentrated on the digging site, others used rakes and shovels to scour the surrounding area, slowly making their way through the recently trimmed undergrowth. Advertisement The operation is being carried out at the request of German investigators who believe their prime suspect, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner (45), kidnapped and murdered the youngster. He is currently in prison in Germany for the rape of a woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, and is suspected of further rapes and child sexual abuse committed in the area between 2000 and 2017. German authorities have not revealed what triggered the latest search operation, but prosecutor for the city of Braunschweig Christian Wolters said they were acting on the basis of certain tips. He told German public broadcaster NDR the new information had not come from the suspect and they did not have a confession or any indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search. Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007 (Family handout/PA) The Sun reported that investigators previously found photos and video of Brueckner at the reservoir. He has reportedly denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance. Madeleine was three years old when she vanished while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, after they left her and her younger twin siblings asleep in their apartment while they went out to dinner with friends. Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia previously claimed that criminal contacts had told him that Madeleines body was in the reservoir, and in 2008 he raised funds for unsuccessful private searches of the water. Advertisement British officers from London's Metropolitan Police are also present while the work is carried out so they can inform Madeleines parents of any developments. On Tuesday, search teams were seen scouring the banks hammering away at the ground with pickaxes and combing through small rocks with rakes and spades. Around a dozen officers with sniffer dogs were also at the site, while the fire service boat took officers onto the water. Personnel clear undergrowth near a reservoir in the Algave, Portugal (Yui Mok/PA) The Sun said divers were expected to enter the water on Thursday. Portuguese daily Expresso said that the first day ended with no significant results, and that police had collected some objects including fabrics and garments. Madeleines disappearance has attracted enormous media attention since she vanished, and reporters are being kept at arms length around a mile away from where search activity is taking place. A no-fly zone has also been imposed over the reservoir. The new searches come as the Home Office granted an extra 110,000 in funding this financial year for the Metropolitan Police to assist with finding Madeleine, down from just over 300,000 last year. The total funding given to Operation Grange has been just under 13.1 million since 2011. A Hong Kong-flagged ship briefly ran aground in Egypts Suez Canal momentarily disrupting the vital waterway. The Xin Hai Tong 23 got into trouble at the southern mouth of the canal on Thursday, tracking data showed. Leth Agencies, which oversees traffic in the canal, acknowledged the grounding. More than two hours later, Leth said it was able to refloat the stricken vessel. Egyptian authorities did not immediately acknowledge the ship running aground. M/V XIN HAI TONG 23 has grounded in the Suez Canal at KM 159/0400 hrs - leaving behind 4 vessels from the early convoy in addition to the ordinary group which was planned to enter Suez Canal at about 0600 hrs. Suez Canal tugs are currently trying to re-float the vessel. Leth (@AgenciesLeth) May 25, 2023 It was not immediately clear what effect the grounding would have on traffic in the canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Advertisement But tracking data showed no shipping vessels moving around that area of the canal when the ship was stuck. Tracking data showed the vessel, describing its condition as not under command. Tug boats surrounded it to get it refloated. The Suez Canal Authority has successfully refloated M/V XIN HAI TONG 23 at 0740hrs. The northbound convoy will enter at 0930hrs. https://t.co/r2aGSALXE0 Leth (@AgenciesLeth) May 25, 2023 The ship is a bulk carrier, which typically carries cargo. The ship measures some 190 meters (625 feet) by 32 meters (105 feet). The Ever Given, a colossal container ship that crashed into a bank on a single-lane stretch of the canal in March 2021, blocking the waterway, was bigger. A massive salvage effort by a flotilla of tugboats, helped by the tides, freed the skyscraper-sized vessel six days later, ending the crisis and allowing hundreds of waiting ships to pass through the canal. The head of Wagner says his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military. It comes days after he said troops from the Russian private military contractor had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagners millionaire owner with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in a video published on Telegram that the handover will be done by June 1. There was no immediate comment from the Russian defence ministry. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 25 May 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/QJ9i0Ncboj #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/fbuhQPzOYj Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 25, 2023 It was not possible to independently verify whether Wagners pullout from the bombed-out city has begun. Advertisement On Wednesday, the Ukrainian General Staff said heavy fighting was continuing inside the eastern city after a nine-month battle, which has killed tens of thousands of people. Ukraines deputy defence minister said on Thursday that Wagner units have been replaced by regular troops in the suburbs but Wagner fighters remain inside the city. Ukrainian forces still have a foothold in the south-western outskirts, deputy minister of defence Hanna Maliar said. Mr Prigozhins Bakhmut triumph would deliver a badly needed victory for Mr Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine last February has lost momentum and now faces the possibility of a Ukrainian counteroffensive using advanced weapons supplied by Kyivs western allies. The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing. The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 24 May 2023. Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/vUD0FfMltp #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/0nlqVbkOMo Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 24, 2023 Top Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Thursday that Ukraines counteroffensive is already underway, saying it should not be anticipated as a single event starting at a specific hour of a specific day. Writing on Twitter, Mr Podolyak said dozens of different actions to destroy Russian occupation forces were taking place yesterday, are taking place today and will continue tomorrow. Advertisement Mr Prigozhin has a long-running feud with the Russian military leadership dating back to Wagners creation. He has also built a reputation for inflammatory and often unverifiable headline-grabbing statements. During the 15-month war in Ukraine, he has repeatedly and publicly chastised Russias military leadership, accusing them of incompetence and failure to properly provision his troops as they spearheaded the battle for Bakhmut. Wagners involvement in the capture of Bakhmut has added to Mr Prigozhins standing, which he has used to set forth his personal views about the conduct of the war. Prigozhin is using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said. His frequent critical commentary about Russias military performance is uncommon in Russias tightly controlled political system, in which only Mr Putin can usually air such criticism. His flat statement of what he will do over the next week in Bakhmut came a day after he again broke with the Kremlin line on Ukraine. A damaged armoured military vehicle is seen after fighting in Russias western Belgorod region (Vyacheslav Gladkov/AP) Advertisement He said its goal of demilitarising the country has backfired, acknowledged Russian troops have killed civilians and agreed with western estimates that he lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russian unleashed a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed 36 drones against Kyiv in its 12th nighttime air assault on the Ukrainian capital this month but the citys air defences shot them all down, Ukrainian authorities said on Thursday. The Kremlins forces also launched 30 airstrikes and 39 attacks from multiple rocket launchers as well as artillery and mortar attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said. At least one civilian was killed and 13 others were hurt in Ukraine on Wednesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said on Thursday. In Russia, meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that five Swedish diplomats will be expelled from the country. According to a statement, the decision is a response to Stockholms openly hostile step to declare five employees of Russian foreign missions in Sweden personae non grata in April. Moscow additionally announced its decision to close its consulate in Goteborg in September, as well as its withdrawal of consent to the activities of the Swedish consulate in St Petersburg. Seth & Nirva - On Earth | Turning Point Media Relations Beloved husband/wife duo Seth & Nirva return June 2 with On Earth, a six-song EP inspired by the words of the Lords Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). The couples iconic fusion of pop, neo-soul and gospel sounds saturate an impassioned collection imploring Christians to stand firm amidst the moral decline of culture. Produced by Willie Weeks along with Seth Ready and Derris Nelson, the EP was penned entirely by Seth & Nirva. A melodic, low-fi groove hallmarks the title-cut, a plea for Gods will to be done on Earth. With guest vocals from Liberty Universitys JJ Hasulube, the track encapsulates the projects overarching message. The EP springs from this model prayer as we ask the Lord to bring the kind of revival, reformation, and awakening to His Church that will reshape the world around us, Nirva Ready shares. We often think of God's Kingdom as merely ethereal or otherworldly, and while it does transcend this world, it has real implications for us now. Our prayer is that those Kingdom purposes would come to pass here on Earth. On Earth also showcases the compelling debut single Armor. Addressing the current epidemic of fear, anxiety and depression around the world, the songand its accompanying music videospotlights the biblical command to put on the full armor of God, trusting in Christ for victory over the enemy. Additional highlights of the project include Never Be Forgotten, a timely reassurance of Gods unwavering love; and the evocative Fire Fall, urgently calling God to enact righteous justice on Earth while equipping His people for revival and reformation. Known for delivering worshipful, vertical songs that uniquely blend a range of pop and gospel influences, Seth & Nirva are each extraordinary artists in their own right. Nirva was a vocalist in TobyMacs Diverse City Band for over a decade, while Seth served as a backing vocalist for some of Christian musics leading names, including Kirk Franklin, Chris Tomlin, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans. The duos previous recordings include 2014s I Need You, 2016s Never Alone, and 2020s One Voice, a 13-track collection of music and spoken-word vignettes addressing such topics as racial reconciliation and apologetics. Based in Virginia, where Nirva Ready serves as an assistant professor of commercial music at Liberty University, Seth & Nirva also continue to co-host the Freemind Podcast. Since its launch in 2018, the podcast has released more than 100 episodes addressing cultural hot-button issues from a biblical perspective. By Kim Hyun-bin Global semiconductor equipment companies are rushing to build plants, and research and development facilities in Korea in order to reduce China risk while strengthening partnerships with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, according to industry officials, Thursday. "In Korea, there are global semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, and as the processes become more advanced, the importance of close collaboration between component suppliers and these customers is increasing," an official from a major local semiconductor company said. "Furthermore, as both companies plan to establish large-scale semiconductor fabs in their respective countries, the Korean market will become even more attractive to component suppliers." Dutch semiconductor equipment company ASM held a groundbreaking ceremony for its second Manufacturing Research and Innovation Center in Dongtan, Gyeonggi Province. ASM is the world's leading company in the atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment field, which is used in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Korea serves as ASM's key hub for research and the production of plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). "We all know that semiconductors are a big industry here in Korea. Two of the top 10 global semiconductor companies are based in Korea, and they are our customers," ASM CEO Benjamin Loh, during the first press conference in Korea on May 23, said. "Korea is the only place where PEALD is produced, and the demand is increasing. Therefore, we have decided to expand with the second Manufacturing Research and Innovation Center. We will continue to invest in expanding production capacity and maintain close collaboration with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix." Not only ASM, but also U.S. companies such as Applied Materials (AMAT), KLA, Lam Research and Dutch company ASML are focusing on domestic investments centered on Dongtan and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province. These companies hold over 60 percent of the market share in global semiconductor equipment. Industry officials say that the global companies' expansion of domestic investments is driven not only by the growth potential and investment value of the domestic semiconductor industry but also by the desire to alleviate the burden of business and investments in China. In October last year, the U.S. government announced regulations banning the export of equipment necessary for advanced semiconductor manufacturing to China. AMAT, the global leader in front-end equipment, has begun construction for a Memory Equipment R&D Center in Gyeonggi Province. Lam Research, the world's number one in semiconductor etching equipment, opened an R&D facility in Goksan Industrial Complex in Yongin in April last year. In 2021, they established a third factory in Hwaseong. U.S.-based KLA is also expanding its R&D and organizational presence in Korea. Japanese equipment companies are also expanding their investments in Korea. Tokyo Electron (TEL) invested 200 billion won ($150.8 million) last year to expand its existing R&D facilities. TEL is the world leader in track equipment, essential for the lithography processes. Additionally, Japanese semiconductor equipment companies such as Kokusai Electric, specializing in semiconductor thermal processing equipment, and Hitachi High-Tech, manufacturing etching and metrology equipment, plan to expand their Korean factories and R&D facilities. ASML, which dominates the production of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment, is investing 240 billion won in a 16,000-square-meter site in Dongtan to establish a new campus that includes a re-manufacturing facility for EUV-related components and a training center. Completion is targeted for December next year. Recently, they also opened a global training center equipped with a EUV live module in the Surplus Global Semiconductor Equipment Cluster in Yongin. During his visit to Korea in November last year, ASML CEO Peter Wennink announced the investment plan for the new campus and stated, "Collaboration with Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and others will strengthen, and the domestic semiconductor ecosystem will be enhanced. This investment is just the beginning," leaving open the possibility of further expansion of investments in the future. The domestic investments by these global semiconductor equipment companies are expected to contribute to the growth of the domestic semiconductor industry by enhancing their research and production capabilities, creating jobs, promoting cooperative growth with partner companies, and fostering regional development. Australias rich 60-year history of interior and fabric and wallpaper design - including an important chapter almost lost to posterity - will be digitally mapped on the facade of Customs House at Circular Quay as part of Vivid Sydney. The winter lights festival kicks off Friday night with a striking eight-minute animation drawing from the archives of the Australian Museum of Design, custodian of a treasure trove of original hand-drawn fabric and wallpaper patterns dating back to Australias First Lady of wallpaper design, Florence Broadhurst. The kaleidoscopic showcase is a unique collaboration between animation firm Spinifex and the inner-city archive, a switch of focus for Vivid after last year painting Customs House with the iconic works of artist Ken Done, and in other years animating deep sea creatures and surreal cityscapes. Around 25 images have been heroed for the projection, Inside Out, sourced from more than 7,500 original hand-drawn designs rescued from cardboard boxes in a St Peters warehouse. Nagi Maehashi, the creator behind wildly popular food blog RecipeTin Eats, has won the top prize at the annual Australian Book Industry Awards. The Sydney food writer and Good Food columnist won Book of the Year and Illustrated Book of the Year for her debut cookbook RecipeTin Eats: Dinner. Nagi Maehashi won Book of the Year at the ABIAs on Thursday night. Credit: James Brickwood Among the other winners of the night were Tim Winton, who claimed a Hall of Fame Award for his 40-year career in the industry; Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks, who won the award for literary fiction; The Age and Sydney Morning Herald columnist Niki Savva, who won the non-fiction book award; Jasper Jones author Craig Silvey, who won the prize for writing for children aged 7-12; retired tennis player Ash Barty, who took out best biography; and former Aussie Rules player Eddie Betts who won the award for a book that has made a social impact. Released in October, RecipeTin Eats: Dinner quickly became a bestseller and the highest-selling title by a debut Australian author in its first week of release. Advertisement Review Eating outCarlton Bar Bellamy brings the Rathdowne Village spirit and charm into Carlton proper Besha Rodell May 26, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This story is part of the May 27 Edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . 1 / 8 Frilly light fittings above the bar. Bonnie Savage 2 / 8 Roasted quail with Waldorf salad and hazelnut puree. Bonnie Savage 3 / 8 Blintz with cheesecake filling and plum sauce. Bonnie Savage 4 / 8 Inside the cosy Bar Bellamy in Rathdowne Street, Carlton. Bonnie Savage 5 / 8 Duck and pork terrine. Bonnie Savage 6 / 8 Cannoli filled with chicken-liver parfait. Bonnie Savage 7 / 8 Fig salad. Bonnie Savage 8 / 8 Rump cap with pine mushrooms. Bonnie Savage Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score European$$$ Is there a thoroughfare in Melbourne more enchanting than Rathdowne Village in Carlton North? More European, leafy, jam-packed with opportunities for charming pavement drinking and dining? I may be biased: I grew up partially in this neighbourhood, took flute lessons in one of the grand old Victorian terraces that line the street, and would go for chocolate cake and fresh orange juice afterwards at the (now long-gone) Paragon Cafe in one of the beautiful, glass-fronted corner buildings. When people come from out of town, its this stretch of the city I often recommend, knowing it will allow Melbourne to seduce them properly. Advertisement A few blocks south, Rathdowne Street has historically had a very different function. The strip of businesses that face Carlton Primary is a mix of affordable Indian, Pakistani, Thai and Chinese takeaway spots that change ownership often, old-school Italian joints (including the one where the guy sings Sinatra while you eat) and shopfronts that change from barbershop to gelateria to hairdresser to empty so quickly you cant keep track. But recently theres been a sense the spirit of Rathdowne Village is creeping south into Carlton. Fenton Food & Wine took over an old office space and is now an all-day cafe, with dinner service on weekends. In April, Bar Bellamy opened between a Sri Lankan cafe and an Italian restaurant. Cannoli filled with chicken-liver parfait. Bonnie Savage Bar Bellamy is pure Rathdowne Village: a tiny cocktail bar that serves Euro-influenced food in a vintage-feeling storefront, with pavement seating under an aluminium and wrought-iron awning. White walls, wooden tables, an antique fireplace and sage-green accents make for a clean and cosy feel, with frosted-glass light fixtures above the bar featuring scalloped edges that conjure oyster shells and the frilly trim of Grandmas apron. Dani and Oska Whitehart are the couple behind Bar Bellamy and, between them, theres some serious Melbourne hospo history. Oska has worked for some of the citys best bars (The Everleigh, Bad Frankie, Gimlet), while Dani is an alum of cafe stalwarts Archies and Sibling. Advertisement The combination of these backgrounds shines through at Bar Bellamy, which has the casual welcome of a great neighbourhood cafe and the crisp friendliness of a great cocktail bar. When people come from out of town, its this stretch of the city I recommend, knowing it will allow Melbourne to seduce them properly. And Oskas drinks are fantastic. A whisky highball ($22) has the mellow autumnal flavours of apple and pear and a hint of camomile. The Pompeii ($22) pairs cognac with lemon and absinthe, as well as just enough strawberry to make the drink beautifully fresh without veering into sweetness. The lupini tini ($26) is a clever spin on a dirty martini, using the brine of lupini beans rather than olives. Theres a short and smart wine list and a few beers and ciders, but this place is, first and foremost, a cocktail bar. That said, Id come here for the food even if there were no cocktails to be found. Chef Barney Cohen has brought some of the fun tricks he was known for at Nomada, such as his chicken-liver parfait cannoli ($12), but his food leans a little more French at Bar Bellamy. Advertisement Duck and pork terrine. Bonnie Savage Hes a master of meat terrines, achieving a perfect level of density thats still somehow uniform and sproingy. A duck and pork version ($28), served with a pile of French lentils shot through with dill, was seasoned just right. There have recently been a couple of types of croquettes on the menu, including a mussel version ($9) served in the mussel shell, and a prawn bisque version ($12) thats so creamily delicious youll have a hard time not burning your mouth while gobbling it up. A roasted quail ($26), all tender and meaty, comes with a fun spin on a Waldorf salad, with grapes and diced apple and walnuts atop a hazelnut puree. Rump cap with pine mushrooms. Bonnie Savage Advertisement There are devilled eggs draped with anchovy ($7) if you just want a snack to go with your cocktail, and a rump cap with pine mushrooms ($52) if you want a full dinner. The steak was probably the least successful dish I tried a little too chewy, a little too salty but its easy to make a meal from the smaller dishes. And you can always finish up with an order of blintz, enfolding a cheesecake filling ($14) thats paired with a tangy plum sauce. Bar Bellamys biggest issue right now is its instant popularity in relation to its tiny size. The space is jam-packed, with a wait for seats from early evening. Theres clearly a hunger in this part of the neighbourhood for a fantastic, friendly cocktail bar with food to match, and room for the spirit of Rathdowne Village to extend beyond its geographic borders. The low-down Vibe: Cosy, vintage Melbourne with a hint of Europe Go-to dish: Duck and pork terrine ($28) Drinks: Very good cocktails with a short, smart wine and beer list Cost: About $110 for two, excluding drinks This review was originally published in Good Weekend magazine Apart from giving the police inconsistent statements, the coroner said his evidence at the inquest was riddled with similar inconsistencies and opacities. Explanations which he offered for the many contradictions between and within his various accounts simply did not make sense, Ryan said. Anthony Koletti (centre), the husband of Melissa Caddick, leaves the Coroners Court. Credit: Kate Geraghty Kolettis lawyer Judy Swan submitted that her clients inconsistencies were due to his limited intellectual capacity and negligible literary and numeracy prowess. However, the coroner contended Kolettis discrepancies are too numerous, and too persistent in nature, to be attributable to stress and a lack of intellectual sophistication. The three-week inquest into Caddicks disappearance and presumed death, which ran intermittently from last September, heard that at 6.07am on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, Caddick opened the door at her Dover Heights home to 21 officers from the corporate regulator ASIC who were being assisted by the Australian Federal Police. Caddick must have known her world was about to come crashing down as she stood there, dressed in black gym gear and running shoes, watching as police seized her computers, high-end clothes and opened numerous black leather boxes revealing diamond and sapphire necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets all purchased using stolen funds. Since she vanished, 55 family and friends discovered Caddick had stolen more than $23 million from them, pretending she was investing in shares on their behalf. Instead, Caddick was using their money to maintain an extraordinarily lavish lifestyle. Although Koletti, in both his evidence and musical endeavours, accused ASIC of torturing his wife, the inquest heard that Caddick was outwardly calm during the raid, even filing her nails and taking an afternoon nap. Apart from her husband and teenage son, the last people to see Caddick alive were members of the raiding party who left her house at 6.22pm. The 49-year-old disappeared at 5.30am the next day, leaving behind her phone, car keys and wallet. Despite hundreds of sightings by members of the public, Caddick hasnt been seen since. Three months later, on February 21, 2021, her right running shoe, containing her partial remains, washed up on a remote beach on the NSW South Coast. While the inquest heard the decomposing remains were a DNA match for Caddick, there was insufficient material to determine whether her foot had become detached due to decomposition, blunt or sharp force injury. It was unlikely that Caddick amputated her own foot, an orthopaedic surgeon told the inquest. A forensic pathologist noted there were fractures in the foot, which she said would not have been lethal, but she was unable to conclude whether this may have been from intentionally jumping, being intentionally pushed, or accidentally falling from a height or whether the fractures were caused by a direct impact to the foot. Melissa Caddick at the Dover Heights property during the raid by the AFP. The inquest heard it was quite possible for a body to have travelled from Sydney to Bournda Beach, in the 100 days that had elapsed since her disappearance. The inquest shone a spotlight on the inadequacies of the initial police investigation as well as the inconsistencies in the accounts provided to the police by Koletti, a hairdresser and part-time DJ. Thirty hours after his wife disappeared, Koletti finally reported Caddick missing but he told police he was too busy with work at home to come into the station to give further information. I thought it was strange a husband would ring the police station, report his wife missing two days later and wasnt prepared to come to the police station, Sergeant Trent Riley said. The two constables who first spoke to Koletti told Riley, their boss, they were concerned about his calm demeanour. When Riley later went to the house he told the inquest Koletti was agitated, evasive, vague and sweating profusely. He had initially failed to mention to Riley that his wife was the subject of a major probe or that their house had been raided. The inquest heard that Koletti also provided a number of inconsistent answers, one of which was his claim that he hadnt left the house the previous day when the police knew he had left the house on several occasions. Riley was heard in the police body-cam video asking Koletti if hed been anywhere the previous night. Not that I know of, Koletti replied. This wasnt true. The previous night Koletti had gone to friends house at 8pm to smoke dope and had deleted a text about this arrangement before handing his phone to police. He didnt mention to his friend or to his wifes family that Caddick had vanished that morning or that their house had been raided by police. Riley said that, at the end of that day, he did not believe that Koletti had harmed his wife. However, he thought Koletti may have known where she was and was withholding information. The inquest heard that, as early as November 13, 2020, the day he reported his wife missing, each of the three police officers held concerns regarding the accounts provided by Mr Koletti and suspected that he might have been involved in some way. Despite these concerns, Detective Sergeant Michael Kyneur, the initial officer in charge of the investigation, did not believe Caddicks disappearance was suspicious. Melissa Caddick and Anthony Koletti. The coroner noted that the main criticisms of Kyneurs investigation were his dismissal at an early stage of the possibility that Ms Caddick had been harmed by another person as well as his delays in canvassing for CCTV footage. Loading Ryan also said that there should have been an early referral of the matter to the homicide squad. After a week, Kyneur was replaced by Detective Sergeant Michael Foscholo who told the inquest he believed the fraudster ended her life at the cliffs, which are only several hundred metres from Caddicks house. Although he regarded Caddicks husband as not a credible witness, Foscholo did not believe he had anything to do with his wifes fraud or presumed death, the inquest heard. Loading I dont think theres any dispute that on his way to this particular job that it was in his wildest dreams that the matter would unfold in the way it may have. The mother of eight, grandmother of 24 and great-grandmother of 34 lived with dementia and was using a walking frame when she was Tasered. White, who is stood down and on full pay, was charged just before Nowlands death with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault. Homicide squad-led investigators are now combing through his service record. The charges may be upgraded but only after further investigations into her cause of death and the events at Yallambee Lodge on May 17. Cooma Police Station. Credit: Brook Mitchell Police say White was at home before being called to Yallambee, along with his partner, to assist NSW Ambulance and staff who found Nowland with the knife before 4am. Anderson anticipates White will enter a plea of not guilty, but a final decision will be made once a brief of evidence by investigators is handed over. I wasnt there, I cant comment on exactly what has occurred, but what I could say, using the words of one of my clients who was involved in an incident ... Half an hour ago everything was normal, he said. Im sure Mr White feels that way. A review of Whites internal complaint history now forms part of the critical investigation, NSW Police said on Thursday. Yallambee Lodge retirement home in Cooma. Credit: Brook Mitchell A statement from Nowlands family released on Thursday thanked the staff at Cooma Hospital, where Nowland died shortly after White was charged. With great sadness, the Nowland family share that our beloved Clare passed away this evening whilst surrounded by the love and support of her family, the family said. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society shop, where Nowland volunteered, was closed in sympathy with the family of Clare Nowland, according to a sign stuck in the door. Our prayers and sympathy are with them and all who knew her, it read. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society shop, where Nowland volunteered, was closed in sympathy with the family of Clare Nowland. Credit: Brook Mitchell Loading Among those closely affected are the residents and staff at Yallambee Lodge, where Nowland lived for the final five years of her life. They described her as family. Clare was a selfless and committed member of the Snowy Monaro community and her loss will be felt across the region, just as her long life touched so many of us, said a statement attributed to the council-run home. Snowy Monaro Mayor Narelle Davis, who knew Nowland for five decades, said she left a great legacy. In Sydney the police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, will oversee the investigation into the Tasering of Nowland. The LECC on Thursday put police officer training under the microscope as it investigated allegations excessive force was used during the arrest of an Indigenous teenager in northern NSW in September 2022. Three senior officers, each responsible for aspects of training, gave evidence about the use of force including firearms, handcuffs, Tasers and capsicum spray at a rare public hearing. Senior Sergeant Andrew Pocock said force was a last resort control option where negotiations have failed or are impossible. One of his lessons centres on de-escalation, and he teaches officers force is driven by the offender, not police. We will react, we wont proactively go into using force if we can always avoid it, Pocock said. We only step up into that use of force if necessary based on the action of the offender. Loading Counsel assisting the commission, Lester Fernandez, read the key principles of the NSW Police Force Tactical Options Model including that individual police are accountable and responsible for their use of force and must be able to justify their actions at law. Senior Sergeant Leanne Weston said the associate policing degree, from Goulburn academy, involves 114 hours on defensive tactics without the use of weapons. By 1944, the order came for prisoners to be transported to the coal mines and factories of Japan. Frank was among the over one thousand Australian and British prisoners forced into the cramped hull of the Rakuyo Maru. For five days, he endured stifling heat, deprived of clean air, with barely enough room to sit, and was given a mere half a cup of water each day. Dysentery soon spread among the cramped prisoners. In the early morning hours of September 12, 1944, Rakuyo Maru, along with another prisoner transport ship, were struck by American torpedoes. We were torpedoed going up to Japan by an American submarine. It was an unmarked ship so the sub-mariners didnt know there were POWs on board. HMAS Perth in the Battle of Sunda Strait. Credit: AWM In one of Australias worst maritime disasters, 1,559 POWs perished, of which 543 were Australian. Yet in another extraordinary twist of fate, Frank McGovern managed to survive the attack and locate a lifeboat left behind by the Japanese. For three days he and thirty other predominantly Australian soldiers survived in this lifeboat. We were in an open boat so we decided to head towards China which was a couple of hundred miles away; we had no food in the boat, very little water. While some survivors were rescued days later by American submarines, others were reportedly massacred by Japanese machine guns. By the third day, Frank and his crew were ordered at gunpoint to board a Japanese ship. For the second time, Frank McGovern had survived a torpedo attack only to become a prisoner of war. Aboard the frigate, the recovered prisoners were permitted a handful of rice which was difficult to eat because we were so dehydrated from being in the open boat. They endured a nightmarish voyage, with further submarine attacks before they finally reached Japan. Frank remembers vividly the local people who watched as the prisoners were unloaded in Moji, some of the fellas were sick with malaria and dysentery, we were in full view of the local people and it wasnt very good. Half of us were half dressed; bits of clothingsome had a small old blanket around us. WW2 veteran Frank McGovern holding a 1942 HMAS Perth calender, the date of the bombing of the ship is marked. Credit: Louise Kennerley That night the prisoners were herded onto a train, all the shutters down, we werent allowed to look out. We headed there on a thirty-hour trip by train up to Yokohama near Tokyo. It was a cold, wet, miserable day. At Kawasaki camp in Tokyo, the men endured months of arduous work in the factories until, on the night of March 9, 1945, the United States commenced the deadliest air raid in history. It is a night that Frank remembers vividly. Over the course of 48 hours, 2,000 tonnes of incendiary bombs were dropped over just 16 square miles of Tokyo. Frank McGovern again miraculously managed to survive, despite their camp being reduced to ashes. The prisoners were transferred to another camp. Mere weeks later as Frank sat beside his close friend Keith Mills, a bomb was dropped directly onto the camp. There was a bombing raid a few weeks before the war ended, killed thirty of our fellas, including my mate. He was blown up, I was blown up but I got out of it with a fractured spine... Loading Frank spent the duration of the night unable to move, surrounded by the dead as the screams of the wounded slowly faded into the night. Finally rescued the following day, he was transported to Shebora hospital, where he remained for days without treatment. He soon noticed that other former prisoners, initially healing from shrapnel wounds to their legs, were suddenly declared dead in the operating theatres. An American working in the hospital warned Frank that Japanese doctors draining the blood of those incapable of walking for the sake of transfusions. With this warning, McGovern, despite his fractured spine, managed to muster the strength to stand and walk at quick pace during an inspection by Japanese guards. This action would again narrowly spare Franks life as he was ordered to return to camp. Over seven decades after liberation, Frank still precisely recalls the date when the war ended in the Pacific: August 15, 1945. Despite the lack of information provided, the mood had noticeably shifted in the camp. Food parcels began to be dropped to the emaciated prisoners. Shortly after buses arrived to transport them to the hospital ship, the USS Benevolence, where the men were examined and treated for approximately two weeks. They were subsequently transferred to Manila where they were debriefed, before boarding a plane to Darwin and another to Sydney. It was a terrific feeling for Frank to return home and be reunited with his parents once more. He visited Keith Mills parents to inform them about their son and provide some form of comfort. In return he was gifted a photo of the friend that had endured so much by his side. In the aftermath of the war, it took many years for Frank to adjust to being home, confronted with the many painful memories of his wartime experiences. WA Police are urgently searching for a man who is armed with guns and ammunition. About 8.50am on Thursday police in the South West town of Busselton were called to an armed hold-up at a firearms store on Fairlawn Road. WA Police are hunting this man, who held up a firearms store in Busselton. Credit: WA Police Police say the man had entered the store armed with a gun and stole a long-arm rifle and ammunition. He left the store in a silver vehicle, believed to be a Holden Commodore wagon or similar. A former high-ranking officer within ACT Policing said she feared investigators speaking with Bruce Lehrmanns lawyers during the former Coalition staffers rape trial would fuel rumours of police conspiring with defence. Australian Federal Police acting assistant commissioner Joanne Cameron, who was deputy chief police officer in the territory at the time of the trial, told an inquiry into the abandoned case that while it was legal for defence lawyers to speak to prosecution witnesses, she wanted to ward off mounting criticism of police during the case. AFP acting assistant commissioner Joanne Cameron leaves the inquiry in Canberra on Thursday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Top of mind is the perception that police were somehow colluding, Cameron told the inquiry examining the conduct of authorities involved in the trial. I held the concern that, at the very least, whenever these sorts of interactions were occurring, if they become known to others, there would be judgments made, not even knowing what the conversations were about others would make a judgment unfairly against my officers. Tim Harrison FRSC MRSSAf, Director of Outreach and School Teacher Fellow in the School of Chemistry, passed away in January. His friends and colleagues from Bristol and beyond offer a tribute. Timothy Guy Harrison was born on 30 October 1959 in Pontypool in South Wales. Tim attended Croesyceiliog School and from there went to Kings College London, studying Chemistry (1978-1981). Upon graduation, he trained as a teacher at The University of Warwick. Tims first teaching job was as a secondary science teacher at Crown Woods School in Eltham, London. There, he met a young Head of Biology, Jayne Marlow. Tim and Jayne were married in 1985, moved to Gloucestershire and began work at Rednock School, where they both taught science. They had two daughters, Mya and Megan, and Tim gained ever greater experience and responsibility as a teacher. Former students have gone on to become medical doctors, engineers and scientists. Tim was keen to expand the horizons of everyone he taught and worked with, and many former pupils and colleagues speak very fondly of the support and encouragement they received. In 2002, at an event for schoolteachers hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Tim met Dudley Shallcross, a member of academic staff in the School of Chemistry at Bristol, and an enduring partnership and friendship was born. While still working as a teacher, Tim started to organise and run laboratory visits and many other activities at the University for school students. In 2005, he was appointed by the University to lead a new chemistry schools outreach programme. Tims talent and passion for this work saw a very rapid growth and development of schools outreach work. Supported by excellent technicians, students and staff as well as the Royal Society of Chemistry, he devised a wide range of activities, tours and talks for school students of all ages and backgrounds, including students with disabilities. Tim worked with university students, training them in teaching and public engagement, with teachers and with school students and, very quickly, his impact spread not just all over the UK but also well beyond its borders. Tim travelled many thousands of miles, visiting schools, science festivals and other universities all over the UK and overseas. He would regularly visit primary schools bringing practical activities for the children to try and showing them amazing chemical reactions. Tims ability as a presenter of potentially hazardous chemistry experiments, carried out live and safely before an audience will be fondly remembered by many, many thousands of people. At this, Tim was extremely talented, possessing enormous knowledge and skill as well as a great sense of humour. In 2007, Tim and Dudley recommended the concept of embedding a schoolteacher within a universitys chemistry department to the Royal Society of Chemistry. With government funding, several more teachers were employed at universities all over the UK, carrying out schools outreach work. In 2007, working with his great friend, Professor Mike Davies-Coleman of Rhodes University, South Africa, by training university staff and students and working at science festivals, Tim helped to set up an outreach programme for school pupils and teachers from South Africa and Namibia work that continues to this day. In 2010, he began a long collaboration with Dr Magda Wajrak at Edith Cowan University (ECU), Perth, Australia. This was so successful, and impacted the lives of so many, that the Vice-Chancellor of ECU invited Tim to be part of the celebration of the opening of the new Science Building in 2020. Over his 17 years at Bristol, Tim gave approximately 3,000 chemistry demonstration lectures (not counting many hundreds more by partners in other countries). From 2005 to 2020, before the pandemic, he worked directly with 30,000 to 50,000 people (teachers, students and audiences of all kinds) each year. Tim worked with colleagues in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, USA, the West Indies, Hong Kong and Ireland. He published over 150 papers; won the 2004 RSC Teaching Award and the Big Tick award in 2008, 2009 and 2010; and was part of the team that won the Times HE ICT award in 2009, the Merrill Lynch Science Education award in 2009 and the Royal Societys Hauksbee award in 2009. Tim was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, and although his pace of work did slow, in 2018 he teamed up with Dr Jonny Furze, a recently graduated research chemist. Jonnys great ability and energy allowed Tim to carry on effectively at his work for another two years before the pandemic stopped face-to-face outreach. Tim was the nicest of people: intelligent, witty and generous to a fault; a man who didnt bear grudges and who loved his family dearly. He was a phenomenal educator who was working his magic to the very end of his life. Tim, you made it so, in every sense. God bless you, our dear friend. Professor Dudley E Shallcross (School of Chemistry, University of Bristol) Mr Nick Barker (Social Inclusion Group, University of Warwick) Professor Mike T Davies-Coleman (Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, South Africa) Professor David Read (School of Chemistry, University of Southampton) Mrs Joyce Sewry (Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, South Africa) Dr Magda Wajrak (Department of Chemistry, Edith Cowan University, Australia) Latest News Australian Mortgage Awards nominations open Get your 2023 entries in for industry's night of nights MFAA national conference: Brokers focus on future 900 participants urged to embrace change PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) Australia unit has taken action to prevent employees who were aware of tax leaks from participating in current or future government contracts. This move comes amidst a parliamentary hearing and the commencement of a police investigation. The Australian police informed a Senate committee on Thursday that an investigation had been launched following a referral from the Treasury. Secretary to the Treasury Steven Kennedy had stated the previous day that PwC Australia's former head of international tax, Peter Collins, had "improperly used confidential Commonwealth information." The controversy surrounding PwC arose when it was revealed that Collins had obtained classified information during his tenure as a government advisor and shared it with his colleagues. These colleagues subsequently used the information to provide tax-planning advice to multinational corporate clients. Emails dating from 2014 to 2017, which were released under parliamentary pressure, unveiled the extent of the collaboration between Collins and his colleagues in advising clients, including major US tech firms. In response to the revelations, former PwC Australia CEO Tom Seymour and two other executives resigned. The company also announced an independent review of its governance, accountability, and culture. A spokesperson for PwC Australia stated, "We note the statement from the Treasury Secretary and will continue to cooperate fully with any investigations into this matter." During the Senate hearing, deputy secretary for finance Andrew Jaggers stated that his department had not requested PwC to provide a list of the 53 partners mentioned in the emails. Jaggers emphasized the need to avoid prejudicing any potential federal police investigation. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher urged PwC to demonstrate to the government that it has implemented reforms in the way its partners and staff operate. Gallagher acknowledged that changes had been made, highlighting the difference in leadership from those involved in the initial response to the current situation. The conduct of PwC was strongly criticized by Clare O'Neil, minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, who described it as a "grotesque betrayal of trust." O'Neil emphasized the seriousness with which the matter is being treated, stating that a comprehensive government response is underway. She asserted that the incident must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable. While legal constraints exist regarding the cancellation of the government's existing contract with PwC, efforts are being made to address the raised concerns within the boundaries of the law. Have something to say about this story? Let us know in the comments below. Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves a cemetery before the funeral of Russian military blogger Maxim Fomin widely known by the name of Vladlen Tatarsky, killed in a bomb attack in a St Petersburg cafe, in Moscow, April 8. Reuters-Yonhap The head of the Russian private army Wagner has again broken with the Kremlin line on Ukraine, saying its goal of demilitarizing the country has backfired, acknowledging Russian troops have killed civilians and agreeing with Western estimates that he's lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prigozhin said about half of those who died in the eastern Ukrainian city were Russian convicts recruited for the 15-month-old war. His figures stood in stark contrast to Moscow's widely disputed claims that just over 6,000 of its troops were killed throughout the war as of January. By comparison, official Soviet troop losses in the 1979-89 Afghanistan war were 15,000. Ukraine hasn't said how many of its soldiers have died since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. White House officials said Wednesday that Prigozhin's comments were in line with their own estimates that Russian losses have accelerated. The White House estimated this month that Russian forces had suffered 100,000 casualties, including 20,000 killed in fighting, since December. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said then that about half of those killed were Wagner forces. Analysts believe many of those killed in the nine-month fight for Bakhmut were Russian convicts with little military training. Prigozhin himself a former convict has frequently criticized Russian military officials for not supplying his troops with enough ammunition. He also has questioned their tactics, commitment and leadership capabilities, and complained they haven't sufficiently credited his forces for battlefield successes. He's highlighted his forces' sacrifices, and on Saturday touted what he claimed was the capture of the city of Bakhmut. In an interview published late Tuesday with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Kremlin political strategist, Prigozhin went even further in his criticism questioning some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rationale for the war. Prigozhin said Russia's goal of "demilitarizing" Ukraine has backfired because Kyiv's military has become stronger with Western weapons and training. In invading Ukraine, Putin also cited the need to increase Russia's security and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Since the war began, Ukraine has applied to join NATO, and cross-border attacks into Russia itself have increased. In Washington, Kirby speculated Wednesday on Prigozhin's motives. "And it's possible that this could be a sort of morbid way of him ... claiming credit for whatever they've been able to achieve in Bakhmut, but also trying to publicly embarrass the Ministry of Defense further that the cost was borne in blood and treasure by Wagner, and not by the Russian military." In the interview, Prigozhin also challenged Moscow's vehement denials that Russian forces had killed civilians. In what it says is likely a low estimate, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says that from February 2022 until early April 2023, it recorded 22,734 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 8,490 killed and 14,244 injured. Military medics give first aid to wounded Ukrainian soldiers at a medical stabilisation point near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 24. AP-Yonhap Latest News Australian Mortgage Awards nominations open Get your 2023 entries in for industry's night of nights MFAA national conference: Brokers focus on future 900 participants urged to embrace change The Queensland government has lodged an appeal against a monetary order made earlier this year, refusing to pay a Gold Coast couple who discovered their house did not legally belong to them, even after residing there for five years. In February, the Queensland Supreme Court ruled that Jess and Jackie Morecroft's Mermaid Beach home still belonged to the previous owner, Hind Issa, and was never transferred into their names despite being sold and paid for. The couple had hoped for compensation, but the state government is challenging the decision, arguing that the judge erred in granting the $2.7 million compensation. The state government's appeal contends that Justice Lincoln Crowley made a legal error by determining that the Morecrofts had an "equitable interest" in the property. The appeal document states, "If anything, the respondents only acquired an equitable right to seek specific performance of the contract." The government's lawyers argue that the couple was not "deprived of an interest in a lot" due to the fraud committed by Issa's relative, which would have justified compensation. Instead, they claim that the couple's loss of interest was a result of the conduct of the mortgagees who sold the property and the failure to conduct a title search before entering into the purchase contract. The Morecrofts expressed their dismay and concern regarding the government's decision to appeal, with Mrs. Morecroft describing the initial wave of fear and uncertainty upon hearing the news. Mr. Morecroft criticized the government's approach, stating, "They're behaving like a bad insurance company [saying]: 'Deny, deny, deny'. We do not understand why. It's unjust and it's cruel, and they're going to destroy our family, and I'm not really sure why they're doing it." The couple is urging the government to withdraw their appeal and expressed their financial concerns, as they are uncertain how they will meet the costs order that has been imposed on them. Gold Coast MP Ray Stevens has called upon Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to intervene, emphasizing the potential financial ruin faced by the Morecrofts due to the ongoing litigation. Stevens questioned whether the government would persist in taking the matter all the way to the High Court, highlighting the challenging situation faced by the family. The Queensland government's appeal against the compensation order has been lodged, and a hearing date will be determined in due course. A Department of Resources spokesperson has confirmed the appeal but declined to provide further comment, citing the ongoing court proceedings. Clearly, for Gujarat-based Amul, South India is not turning out to be an utterly butterly delicious market this year. In a fresh flashpoint involving Indias dairy corporations, Tamil Nadus (TNs) Chief Minister (CM) M K Stalin on Thursday asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to instruct the Gujarat-based dairy behemoth Amul to cease milk procurement activities in TN immediately. In a letter to Shah, Stalin sought his intervention in directing Amul to desist from milk procurement from the milkshed area of Aavin (under the ownership of the Tamilnadu Co-operative Milk Producers Federation) with immediate effect. After facing heat in Karnataka during the elections, the dairy co-operative major is facing opposition in TN against setting up chilling centres and processing plants in the state. Until now, Amul was just selling its products through its outlets in TN. However, recently, the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers Union (Amul) has utilised its multi-state co-operative licence to install chilling centres and a processing plant in Krishnagiri district and planned to procure milk through farmer producer organisations and self-help groups in and around Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts in the state. The resistance from Aavin and Stalin comes after a row with Karnatakas local brand Nandini last month. Pro-Kannada sentiments were on the boil during the state elections after Amul on April 5 announced its entry into the fresh dairy market in Bengaluru by introducing fresh milk and curd, which proved costly for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Assembly polls. Also Read Amul's utterly butterly supply melts; eateries switch to alternatives RS Sodhi steps down as Amul MD; Jayen Mehta given interim charge Milky way: Beyond Amul vs Nandini, dairy brands that dominate their states Amul aiming to become a total foods and beverages company: MD Jayen Mehta RS Sodhi resigns as MD of Amul, COO Jayen Mehta to be interim MD Bernstein pegs Reliance Industries' stake in retail arm at $111 billion Anil Agarwal's Vedanta pledges entire Hindustan Zinc stake to raise funds Minda may have its work cut out raising stake in component major Pricol Zee Entertainment posts loss of Rs 196 cr on low ad demand, higher costs DGCA asks Go First to submit comprehensive revival plan in 30 days It has been a norm in India to let co-operatives thrive without infringing upon each others milkshed area. Such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of Operation White Flood and will exacerbate problems for consumers, given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country. This act of Amul infringes upon Aavins milkshed area, which has been nurtured in the true co-operative spirit over decades, the CM said in his letter. The CM stressed it has been a standard practice to allow co-operatives to prosper without encroaching upon each others dairy-producing areas. Regional co-operatives have been the cornerstone of dairy development in states, and are better equipped to interact with and nurture producers and cushion consumers from arbitrary price hikes, he wrote. He voiced concerns that this move by Amul would foster unhealthy competition among co-operatives involved in procuring and marketing milk and dairy products. Within the ambit of the Aavin Co-operative, 9,673 milk producers co-operative societies are functioning in rural areas. They procure 3.5 million litres per day of milk from about 450,000 pouring members. In TN, like in other states with strong dairy co-operatives, a three-tier dairy co-operative system has been functioning effectively since 1981 for the benefit of rural milk producers and consumers. Under the present-day arrangement, milk producers are assured of remunerative and uniform prices throughout the year by co-operative societies. To increase and sustain milk production in Tamil Nadu, Aavin also offers various resources such as cattle feed, fodder, mineral mixtures, and animal health care and breeding services to enhance and maintain milk production in the state. Moreover, it ensures the supply of high-quality milk and dairy products to consumers at some of the lowest prices in the country. Therefore, Aavin plays a vital role in improving the lives and livelihoods of rural milk producers and in meeting consumers nutritional needs, he wrote. According to the report, Amazon has postponed the issuance of offer letters to fresh graduates from institutes such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) for several months. Tech companies across the world have been in the news almost daily regarding mass layoffs. Despite all the chaos around people losing their jobs and restructuring in companies, tech giants have continued campus hiring. Amazon had deferred hiring fresh graduates by several months amid the mass layoffs, reported Business Today. The report stated that the placement cell from an NIT has also confirmed that some students offer letters had been deferred, while others entirely revoked. A recent graduate from IIT Bombay told Business Today that they had been hired for the role of Software Development Engineer at Amazon but the offer had been deferred to January 2024. The student further shared of those who had interned with the company had a similar experience. The report stated that the company had told the students that it was a business decision, not a personal one, and blamed the "macroeconomic environment". The Financial Times reported a similar incident in the United States in December 2022, where student offer letters were deferred by a year. Also Read Amazon Fire TV Cube review: Smart speaker, streaming player rolled into one As the race for AI domination intensifies, Apple looks for talent Amazon to axe 18,000 jobs globally; CEO blames 'uncertain economy' Amazon to pull down shutters in food-delivery business in India on Dec 29 Amazon may lay off up to 20,000 employees to streamline costs: Report Domestic PV sales expected to stay strong this fiscal: Tata Motors Oil India in talks with Tullow Oil to buy stake in Kenya block: Chairman Online recruiter Apna to help Indians find work in global markets NCLAT defers Zee Entertainment's plea over merger approval to Friday Reliance completes acquisition of 51% stake in Lotus Chocolate Company According to the Indian Express, as of March 31, the company had announced the elimination of 9,000 jobs, making the total number of employees laid off 27,000. The students affected were offered a one-off payment of $13,000, regardless of whether they chose to later join the company, reportedly. This raises the question as to why the tech giant participated in campus hiring if they were not in the position to take on fresh talent. The announcement of the mass layoffs came in November 2022. Since most campus placements begin in December and carry on till May, the company should have had ample time to consider its hiring strategies in Indian higher education institutes. Many students are not in the position to wait six months to begin working and will most likely seek out other opportunities. They may have also missed out on employment opportunities already after being offered a position with the tech giant. The Washington Post reported on Monday that Amazon employees based in the companys Seattle headquarters had internally announced plans to walk off the job due to frustration over the layoff, return to office mandate, and the overall tensions around the tech companys commitments. The report stated that the plan was meant to be held on May 31, about a week after the annual shareholder meeting. Their net income in the first quarter was $3.2 billion. According to Amazons Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, the company reported an increase in net sales by 9 per cent to $127.4 billion in the first quarter of 2023. Operating income has reportedly increased to $4.8 billion in the first quarter, compared with $3.7 billion in the first quarter of 2022. Go First was served a show cause notice by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on May 8. On May 10, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted the airline's voluntary insolvency petition. Indias aviation regulator has given Go First up to 30 days to submit a comprehensive revival plan, after the airline filed for insolvency and suspended flights on May 2. On May 15, the investors association had written to the Dish TV board to call for an EGM within the stipulated 21 days. It represents 77 domestic and foreign institutional investors who own 10.15 per cent of Dish TV. Minority shareholders of satellite television provider Dish TV India have approached the Ministry of Corporate Affairs against the alleged delay by the firms board in convening an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), according to a report in The Economic Times. Dish TV Minority Investors Association asked the ministry to take action by instructing the Dish TV Board to immediately call for an EGM. Justice Prathiba M Singh recused herself from hearing the four petitions without assigning any reason. A judge of the Delhi High Court Thursday recused herself from hearing a batch of pleas by aircraft lessors of Go First seeking directions to the authorities to release their planes leased to the crisis-hit airline. The lessors who have approached the high court are Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2 Limited, EOS Aviation 12 (Ireland) Limited, Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 11 Limited and SMBC Aviation Capital Limited. Let it be listed on Friday before another judge, subject to the orders of the Chief Justice, she said. With a moratorium in force on financial obligations and transfer of assets of Go First in the wake of the insolvency resolution proceedings, the lessors are unable to deregister and take back the aircraft leased to the carrier. The lessors have urged the high court to order the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to deregister their aircraft which are currently leased to Go First. Also Read India's airline sector on to a smooth flight despite air pocketsr Southwest Airlines cancels more flights, draws federal investigation India emerging as key aviation market, air travel grows: IATA report Singapore Airlines to get 25.1% stake in enlarged Air India group US govt working on new regulations for airline cancellations, delays Anil Agarwal's Vedanta pledges almost its entire stake in Hindustan Zinc Essar Oil partners Sensia for digitalisation of oil, gas field operations Mike Young to take charge as senior VP for Vedanta's semiconductor biz Global mobility firm Flix to enter India in early 2024 with bus service Pricol gets relief from Madras High Court in tussle with Minda Corp On May 22, the NCLAT upheld the order of the Delhi-based principal bench of NCLT, which had earlier this month admitted the plea of Go First to initiate voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings and appointed an interim resolution professional (IRP) to suspend the company's board. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had on May 10 allowed the voluntary insolvency resolution plea by Go First. Fighters of Russian Volunteer Corps stand atop on an APC during press conference not far from the border in Sumy region, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 24. AP-Yonhap Russia alleges that dozens of Ukrainian militants crossed into one of its border towns in its Belgorod region, striking targets and forcing an evacuation, before over 70 of the attackers were killed or pushed back by what the authorities termed a counterterrorism operation. One group claiming responsibility for the strike, the Russian Volunteer Corps, denied Wednesday it had lost any men and said its action had exposed Russian border weaknesses. The conflicting versions of events reflect the role of disinformation and propaganda in the 15-month war. Ukraine denied any involvement in the skirmishes Monday and Tuesday. It blamed two Russian groups, including the RVC, that claim to be volunteers fighting in coordination with Kyiv's forces in an uprising against the government of President Vladimir Putin. While neither version could be independently verified, whatever happened appears to have sent Moscow scrambling to respond to one of the most serious border incursions since Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said an elderly woman died in the chaotic evacuation, and 12 people were wounded in the attack and shelling. A look at what's known about the attack and the murky groups who say they carried it out: Who's claiming responsibility? Two groups the RVC and the Freedom of Russia Legion claimed responsibility for the attack and announced an ambitious goal of "liberating" the Belgorod region. Little is known about them beyond what they say about themselves. In early March, the RVC claimed responsibility for an incursion in Russia's Bryansk region, another border area. The website of the Freedom of Russia Legion says it was formed last spring "out of Russians' desire to fight against Putin's armed gang" and is "officially recognized" by Kyiv's military. "We are fighting in full cooperation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and under the leadership of the Ukrainian command," the website says. The website said it fought last summer in "small battle groups," and now was involved in the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut. Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps are seen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border, in Ukraine May 24. Reuters-Yonhap Denis Nikitin, a well-known Russian far-right figure, described himself as commander of the RVC when he met reporters Wednesday in Ukraine's northern Sumy region bordering Russia. He described the group as "a right-wing, conservative, military, semi-political organization," saying its fight is against Putin and his state apparatus. He declined to say how many soldiers were involved in the Belgorod raid. Nikitin said that inside Ukraine, the RVC's actions are planned with the knowledge and assistance of Ukraine's military, but anything outside the country's borders "is our decision." The RVC sources its own military equipment, he added. In August 2022, an announcement posted there said: "We, Russian volunteers living in Ukraine, decided to take up arms and create a military formation, the Russian Volunteer Corps, in order to together with our Ukrainian comrades defend their homeland which gave us shelter, and then continue the fight against the criminal Putin regime and his henchmen." Other posts claimed the group was fighting in southeastern Ukraine, or as volunteers serving elsewhere in the country, including in Kyiv's suburbs of Bucha and Irpin. What does Ukraine say? Ukrainian officials have never confirmed any ties with either group. The government in Kyiv denied involvement in this week's Belgorod incident, calling it an act by disgruntled Russians. When they did talk about it, officials were vague. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said "patriots of Russia" and "people who actually rebelled against Putin's regime" were behind the attack. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak blamed "underground guerrilla groups" that are "composed of Russian citizens." In remarks to the news outlet Suspilne, Ukraine intelligence official Andrii Yusov said it was the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion. Andrii Cherniak, another intelligence representative pointed to the fact that the two groups claimed responsibility. "This is the consequence of aggressive politics of Putin's regime and Russia's invasion of Ukraine," he told The Associated Press. What does Russia say? Russia calls it an incursion by saboteurs deployed by Kyiv, with officials and state media using various epithets ranging from "militants" to "terrorists." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Belgorod attack was a diversion, meant "to draw attention away" from Russia's victory in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which Moscow claimed to have captured over the weekend after months of bloody fighting. Asked Tuesday about claims that the invaders were ethnic Russians, Peskov insisted that "these are Ukrainian militants from Ukraine." "There are lots of ethnic Russians in Ukraine, but these are still Ukrainian militants," Peskov said. Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said more than 70 "Ukrainian terrorists" were killed in Russia's operation. He also referred to the attackers as "nationalists." Russian state TV reported the invaders were from Ukraine's armed forces. One report alleged the attackers used U.S. military equipment despite Washington's assurances its weapons won't be used for attacks on Russia. Fighters of Russian Volunteer Corps prepares for the press conference not far from the border in Sumy region, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 24. AP-Yonhap "All I can say is some discussion is going on," Oil India chairman Ranjit Rath told reporters, without elaborating further. Oil India Ltd is in talks with Tullow Oil to buy a stake in its Kenya block, the company's chairman said on Thursday. RCPL completed the acquisition of a 51 per cent shareholding in Lotus Chocolate for an aggregate consideration of Rs 74 crore and subscribed to Lotus non-cumulative redeemable preference shares for an aggregate consideration of Rs 25 crore. Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL), the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) arm of Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL), announced on Thursday that it has finalised the acquisition of a controlling stake in Lotus Chocolate Company Ltd. RCPL announced in late December that it will acquire 51 per cent of Lotus Chocolate Company for Rs 74 crore and will also buy another 26 per cent in an open offer. RCPL has also completed the acquisition of equity shares pursuant to the open offer made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Takeover Regulations. RCPL took sole control of the company with effect from May 24, 2023, it said in its statement. "The investment in Lotus underlines our commitment to further boost indigenously developed daily use high-quality products, to serve a broad customer spectrum at affordable prices," Isha Ambani, the executive director of Reliance Retail, was quoted as saying in the release. The capital infused by the FMCG arm of Reliance Industries will help drive the growth and expansion of Lotus into a comprehensive confectionery, cocoa, chocolate derivatives, and related products manufacturer across the industrial and consumer market spectrum, the company said in a statement. Also Read Reliance Consumer Products to acquire majority stake in Lotus Chocolate Lotus Chocolate hits 5% upper limit as Reliance eyes majority stake FMCG sales slow on lower stocking; home care only category to report growth Rural demand for FMCG dips 17% in Nov as post-festive consumption slows Stocks to Watch: Bharat Forge, Shoppers Stop, Gokaldas, Lotus Chocolate Eye on exports, Bikano launches frozen products in international market BCCI likely to wait for Zee-Sony merger before selling media rights: Report Go First gets up to 30 days to submit revival plan, to give info on fleet Spicejet insolvency: NCLT defers hearing of plea by Aircastle to June 1 TTK Prestige posts 26% drop in Q4 profit as cookware demand weakens "We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Reliance. We have a vision to build a world-class confectionery products business across customer segments, backed by best-in-class manufacturing capabilities and talent. Our strategic partnership with Reliance, through this investment, will further enable this vision and accelerate Lotus transformation," Abhijit Pai, Founder-Promoter of Lotus, said. The chocolate company posted sales of Rs 87 crore during the year ended March 2022, with a net profit of Rs six crore. RRVL is a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and serves as the holding company for all RIL retail companies. The acquisition of Lotus Chocolate is part of Reliance Retail's goal to grow its FMCG market, which it just entered. It will pit RIL's arm against confectionery giants Britannia Industries and Nestle India. At the annual general meeting in August 2022, RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani announced the conglomerates plan to enter the booming FMCG segment. Education and healthcare are the other two industries in the top five, with a market share of 5 and 4 per cent, respectively. The staffing industry has the highest demand for freshers in India, data released by the talent platform foundit showed on Thursday. As of May, it accounts for 22 per cent of the total demand of freshers with a work experience of less than two years. It is followed by information technology software and software services (19 per cent) and business process outsourcing (10 per cent) sectors. Foundit data also showed that at 12.4 per cent market share, Bengaluru has the highest job demand for freshers. Bengaluru also offers the highest salary to freshers. The average fresher salary in the city currently is Rs 5,06,000. It is followed by 4,48,000 in Delhi-NCR and 425,000 in Mumbai. Interestingly, trends show a growing trend of companies asking their employees to work from the office. As of May, 92 per cent of job postings for freshers across industries are for in-office roles. 4.2 per cent of job postings were for the hybrid model and 3.8 per cent for work-from-home roles. The company also released data for interns in India. It showed that the demand for interns is the highest in the IT industry, which accounts for 35 per cent of all openings. It is followed by staffing (13 per cent) and retail (8 per cent) industries. The hiring of freshers is, however, highest in Delhi-NCR, followed by Pune and Chennai. Also Read Flexi-staffing industry's Q3 growth lowest in past 10 quarters: ISF report Flexi staffing grew 6% in July-Sept, added 78,000 new jobs: Report Demand for white-collar gig roles rises 11% YoY in March 2023: Foundit.in IT sector slowdown results in 30% decline in hiring of freshers: Report UP govt hires IIT, IIM graduates to smoothen investments in the state Sony announces Project Q handheld device for PS5, to launch later this year Dish TV's minority shareholders reach out to ministry on EGM delay DGCI asks labs to priortise mandatory testing of cough syrup before exports Ola Electric gears up for India's largest automotive IPO by early 2024 Tata Electronic plans to bolster presence in electronics, semiconductor biz Across locations, the highest demand for interns was shown in Delhi-NCR (31 per cent share). It is followed by Bengaluru (16 per cent) and Mumbai (12 per cent). Unsubscribe to continue This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp In a press conference, Union Minister of State for Defence and Tourism, Ajay Bhatt, said that the ideas emanating from the meeting will be shared with the larger international community to help in the global fight against corruption. Within this larger goal, the minister stressed the strengthening of ties between each member nations auditory bodies and building a more closely connected ecosystem of cooperation between these bodies. For this, Bhatt suggested sharing of technological innovations within the G20 members and with other nations too. The second meeting of the Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) under Indias G20 Presidency, with a focus on international cooperation, innovations in anti-corruption technologies, and Indias continued efforts to bring fugitive economic offenders to justice, kick started in Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand on Thursday. However, experts like Arun Kumar, former professor of economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, and author of several books on black economy, point out that the question of black economy is a wider phenomenon than corruption. While corruption is about the quid-pro-quo transaction, the black economy is rooted in illegality, he points out. The question of the black economy is a political-economy question as it involves a triad of corrupt politicians, businessmen, and executives. We, therefore, need a much more thorough and systemic approach to countering this global phenomenon. Most importantly though, Bhatt said, the ongoing G20 anti-corruption meetings will also be a continuation of Prime Minister Narendra Modis nine-point agenda for action against fugitive economic offenders, which he had presented during Argentinas G20 presidency in 2018. The current sessions will build upon PM Modis call for strong and active cooperation across G20 countries in legal processes and mechanisms to deny a safe-haven to all fugitive economic offenders, and establishing international cooperation for timely and comprehensive exchange of information, along with the formulation of a standard definition of fugitive economic offenders. Gender and corruption Kumar also points out that the international financial architecture is in fact at the root of propagating the black economy, with nations like the UK and the US failing to curb the tax havens within their jurisdiction. As long as these tax havens continue to exist, any efforts from developing economies will fall short of accomplishing the desired goals. Also Read G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet MPC lowers projection for inflation, raises growth outlook a bit in FY24 LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov After G20 FMM, New Delhi to host Quad foreign ministers' meeting today Investment from Mauritius, Singapore in start-ups will attract angel tax Global uncertainty casts shadow on India's FDI inflows in FY24: Experts Crackdown soon on developers for project delay: Power Minister R K Singh Wheat output set to touch record at 112.74 MT in 2022-23: Govt data India to be a developed country by 2047, economists agree on roadmap: SKOCH Rishikesh facelift The second ACWG also featured a side event with a focus on gender and corruption, held on Thursday evening. The event featured a keynote address from Meenakshi Lekhi, minister of state for external affairs and culture, as well as several delegates from Italy, Indonesia, and South Africa speaking on the gendered nature of corruption and its effect on women-led businesses and economies. The weak economic sentiment and dip in start-ups' valuation will mean low FDI flows from financial sector players like private equity (PE) funds and venture capital in near term, they said, adding the Indias growth story remains intact. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India moderated in Financial Year 2022-23 (FY23) and will likely stay under pressure in FY24, said economists and analysts, citing global uncertainty and tight liquidity. Gross inward FDI flows declined 16.3 per cent year-on-year to $71.0 billion in 2022-23, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Net FDI fell too: to $28.0 billion in 2022-23 from $38.6 billion a year ago, mainly due to moderation in gross inflows and increased repatriation. However, the countrys strength to attract global investments in the medium remains intact due to reforms and economic growth, they said. The Russia-Ukraine war, valuation concerns about start-ups, and modest flows from fintechs have affected FDI. The trend is likely to continue in FY24, said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA. Dharmakirti Joshi, chief economist at CRISIL, said the decline in FDI is not surprising and is part of investments slowing down globally. Investment flows will remain under pressure in FY24 due to uncertainties in the economic and business environment. Also Read Direct tax buoyancy again falls sub-2% in 2022-23 Indian real estate saw foreign inflows of $26.6 billion between 2017-22 Direct tax collection in FY23 likely to top govt's Revised Estimates Foreign investment in India slowing but shift from China spells opportunity Is DBT the solution for agri subsidy transfers? There is no direct answer Crackdown soon on developers for project delay: Power Minister R K Singh Wheat output set to touch record at 112.74 MT in 2022-23: Govt data India to be a developed country by 2047, economists agree on roadmap: SKOCH Signs of private sector investment cycle unfolding, says CEA Nageswaran India poised for world-beating growth, says CEA V Anantha Nageswaran Economists and analysts agreed that FDI moderation is not a long-term trend. "India is structurally well placed to attract investment in the medium term. The story remains intact," said Joshi of CRISIL. Madan Sabanavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda, said the valuation of start-ups took a beating in FY23 and it would be a challenge again. The appeal filed before the appellate body the highest adjudicating authority at the WTO is considered an appeal into the void, as the body is currently dysfunctional after the US blocked the appointment of judges to the body. India on Thursday appealed against a ruling by the dispute settlement body at the World Trade Organization (WTO) that had ruled against Indias imposition of tariffs on mobile phones and electronic components. This notice of appeal provides an indicative list of the paragraphs of the panel report containing the alleged errors of law and legal interpretation by the panel in its report, without prejudice to Indias ability to rely on other paragraphs of the panel report in its appeal, India said in its notice. India said its decision to appeal involves certain issues of law covered in the panel report and certain legal interpretations developed by the panel in the dispute. Japan considers that given the current situation of non-operation of the appellate body, all the procedural deadlines set out in the appellate bodys working procedures shall be deemed to be suspended. Consequently, until the appellate body resumes its operation and sets the schedule for this appeal, Japan reserves its full rights to file its own appeal on errors (if any) in issues of law covered in the panel report and legal interpretations developed by the panel and submit any relevant submissions for this case, the Japanese side said in a statement at the WTO. The April 17 order of the dispute settlement body on three separate but similar disputes raised by the European Union (EU), Chinese Taipei, and Japan in 2019 said India violated its zero-tariff commitment under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) under the multilateral trade body. However, the appeal filed is only against the order on the dispute with Japan. Also Read WTO ruling against India in tech tariffs dispute with European Union ICT levy dispute at WTO: EU may opt for retaliatory tariffs on Indian goods Trump tariffs: Higher India share in US metal imports, shows data Top headlines: WTO ICT levy dispute, Micron's semiconductor plant & more India exploring options after WTO panel ruling, rules out immediate impact Govt caps amount of interest subvention at Rs 10 cr per IEC holder Centre further ups 2023 wheat production estimate to 112.74 million tonnes Don't see another US Fed rate hike soon, says CEA V Anantha Nageswaran India bats for bringing fugitive offenders to justice at G20 meeting Investment from Mauritius, Singapore in start-ups will attract angel tax In the event there is an appeal to the non-functioning WTO appellate body (i.e., an appeal into the void), the EU has in place legislation (the enforcement regulation) that allows it to enforce its rights by imposing Customs duties or other restrictions in response to an appeal into the void, should the EU decide to do so, said a spokesperson for EU. After Indian officials indicated that the verdict would not have any immediate impact as India would file an appeal with the WTOs appellate body, in a written reply to a questionnaire by Business Standard, the EU threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi didnt abide by the WTO ruling. The EU has claimed that up to 600 million of its technology exports to India were adversely impacted annually due to Indias imposition of tariffs on information and communication technology products. A trade expert said Indias appeal only against the Japan case and not against the EU one could be to avoid EU retaliation. Amit Basole, a professor at the Azim Premji University, says the cobweb of existing labour regulations necessitated these codes. However, the government has to walk a tightrope between entrepreneurs need for a flexible regime and workers welfare. Nearly three years later, the reform remains on the back burner amid opposition from labour unions and many state governments. As the Narendra Modi government enters the final year of its second term in office, it has little time left to complete its unfinished agenda. India's wheat production is set to touch a new record at 112.74 million tonnes in the ongoing 2022-23 crop year (July-June), higher by five million tonnes from the previous year on increased acreage and yield despite unseasonal rains, as per the agriculture ministry's latest data released on Thursday. Besides wheat, a record output has been estimated in rice, maize, oilseeds, and sugarcane. Even the country's overall foodgrains output is estimated to be a record 330.53 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year, as against the actual output of 315.61 million tonnes in the previous crop year, as per the third estimate. Foodgrain basket comprises wheat, rice, nutri-coarse cereals and pulses. "The production of wheat in the country is estimated at 112.74 million tonne, which is higher by 5 million tonne as compared to previous year's production," the agriculture ministry said. Wheat production had declined to 107.74 million tonnes due to heat wave in key growing states in 2021-22 crop year. The previous record of 109.59 million tonnes in wheat output was achieved during the 2020-21 crop year. Also Read Wheat acreage surges 25% from last year; but weather remains a concern Wheat stocks at six-year low; prices touch fresh high, shows data Wheat output may set new record of over 11.2 mn tonnes in 2022-23: Govt Wheat sowing up 1.40% to 33.7 mn hectare so far in ongoing rabi season Wheat prices hit fresh record high following delay in stock release India to be a developed country by 2047, economists agree on roadmap: SKOCH Signs of private sector investment cycle unfolding, says CEA Nageswaran India poised for world-beating growth, says CEA V Anantha Nageswaran Integrating NE with neighbouring nations could raise GDP by 8%: World Bank FDI inflows decline 16% to $71 billion for first time in a decade: RBI data Sowing of wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, had begun from October onwards, while harvesting is expected to get over by June 15 this year. According to the third estimate, rice output is pegged at a record 135.54 million tonnes for 2022-23 crop year, as against 129.47 million tonnes in the previous year. Maize production is also estimated to be at a record of 35.91 million tonnes, as against 33.73 million tonnes in the said period. Total production of nutri-coarse cereals including maize has increased to 54.74 million tonnes in 2022-23 as against 51.10 million tonnes in the previous year. In case of pulses, production is estimated to be marginally higher at 27.50 million tonnes in 2022-23 when compared with 27.30 million tonnes in the previous year. Except for gram and moong, production of tur and urad is estimated to be lower in the 2022-23. Tur production is pegged lower at 3.43 million tonnes as against 4.22 million tonnes, urad output to be down at 2.61 million tonnes as against 2.77 million tonnes, while gram production is estimated to remain flat at 13.54 million tonnes in the same period. However, production of oilseeds is pegged to be at a record of 40.99 million tonnes in 2022-23 owing to higher production of soyabean and mustard seed, as against 37.96 million tonnes in the previous year. Soyabean production is estimated to be at a record 14.97 million tonnes as against 12.98 million tonnes, while rapeseed-mustard output is likely to be a record at 12.49 million tonnes as against 11.96 million tonnes in the said period. In case of cash crops, sugarcane production is estimated to be a record at 494.22 million tonnes in 2022-23 crop year, as against 439.42 million tonnes in the previous year. Cotton production is estimated to be higher at 34.34 million bales of 170 kg each this year as against 31.11 million bales in the 2021-22 crop year. Whereas jute/mesta production is pegged lower at 9.49 million bales of 180 kg each for 2022-23, as against 10.14 million bales in the previous year. The government releases total four estimates before the final one at different stages of crop growth and harvesting. Unlike the time-consuming traditional onboarding process, which can take several days, Sarathi offers merchants a streamlined and hassle-free experience, the company said in a statement. Axis Bank on Thursday launched 'Sarathi,' a first-of-its-kind digital onboarding journey for merchants to adopt Electronic Data Capture (EDC) or Point of Sale (PoS). 1) Real-time database checks for speedier application processing. The system enables merchants to finish the onboarding process in four simple steps, which are as follows: 3) It removes the field verification procedure, allowing for quick decision-making. 2) Live video verification to authenticate merchant information at his/her convenience. Also Read Axis Bank shares slide 2.4% post Q4 results; what should investors do? Analysts raise Axis Bank's earnings forecast; to track deposit growth ahead RBI pauses onboarding of online merchants by Paytm Payments Services Axis Bank-Citi deal: Synergies seen FY25 onwards on deposit, AUM attrition Pine Labs partners ICICI Bank to enable Digital Rupee on PoS terminals A snapshot of term insurance plans with 2 riders offered by various firms Restore transaction fee on RuPay cards: Banks request finance ministry Centre's FY23 dividend income from PSBs 58% higher than in FY22: Report Debit card-based ATM withdrawals up 235% since demonetisation: Report RBI may need to buy $18 bn of bonds to replenish banking liquidity: ICICI The paperless onboarding procedure eliminates the need for merchants to fill out documents or wait to have their PoS terminals installed, it said. 4) PoS installation is completed immediately. The paperless onboarding will eliminate the need for merchants to make additional visits or submit forms again. Sarathi's features include immediate status updates, eliminating the need for follow-up visits, and the ability to transact on the same day their application is processed. Commenting on the development, Sanjeev Moghe, President & Head, Cards & Payments, Axis Bank, said, "Axis Bank will continue to focus on creating digital differentiators across the lifecycle of merchants and consumers. Sarathi gives us the immense potential to drive value for both merchants and the sales channel, especially at a time when instant gratification is the norm." The solution also allows for speedy installation within 45 minutes of processing the application. "This rapidification of onboarding combined with top-notch feature-rich terminals should deliver a superior experience for our merchant community and at the same time improve productivity for our sales teams from an efficiency and productivity standpoint," he added. A sign of Microsoft is pictured on its office building in Beijing, May 25. Reuters-Yonhap The United States, its Western allies and Microsoft said Wednesday that a state-sponsored Chinese cyber actor had infiltrated critical U.S. infrastructure networks, and warned similar activities could be occurring globally. "The United States and international cybersecurity authorities are issuing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to highlight a recently discovered cluster of activity of interest associated with a People's Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber actor, also known as Volt Typhoon," said a statement released by U.S., Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and U.K. authorities. In a separate statement, Microsoft said Volt Typhoon had been active since mid-2021 and had targeted critical infrastructure in Guam, a crucial U.S. military outpost in the Pacific Ocean. "Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises," the statement said. "In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. "Observed behavior suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible." The U.S. and Western security agencies warned in their advisory that the activities involved "living off the land" tactics, which takes advantage of built-in network tools to blend in with normal Windows systems. It warned that the hacking could then incorporate legitimate system administration commands that appear "benign". Microsoft said Volt Typhoon tried to blend into normal network activity by routing traffic through compromised small office and home office network equipment, including routers, firewalls and VPN hardware. "They have also been observed using custom versions of open-source tools," Microsoft said. The director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, also released a warning related to Volt Typhoon. "For years, China has conducted operations worldwide to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from critical infrastructure organizations around the globe," Easterly said. "Today's advisory, put out in conjunction with our US and international partners, reflects how China is using highly sophisticated means to target our nation's critical infrastructure. "This joint advisory will give network defenders more insights into how to detect and mitigate this malicious activity." China offered no immediate response to the allegations. But it routinely denies carrying out state-sponsored cyber attacks. China in turn regularly accuses the United States of cyber espionage. (AFP) The dividend income will be counted as the Centre's non-tax revenue in FY23. The Centre will receive Rs 13,804 crore as aggregate dividend income for 2022-23 (FY23) from the public sector banks (PSBs), nearly 58 per cent higher than Rs 8,718 crore received in FY22, a report by BusinessLine (BL) said on Thursday. This can be attributed to healthy profits and strong capital position reported by these banks in the year. SBI reported an all-time high standalone net profit of Rs 50,232 crore in FY23. Last year, it had declared a dividend of 710 per cent. According to the report, three out of 12 PSBs declared a three-digit dividend, in percentage terms, in FY23. These are the State Bank of India (1,130 per cent of face value), Bank of Baroda (275 per cent) and Canara Bank (120 per cent). On top of the dividend from PSBs, the Centre will also receive a higher dividend from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Last week, the central bank announced that it has approved a dividend payout of Rs 87,416 crore, nearly triple of what was paid in the previous year. Six PSBs have declared dividends between four to 86 per cent. On the other hand, three PSBs namely, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank and Uco Bank did not declare any dividend. Also Read Bank of Baroda Q3: What to expect from the lender's Dec quarter result? What's capping rally in SBI shares despite record net profit in Q4FY23? RBI hikes repo rate by 35 bps to 6.25%, cuts FY23 GDP forecast to 6.8% RBI MPC: Here is what experts have to say about the policy announcement NIM expansion, loan growth: Top 5 things to track in SBI's Q4FY23 results Debit card-based ATM withdrawals up 235% since demonetisation: Report RBI may need to buy $18 bn of bonds to replenish banking liquidity: ICICI Day 2 of Rs 2,000 note exchange has banks running out of cash for exchange Forex reserves at comfortable position to meet requirements: Piyush Goyal War on inflation not over, we have to remain alert: RBI Guv Shaktikanta Das The dividend payout by the RBI was Rs 30,307 crore for the accounting year 2021-22. The dividend payout is higher than the amount estimated in the Union Budget 2023-24 from the central bank and state-owned financial institutions. The Centre was expecting Rs 48,000 crore from the RBI. In FY23, the Centre earned Rs 40,953 crore from the RBI and public sector financial institutions. It was lower compared to the budget estimate of Rs 73,948 crore. The CBDT circular dated May 24 stated that the increased leave encashment limit will be applicable from April 1, 2023. The notice further said, "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (ii) of clause (10AA) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government, having regard to the maximum amount receivable by its employees as cash equivalent of leave salary in respect of the period of earned leave at their credit at the time of their retirement, whether superannuation or otherwise, hereby specifies the amount of Rs. 2500,000 as the limit in relation to employees mentioned in that sub-clause who retire, whether on superannuation or otherwise." The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Wednesday notified to increase the leave salary encashment limit of non-government employees to Rs 25 lakh, Ministry of Finance said in a statement. Mandaviya, who delivered the keynote address at a Quad plus side event on tuberculosis during the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, emphasised India's unique approach to estimating TB impact, which uses a mathematically based model to calculate disease burden prior to the annual World Health Organization (WHO) report. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday highlighted Indias commitment to mitigating the impacts of tuberculosis (TB) by establishing the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, which provides monthly nutritional support to over 7.5 million patients through direct benefit transfer. The scheme has allocated more than $244 million since its 2018 launch. The minister highlighted the country's efforts to reach out to overlooked patients and combat TB's societal stigma. The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA), India's community participation program, helps TB patients throughout their treatment. From 2015 to 2022, India saw a 13 per cent decline in TB cases, beating the global reduction of 10 per cent. The nation's TB death rate declined by 15 per cent during the same time period, surpassing the global drop of 5.9 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry. At the recent One World TB Summit, India announced a family-centred TB care model, a shorter TB preventive treatment (TPT), and the TB-Free Panchayat initiative, which rewards local governments for anti-TB efforts. Stressing the need for an efficient TB vaccine, Mandaviya said that international cooperation and patient-focused innovation were essential to meeting the UNs 2030 TB eradication goals. This initiative, with about 78,000 donors known as Ni-kshay Mitras, has vowed to assist approximately one million patients, producing an estimated $146 million per year, he said. Also Read World TB Day: PM Modi launches initiatives to eliminate disease by 2025 India commits to eradicating TB by 2025, way ahead of global time line India's TB programme: Low cost generics of J&J's MDR-TB drug on the anvil Three-day-long G20 event in Kashmir to begin today: All you need to know Elections not a factor for monetary policy: RBI governor at BFSI Summit Union Health Minister proposes a Global Medical Countermeasure Platform Active Covid cases reported in country decrease to 8,115 in last 24 hours WHO recommends new Covid-19 shots should target only XBB variants Health Ministry to put 75 mn with hypertension on standard care by 2025 Under the lens: Regulator moots pre-export govt testing for cough syrup cos He also assured Indias willingness to share its experience and learn from others in the global fight against TB. The 14th Clean Energy Ministerial will be organised in Goa in July to accelerate the development and usage of green energy, Power Minister R K Singh said on Thursday. Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) was established in 2009 as a high-level global forum to promote the advancement of clean energy. India is one of the founding members of CEM. The coordination support for the CEM is provided by a multi-lateral CEM Secretariat based in Paris, France. Singh, who is also the minister for new and renewable energy, made the remarks at logo launch event of the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial in the national capital. "The Clean Energy Ministerial forum provides an opportunity to the country to convene the global clean energy community and engage on a diverse set of events and bring across the wide spectrum of clean energy innovation to deployment," the minister said. India is the host of the '14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM14)' and '8th Mission Innovation (MI8)' meetings for 2023 events to be held in Goa between July 19-22. Also Read President Biden offers $450 mn for clean energy projects at coal mines India's economy already 10% more energy efficient than G20 average: IEA Karnataka, Gujarat make most progress in clean energy transition: Report India can achieve energy independence by 2047, says US Energy Dept study Indonesian govt promises move to clean energy, but challenges remain Telangana govt to distribute titles of over 0.4 mn acres lands to tribals Kerala CM Vijayan declares state as fully e-governed; first in country J&K approves establishment of disaster recovery centre outside seismic zone Indians banned in some Australian universities amid fraud applications Infrastructure Finance Secretariat holds infrastructure outreach workshop The fourth meeting of G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) will also happen during the same period in Goa. The loan aims to support the development of essential infrastructure, such as roads, water supply systems, and electricity distribution networks, in three industrial clusters located in Andhra Pradesh. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $141.12 million loan agreement on Tuesday, the government said in a statement. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday urged officials of state legislatures to adopt technology the way the executive and the judiciary have done to improve their functioning. When the executive, through the Digital India programme, and the judiciary, through the eCourts Project, have adopted technology to their benefit, the legislature should also use it to its advantage, the minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs said. Delivering the valedictory address at a two-day workshop on 'National eVidhan Application (NeVA)' here, Meghwal said there was an initial hesitation when technology was introduced in the industry, such as steam, electricity, IT solution and artificial intelligence. "But technology has become an integral part of our lives," the minister said, underling the need to adopt it. NeVA seeks to make the functioning of state legislatures paperless and integrate all 37 legislative houses on to 'One Nation, One Application'. Meghwal was recently also given the charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice. Also Read Subordinate judiciary in MP to be called district judiciary: HC circular IIT Madras, Australian univ to launch 'Australia-India Centre for Energy' Judiciary dealt with attempts at interference appropriately: Ex-CJI Lalit Judiciary vs govt: The more things change, the more they remain the same IIT Madras to establish Rs 100 cr Innovation & Entrepreneurship fund ITDC registers highest-ever turnover of Rs 458.08 cr, up 58% on-year Govt issues new rules for SPG; ADG to head special force that guards PM India's digital economy an example for entire world: President Murmu RBI deputy governor's post: Five bankers to face interview on June 1 Plea in SC seeks inauguration of new Parliament building by President As many as 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday even as 20 Opposition parties have decided to boycott the event. Apart from the 18 members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including the BJP, seven non-NDA parties will attend the ceremony, going by their stated position on the issue which has snowballed into another political flashpoint between the ruling and opposition camps. The BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, BJD and TDP are the seven non-NDA parties expected to be present at the event. The presence of these seven parties, which together account for 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha, will be a major relief for the BJP-led NDA. Their participation will help the NDA blunt the Opposition's charge that it is all a government event. Besides the BJP, the 18 NDA members include Shiv Sena, National People's Party, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Jannayak Janata Party, AIDMK, IMKMK, AJSU, RPI, Mizo National Front, Tamil Maanila Congress, ITFT (Tripura), Bodo People's Party, Pattali Makkal Kacchi, MGP, Apna Dal and AGP, alliance leaders said. Nineteen parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, have come together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". Also Read From Chola tradition to Jawaharlal Nehru: All you need to know about Sengol What does Parliament's winter session mean for you? This is how India's new Parliament building will look like: Pics inside 19 Opposition parties to boycott inauguration of new Parliament building Not constitutionally correct: Cong ahead of Parliament inauguration by PM Morning havan, multi-religion prayer to precede Parliament inauguration Haryana will align with central rules to enhance 5G infra: Chief secretary Water level in reservoirs less than last year: Central Water Commission BJP urges oppn parties to show 'big heart', attend new Parliament event Narendra Modi govt's 9th anniversary: Reformist agenda or welfarism? They have also protested the decision that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the building, claiming this was an insult to the highest constitutional office of the President of India. Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend the event. The ministries of Ayush and Minority Affairs have jointly taken a significant step to promote and develop the Unani system of medicine in India. The Ministry of Minorities Affairs has approved a grant of Rs 45.34 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), an Ayush Ministry statement said. With support of this scheme, Unani medicine facilities will be upgraded in Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Silchar and Bengaluru. The grant has been approved for establishing various facilities of Unani Medicine at these locations. The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) has been sanctioned a total of Rs 35.52 crore and the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Bengaluru has been sanctioned Rs 9.81 crore, the statement said. A centre for fundamental research in Unani Medicine at National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders, Hyderabad will be established at a cost of Rs 16.05 crore, it stated. The ministry has proposed cost of Rs 8.15 crore for a preclinical laboratory facility at the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai, Rs 8.55 crore for a centre of Ilaj bit Tadbeer (regimental therapy) for musculoskeletal disorders at the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Lucknow, and Rs 2.75 crore for a centre of Ilaj bit Tadbeer for skin and lifestyle disorders at the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Silchar. Also Read AYUSH has potential to make India a hub of health tourism: CM Adityanath Mankind Pharma IPO to open next week: Check price band, GMP, other details Ayush Ministry, Ministry of Rural Development signs MoU to empower youth Centre forms panel to prepare road map for health care regulations Mankind Pharma IPO opens today: Check GMP, price band, other details here Need to preserve cultural identity of Scheduled Tribe: President Murmu Slipping on numbers? Experts suggest how to get over maths phobia Except Darjeeling leaf, other categories' demand marginally increased Damage to flyover: SC refuses to grant bail to directors of private firm Kohinoor diamond to go on display at the Tower of London on Friday The NIUM, Bengaluru will get Rs 5.55 crore for establishing a Vishram Girah for patients' attendants and Rs 4.26 crore for a skill centre of model Unani cosmetic care, a small-scale Unani pharmacy and Unani crude drug storage. The proposals were considered by the Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Minority Affairs in its meeting held on March 2, 2023 and an amount of Rs 4.86 crore has already been released to the CCRUM as the first instalment (25 per cent) of total sanctioned cost of its three projects in Chennai, Lucknow and Silchar, the statement added. The grant of CCRUM project for Hyderabad and the projects of NIUM, Bengaluru would be released once their DPRs are approved and other technicalities finalized, it read. A cheetah cub, born at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh two months back, died on Tuesday, the forest department said. The latest fatality took the death toll of cheetahs in KNP to four in the last two months, including three felines translocated from African countries. Prima facie, the cub died of weakness, a Forest department release said. The monitoring team found that one of the four cubs of feline Jwala' was lying at the spot where they were spotted earlier while three other cubs were roaming with their mother. The team alerted veterinarians who rushed to the spot and gave necessary treatment to the cub, but it died, the release said. It seems the cub died because of weakness as it was weak since birth, said the release. Also Read Lions can be brought to Kuno once cheetahs stabilise: Wildlife expert Flight bringing Cheetahs to Kuno National Park takes off from South Africa 12 cheetahs from S Africa released into enclosures at Kuno National Park 12 cheetahs brought from SA served first meal at Kuno National Park in MP Govt reveals new names for Namibian, South African cheetahs at Kuno park Used my time for the good of the country: PM Modi on his 3-nation tour US works with India on its most vital priorities, says Matthew Miller Himachal CM announces Rs 250 cr to upgrade Milk Processing Plant in Kangra LIVE: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun Top headlines: SoftBank eyes Indian startups, Hindujas top UK rich list Cheetah Jwala, earlier known as Siyaya, was brought from Namibia to KNP in Sheopur district in September 2022. She gave birth to four cubs in the last week of March this year. Cheetahs were reintroduced in India, 70 years after the species was declared extinct. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, succumbed to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, while another cheetah, Uday, from South Africa, died on April 13. Daksha, a cheetah brought from South Africa, died of injuries following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt on May 9. Siyaya's four cubs were born in the wild on Indian soil after the last cheetah was hunted in the Korea district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947. This fastest land animal was declared extinct in the country in 1952. The relocation of cheetahs from Africa is part of an ambitious plan to revive their population in India. Eight Namibian cheetahs five female and three male were released into enclosures at the KNP on September 17 last year at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In February this year, 12 more cheetahs arrived at KNP from South Africa. Of the 24 cheetahs, including four cubs born in India, KNP now has 17 adults and three cubs. Some of them are yet to be released into the wild. A letter was sent to all district education officers, sub-divisional education officers, and principals of state-run higher secondary schools on Wednesday, in which the state school education department asked all district and school authorities to allow the displaced students to be enrolled in state-run schools and government-aided schools if they seek admission, said a PTI report. The Mizoram government, on Thursday, has now announced that it will ensure children displaced by recent ethnic riots from Manipur are able to continue their schooling in the state. As many as 123 people entered Mizoram in the last 24 hours, and a total of 7,928 ethnic Zos or Mizos, mostly women, children, and the aged, from Manipur, have fled and taken shelter in nine districts of the state, the report highlighted. Education department director Lalsangliana said in a letter, "The recent turmoil in Manipur has caused a large-scale influx of internally displaced children into Mizoram. It is therefore requested that all district and school authorities allow admission even if proper documentation can't be provided for the children if and when they solicit admission to schools." Ethnic clashes in Manipur broke out on May 3, 2023, between tribals and the Meitei community, which constitutes the majority of the population in the state. Close to 9,000 people were displaced within two days of the clash erupting. The internally displaced people are seeking refuge in not just Mizoram but also other neighbouring states and are lodged in relief camps, while many have received help from their relatives. The Kuki-Mizo-Hmar- Zomi communities collectively known as Kukis or Zo Hnahthlak (Zo tribes) in Manipur share blood ties with the Mizos in Mizoram. Also Read Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems Manipur violence: Long-standing issue of ST status for Meitei torches state LIVE: Covid-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, says WHO No, we don't really care about Manipur High Court directs Delhi govt to consider Advocates Protection Bill Cong will implement Old Pension Scheme for Telangana govt employees: HP CM New agri policy to be rolled out on June 30: Punjab Agri Minister Dhaliwal Digital Skills University to be opened in Jharkhand soon: CM Hemant Light rain, strong winds in parts of Delhi; no heatwave for next 5 days A PTI report dated May 5 stated that ethnic violence was brewing for quite some time in the state as a long history of mutual suspicion between groups in the Imphal Valley and its surrounding hills, however, it turned into a simmering conflict with the decision of the state government to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community. (With inputs from PTI) Praveen Sood, who previously served as the Karnataka Director General of Police, took charge as the new CBI Director on Thursday, succeeding incumbent SS Jaiswal. His name was shortlisted among three candidates in a high-powered committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sood, a 1986-batch Karnataka cadre officer, has succeeded Jaiswal, who retired on Thursday. Sood has been appointed for two years from the date of assuming office. The CBI Director has a fixed tenure of two years, which can be extended up to five years. The three-member panel that included Sood's name comprised PM Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Also Read Checking rising crime: 8,000 Rajasthan cops round up 2,051 miscreants 7 years after SC handed Vyapam cases to CBI, court starts framing charges CBI books ex-CMD of Amrapali Group in Balika Vidyapeeth murder case Security forces deployed outside CBI HQ before Sisodia's court appearance DCW issues notice to Delhi Police over mobile phone snatching incident Two more cheetah cubs die inside Kuno National Park, another rescued NE youth returning to development mainstream due to BJP policies: PM CII elects TVS Supply Chain Solutions' Dinesh as the new President Global stature, goodwill increased further with PM three-nation tour: BJP MiG-29K achieves historic milestone, makes maiden landing on INS Vikrant In that meeting, apart from Sood, the names of Madhya Pradesh DGP Sudhir Kumar Saxena and Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards Director General Taj Hassan were also discussed. Sood is a 1986 batch IPS officer. He is recognized for his expertise in tackling major cybercrime issues. In Karnataka, Sood implemented the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) to combat cyber fraud. Honored with the President's Police Medal, Sood has also served as the Police Advisor to the Mauritian government. According to the procedure, the Department of Personnel and Training prepares a list of serving IPS officers from the three senior-most batches to consider for the post of CBI Director. Then the names are sent to the two-member Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister, which chooses one and makes the appointment. Home Minister Amit Shah is the second member of the panel. --IANS atk/pgh "There is a tradition behind this associated with ages. Sengol had played an important role in our history. This Sengol became a symbol of the transfer of power," Shah said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will install the Sengol, a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, in the new Parliament building which will be inaugurated on Sunday, May 28, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday. The sceptre is a significant symbol of Independence and signifies the transfer of power from the British to the Indians. What is Sengol? The Sengol will be kept next to the seat of the speaker of Lok Sabha. Nehru consulted C Rajagopalachari, who went on to become the last viceroy of India. He quoted a Chola model where the power was transferred to one king by another in the presence of a high priest. Cholas used a sceptre, Sengol, to transfer the power. According to a report by The Hindu, on the eve of India's independence on August 14, 1947, the then viceroy Lord Mountbatten asked the to-be Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, "What is the ceremony that should be followed to symbolise the transfer of power from British to Indian hands?" Also Read Karnataka elections 2023: Here's what postal ballots mean on results day New Parliament inauguration: 75 years later, a tryst with Sengol again What are Alternative Investment Funds? When does India declare drought and how is it linked to the monsoon Will end Telangana's 'unconstitutional' Muslim quota if BJP wins: Amit Shah World seeing new India because of PM Modi's leadership: EAM Jaishankar PM Modi to flag off Uttarakhand's first Vande Bharat Express today Cheetah cub dies in Kuno National Park; officials say was weak since birth Used my time for the good of the country: PM Modi on his 3-nation tour US works with India on its most vital priorities, says Matthew Miller The Sengol is mounted by a carving of "Nandi". Then, Vummidi Bangaru Chetty and sons, a jeweller from the Madras presidency were asked to craft the sceptre. It was made by Vummidi Ethirajulu and Vummidi Sudhakar, who still live in Chennai. The handing-over ceremony On August 14, 1947, the deputy high priest of Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, Rajarathinam Pillai, and an Odhuvar, who sings devotional songs in Tamil temples, was flown to Delhi from the then Madras Presidency. "Even after 75 years of independence, most of the people in India are not aware of this event. On this night (August 14, 1947) Jawaharlal Nehru received the Sengol from the Adheenams of the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam in Tamil Nadu, who had specially arrived for the occasion. It was precisely the moment in which power was transferred by the British into the hands of Indians," Shah said. In a ceremony at 11 pm, the Sengol was handed over to Nehru at his house. The event was attended by several dignitaries including to-be President of India Rajendra Prasad. Adheenam presidents to visit Delhi Shah also said that the plan has been made in consultation with "all presidents of Adheenam". "All 20 Adheenam presidents will also be present on this auspicious occasion to shower their blessings in reminiscence of this sacred ritual. I am glad that 96-year-old Vummidi Bangaru Chetty ji, associated with its creation, will also participate in this sacred ceremony," he said. India's global stature as well as goodwill have grown further with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest foreign visit and it was a matter of pride for every Indian, the BJP said on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the prime minister returned from his five-day visit to Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea. He was accorded a warm welcome by the BJP workers and supporters outside the Palam airport here. Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad described the prime minister's foreign tour as "successful" and said there were many instances which indicated that "India's stature has increased further" with the three-nation tour. "It is a matter of pride for every Indian and the party especially," he added. Prasad said India was earning a "new goodwill" in the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. "An indication of this came when US President Joe Biden, at the G-7 meeting in Hiroshima, said how the requests for participation in the state dinner to be hosted for Prime Minister Modi had outnumbered the tickets available for it," he added. Also Read Indian-origin Leo Varadkar elected as Ireland's new prime minister Global Surfaces makes stellar debut; zooms 23% over issue price Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Jan 19 visit to Hyderabad postponed PM Modi to address award ceremony at Civil Services Day event today Uttar Pradesh Ministers to hold roadshows in 7 cities for upcoming GIS MiG-29K achieves historic milestone, makes maiden landing on INS Vikrant Anti-tobacco warnings for OTT shows soon, health ministry to amend rules ISRO chief hails role of Sanskrit in India becoming knowledge society Investment in start-ups from 21 nations will be exempt from angel tax India has developed its own mechanism for estimating TB burden: Mansukh Referring to newspaper reports, the BJP leader said some US Congressmen have requested Prime Minister Modi to address a joint session of the United States Congress. "Their Speaker will take a call now," Prasad said, adding "All these are indications that India is emerging as a very formidable power in the world under Prime Minister Modi's leadership." Prasad said India is getting respect from the top leaders of the world under Modi's leadership as is showcasing its achievements in a range of areas from technology, manufacturing and start-ups to export in the defence sector. "India, which is the world's fifth (largest) economy, is a powerhouse of talents and technology. India is emerging as a big centre of trading, automobile manufacturing, mobile manufacturing, start-up movement and defence export. India is showing achievements to the world in all these areas," he said. Prasad asserted that above all, India under PM Modi's leadership is seen as a country which cares for everyone. "The world saw India as a caring nation and Prime Minister Modi as a caring leader when Made-in-India vaccines were sent to over 100 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic," he added. The prime minister had visited Japan's Hiroshima to attend the Group of Seven Summit. He then travelled to Papua New Guinea on his maiden visit to the island nation. It was also the first-ever visit by any Indian prime minister to the country. Modi then travelled to Sydney at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. "All the leaders I met and all the personalities I spoke to have been so mesmerised and appreciative of India holding the G20 presidency so excellently. This is a matter of great pride for all Indians," the prime minister said. He also said that he used every available time in the best possible way for the good of the country. The Special Protection Group (SPG), the force that handles the security of the prime minister, will now be handled by an officer not less than the rank of an additional director general belonging to the Indian Police Service while junior officers will be appointed on deputation for an initial period of six years. These parameters were fixed through a new set of rules released by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday under the Special Protection Group Act, 1988 (34 of 1988) through a gazette notification. According to the notification, the officers of All India Services will be appointed to the SPG on deputation by the central government on the same terms and conditions as applicable to the officers of the corresponding ranks in the central government. The SPG, as earlier, will have its headquarters in New Delhi and the director shall be appointed by the central government at a level of not less than the additional director general of police from the Indian Police Service, the notification said. So far, it was headed by an officer of the rank of inspector general while on occasions in the past, the post was elevated to the rank of additional director general. However, there were no fixed rules issued in this effect so far, it said. Other members of the SPG, except the All India services officers, shall be appointed on deputation for an initial period of six years, according to the notification. Also Read India needs to start thinking about TSA security at airports: Aviation Secy Indian-origin Leo Varadkar elected as Ireland's new prime minister Measures undertaken to secure nuclear plant systems from cyber-attack: MoS Counter-terrorism, multilateralism India's key focus during UNSC presidency OPPO India, MeitY's CSC Academy to train 10,000 women in cyber security India's digital economy an example for entire world: President Murmu RBI deputy governor's post: Five bankers to face interview on June 1 Plea in SC seeks inauguration of new Parliament building by President Opposition parties continue attack on PM Modi over Parliament inauguration 3 versions of Vande Bharat trains by Feb-March next year: Ashwini Vaishnaw The appointment for the second tenure may be done with the prior approval of the central government for reasons to be recorded, it said. The general superintendence, direction, command and control, supervision, training, discipline, and administration of the SPG will be vested in the director. The director of the SPG shall be the functional head and responsible for the implementation of the duties assigned in the Act besides any other duties, orders, and instructions assigned on this behalf by the central government, the notification said. The manner of providing assistance to the director or member of SPG in terms of provisions contained in the Act shall be specified by the central government through standard operating procedures, it said. Figuring that there could be others battling the same dilemma, Jain started a YouTube channel with a simple theme: What do you do--what can you do--when you are stuck at home? Deepanshi Jain, a young woman in her early twenties, has a YouTube channel that has amassed over 100,000 subscribers. And it all started with the Covid-19 lockdown, when she found herself wondering what to do with the time that hung heavy on her hands. Jain exemplifies a study, published in 2022, by Oxford Economics which found that the ever-growing numbers of creative entrepreneurs on YouTube contributed over Rs 10,000 crore to Indias Gross Domestic Product in 2021. The study, fielded in eight Indian languages, also found that the platform supported an equivalent of 750,000 full-time jobs. The content gained immediate traction. My channel was monetised within two months, Jain says. My videos went viral during Covid. Within two months, I got 6,000 subscribers. She quit her job and devoted all her time to content creation. During the lockdown, social media became the default destination for many who--deprived of the solace of face-to-face human interaction--went online to find the next best alternative. And the numbers are sufficient to create scale: As per the quarterly update published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in May 2023, India had nearly 840 million internet subscribers, including wired and mobile phone users, as of February 2023. The study shows that unlike the much-talked-about internet-based startups that originate in the metros and big cities, content creators are emerging from every nook and corner of the country. Jain hails from the tier-2 city of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh; her YouTube channel Chillbee has allowed her to tap into her creativity and become financially independent. Also Read YouTube removed 1.7 mn videos in India in July-Sept, most in world What's new on YouTube: More ads, including a 30 sec long unskippable on TVs YouTube Shorts now averaging over 50 bn daily views: Sundar Pichai YouTube creators contributed Rs 10,000 cr to India's GDP in 2021: Study YouTube rolls out 'YouTube Kids' to game consoles, smart TVs and Roku Ex-Karnataka Minister booked over his 'finish off Siddaramaiah' remark India logs 535 new Covid-19 cases, active infections dip to 6,168 UP CM Adityanath invites public to attend Ram temple inauguration From Chola tradition to Jawaharlal Nehru: All you need to know about Sengol World seeing new India because of PM Modi's leadership: EAM Jaishankar https://www.indiaspend.com/h-upload/2023/05/24/975122-social-network-users-in-india.webp Alongside internet access, the increasing affordability of smartphones has also fuelled the content creation economy. Dinesh Singh, who belongs to Bagru village in Rajasthans Jaipur district, primarily uses his smartphone to curate videos for his channel, Trends World. Simultaneously, the India Cellular & Electronics Association, apex industry body for the mobile and electronics sector, cites private data website Statista, to project that the number of social network users in the country would reach approximately 448 million by 2023.https://www.indiaspend.com/h-upload/2023/05/24/975122-social-network-users-in-india.webp Dinesh Singh, like Jain, is the personification of a trend. As per Deloittes 2022 predictions, India will have a billion smartphone users by 2026. Much of this growth is expected to be driven by the country's rural population, since smartphone penetration in the urban population has reached its saturation point. I started my channel in 2017 and to date, I only use my smartphone to record videos and upload them with some basic editing, he says. Dinesh Singh has 1.71 million subscribers--more than the population of Bahrain--on his channel, which is devoted to innovation, science, and technology. He refers to himself as an underground YouTuber, a term for those who do not face the camera, and whose content depends on voiceovers. While revenue generation opportunities are available on almost all established platforms in the social media realm, YouTube is the most enticing option for the likes of Jain, Dinesh Singh and their ilk. One reason is the abundant opportunities for content monetisation, as creators have multiple avenues to generate revenue. In addition, the massive audience on YouTube is a spur for youngsters considering a career in content creation. Being ones boss Jain, who in her pre-YouTube days had done her MBA and was holding down a job, says that initially, she started monetising her content via barter collaborations with makeup and beauty brands, where she promoted their products and got paid for doing so. In some cases, Jain got in touch with the brands on her own while in some others, agencies reached out with sponsorship offers on behalf of brands. In this ecosystem, companies looking to promote specific products approach agencies who, in turn, contact influencers in that field. Kiruba Shankar, a digital entrepreneur running a website development firm named F5ive Technologies, and columnist for business publications, says Monetisation is one of the biggest driving forces behind youngsters turning towards content creation. YouTube in particular, and social media in general, have brought about a revolution because it is the antithesis of traditional media platforms, where opportunities are open only to a select few. Hence, these young creative entrepreneurs enjoy being their own bosses and want to run their own entrepreneurial venture. Jain is working on adding merchandising to her revenue streams this year--a method popular with YouTubers who make good money creating and selling branded (or customised) merchandise to their fans. This could span the spectrum from T-shirts, hats, phone cases and stickers to pretty much any product that can be sold. Once her channel began to grow, Jain found more opportunities opening up. She expanded her sources of income via YouTube memberships; she gave paid private classes for subscribers who want to learn how to grow their own YouTube channels. Another interesting revenue stream that Jain experimented with is the Super Chat option, which appears when a creator goes live on YouTube. The viewers' comments are visible for a short time, but if a viewer pays a certain amount, his or her comments get a longer shelf life. Youtube says 70% of the revenue YouTube generates via this option goes to the content creator. Besides AdSense and brand collaborations, says Dinesh Singh, creators can sell YouTube channels to individuals or to companies--at which point the channel is owned by the company, and you get paid to create content for it. Dinesh Singh, like Jain, is intrigued by the numerous revenue streams that have opened up to people like him. "I have earned around Rs 94 lakh ($115,000) to date just from AdSense, he says. Adsense is a programme that allows content creators on YouTube to monetise their videos by showing advertisements, either before or during the video, with the creator earning a percentage of the revenue. Dinesh Singh's first sponsorship was with Motilal Oswal, a financial services company that paid him Rs 35,000 for a one-minute video integration. He also earned around Rs 70,000 from YouTube affiliate marketing, the commission amount earned when a customer buys a product or service after learning about it from the concerned YouTuber. The two major ways in which channels promote brands are by making dedicated or integrated videos. Integrated videos are where the creator dedicates a minute, in the main video, to talking of the product that is sponsoring the show; dedicated videos on the other hand are where the entire video is about a sponsored product. What content goes viral? While every form of content finds an audience, however niche, the genres that attract viewers in numbers include beauty, lifestyle, technology and education. This is a double-edged sword--while creators benefit from knowing what forms of content go viral, the flip side is that such genres attract creators in thousands, which makes standing out from the crowd a daunting task. In this situation, those who got in early have tapped into the first-mover advantage and now enjoy the benefits accruing from a loyal and growing audience base. As per Mishra, the key to making it big on YouTube is to curate unique content offered from a fresh perspective. With millions of videos on the platform, viewers are seeking anything that sticks out. "People want novelty; they dont want the regular updates. If you want to create the same content that an already established YouTuber is creating, you have to find a way to stand out--otherwise, why would people watch you and not them? Thus, a new angle is required. The content that Mishra puts up seems to be working well for him so far. While he has only uploaded 12 videos to date, his subscriber base is already over 3,500. Devesh Mishra, a 23-year-old who hails from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, owns a YouTube channel named Kissa Kahani. He started his channel in 2018 and publishes a mix of poetical and political content. Hitting it big on YouTube is like fishing in a crowded pond; only the lucky ones get a bite, he says. For Dinesh Singh, the channel was a way of showcasing technological hacks, innovative solutions, the-making-of videos of products and so on. Hacks, particularly, are always a big draw across genres. Jains channel picked up the pace once she realised that people craved for information about activities they could undertake at home during the Covid-19 lockdown. But as the lockdown eased, she adapted and turned to evergreen subjects like beauty, lifestyle and more. The digital divide persists, leaving many behind In speaking to YouTubers, the consensus is that there is no surefire recipe for what will work and what will not--the trick, they say, is to keep experimenting and innovating, to tap into their own skills and convert that into content others find useful. Firstly, India has a high offline population. The digital divide, and the lack of digital literacy, mean that half the population of the most populous country in the world is neither able to consume content, nor create it. Indias latest National Family Health Survey had found that between 2019 and 2021, just one-third (33.3%) of women and 57.1% of men had ever used the internet. While the success stories of the likes of Dinesh Singh and Jain sound exciting, the scenario is not entirely rosy. Suruwinder Singh is a 28-year-old YouTuber who started his channel, Infamous pajjji, in 2022. He belongs to a lower-middle-class family; his father is an auto-rickshaw driver. I did not have a smartphone for a very long period of time, he says. I managed to get one after working in the retail sector two years back. The digital divide mirrors the socio-economic disparity within the country, in which the most marginalised group bears the brunt, according to the India Inequality report by Oxfam, an organisation whose work revolves around economic and gender justice. In other words, it is precisely that section of the population that finds regular employment hard to come by that is unable to benefit from these opportunities. Almost a year after starting his channel, however, he has just 828 subscribers, the last we spoke to him. Several YouTubers confirm that a channel should have a minimum of 1,000 followers and 4,000 watch hours to be eligible for monetisation. Over time, he has come to realise the toughness of the job market. As per a monthly report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), an independent think-tank, the unemployment rate in India was more than 7% as of March 2023. Once this realisation set in, Suruwinder Singh decided that there was a paucity of job opportunities, and so decided to start his own YouTube channel which he hoped would earn him a living. The way forward One reason his channel is not growing quickly, says Suruwinder Singh, is that he is unable to upload fresh content with a fair degree of regularity, since he works a full-time job to help support his family. In 2020, seeing the explosive success of short-form video content on Tiktok and Instagram reels, YouTube launched YouTube Shorts. Its popularity owes to the decreasing retention period of the audience and to the fact that many consumers, particularly in the younger age bracket, prefer watching short videos that last a minute or less. On the one hand, creators from remote corners of the country have found new avenues opening up at a time when traditional employment opportunities are drying up. On the other, every success story is balanced by the thousands who try, and fail, to make their content pay. While such videos gain considerable traction, they are harder to monetise because it is next to impossible to incorporate a sponsorship message into a video lasting just 60 seconds. In a press release, Bain & Company, a global consultancy firm, said short-form video content will witness promising engagement in the future. It estimates that by 2025, about 650 million users will consume short-form videos in India. Shankar believes that the next big driver of the content economy will be regional language content--which, he adds, puts enormous opportunities in the way of creators from smaller towns and villages. Anyone from anywhere can upload content per their personal interest, and theres always a micro audience for all kinds of content, he points out. Meanwhile, as per a 2017 report by PageFair, an online analytics and advertising platform that helps websites deal with ad blocking, consumers increasingly use ad blockers or pay for premium subscriptions to avoid seeing ads on their content--which also diminishes the value of the channel for potential sponsors. This creates a conundrum where longer form videos become less valuable to sponsors, while short-form content has no real sponsorship potential. The content creation ecosystem in India has sufficient opportunities to entice people to view this as a viable alternative to regular employment; at the same time, YouTubers say the ecosystem forces creators onto a treadmill where they are constantly scrambling to stay ahead of the curve. What is indisputable, though, our reporting found, is that it has opened up potential avenues to young creators outside the major metros and big cities, who otherwise were starved for employment opportunities. The other opportunity lies in creating content that appeals even to consumers outside local geographies, as per Shankar. Content can be created in local languages and then subtitled for a wider audience; the reverse is equally true that content can be created in English and then subtitled to appeal to regional, small-town audiences. Dinesh Singh points out that a channel that has viewers from developed countries like the United States and Australia, and from countries like China, receives more revenue from AdSense than those channels whose viewers are only from India. https://www.indiaspend.com/h-upload/2023/05/24/975123-infographic-how-sponsorships-reach-influencers.webphttps://www.indiaspend.com/h-upload/2023/05/24/975126-infographic-ways-to-earn-from-youtube.webp The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Delhi government to consider the draft Advocates Protection Bill 2023 and hold a consultation with stakeholders on it. However, the court was informed that the bill has been sent to Law Minister Kailash Gahlot and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. A bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh directed the AAP-led government to examine the bill and file an Action Taken Report (ATR), while listing the matter for further hearing on September 6. "Let Delhi government take steps to consider the representation submitted. Stakeholder consultation also be done. After consultation and examination of the draft bill, let the action taken report be furnished," the court said. The direction came on the plea filed by advocates Deepa Joseph and Alpha Phiris Dayal seeking a direction to the government to ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for Delhi advocates. During the hearing, K.C. Mittal, the lawyer appearing for the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) informed the court that a draft of the bill has been prepared by the Coordination Committee which has been also sent to the Delhi government. Also Read Centre notifies appointment of Chief Justices for four high courts As vacancies pile up in high courts, gloves are off in Centre-SC showdown Andhra HC cannot be town planner: Supreme Court on high court order Use of tech in judicial system ensures transparency, productivity: CM Sukhu SC gets 2 new judges: CJI administers oath of office to Mishra, Viswanathan Cong will implement Old Pension Scheme for Telangana govt employees: HP CM New agri policy to be rolled out on June 30: Punjab Agri Minister Dhaliwal Digital Skills University to be opened in Jharkhand soon: CM Hemant Light rain, strong winds in parts of Delhi; no heatwave for next 5 days Parliament opening: Congress to protest for overlooking President Murmu On April 1, advocate Virender Kumar Narwal, 53, was shot dead in Delhi's Dwarka by two motorcycle-borne assailants. Joseph and Dayal, citing the "alarming rise" in incidents of violence inside the court premises in the capital in their petition, said that it was "high time now" for a decision to be taken for the enactment of an 'Advocates Protection Act' to guarantee protection to the fraternity and help overcome the fear. If such an act is not passed in the national capital, the audacity of criminals to commit crimes against lawyers will rise, the petitioners claimed, adding that their concern for their own safety has been "aggravated by seeing the visuals and video of the cold-blooded murder of an influential and senior member of the Bar". "The scenario particularly post the death of advocate Virender Narwal has created an atmosphere that does not feel favourable to practise the profession without fear and hence it impinges upon the right to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business to all citizens under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India and also violates Article 21 of the constitution that guarantees protection of life and personal liberty," the petition said. "The Petitioners are constrained to move this Hon'ble Court as they have felt a sense of despair among fellow members of the Bar as well.. The murder of Virender Narwal has compelled the Petitioners to think about their own safety," the plea said. --IANS spr/vd Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday visited the milk processing plant in Dhagwar, in Kangra District, where he announced that the state government would invest Rs 250 crore to upgrade the facilities. "The government aims to collect milk from cattle rearers and sell milk by-products to improve the rural economy. To achieve this, the government is going to introduce the "Him-Ganga" scheme, which aims to develop a milk-based economy in the state," the press release stated. "Under the "Him-Ganga" scheme, cattle rearers will receive fair prices for their milk based on the real cost, and efforts will be made to enhance the quality and efficiency of milk procurement, processing, and marketing systems," it read. It further stated, "The government will also protect milk producers from regional and seasonal price fluctuations, particularly those from poorer sections of society. An allocation of Rs. 500 crores has been made for the "Him-Ganga" scheme, and it will be initially launched on a pilot basis by linking farmers before gradually expanding to other areas. Meanwhile, CM Sukhu said to increase the income of milk farmers, Milk Producers' Cooperative Societies will be established as needed, ensuring effective marketing of milk and its products through these cooperatives. "The success of the "Him-Ganga" scheme will require the establishment of new milk processing plants and the upgrading of existing ones. This will involve developing the necessary infrastructure and supply chains in a phased manner," he said. Also Read Himachal CM announces Rs 250 cr for Dhagwar milk processing plant 2 earthquakes hit Himachal Pradesh's Kangra; 1 of medium intensity Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to take oath as Himachal's chief minister today Podcast: What's behind the rise in milk prices across the country? Milky way: Beyond Amul vs Nandini, dairy brands that dominate their states LIVE: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun Top headlines: SoftBank eyes Indian startups, Hindujas top UK rich list One dead, five injured after DTC bus loses control in Delhi; driver held PM Modi arrives at Delhi's Palam airport after concluding 3-nation visit Manipur Minister Konthoujam Govindas' house vandalised by irate mob Agriculture Minister Prof Chander Kumar commended the Chief Minister's efforts to improve the rural economy with innovative approaches. "The Congress party has guaranteed the purchase of cow milk at Rs. 80 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs. 100 per litre, indicating a forthcoming milk revolution in Himachal Pradesh," he said. Local MLA, Sudhir Sharma expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for preparing a roadmap to enhance the Dhagwar Milk Plant. Later the Chief Minister also inspected the Bio Diversity Park site at Narwana. On the occasion, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Chairman RS Bali, CPS Kishori Lal, MLA Kewal Singh Pathania, Himachal Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation Vice Chairman Vishal Chambiyal, Agriculture Development Bank Chairman Sanjay Chauhan, and other dignitaries were present amongst others. The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday announced that doctors recruited henceforth across departments, including Health and Family Welfare and Animal Husbandry, will not be entitled to Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA). The announcement drew a sharp reaction from medical and veterinary associations, who termed it "anti-people" and demanded that the notification be withdrawn. "The Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) will not be admissible to all doctors recruited henceforth in Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education, Dental, Ayush and Animal Husbandry departments of the state government," the official notification stated. The Himachal Medical Association described the decision as "anti-people". The duties of doctors are different from duties discharged by employees of other departments as they serve the patients by risking their own lives and had demonstrated their loyalty to the patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, the association said in a statement issued here. The Himachal Pradesh Veterinary Officers Association demanded that the government withdraw the notification. Also Read Himachal polls: Counting of votes to begin at 8 am; BJP eyes new record BJP appoints MLA Rajeev Bindal as party chief in Himachal Pradesh New members of Himachal Pradesh cabinet led by Sukhu to swear in today Cong surge in Himachal trends: Ahead on 37 seats; BJP wins 1, leads on 27 Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu next Himachal CM, Agnihotri his deputy: Congress NTCA to set up committee to monitor Kuno in wake of 6 cheetahs death India should fence habitats; worst still to come: Cheetah project expert Gyanvapi row: HC to hear waqf board petition, mosque management on Friday Cost of Renovation of Delhi CM's residence Rs 52 cr: Report sent to LG Displaced children from Manipur can complete schooling in Mizoram: Report This decision is not in the interest of veterinarians. Resentment among veterinarians would affect the entire animal husbandry sector and harm the interests of farmers, said Dr Neeraj Mohan and Dr Madhur Gupta, president and general secretary of Himachal Pradesh Veterinary Officers Association, respectively. The state government had earlier reduced the NPA from 25 per cent to 20 per cent of the basic pay and now the NPA is being denied to future doctors, they said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to people in Manipur to maintain peace and promised that justice will be ensured to all sections of society. Shah while laying the foundation stone of the tenth national campus of the National Forensic Sciences University to be set Changsari area of Kamrup district, said he will travel to the northeastern state to help resolve disputes. "I will go to Manipur soon and stay there for three days but before that, both groups should remove mistrust and suspicion among themselves and ensure that peace is restored in the state," he said. The Centre will ensure that justice is given to all who suffered in the clashes which broke out in the state, but "people must hold a dialogue to ensure peace in the state," Shah said. Referring to the setting up of the NFSU campus here, the home minister said that this will guarantee employment opportunities for all students passing these courses. "The Centre was planning to bring legal changes to make site visits by forensic experts compulsory for crimes which attract more than six years of imprisonment," he added. Also Read Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems 54 dead in Manipur violence, Imphal peaceful, most shops, markets open Manipur violence: Shah speaks to CMs of neighbouring states; holds 2 VCs Violence in Manipur a well-planned conspiracy, alleges JNU Professor Dire need of DRDO-academia partnership for safety, says Rajnath Singh Punjab Police blocks 180,000 SIM cards activated on forged papers Denying sex to spouse is mental cruelty, says Allahabad High Court Dhanuka Agritech Q4 profit grows 20% to Rs 65.30 cr; revenue up 17% G20 provided opportunity to showcase socio-economic progress of J-K: Sinha The first phase of the NFSU campus was expected to be completed by 2026 and the second by 2030 while classes will start this year at the temporary campus in Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). Shah also launched an interactive web portal the 'Seva Setu' of the Assam police, developed jointly with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), which will enable people to lodge FIRs, missing persons complaints, as well as fill up online forms for tenant, paying guests and domestic help verifications, without visiting any police station. South African wildlife expert Vincent van der Merwe on Thursday recommended fencing the cheetah habitats to circumscribe the overall threat to the big cats recently introduced in the country, prevent their "extreme ranging behaviour", and protect the prey base from anthropogenic pressures such as poaching. In an interview with PTI, Van der Merwe said the reintroduction project is going to see even higher mortality in the next few months when cheetahs try to establish territories and come face to face with leopards and tigers at the Kuno National Park. He was sadly on the mark with his prediction as the sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh lost two more cheetah cubs on Thursday, marring further the government's much-vaunted project to repopulate cheetahs in the country. "Very unfortunate, but not unusual for first-time mothers to lose their first litter," he said. Van der Merwe, who is closely involved with the project, said though the cheetah deaths have been within the acceptable range, the team of experts that reviewed the project recently did not expect males to kill a South African female cheetah during courtship and "they take full responsibility for this." "There has never been a successful reintroduction (of cheetahs) into an unfenced reserve in recorded history. It has been attempted 15 times in Africa and it failed every time. We are not advocating that India must fence all of its cheetah reserves, we are saying that just fence two or three and create source reserves to top up sink reserves," Van der Merwe told PTI. Fencing is done to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and pressures of predation or poaching on endangered species. Also Read World Wildlife Day 2023: Spotlight on the role of business in conservation Lions can be brought to Kuno once cheetahs stabilise: Wildlife expert Inadequate space for cheetahs in MP's Kuno National Park: Ex-WII official Flight bringing Cheetahs to Kuno National Park takes off from South Africa Govt reveals new names for Namibian, South African cheetahs at Kuno park Gyanvapi row: HC to hear waqf board petition, mosque management on Friday Cost of Renovation of Delhi CM's residence Rs 52 cr: Report sent to LG Displaced children from Manipur can complete schooling in Mizoram: Report High Court directs Delhi govt to consider Advocates Protection Bill Cong will implement Old Pension Scheme for Telangana govt employees: HP CM Source reserves are habitats that provide optimal conditions for the population growth and reproduction of a particular species. These areas have abundant resources, suitable habitats, and favourable environmental conditions. They can support self-sustaining populations that produce a surplus of individuals, which can then disperse to other areas. Sink reserves, on the other hand, are habitats that have limited resources or environmental conditions that are less favourable for the survival or reproduction of a species. Sink reserves are reliant on dispersing individuals from source reserves to maintain their population numbers. Several experts, even the Supreme Court, have expressed concerns over the lack of space and logistical support at Kuno Park and have suggested shifting cheetahs to other sanctuaries. In April, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department had written a letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, requesting an "alternate" site for the cheetahs at Kuno, where three adult cheetahs have died in less than two months, besides the Thursday deaths. Van der Merwe, manager of the Cheetah Metapopulation Project in South Africa, said the best way forward right now would be to get at least three or four cheetahs to Mukundra Hills, and let them breed up there. "Mukundra Hills is fully fenced. We know that cheetahs will do very well there. The only problem is that it's not fully stocked at the moment. So you'll have to bring in some black buck and chinkara. And when the fencing is completed at Nauradehi and Gandhisagar, we will have three fenced reserves and then we are absolutely winning," he said. The conservationist presaged more cheetah deaths outside of the fenced enclosures in the next few months. "That's where the real dangers lie. That's where you can expect mortality due to hunting injury. The cheetahs, of course, will continue to establish territories and fight with each other and kill each other for territories and for access to females. They're going to encounter leopards. There are now tigers moving around in Kuno. The worst mortalities are still to come," he said. Though the death of three adults and three cubs is perfectly within the normal mortality rates experienced in reintroduction, it is very unfortunate that these cheetahs died inside the enclosures, Van der Merwe said. "There seems to be a frenzy in India, we've lost four cheetahs and the project is failing. That is not true. Cheetahs naturally have high mortality rates. And we observed these same mortality rates in Africa when we reintroduced them into unfenced systems," he said. He said the Namibian female cheetah (Shasha) was compromised (she was suffering from a kidney infection) before she even got to India and the people on the ground really don't know what killed the second cheetah (Uday). "We really don't know what killed that South African cheetah, when he was opened up and examined, he was found to be perfectly healthy. So we don't know what happened there. And then the two males killing the female was just extremely unfortunate," he said. On the males killing the female cheetah, Van der Merwe said such cases are rare but can occur. "We've had a whole lot of male and female cheetahs interacting with each other in the bomas and the large enclosures at Kuno. And initially, it was very successful. There were three matings observed between the Namibian cheetahs. "And then the South African cheetahs were also given exposure to each other inside the large enclosures... The two males went on to kill the female and we were involved in this decision-making. And we accept full responsibility for what happened," he said. Only 8 per cent of the mortalities recorded in the South African metapopulation in the last 10 years is due to cheetahs killing each other and only 5 per cent of this involved males killing females, said Van der Merwe. The conservationist said he was not worried about the cheetah-carrying capacity of Kuno national park. "When you drive in from the side of the national park, you see a very small number of animals. It's only when you reach the centre of the park that you see cheetals and spotted deer at the natural densities, so Kuno is not stocked to its full capacity with cheetals, spotted deer, samba deer, and nilgai. And that's because it's unfenced. There must have been human-related factors that have impacted the prey populations at Kuno," he said. Kuno has the capacity to support 20 cheetahs, so the action plan is correct, he said. "We anticipate a 50 per cent mortality in the first year, we know that only 10 are going to survive the initial release period. There's going to be more than enough prey for them. "Also, the Indian authorities are stocking Kuno. They are bringing cheetals and spotted deer. So, I'm not worried about the carrying capacity," said Van der Merwe. Responding to concerns over some cheetahs being kept in enclosures for longer durations, he said all the cats should be released into the wild immediately. "They have been in captive conditions for seven months in South Africa and for three months now in India. The problem is that Kuno is an unfenced system. We know that the cheetahs are simply going to walk out of it," he said. "In South Africa, all our reserves are by law fenced, so we do not have this problem of cheetahs walking out of the national parks or protected areas," he added. He said Kuno has the logistical capacity to deal with only two escaped cheetahs at a time. And if all of the remaining adults are released at the same time, at least 10 of them are going to walk out. This is going to logistically overwhelm the staff on the ground, he said. "The other reason is that the Namibian cats were very relaxed and easy to manage. So when they escaped, it was easy to recapture them, you can walk to within 20 metres and dart them. On the other hand, seven of the 12 South African cheetahs were extremely wild. This means if you want to recapture them, it is impossible to do so. You cannot get within 50 metres of those cheetahs, they just walk away. So, the teams at Kuno are using this opportunity to try and relax the seven South African cheetahs. They are trying to get them habituated," Van der Merwe said. Six of the 17 adult cheetahs alive have been released into the wild. A few more will join them before the monsoon rains set in, officials said. Under the ambitious reintroduction programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on his 72nd birthday on September 17 last year. In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18. Interview: DRC-China infrastructure cooperation beneficial to Congolese people, says state minister Xinhua) 10:46, May 25, 2023 KINSHASA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Infrastructure cooperation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and China has yielded fruitful results and practical benefits for the Congolese people, Alexis Gisaro Muvuni, DRC's minister of state for infrastructure and public works, has said. Before the DRC's President Felix Tshisekedi's state visit to China from May 24 to 29, Muvuni, a member of the Congolese government delegation, praised the infrastructure cooperation between both countries in an interview with Xinhua. Since the 1970s, the Chinese government has aided the construction of projects such as the People's Palace, home to the National Assembly and the Senate, and the Martyrs Stadium, said Muvuni. "The People's Palace is the place where major political events take place, while the Martyrs Stadium, which can accommodate 80,000 people, often holds various major events. So these projects testified to the vitality of China-Congo infrastructure cooperation," he said, adding that the China-aided Haut-Katanga General Demonstration Hospital, which was handed over in 2020, is another example of such cooperation. According to Muvuni, the China-aided Central African Cultural and Arts Center is the project that excites him the most. The project is considered one of Africa's most significant China-aided initiatives and is expected to be completed by the year-end. "This is another flagship project for the cooperation between the two countries," said Muvuni, adding that he closely follows the art center's construction progress. Chinese companies and investors have vigorously promoted bilateral infrastructure cooperation and made concrete contributions to local communities over the years, Muvuni said. He said that Chinese companies genuinely support Africa by building infrastructure, including roads and bridges, and bringing tangible benefits to the Congolese people. Muvuni also expects closer commercial exchanges between the two countries to serve the bigger picture of the two economies. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The development came as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was visiting the country spoke of more "Australian and Indian students living and studying in each other's countries, and bringing those experiences home". According to an IANS report, The Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales wrote to education agents last week asking them to no longer recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir." The report further added that this was expected to be a short-term issue, however, there is a clear trend which is now emerging. In April 2023, several Australian universities, including Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, Torrens University, and Southern Cross University placed a ban or restriction on students from some Indian states as fraudulent applications seeking to work, and not study, in the country are on the rise. Citing a letter from the Federation University, the report added, "The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs." To ensure that students from other regions are not impacted, the report also added that recruitment from the other regions will continue as usual. Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana have been identified as states posing the highest risk of attrition in these universities. Also Read US univs attract Indian students with quality education, better prospects Australian varsities put curbs on Indian students as fraud cases rise 57% of all fraud incidents in India are 'platform' frauds: PwC India India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2 Stumps: Lyon's 8-64 demolishes IND to 163 LIVE: 'Blatant affront to democratic ethos,' NDA slams Oppn's decision Infrastructure Finance Secretariat holds infrastructure outreach workshop Home Minister Shah appeals for peace in Manipur, assures justice for all Dire need of DRDO-academia partnership for safety, says Rajnath Singh Punjab Police blocks 180,000 SIM cards activated on forged papers Denying sex to spouse is mental cruelty, says Allahabad High Court The Department of Home Affairs is now terming one out of four applications as fraudulent or non-genuine, the report added. The Western Sydney University has placed a ban for at least two months- May and June. (With inputs from IANS) It further said, Australia is reportedly set to enroll the highest number of Indian students ever, surpassing the previous high of 75,000 in 2019. Amid a surge in fraudulent visa applications, two more Australian universities have banned the recruitment of Indian students from some states, reports showed on Wednesday. India was a knowledge society since Vedic times involving Maths, medicine, metaphysics, astronomy etc written in Sanskrit, but all such learning came back to the country several thousand years later as "discoveries by Western scientists", Indian Space Research Organisation chairman S Somnath has said. Addressing the fourth convocation ceremony of the Maharishi Panini Sanskrit and Vedic University here on Wednesday, Somnath said Sanskrit was one of the most ancient languages of the world with its repertoire including poetry, logic, grammar, philosophy, science, technology, maths and other allied subjects. "Surya Sidhanta, the very first book I came across in Sanskrit talks about the domain I am familiar with. This book specifically talks about solar system, how planets move around the sun, periodicity of this movement, timescales etc," he said. "All this knowledge travelled from here, reached the Arabs, then went to Europe and thousands of years later came back to us as discoveries of great Western scientists. However, all this knowledge was written here in this language Sanskrit," Somnath asserted. The imprint of the contribution of scientists that was expressed in Sanskrit down the ages in fields like astronomy, atmospheric sciences, biological sciences, medicine, physics, aeronautics can been seen through the journey of Indian culture, the ISRO chief added. The point is this knowledge had not been full exploited or researched, he said, adding that inviting persons like him to talk about science and Sanskrit will help the organisers to take the next step of showing that Sanskrit can be used to easily convey scientific thought and the process of science. Also Read Isro launches 36 satellites for OneWeb; everything you need to know Gained in translation: Why spending on learning Indian language makes sense ISRO carries out controlled re-entry experiment of decommissioned satellite TOEFL to be shortened by an hour, candidates to get real-time score status SC cancels Kerala HC order granting pre-arrest bail to 4 in Isro spy case Investment in start-ups from 21 nations will be exempt from angel tax India has developed its own mechanism for estimating TB burden: Mansukh Ayush, Minority Affairs ministries collaborate to promote Unani medicine Need to preserve cultural identity of Scheduled Tribe: President Murmu Slipping on numbers? Experts suggest how to get over maths phobia Concepts like 'shunya' (zero) as well as infinity were discovered by ancient sages, while Algebra, the Pythagoras Theorem were expressed precisely and in poetic style (in Sanskrit), he said. "Many other concepts like that of vimana, architecture, the concept of time, the structure of the universe, how it evolved and grew, metallurgy, chemical technologies, medicine treatment, languages, the structure of grammar, shastras like Nyaya, sangeet, spirituality, Yoga have been expressed beautifully in Sanskrit," he said. The difficulty faced by scientists of the time was that Sanskrit was expressed more in 'shruti' (sound) that in written form, which also made the language more beautiful to listen that many other languages, Somnath said. "That's why it survived. Today you don't need that shruti structure, which is the beauty of this language as it is a formula based and logical based language. We scientists love this kind of language, which is rule based, syntax based, something which suits the computer language," he said. Those working in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, machine learning love Sanskrit and there is a lot of research underway to see how it can be used for computing and natural language processing, the ISRO chief said. Opposition parties on Thursday continued their attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over inauguration of the new Parliament building and accused him of being "megalomaniac" and the government of being "arrogant". Modi is slated to inaugurate the new building on May 28. As of now 21 opposition parties have said they will not be attending the ceremony. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the "arrogance" of the Modi government has "destroyed" the parliamentary system. "Mr. Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system," he said in a tweet in Hindi. "140 crore Indians want to know what do you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House?" the Congress chief said. The Congress' attack comes a day after as many as 20 opposition parties announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi. Also Read As Nitish tries to bring Opposition together, here's a look at his journey Indian-origin Leo Varadkar elected as Ireland's new prime minister Lok Sabha adjourned amid heated exchanges between BJP, Opposition members Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Jan 19 visit to Hyderabad postponed Oppn members walk out of RS, accuse NHRC of selectively visiting states 3 versions of Vande Bharat trains by Feb-March next year: Ashwini Vaishnaw PM Modi to chair NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on Saturday Ex-Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood takes charge as CBI Director for 2 years Two more cheetah cubs die inside Kuno National Park, another rescued NE youth returning to development mainstream due to BJP policies: PM Nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, came together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend. "Boycott of #ParliamentBuilding opening by 20 parties representing the diversity and pluralism of India is a response to boycott of parliamentary traditions by an authoritarian government. The 'NDA statement' pulled out by BJP is telling. A once large coalition now virtually extinct!" said Derek O' Brien, TMC MP and leader of the party in Rajya Sabha. CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury highlighted how the president and not the prime minister should inaugurate the new building. "Modi to inaugurate new Parliament building! The President of India is not only the head of the Republic but also the head of the Parliament. PM is head of the govt- Executive- & not of the Legislature," he said. TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale referred to the prime minister inaugurating every Vande Bharat train and his photo on Covid vaccinations and said it was a "hallmark of authoritarians". "From Vande Bharat trains to the new Parliament building - everything has to be inaugurated by PM Modi. His photo also needs to be on all Covid vaccination certificates. Work done by any ministry is credited to him. This sort of megalomania is a classic hallmark of insecure authoritarians," he said in a tweet. CPI MP Binoy Viswam said that issues raised by the opposition have remained unanswered and questioned how the government has asked the opposition to reconsider their decision to boycott the opening ceremony. "All our valid concerns remain un attended , our serious questions are yet to be answered. What is the logic behind the @parliamentary affairs minister asking us to reconsider our decision to boycott? Let @narendramodi apologise @rashtrapatibhvn for bypassing 1st Indian citizen," he said in a tweet. The opposition parties contend that President Droupadi Murmu should do the honours as she was not only the Head of State, but also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived at Palam airport in Delhi after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Prime Minister Modi was garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at the airport. Nadda reached Delhi's Palam airport early on Thursday morning to welcome PM Modi on his arrival to India post concluding his three-nation visit. The BJP National President was accompanied by Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi MP Ramesh Vidhuri, Hans Raj Hans, and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. A large number of BJP workers and supporters also gathered outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Speaking to ANI, BJP workers said, "People are here to welcome PM Modi as he has made us and the whole nation proud." Also Read PM Modi holds talks with Papua New Guinea PM, Governor-General Bob Dadae Pacific nation leaders relish Indian delicacies, millets at PM Modi's lunch PM Modi wraps up 'fruitful visit to Japan,' departs for Papua New Guinea PM Modi releases Tamil classic 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea language PM Modi meets Ukranian President Zelenskyy in Hiroshima on G7 sidelines Manipur Minister Konthoujam Govindas' house vandalised by irate mob National e-Vidhan Application: What is it and why is it significant? Punjab to release pending 6% dearness allowance installment to employees Three incidents of violence reported in Kadangband of Imphal West district Maha CM, Dy CM take test drive on under-construction Trans-Harbour Link "At midnight we are here to welcome PM Modi as he had made everyone proud," another worker said. Visuals showed BJP workers eagerly waiting for the PM's arrival while holding placards and national flags. They can be seen dancing to drum beats amid tight security prior to the PM's arrival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Prime Minister Narendra on Thursday will flag off the indigenously built Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi via video conferencing, equipped with advanced safety features including the Kavach technology, stated an official release. This will be the first Vande Bharat to be introduced in Uttarakhand. With world-class amenities, it will herald a new era of comfortable travel experiences, especially for tourists travelling to the state, read Prime Minister's Office press release. "Uttarakhand's connectivity is all set to get a big boost. At 11 AM today, I will be flagging off the Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun. Making the occasion even more special is the feat of 100 per cent electrification of Uttarakhand's rail tracks. Do join the programme," tweeted Narendra Modi. With this, the state will have its entire rail route 100 per cent electrified. Trains run by electric traction on the electrified sections will result in an increase in the speed of trains and enhance haulage capacity. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Moradabad Railway Division, Sudhir Singh said that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will also be present at the Dehradun railway station during the inaugural event of the state's first Vande Bharat Express train. Also Read Kerala to conduct trial run for its first Vande Bharata Express today Vande Bharat pelted with stones in Bengal's Malda; BJP demands NIA probe Secunderabad-Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express likely to start from new year PM Modi flags off Odisha's first Vande Bharat, launches railway projects PM Modi virtually flags off Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat express Cheetah cub dies in Kuno National Park; officials say was weak since birth Used my time for the good of the country: PM Modi on his 3-nation tour US works with India on its most vital priorities, says Matthew Miller Himachal CM announces Rs 250 cr to upgrade Milk Processing Plant in Kangra LIVE: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to Jharkhand, on Thursday urged tribal women to come forward and reap the benefits of government schemes. She also said there is a need to preserve the cultural identity of Scheduled Tribe community. "Come forward and take the benefits of government schemes which are run for your welfare. Tribal women of Jharkhand are ahead of those in other states when it comes to women empowerment," Murmu said at an event in Khunti. Jharkhand tribal women have shown "exemplary performance in sports", she said, adding that women in the state are also contributing to the economic growth of the country. The President interacted with women members of Self Help Groups in Khunti, the birthplace of tribal icon Birsa Munda. The programme - Mahila SHGs Sammelan - was organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation. Also Read Prez Murmu pays obeisance at Ranchi temple, garlands Birsa Munda statue FIH-certified Rourkela hockey stadium is world's largest: Odisha Govt Only 8.2% of 463 million Jan Dhan accounts are zero balance: RBI report 'Nalayak' jibe only to highlight PM's empty rhetoric for Banjaras: Priyank Post pandemic pent-up demand surge, realty space may face global headwinds There are some in govt service who have doctorate in corruption: Kerala CM Indore: Muslim girls alerted against 'saffron love-trap', probe ordered Govt crackdown soon on developers of delayed power projects: R K Singh India unstoppable now, moving with speed parallel to Vande Bharat: PM Modi 524 buildings declared dangerous in Navi Mumbai, occupants asked to vacate Around 25,000 tribal women participated in the programme at the Birsa Munda College stadium here. The President stressed on the need for preserving the distinct cultural identity of tribals and said their society is "free of evil practices such as dowry". Murmu also visited stalls showcasing diverse tribal crafts, and live demonstrations of tribal arts were also organised there. Various tribal products were displayed in 20 stalls for which several suppliers and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras of Jharkhand and Bihar had been invited to participate in the exhibition. Later in the day, the President will attend the second convocation of IIIT, Ranchi. Murmu on Wednesday paid obeisance at the Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar district. She also inaugurated the new building of the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi, built at a cost of around Rs 550 crore. SoftBank eyes five Indian start-ups; may invest up to $100 mn in each SoftBank is in talks with about four to five Indian start-ups, with valuations ranging from $400 to $500 million, to invest and support them in their next stage of growth and eventually help them become unicorns. The areas the investment giant is looking at include the B2C space, enterprise, and media, said sources aware of the development. BSNL looks to ring in 100 million 4G customers in a couple of years The Masayoshi Son-led Japanese tech investor plans to put in $50-100 million in each of these companies. This is far lower than what the legendary investor has put in many of his companies in the country. Read more... Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and MTNL have a combined 105 million total telecom subscribers, or around 9.1 per cent of the total market, though they are 2G or 3G users. Read more... State-run BSNL seeks to get 100 million customers to use its 4G service in the next 12-24 months as it rolls out the services across the country, Union Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw told Business Standard. Currently, there are about 769 million 4G users in the country, out of total 1,100 million total telecom users. Also Read TCS-led consortium secures BSNL 4G deployment order worth Rs 15,000 crore TCS-led consortium wins Rs 15,000 crore BSNL 4G network rollout deal Paid competitive gaming growing 6x faster than overall mobile gaming: RPT Hinduja Global Solutions approves buyback of 6 mn shares at Rs 1,700 each Hinduja group chairman SP Hinduja dies at 87 in London: Family spokesperson One dead, five injured after DTC bus loses control in Delhi; driver held PM Modi arrives at Delhi's Palam airport after concluding 3-nation visit Manipur Minister Konthoujam Govindas' house vandalised by irate mob National e-Vidhan Application: What is it and why is it significant? Punjab to release pending 6% dearness allowance installment to employees ED raids on foreign-registered online gaming portals at 25 locations The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said it detected illegal foreign remittances of about Rs 4,000 crore after it carried out multi-state raids against foreign-registered online gaming websites and companies operating in the country in alleged violation of the foreign exchange law. Indian IT firms to see revenue decelerate by 5%: S&P Global Ratings In a statement, it said that Rs 19.55 lakh and more than $ 2,695 in cash were seized apart from freezing 55 bank accounts during this operation carried out under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Read more... The reason behind this slow growth is a macro slowdown. Customers are cutting their discretionary IT spending, especially on projects that take longer to deliver quantifiable outcomes. We also acknowledge that there are still strong economic headwinds for the next few years, said Spencer Ng, associate director, corporate ratings, S&P Global Ratings, over a call in a media briefing. Read more... Macroeconomic (macro) concerns, along with a cautious approach towards discretionary information technology (IT) spending, will see the revenue for Indian IT firms decelerate by 5 per cent through 2024-25 (FY25), from the highs of 12-18 per cent in 2022-23, said analysts from S&P Global Ratings. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has extended an invitation to the public to attend the grand inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, scheduled to be held next year. Yogi is actively monitoring the progress of various ongoing projects in Ayodhya which is witnessing a flurry of infrastructure developments as it eagerly prepares for the grand opening, said a state government spokesman. According to the spokesman, the state government is fast tracking infrastructure projects in Ayodhya, including the expansion of the city's airport and railway station. Progress is also underway on the construction of the Ram Path, a 13-km road stretching from Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat. Plans are afoot for the development of the Ram Janaki Path and the Bhakti Path. The Ram Janaki Path will have a width of 30 meters, while the Bhakti Path will be 14 meters wide. These developments aim to facilitate the movement of devotees to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi and the Hanuman Garhi temple. Also Read Yogi to perform Ram Lalla's ritual with rivers water from 155 nations Those raising doubt on Ram temple construction shown way home: CM Shinde Unveiling of Ambedkar's 125-ft statue in Hyderabad to be grand affair Deliberations underway on date of placement of Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya Yogi Adityanath govt to present its largest-ever annual budget today From Chola tradition to Jawaharlal Nehru: All you need to know about Sengol World seeing new India because of PM Modi's leadership: EAM Jaishankar PM Modi to flag off Uttarakhand's first Vande Bharat Express today Cheetah cub dies in Kuno National Park; officials say was weak since birth Used my time for the good of the country: PM Modi on his 3-nation tour Meanwhile, the government's compensation disbursement process for shopkeepers in Ayodhya, who willingly provided their shop premises for the development of the area around the under-construction temple, has been progressing smoothly. Those affected by the project have been allotted shops in newly developed complexes. Additionally, efforts were made to rehabilitate many shopkeepers to their original locations with the cooperation of the property owners, the spokesman said. --IANS amita/ksk/ Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by BJP workers and supporters on Thursday as he returned from the three-nation tour. "All the leaders I met and all the personalities I spoke to have been so mesmerised and appreciative of India holding the G20 presidency so excellently. This is a matter of great pride for all Indians, Modi said. The prime minister had visited Japan's Hiroshima to attend the Group of Seven or G7 Summit. He then travelled to Papua New Guinea, which was his first tour, as well as the first-ever visit by any Indian prime minister to the Indo-Pacific country. Modi also travelled to Sydney at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He said that he used every available time in the best possible way for the good of the country. Taking a swipe at critics, he said they questioned the decision to give away vaccines to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also Read BJP on Mission South, eyes bigger share of 130 LS seats in southern states BJP preparing young team to lead Karnataka's development in next 25 yrs: PM PM Modi to hold his 3rd public rally in Rajasthan's Sirohi on May 12 Assembly Elections 2023: Will get absolute majority, says Karnataka CM Landslide win of PM Modi's BJP in Gujarat polls makes global headlines US works with India on its most vital priorities, says Matthew Miller Himachal CM announces Rs 250 cr to upgrade Milk Processing Plant in Kangra LIVE: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun Top headlines: SoftBank eyes Indian startups, Hindujas top UK rich list One dead, five injured after DTC bus loses control in Delhi; driver held "Remember, it is the land of Buddha, it is the land of Gandhi. We care even for our enemies, we are the people inspired by compassion," the prime minister underlined. He also asserted that the world is keen to listen to India's story and said Indians should never suffer from "slave mentality" while speaking about their great culture and traditions and instead speak with courage. Modi added that the world agrees with him when he says any attack on the country's pilgrimage site is not acceptable. As much as USD 300 million (about Rs 2,500 crore) of dividend income belonging to Indian oil firms is stuck in Russia due to tough Western sanctions following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, a top official said on Thursday. Indian state oil firms have invested USD 5.46 billion in buying stakes in four different assets in Russia. These include a 49.9 per cent stake in the Vankorneft oil and gas field and another 29.9 per cent in the TAAS-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha fields. They get dividends on profits made by the operating consortium from selling oil and gas produced from the fields. "We had been regularly getting our dividend income from the projects, and they are lying in bank accounts in Russia," Oil India Ltd chairman and managing director Ranjit Rath told reporters here. Soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, several major Russian banks were banned from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) financial transaction processing system, constricting Moscow's ability to access the global payments system. Also, the Russian government has put restrictions on the repatriation of dollars from that country to check volatility in foreign exchange rates. The USD 300 million dividend income pertains to the consortium of OIL, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat PetroResources Ltd. ONGC Videsh Ltd, which also has a stake in the same projects, would have a similar dividend income. Also Read India's Russian oil imports cross 1 million barrels a day in December Govt should scrap windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil: FICCI Reliance-bp, Russia's Nayara begin pricing petrol, diesel at market rates ONGC, Oil India in talks for 50% stake in $3.4 billion Kenya oilfield India's oil deals with Russia dent decades-old dollar dominance IICA starts 3-day training programme on leadership for senior DGCA officers Assocham inks agreement with ICMAI to curb money laundering activities IEPFA reaches out to top hundred firms to ease investor claims' process Indian Steel Association, AISC partner to unlock opportunities in steel Around 40 MT new steel capacity to be commissioned by FY26: Assocham This dividend is lying with the Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL), which was a joint venture of the State Bank of India and Canara Bank. Canara Bank in March sold its 40 per cent stake in CIBL to SBI. The dividend from TAAS was paid on a quarterly basis, while Vankorneft's earnings were paid half-yearly. The Indian firms are looking at options of how to repatriate the money from Russia, he said. All dividend income prior to the Ukraine war was repatriated but the one that accrued after that is stuck. ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), holds a 26 per cent stake in Suzunskoye, Tagulskoye and Lodochnoye fields -- collectively known as the Vankor cluster in the north-eastern part of the West Siberia. Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Bharat PetroResources Ltd (a unit of Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd or BPCL) hold another 23.9 per cent. Russia's Rosneft is the operator with 50.1 per cent interest. The consortium of OIL, IOC and Bharat PetroResources has a 29.9 per cent stake in TAAS-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha. The operations of the fields have not been impacted and they continue to produce as normal. OVL also has a 20 per cent stake in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas field in Far East Russia, and in 2009 acquired Imperial Energy, which has fields in Siberia, for USD 2.1 billion. Industry body Indian Steel Association (ISA) on Thursday announced signing an agreement with ASEAN Iron and Steel Council (AISC) to unlock new avenues of growth and sustainability in steel sector. ISA is the apex industry body which represents the issues and interests of the domestic steel industry. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations was signed on Sunday May 21, 2023 in Manila, Philippines, ISA said in a statement. "ISA and AISC signed a MoU for bilateral cooperation. It aims to leverage the strengths, expertise, and resources of both organizations to unlock new avenues for growth, innovation, and sustainability in the steel industry," it said. The delegation from India was led by ISA president and AMNS India CEO Dilip Oommen and ISA Secretary General Alok Sahay, while AISC President and President Director of PT Krakatau Steel Purwono Widodo attended the MoU signing. Widodo emphasised the significance of the steel industry in both India and ASEAN countries. He highlighted the potential for collaboration in areas such as technology exchange, R&D, trade facilitation and market growth. Also Read More initiatives on anvil to boost steel sector in 2023: Union Minister JSPL to invest Rs 7,930 crore under PLI scheme for steel: MD Bimlendra Jha PLI scheme qualifiers, steel ministry to ink pacts for investment proposals RINL supplies 1,800 tonnes of structural steel for AMNS expansion project Around 40 MT new steel capacity to be commissioned by FY26: Assocham Around 40 MT new steel capacity to be commissioned by FY26: Assocham Global DRAM chip demand expected to overtake supply by June: Report Investments in green energy now 70% higher than in fossil fuels: IEA Allocate satellite spectrum administratively to help space industry: ISpA Dream Sports CEO Harsh Jain elected as new chairman of IAMAI till 2025 Oommen in his opening remark highlighted the importance of producing environmentally and economically viable steel and acknowledged the pivotal role the steel industry plays in driving infrastructural development, employment generation and economic progress. "Discussions also focused on decarbonization efforts, emphasizing the importance of defining near-zero emission steel, establishing measurement standards, and adopting sustainable production technologies. The importance of technology, innovation, and government support in achieving decarbonization goals was emphasized," it said. The number of NPS subscribers added under the central government component declined 7.6 per cent to 124,920, and under state 6.2 per cent to 457,122. Experts see subscription figures at the central and state levels as a proxy for employment generation by the public sector. The adoption of the National Pension System (NPS) by corporate employees accelerated for a second straight year in 2022-23, with 193,283 new subscriptions 30.6 per cent more than the 147,981 in FY22. Subscriber additions under central and state government components, meanwhile, declined during the same period, showed data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Thursday. The decline in subscriber addition at the state level, in fact, can be partially explained by these states reverting to OPS, says Mukesh Anand, assistant professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP). But that doesn't explain the full picture. In reality, employment in the public sector has been declining for the past few decades, with contractualisation taking place at a large scale, especially in the central government. These workers are without social security, including pension. Despite the much publicised [rozgar] melas last year, employment at the centre grew only marginally, he adds. However, though the Centre still mandates NPS for all its new employees, subscriber additions can no longer be used as an exact measure for hiring at the state level, as some states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Punjab announced a return to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) last year. The growth in the corporate component was driven by subscribers in the more than 35 age group. Their share increased to 36.5 per cent from 29.3 per cent last year, mainly as a result of the government scheme that provides existing corporate employees the option to shift their accounts from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to NPS. Of the new corporate subscribers added in 2022-23, the share of youth (18-28 age group) declined to 30.5 per cent from 34.9 per cent in FY22. This is crucial because subscribers in this age group are usually first-timers in the labour market. Also Read NPS partial withdrawal rule changing for these subscribers from Jan 1 NPS guaranteed return product to have floating rates, reset every year NPS subscriber base rises 23% to 62.4 million in March 4, shows data Fresh central govt, CPSU hiring at 11-month high, shows NPS data NPS adoption by central public sector at 13-month high in February $300 mn of dividend income of oil firms stuck in Russia due to sanctions IICA starts 3-day training programme on leadership for senior DGCA officers Assocham inks agreement with ICMAI to curb money laundering activities IEPFA reaches out to top hundred firms to ease investor claims' process Indian Steel Association, AISC partner to unlock opportunities in steel Government is actively encouraging employees to switch from defined-benefit schemes like EPF to defined-contribution schemes like NPS. Earlier, a one-time tax exemption was provided for such a switch. The idea was to provide more options to employers. This explains the rise in the share of older people in the corporate sector joining NPS, Anand adds. Opposition parties, meanwhile, accuse the government of giving opaque statements on the border situation with China. Talking of politics, Congress recently swept the Karnataka polls. While people hailed Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders for the victory, those working tirelessly behind the scene remained behind the scenes. They prepare election strategies and play a vital role in any partys victory. Like Prashant Kishore is credited with BJPs rise. And Sunil Kanugolu for Congress recent win. But how do these poll strategists help parties? After the Galwan Valley clash about three year ago, ties between India and China had hit a new low in decades. But trade between the two countries touched an all-time high last year. In our first story, we talk about how trade between India and China is shaping up amid strained ties. Chinese suppliers of Apple have reportedly been given preliminary clearance to form joint ventures with Indian companies. Chinas popular fashion brand, Shein, is also re-entering the country. So are Chinese firms back in business in India? The report further added that the names of the ministers have been finalised in the meeting between the new Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar along with central leaders of the party in the national capital. Karnataka's new Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's government to have 25 ministers who will take oath on Saturday, reported NDTV citing sources. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday expressed his concern over Satyendar Jain's health situation, and attacked the Central government for targetting AAP leaders. Satyendar Jain, the jailed former health minister, was admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital after he slipped in the washroom of Tihar jail. "The person who worked tirelessly day and night to provide excellent treatment and promote good health to the public is now being targeted by a dictator who seeks to eliminate this virtuous individual," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. "This dictator is solely focused on his own agenda, disregarding the welfare of others. His self-centered nature blinds him from seeing the bigger picture. However, it is important to remember that a higher power is overseeing everything. God, in His infinite wisdom, will ensure justice prevails for all," he said. "I offer my prayers to God for Satyendar ji's swift recovery. May God grant them the strength to confront and overcome these challenging circumstances," he further wrote on Twitter. --IANS Also Read Anti-national forces put Sisodia, Satyendar Jain in jail: Delhi CM Kejriwal Over 1 mn signatures collected against Sisodia, Jain's arrest: AAP BJP govt at Centre fighting with everyone, alleges Delhi CM Kejriwal Delhi prisons department transfers 19 DSPs, over 30 ASPs, 3 head warders AAP calls SC verdict on services row 'tight slap' on mission to topple govt Nation will boycott Congress: Dhami on skipping Parliament inauguration AAP leader Satyendar Jain admitted to hospital after collapse in Tihar Jail If not Indian PM will Pak PM inaugurate it: Congress' Acharya Krishnan HD Kumaraswamy's son resigns from JD(S) post defeat in Karnataka polls Congress to re-investigate Karnataka Police Sub-Inspector recruitment scam ssh/dpb Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik objecting to the Odisha Government's move to provide social security pension in cash to the beneficiaries in the state. "I write to you, expressing my worry, and more importantly, the distress of the citizens of Odisha, regarding the recent decision of the Odisha Government to shift the social security pension for old age and divyangjans to cash, rather than maintaining the existing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) strategy. This decision, unfortunately, appears to be a step backwards in our collective pursuit of corruption-free governance and efficient public service delivery," said Pradhan in his letter. "Under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we have strived to ensure that the fruits of government schemes reach every individual, without any pilferage. The Jan Dhan Yojana is a sterling example of this approach. Across India, a whopping 48.99 Crore bank accounts have been opened under this scheme, amassing savings of Rs 1.97 lakh crore. In Odisha itself, 2.01 crore bank accounts have been activated, saving Crore for the people of our state. Moreover, 1,45,48,473 Rupay cards have been issued in Odisha for ease of transactions," he stated in a letter. He further said, "Prime Minister Modi's social security schemes such as the PM Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, and Old Age, Widow and Divyangjans Pension Scheme under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) have provided safety nets for our fellow citizens in Odisha, settling claims worth hundreds of crores, and financially aiding numerous families through the DBT Mechanism." "Under the NSAP of the Government of India, approx. 2.99 Crore beneficiaries especially old, widows and divyangjans are being paid monthly pensions through their bank accounts. Similarly in Odisha also, 20,95,695 beneficiaries are being provided with benefits through the DBT mechanism. You must appreciate the fact that these significant numbers of beneficiaries are being disbursed directly to their bank accounts, eliminating any possibility of corruption," the letter read. "Adoption of DBT has resulted in massive savings to the exchequer, by removal of fake/ghost beneficiaries and reducing need for intermediaries/middlemen. This has immensely helped in plugging leakage and diversions and has eliminated the scope of corruption. It promotes transparency by cutting down discretionary decision-making and opacity in processes.Odisha has swiftly adopted DBT both in central and state schemes, Odisha's total DBT in FY 2022-23 was a whooping 8135.18 crore which includes transfers through Centrally Sponsored Schemes and State Schemes and almost 1.95 crore beneficiaries have been covered in FY 2022-23," he stated. Also Read Biz of moving currency booming, with new revenue streams set to open up BSE Odisha 10th Result 2023: All you need to know about checking result Centre open to views on new education policy, says Dharmendra Pradhan Dharmendra Pradhan expresses concern over Odisha's law and order situation Pradhan asks Odisha CM Patnaik to get cabinet nod for Padampur district Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar in Delhi, likely to discuss cabinet expansion Oppn boycotting Parl inauguration blatant affront to democratic values: NDA Kharge to Khan: Siddaramaiah's 8 new ministers are political veterans Will ban Bajrang Dal, RSS if peace is disturbed: K'taka min Priyank Kharge K'taka ministers to get portfolios soon, says Sidda; Bommai questions delay The letter further read, "Due to the elimination of ghost/ duplicated beneficiaries by the adoption of DBT, the government of Odisha has made an estimated saving of Rs 459.96 Cr in FY 2122. Needless to mention Government of India has saved approx. 2.73 lakh crore cumulative till the close of FY 2021-22 due to the adoption of DBT." "These figures elucidate how the DBT strategy has been instrumental in alleviating poverty, empowering citizens, and improving service delivery, directly benefiting crores of Indians, especially our brethren in Odisha. Considering such a substantial impact, it is disconcerting to witness the Odisha Government(s decision to return to cash payments for old age pensions.Talking of concerns related to pension payments to elders and divyangjans, as of January 2023, there are 82,261 active banking correspondents available with different banking institutions in Odisha," the letter stated. Apart from it, there is a wide network of 8491 post offices in Odisha which are fully capable and trained to provide financial services in remote and rural areas, India Post has a wide presence and its wide network needs to be leveraged along with DBT, the letter read. "Furthermore, 6,772 Gram Panchayats in Odisha are covered through more than 22,000 functional Common Service Centres across Odisha, their extensive presence has been used in the implementation of various social security, financial services, agriculture, and farmer welfare schemes of the Government of India successfully," said Pradhan in his letter. The letter read it would be encouraging if existing Banking Correspondents, a wide network of India Post and Common Service Centres are fully utilised in the disbursement of old age pensions, social security schemes and other financial services within the DBT Framework. They promise innovative and efficient ways that the benefits reach the unreached. You would appreciate the fact that cash payments, historically, have had tendencies to spur corruption, pilferage, and exploitation of beneficiaries by middlemen, it read. "The recent decision of the Government of Odisha to pay out cash, I fear, may revive these grim scenarios, adding burdens to our elder citizens, already grappling with the hardships of old age. Keeping in mind our commitment to maintaining transparency and rooting out corruption, I urge you to continue the DBT mechanism for payment of pension to old age, widows and divyangjans in Odisha and review the decision of cash payout," the letter read. However, the ruling Biju Janata Dal has countered the Union Minister on the issue, in a statement BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra said, "Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's stand about providing social security pension for Divyangs and Senior Citizens through DBT instead of cash is shocking. It seems Union Minister Pradhan is unaware of the ground realities and problems faced by them due to the lack of banking facilities. They have to travel 20-30 kms and spend Rs. 200 to 300 to withdraw pensions amounting to Rs 500 from Banks." "Providing it in cash, in fact, will reduce their burden of travelling long distances. He is doing injustice to the lakhs of widows, differently abled and old age persons by making such a stand and harassing them. This is one more stand of his for which he will suffer and be forced to withdraw his opinion," BJD MP said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Thursday morning welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival to India after concluding his three-nation visit and said that the world appreciates PM Modi's "governance model". "The world appreciates your governance model. US President Joe Biden asked for your autograph, this shows how the world is seeing India under your leadership," said Nadda. "The way the PM of Papua New Guinea touched your feet, shows how much respect you have there. The people of India feel proud when they see that our Prime Minister is being welcomed like this," he said. Earlier in the morning, PM Modi arrived at Palam airport in Delhi after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Prime Minister Modi was garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at the airport. Nadda reached Delhi's Palam airport early on Thursday morning to welcome PM Modi on his arrival to India post concluding his three-nation visit. Also Read PM Modi has changed political culture of the country: BJP's J P Nadda BJP on Mission South, eyes bigger share of 130 LS seats in southern states PM Modi to hold his 3rd public rally in Rajasthan's Sirohi on May 12 Landslide win of PM Modi's BJP in Gujarat polls makes global headlines BJP preparing young team to lead Karnataka's development in next 25 yrs: PM Boycotting inauguration not in true spirit of democracy: Andhra CM It's drama: CPI MP Binoy Viswam on new Parliament building inauguration Dharmendra Pradhan objects to Odisha govt's move of pension pay in cash Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar in Delhi, likely to discuss cabinet expansion Oppn boycotting Parl inauguration blatant affront to democratic values: NDA The BJP National President was accompanied by Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi MP Ramesh Vidhuri, Hans Raj Hans, and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. A large number of BJP workers and supporters also gathered outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Speaking to ANI, BJP workers said, "People are here to welcome PM Modi as he has made us and the whole nation proud." Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Gujarat Chief Minister on Thursday condemned the decision of 20 Opposition parties to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying it was an insult to the great nation and an attack on the country's democratic values. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday. The Opposition parties have claimed the prime minister's decision to inaugurate it by himself, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response". They contend that President Murmu should do the honours as she is not only the Head of State, but also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it. Commenting on the issue, Gujarat CM Patel said the decision to boycott the inauguration ceremony is "highly condemnable". "This decision is not only an insult to our great nation, it is also an attack on our country's democratic values as well as constitutional beliefs," he told reporters in Nadiad town of Kheda district on the sidelines of an event. Also Read No, Israel has NOT found two cases of a new variant of coronavirus New Parliament row: PIL filed in SC seeking inauguration by President Murmu Israel's designated PM Netanyahu says he has successfully formed new govt 19 Opposition parties to boycott inauguration of new Parliament building Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi pay tribute to 2001 Parliament attack victims No discussion so far for banning groups like Bajrang Dal: K'taka Minister Cong tucked away sacred 'Sengol' in museum, called it 'golden stick': BJP Changing laws is arrogance: Bommai calls Congress govt 'reverse gear govt' New Parliament row: PIL filed in SC seeking inauguration by President Murmu Stalin tells Centre to direct Amul to refrain from milk procurement in TN He said the new Parliament building will definitely be inaugurated on May 28 despite such boycott calls by the Opposition. Patel slammed the Opposition parties, claiming this is the not the first time when they had violated or boycotted important parliamentary rules and events. "The Opposition parties violated parliamentary traditions and rules in the past too. They had boycotted a special session on GST. The Opposition parties are in the habit of insulting democracy. When our President Droupadi Murmu was nominated for the post, the Opposition parties had insulted her by registering their protest against her candidature," he said. The CM further said the Opposition parties had expressed displeasure when former President late Pranab Mukherjee was conferred the Bharat Ratna. "The Opposition parties are in the habit of stalling pro-people schemes. By giving a boycott call, they have lowered their own dignity. People will never forget this insult of 140 crore citizens," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the opposition parties for their announcement to boycott the inauguration of new Parliament House on May 28 saying that an Indian diaspora event in Australia was attended by the country's Prime Minister, former PM and MPs from the ruling and Opposition. Addressing the party workers here after his arrival from three nation tour of Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia, PM Modi said, "You all will be happy to know that Australian Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) attended the Indian Community programme which is a matter of pride for us. "Not only this, the programme was also attended by former Australian Prime Minister, MPs from the Opposition and from ruling parties were there. Everyone participated in the Indian community programme. This is not the fame of Modi but of India's effort and spirit of 140 crore Indians," Modi. "This is the strength of democracy," he said. The Prime Minister's remarks came a day after the 19 opposition parties, including Congress, decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by him on May 28. On Wednesday, the 19 like-minded parties in a joint statement said, "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building and announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building". A war of words erupted between the Congress and BJP over the inauguration of the new Parliament House by PM Modi on May 28. Also Read Your voice is India's voice: PM Modi at Voice of Global South summit UN will remain 'talk shop' if it doesn't reflect reality, says PM Modi India will give direction to world in 'Amrit Kaal': PM Modi in Rajya Sabha India committed to furthering sustainable development, says PM Modi PM holds meeting with top ministers to discuss strategy for Budget session Sachin Pilot has not given any ultimatum to party: Congress MLA Chaudhary Rahul Gandhi's talk show to be held at Stanford University on May 31 Indians feel proud: JP Nadda on Papua New Guinea PM touching PM Modi's feet Boycotting inauguration not in true spirit of democracy: Andhra CM It's drama: CPI MP Binoy Viswam on new Parliament building inauguration PM Modi also pointed out that the world agrees with him when he says that attacks on our pilgrimage sites are not acceptable to us. The Prime Minister said, "I want to tell you that while speaking about the culture and great tradition of India, never get immersed in slavery mentality and speak with courage." "The world is eager to listen. The world agrees with me when I say that attack on our pilgrimage sites is not acceptable, they support us," he said. The Prime Minister also asserted that when the bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled in Japan's Hiroshima, India was able to spread the message of Bapu. "I gave a Bodhi tree sapling to the Japanese Prime Minister during his visit to India. And he told me that he planted that sapling in Hiroshima where the disaster happened to give the message of peace," he said. The Prime Minister also took a jibe at the opposition parties for opposing his decision to export Covid vaccines at the peak of the pandemic, and said, "In the times of crisis, they asked why Modi was giving vaccines to the world. Remember, it is the land of Buddha, it's the land of (Mahatma) Gandhi. We care even for our enemies, we are the people inspired by compassion. We move further like this only," Modi said. He also said that whatever time he could avail during his three-day trip to Australia, he utilised it in the best possible way for the good of the nation, for taking the best possible decisions for the nation. Modi said that during his foreign trips he discusses the might of Indians. "During my visits, this is your effort, this is your tradition which I tell the world. I only go to the world and sing songs of your might. During meeting the great men of the world, I talk about the potential of India and discuss the talent of the young generation of India." "And how the youths of India show their might after getting opportunities," he added. The Indian diaspora programme in Australia was attended by over 20,000 people. --IANS aks/dpb Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to leave for the US on May 28 will hold a talk programme at the Stanford Graduate School of Business on May 31, party sources said. The source, while sharing the details of the programme, said that the Congress leader will participate in a programme titled 'The New Global Equilibrium: Talk by Rahul Gandhi' on May 31 at 5 p.m. The programme is organised at the CEMEX Auditorium in Stanford Graduate School of Business. He will also attend the 'Mohabbat ki dukan' programme in California on May 30. During his five month 3,900 km long Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, Rahul Gandhi had been saying "Nafarat ke bazar me, Mohabbat ki dukan khol raha hu" to connect with the masses. He will also participate in an NRI meet in San Francisco, according to party sources. Also Read Rahul Gandhi visits memorials of former Prime Ministers, Mahatma Gandhi Gandhi family walks together as Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Delhi today Will abide without prejudice to my rights: Rahul on vacating bungalow Lok Sabha adjourned for the day over Rahul Gandhi's democracy remark Rahul's remarks disrupt Lok Sabha proceedings for second consecutive day Indians feel proud: JP Nadda on Papua New Guinea PM touching PM Modi's feet Boycotting inauguration not in true spirit of democracy: Andhra CM It's drama: CPI MP Binoy Viswam on new Parliament building inauguration Dharmendra Pradhan objects to Odisha govt's move of pension pay in cash Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar in Delhi, likely to discuss cabinet expansion The party source said that Rahul Gandhi will also address an NRI's meeting in New York on June 4. Earlier this year, Rahul Gandhi had visited the UK and participated in several programmes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the US in June. 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. On Wednesday, former Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party veteran Subramanian Swamy opposed before a Delhi court Rahul Gandhi's application seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in order to get a fresh "ordinary passport". Gandhi on Tuesday moved the court seeking an NOC in order to get a fresh "ordinary passport" after he surrendered his diplomatic travel document upon his disqualification as an MP. The court has posted the matter for hearing next on May 26. --IANS aks/dpb However, there is an alternative for users who have concerns about divulging their personal information to an online chatbot: PrivateGPT. It is an open-source model that lets users post queries and questions without an internet connection. It locally runs on a users device and is capable of operating fully online. ChatGPT is a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) tool with a wide range of applications. But the AI chatbot's privacy policy has raised concerns about the security of personal information. Several companies like Samsung, JPMorgan, Apple, and Amazon have banned their employees from using ChatGPT due to concerns that their confidential information will get exposed. PrivateGPT at its current state is a proof-of-concept (POC), a demo that proves the feasibility of creating a fully local version of a ChatGPT-like assistant that can ingest documents and answer questions about them without any data leaving the computer (it can even run offline), Toro told Motherboard, an online magazine. For running the application, created by a developer named Ivan Martinez Toro, an open-source Large Language Model called gpt4all needs to be downloaded. Users then need to put all their relevant files into a directory for the model to ingest all the data. Users can then ask questions to the bot and it will provide answers using the documents. It has the ability to ingest over 58,000 words and needs a good CPU to set up. The PrivateGPT documentation emphasises that no data leaves the local environment during the ingest process. With the increasing use of Generative-AI models by corporate, concerns have been raised about data safety. A major data leak incident happened in April when three Samsung employees in Korea accidentally shared sensitive information with ChatGPT. Toro said that he made this app after seeing how valuable ChatGPT has become in the workplace. Also Read ChatGPT adds real-time web browsing feature to compete with Google Bard ChatGPT arrives on Apple App store for iPhones: Everything you need to know Data privacy rising exponentially as a job creator, says Tsaaro report ChatGPT is a data privacy nightmare: Here's why you ought to be concerned ChatGPT vs humans: What it can and cannot accomplish Passwordless innovation to revolutionise security, change authentication OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey: You may need an invite code to buy this phone Sony announces Project Q, a handheld device to stream PS5 games: Details Opera unveils ChatGPT-powered integrated AI side panel 'Aria' Cloud data provider Snowflake acquires Neeva to leverage generative AI We will launch a dedicated device that enables you to stream any game from your PS5 console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi, PlayStation boss Jim Ryan said during the PlayStation Showcase. Internally known as Project Q, it has an 8-inch HD screen and all of the buttons and features of the DualSense wireless controller. All of the buttons and features of the DualSense wireless controller are featured on the device. Amid plenty of game trailers, Sony on Wednesday revealed a new hardware product in its Showcase livestream. Called Project Q, it is a handheld device that Sony is working on to make PS5 games more accessible. The device would enable users to stream any compatible game installed on the PS5 console. The device will not be able to store games on its own and will focus on streaming. The LCD screen is meant to stream visuals and gameplay from PS5 when the user is away from his/her/their TV. Games that users play on the Q should be installed on a PlayStation5 console; Q is designed to be a companion for the PS5, not something which would run games natively. The device would feature an LCD screen capable of running games at up to 1080p and 60fps over Wi-Fi, said Sony. It will include both the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback of the DualSense. The Q handheld is slated to be launched later this year. Project Q seems to be Sonys response to the rising popularity of handhelds. The company also announced plans to launch specialised PlayStation 5 earbuds, which will bring lossless audio when playing PC and PS5 games. At the present moment, PS5 games can be streamed using Remote Play on any iPhone, Android phone, Windows, or Mac. Rumours about Q had emerged earlier this year on the internet. Also Read Sony Bravia XR A80L OLED series TVs with Google TV OS launched: Details Sony-Zee merger expected to be completed by September: Sony CEO Yoshida Sony Audio Days sale: Check deals on headphones, speakers, earbuds and more Sony introduces NW-ZX707 Walkman in India at Rs 69,990: Details here Sony launches WH-CH520 on-ear wireless headphones in India at Rs 4,490 Opera unveils ChatGPT-powered integrated AI side panel 'Aria' Cloud data provider Snowflake acquires Neeva to leverage generative AI iOS 17 new feature may turn locked iPhones into smart home displays: Report 73 per cent of Indian firms report being ransomware victim in 2023: Report 5G network in India crosses 200,000 sites mark with roll out in Gangotri Sony said that more information about Project Q would arrive at a later date. Sony also didnt provide details on exactly how much the new device might cost. China's commerce minister will hold talks with officials in the US this week amid sharpening disputes over tariffs and technology, his ministry said on Thursday. Wang Wentao will meet with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Trade Representative Katherine Tai while in the US to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum trade minister meetings on Thursday and Friday in Detroit, Michigan. In announcing Wang's visit, Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting denounced a decision by Japan, a fellow APEC member, to join the US and Holland in barring Chinese access to leading-edge computer chip technology. This is the abuse of export measures and the departure from free trade and international economic and trade rules, Shu said. This will severely damage the interests of Chinese and Japanese enterprises and the trade cooperation between China and Japan. China has long been reliant on Japanese technology, but now needs machines available only from a single Dutch company, ASML Holding NV, that etch microscopic circuits on next-generation chips. Also Read Are the rising Covid-19 cases in China a worry for India? Abolish veto rights or give them to new permanent members in UNSC: India India stands for peaceful resolution: PM on 'China's military expansion' US seeks strong defence ties with India; pumps billions to counter China China to confront multiple Covid infections with new Omicron strains Alibaba refutes layoff rumours, says will hire 15,000 people this year Imran Khan says 'undeclared martial law' in Pakistan; files plea in SC Immigration to Britain reaches record high in 2022 due to war, economy US weekly jobless claims rise moderately; Q1 GDP growth revised up Kejriwal meets NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai over ordinance row Without that, the ruling Communist Party's efforts to develop advanced chips for smartphones, artificial intelligence and other applications are stalled. In what was seen as retaliation, China's cybersecurity watchdog on Sunday announced a ban on products from US memory chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. in some computer systems. The Cyberspace Administration of China said Micron products have unspecified security risks but gave no details. The trade disputes have brought supply disruptions and caused billions of dollars in lost sales but are seen as necessary by the West to prevent Beijing from accessing technology with military applications. China has stepped up its threats to invade self-governing Taiwan, increased its military presence in the South China Sea to back its claims to the strategic waterway, and provided diplomatic and economic backing to Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Despite their political differences, trade between China and the US topped USD 690 billion last year, while an estimated 295,000 Chinese students are enrolled in American colleges and universities. As countries like India struggle with the growing menace of drugs, crypto has emerged as a culprit as two separate reports by Blockchain research firms have revealed that Chinese chemicals companies, suspected of supplying the base substances to produce fentanyl to overseas drug cartels, have earned tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrencies. Most fentanyl trafficked into the US is manufactured using precursors imported from Chinese suppliers, according to researchers from London-based Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. Elliptic's analysis showed that the cryptocurrency wallets used by these Chinese companies have received thousands of payments, totaling just over $27 million, and that the number of transactions has increased by 450 per cent year-on-year. "About $27 million would purchase enough precursors to produce fentanyl pills with a street value of approximately $54 billion," the report warned. This amount of fentanyl would technically be sufficient to cause 8.6 billion people to suffer a fatal overdose from the drug. Cheaper to produce than heroin and 50 times more potent, this synthetic opioid has fuelled an epidemic over the past decade, as well as becoming a huge source of profits for international drug cartels. Also Read Crypto industry wants 0.1% TDS, Sebi-like regulator in Budget 2023 Are the rising Covid-19 cases in China a worry for India? Signature Bank pulls back from crypto transactions below $100,000: Binance Crypto firms go out of business as cryptocurrency collapse continues Banning cryptocurrency should be an option: IMF's Kristalina Georgieva Chinese commerce minister to hold talks in US amid disputes over tariffs Alibaba refutes layoff rumours, says will hire 15,000 people this year Imran Khan says 'undeclared martial law' in Pakistan; files plea in SC Immigration to Britain reaches record high in 2022 due to war, economy US weekly jobless claims rise moderately; Q1 GDP growth revised up Elliptic researchers received offers from more than 90 China-based companies to supply fentanyl precursors, 90 per cent of which accepted cryptocurrency payments. Many mentioned that they have shipped the same chemicals to Mexico. "Many of these businesses were also willing to supply fentanyl itself, despite this being banned in China since 2019," the report noted. In a separate report, Blockchain research firm Chainalysis said crypto addresses associated with China-based sellers of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl received more than $37.8 million worth of cryptocurrency since 2018. For many years, China was the main source of illicit fentanyl. But in 2019, following intense diplomatic pressure from the US, the Chinese government regulated the drug - effectively banning its export. "However, far from stemming the tide, illicit fentanyl imports into the US have soared. That's because Mexican drug cartels have stepped in to fill the void and seize the market - manufacturing their own fentanyl using precursors (chemical ingredients) imported from China," the Elliptic report revealed. The US government has placed increasing emphasis on disrupting the financial activity of fentanyl traffickers and their supply networks. In a fact sheet published on April 11, the White House indicated that it intends to "expand its efforts to disrupt the illicit financial activities that fund these criminals by increasing accountability measures, including financial sanctions". On April 14, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned several individuals and businesses in China for supplying precursor chemicals to drug cartels in Mexico for the production of fentanyl intended for the US market. The sanctions also listed cryptocurrency wallets used by these businesses to receive payments. "Our researchers received offers to supply large quantities of one particular fentanyl precursor. This chemical is not used in the manufacture of any other products, and is a controlled substance in most countries. However, it remains unregulated in China," said the Elliptic team. --IANS na/vd Florida Gov Ron DeSantis launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday with firm words but a disastrous Twitter announcement that did little to counter criticism that the 44-year-old Republican may not be ready to take on former President Donald Trump. While he tried to project confidence, DeSantis' unusual decision to announce his campaign in an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk ultimately backfired. The audio stream crashed repeatedly, making it virtually impossible for most users to hear the new presidential candidate in real time. American decline is not inevitable, it is a choice. And we should choose a new direction a path that will lead to American revitalization, DeSantis said on the glitchy stream, racing through his conservative accomplishments. I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback." While his critics in both parties delighted in the rocky start, DeSantis' announcement marks a new chapter in his extraordinary rise from little-known congressman to two-term governor to a leading figure in the nation's bitter fights over race, gender, abortion and other divisive issues. DeSantis' path to the Republican presidential nomination will not be an easy one. He enters the race looking up at Trump in early polls while facing serious questions about his far-right policies, his campaign-trail personality and his lack of relationships across the Republican ecosystem. He has generated significant interest among GOP primary voters by casting himself as a younger and more electable version of the 76-year-old former president. Also Read Trump to appear on CNN town hall a day after sex assault verdict US Senator Tim Scott announces his candidacy for 2024 US presidential run US House congressional panel to discuss release of Trump's tax returns Trump heads to NY to face civil trial after suing ex-lawyer for $500mn Pence calls on Trump to apologise for having dinner with antisemite Increased Russian crude flows to Asia are redrawing the world's oil map LIVE: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun Syrian army bombards positions of former el-Qaida affiliate in Syria Tina Turner, the superstar who reinvented herself at 40, dies at 83 Russia to respond promptly, harshly to future incursions: Defence minister He did not mention Trump even once in his discussion with Musk that ultimately spanned more than an hour. But he said he was ready to fight. Buckle up when I get in there, because the status quo is not acceptable, DeSantis said. The ultimate Republican nominee is expected to face Democratic President Joe Biden on the general election ballot in November 2024. DeSantis joins a field that also includes former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also considered a likely presidential candidate but has not yet announced a bid. In choosing Twitter on Wednesday evening, DeSantis tried to take a page out of the playbook that helped turn businessman-TV celebrity Trump into a political star. It did not go as planned. The online event started off with technical glitches that Musk said were due to straining servers because so many people were trying to listen to the audio-only event. More than 20 minutes passed beyond the scheduled start time with users getting kicked off, hearing microphone feedback, hold music and other technical problems. You can tell by the mistakes that it's real, said Musk. DeSantis' Republican opponents piled on. The lead strategist for Haley's super PAC, Mark Harris, was merciless: Failed soft launch? Check. Failed announcement? Double check. We look forward to Ron DeSantis' failed campaign. Trump went further: Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH! he wrote on his social media site. Is the DeSantis launch FATAL? Yes! Still, DeSantis' campaign said it raised USD 1 million online in the first hour after the announcement. We had a huge audience," DeSantis said in a subsequent interview on Fox News when asked about the technical difficulties. "It was the biggest they ever had. It did break the Twitter space. We're really excited about the enthusiasm. DeSantis, who likely would not have become the Florida governor without Trump's endorsement, has adopted the former president's fiery personality, his populist policies and even some of his rhetoric and mannerisms. Yet DeSantis has one thing his rival does not: a credible claim that he may be more electable than Trump, who faces multiple legal threats, including criminal charges in New York, and who presided over Republican losses in three consecutive national elections. DeSantis, just six months ago, won his reelection in Florida by a stunning 19 percentage points even as Republicans in many other states struggled. He also scored several major policy victories during the Republican-controlled Legislature's spring session. We need to win again," DeSantis said on Fox. "As Republicans, we've got to dispense with this culture of losing. Aware of DeSantis' draw, Trump has been almost singularly focused on undermining his political appeal for months. Trump and his team believe that DeSantis may be Trump's only legitimate threat for the nomination. Hours before the announcement, Trump argued in a social media post that Ron DeSanctus cannot win the general election or the GOP primary because of his previous votes in Congress on Social Security and Medicare. He desperately needs a personality transplant and, to the best of my knowledge, they are not medically available yet," Trump added. "A disloyal person! The kitchen-sink attacks and nicknames won't be DeSantis' only hurdle. He is a political heavyweight in Florida and a regular on Fox News, but allies acknowledge that most primary voters in other states don't know him well. The European Commission's climate policy chief Frans Timmermans is arriving in India on Thursday for a two-day crucial diplomatic mission to discuss latest developments at the national level on emission reductions and clean energy transition. Environmental protection and the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai later this year will also be part of the discussion. According to a statement from the Delegation of the European Union to India, the Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal will hold bilateral meetings with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav; Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of Coal Prahlad Joshi; and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. These meetings aim to foster collaboration and explore potential avenues for cooperation between the European Union (EU) and India in tackling the pressing climate challenges. Timmermans will participate in a high-level round table organised by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water which will bring together national think tanks, civil society organisations, and business representatives to exchange ideas and chart a path towards sustainable energy solutions. He will also deliver a keynote speech at the Annual Session 2023 of the Confederation of Indian Industry. Also Read Success of climate crisis will in part depend on India's decisions: US India's G-20 presidency: Opportunity for developing world's climate agenda India plans big for green energy sector in sync with G20 Presidency Global CO2 emissions rose less than initially feared in 2022: IEA European Union agrees to boost green fuels for aviation, cut emissions Ship grounded in Egypt's Suez Canal, refloat attempts on: Leth Agencies S Korea, US troops to hold massive live-fire drills near N Korea border Pakistan slashes provisional GDP growth to 0.29% from 2% for 2022-23 US AAA credit rating may be downgraded by Fitch on debt-limit impasse Pak army's capabilities questioned post violent protests on May 9: Report German airline Lufthansa on Thursday signed a deal with the Italian government for a minority share in the long-struggling ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia. Lufthansa's industrial plan calls for revenues of 2.5 billion euros (USD 2.68 billion) this year, growing to 4.1 billion euros in 2027, the Italian Finance Ministry said in a statement. No financial terms were disclosed. The cashflow will allow ITA airlines to expand its fleet from 71 aircraft to 94 in the next four years, the statement said. The airline also foresees new hires to expand the workforce to 5,500. Under the strategy, Rome's Fiumicino airport will become one of the Lufthansa Group's hubs, as ITA Airways focuses on long-range flights. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr also identified Milan, Italy's business and finance hub, as having potential for growth. The deal must be approved by EU competition authorities. ITA Airways and its Alitalia predecessor have long been searching for an industrial partner as the Italian airline lost out on domestic and European routes to low-cost carriers. A string deals with potential and real partners had all fallen through over the last 15 years. Also Read Hockey World Cup final, Germany vs Belgium: Germans out to stop Red Lions India's airline sector on to a smooth flight despite air pocketsr Fifa World Cup: Giant killers Japan scalp Spain, Germany out in group stage Italy's public debt crosses $3 trillion for first time: Bank of Italy High targets must be set in India-Italy partnership: Piyush Goyal Felt like 'home': Migration to UK at record high, Indians dominate Nvidia Corp's blowout forecast sparks almost $260 billion AI rally Debt ceiling talks teeter on brink, as lawmakers leave town without a deal WHO chief warns countries about 'Disease X'; here's all you need to know Sherpa guide who climbed Everest 28th time says he's not ready to retire ITA officially launched in October 2021 after bankrupt flag carrier Alitalia landed its final flight, ending a 74-year run which in later years was characterised by financial uncertainty and slides into bankruptcy. Lufthansa was the only airline that submitted an offer in the latest tender earlier this year. The German airline already operates Air Dolomiti in northern Italy, funnelling long distance traffic from cities like Milan, Verona and Venice to connections in Munich and Frankfurt. China and India took more than 30% of their combined imports from the three states in April, according to data tracked by intelligence firm Kpler. Thats up from just 12% in February 2022, the month Russia invaded Ukraine. The global oil map is being redrawn as the long-run impact of western sanctions channels more barrels from Russia to Asias largest economies, with China also taking crude from Iran and Venezuela. Exports from traditional suppliers are being squeezed. Flows to the pair from West Africa and the US have collapsed by more than 40% and 35%, respectively. Clearly Asian buyers are the winners here for cheap oil costs, said Wang Nengquan, a former economist at Sinochem Energy Co. whos worked in the oil industry for more than three decades. In recent months, Asia, led by India, has become Russias biggest trading partner, which has essentially helped Moscow to restore its oil exports to normality, according to Wang. Also Read Asian Paints slips 3% after Q3FY23 result misses street estimates Oil's new map: How India turns Russian crude into fuel for the West India's Feb crude oil imports jump 8% as demand hits over 2 decade high ADB cuts developing Asia's GDP outlook for 2023 amid global growth concerns Crude concerns: India may have to rely on dark fleets for Russian imports LIVE: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun Syrian army bombards positions of former el-Qaida affiliate in Syria Tina Turner, the superstar who reinvented herself at 40, dies at 83 Russia to respond promptly, harshly to future incursions: Defence minister Russia's upper house supports denunciation of armed forces treaty with NATO Within Asia, almost 90% of Russias exports now go to these two, Andreas Economou, Bassam Fattouh and Ahmed Mehdi wrote in a research report for The Oxford Institute For Energy Studies, referring to India and China. The reshaping of flows testifies to the flux in the worlds most important commodity market, where global demand runs at about 100 million barrels a day, with growth led by India and China. After Russias invasion, western nations barred flows of its crude and products from their own markets and imposed a price-cap mechanism to push them elsewhere. The complex framework, championed by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, was designed as a way to curb the Kremlins income, while keeping world markets supplied. Between the two, India has had the biggest jump in appetite for Russian crude, while China has also taken a greater volume of Russian barrels and sustained purchases of Iranian and Venezuelan oil, which come with steep discounts. The US has long imposed sanctions on crude from the two nations. While Russia has been successful in redirecting oil flows, it has lost most of its old customer base, the trio said. But with the fate of its exports now heavily dependent on just a few countries, mainly China and India, that gives refineries there huge market power, they said. The US Treasury also said this month the price cap had kept barrels moving while cutting the Kremlins funding. The price cap policy is a novel tool of economic statecraft, the Treasury, led by Yellen, said in a report. This restriction has worked to limit Russias ability to profit from its war while promoting stability in global energy markets. Data from the International Energy Agency the Paris-based body that advises major economies have showed the sanctions on Russia working as intended, with Russias oil exports in March at the highest since Covid, yet revenue down by nearly half from a year earlier. The need for Moscow to keep its oil moving to markets in Asia, as well as pre-existing curbs on cargoes from Iran and Venezuela, has led to increased use a so-called dark fleet of tankers. Most of these vessels operate outside of western oversight and are aged, raising safety concerns. An Indian-origin mastermind of a fake designer clothing scam, accused of trying to steal around GBP 97 million through VAT repayment claims on false exports of textiles and mobile phones with the help of a criminal gang, was on Thursday sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for tax fraud in the UK. Sock manufacturer Arif Patel, 55, was found guilty last month in what Britain's tax department described as one of the country's largest ever "carousel" tax frauds. Patel was found guilty of false accounting, conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, the onward sale of counterfeit clothing and money laundering following a 14-week trial at Chester Crown Court. "Arif Patel lived a lavish lifestyle at the expense of the law-abiding majority. Tax crime is not victimless and fraudsters like this pair steal the money that funds the NHS [National Health Service] and other vital public services we all rely on, said Richard Las, Director of the Fraud Investigation Service at His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which was part of a joint investigation with the local Lancashire police. Patel and his gang imported and sold counterfeit clothes that would have been worth at least GBP 50 million had they been genuine and the proceeds were then used to buy property across Preston in northern England and London through offshore bank accounts. A co-accused, 58-year-old Mohamed Jaffar Ali from Dubai, who was also found guilty of conspiracy to cheat HMRC and money laundering has also been sentenced on Friday to 11 years' imprisonment. Also Read Delhi excise policy scam case: K Kavitha's ex-auditor joins ED probe Rising online frauds: Gurugram woman loses Rs 76 lakh in movie review scam Tata considers Spain, Britain for EV battery plant for supply in Europe Nirav Modi loses bid to go to UK Supreme Court against extradition to India Delhi liquor scam: Manish Sisodia not named in chargesheet by CBI Europe's AI rules are not for negotiation: EU's Breton on OpenAI threat Indian nationals bag top spot on UK's skilled worker, student visa tally Imran Khan, wife barred from leaving the country, says Pakistan media Tipu Sultan's bedchamber sword creates new auction record in London $300 mn of dividend income of oil firms stuck in Russia due to sanctions "Arif Patel and Mohamed Jaffar Ali were at the heart of one of the biggest carousel tax frauds this country has ever seen and the severity of their crimes has been recognised by today's sentencing, said Eamonn O'Neill, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC. The UK tax department said in total, 26 members of the criminal empire have now been convicted and sentenced following six trials between 2011 and 2023, leading to jail terms totalling 147 years and seven months. More than GBP 78 million of the gang's assets have been restrained and the process to recover these proceeds of crime is in progress. "Patel was sentenced in his absence, having remained in Dubai throughout the trial," said Andrew Fox, Senior Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). "The CPS will now pursue confiscation proceedings against the defendants, to prevent them enjoying the benefits of their criminal enterprise," he said. The HMRC said that Patel's criminal enterprise relied on "dozens of lieutenants" around the UK, including professional enablers. This involved two chartered accountants from a Preston-based practice: Anil Hindocha, 69, from Preston, and Yogesh Patel, 66, from Aylesbury. Earlier, Hindocha was jailed for 12 years and 10 months in 2014 after being found guilty of false accounting, conspiracy to cheat the tax department and money laundering. Yogesh Patel was jailed for five years and seven months for the same offences. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called on Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai to seek NCP's support against the Centre's ordinance on control of administrative services in the national capital. Kejriwal was accompanied by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP MP Raghav Chadha, Delhi Minister Atishi and other leaders. Delhi CM also met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday. The Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the ordinance brought by the central government on the transfers and postings of bureaucrats in the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor accused the Centre of "taking away the rights" of the people of Delhi and said that the ordinance "should not" be allowed to pass in Rajya Sabha. This comes after the Union Government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the 'transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'. Also Read Operation Sheesh Mahal: Why do BJP and Congress want Delhi CM to resign? BJP demands white paper on pollution from Delhi govt as AQI deteriorates Aim of BJP-led Centre is to defame Kejriwal, AAP leaders: Sanjay Singh Centre, other states can also consider anti-radicalisation cell, says Shah Good education can help alleviate poverty from society: Delhi CM Kejriwal Kohinoor diamond to go on display at the Tower of London on Friday UK students pledge job boycott of insurers over fossil fuels: Report Germany enters recession as energy prices soared after Ukraine war Microsoft backed OpenAI closes $175 mn fund to empower other AI startups UK to disallow some international students from bringing families The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. Earlier, CM Kejriwal met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Tuesday and sought her support against the ordinance. This weeks episode of International Marxist Radio concludes our two-part series looking at the class struggle in Sub-Saharan Africa. This week, Ben Morken, a leading comrade of the International Marxist Tendency based in South Africa, discusses the broader context that has led to the current state of affairs across the continent. Historically ravaged by colonialism, Africa today continues to be cynically exploited by imperialism. In addition, many African nations find themselves ground between rival imperialist powers in their pursuit of raw materials and political influence, supported by quisling local rulers. But at the same time, the continent is characterised by proud revolutionary traditions, which are beginning to re-emerge under the pressure of the capitalist crisis. Note: This episode was recorded before the recent clashes between different factions of the counter-revolutionary forces in Sudan, which have claimed many lives and revealed the tragic consequences of the masses inability to take power in the 2018-19 Sudanese revolution. A Marxist analysis of these events can instead be found here: http://www.marxist.com/sudan-bloody-clash-erupts-within-counter-revolution.htm Listen and subscribe below Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Marxist.com Podcasts: https://podcast.marxist.com/2023/05/24/class-struggle-in-africa-part-two/ US telecom carrier Verizon has warned its customer service employees about impending layoffs as part of "restructuring" and "streamlining" measures. Over 6,000 employees received a pre-recorded message from the company about upcoming "significant" layoffs, reports The Verge. They were told they would be able to accept a severance offer (two weeks per year of tenure) or, in select cases, apply for roles to "transition to the next stage of your career journey". According to an internal document provided to The Verge, those roles revolve around customer experience, loyalty, and technology positions. The layoff warning as the company lost 127,000 postpaid subscribers in the first quarter this year. The company appointed Sowmyanarayan Sampath as CEO of Verizon Consumer Group in March, which oversees its customer service operation. Also Read Fixed broadband may trigger next leg of growth for RJio, Airtel: Analysts OneWeb satellites soon to offer space-based internet services globally India poised to be at forefront of digital innovation: US Ambassador Zoom secures pan-Indian telecom licence for telephone services, enterprises US-France competition heats up for fighter jets to deck INS Vikrant Solar power investment set to surpass oil production spending this year European Commission's climate policy chief on two-day mission to India Ship grounded in Egypt's Suez Canal, refloat attempts on: Leth Agencies S Korea, US troops to hold massive live-fire drills near N Korea border Pakistan slashes provisional GDP growth to 0.29% from 2% for 2022-23 The company has given affected workers a deadline of June 7 to make a decision on their preference. "Those who apply for new positions are not guaranteed to be hired, and for those who don't take the severance option, June 23rd is the date that Verizon will inform employees of their future at the company," the report said late on Wednesday. The US telecom carrier was yet to officially comment on impending layoffs. --IANS na/ksk/ Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski has been transferred to a notoriously brutal prison in Belarus and hasn't been heard from in a month, his wife said Wednesday. Natalia Pinchuk told The Associated Press that Bialiatski, who is serving a 10-year sentence, has been kept in an information blackout since his transfer to the N9 colony for repeat offenders in the city of Gorki, where inmates are beaten and subject to hard labor. The authorities create unbearable conditions for Ales and keep him in strict informational isolation. There is not a single letter from him for a month, nor does he receive my letters, Pinchuk said by telephone. In March, a court convicted 60-year-old Bialiatski Belarus' top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize and three of his colleagues on charges of financing actions violating public order and smuggling. It was the latest move in a years-long crackdown on dissent that has engulfed the country since 2020. Bialiatski has spent 20 months behind bars since his arrest in 2021, and Pinchuk is concerned his health is deteriorating. Also Read Fact check: Did Asle Toje call PM Modi biggest contender for Nobel Prize? Laureates across 5 fields awarded at Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm Nobel Prize-winning UN World Food Program head to step down Not tobacco ban, new therapies key to combating lung cancer: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen-Visva Bharati land row turns into political slugfest in WB Saudi foreign ministry announces restoration of diplomatic ties with Canada Earthquake of 6.2-magnitude jolts Indonesia, no threat of tsunami Panama turtles get legal right to live, free passage in healthy environment Nepal ex-ministers among 30 people charged in fake Bhutanese refugee scam China worries spur $56-billion luxury rout; Arnault loses $11 billion In the most recent letters I see how his penmanship has changed and I see how the situation is worsening for him, both in terms of his health and his eyesight, and I am very, very worried about it," she said. She urged the United Nations to intervene. The harsh punishment of Bialiatski and three of his colleagues was a response to massive protests over a 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a further term in office. Lukashenko, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who backed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994. During the protests in 2020, the largest ever in Belarus, more than 35,000 people were arrested, and thousands were beaten by police. All four activists have maintained their innocence, according to the Human Rights Center Viasna, which was founded by Bialiatski. He shared the 2022 peace prize with Memorial, a prominent Russian human rights group, and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties. Viasna has counted 1,516 political prisoners in Belarus to date. Human rights advocates say authorities deliberately create unbearable conditions for many of them. For 28 days, there has been no information about the fate of the imprisoned former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka, who was reportedly beaten up in his cell and transferred to a hospital. No one has heard from Nikolai Statkevich, a prominent opposition figure serving a 14-year sentence, for 100 days. US President Joe Biden has nominated General Charles Q. Brown, a former Indo-Pacific leader and advocate of close defence ties with India, to be the nation's top military officer. Biden is set to formally announce the nomination of Air Force head Brown as the next joint chiefs of staff on Thursday, according to media reports quoting senior officials. Brown, who has served as the commander of the Air Force component of the Indo-Pacific Command, will be the second African-American to be the nation's top military officer if confirmed by the Senate. For the first time, the Pentagon would be led by African-Americans, with Lloyd Austin as Defence Secretary and Brown as the highest-ranking officer. Brown will succeed General Mark Milley, who is retiring after a four-year term as the officer overseeing all the military branches. He will be taking over at a time when the world is roiled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and by growing tension with China that is raising the threat level with Taiwan. Also Read Top brass of Defence Forces pay homage at National War Memorial on Navy Day Tension on Taiwan Strait: What is the dispute between China and Taiwan? US to control land sales to foreigners within 100 miles of 8 military bases Quad committed to supporting Pacific Island countries: Joint statement China's military sends 39 warplanes, 3 ships toward Taiwan in 24 hours Historical trail of Pakistan's powerful military enterprise: Explainer 20 richest nations account for over half of 50 mn people in modern slavery PM Modi's state visit sends message that India-US are aligned: USISPF prez Layoffs coming: US telecom carrier Verizon warns customer service employees Solar power investment set to surpass oil production spending this year The fighter pilot with 3,000 flying hours and 150 combat hours will bring expertise on China and the Indo-Pacific, an area of prime importance to the US in the current geopolitical scenario, because of his stint in the region. Brown has repeatedly spoken of the importance of defence relations with India for the US. He participated in the Cope India 19 joint India-US exercise in 2018 in Kalaikunda and Panagarh and flew an Indian Air Force Mirage 2000. At that time, he said: "As a committed partner enhancing peace, prosperity and security across the region, we are grateful for India's support and the growing trust between our two nations. "The US-India partnership has never been stronger... Our shared values, security interests, economic ties and close links between our people present significant opportunities for cooperation bilaterally and with other close partners and allies in the region. "We look to not only strengthen the base of the partnership, but to also take it to the next level in certain areasa longer-term investments in relationships, in training and in schooling." In a meeting with reporters in New York, Brown said that the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) agreement between the US and India "opens the door to increase our information sharing particularly on some of the airplane, air aspects". He said that India's use of Russian military hardware was a barrier to Indian and US Air Forces working together because interoperability is not only about equipment but involves operational strategies. When Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhuri was appointed Indian Air Force chief, Brown congratulated him and had tweeted: "We discussed increasing our cooperation & further operationalizing India's unique status as a Major Defence Partner." In his 39-year military career, Brown has been the director of the Secretary of the Executive Action Group of the Air Force and Chief of Staff and deputy commander of the Central Command which covers Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Central Asia. He became chief of staff of the Air Force in 2020 after his Indo-Pacific stint. His confirmation by the Senate -- a requirement for senior government posts -- could run into delays because Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has used his senatorial privilege to block nominations of senior defence officials because of his opposition to the Pentagon's policies on providing abortion services to members of services and their families. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) --IANS al/ksk/ On a Panamanian beach long after dark, a group of undergraduate students dug into the sand to excavate a sea turtle nest, their lamps casting a soft red glow as they studied eggs, inventoried the success of the hatch and checked for any surviving hatchlings stuck at the bottom of the nest. Nearby, armed members of the National Border Service stood watch for protection in an area known for drug trafficking. The students worked under the guidance of Callie Veelenturf, who founded a group that works to protect leatherback turtles and pushed for a new law in Panama that guarantees sea turtles the legal right to live and have free passage in a healthy environment. The new law will allow any Panamanian citizen to be the voice of sea turtles and defend them legally, Veelenturf said in a text message as she boarded a plane to Panama City after her group's work near Armila. We will be able to hold governments, corporations, and public citizens legally accountable for violations of the rights of sea turtles. When Panama's president signed the law in March, it was a victory for people who have long argued that wild animals should have so-called rights of nature that recognize their legal right to exist and to flourish, and allow for lawsuits if those rights are violated. Experts hope it's part of an evolution that will see other countries take similar steps to protect species under threat. Also Read Netflix adds new game 'Shredder's Revenge' on iOS, Android smartphones Panama approaches 'Pharmacy of the World' India for affordable medicines EAM discusses situation in Indo-Pacific with his Colombian counterpart Jaishankar discusses Indo-Pacific state with Colombian counterpart Duran Trade between India-Panama heading towards $50 billion: S Jaishankar Nepal ex-ministers among 30 people charged in fake Bhutanese refugee scam China worries spur $56-billion luxury rout; Arnault loses $11 billion Russian hypersonic scientist accused of 'betraying secrets to China' HSBC places 12 countries on exit watchlist to focus on expansion in Asia Kevin McCarthy, bracing for defections, eyes fraught path to deal Business as usual laws aren't doing enough to protect against the extinction crisis and climate change, said Erica Lyman, a clinical law professor and director of the Global Law Alliance for Animals and the Environment at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. This is an attempt at a new kind of framing that offers hope. Wildlife protection laws typically are passed because of some perceived benefit to humans, Lyman said. Panama's law instead considers what sea turtles need and the fact that humans should curb their behaviour to meet those needs, she said. The law gives sea turtles the right to an environment free of pollution and other human impacts that cause physical or health damage, like climate change, incidental capture, coastal development and unregulated tourism. What makes the law remarkable is that it explicitly says sea turtles, as living creatures, have rights, and with enough specificity that those rights can be enforced, added Nicholas Fromherz, an adjunct law professor and director of the alliance's Latin American Program. Panama's new law came after Ecuador's highest court in 2022 ruled in a case about a monkey kept in a private home that wild animals are rights-holders under the constitutional provisions for rights of nature. That was an important step in evolving the definition of nature from a site-specific or place-based concept, to include individual wild animals, Lyman said. Both Lyman and Fromherz saw Panama's law and recent judicial rulings as evidence of a trend toward safeguarding the legal rights of animals. Besides the Ecuador case, a Pakistan court in 2020 ruling on a case that included an elephant's captivity in a zoo held that animals have natural rights that should be recognized. That decision sharply criticized humanity's treatment of wild animals and drew on religious doctrine. There's energy there, Fromherz said. And the movement is broader than animals. In Minnesota, for example, the White Earth Band of Ojibwe passed a tribal law granting legal rights to wild rice, then made it a plaintiff in a tribal court lawsuit in 2020 seeking to stop an oil pipeline. That lawsuit was eventually dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. Whether the thinking behind Panama's law spreads more widely or not, it's critical help for sea turtles in that country, which has some of the most important nesting spots in the world for leatherback sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles. One beach area has about 3,000 hawksbill nests per year. The Sea Turtle Conservancy is already citing the new law to call for Panama's police and natural resource managers to intervene at one critical leatherback turtle nesting site that faces intense pressure from illegal egg hunters. When the pandemic halted ecotourism, people who lost their main source of income began harvesting sea turtle eggs and some nesting turtles to sell for meat and their shells, said David Godfrey, executive director of the Florida-based conservancy. It became a crisis at one beach, up to 90% of leatherback eggs were being taken, he said. It was already illegal under Panamanian law to take sea turtles and their eggs from national parks and protected marine areas, Godfrey said, but it was unclear whether doing so was prohibited outside of those places and the law was sparsely enforced. Turtle protection groups, including the conservancy, lobbied for legislation that would offer clear protection for sea turtles, better monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, including financial penalties. Panama's law is explicit about the implications for irresponsible developers, tourism operators and others who disrupt sea turtle habitats, instructing agencies to cancel operating permits, Fromherz said. It clearly prohibits all domestic and international commerce in sea turtles, parts and eggs, with a narrow exception for subsistence use by select traditional communities, he added. The upper house of the parliament of Russia announced on social media that its senators approved a bill on the denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). On May 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a draft law on the denunciation of the CFE Treaty to the lower house of the parliament. The chamber adopted a law on the denunciation of the treaty at a session on May 16, Xinhua news agency reported. The CFE Treaty was originally signed in 1990 by the then-NATO members and former six Warsaw Treaty states and came into force later in 1992. The treaty introduced limits on major types of conventional military equipment in Europe and provided for the destruction of surplus weapons. In 1999, an updated version of the treaty was signed, but it was ratified by only four countries -- Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. In 2007, Russia suspended its participation in the CFE Treaty until NATO countries ratify its updated version. --IANS int/khz/ Also Read Russia's parliament denounces Europe's Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces Hungary calls for peace in Russia-Ukraine conflict, warns of escalation Finnish MPs can decide on NATO membership by simple majority: Committee Poland to seek US help with WWII compensation from Germany: Dy FM Mularczyk Ukrainian President Zelensky meets Canadian FM on defence cooperation Nobel peace laureate transferred to brutal prison in Belarus, says his wife Saudi foreign ministry announces restoration of diplomatic ties with Canada Earthquake of 6.2-magnitude jolts Indonesia, no threat of tsunami Panama turtles get legal right to live, free passage in healthy environment Nepal ex-ministers among 30 people charged in fake Bhutanese refugee scam Russia will respond quickly and extremely harshly to future incursions, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with senior defence officials. The Minister on Wednesday mentioned that "a Ukrainian nationalist formation" that broke into Russia's Belgorod region on Monday was defeated. "Russia will keep responding to such actions of Ukrainian militants promptly and harshly," Shoigu said. The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that "more than 70 Ukrainian nationalists were killed during a counter-terrorist operation," and Russian forces were able to push the "remaining nationalists" back into Ukraine, where they were further eliminated. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia was "deeply concerned" about the incursion, Xinhua news agency reported. Ukraine has said that the incursion was carried out by two anti-government paramilitary groups in Russia, adding that it was not responsible for the incident. Also Read Russia's parliament denounces Europe's Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces Russia's Wagner Group boss threatens Bakhmut pullout in Ukraine US 'containing' others, world should be multi-polar: Russian leader North Korea fires missile that may have been a new type of weapon China says it successfully conducted mid-course missile interception test Russia's upper house supports denunciation of armed forces treaty with NATO Nobel peace laureate transferred to brutal prison in Belarus, says his wife Saudi foreign ministry announces restoration of diplomatic ties with Canada Earthquake of 6.2-magnitude jolts Indonesia, no threat of tsunami Panama turtles get legal right to live, free passage in healthy environment Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday that there had been a large number of drone attacks on the region overnight, adding that most of them were repelled. In a Telegram post, Gladkov added that the attacks damaged residential and administrative buildings, and that no casualties were reported. --IANS int/khz/ State-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting US critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the US and Asia during future crises, Microsoft said Wednesday. The targets include sites in Guam, where the U.S. has a major military presence, the company said. Hostile activity in cyberspace from espionage to the advanced positioning of malware for potential future attacks has become a hallmark of modern geopolitical rivalry. Microsoft said in a blog post that the state-sponsored group of hackers, which it calls Volt Typhoon, has been active since mid-2021. It said organizations affected by the hacking which seeks persistent access are in the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, information technology and education sectors. Separately, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain published a joint advisory sharing technical details on the recently discovered cluster of activity. A Microsoft spokesman would not say why the software giant was making the announcement now or whether it had recently seen an uptick in targeting of critical infrastructure in Guam or at adjacent U.S. military facilities there, which include a major air base. Also Read How can India fend off cyberattacks? TMS Ep317: Industry trends, Cyberattacks, Markets, Modular nuclear reactor Microsoft 365 Copilot: Microsoft is bringing AI to its productivity apps Tesla chief Elon Musk threatens to sue Microsoft for using data 'illegally' Measures undertaken to secure nuclear plant systems from cyber-attack: MoS DeSantis's presidential campaign launch on Twitter plagued with glitches Increased Russian crude flows to Asia are redrawing the world's oil map LIVE: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun Syrian army bombards positions of former el-Qaida affiliate in Syria Tina Turner, the superstar who reinvented herself at 40, dies at 83 John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google's Mandiant cybersecurity intelligence operation, called Microsoft's announcement potentially a really important finding." We don't see a lot of this sort of probing from China. It's rare, Hultquist said. We know a lot about Russian and North Korean and Iranian cyber-capabilities because they have regularly done this. China has generally withheld use of the kinds of tools that could be used to seed, not just intelligence-gathering capabilities, but also malware for disruptive attacks in an armed conflict, he added. Microsoft said the intrusion campaign placed a strong emphasis on stealth and sought to blend into normal network activity by hacking small-office network equipment, including routers. It said the intruders gained initial access through internet-facing Fortiguard devices, which are engineered to use machine-learning to detect malware. The maker of Fortiguard devuces, Fortinet, did not immediately respond to an email seeking further details. For years, China has conducted aggressive cyber operations to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from organizations around the globe, said CISA Director Jen Easterly, urging mitigation of affected networks to prevent possible disruption. Bryan Vorndran, the FBI cyber division assistant director, called the intrusions unacceptable tactics in the same statement. Tensions between Washington and Beijing which the U.S. national security establishment considers its main military, economic and strategic rival have been on the rise in recent months. Those tensions spiked last year after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to democratically governed Taiwan, leading China, which claims the island as its territory, to launch military exercises around Taiwan. US-China relations became further strained earlier this year after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed the United States. The Syrian Army carried out several rounds of shelling against positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaida affiliate, in northern Syria over the past 24 hours, the pro-government al-Watan newspaper reported. The report said on Wednesday that the Syrian Army had inflicted a hefty toll on the HTS in the northwestern province of Idlib, in retaliation for previous attacks by the group on military positions in the region. The military bombardment also struck positions of the HTS in the countryside of Aleppo, Latakia, and Hama provinces, it added. The rebel-held areas in Idlib are included in the so-called de-escalation zone deal mediated by Turkey, Russia, and Iran in 2017 with the aim of achieving a long-lasting cessation of hostilities in the northern region, Xinhua news agency reported. The deal was broken several times as numerous confrontations have taken place. Syrian and Turkish Foreign ministers met earlier this month in Moscow to discuss the reconciliation. However, no agreement has yet been reached as Syria insisted the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syria should be the prelude to the reconciliation. Also Read Israeli missile strikes put Damascus airport out of service, kills 2 Syrian Army says five killed in Damascus by Israeli missile attack Suspected Iranian drone strike kills US contractor in Syria: Pentagon US' claims to waive sanctions for earthquake relief 'misleading': Syria Israeli military retaliates after rockets fired from Syria, no casualties Tina Turner, the superstar who reinvented herself at 40, dies at 83 Russia to respond promptly, harshly to future incursions: Defence minister Russia's upper house supports denunciation of armed forces treaty with NATO Nobel peace laureate transferred to brutal prison in Belarus, says his wife Saudi foreign ministry announces restoration of diplomatic ties with Canada The tension between Syria and the Turkish-backed rebels escalated with the recent exchange of fire. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights figures, 211 people have been killed in mutual shellings between the Syrian forces and the rebels in northern Syria so far this year. --IANS int/khz/ A fabled sword found in the private bedchamber of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan has broken all auction records for an Indian object for Bonhams in London by fetching over GBP 14 million at its Islamic and Indian Art sale this week. The sword, from Tipu Sultan's reign between 1782 and 1799, is described as a fine gold koftgari hilted steel sword referred to as sukhela an emblem of authority. It was found in the private apartments of Tipu Sultan and presented to Major General David Baird by the Army of the East India Company as a token of their high esteem of his courage and conduct in the assault which resulted in the killing of Tipu Sultan known as the Tiger of Mysore. "This spectacular sword is the greatest of all the weapons linked to Tipu Sultan still in private hands, said Oliver White, Bonhams' Head of Islamic and Indian Art and auctioneer, in a statement ahead of the sale on Tuesday. Its close personal association with the Sultan, its impeccable provenance traceable to the very day it was captured, and the outstanding craftsmanship that went into its manufacture make it unique and highly desirable," he said. The sword had a guide price between GBP 1,500,000 and 2,000,000 but went on to surpass that estimate to fetch GBP 14,080,900. The sword has an extraordinary history, an astonishing provenance and unrivalled craftsmanship. It was no surprise it was so hotly contested between two phone bidders and a bidder in the room. We are delighted with the result," said Nima Sagharchi, Group Head of Islamic and Indian Art. Also Read Those who love Tipu Sultan shouldn't stay in this land: Karnataka BJP chief Amit Shah to take out roadshow in Karnataka, check BJP's poll preparations Ex-Karnataka Minister booked over his 'finish off Siddaramaiah' remark London the world's second most expensive city for driving, shows report UAE names oil company chief Sultan al-Jaber to lead UN COP28 climate talks $300 mn of dividend income of oil firms stuck in Russia due to sanctions Chinese firms fuel Fentanyl drug abuse epidemic, earn millions in crypto Chinese commerce minister to hold talks in US amid disputes over tariffs Alibaba refutes layoff rumours, says will hire 15,000 people this year Imran Khan says 'undeclared martial law' in Pakistan; files plea in SC According to historians, of the many weapons removed from the palace of Tipu Sultan after the fall of his royal stronghold at Seringapatam in May 1799, few have such resonance or such a close connection to Tipu Sultan. Unquestionably part of Tipu's own arsenal, the bedchamber sword is dubbed among the finest and most important of weapons with a proven personal association with the ruler. "This is one of the most astonishing objects Bonhams has had the privilege of bringing to auction. It is a stupendous price for a stupendous piece. I am so thrilled for our teams that worked so hard to deliver this result," said Bruno Vinciguerra, CEO of Bonhams. As described by Francis Buchanan in his on-the-spot account of India from the time, a sword lay within reach of Tipu Sultan while he slept. On constant alert against attack, Tipu Sultan slept in a hammock suspended from the ceiling of his locked and bolted bedchamber with a pair of pistols and this sword by his side. The weapon itself is of "exceptional" quality, with the blade inscribed The Sword of the Ruler. It was manufactured by Mughal swordsmiths following the model of German blades introduced to India in the 16th century. The hilt is inlaid in exquisitely executed gold calligraphy with the qualities of God and invocations calling on God by name. Tipu Sultan famously pioneered the use of rocket artillery in wars both against neighbouring states and also the East Indian Company, of which he was an implacable opponent until Major General led the company's soldiers to end a month-long siege of Seringapatam with the killing of the ruler on May 4, 1799. In a letter, the students wrote, "We refuse to put our professional careers at the service of climate wreckers that insure those responsible for the climate crisis." Hundreds of students and graduates of top universities in the United Kingdom (UK) have pledged a "career boycott" of major insurers stating that they will not work for companies that support controversial fossil fuel projects, The Guardian reported on Wednesday. In its recent 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, Deloitte said that over half of Gen Z recruits researched a company's environmental policies and impacts before accepting the offer letter. One in every four people surveyed said that they will change roles because of their employer's climate impact. The letter has been sent to several companies including Lloyd's, Beazley, and Hiscox, among others. The students come from a wide range of universities including the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. They added that nearly two dozen insurers have already ruled out supporting the pipeline. In the letter, the students said they will pay special focus on insurers that decide to work with TotalEnergies and Equinor, which they said were seeking insurance for East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). Also Read What is climate finance? US univs attract Indian students with quality education, better prospects Higher claims pushed up non-life insurers' underwriting losses: Report Nine Indian states among 50 most vulnerable regions due to climate change Clear final MBBS exam in 2 attempts: SC to foreign return medical students Germany enters recession as energy prices soared after Ukraine war Microsoft backed OpenAI closes $175 mn fund to empower other AI startups UK to disallow some international students from bringing families Stocks of Chinese pharma cos spike amid sharp increase in Covid cases Germany's GDP shrinks by 0.3% in first quarter, puts economy into recession The current rules allow postgraduate students enrolled in programs lasting nine months and above to bring their partners, children and dependent parents. Should the rule be changed, these students will be affected. However, students on research-led masters courses and PhD students will be exempted from the new rules. The United Kingdom has announced that international students will no longer be allowed to bring dependents, except under special conditions. This policy will go into effect in January 2024 and will also prevent students from switching out of the student-visa route for the work-visa route before their studies are complete. This is part of the Rishi Sunak government's drive to reduce annual net migration. Sunak pledged to bring down legal migration and stated that he was considering a range of options. UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman gave a written statement, reported by Reuters, stating that high migration was the main reason for the announcement. Braverman added that it aimed to stop "inappropriate applications to sell immigration, not education". Last year the UK issued 486,000 student visas, making up a significant portion of the overall number of visas granted by the nation. In the same report, the government claimed that the number of dependents since 2019 had increased eightfold. Net migration was at an all-time high of 504,000 in 2022, with 136,000 migrants being dependent on students enrolled in postgraduate programs. Also Read EB-5 visa: What is it, who can apply and how it is different from H1-B visa US extends visa walk-in interview waiver for more applicants; check here Germany announces relaxation in its Schengen visa rules for Indians H1-B visa deadline likely to get extended as users face technical glitches Amid backlog, now Indians can apply for US visa from other countries Stocks of Chinese pharma cos spike amid sharp increase in Covid cases Germany's GDP shrinks by 0.3% in first quarter, puts economy into recession Indian-origin youth accused of ramming truck into barriers near White House First Citizens-owned Silicon Valley Bank to lays off about 500 employees Here's a look at companies leaving Russia and those staying back During this address in the House of Commons on Wednesday, member of Parliament Carol Monaghan pointed out that international students contributed nearly 43 billion to the UK economy last year alone, which could severely impact the country's university and higher education sector. This comes after the government introduced a point-based system in 2020 to regain control of their borders after Brexit. As a way of explanation, he added, "We are taking a concerted action to deliver a fair and effective immigration system that benefits our citizens, our businesses, and our economy. We are determined to get this right as it is demonstrably in the national interest." Representing the home secretary in the Commons is UK's Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick reiterated the home secretary's sentiments on Wednesday, stating, "Universities should be in the education business, not the immigration business". The United States works with India on its most vital priorities, a State Department spokesperson said ahead of the official state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US. I will say generally that our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We work with India closely on our most vital priorities, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference on Wednesday. He said he expects US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti to be able to deepen the relationship between the two countries and work on matters of shared concern. Responding to questions on Modi's trip, Miller said without giving too much of a preview of that trip, certainly, the war in Ukraine will be one of the topics that is under discussion. It has been one of the topics under discussion in previous meetings with Prime Minister Modi, as it is in just about any conversation we have with a world leader at this time, or has been the case for the past year, Miller said. He noted that the US obviously recognises visa delays as an area of concern, and the consular teams have been making a huge push to process as many visa applications as possible in India, including those in visa categories that are a key to the bilateral relationship. Also Read India and Israel to 're-accelerate' work to strengthen strategic relations Discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation: PM on meeting Israeli FM EAM Jaishankar inaugurates Indian Embassy in Dominican Republic Israel foreign minister's India visit provided further impetus to ties: MEA 'Rapid growth of trade is testament to bilateral ties of US-India' State-sponsored Chinese hackers could be prepping for disruption: Microsoft DeSantis's presidential campaign launch on Twitter plagued with glitches Increased Russian crude flows to Asia are redrawing the world's oil map LIVE: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun Syrian army bombards positions of former el-Qaida affiliate in Syria It is a top priority for our government, and I know it is a top priority for our embassy in the country, the official added. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States of America, which will include a state dinner on June 22, 2023, following an invitation from President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The EMC West subsea and terrestrial data cables project will see Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Cyprus unite to expand the global digital connectivity infrastructure. The project will see Saudi Arabia become a regional digital hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. center3, owned by stc group, on behalf of the consortium partners of EMC Subsea Cable Company Ltd (EMC Company) and Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), the leader in the manufacturing and installation of submarine optical systems, announced the signing of the Suppliers Contract for the construction of two subsea and terrestrial data cables (EMC West) that will connect Saudi Arabia with Europe. The second phase of the EMC System (EMC Global) that will connect Saudi Arabia with Asia is being finalised and announced soon. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230524005643/en/ The EMC project enables KSA, Greece, and Cyprus to leverage their geographic position. It delivers a much-needed new data corridor, positioning the three countries at the epicentre of a digital connectivity infrastructure, which will become a cornerstone of the digital transformation era. The EMC cable is designed, from its inception, to realise KSAs Vision 2030 and Greece 2.0 by transforming the KSA into a Digital Hub that connects Asia with Europe and Africa and positioning Greece and Cyprus as European Unions East Data Gateway. ASN will begin to construct EMC West, linking Haql (Saudi Arabia) with Genova (Italy) and Marseille (France), via Cyprus and Greece. The two cables consisting of multiple Fiber Pairs - will have branches in Cyprus, Crete, and Athens. The EMC system is expected to operate in Q1 2026 (RFS date). The EMC consortium partners expressed their gratitude and appreciation to all stakeholders. They congratulated their teams and the related Ministries for facilitating the implementation of this ground-breaking and high-profile project. For more information about center3's data centres, please visit the company's website at www.center3.com or contact the sales team at [email protected]. About center3 center3 is a leading integrated data center & data provider in the MENA region, serving hyperscalers, content providers, cloud providers, & global international carriers & enterprises. The company offers unparalleled services & scalability through its integrated platforms & strategic international connectivity solutions, enabling its customers to better serve regional customers. *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230524005643/en/ SpeechTech Summit India News Summary The 3rd Edition of the SpeechTech Summit India 2023, organised by The Future Event Media & Productions, is being hosted on 15th & 16th June 2023 at the Sheraton, New Delhi. Photo: Sony Sony has teased Project Q, a handheld gaming device that lets you stream PlayStation 5 games to a portable screen. The device uses Remote Play to connect to your PS5 console over Wi-Fi and play any game except for PlayStation VR2 titles. Project Q has an 8-inch LCD screen with 1080p resolution and 60Hz refresh rate, and a built-in DualSense controller with all the functions except for the touchpad, which is expected to be replaced by the touchscreen. You will need to have the PS5 games downloaded on your console to stream them, as Project Q does not support native or cloud gaming yet. Sony hasn't announced the price of Project Q, but it plans to launch it later this year. Check Nagaland Board Class 10 Toppers' Name and Pass Percentage: The Nagaland Board of School Education, commonly abbreviated as NBSE has released the NBSE Class 10 Results, 2023. The candidates who appeared in the examination for the NBSE Class 10, are supposed to check their results on the website; nbsenl.edu.in. With the announcement of the NBSE Class 10 Results, 2023; the examination conducting board has issued the list of the toppers who topped the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). Along with the publication of the Class 10 Result, the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) announced the names of toppers and pass percentages. Nagaland HSLC results can be found online at nbsenl.edu.in. They must use their Class 10 login credentials to download the mark sheet. The Nagaland Board 10th toppers list comprises the students' names, basic information, and grades. Those with the highest marks have been placed on a merit list. This year, 24,361 pupils took class 10 board exams, with 17,130 passing the NBSE HSLC Results 2023. Christy Paul Mathew shinned as the NBSE Class 10, 2023 topper, who scored 99%in the Class 10 Board Examination. The topper bagged the 1st position in the state of Nagaland and has motivated many others to come. Arti Kumari was declared the 2nd topper by the Nagaland Board of School Education. The 2nd topper has a total of 98.50% in the state. The 3rd position is positioned by Sneha Das, with 98.33%. The above-mentioned top 3 toppers of the NBSE are highly inspiring and in their own unique way. There are many others who excelled in the NBSE Class 10 Result, 2023. For detailed information about the merit holders; a pdf has been provided. List of top 21 successful candidates who exceeded the Nagaland Board of School Education. i.e.; NBSE; is provided in the form of a pdf. Click here; https://drive.google.com/file/d/14RT6JWfapX4LT9jATa4MpukTXweg96qG/view The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) has declared the RBSE Rajasthan 12th Arts stream Result 2023 today. Students who appeared for the Class 12 Arts stream examination can now check their results on the official websites of RBSE: rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in and rajresults.nic.in. The State Education Minister B.D Kalla announced the RBSE 12th Arts results for the academic year 2022-2023. This year, a total of 7,19,838 students registered for the RBSE class 12th Arts stream examination, which was conducted from March 9 to April 12, 2023. How to Check RBSE 12th Arts Results 2023 The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE) has announced results for the Class 12 examinations held in 2023. Tanu Chauhan has emerged as the topper, securing a remarkable 97.60% or 488 out of 500 marks. This achievement reflects her dedication, hard work, and exceptional academic prowess. The overall pass percentage for the UK Board 12th results stands at an impressive 85.58%. This indicates a significant improvement compared to the previous year's pass rate. Out of the 113,164 candidates who registered for the Class 12 exam, an overwhelming majority of 92,296 students successfully cleared the examination. In terms of gender performance, the girls have once again outshined the boys. With a pass percentage of 85.38%, the girls have demonstrated their commitment to excellence. On the other hand, the boys' pass percentage stands at 79.74%. This difference highlights the continued success of female students in academic pursuits. To check the UK Board Class 12th result, students can follow a few simple steps. Firstly, they need to visit the official UBSE website at uaresults.nic.in or ubse.uk.gov.in. On the home page, they should look for the link specifically dedicated to the Class 12th result. After entering their credentials, the result will be displayed on the screen, providing students with their performance details. Determinants of Adherence to Antihypertension Medications Among Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, 2019 Nadia Noreen, MBBS, MPH, MSc1; Faiza Bashir, MSc2; Abdul Wali Khan, PhD3; Malik Muhammad Safi, MPH3; Waheed Ahmad Lashari, MSPH4; Dagmara Hering, MD, PhD5 (View author affiliations) Suggested citation for this article: Noreen N, Bashir F, Khan AW, Safi MM, Lashari WA, Hering D. Determinants of Adherence to Antihypertension Medications Among Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, 2019. Prev Chronic Dis 2023;20:220231. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.220231. PEER REVIEWED Summary What is already known on this topic? The prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in Pakistan is high. Improving medication adherence reduces the burden of cardiovascular disease. What is added by this study? Unaffordability, female sex, and long waiting times in the health care facility were predictors of nonadherence to antihypertension medicines. Effective counseling and state-covered medical care were associated with improved medication adherence. What are the implications for public health practice? An action plan with targeted interventions and policies is needed to promote optimal medication compliance within the Pakistan National Plan for the prevention and management of hypertension. Abstract Introduction Medication nonadherence leads to poor health outcomes, frequent complications, and high economic impact. Our objective was to assess the determinants of adherence to medication regimens among patients with hypertension. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with hypertension attending the cardiology clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. Data were collected by using semistructured questionnaires. A score of 7 or 8 on the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale was classified as good adherence, 6 as moderate, and less than 6 as nonadherence. Logistic regression was performed to determine covariates associated with medication adherence. Results We enrolled 450 patients with hypertension (mean age, 54.5 y; SD, 10.6). Medication adherence was good among 115 (25.6%) patients and moderate among 165 (36.7%); 170 (37.8%) patients were nonadherent. Most patients (72.7%) had uncontrolled hypertension. Nearly half (49.6%) were unable to afford monthly medication. In bivariate analysis, nonadherence was associated with female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.44; P = .003) and long waiting times in the health care facility (OR, 2.93; P = .005); the presence of comorbidities (OR, 0.62; P = .01) was associated with good adherence. In multivariate analysis, nonadherence was associated with unaffordability of treatment (OR, 2.25; P = .002) and uncontrolled hypertension (OR, 3.16; P < .001). Good adherence determinants included adequate counseling (OR, 0.29; P < .001) and education (OR, 0.61; P = .02). Conclusion Addressing identified barriers, including medication affordability and patient counseling, should be included in Pakistans national policy on noncommunicable disease. Top Introduction Higher prevalence of hypertension in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) drives the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (1). Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world, and approximately half of its population has at least 1 chronic disease (2). The prevalence of hypertension has been estimated at 26.7% in Pakistan (3). Although few data are available on hypertension prevalence in Pakistan and its control rate, of the 50% of adults diagnosed with hypertension, only half were treated and only 12.5% of were able to control their blood pressure (4). The growing incidence of uncontrolled hypertension increases the burden of noncommunicable diseases, with an estimated 3.87 million resultant premature deaths projected in Pakistan by 2025 (2). The economic burden of deaths from these diseases in Pakistan is estimated to double from $152 million in 2010 to $296 million in 2025 (2). The Pakistani government has one of the lowest health sector budgets among LMICs (5). The availability and affordability of blood pressurecontrol medicines and accurate blood pressure measuring devices are substantial barriers to proper hypertension management in Pakistan (6). Medication nonadherence leads to poor health outcomes and increased health care costs. Patient nonadherence and clinical inertia negatively affect hypertension management (7). Information is scarce on adherence to antihypertension medications in Pakistan. Previous studies were limited in their sample size (8,9). No previous studies in Pakistan have evaluated medication adherence in a large cohort of hypertensive patients linked to associated determinants. Our aim was to assess the determinants of patient adherence to antihypertension medications. Top Methods Study design, setting, and population We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study of adult hypertensive patients attending the cardiology clinic of the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, from July through October 2019. The hospital is a government-run, tertiary care facility with a catchment area that includes the capital city of Pakistan and surrounding areas. On average, 150 to 200 outpatients with various cardiovascular diseases attend the cardiology clinic daily. Free and low-cost services at this facility attract a large number of patients. We selected the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital to increase the reliability of study results and ensure generalization of the data to the Pakistani population. Patients were included if they were 1) aged 18 years or older, 2) had been visiting a cardiology clinic for the last 6 months, and 3) were previously diagnosed with hypertension. The exclusion criteria were 1) newly diagnosed patients with hypertension at the first visit to the hospital and 2) patients with a critical illness or cognitive impairment. Operational definitions Adherence was defined according to the World Health Organization as the degree to which a persons behavior, including taking medication, corresponds with agreed recommendations from a health care provider (10). This includes the initiation of the treatment, implementation of the prescribed regimen, and discontinuation of the pharmacotherapy. Nonadherence has been classified as primary and secondary. Primary nonadherence is defined as the frequency at which patients fail to fill prescriptions when new medications are started. Secondary nonadherence is defined as filling prescriptions but not taking the medication as prescribed. Grade I hypertension was defined as blood pressure of 140 to 159 mm Hg systolic or 90 to 99 mm Hg diastolic. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Sample size, assumption, and sampling procedure The study sample, based on an unknown adherence prevalence of 50%, was calculated with a 95% confidence limit, 5% margin of error, and 10% nonresponse rate for a sample size of 450. To select participants, we used a systematic random sampling technique of every third patient who met our inclusion criteria. Variables of interest The outcome variable was adherence to a hypertension medication regimen. Independent variables were level of satisfaction with physician and medicine affordability, accessibility, efficacy, and tolerability. Variables that may influence medication adherence were grouped into 1) patient-related factors (age, sex, marital status, level of education, and income); 2) services-related factors (access to health care, prescription patterns of clinicians, and adherence counseling); 3) disease-related factors (duration of hypertension; knowledge of and behavior toward hypertension, its prevention, treatment, associated comorbidity, disease-associated complications, and hospitalizations); and 4) medication-related factors (adverse effects, type of drug therapy, dosage frequency). We used the self-reported 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) questionnaire to measure adherence to hypertension medication regimen. MMAS-8 was scored as 1 point for each no answer and 0 points for each yes. The total score ranged from 0 points (completely nonadherent) to 8 points (completely adherent). An MMAS-8 score of 7 or 8 was classified as good, a score of 6 as moderate, and a score less than 6 as nonadherent. Data collection We collected data by using a semistructured pretested questionnaire (in both English and Urdu) administered by a team of trained data collectors. These questionnaires included both closed-ended and open-ended questions based on an extensive literature review focused on the variables of interest that may influence adherence to antihypertension medication. MMAS-8 was used to measure medication adherence. We used the modified Kuppuswamy scale to measure the socioeconomic status of respondents, taking into account a composite score including the education and occupation of the family head and monthly household income, with a score of 1 to 29. The monthly income and average monthly cost for hypertension treatment provided by respondents were converted from Pakistani rupees to US dollars at the daily calculation rate by using a currency converter (www.forex.pk) during data collection. Before interviewing the patient, the trained data collectors took 2 blood pressure readings by using a manually calibrated mercury sphygmomanometer and stethoscope with an appropriately sized cuff to ensure accuracy. This method is the most conventional method used in Pakistan and is considered the gold standard according to the third National Hypertension Guidelines, Pakistan Hypertension League 2018 (11). To ensure consistency among participants, the patient was in a sitting position with a cuff placed on the right arm at heart level and blood pressure was measured in a 1-minute interval after 5 minutes of rest before calculating the average blood pressure (11). Statistical analysis We used SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp) and Epi Info Version 7 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]) to perform statistical analyses. Data were analyzed as descriptive statistics (proportions, percentages, ratios, and frequency distribution tables) and expressed as mean (SD) or as percentages. Bivariate analysis was performed with a P value of less than .05 considered significant and was used to establish an association between adherence to hypertension medication and patient-related, drug-related, disease-related, and service-related factors. For bivariate analysis, we categorized frequency of determinants among patients reporting good adherence (MMAS-8 score 7 or 8) and those reporting moderate or nonadherence (MMAS-8 score 6) to antihypertension therapy. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of adherence by using adherence status as the outcome variable and the other factors as predictor variables. Ethical considerations The study was approved by the ethical committee of the Federal Government Polyclinic. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant before study enrollment following the data collectors verbal explanation of the study content. Top Results Our final analysis included 450 of 512 hypertensive patients who fulfilled the study criteria, agreed to participate in the study, and completed questionnaires. Their mean age was 54.5 (SD, 10.6) years (Table 1). Mean body mass index (weight in kg divided by height in m2) was 24.1 (SD, 3.9), and 56.2% (253) were male. Good medication adherence was reported by 115 (25.6%) patients; 165 (36.7%) were moderately adherent to medication, and 170 (37.8%) were nonadherent. Almost three-fourths (332 [73.8%]) lived in urban areas. More than two-thirds (303 [67.3%]) did not have a formal education (were illiterate). One hundred twelve (24.9%) were employed in government service. More than half (264 [58.7%]) belonged to the upper lower class on the modified Kuppuswamy scale. None of the responders belonged to the upper socioeconomic status class on the scale. The monthly income of 174 patients (38.7%) ranged from 10,000 to 19,999 Pakistani rupees ($64.50$129.03). Twenty percent (4.4%) received free medication, of whom 164 (3.6%) reported good adherence, and 4 (0.9%) reported moderate adherence. Grade 1 hypertension was diagnosed in 327 (72.7%) patients. The mean duration of hypertension (time from initial diagnosis) was 7.7 (SD, 6.1) years, with 218 (48.4%) of surveyed patients diagnosed in the preceding 5 years (Table 2). A family history of hypertension and ischemic heart diseases was present in 186 (41.3%) patients. One hundred eighty-eight (41.8%) were physically inactive and only 19 (4.2%) were vigorously active with a history of exercise and walking at least 3 times a week. Forty-four (9.8%) patients were current smokers, 53 (11.8%) were former-smokers, and 76 (16.9%) of current smokers had smoked for 5 or more years. The number of patients exposed to passive smoking (secondhand smoke) was 252 (56.0%). The mean distance traveled by patients to reach the health facility was 16.8 km and the mean travel time was 44.9 (SD, 39.5) minutes. More than half of patients (254 [56.4%]) took less than 1 hour to reach the hospital. The number of patients on a single antihypertension drug was 255 (56.7%); 167 (37.1%) were taking 2 antihypertension medicines, and 28 (6.2%) were taking 3 or more (Table 3). More than half (252 [56.0%]) had a once-daily dosage, and 136 (30.2%) experienced drug-related side effects. Tiredness was the most reported side effect (102 patients, 22.7%), followed by weakness (16 patients, 3.6%,) and dizziness (8 patients, 1.8%). More than half (294 [65.3%]) of participants had concomitant comorbid conditions including diabetes, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and obesity. Previous hospital admissions for angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass graft were found in 108 patients. The average monthly medication cost was 1,154 Pakistani rupees (US $7.40), and nearly half (223 patients, 49.6%) were not able to afford their monthly medication. The average travel cost to reach a health facility was 125.8 Pakistan rupees (US $0.80). Most (417 [92.7%]) patients were satisfied with their physicians attitude and care; 419 (93.1%) were satisfied with the prescribed antihypertension drug regimen, and 395 (87.8%) said that counseling was satisfactory. Most respondents (363, 80.7%) had knowledge of hypertension and its prevention and treatment. Almost 91.6% (412) were advised by a physician about the importance of taking hypertensive medication. Our bivariate analysis showed that nonadherence was associated with nonaffordability of treatment (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.545.03, P = .002), uncontrolled hypertension (OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.745.29, P < .001), female sex (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.022.96, P = .003), and long waiting times in the clinic (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.324.84, P = .005) (Table 4). Good adherence was associated with satisfactory counseling (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.180.54, P < .001), the patients education (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.410.97, P = .03), and the presence of comorbidities (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.390.94, P = .01). After adjusting for age, occupation, sex, residence, and income, multivariate logistic regression showed that nonadherence was associated with unaffordability of treatment (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.463.48, P = .002) and uncontrolled hypertension (OR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.765.68, P < .001). Education (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.390.95, P = .03) and adequate counseling by clinicians (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.160.51, P < .001) were associated with good patient adherence (Table 5). Top Discussion To our knowledge, our study is the first to assess determinants of medication adherence in patients previously diagnosed with hypertension in a tertiary care facility in Pakistan. We found a low percentage of hypertensive patients with good adherence to medication regimens. Among patient-related factors, female sex and low education levels were associated with nonadherence. Unaffordability, a lack of access to hypertension medicines, inadequate counseling, and the long waiting times in the clinic were strong predictors of service-related nonadherence. Nonadherence was associated with uncontrolled hypertension, and most patients with elevated blood pressure were prescribed a single drug. The presence of comorbidities was related to better patient adherence. In our study, the prevalence of good adherence among people in Pakistan with hypertension was lower compared with previous studies in developed countries or other LMICs that found the proportion of patients adherent to antihypertension therapy was between 60% and 90% (1214). The major regional differences in medication adherence could be related to the health care systems in high-income countries that provide public health facilities, access to universal health care, multisectorial preventive action, adequate care for chronic conditions, and access to affordable antihypertension medication. This accords with a previous study demonstrating that adherence levels and patient economic status are strongly interrelated (14). High medication costs and unaffordable treatment in LMICs are a barrier to accessing health care, leading to a complex circle of nonadherence and resulting complications (14). Given that hypertension is a chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment, affordability becomes a major determinant of adherence for patients in LMICs who lack health insurance or treatment subsidies. Our results support affordability as a determinant of adherence: we found good adherence among patients who either could afford medication or get it free. Nonadherence is a common phenomenon in uncontrolled hypertension as demonstrated by elevated blood pressure in two-thirds of our study patients. We found that the major reasons for nonadherence to antihypertension medication were lack of access to medicines, including their affordability and availability, long waiting times in the outpatient clinics, and the cost of transportation to visit the clinic. These predictors of nonadherence are modifiable. Strengthening the capacity of clinicians to provide free or low-cost medication can substantially improve adherence, as previously shown in LMICs where patients who reported the availability of free antihypertension medication in the health care facility were nearly twice as likely to be adherent (15). Unaffordability was unrelated to patient income because our study patients prioritized household expenses over purchasing medicines. The unavailability of antihypertension medication in health care facilities has been reported as a major barrier to health care, particularly in LMICs (16). Our study also found, as previously reported, that female patients were less likely to be adherent to antihypertension medication (17). The association of poor adherence with female sex illustrates financial, sociocultural, and systemic inequalities that persist despite the concept of universal health care. Gender inequality is a global phenomenon deeply entrenched in many Asian societies (18). It is widely recognized that Pakistani society is dominated by men, with gender gaps in access to all types of resources, especially health care services, supported by a strong regional ideology in some areas that has created a rigid gender hierarchy in society (19). Women are more likely to skip medications, delay treatment, or ask doctors to prescribe low-cost medication because of nonaffordability and inequity (20). We found that the low education level reported by two-thirds of patients was associated with medication nonadherence. However, although most patients reported hypertension knowledge and most were aware of the importance of taking medications, they did not follow physicians recommendations because of other priorities, such as household and family expenses and a lack of resources. Although patient knowledge can improve health outcomes, evaluation of patient information is just one component of a complex intervention. Thus, additional verbal counseling, involvement of family members, or repeated instructions to confirm patient comprehension are key to assisting low-literacy patients when these services are provided by physicians, pharmacists, or nurses (21). Effective communication skill in medical care can empower patients to engage in disease treatment and is highly correlated with improved adherence to treatment (22). Our study demonstrated that patient satisfaction, effective patientclinician communication on disease and hypertension therapy, and adequate counseling are important factors associated with good adherence. Ramesh et al showed that comprehensive patient counseling and health education enhanced adherence to therapy among patients with cancer, another noncommunicable disease (23). Another important barrier to accessing health care services is long waiting times to receive care. Our study provides evidence of a strong association between prolonged waiting time and nonadherence to an antihypertension medication regimen. Several studies have reported that any disease that requires frequent health care visits associated with long waiting times leads to demotivation (24). As indicated in our study, improved and better patient care facilities and reduced waiting time for clinical visits are important factors to increase patient satisfaction and optimize adherence. In this context, LMICs can build health care capacity by improving primary health care and specialist services to ensure universal access to high-quality health care services (25). Another prominent predictor of nonadherence is medication-related side effects (26). In our study, one-third of patients reported side effects that were unrelated to typical adverse effects of antihypertension drug classes (eg, cough, ankle edema, bradycardia, electrolyte disturbances). Previous studies reported that side effects are the main determinant of low adherence to antihypertension medicines and an important preventive factor in the treatment of hypertension. In one study, 50% of patients discontinued medicines after experiencing side effects (27). The high prevalence of tiredness reported by hypertensive patients in our study may be related to the uncontrolled hypertension itself or the result of lower blood pressure in patients who had high blood pressure for a long time and now need to adjust to lower levels. In our study, 1 in 10 patients were not willing to take medication, suggesting that patient adherence is likely to increase if the management plan aligns with their preferences. Failure to comply with medication results in wasted medications, disease progression, reduced functional abilities, poor quality of life, and increased use of health care services. These factors impose a heavy economic burden on medical resources and the health care system such as primary care clinics, hospital visits, and hospital admissions. Medication nonadherence leads to poor clinical outcomes and has adverse effects on the health care system. In our study, one-fourth of patients had a history of hospitalization for CVD events, increasing the cost of medical care; also, noncompliance to antihypertension medicines and resultant high blood pressure were associated with accelerated hypertension symptoms in more than half of patients and emergency department visits in one-fourth of patients. The limited resources of the health care system and increased medical costs of hospital visits and admissions are real-time challenges faced by the government and the population of Pakistan. Our results are supported by previous studies examining the association between adherence and risk of hospitalization, medical cost, and its economic impact (28). High medication adherence was associated with lower hospitalization rates, suggesting the importance of improved adherence to reduce the use of health care resources and avoidable health care costs, which can ultimately provide a net economic return by reducing the significant cost burden on health care systems (28). As in other published studies, our study patients with comorbidities were more adherent to medication. This may be related to other underlying conditions for which patients follow drug regimens based on family history, awareness of CVD risk, more frequent visits to health care facilities, and counseling (29). Limitations Our study had some limitations. First, we included patients from only 1 hospital in Islamabad, a tertiary care facility with a large catchment area. However, Islamabad is Pakistans most diverse metropolis, with a diverse population from all ethnicities, and is representative of the countrys population. Ours is the first study to assess numerous determinants associated with medication adherence. Second, although the MMAS-8 questionnaire has been widely used to assess medication adherence, in our study we did not perform other validated methods such as drug urine testing or directly observed pill taking. Other limitations included measuring blood pressure on the right arm and the use of a conventional mercury sphygmomanometer, which is the method recommended in Pakistani hospitals. Our study patients were previously diagnosed with hypertension, and the Pakistan Hypertension Guidelines do not specify in which arm to measure blood pressure at follow-up. Finally, our data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a negative impact on the health care system and the unemployment rate in Pakistan. In our study, the lack of affordability was a predictor of noncompliance; thus, the number of patients with uncontrolled hypertension is likely to increase. Conclusion Our study concluded that three-quarters of hypertensive patients were nonadherent to antihypertension medicines. Unaffordability, female sex, and long waiting times in the hospital health facility were the strongest factors affecting adherence to antihypertension medication among Pakistani patients. The presence of multiple medical conditions, a positive family history of CVD, and a positive patientclinician relationship through effective counseling were important predictors of better adherence to antihypertension medicines. The availability of free drugs, controlled follow-up visits, and reduced access time to clinical services play an important role in improving adherence. Cost-effective interventions and a multidisciplinary approach directed at the structure of the Pakistani health care system, availability and affordability of blood pressurelowering medicines, patient education, and adequate patient counseling could improve medication adherence and hypertension management. Our findings may have implications for the implementation of programs on noncommunicable diseases to improve hypertension management and control in Pakistan. Top Acknowledgments This study was fully funded by The Task Force for Global Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the primary grantor. The funding body had no role in the design of the study; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; or in writing the manuscript. We acknowledge support received from CDC and the technical support of the Emerging Authors Program for Global Cardiovascular Disease Research, a mentorship collaboration consisting of the Lancet Commission on Hypertension Group, CDC, Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), and the World Hypertension League. The Emerging Authors Program receives support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and RTSL through a grant to the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Foundation). The authors are grateful for the support of the following organizations: the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, the Directorate of Central Health Establishments, Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program Pakistan, Pakistan Medical Research Council, Central Research Center Islamabad, and the Ministry of National Services Regulations and Coordination Technical (Non-Communicable Diseases) Wing. All authors declare no conflict of interest. No copyrighted material was used in this article. Top Author Information Corresponding Author: Nadia Noreen, MBBS, MPH, MSc, Directorate of Central Health Establishments, Prime Ministers Health Complex, National Institutes of Health Premises, Islamabad, Pakistan (nadia.jamil3@gmail.com). Author Affiliations: 1Directorate of Central Health Establishments, Islamabad, Pakistan. 2Pakistan Health Research Council, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan. 3Ministry of National Health Services, Khosar Block, Islamabad, Pakistan. 4Expanded Program of Immunization, Baluchistan Department of Health, Pakistan. 5Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. Top References Roth GA, Mensah GA, Johnson CO, Addolorato G, Ammirati E, Baddour LM, et al. GBD-NHLBI-JACC Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases Writing Group. Global burden of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, 19902019: update from the GBD 2019 Study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2020;76(25):29823021. PubMed doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.010 Wasay M, Zaidi S, Khan M, Jooma R. Non communicable diseases in Pakistan: burden, challenges and way forward for health care authorities. J Pak Med Assoc 2014;64(11):12189. PubMed Shah N, Shah Q, Shah AJ. The burden and high prevalence of hypertension in Pakistani adolescents: a meta-analysis of the published studies. Arch Public Health 2018;76(1):20. PubMed doi:10.1186/s13690-018-0265-5 Saleem F, Hassali AA, Shafie AA. Hypertension in Pakistan: time to take some serious action. Br J Gen Pract 2010;60(575):44950. PubMed doi:10.3399/bjgp10X502182 World Health Organization. Pakistan health financing system review 2019. WHO Mission Rep. 2019;(July). Accessed July 4, 2022. https://phkh.nhsrc.pk/sites/default/files/2021-07/Pakistan-Health-Financing-System-Review-WHO-2019.pdf Saeed A, Saeed F, Saeed H, Saleem Z, Yang C, Chang J, et al. Access to essential cardiovascular medicines in Pakistan: a national survey on the availability, price, and affordability, using WHO/HAI methodology. Front Pharmacol 2021;11(January):595008. PubMed doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.595008 DiMatteo MR, Giordani PJ, Lepper HS, Croghan TW. Patient adherence and medical treatment outcomes: a meta-analysis. Med Care 2002;40(9):794811. PubMed doi:10.1097/00005650-200209000-00009 Abbassi S, Tahir M, Javed S. Factors associated with treatment compliance in hypertension at a secondary health facility in Islamabad. Pak J Med Res 2019;58(3):1137. Accessed July 4, 2022. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/factors-associated-with-treatment-compliance/docview/2349746163/se-2?accountid = 17242 Bilal A, Riaz M, Shafiq NU, Ahmed M, Sheikh S, Rasheed S, et al. Non-compliance to anti-hypertensive medication and its associated factors among hypertensives. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2015;27(1):15863. PubMed Jimmy B, Jose J. Patient medication adherence: measures in daily practice. Oman Med J 2011;26(3):1559. PubMed doi:10.5001/omj.2011.38 Khan AH, Almas A, Shahab H, Khan AG, Ashraf A, Saleem A, et al. 3rd National Hypertension Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation & Management of HypertensionPakistan. Pakistan Hypertension League; 2018. Asgedom SW, Atey TM, Desse TA. Antihypertensive medication adherence and associated factors among adult hypertensive patients at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, southwest Ethiopia. BMC Res Notes 2018;11(1):27.Erratum in: Asgedom SW, Atey TM, Desse TA. BMC Res Notes. 2018 Aug 16;11(1):592. PubMed doi:10.1186/s13104-018-3139-6 Inkster ME, Donnan PT, MacDonald TM, Sullivan FM, Fahey T. Adherence to antihypertensive medication and association with patient and practice factors. J Hum Hypertens 2006;20(4):2957. PubMed doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1001981 Macquart D, Id DT, Kane A, Kramoh KE, Ali I, Mipinda JB, et al. Factors associated with poor adherence to medication among hypertensive patients in twelve low and middle income Sub-Saharan countries. PloS One 2019;14(7):114. Lulebo AM, Mutombo PB, Mapatano MA, Mafuta EM, Kayembe PK, Ntumba LT, et al. Predictors of non-adherence to antihypertensive medication in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a cross-sectional study. BMC Res Notes 2015;8(1):526. PubMed doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1519-8 Husain MJ, Datta BK, Kostova D, Joseph KT, Asma S, Richter P, et al. Access to cardiovascular disease and hypertension medicines in developing countries: an analysis of essential medicine lists, price, availability, and affordability. J Am Heart Assoc 2020;9(9):e015302. PubMed doi:10.1161/JAHA.119.015302 Calderon-Larranaga A, Diaz E, Poblador-Plou B, Gimeno-Feliu LA, Abad-Diez JM, Prados-Torres A. Non-adherence to antihypertensive medication: the role of mental and physical comorbidity. Int J Cardiol 2016;207:3106. PubMed doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.01.069 Ali TS, Krantz G, Gul R, Asad N, Johansson E, Mogren I. Gender roles and their influence on life prospects for women in urban Karachi, Pakistan: a qualitative study. Glob Health Action 2011;4:7448. Mumtaz Z, Salway S, Waseem M, Umer N. Gender-based barriers to primary health care provision in Pakistan: the experience of female providers. Health Policy Plan 003;18(3):2619. PubMed doi:10.1093/heapol/czg032 Bhuyan SS, Shiyanbola O, Deka P, Isehunwa OO, Chandak A, Huang S, et al. The role of gender in cost-related medication nonadherence among patients with diabetes. J Am Board Fam Med 2018;31(5):74351. PubMed doi:10.3122/jabfm.2018.05.180039 Praska JL, Kripalani S, Seright AL, Jacobson TA. Identifying and assisting low-literacy patients with medication use: a survey of community pharmacies. Ann Pharmacother 2005;39(9):14415. PubMed doi:10.1345/aph.1G094 Zolnierek KBH, Dimatteo MR. Physician communication and patient adherence to treatment: a meta-analysis. Med Care 2009;47(8):82634. PubMed doi:10.1097/MLR.0b013e31819a5acc Ramesh A, Rajanandh MG, Thanmayee S, Salaghamerin G, Suresh S. Impact of patient counseling on medication adherence, beliefs and satisfaction about oral chemotherapies in patients with metastatic cancer at a super specialty hospital. Int J Cancer Res 2015;11:12835. Legido-quigley H, Naheed A, de Silva HA, Jehan I, Haldane V, Cobb B, et al. Patients experiences on accessing health care services for management of hypertension in rural Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka: a qualitative study. Plos One 2019;14(1)e0211100123. Jaca A, Malinga T, Iwu-Jaja CJ, Nnaji CA, Okeibunor JC, Kamuya D, et al. Strengthening the health system as a strategy to achieving a universal health coverage in underprivileged communities in Africa: a scoping review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19(1):587. PubMed doi:10.3390/ijerph19010587 Glombiewski JA, Nestoriuc Y, Rief W, Glaesmer H, Braehler E. Medication adherence in the general population. PLoS One 2012;7(12):e50537. PubMed doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050537 Olowofela AO, Isah AO. A profile of adverse effects of antihypertensive medicines in a tertiary care clinic in Nigeria. Ann Afr Med 2017;16(3):1149. PubMed doi:10.4103/aam.aam_6_17 Sokol MC, McGuigan KA, Verbrugge RR, Epstein RS. Impact of medication adherence on hospitalization risk and healthcare cost. Med Care 2005;43(6):52130. PubMed doi:10.1097/01.mlr.0000163641.86870.af Mazzaglia G, Ambrosioni E, Alacqua M, Filippi A, Sessa E, Immordino V, et al. Adherence to antihypertensive medications and cardiovascular morbidity among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. Circulation 2009;120(16):1598605. PubMed doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.830299 Top Tables Table 1. Sociodemographic Characteristics of Patients (N = 450) Diagnosed With Hypertension at a Tertiary Care Hospital, by Level of Adherencea to Medication, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2019 Characteristics All patients Nonadherence (n = 170) Moderate adherence (n = 165) Good adherence (n = 115) Age, mean (SD), y 54.5 (10.6) 53.4 (11.1) 54.7 (9.8) 55.5 (10.9) 2039 29 (6.4) 15 (8.8) 8 (4.8) 6 (5.2) 4059 275 (61.1) 104 (61.2) 100 (60.6) 71 (61.7) 60 146 (32.4) 51 (30.0) 57 (34.5) 38 (33.0) Male sex 253 (56.2) 86 (50.6) 89 (53.9) 78 (67.8) Marital status Single 6 (1.3) 4 (2.4) 2 (1.2) 0 (0) Married 403 (89.6) 150 (88.2) 146 (88.5) 107 (93.0) Divorced or widowed 41 (9.1) 16 (9.4) 17 (10.3) 8 (7.0) Residence Urban 332 (73.8) 118 (69.4) 126 (76.4) 88 (76.5) Rural 118 (26.2) 52 (30.6) 39 (23.6) 27 (23.5) Educational status No formal education (illiterate) 303 (67.3) 159 (93.5) 110 (66.7) 34 (29.6) Literate 147 (32.7) 11 (6.5) 55 (33.3) 81 (70.4) Primary school or less 29 (6.4) 4 (2.4) 8 (4.8) 17 (14.8) Up to matriculation or secondary school 77 (17.1) 5 (2.9) 18 (10.9) 54 (47.0) Bachelors degree or higher 41 (9.1) 2 (1.2) 29 (17.6) 10 (8.7) Occupation Government employee 112 (24.9) 32 (18.8) 43 (26.1) 37 (32.2) Housewife 156 (34.7) 59 (34.7) 66 (40.0) 31 (27.0) Retired 71 (15.8) 25 (14.7) 25 (15.2) 21 (18.3) Private job 49 (10.9) 21 (12.4) 15 (9.1) 13 (11.3) Unemployed 25 (5.6) 12 (7.1) 8 (4.8) 5 (4.3) Laborer or maid 24 (5.3) 17 (10.0) 3 (1.8) 4 (3.5) Self-employed 13 (2.8) 4 (2.4) 5 (3.0) 4 (3.5) Socioeconomic status scoreb Lower (14) 91 (20.2) 38 (22.4) 35 (21.2) 18 (15.6) Upper lower (510) 264 (58.7) 104 (61.2) 100 (60.6) 60 (52.2) Lower middle (1115) 65 (14.4) 22 (12.9) 16 (9.7) 27 (23.5) Upper middle (1625) 30 (6.7) 6 (3.5) 14 (8.5) 10 (8.7) Monthly income, rupees ($) <10,000 (64.50) 65 (14.4) 38 (22.4) 17 (10.3) 10 (8.7) 10,00019,999 (64.50129.03) 174 (38.7) 71 (41.8) 65 (39.4) 38 (33.0) 20,00039,999 (129.03258.06) 179 (39.8) 50 (29.4) 69 (41.8) 60 (52.2) > 40,000 (>258.06) 25 (5.5) 10 (5.9) 9 (5.5) 6 (5.2) 0 7 (1.6) 1 (0.6) 5 (3.0) 1 (0.9) Table 2. Distribution of Hypertension-Related Factors Among Patients (N = 450) at a Tertiary Care Hospital, by Adherencea to Medication Regimen, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2019 Characteristics All patients Nonadherence (n = 170) Moderate adherence (n = 165) Good adherence (n = 115) Duration of hypertension, mean (SD), y 7.7 (SD, 6.1) 7 (SD, 5.9) 8.6 (SD, 6.4) 7.5 (SD, 6.0) <1 45 (10.0) 21 (12.4) 15 (9.1) 9 (7.8) 15 173 (38.4) 75 (44.1) 48 (29.1) 50 (43.5) 610 123 (27.3) 37 (21.8) 56 (33.9) 30 (26.1) 1120 91 (20.2) 33 (19.4) 37 (22.4) 21 (18.3) 21 18 (4.0) 4 (2.4) 9 (5.5) 5 (4.3) Family history of hypertension and ischemic heart diseases 186 (41.3) 78 (45.9) 64 (38.8) 44 (38.3) Activity levelb Inactive (<30 min/d) 188 (41.8) 69 (40.6) 74 (44.8) 45 (39.1) Minimally active (3060 min/d) 243 (54.0) 97 (57.1) 81 (49.1) 65 (56.5) Vigorously active (equal to 4 h/d walking) 19 (4.2) 4 (2.4) 10 (6.1) 5 (4.3) Smoking status Smoker 44 (9.8) 16 (9.4) 15 (9.1) 13 (11.3) Never smoked 353 (78.4) 135 (79.4) 130 (78.8) 88 (76.5) Former smoker 53 (11.8) 19 (11.2) 20 (12.1) 14 (12.2) Passive smoking 252 (56.0) 99 (58.2) 98 (59.4) 55 (47.8) Number of years smoked <5 19 (4.2) 11 (6.5) 6 (3.6) 2 (1.7) 5 76 (16.9) 23 (13.5) 29 (17.6) 24 (20.9) Since childhood (aged 710 y) 2 (0.4) 1 (0.6) 0 (0) 1 (0.9) Mean distance traveled to reach health facility, km 16.8 (23.8) 16.1 (22.9) 16.6 (20.3) 16.7 (13.4) Mean time to reach health facility, min 44.9 (39.5) 43.6 (39.7) 47.6 (45.7) 43 (28.5) 1 h 254 (56.4) 139 (81.8) 57 (34.5) 58 (50.4) >1 h 196 (43.6) 31 (18.2) 108 (65.5) 57 (49.6) Mean time for a checkup (SD), min 67.1 (37.7) 73.1 (43.3) 66.8 (35.1) 58.8 (30.6) Table 3. Clinical and Treatment-Related Characteristics Among Hypertensive Patients (N = 450) at a Tertiary Care Hospital, by Level of Adherencea to Medication, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2019 Characteristics All patients Non-adherence (n = 170) Moderate adherence (n = 165) Good adherence (n = 115) Hypertension duration since therapy, y <1 46 (10.2) 21 (12.4) 15 (9.1) 10 (8.7) 15 176 (39.1) 78 (45.9) 49 (29.7) 49 (42.6) 610 128 (28.4) 40 (23.5) 58 (35.2) 30 (26.1) 1120 84 (18.7) 30 (17.6) 33 (20.0) 21 (18.3) 21 16 (3.6) 1 (0.6) 10 (6.1) 5 (4.3) Number of antihypertension drugs 1 255 (56.7) 88 (51.8) 90 (54.5) 77 (67.0) 2 167 (37.1) 70 (41.2) 65 (39.4) 32 (27.8) 3 28 (6.2) 12 (7.1) 10 (6.1) 6 (5.2) Dosage frequency Once daily 252 (56.0) 102 (60.0) 91 (55.2) 59 (51.3) Twice daily 198 (44.0) 68 (40.0) 74 (44.8) 56 (48.7) Antihypertension medication side effects Yes 136 (30.2) 68 (40.0) 50 (30.3) 18 (15.7) No 314 (69.8) 102 (60.0) 115 (69.7) 97 (84.3) Adverse effects Tiredness 102 (22.7) 51 (30.0) 38 (23.0) 13 (11.3) Weakness 16 (3.6) 9 (5.3) 5 (3.0) 2 (1.7) Dizziness and vertigo 8 (1.8) 3 (1.8) 3 (1.8) 2 (1.7) Headache 5 (1.1) 2 (1.2) 2 (1.2) 1 (0.9) Stomach pain 4 (0.9) 2 (1.2) 2 (1.2) 0 (0) Urinary urgency 1 (0.2) 1 (0.6) 0 (0) 0 (0) Associated comorbidity Yes 294 (65.3) 114 (67.1) 119 (72.1) 61 (53.0) No 156 (34.7) 56 (32.9) 46 (27.9) 54 (47.0) Type of comorbidity Diabetes 200 (44.4) 72 (42.4) 85 (51.5) 43 (37.4) Ischemic heart diseases 45 (10.0) 18 (10.6) 18 (10.9) 9 (7.8) Congestive heart failure 5 (1.1) 0 (0) 2 (1.2) 3 (2.6) Obesity (BMI 30 kg/m2) 44 (9.8) 24 (14.1) 14 (8.5) 6 (5.2) Hospitalization since diagnosis or in past 2 years if hypertension diagnosed for 5 years Yes 108 (24.0) 48 (28.2) 45 (27.3) 15 (13.0) No 342 (76.0) 122 (71.8) 120 (72.7) 100 (87.0) Cause of hospitalization Angina 44 (9.8) 16 (9.4) 24 (14.5) 4 (3.5) Myocardial infarction 15 (3.3) 12 (7.1) 2 (1.2) 1 (0.9) Stroke 36 (8.0) 15 (8.8) 16 (9.7) 5 (4.3) Angioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft 13 (2.9) 5 (2.9) 3 (1.8) 5 (4.3) Can afford to purchase monthly medication Yes 227 (50.4) 86 (50.6) 71 (43.0) 70 (60.9) No 223 (49.6) 84 (49.4) 94 (57.0) 45 (39.1) Average monthly cost for hypertension treatment, rupees ($) 1,154 (7.2) 1,184 (7.4) 1,095 (6.8) 1,183 (7.4) <1,000 rupees 277 (61.6) 93 (54.7) 95 (57.6) 89 (77.4) 1,0001,999 rupees 56 (12.4) 37 (21.8) 17 (10.3) 2 (1.7) 2,0003,999 rupees 31 (6.9) 9 (5.3) 11 (6.7) 11 (9.6) 4,0004,999 rupees 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 5,0008,000 rupees 7 (1.6) 2 (1.2) 2 (1.2) 3 (2.6) Dont know/never buy 79 (17.6) 29 (17.1) 40 (24.2) 10 (8.7) Average fare to the hospital, rupees 125.8 130.7 121.6 125.2 Patient satisfied with physician 417 (92.7) 151 (88.8) 156 (94.5) 110 (95.7) Patient satisfied with prescribed medication 419 (93.1) 152 (89.4) 157 (95.2) 110 (95.7) Agree counseling about hypertension and medication is adequate 395 (87.8) 142 (83.5) 145 (87.9) 108 (93.9) Physician advised about importance of hypertensive medication 412 (91.6) 154 (90.6) 149 (90.3) 109 (94.8) Understands causes and prevention of hypertension 363 (80.7) 102 (60.0) 154 (93.3) 107 (93.0) Reason for not taking antihypertension medication Affordability 73 (16.2) 35 (20.6) 35 (21.2) 3 (2.6) Lack of access to medicines or health facility 133 (29.6) 57 (33.5) 64 (38.8) 12 (10.4) Forget to take medicines 41 (9.1) 14 (8.2) 8 (4.8) 19 (16.5) Do not wish to take medicines 45 (10.0) 10 (5.9) 19 (11.5) 16 (13.9) Never miss a dose 27 (6.0) 4 (2.4) 14 (8.5) 9 (7.8) Undesirable effects of medicines 61 (13.6) 29 (17.1) 21 (12.7) 11 (9.6) Other 70 (15.6) 21 (12.4) 4 (2.4) 45 (39.1) Results of noncompliance to medication Acceleration of hypertension symptoms 269 (59.8) 104 (61.2) 100 (60.6) 65 (56.5) Visit hospital emergency department 100 (22.2) 39 (22.9) 29 (17.6) 32 (27.8) Absenteeism from work 20 (4.4) 11 (6.5) 7 (4.2) 2 (1.7) No effect 61 (13.6) 16 (9.4) 29 (17.6) 16 (13.9) Table 4. Bivariate Association Between Hypertension Determinants and Medication Adherence Among Patients (N = 450) in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2019a Parameter Frequency in adherent patients (n = 115), MMAS-8 score 8 or 7 Frequency in nonadherent patients (n = 335), MMAS-8 score 6 Odds Ratio (95% CI) P value Treatment not affordable (n = 223) 45 (20.2) 178 (79.8) 2.54 (1.545.03) .002 Uncontrolled hypertension (n = 327) 91 (27.8) 236 (72.2) 3.03 (1.745.29) <.001 Family history (n = 186) 44 (23.7) 142 (76.3) 2.02 (0.573.24) .09 Comorbidities (n = 294)b 61 (20.7) 233 (79.3) 0.62 (0.390.94) .01 Education (Yes) (n = 147) 81 (55.1) 66 (44.9) 0.64 (0.410.97) .03 Female sex (n = 197) 37 (18.8) 160 (81.2) 1.44 (1.022.96) .003 Adequate counseling by clinician (n = 395) 108 (27.3) 287 (72.7) 0.31 (0.180.54) <.001 Urban residence (n = 332) 88 (26.5) 244 (73.5) 1.42 (0.932.19) .12 Wait time >60 min for appointment (n = 251) 31 (12.4) 220 (87.6) 2.93 (1.324.84) .005 Table 5. Multivariate Regression Between Determinants of Medication Adherence Among Patients (N = 450) at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2019 Parametera Adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) P value Treatment unaffordable 2.25 (1.463.48) .002 Uncontrolled hypertension 3.16 (1.765.68) <.001 Education 0.61 (0.390.95) .02 Female sex 1.30 (0.861.99) .20 Urban residence 1.01 (0.631.64) .96 Adequate counseling by clinician 0.29 (0.160.51) <.001 Availability of free blood tests 0.76 (0.391.51) .45 Top Tokyo Cement Group receives the Gold Medal award 25 May 2023 Tokyo Cement Co (Sri Lanka) received the Gold Medal for exceptional environmentally conscious business practices in the Chemical Industries Category at the Presidential Environmental Awards 2021-22 organised by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) last month. The award recognises the multiple sustainable industry practices adopted by Tokyo Cement Group, according to CEAs website information. His Excellency the President Honorary, Ranil Wickramasinghe, presented the prestigious Gold Award to Christopher Fernando, consultant director of Tokyo Cement Group, at the awards ceremony held at the BMICH on the 28 April 2023. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment, the annual Presidential Environmental Awards event is organised by the CEA to recognise and reward public and private sector organisations, industries and individuals, who make significant contributions towards environmental conservation. The strategic investments made by Tokyo Cement Group include exemplary business practices that focus on minimising the companys environmental footprint. First and foremost, Tokyo Cement Groups' end-to-end local manufacturing process is 100 per cent energy independent and is operated using carbon-neutral, renewable biomass energy. The company's information says that its Biomass Energy programme, which currently has a capacity of 23MW/h of green energy, has made us the single largest contributor to non-hydro renewable energy in Sri Lanka. Published under THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) says voter registration will run concurrently with the voters roll inspection exercise that commences on Saturday this week. Zec will open the voters roll for inspection at all polling stations across the country until May 31, 2023. Voters can conduct the inspection electronically using mobile phones. Voter registration has not yet been closed, Zec chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana told NewsDay yesterday. However, members of the public will not be able to register as voters at the polling stations. They will be justinspecting the roll. Registration will be at the usual. There is no registration at all at the inspection centres. We are extending our work. We are doing it for the benefit of the public, as an administrative matter. We are doing like what we do with the voter registration blitz to bring the centres to the people. Its an administrative decision that we have taken to bring the centres to the people, otherwise individuals can inspect the roll anytime, according to the law. Silaigwana said the voters roll would be closed for registration two days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed the election date. Last month, Mnangagwa told a Zanu PF crowd in Mhondoro that he would proclaim the election date at the end of this month. But Veritas said that was not possible because the Electoral Amendment Bill was still pending in Parliament. Mnangagwa also told Zanu PF supporters recently in Mudzi that the elections would be held in August. No electoral legislation can apply to an election after the President has formallycalled by proclamation published in the Government Gazette, Veritas said in its latest Bill Watch publication. The authority for that is section 157(5) of the Constitution which provides that: After an election has been called, no change to the electoral law or to any other law relating to elections has effect for the purpose of that election. The Electoral Amendment Bill must, therefore, become law as an Act before the proclamation can be gazetted. Developments on that Bill in Parliament on Thursday 18th May have rendered it constitutionally impossible for the proclamation to be gazetted in May. Veritas, however, said Mnangagwa had until the end of June to gazette the election proclamation in compliance with section 38 of the Electoral Act. Newsday Mothers of young children see job prospects improve 11:00, May 25, 2023 By QIU QUANLIN in Guangzhou ( China Daily An employee works at a PV panel production line in Taizhou, Jiangsu province, in December. TANG DEHONG/FOR CHINA DAILY Jiang Guixiang usually goes to work at a garment factory in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, 15 minutes later than her colleagues, after sending her son to a local kindergarten. "I'm working on the production line and am usually able to leave to pick up my child before 5 pm," said Jiang, 38, whose job schedule is not as tight as that of most workers. Jiang found the job in April last year, thanks to the help of local human resource and social security authorities. These authorities took the initiative in 2021 to promote flexible working hours for mothers raising children under the age of 12. In July last year, they upgraded the measures to enact more supporting measures like tax reductions, training, employment services and financial subsidies. "We received training to work on the production line," said Jiang. Before working at the factory, she had to take part-time jobs. Forty mothers like Jiang have found jobs at the Heng Long Garment Factory. To better promote the flexible working hour system and provide employment for mothers, a job fair was held in Zhongshan on Saturday, featuring a special employment zone for working mothers. The fair offered positions in various sectors, including education and real estate consulting, customer service, manufacturing, delivery and sales with monthly salaries ranging from 4,000 yuan ($570) to 12,000 yuan. "We will offer more than 20 positions on the production line," said Jian Shuyi, a human resource manager with Guangdong Yoye Wisdom Garment Technology Co, adding that the company also provides housing and catering subsidies for working mothers. Providing positions for mothers will help retain workers as an increasing number of companies face labor shortages on their production lines, said Tan Qunying, human resources director of Tungtex Garment Co. Currently, there are 258 registered enterprises in Zhongshan providing a total of over 14,000 jobs for eligible women, according to Su Dan, deputy director of the Zhongshan Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. The flexible employment model for mothers will be promoted across Guangdong. The popularity of flexible hours for working mothers shows the efforts by Guangdong province to encourage childbirth, Luo Mingzhong, a professor at South China Agricultural University, was quoted by Yangcheng Evening News as saying. Similar measures providing jobs with flexible working hours for mothers with young children have been taken in many cities in China, including Beijing. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga will be serving meals at no charge to children 18 and younger again this year as part of its Summer Feeding Program, operated out of both the North Georgia Community & J.A. Henry Community YMCAs. Meals are available to all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. The meals are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Click the links below for the locations: Catoosa & Walker Counties (Operated by North Georgia Community YMCA) Hamilton & Bradley Counties (Operated by J.A. Henry Community YMCA) Last year, 555,000 healthy meals were prepared and served across 80 sites in Chattanooga, Cleveland and North Georgia. Volunteers are needed to prepare meals, deliver and serve, and lead games/activities. Visit their website for complete information on the YMCAs Youth Food Programs, including how to get involved. More information on both programs can also be found on their social media channels: Facebook: @ymcanorthga and Instagram: @chattfoodfun. Rep. Bryan Richey, a Republican House member from Maryville, is asking Governor Bill Lee to call off the planned special legislative session to deal with public safety. He said the Republican majority would not support a "red flag law" or similar measures that he said would be in violation of the right to bear arms. In a letter, Rep. Richey wrote, "Governor, on behalf of myself and my colleagues listed below, we urge you to abandon the special session you have proposed for August 21 in response to The Covenant School tragedy, because the General Assembly can further consider and discuss legitimate measures to improve public safety when the legislature reconvenes in January 2024. "Summoning legislators to Nashville to enact an unconstitutional red flag law will not, as you suggest, strengthen public safety and preserve constitutional rights. To the contrary, the General Assembly adamantly opposes - and has refused to enact -measures that violate Tennesseans Second Amendment rights, whether styled order of protection legislation or any other euphemism. "Out of respect for the Second Amendment and Art. I, Section 26 of the Tennessee Constitution, the General Assembly has declined to adopt measures that would allow the confiscation of lawful firearms from citizens without due process. Such legislation would be blatantly unconstitutional under the controlling Supreme Court precedent New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022). "We will not violate our oath to uphold the Constitution for political expediency or to curry favor with special interests. "At the same time, we have supported your initiatives to enhance the security of Tennessees schools, to deter future incidents like the horror that occurred at Covenant on March 27, 2023. As you know, the 113th General Assembly adjourned its 2023 session without passing your proposed red flag law, and House Republicans have emphatically expressed their opposition to such measures in the future. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson has flatly stated that the Tennessee General Assembly will not pass any red flag law, period. "Accordingly, your proposed special session, apparently calculated to pressure legislators to pass such a law, strikes us as an expensive, disruptive, futile, and counter-productive publicity stunt. The Covenant tragedy would not have been averted by a red flag law in any event. Your proposed special session is a solution in search of a problem. "We can strengthen our criminal penalties and protect our people at any time. It does not require a special session - a session that will be a political event to put pressure on conservative Republicans to grow government and ignore the will of their constituents in service to the national woke mob that will descend on the Capitol. "Press reports indicate that left-wing activists are planning to use the proposed special session to stage disruptive protests that will make the Tennessee Three circus look like a dress rehearsal. Heavy security will be necessary to protect legislators from unruly agitators. Why would you want to provide a platform for such political theatre? "It is true that the Governor has the constitutional prerogative to call a special session. It is in our view wholly inappropriate to do so when the legislature, which has a supermajority of Members of the same political party as the Governor, has voted to adjourn. There is no emergency, declared or otherwise, that justifies calling us back to work in August. "The reason is a series of policy proposals that we, as a legislative body, deliberately -and prudently - chose to reject this session. If interparty comity is being put aside to pressure fellow Republicans to embrace gun control measures, we still have a remaining duty to demand respect for the separation of powers. The Governor has already proposed and we have already disposed. Hopefully, in January, we can continue our work together to make Tennessee safe, prosperous, and free." A Soddy Daisy man on Wednesday afternoon was sentenced to 35 years in prison for murdering his wife in front of their seven-year-old son. Brandon Ashley Hendricks, 42, also got a concurrent 15 years for aggravated child endangerment. The family was on their way to celebrate the son's seventh birthday. Hendricks was charged with premeditated first-degree murder. He entered a negotiated plea to second-degree murder. In doing so, he gave up the right to file any appeals. The sentence is to be served at 100 percent, though he could be eligible for up to 15 percent credit for good behavior. The plea was taken after two different mental health experts examined Hendricks and both concluded that a plea of insanity could not be sustained. District Attorney Coty Wamp said on July 14, 2018, the couple began to argue as they headed to Walmart to pick up food for the party. She said at some point Joanie Brady Hendricks stopped the car on Dayton Boulevard in Soddy Daisy. At that point her husband pulled out a Taurus Judge handgun and fired five shots at his wife. All the shots struck her either in the neck or head. She said one of the shots was within three inches of the victim. The other four were at a range of 12-18 inches. She said the bullets were similar to those used in a rifle since they contained pellets that made them more deadly. DA Wamp said Hendricks then called 911 as did a man who came up on the scene. Hendricks addressed the large crowd in the courtroom of Judge Amanda Dunn - including many members of the Hendricks family as well as the Brady family. He said, "I am so, so sorry that this happened. I wish I could take it back. "I think about her every day. She's the girl that I married. She's the girl that I loved." Hendricks added, "I don't know what happened. I please ask you to forgive me. I'll be sorry until the day I die for all the hurt I caused my family and friends." The victim's mother, Gina Brady, said she had just taken a trip to Hawaii with her daughters the week before the tragedy. She told Hendricks, "I'll never understand how you could be so mean and take Joanie's life. I hope you suffer while you are in prison, and I will pray that you get no rest or peace." Amanda Jones, sister of the victim, said, "I don't think 35 years is enough for you. It will never sit right with me how you could take her life and leave her lifeless body lying there covered with blood." Then his young son took the stand, saying he wanted to ask why he did it. Hendricks replied, "I don't know. I just snapped." The son said Hendricks had been cruel to the family prior to the shooting. He said he remembered that day seeing his father load the gun. He said, "I asked you why you were doing that. You told me you were doing it 'to protect us.' " Governor Bill Lee authorized the deployment of 100 Tennessee National Guard troops on Thursday to secure the U.S. Southern border amid an ongoing national security crisis and surging drug crisis being fueled by an open border. The announcement follows a joint statement from Governor Lee and fellow Republican governors last week and a border security briefing in Austin on Monday, where Texas Governor Greg Abbott invited states to support Operation Lone Star to secure the U.S. Southern border following the end of Title 42. America continues to face an unprecedented border crisis that threatens our nations security and the safety of Tennesseans, said Governor Lee. The federal government owes Americans a plan to secure our country, and in the meantime, states continue to answer this important call to service. I am again authorizing the Tennessee National Guard to help secure the Southern border, and I commend these troops for providing critical support. The Tennessee National Guard members will deploy at the end of May to provide critical support along the U.S. Southern border, including: Patrolling and providing additional security presence along the border Assisting road and route clearance, barrier placement and debris removal Staffing outpost operations The Tennessee National Guard has supported border security efforts in the past. In December 2021, Governor Lee authorized 50 additional troops to respond to the surge in illegal crossings and drug-related activity along the U.S. Southern border. Governor Lee also visited more than 300 Tennesseans stationed at the border in July 2021. The men and women of the Tennessee National Guard are always ready to serve their country anywhere, anytime, said Brigadier General Warner Ross, Tennessees Adjutant General. These troops are a capable contingent that will continue our long-standing tradition of responding to the call to aid our fellow Americans. The Tennessee National Guard is proud to serve and support our state partners in safeguarding the United States along the U.S. Southern border. Sharon Kaye Lemons, 71, of Spring City, Tennessee, passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023, after a brief illness. She was born on May 11, 1952, to the late Allen and Joyce Riggs Lemons. Sharon graduated from Ringgold High School Class of 1970 and attended Chattanooga State Community College. She retired from Tennessee Valley Authority, where she spent her entire career. She will be remembered by family and friends for her love, generosity, intelligence, and caring spirit. Anyone who met Sharon never forgot her. She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to have known and loved her. Sharon was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include her brother Steve (Rita) Lemons of Ringgold; her nieces Erica Mozingo and Stephanie (Chris) Reeves; her great nephews Jacob Davenport, Connor Arp, Garrett Arp, Jasper Graham, and Atlas Isenhower; her great nieces Emily Ellison and Vallie Reeve; and several close cousins and friends. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 30, from 12-2 p.m. at Vaughn Funeral Home. A private graveside service will take place at a later date. Vaughn Funeral Home of Spring City is in charge of the arrangements of Sharon Kaye Lemons and asks that friends share condolences and memories of her with the family on our website www.vaughn-funeral-home.com. To continue the celebration and to join in the National Trust's May as "Preservation Month," the public is invited to celebrate Memorial Day weekend with the Soddy, Daisy and Montlake Historical Association with outdoor activities centered around the local WWII soldiers of Soddy-Daisy and their contributions, as well as a crafts table devoted to American Folk art and the U.S. flag.The museum will be open their regular hours, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and this Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.everyone is welcome to join in for the following activities: Kid's Painting Table - explore the history of the U.S. flag and other early folk designs by creating your own wooden piece. A Journey in the Pacific - Board Member Bill Shadwick will tell stories of his father's service in WWII and present his display of memorabilia. See the large exhibit created by Steve Smith in the museum to view more on WWII. Books commemorating the service of the local soldiers from Soddy-Daisy and this region will also be available. A Story of Success - input will be gathered about the Good Old Days Museum and SDMHA's future - light refreshments will be served. Highlights are told below on the newly acquired home.Officials said, "A long wished for permanent home has finally come true for the Soddy, Daisy & Montlake Historical Association and they have settled on a permanent home in the 102-year-old known as the Soddy Bank building. This historic beauty built in 1921 had been for sale since 2020, which means the local historical association knew that at any time they could lose its current home for the 'Good Old Days Museum.' SDMHA had always envisioned a larger facility due to the size of the museums collection. Additionally, if the group was offered a large historical item which would not fit inside the building, we often had to decline the offer. This was one of the driving forces to search for another site."Board members began searching in the Soddy-Daisy area, but no new location was ever found that was the right fit. The search looked at old historical homes, local vacant businesses, which were few, and the group even gave the purchase of land to build on a thought. But like the housing construction costs that are on the rise, SDMHA quickly found this to be an expensive avenue to follow."Every time the board finished researching another site for the museum, they would return to the old bank building. By December 2019, SDMHA finally decided to seriously pursue the Soddy Bank and talked to the owner for a solid asking price. The Historical Association had made an attempt to raise the money for the purchase in late 2019 and started a full capital campaign effort.""But because of the uncertainty following the 2020 presidential election and the Covid-19 epidemic, we couldnt have picked a more unsettling time," said SDMHA President Steve Smith. "The fund raising did produce a rather large amount of money - over $50K, but was far short of what was needed. The donations from the community really showed us that we had local support. In the meantime we continued to operate the museum in the building knowing at any time the building might be sold."In 2022, the search for a large donor who might be willing to finance purchase of the building began once again.Mr. Smith said, "We were shocked, to say the least, that anyone had enough faith in our small local Historical Association they would be willing to give us such a large amount of money. We were hesitant since SDMHA did not have any success with that approach before, but we did find a donor who, after much consideration, gave us the amount of money we were trying to get the bank loan for, $100,000. We were able to combine some of the money we had gathered during our previous fundraising campaign and with the donors gift, we purchased the building. This year at the April 1st opening, the Soddy, Daisy & Montlake Historical Association became the proud owners of the property at 11298 Wall St. We held a cruise-in and always fundraising, they cooked Chow Now - Plenty Burgers, a nostalgic favorite. Special events will continue throughout the museum's 2023 season."See full story here.Call 423-718-0528 for more information, see soddydaisymuseum.com or check out their Facebook page. The museum is located at the corner of Wall Street and Depot Street in Soddy-Daisy. Nokian Tyres and the Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation announce the music lineup for the 2023 edition of Nokian Tyres Summer Nights, a series of concerts taking place every Friday night in June on the Rhea County courthouse lawn. The fourth annual event will feature live music from local bands, food vendors, informational booths from area organizations, and a tire giveaway on the last night of the festival. Here are the dates and artists: Friday, June 2 The Sullivan Band Friday, June 9 Rhea Springs Revival Friday, June 16 Summer of Love Friday, June 23 Common Ground Friday, June 30 Gigi and Friends Festivities start at 7 p.m. each Friday in June and end around 10 p.m. The event is presented by the Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation, which exists to celebrate the history and culture of Rhea County through diverse programs, exhibits and preservation of resources. Nokian Tyres sponsors the event as part of its commitment to serving the community where it operates an award-winning production factory. The company is currently hiring 125 workers and doubling production at its Dayton Factory, where it makes all-season and all-weather tires for the North American tire market. Nokian Tyres opened the Dayton Factory in 2019 and will employ more than 450 team members at the facility by the end of the year. It won Company of the Year honors from the Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association in 2021, and it was the first Rhea County company to earn the prestigious Tennessee Governors Environmental Stewardship Award for its environmental efforts. Nokian Tyres recycles or reuses all production waste generated at the factory. Learn more about the concert series by visiting the Nokian Tyres Summer Nights Facebook page or RheaHeritage.com/Summer-Nights. Read more about Nokian Tyres Dayton Factory and apply for jobs there at NokianTires.com/DaytonFactory. A 45-year-old Iowa man, who took a 14-year-old Harrison, Tn., girl to his home for sexual activity, has been sentenced to serve 10 years and a month in federal prison. Joseph Donnell Foster earlier pleaded guilty to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity and with coercion and enticement. He appeared before Judge Charles Atchley. Authorities said Foster and the girl met on SnapChat, and he began sending her money using Cashapp in late December of 2020. He picked her up in his Ford F-150 on Jan. 2, 2021, and took her to Iowa. Prosecutors said he put her up in a hotel for a couple of days. There she dyed her hair and he bought her new clothes. She began staying at his house afterward, and they engaged in sexual activity, it was stated. Prosecutors said the girl called a relative from Clarksville, Tn., and told her about being picked up by the Iowa man named "Joe." She said along the way to Iowa they disposed of her phone in a body of water so it could not be tracked. The FBI located video of Foster purchasing the hair dye and clothes for the girl. Foster admitted that he took the girl to Iowa for sex, it was stated. Two Georgia Northwestern Technical College students have received the colleges new National Board for Respiratory Care Scholarship.Brook Atkinson and Reanna Story, both students in GNTCs Respiratory Care program on the Floyd County Campus in Rome, received the scholarship for the summer semester. The scholarship supports students with a minimum 2.0 GPA enrolled in the Respiratory Care degree program.With the growing shortage of respiratory therapists, we wanted to invest in future generations and new educational opportunities for aspiring respiratory therapists, said Lori M.Tinkler, chief executive officer of the National Board for Respiratory Care. We want to ensure a better, brighter future for the profession.The National Board for Respiratory Care is making it possible for GNTC students to stay on track and attain their educational dream of becoming a respiratory therapist, said Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC. We are deeply appreciative of their support. Its not easy being a princess at least, thats what Princess Lilibet, the younger child of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, might say to herself someday. Harry and Meghan, known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are parents to two children: Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who received their royal titles upon Queen Elizabeth IIs death in September 2022. Despite being royalty, the two kids are being raised far away from the royal family. Harry and Meghan have planted roots in California while the other royals continue their duties over in the United Kingdom. And someday, Princess Lilibet might find herself at a crossroads between her relationship with her parents and her ties to the royal family. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2020 | Simon Dawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images Princess Lilibet was named after Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana Harry and Meghan welcomed their only daughter, Princess Lilibet Diana, in 2021. They subsequently named their little girl after two very important women in Harrys life: His grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, whose childhood nickname was Lilibet, and his mother, Princess Diana, who died tragically in a car accident in 1997. However, one royal expert thinks Harry and Meghans decision to give Lilibet a name with such close ties to the royal family might force her to feel like shes at a crossroads between the family for whom she is named after and the family her parents dont want her to know. Everyone will know that Lilibet got her name because it was Elizabeth IIs childhood name, and I dont think thats a good thing, royal author Tom Quinn told Express. I think it ties her too close to a world that her parents really want to leave behind. Quinn continued, So theres going to be a split, shes going to feel that she was named in a way that ties her to England and to the royal family very closely But shes growing up with parents who are very wary of the world theyve left behind. Lilibet is too young to understand her royal ties for now, but she already went from an ordinary name to a princess title just about a year after her birth. Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II in 1989 | John Shelley Collection/Avalon/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seemingly dont let their kids interact with the royals Harry and Meghan have felt quite hurt by the royal family, and some would say for good reason. As a result, they havent given their children much of an opportunity to know their royal ties. Archie was lucky enough to meet Queen Elizabeth before her death because he lived in the U.K. for the first eight months of his life. However, Meghan and Harry had already moved to California by the time Lilibet was born, so she has never met any of her royal family members. Harry and Meghan have been to the U.K. a couple of times since leaving the royal family, including for the queens Platinum Jubilee in 2022 as well as her funeral that same year. However, on both occasions, the children remained in the United States, meaning Harry and Meghan have not given the little ones a chance to get to know their family members and its unclear if they ever will. TL;DR: A star said watched The Beatles write I Want to Hold Your Hand on his familys piano. He discussed why the tune became stuck in his head. The tune hit No. 1 in the United States and the United Kingdom. The Beatles | Central Press / Stringer A star heard The Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand before anyone else. Subsequently, the star revealed what he thought of the song when he first heard it. Notably, he had an interesting connection to Paul McCartney. The Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand came together in a celebritys music room Peter Asher is a pop star who has half of the pop duo Peter and Gordon. The duo is known for songs like Lady Godiva, Woman, and A World Without Love. Notably, Asher is the brother of Jane Asher, who dated Paul for much of The Beatles time together. During a 2018 interview with Videomuzic, Asher was asked to name his favorite Fab Four song. It would be I Want to Hold Your Hand because I think of the exciting moment I got to hear the song the instant it was written, he revealed. This was the period when Paul was living in our family home in London and there was a little music room downstairs. Peter Asher told members of The Beatles what he thought of the song Asher said his sister told Paul he could use the familys piano any time. One day, Paul and John Lennon started playing together. Paul and John started writing I Want to Hold Your Hand on the piano with no guitar in sight. Paul asked Asher to come and hear what he was playing. And I came down and sat on the little sofa and they sat side by side on the piano and he played me I Want to Hold Your Hand for the first anywhere to anyone, he said. And the song, alone in that room with the two of them, hammering away at the piano, it sounded incredibly good. They asked me what I thought and I said, Its amazing, its the best sound I ever heard in my life. Please play it again. and they did. So that songs stuck in my head for understandable reasons. How I Want to Hold Your Hand performed in the United States and the United Kingdom I Want to Hold Your Hand became a massive hit. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, staying on the chart for 15 weeks. The tune appeared on Meet the Beatles! in the United States. That album reached No. 1 for 11 of its 74 weeks on the Billboard 200. According to The Official Charts Company, I Want to Hold Your Hand peaked at No. 1 in the United Kingdom for five weeks. The track lasted on the chart for 25 weeks. In the U.K., the tune was a non-album single, though it appeared on many compilation albums. I Want to Hold Your Hand is one of The Beatles defining tracks and it got its start in the Ashers home. After her divorce from Ike Turner, Tina Turner married her second husband, Edwin Bach, in 2013. The couple had only been married for 10 years at the time of her death in 2023, but they had been together for nearly 30 years at the time of their wedding. Turner shared the story of their meet-cute and how she felt an immediate connection to Bach. Erwin Bach and Tina Turner | Venturelli/Getty Images for Giorgio Armani Tina Turner and her husband, Erwin Bach, met in 1985 In 1985, Turner arrived in Germany, where Bach, a music executive, picked her up from the airport. We met at Cologne [Bonn] Airport actually it was Dusseldorf Airport [in Germany], and her manager Roger [Davies] asked me to pick up Tina, Bach said in the documentary Tina (via People). For Turner, it was love at first sight. He was [16 years] younger [than me], she said. He was 30 years old at the time and had the prettiest face. I mean, you cannot [describe] it. It was like insane. [I thought], Where did he come from? He was really so good-looking. My heart [was beating fast] and it means that a soul has met, and my hands were shaking. Erwin Bach and Tina Turner | Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Bach said he felt calm while driving Turner. We enjoyed the ride, Bach said. I enjoyed driving the artist, actually a superstar. Youre normally a little nervous, but I wasnt nervous either. I was just doing the job. She noted that she had to leave her comfort zone in order to begin a relationship with Bach. I did notice him, and I instantly felt an emotional connection, she wrote in the book Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good. Even then, I could have ignored what I felt I could have listened to the ghost voices in my head telling me that I didnt look good that day, or that I shouldnt be thinking about romance because it never ends well. Instead, I listened to my heart. I left my comfort zone and made it a priority to get to know Erwin. That simple first meeting led to a long, beautiful relationship and my one true marriage. When did Tina Turner marry Erwin Bach? Turner and Bach began dating and, after 27 years together, married in 2013. The wedding took place at the couples estate in Switzerland. Guests included celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and David Bowie. The wedding may have come as a surprise to some fans, as Turner had previously said she had no plans to get remarried. Neither Erwin nor I feel the need to get married, she said in a 2006 interview with Winfrey, via The Daily Mail. Weve been together for 18 years. What would marriage give me that I dont already have? Marriage would be about pleasing the public. Why do I need to please the public if Im already pleased? He donated his kidney to her in 2017 In 2017, Bach donated his kidney to Turner. She said that while she had more to face medically, she was happy to have Bach by her side. Tina Turner and Erwin Bach | Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images I lived through a hellish marriage that almost destroyed me, but I went on. I know that my medical adventure is far from over, she said. But Im still here were still here, closer than we ever imagined. I can look back and understand why my karma was the way it was. Good came out of bad. Joy came out of pain. And I have never been so completely happy as I am today. Younger Turner stationed at Fairchild RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany Capt. Crystal Turner, Critical Care Air Transport Team nurse, experienced a feeling that many mothers do when their child says, I want to join the military. She described it as a mix of pride and sadness seeing her son, Airman 1st Class Don Turner, KC-135 boom operator, head off to begin his career in the U.S. Air force. My momma heart broke, explained Capt. Turner. He went as far away as he could. Capt. Turner is stationed at Walter Reed Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, VA., and Airman 1st Class Turner calls Fairchild Air Force Base, WA., home. When Capt. Turner was notified of a deployment to Germany, she prepared for the months she wouldnt be even further away, and unable to see her family. Early into her deployment, however, she found out that her see you later, would quickly become a see you soon. I was asked if I wanted to go on a temporary duty assignment, said the younger Turner. When I found out where, I had to let my mom know as soon as possible. Not expecting to receive an opportunity to support a TDY so early in his career, Airman 1st Class Turner was surprised when his leadership gave him the opportunity to support a mission that was heading to Germany. He agreed to take the mission, and before long he was on a transatlantic flight to meet up with his mother in Germany. It was so cool. It was surreal to be with him in a work capacity, said Capt. Turner. Its so rare to have that overlap. The two Turners capitalized on the short time they got to spend with each other in Germany, enjoying local cuisine and taking in the sights of Trier. Before donning their civilian attire to tour Germany, however, there was one order of business that had to be taken care of. thats the first time he ever saluted me, Capt Turner said after receiving a salute from her son since they could both say they were on active duty in 2021. Weve never been in uniform together. Even though they currently wear the same uniform, Airman 1st Class Turner pointed out where his inspiration to join the military came from. It was my dad, he said. My mom and I both decided to join around the same time, but she beat me to the punch. Even though her son credits his dad for the inspiration to join the military, Capt Turner concluded by saying just how proud she is of her sons accomplishments. As a mom you tell your kids youre proud of them, and theyre like, yeah ,yeah, yeah, but hes doing some really cool stuff. Im going to tear up; thats my baby. Artwork for the 35th Sovereignty Symposium is The Ambassadors, created by Eric Tippeconnic. He is a Los Angeles resident specializing in paintings of acrylic on canvas, and a citizen of the Comanche Nation. The success of Viron Rondo Osteria on Highland Avenue in Cheshire is any restaurateurs dream. With new restaurants also scheduled to open in the development at Stone Bridge Crossing, and Counter Weight Brewing Co., for one, bringing more area residents out for food and drink, its clear that Cheshires north end is becoming a destination. Its no wonder that others in the restaurant industry are viewing the area as good for business, especially as commercial and industrial development continues nearby. The newly-opened Butcher Bros. Steakhouse is one family business that is not holding back on investing in order to make its location, at 1410 Highland Ave., work for the long term. Excitement in town for the new restaurant was apparent during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 17. Heavily promoted by the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and well-attended by community leaders and other locals, the event was an opportunity for the Redzic family to show off their chops, pun intended. Other enterprises have tried and failed in that same spot. But each of the Redzic brothers brings decades of restaurant experience, both in the front and the back of the house, as well as the capital and vision to create a high-end dining experience in Cheshires north end. Tony Redzic, one of the eponymous Butcher Bros., was working the front of the house at Wednesdays ribbon-cutting and greeted visitors as they arrived. He explained that the family, which traces its roots to the Balkan nation of Montenegro, has been in the butcher business for about 300 years. Together, the brothers have owned and operated several restaurants in New York City, including Pauls in Times Square. More recently, Tony himself worked as a manager at Wolfgangs Steakhouse on Park Avenue in Manhattan. This is their first steakhouse in Connecticut. The building was formerly home to other steakhouse businesses including Bone-In Prime and Red Fox. Although the previous owners also originally hailed from Montenegro, they are related more by geography than family, says Tony. Recognizing a good location opportunity, the Redzics have committed a considerable investment into giving the space an upgrade. A new walk-in wine cooler contains a mix of offerings from various regions in the United States, as well as France, Italy, Chile, and Argentina. It could soon also offer wines such as Montenegrin Vranac, or other Balkan specialties, which compare favorably to the worlds best, per Tony. One feature of the new space is a window in the front of the house where guests can see a selection of the meats. Choice cuts from a Pennsylvania farm are aged in a 28-day process that enhances the flavor and quality of the meats, as Tony explains. New booths and other upgrades to the restaurants interior have created opportunities for a date-night atmosphere, as well as spaces for a corporate event or business lunch. A cigar patio, more parking, and new landscaping for the front, are also planned for the restaurant, although some will be subject to official approvals. Weve been working really hard to get everything ready for this, Tony stated. For the ribbon-cutting event, Butcher Bros. waitstaff circulated with samplings of many menu items including a truffled bruschetta, grilled chicken skewers, and jumbo shrimp, creating the overall atmosphere of a multi-generational family wedding on a bright and sunny Wednesday afternoon. The brothers also presented bite-size portions of their signature dishes, including rack of lamb and porterhouse steak. The Town of Cheshire showed its support with Town Manager Sean Kimball and Economic Development Coordinator Andrew Martelli in attendance for the ceremony. Town Council members Sandy Pavano, David Borowy, and David Veleber were also on hand to show their support for the new business. Legislative aides Ruchi Sheth and Ryan Jones from U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayess (D-5) Waterbury office came to commemorate the opening of the steakhouse with a certificate of appreciation for the Redzic brothers investment in the community. Executive Chef Dino Redzic addressed the gathered crowd, declaring, Were proud to show what we know and what we do. The Ouija board has been an object of fascination for a long time because it is said to be able to connect humans with the supernatural. There have been many eyewitness accounts from all over the world from people who have played around with the Ouija board and experienced the presence of a ghost or spirit of some sort. But can the Ouija board really gain access to the spirit world, or is there a scientific explanation for this whole phenomenon? An emergency medical doctor and TikTok creator named Dr. Joe (@drjoe_md) is talking about the Ouija board and what might be causing some folks to believe that they have been communicating with the dead. Recently, 28 girls in Columbia were all hospitalized at the same time after playing with a Ouija board and displaying anxiety and fainting symptoms. And a while back, a similar case occurred where 11 teenagers were taken to the hospital when they were discovered to have passed out in a corridor after playing with a Ouija board. In both cases, hospital records show that the kids had abdominal pain, vomiting, and muscle spasms. However, they ended up being diagnosed with food poisoning. Dr. Joe explains that their symptoms could be due to something called shared psychotic disorder. Shared psychotic disorder is a rare disorder in which a normal, healthy person can take on the bizarre delusions of a person having a psychotic episode around them. The person with the primary mental health disorder and the most dominant member of the social group transfers their delusions onto the others, causing mass hysteria. It can happen between two people who are close to each other or in a group setting. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Political demonstrations held by women tend to be pretty powerful. But before the Womens March on Washington and the Womens Suffrage Movement, one woman organized an impacting political demonstration on her own. Penelope Barker was an activist best known for organizing the Edenton Tea Party in 1774. Penelope was born in Edenton, North Carolina, in 1728. Her father was a farmer, and her mother was the daughter of a wealthy politician. Penelopes father and sister died when she was young, so she spent many of her teenage years helping to raise her children. Then, just before turning 17, Penelope married her sisters widow in 1745. Unfortunately, she was pregnant with their second child when he passed away and was left to raise four children alone. Penelope remarried in 1751 to a wealthy planter named John Craven. He died four years later, and she inherited his large fortune, making her one of the richest women in North Carolina. In 1757, Penelope married an attorney named Thomas Barker. They had three children with him, but sadly, they all passed away before their first birthdays. In 1761, Thomas was sent to England to serve as an agent of the North Carolina colony. Penelope was once again left alone to raise her children, and Thomas wasnt able to return home until seventeen years later due to the American Revolution. During the build-up to the American Revolution, patriot women like Penelope were encouraged to support the rebellion against the British and their taxation by boycotting imported British products like tea and cloth. Inspired by the Boston Tea Party and wanting to participate in the rebellion, Penelope spent the early fall of 1774 knocking on the doors of over 50 households and inviting women to a special tea party at the home of Elizabeth King. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Its so interesting to learn about women who were firsts in history. For example, do you know who the first female president of the Philippines was? Her name was Corazon Aquino, and she went on quite a journey to make her place in history. Corazon was born in Paniqui, Tarlac, in the Philippines, in 1933. She was born into a wealthy family that owned a sugar plantation. Corazon moved to the United States for high school and attended the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York City. She received her major in French and minored in mathematics in 1953. After graduating from college, Corazon returned to the Philippines and met her husband, Benigno Aquino Jr., while attending law school at Far Eastern University. She eventually dropped out and married Benigno in 1954. They had five children together. Benigno was a politician and a member of the liberal party. In 1961, he was elected as the youngest governor in the country and eventually became a senator to the Senate of the Philippines in 1967. Corazon supported her husband and mostly stayed in the background and raised their children during his campaigns. Benigno was a strong critic of President Ferdinand Marcos, who declared martial law in the Philippines in 1972, which allowed him to stay in power. During this time, he had Benigno arrested. United States President Jimmy Carter requested that Corazon, Benigno, and their family be released into medical exile in America in 1980. They lived in Boston for three years. In 1983, Benigno returned to the Philippines by himself and was tragically assassinated. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Pixabay/Tumisu Five years ago, the investigation of child abuse cases at the Catholic Church in Illinois started. Recently, the Chicago Archdiocese revealed the name of the predatory clergy as the investigation allegedly neared its end and asserted that the church has nothing to hide. Investigation of Catholic Church's Clergies in Illinois A report from Chicago Sun-Times stated that in August of 2018, Illinois' Attorney General Lisa Madigan indicated that her office would be looking into the possibility that the Catholic church in the state had engaged in any illegal activity. Shortly after, it was announced they had completely exposed the scale of child sex abuse committed by priests and other clergy members. Cardinal Blase Cupich, a prominent member of the Catholic clergy, stated that the church possessed no secrets. Cupich informed the group that the church had previously made the list of clergy members in the Archdiocese of Chicago who were believed to have been credibly suspected of sexual misconduct accessible to the public. However, based on the findings of the investigation revealed on Tuesday, May 23, by Madigan's successor, Kwame Raoul, the claims that Cupich made were highly off base. Raoul stated that the archdiocese, which covers Cook and Lake counties, and the remaining branches of the Catholic Church in Illinois did not recognize numerous allegedly abusive clergy and other religious figures. Also Read: Around 445 Sexual Abuse Victims of Priests and Church Officials in Spain Break Their Silence Result of the Investigation During an interview, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul explained that detectives discovered that members of the Catholic clergy in Illinois abused 1,997 kids between 1950 and 2019, Madison News reported. However, he recognized that the time limit of restrictions had passed in several instances and that the perpetrators of the abuse "will never see justice in a legal sense." As mentioned, the investigation was initiated in 2018 by Raoul's predecessor, Lisa Madigan, who, at the same time as she was about to leave office, she issued a scathing assessment. Raoul reportedly continued the investigation, and on Tuesday, May 23, he disclosed that 25 members of his team had gone through more than 100,000 pages of diocesan papers and had over 600 private conversations with acquaintances. Moreover, Hawaii News reported that extensive research discovered church authorities in Illinois were painfully reluctant to accept the magnitude of the abuse. In addition, they are accused of regularly dragging their feet when confronting accused clergy and failing to alert worshippers about prospective abusers in their midst, sometimes even decades after charges first surfaced. The Catholic dioceses in the state published a unified statement on Friday, May 19, in which they stated that the inquiry by the attorney general sparked a multi-year assessment of their policies and modifications of an unknown nature. On the other hand, on Monday, May 22, Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, stated the misconduct was "repugnant" but that the Catholic Church started modifying its policies and programs in 1992 and cooperated fully with the state's assessment. Accordingly, the report devotes a significant portion of its content to personal testimonies of sexual abuse and lists of clergy members and religious brothers in each diocese accused of child sexual abuse. Some individuals named have gained notoriety due to legal actions or criminal investigations. One such individual is Father Daniel McCormack, who was accused of assaulting over a hundred children several decades before his conviction in 2006 for abusing five boys in Chicago. Related Article: Diocese of San Diego Rejects Lawsuit's Allegations of Hiding Assets from Sexual Abuse Victims Pixabay/ MotionStudios In a plea for immediate action, Philos Project, a Christian advocacy group, has appealed to the US Congress to provide aid and assistance to the Armenian population stranded in the war-torn region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Citing President Biden's muted response to the crisis, the group has highlighted the situation's urgency and called for a robust humanitarian intervention. Christian Advocacy Group's Appeal to US Congress A report from FOX News stated that the Philos Project, Armenian-Americans, and other advocacy groups have directly appealed to President Biden for urgent action to assist the stranded Armenians. However, according to the group, the administration's response has been limited and subdued. As mentioned, the Philos Project sent a letter to the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), directing it to Chairman Mike McCaul, a Republican from Texas, and ranking member Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, on Friday. Moreover, the Christian advocacy group's appeal comes amidst a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, where thousands of Armenians continue to suffer the consequences of the recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The ongoing crisis has led to widespread displacement, loss of life, and the destruction of vital infrastructure, leaving many Armenians stranded and in dire need of assistance. Also Read:US Congressional Candidate Says Government 'Should Be Allowed To Shoot' Those Who Reject COVID Narrative Fight Between Armenia and Azerbaijan War The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues to escalate, with both nations locked in a bitter struggle over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The historical context of the conflict and potential pathways for resolution is crucial to understanding the current situation. According to a report from WIO News, the roots of the conflict trace back to the early 20th century when both Armenia and Azerbaijan were part of the Soviet Union. Nagorno-Karabakh, populated predominantly by ethnic Armenians, sought to break away from Azerbaijan and join Armenia. Azerbaijan launched a military campaign in response, resulting in a full-scale war between the two nations from 1992 to 1994. The war led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and left Nagorno-Karabakh under the control of ethnic Armenians. In a recent development, Eurasian Times reported that Armenia was ready to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent territory. This move could reshape the dynamics of the conflict and open avenues for negotiations and peaceful resolution. On the other hand, in an attempt to find a diplomatic solution, Reuters stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan held peace settlement talks in Washington on April 29th. The settlement aimed to address both sides' key issues and grievances and find common ground for a lasting peace agreement between the two countries. While the discussions were considered a positive step forward, the path to a comprehensive resolution remains challenging. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has had far-reaching consequences, including loss of life, displacement, and the destruction of infrastructure. Furthermore, the international community has expressed concern over the escalating tensions and called for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue between the two nations. As the fight between Armenia and Azerbaijan war rages on, efforts to find a peaceful resolution continue. Both sides must engage in meaningful negotiations, considering the affected populations' historical context, territorial claims, and aspirations. A sustainable solution must prioritize the well-being and rights of all parties involved, ensuring the region's stable and peaceful future. Related Article:Zelensky Vows To Defend Ukraine Against Russian Aggression in an Emotional Speech to US Congress Pixabay/ steveriot1 A Christian teacher, Joshua Sutcliffe, has been banned from teaching after being found guilty of misgendering a student and labeling Muhammad a "false prophet." The Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA) concluded that Sutcliffe failed to treat the student with dignity and respect and neglected their well-being by refusing to use their preferred pronouns. Banned from Profession According to the LBC News, Sutcliffe, 33, faced suspension from two schools due to his actions. Initially, he was suspended from Cherwell School in Oxford and later from a Catholic school in Islington, North London. The TRA's findings highlighted his failure to uphold professional standards in the classroom. The decision to ban Sutcliffe from teaching was made by Alan Meyrick, the TRA's decision maker, on behalf of Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary. Meyrick emphasized the need to maintain public confidence in the teaching profession, stating, "In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order." As mentioned, upon hearing the verdict, the Christian teacher expressed his devastation and announced his intention to appeal the decision with the support of the Christian Legal Center. He firmly believed that affirming children in gender confusion could be psychologically damaging, stating, "I refuse to go against my conscience and cause a child harm and refuse to apologize for that." Moreover, apart from misgendering the student, Sutcliffe was also found guilty of misconduct for expressing views opposing gay marriage. Also, he allegedly promoted viewing inappropriate videos on masculinity among the students. On the other hand, as per Pink News, the TRA concluded that he failed to consider the potential impact of his answer to a question on this subject, particularly for children who may identify as part of the LGBT+ community. The case highlights the complex issues surrounding gender identity and religious beliefs within the educational system. While respecting individuals' freedom of expression and religious convictions is essential, it is equally crucial to ensure that all students are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Accordingly, the TRA's decision underscores the significance of upholding professional standards and protecting the well-being of students in the classroom. Also Read:Christian Teachers Engage In Legal Battles Over Right To Refuse Using Transgender Pronouns 'Failed To Separate the Teacher from the Preacher' The Guardian reported that the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) had accused Sutcliffe of engaging in conduct that negatively impacted the students during his tenure at schools in Oxford and London. While denying the charges, Sutcliffe has taken legal action against Cherwell School in Oxford, where he was disciplined and ultimately dismissed in 2017 for his refusal to use a pupil's preferred pronouns due to his religious convictions. During a teacher misconduct hearing held in Coventry, it was argued by Andrew Cullen, representing the TRA, that Sutcliffe failed to separate his role as a teacher from that of a preacher. Cullen contended that Sutcliffe prioritized his interests over those of the pupil, identified as Pupil A, especially after giving a televised interview on This Morning, which increased the likelihood of the pupil's identification. Furthermore, Michael Phillips, Sutcliffe's representative from the Christian Legal Centre, defended the teacher's actions, claiming his right to freedom of speech refrained from expressing views he disagreed with. Phillips further argued that there was no evidence to support the notion that using preferred pronouns was in Pupil A's best interest, asserting their wish did not justify ethical grounds for compliance. Although Sutcliffe disputes some accusations, he has admitted to misgendering the pupil once and offered an apology. Related Article:Christian Teacher Who Was Forced To Resign Over Refusal To Use Transgender Pronouns Accuses School Of Religious Discrimination Pixabay/James Chan A group of people who attacked churches known as Nihang Sikhs recently disrupted a Christian prayer gathering that was taking place at Sikhpal Rana Ministries Church and allegedly insulted the Holy Bible. The suspects made use of sharp weapons and caused injuries to members of the congregation. Church Attackers' Invasion on Christian Prayer Meeting On the afternoon of Sunday, May 21, at the Sikhpal Rana Ministries Church, prayers were taking place when approximately 25 assailants disguised themselves as Nihangs arrived at the location with their faces hidden. As per English News Track Live, these individuals wielded sticks, swords, and other weapons. It is asserted that the assailants immediately began fighting with the individuals already present in the chapel when they entered. In addition, the Christian side began to pelt each other with stones in retaliation for the attack the Nihangs carried out. Throughout this time, people on the two sides were shouting religious slogans at one another. Accordingly, Nihangs were also responsible for vandalizing the automobiles parked outside and defiling a Bible housed in the church. Before this surprise attack, there was a stampede, and then both groups eventually confronted one another. Because of this, the situation became more intense. The authorities reportedly arrived at the scene as soon as they were informed about the occurrence and quickly began their investigation. They separated the combatants and used their authority to bring them to an amicable resolution. According to Satinder Singh, the SSP of Amritsar Rural, the inquiry is underway by filing a case against unidentified people. As mentioned, it is not confirmed whether those responsible were Nihangs, who are known for attacking churches, or whether they were someone else. Moreover, Hindustan Times reported that two people who were part of the Christian community were hurt and sent to a private medical facility. According to allegations made by a member of the State Minority Commission named Subash Thoba, illegal substances were also found in the vehicle driven by the persons being charged. He added that they had been told by the Amritsar SSP that intense punishment would be taken against those who were accused. On the other hand, when people from the Christian community were staging a march in April of this year in the village of Pakharpura in the Amritsar rural district, a bunch of criminals disguised as Nihangs attempted to harm those members of the Christian community. Also Read: Christian Groups Call for Independent Panel to Address Rising Attacks in India Church Attack Incidents in Punjab According to News Click, there has been a discernible rise in the level of violence directed at Christians in Punjab in recent years. The assault on the church is the most recent incident in a series of increasingly frequent attacks on Christians that have taken place over the past few months in response to allegations that Christian missionaries are engaged in "large-scale forced conversions." However, the data that is officially available fails to support the charges. According to the Census completed in 2011, Christians make up fewer than 1.5% of Punjab's total population, whereas Sikhs account for approximately 58% and Hindus for about 38%. On August 28, 2022, charges of forced conversion led to the disruption of a prayer and healing session that was taking place in Daduana village, which is located in the Amritsar region. Allegedly, rather than guaranteeing and safeguarding the devotees' safety and security, authorities reassured the attackers that programs of this nature would not be organized. Related Article: Christian Prayer Meeting Interrupted By Authorities, Arrested 10 People for Branding Forum as Religious Conversion Activity Pixabay/iek Verlaan A 'family-friendly drag show' was recently held at First United Methodist Church in Sherman, Texas. As a result, a conservative organization known as 'Protect Texas Kids' and other Christian groups voiced their disagreements by staging a demonstration in front of the Methodist church while the event was taking place. Drag Show Condemned by Opposing Organizations The "Pride Prom" event was advertised as a "family-friendly drag show." A report from Fox News stated that after being shifted from its intended location at the nearby Pecan Grove Park, the LGBTQ event that was scheduled on Saturday, May 13 and was given its new home at the First United Methodist Church in Sherman, Texas. On the flyer for the event, it was reportedly mentioned that Alex Gemini would be hosting, that there would be "open mic karaoke," and that the "family-friendly drag show" would be featured. Grayson County Pride, a group that represents the LGBTQ community in the area, was the one in charge of organizing the event. However, the gathering grabbed the focus of protestors, who confirmed their appearance on drag queens and "furries" at the church. As stated, 'Protect Texas Kids' had previously coordinated an uproar of the event on social media before the show was held. The organization announced on Twitter that "Reminder: This Saturday, we'll be protesting a 'kid-friendly' drag show in Sherman. We'll have extra posters and water bottles, so bring a friend and join us!" Moreover, News Max reported that during the evening of the event, Protect Texas Kids captured photographs and film recordings of the attendees, including youngsters who were observed entering the venue with drag queens and adults costumed in animal outfits. Other rosary-praying protesters from the Catholic group known as "The New Columbia Movement" also appeared at the event. Also Read: Faith Church Invites Children to Family Friendly Drag Show Event Despite Restrictions of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Other Church that Hosted Drag Show Event, Gained Controversy Based on a report from The Texan News, people of all sexual orientations, sex identities, and gender expressions are welcome into the whole life and ministry of Faith Church in New Braunfels, designated by the United Church of Christ as an Open and Affirming church. In its long and illustrious history, the United Church of Christ is notable for ordaining the first openly lesbian and female pastors. Additionally, the Faith Church placed an increased emphasis on "inclusive love" and performed same-sex weddings years before the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which rendered same-sex marriages lawful across the country. The pastor of the Faith Church explained that "the church voted to publicly proclaim what we had been practicing for a while." In Texas, churches and nonprofit organizations that hold "family-friendly" drag performances have developed a reputation for being a common source of dispute. But since a video of the event showed youngsters receiving cash from drag artists, a drag show bingo event in North Texas attracted nationwide attention. As per Ksat, Protesters assert that the concert was unsafe for children, despite the fact that some individuals consider the event an age-appropriate art presentation. On the other hand, the problem reportedly extends much more than just the incident in New Braunfels. Two measures have been introduced in the Texas legislature that, if passed, would place restrictions on and, in some cases, outlaw drag shows and any other activity that may be classified as a "sexually oriented performance." Because of this, there was a high level of protection, with at least a dozen police officers from the New Braunfels Police Department standing by. Pastor Carla Cheatham made certain that all individuals who had purchased tickets to the event were not present to disrupt it. Related Article:Drag Queens Reading to Children Sparks Controversy Among European Christians Pixabay/WikiImages Due to the widespread COVID-19 pandemic, the limits imposed by Title 42, which prevent immigrants from entering another state, are currently being extended. On the other hand, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch voiced his disagreement with the decision made by the government, given that the covid emergency is expected to be lifted this month. Criticism of Justice Neil Gorsuch Justice Neil Gorsuch leveled severe criticism at how governments reacted to the most severe danger to public health in a century, from teeny-tiny communities to the country's capital. According to Fortune, the conservative justice, who is 55 years old and was President Donald Trump's first candidate for the Supreme Court, described the emergency measures that were implemented during the COVID-19 crisis, which resulted in the deaths of more than one million Americans, as possibly being "the greatest intrusions on civil liberties in the peacetime history of this country." He referred to regulations that prohibited evictions, shut down schools, limited services at churches, required vaccinations, and mandated vaccinations. His broadside was directed at municipal, state, and federal leaders and his fellow employees at his company. As mentioned, since the public health emergency proclaimed due to the coronavirus pandemic more than three years ago has already been lifted, the policy was discontinued at the beginning of this week. Gorsuch, who hails from Colorado and is an avid skier and cyclist, has been more inclined than most other justices on the Supreme Court to split company with his colleagues on the left and the right since the beginning of his time on the court in 2017. During his six years on the court, he has consistently sided with the other conservative justices, eventually becoming part of the panel of judges that overturned Roe v. Wade and increased gun rights just one year ago. Moreover, Catholic News Agency reported that Gorsuch blasted the attempts of state governments to prolong Title 42, even though the COVID emergency will officially be over this month. Gorsuch needs to emphasize that he does not minimize the states' worries regarding the situation at the border; nonetheless, the current crisis at the border is not a COVID catastrophe. In addition, the decision made by the court in December 2022 to extend Title 42 was referred to as a "serious misstep" since it continued "an emergency decree designed for one crisis in order to address an entirely different one." Gorsuch asserted that by extending Title 42, the Supreme Court had become involved in a massive "disruption" in "how our laws are made, and our freedoms are observed." This "disruption" had its genesis during the COVID outbreak. He also mentioned that the municipal and executive leaders around the country have, unchecked and, at times, even with the assistance of legislative and judicial authorities, attacked the fundamental liberties of their constituents in the United States. According to Gorsuch, federal executive powers also breached the fundamental liberties of American citizens. He used the case Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo as an illustration. In that case, a Catholic diocese filed a lawsuit against the then-governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, accusing him of discriminating against faith communities by enforcing particularly stringent regulations on attendance. Also Read: United Church of Christs Annual Mission, One Great Hour of Sharing Aims to Help More Than 25 Million Global Refugees Borderline Issues As per Cbp.gov, Central American families and children, some of whom did not have their parents with them, moved in the hundreds of thousands toward the southwest border. They were forced to do so by the possibility of violent acts and challenging economic conditions. They were also enticed to come by the promise of a decent job in an economy thriving in the United States. Accordingly, smugglers drew them with the false promise that they would be allowed to remain in the United States if they brought their children with them to the United States. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) law enforcement personnel arrested or have ruled inadmissible almost a million illegal immigrants entering the southwest border between October 2018 and September the fiscal year of the United States government, the greatest in nearly 15 years. CBP was tasked with addressing the humanitarian catastrophe while implementing hundreds of rules and regulations, keeping Americans safe by preventing the entry of hazardous drugs and criminals over the border and enabling legitimate trade and travel through 328 ports of entry in the United States. Related Article: Title 42 Expired, Methodist Church in Texas Gets Ready for Thousands of Refugees Seeking Shelter Pixabay/JackieLou DL Recently, an act of vandalism was made on the St Mark Parish's Virgin Mary statue. The unknown suspect reportedly smashed the head of the statue. Act of Vandalism at St Mark Parish At around 8:10 in the morning of Wednesday, May 10, the incident occurred while the parish was in the heat of the celebrations for First Holy Communion. Based on a report from MSN, the sculpture had recently been repainted before the damage was done, and a new bench was placed in the grotto. The local parish priest, Father Bill O'Shaughnessy, expressed his profound regret to the community upon informing them that the Statue of the Blessed Mother at St. Mark Parish had been vandalized again. Moreover, photos of the destruction inflicted by vandals were uploaded to Facebook by the St. Mark's Parish in Springfield, Massachusetts. Around the same time last year, vandals attempted to destroy the statue, but it was subsequently reconstructed thanks to the generosity of parishioners. In addition, the church priest also mentioned in the post that "From the footage, it is clear that this was a deliberate act. It is an interesting coincidence to note that this week last year, the statue was also broken." As per Dublin Live, the statue of the Virgin Mary can be found in a peaceful cave located outside the church and used for meditation and contemplation. Father O'Shaughnessy reportedly keeps his fingers crossed that the surveillance footage may lead to identifying those responsible for the crime. Based on the spokesperson of Garda, the authorities are looking into the incidence of criminal damage inside the church. However, Investigations continue to be carried out at this time, and no arrests have recently occurred. On the other hand, the Independent reported an update on the incident, which stated that according to St Mark Parish's priest, they had been met with a tremendous amount of curiosity from worried people nearby and further afield. He continued by saying that the Garda Sochana had been informed about the graffiti. The video footage of the three young people strolling down Maplewood Road at 1:05 a.m. on Monday, May 22, was also captured on CCTV by their security cameras. The footage reveals that the conduct was carried out with much premeditation. "As a grouping of parishes, we would also like to thank everyone for the tremendous support of phone calls, texts, and donations. Much appreciated," the church priest added. Also Read:Wooden Statues of Virgin Mary Damaged By Fire on Three Separate Incidents at the Start of Holy Week About St Mark Parish St. Mark's Parish functions as the church of worship for Springfield Parish, and on July 25, 1975, it was first made available to the public. The church was once a part of the Tallaght and Bohernabreena Parish before it split off and became its entity in 1972. The space that the Scout Hall now occupies was the location of the first improvised parish church. As mentioned, the perspective of the Dublin Hills that can be had from the chapel is very breathtaking. One of the Mountains is physically located within the parish, and approximately twenty families live there. Furthermore, the Junior and Senior Primary Schools of Saint Mark are located directly across the street from the church on the same property. They have over a thousand students between their final days, and many of them come from nations in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Together, students are reportedly a representation of the new Ireland. Also, the local population is entirely engaged, with a significant number of individuals actively participating in the administration and management of the church. Related Article: Virgin Mary Statues at SC Catholic Church Severely Damaged, Breaking Off Hands and Face If one pictures radical Islam, chances are the image resembles Osama bin Laden, Boko Haram in Nigeria, or the ISIS fighters of Iraq and Syria. And the connotation is that they are out to killor at least to turn the world into an Islamic caliphate. They are known as Salafis: Muslims who bypass accrued tradition to imitate meticulously the example of Muhammad, his companions, and the first generation to follow them. After the death of the prophet in 632 A.D., the nascent faiths collective zeal established a sharia-based global empire that did not end until the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Muslims who look like these jihadist images are found in every major American community. Matthew Taylor counterintuitively argues that, at least in the United States, Salafis actually compare better with evangelicalsthe religious group with the most unfavorable perception of Muslims in general. Author of the forthcoming Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christians America, Taylor argues that the Salafi impulse to return to the origins of Islam parallels the evangelical desire to imitate the early church. And both communities, as the title implies, center their approach on sacred text. The question is: Do the two scriptures take them in radically different directions? CT asked the Fuller Seminary graduate, now a mainline Protestant scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, to address the common concern about Salafi extremism and to advise evangelicals on how to pursue a path of possible friendship: What makes a Muslim a Salafi? Salafism has very deep roots in the Muslim tradition, and the term Salaf refers to the first generations of Muslims. The idea is to get back to the original authentic practices and theology of Islam, before the tradition became corrupted or diluted. The Salafi approach involves a direct approach to texts, a deep interest in the Haditha secondary scripture in Islam that includes the sayings and actions of Muhammad and the early Muslim communityand a downplaying of the traditional schools of jurisprudence. This is why many Salafis will analogize and call themselves the Protestant Reformers of Islam. They see their project as similar to what Martin Luther and John Calvin did in the 16th century. Can you tell a Salafi simply by their appearance? It is easier in non-US contexts. A beard is a strong signal that a man is an observant Muslim. And youll find Salafi discoursebased on specific hadithsas very focused around the length of the beard as more than can be grasped in the hand. Traditionally, they adopt distinctive modes of clothing such as the thobe, a long, flowing robe with pants that come up just above the ankles. Article continues below Salafi women almost always wear the hijab and others the niqab, which covers the face. But after 9-11, the American security state had an intense focus on Salafis which prompted a process in which many integrated into the American Muslim mainstream, downplaying distinctive Salafi attire and even avoiding always expressly calling themselves Salafis. How do they justify downplaying their distinctives? Salafis have a sophisticated understanding of the difference between original theology and original culture. They mimic the normative practices and beliefs of the early Islamic community, while recognizing that the early tradition was occurring in a particular context. The Prophet Muhammad and his community inhabited a situation of predominant polytheism, among multiple monotheisms. This required great flexibility to operate as a new minority religious community. Salafism is incredibly diversejust as evangelicalism is incredibly diverseand it adapts to fit the environment in which it operates. In the United States, in fact, they have become very open to interreligious dialogue and religious pluralism, all of which might sound contradictory if you associate Salafism with rigidity or fundamentalism. But it reflects the flexibility built into Salafism, rather than being a violation. How does this apply to the practice of jihad? It would be a mistake to singularly characterize Salafis by this term. Islam emerged in a context of inter-tribal conflict, often very brutal and violent. The early Islamic tradition reflects substantially on questions of legitimate warfare, when it is acceptable, how it should be conducted ethicallyjust war theory, so to speak. As a result, there is a diversity of perspectives within Salafism. Salafi-jihadis such as ISIS and al-Qaeda endorse jihad against their enemies. Political Salafis, who often are in conversation with groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, are invested in politically taking over Muslim-majority societiessometimes through democracy, sometimes not. And then there are the purist Salafis, who are not interested in jihad, nor interested in shaping the politics of the Muslim-majority world. They simply want to live piously and scripturally wherever they find themselves, bearing witness to their tradition. This is called dawa, is similar to evangelism, and is very important to them. Article continues below The vast majority of Salafis in the US are in this third, purist strand. But for the most part, their proselytism efforts are directed towards their fellow Muslims and showing how pure and correct their version of Islam is. That doesnt mean that they dont want to see people convert to Islam. They do. But the goal is not the takeover of society. For most Salafis in the world, jihad is at best a tertiary concept. In America, most would say that jihadism is bad Salafism. It misunderstands the situation that Muslims are in. It is not that jihad is never permissible, just as most Christians would not say that war is never permissible. In Europe and many parts of the Muslim world, Salafis feel like they are in a battleeither to try to take over society or to keep their distance from the general culture. But they look at America and say: We have freedom here. Some Salafi teachers I profile in the book would even say that in the US, you can be more Salafi than anywhere else in the world, because you have freedom of religion. But a key Salafi teaching is that Muslims not living under Islamic law should emigrate to where they can. This is the concept of hijra, when Muhammad left a situation of persecution in Mecca to begin a Muslim-led community in Medinathe starting date for the Islamic calendar. Theologically, conventional Salafis say this is the moment when the prophet gained his civic role, resulting in protection and the shaping of a Muslim society. It is a precedent that Muslims should imitate todayoften interpreted as living in a Muslim land, or at least their own insular communities. And in the 1990s, this was a big topic of conversation in the Salafi community in the US. But today, many American Salafis point out that Muhammad was not antagonistic to the pagan or Christian Meccans, and as long as he and his community existed in peace, they felt comfortable being there. And this becomes the model instead. It is a direct refutation of this imperative of hijra, though living conservatively still requires community, attending mosque, and training in scripture. But there is no hostility to the broader culture. But hostility is also a deep part of the tradition, that Muslims should not be friends with non-Muslims. This is the concept of wala wa baraloyalty to your friends, and enmity to the enemies of God. Yes, thats a Salafi idea or principle, but how do you apply it? Traditionally it means there must be no alliance or partnership that relies upon those who neglect or oppose the principles of Islam. Article continues below But most American Salafis say that since the culture is neutral towards us, only people who are overtly Islamophobicwho want to get rid of Muslimsare our enemies. Since most Americans are not that way, since most Christians are not that way, we dont need to choose a default hostility. We just need to be thoughtful about cultivating friendships, as any evangelical would do. How does their hermeneutic allow for such changes? Generally speaking, it is through a commonsense appeal directly to the text of the Quran and Hadith. But just as with evangelicals, the methodological articulation of that hermeneutic can be rather thin. They certainly do not rely upon centuries of legal reasoning, as would most traditional Muslims. The argument that contemporary American Salafi scholars are making is that they have been trained in hermeneutics and they live in this culture, so why should they look to other cultures, such as Saudi Arabia, for cues on how to live here? I would argue their reasoning, while going back to scripture, is less about parsing the fine points between the experience of early Muslims in Mecca or Medina and more of a pragmatic presentation that argues this different, American way of being Salafi is also authentic. How does this compare with traditional Islam? The relationship between traditional and Salafi Islam is mirrored in the mainline Protestant and evangelical divide. I contrast the educational institutions that Salafis have built in America, like AlMaghrib Institute, with more traditional Islamic educational institutions like Zaytuna College. Zaytuna follows more of a madrasa form of Muslim education, translating it into the American liberal arts model. They teach the various traditions of jurisprudence, concerned about raising up the next generation of formal religious leaders. It is a vanguard model of education: training scholars and leaders in the tradition who can then interpret the tradition for everyone else. The Salafi ethos resembles evangelicals in the spirit of empowering ordinary people not only to study scripture but to equip them with tools to teach others. AlMaghrib Institute has taken more of a parachurchor paramosqueapproach to education. Article continues below It reminds me of when I was a student leader with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Im studying the Bible, and Im teaching the Bible, but Im not at all accredited by an institution. Evangelicalism and Salafism both have the egalitarian sensibility that scripture is not sectioned off as the realm of the elite. Whats fascinating to me is that America has always been a laboratory of religious pluralism, where you have, originally, all these different forms of Protestantismand then Judaism and Catholicism and other religionsthat are learning to work without state establishment. So it is not shocking to me that Salafism would not only flourish in this space, but evolve in ways that make it very distinct not only from traditional Islam but from the traditional forms of Salafism worldwide. What are three tips for evangelicals to make friends with Salafis? First, focus on your love for scripture. And then allow them to talk about theirs. Muslims across the board love talking about the impact of the Quran on their lives, and Salafis do so to the nth degree. Both communities treasure the text. Second, look for surprising places of agreement. Similar to evangelicals, Salafis have anxieties about liberal or progressive tendencies in culturewhile looking for spaces of collaboration. They practice their faith by serving the poor, and friendships can be cultivated around social justice and concern for society. Third, dont forget the simple dialogue of life. Everyone deals with the same stuff: bills to pay, food on the table, grocery shopping, and after-school activities. Many times, we think we have to center dialogue on the religious questions and make everything a conversation about faith. But thats not how friendship works; friendship is life, together. The more we engage in small talk, the more trust can be built for more complicated religious conversations. What do you recommend for sharing the gospel? The best dialogue, the best conversations, even the best evangelism, begins in an authentic witness to what you love about the religious identity that you hold. And more than with any other community within Islam, evangelicals and Salafis can come together and say: We really love the text. Lets study the text together. You can even say you want them to follow Jesus. Just be ready for them to reply that they would like you to become a Muslim. This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here. Gandalf isnt supposed to die. That text appeared on my phone yesterday from a New York City pastor who worked closely with Tim Keller. It made me smile and cry at the same time. So many of us called Tim Gandalf, in part as a tribute to his frequent J. R. R. Tolkien references, but also because he fit the image of the sage wizard guiding us hapless hobbits out of harms way. In the opening chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien writes that Gandalfs fame in the Shire was due mainly to his skill with fires, smokes, and lights. His real business was far more difficult and dangerous, but the Shire-folk knew nothing about it. By any measure, Tim was an impressive figurethe most significant American evangelical apologist and evangelist since Billy Graham. Most people think immediately of his skill in the areas of preaching, cultural analysis, church-planting strategy, and apologetics. All of that is true. But Tims real business went beyond his skills and gifts. He was smart, yes, but what made him unique wasnt intellect but wisdom. Well, wait, lets think about this for a minute, Russell. Those words from Tim kept me from more dumb decisions than I can recount. They prefaced the counsel from Tim that kept me in my position as president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the wake of my refusal to support Donald Trump as president, I was facing significant backlash. Lets list all the people trying to drive me out that are under the age of forty, I said. None. I cant think of one. As a matter of fact, Im having trouble thinking of more than four or five that are under the age of seventy. Thats what Im saying, Tim said. Dont do something stupid. Four years later, after consulting scores of friends and counselors about whether to leave the ERLC for a new field of ministry, Tim was the one who convinced me to go. I told him the decision was really hard to make, and he said, Youve already made the decision. You know what to do. Your mind is just fighting what your soul already knows. When I protested that I didnt want to make a rash decision I might later regret, Tim said, Honestly, Russell, of all of the possible responses from anywhere in the world, do you really think even one of them will be Why so soon? Article continues below I laughedand the decision was made. With just the right joke, Gandalf helped my mind and soul align. Untold numbers of people have similar stories. Tim would call to encourage us, even while he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments. He sent his last text to me from a hospital room while he was nearing death. He wanted to check on a prayer request I had given to our Wednesday night book club the week before. Tim was able to care for so many of us in times of trial because he didnt tell us what we wanted to hear, and we knew that he knew what he was talking about. His wisdom came from decades spent in the presence of Christ. He cultivated closeness with the Spirit through the Word, and as a result, he, like Jesus, so often did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person (John 2:25). Over the past several years, Tim and I were often in conversation with unbelieverssome curious and irenic about faith, others dismissive and hostile. I remember stifling laughter when an atheist whom Tim loved and respected told a group of us that the need for transcendence could now be met with psychedelic mushrooms. I watched Tims eyebrow go up. I felt like White House chief of staff Leo McGarry on The West Wing when he saw President Jed Bartlet at a press conference put his hand in his pocket, smile, and look away. Watch this, I said to myself. In every one of those interactions, I never once saw Tim humiliate someone with arguments, even though he could easily have done so. Well, lets think about this for a minute, he said to the atheist arguing that morality could be explained by evolutionary process alone. Tim explored this mans objections to human slavery, imagining them in the context of a cosmos without any transcendent moral order. In so doing, he affirmed the rightness of the mans moral intuitions while simultaneously showing how his theory couldnt bear the weight of those same intuitions. Once again, he showed where the mind and the soul (or the mind and the conscience) were at odds and pointed to a better way. At the end of the conversation, there was no question that Tim understood the argument and had responded with devastating clarity. But we also knew that his talk wouldnt end up as a YouTube video titled Watch Tim Keller Own the Atheist. He really loved the man and engaged him without passive retreat or intellectual intimidation. Article continues below When I invited Tim to guest-speak in the Institute of Politics class I taught at the University of Chicago, most of the students were disconnected from people of faith and didnt know who he was. David Axelrod, the director of the program at the time, said, These kids have highly tuned B.S. detectors, and its almost like you could hear the shields coming down three minutes after he started talking. Many of them realized, Wait, this pastor is as smart as or even smarter than we are, and hes not the least bit embarrassed about Christian orthodoxy and biblical authority. That wisdom freed him from personal ego too. Sometimes he would call and say something along the lines of Well, I just wanted to check in on the other inerrantist, complementarian, Marxist social justice warrior Im seeing on YouTube. Then he would reference a video from the TheoBros for Confederate Blood and Rage or whatever. I wouldnt in a thousand years even know about that video, I said. Why on earth do you? He was aware of it because he had compassion on his criticsand not just the rational, good-faith ones. With astounding accuracy, he could see the pain they were experiencing. A lot of people are hurting and dont feel significant, he said. They try to find significance by attacking people they think others will find significant. When he saw those critics and others coming after him, he didnt feel attacked. He saw it as a prayer request and prayed accordingly. I wish I were that magnanimous, I said in response to the TheoBros video. But I dont look at those things because I would want to call down fire from heaven. He responded with a smile, Well, I guess we all have a little theobro side to us, dont we? Ouch. Tims wisdom wasnt just about treating people well. He would almost assign the task of tracking people who needed support, even before they knew they needed it. For example, when Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren started writing a weekly column for the New York Times, he said, Shes going to be great; shes such a good writer. In that venue, though, no matter what she writes, shell probably get a lot of criticism. She can handle it, but its never fun. We need to encourage her when that happens. Article continues below In those and other similar moments, he showed more than intellect. He exhibited wisdom through compassion, maturity, grounding, solidarity, and good intuition. The pastor who texted me Gandalf is not supposed to die knew Tim wouldnt live forever. By that he meant he has trouble imagining a world without Tims voice of calm, steady, joyous counsel. Gandalf once said to Frodo, Good-bye now! Take care of yourself! Look out for me, especially at unlikely times! The next time we see Tim Keller will be at the consummation of all things in Christ. On that day, Tim wont have to talk any of us out of stupid decisions. He wont have to give any of us a reason for God. But I like to think hell say to C. S. Lewis or Herman Bavinck or one of the countless skeptics he led to Christ, Well, wait. Lets think about this for a minute. And like many times this side of the Shire, well see that Gandalf can indeed die for a little while, but the gospel he carried stands forever. Russell Moore is the editor in chief at Christianity Today and leads its Public Theology Project. Sergei Karpenkos Chicago church is now almost entirely made up of refugees from the Russian war against Ukraine. Many of them arent from a church background, so the pastor of Bible Church of Ukraine-Chicago spends his mornings eating breakfast with the new arrivals and evenings hosting Bible studies in his apartment. It happens by the providence of God that I am here, and God sent new people from Ukraine, Karpenko, who is Ukrainian himself, told CT. I never prepared myself for such a ministry. Were making mistakes and learning. Pray for us. Refugees come to his church by word of mouth or through refugee resettlement agencies like World Relief. Some Telegram channels for new Ukrainian arrivals advise them to find a local church for support. Karpenkos churchwhich worships in Ukrainian, Russian, and Englishtells freshly arrived Ukrainians that they can contact them if they need help, conversation, or friendship. The US has welcomed about 300,000 Ukrainians since Russia invaded Ukraine. Millions more are refugees in Europe. Slavic churches are key to helping the hundreds of thousands of new arrivals to the US. Many of these refugees are coming in through a special program (Uniting for Ukraine) that doesnt go through the traditional refugee resettlement agencies, instead assigning arrivals to individual sponsors. But in some cases, sponsors disappeared when Ukrainians arrived. Churches are trying to provide a steadier foundation for the new arrivals. For Ukrainian Christians already living in the US, its a helpful way to process the war. You cant cry all the time and sit and watch the news 24/7, said Chicago pastor Russ Drumi, whose church also has many war refugees. Kids are growing. There are things to do. Ukrainian Christians in the US sponsoring new arrivals have helped with essentials, lent cars, hosted families for a couple of months, cosigned on apartments, helped find jobs, or shared information on various government services. A Ukrainian Assemblies of God church in New York City recently hosted a dinner of borscht and Ukrainian potato pancakes so new arrivals could gather to talk about their experiences in the country. More than 4 in 10 Ukrainians have family separated by the war, so churches are often helping mothers with young children or other fragmented families. Evangelicals from the former Soviet Union came to the US in droves after the passage of the Lautenberg Amendment in 1989, which gave asylum to those fleeing religious persecution. Those evangelicalsincluding current World Relief resettlement staffersare now the welcome wagon for war refugees. Churches reported to CT stories of refugees who are becoming new church leaders, and of new congregants who have never been to church or who only celebrated Orthodox Easter and Christmas before arriving in the US. As a result of all of this, Slavic churches say that war refugees are dramatically growing their congregations. Cornerstone First Ukrainian Assembly of God in Manhattans East Village has seen about 30 percent growth from refugees, and one of the new arrivals is now a minister. As churches expand, they are also wrestling with their cultural identity. While many Ukrainians speak Russian as a first language, some churches have now started Ukrainian language services to preserve the language and culture. Churches with Russian language services are also now seeing Russians arrive seeking asylum in the US and are working through sometimes painful tensions. Chicago is the No. 2 resettlement area for Ukrainian refugees after New York City, which has the largest population of Ukrainians in the country, according to World Relief. Another resettlement hub is in Sacramento, California. Tatyana Sigidina, World Reliefs liaison for Ukrainian refugees and Slavic churches in the Chicago area, arrived in the US in 1999 under the Lautenberg Amendment. She still has family in Ukraine, and in Ukrainian territory now occupied by Russia. Sigidina has noticed many more Russians seeking asylum through the Mexican border, coinciding with a new conscription law requiring Russians to serve in the military. (The law took effect in April.) Since the beginning of this year, about half of the asylum seekers Sigidina works with have been Russian, half Ukrainian. There isnt a parole program for Russians like there is for Ukrainians, so pastors say the Russians arrive with less access to public resources. Slavic churches largely are serving both populations. It doesnt matter from which country, we are Christian, this is No. 1, said Sigidina. Of course, its hard to say that. If Russia had destroyed your motherland, of course you might not have enough love in your heart. Some churches have had problems between Russians and Ukrainians, but not big problems, she said. Russians seeking asylum in the US are generally not supportive of the war, she said. Karpenko, the Ukrainian pastor in Chicago, said that the support for the war from many Russian evangelical churchesor even just their silencemakes relations difficult. If some people come from Russia we will accept them as well, he said. But there is some emotional problem. I dont want to paint a pretty picture. Russia attacked Ukraine and killed Ukrainian people. People must emigrate because Russia attacked. Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chicago, a 14-year-old congregation, was called Hope Russian Church before the war. Pastor Russ Drumi told CT that people in the church didnt support the war and felt uncomfortable with the name, so the church changed it simply to Hope. But the congregation still has many Russian-speaking members, including Drumi, and both Ukrainian and Russian refugees. The churchs size doubled with arriving refugees after the war broke out, and a few months ago congregants decided to plant a church. One church now conducts services in the Ukrainian language, and another, which Drumi leads, worships in Russian. Many Ukrainians who speak Russian go to that service, with Russians. The pastor of the Ukrainian congregation is a refugee. Drumi says the plant wasnt because of war-torn relationships between Russians and Ukrainians, but to accommodate growth and language needs. Sometimes on the personal level it could get tense, between Russians and Ukrainians, he said. Its painful, its hard, but still we are Christians. Our homeland is heaven, the kingdom of God. The Ukrainian and Russian congregations have done joint worship services together when worship space for two services wasnt available, and they do fellowship meals. Theres a service at night for young people that includes congregants from the Russian and Ukrainian-speaking churches. Slavic churches are working through an identity evolution, Drumi said. At Cornerstone Church in New York City, the English-speaking pastor for youth, Paul Oliferchik, stepped aside to have a refugee who was fluent in Ukrainian step ina capable, gifted, and godly leader, he said. The refugee population had grown so much in the church that the church needed a Ukrainian speaking minister, he said. Most of the refugees at the church are Ukrainian, Oliferchik said, but there are some Russians too who took the risky route through the southern border. One is a family with a toddler. For those new Ukrainian church leaders arriving, like the pastor at his church, Oliferchik dreams that the scattering of Ukrainian Christians could possibly re-evangelize the West. Karpenko in Chicago also serves a church and seminary in Ukraine; he teaches and preaches over Zoom now. He thinks about his Chicago church made up entirely of refugees like Israel in exile in Babylon. God gave them a command to go live and praise the Lord. Certain things we cannot change. What can we do? We just pray, he said. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. He knows his sovereign will. He knows why, and what he wants to achieve. Mother of girl killed by MS-13 gang member in the US illegally urges Congress to secure border: 'This is not political, it's a safety issue' CPS placed 16-year-old murderer and rapist in unsecured youth home with other children before his arrest The mother of a 20-year-old girl murdered by an alleged MS-13 gang member called on the government to enact stronger border policies to protect other parents from the pain of having a child murdered by someone who never should have been allowed to enter the country. Speaking before the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Tuesday, Tammy Nobles questioned the protocols that allowed a teenage unaccompanied migrant with reported ties to MS-13 in El Salvador to enter the U.S. illegally and eventually murder her daughter. A few days after her daughter Kayla Hamiltons 20th birthday, Nobles testified that she received news on July 27, 2022, that her daughter had been murdered in her bedroom. The mother recalled that the family had little information about the murder before an arrest was made. Eventually, Nobles learned that her daughters killer had entered the country illegally as a minor and was allowed to live with his aunt, who was also in the country illegally, in Frederick, Maryland. The suspect had problems living with his aunt, so he went to live with his half-brother in a trailer park located in the same area where Nobles daughter was living. My questions are, what protocol was the aunt supposed to follow? If she couldnt handle him, then why not inform the proper authorities? she asked. The half-brother tried to get him a job and to do the right thing. But that didnt happen, so the half-brother told him that he had to leave. The suspects half-brother asked an illegal immigrant subletting trailers at a trailer park if she had any more rooms for rent, and she said that there was a room available in the same trailer as Kayla. Nobles explained during her testimony that Kayla lived at the trailer park with her boyfriend because she didnt have much money and she also didnt have any credit. She was working at a cleaning company and at a grocery store, Nobles said. Kayla had autism, but she was determined to live independently and make her way in this world. And my baby paid the ultimate price. Less than five days after the suspect moved in, he entered Kaylas room and strangled her with her iPod charger before sexually assaulting her. Nobles daughter had attempted to call her boyfriend for help but the call went to voicemail, with the recording of the assault lasting over two minutes. Kaylas boyfriend returned home from work later that night and found the young woman dead on the floor, with the charger cord still wrapped tightly around her neck. In light of her daughters death, Nobles called for proper vetting of all border crossers, noting that the U.S. government could have attempted to gain information from authorities in El Salvador about the suspects ties to MS-13. She said her daughter would still be alive if the U.S. had stronger border policies. For me, this is not a political issue. This a safety issue for everyone living in the United States, Nobles said. This could have been anyones daughter. Kayla wasnt doing anything wrong, and she didnt deserve to be murdered. I dont want any other parent to live the nightmare that I am living. I am her voice now, and I am going to fight with everything I have to get her story told and bring awareness of the issue at the border, she continued. I will make sure her memory lives on. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there have been more than 6 million encounters with illegal immigrants at the southern border since the beginning of the Biden administration. Additionally, since the beginning of fiscal year 2023 on Oct. 1, CBP has reported more than 1.8 million illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border. During an April hearing called Oversight of the Office of Refugee Resettlements Unaccompanied Alien Children Program, lawmakers sought answers regarding reports of a high number of illegal immigrants who are unaccompanied children. Unaccompanied children in these circumstances are placed in the Office of Refuge Resettlements custody until the minor is placed with a parent or sponsor. Robin Dunn Marcos, director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement under the Department of Health and Human Services, told lawmakers that the agency does not monitor or track the whereabouts of children after they are released from our care. However, she maintained that her agency provides safety and well-being calls between 30 and 37 days after release. Several lawmakers questioned Marcos about a February New York Times report showing that the agency has been unable to reach over 85,000 children over the last two years. Subcommittee Chairman Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., was one of the lawmakers who questioned Marcos about the reports accuracy. In response, Marcos answered that the agency works within the statutes and authorities and resources provided, which Grothman took as confirmation. Sean Feucht threatens to sue over adultery rumors with Rep. Lauren Boebert Weeks after Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, a born-again Christian, filed for divorce from her husband due to irreconcilable differences, missionary and political activist Sean Feucht is shooting down rumors that he was involved in an extramarital relationship with her. Last Friday, Feucht threatened to sue anyone making the claim on social media with a deadline of 24 hours to retract and apologize. This is false. And its defamatory. Im giving everyone making this accusation 24 hours to retract and apologize. If you dont, youll hear from my lawyer, Feucht said in a tweet. The claim was first made by the progressive Super PAC American Muckrakers on Twitter on May 16, approximately three weeks after the Colorado congresswoman filed for divorce from her husband, Jayson Boebert, with whom she has four sons. Boebert also denied the affair in an interview with The Daily Beast on Monday quipping: How can I be with a man with better hair than me? American Muckrakers PAC, which states on its Twitter bio that its goal is to remove Boebert from office and compares her to the Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s and '40s, has not retracted or apologized for the tweet and revealed in a tweet on Tuesday that while Feucht and Boebert have threatened to sue them, they are currently suing Boebert. Shortly after news broke about her April 25 divorce filing, Boebert told The Daily Beast that while her marriage failed, Ive always been faithful in my marriage, and I believe strongly in marriage. It is with a heavy weight on my heart that I have filed for divorce from my husband, the 36-year-old congresswoman said in a statement. 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. Ive always been faithful in my marriage, and I believe strongly in marriage, which makes this announcement that much more difficult. This is truly about irreconcilable differences. Boeberts divorce announcement came a month after she revealed that her 17-year-old son would make her a grandmother in April. The congresswoman and her husband met when she was 16 and working at Burger King. She gave birth to their first child, Tyler, when she was 18, the Daily Beast reported. Jayson Boebert told the Daily Beast that he was caught off guard by his wife filing for divorce and noted that while it is sad the divorce is what his wife wants. The divorce is sad, I did not expect this, I love her with every bit of my heart, she has been my soul mate and she is the mother of my children, he said. We have been through a lot together and I just want her to be happy. So its whatever she wants. Just last June, Boebert, in an impassioned sermon at the Charis Christian Center, a nondenominational church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, told a group of Christian women that if they chase after God their husbands will chase after them too. Ladies, it was years before I had my husband sitting in the pew next to me, the Republican congresswoman, who was facing down online rumors that she had two abortions in her past and worked as an escort at the time, began. For years I interceded, wanting my husband [Jayson Boebert] by my side, praising God, living out this God kind of life that I knew was far better than anything else that was going on. But ladies, if you chase God with everything that you have, your husband will chase after you chasing God, she said. Boebert, who is a member of New Creation Church in Glenwood Springs, also urged women to value their role in their families and not doubt their self-worth. I speak with so many women who feel they dont have a purpose because they are not on an elevated platform. And I look back on my life and some of the greatest purpose was in my own home, she said. Influencing my children, influencing my husband, showing him forgiveness when there shouldnt have been any in the natural. Showing him honor when my flesh wanted to dishonor him. Respecting him when that wasnt the natural course. Humanitarian group sends Bibles to country ranked world's worst persecutor of Christians A faith-based humanitarian organization is working to nourish the body and soul of persecuted North Koreans by sending food supplies and Bibles into the country where believers and their relatives are frequently sent to labor camps under the brutal regime of Kim Jong Un. The humanitarian organization World Help has focused its efforts on delivering Bibles to countries like China and Russia since its establishment in 1991, around the time of the Soviet Unions fall. Since 2006, World Help has worked with partners to deliver Bibles to North Koreans, an act that World Help President Noel Brewer Yeatts described as the heartbeat of the organization in an interview with The Christian Post. Open Doors, a watchdog group that monitors the persecution of Christians worldwide, characterizes North Korea as a brutally hostile place for Christians to live. The watchdog organization cited a 2022 report by The International Bar Association and The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, documenting how Christians are often detained for long periods and tortured. Open Doors also noted that even owning a Bible in North Korea is considered a serious crime. When it comes to working in places like North Korea and in persecuted areas of the world and areas of the world that still dont have access to Gods word, its really how World Help started, Yeatts told CP. That is where our foundation was. The humanitarian worker explained that World Helps mission is Help for today; Hope for tomorrow, referring to the transformation the group strives to bring into peoples lives: And what we mean by that is we believe that without things like food and clean water and medicines that our body needs, well, then faith can mean very little. But without faith that feeds our souls, then everything else is a short-term fix. When you focus on both body and soul, we believe thats when true transformation happens in peoples lives, Yeatts continued, noting that World Help witnesses this in its work worldwide. In addition to delivering Bibles to North Koreans, World Help is using the same networks that help bring Gods Word to the country to deliver much-needed food supplies to its starving population. According to Yeatts, North Korea is facing a food shortage following the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19, the entire country shut down during harvest season, and the closed borders limited the resources coming from other countries. Despite the hardships, especially for people of faith, Yeatts shared a statement from one of World Helps partners in North Korea, who asserted that North Koreans are still desperate for Gods Word. And they will risk death for a Bible, the World Help partner declared. Even in the middle of this food shortage and famine, if you put a copy of Gods Word and a bag of rice in front of one of these North Korean believers, they will choose the Bible. However, as the partner noted, World Help is in a position to give people both food and Gods Word. Yeatts added World Help has the opportunity to not only help North Koreans access the Bible but can also sustain people and even save their lives, in some ways. Regarding how World Help operates, Yeatts explained that the organization does not set up offices around the world. Instead, World Help works with national partners who are on the ground and understand the culture of the country theyre trying to help and the best way to assist. In terms of how World Help recruits its partners, Yeatts assured the organization has a robust vetting process but declined to offer further details due to confidentiality concerns. While Yeatts maintained that its difficult to provide the exact number of Bibles the group has delivered to North Korea, the World Help president believes that at least hundreds of thousands have been provided to persecuted Christians since the organization began its work there. Funding for World Helps work primarily comes from individual donors and churches, in addition to grants, she added. On its website, the organization invites people to donate to supply a Bible and one weeks worth of food for a persecuted North Korean Christian. The World Help president, who recently returned from a trip to South Korea where she met with North Korean defectors and faith leaders, said one of the people she spoke with recalled hearing the word human rights for the first time after their defection. There are no words for human rights in North Korea, Yeatts said. They had never heard about that. Another person Yeatts interviewed told her that every home in North Korea is required to have a picture of the countrys dictator on the wall. A photo of Kim in her familys home accidentally fell from the wall one day, and, as a result, someone informed authorities and the womans father was arrested and sent to a prison camp. So thats just what its like to live as a normal person, the World Help president lamented. If you are a believer, its even more dangerous than you can imagine. Planned Parenthood unions decry plan to lay off as much as 20% of its employees Unions representing employees of Planned Parenthood Federation of America have denounced the abortion providers plan to cut as much as 20% of its national workforce as part of a strategy to restructure its organization in response to several states passing bans on most abortions. The Planned Parenthood Union of Washington, D.C., announced in a Twitter post on Wednesday that this summer, the corporation will lay off between 10% to 20% of its national workforce. The D.C.-based union also posted a joint statement with unions based in New York City and San Francisco, California, condemning the mass layoff of Planned Parenthood employees. Now: @PPFAUnionDC and @PPFAUnionNYC are looking into every way that we can protect our members and ensure they receive the compensation and support they deserve during this restructuring period. Our statement: pic.twitter.com/HiHb2pIYHP Planned Parenthood Union, DC (@PPFAUnionDC) May 24, 2023 PPFAs leadership claims that the organizations restructuring, and the layoffs it entails, is in service of state affiliates and of the movement for reproductive freedomyet they are pushing out some of our movements brightest minds, the unions stated. This comes at a time where reproductive freedom is in jeopardy and when our members are struggling under difficult economic conditions, especially in our core locations of Washington, D.C., and New York City. The unions went on to stress that Planned Parenthood employees have families to support, loans to pay, and health to tend and that they deserve more than empty claims of equity and of supporting our futures. The D.C. union went on to note that Planned Parenthood leadership reportedly asked for staff to remain available through any PTO during the week of layoff notifications. Post Roe, weve all been pushed to the limit now, were waiting to see who still has a job next month & were working on campaigns we might not get to finish, tweeted the union. [Planned Parenthood] Leadership claims to lead with dignity and respect in this process. But teasing potential layoffs without a concrete plan for months just instills a sense of dread and anxiety. Dangling our job security for three months is not dignified. The unions reference to Roe reflects the fact that the United States Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion, overturning the controversial 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade. The Dobbs decision has given states the ability to ban abortion if they choose to. In the nearly 12 months that have passed since the ruling, several states have done just that by passing laws that limit abortion in most circumstances. Earlier this week, Planned Parenthood announced that it was launching a new federation-wide strategy and restructure to meet rising challenges amid the loss of abortion access, ongoing systemic health inequities, and attacks on our democracy. The strategy involves investing over $70 million in local affiliates as well as opting to reimagine the role of the national organization in the form of a reduction in the workforce. The announcement quoted Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson, who contended that, with the new post-Roe environment, her organization must change. We believe this strategic decision is essential to meet the current moment for Planned Parenthood patients and the future of reproductive health and rights, Johnson stated. But this means we will be saying goodbye to some fierce and talented warriors on our staff who have fought tirelessly and bravely to serve our mission. We dont take this moment lightly. We deeply value the national office staff who have shown up and shown out for us in the darkest of times over the last months and years. We want the best for them, as we do for Planned Parenthood patients. Archbishop Justin Welby speaks against illegal migration bill, sending people to Rwanda Welby says problem of illegal migration must be fixed, but can be done without 'neglecting victims of slavery' The Archbishop of Canterbury has defended his outspoken criticism of the government's Illegal Migration Bill. Archbishop Justin Welby and bishops sitting in the House of Lords have strongly criticized the bill, which proposes sending failed asylum seekers to countries like Rwanda. Writing in The Times, the Archbishop said that bishops would continue to speak up. "Those who sit on the bishops' bench will not abandon our duty to point out when governments propose legislation that is impractical or immoral," he said. "We will not abandon the most vulnerable people that Jesus Christ specifically calls us to love. And we will not abandon our hopes and efforts for a nation and a world that helps those in trouble and supports those in need." The archbishop agreed that "we must stop the boats" that are making illegal crossings across the English Channel and said that there should be "limits" on the number of migrants accepted into the country. However, he argued that the bill in its current form "will do little to resolve the existing problems, and will exacerbate others, all while causing serious suffering to the most vulnerable." Welby said that anyone attempting to cast opponents of the bill as "indifferent" to the reality of the challenges "is not engaging with this debate in good faith." The Archbishop called on the government to speed up the processing of asylum seeker applications, and provide more safe routes for people to come to the U.K. as a means to "undercut" the people smugglers. He has tabled two amendments to the bill which he describes as "helpful, not destructive." "The crisis is global, vast and long-term. No nation can offer simple, quick fixes on its own," the archbishop wrote. "Successive governments have implemented deterrence policies to prevent asylum seekers arriving. They face indefinite detention in grim conditions, at constant risk of severe destitution, and now face the prospect of being sent to Rwanda. And yet Channel crossings are set to see record numbers this year." He continued, "No solution can stop Channel crossings entirely. But these alternatives are more likely to alleviate the situation without compromising the U.K.'s approach to international law or neglecting the victims of slavery, and while maintaining the commitment to dignity and hospitality that defines our country at its best." Originally published at Christian Today DeSantis launches presidential bid, talks border crisis, fentanyl and 'book ban' in Twitter Q&A After months of speculation, Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis officially launched his presidential campaign on Wednesday and discussed his plans for resolving the illegal immigration crisis and cleaning out the federal bureaucracy with hundreds of thousands of listeners as he pitched himself as the candidate to lead our great American comeback. Shortly after his presidential run became official, DeSantis discussed his vision for the country and record as Florida governor in a Twitter space hosted by Twitter CEO Elon Musk and venture capitalist David Sacks. When asked to address the media narrative that he was trying to ban books, blocking efforts to teach kids about slavery, and telling schools to say that gay people dont exist, DeSantis responded by assuring the hundreds of thousands of people who tuned into the conversation that the whole book ban thing is a hoax. Theres not been a single book banned in the state of Florida. You can go buy or you can use whatever book you want, DeSantis said. What we have done is empowered parents with the ability to review the curriculum, to know what books are being used in school and then to ensure that those books match state standards and are age and developmentally appropriate, he noted. He cited examples of problematic books that teach middle school kids how to use sex apps, that provide graphic depictions of sex acts and sex toys for people as young as fifth grade. Describing such material as not appropriate to be in a middle school classroom, DeSantis outlined how Florida has created a process where parents object and the schools take them out. He recalled that when presenting the contents of problematic books at a press conference, the local news had to cut the feed because they said it was too graphic. If its too graphic for the 6 o'clock news, how is it OK for a sixth grader or a fifth grader? he asked. The governor addressed claims that the state was working to remove racial history from the school curriculum. He acknowledged that we eliminated critical race theory from our K-12 schools while stressing that schools will teach the accurate history. In the same bill that banned critical race theory, we require teaching thoroughly about racial discrimination that occurred in American history, and Floridas history standards require all of those subjects, from slavery, reconstruction, segregation, all of that to be taught and well continue to do that. Additionally, DeSantis weighed in on the issue of immigration, which has figured prominently in American politics following the expiration of the coronavirus-era Title 42 policy that enabled immigration officials to turn away most illegal immigrants seeking entry into the U.S.: Id reverse what [President Joe] Bidens doing. You need to shut the border down. You should not be entertaining these asylum claims for people crossing illegally. Identifying the idea of asylum as a legitimate thing for those who are being persecuted, he said most asylum seekers are economic migrants that are coming across many other different countries. He insisted that they should be applying for asylum there if they were truly qualifying for that, but theyre not. DeSantis condemned the absolutely insane system where people just show up at the southern border and get a sheet of paper inviting them to show up at an immigration court in three years as they are released into the interior of the U.S. He outlined some of his priorities on the issue of illegal immigration should he win the 2024 presidential election. We will move on day one by declaring a national emergency, he vowed. We will construct a border wall. We will make sure we have Remain in Mexico and that were not entertaining those claims in that way. DeSantis also addressed the need to hold the Mexican drug cartels accountable because theyre facilitating a lot of this migration. He described how they obviously make money off of it and treat a lot of these people very horribly as theyre trafficking them through Mexico and into the United States. The cartels have been responsible for moving massive amounts of fentanyl into this country and thats killing tens of thousands of Americans every year now, he added. What theyre doing is they lace the other types of drugs with the fentanyl. DeSantis detailed how this has resulted in a phenomenon where teenagers taking previously nonfatal drugs overdose and die. He classified the border crisis as a day one issue, promising to stop this insanity once and for all. In response to a question that constituted a veiled swipe at former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president, Iowa-based radio show host Steve Deace asked DeSantis to make an assurance to the American people that you can actually do the agenda that you just articulated when others tweeted about it and talked about it but then couldnt actually follow through. Even my worst critics in Florida will acknowledge when I tell people Im going to do something, I dont make promises or say Im going to do something lightly. Ive thought it through and I know that I am going to follow through on what I tell people Im going to do, he said. Referring to his philosophy as the governor of Florida and as a presidential candidate, DeSantis maintained, Im not going to take no for an answer. Voters are sick of the empty promises, he concluded. They want to see action. DeSantis also discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the need to reform the federal bureaucracy, specifically expressing contempt for their advancement of the idea that widespread lockdowns were necessary to curb the spread of the virus: We need an honest reckoning about what happened during COVID, and the only honest reckoning is that all of those agencies, all of the elites, the public health establishment, they failed, they instituted bad policies. When the data was becoming more and more apparent that the path they were on was wrong, they doubled down and wanted to do it even more. And I really believe had Florida not just kind of stood in the way, I think this country would have had rolling lockdowns for probably a two-year period. And so their impulses were authoritarian. They were not following the data, and I think the U.S. government needs to acknowledge the failures. And I think all of those agencies need to be cleaned out. DeSantis contended that an interest in the narrative and in politics over evidence-based reasoning and evidence-based medicine plagued the federal governments response to the pandemic: I dont have confidence that those agencies are up to the task, and I think you need a major, major overhaul of the whole enchilada with respect to public health in this country. Shortly before beginning his conversation with Musk, Sacks and others, DeSantis released his announcement video at 6 p.m. ET. It features a voiceover of the candidate painting a dire picture of the current state of affairs in the U.S., while video footage of the 44-year-old politician preparing backstage for a rally plays on screen: Our border is a disaster. Crime infests our cities. The federal government makes it harder for families to make ends meet and the president flounders. Decline is a choice, he proclaimed. Success is attainable and freedom is worth fighting for. Righting the ship requires restoring sanity to our society, normalcy to our communities and integrity to our institutions. The ad transitions to DeSantis addressing viewers on-screen, declaring that truth must be our foundation and common sense can no longer be an uncommon virtue. He pointed to his record as governor of the third-most-populous state in the U.S.: In Florida, we proved that it can be done. We chose facts over fear, education over indoctrination, law and order over rioting and disorder. We held the line when freedom hung in the balance. We showed that we can and must revitalize America. After insisting that we need the courage to lead and the strength to win, DeSantis says, Im Ron DeSantis and Im running for president to lead our great American comeback. Im running for president to lead our Great American Comeback. pic.twitter.com/YmkWkLaVDg Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) May 24, 2023 While DeSantis starts off his presidential bid in a stronger position than most of the other declared and potential Republican presidential hopefuls, polling shows that his level of support still remains far behind that of Trump. The RealClearPolitics average of polls sampling the presidential preferences of Republican primary voters taken from April 28 through May 22 shows DeSantis capturing 20.9% while Trump remains firmly in first place with 54.9% support. DeSantis presidential bid comes six months after he overwhelmingly won re-election as governor of the state of Florida as Republican candidates in other parts of the country underperformed in last years midterm elections. A chart shared on social media by MSNBCs Steve Kornacki shows how in addition to winning re-election by 19.4 percentage points two years after Trump carried the state with a 3.3% margin of victory in the 2020 presidential election, DeSantis outperformed Trump in every single county in the state. In his 2020 re-election bid, Trump carried Florida by 3.3 points. In his 2022 re-election bid, DeSantis carried it by 19.4%. Here's how much DeSantis outperformed Trump by in each of FL's counties, ranked from most to least: pic.twitter.com/aKI9eLXh8e Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) May 24, 2023 The RealClearPolitics average of polls taken between April 11 and May 22 of a general election matchup between DeSantis and Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, shows DeSantis beating the incumbent by 0.1 points. By contrast, the RealClearPolitics average of polls from the same time period measuring public opinion regarding a hypothetical matchup between Biden and Trump shows the former president beating his successor by 0.8 points. Ron DeSantis tells Christians to 'put on the full Armor of God;' vows to protect families, children Shortly before announcing his presidential campaign Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his views on faith, family and the education of the countrys children at the National Religious Broadcasters Associations annual media convention. On Monday, DeSantis spoke at NRBs opening session for the event, held at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida. NRB is a nonpartisan association that equips Christian communicators to share the Gospel and provides them with training and networking opportunities. According to a statement published by NRB Tuesday, the Republican governor urged those in attendance to Get ready, put on the full Armor of God, stand firm in the truth, and never ever back down. DeSantis spoke on the issue of family during the opening session, drawing attention to his states efforts to emphasize the importance of fatherhood and assist children growing up without a dad,Fox News reported. Last April, the Florida governor signed HB 7065, a bill designed to encourage responsible fatherhood by providing grants to community nonprofits to offer mentorship programs, among other provisions. Were working with groups that are addressing the needs of the father and trying to get them engaged with their kids, DeSantis said, adding that the state is also providing mentorship programs for children whose fathers are in prison. If you have somebody in the community that takes an interest, that child can be so much better in the future, he continued. Regarding education, DeSantis said children need to understand the foundations of our country and need to understand our Constitution and our Bill of Rights and understand what it means to be an American. In April of 2022, DeSantis signed HB 7, a bill that bars educators from teaching critical race theory and the ideas that members of one race, color, national origin, or sex are morally superior to members of another race, color, national origin, or sex or that a person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national origin, or sex is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. DeSantis provided further details about the types of policies he supports when announcing his intention to seek the Republican nomination for president. As The Christian Post previously reported, the Florida governor revealed his vision for the country in a Twitter space hosted by Twitter CEO Elon Musk and venture capitalist David Sacks Wednesday. In response to a question about whether he was trying to ban books, blocking efforts to teach kids about slavery and telling schools to say that gay people dont exist, DeSantis clarified how his policies are intended to benefit parents. What we have done is empowered parents with the ability to review the curriculum, to know what books are being used in school and then to ensure that those books match state standards and are age and developmentally appropriate, he asserted. The 2024 presidential hopeful cited examples of books that teach middle school kids how to use sex apps, that provide graphic depictions of sex acts and sex toys for people as young as fifth grade. According to the RealClearPolitics average of polls analyzing Republican primary voters preferences among the 2024 Republican presidential nominees taken from April 28 through May 22, DeSantis has 21.3% support while former President Donald Trump remains the frontrunner with 53.9% support. On Wednesday, MSNBCs Steve Kornacki shared a chart on social media showing how DeSantis won re-election as Floridas governor by 19.4 points two years after Trump carried Florida by a 3.3% margin during the 2020 presidential election. The data presented by Kornacki showed that DeSantis outperformed Trump in every county in the state. In his 2020 re-election bid, Trump carried Florida by 3.3 points. In his 2022 re-election bid, DeSantis carried it by 19.4%. Here's how much DeSantis outperformed Trump by in each of FL's counties, ranked from most to least: pic.twitter.com/aKI9eLXh8e Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) May 24, 2023 A separate RealClearPolitics average of polls taken between April 11 and May 22 measuring voter preferences in a hypothetical general election matchup between DeSantis and President Joe Biden shows the former securing 44.1% support and the latter receiving 43.5%. The RealClearPolitics average of polls from the same time period analyzing a potential matchup between Trump and Biden shows Trump at 45.4% and Biden at 44.0%. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Cuts All Ties With Paige Patterson, Terminates Emeritus Status The board of trustees of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, announced Wednesday that effective immediately they have cut all ties with the school's former president, Paige Patterson, after new details emerged about his handling of a sexual abuse allegation while he was president at another institution. The announcement comes a week after Patterson resigned from his position as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary after public uproar over comments he made in 2000 about how the Bible sees women and why spousal abuse isn't grounds for divorce. While the seminary did not reveal specific details about the new information shared with their board of trustees on Wednesday, officials said it was "inconsistent with SWBTS' biblically informed core values." The revelation also required swift action to cut all ties with Patterson who served as the 52nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention prior to becoming president of the seminary in June 2003. "Deeming the information demanded immediate action and could not be deferred to a regular meeting of the board, based on the details presented, the Executive Committee unanimously resolved to terminate Paige Patterson, effective immediately, removing all the benefits, rights and privileges provided by the May 2223 board meeting, including the title of President Emeritus, the invitation to reside at the Baptist Heritage Center as theologian-in-residence and ongoing compensation," the seminary said in their statement. Seminary officials also noted that Interim President Jeffrey Bingham strongly denounced behavior that leaves victims of abuse vulnerable. "The seminary stands against all forms of abuse and grieves for individuals wounded by abuse. Today, Bingham made it clear that SWBTS denounces all abusive behavior, any behavior that enables abuse, any failure to protect the abused and any failure to safeguard those who are vulnerable to abuse. Additionally, Bingham called for the SWBTS community to join the Body of Christ in praying for healing for all individuals affected by abuse," the statement ended. On Tuesday, the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors announced they were no longer going to hold their annual gathering in October at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary due to the controversies surrounding Patterson, and had found a new host location for their event. In his now controversial comments made in 2000, he said he never counseled couples to get a divorce even in abusive situations, but noted that there were cases in which he advised a temporary separation due to the danger of abuse. He also reportedly encouraged a female student in 2003 not to report a rape. A woman said she had been raped on campus and that Patterson, then the president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina, urged her not to report it to the police but that she should forgive her alleged assailant. On Monday, Megan Lively revealed on Twitter that she was the woman who reported her rape to school officials in 2003. "I am the woman you read about, #SEBTS 2003, not afraid, ashamed, or fearful. I am proud to be #SBC, bc of how many have responded with compassion & love. Our history isn't our future. Ephesians 4:30-32, Romans 8.Please join us in praying tomorrow. #PaigePatterson #sbc18 #matthew5," she tweeted with what appears to be a photo of her family. Southwestern Seminary leadership to address fraud allegations at trustees meeting Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminarys board of trustees will be holding a meeting reportedly centered on allegations of identity and credit card fraud, as well as the misappropriation of funds by donors. Southwestern leadership is scheduled to hold the meeting on May 30, with the focus being on documents received last month detailing fraud allegations, according to Baptist Press, the official news service for the Southern Baptist Convention. Trustee Aaron Sligar, who filed the report, told Baptist Press that an anonymous source leaked the report in question and the April document was never intended for the press or public; as such, it does not represent an official statement from the board. Baptist Press also published a statement attributed to SWBTS Board of Trustees Chairman Danny Roberts and the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, which noted that the seminary inherited and endured a challenging period for more than eight months following the resignation of the former president. Out of a desire to balance charity to the former president with a need to address actions and decisions that have brought us to the seminarys current state, the board of trustees has disclosed limited information to the Southern Baptist public while it has fulfilled its fiduciary duty to carefully evaluate certain financial matters, they stated. Unfortunately, some individuals have questioned the integrity of the boards processes and actions. While it would be imprudent at this time to answer each claim that is now in circulation in various platforms, we assert claims of inappropriate activities of the board officers, executive committee, and/or named staff are without merit, and the board will release all relevant and appropriate information following a special-called meeting of the board of trustees to be held on May 30 to address these matters. The seminary leadership also noted that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating the SBC over sex abuse issues, which the convention had announced last August. Roberts and the Southwestern Executive Committee insisted that they were cooperating fully in this matter. The May 30 meeting came via a bylaw that allows a majority of trustees to call for a meeting, reported Baptist News Global on Thursday. BNG also reported that Roberts received a letter from unnamed trustees listing three points of concern: why Sligars investigation into financial irregularities was not fully detailed at the April meeting, most trustees reportedly remaining unaware of a written report of the Sligar investigation and questions surrounding Southwestern Vice President for Institutional Administration Colby Adams creation of an entity called Future Fort Worth that used Adams seminary-owned house as its registered address. Last November, Southwestern spokesperson James A. Smith emailed The Christian Post a statement confirming that the seminary had laid off members of its staff and might pursue other measures to address budget issues. As part of the previously announced intention to implement organizational restructuring, including budget reductions, at the direction of the board of trustees, the interim administration has informed certain staff their employment has been ended, read the statement from last November. These have been extremely difficult decisions as we seek to address our current challenges. We recognize the disruption that this causes for these staff members and their families. There is certainly no joy in having to make these decisions at this time. Appropriate severance is being offered to affected employees. In April, trustees at Southwestern unanimously elected David S. Dockery as their new president to replace former President Adam Greenway, who had resigned in September of last year. Dockery had served as interim president in advance of his election, with the trustees also electing Southern Baptist leader O.S. Hawkins to the newly created role of chancellor. Last October, during his time as interim president, Dockery had told trustees that while Southwestern was not in a crisis, the seminarys financial issues may quickly escalate to a crisis if we do not aggressively move to address them. For this institution to have a sustainable business model, we must reduce our campus footprint and the resource commitment it takes to maintain it, Dockery said at the time, as quoted by Baptist Press. Can Southern Baptists do the unexpected and break the downward spiral? The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is the largest Protestant family of churches in America, known for its conservative theology and evangelistic zeal. For nearly four decades I served Southern Baptists as a professor of evangelism and seminary president. In 2010, a special task force recommended a series of proposals called the Great Commission Resurgence, intended to ignite a fresh passion to fulfill the Great Commission among Southern Baptists. I chose not to endorse the proposals because I feared they were more focused on funding issues, Convention infrastructure, and a singular methodology, while turning away from the historic role of rich and varied Spirit-led evangelism in SBC congregational life. Press and social media coverage prior to the Conventions annual meeting was almost entirely on the funding proposals. The hour-long discussion of the proposals during the Convention (very long by SBC business standards) also zeroed in on the funding emphasis. Messengers (Convention participants) gave no attention to the state of evangelism, discipleship, or missions in SBC life. Approval of the proposals eventually came. The Great Commission Resurgence proved to be a turning point in the life of the SBC. Alas, it was not the turning point many expected or hoped it would be. Twelve years have passed since the approval and implementation of the Great Commission Resurgence proposals, and Southern Baptists find themselves firmly in the grip of unprecedented decline in nearly every statistical category. Recent SBC annual meetings have been roiled with controversy over issues growing out of progressive Baptist agenda items such as Critical Race Theory, racial equity, and sexual abuse, not concerns about Great Commission progress. Southern Baptists now deploy fewer missionaries at home and abroad. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has even stopped reporting the number of its missionaries assigned to church planting. This past February, the Conventions Executive Committee, which handles the legal and financial affairs of the SBC, heard auditors report that the current financial position for the distribution of SBC funds is unsustainable. After operating without a permanent CEO for a year, on May 1, 2023, the nominee to fill the position was overwhelmingly rejected by the Committee, a first in SBC history. The survival of the SBC is not in question, but for the first time, its role as a Great Commission pacesetter in the evangelical world shows signs of erosion. What is happening to the Southern Baptist Convention? Here are some snapshots of the SBC from 2011 to 2021. Church membership dropped by 2,297,619 people. Worship attendance dropped by 2,547,586. The average number of baptisms per church dropped from 7.2 baptisms per church to 3.2 baptisms per church. The outcomes of the highly publicized new approach to church planting by the North American Mission Board have been especially stark. From 2000 to 2010 NAMB spent $227,448,246 on church planting resulting in a net increase of 4,139 in the total number of SBC churches. From 2011 to 2021, NAMB spent $667,391,815 on church planting but saw the net total of churches increase by only 1,850 congregations, about 55% less than the previous decade after spending nearly 300% more money. Adding to the bad news, the 2022 SBC statistical report released just days ago indicated another drop of 457,371 members, the largest single-year decline in more than 100 years, and a rare net loss in the total number of SBC churches. Perhaps more concerning is declining participation in the Cooperative Program, the financial lifeline of the SBC. According to a report in the Summer 2021 edition of SBC Life Journal, in 2019 (pre-pandemic) 19,645 SBC churches (40%) did not give to the Cooperative Program, a stunning piece of data published without fanfare. This downward spiral reflects a lack of transparency. Southern Baptists assigned the responsibility to support churches in evangelism and discipleship to the North American Mission Board and Lifeway Christian Resources. The SBC Executive Committee is responsible for the health and distribution of the Cooperative Program. Alarm bells have not been sounded nor major new initiatives launched and sustained by any of these entities to address the SBCs unprecedented decline. Numbers that were positive in the context of a single year were reported in Baptist Press. Negative trendlines revealed when the numbers are examined over the course of a decade were largely ignored. The Convention assumed all was well when the reality was quite different. Two decisions by the North American Mission Board proved to be very costly. Turning away from its historic emphasis on congregational evangelism in order to increase dramatically money and attention for church planting and compassion ministry did not have the expected results. Baptisms continually dropped, and the number of new churches decreased year after year in spite of far higher budgets for church planting. Also, the Great Commission Resurgence recommended ending historic strategic partnership agreements with the state conventions formed by SBC churches. Instead, NAMB used Cooperative Program funds to centralize control over state convention activities and implement its own strategic priorities, replacing the decentralized partnerships reflecting both regional and national priorities that had been in place for decades. This change had a devastating effect, especially on many non-South state conventions. It eroded the national fabric of cooperation that was the superpower of Southern Baptists. The worst statistical decade in SBC history followed these two decisions. The Southern Baptist Convention must face the reality of these challenges. I describe myself as an optimistic pessimist. I know how bad things are, but I choose hope for the future, rather than resignation or despair. Southern Baptists need to understand that they are in truly difficult circumstances, yet believe in a future bright with hope. There is no time to waste, but there is time to change direction and recapture the identity of the SBC as a family of churches that exists to make a coordinated, cooperative effort to reach a lost world for Jesus. Second, the Convention must prioritize clearly the work of Spirit-led evangelism in and through its congregations, telling people, especially children and students, about Jesus, calling all who hear the Gospel to respond to Him in faith, and discipling the ones who believe. Doing this effectively will require a pervasive emphasis on applied discipleship that produces distinctive lives, a way of living that differs from that of lost neighbors. Fruitful evangelism and effective discipleship can then produce a multiplication of churches. Third, the SBC must recognize the necessity of logistical support for its churches. The steady erosion of logistical support for local churches and pastors under the banner of operational efficiency was accelerated by the decision of NAMB to increase centralized control by withdrawing or significantly reducing support for state conventions and associations, especially the smaller conventions outside the South. A top military leader once told me: Amateurs plan strategy. Experts plan logistics. Southern Baptists would do well to heed the wisdom of that comment. The strategic partnerships between NAMB and all the state conventions and associations must be rebuilt if there is to be a fruitful future. Again, cooperation is the SBC superpower. The rosy reports Southern Baptists are accustomed to hearing are not so much inaccurate as they are incomplete. They do not fully portray what data collected over time reveal. Great leaders risk telling the whole story in order to do what is necessary to make victorious endings possible. The SBC must identify its Great Commission problems before they can be resolved. After getting those problems on the table, the Convention must then be willing to earnestly seek the Lords leadership in how to rectify them. The SBC tolerance for change will be tested. To be honest, other denominations spiraling into decline have failed that test. In terms of the Great Commission's progress over the last decade, Southern Baptists have little to celebrate. However, one potential dramatic celebration awaits the Convention. For a denomination this deep into decline to break the downward spiral and learn to grow again is very rare. Can Southern Baptists do the unexpected and allow God to use them to blaze a new trail for the recovery of evangelistic fervor and effectiveness? If so, there will be plenty for Southern Baptists and all evangelical Christians to celebrate with deep rejoicing. Stay tuned to the Southern Baptist story. It is getting very interesting. Christian teacher says he was dismissed after sharing beliefs at diversity training A Christian teacher has claimed he was dismissed for 'hate speech' after sharing his beliefs at a diversity and inclusion seminar. Ben Dybowski, 55, was working for The Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales school, near Cardiff, through an agency when he attended the seminar along with around 80 other teachers. No pupils were present at the seminar, which was delivered at the school by Diverse Cymru, which states that its mission is "to eliminate discrimination and inequality". Mr Dybowski told the Daily Mail newspaper that he shared his Christian beliefs during the seminar's question and answer session, including that he believed marriage to be a union between a man and a woman, and that life begins at conception. He also asked the group if his Christian beliefs would be considered discriminatory. Mr Dybowski said he was dismissed from his job at the school the following day by headmaster Marc Belli. He claims to have been told by Mr Belli during the meeting that while he was free to hold his beliefs in private, the expression of them went against school policy. He says he has now been referred to the Welsh teaching regulator, Education Workforce Council, and fears that he will no longer be able to teach if the body finds against him. Mr Belli told the Daily Mail that Mr Dybowski had been let go because of safeguarding concerns and not because of his beliefs. "His work did not come to an end due to his holding any particular religious beliefs or political views," he said. "This was a safeguarding issue, which the school moved promptly to address, and it is entirely proper that the school did so to prevent the risk of harm to the children entrusted to it. "The school's actions were taken on the basis of evidence that Mr Dybowski was unwilling to comply with the law and policies of the school, as a result of his views." He added: "Whatever views we may privately hold, when we choose to take on a position of trust, caring for the children of Christian and non-Christian families, we choose to take on certain responsibilities as to how we act." Mr Dybowski, who grew up in Poland before settling in the UK, told the Daily Mail that he believed his treatment to be "an attack on Christianity" and "an affront to freedom of speech and freedom of thought". He said his experience reminded him of Poland under communist rule. "I remember well the final decade of communism there, with all of the limits on liberty and free speech. Sadly, some things in Britain now remind me of that period," he said. Numbers and the revelation at Sinai: counting everyone in Jewish academic and Hebrew scholar Irene Lancaster reflects on the book of Numbers and the counting of the Omer. The Jewish community has just entered a new Biblical book called 'BaMidbar'. In English this fourth book of the Torah is known as 'Numbers'. Truly, however, it should be known as 'Deep in words'. BaMidbar means 'In the desert'. But in Hebrew, the root dbr signifies 'words' and 'things'. In Judaism, the desert state is imbued with language. What has Judaism given the world? Judaism has given the world words which lead to actions. This is why the Book of words and actions precedes the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which we celebrate on the festival of Shavuot (Weeks) for two days, starting on Thursday night. At Sinai, the Jewish people received not 'the 10 commandments', but 'the 10 words'. These words contained within them all the interpretations and actions that would be necessary for continual Jewish life over thousands of years still ongoing. There is another root in Hebrew: sfr. This root signifies 'number', 'letter' and 'narrative'. Therefore this root encapsulates within it counting, writing and story-telling. From the 2nd day of Pesach, for the 49 days until Shavuot, we 'count the Omer'. This is a method of connecting us for seven weeks from the Exodus till we reach the state of readiness to receive the Torah at Sinai. But we are all actively involved in this act of daily remembering. What does 'counting' mean? In the first chapter of the Book of Numbers, the English translation talks of 'a census of the entire assembly of the Children of Israel.' But the Hebrew is very different. It signifies the 'lifting up of the head of every individual'. A census, as we know it, is simply a box-ticking operation, in which in this country at least, Jews certainly don't count, as there is no box for us in the national census. This is because a national census is geared to one end, to enhance certain statuses and lifestyles, by including some and excluding others, thus making a very strong political point about the future direction of the nation. However, when people 'do count', the counting stems from love, and 'lifts up the head'. Every individual counts and this is what the 'Numbers' narrative is telling the children of Israel in the second year of their Exodus from Egypt. Despite squabbles, leadership contests and even idolatry, at the end of the day, the whole people, as individuals, are counted by name in their formations. The Book deals in great measure with the laws and history of the Mishkan (Tabernacle dwelling place) as seen through the laws and the Revelation at Sinai. Later, both the Temple and the synagogue will replace the Mishkan and also serve as a permanent substitute for the Heavenly Presence that rested upon the Children of Israel at Sinai. The Mishkan was central to the people, not only geographically, for it was a permanent reminder of the Revelation of Sinai, carried with them wherever they went. And to this day, wherever Jews settle, they build synagogues and places of learning. Encamping around the Mishkan, as described in this Book, symbolizes that Jewish existence is predicated on closeness to the Torah, originally given them at Shavuot on Mount Sinai, as we will commemorate and celebrate in a few days time, the culmination of our Exodus from Eygpt and the removal of all vestiges of servitude. The great French Bible and Talmud commentator Rashi (1040-1105) comments in the first verse of this Book, 'Because [the children of Israel] are precious to Him, He counts them all the time when they went out of Egypt ...when they fell through [the sin of] the Golden Calf. He counted them to know the number of those who were left over. When He came to rest his Shechina [Divine Presence] upon them, He counted them. On the first of [the first month of ]Nisan, He counted them, and on the first of [the second month] of Iyyar He counted them.' All this counting is done out of love, and to include people in. Not to dismiss people by counting them off, as is so often the case, and has often been the case with foreign powers in Jewish history, as with the present British census, held every 10 years. What follows is the true story of the daily 'counting session' that took place under British, UN and Red Cross auspices in a Jordanian prisoner of war camp holding very badly injured Jewish prisoners from Israel, immediately after the 1948 War of Independence, starting on the festival of Shavuot, which we will be celebrating shortly: 'A typical day in the life of a patient' 'Morning. The sun rises to the east, which is bathed in a sea of red. The guard ... stretches and opens his eyes, rubbing them well, as if to rid him of all vestiges of sleep. This is how the tent camp awakes from its deep slumber..... Suddenly, your reverie is rudely interrupted by raucous sounds that you cannot quite make out, the crashing noise of water in cans, immediately followed by the voice of the military policeman: 'Who has stolen the water? He will be court-martialed.' No-one answers. The sounds of cans clashing are now joined by the patter of feet and cries of: 'Hurry up and get a move-on.' This is the meshuga [crazy] group with only one thing on their minds: religiously performing their morning exercises and keeping fit at all costs. The shrill sound of a whistle cuts the air like a knife. Breakfast! The camp inmates rush to the queue. They ogle the man doling out the tea..... we have to put up with the doctors on their morning rounds. They move from bed to bed, muttering under their breath: 'And how are we today?' answering for us. Woe betide you if you dare to complain about your aches and pains. Because then they would pester you at night as well. They would massage your injury with their hands, rubbing it well. At that moment, you would start seeing stars... Far better to remain silent....! 'All you really want is a bit of peace and quiet but that is when the whistle blows once again: Roll Call! Abu Akeb visits the tent, inquiring after our health, smiling like a benevolent parent. He delivers his morning speech, yells that we should 'Please wake up' and the roll call follows. 'Once the roll call is over the visitations begin. There is no doubt at all that the children of Israel are the most obliging of people. They turn ... your bed into a gaming table. At long last, the whistle blows again, this time for lunch. .. Armed with their mess tins, the 'guests' in your tent gird their loins and rush to the line.' This is the way the young soldier who would become Chief Rabbi of Haifa Shear Yashuv Cohen describes, in his book "Between War and Peace", his time as a very badly injured prisoner of war and the first Israeli army chaplain in a British and UN approved Jordanian prisoner of war camp, visited by the Red Cross! The type of counting related in his story is the exact opposite of what is meant by 'uplifting the head' in the Biblical descriptions given in the Book of Numbers. It is interesting to consider some of the words related to the word 'count' in the English language. We have account (witness, narrative), recount (tell over), discount (lessen in some way), encounter (meet unexpectedly), counter (retort) and most of all 'count' as 'meaning something to someone'. All these interpretations probably come from readings of the Biblical book we have just started to study: the lifting up of heads, the relating and the narrative, all lead to Sinai, where every single person hears the words on the mountain, together with their interpretations. If Pesach is about leaving Egypt and slavery, while the autumn festival of Succot depicts ingathering and the fragility of desert life, Shavuot is most of all about 'learning'. During the night of the Shavuot festival, people stay up to learn Torah, to study, with friends, and to acquire new insights. During the Covid crisis, just before Shavuot of 2020, learned scholars and rabbis from all over the world encountered fellow Jews via the internet, and in Hebrew, Russian, English, French and Spanish spent half an hour each for 24 hours bombarding us with Torah insights. This was a very strong sign, a signal of Jewish unity during a time of 'plague'. This encounter contributed hugely to a feeling of well-being in the world Jewish community, bringing us all together at a time when synagogues were off limits and Pesach gatherings had not been permitted. It has often been asked why the preparations for Shavuot, the pinnacle of our Jewish calendar, are so slender in comparison to the huge cleaning operation at Pesach, or the building and decorating of the outside Sukkah at Sukkot. There actually is preparation for Shavuot the counting of the Omer, the increase in learning, but everything has slowed down. The Jewish partnership with G-d is on a different level, as we prepare once again to encounter a glimpse of what it was like for the entire Jewish people when they encamped on Mount Sinai, ready to enter into a partnership with G-d through His Torah, given in love, and to which we contribute every moment of the day through our learning, actions and deeds. There certainly is diversity in Judaism, but we are also capable of a unity, which is not uniformity, and that is something that others could perhaps glean from the Jewish people. Just as Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz, thus demonstrating that everybody counts and that no-one should be overlooked in the counting process, so we can all glean something from retelling her story at Shavuot, a fitting parallel to the retelling of the 10 sayings at Sinai. Pope Francis taps Italian Cardinal Zuppi to lead peace mission in Ukraine Pope Francis appointed Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi to head his mission to foster peace in the Russian-Ukrainian war as the Vatican renews its efforts to mediate the conflict in the heart of Europe. Zuppi, who is the head of the Italian Bishops' Conference, or CEI, "was charged with conducting a mission in accordance with the Secretary of State that contributes to easing tensions in the conflict in Ukraine with the hope, never lost by the Holy Father, that this might open paths toward peace," read a statement by the Vatican on Saturday. The timing and execution of the mission is currently under study, the statement added. Pope Francis and the Vatican have attempted to mediate a peace between Russia and Ukraine ever since the conflict began 15 months ago. The pope has sent trusted advisers to Ukraine, including Papal Almoner Konrad Krajewski and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Mons. Paul Gallagher. Zuppi's closeness to the Movement of Sant'Egidio, a Catholic lay organization focused on mediating peace and helping the poor, is considered among the main reasons why Francis selected him for the mission. The cardinal worked alongside the movement and its founder, Andrea Riccardi, to promote peace and diplomacy in Mozambique in the 1990s and more recently in the secessionist Basque territories. In previous interviews with Italian media, Zuppi has taken a position that seeks peace by any means necessary and has been skeptical that Western governments sending weapons to Ukraine is the best and only solution to the conflict. "War is a pandemic. It involves us all," he told Italian bishops gathered in Rome for their General Assembly on Tuesday. "What happened to creative peace efforts?" Zuppi asked. "Peace will never come from pursuing our own strategic interests, but from policies that are capable of looking at the whole, to the development of all." The appointment signifies an important papal recognition for Zuppi, who already faces many challenges in Italy. The cardinal is currently overseeing the general assembly of Italian bishops in Rome, which has been under pressure to provide transparency and accountability in the fight against clerical sexual abuse in the country. His diocese, in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, has recently experienced floods that have killed 14 people. In a statement on Saturday, the Italian Bishops' Conference said they "welcomed as a sign of great trust" Zuppi's appointment and called on the ecclesial communities in Italy to pray for the peace mission "so that it may bear fruit and help build processes of reconciliation." On May 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis at the Vatican and asked the pontiff to condemn Russia as the aggressor in the conflict. The pope has so far avoided explicitly demonizing Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, in order to allow the possibility for Vatican mediation in the conflict. Zuppi's appointment is the latest effort by the pope to promote peace in a war with high stakes for Europe and the West. "Please, let's not become accustomed to conflict and violence; let's not grow accustomed to war! And let's continue to be close to the battered people of Ukraine," Francis said after his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square. Religion News Service Vatican takes climate activists to court on Laudato Si' anniversary Climate change activists faced trial at the Vatican on Wednesday on vandalism charges for gluing themselves to the statue of "Laocoon and His Sons" in the Vatican Museums last summer. The trial of Ester Goffi, a 25-year-old art history student, and Guido Viero, a 61-year-old health worker, took place on the eighth anniversary of "Laudato Si'," Pope Francis' encyclical promoting the care of creation and the environment. The activists belong to a group called Ultima Generazione, which translates to "Last Generation" in English and brings together many young people throughout Italy to raise awareness about climate change through public gestures and social media. Last Generation activists specifically target artistic sites such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Trevi Fountain in Rome. "Today is a special day because it's the anniversary of the publication of the encyclical 'Laudato Si',' the wake-up call issued by the Holy Father regarding the condition of the environment and the planet," Tommaso Juhasz, 30, a member of the Last Generation, told Religion News Service in an interview. "Let's hope this coincidence will be beneficial for whatever will take place in that tribunal." Religion News Service We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Project Description Climate change is already profoundly impacting the conditions for resource availability and agricultural activities. Over the last decade, the country has experienced many extreme events, such as droughts and major floods, along with the cumulative effects caused by increased mean temperature and the uneven distribution of precipitation throughout the year, which have had negative consequences on the country's economy, and its population wellbeing and health. Severe droughts are recurring more frequently, causing significant economic losses. The increasing scope and intensity of extreme events have also resulted in increased frequencies of high-risk situations. By 2050, an increase of 23C in the average temperature, an additional 32 days that exceed the current maximum temperature by 10%, and another 12 days with zero precipitation are projected. The Government sees the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process as key to achieving the adaptation objectives outlined in its 2014 Climate Change Adaptation Strategy of the Republic of Moldova and its 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), as well as the continued mainstreaming of climate change considerations into its policies and budgeting processes. The proposed project supports the Republic of Moldova's Government in advancing the second cycle of its National Adaptation Planning process (known as NAP-2). The outcomes of the NAP-2 national adaptation planning processes are: Outcome 1: To strengthen and operationalize the national steering mechanism for climate change adaptation (CCA); Outcome 2: To improve the long-term capacity on planning and implementation of adaptation actions through CCA technologies; Outcome 3: To improve the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation through the increased alignment of national development priorities in the priority sectors (forestry, health, energy, and transport). The project will contribute to UNSDCF (United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework), 2023-2027 strategic priority 4 (green development, sustainable communities and disaster and climate resilience. Additionally, the project will contribute to the UNDP Country Programme Output 3.3 (National and sub-national governments have improved capacities to integrate resilience to climate change and disasters into development plans and practices to reduce population's vulnerability). Other than that, the project will contribute to the National Development Strategy Moldova 2030 by ensuring resilience to climate change by reducing risks related to climate change and by facilitating adaptation in six sectors priority - agriculture, water resources, health, forestry, energy, and transport. The preliminary work under the first cycle of the NAP (known as NAP-1) supported developing a NAP as a process, conceptualizing, and developing its elements, including the national steering mechanism, and laid down the groundwork towards long-term adaptation planning. Despite the progress, significant gaps remain in integrating climate change considerations into many of the national priority sectors' development policies and their associated budget priorities. National appropriations for CCA remain limited. The NAP-2 goals will be achieved within two parallel implementation tracks. The first track implemented by UNDP expands and deepens the national approach developed under the NAP-1 and strengthens synergies both vertically, at different levels of the governance, and horizontally, between the sectors affected by climate change to reduce duplication of efforts, pool scarce resources for efficient use, and ensure a coherent and comprehensive approach to the integration of CCA responses into development planning. In contrast, the second track will focus on adaptation in the agriculture sector and will be concurrently implemented under FAO's auspices. Scope of Work The Project Associate is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems. Administrative management Pro-actively contribute to day-to-day project implementation and ensure conformity to expected results and project work-plans; Provide support to international consultants in the implementation of their tasks for the achievement of project results (communication, contracts, agenda, visas, accommodation, etc); Maintain records on all project personnel/national consultants and their respective status (contracts, ToRs, and attendance if appropriate, etc.) in accordance with accepted policies and procedures; Coordinate other support staff, the project driver, translators, and short-term consultants. Prepare and issue contracts; Make pertinent logistical arrangements for the prompt and effective implementation of the programme activities; Draft minutes of Project Board and other project related meetings; Assume overall responsibility for administrative matters of a more general nature, such as registry and maintenance of project files and records; Arrange external and internal meetings (including the meetings of the Project Board, Technical level, as well as other relevant meetings etc.). Financial management Monitor budget expenditures and maintain a proper record of approved project budgets and their revisions; Prepare proposals for budget revisions; Prepare and submit expenditure and project budget status reports; Prepare recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for Annual Work Plan (AWP) preparations and audit; Guide and assist international advisors and national consultants on all aspects of allowances, travel claims and other financial matters and calculate payments due for claims and services; Ensure the compliance of allocated funds with the UNDP norms and regulations. Undertake other financial and administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis. Procurement In accordance with the Work Plan arrange for procurement of equipment, supplies and services; Create and mange e-requisitions in Quantum; Prepare the procurement plans for the projects and monitoring of their implementation; Prepare the submissions to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP); Arrange for equipment maintenance and insurance as required; Ensure that contractual processes follow the stipulated UNDP procedures; Physically clear and ensure delivery of equipment and supplies procured for the various programme sites; Maintain the equipment and spare inventory including verification and transfer when required. Other duties as assigned. Assume full responsibility for and manage effectively and efficiently financial, physical / material assets, etc. in order to meet expected results. Apply UNDP programming tools utilization, and namely, introduce and control over the financial data in Quantum. Institutional Arrangement Direct supervisor: Project Manager Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager and overall guidance of the Programme Analyst, the incumbent assists in the effective management of the project through a range of actions contributing to the design, planning, management and monitoring of project activities. The Project Associate applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. Project Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, Communications and other project teams in the Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and resolving complex project-related issues and information delivery. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems. Competencies Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination Cross-Functional & Technical competencies Business Management/Customer Satisfaction/Client Management Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solution, and deliver timely and quality results ans/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy Look for ways to add value beyond clients immediate requests Ability to anticipate clients upcoming needs and concerns. Business Development/Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally Administration and Operations/Entitlement travel Knowledge of policy and procedures related to entitlement travel, including the identification of entitlement for lump sum for UNDP as well as other UN agencies Procurement/Procure-to-Pay Knowledge of purchase-to-pay cycles, concepts, principles and policies, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations. Administration & Operations/Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings) Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc Administration & Operations/Travel contract management Knowledge of policy and procedures related to contract management, incl. oversight of the Long Term Agreement (LTA) with the Travel Management Services (TMS) provider; UN airline agreement management covering all major and rail providers; ability to negotiate airline discounts Finance/Budget management Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets. Education and Work experience Minimum 6 years of experience (with Secondary Education) or 3 years of experience (with Bachelor degree) in administrative work, accounting/finance, economics, in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, consulting company, or NGO experience is required. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems. Required skills Experience in handling web-based management systems is an asset; Experience in compilation and preparation of briefing and presentation materials, reports is an asset. Experience in providing effective administrative and logistical support is an asset. Skills related to office maintenance and assets management. Desired additional skills Previous experience in organization of procurement processes. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is required to obtain, evaluate and interpret factual data and to prepare accurate and complete reports and other documents. Skills in maintenance of the filing system ensuring safekeeping of confidential materials. Required Language(s) Fluency in the UN language of the duty station is required. Fluency in the national language of the duty station is required for local personnel. Fluency in both oral and written English and Romanian. Knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant for Moldova, including Russian, Romani, Gagauzian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and sign language is an asset. Required documents Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns, or other materials. Disclaimer Applicant information about UNDP rostersNote: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.Scam warningThe United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. To apply please follow the link/Pentru a aplica, va rugam sa adresati link-ul: Apply Advertisement end date/Data de incheiere a postului vacant: 08 June 2023 On Monday, Irelands Data Protection Commission fined Meta, Facebooks parent company, more than a billion dollars for breaching the European Unions data-privacy rules, and ordered the social network to stop sending data that it has collected from European Facebook users to the United States. The fine is one of the largest to have been levied since the EU adopted the General Data Protection Regulation, a data-privacy law more commonly known by the initials GDPR, in 2016. The Irish decision calls into question not just Facebooks data-collection apparatusand the multibillion-dollar business model that it supportsbut the similar data-handling and monetization practices of almost every other global social network and online service. Nick Clegg, the head of global affairs for Meta and a former deputy prime minister of the UK, said that the ruling risks carving the internet into national and regional silos. Despite the apocalyptic tone of its response, Metas data-handling practices wont have to change any time soon. The ruling offers a grace period of five months before the company has to take action; Meta has also said that it plans to appeal the decision and ask for the order to be stayed in the meantime, a process that could drag on. In part, thats because the ruling is just the latest salvo in a longer-running battle over how data should be handled by global businesses like Metaone that dates back to when the GDPR was first being developed. As part of the negotiations over the regulation, the US and the EU came up with a bilateral agreement known as the Privacy Shield, also known as the adequacy decision, which required that the transfer of personal data could only take place if the receiving country ensures an adequate level of protection. What this entails has been the subject of much debate, not least because the EUs Charter of Fundamental Rights enshrines the right to both a private life and the protection of personal data. In the summer of 2020, after several years of cooperation under the Privacy Shield arrangement, the EUs Court of Justiceor ECJ, which is based in Luxembourgruled that the framework of the agreement was no longer a valid mechanism to comply with EU data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the European Union to the United States. At the time of the ECJs decision, more than five thousand companies relied on the Privacy Shield agreement to do business with the EU, including Google and a number of other large technology providers. The 2020 decision followed a long-running campaign by privacy organizations, but stemmed in large part from the efforts of one man: Max Schrems, an Austrian lawyer and activist who had been waging a war against Facebook and its data-sharing practices for nearly a decade. Schrems started raising the alarm about the company in 2011, when he was still a college student, mounting a campaign that grew into a grassroots revolt, called Europe Versus Facebook, which saw tens of thousands of users contact the companys European headquarters in Ireland and demand copies of their data. Viviane Reding, the primary architect of what would eventually become the GDPR, cited Schremss activism in the process of lobbying for tighter controls over how internet services handle personal data in Europe. After Schrems asked the Irish Data Protection Commission to force Facebook to hand over all of the data that it had on himand Facebook responded by sending a CD-ROM containing over a thousand pages of texthe realized that Facebook had access to personal information that he had never agreed to provide, including his physical location, and that the company had also retained data that he had deleted. The Irish regulator ordered Facebook to make changes to the ways in which it handled user data, but Schrems argued that this response didnt address his more substantial complaints, and so, in 2013, he appealed to Irelands High Court. That court in turn referred the question to the ECJ, asking it to rule on whether individual countries should independently investigate the data-handling practices of internet companies, or whether they could rely on investigations by a third country. The 2016 Privacy Shield was a result of this case. But Schrems continued his legal battle even after that framework was created, arguing that it didnt do enough to prevent US intelligence agencies from getting access to personal data using methods that Edward Snowden, the former US national-security contractor, had exposed when he leaked a trove of sensitive internal documents in 2013. Schrems also argued that the Cambridge Analytica affair, in which personal data from Facebook was sold to a company that subsequently used it to target voters, would not have been possible if his concerns had been addressed. That case eventually led to the ECJs 2020 decision invalidating the Privacy Shield agreement, forcing the US and the EU to develop a new version of the data-protection rules. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Last year, President Biden announced a new agreement, called the Data Privacy Framework. This was supposed to address the ECJs decision by making it more difficult, at least in theory, for US intelligence agencies to gain access to the personal data of non-US citizens. But the latest decision from the Irish court effectively ruled that even this new framework doesnt go far enough. So what happens now? The US and the EU are said to be working on (another) updated version of the data-privacy framework, but its unclear whether they will be able to address all of the concerns raised by the ECJ or by privacy activists. Unless US surveillance laws get fixed, Meta will have to fundamentally restructure its systems, Schrems said in a statement on Monday. He added that one solution would be to keep most personal data belonging to European users within the EU, but to exempt necessary transfers that might occur, for instance, when an EU user sends a direct message to a user in the US. Schrems isnt the only one thinking along these lines. According to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a nonprofit US-based think tank, the number of laws, regulations, and government policies worldwide that require digital information to be stored in a specific country more than doubled to a hundred and forty-four between 2017 and 2021. The sort of system described by Schrems could weaken Metas advertising business, which relies in part on the use of aggregated personal data to target usersa business that generates more than a hundred billion dollars a year. And the implications of the order go far beyond Meta alone. The European Data Protection Board said that Metas infringement of personal data protections was especially serious because it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous. But this describes the behavior of many other internet-based services as well. Meta might end up being the canary in the coalmine, Joe Jones, of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, told the British newspaper The Telegraph, adding that dozens of companies have disclosed, in public investor reports, that the disruption to transatlantic data sharing has brought higher costs, among other negative impacts. Thousands of other companies, including small businesses, depend on transatlantic data transfers, Jones said. Schrems, for his part, has noted that global tech companies such as Facebook and Google are protected by the way that the US conceives of the use of personal data. The US still has this very nationalistic view of [what it means to be a] citizen or not citizen, which comes out of the Fourth Amendment, Schrems said during a privacy debate in 2021. Its a bit like Swiss banks saying give us all your gold, but once your gold is in Switzerland, theres no property rights anymore for foreigners. Ultimately, the tension between the European and American approaches to handling personal data, which Schrems has spent more than a decade highlighting, stems from a fundamental difference: between a social and regulatory structure that prioritizes the protection of personal privacy, and one in which there are no overarching federal laws regulating the handling of personal information. The US has a hodgepodge of state and national laws that cover some data, for some users, some of the timewith acronyms like HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, and COPPAbut nothing that protects the privacy of all personal data as a fundamental right. Is there a way to bridge these two, very different philosophies? The US and EU will try again to build onetrillions of dollars in economic activity depends on it. But their systems may be fundamentally irreconcilable. And Facebook may not be the only company to pay the price. Other notable stories: ICYMI: The Messenger is a news startup, but it feels like a blast from the past Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. A bankruptcy judge is allowing current and former officials with the parent company of Silicon Valley Bank to tap into the $210 million in insurance coverage available through directors and officers liability policies to defend themselves against litigation that followed the collapse of the bank. The Committee of Unsecured Creditors for the SVB Financial Group bankruptcy had objected to the expense, saying any insurance money spent on defending the directors and officers would not be available for other potential litigation or any settlements or judgments. The committee argued that the directors and officers arent entitled to any of the insurance proceeds because their own mismanagement caused the collapse of the bank. But Martin Glenn, chief bankruptcy judge for the Southern District of New York, said the insurance policies themselves state that the banks directors and officers get first dibs on any proceeds from the D&O policies. Even if it is true that the directors and officers do have liability, that is precisely why such insurance exists, Glenn said in an opinion released Monday. The Committee cites no legal authority for the proposition that directors and officers need to be blameless to access insurance that is specifically intended to cover their defense costs and liability in these situations. California state regulators closed Silicon Valley Bank on March 10 after a run on deposits threatened the banks solvency. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took control of its operations and SVB Financial Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On May 3, 16 of SVB Financials current and former directors and officers asked the bankruptcy court for an order that essentially would give its insurers permission to defend them against the seven putative class-action lawsuits that have already been filed against the banks and its directors. The bank had purchased a $10 million primary claims-made D&O liability policy and 20 excess policies, each with a $10 million limit. The Committee of Unsecured Creditors filed an objection. They committee argued that any payments from the insurers would diminish the amounts available to defend against other litigation against the bank, as well as any settlements or judgments. The creditors said the D&O policies are wasting policies, which means any amount spent on legal fees is taken out of the coverage limit. The committees motion said the court should now allow culpable parties to draw down the amount available without appropriate limitations and oversight. They suggested that if the court allows any insurance money to be spent, the court establish a soft cap to limit the amount. Judge Glenn said the alleged misdeeds by directors and officers is precisely the reason the bank purchased the D&O policies. He declined to establish a cap on the amount spent, saying the insurers themselves would guard against unreasonable expenditures. The judge noted that the directors and officers who asked for access to the insurance coverage had offered to file regular reports on their expenses. He said that the suggestion was reasonable and made those reports a condition of his approval of the motion. Glenn said in his order that the D&O policies include a provision that state if there are competing demands for the insurance proceeds, the defense of the directors and officers has priority. Further, because of the oversight of the insurance companies, the quarterly reporting, and the need for court approval to settle a claim with policy funds, the court is satisfied that that there is enough oversight to prevent a wasteful depletion of the funds, the opinion states. Top photo: Security guards let individuals enter the Silicon Valley Banks headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, March 13, 2023. The federal government intervened Sunday to secure funds for depositors to withdraw from Silicon Valley Bank after the banks collapse. Dozens of individuals waited in line outside the bank to withdraw funds. (AP Photo/ Benjamin Fanjoy) AKRON, Ohio Calls for justice for Jayland Walker continue to ring out through the streets of Akron more than a month after a grand jury failed to indict eight police officers who shot and killed the unarmed Black man last summer. Hundreds of people, including activists from across the country, marched downtown with Walkers family and friends to City Hall and the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center on South High Street where they were joined by the familys attorneys to share a list of demands calling for justice. CLEVELAND, Ohio The attorneys representing Jayland Walkers family are demanding transparency after a grand jury last month declined to indict eight Akron police officers who shot and killed the unarmed Black man last June. They also are pushing a law that would protect peaceful protesters. In front of hundreds of people Wednesday night, Pamela Walker said she was heartbroken about the number of bullets that were fired at her son who was shot 46 times by the officers. As a retired nurse, I understand where every bullet struck my son, she said outside of the John F. Seiberling Federal Building. His body was mutilated by gunfire. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, whose office investigated the shooting and presented evidence to the grand jury, said the officers were justified under Ohio law because they believed Walker posed a direct threat to their safety. Walker had fired a gunshot from his car during a car chase about five minutes before officers let out a hail of gunfire into his body. Bobby DiCello, along with other members of the familys legal team, issued a list of demands Tuesday in hopes of stopping another fatal police shooting in Akron. DiCello wants: The Ohio attorney generals office to release the full transcript of the grand jury proceedings. The city to fire the eight officers involved in the shooting. Akron to name the eight officers, something the city has refused to do. The city cited the state public records law, which says it does not need to provide information that would endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement personnel. The U.S. Justice Department to investigate Akron police. Ohio to eliminate qualified immunity. Qualified immunity allows government officials, including police officers, to avoid being sued for violating a persons rights while performing their jobs. Ohio law, however, permits lawsuits to go forward if the actions were manifestly outside the scope of [the officers] employment or official responsibilities or if officials acted with malicious purpose, in bad faith or in a wanton or reckless manner. Justice is a step-by-step process, DiCello said, Because there was no indictment against any of the officers who killed Jayland, the public deserves to know what evidence was presented. DiCello also pushed the state to enact Jaylands Law, with the goal of increasing transparency from police. The attorney said Jaylands Law would make it illegal for officers to chase someone fleeing a traffic stop and make dash cameras mandatory in all in-service police vehicles. It would require officers to keep all body-worn cameras on during the entirety of their shifts. The law would also ban the use of tear gas and bullets on nonviolent protesters and create a protest safety unit, whose members would not carry weapons, to assist as first responders during demonstrations. After the grand jurys decision last month, protesters captured police officers spraying chemicals at demonstrators. Grand jury proceedings and their transcripts are secret and are not released under federal rules of evidence, according to a spokesperson from Yosts office. AG Yost is committed to transparency following officer-involved shootings, which is why the Jayland Walker case file was posted to our website immediately after the grand jurys decision, the spokesperson said. Following the jurys decision, the attorney generals office released investigative documents from the shooting on its website. The information includes a summary from the prosecutor on the case, all body-worn camera footage from the shooting, evidence photos and transcripts of interviews with the officers involved. Pamela Walker said Jayland was a quiet and kind young man who aspired to own a business. Our home was always filled with joy when Jayland was over; we never wanted him to leave, she said. WASHINGTON Across the country, lawmakers in several states are looking at legislation that allows children to work longer hours on school nights, sometimes in hazardous conditions, and even serve alcohol, while underage. The efforts are largely led by Republican lawmakers seeking to address worker shortages, the Associated Press reported. In some cases, the law changes run afoul of federal regulations. Child welfare advocates say the changes represent a coordinated push to roll back protections for minors. The consequences are potentially disastrous, Reid Maki, director of the Washington-based Child Labor Coalition, told the AP. The Child Labor Coalition advocates against exploitative labor policies. You cant balance a perceived labor shortage on the backs of teen workers, Maki said. Teen workers are more likely to accept low pay and less likely to unionize or push for better working conditions, Maki said. There are employers that benefit from having kind of docile teen workers, Maki said. And teens are easy targets for industries that rely on vulnerable populations, such as immigrants and the formerly incarcerated, to do dangerous work, he told the AP. In February, for example, the Labor Department issued a $1.5 million fine to one of the nations largest meatpacking sanitation contractors after investigators found the company illegally employed more than 100 children at 13 meat processing sites in eight states. The children were used to clean bone saws and other dangerous equipment in meatpacking plants, often using hazardous chemicals, USA Today reported. Some underage employees also worked overnight shifts, and at least three sustained injuries on the job, the Labor Department said. The Department of Labor reported in February that child labor violations had increased by nearly 70% since 2018. The agency is increasing enforcement and asking Congress to allow larger fines against violators. Lawmakers in at least 10 states have proposed loosening child labor laws for the past two years, a report by the Economic Policy Institute published last month said. Legislators in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Iowa are now considering relaxing child labor laws to address worker shortages that remain because of a spike in retirements, deaths and illnesses from COVID-19, decreases in legal immigration and other factors. Wisconsin lawmakers back a proposal to allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants. It would be the lowest such limit nationwide, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In Ohio, legislators are considering a bill that would allow students ages 14 and 15 to work until 9 p.m. during the school year with their parents permission. That conflicts with federal rules, so a companion measure asks Congress to amend its own laws. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, students that age can only work until 7 p.m. during the school year, a law passed in 1938 to stop children from being exposed to dangerous conditions and abusive practices in mines, factories, farms and street trades. In March, Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation eliminating permits that required employers to verify a childs age and their parents consent. Without work permit requirements, companies can more easily claim ignorance when accused of violating child labor laws. Theres no reason why anyone should have to get the governments permission to get a job, Republican Arkansas Rep. Rebecca Burkes, who sponsored the legislation, said on the House floor. This is simply about eliminating the bureaucracy that is required and taking away the parents decision about whether their child can work. Other measures have been approved in New Jersey, New Hampshire and Iowa. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds last year approved a change to let Iowa teens aged 16 and 17 to work unsupervised in childcare centers. Legislators this month OKd a bill to allow teens of that age to serve alcohol in restaurants. It would also expand the hours minors can work. Reynolds, who said in April she supports more youth employment, has until June 3 to sign or veto the measure. Iowa lawmakers balked at provisions that would have allowed children aged 14 and 15 to work dangerous jobs in mining, logging and meatpacking. But they kept some provisions that the Labor Department says would violate federal law, NBC News reported. Those include allowing children as young as 14 to work in freezers and meat coolers and extending work hours in industrial laundries and assembly lines. BROOKLYN, Ohio -- The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce recently announced that graduating Hurricanes Sienna Jackson and MaKenna Lottig are the recipients of the annual scholarship and education fund scholarships. Each year, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce encourages graduating seniors to pursue educational opportunities that support their professional development and contribute to their career goals, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amber Wiesner said. Added Chamber of Commerce President Jessica M. Cliff: The community has come to expect these scholarships from us. Every little bit helps for students going off to college. Sienna, who is headed to the University of Southern California to study neuroscience, received a $1,000 scholarship. Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Jessica M. Cliff, left, and Brooklyn High School senior MaKenna Lottig. (Photo Courtesy of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce) MaKenna received a $500 scholarship to study political science at The Ohio State University. Cliff said the selection of scholarship recipients is based on the quality of essays. The money for the scholarships comes from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerces Scholarship & Education Fund, which is supported annually by various fundraisers. This includes its latest Grocery Store Fundraiser. Tickets are $25 for 13 chances to win a $3,000 first-prize gift card to Walmart. There are currently tickets remaining before the May 31 drawing. Keep an eye out for the next round of whatever the chamber chooses to do, Cliff said. Were talking about doing monthly 50/50s, were talking about doing another grocery store raffle or something similar to generate funds throughout the year. Wiesner added: We remain committed to providing opportunities for our community members. An integral part of the chambers mission is to provide connections that invest in the future of our community and contribute to the overall economic prosperity. Read more news from the Parma Sun Post. PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- City Council has given a thumbs-down to the idea of seeking state grant money to install a splash pad at the citys park. During its meeting Wednesday (May 24), council voted 4-0 against seeking a $150,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant for the recreation amenity. Councilman Manohar Daga abstained, while Councilmen Scott Newell and Jim LeMay were not present. A week earlier, the subject of the grant for the splash park was introduced for discussion. Because council members still had questions about the subject, a vote before the June 1 grant application deadline was held over until Wednesday. Over the course of the week, those questions became less about the operations and intricacies of a splash park -- which Mayor Richard Bain described as basically gym equipment that squirts water out of the ground -- and more about other matters. Councilwoman Emmy Zatroch lauded the changes made at Pepper Pike Park in recent years that have turned it into a special spot. However, she said, What Im concerned with is the opportunity costs of this project. Youre taking whats, really, our last piece of vacant land in that area (the park), and were going to tie it down with a splash pad that has a limited season and really kind of changes the character of that playground equipment. The splash pad discussed was to have a concrete floor, measure 30 feet in diameter, and reuse water that would gather in a reservoir beneath the pad before being cleaned for reuse. I just dont know that its a great fit for that spot, Zatroch said. I dont know that I see this particular project as an improvement, said Councilwoman Melanie Weltman. One of my concerns is that council had virtually no input in what project was selected. I would have liked to have weighed in on what project we had chosen. While it is not that much money, its still the communitys money, and this is an unenclosed water park that animals and anybody can walk into. It requires a significant mount of annual maintenance. Im just not sure that our process was good. Bain estimated the cost of a splash pad at $275,000 to $300,000. If the city were to have received the $150,000 grant, it would have had to match the grant at 25 percent, or $37,500. Bain replied to Weltman by saying: This is the meeting where were asking council if you think this is a good project. Thats what this is. If you dont think it is (a good project), then you should vote no and say no and say you dont think its a good project. Bain told council members that, in past years, ideas have been brought before council to add a restroom, pavilion and fireplace in the pavilion to Pepper Pike Park, and that council had to decide if they were good or bad ideas. In this case, Bain said, he was recommending a splash pad because some residents in a recent survey showed an interest in having aquatic recreation. He said the splash pad would not interfere with other park activities, in that the water could be shut off at any time, leaving it available for any other uses. I just think that it would have been a wise decision to, earlier on, include council in conversations about how we use our park space or projects, Weltman said. People who live in this community and who are responsive to the people who live in this community should have been included in those conversations earlier on. Yes, we can vote up or down now on a project, but wouldnt it be nice to have a project tailored to the community with councils input? she said. Maybe it would have been this project, or a different project, but that was never the opportunity that was presented. I think the process was flawed. Just before the vote against the grant and splash pad was taken, Councilwoman Cathy Hwang asked Bain: Can we get out of the routine of presenting (projects) to council two weeks before (a grant deadline)? Its just like a rush to apply for a grant. I think there has to be a process, because we were elected to be good stewards of our taxpayers money. The residents need to know (earlier) about this (splash pad) and we need to think about it. Sidewalks The council meeting also included a discussion about the possibility of adding sidewalks along main streets. Residents filled most of the seats in the small council chambers to give their input on the question during the public portion. More spoke in favor of sidewalks than against. A Cuyahoga County Planning Commission survey was taken in January by 1,413 Pepper Pike adults (27.2 percent of the citys adults). The survey showed that 74 percent of respondents would approve of adding sidewalks on major streets, while 57 percent would like a sidewalk in front of their home or business. At the start of the sidewalk discussion, Bain said to council: The question before council, again, is pretty much what I proposed regarding the splash pad. The primary question is, do you support them (adding sidewalks), or dont you support them? And if you support them, where do you support them? City Engineer Don Sheehy told council that the objective is not to build a sidewalk to nowhere. He said sidewalks should connect institutional and retail uses to some of the citys larger residential neighborhoods, and actually give someone a destination. Sheehy said Lander Road and Shaker Boulevard are the most obvious choices for a sidewalk or, as he termed it, a path. He said a Lander Road path from the north end of Lander Circle at Chagrin Boulevard to South Woodland Road would cost about $145,000. From South Woodland to Shaker Boulevard, on Lander Road, would cost about $465,000. A path extending from Shaker Boulevard to Fairmount Boulevard, on Lander Road, would cost approximately $500,000, while a path from Fairmount Boulevard to Cedar Road, on Lander Road, would cost an estimated $350,000. Sheehy recommended a 5-foot-wide path made of concrete that would, for the most part, be installed 10 feet from the roadway. We have to start talking somewhere (about sidewalks), and this is the appropriate place to start talking, said Councilman Anthony Gentile. There wont be any final decisions made tonight. We wont be making final decisions, I would think, for probably months. Im not opposed to walkability, he said. Im a little bit opposed to changing the nature of the city. Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun. BEREA, Ohio -- A wanted Cleveland man, 26, who was carrying several bags of various illegal narcotics, was arrested at about 10 a.m. May 23 on Oho 237. Police noticed that the mans BMW, stopped at a red light on North Rocky River Drive at Sheldon Road, had illegal dark-tinted windows. They checked the cars license plate number and learned that the cars owner, the Cleveland man, was wanted for a felony in Broadview Heights. Police followed the BMW onto Ohio 237 northbound and pulled the car over near Eastland Road. The car smelled like marijuana. The man handed over a marijuana cigar. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A once-renowned Cleveland School of the Arts and Cuyahoga Community College dance instructor was convicted Thursday of raping several of his students over his 20-year career. Terence Greene ushered some of Clevelands most talented young dancers to successful careers across the country, including several who made it to New Yorks famed Broadway. But now the 57-year-old faces life in prison after jurors found him guilty of raping six children and sexually abusing two others who accused Greene of using that prestige to prey upon them. Greene was convicted Thursday of 64 charges including rape, kidnapping and felonious assault. Some of the charges carried specifications labeling Greene a sexually violent predator that make him eligible for a life sentence. The jury reached its verdict after a weeklong trial in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Judge Kevin Kelley will sentence Greene on June 8. cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Greenes attorney, W. Scott Ramsey, for comment. Greene was hired by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in 1999 as a contract employee and instructor at its prestigious arts school. Prosecutors say Greenes sexual abuse began that same year. Greene raped a 14-year-old boy multiple times over the next two years, including on school trips to Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati, according to prosecutors. Greene continued abusing his students until October 2019, prosecutors said. His eight victims in this case ranged in age from 14 to 17 years old when the abuse began. The school district agreed to pay a $3.25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by eight former students accusing the school of failing to properly investigate past claims of sexual abuse lodged against Greene and failing to protect the students from Greenes behavior. Those students, some of whom were victims in the criminal case, attended the school between 2003 and 2011 and accused Greene of using his power, prestige and position as a mentor in their lives to groom them into acquiescing when he sought to sexually abuse them. In 2003, he was indicted on sexual battery charges after a student, then 14 years old, said Greene took him on a field trip to Dayton and sexually abused him multiple times in a hotel room that the two shared. Then-Common Pleas Court Judge Ann Mannen found Greene not guilty after a bench trial in July 2004. The next month, Greene was back at the school teaching children again. The lawsuit accused the school of failing to conduct its own investigation into the incident and allowing Greene to continue to share hotel rooms with students on school-sanctioned trips. Greene was accused again in 2014 by two students of inappropriate conduct. However, rather than investigate the claims, the school allowed Greene to resign, citing personal reasons. The next year, Tri-C hired Greene as an independent contractor to teach at its dance academy for children between the ages of 6 and 16. The school later promoted Greene to the academys director. A Tri-C student filed a lawsuit against Greene, Tri-C and several staff and administrators in Common Pleas Court in 2020 that said the school was aware that Greene had left the Cleveland School of the Arts involving allegations with students, but it failed to investigate further before hiring him. The school has denied being aware of Greenes past claims of sexual abuse. That lawsuit is pending before Judge Ashley Kilbane. TOLEDO, Ohio A convicted murderer who escaped from a prison in western Ohio remains on the loose, but a second escapee has been caught. The U.S. Marshals Service says James Lee, 47, was caught Wednesday morning in Henderson County, Kentucky. Multiple law-enforcement agencies in Henderson County are actively searching for Bradley Gillespie, 50, including using drones, helicopters, and police dogs. The Henderson Police Department says in a news release that Lee and Gillespie were spotted early Wednesday morning in Henderson County driving a 1991 red Mercury Capri stolen from Auglaize County in Ohio. Police tried to stop the vehicle on U.S. 41 but it sped off. The stolen vehicle crashed into a privacy fence after a short chase, police say. Both Lee and Gillespie ran from the car and Lee, the driver, was quickly caught. Gillespie was able to escape, but police say they found one of his shoes two streets from where the crash occurred. At this time, we believe Bradley Gillespie should be considered a danger to the public and assume he is armed with a weapon, police said in a news release. We urge the community to be vigilant. Lock your residence and your vehicles. Turn on exterior lights. Gillespie is about 6 feet tall, bald, with blue eyes and weighs about 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark colored shirt and pants. Authorities say anyone with knowledge of Gillespies whereabouts should call 911 immediately. In Ohio, investigators are still trying to determine how the two men managed to get out of the Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution in Lima, the patrol says. According to the State Highway Patrol, Lee had been held in the prison since March 2021 after being convicted of burglary, breaking and entering and safe cracking. Gillespie had been in the prison since November 2016 on a murder conviction. The U.S. Marshals Service says Gillespie should be considered dangerous and that people should not try to make contact with him. A reward of up to $21,000 is being offered by the U.S. Marshals and the Highway Patrol for information leading to his capture. GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio Two men were killed Tuesday evening in a shooting at an apartment complex, police say. Rayshawn Akins Smith, 23, of Garfield Heights, died in the parking lot of the apartment complex at 12115 Valley Lane Drive, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office. Walter Jackson, 26, of Cleveland, was pronounced dead at Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights. Police have released few details but say the department received reports of at least 10 gunshots being fired in the area at about 6 p.m. Tuesday. Officers found both victims unresponsive in the parking lot. Garfield Heights detectives and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating the shooting. Anyone with any information can contact Garfield Heights detectives at 216-475-5840. CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- During the month of May, Village Council welcomed a new council member, finalized Riverside Park playground plans, heard updates from the police chief, purchased a new truck and officially named the new Grove Hill Park. Donald Gutierrez was sworn in as a new council member May 1. In park and recreation news, council approved the final plans with DWA Recreation to build a playground at Riverside Park. At future council meetings, council will select a surface for the playground and a final site drainage plan. And Grove Hill Parks name is now official. Previously, the lot was just known as a parcel number on the northwest corner of North Main and West Cottage streets. The future pocket park is in the process of being cleared for public use. Additionally, a retaining wall on the park property will be repaired in the near future. Police department seeks grant The Chagrin Falls Police Department will be submitting a federal grant application to cover half the costs of body armor and bulletproof vest purchases made by the department. The department will have four bulletproof vests that will need to be replaced in 2024. Village Council also approved an agreement with the City of Cleveland to communicate on their radio frequency (800 MHZ Digital Radio System) regarding police and emergency matters. According to Chagrin Falls Police Chief Amber Dacek, the use of the radio frequency is not an additional cost to the village. The frequency will be primarily used when communicating with the Cleveland Police Department in the village. Council also authorized the purchase of a new Ford 250 pickup truck for use by the street department. The new truck will be replacing a truck that is over 13 years old. Primarily, the new truck will be used for snowplowing, landscaping, road and sewer maintenance, and hauling crew members and tools to various job sites in the village. Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court has temporarily barred the Cleveland Heights attorney charged with bringing methamphetamine into the jail and possessing a child porn image from practicing law. Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy late Wednesday granted a request from the states disciplinary counsel imposing a remedial suspension on Eric Norton while a complaint against his license is investigated. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Volunteers began placing U.S. flags near the grave markers of more than 9,000 veterans Thursday on a beautiful spring day. Eventually, flags will cover the 66 sections over 285 acres at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland to honor the service of veterans on Memorial Day. Wells Fargo Bank in Cleveland brought 30 volunteers to help with flag placements, equipped with cemetery section maps, veteran names, an armful of U.S. flags and a pencil to record their placements. Even with maps and information it was a challenge to find some of the grave markers. Lake View has a unique Memorial Day connection, said Kathy Goss, President and CEO of Lake View Cemetery for almost 14 years. The cemetery, established in 1869, had a veteran of the Civil War as our first internment in early 1870, Captain Germain DeForest. Goss said President James A. Garfield, who is entombed at Lake View, gave an address on May 30, 1868, honoring the fallen during the Civil War on the first Decoration Day where flowers were strewn over gravesites (now known as Memorial Day). There is still time to register as a volunteer to help install the flags for the veterans. Volunteer shifts are available Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning on the hour. Contact Greta Rothman at grothman@lakeviewcemetery.com to sign up or to learn more. A Memorial Day commemoration is scheduled for Monday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m. Tim Garfield, the great, great grandson of Garfield, will be the Master of Ceremonies honoring the veterans. With Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine offering phony reasons for supporting Issue One on the Aug. 8 ballot, which would effectively remove the ability of Ohioans to change their constitution, panelists on our Today in Ohio podcast had another discussion about this sinister effort. As we have promised, were converting these conversations into transcripts so more people can consider them. (Heres the first) We are fielding some criticisim in our newsroom for not publicizing this dangerous ballot question adequately. We dont agree with the criticism, but these excerpted transcripts are one way to address the criticism. At issue today are two stories. One is DeWines hypocritical reasons for supporting the ballot issue. The other is a second challenge to the issue before the Ohio Supreme Court. Today in Ohio is our weekday news discussion podcast, which you can find here. I host it, with discussion from Laura Johnston, Lisa Garvin and Leila Atassi. Chris: Were starting as we often have lately with issue one. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is the latest leading state Republican to put on his hypocrite hat with his convoluted reasoning for supporting the legislatures effort to torpedo democracy in the state. Laura, what is his reasoning and why does that make him a first class hypocrite. Laura: Well, hes using the same double speak as weve heard from other people so far. So Governor Mike DeWine said Wednesday he plans to vote for state Issue One. Obviously, this is the proposed constitutional amendment thats going on the August ballot that would make it harder for Ohio voters to put any constitutional amendments on the ballot and pass them. And this starts with the planned abortion rights amendment in November. We all know that that Mike DeWine is staunchly anti-abortion. So heres his quote. The concern is people can come in, outside forces, outside the state of Ohio and spend a ton of money trying to impact the constitution. Well, we know that the outside money is the one thats pushing this, right? That were getting millions of dollars from out of state, from conservative causes Chris: Right. The, the whole reason this is on the ballot is because outside money put it there and Mike DeWine is saying, I wanna stop outside money from influencing the constitution. Thats exactly what this is. Laura: Absolutely. Chris: That makes him a hypocrite. Hes also a hypocrite because he signed the bill outlawing August elections in Ohio. This is an August election. On principle, he shouldnt be pushing whats going on here. The other thing is, lets face it, Mike DeWine is the beneficiary of a lot of outside money. Laura: Mm-hmm. Chris: Theres a lot of dark money that influences Ohio. Its complete hooey what hes saying Look, the last vestige of democracy in the state is the ability to change the constitution, which is not easy. Weve had the same system for a hundred years. Its not easy. But with gerrymandering, we have created a tyranny of the minority in Columbus. With the Supreme Court now being filled with partisans who put party over the people, as we saw in the rulings some of the dissenters made in the gerrymandering case this is it: This is the last thing Ohioans have in their quiver to stop out-of-control tyranny in the state. And heres Mike DeWine leading the charge. Its a shameful statement. By Mike DeWine, and I dont know what happened to the guy that we thought was so wonderful in 2020 when we entered the pandemic. Laura: I completely agree. Its like he just kowtows to whatever the legislature wants. And the rest of his quote, hes saying that the legislative process is frankly a better process. And. Who controls that? The gerrymandered legislature So, and then he brings in the federal constitution, which started a conversation in our newsroom about the differences I feel like this might be a bubbling argument thats coming. Well, the, the federal Constitution is harder to change. We should, we should emulate that. But the US Constitution has 27 amendments. It, it is a lot different than the Ohio Constitution, which has 172, and obviously Ohios is newer than the federal Constitution. So its a different kind of document that has been used in a different way to put things that people want in their state into the law. Chris: Right. Look, we dont do this often because it is very difficult to change the constitution. You have to get signatures, a lot of signatures in half of the the states,counties, and then youve got to get the majority vote. Its not easy. Doesnt happen often. The system has worked. We havent had it corrupted. Look, gerrymandering has put us in a position with super majorities in the legislature that dont match the voting public. The the state has leaned red, but its not super majority red. Because of their sinister practices, they have created super majorities where they lord over the state. They know the one way that regular people can fight back is through this. And so theyre sneaking this thing on to the August election, hoping nobody shows up, and trying to take away the power of the people. When we were talking about this yesterday, a very interesting element rose up. I was surrounded by you and Layla and some other women. And the women started talking about how this is an assault on women and that were heading to the Handmaids Tale, which was fascinating. It was very fervent. Laura: Its like, whats, whats the end goal? Right? We just keep watching peoples rights be stripped away. And if you look at things in the aggregate of who is running our state, it does seem like, and this goes back to the childcare project that Im working on too, right? Like it, it feels like were gonna push against anything that is progressive because we want to keep white men in power. And, and Im not saying that thats what theyre saying, but when youre stripping away peoples rights and youre pushing against things like the abortion, right? And by the way, thats how this is gonna get marketed to people. Theyre, theyre going be: if you dont want abortion to be legal in Ohio, you need to vote for this amendment on the August election. Dont even think about whats happening down the road, that you will give away all your power. But they wanna just focus on the shiny thing in front of them. Chris: I disagree. I think theyre trying to stop all the issues. Laura: Well, they are, but the way that theyre selling it to voters is going to focus on abortion. Chris: This is going to be the final cap Matt Huffman, people like Mike DeWine, Jon Husted, Frank LaRose, they want to be dictators in this state. The only answer that people have is to change the Constitution. Some will say, well, (the people) can change the laws, but any law that we changed by vote, they could turn around the next day and undo. Laura: They just did it with the August election, right? ] Chris: Ive said this before, I keep getting notes from prominent people in this town who are in a panic, saying that this is our responsibility to get the word out and, and, and kind of criticizing us because they dont think were doing enough. I dont know what more we can do. Were doing stories almost every day. We got more lined up, but that panic people are feeling, I think its because they realize the future of this state hangs in the balance in August. Well, if this happens, the future of this state is dreary. Indeed. And its Laura: What Leila said the other day -- go talk to someone. I know that its not. Comfortable to talk about politics, but you know, its going to be Memorial Day Weekend, beautiful weekend coming up, long weekend. Everybodys going to see their family and friends. Just mention this to people. Make sure its on their radar as we start the summer, because I think people dont want to think about their power and their rights being taken away. But we need to make sure that everybody knows whats at stake in August. and make a plan Leila: And make a plan to vote, too. Chris: Youre listening to today in Ohio, Lisa, we now have two cases before the Ohio Supreme Court over the Ohio legislatures effort to persuade voters to give away their power to amend the constitution. Whats the latest one? Lisa: this is a second lawsuit by the group called One Person One Vote, and they filed it with the Supreme Court earlier this week over the ballot language. This joins their first suit that was seeking to block the August election on this matter. They accuse the Ohio ballot board of intentionally misleading the public with language thats rife with material omissions and misleading statements and they say it only describes the effects of the 60% threshold and not how it changes from the current law. Voters might assume that theyre voting in favor of a new right to change the constitution, but theyve had that right since 1912. So they feel the language is misleading, thinking this is a new thing. Also, they took issue with the 88-county signature requirement. They say that the ballot language doesnt state that. Thats twice what the current law is, for 44 counties. And they also took issue -- a lot of people did -- over the word elevate in the title of state issue one. They say it has a positive connotation, whereas they are legally required to have neutral language on the ballot. The suit actually cited a 2012 Ohio Supreme Court case where the court voted six to one against approved ballot language in a suit filed by a redistricting reform group. So there is legal precedent here. Chris: I was very pleased to see we had an editorial that just slams this, slams Frank LaRose because hes the leader of this terrible movement, for playing games with this language. There is clear precedent. You cannot have language like this But that editorial was one of the top read pieces on our site all day yesterday. So that tells me that some of the work were doing is reaching quite a few eyeballs. I dont know that the Supreme Court will follow it because Sharon Kennedy and Pat DeWine showed in gerrymandering that they dont care about the rule of law. Its all about their political party being ahead. So I have no faith that theyll do the right thing in either of these cases. Lisa: Id be shocked if they do. I mean, if they follow the law and follow precedent, youd think this would be a slam dunk, but this is Ohio. Chris: And they should also invalidate it because its an August election, and as of right now, those are illegal in Ohio, according to Mike Dew Wines signature on the legislatures bill. But Pat DeWine wont see it that way. He doesnt even recuse himself from his dads cases. Youre listening to today in Ohio. South Africa: SA to attend inauguration of Nigerian President President Cyril Ramaphosa will next week Monday honour an invitation to attend the inauguration of President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Ramaphosa will join a number of his continental counterparts who will be in attendance at this occasion. Presidents participation will demonstrate continuity in the strategic relationship between South Africa and Nigeria, Cabinet said in a statement on Thursday. Nigeria is South Africas biggest trade partner in West Africa. A broad range of South African firms have invested in Nigeria, while Nigerian companies are also developing a footprint in South Africa. -SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-05-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Political theater on U.S. debt ceiling creates huge uncertainty with catastrophic implications 11:04, May 25, 2023 By Liu Yanan, Yang Shilong ( Xinhua NEW YORK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The debate over the debt ceiling in the United States is creating rampant uncertainty and risks an immediate economic recession, financial crisis, and hardships for American families and businesses, according to U.S. experts. Despite reaching the 31.4 trillion U.S. dollar debt limit in January, discussions between the White House and congressional leaders only began on May 9, less than a month before the estimated date of a U.S. government default on its debt obligations. Political calculations from both sides will likely hinder an early agreement with the June 1 deadline looming. DEBT CEILING AS POLITICAL LEVERAGE The lifting of the debt ceiling, initially introduced during World War I, was a routine vote in Congress. Today, the issue is political theater amidst a growing partisan divide. "We've raised the debt ceiling almost 80 times since 1960," said Ben Harris, former assistant secretary for economic policy in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The notion that Congress would approve spending and then refuse to pay for that authorized spending is absurd, said Harris at a panel discussion organized by think-tank the Center for American Progress on Thursday. U.S. partisan democracy never worked perfectly, or the way it was intended, and the parties cooperate on fewer and fewer things than in the past, given the extreme polarization, according to David A. Super, professor of law and economics at Georgetown University Law Center. "Now, any member of either party can get in a lot of trouble if they are seen cooperating with the other party on almost anything," Super told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday. What's more worrying is that both parties may think that if this crisis comes to pass, the other side will be hurt politically, according to Wendy Edelberg, senior fellow on economic studies with the Brookings Institution. "My guess is that those sorts of political calculations will always be with us," said Edelberg at the panel discussion. HUGE UNCERTAINTY The brinkmanship creates enormous uncertainties around the ongoing debt ceiling talks between the White House and Republican members of Congress, although the U.S. government could default on its debt obligation as early as June 1. As Democrats aren't going to support deficit reduction measures to pay for tax cuts that drive back up the deficit and Republicans are not willing to agree to anything that limits tax cuts, there's no basis for an agreement, said Super. House Republicans intend to force a default intolerable to Wall Street. Super added that the financial industry would then pressure President Biden into giving them everything they want. Super also noted that a short-term debt limit extension is overwhelmingly likely. "A deal is possible, but I think there's a good chance we won't get a deal, and there's also a good chance that U.S. House Speaker (Kevin) McCarthy agrees to a deal and then his members reject it," he added. "Ultimately, there are a lot of uncertainties about what's going to happen," said Peter Cohan, associate professor of management practice at Babson College, a private business school in Massachusetts. There's also a possibility that the June 1 deadline, called the X-date, could be extended based on some machinations within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, said Cohan in an interview with Xinhua on Friday. Possible workarounds, such as invoking the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to declare the debt ceiling unconstitutional, would also add uncertainty to the outcome. There will be enormous uncertainty in lawsuits if the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is invoked, and "once things get wrapped up in the Supreme Court, all bets are off," said Edelberg. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, stressed the importance of maintaining optionality because "we don't know what the scenarios are going to be like in the future." U.S. House Speaker McCarthy recently said a bill to raise the debt ceiling could be ready on the floor next week, which was followed by a brief pause of talks on Friday. Moreover, the planned recess of the U.S. Senate until May 29 also adds uncertainty to whether Congress could pass the potential deal in time. POTENTIAL RISK UNIMAGINABLE The U.S. government default on its debt obligations, even a short-term breach, will bring unimaginable risks and damage to financial markets, U.S. families and the economy, experts warned. According to Edelberg, there are 4 million disabled veterans whose payments are scheduled for June 1, and those payments are now uncertain because the United States runs a deficit and the Department of the Treasury needs to increase the federal debt to meet its obligations. "Even if the crisis only lasts a few days, the damage could be lasting ... we're seeing concerns in financial markets for treasury bills that are scheduled to mature in June," Edelberg said. If both sides don't reach a deal a week later, "we'll start to see the impacts on financial markets," warned Zandi, suggesting that the equity market could plunge 15 percent to 20 percent. A breach of debt obligation for a few days would be enough to push the United States into recession as the U.S. economy is already fragile, said Zandi. Zandi noted that a prolonged breach of a few weeks would mean a severe economic downturn. "Once you go down that path, it puts such pressure on the financial system and economy. Things break that we're not even anticipated ... there would be the financial crisis itself." The damage from a prolonged breach also goes beyond economics and could erode U.S. geopolitical or reserve currency status, Zandi said. If the credit rating of treasury debt is downgraded, there will be a widespread downgrade for any entity backed up by the federal government, explicitly or implicitly, according to Zandi. "The chaos that we create would be incalculable. We immediately go to a very severe financial crisis and economic downturn," Zandi said. Harris shares a similar perspective to Zandi, emphasizing that the current situation could make the markets no longer regard U.S. treasuries as free of credit risk. The U.S. dollar would depreciate in addition to a pretty acute shakeup of global trade patterns. (Hu Yousong and Zhang Juan also contributed to this story.) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Wall Street research firms cheered Nvidia 's latest quarterly report, which included a stronger-than-expected outlook , by raising their estimates on the chipmaker. Analysts were already optimistic Nvidia was well-positioned for an AI chip boom prior to Wednesday's earnings announcement. However, the company said Wednesday it expects sales of about $11 billion, give or take 2%, in the fiscal second quarter of 2024, more than 50% higher than Wall Street's prior estimates of $7.15 billion. Shares rallied almost 25% during premarket trading . Nvidia stock was up 109% year to date heading into Thursday's session. "The computer industry is going through two simultaneous transitions accelerated computing and generative AI," CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday in a statement. Huang added the company is "significantly increasing" its supply of data center products to meet "surging demand." Big price target hikes JPMorgan set its price target to $500 Wednesday, double its previous estimate and among the highest out of the big banks. Analyst Harlan Sur said this is the "first massive wave of demand in generative AI," with more gains to follow. He reiterated his overweight rating on the stock. "Generative AI and large language/transformer models are driving accelerating demand for Nvidia's accelerated compute/networking platforms and software solutions. The team has positioned itself as the one-stop solution provider with its portfolio of compute/networking silicon, software/managed cloud services, hardware systems and full-stack ecosystem for training/deploying complex models," Sur wrote Thursday. Evercore ISI also raised its price target to $500 on the results, up from $320. The new price target implies an additional 30% upside from where shares were trading as of Thursday 6:40 a.m. EST. "What can we say other than just WOW! We've simply never seen a beat like this ever," analyst C.J. Muse wrote in a Wednesday note. He said Nvidia has a long path of growth ahead and reiterated the company is one of Evercore's top picks. The firm maintained its outperform rating on shares. Barclays also increased its price target to $500, an 82% increase from its previous benchmark. Analyst Blayne Curtis kept his overweight rating on the stock. "The market is moving quickly and NVDA seems to be the only solution ready to power this wave of LLMs," Curtis said. "The expectation was always that NVDA would see a jump in its Data Center (DC) business, but this was at least a quarter early and extraordinary in magnitude." 'A.I. feeding frenzy' UBS said it's also staying bullish on Nvidia amid the "AI feeding frenzy." "From a valuation perspective, our EPS went up far more than the stock so we believe it is actually now less expensive than it was into earnings which opens up some more room to run," analyst Timothy Arcuri wrote Wednesday. Arcuri raised his price target to $475 from $315 and kept his buy rating on shares. Bank of America's Vivek Arya also reiterated his buy rating on shares and increased his price target to $450 from $340. The analyst said the AI leader is on a path to "$1 trillion and beyond," referring to its market cap, and also noted the current-quarter outlook hike is the largest it has seen in its coverage. Citi also kept its buy rating and hiked its price target to $420 from $363. Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo also have an overweight rating on shares and price targets of $450. Elsewhere, Baird upgraded shares to outperform and raised its price target to $475 from $300. Analyst Tristan Gerra noted there's "no meaningful competitive threat near term" to Nvidia, adding: "Google's next-gen TPU could be competitive but without likely expanding existing footprint, while other vertical integration initiatives are behind. We see nobody with a full stack solution remotely matching Nvidia's capabilities." Deutsche Bank was less excited than others, however. The bank maintained its hold rating on shares, saying it is waiting for a more attractive entry point following the year-to-date rally and current premium valuation. It raised its price target to $390, which was just 1.5% higher than where shares were trading Thursday morning. Analyst Ross Seymore was also impressed by the chipmaker's earnings. "Just wow," said Seymore. "While NVDA's F1Q report delivered a sizable beat, it paled in comparison to the co's F2Q guidance for an amazing > 50% q/q revenue growth, yielding the single largest outlook 'beat' we can ever recall," he said in a Wednesday note. NVDA 1D mountain Nvidia shares soar CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Brianna Somera wasn't always sure she was cut out to be a director. The 21-year-old grew up dancing and singing and wanted to make music videos, but she also didn't see a lot of people like her onscreen. It wasn't until the 2018 release of "Crazy Rich Asians," the first Hollywood feature with an all-Asian cast in 25 years, when something clicked. Somera, who is Filipina, remembers watching it with friends and thinking, "Wow, these are faces I've always wanted to see, and stories I'm familiar with," she tells CNBC Make It. A year later, she enrolled as a film production major at Chapman University. A lot has changed in Hollywood, and for Asian American creatives, in the time Somera has been in school. "Crazy Rich Asians" went on to be a box-office hit; Marvel highlighted its first Asian American superhero in 2021's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings;" Pixar's "Turning Red" was the second-most streamed movie in 2022; and in 2023, just as Somera graduated with her film degree, the A24 sleeper hit "Everything Everywhere All At Once" swept at awards ceremonies and clinched seven Academy Awards. With Daniel Kwan taking home the Oscar for co-directing "Everything Everywhere," three of the last four best-directing Oscar winners, and two more nominees, have been filmmakers of Asian descent, signaling a big win for diversity within some of the highest honors in Hollywood. Still, experts and filmmakers say, there's a long way to go to ensure major achievements among Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers become a standard rather than an exception. Asian Americans are underrepresented in Hollywood Asian Americans make up roughly 7% of the U.S. population but are underrepresented at all levels in front of and behind the camera, according to UCLA's latest Hollywood Diversity Report. On the acting side, they made up just 2.3% of leads and 6.5% of roles for movies released in theaters in 2022. Behind the cameras, Asian Americans made up 5.6% of directors and 4.5% of writers for movies released in theaters last year. Progress has been made in the last decade since UCLA launched the report, says Michael Tran, co-author of the report, but it's "constantly up and down." After several years of improvement, the overall racial, ethnic and gender diversity among movie actors, directors and writers slid back to 2019 levels. Much of that is due to how researchers analyzed data during the pandemic, when a minimal theatrical release market was combined with streaming numbers. In doing so, "we found these big leaps in our numbers, and it got us excited to think, 'the Hollywood film industry is really getting the message,'" Tran says. For example, while just 25% of directors with theater releases in 2019 were women or people of color, they made up 43% of directors across theatrical and streaming releases in 2021. But with theater-going on the rebound, researchers are back to separating theater and streaming numbers, and "what we found is all progress is in the streaming space, and it takes a step backwards when you look at theatrical releases in 2022." In 2022, 73% of major theater releases were directed by white men, and 60% of white male directors had budgets of $30 million or more. Women and people of color are given more opportunities to direct in the streaming space and are more likely to have diverse casts, but that also means they're limited to projects with lower budgets, smaller distribution and less of an impact on the movie-making industry overall. 'Diversity sells,' but Hollywood doesn't act in its own best interests Years of studies from UCLA and other analyses show that diversity sells: "TV and movies that do the best most closely match the diversity of the U.S., and that's something we've seen every year for 10 years," Tran says. That data point was part of the reason William Yu, a Korean American filmmaker based in Los Angeles, launched the #StarringJohnCho social media campaign in 2016, which called attention to films that cast white actors to play Asian characters, and the overall lack of Asian representation in blockbuster leads. Seven years later, Yu says, "it's infuriating we're still trying to harp on the same data point." William Yu is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and creator of the #StarringJohnCho social media campaign. Emanuel Hahn "As much as it is a moral issue to people from the Asian American community," he says, "it's also a financial decision. There's money to be made. Decisionmakers are willfully ignoring that by sticking to what they think works, when the data shows otherwise." One big problem is Hollywood's refusal to greenlight projects from AAPI creatives and filmmakers of color, Yu says. Films by diverse creatives have the added pressure to represent multifaceted communities with nuance, but also to be a commercial success and prove to decisionmakers why they should invest in diverse stories. He's hopeful the success of "Everything Everywhere" will lead Hollywood to take more risks with AAPI stories and creatives of color. Projects like the Oscar-winner "only happen when gatekeepers of the industry allow people to experiment and try and fail and go for really ambitious visions," he says. That can only happen if Hollywood doesn't deprioritize representation in a down economy, when businesses often cut efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion. "We're worried diversity is being treated as a luxury that can be done away with," Tran says. "If the industry is a money-making institution, it should follow the money. But it doesn't," he adds. "We can't predict what happens next when people don't act in their economic or moral best interests." As of 2020, the most recent time UCLA analyzed studio data, the heads of the 11 major and mid-major studios, such as chairs and CEOs, were 91% white and 82% male. Things only get marginally better moving down the chain of command: Senior management teams were 93% white and 80% male. And while the executives responsible for casting, marketing, legal and other core studio functions ("unit heads") were a little more diverse in terms of gender (59% male), they, too, were overwhelmingly white (86%). "Lasting change will probably only come when we not only diversify the casts and the creatives behind the scenes but also the executive suites and people making top-level decisions," Tran says. Yu adds that the gap between consumer interest in diverse storytelling versus Hollywood's investments in white male filmmakers "makes decisionmakers in the industry look more out of touch with what's happening." 'I have to direct the films I want to see' The co-founder of Starling, one of the U.K.'s largest digital banks, is set to step down as CEO next month, the company said Thursday. Starling, which is backed by U.S. investment banking giant Goldman Sachs , is one of the most prominent fintechs in the country with a user base of 3.6 million customers. Anne Boden is to step down on June 30, according to a press release. She will hand the reins to Starling's chief operating officer, John Mountain, who has been with the bank since 2015. "I have spent nearly a decade here as both the founder and CEO, a dual role which is unique in U.K. banking," Boden said in a statement Thursday. "It's been all-consuming and I've loved every minute of it." "Now that we have grown from being an aspiring challenger to an established bank, it is clear the roles and priorities of a CEO and a large shareholder ultimately differ and require distinct approaches. As Starling continues to evolve and grow, separating my two roles is in the bank's best interests." Starling reported annual revenue of 453 million ($600 million) for the year to March 31, 2023, more than doubling from 2022, with pre-tax profits of 195 million, a sixfold increase year over year. Canada and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations, ending a five-year dispute jumpstarted by human rights concerns. The decision, announced by both foreign ministries late Wednesday, was reached following discussions by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Bangkok in November last year. It reflects the "desire for both sides to restore diplomatic relations between the countries on the basis of mutual respect," Saudi Arabia and Canada said. Canada has appointed Jean-Philippe Linteau, who has most recently served as the country's consul general in Dubai, as Ottawa's new ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has yet to announce its own ambassador. Diplomatic ties between the two countries fissured in the summer of 2018, mere months before the October killing of dissident Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi earned Riyadh widespread criticism from Western partners. The rupture was sparked by Canada's tweet expressing Ottawa was "gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women's rights activists," coupled with a plea for Saudi authorities to "immediately release them." Riyadh at the time qualified Canada's position as "overt and blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom" and a "contravention of the most basic international norms." The kingdom swiftly retaliated by freezing new trade and investment transactions, giving the Canadian ambassador 24 hours to exit the country and stopping medical treatment programs in the North American country. Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., left, and Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., speak to reporters about debt ceiling negotiations as they leave the House Republicans' caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, May 23, 2023. WASHINGTON Urgent talks to raise the U.S. debt ceiling appeared to move closer to a deal Thursday, with only seven days to go before the United States faces an imminent threat of debt default. But negotiators warned that the final phase of talks would likely be the most delicate and difficult for both sides. "We're at a sensitive phase, with sensitive issues that remain. Those sensitive issues are the thorniest issues that we've been discussing," Republican negotiator Rep. Patrick McHenry, of North Carolina, told reporters at the Capitol on Thursday. "Everybody's trying to do a fine job of figuring out the finer details of this, but nothing's done." McHenry said that no face-to-face meetings with the White House negotiating team had been planned for Thursday but that he did not view this as a sign that talks had stalled. "They've got work in the White House, we have work here in the Capitol. I don't know about us physically being together, but there's alignment on the set of things that we need to work on," said McHenry. Read more: What Republicans want in exchange for raising the debt limit At the White House, President Joe Biden sounded a cautiously optimistic note. "The only way to move forward is with a bipartisan agreement, and I believe we'll come to an agreement that allows us to move forward and protects the hardworking Americans of this country," he said Thursday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday he would make it a "day one" priority as president to issue pardons for people who are deemed to be victims of "political targeting," and implied former President Donald Trump could be part of that group. DeSantis, Trump's top rival in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race, was asked on a conservative talk show if he would consider pardoning the former president, should he be charged with federal crimes. The Department of Justice is conducting multiple criminal investigations involving Trump. The governor was also asked if he believed the next Republican president should look at pardoning defendants charged in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol. "On day one, I will have folks that will get together and look at all these cases, who people are victims of weaponization or political targeting and we will be aggressive at issuing pardons," DeSantis said in his response. Interviewer Clay Travis noted that stance could apply "from a grandma who got arrested and prosecuted too much all the way up to, potentially, Trump himself." DeSantis replied, "I would say any example of disfavored treatment based on politics or weaponization would be included in that review, no matter how small or how big." The Justice Department said this month more than 1,033 defendants have been arrested as part of its probe of the Capitol riot. The governor's remarks on "The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show" came as part of a 12-stop media blitz on his first full day as an official Republican presidential candidate. The governor filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday and then confirmed his candidacy in a live Twitter discussion with Elon Musk that was plagued with technical difficulties. Trump is the clear front-runner in most polls of the Republican primary, with DeSantis his closest competitor. But Trump faces legal exposure that could erode his lead as the primary heats up. Trump was charged last month by Manhattan prosecutors with dozens of counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments sent to women shortly before the 2016 election. Trump is also at the center of an investigation into potential interference in Georgia's election in 2020. The New York criminal case is set for trial starting March 25, 2024, in the thick of the primary election season. DeSantis could not pardon Trump for a potential conviction in that case. At the federal level, where criminal charges are subject to the president's clemency powers, DOJ special counsel Jack Smith is investigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and the transfer of classified documents to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort home after he left the presidency. DeSantis in the interview Thursday also accused the DOJ and FBI of being "weaponized" in multiple other ways, including by "going after parents" attending school board meetings. Attorney General Merrick Garland has defended the DOJ against those accusations from Republicans. DeSantis said he planned to use the pardon power "at the front end" instead of waiting until the end of his term in the White House. "We're going to find examples where the government's been weaponized against disfavored groups, and we will apply relief as appropriate. But it will be done on a case-by-case basis," he said. European markets ended lower Thursday as negative sentiment on the back of ongoing U.S. debt ceiling negotiations continued to weigh. After a choppy day, the benchmark Stoxx 600 finished around 0.24% lower. Tech stocks bucked the trend to end 1.8% higher following Nvidia's blockbuster results, which gave related stocks a boost. Dutch chip machine maker ASML ended the day almost 5% higher. Other sectors slipped, however, while oil and gas stocks fell around 2%. Activist investor Carl Icahn on Thursday won enough support from Illumina shareholders to oust the biotech company's board chair. Shareholders booted Chairman John Thompson. An Illumina spokesperson said a new chair will be chosen in the next few weeks. Icahn had urged shareholders to vote off the company's CEO, Francis deSouza, and Thompson from the nine-member board. DeSouza survived the proxy fight. Shareholders also voted to install one of Icahn's three board nominees, Andrew Teno, a portfolio manager at Icahn Capital LP, an entity where Icahn manages investment funds. The vote was announced after Illumina's annual meeting, marking a decisive end to a two-month proxy fight between Icahn and the company over a controversial acquisition. Illumina, in a statement, thanked Thompson for his service over the years, saying his executive and business experience was deeply valued. Earlier this month, proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services recommended that Illumina shareholders back Teno. Icahn, who owns a 1.4% stake in San Diego-based Illumina, had proposed two other director candidates who are his current or former employees. The vote is a blow to Illumina, which has claimed Icahn's three nominees lack "relevant skills and experience" and would "threaten the progress" of the biotech company's core DNA sequencing business. Morgan Stanley identified two memory chip stocks with significant potential for growth as China bans chips made by Micron, a major U.S.-based memory chipmaker. The research report by the Wall Street bank predicts an upturn in the memory chip market, with supply and demand expected to balance out in the third quarter of the year and prices set to rise from the fourth. The investment bank's research indicates that supply and demand for Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) will reach equilibrium soon, in light of sizable supply cuts and higher prices from mobile device manufacturers. DRAM is a type of semiconductor used to store data and is a critical chip used in laptops, mobile phones, servers and other electronic computing devices. Samsung Electronics is Morgan Stanley's "top pick," followed closely by SK Hynix . Shares of both South Korean companies are also traded in the United States and Europe. Shares of Samsung have risen by 10% from the December lows , and the consensus price target of analysts points toward a 16.8% upside potential from current levels. The stock, however, is still down by 10% from its two-year high. SMSD-GB 1Y line "The rates of change in both pricing and inventory are improving, and these have historically been key drivers of share price performance," said Morgan Stanley's equity analysts Shawn Kim and Duan Liu in a note to clients on May 21. "Samsung is our Top Pick but we believe SK Hynix will have pole position in the coming cycle growth curve given the significant bearish sentiment in the market towards it." Shares of SK Hynix are down by a fifth over the past two years, but the stock has rallied from its December 2022 low by 16%. The consensus price target of analysts point toward a further 14% upside from the current share price. The research report from Morgan Stanley came ahead of Beijing's announcement to bar some purchases of products from U.S. memory chipmaker Micron . Chinese authorities said earlier this week that Micron products failed the security review they began two months ago and cited "serious potential network security issues." Micron has said that only chips meant for use in networks and infrastructure will be restricted, while memory manufactured for computers and smartphones will be spared from the new rules. Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron are among a handful of companies that manufacture high-end memory chips. Morgan Stanley noted that peak multiples could rise by 85% to 145% from their current values for its two stock picks and that's without taking into account any potential growth in artificial intelligence. The investment bank added that the market might be underestimating AI's influence on memory chips since the technology is still in an early stage of development, which could span decades rather than years. "The adoption of AI server usage will likely increase demand for all types of memory as AI servers have 2-3x higher memory content relative to traditional servers," the analysts said. "We see significant upside ahead and stay [overweight]." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. Dr. Christopher J. Scolese, right, nominee to be director of the National Reconnaissance Office, is introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on nominations in Dirksen Building on Tuesday, June 4, 2019. The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office plans to quadruple the number of satellites on orbit over the next decade. It will need commercial space companies to help do it. The spy agency's success toward that goal will involve "a combination of our partnerships with industry, the advancement of technology, and the coincident reduction in cost of all of those [launch and satellite] systems," said NRO Director Chris Scolese, in a rare interview for CNBC's "Manifest Space" podcast. "It's helped us improve our reliability so that we can achieve more with more capability at a lower cost," he said. The ambitious game plan speaks to the growing role of commercial space companies in national security work. As startups multiply and spearhead technological advancements, government agencies are attempting to reduce some of the red tape around government contracting and are getting more creative in the ways they partner with industry. The NRO is no exception. Follow and listen to CNBC's "Manifest Space" podcast, hosted by Morgan Brennan, wherever you get your podcasts. "It's much, much less expensive to get into space, and it's resulted in more commodity spacecraft, if you will, that we can buy off of a production line, which has really reduced the cost," Scolese said. "Then if you marry those with the sensors that are needed to acquire the information, you can really then go off and expand your architecture in a very affordable way." The secretive agency provides the U.S.' space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, collecting intel to be provided to policymakers, analysts, warfighters and even individuals responding to nature disasters. It's a classified office with a classified budget within the Department of Defense. It's partially staffed by CIA agents and is one of the country's 18 intelligence agencies. In layman's terms, the NRO operates America's extensive network of spy satellites. Scolese said for specialized or unique capabilities, the traditional method of issuing a request for proposal and launching a competitive bidding and development process is still best. But if there's a relevant spacecraft or a sensor already under development or in production commercially, it may make more sense to simply purchase that off-the-shelf hardware. Similarly, with some companies already taking images or operating radar programs, the NRO can "buy the data from them so that we don't have to go off and duplicate activities that we can reliably get from industry," he said. An example: the Strategic Commercial Enhancement's Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Framework, a program that enables the assessment and acquisition of new and emerging sensor technologies. The BAA has been used to procure electro-optical imagery, synthetic aperture radar and radio frequency sensing data, with various awards going to startups including Planet, BlackSky, Spire Global and others over the past few years. From satellite images of Russia building up forces on the Ukraine border ahead of the 2022 invasion, to the data amassed and released publicly by companies like Planet regarding the Chinese balloon that traversed the continental U.S. in February, commercial players increasingly demonstrate their mettle. "[It's] the marriage of the two sets of capabilities," said Scolese. "Then if you throw in our international partners as well, you really get a multiplication factor there that allows you to do more, and to do it more efficiently, as we do it with our partners." Beginning Wednesday, the agency will host a tech forum to engage further with executives from more than 100 companies that are expected to attend. The hope is that new ideas emerging within the private sector or academia could be applied to the NRO's evolving operations. Scolese said the agency is also looking to advance new technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, even quantum sensing and communications. As space becomes a more contested domain, the NRO, much like the U.S. Space Force, is focused on securing assets, including implementing a "more proliferated architecture" of more satellites in more orbits, making it more difficult for adversaries or bad actors to do harm to critical space infrastructure. NRO partners closely with both the U.S. Space Command and the Space Force. The agency and the Space Force, for example, are collaborating on the development of a highly classified new space situational awareness constellation called SilentBarker, for which the first satellite is expected to launch this summer. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, shows the Nvidia Volta GPU computing platform at his keynote address at CES in Las Vegas, Jan. 7, 2018. Nvidia's stock surge buoyed many semiconductor names in Thursday trading, particularly firms that specialize in AI-favored chips. Notably missing from the broader rally was Intel , which has struggled even before the AI boom. Nvidia shares closed up 24% as it approaches a $1 trillion market cap, alongside a notable 11% gain in shares of Advanced Micro Devices . Both Nvidia and AMD specialize in so-called discrete, or standalone, graphics processing units. Marvell stock, which closed up 7.6% and Broadcom , shares of which rose by 7.25%, benefited by their exposure to cloud computing and potential AI applications. Marvell partners with companies including Google , Meta and Microsoft ; Broadcom has been developing technologies to link AI supercomputers together. Meanwhile, shares of conventional computer chip firms dipped. Intel shares were closed down about 5.5% in late-day trading. Qualcomm, which manufactures mobile chipsets, initially slipped as much as 1.3% before recovering losses later in the day to close up around 1%. The wide array of price actions suggests a flight away from a focus on traditional computer chips and toward GPU manufacturers. GPUs have enjoyed surging enterprise demand as startups and established tech firms scramble to build out AI platforms. GPUs are the "brains" behind large-language models and other AI technologies, helping to power OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard. "Instead of millions of CPUs, you'll have a lot fewer CPUs, but they will be connected to millions of GPUs," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told CNBC. Historically, the opposite has been true. The potential inversion may be driving the flight away from CPU names and toward Intel and AMD. Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also rose 12%. TSMC is a key part of the manufacturing process for many semiconductor firms that design their own chips but can rely on TSMC to handle the delicate and technical manufacturing process. The VanEck Semiconductor Index , an ETF basket of chipmaker names that includes Nvidia and Intel, rose nearly 8.6% in Thursday trading. CNBC's Kif Leswing and Robert Hum contributed to this report. Following Nvidia 's (NVDA) incredible quarter and strong guidance raise, we think shares of the AI-chip powerhouse can increase another 14% from its record highs in the next six to nine months. That's generally our time horizon for a Club price target, which we're boosting on Nvidia to $450 per share from $300. We're keeping our 2-rating on the stock, which indicates we would want to wait for a pullback before buying more. No kidding, right? Nvidia closed Wednesday at $305 per share ahead of the amazing after-the-bell financials that pushed shares up as much as nearly 29% to Thursday's all-time, intraday high of $394.80 each. It's almost in the $1 trillion market cap club. Jim Cramer, a supporter of Nvidia since at least 2017, recently designated it the Club's second own-it-don't-trade-it stock. ( Apple was the first). Jim even renamed his dog Nvidia. Our new $450-per-share price target on Nvidia is about 45 times full-year fiscal 2025 (or calendar year 2024) earnings estimates. Nvidia has a weird financial calendar and Wednesday evening reported results for its fiscal 2024 first quarter. While 45 times isn't cheap on a valuation basis at a little over two times the current valuation of the S & P 500, it's only slightly above the 40 times average valuation that investors have placed on the stock over the past five. In our view, it's more than justified when factoring in the runway for growth that Nvidia has in front of it. That's what we are seeing Thursday as this latest round of upward estimates revisions also serves as a reminder that Nvidia, more often than not, has proven cheaper (or more valuable) than initially believed because analysts have been consistently overly conservative about the potential of Nvidia's disruptive nature, which is now on full display as the undisputed leader in cards to run artificial technology. NVDA 5Y mountain Nvidia's 5-year performance Jim has been singing the praises of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for years not to mention covering many of the graphics processing unit (GPU) technologies already in place that enabled the company to capitalize on the explosion of AI into the consumer consciousness when ChatGPT went viral this year. On the post-earnings call Wednesday evening, management made clear that they see things getting even better later this calendar year. While they don't officially release guidance beyond the current quarter, the team said that demand for generative AI and large language models has extended "our Data Center visibility out a few quarters and we have procured substantially higher supply for the second half of the year." Put simply, management appears to be indicating that earnings in the second half of the year stand to be even greater than in the first half. The demand they're talking about is broad-based, coming from consumer internet companies, cloud service providers, enterprise customers, and even AI-based start-ups. Keep in mind, Nvidia's first-ever data-center central processing unit (CPU) is coming out later this year, with management noting that "at this week's International Supercomputing Conference in Germany, the University of Bristol announced a new supercomputer based on the Nvidia Grace CPU Superchip, which is six times more energy-efficient than the previous supercomputer." Energy efficiency is a major selling point. As we saw in 2022, energy represents a large input cost when operating a data center so anything that can be done to reduce that is going to be highly attractive to customers looking to enhance their own profitability. The Omniverse Cloud is also on track to be available in the second half of the year. At a higher level, management spoke on the call about the need for the world's data centers to go through a significant upgrade cycle in order to handle the computing demands of generative AI applications, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. ( Microsoft , also a Club name, is a major backer of Open-AI and uses the start-ups' tech to power its new AI-enhanced Bing search engine.) "The entire world's data centers are moving towards accelerated computing," Huang said Wednesday evening. That's $1 trillion worth of data center infrastructure that needs to be revamped as it's nearly entirely CPU based, which as Huang noted means "it's basically unaccelerated." However, with generative AI clearly becoming a new standard and GPU-based accelerated computing being so much more energy efficient than unaccelerated CPU-based computing, data center budgets will, as Huang put it, need to shift "very dramatically towards accelerated computing and you're seeing that now." As noted in our guide to how the semiconductor industry works, the CPU is basically the brains of a computer, responsible for retrieving instructions/inputs, decoding those instructions, and sending them along in order to have an operation carried out to deliver the desired result. GPUs, on the other hand, are more specialized and are good at taking on many tasks at once. Whereas a CPU will process data sequentially, a GPU will break down a complex problem into many small tasks and perform them at once. Huang went on to say that basically as we move forward, the capital expenditure budgets coming form data center customers are going to be focused heavily on generative AI and accelerated computing infrastructure. So, over the next five to 10 years, we stand to see what is now about a $1 trillion and growing worth of data center budgets shift very heavily into Nvidia's favor as cloud providers look to them for accelerated computing solutions. In the end, it's simple really, all roads lead to Nvidia. Any company of note is migrating workloads to the cloud be it Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft's Azure or Google Cloud and the cloud providers all rely on Nvidia to support their products. Why Nvidia? Huang noted on the call that Nvidia's value proposition, at its core, is that it's the lowest total cost of ownership solution. Nvidia excels in several areas that make that so. They are a full-stack data center solution. It's not just about having the best chips, it's also about engineering and optimizing software solutions that allow users the ability to maximize their use of the hardware. In fact on the conference call, Huang called out a networking stack called DOCA and an acceleration library called Magnum IO, commenting that "these two pieces of software are some of the crown jewels of our company." He added, "Nobody ever talks about it because it's hard to understand but it makes it possible for us to connect tens of thousands of GPUs." It's not just about a single chip, Nvidia excels at maximizing the architecture of the entire data center the way it's built from the ground up with all parts working in unison. As Huang put it, "it's another way of thinking that the computer is the data center or the data center is the computer. It's not the chip. It's the data center and it's never happened like this before, and in this particular environment, your networking operating system, your distributed computing engines, your understanding of the architecture of the networking gear, the switches, and the computing systems, the computing fabric, that entire system is your computer, and that's what you're trying to operate, and so in order to get the best performance, you have to understand full stack, you have to understand data center scale, and that's what accelerated computing is." Utilization is another major component of Nvidia's competitive edge. As Huang noted, a data center that can do only one thing, even if it can do it incredibly fast, is going to be underutilized. Nvidia's "universal GPU," however, is capable of doing many things again back to their massive software libraries providing for much higher utilization rates. Lastly, there's the company's data center expertise. On the call, Huang discussed the issues that can arise when building out a data center, noting that for some, a buildout could take up to a year. Nvidia, on the other hand, has managed to perfect the process. Instead of months or a year, he said Nvidia can measure its time delivery times in weeks. That's a major selling point for customers constantly looking to remain on the cutting edge of technology, especially as we enter this new age of AI with so much market share now up for grabs. Bottom line As we look to the future, it's important to be mindful that while ChatGPT was an eye-opening moment, or an "iPhone moment" as Huang has put it, we're only at the very beginning. The excitement over ChatGPT isn't so much about what it can already do but more so about it being something of a proof of concept of what is possible. The first generation iPhone, released 16 years ago as of next month, was nowhere near what we have today. But it showed people what a smartphone could really be. What we have now, to extend the metaphor, is the original first-generation iPhone. If you are going to own, not trade Nvidia as we plan to, you have to as impressive as generative AI applications are already think less about what we have now and more about what this technology will be capable of when we get to the "iPhone 14 versions" of generative AI. That is the really exciting (and somewhat scary) reason to hold on to shares of this AI-enabling juggernaut. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA, MSFT, AMZN, AAPL, GOOGL . See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wearing his usual leather jacket. Getty Market Movers rounded up the best reactions from investors and analysts after Nvidia shares exploded higher Thursday. The experts, including Jim Cramer , discussed the chipmaker as the stock skyrocketed 24% to hit a new 52-week high. Nvidia beat estimates on both the top and bottom lines when it reported after the closing bell Wednesday. The company also forecast $11 billion in sales for the current quarter, give or take 2%, due to demand for artificial intelligence chips. Thursday's stock price move brought its market cap closer to the trillion-dollar club, which includes the likes of Apple , Microsoft , Apple and Amazon . Nvidia is currently held in Cramer's Charitable Trust portfolio. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday granted full approval to Pfizer's Covid antiviral pill, Paxlovid, for adults who are at high risk of getting severely sick with the virus. Paxlovid is specifically advised for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid in adults older than 50 and people who suffer from certain medical conditions that place them at a higher risk of ending up in the hospital or dying from Covid. That includes those who have diabetes, heart conditions, cancer or a weak immune system. As many as three-quarters of adults in the U.S. are at risk of severe Covid. "Today's approval demonstrates that Paxlovid has met the agency's rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness, and that it remains an important treatment option for people at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including those with prior immunity," Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director for the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a press release. The FDA first made Paxlovid available in December 2021 under emergency use authorization for high-risk individuals ages 12 and up. Under that designation, the FDA quickly approved the treatment based on preliminary clinical trial data. The FDA's latest decision means there is now extensive clinical data indicating Paxlovid is safe and effective. The treatment consists of two medications: nirmatrelvir, which blocks a key enzyme that the Covid virus needs to replicate, and ritonavir, which boosts the first medication's ability to fight the infection. Both Pfizer and the FDA view the treatment as an important complementary tool to vaccination that can help high-risk Americans manage their Covid infections and ultimately save lives. FDA researchers estimated, based on Covid rates in January, that Paxlovid could "lead to 1,500 lives saved and 13,000 hospitalizations averted each week" in the U.S. But it's unclear how many people will take the treatment later this year. About 4 million doses of Paxlovid are available at pharmacies and health care providers nationwide for free, according to the Health and Human Services Department. In addition, the U.S. government has a stockpile of 9.6 million doses. Once that stockpile runs out, the government expects to shift the distribution of Paxlovid to the commercial market. That means Pfizer will sell Paxlovid directly to health-care providers at a price the company hasn't disclosed. Paxlovid is priced at about $530 per course now. Pfizer, which saw Paxlovid sales jump to nearly $19 billion in 2022, expects revenue from the drug to drop 58% in 2023. In March, an independent panel of advisors to the FDA recommended the treatment based on three of Pfizer's clinical trials. One trial examined high-risk adults who were unvaccinated and had no prior Covid infection. That trial found Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 86% in adults treated within five days of their first symptoms, and 89% in those treated within three days, according to an FDA review of the company's data. No major safety concerns were identified in the trial, the review said, though the agency flagged 137 medications that may lead to serious adverse reactions if they interact with Paxlovid. The FDA said the most common drugs that caused safety issues were immunosuppressants, which are often used to treat HIV and organ transplant patients. The FDA's office of surveillance and epidemiology recorded 271 reports of serious adverse events potentially related to drug interactions with Paxlovid, including 147 hospitalizations and six deaths, as of late January. FDA staff said those events could potentially be avoided by adjusting the dose of certain drugs, increasing patient monitoring and ensuring that product labeling informs prescribers and patients of potential drug interactions. For some doctors, another area of concern is Paxlovid "rebound cases." That's when patients who take the treatment see their Covid symptoms return or test positive shortly after they initially recover. Reports of those cases cropped up not long after Paxlovid first entered the market. Both President Joe Biden and his former chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci seemingly recovered from Covid after taking the antiviral cocktail but tested positive again soon after recovering. An FDA review of Pfizer's clinical trials found overall rates of rebound ranged from 10% to 16%, "with no evidence of a higher rate of symptom rebound or moderate symptom rebound" in patients who received Paxlovid compared with patients who received a placebo. Those results also held regardless of patients' risk of severe disease, or whether the omicron variant or an earlier strain of the virus was dominant, according to the FDA review. Correction: The U.S. has about 4 million doses of Paxlovid available at pharmacies and health care providers nationwide. A previous version of this story misstated the figure. A satellite image showing the port of Ceyhan centred on August 18, 2015 in Turkey. Gallo Images | Gallo Images | Getty Images Turkey's runoff election is compounding delays to restart roughly 450,000 barrels per day of Iraqi crude oil exports, as Ankara studies its relationship with Baghdad, analysts and market sources told CNBC. Oil typically flows through Turkey from both the Iraqi state and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). More specifically, this Kirkuk crude flows down the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline linking the north of the Gulf country with Turkey's Ceyhan port in the Mediterranean. But the flows have been paralyzed since March 25 by a legal dispute involving federal Iraq, the KRG and Turkey. Resolution pends on the result of a second presidential vote this weekend, but a prolonged halt could reduce Iraqi crude production. The KRG had previously trucked its crude exports across borders, until it linked its major oil-producing fields to the Iraq-Turkey pipeline and began shipping crude in 2014. Federal Baghdad denounced Erbil's independent crude sales as illegal, threatening to ban customers of such supplies from purchasing Iraq's larger Basra crude volumes. After a nine-year suit, the International Chamber of Commerce's Court of Arbitration in Paris found that Turkey violated the 1973 version of a pipeline transit agreement between Baghdad and Ankara over 2014-2018. Turkey was ordered to pay Iraq roughly $1.5 billion in damages, according to Reuters. A second arbitration suit covering 2018 to date is still ongoing. watch now The ICC verdict followed a domestic win for Baghdad, after Iraq's federal court in February 2022 pronounced the KRG's oil and gas legislation unconstitutional and invalidated its contracts with foreign firms. This decision led to U.S. companies deciding to exit contracts in Kurdistan and deterred some KRG oil buyers from further purchases. Iraq's oil minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani on May 23 said that Baghdad has informed Turkey it is able to restart flows through Ceyhan and awaits Ankara's response. "Our colleagues in Turkey said there are some evaluative issues that they have to take into account. And that resulted from the earthquake," he said, noting that an Iraqi delegation will be sent at an unspecified time to Turkey to discuss the restart. watch now Kirkuk crude is exported from the Botas terminal at Ceyhan in southern Turkey, separate from Azeri crude flows shipped out from the nearby Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan port terminal. Botas resumed loadings the day after the devastating earthquake of Feb. 6 that killed at least a combined 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria, according to the U.N. The BTC terminal suffered a longer outage. Several trade, shipping and oil producing sources who could only comment anonymously because of contractual obligations told CNBC that, following a request from Baghdad, Ankara was widely expected to resume Kirkuk crude exports from Ceyhan on May 13 a day before presidential elections in Turkey, whose inconclusive first round on May 14 stymied the oil's resumption. Presidential purview The sources stressed that Turkish authorities are loathe to take responsibility for the restart, while incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fights primary rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu to prolong his roughly two-decade rule. "The main issue with the resumption of the oil through Ceyhan is the elections ongoing in Turkey. Another obstacle in front of the resumption of oil is the ongoing case at ICC in Paris against Turkey by Baghdad from 2018 until now. Ankara asks Baghdad to drop this case, but Baghdad has yet to do so," political analyst and former Kurdistan official Lawk Ghafuri told CNBC. "The ruling party in Turkey [Erdogan's AKP] wants to settle the elections and then deal with KRG's oil with Baghdad." Other analysts further emphasized Turkey's priority to avoid further legal disputes by insisting on a strict, clear agreement on the legality of oil exports between Baghdad and Erbil. Current deals between the two counterparties are political accords, rather than legislation. "There are still lots of technicalities that need to be sorted out between the KRG and Baghdad. Although there has been an initial deal, the details have not been fleshed out in terms of how oil [is] to be exported and which side has control over the revenues," Yerevan Saeed, research associate at the Arab Gulf Institute in Washington, told CNBC by email. watch now In addition to deciding marketing distribution, Baghdad and Kurdistan might also have to rework the agreements under which foreign firms have prepaid sums to Erbil in exchange for oil volumes, as well as the reimbursement contracts for foreign producers of Kurdish oil, market sources say. Saeed noted Ankara may stretch negotiations with Baghdad to cover water resources from the Euphrates River and Turkey's military presence in Kurdistan and Sinjar. Bilal Wahab, Wagner fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, agreed that control of the Kurdish oil export flows arms Turkey with the leverage to ask Baghdad to drop its fine and second arbitration suit, as well as redefine the scope of Ankara's business relationship with Iraq. "This arbitration award is forcing a decision on Ankara: should they continue doing business with Kurdistan, where this has led to legal trouble with federal Iraq, or should they use this as a bird in hand to segue into getting the chance to do business in Iraq? All in all, by shutting down the pipeline, Turkey is not losing a lot, maybe the transit fee," he told CNBC by phone, referring to Kurdistan's payment to transport crude along the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. Winner talks all Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's top diplomat Sergey Lavrov both blamed the West for creating global insecurity and instability. As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, Putin said Wednesday that the world was becoming increasingly unstable and that "new centers of tension are emerging." Speaking at a high-level meeting in Russia on security issues, Putin said rising instability was due to individual countries and associations trying "to preserve, retain their dominance, impose their own rules, completely ignoring the sovereignty, national interests, traditions of other states." "All this is accompanied by a buildup of military potential, unceremonious interference in the internal affairs of other countries," he said, "as well as attempts to extract unilateral advantages from the energy and food crises provoked by a number of Western states." Speaking at the same event, Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said the West wanted to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and claimed NATO weapons for Ukraine were being spread beyond the country's borders. "The collective West does not hide its intention to inflict a strategic defeat on us. The Kyiv regime is being used as an anti-Russian battering ram, which is being pumped up with NATO weapons. At the same time, part of the Western supplies and an increasing part are spreading uncontrollably around the world," he said, according to a Tass news agency report. Russia invaded Ukraine 15 months ago in a bid to overthrow the pro-Western government in Kyiv and regain its influence over the former Soviet republic. Western countries rallied around Ukraine to provide it with military and financial aid to help it defend itself against its neighbor. Holly Ellyatt The U.S. Navy has been hit by the Chinese state-sponsored hack that Microsoft disclosed Wednesday, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro told CNBC's Morgan Brennan on Thursday. Del Toro said the U.S. Navy "has been impacted" by the cyberattacks, adding that it was "no surprise that China has been behaving in this manner, not just for the last couple years, but for decades." He declined to provide further detail on the incursion but suggested that the Navy had been contending with cyberattacks like this for years. Microsoft issued a warning Wednesday as did intelligence agencies including the National Security Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the cybersecurity agencies of four other nations. The warnings alerted corporate and public enterprises that a sophisticated Chinese state-backed hacking group had successfully exploited a vulnerability in a popular cybersecurity suite. The vulnerability, which was exploited by a group codenamed "Volt Typhoon," affects critical cyber infrastructure across a range of industries, Microsoft said Wednesday. The company said the Chinese hackers had targeted communications and maritime sectors in Guam, which is home to a key U.S. military base. The hacking group appears to have been focused on surveillance, rather than disruption, Microsoft said. But top intelligence officials and researchers expressed concern that Guam had been targeted, telling The New York Times that the island territory would be crucial to fending off a long-feared invasion of Taiwan by China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and state-controlled press dismissed the findings from Microsoft and the intelligence community as "disinformation." Earlier Thursday, a State Department spokesperson said it is vital for both the government and the public to stay vigilant. "We will continue to work with our allies and partners to address this critical issue," spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing. In this article SPCE Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now Virgin Galactic launched its first spaceflight in nearly two years on Thursday, a key final test for the space-tourism company before it begins flying commercial passengers. "WE HAVE REACHED SPACE!" Virgin Galactic tweeted, adding roughly 11 minutes later that the spacecraft landed smoothly. related investing news Bank of America hits spacecraft builder Terran Orbital with rare double downgrade Still, Virgin Galactic stock dropped about 8% on Thursday, closing at $4.05 a share. Called Unity 25, the mission represents the company's fifth spaceflight to date. It launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico and marks a "final assessment" flight, with six Virgin Galactic employees onboard for the short trip to the edge of space. Virgin Galactic did not publicly livestream the flight unlike the previous one that carried founder Sir Richard Branson in July 2021. Instead, the company provided updates on Unity 25's progress on social media, as a third-party webcast tracked the launch. Aircraft VMS EVE carries spacecraft VSS Unity during a flight test. Virgin Galactic Carrier aircraft VMS Eve took off at about 11:15 a.m. ET, carrying the company's VSS Unity spacecraft up to an altitude of about 40,000 feet. VMS Eve released the rocket-powered vehicle shortly after noon E.T. for VSS Unity to then fire its engine and climb past 80 kilometers (or about 262,000 feet) the altitude the U.S. recognizes as the boundary of space. It ultimately hit about 286,176 feet. Known as sub-orbital, this type of spaceflight gives passengers a couple of minutes of weightlessness, unlike the much longer, more difficult and more expensive private orbital flights conducted by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Virgin Galactic previously said it aims to fly its first commercial mission in "late June," assuming a successful test flight on Thursday. Sign up here to receive weekly editions of CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter. VSS Unity was piloted by Virgin Galactic's Mike Masucci and CJ Sturckow, while carrier aircraft VMS Eve was flown by Jameel Janjua and Nicola Pecile. Rounding out the Unity team in the passenger cabin were chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses, astronaut instructor Luke Mays, senior engineering manager Christopher Huie and senior manager of internal communications Jamila Gilbert. "New Mexico, you are even more enchanting from space," said Gilbert, in reference to the state's motto, Land of Enchantment. "I flew to space just one hour from the street I grew up on. It is hard to put into words what this experience was like, but I'm sure I'll spend the rest of my life trying. I'm not only honored to be one of the first 100 women and one of 16 Hispanic and Latinx people to go to space, I'm also incredibly proud to represent the community from where this new space age is blossoming." A crucial moment An aerial view of carrier aircraft VMS Eve, left, and spacecraft VSS Unity, at Spaceport America in New Mexico on Feb. 27, 2023. Virgin Galactic Unity 25 represents a crucial moment in the history of Virgin Galactic, which has suffered repeated setbacks and years of delays in developing its spaceflight system. Branson's spaceflight in 2021 came after almost 17 years of work and over $1 billion of investment. Before that, the spacecraft's development saw several disasters, including a rocket engine explosion on the ground in 2007 that killed three employees of Virgin Galactic contractor Scaled Composites, as well as the crash of the first SpaceShipTwo vehicle, VSS Enterprise, in 2014 that killed Scaled co-pilot Michael Alsbury and injured pilot Peter Siebold as they were performing a test flight of the Virgin Galactic-owned spacecraft. After Branson's spaceflight, Virgin Galactic paused operations for a longer-than-expected refurbishment period while the company worked on its spacecraft and carrier aircraft, following a federal investigation into a mishap during his trip. The refurbishment process was intended to take about eight to 10 months, but in the end took nearly 16 months. Virgin Galactic has yet to generate meaningful revenue, and needs to be flying spaceflights regularly in order to do so. While the company has nearly $900 million in cash and securities on hand, its quarterly cash burn continues to climb as it invests heavily in expanding its fleet of spacecraft. What's more, the company needs to bring to market its future Delta class to fly weekly flights, but those spacecraft aren't expected to begin flying until 2026. VSS Unity is designed to hold up to six passengers along with the two pilots. The company has 600 reservations for tickets on future flights, sold at prices between $200,000 and $250,000 each. It reopened ticket sales in 2021, with pricing beginning at $450,000 per seat. Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, says its weapons are capable of reaching the bases of arch-foes Israel and the United States in the region. Iran successfully test-launched a ballistic missile with a potential 2,000-km range on Thursday, state media said, two days after the chief of Israel's armed forces raised the prospect of "action" against Tehran over its nuclear programme. Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, says its weapons are capable of reaching the bases of arch-foes Israel and the United States in the region. Despite US and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its "defensive" missile programme. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 24) The Czech Republic is optimistic that more job opportunities will be available for Filipinos now that the Czech Republic and the Philippines recently agreed to strengthen economic and business ties. In an interview with CNN Philippines, Czech Ambassador Jana Sediva said that there are already job opportunities for some technical skills and expertise available in the Central European country. We have a special program for working experts and we issue 2,000 visas every year, and this is for concrete professions like electricians and technicians, the envoy said. Sediva also said their government is now discussing plans to increase the number of visas being issued to professionals. Its going to go up every year. So, there can be 5,000 working visas for experts in 2024 and now its being discussed in our countries, she added. Apart from possible job opportunities, the Czech Republic also expressed willingness to share its expertise in the areas of agriculture, food security and even milk processing technology. Concrete cooperation between our companies and experts; we want to let Filipinos know about what we can offer, she said. Transportation is also another area both Manila and Prague can explore together, with the Czech ambassador highlighting their efficient transport system. We are also very good in transportation and you know in smart cities. We have subways, trains and buses for instance, and maybe our know-how can be offered not only in Manila but also for Davao and Cebu, the envoy added. The Czech Embassy in Manila recently held a book launch depicting the longstanding friendship between the two countries. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed 69 tax evasion complaints totaling 1.8 billion against illicit cigarette traders. The complaints, filed before the Justice Department, stemmed from the January 25 nationwide raid on stores selling illegal cigarettes. Sinisigurado namin na lahat ng na-raid namin may kasong susunod nito para ma-realize ng mga illicit traders na sana ay tigilan nila ito, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui said. [Translation: We will make sure that all stores we raided will face cases to serve as warning for illicit traders to stop.] He said some cigarette packs were without stamps that would prove tax payment. Worse, some were found fake. Mabigat din 'yan pag bumili kayo niyan hindi niyo alam kung ano ang nasa loob ng sigarilyo na 'yan dahil kasi nga peke 'yan Mabigat-bigat pa yung health risk niyo diyan in addition doon sa risk ng sigarilyo ninyo, Lumagui said. [Translation: If you buy fake cigarettes, you dont know their contents... These substances carry significant health risks in addition to the actual health effects of smoking.] The BIR chief said the government loses 50 billion to 100 billion from the illegal cigarette trade money that should have been spent for the health care system. He added the bureau is going after a big syndicate supplying the cigarettes based on an information. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division on Thursday dismissed a disqualification case against former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo as nominee of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list. In its resolution, the Comelec ruled it lacks jurisdiction to act on the petition for disqualification. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said it was the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal that has jurisdiction over the disqualification case as Tulfo already assumed office in Congress when it was filed. Tulfo, ACT-CIS' fourth nominee, automatically assumed the vacant seat after the third nominee resigned on Feb 22. On March 2, the Comelec suspended Tulfos proclamation as a nominee of the party-list due to a pending disqualification case filed against him by Atty. Moises Tolentino. READ: Comelec halts Erwin Tulfos proclamation as party-list nominee due to DQ petition The case included allegations pertaining to question of citizenship" and "conviction by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude. Comelec, however, said Tulfo cant immediately sit as ACT-CIS representative because the petitioner still has five days to file a motion for reconsideration on the recent ruling. If the petitioner does not file a motion, Comelec said the National Board of Canvassers en banc will issue a certificate of proclamation. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) At least 19% of the adult labor force or 8.7 million Filipinos are unemployed as of March this year, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed. This was 2.3 points below the 21.3% in December 2022 and 7 points below the 26% in April 2022. However, it was still 1.5 points above the 17.5% in December 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. The SWS said the decline in unemployment is due to the decrease in joblessness from all areas of the country except Mindanao. Compared to December 2022, the quarterly joblessness fell from 24.8% in Metro Manila, 23.1% in Balance Luzon, and 18.6% in the Visayas. However, it hardly moved from 18.1% in Mindanao, it explained. The SWS added that joblessness peaked in July 2020 at 45.5% during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its downward trend began from September 2020 to December 2022, reaching as low as 18.6% in October 2022. According to SWS, the jobless citizens are those who voluntarily left their old jobs, are seeking jobs for the first time, and lost their jobs due to uncontrollable economic circumstances. The survey defines the labor force as adults who are 18 years old and above presently having jobs and those currently seeking jobs. The non-commissioned survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews from March 26 to 29. It included 1,200 adult participants nationwide with 300 each from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today! Sign up to receive notifications when a new Columbia Gorge News e-Edition is published. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Gorge Social Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form 05/25/2023 Photo (c) Aleksei Derin - Getty Images As ConsumerAffairs reported recently, the 2023 summer concert season is not going to make many music lovers happy, but the least happy of the bunch will be Swifties -- Taylor Swift devotees. It seems that many of her fans have turned on their beloved star in the name of greed. While Swift has done all she can to check ticket resellers and get tickets to her gigs directly to her fans at fair market prices, a report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggests that many fans whove scored tickets for her Eras Tour have decided to take advantage of the opportunity and resell those tickets at unheard of prices. How high? According to StubHub, seven times more than a Springsteen seat, nine times Adele and Beyonce, and 13 times what this years Super Bowl charged. In Cincinnati, for example, ConsumerAffairs found tickets 10 rows from the top yes, in the nosebleed section for $2,718 each on Seat Geek and as much as $6,190 a seat in Denver, even though StubHub lists 623 available tickets for that particular show. Resellers are at wit's end The Journal says that the situation is putting resale platforms in a serious bind, too. Some of these fans are new to the ticket resale game and to get the biggest buck they can, they're listing their seats on multiple platforms. Thats not uncommon for a professional ticket reseller, but the newbies arent taking down their listings when the tickets have been sold elsewhere and that's causing a major traffic jam. There are others who fail to notify the platform that they have transferred the tickets to the buyer, leading platforms to inform the buyer that the transaction has been canceled. Some platforms are scrambling to find a way to deal with the situation. For example, the Journal reports that a number have tightened deadlines for sellers to deliver tickets, proactively offering to help uninformed sellers who have been tardy in sending tickets or charging some sort of penalty to those who fail to deliver. Fortunately, some consumer-conscious platforms have offered to help buyers find other tickets elsewhere when an order falls through the cracks. Brett Goldberg, co-chief executive of TickPick, told the Journal that his company has committed to fulfilling 100% of orders for the tour. And TickPick is paying a pretty price to make customers happy, too. By the time Swift does her last mic drop on August 9, Goldberg estimates that the company will have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to make sure people get in the door. Is there any relief in sight? As Swift wrote in All Too Well from Red: "You call me up again just to break me like a promise / So casually cruel in the name of being honest. But there are a few who are trying as feverishly as they can to make things better. In Massachusetts, State Senator John Velis and State Representative Dan Carey have introduced bills to try and limit price gouging and force transparency in the ticket market. The pairs An Act Ensuring Transparent Ticket Pricing aka the Taylor Swift bill would require both sellers and resellers to display the full cost of their tickets right up front including all of those dreaded associated fees. If enacted, the law would also prohibit suspicious dynamic pricing the play where ticket vendors jack up the cost of tickets based on customer demand. And as of Wednesday, another concert ticket pain point -- price gouging -- is completely illegal in Texas. Thanks in part to the new, wonderful world of artificial intelligence (AI), some unknown individuals recently leveraged AI bots to purchase more Swift concert tickets than they were allotted. The situation put many Swifties up in arms some reported to be the daughters of Texas lawmakers who forced their dads to put their heads together on Senate bill 1639 a bill that was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott that now makes using bots forbidden. Its the kind of advice column question with a built-in answer, a response so rooted in common sense and basic human decency that it barely requires putting it into print. But here we are, New York Times, with a headline in your Social Qs column that reads: I Used a Slur for Accuracy When Repeating a Joke. Why Is Everyone Upset? Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. Well just jump right in with the letter to the Social Qs column, written by a charming gal who goes by HOSTESS: My son is a comedian. When his comedian friends come to my town for gigs, I put them up. Recently, I hosted a Black friend of his I am white and we talked about a famous Black comic. I paraphrased one of the comics jokes that impressed me. A TV censor allowed the comic to use the N-word but objected to his use of a gay slur. When the comic asked why, the censor said: Because youre not gay. The comic replied: Well, Im not a N-word, either. I used the full N-word, as the comic had, for accuracy. Later, the guest told my son that my language had made him feel unsafe and that I am a racist. My son is angry with me. But I am stunned that he and his friend cant distinguish between quoting an antiracist joke and being racist. Do I have to apologize? Before we get to the New York Times response, well just point out that Dunder Mifflin had to hire a consultant and devote an entire workday to diversity training after Michael Scott pulled a similar stunt by repeatedly reciting a Chris Rock routine verbatim. Despite the episodes point that Michael was an insensitive idiot, Comedy Central pulled the Diversity Day episode from its rotation for fear of offense. Play Advertisement Advertisement So somehow, everyone in Scranton except Michael knew this was unacceptable behavior in 2005, but Hostess still believes that accuracy is the most important part of the equation. The New York Times, of course, begged to differ. Your use of the slur was insensitive, and your claim to know better than your guest how he should have felt when you used it is presumptuous, the response began. There is no reason for you or any white person to use that word even in quotes. Go ahead and research the complex history of that racist slur, suggested NYT. In the meantime, the letters use of N-word was plenty accurate to get Hostess message across. Arguing for your need to use an explosive term, when a common euphemism will do, finger-wagged the columnist, makes you seem defensive and tone-deaf. Boom! Please offer a heartfelt sorry to your guest, the Times advised Hostess. Unintentional hurt is hurt all the same. And if youre ever curious if youre on the right side of an issue, just ask yourself what Michael Scott would do. If you and Michael are on the same page, chances are damn good you owe someone an apology. While physics is often used to answer questions like how big is the universe? and how can we blow those dudes up?, it sometimes sets its sights a little lower. A little earlier. A little tastier. Yep, it seems physicists enjoy the most important meal of the day as much as the rest of us, and a surprising amount of brainpower by the cleverest thinkers alive is dedicated to figuring out the complexities of Tony the Tigers favorite food. And some of the phenomena displayed by Froot Loops might have applications in the rest of the world. Grrrrrrrreat! 4 Derivatives of Position and the Rice Krispies Gnomes Derivatives of position are a complex series of metrics within physics to allow for as accurate a description of movement as possible if describing an objects journey from A to B, doing so in a way that is replicable and analyzable far beyond it was there and now its here and took about five seconds. The first three are velocity, acceleration and jerk (i.e., how smooth or not the moments are). Its the fourth, fifth and sixth that start to get breakfasty theyre called snap, crackle and pop. These measurements strictly speaking, derivatives of the position vector with respect to time owe their names to someone simply trying to make themselves laugh. Snap made total sense as a name, and two more derivatives also needed naming, and that trio of onomatopoeic gnomes have been shilling cereal since 1933. Theyre part of humanitys collective psyche at this point. We fucking love breakfast. 3 The Complexities of Fluid Dynamics and the Cheerios Effect You know how, in a bowl with only a few Cheerios left, they tend to group together? Physicists have noticed this, naming it the Cheerios effect, and investigated its potential ramifications within the field of fluid dynamics. A 2019 paper that came out of Brown University described it thusly: The Cheerios effect arises from the interaction of gravity and surface tension the tendency of molecules on the surface of a liquid to stick together, forming a thin film across the surface. Small objects like Cheerios arent heavy enough to break the surface tension of milk, so they float. Their weight, however, does create a small dent in the surface film. When one Cheerio dent gets close enough to another, they fall into each other, merging their dents and eventually forming clusters on the milk's surface. Meanwhile, scientists from Queen Mary University in London have inverted the effect to avoid clustering and make objects in water spread out. Its all thought to have handy applications in things like meniscus dynamics and liquid nanotechnology. 2 The Tomography of Why the Big Pieces Go to the Top Weve all been there you pull the inner bag out of a new box of cereal to open it, and all the raisins (if youre healthy) or marshmallows (if youre not) are up at the top, like the head on a glass of beer but more infuriating. You dont want to eat a bowl of 90 percent raisins then have bland-ass bran for the next two weeks. Theyre mixed in the factory, surely, so why is it all separate? A 2021 paper in Scientific Reports entitled Size Segregation of Irregular Granular Materials Captured by Time-Resolved 3D Imaging applied computer-aided X-ray tomography to bags of mixed nuts to solve the problem of why the Brazil nuts always end up at the top aka the same phenomenon as raisins and marshmallows and found that the nuts/raisins etc. only move to the top when theyre oriented upright. The uses of this knowledge are far from limited to breakfast and snacking, though, as the lead author told journalists: This will allow us to better design industrial equipment to minimize size segregation thus leading to more uniform mixtures. This is critical to many industries, for instance ensuring an even distribution of active ingredients in medicinal tablets, but also in food processing, mining and construction. In other words, your life might one day be saved by medication honed by science gleaned from a big bowl o Lucky Charms. Greg Gutfeld, the king of conservative comedy, has had a huge month. On May 2nd, he became the only late-night host to cross the picket line during the WGA writers strike. This past Friday, Gutfeld became one of only two late-night hosts allowed in the belligerent state of Russia. Then, on Monday, Gutfeld became the only late-night host in all of television to become a living, unironic South Park joke. Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. Gutfeld, like many of his Fox News colleagues, has made a point to call gay activists and drag queens groomers in recent months. Gultfeld has voiced support for so-called Dont Say Gay bills, and he continues to parrot right-wing talking points that claim that the act of acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ+ people in an educational setting is tantamount to pedophilia and poses a larger threat to Americas schoolchildren than mass shootings and climate change combined. However, on Mondays episode of his eponymous show, Gutfeld make a small caveat to his anti-pedophilia stance its okay when the rapist is a chick. Last week in San Bernardino County, California, 38-year-old high school teacher Tracy Vanderhulst was arrested for statutory rape after police discovered that she had engaged in an unlawful sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. The San Bernardino Police Department has stated that there may be additional victims and urged anyone with more information about Vanderhulsts crimes to come forward. Gutfield, meanwhile, has put out his own official statement Nice. Play Advertisement Advertisement Im sorry, come on! Sixteen years old? I would have died for that! Gutfeld exclaimed while discussing the story on Mondays show. When co-host Katherine Timpf pushed back on Gutfelds reaction to literal rape, he doubled down. A 16-year-old boy with a hot teacher, said Gutfeld. I mean, what was the Van Halen Song? Hot For Teacher, that was written about this. It wasnt about, Hey, lets have a responsible relationship with someone close to my age. Gutfeld went even further in expressing his joy at the sex crime, asking, Am I right to say that it is an unfair comparison to do the female to male teacher? Like a male teacher, 38-year-old creepy. Female heroic. Im not going to bother asking Gutfeld how many other members of the sex-offender registry would he call heroes. Its absurd that this needs saying, but in case any Fox News-watchers need a lesson in basic morality, adults especially adults in positions of power shouldnt have sex with minors. For all the pear-clutching and hysteria-pushing Gutfeld has done in order to protect kids from the existence of queer people, youd think that hed have a slightly more mature reaction to an actual, literal, not-Fox-fabricated instance of grooming. This tired trope of braindead men reacting to the rape of minors with some joke along the lines of I wish I was molested stopped being funny well before South Park perfectly satirized the pedophilia is okay when its a woman doing it to a boy mindset all the way back in 2006. However, the fact that Gutfelds pro-grooming jokes are two-decades-too late makes them perfect crowd pleasers for his target audience. The rapid emergence of Open AIs ChatGPT has been one of the biggest stories of the year, with the potential impact of generative AI chatbots and large language models (LLMs) on cybersecurity a key area of discussion. Theres been a lot of chatter about the security risks these new technologies could introduce from concerns about sharing sensitive business information with advanced self-learning algorithms to malicious actors using them to significantly enhance attacks. Some countries, US states and enterprises have ordered bans on the use of generative AI technology such as ChatGPT on data security, protection, and privacy grounds. Clearly, the security risks introduced by generative AI chatbots and large LLMs are considerable. However, generative AI chatbots can enhance cybersecurity for businesses in multiple ways, giving security teams a much-needed boost in the fight against cybercriminal activity. Here are 6 ways generative AI chatbots and LLMs can improve security. Vulnerability scanning and filtering Generative AI models can be used to significantly enhance the scanning and filtering of security vulnerabilities, according to a Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) report exploring the cybersecurity implications of LLMs. In the paper, CSA demonstrated that OpenAIs Codex API is an effective vulnerability scanner for programming languages such as C, C#, Java, and JavaScript. We can anticipate that LLMs, like those in the Codex family, will become a standard component of future vulnerability scanners, the paper read. For example, a scanner could be developed to detect and flag insecure code patterns in various languages, helping developers address potential vulnerabilities before they become critical security risks. As for filtering, generative AI models can explain and add valuable context to threat identifiers that might otherwise go missed by human security personnel. For example, TT1059.001 a technique identifier within the MITRE ATT&CK framework may be reported but unfamiliar to some cybersecurity professionals, prompting the need for a concise explanation. ChatGPT can accurately recognize the code as a MITRE ATT&CK identifier and provide an explanation of the specific issue associated with it, which involves the use of malicious PowerShell scripts, the paper read. It also elaborates on the nature of PowerShell and its potential use in cybersecurity attacks, offering relevant examples. In May, OX Security announced the launch of OX-GPT, a ChatGPT integration designed to help developers with customized code fix recommendations and cut-and-paste code fixes, including how codes could be exploited by hackers, the possible impact of an attack, and potential damage to the organization. Reversing add-ons, analyzing APIs of PE files Generative AI/LLM technology can be used to help build rules and reverse popular add-ons based on reverse engineering frameworks like IDA and Ghidra, says Matt Fulmer, manager of cyber intelligence engineering at Deep Instinct. If youre specific in the ask of what you need and compare it against MITRE ATT&CK tactics, you can then take the result offline and make it better to use it as a defense. LLMs can also help communicate via applications, with the ability to analyze APIs of portable executable (PE) files and tell you what they may be used for, he adds. This can reduce the time security researchers spend looking through PE files and analyzing API communication within them. Threat hunting queries Security defenders can enhance efficiency and expedite response times by leveraging ChatGPT and other LLMs to create threat-hunting queries, according to CSA. By generating queries for malware research and detection tools like YARA, ChatGPT assists in swiftly identifying and mitigating potential threats, allowing defenders to focus on critical aspects of their cybersecurity efforts. This capability proves invaluable in maintaining a robust security posture in an ever-evolving threat landscape. Rules can be tailored based on specific requirements and the threats an organization wishes to detect or monitor in its environment. AI can improve supply chain security Generative AI models can be used to address supply chain security risks by identifying potential vulnerabilities of vendors. In April, SecurityScorecard announced the launch of a new security ratings platform to do just this through integration with OpenAIs GPT-4 system and natural language global search. Customers can ask open-ended questions about their business ecosystem, including details about their vendors, and quickly obtain answers to drive risk management decisions, according to the firm. Examples include find my 10 lowest-rated vendors or show me which of my critical vendors were breached in the past year questions that SecurityScorecard claims will yield results that allow teams to quickly make risk management decisions. Detecting generative AI text in attacks LLMs not only generate text, but they are also working towards detecting and watermarking AI-generated text, which could become a common function of email protection software, according to CSA. Identifying AI-generated text in attacks can help to detect phishing emails and polymorphic code, and its realistic to assume that LLMs could easily detect untypical email address senders or their corresponding domains, along with being able to check if underlying links in text lead to known malicious websites, CSA said. Security code generation and transfer LLMs like ChatGPT can be used to both generate and transfer security code. CSA cites the example of a phishing campaign that has successfully targeted several employees within a company, potentially exposing their credentials. While it is known which employees have opened the phishing email, it is unclear whether they inadvertently executed the malicious code designed to steal their credentials. To investigate this, a Microsoft 365 Defender Advanced Hunting query can be utilized to find the 10 most recent logon events performed by email recipients within 30 minutes after receiving known malicious emails. The query helps to identify any suspicious login activity that may be related to compromised credentials. Here, ChatGPT can provide a Microsoft 365 Defender hunting query to check for login attempts of the compromised email accounts, which helps to block attackers from the system and clarifies if the user needs to change their password. It is a good example to reduce time to action during a cyber incident response. Based on the same example, you could have the same problem and find the Microsoft 365 Defender hunting query, but your system does not work with the KQL programming language. Instead of searching for the correct example in your desired language, you can do a programming language style transfer. This example illustrates that the underlying Codex models of ChatGPT can take a source code example and generate the example in another programming language. It also simplifies the process for the end user by adding key details to its provided answer and the methodology behind the new creation, said CSA. Leaders must ensure the secure use of generative AI chatbots Like many modern-day advancements, AI and LLMs can amount to a double-edged sword from a risk perspective, so its important for leaders to ensure their teams are using offerings safely and securely, says Chaim Mazal, CSO at Gigamon. Security and legal teams should be collaborating to find the best path forward for their organizations to tap into the capabilities of these technologies without compromising intellectual property or security. Generative AI is based on outdated, structured data, so take it as a starting point only when evaluating its use for security and defense, says Fulmer. For example, if using it for any of the benefits mentioned above, you have it justify its output. Take the output offline and have humans make it better, more accurate, and more actionable. Generative AI chatbots/LLMs will ultimately enhance security and defenses naturally over time, but utilizing AI/LLMs to help, not hurt, cybersecurity postures will all come down to internal communications and response. Mazal says. Generative AI/LLMs can be a means for engaging stakeholders to address security issues across the board in a faster, more efficient way. Leaders must communicate ways to leverage tools to support organizational goals while educating them about the potential threats. AI-powered chatbots also need regular updates to remain effective against threats and human oversight is essential to ensure LLMs function correctly, says Joshua Kaiser, AI technology executive and CEO at Tovie AI. Additionally, LLMs need contextual understanding to provide accurate responses and catch any security issues and should be tested and evaluated regularly to identify potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities. Microsoft and a few American intelligence agencies have detected malware of Chinese origin deployed in critical infrastructure systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States. The malicious activity, focused on post-compromise credential access and network security discovery, has been linked to Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsored threat actor in China. Volt Typhoon has been active since mid-2021 and has targeted critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and elsewhere in the United States, Microsoft said in a blog post. In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. Guam hosts significant military installations of the United States, including the Andersen Air Force Base, which plays a crucial role in the event of any potential conflicts in the Asia Pacific region, including a move against Taiwan. Volt Typhoon employs stealthy infection Microsoft has identified attacks containing a Web Shell, malicious script enabling remote access to a server, deployed in home routers and other common internet-connected computer devices to make intrusion harder to track. Volt Typhoon issues commands via the command line of an infected system to collect data, including credentials from local and network systems, archiving them to stage exfiltration and use retrieved credentials to maintain persistence. The attacker gains initial entry into targeted organizations by exploiting internet-facing Fortinet FortiGuard devices. Microsoft is currently in the process of examining how Volt Typhoon manages to gain access to these devices. The threat actor attempts to leverage any privileges afforded by the Fortinet device extracts credentials to an Active Directory account used by the device, and then attempts to authenticate to other devices on the network with those credentials, Microsoft added. The attack directs all of its network traffic towards its targets by utilizing compromised small office/home office network edge devices, such as routers. Microsoft has verified that numerous devices, including those produced by Asus, Cisco, D-Link, Netgear, and Zyxel, have the capability for owners to expose HTTP or SSH management interfaces to the internet. In their post-compromise operations, Volt Typhoon rarely employs malware. Instead, they heavily rely on utilizing living-off-the-land commands to search for information within the system, identify other devices connected to the network, and extract data. Credential rotation and MFA are key to protection As mitigation steps, Microsoft has recommended closing or changing credentials for all compromised accounts. Identify local security authority subsystem service (LSASS) dumping and domain controller installation media creation to identify affected accounts, it added. Examining the activity of compromised accounts for any malicious actions or exposed data has also been advised. To reduce the risk of compromised legitimate accounts, Microsoft is encouraging customers to implement robust multifactor authentication (MFA) policies that utilize hardware security keys or Microsoft Authenticator. Additionally, passwordless sign-in, setting password expiration rules, and deactivating unused accounts can also be effective in mitigating the risks associated with this method of access. Protective process light (PPL) for LSASS, Windows Defender credential guard, and EDR in clock mode are a few licensed solutions Microsoft has recommended for its users to protect against such attacks. The Asian trading session is one of the best time of day to trade forex, as explained in the DailyFX Traits of Successful Traders series. Also known as the Tokyo session, the Asian trading session is often overlooked as it is not as liquid and volatile as other major trading sessions; but these characteristics are exactly what makes the Asian session attractive to those who know how to trade it. This article will walk through the nuances of this trading period - listing the Tokyo forex market hours and providing ideas and strategies for traders to consider when Trading Tokyo. What are the Tokyo forex market hours? The Asian forex session starts off the trading week on a Monday morning at 09:00 and closes at 18:00 in Japanese Standard Time (JST). In London, traders will have to be up at 00:00 (GMT) in the early hours of the morning until 09:00 (GMT) if they wish to follow the Asian session in real time. Keep in mind that the FX market trades 24 hours a day, so official starting times are subjective. But it is generally accepted that the Asian session begins when Tokyo banks come online due to the volume of trades they facilitate. New Zealand and Sydney, Australia are technically the first, reasonably sized, financial hubs to start the trading day. Below is a summary of the different times traders will be able to trade the Asian session in their respective time zones: Asian trading times in major trading locations Trading location Major market *Hours (in local time) Asia Tokyo 09:00-18:00 JST Europe London 00:00-09:00 GMT United States New York 19:00-04:00 ET *These times are subject to change with daylight savings changes Major economic centres in Europe and the US are not at work for the majority of the Tokyo session, which contributes to the thin trading volumes experienced. Top 5 things to know about the Tokyo session The Tokyo forex session is typically known to adhere to key levels of support and resistance due to the lower liquidity and volatility experienced. The Asian session is characterised by: Low liquidity Low volatility Clear entry and exit levels Ideal for sound risk management Breakout trade opportunities after the close 1) Low liquidity With lower liquidity, non-Asian markets such as EUR/USD, GBP/USD and EUR/GBP are less likely to make large moves outside of generally observed trading ranges. The chart below shows this effect with the Asian session depicted in the smaller, blue boxes, while the London session and US session are depicted in the larger red boxes. 2) Low volatility Because the primary liquidity coming into the market is from Asia, movements - in general - can be quite a bit smaller than what will be seen during the London or US sessions. The image below provides an indication of how volatile currencies can be throughout the day. The chart shows higher peaks (more volatile movements) outside of the Asian session. EUR/USD as a proxy for volatility Source: DailyFX Traits of Successful Traders research (2010-2012) 3) Clear entry and exit levels Levels of support and resistance assist traders with opportunities to enter or exit trades. Combining this with signals from indicators further increase the probability of entering a good trade. 4) Ideal for sound risk management The quiet nature of the Asian session may allow traders to manage their trades better. The slow nature of the market can potentially allow for more thorough analysis of risk and reward. Essentially, it is easier for traders in the Asian session to spot levels of support and resistance as they are generally well-defined and coincide with the trading range. 5) Breakout opportunities after the close As the Asian trading session comes to an end it overlaps with the start of the London session. More liquidity instantly becomes available and traders often witness breakouts from established trading ranges. What currency pairs are best to trade during the Tokyo session? The best currency pairs to trade during the Tokyo session will depend on the individual trader and strategy employed. Traders looking for volatility will tend to trade Japanese Yen, Singapore dollar, Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar crosses. Traders looking for less volatile currencies include non-Asian currencies, mainly: EUR/USD, GBP/USD and EUR/GBP to list a few. How to trade ranges during the Asian session Range trading is particularly suited to the Asian trading session as support and resistance levels are adhered to more frequently than during the more liquid London and US sessions. The two most common strategies in the Tokyo forex session involve breakouts or range trading. Below is an example of a short position when trading ranges but the same logic can be applied to long positions: Trade set up: One way to trade ranges is to look for sell signals when price trades near resistance while setting an initial take profit level near the bottom of the range. Traders will often enlist the help of oscillators such as the RSI and Stochastic indicators to provide buy and sell signals. The Asian session takes place in the blue blocks on the chart. Entry point: Using this particular strategy, traders should be looking for signals to buy when price approaches support and to sell when price approached resistance. The stochastic indicator displays when the market is in overbought territory, providing a sell signal (circled in blue). To get further confirmation, price has reached the level of resistance and this presents the opportunity to enter the short trade. Stop loss: A Stop can be placed above the level of resistance as historically this is the level that prices have bounced off of. Take Profit: Professional traders always look for more pips in their favor, compared to what they could potentially lose if the trade moves against them. This is referred to as a risk to reward ratio and should be at least 1:1. With this said, if the market moves from the top of the range to the bottom of the range the trader is targeting 80 pips while risking 30 pips, representing a 1:2.67 risk to reward ratio. Range trading is likely to be less effective when the London and US sessions flood the market with liquidity. The chart reflects this, with the large breakout towards the downside before recovering back within the channel. Range traders make use of stops and limits to maintain their exposure within the channel. Asian breakout strategy The Asian breakout strategy aims to take advantage of sudden sharp movements in price when the London trading session comes online at 00:00 GMT (04:00 ET). The influx of liquidity can lead to breakouts that traders can anticipate. On a small timeframe (five 30-minute chart) traders can wait to see a candle close above or below the trading range witnessed in the Asian session. If price breaks below the range, traders can enter the trade placing a tight stop at the recent swing high. When setting a target level, traders can take in to account the number of pips from the top to the bottom of the trading range range and place a target an equal distance away from the entry level (in this example 80 pips away). Further reading to navigate forex trading sessions We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies. You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here. Crude Oil, WTI, US Dollar, US Debt Ceiling, Fed, FOMC, Canadian Fires, EIA Talking Points Crude oil ran to a 3-week peak overnight after speculators were warned US inventory data did an about-face, dropping significantly after a large add prior Can the cartel actually cut production to boost WTI crude oil prices ? Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter Crude oil staged a rally going into Thursday despite the US Dollar roaring higher alongside Treasury yields. Comments from Saudi Arabia Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman, assisted the bounce when he rattled the sabre, saying, speculators, like in any market, they are there to stay. I keep advising that they will be ouching. They did ouch in April. I dont have to show my card, Im not [a] poker player but I would just tell them, watch out. In early April, OPEC+ announced that they would cut production by 1.1 million barrels per day. This news saw crude gap higher to levels not seen since November 2022. The reality is that OPEC+ is notorious for not being able to meet their production target and regularly overshoot. For a further deep dive into the OPEC+ cartel and its intentions, check out our colleague Ilya Spivak at tastylive on his MacroMoney show here. Source; Bloomberg. Created by Ilya Spivak at Macro money The weekly US Energy Information Agency (EIA) data released overnight saw stockpiles drop dramatically, overcompensating for last weeks run-up in inventory. 12.456 million fewer barrels were stored in the week ending May 19th. The week prior saw 5.04 million barrels added. Elsewhere, the Canadian wildfires appear to have been contained to a certain extent for now and its being reported that production and supply are back to normal levels. For now, it appears that the shorts have been squeezed but it seems there is a lack of follow-through at this point. Update crude oil prices can be found here. Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade Oil Get My Guide WTI CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS WTI overcome resistance making a high of 74.73 overnight. The 34- and 100-day Simple Moving Averages (SMA) are just above the market and may lend resistance near 75.15 and 76.92 respectively. On the downside, support might be at previous resistance levels down toward 73.60. Further down, support may lie at the breakpoints and prior lows of 69.41, 66.82, 66.12, 64.36, 63.64 and 62.43. Chart created in TradingView --- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com Please contact Daniel via @DanMcCarthyFX on Twitter New Mexico homelessness spikes as housing costs surge: U.S. media Xinhua) 11:12, May 25, 2023 NEW YORK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A tally of the homeless population in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico shows an abrupt jump in the number of people living without permanent housing or with no shelter at all, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing the legislative agency focused on budgeting and accountability. A spot-count commissioned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on a winter night in January identified about 3,850 homeless people, 48 percent more than a year earlier, according to the report. The count reflected many more unsheltered people -- mostly in Albuquerque, the state's largest city, where authorities are grappling with encampments on sidewalks and riverside parks, it noted. The change interrupts a gradual, decade-long decline in homelessness in New Mexico, which has the highest poverty rate in the western United States, it said. "Poverty rates are high, labor participation is low. There is high substance abuse rates," Kathleen Gygi, a program evaluator, was quoted as telling a legislative panel at the state Capitol. "These are all things that compound the problems." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) After sexual predator Rolf Harris was jailed, he wrote to a senior member of the late Queen's household protesting his innocence, insisting that his appeal against conviction (subsequently dropped) would result in his immediate release and suggesting that it would be inappropriate for his honours to be removed. He asked that the Queen, who he had painted in 2005, be appraised of his letter. She was in Balmoral at the time. It was one of the rare letters received at the Palace that never received a reply. A year before Harris was first arrested on sexual assault charges in 2013, his name was suggested for the Order of Merit, the elite group of 24 academics, artists and philanthropists appointed solely by the monarch. Fortunately, the Queen selected David Hockney and former PM of Australia John Howard to fill the two vacancies. It turned out to be a shrewd move. A year before Harris was first arrested on sexual assault charges in 2013, his name was suggested for the Order of Merit, the elite group of 24 academics, artists and philanthropists appointed solely by the monarch Fortunately, the Queen selected David Hockney (pictured) and former PM of Australia John Howard to fill the two vacancies. It turned out to be a shrewd move Celebrating her 90th birthday, Joan Collins names Gemma Arterton (pictured) as the actress she'd most like to play her in a mooted TV biography series about the eventful lives of herself and novelist sister Jackie. Celebrating her 90th birthday, Joan Collins names Gemma Arterton, pictured, as the actress she'd most like to play her in a mooted TV biography series about the eventful lives of herself and novelist sister Jackie. Good news for Gemma, 37, but grim reading for Liz Hurley, 57. She played Joan's daughter in the series The Royals, often gushing about how well they got on and must be disappointed her name wasn't in the frame. Boris loather Polly Toynbee, in her new memoir, recalls meeting a young mother in Oxford in 1964 with her two-month-old baby 'lying naked on a bath mat, kicking his feet in the air, round, pink and fat, with a remarkable shock of electrically bright blond hair'. Polly adds: 'I look back with a morbid incredulity at what that baby grew up to be. It's a not particularly good joke to surprise people with the fact that I am one of the many women to have seen Boris Johnson naked.' John Cleese's attempt to cash in on the success of Fawlty Towers with a revival doesn't impress Timothy West, husband of Prunella 'Sybil Fawlty' Scales. With Prunella suffering from Alzheimer's, Timothy criticised Cleese's resurrection of Basil for a cringeworthy Specsavers ad in 2016. 'I felt very sad,' he remarked. 'To do it again shows he is a bit pushed, I think. He has the divorce and now he has got the new one [wife]. I think he has lost his way.' John Cleese's attempt to cash in on the success of Fawlty Towers with a revival doesn't impress Timothy West (right), husband of Prunella 'Sybil Fawlty' Scales (left) With Prunella suffering from Alzheimer's, Timothy criticised Cleese's resurrection of Basil for a cringeworthy Specsavers ad in 2016 (pictured) Roustabout Spectator Low Life columnist Jeremy Clarke, who has died aged 66, is to be honoured by his Cheltenham races benefactor Piers Pottinger with a memorial lunch. 'My favourite memory of Jeremy after a refreshing day at the races is having to guide him a mile from the course to our car as he could only walk backwards,' remembers PR supremo Piers. 'He could talk lucidly but not walk forward. Back at the house he had to climb the stairs backwards too. It took an hour's snooze and a large gin for his forward propulsion to be restored.' Rest easy Jeremy. Sometimes, with the greatest gentleness and respect, you want to buy a cup of tea for a well-meaning campaigner and explain to them that if they ever managed to rebuild the world as they want to, it would only become duller, sadder, lonelier and more mistrustful. The latest cultural warrior in need of a calming brew and a chat is Dr Emily Zobel Marshall, 'Reader in Postcolonial Literature' at Leeds Beckett University. Emily has got it in for Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit. This is not because Peter is a thief, a vandal, a disobedient rascal who, when ordered to go blackberrying with his siblings, nips off to wreck Mr McGregor's vegetable patch, falls in a watering can and turns up at home with a lost jacket, having overdosed on stolen parsley. No: Peter's fault is that the tales about him and his fellows are 'cultural appropriation', according to Dr Zobel Marshall. Although Peter, like Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, may seem 'quintessentially English', such stories are 'more than just inspired by' similar fables told by African slaves toiling on American cotton plantations in the 19th century. In a recent article on The Conversation website, Dr Zobel Marshall points out that Potter, as a child, loved the tales of the 'trickster hero' Brer Rabbit. The latest cultural warrior in need of a calming brew and a chat is Dr Emily Zobel Marshall, 'Reader in Postcolonial Literature' at Leeds Beckett University Peter's fault is that the tales about him and his fellows are 'cultural appropriation', according to Dr Zobel Marshall For centuries in African oral traditions, this cunning rabbit outwitted his more physically powerful enemies. The American journalist Joel Chandler Harris, using an African-American nom de plume, 'Uncle Remus', first published stories about Brer Rabbit in the 19th century. Marshall reckons many of Potter's tales are downright stolen from these Uncle Remus books. Wily rabbits getting the better of farmers reflect, she says, 'the violence, resistance and survival tactics of the plantation life'. Even Potter herself admitted in a letter that one of her Peter Rabbit stories, The Tale Of Mr Tod, had one 'principal defect . . . its imitation of Uncle Remus'. To make matters worse, Potter's family fortune historically came from cotton woven in Manchester and picked by slaves in the American Deep South in the early 19th century. This in part accounts for her youthful reading of Uncle Remus. As Dr Zobel Marshall damningly puts it: 'Her tales owe a debt to the Brer Rabbit stories . . . that needs to be fully acknowledged.' Although Dr Zobel Marshall is fairly convincing in her claims, her essay seems to be designed to whip up indignation and division between cultures and, I suppose, supply a box-fresh new dose of white guilt (she herself is of Martinican and British heritage). Yet what I find most frustrating is that she is a respected expert on just this kind of cultural crossover. The academic should know that like the folk tunes that crossed from Celtic shores to the Appalachian mountains and thence to Bob Dylan's New York cellar gigs in the early 1960s stories are nobody's private property. Emily has got it in for Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit writes LIBBY PURVES Although Peter, like Jemima Puddle-Duck (picutred) and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, may seem 'quintessentially English', such stories are 'more than just inspired by' similar fables told by African slaves, according to Dr Zobel Marshall I feel the same about all those who condemn 'cultural appropriation': that modern sin of inappropriately borrowing a story, dress, custom or design from another society. It has been applied to everything from fancy dress to poetry to yoga, and those who fret tend only to be angry when the culture that picks it up is typically more 'dominant' than the other. To them, it is wrong for a Western woman to wear a sari or a Chinese jacket, but perfectly all right for an Indian lawyer or an African businessman to wear a pinstriped suit a weird outfit created by the 19th-century British and European commercial classes. Or take music. For the cultural police, it is praiseworthy for Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE to lead the ethnically diverse Chineke! orchestra playing Mozart, but questionable for white rockers or jazzmen to pick up rhythms developed by black people. Likewise, they look down with distaste at the British atrocity of chicken tikka masala, but would never call down fury on an Indian chef's shepherd's pie. It is a peculiarly contemporary and patronising way of separating us all from one another. The literary world is currently terrified of letting authors create black, Asian or Latino characters unless they themselves enjoy the 'lived experience' of those races. Publishers' anxieties around these issues are only getting worse. Face it, there is just something about these animals nipping underground, popping up to steal your carrots, small and agile and lawless that appeals to the universal human desire to duck, dive and outwit the strong Twelve years ago, in more innocent days, I wrote a novel, Regatta, in which I tried to get inside the feelings of a deprived black girl from South London standing astonished at seeing the open sea for the first time, and feeling the ripple of salt water around her toes. Now I'd probably be censored. Of course, mockery is never right 'blacking-up' or parodying ethnic voices and it's bloody rude to boot. But most of what is damned as 'cultural appropriation' is better described by other words: admiring imitation, respectful enjoyment, empathy, flattery, fellowship. Take that away and we will all live mentally and culturally in narrow, stifling, cramped spaces, afraid of everything new, unfamiliar and foreign. If we don't borrow and play around with other people's stories, we will never accept that members of other races and cultures are people with the same rights and joys and desires we have. To see out of your own rut is a human need and no one should try to deprive us of it. Which brings me to another point that Dr Zobel Marshall might well consider. Looking at rabbits, she might glance eastward. There is a Chinese folk-saying: 'A cunning rabbit has three burrows.' Indian legends, too, feature sly bunnies. The Central American Zapotec people had their own crafty rabbit, and so did the Native American Cherokees, long before Africans were shipped in their millions to that continent, bringing their stories of Brer Rabbit with them. Folk tales are a universal possession. Humans have always passed them on, adjusting them for fun and for moral lessons. Beatrix Potter brilliantly illustrated them, gave them clothes and a beguiling background You can go back even farther: to the sixth century BC, when the Greek author Aesop wrote his fables. There they are again, those vulnerable but artful rabbits. Face it, there is just something about these animals nipping underground, popping up to steal your carrots, small and agile and lawless that appeals to the universal human desire to duck, dive and outwit the strong. Similarly, mice have a quality that makes humans, who sometimes feel weak and helpless, enjoy stories where the mouse wins. Beatrix Potter has the hardworking little rodents finishing a suit overnight for the Tailor of Gloucester. In Aesop, mice form a council of war, while another one rescues a lion by gnawing a trapper's net. I reckon you could land anywhere on earth and there would be someone telling a story about a rabbit, mouse, fox or cat. We have lived alongside them for millennia, admired their adaptability, learnt from their weaknesses and cunning to help us bear our own more complicated lot. Folk tales are a universal possession. Humans have always passed them on, adjusting them for fun and for moral lessons. Beatrix Potter brilliantly illustrated them, gave them clothes and a beguiling background. So why apologise? Why spread fear and division and the deadening caution that hampers human creativity? Have that relaxing cup of tea, Dr Zobel Marshall, and think on these things. King Charles should be feeling quite flush. He now funds just seven working royals from his Duchy of Lancaster income (William and Kate self-fund from the Duchy of Cornwall). When his mother's reign commenced in 1952 that income was 100,000. Ten years ago it was 12.9million and now it exceeds 24million. But despite the reduction in working royals, Charles seems reluctant to scale down his extensive property portfolio of castles, palaces and cottages. King Charles (pictured) should be feeling quite flush. He now funds just seven working royals from his Duchy of Lancaster income (William and Kate self-fund from the Duchy of Cornwall) Campaign group Fathers 4 Justice, which fights for dads' access to their children, calls on the Duchess of Sussex to let her children spend time with their grandfathers. 'Don't be a crummy mummy Meghan,' declares a poster, adding: 'End the heartbreak of grandparents like King Charles and Thomas Markle.' Isn't it time for a parallel charity devoted to henpecked ginger princes? Meghan and Harry's 'near catastrophic' New York tour prompts recollections of Pippa Middleton's 2012 Paris adventure. Kate's sister, travelling in a convertible with three male friends, was snapped laughing as one of her chums pointed a gun at a photographer giving chase. The gun was a fake but the paparazzi's squeaky bum terror was real. Tina Turner's insistence that she never slept with David Bowie has been debunked by her former assistant Eddy Armani who claims they enjoyed a one night stand before a 1980s concert at the NEC in Birmingham. 'Tina always denied that she slept with David,' recalls Eddy. 'But she did tell me, 'David is more man than a lot of people think'.' Killing Eve's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, recruited to jazz up the screenplay for No Time To Die, recalls her initial fury at learning that Daniel Craig's James Bond was to be killed off. 'I was like, "What is this?" I went angry,' says Phoebe, pictured, adding: 'But also it is confronting what is uncomfortable and difficult. 'It really came from Daniel... so I was like, "Yeah, OK. This is good".' Make your mind up Phoebe! Killing Eve's Phoebe Waller-Bridge (pictured), recruited to jazz up the screenplay for No Time To Die, recalls her initial fury at learning that Daniel Craig's James Bond was to be killed off Brian Cox, reflecting on the demise of his alter ego Logan Roy in Succession, pointedly remarks on Radio 4: 'Ultimately, I think, too early. I've heard a lot of people have stopped watching the series.' Reflecting on Roy's enigmatically portrayed death on the company jet, he adds: 'I looked on it, wrongly, as a form of rejection... I felt a little bit: "Oh, all the work I've done, I'm finally going to end up as an ear on a carpet of a plane."' King Charles, soon to commune with his flowers in Romania, still has a pile of signed copies of his specially commissioned The Transylvania Florilegium, selling for 12,950 at the Highgrove shop. There's time for William to buy one for son George, who was given a christening present of a field of wild flowers in the Transylvanian hills from Charles's mate Count Tibor Kalnoky. Today we're off to Somerset for our first meeting in the flesh with our fourth grandchild, who was born on Monday. He's a boy, if you're interested. At least, that's what the biological evidence unmistakeably tells me although Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, if he believes his own bonkers pronouncement this week, would presumably say that he/she/they could 'quite clearly' be a girl! Now, I'd always considered myself to be the least sentimental of men, 'about as sensitive as a bog seat', as an old university friend once described me. It's true that I felt a mighty surge of emotion when each of our own four sons was born and again when our first, second and third grandchildren came along. But I thought that by the time our fourth arrived, I might have grown a little blase about this grandparental lark. Been there, done that. But not a bit of it. All those feelings swept over me again, just as they did when the others were born my eyes pricking and misting up in the wave of joy and relief that mother and baby are healthy and happy; my firm conviction that this latest grandchild is the most beautiful and gifted newborn in God's creation; and a welling up of unconditional love for a being I've yet to meet, except through the miracle of a video call. It's true that I felt a mighty surge of emotion when each of our own four sons was born and again when our first, second and third grandchildren came along. But I thought that by the time our fourth arrived, I might have grown a little blase about this grandparental lark but not a bit To my chagrin, I've been showing photographs of the baby to hard-bitten colleagues in the office, who feel they have to say something suitable ('Yes, Tom, very nice') although I know perfectly well that very few in my cynical trade, or any other, have the slightest interest in pictures of anyone's babies apart from their own. I'm as bad as the host who forces his guests to sit through a display of his holiday snaps. ('And this is Ethel, reading by the pool at the Hotel Excelsior . . . and here she is, sitting under a palm tree on the loveliest beach you've ever seen . . . and here's a picture of the delicious mussels we had as a starter on our first night . . . oh, and this is the grey Ford Focus we hired at the airport . . .') You must forgive a short digression, but while I'm on the subject of photographs, I must pass on a hot tip to all new parents and grandparents, too. When each new baby arrives, we tend to believe that his or her features will be carved into our hearts and memories for all time. But in my experience, that's not necessarily so. Indeed, when the first pictures of our latest grandson came through, shortly after his birth, my wife dug out our old photographs of our four sons, to support her theory that he had a strong look of his father, George, at the same age. 'Yes,' I said. 'I see what you mean. He looks just like George!' Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, if he believes his own bonkers pronouncement this week, would presumably say that he/she/they could 'quite clearly' be a girl 'That's not George, you idiot,' said Mrs U. 'That's Johnny!' (Mothers, on the whole, seem to be much better than fathers at recognising their offspring from old pictures. But then they do say that most babies are indistinguishable from each other, looking either like Sir Winston Churchill or Louis Armstrong.) The moral is that no matter how sure you are that you'll never forget what your beloved children and grandchildren looked like when they came into the world, you should be careful to add a caption to every photograph, just to be certain that you will always know which is which. But where was I? Ah, yes. The sheer, unsurpassable joy of welcoming a new addition to the family the institution that has proved throughout history to be the firmest bedrock of a free and happy society, as well as the most effective welfare system known to man bound together as it is, when it works, by bonds of instinctive love. Amid the joy, however, there's always that niggling anxiety about what sort of world each precious new life may be entering. Never have I felt this more strongly than now. True, it's always inadvisable to pretend we can see into the future unless we don't mind looking like complete fools when the future turns into the present. Look at the IMF's past predictions of the UK's economic performance, and compare them with the (generally far healthier) reality. The moral is that no matter how sure you are that you'll never forget what your beloved children and grandchildren looked like when they came into the world, you should be careful to add a caption to every photograph, just to be certain that you will always know which is which READ MORE: Ed Davey slammed as 'out of touch' for saying some women can 'clearly' have a penis as Lib Dem leader clashes with listener over trans rights during a radio phone-in A caller asked Sir Ed Davey on LBC to explain 'what is a woman', saying she was a tactical voter - a group which could help the Lib Dems pick off Tory seats at the next general election Advertisement Or ask any TV weather girl, who has told us that it will pour with rain next Wednesday, only for us to find ourselves baking in blazing sunshine when the day comes round. Come to think of it, it was no more than a few decades ago well within my lifetime, anyway when experts en masse were warning that the planet was heading for a new ice age. For all I know, since I'm no climatologist, they may have been right although it's surely fair to say that in more recent years, majority scientific opinion has swung the other way. But despite the efforts of a handful of Just Stop Oil cultists to spoil visitors' enjoyment of the Chelsea Flower Show, I don't lose much sleep fretting that my grandchildren will be burnt to a frazzle by global warming. It's far more likely, I reckon, that scientists will come up with new and efficient ways to regulate the climate, which won't involve destroying the global economy and thereby consigning most of humanity to misery, poverty and starvation. But other recent developments fill me with foreboding. Heaven knows, for example, it's been tough enough for my sons to find somewhere affordable to live and even the three with properly paid jobs can only dream of buying, being doomed instead to spend vast chunks of their income on extortionate rents. What will it be like for their children, if politicians continue to throw open our borders, while making nothing like adequate provision for housing those who live here already? And don't get me started on what is beginning to look like the relentless decline of other services, public and private, from the NHS and the railways to the criminal justice system, water companies and Royal Mail. Then what about my grandchildren's employment prospects, in this age of Artificial Intelligence? After all, AI pioneers claim it will soon take over any number of jobs, from all sorts of manual trades to teaching, musical composition, painting, medicine and horror of horrors! my own ancestral trade of journalism. I suppose it's possible that human ingenuity will come up with new ways to keep our species busy, as it has always managed in the past. But I'm damned if I can see what these will be. Meanwhile, how will my sons' children ever be able to trust a commercial transaction, when the possibility exists that they may be dealing with a hugely sophisticated computer, controlled by a cruel fraudster? I worry, too, about the malign influence of social media on the wellbeing of today's young, and the sewer of filth and vitriol through which so many wade every day. If things go on as they are, without any effective regulation, how much worse will it be for our grandchildren by the time they reach their teens? And what is to become of free speech, free thought and freedom itself if the apparently relentless march of wokery continues unchecked? Already great swathes of our national life from the BBC to much of higher education and almost the entire quangocracy have fallen into the grip of cancellers, de-platforming fanatics and obsessive believers in identity politics. Will the freedom to disagree with the Establishment ever get a look-in again? Ah, but I mustn't be gloomy, least of all at this joyful time for my family. So bring on our meeting with our new grandson today! Just one parting thought: is it too much to hope that would-be prime ministers (I'm thinking of you, Sir Keir, and you, Sir Ed) will one day learn how to tell the difference between boys and girls? Do you like yours drenched in salt and vinegar? Dunked in ketchup, mayo or both? Loaded with cheese, gravy or curry sauce? And do you eat them for dinner, lunch or maybe even breakfast? We are a nation of chip lovers, tucking into two billion kilos or 30kg a head of them every year. We'll find any excuse to eat our favourite type, and thanks to McCain, Britain's best-loved oven chips, there's a chip out there for everyone: from Crinkle-Cut to Crispy French Fries, and Straight-Cut to Smiles. Cheers for chips! We're a nation of chip lovers, and will find any excuse to eat them So, in the spirit of celebrating all things chips, we've done a nationwide survey, asking people up and down the country about their chip habits, preferences, opinions and their favourite ways to eat them. The South East is home to the biggest chip-lovers, with 94 per cent of households surveyed there eating chips every week, closely followed by 88 per cent in the Midlands and Wales, and another 88 per cent in the North and Scotland. Seventy-nine percent of people in the Midlands reckon chips go with anything (we agree!) and 66 per cent say they're part of their favourite meal. Sixty-nine per cent of Southerners agree, as do 61 per cent of Northerners. McCain's chips are a real family staple crowd-pleasing, quick-and-easy to cook, as well as filling for tummies both big and small. Eighty-five per cent of those surveyed say their families love to eat them, with chips proving most popular with families from the South (90 per cent of households). Chips of dreams: They're a national favourite, but not all of us enjoy them the same way! Just over half of those we asked in the North 58 per cent say their kids would eat chips every day if they let them, while this rises to 73 per cent in the Midlands and 75 per cent in the South. But that's no bad thing: most McCain products are made from just potatoes and oil, making them an energy-rich carbohydrate. Forty-two per cent of Southerners say they eat chips because they're a good source of Vitamin C. When it comes to Britain's favourite chips, it really does depend on where you live. In Wales and the Midlands, it's all about Straight-Cut Home Chips (29 per cent), closely followed by Chunky Cut Home Chips (19 per cent). In London and the South East, however, they prefer French Fries (26 per cent), and in the North and Scotland, Straight-Cut (28 per cent) and Chunky Cut (24 per cent) come out top again. French fries are the chips we eat most at home, except in the North, where ovens are busy crisping up Straight-Cut Home Chips for family meals. McCain Smiles are made with real potato mash, and are a brilliant tea-time side And when it comes to toppings, it seems, it's all about salt, salt, salt. Two-thirds of us like salt on our chips: Northerners most of all, where this rises to 71 per cent and a whopping 80 per cent of chip-lovers in Yorkshire. Ketchup comes a close second (54 per cent of us use it to top our chips), followed by vinegar (48 per cent) and mayonnaise (36 per cent). Curry sauce is extremely popular in Wales, where 90 per cent of households like to drench their chips in the stuff. They're not so keen in the East Midlands, though, where it's just 52 per cent. In Scotland and the South East, it's all about cheesy chips (71 per cent of people love cheese as a topping) and the North West is home to the biggest fans of gravy on their chips (74 per cent). Favourite north of the border: Scots love cheesy chips, and who can blame them? Controversially, 17 per cent of people surveyed like to sprinkle pepper on their chips (this rises to a fifth in the West Midlands), 15 per cent enjoy brown sauce and 21 per cent prefer garlic mayo. But we all have our limits. Nineteen per cent of people surveyed (and a third in Scotland) say they'd never eat chips with mushy peas. Breakfast is another divisive subject. Sixty-four per cent of chip-lovers in the Midlands and the North say chips have no place on a cooked breakfast, and 58 per cent of Southerners agree. That said, a fifth of Londoners (and 19 per cent of Welsh households) have eaten chips for breakfast in the past month. When do you eat yours? A fifth of Londoners admit to having had them for breakfast! Almost half (49 per cent) of us have tucked into chips at lunchtime, and 28 per cent of people say they've eaten chips as a snack. The biggest snackers are in London (where 45 per cent of people have snacked on chips) and the West Midlands (43 per cent). We like to cook them in different ways, too. Sixty-nine per cent of us have eaten oven chips in the last month, with the biggest fans in the East Midlands (76 per cent) and North West (74 per cent). The air fryer which makes McCain products extra-crispy and delicious, not to mention cooking them in a fraction of the time is used by 44 per cent of those surveyed (and as many as 62 per cent of households in Wales, and 58 per cent in Scotland). We also cook our chips in the microwave: 22 per cent of us have eaten microwave chips most popular in London (34 per cent) and the North East (31 per cent) in the last 30 days. Chips in the air fryer: Cooking them this way makes them extra crispy and delicious So once you've digested all that data, what does our great chip survey say about us? Well, we're a nation of chip lovers (some might even say obsessives) and there's a reason for that. Chips make us happy: more than three-quarters of people surveyed say so, and another third say eating chips fills them with joy. Londoners are the cheeriest chip-eaters (86 per cent say chips make them happy), closely followed by the South East, Wales, North East and Scotland (all 81 per cent). So, next time you tuck into a plateful of your favourite fries, remember they don't just taste good they make you feel good, too. Read on for more tasty nuggets, cooking tips and a mouth-watering recipe you'll want to make for tea tonight THE NATION'S FAVOURITE CHIP RECIPE It's official! The results of our survey reveal a clear winner for the nation's favourite chip recipe: Southern-fried chicken, served with McCain's Straight-Cut Home Chips, spicy Cajun seasoning and a side of garlicky green beans. A whopping 76 per cent of those surveyed said it would make a yummy mid-week meal, with the dish proving most popular among chip-lovers in the Midlands and Wales. Not only is it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, but it's cooked from start to finish in an air fryer meaning you can have it on the table in just 20 minutes. Be warned it's seriously good! Treat yourself! This mouthwateringly good recipe is quick to do and everyone loves it Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Difficulty level: Easy Serves: 4 Ingredients: 500g Straight-Cut Home Chips 500g chicken breast mini fillets 110g panko breadcrumbs 1 tbsp oil 1 tsp each of: - smoked paprika - garlic granules - onion granules 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 2 eggs, beaten 300g green beans 3 cloves of garlic, crushed Salt and pepper cooking spray 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (optional) 1 lime, cut into wedges Method: Preheat both baskets of your air fryer to 200C. Put the breadcrumbs, oil and spices in a large shallow bowl and mix to a crumbly texture. Put the beaten eggs in another bowl. Dip the chicken fillets in the egg and shake off any excess. Next, press each one into in the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring all sides are well-coated. Lay them in the air fryer basket. A single layer is best so you may need to do this in batches if you have a smaller air fryer. Tip the chips into the other basket. Cook both for 8 minutes. While they cook, wash and trim your beans. Place in a bowl with the garlic, salt and pepper, and some cooking spray. Carefully remove the chicken fillets from the air fryer, spoon the beans into the basket and return the chicken on top, other side up. Shake the chips. Cook both for another 7 minutes. If using the Cajun seasoning, sprinkle it over your chips 2 minutes before the cooking time is finished. Check the chicken is cooked all the way through not pink in the middle before serving. Thicker fillets may need an extra few minutes. Serve the chicken, chips and beans with lime wedges on the side. *Recipe written for a dual basket 24000W air fryer with 7.2l capacity So what do YOU like on your loaded chips? Here's what our survey reveals: 1. CHEESE: Cheese came first in our nationwide poll, with 40 per cent of people surveyed saying melted cheddar or gooey mozzarella is their favourite thing to eat on top of chips. Southerners liked it most (44 per cent of people), closely followed by chip-lovers up North (41 per cent) and in the Midlands (36 per cent). 2. BACON: The nation's second-favourite topping, preferred by 27 per cent. Whether it's bits or rashers, that salty bacon flavour goes so well with crispy potato. 3. BBQ SAUCE: It might not be the sauce you'd expect, but BBQ sauce comes a close third in our survey as one of the nation's favourite chip-toppers. Twenty-two per cent of people asked say they like BBQ sauce on their chips, with the biggest fans in the West Midlands (32 per cent) and the North East (31 per cent). Loaded fries: This modern take on chips can involve pretty much anything, from jalapenos to cheese and salsa (or all of the above!) 4. FRIED ONIONS: Fried onions are another top topper, with 22 per cent of households nationwide enjoying sprinkling them on their fries. The biggest appetite for crispy shallots is in the Midlands and Wales, where they're liked by 26 per cent of chip-lovers. 5. GRAVY: There's no North-South divide when it comes to pouring gravy on your chips, with exactly a fifth of both Southerners and Northerners saying it's their favourite topping. Gravy is particularly popular in Wales, where 38 per cent of people surveyed like it on chips but in the North East, astonishingly, not a single person named it as a topper. 6. DIPS: Plenty of people like to drizzle dip on their chips, whether it's sour cream, guacamole or aioli. Sour cream is the most popular, appealing to 12 per cent of chip-lovers, while 11 per cent enjoy guacamole or avocado on top, and 7 per cent opt for aioli. 7. CHILLI: Jalapenos and hot peppers were named a go-to chip-topper by 15 per cent of people surveyed, with those in the North East (31 per cent) the biggest fans of spice. Households in the East Midlands also love chips with a kick: 24 per cent of people chose jalapenos. Sriracha (or hot sauce) is also popular: 8 per cent of people say they drizzle it on their chips. SHOPPING Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Mail Best article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information. Are you sick of poor quality, thin, dull-colored socks that become full of holes in just a couple of months? If so, you need to take a look at London Sock Company. Comfortable and stylish, London Sock Company is on a mission to make feet more fashionable through a series of top-name collaborations. The most recent range is with Hollywood stylist Michael Fisher, who is behind the looks of Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Corden and more of the world's best-dressed men. London Sock Company Block Collection By Michael Fisher Celebrity stylist Michael Fisher channels his love of color theory and his eye for the stylishly unexpected in this London Sock Company collection. These pairs of bold color block will add flair to anyones sock drawer, plus feel comfortable, breathable and durable. These will last years without fading or snagging. Shop The Michael Fisher collaboration, which has launched just in time for Fathers Day gifting, centers around color theory. Fishers idea is that using two clashing colors next to each other pushes the boundaries of whats acceptable and makes our brain register a persons unique look. The Block Collection by Michael Fisher consists of two-tone socks crafted from organic cotton in a beautiful mid-weight ribbed style that will feel comfortable all year round The sock collaboration consists of color mixes such as orange and pink or olive and navy, which are shades that he pairs when pulling together outfits for the red carpet for James Corden and Hugh Jackman. But with the socks costing $30 for a single pair and less if you purchase a gift set, you can dress like a showbiz millionaire on an everyday budget. Fisher explains: What excites me most about color theory is chaotic color pairings that are unharmonious and off-balance. 'A new pair of socks is an instant mood elevator and I feel the same way about color. I want these socks to POP and shock the eye. I want them to make an impression and evoke an emotion.' The London Sock Comapany socks in the Michael Fisher collection sit mid-calf to give the wearer a pop of color with options including orange and pink or violet and lilac All of socks in Fisher's collection are made from 60 per cent organic cotton, 39 per cent polyamide and one per cent elastane, which is a durable mix that will not snag. Theyre breathable, too, keeping the wearer cool from top to toe in summer. Whether styled with chinos for a pop of color or paired with shorts and sneakers for a braver fashion expression, the socks are designed to sit mid-calf and stay there. They wont slip and cause blisters, nor will they hunch up around the ankle and need constant pulling up. The London Sock Company socks will sit mid-calf for pops of color to brighten up your summer look and make you feel alive Once people have bought socks from London Sock Company, they rarely go back to buying them from anywhere else. Proof of this is that there are thousands of five star reviews for the company on Trustpilot. One reviewer who rated them a perfect five wrote: I must say that the London Sock Company has completely transformed my sock game. Their socks are not only incredibly stylish and unique, but they are also extremely comfortable and durable. They're made from high-quality materials that feel soft and cozy on your feet.' Another added: I know I can only give five stars, but I would happily give many, many more. I never dared to dream that any socks could be of such high quality, complete with prompt delivery. They really are beyond your wildest dreams.' Ready for socks that your feet will thank you for and that will make you smile when you look in the mirror? Head to the London Sock Company website now and treat your feet to comfort, style and breathability. Hungarian cartoonist Gergely Dudas, known as Dudolf, shares a new braintease This crafty new puzzle is the perfect way to test your critical thinking while also putting your observational skills to the test. The Hungarian artist Gergely Dudas, also known as Dudolf is back with another mind-blowing brainteaser that is guaranteed to have you puzzled. The popular cartoonist has challenged you to find a total of four doves among the dozens of cockatoos - and it's no easy feat. The challenging puzzle sees a number of cockatoos arranged in close proximity, with some sporting colourful accessories such as scarves and sunglasses. Test your intelligence and your observation skills by spotting a total of four doves among dozens of cockatoos As the white doves are the exact same colour as the cockatoos, it initially appears impossible to spot four of them. The entire artpiece is a continuous conundrum that seems harder and harder the longer you analyse it. However, if you're still baffled, scroll down for a little help in finding the adorable doves. Move your eyes toward the far left side of the image, about a third of the way down to catch the first two doves. Now move over to the extreme right about half way down and then to the near bottom of the artwork to spot the last two. The baffling conundrum has finally been resolved as the four white doves have beenrevealed If you've enjoyed this one, check out another of Dudolf's vibrant puzzles which is set at a party full of various characters dressed in paper hats enjoying a chaotic time. But while each animal holds a glass of fizz, only three of the glasses are empty. Will you be able to seek them out in the fun? A vibrant brainteaser from one of the internet's most popular illustrators has challenged players to find the three empty glasses in a festive party The cartoonist has added character and charm to the puzzle by adding little hats to the various types of animals at the celebration. He has made the glasses tricky to find by colouring the entire background of the scene blue, which is the same shade as the items players need to find. You'll need to have your eagle-eyes trained on the details of the drawing to pick out the glasses from the festivities. Still having no luck? Scroll down to see the solution. The cartoonist has added character and charm to the puzzle by adding little hats to the various types of animals at the celebration. Above, the empty glasses are revealed For another challenge, try this Christmas one from Protectivity Insurance. This one for the eagle-eyed is set at an office Christmas party. Somewhere in the hectic festive scene is a sprig of mistletoe, but will you be able to seek it out of the chaos and frivolities? The time to beat is 14 seconds. Scroll down to see if you can find it among the dancing workers and desks. Insurance company Protectivity has created a trick seek-and-find festive puzzle. Will you be able to find the mistletoe within the office Christmas party scene? From loud festive jumpers and jumping people, to presents and even potted plants, this festive scene is bound to get your Christmas off to a swinging start. But can you find the mistletoe, hiding somewhere is the party scene? If you are struggling, try casting your eyes over the large Christmas tree and looking around the red and white candy canes. If you are struggling, try casting your eyes over the large Christmas tree and looking around the red and white candy canes If you fancy another challenge, Online Mortgage Advisor has created a festive brainteaser to put your observation skills to the test. Just in time for the big day, they have released a special nutcracker edition puzzle, with all your festive favourites. The online advisor has hidden the Christmas nutcracker within a hectic festive living room. Scroll down to see if you can find him, by searching the fireplaces and Christmas sacks and letters in this new design. Online Mortgage Advisor has created festive brainteaser for Christmas/ Seek-and-find puzzle challenges you to find a nutcracker in a festive living room From roaring cozy flames under the mantlepiece to snow globes and woolly hats, this festive imagery features everything you need for a classic Christmas. But, can you spot the cheeky nutcracker hidden within the picturesque scene? If you are struggling, try searching Santa's sacks of gifts. Can you spot the cheeky nutcracker hidden within the picturesque scene? If you are struggling, try searching Santa's sacks of gifts. Try these Yuletide brainteasers from DFS, featuring beloved Christmas items with an interior twist. Just in time for December, DFS has released a series of Yuletide brainteasers, featuring beloved Christmas items with an interior twist. The furniture retailer has hidden some of its most iconic sofas and armchairs within Christmas jumper and wrapping paper patterns. Can you bust these brainteasers by spotting the sofas in the stunning festive designs. Just in time for December, DFS has released a series of Yuletide brainteasers, featuring beloved Christmas items with an interior twist From candy canes to delicious mugs of hot chocolate, this adorable wrapping paper features the very best of Christmas time! But can you spot the three two-seater sofas within the image? If you're still struggling then here is a hint, all three sofas are positioned near branches of holly. If you're still struggling then here is a hint, all three sofas are positioned near branches of holly (pictured) Whether you go for loud and proud or an understated sparkle, everyone loves a Christmas jumper! But can you find the three cosy armchairs hidden in this special design from DFS? One of the armchairs can be found in an ornament youd typically hang on a Christmas tree. Whether you go for loud and proud or an understated sparkle, everyone loves a Christmas jumper! But can you find the three cosy armchairs hidden in this special design from DFS? Are you still struggling? Try looking at the second bubble from the left theres also two smaller sofa's to find! If you still haven't fund them try looking at the top left of the design for another one. Scroll down for the answer! Are you still struggling? Try looking at the second bubble from the left theres also two smaller sofa's to find! Christmas markets are a staple for the holidays, from sweet treats to stocking filler gifts, they are filled with friends, families and couples enjoying the holiday festivities. As the festive season is here, Christmas Tree World has created some fun brainteasers to get you into the festive spirit this year! This seek-and-find puzzle asks you to find the robin in the Christmas market. But spotting the little bird amongst the busy market scene, filled with shoppers and Christmas trees, is not as easy as it sounds. How long will it take you? Scroll down for the answer, but no cheating! As the festive season is here, Christmas Tree World has created some fun festive brain teasers to get you and your family and friends into the Christmas spirit this year The snow covered illustration shows plenty of busy people doing their Christmas shopping. To make it more challenging the robin is hidden within a multitude of colourful trees, houses and people. If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the robin is sitting on one man's presents. To make it more challenging the robin is hidden within a multitude of colourful trees, houses and people The Christmas fun is always accompanied by the touch of cold frost in the air. Christmas Tree World have also created this adorable polar bear scene and asked if you can spot the hidden dog amongst the polar bears. All of the polar bears are huddled together to keep warm, and it looks like there is someone that wants to join in on the fun Scroll down for the answer... Christmas Tree World have also created this adorable polar bear scene and asked if you can spot the hidden dog amongst the polar bears The white bears are all looking the same direction but to make it more challenging some are wearing bunny ears. To make it even more challenging the polar bears are all white and the dog is also. If you are struggling, it may be worth checking the ears on the animals as the polar bears have rounded ears while the dogs are pointed. If you still can't find the pooch try looking to the left centre of the illustration. If you are struggling, it may be worth checking the ears on the animals as the polar bears have rounded ears while the dogs are pointed Another festive illustration by Christmas Tree World could be mistaken for a Christmas card as it is such a pretty scene. The scene is filled with endless Christmas trees that have been decorated with lights and tree toppers. For one of the trees, there is a star that sits on top. Can you spot the star on the Christmas tree? Scroll down for the answer... Another festive illustration by Christmas Tree World could be mistaken for a Christmas card as it is such a pretty scene You can spot many people among the the trees and even a Santa Clause on a scooter. To make it more challenging the star is hidden within a multitude of colourful tree decorations. If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the star is not on the top of a tree like you would expect. Still struggling? Look to the bottom left side of the illustration you might spot it on the bottom of a tree. If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the star is not on the top of a tree like you would expect It comes after online casino Casumo created this spot-the-sparkler brainteaser for Bonfire Night. Catherine wheels, rockets and roman candles create a magical, thrilling display on Bonfire Night. Also known as Fireworks Night or Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night originated from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes failed to blow up the houses of parliament and assassinate the King. This seek-and-find puzzle asks you to find the three hidden sparklers within the firework display. The smaller handheld fireworks are discoverable within the bright, electric night sky, ready to make you jump. Scroll down for the answer, but no cheating! Online casino Casumo has created a thrilling brainteaser for Bonfire Night. Seek-and-find puzzle challenges you to find 3 sparklers in the firework display To make it more challenging the sparklers are hidden within a multitude of vibrant fireworks. It takes the average person two minutes to find the three sparklers, how long will it take you? If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the sparklers are their more common orange colour. If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the sparklers are their more common orange colour. It takes the average person two minutes to find them For Halloween, Online Mortgage Advisor created a spooky pumpkin puzzle to celebrate the eerie time of year. This brainteaser challenges you to find the hidden pumpkin within the haunted bedroom. The teeny pumpkin is hiding somewhere in the ghost-filled room, waiting to jump out of spook anyone who dares to enter. Can you find the hidden pumpkin in this haunted bedroom? Online Mortgage Advisor has created a spooky seek-and-find challenge in time for Halloween To make it extra tricky the company has cluttered the room with boxes, lanterns ad chest of drawers. Scattered between an array of not-so-scary ghosts and moonlit windows is the devilish pumpkin. But it's not that easy to spot the grinning decoration amongst the cobwebs and candles. If you are struggling to spot evil pumpkin face, try looking at the cabinets and chest of drawers. The pumpkin is hidden within this ghost-filled bedroom. Try looking at cabinets and chest of drawers if you are struggling to spot him Online Mortgage Advisor has also shared a second puzzle to help you to delve further into its haunted house. This time, the organisation has tasked puzzlers with searching for another sneaky pumpkin hiding in the kitchen. Avoiding being made into a spiced pie, he is lost somewhere in the chaos as ghosts create their favourite Halloween treats. Delving further into the house, there is another pumpkin hiding in this busy haunted kitchen, but can you find him? Not as spooky as the haunted bedroom, the kitchen is bustling with breads, pies and cupcakes as ghosts and rats prepare for a Halloween party. The company has illustrated a bright design complete with mops, chopping boards and ovens. If you cannot see the pumpkin after one minute, try focusing your attention on the loaves of bread. If you struggle to spot this pumpkin straight away, try looking at the loaves of bread floating through the air The Hungarian artist Gergely Dudas, better known as Dudolf, released a typically playful seek-and-find puzzle showing a pod of dolphins swimming among bottles containing messages. One poignantly reads, 'don't litter', encouraging players to take better care of the environment. Five of the bottles are completely empty. Do you have what it takes to pick them out? A vibrant new brainteaser from one of the internet's most popular illustrators challenges players to find the five empty glass bottles floating in the sea. Can you spot them? The cartoonist has added character and charm to the puzzle by showing one of the dolphins reading one of the letters. He has made the bottles tricky to find by colouring the entire scene in shades of green and blue. You'll need to have your eagle-eyes trained on the details of the drawing to pick out the bottles from the pod. Still having no luck? Scroll down to see the solution. When King Charles visits Kenya later this year, it will be a trip filled with memories of his late mother. Partly this is because Kenya is a key member of the Commonwealth, an organisation close to the heart of Queen Elizabeth. Holding the Commonwealth together in the face of rising republicanism is a priority for the newly crowned King. And it was in Kenya, of course, that his mother heard the news that her father, King George VI, was dead - and that, at the age of 25, she was Queen. The late Queen was in Kenya when she learned of the death of her father, King George VI in 1952. She is pictured driving from the airport after returning to London Queen Elizabeth, aged 25, with Prince Philip, at Treetops, where she heard the news The late Queen was pictured alongside her husband in Kenya the day before she became Queen Elizabeth, now Queen, arrives back in Britain less than a week after flying out to Kenya Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip had arrived there early in 1952 to begin a world tour. They were visiting the Treetops hotel in Aberdare National Park when the news reached her: she entered a treehouse among the branches of a giant mgumu fig tree as a Princess and came down a Queen. The Queen was to visit the country three more times over the course of her reign: in 1972, 1983 and 1991, and it has continued to hold a special significance for the entire Royal family since. When she returned for the first time, she found the country in a very different position to where it had been in 1952. In 1963, the Queens signature had granted Kenya its independence, ending decades of colonial rule which had started with her grandfather, King George V. Almost a decade later, in March 1972, she made another short visit to Kenya to have lunch with Prime Minister Jomo Kenyatta at the State House, Nairobi, where she was bestowed the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart as a symbol of her enduring special status there. During the reign of President Moi, she made two visits. The first was in 1983, when she returned to Sagana Lodge, the place her tour was cut short in 1952. During the five-day official visit, she also lay a wreath on the grave of President Kenyatta, the man who had replaced her as Head of State in 1964. The late Queen next visited the country in 1972. She is pictured with her husband visiting the then President of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta In 1983, the Queen returned to Treetops with her husband, the place where news had reached her of her father's death more than 30 years earlier During the reign of President Moi, the Queen made two visits to Kenya. The first was in 1983, when she returned to Sagana Lodge, the place her tour was cut short in 1952 She is pictured talking with President Moi and Prince Philip before a banquet at the President's official residence in 1983 In 1971, the then Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne undertook an official visit to Kenya The pair went on safari in the Masai Game Reserve in Nairobi where they saw a lion from the back of their jeep Her second trip, in 1991, proved controversial. Mois was a dictatorial, single-party regime and her visit was viewed by some as an endorsement. Over time, Kenya has become significant to the Royal Family as a whole. King Charles has visited on several occasions, for example. In 1971, he and his sister Princess Anne undertook an official visit to the country, during which he took part in a charity polo match. The pair also went on safari in the Masai Game Reserve in Nairobi, where they saw a lion from the back of their jeep and learned about animal conservation. Close to the Treetops Hotel there is a clearing named the Prince Charles Campsite, which is said to be the place where he first grew a beard while on the safari When Kenyatta died in 1978, the then Prince of Wales attended his funeral where there was anxiety over his seat placing, which was very close to the dictator Idi Amin and he visited again in 1987, along with Swaziland and Malawi. Another key royal moment took place in Kenya in October 2010, when Prince William proposed to his long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton in a log cabin while on safari at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, where he had spent part of his gap year almost a decade before. Charles and Princess Anne are pictured in the Masai Game Reserve where they also learned about animal conservation Charles also took part in a charity polo match during the visit. He is pictured alongside Queen Camilla's former husband, Andrew Parker Bowles Princess Anne and King Charles are pictured attending a formal event in Nairobi in February 1971 King Charles was also among the dignitaries attending the funeral of Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta in Nairobi in 1978 Prince William, Royal Patron of Tusk and President of United For Wildlife, is pictured in Lewa with Edward Ndiritu, Head of Security at Kenyas Lewa Wildlife Conservancy He helped rangers lift the head of a bull elephant that had been tranquilised and fitted with radio tracking collar to aid with conservation work Prince William proposed to his long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton in a log cabin (pictured) while on safari at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in October 2010 The then Duke of Cambridge visited again in 2018, as President for United Wildlife and Patron of Tusk Trust, to discuss the illegal trade in wildlife. Other members of the Royal family have also enjoyed a warm relationship with Kenya, with the Earl of Wessex visiting the country last year in support of the Duke of Edinburghs International Award, which operates in more than 130 countries worldwide. During the trip, he planted a tree in honour of his mothers Platinum Jubilee in a spot just 20km from the Treetops Hotel where she became Queen reminding us once again of Kenyas connection with the Royal Family. Sydney Thomas, 20, shared the wild reasons she was kicked out her sorority A former sorority member has revealed the truth behind the rules of Panhellenic culture - just two days after HBO's 'Bama Rush' documentary made bombshell allegations about the University of Alabama's sororities. Sydney Thomas, 20, is a sophomore at the University of Alabama and frequently shares her day-to-day routine as a college student on her TikTok, where she boasts over 355,000 followers. Most recently, the 20-year-old sent viewers back into a deep dive of #BamaRush when she detailed 'ridiculous' reasons she was forced out of her sorority. Her candid confession about her experiences as a sorority girl at Alabama come just days after HBO released its sensational documentary exposing the dark underbelly of Panhellenic culture. And, while Sydney didn't appear in the documentary, she is now lifting the lid on her own experience with one of the university's most popular sororities. The University of Alabama's sorority recruitment process became a viral sensation throughout the past two years after millions tuned in to TikTok to watch hopeful 'sisters' document their desperate attempt to be a part of Panhellenic culture as a part of the #BamaRush trend. Sydney Thomas, 20, is a sophomore at Alabama University, and has revealed the truth behind the rules of Panhellenic culture and why she was kicked out It comes just just two days after HBO'S 'Bama Rush' documentary made bombshell allegations about the University of Alabama's sororities. Pledges are seen during Bid Day 2022 The 20-year-old sent viewers back into a deep dive of #BamaRush when she detailed the 'ridiculous' reason she was forced out of her sorority In a three-part series, Sydney revealed she was kicked out of her sorority because she stood on an elevated surface, went to a bar, and has a large social media following. 'I wanted to come on here and talk to you guys about why I was kicked out of my sorority,' she said before diving into the wild rules. She began by explaining that her sorority, Alpha Phi, had a rule that stated she wasn't allowed to stand on an elevated surface. She said: 'In your first three months of being in a sorority, you aren't allowed to stand on elevated surfaces. 'So, I'm called into a J-board meeting, which is like a judicial board meeting, like a conduct meeting. And basically, they tell me that I was standing on an elevated surface, which I wasn't allowed to do at the time,' she said. Sydney continued: 'At parents' weekend, a band pulls me up on stage and I go up there along with some other girls in my sorority, and I didn't think much of it at the moment.' The college student said that while she knew she couldn't stand on specific elevated surfaces that fraternities presented, she didn't think the stage counted as one. In addition to not being able to stand on an elevated surfaces, Sydney revealed they were also told they couldn't go to bars. In a three-part series, Sydney revealed she was kicked out of her sorority because she stood on an elevated surface, went to a bar, and has a large social media following The 20-year-old added that all of the other girls didn't get kicked out and were just let off with a 'warning' 'So, you're also not supposed to go to a bar during your first three months of being in a sorority. 'But, for me, all of the older girls in the sorority had told me and my friends it was okay. They said, "We did it all last year, they don't really care. It's a rule but no one follows it, so it's fine you can do it." 'We are so new to the sorority that like all these older girls are telling us that this is okay, and those are the girls we are looking up to so obviously we are going to listen to them,' she explained. Sydney said that someone had taken a picture of them and sent it to her sorority board. So, the board then called Sydney and her friends in for individual meetings. The 20-year-old added that all of the other girls didn't get kicked out and were just let off with a 'warning.' She claimed that she was also dropped from Alpha Phi due to her 'large following on social media.' 'They go into the fact that I have a large following on social media, so I'm more of a liability than the other girls,' she said. The HBO documentary further exposed the shocking truth behind Panhellenic culture. Pledges seen on Bid Day 2022 The documentary follows multiple budding sorority members who bond through eating disorders and a hatred for mirrors. Pledges are seen during Bid Day 2022 In the last clip detailing why she was removed from her sorority, Sydney explained how she was kicked out of group messages before even receiving notice she was no longer a member. She explained: 'So I had my meeting, and they tell you that you have to wait three days to receive an email basically explaining your outcome. 'Three days go by, and I haven't received my email yet, I'm laying in bed, and I start getting a bunch of texts from my friends in the sorority and they are like, "Why did you just get removed from the group chat?" Sydney added that she had no idea what was going on and began to 'freak out' because she had yet to receive an email. She reached out to multiple executive members but heard nothing back. The now 20-year-old college student then finally received the email letting her know she was no longer a member. It read: 'After a full review of the information presented during the hearing on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, the Beta Mu Judiciary Board committee voted by a minimum of three-fourths affirmative to terminate your membership with Alpha Phi.' And while her experience in the social club was 'short-lived,' Sydney said she holds 'no hate' for any of the current members or for the sorority itself. In the past, Ex members revealed the sisterhood community revolved around hatred, money and looks, with one member saying they even had their clothing brands checked While people enjoyed watching #BamaRush play out on TikTok last year, it garnered some backlash for the school after viewers noticed that almost everyone who was rushing appeared to be white. Pledges are seen during Bid Day 2022 Many social media users flocked to the comments section of Sydney's video to express how 'ridiculous' and 'insane' Greek Life was. The HBO documentary further exposed the shocking truth behind Panhellenic culture. The filmmaker of 'Bama Rush', Rachel Fleit, told Vice: 'I wanted to create a documentary that was grounded in this culture, this Greek system, and it would serve as this lightning rod to talk about what it means to be a young woman. 'We could talk about feminism, and we could talk about competition between women, body image, racism, sexism, classism, and sexual assault on campus or in general. There were all these big topics that I thought we could explore in the film by going into the Greek system. And we did.' The documentary follows multiple budding sorority members who bond through eating disorders and a hatred for mirrors. Viewers meet California-native Isabelle, who is longing for a sense of belonging and holds back tears as she shares that whispers from the girls' locker room resulted in her developing an eating disorder. She said: 'The pain and anger and sadness don't go away.' On campus, people also meet Holliday who also shares a dislike for her looks and is seen running and doing squats before discussing her stretch marks. Although the sororities promote a loving sisterhood, many of the comments shared that the majority of active members practiced fake niceties. Pledges seen during Bid Day 2022 Many discussed that the sisters 'really hated each other' and would often talk about everyone behind their backs, exhibiting very 'cliquey' behavior. Pledges are seen during Bid Day 2022 'But like, they're so beautiful, because it shows, like, that I'm overcoming something and growing,' she said after deeply examining her cellulite. Gracie OConnor, who is also shown in the documentary, claimed that there was an extreme emphasis on looks. ' She suggested that sororities received their ranks based on how 'hot' the members were. In the trailer, Gracie said: 'The rankings come from fraternity boys. So the top house has the hottest girls.' Also in the trailer, an unidentified woman claimed the University has a 'prominent' history of racism. Another girl added: 'The culture at Alabama is f***ing weird.' Last year, DailyMail.com revealed that an active member even said that she was told to only recruit girls who 'looked like the ones in the chapter already.' Another ex member supported the fact that Greek Life is centered around looks when she shared they were forced to watch slideshows of the potential new members and the majority of the members would 'laugh at the heavier girls.' Many ex sorority members shared the reasons why they dropped the high exclusive sororities in a viral TikTok video The comments regarding the budding sorority member's appearances were unsurprising as Alabama only desegregated their sororities in 2013. Furthermore, The majority of the chapters are filled with practically identical white women with blonde locks and fake tans. Despite the segregation officially ending in 2013, things don't seem to have gotten much better. Makayla Culpepper, a fan favorite from season one, was reportedly dropped from every sorority just days after she revealed she was mixed race. The University of Alabama student, who was initially accused of blackfishing, shared she was mixed race and just a few days later revealed she didn't receive a bid from any of the sororities. Although the University never revealed the reason why Makayla was dropped, many users speculated it was because of her race. According to The Crimson White, University of Alabama sororities were about 89 per cent white in 2021, down only five per cent from 2011. To help fight allegations of racism, the University is now reportedly requiring chapter members to complete diversity training in preparation for rush week. The royal beamed as she watched her youngest child - Prince Hashem- graduate Queen Rania of Jordan looked glamorous as she attended her son's high school graduation in Madaba yesterday. The mother-of-four, 52, looked excited and happy to see her youngest child - Prince Hashem bin Abdullah - graduate and move on to the next chapter in his life. She attended the graduation with her husband, King Abdullah II, Princess Iman and her husband Jameel Alexander Thermiotis, along with Princess Salma and Crown Prince Hussein. The Queen captioned her Instagram post: 'Guys, can we slow down a bit? This mum needs to catch her breath! 'Another proud family moment at Hashem's high school graduation today.' The family have much to celebrate, with Rania's eldest son Crown Prince Hussein and his Saudi Arabian fiancee Rajwa Al Saif due to get married in just a few days time, on 1 June. Queen Rania looked stunning as she wore a plum Johanna Ortiz co-ord with dior heels and a YSL bag for her son's graduation in Madaba She looked stunning as she sported a plum-coloured Illusion Perspective Belted Openback Floral-Print Satin-Jacquard Blouse from Johanna Ortiz which retails for around 767. She then paired this with their matching Fairy Tale Fantasy Floral-Print Satin-Jacquard A-Line Midi Skirt which retails for around 483. She paired her co-ord with a burgundy YSL Sac De Jour Souple Nano Bag, which she has worn on multiple occasions. She tied the look in with Dior's Rose Gold and Blush Mesh Pointed Toe Pumps, which she has also worn before. The Queen's chocolate curled tresses sat below her shoulder and she went for a full-glam makeup look, with shimmery bronze eyeshadow, mascara, pink lipstick and some blush. Her son, Prince Hashem, 18, looked smart in his graduation gown as he stood among his peers. He graduated from King's Academy, a boarding school in Madaba and sported their colours of gold and red on his navy gown. To make matters more special, his father, King Abdullah II, handed him his graduation certificate. The Queen's chocolate curled tresses sat below her shoulder and she went for a full-glam makeup look, with shimmery bronze eyeshadow, mascara, pink lipstick and some blush The family beamed as they celebrated the high school graduate. Pictured L to R: Princess Salma, Queen Rania, Prince Hashem, Abdullah II, Princess Iman and Crown Prince Hussein The Queen posted on Instagram that she needed to 'catch her breath' and said it was 'another proud family moment' Special day: Prince Hashem, 18, looked smart in his graduation gown as he stood among his peers His brother, Hussein bin Abdullah, Crown Prince of Jordan, also took to Instagram to publicly congratulate his brother. He wrote: 'My dearest brother Hashem, I was beyond proud to watch you graduate today! 'Here's to further success at university and a bright future in service of Jordan.' The family have much to celebrate, as Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif are due to get married in just a few days time, on 1 June. They will wed at at Zahran Palace in Amman. The couple have been engaged since August and Queen Rania could not hide her excitement, posting on Instagram at the time: 'I didn't think it was possible to hold so much joy in my heart! King Abdullah II handed his youngest child his graduation certificate, making the day extra special and personal Princess Iman and Crown Prince Hussein look proud as they stand at the graduation ceremony A proud moment: Prince Hashem stands among other graduates of King's Academy in Madaba yesterday The mother-of-four, 52, looked excited and happy to see her youngest child - Prince Hashem bin Abdullah - graduate and move on to the next chapter in his life Queen Rania of Jordan looked glamorous at her youngest child's graduation yesterday The royal family have much to celebrate, as Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif are due to get married in just a few days time, on 1 June The royal looked stunning as she opted for a patterned co-ord which flattered her figure 'Congratulations to my eldest Prince Hussein and his beautiful bride-to-be, Rajwa.' Rajwa received a degree from Syracuse University, New York, and studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles after completing her secondary education in Saudi Arabia. She has worked at an architecture firm in Los Angeles and currently works at Designlab Experience design studio in Riyadh. She is the youngest daughter of Khaled M. Al Saif and his wife, Azza bint Naif Al-Sudairi. The Princess of Wales got stuck in on a play date as she met 'kinship carers', who are raising children that are not their own. Despite her elegant pink trouser suit and white heels, Kate, 41, didn't stand on ceremony and sank to the floor as a group of youngsters ran around playing excitedly. 'Very nice to meet you,' she said, tucking her legs underneath her. The royal was at the Saint Pancras Community Association in Camden, North London to attend a support group session run by the charity Kinship to hear about their experiences of raising the child of a relative or friend. There are more than 162,000 children being raised in kinship care in the UK - double the number in foster care, She got one little boy, Blue, three, hugely excited as they pushed a plastic car to and from each other. The Princess of Wales is accustomed to meeting Brits from up and down the country at royal engagements - but today she was introduced to one particularly special grandmother by her celeb grandson, Professor Green Kate Middleton was effortlessly elegant today in a pretty pink suit as she visited the Foundling Museum as part of her early years work An excited Kate could be seen clapping her hands together as she sat down for a roundtable discussion today During her visit, The Princess and singer Professor Green met trainees who have taken part in the scheme's creative writing programme The same little boy also touched her on the nose with one of his toys and the princess returned the gesture. Another little boy, Daba, three, who is being brought up by his grandmother, Sandra, 58, also brought the princess a popping toy. 'Would you like this?' he said politely as he offered her one of his treasures. 'Oh you are so kind, thank you very much,' she replied. She also admired his Paw Patrol toys. 'Who have you got. Who is your? Is that Skye? 'How do you use them? What do you do with them?' 'Pop!' said the boy. 'Do you pop them like that?' Kate asked. 'I can do that!' he replied. Chatting with the adults she asked the women, some of whom were grandmothers and the others aunties: 'It's a big change isn't it?' 'Yes,' said one. 'It's a bit of a shock to the system. ' 'The shared support must be so important,' the Princess replied. The royal visitor then sat down to meet a group of carers and peer support group leaders from the charity Kinship to talk about their experiences. 'Do they [the children] find it hard amongst their peers at school. Do they feel different? she asked. Maxine, a project worker, said: 'It's important [for the children] to know who they are and where they have come from. 'When certain conversations come up at home about identity we have honest conversations and the support carers receive from these kinds of group is so stabilising for them. The mother-of-three showed her relaxed nature as she sat down on the mat during the visit to the charity today Kate was particularly animated as she spoke with one young boy, handing him toys to play with during the meeting Kate sat on a playmat and passed toys to children as she discussed the important role kinship carers play in a child's development Down-to-earth! The royal showed off her motherly nature as she sat on a play mat during the visit During the discussion, Kate also heard the challenges faced and the support available provided by charities such as Kinship Kate chatted with Kinship Carers and children during the visit in London earlier today Meanwhile the Princess also chatted with those who had been helped by the Kinship organization Singer Professor Green was among those whom Kate spoke to during the engagement in London today 'We are constantly having to educate schools, medical [organisations], people we meet along the journey so that they understand the approaches that need to be take without children. We are very unique. Everyone comes with a default model when it comes to behavioural issues for example, but for our children this is a very unique situation. ' 'Is it education around the role you are playing as kinship careers or education about the needs of the kids?' the princess asked. One carer told her: 'The more awareness there is around kinship care, the better it will be. We are forgotten. Everyone knows what a foster carer is or adoptive parents it but not what we are.' Another added: 'The fact that our children have more than one set of parents can be traumatising for them. There is no set of instruction that come with this.' 'Yes, it's also [about] joining up all those different support networks to make a more holistic approach,' the princess agreed, 'It will result in better support. It's been very inspiring to meet you. ' Before she left, Kate took time to speak to rapper Professor Green - real name Stephen Manderson - who has spoken openly of his love and admiration for his 'Nanny Pat' who brought him up as a child. He explained that his mother, Pat's daughter, was just 16 when she had him. His father was 18 and was only sporadically in his life. Pat, who is now in wheelchair, was with him. 'Lovely to meet you, I've heard so much about you,' the Princess said. Manderson said: 'When my mum gave birth the doctor handed me to my nan and that set the tone for the rest of my life. 'My nan become my guardian when I was three. The first time I heard about Kinship I rang my nan and told her 'did you know you were a kinship carer' and she was like 'what, no?' 'I don't think a lot of people in this situation have heard of this term,' said the Princess. The Princess waved to waiting crowds of royal fans as she left the museum this lunchtime before heading off to another engagement Kate also met artist Grayson Perry, who is a Foundling Fellow ambassador (pictured centre), at the museum today The Princess is patron of the central London museum which tells the history of the Foundling Hospital which in the mid 18th century began caring for children abandoned by their mothers who could not look after them The royal shook hands with attendees at the event and was beaming as she chatted away Kate met with a small group of adoptive and foster parents to hear about the efforts they have undertaken to support young people who have experience of the care system The Princess discussed the importance of ensuring that every child has supportive and loving networks around them The Princess was elegant in a pink suit with white accessories, and appeared overjoyed to be meeting people at the museum today Foundling: Britain's first home for children at risk of abandonment The Foundling Museum in Brunswick Square, London, tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, Britain's first home for children at risk of abandonment. The hospital was founded by philanthropist Thomas Coram in 1739. It was a children's home established for the 'education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children'. Records show that between 1 January 1750 and December 1755, 2,523 children were brought for admission, but only 783 taken in. The Foundling Hospital grew to become a very fashionable charity, and it was supported by many noted figures of the day in high society and the arts. It later moved to a healthier location in the countryside and the original Hospital building was demolished. In 1935, the home was moved to the new purpose-built Foundling Hospital in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. In the 1950s, the Foundling Hospital ceased most of its operations Advertisement 'They are very unfamiliar with it. ' 'Yes, 'Green said. 'It was just family doing what family do. But to know now there is a charity to help people like her is amazing. 'I remember when I went to school and the kids would say 'why is your mum so old?' I would tell them 'that's my nan!' You don't know how to deal with it at that age. 'There were generational differences. We had very different tastes in music she would tell me 'turn that bloody bang bang down' while she turned up her Jason Donovan. 'But honestly she means the world to me. 'I had my mother, but she was young. My father was a gorgeous man but he just wasn't a great parent. 'My nan was my world.' Pat told the princess that she had no support network around her, explaining: 'When he was born I just said 'this is what I am going to do'.' 'It shows just how far having a good relationship can go,' the princess replied. Kate also spoke to Joy, who is now bringing up her eight-year-old grand-daughter on behalf of her eldest son who has mental health issues. 'My youngest son was just going off to university and them, suddenly, she arrived. But I wouldn't change a thing. ' Speaking afterwards all agreed that the princess's visit had been 'encouraging and inspirational'. Sandra, 58, a from Surrey, took on bringing up her maternal grandson, Daba, when he was 14 months old and she was five years off retirement as a nurse. Kate was joined by Professor Green, one of her Shaping Us champions, for the outing today The Princess learnt more about how creative writing had helped people to express their emotions and own lived experiences 'Suddenly I was back to parenting again, sleepless nights, things are a bit creakier, I get more tired. It's very different this time around. The constant need for attention is tough,' she explained. 'I thought 'there have got to be others like me', Googled it and found Kinship and contacted them. They have been so incredibly supportive. 'To have the princess here today to talk to us to understand was Kinship was all about was amazing. 'People are starting to know what it is all about but for her to show a special interest was amazing. 'The fact that she is so interested in children, particularly those of a younger age, is brilliant and it was nice to just sit here and chat about what is important to us. it's important to give our children the tools to cope when they come to adolescence and she gets that. ' The Kinship charity offers emotional and practical support. Its CEO Dr Lucy Peake said: 'It's absolutely phenomenal to have her interest today, Kinship carers are this invisible army who have not really been seen enough, they deserve more recognition and support. So it's meant a lot to everybody here today and all the Kinship carers out there. 'She was so keen to talk to them about what they need. Finding someone else who is walking the same walk as you is so important, as well as getting the right support and advice. ' A police officer rushed to the protester outside the Foundling Museum ahead of Kate's visit As she arrived at the museum, where she will meet with care leavers who are being supported by the organisation, a protestor stepped out into the road holding a sign which read: 'Monarchy is child abuse' Professor Green added: 'I first met Kinship when I did a film last month and I just thought it was so amazing. My Nan did not have that support when I was growing up. it's so important that they get the support. 'There are over twice the number of children in Kinship care than there are in foster care. And the issues they face go beyond just a lack of financial support, they don't get the same leeway at work, their lives are thrown into complete disarray but because they are family it is just assumed that they will take on that role and all the responsibilities that come with it. ' He said of the princess: 'I think Shaping Us [her campaign for the the under 5s] is brilliant. Being a father of a two-year-old boy now myself you realise there is a wealth of information out there and how integral these early developmental years are to the rest of his life. 'Highlighting those formative years and how you develop quicker more before the age of 5 than you do at any other time of your life, and the effect they have on the rest of your life, has become her life's work. She really is passionate about this, she actively cares about it, she's educated herself about it, not just as a mother but as a professional. This is something she has really immersed herself in. you only have to look at the people supporting the campaign - they are at the top of their game - to see how serious this is. 'Bringing those people together has been amazing. All of our collective forces can make a change. She's making really good use of her position to facilutate change. She is so invested in this that I think she is going to do wonders.' Earlier in the day, the Princess told young care leavers she was 'honoured' to meet them and hear about their lives on a visit to a Foundling Museum in London. Kate looked moved by the stories of young people who have left the care system as they opened up about their challenging childhoods. She told them: 'It's extraordinary the journey, all of the experiences that you've gone through that's why you're here. 'Being able to communicate and express how you feel - it's amazing to be able to do this you shouldn't take it for granted - it's fantastic. 'And I feel so honoured to meet all of you, to hear your journeys and also your passions and aspirations.' The future queen was meeting graduates aged between 18 and 29 from the Museum's art and creative writing trainee programmes in the Finding Family exhibition, which explores the different perceptions of family from young people who have been in care. Sitting next to the rapper Professor Green, who was brought up by his grandmother, the Princess nodded along as Charlotte, who grew up in care from the age of seven, read a poem she had written about love. 'Beautifully done,' said Kate as she finished to applause. 'It's so wonderful to hear your authentic expression of that. Is this something you've always loved doing?' Told Charlotte had always loved writing, the Princess replied: 'Keep it up, it's very good. Well done you.' Another graduate, Xiola, 18, told the royal visitor she had been taken into care aged eight and had spent 10 years in the system. She said: 'The most recent foster home I was in, they were really good to me. I had two foster fathers and they were both amazing. They treated me like I was their own. 'I didn't understand how to be loved because I wasn't shown that at home. But they showed me a lot of things that I didn't experience growing up. 'If I was to have kids I know exactly how to raise them and show them the world that I didn't get.' Indika, 18, became emotional as she told Kate how she had acted as the parent to her siblings for many years before being taken into care at 17. 'I can see how hard it is for all of you to talk about it and the experiences you have gone through,' the Princess sympathised. She also heard from Bez, who came to the UK from Iran as a teenager and was placed in care after claiming asylum. Now a father of two, he works as an artist's assistant at the Museum, helping to teach other young people. Kate waved to royal fans who had gathered outside the museum earlier this morning to catch a glimpse of the Princess The royal mother-of-three, who has long made early years a corner stone of her royal work, appeared in high spirits during the outing Kate has dedicated her time to raising awareness of the critical importance of early childhood and in January 2023, with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, launched Shaping Us, a long-term campaign During the meeting, she is set to meet those who have lived in the care system, as well as with foster carers and adoptive parents to hear about their experiences Kate swept her hair into her favourite bouncy blowdry style for the engagement, and opted for a neutral makeup look The Princess has worn the suit on a number of occasions in the past, including to visit the Royal Institution last year The mother-of-three appeared relaxed as she chatted to members of staff outside the museum The Princess has worn the suit on a number of occasions in the past, including to visit the Royal Institution last year. However she added a new 90 belt by luxury London based designer Camilla Elphick for the outing today The Princess will be joined on her visits by Shaping Us champion, Professor Green, who himself was brought up in kinship care He said that before the course: 'I was really shy, I couldn't communicate with people. It opened my eyes to the capabilities that I have got and the value that I can bring to different organisations. 'I've seen a lot of people's lives change just by being given the belief.' 'Was this in a way part of a family in itself for you?' asked Kate. 'Did you feel this gave you part of what was missing? 'Family is all about connections and those meaningful connections that we form and it can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. It sounds like everyone here has found those shared connections.' 'I feel like I have found someone here,' said Indika. The Foundling Museum offers young care-leavers two traineeships each year, an eight-month course in art and a four-month course in creative writing. Trainees are referred by their social workers or charities working with those leaving care and go on to teach family workshops at the Museum and help to teach others coming through the programme. Afterwards Bez said of the Princess: 'To have her actually come and support this is amazing. She's a very nice person, she's very humble and down to earth and it feels quite natural and comfortable to talk to her Asked what her visit meant to young people in care, he replied: 'It means quite a lot because you kind of feel pushed aside to the kerbs of society. Nobody is looking at your talents, your ambitions and your wants and needs are denied. 'It means a lot to people. Not many care leavers have had experiences in even normal social settings so to meet royalty is big.' Upstairs, the future queen met adoptive and foster parents to hear about the challenges they face and the training they undergo. Ryan Lynch, a church pastor and father of two adopted sons, now aged 23 and 21, told her: 'Children coming out of the care system have come from very difficult backgrounds. They are children who need a huge amount of support and looking after. 'It's an ongoing story.' She also heard from the actress Lisa Faulkner, who has an adopted daughter, and Ros Kerslake, a mum of three who has fostered more than 50 children over a decade. (NOTE: We were kicked out for this bit). Ryan, who has also met Queen Camilla through his connection to the Coram children's charity said: 'The fact that they (the royal family) are interested in such a significant social issue, children in care, is remarkable.' Kate also met trustees and supports of the Foundling Museum including the artist Grayson Perry as the charity launched a public appeal to raise the final 1million of the 4.6million needed to secure its long-term home near the site of the original Foundling Hospital. The Hospital was the UK's first children's charity and was founded in 1739 with the support of prominent artists as a home for children whose mothers couldn't keep or care for them. Wearing colourful floral dungarees, Grayson joked that he had gone for a 'smart casual look'. After chatting to Kate, an art history graduate, he said: 'That's quite a unique thing you know that Handel and Coram and Hogarth got together to set up this place - the Foundling Hospital. 'Nowadays with telethons on the telly we take it for the granted that culture is going to help. These were the guys that almost started the idea of Live Aid - they did Live Aid in the 18th century.' He said about Kate: 'This place represents what I know of her interests...it's art, museum, young people, creativity and the difficulties that kids face, this place has all of that, that's why it's a good fit. 'People talk about art like it's some frivolous added on extra, I always say it's a broad church, we can go from the most serious modern opera to a comedy club and that's culture - you wouldn't want to be without it.' Prince Albert of Monaco, 65, has opened up about friendship with King Charles As two princes who were both bachelors in the 1970s, Prince Albert of Monaco and Prince Charles have developed a lifelong friendship. Albert, 65, who is married to Princess Charlene, 45, revealed that the newly crowned King joked about their strong bond at a reception attended by foreign royals and dignitaries to mark his Coronation at Buckingham Palace earlier this month. He dished about more behind-the-scenes Coronation anecdotes in an interview with Monaco Matin earlier this week, saying that Charles had joked to him that they were 'old companions' and would be put together at events because they'd be the only bachelors. The King was 31 when he tied the knot with his first wife, the late Princess Diana, in 1981, while Albert was 53 when he wedded Princess Charlene in 2010. King Charles joked about his strong bond with Prince Albert at a reception attended by foreign royals and dignitaries to mark his Coronation in Buckingham Palace earlier this month Opening up about the fun exchange him and the King had, Albert said: 'He reminded me that we are old companions of weddings and funerals.' The royal explained that him and Charles would often be invited to events where people attended in pairs. Because Charles and Albert were both often attending events alone they would be placed 'next to each other', he added. The Monaco royal added that him and the King also chatted about their common interests in the environment and conservation. Albert added that Charles cannot talk about this subject, which is dear to his heart, as much as he used to because he has to remain politically neutral. The Monaco prince and the British King have enjoyed a close relationship over the years. Albert was the first European royal to confirm their attendance at King Charles' Coronation, and attended the late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral last September. Ahead of the event, back in January, he spoke fondly of the British King ahead of his May 6 Coronation, calling him 'a very educated man and someone with a great sense of humour'. King Charles joked that Albert and him and were 'old companions'. Pictured together at the wedding of Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit in 2001 Prince Albert and the then Prince of Wales in Dorset in 2006 Charlene and Albert both attended the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 (pictured together at the event) Speaking to PEOPLE, Albert confirmed he and his wife Princess Charlene would attend, adding: 'I'm certain that it's going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one.' The event will be amongst the highest profile attended by Charlene since her recent illness, which saw her spending 11 months away from the Mediterranean principality in her native South Africa, undergoing treatment for an unspecified condition. Albert added: 'We've maintained contact since His Majesty became King, but I haven't talked to him personally since the Queen's funeral.' The prince, who is looking forward to attending the King's Coronation, added: 'I'm certain His Majesty will add his own "personal touches" to the ceremonies, but what those will be, I'm sure I don't know.' Prince Albert went on to reveal that himself and his wife Princess Charlene would definitely be at the ceremony, however their eight-year-old twins Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella might be 'too young'. News of the couple's attendance comes after Prince Albert praised his wife for 'turning it around in an incredible way' after her long-running health battle. The Repair Shop viewers broke down in tears last night as the team restored a 57-year-old toy Lorraine Thomas, from Llandudno, Wales, lost her twin brother Mark in a road accident when she was 21 years old. Arriving at the Repair Shop's headquarters in Chichester, the grieving sister explained that she couldn't bear to part ways with Mark's toy donkey - even though it was falling apart. When they were born, Lorraine's parents gave her a cuddly toy which she named 'Poodle' while Mark had 'Donkey'. She explained: 'Donkey is my connection with Mark. He absolutely adored him, and went everywhere with him.' 'He was like a comfort toy, I think we lost our mum when we were seven and Donkey helped him through the tough times.' Although Lorraine said she would never get over losing her twin at such a young age, she added: 'You just have to learn to live with it.' As such, Lorraine said she has become incredibly attached to the toy - which had lost its eye and was shedding its original stuffing. The episode - which first aired in 2021 - shows vintage toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell to great lengths to make Donkey look as good as new again. To begin with, the pair turned the toy inside out to give Donkey a new felt lining. As well as stitching up the holes, Amanda then reworked the toy's 57-year-old metal framework, which allows Donkey to stand. After re-stuffing the toy, Julie completed the finishing touch on the restored toy by sewing on a new set of eyes. When they began the project, the restorers reached out to the Merrythought and were delighted when the toy manufacturer tracked down the original set of eyes that were designed for this particular model. Lorraine Thomas (pictured) appeared visibly emotional as she was reunited with her late brother's beloved soft toy after the restoration Pictured: what the 57-year-old soft toy looked like when Lorraine brought it into the team at The Repair Shop Pictured: Lorraine and her late brother Mark when they were children. Mark sadly passed away at the age of 21 in a road accident Julie said: 'We've got these perfect, perfect original eyes in here. 'To think that these were actually made for the Merrythought company for these donkeys back in the 1950s.' Amanda added: 'We have been itching to use them as they are so rare and so unique. 'And to be able to put the original type of eye into the toy that it was meant for is just perfect.' The only aspect of the toy the two women didn't touch were some stitches Mark had done on Donkey's back. Vintage toy restorers Amanda Middleditch (pictured) starting by giving Donkey a new felt lining Amanda also reinforced the toy's metal frame and then added more of the original stuffing so Donkey could stand again Vintage toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell finished off the project by sewing on two eyes which were designed for this exact toy in the 1950s Pictured: the team gave the priceless toy a blue bow for the unveiling at the Repair Shop headquarters When Lorraine returned to the Repair Shop headquarters, she admitted it was 'weird' not having Donkey in the house and said she'd found herself thinking more about her late brother. As the restored toy was unveiled, Lorraine looked visibly emotional to see the Donkey looking as good as new again. Holding back tears, she gushed it was 'wonderful' and walked over to stroke Donkey's ears. 'Gosh, this is amazing,' Lorraine said. 'Hello Donkey! Oh gosh, that's wonderful. Really wonderful, thank you so much.' Addressing the toy, she joked: 'Look at you, you can see me now with those lovely big eyes!' The episode - which first aired in 2021 - left viewers in tears as Lorraine was reunited with her late brother's favourite toy Needless to say, the emotional reunion also struck a chord with viewers at home. One tweeted: 'Why does the Repair Shop always make me cry when there's a person with a stuffed toy?' Another added: 'You can tell the connection to her brother means so much to Donkey's owner.' 'Only The Repair Shop can get you emotional about a wonky donkey,' a third said. Meanwhile, a fourth said: 'Not sure I'm emotionally strong enough today for The Repair Shop and that's before Donkey...' After the show aired for the first time, Lorraine told North Wales Live that she had been approached by members of the public to discuss the episode. Describing the 'amazing' reaction, she added: 'Ive had lots of lovely messages and people have been stopping me in the street, even complete strangers. 'People have been coming into the shop saying how touched they were by the programme.' European royal, 16, was joined by her extended family for the religious service The Spanish Royal Family put on a glamorous display at Princess Sofia's Confirmation ceremony in Madrid today by opting for outfits in varying shades of pink. Princess Sofia, 16, proved she's a fashion force in the making as she dazzled in a fuchsia jumpsuit for the religious ceremony. The European royal opted for a show-stopping hot pink outfit to attend the ceremony at the Church of la Asuncion de Nuestra Senora in Madrid. Queen Letizia and King Felipe's youngest daughter chose a wide-legged one-piece for her big day. The vibrant sleeveless jumpsuit featured a small cut-out right above the waist and had an elegant criss-cross top . Princess Sofia of Spain, 16, proved she's a fashion force in the making this afternoon as she opted for a bold pink jumpsuit for her The stunning young royal completed her ensemble with a pair of nude Mary Jane-style flats and a light pink clutch bag with gold studs. Sofia styled her long brown hair in loose waves and opted for minimal makeup for the religious service. Along with a few coats of mascara, Sofia added a sweep of rosy pink lipstick. Meanwhile, Queen Letizia, 50, looked every inch the proud parent for her daughter's Confirmation. Matching with her youngest daughter, the mother-of-two donned a chic light pink crepe top with voluminous sleeves. She then tucked this into some white culottes and finished off her outfit with some matching espadrille wedges. Oozing effortless glamour, Letizia was pictured with a brown smokey eye and a nude lip. The Queen completed her sophisticated look with some gold dangly earrings and a white leather handbag with a gold chain. Queen Letizia was pictured leaving the church arm-in-arm with her mother-in-law Sofia and her own mother Paloma Queen Letizia was seen gushing over a royal fan's baby outside the church following her daughter's confirmation Princess Sofia of Spain paired her bright pink jumpsuit with a nude clutch bag with gold studs for the occasion Letizia's mother Paloma Rocasolano carefully removes a piece of hair from her daughter's face outside the church Princess Sofia of Spain (left) pictured arriving at her Confirmation at Church of la Asuncion de Nuestra Senora in Madrid with her mother Queen Letizia (centre) and older sister Princess Leonor (right) What's more, Letizia's mother-in-law Sofia, 84, also appeared to get the fashion memo as she opted for a pretty light pink blazer with an intricate floral pattern. Meanwhile, Letizia's eldest daughter Princess Leonor, 17, wore a sophisticated red floral dress with blue suede espadrilles. Tying into the dress code, Letizia's mother Paloma Rocasolano, 71, looked elegant in a salmon tweed jacket and skirt which she paired with a grey velvet clutch. King Felipe, 55, looked dapper in a dark grey suit while Letizia's father Jesus Ortiz was suitably smart in a navy style. Following the ceremony, Letizia, Paloma and her mother-in-law Sofia walked out of the church arm-in-arm. King Felipe and Queen Letizia posed with their two daughters ahead of the religious service this afternoon Pictured: Princess Sofia, Queen Letizia and Princess Leonor seen arriving for the religious ceremony The family-of-four were joined by King Felipe's mother Sofia (far left), 84, and Letizia's parents Paloma and Jesus Ortiz (right) Mother-of-two Letiziia donned a chic light pink crepe top with voluminous sleeves while Paloma looked sensational in an orange tweed co-ord Pictured: Princess Leonor puts her arm around her grandmother Sofia as they enter the church with Paloma and Felipe Princess Leonor seen sharing a loving moment with her grandmother Sofia as they enter the church together Before leaving to enjoy their private celebrations, a royal fan's adorable baby caught Letizia's eye in the crowd - and the Queen couldn't help but go over and say hello. The mother-of-three was pictured cooing over the little one and stroking their cheek while exchanging pleasantries with their mother. Last week, Felipe, Letizia and Sofia travelled to Wales to celebrate Leonor's graduation from UWC Atlantic College. In one picture, Leonor could be seen proudly showing her graduation certificate up in front of her. The freshly graduated royal picked a hot pink jacket dress for the ceremony - which had cut-outs on the sleeves. King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia all made the journey from Spain to congratulate Princess Leonor, 17, who is the heir to the throne, as she has just completed her education at UWC Atlantic The Spanish royal family were beaming and took a selfie to mark the occasion of Leonor's graduation Letizia looked effortlessly elegant in a white suit which she paired with a silky blush pink top while Felipe was dapper in a black suit. One sweet snap showed Sofia, who was wearing a powder blue dress - hugging her big sister close. In another picture, media savvy Letizia gives the camera her best pout as the family pose for a selfie. The images were shared by the Spanish royal court on Twitter to announce the heir-to-the-throne's graduation. They captioned the post: 'The King and the Queen, the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofia, after the graduation ceremony for the Princess of Asturias at the UWC Atlantic College of Wales, the educational institution where she completed her International Baccalaureate studies.' A man who underwent three leg-lengthening surgeries to look taller, has admitted he didn't feel 'masculine' enough before the procedures took place. Leon, 21, from Germany, took to Tiktok to express his thoughts on the limb-lengthening procedure that saw him gain an incredible seven inches. The man said it 'sucked' to be shorter and shared that his initial height of 5'8 affected his self confidence because 'there are women who are taller.' The surgery took place in Istanbul, and a clip outlining the story has racked up millions of views on TikTok. In a clip posted to his TikTok account before the surgeries, he said: 'For me, 1.70m is short, honestly it affects my self-confidence. Leon, a 21-year-old man from Germany took to Tiktok to share that he didn't feel 'masculine' before his three leg-lengthening surgeries 'I don't feel masculine. There are women who are 1.75m or even taller. You always look up to people that are taller than 1.80m. It sucks and it brought me down a lot. 'Nowadays a lot of people are over 1.80m, and generally this feeling of being short brings me down so I am grateful that this opportunity exists. The fitness fanatic went on to say that the procedure had been a long time coming, as he had 'very, very short' lower legs and that in pictures, he looked like a 'dwarf.' He added: 'In general, I try to avoid discos, bars and places where there were many people. For example, shoes. Best example. I always look for shoes with the highest heels.' 'I feel very bad with shoes that only have a 2cm heel. The most important thing for me as a man is to feel self-confident, free and content. The fitness fanatic went from 5'8 to 6'3, gaining a whopping seven inches in height 'Me as 1.80cm, I can't even imagine what that feels like. To say height doesn't matter is a lie. You can say what you want but body height is very important. 'When you have friends who are bigger than you, you think "why am I so small?" You look up all the time, it's annoying and mentally stressful.' Just before the video ends, dad Leon, who seemed to support his son's decision, assures him by saying: 'I'm very confident that Leon will achieve his goal.' Leg-lengthening procedures are reportedly on the rise and have become popular among men, even though they can cost thousands of Pounds. The surgery itself is no easy feat as it requires intentionally breaking the leg bone before fixing it to a special frame. The process begins with an operation called an osteotomy, in which an orthopedic surgeon cuts the bone so it can be lengthened. With the support of a frame, the leg is then stretched, allowing for new bone to form in between the two broken ends of bone. It doesn't happen overnight either, as the bones, skin, and nerves will need time to stretch out over time, until the leg is finally able to support its new weight. On the other hand, with leg-shortening surgery, you can expect a doctor to remove a section of bone from the middle of your leg before inserting metal plates and screws or a rod to hold the bone in place while it heals. The Armstrong primary school pupils wore crowns when they met the royals King Charles and Queen Camilla met their mini-mes during their visit to County Armagh today. Charles, 74, and Camilla, 75, are in Northern Ireland as part of a two-day trip. Outside St Patrick's Cathedral, in Armagh, school children from Armstrong primary school were waiting to meet them. As Camilla made her way along the row of pupils, she came across two children - a boy and a girl - who were wearing crowns. The Queen said: 'Hello, what's your name?' to which the girl responded, 'Camilla.' The Queen looked excited to introduce the King to their mini-mes, who were sporting crowns It's clear the royal was not expecting that response, as she exclaimed 'Camilla!' but what's more, the boy next to her was called Charlie. The Queen laughed and said: 'Where is [Charles]? We'll have to introduce you. 'Goodness me, isn't that funny, we've got the same names.' Camilla then touched their crowns and said: 'You've got very smart crowns on, a little bit lighter than the one I had on. 'They look pretty cool with all the jewels.' The Queen then brought Charles to the children and he smiled as he shook both of their hands. The children - named Camilla Nowawakowska and Charles Murray - looked nervous but equally excited as they met the royals. Charles and Camilla met with people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts during a visit to Market Theatre Square. They shook hands Rebekah Busby and gave her golden-doodle Teddy a pet, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. Camilla said to the children: 'You've got very smart crowns on, a little bit lighter than the one I had on' The children - named Camilla Nowawakowska and Charles Murray - looked nervous but equally excited as they met the royals 'We've been here since 8.50pm, so it's a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didn't we Teddy? '(Camilla) said 'he's absolutely lovely'. I think the King said 'Oh my goodness, look at this dog!'' She described the atmosphere as 'unreal', and that they would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. The King, 74, visited St Patrick's Cathedral where met representatives from the Church of Ireland, the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Irish Council of Churches. The Queen, 75, visited the Armagh Robinson Library, which is home to a number of local archaeological items, historical archives and fine art, as well as books. It is the first time that the King and Queen are visiting Northern Ireland since Charles' crowning on May 6. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. 'I did just want to say before we leave that it's been the greatest pleasure to join you here today,' he said. 'I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which I'm so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. 'But if I may say so it's been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. Charles gave a golden-doodle, named Teddy, a stroke. He had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by Owner Rebekah Busby said: 'We've been here since 8.50pm, so it's a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didn't we Teddy?' Rebekah said that Camilla told her Teddy was 'absolutely lovely' and she also thinks Charles said 'Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' The King and Queen have arrived in Co Armagh on their second day of engagements in Northern Ireland 'But I've told them that if they don't pass their exams, it's bound to be my fault,' he joked. 'But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse, and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland.' He said this 'provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here'. 'So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope,' he concluded. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was a picture in pink today as she stepped out for a working visit in Nijmegan. The-mother-of-three, 52, was pictured strutting her stuff in a gorgeous pink co-ord as she gracefully waved to the cameras. The stylish royal displayed an air of class as she made a solo trip to tech firm NXP Semiconductors to award the company with the Koning Willem I prize. The queen was first spotted rocking the Natan two-piece back in 2020 when she presented awards to winners of the Appeltjes van Oranje fund in Hilversum, Netherlands. Today, she re-sported the high end brand's deep pink 'Mia' v-neck shirt, which she elegantly paired with their 'Motus' wide-leg trousers. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 52, paid a solo visit to NXP Semiconductors today to award the company with the Koning Willem I prize The colour-blocking queen strutted her stuff in a stylish pair of patent nude heels with a bow tie on top Known for her love of colour blocking, the fashionista teamed the look with a pair of patent nude heels, which were gorgeously decorated with a large bow on top. The queen further impressed by carefully syncing her shoes with a nude clutch bag and orange drop-down earrings. She sparkled in an array of jewellery pieces, including one gold and one silver stone-set bracelet upon each wrist, as well as a chunky orange ring to match. Queen Maxima topped off the look with freshly manicured nails painted in off-white, as her engagement ring dazzled on her ring finger. For her make-up, the natural beauty donned a barely-there base, with smoked-out eyeliner, a dollop of mascara and a rosy pink lip. The fashionable monarch put on a classy display as she greeted all who attended the event Maxima was in town to award NXP Semiconductors the Koning Willem I Award for which she is the honorary president of the Koning Willem I Foundation She was visibly intrigued by the happenings of the event which took place at the Noviotech Campus in Nijmegen Maxima was visibly intrigued by the day, as she was snapped meeting and greeting all who attended the event. The fashionable monarch was in town to pay a working visit to Dutch semiconductor designer and manufacturer, NXP Semiconductors at Noviotech Campus in Nijmegen. The company won the Koning Willem I Award for which Queen Maxima is the honorary president of the Koning Willem I Foundation. For her make-up, the natural beauty donned a barely-there base, with smoked-out eyeliner, a dollop of mascara and a rosy pink lip She dazzled in an array of jewellery pieces, including one gold and one silver stone-set bracelet upon each wrist NXP Semiconductors (NXP) is a Dutch semiconductor designer and manufacturer with headquarters in Eindhoven, Netherlands Queen Maxima is pictured gracefully chatting with the staff of NXP Semiconductors Her attendance at the event marks a very busy week for the Argentina-born monarch, as she dazzled while attending a course to learn about debt relief methods in Apeldoorn yesterday. The trend-setter went to an Aventus MBO (secondary Vocational Education and Training) course which focused on three debt relief methods: Financial education, advice to entrepreneurs and assistance to people under administration. These are being scaled up throughout the Netherlands in collaboration with SchuldenlabNL, an organisation aimed at tackling debt and the pressure which surrounds it. The Dutch royal was pictured smiling as she greeted people at the event and engaged in conversation. Some of her younger fans looked particularly excited to see her, as she posed for selfies with them. Queen Maxima stunned in a floral patterned pink, purple and red dress which sat just above her knee. She's made heads turn during several events at the annual Cannes Film Festival - and Emma Weymouth didn't show any signs of stopping yet. The Marchioness of Bath, 37, caught the eye in a shimmering sheer gown as she attended the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes 2023 sponsored by Aston Martin tonight. Leaving little to the imagination, the former Strictly Come Dancing star sparkled in the daring see-through gown at the occasion, which took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes, in France. Emma looked remarkable in the floor-length number, which boasted a sexy front-plunge to offer a glimpse of her cleavage. She showcased her slender physique in the figure-hugging frock, which she teamed with an elegant feathered cape. The Marchioness of Bath, 37, caught the eye in a shimmering sheer gown as she attended the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes 2023 sponsored by Aston Martin tonight Adding even more glitz to her dazzling look, the mother-of-two sported an eye-catching diamond necklace and matching drop earrings. She completed her blue carpet moment with a smattering of glamorous makeup, while styling her tresses sleek and straight. On Tuesday, Emma continued her Cannes Film Festival experience in a stunning red evening gown, featuring a plunging neckline and a notable thigh-high slash, as she stepped out at the Chopard Art Gala. Looking typically elegant, she accessorised with a lavish diamond necklace and matching hoop earrings, and wore her hair in a low bun. The mother-of-two opted for smokey eyes with thick liner and a touch of blush on her cheeks, paired with highlighter to accentuate her pretty features. On Monday, Emma dazzled on the cream carpet in Cannes in a scarlet Chopard gown encrusted with gems as she attended an exclusive event. The Marchioness of Bath stole the show in the embellished, floor-length gown which she wore with a chiffon train ahead of the Vogue party last night. She posed for snaps on the balcony ahead of the event, hosted by Vogue and Chopard, at the Hotel Martinez during the Cannes Film Festival. Leaving little to the imagination, the former Strictly Come Dancing star sparkled in the daring see-through gown at the occasion, which took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes, in France Emma looked remarkable in the floor-length number, which boasted a sexy front-plunge to offer a glimpse of her cleavage Emma showcased her slender physique in the figure-hugging frock, which she teamed with an elegant feathered cape While at the party, she brushed shoulders with the likes of British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, Maya Jama and Irina Shayk. Her show-stopping look comes hours after the Marchioness donned another sequin gown to attend a different event in Cannes. Emma looked effortlessly glamorous on the Club Xero red carpet at Cannes' Palais des Festivals. She struck the perfect chord between glitzy and sophisticated in the silver and black dress, which featured a long flowing skirt. She accentuated her enviably toned arms in the sleeveless, V-neck ensemble which is perfect for the early summer weather in France. Emma Weymouth is married to Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth. Following King Charles's Coronation earlier this month, the couple were pictured having a night out at exclusive club LouLou's in London. The former Strictly Come Dancing star covered the top of her stunning ensemble with a pretty white flower, holding Viscount Weymouth's hand as they stepped out together. Emma has been married to Ceawlin since June 2013, with the couple sharing sons John, six, and Henry, four. The boys' official titles are The Honourable John Alexander Ladi Thynn and The Honourable Henry Richard Isaac Thynn. On her wedding day, Emma became the first black marchioness in British history. Australian foodies have gone wild for a new European chocolate brand that has launched Down Under. Tony's Chocolonely, has been dubbed the 'best chocolate in the world', by Aussies who have rushed to supermarkets to grab an $8 bar. The chocolate, hailing from the Netherlands, has been available in boutique stores but recently hit the shelves of Woolworth's and Coles, to the delight of many hungry Aussies. It's already hugely popular throughout Europe, with many Australians having heard the hype online. 'This is the best chocolate I've ever eaten,' Melbourne-based reviewer AngeEats said. Scroll down for video Australian foodies have gone wild for a new European chocolate brand that has launched Down Under Coles offers four different flavours of the chocolate across 200 Australian stores. While Woolworth's has seven different flavours available across 180 stores. The chocolate bar was first launched 13 years ago in the Netherlands, by investigative journalist Teun Van der Keuken. Teun - also known as Tony - discovered that illegal child labour and modern slavery are still commonplace in cocoa farms in West Africa. From this investigation, he decided to create the ethical chocolate brand. Tony's Chocolonely, has been dubbed the 'best chocolate in the world', by Aussies who have rushed to supermarkets to grab an $8 bar. 'This is the best chocolate I've ever eaten,' Melbourne-based reviewer AngeEats (right) said After launching in Down Under, Aussie fans have taken to social media to brand it the 'nicest chocolate ever' and '10 times better than Cadbury'. 'One of the best chocolates out,' wrote one person. 'So much better than any Australian chocolate,' commented another. 'Love this chocolate. Every time I've been to Europe the last few years I bring back a few bars,' said a third. Coles are selling the chocolate for $8 for a 180g bar However, others were concerned about the price tag. 'I enjoyed this chocolate, but will buy when its on sale,' said one. 'It's really good but not worth the price,' added another. 'If I spend $8 and its not the best tasting chocolate that Ive ever tried,' commented a third. The chocolate has a higher price point due to keeping a slave-free chocolate chain. A mum-of-12 has shared the cruel comments she gets online from vile trolls about her family and how she's learnt to brush them off. Zoe Sullivan shares her life as a mum to nine girls and three boys, including two sets of twins, on social media but is often judged by people who claim she is using her kids as a 'cash cow' and even 'starving' them. Users have attacked the 44-year-old making comments about her children's weight and that it's 'irresponsible' to keep having kids but the mum has learnt to block out the noise. Zoe's brood consists of Elizabeth, 18, Olivia, 16, twins Isabelle and Charlotte, 15, Noah, 13, Evangeline, 11, Tobias, 10, twins Leah and Erin, seven, Agnes, five, Joseph, four, and baby Florence, one. The Scottish mum told The Sun people criticise her and her husband Ben, 48 for having such a large family but said the kids are well provided for. Scroll down for video Zoe Sullivan (pictured)shares her life as a mum of 12 on social media but is often judged by people who claim she is using her kids as a 'cash cow' and even 'starving' them Zoe's brood consists of Elizabeth, 18, Olivia, 16, twins Isabelle and Charlotte, 15, Noah, 13, Evangeline, 11, Tobias, 10, twins Leah and Erin, seven, Agnes, five, Joseph, four, and baby Florence, one 'We provide for them financially, mentally, physically we provide everything they need,' she said. 'For us, no it's not irresponsible (to have so many children).' Zoe said she used to take the mean comments as a 'personal attack' but has become better at ignoring the negativity as she shares her family life online. The mum has been open about her battle with internet bullies on Instagram but says she is proud of each of her 'beautiful, kind, thoughtful' children. 'I spent so many years trying to justify having a large family, almost apologising sometimes because it goes against the 'norms' of society. The truth is I never liked being 'normal' anyway,' she said in a video. The mum has been open about her battle with online bullies on Instagram saying she is proud of each of her 'beautiful, kind, thoughtful' children Zoe said she used to take the mean comments as a 'personal attack' but has become better at ignoring the negatively as she shares her family life online The parents spend 200 or AU$378 on food and groceries each week, which she said is a struggle to store, and usually have their Christmas budgets in order by May each year Zoe's saving hacks The mother-of-12 revealed the simple hacks she uses to save on money. Shops in the evening for discounted items Got saving cards for supermarkets to get extra offers Only using the washing machine once a day Doesn't use tumble dryer when she can Only buys meat for two meals a week Re-uses what any thing food she has left over Invest in family TV subscription instead of going to the cinema Do family field trips to beauty spots next to house instead of travel Hand me down clothes Advertisement 'I used to find myself constantly trying to explain being the butt of people's jokes and putting up with the same awful comments time and time again. The fact is we couldn't be more proud of the amazing family we have created.' In another post she hit back at her critics warning them not to 'question her loyalty to her children' or if she 'has their best interests at heart'. 'Our whole lives revolve around doing better for them, in order to give them the best life we can, and we may not be where we want to be just yet, but we work hard every single day to try and get there!' she said. The parents spend 200 or AU$378 on food and groceries a week, which she said is a struggle to store, and usually have their Christmas budgets in order by May each year. Ben works to bring in an income for the family of 14 while Zoe stays at home to look after the kids and is 'hands on immediately' with the household responsibilities when he gets home each day. Zoe, who has spent a collective seven and a half years of her life pregnant, admits neither she or Ben 'knew what they were doing' when they welcome their eldest Elizabeth 18 years ago. 'I've never got to a point where I've gone, 'actually, I won't have any more'. I think that part of me is broken,' she said. 'Each pregnancy has been a really special time, not just for me but for everybody.' Ever been puzzled about how to say the words scribbled on your doctor's note? You're not alone. Millions of us struggle to decipher the medical lingo let alone actually say it out loud. Luckily for all of us, GP and medical nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer has today shared with MailOnline readers exactly how we should pronounce seven commonly mispronounced terms. Tinnitus (TIN-it-us) This condition is pronounced 'TIN-it-us', as opposed to taking the softer-sounding ending of tonsilitis. It is a term used to describe hearing noises which come from inside your body, rather than an outside source. Tinnitus is often described as hearing 'ringing in the ears' but it can also trigger buzzing, whooshing or hissing sounds. While it is not clear what causes tinnitus, there are many conditions it is linked to. These include anxiety and diabetes, as well as Meniere's disease (a rare inner ear condition that can affect your balance and hearing which is incurable). Around one in seven Brits has persistent tinnitus, according to Tinnitus UK, while a tenth of 10 Americans suffered tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the last year, says to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Diphtheria (dif-THEER-ee-uh) The highly contagious infection is pronounced as 'dif-THEER-ee-uh', with the 'ph' taking an F sound like in phone. The serious illness can be fatal, especially for children. But babies and youngsters have been routinely vaccinated against it since the 1940s. To avoid being struck down by the infection in places of the world where it has been detected in the last five years, such as Indonesia, India and South America, it is advised to get fully vaccinated before travelling. The illness, which affects the nose, throat and sometimes skin, is spread through coughing and sneezing. Oophorectomy (oh-uh-fuh-WRECK-tuh-mee) This surgical procedure the removal of one or both ovaries is pronounced 'oh-uh-fuh-WRECK-tuh-mee', instead of an 'oof' sound. Ovaries can need to be removed because of endometriosis and cancer, as well as pelvic inflammatory disease. The procedure, which can last up to four hours, can also be carried out in a precautionary manner for women carrying mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which are known to raise the risk of cancer. Endometriosis is where tissue similar to that found in the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Pelvic inflammatory disease is caused by a bacterial infection that's spread from the vagina or cervix to the reproductive organs, such as the womb and ovaries. Periodontitis (pay-ree-oh-don-TIE-tiss) Gum disease's scientific name (periodontitis) is pronounced 'pay-ree-oh-don-TIE-tiss'. If not treated, the serious infection caused by a build-up of plaque can spread to bone and lead to permanent tooth loss. Gum disease's scientific name (periodontitis) is pronounced 'pay-ree-oh-don-TIE-tiss' It starts as gingivitis. A common sign of this is bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth. Other typical symptoms of periodontitis include bad breath, receding gums and changes in tooth position. Around half of the UK and US population have periodontitis of varying severity, experts estimate. Pica (PIKE-uh) This eating disorder is pronounced 'PIKE-uh' not 'PEE-ka'. This is when a person compulsively eats things that aren't food and don't have any nutritional value or purpose. These foods typically include ash, eggshells, pebbles and soap. It typically affects young children, pregnant women and those with certain mental health conditions, such as autism and schizophrenia. Surprisingly, it is a common condition but medics have not yet been able to track exactly how many people live with it. This could be because many feel too embarrassed or ashamed to talk about it and often go through life without treatment. If the condition is left without treatment, it can lead to more serious problems such as anaemia, lead poisoning and irregular heart rhythms. Rosacea (roe-ZAY-shuh) This skin condition, suffered by millions, is pronounced 'roe-ZAY-shuh'. The 'S' sounds more like a 'Z'. Rosacea mainly affects the face and is more common in women and among those with fairer skin. Rosacea mainly affects the face and is more common in women and among those with fairer skin First signs include redness across the nose, cheeks and forehead, as well as a burning sensation when using water or skin care products. As it progresses, it can cause dry skin and crusts around the roots of eyelashes. There are some treatments, such as oral and topical medications. Rosacea affects about one in ten people in the UK and US, usually in middle age. Oesophageal (iss-off-uh-JEE-ole) This term, related to the oesophagus, is pronounced 'iss-off-uh-JEE-ole', the 'ph' sounds like an F. The oesophagus, sometimes called the gullet or food pipe, connects your mouth to your stomach. Diseases affecting the oesophagus include. Symptoms of oesophageal cancer include having problems swallowing, feeling or being sick, acid reflux and indigestion, among others. There are around 9,300 new oesophageal cancer cases in the UK every year and 21,500 in the US There are around 9,300 new oesophageal cancer cases in the UK every year and 21,500 in the US. Google searchers related to sexual orientation and gender identity have shot up 1,300 percent since 2004, a new analysis has suggested. Research from the Cultural Currents Institute published data from Google searches from 2004 to May 2023, which included questions like 'Am I gay?' and 'Am I trans?'. The searches were highest in Republican states, where attitudes towards sexual preference and gender identity are typically more conservative. Attitudes to both have evolved significantly over the past two decades, leading many individuals to question their own identity. Red states such as Utah are the 'most closeted', topping three out of five search terms Attitudes to sexual orientation and gender identity have evolved significantly over the past two decades, leading many to question their own identity The researchers looked at the search terms 'am I gay', 'am I lesbian', 'am I trans', 'how to come out' and 'nonbinary'. Red states such as Utah are the 'most closeted', said the researchers, topping three out of five search terms. It had the most searches for 'am I gay?', 'am I lesbian?' and 'am I trans?'. The researchers said: 'Utah, a state with traditionally conservative social values, surprisingly tops three out of five search term categories. 'This might indicate a significant underlying questioning of identity among its internet users, possibly driven by the conflict between personal feelings and societal expectations.' A ban on gender-affirming care for minors in Utah was introduced in late January, stopping youths from accessing puberty blockers and transgender surgeries under the age of 18. It is also the center of Mormon cultural influence with over 1 million Mormons living there. Mormons generally consider being gay to be a sin. Behind Utah in terms of Google searches for 'am I trans' was red state Kentucky and blue states Colorado, Michigan and Washington. Blue state Vermont also had the highest number of searches for 'nonbinary', followed by other blue states Oregon and Maine, red state Montana and Washington. The search term 'am I nonbinary' did not have enough data for Google to offer results. The researchers said: 'For the term "nonbinary", a term less explored historically but gaining traction recently, the top states tend to be more politically and socially progressive.' After Utah, 'am I lesbian' was most searched in blue state Connecticut, red state Kentucky, and blue states Washington and Colorado. The state with the most searches of 'how to come out' was Oklahoma, followed by West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky. The data is relative to the amount of overall searches on Google, meaning it takes into account that more people are using the search engine today than in 2004. The American Civil Liberties Union said a record 490 bills concerning LGBTQ rights have been introduced in 2023 in at least 45 states, and 57 of them have already become law. At least 17 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Some states have even considered banning care for transgender people up to 26 years old, such as Oklahoma, Texas, and South Carolina. Meanwhile, attitudes towards sexual preference, particularly among younger Americans, are becoming more open. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report earlier this year found a quarter of 14 to 18-year-olds said they identify as gay, bisexual or have a more fluid sexuality in 2021 a new high. The remainder said they were either bisexual (12.1 percent), gay or lesbian (3.2 percent), 'other' (3.9 percent) or said they 'questioned' their sexuality (5.2 percent). The percentage of students who do not view themselves as straight has more than doubled in recent years from 11 percent in 2015 to 24.5 percent in 2021. Rates of alternate sexualities in school-aged children are much higher than the adult population where about seven percent are gay, bisexual or other. Experts say the explosion in alternative sexualities among children can be partly attributed to increased acceptance. Dr Mollie Blackburn, who teaches sexuality studies at Ohio State University, told DailyMail.com: 'It's an increase in acceptance from both parents and society. '[Accepting people] creates a context where a child will be more willing to say that they are gay.' She does not think the actual number of children who are truly gay, lesbian or bisexual has changed in recent years, but that young people are more willing to admit it now. Rock n roll icon Tina Turner has died at age 83 after battling what she referred to as a combination of 'medical catastrophes' during her rich life. Her publicist did not specify what Turner's cause of death was, but said that she died after a battle with an unspecified 'long illness'. Turner, whose career spanned five decades, had confronted serious health conditions such as hypertension that led to a stroke and kidney failure, intestinal cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Tina Turner died at home today at the age of 83 after a long illness. She is shown here discussing her 2021 documentary TINA Ms Turner overcame several health challenges during her long life, including a stroke that forced her to relearn to walk, intestinal cancer that required surgery to remedy, and kidney failure that resulted in her second husband donating one of his organs Kidney disease Ms Turner had severe hypertension since 1978 that went untreated for years, leading to life-threatening kidney disease, one of the top leading causes of death in the US. She was prescribed treatment in 1985 but told herself the medications were making her sicker and stopped taking them. She transitioned to homeopathic remedies instead. Giddy at her check up to see how successful her more natural treatments were working, Ms Turner said: 'Rarely in my life had I been so wrong. I had not known that uncontrolled hypertension would worsen my renal disease and that I would kill my kidneys by giving up on controlling my blood pressure.' Ms Turner contended with several health problems that are leading causes of death in the US: cancer, stroke, and kidney disease She added that her kidneys, which were functioning at less than 30 percent in 2016, were the 'victims' of her denial that she needed medicine to survive, adding that she put herself 'at great danger by refusing to accept the reality that I required daily medication for the rest of my life.' Kidney failure is the final stage of end-stage renal disease and, without a guaranteed transplant on the horizon, patients can expect to be put on hemodialysis. The number of American adults who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now estimated to be 37 million and more than 562,000 are on dialysis, a process that requires the patient to sit stationary several times a week for hours at a time while a machine that filters the blood, removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly. Her transplant in 2017 following a stint on dialysis was a success, but the battle was not yet won. Transplant recipients are required to take immunosuppressant medications to fend off an attack from their own immune system on the transplanted organ, resulting in an overall weakened ability to fight off infection. She revealed that she still suffers from long-term ailments from the surgery, including 'dizziness, forgetfulness, anxiety, and the occasional bout of insane diarrhea'. In her 2017 memoir Tina Turner: My Love Story, she wrote: 'I know that my medical adventure is far from over. Theres always another test, another doctors appointment or biopsy to get through.' She added: 'Were both still here, closer than we ever imagined and thats cause for celebration.' Stroke Ms Turner suffered a stroke in October 2013, three months after her second marriage to Erwin Bach. She wrote in her memoir: 'I woke up suddenly and in a panic. A lightning bolt struck my head and my right leg at least that's how it felt and I had a funny sensation in my mouth that made it difficult for me to call out to Erwin for help. I suspected it wasn't good, but it was worse than I ever imagined. I was having a stroke.' The ordeal consigned her to a hospital bed for 10 days and she had to relearn to walk after that, kicking off a bumpy road to recovery. She wrote: 'Legs for days and muscles of steel from dancing, but I didnt have the strength to get up. Terrified, I dragged myself over to a sofa, all the while thinking that I couldnt imagine Tina Turner paralyzed.' Age, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and diabetes are all known to increase the risk of stroke. The problem occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off and parts of the brain become damaged or die. The damage can lead to long-term disability and affect how people think and feel. Intestinal cancer Ms Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016, three years after her stroke. Intestinal cancer, also known as small intestine cancer or small bowel cancer, is very rare, accounting for just one percent of cancer cases in the US. The cancer affects the tubing that carries digested food between your stomach and your colon. The small intestine has several jobs: It is responsible for digesting and absorbing nutrients from food, produces hormones that help with digestion, and helps bolster the body's germ-fighting immune system. A malignant tumor throws all of those functions into question. The exact cause is unclear but it typically begins when healthy cells in the small bowel develop changes, or mutations, in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains a set of instructions that tell a cell what to do. When the DNA becomes cancerous, the cells continue to divide and replicate unnecessarily. The accumulation of these cells forms a tumor. Tumors in the small intestine can block the flow of food and impact digestion. As the tumor grows, it can cause pain in the abdomen. If the flow of food is totally blocked, it can cause excruciating pain, nausea and vomiting. The cancer can sometimes require surgery, though it can also be treated in some cases with chemotherapy. Ms Turner underwent surgery to remove the cancerous part of her intestine, an operation that delayed her kidney transplant. Post-traumatic stress disorder Before their 1978 divorce, Ms Turner suffered abuse at the hands of her ex-husband Ike Turner for 14 years, when she alleged that she endured a broken nose, broken jaw, and multiple black eyes. She said: 'I tried to keep myself sane while managing his insanity.' It got so bad that Ms Turner attempted suicide at one point. She wrote in her memoir that she told her doctor she was having trouble sleeping so that he would prescribe her pills she then took all 50 at once, with the intent of ending her life. In a 2021 documentary titled 'TINA', the icon said: 'It wasnt a good life. The good did not balance the bad. 'I had an abusive life, theres no other way to tell the story. Its a reality. Its a truth. Thats what youve got, so you have to accept it.' PTSD can affect those who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event for months, or even years. The condition first came to prominence when US veterans returned home from the Vietnam War in the 1970s. It was the modern version of shell shock, a term first coined during the First World War. Today, an estimated 13 million Americans deal with some form of PTSD. Patients will be offered faster treatment hundreds of miles from home in a bid to slash record waiting times. The NHS has been told it must give people alternative options, including travelling longer distances to beat the biggest queues. The new guidelines will see patients able to search details like distance and current waiting times using the NHS app before deciding where they would like to be referred. GPs will also be closely monitored about whether patients are being made aware of their right to choose. From today, those already frustrated by long waits will be able to switch to a hospital with shorter lists should they wish to. The NHS has been told it must give people alternative options, including travelling longer distances to beat the biggest queues (file image) Officials hope 'empowering patients' to shape their care will help drastically reduce the 7.3 million currently waiting for NHS treatment. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 'Currently, just one in ten patients make a choice about where they receive care. We want to change that by helping the NHS to offer patients a real choice while also giving patients the information they need to decide. 'Our aim is to create an NHS built around patients, where everyone has more control over the care they receive, wherever they live or whatever their health needs are.' He added: 'Empowering patients to choose where they receive treatment will help cut waiting lists, one of my five key priorities.' Despite being introduced almost two decades ago, just one in ten patients currently exercise their right to choose where they receive treatment. Under the new guidelines, those who have waited more than 40 weeks for treatment will be asked it the want to be referred elsewhere, with bosses hoping to extend this to 18 week waits in time. NHS hospitals with spare capacity will be asked to provide 'mutual aid' to those with the longest waits, cutting waits by an estimated three months. Private hospitals are also expected to be utilized more to help bring down waits. Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said the NHS app would help 'wipe months off' people's waiting times. He said: 'Millions of people downloaded the NHS App during the pandemic. Increasing use of this fantastic resource will enable them to exercise more choice and get access to essential information about the options for their care including journey time, length of wait and quality of service - all at the swipe of a smartphone screen. 'This will not only give patients more control over their own care but could also wipe months off their wait by finding a hospital or clinic with a shorter waiting list.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 'Currently, just one in ten patients make a choice about where they receive care. We want to change that by helping the NHS to offer patients a real choice while also giving patients the information they need to decide' Patient and hospital groups welcomed drives to reduce waits but warned it risked ostracising the elderly or less tech-savvy and would rely on GPs to relay choices to many. Rachel Power, of the Patients Association, said: 'We hope the planned communications campaign will clearly explain choice and encourage people to exercise it. 'We welcome news of the support general practice is to get, but with the current pressures on general practice, it will be important they are supported to work in partnership with their patients to increase uptake of patient choice.' NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said improving patient choice is 'not a panacea for the wider challenges facing the NHS as it tackles record waiting lists.' Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy, said: 'Some patients will welcome more choice over where they receive their care, but we know others will want to be treated at a site closer to home as quickly as possible. 'And while using technology to help patients better access the care they need is positive, steps must also be taken to guard against digital exclusion, which could worsen health inequalities that have become even more deep-rooted since the pandemic.' NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard, said: 'By giving patients greater choice and more information about their care through the convenience of the NHS app, we can change the way people access treatment options while also building on the fantastic work already being done by NHS staff across the country in bringing down the longest waits for care.' A cancer-stricken dad told chemotherapy had left him infertile is expecting his fifth child but he fears he may not live long enough to see the birth of his son. Andrew Wresford, 37, was diagnosed with bowel cancer last February after booking an appointment with his GP when he developed stomach pains and felt gassy. The ex-carpenter, from Bradford, underwent gruelling chemo, which medics warned would prevent him having more kids because of the damage it can cause to sperm. So Mr Wresford and his partner Rachel Mitton were shocked when they found out in January that she was pregnant again. Despite being excited about having their third child together, Mr Wresford who has two kids from a previous relationship said he is 'emotional' that he may not meet his son, after being told he only has months to live. Rachel Mitton, 36, is caring for the beloved father in their West Yorkshire home alongside a team of palliative care nurses Andrew Wreford (middle), with his four children Hollie (left), Ezra, Alba & William Mr Wresford visited the doctor in February last year when he started feeling gassy and began experiencing stomach pains. After a colonoscopy a test to check inside the bowels he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Around 43,000 Brits and 153,020 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer every year. The cancer, which can cause changes in bowel habits, tummy pain and bloating, is one of the most common types and most commonly affects the over-60s. Mr Wresford and his family initially believed that his cancer could be managed. But further tests revealed the cancer had spread to other organs and was terminal. READ MORE: Six warning signs of bowel cancer revealed Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss a s a result of these symptoms Advertisement Mr Wresford was told he had a few years to live and underwent chemotherapy in a bid to slow down his decline. His family say he was told the treatment, which stops cancer cells from growing and spreading in the body, made him infertile. Chemo is known to slow down or stop sperm production, which is permanent for some men but temporary for others. However, the couple said they were stunned when Ms Mitton fell pregnant in January, with the third child they hoped to have before Mr Wresford was diagnosed. Then, earlier this year, doctors revised Mr Wresford's survival time down to just a few months. He talked to his doctors about going through another cycle of chemotherapy but chose not to press ahead due to how sick it had made him and because medics could not guarantee it would make him any better. Mr Wresford, who spends most of his time in bed and is looked after by his partner, now fears he may not live to see the September due date. He said: 'I'm scared about how is Rachel going to cope without me but excited about the fact we're having another child. 'I'm also emotional that I'm not going to be around to meet my son.' Ms Mitton said she was shattered to be losing her 'rock and best friend', but said their new son would let 'another part of Andrew' live on. The mother-of-two said: 'Me and Andrew had wanted another child so, it was just meant to be our little light in the dark. Andrew Wresford, 37, from Bradford, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February, 2022 Andrew visited the doctor in February last year when he started feeling gassy and began experiencing stomach pains. After a colonoscopy he was diagnosed with bowel cancer which spread to his organs just a few months later and was terminal Mr Wresford's sister Jackie Hamilton (right), 48, who flew back from living in Australia to be with him, is heartbroken over her brother's rapid decline 'As heartbroken as I am about having to bring up our children without my rock and best friend, this baby means another part of Andrew will always be with me a true gift. 'I couldn't quite believe the timing of the pregnancy and I was quite anxious about it initially, with Andrew's health being my priority. 'But life should always be celebrated and I know this baby boy will bring everyone some much-needed love and joy, even in the hardest of times. Mr Wresford's sister Jackie Hamilton, 48, who flew back from living in Australia to be with him, is heartbroken over her brother's rapid decline. She said: 'We managed to have some family time then from mid-February he went downhill and ended up having to have a stoma put in. There has been no comeback. 'He has dramatically changed physically. I was heartbroken when I got here. 'When he went to that next level, he couldn't even talk to me. He sleeps a lot and does not eat much. 'It was really heart-breaking to see him wasting away. He is 6ft 2 inches and was always big and strong.' Ms Hamilton is helping to collect donations for Andrews family through a GoFundMe page, which has so far raised 3,900. Ms Hamilton called the news that Rachel had fallen pregnant 'bittersweet'. She said: 'He is never going to know his dad and my brother might not be able to see his baby being born in September. '[But] it is lovely for Rachel to have another part of him.' A man snapped his penis in three places after it buckled against his partner while having sex. The 36-year-old, from Tanzania, showed up at hospital with a painful, swollen and bloody member a few hours after his eye-watering injury. He heard a loud 'snap' after his penis hit his partner's perineum the skin between the vagina and anus at 'very high' impact. Scans showed the unnamed man, whose gruesome injury was shared in a medical journal, had fractured three different parts of his penis. Medics operated on him to patch up the 'extremely rare urological emergency' and he fully recovered. The unidentified man, from Tanzania, showed up at hospital with a painful, swollen and bloody penis HOW DOES A PENIS FRACTURE? A penile fracture occurs when the appendage is subject to a sharp, blunt force trauma, which can occur during vigorous intercourse or masturbation. Since 1924, 1,600 cases have been recorded worldwide - roughly 16 instances per year, the Telegraph reported in 2017. Researchers noted that in 50 per cent of cases, a gruesome cracking sound can be heard. Four in five male victims lost their erection. Those who have already been traumatised from breaking their penis are often left with erectile dysfunction problems and a lifetime of painful sex. A report in 2017 revealed a man from southern China who was left in agony after breaking his penis during sex with his wife. Doctors found that his penis was at an odd angle and was in a swollen shape that made it look like an eggplant. He was diagnosed with a penile fracture after tearing a sponge-like erectile tissue called corpora cavernosa. Blood flows into corpora cavernosa that runs along the penis and makes it hard during an erection. The trick to stopping penile injuries is to thrust quite shallowly, according to sex expert Tracey Cox. Holding your partner close to you using a grinding rather than thrusting motion will also reduce the risk, she told MailOnline. Advertisement Detailing the tale in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, doctors said the patient attended hospital with a swollen penis. He complained that it was painful and that he had been bleeding from his urethra the tube that expels urine and semen from the body for five hours. His penis 'slipped out, lost the way and hit the female perineal area as he was trying to re-insert it', the medics wrote. He quickly lost his erection and was in agony. The patient took himself to a nearby health centre, where he was given painkillers and referred to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. Urologists at the hospital, led by Dr Bartholomeo Nicholaus Ngowi said that his penis was 'a bit twisted', had ballooned and was covered in blood. But the rest of his genitalia appeared normal. The anatomy of an erection is based around two spongy tubes which fill up with blood and harden, called the corpora carvenosa, and a firm, fibrous sheath which surrounds them, called the tunica albuginea. An ultrasound scan revealed he had broken a blood vessel in the corpora cavernosa. And an MRI showed a tear from left to right through the tunica albuginea, corpora carvenosa and corpus spongiosum, which is erectile tissue. The scan also showed that there was a partial tear through the urethra and swelling. Despite there being no bones in the penis, these injuries are still known as a penis 'fracture'. The patient was rushed into emergency surgery, where a urologist repaired the fracture by 'degloving' the penis and stitching up both corpora cavernosum and the urethra and corpus spongiosum. The man was discharged three days later. At a six-month check-up, the man reported that his sex life had resumed without difficulties and his penis had returned to normal. The medics said penile fractures alone are uncommon. And they 'rarely' involve all three 'erectile bodies' the two corpora carvenosa and corpus spongiosum. Penis fractures most commonly occur during sex but can also happen during masturbation or if a man rolls over while erect in his sleep, doctors said. The impact when the patient's penis hit his partner's perineum must have been 'very high' to cause 'such a serious rupture', they added. Rishi Sunak said he was scared his two daughters will be hooked on vapes today. The Prime Minister, father to Krishna, 12, and Anoushka, 10, slammed the 'ridiculous' marketing tactics used to lure kids into using e-cigarettes. Predatory firms package e-cigs in bright colours and sell them in flavours such as bubblegum. Shops even sell the gadgets, which are full of nicotine, next to sweets. Experts blame the tactics for kickstarting Britain's child vaping epidemic, which has prompted dire warnings that we are 'sleepwalking into an existential crisis'. Discussing the marketing strategy vape firms use on ITVs This Morning, Mr Sunak said: 'I have two young girls. Im also worried about that. The Prime Minister, father to Krishna, 12, and Anoushka, 10, slammed the 'ridiculous' marketing tactics used to lure kids in on ITV's This Morning Experts are growing increasingly concerned child-friendly flavours and bright colours make the products more appealing to children. Pictured, colourful vape 'juice' MailOnline discovered dupe vapes mimicking Chupa Chups, Skittles, Jolly Rancher, Rubicon and Calypso (pictured), with near-identical branding to the popular sweets and drinks in other stores along Oxford Street 'It looks like they are targeted at kids, which is ridiculous. I don't want my kids to be seduced by any of these things.' The PM has promised 'bad things will happen' to vaping firms that prey on children. Figures last week revealed 11.6 per cent of 11-17 year olds in Britain have now tried vaping. This was up on 7.7 per cent last year and twice as high as rates seen a decade ago before the epidemic blew up. 'Puff bars', as they are known, are popular among teens. Brands include Elf Bars, Geek and Crystal. Ministers announced a crackdown on the illegal sale of e-cigs to under-18s with an 'illicit vapes enforcement squad' earlier this year. The task force will conduct 'test purchasing' at shops and share intelligence across regional networks and local authorities, it is planned. Mr Sunak is pictured earlier this month outside 10 Downing Street with his wife Akshata Murty, and their daughters Krishna (second left) and Anoushka (second right) Shock data last week revealed a record 11.6 per cent of 11-17 year olds in Britain have now tried vaping. This is up on 7.7 per cent last year and twice as high as rates seen a decade ago before the UK's kid vaping epidemic blew up But health campaigners have repeatedly demanded tougher action to stamp out the alcopop-esque marketing strategies used to lure kids in. A damning MailOnline expose earlier this year laid bare the true scale of the problem including the growing threat of 'dupe' vapes, designed to mimic respected sweet brands like Chupa Chups and Skittles. Labour has pledged to change advertising rules to prevent products like vapes being marketed to children. In a major speech outlining the partys approach to health and the NHS earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'We will change advertising rules and we will make sure that products which are harmful to our childrens health vaping, junk food, sugary snacks cannot be advertised to our children. No not in Britain.' Almost every high street in the country now has a designated shop where e-cigs are paraded. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of medical products in the UK, has a notification scheme for vapes so that any harm caused by the devices can be logged. Its head of e-cigarettes, Craig Copland, said the results of a BBC investigation would be reviewed to assess whether the vapes posed a health risk NHS Digital data, based on the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England survey for 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape The long-term effects remain a mystery and experts fear a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in coming decades among people who took up the habit at a young age. But despite warnings surrounding vaping, health chiefs insist it is a safer alternative to cigarettes The long-term effects remain a mystery and top experts fear a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades among people who took up the habit at a young age. However, despite the warnings surrounding vaping, health chiefs insist it is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. Around 6million people smoke in the UK and it is estimated to cause 64,000 deaths every year. It comes after a study this week revealed that cheap vapes puffed by schoolkids can contain toxic metals. Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from youngsters found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost 10 times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while the other two metals can trigger blood clotting. Another American has died after getting cosmetic surgery in Mexico, health officials have revealed. The individual thought to be from Texas died from a fungal brain infection which US doctors believe was contracted from un-sterilized equipment south of the border. They are the second person to have died from fungal meningitis after traveling to Mexico for discounted plastic surgeries after a Texas woman died last week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes more than 200 Americans who traveled to clinics in Matamoros between January and May 13 could be at risk. It comes after mounting warnings over medical tourism, which offers highly discounted prices but poses dangers because procedures are not as well regulated as in the US. Some 1.2million US residents travel to Mexico annually to undergo elective surgery at a discount, according to Medical Tourism Mexico, which advertises that patients can save up to 80% on a comparable procedure in the US The above map shows the location of Matamoros, where the procedures took place. People are being urged not to go there for medical procedures Health authorities in Mexico have now closed River Side Surgical Center (left) and Clinica K-3 (right) which have been linked to the fungal meningitis outbreak All the patients had undergone surgery in Matamoros, on the Texan border, where two clinics River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3 have now been closed. Officials are trying to contact anyone who has visited the clinics since January to urge them to get tested, saying it can take more than six weeks for symptoms to appear. All the patients had gone for cosmetic surgeries including liposuction, where fat is removed from areas of the body, between January and May 13. A total of 221 US patients who visited clinics are at risk, Health authorities in Mexico say, while the CDC said it has identified a further three potential patients. There is a booming health tourism industry in Mexico, where medical procedures can be offered at a fraction of the price of those in the US. About 1.2million Americans go to the country every year for procedures. More than two dozen state and local health departments are currently working with the CDC to contact all patients who are at risk of infection. The CDC has already warned Americans to cancel all surgeries they have booked in Matamoros, Mexico, fearing they could also become infected. Dr Jennifer Shuford, from the Texas Department of Health, said last week: 'It is very important that people who have recently had medical procedures in Mexico monitor themselves for symptoms of meningitis. 'Meningitis, especially when caused by bacteria or fungus, can be a life-threatening illness unless treated promptly.' Patients likely became infected after receiving an epidural, when a needle is used to inject an anesthetic into the area around the spinal cord to numb pain. Meningitis is a swelling of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord due to an infection. Early signs of the disease include fever, headaches, stiff neck and sensitivity to light. But if these are not treated, then patients can progress into suffering seizures, falling into a coma and dying from the infection. Picture of cars crossing the border from Brownsville, Texas, to Matamoros, Mexico Fungal infections can trigger meningitis including Blastomyces, which recently triggered an outbreak at a Michigan paper mill, and Candida albicans, the fungus behind thrush. Treatment involves administering courses of antifungal medications, typically into the vein via an IV drip. They may need to receive the drug for six months up to a year. Already achieved in mice, scientists say it could be possible in humans in 5 years Growing human babies from scratch in a lab could be possible in just five years thanks to a new breakthrough. Researchers in Japan are on the cusp of being able to create human eggs and sperm in the lab from scratch, which would then develop in an artificial womb. Professor Katsuhiko Hayashi, a Japanese scientist at Kyushu University who has already figured out the process in mice, believes he is just five years away from replicating the results in humans. But there are ethical concerns, as it means women of any age could have babies. Parents may also want to design their offspring to have certain traits using gene editing tools, giving way to the notion of an assumed perfect child. Professor Katsuhiko Hayashi of Kyushu University (pictured), a Japanese scientist who has already figured out how to do IVG in mice, guessed it would take five years to produce egg-like cells from humans Dr Hayashi and his team recently created seven mice with two male biological parents, using skin cells from a male mouse to form a viable egg and then fertilize it. The ability to produce custom-made human sperm and eggs in the lab is called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG). It works by taking cells from a person's blood or skin and reprogramming them to become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). In theory, these cells can become any cell in the body, including egg and sperm cells. They could then be used to make embryos and implanted into women's wombs. Scientists have been able to make very basic human eggs and sperm this way, but have not yet been able to make embryos. Dr Hayashi guessed it would take five years to produce egg-like cells from humans, with another 10-20 years of testing before physicians feel the process is safe to use in clinics. Stanford University Professor Henry Greely told Freethink he estimated that researchers will need another five to ten years to reach a reliable proof of concept, plus a decade or two for safety testing. Jeanne Loring, a researcher at the Scripps Research Institute, said IVG in human reproduction told The New York Times in 2017: 'I wouldnt be surprised if it was five years, and I wouldnt be surprised if it was 25 years.' It would mean that scientists could generate sperm and eggs for infertile people from one of their blood cells, for example. About one in 10 couples in the US struggles to conceive - and some of those are same-sex couples or hopeful single parents who have to rely on donated sperm or eggs, IVF and, in some cases, surrogates. But there are still lots of ethical, legal and safety questions surrounding IVG. Some ethicists worry that closing the door on infertility could quickly open the flood gates to designer babies, eugenics and legal snags that our society may be unprepared to sort out. It could allow people to steal the DNA of others using a strand of hair and make babies without their consent. In 2016, Japanese researchers created stem cells using eight-week-old mice, picking ones that had dropped a Y chromosome for some reason. Scientists then manipulated the cells in a way to copy the remaining X chromosome, and create a cell with two X genes - what would usually be considered a female cell. 'The biggest trick of this is the duplication of the X chromosome,' Dr Hayashi said. They turned those cells into eggs and used sperm from male mice to fertilize them in the laboratory. The process led to the birth of more than a half-dozen healthy mice pups. Dr Hayashi told the New Scientist he believes the door is now open to children being born from two fathers. The aim is to replicate this same process with human cells. 'Purely in terms of technology, it will be possible [in humans] even in 10 years,' he told The Guardian. 'I don't know whether they'll be available for reproduction. 'That is not a question just for the scientific program, but also for [society].' They are belived to be suffering from meningitis, which can cause seizures A cluster of illnesses in Oklahoma could have been caused by swimming in water contaminated with urine from rats, an expert suggests. Several people have fallen ill after taking a dip in rivers and lakes near Bartlesville city, in the east of the state, officials say. They are believed to be suffering from meningitis, or an inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord caused by an infection. Testing has already ruled out the brain-eating amoeba naegleria fowleri, which can lurk in stagnant water, but infectious disease expert Dr Thomas Russo said the cases may instead have been caused by a bacteria found in animal urine. Health officials are urging people living in the area not to swim in rivers and lakes in the area before Memorial Day this weekend, the unofficial start of summer. People who have caught the disease in Oklahoma include Keeghan Smith (pictured) who became ill after swimming in Copan Lake The above map shows Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and the two locations where local reports suggest cases have occurred Among those affected is 14-year-old Keeghan Smith, who got sick after swimming in Copan Lake near Bartlesville. His grandmother Terri Smith told FOX News 23: 'He was having a terrible headache, running a fever, and had a kind of purple rash on his chest. 'It weren't just a normal headache for a little kid, it was a bad headache.' She said he was being treated for suspected meningitis by doctors. Testing showed he did not have Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis, or PAM, which is caused by N. fowleri. Another boy is also believed to have fallen ill with meningitis after swimming in the Caney River, which runs from Copan Lake through Bartlesville. Dr Russo, from the University of Buffalo in New York, suggested to LiveScience that it was most likely the boys had been infected by a bacteria from the urine of animals including rats, cattle and pigs. Leptospira can lurk in these animals and then be excreted in their urine. This can flow into waterways, or be washed into them by heavy rains, where the bacteria can remain for weeks. When humans swim in contaminated water, swallow it or go into the water with an open cut or graze they can then become infected. The infection medically termed leptospirosis emerges within a few days to a few weeks later. Symptoms begin with fever, headache and muscle pain, but can then progress to jaundice, trouble breathing and meningitis. There are up to 150 cases of infection with the bacteria in the US every year. But the disease is rarely fatal, with about one in 50 patients dying from the illness. Outbreaks have previously been linked to animal urine, including a 2018 outbreak in Israel that led to 583 suspected cases after people swam in contaminated water. Leptospira bacteria in the water were eventually linked to urine from wild boars and cattle. Dr Russo also suggested other explanations for the infections including enteroviruses normally behind stomach problems lurking in freshwater that were then ingested or Listeria, a cause of food poisoning that can also hide in water. 'If the water was contaminated with an enterovirus and was ingested, it could potentially cause a meningitis syndrome,' Dr Russo said. The state health department also says there is a drought in the area at present, which can cause pollutants in water to become more concentrated. Several people have fallen ill after taking dips in rivers and lakes near Bartlesville, in the east of the state. The two sites where illnesses have been reported at Copan Lake and Caney River (pictured above) They are urging people to avoid swimming in rivers and lakes ahead of Memorial Day celebrations this weekend. They said in a statement: 'The [Health Department] is investigating a cluster of illnesses in the Bartlesville area. 'What we know at this time is a few individuals have presented to healthcare providers with varying symptoms. 'Initial testing has been negative for primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, caused by the organism Naegleria fowleri.' They added: 'We are continuing to monitor for more individuals who may be sick as a part of this cluster. 'While investigations continue, if individuals feel ill, we encourage them to reach out to their healthcare provider and discuss their symptoms.' BOOK OF THE WEEK ORWELL: THE NEW LIFE by D. J. Taylor (Constable 30, 608pp) George Orwell's masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four came within a whisker of never seeing the light of day. Severely ill with TB in the winter of 1947, the skeletal 44-year-old author told his publisher Fred Warburg that, in the event of his death, he must destroy the unfinished manuscript without showing it to anyone. Then, suddenly, with death looming, a frenzy took hold of him to get the book finished. Propped up in bed with a typewriter on his lap in his rain-lashed cottage seven miles up a dirt track on the Hebridean island of Jura, coughing up blood, hacking his lungs out, chain-smoking and breathing the fumes of a defective paraffin heater, he bashed out a finished copy of Nineteen Eighty-Four. George Orwell's masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four came within a whisker of never seeing the light of day. George pictured in 1943 This is the novel that would give the world Big Brother, doublespeak and Room 101, and which foresaw with incredible clarity the totalitarian surveillance societies of the future. It was set in a dystopia in which, as D.J. Taylor puts it in this excellent biography, 'the past is only useful, or even tolerated, if it does the present's bidding'. (Sound familiar?) That 'typing orgy' worsened Orwell's condition. From that moment on, his life would be a steady descent from sanatorium to hospital to a deathbed marriage to Sonia Brownell, to death a few weeks later in January 1950. He would not live long enough to see the novel's astonishing and abiding success, which Sonia would curate and guard. 'I've made all this money and now I'm going to die,' he remarked with understandable moroseness, in one of his final conversations. He nearly wasn't 'George Orwell', either. Born Eric Blair in 1903, he toyed with various literary pseudonyms, including 'Kenneth Miles', 'P. S. Burton' and 'H. Lewis Allways'. His eventual choice (thank goodness) was inspired by the River Orwell, near where he grew up in Suffolk with his conventional parents whom he classified as 'Lower Upper Middle Class'. Socialist though he was, ever-keen to divest himself of the trappings of his upbringing by living among the down-and-outs and unemployed in Paris, London and Wigan, he could never shake off the snobberies he'd absorbed during his upbringing and schooling at Eton. In a Wigan slum where he lodged, he was shocked to find 'the beds not done till five in the afternoon'. Taylor was already the acknowledged expert on George Orwell, thanks to his Whitbread Award-winning Orwell: The Life in 2003. Since then, he has discovered new letters written by Orwell and his first wife, Eileen, stashed away in various attics, hinting at previously unknown interludes, such as his possible extra-marital love affairs with his old flame Brenda Salkeld, to whom he continued to write passionately long after his marriage, and with the novelist Inez Holden hence this New Life, 120 pages longer than the first one. It's a tour de force of documentary evidence combined with decades of thinking about every facet of the author who fascinates him. Having read both versions, I now feel as if I've lived every second of Orwell's life, twice, and that I've been so up close that I've caught his germs and smelled what one friend of his described as 'the faint sweetish smell coming from his mouth'. Yuck. In this updated biography, Taylor takes us even closer into Orwell's inner life, though he stresses that the extent of his affairs will never be known. He quotes a heartbreaking comment Eileen made in her final letter to her husband, just before she had an operation for a tumour while he was away in Paris that was going to cost 40 guineas. She would die on the operating table. Born Eric Blair in 1903, he toyed with various literary pseudonyms, including 'Kenneth Miles', 'P. S. Burton' and 'H. Lewis Allways' 'What worries me,' she wrote, 'is that I really don't think I'm worth the money.' Had Orwell stamped on and wiped out her self-esteem to that extent? When he first met her at a London party, she was a promising young PhD student, but she gave it all up to become his wife, helpmate and skivvy. The nicest comment he ever made about her was that 'she wasn't a bad old stick'. But he was devastated by her death, so he clearly had loved her dearly. Both Eileen and Orwell were ill for most of their married life, in their freezing, damp accommodation. Being shot in the neck while fighting with the Republican POUM (communist party) militia in Spain during the Spanish Civil War didn't help Orwell's future health. As Taylor writes, he had a habit of lighting a cigarette and smoking it as he stood leaning against the parapet of the trench. This proved an irresistible target for a nationalist sniper. His height of 6ft 4in saved his life; 'an average-sized Spaniard would have been shot in the head.' He never looked after himself properly. Back home in their damp cottage in Hertfordshire, one evening, when Eileen was going out, she left shepherd's pie for him in the oven and some eels on the floor for the cat. When she came home, the pie was untouched and Orwell had eaten the eels. Though in some ways fastidious, Orwell was at his happiest in shabby cords in his muddy smallholding, looking after his goat, planting potatoes, harvesting blackberries and relishing every detail of the wildlife. This is the novel that would give the world Big Brother, doublespeak and Room 101, and which foresaw with incredible clarity the totalitarian surveillance societies of the future That 'typing orgy' worsened Orwell's condition. From that moment on, his life would be a steady descent from sanatorium to hospital to a deathbed marriage to Sonia Brownell (pictured), to death a few weeks later in January 1950 George pictured with his adopted stepson Richard Blair in 1946. For most of his working life, Orwell was a jobbing hack, earning 3 a week, bashing out brilliant but not lucrative articles, essays and novels as he coughed and smoked More strongly than ever, in this New Life, Taylor gives us a flavour of Orwell's delight in both nature and the company of children. There's a charming description of his stint as headmaster of two small prep schools, taking the boys on nature rambles to trap marsh gas in jam jars. Unable to conceive their own child, he and Eileen lavished affection on their son, Richard, whom they adopted in 1942. The important thing to remember about Orwell was that he wasn't famous until four years before he died. Animal Farm (published in 1945) was the making of him; that, too, nearly didn't see the light of day, as British publishers were terrified of annoying Stalin with such a devastating allegory of communism. For most of his working life, Orwell was a jobbing hack, earning 3 a week, bashing out brilliant but not lucrative articles, essays and novels as he coughed and smoked. There was no one to beat him when it came to conveying the working conditions of hop-pickers, prisoners, restaurant workers and miners. Taylor suggests, though, that a lot of Orwell's material was stage-managed and burnished. He did like to pile on the woe. Of Wigan, he only wrote about the poverty and filth. He also had a way of comparing working-class things to quite grand items from his own world: a man's face was like 'roquefort', and belching chimneys were like 'Burgundy bottles'. Sometimes, Taylor gives us too much information; this book is very long, at 540 pages, and I could have done without the incident in which Orwell dropped a tray of eggs to the floor and they all broke. I didn't need to know, yet again, about his 'negative sputum count', which appears in both versions. But there's no doubt that if you read this definitive book, you'll almost feel you've been George Orwell himself. The energy price cap has been cut and MailOnline and This is Money's new online calculator today reveals how much your energy bills should drop by on July 1. Ofgem today confirmed its price cap for the average household's annual energy bill will fall to 2,074 - down from its current 3,280. Crucially, this pulls the energy price cap below the 2,500 energy price guarantee and will mean the average UK household saves around 426 on gas and electricity. The cap is set for the average household and individual costs depend on households' energy usage - our calculator lets you work out what it means for your bills. Use MailOnline and This is Money's energy bills widget which we have built with finance management system Nous to work out how you will be impacted by the price cap drop. Enter some brief details on how your home is powered, whether you have a prepayment meter and your current monthly payments to find out how much cheaper your bill will become. Your browser does not support iframes. Energy prices have spiked to record levels over the past 18 months, as disruption from the aftermath of Covid lockdowns combined with Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent energy costs sky high. The war in Ukraine saw wholesale gas prices soar globally, with Ofgem's price cap rising from 1,162 a year in August 2021 to a peak of 4,279 in January this year. Since October 2022, customers have been partly shielded by the Government's Energy Price Guarantee, which limits annual energy costs to 2,500. All households in England, Scotland and Wales also received 400 from the Government to offset soaring prices over the winter. This will change in July as Ofgem drops the price cap to a level below the energy price guarantee. There is a hope that falling energy prices will also trigger a return to the possibility of switching energy suppliers and a competitive fixed rate market. Despite the cap's fall, campaigners have warned households will not feel full relief for another seven years, with energy bills set to remain high until at least 2030. 'We do not currently expect bills to return to pre-2020 levels before the end of the decade at the earliest,' energy consulting firm Cornwall Insight said. Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) added that, for many, bills will still be 'unaffordable' due to the Government's move to cut winter support packages. > Energy price cap guide: When will your bills fall and by how much? Ofgem has today lowered the Energy Price Cap to 2,074 - meaning UK households will be saving up to 450 on their gas and electricity bills It is vital to remember that Ofgem's price cap does not put a maximum sum on the amount a household will pay for their total energy bill The price cap instead limits sums of money providers can charge their customers per unit of gas or electricity, meaning those who use more energy pay more. > How to save money on energy and how your bills work Greg Marsh, chief executive and co-founder of household money-saving tool Nous.co, said: 'Most households will see their energy bills come down from July, but unfortunately this isn't the end of the painful squeeze on incomes. 'Bills will be close to double the levels seen before the energy crisis, and other prices such as groceries continue to soar. 'Energy minister Grant Shapps and regulator Ofgem need to do much more to encourage energy suppliers to pass on falling wholesale prices to consumers. 'We mustn't forget that millions of people are seriously struggling to pay their bills.' Ofgem is expected to drop to its energy price cap from 2,500 to 2,074 this July, experts have said The Government's 400 winter discount, which was paid in six instalments to every household, ended in March. Now, only those in receipt of means-tested benefits, pensioners and those with disabilities are set to receive further help with their energy bills, amounting to 900, 300 and 150 respectively. The standing charge the roughly 300 paid each year by households just to access gas and electricity is also controversial. The NEA warned that while a cut to the price cap 'might seem like good news', bills in July would be comparable to last winter due to the end of the Government's support. NEA chief executive Adam Scorer said: 'Coming out of winter, most people will welcome any respite from record high prices, but it still leaves prices more than 80 per cent higher than the start of the energy crisis and two million more households trapped in fuel poverty. 'More than two and a half million low income and vulnerable households are no longer receiving any Government support for unaffordable bills. For them, the energy crisis is far from over.' THE ENERGY PRICE CAP: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR MY BILLS? Despite falling wholesale energy prices making their way through to bills, households are still facing eye-watering costs that remain well above pre-pandemic levels. What is Ofgem's price cap, how does the Government's Energy Price Guarantee affect it, and what does it all mean for household bills? - What is Ofgem's price cap? The energy price cap was introduced by the Government in January 2019 and sets a maximum price that energy suppliers can charge consumers in England, Scotland and Wales for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy they use. It aims to ensure that prices for customers on default energy tariffs are a fair reflection of the cost paid by suppliers for wholesale energy, and that the profit firms make is capped. Ofgem sets its cap every three months as the average amount paid by the typical household. This is currently 3,280, but the regulator has announced that it will drop to 2,074 with effect from July 1. It is important to note though that Ofgem's cap does not set a maximum amount for the actual bill households receive - those who use more than the average amount will pay more, and those who use less will pay less. Energy is regulated separately in Northern Ireland, where bills will be held at 1,950 per year for an average household. However, since October last year this has all been overridden by the Government's Energy Price Guarantee. - What is the Energy Price Guarantee? Then-prime minister Liz Truss announced a temporary Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) to protect households when wholesale prices soared after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leading to fears bills could hit 6,000 a year. Under the EPG, which took effect in October, the Government sets a maximum average household price for gas and electricity and pays the difference to customers' suppliers. This has been set for a typical household at 2,500, even though Ofgem continued to set its own cap at at higher level. As Ofgem's price cap will be lower than the EPG from July, the price cap will once again determine household bills, which will drop by an average of 426 a year. Again though, this is not a maximum cap on what households will pay. Those who use more energy will pay more. - Why is Ofgem's price cap falling? The fall reflects recent drops in wholesale energy prices - the amount energy firms pay for gas and electricity before supplying it to households. However, despite the drop from July from the sky-high prices of the past two years, the figure remains more than 1,000 a year higher than pre-pandemic levels. - Will energy bills continue to fall? Consultancy firm Cornwall Insight predicts that July's fall will be followed by a further drop in October, when it expects the typical annual bill to be 1,976. Unfortunately, it currently believes the typical bill will rise again in January to 2,045. It does not expect energy prices to return to pre-Covid levels before the end of the decade at the earliest. And it warned that prices remain subject to wholesale market volatility, with the UK's reliance on energy imports meaning that geopolitical incidents could continue to have a significant impact. - Will this mean the return of switching? Cornwall Insight said it hoped to see the reappearance of more competitive fixed-rate energy tariffs as prices begin to stabilise, meaning it could soon be worthwhile for consumers to consider switching again. Unlike variable tariffs, they are unaffected by the cap. Consumer groups and regulators say that could be good news for consumers, but warn that such deals will not suit all circumstances, and anyone who locked into a fixed deal would miss out on falling variable prices. Which? Energy editor Emily Seymour said: 'If prices start to stabilise, we may see some providers offering competitive fixed price energy deals for the first time in well over a year. 'As a rule of thumb, we wouldn't advise fixing any deals which are significantly higher than the price cap or longer than 12 months as this runs the risk of your deal continuing into a completely different future market. 'It's also important to take into consideration any exit fees, as we've seen some companies charge large amounts if you wish to leave your contract early, should a better deal come along.' - What if I'm not on a standard default tariff? Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed in the Spring Budget that energy costs for prepayment households would be brought in line with those who pay by direct debit. This means the cap is same for both forms of payment. However, those who pay via cash, cheque or bank transfer, usually every three months, will pay significantly more. - Is there any extra support available if I'm struggling to pay? The 400 discount which all households in England, Wales and Scotland received to offset soaring winter bills has ended. Only those in receipt of means-tested benefits, pensioners and those with disabilities are currently set to receive further help with their energy bills, amounting to 900, 300 and 150 respectively. Car production increased by 10 per cent year-on-year in April in another strong sign that shortages of part supplies such as semiconductors are easing, the latest industry figures show. A total of 66,527 motors came off factory assembly lines last month, an increase of almost 6,000 on April 2022, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirmed on Thursday. Exports drove the rise in production, while 'electrified' cars now account for a third of all motors manufactured in the UK. Is the semiconductor and parts supply shortage over? A third consecutive month of growing vehicle outputs suggests manufacturers are finding it easier to get their hands on components Demand from overseas markets rose by 14.7 per cent in April, with 54,820 of all vehicles built destined for foreign markets. It means four in five (80.1 per cent) of all British-built motors were to be shipped overseas. The European Union remained the most important global market, taking almost three in five (58 per cent) of all exported motors, followed by the US, China and Australia, the figures show. While production outputs are rising, they're still some way behind the volumes seen pre-pandemic A total of 66,527 motors came off factory assembly lines last month, an increase of almost 6,000 on April 2022, the SMMT confirmed on Thursday Four in five cars leaving factory assembly lines last month are for export as demand from overseas continues to drive UK vehicle manufacturing The latest numbers point to an ease in the shortage of components - especially computer chips - that has been strangling outputs since the pandemic and seen UK new car outputs drop to post-war low levels. Helping to boost the number of cars being made is an increase in demand for electrified vehicles - the combination of conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure-electric models. Production of these greener vehicles were 56.2 per cent higher than the same month a year ago and in April represented more than a third (37.7 per cent) of all outputs. Over a third of new cars built in UK factories last month were 'electrified' - either hybrid of battery-electric models. Pictured: A Nissan Leaf EV coming off the Sunderland assembly line So far this year, manufacturers have made 113,315 electrified vehicles, which the SMMT says is 'evidence of the UKs growing capability in producing the next generation of green passenger cars'. The news follows reports yesterday that JLR owners Tata are set to invest billions into a new EV battery-making plant in Somerset, which will not only create 9,000 jobs in the area but be a huge boost for the UK's motor industry. Tata's boss is expected to fly to London next week to finalise the deal to build the battery factory in the South West. Such an investment would also give a boost to the British car industry, days after major automakers including Vauxhall owner Stellantis and Ford warned that looming post-Brexit trade rules risked making it unviable. Britain has fallen behind in the global race to build local battery capacity, threatening the future of its electric vehicle sector which requires heavy batteries to be built near car manufacturing plants. Site: Jaguar Land Rover is expected to pick a site near Bridgwater in Somerset (pictured) for its new car battery gigafactory Mike Hawes, chief executive at the motor trade body, said: 'UK car production is starting to motor again, good news for the sector and the many thousands of jobs and livelihoods it sustains. 'These figures also show how exports, particularly to Europe, continue to be the foundation of British automotive manufacturing so we must do all we can to safeguard the competitiveness of these trading relationships. 'Most immediately, this means finding a solution to the rules of origin challenge faced by manufacturers on both sides of the Channel, else we risk the application of tariffs - and therefore unnecessary cost - on the very vehicles we are trying to encourage consumers to purchase.' Commenting on the manufacturing figures, Richard Peberdy, UK head of automotive for KPMG, added: 'The car industry in the UK and Europe is becoming increasingly concerned about changes to rules of origin when 2024 begins. 'The need for a higher percentage of an electric vehicle to be sourced from within the UK or EU poses significant challenge, especially as battery production is still in its infancy within Europe. 'Over half of the vehicles produced in the UK in April were electric in some form, so the importance of a solution that avoids tariffs being applied to vehicles is clear.' A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said it: 'It's great to see our automotive sector kicking up a gear, selling more cars to the world, and supporting thousands of vital jobs back home. 'We're working on ambitious plans for the future of our automotive industry and are committed to maintaining competitive trading relationships to continue boosting exports and secure valuable investment.' Hopes for the UKs electric vehicle industry have been reignited as Jaguar Land Rovers owner looks set to pick Somerset over Spain for a car battery plant. Tatas boss is expected to fly to London next week to finalise the multi-million-pound deal, which Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been pushing for months, according to the BBC. But Whitehall sources told the Mail that negotiations were still ongoing to secure the most significant investment in UK automotive since Nissan came to Sunderland in the 1980s. Elon Musk has also said he is considering the UK for a Tesla gigafactory as the electric car maker ramps up production. Deals with Tata and Tesla would significantly bolster Britains electric vehicle (EV) sector, which has had a rocky ride in recent months from the collapse of Britishvolt to the crisis surrounding the lack of electric chargers. Site: Jaguar Land Rover is expected to pick a site near Bridgwater in Somerset (pictured) for its new car battery gigafactory There are also ongoing concerns over rules of origin laws which could see tariffs of 10pc whacked on EVs exported to the EU that do not meet strict criteria. Under current plans, 45 per cent of an electric car must be sourced in the UK or elsewhere in Europe to avoid export tariffs of 10 per cent. The rule, which is set to come into force next year, was originally intended to boost the creation of domestic electric car battery industries and remove the over-reliance on foreign players, such as China and Japan. But both the EU and the UK have failed to build enough factories to meet these production demands, meaning that most vehicles will not meet this standard and therefore must pay the tariff. Stellantis, which owns Vauxhall and Citroen, told MPs last week that it would be unable to make EVs in the UK without changes to Britains agreement with the bloc. Ford and Jaguar Land Rover also argued that the shift to EVs could be knocked off course unless the stricter rules are delayed. Although Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has said a solution would come soon, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) underlines the scale of the threat. More than eight in ten cars manufactured in the UK last month headed overseas, according to the figures, with over half of these going to the EU. Manufacturers produced a total of 66,527 cars in April, up 10 per cent from the same period last year, the SMMT said, with the number of electric vehicles jumping 56 per cent year-on-year. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: These figures show how exports, particularly to Europe, continue to be the foundation of British automotive manufacturing so we must do all we can to safeguard the competitiveness of these trading relationships. Around 1.4million Welsh Water customers are each to be handed a 10 rebate after the company admitted it materially understated leaks across its network. Ofwat has launched an investigation into Welsh Waters leakage reporting for 2020 and 2021 following the admission, and the regulator is examining whether further action needs to be taken over the failures. Welsh Water will credit the 10 onto its 1.3million household and 100,000 business customer accounts in the coming months, costing it about 14million in total. Rebate: Around 1.4million Welsh Water customers are to be handed a 10 rebate The 10 payment will be automatically credited to each registered household or business account. This will be done automatically by Welsh Water. Welsh Water, which describes itself as a not-for-profit company, said: 'Organising such a payment for all households and businesses is a significant challenge. 'This will be phased and while we cannot confirm exactly when each account will be credited, we plan to ensure that all accounts are credit within the next six months.' It pledged to spend an extra 54million on tackling leaks over the next two years, taking total investment on this issue to 284million over its current five-year spending plan. Pete Perry, chief executive of Welsh Water, said: 'We are very sorry and disappointed that this has happened. 'Were investing an additional 54million over the next two years to identify and reduce leakage as quickly as possible and we have shared the findings of our investigations with our regulator. 'Whilst our robust assurance process ultimately identified the issue, there were failures in our governance and management oversight processes that allowed this in the first place. 'We have made the necessary changes to how we manage leakage reporting and closed the gaps in our reporting and governance processes.' David Black, chief executive of Ofwat, said: 'We are committed to holding companies to account for performance and for sharing timely, accurate, and complete data with us and their customers. 'We recognise that Welsh Water came to us when it became aware of the issue with the accuracy of its performance data. 'Ofwats investigation will consider Welsh Waters restated performance figures, the circumstances that led to the company reporting inaccurate performance, and what steps it has taken or is taking to address these failings.' Sewage: On Wednesday, Severn Trent admitted it hadn't tackled sewage activations fast enough Welsh Water said it had reviewing its leakage reporting over the past 15 months alongside independent experts, which showed leakage has been running 'at a much higher level than was previously recognised by the company'. The Consumer Council for Water said Welsh Water will need to rebuild trust in the group among its customers. Emma Clancy, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, said: 'We recognise Welsh Water has moved swiftly to admit its mistake and the 10 rebate will go some way to reassuring its customers that it regrets the damage this will have caused to peoples trust in it. 'Customers will want the company to take the right steps to ensure this doesnt happen again. 'Our research shows leakage from water companies affects customers own motivation to save water so Welsh Water will need to build trust on this issue.' It comes a day after the watchdog announced a probe into South West Water over the accuracy of data it provides on leakages. Water giants are coming under heavy criticism across England and Wales for failing to effectively tackle spills in rivers and beaches. A Liberal Democrats analysis of Environment Agency data last month revealed 'monster' sewage dumps in Englands rivers and seas last year. Suppliers are under pressure to modernise the Victorian-era sewage networks, but also get on top of the accuracy of their leakage reporting. On Wednesday, water provider Severn Trent admitted it should have given sewage activations 'much more attention and acted faster'. Severn Trent was fined 1.5million in 2021 for illegal sewage discharges from four different sewage works. A court was told that Severn Trent failed to respond to alarms warning of a blockage, and did not adequately manage sludge and equipment failure. At one of the works in Worcestershire, 360,000 litres of sewage entered a local brook. A top professor has called for Australia to lower motorway speed limits for SUVs and other high-emission vehicles to combat climate change. Australia's love for dual-cab utes, large SUVs and older vehicles is making the country one of the biggest petrol consumers in the world, a new report by The Australia Institute found. Professor Lennard Gillman from Auckland University of Technology said one way to drastically reduce petrol consumption and carbon dioxide emissions is to drive slightly slower. He believes Australia should introduce differential speed limits for high-emission and low-emission vehicles so cars that put out more pollution are forced to drive slower to reduce their environmental impact. 'Lowering the speed limit for high emission vehicles has the double effect of cutting emissions but also incentivises people to buy low-emission cars,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'In a vehicle like the Ford Ranger V6 you'll be expending 260g (of fuel) per kilometre. That's more than twice as much as a Toyota Corolla.' He believes Australia should introduce differential speed limits for high-emission and low-emission vehicles so cars that put out more pollution are forced to drive slower to reduce their environmental impact. 'Lowering the speed limit for high emission vehicles has the double effect of cutting emissions but also incentivises people to buy low-emission cars,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'In a vehicle like the Ford Ranger V6 you'll be expending 260g (of fuel) per kilometre. That's more than twice as much as a Toyota Corolla.' Professor Lennard Gillman recommended Australia enforces a lower speed limit on high-emission cars to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption (pictured, traffic in Sydney) A study by the New Zealand Transport Agency in 2017 found reducing the speed from 100km/h to 80km/h sees car use 15 per cent less fuel. Prof Gillman believes the downfalls of reducing speed limits by 10km/h, like the extra time it takes to travel, can't compare with the benefits. 'It's safer, more relaxing and makes bugger-all time difference,' he said. 'If it makes a huge difference in carbon emissions, which is destroying the planet we live on, surely we can make that sacrifice.' Prof Gillman said monetary-based climate change initiatives - like increasing the tax on fuel in the hopes people will buy new electric cars - often have little effect on high-income earners while low-income households suffer. 'The problem with fuel tax is that it will punish people on low incomes,' he said. 'People who are spending over $100,000 on a vehicle that has high emissions, they don't care about petrol tax. 'They're not going to notice the increased cost of running their vehicle. 'Lowering the speed limit for people with high-emission vehicle will be a much better incentive to buy a more efficient vehicle.' Prof Gillman (above) said driving high-emission vehicles at 90km/h instead of 100km/h can reduce its emissions by 23 per cent Prof Gillman recommended reducing the speed limit for high-emission vehicles by 10km/h (pictured, speed limit sign) Analysis prepared by The Australia Institute found a significant share of transport emissions had been fuelled by 'poorly targeted tax incentives encouraging Australians to drive large, inefficient, dual-cab utes'. The report found Australia's transport emissions had grown by 17 per cent since 2000 while countries including the US, UK and Japan had reduced their emissions. 'Australia could make significant emissions reductions by simply driving more fuel-efficient vehicles and save billions of dollars in fuel costs,' said Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist at the Australia Institute. Five of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in Australia were dual-cab utes, the report found, while three were SUVs, and only two were small passenger cars. The report also recommended changes to vehicle emissions tests so they meet international standards, a commitment to transition all government fleets to electric vehicles by 2030 and the introduction of a fuel efficiency standard. Prof Gillman warned that not taking small steps to reduce emissions could have disastrous effects in the future. Five of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in Australia are dual-cab utes (like above) and three of the top 10 were SUVs 'Most of the pushback is from people who do have these really high-emission vehicles who feel it's their right to do whatever they like,' he said. 'We're facing a climate crisis. We're on track to be 2C warmer and a lot of scientists think once it gets to 2C it will pushover to 5C or 6C. 'At that point, much of the earth will be completely unliveable and there will be millions of people who die as a result. 'We're already seeing the effects of climate change cause fatalities with these massive storms we've seen all around the world.' Clare Nowland's granddaughter Kylie Paske (above) posted a Facebook tribute to her grandmother Clare Nowland's self-described 'favourite' granddaughter has broken the family's silence with a defiant social media post asking 'how dare' police 'Taser my nana'. Mrs Nowland, 95, died in hospital about 7pm on Wednesday surrounded by family, more than a week after she was Tasered by a cop in a nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. The dementia sufferer was Tasered by Senior Constable Kristian White after she refused to drop a serrated steak knife, as she moved slowly in her walker at Yallambee Lodge, about 4am on May 17. She suffered serious head injuries including bleeding on the brain after falling to the floor and spent a week in end-of-life care. Senior Constable White was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault shortly before Ms Nowland died. Ms Paske became the first family member to publicly speak out about her grandmother on Tuesday night. She used the hashtags #policetaseredmynana and #howdarethey, alongside a post accompanying a photo of a bunch of flowers sent by a friend to 'share her love, friendship and concern for my beautiful Nana'. Ms Nowland's great-granddaughter Jaimie Lloyd (above) emerged from Cooma District Hospital in tears on Tuesday as dozens of relatives descended on the facility where the family matriarch died on Wednesday night Granddaughter Kylie Paske added the hashtags #policetaseredmynana and #howdarethey to a Facebook post accompanying a photo of a bunch of flowers sent by a friend to 'share her love, friendship and concern for my beautiful Nana' Ms Paske, from Cooma, is a horse lover and campaigner for the protection of the Snowy Mountains brumby population. Like the rest of Mrs Nowland's large extended family she had remained silent until late on Tuesday, apart from a formal statement requesting privacy. Mrs Nowland's great-granddaughter Jaimie Lloyd was among several family members to emerge from Cooma District Hospital in tears throughout this week, as dozens of relatives descended on the facility. Daily Mail Australia has learned family members rushed to the hospital about 5pm on Monday concerned that Mrs Nowland's condition was deteriorating. Police stayed there until about 11pm. The previous day a priest conducted a Catholic bedside mass for the lifelong churchgoer and St Vincent de Paul volunteer. Ms Nowland was Tasered by Senior Constable Kristian White while moving slowly in her walker at Yallambee Lodge in the NSW Snowy Mountains after failing to drop a knife she was holding, according to police Relatives Andrew Nowland (second from right) and Kym Lloyd (far right) were among more than 20 family and friends, some carrying flowers, who visited the hospital this week Relatives Andrew Nowland and Bede Nowland were among the more than 20 family and friends, some carrying flowers, who visited the hospital before Ms Nowland's death. Security guards had been posted on the doors and a police presence in the form of Monaro area commander Superintendent John Klepczarek waited outside Ms Nowland's room. On Tuesday, Superintendent Klepczarek told Daily Mail Australia 'we are here every day for the family'. Police confirmed Ms Nowland's death in a statement on Wednesday night. 'It is with great sadness we confirm the passing of 95-year-old Clare Nowland in Cooma tonight,' the statement said. 'Mrs Nowland passed away peacefully in hospital just after 7pm this evening, surrounded by family and loved ones who have requested privacy during this sad and difficult time. 'Our thoughts and condolences remain with those who were lucky enough to know, love, and be loved by Mrs Nowland during a life she led hallmarked by family, kindness and community.' Ms Nowland's family had issued a statement on Tuesday describing her as their 'loving and gentle natured matriarch'. Monaro police area commander Superintendent John Klepczarek (above) and another senior cop entered the hospital on Tuesday, soon after police confirmed that Senior Constable White had been suspended with pay following the incident The statement said the family 'wishes to express our profound love and affection for our Mum, Nana and Great Grandmother' and thanked 'Cooma, the wider region, in fact the whole country and around the world for the outpouring of support for her'. Superintendent Klepczarek and another senior cop entered the hospital on Tuesday, soon after police confirmed that Senior Constable White had been suspended with pay following the incident. A former Rural Fire Service responder and police officer with 12 years experience, Senior Constable White had been working in the Monaro command for at least three years conducting domestic violence investigations and other crime cases. Daily Mail Australia understands that NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb visited the Nowland family last Friday after arriving by a private chartered Pelican jet. Executives from Network Nine's Sixty Minutes and A Current Affair and Network Seven's Spotlight have been in Cooma and reportedly spoken with some members of Ms Nowland's family about securing an exclusive TV interview. Senior Constable White (above) is reportedly 188cm (6'2") tall and weighs about 140kg, more than three time the size of 43kg Clare Nowland, who is 157cm tall (5'2") Meanwhile, Bezos and his new fiancee Lauren Sanchez will stay at famed financial guru and Kardashian money manager Lester Knispel's Malibu compound as construction finishes, DailyMail.com can reveal Advertisement Newly engaged Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have a ways to go before they can settle into their Beverly Hills marital home once they arrive back to the US from their whirlwind European vacation aboard the Koru. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the former world's richest man has resumed construction on his massive Beverly Hills estate, with men seen hard at work on the mansion that he purchased for nearly $175million. But with a long road ahead, DailyMail.com can reveal the couple will be returning from their odyssey to shack up at the Malibu compound of famed financial guru and Kardashian money manager, Lester Knispel. The beachfront home is the ideal private oasis for Bezos and Sanchez to hide away while they prepare for their upcoming nuptials. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show construction has resumed on Jeff Bezos's massive Beverly Hills estate Meanwhile the couple can rough it at Knispel's sprawling oceanfront estate, above, until the can move to the Beverly Hills property Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez appeared in Cannes Monday night in their first public outing since their engagement was made official Bezos's estate boasts a three-story main home, a guest house, gym, a pergola and a security guard house. He had planned to extend the property with a new pool house, powder room and retaining walls Men were seen hard at work on the home that the one-time world's richest man purchased for nearly $175million in 2020 Bezos, 59, paid $175 million for the near 10-acre property which was previously owned by former Warner Bros. President Jack Warner back in 2020 In April, it was revealed that the expansion of the megamansion had been put on hold indefinitely after he failed to complete a planning application for a new 'game court fence.' But it appears that construction has resumed Bezos, 59, paid $175 million for the 10-acre property which was previously owned by former Warner Bros. President Jack Warner back in 2020. It boasts a three-story main home, a guest house, gym, a pergola and a security guard house. DailyMail.com can reveal the couple have shacked up in the Malibu compound of famed financial guru and Kardashian money manager, Lester Knispel. Knispel is pictured in 2014 with actor George Lopez But in April, it was revealed that the expansion of the megamansion had been put on hold indefinitely after Bezos failed to complete a planning application for a new 'game court fence.' Bezos had planned to extend the property with a new pool house, powder room and retaining walls. An initial application was granted in 2021 but Bezos submitted a new request to add a 'game court fence with lighting' in January this year, but it was denied because the paperwork was incomplete. The original application asked to add around 1,000 square feet to the 28,000-square-foot mansion. But it looks like it's been sorted as construction has already resumed. The megamansion is just one part of Bezos's wide ranging real-estate profile, thought to be worth $600million, as he splits his time between properties with Sanchez. Also in 2020, he forked out $10million for the house next door in Beverly Hills. He owns four separate apartments inside an art-deco block on Manhattan's Upper West Side and in 2016 he spent $23million on a mansion in Washington D.C., three years after he bought the Washington Post. The property which sits in the upmarket Kalorama neighborhood was formerly the Textile Museum and sits in the same neighborhood where the Obamas and Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have lived. Knispel's beachfront home is the ideal private oasis for Bezos and Sanchez to hide away while they prepare for their upcoming nuptials. Knispel has been the money manager of the Kardashians as well as Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj In March, Sanchez posted a photo of herself and Bezos outside of Knispel's home, with the caption: 'Right before the Versace fashion show in LA with my favorite person' DailyMail.com revealed this week that the Amazon boss popped the question to his Emmy Award winning journalist girlfriend on board his $500million superyacht named Koru But until they can move into their Beverly Hills home, the newly engaged couple have taken up with Knispel, who has been the money manager of the Kardashians as well as Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. In March, Sanchez posted a photo of herself and Bezos outside of Knispel's home, with the caption: 'Right before the Versace fashion show in LA with my favorite person.' DailyMail.com revealed this week that the Amazon boss popped the question to his Emmy Award winning journalist girlfriend on board his $500million superyacht named Koru a Maori word meaning unurling fern.. The couple were seen kissing and canoodling on board throughout the weekend, while Sanchez, 53, struggled to conceal the rock that glinted on her ring finger sparkling proof that she said, 'Yes.' The newly minted fiances were seen off the coast of Mallorca and Cannes, where they are enjoying a Mediterranean odyssey and the inaugural voyage of Bezos's half a billion-dollar superyacht. At 417 ft long and 230ft tall, Koru is one of the world's largest sailing yachts complete with 250 ft support vessel that boasts its own helipad. The pair flew into Europe by private jet and were first seen on the deck of the yacht last weekend. The amount of luggage that was lost, stolen, damaged or delayed soared by over a quarter last year amid the widespread air travel chaos. In 2022, the rate of mishandled bags on US flights increased by 25.2 percent to 6.35 bags per 1,000 passengers, according to data from Sita, an IT provider for the air transport industry. This is up from 5.07 bags per 1,000 passengers the year before. The number of people flying has bounced back since the pandemic, with worldwide traffic surging to 3.42 billion passengers in 2022, Sita research revealed. But a shortage of workers in the air transport industry has meant travelers have been plagued by widespread cancellations, delays, long security queues and mishandled baggage. And some passengers are complaining that they are still waiting for lost luggage after extreme weather disrupted thousands of flights over the holiday season. Huge mounds of lost luggage were left at baggage carousels after Southwest Airlines canceled thousands of flights in December last year Last year, approximately 50 million employees resigned in the US, according to Sita's 2023 Baggage IT Insights report. 'In 2022, as the aviation industry and globe emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, US airlines faced staffing and absenteeism challenges across the supply chain that impacted mishandled baggage rates,' said John Heimlich, vice president of trade association Airlines for America. Despite ticket prices soaring and airlines posting record profits, US carriers were hit by widespread chaos last year. More than 12,500 flights were disrupted in December when New York, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia and North Carolina called states of emergency over sub-zero temperatures and whiteout conditions. Desperate passengers were forced to sleep in terminals surrounded by growing mounds of lost luggage after being stranded at airports when beleaguered Southwest Airlines canceled swathes of flights across the country in December. Some airports were left with mountains of disorganized luggage - and no staff available to help with the frenzy. Under Department of Transportation regulations, airlines are required to compensate passengers if their bags are damaged, delayed, or lost - but some customers say they still have not received reimbursement for their lost luggage. Southwest Airlines said in January that it was trying to return lost luggage with 'great urgency' and provide appropriate compensation - but some customers are complaining this has not happened. One customer wrote on social media: 'Southwest Airlines lost my bag a year and half ago and still no reimbursement.' As well as reduced and inexperienced labor force, airlines have also had to play catch up with flight training as many senior pilots took early retirement due to the pandemic. Staffing shortages are a particular problem in New York, where the air traffic control center is staffed at a mere 54 percent, far below the 81 percent national average. Kathleen Bangs, from flight tracking platform FlightAware told Dailymail.com that there was also fewer available flights despite sky-high demand, which was contributing to frustrating delays and baggage issues. Shocking data from the platform showed that a whopping 21.4 percent of flights in year to April were delayed - by an average of 50 minutes. Heimlich, from Airlines for America, added however that he was 'encouraged' by the 'aggressive hiring campaigns' launched by US carriers to combat the issue of reduced and inexperienced staff. 'We anticipate baggage handling numbers to improve as thousands of new employees gain experience and complete training,' he said. The amount of luggage that was lost, damaged or delayed soared by over a quarter last year Baggage was lined up at LaGuardia airport in December after swathes of cancelations Worldwide, the rate of luggage that was lost, damaged or delayed almost doubled in 2022 - soaring from 4.35 bags to 7.60 per 1,000 passengers - a rise of 74.7 percent. David Lavorel, CEO at Sita, said the 'swift come-back' of airline passengers after the pandemic 'took the industry by surprise.' This resulted in 'increased disruptions and baggage mountains as airports, airlines, and ground handlers navigate the surge in traffic with reduced staff,' he said. He continued: 'This can be traced back in large part to the resumption of international and long-haul flights throughout 2022, meaning more transfers, where bags are most susceptible to being mishandled.' According to the report, the number of mishandled bags is more than eight times higher for international flights than domestic ones. Last year, delayed bags accounted for 80 percent of all mishandled baggage, while 13 percent of bags were damaged and seven percent were lost or stolen. The death of a 95-year-old great grandmother who a policeman allegedly tasered has sent shockwaves around Australia - as an officer is charged, and police refuse to release footage of the incident. Clare Nowland, a dementia sufferer weighing just 43kg, was Tasered at a Cooma old age home after 4am last Wednesday. She had been holding a steak knife when she 'slowly' approached a police officer at the Yallambee Lodge in southern NSW. Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, allegedly used a Taser on Mrs Nowland, prompting her to collapse to the ground, knock her head and suffer a bleed to the brain. She passed away in Cooma Hospital just after 7pm on Wednesday. Just an hour after death, Constable White was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. A protest has been planned in Sydney over her death, with protesters set to march from Paramatta train station to the NSW Police Headquarters at 12pm. Sunrise host Natalie Barr asked former NSW Police detective Peter Moroney if things could have ended differently for Mrs Nowland. 'As a former policeman, even when I looked at it, the queries in my mind were that she is 95, that she was on a walking frame, was there an alternative option that was there, that could have been done? It's hard to comment,' he said. 'As a father, particularly as a son, it's devastating for the family what's happened. I would be wanting answers and they deserve answers too.' The former detective was asked if he thought the senior constable's charges would be upgraded to manslaughter or murder. 'Look, there is a reasonable chance that they will be. Obviously, the recklessness and grievous bodily harm was done prior to Mrs Nowland's passing away. 'I would absolutely expect that police or the DPP will now consider that in light of her passing.' Commissioner Webb addressed the media after Constable White was charged. 'This matter now is before the court, and there's little more that I can say about it other than to say that the Nowland family have been informed of this development.' 'My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs Nowland and her family this evening'. The constable is due to appear at Cooma Local Court on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Of the charges he faces, recklessly causing grievous bodily harm carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm carries a prison term of up to seven years, while being convicted of common assault could lead to up to two years behind bars. The officer remains suspended from duty, with pay. Clare Nowland, a dementia sufferer who weighed just 43kg, was Tasered at an Cooma old age home just after 4am last Wednesday The Yallambee Lodge in Southern NSW where the Taser incident occurred is pictured Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) said her 'thoughts and prayers are with Mrs Nowland and her family this evening' Commissioner Webb said 'his employment will continue to be reviewed, but at the moment, he is still suspended from the workplace'. She added that the charges against White could be upgraded. 'It is possible. It depends on what happens,' she said. The police boss has faced criticism this week after she publicly declined to release or watch bodycam footage of Mrs Nowland being tasered, saying she is 'concerned' the public wants to see it. When she was asked again on Wednesday night why she will not release the footage of Mrs Nowland being Tasered, she replied 'I'm not the investigator.' Investigations into the incident continue. A banking app used by millions of Australians is getting an artificial intelligence upgrade the company says will improve personalisation. Commonwealth Bank announced on Wednesday that it's CommBank App v5.0 is set to launch and will also integrate share trading into the platform. CBA's Executive General Manager Digital & Customer, Meg Bonighton, said the Bank is heavily focusing on its digital platforms as less customers are visiting branches in person. Commonwealth Bank is reworking their banking app to incorporate more artificial intelligence A screenshot of the new app that will be more 'personalised' and allow switching between business and personal accounts more easily 'Digital investment is such an important area for us and we want to continue providing our customers with a digital experience that is equal to or better than any digital experience right across their lives.' Ms Bonighton said. According to the bank's own figures, the app has seen a 50 per cent rise in user numbers since 2018, with about 7.7million people downloading it. They are also using the app more frequently, averaging 36 logins a month - or more than once a day. Ms Bonighton said as more people were using the app the bank was gathering a wealth of data on their customers' banking habits 'It is the insights we're getting from the app, and the conversations we're having with customers every day, that tell us the benchmark of a superior digital experience has shifted. Our customers are expecting more from us.' One of the biggest changes will be bringing the Commsec share trading app into the CommBank App, removing the need for users to switch between two apps. An upside for the bank is that this will, hopefully, entice more of their customers to use their share trading products. Other changes include a personalised login experience and improved search that will put each customers most used functions at the forefront. Business customers will also be able to seamlessly switch between their business and personal accounts. About 7.7million CommBank customers login to the banking app with users surging over the last few years Chief executive Matt Comyn said improved technology was allowing a greater connection with customers. 'Using global leading artificial intelligence and building on the digital investments and advances we have made in recent years, we are now able to better understand the needs of our 8.3 million digitally active customers,' he said. 'We absolutely recognise and can see enormous potential further to differentiate ourselves and we think some of the things we're talking about today are hopefully going to do exactly that.' In addressing concerns about AI, Mr Cormyn said he believes government is looking closely at perhaps regulating the technology. 'It is a topic of conversation, I think, at the highest levels in many countries at the moment about how to think about it, both for companies, but also realistically how it could be used and misused by bad actors.' 'It's certainly a huge focus for us. It is across both government and regulators - seeing those sorts of losses across Australian households (to scams) in excess of $3 billion, it's just not good enough.' The new app will be available from next month. Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger's parents have been called to testify in the case of a missing Pennsylvania woman who disappeared in the same county where he lived. Michael and Maryann Kohberger will appear in front of a grand jury in connection to Dana Smithers' May 28, 2022 disappearance - as investigators determine if their son was involved in other slayings. Smithers, 45, was last seen in Ring camera footage at around 11pm on the day she went missing. Her remains were uncovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on April 27 - about 30 miles away from the Kohberger's family home in Albrightsville. But a source claimed that Kohberger's alibi proves that he likely wasn't involved in Smithers' disappearance, according to News Nation. Kohberger , 28, was charged with the November 13, 2022 deaths of four University of Idaho students, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20. Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger's parents were called to testify over the case of a missing Pennsylvania woman who went missing in the same county where he lived The court suspects Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger might be connected to Dana Smithers because she disappeared 30-miles from his parent's home. Smithers, 45, was last seen on May 28, 2022 on Ring footage This is the moment Smithers was seen for the final time before her disappearance on Ring doorbell footage shot at the end of May 2022 Michael is expected to testify in court on Thursday while Maryann has already given her testimony. The transcripts from the closed session may be transferred to Idaho where their son is expected to go to trial on October 2. The suspect appeared in an Idaho courtroom on Monday where he refused to enter a plea to four counts of murder in the first degree. Kohberger instead chose to use Idaho's 'standing silent' plea which means he has not pleaded either way but can still be tried. He had been due to face a preliminary hearing but the Washington State University PHD candidate was indicted by an Idaho Grand Jury who heard the evidence in secret and decided to send the case to a full trial. The criminology major has been behind bars since December 30 when police raided his parent's Pennsylvania home. He was transferred to Latah County Jail on January 4 where he has remained since. Michael Kohberger (right) is expected to testify in court on Thursday while Maryann Kohberger (left) has already given her testimony Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) - all students at the University of Idaho - were knifed to death on November 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow The Moscow, Idaho, home where the murders took place is now boarded up as workers prepare it for demolition Investigators in Moscow observed a white sedan speeding away from the crime scene toward Pullman, Washington, another small college town about 10 miles from Moscow, Idaho Kohberger is believed to have planned the murders of Madison, Kaylee, Ethan and Xana, with a probable cause affidavit noting that he had repeatedly visited the area around their home prior to the killings. His DNA was found on a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to the bodies of Kaylee and Madison. Kaylee and Madison were discovered dead in bed next to each other, while Ethan and Xana were found on the floor below, with Xana discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom. According to the document, survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke heard something of what happened, with Mortensen telling cops she heard Goncalves say 'there's someone here' at approximately 4am. Ten minutes later, she heard a thud and crying from Xana's room and a male voice saying 'it's ok, I'm going to help you.' Minutes later, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door and saw a tall male with bushy eyebrows leaving through the sliding glass doors at the back of the home. She described how she had been 'frozen in shock' as the suspect walked towards her. Mortensen said she locked herself in her room after he left. The affidavit also reveals that Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra was captured on camera near the scene before being seen driving rapidly away from the home towards Pullman at approximately 4.20am. Police rapidly connected the vehicle to Kohberger and noted the similarity between his appearance and Mortensen's description of the intruder at the rental home. Monarchists are furious the Opera House was emblazoned with the Indian flag to honour Narendra Modi's visit but was left blank for King Charles' coronation. The sails of Sydney's iconic harbourside venue were lit up with the colours of the Indian flag on Wednesday night. Prime Minister Anothony Albanese was pictured grinning and giving the peace sign next to Mr Mordi in a photo op during the Indian prime minister's visit to Australia. The sails of the Opera House were lit up in the colours of the Indian flag on Wednesday night. Anthony Albanese and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi flashed peace signs (pictured) The NSW government refused to light the sails to mark King Charles' coronation this month after Premier Chris Minns said it would be 'too expensive' Critics have questioned why the federal government was not prepared to mark the occasion of King Charles' recent coronation in the same fashion on May 6. 'Can for India's PM, can't for our own King,' commentator Michael Smith wrote on Twitter. Australian lawyer and failed Liberal candidate Katherine Deves fumed at the apparent double standards. 'Labor-Greens will grab any opportunity to undermine & devalue our prosperous, stable, successful constitutional monarchy,' she wrote. Another Twitter user accused Mr Albanese of using his office as his 'own private play thing'. 'Too expensive to light up for the coronation, but happy to do it for another photo op with the Indian PM,' they seethed. The Opera House's sails stayed dark during the Coronation despite various other landmarks across the country being illuminated purple for the occasion. After the death of Queen Elizabeth last September, her face was projected onto the sails for two days 'to recognise Her Majesty's contribution to the life and culture of Australia'. NSW Premier Chris Minns came under fire earlier this month for not lighting up the Opera House for the coronation of King Charles III, a decision he stood by in order to 'protect the taxpayers' money'. The Late Debate contributor Liz Storer said it was a 'once-in-a-lifetime event'. 'This was a slap in the face to the will of the people who made what they wanted very clear and you (Premier Minns) just did what you wanted, which was the Labor government's agenda to push a republic at all costs,' she said. Mr Minns was put on the spot by 2GB radio host Ben Fordham, who asked him why he was happy for it to be lit for some occasions and not for others. After the death of Queen Elizabeth last September, her face was projected onto the sails for two days 'to recognise Her Majesty's contribution to the life and culture of Australia' (pictured) The sails were lit to mark Sydney's international Pride festival earlier this year (pictured) 'I appreciate that it was done when the Queen passed away,' Mr Minns said. 'I thought that that was appropriate but the reason for that was it was a commemoration of the life that she'd led and the sacrifice she'd made on behalf of the commonwealth, Australia and the UK not as a result of her passing or the commemoration of the king.' Mr Albanese said the decision not to honour the King's coronation lay with the state government. 'I was in the UK so I wasn't a party to any of those decisions,' he told 2GB's Chris O'Keefe. Mr Albanese then defended the decision to light the sails with the Indian flag, claiming there were '1.4 billion reasons why' in reference to the coutnry's massive population. 'One of the things about lighting up the Opera House is that it projects our image to the world,' Mr Albanese said. 'It will mean that there is coverage There are 1.4 billion reasons why we want the Indian flag on the Opera House, because it is the largest population in the world. 'Two thirds of those 1.4 billion people are under the age of 35. We want a relationship with them we want them to come to Australia, to bring their dollars, to create jobs and create that economic activity in the tourism sector.' The lighting up of the sails which are estimated to cost between $80,000 and $100,000 comes after Mr Albanese held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart. Mr Albanese (pictured alongside Indian PM Modi) said there were 1.4 billion reasons why' the Opera House was lit up in the colours of the Indian flag in reference to the coutnry's massive population The pair inked a deal to slow down people smuggling and improve relations between the two countries. The Opera House would have been the scene of the QUAD leaders summit on Wednesday, which was canned last week after US President Joe Biden pulled out at the last minute. The Opera House was lit up 70 times in 2022, costing the public between $5.6m and $7m. These included displays Indigenous artwork to mark Australia Day, the yellow and blue of the Ukraine flag to show solidarity after their invasion by Russia and international festivals like Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights and the Lunar New Year. It also included tributes to mark the deaths of Olivia Newton-John and former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, as well as police officers and paramedics killed while on duty. Mr Minns previously said he thought it was 'just being lit up too often'. The Opera House will be lit over the next month for the Vivid winter festival of light, music and ideas, involving immersive light installations and projections and musical performances. Tensions erupted at Cooma Hospital in the minutes following Tasered grandmother Clare Nowland's death, with grieving family members facing off with a community advocate in the darkness of the facility's car park. Andrew Thaler, who had acted as an unofficial spokesman for Ms Nowland's family in the days since the incident, was involved in two confrontations 'with members of Clare's family'. The incidents occurred just after police had announced they were charging Senior Constable Kristian White over the Tasering of Ms Nowland at a Cooma nursing home on May 17. Mr Thaler was broadcasting a Facebook video story last night about the charges, when it emerged that Ms Nowland had died just after 7pm and distraught family members began streaming out of the hospital. 'I was live updating out front of the hospital about the news of the cop who tasered Clare being charged, and two incidents occurred with members of Clares family,' Mr Thaler said. Tensions erupted at Cooma Hospital in the minutes following Tasered grandmother Clare Nowland's death, with grieving family members facing off with a community advocate in the car park Andrew Thaler has provided updates about Ms Nowland since the Tasering incident from some members of her family with whom he is in close contact. Ms Nowland, 95 (above), passed away on Wednesday night a week after being Tasered in her nursing home on May 17 'Ironically while this was being broadcast Clare sadly passed away inside the hospital. 'I understand the pressure that some or even many members of Clares family were under. 'Allegations of me stalking the family are simply not true. Our community is under pressure ... people want truth, many want to speak out.' Mr Thaler has provided updates about Ms Nowland since the Tasering incident from some members of her family with whom he is in close contact. Other family members were put in contact with the Seven and Nine television networks to negotiate deals for the Spotlight and Sixty Minutes programs, with a contract rumoured to have been signed with the latter. Policeman Kristian White has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. He will face court in July. Community advocate Andrew Thaler was broadcasting live for his Facebook page about Kristian White's charges when news came that Clare Nowland had died The IRS whistleblower in the Hunter Biden probe has broken his cover after claiming the president's son was given preferential treatment in a tax probe. Gary Shapley, a 14-year IRS agent, said he immediately saw deviations in Hunter's tax probe investigation when he was assigned the case in January 2020. He became concerned that prosecutors were mishandling the 'controversial' case and felt bound to blow the whistle due to his oath of office. 'This is a job, and my oath of office is to treat everybody fairly that we investigate,' he told CBS News. '[This case] was way outside the norm of what I've experienced in the past. There were multiple steps that were slow-walked were just completely not done at the direction of the Department of Justice. 'When I saw the egregiousness of some of these things, it no longer became a choice for me. It's not something that I want to do. It's something I feel like I have to do.' The registered Republican, who claims he does not get involved in politics, said the alleged mishandling is affecting the 'fairness of the system' when taxpayers and 'subjects of investigations are treated differently.' Gary Shapley, a 14-year IRS agent, said he immediately saw deviations in Hunter's tax probe investigation when he was assigned the case in January 2020. He became concerned that prosecutors were mishandling the 'controversial' case and felt bound to blow the whistle due to his oath of office Shapley blew the whistle three years after the investigation began, which is being led by Trump-appointed US Attorney in Delaware, David Weiss. The investigation is looking into potential outstanding tax debt for Hunter's stint as a board member of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was VP, as well as a possible false statement for a gun purchase Shapley blew the whistle three years after the investigation began, which is being led by Trump-appointed US Attorney in Delaware, David Weiss. The investigation is looking into potential outstanding tax debt for Hunter's stint as a board member of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was VP, as well as a possible false statement for a gun purchase, according to CBS News. Late last year, an FBI leak revealed agents believed there was enough evidence to support criminal charges, but none ever came. Shapley believed measures were being taken to protect Hunter. 'Each and every time, it seemed to always benefit the subject,' he told CBS News. 'It just got to that point where that switch was turned on. And I just couldn't silence my conscience anymore.' The former Inspector General of the National Security Agency's Office began documenting his concerns in June 2020 after he started to wonder if the DOJ was 'unethically' acting on the case. Shapley's concerns became public last month after his lawyer, Mark Lytle, wrote to Congress seeking protection for the IRS agent. He is now scheduled to appear before the House Ways and Means Committee this Friday, but it will not be open to the public. The letter also revealed that Shapley was removed from the case after attending a 'charged meeting,' which prompted him to speak out. 'It was my red-line meeting,' the Republican said. He also claimed to have faced retaliation from IRS leadership after speaking out. The White House declined to comment, referring to a previous statement made that Joe 'has made clear that this matter would be handled independently by the Justice Department, under the leadership of a US Attorney appointed by former President Trump, free from any political interference by the White House. He has upheld that commitment' Hunter's team has also accused him of breaking the law. The White House declined to comment, referring CBS News to a previous statement stating that Joe 'has made clear that this matter would be handled independently by the Justice Department, under the leadership of a US Attorney appointed by former President Trump, free from any political interference by the White House. He has upheld that commitment.' The IRS also said it 'can't comment on specific taxpayer matters.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the DOJ for comment. The US Attorney's Office in Delaware declined to comment. An American zoo has issued a groveling apology after offending New Zealand with its 'indefensible' treatment of Paora, a brown kiwi hatched in its care. Zoo Miami charged $40 a head for a 'kiwi encounter', which involved the public patting the bird and scratching its head in a brightly-lit room without a hiding place for four days every week. TikTok videos taken by visitors to the American zoo show Paora sprinting to a timber box for shelter in his enclosure, then a keeper laughing as he lifts its hinged lid to expose him. He also knocks the bird over as he handles it. The zoo evidently commenced its up-close and personal kiwi experience using Paora, which was born in the US in 2019, without cross-checking whether its plans conformed to the animal's natural behaviour. Zoo Miami has issued a groveling apology after offending New Zealand with its 'indefensible' treatment of Paora (pictured above), a brown kiwi hatched in its care which staff allowed to be patted Jeseka Kate Christieson, a New Zealander who started the petition, said the zoo promising to end its kiwi experience was a win but its treatment of Paora was 'beyond a joke' Aside from being flightless, Kiwis are nocturnal, hunting prey who connect with mates at night. In the heat of the day, the birds can become dehydrated and die. A handbook on the best practices for handling of kiwis, which is available to the zoo, says the birds 'must not be taken out of their burrows just for the purpose of allowing people to see and touch them'. 'The birds are to be handled no more frequently than ... 2-3 times a year for adults.' The handbook also says humans 'must not touch the head, facial bristles or bill of the bird'. The Zoo Miami keeper shown in videos touches Paora's bill, while the weight of his hand on the bird's head knocks it down. Experts have said the touching and bright lights would have placed Paora under immense stress and could even have shortened its lifespan. Animals placed in zoo enclosures where they can't follow their natural instincts often do not survive, such as polar bears, tigers, cheetahs, and lions and great white sharks. After widespread outrage over the videos the zoo stopped the kiwi encounter and issued a grovelling public apology to the entire New Zealand nation. 'They have every reason to be outraged. We are profoundly sorry,' said Ron Magill, 'goodwill ambassador' for Zoo Miami. 'Five minutes [on show] is too long to expose an animal to [patting and light] if it is an nocturnal animal. 'We are profoundly apologetic, I can tell you that we have listened to you... effective immediately that entire encounter has been eliminated. 'There will be no access to the kiwi by the public any longer.' Kiwis are considered 'treasures' to NZ's Maori people, who believed the flightless birds survived under the protection of the 'god of the forest'. Videos showed Zoo Miami's zookeeper patting the kiwi in a way that made it fall down. Handbooks on the bird's care say its head should never be touched by humans One outraged animal lover started an online petition to 'Help Save This Mistreated Kiwi', which gained 12,634 signatures A TikTok video taken by visitors to the American zoo showed Paora sprinting to a timber box for shelter in his enclosure, but the keeper lifting its lid and laughing Maori weaved their feathers into cloaks and even included kiwi in Treaty of Waitangi settlement claims. The significance of kiwis to New Zealanders goes beyond even that, however. The bird is the best-known national symbol for New Zealand, and since World War I the word kiwi has come to mean 'New Zealander'. One outraged animal lover started an online petition to 'Help Save This Mistreated Kiwi', which gained 12,634 signatures. Jeseka Kate Christieson, a Hamilton receptionist who started the petition, said the zoo promising to end its kiwi experience was a win, but should be 'taken with a gain of salt'. 'They shouldn't have started the encounters anyway,' Ms Christieson, 23, whose body is covered with animal tattoos, told Daily Mail Australia. 'Google is free, they have a brown kiwi care guidebook that not only New Zealanders have to follow, but the 60 offshore kiwi caregivers have to follow also! 'Our taonga [treasures] are beyond precious to us and we have a lot of mana [life force], a lot of pride for our native fauna and to see it disrespected was just beyond a joke.' New Zealand's prime minister Chris Hipkins also weighed into the debate, saying the zoo was right to ditch its Kiwi encounter. The zoo also apologised with a long social media post, which received a mixed response. 'You paraded him like a show dog under bright lights and allowed people to handle him. He never should've been subjected to that kind of treatment,' one woman said. Another added: 'All of Aotearoa is watching and the majority are appalled'. Ron Magill, 'goodwill ambassador' for Zoo Miami, claimed the zoo was 'profoundly sorry' New Zealand's prime minister Chris Hipkins weighed into the debate, saying the zoo was right to ditch its Kiwi encounter 'Why was the encounter considered a good idea in the first place? 'Why is it taking four years to give Paora an enclosure?' One man wrote that the significance of kiwis to New Zealanders 'is like koalas and kangaroos combined for Australians'. Several people called for Paora to be sent to live in NZ, but that has been ruled out as the bird could be considered a 'biosecurity risk' having been raised in the United States. A man who allegedly stole an ibis from a public park before tying the native bird up by its feet to dry it out before cooking it has been released on bail. Tom Quach, 60, allegedly stuffed the bin chicken into his backpack and then rode to his unit in Sydney's eastern suburbs where he decapitated it and hung it up in his shower on Tuesday, in preparation to eat the native bird. The Vietnamese national was granted bail at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, charged with animal cruelty and harming or attempting to harm a protected animal. His lawyer told the court that the 60-year-old was confused about the ibis' protective status in NSW as he had previously caught and eaten the bird while living in Queensland. Several members of the public intervened and managed to take the bird from the man, who left the area before police arrived (pictured) Quach was arrested earlier this year when he was filmed trying to stuff a distressed bird into a shopping bag. Police responded to an incident where he allegedly captured an ibis outside Eastwood train station on March 31. Officers were told the man allegedly tied a rope around the bird's feet and neck before attempting to stuff it into a red trolley bag. Members of the public attempted to stop the birdnapping, managing to pry the bird from the man's grasp who fled before police arrived. Witnesses told police the bird appeared to have an injured beak and was bleeding, but it flew away before police and WIRES Wildlife Rescue arrived. The white Australian ibis, colloquially referred to as a bin chicken, is a protected species under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. As such, it cannot be harmed or interfered with. Quach (pictured) was arrested earlier this year after a video of him trying to put the distressed bird in his wheeled shopping bag went viral online The court previously heard Quach had 'lashed out' at the ibis because other birds had been 'chasing and attacking' him On Wednesday, Quach was granted conditional bail to return to his Maroubra home, but must not approach or own any birds. As part of his bail conditions, police also may search his home for any birds, dead or alive, up to three times a week. The court previously heard Quach had 'lashed out' at the ibis because other birds had been 'chasing and attacking' him. 'In his mind, he was under attack,' his legal aid solicitor told the court. 'The birds were following him and annoying him and he lashed out and took his frustrations out on the bird.' Quach also faces a single charge each of having a prohibited drug and possessing goods suspected of being stolen. Quach (pictured) also faces a single charge each of having a prohibited drug and possessing goods suspected of being stolen The white Australian ibis (pictured), colloquially known as a bin chicken, is a protected species under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act and cannot be harmed or interfered with The court heard that Quach suffers from PTSD and bipolar disorder and had spent weeks at a mental health institute only to re-offend just days after being released. Under the bail conditions imposed on Wednesday, Quach will be required to report to Maroubra police daily and is subject to a strict curfew from 8pm to 6am. He was also ordered to undertake treatment at Prince of Wales hospital and will be barred from consuming any drugs or alcohol. After Governor Ron DeSantis's technical difficulties-plagued his 2024 presidential campaign kickoff on Twitter, former President Donald Trump was quick to take to Truth Social to mock his rival. Just before 7pm Wednesday, Trump wrote a bizarre message that took aim at DeSantis, while incorporating his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. '"Rob," My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working (TRUTH!), yours does not! (per my conversation with Kim Jung Un, of North Korea, soon to become my friend!),' wrote Trump, seemingly deliberately calling the governor by the wrong first name. The two men will now spend months battling for the Republican nomination ahead of the 2024 election. The former president was quick to enter the fray in mocking the less-than-smooth start to Ron DeSantis' Twitter Spaces campaign announcement In the lead-up to DeSantis' scheduled announcement, Trump posted two videos on Truth Social attacking the Florida governor. In the first, Trump took credit for DeSantis' first gubernatorial victory in Florida and positioned DeSantis as a MAGA traitor. The second video pushed DeSantis as a member of the establishment class of politicians, and argued that Trump is the only candidate capable of standing up to establishment forces, as well as China and other US adversaries. Former first son Donald Trump Jr. also sent a tweet of an article that labeled DeSantis' announcement a failure. He had tweeted earlier: 'DeSantis is making JEB! look high energy right now.' DeSantis' highly anticipated presidential campaign launch began without a bang, as the Twitter spaces he was supposed to join with Elon Musk was delayed by 26 minutes following severe technical glitches. Musk at one point said the 'servers were strained' and the host blamed the meltdown on the number of people tuning in, which he claimed was a 'good thing.' 'Just try and get it going,' listeners could hear as it became clear frustration was growing. Moderator David Sacks, a tech entrepreneur close to Musk, started the talk by claiming DeSantis was engaged in a 'first is social media' by 'making history' with the announcement. The event, however, is more likely to be remembered for its series of glitches. DeSantis officially entered the 2024 Republican presidential primary on Wednesday night with a Twitter Spaces discussion that malfunctioned for about a half-hour before the announcement could be made official Trump will now face DeSantis for the 2024 Republican nomination as the two are the front-runners to face Joe Biden DeSantis is making JEB! look high energy right now. Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 24, 2023 Once the event was off the ground, DeSantis confirmed to the Tesla and Twitter CEO he entered the Republican presidential primary race just hours after filing the appropriate paperwork needed to launch a bid for the White House. 'Thank you for putting up with these technical issues, we are definitely breaking new ground here,' Sacks said when the event was up and running. 'As far as I know, no major presidential candidate has ever announced their candidacy on social media in this way.' Throughout the talk, DeSantis promoted his presidential platform for the first time as an official candidate to an audience of around 300,000 people. DeSantis also took a veiled swipe at Trump by claiming he will put an end to the recent Republican 'culture of losing.' Just one hour before the video was released, Trump got one more swipe in at the man assumed to be his main competitor. 'I'd like to personally congratulate 'Rob' DeSanctimonious on finally announcing that he will be entering the race for President of the United States,' he wrote. 'Hopefully he will get the full experience of being attacked by the Marxists, Communists, and Radical Left Lunatics of our Country, without which he will never know the kind of job he is doing.' Trump added: 'These Lowlifes & Misfits are far worse than the leaders of hostile foreign countries. They must be soundly defeated in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Prior to campaign season, Trump and DeSantis enjoyed a good working relationship. Trump is now claiming that he is the reason DeSantis ever became successful and the Florida Governor is betraying him by running Trump, for the moment, still holds a commanding poll lead over DeSantis and all other 2024 Republican challengers In response to the messy start to the Twitter Spaces announcement, Democratic National Committee spokesperson Ammar Moussa said in a statement: 'In true Ron DeSantis fashion, his presidential launch was quite literally not ready for primetime. Welcome to the race for the MAGA base, Ron!' DeSantis is largely seen as the only candidate that might be able to give Trump a run for his money in the 2024 primary. But Trump still holds a commanding poll lead over DeSantis and all other 2024 Republican challengers. The former president holds an outright majority, leading the field with support from 53 percent of Republicans in the latest CNN/SSRS poll released Wednesday, which puts his backing from voters at double that of DeSantis' 26 percent support. NSW Labor is copping heat for voting down calls to release the body-worn footage of police involved in Tasering 95-year-old great grandmother Clare Nowland. Mrs Nowland tragically died in hospital about 7pm on Wednesday night, just hours after the cop involved in the incident was charged with grievous bodily harm. Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, tasered Mrs Nowland at her aged care home in Cooma about 4am last Wednesday. She was clutching a kitchen knife and her walking frame at the time of the incident, weighed just 43kg and was suffering with dementia. The Opposition on Wednesday demanded police release the body-worn footage of the incident to ensure transparency. Damien Tudehope, a Liberal MP, said: 'It is not good enough for the police say 'I can take and release body cam footage in circumstances where I can make arrests all over the place.' But when it does not suit them, that is when the cover-up starts. 'That is when we lose confidence in the transparency of the operation of this system.' Mrs Nowland (pictured) died in Cooma District Hospital, in southern NSW, after she was Tasered by an officer a week earlier Rod Roberts, a member of Pauline Hanson's One Nation and former police officer of 20 years, told the NSW Legislative Council on Wednesday the incident 'is not a law and order issue' But Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty shut down the motion, arguing there should be 'no political interference' in allowing 'the investigation into the actions of the officer involved proceed'. 'The critical incident investigation is being led by some of the State's best investigators in the homicide squad. We need to let the investigation run its course.' She described the actions of those opposite as 'despicable' examples of 'playing politics'. Her immediate move to rebuff the Opposition prompted chaos in the chamber and accusations of a 'cover up'. The Greens largely supported the push for footage to be released, but wanted to amend the requirement that it be published immediately. Instead, they argue it should be released 'as soon as possible'. NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White (pictured) has been suspended with pay Speaking for the Greens, Sue Higginson noted police appear to have no qualms about releasing footage when it concerns 'an alleged drug dealer, bikie or organised crime figure' and, as such, should be confident in releasing footage of one of their own. Mr Tudehope said: 'Every day that the footage is not released is another day when people will ask, ''What is being covered up?''.' Despite international outrage over the incident, Commissioner Karen Webb has refused to view bodycam footage of Mrs Nowland being Tasered. She also declined to release the footage to the public, saying it 'concerns' her that people want to see it. The police boss said she may have to review the video 'as a decision-maker in this organisation... (but) I don't see any value in reviewing that footage now when I don't know what else happened pre and post that incident.' When she was asked again on Wednesday night why she will not release the footage of Mrs Nowland being Tasered, she replied 'I'm not the investigator'. Amid growing outrage - a Change.org petition calling for the video to be released has amassed more than 16,000 signatures. Comments the policeman made prior to the Taser being fired are understood to be at the centre of the investigation. Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) said her 'thoughts and prayers are with Mrs Nowland and her family this evening' A Taser is to only be used by officers as the second last resort, the last resort being a gun. Rod Roberts, a member of Pauline Hanson's One Nation and former police officer of 20 years, told the NSW Legislative Council on Wednesday the incident 'is not a law and order issue'. 'What are police doing inside a nursing home at 4.00 am? Whilst putting the spotlight on the police - and rightly so - the spotlight should also be on this nursing home.' But he resisted calls from the Opposition to brand the decision not to release footage a 'cover up'. 'The NSW Police Force has owned this incident,' he said. 'It knows it has made a mistake. 'Coverup? What coverup? We know they are at fault. Releasing this video will do nothing other than cause distress for the family.' He urged politicians to 'imagine if images of their own mother, grandmother or great grandmother were plastered all over the voyeuristic joy of the Leader of the Opposition'. Senior Constable Kristian White (pictured left) has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault 'Releasing the video will take it nowhere. Imagine the other residents of that nursing home in Cooma watching what has happened to poor Clare. This takes the matter nowhere. It does not need to be ventilated in public.' The senior constable at the centre of the tragedy is reportedly 188cm tall and weighs about 140kg, more than three times the size of Mrs Nowland who weighs 43kg and is 157cm tall (five foot two inches). The blast caused Mrs Nowland to fall and hit her head, leaving her with a bleed on the brain. She tragically died on Wednesday night - one week after the incident - after receiving end of life care. NSW Police issued a statement saying 'it is with great sadness we confirm the passing of 95-year-old Clare Nowland in Cooma tonight. 'Mrs Nowland passed away peacefully in hospital just after 7pm... surrounded by family and loved ones who have requested privacy during this sad and difficult time. 'Our thoughts and condolences remain with those who were lucky enough to know, love, and be loved by Mrs Nowland during a life she led hallmarked by family, kindness and community.' The NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley also offered her sympathy. 'On behalf of the NSW Government, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the Nowland family for the loss of their dearly loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Clare Nowland. 'Our sympathies and thoughts are also extended to the community of Cooma, Mrs Nowland's friends, as well as the residents and carers at Cooma Yallambee Lodge. 'We will continue to offer support to the Nowland family as they mourn this loss and we urge people to respect their privacy at this time,' Ms Catley said. Skeleton was found by a member of the public in Sutton-in-Ashfield on April 26 A murder investigation has been launched after human remains were discovered in a field in Nottinghamshire. Police have been unable to identify the body, which was found with a pair of socks and a man's shoe in farmland off Coxmoor Road in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 26 April. While the cause of death is unknown, it is believed the person sustained 'traumatic injuries'. Nottinghamshire Police said there were currently three murder investigations in which a body had not been found in the county, and officers had ruled out the remains being related to these cases. This means the theory that this body could be Robin Barrows Spencer, who went missing in 2004, has been ruled out. A murder investigation has been launched after human remains were discovered in in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 26 April The skeleton was found in a grave, alongside a pair of socks and a man's shoe Police also confirmed the skeleton did not belong to either James Brodie, who has been missing for 20 years, or Bogdan Nawrocki - two high-profile missing cases. Mr Brodie is suspected to have shot and killed Marian Bates during a robbery at her jewellery shop in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, in 2003. Nawrocki, a Polish immigrant, was murdered in 2014. The force said extensive work, including a post-mortem examination, had been carried out since the remains were exhumed. But further work was required to identify the person, who was estimated to be between 5ft 4in and 5ft 6in. Police revealed that more work needs to be carried out on the remains. This includes radiocarbon dating testing which will try to determine when the individual died. The results of this can take up to several months. A team of detectives are now following a number of lines of inquiry, including examining the Missing Person database. There will also be an analysis of clothing recovered from the scene, further consultation with experts to assist in identifying the man plus additional tests to find out how they died. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin said: 'We are now treating this as a murder investigation. An investigation has been launched and is being led by our colleagues from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit. Police confirmed that the human remains did not belong to James Brodie (pictured), who has been missing for 20 years While the cause of death is unknown, it is believed that the person sustained 'traumatic injuries' In a press conference on May 24, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin provided an update on the circumstances in which the human remains were found 'There is a team of trained detectives working their way through this inquiry. We are able to say that it is for two reasons. The first of those is that the body does have a number of injuries. 'And the second reason is the various, very obvious circumstances in which this person has been found.' Officers were first called to the scene in Coxmoor Road after a member of the public came across bones on April 26. The area was cordoned off and a no fly-zone was enforced over the scene including drones, while officers carried out their inquiries. Mr Griffin shared a message of reassurance to the public by saying: 'This area is a really, really nice area, it is used by members of the public almost every day walking dogs, generally walking. 'It is used currently and perfectly safely, it is an area with a very low crime. And I think it's important for people to have in mind that what we are talking about here today is a crime that took place a fairly significant time ago and we don't know that it was even a scene of the homicide. 'So the public have nothing to fear in that area. The woods and the surrounding area are perfectly safe.' Mr Griffin also called on the public to come forward with any information they think think could be helpful. People are asked to contact the incident room via the link here or alternatively you can call 0800 096 0095. One of Rolf Harris' victims could sue his 15million estate for damages even after his death, it is being claimed. The woman, who claims she was assaulted by the paedophile at an adventure camp in Australia when she was 10 years old and in foster care in 1982, is considering taking legal action, the Mirror reports. It was revealed this week that the abuser had died at the age of 93 from neck cancer and old age at his riverside mansion in Bray, Berkshire, six years after being released from prison for child sex offences. His passing sparked joy among some of his victims with one, Dr Lin Berwick - who accused him of assaulting her when she was 27 - screaming 'Yippee, thank God' on hearing the news. However, others are still seeking closure and could attempt to sue for damages against the deceased predator's estate, which includes the 5million house where his ill wife Alwen still lives. Rolf Harris, pictured here with his wife Alwen in January this year, died at the age of 93 on May 10 The disgraced TV star died at his 5million riverside mansion in Bray, Berkshire (pictured), and is believed to have left an estate worth 15million One Australian woman is considering doing just that, the Mirror reports, as she seeks closure after claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Harris in 1982 at an adventure camp. She claims that after a performance by Harris, she and other children were introduced to the entertainer, who noticed she had spilled wax on her dress. In the claim she says: 'Thats when he said he could help me get the wax off. It started off helpful.' She continues that the pervert then moved her onto his lap and put his hands under his skirt before assaulting her. The woman, who said she felt 'petrified, terrified and panicked', then ran away from him. John Rule, principal lawyer at Maurice Blackburn, told the Mirror: 'We understand the news of Rolf Harris' death may trigger some difficult emotions for survivors of abuse. 'We hope survivors and their loved ones are able to draw on their support networks in the wake of this news. 'In relation to our legal claim involving allegations of abuse by Harris, that matter continues. 'We will look at all legal options available to help our client achieve a measure of justice for the abuse she suffered. This includes looking at the potential for bringing a claim against Harris' estate.' One victim of Harris, pictured here leaving Southwark Crown court with his wife Alwen (to his left) and daughter Bindi (to his right) in 2014, could bring a legal action against his estate One woman claims she was assaulted by Harris, pictured here for The Dickie Valentine Show in 1966, when he performed at an Australian adventure camp in 1982 Rolf Harris' death certificate revealed his cause of death. He died at home on May 10 of neck cancer and old age As news of his death became public knowledge on Tuesday, people who claimed to have been victims of the former TV star recalled their disturbing experiences with him. Dr Berwick, who is blind and disabled, claimed Harris assaulted her when she was 27 - and despite the sex offender being acquitted of that offence, she remains convinced he was the perpetrator. She told The Sun: 'When I found out the news he was dead, I screamed "Yippee, thank God". 'No one has ever invaded my body the way Rolf Harris has. What he did to me as a blind person was vile.' Karen Gardner, a BBC radio host who accused him of assaulting her three times in the space of 35 minutes when she was his 16-year-old bag carrier for the show Star Games in 1977 was more When asked by the Mirror if she had any comment, she pointed to a statement made after she appeared in the ITV documentary Rolf Harris: Hiding in Plain Sight, about his crimes earlier this month. In it she tweeted: 'Very few of us escape the impact of evil people. What we have to do is expose them, share and stand together to dilute the pain. 'For me it was Rolf Harris but he inflicted much worse on other girls.' In the programme, which aired last week, Ms Gardner bravely waved her anonymity as she relived the traumatic experience. Dr Lin Berwick, pictured, claims she was assaulted by the painter when she was 27 years old BBC radio host Karen Gardner, pictured, claims Harris assaulted her three times in the space of 35 minutes when she was 16 Ms Gardner, pictured here when she was younger, says the assaults took place while she worked as his bag carrier for the show Star Games in 1977 In light of his conviction, Harris had his 2012 Bafta fellowship removed and was stripped of his CBE. He also had Australian honours taken away She told the programme: 'In the space of I guess about 35 minutes, he assaulted me three times in plain sight. And it was horrible because you're surrounded by people, and he had a method of operating. 'I won't talk about the actual details but he was paying me attention, he was saying how great I had been, and he, he hugged me, and that that's when it happened. And it was humiliating and degrading and awful and your blood turns to concrete.' She continued: 'You can't believe this is happening. And I have no doubt what was happening. My period was due, and my breasts were very tender, and I had no doubt what he'd done was deliberate. And he did it, he did that twice in the space of, I don't know, 20 odd, 25 minutes. 'And then it was mid-afternoon and they had organised a couple of taxis and one of the cars came to get him. And I had to get in the back seat of the car.' Ms Gardner said Rolf got beside her and assaulted her again, adding: 'Maybe because there wasn't anyone there, I did tell him to f**k off. And he said something, which makes, still makes me feel sick now. He said to me, "You're irresistible". I was 16. He was 48. He was ten years older than my dad.' Harris was acquitted of assaulting Ms Gardner after the jury could not reach a verdict at two trials. Harris had lived as a near-recluse since he was released from prison in 2017, having been jailed for 12 indecent assaults against four girls between 1968 and 1986. It was reported he had developed neck cancer, and this had left him unable to speak, stand up and meant he had to be fed through a tube. An undertaker's private ambulance was photographed outside his riverside home on May 11. In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon by his solicitor, his family said: 'Rolf Harris recently died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest. They ask that you respect their privacy. No further comment will be made.' The cause of death was revealed as 'metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of neck' - the medical term for neck cancer - and 'frailty of old age'. Investigators searching for Madeleine McCann at a remote reservoir in Portugal are hoping to find evidence of other potential victims targeted by the prime suspect in the case as well as clues about the missing girl, it has been claimed. Christian Brueckner, 45, visited the Barragem do Arade reservoir, possibly with others, 'some days' after Madeleine was snatched from her bed in 2007, the suspect's former friend told police. The source also claimed that investigators also believe Madeleine could have been alive for two or three days after she disappeared from the holiday resort of Praia da Luz, reports The Times. It comes as the search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, enters its third and final day. The police informant was able to match photographs showing Bruecker close to the beauty spot and has given investigators enough information to allow search teams to pinpoint locations to excavate. While the focus of the search is on finding clues about Madeleine's disappearance, investigators are hoping to find evidence of other potential victims who are believed to have been targeted by convicted sex offender Brueckner on the Algarve. Authorities gather at a Judiciary Police (PJ) makeshift base camp in the Arade dam area, Faro district, on Thursday during their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Detectives gather in Silves, Portugal, to conduct a search for Madeleine McCann Madeleine (left) was aged three in May 2007 when she vanished from her bedroom in the apartment her family were staying at in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve coast. German prosecutors believe Christian Brueckner (right) is behind her disappearance This revelation came after reports said officials are seeking fragments of clothing and old rags that could be related to her disappearance - particularly the pink pyjamas she was wearing the night she vanished. The reservoir is located near the town of Silves, where a lorry driver had claimed to see a woman passing off a child resembling Maddie's description to a man two days after the toddler disappeared. The hunt is focusing on the foreshore as the water level in the reservoir is considerably lower due to low rainfall last few months. This may explain why no divers have been seen operating in the area although they are on standby. The search area has also been extended to include a zone currently covered by vegetation, a Portuguese source told The Sun. Officials are cutting back the growth so they can examine the ground. 'It's clear that they believe there may be something very important here and they've been given more time to search for it,' the insider said, adding that 'indications' suggest the operation may continue past Thursday. Madeleine was aged three in May 2007 when she vanished from her bedroom in the apartment her family were staying at in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve coast. The reservoir is about 31 miles inland from the resort. The first major search for the toddler in nine years comes after German police discovered photos of Brueckner at his self-described 'little paradise' in the Portuguese region, it is understood. German prosecutors last year named convicted child abuser and drug dealer Brueckner as the prime suspect in McCann's disappearance. He is currently behind bars in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve region from where McCann went missing. The case, unsolved for the past 16 years, remains a mystery as no body has ever been found. It sparked a media frenzy in Britain, with developments also followed by outlets around the world and celebrities joining appeals to help find Maddie. Pictured: Investigators take pictures as they continue their search for Madeleine McCann German Search Teams arrive at the reservoir today for the third day of the search for Madeleine Investigators (pictured today at the site) searching for Madeleine McCann at a remote reservoir in Portugal are hoping to find evidence of other potential victims targeted by the prime suspect in the case as well as clues about the missing girl, it has been claimed Investigators pictured at Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 Pictured: Kate (right) and Gerry McCann, parents of missing 4-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann hold pyjamas similar to those of their daughter during a press conference in Berlin on June 6, 2007. Police are believed to be searching for signs of her pyjamas Photos and footage of the search operation yesterday showed a group of Portugal's National Republican Guard (GNR) being led by sniffer dogs to a small grove close to the water's edge. Officers were seen clearing branches shortly after. According to respected Portuguese media outlet Expresso, the operation was launched because of a 'very credible tip'. 'Expresso knows that these searches have their origin in a tip from a BKA informant who that police force considers very credible,' it reported on its website. 'This informant told investigators details that the German police took very seriously.' READ MORE: Who is Christian Brueckner? The German Madeleine Mccann suspect and sex offender Advertisement It added: 'The searches were requested by the German police after receiving this information.' The media outlet said it had obtained its information from a 'source close to the investigation.' Emergency services with brush cutters to clear the search area arrived at the temporary camp set up on the shores of the Arade reservoir early on Wednesday. Portuguese police, assisted by German and British counterparts, had focused their search on Tuesday on the reservoir's shoreline. Yesterday morning police appeared to be focusing on a valley slightly north of a secluded clearing behind trees near to where three tents were put up on Monday. The dense vegetation meant they had to use tools including chainsaws to remove trees to access it properly. Meanwhile, a fire service vehicle and rigid-hull inflatable boat were again on the banks of the reservoir, and appeared ready to launch on to the water. Later in the day, emergency services brought in a remote-controlled tractor-mounted tree cutter to clear what appeared to be a new search area, a few hundred yards away from a temporary camp set up on Tuesday on the shores of the Arade reservoir by Portuguese police, assisted by German and British counterparts. On Wednesday, the German prosecutor leading the country's investigation into Brueckner's suspected link to Madeleine's disappearance said they do not have a confession from the convict. Braunschweig prosecutor Christian Wolters said that while investigators have 'indications' that evidence could be found at the reservoir, this has not come from Brueckner himself. 'We have indications that we could find evidence there. I don't want to say what that is exactly, and I also don't want to say where these indications come from,' Wolters told German public broadcaster NDR yesterday. 'The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesn't come from the suspect - so we don't have a confession or anything similar now, or an indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search, ' Wolters said, adding that 'it was other indications that prompted us to conduct this search.' However, Wolters appeared to calm expectations of what might be found, saying, 'We never said that the girl disappeared where we are now searching.' Portuguese authorities conduct a new search operation at Arade dam area, Faro District, today The search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, has entered its third and final day Search teams arrive at the site as the search of the reservoir enters its third and final day A group of detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance arrive at the reservoir on Thursday Tuesday saw about 20 officers with rakes and hoe-like tools spread out in a line, poking and raking the soil close to the Arade dam. Police also used a drone to scan the area from above and searched with sniffer dogs on both sides of the water. Footage from the site showed officers taking bags away from the reservoir on Tuesday afternoon but it was not clear what was inside them. One video showed an officer being handed a bag by a colleague as they drove by in a black Ford SUV. Tuesday night a Portuguese source close to the investigation told The Sun: 'The search is being taken very seriously and is being controlled totally by the Germans. 'They asked Portuguese officers assisting them to look for any evidence - but especially rags.' The Times reported that Madeleine's pyjamas, which were pink and decorated with images of Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh, were a focus of the hunt. A similar pair of pyjamas was held up by Kate and Gerry McCann during a press conference in June 2007, the month after their daughter vanished, in the hope of prompting witnesses who may have seen her that night to come forward. Also last night the McCann's former spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the Mirror the couple were being kept updated. 'Until a body is found and proved to be Madeleine's, Kate and Gerry are not giving up hope. They will be kept informed every step of the way of any development. It leaves Kate and Gerry on tenterhooks. It is another incredibly difficult time for them.' According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, excavations were carried out at two different spots around the water's edge on Tuesday. The reservoir is currently less than half full owing to a drought affecting Portugal and neighbouring Spain. Much of the area being searched would be below water level in years of normal rainfall. In the afternoon police appeared to be concentrating their efforts on a peninsula of land jutting into the reservoir. Officers using sticks were beating back undergrowth as they inched their way through the woods before fanning down onto the beach to carry on the search. However, just before 5.30pm, a violent thunderstorm and driving rain struck the search area and the operation was abandoned after it became clear the weather would not improve. The search was meant to continue until 9pm. A no fly zone has been set up around the area extending for six miles. Police are aiming to build up a picture of sole suspect Christian Brueckner's life on the Algarve and the places he frequented as they search the Barragem reservoir in Silves, Portugal A group of detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance arrive at the reservoir in the Algarve on Thursday The reservoir is located near the town of Silves, where a lorry driver had claimed to see a woman passing off a child resembling Maddie's description to a man two days after the toddler disappeared. Pictured: Investigators arrive at the scene of the search It comes as the search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, enters its third and final day. Pictured: Police tents next to the reservoir on Thursday The Portuguese police are expected to give an update on the operation once it has been completed later this week. Two sides of the area have gently sloping banks towards the water, while the third is a sheer cliff, where three white police tents could be seen set back from the edge. The reservoir is popular with tourists, particularly campervan users, and has BBQ stands and sun loungers scattered around. Brueckner is known to have driven there frequently in his VW campervan, and is understood to have described it as his 'little paradise'. Sources close to the investigation have said they had evidence the clearing in the trees - where the white tents have been set up - was the spot Brueckner used to spend time at after parking up his campervan nearby. A local who asked not to be named, but knows the area well, said: 'It's pretty well-hidden by the trees and you don't realise it's there until you're almost upon it. 'People wild camp there overnight from time to time which is why you'll find the remains of fires inside small walls of stone. 'It's got old sun loungers in it and makeshift benches that visitors use to rest on. It's very out-of-the-way and very peaceful but at the same time it's got a slightly eerie feel about it,' they said. Local Portuguese reports, partly confirmed by police sources, claimed the searches were requested and authorised after German police obtained videos and photos of Brueckner by the planned dig site. They are thought to have been found buried in the paedophile's 'secret lair' in a dilapidated factory site in the German village of Neuwegersleben 65 miles south-east of Hanover. Police raided the site in February 2016 in search of the body of missing five-year-old Inga Gehricke, who vanished while on a family outing in Saxony-Anhalt in May 2015 and has been dubbed the 'German Maddie.' Reports at the time said German detectives had discovered more than 8,000 images and videos on USB sticks and hard drives filled with child abuse images. They were said to have been buried under the body of Brueckner's dead dog. Officials have been tight-lipped about the search. In a statement on Tuesday, German prosecutor Wolters said: 'Criminal proceedings are currently taking place in Portugal as part of the investigation into the Madeleine McCann case. Wolters said German officers are investigating in Portugal 'on the basis of certain tips.' He said he was unable at this stage to give more detail on what prompted the search, and what officials were hoping to find, but said that such details would be released 'if we... think the results are publishable'. 'Yes, the measures in Portugal are connected with the Madeleine McCann proceedings, which means that we are investigating there in Portugal on the basis of certain tips (tip-offs),' Wolters said on Tuesday. Pictured: Investigators at the reservoir, in the Algarve, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Pictured: Investigators at the reservoir, in the Algarve, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann 'There is a major search operation taking place that is being implemented by the Portuguese authorities. But there are also German officers from the Federal Criminal Police Office on site who are supporting the whole thing.' He added: 'I can't disclose the background at the moment, i.e. why we are searching there and what we hope to find there. That shall remain our secret for the moment.' 'If we find something and we think the results are publishable, then we will certainly inform you about it. But give us a little bit of time. The action itself will also take a bit of time. It will not be completed within two hours or so. And whether we then find something and what we find, of course, we have to see that first.' The Metropolitan Police has said officers are present in Portugal so they can inform Madeleine's family if there are any developments. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell said: 'The Met continues to work with and support colleagues in Portugal and Germany, with their investigations into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. 'Met officers will be in Portugal and I am grateful to the Policia Judiciaria and Bundeskriminalamt for allowing us to be present whilst their work is ongoing, so that we can inform Madeleine's family of any developments.' The reservoir was searched by divers hired by a Portuguese lawyer in February and March 2008. Back then, the diving team leader described the 'long process' his team faced navigating the 'black' waters. Marcos Aragao Correia organised the privately-funded operation after claiming he had been tipped off by underworld contacts that Madeleine had been murdered and her body thrown into the reservoir within 48 hours of her disappearance. Two bags containing small bones were found during the second search after divers had earlier recovered several lengths of cord, some plastic tape and a single white cotton sock. Investigators arrive to search the area surrounding the reservoir in the search for Madeleine on Thursday Personnel cut down trees and shrubbery as they search for clues surrounding Madeleine McCann's disappearance Portuguese police were alerted following the discovery but subsequently ruled out the possibility the bones were human because of their size. Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate McCann had previously dismissed Mr Correia as a self-publicist and said there was no evidence suggesting any link between their daughter and the reservoir. The dam, near the town of Silves where a lorry driver says he saw a woman handing a child like Madeleine over to a man two days after she went missing from her Praia da Luz holiday apartment on May 3 2007, is not thought to have been searched since March 2008 as part of the ongoing investigation into her disappearance. The search is the first major operation of its kind since June 2014 when British police were given permission to do digs in Praia da Luz that involved sniffer dogs trained in detecting bodies and ground-penetrating radar. The Scotland Yard digs nearly nine years ago in Praia da Luz were linked to the leading UK police theory at the time Madeleine died during a break-in and burglars dumped her body nearby. The searches failed to find any trace of the missing youngster. In a smaller operation in July 2020 Portuguese police and firefighters searched three wells for Madeleine's body but failed to find any trace of her. The abandoned wells are a 15 minute drive from a cottage Brueckner rented on the outskirts of Praia de Luz, on a narrow road leading down to a beach where the paedophile used to park his VW camper van. German prosecutor Wolters has consistently said he is convinced Madeleine is dead and caged paedophile Brueckner has been named as the sole suspect. The deviant, currently serving time for the September 2005 rape of an American OPA in the resort where Madeleine vanished, has yet to face any formal accusation over the youngster's disappearance. Last April he was made an official suspect or arguido in Portugal over Madeleine's disappearance, although his defence lawyer Friedrich Fulscher labelled it a 'procedural trick' linked to statute of limitations legislation at the time. Last autumn Bruecker was charged in Germany with several sex crimes on the Algarve against women and children including the rape of an Irish holiday rep in 2004 and the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl on a beach near Praia da Luz in 2007. Brueckner's lawyer revealed in April those charges had been dropped against him in a bombshell development after successfully arguing prosecutors had no jurisdiction over him in Braunschweig where the Madeleine case was being brought. The case could end up with prosecutors in Saxony-Anhalt instead but an appeal lodged by the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office has yet to be decided. Braunschweig prosecutor Mr Wolters has insisted they are still in control of the Madeleine McCann investigation and Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, remains in custody. The Arade Dam, the Barragem do Arade in Portuguese, is fed by the watercourse of the Arade River whose source lies to the southwest of the Serrra do Caldeirao mountain range and runs through the municipalities of Silves, Lagoa and Portimao before reaching the ocean. Construction was completed in 1955 and it began operating the following year. More than dozen schoolchildren have had a lucky escape after their bus veered down an embankment and into a ditch at Fish Creek in the South Gippsland region south-east of Melbourne. Emergency services rushed to the scene on Meeniyan-Promontory Road 185km from Melbourne around 8.15am Thursday. The Country Fire Authority responded to a 'high angle rescue'. Emergency responders have since freed the children trapped on board after the door of the bus was reportedly unable to be opened. There are no reports of injuries with an investigation into the crash now underway. 'The 16 children onboard were uninjured and have been transferred onto another bus,' a Victoria Police statement read. Emergency services remain at the scene where a school bus went down an embankment 'The exact circumstances are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing.' An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that paramedics assessed 'multiple' patients. 'However our services weren't required for treatment or transport,' she added. Emergency responders remain at the scene. The Fish Creek and District Primary pupils were heading to school from the nearby town of Yanakie when the bus driver swerved to avoid a semi-trailer. The children are now 'happy to be back in class'. 'The driver turned a bend and there was a semi-trailer coming towards her in the middle of the road and she swerved to avoid it and ended up in a ditch,' teacher Kerri Smith told the Herald Sun. 'No one was hurt and they are all here at school.' Emergency services are at the scene of a bus crash in the South Gippsland region, where 16 children were on board The incident comes nine days after a horror collision between a truck and a school bus packed with children from Exford Primary school heading home on Melbourne's outskirts. The truck driver was later charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury. The crash left seven children with life-changing injuries and another 11 with other injuries. A flight attendant has revealed 12 rules for summer flyers while dishing the worst things passengers can do in the sky. Kristie Koerbel advised on proper flying etiquette ahead of summer travels in a New York Times piece that reads, 'Never a Reason to Take Off Your Socks: A Flight Attendants 12 Etiquette Rules. Koerbel exposed her biggest pet peeves as a flight attendant, including when passengers fail to flush the toilet. She also revealed who has the right to the middle armrests and whether swapping seats is required. Kristie Koerbel exposed her biggest pet peeves as a flight attendant, including when passengers fail to flush the toilet. She also revealed who has the right to the middle armrests and whether swapping seats is required What bags can go in the overhead bins? Koerbel urged passengers to remember that their largest carry-on item is supposed to be stored in an overhead bin while smaller items go under their seat. Since the bins are first-come, first-serve, Koerbel insisted travelers should respect the unspoken rule and not remove the baggage of other passengers in an attempt to fit their own. 'Sliding bags to maximize space is fine but save the complex puzzle solving for the flight attendant,' Koerbel wrote in The New York Times. Do I have to swap seats? No. While Koerbel admits that this is an unpopular opinion, she advises travelers that they do not have to swap seats they paid for - even if someone asks nicely. 'No, you do not have to switch with someone who asks you. If you have paid extra for your seat, or even if it is just an inconvenience, you can kindly say no. 'If it is advantageous, like trading a middle seat for a window seat, or you are happy to help, please go ahead and swap.' What is the proper way to recline my seat? While Koerbel reassures fliers that everyone can recline their seat, she warned them to be cautious of those sitting behind them. 'Before reclining, peek behind you and see what the situation is, and nicely ask if that person minds,' she wrote. Koerbel shared that rushing to recline can lead to the spillage of drinks and damage to electronics. These common incidents have often led to physical arguments, according to the flight attendant. What If I forget my headphones? A flight without headphones can be dreadful, but Koerbel insisted passengers should refrain from chatting over FaceTime, watching a movie, or listening to music without earbuds. And yes, that includes children too. What is the best way to handle kids on a flight? Koerbel wrote that children should be extensively looked after. She begged parents to be cautious of what they hand to their children and urged them to pick up after them. She added that dealing with a disruptive child can be tricky and advised passengers to always chat with a parent rather than a toddler, or even a teenager. 'A nice way to approach this is to ask the parents calmly, and with a smile if they realize their child is kicking your seat. Then say its bothersome; is there any way you can you make the child stop?' she wrote in The New York Times article. Koerbel dished on disruptive children and advised passengers to always have a chat with a parent rather than a toddler, or even a teenager Can I take my shoes off? Comfort is key to a stress-free flight, which means that passengers might be eager to take off their shoes, sit back and relax. Koerbel reassured travelers that they can take off their shoes on flights but urged them to not go as far as taking off their socks. While insisting passengers should keep their feet directly in front of them and on the floor, she warned that travelers should slide their shoes back on when heading to the bathroom. Who has the right to an armrest and how can I stop a chatty neighbor? Travelers don't always get to choose who they sit by on a plane, which can lead to unpleasant experiences if proper flying etiquette isn't followed. Armrests tend to serve as a divider between each passenger, but they have sparked debate on who has the right to them. When it comes to the middle armrest, the traveler sitting in the middle seat automatically gets dibs on both in exchange for being squished in the middle of two people during a potentially lengthy flight, Koerbel wrote. As for how to stop a neighbor from talking, sliding on headphones tends to do the trick. Koerbel settled the debate on armrests and claimed middle seat passengers have the right to ones in the center since they have to be squished in the middle What is the best way to handle seating issues? When it comes to seating inquiries, Koerbel recommended travelers chat with gate agents before boarding. The agents have access to the plane's seating arrangements and are able to accommodate families. She added that once on board, it is not required to agree to a seat change. Do I have to flush the toilet? One of Koerbel's biggest flight pet peeves is when she has to flush other people's waste. 'If you cant find the button, please look for it: I guarantee its there. On every airplane,' she wrote. One of the UK's richest men has been cleared of speeding in his 235,000 Bentley on a technicality due to a delay in obtaining video footage. Businessman Nigel Alliance was accused of driving his Flying Spur Mulliner at 55mph in a 40mph zone. A trial at Stockport Magistrates' Court heard how the 88-year-old - once listed as the UK's 38th wealthiest person - was caught by a police officer using a speed gun on the Princess Parkway, Manchester, in February, last year. But the case was halted after intervention by Alliance's solicitor. Craig MacGregor, defending, said he had made attempts to obtain a video of the incident, without success, and the court heard that at district judge had ordered the prosecution to provide a copy in April, this year. Businessman Nigel Alliance was accused of driving his Flying Spur Mulliner at 55mph in a 40mph zone A trial at Stockport Magistrates' Court heard how the 88-year-old - once listed as the UK's 38th wealthiest person - was caught by a police officer using a speed gun on the Princess Parkway, Manchester, in February, last year The case was halted after intervention by Alliance's solicitor. Pictured: The 235,000 Bentley Mr MacGregor said this was so an expert could 'check the veracity' of the radar reading to ensure it was correct. But technological problems meant the police were unable to obtain a clip of the alleged speeding incident, which was contained on a disc recording along with 50 others. It meant the prosecution was only able to obtain a still image that an officer had taken with his mobile phone and pass that on to the defence, the court heard. Mr MacGregor told the court that 'corroboration' of the officer's claim to have witnessed a speeding offence was necessary under Section 89(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. It states: 'A person prosecuted for such an offence shall not be liable to be convicted solely on the evidence of one witness to the effect that, in the opinion of the witness, the person prosecuted was driving the vehicle at a speed exceeding a specified limit.' Mr MacGregor argued that the prosecution could not prove their case without the corroborated evidence provided by the video. Ms Tara Riley, prosecuting, acknowledged that video footage of the incident had not been sent to the defence - pointing to technological issues - although an email had been sent 'late' to them two days previously saying it would be available if they wished to view it. She said she wouldn't oppose an adjournment in the case if the defence proposed it. Alliance is director of property company Cringle Corporation, which has net worth 14m. He ran a highly successful mail order group N Brown with his brother Lord Alliance until they quit their roles in 2012, although they are still thought own a significant stake in the company Lord Alliance, a Liberal Democrat peer, is the joint founder of Coats Viyella textile empire, and appeared in the 2018 Sunday Times Rich list with his wealth estimated at 500m Technological problems meant the police were unable to obtain a clip of the alleged speeding incident, which was contained on a disc recording along with 50 others But district judge Thomas Mitchell agreed to grant an application by Mr MacGregor to exclude the still image on which the prosecution relied on. Mr Mitchell said the case had been before several district judges at earlier hearings and the prosecution's disclosure of the video evidence had been 'too late' for the trial. Ms Riley then told the court the Crown would not be offering evidence and the judge directed a not guilty verdict. Alliance is director of property company Cringle Corporation, which has net worth 14m. He ran a highly successful mail order group N Brown with his brother Lord Alliance until they quit their roles in 2012, although they are still thought own a significant stake in the company. Lord Alliance, a Liberal Democrat peer, is the joint founder of Coats Viyella textile empire, and appeared in the 2018 Sunday Times Rich list with his wealth estimated at 500m. The apartments are located in an architecturally unique building that the millionaire resident does not want to leave after buying it for $650,000 in 1991 Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa is suing billionaire Ray Dalio for 'crushing' his home and making it impossible for him to live there safely A millionaire financier has sued his 'incredibly arrogant' billionaire neighbor for building a huge pergola on the roof of their SoHo penthouse that he said is crushing his apartment below. Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa has lived in the West Broadway Arches building, built in the 1880s, since 1991 when he purchased Unit 6H for $650,000 in a rare opportunity at the time for a non-artist to own in Manhattan's SoHo District. Now, he says he is unable to live in his loft after his billionaire neighbor Ray Dalio's son Paul Dalio and his wife Kristina Nikolova Dalio built 'a whole new seventh floor,' including a gigantic 15-foot pergola, which is not up to code. Pignatelli said their pergola is crushing his apartment and has made it unsafe for him or his daughter to occupy the loft. Worrying photos show how the weight of the pergola above has cracked the wooden beams used in the building's original construction. Pignatelli has now sued the Dalio family, including the Bridgewater Associates patriarch, one of his sons, and two daughter-in-laws, among others for structurally compromising his home. Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa (left) has lived in the West Broadway Arches since 1991 when he purchased Unit 6H for $650,000. Now, he says he is unable to live in his loft after his billionaire neighbor (right) Ray Dalio's son Paul Dalio and his wife Kristina Nikolova Dalio built 'a whole new seventh floor,' including a gigantic 15-foot pergola, which is out of code He accuses the Dalio family, including the Bridgewater Associates patriarch, one of his sons, and two daughter-in-laws, among others for structurally compromising his home. The pergola can be seen peeking over the top of the SoHo building Paul and Kristina no longer live in Unit 6G, which was purchased in 2013 for $4.3million, and it is now occupied by Dalio's other son Mark. They own a second unit - 5G - which was purchased six months later for $2.8million. 'Im Italian, Rays Italian, were neighbors!' Pignatelli told The New York Times. 'We should be respecting each other and helping each other, but hes incredibly arrogant.' Dalio argues that Pignatelli, who has been spending his time in Los Angeles and Milan, only named him in the lawsuit to embarrass him into a settlement and he denies the defendants acted improperly. The family lawyer, Tom Sinchak, told the Times the family had gotten approval before starting the project and are 'confident that the legal system will handle this situation appropriately.' However, Pignatelli said he wasn't made aware of the project until it was just about to begin and when he returned to New York in May 2021 after fleeing due to the pandemic, he found his side of the roof covered in construction materials and the newly constructed penthouse on his neighbor's side. Paul and Kristina only began building upward after Pignatelli declined to sell them his loft. The millionaire would then spend a year texting the Dalios and the co-op board before filing a lawsuit in the Manhattan Supreme Court in 2022. DailyMail.com has contacted Pignatelli for comment. He filed photographic evidence that he claims shows the structural damage from the pergola's structural support, which bleeds into his foundation. From shattered skylights, to broken mirrors, to cracks in the ceilings and walls, Pignatelli argues the Dalios' new addition compromises the entire building's structure. 'I tried warning you that things were worsening because of the construction. And I had no choice left then to sue,' Pignatelli texted Dalio at some point. 'A mirror literally exploded in my bathroom because of the structural shift, and if my daughter or I would have been there we would have been severely injured or even killed.' He filed photographic evidence that he claims shows the structural damage from the pergola's structural support, which bleeds into his foundation. A mirror in one of his bathrooms exploded (pictured) The Dalios built what Pignatelli calls a 'seventh floor' on the roof, which he says is threatening the structure of the building Pignatelli's rooftop door is now misaligned due to the construction A skylight also shattered in Pignatelli's loft, which he purchased in 1991 for $650,000 He also showed multiple cracks throughout the home that appeared during and after the Dalios' construction He also argues that similar buildings - such as the parking garage that collapsed in Manhattan in April, killing one - proves that Dalio's pergola and new additions pose a similar risk. 'The new penthouse, decks and related construction, as occupied effectively a new 7th floor impose a load calculated to exceed 200,000 pounds resting on and supported by the building's 140-year-old timber columns which they were never designed to support,' a 24-page letter, filed to Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Buildings, said, according to the Times. When the Department of Buildings did an inspection on the building, it found that the new edition 'did not fully comply' with the plans the city approved. However, it did not find that structure provided 'hazardous conditions.' In May 2022, city inspectors then determined the 'job doesnt follow plans. Plans are not according to code.' The Dalios said they would resolve the issue, but have not done so, the Department told the Times. The pergola (lower left) is 15 feet tall and Pignatelli says its foundation bleeds into his apartment's foundation, threatening it Over the years, Pignatelli said he and the Dalios had a good relationship as neighbors, but that dissolved in February 2020 when the financer messaged the co-op board chairman to complain the billionaire family kept leaving items in the hallway and that they often left their door open all day, allowing children to 'play and scream in this space.' 'I have to hear them scream or play piano, like they are my kids,' he said in a text, viewed by the Times. Now, he avoids his Manhattan apartment and when he is in New York, he stays at the private club Casa Cipriani. 'They do all they can to make me feel at casa, but nothing can beat my casa,' he told the Times. London gentlemen's club Pratt's which inspired James Bond creator Ian Fleming will allow women to join for the first time in 166 years. The private member club has been owned by the Earl of Burlington's family since 1937 and women were not allowed to join - until now. The Duke of Devonshire's only son and heir, who has just moved into the family estate Chatsworth in Derbyshire, announced that 'with immediate effect', women would be admitted as guests and be eligible for a membership at Pratt's. The 53-year-old earl explained his decision in a letter sent to members by club secretary Colonel Sir Alexander 'Sandy' Malcolm, Bt, by stating that 'extending membership to women is a positive, necessary and evolving change to enhance and invigorate the club'. He added that he discussed the proposal with the chairman former Tory Minister Nicholas [now Lord] Soames as well as the committee 'and others, who I am pleased to say support this change'. The private member club has been owned by the Earl of Burlington's (pictured) family since 1937 and women were not allowed to join - until now The Duke of Devonshire's only son and heir, who has just moved into the family estate Chatsworth in Derbyshire, announced that 'with immediate effect', women would be admitted as guests as well as be eligible for membership at Pratt's (pictured) However, the owner's enthusiasm does not appear to be widely shared within the club, which occupies rooms in a basement in St James's, Central London, and which partly inspired the fictional 'Blades' 007's club in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels. 'This email arrived overnight there has been no consultation with the membership and no ballot,' one member said, branding the change 'a disgrace'. He added: 'In a world where there are few small pleasures, the rules governing membership at Pratt's was one. It will be the end of Pratt's as we know it. The earl added that he discussed the proposal with the chairman former Tory Minister Nicholas [now Lord] Soames (pictured) and the committee 'and others, who I am pleased to say support this change' 'Lots of people will resign or simply stop coming in, which amounts to the same thing. And I happen to know that women have not been pressing for it. 'At the moment, they can come in as guests for lunch. In the evening, it reverts to men only or at least it did, and everyone was happy.' The member said that 'Bill Burlington' as the Earl opted to be known during his photographic career 'has never "got" Pratt's', where, by longstanding tradition, stewards were always known as George, regardless of their baptismal name. This changed with the arrival of the first female steward, Margaret Ouroux, who became 'Georgina'. Traditionalists fear more radical developments at the club, which was established in 1857. 'There was a rumour that Burlington wanted the place to became a version of 5 Hertford Street,' a member explained, referring to Robin Birley's Mayfair establishment, which boasts a nightclub, Loulou's, in its basement. 'Thankfully, that hasn't happened so far.' A source close to the owners said: 'The owners of Pratt's believe that membership should be based on recommendation, not gender. 'They hope that through this, and other positive changes, they can continue to enhance and invigorate the club. 'There is a great deal of history to the club. And while being respectful to its traditions, the owners firmly believe this is a positive and necessary change and look forward to welcoming women as members.' The new USS Canberra will be the first American navy warship to be commissioned in an allied country, with the combat vessel set to join the US fleet. Australian navy chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said July's historic event would show the deep ties between the United States and Australia, and provide an opportunity to reflect on their shared history. 'This is a unique demonstration of respect by the US for the officers and sailors of the Royal Australian Navy,' the vice admiral said. Members of the US Navy and USS Canberra crew will be hosted in Sydney to mark the occasion. It is the second US ship to bear the name Canberra after former president Franklin D Roosevelt renamed a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser in the 1940s after a valiant effort from the Australian navy's HMAS Canberra during the Battle of Savo Island in 1942. The US navy warship USS Canberra (pictured) will be commissioned in Australia in what will be the first US warship to be commissioned in an allied country News of the commissioning came as Trade Minister Don Farrell headed to the US to strengthen defence ties with Washington. Senator Farrell is embarking on a four-day trip in a bid to boost economic ties, including defence technology after the nations agreed to work towards Australia procuring nuclear-powered submarines. The American, Australian and British defence supply chains and manufacturing sectors are set to intertwine more closely as the three nations work under the AUKUS pact to build submarines. Senator Farrell will attend Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework meetings, where discussions will also span the transition to clean energy and a safe region amid anxiety over China. His Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao will also be at the meetings, but a sideline meeting has not been locked in. It comes weeks after Senator Farrell travelled to Beijing to lobby for the removal of punitive trade sanctions. He will also meet US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo while in Detroit. Trade Minister Don Farrell (pictured) has headed to the US to strengthen defence ties with Washington Senator Farrell said the government was committed to diversifying trade relations and 'delivering broader and stronger trade agreements for the benefit of Australian businesses and workers'. Negotiations also continue on Australian access to vital defence technology in the context of strong US arms export laws. Canada is carved out of those laws, an exception Australia is also seeking in a bid to cut red tape and streamline co-operation. The minister's visit comes against the backdrop of tense negotiations between President Joe Biden and Congress over raising the US debt ceiling to avoid a potentially catastrophic default. Markets are already dragging due to the uncertainty over negotiations but a default could send destructive ripples through the global economy and further spook investors. A man has been charged with threatening ABC television presenter Stan Grant days after the Indigenous journalist stood down as Q+A host due to racist abuse. Grant had reported receiving online threats to police on Tuesday and was seen with his wife Tracey Holmes attending Randwick police station in Sydney's east early on Wednesday afternoon. The couple arrived about 1.50pm and were inside for about an hour before Grant left the building, followed by Holmes about 15 minutes later. Police told Daily Mail Australia they had arrested a 41-year-old man on Wednesday night and charged him with using a carriage service to make threats against Grant. A man has been charged with threatening ABC television presenter Stan Grant days after he stood down as Q+A host due to racist bullying. Grant is pictured outside Randwick police station in Sydney's east on Wednesday afternoon The spokeswoman said officers from Sydney City Police Area Command received a report of alleged online threats against Grant about 11.50am on Tuesday. 'Police commenced an investigation into the incident,' she said. 'Following inquires, police arrested a 41-year-old man in Fairfield Heights at 6.40pm yesterday. 'The man was taken to Fairfield police station where he was charged with use carriage to threaten serious harm and carriage service to menace/harass/offend.' The man was granted bail to appear before Fairfield Local Court on May 31. Grant revealed last Friday he was stepping away from hosting the ABC's flagship panel discussion program after just ten months in the role. Grant and his wife Tracey Holmes arrived at Randwick police station about 1.50pm on Wednesday and were inside for about an hour before Grant left, followed by Holmes about 15 minutes later. Holmes is pictured outside the police station The 59-year-old said he was taking leave after being subjected to 'relentless racial filth'. He accused the ABC of 'institutional failure', claiming no-one in senior management had offered him public support. Grant hosted his last episode of Q+A on Monday night, when he told the audience, 'I am down right now... but I will get back up' . 'I've had to learn that endurance is not always strength,' he said. 'Sometimes, strength is knowing when to say stop. And to those who have sent messages of support - thank you so much. But I'll be OK.' Grant said the racial abuse against him had ramped up since he appeared on the ABC's coverage of King Charles' coronation earlier this month. That broadcast was widely criticised by viewers for concentrating on England's colonial past and questioning the role of the monarchy. Police told Daily Mail Australia they had arrested a 41-year-old man and charged him with using a carriage service to make threats against Grant. The ABC journalist is pictured with wife Tracey Holmes outside Randwick police station 'To those who have abused me and my family, I would just say - if your aim was to hurt me, well, you've succeeded,' Grant said on Monday night. 'And I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I must have given you so much cause to hate me so much, to target me and my family, to make threats against me. 'I am down right now. I am. But I will get back up. And you can come at me again, and I will meet you with the love of my people. 'My people can teach the world to love. As Martin Luther King Jr said of his struggle, 'We will wear you down with our capacity to love all'.' However Grant also said he was not walking away because of racism or social media hatred, but due to a broader disenchantment with the media. 'I need a break from the media. I feel like I'm part of the problem. And I need to ask myself how, or if, we can do it better.' The 59-year-old said he was taking leave after being subjected to 'relentless racial filth', and accused the ABC of 'institutional failure' because he said no-one offered him support. He is pictured leaving the police station on Wednesday Grant ended by thanking his family, speaking a few words in his native Wiradjuri language and then said a simple 'Goodnight.' Earlier on Monday, hundreds of ABC staff across the country walked out of offices in solidarity with Grant. Holmes joined the Sydney protest with her husband's ex-wife, SBS journalist Karla Grant, and his daughter, NITV journalist Lowanna Grant. Dozens of ABC staff also gathered outside Parliament House in Canberra and the national broadcaster's Southbank base in Melbourne. Lowanna Grant became emotional as she told the crowd in Sydney about the toll the abuse on her father had taken on her whole family. 'It's really hard to see him struggling, and that he's had to cop the racism and disgusting filth that's been online,' she said. 'I'm so grateful to everyone here today who is supporting him, and not just my dad but all other First Nation's journalists.' Karla Grant told the Sydney crowd that racial abuse was an ongoing issue for Indigenous reporters, and her family. 'It's an accumulation of years of racism our people have had to face,' she said. 'Enough is enough and we have to take a stand.' A restaurant is under fire after refusing entry to a decorated war veteran who uses a service dog to help him cope with PTSD and a brain injury he received in Iraq. David Pearce, originally from the US, served in the Marine Corp for 20 years and has been living with his wife in Perth for a little over a year. He said his dog Gunner, whom he has had for nine years, 'saved his life more than once', but when he took him to Juicy Bao Bao in the city's inner north at the weekend the pair were refused entry. David Pearce a former Marine and his dog Gunner, who helps him with his PTSD and a brain injury he got while on tour in Iraq Mr Pearce said he was left feeling 'humiliated' after his wife and her friend were shown to their table but staff moved to 'block' him when they spotted Gunner. He added it was the first occasion he and Gunner had ever been refused entry somewhere after explaining that he was a service dog. 'There was a lot of shock, a lot of embarrassment - it's never outright happened like that before where they knew it was a service dog,' Mr Pearce told 7News. 'There were quite a few people in the restaurant and some people laughed ... It was humiliating, especially because it was in front of my wife and her friends.' In Australia, it is illegal to discriminate against a person who uses a certified assistance dog . Mr Pearce said Gunner helps not only to calm him down when his PTSD gets too much but also is trained to look out for his physical wellbeing. He explained he has a traumatic brain injury from explosions in Iraq which can cause him to have 'dissociative episodes' where he isn't aware of what he's doing and that Gunnar is trained to stop him doing something dangerous like walking into traffic. 'Service dogs are a necessary medical tool and companionship for people with disabilities that enable them to function as close to regular people as possible,' he said. Mr Pearce was in the US Marines for 20 years and has been living in Perth for a little over a year The Perth restaurant has since apologised and said Mr Pearce and Gunner are welcome back Juicy Bao Bao's Northbridge manager said she made a mistake by not allowing in Mr Pearce and Gunner and has offered him a free meal and assurance they are welcome back. Mr Pearce said he would probably return to the restaurant to show that service dogs can do their work in public without bothering anyone else. He also encouraged people not to leave negative comments about the restaurant since they have acknowledged they were wrong and have said service dogs are welcome. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Juicy Bao Bao for comment. Grocery delivery start-up Milkrun has been saved by Woolworths almost two months after it was run out of business by larger competitors. Milkrun founder Dany Milham confirmed on Thursday that Woolworths Group has officially acquired the brand and operating entity, The Australian Financial Review reported. The website for Woolworths' own Metro60 delivery service has now rebranded to 'Milk Run powered by Metro' in the distinctive blue and white colour scheme of the start-up. Grocery delivery start-up Milkrun has been saved by Woolworths almost two months after it was run out of business by larger competitors Milkrun founder Dany Milham confirmed on Thursday that Woolworths Group has officially acquired the brand and operating entity, The Australian Financial Review reports Users will be able to purchase from a range of more than 10,000 grocery items and thousands of weekly specials on the app every day. There will be no service fee, a flat $5 delivery fee and an average delivery time of just 33 minutes, the website promises. Speculation Milkrun could be revived began to swirl on Wednesday evening before Mr Milham confirmed on Thursday a deal had been struck. 'Milkrun pioneered rapid grocery delivery in Australia, and I'm pleased to see the brand continue in Woolworths' hands,' he said. The exact figure of the deal has not been disclosed but it is estimated to be worth $10million. Milkrun announced in April it would close its doors and make all staff and riders redundant, becoming the latest in a long line of rapid grocery delivery firms to close. Company founder Dany Milham sent an email to its 400 workers in which he blamed worsening market conditions for his company's collapse despite the business 'performing well'. But Professor Gary Mortimer, business and retail expert at the Queensland University of Technology, told Daily Mail Australia the company's collapse was 'not a shock'. 'The writing was on the wall for these hyper-grocery delivery start-ups for some time,' he said. 'They grew significantly during the pandemic. It was opportunistic entrepreneurship at its very best. We had populations in Sydney and Melbourne locked down and people not wanting to venture out of the home. The website for Woolworths' own Metro60 delivery service has now rebranded to 'Milk Run powered by Metro' in the distinctive blue and white colour scheme of the start-up 'Obviously as the pandemic came to a close, people ventured back into supermarkets and we started to see these businesses start to fall over. 'First to go was Deliveroo, then there was Send, then Quicko and Voly. For Milkrun the writing was on the wall for sometime. It's incredibly difficult to scale that business when you're needing riders and bikes to deliver the groceries in some cases under 15 minutes it's just not sustainable. 'When you've got 3.5 per cent unemployment people aren't choosing to ride bikes, they are choosing to get jobs elsewhere.' Prof Mortimer said that small and agile start-ups like Milkrun and Voly had been able to exploit the demand for rapid deliveries in urban areas during lockdown because for Woolworths and Metro it was a case of being 'tough to turn a big ship around'. More to come A senior police officer who was honoured by the Queen for his services to diversity appeared in court yesterday charged with four counts of rape. Temporary Supt Mo Aziz, 48, also faces two counts of causing actual bodily harm, coercive and controlling behaviour, causing a female to engage in sexual activity and two of disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual photographs or films with intent to cause distress. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing a suit, Aziz indicated he would deny the charges, which relate to one woman, between 2015 and 2022. The father-of-two was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list and awarded the British Empire Medal in 2020 for his services to diversity within the force. District Judge Briony Clarke told Aziz: 'These are serious allegations and I accept that you dispute them but they date back a number of years and if convicted you face a lengthy period in custody. Temporary Supt Mo Aziz, 48, was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list and awarded the British Empire Medal in 2020 for his services to diversity within the force The father-of-two faces four counts of rape, two counts of causing actual bodily harm, coercive and controlling behaviour, causing a female to engage in sexual activity and two of disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual photographs or films with intent to cause distress 'Four of these matters are matters that can only be dealt with at the crown court.' Aziz will next appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 21 June. He was released on bail on the condition he must not contact the victim, any prosecution witness or go to the alleged victim's home or workplace. Aziz contested the continued holding of his passport by police as he wants to go on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The judge said this condition would remain until further evidence was provided. He was chair of Bedfordshire Police's diversity advisory group and a leading light in the National Black Police Officer's Association. In a statement Bedfordshire police said: 'We are committed to keeping women and girls safe and expect the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from our officers and staff. 'Temporary Supt Aziz was arrested on the day the allegations were first made in July last year and was immediately suspended. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing a suit, Aziz indicated he would deny the charges, which relate to one woman, between 2015 and 2022 'For transparency we referred the matter to an independent force to investigate.' Aziz's legal representative, Mohammed Abid, told the court that he plans to deny all 10 charges. Outlining the prosecution case, Frances Mccormack said: 'The defendant was charged by police on the subject of a number of offences. 'He is a Superintendent at Bedfordshire Police. He is still a serving police officer. 'All of the 10 offences relate to the same person, who reported to police last July that the defendant had, for a number of years, physically and emotionally abused her. 'There were threats to disclose private sexual photos and an additional charge of sexual activity without consent. ' Ms Mccormack added that the crown had seven witnesses to the offences 'who are not police officers'. The Twitter Spaces meant to host the 2024 presidential campaign announcement for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis crashed and was delayed by nearly half an hour following a major technical glitch. The Wednesday night meltdown led to immediate mocking on social media and confusion about if the event had started - as Twitter techs desperately scrambled to remedy the issue. Musk blamed his high number of followers, others blamed the servers, while some blamed the massive loss of Twitter staff since Musk took control of the social-media giant. In the end, thousands of people were left in the dark - and in silence - waiting for the groundbreaking announcement. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign announcement was delayed by close to half an hour due to technical difficulties pertaining to Twitter Spaces The announcement had initially been hosted from Elon Musk's account, which boasts some 140million followers, but ultimately had to be relaunched from David Sacks' account, which has under 1million followers More than half-a-million Twitter users joined the Spaces event Wednesday evening, which was delayed 26 minutes and had several false starts. When the product began to function correctly, only about 250,000 users remained to listen. Moments of sound from the livestream event allowed users to hear the host and owner of the platform Elon Musk and tech entrepreneur David Sacks try to explain the crash. 'Weve got so many people here that we are kind of melting the servers,' Sacks said at one point. 'Nothing like this has ever happened before,' said Musk in another moment. The Spaces had initially been hosted from Elon Musk's account, which boasts 140million followers, but ultimately had to be relaunched with Sacks' account, which has under 1million followers. 'I think it crashed because when you multiply a half-million people in a room by an account with over 100 million followers, which is Elons account, I think that creates just a scalability level that was unprecedented,' said Sacks. 'I think you broke the internet,' Sacks said to DeSantis when the event was relaunched. 'You know youre breaking new ground when theres bugs and scaling issues,' he continued, attempting to place a positive spin on the debacle. After assuming ownership of Twitter late last year, Musk reduced the company's server capacity in an effort to cut costs DeSantis officially entered the 2024 Republican presidential primary on Wednesday night with a Twitter Spaces discussion that malfunctioned for about a half-hour before the announcement could be made official Trump will now face DeSantis for the 2024 Republican nomination as the two are the front-runners to face Joe Biden Since Musk assumed control of the company late last year, Twitter has faced a number of technical issues and outages. The issues may be partially owed to Musk's decision to lay off large numbers of technical and other staff. Musk also reduced Twitter's server capacity in an effort to cut costs at the company he said was bleeding money. Over the last few months, Twitter has faced multiple service outages that have impacted its user base, including the ability to access the site and view images. Some users have also reported issues with the app's two-factor authentication tool. Others have complained of seeing old tweets show up over and over again on their timelines. According to a CNN report, the Twitter Spaces product was described by a former Twitter employee as a 'prototype' and 'janky.' 'It's a beta test that never ended,' said the former employee. POLITICO noted that previous Twitter Spaces events hosted by Musk, with smaller audiences, had shut down as well due to technical glitches. Since taking over, Musk has reduced Twitter's server capacity in an effort to cut costs at the company he said was bleeding money. Despite the issues at the start, the announcement and subsequent discussion ran for nearly an hour, after which Sacks acknowledged the rough start again, saying: 'It's not how you started, it's how you finish and we finished strong.' By that time, memes and rivals had already weighed in on the delays. A spokesperson for former President Donald Trump, who is also running for the Republican nomination, described it as Glitchy. Tech issues. Uncomfortable silences. A complete failure to launch. And thats just the candidate! President Joe Biden took to his Twitter account to say, 'This link works' as he directed users to his 2024 fundraising campaign website. As he spoke to Fox News after the Twitter issues, DeSantis tried to put a positive spin on the announcement that went wrong. Tomorrow is expected to be the busiest day at UK airports since before the pandemic with more than 3,000 flights due to depart, analysis shows. This would be the highest number of daily departures since December 20 2019. It comes as airlines and tour operators reported a surge in the number of bookings in recent weeks, with the Spring Bank Holiday and half-term break next week offering a prime opportunity for people to getaway. According to the data from aviation analytics company Cirium, more than 11,500 flights with more than two million seats will depart over the long weekend. Dublin, Amsterdam, Palma, Malaga and Alicante are expected to be among the most popular destinations for travellers. Tomorrow is expected to be the busiest day at airports since before the pandemic with more than 3,000 flights due to depart from the UK It comes as airlines and tour operators reported a surge in the number of bookings in recent weeks, with the Spring Bank Holiday and half-term break next week offering a prime opportunity for people to getaway Dublin, Amsterdam (pictured), Palma, Malaga and Alicante are expected to be among the most popular destinations for travellers 'The demand for travel continues to be strong and this trend looks set to continue,' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership told the Times. She added that the 'miserable' weather over the past few weeks in the UK has been enough to encourage Brits to travel overseas 'for some sun'. This March was the wettest on record in England and Wales since 1981, with Ireland having its third wettest March this year on record. Prices of flights have increased compared to last summer as a result of increased fuel costs and hikes in so-called ancillary services, including baggage charges, seat selection fees and on-board food and drink. Earlier this month, the travel group Tui said people are booking summer holidays at stealth despite prices soaring by more than a quarter above pre-pandemic levels. The spike in sales showed the average selling prices for summer holidays are 26 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels, and winter booking prices were 29 per cent more expensive than in the 2018/2019 season, according to the German group. Meanwhile, Jet2 and the owner of British Airways are also anticipating a summer booking frenzy as demand for holidays keeps growing. Husband Anthony Koletti 'had some awareness' of her whereabouts A coroner has determined the husband of missing conwoman Melissa Caddick likely knew about some of her whereabouts in the days after she vanished but refused to tell police. Deputy NSW State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan on Thursday handed down her final findings into the sudden disappearance of Caddick who defrauded investors - many of whom were immediate family and close friends - of $23million. She was last seen near her Dover Heights home in Sydney's eastern suburbs on November 11, 2020, when her property was raided by Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) investigators. Her husband, Anthony Koletti, reported her missing on November 13, some 30 hours after she was believed to have been last seen. Magistrate Ryan took aim at Mr Koletti while handing down her findings on Thursday, and said that he did not 'give a full and frank account' of what happened to the inquest. 'I have formed the opinion that it is likely that on 13 November, 2020 Mr Koletti had some awareness of Ms Caddick's movements over the previous two days, but chose not to disclose it,' she said. 'I accept that Mr Koletti's inherent unreliability imposed upon the investigating police a significant burden.' Mr Koletti was visibly furious after the inquest findings were handed down - shoving 60 Minutes reporter Tom Steinfort outside the court complex in Lidcombe in Sydney's west as he stormed to his car. His brother-in-law, Adam Grimley, was in the driver's seat and loudly honked his horn as Mr Koletti barged his way inside. NSW Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan concluded that Melissa Caddick had died, but it is unclear how or when she lost her life A coroner has determined Anthony Koletti, the husband of missing conwoman Melissa Caddick, knew about some of her whereabouts in the days after she vanished but refused to tell police In her findings, Magistrate Ryan said Mr Koletti was described during the investigation as the 'most unimpressive and unreliable witness', whose lack of candour was one of the reasons it was not possible to conclude why, how or when Caddick died. She added Mr Koletti gave various accounts of what occurred during the days after Caddick's disappearance - and that his lack of intellect was no reason why he could not provide an explanation. 'Mr Koletti's evidence at inquest was riddled with inconsistencies,' the Magistrate said. 'It's fair to say when he was not creating further inconsistencies, he was attempting to account for them with opaque and at times unintelligible explanations.' The Magistrate said Mr Koletti, a hairdresser, gave multiple different accounts of what happened in the time between November 11 and November 13. 'Mr Koletti has not managed to explain the manifold contradictions within and between these accounts in any comprehensible way,' Magistrate Ryan said. 'Put simply the discrepancies are too numerous, and too persistent in nature, to be attributable to stress and (his) lack of intellectual sophistication. 'The inescapable conclusion is that throughout the investigation and the inquest, Mr Koletti has chosen at times to make statements that are simply untrue.' Following the findings, Mr Koletti was seen shoving reporters as he tried to make his way into a car, with members of his wife's family already inside. Melissa Caddick's husband Anthony Koletti is seen clashing with reporters after the final findings into here whereabouts were handed down on Thursday Magistrate Ryan said she accepted Ms Caddick had died while handing down the findings on Thursday morning. The findings covered several aspects of Caddick's disappearance, including theories as to how she died, the police investigation and her own husband's response. Caddick's foot was found washed up on Bournda Beach, 400km south of Sydney, in an ASICs shoe, in February 2021. Magistrate Ryan shut down the long-running theory that Caddick could still be alive without her foot, and had potentially escaped overseas after somehow removing her leg. She said it was most unlikely Caddick's foot had been removed deliberately either by herself or another person. However, the cause of her death is still unclear. The coroner found there is not enough evidence to prove that Caddick took her own life by jumping off the cliffs down the road from her home. Magistrate Ryan said the inquest heard from forensic psychiatrist Dr Kerri Eagle who established Ms Caddick may have had narcissistic personality disorder. She noted sufferers of this condition may be at risk of taking their own life if they suffered something that brought deep shame onto them. But that was not enough to prove suicide - a leading police theory. Police had suspected Ms Caddick took her own life by jumping off the cliff at Rodney Reserve, approximately 500m from her home, on the morning of November 12, 2020. The coroner could also not make a finding with any certainty whether she died with assistance from another person, or from misadventure. 'I regret that positive findings cannot be made as to the cause and manner of Ms Caddicks death,' Magistrate Ryan said. 'Her disappearance from her family in traumatic circumstances must be a source of deep and ongoing sadness for them.' Ms Caddick's husband Anthony Koletti (pictured together) did not report his wife missing until he contacted Rose Bay Police Station at 11.45am on November 13 - a full 30 hours after she was last seen Millennials need praise three times a year and Gen X once a year He said a study found they need praise three times a week AFP Commissioner says Gen Z need the most reassurance The Australian Federal Police Commissioner has revealed how Gen Z workers need far more praise than their older colleagues. Reece Kershaw told a Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee on Thursday that the youngest generation is by far the neediest when it comes to approval. The AFP commissioner said research provided at a recent policing conference showed Gen Z needed praise 'three times a week' - or 156 times a year - whereas millennials require recognition three times a year and Gen X once a year. Gen Z are said to be the neediest generation in the workforce, needing as much or more praise in a week than earlier generations require in a year. The comments came as the country's top cop discussed findings from the research by a futurist into the most effective ways to develop the workforce. 'We learnt that Gen Z, the younger generation, need three times a week praise from their supervisors,' Mr Kershaw said. HOW MUCH PRAISE EACH GENERATION NEEDS A YEAR AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw revealed research showed younger workers needed significantly more praise than older ones. Below is a list of how many times workers need praise, based on their generation: Gen X: Once a year Millennials: Three times a year Gen Z: 156 times a year Advertisement While he announced his generation (Gen X) only needs praise once a year, he then struggled to comprehend how different generations used emojis. 'I saw some emojis that Gen Z use that is actually offensive but my generation is sending these emojis,' he said. 'The world is changing is what I am saying. 'Like a happy face can mean the opposite in Gen Z land.' The comments come as many millennials and Gen Z workers are said to be suffering from what is being called the 'Great Burnout'. Young workers claim they are overworked, underpaid and feel unable to deal with responsibilities outside their jobs. A 2023 study from the University of Melbourne which surveyed 1,400 workers, found workers are increasingly feeling unmotivated, exhausted and unable to concentrate in the post-lockdown era. The Future Work study found that young (18 to 34-year-old) and middle-aged (35 to 54-year-old) employees have 'poorer mental health than other workers'. These young and middle-aged employees make up the prime-aged workforce of Australia and one in two of those workers say they feel exhausted at work. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw (pictured) said Gen Z need praise 'three times a week praise' whereas millennials require recognition three times a year and Gen X once a year 'Australian prime-aged workers are exhausted, less motivated about their work and unable to concentrate at work because of responsibilities outside of work,' the report concluded. Many young workers complain they are sick of 'working all week and having nothing to show for it' while others complain they 'can't afford a holiday, let alone a home'. This has led to criticism from Boomers and Gen-Xers who slam the younger generations as 'lazy' and 'entitled'. The millennial co-hosts of the Two Broke Chicks podcast, Sally and Alex, claim the younger generations aren't the only ones feeling the pinch. They have shared research showing 50 per cent of 'prime' Australian workers, those aged between 25 and 55, are 'exhausted'. On top of that a third are thinking of quitting because they are overworked. Brian Laundre's mom says she wrote a letter promising to help him bury a body and break him out of jail before he set off on his fateful road trip with Gabby Petito. Through her attorney, Roberta Laundrie said she wrote the letter prior to the start of the June 2021 road trip the couple was taking across the country that would end in Petito's death. It sparked fury from Petito's parents, who claim it is evidence Roberta had helped plot with her son to cover up their daughter's brutal murder. The undated letter from around the time of Petito's death revealed Roberta offered to bake her son a cake with a file in it if he was sent to prison. She also promised to help him dispose of a corpse as evidence of her love for him. A judge ruled Wednesday that the contents of the letter can be used in a civil trial brought by Petito's family against the Laundries over her death. Roberta Laundrie (pictured) has been arguing for months that a suspicious letter she wrote her killer son, Brian Laundrie, was penned prior to his departure on what would end up being a fatal roadtrip with his fiancee, Gabby Petito Part of the text from a haunting letter Roberta Laundrie wrote her killer son, which she claims was penned before Brian and Gabby Petito set off on their fateful roadtrip 'I just want you to remember I will always love you and I know you will always love me. You are my boy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing can or ever will divide us no matter what we do, or where we go or what we say - we will always love each other. If you're in jail I will bake a cake and put a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags,' read the letter. She continued: 'If you fly to the moon, I will be watching the skies for your re-entry. If you say you hate my guts, I'll get new guts. Remember that love is a verb not a noun. It's not a thing it's not words. It is actions. Watch people's actions to know if they love you - not their words.' The letter was recently made public following a hearing in the civil suit brought by the Petitos against the Laundries. Via her attorney, Roberta told Fox Digital: 'The letter to Brian was written prior to Gabby and Brian leaving my home for their trip. Previously, I submitted an affidavit to the court for very limited purposes but that is not the whole story. 'Now that the letter has been shared, I ask that you read it in its entirety, and understand that the letter contains other phrases besides those highlighted by Pat Reilly (the Petitos' attorney) for sensationalism and to bolster his case.' 'I truly loved my son, and simply wanted to convey to him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. I am sure people use phrases all the time to express to their loved ones the depths of their love. 'Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in no way related to Gabby.' Petito, 22, was strangled by Laundrie in Wyoming during a road trip around August 28, 2021. Her remains were found in Grand Teton National Park on September 19 Roberta Laundrie went on to quote Romans 8:38 in the letter she has claimed was meant to fortify the fraught relationship she had with her son Petito, 22, was strangled by Brian Laundrie in Wyoming during a road trip in the summer of 2021. Her remains were found in Grand Teton National Park on September 19 after her boyfriend killed her on or around August 28. Investigators determined she died by manual strangulation and had been dead for three to four weeks. Her death was ruled a homicide. According to Brian's notebook, which was obtained by authorities, he killed Gabby after she injured herself on their trip and believed she wanted to die. Out of guilt, he took his own life. Brian's skeletal remains were found in October in a Florida park following a massive manhunt when he disappeared as police investigated Petito's death. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a nature reserve near his parents' house. The notebook was found along with Roberta Laundrie's suspicious letter. In March, Roberta said she wrote to her son using 'quirky' references from books they loved in an attempt to repair their 'strained' relationship. She said it had nothing to do with Gabby's murder. Roberta claimed she wrote the letter months before Brian and Gabby set off on their cross-country road trip. 'Although I do not know the exact date I wrote the letter, I do know that I wrote it and gave it to Brian before Brian and Gabby left Florida for New York, which was on June 2, 2021,' Roberta said. In March, Roberta said she wrote to her son using 'quirky' references from books they loved in an attempt to repair their 'strained' relationship. She said it had nothing to do with Gabby's murder Chris and Roberta Laundrie in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on the morning authorities found their son's skeletal remains Laundrie's remains were eventually found in October 2021 at a nature reserve near his parents' house In her statement to the court, Roberta admitted her letter did contain references that some would likely believe were about her son and Gabby, but she maintained that there is 'no connection' between her letter and the tragic deaths. 'While I used words that seem to have a connection with Brian's actions and his taking of Gabby's life, I never would have fathomed the events that unfolded months later between Brian and Gabby would reflect the words in my letter. 'The words in the letter could never have been a comment on that tragic situation as they were written so many months before.' The Laundrie's attorneys previously filed a motion to block Gabby's parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, from making the letter admissible as evidence in court. The civil trial between the two families is set to begin in August. The suit alleges that Laundrie, his parents and their attorney knew Petit to be dead at the time of a September 14, 2021, statement released to media by Steve Bertlino - the family's lawyer. In part, the statement read: 'On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is re-united with her family.' Family and friends are paying tribute to a Bundaberg teen who died after a horrific crash in Queensland. Illiana Palella, 17, was killed following a collision between an Prosegur security armoured vehicle and a car near Childers, 300km north of Brisbane on Tuesday. She was airlifted from the scene of the crash to Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital, but later died from her injuries. A fundraiser has now been launched to help support the victim's family by her friend Mackenzie Blackburn who described Ms Palella as a 'beautiful friend of many'. 'Whether it be her colleagues, friends or strangers, everyone knew that she could put a smile on anybody's face,' she said. Illiana Palella, 17, was killed following a collision between an armoured vehicle and a car near Childers 300km north of Brisbane on Tuesday Riylee Sutton (left) said Illiana Palella (right). Ms Palella died after a horrific crash Ms Blackburn met Ms Palella at work at the Hinkler Centre Woolworths in Bundaberg. 'Whether it be her colleagues, friends or strangers, everyone knew that she could put a smile on anybody's face,' she said. 'She comes from a hardworking, caring, and supportive family who were there with her through everything. 'This tragic car accident that she had gone through caused them deep distress and emotional damage. She is loved by them so deeply.' Jaime Shipp also paid tribute to her friend on social media. 'I'm going to miss you so much can't believe that you won't be coming home rest easy my beautiful girl,' Ms Shipp wrote in a Facebook post. Another friend said she was 'loyal, caring and bubbly'. Riylee Sutton, remembered Ms Palella as a 'shy, sweet girl'. 'She was adventurous. She would never leave your side, and was loyal, caring and bubbly,' Ms Sutton said. A Woolworths Hinkler spokesman said they arranged counselling for Ms Palella's friends and co-workers. Ms Palella's death was confirmed by her family on Thursday after the early morning crash at 5.27am on Tuesday. A fundraiser has been launched to help support the victim's family by her friend Mackenzie Blackburn who described Illiana Palella (pictured) as a 'beautiful friend of many' She was said to have been returning from a social engagement when the crash happened. Two LifeFlight helicopters and four fire and rescue crews rushed to the scene and Ms Palella was flown to Brisbane but later died from her injuries. A man freed from the wreckage was initially flown to Bundaberg for treatment before later being transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital. A second man was taken to Bundaberg Hospital in a serious but stable condition, while two more men inside the security van escaped with only minor injuries. The road was closed entirely for almost six hours as police and rescue crews worked on freeing the injured and launched an investigation into the crash. The great nephew of ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose has been remanded in custody in Darwin after allegedly trying to use fraudulent credit card details to fly overseas. Andrew Spira the son of former Sydney socialite Lizzie Buttrose and businessman John Spira - allegedly applied for a new passport claiming his had been stolen despite having surrendered it to NSW police. Spira faced Darwin Local Court on Wednesday morning charged with dealing in identification information, using and possessing false documents, possessing or using a firearm unlicensed, failing to store a firearm correctly and possessing trafficable quantities of steroids. The Sydney entrepreneur, 24, offered his multimillion dollar property holdings as surety, telling the judge he was 'at high risk of death' if he was sent to prison in the Territory. However, Judge Elisabeth Morris said she could not be satisfied any bail requirements would ensure he would remain in the Territory. 'I'm willing to forfeit everything I have to the court in return for bail,' he said. 'My error of judgment was completely flawed due to drugs, unfortunately. Andrew Spira (pictured) with mum Lizzie Buttrose celebrating his birthday at Rose Bay's Catalina restaurant in 2015 Police alleged Spira and a 22-year-old companion had chartered a private jet from NSW to the Northern Territory last week and had been staying at the Darwin Hilton for five days. The court heard Spira allegedly used encrypted electronic devices 'for dishonest ends' and had forged various letters, including one from his previous lawyer, but had denied all knowledge of the documents when questioned by police. Joint Organised Crime Task Force Detectives and officers executed a search warrant at a hotel room on Mitchell Street, where the pair were staying, and allegedly seized an unlicensed firearm, a traffickable quantity of a schedule 2 dangerous drug and a large quantity of electronic devices. The pair were arrested in the hotel lobby a short time later. Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal the alleged incident comes days after Spira recorded a bizarre video directed at his former fiance Julia Maguire, 40, that he shared on social media. The clip shows the former Cranbrook student sporting a watch on each wrist and wearing designer sunglasses while accusing his former partner of 'rubbishing him in the media'. 'To my beloved ex, it's really nice to know you had a nice summer, really nice to know' he began. Spira's mother Lizzie Buttrose with his great aunt Ita Buttrose Pictured: Andrew Spira, the great-nephew of ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose Andrew Spira has been charged over alleged credit card and passport fraud 'Thank you for doing an article on my house which I paid for' he said. 'You gave me no support, we barely spoke to seven years. I paid for all the bills, I paid for all the holidays.' 'You did nothing. Stop rubbishing me to the media. ... All I'm going to do it work harder.' he concluded. His arrest comes after a May 9 court appearance that saw him granted bail in Sutherland Local Court on the condition he reside at a Bondi mental health clinic after allegedly using a fake British passport and false name to travel overseas for a business deal after he became 'deluded' into thinking an airline was 'out to get him'. Spira founded his business loan company Pineapple Funding in 2018, with employees in Australia and the Philippines. Spira was previously engaged to Julia Maguire, 16-years his senior The Vaucluse home of Andrew Spira is for sale after his separation from his much older fiance On Wednesday he told the court he was concerned about his team, his shareholders and his parents, who he supported financially. 'I worked very hard lately, unfortunately, it seems like I'm back into old habits. 'If I don't have the chance to get my affairs in order not only am I at risk, but my family are at risk.' 'I need medical assistance urgently, I'm having constant seizures, I understand the penal system up here is quite harsh, like in New South Wales, except I imagine there's a lot more violence, and I think I'm at high risk of death if I don't get medical assistance,' he said. The court heard Spira owned a home in the upmarket Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, along with 16 investment properties. However, the Vaucluse property Spira bought with his former fiance was put on the market last week with a price guide of $9million. After getting engaged in Aril last year the pair are understood to have recently split, the 16-year age gap being a factor. Ultra-nationalists who gloated over Russian mercenary forces grinding to a bloody victory in Ukraine during a celebration in Sydney have been labelled as 'fascists' and a 'terrorist group' by outraged social media users. Footage of the party held on the grounds of the Russian consulate on Tuesday night was posted by Drew Pavlou, who is best known as an outspoken activist against China's ruling Communist Party. Mr Pavlou, labelled the gathering as 'fascist' on Twitter, demanded Australian authorities treated supporters of Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a terror threat and called for the consulate to be shut down. The video shows a group of about 50 men and male youths clad almost entirely in black standing outside behind a table, with many carrying Russian flags or holding up a banner with the insignia of the private military group Wagner. The main speaker wore a top displaying a large white Z, which is a symbol showing support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where this week, Wagner forces managed to take the eastern city of Bahmut. A group of Russian ultranationalists have gathered at a Sydney consulate to celebrate a Ukrainian city falling to Putin's forces 'We salute the Russian Wagner Group,' the main speaker says in Russian. 'We salute the Russian military. We congratulate you on liberating the city of Bahmut. It is our Artemovsk now.' Artemovsk was the name given to the city under the USSR, the Russian-ruled Communist goliath that formed after WWII until it split apart from the 1990s onwards. The speaker goes on to say to his "brothers' that 'here in far away Australia we support you'. 'We are with you, with our heart and soul. Liberate our territories. Everything will be Russia! Thank you Wagner. Keep it going,' he says before leading a round of cheers. A second speaker than continues in English. 'God bless all the Russian military who are fighting for our freedom. God bless in particular the Wagner group and in particular god bless Putin,' he says. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022 outraging leaders from around the world and drawing both countries into a prolonged bloodbath. The video drew outrage when it posted online by outspoken anti-CCP activist Drew Pavlou Mr Pavlou (pictured at Brisbane rally in 2020) called for action to be taken against those supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine NSW Police were called to the event at around 6pm. They said a small group were attending the event and left shortly after the officers arrived. No arrests or other action was taken. The galling celebration infuriated Twitter users with one demanding those appearing in the video be 'deported to Russia'. 'If they can defend the invasion...then let them fight in it,' the appalled user wrote. Mr Pavlou called for action by Australian authorities to make such gatherings illegal. 'I just think it is shocking they are allowed to do this in Australia and the government is not taking steps to criminalise this type of conduct,' he said. 'They are advocating mass murder. They are advocating the invasion of a sovereign nation and the mass murder of its citizens. 'I think its no better than an ISIS rally, a terrorist rally. 'They should be designated as a domestic terrorist group, just like we designate ISIS as a terror organisation in Australia and we would not be allowing ISIS supporters to hold rallies.' ISIS is a radical Islamist group sanctioned around the world for its violence against civilians. Mr Pavlou argued the pro-Putin supporters in Australia posed a real danger. 'These guys are a domestic terror threat and we should be treating them as a domestic terror threat,' he said. Police were called to the Russian consulate on Tuesday night and were seen speaking to one of the gathering's participants Simeon 'The Aussie Cossack' Boikov has been holed up in the Russian Consulate since an arrest warrant was issued for him in January 'These guys have made numerous death threats against people in Australia, they should be investigating these guys.' 'We need to be looking into whether these guys have weapons, whether they are a threat to the Australian public.' Rally organiser Simeon Boikov, who brands himself the Aussie Cossack, has been holed up in the consulate since an arrest warrant was issued after he failed to turn up for a court hearing in January. He is accused of assaulting a 76-year-old man at a rally in support of Ukraine in December at Sydney's Town Hall. Mr Pavlous accused Mr Boikov of a calling for the murder of Alexei Navalny, a leading Russian opponent of the Putin regime. Speaking to ABC current affairs show Four Corners in 2021 Mr Boikov called for Mr Navalny 'to be liquidated'. 'He thinks the Russian opposition should be killed so why should we protect his freedom of speech,' Mr Pavlou said. 'So way are we protecting their right to free speech if they had their way they would kill everyone.' The passionate activist also called for action to taken against the Russian consulate for hosting the gathering. 'What purpose do they serve?' he asked. 'They are just holding these pro-terror rallies and they are trying to intimidate Ukrainians with this sort of stuff, why are we tolerating this type of conduct.' 'Every day there is a new provocation with these Z signs and the Wagner flags while they are slaughtering Ukrainian civilians.' The Russian Consulate has been contacted for comment. A knife-wielding man was heard screaming 'I'm going to kill her, I'm going to kill him' before he was shot dead by police in one of Sydney's wealthiest suburbs. Police received 'multiple calls' that a shirtless Steve Pampalian, 41, was wielding two large 'chef style' knives and knocking on doors along Alexander Avenue, in North Willoughby, before 11.30am on Thursday. Officers were told he had been behaving aggressively and erratically and had also been chasing terrified residents down the street. When officers arrived at the scene on Sydney's lower north shore, Mr Pampalian allegedly confronted two officers before a constable fired four shots. Mr Pampalian was shot dead at the scene. No one else suffered any injuries. Police later said Mr Pampalian was known to them. The terrifying incident unfolded near St Thomas Primary School and a busy Harris Farm supermarket in the middle of the leafy suburb, described by horrified locals as the quietest area in Sydney. The school was placed in lockdown at the time of the incident but remained operational with no threat to the community. Nearby Willoughby Public School was also briefly locked down as a precaution. Steve Pampalian (pictured) allegedly confronted two officers before a constable opened fire and shot him dead Alexander Street in North Willoughby was swarming with police after a man was shot dead by a NSW Police constable on Thursday morning Police (pictured after the incident) were called to the scene following reports of a shirtless man armed with knives knocking on the doors of several homes and threatening residents Witness Jakelin Troy told Daily Mail Australia: 'I thought I heard a scream, I thought it was a child or something like that.' Mujahid Torwali, his 10-year-old son Azaan and his thesis supervisor Jakelin Troy were inside a home on nearby McCellan Street when they heard high pitched screaming followed by at least three gunshots. That included 'I'm going to kill her, I'm going to kill him'. Ms Troy told Daily Mail Australia she heard 'high pitched screaming' about 10 minutes before a 'warning shot' was fired, followed by two more gunshots. 'I thought I heard a scream, I thought it was a child or something like that,' she said. 'This kind of thing alarms me as a mother. 'I was really alarmed, because I was thinking, that's a lot of gunshots. I thought 'what's going to happen next. 'You don't want to be around when there's shooting.' Mr Torwali and his young son are originally from northwest Pakistan, an area under the control of the Taliban. 'He was asking me "Papa what's going on? You're telling me that these kind of things happen in Australia",' he told Daily Mail Australia. Ms Troy added that she never expected anything like this to happen in 'sleepy North Willoughby'. She wondered if the gunshots were heard by meeting she was hosting on Zoom at the time. Mr Pampalian's devastated cousin Pete arrived at the scene demanding answers from police. He described Mr Pampalian as a soft, kind-hearted man who admittedly had his 'problems', adding he last saw him at a family christening a fortnight ago. Pete slammed the police officer who pulled the trigger, claiming his cousin was unnecessarily gunned down by police. 'Whatever's happened, what he's done is done, but you don't shoot someone dead,' he said. 'How many coppers have they got here? They could have surrounded him there but you don't shoot him dead. Forensic officers scoured the quiet leafy street for evidence on Thursday Mujahid Torwali and his young son Azaan heard high pitched screams followed by gunshots Police rushed to the scene after 'multiple' reports of a shirtless man wielding two large 'chef style' knives knocking on doors and chasing residents down the street The terrifying scenes on Sydney's lower north shore unfolded shortly before 11.30am 'My uncle, he's losing his s*** because they won't even let him see his body. 'They won't let him see the body because then he'll have to have to see three bullet holes in the bloke. 'They (police) could have waited, called his parents and waited for them to arrive. They would have spoken to him and settled him down.' He conceded that his cousin had his problems, but didn't deserve to be shot. 'How many times have the cops have done this to people? You don't shoot no-one, unless they're firing at you, that's a different story,' he said. Mr Pampalian was known to police, according to NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker. She is 'confident' in the actions of the two officers involved, who have been left shaken by the incident. 'We received multiple calls in regards to a male behaving erratically and aggressively,' Commissioner McCusker said. 'He ran at police and the two large knives he had on him at the time are what I'd be describing as large chef-style knives,' 'He was chasing people down the street, and was approaching neighbours and was approaching various homes.' 'Certainly some concern had been raised by neighbours but that will form part of the critical investigation. 'With the information that is before me at this stage and noting the speed at which I understand the person approached the police, yes I am [confident in the actions of the officers].' The assistant commissioner plans to watch the officers' bodycam footage of the fatal incident. She confirmed a taser hadn't been involved in the incident. 'I haven't seen the footage yet, that is because it is early on in the investigation,' she said. 'Certainly Taser was a tactical option available (to the officers), and in terms of the tactical option that was used that will be subject to the investigation by the critical investigation team.' Many residents have been left shocked. 'It's weird,' resident Justin Ho told reporters. It's bewildering, I think a bit shocking for something like this happen. It's pretty, pretty scary.' Harris Farm supermarket staff said they didn't hear anything and were unaware of the shooting nearby until they told by customers. The fatal shooting occurred near the local Harris Farm supermarket (pictured) Residents were left shaken after gunshots rocked their quiet, leafy suburbs Alexander Street in North Willoughby remained cordoned off on Thursday afternoon 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham was also in the area at the time and raised the alarm on radio. 'First and foremost for anyone around the area, if you can be aware that there is a very serious police operation that is underway around Willoughby at the moment,' he told colleague Deborah Knight. 'You'd be wise to avoid it if you possibly can. 'Gunshots have been heard in the area of Willoughby.' Dozens of police remain at the scene with a critical incident investigation underway. The State Crime Command's Homicide Squad will investigate all circumstances surrounding the man's death, including the discharge of a police firearm. A report will also be prepared for the coroner. The latest critical incident investigation is just the latest to be announced by the NSW Police Force. A 95-year-old great-grandmother died on Wednesday night after she was allegedly tasered by a senior constable at a nursing home in Cooma, in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Clare Nowland died in hospital surrounded by her loved ones on Wednesday night after a week of end-of-life care. Senior Constable Kristian White has been charged in relation to the tasering incident and an investigation continues. Megyn Kelly slammed Target for launching 'tuck-friendly' bathing suits because women 'don't have penises,' after the chain pulled Pride displays after backlash. Kelly, 52, has joined in with the wave of others who have taken offense to Target's new pride collection, especially the 'tuck-friendly' swimwear that can be found in the women's section. It is intended for transgender women who still have penises, with extra material to help them flatten their male appendages. '[Target] decided to willingly partner with this clothing manufacturer to make pride month gear that includes bathing suits that are quote 'tuck-friendly' that have extra material around the crotch, which no woman needs because we don't have penises down south in Rio,' she said on her show on Wednesday. 'We don't need extra material and we don't need tuck-friendly, but the Target CEO is out there defending this saying: "Look, the extra crotch wear and the tuck-friendly bathing suits are important, that this whole line in the pride department is a good business decision. it's the right thing for a society."' Despite facing sharp criticism for the release, which also includes items for babies and children, CEO Brian Cornell told Fortune's Leadership Next podcast he approved of the campaign. 'When we think about purpose at Target, its really about helping all the families, and that "all" word is really important,' he said. 'Most of America shops at Target, so we want to do the right thing to support families across the country.' Megyn Kelly slammed Target for launching 'tuck-friendly' bathing suits because women 'don't have penises' as the chain-store pulls Pride displays after backlash Kelly also slammed the company for partnering with Abprallen, who has made Satanic clothing in the past. 'So Target turned to them to make their new line of clothing, including baby onesies with rainbow patterns, and at one point, selling their Pride related merch that read things like: We belong everywhere across the trans flag, too queer for here, cure transphobia not trans people, and so on,' the journalist said. California Governor Gavin Newsom has slammed Target for 'selling out LGBTQ communities' after it walked back some of the products from its Pride collection amid growing backlash. In a tweet, Newsom fumed and claimed 'black, Asian, Jewish' people and women would be 'next.' '[Target] decided to willingly partner with this clothing manufacturer to make pride month gear that includes bathing suits that are quote 'tuck-friendly' that have extra material around the crotch, which no woman needs because we don't have penises down south in Rio,' she said Kelly also slammed the company for partnering with Abprallen, who has made Satanic clothing in the past 'CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage. This isnt just a couple stores in the South. 'There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country. Wake up America. 'This doesnt stop here. Youre black? Youre Asian? Youre Jewish? Youre a woman? Youre next,' he said. California has more Target stores than anywhere else in the country with 317 - around 16 percent of all stores in the country. Cornell's remarks came as he was pressed on criticisms the company faced in the aftermath of its rollout. 'I think those are just good business decisions, and its the right thing for society, and its the great thing for our brand,' Cornell said. California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused Target of 'selling out LGBTQ communities' by walking back some of the products from its Pride collection. 'There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country. Wake up America. This doesnt stop here. Youre black? Youre Asian? Youre Jewish? Youre a woman? Youre next,' he said in a tweet 'The things weve done from a DE&I (diversity, equity, and inclusion) standpoint, its adding value. 'Its helping us drive sales, its building greater engagement with both our teams and our guests, and those are just the right things for our business today.' His comments come as some southern Target stores have reportedly been forced by the corporation to move its LGBTQ merchandise from view as customers revolt against the brand. The Pride product selection includes a variety of clothes and home goods, including a lime green adult romper suit with the word 'gay' emblazoned on the back, and a mug with a label reading: 'Gender Fluid.' Criticisms were also levied against the company after it was believed the 'tuck friendly' clothing was also for children, however a spokesman for the company told the Associated Press the swimsuits are only offered in adult sizes. The Target controversy came after Bud Light and its parent company Anheuser-Busch sparked fury by giving trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney a special can to mark one year of living as a woman. It sparked an ongoing boycott of the brand, and has wiped billions off the firm's value. Peter Dutton has accused the ABC of being 'duplicitous' and slammed its treatment of Indigenous presenter Stan Grant. Grant, one of the network's biggest stars, stepped down from Q+A following relentless racist abuse, claiming he received little support from his superiors. In the days since Grant's announcement, a bitter war of words has erupted over Grant's decision and his treatment by the national broadcaster. The Opposition Leader weighed in to the debate on Thursday, telling Ray Hadley the ABC 'has all sorts of fundamental problems'. 'He [Grant] shouldn't have been treated the way he was. You and I cop the vile abuse on social media every day and the ABC doesn't highlight that, so they are duplicitous,' Mr Dutton said. 'The ABC has been all over the shop regarding their policy here... they've obviously not provided support to Stan Grant, they've sat silent when many of their supporters have criticised you or me.' 'I think it is a double standard.' Hundreds of ABC staff across the country walked out of offices in solidarity with Grant Much of the criticism stemmed from the ABC's coverage of King Charles' coronation on May 6. More than 1,800 complaints were lodged over a segment running from 5.15 to 6pm in which a panel including Grant discussed 'critical perspectives on the role of the Monarchy in modern Australia' as early guests were arriving at Westminster Abbey. Hadley said: 'The coverage was disgraceful, biased, one sided. 'It's alright for me and others like me to criticise the ABC because they dismiss us as shock jocks and right wing zealots.' The ABC ombudsman found the national broadcaster's coverage of King Charles III's Coronation was 'jarring and distracting'. It was not, however, in breach of editorial standards around impartiality, the ombudsman said in a finding released on Thursday. Hundreds of ABC staff across the country walked out of offices in solidarity with Grant ABC presenter Stan Grant appeared on the coverage and was hit with a wave of racist abuse online in the days following Hadley asked on Thursday: 'Where between 1945 and 2023 did the ABC lose their way? When did it happen?' Mr Dutton said it likely occurred 'during the Whitlam years', before clarifying that he still considers the national broadcaster an 'important asset'. 'But the national broadcaster has strayed from its mandate,' he said. 'It should with taxpayer money present a fair representation and reporting of the news... factual reporting, not the bias we're seeing from the ABC now.' The Opposition Leader said there's an 'enormous burden' on management and the board at the ABC 'because they know they've got a problem they can't do anything about'. Elsewhere in the interview, Mr Dutton took aim at Lidia Thorpe after she stormed out of a Senate estimates hearing following a fiery clash with Indigenous Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy. The ABC received more than 1800 complaints about it's coverage of the King's Coronation but more than a million people tuned in The shouting match broke out during a heated discussion over commonwealth funding for Northern Territory safety initiatives. The independent Indigenous senator and Senator McCarthy, a Yanyuwa woman from the Gulf country in the NT, sparred over some of the funding being spent on police. Mr Dutton was played audio of the argument live on air, and said he was horrified by what he heard. 'I'm embarrassed she's a member of parliament... I just think she brings great shame on the whole parliament; certainly the Greens.' Senator Thorpe was a member of the Greens until February 2023, when she quit and instead became an independent. Grant revealed last Friday he was stepping away from hosting the ABC's flagship panel discussion program after just ten months in the role. The 59-year-old said he was taking leave after being subjected to 'relentless racial filth'. He accused the ABC of 'institutional failure', claiming no-one in senior management had offered him public support. On Monday hundreds of ABC staff across the country walked out of offices in solidarity with Grant. His wife Tracey Holmes joined the Sydney protest with her husband's ex-wife, SBS journalist Karla Grant, and his daughter, NITV journalist Lowanna Grant. Dozens of ABC staff also gathered outside Parliament House in Canberra and the national broadcaster's Southbank base in Melbourne. On Wednesday night police arrested a 41-year-old man in Fairfield Heights, western Sydney, and and charged him with using a carriage service to make threats against Grant. Peter Dutton has called out the ABC for being 'duplicitous' in its criticism of vile abuse directed toward one of the network's biggest stars Hadley said: 'The coverage was disgraceful, biased, one sided. 'It's alright for me and others like me to criticise the ABC because they dismiss us as shock jocks and right wing zealots' Faithful Catholics are rushing to a Missouri church after a late nun's body was exhumed four years after her death with no signs of decay, as some call for her to be made a saint. Hundreds are making the pilgrimage to Gower - about 39 miles north of Kansas City - to witness the unblemished body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who died in May 2019 at the age of 95. Lancaster's body was buried outside of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery, and was recently dug up to be placed in a better tomb inside the chapel. At the time of Lancaster's death, the nun wasn't embalmed and workers expected to uncover bones from her body but instead found it perfectly intact. When a body is embalmed, it prevents human remains from decaying. The phenomenon is being referred to as 'a miracle in Missouri' with people rushing to view the body that will be on display until May 29. The late nun's remains will now be moved into a glass case for all to see. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster's body was recovered from her Gower, Missouri grave without any signs of decay despite being buried since May 2019 Lancaster's body was being moved to a chapel inside of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery when it was viewed to be preserved. Pictured: Lancaster before her death Mother Cecilia, head of the monastery, recalled the moment she first saw Lancaster's body. A crack in the coffin led to a layer of mold forming over the nun's body. But as the abbess took a closer look, she was shocked to see a body part fully intact. 'I thought I saw a completely full, intact foot and I said, "I didnt just see that,"' she said, according to the Catholic News Agency. The abbess took a closer look and 'cheered' as she confirmed the sighting, 'I see her foot!' As mold was removed from Lancaster's body, the crown and flowers she buried with along with her rosary and crucifix, remained nearly untouched, according to the news agency. Mother Cecilia referred to the miracle as 'hope' and referred to the late nun as having strong faith and trust. Several people have called to canonize Lancaster as a saint since her body appeared to be incorruptible after four years underground. The Catholic Church believes a preserved body after death is a sign of holiness. But, an incorruptible body doesn't always qualify a person for sainthood. Rather, it is 'appreciated' by the church as a miracle that is unable to be understood outside of 'Divine intervention,' according to RomanCatholicSaints.com. According to the church, there is a list of saints around the world whose bodies remain intact after hundreds of years. At the time of Lancaster's death, the nun wasn't embalmed and workers expected to uncover bones from her body but instead found it perfectly intact. Pictured: Lancaster's grave The phenomenon is being referred to as 'a miracle in Missouri' with several people rushing to view the body that will be on display until May 29. Pictured: Pilgrims outside of the monastery The Catholic Church believes a preserved body after death is a sign of holiness. But, an incorruptible body doesn't always qualify a person for sainthood. Pictured: the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery Mary Lou Enna, 85, was one of the many visitors traveling to witness the miracle. 'It was beautiful,' the Kansas City resident told the news outlet. 'At first, it was just a little unreal. But then as I just gazed at her, tears started coming and I just knew it was for real and very, very meaningful.' 'It was miraculous to see her body in perfect condition after her body was in a grave for close to four years,' Enna, 61, added. Tanya and Joe Schultz travelled eight hours from Kentucky to see the body with their children. Referring to it as a 'great miracle,' Tanya got close enough to Lancaster's body to touch her rosary and scapular. 'Its believable and unbelievable at the same time,' she said. Ron DeSantis appeared to compare his own military service to Donald Trump's draft-dodging when asked how he'd cope with insults hurled by the former president. Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday night, the Florida governor said such jibes would pale in comparison to the hardships experienced by service personnel - with the lawmaker himself once serving as a Navy lawyer. Trump, by comparison, dodged being drafted into the Vietnam War by claiming he suffered from bone spurs - and DeSantis was seemingly keen to highlight the ex-president's much-mocked excuse. He told Fox he was unconcerned about potential insults on the campaign trail, saying: 'If the sacrifice I have to make is people are going to call me names, that pales into comparison with what so many people have done for me throughout history so that I could live in a free country.' Ron DeSantis on Wednesday night appeared on Fox News and seemed to take a dig at Donald Trump's draft-dodging DeSantis (left) served in the Navy as a lawyer from 2004-10: Trump dodged the draft, securing a letter saying he had bone spurs The Florida governor was in his second year at Harvard Law School when he enlisted in the Navy, in 2004. After graduating, he was sent to Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida, as a prosecutor, before being sent to Guantanamo shortly thereafter. He spent at least six months in the Cuban base, between March 2006 and January 2007, and his main duty was as a prosecutor. DeSantis then deployed to Iraq, where he worked as an adviser to a U.S. Navy SEAL commander working in the areas around Fallujah and Ramadi. He left the Navy in 2010, having received at least 10 awards and decorations for his service, and went straight into politics. Trump, meanwhile, secured four deferrals of his Vietnam War draft in 1969, before eventually getting a medical exemption, for his bone spurs. The daughters of the Queens foot doctor who diagnosed Trump told The New York Times that their father, who died in 2007, diagnosed bone spurs as a 'favor' to his father Fred Trump. Trump, questioned about the exemption, in 2016 said he had been given 'a letter - a very strong letter', which ruled him unfit for service. Trump mocked DeSantis's campaign launch, and issued a video referring to him as an imposter Trump, seeing DeSantis as his biggest rival, has not held back with his insults: he regularly terms the father-of-three 'DeSanctimonious', and privately calls him 'Meatball Ron' - an apparent dig at his appearance. Donald Trump Jr on Wednesday called DeSantis 'DeSaster'. Asked on Fox about the potential nicknames and insults, DeSantis said he was not worried. 'I have been called everything but a child of God as it is,' he told host Trey Gowdy. 'So that does not faze me - you can call me whatever you want, just make sure you call me a winner, because that's what we have done in the state of Florida and that's exactly what we do nationally - not only in the election, but actually bringing all of these great policies to bear.' DeSantis continued: 'There will be slings and arrows, but I am a big boy, I can take it. 'There's a lot of people that have given a lot more than that so that this country can be free. 'You can see their tombstones in places like Arlington national cemetery. 'So if the sacrifice I have to make is people are going to call me names, that pales into comparison with what so many people have done for me throughout history so that I could live in a free country.' Trump on Wednesday unveiled a new attack ad, calling DeSantis an imposter MUST SEE New Ad from Team Trump: Starting Day One WATCH: pic.twitter.com/RoC2FbV22T Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 24, 2023 The subtle reference to Trump's draft-dodging came as Trump unleashed an attack ad against DeSantis, calling him an imposter. 'Why would we ever settle for Trump imposters?' a voiceover asked, as images from a July 2018 video of DeSantis encouraging his daughter to build a wall and read about Trump were shown. DeSantis filmed the 2018 video when he was campaigning for governor, as a sign of his fealty to Trump. Trump's support is widely-regarded as having helped DeSantis win his gubernatorial election. 'There's only one, starting day one, who can make America great again,' the clip concluded. Polls show Trump well-ahead of DeSantis among Republican voters, but pundits have highlighted how anything can happen between now and next July. That is when the Republican nominee will be named at the party's annual conference in Milwaukee. DeSantis's campaign got off to the worst of starts on Wednesday as what was promoted as a groundbreaking launch - on Twitter - turned into a farce. The servers used by Twitter were unable to cope with the traffic, and the audio regularly cut out. For 20 minutes the feed was silent, as Elon Musk and his team worked to solve the problem. The moderator, David Sacks, said that there were so many people listening it had 'melted the internet', but social media users were quick to point out that far larger live-streamed events had been held without problems. DeSantis eventually began speaking around 40 minutes after the scheduled time, reading from a script and declaring that 'American decline is not inevitable - it is a choice'. DeSantis promised to 'restore sanity to our nation - fiscal and economic sanity', and said he would 'embrace energy independence'. The Florida governor repeated his much-loved attacks on the 'woke mind virus', and said he would prioritize protecting America's borders and law and order. 'Governing is not entertainment: it is not about building a brand or virtual signaling,' he declared, promising that he will be 'an energetic executive that will take on the important issues.' During her roughly three years in Congress, Taylor Greene has had many loud confrontations with politicians whose views she does not share The right-wing congresswoman's Democratic colleagues instead began to laugh and jeer as she requested quiet during a floor speech Laughter echoed through the House of Representatives Wednesday when Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called for decorum while temporarily presiding over the chamber. Greene, a far-right representative of Georgia known for outbursts towards her Democratic colleagues and President Biden himself, called for decorum during a floor speech. As House Majority Leader Steve Scalise spoke, Greene said 'members are reminded to abide by the decorum of the House' in an effort to quiet down her colleagues across the aisle. Instead of changing their tones to whispers, however, Greene's call was met with boisterous laughter, which prompted the congresswoman to repeatedly bang her gavel. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the past has publicly heckled Democrats including Joe Biden at a State of the Union address Greene's ignored call for composure comes months after she heckled President Joe Biden during the State of the Union when she shouted 'Liar!' after he claimed Republicans hoped to threaten Social Security. At last year's SOTU, she and Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado chanted 'Build the Wall' as the president spoke about immigration. In a recent Homeland Security committee meeting, MTG branded Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas a 'liar,' after he said his agency is fighting the drug trafficking taking place at the US southern border. Ultimately, the Republican committee chairman, Representative Mark Green, moved to strike MTG's labeling of Mayorkas from the record. Democratic congressman Jimmy Gomez responded to the video of Green calling for decorum by writing that MTG 'calling for decorum is like Leonardo DiCaprio telling people to date people their own age.' Representative Adam Schiff tweeted: 'I havent laughed this hard in a while - but Marjorie Taylor Greene just called for decorum on the House Floor.' Greene and Lauren Boebert (left) chanting 'Build the Wall' during the 2022 State of the Union address Greene presiding over the House Chamber on Wednesday and was met with laughter when she called for decorum Greene has become well known around DC for her confrontations with those she disagrees with politically During Greene's first congressional term, she was kicked off the House Budget and Education and Labor committees by the Democrat-controlled chamber. Her colleagues, in a mostly party-line vote, opted to remove her from her freshman committee placements following the revelation of a number of conspiracy theories she'd shared on subjects ranging from the September 11 attacks and school shootings to the Clintons. Though she apologized for her remarks, and stated unequivocally that '9/11 absolutely happened' and 'school shootings are absolutely real,' the vote went against her, with nearly a dozen members of her party voting with the Democrats to remove her from committees. Following the vote, Greene shared how she was feeling with her followers and critics. 'I woke up early this morning literally laughing thinking about what a bunch of morons the Democrats (+11) are for giving someone like me free time,' Greene posted. 'In this Democrat tyrannical government, Conservative Republicans have no say on committees anyway. Oh this is going to be fun!' She went on to win her reelection campaign by a commanding margin. A senior cop says there was 'evidentiary support' to suggest Brittany Higgins had sexual contact with her alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann because the former staffer was found 'in the complete nude', an inquiry has heard. Senior Constable Emma Frizzell was questioned by Mark Tedeschi KC, the lawyer acting for the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC, during a Board of Inquiry on Thursday. The inquiry is investigating the actions of police and prosecutors before, during and after the hearing in the ACT Supreme Court in October last year. Mr Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to raping Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019. He continues to maintain his innocence. On Thursday, Mr Tedeschi said to Constable Frizzell: 'Ms Higgins was seen in the complete nude in the minister's office, asleep.' Senior Constable Emma Frizzell (pictured outside the inquiry on Thursday) was questioned by Mark Tedeschi KC, the lawyer acting for the ACT DPP Shane Drumgold SC 'A Parliament House officer comes into the office at about two or 2.30 in the morning and sees her in the complete nude asleep. Ms Higgins wakes up briefly and goes back to sleep.' Sen Constable Frizzell said: 'I recall.' Mr Tedeschi then asked if she thought that was evidence of corroboration between Ms Higgins' allegation and the security guard's testimony: 'Do you agree that's some evidentiary support that sexual intercourse took place?' 'Yes,' she replied. Sen Constable Frizzell also agreed there was evidence that Ms Higgins was intoxicated when she arrived at Parliament House on the evening she was allegedly assaulted - supporting the second element needed to charge Mr Lehrmann, being that there was a lack of capacity to consent. However, Sen Constable Frizzell said the third element needed to charge Mr Lehrmann was absent, which was a reasonable suspicion that he knew she did not consent to sexual intercourse. Mr Lehrmann told police he went to Parliament House with Ms Higgins on the evening in question, but said they both went into separate rooms once inside the ministerial suite. He said he caught an Uber home alone a short time later. Brittany Higgins (left) accused Bruce Lehrmann of raping her in Parliament House. He denies the allegations Mr Tedeschi told the inquiry Mr Lehrmann gave four different reasons for why he had gone to Parliament House with Ms Higgins. 'Do you agree that that's some supportive evidence of either a knowledge of lack of consent or knowledge of recklessness?' he asked. Sen Constable Frizzell said: 'No'. Later on Thursday, Sen Constable Frizzell was quizzed about why she wanted to interview the Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates, who was Ms Higgins' support person and facilitated relations between her and police. The constable said she wanted to ask Ms Yates to confirm the existence of a photo taken on the night of the alleged assault, which she believed showed Ms Higgins in the background and holding a drink. The photo had been deleted from Ms Higgins' phone, and was not on her Google Drive or iCloud account, or in an extraction of her phone. Sen Constable Frizzell said Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman and Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said they had seen the photo, but she wanted to ask Ms Yates because she was a third party who was not involved in the prosecution. She was then accused of wanting to interview Ms Yates to force her to step down from her role as Ms Higgins' support person. Mr Tedeschi asked: 'Where you tying to get some evidence about Ms Higgins' presence in a bar?' Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) had pleaded not guilty to raping Brittany Higgins Sen Constable Frizzell replied: 'Yes and there were images that were no longer there that had been there.' Mr Tedeschi continued: 'Why did you want further evidence of a photo of a drink?' Sen Constable Frizzell: 'It was that Ms Yates was independent of the investigation.' Mr Tedeschi: 'What possible thing could a drink have to play in the prosecution of Mr Lehrmann? Sen Constable Frizzell: 'It's the corroborating of evidence, but when I did downloads there was no image. Ms Yates is corroborating there was evidence.' Mr Tedeschi: 'Did you want to interview Ms Yates with the possible view that it might make it more difficult for her to be a support person for Ms Higgins?' Sen Constable Frizzell: 'No, absolutely not. I didn't believe it would remove her ability to be the support person.' The inquiry will continue on Friday. Serial TikTok teenage troublemaker Mizzy appeared in a slew of videos shared across social media just hours after he was slapped on the wrist for staging a series of vile pranks. Mizzy, 18, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O'Garro, bragged 'UK laws are weak, simple as' when discussing how he was able to get off so lightly with the bizarre stunts as he was grilled by Piers Morgan in a TV interview. O'Garro is the menace behind a series of spoofs including stealing a woman's dog, ripping up library books and jumping into strangers' cars. He was also said to have put a family 'at risk' by walking into their home pretending he was trying to find a study group, a court heard. The prankster appeared to livestream from a new TikTok account early today which has since been deleted. On his way to Morgan's interview last night, O'Garro bragged that the journalist was 'going to try and catch me out, but I've got plans for him'. In a series of other videos uploaded across several social media accounts last night, one of which is his Twitter account set up in May last year, O'Garro is seen cycling into the back of a Sainsbury's storeroom where customers should not go, much to the confusion of staff. He posted videos of the same 'prank' at a McDonald's and a Greggs - filming himself as he walked into the staff areas at the back of the shops before posing. And this morning he shared footage of himself on Twitter where he rides the top of a moving bus. Judge Charlotte Crangle issued O'Garro with a two-year criminal behaviour order. The order included that he must not directly or indirectly post videos on to social media without the documented consent of the people featured in the content, that he must not trespass into private property, and that he must not attend the Westfield Centre in Stratford. O'Garro shared a clip on Twitter today where he rode the top of a moving bus O'Garro appeared in a video on a TikTok account where he was cycling inside a Sainsbury's In another video, O'Garro claimed that the police will never get him During a feisty interview where the pair continued to interrupt each other throughout, Morgan listed the numerous extreme pranks O'Garro has carried out. 'You go up and take a dog from an elderly woman, you leapfrog over the top of an orthodox Jewish man standing at the side of the road minding his business. You go up to women in the street and say, 'do you want to die?'' At one point the Talk TV presenter then asked: 'A lot of the stuff that you do could have consequences far more serious but you don't care do you, as long as you get a laugh?' O'Garro replied: 'Of course I care I have remorse.' He then said he is his 'own person' and 'I am legally an adult now so I can do what I want'. Morgan ended the interview by saying: 'You're just a complete moron.' He added: 'For the record, he wasnt paid for this.' The 18-year-old appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and admitted failing to comply with a community protection notice. He was fined 200 and will have to pay an 80 surcharge with 85 in prosecution costs. O'Garro, from Hackney, east London, was also issued with a criminal behaviour order, which means he can never upload a video again without the permission of all those appearing in it. But he said the police will never get him in a new video just minutes after he was issued the order and fined hundreds of pounds - as he battled it out with Piers Morgan during an interview on TV. Just minutes after leaving court, O'Garro created a new TikTok account and posted a video saying: 'Hello world I'm back and I'm taking over this, yeah... The feds thought they can have me, but where am I? We outside every time.' At 7pm he then posted another TikTok, saying: 'Hello world. You guys have all fallen to my plan. Right now I'm on the way to Piers Morgan. He's gonna try and catch me out but I've got plans for him. I've got something for him, yeah.' Speaking to Piers Morgan on Talk TV the prankster was asked: 'What has been motivating you to terrorise the people around where you live?' He replied: 'I wouldn't really call it terrorising, I'll just call it more having fun.' O'Garro at Thames Magistrates' Court where he was charged with failing to comply with a community protection notice The 18-year-old posted a 'prank' video where he entered a private home without permission Discussing the prank where he walked into a random woman's house, O'Garro said: 'You see this situation that blew up on the internet walking into random houses, the next day I apologised to the woman because I felt bad. 'That was more of a spur of the moment thing, I got spurred on and my ego got a hold of me. I realised that at that moment and that's why I went to apologise the next day.' O'Garro then later claimed: 'Hate brings money. Hate brings likes, brings views - it doesn't matter.' O'Garro can be seen holding his hands out as he walked out of Thames Magistrates' Court He then turns and looks at the camera, smiling and laughing He was fined 200 and will have to pay an 80 surcharge with 85 in prosecution costs O'Garro appeared in court wearing a black hoodie and a face mask. He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, and to admit to one count of failing to comply with a community protection notice. Varinder Hayre, prosecuting, told the court that O'Garro was issued with a community protection notice on May 11 last year, and that two of its conditions were that he not trespass on to private property. Ms Hayre said that he then breached that notice by entering a home on May 15 this year. 'He went to the home address of the victim,' she said. 'The woman was cleaning the patio when he entered her home. Mr O'Garro walked into the property and walked down the stairs. He was stopped by the homeowner. Mr O'Garro went to the living room and sat on the sofa. 'He was asked to leave multiple times by both the victim and her husband. He ignored their request and carried on walking in their home address. The following day it turned out that he had filmed the whole incident. 'It had been circulated on social media. The victim was unaware that Mr O'Garro was recording the incident. He captured the faces of her husband and children. She strongly feels he put her family at risk.' Lee Sergent, defending, said: 'The first thing to say on Mr O'Garro's behalf is that he is sorry. He never intended to cause any distress or upset by his actions. It is fair to say that he believed what he was doing was a harmless prank. In one of his videos he can be seen saying: 'Walking into random houses, let's go' In another one of his TikTok 'pranks', O'Garro walked up to women in public pretending they were his mother As part of another 'prank', the TikToker stole a woman's dog who was sitting in the park O'Garro, known on social media as 'Mizzy', featured in one of his friend's TikTok videos and it appears as if he is being arrested The 18-year-old turns and walks away into another room with police by his side 'He has now had the opportunity to reflect and realises that what he did was very stupid and very wrong and acknowledges it must have been extremely upsetting for the family whose house he entered.' Mr Sergent added: 'The problem with social media is that content is celebrated not based on its quality or social value but on the quantity of likes and followers. 'He was egged on to a certain degree to do ever more content to gain more likes and followers.' District Judge Charlotte Crangle said: 'I have seen the footage and I can see exactly why the people who lived in that house were so upset and distressed on that day. 'I am reassured by the fact that you have expressed remorse, and have gone back and apologised to them. I hope that time in custody has given you time to reflect on your behaviour.' The criminal behaviour order imposed by the court means O'Garro cannot upload any video content on to social media without the consent of those in the videos and he must not trespass on any private property. Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway of the Central East Command Unit added: 'I do not underestimate the widespread upset, distress and concern that these videos caused. 'Some people have referred to these as "prank" videos, but I hope that this significant development demonstrates just how seriously we have been taking this investigation since this footage began circulating online.' Earlier this week the Met Police said in a statement: 'The arrest follows an investigation into social media footage which featured a number of incidents, including apparently unsolicited approaches made towards members of the public in the street or on transport, and entering addresses without the apparent permission of the owners.' The body of a 16-year-old boy has been tragically pulled from the River Calder, West Yorkshire Police said last night. Emergency crews rushed to the spot in Castleford yesterday evening over concerns for a boy's safety in the water. They pulled the body of a boy from the river. His family are aware and are being supported by officers. Locals called the tragedy 'every parent's worst's nightmare', with one writing online: 'So sad, rest in peace young man. My thoughts are with your family and friends at such a difficult time.' Officers rushed to the spot in Castleford yesterday evening Emergency crews at the scene of the drowning in West Yorkshire A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: 'Police were called to the River Calder off Leeds Road, Castleford' Another said: 'Heartbreaking, my condolences to all the family and friends.' A third added: 'Oh gosh heartbreaking lots of love too all family and friends sleep tight young man.' A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: 'Police were called to the River Calder off Leeds Road, Castleford, at 6.58pm this evening (Wednesday, 24 May) to a report of a concern for safety for a male in the water. 'Emergency services attended at the scene and shortly before 8.30pm a body was recovered from the water. Fire engines line a road in Castleford after concerns for a boy's welfare 'It is understood to be that of a 16-year-old boy. His family are aware and being supported by officers. We would ask that people are considerate of his family at this difficult time. 'Police are making enquiries into this incident and would ask that anyone who witnessed any part of what has taken place contact Wakefield District CID via 101 Live Chat or by calling 101, quoting log 1652 of 24/05.' Max McKenzie, 15, remembered with fundraiser in his name A family has opened up on their heartbreak after their son died after eating a slice of apple crumble. Melbourne boy Max McKenzie, 15, died after eating the piece of dessert in August 2021. Max was severely allergic to nuts and had no idea the apple crumble contained traces of walnuts when he suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction. He used his EpiPen but developed sudden asthma and was rushed to hospital before he died 13 days later. His mother Tamara and her husband Ben have relived the horrifying experience two years later saying they were reminded of him every day. 15-year-old Max McKenzie (pictured) suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction when he ate an apple pie and died in August 2021 Almost two years after 15-year-old Max McKenzie suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction his parents Ben and Tamara (pictured) applauded their son's friends' actions at his former school for hosting Live to the Max Day on Friday to raise funds for allergy research Ms McKenzie told the Herald Sun her son had an 'extremely close, large group of friends' and they don't want what happened to Max to happen to anyone else. 'It never will be (the same) and we miss him every second of every single day,' she said. 'What happened to Max, we don't want it to happen to anyone else's child.' Mr McKenzie, who is an emergency physician, recalled his son's zest for life. 'He loved life. He was out of bed at six o'clock every morning and was keen to do whatever was on the program for that day,' he said. Mr McKenzie said no parent should have to endure the same pain and hoped to see advancements in the treatment and prevention of anaphylactic reactions. 'You just can't predict who's going to have that fatal reaction,' he said. 'There should actually be zero deaths from food allergy in Australia because it's preventable at a whole lot of other levels.' Camberwell Grammar, a high school in Melbourne's east that was attended by Max, has also paid tribute to the former tribute with plans to host a 'Live to the Max Day'. His peers will raise money with the funds to be donated to the National Allergy Centre of Excellence which operates in the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Camberwell Grammar (pictured) is one of eight taking part in Youth Action for Allergy, with all funds being donated to the National Allergy Centre of Excellence at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne 'To have them among the people who are uniting and helping this just means so much to us,' Ms McKenzie said. Camberwell Grammar is part of nine schools that are taking part in the fundraiser as part of Food Allergy Week. About 20 people die each year in Australia as a result of anaphylaxis, according to the National Allergy Council. NACE director Associate Professor Kirsten Perrett described Australia as the world's 'allergy capital'. 'It's my life passion to find new ways to prevent food allergy from occurring and to treat food allergy early and ultimately so that, one day, we can get every child to start school allergy free,' she said. admitted its special units are trying to kill Vladimir Putin as top priority Ukraine has admitted its special units are trying to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin as a top priority. Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is also on the hit list alongside senior Russian military commanders including General Sergei 'Armageddon' Surovikin, the second most powerful commander in Ukraine's military intelligence service, Vadym Skibitsky, said. But Skibitsky told Die Welt that it's difficult to assassinate Putin because the Russian despot 'stays holed up' - although he 'is now beginning to stick his head out'. But when he does appear publicly the Ukrainian spy agency is 'not sure whether it's really him', Skibitsky said in a reference to Putin's alleged use of body doubles even at prominent events. Skibitsky said Putin 'notices that we're getting ever closer to him'. His comments come as US spy agencies said they believe that a drone attack on the Kremlin this month was likely orchestrated by Ukrainian spies or military intelligence units. Ukraine has admitted its special units are trying to kill Russian Vladimir Putin as a top priority Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin (left) is also on the Kyiv hit list alongside senior Russian military commanders including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) The drone attack earlier this month appeared to be part of a series of covert operations that have made officials in the United States - Ukraine's biggest supplier of military equipment - uncomfortable, reports the New York Times. The US spy agencies conducted assessments based on intercepted Russian and Ukrainian communicated and found that the drone attack was probably orchestrated by Kyiv. But a senior Ukrainian presidential aide said on Thursday that Ukraine had nothing to do with a 'strange and pointless' drone attack on the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Skibitsky said Putin was also 'afraid of being killed by his own people.' Skibitsky said Putin is top of the list for assassination targets 'because he coordinates and decides what happens'. But he said there is a long list of assassination targets including Shougi, as 'everyone will have to answer for their actions' in the Ukraine war. 'Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu planned the attack and now they cannot turn back,' Skibitsky said. Unit commanders who order blood-spilling strikes on Ukraine were also on this list. Skibitsky said: 'Many people in Russia still support this 'special operation' [war against Ukraine], but thanks to social media and phone checks, we know that so many Russians have died now that it scares people.' The 'business elite' were also a threat to Putin because 'they are losing billions of dollars', Skibitsky added. Prigozhin was today sanguine on the threat to kill him. 'I always say that the enemy must be treated with respect,' Prigozhin said. 'Of course, I respect their decision as well. 'Of course, Prigozhin, as one of the important actors in this war, must be eliminated. 'This is 100 per cent true, so they are doing absolutely the right steps.' Skibitsky claimed that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was also on the wanted list even though he had 'realised that strategically the Putin regime has already lost'. General Sergei 'Armageddon' Surovikin was also named as being on the kill list. Skibitsky claimed that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured) was also on the wanted list even though he had 'realised that strategically the Putin regime has already lost' General Valery Gerasimov and General Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, are on the kill list 'We are at war and these are our enemies,' Skibitsky said. 'If an important figure produces and finances weapons for them, then its elimination would save the lives of many civilians. 'And then he gets wiped out. According to international conventions, it is then a legitimate target.' Russia has already accused Ukraine of seeking to assassinate Putin with a strike on the Kremlin on 3 May. Moscow claimed two Ukrainian kamikaze drones exploded over Putin's Kremlin residence in the early hours in 'a planned terrorist act and assassination attempt' - though the Russian despot was not present at the time of the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Russia's claims Ukraine was behind the drone strike on the Kremlin and British security officials believe the attack was a 'false flag' operation by Russia to distract Kyiv from its anticipated counter-offensive and rally up support back home. But US intelligence agencies now believe that the drone attack was probably orchestrated by one of Ukraine's special military or intelligence units, reports the New York Times. Pictured: A fireball is seen rising over the Kremlin after an alleged drone strike by Ukraine on May 3 The US intercepted Ukrainian conversations in which officials said they believed their country was responsible for the attack, and also tapped into Russian communications which indicated it was not some sort of false-flag operation by Russia, the newspaper reported. 'We immediately said that the Kyiv regime was behind this,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the report. 'In the end, it doesn't make much difference which of the units of the Kyiv regime was behind this. The Kyiv regime was behind this, we know this, we are aware of it, and we shall proceed from this as we go forward.' U.S. officials said they do not believe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signs off on all covert operation, the paper said. It is unclear to what extent he is aware of such operations in advance, the officials were quoted as saying. Russia accused Ukraine of trying to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin in the attack. Zelenskiy promptly denied any Ukrainian involvement. In addition to the drone attack, U.S. officials say they believe Ukrainian intelligence agencies were responsible for the assassination of the daughter of prominent Russian nationalist, the killing of a pro-war blogger in Moscow and a series of attacks in Russian towns near the border with Ukraine. And last month, in late April, German newspaper Bild claimed Ukrainian secret service agents tried to assassinate Putin with a kamikaze drone carrying explosives - but failed after it crashed a few miles short of their target. The Ukrainian forces reportedly launched the UJ-22 drone, laden with 17 kilograms of C4 plastic explosives, from Ukraine with the aim of reaching a newly built industrial estate near Moscow that Putin was due to visit, German newspaper Bild claims. But before the deadly drone reached the Rudnevo industrial park on its alleged mission to take out the Russian despot, it crashed mere miles away from the site. Meanwhile, Skibitsky said that sanctions are hurting Russian missile accuracy. He explained: 'Due to the sanctions, many missile parts are missing, for example for the X-101, and this hurts their accuracy. 'They say they have the most powerful and technologically advanced weapons, but that's just a fairy tale. 'You only have to look at their fleet in the Black Sea: it's just in port, and their submarines are hiding there too.' He denied wanting to explode the Crimean Bridge with new British-supplied long range missiles. He told Die Welt: 'We'll leave that to them as an escape route [from annexed Crimea]. 'Every time there is an explosion in Crimea, it is completely crowded.' A massive inferno has destroyed a seven-storey heritage-listed building, incinerated a car and damaged several other buildings next to Sydney's busiest train station. More than 100 firefighters worked to get the blaze under control at the 111-year-old former hat factory that had been left derelict and unoccupied. Dramatic vision on Thursday shows the building set to be redeveloped collapsing onto Randle Street, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, near Central Station. One witness to the fire - the biggest seen in Sydney since 1968 - said 'it was like a war zone'. The building burst into flames about 4pm and had almost entirely toppled over by 6pm, with chunks of debris from the roof and walls falling onto the street below, while thousands of horrified commuters and workers watched on. The fire caused a 'tornado of smoke' and the heat could be felt even a block away. The building has almost entirely collapsed, with bits of debris from the roof and walls falling into the street below Emergency workers watched on as part of the building collapsed (pictured) One of the walls of the former hat factory is pictured collapsing on Thursday night What is known about the building destroyed in Sydney on Thursday The seven-storey building at 11-13 Randle Street in the inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills was a heritage-listed former hat factory more than a century old. The building was unoccupied for some time, but was set to be redeveloped as a hotel in the coming years. It was built in 1912 as a factory for hat maker RC Henderson, who sold women's headwear around Australia and abroad. Advertisement The blaze damaged several other nearby buildings. A car parked out the front of the building was also left a smouldering wreck. Speaking shortly after 7pm, Fire and Rescue NSW deputy commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the fire had been contained but is not yet out. 'We have got the fire contained. That is to say it will not be spreading to other buildings tonight. It will take a while to put it out,' he said. 'There has been substantial building collapse. The fire still burning is covered by debris, it is at the bottom of the building. 'It is hard for us to reach in and get the water on the fire. It will still take several hours to finalise extinction.' Mr Fewtrell then spoke about the 'ferocity' of the flames. 'There was a lot of radiant heat so even people in surrounding streets were talking about how far away they were and they felt the heat of the fire. 'It was a big effort from our firefighters to get in and initially it was too much to be able to fight the fire directly. 'Our priority was evacuating people in the immediate vicinity and putting fires out in some of the surrounding buildings to stop the fire spreading into those,' he said. The deputy commissioner noted 'how quickly the fire took hold and how it totally consumed those two buildings and you can see those large chunks of brickwork falling down. '(It was) tremendously dangerous and (it was) fortunate we were able to evacuate people from the area,' he said. Mr Fewtrell said earlier in the evening that 'it's far too early' to know the cause of the blaze but investigations will continue into the evening and Friday. 'I'm pleased to report that there has been no indication of any injuries to members of the public,' he added. The fire has been classified as a 10th alarm status by NSW Fire and Rescue - the most serious level. A witness told Daily Mail Australia: 'It was crazy - we were all at work and spotted the smoke in the building opposite but didn't think much of it - we were all standing at the windows taking pictures when it suddenly erupted in flames. 'One of our bosses told us instantly to grab all our stuff and leave the building immediately and I'm so glad she did because we were all just mesmerised by the scene We fled down the stairs and ran into the street and the heat was intense.' A utility vehicle is pictured on fire beside the blazing building in Sydney As darkness fell, people are pictured looking on as the fire is tackled Fire officers are pictured work at the scene of a fire at a building in Sydney on May 25, 2023 The witness said the 'sheer intensity' of the fire 'blew out windows on the top two floors of our building and we were on the opposite side of the street from it'. While the building was vacant, locals say it is known as a place where homeless people camp. It is next door to the former site of cult karaoke bar Ding Dong Dangs. Emergency services say it is still too early to determine the cause of the blaze, amid confirmation at least one firefighter has been injured. 'The size of the flames is incredible and the heat coming from it. Awful. It must be affecting our building across the road from it now for sure but we've been moved so far away we can't see,' a witness said. Workers said they fled to nearby Prince Alfred Park to escape the blaze, which blanketed the suburb in an orange haze. 'We stood in the road and watched briefly but then we heard the noise of the floors inside collapsing... It was really scary, traumatic and shocking.' An massive inferno burned down a building next to Sydney's busiest train station Almost every room of the building was on fire, while walls and the roof collapsed onto the street below The building caught alight in Sydney's CBD, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky After about 45 minutes, nearby workers thought the blaze appeared to be dying down, but as they waited on the platform at nearby Central Station it appeared to worsen again. A 'terrifying' crashing sound rippled through the station as the walls - and then the roof - came tumbling down. Witnesses say the blaze went from 'zero to 100' within minutes. 'God knows what state our building will be in when we're finally allowed back in - I'm just grateful no-one seems to have been injured but it seems like a miracle,' the worker said. The fire is believed to have started on the third floor and rapidly spread about 4pm on Thursday. Bricks were strewn across the street and one witness said 'the building looks like the bottom of a fire pit' as it continued to crumble. 'A tornado of black smoke has blanketed the area,' the witness said. The huge blaze since spread to a second building and threatened a residential apartment block nearby Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said about 25 fire trucks and 100 firefighters from multiple stations worked to contain the blaze. 'Multiple 000 calls were received when flames started engulfing the seven-storey building on Randle Street just after 4pm,' a spokesman said. To the relief of nearby workers, trains continued to run as normal from Central Station, with one admitting: 'Thank God they are - I just want to get away from here as quickly as possible.' However, light rail services on the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines were suspended as a result of the blaze. A fire officer is seen up a cherry picker fighting the blaze in central Sydney on Thursday Around 25 fire engines and 100 fire officers were reported to be fighting the blaze Emergency services workers are pictured at the scene of a building fire in Sydney, Thursday, May 25, 2023 Shocking vision emerged on Thursday afternoon showing the building on Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, burning 'Services are not running between Circular Quay and Moore Park due to a building fire,' an alert on the TripView app said. 'Catch the train between Circular Quay and Central, and regular buses instead. Light Rail services are still running between Moore Park and Randwick, as well as between Moore Park and Juniors Kingsford.' A Ute with a silver tray parked on the street outside the burning building became fully engulfed in flames and was destroyed. A nearby modern apartment building was evacuated as embers fell onto some balconies. Residents of the many apartment buildings in the area were barred from entering their homes, while police controlled the crowds gathered nearby. Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she was also watching and waiting for updates. 'Like you, I'm watching the aggressive fire take hold of a building in Surry Hills this afternoon. 'The building appears to have been completely engulfed with flames. Please stay safe and listen to warnings,' she said. Premier Chris Minns echoed her plea, urging the public to avoid the area and 'stay safe'. A man who lives nearby said his sister rang him and asked if he knew there was a fire. 'I said nah, I can't see anything or smoke, and she sent me a photograph and it was a massive fire,' he said. 'As I came outside to have a look the street was blocked off and then policeman grabbed me and said you gotta go up the road. 'While I've been standing out here the wall actually collapsed and that was pretty scary. It was just a big thump.' A reporter has hit out at police after copping a racially-charged slur from an officer while trying to cover a murder case. ABC journalist Nabil Al-Nashar, was reporting outside court in Parramatta on December 20, when he and his cameraman were asked by a police officer to step onto the sidewalk. Mr Al-Nashar immigrated to Australia from Qatar with his Egyptian family, having become an Australian citizen on March 9. After the officer, who was reportedly giggling at the time, looked Mr Al-Nashar up and down, he asked if he worked for the Middle-Eastern broadcaster Al Jazeera and not the ABC. Mr Al-Nashar reported the incident to NSW Police, and received a response two months later notifying him they had determined 'misconduct had occurred'. An ABC reporter of Egyptian heritage, Nabil Al-Nashar (pictured), has slammed police for not apologising for being asked by an officer if he worked for Al Jazeera Mr Al-Nashar's only requested an apology from the officer and for him not to be fired. 'When you first file the complaint, they ask you what outcome would you like to happen?' Mr Al-Nashar wrote on twitter. 'I said, I'd like an apology. That's all. I don't want the officer to get fired. I didn't (still don't) want anything bad to happen to him. 'Just basic polite behaviour our mothers taught us. 'When you're wrong, you apologise & the police acknowledged he was wrong.' However, Mr Al-Nashar never received an apology only a notification of the officer's misconduct and 'proportionate action has been taken'. The statement to Mr Al-Nashar also stated that NSW Police 'consider this matter finished'. The incident is another issue on NSW Police's plate after an officer killed a great-grandmother after tasering her in an aged care home (stock image) Mr Al-Nashar revealing the statement could not have come at a worse time for NSW Police who are under fire after an officer tasered a great-grandmother before she died. Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, drew the weapon on 95-year-old dementia sufferer Clare Nowland, who weighed just 43kg, after she approached him with a knife in the early hours of May 17. She died at Cooma Hospital in southern NSW about 7pm on Wednesday from injuries sustained during the tasering. It is believed police will allege in court the officer said 'no, bugger it' before firing the weapon. He was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault on Wednesday evening. A massive blaze has broken out in a building near one of Sydney's busiest train stations. Video footage showed huge flames and black smoke billowing from the building on Rnadall Street, in Surry Hills, near Sydney's Central Station. The fire broke out just before 4pm on Thursday. Explosions have been heard coming from the fire and the heat could be felt from more than a block away as large crowds gathered in the streets surrounding the area. Parts of the wall of the building collapsed sending plumes of black smoke into the air. The flames could be seen from Anzac Parade. Commuters leaving the city on Thursday evening faced long delays as nearby roads were closed and train lines suspended. A large fire has broken out metres from Central station in Sydney's CBD. Picture: Nathan Schmidt/ NCA NewsWire Flames were seen enveloping the building as witnesses watched on. Photo: Eli Green / NCA Newswire The flames could be seen kilometres away. Photo: Madeleine Achenza / NCA Newswire Flames were shooting out of the building as firefighters blocked off Elizabeth St, while shocked commuters lined the street. "A tornado of black smoke has blanketed the area," one witness said. "The building looks like the bottom of a fire pit." Witnesses have described near constant crashing noises and ambers raining down. Elizabeth Street has been blocked off by authorities as they struggle to battle the blaze. A fireball was seen leaping into the air as the blaze caused the walls of the building to collapse. The inside of the building has been completely gutted by the fire. Photo: 9 News A large fire has broken out metres from Central station in Sydney's CBD. Picture: Nathan Schmidt/ NCA NewsWire It's believed that the building was vacant however it is known as a place where homeless people camp. A ute with a silver tray parked on the street outside is now fully engulfed in flames. The two buildings on fire are right next to a white modern apartment building which has been evacuated, with embers falling onto some apartment balconies. Residents of the many apartment buildings throughout the area have been barred from entering their homes as firefighters contain the flames. Police have pushed onlookers back to Elizabeth Street where massive crowds of people have gathered to watch the flames. Witnesses have seen the walls of the building collapse into the fire causing a fireball to leap metres into the air. The family of an 11-year-old girl who died after fainting and hitting her head have paid a heartbreaking tribute to 'a beautiful soul'. Falaq Babar, from Rochdale, died in hospital on March 18 last year, weeks after the tragic incident. Her family said she became unwell after fainting and hitting her head in the bathroom. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, they said she 'will always stay in our hearts and thoughts forever'. Her grieving mother Shazia Bi added: 'How lucky we were to have Falaq in our lives for a short time, but she has left us with so many memories and love. Falaq Babar's family said she became unwell after fainting and hitting her head in the bathroom Falaq was admitted to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital after being brought in by her family after 'complaining of feeling unwell' (stock image) 'We all cherished her, and she will always stay in our hearts and thoughts forever. 'Mum, dad, and brother will never forget you. We as a family cannot come to terms with the loss of such a beautiful soul. We love you, Falaq.' An inquest into Falaq's death was formally opened by area coroner Catherine McKenna on Tuesday. At the inquest opening, police coroner's officer Ms Tracy Bunn said Falaq was admitted to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital after being brought in by her family after 'complaining of feeling unwell'. 'She began to vomit and became unresponsive,' Ms Bunn said. A CT scan was done and Falaq underwent emergency surgery, but she later passed away, the court heard. The provisional cause of death was determined by forensic pathologist Dr Philip Lumb as hypnotic anoxic brain injury. Area coroner McKenna said: 'I am here this morning to open the inquest into the death of a young girl. I am really sorry you have lost your daughter this way.' A date for the full inquest will be fixed at a later date. A fire engulfed and completely gutted a heritage-listed multi-storey former hat factory in central Sydney, casting a huge pall of dark smoke across the city. More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze on Thursday afternoon after the building was evacuated. 'The building is currently totally engulfed in flames,' a NSW Fire and Rescue spokesman said. 'We don't know what's caused it ... we're working to contain the source but it's threatening adjoining buildings.' The fire has been classified as a 10th alarm status by NSW Fire and Rescue - the most serious level. Speaking shortly after 7pm, Fire and Rescue NSW deputy commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the fire had been contained but is not yet out. 'We have got the fire contained. That is to say it will not be spreading to other buildings tonight. It will take a while to put it out,' he said. What is known about the building destroyed in Sydney on Thursday The seven-storey building at 11-13 Randle Street in the inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills was a heritage-listed former hat factory more than a century old. The building was unoccupied for some time, but was set to be redeveloped as a hotel in the coming years. It was built in 1912 as a factory for hat maker RC Henderson, who sold women's headwear around Australia and abroad. Advertisement 'There has been substantial building collapse. The fire still burning is covered by debris, it is at the bottom of the building. 'It is hard for us to reach in and get the water on the fire. It will still take several hours to finalise extinction.' Mr Fewtrell then spoke about the 'ferocity' of the flames. 'There was a lot of radiant heat so even people in surrounding streets were talking about how far away they were and they felt the heat of the fire. 'It was a big effort from our firefighters to get in and initially it was too much to be able to fight the fire directly, and our priority was evacuating people in the immediate vicinity and putting fires out in some of the surrounding buildings to stop the fire spreading into those,' he said. The deputy commissioner noted 'how quickly the fire took hold and how it totally consumed those two buildings and you can see those large chunks of brickwork falling down. '(It was) tremendously dangerous and (it was) fortunate we were able to evacuate people from the area,' he said. Mr Fewtrell said earlier in the evening that 'it's far too early' to know the cause of the blaze and they will investigate it further tonight. 'I'm pleased to report that there has been no indication of any injuries to members of the public,' he added. Part of Sydney's Central Station is seen directly behind a seven-storey building on fire Emergency vehicles are pictured attending to an enormous blaze in central Sydney Around 25 fire trucks and more than 100 firefighters are at the building working to contain the blaze. One witness to the fire, which is said to be the biggest seen in Sydney since 1968 - 55 years ago - said 'it was like a war zone'. Dramatic vision emerged on Thursday showing a building ablaze in Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, on the southern edge of Sydney's CBD. Almost every room of the building is on fire, while walls and the roof are collapsing onto the street below. The seven-storey building is surrounded by dozens of other high rises, which are now also at risk of catching alight. A car parked out the front of the building is also on fire in what is being described as one of the biggest out-of-control fires in living memory. One witness told Daily Mail Australia: 'We've all evacuated. The smoke turned to fire so quickly. It was an empty building we think. An massive inferno is burning down a building next to Sydney's busiest train station - and has already spread to a nearby apartment complex and at least one car on the street outside The entire seven-storey building (pictured) in central Sydney was ablaze on Thursday Almost every room of the building is on fire, while walls and the roof are collapsing onto the street below A building has caught alight in Sydney 's CBD, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky The huge blaze has since spread to a second building and is threatening a residential apartment block nearby Sydney's skyline (pictured) is a haze of red due to the fire near Central Station Shocking vision emerged on Thursday afternoon showing the building on Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, burning 'The size of the flames is incredible and the heat coming from it. Awful. It must be affecting our building across the road from it now for sure but we've been moved so far away we can't see.' Fire crews remain on the scene and are attempting to get the blaze under control. They're dousing surrounding buildings in water in an attempt to stem the spread of the blaze. The fire is believed to have started on the third floor and rapidly spread about 4pm on Thursday. A utility vehicle is pictured on fire beside the blazing building in Sydney As darkness fell, people are pictured looking on as the fire is tackled A fire officer is seen up a ladder fighting the blaze in central Sydney on Thursday Around 25 fire engines and 100 fire officers are reported to be fighting the blaze Emergency services workers are pictured at the scene of a building fire in Sydney, Thursday, May 25, 2023 Bricks are strewn across the street and one witness said 'the building looks like the bottom of a fire pit' as it continues to crumble. Trains to and from Central Station are still currently running, while surrounding streets have been blocked off to traffic. A man who lives nearby said his sister rang him and asked if he knew there was a fire. 'I said nah, I can't see anything or smoke, and she sent me a photograph and it was a massive fire,' he said. 'As I came outside to have a look the street was blocked off and then policeman grabbed me and said you gotta go up the road. 'While I've been standing out here the wall actually collapsed and that was pretty scary. It was just a big thump.' The roof of a building is shown collapsing due to a raging inferno in Sydney on Thursday Daily Mail Australia understands the entire roof has been destroyed so far, and there are concerns among workers in the area that the fire will spread to surrounding buildings Some transport services have been suspended in Sydney as a massive fire burns down a building next to Central Station on Thursday, though most are still running. Light rail services on the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines have been suspended. 'Services are not running between Circular Quay and Moore Park due to a building fire,' an alert on the official TripView app says. Commuters have been advised to 'Catch the train between Circular Quay and Central, and regular buses instead. 'Light Rail services are still running between Moore Park and Randwick, as well as between Moore Park and Juniors Kingsford.' Train services have not been affected by the blaze, a Transport for NSW spokesperson said, but some bus services are being diverted in the area. A wall is pictured collapsing during a building fire in the Central Business District of Sydney, Thursday, May 25, 2023 The fire is beside Sydney's biggest transport hub, Central Station on the west side of the CBD The building collapsed onto the street on Thursday evening, May 25, 2023 An massive inferno is burning down a building next to Sydney's busiest train station - and has already spread to a nearby apartment complex and at least one car on the street outside Chalmers Street and Randle Street are closed between Cleveland and Elizabeth Street. Elizabeth Street is closed southbound at Foveaux Street. Trains to and from Central Station are still currently running, while surrounding streets have been blocked off to traffic. Speaking shortly after 7pm, Fire and Rescue NSW deputy commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the fire had been contained but is not yet out. 'We have got the fire contained. That is to say it will not be spreading to other buildings tonight. It will take a while to put it out,' he said. What is known about the building destroyed in Sydney on Thursday The seven-storey building at 11-13 Randle Street in the inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills was a heritage-listed former hat factory more than a century old. The building was unoccupied for some time, but was set to be redeveloped as a hotel in the coming years. It was built in 1912 as a factory for hat maker RC Henderson, who sold women's headwear around Australia and abroad. Advertisement 'There has been substantial building collapse. The fire still burning is covered by debris, it is at the bottom of the building. 'It is hard for us to reach in and get the water on the fire. It will still take several hours to finalise extinction.' Mr Fewtrell then spoke about the 'ferocity' of the flames. 'There was a lot of radiant heat so even people in surrounding streets were talking about how far away they were and they felt the heat of the fire. 'It was a big effort from our firefighters to get in and initially it was too much to be able to fight the fire directly, and our priority was evacuating people in the immediate vicinity and putting fires out in some of the surrounding buildings to stop the fire spreading into those,' he said. The deputy commissioner noted 'how quickly the fire took hold and how it totally consumed those two buildings and you can see those large chunks of brickwork falling down. '(It was) tremendously dangerous and (it was) fortunate we were able to evacuate people from the area,' he said. Mr Fewtrell said earlier in the evening that 'it's far too early' to know the cause of the blaze and they will investigate it further tonight. 'I'm pleased to report that there has been no indication of any injuries to members of the public,' he added. The fire has been classified as a 10th alarm status by NSW Fire and Rescue - the most serious level. One witness to the fire, which is said to be the biggest seen in Sydney since 1968 - 55 years ago - said 'it was like a war zone'. Dramatic vision showed a building ablaze in Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills. Almost every room of the building is on fire, while walls and the roof are collapsing onto the street below. The seven-storey building is surrounded by dozens of other high rises, which are now also at risk of catching alight. A car parked out the front of the building is also on fire in what is being described as one of the biggest out-of-control fires in living memory. One witness told Daily Mail Australia: 'We've all evacuated. The smoke turned to fire so quickly. It was an empty building we think. A utility vehicle is pictured on fire beside the blazing building in Sydney As darkness fell, people are pictured looking on as the fire is tackled Fire officers are pictured work at the scene of a fire at a building in Sydney on May 25, 2023 Pictured is an aerial shot of the building on fire in Sydney's CBD, beside Central Station Almost every room of the building is on fire, while walls and the roof are collapsing onto the street below A building has caught alight in Sydney 's CBD, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky The huge blaze has since spread to a second building and is threatening a residential apartment block nearby The sky (pictured) was turned turn from the flames from the inferno in Sydney Shocking vision emerged on Thursday afternoon showing the building on Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, burning 'The size of the flames is incredible and the heat coming from it. Awful. It must be affecting our building across the road from it now for sure but we've been moved so far away we can't see.' Fire crews remain on the scene and are attempting to get the blaze under control. They're dousing surrounding buildings in water in an attempt to stem the spread of the blaze. The fire is believed to have started on the third floor and rapidly spread about 4pm on Thursday. A man who lives nearby said his sister rang him and asked if he knew there was a fire. 'I said nah, I can't see anything or smoke, and she sent me a photograph and it was a massive fire,' he said. 'As I came outside to have a look the street was blocked off and then policeman grabbed me and said you gotta go up the road. 'While I've been standing out here the wall actually collapsed and that was pretty scary. It was just a big thump.' A fire officer is seen up a ladder fighting the blaze in central Sydney on Thursday Around 25 fire engines and 100 fire officers are reported to be fighting the blaze Emergency services workers are pictured at the scene of a building fire in Sydney, Thursday, May 25, 2023 Daily Mail Australia understands the entire roof has been destroyed so far, and there are concerns among workers in the area that the fire will spread to surrounding buildings This is the shocking moment a German tourist sparked outrage by stripping off and crashing a sacred performance at a temple in Bali - in a naked rampage which could see her face almost three years in prison. Darja Tuschinski, 28, was denied a ticket to a Hindu dance show, before allegedly pushing past security and removing her clothes in a bizarre protest. The backpacker was caught on camera striding confidently past dancers before posing on the platform above them and forcing open a large set of gilded doors. When a local man tried to stop her, she curtsied at him, appearing to mimic the performers' movements, before walking off the platform to kneel next to a shrine as if in prayer. Shocked holidaymakers sitting in the audience watched as the tourist continued her naked procession, making her way back on stage, before security staff intervened and the area was cleansed of its 'bad energy'. Furious staff rushed over and detained Darja for disrupting their show, before handing her over to police in the Ubud district of the popular holiday island in Indonesia. Darja Tuschinski, 28, was seen striding confidently past the dancers after stripping off The tourist was seen shoving a guilded door open after she ascended the stairs over the stage She now faces up to two years and eight months in prison if she is found to have broken the country's public indecency laws. Bali Police Public Relations Head Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto said: 'The incident of a naked female foreigner occurred on the stage of the Puri Saraswati Hotel in Ubud, Gianyar Regency. 'She lives alone. During her stay at Ubud Bungalow, she was often seen naked while walking around the villa area.' Staff at the Saraswati Ubud Temple apologized to their visitors and performed a ritual to remove the 'bad energy' from the area caused by the streaker. Police took Darja to the station where they performed a drugs and alcohol test but have yet to reveal the results. They believe that Darja had been struggling for money and became stressed when she was denied a ticket for the show, in which women in traditional outfits perform a dance honoring their Gods. A tickets to the shows costs 100,000 Indonesian Rupiah according to its website, or just over 5.40. Local council chief Wayan Widana said that Darja had been suffering from 'depression' because she had run out of money for her extended trip. The German backpacker was seen brazenly trying to open a large set of gilded doors on the platform The German woman continued to parade naked as she walked off the platform where the dancers continued to perform Shocked holidaymakers sitting in the audience watched as the tourist continued her naked procession Anggiat Napitupulu, Head of the Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights for the Bali Region, said Darja was questioned at the police station after being detained by security Anggiat Napitupulu, Head of the Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights for the Bali Region, said Darja was questioned at the police station before being taken to hospital for physical and psychological check-up. He said: 'We are currently investigating this case. We are very sorry that this incident occurred.' Officials in Bali have been trying to crack down on badly-behaving foreigners amid a surge in the number of cases of backpackers fighting and stripping. Public indecency is illegal under Article 281 of the country's Criminal Code, which prohibits 'acts that violate public decency or morals'. It can be used to prosecute people for engaging in public displays of affection, such as kissing or hugging, or for those wearing revealing clothing or stripping off in public. The maximum punishment for violating Article 281 of the Criminal Code of Indonesia is two years and eight months in prison. Police forces worldwide are investigating a Canadian chef linked to as many as 20 deaths globally after he admitted selling poison to suicidal people. They believe Kenneth Law, 57, had sent 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries through a disguised website, charging him on May 2 with aiding the suicide of two in Canada. Investigators in the US, Canada, UK, Italy and New Zealand are now investigating more suicides for links to Law's operation after he told an undercover reporter for The Times 'many, many, many, many' had died over a period of two years. Canadian police have since shared a list of Law's reported UK customers to the National Crime Agency in the UK, where Law is linked to up to 13 deaths. The FBI has also started contacting police about Law's customers in the US. Kenneth Law leaves the post office in the town of Mississauga in Ontario, Canada. International police are now investigating a string of suicides around the world for links to him Kenneth Law appears in court in Brampton, Ont., Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in an artist's sketch Law, from Mississauga, Ontario, was arrested and charged on May 2 before appearing in court on May 3. He had allegedly given instructions on how to use the poison to an undercover reporter, posing as a potential customer. The Times reported Law also claimed he had sent the substance to 'hundreds' of people in dozens of countries. He was said to have boasted that some buyers had told him he was doing 'God's work'. Law told the reporter that he had started selling the poison after seeing his mother suffering from a stroke. 'We're not advanced enough as a civilization to accept death openly. I hope I'm just being a little bit more enlightened,' he said. Anthony Jones, a 17-year-old from Michigan, was one of Law's alleged victims. 'It was 3 a.m. and he went running into his mom's room, screaming and begging to call emergency responders,' New York lawyer Carrie Goldberg told CTV News Toronto. He ran to his mother shouting 'I want to live' after ingesting the substance, which eventually killed him, The Times investigation said. In Britain, Tom Parfett, Michael Dunham, 38, Neha Raju, 23, and a 21-year-old student all died after buying products from Law's company. Tom Parfett, from Berkshire in England, died by suicide aged 22 after buying Law's substance. His father, David, said Law had 'effectively handed a loaded gun to my son.' He told The Times: 'I believe my son would still be alive if it wasn't for this man and this substance.' In the UK, retailers by law must alert authorities if they believe the substance may have been bought to cause harm. It is also illegal to assist suicide in the UK and Canada, punishable by up to 14 years in prison in both. Law was arrested on May 2 by Toronto police and was subsequently charged with two counts of counseling or aiding suicide before appearing in court. Law's websites have since been taken down by its domain owners. 17-year-old Anthony Jones Westland from Michigan, an American who ran to his mother shouting 'I want to live' after ingesting the substance which eventually killed him Michael Dunham from London, UK died after buying products from the Law's company Tom Parfett, from Maidenhead, Berkshire in the UK, died aged 22 after buying the substance Neha Raju, from Surrey, UK, who died after buying products from Law's company If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741. In the UK, Samaritans' is helpline available round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever you are going through. It's free to call them on 116 123 and you don't have to be suicidal to call them. A timber tycoon who branded Vernon Kay a 'northern nimby' after the TV star's fight to make him demolish his 80,000 wooden bungalow has won a victory in his High Court bid to stop it being torn down. Ian Caldwell went to London's High Court after Buckinghamshire Council ordered him to knock down the two-bed wooden cabin he built 300 yards from the presenter's 1.2million home. Mr Caldwell, who runs a nearby timber business, commissioned the cabin in Beaconsfield ten years ago and it currently houses his site manager and his family. But the development sparked the wrath of neighbours including Vernon Kay, 49, and Tess Daly, 54, who live just 300 yards away in their six-bedroom home. After a short hearing yesterday, Mr Justice Lane ruled Mr Caldwell's case against demolishing the bungalow is 'properly arguable', giving him the green light for a full High Court appeal. Ian Caldwell (pictured outside High Court) was granted a full High Court appeal after an enforcement notice from Buckinghamshire Council ordered him to knock a wooden cabin he built 300 yards from Vernon Kay's home Tess Daly and Vernon Kay have been complaining for years that the dwelling was built without planning permission at the end of their exclusive road for the family of the owner of a nearby timber yard. It is 1,000 feet down the road from Vernon's home Buckinghamshire Council previously slapped the bungalow's owners with an eviction notice so that the building can be knocked down Mr Kay, former T4 and Family Fortunes presenter and current BBC Radio 2 host, previously urged council planners to condemn the cabin, claiming it should not have been permitted in a secluded rural area. Those opposing Mr Caldwell's bungalow complained that it was erected without planning permission and is situated in the heart of the Green Belt. In February, a government planning inspector backed Buckinghamshire Council's decision to issue an enforcement notice directing Mr Caldwell to 'demolish or dismantle the building occupied as a dwelling house'. But he and his company, Timberstore Ltd, are now attacking that decision through appeal in the High Court, arguing that his development was protected by the 'four-year rule', which tolerates planning breaches where they've gone unprosecuted for that length of time. Outside court, Mr Caldwell revealed he has already splashed out around 100,000 in costs fighting for the right to keep his 80,000 bungalow. If the court case ultimately goes against him, the 62-year-old will have to level the cabin and the family occupying it will be uprooted. Mr Caldwell said he'd taken great pains to ensure the cabin, which has been a home since 2014, looked pleasing and fitted in with the locality. 'The site is immaculate,' he said. 'It's got a lawn neatly laid out and there's a family of four living there.' Following Vernon's objections, several posters appeared branding him a 'Northern NIMBY' - a term for people who object to developments near where they live The couple and their two daughters live in the six-bedroom house in Buckinghamshire Mr Caldwell is also challenging a refusal to grant his bungalow a retrospective 'certificate of lawful development' and it was this issue which triggered Vernon Kay's complaints to the council three years ago. In documents lodged with the council, the TV star wrote: 'The erection of this single storey dwelling has been contested by the residents since it was first built several years ago. 'The development is also on the Green Belt and should not be permitted. It is in the best interest of the council to use this application to now pursue the complaints further from the residents. 'We understand this is a retrospective planning application but, since the council were not able to pursue the complaints from the residents four years ago, this application should be refused.' Other neighbours also pitched in against the offending structure, with one resident dubbing the development 'an unnecessary intrusion into the local countryside'. Mr Kay is not involved in the High Court case. In past years, posters have gone up in the lane near the bungalow showing a cartoon-like image of Bolton-born Mr Kay over the strap line 'Northern Nimby'. TV stars Vernon Kay and wife Tess Daly previously won a battle over an 'illegally' built bungalow on the same road as their six-bedroom Buckinghamshire mansion The couple paid more than 1.5million for their property and applied for permission to demolish it in favour of a more efficient home, but objections from neighbours forced them to scrap the plans And asked about his celebrity neighbour couple outside court, Mr Caldwell explained: 'I call them northern nimbies.' Mr Kay and Ms Daly themselves ended up on the sharp end of neighbours' complaints back in 2018 when they floated plans to demolish a brick house near their current home and construct a new four-storey dream mansion. But the pair, whose current home boasts a swimming pool, gym and two Shetland ponies, shelved their plans after local residents complained about the property's proposed basement eating into the chalk hillside and the build's impact on local badgers. Mr Caldwell's appeal will be heard by a High Court judge at a later date. Succession star Brian Cox has blasted claims that actors should avoid playing roles they have no real-life experience of. Speaking after the much-publicised death of his media tycoon character Logan Roy in the final season of Succession, the star was asked about the notion that 'only actors who have had certain experiences should play certain roles'. Interrupting presenter Amol Rajan on his BBC Two show, which was trailed on Radio 4's Today Programme this morning, he said the claims are 'b******s, absolute b******s'. His furious response, which was not bleeped out for radio listeners, comes after actress Helen Mirren, who is not Jewish, was criticised for portraying former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir. Mr Cox said on Amol Rajan Interviews: ''B******s! Absolute bollocks. Because it's the imagination. 'It's again, what I talked about earlier on, about interfering with the imagination.' Responding, Rajan said: 'It kicked off a bit maybe a couple of years ago now when Helen Mirren played Golda Meir, the great Israeli leader, and people said, "well Helen Mirren is not Jewish and therefore she can't play a Jewish leader". 'And your argument is that actually the point of acting is that sometimes you've got to be something that you're not, right?' Cox added: 'Exactly, we can inhabit roles.' Dame Helen was drawn into a row in 2021 after her casting as the iconic Israeli politician in biopic Golda. Her fellow star Dame Maureen Lipman was among the critical voices, saying she disagreed with the casting because 'the Jewishness of [Meir's] character is so integral to the role'. Speaking after the much-publicised death of his media tycoon character Logan Roy in the final season of Succession, the star was asked about the notion that 'only actors who have had certain experiences should play certain roles' There has also been a fierce debate about whether or not straight actors should portray gay characters. Earlier this year, Poldark star Jack Farthing waded in to the furore, saying he does not believe a performer's sexuality should have to 'match' their character's. His comments came after Kingsman star Taron Egerton said that restricting actors to playing characters who align with their own sexuality is 'a precedent not worth setting'. Cox also spoke out against the push to introduce diversity quotas in films, saying: 'I think we have to be free of all that. 'I think we have to be diverse but that's a different problem. 'But I don't think we have to say, "oh we have to gear it in that way", because we are not telling the truth. We have to tell the truth.' Opening up on the unexpected death of his character Logan Roy in the third episode of the final season of Succession, which is yet to conclude, he said: 'He [writer Jesse Armstrong] decided to make Logan die, I think ultimately too early' Dame Helen Mirren was drawn into a 'Jew face' row in 2021 after her casting as the iconic Israeli politician in biopic Golda. Above: Dame Helen in character as Meir Cox also spoke out against the push to introduce diversity quotas in films, saying: 'I think we have to be free of all that' Opening up on the unexpected death of his character Logan Roy in the third episode of the final season of Succession, which is yet to conclude, he said: 'He [writer Jesse Armstrong] decided to make Logan die, I think ultimately too early. 'He made him die in the third episode and it was a great scene. I didn't watch it, because I've no interest in watching my own death, that will come soon enough I just thought he did it brilliantly.' He added that he initially looked on his departure from the series as 'a form of rejection'. 'I was fine with it ultimately, but I did feel a little bit rejected. I felt a little bit "ah, all the work I've done and finally I'm going to end up as an ear on a carpet of a plane".' A Satan-loving trans artist who designed items in Target's controversial 2023 Pride collection has slammed the firm's decision to remove its collection from many of its stores in response to an anti-LGBTQ backlash and has revealed that bosses have not been in touch. Erik Carnell, who was commissioned to create some of the 2023 Pride items alongside other queer creators, claims he was not told that many of his designs would be taken off shelves or moved to the back of stores. This action was taken following violent threats by right-wing extremists, who expressed anger at the store supporting Pride Month and LGBTQ+ lives. 'They haven't tried to contact me once,' Erik told PinkNews. 'In terms of informing me what I can do with my product, I'm very, very, very low priority.' Erik Carnell (pictured), who was commissioned to create some of the 2023 Pride items alongside other queer creators, claims he was not told that many of his designs would be taken off shelves or moved to the back of stores Erik's Target collection includes t-shirts, bags and badges with pro LGBTQ+ messages. On Tuesday, Target announced it is pulling some of its merchandise that celebrates Pride month after threats to employees. 'Since introducing this year's collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and wellbeing while at work,' a Target spokesperson said in a statement. 'Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior,' the spokesperson added. The Pride Month collection was unveiled at the start of May, fresh on the heels of the Bud Light Dylan Mulvaney controversy. Target has been facing a consumer boycott over the collection, which features transgender swimsuits for children and books called 'Bye Bye Binary'. Pictured: A t-shirt designed by Erik. He claims he was not told that many of his designs would be taken off shelves or moved to the back of stores Pictured: A bag designed by Erik, which reads 'Too Queer for Here'. Erik's Target collection includes t-shirts, bags and badges with pro LGBTQ+ messages Target announced on Tuesday that it was pulling some merchandise from its Pride collection. Abprallen's items are currently unavailable on the Target website The store has been criticized for 'caving' to right-wing attacks with its decision to remove items. In a tweet on Wednesday, Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom declared that Target CEO Brian Cornell was 'selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists'. Erik, who is from the UK, said the production of the collection began 'around a year ago' after he was contacted by a distributor to create designs for Target. He said: 'I designed a bunch of items, put together a pitch, and we ended up getting a handful of those designs manufactured into pins and bags and tanks tops and a sweatshirt.' He said it was the biggest opportunity in his career and that he was 'incredibly excited' to showcase designs similar to those he sells from his online store. Pictured: An item from the 2023 Target Pride collection. The Pride Month collection was unveiled at the start of May Pictured: A t-shirt from the 2023 Target Pride collection. Target has been facing a consumer boycott over the controversial collection Pictured: A t-shirt from the 2023 Target Pride collection. Target has been criticized for 'caving' to right-wing attacks with its decision to remove items However, Erik became concerned almost immediately after the collection was launched, due to the online response. 'I have been keeping an eye on the website,' he said. 'Because my stuff was getting review bombed by conservatives, giving it one-star reviews, and so I was keeping an eye on that.' He added: 'Every so often, one or two or my products would be taken down from the website, or the link to my brand page with no explanation or communication.' Erik said the company should have done more to anticipate the anti-LGBTQ+ backlash and to protect its members of staff. 'I think it was anticipated that there would be pushback, I don't think anybody anticipated that it would be quite this extreme,' he said. He added: 'I think with Target, it's very much a case of everyone scrambling to do what they think is the best thing for the next five minutes. 'I don't think they have a plan for what they're going to do going ahead with the rest of this collection. 'They've already taken down a number of Pride displays, mostly in the south, or moved into different areas [of the stores], instructing their employees to do this in the space of five or six hours.' He also noted that, while the decision was undoubtedly disappointing, he could see 'from an objective standpoint' the company's priority to keep 'employees safe and keeping their finances safe'. He said: 'If I lived in a country where gun violence was as prevalent as in American and I owned a corporation like Target, I might also do what they're doing.' Footage shared online shows people attacking Pride displays inside Target stores. However, despite Target's response to the right-wing backlash, Erik continued to support pro-LGBTQ+ activists' criticism of the decision, saying it's 'entirely justified' and that a different approach could have been taken. He said: 'I think that, with the current political climate in America, huge companies like Target absolutely need to take a very clear stand on how they feel about LGBTQ+ people. Walmart has a Pride collection as well, but that hasn't seemed to receive any negative press.' The brand has now caught the attention of Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton. 'Even by the standards of woke corporations, Target's partnership with a Satanist to push the trans agenda on children is remarkable. The next time Target comes begging for help, Republicans should respond, "best of luck,'' he tweeted Erik also called on those who were speaking out against Target to help by supporting LGBTQ+ community-driven designers, as well as ensuring the safety of queer people. He said: 'Ensuring trans people, particularly trans people of colour are looked after and cared for, making sure that local queer clubs, bars, cafes are getting the funding that they need, I think that's far more important right now.' In a bio on Abprallen's website, Erik said he has always been fascinated with the 'frightening and mystical'. 'I juxtapose it with imagery of skulls and spooky things an interest of mine since I was a child. There's something magical about the unknown, the frightening, and the mystical which is why I so frequently feature these themes in my art,' he said. In a description on his Etsy store, he wrote: 'Satan loves you and respects who you are. You're important and valuable in this world and you deserve to treat yourself with love and respect. 'I've been thinking a lot lately about The Satanic Temple, and to a lesser extent, The Church of Satan, how they're so frequently misunderstood and demonised (pun not intended) and how LGBT+ people are so often referred to as being a product of Satan or going against God's will. 'Satanists don't actually believe in Satan, he is merely used as a symbol of passion, pride, and liberty. He means to you what you need him to mean. 'So for me, Satan is hope, compassion, equality, and love.' The partnership has now caught the attention of Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton. He tweeted: 'Even by the standards of woke corporations, Target's partnership with a Satanist to push the trans agenda on children is remarkable. 'The next time Target comes begging for help, Republicans should respond, "best of luck."' Ministers teed up a fresh clampdown on immigration today as Rishi Sunak faced a Tory backlash over an extraordinary spike in numbers. Long-awaited statistics showed net migration to the UK was 606,000 across 2022. That was far higher than the 488,000 level for 2021 - even though that was upgraded by 91,000 in the latest official publication. The jump was fueled by arrivals from outside the EU, largely coming to study or work, as well as to seek refuge from chaos in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Although slightly lower than some had feared, the eye-watering level - roughly equivalent to adding the population of Bristol or Glasgow in a single year - sparked a furious political row over the Conservative manifesto pledge that 'numbers will come down' from the 226,000 in 2019. Under David Cameron and Theresa May there was a commitment to bring the long-term net migration figures into the tens of thousands, and one of the selling points for Brexit was 'taking back control' of borders. Tory anger at the situation was evident in the House of Commons this morning, with warnings that voters will not tolerate the 'unsustainable' situation. Speaking on ITV's This Morning, Mr Sunak said: 'Numbers are too high, it's as simple as that. And I want to bring them down.' But Mr Sunak stressed he had 'inherited' significant levels, suggesting he was still aiming for the 266,000 from the manifesto. Pressed on whether immigration is out of control, he replied: 'Well, no, I think the numbers are just too high.' The premier said measures put in place this week to stop most foreign students bringing dependants 'are significant'. But immigration minister Robert Jenrick hinted that the government will go further, suggesting more 'interventions' are on the cards. In a glimmer of encouragement for Mr Sunak, analysts at the Migration Observatory suggested that net migration might be on the way down, having peaked at 637,000 in the year to September. Among other developments with a raft of government figures released today: Nearly one-and-a-half million visas were issued in the year to March 2023 to people coming to the UK for work, study or family reasons, or through one of the Government's settlement schemes. Nearly 200,000 of those were to Ukrainians; For the first time asylum seekers were included in the immigration statistics, with 76,000 people applying in 2022, up from 53,000 in 2021; The backlog of asylum cases has hit a new peak since comparable records began in 2010, with 172,758 people waiting for an initial decision at the end of March, up 57 per cent on the previous 12 months; Just 1 per cent of Channel boats arrivals over the past year have had an initial decision on asylum applications; Home Office minister Robert Jenrick told the Commons that some universities are 'in the immigration business' rather than teaching and education; Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been accused of 'going to ground' after she dodged appearing in person to respond to the figures. Instead her allies have made clear she wants more drastic steps to curb numbers, and has faced resistance from Cabinet colleagues concerned about damaging the economy. Long-awaited statistics showed another rise in net migration to 606,000 across 2022 - breaking the previous record of 504,000 from the year to last June Net migration has been driven by arrivals from outside the EU for the past few years Long-term immigration is running at well over a million according to the latest ONS figures - although it has been partially offset by people leaving Total long-term emigration ticked up in the final quarter of last year, according to the ONS Rishi Sunak admitted immigration is 'too high' today as he faced a Tory backlash over figures laying bare an extraordinary spike Non-EU nationals are primarily coming to the UK to work and study - although a growth in humanitarian arrivals reflects the situations in Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan Tory foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns cautioned against 'knee-jerk' reactions to the high numbers The ONS provided 2022 estimates for long-term migration to the UK on key visas routes Home Secretary 'goes to ground' as migration stats are released Suella Braverman was accused of 'going to ground' today as stark figures showed net immigration running at a record 606,000. The Home Secretary did not make any comment on the eye-watering numbers, ignoring shouted questions from journalists as she left home this morning. She sent her deputy Robert Jenrick to speak to MPs in the Commons, while Rishi Sunak fielded questions on the ITV This Morning couch. Even a statement issued by the Home Office was attributed to a 'spokesperson' rather than Ms Braverman herself. The glaring absence comes amid persistent rumours at Westminster that Ms Braverman is gearing up to quit in protest at the failure to tackle immigration. She looks to have lost battles with Cabinet colleagues over tougher measures to curb numbers - although a ban on most foreign students bringing in dependants was announced earlier this week. Her close ally John Hayes did take to broadcast studios this morning to warn that migration levels are 'unsustainable'. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper ridiculed Ms Braverman's low profile in the House, asking 'what is the point of her?' But Mr Jenrick insisted she and the PM are 'completely aligned' on the need to bring numbers down. Advertisement Jay Lindop, Deputy Director of the ONS Centre for International Migration, said: 'A series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following Covid led to record levels of international immigration to the UK. 'The main driver of the increase was people coming to the UK from non-EU countries for work, study and for humanitarian purposes, including those arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong. For the first time since using our new methods to measure migration, we have also included asylum seekers in our estimates, with around 1 in 12 non-EU migrants coming via this route. 'There are some signs the underlying drivers behind these high levels of migration are changing. As lockdown restrictions were lifted in 2021, we saw a sharp increase in students arriving. 'Recent data suggests that those arriving in 2021 are now leaving the country, with the overall share of non-EU immigration for students falling in 2022. 'In contrast, those arriving on humanitarian routes increased over the 12 months. Evidence also suggests immigration has slowed in recent months potentially demonstrating the temporary nature of these events.' The Office for National Statistics figures cover the 12 months ending December 2022. They estimate the net migration level - the balance between inflows and outflows - for those who intend to stay in the country for at least a year. The ONS previously net migration at 504,000 in the year to last June. But that was revised up to 606,000, the same as for 2022 as a whole. Analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies had suggested the number would be between 700,000 and 997,000 in that period. MPs have been demanding action from Mr Sunak, with the fallout underlined in a poll finding Labour are more trusted on immigration. The PM has focused on his vow to curb illegal immigration by 'stopping the boats' crossing the Channel. Separate Home Office figures suggest the high inflows have continued into this year. Nearly one-and-a-half million visas were issued in the year to March 2023 to people coming to the UK for work, study or family reasons, or through one of the Government's settlement schemes. Some 487,771 work visas were granted, along with 632,006 study visas and 65,642 family visas, plus 5,046 visas for dependants joining or accompanying others, according to Home Office figures. In addition, 198,358 were issued under the Ukraine visa schemes, 47,227 were granted to British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong, 31,550 were under the EU Settlement Scheme, and 4,562 were under other settlement schemes. Separate to the ONS figures, the Home Office released data showing the number of study visas granted to Indian, Nigerian and Pakistan nationals rose during 2022-23. But the number of Chinese nationals granted study visas fell The Home Office figures today highlighted a rise in the numbers of dependants of students being granted visas - something the government has declared it will crack down on The combined total of 1,472,162 visas in 2022-23 is up 53 per cent from 960,133 in 2021-22. There were 75,492 asylum applications in the UK in the year to March 2023, relating to 91,047 people - the highest for any 12-month period since the year to March 2003. The figures also show the backlog of asylum cases in the UK has hit a new record high, with 172,758 people waiting for an initial decision. That is up 57 per cent from 109, 735 at the end of March 2022. For the year ending in March, there were 477,931 sponsored study visas granted to main applicants - 22 per cent more than the previous 12 months and 108 per cent more than 2019 before Covid. Some 138,532 of those were to Indian nationals, up 63 per cent on the previous year. Chinese nationals were the second most common nationality granted sponsored study visas, with 100,397, but that was down 14 per cent on 2021-22. Nigerian nationals saw the largest percentage increase, up 83 per cent to 57,636. A total of 22,457 study visas were granted to EEA and Swiss nationals, who needed a visa from January 2021. Around a quarter of all study related visas granted were granted to dependants of students - 149,400 - compared to just 15 per cent or 72,062 the previous year. In the Commons, Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne asked for an estimate on the impact of measures to prevent overseas students bringing dependents with them. Mr Jenrick said they will have a 'tangible effect' on the number of student dependents arriving in the UK, adding: 'It isn't right that universities in some cases are in the immigration business rather than the teaching and education one. 'We're clamping down on those practices and that will help us to bring down net migration in the medium-term.' Former minister John Hayes, a close ally of Ms Braverman, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning that businesses needed to recognise they cannot 'turn the tap on and bring people from abroad'. 'I think the government as a whole has got to grasp this... where on earth are you going to house these people?' he said. But the Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, warned against 'knee-jerk reactions'. She tweeted: 'We should hesitate from knee-jerk reactions on migration. 'Students shouldn't be included in net migration figures. The soft power dividends as (an) academic superpower are significant. 'We've proudly offered refuge to Ukrainians & BNOs (British Nationals (Overseas)) and need to fill jobs wealth creators have made.' Figures today showed fledgling evidence that small boats arrivals are running below the levels from last year Although small boat arrivals were above the 2022 level in February, they now appear to be lower than the previous peaks A group of Channel boat arrivals are brought into Dover by Border Force staff today Channel migrants are driven away from the Port of Dover in Kent today There have been a number of incidents involving small boats in the Channel today Shadow home secretary Ms Cooper said: 'Net migration is more than twice the level that ministers were aiming for, and considerably more than that compared to the Home Secretary's claimed aims. The asylum backlog is at a record high, the opposite of the Prime Minister's promise to clear the backlog this year, and less than 1% of last year's small boat arrivals have had a decision. 'Yet where is the Home Secretary who is in charge of these policies? She's gone to ground, there are reports she is not even going to do media, she has not come to this House, she is in internal meetings, presumably more private courses arranged by the civil service. 'What is the point of her?' Outside the chamber, Mr Jenrick said the Home Secretary and PM are 'completely aligned' in their stance on migration. He told broadcasters: 'The Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and I are completely aligned on this issue. We see net migration as far too high. 'We're taking determined action this week. If we need to take more action we will, because net migration is placing an intolerable pressure on public services, on housing, on our ability to integrate people'. On Tuesday, the Government announced that overseas students will be banned from bringing dependants to the UK from January 2024. The change will not apply to those on postgraduate research programmes. Mr Sunak said it was the 'biggest-ever single measure to tackle legal migration, removing the right for international students to bring dependants, toughening the rules on post-study work, and reviewing maintenance requirements'. However, the two-year period following their studies when people can stay in the UK has been retained. Allies of Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) have made clear she wants more drastic steps to curb immigration Keir Starmer (pictured on a visit to Fife today) has gone on the attack over immigration levels Tory anger at the inability to control net migration was evident in the Commons. Conservative MP Aaron Bell said the figures were too high and his voters 'will expect to see them fall', while his Tory colleague Louie French said the 'unsustainable levels of migration' were having a 'significant impact' on housing in south-east England. The Government has to balance its commitment to reducing net migration with the need to fill vacancies in areas where there is a labour shortage. But veteran Tory Sir Edward Leigh said: 'Some people in the Treasury seem to think a good way to grow the economy is to fill the country up with more and more people, but this is bad for productivity and bad for British workers who are being undercut by mass migration from all over the world.' Tory MP Martin Vickers said voters' 'anger and frustration will grow when they consider these legal migration figures'. However, the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said there is no reason to assume net migration will remain so high indefinitely. Director Madeleine Sumption said there were 'early indications that the numbers may have started the downwards trend after peaking in the year to September'. 'The ONS figures suggest that net migration peaked at 637,000 in the year ending September 2022, before falling to 606,000 in the year ending December 2022,' she said. 'The previous figure of 504,000, published last year for the year ending June 2022, has been revised up, also to 606,000, due to changes in the methods ONS uses to calculate the figures. 'In other words, ONS estimates that net migration did not increase between the two periods (the year ending June and the year ending December). 'Most of the upwards revision to the previous figure (just over 70,000) resulted from the decision to include asylum seekers in the figures for the first time since new methods were introduced post-pandemic. The rest of the increase resulted from technical methods and data changes.' A new poll has found Labour is more trusted than the Conservatives on immigration. After a rise in public confidence in the Tories' immigration, asylum and small boats policies in March, the Ipsos research conducted between May 16 and 18 found trust had fallen again, with Labour leading on all three issues. Some 38 per cent of people trusted Labour to have the right policies on immigration and asylum seekers, and 37 per cent trusted the party to handle the issue of small boats crossing the Channel. Just 29 per cent said the same about the Conservatives on immigration, with 28 per cent trusting them on asylum policy and 27 per cent trusting them on small boats. But there was also widespread pessimism about both parties' policies on immigration and asylum, with 50 per cent saying they did not trust Labour and more than 60 per cent saying they did not trust the Conservatives. Australian wool industry boosted by demand from Chinese market: Aussie wool enterprise head Xinhua) 11:20, May 25, 2023 CANBERRA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia's wool industry has welcomed increased demand in the Chinese market, an Aussie wool enterprise head said. John Roberts, chief executive of Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), has returned to Australia after "a productive week" in China, meeting senior industry figures in Shanghai, Zhangjiagang, Tongxiang, Nanjing and Beijing. He said that increased demand for wool and a growing appetite for locally-made brands in China is expected to drive an increase in the amount exported from Australia to China. Roberts said it was important to go to China for the first time in almost four years because right throughout COVID-19, the partners were still able to support Australian wool growers and the domestic trade more broadly. "And it was important to get up there and acknowledge that and thank the Chinese processing sector on behalf of our stakeholders," he said in a recent media release. There was an underlying confidence in China and a quiet determination to expand in China, he added. According to Roberts, Chinese consumers are buying local brands and designers, a massive shift from 10 to 15 years ago. The chief executive said there had been major changes in both consumer and industry attitudes when it comes to environmental issues as well. "There has been a massive shift towards traceability because there's been so much online buying, but the concept of sustainability in China has escalated at a rate I hadn't quite expected," he said. "Every plant I went to has been updating, and I've never seen so many solar panels, and they weren't there four years ago. Overall, the expansion in plant capacity is incredible." AWI is a not-for-profit enterprise that conducts research, development, and marketing along the worldwide supply chain of Australian wool to increase the long-term profitability of woolgrowers. "Our trade-to-trade relationship is rock solid and always has been," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Activists from Animal Rising have been arrested and are in custody after they stole and drove off with three lambs from King Charles's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Militant activists from the animal rights campaign group, previously known as Animal Rebellion, trespassed on to the royal estate last night and emerged this morning with three lambs that would have been 'slaughtered'. Three women, in pink Animal Rebellion t-shirts, were pictured carrying the animals off Appleton Farm on the King's land in West Newton and later in the back of a van with the creatures. Amongst them was Rose Patterson, 33, a director of the campaign group who was previously arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance after being flagged as the ringleader in the group's plot to sabotage the Grand National. Patterson, with the other women named Sarah Foy, 23, and Rosa Sharkey, 23,said they rescued the lambs who they dubbed Sammy, Sunny and Sooty to save them from slaughter. Three protesters from the animal rights group Animal Rising carried away three lambs from Appleton Farm on the King's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk The three women, Rose Patterson, 33, (right), Sara and Rosa, were then pictured in the back of the van with the young animals Following the stunt, the women posted photos holding up signs Reading 'I rescued the King's Sheep' and 'This is how much we love animals' Footage of the theft shows the three women running onto the farm, picking up a lamb and calling it 'baby' before turning around and carrying to the van. The women call the lamb 'heavy' and 'sweetie pie' as they loaded it into the back of the truck filled with hay. Another clip shows the activists sat in the field watching the grazing sheep as they eat. The group said on its website that the incident 'marks the first' of its 'high-profile 'open rescues' this summer'. Ms Foy, 23, said: 'Like anyone, animals want to live out their lives safely and without being used or exploited. 'Sadly that is not the case here at Sandringham, or anywhere they are used in our food system. 'That is exactly why we rescued three sheep today - three beautiful lambs who'll now live their lives to the fullest. 'We urgently need a national conversation about our relationship with other animals and nature.' Those on social media, however, have called on Norfolk Police to look into the alleged theft, with others expressing concern for the animal's welfare. Ryan Johnson said: 'Stealing from farmers and taking lambs from their mothers is disgraceful and pathetic. 'This is exactly the type of action that turns more and more of the nation against and loses Animal Rebellion's respect as a serious organisation.' Annette Scannell added: 'I hope you didn't take them from their mothers? If so, you should have rescued their mothers too. Where will the lambs be looked after?' While Mark David Willis wrote: 'Sheep rustling is a crime you know. You have committed theft.' The three activists 'handed themselves in' to Berkshire Police at 8am today. They were arrested on suspicion of theft and remain in custody in Slough. The group said that 'they stand by the belief that a jury of ordinary people will take the side of care and freedom'. They were later pictured standing proudly with banners that read 'I rescued the King's sheep' and 'this is how we love animals'. It is unknown if the lambs have been returned to the farmer or if they have been released into the wild. The militant animal campaigning group claim the three women have since handed themselves into Norfolk Police Footage from the groups Facebook page shows the three women handling the sheep and taking it onto a small van Patterson, 33, is one of the directors of Animal Rising and the alleged ringleader of the group's plot to sabotage the Grand National Patterson was arrested last month on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance over plans to disrupt the racecourse. Pictured: Patterson at the Animal Rising protest on Westminster Bridge in February Animal Rising, an offshoot of the climate group Extinction Rebellion, has vowed to disrupt the Epsom Derby taking place next Saturday on June 3 Animal Rising, an offshoot of the climate group Extinction Rebellion, has vowed to disrupt the Epsom Derby taking place next Saturday on June 3. It is the latest in a string of demonstrations the group has carried out and is planning. Earlier this week, the group occupied five high-end restaurants in Bristol, Birmingham, Lancaster, Glasgow and Southampton, in a national day of action. The eco-activists targeted restaurants with 'meat-heavy menus', refusing to move until police officers escorted them out. Last month, in a bid to cancel the horse race, 25 protesters invaded the Scottish Grand National at Ayr Racecourse, storming underneath fencing and running to different positions around the track. A statement posted on the group's social media read: 'Last night, Rose, Sarah and Rosa entered His Majesty's Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, and managed to leave with three beautiful young lambs. 'Because of the bravery and compassion of these women, three babies Sammy, Sunny and Sooty will now be allowed to live their lives freely, in a safe space where they are not seen as objects or products, but as the sentient, emotional, lovely little individuals they are. 'By rescuing these lambs, Rose, Sarah and Rosa are hoping to not only give these gorgeous lambs a chance at a real life, but also to provoke conversation: we love animals, so why would we ever want to hurt them in this way?' It is not the first time people have targeted the Sandringham Estate. In 2009, 19 Red Poll Cattle, then valued at 15,000, were stolen from Appleton Farm and loaded on to a lorry. A spokesperson for Norfolk Police said: 'Norfolk Police are investigating reports three lambs were stolen from a farm in West Newton, Norfolk. 'Three women aged in their 20s and 30s voluntarily attended a police station in Slough and were arrested on suspicion of theft. They remain in custody.' A spokesperson for Sandringham Estate said it was a matter for police and it would not comment further. Leading lawyer Donald Findlay has branded plans for juryless trials an attack on democracy. The prominent legal figure condemned the judge-only rape trial scheme, which has also been widely opposed by others in the legal profession. The KC believes members of the public should always decide the fate of another citizen, rather than a single judge. The move arose over concerns about low rates of conviction for rape. But Mr Findlay, 72, told website Hey Legal: A jury is arguably the only real existing true bastion of democracy because 15 people are chosen at random, with no special qualifications and they bring together a huge experience of life collectively. The proposals have drawn criticism over their 'attack on democracy' They bring that to bear on the question of whether or not the guilt of an individual is proved. To try to take away the jury in any situation is actually an attack on democracy and the liberty of every single individual in this country. It is as fundamental as that. The news comes after a recent report by the Law Commission initiated the debate. The consultation paper laid out the suggestion as part of a series of 'radical proposals' to address rape conviction rates. It asked questions over whether defence barristers should be barred from cross-examining alleged rape victims in court. Instead, the victim could be asked questions by an alleged lawyer or 'expert in communication', the commission suggested. The report also sets out a number of moves to combat so-called 'rape myths' which may be influencing juries to acquit defendants. 'Myths' included the suggestion that all rape victims resist their attacker, when in fact 'many freeze through fear or shock', or that victims suffer physical injuries or will be visibly distressed when describing the attack. Other misconceptions include that most rapes are committed by strangers and that all victims immediately go to the police, it added. Many are concerned that the move could 'send a signal that juries can't be trusted in other cases', and abandoning jury trials could 'affect openness'. The report also proposed introducing an 'enhanced threshold' for introducing evidence about an alleged victim's previous sexual behaviour. They should also have an 'automatic' right to give evidence behind closed doors, it added. Professor Penney Lewis, the criminal law commissioner, said: 'The way that the criminal justice system handles rape and serious sexual offences still leaves prosecutions at risk from the impact of pervasive rape myths, and can often cause distress and trauma.' The Law Commission consultation runs until September 29. The Norwegian public have been warned to 'avoid contact' with a Beluga whale, which experts say could be a Russian 'spy', after it was found with a harness able to carry surveillance equipment. The mammal has been 'travelling along the Norwegian coast' for around four years, but has now made its way into Inner Oslofjord, described as a 'densely populated area'. The whale is known to follow boats and approach people, with its harness discovered by a fisherman and later removed in 2019. Marine biologists have previously said it is 'undoubtable' that the whale is trained and highlighted that Russia had trained Belugas in the past to 'conduct military operations'. The friendly beast was dubbed Hvaldimir, a pun on the Norwegian for whale - hval - and Vladimir Putin, in a reference to its possible Russian links. The friendly beast was dubbed Hvaldimir, a pun on the Norwegian for whale - hval - and Vladimir Putin in a reference to its possible Russian links The animal has been 'travelling along the Norwegian coast' for around four years, but has now made its way into Inner Oslofjord Hvaldimir is known to follow boats and play with those on board, but warned people to stay away, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries. In a statement yesterday, Director Frank Bakke-Jensen said people should keep their distance, 'even though the whale is tame and used to being around people.' 'We especially encourage people in boats to keep a good distance to avoid the whale being injured or, in the worst case, killed by boat traffic,' said Mr Bakke-Jensen. Sadly, he explained, Hvaldimir has already 'suffered minor injuries, primarily from contact with boats.' They added he 'tends to stay at farms where it has been able to catch fish, grazing on surplus feed.' Oslofjord, a popular summer retreat for people living in Oslo, is just 100km away from Norway's capital and sees high boat activity. Hvaldimir's migration to the area has sparked concern that he may need to be brought into captivity for his safety. In an apparent giveaway, the harness clips read 'Equipment St. Petersburg,' adding to a theory that he was trained by the Russian navy Joergen Ree Wiig (pictured), a marine biologist at Norway's Directorate of Fisheries, said the harness he had been found wearing was 'specially made' Mr Bakke-Jensen said: 'We have always communicated that the whale in question is a free-living animal and we see no reason to capture it and put it behind barriers. But, now the whale is 'in a more vulnerable area and access to food may be limited', authorities will 'consider different measures,' he said, adding, 'It is too early to say anything concrete about that yet.' Hvaldimir's movements will be monitored by the marine team in the hope that he will turn around once he reaches the end of Oslofjord. The unassuming creature was first spotted in 2019 by fisherman Joar Hesten, off the coast of Finnmark, a county in northeastern Norway. He managed to free the animal from its harness after it had been rubbing against boats in an apparent attempt to free itself, and contacted the country's Directorate of Fisheries. The unassuming creature was first spotted by fisherman Joar Hesten, off the coast of Finnmark, a county in northeastern Norway Hvaldimir is known to follow boats and play with those on board, but warned people to stay away in the 'densely populated area' Experts at the time told CNN that Hvaldimir was a trained animal, with evidence pointing to him having come from Russia. Joergen Ree Wiig, a marine biologist at Norway's Directorate of Fisheries, said the harness he had been found wearing was 'specially made' with 'mounts for GoPro cameras on each side of it.' In an apparent giveaway, the harness clips read 'Equipment St. Petersburg,' adding to a theory that he was trained by the Russian navy. The navy has 'been known to train belugas to conduct military operations before,' Wiig said, with activities they are prepared for including 'guarding naval bases, helping divers, finding lost equipment.' In 2017, the Murmansk Sea Biology Research Institute trained beluga whales, as well as dolphins and seals, for military roles in Russia's Northern Navy, the Siberian Times reported. Mikhail Podolyak said Ukraine's counter-offensive has been underway for days Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia has begun, one of President Zelensky's most-senior advisers said this morning. Mikhail Podolyak, head of the presidential office, said Thursday that operations to push Russia back to its borders 'has already been underway for days.' Speaking to Italian radio station Rai1, Mr Podolyak said: 'It's an intense war on 1500 kilometers of border, but the actions have already started.' It is unclear which actions he was referring to, but Ukrainian troops are known to be attacking around the flanks of Bakhmut in an attempt to surround the city that was recently seized by Wagner forces. Mr Podolyak added: 'This is not a 'single event' that will begin at a specific hour of a specific day with a solemn cutting of the red ribbon. A Ukrainian serviceman is seen at a position in a frontline in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Thursday Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region on May 15 'These are dozens of different actions to destroy the #Russian occupation forces in different directions, which have already been taking place yesterday, are taking place today and will continue tomorrow. READ MORE: How much military support has Britain given Ukraine? Advertisement 'Intensive destruction of enemy logistics is also a counteroffensive.' 'Today we have the 'Storm Shadow' long-range missiles, the Leopards, the anti-missile systems that France and Italy gave us. The F-16s will finally allow us to close the airspace', he added, noting that 'the paradox is that if we had had them a year ago the war would have already ended'. It came as Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner group, said his men will leave Bakhmut by June 1 after a year-long battle to take the city. The defence will be left to elements of the regular Russian army, Mr Prigozhin said, who he has previously criticised for abandoning their posts in the face of Ukrainian attacks. Bakhmut, a crossroads city in the Donbas, holds little tactical significance but has become politically important for both sides as they attempt to paint themselves as being on the path to victory. Ukraine denies that Russia is in full control of the city, with General Oleksandr Syrskyi head of the ground forces saying his men are attempting to encircle troops stationed there. Podolyaks words also come against a backdrop of increased strikes on Russian positions, including with British long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Ukraine claims that ammo dumps, troop concentrations, command posts and artillery positions are being regularly hit in what military experts refer to as shaping operations ahead of the offensive. Kyivs allies are also continuing to step up support for Ukraine, including a coalition of countries aimed at providing sought-after F-16 fighter jets for its air forces. Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden approved plans to allow allies to train Ukrainian forces on how to operate US-made F-16 fighter jets - and eventually to provide the aircraft themselves. No decision on actually delivering fourth-generation fighter jets has been taken yet, but training pilots now a process that takes several months will help speed up battle readiness once a formal decision is made. F-16s have been at the top of Ukraine's weapons wishlist since it was handed main battle tanks from the likes of the US, United Kingdom and Germany. Kyiv, having already bolstered its air defences with a host of Western-supplied anti-aircraft systems, now believes the jets could be vital in the war and essential to the country's long-term security. Ukraine's air force currently relies on Soviet-era jets that would struggle in a dog fight against the Kremlin's more modern jet, or against its air defences. Despite this, Russia has not been able to win controls of the skies over Ukraine either, with Kyiv's own air defences keeping Moscow's air force largely grounded. Ukrainian soldiers fire a howitzer D-30 at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on April 19 Ukraine says the F-16s are 'four or five times' more effective than Soviet-era jets it currently has, and is urging its allies to send some to Kyiv. And UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace confirmed this month that Britain is sending Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine in a further blow for Vladimir Putin's war effort. The missiles, which cost about 2.2million, will allow Ukraine to hit Russian troops and logistics hubs deep behind the front line. It was the first known shipment of longer-range weaponry that Kyiv has long sought from its allies. The UK has been providing Ukraine with short-range missiles, Challenger tanks and training 15,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. A consultation will now be held on the wording of the statement The Church of Scotland is to formally apologise for its historic links to slavery, as it admits elements of its past are now viewed with 'deep regret'. Commissioners at the Church's General Assembly agreed the apology should be made after research showed the connections to the slave trade. Other recommendations which will be implemented from the Legacies of Slavery report include congregations being encouraged to research the 'abominable' trade's links to their local area and a rejection of racism. The report, produced by the Faith Impact Forum, also states modern-day racism stems from beliefs used to justify the slave trade before it was abolished in the British empire in the 1830s. But most church members surveyed did not believe physical features of buildings should be removed if they are linked to slavery and instead should be used to educate congregations. Rev Karen Hendry said: ''There are aspects of our past, as a Church, that we look on now with deep regret' A consultation will now be held on the wording of the statement apologising for the slavery links before it is rubber-stamped at a future meeting. Addressing the Assembly in Edinburgh, Rev Karen Hendry, convener of the Faith Impact Forum, said: 'There are aspects of our past, as a Church, that we look on now with deep regret. 'The Legacies of Slavery report gives substance to such a part of our history. And we seek to humbly acknowledge this and think about how we apologise. 'This requires further work and preparation. The report helps us better understand the historic relationship between chattel slavery and the Church of Scotland, and the continuing legacy of that abominable practice. 'We offer this report on the clear understanding the Assembly will want to affirm that we are members of a church that is actively anti-racist.' The report found some ministers received money from plantations while the Church itself is the custodian of a multi-million-pound fund which can be connected to compensation paid to a family upon the abolition of slavery. Rev Sandy Horsburgh, minister of St Nicholas Buccleuch in Dalkeith, Midlothian, said: 'Racism is an ongoing, daily, pernicious legacy of slavery. 'I commend the authors of this report. You have shone a light on things that were hidden in plain sight, but things which we need to see and understand.' More than ten children at a daycare centre broke out with rashes and swelling after ingesting an 'unknown substance' during lunch. Paramedics rushed to treat several young kids from the Milestones Early Learning in Keperra in Brisbane's north on Thursday afternoon. The children were suffering with various reactions including 'redness to the face and body'. 'All children at the centre have been exposed to an unknown substance in their lunch,' Queensland Ambulance wrote in a letter to worried parents. Several young kids from the Milestones Early Learning in Keperra in Brisbane's north (pictured) were treated by paramedics on Thursday afternoon More than ten children at a Brisbane daycare centre have ingested an 'unknown substance' 'These include redness to the face and body, swelling to the lips and face, agitation/irritation.' The letter said the chances of delayed onset of symptoms remains rare and urged parents to not panic. Queensland Ambulance suggested parents can check their child in with their GP if they have concerns. It recommended to anyone worried about their kid's breathing or airway to take them to a hospital or call triple-0 immediately. The centre sent out text messages to parents just before 2pm asking them to collect their kids after children presented with an 'unknown skin rash'. 'Medical advice is being strictly followed,' the text read. A QAS spokeswoman said none of the kids were taken to hospital by ambulance. The children are all stable and the symptoms only lasted for a short time. Children at the Milestones Early Learning in Keperra (pictured) showed various reactions including redness of the body and face and swelling of lips, Queensland Ambulance said A father who did not want to be named said his child didn't have lunch and did not experience any health issues. 'It's a good centre. We've been here for over a year and there have been no problems,' he told the Courier Mail. A Milestones Early Learning Keperra spokesperson said all safety polices and medical advice had been 'strictly' followed during the scare. It added the cause of the rash was being investigated. Now he calls for Mayor Eric Adams to do more to ensure security of residents Her husband recounted her saying she 'felt safe' when she arrived in 2017 The husband of a woman who was left paralyzed after she was shoved into a moving train in New York has called on the mayor to improve security on the subway. Ferdi Ozsoy, 37, said the unprovoked attack on his wife, Emine Ozsoy, 35, on May 21 'underscores the pressing need for improvement within the MTA', adding that 'we must ensure the ability to safeguard individuals, including loved ones like my wife.' Ozsoy said it was 'crucial' for Mayor Eric Adams to make the city safe and secure for citizens' 'wellbeing and prosperity'. His wife Emine was headed to work around 6am on Sunday when she was allegedly attacked by Kamal Semrade, 39. Her attacker pushed her head against a departing subway car at the Lexington Ave and 63rd St station. She was left in a critical condition, breaking her neck and spine. Her face was slashed to the bone and there is a possibility she will not walk again. A suspect was charged with attempted murder and assault in connection to the attack. This comes in spite of efforts to ensure security across the underground network, with Mayor Eric Adams making assurances his Subway Safety Plan has cut crime. Emine Ozsoy, an artist from Jackson Heights, Queens, moved to New York in 2017 from Turkey Ferdi Ozsoy, the husband of victim Emine, called for New York's mayor to improve security Kamal Semrade, suspect who allegedly pushed Emine, appears in court after NYPD arrest Friends and family have set up a fundraising page to support Emine's recovery. They described Emine, who lives in Jackson Heights, Queens, as 'a kind, beautiful soul' and 'a source of joy as a friend, colleague and human being.' They said she was 'artistic, lighthearted, witty and, above all, someone we consider family.' Her husband said she trained as an art teacher, helping people from the age of five up to 85 to 'help them get their creativity flowing'. According to those close to Emine, doctors initially said she had a slim chance of recovering movement below the neck following the horrific and apparently unprovoked attack. But Emine fought and was able to move her arms within a day. 'It is a huge step,' they said, 'but her road to recovery will be long and challenging.' 'She's a fighter and is already fighting to recover. She will get there, but she needs everyone's help.' In a statement, her husband said that Emine was born in Turkey before moving to the US and New York City in 2017. He said she was an award-winning artist, illustrator and painter before the accident. But her life has 'been profoundly impacted by this tragic act of violence.' 'Faith and hope are never-ending. She's young. She's a strong woman. She's creative. She's empathetic. She's a warrior. She's a true friend who goes out of her way to help people,' he said. He added that 'with so many different types of food', 'one of the most diverse regions in NYC', it was 'just the perfect place to live'. Her husband recalled Emine telling him she felt safe in Manhattan after moving: 'I can think for myself. The sidewalks are so big I don't have to worry about anything that will happen to me. 'I have time to think for myself instead of worrying about what's happening around me,' in contrast to the streets of Istanbul, where the couple felt they always had to watch for danger on narrow streets. 'And all of that was taken from her,' he said, adding that 'It is crucial for the mayor to recognize that prioritizing the safety and security of the city's residents is vital for their well-being and prosperity.' He continued: 'We must ensure the ability to safeguard individuals, including loved ones like my wife.' Ozsoy also thanked the NYPD for their handling of the investigation, the people who comforted his wife at the platform and the doctors at Weill Cornell Medical Center. NYPD figures show an upward trend in most major crime categories this year. In January, it was revealed the year-on-year frequency of rapes, robberies and assaults were higher than the 12 months prior. Data followed assurances from Mayor Eric Adams that crime was falling in the city. Adams, who himself is a former NYPD police captain, unveiled his 'Blueprint to End Gun Violence' early last year, along with a 'Subway Safety Plan'. The Subway Safety Plan added 1,200 additional overtime officer shifts each day. His office reported that major crime in transit stations had fallen 18 per cent since the beginning of 2023, compared with the same period in 2022. They said as a result, subway ridership had reached the highest number since pre-pandemic in December, with riders reporting an increased feeling of safety through surveys. Mayor Eric Adams said in a press released dated February 28 2023, 'I started my career as a transit police officer, so I know firsthand that subway safety is public safety.' 'Our transit system is the key to getting to work, to school, visiting family and friends, and experiencing all that New York City has to offer. Kamal Samrade, 39, of Queens has been charged with attempted murder and assault Kamal Samrade bows his head as he's led by cops at the NYPD Transit Bureau District 1, Manhattan, New York on May 23 2023 Kamal Samrade is led out of NYPD Transit Bureau District 1, Manhattan, New York on May 23 2023 Witness Nancy Marrero, 45, said previously that she spotted the victim fixing her hair as she walked along the platform at Lexington Avenue 63rd St station. A man suddenly grabbed her head and pushed it into the side of a train as it left the station. 'She didn't even see it coming,' she said to the New York Post. 'With open palms he just mushed her head - not her body - into the train. She just tumbled, just kept spinning because the train kept hitting her.' She said 'you could see the white inside' after her face was split open and cut to the bone. New York police released images of a suspect as they looked for help identifying an attacker NYPD Crimestoppers were looking for support with their investigation. If you have any information that could help, contact 1800-57-8477. Chris Packham has won a 90,000 High Court libel battle over denied allegations he misled the public into donating to a wildlife charity to rescue 'broken' tigers from circuses. The TV naturalist sued three men for libel over nine articles in the Country Squire Magazine, which included claims he 'manipulated' people into donating to rescue five tigers while knowing the animals were well looked after. The strongly denied allegations, repeated in several tweets and videos, related to Packham's involvement with the Wildheart Trust, which runs a wildlife sanctuary on the Isle of Wight. Dominic Wightman, editor of the online site Country Squire Magazine, defended the libel claim along with writer Nigel Bean and a third man, Paul Read. In a judgment today, Mr Justice Saini ruled in Mr Packham's favour against against Mr Wightman and Mr Bean, but dismissed his claim against Mr Read. Mr Wightman and Mr Bean were ordered to pay 90,000 in damages to the TV presenter and, while the Mr Packham's total costs bill is yet to be finalised, the pair were also ordered to pay 400,000 towards his legal fees within 28 days. In his statement, Chris Packham said: 'Every day many thousands of innocent people are victims of online abuse and hate crimes. This vile part of modern life ruins lives, livelihoods, reputations, it disrupts young peoples educations, causes incalculable mental health problems and tragically causes people to take their own lives' Dominic Wightman (left), editor of Country Squire Magazine, alleged that Packham had 'dishonestly raised funds from the public'. Writer Nigel Bean (right) and Mr Wightman were ordered to pay 90,000 in damages Mr Justice Saini said: 'Mr Packham did not commit any acts of fraud or dishonesty.' In a 58-page judgment, he said: 'In short, Mr Packham did not lie and each of his own statements was made with a genuine belief in its truth. There was no fraud of any type committed by him in making the fundraising statements.' On Tuesday, Mr Wightman, who works in asset management, gave evidence at the High Court in London. He alleged that Packham had 'dishonestly raised funds from the public by stating that tigers had been rescued from a circus where they had been mistreated, whereas in fact, as the claimant knew, the tigers had been well-treated and had been donated by the circus'. Mr Wightman continued: 'I knew this before posting the articles. 'The claimant knew what he was saying in the crowdfunding videos was untruthful as he was an acting trustee of the Wildheart Trust, to where the tigers were going, when he made these claims in articles, verbally and in front of a camera.' However, Mr Justice Saini said that both Dominic Wightman and Nigel Bean 'fail to come even close to establishing the substantial truth' of the allegation Chris Packham defrauded anyone in relation to the tigers. He said: 'They did not merely allege in the publications that there was some lack of care or negligence on the part of Mr Packham when he made statements about where the tigers had come from or as to their earlier lives. The claim made against Paul Read (pictured) was dismissed by the judge 'Nor did they suggest merely a careless lack of precision by Mr Packham in which he stated or implied the tigers were being kept in cramped conditions... (they) went straight for the most serious allegations of actual fraud and dishonesty.' Mr Justice Saini also said that Mr Wightman and Mr Bean's public interest defence also failed. He said in his judgment: 'The approach revealed by the evidence is that rather than approaching the task with an investigative mind, these defendants targeted Mr Packham as a person against whom they had an agenda. 'I underline that having an agenda does not, in and of itself, disqualify a person including citizen journalists... from being able to benefit from a public interest defence. 'Indeed, in general terms many publications and professional journalists approach stories with what might be called an agenda. 'However, the agenda adopted by D1 and D2 (Mr Wightman and Mr Bean) meant that they approached what might be facts suggesting, at the very highest, that questions might be asked about the accuracy of the fundraising statements, as proving fraud and dishonesty on the part of Mr Packham.' The judge added: 'Any investigative journalism quickly gave way, in the fifth and following articles, to increasingly hyperbolic and vitriolic smearing of Mr Packham, with further unsubstantiated allegations of dishonesty regarding peat-burning and the trust's insurance gratuitously thrown in.' Packham's barrister Jonathan Price - who once described the allegations as 'tiger fraud' - previously told the High Court in London that some of the articles accused the presenter of having an 'obvious nastiness' and playing the 'Asperger's victim card'. In his ruling, Mr Justice Saini said that Mr Wightman and Mr Bean had 'used this litigation as a device to introduce offensive material to smear Mr Packham'. He added: 'As is clear on the face of the articles that followed the letter of claim, the tone descended into sinister threats and outright vitriol, including offensive references to Mr Packham's neurodiversity, and abuse of (solicitors) Leigh Day. 'These were not the product of any acts of responsible journalism.' Packham's claim against Mr Read was thrown out after the judge found that Mr Read 'had no editorial or equivalent responsibility for the statements complained of or the decision to publish them' Dismissing Packham's third claim, the judge found that Mr Read 'had no editorial or equivalent responsibility for the statements complained of or the decision to publish them'. Mr Justice Saini also said that Mr Read's retweeting of the articles did not cause Packham 'serious harm'. Speaking outside court, Chris Packham said: 'Every day many thousands of innocent people are victims of online abuse and hate crimes. 'This can be racially, religiously or politically motivated. 'It can be generated in regard to gender politics, environmental beliefs, body shaming. 'This vile part of modern life ruins lives, livelihoods, reputations, it disrupts young peoples' educations, causes incalculable mental health problems and tragically causes people to take their own lives. 'As it stands the criminal law is simply not there to protect us from such hate - something that must change. 'The current governments 'Online Safety Bill' is plodding along. In the meantime a tiny minority of victims are able to take civil action.' Mr Packham thanked his followers for their 'unswerving support and belief in my honest crusade to make the world a better place for wildlife, people and the environment'. The stand-down order likely signals an end to the search operation in the Algarve Portuguese police have been told they will no longer be needed after 4pm today at an Algarve reservoir where a search for clues into Madeleine McCann's disappearance is unfolding. A well-placed police source said: 'The GNR [Guarda Nacional Republicana] has received instructions to stand down at 4pm local time.' The GNR is one of the two Portuguese police forces which have been working at the Barragem do Arade. There was no immediate information made available by the other force, the Policia Judiciaria, but the move likely signals an end to the operation, which started on Tuesday. Indeed, in a clear sign the search had ended blue tents that had been set up earlier this week were dismantled and packed away. Portuguese police have been told they will no longer be needed after 4pm today at the Algarve reservoir where the search for clues into Madeleine McCann's disappearance is unfolding Portuguese police investigators dismantle their base camp and shake hands at the end of the three-day search for remains of Madeleine on Thursday Members of the search team were pictured packing up their equipment after they were told they were no longer needed Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close Madeleine (left) was aged three in May 2007 when she vanished from her bedroom in the apartment her family were staying at in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve coast. German prosecutors believe Christian Brueckner (right) is behind her disappearance Officers could be seen shuttling back and forth packing tables and chairs and carrying them to vans. While a truck used to empty portable toilets also arrived at a forward operating area that had been set up near the investigation site. The last vehicles to leave were the German registered black Mercedes vans belonging to the BKA investigative police. Sources close to the investigation said that material found at the scene, mainly soil samples, would be taken back to Germany for analysis. Forensic biologist Dr. Mark Benecke told German media: 'Soil samples contain stones, pollen and a few other small components that can be transmitted during an act.' 'This means that if I find old shoes, for example, that now contain exactly the same components as in the earth, I know the person was there.' He added that traces of textile fibres, pebbles or pollen could still be used even centuries later. He told RTL:'The only question is whether no one walked around there and left other traces that disturb the whole thing. 'If other people celebrated at that point, maybe urinated, vomited, somehow left their own skin, then of course it will be more difficult.' Meanwhile German proscutor Hans Christian Wolters told MailOnline:'We will see how successful we were after the search is complete. 'If necessary, we will then issue a short press release in the coming week. But that also depends on the result of the action. 'If we don't find anything, we will certainly tell you quickly.. If there were any finds, this would probably not be possible.' Just before 1.30pm local time there was a noticeable increase in activity as machinery and equipment brought to the search site was driven away. A large rotavator used for cutting away thick bushes and shrubs was seen being driven away on a trailer along with strimmers, wheelbarrows, pick axes and spades. A driver in one truck shouted 'Finito' as he made his way back up the dirt track from the reservoir leading to the main road. It comes as shameless former police detective Goncalo Amaral slammed the current search for McCann as an attempt to 'pin the case' on the prime suspect. Amaral was kicked off the original investigation in 2008, after suggesting Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry were responsible for the then three-year-old's disappearance and later wrote two books on the mystery. Speaking for the first time since police began searching the area around the Arade Dam, just 35 miles from the resort of Praia da Luz, he claimed the fresh hunt was just an attempt to make prime suspect Christian Brueckner a 'scapegoat'. Indeed, in a clear sign the search had ended blue tents that had been set up earlier this week were dismantled and packed away In a clear sign the search had ended blue tents that had been set up earlier this week were dismantled and packed away Shameless Portuguese former detective Goncalo Amaral (pictured) has slammed the current search for Madeleine McCann at a remote reservoir in Portugal as an attempt to 'pin the case' on the prime suspect in the case Amaral was kicked off the original investigation in 2008, after suggesting Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry (pictured together in 2017) were responsible for the then three-year-old's disappearance and later wrote two books on the mystery Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close He told respected Portuguese news weekly Sabado: 'The question should be how are the German police involved ? How did the (Portuguese) Judicial Police agree to this and why? 'In simple analysis I see that there is no new investigation, what is happening is an act of building the profile of a scapegoat and a virtual blaming.' He then suggested the search was an attempt to show the public 'Brueckner must be guilty' as a lot of ' time, money and human hours have been invested'. When asked what would be found he said: 'If there was anything there, it would be possible to find bones, perhaps hair and even part of the missing girl's pyjamas. 'On the other hand, finding the child's remains would only be possible if she had not been cremated, as seems to have happened.' In the interview, which came as a joint police team from Portugal, Germany and the Metropolitan Police continued their hunt for a third day, Amaral again pushed his theory Brueckner was a 'convenient scapegoat'. He said:' When British police began to consider Christian Brueckner as a suspect, he was living in Portugal and walking freely around. 'The investigation should have focused on the individual through special techniques, namely telephone and computer interceptions, personal and electronic surveillance, undercover agents etc, in order to advance the investigation of the suspect's possible responsibility and subsequent death of the child. 'But astonishingly, the German police put him in a German jail, isolating him from the outside world, making any kind of investigation centred on the suspect impossible. 'Little by little, the Germans built up the suspect's profile as a rapist, paedophile and murderer, gathering similar Portuguese cases, accusing him of them, and then the great moment came and they named him to the world. Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close Detectives gather in Silves, Portugal, to conduct a search for Madeleine McCann. They have now been told to stand down the search at 4pm 'In concussion they did not allow a professional and serious investigation and made this individual a scapegoat as a suspect without any evidence or proof.' Amaral ended his interview by claiming the case was being pushed by senior figures and said:' If the political pressures end, this case will end and there will be answers.' Last year the McCanns lost a lengthy 13-year court battle against Amaral for the claims he made in his two books which shamelessly suggested they had been involved in her disappearance. READ MORE: Who is Christian Brueckner? The German Madeleine Mccann suspect and sex offender Advertisement Amaral's 2008 book Maddie: The Truth About The Lie, implicated the McCanns in their daughter's abduction and accused them of hiding her body. Their fight took him to the European Court of Human rights and it rumbled on for years before coming to an end last September. Their lawyers argued that the Portuguese authorities had breached their right to respect for a private and family life in the way the court in Lisbon dealt with their libel claim against Amaral. Initially they had won their case in 2015 and Amaral was ordered to pay 500,000 euros in damages but he appealed and the case was overturned and eventually thrown out by the Portuguese supreme court in 2017. It was then that Kate and Gerry decided to take the case to the ECHR in Strasbourg but judges there ruled against them and they later issued a statement saying they were 'naturally disappointed' with the ruling. Meanwhile in another interview with Portuguese outlet Renascenca, Amaral even outrageously claimed detectives had contacted the factory where Madeleine's pyjamas had been made, hinting this could be used to plant evidence against Brueckner. He said how investigators had 'these pyjamas from the factory that produced them and they were now in the hands of English authorities'. Amaral controversially went on:' I don't know under what conditions the pyjamas are kept and what could happen to them 'The parents and friends cannot be held responsible so a scapegoat is needed and here it is. The Germans just want to prove that this individual has something to do with the case.' He also blasted the German investigation that saw Brueckner convicted of the 2005 rape of an elderly American woman in Praia da Lux and for which he was jailed for seven years in 2019. Amaral said:'The gynecological examination carried out at the Portimao Hospital, on the night the alleged crime took place, shows that there was no rape. 'The individual is convicted for something that did not exist. The sheets, etc., were also collected from the woman's house and nothing was found that had traces of this German.' Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday Authorities gather at a Judiciary Police (PJ) makeshift base camp in the Arade dam area, Faro district, on Thursday during their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann German Search Teams arrive at the reservoir today for the third day of the search for Madeleine Investigators (pictured today at the site) searching for Madeleine McCann at a remote reservoir in Portugal are hoping to find evidence of other potential victims targeted by the prime suspect in the case as well as clues about the missing girl, it has been claimed Investigators pictured at Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Brueckner was convicted after DNA was found on the sheets but he insists this was because he had stroked the victim's cat and they had been transferred onto the bedclothes. Meanwhile police continued with their search this morning at the reservoir that has been a focus of activity since Tuesday and is expected to finish later today. Teams of officers wearing face coverings arrived to carry on digging through soil at a picnic spot on the western edge of the reservoir where prime suspect Brueckner, 45, is said to have parked his campervan. Brueckner visited the Barragem do Arade reservoir, possibly with others, 'some days' after Madeleine was snatched from her bed in 2007, the suspect's former friend told police. The source also claimed that investigators also believe Madeleine could have been alive for two or three days after she disappeared from the holiday resort of Praia da Luz, reports The Times. It comes as the search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, enters its third and final day. A no fly zone out in for two days ended at 10pm on Wednesday night and according to the website of the Portuguese civil aviation authority had not been renewed suggesting the search would be ending. Portuguese media is reporting that so far no significant discoveries have been made but that a press conference is planned when the operation eventually ends. Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday Pictured: Investigators take pictures as they continue their search for Madeleine McCann Portuguese authorities conduct a new search operation at Arade dam area, Faro District, today Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 While the focus of the search is on finding clues about Madeleine's disappearance, investigators are hoping to find evidence of other potential victims who are believed to have been targeted by convicted sex offender Brueckner on the Algarve. The search was ordered by prosecutors in Germany, who say they have 'credible information' linking Brueckner to the site promoting speculation they are looking for clothes or remains. Officials are said to be looking for fragments of clothing and old rags that could be related to Madeleine's disappearance - particularly the pink pyjamas she was wearing the night she vanished. The reservoir is located near the town of Silves, where a lorry driver had claimed to see a woman passing off a child resembling Maddie's description to a man two days after the toddler disappeared. The hunt is focusing on the foreshore as the water level in the reservoir is considerably lower due to low rainfall last few months. This may explain why no divers have been seen operating in the area although they are on standby. Madeleine was aged three in May 2007 when she vanished from her bedroom in the apartment her family were staying at in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve coast. The reservoir is about 31 miles inland from the resort. The first major search for the toddler in nine years comes after German police discovered photos of Brueckner at his self-described 'little paradise' in the Portuguese region, it is understood. German prosecutors last year named convicted child abuser and drug dealer Brueckner as the prime suspect in McCann's disappearance. He is currently behind bars in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve region from where McCann went missing. The case, unsolved for the past 16 years, remains a mystery as no body has ever been found. It sparked a media frenzy in Britain, with developments also followed by outlets around the world and celebrities joining appeals to help find Maddie. Photos and footage of the search operation yesterday showed a group of Portugal's National Republican Guard (GNR) being led by sniffer dogs to a small grove close to the water's edge. Officers were seen clearing branches shortly after. According to respected Portuguese media outlet Expresso, the operation was launched because of a 'very credible tip'. 'Expresso knows that these searches have their origin in a tip from a BKA informant who that police force considers very credible,' it reported on its website. 'This informant told investigators details that the German police took very seriously.' It added: 'The searches were requested by the German police after receiving this information.' The media outlet said it had obtained its information from a 'source close to the investigation.' A police investigator follows a municipal worker manning a bush cutting machine in the search area on Thursday Investigators hold spades and forks as the searches continue around the reservoir on Thursday Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday A police investigator follows a municipal worker manning a bush cutting machine in the search area surrounding the reservoir Pictured: Kate (right) and Gerry McCann, parents of missing 4-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann hold pyjamas similar to those of their daughter during a press conference in Berlin on June 6, 2007. Police are believed to be searching for signs of her pyjamas Emergency services with brush cutters to clear the search area arrived at the temporary camp set up on the shores of the Arade reservoir early on Wednesday. Portuguese police, assisted by German and British counterparts, had focused their search on Tuesday on the reservoir's shoreline. Yesterday morning police appeared to be focusing on a valley slightly north of a secluded clearing behind trees near to where three tents were put up on Monday. The dense vegetation meant they had to use tools including chainsaws to remove trees to access it properly. Meanwhile, a fire service vehicle and rigid-hull inflatable boat were again on the banks of the reservoir, and appeared ready to launch on to the water. Later in the day, emergency services brought in a remote-controlled tractor-mounted tree cutter to clear what appeared to be a new search area, a few hundred yards away from a temporary camp set up on Tuesday on the shores of the Arade reservoir by Portuguese police, assisted by German and British counterparts. On Wednesday, the German prosecutor leading the country's investigation into Brueckner's suspected link to Madeleine's disappearance said they do not have a confession from the convict. Braunschweig prosecutor Christian Wolters said that while investigators have 'indications' that evidence could be found at the reservoir, this has not come from Brueckner himself. 'We have indications that we could find evidence there. I don't want to say what that is exactly, and I also don't want to say where these indications come from,' Wolters told German public broadcaster NDR yesterday. 'The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesn't come from the suspect - so we don't have a confession or anything similar now, or an indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search, ' Wolters said, adding that 'it was other indications that prompted us to conduct this search.' However, Wolters appeared to calm expectations of what might be found, saying, 'We never said that the girl disappeared where we are now searching.' Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday The search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, has entered its third and final day Search teams arrive at the site as the search of the reservoir enters its third and final day A group of detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance arrive at the reservoir on Thursday Tuesday saw about 20 officers with rakes and hoe-like tools spread out in a line, poking and raking the soil close to the Arade dam. Police also used a drone to scan the area from above and searched with sniffer dogs on both sides of the water. Footage from the site showed officers taking bags away from the reservoir on Tuesday afternoon but it was not clear what was inside them. One video showed an officer being handed a bag by a colleague as they drove by in a black Ford SUV. Tuesday night a Portuguese source close to the investigation told The Sun: 'The search is being taken very seriously and is being controlled totally by the Germans. 'They asked Portuguese officers assisting them to look for any evidence - but especially rags.' The Times reported that Madeleine's pyjamas, which were pink and decorated with images of Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh, were a focus of the hunt. A similar pair of pyjamas was held up by Kate and Gerry McCann during a press conference in June 2007, the month after their daughter vanished, in the hope of prompting witnesses who may have seen her that night to come forward. Also last night the McCann's former spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the Mirror the couple were being kept updated. 'Until a body is found and proved to be Madeleine's, Kate and Gerry are not giving up hope. They will be kept informed every step of the way of any development. It leaves Kate and Gerry on tenterhooks. It is another incredibly difficult time for them.' According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, excavations were carried out at two different spots around the water's edge on Tuesday. The reservoir is currently less than half full owing to a drought affecting Portugal and neighbouring Spain. Much of the area being searched would be below water level in years of normal rainfall. In the afternoon police appeared to be concentrating their efforts on a peninsula of land jutting into the reservoir. Officers using sticks were beating back undergrowth as they inched their way through the woods before fanning down onto the beach to carry on the search. However, just before 5.30pm, a violent thunderstorm and driving rain struck the search area and the operation was abandoned after it became clear the weather would not improve. The search was meant to continue until 9pm. A no fly zone has been set up around the area extending for six miles. Police are aiming to build up a picture of sole suspect Christian Brueckner's life on the Algarve and the places he frequented as they search the Barragem reservoir in Silves, Portugal A group of detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance arrive at the reservoir in the Algarve on Thursday The reservoir is located near the town of Silves, where a lorry driver had claimed to see a woman passing off a child resembling Maddie's description to a man two days after the toddler disappeared. Pictured: Investigators arrive at the scene of the search It comes as the search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, enters its third and final day. Pictured: Police tents next to the reservoir on Thursday The Portuguese police are expected to give an update on the operation once it has been completed later this week. Two sides of the area have gently sloping banks towards the water, while the third is a sheer cliff, where three white police tents could be seen set back from the edge. The reservoir is popular with tourists, particularly campervan users, and has BBQ stands and sun loungers scattered around. Brueckner is known to have driven there frequently in his VW campervan, and is understood to have described it as his 'little paradise'. Sources close to the investigation have said they had evidence the clearing in the trees - where the white tents have been set up - was the spot Brueckner used to spend time at after parking up his campervan nearby. A local who asked not to be named, but knows the area well, said: 'It's pretty well-hidden by the trees and you don't realise it's there until you're almost upon it. 'People wild camp there overnight from time to time which is why you'll find the remains of fires inside small walls of stone. 'It's got old sun loungers in it and makeshift benches that visitors use to rest on. It's very out-of-the-way and very peaceful but at the same time it's got a slightly eerie feel about it,' they said. Local Portuguese reports, partly confirmed by police sources, claimed the searches were requested and authorised after German police obtained videos and photos of Brueckner by the planned dig site. They are thought to have been found buried in the paedophile's 'secret lair' in a dilapidated factory site in the German village of Neuwegersleben 65 miles south-east of Hanover. Police raided the site in February 2016 in search of the body of missing five-year-old Inga Gehricke, who vanished while on a family outing in Saxony-Anhalt in May 2015 and has been dubbed the 'German Maddie.' Reports at the time said German detectives had discovered more than 8,000 images and videos on USB sticks and hard drives filled with child abuse images. They were said to have been buried under the body of Brueckner's dead dog. Officials have been tight-lipped about the search. In a statement on Tuesday, German prosecutor Wolters said: 'Criminal proceedings are currently taking place in Portugal as part of the investigation into the Madeleine McCann case. Wolters said German officers are investigating in Portugal 'on the basis of certain tips.' He said he was unable at this stage to give more detail on what prompted the search, and what officials were hoping to find, but said that such details would be released 'if we... think the results are publishable'. 'Yes, the measures in Portugal are connected with the Madeleine McCann proceedings, which means that we are investigating there in Portugal on the basis of certain tips (tip-offs),' Wolters said on Tuesday. Pictured: Investigators at the reservoir, in the Algarve, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Pictured: Investigators at the reservoir, in the Algarve, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann 'There is a major search operation taking place that is being implemented by the Portuguese authorities. But there are also German officers from the Federal Criminal Police Office on site who are supporting the whole thing.' He added: 'I can't disclose the background at the moment, i.e. why we are searching there and what we hope to find there. That shall remain our secret for the moment.' 'If we find something and we think the results are publishable, then we will certainly inform you about it. But give us a little bit of time. The action itself will also take a bit of time. It will not be completed within two hours or so. And whether we then find something and what we find, of course, we have to see that first.' The Metropolitan Police has said officers are present in Portugal so they can inform Madeleine's family if there are any developments. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell said: 'The Met continues to work with and support colleagues in Portugal and Germany, with their investigations into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. 'Met officers will be in Portugal and I am grateful to the Policia Judiciaria and Bundeskriminalamt for allowing us to be present whilst their work is ongoing, so that we can inform Madeleine's family of any developments.' The reservoir was searched by divers hired by a Portuguese lawyer in February and March 2008. Back then, the diving team leader described the 'long process' his team faced navigating the 'black' waters. Marcos Aragao Correia organised the privately-funded operation after claiming he had been tipped off by underworld contacts that Madeleine had been murdered and her body thrown into the reservoir within 48 hours of her disappearance. Two bags containing small bones were found during the second search after divers had earlier recovered several lengths of cord, some plastic tape and a single white cotton sock. Portuguese police were alerted following the discovery but subsequently ruled out the possibility the bones were human because of their size. Personnel cut down trees and shrubbery as they search for clues surrounding Madeleine McCann's disappearance Investigators arrive to search the area surrounding the reservoir in the search for Madeleine on Thursday Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate McCann had previously dismissed Mr Correia as a self-publicist and said there was no evidence suggesting any link between their daughter and the reservoir. The dam, near the town of Silves where a lorry driver says he saw a woman handing a child like Madeleine over to a man two days after she went missing from her Praia da Luz holiday apartment on May 3 2007, is not thought to have been searched since March 2008 as part of the ongoing investigation into her disappearance. The search is the first major operation of its kind since June 2014 when British police were given permission to do digs in Praia da Luz that involved sniffer dogs trained in detecting bodies and ground-penetrating radar. The Scotland Yard digs nearly nine years ago in Praia da Luz were linked to the leading UK police theory at the time Madeleine died during a break-in and burglars dumped her body nearby. The searches failed to find any trace of the missing youngster. In a smaller operation in July 2020 Portuguese police and firefighters searched three wells for Madeleine's body but failed to find any trace of her. The abandoned wells are a 15 minute drive from a cottage Brueckner rented on the outskirts of Praia de Luz, on a narrow road leading down to a beach where the paedophile used to park his VW camper van. German prosecutor Wolters has consistently said he is convinced Madeleine is dead and caged paedophile Brueckner has been named as the sole suspect. The deviant, currently serving time for the September 2005 rape of an American OPA in the resort where Madeleine vanished, has yet to face any formal accusation over the youngster's disappearance. Last April he was made an official suspect or arguido in Portugal over Madeleine's disappearance, although his defence lawyer Friedrich Fulscher labelled it a 'procedural trick' linked to statute of limitations legislation at the time. Last autumn Bruecker was charged in Germany with several sex crimes on the Algarve against women and children including the rape of an Irish holiday rep in 2004 and the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl on a beach near Praia da Luz in 2007. Brueckner's lawyer revealed in April those charges had been dropped against him in a bombshell development after successfully arguing prosecutors had no jurisdiction over him in Braunschweig where the Madeleine case was being brought. The case could end up with prosecutors in Saxony-Anhalt instead but an appeal lodged by the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office has yet to be decided. Braunschweig prosecutor Mr Wolters has insisted they are still in control of the Madeleine McCann investigation and Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, remains in custody. The Arade Dam, the Barragem do Arade in Portuguese, is fed by the watercourse of the Arade River whose source lies to the southwest of the Serrra do Caldeirao mountain range and runs through the municipalities of Silves, Lagoa and Portimao before reaching the ocean. Construction was completed in 1955 and it began operating the following year. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. When the Titanic hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage in 1912, urgent distress calls were sent out in the hope that someone would come to the rescue. But with no other ship nearby in the wide expanse of the freezing North Atlantic, more than 1,500 passengers and crew lost their lives before survivors were rescued by cruise ship the Carpathia, two hours after the sinking. Although the distress call did not prevent the immense loss of life, one man was listening 3,000 miles away in south Wales and tried to do something about it. After hearing the calls, amateur radio enthusiast Artie Moore told the local police about the plight of the 'unsinkable' Titanic, but was not believed. It was only two days later, when the sinking became national news, that authorities realised he had been telling the truth. It comes after scientists created a 3D 'digital twin' of the wreck of the ill-fated ship, revealing it in greater detail than ever before. Amateur radio enthusiast Artie Moore, from south Wales, picked up the distress calls sent out by the Titanic as the vessel sank after hitting an iceberg in April 1912. Above: The inventor outside his radio shack. He lost a leg in an accident at his father's mill when he was a youngster Born in Pontllanfraith, near Blackwood, in South Wales in 1887, Moore was the eldest son of local miller William Moore. He and his brother took over the running of the mill from their father and were known locally as entrepreneurs and pioneers. According to the local history society, the brothers developed machines for local farmers and gave the area its first access to electricity using a homemade generator that was powered by the mill's waterwheel. Moore used the experience of losing a leg in a horrific accident in the mill when he was a youngster to create a counterbalance on his bicycle, allowing him to ride with just one foot. As a teenager, he built a working model of a horizontal steam engine and submitted it to a national competition, where he won first prize - physicist Sir Oliver Lodge's book Modern Views Of Magnetism And Electricity. This piqued his interest in wireless technology and Moore then started experimenting in the loft at Gelligroes Mill. Amateur radio enthusiast Billy Crofts told the BBC: 'He strung up all these aerials made from thin strands of copper wire from the Gelligroes mill, over the nearby River Sirhowy and slung between trees up the hillside to an old barn.' Using his homemade aerials, Moore was able to pick up radio messages from further away then anyone had previously thought possible. The radio enthusiast initially came to public attention in 1911, when he picked up Italy's declaration of war on Libya. When the Titanic hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage in 1912, urgent distress calls were sent out in the hope that someone would come to the rescue. Above: The Titanic before its departure from Southampton When he alerted police about the Titanic's distress calls in the early hours of April 15,1912, they are said to have mocked him and told him to go back to bed. But when the news reports came through about the disaster, all of what Moore had told police was corroborated. 'In Blackwood it might have been thought of as black magic, but to those who knew and understood, wireless telegraphy was the internet of its day,' Mr Crofts added. Moore's interception of the Titanic's distress signals led to an offer of a scholarship to the British School Of Telegraphy in London. After studying for just three months, he was noticed by famed engineer Guglielmo Marconi, who offered him a position as a draughtsman. He then worked on the development of the integral thermionic valve, which helped propel many advances in radio technology. At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he was working in the ship equipment department of the Marconi Company. He was appointed technician and supervised the installation of radio equipment for the Admiralty. It comes after scientists created a 3D 'digital twin' of the wreck of the ill-fated ship , revealing it in greater detail than ever before Survivors from the sinking of the Titanic are seen in a lifeboat shortly before being rescued by the cruise ship Carpathia After the war had come to an end in 1918, he transferred to Liverpool and oversaw the first fitting of wireless telegraphy equipment to a trawler. He then transferred to the Marconi International Marine Communication Company, where he developed an early form of sonar called the echometer in 1932. Moore retired in 1947 and died in Bristol in January 1949 after suffering from leukaemia. Fittingly, it was the sonar technology he pioneered that was used to find the Titanic's wreck in 1985. An out-of-control 'dangerous and crazy' dog savagely bit and injured an 11-year-old schoolgirl, a 74-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman during three separate attacks. The girl suffered a deep wound to her wrist after the dog suddenly 'lunged at her' as she walked home from school and been left suffering nightmares, Hull Crown Court heard. Faisal Waleed, 30, of Hull, admitted three offences of being the owner of a brown Alsatian-type dog that was dangerously out of control and caused injury on November 30, December 1 and December 16. Rachel Scott, prosecuting, said that, on the first occasion, a 74-year-old man was out on his daily morning walk at 8am in Victoria Dock, Hull, when a large dog ran out at him from behind a wall in the Lock Keepers Court area and attacked him by biting his right arm. Faisal Waleed, 30, from Hull, has been jailed and banned from owning a dog indefinitely The dog took him to the ground and the pensioner was yelling and screaming at it to let him go. Waleed, an asylum seeker and originally from Kuwait, tried to get the dog off the victim. It initially let go but it then bit his left shoulder before biting the man on the right shoulder. Waleed apologised and offered the pensioner money and a taxi home. He also offered to telephone for an ambulance and to clean the wound but the victim 'understandably refused' and went to hospital on foot. The pensioner later said: 'I am now very conscious of any dog that I see in the street. I now feel very anxious when I see dogs off-lead. 'I was fortunate enough to be wearing a thick coat, which took in most of the damage. I think that if I had not been wearing it, I would have been more seriously injured.' The next day, a 20-year-old woman was walking in Lock Keepers Court at 7pm when she saw Waleed with two large dogs. The one that had attacked the man the day before was on a lead but Waleed was not holding it and the lead was dragging along the ground. The 11-year-old schoolgirl suffered a deep wound to her wrist, pictured, that had to be stitched As the woman and her mother walked by, that dog jumped towards the daughter, taking hold of her right arm in its mouth and biting down. Waleed did not try to help. 'The dog continued to bite her arm and jumped up towards her face,' said Miss Scott. 'This went on for about one minute.' Waleed did then get off the bench where he had been sitting and struggled to pull the dog off the woman. The woman's jacket, valued at 300, was torn. She suffered red marks and bruises to her arm. 'She now has an increased fear of dogs,' said Miss Scott. In the third incident, on December 16, an 11-year-old girl was walking home from school on Lock Keepers Court when she saw the dog being walked on an elastic lead rather than a proper lead. Waleed was holding it with only one hand, the court was told. As the girl walked by, the dog started barking at her and she had to back away. 'The dog lunged at her and broke away from the defendant,' said Miss Scott. 'It bit her on the left wrist, causing her to the fall to the floor. 'She was screaming and could see blood running down her arm. The defendant pulled the dog away, initially without success. On pulling a second time, it did let go of her. A passer-by saw what happened and helped her and called an ambulance.' Waleed said: 'Please, I'll do anything. Come back to my flat.' He started to punch and kick the dog repeatedly, the court was told. The girl suffered a deep wound to her wrist, which had to be stitched. Her mother later said that the girl, now aged 12, suffered nightmares and had been referred for therapy, although she was still waiting. She was now scared of dogs. 'She loved dogs before this,' said the mother. 'She is still extremely frightened of dogs and now doesn't want to go anywhere near them,' said the mother. 'The nightmares are still continuing and the nightmares are upsetting her greatly,' she added. 'Her personality has changed. She has lost a lot of confidence even now, six months later.' During police interview, Waleed showed concern for the girl's welfare. 'He knew his dog was dangerous and crazy,' said Miss Scott. It was unwell when seized by the police and was later put down after Waleed apparently did not want to pay vet's fees for it, the prosecutor said. Julia Baggs, mitigating, said: 'These are troubling offences, which led to deeply unpleasant injuries. 'He was living alone at the time in a flat on Victoria Dock. He was struggling clearly with the dog's behaviour and was not aware that it was going to be aggressive. 'The dog has been destroyed. He doesn't recall being asked to pay vet's fees.' Waleed fully understood the impact of the dog attacks on the victims and he wanted to apologise. The court was told Waleed had left Kuwait because of fears of persecution for religious reasons. Judge John Thackray KC told the defendant: 'All three victims were attacked and injured. Your victims must have been terrified. It must have been obvious to you, if not before the first incident, then inevitably after the second, that your dog could behave dangerously. 'You behaved with a reckless disregard for the safety of others. The incidents could so easily have led to a fatality. Only good fortune prevented that. 'Understandably, your actions have had a profound effect upon your victims. They may never fully recover from these attacks.' Waleed was jailed for two years and was banned from owning a dog indefinitely. YouTube megastar MrBeast was handcuffed and arrested by cops who pulled him over in his Tesla and then threw him in a holding cell without food or water - in a prank staged by a rival filmmaker. The popular 25-year-old content creator, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, was subject to a revenge plot by fellow YouTube star Airrack over a prank that was played on him more than a year ago. Airrack recruited deputies from Pitt County - in MrBeast's home state of North Carolina - to stage the fake arrest and book the star into a holding cell. The video gained 3.2 million views in less than 24 hours - but critics claimed it was a poor use of police resources. The Pitt County deputies involved in the video are understood to have been off-duty at the time and worked overtime for the stunt, while Airrack paid the sheriff's office for their help. Airrack also revealed in the ten-minute video he initially signed a contract with the New York City Police Department for the prank - but it was moved to North Carolina when the original plan fell through. Pictured: MrBeast, a popular content creator also known as Jimmy Donaldson, 25, being handcuffed in a revenge prank organized by fellow YouTube star Airrack Pictured: MrBeast in a holding cell. He was refused food or water and made to wait for a long period Pictured: MrBeast having his 'mugshot' taken. MrBeast was then told he was allowed to make his one phone call. However, police officers instead dialed Airrack's number Officers pulled over MrBeast in his Tesla then told him it was because of the car's tinted windows. They then pretended to run a check on his license which revealed a warrant out for his arrest over 'communicating threats'. MrBeast can be seen exiting the vehicle and then being handcuffed by officers. Initially, he seemed amused and he cooperated when an officer helped him into the back of his car and asked him if anyone had threatened him lately. The YouTuber then refused to speak. Afterwards, he was put in a holding cell, refused food or water, and made to wait for a long period. MrBeast was then told he was allowed to make his one phone call. Police officers dialed Airrack's number for him. He then revealed to MrBeast the arrest had in fact been a prank. 'I got somebody here I was told that needs to talk to you,' the cop can be heard saying down the phone. He then passed the phone over to MrBeast for the big reveal. Airrack said: 'Hey, do you need anything?' MrBeast replied that he needed his lawyer. Airrack responded: 'James said he is talking to Alan [MrBeast's lawyer] right now.' Pictured: US YouTube personality Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, arrives for the 36th Annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on March 4, 2023 Pictured: Airrack attends YouTube Brandcast 2023 at David Geffen Hall in New York on May 17, 2023 He then said that he had a message from his lawyer and told MrBeast to look into the police officer's bodycam. 'Alan says to look into the police officer's body cam and say, "I just got got on Get Got,"' Airrack said. MrBeast later admitted in the clip that he thought the prank was real. 'I was like, this might be a prank. I was like, this is a lot of resources for a prank. When I got in there I was like, Okay wait. Maybe this isn't a prank,' he said. One viewer responded to the video to question why police can be hired to get involved in pranks. Referring to the NYPD's apparent agreement to participate, they said: 'Crazy the cops in new york have time to film youtube videos instead of stopping murders.' Another added: 'Nice! Tax payers money being put to work!' It is understood the Pitt County Sheriff's Office helped with the stunt as 'contract work' and the department was paid by Airrack. The deputies involved were off-duty at the time and their involvement was treated as overtime. The sheriff's office and the NYPD were approached for comment. A high-flying executive has won 32,000 after her Davos attending boss made comments about the size of her breasts before demoting her from her job at a prestigious City firm. Jolanda Niccolini was told she needed to 'remain rational' and avoid being overtaken by 'a hormone tempest' by her boss, Davide Serra, who claimed women get 'frantic and unpredictable during their periods'. The married CEO, who leads multi-billion-pound asset manager Algebris Investments, also made 'wholly inappropriate' comments, including about the size of Ms Niccolini's breasts, while hosting clients at his French chalet. The dual British and Italian citizen, who attended Davos earlier this year, also told clients Ms Niccolini would do anything for them, 'including prostitute herself', an employment tribunal heard. Ms Niccolini, Head of Business Development and Investor Relations at Algebris - who received bonuses worth more than 2.3 million over a six year period - was made redundant following a dispute about her performance and management style. Algebris Investments CEO Davide Serra (pictured) made 'wholly inappropriate' comments and commented on the size of Jolanda Niccolini's breasts Now, she has been awarded more than 32,000 in compensation after successfully suing Mr Serra's firm Algebris for sex harassment and victimisation. The hearing, in central London, was told Italian national Ms Niccolini started working for the global asset management firm in 2013. She was based in Milan but later moved to the company's London office. The single mother had known 52-year-old founder Davide Serra since attending the prestigious Bocconi University in Milan, before joining his company as a director, focusing on investor relations and business development. Ms Niccolini and Mr Serra were 'very good friends', the tribunal heard, but were known to be 'impulsive and volatile and might speak frankly to each other'. The tribunal heard he was prone to making 'wholly inappropriate' remarks and had previously had to apologise to her. 'On more than one occasion while hosting clients at his chalet in Chamonix, Mr Serra made a comment about the size of [her] breasts,' the tribunal found. 'He once said it was best to have men presenting to large audiences of financial advisers as they were mainly male audiences and said more than once that there were meetings where he had to go to by himself as they were to discuss things amongst men. 'In 2016 Mr Serra made a comment to clients that [she] would do anything for them 'including prostitute herself'. '[She] was furious and made that clear. Mr Serra sent her flowers by way of an apology after this incident.' Jolanda Niccolini (pictured) won a 32,000 payout after launching a sex harrasment claim against multi-billion-pound asset manager Algebris Investments The tribunal heard that in meetings Mr Serra would comment to female colleagues about dresses they wore being smart or 'you look elegant today', rather than concentrating on their work. At the same time, the tribunal heard Ms Niccolini had once emailed Mr Serra saying, 'I'm on top - the way I like it' and had concluded a presentation using a photo in which he held a foam roller in a 'phallic innuendo'. The tribunal heard that in 2018 the company won the Employer of the Year award at the Italy Women in Finance Awards, and referenced its 'strong commitment to equal opportunities' in an acceptance speech. Around that time, Ms Niccolini's relationship with her boss began to deteriorate over her performance and a disagreement over her management style, the tribunal heard. The hearing was told there were complaints she had been 'micromanaging' her team and had several ongoing disputes with. Mr Serra was critical of her decision to appoint a manager of Indian descent to cover Switzerland, describing him as a 'bad hire' and saying to her: 'How could you think of sending an Indian guy to Switzerland where they are even more racist than Germans?' In October 2019 at a breakfast meeting in Milan, Mr Serra was 'very critical' of her and told her she was being demoted. Accusing her of being rude to him earlier in the year, 'He said that he knew women could be 'frantic and unpredictable during their periods',' the tribunal heard. Ms Niccolini then went off sick with stress and anxiety. In December of that year, Mr Serra met her again to ask if she was going to accept the demotion or leave the company. 'At the end of the meeting Mr Serra said he needed to know what [she] wanted to do by early January and that she should remain rational because he had seen how she reacted when overtaken by 'a hormone tempest.' '[She] understood this to be a reference back to when she was pregnant in 2012 and decided to separate from her daughter's father which Mr Serra had thought was irrational. 'She understood this to mean that if she did not accept the demotion it would be because of irrationality caused by her female hormones. 'Mr Serra's view was that [she] would be getting the same money for a smaller role, and that her pride was preventing her making a rational decision.' Davide Serra (pictured in Davos) attended the World Economic Forum earlier this year While still off sick, Ms Niccolini launched a grievance over Mr Serra's remarks and her demotion. This led to the CEO being made to take an online 30 minute multiple choice 'equality, diversity and inclusion' training course, which the tribunal described as 'lip service'. The tribunal heard that after being diagnosed with breast cancer Ms Niccolini was signed off work repeatedly for a total of more than 18 months. In July 2021 she informed the firm she was ready to return to work. However, she was informed she was at risk of redundancy and in December of that year was told she had lost her job. The tribunal concluded Ms Niccolini had been the victim of sex harassment and victimisation and awarded her 32,831.94 in compensation. 'Mr Serra's comments that he had seen how Ms Niccolini reacted when overtaken by a hormone tempest were unacceptable comments which had the effect of both violating her dignity creating a humiliating and offensive environment for her,' it said. 'They were related to her sex. They amounted to harassment.' However, the tribunal rejected her claim that she had been sexually discriminated against by being demoted. 'Mr Serra's actions were based on his genuine perception that [she] was not performing in her role and were not influenced by the fact that she was a woman,' it said. Ms Niccolini's other claims relating to whistleblowing, disability discrimination and indirect sex discrimination also failed. Mr Serra is described on his company's website as a dual Italian and British citizen who is recognised as 'one of the world's leading experts on financial services' who is often consulted 'by the world's central bankers and regulators on policy matters'. The former professional volleyball player has been awarded the Commendatore designation, a decoration of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He is Chairman and Trustee of the Hakuna Matata foundation, a charity which he founded with his wife Anna, focused on assisting orphaned children in central Tanzania. Dictator Lukashenko said today that Russia has started to move tactical nukes to Belarus as Minsk is refitting its warplanes to carry them. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed an agreement to allow Russia to deply nuclear weapons on the territory which borders Ukraine with his counterpart in Minsk today. Shoigu warned that further steps could be taken to protect the countries' collective security, and that some Su-25 warplanes had already been converted for the use of nuclear weapons. Vladimir Putin first unveiled a deal with his close ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, back in March. With its latest announcement, the Kremlin has again stoked what NATO described as 'dangerous and irresponsible' nuclear rhetoric. Lukashenko confirmed today that Russia had begun moving nuclear weapons to its western neighbour and ally, but there were no new comments from Russia on delivery of the nuclear weapons to Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (left), pictured together yesterday An Iskander-K missile launched during a military exercise at a training ground in Russia in February Lukashenko (pictured) confirmed today that Russia had begun moving nuclear weapons to its western neighbour and ally, but there were no new comments from Russia on delivery of the nuclear weapons to Belarus 'The transfer of nuclear munitions has begun,' Lukashenko told reporters during a visit to Moscow. Lukashenko has allowed his territory - which borders Ukraine as well as EU and NATO members Poland and Lithuania - to serve as a launching pad for Russia's Ukraine offensive. The US said it will 'monitor' the movements, calling them 'irresponsible and provocative'. 'We have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture... nor any indication that Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons from Belarus,' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. It comes as Moscow blamed Ukrainian militants for an alleged incursion of its territory with attacks across border towns in the Belgorod region - claims Kyiv has denied, instead pointing to Russian insurgents. At the signing of the weapons agreement today, TASS quoted Shoigu as saying that Iskander-M missiles, which can carry conventional or nuclear warheads, had been handed to the Belarusian armed forces. 'Belarusian servicemen have received the necessary training in Russian training centres,' Shoigu was quoted as saying. He added that the agreements signed with his Belarusian counterpart covered the procedure for establishing a 'special storage facility for nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory.' Vladimir Putin (right) first unveiled a deal with his close ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (left), back in March. With its latest announcement, the Kremlin has again stoked what NATO described as 'dangerous and irresponsible' nuclear rhetoric Shoigu claimed that some Su-25 warplanes had already been converted for the use of nuclear weapons. Pictured: Su-25 jets flying in a military parade in Minsk, 2019 'In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere,' TASS quoted Shoigu as saying. Last month, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that Belarusian servicemen had completed their training on pilot Su-25 fighter jets carrying nuclear missiles. Moscow now claims the fighter jets have been refitted to give them the capability to carry tactical nuclear weapons. The stationing of nuclear weapons in Belarus will mark the first time since the 1990s that Russia will have based such arms outside of its own borders, something it says the US has done for years. The deployment of the missiles was a response to Britain's decision to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing rounds, Putin claimed in March. Since invading Ukraine last year, Putin has said repeatedly that Russia would be ready to use nuclear weapons if needed to defend its 'territorial integrity', threats commentators have labelled 'bluster'. NATO said at the time it did not see any need to adjust its own nuclear posture, though it said Putin's nuclear rhetoric was 'dangerous and irresponsible'. Ukraine said Russia's ally Belarus had been 'taken hostage' by Moscow. Under the latest agreement between the Putin and Lukashenko governments, Moscow will retain control over the weapons and any decisions on their use, Shoigu said. Lukashenko , a staunch supporter of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has long asked for weapons on the territory, Putin previously claimed during an interview on Russian state television (pictured: Lukashenko, left, and Putin, right, yesterday) He added that the deal meets 'every existent international legal obligation'. The move by Russia could contravene its international commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Tactical nuclear weapons refer to lower-yield weapons designed for battlefield use, as opposed to strategic ones capable of wiping out entire cities. Russia has not disclosed how many tactical nuclear weapons it has. Lukashenko, a staunch supporter of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has long asked for weapons on the territory, Putin previously claimed during an interview on Russian state television. Yesterday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would 'liberate' Belarus in the event of a popular uprising in the country. 'This neighbouring country is our partner, ally and fraternal state,' he said. 'Naturally, the Russian Federation has obligations with regard to ensuring the security of Belarus, which we will do in the face of such an evident threat.' A fatal mistake led to the deaths of a mother and daughter as they decorated a burger van for a birthday surprise, an inquest heard. The bodies of Leah Churchill, 50, and her 17-year-old daughter Brooke Wanstall were found by Brooke's brother and Leah's son Tyla Wanstall when he opened the van on his 26th birthday. The pair had been overcome by carbon monoxide after they started up a generator inside the van as they decorated it for Mr Wanstall's birthday. The mother and daughter had gone to the Meat 'n' Greet snack wagon, which was parked off a road in Whitstable, Kent, on the night of February 13 this year. They went to decorate it with balloons and banners as a 26th birthday surprise for Mr Wanstall when he arrived to open for business the following day. Leah Churchill, 50, and her 17-year-old daughter Brooke Wanstall were decorating the Meat 'N' Greet snack truck for a birthday celebration when they died The pair were found in the vehicle in Whitstable, Kent, by Mr Wanstall on his birthday (Pictured: Ms Churchill and Ms Wanstall at work in the van) But when they started up a petrol generator for either lighting or heat they quickly were overcome with fumes. Instead of a happy scene, Mr Wanstall, who owns the van, made the haunting discovery of the lifeless bodies of his mother and sister. A birthday card had been left on the side. A toxicology test revealed the pair had fatal levels of carbon monoxide in their system. Mr Wanstall, from Faversham in Kent, rang 999 and called emergency services to the scene but neither of the pair could be resuscitated. Detective Sergeant Zak Foote, who investigated the scene, confirmed there was no third-party involvement. He said it appeared that 'one or the other' had started the petrol generator, which was in an enclosed space, 'unaware that they would be overcome by carbon monoxide'. DS Foote said he did not believe it was the intention of either of the women to take their own lives and concluded their deaths had been accidental. Assistant coroner Catherine Wood said it was not a health and safety issue as neither of them were at work at the time of the tragedy. Mr Wanstall said he found his relatives inside the truck after smelling fumes and claimed it was 'obvious they were both dead' Mr Wanstall was unaware they had gone to the food truck to prepare for his birthday surprise She said: 'My only conclusion is that their deaths were accidental - most likely due to the generator having been turned on in an enclosed space.' None of the family attended the hearing. The Valentine's Day tragedy sparked an outpouring of grief and sorrow as Mr Wanstall warned others about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Speaking to media on the day of the tragedy, he said: 'They were decking the van out inside with balloons and bunting as a birthday surprise for me, like my mum would do at home every year. 'I didn't even know they were going down there but she must have started the petrol generator for power to keep warm without realising the danger.' Mr Wanstall said the generator was used outside the van during working hours but kept inside overnight for security reasons. He had arrived at the wagon at about 8am to start work and was surprised to see his mum's car parked up outside. He added: 'I opened the van door and saw my mum and sister and for an instant thought they had fallen asleep. 'I smelt fumes but it just didn't register straight away but it became obvious they were both dead. Mr Wanstall suspects that his mother (pictured) turned on the petrol generator 'without realising the danger' so they could 'keep warm' while decorating Ms Churchill (left) and Ms Wanstall's (right) deaths are expected to be passed on to the local coroner for a future inquest 'I called the police and ambulance but it was the firefighters who told me it was likely carbon monoxide poisoning. 'It's heartbreaking to think they spent their last few moments just trying to put a smile on my face. 'Mum made a fatal mistake and we don't want this to happen to anyone else. 'Be aware of this thing, people. If you haven't got a carbon monoxide alarm go and get one. It is a serious killer.' The day after the tragedy, hundreds of friends, family and sympathisers gathered on the beach at Herne Bay for an emotional mass balloon release in memory of Ms Churchill and her daughter. Speaking at the gathering, he fought back tears as he embraced those who had travelled to pay their respects to his mother and 'beautiful baby sister'. He said: 'We're overwhelmed and blown away by the huge support and kindness we've been shown. 'Quite honestly, it's kept us going when we're all in a very dark place.' There were emotional scenes as music loved by the the pair was played and the crowd toasted Ms Churchill's life with vodka, her favourite tipple. Two appeals to help with the cost of their joint funerals raised almost 20,000. Ms Churchill lived in Canterbury, Kent. She was a mother of four, leaving behind another daughter, Ocean, 23, and 12-year-old son Sonny. Mr Wanstall, who recently had a baby boy with his partner Beth, told the local press: 'She was so kind and would do anything for anyone. 'She would take a homeless man in off the streets if she was allowed. Brooke was just a live-wire with a huge personality. 'Mum worked all over the place, mostly in hospitality, and used to run the Share and Coulter pub in Greenhill. 'She was helping me in the burger van a couple of days a week.' Brooke, from Westgate-on-Sea, had just left school in Canterbury after completing her GCSEs. Tyla said: 'She had her whole life in front of her. 'She did really well in her grades and had just started work as a carer, which she was really enjoying. She was also due to take her driving test next week.' Brooke's sister, Ocean, added: 'She tried working in the van a couple of times but that definitely wasn't for her. 'Working as a carer was what put the spring in her step and the only thing she wanted to do.' Mr Wanstall, who also works as a drum and bass MC, said his family had been left reeling from the tragedy. The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group today declared his troops had started transferring positions in Bakhmut over to the Russian army. The battle for the eastern Ukrainian city has raged for nearly one year, levelling the industrial hub and wiping out waves of Wagner recruits who have led the assault. 'We are withdrawing units from Bakhmut today. We are handing over positions to the military, ammunition and everything,' Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video online. 'We pull back, we rest, we prepare and then we will get new tasks,' Prigozhin told his troops on the front lines. Prigozhin will withdraw having largely achieved his goals to wrest Bakhmut from Ukrainian control - but Kyiv has refused to acknowledge the city is completely lost. But his success has come at a grave cost. Earlier this week, the Wagner boss conceded around 20,000 of his troops had been killed in the battle for Bakhmut, roughly 10,000 of which were recruited from Russian jails. The figures are the result of the group's sordid WWI-style human wave tactics that see recruits used as cannon fodder to soak up Ukrainian bullets and artillery fire. Yevgeny Prigozhin makes a statement on the start of withdrawal of his forces from Bakhmut and handing over their positions to regular Russian troops Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin talks to Wagner fighters in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Bakhmut, Ukraine Yevgeny Prigozhin holding a Russian national flag in front of his soldiers holding Wagner Group's flags in Bakhmut, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine An aerial view shows destruction in the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, in this handout picture released on May 21, 2023 Russia's private army Wagner claimed the total control of the east Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the epicentre of fighting, earlier this week The 61-year-old Kremlin ally toured Russian prisons last year to persuade inmates to fight with Wagner in exchange for a promised amnesty on their return - should they survive. READ MORE: Defence Secretary Ben Wallace arrives in Kyiv for talks with Ukraine counterpart Oleksii Reznikov Advertisement Many of them were marched into the most hotly contested parts of the front line in and around Bakhmut - the region with the highest attrition rate in the war. Not only were Wagner battalions sent to the battlefield with little to no training and expected to cover ground under heavy artillery fire, but they were forced to do so with little support from the Russian regular army. Prigozhin on several occasions accused Moscow's army units of desertion and retreat, leaving Wagner men exposed in key pinch points. It remains to be seen whether conquering Bakhmut is worth the cost for Russia and the Wagner group. But Prigozhin's declaration of Wagner's retreat from the frontlines was corroborated by Ukraine's deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar, who today said Kyiv's intelligence had observed regular Russian units coming into replace the mercenaries. Prigozhin's announcement came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of again terrorising Ukrainians by launching a wave of Iranian-made attack drones at targets across his country, though added that air defence systems successfully blew them out of the sky. 'The enemy continued to terrorise Ukraine by launching 36 Shaheds. None reached their target,' Zelensky said in a social media post. 'I'm grateful to our air defence forces for the 100 per cent result.' Ukrainian service members ride atop of a BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle near the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 23, 2023 A Ukrainian service member operates an unmanned aerial vehicle inside a dugout at a position near the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 23, 2023 An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 25, 2023 Ukrainian service members walk to an armoured personnel carrier outside of the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 23, 2023 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of again terrorising Ukrainians by launching a wave of Iranian-made attack drones at targets across his country last night The Ukrainian military said Russia was probably targeting key infrastructure and military facilities in the western regions of Ukraine. Russia subjected Ukraine to a campaign of aerial bombardments on infrastructure including energy facilities during the winter months but these attacks have diminished recently. And Kyiv has become increasingly adept at taking down waves of Russian cruise missiles and drones after appealing to Western allies for greater air defence capabilities. Russian-installed authorities in the Crimean peninsula meanwhile announced their air defence systems had intercepted several drones targeting various parts of the territory annexed from Ukraine in 2014. 'Six drones were shot down or blocked... in different parts of Crimea,' governor Sergei Aksyonov announced on social media, adding that no one had been injured in the attack. Separately, Russia's FSB security service said it had arrested two Ukrainians who had allegedly planned to target nuclear power plants in the country. The aim was to cause 'serious economic harm to Russia and damage its reputation', the FSB alleged in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. Also on Thursday, Russia's foreign ministry announced a visit to Moscow by China's special envoy for Ukraine, Li Hui, who has been touring European capitals. His visit to the Russian capital, where he is expected to meet Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, comes after Li met Zelensky in Kyiv. China says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, but has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscow for its offensive. Banana Republic has become the latest chain to close its doors in a crime-ridden part of San Francisco, joining a string of brands citing safety and reduced footfall as reasons to uproot. The clothing store announced it would leave the Westfield San Francisco Center as the city's flagship store at 256 Grant Ave. also downsizes to a store at 152 Geary St. Dozens have closed or expect to close in recent months, including Saks, H&M and Nordstorm, citing reduced foot traffic, online shopping and safety concerns. The Gap, which owns Banana Republic, closed a number of Banana Republic's stores during the pandemic and last month announced it would lay off 1,800 workers at its San Francisco HQ as net sales fell by six per cent to $15.6bn for the last fiscal year. Drug addicts and the homeless pictured in the Tenderloin District, San Francisco The high-end department store blamed changing 'dynamics' in the city for the closures. Westfield store pictured High-end retailer Nordstrom is also cutting 400 jobs as it prepares to close all its stores in San Francisco. A total of 379 jobs will be axed at the department store, also in the Westfield San Francisco Centre shopping mall, and the Nordstrom Rack outlet a few doors down. The firm announced it was shutting both stores earlier this month, blaming the 'changed dynamics' of the crime-ridden city. Chief stores officer Jamie Nordstrom said: 'Decisions like this are never easy, and this one has been especially difficult. 'But as many of you know, the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past several years, impacting customer foot traffic to our stores and our ability to operate successfully.' Westfield Mall said in its statement to the Washington Post that businesses leaving could be pinned on 'unsafe conditions for customers, retailers, and employees.' The mall said 'these significant issues are preventing an economic recovery of the area.' In April, Whole Foods said it would shut its flagship store in downtown San Francisco 'for the time being' to ensure staff 'safety'. 'If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location,' a spokesperson said. Millionaire tech entrepreneurs in the city have also started to indicate they would leave for London, UK, as crime and homelessness surged. 'Tech workers have grown disenchanted with San Francisco,' Annie Ingram, a private banker at Coutts, told The Telegraph this week, citing concerns about rising crime, homelessness and open-air drug use in the Golden Gate City. Instagram head Adam Mosseri made a high-profile move from the Bay Area to London's posh Kensington neighborhood, although he was recalled to the US by bosses at Meta. Organic food giant Whole Foods opened a new 'flagship' location at Trinity Place in the city's Tenderloin district in March 2022 Bags of beef jerky are locked in plastic cases at the Target store in San Francisco's Metreon on May 8, 2023, as soft crime policies has correlated with an on-going crisis of daily shoplifting A recent study found that San Francisco is the most expensive US city in which to raise a child, costing more than $35,000 per year. At the same time, residents say San Francisco feels increasingly like a ghost town, with scores of retailers pulling out of the city due to crime and low foot traffic. A disturbing recent report showed 95 retailers in downtown San Francisco have closed since the start of the COVID pandemic, a decline of more than 50 percent. Out of 203 retailers open in 2019 in the city's Union Square area, just 107 are still operating, a drop of 47 percent in just a few pandemic-ravaged years. At the start of May, T-Mobile closed its flagship store at Union Square, a 17,000sq-ft building in the heart of the city. They said it was part of a 'nationwide retail strategy to better take care of customers'. The T-Mobile building was previously home to Apple's flagship store, before the tech giant moved to its current location on Post Street. As of the start of May, San Francisco has been blighted by a string of retail closures since the pandemic as the city has failed to deal with rising crime and drug problems The Anthropologie store at Union Square (pictured) in San Francisco is now closed Earlier this month, women's retailer Anthropologie shut up shop in the Union Square retail space of San Francisco amid a trend of stores leaving citing safety concerns. The site, now closed, was due to shut for good on 13 May. They urge customers to visit at nearby outlets on Fourth St and Village at Corte Madera. While Anthropologie did not give a reason, they join retailers including the RealReal, Gap and Whole Foods who have closed their locations nearby. The city is also affected by a state-wide shoplifting law that downgraded stealing goods worth less than $950 (764) from a felony to a far less serious misdemeanour crime. Several members of the audience disrupted the event by shouting The mayor was promoting his book about making London a cleaner city Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was heckled at by anti-ULEZ protesters while promoting his new book about climate change at the Royal Festival Hall. The event took place yesterday evening, and one member of the small but angry group appeared to challenge the mayor's brother to a fight. Mr Khan was sat on stage opposite LBC presenter James O'Brien speaking about his new book Breathe: Tackling the climate emergency, which details his goal to make London a cleaner city. A group of around five men and one woman interrupted the mayor, shouting about the controversial Ultra-Low Emission Zones scheme, which will see the worse-polluting vehicles hit with a 12.50 daily charge. One of Mr Khan's brothers told them to be quiet, at which point one of the men threatened to fight him, the Evening Standard reported. Protesters refused to leave, even when confronted by security at the Royal Festival Hall Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was heckled at by anti-Ulez protesters while promoting his new book about climate change at the Royal Festival Hall The Ulez zone will expand to much of the area inside the M25 in August One man was evicted from the venue after shouting that 'it was a lie' that schoolgirl Ella Kissi-Debrah's death had been caused by air pollution. Ella died in February 2013, having endured numerous seizures and made almost 30 hospital visits over the previous three years. She is believed to be the first person in UK history to have air pollution recorded on their death certificate. Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, mother of Ella, approached one of the hecklers after the show, she told the Evening Standard: 'I told him I didn't appreciate him and his cronies laughing when Sadiq mentioned Ella's death. 'He apologised profusely and said he never laughed at that. I told him he was guilty by association by the company he keeps.' Dr Aysha S. Raza tweeted: 'Have to say it was the most uninspired demo & swearing profusely at Sadiq Khan as he spoke of 9 year old Ella dying of air pollution was frankly a disgusting low.' A second man was also removed after shouting obscenities, before the rest of the group then left. One was heard loudly blowing a whistle as security escorted them away. The controversial Ultra-Low Emission Zones scheme will see the worse-polluting vehicles hit with a 12.50 daily charge In response to the protests Mr Khan, who recently admitted he is suffering from PTSD after death threats, said 'don't let the bullies win' and added that more people supported him than objected to his policies. In March, Mr Khan was heckled by some members of the crowd over the Ulez expansion at a Peoples Question Time event at Ealing Town Hall. Under the Ulez scheme, which has been described by critics as 'Sadiq Khan's vanity cash grabbing plan', motorists driving petrol cars which do not at least meet the Euro IV standard face having to pay the steep charge. For diesel owners, they must have the latest Euro VI engines or hand over cash each day they cross into the soon-to-be expanded zone. The panic caused by the decision - which affects more than 700,000 cars in Greater London - has seen the price of Ulez-friendly second-hand cars increase. Cars which are more than 40 years old are exempted from the charge, though future classics face an uncertain future as the cost of using them in the capital is set to rocket. The family of a missing Pennsylvania woman called the cops after they were alerted by internet sleuths to the 'possibility' that Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger was in the area at the time she vanished. Dana Smithers, 45, went missing on May 28, 2022. Her remains were uncovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on April 27 this year - about 30 miles away from Kohberger's family home in Albrightsville. In a bombshell development this week, Kohberger's parents were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating the case. It has now emerged that Smithers' sister, Stacey Anne, posted to her Facebook page, 'Finding Dana', on January 2, thanking those who had been 'reaching out recently regarding the possibility of the suspect in the horrific murders in Idaho having been in our area around the time of my sister, Dana's disappearance'. She added: 'I have forwarded all of your suggestions on to local law enforcement. Please pray for everyone involved.' Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger's parents were called to testify over the case of a missing Pennsylvania woman who went missing in the same county where he lived The court is investigating if Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger might be connected to Dana Smithers because she disappeared 30 miles from his parents' home. Smithers, 45, was last seen on May 28, 2022 on Ring footage A source told News Nation that Kohberger's alibi proves he likely wasn't involved in Smithers' disappearance. On the day she went missing, Smithers, her youngest daughter, 7, and the daughter's father had gone to a festival in Stroudsburg. Smithers was no longer in a relationship with the father, but they were on good terms, according to friends. The trio appeared to be in good spirits before returning to Smithers' home. That night, Smithers went to the home of friend and neighbor Tara Cioni, who later said that she thought something may have been troubling her. Smithers who had a history of substance abuse was smoking, something she only did if she was 'nervous' or on edge, Cioni said. The mother-of-three was last seen in Cioni's Ring camera footage at around 11pm. She was reported missing days later, and her family said she would never have stayed away from her youngest daughter for that amount of time. Her cellphone, wallet and daily medication were later found at her home. Her cause of death is still unknown. Michael Kohberger (right) is expected to testify in court on Thursday while Maryann Kohberger (left) has already given her testimony Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) - all students at the University of Idaho - were knifed to death on November 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow It remains unclear what connection Kohberger may have to her disppearance. Kohberger, 28, was charged with the murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, on November 13 last year. His father Michael is expected to testify in court on Thursday while his mother Maryann has already testified. The transcripts from the closed session can be transferred to Idaho where their son is set to go on trial on October 2. The suspect appeared in an Idaho courtroom Monday. He refused to enter a plea to four counts of murder in the first degree. Kohberger had been expected to plead not guilty but chose to use Idaho's 'standing silent' plea, meaning he has not pleaded either way but can still be tried. The Washington State University PHD candidate has been behind bars since December 30 when police raided his parent's Pennsylvania home. He was transferred to Latah County Jail on January 4 where he has remained since. The criminology major is believed to have planned the murders of the four Idaho students with a probable cause affidavit noting that he had repeatedly visited the area around their home prior to the killings. Police descended on Kohberger's family home at the Indian Mountain Lake Estates in Chestnuthill Township of Albrightsville just before 1:30 a.m. on December 30 His DNA was found on a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to the bodies of Kaylee and Madison. Goncalves and Mogen were discovered dead in bed next to each other, while Chapin and Kernodle were found on the floor below, with Kernodle discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom. According to the document, survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke heard something of what happened, with Mortensen telling cops she heard Goncalves say 'there's someone here' at approximately 4am. Ten minutes later, she heard a thud and crying from Kernodle's room and a male voice saying 'it's ok, I'm going to help you.' Minutes later, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door and saw a tall male with bushy eyebrows leaving through the sliding glass doors at the back of the home. She described how she had been 'frozen in shock' as the suspect walked towards her. Mortensen said she locked herself in her room after he left. The affidavit also reveals that Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra was captured on camera near the scene before being seen driving rapidly away from the home towards Pullman at approximately 4.20am. Police rapidly connected the vehicle to Kohberger and noted the similarity between his appearance and Mortensen's description of the intruder at the rental home. A devastated mother has begged for the safe return of her seven-year-old son after he was kidnapped and taken to Saudi Arabia by his father. Ranem Elkhalid fears she will never see Ibrahim Faraj again after he was abducted by his dad Hamzah Faraj last November amidst a custody battle between the two. The mother said she is living 'any parent's worst nightmare' and that she has been 'trying everything' to get her little boy home. Ranem last saw Ibrahim, who was born in the UK and only speaks English, when she dropped him off at the school gates in Warrington, Cheshire, on November 11. Hamzah was due to pick their son up as agreed after school, but a few days later Ranem discovered Ibrahim had been taken to Saudi Arabia by her estranged husband. Ranem Elkhalid fears she will never see Ibrahim Faraj again after he was abducted by his dad Hamzah Faraj last November He is now being hunted by British cops for child abduction after he broke a court order preventing from taking Ibrahim outside of the UK. Writing on Facebook about her son's disappearance, distraught Ranem said she was not able to hug her son and tell him she 'loved him' before he was taken away. 'Since that moment, I have been trying everything and I'm still trying to bring him back here as there's no life for him there,' she said. 'I didn't even have the chance to hug him and let him know how much I love him. 'I really need your help all to not only bring my son back*It's any parent's worst nightmare.' Court documents reveal how Ranem, a Palestinian national, had married Hamzah, a Saudi national, when she was 16 and he was 24. In 2014, they moved to England where Ibrahim was born, but his parents' relationship then deteriorated and it completely broke down in June 2021. They began custody proceedings in 2022, and fearing abduction, Ranem persuaded a judge to make an order stopping Hamzah from removing Ibrahim from the UK. But nine days later, on November 11, Hamzah broke the order when he took Ibrahim from his school and brought him to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Ranem found out he was missing on November 14 after his school told her that he had not been attending lessons. She then phoned the police before later learning that his dad had taken him out of the country altogether. Ranem last saw Ibrahim, who was born in the UK and only speaks English, when she dropped him off at the school gates in Warrington, Cheshire, on November 11 Court documents show that Hamzah is aware of the ongoing case but has not complied with its orders and has not returned his son to the UK. He has also not allowed Ibrahim to have any contact with his mother and has not kept her informed about his welfare or his specific whereabouts. A spokesperson from Cheshire Police confirmed that Hamzah is now wanted for child abduction for breaking the court's orders. They said: 'On Monday 14 November 2022, police received reports that a child had been taken out of the country by their father without permission from their mother. 'It was reported that seven-year-old Ibrahim Faraj had been taken to Saudi Arabia by his father, which was in breach of the custody order which was made at Liverpool Family Court on 3 November 2022. 'Following the reports officers have been engaging closely with both parents, but despite their best efforts he has not yet been returned to the UK. 'Therefore, the father of the child has now been circulated as wanted for child abduction on the national police database. 'All the appropriate authorities have been made aware and officers are continuing to do all they can to return the child to the UK.' Suella Braverman was accused of 'going to ground' today as stark figures showed net immigration running at a record 606,000. The Home Secretary did not make any comment on the eye-watering numbers, ignoring shouted questions from journalists as she left home this morning. She sent her deputy Robert Jenrick to speak to MPs in the Commons, while Rishi Sunak fielded questions on the ITV This Morning couch. Even a statement issued by the Home Office was attributed to a 'spokesperson' rather than Ms Braverman herself. The glaring absence comes amid persistent rumours at Westminster that Ms Braverman is gearing up to quit in protest at the failure to tackle immigration. She looks to have lost battles with Cabinet colleagues over tougher measures to curb numbers - although a ban on most foreign students bringing in dependants was announced earlier this week. Her close ally John Hayes did take to broadcast studios this morning to warn that migration levels are 'unsustainable'. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper ridiculed Ms Braverman's low profile in the House, asking 'what is the point of her?' But Mr Jenrick insisted she and the PM are 'completely aligned' on the need to bring numbers down. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has not made any comment on the eye-watering numbers, ignoring shouted questions from journalists as she left home this morning Long-awaited statistics showed another rise in net migration to 606,000 across 2022 - breaking the previous record of 504,000 from the year to last June The long-awaited statistics from the ONS showed net migration was 606,000 across 2022. That was far higher than the 488,000 level for 2021 - even though that was upgraded by 91,000 in the latest official publication. The jump was fueled by arrivals from outside the EU, largely coming to study or work, as well as to seek refuge from chaos in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Although slightly lower than some had feared, the eye-watering level - roughly equivalent to adding the population of Bristol or Glasgow in a single year - sparked a furious political row over the Conservative manifesto pledge that 'numbers will come down' from the 226,000 in 2019. Under David Cameron and Theresa May there was a commitment to bring the long-term net migration figures into the tens of thousands, and one of the selling points for Brexit was 'taking back control' of borders. Speaking on ITV's This Morning, Mr Sunak said: 'Numbers are too high, it's as simple as that. And I want to bring them down.' But Mr Sunak stressed he had 'inherited' significant levels, suggesting he was still aiming for the 266,000 from the manifesto. Pressed on whether immigration is out of control, he replied: 'Well, no, I think the numbers are just too high.' The premier said measures put in place this week to stop foreign students bringing dependants 'are significant'. Ms Braverman was only cleared yesterday over claims she asked civil servants to help her dodge a speeding fine. She requested advice on whether she could organise a private speeding awareness course, but Mr Sunak concluded she had not breached the ministerial code despite acknowledging she could have handled the situation 'better'. Among other developments with a raft of government figures released today: Nearly one-and-a-half million visas were issued in the year to March 2023 to people coming to the UK for work, study or family reasons, or through one of the Government's settlement schemes. Nearly 200,000 of those were to Ukrainians; For the first time asylum seekers were included in the immigration statistics, with 76,000 people applying in 2022, up from 53,000 in 2021; The backlog of asylum cases has hit a new peak since comparable records began in 2010, with 172,758 people waiting for an initial decision at the end of March, up 57 per cent on the previous 12 months; Home Office minister Robert Jenrick told the Commons that some universities are 'in the immigration business' rather than teaching and education; Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been accused of 'going to ground' after she dodged appearing in person to respond to the figures. Instead her allies have made clear she wants more drastic steps to curb numbers, and has faced resistance from Cabinet colleagues concerned about damaging the economy. Long-term immigration is running at well over a million according to the latest ONS figures - although it has been partially offset by people leaving Total long-term emigration ticked up in the final quarter of last year, according to the ONS Non-EU nationals are primarily coming to the UK to work and study - although a growth in humanitarian arrivals reflects the situations in Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan Tory foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns cautioned against 'knee-jerk' reactions to the high numbers Jay Lindop, Deputy Director of the ONS Centre for International Migration, said: 'A series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following Covid led to record levels of international immigration to the UK. 'The main driver of the increase was people coming to the UK from non-EU countries for work, study and for humanitarian purposes, including those arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong. For the first time since using our new methods to measure migration, we have also included asylum seekers in our estimates, with around 1 in 12 non-EU migrants coming via this route. 'There are some signs the underlying drivers behind these high levels of migration are changing. As lockdown restrictions were lifted in 2021, we saw a sharp increase in students arriving. 'Recent data suggests that those arriving in 2021 are now leaving the country, with the overall share of non-EU immigration for students falling in 2022. 'In contrast, those arriving on humanitarian routes increased over the 12 months. Evidence also suggests immigration has slowed in recent months potentially demonstrating the temporary nature of these events.' Some 1.2 million people are likely to have migrated to the UK in 2022, while 557,000 are thought to have left the UK in the same period, according to the ONS. Separate Home Office suggests the high inflows have continued into this year. Nearly one-and-a-half million visas were issued in the year to March 2023 to people coming to the UK for work, study or family reasons, or through one of the Government's settlement schemes. Some 487,771 work visas were granted, along with 632,006 study visas and 65,642 family visas, plus 5,046 visas for dependants joining or accompanying others, according to Home Office figures. In addition, 198,358 were issued under the Ukraine visa schemes, 47,227 were granted to British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong, 31,550 were under the EU Settlement Scheme, and 4,562 were under other settlement schemes. The combined total of 1,472,162 visas in 2022-23 is up 53 per cent from 960,133 in 2021-22. There were 75,492 asylum applications in the UK in the year to March 2023, relating to 91,047 people - the highest for any 12-month period since the year to March 2003. The figures also show the backlog of asylum cases in the UK has hit a new record high, with 172,758 people waiting for an initial decision. That is up 57 per cent from 109, 735 at the end of March 2022. Figures today showed fledgling evidence that small boats arrivals are running below the levels from last year Although small boat arrivals were above the 2022 level in February, they now appear to be lower than the previous peaks Former minister John Hayes, a supporter of Ms Braverman, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning that businesses needed to recognise they cannot 'turn the tap on and bring people from abroad'. 'I think the government as a whole has got to grasp this... where on earth are you going to house these people?' he said. But the Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, warned against 'knee-jerk reactions'. She tweeted: 'We should hesitate from knee-jerk reactions on migration. 'Students shouldn't be included in net migration figures. The soft power dividends as (an) academic superpower are significant. 'We've proudly offered refuge to Ukrainians & BNOs (British Nationals (Overseas)) and need to fill jobs wealth creators have made.' Shadow home secretary Ms Cooper said: 'Net migration is more than twice the level that ministers were aiming for, and considerably more than that compared to the Home Secretary's claimed aims. The asylum backlog is at a record high, the opposite of the Prime Minister's promise to clear the backlog this year, and less than 1% of last year's small boat arrivals have had a decision. 'Yet where is the Home Secretary who is in charge of these policies? She's gone to ground, there are reports she is not even going to do media, she has not come to this House, she is in internal meetings, presumably more private courses arranged by the civil service. 'What is the point of her?' Outside the chamber, Mr Jenrick said the Home Secretary and PM are 'completely aligned' in their stance on migration. He told broadcasters: 'The Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and I are completely aligned on this issue. We see net migration as far too high. 'We're taking determined action this week. If we need to take more action we will, because net migration is placing an intolerable pressure on public services, on housing, on our ability to integrate people'. On Tuesday, the Government announced that overseas students will be banned from bringing dependants to the UK from January 2024. The change will not apply to those on postgraduate research programmes. Mr Sunak said it was the 'biggest-ever single measure to tackle legal migration, removing the right for international students to bring dependants, toughening the rules on post-study work, and reviewing maintenance requirements'. However, the two-year period following their studies when people can stay in the UK has been retained. A new poll has found Labour is more trusted than the Conservatives on immigration. After a rise in public confidence in the Tories' immigration, asylum and small boats policies in March, the Ipsos research conducted between May 16 and 18 found trust had fallen again, with Labour leading on all three issues. Some 38 per cent of people trusted Labour to have the right policies on immigration and asylum seekers, and 37 per cent trusted the party to handle the issue of small boats crossing the Channel. Just 29 per cent said the same about the Conservatives on immigration, with 28 per cent trusting them on asylum policy and 27 per cent trusting them on small boats. But there was also widespread pessimism about both parties' policies on immigration and asylum, with 50 per cent saying they did not trust Labour and more than 60 per cent saying they did not trust the Conservatives. Conservatives were quick to boycott the brand: 'You just lost a customer' After Bud Light and Target, The North Face has become the latest American brand to face a boycott for promoting Pride. The company's Summer of Pride ad was released yesterday on its Instagram page and has already drawn ire from conservative consumers. The commercial features drag queen 'Pattie Gonia' telling consumers to 'come out... in nature with us!' and declaring themselves a 'real life homosexual!' 'Hi it's me Patti Gonia - a real life homosexual. Today I'm here with the North Face and we are here to invite you to come out... in nature with us!' Pattie - who lists pronouns as 'she', 'he' and 'they', online says. The company's Summer of Pride ad was released yesterday on its Instagram page and has already drawn ire from conservative consumers. The commercial features drag queen 'Pattie Gonia' telling consumers to 'come out... in nature with us!' The ad tells consumers to 'come out... in nature with us!'. It is the second year The North Face has run a Summer of Pride The brand is standing by its campaign. 'Were partnering with Pattie because we believe the outdoors are for everyone' it said 'Nature lets you be who you are, so, for the second year in a row, The North Face is hosting Summer of Pride together with (they/she) to celebrate you and all the beautiful ways you get outside.' The brand ran a similar ad last year where Pattie Gonia said: 'Nature lets you be who you are... even gay! 'Ladies and Gentlemens, you are cordially invited to the summer of Pride with my friends at North Face. We're traveling all the gay across America. 'Put on your boots and come out... side with us! See you there besties!' Less explicit than Target's 'tuck-friendly swim bottoms', North Face's 2023 'Outside Together' collection features rainbow-colored t-shirts and hoodies for teens and adults, and a range of blankets and camping gear. On Instagram, North Face said it was standing behind the campaign. 'We recognize the opportunity our brand has to shape the future of the outdoors and we want that future to be a more accepting and loving place. Backlash: Shares in VF Corp, The North Face's parent company, are already down Less explicit than Target's 'tuck-friendly swim bottoms', North Face's 2023 'Outside Together' collection features rainbow-colored t-shirts and hoodies for teens and adults, and a range of blankets and camping gear 'Were partnering with Pattie because we believe the outdoors are for everyone,' said a comment warning others that any harmful remarks would be removed. Since the ad debuted yesterday, shares in VF - The North Face's parent company - have fallen by seven percent. Target is down by 11 percent since the start of the week. Facing enormous backlash, the company removed some of the products causing most chaos, including items by a British transgender designer whose t-shirts feature the slogan 'Satan respects pronouns'. The designer, Erik Cullen, said he wasn't angry with Target for removing his work if it meant keeping store staff and consumers safe. Target's crisis communications director said the decision to roll back some of the Pride items was made out of concern for staff safety amid 'volatile' behavior from customers. There have not been any recorded incidents of violence. The majority of the complaints have come from mothers on TikTok and Twitter. 'Since introducing this year's collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and wellbeing while at work. 'Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior,' the Minneapolis-based retailer said yesterday. While conservatives slammed the retailer for even launching a range of Pride products, Democrats criticized its rollback. California Gov. Gavin Newsom - who oversees Target's largest market - accused the company of 'selling out LGBTQ communities'. 'CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage. This isnt just a couple stores in the South. 'There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country. Wake up America. This doesnt stop here. 'Youre black? Youre Asian? Youre Jewish? Youre a woman? Youre next,' he said yesterday. Up to two submissions can be made till the end of the month to get the free beer Anheuser-Busch has seen its market value plunge $15.7billion since the disastrous campaign with Mulvaney Budweiser is giving away free beer as part of a promotional rebate Budweiser is giving away its beer for free with new promotions after the Dylan Mulvaney backlash wiped almost $16 billion off parent company Anheuser-Busch's market value. Anheuser-Busch has seen its market value plunge $15.7billion since the disastrous campaign with Mulvaney began on April 1. In the latest scramble to return to the good graces of customers, Bud Light revealed a new promotion called the US Budweiser Family Memorial Day Rebate online. The rebate promises an amount 'equivalent to the purchase price of one 15-pack or larger, up to $15' of Bud Light, Budweiser, Budweiser Select or Budweiser Select 55 paid via Anheuser-Busch Digital Prepaid Mastercard. Budweiser is giving away its beer for free with new promotions after the Dylan Mulvaney backlash wiped almost $16 billion off parent company Anheuser-Busch 's market value Anheuser-Busch has seen its market value plunge $15.7billion since the disastrous campaign with Mulvaney Based on recent prices, this would see packs of beer being given away for free. Meanwhile, some local retailers have been offering 15 packs or larger of these Budweiser products for less than $15 making the products free after rebate excluding tax and state restrictions. The rebate will be paid via a digital prepaid card, according to Bud Light's site. Customers must provide a proof of purchase, an image of the case's barcode and of their receipt to get the prepaid card mailed to their home address. Up to two submissions can be made till the end of the month between May 17 and May 23 and another between May 24 and May 31 and forms must be submitted by June 14. On Wednesday, a Nashua, New Hampshire, Shaw's Supermarket had 30-packs of Bud Light cans on sale for $19.99, down from $24.99, making the price about $5 after rebate. Social media users have also been shocked by the promotion. One Twitter account posted photos of two different stores in Wisconsin which showed signs promoting 20-pack prices for $14.99 with the $15 rebate giving purchasers a final cost of $0. The parent company's competitors have meanwhile seen an uptick of $3.2billion in market value to their brands in the same time. Molson Coors, which owns Coors Lite, has seen an increase of $2.2billion market value, around 20 percent, while Heineken has a spike of $1billion an increase of 1.7 percent. Sales of Bud Light are down more than 23 percent as of the week ending May 6, according to JPMorgan beverage analyst Jared Dinges. Since April 1, when Mulvaney posted the ad with Bud Light, the company has consistently been dropping down the rankings, with experts saying it 'just keeps getting a little worse each week' He said the bank expects a 12 to 13 percent volume decline over the course of a year in the US. 'We believe there is a subset of American consumers who will not drink a Bud Light for the foreseeable future,' the analysts said on Tuesday. He added: 'Shares have underperformed EU Beer peers by 15% since the start of April. 'We believe this is due to U.S. uncertainty, as investor focus has shifted squarely to the potential impact from the Bud Light controversy.' The expected decline in earnings, before interest and tax, will follow a 12 percent drop in volume and a 10 percent decline in sales. In another attempt to deal with the backlash, Anheuser-Busch told wholesalers it will buy back unsold cases of Bud Light that are past their expiration date. Mulvaney posted the content to coincide with the NCAA March Madness tournament, before joking she didn't know what sport she was promoting. Experts are also warning that there is a risk of competitor beers running into a shortage, because of the high demand. Beer Business Daily editor Harry Schuhmacher told Fox News Digital that the 'whole industry is in shock' over the numbers Mulvaney posted the content to coincide with the NCAA March Madness tournament and sparked the backlash against Bud Light Beer Business Daily editor Harry Schuhmacher told Fox News Digital that the 'whole industry is in shock'. He claims that the newfound demand for lagers not owned by Anheuser-Bush could result in a trickle-down effect on the industry. He said: 'Even Bud's competitors aren't really dancing on the grave because they know it could have happened to them. 'You can't just flip a switch and make beer. You know, beer is brewed. It takes, you know, at least a couple of weeks to make. 'So, they haven't had major supply issues yet, but we're about to hit Memorial Day and we could probably see some supply shortages there.' Schuhmacher even claimed that Molson Coors might not be able to give Americans enough beer for Memorial Day weekend. The Mulvaney deal came after the brand's ousted marketing chief Alissa Heinerscheid said she planned to update the 'fratty' and 'out of touch' branding. Industry analysts have warned that unless something drastic changes, the negative volume trends will continue into the summer. Bud Light sales have fallen significantly since the beer's partnership with Dyland Mulvaney and analysts at JPMorgan expect it will cause Anheuser-Busch earnings to slide 26% this year A new profile of the company's handling of the PR, social media and sales backlash admits the company and CEO Michel Doukeris (pictured) are trying to remedy their failures One reported move is Bud Light buying back cases of unsold and expired beer 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. 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 don't think the declines in sales/volume will get any worse, but I do think their negative volume trends will continue.' He said 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. A former model and real estate agent is back behind bars after her life again spiralled out of control due to her drug addiction. Monique Agostino, 28, was sentenced at Sutherland Local Court in Sydney's south on Thursday to nine months imprisonment with a five-month non-parole period. She pleaded guilty to possessing someone else's identification to commit fraud, larceny, drug possession, drug-driving, possessing goods suspected of being stolen and driving an unregistered, uninsured car while disqualified. It will be her second time in jail. In September 2020, she was sentenced to two years in Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre - one of Australia's toughest female prisons. Back then she pleaded guilty to a series of masked robberies with teenage boys, drug offences, shoplifting and having a knife in a Target store. Former model and real estate agent Monique Agostino (pictured) is back behind bars after her life again spiralled out of control due to her drug addiction Agostino (pictured) was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with a five-month non-parole period at Sutherland Local Court in Sydney's south Agostino, who is from Sydney's well-to-do Northern Beaches, appealed the sentence's severity and was released on bail. The appeal was subsequently thrown out when she failed to show up to her court appearance. But even after serving her time, the mum-of-one was unable to escape her drug and crime demons. The court heard there were 15 warrants issued for her arrest in recent years and that her drug use escalated when she lost her driving licence and was not able to work in real estate. Magistrate Hugh Donnelly said Agostino was using amphetamines such as ice on a weekly basis up until her arrest and that her legal aid lawyer's plans for a community-based sentence would not help her drug addiction, news.com.au reported. In September 2020, she was sentenced to two years in Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre (pictured) one of Australia's toughest prisons Agostino was a getaway driver for teenage boys (pictured) who broke into an Italian restaurant Her lawyer argued the former Instagram model had a lot of potential if she was given a chance and that she had been studying online The magistrate also pointed out that she had a record of not showing up to court and was 'a persistent offender when it comes to driving while disqualified it's at least the third time she's come to court for that'. Her lawyer said the former Instagram model had a lot of potential if she was given a chance and that she had been studying online. 'If you speak to her directly, you'd be impressed. She's an intelligent individual who has used her abilities for criminal (reasons) instead of constructive reasons that's not to say it will always be that way,' the lawyer said. Agostino, who was appearing by video link, asked the court to let her 'have some words' but the magistrate refused, saying she had legal representation. Before her descent from social media star to serial offender began, Agostino had thousands of followers after sharing racy photos of her wearing bikinis on the beach and in a tight Catwoman outfit. Her entry into a life of crime came in 2018, when she was involved in a series of burglaries in Sydney's north shore. The then 22-year-old became getaway driver for teenage boys who robbed an Italian restaurant and tried to break into a fruit shop and cafe. There were 15 warrants issued for Agostino's arrest in recent years, the court heard Monique Agostino (pictured) once had a legion of online followers Monique Agostino is pictured in a NSW Police mugshot The crew donned black masks and used chisels to break into the Pound of Pizza restaurant at Killarney Heights on November 6, 2018. On the same day, Agostino was also caught using a stolen credit card to buy $11.55 worth of fast food from McDonald's in Brookvale. The card had been reported stolen from the Stanley Street Cafe at St Ives earlier that day. She was also convicted of stealing a $90 jacket from Supre and possessing a knife and drugs - meth and diazepam - inside Target in Blacktown's Westpoint Shopping Centre. Royal Navy top brass have been accused of taking political correctness 'a step too far' after it was revealed naval chiefs were 'considering' issuing multiple military ID cards to gender-fluid sailors. The move triggered a verbal broadside from veteran military commanders - including a former head of the Navy - who claimed the proposal could be 'open to abuse' and might pose a 'security risk'. Currently, all military personnel are issued a single identification card, known as a MoD90, which displays their name, rank and photograph. They allow access to Ministry of Defence sites. However, the Navy is weighing up whether to allow staff who are gender-fluid - those who may self-identify as different genders over time - to have multiple IDs. The revelation emerged in the service's application to the Stonewall Top 100 Employers list, run by an LGBT rights charity - with the navy saying inclusion and diversity groups within the force had 'challenged' the tradition one-card rule. But military commanders fear issuing more than one ID could create a security risk. Retired Lieutenant Commander Mike Critchley said: 'Losing an ID card can be open to abuse. Issuing more ID cards will heighten the risk of them being lost.' The Royal Navy was 'considering' issuing multiple ID cards to gender-fluid personnel, it has emerged. Pictured is a file image of sailors marching past aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in Scotland in 2019 Retired military commanders have since expressed concern at the proposal. Pictured is a file image of sailors marching during the King and Queen's coronation in London in May, 2023 MailOnline understands that nobody in the Navy, identifying as gender-fluid, has so far asked for multiple IDs. A defence source added: 'The navy is considering it. But it "considers" a lot of things. No-one has actually asked for it. But that doesn't mean someone isn't considering it.' Lt Cdr Critchley, from Gosport, Hampshire, said he was worried that 'inclusivity, diversity, and LGBT' issues were now 'taking over' within the navy and becoming a distraction. 'My issue is is the Royal Navy ready to go to sea and fight today? All this over stuff is diversionary,' he added. Admiral Lord Alan West, a former head of the navy, agreed. He told The Times: 'When giving people lots of different passes, there's more chance of one of them being lost. 'What worries me is that the navy is probably not strong enough at the moment. It needs more money spent on it, we need to get the right weapons systems. There's a war going on in Europe. 'I'd love people who are focusing on lots of passes for gender fluidity to maybe focus on making sure that the Royal Navy is strong enough to defend our nation.' Philip Ingram, a former Colonel in British military intelligence, accused the navy of being too PC and said issuing multiple ID cards would be a 'step too far'. 'Issuing multiple ID cards is a step too far and would suggest there are wider issues that need to be dealt with if someone isn't sure what their real identity is,' he told MailOnline. Colonel Philip Ingram, a former intelligence officer, was concerned by the potential of issuing multiple military ID cards to gender-fluid troops Admiral Lord Alan West was a former First Sea Lord and security minister. also raised his concerns and said focus needed to be placed on ensure the Royal Navy was 'strong enough to defend the nation' (file image) HMS Prince of Wales, the navy's newest aircraft carrier, has spent months in dry dock in Scotland after breaking down in August 2022 on her way out of Portsmouth 'I can't understand how individuals can say they're male one day, female the next, and then back to male after that. How can then properly integrate into a fighting team?' However, the retired soldier dismissed security risk fears, adding: 'This won't pose a security risk. There is such a small number of individuals everyone will know who they are. And the control over the issue of ID cards is pretty good. 'What it does show is that the services are trying to be almost overly politically correct to cooperate with everything.' The navy's submission to Stonewall was obtained by The Times. It showed how ingrained diversity and inclusion was in the naval service. Last year the Royal Navy placed 71st in Stonewall's top 100 employers list. In 2019 it was the 15th best in the country. Recruits into the force are rigorously prepared to fight discrimination, receiving a diversity and inclusion package and a 'classroom instructor-facilitated lesson' in the first week of a ten-week induction, the Stonewall application shows. This training includes details on 'sexual orientation and gender identity and discusses each in detail, referring to bisexuality and trans and non-binary genders'. Military personnel are also required to complete refresher training every two years to ensure they are up to date on the policy. A Royal Navy spokesperson said: 'We are committed to attracting, retaining and developing the best talent from the broadest diversity of skills and background and to provide an environment where everyone feels included. 'The current Royal Navy identity card does not specify an individual's gender and any future decisions made regarding the issuing of cards must comply with security policies.' Ron DeSantis' presidential platform would hone-in on issues important to conservatives, including a strict abortion ban, bolstered Second Amendment rights and completing the border wall Donald Trump promised. Notably, the Florida governor also wants to keep the U.S. out of the Ukraine War and is calling for a 'settlement' of the conflict with Europe leading the charge. DeSantis has been promoting for months his Blueprint for America, but those policy proposals are now much more real considering he is an official 2024 Republican presidential candidate. The glitch-filled Twitter Spaces conversation with Elon Musk on Wednesday evening gave the governor a chance to discuss his accomplishments in Florida, and how he plans to translate that to a federal agenda if elected president. In talks with key Republicans, DeSantis claims that he will be a sharp turn from temperamental and exuberant former President Trump and instead adhere to conservative principles and remain more lowkey. 'This whole business we are in is about producing results,' DeSantis said during the Twitter campaign launch. 'I don't care about fanfare.' DailyMail.com breaks down what policies Ron DeSantis plans to promote on his presidential platform as he begins next week his first campaign swing through early primary contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. In a short video released after the chaotic campaign announcement on Twitter Spaces Wednesday night, DeSantis joked with a straight face that he 'broke the internet' Wants and 'state and federal role' in abortion restrictions In Florida, DeSantis successfully implemented a ban on abortions at the six-week point of a pregnancy after the Supreme Court ruling last summer overturned Roe v. Wade and gave power back to the states to regulate abortion laws. 'Dobbs returned the issue to the elected representatives of the people, and so I think that there's a role for both the federal [government] and states,' DeSantis said of last June's ruling. DeSantis is fiercely pro-life and in April signed Senate Bill 300, which is known as the Heartbeat Protection Act because at six-week pregnant a fetal heartbeat can usually be detected. There is an exception to the law that allows pregnancy termination past the six-week mark in order to save the pregnant woman's life, there is a fetal abnormality detected or if the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest but the woman would be required to have documented proof of the incident. DeSantis' six-week ban is currently not in action as the Florida Supreme Court weighs a legal challenge to the state's current 15-week abortion ban that the governor signed into law last year. If enacted 30 days after the Florida court ruling, Florida would be one of the states with the most restrictive abortion laws. 'I think that would be an abuse of power for them to try to override every single pro-life protection in this country,' DeSantis said of the challenges to abortion restriction laws. Trump has appeared uncomfortable with consequences of Roe v. Wade overturn, which many see as one of the largest achievements of his Supreme Court appointments. The former president privately blamed abortion hard-liners for Republicans' disappointing midterm election results and has since refused to commit to supporting a national abortion ban. DeSantis has seized on this, saying 'as a Florida resident,' Trump has not said whether he would have signed 'the heartbeat bill.' Part of DeSantis' platform as a presidential candidate would include a federal restriction on abortion access, which is something that could see him fall out of favor with pro-choice conservatives Demands 'settlement' of Ukraine War and calls it a European issue Despite being called a 'globalist' by Trump and the former president's allies, DeSantis does not want U.S. involvement in the Ukraine War and is calling for a 'settlement' of the fighting with Russia. Earlier this year, DeSantis dismissed the ongoing war as a 'territorial dispute' when speaking to since-ousted Fox News personality Tucker Carlson a comment that earned him a lot of criticism from even fellow Republicans. 'In terms of what's going on over in eastern Europe, you know, I'd like to see a settlement of this,' DeSantis said during an interview with Fox News Tonight on Wednesday evening. 'I do not want to see a wider war.' He added: 'I think it's completely unknowable what it will look like in January of 2025. But I would not want to see the United States with our troops get enmeshed in a war in Russia or in Ukraine.' The Florida governor also wants to see a 'settlement' in Ukraine and suggested its war with Russia is more of a European issue than the concern of America He also suggested the fight was Europe's to deal with, and not as much of America's concern. 'The Europeans really need to do more,' he insisted. 'I mean, this is their continent.' 'The U.S. has provided security for them. And yes, Poland there's some that are doing stuff, and that should be appreciated,' DeSantis added. 'But Germany, they're not doing anything.' DeSantis has denounced the 'open-ended blank check' that he claims President Joe Biden and Democrats have written to Ukraine in its war with Ukraine. Signed law allowing gun owners to concealed carry without a permit DeSantis signed last month a law eliminating concealed carry permit requirements in Florida, meaning that gun owners can now carry a hidden firearm on their person without needing documentation to do so. The governor has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) for his stanch pro-Second Amendment stances. 'Ron DeSantis vigorously opposes gun, magazine and ammunition bans,' the NRA said. During Wednesday's Twitter Spaces talk, pro-gun conservative media personality Dana Loesch was given the chance to speak with DeSantis. The former NRA spokesperson raised questions to DeSantis over banks providing consumer information to the FBI that can be used to track gun purchases. This gave the Florida leader the chance to discuss a ban on retail codes for guns. In Florida, DeSantis signed a law that allows the permit-less conceal carry of firearms Stop educators from 'injecting gender ideology in elementary schools' The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued a travel warning to Florida, saying the state is 'not safe' for LGBTQ people. DeSantis said during his Twitter Spaces launch Wednesday that this travel ban was a 'farce' and 'political stunt.' 'Last week, the NAACP issued a travel advisory against your state claiming that Florida is not a safe place for minorities to visit,' Twitter Spaces moderator David Sacks said to DeSantis. 'What do you say to those who've been advised that somehow they aren't welcome in your state?' 'Claiming that Florida is unsafe is a total farce,' the governor replied. 'I mean, are you kidding me?' 'So this is a political stunt,' DeSantis insisted. 'These left wing groups have been doing it for many, many years. And at the end of the day, what they're doing is colluding with legacy media to try to manufacture a narrative. Now the good news is, fewer Americans are gullible enough to believe this dribble.' One of DeSantis' most controversial laws is House Bill 1557 and was dubbed by critics as the 'Don't Say Gay' law. It restricts classroom discussion or instruction involving gender identity or sexual orientation. He has also signed legislation banning transgender people from using restrooms that do not align with the gender in which they were born and prohibits children from attending 'adult live performances' like drag shows. The governor vowed Wednesday evening to fight against entities trying to 'inject gender ideology in elementary school,' like Walt Disney Co. 'While not a blanket recommendation against travel nor a call for boycott, the travel advisory outlines the devastating impacts of laws that are hostile to the LGBTQ community, restrict access to reproductive health care, repeal gun safety policies, foment racial prejudice, and attack public education by banning books and censoring curriculum in order that prospective travelers or residents can make the best decisions for themselves and their families,' the NAACP press release on the travel advisory states. Finish the border wall and crackdown on rising crime DeSantis promised that as president he would finish the southern border wall, which was a hallmark of Trump's successful 2016 presidential run. 'It's an absolutely insane system,' the governor said of current laws at the border. 'So we'll stop that.' 'We will move on Day One by declaring a national emergency, we will construct a border wall, we will make sure we have Remain in Mexico,' he added. The barrage of migrants crossing the southern border has continued. Pictured: Migrants, mostly from Haiti, create a makeshift shelter in Mexico City, Mexico on May 18 as they continue on their trip to the U.S. southern border DeSantis has repeatedly blamed the spike in crime across the U.S. on the open southern border and Democrats' soft-on-crime stance. He even signed in Florida a hard-line crime law that includes a provision lowering the threshold for imposing the death penalty on criminals. 'In Florida our crime rate is at a 50 year low,' he touted during the Twitter conversation on Wednesday. 'You look at the top 25 cities for crime in America, Florida does not have a single one amongst the top 25.' He continued in response to the NAACP issuing a travel advisory on Florida: 'And if you look at cities like Baltimore and Chicago, you got kids more likely to get shot than to receive a first class education, yet I don't see the NAACP batting an eye about all the outrage and the carnage that's happening in those areas.' Canada is under fire once again as host of the world's most permissive assisted suicide program, where millions of people now say the homeless and poor should be eligible for state-sanctioned deaths. A survey released this month found that more than a quarter of Canadians say being impoverished or unhoused is a good enough reason for a doctor to inject somebody with a deadly cocktail of drugs. Even larger numbers of respondents said assisted suicide or Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), as it is known should be available to those with disabilities, mental illnesses or who cannot receive medical treatment. For some, the poll of 1,000 adults shows that Canada has careened into a euthanasia free-for-all since it legalized procedures in 2016. More than 10,000 people end their lives under the scheme each year. 'One third of Canadians are fine with prescribing assisted suicide for homelessness. Shameful,' Lord David Alton, a British peer, tweeted on Wednesday. Should Canada's roughly 30,000 homeless people be eligible for lethal injections? Large numbers of people say they should. Pictured: unsheltered people in Vancouver More than a quarter of Canadians now say that being poor or homeless may warrant a deadly cocktail of drugs 'Homeless people need a roof over their heads, not a lethal injection. End homelessness, not the lives of the homeless.' The survey, by Canadian polling firm Research Co, found that 27 percent of respondents said MAID should be available to those in poverty, while 28 percent said the same for the country's roughly 30,000 homeless people. Poll Should doctor-assisted suicide be available where you live? Yes No Not sure Should doctor-assisted suicide be available where you live? Yes 2677 votes No 2331 votes Not sure 336 votes Now share your opinion Another 43 percent of Canadians say the mentally ill should be allowed to get a doctor's help ending their lives, and half the nation says those with disabilities should be eligible for MAID. The survey also found broad support for the program overall nearly three quarters of Canadians say the country has the right policies in place for letting people seek medical assistance in dying. The survey comes as Canada's politicians weigh whether to expand its assisted suicide program to allow children and the mentally ill to end their lives. Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, warns of a 'slippery slope' Many Canadians support euthanasia and the campaign group, Dying With Dignity, says procedures are 'driven by compassion, an end to suffering and discrimination and desire for personal autonomy.' But rights groups say the country's regulations lack necessary safeguards, devalue the lives of disabled people, and prompt doctors and health workers to suggest the procedure to those who might not otherwise consider it. Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, said Canada has been on a dangerous 'slippery slope' to widespread assisted suicide since the law was introduced in 2016. 'We said we were going to have safeguards and guardrails, but the next government can simply open it up further by making a decision and that's exactly what's happening,' Schadenberg told DailyMail.com. Euthanasia is legal in seven countries Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain plus several states in Australia. It's only available to children in the Netherlands and Belgium. There were more than 10,000 deaths by euthanasia in 2021, an increase of about a third from the previous year It's not yet clear whether the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (center) will push for expanding access to assisted suicides Euthanasia is legal in seven countries Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain plus several states in Australia Other jurisdictions, including a growing number of US states, allow doctor-assisted suicide in which patients take the drug themselves, typically crushing up and drinking a lethal dose of pills prescribed by a physician. In Canada, both options are referred to as MAiD, though more than 99.9 percent of such procedures are carried out by a doctor. There were more than 10,000 such deaths in 2021, an increase of about a third from the previous year. Canada's road to allowing euthanasia began in 2015, when its top court declared that outlawing assisted suicide deprived people of their dignity and autonomy. It gave national leaders a year to draft legislation. The resulting 2016 law legalized both euthanasia and assisted suicide for people aged 18 and over, provided they met certain conditions: They had to have a serious, advanced condition, disease, or disability that was causing suffering and their death was looming. The law was later amended to allow people who are not terminally ill to choose death, significantly broadening the number of eligible people. Critics say that change removed a key safeguard aimed at protecting people with potentially decades of life left. Today, any adult with a serious illness, disease, or disability can seek help in dying. Cornell University's medical school has raised eyebrows with it's new offering: a free course on how to become a 'better ally' to people of color. The five-hour virtual training course includes a series of exercises designed to help people learn to be better allies in the 'fight against racism,' specifically focusing on 'anti-Black racism.' One exercise provides a series of instructions on how to apologize for a 20-year-old Facebook post that may now come off as offensive, and provides Chris Hemsworth's 2016 apology for wearing a Native American costume as a model example. Cornell Center for Health Equity launched 'Racial Allyship Training' in April. It was initially developed in response to the global uproar instigated by the death of George Floyd in May of 2020. The six-part course includes videos, multiple choice questions and action plans to create for the future. The training provides a series of instructions on how to apologize for 20-year-old Facebook posts that may now come off as offensive The idea was born in July 2020, during the aftermath of George Floyd's death, when a group of Cornell students and faculty realized there was a need for skill-based virtual learning opportunities focused on 'racial allyship,' and decided to develop their own course. The goal of the course is to provide anyone who wants to learn to be a better ally with essential skills and tools they can use in their personal and professional lives. Originally the course was meant for 'white allies' only, according to Lara Parilla, a co-director of the center, but students of color expressed interest in the course and the role white allies should be playing to address racial discrimination. Another student of color suggested the course should be included in the orientation for all incoming Cornell students, according to the College Fix. The course includes four modules: 'rethinking race and its effects on society,' 'the fundamental attribution error,' 'building and practicing allyship skills' and how to 'create an action plan.' The first module discusses what it means to call racism a public health issue, explore what isn't taught in U.S. classrooms about the history of systemic racism in this country, and highlight the differences between authentic and performative allyship, according to Cornell. The section provides a list of vocabulary to become familiar with such as: 'B.I.P.O.C (BIPOC): Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color NB', 'cancel culture' and 'cultural appropriation.' Module two focuses on exploring fundamental attribution error, also known as correspondence bias or attribution effect, and how it impacts allyship. It shared a video which is meant to 'shed light on the reality of how difficult it often is for historically oppressed people to succeed in our society, not due to personally-directed racist experiences, but rather as the result of long-standing institutionalized racist practices and policies,' according to the course. The 'allyship skills' sections teaches student how to integrate anti-racism skills and tools in everyday life. It has students watch a talk on white people fighting racism, and analyzes a post by actor Chris Hemsworth apologizing for wearing a Native American costume to a New Year's Eve party in 2016. Chris Hemsworth addressed the photo from New Year's Eve that saw him and wife Elsa Pataky (left) dress up in Native American costumes in a lengthy apology in 2016 Hemsworth shared a lengthy twitter post apologizing for his choice of costume while also pledging his support for the Standing Rock protests in the US.: 'I was stupidly unaware of the offence this may have caused and the sensitivity around this issue. I sincerely and unreservedly apologize to all First Nations people for this thoughtless action.' According to the training course, this is an example of how to properly learn from prior mistakes. 'Learning from your mistakes and embracing discomfort are integral to being a good ally,' it writes. 'Anti-racist allies need to address marginalization, create equitable and inclusive environments, and respond to common criticisms of anti-racism action through case scenarios in professional and personal settings,' it reads. This section advises students to look back on their Facebook posts and apologize for anything offensive they may have said, even if it was 20 years ago. 'Twenty years ago, when you were 17, you made a Facebook post saying you wanted to obtain welfare for your dogs because they are 'mixed in color, unemployed, lazy, can't speak English and have no friggin clue who their Daddies are,' the scenario explains. 'This post has resurfaced, and a co-worker has brought it up with HR. You are sure you do not find this funny or appropriate now, so you.' The correct answer is to 'Apologize and explain that this is not who you are now and that you will take some steps to educate yourself further.' The courses says NOT to: 'Take the post down without saying anything,' ' Explain to HR that it's what everyone did back then' or 'Move on with your life silently because you know in your heart that you meant no harm.' 'Allyship requires practice and openness. Be gentile with yourself because nobody is born a perfect ally. All of us have the capacity to learn and grown from our errors,' the video says. 'Being open to feedback, constantly evolving your thinking, and embracing discomfort.' Cornell University's medical school has raised eyebrows with it's new offering: a free course on how to become a 'better ally' to people of color The teacher in the video says: 'Be gentile with yourself because nobody is born a perfect ally' One section defines terms like 'woke,' 'cultural appropriation' and 'racial disparity.' The course includes four modules: 'rethinking race and its effects on society,' 'the fundamental attribution error,' 'building and practicing allyship skills' and how to 'create an action plan' 'We hope to see that people will form discussion groups during or after they complete the training to process the material and think more deeply about how as individuals, or as a group, they can apply allyship strategies in their personal or professional contexts,' Dr. Monika Safford told The College Fix via email. She said health 'inequities' are 'pervasivefrom infant mortality to maternal mortality to cancer and heart/stroke disease mortality.' 'While the way we have chosen to structure our society is a major influence on these inequities, there are numerous practices in the healthcare field that contribute, as do our own implicit biases as healthcare professionals,' Dr. Safford told The Fix. 'The course seeks to make learners aware of their own biases and teaches skills that can be used in any setting, including in the healthcare field,' she told The Fix. The lesson concludes with the following message: 'Becoming good white allies means taking accountability for our actions that cause others to hurt and making an effort to educate ourselves on why those actions are hurtful.' 'We sincerely hope the course provides people with an insightful education on the historical roots of racism, a better understanding of racial discrimination and actionable strategies for effective allyship,' Dr. Safford, the center's director, said to conclude the news release. There have been other top universities creating similar racially focused training courses in recent months. In March, top American universities including Harvard and Yale were accused of peddling 'woke hysteria' by charging thousands of dollars for politically-charged diversity, equity and inclusion courses that are run by activists. The courses cover ideas like microaggressions, unconscious bias and privilege. The State University of New York also now requires all new students to take a course focused on 'Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice' (DEISJ) to graduate, starting this year. Even the New England Journal of Medicine published an article in April calling for medical students to be segregated by race The authors argued that it will allow black students to express themselves without having 'to care for the egos of White people' and worry about 'White fragility'. The US grew older, faster, last decade. Census Bureau numbers released on Thursday show the share of residents aged 65 and older grew by more than a third from 2010 to 2020 the fastest shift in more than a century. Meanwhile, the number of children aged under five fell as a share of America's population. These two factors more oldies and fewer babies pushed the median age up from 37.2 in 2010 to 38.8 in 2023. America's demographics have important consequences. The balance between the numbers of working-age adults who pay taxes, and retirees who don't work and take a pension, determines the nation's finances. Census Bureau data show the share of residents aged 65 and older grew by more than a third from 2010 to 2020 A Zoomba line dancing party in Miami Beach, Florida, where the growing cohort of 65+ boomers strut their stuff It can affect Social Security and Medicare contributions and the size of welfare payouts. The changes last decade were driven by the post-war population bulge the baby boomer generation turning 65 or older. At the same time, fewer children were being born, as more women delay having babies until later in life to focus on college and their careers, said Philip Cohen, a sociologist at the University of Maryland. Birth rates dipped in the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and never recovered. 'The crisis of work-family balance, the lack of affordable childcare, stresses associated with health care, housing, and employment stability, all put a damper on birth rates by increasing uncertainty and making it harder to decide to have and raise children,' Cohen said. There are important social and economic consequences of an aging population, including the ability of working-age adults to support older people through Social Security and Medicare contributions. Census teams calculate a dependency ratio, defined as the number of children plus the number of seniors per 100 working-age people. While the dependency ratio decreased for children from 2010 to 2020, it increased for seniors by 6.8 people. At the top end of the age spectrum, the number of people over 100 increased by half, from more than 53,000 people to more than 80,000. The share of men living into old age also jumped, benefitting from a century of vaccines and antibiotic developments, improvements in surgery and better treatment of diseases, said Thomas Perls, a professor of medicine at Boston University. 'Many more people who have the genetic makeup and environmental exposures that increase one's chances of getting to 100, but who would have otherwise died of what are now readily reversible problems, are able to fulfill their survival destiny, Perls said. Fewer children were being born last decade, as more women delayed having babies until later in life to focus on college and their careers Women runners age 75 to 80 years old race in the 100 meters at the National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida This was the first census since the US Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, and it showed same-sex households made up 1.7 percent of coupled households. Since the census didn't ask about sexual orientation, it didn't capture LGBTQ+ people who are single or don't live with a partner or spouse. The median age varied widely by race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic whites were the oldest cohort, with a median age of 44.5. Hispanics were the youngest, with a median age of 30; and a quarter of all children in the US were Hispanic. Black Americans who weren't Hispanic, had a median age of 35.5. The number was for 37.2 for Asians. Utah, home to America's largest Mormon population, was the youngest state, with a median age of 31.3, thanks to the nation's highest birthrates. The District of Columbia's median age of 33.9 was a close second due to the large number of young, working-age adults commonly found in urban areas. North Dakota was the only state where the median age declined, from 37 to 35.8, as an influx of young workers arrived to work in a booming energy sector. Maine was the oldest state in the US, with a median age of 45.1, as more baby boomers aged out of the workforce. Puerto Rico had a median age in the same range, at 45.2, as an exodus of working-age adults left the island after a series of hurricanes and government mismanagement. Residents take part in a yoga class at an assisted living facility in Boston, Massachusetts. The the number of people over 100 increased by half, from more than 53,000 people in 2010 to more than 80,000 in 2020 Older adults in four states Florida, Maine, Vermont, and West Virginia made up more than a fifth of those states' populations. Sumter County, Florida, home of the booming retirement community The Villages, had the highest median age among US counties, at 68.5; while Utah County, home to Provo, Utah, and Brigham Young University, had the lowest at 25.9. As one of the youngest baby boomers, Chris Stanley, 59, already lives in The Villages. She said her mission in later life is to let younger generations know they can affect change despite perhaps not having the same economic opportunities she did. 'I want to impart the urgency that I feel,' she said. 'They can make it better.' While people 65 and older made up 16.8 percent of America's 331 million residents in 2020, the share was still significantly lower than it was in seriously aging countries like Japan, Italy, and Greece. In those countries, the elder cohort makes up between more than a fifth and more than a quarter of the population. However, their share of the US population will continue to grow as baby boomers age. 'In the long run, immigration is the only way the United States is going to avoid population decline,' Cohen said. Savor Limited (NZX: SVR ) (Savor, the Company, or with its subsidiaries the Group), New Zealands premier hospitality group, provides its results for the financial year ended 31 March 2023. Highlights: Savors revenue was $52.4m for the year, an increase of over 70% compared to 2022. EBITDA* was $5.2m, well within the guidance range announced in January 2023, also increasing over 70% compared to 2022. Operating cash flow exceeded $6m, compared to $2.9m in the prior year. Net profit after tax was ($0.6m) compared to ($2.3m) in the prior year, after adjusting for one-off restructuring and interest costs during the year. Including those charges net profit after tax was ($2.3m). The Group continued to strengthen its Balance Sheet with the repayment of over $3.6m in debt principal over the year and the repayment of $2.85m of deferred consideration for the Amano acquisition. The three key performance indicators by which the Company measures success have delivered record results: (i) Revenue has grown from $16m (in 2021), through $30m (in 2022) to $52m now a three fold increase, (ii) EBITDA* has improved from $1.8m (in 2021), $3m (in 2022) to $5.2m this year and (iii) Operating cash flow is now in excess of $6m compared to $3m (in 2022) and zero (in 2021). These results were impacted by the early months of 2023 by the weather events throughout January and February. The Group considers the impact of the weather events on revenue for the year to be approximately $2m - $3m, which but for these, would have allowed the Group to exceed the top end of the earnings guidance range of $6m EBITDA*. Trading Update Savor is pleased to announce that with Bivacco outperforming all expectations the landlord has agreed to extend the lease making it a 10 year term. Despite the difficult macroeconomic environment, average transaction size and spend per head continues to be strong as does the level of forward bookings. Nevertheless, in a defensive move the Group raised additional capital in March 2023 to pay down all floating rate short term liabilities and strengthened its balance sheet with the repayment of $6.45m of bank debt and third party obligations. With the business delivering healthy free cash flow and the Executive team focusing on cost controls, Savor is well positioned for the winter season. Savors 5 Year Performance The Executive team is immensely proud of the Groups transformation over the last 5 years. Divesting Moa and navigating the uniquely difficult business environment that was COVID in Auckland, Savor has increased revenue by 229% since 2019, turned around operating cash flow by $10m and delivered an increase of 362% to EBITDA all the while substantially reducing debt levels (please refer to the attached tables illustrating this). Consequently, Savors Board restate their belief that the Group will soon be in a position to deliver dividends in the coming years based on the continued growth of free cash flow. *EBITDA means reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and restructuring costs, as reported in the Groups Statement of Comprehensive Income. -ENDS- Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: TWL Partnership with the Export Council of Australia NZL - Guidance Upgrade, Dividend Suspension and Buyback Programme Downer awarded three-year Defence contract extension SPG - FY23 Annual Results FPH announces its results for the 2023 financial year ikeGPS FY23 Investor Webinar ACE - Full Year Results to 31 March 2023 / Annual Report May 26th Morning Report Fonterra updates on Q3, Milk Price and capital return BLT - Revenue growth and a profitable second half year One of Australia's most powerful union bosses has been interviewed by police over sexual assault claims - and says any investigation will clear his name. John Setka 'categorically' denies the accusations which relate to an alleged March incident in West Footscray in western Melbourne. Mr Setka said he is co-operating with police. Setka has fiercely denied the allegations of sexual assault calling them 'disgusting'. John Setka 'categorically' denies the accusations which relate to an alleged incident that took place in March this year in West Footscray in western Melbourne, and said he is co-operating with police to clear his name 'I categorically deny this,' he said. 'There has been no sexual assault. It's a crock of s***, and the sad thing is that people have to stoop to this level to make allegations like that,' he told The Age. 'I welcome any investigation that will clear me, it's an absolute fabrication, an absolute lie.' The trade unionist agreed to provide a DNA sample to police and said he is willing to take a lie detector test. Victorian Police said it has been alleged a 58-year-old Footscray man sexually assaulted a woman at a residence on March 1 this year at 3am. Officers said Setka has been released while investigations are ongoing. Wife's court battle The bombshell claim comes after his estranged wife Emma Walters was separately accused of plotting to kill the Victorian secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). She was charged in March with incitement to commit conspiracy to murder after it was alleged she asked a private investigator to help her get a gun to kill her husband. Walters previously accused Setka of sexually assaulting her on March 1, claiming she was a 'traumatised woman' who had faced years of abuse. She also denies she tried to acquire a firearm to kill her husband through a meeting with private investigator Adrian Peeters. Mr Peeters visited Walters' home in March to discuss his debugging services with her, the Melbourne Magistrates Court heard this month. Detective Leading Senior Constable Daniel Ramirez claimed in court that Walters said to the investigator: 'I need you to get me a piece and I need to kill the father of my children.' The bombshell allegation comes after his estranged wife Emma Walters was accused of plotting to kill the Victorian secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (pictured) Mr Peeters claimed Walters told him she wanted to lure Setka and set him up where it would look like she was acting in self defence. She allegedly said to him she knew how to 'use it' and was willing to go through the court system. She has said she will plead not guilty to the charges. The separated couple have been in a bitter legal stoush over Setka's alleged acts of violence and alleged breaches of intervention orders. Walters is also suing police over claims officers failed to protect her after she alleged Setka had committed ongoing acts of family violence. She alleged in her Supreme Court writ she had four separate intervention orders in place to protect her - claiming she was subject to 'numerous' alleged violent incidents involving Setka. But Setka denies the domestic violence accusations - although he was convicted in 2019 of harassment towards his wife and for breaching orders. They got back together after that but have since split up. A woman has died after eating 'poisoned chocolates' she received as a gift for her 54th birthday. Lindaci Viegas Batista de Carvalho collapsed in agony after trying the sweets as she left a beauty parlour in Brazil on Saturday. Her family said she had received a number of threatening calls and messages before answering a 'suspicious' call from a courier with a package on May 20. At first she refused to eat the chocolates, but after her ex-husband joked they were a gift from him, she tried them and soon fell ill. Her sister, Lenice Batista, said her eyes rolled back and arms contracted. Carvalho was taken to hospital in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, where she was declared dead on arrival. Her family believe that she was poisoned and police have opened an investigation into her death. Photo shows Lindaci Viegas Batista de Carvalho, undated. She reportedly died in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after eating chocolates sent to her by an unknown person as a birthday gift Photo shows a box of chocolate and a bouquet of flowers sent to Lindaci Viegas Batista de Carvalho as a birthday gift, undated Her family said that she had told them she feared the chocolates 'could be poisoned' after receiving a series of threats on social media from a specific person, who has not been named. 'It was all very macabre, very premeditated,' her sister said. Suspicious of the courier's call, Carvalho asked for the package to be left for her to collect from her current boyfriend's shop in the north of the city. Batista added that Carvalho's son had tried the chocolates but spat them out, saying they tasted bad. But Carvalho started eating the chocs after her former husband said they were a gift from him, according to local media. He has since claimed he was joking and has no idea who sent them. According to her sister, the two have a good relationship and she does not consider him to be suspicious. The ongoing investigation will analyse the chocolate for traces of any substances that could have led to her death. Results are expected within a month. Police are also investigating a former partner of Carvalho's current partner. Batista told O Globo: 'We suspect that an ex of her current partner is the main suspect. 'We have evidence of her making threats, a picture of her holding a weapon with a threatening message for my sister.' The delivery driver also pleaded his innocence, saying: 'When the boy came to talk to me, everything was normal, he wasn't nervous. 'I made an innocent delivery, and I am innocent. I have a clear conscience. When I woke up, I saw the report of a lady who died with a bonbon and I thought "I made this delivery"'. Carvalho was buried on May 22 at the Catumbi cemetery. No arrests have yet been made. Carvalho was taken to hospital in Rio de Janeiro, where she was declared dead on arrival Target's market capitalization has shed more than $8 billion in the past week as investors weigh the impact of conservative backlash to the retailer's LGBT collection for Pride Month. On May 17, before the controversy exploded, Target shares closed at $160.96, giving the retailer a market valuation of roughly $74.3 billion. On Wednesday the stock closed at $143.10, down 11.1 percent from a week earlier, for a market cap of $66.1 billion, down $8.2 billion from a week earlier. The shares dropped a further 2 percent in early trading on Thursday and sat near a 52-week low. Meanwhile, presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has lashed out at Target over the retailer's LGBT collection, saying products such as trans-friendly swimwear 'spit in the face' of conservative customers. 'Target just put a target on its back from its base of consumers,' said Ramaswamy, a longshot candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, in an interview with Fox News Digital on Wednesday. Target's market capitalization has shed more than $8 billion in the past week as investors weigh the impact of conservative backlash to the retailer's LGBT collection Meanwhile, presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has lashed out at Target over the retailer's LGBT collection, saying the products 'spit in the face' of conservative customers 'Just ask Budweiser how that worked out for them,' he added, referring to a similar controversy over Bud Light's marketing partnership with a transgender influencer in April. This week, Target removed certain Pride Collection products from its stores after facing customer backlash, saying it was acting to protect employee safety. 'If a company makes a conscious business decision to alienate a significant portion of its customer base, then it's totally fair game for its customers to respond accordingly,' Ramaswamy said. 'That's not a boycott, that's just a response to a company that chooses to spit in their face,' he continued. 'I have no doubt that many companies do find wokeness to be a good short-term trick.' Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Thursday morning. Target says it has offered an LGBT-themed collection for Pride Month, which falls in June, for more than a decade. This year it includes more than 2,000 products, including clothing, books, music and home furnishings. But one item that drew particular conservative ire was 'tuck friendly' women's swimwear designed to accommodate biologically male genitalia. One item that drew particular conservative ire was 'tuck friendly' women's swimwear designed to accommodate biologically male genitalia Target CEO Brian Cornell is seen above. This week, Target removed certain Pride Collection products from its stores after facing customer backlash Other items in the collection include 'gender fluid' mugs, 'queer all year' calendars and books for children aged 2-8 titled 'Bye Bye, Binary,' 'Pride 1,2,3' and 'I'm not a girl.' 'Since introducing this year's collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and wellbeing while at work,' Target said in a statement on Wednesday in response to the backlash. 'Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior,' the Minneapolis-based retailer said. The products Target is withdrawing are being removed from all its US stores and from its website, a spokesperson said. While various Pride Collection products are under review, the only ones now being removed are the LGBTQ brand Abprallen, which has come under scrutiny for its association with British designer Erik Carnell. Carnell has faced social media backlash for designing merchandise with images of pentagrams, horned skulls and other Satanic-themed products. Target has relocated Pride Month displays to the back of stores in certain Southern locations, in response to online complaints and in-store confrontations that it says threatened employees. But now, Target faces a second backlash from pro-LGBT customers who are upset by the retailer's reaction to conservative protests, and say the company should have stood up to critics. Civil rights groups accused Target of caving to bigoted anti-LGBT customers who tipped over displays and expressed outrage over gender-fluid bathing suits. 'Target should put the products back on the shelves and ensure their Pride displays are visible on the floors, not pushed into the proverbial closet,' Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said in a statement. 'That's what the bullies want.' Target has relocated Pride Month displays to the back of stores in certain Southern locations, in response to online complaints and in-store confrontations The uproar over Targets Pride Month marketing - and its response to critics - is just the latest example of how companies are struggling to cater to different groups of customers at a time of extreme cultural divides, particularly around transgender rights. Bud Light is still dealing with the fallout from its attempt to broaden its customer base by sending transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney a beer can with her face on it, which Mulvaney then displayed in an Instagram post, igniting the backlash. Bud Light's parent company is tripling its US marketing spending this summer as it tries to restore lost sales. Target has long been seen as a trailblazer among retailers in the way it embraced LGBTQ+ rights and customers. It was among the first to showcase themed merchandise to honor Pride Month, which takes place in June, and it has been out front in developing relationships with LGBTQ+ suppliers. It has also faced backlash in the past. In 2016, when a national debate exploded over transgender rights, the company declared that 'inclusivity is a core belief at Target' and said it supported transgender employees and customers using whichever restroom or fitting room 'corresponds with their gender identity.' But even after being threatened with boycotts by some customers, Target announced months later that more stores would make available a single-toilet bathroom with a door that could be locked. Dr Alberto Fioletti, 31, (pictured) appeared in court charged with murder An Italian vet today appeared in court charged with murdering a veterinary nurse in her suburban beachside home. Dr Alberto Fioletti, 31, is accused of stabbing Stephanie Hodgkinson, 34, to death at her ground floor flat on Rosemount Road, Bournemouth. The veterinary nurse died after suffering a single stab wound to her chest at her home on a quiet cul-de-sac, located just minutes from Alum Chine Beach. Police discovered the 34-year-old dead in her home at 12.19pm on May 12 after being called to the incident by ambulance services. Fioletti, 31, who was known to the victim, was arrested on suspicion of murder and also taken to hospital for serious injuries sustained during the same incident. Stephanie Hodgkinson, 34, (pictured left) was found dead at her flat on Rosemount Road, Bournemouth near Alum Chine Beach Stephanie Hodgkinson, 34, was found dead at her ground floor flat on a quiet suburban cul de sac in Bournemouth near Alum Chine Beach The vet was charged with Mrs Hodgkinson's murder after being well enough to be discharged from hospital. Fioletti, of West Street, in the nearby town of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, today appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court via a video link. He spoke only to confirm his name and address at a short hearing. The vet has been remanded in custody and will appear at Winchester Crown Court tomorrow. Floral tributes and candles were left outside the property following Mrs Hodgkinson's death, which shocked the local community. Police found the 34-year-old dead at her home after they were called by ambulance services Neighbours said she was estranged from her husband and had lived in the flat with her children for about five years. She worked as a veterinary nurse at the Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists based in Ringwood, Hampshire. A spokesperson for the veterinary surgery said: 'We are shocked and deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with Stephanie's family at this tragic time. 'As this matter is now the subject of active court proceedings, we are unable to comment further.' Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins, of the Major Crime Investigation Team said: 'Our thoughts remain with Stephanie's family and we are continuing to provide updates of developments from our investigation to them. We will continue to do all we can to support them.' This is the terrifying moment six men wielding machetes and knives stormed into a London chicken shop to launch a savage attack on a young man. CCTV cameras inside the restaurant in Haringey, in the north of the capital, captured the brutal attack by the balaclava-clad gang at around 9.15pm on May 14. The Metropolitan Police said it made one arrest of a 17-year-old male following the incident on West Green Road and is appealing for more witnesses. Video footage of the attack shows a 20-year-old man wearing a black face covering exiting the restaurant with his food. But as he approaches the door, the gang of masked man, wearing all black and with their hoods up, barges in with machetes and knives raised in the air. As the 20-year-old man approaches the door, the gang of masked man, wearing all black and with their hoods up, barges in with machetes and knives raised in the air They begin swinging their bladed weapons at the victim as he falls to the floor The Metropolitan Police said it made one arrest of a 17-year-old male following the incident on West Green Road and is appealing for more witnesses When he is on the floor the gang begin to kick and stamp on him CCTV cameras inside the restaurant in Haringey, in the north of the capital, captured the brutal attack by the balaclava-clad gang at around 9.15pm on May 14 They begin swinging their bladed weapons at the victim as he falls to the floor, where they begin to kick and stamp on him. The target crawls underneath the counter in a desperate bid to get away from his attackers as the other customers and employees flee for their lives. READ MORE: Inspiring moment London teen attempts to sit up for the first time more than two years after unprovoked stabbing left him paralysed Advertisement A camera which covers the till and kitchen side of the eatery shows the victim curled on the floor as one attacker uses a small knife to try and stab him more than a dozen times. Meanwhile others lean over the counter and attempt to land a hit with their machetes, while one thug continues to kick him. Amid the confusion, one of the machetes falls on the floor and the victim is able to grab a hold of it before he begins to try and defend himself. It is at this moment the gang flee out the front of the restaurant. A spokesperson for the Met told MailOnline today: 'Police were called at about 21:15hrs on Sunday, May 14 to reports of a stabbing on West Green Road, N15. 'Officers attended and found a 20-year-old man injured. 'He was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service; where his condition was assessed as not life-threatening or life-changing. A knife was recovered at the scene. 'A second male, aged 17 was found with a stab injury. 'He has also been taken to hospital with injuries that were assessed as not life-threatening or life-changing. 'He was arrested in connection with the incident.' Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 6997/14May. The target crawls underneath the counter in a desperate bid to get away from his attackers as the other customers and employees flee for their lives A camera which covers the till and kitchen side of the eatery shows the victim curled on the floor as one attacker uses a small knife to try and stab him more than a dozen times Meanwhile others lean over the counter and attempt to land a hit with their machetes, while one thug continues to kick him Amid the confusion, one of the machetes falls on the floor and the victim is able to grab a hold of it before he begins to try and defend himself. It is at this moment the gang flee out the front of the restaurant It comes after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan insisted earlier this month that tackling violent crime remains his 'number one priority'. It came after two fatal stabbings took the total number of teenagers murdered in the capital to 151 since he was elected seven years ago. Sadiq Khan said at the time: 'I am devastated for the families and friends of those in our city who have lost their lives to senseless violence. 'Every death leaves lives destroyed, communities hurting and families heartbroken. 'Bearing down on violent crime and making our city safe for everyone is my number one priority as Mayor.' Stormy Daniels addressed the Oxford Union for the second time last night, just days after a judge set a date for former President Donald Trump to stand trial in the 'hush money' case involving the adult star. Daniels, 44, spoke on the effects of social media, the abuse she has received after speaking out against the former president, and her feelings of being persecuted for having worked as a porn star. Daniels previously appeared at the Union in 2018 for a talk entitled 'Sex, Guns & Other Fluff: How Porn Can Set You Free', where she argued that porn stars must not be stigmatized for their work. The Louisiana native was invited back a second time to speak in the historic chamber following Trump's indictment earlier this year where he is charged with making a $130,000 payment to Daniels during his presidential campaign. Daniels addressed her alleged past encounter with the former president in her talk. The adult star said she did not want their meeting to be branded an affair as she did 'not consider 90 seconds of the worst part of my life an affair'. She also called the meeting with Trump 'unimpressive'. Stormy Daniels spoke on the effects of social media and the abuse she has received after speaking out against the former president at the Oxford Union last night Daniels stands at the podium as she speaks to students at the Oxford Union yesterday evening Stormy Daniels (centre) was invited back a second time to the Oxford Union to speak in the historic chamber following Trump's indictment earlier this year Explaining her decision to speak out, Daniels said she had signed an NDA restricting her from coming forward using a fake name before she subsequently went on TV to air her claims. READ MORE: Furious Trump glares into the camera and shakes his fists as judge sets Stormy Daniels trial for March 25, 2024 Advertisement She said she partly regretted signing the NDA and said it would have saved her $600,000 and a barrage of online abuse had she stayed quiet. Daniels also said she was 'thrilled' for E Jean Carroll following her recent civil case win where a jury ruled that Trump had sexually assaulted her in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s. She said she was in shock when Carroll was asked why she had not screamed in the alleged incident, 'because I didn't scream, it didn't even register for me to do so', The Oxford Student reported. Daniels was later asked about the power dynamics of the alleged encounter with Donald Trump. She told the moderator that the meeting was 'consensual' and that she 'didn't say no', but said Trump 'physically intimidated me by putting himself in between me and the door.' Speaking to the chamber last night, Daniels also told of the impact that social media abuse had on her since raising the allegations against Trump. 'I can't tell you how many times I laid on the floor and wanted to die' after being attacked by 'trolls and bots', said Daniels, The Oxford Student reported. The 44-year-old said she would frequently be targeted on social media and called derogatory names. Former President Trump appears by video conferencing during a hearing regarding the criminal case against him over a hush money payment, Manhattan state court, New York, May 23, 2023 Stormy Daniels previously appeared at the Oxford Union in 2018 for a talk entitled 'Sex, Guns & Other Fluff: How Porn Can Set You Free' Former President Donald Trump appears in court for his arraignment in New York in April 2023 Trump has denied having an affair with pronstar Stormy Daniels. He is charged with facilitating $130,000 in hush money payments to keep her quiet about their alleged relationship Despite this, her talk focused around ignoring online vitriol, telling students: 'the internet is not real, and social media cannot hurt you'. She added: 'I can put up a tweet that is positive or something neutral that has no effect on anybody, and it will get a very small number of comments or retweets. If I put up something negative, it explodes.' The adult star also apologized at one point for frequently swearing throughout her talk, The Oxford Student wrote, stating: 'the F word is one of my favorite words'. It comes after Daniels yesterday told Good Morning Britain that she regretted revealing details of her alleged affair with Trump after she and her family have faced massive backlash - including someone attacking her horse. Host Susanna Reid yesterday morning asked her: 'As you sat down you said "I now regret speaking out", why?' to which she replied 'because nobody cares what the truth is anymore.' Daniels said she came forward 'to set an example for my daughter and other young women so that she grows up and says, "my mom wasn't bullied and the people in power can't bully you or control you"'. American pornographic film actress and director Stormy Daniels spoke at the Oxford Union Daniels addressed her alleged past encounter with the former president in her talk Daniels appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday 24 May, speaking on the case But she also admitted that the threats made against her had increased, alleging Trump supporters climbed her fence and attacked her horse, Redemption, two weeks ago. Having spoken out on death threats before, she said she would still give evidence against Trump. She said that she was not personally frightened of the president but his 'sycophants and his followers'. She told the show's presenters she does not 'feel defeated' because she 'did not lose' and 'spoke her truth' but admitted it 'was just for nothing', adding 'if people don't want to face facts and see the truth... I'd rather have had the time back with my family.' A Wyoming police officer is under investigation after bodycam footage emerged appearing to show him dragging a teenager out of his vehicle's window by the neck. The edited footage of the January incident shows officer Blake Stinson stopping and eventually arresting the 17-year-old in Cody after claiming the teen had nearly hit a pedestrian on a crosswalk. The nine-minute clip puts together several bodycam videos and was first posted on Monday by the LackLuster YouTube channel, which focuses on content they say shows unwarranted violence from police officers. The video has since gone viral, gathering more than 467,000 views. It starts with the officer angrily demanding the boy open the vehicle's door as the teen says his mom is on the way. 'I'm going to drag you out,' Stinson says. 'You decide.' Cody, Wyoming police officer Blake Stinson is is under investigation after bodycam footage emerged appearing to show him dragging a teenager out of his vehicle by the neck Stinson and another officer are seen pulling the teen out of the car through the open window 'I'm going to drag you out,' Stinson said before grabbing the teen. 'You decide' The teen had previously asked the officer if he could call his mom, who owned the vehicle he was driving when he was pulled over by the local high school. When he offered Stinson the phone so he could talk to his mom about the car's registration and insurance documents, the officer declines and tells him to step out of the vehicle. 'I can smell marijuana in the vehicle, get out!' he screams. The teen then told the cop he was not 18, and once again asked if he could wait for his mom, but the officer kept demanding he exit the vehicle. 'It doesnt matter. I saw a violation, I stopped you for it, and youve already talked back to me about getting your stuff (documents) out,' Sinton told the boy. Stinson and another officer then proceed to physically pull the teen out of the car through the open window. 'When you dont do what youre told, this is what happens,' Stinson is heard saying. The teen's mother Teresa Piper is seen arriving at the scene at the end of the edited clip and telling another officer that both she and her son have had previous interactions with Stinson, who arrested her for DUI in 2017. Piper told DailyMail.com on Thursday that her son was terrified the moment Stinson pulled him over because the officer had allegedly harassed him before, as well as his 14-year-old sister, who was in the backseat. While Stinson told fellow officers at the scene that the teen had failed to yield for a pedestrian, the footage appears to show the pedestrian entering the crosswalk after the boy passes the intersection. Stinson claimed the teen had nearly hit a pedestrian on a crosswalk near the local high school The teen's mother Teresa Piper is seen arriving at the scene at the end of the edited clip and telling another officer that both she and her son have had previous interactions with Stinson Piper told DailyMail.com her son was terrified the moment Stinson pulled him over, as well as his 14-year-old sister, who was in the backseat Cody Police Chief Chuck Baker said in a statement on Wednesday the incident is being investigated, adding that 'Its obvious [Stinson] was emotionally charged for really no reason.' But Baker also asked the public to be conscious the viral video has been edited and has a voiceover. 'We also ask the community to understand that some videos and social media content which show portions of the video have been edited and narrated to show selective parts of the interaction, and do not necessarily tell the whole story,' the press release stated. Piper, who was on the phone with the teen when he was dragged out of the car, says her son was left bruised and embarrassed from the incident, which happened in front of some of his classmates. 'He's humiliated and not only he, but my 14-year-old daughter was in the back seat and she's been bullied at school since then,' the mom shared. Now, Piper is demanding Stinson be fired, and the police department needs to reevaluate how they treat people, especially juveniles. DailyMail.com has reached out to officer Stinson as well as to Cody police chief Chuck Baker. It comes amid a public inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh, 31 The outgoing chief constable of Police Scotland has admitted the force 'is institutionally racist and discriminatory'. Sir Iain Livingstone said that prejudice and bad behaviour within the force was 'rightly of great concern', and comes amid a wider controversy about policing culture in the UK. The police chief said that acknowledging the issue exists is 'essential' to a commitment to champion equality and become 'an anti-racist service'. It comes just days after it was announced that thousands more Police Scotland officers would be enlisted to stamp out offensive 'banter' and so-called 'canteen culture'. A recent report uncovered 'instances of ongoing discrimination against minoritised communities, including first-hand accounts of racism, sexism and homophobia' by serving officers. Sir Iain Livingstone said prejudice and bad behaviour in the force was 'rightly of great concern' Sheku Bayoh died after he was restrained by police officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in May 2015 The review also heard instances of people being 'punished' for raising their concerns about the culture within Police Scotland. Sir Iain, who is retiring on August 10, put the 'onus' on the force to rid itself of institutional racism. Speaking at a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority on Thursday, he said: 'The right thing for me to do as chief constable is to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist. 'Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory. 'Publicly acknowledging these institutional issues exist is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service. READ MORE: Sister of engineer who died after being restrained by police reveals their family still receive racist abuse as inquiry into his death resumes Advertisement 'It is also critical to our determination to lead wider change in society. 'Prejudice and bad behaviour within policing, as highlighted by court and conduct cases, various independent reviews and by listening to our own officers and staff over recent years, is rightly of great concern and is utterly condemned. 'There is no place in Police Scotland for those who reject our values and standards.' He stressed that it 'absolutely does not mean' all officers and staff are racist, sexist or homophobic. Sir Iain said acknowledging institutional racism within policing should act as a 'catalyst' for change. 'Acknowledging institutional discrimination, acknowledging institutional racism, will, I believe, act as a catalyst to drive and embed progress,' he said. Police Scotland is under pressure due to an ongoing public inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh, who died after he was restrained by police officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in May 2015. Mr Bayoh, 31, stopped breathing after he was brought to the ground and restrained with leg and handcuffs by six police officers responding to a call. The public inquiry is investigating the circumstances after Mr Bayoh's death and whether racism played a factor. Mr Bayoh's sister Kadi Johnson said that she believed her brother would still be alive had he not come into contact with the police. His family's solicitor Aamer Anwar said Sir Iain's statement is testament to families like them and others and 'all those struggles fought by the victims of racial violence and injustice'. Outgoing chief constable of Police Scotland, Sir Iain Livingstone, has admitted the force 'is institutionally racist' Around 100 campaigners joined a vigil outside Capital House in Edinburgh in November last year as the second stage of the public inquiry resumed Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf hailed the 'historic' statement during First Minister's Questions on Thursday He added: 'Today is testament to all those officers who took an oath to serve our community, but because of their race, sexuality or gender were persecuted and discriminated against by their police service. 'The family of Sheku Bayoh want me to thank the chief constable for raising his voice for the truth and being brave enough to say what black and Asian communities have known for decades.' Lord Bracadale, who is chairing the inquiry into Mr Bayoh's death, said it welcomes Sir Iain's statement. He said: 'The Sheku Bayoh inquiry was set up to examine the events surrounding the death of Mr Bayoh, including whether race was a factor in those events. 'I look forward to the continued co-operation of Police Scotland in the work of the inquiry.' Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf hailed Sir Iain's statement as 'historic' and 'monumental'. At First Minister's Questions in Holyrood, Mr Yousaf said: 'There is no doubt that institutional racism exists in our society, and I want to take a moment just to say as a person of colour the statement from the chief constable is monumental, historic.' The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was shot in the chest by a Mississippi police officer after dialing 911 for help has called for the cop to be fired - and reveals her injured child asked: 'Why did he shoot me?' Aderrien Murry 'came within an inch of losing his life' on Saturday morning when he was shot in the chest by Greg Capers. He suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver from the shooting and was given a chest tube and placed on a ventilator at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. His mother Nakala Murry claimed the Indianola Police Department officer had his gun drawn at the front door and shot her son as he walked around the corner of a hallway and into the living room, after the cop had asked him to come outside. The wounded boy, who is now recovering at home after being released from hospital on Wednesday, reportedly asked his mother: 'Why did he shoot me? What did I do?' The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was shot in the chest by a Mississippi police officer after dialing 911 for help has called for the cop to be fired Aderrien Murry 'came within an inch of losing his life' on Saturday morning when he was shot in the chest by Indianola Police Department officer Greg Capers Aderrien had called police concerned about his mother's safety when the 'irate' father of his half sister arrived at their home at 4am Saturday. He called the police for help and an officer arrived to deal with the domestic disturbance call, according to Nakala and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI). Nakala claimed the officer 'had his gun drawn at the front door and asked those inside the home to come outside', before her son was shot as he walked around the hallway corner. 'Once he came from around the corner, he got shot,' she said in a press conference outside Indianolas city hall annex building on Monday. 'I cannot grasp why. The same cop that told him to come out of the house. (Aderrien) did, and he got shot.' Nakala put her hand over her son's wound to apply pressure while he 'sang gospel songs and prayed while bleeding out'. She claimed the officer who shot him tried to help render first aid and put his hand over hers to try to stop Aderriens bleeding. The medics were 'very attentive' when they arrived. The family's attorney Carlos Moore claimed Aderrien 'came within an inch of losing his life'. He said: 'Its not OK for a cop to do this and get away with this. 'The mother asked Aderrien to call the police on her daughters father. 'He walked out of his room as directed by the police and he got shot.' Nakala added that the shooting took place 'one to two minutes' after the officer asked everyone in the house to come outside. Her daughter and two-year-old nephew were in the house at the time of the shooting. The father of Nakala's daughter was arrested during the day on Saturday but was released because she had not filed a police report, according to Moore. 'When was I going to have time to do that? I was in the hospital with my son,' Nakala said. During the emotional press conference on Monday, she held up a sign which read: 'Your "best" cop shot my baby'. Aderrien told his friends and family he was recovering with a post of Facebook and wrote: 'Am okay y'all.' 'No one came to the hospital from the police station,' even four days after Aderrien was shot, Nakala told CNN. 'Im just happy my son is alive.' Nakala Murry claimed the officer had his gun drawn at the front door and shot her son as he walked around the corner of a hallway Aderrien suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver from the shooting and was given a chest tube and placed on a ventilator at hospital His mother put her hand over his gunshot wound to apply pressure while he 'sang gospel songs and prayed while bleeding out' Attorney Moore is furious that Capers is still employed by the Indianola Police Department and said: 'We believe that the city and the officer should be liable to Aderrien Murray, for the damages they have caused.' They held a sit-in protest outside Indianola City Hall on Thursday morning. Moore said his request for body camera footage of the incident to be released was rejected because of 'an ongoing investigation.' But he has been told there is a video of the shooting from a nearby gas station. The Indianola Board of Aldermen voted to place Capers on paid administrative leave during the investigation, according to attorney Moore. Aderrien's family believe this is a step in the right direction but are demanding for him to fired over the shooting. The MBI, which is investigating the shooting, issued a statement on the weekend. It said it is 'currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence' and would hand over its findings to the state attorney generals office after completing the investigation. Dailymail.com has gone to Indianola Police Department for comment. Police video shows the moment cops unearthed a wooden trunk that contained the remains of a missing soap opera actor in Brazil. Jefferson Machado, 44, disappeared from his Rio de Janeiro home in January and was officially reported missing in February before cops discovered his body Monday. The Rio de Janeiro State Civil Police footage was revealed Wednesday after forensic workers confirmed Machado's body through his fingerprints. Two men can be seen using a jackhammer, pickaxes and a shovel to break open the concrete floor and dig out the dirt from an outhouse and then cops lifted the trunk out of a six-foot hole. Cops with the Rio de Janeiro State Civil Police lift the wooden trunk with the remains of missing actor Jefferson Machado. The 44-year-old's cause of death has not been revealed, but a family lawyers suggested he may have been choked to death because cops found he had a metal wire wrapped around his neck Brazilian soap opera actor Jefferson Machado disappeared from his home in January and was officially declared missing in February Machado had his hands tied and a metal wire wrapped around his neck, family lawyer Jairo Malgahaes revealed, according to Brazilian news outlet G1. 'This detail suggests that he was the target of a strangulation, but we are still waiting for the report with the cause of death,' he said. Malgahaes said Machado's body was in a state of decomposition and that it had traces of a liquid that was spilled over it to minimize the foul odor. An autopsy done Thursday could not reveal the cause of Machados death because of the advanced composition of his body. Because the medical examiner was unable to provide a cause of death, due to airline security measures his body will be unable to be flown to his home state of Santa Catarina and will be taken there by car instead. The actor's body was discovered at a property in the western Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Campo Grande. The owner of the home told police that she rented the outhouse to a person, who police have identified as a person of interest but who remained missing as of Thursday. No arrests have been reported yet by Rio de Janeiro authorities. Jefferson Machado's most recent acting role was in the soap opera 'Reis,' which aired on Record TV A pickaxe is used to break the ground under the concrete floor of a property where Brazilian cops discovered the body of missing actor Jefferson Machado inside a wooden trunk on Monday A jackhammer is used to break the concrete floor of an outhouse in Rio de Janeiro where the remains of Brazilian actor Jefferson Machado were found inside a wooden trunk The trunk was found buried six feet under the floor of the outhouse that was rented by the property owner to a man who has been identified by Rio de Janeiro authorities but not yet arrested R7 news reported that Machado appeared to have known the person who rented the outhouse and that he was spotted in April visiting. Machado disappeared from his home, also in Campo Grande, on 27 when non-governmental agency workers visited the residence and discovered that the animal-loving actor had abandoned his eight dogs. Six of the dogs were found in Campo Grande and the nearby neighborhoods of Santa Cruz and Pechincha. He was officially registered as a missing person February 9. His mother, Maria das Dores told Brazilian outlet Noticias do Dia that she last spoke to Machado on January 29 and said he had traveled to Sao Paulo to interview for a job and staying at a friend's home. But they became increasingly worried because Machado had stopped calling them and text messages sent from his cellphone were regularly misspelled, which was uncharacteristic of him. On one occasion, he told his mother he could not make a video phone call because he had dropped his cellphone in a toilet. Their anxiety grew in February when his cloud's password was changed and the cellphone's location was deactivated. A week before Mother's Day, Malgahaes said the family visited the police station and were told that it was possible that Machado was dead. Brazilian actor Jefferson Machado was an avid animal lover and owned eight dogs Cops in Rio de Janeiro searched an outhouse Monday and discovered the body of missing actor Jefferson Machado tied up inside a wooden trunk that was buried under the floor of the property. The 44-year-old also had a metal wire wrapped around his neck. He is said to have known the person who was living in the outhouse, who was still missing as of Thursday The trunk was removed from under the floor by Civil Police agents in Rio de Janeiro on Monday Machado's most recent acting gig was in 2022 when he played the role of a soldier on the soap opera, 'Reis,' which aired on Record TV. He was born in the southern Brazil state of Santa Catarina. Machado graduated in journalism and cinema, and split 10 years living in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro before returning to Santa Catarina in 2008 to work in the television industry. He then returned to Rio de Janeiro in pursuit of an acting career. 'I had a blessed mother who put me to be an altar boy at the church, work as a model, do theater at school, participate in gymkhanas and gave me a surfboard to enjoy the sea,' he once wrote on his social media networks. With 99.65 percent of votes counted in the elections to the Greek parliament held on Sunday, May 21, the conservative New Democracy (ND) party led by incumbent Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emerged as the single largest party with 40.79 percent of the votes and 146 seats. However, it fell short of a simple majority. The major opposition party, Syriza, led by Alexis Tsipras, secured only 20 percent of the votes and 71 seats (-15). The liberal-socialist PASOK-KINAL coalition and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) significantly improved their performance, winning 41 (+19) and 26 seats (+11), respectively. The elections saw a turnout of 60.92 percent despite that voting was compulsory. A voter casts her vote in Athens, Greece, on May 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) According to reports, ND is unwilling to form a coalition with any other party and Mitsotakis has expressed willingness to go for a repeat vote in June where he might get a majority due to different electoral rules. The elections were held amid a great deal of dissatisfaction with the major political parties. The ND governments attacks on the rights of workers across sectors, especially health and education, were met with protests from trade unions. The government also faced a backlash after a horrific train accident and a wire-tapping scandal. Under the ND government, austerity policies intensified. Close to 30 percent of Greeks are at risk of poverty or social exclusion and real wages of workers have declined by 25 percent since 2007. Greece has also been a key supporter of Ukraine, sending weapons and tank operators and spending 3.5 percent of its GDP on defense, more than any other NATO member. from the Peoples Dispatch / Globetrotter News Service Tina Turner admitted she considered assisted suicide in 2016 before her husband Erwin Bach donated his kidney to her. The beloved star died at the age of 83 at her home in Kusnach near Zurich, Switzerland, after battling with health troubles for years. She revealed in her memoir that at the end of 2016, she signed up to an assisted suicide organization as she mentally prepared herself for the possibility of dying. Turner had found out that her unmanaged high blood pressure had accelerated her kidney damage - and if her body was going to shut down, she started making peace with the idea of death. Her husband Bach ended up donating his kidney to her in 2017. The final image Tina Turner posted of herself on March 22 2021, as she told her fans she was excited for the release of her documentary 'Tina' Tina Turner and her husband Erwin Bach. Turner revealed she considered assisted suicide when she realized her kidneys were failing due to her high blood pressure. Her husband ended up offering to give her an organ She wrote in her book: 'I think that's when the idea of my death became a reality for Erwin. He was very emotional about not wanting to lose me, not wanting me to leave' The final image Tina posted of herself on March 22 2021 showed her looking frail - as she told her fans she was excited for the release of her documentary 'Tina.' In an excerpt of her book published by DailyMail.com, Turner wrote: 'By December 2016, my kidneys were at a new low of 20 per cent and plunging rapidly. And I faced two choices: either regular dialysis or a kidney transplant. 'It wasn't my idea of life. But the toxins in my body had started taking over. I couldn't eat. I was surviving, but not living. 'I began to think about death. If my kidneys were going, and it was time for me to die, I could accept that. It was OK. When it's time, it's really time. I didn't mind the thought of dying, but I was concerned about how I would go. 'One of the benefits of living in Switzerland is that assisted suicide is legal, though the patient has to inject the lethal drug herself. 'There are several organizations that facilitate the process, including Exit and Dignitas. I signed up to be a member of Exit, just in case. 'I think that's when the idea of my death became a reality for Erwin. He was very emotional about not wanting to lose me, not wanting me to leave.' Tina Turner revealed that it was in that moment that her husband offered her a kidney. She recalled: 'He said he didn't want another woman, or another life; we were happy and he'd do anything to keep us together. Oprah Winfrey and Tina Turner attend opening night of 'Tina - The Tina Turner Musical' at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 7, 2019 Tina Turner performs onstage at the World Music Theater, Tinley Park, Illinois, June 28, 1997 'Then he shocked me. He said that he wanted to give me one of his kidneys. 'I was overwhelmed by the enormity of his offer. But because I love him, my first response was to try to talk him out of taking such a serious and irreversible step.' She revealed that Erwin had to go through a battery of psychological tests to make sure he was donating a kidney for the right reasons. Tina said: 'Our big day was scheduled: April 7, 2017. Two operating theatres were prepared one for the donor and one for the recipient two surgical teams, two of everything. Erwins operation took place first. 'While I was understandably anxious about the transplant, I was far more concerned about him. After about an hour, it was my turn. 'When I awoke, I was so groggy that everything lights, sounds, smatterings of conversation, visits from doctors and nurses felt dream-like. 'It took me a while to understand that I was in Intensive Care, surrounded by what seemed like 100 machines, starting my new life as a woman with a healthy kidney. The following day, after a few tentative stretches of my fingers and toes, I realized that I felt fine. 'The best moment was when Erwin came rolling into my room in his wheelchair.' Tina Turner's death was announced on May 24. On April 9, in what are believed to be her final public remarks, she told The Guardian how she hoped the world would remember her - and how she did not fear death. 'How would you like to be remembered?' the Guardian asked. 'As the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll. As a woman who showed other women that it is OK to strive for success on their own terms.' Asked what frightens her about getting older, she replied: 'Nothing. This is life's full adventure and I embrace and accept every day with what it brings.' Turner is survived by two of her four sons - two preceded her in death - and her 67-year-old husband, Erwin Bach. The pair married in 2013 after dating for nearly 30 years. Born Anna-Mae Bullock in 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee, to Zelma and Floyd Bullock, Turner overcame a turbulent childhood and abusive marriage to become a musical sensation and legendary performer. Turner with Mick Jagger during the 1985 Live Aid concert in Philadelphia. It was an iconic performance with palpable chemistry. Turner toured with the Rolling Stones in the late 60s. In her final interview just last month, Turner admitted that she 'always had a crush' on him With Elton John in 1995 at the VH1 Fashion & Music Awards in New York Turner with her first husband, Ike. The pair shot to stardom together in the Ike and Tina Turner Revue In her early 20s, she found fame with the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, a live act with her former husband. Behind their veneer of success and marital bliss, she endured brutal abuse throughout the marriage. They divorced in 1978. Turner, determined to succeed on her own and with four sons to raise, stunned fans and the media by speaking publicly about the abuse. 'I wanted to stop people from thinking that Ike & Tina was so positive, that we were such a great team,' Turner explained in an eponymous documentary. By the early 80s, she was a musical powerhouse in her own right, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's most revered rock stars. Electrifying performances with Mick Jagger and David Bowie set her success on fire and she was quickly celebrated with awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Throughout her career, Turner won eight Grammy's from 25 nominations and three lifetime Grammy Awards. Her final stadium concert was in Sheffield, England, in 2009. Federal investigators have joined the probe into a missing 30-ton shipment of ammonium nitrate that can be used to build high-powered explosives like that one used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Roughly 60,000 pounds of the chemical, which was in pellet form, vanished during a two-week journey from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Saltdale, California. The shipment left a manufacturing site of Dyno Nobel, an explosives manufacturer, on April 12 and the report about the missing ammonium nitrate was made on May 10. Preliminary inquiries suggest a leak in the rail car carrying the chemical caused it to spill during the journey. Union Pacific, the operator which carried the delivery, told DailyMail.com it does not believe there was any 'criminal or malicious activity involved'. But neither the railroad or Dyno Nobel - whose explosive products are used in mining - have confirmed whether the chemical has been located or what caused it to vanish. The shipment of ammonium nitrate vanished during a two-week journey from the Dyno Nobel plant in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Saltdale, California. A map indicates the routes it could have taken along Union Pacific's rail network The shipment left a manufacturing site of Dyno Nobel (pictured), an explosives manufacturer, on April 12 and the report about the missing ammonium nitrate was made on May 10 Ammonium nitrate was a key component in the bomb used by domestic terrorists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols to carry out the Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people Ammonium nitrate was a key component in the bomb used by domestic terrorists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols to carry out the Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people. An estimated 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of the chemical was used in the attack, on April 19, 1995, meaning the amount which has vanished could be used to create about 30 equivalent explosives. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was destroyed in the blast. In another incident in 2013, 15 people died and more than 260 were injured when ammonium nitrate exploded at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas. More than 200 people died when around 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon. The colossal blast also injured 7,000 people and caused damage valued at $15 billion. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer costs around $600 per ton, so the missing shipment would have been worth something in the region of $18,000. A map of Union Pacific's network indicates the shipment could have traveled along tracks in either Denver and Utah, or across Wyoming and into Utah, before then passing through Nevada and into California. Dyno Nobel was approached for comment. The company said previously that it's believed the ammonium nitrate leaked from the car during the journey. Timothy McVeigh (left) and Terry Nichols (right) used ammonium nitrate in the explosives used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Officials investigating the missing shipment said they don't suspect 'any criminal or malicious activity involved' More than 200 people died when around 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon The colossal blast in Lebanon also injured 7,000 people and caused damage valued at $15 billion 'The railcar was sealed when it left the Cheyenne facility, and the seals were still intact when it arrived in Saltdale. The initial assessment is that a leak through the bottom gate on the railcar may have developed in transit,' a spokesman said. A Union Pacific spokeswoman told DailyMail.com: 'Our investigation is still ongoing at this time. Union Pacific cannot comment on the details or status of an active investigation, other than to say that at this point in the investigation, we do not believe there is any criminal or malicious activity involved.' Stan Blake, a former Wyoming state lawmaker and retired train conductor, told Cowboy State Daily it wouldn't be hard to drain one of the hopper cars of its load of the pellets. The cars have two or three sections, Blake said, and there's a gate at the bottom of them. 'You can use up a big bar and open that gate and it'll pour out,' he said. He also suggested that its possible the pellets never got on the train in the first place, since with a mobile conveyor belt, the chemical can be carried from the open gate into a truck. Union Pacific, which operated the train carrying the explosive chemicals, said if the pellets had leaked from the train it would be harmless. Pictured is a Union Pacific train hauling bulk grain through Kansas A map shows the origin of the shipment and the point in Saltdale, California, where workers realized the ammonium nitrate was missing He said sometimes cars would be registered as carrying loads, but they'd be empty, and vice versa. He said sometimes when cars were joined, they could slam together and some would spill out. He told the outlet he's known people to collect it in plastic bags and put it on their lawn. 'It's great fertilizer,' he said. The Federal Railroad Authority said both Dyno Nobel and Union Pacific could face federal sanctions if they are found to have committed any violations of rules which caused the chemical to disappear. A spokesman added: 'As Union Pacific and Dyno Nobel investigate this incident, they should engage all necessary parties, including law enforcement, to ensure any potential causes and impacts are addressed swiftly and thoroughly. 'UP's initial findings suggest this was likely a leak caused by a component of the rail car. Rail shippers and railroads are responsible for ensuring rail cars are properly secured.' Environmentalist Chris Packham has called on perpetrators of 'online abuse and hate crimes' to receive tougher punishments after he was awarded 90,000 in a libel trial. The environmentalist sued three men over nine articles which inferred he 'manipulated' people into donating to rescue five tigers after knowing that they were had been well looked after. Dominic Wightman, editor of the online site Country Squire Magazine, defended the libel claim along with writer Nigel Bean and a third man, Paul Read. In a judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice Saini ruled in Mr Packham's favour against Wightman and Bean but dismissed his claim against Mr Read - who had said he was a 'mere proofreader' of some of the articles. Speaking outside of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Mr Packham said: 'Every day many thousands of innocent people are victims of online abuse and hate crimes. Mr Packham criticised the laws surrounding online hate speech in his statement after the verdict was delivered Wightman and Bean were ordered to pay 90,000 in damages to Mr Packham 'This can be racially, religiously or politically motivated. 'It can be generated in regard to gender politics, environmental beliefs, body shaming. 'This vile part of modern life ruins lives, livelihoods, reputations, it disrupts young peoples' educations, causes incalculable mental health problems and tragically causes people to take their own lives. 'As it stands the criminal law is simply not there to protect us from such hate - something that must change.' He continued: 'In a full and frank vindication of my innocence the court has found that 'Mr Packham did not lie and each of his own statements was made with a genuine belief in its truth'.' The presenter added: 'I would like to thank my excellent legal team, barristers Jonathan Price and Claire Overman and Carol Day and Tessa Gregory and their team from Leigh Day. They have been steadfast throughout despite often appallingly offensive abuse from the defendants. Thank you. 'I would also like to thank Dr Ruth Tingay for setting up a Crowdfunder to help cover the costs of this long and expensive litigation. 'And lastly, my followers. Thank you for your unswerving support and belief in my honest crusade to make the world a better place for wildlife, people and the environment.' In his 58-page judgment, Mr Justice Saini awarded 90,000 in damages to Mr Packham, which the presenter said would be going to charity. Mr Packham continued: 'What we've seen here is the exposure of an agenda, of a calculated campaign, which in its own words, was set up to - and I quote - "destroy me". On this occasion, it hasn't. 'But I don't expect the fight to finish here. What I expect is to retrieve the damages that I have been awarded and put them firmly in the hands of those charities that are going to be doing good work for wild animal welfare.' Mr Packham later said the law needs to be reformed and that the planned Online Safety Bill must be 'significantly robust' against online abuse. The draft legislation, currently going through the House of Lords, aims to keep people, especially youngsters, secure in the cyber world by imposing new legal duties on big tech companies and service providers. On the issue of hate speech he said: 'This vile part of modern life ruins lives, livelihoods, reputations, it disrupts young peoples' educations, causes incalculable mental health problems and tragically causes people to take their own lives' He added: 'I went into this not thinking that I was ever going to make money out of it. I went into it as a matter of principle. 'Because every day at this moment, people across this country and all over the world are suffering online abuse, and it's ruining their lives, their livelihoods, their businesses, some people end up taking their own life, their mental health is damaged, their education is ruined - it cannot continue, the law has to be reformed. 'And at the moment, the only recourse is to take civil action here, which is what I've done. 'I hope I've drawn a line in the sand, I hope I've shown a degree of strength and resilience, which others will be able to draw into their lives so that they will be able to stand up against this online hatred, which really does need to be regulated. 'The Government's Online Safety Bill needs to be robust, significantly robust, particularly to support young people who are continually exposed to all sorts of problems online, which again, are extremely damaging at that point in their lives.' A 35-year-old Washington mother told police she identified as a teenage boy after being arrested following claims of child sexual harassment and supplying minors with drugs in a filthy gully where cops found her with a boy amid strewn blankets, a bra and condom packets. Amanda Dorrough, who goes by the name 'Taz', was arrested in May after teachers from Port Angeles High School in Washington state called police. Teenagers had confided in teachers that they thought she was 'pedophile-ish', and had made moves on them. According to the kids, many of whom are in foster care and listed as runaways, she planned to board a bus to Seattle with eight of them. DailyMail.com can reveal the first photos of Dorrough, who is herself a mother to three young children. Amanda Dorrough, who goes by the name 'Taz', was arrested in May after teachers from Port Angeles High School in Washington state called police Amanda Dorrough, who goes by the name 'Taz', was arrested in May after teachers from Port Angeles High School in Washington state called police. This is the gully where she was found with one of the alleged victims Condoms, alcohol containers and marijuana were also found at the lurid hangout She was arrested on May 4 but was bonded out on May 14 and is now 'seeking mental health treatment', according to posts on social media. Once in custody, Dorrough told police she identified as a teenage boy, claiming teenagers 'understand' her. An audio obtained by DailyMail.com also reveals that she was in the gully - a dirty ravine strewn with blankets - with a desperately sick diabetic boy when police tracked her down. The boy required hospital treatment because he was so unwell. Since April, she has been reported to police 11 times for hanging around teenagers, and was even ejected from a Boys and Girls Club over what was seen as 'predatory' behavior, according to a police incident report. Neighbors told police they saw her walking young teenagers out of her apartment 'topless and braless', and that she had a 'sexting' relationship. One of the alleged minor victims told police Dorrough was 'pedophile-ish' and had paraded around naked in front of the group. When he told her he was not attracted to her, he claims she 'became upset and wanted to kill herself.' Dorrough has not been charged with any sexual offences. The 35-year-old has not responded to the charges. On social media, she said she was checking herself in to a mental health facility. She has young children of her own A discarded bra was also found at the scene where the kids said Dorrough propositioned them The gully, where cops found the woman with a diabetic teenage boy who required hospitalization On May 4, she was arrested on suspicion of harboring a minor after police found a teenager who had been listed as a runaway sitting with her in the gully, which is both behind her apartment and the local high school. She was booked into the Clallam County Jail on May 14 but was released on bond ten days later. Police found dirty blankets, empty condom packets, cigarettes and alcohol at the scene. Days later, she was arrested for giving them drugs, after the youngsters told police that she had provided them with marijuana. Police seized multiple vape pens and cartridges from her home, where neighbors said she regularly entertained children. An audio call obtained by DailyMail.com also reveals how she was with a sick, diabetic teenage boy when she was found in the gully on May 4. The officer involved had to call for an ambulance for the boy. After being bailed out of the Clallam County Jail, Dorrough claimed on social media to be seeking mental health treatment. It remains unclear now when she will return to court. The mother who forced a Florida elementary school to ban Amanda Gorman's inauguration poem has attended far-right Proud Boys rallies, it has been revealed. Daily Salinas complained that The Hill We Climb contained 'hate messages' and it was placed on a restricted list by The Bob Graham Education Center in Miami. Salinas' social media content shows that the mother-of-two has attended events with the Proud Boys and even posed with its leader Enrique Tarrio, who was convicted over his involvement in the January 6 riot. She has also posted a series of far-right and conspiratorial content on her social media profiles. Salinas also complained about The ABCs of Black History, Cuban Kids and Love to Langston, prompting the school to ban the books for elementary kids. Defending her actions to the Miami Herald, Salinas said she 'is not for eliminating or censoring any books.' but wants materials to be appropriate for students and for them 'to know the truth' about Cuba. Salinas is pictured standing next to former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio School libraries are meant 'to support the curriculum of the school and I dont see how these books support the curriculum,' she said. In November 2022, the avid DeSantis fan attended a Proud Boys rally in support of far-right extremist Christoper Monzon, who took part in the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Salinas is pictured on her social media wearing a Ron DeSantis t-shirt and hat at the event. Just a month earlier she took part in a rally outside the Miami-Dade School Board offices with 'Christian nationalist' group Citizens Defending Freedom (CCDF), which is linked to Turning Point USA and Alliance Defending Freedom, the right-wing group beyond numerous anti-LGBT bills across the U.S. Salinas also attended a protest against masks in Miami-Dade schools in August 2021 where she was photographed standing next to Enrique Tarrio. Salinas was part of an intervention by Moms for Liberty at a school board meeting in July 2022, in which she protested against the use of two sex education textbooks. She was removed by security from the event but the board later voted 5-4 to remove the books. Salinas has posted a stream of right-wing content to her social media profiles. In March of this year, she shared a Facebook post with a series of anti-Semitic tropes about an alleged Jewish conspiracy to control the world entitled 'The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion'. The rambling complaint against The Hill We Climb was filed by far-right activist Daily Salinas The poem was written by Amanda Gorman and read at President Biden's inauguration Salinas' Facebook posts, compiled by Miami Against Fascism, show a stream of right-wing and conspiratorial content Salinas campaigned for DeSantis backed candidate Roberto Alfonso who gained a seat on the Miami Dade school board in August 2022 Salinas has been an active campaigner with the Christian nationalist group Citizens Defending Freedom Salinas said the poem she objected to was 'not educational and have indirectly hate messages' The Hill We Climb was removed from the elementary school students after the single complaint. Answering a question on the official form if the complainant was aware of professional reviews, Salinas wrote: 'I don't need it.' She also said the aim of the poem, in her view, was to 'cause confusion and indoctrinate students.' Gorman wrote on Facebook that she was 'gutted' her poem had been removed. 'Robbing children of the chance to find their voices in literature is a violation of their right to free thought and free speech,' she wrote. Adding that she wrote the poem so that 'all young people could see themselves in a historical moment,' and that shes received countless letters and videos from children who were inspired to write their own poems. News of the library restriction came a week after publisher Penguin Random House and writers' group PEN America filed a lawsuit against a Florida school district over the removal of books from public school libraries that address race and LGBTQ issues. DailyMail.com has contacted Salinas for comment. Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters has once again sparked outrage after he dressed up as a Nazi officer during a performance in Berlin. The 79-year-old donned a black trench coat decorated with red armbands and metal insignia on his collar reminiscent of an SS officer as a an inflatable pig emblazoned with the Star of David floated above the audience. Hanging above him at the concert at the Mercedes-Benz arena were Third Reich-style banners. A screen behind him displayed the names of Anne Frank and Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera journalist who was fatally shot last year while covering an Israeli Defense Forces raid on a Palestinian refugee camp. Germany's Orthodox Jewish rabbinical association is now calling for a ban on Waters performing in Germany but the rocker continues to deny he is anti-Semitic and is only speaking out against Israeli politics. Roger Waters, 79, dressed up as a Nazi SS officer when he performed in Berlin last week An inflatable pig was emblazoned with the logo of an Israeli armaments firm and Jewish stars He compared Anne Frank to Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera journalist who was fatally shot last year while covering an Israeli Defense Forces raid on a Palestinian refugee camp Throughout his performance, Waters tried to draw comparisons between Nazi Germany and present day Israel as he doubled-down on his criticism of the country's treatment of Palestinians. Throughout the show, humanoid pigs and shady businessmen were seen 'pulling the strings.' At one point, he even pretended to fire a machine gun into the crowd in his Nazi-inspired uniform which were worn by the members of a fascist organization in the 1982 Pink Floyd film The Wall, which tells the story of a rocker. A screen shaped like a crucifix also displayed the names of Anne Frank, who it says was killed in Germany because she was Jewish and Abu Akleh, the Al Jazeera journalist who the screen said was killed because she is Palestinian. The Israeli Defense Forces have denied any involvement in her killing. Waters also sang 'Lay Down Jerusalem (If I Had Been God)' while the screen behind him flashed 'F$%& the occupation,' according to Bell Tower News reporter Nicholas Potter, who observed the spectacle last week. He would later change into a kutiya, a symbol of the Palestinian resistance against Israel while the words 'Palestinian rights' are displayed on the screen. And following a brief intermission, an inflatable pig flew through the concert venue with demonically-lit eyes and emblazoned with the logo of an Israeli armaments firm and Jewish stars. At one point, he even pretended to fire a gun into the crowd in his Nazi-inspired uniform which were worn by the members of a neo-Nazi organization in the Pink Floyd film The Wall World Jewish leaders, and some governments, have spoken out against Waters' performance The performance came after Waters won a legal battle to perform in Frankfurt, Germany, where magistrates had labeled him 'one of the most widely spread anti-Semites in the world.' In Germany, there are laws banning the displays of Nazi memorabilia and symbols like the swastika. But a court in Frankfurt ruled that his concert scheduled for Sunday may continue as planned, citing artistic freedom, though a judge noted that aspects of his show were 'tasteless' and were obviously based on imagery from the Nazi regime. Waters then began the performance in Berlin with an announcement on screen reading: 'On a matter of public interest: a court in Frankfurt has ruled I am not an anti-Semite. 'Just to be clear, I condemn anti-Semitism unreservedly.' But his performance was panned online by Jewish leaders and even several world governments. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which seeks to educate the public about the Holocaust, tweeted: 'Shame on Frankfurt authorities and Mercedes Benz arena in Berlin a place from where Jews were deported by the Nazis for providing anti-Semite #RogerWaters this venue for his concert with no concern/care for the Jewish community.' And the Israeli government tweeted: 'Good morning to every one but Roger Waters who spent the evening in Berlin (Yes Berlin) desecrating the memory of Anne Frank and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.' Meanwhile, in the UK, MP Christian Wakeford spoke out against Waters' upcoming performance in Manchester. He put forth a motion seeking to ban the concert citing the rising 'anti-Jewish sentiment' in the country. Dave Gilmour's (center) wife Polly Samson (right) branded Roger Waters (left) a 'Putin apologist' and 'anti-Semitic' Waters recently shared a link to an interview he had done covering topics like Putin and Israel Waters has repeatedly denied accusations of anti-Semitism, saying his disdain is with Israel and not the Jewish people. In a recent interview with German magazine Berliner Zeitung, he claimed that Israel was engaged in 'genocide' and compared events to the way Great Britain behaved 'during our colonial period.' He said: 'We believed ourselves to be inherently superior to the indigenous people, just as the Israelis do in Palestine. Well, we weren't and neither are the Israeli Jews.' Waters then went on to defend Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. 'The most important reason for supplying arms to Ukraine is surely profit for the arms industry,' he said in the February interview. 'And I wonder: is Putin a bigger gangster than Joe Biden and all those in charge of American politics since World War II? I am not so sure. Putin didn't invade Vietnam or Iraq? Did he?' Those comments were slammed online by Polly Samson, the wife of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, who accused Waters of being 'anti-Semitic' to his 'rotten core' and labeled him a 'Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-syncing, misogynistic, sick-with-envy-megalomaniac.' Her husband, Gilmour, 77, liked and retweeted her remarks saying 'every word' is 'demonstrably true.' In the aftermath, Waters' team released a response from his own Twitter account, saying: 'Roger Waters is aware of the incendiary and wildly inaccurate comments made about him on Twitter by Polly Samson which he refutes entirely. 'He is currently taking advice on his position.' Iran successfully test-launched a ballistic missile with a potential 1,200 mile range on Thursday, state media said. State TV broadcast a few seconds of footage of what it claimed was the launch of an upgraded version of Iran's Khoramshahr 4 ballistic missile, with a range of 1,243 miles and able to carry a 3,300-pound warhead. IRNA said the new liquid fuel missile had been named the 'Kheibar', a reference to a castle long-inhabited by Jewish tribes until it was overrun by Muslim warriors in 628. The reported launch came two days after the chief of Israel's armed forces raised the prospect of 'action' against Tehran as fears grow over its nuclear programme. In this picture released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Thursday, May 25, 2023, Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location, Iran IRNA said the new liquid fuel missile had been named the 'Kheibar', a reference to a castle long-inhabited by Jewish tribes until it was overrun by Muslim warriors in 628 The missile is said to be able to travel 1,243 miles (2,000 kilometres). Pictured shared May 25 Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, says its weapons are capable of reaching local bases of arch-foes Israel and the US. Despite US and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its 'defensive' missile programme. Mohammadreza Ashtiani, Iran's Defence Minister, said: 'Our message to Iran's enemies is that we will defend the country and its achievements. 'Our message to our friends is that we want to help regional stability.' IRNA meanwhile described the 'domestically built Kheibar missile's outstanding features include quick preparation and launch time, which makes it a tactical weapon in addition to a strategic one.' Israel, which the Islamic Republic does not recognise, sees Iran as an existential threat. Iran says its ballistic missiles are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the United States, Israel and other potential regional adversaries. An Israeli military spokesperson said the military does not comment on such matters. On Tuesday, the top Israeli general raised the prospect of 'action' against Iran - even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser played down any immediate threat posed by a new underground nuclear facility being dug by Tehran. Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, chief of Israel's armed forces, said in a speech: 'Iran has advanced with uranium enrichment further than ever before [...] There are negative developments on the horizon that could bring about [military] action.' He did not detail what those developments might be, nor what action might be taken and by whom. 'We have capabilities, and others also have capabilities,' Halevi told the Herzliya Conference, an international security forum, in an apparent allusion to Israel's U.S. ally. Experts are divided over whether the Israeli military could deal lasting damage to Iranian nuclear facilities that are distant, dispersed and defended. Iran denies seeking the bomb and has vowed devastating reprisals for any attack. There has been speculation Israel might use countries on Iran's borders as springboards for strikes. Azerbaijan, dismissed that idea despite its strong Israel ties. In this picture released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Thursday, May 25, 2023, Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location, Iran A new surface-to-surface ballistic missile called Khaibar with a range of 2,000 km, unveiled by Iran, is seen in Tehran, Iran, May 25, 2023 Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani speaks in a press conference during the unveiling of a new surface-to-surface 4th generation Khorramshahr ballistic missile called Khaibar in Tehran, May 25 France today accused Iran of violating a UN Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal after it carried out the missile test. Paris said it was worrying given 'uninterrupted escalation' of Tehran's nuclear programme. French foreign ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters at a daily briefing: 'These activities are all the more worrying in the context of the continuing escalation of Iran's nuclear programme.' U.N. Security Council resolution 2231 calls on Iran not to conduct any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Western officials say that although the launches go against 2231, they are not a violation of the core nuclear agreement between Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Iran has been developing nuclear technology since 1957, backed at first by the American 'Atoms for Peace' programme which provided adopters with nuclear technology in return for a commitment to only using it for civilian purposes. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, enriching uranium to levels consistent with fuel needed for power plants. But US officials have warned against the possible threats of Iran's nuclear programme for years. In 2015, Iran and several world powers finally signed an agreement to limit Iran's nuclear programme in return for relief on harsh sanctions. By the start of 2016, the International Atomic Energy Agency were able to verify that Iran had completed steps under the so-called Iran deal, designed to limit its nuclear programme to 'peaceful' uses. But then-President Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018. In the years since Iran has faced harsh sanctions from the US, EU and UN for nuclear developments and human rights abuses, souring relations. In March of this year, a top US Defense Department official said Iran could now make enough material for one nuclear bomb in 'about 12 days'. This was a dramatic fall from the estimated one year it would have taken while the former Iran nuclear deal was in effect. Human rights abuses also persist in Iran. Footage was aired two days after a top Israeli General raised the prospect of 'action' with Iran Iran's Defence Minister said: 'Our message to Iran's enemies is that we will defend the country and its achievements.' Separately, Iran's arsenal includes the Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile, a solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile produced in 2022 with a range of 900 miles. Kheibar refers to the Jewish fortress that was conquered by the Muslims in the early days of Islam, and Shekan means 'breaker' or 'destroyer'. The Battle of Khaybar was fought between the early Muslims, led by Muhammad, and Jews living in the Khaybar oasis in modern day Saudi Arabia. Islamic sources say the troops marched on the region and successfully engaged the Jews who retreated into forts after an agreement broke down. Operation Kheibar was also part of the Battle of the Marshes, an Iranian operation during the Iran-Iraq war that resulted in Iraq losing a sixth of its oil reserves. China has dismissed American claims that it launched a cyber campaign targeting critical infrastructure in the militarily key territory of Guam and elsewhere in the US. 'The allegation by the US side that the Chinese government is 'supporting hacking' is completely distorting the truth,' said Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington DC, in a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) confirmed this week a Chinese group dubbed Volt Typhoon was responsible for a breach targeting multiple government and private sector organizations. The espionage has also targeted the US island territory of Guam, home to strategically important American military bases, Microsoft said in a report, adding that 'mitigating this attack could be challenging.' At a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning slammed the US advisory on Volt Typhoon as a 'disinformation campaign' and called Microsoft's report 'a patchwork with a broken chain of evidence.' Chinese leader Xi Jinping is seen above. China has dismissed American claims that it launched a cyber campaign targeting critical infrastructure in the militarily key territory of Guam The espionage has targeted the US island territory of Guam, home to strategically important American military bases, Microsoft said in a report Liu, the Chinese embassy spokesman, said he was 'not aware of the specifics' of the US allegations, but insisted that the Chinese government 'firmly opposed' hacking. 'We have always firmly opposed and cracked down on all forms of cyber hacking in accordance with the law,' Liu told DailyMail.com. Liu cited a recent Chinese government report accusing the American CIA of carrying out hacking campaigns around the world. 'For a long time, the US government and relevant departments have violated international law and the basic norms of international relations, and carried out large-scale, organized, and indiscriminate cyber theft and monitoring of foreign governments, enterprises, and individuals. This has long been known to the world,' said the Chinese embassy spokesman. 'The US must take seriously and respond to the concerns from the international community, and stop using cyber weapons to carry out espionage and cyber attacks around the world,' he added. The hacking allegations emerged at a time of rising tensions between the US and China, with Beijing issuing increasingly belligerent rhetoric on trade and security issues. Microsoft revealed on Wednesday it had uncovered a Chinese state-backed hacker gang, dubbed Volt Typhoon, that it said 'has been active since mid-2021 and has targeted critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and elsewhere in the United States.' The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is seen at Naval Base Guam in 2020. Guam is home to major US military facilities, including Andersen Air Force Base, which would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia-Pacific region Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning slammed the US advisory on Volt Typhoon as a 'disinformation campaign' Volt Typhoon's apparent focus on Guam is of particular concern, as the US territory is a key military base in the Pacific, and would be a major staging ground for any American response in the event of a conflict in Taiwan or the South China Sea. Microsoft analysts said they had 'moderate confidence' this Chinese group was developing capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during a future crisis. 'It means they are preparing for that possibility,' John Hultquist, who heads threat analysis at Google's Mandiant Intelligence, told Reuters. The Chinese activity is unique and worrying also because analysts don't yet have enough visibility on what this group might be capable of, he added. 'There is greater interest in this actor because of the geopolitical situation.' Microsoft said it had notified targeted or compromised customers and provided them with information to identify and remedy any breaches. The organizations targeted by Volt Typhoon spanned sectors including communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education, Microsoft said. The NSA and other Western cyber agencies urged companies that operate critical infrastructure to identify malicious activity using the technical guidance they issued. 'It is vital that operators of critical national infrastructure take action to prevent attackers hiding on their systems,' Paul Chichester, director at the UK's National Cyber Security Centre said in a joint statement with the NSA. Security analysts expect Chinese hackers could target US military networks and other critical infrastructure if China invades Taiwan. Chinese soldiers browse online news on desktop computers at a garrison of the PLA (People's Liberation Army) in Chongqing, China in a file photo Guam is home to major US military facilities, including Andersen Air Force Base, which would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia-Pacific region. Recently, China has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to force self-governed Taiwan to accept Beijing's claim of sovereignty. Taiwan rejects China's claims. While the United States has long followed a policy of 'strategic ambiguity' on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack, President Joe Biden has said he would be willing to use force to defend the island. In recent years, China's navy has also grown increasingly aggressive in the South China Sea, one of the world's most important trade routes. China has claimed nearly the entire South China Sea as its territory. Parts of the vast waterway are also claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. Two retired Metropolitan Police officers have confessed a three-year child sex abuse images plot with a serving Met chief inspector, who was found dead before he was charged. Jack Addis, 63 and Jeremy Laxton, 62, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday to a charge of conspiring with Richard Watkinson, 49, to distribute or show indecent images of children. The pictures, which were found on a computer hard drive, included 2,516 of the worst category of child sexual abuse images. Laxton also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child and possession of cannabis and was released on bail pending sentencing in June. Watkinson, who was a serving Met chief inspector for neighbourhood policing at the West Area Command Unit, was found dead in Buckinghamshire on January 12. His death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. Jack Addis (right), 63 and Jeremy Laxton (left), 62, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday to a charge of conspiring with Richard Watkinson, 49, to distribute or show indecent images of children Met officers found Watkinson's body having attended an address in Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, following welfare concerns According to the charge, the three men conspired to 'distribute or show indecent images of children to each other' between January 1, 2018 and July 10, 2021. The images, which were found on a computer hard drive, included 2,516 in Category A - the worst kind - alongside 1,032 in Category B and 1,701 in Category C. Laxton, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child, possession of a prohibited image, possessing an extreme pornographic image and possession of cannabis on or before 20 September 2021. The images include 6,086 in Category A, 4,039 in Category B, 3,597 in Category C, seven prohibited images of a child and 56 extreme pornographic images which were 'grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an extreme character' depicting a person having sex with an animal, according to the indictment. He further admitted a charge of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of the offence of misconduct in a public office between December 1, 2019 and May 1, 2021. The court heard Laxton, who appeared in the dock wearing a dark grey suit, has previously pleaded guilty to similar offences at Lincoln Crown Court, while Addis, from Perthshire, is a serving prisoner in Scotland. He appeared in court by video-link from HMP Dumfries where he is serving an 18-month sentence for three counts of voyeurism and possessing indecent photographs of a child. Judge Tony Baumgartner adjourned sentencing to a date to be fixed and granted Laxton conditional bail ahead of the next hearing on June 23. The judge said: 'A lengthy custodial sentence is inevitable but I will extend bail again to allow him to put his life in order.' His bail conditions include residence at his home address, to surrender his passport and not to apply for documents to travel outside of England and Wales, that he has no contact with children apart from named family members, and to inform police of any digital devices. At the defendants' first appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this year, prosecutor Edward Franklin said some of the images discovered in the investigation were at the 'highest end' of Category A. Met Commander Jon Savell said: 'The content that these men had been viewing has been described by seasoned specialist investigators as some of the most serious that they had ever seen. 'We must never forget that in each video or picture is a real child victim who has suffered unimaginable abuse. 'The effects of child sexual abuse are often traumatic and life-long, and Laxton and Addis both sought sexual gratification from that suffering. 'As a police service we strive to protect the most vulnerable members of society, especially children, and I know officers who served with them will feel utterly betrayed by their disgusting actions. 'We are sickened that they are former colleagues.' Met officers found Watkinson's body having attended an address in Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, following welfare concerns. Watkinson had been suspended from duty following his arrest in July 2021 and was that day due to answer bail to be charged with the conspiracy, as well as three counts of making indecent photos of a child, voyeurism and two counts of misconduct in public office. Commander Jon Savell previously said: 'Chief Inspector Watkinson was facing extremely serious and concerning charges, as the result of a painstaking and thorough police investigation. 'Before this matter came to light, we had no previous information about these allegations or to indicate the officer posed any risk to the public. 'He had not faced any other criminal or conduct matters during his Met career. 'He had been suspended from duty since his arrest. 'Two other men were also arrested during the course of the investigation and have been charged, their matters will now progress through the courts.' His death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and an inquest has opened and adjourned. An NSPCC spokesperson said: 'Conspiring to share indecent images of children is an abhorrent crime that facilitates abuse and has the potential to harm the victims pictured with every share. 'It is even more shocking when perpetrated by former members of the police, who of all people would have been aware of the devastating impact that sharing child abuse material can have on the victims.' They believe it could contain footage of Madeleine and other sex crime victims Authorities were tipped off about gun and camcorder stolen from prime suspect Investigators searching a reservoir for clues in the Madeleine McCann case have been looking for a gun and camcorder stolen from prime suspect Christian Brueckner's house. A criminal informer tipped off German prosecutors that items taken in the 2007 raid at Brueckner's isolated home were then thrown into the reservoir. Police are desperate to find the video camera as they believe it may contain images of Madeleine, but also of other sex attacks Brueckner is said to have carried out on at least two unidentified women. The informer has backed up information from key witnesses Manfred Seyferth and another man called Helge Busching, who have already told German investigators they broke into the house while Brueckner was in jail. Seyferth said the pair had found a gun and a video camera at the isolated house in Floral where Brueckner lived, a few miles from the reservoir at Silves on Portugal's Algarve, the focus of the latest police search. Madeleine (left) was aged three in May 2007 when she vanished from her bedroom in the apartment her family were staying at in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve coast. German prosecutors believe Christian Brueckner (right) is behind her disappearance Portuguese police investigators dismantle base camp at the end of the three-day search for remains of Madeleine McCann at Barragem do Arade Reservoir on May 25, 2023 in Silves, Portugal An area of around 160 square feet had been flattened and cleared of grass and shrubs with several holes dug into the ground to a depth of around two feet Investigators have been combing the shores of the reservoir rather than searching under the water, as it is considerably lower than usual due to lack of rain. Just after 5pm police lifted the cordon and allowed media through to the site that had been searched the last three days. An area of around 160 square feet had been flattened and cleared of grass and shrubs with several holes dug into the ground to a depth of around two feet. There were also other holes dug into the foreshore close to the waterline and path close to the edge of the reservoir had been cleared by the rotovator. It is thought the soil removed was taken away by German officials for closer analysis at a lab in Wiesbaden where the countrys investigative force, the BKA, are based. Germans Seyferth and Busching, who tipped off the police, were living on the Algarve at the same time as Brueckner and the two were involved in petty theft with him before having a falling out. Footage on the video camera was said to show Brueckner torturing and raping an American woman, with footage of a girl around 15 years old also subjected to the same horrific ordeal. In 2019 Brueckner was convicted by a German court of the rape of an elderly American woman in her home at Praia da Luz close to where Madeleine vanished, and was given a seven-year sentence. It is thought the soil removed was taken away by German officials for closer analysis at a lab in Wiesbaden where the countrys investigative force, the BKA, are based There were also other holes dug into the foreshore close to the waterline and path close to the edge of the reservoir had been cleared by the rotovator It is not known if this is the same woman on the missing video tape but investigators are keen to track it down to build up a more damning case against Brueckner. A source close to the investigation told MailOnline: 'Both men have told the BKA (German investigation police) they broke into Brueckner's home. 'They had all been part of a network of petty criminals in the Algarve back in the early 2000s around the time Madeleine went missing but then fell out. Madeleine McCann news LIVE: Follow the latest updates on the search in Portugal Advertisement 'Seyferth has told police that he and Busching found a video camera and a gun at the house after they broke in. 'When the video camera was played that said it showed a masked man carrying out a sex attack on a woman and the voice they heard was Brueckner's. 'Seyferth said a gun was also found and that after finding the video camera they panicked, drove off and later threw both items in the lake. 'Seyferth has told investigators the material on the video tape was evil and if this can be found will be vital to building a case against Brueckner. 'Now another witness has come forward to confirm the story of the first two men and this has prompted intensification of the investigation.' Last year police in Germany charged Brueckner with a variety of historical sex crimes including rapes against two unidentified women and Irish tour guide Hazel Behan between 2000 and 2006. Meanwhile, Portuguese and German police left the scene this afternoon. In a sign that the search was over, blue tents that had been set up earlier this week were dismantled and packed away. Officers could be seen shuttling back and forth packing tables and chairs and carrying them to vans. While a truck used to empty portable toilets also arrived at a forward operating area that had been set up near the investigation site. The last vehicles to leave were the German registered black Mercedes vans belonging to the BKA investigative police. Sources close to the investigation said that material found at the scene, mainly soil samples, would be taken back to Germany for analysis. Detectives leave the scene of the search for clues in the Algarve Portuguese police have been told they will no longer be needed after 4pm today at the Algarve reservoir where the search for clues into Madeleine McCann's disappearance is unfolding Members of the search team were pictured packing up their equipment after they were told they were no longer needed Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close Forensic biologist Dr. Mark Benecke told German media: 'Soil samples contain stones, pollen and a few other small components that can be transmitted during an act.' 'This means that if I find old shoes, for example, that now contain exactly the same components as in the earth, I know the person was there.' He added that traces of textile fibres, pebbles or pollen could still be used even centuries later. He told RTL: 'The only question is whether no one walked around there and left other traces that disturb the whole thing. 'If other people celebrated at that point, maybe urinated, vomited, somehow left their own skin, then of course it will be more difficult.' Meanwhile German proscutor Hans Christian Wolters told MailOnline:'We will see how successful we were after the search is complete. 'If necessary, we will then issue a short press release in the coming week. But that also depends on the result of the action. 'If we don't find anything, we will certainly tell you quickly.. If there were any finds, this would probably not be possible.' Just before 1.30pm local time there was a noticeable increase in activity as machinery and equipment brought to the search site was driven away. In a statement issued after the end of the search the Portuguese Judicial Police said: 'Following the statement of May 22, 2023, the Judiciary Police informs that the steps requested by the German authorities, through a request for international cooperation, have been fulfilled, which resulted in the collection of some material that will be subject to the competent expertise' 'The operation was coordinated by the Judiciary Police, which involved investigators, criminal experts and security personnel. The works had the participation of the German authorities (BKA) and were attended by British authorities (MPS),' the statement continued. The statement said: 'Safeguarding the interests of the investigation still under way in Portugal, the collected material will be delivered to the German authorities' A large rotavator used for cutting away thick bushes and shrubs was seen being driven away on a trailer along with strimmers, wheelbarrows, pick axes and spades. A driver in one truck shouted 'Finito' as he made his way back up the dirt track from the reservoir leading to the main road. In a statement issued after the end of the search the Portuguese Judicial Police said: 'Following the statement of May 22, 2023, the Judiciary Police informs that the steps requested by the German authorities, through a request for international cooperation, have been fulfilled, which resulted in the collection of some material that will be subject to the competent expertise. 'The operation was coordinated by the Judiciary Police, which involved investigators, criminal experts and security personnel. 'The works had the participation of the German authorities (BKA) and were attended by British authorities (MPS). 'It also had the collaboration of the Faro Command of the National Republican Guard in various aspects, as well as the Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of the Algarve and the Municipality of Silves, with regard to the logistics necessary for the development of the works. 'Safeguarding the interests of the investigation still under way in Portugal, the collected material will be delivered to the German authorities.' It comes as shameless former police detective Goncalo Amaral slammed the current search for McCann as an attempt to 'pin the case' on the prime suspect. Amaral was kicked off the original investigation in 2008, after suggesting Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry were responsible for the then three-year-old's disappearance and later wrote two books on the mystery. Speaking for the first time since police began searching the area around the Arade Dam, just 35 miles from the resort of Praia da Luz, he claimed the fresh hunt was just an attempt to make prime suspect Christian Brueckner a 'scapegoat'. Shameless Portuguese former detective Goncalo Amaral (pictured) has slammed the current search for Madeleine McCann at a remote reservoir in Portugal as an attempt to 'pin the case' on the prime suspect in the case Amaral was kicked off the original investigation in 2008, after suggesting Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry (pictured together in 2017) were responsible for the then three-year-old's disappearance and later wrote two books on the mystery Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close He told respected Portuguese news weekly Sabado: 'The question should be how are the German police involved ? How did the (Portuguese) Judicial Police agree to this and why? 'In simple analysis I see that there is no new investigation, what is happening is an act of building the profile of a scapegoat and a virtual blaming.' He then suggested the search was an attempt to show the public 'Brueckner must be guilty' as a lot of ' time, money and human hours have been invested'. When asked what would be found he said: 'If there was anything there, it would be possible to find bones, perhaps hair and even part of the missing girl's pyjamas. 'On the other hand, finding the child's remains would only be possible if she had not been cremated, as seems to have happened.' In the interview, which came as a joint police team from Portugal, Germany and the Metropolitan Police continued their hunt for a third day, Amaral again pushed his theory Brueckner was a 'convenient scapegoat'. He said:' When British police began to consider Christian Brueckner as a suspect, he was living in Portugal and walking freely around. 'The investigation should have focused on the individual through special techniques, namely telephone and computer interceptions, personal and electronic surveillance, undercover agents etc, in order to advance the investigation of the suspect's possible responsibility and subsequent death of the child. 'But astonishingly, the German police put him in a German jail, isolating him from the outside world, making any kind of investigation centred on the suspect impossible. 'Little by little, the Germans built up the suspect's profile as a rapist, paedophile and murderer, gathering similar Portuguese cases, accusing him of them, and then the great moment came and they named him to the world. Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann pack up their equipment on Thursday as the search draws to a close Detectives gather in Silves, Portugal, to conduct a search for Madeleine McCann. They have now been told to stand down the search at 4pm 'In concussion they did not allow a professional and serious investigation and made this individual a scapegoat as a suspect without any evidence or proof.' Amaral ended his interview by claiming the case was being pushed by senior figures and said:' If the political pressures end, this case will end and there will be answers.' Last year the McCanns lost a lengthy 13-year court battle against Amaral for the claims he made in his two books which shamelessly suggested they had been involved in her disappearance. READ MORE: Who is Christian Brueckner? The German Madeleine Mccann suspect and sex offender Advertisement Amaral's 2008 book Maddie: The Truth About The Lie, implicated the McCanns in their daughter's abduction and accused them of hiding her body. Their fight took him to the European Court of Human rights and it rumbled on for years before coming to an end last September. Their lawyers argued that the Portuguese authorities had breached their right to respect for a private and family life in the way the court in Lisbon dealt with their libel claim against Amaral. Initially they had won their case in 2015 and Amaral was ordered to pay 500,000 euros in damages but he appealed and the case was overturned and eventually thrown out by the Portuguese supreme court in 2017. It was then that Kate and Gerry decided to take the case to the ECHR in Strasbourg but judges there ruled against them and they later issued a statement saying they were 'naturally disappointed' with the ruling. Meanwhile in another interview with Portuguese outlet Renascenca, Amaral even outrageously claimed detectives had contacted the factory where Madeleine's pyjamas had been made, hinting this could be used to plant evidence against Brueckner. He said how investigators had 'these pyjamas from the factory that produced them and they were now in the hands of English authorities'. Amaral controversially went on:' I don't know under what conditions the pyjamas are kept and what could happen to them 'The parents and friends cannot be held responsible so a scapegoat is needed and here it is. The Germans just want to prove that this individual has something to do with the case.' He also blasted the German investigation that saw Brueckner convicted of the 2005 rape of an elderly American woman in Praia da Lux and for which he was jailed for seven years in 2019. Amaral said:'The gynecological examination carried out at the Portimao Hospital, on the night the alleged crime took place, shows that there was no rape. 'The individual is convicted for something that did not exist. The sheets, etc., were also collected from the woman's house and nothing was found that had traces of this German.' Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday Authorities gather at a Judiciary Police (PJ) makeshift base camp in the Arade dam area, Faro district, on Thursday during their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann German Search Teams arrive at the reservoir today for the third day of the search for Madeleine Investigators (pictured today at the site) searching for Madeleine McCann at a remote reservoir in Portugal are hoping to find evidence of other potential victims targeted by the prime suspect in the case as well as clues about the missing girl, it has been claimed Investigators pictured at Barragem do Arade reservoir, in the Algave, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Brueckner was convicted after DNA was found on the sheets but he insists this was because he had stroked the victim's cat and they had been transferred onto the bedclothes. Meanwhile police continued with their search this morning at the reservoir that has been a focus of activity since Tuesday and is expected to finish later today. Teams of officers wearing face coverings arrived to carry on digging through soil at a picnic spot on the western edge of the reservoir where prime suspect Brueckner, 45, is said to have parked his campervan. Brueckner visited the Barragem do Arade reservoir, possibly with others, 'some days' after Madeleine was snatched from her bed in 2007, the suspect's former friend told police. The source also claimed that investigators also believe Madeleine could have been alive for two or three days after she disappeared from the holiday resort of Praia da Luz, reports The Times. It comes as the search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, enters its third and final day. A no fly zone out in for two days ended at 10pm on Wednesday night and according to the website of the Portuguese civil aviation authority had not been renewed suggesting the search would be ending. Portuguese media is reporting that so far no significant discoveries have been made but that a press conference is planned when the operation eventually ends. Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday Pictured: Investigators take pictures as they continue their search for Madeleine McCann Portuguese authorities conduct a new search operation at Arade dam area, Faro District, today Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 While the focus of the search is on finding clues about Madeleine's disappearance, investigators are hoping to find evidence of other potential victims who are believed to have been targeted by convicted sex offender Brueckner on the Algarve. The search was ordered by prosecutors in Germany, who say they have 'credible information' linking Brueckner to the site promoting speculation they are looking for clothes or remains. Officials are said to be looking for fragments of clothing and old rags that could be related to Madeleine's disappearance - particularly the pink pyjamas she was wearing the night she vanished. The reservoir is located near the town of Silves, where a lorry driver had claimed to see a woman passing off a child resembling Maddie's description to a man two days after the toddler disappeared. The hunt is focusing on the foreshore as the water level in the reservoir is considerably lower due to low rainfall last few months. This may explain why no divers have been seen operating in the area although they are on standby. Madeleine was aged three in May 2007 when she vanished from her bedroom in the apartment her family were staying at in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve coast. The reservoir is about 31 miles inland from the resort. The first major search for the toddler in nine years comes after German police discovered photos of Brueckner at his self-described 'little paradise' in the Portuguese region, it is understood. German prosecutors last year named convicted child abuser and drug dealer Brueckner as the prime suspect in McCann's disappearance. He is currently behind bars in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve region from where McCann went missing. The case, unsolved for the past 16 years, remains a mystery as no body has ever been found. It sparked a media frenzy in Britain, with developments also followed by outlets around the world and celebrities joining appeals to help find Maddie. Photos and footage of the search operation yesterday showed a group of Portugal's National Republican Guard (GNR) being led by sniffer dogs to a small grove close to the water's edge. Officers were seen clearing branches shortly after. According to respected Portuguese media outlet Expresso, the operation was launched because of a 'very credible tip'. 'Expresso knows that these searches have their origin in a tip from a BKA informant who that police force considers very credible,' it reported on its website. 'This informant told investigators details that the German police took very seriously.' It added: 'The searches were requested by the German police after receiving this information.' The media outlet said it had obtained its information from a 'source close to the investigation.' A police investigator follows a municipal worker manning a bush cutting machine in the search area on Thursday Investigators hold spades and forks as the searches continue around the reservoir on Thursday Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday A police investigator follows a municipal worker manning a bush cutting machine in the search area surrounding the reservoir Pictured: Kate (right) and Gerry McCann, parents of missing 4-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann hold pyjamas similar to those of their daughter during a press conference in Berlin on June 6, 2007. Police are believed to be searching for signs of her pyjamas Emergency services with brush cutters to clear the search area arrived at the temporary camp set up on the shores of the Arade reservoir early on Wednesday. Portuguese police, assisted by German and British counterparts, had focused their search on Tuesday on the reservoir's shoreline. Yesterday morning police appeared to be focusing on a valley slightly north of a secluded clearing behind trees near to where three tents were put up on Monday. The dense vegetation meant they had to use tools including chainsaws to remove trees to access it properly. Meanwhile, a fire service vehicle and rigid-hull inflatable boat were again on the banks of the reservoir, and appeared ready to launch on to the water. Later in the day, emergency services brought in a remote-controlled tractor-mounted tree cutter to clear what appeared to be a new search area, a few hundred yards away from a temporary camp set up on Tuesday on the shores of the Arade reservoir by Portuguese police, assisted by German and British counterparts. On Wednesday, the German prosecutor leading the country's investigation into Brueckner's suspected link to Madeleine's disappearance said they do not have a confession from the convict. Braunschweig prosecutor Christian Wolters said that while investigators have 'indications' that evidence could be found at the reservoir, this has not come from Brueckner himself. 'We have indications that we could find evidence there. I don't want to say what that is exactly, and I also don't want to say where these indications come from,' Wolters told German public broadcaster NDR yesterday. 'The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesn't come from the suspect - so we don't have a confession or anything similar now, or an indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search, ' Wolters said, adding that 'it was other indications that prompted us to conduct this search.' However, Wolters appeared to calm expectations of what might be found, saying, 'We never said that the girl disappeared where we are now searching.' Investigators search the undergrowth near the Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday The search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, has entered its third and final day Search teams arrive at the site as the search of the reservoir enters its third and final day A group of detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance arrive at the reservoir on Thursday Tuesday saw about 20 officers with rakes and hoe-like tools spread out in a line, poking and raking the soil close to the Arade dam. Police also used a drone to scan the area from above and searched with sniffer dogs on both sides of the water. Footage from the site showed officers taking bags away from the reservoir on Tuesday afternoon but it was not clear what was inside them. One video showed an officer being handed a bag by a colleague as they drove by in a black Ford SUV. Tuesday night a Portuguese source close to the investigation told The Sun: 'The search is being taken very seriously and is being controlled totally by the Germans. 'They asked Portuguese officers assisting them to look for any evidence - but especially rags.' The Times reported that Madeleine's pyjamas, which were pink and decorated with images of Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh, were a focus of the hunt. A similar pair of pyjamas was held up by Kate and Gerry McCann during a press conference in June 2007, the month after their daughter vanished, in the hope of prompting witnesses who may have seen her that night to come forward. Also last night the McCann's former spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the Mirror the couple were being kept updated. 'Until a body is found and proved to be Madeleine's, Kate and Gerry are not giving up hope. They will be kept informed every step of the way of any development. It leaves Kate and Gerry on tenterhooks. It is another incredibly difficult time for them.' According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, excavations were carried out at two different spots around the water's edge on Tuesday. The reservoir is currently less than half full owing to a drought affecting Portugal and neighbouring Spain. Much of the area being searched would be below water level in years of normal rainfall. In the afternoon police appeared to be concentrating their efforts on a peninsula of land jutting into the reservoir. Officers using sticks were beating back undergrowth as they inched their way through the woods before fanning down onto the beach to carry on the search. However, just before 5.30pm, a violent thunderstorm and driving rain struck the search area and the operation was abandoned after it became clear the weather would not improve. The search was meant to continue until 9pm. A no fly zone has been set up around the area extending for six miles. Police are aiming to build up a picture of sole suspect Christian Brueckner's life on the Algarve and the places he frequented as they search the Barragem reservoir in Silves, Portugal A group of detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance arrive at the reservoir in the Algarve on Thursday The reservoir is located near the town of Silves, where a lorry driver had claimed to see a woman passing off a child resembling Maddie's description to a man two days after the toddler disappeared. Pictured: Investigators arrive at the scene of the search It comes as the search of the site, which Brueckner referred to as a 'little piece of paradise' and is located 30 miles from where Madeleine was taken, enters its third and final day. Pictured: Police tents next to the reservoir on Thursday The Portuguese police are expected to give an update on the operation once it has been completed later this week. Two sides of the area have gently sloping banks towards the water, while the third is a sheer cliff, where three white police tents could be seen set back from the edge. The reservoir is popular with tourists, particularly campervan users, and has BBQ stands and sun loungers scattered around. Brueckner is known to have driven there frequently in his VW campervan, and is understood to have described it as his 'little paradise'. Sources close to the investigation have said they had evidence the clearing in the trees - where the white tents have been set up - was the spot Brueckner used to spend time at after parking up his campervan nearby. A local who asked not to be named, but knows the area well, said: 'It's pretty well-hidden by the trees and you don't realise it's there until you're almost upon it. 'People wild camp there overnight from time to time which is why you'll find the remains of fires inside small walls of stone. 'It's got old sun loungers in it and makeshift benches that visitors use to rest on. It's very out-of-the-way and very peaceful but at the same time it's got a slightly eerie feel about it,' they said. Local Portuguese reports, partly confirmed by police sources, claimed the searches were requested and authorised after German police obtained videos and photos of Brueckner by the planned dig site. They are thought to have been found buried in the paedophile's 'secret lair' in a dilapidated factory site in the German village of Neuwegersleben 65 miles south-east of Hanover. Police raided the site in February 2016 in search of the body of missing five-year-old Inga Gehricke, who vanished while on a family outing in Saxony-Anhalt in May 2015 and has been dubbed the 'German Maddie.' Reports at the time said German detectives had discovered more than 8,000 images and videos on USB sticks and hard drives filled with child abuse images. They were said to have been buried under the body of Brueckner's dead dog. Officials have been tight-lipped about the search. In a statement on Tuesday, German prosecutor Wolters said: 'Criminal proceedings are currently taking place in Portugal as part of the investigation into the Madeleine McCann case. Wolters said German officers are investigating in Portugal 'on the basis of certain tips.' He said he was unable at this stage to give more detail on what prompted the search, and what officials were hoping to find, but said that such details would be released 'if we... think the results are publishable'. 'Yes, the measures in Portugal are connected with the Madeleine McCann proceedings, which means that we are investigating there in Portugal on the basis of certain tips (tip-offs),' Wolters said on Tuesday. Pictured: Investigators at the reservoir, in the Algarve, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Pictured: Investigators at the reservoir, in the Algarve, Portugal, as searches continue as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann 'There is a major search operation taking place that is being implemented by the Portuguese authorities. But there are also German officers from the Federal Criminal Police Office on site who are supporting the whole thing.' He added: 'I can't disclose the background at the moment, i.e. why we are searching there and what we hope to find there. That shall remain our secret for the moment.' 'If we find something and we think the results are publishable, then we will certainly inform you about it. But give us a little bit of time. The action itself will also take a bit of time. It will not be completed within two hours or so. And whether we then find something and what we find, of course, we have to see that first.' The Metropolitan Police has said officers are present in Portugal so they can inform Madeleine's family if there are any developments. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell said: 'The Met continues to work with and support colleagues in Portugal and Germany, with their investigations into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. 'Met officers will be in Portugal and I am grateful to the Policia Judiciaria and Bundeskriminalamt for allowing us to be present whilst their work is ongoing, so that we can inform Madeleine's family of any developments.' The reservoir was searched by divers hired by a Portuguese lawyer in February and March 2008. Back then, the diving team leader described the 'long process' his team faced navigating the 'black' waters. Marcos Aragao Correia organised the privately-funded operation after claiming he had been tipped off by underworld contacts that Madeleine had been murdered and her body thrown into the reservoir within 48 hours of her disappearance. Two bags containing small bones were found during the second search after divers had earlier recovered several lengths of cord, some plastic tape and a single white cotton sock. Portuguese police were alerted following the discovery but subsequently ruled out the possibility the bones were human because of their size. Personnel cut down trees and shrubbery as they search for clues surrounding Madeleine McCann's disappearance Investigators arrive to search the area surrounding the reservoir in the search for Madeleine on Thursday Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate McCann had previously dismissed Mr Correia as a self-publicist and said there was no evidence suggesting any link between their daughter and the reservoir. The dam, near the town of Silves where a lorry driver says he saw a woman handing a child like Madeleine over to a man two days after she went missing from her Praia da Luz holiday apartment on May 3 2007, is not thought to have been searched since March 2008 as part of the ongoing investigation into her disappearance. The search is the first major operation of its kind since June 2014 when British police were given permission to do digs in Praia da Luz that involved sniffer dogs trained in detecting bodies and ground-penetrating radar. The Scotland Yard digs nearly nine years ago in Praia da Luz were linked to the leading UK police theory at the time Madeleine died during a break-in and burglars dumped her body nearby. The searches failed to find any trace of the missing youngster. In a smaller operation in July 2020 Portuguese police and firefighters searched three wells for Madeleine's body but failed to find any trace of her. The abandoned wells are a 15 minute drive from a cottage Brueckner rented on the outskirts of Praia de Luz, on a narrow road leading down to a beach where the paedophile used to park his VW camper van. German prosecutor Wolters has consistently said he is convinced Madeleine is dead and caged paedophile Brueckner has been named as the sole suspect. The deviant, currently serving time for the September 2005 rape of an American OPA in the resort where Madeleine vanished, has yet to face any formal accusation over the youngster's disappearance. Last April he was made an official suspect or arguido in Portugal over Madeleine's disappearance, although his defence lawyer Friedrich Fulscher labelled it a 'procedural trick' linked to statute of limitations legislation at the time. Last autumn Bruecker was charged in Germany with several sex crimes on the Algarve against women and children including the rape of an Irish holiday rep in 2004 and the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl on a beach near Praia da Luz in 2007. Brueckner's lawyer revealed in April those charges had been dropped against him in a bombshell development after successfully arguing prosecutors had no jurisdiction over him in Braunschweig where the Madeleine case was being brought. The case could end up with prosecutors in Saxony-Anhalt instead but an appeal lodged by the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office has yet to be decided. Braunschweig prosecutor Mr Wolters has insisted they are still in control of the Madeleine McCann investigation and Brueckner, who denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, remains in custody. The Arade Dam, the Barragem do Arade in Portuguese, is fed by the watercourse of the Arade River whose source lies to the southwest of the Serrra do Caldeirao mountain range and runs through the municipalities of Silves, Lagoa and Portimao before reaching the ocean. Construction was completed in 1955 and it began operating the following year. by Vijay Prashad On May 15, 2023, Berkshire Hathaway reported in a Form 13F filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it had completed the sale of its $4 billion stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC). This sale completed a process that began in February 2023, when Berkshire Hathaway announced that it sold 86 percent of its holdings in TSMC. In April, Berkshire Hathaways leader Warren Buffett told Nikkei that the geopolitical tension between the United States and China was certainly a consideration in his decision to divest from TSMC. TSMC told Nikkei, is a well-managed company but that Berkshire Hathaway would find other places for its capital. At his May 6 morning meeting, Buffett said that TSMC is one of the best-managed companies and important companies in the world, and youll be able to say the same thing five, ten or twenty years from now. I dont like its location and reevaluated that. By location, Buffett meant Taiwan, in the context of the threats made by the United States against China. He decided to wind down his investment in TSMC in the light of certain things that were going on. Buffett announced that he would move some of this capital towards the building of a fledgling U.S. domestic semiconductor industry. Taxpayer's money in exchange for photo-ops: Tsai has made Taiwan an ATM from which America can withdraw money freely [ Cartoon: Xinhua] TSMC, based in Hsinchu, Taiwan,, is the worlds largest semiconductor manufacturer. In 2022, it accounted for 56 percent of the share of the global market and over 90 percent of advanced chip manufacturing. Warren Buffetts investment in TSMC was based on the Taiwanese companys immense grip on the world semiconductor market. In August 2022, U.S. President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law, which will provide $280 billion to fund semiconductor manufacturing inside the United States. On December 6, 2022, Biden joined TSMCs Chairman Dr. Mark Liu at the $40 billion expansion of TSMCs semiconductor factories in North Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Liu said at the projects announcement that the second TSMC factory is a testimony that TSMC is also taking a giant step forward to help build a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem in the United States. The first TSMC plant will open in 2024 and the second, which was announced in December, will open in 2026. On February 22, 2023, the New York Times ran a long article (Inside Taiwanese Chip Giant, a U.S. Expansion Stokes Tensions), which pointed outbased on interviews with TSMC employeesthat high costs and managerial challenges show how difficult it is to transplant one of the most complicated manufacturing processes known to man halfway across the world. At the December 6 announcement, Biden said, American manufacturing is back, but it is only back at a much higher cost (the plants construction cost is ten times more than it would have cost in Taiwan). The most difficult thing about wafer manufacturing is not technology, Wayne Chiuan engineer who left TSMC in 2022told the New York Times. The most difficult thing is personnel management. Americans are the worst at this because Americans are the most difficult to manage. Blow up Taiwan U.S. Ambassador Robert OBrien, the former National Security Advisor of Donald Trump, told Steve Clemons, an editor at Semafor, at the Global Security Forum in Doha, Qatar, on March 13, 2023, The United States and its allies are never going to let those [semiconductor] factories fall into Chinese hands. China, OBrien said, could build the new OPEC of silicon chips and thereby, control the world economy. The United States will prevent this possibility, he said, even if it means a military strike. On May 2, 2023, at a Milken Institute event, U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton said that if Chinese forces move into Taiwan, we will blow up TSMC. Of course, the Taiwanese really dont like this idea. These outlandish statements by OBrien and Moulton have a basis in a widely circulated paper from the U.S. Army War College, published in November 2021, by Jared M. McKinney and Peter Harris (Broken Nest: Deterring China from Invading Taiwan). The United States and Taiwan should lay plans for a targeted scorched-earth strategy that would render Taiwan not just unattractive if ever seized by force, but positively costly to maintain. This could be done effectively by threatening to destroy facilities belonging to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, they write. Right after Moulton made these incendiary remarks, former U.S. defense undersecretary Michele Flournoy said that it was a terrible idea and that such an attack would have a $2 trillion impact on the global economy within the first year and you put manufacturing around the world at a standstill. Taiwans officials responded swiftly to Moulton, with minister of defense Chiu Kuo-cheng asking, How can our national army tolerate this situation if he says he wants to bomb this or that? While Chiu responded to Moultons statement about a military strike on TSMC, in fact, the U.S. government has already attacked the ability of this Taiwanese company to remain in Taiwan. Taiwans economics vice minister Lin Chuan-neng said in response to these threats and Buffetts sale of TSMC that his government will do its utmost to let the world know that Taiwan is stable and safe. These incendiary remarks aimed at China now threaten the collapse of Taiwans economy. Made in Japan In his May 6 meeting, Warren Buffett said something that gives a clue about where the semiconductor manufacturing might be diverted. I feel better about the capital that weve got deployed in Japan than Taiwan, he said. In 1988, 51 percent of the worlds semiconductors were made in Japan, but as of 2022, the number is merely 9 percent. In June 2022, Japans Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) announced it would put in 40 percent of a planned $8.6 billion for a semiconductor manufacturing plant by TSMC in Kumamoto. METI said in November that it has selected the Rapidus Corporationwhich includes a stake by NTT, SoftBank, Sony, and Toyotato manufacture next-generation 2-nanometer chips. It is likely that Berkshire Hathaway will invest in this new business. Source: Globetrotter Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is an editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest books are Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Movements for Socialism and (with Noam Chomsky) The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power. Dramatic new footage released by Ukraine appears to show a high-speed kamikaze drone coming within feet of Vladimir Putin's most modern spy boat in the Black Sea. The video appears to show a possible strike on the vessel Ivan Khurs - without making clear what happens next as it cuts out right next to the side of the warship. Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko said the unmanned marine drone exploded close to the reconnaissance warship. He said it 'exploded right at the side of the ship and seriously damaged it'. Gerashchenko said that the Ivan Khurs 'was definitely damaged, and perhaps was even on its side', in what would be a huge blow for Vladimir Putin's campaign. Russian sources have said the vessel was undamaged - but offered no proof of this. If correct, Ukraine's claims would counter Moscow's that three drones were destroyed before reaching the ship. The footage appears to show a drone avoiding oncoming fire as it flies low over the water It homes in on the military vessel, which Ukraine claims is the Ivan Khurs - one of Vladimir Putin's most modern spy warships The drone gets closer, evading what appear to be flashes of gunfire trying to take it out As the drone approaches the warship the image blurs and then cuts out - making it difficult to know whether it performed a successful strike on it The incredible footage shows the drone speeding over the water towards the vessel, before it appears to crash into the hull as the footage blurs and then cuts out. Yesterday, Russia said Ukraine's armed forces had launched an 'unsuccessful' attack on the warship. They said Ukraine had attacked using three unmanned speedboats at 5.30am. Earlier footage showed the moment a drone was shot down, exploding in a ball of fire. The Russian Defence Ministry earlier reported that all three Ukrainian boats attacking the Khurs were destroyed. Russian sources said today that the spy ship, which is part of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, remains afloat but there has been no independent confirmation of this. And in an incredible admission, they also said the drone may have hit the ship, but failed to explode. Moscow earlier said that: 'All three naval drones were destroyed from regular arms of the Russian vessel'. The Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship was in international waters in the Black Sea Footage released yesterday showed one kamikaze drone blown out of the water as it zigzagged towards the Khurs. READ MORE: Dramatic video shows 'Ukrainian' marine drone dodging gunfire while homing in on Russian warship A suspected Ukrainian marine surface drone is seen avoiding oncoming fire Advertisement Initial volleys from the Russian warship missed the swivelling drone - but then it suffered a direct hit, exploding in a fireball. Today's footage appears to show either a direct hit, or that the drone was destroyed very close to the Khurs. The incident indicates that Putin's navy is no longer master of the Black Sea. The spy ship, launched in 2017, was in international waters some 40 nautical miles north of the Bosphorus Strait, according to reports. 'There is reason to believe that the drones were launched from a commercial civilian vessel,' said one Russian channel. A Telegram channel later alleged the ship had been attacked from a grain carrying vessel - but this was disputed by Russian sources. The routing of the Yuriy Ivanov class (Project 18280) signals intelligence vessel was not immediately clear. In April 2022, Ukraine sank the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet with missile strikes in one of Putin's biggest humiliations of the 15-month war. He dismissed concerns of Trump leading in Capitol Hill support: 'Congressional endorsements don't really matter much' Rep. Chip Roy, one of five members of Congress who have endorsed DeSantis, applauded the launch for 'doing something different' but called it 'clunky' GOP Rep. Chip Roy praised Ron DeSantis' 'obviously clunky' but otherwise 'incredible' campaign launch on Twitter, as he brushed off concerns that Donald Trump is lapping the Florida governor in congressional endorsements. 'I think it was actually incredible,' the Texas Republican - one of a small band who have thrown their weight behind the governor from Capitol Hill - told reporters. 'I know it was obviously a little clunky there for like 15 or 20 minutes, but you know this is what happens when you want to kind of break the status quo and do something different.' DeSantis raised eyebrows when he opted to launch the start of his campaign during a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk - rather than a traditional campaign launch in front of a crowd of supporters. The highly-anticipated start of his 2024 White House run started 26 minutes late and crashed multiple times as hundreds of thousands of users tuned in to listen to DeSantis' conversation with the Twitter CEO. GOP Rep. Chip Roy praised Ron DeSantis' 'obviously clunky' but otherwise 'incredible' campaign launch on Twitter, as he brushed off concerns that Donald Trump is lapping the Florida governor in congressional endorsements DeSantis raised eyebrows when he opted to launch the start of his campaign during a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk - rather than a traditional campaign launch in front of a crowd of supporters Musk at one point said during the event that the 'servers were strained' and the host blamed the glitches on the number of people tuning in, which he claimed were a 'good thing.' 'Just try and get it going,' listeners could hear as it became clear frustration was growing. The DeSantis team framed Wednesday's difficulties in a new light - with the former governor claiming he 'broke the internet.' 'At the end of the day, they have 25 million impressions in the last 24 hours,' Roy said in agreement. He brushed off concerns about the rocky start - and the governor's poll numbers that lag far behind Trump's. 'DeSantis has got an extraordinary track record, a great message, a great vision. overwhelming success at the ballot, strong conservative record, a whole lot of people supporting him in Iowa. So he's in a good spot.' Together with Roy, four others have so far come out to endorse DeSantis in the House - Reps. Rich McCormick, Ga., Laurel Lee, Fla., Thomas Massie, Ky., and Bob Good, Va. McCormick told DailyMail.com: 'Obviously the internet crashed, that was not the only time that's happened. They probably could have foreseen that, but you know, that's life. That's not going to affect the rest of the campaign.' No senators have yet come out in favor of the Florida governor. More than 50 House members and 11 senators have announced their support for Trump since he jumped into the race in November. Roy dismissed concerns about DeSantis' lagging congressional support, as he hinted that behind the scenes his colleagues were supportive but afraid to draw the vengeance of Trump upon themselves. 'Congressional endorsements don't really matter much,' Roy said. 'Do you think the average voter is going around, gee, man, I really care what these guys that have a 17 percent approval rating are saying?' Trump 'commands a lot of attention among people who are more concerned about reelection than, maybe, you know trying to pursue figuring out the candidate that might lead the country forward,' Roy added. Asked if he's hearing of more support behind the scenes, the congressman told DailyMail.com: 'That would be something I'm not going to comment on because of private communications, but let's just say that there's a lot of people who generally support Governor DeSantis.' Matt Gaetz, won of Trump's most ardent congressional supporters and a former close ally of DeSantis, wore a red MAGA hat to the Capitol on Thursday the morning after the governor's announcement. In his home state, DeSantis' support from elected officials is markedly better -the governor secured the backing of 99 of Florida's 113 GOP state lawmakers before he jumped into the race, including Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner. He's also picked up 37 endorsements from GOP state lawmakers in Iowa - a pivotal primary state for Republicans due to its first-in-the-nation caucuses. But reports have noted DeSantis' popularity problem in Congress, despite formerly serving as a House member. Former Rep. David Trott, R-Mich., told Politico he sat by DeSantis in Foreign Affairs Committee hearings and DeSantis never introduced himself or said hello. 'I think he's an a**hole,' Trott said. 'I don't think he cares about people.' Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, endorsed Trump immediately after meeting with DeSantis. 'I met with Governor DeSantis, and while he has done commendable work in Florida, there is no doubt in my mind that President Trump is the only leader who can save America from the leftist onslaught we are currently facing,' he said in a statement. While it's too early to read heavily into polling, Trump has a sizable lead over DeSantis by all counts - 54.3 percent to 20.6 according to a FiveThirtyEight average of recent polls. Ministers have been accused of an 'astonishing betrayal' after abandoning attempts to pass its flagship animal welfare law. Environment minister Mark Spencer told the Commons on Thursday that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill introduced when Boris Johnson was prime minister in 2021 would not progress. It contained measures from the Tory 2019 election manifesto including a clampdown on dog and puppy smuggling and a ban on live exports of livestock for slaughter abroad. Mr Spencer told MPs this afternoon that manifesto commitments would be kept through single-issue legislation and blamed Labour for the abandonment. He accused the opposition of engaging in 'scope creep' over its amendments to the legislation, saying it risked being extended 'far beyond the original commitments'. But campaigners accused the government of pulling the bill to get out of an 'uncomfortable debate' about hunting with dogs. Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane Society International UK, said: 'The Government's decision to abandon the Kept Animals Bill is an astonishing betrayal of both animals and public trust.' Environment minister Mark Spencer told the Commons on Thursday that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill introduced when Boris Johnson was prime minister in 2021 would not progress. It contained measures from the Tory 2019 election manifesto including a clampdown on dog and puppy smuggling and a ban on live exports of livestock for slaughter abroad. She added: 'It needed only a few more hours in the Commons to succeed, so parliamentary time is clearly not the real issue here. 'The real reason, Whitehall sources tell us, that the Bill has been dropped is because of concerns that it could act as a vehicle for uncomfortable debates that the Government does not want held on polarising issues such as hunting with dogs. 'Vital protections for dogs, calves, sheep, primates and other animals have been sacrificed today at the Government's altar of self-serving political convenience. 'We'll of course back delivery of these commitments as private members' bills, but this is a high risk strategy, and indicative of the low priority the Government now evidently places on animal welfare.' The Bill would have prohibited the export of live cattle, sheep, pigs and goats and horses for slaughter overseas. It also repealed and replaced 70-yaer-old laws to give more powers to tackle the most serious incidents of livestock worrying by dogs. It also clamped down hard on the sale of primates and the ability to keep them in captivity. The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation said it was 'disappointed', adding: 'We believe this represents a missed opportunity to further enhance the welfare and protection of animals across the United Kingdom.' For Labour, shadow environment minister Alex Sobel told the Commons: 'It represents a profound setback for animal welfare in the UK. 'It confirms once again that the Government is too weak to deliver their own legislation. This time it's innocent animals who will suffer the consequences.' Conservative former environment secretary Theresa Villiers said: 'I've campaigned for more than two decades for an end to the live export of animals for slaughter so I have to say I do feel a sense of frustration and disappointment that the Kept Animals Bill is not going to come back to Parliament. 'Can I really appeal to the minister and the wider government - bring us a new Bill, let's get on with this, let's ban this cruel trade.' Announcing the changes in a statement in the Commons, Mr Spencer said: 'Unfortunately this multi-issue nature means that there has been considerable scope creep. 'The Bill risked being extended far beyond the original commitments in the manifesto and the action plan. 'And in particular, Labour is clearly determined to play political games by widening the scope of this Bill.' We remain fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments. And this approach is now the surest and quickest way of doing so, The environment minister said 'enormous progress' on animal welfare has already been made with 'single-issue' legislation, adding: 'Therefore we will be taking forward measures in the Kept Animals Bill individually during the remainder of this Parliament. 'We remain fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments. And this approach is now the surest and quickest way of doing so, rather than letting it be mired in political game-playing.' He also announced the launch of a new animal sentience committee, and a consultation on new financial penalties of up to 5,000 for those who commit offences against animals. Fifty migrants packed into a floundering rubber dinghy in the Channel were picked up by a Border Force vessel today after refusing to be rescued by a French Navy warship. In a two-hour operation, Border Force vessel Ranger raced from the Kent coast to the centre of the Channel to bring the 'agitated' migrants into Dover. Videos and maritime radio messages between Ranger and the warship Formentin, obtained by the Mail, reveal a high level of collaboration between the French and British over organising the flimsy dinghy's journey safely to the UK. The migrants are understood to have turned down the French navy's offer of rescue to avoid being returned to France and losing the chance of claiming asylum in Britain. They arrived at Dover this morning around the same time data from the Office for National Statistics revealed UK net migration soared to a record 606,000 people last year. A group of fifty migrants were pictured being brought into Dover marina by Border Force vessel Ranger, after the group had refused help from a French Navy warship (pictured: a Border Force vessel in Dover today) The group of around 50 migrants are being brought into Dover, after their packed dinghy floundered in windy conditions in the English Channel (pictured: migrants arriving today) This map shows the path of the French warship as it escorted the dinghy this morning During today's manoeuvres, the Ranger crew advised the Formentin to use its 'powerboats to stay in range' of the dinghy until it could rendezvous for the mid-Channel pick-up. When the migrants were put on Ranger, the crew can be heard on maritime radio warmly thanking the Formentin captain 'and his team on board' for 'supporting us in this rescue'. READ MORE: Dozens of migrants cross the Channel in hazy conditions as number of small boat arrivals this year edges towards 7,500 Advertisement Maritime charts show the Formentin began escorting the dinghy from the French coast well before dawn, soon after it put to sea on a beach near Wimereux, a few miles from Boulogne. The warship stayed alongside the migrants for four hours as their flimsy craft headed towards the UK in unseasonably rough seas and winds. The first radio message, on public radio, from the Formentin to Ranger came before 7am when the dinghy was still on the French side of the Channel. The warship captain said in broken English: 'We ask to the (migrants') dinghy if they need our assistance. They say to me they only want UK assistance. But there is a lot of agitation on the dinghy.' An officer on Ranger then responds by offering to come out from Dover, despite the dinghy still being in French territorial waters. The officer says: 'I understand. They (the migrants) are waiting for UK assistance. We are now about to effect our rescue.' He then tells the warship to use its inflatable RHIBs (powerboats) to closely monitor the migrants' safety until the Border Force vessel arrived at a mid-channel rendezvous. According to observers in the Channel, the 50 migrants were put on board Ranger, and their empty black dinghy was later picked up another Border Force craft. The Ranger was one of two Border Force vessels to have brought an estimated 100 people, including women and children, into Dover today after they crossed the Channel in small boats. Today's arrivals come as the Home Office confirmed that 98 people arrived on two small boats on Wednesday. According to observers in the Channel, the 50 migrants were put on board Ranger today, and their empty black dinghy was later picked up another Border Force craft (pictured: migrants arriving in Dover today) A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, today as figures reveal net migration to the UK has jumped 606,000 (pictured: a Border Force vessel in Dover today) Border Force officials assist migrants as they arrive in Dover marina today The Ranger was one of two Border Force vessels to have brought an estimated 100 people, including women and children, into Dover today after they crossed the Channel in small boats (pictured: a Border Force vessel in Dover today) The total who have crossed so far this year is 7,395, according to an analysis by the Press Association media agency of Home Office figures. A total of 45,755 made the crossing last year, compared to 28,526 in 2021, 8,466 in 2020 and 1,843 in 2019. The Home Office has predicted a worst-case scenario of 85,000 arriving on small boats this year. The skipper of a fishing vessel who watched the operation today said: 'The migrants refuse to go back to France and even if their lives are at risk will not board a French warship in case they are returned there. 'What is incredible, is that Border Force co-operates with the migrants' demands although they are illegally coming to Britain and many are economic migrants not refugees.' A high percentage of the small-boat arrivals carry no documents. It is thought some destroy them in the Channel to avoid their national identity being discovered. The skipper added: 'We who work in the Channel have concluded that migrants are advised by traffickers running the small boats, and making millions, that they must shout for rescue by the British so the fares get paid. 'If the migrants are pushed back to France, the traffickers are left empty-handed.' Ministers teed up a fresh clampdown on immigration today as Rishi Sunak faced a Tory backlash over an extraordinary spike in numbers. Long-awaited statistics showed net migration to the UK was 606,000 across 2022. That was far higher than the 488,000 level for 2021 - even though that was upgraded by 91,000 in the latest official publication. The jump was fueled by arrivals from outside the EU, largely coming to study or work, as well as to seek refuge from chaos in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Although slightly lower than some had feared, the eye-watering level - roughly equivalent to adding the population of Bristol or Glasgow in a single year - sparked a furious political row over the Conservative manifesto pledge that 'numbers will come down' from the 226,000 in 2019. Under David Cameron and Theresa May there was a commitment to bring the long-term net migration figures into the tens of thousands, and one of the selling points for Brexit was 'taking back control' of borders. Tory anger at the situation was evident in the House of Commons this morning, with warnings that voters will not tolerate the 'unsustainable' situation. Long-awaited statistics showed another rise in net migration to 606,000 across 2022 - breaking the previous record of 504,000 from the year to last June Net migration has been driven by arrivals from outside the EU for the past few years Speaking on ITV's This Morning, Mr Sunak said: 'Numbers are too high, it's as simple as that. And I want to bring them down.' But Mr Sunak stressed he had 'inherited' significant levels, suggesting he was still aiming for the 266,000 from the manifesto. Pressed on whether immigration is out of control, he replied: 'Well, no, I think the numbers are just too high.' The premier said measures put in place this week to stop most foreign students bringing dependants 'are significant'. But immigration minister Robert Jenrick hinted that the government will go further, suggesting more 'interventions' are on the cards. In a glimmer of encouragement for Mr Sunak, analysts at the Migration Observatory suggested that net migration might be on the way down, having peaked at 637,000 in the year to September. The House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at cracking down on the deadly opioid crisis across the nation by enforcing stricter penalties for drug traffickers and permanently designating fentanyl as a Schedule 1 narcotic. By scheduling fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug, law enforcement is given increased authority to prosecute traffickers as dealers face tougher penalties for possession and distribution. The bill also removes barriers restricting researchers who conduct studies on the substances. The Republican-led bill garnered bipartisan support in a 289-133 vote, and the only Republican who voted 'no' Thursday on the HALT Fentanyl Act was Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Seventy-four Democrats crossed party lines to vote for the measure. Fentanyl is currently the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49 and synthetic opioids have accounted for 66 percent of total U.S. overdose deaths. The legislation led by Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., now heads to the Senate In 2018, the former Trump administration temporarily scheduled all synthetic opioids, and Congress extended the authorization on a few occasions. But the temporary status is set to expire on December 31, 2024, prompting congressional action to make it permanent. The Biden administration has been accused of kicking the can down the road on the permanent scheduling, which law enforcement officials say has made their jobs more difficult. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy directed his members to take action to address the deadly epidemic as fentanyl and other drugs continue to be smuggled across the southern border with little consequences in place for the dealers who distribute the drug to Americans. The speaker celebrated the passage of the bill Thursday, saying 'The HALT Fentanyl Act is one needed tool to help stop the flow of fentanyl and provides law enforcement agencies the authority they need to help them adequately address this crime.' McCarthy also blamed President Biden for failing to do his job as the drug crisis has gotten worse over the past two years. Fentanyl and other drugs continue to be smuggled across the southern border with little consequences 'I urge my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation so that we may send it to the president's desk to be signed into law,' said Griffith 'Like every other crisis ignored by Democrats, House Republicans are committed to delivering solutions,' McCarthy continued. The legislation led by Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Bob Latta, R-Ohio, now heads to the Senate, where there is a companion bill led by Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. 'As drug overdose deaths reach historic levels in our country, the HALT Fentanyl Act offers a way to make progress amid the tragedy of addiction,' said Griffith. 'I urge my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation so that we may send it to the president's desk to be signed into law.' The White House has expressed support for the House-led bill, but also urged for narrower mandatory minimum sentences. Under Schedule I, if a drug dealer is apprehended distributing 10 grams of fentanyl, they would fave a minimum of five years in prison. If they were trafficking 100 grams - it would up the minimum to 10 years. Queen Elizabeth II faced an assassination plot by Irish nationalist sympathisers during a 1983 visit to the US, according to newly released FBI files. The documents, which show how authorities repeatedly braced for threats from supporters of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), were revealed as a result of Freedom of Information requests submitted after the Queen's death in September last year. The assassination plot was foiled the night before the late Queen was due to arrive in San Francisco when a police officer warned federal agents about a potential attack. It involved attempting to drop 'an object' from the Golden Gate Bridge as the Royal Yacht Britannia sailed beneath it. More than 100 pages of documents related to the late monarch have been unsealed following the FOI requests to the FBI. The documents also reveal: The FBI warned it would be 'very hard' to avoid events which would 'embarrass' the Queen during the trip; There were also warnings of an attack by IRA sympathisers during a visit in 1981; The FBI assessed the threat of the IRA to the British Royal Family as 'ever present' Queen Elizabeth II makes a toast with former US President Ronald Reagan at a banquet in San Francisco in 1983 From left to right, Prince Philip, Nancy Reagan, Queen Elizabeth II and Ronald Reagan in 1983 The police officer who tipped off authorities drank regularly at an Irish pub and told agents about an IRA sympathiser who was set on getting his revenge over the death of his daughter. It followed a phone call he received in February from a man who he knew through the pub, 'who claimed that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet'. This phone call came around a month before then-President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan hosted the 57-year-old Queen and Prince Philip in California. The memo into the assassination attempt states: 'This man additionally claimed that he was going to attempt to harm Queen Elizabeth and would do this either by dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the Royal Yacht Britannia when it sails underneath, or would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite National Park.' The documents add that the man in question had previously been involved in police investigations. He was described as having been 'generally cooperative, although he makes no secret of his sympathies for the IRA' [sic]. The documents also reveal that FBI agents warned ahead of the visit: 'It will be very hard to anticipate and prevent incidents which may embarrass either the Queen or the president.' Although possibly the most substantial threat, it was not the first time that the FBI had warned of possible attacks on Her Majesty. Two years prior, the FBI warned of a 'potential attack' against her when she visited US cities with strong Irish links including Boston and New York. Another document from 1989 stated: 'The possibility of threats against the British monarchy is ever present from the Irish Republican Army.' It continued: 'Boston and New York are requested to remain alert for any threats against Queen Elizabeth II on the part of IRA members and immediately furnish same to Louisville.' The police officer who tipped off authorities drank regularly at an Irish pub and told agents about an IRA sympathiser who was set on getting his revenge over the death of his daughter Queen Elizabeth II (right) and Prince Philip (second left) pictured at Yosemite National Park in 1983, the second location mentioned by the sympathiser as a possible assassination site Queen Elizabeth II visits the Hewlett Packard factory in California on March 3, 1983 Queen Elizabeth ll during a visit to the Institution of Oceanography in San Diego in 1983 The Queen arrives in Santa Barbara, California, greeted by Ronald and Nancy Reagan, in 1983 The documents also reveal that FBI agents warned ahead of the 1983 visit: 'It will be very hard to anticipate and prevent incidents which may embarrass either the Queen or the president' The 1983 plot was far from the only assassination scheme the Queen (second left) survived The would-be assassin had planned to drop 'an object' from the Golden Gate Bridge as Queen Elizabeth's craft sailed beneath it And in 1976, a pilot in New York was summoned by police to prevent him from flying an 'England, Get out of Ireland' banner while Elizabeth II was in the city. The frequent concerns of the US authorities and the Royal Family themselves were far from without basis - in 1979 the Queen's second cousin Lord Mountbatten was famously murdered in an IRA bombing. He and three others died after his fishing vessel was filled with explosives which were later detonated. The other victims were Mountbatten's grandson Nicholas Knatchbull, crew member Paul Maxwell and Nicholas' paternal grandmother Doreen, Dowager Lady Brabourne. There were also previous assassination attempts against the Queen which made the threat of the IRA even more potent. In 1981 a teenager from New Zealand aimed and fired a gun at Her Majesty as she stepped out of a car. Christopher John Lewis fired a rifle, which missed, during the Queen's tour of the country. But he soon became obsessed with the idea of wiping out the Royal Family. Two years later he attempted to overpower guards at a psychiatric hospital where he was being detained in order to try and kill Prince Charles, who was in New Zealand with Princess Diana and Prince William. Lord Mountbatten was assassinated by an IRA plot which killed him and three others in 1979 Lord Mountbatten was killed in 1979 after explosives were detonated on his boat (pictured in 1975) In the same year an anti-royal extremist shot blanks at the Queen six times during the Trooping of the Colour. She again emerged uninjured from the attempt, carried out by 17-year-old Marcus Sarjeant. He was later sentenced to five years in prison on terrorism offences, but only served three - during which time he wrote to Elizabeth II and apologised for his actions. And in 1970 a plot was uncovered in Australia after the train she and Prince Philip were travelling in struck a log on the track. Fortunately the driver noticed the log and slowed enough that the train did not derail, but former detective superintendent Cliff McHardy in 2009 said that his investigation had concluded the log had been put in place deliberately. If the driver had not seen the log, the train could have derailed, sending the royal couple into a deep embankment below. Most California voters, including more than 50 percent of Democrats, want Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign from office due to her growing health issues. Additionally, the new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies/Los Angeles Times poll shows that nearly two-thirds of Californians registered to vote think that the Democratic senator is not fit for office. Feinstein, 89, has suffered a series of recent medical issues. She returned to the Capitol earlier this month after an extended absence due to a case of shingles. When returning, however, she was in a wheelchair. The California Democrat said in a statement that her doctor told her to work a lighter schedule. Most California voters, including 52% of Democrats, want Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 89, to resign, claiming her health issues are making her unfit for office Most voters in Feinstein's home state think she should resign, with only 27% overall saying she should serve out her term When asked how she was feeling, the frail senator insisted: 'Oh, I'm feeling fine. I have a problem with the leg.' Of all voters in California, 42 percent say that Feinstein should step down from her office, while 27 percent think she should serve out the rest of her term. Meanwhile, 52 percent of Democrats want her to resign and the remaining respondents were split at 24 percent on being undecided about the lawmaker and those who feel she should serve out her term. Republicans are less likely to want to see Feinstein resign likely feeling that her health issues and absence from Congress in her final year are beneficial to the right with the razor-thin margins in the upper chamber. Independents also want to see Feinstein out, with 42 percent saying they want her to step down, 26 percent saying she should serve out the term and 32 percent still undecided on what her fate in Congress should be. Only 20 percent of voters say that Feinstein is still fit to serve. Democratic Reps. Katie Porter (left), Adam Schiff (center) and Barbara Lee (right) are vying for Feinstein's spot Republican attorney Eric Early is also running to become a senator for California unlikely to happen in the deep blue state There are already a handful of Democrats in the House delegation for California looking to take Feinstein's seat and voters from the party appear eager to replace her on some key committees, like the Judiciary Committee. Representatives Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee have already put their names in the running for the soon-opening California Senate seat. Republican attorney Eric Early is also running. This UC Berkeley/LA Times poll on the Senate race shows Early with 18 percent support nearly all Republicans surveyed. Porter is close behind with 17 percent, followed by Schiff with 14 percent and Lee in last with 9 percent. A whopping 42 percent of voters, however, are undecided or want someone else to take Feinstein's seat in 2024. Spanish soldiers who have been training with Ukrainian troops grew tearful as they bid farewell to their companions. In a video released on Twitter by Visegrad24, Spanish soldiers cry as they say goodbye to and salute the Ukrainian soldiers they have been training with over the past few months in Spain. A group of the soldiers gather around a bus of Ukrainians as they head back home to battle the Russians - as one of the Spanish troops raises his fist in a show of camaraderie and another can be seen holding back tears as a fellow soldier pats him on the back. In a final farewell, the unit then lines up to salute the departing soldiers as they drive away. It comes as the last batch of two-hundred Ukrainian civilians graduated from their five-week-long basic military training at Toledo's Infantry Academy in early April. Spanish soldiers who have been training with Ukrainian troops grew tearful as they bid farewell to their companions In a final farewell, the unit then lines up to salute the departing soldiers as they drive away The 200 graduated Ukrainian soldiers, former civilians recruited from different parts of Ukraine and with an average age of 36 years old, had been trained on basic shooting, explosives, and first aid skills during intense 10-hour-long sessions for six days a week, ElPeriodico reported. 'You are now part of the Spanish armed forces family,' a commander said during the graduation ceremony. 'Spain feels deeply united with Ukraine. Your cause is our cause too. You work and fight for peace, for freedom, for your country.' 'You know that you are going to a difficult place, to a difficult destination, but it is your homeland. Every time you look at this diploma, know that your pain is our pain, and your families and your children are also our families and our children', the commander emphasised. With the 200 new graduates, Spain reached 639 soldiers trained under the European Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine scheme (EUMAN UA), launched in October 2022 to offer training modules to Ukrainian soldiers on EU soil and provide military equipment to the Ukrainian army. Spain will reach 2000 trained Ukrainian soldiers by the end of the year. During the ceremony, the battalion's chief took the chance to thank Spain 'on behalf of the whole of Ukraine' for the 'help, preoccupation and attention', and reminded them they are fighting 'not only for Ukraine but for human values and for all peoples'. Coca-cola supplies are under threat as workers prepare to walk out over a pay dispute in a move union bosses say will 'inevitably shut down production.' Unite said hundreds of its members at the Coca Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) site in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, would walk out for a series of strikes over two weeks from June 8. The workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over a pay offer which the union said was worth an average of 6 per cent, which they claim did nothing to address the cost-of-living crisis. Unite regional officer Chris Rawlinson said: 'Coca-cola's pay offer has fallen flat. The vast majority of the workforce have joined Unite to fight for fair pay. 'Now a series of strikes will inevitably shut down the production of Britain's favourite soft drinks, including Coca-Cola. The plant can turn out up to 360,000 cans and 132,000 bottles every hour Unite said hundreds of its members at the Coca Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) site (pictured) in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, would walk out for a series of strikes over two weeks from June 8 Former Prime Minister David Cameron held a question and answer session with staff at a Coca Cola during his visit to Wakefield, West Yorkshire when he was Conservative Party leader in 2010 'But Industrial action can still be avoided at Europe's biggest soft drinks plant if bosses realise that they must pay workers a fair wage from the company's enormous profits.' The plant say they have 'robust contingency measures in place' and their customers will not be disrupted. There are set to be 14 days of strike action, comprising three 48-hour strikes and two 96-hour strikes, spaced over a two-week period. The plant can turn out up to 360,000 cans and 132,000 bottles every hour. Workers voted in favour of the strikes by a margin of 87 per cent. Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: 'Coca Cola Europacific Partners is making profits in the billions but it's delivering a pay cut to the very workers who are making them. 'The workers at Wakefield have Unite's total support.' A spokesperson for Coca Cola Europacific Partners said: 'In the current economic climate, we believe the pay rises that we are offering are very competitive within the market place. There are set to be 14 days of strike action, comprising three 48-hour strikes and two 96-hour strikes, spaced over a two-week period The plant say they have 'robust contingency measures in place' and their customers will not be disrupted 'We also provide substantial additional benefits and bonuses to our colleagues, altogether this is an average total package of 46,900 for a colleague at Wakefield. 'We have also made a 1,000 payment to all frontline colleagues in the past twelve months to support the current cost of living challenges. 'We have a strong track record of supporting colleagues at our Wakefield site, allowing them to build their skills and develop their careers in a hi-tech, modern manufacturing operation, where we have invested more than 100m in the past five years alone. 'While Unite has chosen to proceed with industrial action, we remain fully committed to maintaining talks with our colleagues at our Wakefield site and their representatives to secure a constructive outcome. 'We have robust contingency measures in place and are confident that there will be no disruption to our trade customers.' A retired colonel accused of fleecing the taxpayer to fund his children's private education was a 'father figure' to colleagues while deputy director of the Government's Covid-19 taskforce, a court heard. Marcus Reedman, 52, denies defrauding the Ministry of Defence (MoD) out of tens of thousands of pounds to pay his children's 75,000-a-year private boarding school fees. Mr Reedman had a desk job at the MoD building in Whitehall at the time of the fraud allegation between October 2016 and August 2017. He was paying 75,000 in annual school fees, equivalent to his entire yearly salary, but received more than 40,000 in Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) claims, it is said. His eldest daughter and son attended Brighton College, costing around 30,000 each a year, while his youngest daughter was a daygirl at the Marlborough House prep school in Kent, for which no CEA was claimed. Marcus Reedman (right), 52, denies defrauding the Ministry of Defence (MoD) out of tens of thousands of pounds to pay his children's 75,000-a-year private boarding school fees Mr Reedman had a desk job at the MoD building in Whitehall at the time of the fraud allegation between October 2016 and August 2017. Pictured: Mr Reedman at Southwark Crown Court But Mr Reedman allegedly failed to declare that he was serving unaccompanied at his residence at work address in Biggin Hill, Kent, while his wife, Astrid, lived at the family home in Rye, East Sussex. Giving evidence as a character witness for Mr Reedman on Thursday Conn MacEvilly, who was chief of staff of the Covid-19 taskforce, told Southwark Crown Court: 'The government was in a pickle. It didn't have the government machinery to cope with an emergency of that kind. They created a thing called the Covid-19 taskforce.' Mr MacEvilly said Mr Reedman supported more junior colleagues who were under stress at this time. He said: 'You might not like me to say that was a father figure, because he is only two years older than me but he really was. 'He could appreciate the strain that more junior people were under. He took time to have one to one talks to check if people were ok. That was rare. 'As we moved to the back end of 2020 people were getting angrier and angrier, especially after Christmas was cancelled. But Mr Reedman (left) allegedly failed to declare that he was serving unaccompanied at his residence at work address in Biggin Hill, Kent, while his wife, Astrid, lived at the family home in Rye, East Sussex. Pictured: Mr Reedman with former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2014 'It was a really high pressure environment. He is someone who is honest when it takes courage to be honest, and is honest all the time in my experience.' Mr MacEvilly added Mr Reedman was always prepared to tell the Government things it did not want to hear. He said: 'Marcus's job was to speak truth to power and he and his team did that at a time when the Government really did not want to hear bad news. 'They wanted to believe that things were going well and that things were going to get better.' His brother Simon Reedman, who is a fireman, said: 'There aren't many people in this world who have risked their life so many times in the line of duty. 'He is an amazing father, an amazing husband and an amazing uncle. He has instilled those values in his three children.' Earlier this week Mr Reedman denied defrauding the MoD, claiming he moved to Biggin Hill and his family 'moved with me'. But he was left unaccompanied at the work address while his wife Astrid spent a great deal of time at their family home in Rye while she underwent medical treatment. He told the court he had disclosed this information via an email to his chain of command in May 2017. Mr Reedman, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent denies one charge of fraud between 13 October 2016 and 17 August 2017. The trial continues. EQS-Ad-hoc: Deutsche Lufthansa AG / Key word(s): Mergers & Acquisitions Deutsche Lufthansa AG: Lufthansa Group reaches agreement on the acquisition of a minority stake in ITA Airways 25-May-2023 / 17:49 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The Lufthansa Group has agreed with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to acquire a 41% stake in ITA Airways. The contractual finalization of the agreement is expected to be completed shortly. With the planned transaction, the Group is expanding its access to the third largest airline market in Europe, which is already of great strategic importance for the Group. The Lufthansa Group will acquire 41% of ITA Airways by way of a capital increase. The invested funds of 325 million euros will thus flow directly to the company. They will be raised from the Lufthansa Group's existing liquidity. MEF undertakes to contribute a further 250 million euros to the company. Under the terms of the transaction, the Lufthansa Group will assume responsibility for the joint operational management of ITA Airways upon closing. It will appoint the CEO and one additional of a total of five members of the Board of Directors. The agreement provides for various options for the Lufthansa Group to increase its stake in ITA Airways or to acquire it outright. For the main options, the purchase price depends on the achievement of the targets jointly agreed with MEF for the development of ITA Airways' net debt and EBITDA. The MEF can sell its remaining shares to the Lufthansa Group in the medium term if the agreed financial targets for net debt and EBITDA are achieved. The option mechanism reduces negative effects on the capital structure of the Lufthansa Group as far as possible, even in the event of a full takeover. The agreement also regulates the handling of any financial charges from legal disputes involving Alitalia. The closing of the transaction after the contractual finalization remains subject in particular to regulatory approvals, especially by the European competition authority. Responsible: Dennis Weber, Head of Investor Relations, +49 69 696 28000 The court ruled that keeping the additional $25,000 was unconstitutional The Supreme Court has unanimously sided with a 94-year-old grandmother whose house was seized by the county and sold for profit over a modest unpaid tax bill. Geraldine Tyler, 94, of Minneapolis, was victorious in the Supreme Court on Thursday after it was ruled that the county acted unconstitutionally by seizing her home, selling it, and pocketing $25,000 on top of what she owed in tax. Tyler owned a condo in Hennepin County, Minnesota, that accumulated about $15,000 in unpaid real estate taxes, originating from an original $2,300 debt. The County seized her condo in 2015 and sold it for $40,000. 'The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but no more,' wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the order, published on Thursday. 'I'm happy about what this win will mean for a whole lot of people, but especially seniors who would otherwise lose their savings and be put out on the street.' Tyler told DailyMail.com via her lawyers. Geraldine Tyler, 94, of Minneapolis, was victorious in the Supreme Court on Thursday after it was unanimously ruled that the seizure and sale of her home by the county was unlawful The house was seized in 2015 and a year later sold for $40,000 - the county kept all of the proceeds as Minnesota is one of the states that allow local jurisdictions to do so In her claim Tyler alleged that the county acted in violation of the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment and the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment. The justices ruled 9-0 that Hennepin County violated Tyler's constitutional rights by taking her property without paying 'just compensation'. 'The County had the power to sell Tyler's home to recover the unpaid property taxes. But it could not use the toehold of the tax debt to confiscate more property than was due,' Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. 'A taxpayer who loses her $40,000 house to the State to fulfill a $15,000 tax debt has made a far greater contribution to the public fisc than she owed.' Tyler, who now lives in an apartment building for older people, owed $2,300 in unpaid taxes, plus interest and penalties totaling $15,000, when the county took title to the one-bedroom apartment in 2015. The county claimed she did nothing to hold onto her residence, which was sold the next year. Minnesota is among around a dozen states that 'engage in home equity theft', according to the Pacific Legal Foundation, a non profit law firm focused on property rights that represented Tyler for free. At least 8,950 homes were sold because of unpaid taxes and the former owners received little or nothing in those states between 2014 and 2021, according to the group. Justices ruled 9-0 that Hennepin County violated Tyler's constitutional rights by taking her property without paying 'just compensation' The other states are: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and South Dakota, the group said. Geraldine's case will now go to the trial court, where she will argue that she is owed the fair market value of her property, minus her debt. There has been no explanation as to why Tyler stopped paying her property taxes when she moved from the condo, where she had lived since 1999. The court rejected the county's arguments that Tyler could have sold the property and kept whatever was left after paying off the mortgage and taxes, refinanced her mortgage to pay the tax bill or signed up for a tax payment plan. Lower courts had sided with the county before the justices agreed to step in. Dan Rogan, an Assistant County Administrator and Hennepin County Auditor, told DailyMail.com in a statement that given the ruling, Minnesota's property tax forfeiture laws will be revised. 'Based on today's decision which found Minnesota's law unconstitutional, Minnesota's property tax forfeiture laws must be revised,' he wrote. 'Hennepin County will work closely with the Minnesota Legislature to create a process that is consistent with the Supreme Court's decision.' A rape detective accused of making sexual advances to victims and caught offering cocaine to women was sacked today after being suspended on full pay for seven years. Detective Inspector Warren Arter is estimated to have earned around 400,000 since he was suspended by Scotland Yard in 2016 over allegations that he abused his position 'for a sexual purpose'. The 53-year-old married officer is accused of pestering victims of sexual offences between 2006 and 2013 when he was a detective sergeant leading a rape investigation team which won an award in 2009 for having the best detection rate in the Metropolitan Police. Now it can be revealed that the drug-taking officer offered to supply Class A drugs to several women and photographed himself in front of a line of cocaine. In an extraordinary scandal, Arter spent two years buying cocaine and MDMA and sent out text messages offering to supply drugs to others while he was working in the Met's Sapphire squad. Detective Inspector Warren Arter is estimated to have earned around 400,000 since he was suspended by Scotland Yard in 2016 over allegations that he abused his position 'for a sexual purpose'. Police found a photograph of the officer sitting on his sofa in front of a mirror with lines of white powder and a card on it resting on a coffee table in his living room. Another image showed plastic bags containing white powder resting on a set of digital scales. Yet he escaped criminal charges after the Crown Prosecution Services decided not to charge him with dealing drugs. Today he was barred from policing after his sordid role in cocaine-fuelled parties where he turned a blind eye to drug taking and suspected exploitation was revealed in a police misconduct hearing. When police arrested the father as he flew home from Jamaica in December 2016, officers found drugs paraphernalia more commonly associated with a drug dealer at his property, including metal straws and mini scales found to bear traces of cocaine along with a grip-seal bag that had traces of MDMA. The officer was taken into custody where he tested positive for cocaine. He was interviewed under caution on suspicion of offering to supply controlled drugs to others and the corrupt or improper use of police powers for failing to act when he became aware of other people possessing and consuming drugs. But prosecutors later decided not to bring any criminal charges, leaving Arter facing only a gross misconduct hearing, which he failed to attend this week. The three-day misconduct hearing was told that the disgraced officer had bought cocaine and MDMA on multiple occasions between 2016 and 2018 and regularly attended parties where cocaine and crack were openly consumed, which he turned a blind eye to. Arter also failed to take action when he was aware a man was providing drugs to a woman in exchange for sex. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) discovered text message exchanges in which he arranged to buy drugs, discussed taken them, and offered to supply cocaine to two women on two occasions. His phone and iPad were also found to bear traces of cocaine. Yesterday he was found to have breached the police standards of professional behaviour for discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities, honesty and integrity. Despite the extraordinary length of time the case has taken, Arter will now face a secondary disciplinary hearing over allegations he had abused his position for a sexual purpose. IOPC Regional Director Mel Palmer said: 'These are very serious findings against a high-ranking officer, who a misconduct panel has found purchased and consumed illegal drugs and offered them to third parties. 'There can be no doubt that conduct such as this, though it relates to the actions of one officer, risks undermining public confidence in policing. 'There can be no place in policing for officers who do not respect and adhere to the laws they are expected to uphold. 'It is right this officer has been placed on the College of Policing barred list, meaning he cannot work in policing.' Scotland Yard arrested Arter in December 2016 after he returned home from a holiday in Jamaica. When the investigation was handed to the IOPC, drug paraphernalia and a photograph of the officer sitting on his sofa in front of a mirror with lines of white powder and a card on it resting on a coffee table in his living room was recovered in 2018. Rishi Sunak is facing a backbench revolt after it was revealed that immigration boosted Britains population by the equivalent of a city the size of Glasgow last year. Conservative backbenchers fear they will be punished at the ballot box after net migration figures reached 606,000, the highest level ever recorded. The Prime Minister insisted immigration had not been allowed to run unchecked despite official data showing net migration surged 24 per cent from 488,000 the previous year. Last years total - the difference between those immigrating and those emigrating - was nearly double pre-pandemic levels, the Office for National Statistics said. But asked whether immigration was out of control, Mr Sunak said: Well, no, I think the numbers are just too high. He told ITVs This Morning: Numbers are too high, its as simple as that. And I want to bring them down. Long-awaited statistics showed another rise in net migration to 606,000 across 2022 - breaking the previous record of 504,000 from the year to last June The Prime Minister insisted immigration had not been allowed to run unchecked despite official data showing net migration surged 24 per cent from 488,000 the previous year Soaring immigration levels have exposed tensions within Cabinet, with some ministers fearing a backlash from the public over the issue. One minister told the Mail: We have taken our eye off the ball on migration. We promised to take back control but it looks like its completely out of control. The PM is right that people care about illegal migration but it is not the only issue. They also care about the pressure on services and housing. We are letting too many people in. Conservative backbenchers were incredulous at the huge levels of migration revealed in yesterdays figures. Veteran Tory Sir Edward Leigh said: Some people in the Treasury seem to think a good way to grow the economy is to fill the country up with more and more people, but this is bad for productivity and bad for British workers who are being undercut by mass migration from all over the world. Tory MP Martin Vickers told the Commons: The anger and frustration of my constituents has been focused on illegal migration up until now, but that anger and frustration will grow when they consider these legal migration figures. Were creating, roughly speaking, eight new parliamentary constituencies with this number and if that continues its clearly unsustainable. Last years total - the difference between those immigrating and those emigrating - was nearly double pre-pandemic levels, the Office for National Statistics said Net migration has been driven by arrivals from outside the EU for the past few years Long-term immigration is running at well over a million according to the latest ONS figures - although it has been partially offset by people leaving Total long-term emigration ticked up in the final quarter of last year, according to the ONS Home Secretary 'goes to ground' as migration stats are released Suella Braverman was accused of 'going to ground' today as stark figures showed net immigration running at a record 606,000. The Home Secretary did not make any comment on the eye-watering numbers, ignoring shouted questions from journalists as she left home this morning. She sent her deputy Robert Jenrick to speak to MPs in the Commons, while Rishi Sunak fielded questions on the ITV This Morning couch. Even a statement issued by the Home Office was attributed to a 'spokesperson' rather than Ms Braverman herself. The glaring absence comes amid persistent rumours at Westminster that Ms Braverman is gearing up to quit in protest at the failure to tackle immigration. She looks to have lost battles with Cabinet colleagues over tougher measures to curb numbers - although a ban on most foreign students bringing in dependants was announced earlier this week. Her close ally John Hayes did take to broadcast studios this morning to warn that migration levels are 'unsustainable'. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper ridiculed Ms Braverman's low profile in the House, asking 'what is the point of her?' But Mr Jenrick insisted she and the PM are 'completely aligned' on the need to bring numbers down. Advertisement In an attempt to assuage backbench concerns, immigration minister Robert Jenrick conceded that levels were far too high, pledging: If we need to take more action, we will. But ministers were accused of attempting to manage expectations over the main net migration figure, after the Centre for Policy studies think tank - co-founded by Margaret Thatcher - forecast it could be as high as a million. Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK which campaigns for tougher border controls, said: Ministers and pro-immigration zealots seem to have been trying to manage expectations by allowing speculation of even higher net migration published in the last few weeks. They made no attempt to correct higher predictions, but that has not taken the sting out of these astonishing numbers. With a population the size of Glasgow arriving every year, the added pressure on housing, the NHS, GP surgeries, and schools and other services - all already under severe pressure - will become unbearable. Overall long-term immigration to Britain in 2022 was 1.2million, up 221,000 on the previous year, the ONS estimated. The majority of those arriving - 925,000 - were non-EU nationals, followed by 151,000 EU nationals and 88,000 returning Britons. The overall totals included an estimated 114,000 long-term arrivals from Ukraine plus 52,000 Hong Kongers fleeing Beijings anti-democracy crackdown. Excluded from the ONSs overall figures were 143,000 foreign nationals who arrived in the UK with a long-term visa last year but who historical evidence suggests have left the country early. The ONS also upgraded its previous net migration estimate - published in November, and covering the year to June 2022 - from 504,000 to 606,000. It said data from most recent months suggested net migration has levelled off. Separate Home Office data - also published yesterday THU - showed the number of foreign workers arriving in the UK in the 12 months to March spiralled to 299,891, a 119 per cent jump on pre-pandemic levels. The foreign worker total was largely driven by a 171 per cent leap in the number of people granted a special visa to work in the NHS or care homes. The number of foreign students coming during the year hit 477,931, up 22 per cent year-on-year. These students brought more than 149,000 dependents with them, something Mr Sunak has announced will be severely restricted from January. Rishi Sunak admitted immigration is 'too high' today as he faced a Tory backlash over figures laying bare an extraordinary spike Non-EU nationals are primarily coming to the UK to work and study - although a growth in humanitarian arrivals reflects the situations in Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan The ONS provided 2022 estimates for long-term migration to the UK on key visas routes The number of foreign nationals who were returned to their home nation or other countries was 37,948 last year - a rise from just under 29,000 in the previous 12 months but still far below the 71,000 in 2009. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: These extraordinary figures, including doubling the number of work visas since the pandemic, show the Conservatives have no plan and no grip on immigration. Ministers have completely failed to tackle skills shortages, especially in health and social care, or to get people back into work after Covid. Madeleine Sumption, director of Oxford Universitys Migration Observatory, said unusually high net migration were a result of the war in Ukraine, a boom in international student recruitment and high demand for health and care workers. There is no reason to assume that net migration would remain this high indefinitely, she added. The Conservatives set an original target of tens of thousands in 2010, but it was never reached and was ultimately abandoned in 2019 under Boris Johnson. Suella Braverman said at Tory conference last October that reducing net migration to under 100,000 a year would be her ultimate aspiration. The Conservatives set an original target of tens of thousands in 2010, but it was never reached and was ultimately abandoned in 2019 under Boris Johnson Suella Braverman said at Tory conference last October that reducing net migration to under 100,000 a year would be her ultimate aspiration Tory foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns cautioned against 'knee-jerk' reactions to the high numbers But several key ministers have resisted Mrs Bravermans plans for a wider clampdown on numbers, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who has warned that draconian restrictions could hit Britains fragile economic recovery. Last week he said he was open to adding more jobs to the shortage occupation list - which makes it easier for employers to recruit overseas - saying the government would always be sensible and pragmatic about using immigration to fill vacancies in the economy. Mr Sunak, whose five pledges include restoring economic growth, has also been sympathetic to calls from business to allow migrant labour to fill shortages. Last week he announced a further 45,000 temporary visas for seasonal agricultural workers, saying it was something that the farming community said to us they wanted. A Home Office spokesman said: This week we carried out the toughest ever action by government to reduce migration by removing the right for most international students to bring family members, while continuing to benefit from the skills and resources our economy needs. We remain committed to reducing overall net migration, while stopping the boats and delivering control of our borders, prioritising tackling abuse and preventing dangerous and illegal crossings. Separate to the ONS figures, the Home Office released data showing the number of study visas granted to Indian, Nigerian and Pakistan nationals rose during 2022-23. But the number of Chinese nationals granted study visas fell The Home Office figures today highlighted a rise in the numbers of dependants of students being granted visas - something the government has declared it will crack down on Under David Cameron and Theresa May there was a commitment to bring the long-term net migration figures into the tens of thousands, and one of the selling points for Brexit was 'taking back control' of borders. Tory anger at the situation was evident in the House of Commons this morning, with warnings that voters will not tolerate the 'unsustainable' situation. The premier said measures put in place this week to stop most foreign students bringing dependants 'are significant'. In a glimmer of encouragement for Mr Sunak, analysts at the Migration Observatory suggested that net migration might be on the way down, having peaked at 637,000 in the year to September. Among other developments with a raft of government figures released today: Nearly one-and-a-half million visas were issued in the year to March 2023 to people coming to the UK for work, study or family reasons, or through one of the Government's settlement schemes. Nearly 200,000 of those were to Ukrainians; For the first time asylum seekers were included in the immigration statistics, with 76,000 people applying in 2022, up from 53,000 in 2021; The backlog of asylum cases has hit a new peak since comparable records began in 2010, with 172,758 people waiting for an initial decision at the end of March, up 57 per cent on the previous 12 months; Just 1 per cent of Channel boats arrivals over the past year have had an initial decision on asylum applications; Home Office minister Robert Jenrick told the Commons that some universities are 'in the immigration business' rather than teaching and education; Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been accused of 'going to ground' after she dodged appearing in person to respond to the figures. Instead her allies have made clear she wants more drastic steps to curb numbers, and has faced resistance from Cabinet colleagues concerned about damaging the economy. A group of Channel boat arrivals are brought into Dover by Border Force staff today Figures today showed fledgling evidence that small boats arrivals are running below the levels from last year Although small boat arrivals were above the 2022 level in February, they now appear to be lower than the previous peaks Jay Lindop, Deputy Director of the ONS Centre for International Migration, said: 'A series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following Covid led to record levels of international immigration to the UK. 'The main driver of the increase was people coming to the UK from non-EU countries for work, study and for humanitarian purposes, including those arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong. For the first time since using our new methods to measure migration, we have also included asylum seekers in our estimates, with around 1 in 12 non-EU migrants coming via this route. 'There are some signs the underlying drivers behind these high levels of migration are changing. As lockdown restrictions were lifted in 2021, we saw a sharp increase in students arriving. 'Recent data suggests that those arriving in 2021 are now leaving the country, with the overall share of non-EU immigration for students falling in 2022. 'In contrast, those arriving on humanitarian routes increased over the 12 months. Evidence also suggests immigration has slowed in recent months potentially demonstrating the temporary nature of these events.' The Office for National Statistics figures cover the 12 months ending December 2022. They estimate the net migration level - the balance between inflows and outflows - for those who intend to stay in the country for at least a year. Channel migrants are driven away from the Port of Dover in Kent today There have been a number of incidents involving small boats in the Channel today A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel after being rescued during a small boat incident in the Channel last week MPs have been demanding action from Mr Sunak, with the fallout underlined in a poll finding Labour are more trusted on immigration. The PM has focused on his vow to curb illegal immigration by 'stopping the boats' crossing the Channel. Separate Home Office figures suggest the high inflows have continued into this year. Nearly one-and-a-half million visas were issued in the year to March 2023 to people coming to the UK for work, study or family reasons, or through one of the Government's settlement schemes. Some 487,771 work visas were granted, along with 632,006 study visas and 65,642 family visas, plus 5,046 visas for dependants joining or accompanying others, according to Home Office figures. In addition, 198,358 were issued under the Ukraine visa schemes, 47,227 were granted to British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong, 31,550 were under the EU Settlement Scheme, and 4,562 were under other settlement schemes. The combined total of 1,472,162 visas in 2022-23 is up 53 per cent from 960,133 in 2021-22. There were 75,492 asylum applications in the UK in the year to March 2023, relating to 91,047 people - the highest for any 12-month period since the year to March 2003. MPs have been demanding action from Mr Sunak, with the fallout underlined in a poll finding Labour are more trusted on immigration. A new poll has found Labour, led by Keir Starmer (pictured) is more trusted than the Conservatives on immigration The figures also show the backlog of asylum cases in the UK has hit a new record high, with 172,758 people waiting for an initial decision. That is up 57 per cent from 109, 735 at the end of March 2022. For the year ending in March, there were 477,931 sponsored study visas granted to main applicants - 22 per cent more than the previous 12 months and 108 per cent more than 2019 before Covid. Some 138,532 of those were to Indian nationals, up 63 per cent on the previous year. Chinese nationals were the second most common nationality granted sponsored study visas, with 100,397, but that was down 14 per cent on 2021-22. Nigerian nationals saw the largest percentage increase, up 83 per cent to 57,636. A total of 22,457 study visas were granted to EEA and Swiss nationals, who needed a visa from January 2021. Around a quarter of all study related visas granted were granted to dependants of students - 149,400 - compared to just 15 per cent or 72,062 the previous year. In the Commons, Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne asked for an estimate on the impact of measures to prevent overseas students bringing dependents with them. Allies of Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) have made clear she wants more drastic steps to curb immigration Keir Starmer (pictured on a visit to Fife today) has gone on the attack over immigration levels Mr Jenrick said they will have a 'tangible effect' on the number of student dependents arriving in the UK, adding: 'It isn't right that universities in some cases are in the immigration business rather than the teaching and education one. 'We're clamping down on those practices and that will help us to bring down net migration in the medium-term.' Former minister John Hayes, a close ally of Ms Braverman, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning that businesses needed to recognise they cannot 'turn the tap on and bring people from abroad'. 'I think the government as a whole has got to grasp this... where on earth are you going to house these people?' he said. But the Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, warned against 'knee-jerk reactions'. She tweeted: 'We should hesitate from knee-jerk reactions on migration. 'Students shouldn't be included in net migration figures. The soft power dividends as (an) academic superpower are significant. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper ridiculed Ms Braverman's low profile in the House, asking 'what is the point of her?' Outside the chamber, Robert Jenrick (pictured) said the Home Secretary and PM are 'completely aligned' in their stance on migration. 'We've proudly offered refuge to Ukrainians & BNOs (British Nationals (Overseas)) and need to fill jobs wealth creators have made.' Shadow home secretary Ms Cooper said: 'Net migration is more than twice the level that ministers were aiming for, and considerably more than that compared to the Home Secretary's claimed aims. The asylum backlog is at a record high, the opposite of the Prime Minister's promise to clear the backlog this year, and less than 1% of last year's small boat arrivals have had a decision. 'Yet where is the Home Secretary who is in charge of these policies? She's gone to ground, there are reports she is not even going to do media, she has not come to this House, she is in internal meetings, presumably more private courses arranged by the civil service. 'What is the point of her?' Outside the chamber, Mr Jenrick said the Home Secretary and PM are 'completely aligned' in their stance on migration. He told broadcasters: 'The Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and I are completely aligned on this issue. We see net migration as far too high. Mr Sunak said banning overseas students from brining dependents to the UK was the 'biggest-ever single measure to tackle legal migration, toughening the rules on post-study work, and reviewing maintenance requirements' After a rise in public confidence in the Tories' immigration, asylum and small boats policies in March, the Ipsos research conducted between May 16 and 18 found trust had fallen again, with Labour leading on all three issues 'We're taking determined action this week. If we need to take more action we will, because net migration is placing an intolerable pressure on public services, on housing, on our ability to integrate people'. On Tuesday, the Government announced that overseas students will be banned from bringing dependants to the UK from January 2024. The change will not apply to those on postgraduate research programmes. Mr Sunak said it was the 'biggest-ever single measure to tackle legal migration, removing the right for international students to bring dependants, toughening the rules on post-study work, and reviewing maintenance requirements'. However, the two-year period following their studies when people can stay in the UK has been retained. Tory anger at the inability to control net migration was evident in the Commons. Conservative MP Aaron Bell said the figures were too high and his voters 'will expect to see them fall', while his Tory colleague Louie French said the 'unsustainable levels of migration' were having a 'significant impact' on housing in south-east England. The Government has to balance its commitment to reducing net migration with the need to fill vacancies in areas where there is a labour shortage. A new poll has found Labour is more trusted than the Conservatives on immigration. After a rise in public confidence in the Tories' immigration, asylum and small boats policies in March, the Ipsos research conducted between May 16 and 18 found trust had fallen again, with Labour leading on all three issues. Some 38 per cent of people trusted Labour to have the right policies on immigration and asylum seekers, and 37 per cent trusted the party to handle the issue of small boats crossing the Channel. Just 29 per cent said the same about the Conservatives on immigration, with 28 per cent trusting them on asylum policy and 27 per cent trusting them on small boats. But there was also widespread pessimism about both parties' policies on immigration and asylum, with 50 per cent saying they did not trust Labour and more than 60 per cent saying they did not trust the Conservatives. Russia said today it had sent fighter jets to stop two US strategic bomber planes from 'violating the state border' over the Baltic Sea, in the second such incident this week. The Russian defence ministry said it had scrambled Su-27 and Su-35 fighter jets, saying it identified 'the air targets as two US Air Force B-1B strategic bombers'. A basic principle of international air law is that every state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory, including its territorial sea, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation. 'The violation of the state border was prevented,' the defence ministry said. After the decision, the Russian fighters 'returned safely to their air base.' Russia said today it had sent fighter jets to stop two US strategic bomber planes from 'violating the state border' over the Baltic Sea, in the second such incident this week Similarly, Japan said it had scrambled fighter jets after detecting Russian 'intelligence gathering' planes off its coastline along the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan It added that the flight was 'carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.' It is the latest in a series of similar incidents, with Moscow saying it had intercepted several Western jets near the Baltic in recent weeks. Similarly, Japan said it had scrambled fighter jets after detecting Russian 'intelligence gathering' planes off its coastline along the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan. One Russian aircraft travelled from Japan's north down along part of its west coast, while the other took a similar route along the opposite coast and returned the same way, the Joint Staff office run under the defence ministry said in a brief statement. 'In response, fighters of the Air Self-Defence Force's Northern Air Force and other units were scrambled,' it added. It comes after the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group said his troops had started transferring their positions in the flashpoint eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut to the Russian military. In Bakhmut, Wagner said it began pulling out its fighters after claiming to have fully captured the destroyed city at the weekend. Ukraine, which denies that Bakhmut has fallen to Russia, insisted it still controlled a 'micro district' of the ruined city and said it was still advancing on the flanks. The battle for Bakhmut has raged for nearly a year, levelling the city and decimating waves of Wagner recruits who have led Russia's assault on the industrial hub. 'We are withdrawing units from Bakhmut today. We are handing over positions to the military, ammunition and everything,' Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video. 'We pull back, we rest, we prepare and then we will get new tasks,' added Prigozhin, who was dressed in tactical body armour and a military helmet. Earlier this week, he conceded that around 10,000 prisoners he had recruited to fight in Ukraine had been killed on the battlefield. The 61-year-old Kremlin ally toured Russian prisons last year to persuade inmates to fight with Wagner in exchange for a promised amnesty on their return - should they survive. Wagner's announcement came days after Moscow's military said it had deployed jets and artillery on Russian soil against a 'sabotage' group that crossed from Ukraine. In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of terrorising Ukrainians by launching a new wave of Iranian-made attack drones at targets across his country. 'The enemy continued to terrorise Ukraine by launching 36 Shaheds. None reached their target,' Zelensky said on social media. 'I'm grateful to our air defence forces for the 100-percent result.' The Ukrainian military said Russia was probably targeting key infrastructure and military facilities in western Ukraine. Russia subjected Ukraine to a campaign of aerial bombardments on infrastructure including energy facilities during the winter months but these attacks recently diminished. Kyiv has become increasingly adept at taking down waves of Russian cruise missiles and drones after appealing to Western allies for greater air defence capabilities. Separately, the Russian-installed head of Crimea announced that air defence had intercepted several drones targeting various parts of the territory annexed from Ukraine in 2014. 'Six drones were shot down or blocked ... in different parts of Crimea,' Sergei Aksyonov announced on social media, adding that no one had been injured. In Moscow, Russia's FSB security service said it had arrested two Ukrainians who had allegedly planned to target nuclear power plants in the country. The aim was to cause 'serious economic harm to Russia and damage its reputation', the FSB alleged in a statement. In Japan, Tokyo's military scrambled fighter jets, saying two Russian planes travelled along parts of its coastline, days after Zelensky took part in the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Japan has joined Western allies in sanctioning Moscow over its Ukraine offensive. Russia's foreign ministry announced a visit to Moscow by China's special envoy for Ukraine, Li Hui. His visit to the Russian capital, where he is expected to meet the country's top diplomat Lavrov on Friday, comes after Li met Zelensky in Kyiv. Li has said there is 'no panacea to resolve the crisis'. Beijing and Moscow have recently drawn closer under a partnership that has served as a diplomatic bulwark against the West President Xi Jinping visited Moscow in March and said ties were 'entering a new era'. While China says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, it has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscow for its offensive. Smithers went missing May 28 2022. Her remains were uncovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on April 27 - 30 miles away from Kohberger's family home Pennsylvania police are still investigating whether Bryan Kohberger is connected to the disappearance of a missing Pennsylvania woman after a grand jury called his parents in to testify in her case. Dana Smithers, 45, went missing on May 28, 2022. Her remains were uncovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on April 27 this year - about 30 miles away from Kohberger's family home in Albrightsville. In a bombshell development this week, Kohberger's parents were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating her case. Smithers' family called the cops after they were alerted by internet sleuths to the 'possibility' that Kohberger had been in the area at the time she vanished. Pennsylvania police say there is 'no evidence' to connect Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger (left) and missing person Dana Smithers (right) CNN first reported the news, citing a source who said that the accused killer's mother Maryann Kohberger (left) has already given evidence to the grand jury while his father Michael Kohberger (right) will appear to testify on Thursday Stroud Area Regional Police Dept. in PA has released a statement saying there is no evidence the Dana Smithers case is connected to Bryan Kohberger. We reported yesterday he has a "strong alibi." Why the grand jury still wanted to question Kohberger's parents - we don't know. pic.twitter.com/c5UU0btcYi Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) May 25, 2023 Smithers' sister, Stacey Anne, posted to her Facebook page, 'Finding Dana,' on January 2, thanking those who had been 'reaching out recently regarding the possibility of the suspect in the horrific murders in Idaho having been in our area around the time of my sister, Dana's disappearance.' She added: 'I have forwarded all of your suggestions on to local law enforcement. Please pray for everyone involved.' CNN first reported the news, citing a source who said that the accused killer's mother has already given evidence to the grand jury while his father will appear to testify on Thursday. The information can then be shared with Idaho prosecutors. The Stroud Area Regional Police Department said it is: 'Aware of the many currently reported news articles in which various media outlets have reported connections between the SARPD's Dana Smithers missing person investigation and Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger. Adding: 'The SARPD has no evidence that Dana Smithers' disappearance is in any way tied to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger.' A source told News Nation that Kohberger's alibi proves he likely wasn't involved in Smithers' disappearance. On the day she went missing, Smithers, her youngest daughter, 7, and the daughter's father had gone to a festival in Stroudsburg. Smithers was no longer in a relationship with the father, but they were on good terms, according to friends. The trio appeared to be in good spirits before returning to Smithers' home. That night, Smithers went to the home of friend and neighbor Tara Cioni, who later said that she thought something may have been troubling her. Smithers who had a history of substance abuse was smoking, something she only did if she was 'nervous' or on edge, Cioni said. The mother-of-three was last seen in Cioni's Ring camera footage at around 11pm. She was reported missing days later, and her family said she would never have stayed away from her youngest daughter for that amount of time. Her cellphone, wallet and daily medication were later found at her home. Her cause of death is still unknown. Kohberger, 28, was charged with the murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and young couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, on November 13 last year. His father Michael is expected to testify in court on Thursday while his mother Maryann has already testified. Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (left) Xana Kernodle (right) and Ethan Chapin (center) - all students at the University of Idaho - were knifed to death on November 13 in the quiet college town of Moscow The transcripts from the closed session can be transferred to Idaho where their son is set to go on trial on October 2. The suspect appeared in an Idaho courtroom Monday. He refused to enter a plea to four counts of murder in the first degree. Kohberger had been expected to plead not guilty but chose to use Idaho's 'standing silent' plea, meaning he has not pleaded either way but can still be tried. The Washington State University PHD candidate has been behind bars since December 30 when police raided his parent's Pennsylvania home. He was transferred to Latah County Jail on January 4 where he has remained since. The criminology major is believed to have planned the murders of the four Idaho students with a probable cause affidavit noting that he had repeatedly visited the area around their home prior to the killings. His DNA was found on a KA-BAR knife sheath found next to the bodies of Kaylee and Madison. Goncalves and Mogen were discovered dead in bed next to each other, while Chapin and Kernodle were found on the floor below, with Kernodle discovered slumped over on the floor of her bedroom. According to the document, survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke heard something of what happened, with Mortensen telling cops she heard Goncalves say 'there's someone here' at approximately 4am. Police descended on Kohberger's family home at the Indian Mountain Lake Estates in Chestnuthill Township of Albrightsville just before 1:30 a.m. on December 30 Ten minutes later, she heard a thud and crying from Kernodle's room and a male voice saying 'it's ok, I'm going to help you.' Minutes later, Mortensen said she opened her bedroom door and saw a tall male with bushy eyebrows leaving through the sliding glass doors at the back of the home. She described how she had been 'frozen in shock' as the suspect walked towards her. Mortensen said she locked herself in her room after he left. The affidavit also reveals that Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra was captured on camera near the scene before being seen driving rapidly away from the home towards Pullman at approximately 4.20am. Police rapidly connected the vehicle to Kohberger and noted the similarity between his appearance and Mortensen's description of the intruder at the rental home. Outraged parents say their children were told they were on track to graduate The month delay was to give 28 students more time to reach requirements Marlin High School in Texas postponed graduation from May to June A high school located in Texas has been forced to postpone its commencement after just 15 percent of the senior class reached the requirements to graduate. In a letter sent to parents and families, Marlin ISD Superintendent Darryl Henson said most seniors did not make the cut due to low grades and attendance records. District officials have postponed the ceremony to June in order to give students the time to catch up and hopefully check the boxes needed to obtain their diplomas. 'As a school district, we really want to make sure we're making the best decision in the interest of all children,' Henson told KCEN News. The postponement of the major ceremony comes after the district had already announced a four-day school week aimed at increasing attendance. In 2020, Marlin ISD lost their official accreditation from Texas after the district received an 'F' grade for accountability in 2019. 'As a school district, we really want to make sure we're making the best decision in the interest of all children,' Marlin ISD Superintendent Darryl Henson said Marlin High School in Texas has been forced to postpone its commencement after just 15 percent of the senior class reached the requirements to graduate In a letter sent to parents and families, Marlin ISD Superintendent Darryl Henson said most seniors did not make the cut due to low grades and attendance records The district initially said just 15 percent of the class was eligible initially but that after a first warning was sent out, several additional students have met the standards. As of May 25, the number has increased to 17 out of 38, still less than half. The superintendent said he hopes the rest of the class will be able to meet the requirements in time for the new June graduation date. During a mandatory Wednesday meeting with parents of seniors at Marlin High School, Henson blamed failed courses and kids skipping classes for the low number. Parents expressed outrage throughout the meeting, saying their children were told they were on track to graduate only to find out otherwise in the last week. The discovery regarding the number of eligible seniors was made only during a recent audit of students' grades and attendance. 'Everything we have done, and will continue to do, is for the benefit of our children,' Henson said on Wednesday evening, talking with angry parents. 'I would rather have the emotions now. I would rather have everyone be upset now, rather, than having to call you back in January of '24 and telling you that the diploma you received is not worth the paper it is printed on.' 'We hold firm to our belief that every student in Marlin ISD can and will achieve their potential. We maintain high expectations, not as an imposition, but as a show of faith in our students abilities,' Henson said. In a flyer sent out to families, the district pressed on the importance of attendance. 'Regular school attendance is a powerful predictor of student success,' they said. Marlin High School seniors stand outside a meeting held Wednesday for parents The district initially said just 15 percent of the class was eligible initially but that after a first warning was sent out, several additional students have met the standards The district initially said just 15 percent of the class was eligible initially but that after a first warning was sent out, several additional students have met the standards The announcement sparked backlash from parents whose children did meet the cut and those who blamed ISD for waiting so long to audit the requirements. 'Marlin ISD should be SHAMED and ASHAMED,' a Facebook user wrote. 'Let the five graduate, on time! This is BULL that you penalized the students whom put in the effort, because the bulk of the students are FAILURES,' they continued. 'The fact that you waited so long to run audits on the graduation requirement baffles me. There are only 33 seniors,' another added. 'Why on earth would you ever punish kids that have worked hard and done what they're supposed to in order to graduate,' Shelley Golden responded. 'This should have been known 6 weeks ago at least!! #Nocommunication.' 'The 5 that's passed should be able to walk and graduate! They are not responsible for the mistake and oversight of others,' another person shared. The attendance predictor is a major reason Marlin ISD decided in April to move to a four-day school week for 2023-2024. For the upcoming year, students will still attend school every first Friday of the month as well as every Friday in August, January, and May. District officials said they believe this will help craft a 'Strong Start, Strong Finish.' 'The adoption of a Four-Day Week Calendar is a significant step towards providing students with a well-rounded educational experience, while also meeting the needs of teachers and staff,' Henson said. 'We are excited to see the positive impact this change will have on the community of Marlin,' he added. Chief Academic Officer Nikisha Edwards echoed his statement at the statement. 'High standards serve as a benchmark for quality education and ensure that schools remain accountable for delivering high-quality instruction,' Edwards shared. 'I would rather have the emotions now. I would rather have everyone be upset now, rather, than having to call you back in January of '24 and telling you that the diploma you received is not worth the paper it is printed on,' Henson said Wednesday In 2020, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) revoked the accreditation of Marlin Independent School District following an audit of the district. 'The accreditation status is based on the academic accountability rating and financial ratings from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas,' TEA stated. 'A status of Not Accredited-Revoked means the district exhibits deficiencies in performance that have led to the revocation of the district's accreditation status,' Interim Marlin ISD Superintendent Dr. Jean Bahney said at the time. That revoked accreditation followed a 2019 accountability rating of F and a rating of 'academically unacceptable' in 2011, according to KXXV. California's Attorney General Rob Bonta will open an investigation into the decision not to charge a security guard who shot dead a transgender alleged shoplifter. An unarmed Banko Brown, 24, was fatally wounded as he exited a Walgreens in downtown San Francisco on April 27. Last week, the office of district attorney Brooke Jenkins said it would not charge 33-year-old Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony for the killing because the security guard had been in 'mortal danger' and 'acted in self-defense.' But AG Bonta's office said on Tuesday it would investigate whether the DA's decision to not press charges was 'an abuse of discretion' - a legal term referring to officials acting outside their authority or based on bias or misinterpreted law. 'We can confirm that our office has agreed to review whether the San Francisco District Attorneys decision not to file charges was an abuse of discretion,' Bonta's office told CNN. California's Attorney General Rob Bonta will review the San Francisco District Attorney's decision to not charge a Walgreens guard who shot dead an alleged transgender shoplifter An unarmed Banko Brown, 24, was fatally wounded as he exited the drugstore in downtown San Francisco on April 27 DA Brooke Jenkins said it would not charge 33-year-old Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony for the killing because the security guard had been in 'mortal danger.' Brown is pictured John Burris, Brown's family's attorney, had requested the investigation into the DA's decision in a letter sent to the AG's office last week. 'We received notice yesterday that they would take the case,' Brown said in a statement on Wednesday. 'This does not mean that they are going to prosecute but will do so if they conclude that the DA'S decision was an abuse of discretion. In essence, the failure to prosecute was contrary to the evidence.' The lawyer added that Brown's parents 'are happy with the AG's decision.' The DA's office reacted to news of the probe on Tuesday, saying they welcome it and will assist and cooperate as needed. Graphic surveillance footage released on Monday shows Brown holding a bag as he walks toward the store's exit. Anthony is then seen stepping in Brown's path and confronting him about allegedly stealing from the store. Anthony is able to pin Brown to the ground, but then lets him go and Brown walks out of the store, still clutching his bag. More words are exchanged and then Brown appears to move slightly forward with his arms out, then backs up just as Anthony shoots him. Brown collapses on the sidewalk outside the store and a crowd of people gather around him. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died. In the report released on Monday, the DA citied 'insufficient evidence' that his actions equated to a murder or manslaughter charge. Instead, the evidence showed Anthony was 'sincerely afraid,' the DA's office said. Graphic surveillance footage released last week appears to show Brown holding a bag as he walks toward the store exit His death sparked outrage across the Bay Area, but despite the many demands to charge Anthony, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' office said Monday they would not be charging him Floral tributes and candles where left in memory of Banko 'All of this evidence strongly suggests that Anthony firing at Brown in self-defense was objectively reasonable,' the report reads. The report also notes that Anthony claimed Brown had repeatedly threatened to stab him. However, investigators reportedly found no knife at the scene or on Brown. 'All of this evidence strongly suggests that Anthony firing at Brown in self-defense was objectively reasonable,' the office's report reads. The report also notes that that Anthony claimed Brown had repeatedly threatened to stab him. However, investigators found no knife at the scene or on Brown, according to the report, but prosecutors still decided Anthony's fear was reasonable. 'While I understand, as a resident, you would say, "Well just let the jury decide,"' DA Jenkins said. 'That is not the standard for charging we have to believe at the time that we charge a case that a jury of 12 will convict, not let's just charge the case and see what happens.' Protests erupted following the decision to not charge Anthony. At a meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors last Tuesday, activists held up signs reading 'Justice for Banko Brown'. One protestor, who identified herself as Lia McGeever, erupted into a scream over the death of Brown, who was homeless and an intern with the Young Women's Freedom Center. She said: 'I hate a lot of people on this board for the reasons that led up to Banko Brown's death. Speaking to The San Francisco Standard, Anthony said: '[I'm] still dealing with it, still don't understand and don't have the time to reflect. 'It's not like I go through this many times. This is a very life-changing matter.' Anthony pointed to the pressure that security guards are under during these types of confrontations, saying: 'This is important for more people to be more aware of,' he said. It was happening too frequently. 'It's a lot to deal with. It's a lot of pressure. A person can only take so much. When you are limited to certain options, something will happen.' 'Who has my back? Nobody. You are left with no support. It's a frightening feeling with a lot of people around you.' Many local residents have since left floral tributes and candles in memory of Brown. In a social media post, the Young Women's Freedom Center wrote: 'Our community stands strong together in the face of tragedy. 'In times like these, we show up for each other and we fight for our folks, especially for our siblings that are taken from us way too soon. 'Thank you to every voice that has spoken, every foot that has marched, and every fist raised in solidarity.' The incident comes after a number of major chains announced they would be shuttering stores in San Francisco due to soaring crime figures. Retailers including Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Office Depot and Anthropologie have all said they would be pulling out of the city. Nordstrom chief stores officer Jamie Nordstrom blamed the state of San Francisco in recent years for reducing foot traffic 'and our ability to operate successfully.' Remaining stores like Target have been reduced to locking up their entire stock behind glass to deter shoplifters. Five military personnel were charged by French authorities on Thursday over the deaths of 27 people who drowned in the English Channel while attempting to travel to the UK in a dinghy in 2021. French prosecutors charged the soldiers over failing to come to the rescue of dozens of migrants, despite them making 15 emergency calls and begging French coastguards for assistance. Many of those killed in the sinking were Iraqi Kurds aged between seven and 46, in what became the worst such disaster in recent times. Just two people survived, and seven women and three children were among the dead. During a call for help, one person who was already in the freezing Channel water phoned the French coastguard, only to be told: 'Yes - but you are in English waters.' It was reported by French media that authorities had detained nine people on Tuesday, including several military personnel deployed as coastguards in northern France, as part of their probe into the tragedy. The flimsy and dangerous dinghy that sank off Calais killing 27 people including seven women - one of whom was pregnant - and three children The 27 people lost their lives when the small dinghy they were travelling in sank (stock image) One source familiar with the matter said the five, who were charged after hours of questioning, included three women and two men on duty at the Channel rescue centre at the time. They were charged with failing to assist persons in danger. According to one transcript of a telephone conversation seen by AFP, a migrant told the French coastguard on the phone: 'Please help! (...) I'm in the water!' 'Yes - but you are in English waters,' replied the coastguard. 'No, not English waters! French waters! Please can you come quickly!' the voice insisted, before the conversation was cut off. The probe in France is focusing on allegations that French service personnel on duty in the north of the country failed to respond properly to the distress calls of those on board. In legal documents French authorities are accused of ignoring calls made by the stricken migrants for help some 15 times. In November, Le Monde newspaper published revelations based on documents contained in the French legal investigation, saying passengers first contacted France's Channel rescue centre at 1:48 am on November 24 to say their vessel was deflating and its engine had stopped. They sent their locations via WhatsApp around 15 minutes later. 'We can only welcome the fact that things are progressing from a criminal point of view, that we are finally shedding light on this case and that the words of the victims and the relatives of the victims can finally be heard at a judicial level,' said Flore Judet, spokesperson for Utopia 56, an association helping migrants. Shortly after the tragedy one of the two survivors, Mohammed Shekha, 21, detailed a shocking series of desperate calls to French and British authorities and claimed both denied responsibility for the rescue. He said: 'We started moving after half an hour. Everything was perfect until early in the morning. It was still dark and water was coming into the small boat from the back. So a group of us tried to empty the water from the boat. That's when we saw a big ship.' The young shepherd, whose family live in northern Iraq, said some migrants wanted to swim to the ship. The ship then disappeared and the right side of the boat began to lose air, he added. Mubin (pictured at the back) was on board with his mother Kazhal Ahmed, 45, and two sisters Haida, 22, and Hasti, seven. They are all feared dead At that point, a 16-year-old Iraqi boy called Mubin Hussein, who was on board with his mother and two sisters, made desperate phone calls for help. Mubin was on board with his mother Kazhal Ahmed, 45, and two sisters Haida, 22, and Hasti, seven. They all died. After the frantic calls to authorities, the boat lost most of its air and stopped moving before the current pushed it back towards France. Mr Shekha said: 'That's when people started falling into the water. So to rescue them we were all holding each other's hands, all of us, the 33. This continued for a few hours until it became day. 'The sun was out, but we couldn't hold on any longer. The people just stopped holding hands and they all went into the water. They died.' The young Kurd was finally rescued by the French coastguard after fishermen raised the alarm. France has already charged 10 suspected people-smugglers, mainly Afghans, over the tragedy. The deaths of the migrants ratcheted up tensions between Paris and London but people are still continuing to make the dangerous crossing. A 66-year-old soon-to-be grandfather was shot and killed while standing outside his son's deli in Upper Manhattan on Tuesday evening. Reda Girgis, who was visiting his son and pregnant daughter-in-law from Egypt, was on the phone with his son when he was struck by a stray bullet and tragically lost his life outside the ChopCheese Deli 2 in Washington Heights. Law enforcement sources indicate he was an innocent bystander and the shooting is believed to be an unfortunate consequence of a gang-related dispute. Girgis was standing on the corner of West 162nd street and Broadway at about 7:10p.m. when he struck in the head by a bullet likely intended for a gang rival, sources told the New York Post. The bullets came from a dark gray SUV, possibly an Audi with New Jersey plates, according to The Post. After firing the shots, the driver fled the scene, heading south on Broadway, cops said. Reda Girgis, 66, was on the phone with his son when he was struck by a stray bullet and tragically lost his life outside the ChopCheese Deli 2 in Washington Heights Girgis was standing on the corner of West 162nd street and Broadway at about 7:10p.m. when he struck in the head by a bullet likely intended for a gang rival Girgis was taken to Metropolitan Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. The victim's son, Haney Girgis, who owns the store, was not there at the time. The deli manager Gamal Abouelezz said he heard firecrackers, according to The Post. 'All of a sudden I saw the man land on the floor,' he said. 'The man who died is the father of the owner,' Abouelezz said. 'He came from Egypt to visit him three days ago. He was visiting his son and his pregnant daughter-in-law. He was here to celebrate the baby.' 'His daughter-in-law came and they talked together. She was in the store dropping off groceries. All of a sudden I saw him shot. I saw the man die on TV. I went outside. Everyone was panicked,' Abouelezz told the Post. Video obtained by the Post shows a group of teenagers who had been hanging out before the shooting, run into the shop for safety before Girgis falls to the ground with his son's panicked wife then frantically running into the store. Kim Rem, a regular at the deli and also a member of the Egyptian community knew Girgis. The bullets came from a dark gray SUV, possibly an Audi with New Jersey plates 'Very nice people. Very nice people. Decent, do everything good for the customer,' Rem told ABC7. The community has been offering condolences and showing support by visiting the deli. 'These are hardworking people, they don't deserve this,' one Washington Heights resident Elizabeth Diaz said to CBS. Another resident, Jessica Ramos said the deli owners used to offer her free food for a period of time when she was homeless: 'It's amazing what they used to do for me.' 'He is a family man,' Abouelezz said. 'We don't have a relationship but I feel too close to him from the beginning when I met him.' According to witnesses, there was a large group of teenagers hanging out by the deli at the time of the shooting. They believe one of the kids was the intended target. The surveillance footage shows a crowd of bystanders gathering around Girgis's body, with paramedics arriving minutes later, placing him on a stretcher, and performing chest compressions. Police said they found two men who they believe were the intended targets, but were unable to provide any information, according to The Post. Detectives remained on scene Wednesday morning. The 24-hour deli was closed overnight, but has since reopened. No arrests have been made yet. Officers said its an ongoing investigation and are reaching out to the public for anyone with information or tips. 'It's sad. I mean, I'm out here right now getting breakfast. It could be any of us,' one resident told CBS. 'He just came out here to smoke a cigarette,' one person said. 'I've been here for over 35 years and it's just getting worse and worse.' 'This store is in a dangerous spot. Not the first time, it's a couple of times already something has happened with guns,' Washington Heights resident Jose Rodriguez said. Americans are continuing to flee crime-ridden, high-cost cities like Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. New York City saw the biggest exodus with 404,000 residents leaving in the past two years due largely to crime. Offenses were up nearly 23 percent in New York in 2022 under first-year mayor and former police officer Eric Adams, who had to assign additional police to the subway system to control skyrocketing crime. However, overall major crimes are down in five of seven felony categories so far this year including: murder, rape, robbery, burglary and grand larceny. Gun violence in particular took a fall, with shooting incidents down 23 percent so far in 2023 and shooting victims down 17 percent, according to the NYPD. Justice Samuel Alito said the regulator got the law wrong when issuing the diktat The U.S. Supreme Court handed Joe Biden's 'Green agenda' a huge blow on Thursday after justices blocked a power grab by the country's environmental regulator. Judges ruled the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had wrongly issued a diktat to an Idaho couple in forcing them to halt the building of their dream lakeside family home. EPA pen-pushers told Michael and Chantell Sackett their property, some 300 feet from Priest Lake, could not be built on what they called protected wetlands. They also threatened to impose massive fines of more than $40,000 a day for any violations of U.S. federal environmental law if they ignored their orders. The Sackett family has been ordered to halt constructions of their dream lakeside home in Idaho The case turned on whether environmental regulators had misinterpreted the 1972 Clean Water Act and the definition of protected wetlands Justice Samuel Alito said the agency had misunderstood the Clean Water Act and it had acted illegally when it send the order to the Sackett family. 'The wetlands on the Sackett property are distinguishable from any possibly covered waters,' he wrote, because they are not directly connected to them. Alito wrote protected wetlands must have a 'continuous surface connection with that water, making it difficult to determine where the water ends and the wetland begins.' He argued that the EPA's interpretation was too broad, too difficult to enforce and too 'precarious' for property owners. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett backed Alito's opinion, while the four other justices disagreed with his ruling. Justice Elena Kagan, a liberal, lamented how it would hobble the EPA's ability to combat climate change. 'The vice in both instances is the same: the Court's appointment of itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy,' she wrote, joined by fellow liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. The ruling will be a boost to farmers, home builders and other developers who will find it easier to get a building permit. Damien Schiff, a lawyer for the Sacketts, said the ruling would 'return the scope of the Clean Water Act to its original and proper limits.' He said it was 'a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers.' West Virginia GOP Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said he was 'pleased the Supreme Court ruled in a way that state lands and waters are less subject to the whims of unelected bureaucrats.' Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican representing Iowa, also praised the ruling. 'The federal government has no authority to impose blanket jurisdiction over puddles, waters, and wetlands with vague, overreaching regulations on behalf of Biden's ever-changing climate agenda,' she said. The Biden administration has launched a green crackdown, mulling bans on the sale of traditional gas stoves and demanding tighter emissions regulations for other home appliances Biden later issued an angry statement, lashing out at the court for a decision that 'defies the science.' And the commander-in-chief issued a thinly-veiled threat that his administration would look for loopholes in the ruling so officials could ignore it. 'My team will work with the Department of Justice and relevant agencies to carefully review this decision and use every legal authority we have to protect our Nation's waters for the people and communities that depend on them,' he said. It also follows a move last year by the court's conservative majority to restrict the EPA's authority to curb emissions from power plants. The fight over what constitutes a wetland has raged for decades, with both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administration issuing rules on the subject. Geneva, Switzerland, 25 May 2023 LEM (SIX: LEHN), a leading global company in electrical measurement for renewable energy, automation, power network and e-mobility applications, announces full year results for 2022/23 (April-March) compared to 2021/22: Bookings decreased by 19.3% to CHF 465.2 million (CHF 576.4 million) Sales increased by 8.8% to CHF 406.4 million (CHF 373.4 million); at constant exchange rates, sales increased by 12.6% The company benefits from a diverse global distribution of sales, led by China and EMEA: China CHF 157.9 m (38.9% of total) EMEA CHF 127.7 m (31.4% of total) Rest-of-Asia CHF 71.0 m (17.5% of total) Americas CHF 49.8 m (12.3% of total) R&D investments of CHF 32.2 million (CHF 29.4 million), or 7.9% of sales EBIT increased by 4.3% to CHF 92.2 million (CHF 88.4 million); the EBIT margin decreased to 22.7% (23.7%) Net profit for the period increased to CHF 75.3 million (CHF 72.4 million) Operating cash flow increased to CHF 87.0 million (CHF 50.4 million) Proposed dividend increased to CHF 52 per share (CHF 50 for 2021/22) Frank Rehfeld, Chief Executive Officer, said: We are delighted to again report record annual results. Our revenues demonstrated the fundamental demand for our products and the strengths of the company operationally. We thank our teams around the world for their flexibility and determination to find innovative solutions. Their ingenuity led to 9 product launches and 21 patents granted. Another milestone was our move to our new headquarters in Meyrin, Geneva, in April 2022. At headquarters, LEM's innovative spirit is visible, and collaboration between teams is facilitated. Our record performance once again is evidence of our positive outlook for the long-term growth of our company. The mega trends of electrification and decarbonization that drive our business are accelerating, offering many opportunities to capture growth. However, in the short term we remain vigilant, as growth may be affected in some businesses and regions by market adjustments and component shortages. Nevertheless, we see our orderbook normalizing towards the 3-4 month visibility that we had before the supply chain challenges started. Andrea Borla, Chief Financial Officer, remarked: Top-line growth of 8.8% and an EBIT margin of 22.7% are indeed pleasing. Without the foreign exchange impact, sales would have increased by 12.6%. We achieved this despite lockdowns in China, supply chain difficulties, and geopolitical challenges. We congratulate our employees for this years record performance, and are proud to invest in their development, new skillsets, and technological expertise. in CHF millions 2022/23 2021/22 Change Businesses Scope Automation drives, robots, tooling machines, elevators, HVAC 136.3 130.3 +4.6% Automotive battery (EV & CE), motor control, onboard charging 100.7 85.8 +17.4% Renewable Energy solar, wind 67.0 66.0 +1.6% Energy Distribution & High Precision charging stations, smart grid, energy storage, high precision 59.4 48.6 +22.3% Track trains, metro, trackside 43.0 42.8 +0.4% Total 406.4 373.4 +8.8% Performance by businesses Automation We have seen strong demand for our products in manufacturing equipment such as tooling machines, robotics, and conveyor belts. Extreme weather conditions caused by global climate change are driving demand for sensors in applications such as coolers and heat pumps. Automotive Our Automotive business, which is driven by sensors for battery management and motor control, showed impressive results for both Q4 and full year, despite lockdowns and supply constraints. Leading OEMs strengthened their market positions, while Chinese newcomers struggle to maintain momentum. The global fundamental demand for EVs remains strong, and we deliver to most players in the market. Renewable Energy Sales increased only slightly due to component shortages. We had good demand for our products, with China as the major market for our solar products. The prospects for Renewable Energy remain promising. The global trend of decarbonization continues to drive growth, and supply chain constraints are expected to ease. Energy Distribution & High Precision We gained many new customers signing orders for products in EV charging stations and energy grid applications. Global investments in e-mobility infrastructure drive the strong performance of our DC meter product, with Europe and the US contributing to major growth. Our high precision solutions for test benches and MRI scanners continue to develop well. Track Our traction business, with its project-based long investment horizons, remains stable. We saw extra demand coming from the EU, which is renewing energy meters in various countries. Performance by regions in CHF millions 2022/23 2021/22 Change Regions Scope China 157.9 143.8 +9.8% Rest-of-Asia Japan, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia 71.0 67.4 +5.3% EMEA Europe, Middle East & Africa 127.7 124.7 +2.4% Americas NAFTA & Latin America 49.8 37.5 +32.9% Total 406.4 373.4 +8.8% China We grew despite Covid challenges and component shortages. At constant exchange rates, growth was 12.7%. Markets for electric vehicles and solar combined with energy storage continued to grow; however, the EV market started to slow down at the end of Q4. The Automation business was relatively flat. Rest-of-Asia Our business in Japan benefited from strong demand for EV sensors and an improved supply chain. South Korea showed robust performance with strong demand for EV and hybrid cars, and record sales in March. In India the supply chain for the traction business is improving, and the comparatively smaller Automotive business continues to grow. EMEA The fundamental megatrends driving our businesses continue to gain momentum in Europe. Our DC meter showed strong sales in Germany and the rest of Western Europe. In Track, the German railway market is booming, which led to high demand for our locomotive products. Our EMEA sales performance was held back by our decision to stop our activities in Russia, by the strong Swiss Franc, and component shortages. Americas The US showed very strong performance in the Automotive and Automation business. The governments commitment to sustainable energies continues to benefit our growth drivers. Our DC meter, recently certified for the US and Canada, performed very well. In Automation, we experienced a high demand for sensors for automated processing lines for the food and beverage industry. Profitability remains robust Gross profit was up by 8.4% at CHF 192.2 million (CHF 177.3 million), while the gross profit margin decreased slightly to 47.3%, sales price increases being offset by purchase price increases. SG&A costs were up by 14.1% to CHF 68.1 million (CHF 59.7 million) and accounted for 16.8% of sales (16.0%). This increase reflects our digitalization projects (investment in software and hardware), external consulting support for several key initiatives, and recruitment of additional talent. We continue with our long-term investment in future applications, with R&D up in absolute terms by 9.5% to CHF 32.2 million (CHF 29.4 million), or flat at 7.9% of sales. EBIT increased by 4.3% to CHF 92.2 million from CHF 88.4 million, primarily due to improved sales. Our reported EBIT margin was down, at 22.7% compared with 23.7% last year. The negative impact of foreign exchange translations was CHF 1.9 million, compared to CHF 2.7 million last year, mainly due to depreciation of the EUR. The Group tax expenses of CHF 13.6 million represent a tax rate of 15.3%. Net profit increased to CHF 75.3 million, while the net profit margin decreased to 18.5% compared with 19.4% last year. Strong cash flow and balance sheet Cash flow from operating activities was CHF 87.0 million (CHF 50.4 million), and free cash flow was CHF 60.5 million (CHF 29.4 million). This reflects the healthy financial situation. Our balance sheet remains strong with limited net debt of CHF 21.8 million. As of 31 March 2023, total assets increased to CHF 327.5 million. Shareholders equity reached CHF 173.6 million, representing an equity ratio of 53.0% (53.5% as of 31 March 2022). Outlook Our businesses have proven successful and will benefit as the mega trends of decarbonization and electrification continue to be fundamental growth drivers. For the mid and long term, we are confident about our companys growth. Demand remains high for our products, as they play an important role in the acceleration of the shift towards sustainability. We see many opportunities to capture future growth. In the short term, however, growth may be affected in some businesses and regions by market adjustments and component shortages. There may be slowdowns resulting from geopolitical tensions as well. Therefore, we will remain vigilant for the next 12 months. Media, investor, andconference and webcast Andreas Hurlimann, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Frank Rehfeld, CEO, and Andrea Borla, CFO, will present the results for the financial year 2022/23 and the outlook for the financial year 2023/24 today at 10:30 CET at a conference for investors, analysts, and media at the Widder Hotel in Zurich. Listen to the conference call and live webcast https://media.choruscall.eu/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=n4sNF3QS The press release, Annual Review, Financial Report, investor presentation, and the link to the webcast will be available from today, 25 May 2023, on the Investor Relations section of the LEM website (http://www.lem.com/en/investors), where the webcast will later also be archived. Dial-In Numbers Switzerland & Europe: +41 (0)58 310 50 00 UK: +44 (0) 207 107 06 13 USA: +1 (1) 631 570 56 13 Other countries: https://services3.choruscall.ch/NUMBERS/Attended_Dial_In_Numbers.pdf Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 29 June will take place in Geneva, allowing shareholders to attend in person. The formal invitation with proposed resolutions is published today on the companys website. Financial calendar The financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March 29 June 2023 Annual General Meeting for the financial year 2022/23 4 July 2023 Dividend ex-date 6 July 2023 Dividend payment date 27 July 2023 First quarter results 2023/24 10 November 2023 Half year results 2023/24 2 February 2024 9 months results 2023/24 28 May 2024 Full year results 2023/24 27 June 2024 Annual General Meeting for the financial year 2023/24 2 July 2024 Dividend ex-date 4 July 2024 Dividend payment date LEM Life Energy Motion A leading company in electrical measurement, LEM engineers the best solutions for energy and mobility, ensuring that our customers systems are optimized, reliable and safe. Our 1,700 people in 17 countries transform technology potential into powerful answers. We develop and recruit the best global talent, working at the forefront of megatrends such as renewable energy, mobility, automation, and digitization. With innovative electrical solutions, we are helping our customers and society accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1986, the companys ticker symbol is LEHN. www.lem.com Contact: Investment community Andrea Borla, Chief Finance Officer Phone: +41 22 706 1250 Email: investor@lem.com Contact: Media Cabinet Prive de Conseils s.a. (CPC) Michael Fuglister: fuglister@cpc-pr.com, mobile: +41 78 839 07 62 Etienne Vioget: vioget@cpc-pr.com, mobile: +41 79 560 54 83 Appendix Advertisement The failure to suspend the gaffe-prone head of Scotland Yard's shambolic VIP abuse inquiry from his 200,000-a-year job prompted widespread fury yesterday. Despite the revelation that Steve Rodhouse is to face gross misconduct proceedings over Operation Midland, the former Met deputy assistant commissioner remains joint deputy head at the National Crime Agency. Victims of his bungled inquiry and former police chiefs united to condemn the decision to keep him in position as head of operations at the agency where he is at the forefront of the fight against international organised crime. Their comments piled pressure on the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman. The agency is answerable to her and she has regular dealings with NCA director-general Graeme Biggar, Mr Rodhouse's immediate boss. Insiders told the Mail Mr Rodhouse had been moved to a 'back office' role at the NCA. Victims of Steve Rodhouse's bungled inquiry and former police chiefs have united to condemn the decision to keep him in position as head of operations at the National Crime Agency The nexus of Nick: Our graphic lays bare the extraordinary police, media and political links in the still unravelling story The suspension row erupted after the Mail revealed that Mr Rodhouse is to face gross misconduct proceedings following a damning investigation by this newspaper last year. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has ruled that he should face a disciplinary board over allegations he lied in public at the conclusion of Midland. The dramatic development, following the Mail's eight-year campaign for justice and accountability, marks yet another low point at the scandal-ridden Met. Mr Rodhouse is the first officer to face disciplinary proceedings over Midland, widely regarded as the worst Scotland Yard investigation in modern times. Former detective chief inspector Paul Settle, who blew the whistle on Mr Rodhouse's disastrous pursuit of innocent VIPs, accused law enforcement chiefs of 'double standards'. 'If he was a junior officer charged with gross misconduct, he would be removed from operational duties or suspended immediately,' said Mr Settle. Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of child murder and sex abuse by serial liar Carl 'Nick' Beech, claimed an old boy network in the police establishment might be 'protecting' Mr Rodhouse. 'He should be suspended if not sacked,' added Mr Proctor, who received a 900,000 payout from the Met over his Midland ordeal. Former Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse should face a disciplinary board over allegations he lied in public at the conclusion of Operation Midland, the police watchdog has ruled In the past, the Met has repeatedly defended the conduct of Mr Rodhouse The head of Scotland Yard's catastrophic VIP sex abuse investigation is to face gross misconduct proceedings A godson of former prime minister Edward Heath, who was falsely accused by paedophile Beech, also demanded Mr Rodhouse's suspension. Lincoln Seligman said: 'After far too long this is the first senior police officer to be held to account for their actions in Operations Midland and Conifer (a linked inquiry by Wiltshire Police into bogus sex claims against Sir Edward). 'Too many other officers have also walked away from the mess and gone on to highly paid jobs. Maybe their days are numbered.' The decision to charge Mr Rodhouse with gross misconduct comes six months after he was served with a formal notice alleging he used 'inaccurate or dishonest' words at the end of Midland. The decision to charge Mr Rodhouse with gross misconduct comes six months after he was served with a formal notice alleging he used 'inaccurate or dishonest' words (pictured in 2019) Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, Lord Bramall, and late ex-home secretary Lord Brittan (left to right) who had their homes raided during Operation Midland Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said, 'I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that were made' during the force's investigations into false claims of sexual abuse in 2019 During his chequered career, he has led shambolic probes into a false rape allegation made by a mentally ill Labour activist against Lord Brittan and true claims of sexual abuse made against Jimmy Savile while he was alive. Despite this, Mr Rodhouse was promoted in 2018 to be director general (operations) of the NCA under Dame Lynne Owens, his old boss from the Met. It has also emerged that he 'exploited a loophole' to dodge an interview with investigators. As he was no longer a serving policeman, he could not be forced to attend in person and gave a written statement instead. An NCA spokesman said: 'We are aware that the IOPC has decided that there is case to answer for gross misconduct relating to a senior NCA officer, as a result of a complaint linked to the Metropolitan Police's Operation Midland. 'The IOPC is obliged under relevant legislation to enter into a consultation period with concerned parties regarding a disciplinary hearing. We will engage with the IOPC fully on this matter.' The agency added that 'the officer will not be suspended at this stage'. However insiders last night said Mr Rodhouse had been moved to a 'back office' role. He shot it again which caused the animal to attack him and it had both of his arms in its jaws before he managed to get away An Oregon man managed to fight off a bear which attacked him after he shot it twice in two days for harassing his chickens and the bear was euthanized at the scene. Craig Lankford is currently recovering after the dangerous incident which happened in La Grande on Wednesday morning. He shot the large male adult black bear for the first time on Tuesday evening when he saw it was disturbing his animals and he went to look for it the next morning and saw it near his property. Lankford shot it again which caused the animal to attack him and it had both of his arms in its jaws before he managed to get away. The incident left him with cuts on his head and he suffered bite lacerations and hematomas on his forearms. An Oregon man managed to fight off a bear which attacked him after he shot it twice in two days for harassing his chickens and the bear was euthanized at the scene Craig Lankford, pictured with his wife Tina, is currently recovering after the dangerous incident which happened in La Grande on Wednesday morning He shot the large male adult black bear for the first time on Tuesday evening when he saw it was disturbing his animals and he went to look for it the next morning and saw it again Union County deputies responded to reports of a bear attack on Owsley Canyon Road at 7.30am and they immediately closed nearby roads for safety reasons. Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) joined the search to find the black bear which had brown coloring. And officials eventually found it near the site of the attack almost three hours later and a necropsy later found bullet fragments in the animal. Lankford's wife Tina provided an update on how he is doing after fighting off a bear and was thankful he is still alive. 'We have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love,' she wrote. 'He wrestled with a bear this morning and is actually still in the land of the living. 'Not many people come in contact with a bear and live to tell about it, but Craig did. We are very grateful for his extensive knowledge of the outdoors because it saved his life today. 'He has bear claw cuts on the top of his head and put both arms up in front of his face to protect his head. 'The bear got Craigs arms in his jaws, and Craig has some pretty gnarly bear bite lacerations and hematomas on his forearms. He has bear claw cuts on the top of his head and put both arms up in front of his face to protect his head Lankford's wife Tina provided an update on how he is doing after fighting off a bear and was thankful he is still alive 'Thank you so very much for your love and thoughts sent our way. It is appreciated.' Lankford did not suffer tendon, nerve, or muscle damage following the attack. ODFW watershed manager Jeff Yanke said: 'We are grateful Mr. Lankford survived this encounter and wish him a smooth and speedy recovery.' The wildlife agency warned that wounded bears can be more dangerous and in three other non-fatal incidents, bears attacked hunters who shot but did not kill them. Attacks are rare but the OFDW said animals will attack if they are hurt, being fed by humans and lose their natural caution or if they are startled by people or their pets. Black bears are native to Oregon where there are an estimated 30,000 living in the wild. The state used to be home to grizzly bears but they went extinct in September 1931 after the last one was killed by a federal trapper. The seven-storey heritage-listed building that was reduced to rubble by a horror fire was about to be transformed into an upmarket hotel. The giant inferno began on the third floor of 7-13 Randle Street, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, near Central Station on Thursday. The 111-year-old brick building, which was last used as office space, had been left derelict and unoccupied for some time before the blaze erupted at about 4pm. More than 120 firefighters worked to get the fire under control, but not before it completely destroyed the site, incinerated a car and damaged several buildings. Video from the scene shows the horror moment the roof caved in before breaking off in pieces and falling to the street below, debris narrowly missing fire crews. Firefighters now fear strong winds could cause the remaining side walls to collapse and rain tonnes of heavy and 'extremely dangerous' bricks on pedestrians. New South Wales Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry told Newscorp: 'A strong wind could definitely bring them down. There's every chance it could fall down without notice, that's why we have such a big exclusion zone.' 'In the worst case (scenario) those walls could fall on the adjoining apartments. Not to mention when those bricks hit the ground, they become projectiles. 'When they ricochet off the ground they are extremely dangerous. They will kill you,' he said. The 714.5sqm seven-storey building is owned by Hanave Pty Limited and has a current land value of almost $10million. A $40million project was submitted for development approval in 2019 and was designed by architecture firm Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, also located in Surry Hills. Architect Tim Greer revealed 'construction was imminent' before the fierce blaze erupted and completely destroyed the heritage building. 'I'm still processing what happened, as we designed a beautiful hotel for this site, and were very much looking forward to seeing it built,' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'Looks like that won't happen.' The building has almost entirely collapsed, with bits of debris from the roof and walls falling into the street below Emergency workers watched on as part of the building collapsed (pictured) The seven-storey heritage-listed building that was reduced to rubble by a horror fire was about to be transformed into an upmarket hotel (pictured is the plans) A $40million project was submitted for development approval in 2019 and was designed by architecture firm Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, also located in Surry Hills What is known about the building destroyed in Sydney on Thursday The seven-storey building at 11-13 Randle Street in the inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills was a heritage-listed former hat factory more than a century old. The building was unoccupied for some time, but was set to be redeveloped as a hotel 'imminently'. Property records show the 714.5sqm seven-storey building is owned by Hanave Pty Limited and has a current land value of almost $10million. It was built in 1912 as a factory for hat maker RC Henderson, who sold women's headwear around Australia and abroad. Advertisement The architecture firm said of the project: 'The New Hotel in Randle Street transforms the handsome Henderson Hat manufacturing warehouse building into a vibrant hotel. 'Guests are protected by means of room orientation, window location, furniture layout, and at the most exposed face of the building an impressive cladded screen.' Fire crews returned to Randle Street on Friday morning to assess the integrity of the damaged buildings. A pile of debris inside one of the buildngs was still burning despite firefighters battling the blaze well into the night. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the front and back walls of the building had collapsed, but that the side walls remained. He said there was a 'high chance' strong winds could pull the remaining walls down without any warning, with fire crews now tasked with their removal. 'When those bricks hit the ground, they ricochet off and they become heavy, you know, a brick projectile they're extremely dangerous,' he told the Herald. 'A large brick as a projectile under force can cause serious injury or death so that's what we're worried about and are definitely treating it with the respect it deserves.' Randle Street and surrounding walkways are expected to remain closed for days. Chalmers Street remains closed from the Cleveland Street intersection to Central Station while Elizabeth Street is closed southbound between Eddy Avenue and Devonshire Street. Residents and business owners will be allowed to return to the area currently an exclusion zone after fire crews deem the area is safe. The cause of the blaze is still unknown, with the only reported injury a minor burn suffered by a firefighter. One witness to the fire - the biggest seen in Sydney since 1968 - said 'it was like a war zone'. The 714.5sqm seven-storey building is owned by Hanave Pty Limited and has a current land value of almost $10million (pictured are plans of the upmarket hotel) Architect Tim Greer revealed 'construction was imminent' before the fierce blaze erupted and completely destroyed the heritage building The building burst into flames about 4pm and had almost entirely toppled over by 6pm The building burst into flames about 4pm and had almost entirely toppled over by 6pm, with chunks of debris from the roof and walls falling onto the street below, while thousands of horrified commuters and workers watched on. The fire caused a 'tornado of smoke' and the heat could be felt even a block away. The blaze damaged several other nearby buildings. A car parked out the front of the building was also left a smouldering wreck. Speaking shortly after 7pm, Fire and Rescue NSW deputy commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the fire had been contained but is not yet out. 'We have got the fire contained. That is to say it will not be spreading to other buildings tonight. It will take a while to put it out,' he said. 'There has been substantial building collapse. The fire still burning is covered by debris, it is at the bottom of the building. 'It is hard for us to reach in and get the water on the fire. It will still take several hours to finalise extinction.' Mr Fewtrell then spoke about the 'ferocity' of the flames. 'There was a lot of radiant heat so even people in surrounding streets were talking about how far away they were and they felt the heat of the fire. 'It was a big effort from our firefighters to get in and initially it was too much to be able to fight the fire directly. 'Our priority was evacuating people in the immediate vicinity and putting fires out in some of the surrounding buildings to stop the fire spreading into those,' he said. Fire crews fought the blaze that started in the third floor of the heritage site well into the night The fire caused a 'tornado of smoke' and the heat could be felt even a block away The blaze damaged several other nearby buildings. A car parked out the front of the building was also left a smouldering wreck The deputy commissioner noted 'how quickly the fire took hold and how it totally consumed those two buildings and you can see those large chunks of brickwork falling down. '(It was) tremendously dangerous and (it was) fortunate we were able to evacuate people from the area,' he said. Mr Fewtrell said earlier in the evening that 'it's far too early' to know the cause of the blaze but investigations will continue into the evening and Friday. 'I'm pleased to report that there has been no indication of any injuries to members of the public,' he added. The fire has been classified as a 10th alarm status by NSW Fire and Rescue - the most serious level. A witness told Daily Mail Australia: 'It was crazy - we were all at work and spotted the smoke in the building opposite but didn't think much of it - we were all standing at the windows taking pictures when it suddenly erupted in flames. 'One of our bosses told us instantly to grab all our stuff and leave the building immediately and I'm so glad she did because we were all just mesmerised by the scene We fled down the stairs and ran into the street and the heat was intense.' A utility vehicle is pictured on fire beside the blazing building in Sydney As darkness fell, people are pictured looking on as the fire is tackled Fire officers are pictured work at the scene of a fire at a building in Sydney on May 25, 2023 The witness said the 'sheer intensity' of the fire 'blew out windows on the top two floors of our building and we were on the opposite side of the street from it'. Another said: 'We were two blocks away and could still feel the intense heat. 'It's like hell on earth.' While the building was vacant, locals say it is known as a place where homeless people camp. It is next door to the former site of cult karaoke bar Ding Dong Dangs. Emergency services say it is still too early to determine the cause of the blaze, amid confirmation at least one firefighter has been injured. 'The size of the flames is incredible and the heat coming from it. Awful. It must be affecting our building across the road from it now for sure but we've been moved so far away we can't see,' a witness said. Workers said they fled to nearby Prince Alfred Park to escape the blaze, which blanketed the suburb in an orange haze. 'We stood in the road and watched briefly but then we heard the noise of the floors inside collapsing... It was really scary, traumatic and shocking.' An massive inferno burned down a building next to Sydney's busiest train station Almost every room of the building was on fire, while walls and the roof collapsed onto the street below The building caught alight in Sydney's CBD, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky After about 45 minutes, nearby workers thought the blaze appeared to be dying down, but as they waited on the platform at nearby Central Station it appeared to worsen again. A 'terrifying' crashing sound rippled through the station as the walls - and then the roof - came tumbling down. Witnesses say the blaze went from 'zero to 100' within minutes. 'God knows what state our building will be in when we're finally allowed back in - I'm just grateful no-one seems to have been injured but it seems like a miracle,' the worker said. The fire is believed to have started on the third floor and rapidly spread about 4pm on Thursday. Bricks were strewn across the street and one witness said 'the building looks like the bottom of a fire pit' as it continued to crumble. 'A tornado of black smoke has blanketed the area,' the witness said. The huge blaze since spread to a second building and threatened a residential apartment block nearby Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said about 25 fire trucks and 100 firefighters from multiple stations worked to contain the blaze. 'Multiple 000 calls were received when flames started engulfing the seven-storey building on Randle Street just after 4pm,' a spokesman said. To the relief of nearby workers, trains continued to run as normal from Central Station, with one admitting: 'Thank God they are - I just want to get away from here as quickly as possible.' However, light rail services on the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines were suspended as a result of the blaze. A fire officer is seen up a cherry picker fighting the blaze in central Sydney on Thursday Around 25 fire engines and 100 fire officers were reported to be fighting the blaze Emergency services workers are pictured at the scene of a building fire on Thursday Shocking vision emerged on Thursday afternoon showing the building on Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, burning 'Services are not running between Circular Quay and Moore Park due to a building fire,' an alert on the TripView app said. 'Catch the train between Circular Quay and Central, and regular buses instead. Light Rail services are still running between Moore Park and Randwick, as well as between Moore Park and Juniors Kingsford.' A Ute with a silver tray parked on the street outside the burning building became fully engulfed in flames and was destroyed. A nearby modern apartment building was evacuated as embers fell onto some balconies. Residents of the many apartment buildings in the area were barred from entering their homes, while police controlled the crowds gathered nearby. Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she was also watching and waiting for updates. 'Like you, I'm watching the aggressive fire take hold of a building in Surry Hills this afternoon. 'The building appears to have been completely engulfed with flames. Please stay safe and listen to warnings,' she said. Premier Chris Minns echoed her plea, urging the public to avoid the area and 'stay safe'. A man who lives nearby said his sister rang him and asked if he knew there was a fire. 'I said nah, I can't see anything or smoke, and she sent me a photograph and it was a massive fire,' he said. 'As I came outside to have a look the street was blocked off and then policeman grabbed me and said you gotta go up the road. 'While I've been standing out here the wall actually collapsed and that was pretty scary. It was just a big thump.' The scene is the basement dining room of Pratt's, one of the most exclusive of London's gentlemen's establishments. The crimson walls are festooned with animal heads, including that of a rhinoceros, and cabinets of stuffed fish, one of which, a 28 lb pike, was caught by Prince Philip. Around the single long table where members convivially sit over plates of the club's signature mixed grill, there was only one topic of conversation this week. It was the issue of admitting women to the club, as revealed by Mail diarist Richard Eden yesterday. And it was a conversation urgently repeated in those other last bastions of men-only privilege around St James's clubland White's, Brooks's and Boodle's. What has incensed the gentlemen of Pratt's is that the decision was imposed without consultation or a ballot. Instead, they were informed by letter and email a newish fad for a club that doesn't have a website that the committee had 'unanimously agreed to change the club's customs to welcome women as members'. If that were not shock enough, what followed was. The changes, members were told, would take place 'with immediate effect'. There will be, it seems, no appeal. Around the single long table where members convivially sit over plates of the club's signature mixed grill, there was only one topic of conversation this week Their target is the club's proprietor, the 53-year old Earl of Burlington, heir of the Duke of Devonshire, Peregrine Cavendish So how has this news gone down with a membership drawn from the Brigade of Guards, Tory grandees and the aristocracy? 'It's absolutely chilling,' harrumphs one member. 'In a world where there are few small pleasures in life, the certainties of Pratt's and its rules was one. 'At a stroke it's all gone. And I suspect many of my fellow members will vote with their feet if not actually resigning, they will simply stop coming in.' Some would view the change as long overdue but many members beg to differ. 'What is so galling,' says one, 'is that there has been no obvious pressure to open the club up to women. Ladies are permitted to come as guests for a light lunch but in the evenings it is strictly for the men.' It has been that way since Pratt's was founded 166 years ago. Smaller, more discreet and less ritzy than rival establishments, it has 700 members, yet its dining table sits just 14 people. The club was a favourite of Sir Winston Churchill, a member for 36 years, whose widow Clementine donated a silver cigar box in his memory. Stories are still told of Churchill coming to the club after a late night at the Commons and cooking his own grilled chops. The club was a favourite of Sir Winston Churchill, a member for 36 years, whose widow Clementine donated a silver cigar box in his memory The Duke of Windsor was a member, as were his brothers the Duke of York (later King George VI) and the Duke of Gloucester. They were drawn to its austere, bachelor-style atmosphere and relaxed rules that decreed gentlemen didn't have to 'dress' in white tie and tails for dinner The Duke of Windsor was a member, as were his brothers the Duke of York (later King George VI) and the Duke of Gloucester. They were drawn to its austere, bachelor-style atmosphere and relaxed rules that decreed gentlemen didn't have to 'dress' in white tie and tails for dinner. In the years since, there has been little adjustment to social conventions so any unguarded opinion is treated with full discretion. Of all the clubs in this insular world, Pratt's occupies a unique place: it not just London's poshest club, it is also owned by a single family. And that is why the members' anger is so clearly focused. Their target is the club's proprietor, the 53-year old Earl of Burlington, heir of the Duke of Devonshire, Peregrine Cavendish. Until now, ownership of Pratt's had been the duke's responsibility but the correspondence to members suggests a younger generation has taken over, for it is signed 'Earl of Burlington Proprietor'. In his letter, he says 'evolving change' is necessary to 'enhance and invigorate the club', a notion that had many a member spluttering into his claret yesterday. And, unsurprisingly for a club that was said to have inspired the fictional Blades, 007's hang-out in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, conspiracy is taking root. Some wonder if the change is to pre-empt any criticism, should a future Labour government impose laws forcing gentlemen's clubs to accept women. A minority, somewhat counter-intuitively, suggest it is all part of a cunning plan. They argue that only the occasional wife or daughter of a member will want to join and eventually the idea of female membership will wither and die. Peregrine Andrew Mornay Cavendish, the 12th Duke of Devonshire, at his home in Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford, Ireland Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire attends a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey in 2022 One long-time member has likened Burlington to Lord Warminster, the socialist peer in Anthony Powell's novel A Dance To The Music Of Time, said to have been modelled on prison reformer Lord Longford. 'So much for the notion that the aristocracy are holding all these historic things in trust. In this case, Burlington is saying 'it's mine, I am doing what I please'.' Everyone agrees, at least, that the club, with a six-year waiting list, is not short of money. For decades it seemed the age of equality and sex discrimination legislation had bypassed the crustier London clubs. Some, such as the Athenaeum and the RAC, long ago welcomed the presence of ladies for their civilising effect. But Burlington's grandfather, the 11th duke, proudly asserted of his club: 'We are one of the last bastions of male chauvinism.' Why on earth would women want to join Pratt's and if they do, what will they find there, in a London townhouse where at night the electric lamps are turned down low so candlelight reflects in the club's silverware? One is the quaint ritual by which all the stewards are known as 'George', regardless of their actual name. This was amended only with the arrival of the first female steward, who became 'Georgina'. But it is unlike the more raffish White's, where members once made a 1,000 wager on whether a man could survive for 12 hours underwater, as noted in the club's betting book. A 'volunteer' was hired and, according to legend, sunk in a ship by way of experiment. When the unfortunate man failed to resurface, the bet was deemed to have been lost. It takes its name from William Nathaniel Pratt, who lived on the premises from 1841. Pratt was steward to the Duke of Beaufort, who called at the house with friends one evening and enjoyed himself so much, drinking and gambling, that he kept returning. Pictured: File photo of 19th Century gentlemen enjoying a game of Whist After Pratt's death, his widow and son continued the club. The Devonshires bought it and took control in 1938 and it has remained in the family ever since Another story, possibly apocryphal, is of a waiter thrown from an upper-storey window at White's by an Earl of Glasgow who told the club to 'put him on the bill'. But what Pratt's members enjoy is a whiff of elitism, for theirs has long been regarded as the ultimate insiders' club. It takes its name from William Nathaniel Pratt, who lived on the premises from 1841. Pratt was steward to the Duke of Beaufort, who called at the house with friends one evening and enjoyed himself so much, drinking and gambling, that he kept returning. After Pratt's death, his widow and son continued the club. The Devonshires bought it and took control in 1938 and it has remained in the family ever since. It is certainly cosy and also has two bedrooms, which members can book for less than 100 a night, a bargain for Central London. When the 11th Duke was asked if he belonged to Pratt's, he would reply: 'In fact, it belongs to me.' Most of its members have been Tories. Harold Macmillan was a regular fixture, as was the late Lord Lawson. Lord Heseltine is also a member, as are George Osborne and Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the Duke of Kent. As the late Duke of Devonshire observed: 'It's a very agreeable place, where the most respected of public figures can get drunk and not be thought worse of. What's said is meant to be confidential. 'People have occasionally talked but if the culprit can be found, he gets a serious telling-off. 'From my point of view, it was a very useful tool and I used it.' Ladies, you have been warned. The celebratory event comes days after Hanks had an gruff interaction with an employee on the Cannes red carpet Beloved actor Tom Hanks earned laughs as he delivered the Harvard University commencement speech Thursday, days after a bizarre episode on a Cannes red carpet in which he flashed a terse look at a festival worker. Hanks, who received an honorary doctor of arts degree from the institution, instructed the graduate to be staunch defenders of truth and American ideals, and to avoid indifference and those who manipulate the truth for their own gain. 'The truth to some is no longer empirical. Its no longer based on data, nor common sense, nor even common decency,' said the two-time Oscar winner, adding a riff about Harvard's motto 'Veritas,' which is the Latin word for truth. 'Telling the truth is no longer the benchmark for public service. Its no longer the salve to our fears, or the guide to our actions. Truth is now considered malleable, by opinion and by zero-sum endgames,' he continued. The mood was much lighter Thursday than days earlier when an angry Hanks got into a disagreement with a staff member, pointing and looking stern while on the red carpet. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson speak with a staff member as they arrive for the screening of the film 'Asteroid City' during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes Hanks was in a much better mood Thursday when he addressed Harvard University graduates and told them to resist indifference Hanks told the more than 9,000 graduates that they have a choice to make: 'Its the same option for all grownups who have to decide to be one of three types of Americans: Those who embrace liberty and freedom for all; those who wont; or those who are indifferent.' 'Only the first do the work of creating a more perfect union, a nation indivisible. The others get in the way.' Before Hanks' speech, retiring Harvard President Lawrence Bacow introduced the celebrated actor as 'Wilsons bestie, Buzzs buddy, Ryans savior, Americas dad,' before presenting him with a Harvard volleyball, in reference to his film 'Cast Away.' Hanks briefly poked fun being awarded a shiny new degree from one of the world's foremost universities given is lack of academic credentials. 'Its not fair, but please dont be embittered by this fact. Now, without having done a lick of work, without having spent any time in class, without once walking into that library - in order to have anything to do with the graduating class of Harvard, its faculty, or its distinguished alumni - I make a damn good living playing someone who did,' referencing his depiction of Robert Langdon, a fictional Harvard professor in the films based on Dan Brown's novels. 'It's the way of the world, kids,' he said. Hanks hugged some of the graduates at the school's 372nd commencement on Thursday Hanks make an unpleasant face on the Cannes red carpet at the premiere of Wes Anderson's 'Asteroid City' Hanks' Ivy League triumph comes days after a viral red carpet moment at the Cannes film festival, in which he appeared to scold a younger man working at the festival. The actor, 66, looked uncharacteristically frustrated as he jabbed a finger at the man while attending the event alongside his wife Rita Wilson, also 66. The pair were on the red carpet for the premiere of Wes Anderson's Asteroid City, a movie in which they both appear. Actress and producer Rita could be seen holding her hand up in front of her during the interaction. The unknown man could be seen speaking to the pair in what appeared to be an attempt to calm the situation. However, Tom seemed to remain miffed as the trio spoke before heading down the red carpet to pose for pictures at the event. It still hasn't been revealed what the dispute what about. Clearly, it was something Hanks wasn't indifferent about. One of four remaining fugitives sought for their role in the Rwandan genocide has been arrested in South Africa after more than two decades on the run. Fulgence Kayishema was arrested at a grape farm at Paarl, about 35 miles north of Cape Town, on Wednesday in response to an Interpol red notice. He and others allegedly murdered more than 2,000 Tutsi men, women and children who had taken refuge in a Catholic church in Nyange in Kivumu district. Kayishema faces charges of genocide, complicity in and conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity, UN investigators confirmed on Thursday. He will appear in a Cape Town court on Friday 'pending his extradition to Rwanda'. The former police inspector had been on the run since July 2001, according to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) website, which gives his year of birth as 1961. Fulgence Kayishema (pictured) was arrested at a grape farm at Paarl, about 60 kilometres north of Cape Town, on Wednesday in response to an Interpol red notice He was one of four remaining fugitives sought for their role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Villagers are pictured in Mubirizi, Rusizi District, on May 5, 2023 after finding a skull while digging in the hope of finding the remains of genocide victims Kayishema and others allegedly murdered more than 2,000 Tutsi men, women and children who had taken refuge in a Catholic church in Nyange in Kivumu district. Pictured: Rwanda on July 30, 1994, following the civil war Kayishema, who had been living under the false name of Donatien Nibashumba, was one of the world's most wanted genocide fugitives. Around 800,000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, were slaughtered over 100 days in 1994 at the hands of Hutu extremists. 'Kayishema directly participated in the planning and execution of this massacre, including by procuring and distributing petrol to burn down the church with the refugees inside,' the MICT said in a statement on Thursday. 'When this failed, Kayishema and others used a bulldozer to collapse the church, burying and killing the refugees inside. 'Kayishema and others then supervised the transfer of corpses from the church grounds into mass graves.' The hunt for Kayishema had spanned countries across Africa, targeting a man who used many aliases and false documents and relied on a 'network of trusted supporters'. These included family members, members of the former Rwandan armed forces, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group 'and those aligned with the genocidal Hutu Power ideology.' Fulgence Kayishema (top right) is seen on a wanted poster on the wall at the Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit office on May 25, 2023. Kayishema, who had been living under the false name of Donatien Nibashumba, was one of the world's most wanted genocide fugitives Around 800,000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, were slaughtered over 100 days in 1994 at the hands of Hutu extremists. Pictured: Family photographs of some of those who died on display in an exhibition at the Kigali Genocide Memorial centre in April 2019 The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman said the arrest 'sends a powerful message that those who are alleged to have committed such crimes cannot evade justice and will eventually be held accountable, even more than a quarter of a century later.' Ahishakiye called for Kayishema to be extradited to Rwanda and swiftly put in the dock. 'We hope that his trial is expedited, and that the wheels of justice do not entertain the sorts of delays that the Kabuga trial has experienced,' he said. MICT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz paid tribute to 'the exceptional skills, rigour and cooperation' of South African investigators and singled out Eswatini and Mozambique for their help. 'Genocide is the most serious crime known to humankind,' he said. '(...) This arrest is a tangible demonstration that this commitment does not fade and that justice will be done, no matter how long it takes.' Naphtali Ahishakiye, executive secretary of Ibuka, an umbrella association of genocide survivors, said the arrest 'sends a strong message to other fugitives and masterminds of the 1994 genocide... that they can never evade justice forever.' Pictured: Ethnic Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front troops in 1998 look over a pile of skulls dug up to be reburied in a memorial for approximately 12,000 Tutsi massacred by Hutu militia in and around the western town of Kaduha Rwandans take temporary shelter at a refugee camp after escaping the Civil War in 1994 Youths gather behind the fence of a refugee camp May 3, 1994 at the border of Rwanda and Tanzania. Hutu refugees fled to Tanzania across the Akagara River in order to escape reprisals by Tutsi rebels After Kayishema, three fugitives are left on the list, also facing multiple charges of genocide and crimes against humanity: Aloys Ndimbati; Charles Ryandikayo; and Charles Sikubwabo. But three other major suspects - Augustin Bizimana, Protais Mpiranya and Pheneas Munyarugarama - all died without facing justice. The wanted list targets major genocide suspects identified by MICT's predecessor, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) - which had been set up by UN after the genocide. Before handing over the reins in 2015, the ICTR had sentenced 62 people, including a 30-year term handed to former minister Augustin Ngirabatware, and acquitted 14. In September 2022, one of Rwanda's richest men before the genocide, Felicien Kabuga, who moved to France and lived there under a false identity, went on trial in The Hague. His trial was put on hold in March amid concerns over his health. Hundreds of volunteers pass in front of Mubirizi's church, where more than 14,000 Tutsis have been killed during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide in Mubirizi, Rusizi District, on May 5, 2023 More than 1,100 bodies have been found in Mubirizi since March, making the area the largest mass grave discovered since 2019. Villagers are pictured digging in the area on May 5, 2023 A volunteer handles a skull and other parts of a body that he found while digging to find human remains in Mubirizi, Rusizi District, on May 5, 2023 Rwanda started trying genocide suspects in 1996, and on a single day in April 1998 had 22 of them executed by firing squad. It abolished the death penalty in 2007, lifting the main obstacle for the ICTR to extradite genocide suspects to Rwanda for trial. Between 2005 and 2012, more than 12,000 community-based courts put nearly two million people on trial and convicted 65 percent, sending most to prison. Other convictions have been handed down in the former colonial power Belgium as well as in France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Canada. It came after Trump called him disloyal and mocked his campaign launch On the first day since he formally announced his presidential campaign Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated he might pardon former President Donald Trump or January 6 rioters vowing to review convictions by a 'weaponized' Justice Department. He made the statement in a radio appearance on the Clay and Buck show hosted by Clay Travis and Buck Sexton after being asked specifically whether he thought January 6 defendants 'deserve to have their cases examined by a Republican president.' He was also asked specifically about former President Trump the main rival who has been ridiculing him since his glitch-filled announcement 'gets charged with federal offenses' and whether he would 'look at potentially pardoning Trump himself' based on the evidence that might emerge. Rather than rule out any of the possibilities, DeSantis, who trails Trump by more than 30 points in a new Fox News poll, spoke about a 'weaponized' FBI. Hours after former President Donald Trump mocked Ron DeSantis by saying ''My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working' and yours 'does not,' the Florida governor said he would consider pardoning him and January 6 defendants on 'Day One' 'The DOJ and FBI have been weaponized. We see that. We see it in a variety of contexts, some of which you mentioned,' he responded. He said he would review individuals on a 'case by case basis' but vowed to deal with people who have been 'treated disfavorably.' DeSantis made the commitment just hours after Trump called him 'disloyal,' mocked his campaign launch as 'DISASTER!', called him 'Rob' instead of 'Ron,' and taunted him by saying: 'My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working (TRUTH!), yours does not!' DeSantis, a lawyer who attended Harvard law and served in the Navy J.A.G. corps at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, took the question on a day far-right Oath Keepers militant leader Stewart Rhodes got an 18-year prison sentence after being convicted of seditious conspiracy. The sentence came up during their conversation. DeSantis said it was unfair how the government was selecting people to prosecute. He said he would begin his review on 'Day One.' Former President Donald Trump called DeSantis 'disloyal' and terms him 'Ron DeSanctimonious.' The Florida governor indicated he could pardon Trump if he faces 'political' federal charges 'Some of it is the FBI going after parents, going to school board meeting. Some of its how they treat a pro-life demonstrator, how they dont go after people that are attacking pro-lifers. And so what Im going to do is Im going to do on Day One I will have folks that will get together and look at all these cases, who are people who are victims of weaponization or political targeting, and we will be aggressive at issuing pardons. Now, some of these cases, some people may have a technical violation of the law.' He complained of uneven application of justice and claimed people from Black Lives Matter 'don't get prosecuted at all.' 'And so were going to find ways where that did not happen. And then we will use the pardon power and I will do that at the front end. You know, a lot of people wait until the end of the administration to issue pardons. Were going to find examples where governments been weaponized against disfavored groups, and we will apply relief as appropriate. But it will be done on a case-by-case basis, because I think youve got to make sure that Theres a whole bunch of cases that dont necessarily get headlines. But if people are being treated just because they dont get on TV or something, theyre being treated disfavorably. They need to have a fair hearing as well.' Clay Travis confirmed that a Trump pardon specifically was on the table. 'And that could be from a grandma who got arrested and prosecuted to all the way up to, potentially, Trump himself. Is that fair to say when you analyze what the charges might have been brought on a federal level?' he said. DeSantis responded: 'I would say any example of disfavored treatment based on politics or weaponization would be included in that review, no matter how small or how big.' Among those presidents who made use of the virtually unlimited pardon power late in their terms are Bill Clinton and Trump, who in the last weeks of his presidency pardoned allies Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, former RNC finance chair Elliott Broidy, although he resisted pressure to issue a blanket January 6 pardon in advance of charges. Although hypothetical, the issue of a Trump pardon could confront a future president. He faces a potential indictment in special counsel Jack Smiths' probe of January 6th and the removal of White House documents including classified material to Mar-a-Lago, as well as a potential criminal indictment in Georgia related to his election overturn effort. Each case is different, but Trump did not fare well in a recent New York case, where he was found liable of sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll decades ago. No federal charges have been filed and Trump denies wrongdoing in what he calls a 'witch hunt.' A Republican-led committee of the Texas House of Representatives has recommended impeaching the state's GOP attorney general Ken Paxton over years of claims he abused his office. Paxton has been accused of many crimes while in power and has been at the center of spat among senior Republican party members after he claimed House Speaker Dade Phelan was drunk during votes. The committee has been secretly looking into Paxton for months, and a vote setting up his removal from office could happen as soon as Friday. Paxton, who asked the Supreme Court to overturn President Joe Biden's 2020 win, has claimed the investigation is purely political, and has attacked the leadership of the state GOP for being too 'liberal'. When the five-member committee's investigation came to light Tuesday, Paxton suggested it was a political attack by the House's 'liberal' Republican speaker, Dade Phelan. A Republican-led committee of the Texas House of Representatives has recommended impeaching the state's GOP attorney general Ken Paxton over years of claims he abused his office He called for Phelans resignation and accused him of being drunk during a marathon session last Friday. Phelans office has brushed off the accusation as Paxton attempting to 'save face.' 'It's is a sad day for Texas as we witness the corrupt political establishment unite in this illegitimate attempt to overthrow the will of the people and disenfranchise the voters of our state,' Paxton said in a statement Thursday, calling the committees findings 'hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims.' By moving against him, Paxton said, 'The RINOs in the Texas Legislature are now on the same side as Joe Biden.' Impeachment requires a majority vote of the states usually 150-member House chamber, which Republicans now control 85-64, since a GOP representative resigned ahead of an expected vote to expel him over the finding that he had inappropriate sexual conduct with an intern. Its unclear how many supporters Paxton may have in the House. Since the prospect of impeachment suddenly emerged Wednesday, none of Texas other top Republicans have voiced support for Paxton. Investigative committee members, which include three Republicans and two Democrats, did not reveal details about the articles of impeachment when they voted to approve them in open session and a copy had not been made public by Thursday evening. The timing of a vote by the House also is unclear. Rep. Andrew Murr, the Republican chair of the investigative committee, said he did not have a timeline and Phelans office declined to comment. Unlike in Congress, impeachment in Texas requires immediate removal from office until a trial is held in the Senate. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott could appoint an interim replacement. Final removal would require two-thirds support in the Senate, where Paxtons wifes, Angela, is a member. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan presides over the House at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday May 23 Rep. Andrew Murr, R - Junction, Chair of the House General Investigating Committee, left to right, Rep. Ann Johnson, D - Houston, and Rep. David Spiller, R - Jacksboro, get ready to leave after the meeting where it was recommended that the committee adopt the articles of impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton Erin Epley testifies about Attorney General Ken Paxton at the House General Investigating Committee Paxton, 60, faces ouster at the hands of GOP lawmakers just seven months after easily winning a third term over challengers - among them George P. Bush - who had urged voters to reject a compromised incumbent but discovered that many didn't know about Paxton's litany of alleged misdeeds or dismissed the accusations as political attacks. Even with Mondays end of the regular session approaching, state law allows the House to keep working on impeachment proceedings. It also could call itself back into session later. The Senate has the same options. In one sense, Paxton's political peril arrived with dizzying speed: The House committee investigation came to light Tuesday, followed the next day by an extraordinary public airing of alleged criminal acts he committed as one of Texas' most powerful figures. But to Paxton's detractors, who now include a widening share of his own party in the Texas Capitol, the rebuke was years in the making. In 2014, he admitted to violating Texas securities law over not registering as an investment advisor while soliciting clients. A year later, Paxton was indicted on felony securities charges by a grand jury in his hometown near Dallas, where he was accused of defrauding investors in a tech startup. He has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts that carry a potential sentence of five to 99 years in prison. He opened a legal defense fund and accepted $100,000 from an executive whose company was under investigation by Paxton's office for Medicaid fraud. Chris Hilton, Chief of the General Litigation Division of the of the Attorney General's Office, talks to reporters to defend Attorney General Ken Paxton Even with Mondays end of the regular session approaching, state law allows the House to keep working on impeachment proceedings. It also could call itself back into session later. The Senate has the same options Its unclear how many supporters Paxton may have in the House. Since the prospect of impeachment suddenly emerged Wednesday, none of Texas other top Republicans have voiced support for Paxton Donna Cameron listens during testimony about Attorney General Ken Paxton An additional $50,000 was donated by an Arizona retiree whose son Paxton later hired to a high-ranking job but was soon fired after trying to make a point by displaying child pornography in a meeting. What has unleashed the most serious risk to Paxton is his relationship with another wealthy donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. Several of Paxton's top aides in 2020 said they became concerned the attorney general was misusing the powers of his office to help Paul over unproven claims that an elaborate conspiracy to steal $200 million of his properties was afoot. The FBI searched Paul's home in 2019 but he has not been charged and his attorneys have denied wrongdoing. Paxton also told staff members that he had an affair with a woman who, it later emerged, worked for Paul. Paxton's aides accused him of corruption and were all fired or quit after reporting him to the FBI. Four sued under Texas' whistleblower laws, accusing Paxton of wrongful retaliation, and in February agreed to settle the case for $3.3 million. Rep. Andrew Murr, R - Junction, speaks during a House General Investigating Committee hearing about Attorney General Ken Paxton at the Capitol Several of Paxton's top aides in 2020 said they became concerned the attorney general was misusing the powers of his office to help Paul over unproven claims that an elaborate conspiracy to steal $200 million of his properties was afoot But the Texas House must approve the payout and Phelan has said he doesn't think taxpayers should foot the bill. Shortly after the settlement was reached, the House investigation into Paxton began. The probe amounted to rare scrutiny of Paxton in the state Capitol, where many Republicans have long taken a muted posture about the accusations that have followed the attorney general. Only twice has the Texas House impeached a sitting official: Gov. James Ferguson in 1917 and state Judge O.P. Carrillo in 1975. Two 13-year-olds have handed themselves into police after a fire tore through a building in Sydney's CBD. The blaze burned through the seven-storey heritage-listed building on the corner of Randle St and Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, near Central Station on Thursday afternoon. Phu Tang, a locksmith who works next door to the unoccupied building, claimed he saw a group of high school students running from the site as it went up in flames. NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan confirmed on Friday the two 13-year-olds had been inside the building at the time. They have spoken with police after turning up separately at Paddington and Kings Cross police stations on Thursday night and are assisting with inquiries. Charges have not been laid and the arson squad are leading the investigation. Officers are also wanting to speak to three or four more children of a similar age who were also at the building at the time the fire ignited. 'We ask them to come forward with their parents and put their side of the story forward,' Mr Dunstan told reporters. Firefighters battled the blaze on the corner of Randle St and Elizabeth St in Surry Hills on Thursday afternoon A ute parked nearby the building that burst into flames was also destroyed in the blaze Mr Dunstan also confirmed up to 15 people were sleeping rough in the building the night before the fire took hold, with 13 of those accounted for. Police are working with government agencies to try and locate the other two people. More than 100 firefighters worked to get the blaze under control at the 111-year-old former hat factory, which had been left derelict and unoccupied, and was set to be redeveloped into a $40million hotel. A building behind the one destroyed by the fire has also been evacuated, while the unit block next door has had the power cut off and residents are unable to enter. Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said there are still pockets of the building on fire which are difficult to extinguish due to the debris. A ute parked nearby was also burnt to a crisp. 'This was a once-in-a-decade fire,' he said. The building caught alight in Sydney's CBD, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky Phu Tang, a locksmith who works next door to the building, claimed he saw a group of students running from the site as it was engulfed in flames The Surry Hills building is seen on Friday morning after the fire tore through it Mr Tang, who'd stepped out to get some takeaway pizza, earlier said the group of children yelled out to their friend who was on the first floor to get out before they all fled. 'I was walking back to my workshop and I encountered young high school children running out from one of the doors of that building,' he told Sunrise. 'I could hear shattered glass hitting the footpath and I looked up and the building was already on fire. 'The kids were running past me. They screamed upwards talking to another kid inside the building, asking why he was still inside.' The building burst into flames about 4pm and much of it, including the roof, had collapsed by 6pm. Chunks of debris from the roof and walls fell onto the street below, while thousands of horrified commuters and workers watched on. The fire caused a 'tornado of smoke' and the heat could be felt even a block away, witnesses said. Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the blaze and are using a drone to monitor hot spots for potential reignition. There are now concerns building walls could still collapse without warning. 'There are two walls that are in a precarious position,' Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry told the Today Show on Friday. The fire ripped through the building on Thursday afternoon and it wasn't long before the roof collapsed 'We are talking about tonnes and tonnes of bricks that could come down and become projectiles. 'That is why we have such a tight exclusion zone, not allowing anyone in including firefighters until we get the engineers in.' The only reported injury from the fire was a minor burn suffered by a firefighter. The cause of the blaze is unknown. Emergency workers watched on as part of the building collapsed (pictured) Once the area is safe, residents and businesses are expected to be allowed to return to their premises and the major thoroughfare of Elizabeth Street will be reopened. Among those locked out overnight was a bride getting married on Friday. Firefighters were able to enter her apartment and collect her wedding dress during a run for essentials. Ministers faced a backlash from animal welfare campaigners last night after ditching flagship legislation giving new protections to farm animals and pets. In a move that also triggered Tory anger, environment minister Mark Spencer said the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill would be abandoned despite having almost completed its progress through the Commons. The legislation would have delivered on a string of Tory manifesto commitments, including ending live animal exports, cracking down on puppy smuggling and banning people keeping primates as pets. Ministers had also pledged to use the law to tackle other animal welfare issues, including creating a new offence of pet abduction and tightening the law on sheep worrying. The Bill had been dubbed Carries Law by some MPs to recognise the influence of former prime minister Boris Johnsons wife, a leading animal welfare campaigner. Environment minister Mark Spencer said the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill would be abandoned despite having almost completed its progress through the Commons Mr Spencer blamed Labour for the decision by Rishi Sunaks government to abandon the legislation READ MORE: Ministers accused of 'astonishing betrayal' after scrapping Boris Johnson's animal welfare law that would ban live exports and criminalise puppy smuggling as Labour is accused of sabotaging legislation It contained measures from the Tory 2019 election manifesto including a clampdown on dog and puppy smuggling and a ban on live exports of livestock for slaughter abroad. Advertisement Mr Spencer blamed Labour for the decision by Rishi Sunaks government to abandon the legislation, telling MPs the Bill had fallen victim to scope creep due to the opposition trying to add contentious measures, including a ban on drag hunting, which the Government does not support. Mr Spencer insisted the manifesto pledges would be met through other dedicated pieces of legislation, adding: We remain fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments. But Tory MPs warned that time was running out for the party to meet its commitments on animal welfare. Former minister Tracey Crouch called the delay infuriating. Former environment secretary Theresa Villiers, who has campaigned for a ban on live exports for more than 20 years, said she was frustrated and disappointed. And the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, whose patrons include Mrs Johnson, said the decision was a missed opportunity. Meanwhile, the Countryside Alliance accused anti-hunting MPs of hijacking the legislation. Chief executive Tim Bonner said: It is a great shame that legislation on important welfare issues like sheep worrying has been delayed for two years by MPs who remain obsessed by hunting and other rural activities. Malcolm Morley, president of the British Veterinary Association, called the decision extremely disappointing, saying the legislation would have prevented the immeasurable suffering of thousands of animals. And Emma Slawinski, of the RSPCA, said: While politicians dither, animals suffer. Swiss Life Asset Management AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results Swiss Life REF (CH) ESG Swiss Properties: low vacancies and stable income in the first half of 2022/2023 25-May-2023 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Zurich, 25 May 2023 Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Swiss Life REF (CH) ESG Swiss Properties: low vacancies and stable income in the first half of 2022/2023 The Swiss Life REF (CH) ESG Swiss Properties real estate fund invests in residential properties in Swiss cities and their suburbs as well as in centrally located commercial premises. At the half-year mark on 31 March 2023, the fund had 161 properties with a market value of around CHF 2562 million. In the first half-year period of 2022/2023, Swiss Life REF (CH) ESG Swiss Properties generated net income of CHF 20.26 million or CHF 1.25 per unit. In addition, the sale of a residential portfolio with five smaller apartment buildings realised a capital gain of CHF 3.81 million. The rent default rate was reduced again and stood at a low 1.76% as at 31 March 2023 (31 March 2022: 2.97%). At the end of the half-year as at 31 March 2023, the net asset value was CHF 114.34 (31 March 2022: CHF 112.01). This corresponds to a 2.1% rise compared with the previous year. On 15 December 2022, the fund acquired a high-quality real estate portfolio from Swiss Life Ltd. The 15 properties, with a market value of around CHF 242 million, further increased the diversification and stability of the portfolio and offer rental income potential over the long term. Since its launch in November 2015, Swiss Life REF (CH) ESG Swiss Properties has posted an annualised performance (price trend and distributions) of 6.04%, which is 2.01% higher than the reference index (SXI Real Estate Funds TR Index: 4.03%). You can find the half-year report and further information on the fund on our website. Fund information Name: Swiss Life REF (CH) ESG Swiss Properties ISIN / security no. of fund: CH0293784861 / 29378486 Income: Distributed Legal form: Contractual real estate fund Fund domicile: Switzerland Circle of investors: Non-qualified and qualified investors Fund management and administrator: Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd Portfolio management: Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd Custodian bank: UBS Switzerland AG, Zurich Market maker: Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG, Zurich Information Media Relations Phone +41 43 284 77 77 media.relations@swisslife.ch Investor Relations Phone +41 43 284 52 76 investor.relations@swisslife.ch www.swisslife-am.com Swiss Life Asset Managers Swiss Life Asset Managers has more than 165 years of experience in managing the assets of the Swiss Life Group. This insurance background has exerted a key influence on the investment philosophy of Swiss Life Asset Managers, which is governed by such principles as value preservation, the generation of consistent and sustainable performance and a responsible approach to risks. Swiss Life Asset Managers offers this proven approach to third-party clients in Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the UK and the Nordic countries. As at 31 December 2022, Swiss Life Asset Managers managed a total volume of CHF 250.1 billion in assets for the Swiss Life Group, including over CHF 105.4 billion for third-party asset management. Swiss Life Asset Managers is also a leading real estate manager1 in Europe. with CHF 88.9 billion of a total volume of CHF 250.1 billion in assets under management invested in real estate. In addition, Swiss Life Asset Managers, in cooperation with Livit, manages real estate worth a total of CHF 21.9 billion. Total real estate under management as at the end of December 2022 thus stood at CHF 110.8 billion. Swiss Life Asset Managers employs more than 2100 people in Europe. Self-determined Life Swiss Life enables people to lead a self-determined life and look to the future with confidence. Swiss Life Asset Managers pursues the same goal: We think long-term and act responsibly. We use our knowledge and experience to develop future-oriented investment solutions. This is how we support our customers in achieving their long-term investment objectives, which in turn also take account of their clients needs so they can plan their financial future in a self-determined manner. 1 INREV Fund Manager Survey 2022 (AuM as of 31.12.2021) Disclaimer This announcement has been produced with the greatest of care and to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, we do not accept any liability for losses which might arise from making use of this information. This publication is not intended as a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell investment instruments but only serves to provide information. Prior to subscribing or acquiring fund units on the stock exchange, investors should obtain and carefully read the detailed information on the fund contained in the regulatory documentation (prospectus with integrated fund contract, PRIIP-KID and the latest annual and semi-annual reports) that serve as the sole legal basis for the purchase of fund units. They may be ordered free of charge in electronic or printed form from the fund management company, Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd., General-Guisan-Quai 40, 8002 Zurich. Past performance is not an indicator of current or future performance. The performance data do not include commissions and costs incurred when issuing and redeeming fund units. Both Swiss Life Ltd. and the other members of the Swiss Life Group are entitled to positions in this fund and to their purchase and/or sale. Swiss Life Asset Managers funds may not be offered for sale or sold in the US or on behalf of US citizens or US person residing in the US. Swiss Life Asset Managers is the brand name for the asset management activities of the Swiss Life Group. More information is available at www.swisslife-am.com. Source: Swiss Life Asset Managers (unless stated otherwise). All rights reserved. Contact: info@swisslife-am.com. Investigators were searching a reservoir in Portugal for the third day today after a 'very credible' informant revealed the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance visited the beauty spot just days after she was taken. Christian Brueckner visited the Arade dam of the Barragem do Arade reservoir, possibly with others, shortly after the girl vanished from her bed in May 2007, a former friend has told police. A married couple has appeared in a Melbourne court amid claims they kept a woman in their family home as a slave. Chee Kit 'Max' Chong, 44, and Angie Yeh Ling Liaw, 29, of Point Cook - in Melbourne's western suburbs - both appeared via video link in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Both face charges of possessing a slave, using coercion and threats to cause another person to remain in servitude and exercising control over a slave. Chee Kit Chong, 44, and Angie Yeh Ling Liaw, 29, are accused of committing crimes against humanity Two AFP officers escort Chee Kit Chong after his arrest last year The pair face up to 25 years in jail, with slavery considered a 'crime against humanity'. In 2021, Melbourne couple Kumuthini and Kandasamy Kannan were both found guilty by a Supreme Court jury for possessing a slave and exercising power over a slave and were sentenced to eight and six years prison respectively. The court heard the Point Cook couple's alleged slave was identified by medical professionals, some of whom will be required to give evidence at a preliminary hearing scheduled for later this year. That hearing will determine if the matter is lifted to the Supreme Court of Victoria where a jury trial will likely occur. The court heard while Liaw was represented by a lawyer, her husband was yet to work out if he will be represented by the same firm. 'We say at this moment there is no conflict,' Liaw's lawyer, Payne Wu, told the court. 'We are confident to acting for both co-accused.' It is understood the couple's alleged slave, who cannot be named, had been staying in Australia with the couple on a temporary visa. Chee Kit Chong is accused of keeping a woman as a slave Chee Kit Chong remains on bail while awaiting slavery charges The couple's arrest followed an eight month investigation by Australian Federal Police, which proudly paraded Chong' for media during his arrest. Authorities were tipped off in October 2022 by a healthcare worker who visited the address and had concerns the woman was allegedly 'exhibiting indicators of human trafficking'. The AFP alleges the woman was 'kept in domestic servitude' at the couple's Point Cook home between January and October 2022. Officers raided the property on October 27 last year and charged Chong the following month. His wife was not charged until April this year. Both are believed to remain together as a couple, with Chong requesting they both be allowed to report for bail at the same police station. Angie Yeh Ling Liaw was arrested months after AFP officers swooped on her husband AFP officers paraded Chee Kit 'Max' Chong upon his arrest AFP officers raided the property on October 27, 2022 after a healthcare worker visited the address and raised concerns On Wednesday, AFP Detective Superintendent Simone Butcher said the AFP does training for first responders, healthcare professionals, and the community to recognise indicators of human trafficking and slavery. 'Everyone can play a role in stopping human trafficking. We encourage anyone who suspects human trafficking or sees something suspicious to report it,' Det Supt Butcher said. 'Without the assistance of the community - in this case healthcare professionals - victims may go undetected and we would not be able to provide victims the help and support they need.' If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking or slavery offences, you can make a report to the AFP by calling 131 AFP (131 237). Apple finally rolled out its iOS 16.5 update for iPhones this week. The update has several important bug fixes, as well as a range of new features such as a Pride Celebration wallpaper for the Lock Screen. While many iPhone users have eagerly downloaded the update already, several have reported that iOS 16.5 is affecting their battery life. 'Anyone notice how bad the battery life is on iOS 16.5?' one frustrated user tweeted. Another added: 'iOS 16.5 battery drains faster than previously, and also charging is slow (from 23% until 100% take 3 hours via the original 20W Apple Charger).' While many iPhone users have eagerly downloaded the update already, several have reported that iOS 16.5 is affecting their battery life (stock image) Apple has released a new software update for iPhone 8 and later, called iOS 16.5. The update has several important bug fixes, as well as a range of new features Apple launches huge security update here's how to install it on your phone - READ MORE They're some of the most popular smartphones around the world, but if you have an iPhone, make sure you update it now Advertisement The iOS 16.5 software update was quietly released by Apple last week. 'Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your Apple product's security,' the tech giant said. 'This update includes enhancements, bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone.' While it contains several important bug fixes, users have also noticed that the update is depleting their iPhone's battery life. 'iOS 16.5 is deadly for the battery,' one user complained. Another added: 'iOS 16.5 has LOTS of issues, mostly related to battery drain. 'After multiple restarts, my iPhone 13 Pro is acting somewhat better but worse battery performance than before the update.' While Apple is yet to comment on the issue, thankfully, it's unlikely that the battery issues are here to stay, according to ZDNet. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, a researcher at ZDNet, explained: 'Installing a new OS on an iPhone triggers a lot of stuff to go on in the background, from indexing to recalibrating the battery, and this can go on for hours or even days. While it contains several important bug fixes, users have also noticed that the update is depleting their iPhone's battery life 'Not only does this consume power, but the battery recalibration can give the impression that the battery is draining more rapidly when in fact it isn't. 'Add to this the dual factor of a lot of app updates happening following a new release, combined with a lot of new features available that may put more drain on an older handset.' If you're worried about your iPhone battery and it's been a few days since you updated to iOS 16.5, Mr Kingsley-Hughes advises checking your battery health. He added: 'If you go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and the message is that it is good for Peak Performance Capability, then it's either just the normal stuff going on, or a bug.' Advertisement At first glance at these images, you may be forgiven for mistaking them for works of art from the latest trendy art exhibition. But the images are real and have been created by combining photos from two of NASA's most powerful telescopes. The James Webb Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory both captured dazzling views of two galaxies, a nebula, and a star cluster. By combining the images, these cosmic wonders can be seen in their full glory. 'When multiple NASA telescopes observe the same cosmic region, the universe's true colours are revealed,' NASA said. NGC 346 is a star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud, about 200,000 light years from Earth. The images from the James Webb Space Telescope show plumes and arcs of gas and dust that stars and planets use as source material in their formation To create the composite images, NASA turned to the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. 'Each image combines Chandra's X-rays a form of high-energy light with infrared data from previously released Webb images, both of which are invisible to the unaided eye,' the space agency explained. NASA also included data from the Hubble Space Telescope, which uses optical light, the retired Spitzer Space Telescope (infrared), plus the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton (X-ray) and the European Southern Observatory's New Technology Telescope (optical). The resulting images of the NGC 346 star cluster, the NGC 1672 spiral galaxy, the M16 Eagle Nebula and M74 spiral galaxy are some of NASA's most stunning shots yet. NGC 346 NGC 346 is a star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud, about 200,000 light years from Earth. The images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope show plumes and arcs of gas and dust that stars and planets use as source material during their formation. Meanwhile, the purple cloud on the left, seen with Chandra, is the remains of a supernova explosion from a massive star. 'The Chandra data also reveals young, hot, and massive stars that send powerful winds outward from their surfaces,' NASA said. NGC 1672 is a spiral galaxy, which Nasa categorises as a 'barred' spiral. 'In regions close to their centers, the arms of barred spiral galaxies are mostly in a straight band of stars across the center that encloses the core, as opposed to other spirals that have arms that twist all the way to their core,' Nasa explained Messier 16, also known as the Eagle Nebula, is a famous region of the sky often referred to as the 'Pillars of Creation' NGC 1672 NGC 1672 is a spiral galaxy, which NASA categorises as a 'barred' spiral. 'In regions close to their centers, the arms of barred spiral galaxies are mostly in a straight band of stars across the center that encloses the core, as opposed to other spirals that have arms that twist all the way to their core,' NASA explained. Chandra's data reveals compact objects in the spiral galaxy, including neutron stars and black holes, as well as the remnants of exploded stars. Data from Hubble and James Webb was used to fill out the spiral arms with dust and gas. Messier 16 (Eagle Nebula) Messier 16, also known as the Eagle Nebula, is a region often referred to as the 'Pillars of Creation'. Messier 74 is another spiral galaxy about 32 million light-years away, that we see face-on from our vantage point here on Earth In this composite image, Webb's data shows the dark columns of gas and dust shrouding the few remaining fledgling stars just being formed. Meanwhile, Chandra's data looks like dots and shows young stars, which give off copious amounts of X-rays. Messier 74 Finally, Messier 74 is another spiral galaxy about 32 million light years away, that we see face-on from our vantage point here on Earth. 'Messier 74 is nicknamed the Phantom Galaxy because it is relatively dim, making it harder to spot with small telescopes than other galaxies in Charles Messiers famous catalogue from the 18th century,' NASA said. Webb's data outlines gas and dust in the infrared, while Chandra's data spotlights high-energy activity from stars at X-ray wavelengths. Police are warning UK residents to remain vigilant against a sophisticated Apple gift card scam that fraudsters use to fleece well-intentioned victims. Con artists impersonate a friend or family member from your email list and ask you to send a gift card over as a matter of urgency - putting cash you can't retrieve in their hands in seconds. The online thieves gain access to a person's email address and then write to all of their contacts asking for help using information from the account and replicating the manner in which they speak. The next step in the scam is to create a sense of urgency and a reason to purchase them high-value gift cards. One person who spoke to Mail Online anonymously said they were contacted by their elderly neighbour and were eager to help them. Her neighbour, who had recently had a heart operation, wrote to the victim saying that they were in hospital but wanted to buy their niece a birthday present. Con artists impersonate a friend or family member from your email list and ask you to send a gift card over as a matter of urgency Police are warning UK residents to remain vigilant against a sophisticated scam that fraudsters use to fleece well-intentioned victims into sending over Apple gift cards The woman who received the email regularly helps her neighbour, so the request didn't seem out of the ordinary and was written 'mimicking' her usual tone. She believes the scammers read through emails on the account to learn as much information as they could - to make their own impersonation seem realistic. In further emails the scammer, pretending to be the elderly woman, said it was their niece's birthday today and that they urgently needed to get gift cards but had been unable to do so in hospital. The victim said if their 'neighbour' had immediately requested money through gift cards in their first email they would have been very wary. However they exchanged multiple emails before she sent over any money. The scammer specifically asked for two 100 Apple gift cards from Tesco's website. The victim, who was at work at the time, agreed to send the gift cards and even received a reply on if whether they wanted the gift card to be signed with 'aunt' or 'aunty'. Shortly after purchasing the card Tesco's fraud team called and said they have seen a surge in scams on Apple gift cards and would try to cancel the transaction. The victim contacted her bank, who said they would also try and assist. A screenshot of an email the victim received from the scammer pretending to be her elderly neighbour Apple's website gives users a detailed warning about scams and how to avoid them After becoming aware she had been scammed, the victim was emailed again from the account pretending to be her elderly neighbour - this time asking for 400. This time the woman pressed for more details about her neighbour's hospital stay. She received a reply saying she had been at a nearby hospital for two weeks. When the victim told the scammer they had seen their neighbour in the car park just one week ago - they stopped replying. The victim, who is yet to have their money refunded, also discovered her own mother had also been contacted by the same email account - but fortunately they deleted it. Tesco's website comes with a safety warning before purchasing Apple gift cards, it reads: 'Keep your money safe. If youre ever asked to pay debt or bills with gift cards or to buy gift cards on someone elses behalf, it could be a scam. 'Find out how to keep your money safe with tips and advice from Take Five at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk.' Police in North Yorkshire issued a warning earlier this year after reports of a similar Apple gift card scam. A spokesperson said: 'The person who had purportedly sent the email had been hacked and the message had been sent to everyone in their personal address book.' The force urged others who receive a message from friends or family asking for a gift card to not respond. Apple themselves also have issued a warning, they say: 'A string of scams are taking place asking people to make payments over the phone for things such as taxes, hospital bills, bail money, debt collection, and utility bills. Tesco's website makes you agree to the terms and conditions after reading a warning about buying gift cards on behalf of someone else 'The scams are committed using many methods, including gift cards. 'As the fraudsters are sometimes requesting codes from Apple Gift Cards, App Store & iTunes Gift Cards, or Apple Store Gift Cards, we want to make sure our customers are aware of these scams.' Apple said that Gift Card scams tend to follow the same formula. It typically involves a phone call to the victim 'instilling panic and urgency' to make a payment using an Apple Gift Card. Once you've purchased the card, you'll be asked to pay by sharing the code on the back. But it's a fraudulent request designed to steal your money. Apple said you must never provide the numbers on the back of a Gift Card to someone you don't know. As soon as you provide the numbers to the scammers, they'll likely spend the funds before you can contact Apple or the police. 'If you are not purchasing an item from Apple, do not make a payment with an Apple Gift Card,' Apple advised. 'There's no other instance in which you'll be asked to make a payment with either of these gift cards. 'Do not provide the numbers on the back of the gift card to anyone that you don't know. 'Immediately report potential scams to your local police department as well as the FTC.' A former Google CEO has warned that artificial intelligence be used to kill people in the future. Eric Schmidt - who spent two decades at the helm of the search giant, told a gathering of senior executives Wednesday that he believes AI presents an 'existential risk' for humanity 'defined as many, many, many, many people harmed or killed.' The software PhD said the technology, which Google is helping spearhead through its relatively primitive Bard chatbot system - could be 'misused by evil people' when it becomes more advanced. Schmidt, who recently chaired the US National Security Commission on AI, is the latest in a slew of former Google staffers to come out publicly against the rapid development of the technology in recent weeks. Schmidt told a CEO summit in London that 'misused' AI could lead to 'many, many, many, many people harmed or killed.' Above, Schmidt recently chaired the US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence on behalf of the federal government to assess AI threats Across Silicon Valley, brilliant minds are split about the progress of the AI systems with some saying it will improve humanity and others fearing the technology will destroy it Geoffrey Hinton, credited as the 'Godfather of Artificial Technology', sensationally resigned from Google earlier this spring, citing his AI fears. Hinton said that a part of him now regrets helping to make the systems. Above, Hinton speaking at a summit hosted by Thomson Reuters Schmidt focused specifically on AI's burgeoning ability to identify software vulnerabilities for hackers and the tech's inevitable hunting down of new biological pathways, which could lead to the creation of fearsome new bioweapons. 'There are scenarios not today, but reasonably soon, where these systems will be able to find zero-day exploits in cyber issues, or discover new kinds of biology,' Schmidt said before The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit in London. So-called 'zero-day exploits' are security flaws in code anywhere from personal computing to digital banking to infrastructure that have only just been discovered and thus not yet patched-up by cybersecurity teams. Zero-days are the prized tools in hackers' arsenal. Schmidt did not go into detail on what 'new kinds of biology' dreamed up by a maliciously run AI worry him most. 'Now, this is fiction today,' Schmidt cautioned, 'but its reasoning is likely to be true. And when that happens, we want to be ready to know how to make sure these things are not misused by evil people.' Schmidt's comments, which are not his first warnings, join a raucous debate across Silicon Valley over the moral questions and mortal dangers posed by AI. Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and the late Stephen Hawking are among the most famous critics of AI who believe it poses a 'profound risk to society and humanity' and could have 'catastrophic effects'. Earlier this spring, the 'Godfather of Artificial Intelligence' sensationally resigned from Google, warning that AI technology could upend life as we know it. Speaking to the New York Times about his resignation, he warned that in the near future, A.I. would flood the internet with false photos, videos and texts. These would be of a standard, he added, where the average person would 'not be able to know what is true anymore'. But Bill Gates, My Pichai and futurist Ray Kurzweil are on the other side of the debate, hailing the technology as our time's 'most important' innovation. Schmidt helmed the creation of a mammoth 756-page report on the US national security risks posed by AI. The report advised that the US should renounce any calls for a global ban on AI-powered autonomous weapons, arguing that neither Russia nor China would uphold their end Schmidt co-chaired the US National Security Commission on AI from 2019 to 2021. Their report warned that the US could lose its edge as an 'AI superpower.' Boston Dynamics robot dogs (pictured) are among the military machines that a misused AI could exploit A picture from Paramount's Terminator Genisys which explores the hypothetical dark side of artificial intelligence But among these titans, only Schmidt helmed the creation of a mammoth 756-page report for the US government on the national security risks posed by AI. 'America is not prepared to defend or compete in the AI era,' wrote Schmidt and his vice chair on the US National Security Commission on AI in 2021. 'This is the tough reality we must face.' Schmidt, who spent three years chairing the fact-finding body alongside Bob Work, a previous deputy US secretary of Defense, argued that China was on track to outpace the US as planet Earth's 'AI superpower.' 'We will not be able to defend against AI-enabled threats,' Schmidt and Work wrote, 'without ubiquitous AI capabilities and new warfighting paradigms.' Their committee advised that the Biden administration to commit to doubling US government AI research and development spending to $32 billion-per-year by 2026, and to free itself from dependence on overseas microchip manufacturing. Schmidt and his commission also suggested that the US should renounce any calls for a global ban on AI-powered autonomous weapons, arguing that neither Russia nor China would uphold their end of any treaties banning these weapons. In London this week, however, Schmidt told the gathering of CEOs that he did not have any clear ideas, personally, on how AI should be or even could be regulated, suggesting that it should be a 'broader question for society.' He did voice his belief that there is unlikely to be a new regulatory agency created to regulate AI in the United States. Billionaire Richard Branson is back in the space race. Virgin Galactic, owned by Branson, completed what is expected to be its final test flight Thursday before taking paying customers on brief trips to space. The company's twin-fuselage VMS Eve carrier plane took off from Virgin Galactic's Spaceport America site in New Mexico around 11:15am ET with a crew of four company employees. The VSS Unity spaceplane hung 54.2 miles above Earth's surface for three minutes, allowing the space tourists to experience weightlessness for the first time. Federal aviation authorities banned Virgin Galactic launches after Branson's maiden flight in 2021 led to an investigation when it veered off course during its descent back to the runway in the New Mexico desert. The VSS Unity spaceplane hung 54.2 miles above Earth's surface for three minutes, allowing the space tourists to experience weightlessness for the first time The four-person crew, all Virgin Galactic staff, spent three minutes in weightlessness Unlike other companies that use vertical-launch rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a carrier aircraft with two pilots who take off from a runway, gain high altitude, and drop a rocket-powered plane that soars into space before gliding back to Earth. The carrier plane launched with the spacecraft under its belly, which it then released at an altitude of 44,500 feet. VSS Unity then fired its engine and climbed about 262,000 feet the altitude recognized as the edge of space. 'Successful boost, WE HAVE REACHED SPACE!' Virgin Galactic tweeted Thursday. The total journey time was 90 minutes, with passengers experiencing a few minutes of weightlessness in the space plane's cabin before returning to Earth at 12:37 pm ET. The company's Unity 25 mission is a crucial final test flight before it flies its first commercial mission in late June, hoping to carry out a trip roughly every month after that. The flight comes 22 months after billionaire Branson and employees rode to the edge of space aboard its centerpiece SpaceShipTwo spaceplane. Virgin Galactic had hoped that a high-profile mission would open the door to routine flights soon after but experienced a mishap when landing that kept the company grounded until Thursday. The four people that went to space Thursday work for Virgin Galactic The carrier plane launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico, carrying the spaceplane under its belly that then released at an altitude of 44,500 feet In September 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was investigating a deviation in the descent of the flight. The FAA, which oversees commercial air and spaceflight in the US, found the spaceplane 'deviated from its Air Traffic Control clearance' and did so for about a minute and 41 seconds. At the time, all seemed to go as planned, with the mothership taking off as expected and the spaceplane being released at 50,000ft to continue its 40-mile journey to space before safely gliding back to land on a runway at Spaceport America. However, a report suggests that in the cockpit, there were warning lights that the spacecraft was veering off course and could struggle on its return without action. Virgin Galactic said 'the flight's ultimate trajectory deviated from our initial plan' but added it 'did not fly outside of the lateral confines of the protected airspace.' The firm says it is working with the FAA on its investigation of the deviation in the return route to land on the runway and improving communications. The crew experienced amazing views of Earth while in the spaceplane Federal aviation authorities banned Virgin Galactic launches after Branson's maiden flight in 2021 led to an investigation when it veered off course during its descent back to its runway in the New Mexico desert In a statement on the FAA investigation, Virgin Galactic acknowledged that 'the flight did drop below the altitude of the airspace', but confirmed this was 'for a short distance and time (1 minute and 41 seconds) before re-entering restricted airspace.' Virgin Galactic said: 'When the vehicle encountered high altitude winds which changed the trajectory, the pilots and systems monitored the trajectory to ensure it remained within mission parameters.' It added that 'at no time did the ship travel above any population centers or cause a hazard to the public.' The company said it is 'working in partnership with the FAA to address the airspace for future flights,' including alerting them of any issues. The agency barred Virgin Galactic from taking off until it could rectify the issues and finally received federal approval for Thursday's spaceflight. Next will come customers who purchased tickets years ago for their chance at weightlessness. About 800 tickets have been sold over the past decade, with the initial batch going for $200,000 each. Tickets now cost $450,000 per person. Advertisement The Cannes Film Festival is supposed to be about movies. But this year there was more talk about chests than celluloid as many female stars put their breasts on display while walking the red carpet. America's Got Talent host Heidi Klum flashed her nipple when she raised her arms while modeling a yellow cut out gown. Beauty queen turned reality TV star Olivia Culpo wore a dress that covered her entire body, but had a massive cut out over her cleavage and tummy. Frida star Salma Hayek let her best assets spill out of her plunging dress. Swimsuit designer Alessandra Amborsio wore a gown that made her chest impossible to notice. And Vogue model Irina Shayk wore two looks that made the most of her top half. The 76th annual Cannes Film Festival is a film festival taking place from May 16 to May 27, 2023 in the south of France. Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund serves as jury president at the Palace of Festivals and Congresses of Cannes. Heidi Klum attends the 'La Passion De Dodin Bouffant' red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 24, 2023 in Cannes, France. Tom Kaulitz (L) and Klum attend the Cinema Against AIDS amfAR Gala within the scope of the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival, at the 'Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc' in Cap d'Antibes May 25 ydney Sweeney is seen at the Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes film festival on May 21, 2023 in Cannes Bebe Rexha on Wednesday in Cannes: 'My look last night in Cannes, Custom dress by @defaience' Rexha attends the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25 Helena Christensen amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala, 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 25 Amelia Gray Hamlin attends the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25 Lori Harvey attends the Asteroid City red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes Nicole Scherzinger at Magnum Beach Cannes Party to celebrate the launch of #Pleasureisalwayson Campaign on May 22, 2023 in Cannes, France. Olivia Culpo attends the Asteroid City red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes Nabilla Benattia attends the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25 Praya Lundberg at the 29th amfAR Gala Cannes on May 25 Devin Brugman attends the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25 Stella Maxwell attends the La Passion De Dodin Bouffant red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 24, 2023 in Cannes Salma Hayek attends the Killers Of The Flower Moon red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 20, 2023 in Cannes Julia Restoin Roitfeld attends the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25 Julia Fox attends the The Art of Elysium Paradis 25th anniversary presented by Marli on May 21, 2023 in Cannes Victoria Silvstedt attends the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25 Irina Shayk is seen at the Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes film festival on May 22, 2023 in Cannes Shayk attends the Firebrand (Le Jeu De La Reine) red carpet during the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2023 in Cannes Alessandra Ambrosio attends the Jeanne du Barry Screening & opening ceremony red carpet at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16 Ashlee Simpson attends the Firebrand (Le Jeu De La Reine) red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 21 Rafa Kalimann is seen at the Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes film festival on May 21 Adele Exarchopoulos attends the Rosalie photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18 Alina Azur attends the Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18 Brazilian model Adriana Lima arrives for the screening of the film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France on May 18 Naomi Campbell is seen at the Martinez hotel during the 76th Cannes film festival on May 20 Lilly Krug attends the Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18 Jasmine Tookes attends the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25 Elsa Hosk attends the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25 Elsa Hosk attends the La Passion De Dodin Bouffant red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 24 Margot Robbie had the difficult task taking on the lead role of Barbie for the new summer film which comes out in July. After all, Barbie is a child's toy but she is also considered in popular culture to be a very sexy blonde beauty. Robbie addressed the complicated image of Barbie in the new issue of Vogue magazine. 'I'm like, "Okay, she's a doll. She's a plastic doll. She doesn't have organs,"' began the actress and producer, who talked her red carpet style on Wednesday. 'If she doesn't have organs, she doesn't have reproductive organs. If she doesn't have reproductive organs, would she even feel sexual desire? No, I don't think she could. 'She is sexualized. But she should never be sexy,' noted the cover girl. A sexy child's toy: Margot Robbie had the difficult task taking on the lead role of Barbie for the new summer film which comes out in July Sexy or just sweet? 'After all, Barbie is a child's toy but she is also considered in popular culture to be a very sexy blonde beauty Nailed her look: Robbie addressed the complicated image of Barbie in the new issue of Vogue magazine And then she finished with: 'People can project sex onto her. Yes, she can wear a short skirt, but because it's fun and pink. Not because she wanted you to see her butt.' And Margot also talked about the percentage of people who loathe Barbie. She explained: 'We of course would want to honor the 60-year legacy that this brand has, but we have to acknowledge that there are a lot of people who aren't fans of Barbie. 'And in fact, aren't just indifferent to Barbie. They actively hate Barbie. And have a real issue with Barbie. We need to find a way to acknowledge that. There seems to be zero sex in Barbie. Playing on the quirky premise of what the Mattel dolls would get up to if left to their own devices, the teaser features a comical scene between Ryan and Margot about spending the night together. 'I thought I might stay over tonight,' Ryan's Ken asks Margot's Barbie. 'To do what?' she replies innocently. After a brief awkward pause he responds: 'I'm not actually sure.' Her gal: 'I'm like, "Okay, she's a doll. She's a plastic doll. She doesn't have organs,"' began the actress and producer No organs: 'If she doesn't have organs, she doesn't have reproductive organs. If she doesn't have reproductive organs, would she even feel sexual desire? No, I don't think she could,' said the star Previously speaking of turning the iconic Barbie doll into a film, she told British Vogue in 2021: 'It comes with a lot of baggage!' 'And a lot of nostalgic connections. But with that come a lot of exciting ways to attack it.' 'People generally hear "Barbie" and think, "I know what that movie is going to be," and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and theyre like, "Oh, well, maybe I dont..."' No sex: 'She is sexualized. But she should never be sexy,' noted the cover girl One to watch: Margot stars alongside Ryan as Ken Doll while Emma Mackey, Simi Lui and Kingsley Ben-Adir also featured in the film as various Barbies and Kens sexy actress: Here she looked her best at CinemaCon Day 2 in Las Vegas in April The Australian actress, 32, was dressed in the doll's signature pink for Vogue. During the interview, Margot's co-star Ryan Gosling spoke about working with the actress on set and reveals she was fundamental in helping his inner Ken Doll. The role was unexpected for the studious twice-Oscar nominated actor, 42, but thankfully Margot was on hand to bring out his cheeky side. Ryan explained: 'She left a pink present with a pink bow, from Barbie to Ken, every day while we were filming. They were all beach-related. 'Like puka shells, or a sign that says "Pray for surf." Because Ken's job is just beach. I've never quite figured out what that means. But I felt like she was trying to help Ken understand, through these gifts that she was giving.' As for how Margot took on the Barbie role, she revealed her goal was to change the perception of the controversial doll to those who 'actively hate' the brand. Cosy co-stars: During the interview, Margot's co-star Gosling spoke about working with the actress on set and reveals she was fundamental in helping his inner Ken Doll The cast is a who's who of Hollywood powerhouses, with Will Ferrell playing the CEO of Mattel, and Helen Mirren as the narrator. Marvel star Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, and Kate McKinnon star as inhabitants of Barbieland, while Rhea Perlman, America Ferrera, and Alexandra Shipp are also attached to the film. Dua Lipa, who also plays one of the Barbies, will be releasing a hit written especially for the movie, MailOnline revealed. In what appears to be a fish-out-of-water comedy, Margot's Barbie is seen having fun with Ryan's Ken in a hyper-real Barbie-inspired world - dubbed 'Barbieland' - where there are many iterations of the iconic dolls in existence. The plot: In what appears to be a fish-out-of-water comedy, Margot's Barbie is seen having fun with Ryan's Ken in a hyper-real Barbie-inspired world - dubbed 'Barbieland' - where there are many iterations of the iconic dolls in existence. Seen in the film's teaser However, their plastic-fantastic lives are turned upside down (quite literally) when they are seen traveling to the 'real world' in a car that spins up into the air. Will Ferrell is also seen playing the CEO of the toy company as he somehow brings his figures to life, welcoming them into civilization. The film is based on the fashion doll line by Mattel, where the CEO Mattell Ynon Kreiz said the company expected the Barbie product to continue growing, adding: 'We couldn't be more excited about Barbie's long-term prospects.' The Barbie brand generated over 1 billion in gross sales last year and the doll turned 64 this week, first debuting the original on March 9, 1959. For the full cover story, go to Vogue.com. The Barbie movie will be released in Australia on July 20 and the following day in the UK and US. Norinco (North Industries Group Corporation) is one of the largest arms manufacturers and exporters in the world, with annual sales of about $80 billion. Norinco specializes in land-based systems for the Chinese military as well as a growing list of export customers. While some high-tech components are reserved for Chinese military versions, export customers can get anything else and even receive equipment modified so that specific non-Chinese components can be installed. Norinco will do just about anything to get a sale or please a customer. Norinco doesnt sell much to Western countries, except for commercial grade hunting and police weapons and accessories. In this market Norinco quality is competitive and their prices even more so. All this has enabled Norinco to become one of the top ten arms manufacturers in the world and the first Chinese firm to join a list dominated by American and Western multinational firms. Norinco is often the supplier of high-tech weapons to nations that are first-time users of these systems. Such was the case with Nigeria, which purchased some Norinco VT-4 tanks. This is a popular export item based on the Russian T-72 design and a very capable system costing about $5 million per vehicle. In 2022 Norinco received user dissatisfaction reports about VT4 tanks sold to Nigeria. The Nigerian tank crews reported that in combat it took them 30 minutes to load and fire a 125mm shell. The problem turned out to be lack of training and poor maintenance. These two items have long been a problem for complex exports like tanks, artillery and warplanes. Some VT4 (also known as MBT3000) users reported problems that did not involve poor maintenance or poorly trained crews. China said it would take care of any problems, even training and maintenance. The recent discovery of a major design flaw in all T-72 type tanks was another matter. Norinco export tanks are often less capable (and cheaper) versions of the ones China builds for its own forces. In some cases, the export models lack new features China considers secret and not for export. In most cases export models simply get less advanced and cheaper tech. Such was the case with the VT series of tanks. These are exported and not used by Chinese forces. The VT4 (also known as MBT2000) was the export version of the Chinese Type 90 tank. Actually, the Type 90 was not accepted by the Chinese army, which instead went with the 54-ton Type 99, a superior T-72 variant that entered service in 2001, underwent a major upgrade (the 58-ton Type 99A) in 2011 and is still in production with over 1,200 in service so far. The Chinese have over 6,000 tanks, with 2,500 of them modern designs. The rest of them are based on the Russian T-54/55. China developed many variations on this 1950s design and built them under license as the Type 59. In addition to the Type 99 there are 1,500 of the earlier Type 96, which began as the Type 88 in the 1980s as China began to develop and build variations of the Russian T-72. The Type 96 and 99 are, like most current Russian tanks, further upgrades of the successful T-72 design. By adding better engines and other mechanical and electronic components, improved armored protection and 125mm main guns, the Chinese have managed to create a force of modern tanks superior to what the Russians have. China now has more modern tanks in service than Russia, which has had to put a lot of its most modern tanks in storage because it cannot afford to maintain and operate them. Unknown to the Chinese was the fact that T-72-type tanks have a fatal flaw that was only discovered during combat with a foe equipped with Western anti-tank weapons. This was the case recently in Ukraine. The fatal design flaw was due to the use of an autoloader for the 125mm gun. This led to the total destruction of Russian tanks hit by a top-attack ATGM (Anti-Tank-Guided Missile). None of the Russian ATGMs used top-attack because of the additional cost and the fact that Western tanks did not use autoloaders, were not automatically destroyed by top-attack ATGMs, and were often equipped with features that defeated top-attack. Most Chinese tanks use an autoloader. Only the older T-54/55 clones dont. The fix for this is a new turret that includes the design features found in Western tanks and require an additional crew member to load the shells. A new turret would store the 125mm ammunition in an armored area behind the main gun. That storage area would have blow-out panels. This means that if the ammo storage area is penetrated by a shell or top attack ATGM, the crew would survive because the force of the explosion would be outwards, away from the crew because the armor between the storage area and the crew is much sturdier. The new turrets would cost more but how much more depended on whether the auto-loader was retained or the turret had the more conventional (and safer) manual loader and four man crew. Most Western tanks retained the four-man crew and installed more safety features in the turrets and their tanks in general. One of the few exceptions is the French Le Clerc, which uses an autoloader that is less vulnerable to the top-attack vulnerability. China has always tried to keep the price of its tanks cheap, for its own troops as well as export customers. China would have built more Type 99s were the tank not so expensive ($3-4 million each). That is why so many of the cheaper (less than $2 million each) 43-ton Type 96 tanks remain in service. In addition to being cheaper, the Type 99 and the Type 96 are considered adequate for most potential battlefield opponents. Western tanks tend to cost about 40 percent more ($7 million each) and continue to defeat T-72 type tanks regularly. The top-attack problem was a surprise to the Russians and turned out to be a fatal and largely unknown flaw in Russian tank designs. It presented a major problem to most users of T-72 -type tanks. There are many variants of the T-72 design and what makes them different is the quality of the components used. The T-72 was the most successful Russian post-World War II tank design and the basic model was, in theory, pretty solid and reliable. The T-72 also proved to be a good platform for variants that added new (or more) armor, better electronics and improved engines. This resulted in some impressive tank models. The most outstanding of these has been the Russian 46-ton T-72B3. As proof, consider that most of the new tanks the Russian army has received since 2000 have been refurbished and much upgraded T-72B3s. At the end of 2021 the Russian Army had about 2,600 tanks in service and most (65 percent) were T-72B3s, which you hear little about. The new breakthrough design, the T-14, never worked properly, never entered production and probably never will because of design flaws and a need for new tech that has not been perfected yet. The T-14 is mostly about publicity. The T-90 has been produced in large quantities, but not for Russia. The T-90 was a 1980s project that was to incorporate T-80 features into many upgrades of the T-72. Originally it was designated the T-72BU but when Russia finally began production in 1993 it was renamed the T-90. That succeeded in making the tank an export success and most (84 percent) of those produced were for export. In fact, India and Algeria each have more T-90s in service than Russia. Worse, Russia has quietly put over a third of its nearly 550 built T-90s into a reserve. While the T-90s were loudly proclaimed to be the next big thing, the Russian army preferred the refurbished T-72s in the form of the T-72B3. These proved to be more reliable, something that got little publicity. While all the upgrades (new engine, gun, fire control and protection) made it nearly as expensive as the T-90, it was preferred by the troops and the older officers quietly agreed that it was a better tank than the new T-90/T-72BUs. The best Chinese T-72 mod is the Type 99, which is 25 percent heavier than the T-72B3 and even more expensive to build. Thats because the Type 99 has better armor protection and electronics. The Chinese can afford this while the Russians cannot, its as simple as that. Chinese manufacturing capabilities are, on average, superior to what the Russians had when the Cold War ended and this makes a big difference for tank design and production. India and Pakistan have not been able to match Russian or Chinese production standards or development capabilities, which is largely due to corruption and government regulations that make it difficult to innovate and excel. Most of the best South Asian (India and Pakistan) design and production talent moves to the West. A glance at the design and development stars in the West, especially the United States, shows a lot of these South Asians playing leading roles. China managed to keep more of this talent at home and even attract some that had settled in the West to return. In the end high-tech, like everything else, is about the people creating it. Because of this Norinco can modify a VT4 to eliminate the autoloader and add a Western style 12omm smooth-bore tank gun in a VT4. Brazil asked for this and Norinco said they could do it. Its unclear if Norinco is doing something similar for the Chinese army tanks. Ashley James revealed she 'doesn't get mum guilt' as she attended a NSPCC Awareness Day in London with newborn daughter Ada on Wednesday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, who welcomed her second child with boyfriend Tommy Andrews last month, cradled her little girl while sat on stage. She looked effortlessly stylish in a silk midi dress and added a cream V-neck jumper over the top. The TV personality cinched in her waist with a white chunky belt and kept comfy in a pair of matching trainers. Ashley styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves and toted her belongings around in a chic green crossbody bag. 'I don't feel guilty': Ashley James revealed she 'doesn't get mum guilt' as she attended a NSPCC Awareness Day in London with newborn daughter Ada on Wednesday Mother and daughter day: The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, who welcomed her second child with boyfriend Tommy Andrews last month , cradled her little girl while sat on stage The reality star took to Instagram during the day to share a gallery of snaps and revealed why she bought Ada along with her. She penned: 'Today my sidekick and I headed to NSPCC to help launch Childhood Day - which is taking place on the 9th June. 'I spoke on a panel of brilliant ladies about 'How To Create A Happy Childhood For Your Child Without Losing Yourself. It was honestly so interesting hearing everyone's very unique experiences and different perspectives on all of this. 'Ada was feeding when we began as she'd just done the biggest poo explosion moments before going on - HOW I don't have on my white outfit is beyond me. It was on my fingers. Anyway, she ended up being there with me so we went with it. 'And that's probably one of my big things on the theme you know - do what works for you. For me, what works for me right now is taking Ada with me to things. 'It means I can do TV and DJ gigs and see friends etc. Ultimately she needs my body to survive right now, and I don't want to give up that journey and she's happy. So why shouldn't she be with me?' Ashley questioned why 'dad guilt' is not a thing as 'woman have careers too' and want to return to work like their co-parent. She continued: 'I also touched on the concept of 'mum guilt'. Have you noticed you don't hear talk of 'dad guilt'. I bet a ton of dads feel guilty about things, but it's not a *thing* that needs bringing up. My rule is, if a dad doesn't need to feel guilty about something: nor should a mum. Looking good: She looked effortlessly stylish in a silk midi dress and added a cream V-neck jumper over the top Sweet: Ashley was seen hugging Ada who looked adorable in a flower patterned outfit Candid: The reality star took to Instagram during the day to share a gallery of snaps and revealed why she bought Ada along with her 'I'm a good mum': Ashley questioned why 'dad guilt' is not a thing as 'woman have careers too' and want to return to work like their co-parent 'Need or want to go back to work? Don't feel guilty about having childcare. Men don't get asked about their childcare situation - it's probably assumed it's the mums if in heterosexual relationships. But times have moved on and woman have careers too. 'Often we feel guilty because we can't win. Be a present mum - but don't be a stay at home mum. Go back to work - but don't have children if you don't want to raise them yourself. 'So yeah, mum guilt can get in the bin as far as I'm concerned. I don't feel guilty. I'm a good mum doing my best and when I make mistakes (which I will) I'll fess up, apologise, and teach my children it's normal and human to get s**t wrong.' Concluding the lengthy message, Ashley added that she is 'absolutely shattered' from this week and needs to rest before 'burning herself out'. She added: 'And finally we can't pour from an empty cup. And on that note: this week has been a lot and I'm absolutely shattered. It's been amazing, but I'm tired. 'We got the dreaded call this afternoon that Alf had to be picked up early, so I'm going to slow down next few days so I don't burn out.' Alessandra Ambrosio showcased her jaw dropping figure in a racy sheer dress as she attended the launch of the new Aston Martin DB12 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes on Wednesday evening. The model, 41, turned heads as she left little to the imagination by displaying her incredible physique in a black lace lingerie set. The Brazilian beauty added a barely there sheer dress over the top of the two piece which boasted a daring hip high split and draping neckline. The former Victoria Secret Angel applied a flawless palette of makeup including a bold swipe of red lipstick and donned a pair of coordinated long gloves. Alessandra elevated her frame in a pair of towering heels and a pop of colour to the ensemble with a pair of eye catching emerald earrings. Sizzling: Alessandra Ambrosio showcased her jaw dropping figure in a racy sheer dress as she attended the launch of the new Aston Martin DB12 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes on Wednesday Hot! The model, 41, turned heads as she left little to the imagination by displaying her incredible physique in a black lace lingerie set She completed her glamorous evening look by styling her long brunette tresses in loose waves as they cascaded down past her shoulders. Alessandra is a mother to daughter Anja, 14 full name Anja Louise Ambrosio Mazur who she shares with her ex, photographer-turned-designer Jamie Mazur. The former couple, who split up in 2018, also have a 10-year-old son named Noah Phoenix. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar last year, Alessandra spoke about wanting said her kids to dress how they like and develop their own sense of style. 'I want them to feel happy and comfortable in their own skin,' said the Brazilian beauty. 'So I would gently guide them if I felt they were trying to be someone they're not. But I'm happy for them to take their own journey. It's the only way.' She went on to say that her status as a fashion icon has not affected her private life, explaining that she prefers to 'keep things simple.' 'In my personal life, I keep things simple. I'm a Brazilian girl, even though I now live in LA, so swimsuits and simple beachwear is my style. 'I love fashion but I don't have to go crazy with buying items. I'm happy with what makes me comfortable.' Amazing: The Brazilian beauty added a barely there sheer dress over the top of the two piece which boasted a daring hip high split and draping neckline Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander and Jennifer Connelly led the stars attending the Louis Vuitton Cruise Show at Isola Bella in Stresa, Itlay on Wednesday. Actress Cate, 54, looked incredible for the event, donning a grey long-sleeved top which she wore with a matching high-waisted skirt. The Oscar winner also sported a pair of black sleeves with a red and blue trombone print and added height to her frame with open-toed heels. Cate, who most recently starred in the drama TAR, styled her blonde locks into a loose bob for the evening. Alicia, 34, cut a stylish figure for the event as she arrived in a white and beige patterned mini dress with a black leather collar. Glamour: (L-R) Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander and Jennifer Connelly led the stars attending the Louis Vuitton Cruise Show at Isola Bella in Stresa, Itlay on Wednesday Style: Cate looked incredible for the event, donning a grey long-sleeved top which she wore with a matching high-waisted skirt The Tomb Raider star cinched her waist with a black and gold belt while she also carried a Louis Vuitton green handbag. Styling her brunette locks into a ponytail, Alicia added to her look with a pair of black open-toed heels. The actress, who is married to film star Michael Fassbenderm completed her look with a pair of hoop earrings. Jennifer, 52, looked radiant as ever in a black and white mini dress with a floral print and shirt, flared sleeves. The garment also featured a plunging neckline while Jennifer boosted her frame with a pair of black ankle boots. Wearing her brunette locks slicked back, the Top Gun: Maverick star completed her look with a light palette of makuep. Emma Stone was also in attendance at the event and cut a stylish figure in a black sheer crop top with an embroidered detail. The Easy A star displayed her toned midriff in the garment which she paired with a matching skirt with a leg split. Radiant: Alicia cut a stylish figure for the event as she arrived in a white and beige patterned mini dress with a black leather collar Looking good: Alicia cinched her waist with a black and gold belt and carried a Louis Vuitton green handbag while Jennifer looked radiant in a blackand white mini dress Trendy: Emma Stone was also in attendance at the event and cut a stylish figure in a black sheer crop top with an embroidered detail Icon: Elsewhere, Oprah Winfrey looked elegant in a cream shirt dress with a striped pattern which she wore with matching trousers with a navy stripe Pals: Oprah was joined at the event by her friend and CBS anchor Gayle King as well as film director Ava Duvarnay Also sporting a pair of white open-toed heels, Emma complimented her outfit with a brown leather handbag. Elsewhere, Oprah Winfrey looked elegant in a cream shirt dress with a striped pattern which she wore with matching trousers with a navy stripe. The media mogul also wore a black leather belt and completed her ensemble with black heels and a brown bag. Oprah was joined at the event by her friend and CBS anchor Gayle King as well as film director Ava Duvarnay. Ensemble: Lea Seydoux looked sensational in a grey long-sleeved mini dress which she wore with a black turtle neck top Casual: Jaden Smith opted for an off-white coat along with baggy silver trousers and white platform trainers On point: Emma displayed her toned midriff in the garment which she paired with a matching skirt with a leg split Gayle looked incredible in a yellow floral sleeveless dress while Ava opted for a silver patterned top and matching trousers. Lea Seydoux looked sensational in a grey long-sleeved mini dress which she wore with a black turtle neck top. The No Time To Die star cinched her waist with a matching belt and added height to her frame with a pair of black boots. Also sporting matching tights, Lea accessorised with a black handbag as she posed for the cameras. NRL star George Burgess and his wife, Joanna King, have ended their seven-year marriage. Burgess, 31, has been spotted on dating apps Tinder and Raya just a couple of months after moving out of the family home. Sources close to the player have confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that he left the property he shared with Joanna in March and has since relocated to an apartment in Bondi. Insiders claim the couple, who have three children together and were once thought to be inseparable, are '100 per cent over'. It appears the split has been amicable, contrasting markedly with the tumultuous separation between Burgess's brother, Sam, and his-ex wife, Phoebe. Burgess acknowledged Joanna in a recent Mother's Day tribute despite their break-up. NRL star George Burgess and his wife, Joanna King, have ended their seven-year marriage. The couple met in 2014, and married in 2016 English-born Burgess, 31, has been spotted on dating apps including Tinder just a couple of months after moving out of the family home Joanna, an interior designer, has reportedly moved back to Queensland with her parents. She is rumoured to be gearing up to launch a mummy blog/influencer type business which aligns with her recent social media tease of a 'special announcement coming soon'. The couple, who were last photographed together on March 14, had navigated a whirlwind of challenges in recent years. Burgess's gambling addiction has been a matter of public record, and he has been open about attending rehab to help deal with it. Sources close to the player have confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that he left the shared residence in March and has since relocated to an apartment in Bondi Insiders claim the couple, once thought to be inseparable, are '100% over', marking the end of a relationship that lasted over seven years and produced three children When he joined the Dragons after two years back home in England, the former South Sydney forward became the first man to play professional rugby league following hip resurfacing surgery. But his comeback was overshadowed in March 2022 when he was charged by police after a woman claimed he 'touched her bottom' without consent. Burgess later checked into a rehabilitation facility to deal with personal issues unrelated to the criminal charge. He made two appearances for the Dragons' NSW Cup side in August following his time away from the club. He is back in rugby league and remains intent on making a comeback after recently signing for Cairns Brothers. It appears the split has been amicable, contrasting markedly with the tumultuous separation between Burgess's brother, Sam, and his-ex wife, Phoebe English-born Burgess admitted he felt the time was right, as Daily Mail Australia revealed last week. 'I'd been back around South Sydney doing the corporate game day stuff and I was seeing the energy again, and I felt that it might be time to get back around a footy club,' he said after his unveiling in Cairns on last Wednesday. Burgess and his ex-model wife met in 2014 when he was playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. They were engaged two years later and share three children together, Boston, four, Birdie, three, and Blainey, two. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to George and Joanna for comment. Brian Cox has claimed his character was written out of Succession too soon, with the star saying he took it as a form of rejection. The actor, 76, played Logan Roy in HBO drama and Brian insists the decision to kill Logan off in the third episode of the fourth and final series of the show was 'ultimately too early'. While Brian admits Logan's end was done 'in a pretty brilliant way', he added he took it 'wrongly, as a form of rejection'. Speaking on BBC Two's Amol Rajan Interviews, Brian said: 'I was fine with it ultimately, but I did feel a little bit rejected. 'You know, I felt a little bit, oh, all the work I've done and finally I'm going to, you know, end up as an ear on a carpet of a plane.' Protest: Brian Cox, 76, has claimed his character was written out of Succession too soon, with the star saying he took it as a form of rejection The end: The actor played Logan Roy in HBO drama and Brian insists the decision to kill Logan off in the third episode of the fourth and final series of the show was 'ultimately too early' Brian told how he filmed several funeral scenes more than a year and a half ago and was told he was no longer needed to film false scenes of Logan service. Show bosses had planned to film were planning to film false scenes so paparazzi would not suspect it was Logan who had died. Despite being told he would not be required, Brian went 'on [his] own volition' to the location where the funeral was being filmed. And Brian thinks Logan could actually still be alive, with the star telling Amol: 'I still believe this, maybe Logan isn't dead. 'This could be part of an elaborate ruse to find out. Well, if you think about it, from Logan's point of view, he has to find out, how are his children going to behave when he dies, what will then happen? 'And the only way to do that is to fake his death and actually, at some distant point he's observing the chaos that is following.' When asked if he is saying Logan does in fact come back from the dead, Brian respnded: 'No [] I'm just saying that could have been a supposition.' It comes after Succession fans descended into a frenzy after learning Sunday's blockbuster funeral episode featured a surprise cameo. Look who it is! It comes after Succession fans descended into a frenzy after learning Sunday's episode featured a surprise cameo from Brian Cox's real wife as one of Logan Roy's mistresses The penultimate episode of the HBO series saw Logan Roy's family come together to attend his funeral following his death six episodes earlier. Among those in attendance were many of Logan's former mistresses, also sat in a row ready to pay their respects. Fans were quick to notice that one of the mistresses was being played by star Brian Cox's real wife Nicole Ansari-Cox. In the episode, Nicole took on the role of Sally-Ann, who was introduced by Lady Caroline (Harriet Walter). The apt cameo of Brian's real-life spouse as one of his many exes sent fans into a frenzy, with many flooding social media with their reactions. One tweeted: 'OMG so Sally-Anne *is* Brian Cox's real wife!' while another added: 'The fact they snuck Brian Cox' real life wife into #Succession as one of his side pieces is brilliant.' One added: 'I am actually obsessed that they got Nicole Ansari (Brian Cox's wife) to play Sally-Anne.' 'Brian Cox's real life wife playing Sally-Anne had me screaming,' one fan added. Did you spot it? The actor has been married to his wife Nicole Ansari-Cox since 2002 In the penultimate episode of Succession, Season Four Episode Nine saw the stars of the show convene for Logan's funeral. Sunday's much-anticipated series finale will finally bring an answer to the burning question: Who will land Logan's vast fortune? Earlier this year, Brian revealed he and wife Nicole renewed their wedding vows in a surprise Vegas ceremony. Speaking on Live With Kelly and Ryan, the actor revealed: 'We'd actually been apart for a while she'd been traveling and then we sat down and we said, 'Where do we go from here? Do we finish or do we go on? And we thought, ''Well let's go on and get married''.' Across social media, users lauded James Cromwell's magnificent performance as Ewan, and the cold, hard truths he laid out in his eulogy to Logan. 'That speech Ewan gave at Logan's funeral,' one user said. 'Chills. James Cromwell is a master at his craft. The fact that he did that performance while going through long-COVID is extraordinary. Wonderfully written by Jesse Armstrong.' Another used said, 'The Roy sibs aside, let no one neglect the magnificent one-speech performance of James Cromwell as Logans brother killing him a second time in his funeral speech,' adding that 'the writing also was mind-wrecking.' One user said that Ewan's speech was 'one of the BEST scenes in all of Succession,' while another said that Cromwell 'DOMINATED that scene, and it was clear that everyone (especially the kids) got to know more about Logan in death than they ever did in life.' Said one user: 'Logan's brother, Ewan (played by James Cromwell) humanized Logan, telling of the abuse he suffered as a child. But he did not excuse his behavior as an adult. He gave the full measure of the man.' The full interview, Brian Cox: Amol Rajan Interviews, is on BBC Two on Thursday 25th May at 7pm and BBC iPlayer. Succession's final episode will air on HBO on Sunday. It will air on Sky Atlantic in the UK on Monday. 'I can't think of two worst people, I can't,' Ariana said while wiping away tears as she talked about the betrayal by her longtime boyfriend and best friend 'Diabolical, demented, sub-human,' Ariana called Raquel after she admitted to being 'super selfish' Ariana Madix stepped out in a fiery red 'revenge' dress that drew a comparison to Princess Diana on Wednesday during the first part of the Vanderpump Rules reunion on Bravo. The 37-year-old reality star stunned her co-stars as she joined them at a reunion just weeks after splitting from Tom Sandoval, 40, after learning of his months-long affair with Raquel Leviss, 28. Part one of the season 10 reunion opened with host Andy Cohen, 54, for the first time at a reunion holding separate interviews 'with the principals of the scandal to hear their sides of the story.' A title card read, 'For Tom Sandoval, it was one final chance to come clean.' 'Kind of feels like you're the most hated man on television right now,' Andy told Sandoval. Together again: Ariana Madix cried while discussing the Scandoval affair on Wednesday during the first part of the Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion on Bravo 'Yeah, yeah,' Sandoval, 40, admitted. Andy next spoke with Ariana, 37, and asked how she was doing. 'Um, I'm a lot better now than I was, let's say, like, two or three weeks ago,' Ariana said. A title card read: 'For Ariana, it was a moment to share her experience.' Andy told Ariana that she looked great and asked about her current living situation with Sandoval after they bought a house together in the Valley Village area of Los Angeles. 'He's been staying in the guest room, and I avoid run-ins at all costs. We have people running interference and go-betweens to prevent that,' Ariana said. Andy separately asked Raquel, 28, how she was feeling about seeing everyone again. 'I don't know. I'm just preparing for the worst, um, hoping for the best,' Raquel said. Getting emotional: Tom Sandoval fought back tears and Lisa Vanderpump looked sorrowful during the reunion as the reunion delved into the affair Reunion first: Part one of the season 10 reunion opened with host Andy Cohen, 54, for the first time at a reunion holding separate interviews 'with the principals of the scandal to hear their sides of the story' Television villain: 'Kind of feels like you're the most hated man on television right now,' Andy told Sandoval In agreement: 'Yeah, yeah,' Sandoval, 40, admitted Doing better: 'Um, I'm a lot better now than I was, let's say, like, two or three weeks ago,' Ariana said just weeks after learning of the affair Ariana revealed that it took 48 hours for Raquel to text that she was sorry about having affair with her boyfriend of nine years. 'And I said, ''F** off, you f***ing rat'' and I blocked her,' Ariana said. Tom during his solo interview with Andy said he started having feelings for Raquel throughout last year as he got to know her better. 'When did you first hook up?,' Andy asked as he probed into the timeline of the affair. 'So we had that guys' night at the Mondrian. ...That very next See You Next Tuesday. We weren't a part of it, but then a bunch of us went to the Abbey, and it was that night,' Tom said. 'You had sex that night?,' Andy asked. 'Yeah,' Tom said as he lowered his head. Ariana said she had no suspicions that they were having an affair and Andy noted that she vehemently stood up for both Raquel and Sandoval. 'Here's the thing. I feel like as a loyal and committed partner, if he gives me an answer, I give him the benefit of the doubt, and I trust him,' Ariana said. Andy further quizzed Sandoval about the timeline of his affair and asked what he was thinking when he saw his longtime girlfriend and mistress in the audience last October at BravoCon in New York City. Separate interview: Andy separately asked Raquel, 28, how she was feeling about seeing everyone again Sorry text: Ariana revealed that it took 48 hours for Raquel to text that she was sorry about having affair with her boyfriend of nine years Blocked her: 'And I said, ''F** off, you f***ing rat'' and I blocked her,' Ariana said of Raquel Girlfriend and mistress: Andy further quizzed Sandoval about the timeline of his affair and asked what he was thinking when he saw his longtime girlfriend and mistress in the audience last October at BravoCon in New York City 'Did it get you off?,' Andy asked. 'No! My God. No,' Sandoval answered. Ariana told Andy that she was caught more off-guard by Raquel betraying her than Sandoval. Sandoval revealed that he felt like he was Ariana's 'gay BFF' and they had issues in their relationship. Ariana said he was framing their relationship because he was 'desperate'. Andy noted that she seemed to have moved from tears to anger. 'Yeah, but the indifference is becoming very, very strong of a feeling,' Ariana said. The cast including Lisa Vanderpump, 62, gathered together at Avenue Six Studios in New York City for the reunion with Ariana sizzling in a red dress with a peekaboo top and midsection cutout. 'That's a revenge dress if I ever saw one,' said English restaurateur Lisa. 'I know. She's like Princess Diana,' Andy agreed. Strong denial: 'No! My God. No,' Sandoval answered when Andy asked if he got off seeing his girlfriend and mistress in the audience of his show Together again: The reunion started out with Lala Kent, James Kennedy, Katie Maloney, Ariana, Andy, Lisa Vanderpump, Sandoval, Tom Schwartz and Scheana Shay together again at Avenue Six Studios in New York City for the season 10 reunion Speaking up: Lala critcized Sandoval for his behavior as James, Katie, Ariana and host Andy looked on Andy noted at the start of the reunion that they were minus Raquel who was not legally allowed to be in the same room as Scheana Shay, 39, due to a restraining order Raquel filed against Scheana. Raquel was shown by herself monitoring the reunion in a trailer 100 yards away from Scheana to satisfy the terms of her restraining order that was later dropped. Ariana said she had a 'great night sleep' before the reunion while Sandoval admitted to feeling scattered. 'I'm all over the place, to be honest,' said Sandoval, who was seeing the group for the first time since the affair broke. Andy quickly cut to the so-called Scandoval affair that took place under everybody's noses with the exception of Lala Kent, 32. 'Sandoval, before we dive in, is there anything you want to say to Ariana or the group at-large?,' Andy asked. 'Uh, ...I just, uh...want to thank everybody for being,' Sandoval said as his voice stuttered with emotion. 'Pull yourself together, man,' James Kennedy, 31, barked at Sandoval. Minus one: Andy noted at the start of the reunion that they were minus Raquel who was not legally allowed to be in the same room as Scheana Shay, 39, due to a restraining order Raquel filed against Scheana Hundred yards: Raquel was shown by herself monitoring the reunion in a trailer 100 yards away from Scheana to satisfy the terms of her restraining order that was later dismissed 'You're not a victim!,' Lala hollered at Sandoval as he started to address the group for the first time with his voice breaking. 'You're not at the Oscars,' James added. 'I'm not a victim,' Sandoval tearfully said. 'The sad sack act is f***ing bulls***,' Ariana said. 'James! Stop it!,' Lisa yelled as James continued to mock Sandoval. 'Be a man, mate. Be a man. Pull yourself together. F***ing crocodile tears. P****,' said James, who previously was engaged to Raquel. Tom stammered that he appreciated everybody who rallied around Ariana. 'No matter what was going on in our relationship, she didn't deserve it,' Tom said. Not victim: 'You're not a victim!,' Lala hollered at Sandoval as he started to address the group for the first time with his voice breaking 'Nobody deserves to have that happen.' 'Nothing happened,' Ariana quickly interjected. 'You did it.' Sandoval said he was sorry for 'doing the one thing I said I wouldn't do' and doing it in the 'worst way possible.' 'I love you and I apologize,' Sandoval said. 'Nah. That didn't hit for me,' James commented as he turned toward Lala. 'I didn't even listen,' Lala said. Andy then asked Ariana about her recent conversations with Sandoval. 'He is victim blaming 100 percent of the way, so I don't believe anything that just came out of his mouth,' Ariana said. 'And he can f*** off,' she added. Andy then noted that Lala quickly moved out after she split from Randall, 54, in November 2021 after learning that he cheated on her with multiple women. 'Do you think it's healthy for these two to be sharing the home?,' Andy asked referencing Ariana and Sandoval. 'No. Sandoval is Randall. Give it 10 years, he is Randall Emmett,' Lala declared. The ex: 'No. Sandoval is Randall. Give it 10 years, he is Randall Emmett,' Lala declared as she compared Sandoval to her ex, shown in November 2022 in New York City Voice breaking: 'You're not a victim!,' Lala hollered at Sandoval as he started to address the group for the first time with his voice breaking Crocodile tears: 'Be a man, mate. Be a man. Pull yourself together. F***ing crocodile tears. P****,' said James, who previously was engaged to Raquel Victim blaming: 'He is victim blaming 100 percent of the way, so I don't believe anything that just came out of his mouth,' Ariana said 'It's absolutely terrifying. I couldn't get Randall to stay home, and then when s*** hit the fan, I couldn't get him the f*** out of the house,' Lala said. 'There you go,' Ariana said in agreement. 'That is a f***ing narcissist. Everyone needs to be warned about this person. Like, this is a dangerous human being,' Lala continued. Lisa spoke up and chided Lala for saying that Sandoval was a dangerous person. 'I didn't ask for anyone else's opinion,' Lala told her. 'Well, you have my opinion,' Lisa answered back. 'Well, that's great. I reject it. He was sleeping next to her. This was his life partner,' Lala said. Absolutely terrifying: 'It's absolutely terrifying. I couldn't get Randall to stay home, and then when s*** hit the fan, I couldn't get him the f*** out of the house,' Lala said In agreement: 'There you go,' Ariana said in agreement Sandoval tried to protest about Lala judging his character, but she told him, 'Shut the f*** up. Shut the f*** up.' Andy eventually asked the big question to Sandoval: 'Once you started your relationship with Raquel, why not come clean to Ariana?' 'And to your friends? Do you remember who I am, Tom?,' James asked Sandoval. 'Yeah. You're James motherf***ing Kennedy,' Sandoval replied. 'What is that to you?,' James asked. Lisa chimed in that Ariana was more important, but Ariana countered that James and Sandoval were 'like brothers'. 'We were like brothers? I talk to you once a month, dude,' Sandoval said. 'Wow,' James said. Good questions: 'And to your friends? Do you remember who I am, Tom?,' James asked Sandoval Speaking up: Lisa chimed in that Ariana was more important, but Ariana countered that James and Sandoval were 'like brothers' James accused Sandoval of being an 'opportunist' and stood up and confronted him. 'When I was 21 years old!,' James yelled about his age when older Sandoval befriended him. 'Get out of my face!,' Tom yelled. Andy restrained James from going after Sandoval and ordered him to remain in his chair. 'I've stood up for you when...,' Sandoval said. 'F*** you! I don't want you to stick up for me. You're a p****, and I think you're a clown,' James said. Sandoval warned James that if he got in his face again that he would 'f***' him up and James promptly charged at him again. Raquel meanwhile was watching the action in a trailer 100 yards away. Stay seated: Andy restrained James from going after Sandoval and ordered him to remain in his chair Charged again: Sandoval warned James that if he got in his face again that he would 'f***' him up and James promptly charged at him again Remote viewing: Raquel watched the reunion from a trailer 100 yards away Harsh words: James had some harsh words for Sandoval during the reunion Andy got James back in his chair, but he stormed away to cool off. 'You're a worm with a mustache! Ugly f***ng worm!,' James hollered as he walked away. Ariana during the reunion also revealed making $200,000 in merchandise sales after the Scandoval affair broke. She has been capitalizing on the affair since splitting with Sandoval and Andy asked Ariana and her business partner Katie how much they made in merchandise sales for their yet to open sandwich shop Something About Her. 'Well, it's about $200,000,' Katie answered. 'Two-hundred thousand,' Ariana confirmed. Scandoval sales: Ariana Madix revealed making $200,000 in merchandise sales after the Scandoval affair broke Andy's jaw dropped in disbelief and Lisa said it was enough to open their sandwich shop. 'It's really incredible that so many supportive people showed up to, like help us,' Katie said. Scheana looked on proudly and smiled at Ariana and Katie as Katie's ex-husband Schwartz and Sandoval sadly looked on. 'We were always going to do merch in the shop, and we thought that was something we would do, like down the road,' Ariana explained. 'That was smart of you,' Andy noted. 'But then people were saying ''How can we support you?'' And so we launched it early,' Ariana said. Ariana then revealed that she brought some Something About Her merchandise for Andy to replace the hoodie that Raquel gave him three weeks earlier that she wore to BravoCon while engaged in an affair with Sandoval. 'I'd wear that shirt,' said Raquel's former fiance James Kennedy, 32, of the Something About Her brand. 'Yeah. I'd make it fashionable.' Sandwich shop: Reunion host Andy Cohen, 54, asked Ariana and her business partner Katie Maloney, 36, how much they made in merchandise sales for their yet to open sandwich shop Something About Her Confirmed it: 'Two-hundred thousand,' Ariana confirmed about their merch sales figures Jaw dropped: Andy's jaw dropped in disbelief and Lisa Vanderpump, 62, said it was enough to open their sandwich shop Forlorn looks: Ariana's ex Tom Sandoval and Katie's ex Tom Schwartz looked sad as Katie and Ariana revealed their sales figures Proud friend: Scheana Shay smiled and looked proudly at Ariana and Katie as they talked about the support they received Merchandise model: 'I'd wear that shirt,' said Raquel's former fiance James Kennedy, 32, of the Something About Her brand. 'Yeah. I'd make it fashionable' The reunion was filmed in March a few weeks after the Scandoval affair broke and Ariana and Katie said they expected Something About Her to be open by the end of May. Tom and Ariana split in March after she learned of his affair with Raquel while supporting him at a concert by his band Tom Sandoval And The Most Extras. Ariana found a raunchy incriminating selfie video from Raquel on his phone and confronted Raquel who admitted to the secret affair with Sandoval. Raquel at the time was in New York City for a joint appearance on Watch What Happens live with Scheana Shay. Scheana admitted that she exploded in anger at Raquel when she learned about the affair and shoved her. Raquel later filed a restraining order against Scheana that forced them to keep their distance while filming the reunion. The extended cut Vanderpump Rules three-part reunion episodes will be available in Australia to stream only on Hayu, with Part 1 on May 25, Part 2 on June 1 and Part 3 on June 8. Cara Delevingne sizzled as she hit the red carpet at the 74th annual Parsons Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on Wednesday. The model, 30, put on a very busty display as she went braless in a stylish plunging sky blue suit that showed off her cleavage. The elegant yet edgy outfit featured built-in gloves, as well as a large blue and silver button that closed the jacket and cinched in Delevingne's waist. The runway sensation who recently stunned in a clean energy campaign added extra glimmer to the look with sparkling crystal pointed-toe slip on heels. Parsons will honor model Naomi Campbell, French fashion designer Olivier Rousteing, and CEO of Neiman Marcus Geoffroy van Raemdonck at the event. Wow! Cara Delevingne sizzled as she hit the red carpet at the 74th annual Parsons Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on Wednesday Cara wore her short dark blonde tresses slicked down for the occasion. As for glam she matched her suit with blue eyeshadow, and wore nude lipstick on her pout. While on the red carpet she posed with Rousteing, who showed off his classic style in a flowing black suit. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, 73, looked sophisticated as ever in a form-fitting white top and vivid red floral skirt with ruffles. She accessorized the outfit with a layered yellow-stone necklace. The fashionista styled her hair in her signature short bob and wore a pair of black shades. Wintour also mingled with Rousteing, who has been the creative director of Balmain since 2011, while on the red carpet. Jodie Turner-Smith, 36, wowed in a sheer corset-inspired high-neck black top with oversized sleeves. Busty: The model, 30, put on a very busty display as she went braless in a stylish plunging sky blue suit that showed off her cleavage Sparkling: The runway sensation added extra glimmer to the look with sparkling crystal pointed-toe slip on heels Slick look: Cara wore her short dark blonde tresses slicked down for the occasion Matching: As for glam she matched her suit with blue eyeshadow, and wore nude lipstick on her pout Stylish: The elegant yet edgy outfit featured a large blue and silver button that closed the jacket and cinched in Delevingne's waist Honoree: While on the red carpet she posed with French fashion designer Olivier Rousteing, who was among those being honored at the event Suited up: The stylish duo happily posed for the shutterbugs together The actress teamed the outfit with black pants and dramatic silver earrings. Joshua Jackson's wife wore picture-perfect glam to the event, touching up her naturally stunning visage with winged eyeliner and glossy lipstick. Designer Tory Burch, 56, showed off her incredible style in a vivid lime green long-sleeve silk gown. The Pennsylvania-born star accessorized with a black clutch and silver rings. Tory wore her blonde tresses parted on the side and brushed back into a bun. American socialite Olivia Palermo, 37, brought her fashion A-game to the event in a floral pastel pink and silver jacket over a peach toned dress. Olivia added some height to the outfit with strappy pink heels. She further spruced up the look with silver earrings and a clutch. Classy: Rousteing showed off his classic style in a flowing black suit with bell bottom pants Stunning: Jodie Turner-Smith, 36, wowed in a sheer corset-inspired high-neck black top with oversized sleeves Sheer beauty: The actress teamed the outfit with black pants and dramatic silver earrings Picture perfect: Joshua Jackson's wife wore picture-perfect glam to the event, touching up her naturally stunning visage with winged eyeliner and glossy lipatick Vivid: Designer Tory Burch, 56, showed off her incredible style in a vivid lime green long-sleeve silk gown Marvelous: American socialite Olivia Palermo, 37, brought her fashion A-game to the event in a floral pastel pink and silver jacket over a peach toned dress Chic: DJ Leigh Lezark put on a leggy display in a short black asymmetrical blazer dress. She paired the looked with open-toe chunky heels Sophisticated: Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, 73, looked sophisticated as ever in a form-fitting white top and vivid red floral skirt with ruffles Mingling: Wintour also mingled with the creative director of Balmain on the red carpet Elegant: Designer Donna Karan, 74, was elegant as every in a halter neck black gown and a feather jacket Gentlemen's style: Dapper Dan, 78, stood out in a unique iridescent three-piece suit, while Busta Rhymes, 51, looked stylish in a sparkling red blazer and black jeans Dapper duo: Marc Jacobs, 60, opted for a classy white blazer over a black turtleneck and pants while his partner Charly Defrancesco, 42, sported a black blazer with a shimmering pink skirt DJ Leigh Lezark put on a leggy display in a short black asymmetrical blazer dress. She paired the looked with open-toe chunky heels. Designer Donna Karan, 74, was elegant as every in a halter neck black gown and a feather jacket. She wore her tresses slicked back into a ponytail for the night. Designer Dapper Dan, 78, stood out in a unique iridescent three-piece suit worn over a mint shirt. He paired the look with matching mint loafers and oversized sunglasses. Busta Rhymes, 51, looked stylish in a sparkling red blazer and black jeans. On arrival: Jodie was pictured making her way to the event earlier in the night Gorgeous: The beauty flashed her megawatt Hollywood smile as she arrived on the red carpet Marc Jacobs, 60, opted for a classy white blazer over a black turtleneck and pants while his partner Charly Defrancesco, 42, sported a black blazer with a shimmering pink skirt. He paired the outfit with olive and white sneakers with fashionably mis-matched shoe laced and high black socks. The event will celebrate the honorees contributions to 'design, retail, fashion, philanthropy and social justice.' The fashion benefit will also raise scholarship funds for students. Married At First Sight star Tayla Winter has made damning allegations about what really goes on behind the scenes of the controversial dating show. The TV bride went rogue during an interview with Channel Seven's Sunrise, claiming she was given an 'unethical edit' and this year's participants were 'pressured' by producers to say things which made them uncomfortable. She even went so far as to claim that one day someone will 'end their life' after appearing on the show. 'The way it's done is unethical,' she told Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch on Thursday. 'I think that going into the show, I had no idea how controlled it would be. There is a lot of manipulation and it's pretty scary.' 'Production was pretending to be your best friend the entire time, and you build a trust with what you think is a really strong relationship with them,' she added. Winter claimed several participants from this season have been dealing with relentless online trolling over their villain edits. 'I think it's really dangerous... I know that some of my cast mates are really struggling. I've been struggling,' she said. She then went on to urge future cast members to reconsider signing up for the experiment. Married At First Sight star Tayla Winter made damning allegations about what really goes on behind the scenes of the controversial dating show during an interview on Sunrise on Thursday The TV bride, who appeared on the 2023 season, went rogue as she chatted with Channel Seven's Sunrise to share her experience as well as the bad 'edit' she was given 'I hope that people just understand what it's really like. And that's why I'm trying to spread a bit of awareness about it because it is dangerous,' she said. The 27-year-old then concluded the interview with an astounding allegation. 'I truly believe someone will end their life over over this show one day,' Tayla said. A shocked Barr replied: 'Wow. That's a serious claim.' It comes after Tayla recently told The Daily Telegraph she didn't recognise herself on the show due to the way she was edited. Tayla recently said that she didn't recognise herself on the show due to the way she was edited 'You prepare yourself for an unfavourable edit, however you still think you're somewhat in control of how you're portrayed,' she said. 'When context is removed, your audio is cut and pasted to create conversations,' Tayla told the publication. She also claimed she was not allowed to leave Sydney's Sky Suites during portions of the filming schedule, and that producers asked her 'make certain facial expressions' that were then edited out of context. Tayla also alleged that contestants were not protected from online bullying and harassment and was left 'gagged' as the network took control of the contestants' social media accounts. Tayla also claims she was not allowed to leave Sydney's Sky Suites during portions of the filming schedule. 'For the first three days in Sky Suites, I was told I wasn't allowed to leave the apartment. I felt like I was going crazy,' she said. Pictured with 'husband' Hugo on the show A Nine spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph that psychological support was on offer for all contestants. 'Nine also have an additional service for participants should they like or need further individual and confidential psychological support,' they said. In April, Tayla allowed cameras into her Sydney hotel to film her at her most vulnerable just hours ahead of the series finale. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, she opened up about her heartbreaking experience on the show, being isolated by her co-stars and the truth about the sexting scandal with Cam Woods. Sitting on her hotel bed makeup free, Tayla broke down as she revealed her anguish. 'I'm icing my face because I'm so swollen from crying all night,' she said through tears. 'This show, this experiment... I can't do it. It's cruel. My mind just doesn't feel like it's okay after it. 'I'm not an emotional person. I don't break down. What they've done is unreal. I don't how they can...' Visibly distressed and fighting off a panic attack, Tayla confided, 'I just don't know what the storyline is that they're going for... and if everyone is gonna come for me about this stupid thing [alleged scandal with Cam].' In April, Tayla went rogue and allowed cameras into her Sydney hotel to film her at her most vulnerable just hours ahead of the series finale Sitting on her hotel bed makeup free, Tayla broke down as she revealed her anguish. 'This show, this experiment... I can't do it. It's cruel. My mind just doesn't feel like it's okay,' she said She emphasised her strong moral compass and honesty throughout the show, even when it led to backlash. The star revealed some participants would act differently on and off-camera, which left her feeling confused and betrayed. Tayla said the hardest struggle on MAFS was the manipulation and twisting of her words, leaving her feeling unable to trust anyone. 'That constant feeling of not knowing if I can trust anyone or say anything because it's going to get manipulated. And that's what happened to me a lot,' she explained. 'It was like completely taken out of context or like rumours would start from absolutely nothing. And it was hard because I just felt like I couldn't even project what I wanted to say half the time.' Jimmy Kimmel on Friday is hosting a comedy show to support ALS research, as his godson Joey Porrello is currently battling the disease. 'Join me & my pals Friday night in Vegas to support my godson Joey & everyone battling ALS,' the ABC late night host, 55, said in an Instagram post. The Brooklyn-born star, who hosted the Oscars earlier this year, tagged his comedic collaborators in the show, including his ex Sarah Silverman, Jeffrey Ross, Patton Oswalt, Nick Kroll and Mark Rober, as well as his Sin Coty-based venue, Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club. Porrello, 29, earlier this month spoke with Las Vegas outlet KTNV about living with Lou Gehrig's disease, a year after he was diagnosed with the ailment. 'My life is perfect in every way,' Porrello told the station. 'I feel tremendously fortunate.' The latest: Jimmy Kimmel, 55, on Friday is hosting a comedy show to support ALS research, as his godson Joey Porrello, 29, is currently battling the disease The upbeat godson of the talk show host said that his biggest obstacles in living with ALS is the way it's hampered his capacity to communicate. 'Losing my voice, my ability to interact with other people and to be able express my personality,' Porrello, who is father to children Ottilie, three, and Wally, 10 months, told the station. Alli told the outlet that she and her husband picked up on the potential problems when he started having issues with his wrist and mobility. 'He fell even, one time, and I think that is when I was like, this is really serious - because it's not just your hand, it's your whole body that's not communicating,' she told the outlet. The Porrellos credited Kimmel for assisting them in locating a doctor and getting them in touch with Project ALS, the organization focused on seeking treatments and a cure for the condition. Kimmel is linked to Joey through his longtime friendship with his Joey's father Tommy. The late night stalwart will host the event from his Sin City comedy club on Friday Kimmel was pictured hosting the Academy Awards this past March in LA Kimmel is linked to Joey through his longtime friendship with his Joey's father Tommy The late night star called Joey 'the kid you want to have,' calling him friendly and funny 'We have been really good friends since we were kids,' Kimmel said. The late night star called Joey 'the kid you want to have,' calling him friendly and funny. 'You can't imagine that something like this would happen to anybody, but someone who is so alive - and we need to do something about it,' Kimmel told the station. The benefit will commence Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club on the Las Vegas Strip. Australian radio and TV star Michelle Stephenson has revealed why she won't travel to holiday hotspot Bali. The media personality told 9Honey Travel, she refuses to holiday on the Indonesian island because too many Australian tourists travel there every year. 'I mean, Australians go over there and trash these countries,' she said. 'They're not very good at paying attention to cultural norms or being respectful of people who live there.' It comes after Australian model Olivia Molly Rogers revealed the one thing she will never do on the island. Aussie TV star Michelle Stephenson has revealed the reason why she refuses to travel to holiday hotspot Bali The 31-year-old is preparing to spend one month in Bali with her friends, family and boyfriend Morgan Waterhouse. She told news.com.au, she has learned how to avoid 'Bali belly' after travelling to the holiday hotspot seven times. 'Avoid ice in your drinks because a lot of the time it's the water from the ice that can then get you sick,' she said. The media personality told 9Honey Travel, she refuses to holiday on the Indonesian island because too many Australian tourists travel there every year 'If you're not just eating at expensive places you've got to be a bit more careful. Generally the more expensive places are pretty safe.' Olivia also said she avoids salads because lettuce may be washed with contaminated water and cooks her greens. She also said it's important to brush your teeth with bottled water and don't rinse your toothbrush under the tap. Interview: China plays unique role in global healthcare, says senior official of Int'l Red Cross Committee 16:13, May 25, 2023 By Wang Qibing, Chen Junxia ( Xinhua GENEVA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Micaela Serafini, the head of the Health Unit of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), praised the remarkable contributions by Chinese medical teams to global healthcare over the past six decades. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Serafini lauded the unique role played by Chinese medical teams in areas most in need of medical services, adding that as a humanitarian organization, the ICRC has seen them working in conflict zones, providing medical and health assistance to the people there. "We are very pleased to find ourselves not alone in these places and to know that the Chinese medical teams can carry out the work that neither governments, health authorities, nor humanitarian organizations can cope with on their own," said Serafini. Over the past six decades, China has sent medical teams consisting of 30,000 members to 76 countries and regions across five continents, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people. Chinese medical teams are currently working at 115 sites in 56 countries around the world, of which nearly half are in remote areas with harsh conditions. Serafini said that people need to recognize that China is an influential global health actor which has promoted universal health around the world. The "Chinese hospital," a hospital initiated by China in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar city, for example, has been delivering the ICRC's assistance to people in the city, according to Serafini. Built with support from the Chinese government in the 1970s, the hospital is the only large-scale hospital in the province of Kandahar, enjoying a great reputation as one of the most advanced medical institutions in southern Afghanistan. "So there is a nice collaboration between us through a Chinese initiative of building a hospital," she said, adding that the ICRC and China medical aid teams do complement each other in some African countries and benefit these communities. She said that Chinese medical teams have been increasingly deployed worldwide, not only assessing but also examining the public health impact of their assistance. She also noted that China's medical aid teams have gained extensive experience in security and safety management in conflict and violence-prone areas through their collaboration with the ICRC. "We hope that this shared expertise would lead to more synergies and common ground between us," she added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Security forces recently seized shipments of weapons and explosives found hidden in containers containing largely legal cargo. One such shipment was seized at the port of Mogadishu and the other at the air freight section of the international terminal. Both shipments were meant for the al Shabaab Islamic terrorist group. An investigation led to the arrest of ten men who were operating the smuggling operation. Somalia is still under an international arms embargo. That was partially lifted in 2013 to allow the government to legally buy and import small arms for the police and army but no heavy weapons or military-grade explosives. Arms smugglers have long done business in Somalia, which was one reason these two shipments were detected and the smugglers arrested. Neighboring Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda also suffer from al Shabaab violence and work with Somalia to detect and disrupt arms smuggling. The smugglers still bring goods in via Somalias 3,000 kilometer coastline. That has become more difficult to do without being detected. Widespread cell phone use in Somalia initially made it more difficult for al Shabaab to operate because people who opposed them could alert the security forces, or local militia, when al Shabaab or arms smuggling activity was spotted. Shutting down the cell phone systems was a common tactic for Islamic terrorists but al Shabaab saw opportunities. Cell towers and other cell phone assets were only attacked if the cell phone companies would not pay a tax to operate in an area where al Shabaab was active and able to make good on threats. With control of the cell phone service providers, al Shabaab was able to communicate, especially with their informants. Al Shabaab paid for useful information and becoming an al Shabaab informant was a good way to make some extra cash, as well as stay off the al Shabaab hit list. Al Shabaab isnt the only group in Somalia that uses cell phones like this. Powerful clans maintain armed militias and an informant network among clan members. This is why the media regularly report the government or peacekeepers consulting clan elders, negotiating with al Shabaab (or another clan). Often al Shabaab will have to deal with the clan elders because al Shabaab has found that making an enemy of a powerful clan is bad for business. An example occurs in the south, on the Kenyan border, where al Shabaab has found its operations disrupted because of disputes with the powerful Marehan clan. Most situations where al Shabaab have problems doing business is because they have run afoul of a powerful (and usually heavily armed) clan. Al Shabaab tries to intimidate clans into cooperating but failing that al Shabaab must either fight, make a deal or move somewhere else. Somalia is a patchwork of areas which al Shabaab tries to avoid because of these powerful clan organizations. These clans are usually the ones with clan elders who can negotiate with al Shabaab. Government security forces have also been more successful in coming to the aid of clans threatened by al Shabaab. The government feels it has achieved enough political stability and security to enable Persian Gulf nations Qatar and the UAE to establish trading and shipping facilities in Somalia. Qatar and the UAE have often been rivals when it comes to establishing trading operations in Somalia. Turkey has also been involved, but to a lesser extent because Turkey is far away while Qatar and the UAE are regional neighbors. The continuous violence in Somalia since the 1990s has kept trading relationships out of reach. May 23, 2023: In the north (Las Anod, on the border between Somaliland and Puntland) foreign aid groups continue treating victims of the factional fighting that has been going on since February. About 200,000 civilians have fled their homes to avoid the gun battles between various factions. While many foreign aid groups reduced their operations in the area, few shut down completely. Most of the foreign personnel were withdrawn because kidnapping foreigners for ransom is more common in an area subject to lots of fighting. Some foreign aid groups had enough trained local workers to keep operations going. Medical aid was limited because all hospitals depend on foreign specialists for surgery and other complex treatments. That means those needing surgery or other complex care must be transferred to Mogadishu. That is something the foreign aid personnel in Las Anod can arrange. Months of fighting in the area between rival clan militias has left over a thousand dead so far and many more wounded. The local hospital has been damaged and some aid has not arrived because of the fighting. In Somalia, aid groups often have to shut down operations and withdraw because local groups refuse to halt their battles that disrupt the aid efforts. This self-destructive behavior is one reason that Somalia continues to be a mess. May 21, 2023: Kenya is building 14 small military bases along its border with Somalia. This will reduce cross border attacks by al Shabaab and reduce police losses while responding to reports of al Shabaab men crossing the border. May 20, 2023: In the southwest (385 kilometers from Mogadishu) an American missile-armed UAV carried out an airstrike against al Shabaab forces occupying the town of Jilib. The town was under attack by Somali soldiers. The Islamic terrorists were defeated and al Shabaab lost control of a town they had occupied for years. American UAV attacks are usually reserved for Islamic terrorist leaders or key technical personnel. These was one such individual in Jilib; Osman Mohamed Abdi. He was wounded. Abdi is responsible for making arrangements so foreign Islamic terrorists can get into Somalia and join al Shabaab. May 18, 2023: The annual Monsoon rains were heavier than usual and caused extensive and damaging floods in many parts of the country. Over 200,000 Somalis were driven from their homes. While the monsoon rains occur annually, drought conditions are a more persistent problem in many parts of the country. May 17, 2023: The government expelled two EU (European Union) aid officials for taking photos of a Somali prison. This is a problem because Somalia treats its prison inmates more harshly than is the case back in Europe. None of the 36 prisoners involved were Somali and most were Iranian. All had been caught fishing illegally in Somali waters and were imprisoned until the nations they were from could agree on suitable restitution. May 2, 2023: Somali troops carried out an operation north of Mogadishu that left 67 al Shabaab gunmen dead and the destruction of large quantities of explosives just landed from a boat and being loaded into a truck. The Somali troops fired RPG rockets at the explosives, which killed all but two of the al Shabaab men present. The army was alerted to the al Shabaab presence by a local militia that often fought al Shabaab. Operations like this are becoming more common and the heavy al Shabaab losses are leading many to believe the Islamic terrorist group will be largely wiped out within a year. Al Shabaab is not getting any reinforcements and is losing a lot of its income sources from smuggling and extortion. This trend is having positive results with the Kenyan government where three border crossings in Garissa, Mandera and Lamu counties are being reopened. These crossings were closed in 2011 because of the increased al Shabaab activity along the border. May 1, 2023: Northeast of the capital soldiers ambushed two trucks carrying al Shabaab gunmen and killed sixty of the Islamic terrorists. April 25, 2023: The army and peacekeepers launched an offensive against al Shabaab presence in areas south of Mogadishu. This is a continuation of an earlier five month operation that ended in January 2023 that cleared al Shabaab from over 70 towns and villages north of the capital. April 23, 2023: The AU (African Union) has agreed to again delay the withdrawal of the AU peacekeeper force for another year. The peacekeepers have played a crucial role in defeating al Shabaab and reducing areas where the Islamic terrorists could freely operate. This enabled Somalia to create its own army and police forces. Peacekeeper duty in Somalia was much more dangerous than anywhere else. During the 16 years the peacekeepers have been active, at least 3,500 have been killed. The EU (European Union) and United States pays for the peacekeeping force and has paid out nearly $200 million for death benefits and payments for medical care of those with disabling injuries. Thats in addition to the $200 million a year cost of operating the peacekeeper force. That is provided by the UN via contributions by the U.S. and EU (European Union). The UN approves the size and duration of the peacekeeper force annually. The peacekeepers have been in Somalia since 2007 at a cost of over three billion dollars. So far about 3,500 peacekeepers have been killed and at least as many permanently disabled from their wounds. The AU pays for medical care, including long term care for some of the wounded. For years the AU played down the high casualty rates in Somalia, reporting less than a third of the actual deaths. The growing number of corruption scandals involving missing death benefits and other compensation led to the actual loss statistics being revealed. There are sometimes problems with soldiers not being paid during peacetime in their home countries. Too much of this sometimes sparks a rebellion or insurrection over missing pay and other grievances. Despite this there was never a problem obtaining peacekeepers for duty in Somalia, paid for by the AU and a long list of African and Western donors. Somalia is the most dangerous peacekeeping duty in the world. About 300,000 men served as peacekeepers in Somalia, receiving an average annual compensation of $9,100 each. Officers, NCOs and privates all receive different amounts and peacekeeping duty pays better than their regular pay when back home. In most countries, peacekeeping duty is relatively safe. This was not the case in Somalia, where about three percent of peacekeepers were killed or badly (disabled) wounded. The first AU peacekeepers (from Uganda) arrived in March 2007 and these 8,000 troops were supposed to be gone within six months. That force did not disappear by the end of 2007 but kept growing and quickly reached 22,000, most of them soldiers plus a few thousand police, trainers and administrators. Uganda and Burundi supplied most of them with most of the rest coming from Kenya and Ethiopia. The peacekeeper force made a difference, but in the face of massive corruption in the Somali government and various Somali communities that demanded help, the operation proved far more expensive and time-consuming than expected. Peacekeepers are due to leave because the best they can do is reduce the violence and disunity, while UN donors are not willing to waste money on that when there are other disaster zones that can make better use of the limited foreign aid. Because of this the UN extends the Somali peacekeeping force on a yearly basis. Currently there are about 20,000 peacekeepers in Somalia and they remain there because the UN believes Somalia would quickly regress back to a disaster zone without them. That one reason by most of the current peacekeeper force are troops from Uganda, Ethiopia and Burundi. Victoria Silvstedt put on a very busty display in an eye catching orange gown as she attended the Aston Martin DB12 launch party at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes on Wednesday. The Swedish model, 48, commanded attention in the bold dress which boasted a pleated skirt and cinched her waist in with a gold belt. She displayed her toned legs through a daring thigh high split in the number and added inches to her frame in a pair of towering gold heels. Victoria accessorised with a chunky gold bracelet and applied a glamorous palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty. The socialite completed her ensemble by styling her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves as they cascaded down past her shoulders. Incredible: Victoria Silvstedt put on a very busty display in an eye catching orange gown as she attended the Aston Martin party at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes on Wednesday Posing up a storm: The Swedish model, 48, commanded attention in the bold dress which boasted a pleated skirt and cinched her waist in with a gold belt It comes after Victoria showed off her incredible figure as she soaked up the sun at the Eden Roc hotel in France on Wednesday amid Cannes Film Festival. She put her enviable physique on full display in a black two piece with a plunging top as she relaxed by the pool at the hotel in Antibes. Her relaxing break comes after she made a glamorous appearance at the premiere for Johnny Depp's new French film Jeanne du Barry at Cannes Film Festival. She swept her golden locks back into a loose up-do and let strands fall loosely to frame her stunning features. The TV personality shielded her eyes with round sunglasses and dried herself off with a white towel after cooling off with a dip in the pool. She wrapped the towel around her waist as she strolled from the pool back to the lavish Eden Roc Hotel, which is a celebrity hotspot. She made a red carpet appearance during the first premiere of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, Jeanne du Barry, last week. She cut an elegant figure in a yellow ruffled gown with a dramatic tulle skirt as she stormed the red carpet. Victoria accessorised her statement ensemble with a glitzy silver necklace and kept her essentials in a small handbag. Leggy display: She displayed her toned legs through a daring thigh high split in the number and added inches to her frame in a pair of towering gold heels Elegant: Her appearance comes after she stepped out looking glamorous at the premiere for Johnny Depp's new French film Jeanne du Barry at Cannes Film Festival last week She styled her golden tresses in voluminous waves across her shoulders and added to her stunning features with a high-glamour make-up palette. The actress joined the star-studded line-up at the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, which is a Louis XV period drama starring actor Johnny. The film marks Johnny's return to cinema for the first time following his highly publicised libel trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Victoria's relaxing break in France comes after she opened up about her favourite destinations to travel to, including Miami. Speaking to Relentless Magazine last year, she said: 'I also have an apartment in New York and in Miami so the winter I spend lots of time in the US or in St Bart's, my favorite island in the world. 'Summertime, I also visit family in Sweden,' she stated. She also discussed her career and what she has planned for the future, adding: 'I never imagined I would have this journey. I'm writing a biography now and it's fun to go through my life and career. Lady Victoria Hervey cut a typically trendy figure as she attended the launch of the new Aston Martin DB12 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes on Wednesday. The socialite, 46, showcased her lithe physique at the event where she donned a figure-hugging sheer jumpsuit. The sleeveless garment featured a silver bejewelled embellishment and a sequinned detail along the collar. The outfit also featured a tassel detail along the hem while Victoria added height to her frame with a pair of open-toed heels. The media personality added to her outfit with a silver clutch bag and styled her blonde locks into loose curls. Looking good: Lady Victoria Hervey cut a typically trendy figure as she attended the launch of the new Aston Martin DB12 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes on Wednesday Posing up a storm on the black carpet, Victoria added to her look with a pair of eye-catching silver earrings. The TV star accentuated her natural beauty with a light palette of makeup. Victoria has been attending a host of events in France this week as an attendee at the Cannes Film Festival. Lady Victoria's outing comes after she attended the premiere of Killers Of The Flower Moon on Saturday night, which received a nine minute standing ovation. The film is an American epic Western crime drama film directed by Scorsese, with Leonardo Di Caprio serving as an executive producer. The upcoming movie, which is based on the best-selling 2017 non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, revolves around a series of Oklahoma murders in the 1920s, committed after oil was discovered on tribal land. The official synopsis reads: 'At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. 'The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. Style: The sleeveless garment featured a silver bejewelled embellishment and a sequinned detail along the collar Ensemble: The outfit also featured a tassel detail along the hem while Victoria added height to her frame with a pair of open-toed heels 'Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone) Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal.' Leonardo is joined by an all-star cast, which includes Oscar winner Brendan Fraser, 54, John Lithgow, 77, and Jesse Plemons, 35. Actress Lily Gladstone, 36, plays his on-screen love interest Mollie Kyle. The film, which has a reported budget of $200 million, will have an unspecified streaming release on AppleTV+. Holly Willoughby's This Morning co-star Camilla Tominey has spoken out about the presenter's return to the show following Phillip Schofield's departure. Broadcaster Holly, 42, is currently taking some time out from the daytime television programme after Phillip, 61, made his exit last week amid rumours of a feud between the pair. When Holly returns, she will host This Morning alongside other members of the ITV family while Phil will move on to other primetime projects. And Camilla, 44, who regularly appears as the programme's resident royal expert, has said Holly would be back on Monday 5 June, according to the Mirror. It comes after it was announced Holly would not be returning to the This Morning sofa this week after Phillip left the show. Details: Holly Willoughby's This Morning co-star Camilla Tominey has spoken out about the presenter's return to the show following Phillip Schofield's departure (Holly pictured in March) All change: Holly, 42, is currently taking some time out from the daytime television programme after Phillip, 61, made his exit last week amid rumours of a feud between the pair The duo's reign as the star couple of the ITV programme came to an end on Saturday as Phil quit with immediate effect. The TV presenter bowed out of the programme following reports of a feud with his co-host Holly, with Thursday 18 May being his last ever show. It was announced Holly would take a break - although her time off has been planned in advance. The duo were both originally meant to have the week off due to half-term, so Holly could spend time with her children. The scheduled break was a normal one for the former best friends - and didn't have anything to do with their recent 'feud'. Phillip Schofield missed some crucial words on his final sign-off from This Morning on Thursday - suggesting the veteran presenter already knew it would be his last goodbye after his sensational exit from the show earlier today. While Holly gave viewers the usual cheery 'See you Monday!', Phil on the other hand looked resilient as he simply said: 'Bye!' He acknowledged today that This Morning has 'become the story' following 10 days of intense media scrutiny amid reports of a fall-out between the show's two presenters. Comeback: Camilla, 44 (right), who regularly appears as the programme's resident royal expert, has said Holly would be back on Monday 5 June (L-R: Phillip Schofield, Holly, Gyles Brandreth and Camilla pictured this month) In a statement released on Saturday, Phillip said: 'I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story. 'Throughout my career in TV including the very difficult last few days I have always done my best to be honourable and kind. 'I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can't go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love. 'So I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future. 'I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me especially This Morning's amazing viewers and I'll see you all for the Soap Awards next month.' Following his announcement, Holly said: 'It's been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The sofa won't feel the same without him.' It comes as This Morning presenter Craig Doyle was praised by fans after he stood in for Dermot O'Leary on Wednesday's episode of the show. The star, 52, took over from Dermot while he celebrated his 50th birthday, helming the show with Alison Hammond. He will also co-host Thursday's episode. Regular Friday hosts Alison and Dermot were drafted in after Phillip's shock exit from the programme, having revealed over the weekend he was quitting after 21 years on the iconic sofa. While Phillip's official replacement has yet to be announced viewers have called on Craig to step into the role permanently. The Irish presenter is best known as a presenter for BT Sport where he covers the Rugby Union and MotoGP. He made his debut on This Morning last year while stepping in for Dermot alongside Josie Gibson. On Wednesday's show things got off to an awkward start when he failed to realise that the show had returned from an advert break, confessing to viewers: 'I forgot we were on telly! We were all just chatting and then the music started!' New host? It comes after This Morning presenter Craig Doyle was praised by fans after he stood in for Dermot O'Leary on Wednesday's episode of the show Despite the blunder, fans were quick to praise Craig, tweeting: 'Craig and Alison are a great combo! Love his energy and natural charisma.'; 'Loving Craig Doyle's relaxed and dry sense of humour on @ThisMorning he also asks the guests sensible questions, he's so chilled out, even Alison's calmed down a bit. Surely he has to be considered for the permanent role (with Josie) #thismorning'; 'Craig Doyle would be an excellent replacement, he has years of experience of presenting #ThisMorning'; 'Nobody, absolutely nobody, is a better tv partner for Holly than Craig Doyle. If you can't see it, there's something wrong with you #thismorning #HollyWilloughby.' While viewers praised his 'natural' demeanour, body language expert Darren Stanton revealed that Craig was 'nervous', leaving Alison to act as the 'leader.' Advertisement Lala Kent, Scheana Shay and Lisa Vanderpump brought the glamour while attending a Vanderpump Rules event at The Aster in Los Angeles, California on Monday evening. As the reality stars convened for a panel with their costars to discuss the tenth season of their hit Bravo series, which airs its reunion on May 24, they were dressed to impress at the exclusive social club, located in the Heart of Hollywood. For the occasion, Kent, 32, wowed in a plunging green blazer, which flashed a hint of her black bra, and matching trousers. The mother-of-one, who recently moved to Palm Springs, completed her business chic ensemble with a pair of large statement earrings and bright blonde tresses in a half-up, half-down hairstyle. Her makeup look consisted of a rosy eyeshadow, nude matte lipstick and bronzer for a sun-kissed glow. Looking good! Lala Kent, Scheana Shay and Lisa Vanderpump brought the glamour while attending a Vanderpump Rules event at The Aster in Los Angeles, California on Monday evening Cool girl: For the occasion, Kent, 32, wowed in a plunging green blazer, which flashed a hint of her black bra, and matching trousers Glamorous: Shay showed off her toned midriff in a cropped blazer and feather-trimmed pants Meanwhile, Shay bared her taut midriff in a cropped black jacket, coordinating pants, large silver hoop earrings and wavy brunette locks in a romantic updo. She attended with her husband, Brock Davies, who also sported an all-black outfit. Vanderpump, who serves as an executive producer on Vanderpump Rules and regularly appears on the show, wore a black blazer with gold embroidery and hot pink lining. While strutting down the beige carpet, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 62, posed for a snap with Vanderpump Rules executive producer Alex Baskin. The cast was campaigning for Emmy consideration at an FYC event. While speaking to Variety about the explosive season, which captured Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' affair, Vanderpump admitted that the 'producer part' of herself 'loves some of the drama.' 'I would be lying if I didn't say that you love the fact that the story keeps going. But you also have to understand I'm so emotionally invested in these young people,' she confessed. Baskin all said that despite the high ratings, they were aware of the 'human cost' to the pain Ariana Madix suffered finding out about her then-boyfriend's cheating. Fierce: Meanwhile, Shay bared her taut midriff in a cropped black jacket, coordinating pants, large silver hoop earrings and wavy brunette locks in a romantic updo Stunning: While strutting down the beige carpet, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 62, posed for a snap with Vanderpump Rules executive producer Alex Baskin Beaming: Vanderpump posed with a snap with Vanderpump Rules executive producer Alex Baskin Polished up: Vanderpump accessorized her black turtleneck with a layered pink beaded necklace and blush nail polish Spilling the tea: Vanderpump looked happy to answer questions during the panel As for whether she thought the rating could 'help secure' an Emmy nomination, Vanderpump said, 'I don't like to think of it like that at all because it's still still a very painful experience. But it's been an extraordinary series over the years, it has had many highs and so many lows, but we've stuck with it.' Last week, news broke that Sandoval and Leviss have split, just two months after their affair was exposed. Leviss, 28, and Sandoval, 39, caused ructions among the reality show cast when their infidelity was revealed, breaking the heart of the hunk's girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix. But now Leviss has 'dipped out' of the romance - dubbed the Scandoval affair -after deciding she has no future with Sandoval. An insider told Page Six: 'Raquel dipped out. Sandoval is not the one for her.' DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for the pair for comment. Although the affair was only unveiled in March, both Sandoval and Leviss have revealed their romance actually started last summer. In a new clip from Wednesday's episode of the hit show obtained by People on Monday, Tom's wronged ex Madix reveals to a shocked Scheana Shay and Katie Maloney that her ex first had sex with her former friend Leviss, in Raquel's car. Posing away American television host, S. E. Cupp, Vanderpump, and Baskin took a group photo together For your consideration: The cast was campaigning for Emmy consideration at an FYC event High ratings: While speaking to Variety about the explosive season, which captured Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' affair, Vanderpump admitted that the 'producer part' of herself 'loves some of the drama' 'I would be lying if I didn't say that you love the fact that the story keeps going. But you also have to understand I'm so emotionally invested in these young people,' she confessed Baskin all said that despite the high ratings, they were aware of the 'human cost' to the pain Ariana Madix suffered finding out about her then-boyfriend's cheating As for whether she thought the rating could 'help secure' an Emmy nomination, Vanderpump said, 'I don't like to think of it like that at all because it's still still a very painful experience. But it's been an extraordinary series over the years, it has had many highs and so many lows, but we've stuck with it' That moment came at the worst possible time, as the tryst happened while Ariana, was grieving the death of her dog Charlotte. In the clip, a dewy-eyed Ariana was surrounded by her friends, including Scheana and Katie sitting around her on the floor, as she explained how she first learned about Tom and Raquel's six-month-long affair. 'I went with Tom to Tom Tom because he had that party thing. I found a screen recording of them on FaceTime,' Ariana said of her ex Tom and Raquel. 'It was literally from the night before. He was at [Tom] Schwartz's.' Katie, who is Schwartz's ex-wife, was shocked to hear her former partner was somehow mixed up in the affair 'He was at Schwartz's doing this? What?' she replied incredulously. 'That's when I called Raquel and I started like, making her like, f***ing tell me what the f***? When did this start?" Ariana continued. 'She said, "Right after the girls trip." I'm like, "You mean right after Charlotte died?"' The clip then featured black-and-white filtered flashback footage from an earlier episode in which a teary Ariana tells Lala Kent that she needs to leave early because her beloved dog 'is not going to come back this time.' Ariana continued, saying that Raquel initially told her that she and Tom Sandoval had merely kissed. It's over: Last week, news broke that Sandoval and Leviss have split, just two months after their affair was exposed Partying the night away: Shay smiled as she danced at the social club Having fun: Kent put on a stylish display in her chic green suit Ariana Madix vented her anger after her ex Tom Sandoval denied going on a double date with his mistress Raquel Leviss on Wednesday's episode of the Vanderpump Rules reunion on Bravo. The 37-year-old reality star confronted Sandoval, 40, after he said a trip to Big Bear with Raquel, 28, and Tom Schwartz, 40, and his 'friends with benefits' Jo Wenberg was not a 'double date'. Schwartz also denied it, but Lala Kent, 32, challenged both of them. 'Yes, you did. You went to Big Bear,' Lala said. 'The four of you went to Big Bear together,' added Schwartz's ex-wife Katie Maloney, 36, as photos of their trip to the winter resort area were shown with Raquel and Jo. Date denial: Ariana Madix vented her anger after her ex Tom Sandoval denied going on a double date with his mistress Raquel Leviss on Wednesday's episode of the Vanderpump Rules reunion on Bravo 'Listen, it was not a double date,' Schwartz said as he asked Sandoval to back him up. 'What was it, a f*** fest?,' Ariana asked them. Schwartz again urged Sandoval to explain the situation and then Schwartz explained himself that he was going snowboarding with Sandoval in January. Ariana asked why she wasn't invited and Raquel's former fiance James Kennedy, 32, pointed out that Raquel hates snowboarding. Raquel, meanwhile, was watching it all go down with wide eyes in a trailer 100 yards away due to her restraining order against Scheana Shay, 39. 'She came to f***ing f*** Tom, dude,' James said. Lala agreed that she only went to 'suck' Sandoval. Ariana and James booed Sandoval and Schwartz and Lala and Katie shamed them. January trip: The 37-year-old reality star confronted Sandoval, 40, after he said a trip to Big Bear with Raquel, 28, and Tom Schwartz, 40, and his 'friends with benefits' Jo Wenberg was not a 'double date' Pictures taken: Sandoval and Schwartz denied it was a 'double date' as photos showed Raquel and Jo with them in Big Bear Trailer viewing: Raquel, meanwhile, was watching it all go down with wide eyes in a trailer 100 yards away due to her restraining order against Scheana Shay, 39 Teaming up: Lala Kent and James Kennedy both challenged Schwartz and Sandoval's narrative Tom and Ariana split in March after she learned of his affair with Raquel while supporting him at a concert by his band Tom Sandoval And The Most Extras. Ariana found a raunchy incriminating selfie video from Raquel on his phone and confronted Raquel who admitted to the secret affair with Sandoval. Raquel at the time was in New York City for a joint appearance on Watch What Happens live with Scheana Shay. Scheana admitted that she exploded in anger at Raquel when she learned about the affair and shoved her. Raquel later filed a restraining order against Scheana that forced them to keep their distance while filming the reunion. The extended cut Vanderpump Rules three-part reunion episodes will be available in Australia to stream only on Hayu, with Part 1 on May 25, Part 2 on June 1 and Part 3 on June 8. Blake Lively went braless under a thin beige top on the New Jersey set of her upcoming movie It Ends With Us this Wednesday. Her sighting comes just three months after she revealed she had given birth to a fourth child by her husband Ryan Reynolds, with whom she also shares three daughters called James, eight, Inez, six, and Betty, three. In a departure from her signature blonde look, the 35-year-old sported a luxurious mane of wavy red hair that tumbled freely over her shoulders. She teamed a camouflage pair of high-waisted trousers with a matching jacket, heightening the effect with a set of boots. The Cafe Society actress slipped into a plunging tank top that flashed her midriff and had a neckline low enough to hint at her cleavage. Hard at work: Blake Lively went bra-less under a thin beige top on the New Jersey set of her upcoming movie It Ends With Us this Wednesday The look: In a departure from her signature blonde look, the 35-year-old sported a luxurious mane of wavy red hair that tumbled freely over her shoulders Aglow: She teamed a camouflage pair of high-waisted trousers with a matching jacket, heightening the effect with a set of boots Wednesday's shoot also included Blake's co-stars Justin Baldoni and Hasan Minhaj, who were strikingly dressed in onesies. Based on a romance novel by Colleen Hoover, It Ends With Us stars Blake as a woman named Lily who finds herself in an abusive marriage. In the book, Lily grows up watching her own father strike her mother, and though she hopes not to repeat the pattern, she winds up married to a man who hits her too. Lily's abusive husband Ryle is played by Justin, who is also directing the movie and who shares a writing credit on the screenplay with Christy Hall. Meanwhile the steamy Brandon Sklenar, who once played Burt Reynolds on a miniseries, plays Lily's first love Atlas who resurfaces in her life. Hasan on the other hand has taken on the role of Ryle's best friend Marshall, a bond reflected in the scene they were playing in New Jersey this week. Both men were dressed in pajama-like onesies splashed with childish patterns as they enjoyed an amiable chat on a sidewalk. The characters even appeared to have somewhat coordinated their looks, as the costumes were in complementary shades of blue. Wow: Wednesday's shoot also included Blake's co-stars Justin Baldoni and Hasan Minhaj, who were strikingly dressed in onesies Who's who: Based on a romance novel by Colleen Hoover, It Ends With Us stars Blake as a woman named Lily who finds herself in an abusive marriage Details: Lily's abusive husband Ryle is played by Justin, who is also directing the movie and who shares a writing credit on the screenplay with Christy Hall Meanwhile: Hasan on the other hand has taken on the role of Ryle's best friend Marshall, a bond reflected in the scene they were playing in New Jersey this week Letting it out: When Blake's casting was announced, Colleen, who described the book as being 'loosely inspired by my mother,' gushed over her leading lady on Instagram The other side: A number of fans in the comments took objection to Blake's casting and pointed out the age gap between her and Lily, who is 23 in the book When Blake's casting was announced, Colleen, who described the book as being 'loosely inspired by my mother,' gushed over her leading lady on Instagram. 'Blake Lively, yall! Shes my dream Lily,' Colleen effervesced in the tearful video, which was filmed in front of the house where she was raised. 'And then when I first met Justin Baldoni, who is directing the film for It Ends With Us, I immediately wanted him to be Ryle. I just thought that he had what it takes.' She rhapsodized that 'the good news is, hes going to be Ryle,' assuring the fans: 'I think Justin and Blake have what it takes to bring these characters to life and I cannot wait for you guys to see that happen!' A number of fans in the comments took objection to Blake's casting and pointed out the age gap between her and Lily, who is 23 in the book. Bindi Irwin and her husband Chandler Powell are enjoying a fun family holiday with their daughter Grace Warrior at Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef. The conservationist, 24, shared a series of photos to Instagram as she spent the day relaxing at the beach with her husband and daughter. In one sweet image, the couple were all smiles while posing on the sand with Bindi holding Grace. 'Great Barrier Reef with my world @chandlerpowell,' she captioned the post. Bindi also shared another photo of herself and her daughter and wrote: 'Best friend.' Inside Bindi Irwin and husband Chandler Powell's family getaway with their daughter Grace Warrior at Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef The conservationist then shared a video of herself and her family admiring the scenic view from a helicopter. It comes after it was revealed Chandler is set to renew his vows to Bindi later this year after missing out on their dream wedding in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. The lavish ceremony, which is rumoured to be held at Australia Zoo, is set to be a day to remember with a host of celebrity A-Listers being invited to the ritzy event. 'They're inviting everyone from Russell Crowe to Rove McManus and tapping up Curtis Stone for menu advice,' an insider told Woman's Day. The conservationist, 24, shared a series of photos to Instagram as she spent the day relaxing at the beach with her husband and daughter The conservationist also posted a video of herself and her family admiring the scenic view from a helicopter 'It's going to be a who's who of Australia on that list, including Lisa Wilkinson, Magda Szubanski and Blue Wiggle Anthony Field. It will certainly be the biggest wedding ever held at the zoo.' They added that Bindi's family would have special roles at the ceremony, with her two-year-old daughter Grace Warrior acting as flower girl. 'Grace thinks her mum is Cinderella and loves nothing more than seeing her dress up. It's just too much excitement for her to bear. 'And her brother Robert gets to walk his sister down the aisle a second time, and will have a plus one - his girlfriend Rorie Buckey. He can't wait to introduce her.' Helena Christensen showed off her incredible figure in a mint green swimsuit as she posed up a storm for snaps at the luxury hotel Eden Roc in Antibes on Thursday. Danish model and photographer, 54, looked as youthful as ever in the stylish swimwear which had a one shoulder design. The Danish stunner has been dazzling on the red carpet during Cannes Film Festival in recent days but was taking some time to relax. She soaked up the sun and worked her best angles as her team took various pictures of her. The beauty wore her brunette tresses in beachy waves and opted for a natural makeup look while topping up her tan. Stunning: Helena Christensen showed off her incredible figure in a mint green swimsuit as she posed up a storm for snaps at the luxury hotel Eden Roc in Antibes on Thursday Work it: Danish model and photographer, 54, looked as youthful as ever in the stylish swimwear which had a one shoulder design Busy: The Danish stunner has been dazzling on the red carpet during Cannes Film Festival in recent days but was taking some time to relax Later she threw a blue towel over her hair to dry in before taking more pictures in the sunshine. It comes after the stunner gave an insight into her jam-packed trip on Monday. Helena took to her Instagram Stories to share an array of glamorous pictures as she showed off her stunning outfits. She posted a whole host of snaps documenting her elegant dress fittings and also shared snaps from her night at the star-studded British Vogue and Chopard party. In one shot, Helena looked dazzling in an eye-catching silver mirrored disc maxi dress with a daring split up the back to show off her toned pins. She added some extra inches to her look with a pair of heels and added a splash of colour with a small pink handbag. Helena swept her brunette tresses into a messy high-bun as she strutted her stuff in the ensemble during a dress fitting in her lavish hotel room. Her visit to Cannes comes after she reunited with her ex Norman Reedus to celebrate their son Mingus' graduation from New York University. Radiant: The beauty wore her brunette tresses pinned up and opted for a natural makeup look while topping up her tan Refreshing: Later she took a dip in the sea to cool off and looked great in the mint-coloured swimwear Fun: She soaked up the sun and worked her best angles as her team took various pictures of her Travel: Later she threw a blue towel over her hair to dry in before taking more pictures in the sunshine Cannes film festival: It comes after the stunner gave an insight into her jam-packed trip on Monday Luxury: She posted a whole host of snaps documenting her elegant dress fittings and also shared snaps from her night at the star-studded British Vogue and Chopard party Life: Her visit to Cannes comes after she reunited with her ex Norman Reedus to celebrate their son Mingus' graduation from New York University Helena shared an insight into the moment as she took to Instagram to share a picture with her son, 23, and The Walking Dead actor, 54. The former couple notably dated from 1998 until their split in 2003, and welcomed Mingus in October 1999. She could be seen wearing a short-sleeved, black and blue-striped sweater for the sweet family photo. Norman sported a long-sleeved, black dress shirt while Mingus was seen wearing a white, button up shirt for the occasion. The trio flashed cheerful smiles towards the camera with the supermodel penning in the caption to her son: 'You did it!' Mingus is following in his mother's footsteps, and has walked the runway for brands as well as appearing in campaigns. He recently appeared at the Versace Spring/Summer 2023 Menswear show in Milan. Late last year in October, he also joined his mother for the Marcell Von Berlin and posed alongside Helena in 2021 for the Victoria's Secret Mother's Day campaign. Sweet: Helena shared an insight into the moment as she took to Instagram to share a picture with her son, 23, and The Walking Dead actor, 54 Love life: The former couple notably dated from 1998 until their split in 2003, and welcomed Mingus in October 1999 Youthful figure: She looked great in the green swimwear Proud: The trio flashed cheerful smiles towards the camera with the supermodel penning in the caption to her son: 'You did it!' Nice: Mingus is following in his mother's footsteps, and has walked the runway for brands as well as appearing in campaigns Wow! Late last year in October, he also joined his mother for the Marcell Von Berlin and posed alongside Helena in 2021 for the Victoria's Secret Mother's Day campaign Charlotte Chimes gained a cult following for her incredible portrayal of Nicolette Stone on Neighbours. And the actress, 29, recently posted a gallery of photos to Instagram, which fans are convinced contained a clue she will return to Ramsay Street. Chimes looks every inch the stunner as she attended the races in Brisbane last weekend. But it's what she wrote next to the snaps - the word 'neigh' - that got fans worked up. 'Neigh? ...bours?? Official confirmation!! You heard it here first,' one fan joked. Charlotte Chimes recently posted a gallery of photos to Instagram, which fans are convinced contained a clue she will reprise her role of Nicolette Stone on Neighbours 'I miss you on Neighbours. Nicolette is my favourite character,' another added. Charlotte, however, remained tight-lipped about whether she would return to the soap, simply 'liking' the posts begging her to come back. The brunette beauty recently reflected on what she loved about playing the villainous Nicolette from 2020 to 2022. Chimes looks every inch the stunner as she attended the races in Brisbane last weekend 'Any time she became too nice or sweet I thought this is not as fun. What else can she do that is not good?' she told Triple M's Lee Faulkner. 'Everything from stealing money, running away pregnant, selling a baby for a million dollars, she did it.' Back in December, Charlotte revealed on the Wildfemmes podcast how she managed to land the iconic role without ever meeting the casting agents. But it's what she wrote next to the snaps - the word 'neigh' - that got fans worked up Speaking with host Emma Maggs, she explained she'd spent a lot of time sending out dozens of self-taped auditions before she landed a spot on the soap. 'At the time you got cast on Neighbours, you and I were actually working together as producers and I just remember you were doing oodles and oodles of auditions,' Maggs said. 'It was in the middle of a pandemic as well. You were doing that many self tapes, and the fact that you got cast in the middle of a pandemic without them even meeting you is truly remarkable.' Neighbours was brought back from cancellation in November when Amazon saved the beloved soap four months after the final episode aired. 'Neigh? ...bours?? Official confirmation!! You heard it here first,' one fan joked Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has given fans a behind-the-scenes look at her trip to Cannes for the 76th annual Film Festival. The model, 36, took to Instagram on Wednesday with a selection of photographs from her trip. Rosie and husband Jason Statham, 55, put on a loved-up display as they took in some of the sights in the picturesque city after arriving via a luxurious private jet. Rosie showed off her impeccable sense of style in a chic cream waistcoat and flared trousers, while Jason looked handsome in a black jacket and white T-shirt. In another photo the Fast and Furious actor admired Rosie as she posed for a mirror selfie. Chic: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has given fans a behind-the-scenes look at her trip to Cannes for the 76th annual Film Festival Glam: The model, 36, took to Instagram on Wednesday with a selection of photographs from her recent trip The couple certainly arrived to Cannes in style, with Rosie uploading some snaps from the private jet. And while many opt for comfort on a flight, the model exuded glamour as she rocked a pair of heeled sandals and huge shades. She had a mini comb accessory as a necklace around her neck so as to ensure her blonde locks were picture perfect when she got off the plane. Rosie captioned the post: 'Du Cap'. The blonde beauty has been working the red carpet for Cannes and attended a number of premieres. While she had good company in the form of supermodels Cindy Bruna, Eva Herzigova and Ashley Graham, it is Rosie who claimed the lion's share of the spotlight. Rosie led the red carpet for the Club Zero premiere on Monday evening and stunned in an elegant black Valentino SS23 Couture evening gown that enhanced her slender physique. Rosie then commanded attention in a sweeping white gown with a thigh-high split for the premiere of Asteroid City on Wednesday night. The catwalk queen also attended the Women in Motion Awards with husband Jason, after the couple arrived in Cannes after the Fast X premiere in Rome. Couple goals: Rosie and husband Jason Statham, 55, put on a loved-up display as they took in some of the sights in the picturesque city after arriving via a luxurious private jet In another photo the Fast and Furious actor admired Rosie as she posed for a mirror selfie Living it up: The couple certainly arrived to Cannes in style, with Rosie uploading some snaps from the private jet Jet-setters: The couple arrived in Cannes after the Fast X premiere in Rome Stunning: Rosie showed off her impeccable sense of style in a chic cream waistcoat and flared trousers Busy: The blonde beauty has been working the red carpet for Cannes and attended a number of premieres Picture perfect: She had a mini comb accessory as a necklace around her neck so as to ensure her blonde locks were picture perfect when she got off the plane Leggy: Rosie led the red carpet for the Club Zero premiere on Monday evening and stunned in an elegant black Valentino SS23 Couture evening gown Rosie and Jason have been together since 2010 and got engaged in 2016. They welcomed their son a year after getting engaged and their daughter Isabella last February. Of their decision to not rush into marriage she had told ET in 2018 that it wasn't a 'huge priority.' She said: 'We're looking forward to that time. It's also not a huge priority for us; we're so happy. I think it will be fun to do it when the baby's grown up a bit and he can be involved in the wedding.' Britain began deliveries of its Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine in April, which put these recently refurbished and upgraded missiles to the most severe tests of their capabilities. Russia had upgraded its electronic and missile defenses against systems like Storm Shadow and it is not yet clear what impact the missile upgrades or the Russian countermeasures have had. In Ukraine the Storm Shadows are being carried by Su-24 fighter-bombers and some have already been launched against Russian targets in eastern Ukraine. Targets were hit and Russia published photos of Storm Shadow debris. Export models of Storm Shadow often have their range restricted to 250 kilometers. Its unclear if the Ukrainian Storm Shadows can operate at their max range of 560 kilometers. Ukraine has been asking for a missile with that kind of range so it can hit key military and transportation targets deep inside Russian occupied Ukraine. Starting in 2017 the British/French Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles began undergoing a mid-life refurbishment and upgrade that covered key components like the turbo-jet engine, navigation system, and replacements for cabling, seals, and gaskets. The first refurbished missiles began returning in 2022. The effort cost over $300 million. European arms manufacturer MDBA introduced the air-launched Storm Shadow/Scalp cruise missile in 2002 but they were not much used between 2003 and 2015. That changed in 2015 when France intensified its war against Islamic terrorism and the new Typhoon fighter-bomber was equipped to use Scalp. With a max range of 560 kilometers, the 1.3 ton Scalp has a 450 kg conventional warhead and a highly accurate (capable of hitting ships or small buildings) terminal guidance system. Scalp uses GPS, INS and terrain recognition guidance systems to get close enough for the terminal guidance system to take over. Costing about $1.5 million each, some 3,000 have been ordered since the late 1990s when MBDA began marketing it and through 2022 about a hundred were used. France bought 600 while Britain got nearly a thousand and wealthy Gulf Arab oil states bought over a thousand. Greece, Italy and Egypt also bought some. Before the refurbishment France used Scalp successfully in Syria and Mali. Britain first used Storm Shadow successfully during its air campaign against Iraq during 2003. By the time the refurbishments were ordered all the nations with Scalp/Storm Shadow were using them frequently against terrorist targets. Despite all that activity, by 2017 most Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles were over a decade old and still waiting to be used. This is a common problem with guided missiles which are designed for a long shelf life. After a certain number of years, it is best to refurbish and, if you can afford it, upgrade the older missiles for another decade or so of service sitting in a warehouse. This joint refurbishment effort extended and upgraded the operational capabilities against the anticipated evolving threat well into the next decade. She's no stranger to sharing sizzling photos on her social media. And Demi Rose was once again turning up the heat as she took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a string of bikini snaps from her Mexico getaway. The model, 28, looked sensational in a blue bikini top, which just about contained her eye-popping bust and showed off her tiny waist. She lounged on the floor on the side of a luxury swimming pool and opted to forgo her swimsuit bottoms for a daring look. The brunette beauty barely managed to preserve her modesty with a strategically placed matching blue floral cover-up. Looking good: Demi Rose was once again turning up the heat as she took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a string of bikini snaps from her Mexico getaway Busty display: The model, 28, looked sensational in a blue bikini top, which just about contained her eye-popping bust and showed off her tiny waist Glowing: She lounged on the floor on the side of a luxury swimming pool and opted to forgo her swimsuit bottoms for a daring look Her long tresses were swept back from her face in a messy updo and she sported a full face of bronzed make-up, including a slick of pink lipgloss. Captioning the incredible snaps, Demi simply wrote: 'Vibes'. Despite her seemingly boundless confidence, Demi has previously faced adversity after becoming victim to bullies in her younger years. She has been modelling for over a decade and credits her career for being a 'blessing' after being subjected to cruelty during her school time. Speaking to Radio 1 Newsbeat, Demi previously revealed: 'I always wanted to get into modelling and when I eventually got there I classed it as a blessing because I grew up being bullied and didn't have many friends at all.' In 2019, both of Demi's parents died, just seven months apart and the star said going into lockdown straight after their deaths was 'a time of reflection. Having to deal with my parents' house and selling their stuff - it was a really sad place for me... 'I wanted to go and travel but I had three months in London, which was a lot of facing what I had been through and was a time of reflection.' Her latest shoot comes after she was seen teasing her OnlyFans page to her Instagram followers, after signing up to the X-rated content-sharing platform. Flawless: Her long tresses were swept back from her face in a messy updo and she sported a full face of bronzed make-up, including a slick of pink lipgloss Relaxed: Captioning the incredible snaps, Demi simply wrote: 'Vibes' Pose: Her latest shoot comes after she was seen teasing her OnlyFans page to her Instagram followers, after signing up to the X-rated content-sharing platform Demi told fans she was ditching her profile's subscription fee for a limited period. OnlyFans is an online platform, known for its X-rated content, that allows public figure to charge fans a fee to their profile, where they often shares pictures and videos deemed too provocative for other social media sites. Demi previously charged fans for access to her content - with costs ranging from $22.22 (16) a month or $119.99 (around 86) for six months. She's not the only famous face who uses the platform, with celebrities including Bella Thorne, Cardi B and Danniella Westbrook signing up to the service. She never puts a foot wrong when it comes to fashion. And Leomie Anderson put on a leggy display as she attended the Johnnie Walker Blue Label dinner at 180 The Strand on Wednesday night. The stunning model, 30, showed off her toned pins in a fluffy black mini skirt which she wore with a stylish black top with silver link detailing on it. She completed the sexy outfit with long black boots as she flaunted her incredible frame. Leomie wore her dark tresses slicked back in an up do and opted for a typically glamorous makeup look as she held her drink. Stunning: Leomie Anderson put on a leggy display as she attended the Johnnie Walker Blue Label dinner at 180 The Strand on Wednesday night Confident: The stunning model, 30, showed off her toned pins in a fluffy black mini skirt which she wore with a stylish black top with silver link detailing on it The event was to celebrate Campbell Addy's 'I Love Campbell' exhibition and was hosted by Dazed editor Ib Kamara. Guests drank bespoke handcrafted Johnnie Walker Blue Label Cocktails named after Photographs in the I Love Campbell exhibition. It comes after Leomie previously urged designers to hire more black make-up artists after revealing she was forced to do her own make-up during Fashion Week because beauticians left her looking like she 'worked in a mine'. The star, who was born in London to Jamaican parents, shared a behind the scenes video at the Christian Cowan Show at New York Fashion Week, which she walked in last year. In the clip, which has racked up more than 250,000 views, Leomie revealed she always carries a full make-up kit with her as 'trash' make-up artists left her looking 'clapped' - a slang term meaning ugly. In the video, called 'the realities of being a black model during fashion week' the model shares a clip of her make-up being done adding the caption: 'I asked who could do black make-up, why do I look like I work in the mines?'. She went on to say she looked 'clapped' as she shared footage of herself taking her make-up off adding the caption: 'I told him it wasn't my colour, he is trash'. Leomie then said hairdressers were 'hurting her' as she posted a clip adding she was told to wash her hair. 'No one dried it until the last minute,' she went on, before adding another make-up artist tried to fix her make-up. Beauty: She completed the sexy outfit with long black boots as she flaunted her incredible frame Radiant: Leomie wore her dark tresses slicked back in an up do and opted for a typically glamorous makeup look as she held her drink Fun: The event was to celebrate Campbell Addy's 'I Love Campbell' exhibition and was hosted by Dazed editor Ib Kamara Having her say: It comes after Leomie previously urged designers to hire more black make-up artists Not happy: It came after she revealed she was forced to do her own make-up during Fashion Week because beauticians left her looking like she 'worked in a mine' Sad: The star, who was born in London to Jamaican parents, shared a behind the scenes video at the Christian Cowan Show at New York Fashion Week, which she walked in last year Difficult: In the clip, which has racked up more than 250,000 views, Leomie revealed she always carries a full make-up kit with her as 'trash' make-up artists left her looking 'clapped' - a slang term meaning ugly Looking good: Rafael Snider, Campbell Addy and Leomie looked like they were having a great time Tough: In the video, called 'the realities of being a black model during fashion week' the model shares a clip of her make-up being done as she posed alongside Ib Kamara (right) Annoyed: She went on to say she looked 'clapped' as she shared footage of herself taking her make-up off adding the caption: 'I told him it wasn't my colour, he is trash' Ouch: Leomie then said hairdressers were 'hurting her' as she posted a clip adding she was told to wash her hair Having a blast: Vogue's Deborah Ababio and Leomie posed for snaps together Posing up a storm: Leomie and Bree Runway attended the fun-filled Johnnie Walker Blue Label dinner Style: Campbell looked great in a mustard yellow two piece by Labrun London Leggy: Leomie flashed her incredible pins 'Good try girl but felt ugly af,' she said. 'Redid my whole face in 10 minutes, can't go out sad'. Sharing stunning photos of her walking down the runway, Leomie added: 'By the time I walked the runway I wanted to go home'. 'Please hire more black hair and make-up artists so we don't have to go through this.' Leomie has previously walked for Ralph Lauren, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Giorgio Armani, Burberry and Chloe among others and was the first ever black model to become a Victoria Secret Angel. Mama June Shannon's daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell has shared her pride after attending her eldest child Kaitlyn's school graduation. The proud mother took to Facebook on Wednesday to give an insight into her 10-year-old daughter Kaitlyn's elementary school graduation. It comes after it was revealed that Anna is currently battling stage four cancer in her liver, kidneys, and lungs after being diagnosed in January with adrenal carcinoma. Marking her daughter's graduation, Anna shared snaps of her cuddling Kaitlyn and her younger child Kylee, seven, who she shares with ex-husband Michael Cardwell. Anna flashed a smile and looked every inch the proud mother as she sat on the steps in front of the graduation podium with her kids and her boyfriend Eldridge Toney. Pride: Mama June Shannon's daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell has shared her pride after attending her eldest child Kaitlyn's school graduation. Also pictured: Her daughter Kylee, 7 She also shared videos of Kaitlyn giving a speech at the graduation, where she spoke about her love of science and the 'valuable' life lessons she has learnt at school. In an accompanying caption, Anna sweetly gushed over how 'proud' she is of her two daughters. She wrote: 'I am one proud mama right now and I also can't believe I am going to have a middle schooler and a second grader give me a minute while I go cry my eyes out. 'I am so proud of my girls and everything they have accomplished.' Anna welcomed daughter Kaitlyn in 2012 and married her then-boyfriend Michael Cardwell two years later. They called it quits in 2017 and she is now dating Eldridge. Anna first appeared on TLC's 2009 series Toddlers and Tiaras alongside her now-teenaged sister Alana and their family. Anna and her family shot to fame on the hit TLC reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and went on to star on 2017's spin-off Mama June: From Not to Hot. The graduation comes just days after Mama June revealed he is moving home to Georgia to care Anna as she battles stage four cancer. Struggles: It comes after it was revealed that Anna is currently battling stage four cancer in her liver, kidneys, and lungs after being diagnosed in January with adrenal carcinoma Sweet: Marking her daughter's graduation, Anna shared snaps of her cuddling Kaitlyn and her younger daughter Kylee, seven, and her boyfriend Eldridge Toney Pride: In an accompanying caption, Anna gushed about how 'proud' she is of her two daughters June, 43, said she will make the move from Alabama with husband Justin Stroud and also opened up about her repaired relationship with Anna in a chat with The Sun. She said: 'I'm in the process of leaving Alabama now, and I'm in the final steps of my legal issues, so we'll definitely be going back to Georgia.' The legal issues pertain to June and ex Geno Doak's 2019 felony drug possession arrest in Alabama. The pair were infamously arrested with crack cocaine outside a gas station. Shannon's children had an fractured relationship with her following her public battle with alcohol and cocaine addiction in recent years, but she and Anna have since mended their relationship. She said: 'The relationship with Anna was actually working before she found out that she had cancer, It didnt just all of a sudden miraculously start working, like, [when] Anna had cancer.' Anna was diagnosed with stage four adrenal carcinoma of the liver, kidney and lung in January, family sources told TMZ at the time. Adrenocortical carcinoma, also known as adrenal cortical cancer, is a rare disease, affecting an estimated 200 Americans per year, according to the American Cancer Society. The average age of patients with adrenal cancer is around 46, but it can occur in people of any age, even in children, according to the American Cancer Society. Anna was initially complaining about a number of ailments including stomach pain before several tests were carried out. Support: The graduation comes just days after Mama June revealed he is moving home to Georgia to care Anna as she battles stage four cancer She had her first round of chemotherapy in February and has already lost hair as a result, the family sources said. Doctors are waiting to see how the treatment affects her before making any further decisions, but her family is 'very hopeful' she will overcome the disease. Adrenocortical carcinomas start in the outer layer of the adrenal glands, which are next to the kidneys. The adrenal glands are small glands producing hormones. Most growths that form in the adrenal glands are noncancerous. Sofia Vergara looked chic as she dined with friends at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. The Modern Family alum, 50, donned a classic a-line, mid-calf length denim skirt with a frayed hemline, a sweetheart neckline black top and tan, oversized blazer. She slipped her feet into a pair of sky high peep toe sandals and carried a small tan Valentino handbag that retails for $2,980. The America's Got Talent star wore a pair of black sunglasses as she left the restaurant to hit up a local boutique to shop for some lingerie. There's no word on exactly what sexy underpinnings Sofia bought to surprise her husband Joe Manganiello, 46. Shopping: Sofia Vergara looked chic as she dined with friends at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills on Tuesday The Colombian-born actress and her True Blood actor husband recently re-listed their Italian-style mansion in Beverly Hills for just under $18 million, which is $7.4 million more than she paid for the home in 2014, according to The Dirt. The 11,400 square foot home has seven en-suite bedrooms and 11 bathrooms over three stories. The Hot Pursuit star's home's eat in kitchen features a large center island and Viking appliances. The 90210 residence also has a 3,000 bottle wine cellar and tasting room, wet bar, movie theater and home gym complete with a sauna. The backyard features space for dining al fresco and a swimming pool and spa. Sofia and Joe first listed the home last year with a price tag of $20 million. The couple, who have been married since 2015, traded their digs for a 17,000 square foot mansion in a guard gated community higher up into the mountains above Beverly Hills which they bought in 2020 for $26 million. Sofia, who is best known for her 11 season, 250 episode run on Modern Family, gained rave reviews from her co-star Ariel Winter, 25. 'I had a great role model in Sofia growing up, with her being a curvy woman that was super proud of who she was and what she looked like,' Ariel told UPI. 'Sofia could see that I was struggling a little bit with how to deal with my body, and was always trying to give me advice, like, "Here are some brands that would look good on our body type," or "Wear whatever you want, and feel good about yourself."' Beverly Hills: The Modern Family alum, 50, donned a classic a-line, mid-calf length denim skirt with a frayed hemline, a sweetheart neckline black top and tan, oversized blazer Modern Family: She slipped her feet into a pair of sky high peep toe sandals and carried a small tan Valentino handbag that retails for $2,980 Her happy family: The star with her husband Joe, left, and with her son, middle And while the actress is happily married to the Magic Mike star, there's one mega star she almost got seriously involved with - Tom Cruise. Long before she was a household name, Will Smith introduced Sofia to the Top Gun star at a pre-Oscar's bash. However, there was one main problem: her religion. Cruise, who is a well-known supporter of the controversial religion Scientology would have required Sofia to renounce her faith and embrace his, Pop Sugar reported. Andrew Morton detailed the issue in his biography of the Mission Impossible star, writing: 'It soon became clear that she was being auditioned for the biggest role of her life Mrs. Tom Cruise. It was made clear that if she took the part, she would have to renounce her Catholic faith and convert.' Cat Deeley paid a sweet tribute to her husband Patrick Kielty on Instagram on Thursday as she looked back at when they first met. The presenter, 46, fell for the Irish comedian, 52, when they were presenting Fame Academy in 2002. Cat shared a throwback picture from their time presenting on the show alongside a recent snap from the Irish Film Awards earlier this month. She wrote: 'A blink of an eye and here we are!!'. At the Irish Film Awards, Cat showed off her sense of style in a white thigh-split gown for the event where she dazzled on the red carpet. Happy: Cat Deeley paid a sweet tribute to her husband Patrick Kielty on Instagram on Thursday as she looked back at when they first met Aww: The presenter fell for the Irish comedian when they were presenting Fame Academy in 2002. Cat shared a throwback picture from their time presenting on the show Patrick looked dapper in a suit but sported noticeably whiter hair then his Fame Academy hosting days. Fans took to the comment section to gush over their chemistry. One wrote: 'Beautiful couple', while another added: 'Still obsessed that you ended up together'. A third fan chimed: 'Fame Academy was fantastic. And you both look nearly identical as then. Best wishes to Paddy on the Late Late gig. Such a huge show. And hope you make an appearance too.' Paddy is set to takeover Ireland's Late Late show from Ryan Tubridy. Cat and Patrick left the US with their two sons Milo, six, and James, four, almost three years ago after 15 years of living in Beverly Hills. The star previously revealed the 'catalyst' for the family's departure was the terrifying moment Patrick and their eldest son narrowly avoided a public shooting incident at the Century City Mall. The couple were also keen for their boys to be schooled back home in the UK and be closer to their friends and family. Ageing gracefully: Cat posted it alongside a recent snap from the Irish Film Awards earlier this month (pictured) True love: Fans took to the comment section to gush over their chemistry. One wrote: 'Beautiful couple', while another added: 'Still obsessed that you ended up together' The family were back in LA last year, but only temporarily, with Cat telling The Telegraph that they had relocated for the school holidays and would return to the UK when her show wraps. 'You have such a small amount of time when everyone wants to hang out, so we moved back to take advantage of that. And then the pandemic hit' she explained of how they have settled back in the UK. 'We didn't want to put anyone at risk in the pandemic because, well, young kids! But we're making up for it now. 'I taught Milo how to read and how to ride a bike in the pandemic. It was nice to all be together.' Ekin-Su Culculoglu looked incredible as she soaked up the sun in Ibiza, Spain, with her boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti. The former Love Island winner, 28, took to Instagram on Thursday to give an insight into their balmy getaway together after batting off 'fling' rumours. She put on a busty display in a skimpy black bikini top, which she styled with orange flared trousers as she posed on a lavish roof terrace. The Turkish actress accessorised her beachwear with a dainty silver pendant and opted to go barefoot for her casual look. She styled her brunette tresses loosely across her shoulders in a straight fashion and bolstered her gorgeous features with a high-glamour make-up palette. Stylish: Ekin-Su Culculoglu looked incredible as she soaked up the sun in Ibiza, Spain, with her boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti Gorgeous: The former Love Island winner, 28, took to Instagram on Thursday to give an insight into their balmy getaway together after batting off 'fling' rumours Alongside the snap, she penned: 'Somewhere on an island,' referencing their holiday destination, Ibiza. Earlier in the week, Ekin-Su had shared some very glamorous snaps from her Spanish getaway as she posed by the pool. She put on a very leggy display in a vibrant Kurt Geiger rainbow dress, which she styled with the luxury brand's matching handbag. The bombshell completed her outfit with a pair of black sandals and wore her glossy locks cascading across her shoulders. Italian businessman Davide, 28, also took to his own Instagram to share some sun-soaked snaps from their romantic holiday. In one snap, he cut a stylish figure in a white co-ord set, made up of shorts and a partially unbuttoned shirt. He shielded his eyes with a pair of round sunglasses as he posed on a balcony with the stunning beach views behind him. Their sun-soaked holiday comes after Ekin-Su reportedly lashed out at a love rival in a foul-mouthed rant over her suspected fling with Davide. Stunning: Earlier in the week, Ekin-Su had shared some very glamorous snaps from her Spanish getaway as she posed by the pool Suave: Italian businessman Davide, 28, also took to his own Instagram to share some sun-soaked snaps from their romantic holiday However, the pair have since overcome the rumours and jetted away on their holiday to Spain almost one year after they met in the Palma de Mallorca villa. Last month, Ekin-Su is said to have branded Harriet Wilson, 24, a 'f***ing s**g' after she accused her of sleeping with boyfriend. According to The Sun on Sunday, she is also said to have called the model 'disgusting' and fumed 'youre finished' in angry messages after finding texts from her on Davide's phone. The publication reported that the reality TV star also lashed out at a second woman, Phoebe Wintle, after allegedly discovering her texts on his mobile. Ekin-Su's alleged outburst came after she returned from a trip to Belfast and had feared that Davide had hooked up with Harriet and Phoebe. Meanwhile, Ekin-Su this week opened up about the struggles of being thrown into overnight fame as she admitted she has 'no friends left'. Ekin-Su, who rose to fame on season eight of Love Island last year, spoke candidly to Cosmopolitan about her struggles with personal relationships. She admitted that since finding fame, people don't 'want' to be her friend because of her 'status'. The star even revealed that close friends, such as one she has known for over 10 years, even went on to sell stories about her. Despite revealing that she has 'no friends left', Ekin-Su insisted that she is 'much 'happier this way, particularly with Davide's support. She told the publication: 'I've lost every friend I had. I don't have any friends. I have one friend and that's it. Rumours: Their sun-soaked trip comes after they overcame rumours that Ekin-Su reportedly lashed out at a love rival in a foul-mouthed rant over her suspected fling with Davide Struggles: Meanwhile, Ekin-Su this week opened up about the struggles of being thrown into overnight fame as she admitted she has 'no friends left' 'Unfortunately, with the fame, you see people's true colours. People just want to be your friend because of your status, and it's a hard industry to trust. 'No, I don't actually have friends left. People I'd known for 10 years who were in my life Selling stories is not very nice. I wouldn't do that to someone. If they were happy, I would support them. 'Unfortunately, I had that coming out of the villa, I had to delete people out of my life. 'But I am happier this way. Sometimes keeping your circle small is the best, and you don't always need friends. So long as you know who you are, that's fine.' Ferne McCann has revealed she wants the birth to her second child to appear in her ITVBe reality show, but she's struggling to convince her fiance Lorri Haines. The First Time Mum star, 32, is expecting her first baby with her husband-to-be, and has revealed she is hoping to give birth at home. Speaking to pal Vicky Pattison on her The Secret To podcast, Ferne, who is also mother to daughter Sunday, five, admitted she wants the birth of her second child to be a 'positive' experience, and envisions the idea of 'pulling her baby out.' She said: 'I so desperately want it [her childs birth] to be on the show. But we were sort of warming him [Lorri] up. I want it to be on the show. 'Because I've got this birth plan in my head, and I want a home birth and I want it to be positive. And I want everyone to see me like, pull the baby out. Nope! Ferne McCann has revealed she wants the birth to her second child to appear in her ITVBe reality show, but she's struggling to convince her fiance Lorri Haines 'I've just got this vision and he's just like, No, that's just weird, but I'm like, It's beautiful and it's amazing! [] 'Reality stars get a bit of a bad name, but I saw that Ronaldo and his Mrs were doing a reality show. Everyones doing it, so just go for it!' Vicky then added: 'Its because we're all so nosy, isn't it? 'Like, I love to see what everybody's getting up to! I would absolutely watch the birth of your child as long as it's not the business end. I don't want to see your f**** man.' Ferne, who got engaged to Lorri in July 2022, admitted their relationship feels 'right' after they both bonded over their 'trauma'. She told Vicky: 'Whoever would have taken me to be honest, babes! No, I feel so happy that it's him. It feels like when I met him, it just felt so right. 'And without doing all this sort of cringy s***, but it really did feel like we were meant to meet each other at that time because he was in our 30s. 'He's got a child. I've got a child. We bonded over our trauma. Like we literally like laid everything on the table. I was like, here's all my s***. And he had the same and yeah, it's worked out.' Moving: The First Time Mum star filmed the birth of her first child, daughter Sunday, in her ITVBe reality series 'I want to pull the baby out!' The former TOWIE star admitted she wants the birth of her second child to be a 'positive' experience, and envisions the idea of 'pulling her baby out' The star also reflected on her decision to take a break from social media last year, explaining: 'I think for the first time in a very long time, I feel very comfortable in my own skin. 'And I actually like myself, you know what I mean? I just feel like I'm really content with life. [] Well, I think it's about six months ago, I had like, a big break from social media for obvious reasons. 'It felt really weird getting back to social media, because I felt like I didn't know myself I had this like, serious case of loss of identity. 'And now, it just, it does feel really refreshing and quite liberating to just be like, this is me! I feel really good with where I'm at. 'I'm super happy with the pregnancy and just obviously launching the business and it feels good!' Her latest sun-soaked holiday comes after Ferne spoke to MailOnline about her plans for her upcoming nuptials to Lorri. She revealed her plans for an 'intimate' wedding now that her 'circle is very small' and says her bridal look will be 'laid-back'. In an exclusive interview to celebrate the launch of her new wellness app Shoorah, Ferne said: 'My vision for my wedding has definitely changed over the years. 'I would have previously said that I want a big wedding with everyone there, but my circle is very small now and I want something intimate and beautiful, definitely abroad, friends and family. 'I know people say this all the time, but you want to look back and say everyone there are still in our lives.' Ferne's 'circle' has decreased in recent years after she fell out with former close friends Sam and Billie Faiers. The pregnant star is no longer on speaking terms with her ex-TOWIE cast mates after a widely publicised scandal left their friendship in tatters. Baby on the way! The First Time Mum star is expecting her first baby with her husband-to-be, and has revealed she is hoping to give birth at home Now, as she sees her wedding as an intimate gathering, Ferne is also fantasising over her dress and overall look for the big day. She said: 'Recently I have been saying to Lorri that I want to get married. The wedding plans they didn't go on pause because we never started. We don't have a date. 'I want to have the baby but with Sofia Richie's wedding and Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo there was so much wedding spam, and I was getting serious FOMO, I want to get married, I really want to get married. 'I am thinking, 'what sort of bride am I going to be? What sort of wedding dress will I have?' I was obsessed with Sofia Richie's wedding!' 'I'm thinking no shoes because when I do wear heels, I'm taller than Lorri no shoes, no bra, that sort of really laid-back, effortless look.' Vicky Pattison: The Secret To is available to listen to on Acast and all major podcast platforms. New episodes are released every Thursday. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of the live action remake of The Little Mermaid. And one unexpected bonus from the Disney movie reboot is that fans rediscovered a 1998 cover of Kiss The Girl performed by Peter Andre at the height of his music career. Taking to social media, fans were quick to share their delight as they reminisced about the cheesy video. In the clip, a fresh-faced Peter was seen dancing behind a fish tank and cosying up to a gorgeous woman as they recreated scenes with Ariel and Eric in the original animated classic. The single came three years after Peter's chart-topping hit Mysterious Girl and eight years before he covered another Disney hit with then-wife Katie Price, performing A Whole New World from Aladdin. 'A certified BOP!': Peter Andre fans have gone wild as his cheesy 1998 cover of Kiss The Girl has resurfaced in the wake of The Little Mermaid reboot Looking good: In the clip, a fresh-faced Peter was seen cosying up to a gorgeous woman as they recreated scenes with Ariel and Eric in the original animated classic See - it EXISTS >> https://t.co/Kvif03wrQD Emily Murray (@EmilyVMurray) May 23, 2023 Rushing to social media after The Little Mermaid remake was released one fan asked: 'Twitter please - somebody else other than me must remember the Peter Andre cover version of Little Mermaids Kiss The Girl as my group chat doesnt and Im worried I was the only one who grew up listening to this #TheLittleMermaid'. Followers were quick to respond, tweeting: 'Yep thats the version that was on my Disneys Greatest Hits CD.'; Its real and it was a decent version' 'Yep I do'; 'a certified bop tbh'; 'Oh god my sister and I watched him sing this live on a beach in Rhy.' Meanwhile, the highly-anticipated, live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has scored mixed reviews ahead of its release, with critics both slamming the 'unfortunate' remake and 'realistic' portrayal of animals while praising Halle Bailey's Ariel. Halle has also revealed how she broke down watching videos of children gleefully reacting to her playing Ariel in The Little Mermaid live action film. The actress, 23, discussed the black representation in the film during an interview with Glamour magazine. During the chat, Halle touched on the emotional videos of young girls seeing a black woman as a Disney princess and how she managed to keep her own identity during filming for the remake. When asked about the videos, Halle said: 'When I saw those for the first time, I just cried. I was sobbing uncontrollably. The fact that these babies are looking at me and feeling the emotions that they're feeling is a really humbling, beautiful thing.' She compared the feeling when Anika Noni Rose played Tiana in the Princess and the Frog in 2009, saying: 'I know how much of that movie changed my whole perspective on life. Wow, this is possible. Black princesses are possible. She added: 'We deserve to take up these spaces too.' Here he is! Peter was seen dancing behind a fish tank as he got into the mood of the song Familiar face: The single came three years after Peter's chart-topping hit Mysterious Girl and eight years before he covered another Disney hit with then-wife Katie Price, performing A Whole New World from Aladdin (pictured earlier this month) Looking back: Taking to social media, fans were quick to share their delight as they reminisced about the cheesy video Halle discussed how the glam team endeavoured to let her keep her own identity while playing the character, who has previously been portrayed as white. Her hair stylist Camille Friend dyed Halle's roots red and wrapped her locs with hair the same shade in order to give her Ariel's iconic look. She said: '[Ariel still] has red hair, because that's a very iconic part of her, but I really did admire the fact that because I'm a Black woman and I have locs, [the producers] wanted to incorporate that into Ariel's look. 'They're both women of color, so I felt very comfortable. They know how to take care of me and my hair and makeup. I've been on sets before where that's not the case.' Halle said: 'I really hope that I put my own stamp on her character by showing more of her vulnerability. 'I felt like I could relate to her growing up in a big family and having older sisters to guide you, and having a father that's very protective and overbearing at times but loves so hard.' The Little Mermaid will be released May 26. Sam Faiers put on a very busty display in a sequin gold dress on Thursday as she headed out in NYC after launching her brand Revive Collagen in Saks Fifth Avenue. The former TOWIE star, 32, turned heads in the figure hugging long sleeved midi dress by 16Arlington as she stepped out in the rain in Manhattan Midtown. The reality star looked incredible in the off the shoulder sequin frock and added inches to her frame in a pair of black heels. Sam was all smiles during the outing and styled her long brunette tresses poker straight as they cascaded down past her shoulders. Earlier in the day, the TV personality took to her Instagram Story to reveal it is her 'first solo trip' in a very long time. Incredible: Sam Faiers put on a very busty display in a sequin gold dress on Thursday as she headed out in NYC after launching her brand Revive Collagen in Saks Dazzling: The former TOWIE star, 32, turned heads in the figure hugging long sleeved midi dress by 16Arlington as she stepped out in the rain in Manhattan Midtown She wrote: 'A big moment for me with my business @ReviveCollagen. PS first flight alone for a very long time without my babies or anyone - flying solo. 'This is going to be very strange'. After boarding the plane, Sam shared a snap watching Bridget Jones and revealed her partner Paul Knightley had sent her a sweet voice not of her baby son Edward saying 'mum'. She added: 'Paul send me a video note of Edwards saying "mum mumm mummmm" it went on for 20 seconds ... made me', followed by a crying emoji. Sam and Paul started dating in 2014 and share three children together - Paul, seven, Rosie, five, and Edward, eight months. It comes after Sam sparked engagement rumours after sharing a picture of herself wearing a diamond on her ring finger last month. At the time she had been enjoying a lavish trip to Dubai with her long-term boyfriend and the father of her three children, Paul. And cosying up to her beau in a lift, Sam beamed from ear to ear as she showed off her new jewellery piece. 'Very strange': Earlier in the day, the TV personality took to her Instagram Story to reveal it is her 'first solo trip' in a very long time 'So emotional': After boarding the plane, Sam shared a snap watching Bridget Jones and revealed her partner Paul Knightley had sent her a sweet voice not of her baby son Edward saying 'mum' Romantic: Sam and Paul started dating in 2014 and share three children together - Paul, seven, Rosie, five, and Edward, eight months Happy couple: It comes after Sam sparked engagement rumours after sharing a picture of herself wearing a diamond on her ring finger last month Sharing the snap to her Instagram, Sam flashed her new diamond ring whilst taking a selfie. While Sam was seen sporting a gorgeous summer midi, Paul threw over a light grey shirt top and black jeans, which he matched up with a classic pair of suede loafers. They both smiled as Paul cuddled Sam from behind. She captioned the photo saying, 'That's my best friend.' Love Island's Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Culculoglu sparked concern among fans on Thursday after posting a hospital update from Italy. The former Love Island winners, both 28, have been enjoying a jet-set lifestyle in recent weeks, travelling to the likes of Ibiza, Mallorca and now Italy - Davide's hometown. But instead of gracing Instagram with their typical racy swimwear shots, this time Davide took to social media from a hospital. The pair could be seen in a medical ward with serious expressions, wearing masks. Davide captioned the snap: 'So in hospitals in Italy it's still required to wear the mask apparently.' Worry: Love Island's Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Culculoglu sparked concern among fans on Thursday after posting a hospital update from Italy Though this left fans concerned, only a couple of hours later the Love Island hunk shared a subsequent post. Taking a mirror selfie seemingly back in their hotel room, Davide could be seen with his wrist bandaged up. This time he penned: 'Buena', meaning good. Their hospital scare comes after Ekin-Su revealed this week that she has 'no friends left' after being thrown into the public eye. The former Love Island star, who rose to fame on season eight of the ITV reality show, spoke candidly to Cosmopolitan about her struggles with personal relationships. She admitted that since finding fame, people don't 'want' to be her friend because of her 'status'. The star even revealed that close friends, such as one she has known for over 10 years, went on to sell stories about her. Despite reflecting that she has 'no friends left', Ekin-Su insisted that she is 'much 'happier this way, particularly with the support of her boyfriend Davide. Injury: Instead of gracing Instagram with their typical racy swimwear shots, this time Davide took to social media from a hospital Travel: The former Love Island winners, both 28, have been enjoying a jet-set lifestyle in recent weeks, travelling to the likes of Ibiza, Mallorca and now Italy - Davide's hometown She told the publication: 'I've lost every friend I had. I don't have any friends. I have one friend and that's it. 'Unfortunately, with the fame, you see people's true colours. People just want to be your friend because of your status, and it's a hard industry to trust. 'No, I don't actually have friends left. People I'd known for 10 years who were in my lifeSelling stories is not very nice. I wouldn't do that to someone. If they were happy, I would support them. 'Unfortunately, I had that coming out of the villa, I had to delete people out of my life. 'But I am happier this way. Sometimes keeping your circle small is the best, and you don't always need friends. So long as you know who you are, that's fine.' The star also opened up about her mental health and times where, despite struggling, she was forced to 'keep smiling' and 'pretend everything was fine'. Ekin-Su referenced to this time as being when she appeared on ITV's Dancing On Ice. The brunette beauty broke down in tears after becoming the third star to be eliminated from the competition earlier this year. Difficult: Their hospital scare comes after Ekin-Su revealed this week that she has 'no friends left' after being thrown into the public eye Support: Despite reflecting that she has 'no friends left', Ekin-Su insisted that she is 'much 'happier this way, particularly with the support of her boyfriend Davide The star couldn't stop the tears from falling after facing Patsy Palmer in the skate-off - which host Phillip Schofield dubbed at the time 'the most emotional vote we've ever had'. And reflecting on what she was going through at the time, Ekin-Su said: 'There have been things in my life that I can't mention now that have affected my mental health for a while. 'I had to keep smiling and pretend everything was fine. This was during Dancing On Ice when there were things in the background not relationship related, by the way [they were] work related that was very hard. 'I couldn't say anything. It was mentally draining. That was one of the tough times. 'It took me a while to get back out of itYour mental health is your priority. 'After my trip to the Maldives with Davide, we turned off our phones, we didn't check the internet. He was helping me forget things [and] the stuff online.' The U.S. Navy wants its Persian Gulf allies to cooperate in using more USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles) to increase security in the Gulf, especially the entrance (the Strait of Hormuz). There is certainly a need for more security because Iran recently used commandos landed by helicopter to seize two oil tankers and hold them hostage off the Iranian coast. The larcenous Iranians have also been known to hijack USVs. To better monitor Iranian mischief, the Americans have already deployed fifty USVs in the Gulf and want its Gulf allies to add more of their own. The American USVs are unarmed models like the DriX and Saildrone. Both have long endurance and lots of sensors. The Americans have been developing new USVs and putting them to work in the Gulf for over a decade. For example, in 2009 the U.S. Navy developed a new USV from scratch as a USV, rather than the previous method that used existing small boats adapting to be operated under remote control or autonomously. An example of this was the flat bottomed AMN 1 which operates in shallow coastal waters and rivers. The navy developed navigation software for tricky situations, like using a laser based lidar being that could detect a bridge as something it can go under, and not an obstacle to be avoided or go around. AMN 1 was equipped with most of the equipment that current USVs have been successful with. Over a decade ago USVs like the Israeli Protector and the American Spartan Scout were being used to patrol coastal and port areas like the Gaza coast, waters around the Lebanese border and the Iraqi coast. These USVs were basically 4-8 ton, 11 meter speed boats equipped with radar, GPS and vidcams, and armed with a remotely controlled 12.7mm machine-guns that had night vision and a laser rangefinder. There is also a public address system to give orders to boats that should not be there. These USVs were used for over a decade. They can be controlled from an operator ashore, or in a nearby ship, usually out to the horizon or at least 10-20 kilometers distant. They can stay out 8-48 hours at a time, depending on how much high speed movement is used. The one big shortcoming is that Protector is that they are built for speed, not rough seas. When the weather turns bad, and the waves get higher, they have to be brought in. Spartan Scout was particularly useful when it got its first tryout in the Persian Gulf during late 2003. There were lots of small boats moving about, some of them up to no good. An Arab linguist on the mothership was able to interrogate suspicious boats the Spartan Scout ran down. The civilian sailors were somewhat taken aback when they were interrogated by this Arab speaking boat that had no one aboard. The Spartan Scout was developed primarily to work with some naval vessels that operated mainly along coasts, but soon every ship now wanted one or more of them, just for port security, and especially in areas like the Persian Gulf. With all that in mind it seems like a good idea to use more USVs in the Gulf. Not all the Gulf Arabs are eager to do this and would rather invest in more manned warships. Iranians consider such warships targets for their attacks. The Americans point out that the USVs operate 24/7 and in all sorts of bad weather. They transmit video and radar data back to a land or sea based control center, providing wide coverage of who is doing what throughout the Gulf. The Iranians consider this harassment while the Arabs and their Western allies consider that reaction a sign that all those USVs are getting the job done. Cindy Bruna attended the amfAR Gala Cannes 2023 sponsored by Aston Martin, on Thursday. The model, 28, sparkled in a strapless sequin gown with dramatic feathered hem at the star-studded event, which took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes, in France. Cindy looked phenomenal in the floor-length David Koma number, which boasted a sexy front-plunge to offer a glimpse of her cleavage. The French fashionista showcased her model physique in the form-fitting frock, which she teamed with pointed black heels featuring a jewel flower on each shoe. She completed her blue carpet moment with a single statement ear piece, while styling her raven tresses sleek and straight. Wow! Cindy Bruna, 28, attended the amfAR Gala Cannes 2023 sponsored by Aston Martin, which took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes, on Thursday Sensational: The model sparkled in a strapless sequin gown at the star-studded event Insane: Cindy looked phenomenal in the floor-length David Koma number, which boasted a sexy front-plunge to offer a glimpse of her cleavage Queen Latifah served as host for what is the hottest party during the annual Cannes Film Festival, and which raises millions of dollars for AIDS and HIV research and awareness. Guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand. Clase Azul is Mexico's first luxury spirits brand and creators of Clase Azul Reposado that celebrity guests will be sipping on at the party. It retails from 220 and is available to buy in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods as well as the world's finest bars, restaurants and members' clubs. The swanky amfaR gala also included a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, and a fund-raising auction by Simon de Pury. Included in the auction were Cecily Brown's latest work - created specially for amfAR - and a signed 2016 Damien Hirst artwork of Leonardo DiCaprio. Sponsored by Aston Martin, the event saw the Launch Edition of its new DB12 sportscar auctioned for $1.6million, the highest lot on the night. Amongst amfAR Gala Cannes' co-chairs are Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria and Heidi Klum. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Gorgeous: Cindy's dress had a dramatic feathered hem and she teamed it with pointed black heels featuring a jewel flower on each shoe Pretty: She completed her blue carpet moment with a single statement ear piece, while styling her raven tresses sleek and straight In April 1983, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, along with Michael Callen and a few others in New York City, founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF). It was the first private organization in the world dedicated to raising funds to support scientific and medical research on AIDS. Its first research grants were awarded in 1984. In September 1985, amfAR was formed through the unification of AMF with the like-minded National AIDS Research Foundation, which had been incorporated in California in August 1985. Since then, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfAR's lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments to bring it within reach of a cure for HIV. amfAR's research investments have contributed to the development of antiretroviral drugs that are keeping millions of people alive, and helped eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in many parts of the world. What is AIDs and HIV? What is AIDS? AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is a disease in which the body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off infections, known as 'opportunistic infections,' and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune system. What is HIV? HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS. A member of a group of viruses called retroviruses, HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. Source: amfaR Advertisement And amfAR has galvanized a scientific community that, once deeply skeptical, has largely embraced the notion that a cure is not only possible but achievable in our lifetime. Today, amfAR is supporting a range of cure-focused strategies. A new grant initiative called ARCHE-GT, for example, is supporting teams of researchers investigating gene therapy approaches to a cure. Importantly, the researchers are charged with developing an intervention that could be delivered by injection, increasing the chances that, if effective, it could be administered without requiring complex laboratory procedures. Since the beginning of the pandemic, approximately 84.2 million people acquired HIV and more than 40 million have died of AIDS-related illnesses. Priyanka Chopra has opened up about a 'dehumanizing moment' she faced on a past film set during a new interview with The Zoe Project published on Tuesday. The Citadel actress, 40, who recently wowed in a scarlet ensemble at the Bulgari Party in Venice, was discussing her career in Bollywood and her exit from the industry when she recalled an upsetting experience. 'This may have been 2002 or 2003,' she stated, and explained that she had been cast to portray the role of an undercover agent in the project. The mother of one added, 'Im undercover, Im seducing the guy obviously thats what girls do when theyre undercover. But Im seducing the guy and you have to take off one piece of clothing [at a time].' Chopra then revealed, 'I wanted to layer up. The filmmaker was like, "No, I need to see her underwear. Otherwise why is anybody coming to see this movie?"' Opening up: Priyanka Chopra, 40, has opened up about a 'dehumanizing moment' she faced on a past film set during an interview with The Zoe Project published on Tuesday; seen in April in Culver City The star explained to the outlet, 'He didnt say it to me. He said it to the stylist in front of me. It was such a dehumanizing moment. 'It was a feeling of, "Im nothing else outside of how I can be used, my art is not important, what I contribute is not important,"' she further expressed. Only two days after the incident, Priyanka revealed that she had quit the film. However, at her father's urging, the actress compensated the production from her own pocket to make up the funds that had already been spent. She stated that the main reasoning for walking off the project was that she 'couldnt look at him every day,' referencing to the director. Chopra previously talked about her exit from Bollywood earlier this year in March during an appearance on Dan Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast. The Miss World 2000 winner said, 'I was being pushed into a corner in the industry. I had people not casting me for reasons. I had beef with people. I am not good at playing that game so I kind of was tired of the politics and I said I needed a break.' Her passion for music gave her the 'opportunity' to move to America. 'This music thing gave me an opportunity to go into another part of the world, not crave for the movies I didnt want to get but I would require to schmooze certain clubs and cliques of people.' 'It would require groveling and I had worked a long time by then that I didnt feel like I wanted to do it. So when this music thing came I was like, "F**k it I'm going to America."' 'Dehumanizing': The star explained to the outlet, 'He didnt say it to me. He said it to the stylist in front of me. It was such a dehumanizing moment'; seen earlier this month in NYC Exit from Bollywood: Chopra previously talked about her exit from Bollywood earlier this year in March during an appearance on Dan Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast and stated she felt she was 'being pushed into a corner'; seen in London in 2000 However, while talking to The Zoe Report, Priyanka explained that her music career wasn't long-lasting. 'I just felt like I sounded manufactured, it didnt come from a real authentic place. That's the best music, thats the music I enjoy listening [to].' Despite finding hardships when first moving to America and finding her own footing in the industry, the star started to land acting roles in Hollywood, such as the hit series Quantico, which aired on ABC from 2015 through 2019. In 2018, she tied the night with Nick Jonas, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Malti, via surrogate in January 2022. Their baby girl initially spent 100 days in the NICU, but was able to go home shortly before Mother's Day. The Bulgari ambassador opened up about her marriage to the former Disney channel star and expressed, 'Its not therapy, you dont sit down and talk about your past. But we connect a lot on our commonalities.' The former Bollywood star gushed that they both are supportive of each other and hard workers. 'We are hustlers, were not afraid of hard work, were not afraid to pivot. Im someone whos down to learn something I dont know. And so is Nick.' While talking to Grazia earlier this month, Priyanka also opened up about her career thus far but admitted she doesn't consider herself someone who has 'made it.' 'My job is extremely inconsistent. I could get cancelled tomorrow, people could decide I'm not flavor of the month. I have never been the kind of person who thinks I have made it.' She added, 'There were so many times I wanted to quit. I was tired of rejection. I felt dismissed and patronized on set, like people didn't believe I could do my job even when Bollywood is as huge as it is.' 'Hustlers': While talking about her marriage to Nick Jonas, Priyanka expressed, 'We are hustlers, were not afraid of hard work, were not afraid to pivot. Im someone whos down to learn something I dont know. And so is Nick'; the couple seen in April in Rome Importance of family: In 2018, she tied the night with Nick Jonas, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Malti, via surrogate in January 2022 However, her hard work has paid off, and recently tackled a leading role in the Amazon Prime series, Citadel, which premiered last month in April. She was cast alongside other stars, such as Richard Madden, Stanley Tucci, and also Ashleigh Cummings. The spy thriller series was officially renewed by Amazon for a second season on Thursday, reported Deadline. The beauty also jumped into the romantic genre and starred in Love Again with Outlander actor, Sam Heughan. In regards to future roles she wants to take on, the mother of one admitted, 'Im hoping to find parts that give me the ability to lose myself and actually become my character, because thats what I do.' Her husband, Nick, is also keeping busy and is slated to embark on The Jonas Brothers tour with siblings Joe and Kevin, which kicks off later this summer in August. Elsa Hosk left little to the imagination in a very revealing sheer cut out dress on Thursday as she attended the amfAR gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes. The Swedish model, 34, displayed her incredible figure in the white off the shoulder gown as she posed up a storm on the star studded red carpet. Her racy long sleeved garment boasted a large cut out displaying her midriff and ruched detailing on the skirt. She turned up the heat flashing her toned legs through a large ruffled front split and added inches to her frame in a pair of coordinated heels. Elsa opted for an eye catching pair of dazzling silver earrings and applied a flawless palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty. Jaw dropping: Elsa Hosk left little to the imagination in a very revealing sheer cut out dress on Thursday as she attended the amfAR gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes Incredible: The Swedish model, 34, displayed her incredible figure in the white off the shoulder gown as she posed up a storm on the star studded red carpet The runway star styled her long blonde tresses in a neat low bun from a side parting as she flashed her gorgeous smile to cameras. On Thursday, the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes. Queen Latifah served as host for what is the hottest party during the annual Cannes Film Festival, and which raises millions of dollars for AIDS and HIV research and awareness. Guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand. Clase Azul is Mexico's first luxury spirits brand and creators of Clase Azul Reposado that celebrity guests will be sipping on at the party. It retails from 220 and is available to buy in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods as well as the world's finest bars, restaurants and members' clubs. The swanky amfaR gala also included a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, and a fund-raising auction by Simon de Pury. Included in the auction were Cecily Brown's latest work - created specially for amfAR - and a signed 2016 Damien Hirst artwork of Leonardo DiCaprio. Amongst amfAR Gala Cannes' co-chairs are Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria and Heidi Klum. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Wow: Her racy long sleeved garment boasted a large cut out displaying her midriff and ruched detailing on the skirt Gorgeous: The runway star styled her long blonde tresses in a neat low bun from a side parting as she flashed her gorgeous smile to cameraa Eye catching: Elsa opted for an eye catching pair of dazzling silver earrings and applied a flawless palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty In April 1983, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, along with Michael Callen and a few others in New York City, founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF). It was the first private organization in the world dedicated to raising funds to support scientific and medical research on AIDS. Its first research grants were awarded in 1984. In September 1985, amfAR was formed through the unification of AMF with the like-minded National AIDS Research Foundation, which had been incorporated in California in August 1985. Since then, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfAR's lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments to bring it within reach of a cure for HIV. amfAR's research investments have contributed to the development of antiretroviral drugs that are keeping millions of people alive, and helped eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in many parts of the world. Jasmine Tookes set pulses racing on Thursday as she slipped into an incredibly glamorous ensemble while attending the amfAR Gala in Cannes, sponsored by Aston Martin. The gorgeous Victoria's Secret vet, 31, who welcomed her first child, a daughter, in March this year, looked sensational in a plunging black maxi dress. The figure-hugging number featured a sheer cut out which stretched from just below her chest and down to her waist, showcasing her enviable figure and toned stomach. The low-neck line added also a touch of flair to her look with a sequinned detail embellished around the bust, drawing attention to her ample assets. She lifted her enviable frame with a pair of shiny black toe-pointed heels. Wow! Jasmine Tookes set pulses racing on Thursday as she slipped into an incredibly glamorous ensemble while attending the amfAR Gala in Cannes, sponsored by Aston Martin Jasmine kept accessorises to a minimum with elegant diamond earrings, allowing the daring simplicity of her gown to do the talking. She styled her brunette tresses in a glamorous up-do, with strands falling either side of her perfectly framed face. The stunner accentuated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of makeup, including a brown smokey eye and swipe of brown lipstick. The star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes. Queen Latifah served as host for what is the hottest party during the annual Cannes Film Festival, and which raises millions of dollars for AIDS and HIV research and awareness. Guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand. Clase Azul is Mexico's first luxury spirits brand and creators of Clase Azul Reposado that celebrity guests will be sipping on at the party. It retails from 220 and is available to buy in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods as well as the world's finest bars, restaurants and members' clubs. Beauty: The gorgeous Victoria's Secret vet, 31, who welcomed her first child, a daughter, in March this year, looked sensational in a plunging black maxi dress Stunner: The figure-hugging number featured a sheer cut out which stretched from just below her chest and down to her waist, showcasing her enviable figure and toned stomach Busty: The low-neck line added also a touch of flair to her look with a sequinned detail embellished around the bust, drawing attention to her ample assets Incredible: She lifted her enviable frame with a pair of shiny black toe-pointed heels The swanky amfaR gala also included a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, and a fund-raising auction by Simon de Pury. Included in the auction were Cecily Brown's latest work - created specially for amfAR - and a signed 2016 Damien Hirst artwork of Leonardo DiCaprio. Sponsored by Aston Martin, the event saw the Launch Edition of its new DB12 sportscar auctioned for $1.6million, the highest lot on the night. Amongst amfAR Gala Cannes' co-chairs are Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria and Heidi Klum. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. In April 1983, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, along with Michael Callen and a few others in New York City, founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF). It was the first private organization in the world dedicated to raising funds to support scientific and medical research on AIDS. Its first research grants were awarded in 1984. In September 1985, amfAR was formed through the unification of AMF with the like-minded National AIDS Research Foundation, which had been incorporated in California in August 1985. Beautiful: Jasmine kept accessorises to a minimum with elegant diamond earrings, allowing the daring simplicity of her gown to do the talking Show-stopping: She styled her brunette tresses in a glamorous up-do, with strands falling either side of her perfectly framed face Unbelievable: The stunner accentuated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of makeup, including a brown smokey eye and swipe of brown lipstick Since then, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfAR's lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments to bring it within reach of a cure for HIV. amfAR's research investments have contributed to the development of antiretroviral drugs that are keeping millions of people alive, and helped eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in many parts of the world. And amfAR has galvanized a scientific community that, once deeply skeptical, has largely embraced the notion that a cure is not only possible but achievable in our lifetime. Today, amfAR is supporting a range of cure-focused strategies. A new grant initiative called ARCHE-GT, for example, is supporting teams of researchers investigating gene therapy approaches to a cure. Importantly, the researchers are charged with developing an intervention that could be delivered by injection, increasing the chances that, if effective, it could be administered without requiring complex laboratory procedures. Since the beginning of the pandemic, approximately 84.2 million people acquired HIV and more than 40 million have died of AIDS-related illnesses. She's been a fixture on the red carpet. And Kate Beckinsale continued to show off her daring sense of style in a gorgeous purple shimmering gown as she arrived for the annual amfAR Cannes Gala on Thursday. The actress, 49, cut a glamorous figure in her eye-catching purple gown with a shimmering overlay as she arrived for the star-studded event. Kate's gown boasted a dynamic angular neckline and a bold layered skirt as she posed ahead of the event at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The sleeveless dress certainly caught the eye thanks to its unusual shaping, which Kate put on full display. Gorgeous! Kate Beckinsale continued to show off her daring sense of style in a gorgeous purple shimmering gown as she arrived for the annual amfAR Cannes Gala on Thursday A vision! The actress cut a glamorous figure in her eye-catching purple gown with a shimmering overlay as she arrived for the star-studded event Sweeping her glossy brunette tresses into a sleek updo, Kate completed her look with sparkling silver drop earrings and several Effy Jewelry diamond rings. On Thursday, the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes. Queen Latifah served as host for what is the hottest party during the annual Cannes Film Festival, and which raises millions of dollars for AIDS and HIV research and awareness. Guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand. Clase Azul is Mexico's first luxury spirits brand and creators of Clase Azul Reposado that celebrity guests will be sipping on at the party. It retails from 220 and is available to buy in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods as well as the world's finest bars, restaurants and members' clubs. The swanky amfAR gala also included a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, and a fund-raising auction by Simon de Pury. Sponsored by Aston Martin, the event saw the Launch Edition of its new DB12 sportscar auctioned for $1.6million, the highest lot on the night. Included in the auction were Cecily Brown's latest work - created specially for amfAR - and a signed 2016 Damien Hirst artwork of Leonardo DiCaprio. Bold! Kate's gown boasted a dynamic angular neckline and a bold layered skirt as she posed ahead of the event at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Bold: The sleeveless dress certainly caught the eye thanks to its unusual shaping, which Kate put on full display Amongst amfAR Gala Cannes' co-chairs are Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria and Heidi Klum. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. In April 1983, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, along with Michael Callen and a few others in New York City, founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF). It was the first private organization in the world dedicated to raising funds to support scientific and medical research on AIDS. Its first research grants were awarded in 1984. In September 1985, amfAR was formed through the unification of AMF with the like-minded National AIDS Research Foundation, which had been incorporated in California in August 1985. Since then, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfAR's lifesaving AIDS research. Arrival! Sweeping her glossy brunette tresses into a sleek updo, Kate completed her look with sparkling silver drop earrings, as well as several diamond rings from Effy Jewelry So many stars! On Thursday, the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes Stars: Helena Christensen and Stella Maxwell were among the stars who attended the amFAR Cannes Gala on Wednesday This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments to bring it within reach of a cure for HIV. amfAR's research investments have contributed to the development of antiretroviral drugs that are keeping millions of people alive, and helped eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in many parts of the world. And amfAR has galvanized a scientific community that, once deeply skeptical, has largely embraced the notion that a cure is not only possible but achievable in our lifetime. Today, amfAR is supporting a range of cure-focused strategies. A new grant initiative called ARCHE-GT, for example, is supporting teams of researchers investigating gene therapy approaches to a cure. Importantly, the researchers are charged with developing an intervention that could be delivered by injection, increasing the chances that, if effective, it could be administered without requiring complex laboratory procedures. Since the beginning of the pandemic, approximately 84.2 million people acquired HIV and more than 40 million have died of AIDS-related illnesses. Jourdan Dunn commanded attention in a red sequin Laquan Smith mini dress as she attended the amfAR gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes. The British model, 32, looked sensational in the dazzling strapless number which boasted a huge bow on the back with a train cascading from it. She turned up the heat in a pair of matching pointed toe heels and opted for a pair of sheer black tights. The beauty opted for a pair of eye catching silver stud earrings and styled her long dark tresses in luxurious waves. Jourdan applied a flawless palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty as she posed up a storm for photos. Glamorous: Jourdan Dunn commanded attention in a red sequin Laquan Smith mini dress as she attended the amfAR gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes Phenomenal: The British model, 32, looked sensational in the dazzling strapless number which boasted a huge bow on the back with a train cascading from it On Thursday, the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes. Queen Latifah served as host for what is the hottest party during the annual Cannes Film Festival, and which raises millions of dollars for AIDS and HIV research and awareness. Guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand. Clase Azul is Mexico's first luxury spirits brand and creators of Clase Azul Reposado that celebrity guests will be sipping on at the party. It retails from 220 and is available to buy in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods as well as the world's finest bars, restaurants and members' clubs. The swanky amfAR gala also included a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, and a fund-raising auction by Simon de Pury. Included in the auction were Cecily Brown's latest work - created specially for amfAR - and a signed 2016 Damien Hirst artwork of Leonardo DiCaprio. Sponsored by Aston Martin, the event saw the Launch Edition of its new DB12 sportscar auctioned for $1.6million, the highest lot on the night. Amongst amfAR Gala Cannes' co-chairs are Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria and Heidi Klum. Jaw dropping: She turned up the heat in a pair of matching pointed toe heels and opted for a pair of sheer black tights Dressed to impress: Jourdan fixed her long train as she stepped onto the red carpet at the star studded event Dazzling: The beauty opted for a pair of eye catching silver stud earrings and styled her long dark tresses in luxurious waves Incredible: Jourdan applied a flawless palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty as she posed up a storm for photos amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. In April 1983, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, along with Michael Callen and a few others in New York City, founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF). It was the first private organization in the world dedicated to raising funds to support scientific and medical research on AIDS. Its first research grants were awarded in 1984. In September 1985, amfAR was formed through the unification of AMF with the like-minded National AIDS Research Foundation, which had been incorporated in California in August 1985. Since then, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfAR's lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments to bring it within reach of a cure for HIV. Amazing: During in the evening guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand Wow: On Thursday, the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes amfAR's research investments have contributed to the development of antiretroviral drugs that are keeping millions of people alive, and helped eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in many parts of the world. And amfAR has galvanized a scientific community that, once deeply skeptical, has largely embraced the notion that a cure is not only possible but achievable in our lifetime. Today, amfAR is supporting a range of cure-focused strategies. A new grant initiative called ARCHE-GT, for example, is supporting teams of researchers investigating gene therapy approaches to a cure. Importantly, the researchers are charged with developing an intervention that could be delivered by injection, increasing the chances that, if effective, it could be administered without requiring complex laboratory procedures. Since the beginning of the pandemic, approximately 84.2 million people acquired HIV and more than 40 million have died of AIDS-related illnesses. Lindsay Lohan happily showcased her growing baby bump wearing a stylish swimsuit as she enjoyed a relaxing getaway in a new Instagram post shared on Thursday. The Mean Girls alum, 36, who announced she was expecting baby number one earlier this year in March, flashed a smile towards the camera as she rested on a comfortable lounge chair in the shade. The mother-to-be donned a black, one-piece bathing suit and threw on a pair of sunglasses while getting a bit of fresh air at the Six Senses Zighy Bay, which is located near Dubai. Her reddish locks were combed back and styled into a simple up do to prevent any loose strands from falling onto her face. The actress simply added a smiling emoji wearing black sunglasses in the caption to her 13.1 million fans and followers. Vacation mode: Lindsay Lohan, 36, happily showcased her growing baby bump wearing a stylish swimsuit as she enjoyed a relaxing getaway in a new Instagram post shared on Thursday. She opted for minimal accessories and added a dainty bracelet on her left wrist that contained a circular, blue pendant for a pop of color. Social media users jumped to the comment section as Lindsay gave a baby bump update. Paris Hilton added a heart-eyed emoji while designer, Christian Siriano, typed, 'Cuteeeeee.' The star also shared another photo as she soaked up the hot sun in a previous Instagram post uploaded on Wednesday. Lohan was pictured standing inside a large swimming pool with numerous palm trees and a rocky mountain landscape directly behind her. The Parent Trap actress opted for an orange swimsuit to take a quick dip in the pool to cool down in the warmer temperatures. She threw on a pair of shades and tilted her head slightly upwards towards the blue sky. In both posts, Lindsay tagged her husband, Bader Shammas, who also accompanied the star on the luxurious getaway before welcoming their first child to the world. The two lovebirds became engaged in November 2021 and it was confirmed last year in July that the couple had tied the knot after she called Bader her 'husband' in an Instagram post. 'I am the luckiest woman in the world. You found me and knew that I wanted to find happiness and grace, all at the same time,' she gushed at the time in the caption as she posed for a cute snap with Shammas. Stylish mama-to-be: The Mean Girls alum donned a black, one-piece bathing suit and threw on a pair of sunglasses while getting a bit of fresh air at the Six Senses Zighy Bay Paradise: Lohan also shared a snap as she stood inside a large swimming pool with numerous palm trees and a rocky mountain landscape directly behind her Baby on the way! The happy couple announced that they are expecting their first child together earlier this year in March Lindsay added, 'I am stunned that you are my husband. My life and my everything. every woman should feel like this everyday.' In November of last year, the Freaky Friday actress gushed about marriage life during an appearance on Good Morning America. She stated, 'It's amazing. I'm really lucky. I found my partner and he's an amazing man and we're a great team. He's the best. I love him so much.' Last month in April, the pair celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary. One month earlier, Lohan jumped to her Instagram and happily announced that both she and her husband were expecting their first child together. She shared a photo of a white onesie that contained black lettering that read, 'Coming soon...' In the caption, the actress wrote, 'We are blessed and excited!' At the time, the Hollywood star expressed in a statement to DailyMail.com, 'We are very excited for our new family member to arrive and we are looking forward to this next chapter of our lives!' She further stated, 'We are beyond happy for this blessing in our lives and we cannot wait to become parents.' A source opened up to Us Weekly how the pregnancy news has also brought her loved ones and family 'closer together.' Lindsay is daughter to divorced parents, Michael and Dina, and also has a sister named Aliana, and two brothers, Michael Jr. and Dakota. Special milestone: Last month in April, Lindsay and her husband, Bader, celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary Intimate celebration: Last month, her close family and friends threw the actress an intimate baby shower in her home-state of New York 'Her pregnancy is really bringing her family closer together,' the insider revealed. 'Michael and Dina are coparenting very well. They wanted this for Lindsay for so long.' 'She has always wanted to be a mom and a wife. She was always told, "You cant do both," but she knows she can. She can be a wife, a mom and an actress.' A separate source also told the publication that Lindsay, 'loves being pregnant. Shes the happiest when shes with her closest friends and family.' Last month, her loved ones and pals threw the actress an intimate baby shower in her home-state of New York. 'It was very private, just a handful of close friends and family having brunch in honor of Lindsays pregnancy,' with the insider hinting that a larger party might take place in Dubai. Advertisement Is this Idris Elba's James Bond moment? The British star - who has long been touted as a possible replacement to Daniel Craig's 007 - is showing off his action chops in a thrilling new trailer unveiled Thursday for the upcoming Apple TV+ miniseries Hijack. The 50-year-old performer starred as a negotiator who is tasked with convincing a team of criminals who have taken over a plane to stand down peacefully. The trailer began with Sam Nelson, played by Elba, making his way through Dubai International Airport before boarding a plane bound for London. Shortly after takeoff, a team of criminals took control of the aircraft and demanded cooperation from the flight's passengers, with their apparent leader making a reference to an 'operation.' Leading man: Idris Elba was featured in the tense trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ miniseries Hijack Man of action: The 50-year-old performer starred as a negotiator who is tasked with convincing a team of criminals who have taken over a plane to stand down peacefully Heading home: The trailer began with Sam Nelson, played by Elba, making his way through Dubai International Airport before boarding a plane bound for London After a group of air traffic controllers noticed that the plane had gone off course, one revealed that a passenger had managed to call for help. Nelson then comforted a particularly emotional passenger, and he told her that 'we've got one job to do right now. Just get through it for them.' Nelson's wife Marsha, played by Christine Adams, then stated that she had received a message from onboard the flight, and when a detective asked their son what his father did for a living, he stated: 'It's difficult to explain.' Marsha then added that her husband was a negotiations expert and 'the best at handling it.' Nelson went on to tell a criminal that 'there are 200 people on this flight. If one of them tries something and this plane goes down, I don't get home to my family. Let me make you an offer.' After a criminal is disarmed and a gun goes off inside the plane, Elba's character told the plane's captain that 'if it's all going wrong in the first hour, imagine the next six.' Nelson then circled a message on the side of a milk carton to tell everyone around him to 'get ready to shake things up' before various passengers improvised weapons out of seatbelts and jewelry. After it was discovered that 'five passengers on that plane do not exist,' Zahra Gahfoor, played by Archie Panjabi, attributed the group's origin to 'a network running all across Europe.' Complication: Shortly after takeoff, a team of criminals took control of the aircraft and demanded cooperation from the flight's passengers, with their apparent leader making a reference to an 'operation' Reaching out: After a group of air traffic controllers noticed that the plane had gone off course, one revealed that a passenger had managed to call for help Man with a plan: Nelson's wife Marsha, played by Christine Adams, then stated that she had received a message from onboard the flight, and when a detective asked their son what his father did for a living, he stated that 'it's difficult to explain.' Trying his best: Nelson went on to tell a criminal that 'there are 200 people on this flight. If one of them tries something and this plane goes down, I don't get home to my family. Let me make you an offer' Risky business: Nelson then circled a message on the side of a milk carton to tell everyone around him to 'get ready to shake things up' before various passengers improvised weapons out of seatbelts and jewelry Conspiracy: After it was discovered that 'five passengers on that plane do not exist,' Zahra Gahfoor, played by Archie Panjabi, attributed the group's origin to 'a network running all across Europe' Target located: The plane is then targeted by an air force jet, and the captain commented that the aircraft was being viewed as 'an incoming missile' The plane is then targeted by an air force jet, and the captain commented that the aircraft was being viewed as 'an incoming missile.' After Nelson covertly made his way to the front of the plane and attacked one of the hijackers, he ominously stated: 'It's either us or them, and I can tell you it's not going to be us.' It was announced that Elba, who also serves as one of the project's executive producers, had signed on to star in Hijack in April of last year. The miniseries is currently scheduled to premiere on June 28. Sara Sampaio looked sensational on Thursday as she attended the amfAR gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes. The 31-year-old supermodel showcased her enviable figure in a baby blue gown, featuring a bandaged design. The racy number featured an off-the-shoulder detail, cut out at the stomach and thigh-high split - all drawing attention to her slim frame. Additional material fell behind her in a dramatic train as she graced the star-studded carpet. The beauty paired her look with silver platform heels, emphasising her gorgeous toned pins. Wow! Sara Sampaio looked sensational on Thursday as she attended the amfAR gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes She accessorised with an elegant diamond necklace strung around her neck, silver drop earrings, a matching bracelet and silver rings. Sara styled her brunette tresses in a high ponytail, cascading down her back and shoulders. She finished her ensemble with a flawless palette of make up, including a swipe of red lipstick. On Thursday, the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes. Queen Latifah served as host for what is the hottest party during the annual Cannes Film Festival, and which raises millions of dollars for AIDS and HIV research and awareness. Guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand. Clase Azul is Mexico's first luxury spirits brand and creators of Clase Azul Reposado that celebrity guests will be sipping on at the party. It retails from 220 and is available to buy in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods as well as the world's finest bars, restaurants and members' clubs. Gorgeous: The 31-year-old supermodel showcased her enviable figure in a baby blue gown, featuring a bandaged design Sensational: The racy number featured an off-the-shoulder detail, cut out at the stomach and thigh-high split - all drawing attention to her slim frame Dramatic: Additional material fell behind her in a dramatic train as she graced the star-studded carpet Racy: The beauty paired her look with silver platform heels, emphasising her gorgeous toned pins The swanky amfaR gala also included a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, and a fund-raising auction by Simon de Pury. Included in the auction were Cecily Brown's latest work - created specially for amfAR - and a signed 2016 Damien Hirst artwork of Leonardo DiCaprio. Sponsored by Aston Martin, the event saw the Launch Edition of its new DB12 sportscar auctioned for $1.6million, the highest lot on the night. Amongst amfAR Gala Cannes' co-chairs are Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria and Heidi Klum. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. In April 1983, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, along with Michael Callen and a few others in New York City, founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF). It was the first private organization in the world dedicated to raising funds to support scientific and medical research on AIDS. Its first research grants were awarded in 1984. Stunner: She accessorised with an elegant diamond necklace strung around her neck, silver drop earrings, a matching bracelet and silver rings Unbelievable: Sara styled her brunette tresses in a high ponytail, cascading down her back and shoulders Incredible: She finished her ensemble with a flawless palette of make up, including a swipe of red lipstick In September 1985, amfAR was formed through the unification of AMF with the like-minded National AIDS Research Foundation, which had been incorporated in California in August 1985. Since then, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfAR's lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments to bring it within reach of a cure for HIV. amfAR's research investments have contributed to the development of antiretroviral drugs that are keeping millions of people alive, and helped eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in many parts of the world. Bianca Gascoigne attended the premiere of the new West End revival of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Aspects of Love, on Thursday. The reality star daughter of Paul Gascoigne wowed in a statement blouse and matching wrap-skirt as she arrived at the Lyric Theatre on London's Shaftesbury Avenue. Bianca, 36, looked incredible in the Never Fully Dressed co-ord set, which featured a statement print of dice, stars and Lucky 7 throughout. The TV personality styled the gorgeous blue and red ensemble with a nude pair of pointed strappy stilettos and a grab bag. Completing her look. Bianca wore her long platinum hair extensions into chic waves and accessorised with a delicate silver necklace. Feeling lucky! Bianca Gascoigne, 36, wore a Never Fully Dressed co-ord set to the premiere of the new West End revival of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Aspects of Love, on Thursday Stunning: Bianca looked incredible in the Never Fully Dressed co-ord set, which featured a statement print of dice, stars and Lucky 7 throughout Beauty: Completing her look. Bianca wore her long platinum hair extensions into chic waves and accessorised with a delicate silver necklace Michael Ball plays George in the musical with Laura Pitt-Pulford as Rose, Jamie Bogyo as Alex and Danielle de Niese as Giulietta. Working with the biggest West End legends is a dream come true for Danielle, who moved over to the West End from opera for the time. She said, 'Ive been a Michael Ball fan for as long as I can remember, literally from when he first starred in Aspects of Love. So its a huge dream realised to star alongside him.' On the night, Danielle wore a handpicked piece from the incredible archive of the late Vivienne Westwood, styled by Westwoods close friend Leslie Macleod Miller. Set in ravaged post war France, Aspects of Love follows beautiful actress Rose Vibert as she finds herself homeless and penniless after her hoped-for career break play closes early. Invited to a country villa by a love struck young American, Alex Dillingham, she impulsively accepts. When unexpectedly interrupted by Alex's distinguished uncle George, everything changes. So begins a tumultuous 20-year love story, entwining the three of them and George's mistress, the feisty artist Giulietta. Everything changes once again when Rose's daughter Jenny turns 18. From the cobbled streets of Paris, through the French countryside to the splendours of Venice, Aspects of Love is a sweeping romantic story of passion, love, betrayal and heartbreak across three generations. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart, based on the novel by David Garnett, Aspects of Love is directed by Jonathan Kent. Aspects of Love at The Lyric Theatre runs until Saturday 11 November 2023. On the stage: Working with the biggest West End legends is a dream come true for Danielle, who moved over to the West End from opera for the time Simple: Chloe Veitch teamed a strapless basque with sleek black trousers Fun with friends: Bruno Tonioli stepped out for the premiere with Jackie St Clair Fashionista: Married At First Sight's Amy Christophers looked chic in a statement midi dress Man of The Moment: Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber turned out for the premiere of his musical Fabulous: Jacqui teamed a black waistcoat with shimmering hot pink trousers It comes after Andrew Lloyd Webber and The Princess of Wales both made cameos in the opening sequence at the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Kate made a touching tribute to Ukraine as she played the piano in a stunning opening sequence for the grand final, held at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena. She appeared virtually from Windsor Castle in a pre-recorded segment, with her appearance on the BBC show being kept a very closely-guarded secret. Kate looked gorgeous in a one-shouldered blue Jenny Packham gown - to match the Ukrainian flag - as she played the piano in the brief 10-second cameo. Composer Andrew also made a surprise appearance in the opening sequence as he also played the piano and smiled at the camera in another previously filmed clip. Curtain call: Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber joined Vinny Coyle, Rosemary Ashe, Danielle de Niese, Lyricist Don Black, Michael Ball, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Jamie Bogyo and Anna Unwin Eastenders viewers were left furious on Thursday night as Ben Mitchell pursued his plans to extend dying Lola Pearce-Brown's life, despite her wishes. Lola, played by Danielle Harold, has a terminal brain tumour and was recently given only months to live, with her final scenes expected to air soon. And though the rest of her family have gathered round to support her, Ben, who she shares daughter Lexie with, refuses to accept this fact. Ben has been fighting for days with friends and family to convince them to get Lola into a clinical trial in America. And though none agreed, he decided to go ahead with it anyway, flying out to America to meet with the specialist doctors. 'Selfish': Eastenders viewers were left furious on Thursday night as Ben Mitchell pursued his plans to extend dying Lola Pearce-Brown's life, despite her wishes Revealing his plans to his husband Callum, he said: 'I'm going to that clinic, in America. 'If it don't work then it don't, but at least I can say I tried. 'I can stand by Lola's grave and say I did everything I could. 'You've got to see how important that is to me. 'I feel like I've got the whole world against me right now. And I really need you on my side'. Unwillingly, Callum sided with Ben, supporting his decision to go. Ben then visited Lola, to apologise for his behaviour, but ensured he would do everything he could for her. 'I ain't here to cause trouble. I'm here to apologise... again. Unwell: Lola, played by Danielle Harold , has a terminal brain tumour and was recently given only months to live, with her final scenes expected to air soon Determined: And though the rest of her family have gathered round to support her, Ben, who she shares daughter Lexie with, refuses to accept this fact Mission: Ben has been fighting for days with friends and family to convince them to get Lola into a clinical trial in America 'The things I've been saying, the way I've been acting, it's out of order. I'm sorry.' As Lola's partner Jay leaves the room, Ben continues to a sleeping Lola. Convinced she still had some fight left in her, he told her he would do everything he can to keep her around for another few months, when their daughter starts secondary school. And taking to Twitter as the episode aired, fans were left furious with the character, who was making Lola's death 'all about himself'. One said: 'I know Ben thinks he's doing the right thing, but he's really just wanting to prolong the inevitable for Lola.' A second added: 'Ben really is in so much denial. Why ain't the family noticing what is wrong with him?' 'Ben is going to regret all of this in a month's time when Lola's dead', a third said. A fourth said: 'Ben there is nothing more you can do. Lola is dying and you need to accept that. You're in denial and need serious professional help! This isn't what Lola wants and you cannot force her at her own free will to have the treatment when it isn't 100% reliable.' Trouble started brewing for Ben on Wednesday's episode, when an agitated Ben lashed out at Lola for 'not fighting enough', telling her 'you should be in hospital'. He also revealed to Lola that he had told their daughter she would be around for when Lexie starts school in September. Despite a clashing of heads between Ben and Lola's current partner Jay, who told him to 'back off', it seems his words did not get through. As the final credit's rolled on the episode, a plotting Ben could be seen on the phone to a doctor, telling the professional his plans to keep Lola alive for another few months. It comes after viewers were left 'sobbing' as Lola began issuing her final goodbyes to her daughter Lexie during Wednesday's episode. And as her condition worsened, Lola started saying goodbye to her most loved ones, beginning with her daughter Lexie. After undergoing a baptism to 'end up' in heaven with her daughter, the pair shared a hear-to-heart. Heartbreaking: It comes after viewers were left 'sobbing' as Lola began issuing her final goodbyes to her daughter Lexie during Wednesday's episode Lexi told her mother: 'I'm glad we're going to be in heaven together. Lola replied: 'Me too. But, I can wait for a very very long time, ok? I want you to have a long and happy life first. I'll always be looking over you, you know?' As Lola began crying, she continued: Lex, as Mommy gets a little bit weaker, I need you to be a bit stronger for me ok? 'You know if you ever want to talk to me, you know like that Reverend did with God, just talk to me. I'll be listening always. 'When you're hurting, you're going to feel my arms wrapped tight around you. 'When you're happy, you're going to hear me laughing with you. 'I will always, always be looking over you, ok?' Lexie replied: 'When I have a daughter, I'm going to tell her all about you.' Ed Westwick looked besotted with his stunning girlfriend Amy Jackson on Thursday at the annual amfAR Cannes Gala, hosted by Queen Latifah. The Gossip Girl actor, 35, couldn't resist giving her a sweet peck on the cheek as they posed for cameras, putting on a very loved-up display. Model and actress Amy, 31, looked gorgeous in a strapless floral dress with a unique neckline that raised up at the front. She put on a very colourful display in the watercolour-effect gown, which gathered in at her waist to show off her slender figure. Amy's brunette locks were gelled back into a classic hair-do, while her classy make-up shone with a rosy lip. Happy couple: Ed Westwick looked besotted with his stunning girlfriend Amy Jackson on Thursday at the annual amfAR Cannes Gala Stunning pair: Model and actress Amy, 31, looked gorgeous in a strapless floral dress alongside a dapper Ed, 35 A chivalrous Ed held her hand as she held out her skirt to display the full pattern, while revealing a pair of silver heels that accentuated her long and toned legs. Ed, who rose to fame as Chuck Bass in the Gossip Girl series, looked typically handsome in a black suit, accessorised with a large stand-out silver zip. Rumours about the couple began circulating in February 2022, but they reportedly began seeing one another romantically in December 2021. They met at at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Film Festival last December - where they were snapped chatting together at a screening during the closing ceremony. A source told The Sun on Sunday: 'Ed and Amy are a really good match. They hit it off straight away.' Jackson has starred in a string of Indian films, predominantly in Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu languages - after auditioning for one in London in a twist of fate. She was previously in a relationship with hotelier George Panayiotou, with the pair getting engaged in January 2019 and welcoming a son that September. They broke things off in 2021, before her relationship with Westwick began later that year. Romance: Rumours about the couple began circulating in February 2022, but they reportedly began seeing one another romantically in December 2021 Chivalrous: Ed held Amy's hand as she pirouetted to show the full extent of her gorgeous skirt Details: Amy's brunette locks were gelled back into a classic hair-do, while her classy make-up shone with a rosy lip Meanwhile Westwick previously dated South African model and influencer Tamara Francesconi for two years, before also separating in 2021. On Thursday, the star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes. Queen Latifah served as host for what is the hottest party during the annual Cannes Film Festival, and which raises millions of dollars for AIDS and HIV research and awareness. Guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand. Clase Azul is Mexico's first luxury spirits brand and creators of Clase Azul Reposado that celebrity guests will be sipping on at the party. It retails from 220 and is available to buy in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods as well as the world's finest bars, restaurants and members' clubs. The swanky amfAR gala also included a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, and a fund-raising auction by Simon de Pury. Included in the auction were Cecily Brown's latest work - created specially for amfAR - and a signed 2016 Damien Hirst artwork of Leonardo DiCaprio. Sponsored by Aston Martin, the event saw the Launch Edition of its new DB12 sportscar auctioned for $1.6million, the highest lot on the night. Hunk: Meanwhile heartthrob Chuck Bass star Ed donned a black suit with a statement silver zip Colourful display: Amy added silver heels to accentuate her long and toned legs, while her dress gathered in to emphasise her slender waist Amongst amfAR Gala Cannes' co-chairs are Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria and Heidi Klum. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. In April 1983, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, along with Michael Callen and a few others in New York City, founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF). It was the first private organization in the world dedicated to raising funds to support scientific and medical research on AIDS. Its first research grants were awarded in 1984. In September 1985, amfAR was formed through the unification of AMF with the like-minded National AIDS Research Foundation, which had been incorporated in California in August 1985. Since then, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfAR's lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments to bring it within reach of a cure for HIV. amfAR's research investments have contributed to the development of antiretroviral drugs that are keeping millions of people alive, and helped eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in many parts of the world. And amfAR has galvanized a scientific community that, once deeply skeptical, has largely embraced the notion that a cure is not only possible but achievable in our lifetime. Today, amfAR is supporting a range of cure-focused strategies. A new grant initiative called ARCHE-GT, for example, is supporting teams of researchers investigating gene therapy approaches to a cure. Importantly, the researchers are charged with developing an intervention that could be delivered by injection, increasing the chances that, if effective, it could be administered without requiring complex laboratory procedures. Since the beginning of the pandemic, approximately 84.2 million people acquired HIV and more than 40 million have died of AIDS-related illnesses. MasterChef viewers were left rolling their eyes over a 'pretentious' meal that was served up on Thursday's episode. The group were tasked with whipping up some deserts to impress the judges with as finals week draws near. Terri, 30, from County Down, Northern Ireland cooked a 'snowball' dessert of rice pudding in a white chocolate coating. In order to create a 'colder' experience for the judges, they were all served a pair of headphones playing wintery sounds while they ate. It appeared to have an effect on the diners as one remarked: 'It makes you feel so cold youre craving something warm to heat you up.' Eccentric: MasterChef viewers were left rolling their eyes over a 'pretentious' meal that was served up on Thursday's episode (contestant Terri, 30, pictured) Challenge: Terri, 30, from County Down, Northern Ireland cooked a 'snowball' desert of rice pudding in a white chocolate coating and gave judges headphones to put on for the taste test John Torode also had high praise for Terri after tasting the dish, saying: 'Wow, that is so good. An extraordinary flavour of rice pudding inside but a shell of white chocolate.' But the quirky set up didn't go down too well with viewers who were both confused and unimpressed with the 'tedious' set up. Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: 'Jeez this food and the concept of all of this is so ridiculously pretentious. No thank you.' Another said: 'This #MasterChef meal looks INCREDIBLY tedious!' while another asked: 'What the hell is happening?' A fourth viewer joked: 'I think I want a pair of #MasterChef headphones.' Describing her cooking style, Terri said: 'My cooking style is classic Irish / British / French food with a modern twist using flavours from around the world, in particular Japan. 'My food is inspired by places, people, ingredients, and experiences. I love trying a new dish in a restaurant and recreating my own version of it.' Asked about her future ambitions, she added: 'The dream.to be a food critic. Who doesnt want to eat food for a living? Joking aside, I would love a career in the food industry. Reaction: But the quirky set up didn't go down too well with viewers who were both confused and unimpressed with the 'tedious' set up Ambiance: In order to create a 'colder' experience for the judges, they were all served a pair of headphones playing wintery sounds while they ate 'I really enjoy writing recipes, trying weird and wonderful flavour combinations and would love to work in a professional kitchen environment. 'Who knows what the future holds for me, but one way or another I want it to be food related.' At the end of the episode, judge Greg Wallace said: 'Our five are never going to be the same cooks ever again. 'Theres one more cook off between them and a place in finals week.' Kim Kardashian looked stunning as she flashed her abs en-route to a Blink-182 concert in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday. The reality star, 42, who recently shared her frustration with ex-husband Kanye West, showcased her toned midriff in a white crop-top teamed with an oversize camo jacket. She accentuated her hourglass curves in a navy and bejeweled pair of her favored leggings which were attached to matching stiletto boots. Her raven tresses were styled in soft waves and she sported a rich palette of make-up for the evening. The star was in attendance to support brother-in-law Travis Barker, who is the drummer for the band and sister Kourtney's husband. Curves: Kim Kardashian looked stunning as she flashed her abs en-route to a Blink-182 concert in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday This comes after Kim shared her frustration over her ex-husband Kanye when season three of Hulu's The Kardashians debuted on Thursday. One of the gripes she has with the rapper is close to home. The star said she was irritated when the Yeezy designer went after her mother Kris Jenner. In 2022, Kanye accused Kris of pushing Kim to do a sex tape and pose for Playboy, and guaranteed that his daughters North and Chicago would never do the same. 'I just get really heartbroken for my mom that she has to deal with so much from so many different sides,' admits Kim who says the stress of West's accusations gives her anxiety. Looking good: The reality star, 42, who recently shared her frustration with ex-husband Kanye West , showcased her toned midriff in a white crop-top teamed with an oversize camo jacket Sad: Kim shared her frustration over her ex-husband Kanye West when season three of Hulu's The Kardashians debuted on Thursday It hurts: The 42-year-old star said she was irritated when the Yeezy designer went after her mother Kris Jenner. She split from the controversial rapper in February 2021 after six years of marriage and four children together; seen in 2020 At the episode's end Kim breaks down in tears while revealing the emotional and mental pain her ex-husband West has put her through since their divorce. Kim who split from the controversial rapper in February 2021 after six years of marriage and four children together tells her mother Kris that she's 'exhausted' by Kanye's behavior. She gets particularly emotional while speaking about how her ex-husband 'looks down on [her]' for her infamous 2007 sex tape and 'brings it up' whenever he can. 'All of his shenanigans is going to be far more damaging to the kids one day than my tape will ever be,' she tells Kris passionately. The SKIMS founder also reveals her true feelings about Kanye's habit of making their private text message public. The former Victoria's Secret Angel, 33, oozed glamour in a strapless black David Koma gown that perfectly hugged her slim figure. The elegant garment featured a racy sweetheart neckline and a semi-sheer fabric attached to a dazzling diamond collar around her neck. The gleaming choker kept the fabric altogether - drawing attention to her slender neck and cleavage. As if the ensemble couldn't be any more glamorous, Stella completed her classy look with a pair of matching black gloves. The supermodel sported a striking diamond ring on the glove, and added further bling to her look with emerald stone earrings. Glamorous: Stella Maxwell showcased her stunning figure as she slipped into a jaw-dropping David Koma gown for the amfAR Cannes Gala 2023 Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc on Thursday Sultry: The elegant garment featured a racy sweetheart neckline and a semi-sheer fabric attached to a dazzling diamond collar around her neck Stella styled her platinum tresses into slight waves with a side parting - channelling an Hollywood glamour look. The model showcased a very subtle palette with pale tones and a touch of bronze to enhance her sculpted cheekbones. She added a light smokey eyes and pouted her lips with a nude lipgloss. Stella looked in good spirits as she posed up a storm for the camera, delighting everyone with her stunning looks. The star-studded amfAR Gala Cannes took place at the legendary Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Cap D'Antibes. Queen Latifah served as host for what is the hottest party during the annual Cannes Film Festival, and which raises millions of dollars for AIDS and HIV research and awareness. Guests enjoyed musical performances from Halsey, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and Gladys Knight, while sipping Clase Azul Gold and Reposado tequila from Mexico's first luxury spirits brand. Clase Azul is Mexico's first luxury spirits brand and creators of Clase Azul Reposado that celebrity guests will be sipping on at the party. It retails from 220 and is available to buy in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods as well as the world's finest bars, restaurants and members' clubs. The swanky amfaR gala also included a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, and a fund-raising auction by Simon de Pury. Sponsored by Aston Martin, the event saw the Launch Edition of its new DB12 sportscar auctioned for $1.6million, the highest lot on the night. Stunner: The gleaming choker kept the fabric altogether - drawing attention to her slender neck and cleavage Oozing style: As if the ensemble couldn't be any more glamorous, Stella completed her classy look with a pair of matching black gloves Dazzling: The model added further bling to her look with emerald stone earrings Style choice: Stella styled her platinum tresses into slight waves with a side parting - channelling an Hollywood glamour look Beauty: The model showcased a very subtle palette with pale tones and a touch of bronze to enhance her sculpted cheekbones Subtle: She added a light smokey eyes and pouted her lips with a nude lipgloss Included in the auction were Cecily Brown's latest work - created specially for amfAR - and a signed 2016 Damien Hirst artwork of Leonardo DiCaprio. Amongst amfAR Gala Cannes' co-chairs are Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria and Heidi Klum. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. In April 1983, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, along with Michael Callen and a few others in New York City, founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF). It was the first private organization in the world dedicated to raising funds to support scientific and medical research on AIDS. Its first research grants were awarded in 1984. In September 1985, amfAR was formed through the unification of AMF with the like-minded National AIDS Research Foundation, which had been incorporated in California in August 1985. Since then, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfAR's lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments to bring it within reach of a cure for HIV. amfAR's research investments have contributed to the development of antiretroviral drugs that are keeping millions of people alive, and helped eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in many parts of the world. And amfAR has galvanized a scientific community that, once deeply skeptical, has largely embraced the notion that a cure is not only possible but achievable in our lifetime. Today, amfAR is supporting a range of cure-focused strategies. A new grant initiative called ARCHE-GT, for example, is supporting teams of researchers investigating gene therapy approaches to a cure. Importantly, the researchers are charged with developing an intervention that could be delivered by injection, increasing the chances that, if effective, it could be administered without requiring complex laboratory procedures. Since the beginning of the pandemic, approximately 84.2 million people acquired HIV and more than 40 million have died of AIDS-related illnesses. The commerce ministry is trying to address issues pertaining to the promotion of exports through ecommerce medium, a senior government official has said. Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi also said that while the USD 2 trillion export target by 2030 is ambitious as it entails an annual growth of 14.5 per cent (CAGR), it is not impossible. We trying to address issues on seamless e-commerce for export promotion. We are in touch of the Department of Revenue, RBI, Icegate, and the Department of Post on the issues which entails remission of duties and incentives, ensuring postal bills flows into Icegate, building a regulatory system which addresses return back, etc, he was quoted by TPCI in a release. The DGFT was addressing the TPCIs inaugural edition of India Business and Trade Annual Conclave 2023 here on May 23. The Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), government, industry and academic deep dive to explore ways to reach USD 2 trillion in exports. Research reveals a positive correlation between higher exports and higher per capita income. For achieving the $2 trillion target, India is focusing on both demand and supply side aspects with respective policies, he added. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said the finance ministry has agreed to allow contractors engaged by state-owned NHAI and NHIDCL to convert their bank guarantees into insurance surety bonds. Gadkari had recently said changes will be made to the surety bond offering to make it more lucrative as no contractor is buying it because of the strict conditions imposed by insurance regulator Irdai. "I conveyed to the road transport secretary that he should talk to the finance secretary once to give it (allowing conversion of bank guarantee to surety bonds) from retrospective effect. "In NHAI, in the road ministry and NHIDCL whatever bank guarantees are there, if they want, they can convert them into insurance surety bonds. Permission should be given for this," Gadkari said on Wednesday at an event organised by the National Highways Authority of India. Last year in December, Gadkari launched the country's first-ever surety bond insurance product with an aim to reduce the dependence on infrastructure developers on bank guarantees. "I am happy to tell you that the road transport secretary talked to the finance secretary and the finance secretary has agreed. Now you can convert it," the road transport and highways minister said. The product, from the stable of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, has been developed in response to a demand by the industry and the government. The surety bond insurance is a risk transfer tool for the principal, and shields the principal from the losses that may arise in case the contractor fails to perform his contractual obligation. The product gives the principal a contract of guarantee that contractual terms and other business deals will be concluded in accordance with the mutually agreed terms. In case the contractor doesn't fulfil the contractual terms, the principal can raise a claim on the surety bond and recover the losses they have incurred. Unlike a bank guarantee, the surety bond insurance does not require large collateral from the contractor, thus freeing up significant funds for the contractor, which they can utilise for the growth of the business. Last week, Irdai relaxed norms for surety bonds, a type of insurance policy protecting parties involved in a transaction or contract from potential financial losses due to a breach of contract or other types of non-performance. The changes are aimed at expanding the surety insurance market by increasing the availability of such products. Chemicals and Fertilisers minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday stressed on the need to bring innovations in the chemicals sector and said the government is making efforts to set up chemical parks to meet a rising domestic demand. The minister was virtually addressing an international conference on Chemicals & Petrochemicals, organised by industry body CII in association with the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. To meet the rising domestic demand, the government of India is striving towards establishing the global state-of-art chemicals parks with all necessary plug and play facilities by providing a sustainable ecosystem to the industries, Mandaviya said. The chemical industry is a critical and integral part of growing Indian economy, he said, adding that there is an immense growth potential of this sector. Mandaviya highlighted the need to bring innovation across all the segments of the chemical and petrochemical industry to design and develop new chemicals and production processes. He assured the industry of full support in building a conducive ecosystem for the sustainable chemicals industry. The minister said the Modi government is addressing the basic issues concerning the sector in a mission mode. According to a CII statement, Mandaviya further mentioned that to meet the skilling requirement of the industry, the ministry is committed to skill 1.2 lakh person per annum in this sector. He pointed out the four priority areas that will prove transformative for the industry -- digital economy, education, energy transitions and environment & climate sustainability. Bitter feuds have been witnessed in the appointments of VCs. Chief ministers want to control the appointment of VCs as well as the university itself It is well-established that universities and institutions of higher learning grow in credibility and acceptability when they enjoy real and effective autonomy in performing their well-articulated task of preparing young persons with a fulsome personality for the future and simultaneously creating the future of the nation. Towards these avowed objectives, the academics there need to put their intellectual prowess in full concentration in the deep study of existing knowledge and wisdom, critical analysis of existing practices in pedagogy and possible improvements that could ensure better pedagogy of the transfer of knowledge to young learners, generation of new knowledge and skills, innovations and exploration of ways and mean to utilize it all in the welfare of mankind. The key word is autonomy, availability of adequate resources, and non-interference from external sources that invariably intrude simply because of their positions of power and authority in varied contexts. The system of state governance and civil society have a responsibility to ensure the smooth functioning of these academic and intellectual pursuits in present times, defined by the march of humanity towards a knowledge society and knowledge economy. It is worthwhile to recall that this is no new proposition. It was the basis of the traditional Indian system of learning and gaining knowledge; in the Gurukula system. The Gurukulas were places of great societal reverence, even kings and emperors entered these premises only after seeking due permission of the Chief Acharya; the Kulapati or Kul Guru; and considered themselves fortunate to take dust from their feet. The state and community ensured the availability of necessary support of varied kinds. In the context of the current times, one could think of some major internationally recognised universities, and it would invariably emerge that it was autonomy that paved the path for their progress and growth and for the outstanding contributions of their products in the field of knowledge. Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, University of California, Berkeley, and a few more are globally acknowledged for their seminal contributions. There is no role of the State in their functioning or appointments. India had experienced it in Nalanda, Taxila, Vikramshila, Vallabhi, and others. It has recent examples of the initial years of growth and excellence witnessed in BHU, Kolkata University, Allahabad University, Delhi University; and a couple more. These acquired credibility, acceptance and a unique culture of work specific to each one of these. These were fortunate to have Vice-Chancellors of the stature of Dr Radhakrishnan, Sir Ashutosh Mukherji, Pundit Ganga Nath Jha, and other luminaries of outstanding stature. It was the stature of the VC that doubly assured non-interference in the university's autonomy. It made all the difference. Now, India could boost more than 1100 universities. The growth in numbers, necessary and inevitable, has certain unwanted imperatives as well. The challenge is the quality of the learning imparted. Things are very different times in the context of the autonomy of universities as also in the level and credibility of the academic leadership in most of the universities. Dr Radhakrishnan was convinced that: "Education is a universal right and not a class privilege." Simultaneously he also had very clearly stated how significant it was to value talent and merit in universities. The following words of Dr Radhakrishnan present one of the finest articulations that could comprehensively guide the functioning of Indias institutions of higher learning: Intellectual work is not for all, it is only for the intellectually competent. If our universities, which showed so much promise on the eve of Independence, now appear to be in a state of disarray, it is because they have been increasingly invaded by masses of people who have no regard for intellectual competence or aptitude for academic work. We have made short work of tests of intellectual competence to make peace with every kind of social and political pressure. It was Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru who spoke on how necessary it was to ensure proper academic functioning of the universities: A University stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for the adventure of ideas and the search of truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race towards even higher objectives. If the universities discharge their duties adequately, then it is well with the nation and the people. And both of these stalwarts were expressing themselves some seven to eight -decades ago! It was a different age of value-internalization The pursuit of excellence suffers on several counts both at the school level and also at the university stage. The common factor is the dearth of appropriate and committed academic leadership that could command respect because of competence, commitment and performance. There are severe issues of vacant positions and commercialization which just cannot be ignored. Several instances are being reported on the disturbing state of affairs in the universities funded by state governments. The credibility and quality of professional contributions of a university are primarily linked to the vision and foresight of its leader; the Vice-Chancellor! States normally have the Governor as the Chancellor of state-funded universities, and private universities select their own Chancellor. Usually, the office of the Chancellor of state-funded universities initiates the process of the selection of VCs. The first step is the appointment of a search-cum selection committee for the same. The Chancellor's nominee on the committee is also designated as the convener; there is a nominee of the state government, a nominee of the UGC, and a nominee of the Executive Council of the concerned universities. There could be minor variations in the composition of the committee depending upon the relevant State Act. The proviso of the Governor ex-officio becoming the Chancellor intends to wean the selection process away from political influences, as also from any other external pressures. It worked well during the first four-five decades after independence, but not so now. During the last couple of years, some bitter feuds have been witnessed in the appointments of VCs in a couple of states where the elected chief ministers wish to control the appointment of VCs. Obviously; quality is not the concern in such instances. A pliant VC with desirable political moorings could be a great asset in so many ways that are by now well-known to all. In Kerala, the Chief Minister not only reappointed one retiring VC, but he also went ahead to appoint several more. The High Court cancelled all of these. The state of West Bengal has come up with legislation that would startle everyone concerned with education and universities. The state government of West Bengal would like to have search-cum-selection committee with a nominee of the chief minister, a nominee of the state government and also a nominee of the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education in a committee of five members that would include a nominee of the Chancellor and also the UGC! This is a candid and clear political statement intended to reduce the authority of the Chancellor in appointing a reputed academician to lead the university. It is beyond common sense why there should be three nominees of the state Govt. Such trends deserve to be checked seriously. (The works in education, social cohesion and religious amity) Human observation can be biased but the observations made by AI may be impartial unless there is human interference Despite tremendous growth made in the field of science and technology, Indian science is beset with a lot of issues at the ground level. Only if there is a pinch of passion will landmark discoveries come from our institutions. Unfortunately, most of our researchers lack that passion. Research is considered a stop-gap arrangement between marriage and employment. One main issue affecting Indian science is the plight of Indian research scholars. Scholars have been deemed equivalent to class four employees in many institutions. They are made to work like a horse in a lab, with no free time, no holidays and a meagre salary if one is not fortunate enough to get through some fellowships. Even in many labs, passionate scholars are not given respect by their supervisors and sometimes go to the extent of torturing them. In this era of artificial intelligence, where AI dominates every field of human life, I was curious to find out how AI will perceive Indian science. With this objective, I asked the most popular Chat bot, ChatGPT its perception of the issues affecting Indian science, and the bot gave the following, Funding: One of the major issues affecting Indian science is the lack of funding. While the Indian government has increased funding for science in recent years, it is still much lower than that of other countries. This lack of funding makes it difficult for researchers to conduct high-quality research and to attract and retain talented scientists. Infrastructure: The lack of proper infrastructure and facilities is another major issue. Many universities and research institutions in India lack basic equipment, and researchers often rely on outdated technology. Brain Drain: There is a significant brain drain in India, as many of the best and brightest scientists and researchers leave the country for better opportunities abroad. Education: The quality of education in India needs improvement, especially in science and technology. This is necessary to produce more competent and skilled scientists and researchers. Bureaucracy: The bureaucracy in India can be a significant hurdle for scientists and researchers, causing delays in obtaining funding and approvals for research projects. Political interference: There have been instances where political interference has affected scientific research in India. This can hinder the development of science and technology in the country. Collaboration: There is a lack of collaboration between researchers and institutions in India. This makes it difficult to share resources, knowledge, and expertise, which could hinder scientific progress. If we analyze critically, the answers provided by the bot are highly relevant. Among the various factors affecting the quality of Indian science, the poor quality of science education cited by the bot needs serious attention. One major issue in science education includes outdated syllabi, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of qualified teachers. Teachers in India often lack adequate training in science subjects. The bot observes a significant gender disparity in science education in India, with fewer girls pursuing science subjects than boys. This gender disparity is due to societal stereotypes and a lack of female role models. Bot's response regarding the attitude of supervisors in India towards their research scholars is quite interesting. It has rightly pointed out the correct picture of our supervisors in an impartial manner. According to the bot, the attitude of supervisors towards their research scholars can vary depending on various factors such as the supervisor's personality, work culture, institutional policies,etc. In general, supervisors in India tend to be highly respected and hold considerable authority over their research scholars. They are expected to guide and support their scholars in all aspects of their research work, including conceptualizing and designing experiments, analyzing data, and writing publications. Some supervisors may take a more hands-off approach, expecting their scholars to work independently and only providing guidance when requested. However, there have also been reports of supervisors in India exhibiting a lack of professionalism, such as being dismissive of their scholars' ideas or concerns, being inaccessible or unresponsive, and even engaging in unethical behaviour, such as taking credit for their scholars' work. Such behaviour can be detrimental to the scholars' academic progress and well-being. Human observation can be biased, as it is an innate human quality. However, observations made by AI may be impartial unless there is human interference. Our policymakers must address these issues to build a robust scientific workforce dedicated to the nation's development. (The writer is a science communicator and columnist) While the new Karnataka government is getting all the praise for getting its act together, the BJP is yet to set its house in order With the swearing-in of Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and others on Saturday, a new chapter has begun in Karnatakas political history. The oath-taking ceremony got national attention because of the participation of the satraps of opposition parties including the secessionists PDP, NC and DMK. This is the first time in Karnataka a swearing-in ceremony was attended by all major national and regional parties from all over the country. The new government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah got into business within minutes of assuming office and gave a green signal to five of the poll promises the Congress had given to the electorate. It is expected that the new government would soon rescind the decision of the BJP government which had banned the hijab from all educational institutions and set free hundreds of Islamic youth who have been languishing in prisons on charges ranging from extremism and terrorism. But there are some unanswered questions that both the Congress and the losers BJP owe the people. Islamist leaders had told the media that there was an understanding between them and the Congress that there would be a deputy chief minister and five ministers from the Muslim community in the government to be formed by the GOP. The community members would be given plum portfolios like revenue, home, PWD and higher education. The Congress leaders have not denied this statement made by the Muslim community leaders. Similarly, it was reported that the tenure of Siddaramaiah would be for 30 months after which Sivakumar would be elevated as chief minister. Though party strongman K C Venugopal who masterminded the election campaign as well as the picking of candidates ruled out any such arrangement. Days before the new government took over, the Central Government appointed Praveen Sood, a Himachal Pradesh-born IPS officer as the director of CBI, Indias premier investigation agency. Sood the chief of Karnataka Police was probing the corruption charges against Shivakumar. What will happen to those cases (last heard, there were 12 cases!) is anybodys guess. Shivakumar had assured the electorate that he would send Sood to prison after the assembly election was over, Venugopal has also made it clear that Shiva would continue leading Karnataka Congress as its State chief till the Lok Sabha election which is likely to take place in March-April 2024. The Muslims voted en masse to the Congress on the assurance given by the latter about the induction of community members as deputy chief ministers and five ministers with important portfolios. The run-up to the election saw a massive outflow of leaders (including a former chief minister and deputy chief minister) from the BJP to the Congress. Jagadish Shettar, the former CM, said he was insulted and disgraced by RSS leader B L Santhosh, the de facto BJP chief of South India. According to BJP leaders in the State as well as in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, B L Santhosh, addressed as Anna by his sidekicks, had set his eyes on the post of Chief Minister. It was to smoothen his high-speed journey to the national capital that he cut to-size leaders like Yeddyurappa, Shettar and Shobha Karandlaje. Santhosh, described as the head of the Brahmin Mafia, calls the shots in BJP. The contrast between the leadership of Congress and BJP is that while the former has leaders with direct contacts with grass root level workers, self-appointed RSS chieftains like Santhosh have no knowledge about ground realities. For them, voters too are Swayamsevaks, those destined to work selflessly and suffer silently. The Karnataka BJP reminds one of the novel Oliver Twist immortalized by the main protagonist and the villain Fagin. Well, politics and political parties should always get fresh air and ideas. (The writer is special correspondent with The Pioneer) Rahul Gandhi is all ears to former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan who favours leftist push to the economy The Congress has taken a certain left turn in its bid to outsmart the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state elections. From being a centrist party with a shade of leftism in policy formulation, Congress is moving more to the left in giving centre stage to the policy formulation that the people in the country need to be cared for by giving money in their hands. This is in contrast to the economists who argue that the people should be enabled to earn their own livelihoods than support them with cash handouts. More than a decade ago, in 2011, the then ruling UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had launched Aajivika Mission in Banswara, Rajasthan after the right-thinking economists with heft within the Congress had concluded that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was coming out with full of leakages and least asset development. Dr Manmohan Singh, the then prime minister, along with Sonia Gandhi had taken part in the launch of the Aajivika Mission, which was hailed by the Congress at that time as a game changer as the scheme would make the people in the rural areas self-employed and earn their own livelihoods. Aajivika was the name given to the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. The UPA government wanted the focus to shift from the MGNREGS to Aajivika. Its a coincidence that Jairam Ramesh was the Union Minister for Rural Development in the latter years of the UPA-II government. Ramesh is now an integral part of the Team Rahul Gandhi. Ramesh was working to find market linkages for the rural artisans in states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and others to give a meaningful direction to the Aajivika scheme. But the UPA after two terms in office was voted out of power. Ramesh became busy writing books. The Congress went into the wilderness. The BJP seemed set to wipe out the Congress. Worse, even a section of the Congress leaders began thinking that the party has no future. The scale of defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections only grew in the 2018 general elections. The Congress leaders from the dissidence camp, who sought non-Gandhi leadership at the helm, gained more attention than the Gandhi family. The story of the Gandhi family was suggested in some quarters to be over. Rahul Gandhi was dubbed a non-serious politician. But the team Rahul Gandhi regrouped. Ramesh joined as a key member of the team and also became the head of the communication department of the Congress. The party began experimenting with pre-poll adjustments with the Left parties in West Bengal. The Congress repeated the experiment in Tripura. The Left parties began influencing the economic worldviews of Congress. Rahul Gandhi boarded the Left-at-the-steering bus with enthusiasm. Even before Rahul Gandhi set out on the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he was all ears to the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Raghuram Rajan, who is a votary of putting cash in the hands of the people as a way to pump consumption to push the economy to higher growth. Rahul Gandhi would most often hold interactions with Rajan, who even briefly walked with him during the Bharat Jodo Yatra during which several Left-leaning economists also appeared with the former president of the party. Now, the Congress has taken a decisive Left turn. Himachal Pradesh Assembly election could have been taken as an exception because the hilly state largely has government employees as its core vote base and the party may have made a one-time exception to ride the populism of promising to restore the Old Pension Scheme, and several other cash dole-outs to the people. But the Congress went steps ahead in Karnataka, which is in the league of very few states with high per capita income and where the unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country, roughly stated to be 4.2 per cent, while the state Budget has a size of Rs 3 lakh crore, besides being the source of the second highest monthly GST collections since October last year. A section of economists claims that the Congress five guarantees would cost Karnataka almost Rs 62,000 crores annually. This will amount to almost one-fifth of the total Budget of Karnataka. The Congress has not yet explained how the economy of Karnataka would gain from such excessive cash dole-outs. Only this week, a young girl died in Bengaluru, drowned in a car after a sudden downpour in a city, which claims to host all the top international corporate names, besides hundreds of research and development centres. The amounts to be given to the unemployed graduates (Rs 3000 monthly) and diploma holders (1500 monthly) could have easily been spent on skilling them for their employability, and even linkages found with countries such as Japan, Australia, Germany, Nordic countries, etc., who are facing acute shortage of the trained manpower. But the Congress left turn appears to be a template for the revival of the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and economics, for the party leaders, can't wait for better days to get the due attention. (The writer is contributing editor of The Pioneer) In a show of unity, 19 Opposition parties, including the Congress, the Left and the TMC, on Wednesday announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying they find no value in a new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out. The decision to boycott came amid a war of words on the matter between the Government and the Opposition, which has been demanding that the President should inaugurate the new Parliament building, and not the Prime Minister. The BJP-led accused the Congress of hypocrisy and questioned the locus standi of Sonia Gandhi, saying that then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Sonia had inaugurated legislative buildings in Manipur and Tamil Nadu. Congress hypocrisy knows no limits, said BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, reminding the Congress that then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament House Annexe and her successor Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the Parliament Library building in 1987. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, however, urged the protesting Opposition parties to reconsider their decision to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building. It was unfortunate that the Opposition parties were making an issue out of a non-issue, he said. The Opposition parties had boycotted the ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the building by Modi in December 2020, citing concerns about its timing amid farmer protests, the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic distress due to a lockdown. Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Janata Dal (United), AAP, CPI-M, CPI, SP, NCP, SS (UBT), RJD, IUML, JMM, NC, KC (M), RSP, VCK, MDMK, RLD are the signatories of the joint statement. In their joint statement, the Opposition parties said the new Parliament building has been built at great expense during a once-in-a-century pandemic with no consultation with the people of India or MPs, for whom it is apparently being built. Noting that the inauguration of the Parliament building is a momentous occasion, the Opposition parties in a joint statement said, Despite our belief that the Government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion. However, Prime Minister Modis decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response. The Opposition parties said the president is not only the Head of State in India, but also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it. In short, Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the president, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman Adivasi President, the parties said. The Congress said the Prime Ministers decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building is a direct attack on democracy. Asserting that Parliament is not built by bricks of ego but through constitutional values, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said not letting President Droupadi Murmu inaugurate the new Parliament building as well as not inviting her to the ceremony is an insult to the countrys highest constitutional post. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also attacked Union minister Hardeep Puri for his remarks that Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe building in 1975 and Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation of the parliament library in 1987. In a relief to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, an MP-MLA sessions court here on Wednesday overturned the three-year sentence awarded to him by a lower court in a 2019 hate speech case. An MP-MLA magistrate court had on October 27, 2022 sentenced Khan, the then SP MLA from the Rampur Sadar seat, in the case. Following this, Khan was disqualified as an MLA. A government counsel in the case said the special court accepted the appeal filed against Khans sentence. Khans counsel Vinod Sharma said, We have been acquitted in the hate speech case. We are happy that we have got justice. Our contention that we had been framed in the case has been upheld by the court, and the judgement is in our favour, Sharma added. After Khans membership to the assembly was disqualified, a by-election was held in the Rampur Sadar seat. BJP candidate Akash Saxena defeated the SPs Asim Raja, a close aide of Khan, in the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged captains of industry and business of Australia to invest in India given numerous economic reforms and initiatives launched by the Government for ease of doing business and boosting economic growth. He gave this invitation during a business roundtable with the CEOs of top Australian companies in Sydney. The participating CEOs represented leading companies operating across a diverse range of sectors, including steel, banking, energy, mining and IT, among others. Vice Chancellors from some of the leading universities of Australia also participated in the roundtable. Prime Minister Modi highlighted numerous economic reforms and initiatives launched by the Government for ease of doing business and boosting economic growth. These include Mission Gati Shakti for integrated approach towards infrastructure connectivity projects, Jan Dhan-Aadhar-Mobile trinity, National Education Policy, Hydrogen Mission 2050, PLI scheme, opening of private investment in domain of space and geospatial sector, new policy of medical devices manufacturing, and Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme besides others, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Modi invited the CEOs to take advantage of investment opportunities offered by India in domains of infrastructure, including digital infrastructure, IT, fintech, telecom, semiconductors, space, renewable energy, including green hydrogen, education, pharma, healthcare including medical devices manufacturing, mining including critical minerals, textile, agriculture, and food processing. Modi also encouraged the CEOs to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with their Indian counterparts. On May 23, the Prime Minister met business leaders of top Australian companies and called for enhancing cooperation with the Indian industry in areas such as technology, skilling and clean energy. Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday for the third and final leg of his three-nation tour. He is visiting Australia as a guest of the Australian Government. Modi held bilateral meetings with Hancock Prospecting Executive Chairman Gina Rinehart, Fortescue Future Industry Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest and AustraliaSuper CEO Paul Schroder. During April 2000 and December 2022, India received USD 1.07 billion in investments from Australia, according to government data. Both countries have already implemented an interim free trade agreement on December 29 last year. The two nations are now engaged in widening the scope of that agreement into a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). Australia was the 13th largest trading partner of India in 2022-23. While exports stood at USD 6.95 billion, imports from that country aggregated at USD 19 billion. India is Australias largest export market for gold and chickpeas, the second-largest market for coal and copper ores and the third-largest market for lead and wool. Key imports from Australia include coal, copper ores and concentrates and petroleum. The installation of historical and sacred sengol (sceptre) received by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru symbolising the transfer of power from the British to India in the new Parliament House on May 28 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a historic moment. It is a emotional and spiritual integration of India from north to south, for sengol harks back to Tamil history from the Sangam age over 2,000 years ago. Addressing a press conference, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, The ruler would be vested with the Sengol with the order (aanai in Tamil) to rule with dharma, meaning justly and fairly. The use of a sengol has been popular since the Sangam age, he said, adding, The Tamil classic Thirukkural hails the importance of the sengol. There is a whole chapter on the sceptre (titled sengonmai). Shah said all political parties have been invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament and they will take a call as per their wisdom. Sengol cant be associated with politics. Sengol conveys the message that the government should run with justice and fairness and it should be rule-based. This message will go to the people and peoples representatives when it is installed in the new Parliament building, he said. Shah said the PM will also honour 60,000 workers (shram yogis) at the inauguration. He said the new Parliament building is a testament of the Prime Ministers vision of creating a new India, which combines modernity with the countrys heritage and traditions. The historical sceptre is made of silver with gold coated and the sacred Nandi, with its unyielding gaze. The Nandi on top of the Sengol is symbolic of Nyaya (Justice). It was a traditional Chola practice for Samayacharyas (spiritual leaders) to lead the coronation of kings and sanctify the transfer of power, which is also considered a kind of recognition for the ruler, says Prof S Rajavelu, formerly with the Department of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology of Tamil University. Tamil kings had this sengol (a Tamil word for sceptre), which is a symbol of justice and good governance. The two great epics Silapathikaram and Manimekalai records the significance of a sengol, said Prof S Rajavelu. He noted a solemn and sacred Tamil tradition of Sengol Vesting Ceremony accompanied by a recital of 11 verses from the Theveram text, invoking the blessings of Shiva, for the ruler took place just before Nehru hoisted the national flag and made his Tryst with Destiny address, symbolising the transfer of power. Taking a dig at the Congress, senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday said that the Central Government can also bring the ordinance on control of services in Karnataka and other states in the future. Bharadwaj s statement comes a day after Congress Ajay Maken strongly opposed extending any support to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the issue. Speaking to the reporters, Bharadwaj said, Ajay Maken has been rejoicing over their Karnataka victory but he should remember that the Centre can bring similar ordinance in Karnataka tomorrow and take away the powers of police there. What will they do then? The Congress has become alive after we raised this issue of ordinance, else who knows Ajay Maken here? Reacting to the AAP leaders statement, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said the Centre cannot bring similar ordinance in other states and that state government laws and powers have been clearly defined by the Constitution. This ordinance relates to the area where there is a difference in opinion. Delhi is an Union Territory and its powers can be granted or taken away by the Parliament. He (Saurabh Bhardwaj) is talking about our state government, he should know that state government laws and powers are clearly defined by the Constitution. If Saurabh Bhardwaj does not understand this basic difference, I would like to say that I dont want to indulge in debates by such people, Dikshit said. Bhardwaj further stated that the Congress is a national party and they will take a decision about the ordinance matter considering their gains and losses, adding that not letting the bill pass in the Parliament is one option for the AAP and the other is to take it to the Supreme Court. Kejriwal has sought the support of various political parties on the Delhi services issue and on Tuesday, he met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He also sought Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars support during their meeting earlier this week. He is appealing to other parties too for support on the issue. Ten members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT) were produced in the NIA court of Bhopal on Wednesday after remand was completed on May 24, court sent them to judicial custody till June 2. All were brought to the court under tight security and all were produced in the court of Raghuveer Prasad Patel of NIA. The ATS produced 16 members of HUT arrested from Bhopal, Chhindwara and Telangana in the court on May 19 as well. After which the court sent 6 to judicial custody. The remaining 10 members were handed over on remand till May 24. On May 19, the ATS sought remand of the HUT members seeking their interrogation. Opposing this, the defense side had said that the ATS has not been able to extract anything special from them in the remand taken so far. The court had approved the remand of 10 members till May 24. On May 24, all the 16 suspects were brought to the court in a mini bus for appearance. During this, strict security arrangements were made in the court as well. Members of intelligence agencies were also present. The media was stopped at a distance. The road to the NIA court was blocked. Apart from the lawyers of the accused, no one was allowed to go. Theri family members also came to meet him, who were stopped earlier and were allowed to meet only after the hearing. ATS had detained 10 people from Bhopal, 1 from Chhindwara and 5 from Telangana on 9th May. Evidence was found that the accused were linked to Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT). In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old girl was burnt alive while five other family members were critically injured after fire broke out in their house following an explosion in the cooking gas cylinder. The incident took place in Firozabad district on Wednesday morning and the injured were admitted to hospital by the local police. According to reports, food was cooked in the house of one Israr, who lives in Momin Nagar under Ramgarh police station, on Wednesday morning. He was also running a bangles making factory from his house to make a livelihood. Local residents claimed that due to leakage in the LPG cylinder pipe, fire broke out in the house and suddenly the cylinder exploded following which the family was trapped inside. On getting information about the incident, police and fire tenders reached the spot and with the help of the local residents, the police broke a wall of the house and took out the people trapped inside and sent them to the district hospital for treatment. The doctors pronounced 12-year-old Khushi dead while the condition of two of the five injured was stated to be critical. The injured were identified as Isrars daughters Farah and Falak, his son Irshad, Kayanat (15) and Umaria, both minor girls residing in the same locality. Superintendent of Police (City) Sarvesh Kumar Mishra, who visited the spot, confirmed one death and said that police were probing the cause of the incident. A case was registered and the body was sent for autopsy. In another tragic incident, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sub-inspector and his wife were killed and their son was seriously injured when their motorcycle was hit by a speeding van in Mainpuri, police said on Wednesday. The accident took place in the Kuraoli police station area in front of the local tehsil office on Tuesday. CRPF Sub-Inspector Jabar Singh (55), who was posted in Sonipat, his wife Mamata Devi (52) and their son Surjeet were going somewhere on a motorcycle. After the crash all victims were rushed to the Saifai medical college hospital, from where Jabar Singh and Mamata Devi were referred to a medical facility in Agra. Both succumbed to their injuries on the way. The condition of the injured was stated to be stable, Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar said. Police have seized the van and attempts are on to arrest its driver, the SP said, adding that a case was registered. In another mishap in Etawah, two members of a family were killed when a car hit a road divider on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, police said on Wednesday. The accident took place on Tuesday evening when a family of four was going to Lucknow from Ghaziabad, Saifai police station in-charge Yashwant Singh said. While Usha Kiran (57), posted in Delhi as a food safety officer, died on the spot, her mother Shanti Devi (74) succumbed to injuries in a hospital later, the SHO said. Usha Kirans father and brother were injured in the accident and were admitted to Saifai medical college hospital from where their relatives shifted them to a private hospital in Ghaziabad in the night. The bodies were sent for post-mortem and further investigations were on. The Chhattisgarh government has signed a MoU with the George Institute for Global Health, Australia, for five years for research on malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. Bhim Singh, Director of Health Services, and Prof Anushka Patel, Chief Executive Officer of the George Institute, signed the non-financial agreement, an official statement said on Wednesday. George Institute will prepare a technical model by researching on malnutrition and non-communicable diseases in Chhattisgarh. It will be an evidence-based model after field research. It will help in solving diseases caused by these problems. Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo and his officials are on a study tour of Australia. The George Institute is known for its large-scale medical science studies and is one of the leading research universities worldwide. Host of teachers of Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU ) on Wednesday held demonstration outside university campus to protest cut in state government notified holidays by Governor's secretariate.They also wore black badges while demonstrations. They shouted slogans of teachers' unity and sodality and demanded withdrawal of the order issued by the Governor's secretariat in this regard. Talking to media outside the university building association general secretary Himanshu Shekher Choudhary said that whosoever has suggested for this cut is unaware of the functioning of universities in Jharkhand. Himanshu said we are not opposed to cuts but what about the numbers of Earned and Casual leaves that as vocational staff we don't get compared to non vocational staff. There must be mention of these too in order to cut. As vocational staff as per notification of the state government we get only 12 earn leave against 33 in a calendar year compared to non vocational staff.. Similarly, we have just eight casual leaves compared to16 of theirs. Terming it a double standard, Himanshu said if the matter is not hammered out the teachers would hold a day long pendown strike and if no action were taken, would consider for a hars step in protest for withdrawal of the order. In reply to a question over university's demand of holding examination of second generic paper for undergraduate students who have passed out from 2015 till 2022,Himanshu admitted , it was a mistake at some level by universities, but unfortunately it's students that now are at receiving end.. As the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre completes nine years in office, the party is preparing to launch an extensive public relations campaign aimed at consolidating support and securing victory in all 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. The campaign, scheduled to run from May 30 to June 30, will involve a series of public meetings and events across the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking to secure the Lok Sabha seats in Purvanchal, plans to hold a pivotal public meeting in his Varanasi parliamentary constituency. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several Union ministers are set to address public meetings in west Uttar Pradesh. The exact schedule of these events is yet to be finalised. The BJPs public relations campaign encompasses a range of programmes designed to engage different segments of society. These include conferences for the enlightened class and businessmen, social media volunteer meets, visits to observe development projects (Vikas Teerth), meetings with senior party workers, joint conferences involving all frontal organisations of the party, meetings with the beneficiaries of all government schemes, and commemoration of Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjees sacrifice. To achieve their goal of winning all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has set a target of conducting public meetings in each constituency. Prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president JP Nadda, and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Smriti Irani, will address these public meetings, BJP state vice-president Vijay Bahadur Pathak told The Pioneer. The Uttar Pradesh BJP unit has sought time from Central ministers so that they can be involved in the campaign. The next month holds great significance for the party, and we plan to launch a mass public relations campaign during this period. The campaign will see BJP MPs and MLAs engaging with the families of eminent individuals, alongside public meetings addressed by Union ministers, Pathak said. Notably, the BJP will focus on the seven seats it lost in the western region of the state during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. These seats include Moradabad, Bijnor, Nagina, Amroha, Sambhal, Rampur, and Saharanpur. Consequently, the public meetings in this campaign will lay emphasis on the western region, and leaders such as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari may address gatherings in these constituencies. Additionally, the BJP will pay special attention to the four parliamentary seats it lost in the eastern region during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, namely Ghosi, Lalganj, Ghazipur, and Jaunpur. Prime Minister Modi, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other veteran leaders are expected to hold public meetings in these constituencies. In addition to Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi may also address public meetings in Gorakhpur, as the iconic Gita Press located there completes 100 years. These public meetings will serve as an opportunity for the prime minister to connect with the people and garner support. The BJP has set a target of attracting a crowd of at least 10,000 people to each rally. Social media platforms will play a crucial role in promoting the public relations campaign, allowing the party to engage with a broader audience and raise awareness about the Central and state government schemes. As the BJP launches this extensive public relations campaign, it aims to solidify its position in Uttar Pradesh and secure a resounding victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The partys leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will utilise their influence to connect with the electorate and communicate the partys vision for the future. The Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) has formed a Help Desk committee to provide guidance and assistance to traders regarding the deposit of Rs 2,000 notes. CCCI President Amar Parwani said the committee will help out in case of problems in business transactions. Chief Minister Hemant Soren today raised an important issue of minimal representation of tribal communities in the judiciary and sought a system through which its representation could be increased. I would like to draw the attention of the dignitaries present towards an important issue. The negligible presence of tribal communities in the Superior Judicial Service in the state of Jharkhand is a matter of concern. There is no provision of reservation in the appointment process of this service. Since the Judges of the High Court are appointed from this service, the position is the same in the High Court. Therefore, I would like that a provision for reservation should be made in the appointment process of senior judicial service in this tribal-dominated state, said the CM during the inauguration programme of the new High Court building in Ranchi on Wednesday. The CM welcomed the dignitaries in Jharkhand, the land of heroes and said that it is a moment of pride for crores of people of Jharkhand as well as for him. He said that the Jharkhand High Court building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 600 crore in this complex spread over about 165 acres. In a tribal dominated small state, this building and premises is bigger than any High Court building and premises in the country. I hope that the state of Jharkhand where tribals, Dalits, backward and poor people are in majority. This institute will prove to be a milestone in the direction of providing them simple, accessible, cheap and speedy justice. Last year, on the occasion of Constitution Day on November 26, 2022, the President had expressed her concern over the increasing number of undertrial prisoners lodged in jails across the country. In Jharkhand also, a large number of poor tribals, Dalits, minorities and weaker sections are imprisoned in jails for petty crimes. This is a matter of concern. There is a need for serious brainstorming on this, he said. Last year, we prepared a list of such cases, which were pending for more than 05 years for research. Their number was about 3,600 (three thousand six hundred). Out of these, more than 3,400 (three thousand four hundred) cases have been executed by running a campaign. Now we have prepared a list of cases pending for more than 04 years. Their number is also about 3,200 (three thousand two hundred). Efforts are being made to complete these cases within the next six months, I am constantly monitoring this, he added. The CM said that due to shortage of assistant public prosecutors in the subordinate judiciary, there were problems in execution of cases. Last month alone we appointed 107 Assistant Public Prosecutors and I hope that this will speed up the disposal of cases. I have got the opportunity to listen to the Chief Justice of India. You are concerned about enhancing the dignity and infrastructure of the subordinate judiciary. I would like to tell you that in the state of Jharkhand, a lot of good work have been done regarding the infrastructure of the subordinate judiciary. I think our state is in the best position in the country. Today, a total of 506 judicial officers are working in Jharkhand, for whom 658 court rooms and 639 residences are available. The state government will give priority to the requirements for the infrastructure of the subordinate judiciary in the future as well, he said. Soren further said that a good initiative is being taken by the Chief Justice of India for how to make the judicial system simple, accessible, cheap and fast by using technology. I appreciate it and would like to assure you that if any project for this work is prepared for Jharkhand, the government will fully support it. I believe that there is an urgent need for the work of the courts to be done in local languages, so that the distance between the temples of justice and the poor common people can be reduced. It should also be made compulsory for judicial officers and assistant public prosecutors to learn at least one local language, so that justice can be made more accessible, said the CM. The Delhi Government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the National Green Tribunals decision to appoint the Lieutenant Governor (LG) as the Chairman of the High-Level Committee on Yamuna. The Delhi Government has urged the top court that the NGT order violates the Constitutional scheme of governance in Delhi as well as the 2018 and 2023 orders of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court. Through its order dated 9.01.2023, the NGT had established this committee, comprising various authorities in Delhi, to address the issue of Yamuna River pollution, with the LG, a mere figurehead of the state, as its Chairman. In its petition, the Delhi Government has recognised the need for interdepartmental coordination to address Yamunas pollution and implement remedial measures, but it has strongly objected to the executive powers granted to the LG through the NGTs order. These powers encroach upon areas exclusively under the competence of the elected government of Delhi, the AAP government said in a statement. In its appeal, the Delhi Government contended that according to the administrative structure in Delhi and the provisions of Article 239AA of the Constitution, the LG serves as a nominal figurehead, except in matters pertaining to land, public order, and police, where the LG exercises powers delegated by the Constitution. The Delhi government acknowledged the importance of a coordinated approach, but it asserted that the language used in the NGT order sidelines the elected government. The plea explains that granting executive powers to an authority that lacks the constitutional mandate to possess them undermines the elected governments rightful jurisdiction. The Delhi Government further contended that the NGTs proposed remedial measures, such as utilising treated water for agriculture, horticulture, or industrial purposes, preventing waste discharge and dumping, protecting floodplain zones, maintaining dredging flow, implementing plantations, and desilting drains, require budgetary allocations that are approved by the legislative assembly, it said. Consequently, the role of the elected government becomes crucial in overseeing these measures. The appeal points out that the elected government is committed to addressing the issue of making Yamuna a clean river free from pollutants and allocating the necessary funds. However, the current scheme outlined in the NGT order establishes a committee led by an unelected figurehead, sidelining the elected and accountable government of NCTD. While an inter-agency committee is desirable for coordination purposes, it should be overseen by the elected head of government, the Chief Minister in this case, the plea says. The committee includes the Chief Secretary of Delhi, Secretaries of the Irrigation, Forest and Environment, Agriculture, and Finance Departments of the Delhi Government, the Chief Executive Officer of Delhi Jal Board, the Vice Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority, a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, the Director-General of Forests or his nominee from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC), a representative from the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) or MoEF & CC, the Director-General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and the Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Delhi Government also highlighted that a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, in its judgement in the case of State (NCT of Delhi) v. Union of India (2018) 8 SCC 501, established that the elected government of NCT of Delhi possesses exclusive executive powers over all subjects in the State and Concurrent List, with the exception of public order, police, and land. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday credited farmers hard work for the emergence of Uttar Pradesh as an economic superpower in the country and said in the last nine years, the nation had seen farmers and labourers becoming the agenda of a government for the first time. Presiding over a programme for the payment of 14th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana to the farmers, the chief minister said, A total of 2.63 crore farmers have been benefitted by the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in the state and a sum of Rs 55,800 crore has been transferred to the bank accounts of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh so far. The chief minister said, Despite the success of the scheme, we heard from some of the farmers that the money is not reaching them. In view of this, the process of Aadhaar authentication is being started on a large-scale so that 100 per cent eligible farmers can benefit from this scheme. Chief Minister Yogi also launched the logo of the Darshan portal, which will provide quick benefits of agricultural facilities to the farmers, and started registration of farmers for various grants and services. Speaking about farmers, he remarked further, Farmers do not belong to any caste, creed and religion, but are the ones who fulfill the needs of society with their hard work and feed the country and the world. Due to the hard work of the farmers of UP, today the state is being established as an economic superpower in the country. The chief minister added, From today, this big campaign is starting in all the 55,000 gram panchayats of the state. Technology can be used not just to crack down on corruption, but also to provide benefits of governments schemes to the needy. Employees of the Post Office, Agriculture and Revenue department will join the grand campaign to connect the eligible farmers with the scheme in every village. The initiative will be publicised in every village to benefit all the farmers. The chief minister said, The face of the villages has changed today. Land records have been digitised to a large extent now, ending disputes. Earlier, disputes were a regular affair. Through the PM Swamitva Yojana, property ownership rights have been provided to hundreds of farmers. So far 56 lakh houses have been made available in UP and by the end of this year, houses will be provided to 1.5 crore families for which the survey work has been completed. Today, villages are moving forward with technology, aiming for cleanliness with comprehensive improvement. The facility of BC Sakhi Yojana and village secretariat is being provided in the villages. Banking facilities have started in villages. One does not need to go elsewhere today to ensure that the money earned from villages is spent on its development alone, or for business purposes, for withdrawing pension or money from accounts. All these facilities are being made available to the people through BC Sakhi. Technology is the need today and work is going on to take it forward in the villages in a better way, the chief minister said. While highlighting the importance of the event, Chief Minister Yogi asserted, This mega campaign is a grand campaign to pay respect to the farmers. All the organisations associated with this campaign will complete it on a large-scale. This will solve the complaints coming from the farmers and I hope that after June 10, no farmer of UP will complain of being denied the benefits of this scheme. On this occasion, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of state Baldev Singh Aulakh, Agriculture Production Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh, Upkar Chairman Captain Vikas Gupta, and senior officers of the Agriculture department were present. The National Highway 33 has witnessed an alarming increase in road mishaps attributed to high speeds, prompting concerns over public safety. A meeting of the Traffic and Road Safety Committee reveals a significant correlation between excessive speed and the occurrence of accidents on this major roadway. The National Highway, known for its high traffic volume and long stretches, has become a hotbed for reckless driving practices. In a meeting of the Traffic and Road Safety Committee organised under the chairmanship of District Transport Officer Dinesh Ranjan at Collectorate Auditorium, Jamshedpur, an in-depth review was made of the road accidents that took place last month, their causes and how these accidents can be prevented. There were 22 road accidents in the month of April in which 14 died and 9 were injured. The officials reviewed all the accident sites. The high speed of vehicles was said to be the main reason for the road accidents happening on the National Highway. In 34 cases of hit and run, so far compensation has been paid to 22 victim families, 12 are under process. The compensation payment was directed by the DTO to speed up the process as soon as possible. It was revealed that action was taken to suspend 496 driving licenses in the month of April on the recommendation of Traffic DSP. At the same time, a fine of about Rs 40 lakh was collected from those caught violating the traffic rules. The representative of Tata Steel UISL was directed by the DTO regarding installation of signals at all the proposed sites. Complete security measures have been taken at 4 out of 6 black spots identified in the district. The education department was directed to launch a massive awareness campaign in schools as soon as the summer vacation is over. Continuous action is being taken against the sale of illegal liquor in line hotels and dhabas in order to avoid road accidents due to drinking and driving on NH and state highways. The Excise Department registered a total of 6 cases in which 01 people have been sent to jail. The District Transport Officer Dinesh Ranjan said that the scheme of providing Rs 5000 and citation is implemented to encourage the Good Samaritan who helped the person injured in the road accident and helped to reach the hospital in the Golden Hour. Is. He appealed to the common citizens to help in taking the injured to the hospital, life can be saved if the seriously injured get medical treatment in the golden hour. Chaired by the Head of the Traffic and Road Safety Department, the committee comprised key stakeholders including representatives from the transportation authority, law enforcement agencies, emergency services, and road safety advocacy groups. The meeting served as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and decision-making to develop a comprehensive action plan. Kamal Kishore, DSP Traffic, representatives of NHAI, Excise Department, Road Division, Road Safety team, Tata Motors, Bus Association and other stakeholders were present in the meeting. Arvind Kejriwals AAP Government in Delhi is most certainly doing a commendable job. If it were not so, his party would have bitten dust by now given the invasive tactics of the saffron brigade. Delhi, the capital of India, became a state in 1992 under the National Capital Territory Act. Under this system of diarchy, the elected Government is given wide powers except in public order, police and land matters that remain with the Central Government. Thus, the Delhi Government has immense powers to govern with ease and dignity. However, the once popular BJP outfit in Delhi, running the country rather haughtily, has been constantly feeling shamefully crushed under the AAPs aggressive style of running Delhi where even the civic bodies have grabbed most seats in successive elections. The apparently invincible Modi-Shah duo has gone berserk due to constant beating by the AAP team. The suffocated saffron biggies have eventually pitted the Lieutenant Governor to play spoilsport by creating all kinds of unheard of hurdles by citing the extra-jurisdictional powers as not enshrined in the Constitution. The AAP didnt care a fig for the LG and moved the Supreme Court to pass a final verdict as to how much trouble the LG could create for the State Government and get away. The long battle ended recently with a court ruling that in a democratic setup, the elected representatives are supreme in authority as they mirror the real public will. The details of trouble-mongering by Modi-Shah's enslaved LG are common knowledge. The Chief Minster was deprived of the basic authority to even shuffle or reshuffle bureaucrats as per demand and desire. The moment the Supreme Court ruled that peoples representatives are the masters and the LG their slave, all hell broke loose in the BJP bastion. BJP bosses lost sanity and forced the Central Government to promulgate an ordinance to have the apex court order nullified. Indeed, there is a provision for overturning Supreme Court rulings in highly-sensitive cases involving core interests of the larger public like it had happened when nationalisation of banks or abolition of the privy purse for heads of the princely states were prime motives. But when the Delhi Government is enjoying unprecedented public love and trust, the BJP messing up with law has turned out to be a very costly move for the once-upon-a-time-popular BJP. The saffron gang, for having been hammered nonstop by the AAP quite in its own den, has evidently gone crazy; hence, the ordinance in mad haste. Now it is clear that a battle between the executive and the judiciary has begun likely to end in the crushing defeat of the former. The team Modi is showing up such tragic flaws as will result in BJP's conclusive fall in more States in the 2024 elections. They were ruling 22 States; now, they have only 15. After the ordinance fiasco, even more States would kick out the saffron creatures from seats of power. Furthermore, the BJP-led national government has proven to be a vindictive one. Amidst Rahul Gandhis attempts at pulling down the BJP biggies for their blunders, the Government threw him out of the official bungalow in mad hurry the moment he was disqualified as an MP. Similarly the CBI, ED and Income Tax hawks have kept pouncing on almost all non-BJP characters for slightest of blunders which are routinely brushed aside as matters of no substance. In contrast, the other gigantic democracy called the USA has a beautifully-drafted Constitution. It makes the Supreme Court the last and final master, whose verdicts are binding in all matters. No ordinance like nonsense can happen in that great country. All this is to avoid a never-ending war between the executive and the judiciary. In most perfect nation states, the judiciary takes the last call and assertively, so that cannot be overturned by any other critical organ of the state. The arrangement justifies the name supreme'. As the final arbiter of law, the US Supreme Court is charged with ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law and, thereby, also functioning as the true guardian and interpreter of the Constitution. The US Supreme Court is real supremo over all, the people, the legislature as well the executive. The top judiciary has the last word. The Constitution is crystal clear on that to make sure the executive does not embark upon any never-ending ping-pong battle. No promulgation of any ordinance can happen in America. Interestingly, the whole hierarchy of judiciary is considered as one organ. Even the American Supreme Court cannot overturn or nullify the verdicts of the State courts unless the issues involve federal interest. A more imposing judicial power has never been constituted by any other people on the living planet. The unique position of the Supreme Court stems, in large part, from the deep commitment of the American people to the Rule of Law and the Constitutional government. Thus brazen and ominous, the Centres Delhi ordinance defies the Supreme Court, spells only ill for federal democracy. The Government is of course cocking a snook at the Supreme Court. The ill-advised Government has intentionally created a full-blown Constitutional crisis. Technically, the Constitution Bench in the NCT case had left room open for changing the governance of Delhi. If Parliament were to pass a law, changing the governance of Delhi and bringing all services under the control of the Union Government, such a law might stand the test of legality even if it were unwise. But by taking the ordinance route, the Government has intentionally created a big Constitutional crisis. If the Supreme Court does not react to the use of this ordinance, it will send two signals: It will have failed to check the abuse of ordinance power of the Union Government. There is no justification for bringing in an ordinance when the Government could have easily proposed legislation, however ill-advised, in a few weeks time. It will have put its seal on the disenfranchisement of millions of Delhi citizens. This ordinance is, without saying it, following the precedent of what it did in Jammu and Kashmir: Change the legal status of a State without any accountability whatsoever. The silence of the court and all political parties on Kashmir is coming home to roost. Whatever ones views on Article 370, the unilateral downgrading of a State to a Union Territory should have occasioned judicial scrutiny and political opposition. Federalism for me but not for thee is not a respectable principle. It is supposed that the courts and the political system have conspired to produce such an equilibrium. The judiciary has got a golden opportunity to fix erring executives for good. Though not explicit like in the American Constitution, the Supreme Court is in letter and spirit the supreme organ to call the final shots. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will take the executive head-on and rule supreme as always, particularly in an evidently defiant matter of grave public concern. The top court trashed the NJAC with gay abandon. Crushing a grossly erring executive is a much lighter task. Africa Day, commemorated every year on 25th May advocates Africas dignity and contributions towards human civilisation. This day is to pay tribute to the founding fathers of Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union (AU). Celebrated widely across the African continent, the day also honours heroes who died in the struggle to liberate their countries from colonial rule. Today, India and Africa share a warm and cordial relationship, and the partnership dates back several centuries. Africa Day is a good time to reflect on the expanding relationship between India and Africa. While the future of the India-Africa economic partnership is driven by the private sector, the initiatives taken by the Indian government cannot be ignored. There are several initiatives taken to deepen and strengthen India-Africa partnership. India and Africas historical links have experienced a revival in recent years, and there are strong reasons for optimism that the partnership could be mutually beneficial. In recent years, Modis government has made moves that indicate Indias intention of becoming Africas biggest partner. In fact, today. India is one of the most significant partners of Africa, and has a strategy with clear guiding principles focusing on growing trade and investment portfolio. The private sector is key to this strategy, particularly in the areas of skill and capacity-building initiatives, health care, agriculture, and the digital revolution. Moreover, underpinning the seriousness of Indias Africa policy shift, the country has made maritime security a key pillar in most of its engagement with African nations. India and Africa have traditionally shared excellent relations both at the individual country level and at the Pan-African level. Historical, political and trade ties are underpinned by the shared anti-colonial struggle in the 20th century. Modi enunciated ten guiding principles for Indias engagement with Africa, during his address to the Ugandan Parliament in July 2018, and these form the bedrock for further strengthening and energising the relations between India and Africa going into 2023. The vision is to dovetail Indias growth story with Africas Agenda 2063, to spur mutual resurgence. While taking forward the multifaceted engagement on the basis of PM Modis ten guiding principles, the maximum focus needs to be on empowering and skilling youth both in India and Africa. Indias development partnership with Africa would, as always, be guided by Africas priorities, on terms comfortable to them with a view to not constrain the partner country in any way and contribute to creating local opportunities and building local capacities among the young people, in each African country. It is the opportune time to unleash the untapped potential of the Africa-India partnership and for jointly leveraging opportunities to collaborate in all areas including Health, green and sustainable development, Education including skilling, IT, Agriculture, Digital economy including emerging technologies like AI, AR, Blockchain, etc. As emphasised by Modi, the partnership will build instruments of empowerment in Africa. Two-thirds of India and two-thirds of Africa are under the age of 35 years and if the future belongs to the youth, this century is ours to shape and build. The India-Africa Forum Summits that have been held so far in 2008, 2011 & 2015 have been an important platform to deepen the relationship between the two. Post Covid, India and Africa, besides focusing on rebuilding economies and businesses, both are working on augmenting health care infrastructure, and ramping up collaborations in joint R&D to deal with future health threats. More Indian pharmaceutical companies need to be encouraged to set up manufacturing facilities in Africa to be able to meet the medicinal needs of all African countries. Training of health care workers especially for handling pandemics like Covid-19, and preparing paramedical staff are the need of the hour in the coming year. Our relationship with Africa, thus goes beyond strategic reach and economic interest. It is more to do with the emotional connection that we share and solidarity that we feel for each other. On this day, its an affirmation to the continent that India has shifted its gears of engagement with Africa, and both will together fight against all odds. Given the convergence of interests, 2023 is an important year to transform ties into a mutually beneficial relationship. The writer is an Assistant Professor at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Delhi. The views expressed are her own. The Congress on Tuesday said that it will contest the next assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh on issues raised by the people during its former president Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra', and not on a projected face. Assembly elections in the BJP-governed MP are due by the year-end. The next regime in Madhya Pradesh will not be the government of theft. We will come to power by winning elections. We will contest elections on the basis of issues. Why do you (media) want the polls on the basis of face, Pawan Khera, who heads the media and publicity department of the All India Congress Committee, said in response to a question. Khera along with Supriya Shrinate, chairperson of AICC's social media team, held a press conference. He said that issues are prioritized by the people of Madhya Pradesh and not by the Congress. During his Bharat Jodo Yatra, a foot march from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, Rahul Gandhi had several conversations with people across the state and issues like price rise, unemployment, corruption and women's safety came up through those talks, Khera said. The Congress leader said that people expect political parties to take up the issues which bother them. Khera said the issues that were in existence during the first term of Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in MP are still there with more severity. Khera said people have made up their mind and are demanding accounts of the work by the ruling BJP as to how the cost of a cooking gas cylinder went up from ? 400 to ? 1,100. The BJP is creating hatred in society and helping its friends get rich, he said. Shrinate said the Karnataka elections, in which the Congress registered an emphatic victory, have given a clear message that the people want their issues to be talked about and addressed. The people of the country conveyed during the Bharat Jodo Yatra that they want a leader who listens to them and doesn't impose his Mann Ki Baat, she said, apparently referring to the monthly radio programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) The All India Adivasi Congress (AIAC) on Thursday announced to stage a protest against the BJP-led government at the Centre over the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead of President Droupadi Murmu on May 28. Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters, AIAC chairman Shivajirao Moghe said, "The Adivasi communities across India are in a rage due to the 'autocratic' decision of PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself. He is completely sidelining India's first woman Adivasi President Droupadi Murmu ji. This is not just a direct insult to India's democracy but also to the entire Adivasi community in India." "PM Modi has a habit of violating the Constitution of India. Not letting the President access her constitutional right to inaugurate the new Parliament building is undemocratic and unconstitutional. He is converting this historical moment into yet another PR stunt for his political promotion," Moghe said. Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the State Level Employment Day and Mahila Sammelan in Umaria district today. The Governor and the Chief Minister symbolically gave away the grant of Rs 271 crore 41 lakh to 1309 MSME units of the state and loans worth Rs 2114 crore 48 lakh to 2 lakh 26 thousand 647 youth under various self-employment schemes. Development works worth Rs 388 crore were dedicated and bhoomi pujan was also performed in the programme. The Chief Minister boosted their morale by interacting virtually with self-employed youths of Sagar, Gwalior, Ujjain and Mandla districts. Chief Minister Chouhan also distributed benefits to the beneficiaries under various schemes. Governor Mangubhai Patel has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to eradicate sickle cell anemia and TB from India. To make this resolve for public welfare successful, we all have to make united efforts. Its investigation has been started especially in 20 tribal-dominated districts, which are most affected by this disease, all the citizens must get themselves tested. The central government has set a target of 2047 for genetic sickle cell anemia and 2025 for TB eradication. The Governor said that TB disease should not be hidden, in case of symptoms, seek medical advice immediately. Patel said that our country resides in villages. With the prosperity of the village, the country will become strong and developed. Madhya Pradesh always remains on top in the implementation of the schemes of the central and state government for rural development. He appreciated the governments decision to give priority to womens small, micro and medium enterprises in government procurement. He also congratulated the state government for being first in the implementation of Matru Vandana Yojana. Referring to Ladli Laxmi Yojana and Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana, the Governor appreciated the efforts of the state government for women empowerment. The Governor said that it is a matter of joy that the state government is working with full dedication for the development of all sections, youth, women, deprived sections and tribals. The state government has implemented PESA Act in 11 thousand 457 villages of 20 tribal-dominated districts to strengthen the traditional rights of tribal community on water, forest and land. Chouhan said that Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana has been launched for the economic empowerment of women of the state. Women will be self-dependent by taking advantage of the scheme and their small financial needs will be fulfilled. The Chief Minister said that June 10 will bring good luck in the lives of women. On this day an amount of Rs one thousand will be transferred to the accounts of all the eligible women. This scheme will change the life and circumstances of women. The process of transferring the amount to the womens accounts will continue. Chief Minister Chouhan said that earlier daughters were considered a burden in the state. Taking the help of modern medical resources, daughters were killed in the womb itself. To improve this situation, I decided that daughters should also get all the opportunities for development like sons. Hence, our government has decided that the daughter born in the state should be a millionaire. For this purpose Ladli Laxmi Yojana was introduced. Today, there are about 46 lakh Ladli Betis in the state. Many schemes are also being implemented to make them empowered. Along with this, the state government is arranging their marriage under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana. A Maoist camp was busted after a fierce gun battle between Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel and Red rebels in the Tumudibandha area of Kandhamal district on Wednesday. The exchange of fire took place in the Sindhipangal forest when the security personnel were carrying out a combing operation. While the Maoists fled from the spot, several arms and ammunitions and Maoist articles were seized from the camp, sources said. It was suspected that some ultras might have been injured in the encounter as blood stains were seen at the encounter site. No security person was injured in the exchange of fire. The combing operation has been intensified in the entire area in the aftermath of the exchange of fire. Notably, Director General of Police (DGP) Sunil Bansal during his recent visit to Kandhamal to attend the inauguration of a BSF camp had said that like Koraput, the Maoists would be wiped out from the district. Mathura was rocked by a sensational murder of a priest. His body was found lying in a pool of blood on the sofa of his room at Satguru Siddha Ashram on Nandgaon road under Kosikalan police station area, on Tuesday evening. Both legs of the victim were tied together and the head was smashed with a brick. The murder came to light when the villagers went to the ashram on Tuesday evening to meet the priest. They immediately informed the police after finding the priest brutally murdered. Later local police along with senior officers and a team of forensic experts visited the spot and carried out investigation. Senior Superintendent of Police Shailesh Pandey, who also reached the spot, formed four teams to work out the case and nab the killers. Reports said that saint Haridas, who hails from Delhi, came to Mathura 20 years ago and since then he was living in Satguru Siddha Ashram. He used to live alone in the ashram and was a priest in the temple. The local residents used to visit the ashram to meet Haridas and get their problems resolved. Sometimes, visitors were also allowed to stay in the ashram during the night. The local residents claimed that Haridas used to visit the houses of local residents to have lunch but on Tuesday, when he did not came out till the evening and no one saw him in the temple, the residents visited the ashram to enquire about his health and were shocked to see his body lying in a pool of blood. The local police claimed that during the probe it came to light that Haridas had come to Mathura from Delhi 20 years ago and one Ashok Pandit, a local resident, had donated about 300 bighas of land to him on which had built the Siddha Ashram besides temples of Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva. Haridas was the priest of both the temples. The police are probing whether the murder is related to the land of the ashram as it is yet to be confirmed whether Pandit had donated the land or Haridas had grabbed it after opening an ashram. Further investigations are on. Meanwhile, the producer-director of Bhojpuri film Do dil bandhe ek dori se died in suspicious circumstances on Wednesday. His body was found lying in a hotel room in Robertsganj town of Sonbhadra. Police broke open the door of the room and took the body into custody and informed the family about the directors death. He was staying in the hotel room for the last 12 days in connection with the shooting of the film. Cigarette packets and medicines were recovered from the room. Reports said that Subhash Chandra Tiwari (60) of Thane in Maharashtra, was producing Bhojpuri film Do dil bandhe ek dori se. The shooting of the film was going on in different areas of Sonbhadra district. The film unit was staying in different hotels since May 12 while Tiwari along with some artistes was staying in a hotel on the Varanasi-Shaktinagar road. According to the members of the film unit, Subhash Chandra Tiwari was upset since Tuesday evening. He was also taken to a doctor. After reaching the hotel, he paid the films hero Prem Singh and heroine Kajal Yadav and sent them to Varanasi airport in a car to go to Mumbai. He went to sleep in his room at around two o'clock in the night. When he did not come out of the room till late Wednesday morning, fellow artistes came to wake him up. When they got no response, they raised an alarm following which the hotel management called the police and the door was broken open only to find the body of Tiwari lying on the bed. Manoj Singh, in-charge of Robertsganj police station, claimed that a case was registered and they were waiting for the autopsy report before moving ahead with the investigation. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday withdrew his interim bail application from the Delhi High Court in cases related to alleged irregularities in formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, saying the medical condition of his wife was stable. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma allowed Sisodia to withdraw the interim bail applications. The senior AAP leader is being probed by CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over alleged corruption and money laundering. Sisodia is lodged in Tihar jail in judicial custody. He had filed both regular and interim bail pleas on various grounds including his wifes poor health. Senior advocate Mohit Mathur, representing Sisodia, said since the order on the main bail plea in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case is already reserved and the condition of the AAP leaders wife is now stable, he does not wish to press for interim bail. However, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the CBI and ED, said it was not a simple case of withdrawal of bail applications. Raju said the move has come after he accused Sisodia of deliberate suppression of facts by not mentioning in court about the discharge of his wife from hospital. The High Court took note of the law officers submission regarding suppression of facts and said without going into any such contention, the application is dismissed as withdrawn. President of India, Droupadi Murmu today reached Jharkhand on her three-day tour to the State. She first landed at Deoghar Airport and performed rituals at Baba Baidyanath Dham temple. The President then reached Ranchi and took part in a couple of programmes including inauguration of the new High Court Building. The President reached Deoghar at 9 AM in the morning and went straight to Baba Baidyanath Dham Temple, where she prayed for the country's happiness and prosperity. After the puja, Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Mithilesh Kumar Thakur felicitated the President by giving him Angavastram and mementos on behalf of the Temple Shrine Board. Notably, President Draupadi Murmu is the fourth President to come to Deoghar. Before this, the country's first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad and former President Pranab Mukherjee and Ramnath Kovind have also worshiped at Baba Baidyanath Dham Temple. The President was accompanied by Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, Additional Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Singh, Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary Manish Ranjan and other eminent persons in Deoghar. The President then flew to Ranchi, where she was welcomed by Governor CP Radhakrishnan and Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The President then paid tributes to Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda at Birsa Chowk and Paramveer Albert Ekka at Albert Ekka Chowk in the city. She then moved to Raj Bhawan ahead of the evening schedule. Later at Raj Bhawan the President interacted with members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Jharkhand at Raj Bhavan for an hour. Later at 5 PM the President left for Dhurwa, where the new High Court building of Jharkhand has been constructed. She inaugurated the country's largest High Court in the presence of Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Chief Justice of India, Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Judge of Supreme Court, Justice Aniruddha Bose, Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court Sanjay Kumar Mishra among other eminent personalities of the nation and the State. In her inaugural speech the President said, This High Court will prove to be a landmark for the whole country. I would like to congratulate all those who contributed to the making of the High Court. It is a very divine experience for me. I hope that this High Court building will inspire other states to build judicial buildings equipped with modern facilities. This is the temple of justice. This is a new step towards development. It is an excellent initiative. English language is mostly used in the judicial process. Due to this it does not become easy for many people. I am talking about the language here while I myself am giving a speech in English. I thank the Chief Justice, who gave a speech in Hindi here today. I think not only for today but also for future you will give a speech in Hindi like this. Inspired by you, other judges will also use their local language in this way. We have to use our language in the judicial process, said the President. After the inauguration of the new High Court building the President returned to Raj Bhawan. She will attend the IIIT Convocation ceremony on Thursday and also participate in a programme organised by the Union Tribal Ministry in Khunti. The survival rate of transplanted trees in Delhi drastically comes down after the first year due to multiple reasons, including limitations of the tree transplantation policy, the city Governments Forest department found during an in-house audit conducted recently. The tree survival rate after one year of transplantation is up to 90 per cent. It drastically drops to 38 per cent after three years, a senior Forest department official, requesting anonymity, told PTI. Data collected after a preliminary audit and submitted to Delhi High Court in May last year showed that only 33.33 per cent of the 16,461 trees transplanted in the national capital over the preceding three years had survived. The Delhi governments tree transplantation policy states that agencies concerned must transplant a minimum 80 per cent of the trees affected by its development works. The benchmark tree survival rate at the end of one year of transplantation is 80 per cent. A three-member committee set up to identify the reasons for the poor survival rate conducted a site-specific detailed inspection from October to February, another official said. The survey, which included a moderate sample size, found that the tree survival rate comes down from up to 90 percent in the first year to 38 per cent after three years. This is because the maintenance responsibility of the technical agency in charge of transplantation is limited to one year of the completion of tree transplantation. Lack of proper maintenance results in the death of the trees, the official quoted above said. In our report submitted to the government, we have recommended tweaking the tree transplantation policy to make it mandatory for the technical agencies to maintain the trees for at least three years, he said. The three-member committee also found that some project proponents had transplanted the same trees twice, adversely impacting their survival rate. The people of villages near the India-China border in Joshimath expressed their disappointment over the slow progress of the reconstruction work of the bailey bridge that collapsed on April 16. The movement of villagers living near the border is being severely affected due to the failure of the authorities to reconstruct the bridge near Malari on the border. According to the locals, they have to face lots of difficulties going to other villages on a daily basis. They said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had made temporary arrangements to carry out movement over the river but it became ineffective after a considerable rise in the water level of the river. This once again prohibited the movement of villagers through the river, as per the locals. It is pertinent to mention here that the bailey Bridge built at the Burans checkpost connecting Niti Valley on the Joshimath-Malari Highway collapsed on April 16 this year after which many villages lost road connectivity in Niti Valley. In another glaring example of the deteriorating law and order situation in the capital city, a youth was hacked to death in broad daylight by a group of miscreants at Unit-1 under the Capital police station on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Sushant Nayak, a resident of Unit-1 and an employee of the Horticulture Department. . According to family sources, five to six persons chased Sushant and hacked him to death near the SBI ATM in Unit-1 in the morning. After committing the crime, the accused persons fled from the spot. Sushant's family members alleged that Sushant was killed over past enmity. One Sujit attempted to rape our minor daughter this month and we had lodged a complaint against him at the Capital police station for the same. He had been threatening our family members since then. Police didn't take any action in this connection. Today, he along with his close aides murdered my brother-in-law," said Sushant's sister-in-law Radha Naik. Getting information, police reached the spot and launched an investigation into the incident. AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, who has been in Tihar Jail since May last year, was "admitted in an ICU" at a leading government hospital here on Thursday, after he collapsed at the prison due to dizziness, party sources said. Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had said Jain was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital, and later, shifted to the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems. Jain has been in prison since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May last year. At the LNJP Hospital, Jain has been shifted to "an ICU", AAP sources said, adding that he is "critically ill". The LNJP Hospital is the largest hospital under the Delhi government. He (Jain) was brought to the emergency department of the LNJP Hospital earlier in the day and doctors examined him, a senior doctor at the city government-run hospital said on the condition of anonymity. "Jain has some spinal issues, and in the past too, he has been brought to LNJP Hospital to undergo treatment for it," he said. He collapsed due to dizziness in a bathroom of the Tihar Jail. Even before this, Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury, the AAP said. Wishing speedy recovery to Jain, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances." "A dictator is adamant to punish the person who worked day and night to provide good treatment and good health to the public. God is watching and will serve justice to all. I pray for Satyendra Jain's speedy recovery. May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances," Kejriwal tweeted. A senior jail official said that around 6 am on Thursday, under-trial prisoner Satyendar Jain slipped in the bathroom of MI room of the hospital of central jail number-7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness. He was examined by doctors and his vitals were found normal. Jain was referred to the DDU Hospital as he complained of pain in his back, left leg and shoulder, the official said. On Monday, Jain was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital as he was feeling unwell. A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat for inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu. The plea filed by advocate Jaya Sukin contended that the statement issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat on May 18 and invites issued by secretary general, Lok Sabha about inauguration of the new Parliament building are violative of the Constitution. The plea noted that the president is the first citizen of India and head of the institution of Parliament and sought a direction that the president inaugurate the new Parliament building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation by the Lok Sabha Speaker. According to the Constitution, Parliament consists of the President of India and the two houses of the apex legislature, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, the plea noted. "Further Article 87 says that at the beginning of every Parliamentary session, President shall address both houses and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons, But the respondents (Lok Sabha secretariat and Union of India) are trying to 'humiliate' the President. The President of India Droupadi Murmu is not being invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament building", it submitted. Around 20 opposition parties have slammed the prime minister's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building and decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has termed the opposition stand a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation". Cong slams PM after he inaugurates new Parl building; calls him 'authoritarian' 28 May 2023 | 2:20 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) The Congress on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the latter inaugurated the new Parliament building and called him "self-glorifying authoritarian PM". see more.. New Parliament building is a symbol of aspiration of 140 cr people: PM Modi 28 May 2023 | 2:17 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the new Parliament is not just a building, but a symbol of the aspiration of the 140 crore people of India. see more.. 'Self-glorifying authoritarian PM inaugurates new Parl building': Congress 28 May 2023 | 11:24 AM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) The Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the latter inaugurated the new Parliament building and called him "self-glorifying authoritarian PM". see more.. PM inaugurates new Parl building, installs scared 'Sengol' in LS 28 May 2023 | 10:09 AM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the new Parliament building which is equipped with state of art technology. see more.. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to people in Manipur to maintain peace and promised that justice will be ensured to all sections of society. Shah while laying the foundation stone of the tenth national campus of the National Forensic Sciences University to be set Changsari area of Kamrup district, said he will travel to the northeastern state to help resolve disputes. "I will go to Manipur soon and stay there for three days but before that, both groups should remove mistrust and suspicion among themselves and ensure that peace is restored in the state," he said. The Centre will ensure that justice is given to all who suffered in the clashes which broke out in the state, but "people must hold a dialogue to ensure peace in the state," Shah said. Referring to the setting up of the NFSU campus here, the home minister said that this will guarantee employment opportunities for all students passing these courses. "The Centre was planning to bring legal changes to make site visits by forensic experts compulsory for crimes which attract more than six years of imprisonment," he added. The first phase of the NFSU campus was expected to be completed by 2026 and the second by 2030 while classes will start this year at the temporary campus in Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). Shah also launched an interactive web portal the 'Seva Setu' of the Assam police, developed jointly with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), which will enable people to lodge FIRs, missing persons complaints, as well as fill up online forms for tenant, paying guests and domestic help verifications, without visiting any police station. Girls trumped boys in the Maharashtra board's Higher Secondary Certificate (Class 12) examination, while 91.25 per cent of the total students passed the exam, the results of which were announced on Thursday. Of the nine regions in the state, Konkan region recorded the highest 96.01 per cent result, according to the Maharashtra State Board of Senior and Higher Education. A total of 14,28,194 students registered for the exams and 14,16,371 appeared, and of them 12,92,468 passed, which is about 91.25 per cent, the board said in a release. In the exams held in March-April 2022, 94.22 per cent students had passed. This year, it is 2.97 per cent lower than last year. The pass percentage of girls this year is 93.73 and of boys 89.14, the board said. It also said 96.09 per cent students from the science stream passed the exams, followed by 90.42 per cent from commerce and 84.05 per cent from the arts stream. Former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday appealed to the Supreme Court judges to save the democracy in Pakistan, saying you are our last hope, amidst a possible ban on his political party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations. In an address to the nation via social media, 70-year-old Khan also said that a massive crackdown on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is ongoing and the regime has jailed the entire leadership and even those who are not even a part of the party. You are our last hope, Khan said, referring to the top judiciary. Supreme Court judges, the nation is looking at you and your unity is very important for the public. It is up to you now to save this country and take a stand for it because Pakistan is becoming a banana republic, Khan urged, amidst reports that the internet connection of his Zaman Park residence has been shut down. Khan, who is facing the heat following widespread violence by his supporters earlier this month, also offered to hold a dialogue and said he is ready to constitute a committee for talks with anyone who is in power today. I am making this committee and I say two things: If they tell the committee that they have a solution and the country can function better without me. Or they tell the committee what benefit will Pakistan gain from holding elections in October. Convince us on these two things, he said, adding that he will announce the committee tomorrow. On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander house, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10.They have benefitted from the arson at the Lahore Corps Commanders house and used it to crack down on the PTI a crackdown which was never seen in the history of the country, Khan said. He claimed that the authorities have jailed the entire leadership of his party and even those who are not even a part of the party. There is only one way out, that they utter the magic words of I am leaving PTI is this a joke? Khan asked. Feeling the heat of legal processes, several PTI leaders have quit the party, including liberal-minded former human rights minister Shireen Mazari and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry. Khan said Mazaris departure from politics was not just a loss for his party but for the entire country and its democracy. At present, over 10,000 of our workers are in jail, Khan said, adding that they are being treated as if they are foreign enemies of the country, but even then, prisoners of war have rights.Khan said his supporters are now scared of coming on the media, fearing that they will be caught and thrown into jails. I have told my people to go into hiding. I am telling my workers and office-bearers that there is no need for you to come out. Dont stay at your homes, hide, Khan said. Khan said that this oppression will not eliminate his party but will in fact increase its popularity. The way they are gripping necks and forcing them to leave PTI. You were not born for this when the nation bows its head in front of fear, those nations die, he said.I am sitting prepared for them, whenever they will come for me. I am prepared every day, he added. His remarks came hours after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the government is mulling a possible ban on Khans party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations. A decision (to ban PTI) has not been taken yet, but a review is surely underway, Asif told reporters. He, however, said that the matter will be referred to the Parliament for approval if the government finally decides to ban the former ruling party. He also criticized Khan for not condemning the attacks on the military facilities. Till now, he (Imran) has not condemned [the violence] in clear words. He says that he did not know, he was [in custody]. He had his phone [] he repeated that this reaction was expected and will happen again if he is arrested, said Asif. Asif claimed that the vandalism of military installations across the country on May 9 was coordinated attacks planned by Khan. There is a lot of evidence and their people are telling themselves that they were briefed about this beforehand, he said. I feel that his struggle of a year all his plans failed and this was his last move against the armed forces.However, PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar said that the party would challenge the ban in the court as a political party cannot be banned. He told the media that when a ban was imposed on the Jamaat-i-Islami in the 1960s, it was set aside by then-chief justice Alvin Robert Cornelius. Efforts were made to put a ban on Jamaat-i-Islami long ago. The SC had said that you cannot ban a political party and it is everyones right to form a political party, Zafar said. 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. The granddaughter of Pakistans former Army Chief Asif Nawaz Jangua was arrested as a key instigator in the attack on the Corps Commander House here following former prime minister Imran Khans arrest on May 9, police said on Wednesday. Khadija Shah, a fashion designer by profession, is among the several women arrested for their alleged involvement in attacks on military installations on May 9 that erupted in the wake of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chiefs arrest in a corruption case. Khan, 70, was later freed on bail. Lahore police said in a statement that Shah, the daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah, was one of the key instigators of the May 9 attack on the Lahore Corps Commander House, also known as Jinnah House. She has been arrested under terrorism charges and might be tried under the Army Act, police said. Shah, an active PTI supporter, had gone into hiding since police started carrying out raids for her arrest. Ms Shah was produced before the anti-terrorism court Lahore which was sent to jail for an identification parade, police said. The government declared that the identification of more than 500 women, wanted for the May 9 incidents, has been completed and 138 cases have been registered against them. Chennai, May 25 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government will construct a memorial for former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said. He made this announcement, while addressing the Tamil diaspora in Singapore last night, during his official visit to Singapore and Japan to attract investments into the State. The event was organised by associations of Singapore Tamils, in the presence of Singapore Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam. Announcing construction of a memorial for Lee Kuan Yew, Mr. Stalin said the memorial would include a statue and a library. The Father of Singapore was impressed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, Mr Stalin said, recalling his father and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhis tributes when Lee Kuan Yew passed away. inaugurating a scheme "Verkalai Thedi" (Tracing the roots) for overseas Tamil youths, Mr Stalin said "I wish to share happy news with you now. We have decided to raise a memorial for Lee Kuan Yew in Tamil Nadu. It will come up at Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu." Stating that most of the Tamils living in Singapore belong to Mannargudi and Pattukottai, he said he was well aware that every household in Paravakottai, Koopachikottai, Tirumakottai, Ullikottai, Melathirupalakudi, Keelathirupalakudi, Alankottai, Neduvakottai and Melavasal villages in Delta has a connection with Singapore. "People from these villages account for most of them living in Singapore. Hence, a library and statue will be constructed in memory of Lee Kuan Yew in Mannargudi," he said. Elaborating the historical connection between Tamil Nadu and Singapore, mainly the tenure of late S R Nathan as the President of the island nation, he referred to the requests received from the expatriate Tamils and assured that he would discuss and make a proper announcement after returning to Tamil Nadu. The requests received by the CM include addition of literary works authored by Tamil writers in Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka in Tamil Nadu libraries and organizing a tour of Tamil Nadu to expatriate Tamil youths. Dressed in the traditional Tamil attire, Mr.Stalin, along with Mr. Shanmugam and other dignitaries, witnessed cultural events organised on the occasion. UNI GV 1434 Hyatt Hotels Co. (NYSE:H Get Rating) has received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $121.88. Several research firms have issued reports on H. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Hyatt Hotels from $132.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Barclays lowered shares of Hyatt Hotels from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $130.00 to $125.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Hyatt Hotels from $112.00 to $124.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Hyatt Hotels from a c rating to a b rating in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Hyatt Hotels from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their target price for the company from $111.00 to $113.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Get Hyatt Hotels alerts: Hyatt Hotels Trading Down 0.2 % NYSE:H opened at $108.70 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.64. Hyatt Hotels has a fifty-two week low of $70.12 and a fifty-two week high of $125.07. The stocks 50-day moving average is $112.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.29. The stock has a market cap of $11.49 billion, a PE ratio of 20.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 14.38 and a beta of 1.36. Hyatt Hotels Dividend Announcement Hyatt Hotels ( NYSE:H Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.47 by ($0.06). Hyatt Hotels had a net margin of 9.31% and a return on equity of 12.34%. The firm had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.33) EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Hyatt Hotels will post 2.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 26th. Insider Activity In other news, insider Peter Sears sold 7,805 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.22, for a total transaction of $907,097.10. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 5,315 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $617,709.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, insider H. Charles Floyd sold 33,067 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.51, for a total transaction of $3,720,368.17. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 31,242 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,515,037.42. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Peter Sears sold 7,805 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.22, for a total value of $907,097.10. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 5,315 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $617,709.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 81,567 shares of company stock worth $9,207,060. Corporate insiders own 22.15% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hyatt Hotels Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in H. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,469,443 shares of the companys stock valued at $361,847,000 after purchasing an additional 37,317 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 43.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,055,113 shares of the companys stock valued at $341,531,000 after purchasing an additional 925,005 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,998,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $242,765,000 after purchasing an additional 8,271 shares during the period. Select Equity Group L.P. grew its stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 196.2% during the 1st quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 2,206,791 shares of the companys stock valued at $246,697,000 after purchasing an additional 1,461,693 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 340.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,033,818 shares of the companys stock valued at $183,959,000 after purchasing an additional 1,571,739 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 46.89% of the companys stock. About Hyatt Hotels (Get Rating) Hyatt Hotels Corp. engages in the development and management of resort and hotel chains. It operates through the following segments: Owned and Leased Hotels, Americas Management and Franchising, ASPAC Management and Franchising, EAME/SW Asia Management and Franchising, and Apple Leisure Group. The Owned and Leased Hotels segment offers hospitality services and hotels. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hyatt Hotels Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hyatt Hotels and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dhaka, May 25 (UNI) The Government of Bangladesh has taken note of the announcement made by the US Secretary of State on a visa restriction policy pursuant to the so-called 3C provision under the US Immigration and Act. Bangladesh would like to view this announcement in the broader context of its governments unequivocal commitment to holding free and fair elections at all levels for upholding the countrys democratic process. Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas leadership, Bangladesh remains a democratic and politically stable nation with experience of holding a series of elections at national and local levels. According to the mofa press release issued here on today. Since the general elections in 2008, it is evident that the people of the country experienced unprecedented socio-economic development and empowerment due to continued political stability under the Awami League government. This resulted in the reduction of headcount poverty from 41.5% in 2006 to 18.7% in 2022, and of extreme poverty from 25.1% to 5.6% during the same period. Now an international role model for development, Bangladesh has become eligible for graduation from the UN Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026. These have been achieved due to the Awami League government being elected to office for three consecutive terms over the last fourteen years. Published on: May 25, 2023 | Updated on: May 25, 2023 Telangana education minister Sabitha Indra Reddy released the TS EAMCET 2023 results in a press conference on Thursday. (DC file image) Telangana education minister Sabitha Indra Reddy released the TS EAMCET 2023 results in a press conference on Thursday. A total of 80 percent of students who wrote the exam passed in the engineering stream, while 86 percent cleared in agriculture. Students from Andhra Pradesh topped in both the categories. S Anirudh from Visakhapatnam is the top ranker in engineering stream while B Satya is the topper in agriculture stream. The top honours of the first five ranks were bagged by male students in both engineering and agriculture streams. A total of 79 percent of boys and 85 percent of girls qualified in the engineering stream. This year, 86 per cent of students have passed in the Agriculture stream. As many as 1,95,275 students appeared for the engineering exams and 1,06,514 students appeared for the agriculture stream. Counselling for engineering admissions will begin in June. Government Secretary (Higher Education) Karuna, College and Technical Education Commissioner Naveen Mittal, Telangana Council of Higher Education Chairman Prof R Limbadri also attended the press conference. File photo of K Manoj and K Sahithi HYDERABAD: A 29-year-old died by suicide hours after the body of her husband K. Manoj, a techie working in the US, was cremated here on Wednesday. Police said Manoj died of a heart attack on May 20 in the US; his body was brought to India and the final rites were performed on Wednesday. Upset over the loss, his wife K. Sahithi died by suicide at her parental home in Amberpet in the city on Thursday. The couple had been married for around 18 months, after which they flew to the US and were residing in Dallas. On May 2, Sahithi came to the city to visit her parents at DD Colony under Amberpet PS and in-laws residing at Vanasthalipuram. Manoj stayed back in the US. After the cremation on Wednesday, Sahithis parents took Sahiti to their home. On Thursday morning, they were preparing to go to Vanasthalipuram for rituals. Her sister Sanjana went out of the room leaving Sahithi alone. A few minutes later when Sanjana returned she found the room locked from inside. Their parents Suresh and Uma knocked on the door but there was no response. Later they entered the room, found that Sahithi had attempted suicide and rushed her to a private hospital. Doctors declared her dead. On a complaint from her father, Amberpet police registered a case and started an investigation. Police said no suicide note was found at the spot, but prima facie no foul play is suspected. Further investigation is underway, they said. It is our belief that if the Prime Minister goes ahead to inaugurate, then it amounts to interference in the domain of the Legislature, and such a move does not bode well for the basic structure of the Constitution and separation of powers of the Legislature, Executive, and the Judiciary, said AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi. (File Image: DC). Hyderabad: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said that his party will boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament House by Prime Minister Narendra Modi "as this planned action by the Prime Minister deals a blow to the constitutionally established separation of powers of the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary". Several other opposition parties too have announced that they will boycott the ceremony scheduled for May 28 declaring that they are opposed to the Prime Ministers plan. Owaisi, who represents the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency in the Parliament, made it clear that his, and the AIMIMs opposition to Modis plan was not about an individual but about preserving the separation of powers as delineated in the Constitution. "From the beginning we have been saying that the Prime Minister should not have laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament. We opposed his unveiling of the national emblem on the Parliament House on the same grounds of separation of powers. Today too we say the Prime Minister should not inaugurate as this action by him violates the theory of separation of powers," Owaisi said. The Speaker is the custodian of the Lok Sabha and he should inaugurate the new Parliament. Our demand is that Modi should announce that it would be inaugurated by the Speaker, in which case, the AIMIM will attend the event. Some opposition parties, who do not understand the Constitution, are pitching for the President to inaugurate it. But Article 53(1) makes it clear that the executive power of the Union will be vested in the President, which makes the President too part of the Executive, Owaisi explained. It is our belief that if the Prime Minister goes ahead to inaugurate, then it amounts to interference in the domain of the Legislature, and such a move does not bode well for the basic structure of the Constitution and separation of powers of the Legislature, Executive, and the Judiciary," Owaisi said. Kadapa YSRC MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy. (Photo: Deepak Deshpande) Hyderabad: A vacation bench of the Telangana High Court adjourned the hearing in the anticipatory bail petition of Kadapa YSRC MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy in the Y.S. Vivekananda murder case to May 26. Following the instructions of the Supreme Court , Avinash Reddys plea for anticipatory bail was listed on Thursday before the vacation bench headed by Justice M. Laxman as the last item at Serial No. 77 before the judge. The case came up for hearing at 6.15 pm and the judge asked counsel for Avinash Reddy and Dr Suneetha Narreddy and the CBI how much time they needed. CBI counsel said that he wanted more than one hour and Avinash Reddy`s counsel Umamaheshwar Rao also submitted that he wanted more time. L. Ravichander, senior counsel, appearing for Dr Suneetha Narreddy, said he may not take much time. As already the court was working beyond schedule, Justice Laxman decided to hear the case on Friday at 10.30 am and told counsels to complete the arguments on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese during his visit to Australia. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: In an apparent message to the Opposition parties boycotting the new Parliament building inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, upon his return from a three-nation tour on Thursday, lauded the show of "democratic soul and strength" at the event organised by the Indian diaspora to welcome him in Sydney. Addressing people who had gathered to welcome him outside the Palam airport, the PM alluded to the presence of not only Australian PM Anthony Albanese along with ruling party functionaries but also a former PM and the countrys Opposition members to highlight the role of the Opposition in a democracy. "This was the atmosphere of democracy that everyone joined in the Indian communitys programme," Modi said, lauding this show of "democratic soul and strength". Meanwhile, the BJP and the Congress, continued to engage in a war of words over the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. While the BJP on Thursday alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred "sengol" a "golden stick gifted" to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and tucking it away in a museum, the Congress stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" have denied the first tribal woman President her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new complex. The AAP also rallied behind the Congress in targeting Modi. Targeting the PM over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the "arrogance" of the Modi government has "destroyed" the parliamentary system." Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. The Congress chief said: "140 crore Indians want to know what do you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House." Taking on the Congress, the BJP alleged that the party displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred sengol a "golden stick", BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said the PM will install the sengol in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium, and only now is the sacred sceptre being given its rightful place. The PM asserted that he used every moment during his six-day tour across three countries for Indias good. Everyone accorded respect to the Indian representative, and it was not about Modis glory but about Indias strength, he added. At least 21 political parties, including Congress, TMC, JD(U), DMK, AAP, have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28 over sidelining of President Droupadi Murmu, terming it as a "direct assault on our democracy". Non-NDA parties, including YSRCP, BJD, TDP, BSP, JD(S) and Akali Dal, will be attending the ceremony. The PM, though, made no direct mention of this in his speech. He said he speaks confidently of India and its peoples strengths abroad and the world listens because people here elected a majority government. World leaders know that what he says is the voice of the 140 crore people of India, the Prime Minister added. World leaders know that what he says is the voice of the 140 crore people of India, the Prime Minister added. The PM said India faces the challenges of strengthening its roots while also working its way to a new high as the world expects it to. "Challenges are big. But it is in my nature to challenge the challenges," Modi said while exuding confidence in front of a cheering crowd that his government will succeed in meeting these expectations in time. The PM also mentioned how global expectations from the country have been rising and the world now wants to know what India is thinking. Modi spoke about the respect accorded by the people of Pacific island countries during the visit, and said they were thankful to India for the Covid-19 vaccines sent to them during the pandemic. With the state Assembly elections slated to be held in November, the BJP does not want to miss out on reiterating its role in Telangana gaining statehood. (Representational Image) HYDERABAD: Even as the state government is gearing up to mark the tenth State Formation Day with a 21-day festival, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy said on Thursday that the Centre, for the first time, would hold celebrations to mark the occasion at the Golconda fort on June 2. According to Kishan Reddy, efforts are on to have Union minister Amit Shah attend the event. Kishan Reddy said the National Flag would be unfurled at the event in the morning and a parade by contingents of the security forces. In the evening, cultural programmes will be organised at the fort, he said. With the state Assembly elections slated to be held in November, the BJP does not want to miss out on reiterating its role in Telangana gaining statehood. The party leaders had repeatedly said that the BJP was at the forefront of the demand for statehood and supported it fully in Parliament and that K. Chandrashekar Rao was not even present in the Lok Sabha during the passage of the Bill granting statehood to Telangana. Kishan Reddys comments came at a meeting of the BJPs Hyderabad central district working committee and city party leaders and workers. It may be recalled that the Centre had commemorated Hyderabad Liberation Day on September 17 at the Parade Ground, with Union minister Amit Shah as the chief guest. The BJP had been for long complaining that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao who promised to observe September 17 as Hyderabad Liberation Day had never done so,. The state government organised its own Hyderabad Integration Day last year. As much as $300 million (about Rs 2,500 crore) of dividend income belonging to Indian oil firms is stuck in Russia due to tough Western sanctions following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, a top official said on Thursday. Indian state oil firms have invested $5.46 billion in buying stakes in four different assets in Russia. These include a 49.9 per cent stake in the Vankorneft oil and gas field and another 29.9 per cent in the TAAS-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha fields. They get dividends on profits made by the operating consortium from selling oil and gas produced from the fields. "We had been regularly getting our dividend income from the projects, and they are lying in bank accounts in Russia," Oil India Ltd chairman and managing director Ranjit Rath told reporters here. Also Read | Oil stable as investors weigh US debt uncertainty, potential OPEC+ cuts Soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, several major Russian banks were banned from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) financial transaction processing system, constricting Moscow's ability to access the global payments system. Also, the Russian government has put restrictions on the repatriation of dollars from that country to check volatility in foreign exchange rates. The $300 million dividend income pertains to the consortium of OIL, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat PetroResources Ltd. ONGC Videsh Ltd, which also has a stake in the same projects, would have a similar dividend income. This dividend is lying with the Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL), which was a joint venture of the State Bank of India and Canara Bank. Canara Bank in March sold its 40 per cent stake in CIBL to SBI. The dividend from TAAS was paid on a quarterly basis, while Vankorneft's earnings were paid half-yearly. The Indian firms are looking at options of how to repatriate the money from Russia, he said. All dividend income prior to the Ukraine war was repatriated but the one that accrued after that is stuck. Also Read | Oil tanker overturns on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway; traffic disrupted ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), holds a 26 per cent stake in Suzunskoye, Tagulskoye and Lodochnoye fields -- collectively known as the Vankor cluster in the north-eastern part of the West Siberia. Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Bharat PetroResources Ltd (a unit of Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd or BPCL) hold another 23.9 per cent. Russia's Rosneft is the operator with 50.1 per cent interest. The consortium of OIL, IOC and Bharat PetroResources has a 29.9 per cent stake in TAAS-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha. The operations of the fields have not been impacted and they continue to produce as normal. OVL also has a 20 per cent stake in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas field in Far East Russia, and in 2009 acquired Imperial Energy, which has fields in Siberia, for $2.1 billion. Blossoming roses bring radiant life to Xinjiang residents Xinhua) 16:49, May 25, 2023 URUMQI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- In late May, a breathtaking spectacle unfolds as a diverse array of rose varieties bursts into full bloom at a rose plantation base in Yutian County in Hotan Prefecture of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Amidst the sprawling 667-hectare base, Zorigul Yakhup and many other farmers find themselves immersed in a bustling atmosphere as they diligently pluck roses. In Yutian, these vibrant blossoms are harvested three times a year -- in May, June and September. Every May, while tending to her own rose field with great care, Zorigul Yakhup also joins her family and friends to pick roses at the base. "This marks my third year participating in rose picking. I can earn about 4,000 yuan (about 567 U.S. dollars) a month," she said. "Nearly half of my family's 0.7-hectare farmland is used for growing Damascus rose and we expect to sell fresh roses to processing enterprises this year at a price of 20 yuan per kg," she added. The rose plantation base belongs to Yutian Guimi Bio-technology Co., Ltd. Located on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, the largest desert in China, the base is often afflicted by windy and dusty weather, forcing the company to make addition investment on windbreaks. Since 2012, the company has invested nearly 100 million yuan in growing roses and windbreaks. During the initial stage, when the windbreaks hadn't yet grown tall, the rose plantation base experienced a significant setback as nearly 40 percent of roses were destroyed by sandstorms, recalled Liu Zhiyong, vice general manager of the company. "Now the rose growing base has about 80 hectares of windbreaks, and we are not worried about sandstorms anymore." Water availability poses another significant challenge for rose cultivation in the desert. The company drilled wells and built drip irrigation pipes to save water resources and improve water use efficiency. Its investment has been paid off. In 2022, the base produced 300 tonnes of fresh roses, which will be further processed into various products such as rose jam, tea and cosmetics. Located approximately 20 km from the rose growing base, the company's processing lines for rose jam and essential oil are in busy operation. According to Liu, the company has developed an integrated industrial chain encompassing plantation, production, processing and sales of roses, benefitting more than 10,000 farmers from surrounding areas. By actively participating in the rose industry, these farmers have experienced a significant increase in their annual incomes. The company stands as a shining example of Yutian's thriving rose growing and processing industry. According to the local agriculture and rural affairs bureau, the total rose plantation area in Hotan has soared to more than 3,450 hectares and nearly 93 percent of them are in Yutian, with every hectare of roses yielding a handsome income of approximately 90,000 yuan. In addition to rose planting and processing, Yutian is also developing rose-themed tourism, opening up new avenues of prosperity for the local community. "Roses have not only filled our pockets with cash but also added sweetness to our lives," Zorigul Yakhup said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Terrorist attack in Colombia kills 3, injures 8 people - Reports Mexico City, May 25 (UNI) Unidentified men have attacked a police patrol vehicle with an explosive device in the municipality of Tibu in Colombia's North Santander department, killing two police officers and a female civilian and eight people being hospitalized, local media reported on Wednesday, citing authorities. Two police officers have been killed and another four have suffered injuries as a result of an explosive device detonating when a police vehicle was passing by, Caracol Radio reported. Apart from police officers, one civilian has been killed and another four two men and two women have been injured and taken to a hospital. The incident took place hours before Colombian National Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez Gomez's visit to the region, the report said. The Duchess of Edinburgh travelled to Iraq this week, meeting politicians and feminist activists in a rare visit by a British royal to the war-scarred country, Iraq's presidency said. The last time a British royal visited Iraq was in 2006 when the late Prince Philip visited a base for British troops deployed to Iraq as part of the US-led invasion three years earlier. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, spent two days in Baghdad, where she met President Abdul Latif Rashid and his wife Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, the Iraqi presidency said in a statement. Also Read | King Charles III: The monarch with a multi-faith outlook, great love for India The visit by the wife of King Charles' youngest brother Edward was done in secret and ended on Tuesday. The Iraqi presidency said the duchess delivered a written message from King Charles III -- who had himself visited Iraq in 2004. She also met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani. The duchess delivered a speech at a conference on women's rights organised by the British embassy in Baghdad, during which she met representatives of women's rights groups, Buckingham Palace said Tuesday. King Charles III in March awarded Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh, which was previously held by their father Prince Philip. Iraq remains traumatised from the years of war, occupation and bloody sectarian turmoil that followed the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Ukraine secured the release of 106 captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff said. The soldiers, including eight officers, were captured fighting in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut that Russia says it has captured, but where Kyiv's forces say they still have a small foothold. Read | Russia 'terrorising' Ukraine: Zelenskyy on drone attack "Every one of them is a hero of our state. Many of the ones we are returning from captivity were considered missing. The relatives of these people have gone through a difficult time," the senior official, Andriy Yermak, said. Tatiana Moskalkova, Russia's human rights ombudsman, confirmed Russia's Wagner private military unit took part in an exchange of fighters on Thursday but gave no further details. Wagner played a key role in Russia's months-long onslaught on the city of Bakhmut where both sides likened the ferocious fighting to a "meatgrinder". Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Ukrainian military intelligence says that 2,430 Ukrainians have been freed in prisoner swaps, including 139 civilians. A 13-year-old girl allegedly killed her younger sister with the help of her boyfriend and aunt and burnt the deceased's face with acid and chopped off fingers to conceal the identity in Bihar's Vaishali district, a senior police officer said on Thursday. Police have arrested all three accused, including the minor, involved in the incident. While the 13-year-old girl has been sent to Balika Sudhar Grah (correction home) in the district, her 18-year-old boyfriend and aunt are in judicial custody, an officer said. Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Vaishali SP Ravi Ranjan Kumar, said the incident took place on May 15 at Harprasad village when the parents of the girls had gone to a relative's village to participate in a wedding ceremony. Also read | Bihar: Man stabbed to death for objecting to wedding guests dancing with knives When the parents returned home they found their younger nine-year-old-daughter missing, Kumar said, adding the parents lodged a complaint at Jandaha police station. The local police constituted a special investigation team (SIT) and lodged a missing report which was later converted into a murder case after the recovery of the body from a field behind her home on May 19, the SP said. During investigation, police seized the mobile phones of the accused. "During interrogation, the girl and her boyfriend confessed to have committed the crime. The duo revealed to police that they killed the nine-year-old girl mainly because the deceased saw them in an awkward position and they feared the younger one might reveal their love affairs to her parents," the SP said. "After murdering the younger sister with a blunt object, the accused concealed her body in a box inside the home but after three days when the body began emitting a foul smell, they dumped it into a nearby field. They also burnt the deceaseds face with acid and chopped fingers to conceal her identity", said the SP. Based on technical surveillance and scientific investigation, including analysis of their call detail records, police picked up the elder sister and her boyfriend and also cross-examined them. Their interrogation revealed the mystery behind the incident. The girls 32-year old aunt was also arrested on the charge of helping the duo in the crime. Further investigation is on, the SP added. The Mizoram government will ensure children displaced by recent ethnic riots from Manipur are able to continue their schooling here, an official said on Thursday. In a letter sent to all district education officers, sub-divisional education officers and principals of state-run higher secondary schools on Wednesday, the state school education department has asked all district and school authorities to allow the displaced students to be enrolled in state-run schools and government aided schools if they seek admission. "The recent turmoil in Manipur has caused a large-scale influx of internally displaced children into Mizoram. It is therefore requested that all district and school authorities allow admission even if proper documentation can't be provided for the children if and when they solicit admission to schools, " the letter written by education department director Lalsangliana said. Read | 10 Manipuri children, including 9 girls, repatriated from Kerala The state's apex student body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) is also closely monitoring the issue and is in talks with the government, the organisation president Lalnunmawia Pautu said. With about 123 people entering Mizoram in the last 24 hours, a total of 7,928 ethnic Zos or Mizos, mostly women, children and the aged, from violence-hit Manipur have fled and taken shelter in nine districts of the state, an official of the home department said. At least 2,744 people have fled to Kolasib district near Assam border, while 2,610 people have taken shelter in Aizawl district and 2,229 in Saitual district, he said. The remaining 345 people took shelter in Champhai, Khawzawl, Serchhip, Mamit, Lunglei and Hnahthial districts, he said. The internally displaced people are lodged at temporary relief camps, while many have also been given shelter by their relatives. The Kuki-Mizo-Hmar- Zomi communities collectively known as Kukis or Zo Hnahthlak (Zo tribes) in Manipur share blood ties with the Mizos in Mizoram. Mizoram shares a 95-km long inter-state border with Manipur. President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to Jharkhand, will on Thursday interact with women members of Self Help Groups in Khunti, the birthplace of tribal icon Birsa Munda, an official said. Over 25,000 tribal women are expected to participate in the programme, he said. Later in the day, the President will attend the second convocation of the IIIT in Ranchi. "More than 25,000 tribal women members are expected to connect with the President at the Birsa Munda College stadium in Khunti," the official said. Murmu will interact with tribal women members of self-help groups at the 'Mahila SHGs Sammelan' organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation under the aegis of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The objective of the programme is to encourage and inspire women SHGs for entrepreneurship, the official said. On the second day of her Jharkhand visit, Murmu will also visit stalls showcasing diverse tribal crafts, and live demonstrations of tribal art will be done there, he said. Various tribal products will be displayed in 20 stalls for which several suppliers and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras of Jharkhand and Bihar have been invited to participate in the exhibition. Murmu on Wednesday paid obeisance at the Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar district. She also inaugurated the new building of the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi, built at a cost of around Rs 550 crore. The NIA has conducted searches at two locations in Uttar Pradesh in the Bhopal terror funding case involving the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the federal agency said on Thursday. The searches were aimed at exposing further links and conspiracies of the 10 people arrested and charge-sheeted in the case by the NIA court in Bhopal. Six of the arrested people are Bangladeshi nationals and active JMB members, who had entered India illegally without any valid documents. They had acquired false and forged Indian identity documents with the help of JMB sympathisers. The searches were conducted on Wednesday at the premises of various suspects and it led to the seizure of several digital devices such as mobile phones, and SIM cards, bank passbooks and identity documents, a spokesperson of the National Investigation agency (NIA) said. Also Read | Raids under way on houses of four Pakistan-based terrorists in J&K's Kishtwar The documents, which are being examined, relate to "suspect transactions related to transfer of funds by the accused", the official said. The NIA claimed that the 10 arrested accused were involved in influencing, radicalising and motivating vulnerable Indian Muslim youngsters to take up violent "Jihad" against the democratic system of governance in the country. They had been circulating incriminating "Jihadi" literature, inflammatory videos and statements as well as endorsing, justifying and glorifying the acts of various banned terrorist organisations, including the JMB, the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the spokesperson alleged. The accused were conspiring to align with terrorist organisations to achieve their ultimate goal of establishing Shariat-based Islamic rule in India through pursuit of "violent Jihad", the official said. They had grand plans of creating a pan-India network to pursue their objective and, along with their co-accused, had successfully established bases in various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura, West Bengal and Assam, the agency said. The case was taken over by the NIA after it was originally registered last year by the Madhya Pradesh Police's Special Task Force at Bhopal. The state police had arrested six active members of the JMB from their rented accommodations in Bhopal. "Jihadi" literature, digital devices, printer, paper cutting machine, book binding material were also seized then. Given the ramifications of the case and developments for national security, the NIA had subsequently taken over the investigations and arrested four more accused, the spokesperson said. Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL Get Rating) is scheduled to be posting its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, June 1st. Analysts expect Hormel Foods to post earnings of $0.39 per share for the quarter. Hormel Foods has set its FY23 guidance at $1.70-1.82 EPS and its FY 2023 guidance at $1.70-$1.82 EPS.Parties that are interested in participating in the companys conference call can do so using this link. Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.45 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.08 billion. Hormel Foods had a return on equity of 13.10% and a net margin of 7.90%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.44 EPS. On average, analysts expect Hormel Foods to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $2 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Hormel Foods alerts: Hormel Foods Price Performance HRL opened at $38.89 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $21.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.73, a PEG ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 2.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $39.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $43.49. Hormel Foods has a twelve month low of $37.78 and a twelve month high of $51.69. Hormel Foods Announces Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Monday, July 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.83%. Hormel Foodss dividend payout ratio is currently 61.45%. Several equities research analysts have weighed in on HRL shares. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Hormel Foods from $45.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price objective on shares of Hormel Foods from $44.00 to $41.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 3rd. TheStreet cut shares of Hormel Foods from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Argus cut shares of Hormel Foods from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Hormel Foods from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $47.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hormel Foods currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $44.14. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Becerra Jose Luis Prado sold 5,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.01, for a total transaction of $202,852.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly 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 accessible through this hyperlink. In other Hormel Foods news, Director Elsa A. Murano sold 6,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.50, for a total transaction of $243,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 102,698 shares in the company, valued at $4,159,269. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Becerra Jose Luis Prado sold 5,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 27th. The shares were 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 $718,174.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.81% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hormel Foods Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HRL. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Hormel Foods in the 1st quarter worth approximately $41,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP boosted its position in Hormel Foods by 387.0% during the 1st quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 1,841 shares of the companys stock valued at $73,000 after purchasing an additional 1,463 shares during the period. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. raised its stake in Hormel Foods by 24.4% during the 1st quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 1,527 shares of the companys stock valued at $79,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its stake in Hormel Foods by 61.5% during the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 2,062 shares of the companys stock valued at $93,000 after acquiring an additional 785 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in Hormel Foods during the 4th quarter valued at $102,000. 39.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Hormel Foods (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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Hormel Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hormel Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Local politicians have called for an urgent meeting with the management of Firstsource after they announced today that the company will begin a redundancy consultation process in the city. SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP said that many employees are worried due to the risk of losing their job in the current economic crisis. The Foyle MP said: News today that Firstsource will begin a redundancy consultation process which will impact workers in Derry is worrying for employees and their families and has caused unwarranted confusion and distress. "I have been in touch with several employees already who are concerned about their future in the organisation in this challenging economic climate." Mr Eastwood continued: Workers in Firstsource ensured the organisation's continued success here in the city for years, and they deserve fair and proper treatment in this process. Any decisions made by management must be taken in the best interests of the staff involved. I have contacted the management of Firstsource requesting an urgent meeting to discuss their plans and their continued commitment to workers in Derry. Sinn Fein Foyle MLA Padraig Delargy has requested a meeting with Firstsource management to clarity the situation over jobs at the Derry office. Mr Delargy said: I am aware of concerning reports that Firstsource is set to begin a consultation on redundancy with workers at the Derry offices. This has created huge uncertainty for workers and their families today who are worried about what the future holds. Firstsource currently employs hundreds of staff across the city, and any job losses at this site will be a blow to the local economy. Its absolutely paramount that staff are kept fully informed and fully supported through every step in this process by the company. I am requesting an urgent meeting with Firstsource management to get clarity on this situation. A spokesperson for Firstsource said the redundancies are as a result of the changing priorities of one of their clients, Sky. The statement read: Firstsource has [today] commenced a redundancy consultation process with a number of colleagues at its Belfast and Derry sites. "The changing priorities of one of our clients, Sky, means they are making proposals to adjust services currently being delivered across both sites. Staff impacted have been informed today and as a responsible employer, we are working closely to support them throughout this process. "Firstsource remains committed to Northern Ireland at both sites as we continue to deliver a range of services for our outsourcing clients. Typhoon Mawar flips cars, cuts power on Guam as scope of damage emerges in US Pacific territory Powerful Typhoon Mawar has smashed the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, lashing the island with wind and rain, tearing down trees, walls and power lines, flipping cars and pushing a dangerous storm surge ashore The Derry Call Centre Campaign (DCCC) has expressed concern for the job security and well-being of employees in one of the citys largest call centres, Firstsource. Firstsource announced this morning (May 25) that they will begin a redundancy consultation process in the city. DCCC is a community group founded by Aegis the union to advance the cause of fair pay for workers in Derry. A spokesperson for DCCC said: "The employers response to enquiries is frightening. They have stated that changing the priorities of their largest client has triggered the current redundancy process. "Right now, workers need reassurances from the business, and those reassurances have not been forthcoming. "Local workers have reached out to us (at the DCCC) in fear of their income being lost. "As we grapple with the most challenging living conditions in recent memory, the DCCC is calling on all political parties to recognise the urgency of addressing the pressing issues faced by Derrys Firstsource employees. "Derry is already dealing with some of the lowest wages and highest unemployment levels across these islands. "We are urging community groups, politicians, and workers to draw a line in the sand and advocate fiercely for the workers in Firstsource to keep their jobs and for all the workers across our beloved city to gain a higher standard of living." Gareth Moore and Joe Moore, influential figures in the Derry Call Centre Campaign, have a deep understanding of the gravity of the situation. Both had worked for Firstsource for years, and they are now extending an open invitation to all workers who are affected or even just seeking guidance to reach out to the campaign through the Facebook page www.facebook.com/DerryCallCentreCampaign. "The campaign is committed to providing support, advice, and a compassionate ear during these trying times. "The Derry Call Centre Campaign is resolute in our commitment to champion the rights of call center employees, ensuring they receive the fair treatment and job security they deserve," added Joe Moore at the DCCC. People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin also expressed his concern and solidarity with workers at Firstsource. Mr Harkin said: Proposed redundancies at Firstsource call centre are extremely worrying. We are thinking of workers and their families - especially amid a cost of living crisis. The greed of these big employers knows no bounds. "I encourage Firstsource workers with concerns and to know their rights to get in touch with their trade union and the Derry Call Centre Campaign. "People Before Profit are requesting an urgent meeting with management to seek clarification and to urge the company to take all steps to protect jobs in Derry and the North West. "We are also calling on the Council to advocate for workers and the protection of jobs. Invest NI must also be on the front foot in defence of jobs here. "All political representatives should speak with one voice in support of workers." Derry City and Strabane District Council has been named among the most innovative local councils when it comes to transitioning to a Net Zero economy at International Clean Tech conference, Innovation Zero. 21 local councils have been acknowledged for their progressive work, receiving the Fast Followers Award, and sharing a prize fund of 6m funding to help accelerate innovation on the journey towards achieving Net Zero. Fast Followers is part of Innovate UKs Net Zero Living Project, designed to help places and businesses across the UK committed to the move towards Net Zero. Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Sandra Duffy, said: I am delighted to see Derry City and Strabane District Councils commitment to Zero Waste acknowledged with this award today. We were the first local authority in the country to pledge to become a Net Zero region through the development of our own dedicated Zero Waste Circular Economy Strategy. "Since then, we have continued to develop a range of programmes in partnership with both the local community and also international partners to deliver on that promise. It has never been more important to take direct action to combat the climate crisis and I look forward to seeing the impact of this support in progressing our net zero objectives. Climate Programme Manager with Council, Cathy Burns, said: This award offers an exciting opportunity to build on our commitment to embedding circular economy policy into corporate city strategies. It will help us identify solutions to bridge the gap between innovative urban circular economy policy and citizen engagement. With the support available through the Fast Followers Programme, Council will focus on progressing Ambition to Action - developing new and innovative systems for Derry and Strabane applying best practice learning and iterative place based programme delivery. "This will help create new forms of governance, policy, citizen engagement, cooperation and financing to deliver real term climate action. Mike Biddle, Executive Director, Net Zero, Innovate UK told delegates at the conference that Innovate UKs Net Zero Living Programme aims to transform our towns, cities, and communities. Our vision is that the UK will prosper from being the fastest transitioning economy to Net Zero. "Innovation is key to achieving this goal and Fast Followers represents grass roots investment in Net Zero innovation, he declared. This cohort of Fast Followers winners all demonstrate innovative ideas that are designed at grass roots level specifically to overcome their particular barriers and sometimes unique challenges. "Seeing the range of projects is inspiring and, as well as running their individual initiatives, the Local Authorities will share best-practice allowing others to capitalise on proven solutions. The King and Queen have completed their two-day visit to Northern Ireland in the UKs most westerly town. Crowds cheered and sang God Save The King at Enniskillen Castle in Co Fermanagh as Charles and Camilla did an impromptu walkabout before departing the region. The King started the second day of the visit by attending a service at St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh, Co Armagh, attended by various religious leaders, while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were the Church of Irelands the Rev John McDowell and Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin. At the library, the Queen met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. The royals both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square in Armagh. Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met performers who gave a showcase of Ulster Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. The King added: I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. Charles said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands with Rebekah Busby and patted her golden-doodle Teddy, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. She said: Weve been here since 8.50am, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? (Camilla) said Hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' Ms Busby described the atmosphere as unreal, and said she would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. Charles and Camilla travelled by helicopter from Armagh to Enniskillen for their final engagement of the day and their trip. Crowds of well-wishers cheered as they approached the 16th century castle, Charles wearing a grey suit and Camilla in an emerald green coat dress by Fiona Clare and emerald and diamond Cartier brooch which belonged to the late Queen. The King and Queen are at Enniskillen Castle for the final engagement of their two day visit to Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/lkUgf7NkPX Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) May 25, 2023 They were greeted by the High Sheriff for Co Fermanagh Noelle McAlinden and Fermanagh and Omagh council vice chairman Allan Rainey while they were serenaded by the Caritas Chamber Choir. Local school children and Army cadets were lined up to welcome the King and Queen into the historic courtyard while a community choir performed Rather Be by Clean Bandit. There was also a display of dancing put on by Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers reflecting Northern Irelands two main traditions. Charles and Camilla appeared touched to learn about the Kindness Postbox initiative, which aims to help those who are isolated and disconnected, before meeting those involved with The Big Lunch in Fermanagh. Thanking the King and Queen for their visit, Mr Rainey presented them with a specially made coronation basket from Belleek Pottery. Large crowds had gathered outside the castle by the end of the engagements. Camilla was drawn to a family with an Australian flag and kangaroo teddy bear, and greeted them saying, All the way from Australia?, to be told by one of the ladies she was originally from Enniskillen and brought her family home for a visit. Catholic priest Father Brian DArcy said it had been a lovely day for Fermanagh, and praised the King and Queen for a great job chatting to so many people. Fermanagh is forgotten in many ways and it was lovely to see them taking time to realise that people down here are valuable too, he said. We showed off our county as best we can, the water, the tourism, the friendliness, the cross-community, co-operation between churches all of that was on show today, and all of that is really Fermanagh. AI4Bharat, a government supported initiative, has made a very helpful AI assistant for rural Indians to use, and its called Jugalbandi -- powered by ChatGPT. Its accessible through WhatsApp, on Android phones, allowing Jugalbandi users to get access to government services in 50 Indian languages. If you think about the name of the AI chatbot, Jugalbandi describes a duet of two musicians while conversing musically with one another, in terms of Indian classical music. So, the work of Jugalbandi is kinda similar to the name given: Rural Indian users of the AI chatbot can engage in a conversation to get their questions answered on a variety of government related topics. Also Read: ChatGPT rivals Bard even more with its new features What is Jugalbandi AI chatbot for Indian rural empowerment? There are different government programs that provide information about very important things that people from rural India majorly need to know. But the language barrier of rural India is very real, as English and even Hindi language can be challenging for users. Hence, this Jugalbandi AI chatbot will help the people receive information about their local and central governments programs in their native language. For this AI assistant, Microsoft has been helping manage it from the back-end. Jugalbandi as a test was first introduced in Bhiwani village earlier in April. After this test was a very big success, its scope has been expanded to cover 50 vernacular languages and 171 government programs. How does Jugalbandi bot work on WhatsApp behind-the-scenes? For using Jugalbandi chatbot, there is a WhatsApp number where the user has to send a text or audio message, which will be transcribed and the source language will be detected. Then it will be translated to English to search on the servers and finally within seconds the person who has asked the question receives the answer in their native language. Also read: Meet ChatGPTs new rival: HuggingChat AI chatbot This Jugalbandi bot has helped students from rural areas get information about scholarships which can further help them out with a better education and better future. So, this AI bot is used in the best way possible and can be really helpful for people to get information about anything and everything related to government related documents and programs in their native language. China's memory industry resisting impact of US trade sanctions The US government's expanded restrictions on the Chinese semiconductor industry have posed a significant challenge to the development of the local memory industry. However, through strong financial support from the government, the use of local semiconductor equipment products, and IPOs to raise capital, China's local industry is resisting the US sanctions and proceeding forward. Industry research institute Yole Group stated that in recent years, memory has always been a strategic focus for China's economic development. In 2022, the total amount of money spent by Chinese suppliers on buying DRAM and NAND from IDMs accounted for 30% and 33% of the global market share respectively, behind only suppliers in the Americas. However, the self-sufficiency rate of China's memory products is still below 15%. This large self-sufficiency gap is what's driving NAND and DRAM wafer fabrication to remain one of the top priority items for China. When the US government announced its new wave of trade sanctions back in October 2022, not only did it create a strong resistance to the autonomous development of China's memory sector but it also had a serious impact on local IDM leaders in YMTC and CXMT in terms of the capacity expansion and product roadmap realization required for making progress and improving market competitiveness. As of now, YMTC's 64 and 128-layer NAND is already shipped in the local market. The 232-layer NAND that uses the innovative Xtacking 3.0 architecture has also entered the early production phase. With the company being placed on the US government's trade blacklist, without the support of key equipment suppliers, YMTC's wafer capacity may be stuck at 11,50012,000 units per month. Its previous development roadmap has also been put on hold. To address this situation, YMTC has been seeking equipment suppliers in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to provide semiconductor equipment and materials. In addition, it's also strengthening its collaboration with local equipment suppliers through local government funds and a secret project titled "Wudang Mountain." Previous rumors stated that YMTC could be placing key orders with local equipment makers including Naura. This is to ease the impact of the US sanctions that resulted in US manufacturers like Applied Materials and Lam Research stopping providing equipment, technology, and services. Naura is China's largest semiconductor equipment manufacturer, with its main products being etching and deposition devices. Its 2022 revenue reached US$979 million, significantly higher than AMEC, which was ranked second. 2022 revenue for China's main chipmaking equipment manufacturers (in million US$) Source: Yole Intelligence, compiled by DIGITIMES, May 2023 As with CXMT, although the company is not on the trade blacklist, the US export sanctions still posed significant challenges for the company's product roadmap realization. Right now, CXMT's 27nm memory density equivalent DDR4 and LPDDR4 have already hit the market. The third generation of products, equivalent to 1xnm, is also accelerating development. However, the existing roadmap may also be severely slowed due to the export sanctions. To break out of this difficult situation, CXMT is actively chasing all kinds of necessary resources. Previous media reports pointed out that besides seeking an exemption from the export restrictions, CXMT was also pushing for an IPO at the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market to obtain the funds required to expand its capital expenditures. For now, the future of China's memory industry remains uncertain and the ongoing efforts of YMTC and CXMT may face even tougher challenges with the US government further tightening the trade restrictions. However, given that memory is a strategic focus of China's semiconductor ecosystem, it's expected that the local government and manufacturer will try everything they can to maintain the survival and operation of YMTC and CXMT. Taiwan fab toolmakers secure LTAs from China Taiwan-based semiconductor equipment suppliers including Gudeng Precision Industrial, E&R Engineering, Marketech International, Nova Technology (Novatech) and Taiwan Mask have struck long-term supply agreements with Chinese chipmakers focusing on mature process manufacturing, according to industry sources. Chinese chipmakers are having difficulty procuring fab gear, with Taiwan-based vendors reaping the benefits, the sources indicated. The US is tightening export restrictions on China's chipmaking industry, which has turned its attention to process manufacturing at 28nm and above. Gudeng, a semiconductor front-end equipment manufacturer mainly specializing in mask solution products, has secured a ramp-up in orders from Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) and other Chinese chip customers, the sources said. Despite headwinds facing the chipmaking sector, Gudeng remains bullish about its revenue growth this year, company chairman Bill Chiu was quoted as saying in previous reports. The fab tool supplier expects its revenue to exceed NT$6.5 billion (US$211.1 million) in 2023 and rise further to top the NT$10 billion mark in 2025. Novatech, which specializes in chemical and gas equipment used in the semiconductor and display industries, disclosed recently that its order backlog had surpassed NT$11 billion. The company has seen strong demand from customers in China and Taiwan eager to expand their fab capacities. SMIC and Nexchip are reportedly among Novatech's major customers. According to photomask specialist Taiwan Mask, the company's focus on demand for mature manufacturing nodes at 40nm and above enables it to mitigate the impact of rising geopolitical risks. Taiwan Mask expects its revenue to surge 30% on year and exceed NT$10 billion in 2023, boosted by growing sales of its products supporting 12-inch wafer fabrication. SMIC and Huahong are reportedly among Taiwan Mask's Chinese customers. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. The United Kingdom's King Charles has thanked Armagh for the warm welcome he and Queen Camilla received during the second day of their visit to Northern Ireland. Charles attended a service at St Patricks Cathedral attended by various religious leaders while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. At the library Camilla met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were the Archbishop of Armagh Rev John McDowell and Archbishop Eamon Martin. They both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square. Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met with performers who gave a showcase of Ulster-Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault, he joked. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse, and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. He said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met with some people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands with Rebekah Busby and gave her golden-doodle Teddy a pet, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. Weve been here since 8.50pm, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? [Camilla] said hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' She described the atmosphere as unreal, and that they would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. Macra has sought assurances from the Government that the 'fogotten farmers' - who have lost out following the removal of young farmer supports - will receive meaningful supports as soon as possible. Macra national president Elaine Houlihan and agriculture affairs Chair Liam Hanrahan attended the Taoiseachs roundtable meeting with farm organisations to discuss policy priorities from the farming organisations. At this meeting, Macra brought up many issues that were pertinent to Irish Agriculture such as nitrates, nature restoration, succession and the so called Forgotten Farmers. In October 2022, Minister McConalogue announced that a scheme to support the Forgotten Farmers was forthcoming. In the meeting with Ms Houlihan, the commitment to resolve the forgotten farmers matter was reiterated. We welcome the assurances that the forgotten farmers issue will not be left unresolved. We were assured in October that a scheme was forthcoming and it has yet to be delivered. What we need to see is the action sooner rather than later said Macra National President Elaine Houlihan. The forgotten farmers are a group of farmers who lost out following the removal of young farmer supports such as Installation Aid due to cuts in public expenditure by the Government following the last recession. These forgotten farmers can wait no longer with rising input and energy costs, many investments have been put on hold with the commitments by the Minister, the time to deliver meaningful supports for these farmers is now added Ms Houlihan. This is a matter that Macra is deeply committed to seeing resolved, she said. Macra has continually lobbied on behalf of the Forgotten Farmers to seek the support which they fairly deserve. "It is now more than fifteen years since some of these farmers started out in their farming careers, and it is simply not good enough that the mistakes around the removal of supports have not been rectified," Ms Houlihan said. Dundalk Chamber of Commerce have made a call out to business owners in the area to enter their business in the Louth Business Awards 2023. The awards are free to enter and there is a fantastic selection of categories to choose from. The Chamber says it would encourage business owners to enter up to four different categories. It says the Business Awards are an excellent opportunity to show-case a business and give it the recognition it warrants. This glittering Black Tie event is always a sell out with over 630 people in attendance. The 2023 awards are booked for Saturday 21st October in the Carrickdale Hotel. The Chamber says that there will be excellent media exposure in the run up to the event and it is now the social highlight of the Dundalk business community. The awards are seen as an excellent opportunity to highlight your business to customers and suppliers. They also help to raise a business' profile, attracting potential new customers, suppliers, and investors. The awards offer excellent PR & marketing exposure, and Dundalk Chamber says that the awards night also helps to boost staff morale, and is a great networking opportunity. There are 19 categories to choose from and businesses can enter up to four. Enter by logging on to www.dundalk.ie/awards . There is a separate form for Retailers, Bars, Restaurants, Eating Establishments, Pubs, Hair & Beauty and Tourism Providers and it can be obtained from Brenda in Dundalk Chamber of Commerce by telephone on: 042 9336343 or by email at brenda@dundalk.ie Pictured above: Back row- George Marley, Pat Lennon, Chris Mc Shane, Michael Fleming, Jerry Clark, Eamon Cosgrove. Front row - John Clooney, Michael Cumisky, Tommy Murphy, Kevin Cumisky, Chris Simpson, Peter Green Dundalk Mens Shed is to feature in a new series on TG4 starting tonight at 8pm on TG4. After two difficult years coping with the Covid 19 pandemic The Mens Shed movement in Ireland has bounced back and is making a great impact once again on the lives of thousands. A sanctuary for men of all ages, providing company, friendship and support, the Mens Sheds offer a welcome social outlet for members throughout Ireland. In a new four-part series made by Macha Media for TG4, with support from Northern Ireland Screens Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Mens Sheds covers a year in the life of ten sheds right across the country, as they open their doors and introduce us to their members. Featuring sheds in Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Armagh, Dundalk and Dublin, the programme highlights the characters who belong to the sheds and the wide range of activities they do, from woodworking in Dundalk, online learning in Gaoth Dobhair, working out in Cahersiveen, beekeeping in Falcarragh, and vegetable growing in Corr na Mona, amongst many others. The series is an emotional rollercoaster which follows the personal stories of men across all four provinces, in rural and in urban centres alike. With heart-warming stories of post-covid reopening, caring for the environment and supporting local communities, as well as poignant personal accounts of issues around mental health, family life, cancer, loneliness and loss, this observational documentary series sheds light on the significant positive role played by the Mens Sheds for male health and well-being, especially in a society emerging from the Covid lockdowns. Amongst the sheds to feature in the series, Macha Media paid a number of visits to the Dundalk Mens Shed, which was based in Seatown but is in the process of moving to its new home in Muirhevnamor, as well as the Mens Shed shop in Long Walk Shopping Centre. The first visit shows the men locked out of their premises in late 2021, a precaution taken by the shed committee due to a localised outbreak of Covid-19 in the area. On their return to the shed in early 2022, we see the men enjoying a lively exercise class and see them hard at work in their workshop, where they create wooden lamp stands, bowls and birdboxes, all of which are for sale in the shop to provide the shed with an income to help sustain themselves. Speaking about the impact of the Covid-19 enforced closures, Dundalk Mens Shed chairperson Peter ONeill, said It was a big setback to us and quite a number of members havent returned yet. But people want to get out, theyve been hemmed in long enough. And the shed is good for their mental health too, good for all our mental health. Having joined the Mens Shed after his mother passed away, Dundalk Mens Shed committee member John Freeman, emphasises the importance of the shed for him personally and for men in general: I live alone and to me, the shed saved my life. I was there looking at four walls and I had nothing to do after my mother died, I was a carer for her. The Mens Shed is a lifesaver for an awful lot of people, retired men. It's a home from home and everybody is so friendly. We help each other out. The story of the Mens Shed movement, as portrayed in this stirring four-part series, is one of friendship, trust, sharing and support, a story of companionship and compassion. The series provides a refreshing insight into mens mental health issues and it will evoke and inspire, as we follow the personal journeys and projects carried out by the many characters of Irelands mens sheds, who work and socialise shoulder to shoulder. Mens Sheds will air over four weeks, starting on Thursday 25 May at 8pm on TG4 and on the TG4 Player. Private Sean Rooney will be posthumously honoured by the United Nations in New York today. The 23-year-old soldier was killed while serving in Lebanon in December. He will be honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold medal. At a ceremony in the UN General Assembly Hall, the Irish Ambassador to the United Nations, Fergal Mythen, will receive the medal on behalf of Private Rooney's family. The presentation of the medal is part of a series of events that will mark the 75th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping. Ireland has contributed peacekeepers to UN missions since 1958 with almost 500 Irish personnel serving under the UN flag today. They include the 67th Infantry Battalion who were recently deployed to Golan Heights in Syria. Private Rooney was shot dead when the vehicle he was driving came under attack in the Al-Aqbieh area of south Lebanon on December 14. Private Rooney was a native of Dundalk and had lived in Newtowncunningham for the last decade. A former student at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny, Private Rooney served with the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk. He was due to wed his fiance Holly McConnellogue in August. Micheal Martin, the Tanaiste and Minister for Defence, has vowed that those responsible for the death of Private Rooney will be brought to justice. At Finner Camp in March, he said: It showed the tragedy and suffering that war and conflict can bring. I want to assure Private Rooneys family that the Government is determined that all facts and circumstances of the incident will be fully established. I have been with Private Rooneys colleagues in Lebanon and I have assured them, as I assure you, that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that those responsible will be brought to justice. Approximately one in three prisoners is on a waiting list for mental health services, according to a new report by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT). The Progress in the Penal System (PIPS) report found that in 2022 the use of solitary confinement in Irish prisons increased, the proportion of people accommodated in single cells decreased, the average number of people on remand increased by 23% and overcrowding remained a consistent feature of closed prisons, particularly in womens prisons. It is the sixth year of the PIPS report which assesses Irelands penal system across human rights and best practice standards set in 2017. It examines prison conditions, regimes, accountability and reintegration. Law professor Cormac Behan, chair of the report advisory group, said the challenges facing the Irish penal system include the high rate of imprisonment of people with mental health issues; limited access to drug and alcohol treatment; the absence of an open prison for women; the increase in the number of people, and the time spent, on remand; the lack of an independent complaints mechanism; and the re-emergence of overcrowding. The report identified rising numbers of people in prison as a move away from progress achieved over the past few years. This increasing prison population is contrary to clear commitments in the Governments Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 to look at measures which aim to reduce reoffending, support desistance from offending, avoid overcrowding in prisons and reduce reliance on custodial sentences, IPRT said in a statement. It said some pockets of progress are at risk of reversal due to a lack of policy implementation. Acting executive director of IPRT Molly Joyce said prison has been the default option for people who experience mental health issues or the challenges associated with addiction for too long. She welcomed the High Level Task Force to consider mental health and addiction challenges for those coming into contact with the central justice sector and the opening of a new Central Mental Hospital. She added: That said, mental health remains a deeply pressing issue within our prisons, with approximately 33% of prisoners on waiting lists to access psychology services at the start of 2023 and 18 people in prison on the waiting list for the Central Mental Hospital as of the end of December 2022. This situation requires urgent action by implementing the recommendations of the Task Force without further delay. The report indicates significant regress on the issue of overcrowding in Irish prisons, with people sleeping on mattresses and sharing of cells becoming a regular feature across the prison estate. In particular, there was an 8% increase in the annual average number of people in prison between 2021 (3,794) and 2022 (4,095), a knock-on impact of these increasing prison numbers is the additional pressure it places on rehabilitative services. Ms Joyce commented: The increasing numbers of people in prison, and subsequent overcrowding across the prison estate in Ireland, is extremely disappointing. Concerted efforts to successfully reduce the number of people in prison as part of the Covid-19 response have now been reversed, resulting in a prison system that is on its knees. In December 2022, there were 2,408 instances of prisoners sleeping on mattresses and as of December 1 2022 there were 104 prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Such conditions undermine the dignity afforded to people in prison, Ms Joyce said. The 2022 report further notes that there was an average of 875 people held on remand in 2022: this compares to an average of 584 people on remand in 2017. The IPRT said women in prison in Ireland are among the most marginalised women in the state, with an estimated 85% having addiction issues and studies suggesting they are more likely than men to have experienced sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. The report found the majority of women committed to prison in Ireland are committed for less than a year on non-violent offences, with 2021 figures showing that 85% of all sentenced committals of women were for 12 months or less. Ms Joyce stated: Not only are Irelands two female prisons the most consistently overcrowded in the State, but women in prison are also often detained on shorter sentences for less serious crimes. These short periods in prison leave little time for rehabilitation whilst also disproportionately impacting their families, children, and ability to reintegrate back into communities afterwards. An EBRD-funded study on encouraging female entrepreneurship in North Macedonia, entitled Roadmap for a Gender-Responsive Investment Climate, was launched in Skopje today. The launch event was opened by the Minister of Economy for North Macedonia, Kreshnik Bekteshi. Participants included the EBRD, the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, policymakers, business representatives and civil society. The Roadmap, developed by Marija Risteska under the umbrella of the Western Balkans Women in Business (WiB) programme, will inform policymakers and other stakeholders of ways to increase female entrepreneurship. In particular, it recommends: mainstreaming gender in investment policy investment policies need to include gender objectives and criteria, and direct support to sectors where women-led and women-owned companies operate investment policies need to include gender objectives and criteria, and direct support to sectors where women-led and women-owned companies operate developing support services for companies owned and led by women this includes start-up services like incubators and accelerators that integrate a gender perspective into their operations or provide specific services for women-led and women-owned businesses this includes start-up services like incubators and accelerators that integrate a gender perspective into their operations or provide specific services for women-led and women-owned businesses improving access to finance and markets for women-led and women-owned companies this could include measures such as digitalisation, gendered taxation, including gender criteria in subsidies, grant and loan schemes, as well as opening a window for women-led or owned companies in the countrys new Guarantee Fund, which supports finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and traders. Aneta Krstevska, Chief Economist at the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, commented: "The new Roadmap adds to work previously done by the National Bank and other financial regulators during preparation of the first National Strategy for Financial Education and Inclusion 2021-2025, which detected gender-related and other gaps in financial education and inclusion, and identified action points. North Macedonia is committed to improving opportunities for female entrepreneurship together with our partners." These comments were echoed by Andi Aranitasi, EBRD Head of North Macedonia: The Roadmap shows how the EBRDs approach to policy dialogue is directed towards improving the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women in business. More specifically, the EBRD will seek to close the financial gender gap by working with partner financial institutions to help them improve sex-disaggregated data collection, analysis and awareness-raising, as well as build capacity to break gender stereotypes in lending. The Roadmap points out that, despite the countrys well-developed policy and legal framework, women are still under-represented among North Macedonias business leaders, owning only a third of the countrys businesses. Women-led businesses are also consistently smaller and less represented among sectors with higher growth potential, and are often trapped in the segment of small and micro enterprises, accounting for just a small fraction of certain economic activities, such as trade and services. Support for women in business The EBRD has long supported women in accessing entrepreneurship opportunities, most prominently through its Women in Business (WiB) programme. The programme, active in 24 economies, has to date provided 900 million in financing and business advice to more than 100,000 women-led SMEs and 58 partner financial institutions. Since launching the WiB programme in the Western Balkans in 2014 the first such programme in the region the EBRD has provided more than 60 million to its partner financial institutions for on-lending to women-led SMEs. This, together with the wide range of advisory, training, mentoring and network-building activities the EBRD provides, has helped more than 7,500 women entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses. In the Western Balkans, 12 banks and financial institutions have so far joined the programme. In North Macedonia, the WiB programme is available through NLB Banka and Ohridska Banka. Advisory services under the programme are supported by donor funds from Sweden and Luxembourg. Cork City Libraries will today launch a new podcast series, A Century of Garda History, which came about as part of the centenary last year of An Garda Siochana. City Librarian David OBrien says the project began with the re-enactment last November of the arrival on Corks quays of the first contingent of some 60 members of the then Civic Guard in 1922. That event culminated in a civic reception given by the Lord Mayor to the gardai, and it brought out an awful lot of other material relating to the development of An Garda Siochana and we decided to engage in the podcast to track and gather some of that material, and were hoping that that will lead to even more in the future. Alan Noonan is Cork City Libraries first historian in residence, and he has played a leading role in putting the new series together. As Cork City Libraries first historian in residence, I was excited to research, write, and narrate their first history podcast on the anniversary of the arrival of the Civic Guards to Cork city, he says. The creation of a new police force for the island of Ireland was an incredible challenge, especially in the middle of a Civil War. There are some stories that might surprise people for example it was a mutiny that led to the Civic Guards becoming an unarmed police force. Other interesting anecdotes are drawn from newspapers of the time or the minutes of Cork Corporation meetings, he says. Some of the topics the podcast details include the origins of the early police recruits and leadership, influence of the Royal Irish Constabulary on its formation, the origins and advent of women in the police, and the early stumbling efforts to create a detective unit, known as Oriel House. Mr Noonan says it is hoped that the podcast will mark a new type of public history engagement for Cork City Libraries. We also hope to add additional episodes later to further detail some of the lesser known stories about the early days of An Garda Siochana, the experiences of its first recruits, and how the public experienced a new era in Irish policing. This is in addition to developing a separate podcast during this summer on the historic and more recent changes in the life of Cork Docks and dockworkers, he adds. Inspector James Hallahan from Anglesea Street says An Garda Siochana was asked to get involved with the preparation of the podcast series as part of last years centenary events. We had a number of events last year in Cork city and county, and we held exhibitions in the ten libraries in Cork city, working very closely with Cork City Council and the library staff, so I suppose the podcast was a good way to cap off a very successful year of centenary events, showcasing a number of different events for the public to see the different pieces of history and heritage we have in Cork city and county. Inspector Hallahan notes that for gardai in Cork city, centenary commemorations began early enough last year, with Patricks Day 2022 marking an unusual first for members of the force. We kicked off early enough, with the St Patricks Day parade, it was the first time that we ever marched in the parade. Were normally policing the parade, helping with crowd control on the day, which obviously enough we did on the day as well. We had our ceremonial unit, we had our retired members, we had our garda staff, and we had our friends, the Massachusetts State Troopers, there as well, and we had a vintage car as well. He adds that for most members of the force, the Little Blue Heroes, a garda charity which helps children with serious illnesses, is a very special part of their work in the community. Another highlight of the garda centenary year in Cork was a series of exhibitions which took place across the citys libraries, he says. It just goes to show you the deep importance of the libraries, and it shows what a significant way they offer of reaching the public, and because of that we had a fantastic turnout on 9 November for the re-enactment of the landing at Kennedy Quay of the first contingent of the Civic Guard. I was on the LE James Joyce myself, and to see all of the public and the guards waiting on the quay and then marching up to the School of Music, it was fantastic to see and I think we did our predecessors in the Civic Guard proud on the day, Inspector Hallahan says. The podcast series, A Century of Garda History, can be accessed at www.corkcitylibraries.ie. Civic Guard civil war tale opens Garda History podcast IN THE first episode of Cork City Libraries new podcast series, A Century of Garda History, Alan Noonan, the libraries historian in residence, suggests 1922 was, perhaps, the most chaotic year among many chaotic years during what we now term the decade of centenaries between 1913 and 1923. In these early, post-Treaty days, the provisional government was fighting to establish its own legitimacy in a country torn asunder by civil war and a priority in the copper fastening of that authority would be the formation of a civilian police force. The Royal Irish Constabulary, the discredited police force of the British regime, had already been largely superseded during the War of Independence by the Irish Republican Police, which took its place first in the countryside and later in the larger towns and cities, including in Cork. In the chaos of the Civil War, that force sided with anti-Treaty republican forces and retreated from the city in the wake of the Battle of Cork in July and August of 1922. Law and order was breaking down in the city, and although the provisional government had already established a replacement police force, the Civic Guard, in February 1922, that force had yet to be sent to Cork. It was into this void that the interim Cork Civic Patrol stepped. They were approximately 100 men, unarmed, wearing civilian clothing, with an armband labelled CCP on it, Alan Noonan says. It was these men who guarded Michael Collinss funeral cortege as it was led through the city after the ambush at Beal na Blath. With overland transport too hazardous given fears of ambush and damage to railroad infrastructure, it was on the steamship The Lady Carlow that the first contingent of about 60 members of the Civic Guard arrived in Cork, on 9 November 1922, a landing which was re-enacted a century later when the LE James Joyce arrived at Kennedy Quay. The Civic Guard was renamed the Garda Siochana na hEireann on August 8, 1923. The first episode of this podcast series is informative and appealing, and, coming in at just over a brisk 11 minutes, it doesnt outstay its welcome. As the podcasts narrator, Alan Noonan is an understated and engaging storyteller who strikes exactly the right balance between broader picture and local detail. An excellent start to this new series. The podcast A Century of Garda History can be accessed at www.corkcitylibraries.ie Read More Gardai commemorate arrival of Civic Guard into Cork in 1922 THE father of a profoundly deaf Cork teenager has told an Oireachtas committee he felt broken in two when he was forced to go to the High Court to vindicate his sons right to education. Andrew Geary, whose son Calum was born without an auditory nerve, was appearing before the Oireachtas education committee in the wake of his family settling their High Court battle after a decade-long fight. Calum has no other language except Irish Sign Language (ISL) which is an official language of this country, and his family had campaigned for him to receive his education through an ISL classroom interpreter. The Irish Sign Language Act 2017, which made ISL an official State language, places a statutory duty on every public body to provide free interpretation for all statutory services and entitlements, including education. The Ballyhooly family began campaigning when Calum entered primary school, but, Mr Geary said, nothing could have prepared them for the demands of the legal challenge which they mounted in 2021. I deeply, deeply love my country, but it tore me apart that I felt I was being disloyal to my own country bringing it to the High Court and it has broken me in two. Mr Geary, who has had a 25-year career with An Garda Siochana, said love of country was what compelled any public servant to public service, and that love was based upon the call of the founders of the State, that we found a country based on the principles of a republic. Are we truly a republic? How far have we moved in our 101 years of independence towards being a full republic if a child, one of the innocent children of our State, has to go in and beg for access to his education? Where is the republic in that? How do I ask my son to give service to the State for the rest of his life if the same country Im asking him to pledge his allegiance to wont even give him access to an education? The Gearys had argued the lack of proper supports in schools had denied deaf children their rights, and Mr Geary said families should not be forced to go to battle to vindicate the rights of their children. The Geary familys High Court settlement means Calum, who is now 14 and has started secondary school, will benefit from the support of a fully qualified sign-language interpreter in the classroom, meaning he has been able to take up subjects including French in Bishopstown Community School. Mr Geary said Calum is thriving, but it had been a long and difficult road for the family, who would have had to sell their home to pay over 100,000 in legal costs had they lost the case. Why was my son, my family, forced to go through absolutely draining, depressing, stressful, absolutely momentous climbing, emotionally and financially, for two years through the High Court, after eight years of campaigning? Mr Geary was speaking before the committee at the invitation of Fianna Fails Padraig OSullivan, who was among a number of TDs to raise Calums story in the Dail. Gardai found a man behaving nervously and suspiciously in Cork city centre and it was discovered that he was in possession of drugs for his own use for the eleventh time. Leonard Geasley, who had been living at St. Vincents hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork, pleaded guilty to this latest drugs offence. Sergeant Ciaran Kelleher said the case related to December 7 2022 at North Main Street, Cork. On that afternoon Garda Conor Cronin saw the accused who became nervous as the guard approached. He dropped a wrap of white powder on the ground. It was recovered by Garda Cronin and found to be cocaine. He admitted that it was cocaine for personal use. Sgt. Kelleher said the defendants previous drugs convictions consisted of having substances for his own use on ten previous occasions. Defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, said that after four and a half years of homelessness, the defendant recently got housing through Focus Ireland and was afraid he would lose this opportunity if he was jailed. Judge John King imposed a four-month suspended jail term. 36-year-old Geasley said, Thank you, judge, thanks very much. Crosshaven Coast Guard rescued three teens last night as they got into difficulty near Camden Fort. The three young men were rescued at around 9pm after they found themselves cut off by the incoming tide on the rocks. One of them suffered a fall, resulting in a severely injured leg. He was also suffering from the extreme cold after entering the water. Crosshaven Coast Guard were alerted to the three men in distress around 9pm last night. The Crosshaven Coast Guard team were conducting an exercise in the area at the time when they were alerted to the three young men in difficulty. The area was quite difficult to access but after a brief with the crew we safely extracted the casualtys and one is now on route to hospital with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) for assessment by doctors, a spokesperson for the Crosshaven Coast Guard reported. The team stressed the importance of staying safe near Cork coasts and waterways as the good weather continues, saying: Remember if you see someone in trouble or think they may be in trouble on or near our coasts or inland waterways, dial 112/999 and ask for the Irish Coast Guard. It could save a life. Gardai are appealing for help in finding a young Cork man who has been missing since earlier this week. Dominik Sejbuk, who is 21, was last seen in Fermoy, County Cork, on the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd May 2023. Dominik is described as being approximately six foot one inches in height with a broad build, blue eyes, and blond or sandy coloured hair. When last seen, Dominik was wearing a dark t-shirt and white Reebok runners. Anyone with any information on Dominik's whereabouts are asked to contact Fermoy Garda Station on 025 82100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or to call to any garda station. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit A young man challenged others in Cork city with the words, When is the fight?" and when he was approached by gardai he accused officers of raping them of their rights. 23-year-old Luke Howard of 12 Leesdale, Model Farm Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening behaviour, being drunk and a danger and failing to appear in court on a later date. Shane Collins-Daly, defence solicitor, said the incident dated back to August 29 2021 and that since that time he had taken extensive steps to turn his life around. He completed a six-month residential programme in Bruree. He got his old job back. He is working fulltime in construction now. He went to Bruree for alcohol and cocaine treatment. He is eleven months sober and drug-free. He accepts that on the night he spoke to the garda in an extremely inappropriate manner. He wants to apologise for that, he said. Judge John King imposed a 500 fine for threatening behaviour and another 500 for failing to appear in court. He took the intoxication charge into consideration. Sergeant Ciaran Kelleher said the incident occurred on August 29 2021 at Grand Parade, Cork. After midnight on Saturday night/Sunday morning, the attention of gardai was drawn to Luke Howard who was shouting at two other men, 'When is the fight?' Garda Kyra Collins was concerned about his level of intoxication. He had about four cans of alcohol in a bag. The alcohol was seized and disposed of in a bin. He approached her and called her a bitch and said gardai were raping them of their rights, Sergeant Kelleher said. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has raised concerns about the level of public money being spent by Cork University Hospital (CUH) on the outsourcing of services to consultancy firms. It comes as correspondence between Labour TD Sean Sherlock and the hospital revealed that a total of 608,252 was paid to PwC Consultants by the hospital between October and December last year. The hospital said that PwC was procured on the basis of government frameworks, tendered for on a national level, and in line with government/HSE procurement guidelines. INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the INMO is extremely concerned about the situation and said that it will continue to raise the issue at upcoming meetings with the HSE. The fact that one hospital, Cork University Hospital, increased its spend on consultancy firms by 333.8% in the space of one month is shocking, she said. Trade unions representing all workers in the public service believe that the continued reliance on consultancy firms is a breach of the outsourcing provisions covered in the latest public sector agreement and have referred to the Public Sector Agreement Oversight Group. Deputy Sherlock told The Echo: "It's hard to square off where 600,000 has been spent when people are on trolleys every day. "More public scrutiny of spending of this nature is needed." Chief Executive Officer of CUH David Donegan said in the correspondence with Deputy Sherlock that PwC, amongst others, have undertaken work at a national, regional and local level with CUH and CUH Group over recent years. For example, the National Trauma Programme is supported by PwC Project Management support, including at CUH. Regionally, South/South West Hospital Group have also used PwC to support it in various ways. In certain cases, CUH has either then continued this work or engaged its own support on local projects as needed. As such, PwC spend on CUH projects specifically is difficult to accurately account for by any one organisation, as it may be funded and invoiced to a range of organisations depending on the origins of the work. CUH Group (which includes Mallow General Hospital, Bantry General Hospital, St Finbarr's Rehabilitation Unit & CUH Wilton) has a very significant service and organisational improvement agenda, and a new CEO has been brought in to lead that from late 2022. The improvement programme has the full support of the SSWHG regionally and Acute Operations nationally, and the detail behind this work is managed through this accountability framework. INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the INMO is extremely concerned about the situation and said that it will continue to raise the issue at upcoming meetings with the HSE. Mr Donegan also confirmed that at no time have any PwC members of staff been asked to, authorised to or expected to take on line management or operational management of HSE staff or HSE services. He said that no reviews had any adverse implications for current staff (redundancies or demotions), though some may involve restructuring and additional new opportunities if funded. When PwC is present in meetings or acting as project managers, he said they are at all times supporting/advising a HSE employee who has accountability. Mr Donegan further confirmed that to date, there has not been a single concern raised by a CUH employee about this work and that there has been widespread support for it, particularly from the hospitals clinical leaders. A campaign of industrial action will be undertaken by Cork City Council community wardens at City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork, on Friday, May 26 at 9am in a dispute concerning the failure to have their work roles adequately evaluated. The industrial action will also involve a picket. SIPTU Organiser, Con Casey, said the workers play a vital role in assisting the development of Cork city communities. These workers play a vital role in assisting the development of communities in the city which are designated as disadvantaged as part of the RAPID scheme. They work in improving the lived environment of these communities through education, enforcement, and local community actions, he said. Mr Casey said the management of Cork City Council has refused to engage in an evaluation of their work roles. Despite the important work carried out by community wardens, and a recommendation of the Labour Court, the management of Cork City Council has refused to engage in an evaluation of the roles these workers carry out." "This is essential if we are to retain and develop these workers for this service in assisting communities across the city. These workers have pursued their claim through all the state industrial relations bodies. Management has not engaged in these processes in good faith, even refusing to attend a hearing in the Labour Court. This resulted in the workers having no option but to vote for industrial action, up to and including, strike action, he added. Mr Casey warned that the industrial action will escalate if Cork City Council management refuses to enter a process. The industrial action will consist of the workers placing a picket on City Hall and only carrying out the work which they are strictly contracted to perform. They will engage in no goodwill gestures or additional training. "The industrial action will escalate if Cork City Council management continues to refuse to enter a process where the important functions of these workers are properly evaluated. A spokesperson for Cork City Council told The Echo: Cork City Council has attended a Labour Court hearing on the matter, had local engagement with SIPTU and recently attended a Workplace Relations Commission Conciliation Conference in an effort to resolve the dispute. A search for a missing walker in West Cork continued into its third day as coast guard units, Gardai and other emergency services continued their efforts to locate the missing person. The alarm was initially raised in Castlefreke at approximately 10:30pm on Tuesday evening, May 23 after the female walker failed to return from a coastal walk. A multi-agency search operation was initiated which involved the Coast Guard, RNLI, West Cork Coastal Rescue, Gardai, and local teams of volunteers. Boats, a helicopter, and drones have also assisted the emergency services in their efforts to locate the missing person. The search effort has been focused on the Long Strand-Castlefreke-Rosscarbery areas in West Cork. A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana told The Echo that no further information is available at the current time. Gardai and other agencies are conducting a search for a missing person in the Rosscarbery area of West Cork, on Thursday, May 25. There is no further information available at this time. A spokesperson for Valentia Coast Guard told The Echo: Castlefreke Coast Guard is still out. The 117 helicopter from Waterford was assisting earlier in the day. There are also some local dive teams involved in the search. CORK City Council, in partnership with Women for Election, recently welcomed Irelands first ever elected black female public representative, Councillor Yemi Adenuga, to City Hall where she set out what she learnt when successfully running for Meath County Council. An acclaimed motivational speaker, she seeks to work with women on building resilience, pushing past fear, as a lack of confidence has been cited repeatedly by women as a barrier to entering politics. This was just one session in the Council, and Women for Elections More Women for Election in Cork free training programme, which is designed to equip women with the confidence, support, and tools to get involved in local politics. Both women and men belong in equal numbers in our Council Chamber. However, unfortunately this is not the case. Just six women are currently elected to the 31 seats in Cork City Council. Nationally, the situation isnt much better. Only one in four councillors in Irish local government are women - yet women make up half our population. We need to see more women at the table making decisions that impact womens lives. Since its inception over 18 months ago, Cork City Councils Womens Caucus has been working to carve a pathway so more women are represented in the Irish political system. Currently, Cork City Council ranks 17th out of 31 local authorities for female representation, With this in mind, we need to ensure we are working together to see more women step forward. Women across Cork city are leading successful businesses, are making a difference in the workplace, in health, education and social services and in community groups and in campaigns that make a real difference in their locality and to civic life. We want to see these women, their passions and values reflected in our political decision making. The More Women for Election in Cork programme began in February and will run to June this year. The free events aim to engage, encourage and inspire women in all their diversity to consider entering politics. In recent months, Pat Montague, an advocacy and strategy consultant, delivered an Introduction to Politics to attendants while Cllr Adenuga explored how women can lean into the values that motivate them and work to deliver those in local or national politics. Gender quotas are in place for national elections but not at local government level. The authors of a UCC research paper commissioned by Cork City Councils Women Caucus, Womens Voice in the Council Chamber called for legislation to introduce a 40% gender quota for the 2024 elections so that Ireland is in line with other European countries. Dr. Aodh Quinlivan, Dr Fiona Buckley, Olajumoke Olumwaferanmi Igun and John Ger ORiordan also recommended a specific mentoring programme for newly elected women councillors and community-based education around the role of local government and councillors, not dissimilar to the training sessions being offered to potential women candidates by Women for Election and Cork City Council.. In the next and final training session, on the evening of June 13, Linda Kelly, National Secretary of Forsa Trade Union will examine power, imposter syndrome, facing fear and recovering from setbacks in an interactive workshop. Linda likes to quote academic and acclaimed author, Brene Brown: I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. This session is for all the women who want to be, or are already in the arena. We will discuss confidence, how to gather yourself after a setback and rediscover why you got involved in politics or activism in the first place. We will talk about tapping into inner strength and banishing fears. We will explore power, where it comes from and how to harness it, she said. Linda is also the founder of Women Ascend an Instagram community space for women to explore their power and use it with purpose. After giving birth to her second daughter in 2020 under Covid-19 restrictions, Linda began campaigning with other Uplift members under the #BetterMaternityCare banner. Any women interested in taking part in this training session can visit: https://www.womenforelection.ie/cork/ for further details on the programme and how to register. COUNT HER IN Beforehand though, later this month, in partnership with Cork City Council and supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Women for Election, are holding a national conference in Cork called Count Her In. Again, the focus is on making politics more accessible, inclusive, safe and equal for women all around the country. Booking will open in the coming weeks so keep an eye on Cork City Council and Women for Election social media channels for details. Count Her In will take place on May 26 at Cork City Concert Hall. The conference will run from 10.30am to 3.30pm with registration from 9.30am. 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. Every thirty minutes, a Norfolk Southern train passes through East Palestine. Three months ago, no one in this northeastern Ohio village of just under 5,000 people would have batted an eye at the sight of the long trains passing through. No one would have turned a head at the sound of the trains whistle as it echoed up North Market Street and down South Market Street toward the farmlands and neighboring communities that surround the village. But now, three months have passed since a Norfolk Southern train derailed, spilling 20 cars worth of hazardous chemicals. After a controlled burn led to the community evacuating their homes in the village, causing a ripple effect of health concerns, environmental disaster, and an ongoing fight for justice, life will never be the same for the residents who have decided to stay. A mile west of the derailment site on Feb. 25, volunteers handed out cases of bottled water in a parking lot. As residents of East Palestine lined up to load their cars, Norfolk Southern trains continued to pass by throughout the day. A volunteer loads a shopping cart with bottled water and other household goods outside the First Church of Christ in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman A block away, in the parking lot of the First Church of Christ where more volunteers were handing out bottled water, dish cleaner, and other household items, the Ohio Department of Health opened a pop-up clinic for residents to get their vitals checked. A volunteer loads bottled water and other household goods into Lori Daughterys car outside the First Church of Christ in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman Lori Daughtery, a resident of East Palestine since 2021, was picking up free bottled water from the First Church of Christ when she said shed had a headache ever since the derailment, and cant get rid of this one. Daughtery said she is prone to chronic migraines, but hadnt had one for a long time until the derailment happened. Left: Rob Runnion stands in his kitchen in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 25. Runnions home relies on a private well for water, which had to be tested separately by the U.S. EPA. Joe Timmerman Right: Rob Runnion visits one of his goats in his backyard on Feb. 25. Joe Timmerman Outside the heart of the village, residents whose homes rely on well water rather than municipal water were still being told to individually test their wells. Rob Runnion, an East Palestine resident and business owner, was waiting for the U.S. EPA to visit his home and test his well water which his wife, two dogs, cat, chickens, and goats, rely on. Left: Gerri Coblentz, an East Palestine resident, speaks with Robert W. Bowcock, a hydrologist with Erin Brockovichs East Palestine Justice team, in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman Right: Erin Brockovich talks with a community member after speaking to an auditorium full of people at East Palestine High on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman On the evening of Feb. 25, Erin Brockovich and her team of lawyers and environmental experts spoke to an auditorium full of people at East Palestine High School following requests from hundreds of East Palestine community members, including lifelong residents Will and Gerri Coblentz. Will Coblentz stands on the side porch of his home looking toward the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment, in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 25. Joe Timmerman The Coblentzs live three blocks away from the site of the derailment, well within the mile radius that was originally evacuated due to a matter of life and death, Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio said at a news conference. Early on the morning of Feb. 4, they woke up to what sounded like an explosion, and watched from their kitchen window as train cars burned glowing their neighborhood in an orange light. We thought all of the houses were on fire, it was a big mushroom cloud, Gerri Coblentz said. According to a letter sent from the U.S. EPA to Norfolk Southern on Feb. 10, cars containing vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether are known to have been and continue to be released into the air, surface soils, and surface waters. When the evacuation was announced, the Coblentzs left their two dogs and cat behind for three days until they were allowed to return to their home, where theyve stayed since. Gerri Coblentz holds a cup of coffee filled with bottled water as she pets her dog in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 25. Joe Timmerman Even though the Ohio EPA said the air and water show no presence of contaminants from the train crash, the Coblentzs have been drinking bottled water every day. They also decided to get blood tests to detect whether heavy metals from the chemicals are in their body, and they plan on continuing to test their blood periodically. Gerri and Will Coblentzs calendar displays notes of the train derailment and air testing. At the end of February, the Coblentzs were planning on scheduling blood tests. Joe Timmerman Thats a big doubt, not knowing. We dont know if were infected or what weve got right now. Were living normal but down the road, who knows? Will Coblentz said in an interview at his home on February 25. Everybodys got to face it, its here. Its not going away like they said. Its very emotional for all this stuff to happen. Im damn mad because that happened right down the street here. And has there been a single person other than CTEH thats been here to check the air quality of the house, or to check on anyone? No, not a single person, Gerri Coblentz said. Left: A contractor samples the air using a handheld air quality monitor near the Norfolk Southern train derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman Right: A U.S. EPA Superfund air quality monitor samples the air near the Norfolk Southern train derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH) is a private contractor that was hired by Norfolk Southern to test water, soil, and air quality in East Palestine. Weeks after CTEH assured safety to families in East Palestine, including the Coblentzs, a story published by ProPublica in collaboration with The Guardian revealed that according to several independent experts, the air testing results did not prove their homes were truly safe. Furthermore, the ProPublica article found that CTEH has been accused repeatedly of downplaying health risks in past cases of chemical accidents theyve been hired to investigate. In East Palestine, CTEH may be testing for the wrong chemicals or the detection limits are way too high, said Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics and chair of the Sierra Clubs National Clean Air Team, in an interview on March 21. Ohio EPA and other clean-up crews work in Sulphur Run in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman Ohio EPA and other clean-up crews work in Sulphur Run in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman A clean-up crew workers reflection in Sulphur Run in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman Williams, who has responded to about 30 chemical disasters in the last four years, said the disaster in East Palestine is unlike any she has seen before. The strange thing about the Ohio train derailment that really caught my attention is that it is unique that in 2, 3, 4 weeks after the disaster, people are still having acute responses to exposure to something in the air, she said. It wasnt just the derailment itself that surprised Williams, but the coupled choice to burn the chemicals and allow the citizens of the community to return to their homes within the mile radius of the explosion only days later. It was the burning of the vinyl chloride that creates and manufactures dioxins and thats why the EPA is saying were not going to test for it. They knew they would find it, Williams said. Dioxin is the most toxic compound known to man, by far, hands down. Ive responded to dozens of these disasters now, and Ive never seen anyone take shape charges and blow up tanker cars of chemicals they used to do that in the second world war but I havent seen that done in this country, Williams said. Chemicals are visible atop the water in Sulphur Run in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman With the United States averaging one chemical accident every two days, according to a map by the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters, Williams cites aging petrochemical infrastructure, and the EPA refusing to force facilities to do whats needed to prevent chemical disasters, whether its a train derailment or actual chemical manufacturing facility. Chemical disasters are just a part of American life at this point just like gun violence and just like fentanyl overdoses, Williams said. And theyre not likely to reduce in number or in impact. Left: A Norfolk Southern train passes through the village in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 25. Joe Timmerman Right: Excavated soil labeled Hazardous Waste awaits removal near the Norfolk Southern train derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 24. Joe Timmerman Trains continue to run on schedule through the village, cleanup efforts fill the hours throughout the day, and contaminated soil still awaits removal. According to the U.S. EPAs latest update on May 18, the excavation of contaminated soil at the derailment site, as well as air monitoring at 23 sites around the village, are continuing. About 12.8 million gallons of wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total, according to the Ohio EPAs most recent update on April 20. Additionally, a pile of over 6,000 tons of excavated soil awaited removal from the village, compared to over 31,000 tons that have been removed. Living alongside hazardous chemicals that remain in East Palestines soil below where trains speed by, residents continue to face new health issues and concerns. River Valley Organizing, a non-profit based in East Liverpool, Ohio, less than 18 miles from East Palestine, has been on the ground meeting with residents since the derailment. Daniel Winston, co-executive director of River Valley Organizing, said that an early Google Form they sent out to community members within the first weeks of the derailment received about 700 submissions from community members reporting various sicknesses and symptoms. East Palestine resident Gerri Coblentz displays a picture showing a rash she said she developed following the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment. Joe Timmerman In an interview on May 10, Winston said that community members are reporting such symptoms as skin issues, COPD, lung issues, and even heart issues from people who have never had heart issues in the past. Winston said that while River Valley Organizing cant confirm that these symptoms are connected, they are working with experts who can help uncover if they are. There needs to be long-term monitoring and long-term sampling, said Dr. Michele Morrone, a professor of environmental health science at Ohio University and the former chief of the Ohio EPAs Office of Environmental Education, in an interview on February 24. While the information currently available through air and water quality samples is applicable to acute, short-term exposures, Morrone explained that the true effects that the chemicals in East Palestine may have on people affected by the derailment wont be known until further down the road. For residents living in or near East Palestine, Morrone suggests ongoing blood testing which will reveal the effects of the hazardous chemicals that have been suspected to cause community members reported acute symptoms, and could prove whether they caused chronic symptoms in the future. Theres going to have to be people who are willing to be followed over time, Morrone said. Maybe you can measure a chemical today in someones blood and maybe itll go down tomorrow but you cant really know what the long term effects are of these measurements until its done over a long period of time. As the months pass by, Winston urges people and mainstream media to continue talking about East Palestine. We will be pushing this as hard as we can no matter what, she said. The fight is getting harder because were so far out. And people think that everything is OK because thats what has been put out by the EPA and Norfolk Southern. On Feb. 21, the EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to conduct all cleanup associated with the derailment and pay all of the costs, which the company has followed, but Winston wants more for the people of East Palestine. Along with the continued push for Norfolk Southern, and the state and federal governments to respond to River Valley Organizings list of five demands created based off community member needs, Winston said that Gov. Mike DeWine desperately needs to call for an official federal disaster in the East Palestine area, and pointed out that DeWine has only until July 3 before the deadline passes. East Palestine resident Frank Ganoe, 81, drinks a cup of coffee at Sprinklz On Top diner in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 25. Ganoe visited the diner every day before the derailment, and after evacuating for six days, says hes home now. Joe Timmerman For the residents in East Palestine and communities across the U.S. that are affected by these chemical disasters, the future remains unclear. I hope that we can get answers to what we can do. I hope everybody gets back to normal but that aint gonna never happen. Where do we go from here? Who knows? Time will tell. Its history in the making, Will Coblentz said. Innovasea helps secure approval for first ocean-based fish farm in Aruba, Netherlands Innovasea, a specialist in technologically advanced aquatic solutions for aquaculture and fish tracking, announced on May 24 that it has successfully helped another company, Petros, secure government approval for a 3,000 tonne open ocean fish farm that will be eight kilometers off the southwest coast of Aruba, the Netherlands. Innovasea performed extensive consulting and site selection work for Petros, which plans to use Innovasea's submersible SeaStations and other technologies to raise Northern Red Snapper. "We're thrilled to be partnering with Petros to create Aruba's first ocean-based fish farm," said Langley Gace, Innovasea's senior vice president of business development. "This is an important project for the country and the region and we're confident that our open ocean expertise and our proven egg-to-harvest approach to fish farming will help ensure its success." Built over three phases, the farm will produce its fish in a sustainable, secure and traceable manner. Once complete, it will feature 16 SeaStations and a land-based hatchery and employ close to 100 local team members. Future growth will target 9,000 tonnes of biomass with goals to diversify species and expand into seaweed cultivation. "We are fortunate to have a strong partner in Innovasea, an industry leader in open ocean farming with proven experience with warm water species such as Red Snapper" said Gunnar Bracelly, Petros' founder and president. "Being able to rely on Innovasea's full-service capabilities enables our team to focus on implementing the bold vision of diversifying the Aruban economy and becoming the catalyst for an aquaculture revolution throughout the Caribbean region." Northern Red Snapper is a high value species with strong demand in the United States but a limited and seasonal supply that comes entirely from the fishing industry. Creating a vibrant aquaculture industry will help Aruba diversify its economy, which relies heavily on tourism and strengthen its food security profile. The submersible SeaStation is ideal as it is invisible to tourists when submerged. "SeaStations spend most of their time fully submerged, so they're a great fit for a place like Aruba where it's important to preserve beautiful views for vacationers," said Gace. Petros will also market its fish to the many cruise ships that dock in Aruba. This will support the cruise industry's effort to reduce its carbon footprint by sourcing fresh seafood from local sources. The company is looking for additional investors for the project and is open to both equity and debt financing for the initial stage. - Innovasea Electricity tariff reduction for July Manx Utilities has announced a reduction in the intended 6 pence per unit increase scheduled for 1 July 2023 to 2 pence per unit, due to the fall in wholesale energy prices. The tariff from 1 July is now comparable with the UK OFGEM default tariff cap with Isle of Man domestic customers charges now 10% below the GB average price having previously been significantly below it. The tariff change will mean that a domestic customer using 2,900 kWh per year will see their annual cost increase from 942 to 1,003 from July 2023 (previously 1,133). This compares to the OFGEM Default Tariff Cap just announced GB average of 1,137. Manx Utilities shielded customers from the increases being experienced in the UK by maintaining prices below the OFGEM price cap over the last 18 months by depleting reserves. The use of external specialists enables tariff-setting methodologies used by regulatory authorities elsewhere to determine the appropriate minimum level of income needed to ensure Manx Utilities can continue to operate and provide essential utility services to its customers. Manx Utilities committed to continue to monitor wholesale energy costs to ensure their tariffs remained as low as possible whilst maintaining the sustainability of the business to meet its financial obligations and continue to delivery essential utility services. Given the high level of wholesale energy prices and price volatility over the last two years, Manx Utilities engaged independent specialists, NERA, to advise on the level of tariffs required for 2023. NERA undertook a review of their previous assessment during May and the recent reductions in wholesale energy prices has enabled Manx Utilities to significantly reduce the level of increase required to take effect from 1 July 2023. Google Play Games for PC is now available in Europe and New Zealand People in 56 countries can play Android games on Windows. You no longer have to live in one of a handful of countries to try the official option for Android games on Windows. The Google Play Games beta has expanded to over 40 European countries (including the UK) and New Zealand. The additions now make the platform available in 56 countries total, up from just 13 as of November. Google Play Games currently offers more than 100 Android titles. You might not recognize all of them, but better-known releases like Asphalt 9, Homescapes and Last Fortress are included. Google routinely adds new games to the service, and promises access in more countries "soon." The requirements are relatively light. You'll need a PC with at least Windows 10, a solid-state drive, 8GB of RAM and a four-core CPU running Intel's UHD 630 graphics (found in 8th- and 9th-gen Core chips) or its AMD equivalent. Google recommends a dedicated "gaming-class" GPU like NVIDIA's GeForce MX450 and a CPU with eight logical cores (such as through hyperthreading). If your computer is no more than a few years old, you can likely give this a try. This isn't the only way to play Android games on Windows, of course. Windows 11 offers apps from Amazon's store, while clients like BlueStacks have been available for years. However, Google Play Games may be enticing if you want Google's full backing and don't mind a limited catalog. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm this afternoon. High 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Some passing clouds. Low 48F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, as questions of a witness at a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on a proposed rule from the Bureau of Land Management on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Screenshot via U.S. House of Representatives) Congressman Matt Rosendale continued to deride the Department of Interior and its efforts to better conserve public lands and protect natural resources in a House subcommittee hearing Wednesday a day before a public hearing on a newly proposed rule on conservation and landscape health. Its clear that [the Bureau of Land Management] has turned into a climate activist organization under this administration. Im glad were holding this hearing to uncover the unlawful and unprecedented actions taken by the bureau, Rosendale said in Wednesdays House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing. Rosendale, the Montana Republican who in recent weeks has proposed major cuts to federal land acquisition and conservation efforts, and Republicans on the committee held a sort of hearing of their own Wednesday on the BLMs Conservation and Landscape Health proposed rule. Democrats said the heads of the Interior Department and BLM were not invited. The Republicans said they were unhappy with a 75-day public comment period for the rule, that it shuts out local and state governments, and that the five public meetings on it are being held either virtually or in areas with larger populations: Denver, Albuquerque, N.M., and Reno, Nev. The proposed Conservation and Landscape Health rule is just another example of this administration trying to take authority vested in Congress and place it with the administrations extremist agencies, Rosendale added. This administration is threatening Montanans access to public lands to advance their own environmentalist agenda. The rule, which was proposed in late March, would allow the BLM to apply land health standards to BLM-managed lands, roughly 8 million acres in Montana, add conservation as a use under the multi-use mission of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and revise regulations so the BLM prioritizes protecting Areas of Critical Environmental Concern which are typically areas of significant historical or cultural value or which have important fish, wildlife or other natural resources. When the department released the proposed rule, it said adding conservation as an allowable use, and allowing for conservation leases, would protect public lands for conservation and recreational purposes while also working with resource-extracting companies, developers and livestock growers. The department said the rule is needed because climate change is causing more drought, wildlife loss, wildfires and invasive species while more people are using land for recreation and development all threatening some of the more sensitive public lands. As pressure on our public lands continues to grow, the proposed Public Lands Rule provides a path for the BLM to better focus on the health of the landscape, ensuring that our decisions leave our public lands as good or better off than we found them, BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said in March. If the rule is adopted in its current form, land managers would identify pieces of land and water needed for habitat restoration, and allow for conservation leases on public land for up to 10 years to try to rehabilitate parcels for various purposes. Rosendale and other Republicans on the subcommittee, including chair Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., argue that Congress and not the BLM has the authority to make changes to the multi-use and sustained yield mandate that the body gave the bureau with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), though the Interior secretary is required to establish comprehensive rules and regulations after considering the views of the general public under the act. The congressman from eastern Montana also again said he hoped the department would hold a meeting in Montana, as the closest in-person meeting is set for Thursday in Denver, which he said was far removed from who he claims are the biggest stakeholders under the proposed rule change. Rule cannot change law. The law is the law, he said. But Stephanie Garcia Richard, the New Mexico commissioner of public lands who was brought in as a witness, overall praised the proposed rule, though she said she would also like to see states and county governments included in the decision-making process. She said the proposed rule mirrors how New Mexico operates in terms of its public lands use, with tribal representatives having a major say in conservation and multi-use land bringing in billions of dollars to the government through both outdoors and cultural tourism and oil and gas development. This rule isnt about taking public lands away. Its about explicitly allowing another type of use, which can often occur alongside other uses, she told the subcommittee. Among the other witnesses to provide testimony at the hearing was Prairie County Commissioner Todd Devlin, who said that the conservation leases would force the checkerboard areas of eastern Montana where ranchers graze their livestock to seek conservation easements and that the proposed rule would be devastating for those ranchers. Devlin said he believed the BLM was essentially creating de facto wilderness areas that he thinks would bar any conservation-leased land from any other types of uses. Nevada Department of Agriculture Director JJ Goicoechea also suggested to Rosendale the ranchers would go out of business, as would other local businesses like grocery stores and schools, which he claimed would lead to more poverty and suicide. The proposed rule says the BLM intends to apply the National Environmental Policy Act at a later date either in a collective or case-by-case basis because the current effects could be too broad, speculative, or conjectural to lend themselves to meaningful analysis. But several of the Republicans and the witnesses they called said the proposed rule should have already undergone a NEPA analysis because of the broad-ranging economic effects they say the rule would create. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., the subcommittees ranking member, said she felt it was interesting that the same Republican representatives were now asking for a NEPA analysis after they have opposed it in so many other instances. Its ironic that were having this conversation in this committee because Ive sat here for the last several months, listening to my colleagues talk about why we need to gut NEPA and expedite permitting, and not hear from communities, she said. And right now, theyre at the negotiating table with the president trying to gut NEPA across Pennsylvania Avenue, so I think its a little bit of a mixed message here. Last year, several Democratic state representatives from Montana and local government officials signed on to a letter to the Interior Department calling on it to protect more public lands in the West in the face of climate change. The organization The Mountain Pact, which helped facilitate the letter and is leading a push in favor of the rule because it says the BLM and Interior Department has been too focused on allowing energy and resource extraction on public lands over the past several decades, sent another letter to BLM Colorado State Director Doug Vilsack urging more conservation, which was signed by 80 Colorado officials. Several environmental law professors also signed a statement saying the proposed rule was in line with the BLMs ability to create rule and regulations under the FLPMA. Wednesday, several conservation, wilderness, and hunting and fishing groups also held a news conference advocating for the proposed rule and saying what most Republicans said at the subcommittee hearing flew in the face of public support for better public lands conservation. They said it was false that ranchers would get kicked off lands, that oil and gas production would be stopped, or that members of the public would be locked out of lands. Conservation can go hand-in-hand with extraction and development, said Danielle Murray, the senior policy and legal director with the Colorado-based Conservation Lands Foundation. Unfortunately, the misconceptions and I think lies about this rule appear to be an attempt by the industry to continue to monopolize and control management, and this actually locks the public out of meaningful dialogue during planning. The group said that they feel the more than 64,000 comments already submitted about the rule shows the interest conservationists have in the BLMs move and that it reaffirms the public has ample chance to participate in what they feel is a move a long time coming. Were extremely excited about it because it does what folks have been trying to accomplish for the last 40 years, which is essentially getting them to finally say, Hey, were going to live up to our mission as identified in FLPMA and start making conservation more of a priority for the agency across the board, said Michael Carroll, the BLM Campaign Director at The Wilderness Society. Thursdays meeting in Denver is the second of five public meetings on the proposed rule. The others will be in Albuquerque on May 30, Reno on June 1, and a virtual meeting on June 5. For more information, click here. To read the proposed rule and comment in the Federal Register, click here. The post Rosendale calls BLM activist organization ahead of hearing on land conservation proposal appeared first on Daily Montanan. Algis Valiunas in The New Atlantis: Amid the carnage of the Second World War, which saw some 60 million killed, including the Nazis industrialized annihilation of six million Jews, one event stands out in American memory as the most momentous: the atomic bomb attack that leveled Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. According to the most authoritative Japanese casualty count, which is higher than the American figure, the bomb killed some 100,000 people outright and another 40,000 over the next several months; blast, flash burns, and firestorm took care of the former, and radiation sickness accounted for the latter. A second bomb that dropped just three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 all told but gave some people misgivings even more troubling than those produced by Hiroshima. Political men at the time understood, or at least appreciated sufficiently to exult in, the historic scale of the devastation. Upon getting word of the successful mission, while he was returning to the United States from the Potsdam Conference in Germany, President Harry Truman, ultimately responsible for the bombing, let off an exclamation of fiery triumph: This is the greatest thing in history! More here. Robbing a bank is a crime everywhere. But in some places and times you could become a criminal just by growing vegetables, feeding the homeless, playing poker or working without a government-mandated license. African immigrant Tedy Okech risked arrest when she started working as a hair braider. She learned the craft in her youth by practicing on her mother and sisters. When she settled in Idaho in 2005, she found neighbors willing to pay for her skills. Soon she had a thriving side gig, which supplemented her income as a part-time insurance agent. Everyone was happy except the cosmetology police, who mandated she take hundreds of hours of school and earn an occupational license. Rather than comply, Okech filed a constitutional lawsuit, prompting Idaho lawmakers to pass licensing reforms in 2022. My public interest law firm, the Institute for Justice, represented her. The case highlights the importance of unenumerated rights the ones not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution. A complete list of things people may do without government permission would fill volumes. Even then, certain rights might slip through the cracks, such as the right to braid hair. Rather than risk omissions, the framers added the Ninth Amendment to the Bill of Rights as an etcetera clause, saving gallons of ink. Using simple language, it expands the Constitution to guarantee not just enumerated rights, but others retained by the people. Words with similar effect, but applied to the states, were then added after the Civil War, protecting Americans privileges or immunities. Okech should have been safe, but two problems have emerged since these amendments. First, judges and legal scholars have found ways to explain them away. Mostly they just ignore them. The Supreme Court has yet to cite the Ninth Amendment as the primary basis for a single opinion. Second, policymakers discovered they could skirt the Constitution with little pushback from the courts, especially when it comes to unenumerated rights which too often get second-tier status. Results over the decades have ranged from bizarre edicts, such as rules against ice cream on cherry pies in Kansas, to serious privacy invasions, such as prohibitions on private school attendance in Oregon. The legislative overreach has continued in modern times. Miami Shores, Florida, prosecuted Hermine Ricketts and Tom Carroll in 2013 for growing vegetables in their front yard. Bullhead City, Arizona, arrested Norma Thornton for feeding the homeless at a public park in 2022. And Oklahoma criminalized tattooing from 1963 to 2006. Many jurisdictions also restrict poker, home-baked cookie sales and educational choice. New York parents violate the law if they homeschool their children without submitting annual instruction plans and quarterly reports to the state by mandated deadlines. Meanwhile, 17 states continue to license hair braiders. Montana was on the list until April 21, 2023, when Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill following Idahos example. States routinely infringe on unenumerated rights. Lawmakers meet, debate and vote, giving the appearance of legitimacy to their actions. Citing the Ninth Amendment does not help when code enforcers accuse you of breaking the lawa real occurrence for hair braiders and others. My new book, Baby Ninth Amendments, explores a second line of defense. State constitutions, which can expand federal guarantees of individual rights, often contain Ninth Amendment variations. These clauses, informally called Baby Ninths, can help rein in policymakers when they restrict safe and common activities without providing compelling reasons. Courts typically avoid giving these Baby Ninths their due. The implications are too great. As one Iowa Supreme Court justice hysterically noted in 1869, the result would be an unwritten Constitution protecting all the absolute rights of the people. Courts prefer to pick and choose when recognizing unenumerated rights. So, they make up distinctions without differences, which usually boil down to I like these rights and not those. Then they apply various standards of review, which they can calibrate to get desired results. If nothing else, courts are creative. But instead of exercising the mental gymnastics necessary to protect only the unenumerated rights they like, state judges simply could activate their Baby Ninths, which are well-disposed to protect all unenumerated rights. Judges might resist such bold action, but this is not their choice to make. People often decry judges seizing power and legislating from the bench, yet the reverse scenario is far more common: Judges shrinking from their responsibility to apply constitutional commands. This is what happens when courts ignore a Baby Ninth they abdicate a responsibility the people have placed in their hands. Bank robbers deserve punishment, not hair braiders. Anthony Sanders is the author of Baby Ninth Amendments (University of Michigan Press, 2023). He is a senior attorney and director of the Center for Judicial Engagement at the Institute for Justice in West Lakeland, Minnesota. When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or gather fallen grapes. Leave them for the neighbor, the poor, the foreigner. Leviticus 19:9,10 One of the lessons my dad taught us has stayed with me all these years. With no doubt, his priority was to be a good man to his wife and children, but right up there in his consideration was to be a good neighbor. I appreciate receiving the nicest letter from a Farm and Dairy reader who grew up from little on up as a neighbor to my dad. James Schweyer remembers my father as a kind young man and a considerate farm neighbor. Sharing a boundary of two fields, James said my dad approached him and his brother about planting right up to one anothers field line to help keep weeds from being a problem for either. And when a fellow came to spread lime on Dads field, he had misunderstood that the open ground was actually separately owned and spread the entirety of the acreage. Dad let the neighboring brothers know of the situation, and it was not a problem. James, who had lost his father at a young age, said he appreciated the kindness shown by my grandfather, and my father, as he and his brother kept their family farm going. It was a letter that moved me to tears, knowing that all these years later, the good spirit of my father lives on in memories of those other than just his family. One of the things Dad taught us was the importance of being big-hearted, not only with friends and neighbors but even with wildlife. He left a couple of rows of corn stand when completing harvest in the fall, saying the birds and the deer might go hungry without it, and adding it to his grain bin wouldnt make much difference. Letting wildlife have it might make all the difference through a long winter. We just returned from a family trip to a quiet and quaint beach in North Carolina, staying in the same home we have enjoyed for a week at a time in various years. One of the locals has told me that they get a bit upset when visitors bring huge buckets to the beach and gather up every shell they can find, not leaving some for others to enjoy discovering. I believe it is important to walk through this life with an unselfish heart, whether it is in the small or the weighty ways. Leave small footprints, and share a bounty with all. The U.S. Department of Agricultures most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report confirmed that a freight train of grain is barreling toward 2023/24 markets and farmers everywhere need to prepare for the rockier prices sure to follow in its wake. The report was succinctly summarized by DTN market analysts shortly after its release May 12: USDA projects farmers are in the midst of planting the countrys largest corn crop on record at 15.265 billion bu. (bb) and a record soybean crop at 4.51 bb As every grain market participant knows, the double corn/soybean production record is a double-edged sword because the records will lead to larger, price-flattening carryovers. Again, per DTN: The huge crops mean 2023/24 new crop ending stocks for corn (are) projected at 2.22 bb and soybeans pegged at 335 million bushels (mb). The corn carryover is 805 mb higher, or 68%, than the 2022 carryover and the soybean carryover is 119 mb higher, or 55% larger. The projected corn crop, which USDA forecasts will top 2016s record 15.1 bb, will slap the coming years average price down to $4.80 per bu., a profit-clipping $1.80 below this years average price. Likewise, this years likely record soybean crop means its projected average price will slide from $14.20 per bushel to $12.10, or $2.10 per bu. While $1.80 per bu. lower for corn and $2.10 per bu. lower for beans sound modest, the declines taken across the record production for both crops mean a chunky, multi-billion drop in gross U.S. corn income and a smaller but still substantial drop in gross U.S. soybean revenue. And thats if either or both projected record crops hit their forecasted targets. If good weather boosts either crops final production a hard number not known until November carryover will climb even higher, average prices will fall, and farm income will slip even lower. Wheat In the middle of all this good-news-is-really-bad-news data for U.S. corn and soybeans farmers, American wheat farmers couldnt tell if their section of the WASDE was a pat on the back or a kick in the pants a distance, the all-but-sainted former USDA chief Earl Butz liked to remind audiences, is only 18 inches apart. The headline to the wheat forecast, Bloomberg blared, was that Americas wheat fields have become so plagued by drought that farmers are now poised to abandon crops at the highest rate in more than a century. In fact, the news service went on, Producers are expected to harvest about 67% of their planted acres (that) if realized would be the lowest ratio since 1917 So, the shorter U.S. crop means taller U.S. prices, right? Bloomberg said thats a rock solid, ah, well maybe: The acreage abandonment to lower levels than analysts were expecting could keep domestic prices elevated, even with rival producers such as Canada and Argentina likely to boost output. USDAs wheat price projection, however, did not agree. Indeed, government forecasts didnt say could at all. Instead, drought or no drought, the WASDE pegged 2023/24 wheat prices at $8 per bu., or 85 cents lower than last years average price. No breaks Which just goes to show the world why Americas farmers continue their more than a generation-long love/hate relationship with wheat: they just cant catch a break with it. For example, strong 2022 prices buoyed by both lower U.S. acres and the Ukrainian/Russia war encouraged hesitant growers to sow 10% more wheat this marketing year. Last summers drought, however, continued into winter, then spring, to deliver holy cow record acreage abandonment, normally a booster rocket for prices. But, no, Chicago July wheat futures continue their sleepy, slow slide. July futures closed at $8.03 Dec. 30. By mid-May, though, the July contract had slipped below $6.50 per bu. and now has the grease to slide more. Given 2023s soaring production-sinking price forecast, maybe Old Earl the Pearl had it right with his back patting-back side kicking wisecrack. COLUMBUS The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife invites landowners to enroll their property in the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership. Enrollment in the program, which incentivizes landowners to provide access to hunters, begins June 1 and runs until July 15. Since the programs launch in 2021, more than 15,000 acres have been enrolled. Those interested in enrolling their property can visit the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership page at wildohio.gov to receive more information. Landowners can receive annual payments ranging from $2 per acre for cropland to $30 per acre for perennial wildlife habitats such as grasslands, wetlands and forests. Enrollment contracts are two years, with the possibility of re-enrollment. The program is funded, in part, by the federal Farm Bill under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. This bill provides funding to state and tribal agencies through a competitive grant process to implement programs encouraging hunting access on private properties. Enrolled lands can be accessed between September and June by those with a free daily access permit. Permits are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and reduce overcrowding on huntable lands. Participating hunters receive a list of rules for the property prior to accessing the land, and landowners receive a notification when hunters will access their property. All hunting activities except white-tailed deer gun hunting are permitted by Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership users. Permits can be obtained at wildohio.gov or on the free HuntFish OH mobile app. A recent survey showed that landowners enrolled in Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership are overwhelmingly satisfied with the program. More than 80% of respondents would recommend enrollment to other Ohio landowners. More than 100 parcels are currently enrolled. Hunters and landowners can find more information about the program, including answers to frequently asked questions, on the Ohio Landowner Hunter Access Partnership page at wildohio.gov. REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio The Ohio Department of Agriculture said 74 acres have been added to the Farmland Preservation Program. Thomas A. Herr, Jr. and Jennifer M. Herr in Fulton County have become the sixth Ohio farm owners to join the program this year. An agricultural easement in farmland preservation is a voluntary agreement between the landowner and ODA, where the landowner agrees to perpetually maintain the land predominately in agricultural use. In exchange, the landowner is either compensated or may be entitled to a tax deduction. In partnership with ODA, local sponsor Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District played a significant role in securing this agreement. Since the Office of Farmland Preservation began in 1998, 686 farms totaling 103,620 acres have entered into agreements. This enables Ohio to continually be a top producer in aiding all Ohioans. Funds from the purchase of these easements are invested in the local economy by the landowners who use them by expanding their farming operations, purchasing new equipment, reducing debt, adding conservation practices, planning for retirement, sending their children to college or for other purposes. When the state purchases a farmland easement, the proceeds are plowed into Ohios economy and our agriculture industry is preserved for future generations. OAK HARBOR, Ohio With a flourish of ribbon cutting and a flock of pelicans flying overhead, Ohio Bird Day on May 4 at Magee Marsh kicked off American Birding Week. The Friends of Magee Marsh and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife have completed renovations to the Magee Marsh Visitors Center and the boardwalk. Its open for business as it welcomes visitors with new exhibits, habitat displays focusing on birds and migration, and a gift store. It is the first point of entry to Magee Marsh for bird watchers from all over the world. I think Magee Marsh should be on every birders bucket list, said Mary Mertz, ODNR director, during her comments at the opening ceremony. Mertz states that she hopes everyone who visits has a better understanding of bird conservation. Top spot. According to Scott Butterworth, district manager of the Division of Wildlife District 2 headquarters, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area is one of the top 10 birding destinations in North America. The economic impact of bird watching in Ohio is substantial, with 90,000 birders visiting the area during bird week from May 5 to May 14. They spent about $40 million in tourism dollars, leaving an imprint on the local economy. The evidence was in the out-of-state license plates of the cars sitting in the parking lot during the opening ceremony. Bird Week creates an ecotourism boom, said Larry Fletcher, president of Shores and Islands Ohio. Its really a critical component of our tourism economy here, Fletcher added. A lot of hotels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals are full in that early part of May. Kim Kaufman, executive director of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, said birders have purchased condos and vacation homes in the area just so they have a place to stay during bird migration. Birds transform lives, Kaufman said during the opening ceremony. Magee Marsh is the epicenter of the spring migration. It is loved by birders and photographers. Warbler central. Tourists come in from all states in the U.S. and 52 countries. Warblers are the focus of these visitors since northwest Ohio is considered the Warbler Capital of the World. Warblers are small songbirds that fit in the palm of your hand, and they come a long way from the Caribbean. They are an important part of the ecosystem. Warblers are on their way to summer in Canada or the northern U.S. They stop and rest in the Black Swamp and Magee Marsh areas of northwest Ohio. While resting, they will eat insects and plants, then travel across Lake Erie to the north. There are 36 warbler species that migrate through Ohio, and they are a welcome sight to birders, since they are known for their bright colors and beautiful songs. Warblers arent the only birds at Magee Marsh. There are large numbers of other types of birds that come through, like robins, cardinals, sandpipers, cranes, ducks, geese, swans and herons. Gov. Mike DeWine was on hand for the opening. As a former U.S. congressman, he was a co-sponsor of the Recovering Americas Wildlife Act. He has also supported the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, along with other initiatives. So many wildlife species rely on wetland habitat like Magee Marsh, which is why were working to create more wetlands here in northwest Ohio and across the state, DeWine said. (Reporter Nella Citino can be reached at nella@farmanddairy.com or 323-643-2353.) The role played by tenant farmers in England - and how it can be consolidated - will be scrutinised by a cross-party group of MPs. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee said they would be looking into the sector's situation following a review of it led by Baroness Kate Rock. Concerns in particular have been raised over the "unintended consequences" of the government's new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) on the sector. There are worries that Defras design of the post-Brexit environmental schemes would provide tenant farmers with unfair access. Tenant farmers work approximately one third of all farmed land in England. A series of recommendations were by Baroness Kate Rock published in October 2022, and the governments initial response was published this week. Chair of the EFRA Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill MP, said: With new government rules on agriculture seemingly popping up all the time, we must make sure our tenant farmers are properly supported in their crucial role. Were grateful to Baroness Rock for her work. The EFRA committee is well aware of her recommendations and we will look carefully at those the government chooses to accept. "If some of the recommendations are not adopted, we will be keen to establish why not. Dr Neil Hudson, member of EFRA committee, added that tenant farmers were "at the heart of our rural communities". "Our new EFRA Inquiry will be evaluating the findings of the excellent Rock Review and the governments response to her report. We will look to make recommendations to government to protect and support our vital tenant farming sector who do so much for our food security and for our rural areas. The Committee is inviting written submissions to the inquiry from people in various parts of the sector as well as experts, academics and others. Affordability of fertiliser is starting to improve, and a rapid recovery in consumption is possible in some regions in 2023, according to a new Rabobank report. In most cases, demand will take a while to return to pre-pandemic levels, the report, published today (25 May), says. Extreme market volatility and record-high prices severely impacted fertiliser demand in 2022. Starting in the first half of 2021, fertiliser prices began to trend higher due to supply constraints resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Affordability deteriorated further when fertiliser prices hit new record-high levels after Russia invaded Ukraine. By that time, reasonable commodities prices were the only reason unaffordability didnt surpass the record set in 2009 during the global economic crisis. Bruno Fonseca, senior analyst at Rabobank, said: Most fertiliser prices are gradually returning to their historical averages, and in some cases, like urea, current values are below historical levels already. On the commodities side, values remain above average in some cases, due to tighter stocks. The combination of these two factors is helping affordability. However, global consumption may take two or three years to recover, and the speed of recovery will depend on how long the current positive cycle lasts. The spot Affordability Index, which shows the relative price of a basket of commodities in comparison to a basket of fertiliser, is already in positive territory. The 12-month moving average is trending higher and on track to reach positive territory in the coming months. When the moving average becomes positive, the negative cyclical period that started at the end of 2021 will be over, which is positive for consumption, Mr notes Fonseca. Nitrogen-based fertilisers are very volatile, given their intrinsic connection with oil and natural gas. Nevertheless, the necessity of buying back lost demand sent urea prices on a downward trend before it struck ammonia, Rabobank says in its report. The subsequent price mismatch led the ammonia/urea ratio to skyrocket. It wasnt until natural gas prices began to decline seasonally that ammonia followed suit, nearly halving the ratio. Global demand for urea will benefit from price stability around current levels and will slowly rise throughout 2023 as it transitions from sluggish in 2022 to healthier in 2024, the report adds. Unlike potash and nitrogen, phosphate prices soared last year after the war in Ukraine began, despite the inputs lower exposure to Russia. Consequently, phosphate consumption during 2022 had a considerable and much anticipated drop. Despite weakened demand, prices remained at elevated levels, due in part to reduced Chinese exports. The report says: "Now that Chinese domestic consumption is coming out of peak season, we might see Chinese volumes return to the global market, depending on the export parity, which might aid downward price movement. "Potash prices continue to fall, but this is failing to raise demand. To be fair, the market has found some equilibrium with some well-timed good demand. "Both Brazil and India have attracted volumes in recent months, yet that demand was unable to stop potash prices from dropping, given the ample supply." Rabobank adds: "Regarding the vast supply, reports indicate an increase in Belarusian activity in the global market despite EU and US sanctions. "If Belarus raises its market share, as most of the market expects, the increase in exportable volumes would push prices down even further. " The High Court has rejected a legal challenge over the use of fast-growing broiler chickens, after animal welfare campaigners raised concerns over 'devastating' health issues. The news follows a judicial review at the High Court earlier this month which saw the Humane League UK bringing the case against Defra. The charity, along with the RSPCA and other animal welfare organisations, provided evidence to the court over the two-day hearing. The Humane League UK, represented by Advocates for Animals, argued against a law permitting farmers to keep so-called Frankenchickens, which reach their slaughter weight of 2.2kg in 34 to 36 days. However, in a written judgment handed down on Wednesday (24 May) dismissing the challenge, Judge Sir Ross Cranston ruled that Defra's policies, which allow the rearing of such chickens, are not unlawful. Concerns about meat chicken breeds have been frequently highlighted by animal welfare groups, as they say such breeds have been genetically selected to grow so fast that they suffer from health issues. According to research by animal welfare organisations, faster-growing breeds are more likely to die or need to be culled due to ill health. Rapid growth rates can contribute to other health problems such as heart failure and sudden death syndrome, whilst other research has shown that around 30% are likely to experience pain from leg and foot issues. Dr Marc Cooper, head of farm animals at the RSPCA, said the charity was "extremely disappointed" by yesterday's High Court news. He said: "The outcome of this judicial review represents a significant failure to address the most pressing animal welfare issue of our time, despite overwhelming evidence of suffering. "The scale of the issue is unprecedented and set to get worse as numbers farmed are predicted to continue to rise to meet growing demand. This judgement is a missed opportunity to make the single most important change for animals in 200 years." In September 2022, Marks and Spencer became the first retailer to commit to backing the pledge by selling only 100% slow-reared fresh chicken. Andrew Clappen, M&S food technical director said at the time: When it comes to chicken, we want to keep raising the bar to improve welfare - its something we know our customers care deeply about and we do too. Improving animal welfare is an important part of our trusted value commitment we are introducing slower-reared, higher-welfare chicken offering better quality and better flavour for our customers. Dutch, Chinese representatives sign memorandum of cooperation on China Int'l Import Expo Xinhua) 17:00, May 25, 2023 AMSTERDAM, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Dutch and Chinese business representatives signed a memorandum of cooperation on matters related to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) here on Wednesday. The memorandum was signed by representatives from the CIIE Bureau and Dutch institutions and enterprises during a promotional event for the sixth CIIE, scheduled for Shanghai from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10. Jin Yuan, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese Embassy to the Netherlands, delivered a keynote speech emphasizing China's position as the world's second-largest import market. He noted that China's import volume in 2022 reached 2.7 trillion U.S. dollars, which showed the country's immense market potential. The CIIE, the world's first import expo held at a national level, provides an excellent platform for large and small Dutch enterprises to showcase and promote their products, he said. Jin urged Dutch businesses to take an active role in the expo, explore potential collaborations with their Chinese counterparts and reap the significant benefits of the Chinese market. Shi Huangjun, vice president of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), said that Dutch companies have always been important players at the CIIE. He commended Dutch companies for their enthusiastic participation, noting the considerable benefits they have achieved. The expo attracts not only large multinational corporations but also a multitude of innovative and potentially high-growth small- and medium-sized enterprises from the Netherlands, he said. The event included a screening of a promotional video for the sixth CIIE. Organizers shared information on the expo's preparations and detailed insights into the exhibition areas. They also addressed various inquiries raised by Dutch representatives. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Adam Nayman at The Current: While Bogdanovich was about as immersed in cinema as is possible, a key inspiration for his 1968 debut, Targetsa thriller whose terse, nightmarish qualities would not be repeated across his wide-ranging and influential filmographycame not from the movies but from real life. Charles Whitman was an altar boy, an Eagle Scout, a marine, and a mass murderer: in 1966, between the last day of July and the first day of August, the twenty-five-year-old exbank teller killed sixteen peopleincluding his wife and motherand wounded more than thirty others, shooting the majority of his victims from the observation deck of the Main Building of the University of Texas at Austin. For the mass media, which made him a household nameThe Psychotic and Society, declared a Time cover featuring his imagehe was a cleaner-cut cousin to Lee Harvey Oswald, his sights trained not on political power or celebrity but on the everyday citizens whom he resembled at a distance, and maybe under the skin as well. I dont really understand myself these days, the shooter himself observed in the half-typed, half-handwritten suicide note discovered at his residence. I am supposed to be an average reasonable and intelligent young man. However, lately (I cant recall when it started) I have been a victim of many unusual and irrational thoughts. more here. Highly pathogenic bird flu has been confirmed on a poultry farm in North Lincolnshire, just days after two workers tested positive for the virus. Avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed on Wednesday evening (24 May) at a farm near Scunthorpe, Defra said. A 3km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone have been declared around the premises. Before the latest case, avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 18 May, near Uckfield, East Sussex. The scale of outbreaks across the UK and Europe have been unprecedented, with over 340 cases confirmed across the country since late October 2021. And between 30,000 and 50,000 wild birds may have died of bird flu on the UK's Farne Islands, according to the National Trust. It comes after the virus was recently confirmed in two poultry workers after they came into contact with infected birds. The two people returning positive tests were known to have recently worked on an infected poultry farm in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had not detected evidence of human-to-human transmission. It added these detections do not change the level of risk to human health, which remains very low to the general population. Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at UKHSA, said: "Current evidence suggests that the avian influenza viruses were seeing circulating in birds around the world do not spread easily to people. "However, we know already that the virus can spread to people following close contact with infected birds and this is why, through screening programmes like this one, we are monitoring people who have been exposed to learn more about this risk. "It remains critical that people avoid touching sick or dead birds, and that they follow Defra advice about reporting." Police are searching for the culprit behind the decapitation of four lambs in the Forest of Dean, with farmers being urged to stay vigilant. The shocking incident happened on a farm in Newent over the weekend, and police are appealing for information. The carcasses had been removed and the heads left in situ in the field in Malswick, Gloucestershire Police said. It is believed that the incident happened overnight between 8pm Friday 19 May and 5pm Saturday 20 May. There were 16 sheep in the paddock on the farm, but the others have since been moved to a different location. Police are investigating and asking for anyone who has information on what happened to come forward. "If you see suspicious activity taking place and offenders are present or nearby, call police immediately on 999," the force said. "Officers from the Rural Crime teams are now taking part in additional patrols and liaising with local farmers to raise awareness of this issue. "Information can be provided to police online by completing the following form and quoting incident 331 of 20 May." The latest figures show that the cost of rural crime rose over 40% in the first quarter of 2022 as thieves returned to the countryside - following falls in 2020 and 2021. NFU Scotland has called on the Scottish government to ensure that 80% of future agriculture funding is put aside for direct support for farmers. The union said it had met with the Treasury, Scotland Office and the main political parties at Westminster to ensure the continuity of Scotlands agricultural funding from the UK government beyond 2024. With 620m of Scottish farm support coming from Westminster, the viability of the sector is dependent on securing an overall support package available for spend within the new four-tiered agricultural support framework. However, a critical issue is how that funding is then allocated by Scottish government and its proposed support framework from 2025 onwards to provide conditional payments under 4 tiers: Base, Enhanced, Elective, and Complementary. Direct support for Scotlands farmers is delivered primarily through the BPS, Greening, Voluntary Coupled Support for beef calves and upland sheep and the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme. It adds up to around 550 million per year, but with no certainty beyond 2024. With the total figure for Scottish governments Agriculture and Rural Economy (ARE) spending equivalent to about 680 million, it means some 80% is paid out as direct support. NFU Scotland has written to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon calling for 80% of the future support package to continue be dedicated as direct support to Tiers 1 and 2. The union said that would "underpin and incentivise" agricultural activity and management changes to "drive productivity while building resilience and environmental benefits". NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: Maintaining direct support funding will protect 3bn of expenditure in the wider rural economy and more than 3.5bn of output as we are the first link in the supply chain of Scotlands iconic food and drinks sector. "Guaranteeing that existing direct support will be delivered as both conditional area-based and action-based payments, in Tiers 1 and 2 respectively, will ensure farmers tackle the triple challenge of food, climate and biodiversity head on. He added: "Allocating at least 80% of Scotlands total agricultural budget as direct support payments via Tiers 1 and 2 of the proposed agricultural support framework for Scotland will deliver this. Ukraine is trying to kill Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin is on Ukraine's hit list The powerful military intelligence commander Vadym Skibitsky has revealed that the country's special units have a hit list that includes the despot and Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Skibitsky confirmed the intention to assassinate Putin but suggested it is a difficult task as the Russian president "stays holed up" as he is also frightened of being killed by one of his own. He told the German publication Welt: "Putin is noticing that we are getting closer and closer to him, but he is also afraid of being killed by his own people. "Many people in Russia still support this 'special operation' (against Ukraine), but thanks to social media and phone checks. we know that so many Russians have died now that it scares people." However, Skibitsky says attempts to assassinate the Russian leader have been made even more challenging because of his alleged use of body doubles. The spy boss warned that Wagner group boss Prigozhin is in Ukraine's sights as his mercenaries have been accused of horrific atrocities towards Ukrainian fighters. Skibitsky said: "Our priority is to eliminate the unit commander who orders his men to attack. We're trying to kill him." Despite the threat, Prigozhin is relaxed about his fate. He said: "Of course, Prigozhin, as one of the most important actors of the war, must be eliminated. "This is 100 per cent true, so they are doing absolutely the right steps." Vladimir Putin "totally underestimated" the West's resolve to support Ukraine. Vladimir Putin has underestimated NATO's support for Ukraine NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has suggested that Moscow disastrously miscalculated the support Ukraine would receive in the wake of Putin's invasion in February 2022. The head of the military alliance told the Brussels Forum: "What has happened over the last 15 months demonstrates that President Putin made at least two, big, strategic mistakes. "One was to underestimate Ukrainians - the bravery, the resolve, the courage of Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian political leadership and Ukrainian armed forces. "He also totally underestimated us - NATO allies and partners. "He didn't expect at all our unity, our resolve to support Ukraine." Stoltenberg is set to step down as NATO boss later this year and is under pressure to offer Kyiv a place in the alliance and give Volodymyr Zelensky a firm timetable for entry. NATO leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine's membership when they meet for an annual summit in Lithuania's capital Vilnius in July. Stoltenberg said: "There are consultations going on now... on a path forward and how to address the Ukrainians' ambitions for NATO membership. No one is able to tell you exactly what will be the final decision at the Vilnius summit on this issue. "We all agree that NATO's door is open for new members and that it is for NATO allies and Ukraine to decide when they should join, not Moscow - they don't have a veto." Ariana Madix feels "glad" she found out about Tom Sandoval's affair. Ariana Madix has opened up about her split from Tom Sandoval The 39-year-old star had a months-long affair with Raquel Leviss, and Ariana now feels thankful that she found out publicly about his infidelity. During an appearance on the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast, Ariana explained: "The plan was to end the relationship without any sort of mention of an affair or cheating. Whether that was pre-reunion or not or pre-going to film Winter House or not. And then they would just start dating. "The narrative that he was the victim in our relationship or [that] I just suck would have already been planted." Ariana suggested that Tom's "plan" was ruined when news of his affair leaked. The 'Vanderpump Rules' star said: "If I had found out the way you all had planned ... I would have been just a cog in the machine of this whole narrative." Tom previously admitted to having a "connection" with Raquel, 28. However, he also confessed that it was a "very unhealthy" situation, as they were forced to sneak around and lie. He told the 'Howie Mandel Does Stuff Podcast': "The feelings were something very, very strong. Those feelings that I had started to take over in a sense. Logic, all that s*** went out the window. "Our connection was healthy, but the environment that it created - the lying, the sneaking around - was very unhealthy. "But time was always fleeting. Every time we were around each other it felt like it could be the last time we'd see each other. It made us both obsessive over trying to see each other and stuff." Asked about the status of their relationship, he added: "We're really good friends. We're not putting any label on it." John Cleese has "no intention" of cutting his famous Loretta scene from his 'Life of Brian' stage show. John Cleese not cutting Loretta scene from upcoming stage show The 83-year-old actor is set to open a stage version of his 1979 comedy movie in London in 2024 and has dismissed reports that he had been forced to cut the scene which sees a man named Stan claim he "wants to be a woman" called Loretta and wishes to get pregnant, insisting that despite being "strongly advised" to do so in order to avoid causing offence to those who hold different views on gender, the scene will remain intact. He tweeted: "A few days ago I spoke to an audience outside London. I told them I was adapting the Life of Brian so that we could do it as a stage show ( NOT a musical ). I said that we'd had a table-reading of the latest draft in NYC a year ago and that all the actors - several of them Tony winners - had advised me strongly to cut the Loretta scene. I have, of course, no intention of doing so So someone in the audience had called a journalist and misreported me. Amazingly none of the British media called to check." The 'Harry Potter' star also quashed rumours that the hit track 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' will be missing from the Monty Python stage show, quipping that he and the team would not "want to upset" composer Eric Idle. In a follow-up tweet, he said: "Similarly, there are reports that " Bright Side " is going to be cut. Untrue, for a very good reason We don't want to upset Eric and it's his only contribution to the Life of Brian script." Next Story : Step Up Your Beauty Game With The Mamaearth Glow Foundation Bollywood A-lister and bona-fide star Anushka Sharma is known to tick every box in the fashion checklist. Recognised for her refined, classy and elegant taste in fashion, she has always managed to make a statement with her outfits, be it on the red carpet or simply while running errands.Known to have a penchant for classic tailoring, minimalism and glamor, Anushkas overall sense of style is the confidence and authenticity that she exudes naturally. One brand that has been a constant in her wardrobe over the years is Dior. Lets take a look at some of her most stunning Dior outfits.In 2013 Anushka went the classic route for an event with a statement beige Christian Dior dress. She rounded off the look with a sleek pulled back ponytail and minimal makeup.Anushka graced the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in 2017 wearing a Dior piece from the Fall 2016 collection. The maroon and black dress featured a body hugging fit that added drama and sophistication to the look.At a brand event in 2015, Anushka sported a powder cream Dior dress that she paired with black shoes. Not veering too far from her style mantra, she kept her look simple, wearing her hair down in soft curls.Anushkas love for Dior extends beyond red carpets and awards shows. She has often been spotted wearing Dior outfits while traveling or going about her daily routine. In 2017, she was seen wearing a white Dior T-shirt paired with denims.Anushka Sharmas expensive handbags are to swoon over and something every woman wishes to own. On multiple occasions she has sported the classic Dior handbag pairing it up with her casual denims and classic shirt look.Anushka Sharma made a stunning appearance for the Dior show in India in 2023. True to her original style she opted for a column dress, matching her Lady Dior bag to the canary yellow dress that she sported.Read more: Keep Yourself Safe From Heat Stroke With These Tips From January to April 2023, China's overall exports of textiles, clothing and accessories totalled $92.883 billion. This marked a decline of 2.87 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China. However, garment exports saw an increase, with a 2.5 per cent rise during the same period. Despite the previous downward trend in garment shipments, there has been a notable recovery in the past month, causing a moderate growth. From January to April 2023, the export of garments and clothing accessories reached $48.075 billion, a 2.5 per cent increase from the same period in 2022. These exports were valued at $46.909 billion in the prior year. From January to April 2023, China's textile, clothing and accessories exports decreased by 2.87 per cent to $92.883 billion, as per the General Administration of Customs of China. However, garment exports rose by 2.5 per cent to $48.075 billion during this period. In contrast, exports of yarn and fabric dropped by 8 per cent to $44.808 billion. Conversely, China's exports of textiles, such as yarn and fabric, fell 8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the first four months of 2023, down to $44.808 billion from $48.717 billion in January-April 2022. In April 2023 alone, China exported $12.741 billion worth of textiles and $12.916 billion worth of garments. Meanwhile, the country's imports of textile yarn and fabric products also saw a decrease, falling by 23.4 per cent to $3.330 billion in January-April 2023 from $4.345 billion during the same period last year. China exported a total of $323.344 billion in textiles, clothing, and accessories in 2022, marking a modest growth of 2.53 per cent compared to the previous year. Last year's exports included $175.396 billion in garments and accessories and $145.079 billion in textiles, such as yarn and fabric, according to the data. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Germanys business climate index fell to 91.7 points in May, after 93.4 points (seasonally adjusted) in April 2023marking the first decline after six increases in a row. Driving this development are the significantly more pessimistic expectations. German companies are sceptical about the upcoming summer. In manufacturing, the business climate was much worse, with expectations seeing a particularly steep declineat 6.3 in April and -0.3 in May. This was the largest decrease since March 2022 after the start of the war in Ukraine. The deterioration in expectations can be seen in nearly all industries. Managers also evaluated the current situation as less positive and incoming orders fell, according to the ifo Business Survey, May 2023. Germany's business climate index dropped to 91.7 points in May from 93.4 in April, breaking a six-month increasing trend. The decline, largely due to more pessimistic expectations, was seen across sectors. Manufacturing witnessed a sharp fall in business climate, while trade sector index also suffered a significant decrease; incoming orders reduced. The trade sector index saw a major decline at -10.7 in April and -19.1 in May. The indicator of the current situation has returned to negative territory after five months and scepticism regarding expectations made a marked increase. Sentiment deteriorated especially in wholesale. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB) Cannes 2023: The glamorous city of French Riviera witnessed a fashion extravaganza as the talented international musician and fashion icon, Raja Kumari, graced the Cannes Film Festival 2023 red carpet in collaboration with renowned designer Manish Malhotra. RAJA KUMARI STUNS IN MANISH MALHOTRA SAREE AT CANNES 2023 Donning a stunning red custom ensemble serves as a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of the designer, who tailored it with Raja Kumari's unique style and personality in mind. The stunning red hue exudes confidence and power, with a cape and long trail at the back. The Indian American multi-faceted artist walked the red carpet for inde wild, a conscious award winning beauty ecosystem, founded by Diipa Khosla. This is the first ever South Asian brand that brought people from different nations to walk the prestigious red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. RAJA KUMARI ON CANNES DEBUT Speaking of her debut, the Indian American multifaceted artist said, "I am so honored to have been asked to attend Cannes Film Festival and support my friend Diipa Khosla and Inde Wild. I always choose Indian Couture for my most important moments and I felt like a goddess wearing Manish Malhotra's sari with an elongated cape. I truly am humbled and grateful for this opportunity to be a part of the first South Asian brand representing at one of the most prestigious events in the world." Raja Kumari, known for her striking and bold looks on red carpets around the globe, makes her Cannes debut no exception. Her captivating head-to-toe look created by Manish Malhotra is a true celebration of fashion and artistry. The collaboration between these two creative powerhouses undoubtedly provides an unforgettable moment on the prominent red carpet. What do you have to say about Raja Kumari's look for Cannes Film Festival 2023? Share your thoughts with us @Filmibeat. Stay tuned for more updates. Subhash Chandra Tiwari Death: On Wednesday, Bhojpuri film director, Subhash Chandra Tiwari was found dead in a hotel room in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. He was staying with his team in Hotel Tirupati for a film shoot. A report from UP police suggests that Subhash breathed his last on May 24. The Superintendent of Police (SP), Yashveer Singh told ANI, "There is no visible wound on his body. The body has been sent for a post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death. Further investigation will be done after getting the post-mortem report." The 51-year-old director, Subhash Chandra Tiwari hailed from Maharashtra. More details on the cause of his death and funeral are still awaited. To note, Subhash's death news comes just hours after popular television actor Nitesh Pandeyy's demise. The actor passed away in a hotel in Igatpuri, Maharashtra. The last couple of days have been extremely traumatic for the entertainment industry, as we witnessed the death of four famous personalities in a short span of a few days. On May 22, television actor Aditya Singh Rajput was found dead at his residence in Mumbai. A day later, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai star Vaibhavi Upadhyaya passed away in a road accident. And Nitesh Pandey breathed his last at 51. Early reports suggest he passed away due to a cardiac arrest. His funeral will take place in Mumbai today. Cannes Film Festival 2023: Day 9 of the international film festival in the picturesque French Riviera was also as eventful as ever. From the premiere of Nanni Moretti's A Brighter Tomorrow to the luminous presence of celebs on the red carpet, check out some of the major highlights. The photographers captured the glamorous looks of Hollywood royalties including Irina Shayk, Winnie Harlow, Heidi Klum, K-Pop Girl Gand Aeshpa, and Elsa Hosk among others on the red carpet. Bollywood beauty Aditi Roy Hydari made a stunning return at Cannes looking like a beautiful dream. On Wednesday, On May 24, the festival hosted the world premiere of Italian director Nanni Moretti's A Brighter Tomorrow, which received a dull response from the attendees. So, without further ado, let's take a glance at all the major highlights from Day 9 of Cannes 2023. ADITI RAO HYDARI DAZZLES IN A STRAPLESS BLUE GOWN Aditi Roy Hydari marked a stunning return at Cannes in a powder blue high-low dress from Oscar de la Renta. The strapless gown featured a plunging neckline, a nude corseted design on the torso that was embellished, and further accentuated with a voluminous pleated flowy skirt, and a floor-sweeping train on the back. She styled her look with white strappy heels, delicate earrings, and a statement ring. She rounded off the look with subtle makeup and center-parted wavy locks. Sunny Leone Debuts On The Red Carpet Sunny Leone made a stellar debut on the red carpet with her Kennedy team in a pink one-shoulder gown accentuated by thigh-high slit and mid-riff cutouts. ELSA HOSK IN OPTICAL ILLUSIONAL DRESS The supermodel, Elsa Hosk turned heads on the red carpet in an optical illusion dress from the Viktor & Rolf design. The dress featured on the fashion house's spring/summer Haute Couture Fashion Week runway collection, and it featured a deconstructed silhouette. The gown was paired with a blush-colored corset. elsa hosk wearing viktor & rolf spring 2023 couture at cannes pic.twitter.com/lNl57qdAu5 (@saintdoII) May 24, 2023 Winnie Harlow commanded attention in a figure-hugging black dress accentuated by a flowing dark green train. Winnie Harlow at the 76th annual Cannes film festival. pic.twitter.com/bwkDbrK8ZL @21metgala (@21metgala) May 24, 2023 Heidi Klum sported a daring yellow gown on the red carpet that was accentuated by cut-out detailing near the chest, and a thigh-high slit. K-pop girl group Aespa sported interesting variants in black and white on the red carpet. Ashish Vidyarthi Ruplai Barua Wedding: 60-year-old veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi tied the knot once again with Rupali Barua on Thursday, May 25, in an intimate ceremony. The couple also hosted a formal reception after their wedding. Ashish is known for working in several regional language films, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and others. Vidyarthi was earlier married to Rajoshi Barua, who is the daughter of yesteryear's actress Shakuntala Barua. VETERAN ACTOR ASHISH VIDYARTHI MARRIES AGAIN Vidyarthi's now-wife, Rupali, is from Guwahati, and the duo had a registry marriage amid the presence of their close family and friends. It was a beautiful blend of two different Indian cultures as Rupali mesmerised in a white and golden Mekhela Chador from Assam. Ashish, on the other hand, wore a Mundu from Kerala. Talking about getting married at the age of 60, Ashish told TOI, "At this stage of my life, getting married to Rupali is an extraordinary feeling. We had a court marriage in the morning, followed by a get-together in the evening." Meanwhile, when asked about how he met Rupali, the actor shared, "We met some time ago and decided to take it forward. But both of us wanted our wedding to be a small family affair." 'I Need To See Her Underwear': Priyanka Chopra Shares 'DEHUMANIZING Moment With A Bollywood Director WHO IS RUPALI BARUA? Ashish Vidyarthi's second wife, Rupali Barua, hails from Assam and is a fashion entrepreneur. She has been associated with an upscale fashion store in Kolkata. When asked what attracted her to the actor, who is known for doing dark and villainous roles in the film industry, Rupali told the media outfit, "He is a beautiful human being and a great soul to be with." ASHISH VIDYARTHI ON THE WORK FRONT Assish Vidyarthi is a familiar face in Indian cinema. He has worked in over 300 films in 11 languages and has also won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his debut film, Drohkaal, in 1995. At present, he runs a YouTube channel with more than a million subscribers in which he vlogs about food, besides acting in films and series. Top Bollywood News: Shah Rukh Khan Exits Don 3, Katrina-Vickys Romantic Dance, Shraddhas Love For Vada Pav He was recently in Netflix's crime web-series Rana Naidu, featuring Venkatesh Daggubati, Rana Daggubati, and Surveen Chawla, and Trial By Fire. Yesteryear movie star Devayani is one of the leading actresses in South India in the 90s. Apart from Tamil, she has starred in movies from other south Indian languages such as Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and Bengali. She has starred in more than 100 films and she is still one of the most-loved actresses in Kollywood. After her wedding with director Rajakumaran, Devayani took a sabbatical from movies and entered the small screens. She played the lead roles in several TV serals after she made her small screen debut with Sun TV's Kolangal. She also played the lead roles in other serials such as Rasathi which gave Devayani a huge reach. She made a brief appearance in ZEE Tamil's Tamil serial Puduppu Ardhangal, which also ended recently. Though her appearances was rather brief, the episodes that she made appearance in, had huge reach and fans were happy to finally see her back on the small screens. Now, according to media reports, Devayani has signed deal with ZEE Tamil for a new mega serial. It is also being reported that Devayani will be sharing the screen space with Viji Chandrasekar in the upcoming serial. No other details are updates are shared by the makers of the serial yet. It has also not been officially announced. Meanwhile, Devayani also made a small appearance in the ZEE Tamil's serial Maari. She was also seen in a Malayalam movie. Titled Anugraham, the film marked Devayani's comeback to Mollywood. Also starring Aswin Jose, Gouri G Kishan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Lena, Devayani, and Johny Antony, the film hit the theaters on May 5. It explores themes like love and relationship, and how they vary from one generation to another. The film also stars Bitto Davis, Sudheesh, Jaffer Idukki, Manikandan, and Sheela. Actor Aswin has penned the script for Anuragam which has cinematography by Suresh Gopi and music by Joel Johns. Kerala Story Actress Phone Number Leaked: Actress Adah Sharma's phone number has been leaked on social media and has created a lot of controversy. The actress said that people call her and talk obscenities. Ever since the release of the teaser of The Kerala Story movie, there have been criticisms across the country saying that the film has been made to disrupt social harmony with false propaganda. Protests Against The Propaganda Film The story of the film is set as thousands of women from Kerala are forcibly recruited into ISIS. This drew condemnation from many walks of life across India. Subsequently, the film's heroine Adah Sharma and director Sudipto Sen received death threats. It was also reported recently that the actress was involved in a minor road accident. It became a topic of conversation across the country and many people were strongly condemning the film. These controversies, which have been discussed for almost a month, have now subsided a bit. Adah Sharma's Phone Number Leaked? In this case, the phone number of actress Adah Sharma, who acted in the film, has been leaked on social media and has sparked a huge controversy. This went viral on social media and actress Adah Sharma alleged that some netizens called and harassed her by talking obscenities. Speaking about this, actress Adah Sharma said, "I felt the same way a woman would get upset if her morphed photos were leaked on social media. How perverted are the minds of those who take pleasure in such cheap activities! This incident reminds me of the scene in 'The Kerala Story' where a woman is bullied by making her phone number public." It is reported that Adah Sharma received threatening text messages from Instagram page 'jhamunda_bolte'. Subsequently, Adah Sharma's phone number has been leaked from that account. Not only that, the person who released the phone number is said to have threatened Ada Sharma bby saying that they will release her new number as well. This information has angered Adah Sharma's fans. The account has now been removed from the Instagram page after several people reported it. Ram Charan & Upasana in Baby Moon Photo Credit: Gallery Ram Charan, the global star who is enjoying his professional and personal life to the fullest right now, has been making waves with his presence at the international events that are happening in India. Ram Charan's fans are ecstatic and satisfied about his recent public appearances - at the G 20 Summit and the 100 years of NTR events, where the RRR actor made an impactful speech and floored all with his gentle behaviour. Recently, at the G 20 Summit that was held recently in Jammu and Kashmir, the animal-lover and nature enthusiast spoke at length about how he wants to explore more locations for film shootings in India, etc. Ram Charan About Upasana & Their Baby's Connection To Japan! At the very stage, the actor, who is expecting his first child with his wife Upasana, post ten years of marriage shared a special detail about their bundle of joy arriving soon. At the G 20 Summit, Ram Charan shared, "Me and Upasana, along with our baby, have a special connection with Japan. All the magic happened in Japan, which is very special for us. I and Upasana have a fondness for the country." It is a well-known fact that Ram Charan with his wife Upasana, and Jr NTR with his wife Lakshmi Pranathi, have flown down to Japan along with the core team of SS Rajamouli's RRR, to promote the movie ahead of its theatrical release in Japan. When released in Japan, the movie opened to blockbuster reviews and went on to become the highest-grossing international movie in Japan, pushing aside the rest as well as Rajinikanth-Meena's popular film 'Muthu.' Ram Charan will be next seen in a Tamil and Telugu bilingual titled Game Changer, under the direction of Shankar Shanmugam. Kiara Advani is the film's female lead. The movie's story was written by Karthik Subbaraj. Adding to it, the actor who is set to take a paternity break for about four months, will join the sets of Uppena fame Buchi Babu Sana's sports-based drama from September 2023. ADELAIDE, AUS, May 25, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Avance Clinical the leading award-winning Australian and North American CRO that offers the programs ClinicReady and GlobalReady for early phase biotech companies to speed up the path to regulatory approval, has been invited to join the Global Health Summit campaign which will be featured on Reuters.Avance Clinical CEO, Yvonne Lungershausen, Chief Scientific Officer Gabriel Kremmidiotis, and Head of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Jorgen Mould are interviewed in a new Global Health video featured on Reuters news service about the importance of quality clinical trials as part of the drug development process.The campaign is a collection of interviews and video documentaries, highlighting international business leaders and healthcare specialists from various industries. The series will showcase organisations spearheading specific health initiatives, developing ground-breaking medicine and complex health technologies, and taking on the challenges of both physical and mental health globally.The Global Health program launches at the upcoming Global Health Summit on 25-27 May 2023 at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva, bringing together 100 leaders and executives from various sectors of the Private and Public Healthcare Industry.The event will feature round table discussions where participants will discuss strategies, share knowledge and expertise, and identify opportunities for collaboration. This will be complemented by keynote speeches and panel discussions that will explore the latest trends and emerging issues in the healthcare industry.Avance Clinical CEO, Yvonne Lungershausen and Executive VP North American Operations John Mann will be attending the Global Health Summit and Yvonne will be a leading panelist. Avance Clinical is at the cutting edge of clinical trial technology and has recently been ranked as the world leader in DCT technology adoption by GlobalData and Clinical Trial Arena in the CRO sector.The report found 46% of Avance Clinical's trials incorporated some elements of DCT technologies in 2022 including telemedicine, remote monitoring, and digital data collection. The DCT report also noted that Avance Clinical's staff training in the latest technologies was a key factor in the ranking. See the full report here. https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/features/year-in-review-dct-2022/Avance Clinical's unique clinical offering GlobalReady enables biotechs that have completed early to mid-phases in Australia to rapidly and seamlessly transition to the US in preparation for FDA approvals, all with the one CRO and dedicated teams across both regions, which reduces time and cost and delivers quality data.There are currently more than 280 Phase III global trials that have conducted their Phase I study in Australia, which demonstrates Australian data acceptability with the FDA and other major regulatory authorities.More than 40 biotech clients are now taking advantage of Avance Clinical's GlobalReady program.This seamless GlobalReady journey is designed so biotechs can:- Take advantage of the Australian early-phase clinical trial landscape (No IND and 43.5% tax rebate)- Transition or expand into North America for later phases - without changing CROs (retain study knowledge and processes/team)- Seamlessly operationalize global dose-escalation and dose-expansion trials across the two regions- Harness significant speed and cost advantages- Be assured of quality data - transferable and readily acceptable by the FDA and other regulatory authoritiesFind out more:- Learn about the Australian Advantage here https://www.avancecro.com/the-australian-advantage/- Learn about the ClinicReady model here https://www.avancecro.com/about-clinicready/- Learn about the GlobalReady model here https://www.avancecro.com/avance-clinical-north-america-operations/or more information about the benefits of running your next study with Avance Clinicalcontact us: enquiries@avancecro.comAbout Avance ClinicalAvance Clinical is the largest premium full-service Australian and US CRO delivering quality clinical trials, with globally accepted data, in Australia, New Zealand and the US for international biotechs. The company's clients are biotechs in their early phases of drug development that need fast, agile, and adaptive solution-oriented clinical research services.Frost & Sullivan AwardsAvance Clinical, a Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award recipient for the past three years, has been providing CRO services in the region for more than 24 years.Pre-clinical through to Phase 1 and 2Avance Clinical offers pre-clinical services with their experienced ClinicReady team right through to Phase 1 and 2 clinical services leveraging significant Government incentive rebates of up to 43.5% and rapid start-up regulatory processes. With experience across more than 110 indications, the CRO can deliver world-class results and high-quality internationally accepted data for FDA and EMA review.TechnologyAvance Clinical uses state-of-the-art technology and gold-standard systems across all functional areas to provide clients with the most effective processes. Medidata, Oracle, IBM Watson and Medrio are just some of the technology partners.www.avancecro.comMedia Contact:Avance ClinicalKate Thompsonmedia@avancecro.comSource: Avance ClinicalCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. TOKYO & LONDON, May 25, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., today announced its partnership with global financial technology company SumUp, to enable acceptance of JCB Cards across SumUp's European merchant network. With the return of international travel, the collaboration will provide new opportunities of growth for merchants by welcoming JCB's valuable cardmembers.Together with SumUp's extensive product suite of business tools and rapid growth rates, JCB will ensure that merchants are well-supported to welcome returning travellers. SumUp's merchant network comprises businesses of all sizes, from nano entrepreneurs to SMEs, such as grocery stores, taxi companies and small-sized shops, and the union represents an ideal gateway to growth for merchants wishing to tap into new revenue streams. With SumUp's compact and portable devices and paperless onboarding process, even the smallest of businesses can benefit from the simplicity and convenience of its payment solutions. The enablement of JCB Card will allow SumUp's merchants in Europe, which are part of its over 4 million merchant network in the world, to become members of JCB's growing merchant community and meet customer preference towards digital payments.In addition, the new partnership provides a seamless and faster payment experience for cardmembers who wish to use their JCB Cards when shopping abroad. Our cardmembers can rely on the security and ease of use of JCB Contactless, reinforcing JCB's commitment to offering innovative solutions and a high level of services to its growing base. With the availability of JCB Contactless, JCB Cardmembers may simply tap their card on SumUp's readers to enjoy payment convenience.Ray Shinzawa, Managing Director, JCB International (Europe) Ltd., said: "We're excited to introduce SumUp as our new partner and work closely with its merchant network starting with European countries and regions to further increase JCB Contactless acceptance. SumUp's global presence and innovative technology make it the ideal choice for our cardmembers, who value secure and fast transactions when shopping abroad. At the same time, this collaboration will delight merchants with new customers and growth opportunities in today's competitive market."Michael Schrezenmaier, CEO Europe, SumUp, said: "We are committed to empowering small businesses and helping them tap into the expanding number of Asian travellers. Our new partnership with JCB will enable them to offer a preferred payment option to these travellers. This is an exciting time, especially for small and medium-sized businesses looking for new avenues of growth, and with the deployment of JCB Card acceptance, we can better provide them with the tools they need to differentiate themselves from their competition and thrive in today's global marketplace."About JCBJCB is a major global payments brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 41 million merchants around the world. JCB issues cards across various countries and regions internationally with more than 150 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/About SumUpSumUp is a leading global financial technology company driven by the purpose of levelling the playing field for small businesses. Founded in 2012, SumUp is the financial partner for more than 4 million small merchants in over 35 markets worldwide, helping them start, run and grow their business. Through its Super App, SumUp provides merchants with a free business account and card, an online store, and an invoicing solution - as well as in-person and remote payments seamlessly integrated with SumUp's card terminals and point-of-sale registers. SumUp is committed to leveraging its success to make the world a better place: it has pledged to donate 1% of its revenue to support environmental causes and advocates for various educational and entrepreneurial projects around the world. In 2022 SumUp was recognised as a Top Global Employer for the LGBTQ+ community by the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. For more information, please visit www.sumup.co.uk.MEDIA CONTACTS:JCB International (Europe) Ltd.Diana Lee: dlee@jcbeurope.euJCB (Head Office in Japan)Ayaka Nakajima: jcb-pr@info.jcb.co.jpSumUp (UK)Connor Batty / Matthew Lloydconnor@deliberate-pr.com / matthew@deliberate-pr.com+44 7733 117 960Source: JCBCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Mazda 787B, the overall winner of the 59th 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 25, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation announced that the Le Mans winning Mazda 787B will be conducting a demonstration run at the Centenary Anniversary of 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The 91st race is due to be held at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France from June 7 to 11, 2023.(1)The Mazda 787B, powered by a four-rotor rotary engine, became the first Japanese car to win the 59th 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991. The ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest), the event organizer, invited us to conduct this demonstration run. Taking place on June 9 and 10, the car will be driven by Yojiro Terada, who holds a record of 29 appearances at Le Mans.To celebrate the 100th anniversary of 24 Hours of Le Mans, the winning race cars from previous years will be displayed at the Le Mans Museum, located close to the Circuit de la Sarthe, from June 1 until to July 2. The Mazda 787B will also take part in a demonstration run on the short course on the evenings of June 9 and June 10 before the 24 Hours race commences, where it will conduct a full-circuit demonstration run with other iconic Japanese Le Mans winning cars from Toyota Motor Corporation/TOYOTA Gazoo Racing. The Mazda 787B is also scheduled to demonstrate at the Le Mans Classic from June 30 to July 2.During the Le Mans Centennial race week, there will also be a themed exhibition "Japan Endless Discovery," a collaboration by the JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization), Toyota and Mazda. In addition to promoting inbound tourism to Japan for spectators of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Japan's carbon neutrality initiatives will be exhibited, and Mazda will present the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV (European specification) equipped with the latest rotary engine technology that functions as an electric generator.To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Mazda will continue research based on the company's human-centered philosophy, create more moving experiences for people to enjoy as they move about in their daily lives, and deliver greater enjoyment to everyday life, uplifting and energizing people.(1) In case of rain or other poor weather conditions, the demonstration laps by Mazda 787B may be cancelled.For Mazda 787B, visit the website commemorating the 30th anniversary of Mazda's victory at Le Mans. www.mazda.com/en/innovation/lemans30th/For information on the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, please visit the ACO website. www.24h-lemans.com/en/centenarySource: mazdaCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. TOKYO, May 25, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd., a Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has undertaken a complete revamp of the 3HP outdoor unit of its "HyperInverter" series of packaged air-conditioners for commercial and office applications. The newly enhanced model features more compact size, enabling greater flexibility in installation, and significantly lighter weight than the earlier model. The new unit will go on sale in the domestic market in June.The revamped outdoor unit features significantly reduced dimensions compared to its predecessor: 800mm width (-18% approx.), 640mm height (-25% approx.), 290mm depth (-22% approx.). Weight has also been substantially reduced: down 27kg to 43kg. Together, these improvements enable greater flexibility in installation and enhanced convenience for transport and construction. To counteract the larger operating noise that comes with reduced size, air flow path and air flow volume control have been optimized, resulting in one of the industry's quietest(1) outdoor units. In addition, the new unit also achieves high efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions, satisfying the standards of both the 2015 Revised Energy Conservation Act(2), Japan's official standard for evaluating efficiency, and the Act on Promoting Green Procurement(3), the official standard for measuring eco-friendliness.The newly improved outdoor unit can be combined with any of the current 9 indoor unit types accommodating various usage settings. This includes the FDTV series of ceiling-mounted units with 4-way air outlets equipped with the Company's proprietary draft prevention panels which enable indirect cooling, i.e. air is prevented from blowing directly on people in the room.The HyperInverter series is available in an expansive lineup encompassing packaged air-conditioners for a broad range of user needs. All models not only provide outstanding efficiency, comfort, and convenience in installation and construction, but also help mitigate environmental impact: for example, through the adoption of the R32 refrigerant having an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero and a low global warming potential (GWP)(4).Going forward, MHI Thermal Systems will continue to develop eco-friendly, convenient and easily operated products in the packaged air-conditioner market. In this way, the Company will help MHI Group realize its target of a low-carbon society.(1) Based on JIS B 8616: 2015, which measures the sound power level of noise sources by the sound pressure method.(2) Formally known as the Act on the Rationalization of Energy Use, this law promotes the achievement of energy efficiency targets by manufacturers of machines and other products. It also sets energy conservation standards for "Top Runner," a program which calls on manufacturers to indicate a product's energy efficiency.(3) This law was enacted in May 2000 to promote purchases prioritizing products and services that have low environmental impact. It aligns with the Ministry of the Environment's Basic Policy on Promoting Green Procurement.(4) The lower a product's GWP, the higher is its eco-friendliness. CO2 is assigned a GWP of 1.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. LEM HOLDING SA / Key word(s): Annual Results LEM announces record financial results for full year 2022/23 25-May-2023 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Geneva, Switzerland, 25 May 2023 - LEM (SIX: LEHN), a leading global company in electrical measurement for renewable energy, automation, power network and e-mobility applications, announces full year results for 2022/23 (April-March) compared to 2021/22: Bookings decreased by 19.3% to CHF 465.2 million (CHF 576.4 million) Sales increased by 8.8% to CHF 406.4 million (CHF 373.4 million); at constant exchange rates, sales increased by 12.6% The company benefits from a diverse global distribution of sales, led by China and EMEA: China CHF 157.9 m (38.9% of total) EMEA CHF 127.7 m (31.4% of total) Rest-of-Asia CHF 71.0 m (17.5% of total) Americas CHF 49.8 m (12.3% of total) R&D investments of CHF 32.2 million (CHF 29.4 million), or 7.9% of sales EBIT increased by 4.3% to CHF 92.2 million (CHF 88.4 million); the EBIT margin decreased to 22.7% (23.7%) Net profit for the period increased to CHF 75.3 million (CHF 72.4 million) Operating cash flow increased to CHF 87.0 million (CHF 50.4 million) Proposed dividend increased to CHF 52 per share (CHF 50 for 2021/22) Frank Rehfeld, Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are delighted to again report record annual results. Our revenues demonstrated the fundamental demand for our products and the strengths of the company operationally. We thank our teams around the world for their flexibility and determination to find innovative solutions. Their ingenuity led to 9 product launches and 21 patents granted. Another milestone was our move to our new headquarters in Meyrin, Geneva, in April 2022. At headquarters, LEM's innovative spirit is visible, and collaboration between teams is facilitated. Our record performance once again is evidence of our positive outlook for the long-term growth of our company. The mega trends of electrification and decarbonization that drive our business are accelerating, offering many opportunities to capture growth. However, in the short term we remain vigilant, as growth may be affected in some businesses and regions by market adjustments and component shortages. Nevertheless, we see our orderbook normalizing towards the 3-4 month visibility that we had before the supply chain challenges started." Andrea Borla, Chief Financial Officer, remarked: "Top-line growth of 8.8% and an EBIT margin of 22.7% are indeed pleasing. Without the foreign exchange impact, sales would have increased by 12.6%. We achieved this despite lockdowns in China, supply chain difficulties, and geopolitical challenges. We congratulate our employees for this year's record performance, and are proud to invest in their development, new skillsets, and technological expertise." Performance by businesses in CHF millions 2022/23 2021/22 Change Businesses Scope Automation drives, robots, tooling machines, elevators, HVAC 136.3 130.3 +4.6% Automotive battery (EV & CE), motor control, onboard charging 100.7 85.8 +17.4% Renewable Energy solar, wind 67.0 66.0 +1.6% Energy Distribution & High Precision charging stations, smart grid, energy storage, high precision 59.4 48.6 +22.3% Track trains, metro, trackside 43.0 42.8 +0.4% Total 406.4 373.4 +8.8% Automation We have seen strong demand for our products in manufacturing equipment such as tooling machines, robotics, and conveyor belts. Extreme weather conditions caused by global climate change are driving demand for sensors in applications such as coolers and heat pumps. Automotive Our Automotive business, which is driven by sensors for battery management and motor control, showed impressive results for both Q4 and full year, despite lockdowns and supply constraints. Leading OEMs strengthened their market positions, while Chinese newcomers struggle to maintain momentum. The global fundamental demand for EVs remains strong, and we deliver to most players in the market. Renewable Energy Sales increased only slightly due to component shortages. We had good demand for our products, with China as the major market for our solar products. The prospects for Renewable Energy remain promising. The global trend of decarbonization continues to drive growth, and supply chain constraints are expected to ease. Energy Distribution & High Precision We gained many new customers signing orders for products in EV charging stations and energy grid applications. Global investments in e-mobility infrastructure drive the strong performance of our DC meter product, with Europe and the US contributing to major growth. Our high precision solutions for test benches and MRI scanners continue to develop well. Track Our traction business, with its project-based long investment horizons, remains stable. We saw extra demand coming from the EU, which is renewing energy meters in various countries. Performance by regions in CHF millions 2022/23 2021/22 Change Regions Scope China 157.9 143.8 +9.8% Rest-of-Asia Japan, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia 71.0 67.4 +5.3% EMEA Europe, Middle East & Africa 127.7 124.7 +2.4% Americas NAFTA & Latin America 49.8 37.5 +32.9% Total 406.4 373.4 +8.8% China We grew despite Covid challenges and component shortages. At constant exchange rates, growth was 12.7%. Markets for electric vehicles and solar combined with energy storage continued to grow; however, the EV market started to slow down at the end of Q4. The Automation business was relatively flat. Rest-of-Asia Our business in Japan benefited from strong demand for EV sensors and an improved supply chain. South Korea showed robust performance with strong demand for EV and hybrid cars, and record sales in March. In India the supply chain for the traction business is improving, and the comparatively smaller Automotive business continues to grow. EMEA The fundamental megatrends driving our businesses continue to gain momentum in Europe. Our DC meter showed strong sales in Germany and the rest of Western Europe. In Track, the German railway market is booming, which led to high demand for our locomotive products. Our EMEA sales performance was held back by our decision to stop our activities in Russia, by the strong Swiss Franc, and component shortages. Americas The US showed very strong performance in the Automotive and Automation business. The government's commitment to sustainable energies continues to benefit our growth drivers. Our DC meter, recently certified for the US and Canada, performed very well. In Automation, we experienced a high demand for sensors for automated processing lines for the food and beverage industry. Profitability remains robust Gross profit was up by 8.4% at CHF 192.2 million (CHF 177.3 million), while the gross profit margin decreased slightly to 47.3%, sales price increases being offset by purchase price increases. SG&A costs were up by 14.1% to CHF 68.1 million (CHF 59.7 million) and accounted for 16.8% of sales (16.0%). This increase reflects our digitalization projects (investment in software and hardware), external consulting support for several key initiatives, and recruitment of additional talent. We continue with our long-term investment in future applications, with R&D up in absolute terms by 9.5% to CHF 32.2 million (CHF 29.4 million), or flat at 7.9% of sales. EBIT increased by 4.3% to CHF 92.2 million from CHF 88.4 million, primarily due to improved sales. Our reported EBIT margin was down, at 22.7% compared with 23.7% last year. The negative impact of foreign exchange translations was CHF 1.9 million, compared to CHF 2.7 million last year, mainly due to depreciation of the EUR. The Group tax expenses of CHF 13.6 million represent a tax rate of 15.3%. Net profit increased to CHF 75.3 million, while the net profit margin decreased to 18.5% compared with 19.4% last year. Strong cash flow and balance sheet Cash flow from operating activities was CHF 87.0 million (CHF 50.4 million), and free cash flow was CHF 60.5 million (CHF 29.4 million). This reflects the healthy financial situation. Our balance sheet remains strong with limited net debt of CHF 21.8 million. As of 31 March 2023, total assets increased to CHF 327.5 million. Shareholders' equity reached CHF 173.6 million, representing an equity ratio of 53.0% (53.5% as of 31 March 2022). Outlook Our businesses have proven successful and will benefit as the mega trends of decarbonization and electrification continue to be fundamental growth drivers. For the mid and long term, we are confident about our company's growth. Demand remains high for our products, as they play an important role in the acceleration of the shift towards sustainability. We see many opportunities to capture future growth. In the short term, however, growth may be affected in some businesses and regions by market adjustments and component shortages. There may be slowdowns resulting from geopolitical tensions as well. Therefore, we will remain vigilant for the next 12 months. Media, investor, and analyst conference and webcast Andreas Hurlimann, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Frank Rehfeld, CEO, and Andrea Borla, CFO, will present the results for the financial year 2022/23 and the outlook for the financial year 2023/24 today at 10:30 CET at a conference for investors, analysts, and media at the Widder Hotel in Zurich. Listen to the conference call and live webcast https://media.choruscall.eu/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=n4sNF3QS The press release, Annual Review, Financial Report, investor presentation, and the link to the webcast will be available from today, 25 May 2023, on the Investor Relations section of the LEM website ( http://www.lem.com/en/investors ), where the webcast will later also be archived. Dial-In Numbers Switzerland & Europe: +41 (0)58 310 50 00 UK: +44 (0) 207 107 06 13 USA: +1 (1) 631 570 56 13 Other countries: https://services3.choruscall.ch/NUMBERS/Attended_Dial_In_Numbers.pdf Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 29 June will take place in Geneva, allowing shareholders to attend in person. The formal invitation with proposed resolutions is published today on the company's website. Financial calendar The financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March 29 June 2023 Annual General Meeting for the financial year 2022/23 4 July 2023 Dividend ex-date 6 July 2023 Dividend payment date 27 July 2023 First quarter results 2023/24 10 November 2023 Half year results 2023/24 2 February 2024 9 months results 2023/24 28 May 2024 Full year results 2023/24 27 June 2024 Annual General Meeting for the financial year 2023/24 2 July 2024 Dividend ex-date 4 July 2024 Dividend payment date LEM - Life Energy Motion A leading company in electrical measurement, LEM engineers the best solutions for energy and mobility, ensuring that our customers' systems are optimized, reliable and safe. Our 1,700 people in 17 countries transform technology potential into powerful answers. We develop and recruit the best global talent, working at the forefront of megatrends such as renewable energy, mobility, automation, and digitization. With innovative electrical solutions, we are helping our customers and society accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1986, the company's ticker symbol is LEHN. www.lem.com Contact: Investment community Andrea Borla, Chief Finance Officer Phone: +41 22 706 1250 Email: investor@lem.com Contact: Media Cabinet Prive de Conseils s.a. (CPC) Michael Fuglister: fuglister@cpc-pr.com , mobile: +41 78 839 07 62 Etienne Vioget: vioget@cpc-pr.com , mobile: +41 79 560 54 83 Appendix ATTACHMENTS: Press Release (pdf): LEM FY Results 2022/23 If you do not wish to receive further media releases from LEM, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the following link: One-click-delete If the email looks unformatted, please use this alternative link . End of Inside Information Public disclosure of inside information in accordance with article 17(1) of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on market abuse (Market Abuse Regulation) Regulatory News: BenevolentAI ("BenevolentAI" or the "Company") (Euronext Amsterdam: BAI), a leader that combines cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and science to accelerate biopharma discovery and development, today announced a strategic review approved by its Board of Directors. BenevolentAI is further evolving its differentiated technology platform and launching a new suite of products to capitalise on the vast potential of AI-driven technologies in the biopharma domain. Simultaneously, the Company is optimising its portfolio to focus on its most advanced and promising pipeline assets. The new strategic plan: Maximises the impact of BenevolentAI's innovative technology platform for commercial deployment through new revenue-generating products, collaborations and partnerships. Prioritises the Company's most advanced and high-potential clinical and pre-clinical assets, progressing them to their value inflection points. Reduces spending and frees up 45 million of net cash to increase the Company's financial flexibility, extending the cash runway to at least July 2025 (without accounting for any new revenue). Aligns organisational structure to the new strategic direction. As part of the strategic plan, the Company will streamline and reorganise operations across two distinct business units the Tech Business Unit and the Bio Business Unit supported by Shared Business Operations. This will improve capital efficiency and enhance operational effectiveness. Chief Executive Officer, Joanna Shields said, "Embarking on this process requires difficult decisions, particularly concerning our valued colleagues. Our new strategic direction ensures we maximise our portfolio and leverage the knowledge and expertise we have built up in recent years to meet this moment of opportunity for AI in biopharma." Tech Business Unit- well positioned to lead in AI for biopharma R&D BenevolentAI is deploying a new suite of AI products, including a natural language biomedical querying system, enabling biopharma partners to accelerate new discoveries, harness the power of AI to unlock the value of their data, and gain a competitive edge. The Company will expand its commercialisation of this technology through collaborations and partnerships. The adoption of generative AI and large language models offers unparalleled potential to accelerate scientific discovery. BenevolentAI is uniquely positioned to bring this transformative impact to biopharma R&D with its in-depth experience in drug discovery and knowledge of how to build, train and fine-tune these highly domain-specific models. The platform's generative AI and query capabilities are further enhanced by BenevolentAI's technology for drug discovery, including its leading target identification and assessment platform and proven expertise in multi-modal biomedical data integration. Bio Business Unit focusing resources on high-value assets BenevolentAI will streamline its portfolio, focusing on taking its most advanced and high-potential assets to their key value inflection points. These prioritised drug programmes are as follows: BEN-8744, a potentially best-in-class PDE10 inhibitor for the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis, represents a novel target for this indication, which will enter Phase 1 in Q3 2023. BEN-28010, a potentially best-in-class CNS-penetrant CHK1 inhibitor for the treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme, is expected to be IND-ready by Q4 2023. Earlier-stage assets in neurodegenerative and immunological diseases (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, and Fibrosis). As a result of this streamlining, the Company will reduce its lab footprint and expenditures and pause selected programmes while retaining key drug discovery and target identification capabilities and adopting a strategic outsourcing model. The Company will not invest further in BEN-2293 following its Phase 2a trial results. Organisational changes As part of the strategic review, the Company has considered its cost base and organisational structure and will commence a collective consultation process around proposed headcount reductions expected to result in net cost savings of 45 million, which extends its cash runway to at least July 2025, without accounting for any new revenues. These net savings are expected to be realised through 13 million in facilities and other operating expenses and 32 million in reduced drug programme and staff costs, representing a reduction of up to approximately 180 employees. The Company will adhere to the UK Collective Consultation for Redundancy Rules and Procedures. Alongside this news, Nicholas Keher has provided notice of his resignation as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Company to pursue other business interests. The Company thanks him for his service and wishes him well in his future endeavours. Tom Holgate, SVP and Group Finance Director, will act as interim CFO and provide transitional support while a search is conducted for Nicholas' replacement. In summary, this strategic review and reorganisation positions BenevolentAI to maximise value creation for stakeholders. About BenevolentAI BenevolentAI (AMS: BAI) is a leading developer of advanced artificial intelligence technologies that unlock the value of multimodal data, surface novel insights, and accelerate biomedical discovery. Through the combined capabilities of its AI platform, its scientific expertise, and wet-lab facilities, the Company is developing an in-house drug pipeline of high-value assets. The Company is headquartered in London, with a research facility in Cambridge (UK) and a further office in New York. Forward-looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "plans," "targets," "aims," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "will," "may," "should" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding objectives, goals, strategies, outlook, and growth prospects; plans, events, or performance and potential for future growth; economic outlook and industry trends; developments in BenevolentAI's markets; the impact of regulatory initiatives; or the strength of BenevolentAI's competitors. These forward-looking statements reflect, at the time made, BenevolentAI's beliefs, intentions, and current targets/aims. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions based on, without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in BenevolentAI's records, and third-party data. Although BenevolentAI believes these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other important factors which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond BenevolentAI's control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and such risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other important factors could cause the actual outcomes and the results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity of BenevolentAI or the industry to differ materially from those results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. No representation or warranty is made that any of these forward-looking statements or forecasts will come to pass or that any forecast result will be achieved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230524005926/en/ Contacts: Enquiries: investors@benevolent.ai press@benevolent.ai T: +44(0) 203 781 9360 FTI Consulting Media enquiries: Ben Atwell/Dwight Burden/Victoria Foster Mitchell/Julia Bradshaw T: +44 203 727 1000 BenevolentAI@fticonsulting.com NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED UPON IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY OFFER OR COMMITMENT WHATSOEVER IN ANY JURISDICTION KAISERAUGST, Switzerland and HEERLEN, Netherlands, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As announced on May 24, 2023, DSM-Firmenich AG (the "Company" or DSM-Firmenich) launched the sale of up to 6,696,477 existing DSM-Firmenich ordinary shares through an accelerated bookbuild offering of shares (the "Share Placement"). The Company hereby announces that it has raised total proceeds of 733 million following the sale of 6,696,477 existing DSM-Firmenich ordinary shares to institutional investors, representing approximately 2.5% of DSM-Firmenich's share capital, at a price of 109.50 per share. The book was multiple times oversubscribed. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Share Placement to fund the cash consideration payable by the Company in relation to the buy-out procedure in accordance with Dutch law that the Company commenced in order to acquire the DSM ordinary shares that have not been tendered in the voluntary public exchange offer launched by the Company for all the issued and outstanding DSM ordinary shares. The results of this exchange offer were announced by the Company on May 1, 2023. Closing and settlement of the Share Placement is expected to occur on May 29, 2023. Joint Global Coordinators Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (in cooperation with ODDO BHF SCA), and J.P. Morgan Securities plc are acting as joint global coordinators in connection with the Share Placement (the "Joint Global Coordinators"). For more information, please contact: Media: Investors: media@dsm-firmenich.com investors@dsm-firmenich.com About DSM-Firmenich As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, DSM-Firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world's growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. DSM-Firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than 12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life every day, everywhere, for billions of people. For further information, please see http://www.dsm-firmenich.com/ This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (Regulation 596/2014). Important Information "These written materials, and any copy thereof, may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or to persons resident in the United States (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia), Canada, Australia, Japan, the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction where such distribution could constitute a breach of the applicable laws of such jurisdiction. These written materials are for information purposes only and are not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or subscribe for, or the announcement of a forthcoming offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, or the announcement of a forthcoming solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, existing or new shares of the Company in the European Economic Area (the "EEA") (except in the context of a private placement with Qualified Investors, as defined below), the United States, Australia (except in the context of a private placement to sophisticated or professional investors who are wholesale clients pursuant to Australian laws), Canada (except in the context of a private placement with investors qualifying as "accredited investors" and "permitted clients", as defined below), Japan, the Republic of South Africa (except in the context of a private placement to institutional investors pursuant to South African laws), Switzerland (except in the context of a private placement with Professional Clients, as defined below) or the United Kingdom (except in the context of a private placement with Relevant Persons, as defined below). No offer to sell or subscribe for shares, or announcement of a forthcoming offer to sell or subscribe for shares, will be made in the EEA (except in the context of a private placement with Qualified Investors, as defined below), the United States, Australia (except in the context of a private placement to sophisticated or professional investors who are wholesale clients pursuant to Australian laws), Canada (except in the context of a private placement with investors qualifying as "accredited investors" and "permitted clients", as defined below), Japan, the Republic of South Africa (except in the context of a private placement to institutional investors pursuant to South African laws), Switzerland (except in the context of a private placement with Professional Clients, as defined below), the United Kingdom (except in the context of a private placement with Relevant Persons, as defined below) or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction, and the distribution of this communication in such jurisdictions may be similarly restricted. Persons into whose possession this communication comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the security laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement contains statements which are "forward-looking statements" or could be considered as such. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words 'believe', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'possible', 'predict', 'plans', 'target', 'seek', 'would' or 'should', and contain statements made by the Company regarding the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are warned that none of these forward-looking statements offers any guarantee of future performance. The company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company makes no undertaking whatsoever to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, unless required to do so by law. This communication does not constitute or form part of an offer of securities in the United States, or a solicitation to purchase securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or under the securities law of any state or jurisdiction in the United States and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly within the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or jurisdiction of the United States. The issuer of the securities has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the transaction in the United States. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. In relation to each Member State of the EEA (each a "Relevant Member State") an offer of securities to which this communication relates is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Relevant Member State within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market (the "Prospectus Regulation") in accordance with the prospectus exemption provided for in article 1(4)(a)and article 1(5)(a) of the Prospectus Regulation ("Qualified Investors"). In the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, "qualified investors", as defined in article 2 (e) of the Prospectus Regulation as amended and transposed into the laws of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"), who are also (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (ii) "high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc." in the sense of article 49(2) (a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) persons to whom such information may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Persons who are not Relevant Persons should not take any action on the basis of this announcement and should not act or rely on it. In Canada, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at investors qualifying as (i) "accredited investors" (as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario)) and (ii) "permitted clients" (as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations). In Switzerland, an offer of securities to which this communication relates is only addressed to and is only directed at "professional clients" within the meaning of Article 4 para. 3 of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("Finanzdienstleistungsgesetz") of 15 June 2018 ("FINSA") (such persons being referred to as "Professional Clients"). The offer is therefore exempted from the obligation to prepare and publish a prospectus under FINSA and the securities will not be admitted to trading on any Swiss trading platform. This communication does not constitute a prospectus in accordance with FINSA and the Company will not prepare such prospectus in light of the offer of securities are referred to herein. Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE ("GSBE"), which is authorised and supervised by the European Central Bank and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Die Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) in Germany, is acting as a Joint Global Coordinator for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Share Placement. Neither GSBE nor its affiliates, nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of GSBE or for providing advice in connection with the Share Placement or for any other matters referred to herein. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. ("ABN AMRO") is a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootshap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) and is subject to the supervision by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the Dutch Central Bank. ABN AMRO is acting as a Joint Global Coordinator for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Share Placement. Neither ABN AMRO nor its affiliates (which includes ODDO BHF SCA), nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of ABN AMRO or for providing advice in connection with the Share Placement or for any other matters referred to herein. J.P. Morgan Securities plc ("J.P. Morgan") is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority and is acting as a Joint Global Coordinator for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Share Placement. Neither J.P. Morgan nor its affiliates, nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan or for providing advice in connection with the Share Placement or for any other matters referred to herein." Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2071772/dsm_firmenich_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dsm-firmenich-ag-announces-the-successful-placement-of-c-6-7-million-existing-dsm-firmenich-ordinary-shares-through-an-accelerated-bookbuild-offering-for-a-total-amount-of-733-million-301834317.html Submissions supported by comprehensive analytical and clinical data package including a Phase I PK/PD similarity study and the integrated Phase I/III ROSALIA clinical trial Denosumab is indicated for treating a variety of conditions, including osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, prevention of skeletal related complications in cancer that has spread to the bone and unresectable giant cell tumor of the bone 1,2 Sandoz continues to build its biosimilars portfolio to increase patient access to high-quality, affordable biologics and generate savings for health systems Basel, May 25, 2023 - Sandoz, a global leader in off-patent (generic and biosimilar) medicines, today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the marketing authorization applications (MAA) for proposed biosimilar denosumab for regulatory review. The two applications include all indications covered by the reference medicines Prolia (denosumab)* and Xgeva (denosumab)*, respectively, for treating a variety of conditions, including osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fractures, treatment-induced bone loss, prevention of skeletal related complications in cancer that have spread to the bone, and giant cell tumor of the bone.1,2 "Sandoz is one of the first to have its applications for a proposed biosimilar denosumab accepted by the EMA. If approved, this has the potential to provide people living with osteoporosis and cancer of the bone or bone metastasis access to a cost-effective and high-quality treatment option." said Florian Bieber, Development Platform Head Biopharmaceuticals and Chief Medical Officer, Sandoz. "This news follows the recent application acceptance by the US Food and Drug Administration and supports our continued commitment to providing expanded access to life-changing treatments, while also helping over-burdened healthcare systems generate savings." Approximately 500 million men and women worldwide may be affected by osteoporosis, which causes 8.9 million fractures annually - or one fracture every three seconds.3 By 2050, hip fractures are projected to increase by 240% in women and 310% in men compared to 1990.3 Prevalence of skeletal related complications in cancer is estimated to be as high as 63% for breast cancer, 59% for lung cancer and 52% for prostate cancer. Skeletal related complications in cancer are associated with loss of mobility and social functioning, reduced quality of life, increased health care expenditure and worse survival.4,5,6 The EMA applications are based on a comprehensive analytical and clinical data package, comprised of data from a Phase I PK/PD similarity study in healthy volunteers and the integrated Phase I/III ROSALIA study. The data package confirmed the denosumab biosimilar matches the reference medicine in terms of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity in the respective study populations; and contributes to the demonstration of similarity, which is the basis for use in all indications for which Xgeva and Prolia are approved. Sandoz is committed to helping millions of patients sustainably and affordably access critical and potentially life-changing biologic medicines across a range of areas including immunology, oncology, supportive care and endocrinology. It has a leading global portfolio with eight marketed biosimilars and a further 24 assets in various stages of development. Since launching the first biosimilar in Europe in 2006, Sandoz has proven biosimilars create early and expanded patient access to life-altering medicines while increasing healthcare savings and creating competition that fuels innovation and development of new and enhanced treatments in areas of unmet need. About denosumab Denosumab is a human monoclonal antibody designed to bind to the RANKL protein, an activator of osteoclasts (cells involved in breaking down bone tissue).1 By binding to and inhibiting RANKL, denosumab decreases the production and activity of osteoclasts, resulting in a reduction of bone loss, and subsequently the likelihood of fractures and other serious bone conditions.7 Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "may," "could," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that, if approved, such generic or biosimilar products will be approved for all indications included in the reference product's label. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; competition in general, including potential approval of additional generic or biosimilar versions of such products; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; litigation outcomes, including intellectual property disputes or other legal efforts to prevent or limit Sandoz from selling its products; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. References European Medicines Agency (EMA). Prolia (Denosumab): Prescribing Information. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/prolia-epar-product-information_en.pdf (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/prolia-epar-product-information_en.pdf) [Last accessed: May 2023]. European Medicines Agency (EMA). Xgeva (Denosumab): Prescribing Information. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/xgeva-epar-product-information_en.pdf (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/xgeva-epar-product-information_en.pdf) [Last accessed: May 2023]. International Osteoporosis Foundation. Facts and Statistics. Available from: https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/facts-statistics/epidemiology-of-osteoporosis-and-fragility-fractures (https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/facts-statistics/epidemiology-of-osteoporosis-and-fragility-fractures) [Last accessed: May 2023]. Bhowmik D. et al. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 35:3, 513-523. Cadieux B. et al. Journal of Bone Oncology, 2022, 33: 1-13. Coleman R. et al. Bone health in cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines, 2020. Amgen Europe B.V. Xgeva (Denosumab): Summary of Product Characteristics. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/xgeva-epar-product-information_en.pdf (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/xgeva-epar-product-information_en.pdf)[Last accessed: May 2023]. *Prolia and Xgeva are registered trademarks of Amgen Inc. # # # About Sandoz Sandoz, a Novartis division, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. Our purpose is to pioneer access for patients by developing and commercializing novel, affordable approaches that address unmet medical needs. Our ambition is to be the world's leading and most valued generics company. Our broad portfolio of high-quality medicines, covering major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2022 sales of USD 9.2 billion. Sandoz on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sandoz (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sandoz) Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandoz_global (https://twitter.com/sandoz_global) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandozglobal/ (https://www.facebook.com/sandozglobal/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandozglobal (https://www.instagram.com/sandozglobal) CEO Richard Saynor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-saynor/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-saynor/) # # # +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. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE.L) announced Thursday that Anna Manz, Group Chief Financial Officer, has informed the Board of her decision to step down as CFO and Executive Director in order to assume a CFO role outside the financial services industry. Manz will remain as CFO of LSEG for the duration of her 12-month notice period until May 2024. The company has initiated a process to identify her successor, and further updates will be made in due course. LSEG said it continues to deliver on its strategy and make strong financial and operational progress as it shifts from integration to transformation. David Schwimmer, CEO, LSEG said, 'Anna has made an outstanding contribution to the transformation of LSEG. . We will work together in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. The Group is delivering on its strategy, and I look forward to making further progress this year and beyond.' 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. LONDON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fimatix, a leading provider of digital transformation solutions, announced today the acquisition of Semantic Evolution, a specialist in the provision of AI and machine learning powered solutions to the Financial Services sector. Semantic Evolution will continue to operate under its own name as part of the Fimatix Group. The acquisition confirms Semantic Evolution's expertise and experience in delivering cutting-edge AI and machine learning based products that are tailored to the unique needs of the financial services industry. Semantic Evolution has built a strong reputation of extracting significant value from a range of unstructured data, utilising AI and machine learning to dramatically optimize business processes, enhance customer experience, and significantly reduce costs. Under the move, Gary Richardson will lead Semantic Evolution. Gary is a highly respected and accomplished executive with a wealth of experience in the field of data engineering and artificial intelligence. He has worked at some of the world's leading consulting firms, including KPMG and Capgemini. In his previous role as Head of Data Engineering, Gary led a team of data scientists and data engineers in the agile development of AI and Machine Learning solutions. He is passionate about driving mainstream business adoption of AI solutions and has a proven track record of delivering AI products for clients across a range of industries. Tim Howarth, CEO of Fimatix said: "We are thrilled to welcome Semantic Evolution to the Fimatix family. This acquisition is an important step in our growth strategy and will allow us to expand our capabilities and offer a wider range of innovative AI and machine learning based solutions to our clients. I'm also delighted to be working with Gary again as we look to enhance what we offer to all our clients and staff in the combined businesses. His leadership, expertise, and strategic vision will be instrumental in driving the continued success of our businesses and accelerating growth in the market. Bringing our digital and data capabilities together will allow us to offer sustainable change for our clients and exciting career paths for our staff." Gary Richardson, CEO of Semantic Evolution said: "We are excited to join forces with Fimatix. Our ability to leverage previously difficult to harness data will complement Fimatix's existing products and services, and together we will deliver even greater value to our clients." About Fimatix Fimatix's purpose is to enhance the productivity of business and governments to the benefit of economies, communities and people around the world. The business has a track record of supporting major banks and e-money fintech challengers within the financial services sector, and digital transformation in the UK Government including the Home Office, HSBC, RBS, Ziglu and The Big Exchange. Follow Fimatix on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fimatix/ About Semantic Evolution Semantic Evolution is a leading provider of AI powered unstructured data services that helps businesses achieve their goals through the innovative use of AI to unlock the value in their unstructured data. With a focus on driving growth and innovation, Semantic Evolution is committed to delivering exceptional value to its customers and stakeholders. Follow Semantic Evolution on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/semantic-evolution/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2082731/Fimatix_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fimatix-acquires-semantic-evolution-to-harness-the-power-of-unstructured-data-with-ai-and-machine-learning-301833495.html Future-focused, multi-industry Jaidah Group implements Syncron Inventory to increase performance and enhance customer satisfaction through efficient parts availability. STOCKHOLM, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Syncron today announced that Jaidah Group, a leading Qatari conglomerate providing services in the industrial supply, energy, automotive and heavy equipment sectors, has selected Syncron Inventory to optimize its parts inventory for increased service levels and a superior customer experience. In selecting an inventory management solution, Jaidah Group wanted an intuitive platform that enables efficient forecasting and planning for their complex inventory needs. "We are dealing with around 185,000 SKUs as a group, and once we are done with all stages of the implementation, we will be covering 126 brands under Syncron and around 1,500 transactions per day," said Ralf Zimmermann, group director of after sales, Jaidah Group. "Multiplying 185,000 SKUs by 1,500 daily transactions shows the complexity our parts organization has to handle." In partnering with Syncron, Jaidah Group gains an essential tool for increasing service levels with an optimized inventory. "If we are not using any smart tools like Syncron, the turnaround time for decision-making is quite time-consuming, considering the wider brand portfolio and depth of parts lines in Jaidah Group," said Akram Shaik, group parts inventory manager, Jaidah Group. "With the help of this platform in place, we can save many working hours." Syncron Inventory is an intelligent inventory management platform that optimizes parts inventory for a more connected, reliable, profitable and customer-centric aftermarket business. Syncron Inventory simplifies and automates complex processes, increases parts availability, reduces supply chain costs and maximizes efficiency. Syncron Inventory also fine-tunes forecasting accuracy for swift, precise inventory adjustments. "We are now in a situation where we feel more confident about the inventory and ordering decisions we are making," said Shaik. "We are heading in the right direction-toward a much healthier inventory situation." "With an advanced solution for inventory management, businesses like Jaidah Group can reduce excess or obsolete inventory up to 7%, allowing them to invest in the customer experience," said Anneliese Schulz, chief revenue officer, Syncron. "By ensuring access to the right parts and optimizing the entire aftermarket business, Syncron Inventory is a sustainable, long-term solution that can grow and evolve alongside its partners." Syncron Inventory is an essential component of the Syncron Connected Service Experience (CSX) Cloud, an artificial intelligence (AI)- and machine learning (ML)-driven platform built to help manufacturers and service organizations transform their approach to service lifecycle management (SLM), from beginning to end. To learn more about Syncron Inventory, visit syncron.com/inventory . About Syncron Syncron helps manufacturers and distributors capitalize on the new service economy by optimizing aftermarket profitability, increasing customer loyalty and enabling the transition to servitization. Syncron aligns all aftermarket services with its Connected Service Experience (CSX) cloud platform, helping companies differentiate themselves through exceptional aftermarket experiences while driving significant revenue growth. The world's top brands trust Syncron, making it the largest privately-owned global leader in intelligent service lifecycle management SaaS solutions. For more, visit syncron.com . About Jaidah Group Jaidah Group is one of Qatar's leading multi-industry conglomerates, offering services in the industrial supply, energy, automotive and heavy equipment sectors. Established in 1898 and passed down generations of the Jaidah family, Jaidah Group has been a recognized force of trade for over 100 years and counting. Founded to consolidate its various businesses and provide the ultimate in well-rounded and complete services, the Group now boasts an array of over 100 globally-recognized brands. For more, visit jaidah.com . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1832423/Syncron_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jaidah-group-selects-syncron-for-optimized-parts-inventory-increased-service-levels-and-streamlined-aftermarket-processes-301832816.html Configit Ace Enhancements Dramatically Reduce Time to Generate cBOMs COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Configit, the global leader in Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM), today announced that its Configit Ace offering can now more effectively leverage product models during the design of Configurable Bills of Materials (cBOMs) and support quotation processes more efficiently. The continuous demand for more customizable and personalized products requires more configurable product designs. However, designing and working with cBOMs, otherwise known as 150% BOMs or Super BOMs, can be challenging. Generating a valid BOM for a configurable product can be time-consuming and can require a great deal of manual effort. Existing solutions for automatically generating or exploding a cBOM are often slow. Ideally, the cBOM and product model should be developed at the same time, but so far, there has been no way to leverage product models in the cBOM design process. To address these challenges, the Configit Ace BOM Solve API helps manufacturers rapidly generate a BOM for a configurable product by leveraging product models. This will enable engineers and product modelers to collaborate and develop the cBOM and product model at the same time. The BOM Solve API uses an existing cBOM and a specific product configuration as inputs and then instantaneously generates a configured BOM, or 100% BOM, for the given configuration. This can be used by engineers to test and debug cBOMs and product models during the design process. With a valid configurable sales BOM and configuration, the BOM Solve API can immediately generate a Sales BOM as part of a Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) process. The BOM Solve API doesn't rely on either the cBOM or the product model being developed in any order. Because of this, the solution accommodates 120% BOMs, in which some configuration choices are left open for further engineering input as part of a partial Engineer-to-Order (ETO) process. The BOM Solve API is the first of a series of solutions focused on engineering configuration and BOM challenges that Configit intends to deliver in upcoming releases. Henrik Hulgaard, vice president of product management and co-founder, Configit, said: "With the BOM Solve API, we're offering a powerful solution that enables collaborative design on cBOMs and product models that can identify many issues upfront rather than trying to resolve differences when the cBOM and product model are designed in isolation. The ability to instantaneously generate BOMs for configurable products enables manufacturers to leverage product models in a whole new way and we're continuing to evolve our solutions to help tackle configuration challenges more effectively." About Configit Configit is the global leader in Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions and a supplier of business-critical software for the configuration of complex products. All Configit products are based on the patented Virtual Tabulation (VT) technology, which has redefined product configuration by offering greater speed and better handling of complexity. Virtual Tabulation enables Configit to deliver powerful, easy-to-use configuration solutions to market-leading global enterprises. Website: configit.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1824364/4044623/Configit_Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/configit-enables-fast-generation-of-configurable-bills-of-materials-301829318.html SENISCA shortlisted for 2022/2023 Nature Spinoff prize Exeter, UK - 25May 2023: SENISCA, a UK biotechnology company developing RNA based therapeutics to reverse cellular senescence and target the diseases of ageing, today announces that it has been shortlisted for the 2022/2023 Nature Spinoff Prize. The Nature Spinoff Prize is awarded yearly by Nature, the world's leading multidisciplinary science journal, to early-stage university spinoff companies from around the world founded on research in life sciences or physical sciences. The prize aims to give better visibility to companies translating original, high-quality scientific research into products and services that make a positive impact on society. SENISCA, a spinout from the University of Exeter, is one of only 12 companies worldwide to be shortlisted and is the only UK company to have made the list. A special report published by Nature to accompany SENISCA's nomination can be accessed here. Built on 15 years of pioneering research, SENISCA's proprietary technology is harnessing RNA biology to rejuvenate aged 'senescent' cells. Senescent cells behave differently to young, healthy cells in several ways, such as ceasing growth or secreting pro-inflammatory chemicals. Senescent cells, with a pro-inflammatory profile and disrupted function, are emerging as causal factors for multiple age-related diseases. Professor Lorna Harries, SENISCA's Chief Scientific Officer said: "Being shortlisted for the Nature Spinoff Prize is an incredible achievement for everyone at SENISCA. Our inclusion in this prestigious list recognises the significant potential of our technology to develop new and better treatments for diseases of ageing and make a difference in the lives of patients around the world." Kirsty Semple, SENISCA's CEO said: "We are honoured to be shortlisted for the Spinoff Prize, which recognizes the quality and impact of our research as well as the commercial potential of our technology platform. We look forward to making continued progress towards our goal of becoming the world-leader in the development and use of senotherapeutic oligonucleotides to treat complex disease." ENDS For more information Jennie Jepperson Executive Assistant, SENISCA Jennie.Jepperson@senisca.com For media Consilium Strategic Communications Chris Welsh welsh@consilium-comms.com About SENISCA SENISCA is an RNA therapeutics biotech spinout from the University of Exeter, founded in 2020. SENISCA is focused on modulating RNA biology to treat age-related disease. Underpinned by more than 15 years of world-leading research, SENISCA has identified an officially recognized, novel and druggable component of the cellular ageing (senescence) response, which can be specifically targeted in the context of multiple pharmacological and skin health indications. The Company is developing a portfolio of proprietary senotherapeutics, including oligonucleotides and small molecules, that target cell senescence for cellular rejuvenation in the treatment of age-related disease. SENISCA's senotherapeutics specifically target the novel cellular pathway which causes cell rejuvenation and positively impacts markers of disease modification in patient-derived models. In line with the rapid evolution of the company, R & D activities are focused on IND data generation. The Company's platform technology has broad applicability for multiple age-related diseases including those of the eye, lung, joint and brain. Many such diseases currently have no cure and existing treatments are only palliative, with varying success rates. These diseases are driven by senescence, are amenable to a local route of administration, and have high unmet clinical need. Targeting these specific diseases will streamline progress towards the clinic by avoiding potential pitfalls of systemic delivery. SENISCA's novel senotherapeutics will be mined and commercialized through partnership or co-development models that will sit alongside internal programmes. If you would like to learn more about SENISCA, please contact Jennie Jepperson, Executive Assistant at SENISCA). Security technology company 21st Century AEYE has announced that Golden Rule Charter School will be the first to gain access to its AI security breakthrough under a recently signed partnership. Austin, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - This new partnership will bring the 21st Century A|EYE autonomously-driven threat detection platform to the school's campus. The Golden Rule Charter School was chosen as the first school to model the school security system because of their status as a National Blue Ribbon School serving primarily minority students and members of socio-economically disadvantaged communities. More information is available at https://21stcenturyaeye.com/. 21st Century AEYE Announces Pilot Partnership With Golden Rule Charter School To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/167434_0e1b99254440f881_001full.jpg 21st Century A|EYE's recently announced partnership will bring the company's next-generation AI monitoring system into the campus' security ecosystem, which will provide the school's security team with a suite of powerful new security tools. The 21st Century A|EYE platform functions autonomously through the use of AI threat detection and in tandem with human alerting via a supplementary 21st Century A|EYE app, available to students, teachers, and staff, to facilitate the safest learning environment possible. This partnership received the backing of education pioneer Julie Pickren from the Texas State Board of Education. Member Pickren stated, "Texas has experienced too many tragedies which have cost us children's and teachers' lives. My district has experienced this first-hand with the Santa Fe school shooting. Texas is taking action now to keep our children safe." Superintendent Dr. Vicente Delgado added, "with this new AI technology, we believe Golden Rule will become a beacon that other districts and charters will soon follow. The protection of children's lives is paramount, and the partnership understands the importance of taking action to help prevent the next tragedy from occurring." In celebration of this partnership, Golden Rule Charter School's IT Department, security team, faculty members, and members of the Dallas SWAT team were shown and collectively impressed by the video demonstrations of the AI technology in use, which displayed the software's proprietary detection and prevention mechanisms. Individuals present at this demonstration were hopeful the new technology will help avert future school shootings. "Every year, parents pray, and politicians promise a solution. We are offering 21st-century solutions to a 21st-century problem. Today, we are proud to stand together, solutions in hand, in protecting the sanctity of children and youth from becoming the headline of the next national tragedy," states founder Said Bilani. "Anytime you develop something that can be a proactive instead of a reactive solution or preventative measure to a problem such as school shootings, anyone in state education or local education, from superintendents to elected officials, are most likely going to give you an ear to be able to show that you can help save lives in their district," said company co-founder, Brannon Castleberry. The new 21st Century A|EYE platform integrates with a given CCTV system and employs Artificial Intelligence technology to detect, locate, and alert in real-time. If the automatic detection system recognizes a weapon, 21st Century A|EYE will discern the threat, geo-locate the position, and issue an alert to the proper authorities. If a threat is detected, first responders (both on-site and local authorities) will receive a real-time alert. The system is intended to be a cost-effective solution to a systemic problem, seamlessly integrating into pre-existing CCTV camera infrastructure and autonomously detecting, locating, and alerting for active shooters. This fully integrated AI platform works 24 hours, 7 days a week, and is not dependent on human monitoring. 21st Century A|EYE is the innovation of innovator, Said Bilani, who built the weapons defense and detection platform while at Harvard University, and business partner, Brannon Castleberry, both of whom have collectively provided strategic security consulting services to political and private entities across the country, and who hold extensive governmental affairs and political influence, domestically and internationally. This partnership with Golden Rule represents the culmination of years of experience and an ongoing commitment to public safety on the part of the company. Additional details can be found at https://21stcenturyaeye.com/. Contact Info: Name: Said Bilani Email: info@21stcenturyaeye.com Organization: 21st Century AEYE LLC Address: 5900 Balcones Drive Ste 100, Austin, TX 78731, United States Website: https://21stcenturyaeye.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167434 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC PINK: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report the discovery of a significant copper-silver system, called AM-7, which is located on 1 of 6 new Application for Mining Concessions. All six concessions lie within the AM District of Max's wholly owned CESAR Copper Silver Project in northeastern Colombia (refer to Figures 1 to 9). Highlights The AM-7 Target is the 7 th discovery by Max in the AM District. discovery by Max in the AM District. The total number of copper-silver targets at the CESAR Project now stands at 21. The AM-7 mineralized horizon is a tabular body that ranges from 0.3m to 2m in width, extends over 1600m along strike and is open in all directions. AM-7 encompasses five historic open cut copper workings extending over 700m (refer to Figures 3 to 7). The primary copper mineral is Chalcocite (80% by weight copper) with minor malachite. Rock chip and channel samples have been collected across the outcroppings and results are pending. Six new Application for Mining Concessions were approved this year. "AM-7 appears to be a significant discovery with potential for multiple stacked mineralized horizons across an impressive strike length of at least 1,600m and is open in all directions. To date, Max has identified 21 copper silver targets through three districts that span over 90-km of the Cesar Copper Rich Basin: AM, URU and Conejo," commented Max CEO, Brett Matich. "The significant AM-7 discovery underscores the potential of the Cesar Basin to host multiple depositional models as our skilled exploration team continues to make significant copper-silver discoveries," he continued. Max is one of the first companies to recognize this part of Colombia is underexplored for copper, and our persistence and patience continues to be rewarded as evidenced by the AM-7 discovery," he concluded. Figure 1. CESAR Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_001full.jpg Figure 2. AM District copper silver targets, AM-1 to 7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_002full.jpg Figure 3. Pit 1, AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_003full.jpg Pit 1, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LBvWmxyitI Figure 4. Pit 2, AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_004full.jpg Pit 2, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKoSWVBrh5k Figure 5. Pit 3, AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_005full.jpg Pit 3, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GiQtoKf2JU Figure 6. Pit 4, AM-7. view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_006full.jpg Pit 4, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM0BRNP1R_U Figure 7. Pit 5, AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_007full.jpg Pit 5, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awqroeL_iWU The AM-7 Target represents classic stratiform copper-silver mineralization hosted in interbedded mudstone, siltstone and fine grained cross bedded red-bed sandstone of the La Quinta Formation. The mineralized horizon is a tabular body that ranges from 0.3m to 2m wide and extends for over 1600m meters along strike. The mineralized 'reduced beds' are bleached (clay-sericite-calcite-limonite altered) and lie between shallow water red-bed sediments, typically arkose fine grained sandstone (refer to Figure 8). Figure 8. Copper Mineralization at AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_008full.jpg Figure 9. Mineralized Sedimentary Rocks at AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_009full.jpg Chalcocite is the main copper-bearing mineral in the prospect and is concentrated along stratigraphic laminations, and as disseminated grains. Malachite and azurite have also been observed. Carbonaceous material was associated with all mineralized beds (refer to Figure 9). Channel and chip samples across AM-7 were collected at intervals over the length of the exposed mineralization. Assays are expected in the coming weeks and will help to define next steps in the evaluation of the AM-7 Target. Target Evaluation Max is evaluating the each of the 21 targets it has identified at Cesar for potential drill testing. Assessing each target area includes the following field activities: Systematic chip and channel sampling of the mineralized outcrops. Detailed geological and structural mapping of each showing. Trenching where possible to expose additional mineralization. Target scale prospecting and soil sampling. Ground geophysical surveys. The information gathered during this process will allow the Company to select several of the highest priority targets for testing during the next drill campaign. Background Max's CESAR Project lies along the copper silver rich Cesar basin in NE Colombia. This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's twenty mining concessions collectively span over 188-km (refer to Figure 1). In 2022, Max executed a 2-year co-operation agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp., which assists Max to significantly expand its 100% owned landholdings at CESAR, Endeavour will hold an underlying 0.5% NSR. Starting in the far north of the Jurassic basin, classic stacked red bed outcrops with extensive lateral continuity have been rock sampled over many kilometres within the AM District. Highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver have been documented in the sedimentary red bed sequences. The Conejo District, midway south, demonstrates mineralization at the contact of intermediate and felsic volcanics which outcrops over 3.7-km. The average of surface samples over a 2.0% cut-off come in at 4.9% copper. To the far south, the 2022 inaugural drilling was initiated at two mineralized surface exposures, each located 0.75-km apart and lie within the URU District's 20-km-long, 2-km wide mineralized target area. The drill program at URU-C and URU-CE was the first opportunity to test continuity of the structurally controlled copper silver mineralization within the volcanic host rocks in the sub-basinal environment of the Cesar sedimentary basin. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource advisory board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale CESAR copper-silver project. The wholly owned CESAR project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron). In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0-metres. Max is proactive, with the corporate goal of transitioning the CESAR basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for Colombia's transition to clean energy. The safety of our people and the communities where we operate is most important. We conduct exploration in a manner which supports protection of ecosystems through responsible environmental stewardship. Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Tim McNulty E: info@maxresource.com T: (604) 290-8100 Rahim Lakha E. rahim@bluesailcapital.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. 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. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167432 88% of retailers are considering building their own marketplace, with one third benefiting from a sales boost as a result of marketplace trading Despite much optimism, 78% of all retailers find trading on marketplaces challenging and cite manual processes as biggest hurdle to overcome Over half (58%) of retailers admitted to having over 20 manual data processes in their marketplace tech stack, with one third having 31 or more Jitterbit, a global leader for empowering transformation through automation, has today revealed the results of its latest in-depth targeted study, 'eCommerce Marketplace Strategy: The Power of Hyperautomation' the first survey of its kind, revealing the views of European retailers across the UK, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands in executing and expanding their marketplace presence. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005075/en/ eCommerce Marketplace Strategy: The Power of Hyperautomation 2023 Report (Graphic: Business Wire) As one would expect, the majority of European retailers have wholly embraced marketplaces into their go-to-market strategies, with 95% already trading on at least one marketplace Amazon (18%), eBay (14 %), Etsy (8%) and Wayfair (6%) are cited as the most popular. What's more, 88% of retailers said they were considering building their own marketplace, with one third benefiting from a sales boost due to marketplace trading. Despite widespread optimism, 78% of all retailers said they found trading on marketplaces challenging, with the top reasons being: Hard to keep data accrued on a marketplace secure 76% Too many disparate systems used to trade on marketplaces 88% Challenging to get a complete picture of business activity when trading on marketplaces 70% Marketplace presence creates data silos within the company 73% Trading on marketplaces creates stockouts and inventory problems 79% Challenging to stay on top of fulfilment and refunds when trading on marketplaces 89% Alarmingly, 83% of retailers admitted to still having more than 10 manual data processes in their marketplace tech stack, with more than half (58%) having more than 20 and 31% having 31 or more. And 77% of retailers believe they are less competitive in the marketplace than other companies due to cumbersome and disparate systems creating data silos. Joost De Bot, Vice President General Manager EMEA at Jitterbit, said: "There's no doubt marketplace momentum is here to stay. Successful commerce leaders of the future must act swiftly to adopt or optimise their strategy to stay ahead. Integration, specifically enabling hyperautomation by removing all manual processes, will undoubtedly play a crucial role in enabling marketplace players to overcome current trading challenges and remain competitive." Yet optimism remains high, with 61% of retailers agreeing that although trading on marketplaces is challenging, it is also manageable. 100% of retailers in the study expect to continue trading on marketplaces within the next five years. Retailers are making strides to overcome current challenges and know they need better integration and automation. 99% of respondents said they are already using one automation tool as part of their integration marketplace strategy. Looking ahead, 53% are likely to incorporate an integration solution into their marketplace strategy in the next five years. Ends. About the research For this report on evolving marketplace strategies, we have commissioned third-party independent research company Vitreous World to survey 200 Commerce and retail leaders in the UK, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands to explore the opportunities and challenges they face in executing and expanding their marketplace presence. About Jitterbit, Inc. Jitterbit is a global technology business serving over 3,000 customers around the world. We are dedicated to empowering your business transformation through seamless, automated integration. Automating your business processes means accelerated, more informed decision-making and better customer experiences. Our Harmony platform combines API Management, business process optimisation and no-code app creation to help you remove all manual data processes from your business and achieve hyperautomation faster. Find out more about Harmony here at www.jitterbit.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Download the full report here: https://www.jitterbit.com/report/what-are-european-retailers-thoughts-on-trading-on-marketplaces View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005075/en/ Contacts: Media Contacts: ThoughtLDR Cat Lenheim cat@thoughtldr.com +44 7511117587 GLASGOW, Scotland, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Music industry icon Sir Rod Stewart has announced his next release: Wolfie's Whisky, a blended Scotch whisky that embodies his reputation as 'the Cockney Scotsman' and pays tribute to his Scottish heritage and cheeky chappie image. Designed to reflect Rod's rock 'n' roll heritage with subtle nods to Americana, Wolfie's was inspired by the legendary musician's early hell raising days with the Faces. "Wolfie's is a rascal of a thing and with just a sip the whisky takes you back to the good old days. Fine-tuned and perfectly balanced, Wolfie's is a delight both over ice and mixed into a favourite cocktail," says Rod. "It's a fine tipple, whether you're partying with friends, celebrating a Celtic win or reminiscing with family. For me, Wolfie's depicts the carefree behaviour of my more mischievous days and the excitement of what life still has to offer - let the good times roll!" Wolfie's Blended Scotch Whisky (40% ABV) is wonderfully balanced with flavours of warming cinnamon, fresh vanilla and baked apple. The whisky has a delicate taste of sweet peat and pears in syrup before finishing with candied citrus peels and a gentle oak spice. With its unique blend of rock 'n' roll roots, Americana and Scottish heritage, Wolfie's is bringing something new to the Scotch whisky market. Distilled on the banks of Loch Lomond by an expert team with decades of whisky-making know-how and an all-Scottish team behind the brand, Wolfie's truly has Scotland at its heart. Referencing the opening track from Rod's 1991 album Vagabond Heart, the lyrics 'Rhythm of My Heart' are emblazoned on the base of the bottle. Rod's recording of the song was a nod to his own Scottish heritage having adapted the melody from the traditional folk song, Loch Lomond. Wolfie's will be available to buy online for 35 from Monday 19 June and in the meantime fans are encouraged to sign up at www.wolfiesiscoming.com to gain access to an exclusive presale from Friday 16 June. They'll also be in with the chance of finding one of 1,000 bottles of Wolfie's that have been signed by Rod. With the initial limited run of bottles marked as first releases, Wolfie's will initially be available to buy online across the UK and in Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. It will also launch in America in July as Rod embarks on his North American tour. Follow Wolfie's Whisky on social media for exclusive updates by searching @WolfiesWhisky on Instagram and Twitter and @WolfiesOfficial on Facebook. About Wolfie's Whisky: Launching in 2023, Wolfie's Whisky is a 40% ABV blended Scotch whisky distilled in partnership with Rod Stewart About Rod Stewart: Rod Stewart is one of the best-selling artists in the history of recorded music, with an estimated 250 million records and singles sold worldwide. His signature voice, style and songwriting have transcended all genres of popular music, from rock, folk, soul, R&B, and even the Great American Songbook; making him one of the few stars to enjoy chart-topping albums throughout every decade of his career. Rod has earned countless of the industry's highest awards, among them, two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting, New York Times bestselling author, Grammy Living Legend, and in 2016 he officially became "Sir Rod Stewart" after being knighted at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2084611/Rod_Stewart_launches_Wolfie_Whisky.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2084612/Wolfie_s_Whisky.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/legendary-rockstar-sir-rod-stewart-unveils-wolfies-whisky-301833650.html Pioneer in advancing tomorrow's standard of care to cure cancer and infectious diseases, Debiopharm selects Genedata Profiler, an industry-leading digital platform for translational and reverse translational research, as the cornerstone of its research and development strategy. BASEL, Switzerland, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Genedata, the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharmaceutical R&D, today announced that Debiopharm, a Swiss-based, global biopharmaceutical company is adopting Genedata Profiler as its single point of access to translational research data to accelerate its R&D activities and bring life-saving drugs faster to underserved patients. "We have been looking for a digital solution that helps us maximize the value of our R&D data to advance our drug development programs. With Genedata Profiler we have found what we have been searching for," says Carolina Haefliger, Head of Translational Medicine, Debiopharm. "By consolidating large amounts of diverse, multi-source data and enabling our teams to utilize those data easily, Genedata Profiler strengthens our innovative potential, ultimately allowing us to bridge the gap between disruptive research and real-world application." To support the company's mission to translate scientific findings into effective therapeutic products and enhance the success rate of clinical trials through data-driven decisions, Genedata Profiler equips Debiopharm with: A single point of access to internal and external data sources including CROs and public databases to improve data discoverability and usability, Automated pipelines for high-performance data processing, harmonization, and integration to transform unstructured high-dimensional multi-modal data into interoperable, analysis-ready data products for comparable cross-study analyses, An extendable visualization and statistical toolbox to enable intuitive and self-service data investigation and analysis for hypothesis testing. By centralizing the variety of dispersed data and democratizing access to analytical tools, while digitizing and automating data operations, the Genedata Profiler platform bolsters the company's ability to seamlessly explore, analyze and interpret data streamlining insight generation. Ultimately, such improved data ownership and improved usability of data will encourage R&D innovation and productivity. Beyond access to Genedata Profiler, Debiopharm benefits from Genedata consulting services to seamlessly implement the software within its IT infrastructure, operate the platform efficiently to further increase its Return On Investment as well as facilitate company-specific custom developments such as fit-for-purpose data visualizations. "We are delighted to see Debiopharm, an innovative precision medicine company, among our rapidly growing clients of the Genedata Profiler platform," says Othmar Pfannes, Ph.D., CEO of Genedata." The adoption of Genedata Profiler as a single point of truth will help Debiopharm boost their innovative R&D engines, ultimately bringing much-needed precision medicines faster to patients." About Debiopharm Debiopharm aims to develop innovative therapies that target high unmet medical needs in oncology and bacterial infections. Bridging the gap between disruptive discovery products and real-world patient reach, we identify high-potential compounds and technologies for in-licensing, clinically demonstrate their safety and efficacy, and then select large pharmaceutical commercialization partners to maximize patient access globally. For more information, please visit?www.debiopharm.com We are on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow us! About Genedata Genedata transforms data into intelligence with innovative software solutions that incorporate extensive biopharma R&D domain knowledge. Multinational biopharmaceutical organizations and cutting-edge biotechs around the globe rely on Genedata to digitalize and automate data-rich and complex R&D processes. From early discovery all the way to the clinic, Genedata solutions help maximize the ROI in R&D expenditure. Founded in 1997, Genedata is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland with additional offices in Boston, London, Munich, San Francisco, Singapore, and Tokyo. www.genedata.com LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube Contact Allison Kurz Genedata Public Relations pr@genedata.com Tel: +41 61 511 84 00 Disclaimer The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company's products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/debiopharm-partners-with-genedata-to-digitalize-translational-research-301833513.html IoT Readiness Framework provides an objective technical standard that allows organisations to compare project performance with others in their industry vertical Framework uses 0 to 9 scale based on NASA's Technology Readiness Levels LaunchPad subscription service offers support at every stage of IoT development, providing customers with access to Eseye's considerable expertise throughout the product journey GUILDFORD, England, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eseye, a pioneer of leading-edge global IoT connectivity solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its new IoT Readiness Level (IRL) Index - an IoT industry first. From smart cities to industrial automation, IoT is changing the way businesses operate and sell. But given the complexity of IoT, and in particular the connectivity component, many businesses struggle to assess the maturity of their project, their technical and operational readiness for deployment, and the best route to success. Surveys consistently find that 80% of IoT projects do not reach successful deployment. Eseye has applied its vast knowledge and experience, gained from successfully delivering over 1,000 IoT devices and connectivity projects, to create a framework that can help companies to embed and expand IoT technology in their operations. Eseye has codified this knowledge to create a comprehensive assessment that covers all aspects of IoT adoption, from infrastructure and connectivity to device design and data management. The IRL Index is based on the principles of NASA's Technology Readiness Level (TRL), considered the gold standard for measuring the maturity of new technologies. Applying this tool delivers each customer a personalised assessment showing them exactly where their IoT readiness is compared to market best practices and similar projects within their industry vertical. "We recognised that every IoT use case is different, and many were struggling to successfully launch an IoT solution. This was due to particular challenges with their device and project as well as the lack of an objective standard in the sector," said Nick Earle, CEO of Eseye. "Our IRL Index leverages a set of detailed metrics to provide a customer rating on a 0 to 9 scale, offering an objective assessment of each organisation's capabilities." Following an initial discovery workshop, the results of each assessment enable the creation of a custom services programme that aims to swiftly move the customer to a higher maturity level, ultimately allowing them to deliver against their project goals and anticipated return on investment. In addition to the IoT Readiness Framework, Eseye has also introduced a new subscription-based service offering called IoT LaunchPad. LaunchPad includes a flexible range of repeatable specialist IoT services tailored for each customer project, with the aim to lower risk of failure, reduce costs and get IoT devices deployed faster. LaunchPad services can include Device Design or Re-Design (for an existing device), specialist engineering development, technology integration, device testing and validation, certification support and deployment planning. LaunchPad offers support at every IRL level, including transitioning from deploying a device at level 7 to an ongoing model of support at level 8, and it can be run concurrently for multiple customer device projects if required. Milan Shah, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), has worked with Eseye to redesign Biofourmis' medical devices and improve connectivity, said this about the experience: "What has made our project successful is the sheer level of expertise Eseye brings to the table. It's an excellent partnership. There are significant considerations in picking the right partner to help you from design to deployment - and every day we are very thankful for Eseye." Eseye's IRL Index is available now, and the company is encouraging businesses of all sizes to take advantage of this valuable tool. Taking proactive steps on IoT earlier in a project can avoid lengthy and costly re-work later on. As IoT projects continue to become mainstream IRLs will become increasingly important in ensuring future success of IoT implementations. To learn more about Eseye's IoT Readiness Level Index and to schedule an assessment for your organisation, visit the Eseye website. ABOUT ESEYE Eseye empowers businesses to embrace IoT without limits. We help them visualise the impossible and bring those solutions to life through innovative IoT cellular connectivity solutions that enable our customers to drive up business value, deploy differentiated experiences, and disrupt their markets. Our pioneering IoT connectivity hardware, software, and platform technology allow businesses to overcome the complexity of IoT deployment and develop, deploy, and manage IoT projects at scale with a high degree of success. Supported by a powerful partner ecosystem, we seamlessly connect devices across 190 countries, agnostic to over 700 available global networks. www.eseye.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eseye-launches-the-industrys-first-iot-readiness-level-index-a-ground-breaking-framework-to-measure-readiness-for-iot-adoption-301833751.html LONDON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City's Tatiana by Chef Kwame Onwuachi is today named as the recipient of the Resy One To Watch Award from The World's 50 Best Restaurants, in news that was revealed live by the 50 Best organisation at a celebratory dinner held at Tatiana last night. The award recognises a rising-star restaurant that is making waves in the gastronomic scene worthy of international acclaim. The restaurant opened just six months ago, in November 2022, at the city's prestigious Lincoln Center in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Named after Onwuachi's sister, Tatiana celebrates the chef's New York upbringing along with his heritage as part of the African diaspora. An inventive menu features dishes ranging from Cornbread and Cod, with smoked jerk cod, buttermilk soubise and fennel to Braised Oxtails served with rice and peas, Thumbelina carrot and chayote squash. A Bronx native, with roots in Nigeria, New Orleans and the Caribbean, Onwuachi was first introduced to cooking by his mother. After training at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, he worked at some of the world's most renowned restaurants including Eleven Madison Park and Per Se. His impressive resume saw him open five restaurants before the age of 30, including the much-lauded Kith/Kin in Washington, D.C., as well as appearing as a judge on season 18 of Top Chef, having made his debut as a contestant on the show some five years prior. William Drew, Director of Content for The World's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "With Tatiana already one of the hottest tickets on New York City's culinary scene just six months after opening, this award could not be more deserved. Chef Kwame and his team are trailblazers in delivering a standout gastronomic experience, putting Caribbean, African and Black American cooking in the much-deserved spotlight." Onwuachi says: "I want to thank my team and my support system first and foremost, none of this is possible without you. I'm excited, honoured and grateful to be recognised on a world stage." The Resy One To Watch Award winner is revealed ahead of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 awards ceremony, which will be held on Tuesday 20th June in Valencia, Spain. For media centre access, please visit: https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2084639/50_Best_Resy_One_To_Watch.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2076144/World_50Best_Rest_2023_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-yorks-tatiana-by-chef-kwame-onwuachi-is-named-the-resy-one-to-watch-2023-by-the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-301833671.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / iMetal Resources, Inc. (TSXV:IMR)(OTCQB:IMRFF)(FRANKFURT:A7V) ("iMetal" or the "Company") an emerging gold exploration company, is pleased to announce the formation of an Advisory Board to assist in the further development of the Company and the appointment of Mining Industry Veteran Robert Scott as the Inaugural Advisor. Saf Dhillon, President & Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Rob to our team. The addition of such a highly accomplished mining executive is an endorsement of all we have built to date as we continue to enhance IMR shareholder value through the exploration and development of our highly prospective projects." Robert James Scott is a CPA, CA, and CFA Charterholder, and brings more than 20 years of professional experience in accounting, corporate finance, and merchant and commercial banking. He is a founder and President of Corex Management Inc., a private company providing accounting, administration and corporate compliance services to privately held and publicly traded companies and has served on the management teams and boards of a number of Canadian publicly traded companies. Some of Mr. Scott's current and recent senior management and board positions with TSX Venture Exchange Issuers include First Helium Inc, ValOre Metals Corp, Riverside Resources Inc., and Great Bear Resources Ltd. About iMetal Resources Inc. iMetal is a Canadian based junior exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of resource properties in Ontario and Quebec. One of its Flagship properties Gowganda West, is an exploration-stage gold project that borders the Juby Deposit and is located within the Shining Tree Camp area in the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt about 100 km south-southeast of the Timmins Gold Camp. The 665-hectare Kerrs Gold deposit comprises a series of gold-bearing pyritized quartz vein replacement breccias with a 2011 historic resource, 90 kilometres ENE of Timmins. The 220-hectare Ghost Mountain property, 42 kilometres NE of Kirkland Lake, lies 5 kilometres W of Agnico Eagle's Holt and Holloway Mine. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Saf Dhillon President & CEO iMetal Resources Inc. info@imetalresources.ca Tel. (604-484-3031) Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6. https://imetalresources.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. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration, variations in results of mineralization, relationships with local communities, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws. SOURCE: iMetal Resources, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757232/iMetal-Resources-Forms-Advisory-Board-Council-and-Appoints-Robert-Scott-as-Inaugural-Advisor Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - COELACANTH ENERGY INC. (TSXV: CEI) ("Coelacanth" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023. All dollar figures are Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. Financial and operational results below present the carved-out historic financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Leucrotta's Two Rivers Assets for all prior periods up to and including May 31, 2022 and the results of operations from May 31, 2022 forward include the results of Coelacanth after assuming the Two Rivers Assets upon close of the Arrangement. FINANCIAL RESULTS Three Months Ended March 31 ($000s, except per share amounts) 2023 2022 % Change Oil and natural gas sales 954 1,688 (43) Cash flow used in operating activities (2,042) (660) 209 Per share - basic and diluted (1) (-) (-) - Adjusted funds used (1) (554) (473) 17 Per share - basic and diluted (-) (-) - Net loss (1,789) (1,546) 16 Per share - basic and diluted (-) (0.01) (100) Capital expenditures (1) 5,139 297 1,630 Adjusted working capital (1) 61,215 285 21,379 Common shares outstanding (000s) Weighted average - basic and diluted 425,116 289,792 47 End of period - basic 425,384 - na End of period - fully diluted 469,358 - na (1) See "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section. Three Months Ended OPERATING RESULTS (1) March 31 2023 2022 % Change Daily production (2) Oil and condensate (bbls/d) 46 70 (34) Other NGLs (bbls/d) 14 21 (33) Oil and NGLs (bbls/d) 60 91 (34) Natural gas (mcf/d) 1,380 1,750 (21) Oil equivalent (boe/d) 290 383 (24) Oil and natural gas sales Oil and condensate ($/bbl) 94.78 113.55 (17) Other NGLs ($/bbl) 42.98 45.79 (6) Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 82.72 97.58 (15) Natural gas ($/mcf) 4.11 5.65 (27) Oil equivalent ($/boe) 36.60 49.04 (25) Royalties Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 26.31 30.87 (15) Natural gas ($/mcf) 1.02 1.25 (18) Oil equivalent ($/boe) 10.26 13.07 (21) Operating expenses Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 16.93 12.91 31 Natural gas ($/mcf) 2.82 2.12 33 Oil equivalent ($/boe) 16.93 12.79 32 Net transportation expenses (3) Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 1.43 3.53 (59) Natural gas ($/mcf) 1.30 0.66 97 Oil equivalent ($/boe) 6.50 3.86 68 Operating netback (3) Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 38.05 50.27 (24) Natural gas ($/mcf) (1.03) 1.62 (164) Oil equivalent ($/boe) 2.91 19.32 (85) Depletion and depreciation ($/boe) (15.94) (14.99) 6 General and administrative expenses ($/boe) (46.35) (33.10) 40 Share based compensation ($/boe) (29.10) (15.85) 84 Finance expense ($/boe) (3.18) (1.59) 100 Finance income ($/boe) 27.22 - 100 Other income ($/boe) - 1.30 (100) Unutilized transportation ($/boe) (4.17) - 100 Net loss ($/boe) (68.61) (44.91) 53 (1) See "Oil and Gas Terms" section. (2) See "Product Types" section. (3) See "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section. Selected financial and operational information outlined in this news release should be read in conjunction with Coelacanth's unaudited condensed interim financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the three months ended March 31, 2023, which are available for review under the Company's profile on The System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com . COMMON-CONTROL TRANSACTION On May 31, 2022, the arrangement agreement between Coelacanth, Leucrotta Exploration Inc. ("Leucrotta"), Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion"), and the shareholders of Leucrotta (the "Arrangement") closed and Vermilion acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Leucrotta in exchange for $1.73 cash for each common share of Leucrotta held. Pursuant to an asset conveyance agreement between Coelacanth and Leucrotta made as of May 31, 2022, and immediately prior to the closing of the Arrangement, Leucrotta transferred approximately $45.1 million cash, net of transaction costs, and certain oil and natural gas assets primarily located in the Two Rivers area of British Columbia ("Two Rivers Assets") to Coelacanth in exchange for one common share of Coelacanth ("Coelacanth Share"), and 0.1917 of a common share purchase warrant of Coelacanth (one whole warrant being an "Arrangement Warrant") for each common share of Leucrotta outstanding. The Coelacanth Shares and Arrangement Warrants were then transferred to the shareholders of Leucrotta. Since the shareholders of Coelacanth and Leucrotta were the same both before and after the conveyance of the Two Rivers Assets (at the time Coelacanth was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leucrotta), this transaction was deemed a common-control transaction. The financial and operational results below present the historic financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the transferred Two Rivers Assets for all prior periods up to and including May 31, 2022 on a carve-out basis as if they had operated as a stand-alone entity subject to Leucrotta's control. The financial position, results of operations and cash flows from March 24, 2022 (the date of incorporation of Coelacanth) to May 31, 2022 include both the Two Rivers Assets and Coelacanth on a combined basis and from May 31, 2022 forward include the results of Coelacanth after assuming the Two Rivers Assets upon close of the Arrangement. OPERATIONS UPDATE Coelacanth commenced operations June 1, 2022, with its lands previously being a small part of a larger business plan for Leucrotta. Although the lands had been geologically delineated and production tested with vertical and horizontal test wells, there was significant infrastructure and corresponding pad drilling required to bring the greater vision for the area to fruition. To that end, Coelacanth has geographically divided up its two projects as Two Rivers West ("TRW") and Two Rivers East ("TRE") with TRW already producing from two Montney wells into a small battery facility owned and operated by Coelacanth. At TRW, a small pad has already been licensed and Coelacanth plans to have two wells completed on the pad and producing in Q4 2023. A battery upgrade was also initiated to accommodate additional volumes. Coelacanth is currently drilling the second well on the TRW pad and is scheduled to complete and test both wells in late July. The new horizontal wells will have 2-mile laterals completed with approximately 160 fracs as opposed to the previous wells drilled with 1 mile laterals and completed with 41 frac stages. At TRE, a larger scale development is planned that includes constructing a battery to process up to 20,000 boe/d of production coming from larger pads that would carry our products to market through approximately 25 miles of new gathering and sales pipelines. The initial pad (5 wells) is planned offsetting a previously drilled Montney well that tested over a 1,000 boe/d but was only drilled with a one-mile lateral and completed with 41 fracs. Similar to TRW, new pad wells will be a minimum of 2-mile laterals and completed with approximately 160 fracs. To date, Coelacanth has completed the engineering design and secured a site to build a battery capable of handling approximately 20,000 boe/d, surveyed and started the process of securing land access to construct the gathering and sales pipelines, and applied for a license to drill its first pad at TRE. We are currently waiting on regulatory permits to drill these wells and will proceed with drilling soon after receipt of approvals. Industry had previously experienced delays and uncertainty due to the court ruling on the dispute between the BC Government and Blueberry River First Nations regarding Treaty 8 rights. A settlement agreement was reached and announced on January 18, 2023, that will allow industry to resume business but with new restrictions to adhere to particularly on Crown surface lands. Coelacanth now has more certainty as to the timing of the initial development of its large Montney resource and is excited to initiate this project. OIL AND GAS TERMS The Company uses the following frequently recurring oil and gas industry terms in the news release: Liquids Bbls Barrels Bbls/d Barrels per day NGLs Natural gas liquids (includes condensate, pentane, butane, propane, and ethane) Condensate Pentane and heavier hydrocarbons Natural Gas Mcf Thousands of cubic feet Mcf/d Thousands of cubic feet per day MMcf/d Millions of cubic feet per day MMbtu Million of British thermal units MMbtu/d Million of British thermal units per day Oil Equivalent Boe Barrels of oil equivalent Boe/d Barrels of oil equivalent per day Disclosure provided herein in respect of a boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent has been used for the calculation of boe amounts in the news release. This boe conversion rate is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. NON-GAAP AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES This news release refers to certain measures that are not determined in accordance with IFRS (or "GAAP"). These non-GAAP and other financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. The non-GAAP and other financial measures should not be considered alternatives to, or more meaningful than, financial measures that are determined in accordance with IFRS as indicators of the Company's performance. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP and other financial measures provides useful information to shareholders and investors in understanding and evaluating the Company's ongoing operating performance, and the measures provide increased transparency to better analyze the Company's performance against prior periods on a comparable basis. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Adjusted funds used Management uses adjusted funds used to analyze performance and considers it a key measure as it demonstrates the Company's ability to generate the cash necessary to fund future capital investments and abandonment obligations and to repay debt, if any. Adjusted funds used is a non-GAAP financial measure and has been defined by the Company as cash flow used in operating activities excluding the change in non-cash working capital related to operating activities, movements in restricted cash deposits and expenditures on decommissioning obligations. Management believes the timing of collection, payment or incurrence of these items involves a high degree of discretion and as such may not be useful for evaluating the Company's cash flows. Adjusted funds used is reconciled from cash flow used in operating activities as follows: Three Months Ended March 31 ($000s) 2023 2022 Cash flow used in operating activities (2,042) (660) Add (deduct): Decommissioning expenditures 542 155 Restricted cash deposits 453 - Change in non-cash working capital 493 32 Adjusted funds used (non-GAAP) (554) (473) Net transportation expenses Management considers net transportation expenses an important measure as it demonstrates the cost of utilized transportation related to the Company's production. Net transportation expenses is calculated as transportation expenses less unutilized transportation and is calculated as follows: Three Months Ended March 31 ($000s) 2023 2022 Transportation expenses 278 133 Unutilized transportation (109) - Net transportation expenses (non-GAAP) 169 133 Operating netback Management considers operating netback an important measure as it demonstrates its profitability relative to current commodity prices. Operating netback is calculated as oil and natural gas sales less royalties, operating expenses, and net transportation expenses and is calculated as follows: Three Months Ended March 31 ($000s) 2023 2022 Oil and natural gas sales 954 1,688 Royalties (268) (449) Operating expenses (441) (440) Net transportation expenses (169) (133) Operating netback (non-GAAP) 76 666 Capital expenditures Coelacanth utilizes capital expenditures as a measure of capital investment on property, plant, and equipment, exploration and evaluation assets and property acquisitions compared to its annual budgeted capital expenditures. Capital expenditures are calculated as follows: Three Months Ended March 31 ($000s) 2023 2022 Capital expenditures - property, plant, and equipment 3,537 18 Capital expenditures - exploration and evaluation assets 1,602 279 Capital expenditures (non-GAAP) 5,139 297 Capital Management Measures Adjusted working capital Management uses adjusted working capital as a measure to assess the Company's financial position. Adjusted working capital is calculated as current assets and restricted cash deposits less current liabilities, excluding the current portion of decommissioning obligations. ($000s) March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Current assets 56,008 67,938 Less: Current liabilities (3,382) (8,901) Working capital 52,626 59,037 Add: Restricted cash deposits 7,842 7,389 Current portion of decommissioning obligations 747 1,312 Adjusted working capital (Capital management measure) 61,215 67,738 Non-GAAP Financial Ratios Adjusted Funds Used per Share Adjusted funds used per share is a non-GAAP financial ratio, calculated using adjusted funds used and the same weighted average basic and diluted shares used in calculating net loss per share. Net transportation expenses per boe The Company utilizes net transportation expenses per boe to assess the per unit cost of utilized transportation related to the Company's production. Net transportation expenses per boe is calculated as net transportation expenses divided by total production for the applicable period. Operating netback per boe The Company utilizes operating netback per boe to assess the operating performance of its petroleum and natural gas assets on a per unit of production basis. Operating netback per boe is calculated as operating netback divided by total production for the applicable period. Supplementary Financial Measures The supplementary financial measures used in this news release (primarily average sales price per product type and certain per boe and per share figures) are either a per unit disclosure of a corresponding GAAP measure, or a component of a corresponding GAAP measure, presented in the financial statements. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a per unit basis are calculated by dividing the aggregate GAAP measure (or component thereof) by the applicable unit for the period. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a component basis of a corresponding GAAP measure are a granular representation of a financial statement line item and are determined in accordance with GAAP. PRODUCT TYPES The Company uses the following references to sales volumes in the news release: Natural gas refers to shale gas. Oil and condensate refers to condensate and tight oil combined. Other NGLs refers to butane, propane and ethane combined. Oil and NGLs refers to tight oil and NGLs combined. Oil equivalent refers to the total oil equivalent of shale gas, tight oil, and NGLs combined, using the conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of shale gas to one barrel of oil equivalent as described above. The following is a complete breakdown of sales volumes for applicable periods by specific product types of shale gas, tight oil, and NGLs: Three Months Ended March 31 Sales Volumes by Product Type 2023 2022 Condensate (bbls/d) 8 12 Other NGLs (bbls/d) 14 21 NGLs (bbls/d) 22 33 Tight oil (bbls/d) 38 58 Condensate (bbls/d) 8 12 Oil and condensate (bbls/d) 46 70 Other NGLs (bbls/d) 14 21 Oil and NGLs (bbls/d) 60 91 Shale gas (mcf/d) 1,380 1,750 Natural gas (mcf/d) 1,380 1,750 Oil equivalent (boe/d) 290 383 FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This document contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "believe", "intends", "forecast", "plans", "guidance" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company's oil and condensate, other NGLs, and natural gas production, capital programs, and adjusted working capital. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including expectations and assumptions relating to prevailing commodity prices and exchange rates, applicable royalty rates and tax laws, future well production rates, the performance of existing wells, the success of drilling new wells, the availability of capital to undertake planned activities, and the availability and cost of labour and services. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production rates, costs, and expenses, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, marketing and transportation, environmental risks, competition, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and changes in tax, royalty, and environmental legislation. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this document are made as of the date hereof for the purpose of providing the readers with the Company's expectations for the coming year. The forward-looking statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Coelacanth is an oil and natural gas company, actively engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of oil and natural gas reserves in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Further Information For additional information, please contact: Coelacanth Energy Inc. Suite 2110, 530 - 8th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 3S8 Phone: (403) 705-4525 www.coelacanth.ca Mr. Robert J. Zakresky President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Nolan Chicoine Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167339 Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX) (the "Company" or "FendX"), a nanotechnology company developing surface protection coatings, announced today that its nanotechnology is featured at two prominent scientific conferences and highlight awards granted for the creation and innovation of the Company's nanotechnology. 38th International Conference of Polymer Processing Society: On May 23, 2023, Professor Tohid Didar, Lead Researcher of FendX's nanotechnology development projects at McMaster University, gave a keynote speech entitled "Micro and Nano Engineered Bio-interfaces for Diagnostics and Preventing Spread of Infectious Diseases" where REPELWRAP film and spray nanotechnology will be presented. Prof. Didar will be presenting at the 38th International Conference of the Polymer Processing Society being held in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC 2023): On June 7, 2023, Dr. Sara Imani, a post-doctoral fellow at McMaster who is working on FendX development projects, will speak on "Flexible Hierarchical Omniphobic Surfaces for Anti-fouling and Biosensing Applications" that will feature the Company's REPELWRAP film technology. Dr. Imani's talk will be at the 2023 Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition hosted by the Canadian Society for Chemistry being held in Vancouver, Canada. In addition, FendX is pleased to announce that its recently licensed spray nanotechnology was awarded best poster and best oral presentation at the 4th International Conference on Materials: Advanced and Emerging Materials and the 8th Nano Today Conference, respectively. Noor Abu Jarad, a McMaster graduate student who created the spray nanotechnology, was the recipient of these awards. Furthermore, Lead Researchers at McMaster, Professors Leyla Soleymani and Tohid Didar, will be awarded the McMaster Faculty of Engineering Entrepreneurship Award for their creation of the nanotechnology that FendX has licensed from McMaster University at the Applause & Accolades, Lighting the Way Gala on June 8th. "We are so honored to have such talented McMaster researchers working with us to advance our innovative and novel nanotechnology with the focus of creating films and sprays to protect high touch surfaces from contamination," said Dr. Carolyn Myers, President and CEO of FendX. About FendX Technologies Inc. FendX is a Canada-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people's lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. The Company is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination. The lead product under development, REPELWRAP film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents the adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The spray nanotechnology is a bifunctional spray coating being developed to reduce contamination on surfaces by repelling and killing pathogens. The Company is conducting research and development activities using its nanotechnology in collaboration with industry-leading partners, including McMaster University. The Company has an exclusive worldwide license to its technology and IP portfolio from McMaster, which encompass both film and spray coating nanotechnology formulations. Contacts: Dr. Carolyn Myers, CEO and Director 1-800-344-9868 Alyssa Barry, Investor Relations 1-833-947-5227 investor@fendxtech.com For more information, please visit https://fendxtech.com and the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including with respect to the plans of the Company, products under development, the advancement of the Company's nanotechnology by researchers at McMaster University, and any pathogen reduction benefits related thereto. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove 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 that actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include product candidates only being in formulation/reformulation stages; limited operating history; research and development activities; dependence on collaborative partners, licensors and others; effect of general economic and political conditions; and other risk factors set forth in the Company's final prospectus dated January 31, 2023, under the heading "Risk Factors." Accordingly, the reader is urged to refer to the Company's prospectus and other filings, publicly available through SEDAR, for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167340 +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) - Industrial gases company Air Products And Chemicals Inc. (APD) announced Thursday a deal to acquire, own and operate a natural gas-to-syngas processing facility in Qashqadaryo Province, Uzbekistan for $1 billion. The company has signed an investment agreement with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and state-owned energy company Uzbekneftegaz JSC or UNG for the industrial gas complex at Uzbekneftegaz's advanced gas-to-liquids facility. The natural gas-to-syngas industrial complex is an integral part of Uzbekneftegaz's multi-billion gas-to-liquid facility. It produces 1.5 million tonnes per year of high value-add synthetic fuels for domestic use and potentially export. Under the deal, Air Products will acquire, own and operate two large-scale air separation units, two large-scale auto-thermal reforming units, and a hydrogen production unit within the Uzbekistan GTL complex. It will supply oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and syngas under a long-term, take-or-pay/fixed fee contract to UNG. UNG will supply the feedstock natural gas and utilities and offtake all products. Air Products' Chairman, President and CEO SeifiGhasemi said, 'With this strategic acquisition in Uzbekistan, a high-growth environment underpinned by strong government support, we will bring our best-in-class operational and supply competencies to bear. This will enable UNG to seamlessly produce low-cost, high-purity fuels that enable the Republic to meet its growing energy production and societal needs.' 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported first quarter results for the three months ended April 29, 2023. First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Summary Net sales of $483 million decreased 7% compared to Q1FY23 Excluding the impact of lower exchange rates, net sales decreased 6% compared to Q1FY23 Comps down 5%, with stores down 8% and direct up 7% E-commerce sales represented 21% of retail sales compared to 19% last year GAAP EPS from continuing operations was ($1.60) vs. $0.37 last year Non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations was ($1.59) 1 vs. $0.44 last year vs. $0.44 last year Repurchased $9.2 million of stock during Q1FY24, with $25.0 million remaining on the current authorization Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco's Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, " Following a positive end to the holiday season, the first quarter proved considerably more challenging than we anticipated. Consumer demand at Journeys dropped off significantly early in the quarter and did not improve as we changed seasons in the latter part of March and into April, offsetting another quarter of record sales at Schuh and Johnston & Murphy. In response, we are taking swift actions to mitigate the consumer shift in the marketplace, including closing more underperforming Journeys stores, reducing our cost base further, and working to quickly refine our product assortment. However, given the ongoing uncertainty around near-term consumer behavior, we are taking a much more conservative view and revising our outlook for the remainder of Fiscal 2024." She continued, " Despite the difficulties in the current environment, we remain excited about our future prospects and the strength of our competitive positioning. Having navigated multiple adverse retail cycles, our team has demonstrated a track record of success, the resilience of our business, and the ability to rebound and come out ahead. As the leading destination for teen fashion footwear, and key partner to our brands, I feel confident that our footwear focused strategy and the strategic initiatives we are implementing will position Journeys to emerge from this period in an even stronger competitive position." __________________________ 1Excludes a charge for asset impairments, net of tax effect in the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 ("Excluded Items"). A reconciliation of earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") with the adjusted earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per share numbers is set forth on Schedule B to this press release. The Company believes that disclosure of earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations adjusted for the items not reflected in the previously announced expectations will be meaningful to investors, especially in light of the impact of such items on the results. First Quarter Review Net sales for the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 of $483 million decreased 7% compared to $521 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023. The sales decrease compared to last year was driven by decreased store sales in Journeys Group, decreased wholesale sales and foreign exchange pressure, partially offset by a 5% increase in e-commerce sales and strong store performance at Schuh and Johnston & Murphy. Excluding the impact of lower exchange rates, net sales decreased 6% for the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2023. As a result of store closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first quarter of Fiscal 2022, the Company did not include comparable sales for the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, except for comparable direct sales, as it felt that overall sales was a more meaningful metric last year. Comparable Sales Comparable Same Store and Direct Sales: 1QFY24 1QFY23 Journeys Group (14 )% NA Schuh Group 13 % NA Johnston & Murphy Group 18 % NA Total Genesco Comparable Sales (5 )% NA Same Store Sales (8 )% NA Comparable Direct Sales 7 % (26 )% The overall sales decrease of 7% for the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 was driven by a decrease of 13% at Journeys and a 25% or $12 million decrease at Genesco Brands, partially offset by an increase of 6% at Schuh and an increase of 16% at Johnston & Murphy. On a constant currency basis, Schuh sales were up 13% for the first quarter this year. First quarter gross margin this year was 47.3%, down 100 basis points compared with 48.3% last year. The decrease as a percentage of sales compared to Fiscal 2023 is due primarily to a more normalized promotional environment and increased markdowns at Journeys, which offset improved margins in the remaining businesses. Selling and administrative expense for the first quarter this year increased 520 basis points as a percentage of sales compared with last year. Adjusted selling and administrative expense for the first quarter this year increased 550 basis points as a percentage of sales compared with last year. The increase as a percentage of sales compared to Fiscal 2023 reflects the deleverage of expenses, especially compensation expense, selling salaries and occupancy expense as a result of decreased revenue in the first quarter of Fiscal 2024. Genesco's GAAP operating loss for the first quarter was ($23.0) million, or (4.8)% of sales this year, compared with operating income of $8.2 million, or 1.6% of sales in the first quarter last year. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the operating loss for the first quarter was ($22.7) million this year compared to operating income of $9.5 million last year. Adjusted operating margin was (4.7)% of sales in the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 and 1.8% in the first quarter last year. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 23.7% in Fiscal 2024 compared to 36.7% in the first quarter last year. The adjusted tax rate, reflecting Excluded Items, was 23.3% in Fiscal 2024 compared to 34.7% in the first quarter last year. The lower adjusted tax rate for the first quarter this year compared to the first quarter last year reflects a reduction in the amount of foreign losses for which we are unable to recognize a tax benefit. GAAP loss from continuing operations was ($18.9) million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 compared to earnings from continuing operations of $5.0 million in the first quarter last year. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the first quarter loss from continuing operations was ($18.7) million, or ($1.59) per share, in Fiscal 2024, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $5.9 million, or $0.44 per share, in the first quarter last year. Cash, Borrowings and Inventory Cash as of April 29, 2023 was $31.8 million, compared with $200.6 million as of April 30, 2022. Total debt at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 was $118.2 million compared with $14.7 million at the end of last year's first quarter. The past twelve months the Company utilized cash and borrowing to replenish low inventory levels by $172.2 million and return capital to shareholders with share repurchases totaling $75.4 million. Inventories increased 17% on a year over year basis, primarily for the Johnston & Murphy and Schuh businesses to fuel growth, while Journeys inventories were flat. Capital Expenditures and Store Activity For the first quarter this year, capital expenditures were $17 million, related primarily to retail stores and digital and omnichannel initiatives. Depreciation and amortization was $11 million. During the quarter, the Company opened 12 stores and closed 26 stores. The Company ended the quarter with 1,396 stores compared with 1,414 stores at the end of the first quarter last year, or a decrease of 1%. Square footage was essentially flat on a year-over-year basis. Share Repurchases The Company repurchased 255,000 shares during the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 at a cost of $9.2 million or an average of $35.96 per share. The Company currently has $25.0 million remaining on its expanded share repurchase authorization announced in February 2022. Store Closing and Cost Savings Update The Company now expects to close more than 100 Journeys stores in Fiscal 2024, versus prior expectations to close 60 stores The Company now anticipates up to $40 million in cost reductions, versus $20 million to $25 million prior, with $20 million realized in Fiscal 2024 Revised Fiscal 2024 Outlook For Fiscal 2024, the Company now expects: Sales to be down 4% to 5%, or down 5% to 6% excluding the 53 rd week this year, compared to Fiscal 23 week this year, compared to Fiscal 23 Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $2.00 to $2.50 2 Guidance assumes no further share repurchases and a tax rate of 25% __________________________ 2A reconciliation of the adjusted financial measures cited in the guidance to their corresponding measures as reported pursuant to GAAP is included in Schedule B to this press release. Conference Call, Management Commentary and Investor Presentation The Company has posted detailed financial commentary and a supplemental financial presentation of first quarter results on its website, www.genesco.com, in the investor relations section. The Company's live conference call on May 25, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. (Central time), may be accessed through the Company's website, www.genesco.com. To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software. Safe Harbor Statement This release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding future sales, earnings, cost reductions, operating income, gross margins, expenses, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization, tax rates, stores openings and closures, share repurchases, ESG progress and all other statements not addressing solely historical facts or present conditions. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as "intend," "expect," "feel," "believe," "anticipate," "optimistic," "should" and similar terminology. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations reflected in these statements. A number of factors could cause differences. These include adjustments to projections reflected in forward-looking statements, including those resulting from weakness in store and shopping mall traffic, restrictions on operations imposed by government entities and/or landlords, changes in public safety and health requirements, and limitations on the Company's ability to adequately staff and operate stores. Differences from expectations could also result from store closures and effects on the business as a result of civil disturbances; the level and timing of promotional activity necessary to maintain inventories at appropriate levels; our ability to pass on price increases to our customers; the imposition of tariffs on product imported by the Company or its vendors as well as the ability and costs to move production of products in response to tariffs; the Company's ability to obtain from suppliers products that are in-demand on a timely basis and effectively manage disruptions in product supply or distribution, including disruptions as a result of pandemics or geopolitical events; unfavorable trends in fuel costs, foreign exchange rates, foreign labor and material costs, and other factors affecting the cost of products; the effects of the British decision to exit the European Union, impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, and other sources of market weakness in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland; the effectiveness of the Company's omnichannel initiatives; costs associated with changes in minimum wage and overtime requirements; wage pressure in the U.S. and the U.K.; weakness in the consumer economy and retail industry; competition and fashion trends in the Company's markets; risks related to the potential for terrorist events; risks related to public health and safety events; changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers; retained liabilities associated with divestitures of businesses including potential liabilities under leases as the prior tenant or as a guarantor; and changes in the timing of holidays or in the onset of seasonal weather affecting period-to-period sales comparisons. Additional factors that could cause differences from expectations include the ability to secure allocations to refine product assortments to address consumer demand; the ability to renew leases in existing stores and control or lower occupancy costs, to open or close stores in the number and on the planned schedule, and to conduct required remodeling or refurbishment on schedule and at expected expense levels; the Company's ability to realize anticipated cost savings, including rent savings; the amount and timing of share repurchases; the Company's ability to achieve expected digital gains and gain market share; deterioration in the performance of individual businesses or of the Company's market value relative to its book value, resulting in impairments of fixed assets, operating lease right of use assets or intangible assets or other adverse financial consequences and the timing and amount of such impairments or other consequences; unexpected changes to the market for the Company's shares or for the retail sector in general; our ability to meet our sustainability, stewardship, emission and diversity, equity and inclusion related ESG projections, goals and commitments; costs and reputational harm as a result of disruptions in the Company's business or information technology systems either by security breaches and incidents or by potential problems associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems; the Company's ability to realize any anticipated tax benefits in both the amount and timeframe anticipated; and the cost and outcome of litigation, investigations and environmental matters involving the Company. Additional factors are cited in the "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and " Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of, and elsewhere in, the Company's SEC filings, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC website, www.sec.gov, or by contacting the investor relations department of Genesco via the Company's website, www.genesco.com. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this release are beyond Genesco's ability to control or predict. Genesco undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements. About Genesco Inc. Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer and branded company, sells footwear and accessories in more than 1,390 retail stores throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Little Burgundy, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.journeys.ca, www.littleburgundyshoes.com, www.schuh.co.uk, www.schuh.ie, www.schuh.eu, www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.johnstonmurphy.ca, www.nashvilleshoewarehouse.com, and www.dockersshoes.com. In addition, Genesco sells footwear at wholesale under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the licensed Levi's brand, the licensed Dockers brand, the licensed Bass brand, and other brands. Genesco is committed to progress in its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and the Company's environmental, social and governance stewardship. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com. GENESCO INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) Quarter 1 Quarter 1 April 29, % of April 30, % of 2023 Net Sales 2022 Net Sales Net sales $ 483,332 100.0 % $ 520,748 100.0 % Cost of sales 254,524 52.7 % 269,304 51.7 % Gross margin 228,808 47.3 % 251,444 48.3 % Selling and administrative expenses 251,497 52.0 % 243,481 46.8 % Asset impairments and other, net 308 0.1 % (283 ) -0.1 % Operating income (loss) (22,997 ) -4.8 % 8,246 1.6 % Other components of net periodic benefit cost 92 0.0 % 98 0.0 % Interest expense, net 1,651 0.3 % 297 0.1 % Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (24,740 ) -5.1 % 7,851 1.5 % Income tax expense (benefit) (5,865 ) -1.2 % 2,882 0.6 % Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (18,875 ) -3.9 % 4,969 1.0 % Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (15 ) 0.0 % (22 ) 0.0 % Net Earnings (Loss) $ (18,890 ) -3.9 % $ 4,947 0.9 % Basic earnings (loss) per share: Before discontinued operations $ (1.60 ) $ 0.38 Net earnings (loss) $ (1.60 ) $ 0.38 Diluted earnings (loss) per share: Before discontinued operations $ (1.60 ) $ 0.37 Net earnings (loss) $ (1.60 ) $ 0.37 Weighted-average shares outstanding: Basic 11,818 12,961 Diluted 11,818 13,369 GENESCO INC. Sales/Earnings Summary by Segment (in thousands) (Unaudited) Quarter 1 Quarter 1 April 29, % of April 30, % of 2023 Net Sales 2022 Net Sales Sales: Journeys Group $ 272,190 56.3 % $ 314,445 60.4 % Schuh Group 93,105 19.3 % 88,159 16.9 % Johnston & Murphy Group 82,627 17.1 % 71,016 13.6 % Genesco Brands Group 35,410 7.3 % 47,128 9.1 % Net Sales $ 483,332 100.0 % $ 520,748 100.0 % Operating income (loss): Journeys Group $ (18,362 ) -6.7 % $ 14,930 4.7 % Schuh Group (1,790 ) -1.9 % (2,746 ) -3.1 % Johnston & Murphy Group 4,806 5.8 % 550 0.8 % Genesco Brands Group (32 ) -0.1 % 3,793 8.0 % Corporate and Other(1) (7,619 ) -1.6 % (8,281 ) -1.6 % Operating income (loss) (22,997 ) -4.8 % 8,246 1.6 % Other components of net periodic benefit cost 92 0.0 % 98 0.0 % Interest expense, net 1,651 0.3 % 297 0.1 % Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (24,740 ) -5.1 % 7,851 1.5 % Income tax expense (benefit) (5,865 ) -1.2 % 2,882 0.6 % Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (18,875 ) -3.9 % 4,969 1.0 % Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (15 ) 0.0 % (22 ) 0.0 % Net Earnings (Loss) $ (18,890 ) -3.9 % $ 4,947 0.9 % (1) Includes a $0.3 million charge in the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 for asset impairments. Includes a $0.3 million gain in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 which includes a $0.7 million gain on the termination of the pension plan, partially offset by $0.4 million for asset impairments. GENESCO INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) (Unaudited) April 29, 2023 April 30, 2022 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 31,786 $ 200,623 Accounts receivable 54,068 48,868 Inventories 470,763 401,479 Other current assets (1) 42,325 74,609 Total current assets 598,942 725,579 Property and equipment 239,120 219,421 Operating lease right of use assets 477,962 508,986 Goodwill and other intangibles 65,466 66,785 Non-current prepaid income taxes 54,567 - Other non-current assets 59,255 27,671 Total Assets $ 1,495,312 $ 1,548,442 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable $ 143,814 $ 243,224 Current portion operating lease liabilities 131,830 137,770 Other current liabilities 75,992 83,882 Total current liabilities 351,636 464,876 Long-term debt 118,151 14,712 Long-term operating lease liabilities 399,374 430,606 Other long-term liabilities 43,526 37,910 Equity 582,625 600,338 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 1,495,312 $ 1,548,442 (1) Includes prepaid income taxes of $11.0 million and $47.1 million at April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively. GENESCO INC. Store Count Activity Balance Balance Balance 01/29/22 Open Close 01/28/23 Open Close 04/29/23 Journeys Group 1,135 22 27 1,130 10 25 1,115 Schuh Group 123 4 5 122 1 0 123 Johnston & Murphy Group 167 2 11 158 1 1 158 Total Retail Stores 1,425 28 43 1,410 12 26 1,396 GENESCO INC. Comparable Sales Quarter 1 Apr. 29, Apr. 30, 2023 2022(1) Journeys Group -14% NA Schuh Group 13% NA Johnston & Murphy Group 18% NA Total Comparable Sales -5% NA Same Store Sales -8% NA Comparable Direct Sales 7% -26% (1) As a result of store closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first quarter of Fiscal 2022, and the Company's policy of removing any store closed for seven consecutive days from comparable sales, the Company did not include comparable sales for the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, except for comparable direct sales, as it felt that overall sales was a more meaningful metric last year. Schedule B Genesco Inc. Adjustments to Reported Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Three Months Ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022 The Company believes that disclosure of earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations and operating income (loss) adjusted for the items not reflected in the previously announced expectations will be meaningful to investors, especially in light of the impact of such items on the results. Quarter 1 Quarter 1 April 29, 2023 April 30, 2022 Net of Per Share Net of Per Share In Thousands (except per share amounts) Pretax Tax Amounts Pretax Tax Amounts Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, as reported $ (18,875 ) ($ 1.60 ) $ 4,969 $ 0.37 Asset impairments and other adjustments: Asset impairment charges $ 308 233 0.02 $ 412 359 0.03 Gain on pension termination - - 0.00 (695 ) (511 ) (0.04 ) Expenses related to new HQ building - - 0.00 1,526 1,122 0.08 Total asset impairments and other adjustments $ 308 233 0.02 $ 1,243 970 0.07 Income tax expense adjustments: Tax impact share based awards (47 ) 0.00 - 0.00 Other tax items (55 ) (0.01 ) (3 ) 0.00 Total income tax expense adjustments (102 ) (0.01 ) (3 ) 0.00 Adjusted earnings (loss) from continuing operations (1) and (2) $ (18,744 ) ($ 1.59 ) $ 5,936 $ 0.44 (1) The adjusted tax rate for the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 and 2023 is 23.3% and 34.7%, respectively. (2) EPS reflects 11.8 million and 13.4 million share count for the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively, which includes common stock equivalents in the first quarter last year but not in this year due to the loss from continuing operations. Genesco Inc. Adjustments to Reported Operating Income (Loss) and Selling and Administrative Expenses Three Months Ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022 Quarter 1 - April 29, 2023 Operating Asset Impair Adj Operating In Thousands Income (Loss) & Other Adj Income (Loss) Journeys Group $ (18,362 ) $ - $ (18,362 ) Schuh Group (1,790 ) - (1,790 ) Johnston & Murphy Group 4,806 - 4,806 Genesco Brands Group (32 ) - (32 ) Corporate and Other (7,619 ) 308 (7,311 ) Total Operating Loss $ (22,997 ) $ 308 $ (22,689 ) % of sales -4.8 % -4.7 % Quarter 1 - April 30, 2022 Operating Asset Impair Adj Operating In Thousands Income (Loss) & Other Adj Income (Loss) Journeys Group $ 14,930 $ - $ 14,930 Schuh Group (2,746 ) - (2,746 ) Johnston & Murphy Group 550 - 550 Genesco Brands Group 3,793 - 3,793 Corporate and Other (8,281 ) 1,243 (7,038 ) Total Operating Income $ 8,246 $ 1,243 $ 9,489 % of sales 1.6 % 1.8 % Quarter 1 In Thousands April 29, 2023 April 30, 2022 Selling and administrative expenses, as reported $ 251,497 $ 243,481 Expenses related to new HQ building - (1,526 ) Total adjustments - (1,526 ) Adjusted selling and administrative expenses $ 251,497 $ 241,955 % of sales 52.0 % 46.5 % Schedule B Genesco Inc. Adjustments to Forecasted Earnings from Continuing Operations Fiscal Year Ending February 3, 2024 In millions (except per share amounts) High Guidance Low Guidance Fiscal 2024 Fiscal 2024 Net of Tax Per Share Net of Tax Per Share Forecasted earnings from continuing operations $ 29.0 $ 2.42 $ 22.7 $ 1.89 Asset impairments and other adjustments: Asset impairments and other matters 1.0 0.08 1.4 0.11 Total asset impairments and other adjustments (1) 1.0 0.08 1.4 0.11 Adjusted forecasted earnings from continuing operations (2) $ 30.0 $ 2.50 $ 24.1 $ 2.00 (1) All adjustments are net of tax where applicable. The forecasted tax rate for Fiscal 2024 is approximately 25%. (2) EPS reflects 12.0 million share count for Fiscal 2024 which includes common stock equivalents. This reconciliation reflects estimates and current expectations of future results. Actual results may vary materially from these expectations and estimates, for reasons including those included in the discussion of forward-looking statements elsewhere in this release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such expectations and estimates. Contacts Genesco Financial Contacts Thomas A. George (615) 367-7465 tgeorge@genesco.com Darryl MacQuarrie (615) 367-7672 dmacquarrie@genesco.com Genesco Media Contact Claire S. McCall (615) 367-8283 cmccall@genesco.com Salgenx, a leading innovator in salt water flow battery technology, is gearing up to fulfill the burgeoning market demand for large-scale grid batteries in the renewable energy sector. With Tesla's recent backlog of orders and their existing product limitations, Salgenx sees a tremendous opportunity to offer enhanced benefits and meet the growing needs of the wind and solar industry. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005293/en/ Cutting-edge saltwater flow battery technology offers affordable solution with high energy density, suitable for power and thermal storage, desalination, and graphene production. This membrane-free redox flow battery surpasses Vanadium and Bromine counterparts in both cost-effectiveness and rapid deployment, outperforming even Tesla Megapack in terms of delivery.(Photo: Business Wire) Tesla's Lathrop Megapack factory, which currently produces 4-9 units of 3EU (3.9 MWh equivalent unit) per day, has a staggering two-year backlog of orders. This backlog amounts to approximately 20,000 orders, with each 3EU priced at $2.4 million (base price). Furthermore, Tesla's declared production capacity of 40 GWh per year translates to 10,000 units or 29 Megapacks per day, which is equivalent to producing 250,000 Tesla cars annually. In addition to the Lathrop Megapack factory, Tesla's Nevada facility contributes to the company's overall manufacturing capacity. With the addition of two new Megafactories, Tesla's total potential capacity reaches an astonishing 83 GWh (over 20,000 units) per year. This remarkable expansion in production capacity positions Tesla as a leading force in the global energy storage market. Tesla's exponential growth in capacity is remarkable. In 2020, the company nearly doubled its deployment, exceeding 3 GWh. Subsequently, in 2021, Tesla achieved a remarkable 25% increase, reaching 4 GWh. The company's outstanding performance continued in 2022, with a remarkable 62% growth in capacity. These figures showcase Tesla's unwavering dedication to innovation and meeting the world's increasing energy storage needs. As the demand for renewable energy storage solutions continues to soar, wind farms in Denmark and the Netherlands emerge as prime locations for grid-scale battery production. Salgenx recognizes this opportunity and aims to capitalize on the market demand for large orders of grid-scale batteries, which the current backlog indicates are not being met. The renewable wind and solar industry demand represents only the tip of the iceberg, and Salgenx is well-positioned to address this immense potential. Greg Giese, CEO of Salgenx, emphasized the advantages of salt water redox flow batteries, stating, "This represents a huge opportunity for salt water redox flow batteries to capitalize on the ongoing market demand for large orders of grid-scale batteries. The backlog suggests there is a demand which is not currently being met. It is just the tip of the iceberg for the renewable wind and solar industry demand." Salgenx's innovative technology offers significant benefits beyond energy storage, including desalination capabilities and the production of graphene as a byproduct during charging. While acknowledging the success of Tesla's Megapack as a groundbreaking first-to-market product, Giese emphasized the limitations of its functionality. "While the Tesla Megapack is an amazing first-to-market product, it's a one-trick pony. The salt water battery has the ability for enhanced benefits, including desalination and producing graphene as a byproduct of charging," he stated. With a clear vision for the future of grid-scale batteries and the ability to meet evolving market demands, Salgenx is ready to revolutionize the energy storage industry. Their salt water flow battery technology offers unique advantages and aligns perfectly with the increasing requirements of utility peaker plants and renewable energy installations worldwide. Salgenx will be releasing its highly anticipated Salt Water Redox Flow Battery Technology Report. This comprehensive report offers in-depth insights into the dynamics of grid-scale flow batteries, covering crucial aspects such as economics, tax credits, efficiency, and deployment strategies. About Salgenx and Infinity Turbine LLC: Salgenx is a pioneering company focused on developing and commercializing advanced salt water flow battery technology. With a commitment to sustainable energy solutions, Salgenx aims to revolutionize the energy storage industry by offering high-performance grid-scale batteries that not only provide reliable power but also deliver additional benefits such as desalination and graphene production. Infinity Turbine Website: https://www.infinityturbine.com Salt Water Battery Website: https://salgenx.com Salt Water Redox Flow Battery Technology Report: https://infinityturbine.com/flow-battery-technology-report.html View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005293/en/ Contacts: G. Giese CEO Infinity Turbine LLC greg@infinityturbine.com greg@salgenx.com CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSXV:FLY) (OTCQX:FLYLF) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") today announced two new commercial agreements with Sichuan Airlines, the largest airline in Western China, and Bahamasair, the national airline of the Bahamas, for satcom hardware and recurring software services. The combined value of the two contracts is approximately $1.2 million in revenue over the next five years. Sichuan Airlines, a long-standing FLYHT customer, has agreed to purchase 10 additional AFIRS 228 units for installation on its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft that it is converting from passenger to cargo in order to service the growing demand for freight services in China. FLYHT was awarded the contract after a competitive bidding process that included the incumbent satcom provider. Bahamasair has re-engaged with FLYHT after pausing during the pandemic, re-activating three ATR aircraft with the full suite of SaaS services including voice, aircraft situational display (ASD) and health monitoring. The multi-year contract anticipates the installation of AFIRS 228 hardware units and related software services for additional ATR aircraft over the term of the contract. "The two agreements signal the ongoing recovery of global aviation and the significant value of FLYHT's hardware and software solutions to airlines of all shapes and sizes," commented Kent Jacobs, President and Interim CEO. "Whether it's Sichuan Airlines in Asian freight or Bahamasair providing an essential service in the Caribbean, both airlines see the benefits of real-time, actionable information in terms of safety, operational and fuel efficiency, and improved customer satisfaction. Importantly, FLYHT's solutions are proving to be highly competitive from a price, service, and technological perspective, helping us win and maintain long term customers. We're looking forward to the installation and the AFIRS 228 units and reactivation of software services for these valued customers over the coming months." About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. FLYHT provides airlines with Actionable Intelligence to transform operational insight into immediate, quantifiable action, and delivers industry leading solutions to improve aviation safety, efficiency, and profitability. This unique capability is driven by a suite of patented aircraft certified hardware products. These include AFIRS, an aircraft satcom/interface device that enables cockpit voice communications, real-time aircraft state analysis, and the transmission of aircraft data while inflight. The AFIRS Edge is a state-of-the-art 5G Wireless Quick Access Recorder (WQAR), Aircraft Interface Device (AID), and Aircraft Condition and Monitoring System (ACMS). The Edge can be interfaced with FLYHT's TAMDAR probe or the FLYHT-WVSS-II relative humidity sensor to deliver airborne weather and humidity data in real-time. CrossConsense, FLYHT's wholly owned subsidiary, offers highly skilled services to the commercial aviation industry and provides preventative maintenance solutions. These include Aircraft Fleet View, a native application that gives a real-time view of airline fleet status; AviationDW, a managed data warehouse for enhanced business intelligence; and ACSIS, a visualization and predictive maintenance alerting tool. FLYHT is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, and is an AS9100 Quality registered company. CrossConsense, located in Frankfurt, Germany, is an ISO9001 certified operation. For more information, visit www.flyht.com. Contact Information: FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. FNK IR LLC Satichi Consulting Inc. Alana Forbes Matt Chesler, CFA Daniel Kim Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations Corporate Development 403.291.7437 646.809.2183 416.728.5630 investors@flyht.com flyht@fnkir.com dkim@flyht.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. SOURCE: FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757134/FLYHT-to-Provide-Satcom-and-Real-Time-Information-for-Sichuan-Airlines-and-Bahamasair DENVER, CO and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Koios Beverage Corp. (CSE:FIT; OTC:FITS) (the "Company" or "Koios") is pleased to announce the launch of its latest flavor of Fit SodaTM "Rainbow Sherbet," which will be available at all 1,100 Food Lion LLC ("Food Lion") grocery store locations starting this May. Fit Soda Fit Soda Sherbet With consumers increasingly seeking better-for-you beverage options, Fit SodaTM has become a leader in the industry by offering a range of delicious, low-calorie drinks that don't sacrifice flavor. The new Rainbow Sherbet flavor is no exception, delivering a unique blend of sweet and tangy tastes that's perfect for sipping on a hot summer day. "We're thrilled to be introducing our new Rainbow Sherbet flavor to the Fit SodaTM family," said Chris Miller, CEO of the Company. "We believe this flavor will appeal to a wide range of consumers, from those looking to cut back on sugar to those who simply want to try something new and refreshing." The Company is excited to continue its longstanding partnership with Food Lion by launching its new Rainbow Sherbet flavor in all 1,100 of its grocery stores. As a trusted retailer, Food Lion has been a valuable partner for many years, and this launch is a new way to reach even more consumers and boost sales. The Company recognizes the importance of working with retailers who share its commitment to providing healthy beverage options and supporting the needs of its customers. By partnering with Food Lion, the Company is able to leverage their established customer base and reach new audiences with its innovative new flavor. The launch of the Sherbet flavor is a testament to the strong relationship between the Company and Food Lion, and their shared dedication to meeting the evolving needs of consumers. The launch of Fit Soda'sTM new Rainbow Sherbet flavor is not only an exciting addition to the brand's product line, but it's also a key component of the Company's overall sales strategy. By introducing a new flavor, Fit SodaTM can appeal to a wider range of consumers who have different taste preferences, ultimately increasing the brand's reach and creating more awareness. This new flavor also provides an opportunity to increase volume sales, as customers are more likely to purchase products they find unique and enjoyable. The Company's new flavor strategy shows its commitment to meeting the changing needs of consumers and their desire for healthier and tastier beverage options. Fit Soda'sTM Rainbow Sherbet flavor is made with natural flavors and contains just 5 calories per can. It's also gluten-free and contains no preservatives, making it a healthy choice for anyone looking to quench their thirst without compromising on taste. "We're excited to partner with Food Lion to bring our new Rainbow Sherbet flavor to consumers across the country," added Miller. "We hope that everyone who tries it will love the sweet and tangy taste as much as we do." Fit Soda was originally released and launched in more than 1,100 supermarkets operated by Food Lion, a multistate grocery chain based in Salisbury, North Carolina. Since November 2020, the Company has placed its Fit Soda functional beverage product with several other regional chains across the United States to include HEB (as announced in a Nov. 4, 2020 press release), all three banners of Massachusetts-based Roche Bros. (as announced in a Feb. 24, 2021 press release), and Sprouts Farmers Market (as announced in a March 4, 2021 press release). Approximately 700,000 units of Fit Soda were sold during the product's first full calendar year of retail sales in 2020 between retail placements in grocery and foodservice outlets, as well as direct-to-consumer sales through the Koios online store. The addition of Fit Soda to all 1,100 locations of Food Lion across 10 U.S. states has provided the Company with a significant opportunity for Fit Soda to have its best year yet in 2023. KOIOS BEVERAGE CORP. "Chris Miller" Chris Miller, CEO, and Director For further information, please contact: Gina Burrus 844-255-6467 ir@koiosbeveragecorp.com THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. About Koios Beverage Corp. The Company is an emerging functional beverage company which has an available distribution network of more than 5,000 retail locations across the United States in which to sell its products. Koios has relationships with some of the largest and most reputable distributors in the United States, including Europa Sports, Muscle Foods USA, KeHE, and Wishing-U-Well. Koios uses a proprietary blend of nootropics and natural organic compounds to enhance human productivity without using harmful chemicals or stimulants. Koios products have been shown to enhance focus, concentration, mental capacity, memory retention, cognitive function, alertness, and brain capacity, and create all-day mental clarity. Its ingredients are specifically designed to target brain function by increasing blood flow, oxygen levels, and neural connections in the brain. Koios produces one of the only drinks in the world infused with MCT oil. MCT oil is derived from coconuts and has been shown to help the body burn fat more effectively, create lasting energy from a natural food source, produce ketones in the brain, allowing for greater brain function and clarity, support healthy hormone production, and improve immunity. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.koiosbeveragecorp.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding: Potential outcomes from the launch of Rainbow Sherbet Fit Soda in Food Lion supermarket locations and the overall performance of the functional beverage market. The forward-looking information reflects management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the functional beverage markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company's management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Company's products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Company's products on an individual's health and well-being. The Company's products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by Koios with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with Koios is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees. Contact Information: Gina Burrus VP gina@fitsodas.com SOURCE: Koios Beverage Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757156/Fit-SodaTM-Unveils-New-Rainbow-Sherbet-Flavor-Launching-in-All-1110-Food-Lion-Grocery-Store-Locations-in-May-2023 SHANGHAI, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei launched its brand new FusionSolar strategy and all-scenario Smart PV+Energy Storage System (ESS) solutions at the 16th SNEC PV Power Expo in Shanghai. These offerings demonstrate Huawei's commitment to driving global transformation towards carbon neutrality. In his keynote speech, Hou Jinlong, President of Huawei Digital Power, emphasized the accelerated energy transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy, driven by carbon neutrality, energy independence, and business value. In collaboration with partners, Huawei Digital Power integrates digital and power electronics technologies, as well as data and energy flows, to deliver all-scenario low-carbon products and solutions for customers worldwide. The goal is to build innovative power system infrastructure that advances the PV and ESS industries. Unveiling the Next-generation FusionSolar Strategy Chen Guoguang, President of Smart PV Business at Huawei Digital Power, unveiled the brand-new FusionSolar strategy. The strategy focuses on the 4T (Watt/Bit/Heat/Battery) technology convergence, establishing high-quality industry standards with partners, and enhancing its six ecosystem partner systems. Chen also presented Huawei's future-oriented all-scenario Smart PV+ESS solutions. In utility-scale plant scenarios, Huawei has set the global trend of smart string inverters over the past decade. Moving forward, the company will develop smart grid-forming converters that integrate PV+ESS+Grid+Management System to make PV a major energy source. Huawei's partnership with China Resources Power in Qinghai, China, led to the world's first application of smart grid-forming converters, laying the foundation for future industry standards. Moreover, Huawei helped ACWA Power and Power Construction Corporation of China build the world's largest PV+ESS micro-grid project in Saudi Arabia, supplying clean electricity to a city of about 1 million residents. In commercial and industrial (C&I) scenarios, Huawei promotes technological innovation to set active safety as a standard, helping customers reduce carbon emissions. In the coming decade, Huawei's one-fits-all, "Optimizer+PV+ESS+Charger+Load+Management System" solution will empower campuses and factories to achieve 100% energy self-sufficiency. In residential scenarios, Huawei aims to optimize home energy consumption through key technologies, like off-grid power backup, intelligent home energy scheduling by AI Energy Management Assistant (EMMA), and virtual power plant (VPP) interconnection. These efforts will enable power independence and self-sufficiency for homes. Launching New FusionSolar Products for All Scenarios Zheng Yue, President of Utility Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, introduced the FusionSolar Smart PV&ESS Solution, delivering grid forming, low levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), high reliability, and comprehensive digitalization. Huawei Smart PV&ESS Solution works in both on-grid and off-grid scenarios, offering 40% higher renewable power capacity and 30% lower LCOE than a conventional solution. Its 5+4 multi-level safety design ensures comprehensive protection from PV to ESS, covering components to systems, and provides robust cybersecurity. Its comprehensive digitalization enables end-to-end sensing of each component in a power plant. Zhong Mingming, President of C&I Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, launched the C&I Optimizer+PV+ESS+Charger+Management System Solution 2.0. The solution, combining optimizers, solar string inverters, ESSs, chargers, and management services, features intelligent energy yield, intelligent power consumption, intelligent reliability assurance, intelligent O&M, and active safety. It reduces customers' power consumption costs through intelligent technologies in energy yield, power consumption, reliability assurance, and O&M. The solution also ensures active safety at device, asset, and personal levels. Zhou Tao, President of Residential Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, launched the Residential Smart PV Solution 4.0. This 1+4+X Optimizer+PV+ESS+Charger+Load+Management System offers electricity self-sufficiency, an intelligent control experience, and active safety. It improves rooftop utilization by 10%-30%, rooftop energy yield by up to 35%, and energy self-consumption by 10%. Integrating Residential Smart PV Solution with Huawei All-in-One Smart Home provides real-time insights and holistic control of energy data, driving home electricity self-sufficiency. The solution also prioritizes active safety, with enhanced response speed and safeguarding performance at the component and system levels. As of March 2023, Huawei Digital Power has assisted global customers in generating 769.5 billion kWh of green electricity, curbing 350 million tons of carbon emissions - equivalent to planting 480 million trees. Huawei is dedicated to collaborating with customers and partners to promote green PV as a primary energy source for every home and business, thereby fostering the healthy development of the industry and contributing to a greener future. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085371/IMAGE.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/making-the-most-of-every-ray--huawei-launches-fusionsolar-strategy-and-new-products-at-snec-2023-301834588.html LONDON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware Technologies, a leading global provider of IT services and solutions, announced today the appointment of Saurabh Rana as its new Strategic Partnerships and Global Alliances Lead. This move forms part of Hexaware's ambitious plan to deepen its commitment across the Cloud and Hyperscale Ecosystem to ensure the company fully harnesses the power of its partnerships, propelling clients forward in their digital, data, and cloud transformation journeys. As a key element of his role, Saurabh will be responsible for accelerating strategic collaboration and establishing dedicated business units for top Hyperscale partnerships. His leadership is also expected to spur momentum and growth through increased co-selling of joint solutions, driving deal velocity, and bolstering Hexaware's growth objectives for 2023 and beyond. Saurabh brings over 25 years of global experience delivering business strategy, revenue, and growth across key industries. Prior to joining Hexaware, he spent over 17 years in various leadership positions at Microsoft Corporation, demonstrating extensive expertise in building strategic partnerships with technology partners and creating profitable joint cloud sales, services, and solution practices. His unwavering partner focus has led to the launch and leadership of global sales and go-to-market initiatives, driving consistent and impressive customer results. On his appointment, Saurabh Rana said, "I am thrilled to join Hexaware at this transformative time for the company and the industry as a whole. Together, we will continue to provide cutting-edge solutions that meet our customers' evolving needs and support their digital transformation journeys." Milan Bhatt, President & Global Head - Modernization, Healthcare & Insurance, Hexaware, said, "We are delighted to welcome Saurabh Rana to the Hexaware family. As an industry veteran, his expertise and leadership will be instrumental in driving the next wave of growth for Hexaware. We look forward to his valuable contributions to our stakeholders." About Hexaware? Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Our 29,000 Hexawarians wake up every day with a singular purpose; to create smiles through great people and technology. With 54 offices in 19 countries, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://www.hexaware.com .??? Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/530945/Hexaware.jpga View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hexawares-new-strategic-partnerships-and-global-alliances-lead-saurabh-rana-to-accelerate-hyperscale-ecosystem-301834450.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 (TSXV:OGN)(OTCQX:OGNRF) Orogen Royalties Inc. ("Orogen" or the "Company") is pleased to report profitable financial results from its operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023. Paddy Nicol, CEO of Orogen, commented: "Orogen's first quarter financial results in 2023 represent the Company's fifth consecutive quarter of profitability. During the period, royalty revenue from our 2% NSR royalty on the Ermitano mine increased by 78% compared to the same period in 2022. Our prospect generation business was also robust with a 415% growth in revenue compared to the same period last year along with the creation of three new royalties due to the transactions completed on Ball Creek and Cuprite. In Nevada, project owner AngloGold Ashanti NA continues an aggressive drilling campaign with eight drill rigs in a planned 45,000 metre program at the Silicon and Merlin areas, where Orogen holds a 1% NSR royalty. To date over 200,000 metres of drilling has been completed within Silicon and Merlin and we look forward to an integrated concept study in Q3-2023." Q1-2023 Highlights All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Net Income from Operations: Net income was $632,213 or $0.003 per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to a net profit of $426,081 or $0.002 per share in 2022, representing a $206,132 or 48% increase in net income. This was due to an increase in royalty revenue and a profitable prospect generation business that was offset by higher G&A and overhead expenses. Net income was $632,213 or $0.003 per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to a net profit of $426,081 or $0.002 per share in 2022, representing a $206,132 or 48% increase in net income. This was due to an increase in royalty revenue and a profitable prospect generation business that was offset by higher G&A and overhead expenses. Royalty Revenue: Royalty revenue of $1,314,066 was earned from the Ermitano royalty during the current period with 508 attributable gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") sold at average price of US$1,877 per ounce. This is an increase of $575,224 or 78% compared to a revenue of $738,842 earned in 2022. The Company holds a 2.0% uncapped and non-buyable net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Ermitano Mine with First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") as the operator. Royalty revenue of $1,314,066 was earned from the Ermitano royalty during the current period with 508 attributable gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") sold at average price of US$1,877 per ounce. This is an increase of $575,224 or 78% compared to a revenue of $738,842 earned in 2022. The Company holds a 2.0% uncapped and non-buyable net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Ermitano Mine with First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") as the operator. Prospect Generation : Net income of $940,059 from prospect generation activities compared to $182,459 reported in 2022, representing a 415% increase. This includes $938,034 (2022 - $177,741) for net gains from project sales and option agreements. Gains are recognized in a project when total recoveries including proceeds received from sale, option payments, and/or other reimbursement are greater than the project's total carrying value. : Net income of $940,059 from prospect generation activities compared to $182,459 reported in 2022, representing a 415% increase. This includes $938,034 (2022 - $177,741) for net gains from project sales and option agreements. Gains are recognized in a project when total recoveries including proceeds received from sale, option payments, and/or other reimbursement are greater than the project's total carrying value. G&A Expenses : General and administrative expenses of $1,493,432 were incurred in 2023 compared to $863,288 incurred in 2022, representing a 73% increase. The increase in G&A expenses during the current period was due to higher salaries and share-based compensation costs. : General and administrative expenses of $1,493,432 were incurred in 2023 compared to $863,288 incurred in 2022, representing a 73% increase. The increase in G&A expenses during the current period was due to higher salaries and share-based compensation costs. Cash flow : Cash flow of $1,149,770 was generated from operating activities in the current period compared to $90,412 in 2022. Cash flow generated from operating activities in the current period, excluding changes in non-cash working capital, was $246,032 (2022 - $229,246). : Cash flow of $1,149,770 was generated from operating activities in the current period compared to $90,412 in 2022. Cash flow generated from operating activities in the current period, excluding changes in non-cash working capital, was $246,032 (2022 - $229,246). Working Capital: The Company has working capital of $15,683,481 at March 31, 2023 compared to $12,083,375 at the beginning of the fiscal year. The Company has no long-term debt. For complete details of the Company's financial results, please refer to the condensed interim consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023, and 2022. The Company's filings are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Orogen's website at www.orogenroyalties.com. Please also see non-IFRS Measures at the end of this news release. Summary of Results Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2023 2022 Income from Royalties $ 1,314,066 $ 738,842 Income from Prospect Generation activities 940,059 182,459 Other income 55,489 18,767 Total income 2,309,614 940,068 G&A 1,493,432 863,288 Operating income before other adjustments $ 816,182 $ 76,780 Other income 13,616 1,971 Gain (loss) on marketable securities fair value adjustment (197,585 ) 347,330 Net income and comprehensive income for the period $ 632,213 426,081 Basic income per share $ 0.003 $ 0.002 Diluted income per share $ 0.003 $ 0.002 Non-IFRS and Other Measures GEOs 508 315 Average realized gold price per GEO 1,877 1,877 Cash flow from operating activities, excluding changes in non-cash working capital $ 246,032 $ 229,246 To date, the Company has over 44 royalty and mineral property assets in Canada, United States, Mexico, Argentina, and Kenya including 23 royalties, 14 mineral properties under option, five projects that are available for sale or option and two alliances. During the current quarter, the Company had completed the following transactions: Cuprite : On January 23, 2023, the Company sold a 100% interest in the Cuprite gold project located in Nevada to Strikepoint Gold Inc. for a total consideration of $450,000 and a 3.0% NSR royalty on the project. The Cuprite project was generated under the Nevada Generative Alliance with Altius Minerals Corporation and as such, the total consideration received was split evenly between the Company and Altius with the Company retaining $225,000 of the total consideration and a 1.5% NSR royalty on the project. : On January 23, 2023, the Company sold a 100% interest in the Cuprite gold project located in Nevada to Strikepoint Gold Inc. for a total consideration of $450,000 and a 3.0% NSR royalty on the project. The Cuprite project was generated under the Nevada Generative Alliance with Altius Minerals Corporation and as such, the total consideration received was split evenly between the Company and Altius with the Company retaining $225,000 of the total consideration and a 1.5% NSR royalty on the project. Ball Creek : On March 3, 2023, the Company announced that it has divided the Ball Creek project into two claim blocks that included Ball Creek East and Ball Creek West. The Company entered into a purchase and sales agreement with P2 Gold Inc. for 100% interest in Ball Creek West for a total consideration of $1.0 million, a 1.0% NSR royalty, and the right to acquire an additional 1.0% NSR royalty. The Company also entered into an option agreement with Kingfisher Metals Inc. whereby Kingfisher can earn 100% interest in Ball Creek East by issuing $3.5 million in fair value of Kingfisher common shares and incurring $7.5 million in exploration expenditures over a four-year period. After Kingfisher satisfies its obligation to the option agreement and exercises its option to acquire the project, the Company will retain the right to acquire 1.0% NSR royalty on the project. As additional consideration, Kingfisher has granted the Company a 1.0% NSR on its Ecstall project, located in central coast British Columbia, Canada. : On March 3, 2023, the Company announced that it has divided the Ball Creek project into two claim blocks that included Ball Creek East and Ball Creek West. The Company entered into a purchase and sales agreement with P2 Gold Inc. for 100% interest in Ball Creek West for a total consideration of $1.0 million, a 1.0% NSR royalty, and the right to acquire an additional 1.0% NSR royalty. The Company also entered into an option agreement with Kingfisher Metals Inc. whereby Kingfisher can earn 100% interest in Ball Creek East by issuing $3.5 million in fair value of Kingfisher common shares and incurring $7.5 million in exploration expenditures over a four-year period. After Kingfisher satisfies its obligation to the option agreement and exercises its option to acquire the project, the Company will retain the right to acquire 1.0% NSR royalty on the project. As additional consideration, Kingfisher has granted the Company a 1.0% NSR on its Ecstall project, located in central coast British Columbia, Canada. Project Acquisitions: During the quarter, the Company acquired the Celts project located in Walker Lane, Nevada and the Cuervo project located in British Columbia. Both are epithermal gold-silver targets and were acquired through staking under the Company's generative exploration programs. The Company reported a gain of $938,034 from these prospect generation activities. Gains are recognized in a project when total recoveries including proceeds received from sale, option payments, and/or other reimbursement are greater than the project's total carrying value. During the current period, the Company incurred $1,493,432 in G&A and overhead expenses, representing a 73% increase compared to $863,288 incurred in 2022. The increase in G&A expenses during the current period was due to higher salaries and share-based compensation costs. Over 2022, the Company conducted a benchmarking study of its compensation policy against its peers to ensure that the Company's compensation metrics are comparable to compensate performance, attract, and motivate employees to deliver on the Company's short and long-term objectives and strategies. As a result, the Company adopted short and long-term incentive plans that include salary, annual bonus, and share based compensation that aligns with personal and corporate performance. The compensation policy was adopted on January 1, 2023, and resulted in higher salary and share-based compensation expenses compared to 2022. Higher salary expenses incurred during the current quarter were due to salary increases, and 2022 annual bonuses paid to employees. Higher share-based compensation expenses incurred were due to stock options, restricted share units and deferred share units granted to directors, officers, employees, and consultants as part of the Company's long-term incentive plan that vests for a period between two to three years from the date of grant. Ermitano Royalty (Sonora, Mexico) First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") operates the Ermitano mine where the Company holds an uncapped and non-buyable 2.0% NSR royalty. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, the Company reported royalty revenue of $1,314,066 earned from the Ermitano royalty with 508 GEOs sold at an average price of US$1,877 per ounce. This is an increase of $575,224 or 78% compared to a revenue of $738,842 earned in 2022. Higher revenue and production during the current period were due to transitioning to 100% Ermitano ores at the Santa Elena mine by First Majestic whereas production in previous periods was based on a combination of Ermitano and Santa Elena ores. The Santa Elena mine was suspended to focus on exploration and definition drilling. In accordance with First Majestic's 2023 guidance, the Company forecasts that quarterly royalty revenue for the remainder of the year will be US$850,000 per quarter, a 20% increase in revenue compared to 2022. Silicon Royalty (Nevada, USA)1 Orogen holds an uncapped and non-buyable 1.0% NSR royalty on 125 square kilometres of ground at the Silicon project that includes the Silicon deposit and the Merlin area located in Nye County, Nevada. The project is owned and operated by AngloGold Ashanti NA ("AngloGold"). Drilling at the Silicon and Merlin areas continues with eight drill rigs following the 4.22 million ounce resource announced at Silicon in February 2023. (see Orogen press releases from February 23, 2023 and March 30, 2023). At Silicon, drilling is targeting extensions at depth where mineralization remains open. At Merlin, mineral resource delineation continues to deliver results that AngloGold describes as "very promising". Figure 1 - Map of Silicon area showing Silicon deposit and Merlin areas where Orogen holds a 1% NSR royalty. Source:https://www.anglogoldashanti.com/investors/reporting/financial-results/ Qualified Person Statement All technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been verified by Laurence Pryer, Ph.D., P.Geo., VP Exploration for Orogen. Dr. Pryer is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Certain technical disclosure in this release is a summary of previously released third-party information and the Company is relying on the interpretation provided. Additional information can be found on the links in the footnotes. About Orogen Royalties Inc. Orogen Royalties is focused on organic royalty creation and royalty acquisitions on precious and base metal discoveries in western North America. The Company's royalty portfolio includes the Ermitano gold and silver Mine in Sonora, Mexico (2.0% NSR royalty) operated by First Majestic Silver Corp. and the Silicon gold project (1.0% NSR royalty) in Nevada, U.S., being advanced by AngloGold Ashanti. The Company is well financed with several projects actively being developed by joint venture partners. On Behalf of the Board OROGEN ROYALTIES INC. Paddy Nicol President & CEO To find out more about Orogen, please contact Paddy Nicol, President & CEO at 604-248-8648, and Marco LoCascio, Vice President of Corporate Development at 604-248-8648. Visit our website at www.orogenroyalties.com. Orogen Royalties Inc. 1015 - 789 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6C 1H2 info@orogenroyalties.com https://www.anglogoldashanti.com/investors/reporting/financial-results/ Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Orogen Royalties Inc. (the "Company") expect to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking information in this news release includes disclosures regarding NSR royalty payments to be paid to the Company by First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic"), the owners and operator of the Ermitano mine located in Mexico and that the forecasted revenue which are based on First Majestic "NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates" having an effective date of June 30, 2021. In addition to the technical report, the disclosure herein also contains and the updated mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Ermitano mine based on the Santa Elena Mineral Reserve, Resource Estimates with an effective date of December 31, 2022 as announced by First Majestic on March 31, 2023 and as disclosed in their December 31, 2022 AIF, and First Majestic's MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2023. Forward-looking statements are based on several material assumptions, which management of the Company believe to be reasonable, including, but not limited to, the continuation of mining operations in respect of which the Company will receive NSR royalty payments, that the commodity prices will not experience a material adverse change, mining operations that underlie the royalty will operate in accordance with the disclosed parameters and other assumptions may be set out herein. 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by 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. Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this news release relating to properties and operations in which Orogen holds a Royalty are based on information publicly disclosed by the owners or operators of these properties and information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof, and none of this information has been independently verified by Orogen. Specifically, as a Royalty holder and prospect generator, the Company has limited, if any, access to properties on which it holds Royalty or other interests in its asset portfolio. The Company may from time to time receive operating information from the owners and operators of the mining properties, which it is not permitted to disclose to the public. Orogen is dependent on, (i) the operators of the mining properties and their qualified persons to provide information to Orogen, or (ii) on publicly available information to prepare disclosure pertaining to properties and operations on the properties on which the Company holds Royalty or other interests, and generally has limited or no ability to independently verify such information. Although the Company does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such third-party information is complete or accurate. Some reported public information in respect of a mining property may relate to a larger property area than the area covered by Orogen's Royalty or other interest. Orogen's Royalty or other interests may cover less than 100% of a specific mining property and may only apply to a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and or production from a mining property. Non-IFRS Measures The Company has included certain results in this news release that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") including total GEOs sold, average realized gold price per GEO, and cash flow from operating activities excluding changes in non-cash working capital adjustments. The Company's royalty revenue is converted to a gold equivalent ounce by dividing the royalty revenue received during the period by the average gold price of the period. The Company has also used the non-IFRS measure of operating cash flows excluding changes in non-cash working capital. This measure is calculated by adding back the decrease or subtracting the increase in changes in non-cash working capital to or from cash provided by (used in) operating activities. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Orogen Royalties Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757154/Orogen-Royalties-Announces-Profitable-Q1-2023-Financial-Results Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Quantum eMotion Corp. (TSXV: QNC) (OTCQB: QNCCF) ("QeM" or the "Company") announces the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on 15 June 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Montreal time in both in-person and virtual format. The Meeting will take place at 1, Place Ville Marie, 40th Floor, Montreal, Quebec, and online via live webcast at: https://lavery.zoom.us/j/65649686965. The AGM will be an opportunity to provide shareholders with an update on product development, and to share the recent progresses accomplished by QeM in its two main programs: Telemedicine and Blockchain technologies. Dr. Kaiwen Zhang, Software and IT Engineering Professor at ETS (Ecole de technologie superieure, Montreal, Canada) and Pierre Berube, CEO and Founder of Greybox Solutions Inc, have accepted an invitation to participate in the AGM and share their respective views on the ongoing collaboration with QeM. About QeM The Company's mission is to address the growing demand for affordable hardware security for connected devices. The patented solution for a Quantum Random Number Generator exploits the built-in unpredictability of quantum mechanics and promises to provide enhanced security for protecting high value assets and critical systems. The Company intends to target the highly valued Financial Services, Blockchain Applications, Cloud-Based IT Security Infrastructure, Classified Government Networks and Communication Systems, Secure Device Keying (IOT, Automotive, Consumer Electronics) and Quantum Cryptography. For further information, please contact: Francis Bellido, Chief Executive Officer Tel: 514.956.2525 Email: info@quantumemotion.com Website: www.quantumemotion.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in the Corporation's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Quantum from time to time with securities regulatory authorities. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167351 +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) - Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) said its first quarter sales results are in line with the expectations it shared in March and profitability was better than expected. The company maintained the full year guidance. 'As we enter the second quarter, we expect our comparable sales to decline in the range of 6% to 8% and our non-GAAP operating income rate to be approximately 3% or slightly higher,' said Matt Bilunas, Best Buy CFO. For fiscal 2024, the company continues to project: revenue of $43.8 billion to $45.2 billion, comparable sales decline of 3.0% to 6.0%; and non-GAAP EPS of $5.70 to $6.50. First quarter net income was $244 million, or $1.11 per share compared with $341 million, or $1.49 per share, last year. Adjusted earnings per share was $1.15 compared to $1.57. Analysts on average had expected the company to earn $1.11 per share, according to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. First quarter revenue fell 11.1% to $9.47 billion from $10.65 billion, last year. Analysts on average had estimated $9.52 billion in revenue. Enterprise comparable sales declined 10.1%, for the quarter. Shares of Best Buy are up 4% in pre-market trade on Thursday. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com. 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. ZAGENO Empowers Life Science Research with Unparalleled Efficiency and Cost Savings CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / ZAGENO, the leading online marketplace for life science research products, announces the completion of a $33 million funding round. General Catalyst, the largest public pension fund in the United States, Grazia Equity, OakRidge Management Group, and a German investment house led this round, joined by existing investors Capnamic Ventures and HighSage Ventures. Logo This funding propels ZAGENO's expansion in the United States and Europe, significantly enhancing the accessibility and affordability of life science research products. ZAGENO simplifies product discovery, experiment planning, and seamless purchasing from thousands of suppliers. The marketplace revolutionizes the scientific workflow, saving time and product costs. With a wide selection of quality products and verified suppliers, scientists benefit from competitive pricing fostered by the marketplace's transparency and supplier choice. "We're thrilled to welcome new investors, including one of America's most powerful shareholder bodies and global leader in the investment industry and a prominent German investment house, while enjoying continued support from General Catalyst and existing investors," said Florian Wegener, CEO of ZAGENO. "This funding empowers scientists to focus on scientific value creation." ZAGENO's online marketplace offers a vast selection of products and services, including laboratory equipment, consumables, chemicals, antibodies, and customized solutions. By providing scientists access to a network of verified suppliers, the ZAGENO platform enables informed purchasing decisions. "ZAGENO is transforming the scientific research industry with its groundbreaking platform," said Larry Bohn, Managing Partner at General Catalyst. "We proudly support their journey." "With this funding, ZAGENO is positioned to deliver even greater value to scientists worldwide," emphasized Joe von Rickenbach, Chairman of the Board of ZAGENO. "Their innovative platform drives unmatched efficiency and cost savings." ZAGENO is primed for rapid growth and pioneering innovation in the scientific research industry with this new funding. To learn more about ZAGENO, please visit www.zageno.com. About ZAGENO ZAGENO is a marketplace for life science research products. By revolutionizing how scientists discover, procure, and manage life science research products, ZAGENO supports researchers pursuing breakthroughs that improve our lives. With an extensive catalog, advanced search functionality, transparent pricing, and dedicated customer support, ZAGENO simplifies the research workflow and enables scientists to focus on groundbreaking discoveries. ZAGENO is a global company with offices in Cambridge, San Francisco, Berlin, and Bangalore. For more information, visit www.zageno.com. About General Catalyst General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures - for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com. Contact Information Stephanie Harold pr@zageno.com +1 (857) 477-8479 Related Files ZAGENO.png Related Images Logo Product SOURCE: ZAGENO View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757107/ZAGENO-Secures-33M-Funding-to-Revolutionize-Life-Science-Research-Procurement FRIDLEY (dpa-AFX) - Medtronic plc (MDT), a healthcare technology company, announced on Thursday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire EOFlow Co. Ltd. manufacturer of the EOPatch device; a wearbale insulin patch that is tubeless and fully disposable. 'To the extent that all the public shares participate in the tender offer, the total consideration for the acquisition of the shares in EOFlow would be KRW 971 billion, or $738 million, at current exchange rates,' the company said in a statement. The EOPatch device is designed to deliver insulin with high accuracy and reliability while minimizing the risk of insulin occlusion. It is authorized for marketing in Europe, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates with a compatible smartphone application that allows users to monitor and control the patch directly from their phone. Upon closing this transaction, Medtronic will integrate EOPatch device with its next-generation sensor and Meal Detection Technology algorithm currently offered in its MiniMed 780G system. Medtronic has share purchase agreements with Jesse J. Kim, founder and CEO of EOFlow and Luis Malave, president of EOFlow where it will acquire all their shares for a price of 3000 Korean won per share. Pursuant to the share subscription agreement the company will acquire new shares for a price of 24,359 korean won per share to fund EOFlow's ongoing operational and research and development requirements. The company will also undertake a public tender offer to acquire up to all outstanding public shares at a price of 30,000 Korean won per share. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of this year. JP Morgan Securities LLC is Medtronic's financial advisor and Goldman Sachs & Co is EOFlow's financial advisor. In premarket activity, shares of Medtronic are trading at $86.92 down 0.65% or $0.57 on the New York Stock Exchange. 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 Conference call to be conducted on June 2, 2023 at 11 a.m. ET. VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomd Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: ZOMD) (OTC: ZMDTF) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Zoomd Ltd. (collectively, "Zoomd" or the "Company"), the marketing technology (MarTech) user-acquisition and engagement platform, announced today that it expects to report its financial results for the first quarter on May 30, 2023 after market close. The Company has scheduled a conference call for Friday June 2, at 11:00 a.m. ET, to discuss the results and provide a corporate update. Interested parties can access the conference call via Internet webcast, which is available in the Investors section of the Company's website at https://zoomd.com/investors/ or at https://app.webinar.net/v87wJ1YJxdQ. Interested parties who would like to submit a question to be addressed on the call should email the question to ZOMD@lythampartners.com. A webcast replay will be available in the Investors section of the Company's website at https://zoomd.com/investors/ or via https://app.webinar.net/v87wJ1YJxdQ. About Zoomd: Zoomd (TSXV: ZOMD) (OTC: ZMDTF), founded in 2012 and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in September 2019, offers a site search engine to publishers, and a mobMile app user-acquisition platform, integrated with a majority of global digital media, to advertisers. The platform unifies more than 600 media sources into one unified dashboard. Offering advertisers, a user acquisition control center for managing all new customer acquisition campaigns using a single platform. By unifying all these media sources onto a single platform, Zoomd saves advertisers significant resources that would otherwise be spent consolidating data sources, thereby maximizing data collection and data insights while minimizing the resources spent on the exercise. Further, Zoomd is a performance-based platform that allows advertisers to advertise to the relevant target audiences using a key performance indicator-algorithm that is focused on achieving the advertisers' goals and targets. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. DISCLAIMER IN REGARD TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to Zoomd's future outlook, its future ability to successfully continue its growth, its ability to continue to deliver products and services largely unimpacted by the privacy updates undertaken (or will be undertaken in the future) by Google and Apple as well as its ability to continue expanding into new geographies and industries. Forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, estimates, expectations and projections that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that 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, technological, legal, privacy matters, political and social uncertainties (including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current war in Ukraine), the extent and duration of which are uncertain at this time on Zoomd's business and general economic and business conditions and markets. There can be no assurance that any of the forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Company Media Contacts: Amit Bohensky Chairman Zoomd ir@zoomd.com Website: www.zoomd.com Investor relations: Lytham Partners, LLC Ben Shamsian New York | Phoenix ZOMD@lythampartners.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1039696/Zoomd_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zoomd-to-report-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-on-may-30-2023-301834550.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) (OTCQX: SLVDF) (FSE: 4YW) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of April 11, 2023, it has completed the exercise of its option and now owns a 100% interest in its La Joya silver-copper-gold property (the "Property"). Figure 1: Location of the La Joya Project along with past-producing and operating mines in the area. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://silverdollarresources.com/images/LaJoya/LaJoya-2a.jpg The Property, located in the south-eastern portion of the State of Durango in the Mexican Silver Belt, consists of 15 mineral concessions totaling 4,646 hectares and hosts the Main Mineralized Trend (MMT), Santo Nino and Coloradito deposits. Pursuant to an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") dated August 7, 2020 (the "Effective Date"), as amended by an amending agreement dated March 28, 2023 (the "Amending Agreement"), between the Company and First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic"), First Majestic granted the Company an exclusive option to acquire an initial 80% interest (the "First Option") and if exercised, a second option to acquire the remaining 20% interest (the "Second Option") in a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Majestic that holds the Property through its wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary by making certain payments, incurring certain expenditures, and issuing securities, as detailed below. In order to exercise the First Option, the Company was required to: pay First Majestic a total of $700,000 plus annual holding costs for the Property, of which: $300,000 was paid upon execution of the Option Agreement; $200,000 plus annual holding costs was paid before the first anniversary of the Effective Date; and $200,000 plus annual holding costs was paid before the second anniversary of the Effective Date; incur exploration expenditures on the Property of $1,000,000 on or before the 60-month anniversary of the Effective Date. The Company fulfilled this obligation in May 2022; and no later than 45 days following the Effective Date, issue to First Majestic, such number of common shares of the Company ("Shares") as is equal to 19.9% of the then issued and outstanding Shares of the Company post-issuance. The Company fulfilled this obligation by issuing to First Majestic an aggregate of 5,146,401 Shares on August 14, 2020. In accordance with the Option Agreement, since the Company incurred $1,000,000 of exploration expenditures on the Property within three years of the Effective Date, First Majestic waived additional cash payments totalling $600,000 that were otherwise required to be paid by the Company on the third and fourth anniversaries of the Effective Date. In order to exercise the Second Option, the Company was required to: provide notice to First Majestic within 30 days of exercising the First Option and on or before the 60-month anniversary of the Effective Date; and within 10 business days of exercising the Second Option, issue to First Majestic, such number of Shares as is equal to 5% of the then issued and outstanding Shares of the Company post-issuance. The Company fulfilled this obligation by issuing to First Majestic an aggregate of 2,205,118 Shares on May 24, 2023. In addition, pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Property is subject to a 2% net smelter returns royalty interest in all minerals produced from the Property. A copy of the Option Agreement, the Amending Agreement and the Company's news release dated August 10, 2020, which contains additional information regarding the Property, are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Early Warning Disclosure First Majestic is providing this disclosure pursuant to the early warning reporting provisions of Canadian securities legislation. First Majestic has acquired ownership and control of 2,205,118 Shares of Silver Dollar and now holds 8,051,519 Shares representing approximately 18.2% of the outstanding Shares. Prior to the issuance of the 2,205,118 Shares, First Majestic held 5,846,401 Shares of Silver Dollar or approximately 13.9% of the outstanding Shares. Accordingly, First Majestic's ownership interest has increased by approximately 4.3%. The Shares were acquired in exchange for the sale of the La Joya Property. Depending on market conditions, general economic and industry conditions and subject to certain contractual resale restrictions, Silver Dollar's business and financial condition and/or other relevant factors, First Majestic may increase or decrease its beneficial ownership of securities of Silver Dollar through market transactions, private agreements or otherwise, in the future. Silver Dollar is located at 179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416, Victoria, British Columbia V9B 6J9. First Majestic is located at 1800 - 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L2. An Early Warning Report will be filed on Silver Dollar's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and may also be obtained by contacting Sophie Hsia, First Majestic's General Counsel, at 1.866.529.2807. About the La Joya Project The La Joya Property is situated approximately 75 kilometres (km) directly southeast of the state capital city of Durango in a prolific mineralized region with past-producing and operating mines including Grupo Mexico's San Martin Mine, Industrias Penoles's Sabinas Mine, Pan American Silver's La Colorada Mine, and First Majestic's La Parrilla and Del Toro Silver Mines. Figure 2: Planview of the Brazo area; and the Coloradito, MMT, and Santo Nino deposits. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://silverdollarresources.com/images/LaJoya/LaJoya-5b.jpg The Company previously reported analytical results for its Phase I drill program, which consisted of 2,424 metres completed over 11 holes (See news releases of March 24, 2022 and May 4, 2022); and for its Phase II program, which consisted of 3,428 metres of drilling completed over 17 holes (See news releases of June 13, 2022, August 17, 2022, and October 25, 2022). Highlights from the Company's exploration drilling include the discovery of the Brazo area approximately 1 km west of the MMT and some of the best assay results ever reported on the Noria-Coloradito portion of the Property. The Company has also identified three new target areas that have never been drill tested. For additional information on the Property, click on the following link to see a short video: https://vimeo.com/497779460. About Silver Dollar Resources Inc. Silver Dollar is a mineral exploration company that completed its initial public offering in May 2020 and is fully funded for its 2023 exploration plans with approximately $5 million in the treasury. The Company's primary projects lie within the prolific Durango-Zacatecas silver-gold belt and include the advanced exploration stage La Joya Silver Property and the recently discovered Nora Silver-Gold Property, both located in the state of Durango, Mexico. The Company has an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions. For additional information, visit the Silver Dollar website , or you can download our investor presentation. You can also follow us on Twitter. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Michael Romanik" Michael Romanik, President, CEO & Director Direct line: (204) 724-0613 Email: mike@silverdollarresources.com Silver Dollar Resources Inc. 179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416 Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9 Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: the Company's expectation to complete the Acquisition, the timing of the closing of the Acquisition and the provision of the closing deliverables in respect of the Acquisition. The forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements including: the Company may never complete the Acquisition in the time frame expected or at all; First Majestic may not provide the closing deliverables required to complete the Acquisition; and the risk that adverse market conditions and/or other factors beyond the control of the parties prevent the completion of the Acquisition. Additionally, forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this news release, including that the Company will be able to complete the requirements necessary to close the Acquisition; that the Acquisition will close in the short time expected; that First Majestic will complete its obligations required to complete the Acquisition; and that there will be no events or circumstances outside the control of the Company or First Majestic that will prevent the completion of the Acquisition. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include general market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167369 TOKYO, May 25, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. has announced that it will grant a total of 625 million yen to the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund ("GHIT Fund") to fund the third phase of its activities, which will take place in the five-year period from FY2023 to FY2027. The GHIT Fund is a public-private partnership, co-established in April 2013 by partners such as Japanese pharmaceutical companies (including Eisai), the Japanese government, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for the purpose of accelerating development of new medicines to cure infectious diseases in developing and emerging countries by facilitating collaboration between research organizations in Japan and overseas. Eisai has provided a total of 1 billion yen to the first phase (FY2013 - FY2017) and the second phase (FY2018 - FY2022) of the GHIT Fund.In order to develop treatments for the numerous people suffering from infectious diseases such as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and malaria in developing and emerging countries, there are disease-specific development and marketability issues to overcome. It is also necessary to establish local supply systems and help patients secure access to diagnosis and treatments. The key to overcoming these challenges are industry-government-academia partnerships which transcend the usual sector boundaries.Eisai considers making efforts to resolve the global issue of access to medicines to be its duty. Under a public-private partnership including governments, international organizations, and private non-profit organizations, Eisai has participated in 23 joint research projects to develop new medicines and vaccines for mycetoma, malaria and filariasis, with the support of the GHIT Fund.Eisai has conducted a Phase II clinical trial of its in-house developed agent E1224 (generic name: fosravuconazole) in Sudan for the treatment of mycetoma in partnership with the non-profit organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). Eisai is also conducting a Phase II clinical trial of antimalarial agent SJ733 in collaboration with the University of Kentucky.Eisai considers efforts for improving access to medicines, such as the elimination of NTDs and malaria, as activities aimed at creating long-term corporate value and social impact based on its corporate concept of human health care (hhc). We will continue to strengthen cooperation with our global partners and contribute to "relieving anxiety over health" and "reducing health disparities" for people at risk of infection with NTDs and those suffering from theses diseases.About the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund)The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership fund (PPP) that was formed between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests in and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at addressing neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, which afflict the world's vulnerable and underserved populations. In collaboration with global partners, the GHIT Fund mobilizes Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases. www.ghitfund.org/en(New Window)About Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)Neglected Tropic Diseases (NTDs) include 20 diseases that the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies as tropical diseases which human race must overcome. More than 1.7 billion people living in the poorest and most marginalized communities worldwide are exposed to the risk of NTD infection. The spread of NTDs is mainly caused by poor hygienic conditions associated with poverty. Infections from these diseases may result in serious physical impairment and this often results in normal economic and social activities becoming highly challenging to the individual. In the worst cases, NTDs may also result in death. The prevalence of NTDs is a stumbling block to economic growth for developing and emerging countries.The following 20 NTDs have been designated by the WHO for control or elimination: dengue fever and chikungunya, rabies, trachoma, buruli ulcer, endemic treponematoses (yaws), leprosy (Hansen's disease), Chagas disease, African sleeping sickness (Human African trypanosomiasis), leishmaniasis, taeniasis/cysticercosis, dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease], echinococcosis, food-borne trematode infections, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, mycetoma, scabies and snakebite envenoming.About MycetomaMycetoma was officially recognized as the 18th NTD by the WHO in 2016. It is considered to be one of the most neglected tropical diseases since there is a lack of basic information including its transmission pathway and incidence. Mycetoma is a progressive, chronic subcutaneous infectious disease. While most commonly seen in the feet, it can also occur in other parts of the body. It is caused by bacteria or fungus entering the body through a cut or wound and infecting the tissue beneath the skin.(1)Mycetoma is divided into two subtypes: Actinomycetoma (caused by bacterial infection) and Eumycetoma (caused by fungal infection). Actinomycetoma can be treated with antibiotics, with more than 90% success rate. On the other hand, while azole anti-fungal drugs can be used to treat Eumycetoma, the effectiveness is limited often resulting in recurrence and surgery or amputation of limbs.About MalariaMalaria, one of the three major infectious diseases, is caused by malaria parasites that are transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. According to the WHO, about the half of the world's population is exposed to the risk of malaria, and there were an estimated 247 million malaria cases in 85 countries in 2021, of which about 620,000 lost their life. In particular, infants, children under the age of five, and pregnant women are more likely to develop serious illness and are always at risk of life-threatening conditions.(2)Recently, strains of malaria which are resistant to existing medicines have been reported, and the development of a new medicine with a novel mechanism of action is an urgent priority. The majority of available antimalarial medicines target the blood-stage, in which the parasites replicate within erythrocytes, but medicines for the liver and transmission stages are limited. In order to completely cure malaria, prevent relapse, and prevent malaria being spread via mosquitoes, it is necessary to develop a new antimalarial medicine which targets all stages of the parasite lifecycle.(1) WHO Mycetoma www.who.int/buruli/mycetoma/en/(2) WHO Malaria www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malariaMedia Inquiries:Public Relations Department,Eisai Co., Ltd.+81-(0)3-3817-5120Source: EisaiCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Mona empowers businesses to leverage the full potential of generative AI through advanced, granular monitoring capabilities ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Mona, the leading AI monitoring company, today announces the launch of its generative AI monitoring solution, providing complete visibility for prompt engineering, large language models, GPT, and other generative AI projects. Mona's Generative AI Monitoring Mona automatically detects issues such as profanity use within prompts. To ensure safe and effective use of generative AI approaches, avoid operational risks and ultimately gain the trust of business customers, it is critical to implement effective monitoring. Mona's monitoring solution offers a range of benefits helping generative AI teams ensure the optimal performance and reliability of their generative AI. Key features include: Optimize API Usage: Track generative AI functionality and performance. Find opportunities to reduce resource usage and optimize your API calls with advanced, granular tracking and automatic improvement suggestions. Track generative AI functionality and performance. Find opportunities to reduce resource usage and optimize your API calls with advanced, granular tracking and automatic improvement suggestions. Mitigate Risks: Get alerted on behavior outliers, drifts and sudden changes. Avoid problems caused due to model "hallucinations." Unsure of what can go wrong? Mona knows exactly what to look for. Get alerted on behavior outliers, drifts and sudden changes. Avoid problems caused due to model "hallucinations." Unsure of what can go wrong? Mona knows exactly what to look for. Easy Integration: Just wrap your API calls with our client, and monitoring is set up automatically. "Our platform has always focused on product-oriented AI and AI-based processes, as opposed to just monitoring the models," said Itai Bar-Sinai, Chief Product Officer and Co-founder at Mona. "Mona is perfectly tailored to accommodate the industry's shift towards using generative AI." Mona is ideal for teams that host their own LLMs or call on models built by others via API, enabling monitoring for any large language model and any image generation tool. For more information, please visit: https://www.monalabs.io/generative-ai. About Mona Mona is a monitoring platform for AI in production. The intelligent monitoring solution helps organizations increase trust in their AI system by giving them an analytical engine that can detect issues weeks or longer before they come to the surface, and by that to help avoid AI catastrophes. The company's highly configurable platform provides teams with tailored, real-time insights to monitor and investigate performance issues, proactively alerting them regarding model behavior anomalies and data integrity issues. Founded in 2018 by product leaders and operators from Google and McKinsey & Co., the company is backed by top VCs, with offices in Tel Aviv and Atlanta. Learn more by visiting http://www.monalabs.io. Contact Information Diane Vo Marketing Lead diane@monalabs.io (408) 429-3549 SOURCE: Mona View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757051/Mona-Introduces-Industrys-First-Generative-AI-Monitoring-Solution 71% of malicious payloads sent from compromised accounts were HTML smuggling attacks 51 % increase in attacks sent from compromised accounts Advanced p hishing attacks commoditized by crime-as-a-service gangs CFOs are the most likely to be targeted by whaling attacks London, UK.- 25thMay2023 - Egress, a cybersecurity company that provides intelligent email security, today released its inaugural Email Threats Pulse Report. The report's findings demonstrate the evolving attack methodologies currently used by cybercriminals that are designed to get through traditional perimeter security. All phishing threat data and examples contained within this report were taken from Egress Defend, an Integrated Cloud Email Security solution that uses intelligent technology to detect and neutralize phishing attacks. "The evolution of phishing emails continues to pose a major threat to organizations, emphasizing the need to enhance defenses to prevent attacks," said Jack Chapman, VP of Threat Intelligence, Egress. "Although traditional signature-based detection can filter out phishing emails with known malicious payloads (attachments and links), cybercriminals are constantly refining their attack methods to bypass existing detection systems and appear more credible to their victims. Our report reveals that attacks are increasingly leveraging social engineering, advanced technical measures, and compromised email addresses to deliver sophisticated payloads or defraud organizations. Every attack we analyzed had bypassed other forms of anti-phishing detection, including secure email gateways (SEGs). By producing this report, we intend to equip cybersecurity professionals with insights into advanced attacks, highlight the necessity of evolving defenses in their cloud email platform, and provide strategic recommendations to help them do so." Email Threats Pulse Report (May 2023): Key trends Cybersecurity experts are grappling with new strategies that surpass conventional domain-based inspection methods, with a growing focus on exploiting legitimate business tools like SharePoint and other trusted sources to deliver attacks. To shed light on these evolving attack techniques, the Egress Email Threats Pulse Report offers an in-depth look into email threat vectors. The key phishing trends include: Malicious payloads hidden by legitimate websites: Using legitimate hyperlinks for reputable brands as carriers for malicious payloads enables attacks to bypass standard link checks. Amongst the sites leveraged by hackers and detected by Egress Defend, YouTube, Amazon AWS, Google Docs, Firebase Storage, and DocuSign emerged as the top 10 most frequently used, with a 121% rise in this method observed between January 1 and April 30, 2023, compared to September to December 2022. Phishing commoditized: Phishing remains part of the Anything-as-a-Service (XaaS) model, with crime-as-a-service gangs continuing to sell phishing kits. In a campaign analyzed by the Egress Threat Intelligence team, cybercriminal gang Caffeine leveraged the Ticketmaster brand to obfuscate a malicious payload. With bad actors no longer needing to be highly skilled or particularly motivated, the commoditization of phishing is increasing the development, deployment, and impact of these threats. Increase in compromised accounts used to launch phishing attacks Egress Defend detected a 51% increase in phishing emails sent from compromised legitimate email accounts in the first four months of 2023. When analyzing these attacks, researchers found that 71% of the attachment-based payloads were HTML smuggling attacks. This allows the attacker to build malware behind an organization's firewall and is a highly evasive attack technique that is increasing in prevalence as it enables phishing emails to bypass traditional email security controls, particularly SEGs. Phishing the C-Suite: The C-suite has significant authority over access to funds, systems, and data, making them highly lucrative individuals to phish. Egress Defend detected the top three targets as CFOs (31% of attempts), CEOs (25%), and CMOs (13%). Overall, those leading functions related to security, risk, and compliance were the least targeted, likely due to a lower success rate owing to their increased security awareness. How to defend against phishing threats Organizations must adapt their defenses as cybercriminals continue to evolve their attacks. The report calls for the prioritization of behavior-based email security that uses AI to mitigate the increase in threats evading signature-based and reputation-based perimeter security. Integrated cloud email security (ICES) is a new category of anti-phishing technology that uses advanced detection capabilities, such as natural language processing and natural language understanding, to protect organizations from sophisticated attacks. ICES solutions protect organizations from advanced email attacks by analyzing email content for signs of BEC. With phishing attempts being a constant business threat, these solutions integrate directly into the mailbox to engage users at the point of risk and augment security awareness and training programs. To read Egress'Email Threats Pulse Report:Insight into key phishing threat trends including all its analysis and findings please visit https://egress.co/pulse-report. About Egress Egress makes digital communication safer for everyone. As advanced and persistent cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, we recognize that people get hacked, make mistakes, and break the rules. Egress's Intelligent Cloud Email Security suite uses patented self-learning technology to detect sophisticated inbound and outbound threats, and protect against data loss, resulting in the reduction of human activated risk. Used by the world's biggest brands, Egress is private equity backed and has offices in London, New York, and Boston. ZTE is dedicated to shaping a sustainable future through digital innovation. The report showcases ZTE's outstanding achievements and future plans in implementing the "Driver of Digital Economy" strategy, fulfilling corporate social responsibilities. SHENZHEN, China, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of information and communication technology solutions, has released its highly anticipated 2022 Annual Sustainability Report today. This comprehensive report showcases ZTE's outstanding achievements and future plans in implementing the "Driver of Digital Economy" strategy, fulfilling corporate social responsibilities, supporting society's digital transformation, advocating sustainable development, contributing to global communities, and advancing corporate governance. Demonstrating its commitment to transparency and accountability, ZTE has voluntarily published its sustainability report to the public every year since 2009, maintaining a remarkable fifteen-year consecutive record. Deepening technological innovation to facilitate high-quality global digital economy development In 2022, the global political and economic landscape remained complex, characterized by various pressures, challenges, and uncertainties. However, amidst these circumstances, digitization has emerged as a crucial element. Recognizing the significance of this digital era, ZTE has focused on further enhancing its technological innovation capabilities. By leveraging its expertise, ZTE is committed to supporting global digital transformation through the development and delivery of innovative ICT technology products and solutions. Xu Ziyang, Executive Director and CEO of ZTE, emphasized in the report, "ZTE will stick to its role as a driver of digital economy and strive for excellence while tackling the hardest challenges. With greater determination, we will join hands with partners across the industry to break new ground, and ultimately contribute to high-quality economic growth and make the planet a better place for all." The report highlights ZTE's commitment to independent innovation and its focus on technological advancements. By the end of 2022, ZTE had accumulated over 85,000 global patent applications, with approximately 43,000 patents authorized over the years. A report published by JLL, a global investment management company, recognizes ZTE as a leading player in global patent deployment, and the Company is actively involved in research and standardization efforts for 5G technology on a global scale. As a front-runner in the digital revolution, ZTE remains committed to driving progress and empowering various industries, playing a pivotal role in shaping a new digital ecosystem. In 2022, ZTE forged partnerships with more than 500 companies across 15 industries, including industrial manufacturing, metallurgy and steel, mining, power, transportation, and large enterprises. Through the implementation of innovative solutions, ZTE facilitated over a hundred digital transformation initiatives, leading to the successful development of several flagship projects. These efforts have significantly accelerated the overall digital transformation and advancement of society. Actively practicing low-carbon strategies for a sustainable future ZTE is deeply committed to the concept of green development and actively participates in the global transition to a decarbonized economy. It strives to empower various industries with energy-saving and emission reduction measures, helping them quickly embrace the path of green development. The Company aims to move towards a sustainable future with a green and low-carbon approach. In the report, Xie Junshi, Executive Vice President and COO of ZTE, stated, "Sticking to the low-carbon strategy, ZTE keeps moving forward on a green path to digital economy. With our established carbon neutrality target, we have set up a corporate-level team and systematically advanced ten major carbon reduction initiatives." ZTE paves Digital Economy Boulevards through four key dimensions: green corporate operations, green supply chain, green digital infrastructure, and green industry empowerment. The Company continuously strengthens its efforts in energy-saving and emission reduction throughout production and operations, enabling operators to establish comprehensive green and low-carbon networks. In 2022, while maintaining revenue growth, ZTE Corporation achieved a year-on-year decrease of 7.48% in greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1&2&3). The Company also achieved a reduction of over 14% in energy consumption per unit of products sold and a 4.9% decrease in the total emissions from products sold and used. ZTE implemented initiatives such as "5G-to-Manufacture 5G" and dark factories to manufacture its products, resulting in a 9.3% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per unit for 5G products manufactured and a decrease of over 7.13% in electricity consumption compared to the previous year. Furthermore, ZTE actively develops digital energy solutions such as AI energy cloud, green power generation, and intelligent energy storage to expedite the journey towards carbon neutrality. Through collaboration with more than 500 industry partners, ZTE explores technological empowerment for energy-saving, emission reduction, and operational efficiency improvements, facilitating accelerated digital transformation across various sectors. As an infrastructure provider, ZTE has always been actively striving to contribute to the improvement of the social and environmental aspects. In 2022, ZTE received an "A-" rating from the global environmental information research organization, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), for its outstanding performance in climate change. ZTE was also awarded the CDP China 2022 "Environmental Leadership Award" in recognition of its achievements. In addition, in 2022, the Company received the ISO 14604-1:2018 Greenhouse Gas Verification Statement from SGS, becoming one of the first companies in the Chinese telecommunications industry to adopt and implement this standard. On May 24th, ZTE announced its participation in the "Science-Based Targets Initiative" (SBTi) and conducted a commitment signing ceremony. Aligning with the initiative's guidelines, ZTE will establish science-based emission reduction targets in the near term and strive for long-term net-zero emissions. Over the course of 5-10 years, ZTE aims to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with the 1.5C temperature rise limitation pathway and ultimately reach net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. As an advocate for green development, ZTE actively promotes energy-saving and emission reduction initiatives. Leveraging its advanced ICT technology expertise and advantages, the Company collaborates with like-minded partners to implement green and low-carbon initiatives. Through these efforts, ZTE aims to drive the entire industry chain towards achieving carbon neutrality targets and contribute to a sustainable future. Embracing openness and transparency, empowering the growth of ecosystem partners together ZTE has been committed to providing secure and trustworthy products and services to the industry and customers. It continuously benchmarks industry security standards and strives to earn external recognition and trust through an open and transparent approach. It became the first company worldwide to obtain the German Federal Office for Information Security's (BSI) NESAS CCS-GI security certification. ZTE has also achieved certifications and audits for various management systems, including ISO 9001, TL 9000, QC 080000, ESD, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, and ISO 22301. The certifications cover multiple major research and development centers and manufacturing bases, with product scope spanning across the Company's main product categories. Furthermore, ZTE is dedicated to enhancing supplier responsibility management and implementing responsible procurement practices. Through supplier CSR certification, risk assessment, on-site audits, and capacity-building training, the Company encourages suppliers to establish and effectively operate CSR management systems. In 2022, in line with the Company's overall carbon neutrality strategy, ZTE initiated dual-carbon audits for suppliers, conducting audits for 109 suppliers, and collaborated with supplier partners to foster mutual growth and development. Pioneering technology for the betterment of society, fulfilling corporate social responsibility As a global enterprise, ZTE has long upheld the principles of sustainable development and actively fulfilled its corporate social responsibility, spreading love and responsibility across numerous countries worldwide. It has helped people around the globe achieve sustainable development, demonstrating its commitment and dedication as a multinational corporation. Since its establishment, the ZTE Foundation has implemented over 157 philanthropic projects in education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and more, benefiting over 100,000 individuals. By the end of 2022, a total of 8,063 registered employee volunteers had contributed 19,746.5 hours of voluntary service. For six consecutive years, the ZTE Foundation has received a perfect score in the China Foundation Transparency Index (FTI). Additionally, it has been honored with awards such as the "Top 10 Philanthropic Organizations" and "Top 10 Innovative Projects" by the Touching Shenzhen Care Action program, recognizing its outstanding contributions to the community. Moving forward, ZTE will remain committed to promoting the concept of sustainable development worldwide, seeking harmonious coexistence with society, the environment, and stakeholders. By fostering collaboration with industry partners, ZTE will actively explore new opportunities and pave the way towards a sustainable future. Through digital innovation, the Company aims to drive inclusive and uplifting growth, ultimately creating a brighter and more sustainable world. For the full version of ZTE 2022 Sustainability Report, please download via the link. For more highlights about ZTE 2022 Sustainability Report, please check via the link. ABOUT ZTE: ZTE helps to connect the world with continuous innovation for a better future. The company provides innovative technologies and integrated solutions, its portfolio spans all series of wireless, wireline, devices and professional telecommunications services. Serving over a quarter of the global population, ZTE is dedicated to creating a digital and intelligent ecosystem, and enabling connectivity and trust everywhere. ZTE is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. www.zte.com.cn/global FOLLOW US: Facebook www.facebook.com/ZTECorp Twitter www.twitter.com/ZTEPress LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/zte YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ZTECorporation MEDIA INQUIRIES: ZTE Corporation Communications Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zte-releases-2022-sustainability-report-301834676.html TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Sparta Group (TSXV:SAY) (the "Corporation", the "Company", "Sparta Group", "Sparta Capital", "SAY.V" or "Sparta") is launching an Autonomous Medicine Project, bringing together several of the Company's technology partners to potentially transform healthcare delivery in situations where access to medical assistance is limited or slow, including remote areas like Canada's northern Territories. When complete, the project is expected to offer healthcare professionals a medical decision support software that is Health Canada/FDA approved as a medical device and is capable of autonomously diagnosing illness and prescribing treatment. The project is initiated through Sparta's newly formed division, Sparta Health Corp. "This final product is meant to support doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals, as they work to serve patients effectively and efficiently. With our system, we expect that more people will not only receive quicker access to the medical help they need, the information provided will be based on the world's most current medical evidence," said John O'Bireck, President and CTO of Sparta. Sparta's Autonomous Medicine System ("AMS", or "Doc-in-a-Box") originated in a 2013 Canadian Space Agency ("CSA") concept study, specifically a manned exploration to Mars. A video demonstrates future possibilities of such a system, but the study confirmed its feasibility. Two of the authors of the study are now valued members of Sparta's Technical Advisory Board ("TAB") and continue to work on developing various key components of the system. Sparta's newly formed Sparta Health Corporation is working to carry the transformative technology over the finish line. During a medical incident Doc-in-a-Box can be used by a trained medical observer, such as an EMT, nurse, or physician. Essentially, the medical professional is guided in the collection of symptoms thus allowing the technology to establish a diagnosis and subsequent treatment because it has relied on the most up-to-date evidence-based medicine. Analogous to the recently popularized ChatGPT platform, Doc-in-a-Box applies a similar form of Natural Language Processing ("NLP"). In this case, to medical guidelines and clinical research to maintain a current knowledge base. The AMS project has various stages to go through before being deemed a "medical device", including production of a SaMD (Software as a Medical Device), as well as procedural and test data submissions to Health Canada. Sparta management expects the development and integration process to take between 12 to 24 months. The intent is to meet with the investment community in the next month to secure the balance of the necessary funding. "The demand for healthcare access continues to grow due to an aging population and chronic shortage of medical professionals in remote areas. At Sparta, we see these challenges, as an exciting opportunity to deliver creative solutions," O'Bireck added. About Sparta Sparta Group is leading a green revolution in the business world with advanced technologies that reduce carbon footprint, save money, and enhance public image. Sparta products solve problems by leveraging Web 3, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and machine learning to fast-track the transition towards a sustainable future. With Sparta, businesses can optimize their energy usage, upcycle electronic waste and accelerate health technologies, such as autonomous medicine. Sparta operates with three divisions - Environment, Innovation and Energy. These divisions deliver customized solutions to fit each client's needs. Sparta is the only North American company to provide verified, high-quality carbon credits to customers through electronic waste processing at its facilities in Toronto, Canada, and Oman (Arabian Peninsula). Sparta is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "SAY" (TSX.V: SAY) and (OTC: SCAXF). Additional information is available at www.spartagroup.ca or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For further information please contact: John O'Bireck, President Email: jobireck@spartagroup.ca Telephone: (905) 751-8004 Cautionary Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this news 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. Although the Corporation believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date of publication of this news release and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Furthermore, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Corporation. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, statements pertaining to the "Offering" and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, necessary financing and risks associated with the environmental technologies industry in general. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Sparta Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757135/Sparta-Launches-Autonomous-Medicine-Project-to-Create-Medical-Decision-Support-for-Transformational-Healthcare-Delivery-in-Challenging-Locations VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM) (FRA:1XMA) (OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces that it plans to start the 2023 exploration programs beginning at the Wild Horse project near Cranbrook in southeastern BC. Photo of local prospector at gold nugget painted rock at Wild Horse property. The Wild Horse project is located northeast of Fort Steele Cranbrook, B.C and covers source areas for the famous historic Wild Horse River placer gold deposit. Hard rock gold was discovered in this area as early as 1895. In 2015, gold mineralization was found on the Lone 4 claim on Gold Mountain, where gold-bearing quartz veins occur in northeast trending shears and breccias (BC Assessment report 35844). The Lone 4 was drilled in 2016 but the hole stopped in mineralization. In the summer of 2021, that hole was extended and intercepted quartz stockwork and breccia-style mineralization continuing below the end of the 2016 hole. The combined mineralized interval from both holes is 86 meters length at an average of grade 0.36 grams per tonne gold (BC Assessment report 39757). The results indicate potential for a bulk-minable gold deposit. Photo of drill core from hole GM21-01 showing quartz stockwork. This year, Ximen plans to drill an area where gold was previously panned from overburden samples; "panned concentrates made from the glacial till in the target area produced abundant grains of gold. The grains of gold are sharply angular and are generally less than 1 mm in size" with one sample containing 35 grains of gold(BC Assessment report 34212). 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, 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 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 SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757169/Ximen-Mining-2023-Exploration-Includes-Drilling-at-Wild-Horse-Project-Cranbrook-BC Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE) (OTCQB: AMEGF) ("American Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced strategic investment in the Company by Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A) (TSX: TECK.B) (NYSE: TECK) ("Teck") through a structured charity flow-through financing on a private placement basis. The Company has issued 14,400,000 common shares on a flow-through basis (the "Charity FT Shares") at a price of C$0.205 per Charity FT Share for issue proceeds of approximately $2.96 million (the "Offering"). Through a structured flow-through transaction, Teck subsequently acquired 14,400,000 common shares of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $1.87 million, or $0.13 per common share. Highlights: The Offering fully funds the American Eagle's 2023 drill program on NAK and provides the capital to advance its ongoing exploration activities at the NAK copper-gold porphyry project located (the "Nak Project"), near Smithers, BC . Drilling on American Eagle's NAK is expected to recommence in June. No warrants or finders fees were issued in connection with the Offering. "We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully secured Teck's investment and obtained all the necessary permits, paving the way for our upcoming drill program in 2023. The timing of these developments couldn't be more favorable, and we anticipate that the investment community will soon recognize the immense potential of our NAK property, just as Teck, a prominent industry leader and expert, has. We are excited to have Teck's backing to advance work on the project, given the company's track record in exploration, and commitment to collaborative relationships to advance exploration projects," said Anthony Moreau, CEO of American Eagle Gold. American Eagle announced on May 10th (see release here) it had received its 5-Year Drill Permit for the NAK Project. The proceeds of the Offering fully funds American Eagle's 2023 drill program. The primary objectives for this year's drill program will be to: Follow up the 2022 drill program via east-west step-out drilling and begin to delineate the true size of this potential deposit; Expand and better define the orientation and distribution of the higher-grade zones of dyke-hosted bornite mineralization; Expand the known footprint of the high-grade at-surface south gold zone; and Step out and investigate the highly prospective southern margin of the main Babine stock porphyry. View 2023 Drill Targets View NAK Technical Webinar About the Previous Drilling Historical drilling defined a large surface copper and gold footprint measuring 1500 x 1500m open in all directions. However, historical drilling had been restricted to the upper parts of the mineralized alteration zone, testing to an average vertical depth of only 170m. American Eagle's 2022 drill program tested mineralization below the historical shallow drilling and discovered broad intercepts of bornite bearing copper-gold porphyry mineralization. 2023's objective is to continue advancing the NAK property by expanding its known mineralized footprint and identifying the high-grade source of copper and gold on NAK. About American Eagle's NAK Project NAK is a porphyry copper-gold target that exhibits many signs of a robust and large-scale system. Historical drilling, while shallow, defined a near-surface copper-gold system with a footprint greater than 1.5km x 1.5km. Drilling in 2022 showed that the property holds substantial deep potential but remains largely untested at depth, while near-surface mineralization potential was significantly larger than historically defined. The NAK property is road accessible, and many target areas coincide with forest industry clear cuts. Drilling can be undertaken year-round, and no helicopter support is required. The NAK property is 85 kilometres from Smithers, BC, in the Babine copper-gold porphyry district of west-central British Columbia. It lies close to past-producing mines (Bell, Granisle) and excellent infrastructure. NAK's highly encouraging initial results make it a prime candidate for further exploration. The Company's main objective is to advance this newly revitalized prospect into a major discovery. Drilling is expected to commence in early June 2023. Closing Details Pursuant to the Offering, a total of 14,400,000 Charity FT Shares were issued on a charity flow through basis. An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the Offering will be used to incur, on the Company's Canadian mineral exploration properties, eligible resource exploration expenses that will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Income Tax Act (the "Tax Act"), (ii) "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"); and (iii) as a "BC flow-through mining expenditure" for purchasers in British Columbia. The Qualifying Expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Offering will be incurred on or before December 31, 2024 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the Charity FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023. In the event that the Company is unable to renounce the issue price for the Charity FT Shares on or prior to December 31, 2023 for each Charity FT Share purchased and/or if the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will as sole recourse for such failure to renounce, indemnify each initial purchaser for the additional taxes payable by such subscriber to the extent permitted by the Tax Act as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures as agreed. No warrants are included in the Offering, and no finders fees or commissions were paid. The Charity FT Shares are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day following the closing of the Offering. Following the issuance of the Charity FT Shares, Teck acquired the 14,400,400 common shares of American Eagle ("Common Shares") for an aggregate purchase price of $1.87 million, or $0.13 per Common Share. In connection with the Offering, American Eagle and Teck entered into a letter agreement wherein Teck was granted certain investor rights for so long as Teck's ownership in American Eagle remains greater than 5.0% of American Eagle's issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis. Such rights include Teck being granted equity participation rights to maintain its pro-rata ownership in the Company and certain information rights relating to the NAK Project. Early Warning Disclosure Upon closing of the Offering, Teck now holds a total of 14,400,000 Common Shares of American Eagle, amounting to approximately 15.0% of American Eagle's issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis. As a result of the completion of the Offering on May 25, 2023, Teck acquired beneficial ownership and control of 14,400,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.13 per Common Share, which represents approximately 15% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares after the Offering. Prior to the completion of the Offering, Teck held no Common Shares. As a result of the Offering, the amount of Common Shares beneficially held by Teck is now 14,400,000 Common Shares, amounting to 15.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a diluted and non-diluted basis. Teck's purchase of the Common Shares was made for investment purposes. Teck may determine to increase or decrease its investment in American Eagle depending on market conditions and any other relevant factors. This release is required to be issued under the early warning requirements of applicable securities laws. A copy of the early warning report may be obtained from the contacts listed below. Teck's head office is located at Suite 3300 - 550 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 0B3. A copy of Teck's early warning report may be obtained from Chris Stannell at 604 699 4368. A copy of the early warning report in relation to the above Offering will appear with American Eagle's filings on SEDAR. The disclosure in this news release under the heading "Early Warning Disclosure" has been issued under the early warning provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For the latest videos from American Eagle, Ore Group, and all things mining, subscribe to our YouTube Chanel: youtube.com/@theoregroup. About American Eagle Gold Corp. American Eagle is focused on exploring its NAK project in the Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry district of central British Columbia. Anthony Moreau, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 416.644.1567 Email: amoreau@oregroup.ca www.americaneaglegold.ca QP Statement Mark Bradley, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., a Certified Professional Geologist and 'qualified person' for the purposes of Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties, has verified and approved the information contained in this news release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information ("forward- looking statements"), including details about the business of the Company. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the intended use of proceeds from the Offering to fully fund the 2023 drill program on the Company's NAK project; the expected timeline and results for the 2023 drill program; the anticipated favourability of the investment community for the Offering and the NAK project; the ability of the Company to incur the Qualifying Expenditures on or before December 31, 2024 and the effective renunciation of the full issue price for the Charity FT Shares on or prior to December 31, 2023. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are discussed in the Company's public disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167283 +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. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Dyne Therapeutics, Inc. (DYN), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, Thursday, announced that its investigational drug DYNE-101 has been granted orphan drug designation by the European Medicines Agency. The orphan drug designation is granted to drugs and biologics that treat, diagnose, or prevent rare or life-threatening diseases that affect fewer than 5 in ten thousand people in the European Union. This designation gives certain benefits including reduced regulatory fees, clinical protocol assistance among others. DYNE-101 is being evaluated in a phase I/II global clinical trial in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1, dubbed ACHIEVE. Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 is a rare, progressive, genetic disease that affects skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle. More than 40,000 people in the United States and over 74,000 people in Europe are affected by this disease, for which there are no approved disease-modifying therapies. Initial data from the multiple ascending dose portion of the ACHIEVE study is expected in the second half of 2023. DYN is currently trading at $13.58, up 0.67%. 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. The iconic rum brand is giving people plenty of reasons to hit the dance floor around the world, including new global streetwear partnerships kicking off with Stadium Goods, global speakeasy style events, interactive upgrades to its renowned music festival roster, and more. HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, BACARDI Rum wants you to dance like everyone is watching. The world's most awarded rum brand is launching a series of unique activations under its "Do What Moves You" platform to encourage people to embrace community and enjoy the freedom of self-expression. The festivities will kick off in June with a BACARDI x Stadium Goods speakeasy pop-up, a one-of-a-kind retail and party experience created in partnership with the covetable streetwear brand. At first glance, the event will appear to take place at a traditional Stadium Goods sneaker store with custom BACARDI x Stadium Goods merch offerings. In a nod to classic speakeasy cocktail bars, the surprise will lie in a secret entrance behind the stockroom door where attendees will be immersed in a lively, Caribbean-inspired BACARDI celebration, with pop-up musical guests, exclusive BACARDI rum cocktail tastings, and more. The pop-up will be open to consumers aged 21+ on June 8th, by RSVP only at the LINK HERE . "The spirit of BACARDI has always been one of self-expression, free of judgment, and, of course, one that is ready to dance," said Laila Mignoni, Global Head of Brand Marketing Communications for BACARDI. "We're thrilled to partner with the pros at Stadium Goods and streetwear icon, Jeff Staple, allowing consumers to embrace their individuality through touchpoints that inspire consumers to Do What Moves You. Every aspect of our partnership is designed to bring people together, embracing the connective tissue between our iconic rum and the sneaker community to inspire movement in both the physical and emotional sense." To ensure everyone who attends a BACARDI party this summer is equipped with the perfect pair of 'dancing shoes', BACARDI will gift attendees the Dancing Shoes NFT, an exclusive digital wearable created in collaboration with creative visionary and founder of the streetwear brand STAPLE, Jeff Staple , and web3 studio, Kollectiff . Dropped into guests' digital wallets during the event, the NFT will appear with a purposefully simplistic design, allowing for individual customizations by interacting with various elements within the temporary retail store. Those who complete the NFT customizations at the event will have a chance to forge their digital creations into a one-of-a-kind physical pair of sneakers-their one-of-a-kind Dancing Shoes-that will be delivered directly to them this summer. Following the New York launch, the rhythm will continue through the summer, including: The all-new BACARDI "Do What Moves You" Snap lens will first debut at the BACARDI x Stadium Goods pop-up via Snap's augmented reality mirror and will later be available to 21+ Snapchatters throughout the summer. This new-to-market technology, developed for BACARDI by Snap, features a custom augmented reality lens including a specially-commissioned music track, "Sientelo" from the brand's first-ever original EP, now available on Spotify , which will adapt based on users' movements to create a wholly new rhythm that's unique to you. will first debut at the pop-up via Snap's augmented reality mirror and will later be available to 21+ Snapchatters throughout the summer. This new-to-market technology, developed for BACARDI by Snap, features a custom augmented reality lens including a specially-commissioned music track, "Sientelo" from the brand's first-ever original EP, , which will adapt based on users' movements to create a wholly new rhythm that's unique to you. A revitalized BACARDI summer festival season , starting with Governor's Ball in NYC on June 9th and continuing through Lollapalooza ( Chicago ), Life is Beautiful ( Las Vegas ), Parookaville ( Germany ), Lowlands Festival ( Netherlands ), and more. Festivalgoers who visit the CASA BACARDI festival experience will be treated to exceptional cocktail offerings, exclusive merch drops, and further chances to customize their Dancing Shoes NFT. The campaign will culminate in October with a final pop-up ahead of Amsterdam's biggest dance music festival, featuring exclusive merchandise and a limited-edition giveaway of collectable physical Dancing Shoes in collaboration with a world renowned Amsterdam streetwear brand. Countries all over the world including Spain, New Zealand, Germany and Austria will put on their Dancing Shoes this summer with festival activations, local retail partnerships and pop-up experiences. For more information follow @bacardi on all social channels. For more information about BACARDI summer festival series, head over to the CASA BACARDI 2023 Festival MAP . About BACARDI Rum - The World's Most Awarded Rum In 1862, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso revolutionized the spirits industry when he created a light-bodied rum with a particularly smooth taste - BACARDI. The unique taste of BACARDI rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous recipes including the BACARDI Mojito, the BACARDI Daiquiri, the BACARDI Cuba Libre, the BACARDI Pina Colada and the BACARDI El Presidente. BACARDI rum is the world's most awarded spirit, with more than 1000 awards for quality, taste and innovation. Today, BACARDI rum is made mainly in Puerto Rico where it is crafted to ensure the taste remains the same today as it did when it was first blended in 1862. www.BACARDI.com The BACARDI brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY. 2022. BACARDI AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS. About Stadium Goods Stadium Goods is the world's premier marketplace for sneakers and streetwear. Founded in 2015 by connoisseurs with a deep history in the culture of sneakers and streetwear, Stadium Goods' core mission is to bring unparalleled customer service and a luxury retail aesthetic to the aftermarket. Since being acquired by Farfetch in 2019, Stadium Goods has leveraged its unique position as the authentic home for the "new" luxury fashion of sneakers and streetwear to expand its offering to include legacy luxury fashion. Stadium Goods operates brick-and-mortar retail stores in New York and Chicago, and ships worldwide via stadiumgoods.com and its partners. For more information, please visit www.stadiumgoods.com . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085711/BACARDI_Rum_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085712/BACARDI_Rum_2.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/grab-your-dancing-shoes-bacardi-rum-wants-you-to-move-to-your-own-beat-this-summer-301834766.html Arendai and AiQ robotics join forces at MODERNLOG in Poznan, Poland, from May 30 - June 2 to share expertise into the world of automation in logistics and the factory of the future. SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / The partnership will enable the companies to expand their services into the rapidly growing industry 4.0. By combining Arendai's cutting-edge solution, Harmony, with mobile robotics from AiQ robotics, the partnership will develop advanced and intelligent solutions for a diverse range of use cases, giving a significant competitive advantage in the market. iQtraveler KV800 "We are excited to announce our new partnership with leading robotics company, AiQ robotics," said Walter Buga, CEO of Arendai. "We believe that the combination of simulation, AI and robotics has the potential to revolutionize operations for many verticals, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront of this innovation." In the field of robotics solutions and automation, nearly every application is characterized by individual and unique conditions. A strength of the new partnership is the ability to provide a joint customizable, flexible, and interoperable solution to any use-case. The partnership between Arendai and AiQ robotics is expected to have a significant impact on logistics and smart manufacturing. "I am convinced that AiQ robotics' products and extensive experience, completed by Arendai's Harmony software integration capabilities, gives a great and innovative boost to the autonomous intralogistics market," said Przemyslaw Degorski, Founder of AiQ robotics. "Customers will be able to take advantage of a complete robotic integration solution. Our target is to deliver an easily deployed system for production and warehousing good transportation." The companies aim to leverage their expertise in artificial intelligence in the optimization of intralogistics processes and in collaboration with human intelligence. Arendai and AiQ robotics will have a joint exhibit at the MODERNLOG fair in Poznan, Poland, from May 30-June 2. The partners will demonstrate the integration of Arendai's software orchestration solution and a mobile robot from AiQ robotics with game-changing navigation capabilities, including the use of QR codes and SLAM. About Arendai Arendai Inc. is a pioneer in the delivery of innovative software management solutions for the orchestration of logistics centers and the intralogistics operations of smart factories. By applying simulation, digital twin, and AI, Arendai delivers optimal orchestration of heterogeneous AMRs and robotics solutions. Arendai has excellent, engaged ecosystem partners with a focus on solving real customer problems and producing an attractive ROI. Please visit www.arendai.com for more information and follow Arendai on LinkedIn and YouTube. About AiQ robotics AiQ robotics company was founded on the basis of extensive experience gained in the robotics and automation market in the field of measurements, electric motors, motor accessories, controllers, control, complete solutions and commissioning. Customers can take advantage of ready-made products, as well as robotics and automation components enabling the construction of highly sophisticated and innovative projects. Please visit aiq-robotics.com for more information and follow AiQ robotics on Linkedin. Contact Information Walter Buga CEO walter.buga@arendai.com 9162012220 Jan Murlewski CTO jan.murlewski@arendai.com SOURCE: Arendai, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/756911/Arendai-and-AiQ-robotics-Announce-New-Partnership-to-Provide-a-Single-Point-Solution-of-Heterogenous-Orchestration-and-Robotics +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. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / As a mechanical engineer and the General Manager of Maintenance and Reliability for Suncor's Base Plant Upgrading in Fort McMurray, Alta., Isabelle Varney knows firsthand what can be accomplished when women working in male-dominated roles and sectors, like energy, band together to share their successes. "Seeing other women succeed in this industry has been important for me as a woman and as a leader," says Isabelle. "There is something very powerful about being able to see women thrive in this field and making connections with other women in the energy sector." Working to celebrate the achievements and potential of women in the sector, Isabelle is active in Suncor's employee inclusion network, Women Engage (WE). Through her work with WE, Isabelle was recently recognized by Young Women in Energy (YWE)-an organization with over 4,500 members-with an award naming her one of 10 inspirational young women leading Alberta's evolving energy landscape. "Receiving this award means a lot to me. First as a woman who has spent the last 12 years in the industry and second because it celebrates something I'm very passionate about: inclusion and diversity." YWE was formed in 2013 to bring women in the energy sector together to share their success stories, create more visibility and inclusion and celebrate the achievements of women, who make up 31 per cent of the workforce in Canada's energy sector. For Isabelle, who joined Suncor after working in the mining sector, having women's voices included in the workplace is simply good business sense. "We've only consulted a portion of the population when it comes to the people who can add value in this space. So, for me, it becomes even more important to pave a path and make sure women can be successful here. We need diverse thoughts, diverse people, diverse ideas at the table. We are not at our full potential because there's a large portion of the population we're not tapping into. This is true of the trades and of our technical teams-women need to see themselves in this field, so they want to join our teams and flourish." As a young engineer, Isabelle benefited from mentorships with men and women, who helped her grow in her career, provided her with different perspectives and showed her that she could succeed in the energy sector. "I've had really great mentors throughout my career who trusted me and believed in my abilities," explains Isabelle. "I see that I have an obligation to pay it forward, and to make the industry an even better place for women. We need to share stories of women who have had successful careers in the energy sector, while also working to create an environment where women feel included." Isabelle accepted her award in March during YWE's annual awards celebration and is featured in a special edition of YWE magazine. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Suncor Energy on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Suncor Energy Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/suncor-energy Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Suncor Energy View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757312/Suncors-Isabelle-Varney-Paving-a-Path-for-Women-in-Energy Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - ION Energy (TSXV: ION) (OTCQB: IONGF) (FSE: 5YB) is pleased to announce that the company is presenting a live virtual corporate update hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services on May 30th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET. We invite our shareholders, and all interested parties to register for the webinar and participate in the live Q&A session at the end of the presentation moderated by Red Cloud. The replay will be emailed out to all webinar registrants proceeding the event and will also be available on the Red Cloud website. For more information and to register: https://redcloudfs.com/rcwebinar-iongf/. ION Energy Ltd has recently acquired the Bliss Lake lithium pegmatite project in Northwest Territories, Canada. Attend this webinar to hear about ION's strategy to build a diversified global portfolio of exploration and growth-stage battery mineral assets. Commodities to be covered: Lithium About ION Energy ION Energy (TSX.V: ION) (OTCQB: IONGF) (FSE: 5YB) is firmly established as Mongolia's first mover with +110,000 hectares of lithium brine assets, close to the world's largest battery manufacturer and consumer base of electric vehicles. ION Energy is building a diversified global portfolio of exploration and growth-stage battery mineral assets, and has acquired the Bliss Lake lithium pegmatite project in Northwest Territories, Canada. ION Energy is well poised to be a key player in the clean energy revolution, with assets in established mining jurisdictions in close proximity to end-use markets. About Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. is a comprehensive capital markets platform that provides a full range of unconflicted corporate access and media related services. Offering these services as a unified platform provides the ultimate value proposition for junior resources companies in their efforts to broaden their capital markets presence. About Red Cloud Securities Inc. Red Cloud Securities Inc. is an IIROC-regulated investment dealer focused on providing unique comprehensive capital market services and innovative financing alternatives to the junior resource sector. The company was founded by capital markets professionals with extensive experience in the junior mining industry. For further information: ION Energy Ali Haji, CEO & Director - ION Energy +1-647-951-6508 info@ionenergy.ca For additional information contact marketing@redcloudfs.com or visit: www.redcloudfs.com www.facebook.com/RedCloudFinancialServices www.twitter.com/RedCloudFS www.linkedin.com/company/red-cloud-financial-services-inc www.youtube.com/c/RedCloudFinancialServicesInc www.instagram.com/redcloudfs Smile levels up its certification to continue to provide the highest security and compliance standards. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Smile Digital Health (Smile), a leading FHIR health data fabric and exchange solutions provider, announced on May 15, 2023, that it has successfully completed the System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type 2 attestation. This is the next step in certification from last year's completion of the SOC 2 Type 1. Security is an integral part of Smile's Health Data Fabric platform, solutions and services. The SOC 2 Type 2 is one component of an ongoing certification plan that aligns with the highest security standards, ensuring that Smile is always safeguarding its clients' data and providing the safest methods of storing, processing and exchanging sensitive information. Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA), SOC 2 is a security framework that specifies how organizations should protect client data from unauthorized access, security incidents and other vulnerabilities. The SOC 2 focuses on internal controls related to security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity and privacy. The SOC 2 Type 2 attestation report assesses the operating effectiveness of internal controls over an extended period of time. Gaining this next level of certification continues to solidify Smile as a leader when it comes to data security and privacy, which is key to its clients and prospective customers when working with the type of personal data they need to analyze and share regularly. "Obtaining the SOC 2 Type 2 attestation has been a key goal of this company as set in our Privacy and Security roadmap, which is built upon our Type 1 certification we obtained last year. Our clients and partners now have additional evidence of how we operate our services and ensure the protection of data as per our own stringent policies," said Luis de Barros, Chief Privacy and Security Officer, Smile Digital Health. The SOC 2 audits a wide range of tasks. Some of these include vulnerability scanning and management, testing of recovery plan procedures and monitoring various aspects of the retention period of data. This high-level summary barely touches on the areas available to audit and, in turn, showcases the extensive nature of the SOC 2. "The maturity and commitment of both our information security and compliance programs are evident with reaching the Type 2 attestation. The knowledge and diligence of our staff have accelerated our success in our certifications and further demonstrates their commitment to ensuring the highest level of safe data management," said Rhea Kolanko, Chief of Staff & VP Business Operations, Smile Digital Health. About Smile Digital Health Smile Digital Health is a health information technology company focused on delivering better global health through open standards. Our enterprise-grade, open framework data fabric and integration platform fuels healthcare's digital transformation and accelerates value creation across all patient journeys at scale. Powered by our HL7 FHIR standard-based clinical data repository (SmileInside), our platform enables collaboration and allows organizations to ingest, transform, store, enrich, analyze, aggregate and meaningfully share the health information to power digital transformation. We prepare healthcare providers, payers, researchers and life sciences organizations for a connected future beyond legacy systems, adding new value through the intelligent use of information, and ultimately delivering better patient outcomes. For more information, visit SmileDigitalHealth.com. Contact Information Victoria Valladolid Director of Marketing, Smile Digital Health pr@smiledigitalhealth.com (877) 537-3343 x 728 SOURCE: Smile Digital Health View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757166/Smile-Digital-Health-Completes-SOC-2-Type-2-Examination Continuing rapid expansion in the transit advertising space, Vector Media adds 5th largest US DMA to OOH platform. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Vector Media, the nation's most expansive transit media platform, has been awarded the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) advertising contract, increasing the company's portfolio of transit partnerships to include the 5th largest DMA in the country (Source: Nielsen). The addition of Dallas follows Vector's successful bid to revitalize Los Angeles' transit infrastructure, solidifying Vector as the fastest-growing and most innovative OOH company in the transit space. The DART contract will include all of DART's media assets, including their bus, light rail, paratransit and station media across its expansive fleet of over 800 transit vehicles. In addition to a full suite of traditional transit media, DART's advertising platform includes 1,100+ digitized interior screens across their fleet, with plans of adding digital screens throughout Downtown Dallas. Dallas Area Rapid Transit Advertising A Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus is seen driving in Downtown Dallas, Texas, with a local advertisement depicted on the side of the bus. Dallas Rapid Area Transit (DART) covers 700 square miles, servicing the metro area's 7.75M+ residents, and encompassing 12 surrounding cities in addition to Dallas itself. DART's advertising network consists of out-of-home media placements across its fleet, including bus advertising in the form of Full Wraps, Ultra Super Kings, Super Kings and Kings, Queens, as well as Headliners, Taillight Displays, Full Backs and interior placements. DART's 4 light-rail lines can also take multiple forms of outdoor media both exterior and interior, as well as unique large-format advertising opportunities at high profile stations. Home to 23 Fortune 500 companies, five of which moved to the Dallas area in the last five years, and with more than 150 corporate HQs having moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area since 2010, the Dallas Metro area has become the fastest-growing DMA in the country, and is expected to overtake Chicago as the third largest DMA (by population) in the coming years. "We are thrilled to have been entrusted to bring our unique brand of OOH to the Dallas Market through a partnership with DART," said Marc Borzykowski, CEO, Vector Media. "Dallas has become one of the most exciting and forward-thinking cities in the country. DART is a recognized leader in innovation and provides advertisers and riders with unmatched reach throughout the Dallas Metro area and we are excited for all the opportunities we can create together." About Vector Media Founded in 1998, Vector Media (www.vectormedia.com) is one of the nation's largest private outdoor media companies, specializing in large and small format public and private media opportunities as well as the creation of interactive brand experiences. The company's current inventory is spread out over 55 US markets, including each of the top 10 US DMAs and 28 of the top 50 US DMAs and includes over 30,000 advertising faces, comprised of municipal transit, transit shelters, billboards, wallscapes, airport shuttles, and the only coast-to-coast double-decker advertising network in North America. Vector's rapidly growing experiential division integrates the company's Out-of-Home assets and other capabilities through the creation of dynamic brand experiences. About DART DART is the public transit agency for 13 cities in the North Texas region. It operates an extensive multimodal network of DART Light Rail, Trinity Railway Express commuter rail, Dallas Streetcar, bus routes, GoLink on-demand services, and paratransit services, providing service to more than 220,000 passengers per day across our 700-square-mile service area. Media Contact: Luke Leonard luke@vectormedia.com 212-557-9405 Contact Information Luke Leonard VP, Marketing luke@vectormedia.com 212-557-9405 SOURCE: Vector Media View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757313/Vector-Media-Awarded-Dallas-Area-Rapid-Transit-DART-Out-of-Home-Advertising-Contract The prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has been rising over the past few years, which prompts the growing demand for treatment options. The increasing prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the growing research and development activities to develop novel therapies to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to drive the market. The companies developing the potential therapies in the last stage of development include FibroGen, Boehringer Ingelheim, and several others. LAS VEGAS, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's ' Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Insight - 2023 ' report provides comprehensive global coverage of pipeline idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis therapies in various stages of clinical development, major pharmaceutical companies working to advance the pipeline space, and future growth potential of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pipeline domain. Key Takeaways from the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Report DelveInsight's idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pipeline report depicts a robust space with 80+ active players working to develop 100+ pipeline therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment. active players working to develop pipeline therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment. Key idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis companies such as FibroGen, United Therapeutics, Bellerophon Therapeutics, MediciNova, Novartis, Endeavor BioMedicines, Pliant Therapeutics, Nitto Denko , Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, Calliditas Therapeutics, Avalyn Pharmaceuticals, PureTech Health, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Galecto Biotech AB, CSL Behring, Celgene Pharmaceutical, Vicore Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Guangdong Raynovent, Sunshine Lake Pharma co, Suzhou Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals, Algernon Pharmaceuticals, Horizon Therapeutics, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Metagone Biotech, AstraZeneca, Lung Therapeutics, Bridge Biotherapeutics, AstraZeneca, Kinarus AG, Insmed, Reviva Pharmaceuticals, Annapurna Bio, Guangdong Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Ark Biosciences, Ocean Biomedical, and others are evaluating new idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drugs to improve the treatment landscape. and others are evaluating new idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drugs to improve the treatment landscape. Promising idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pipeline therapies in various stages of development include Pamrevlumab, Treprostinil, Nitric oxide inhalation - INOpulse, MN-001 (tipelukast), VAY736, ENV-101, PLN-74809, ND-L02-s0201, KD025, GKT137831, AP 01, LYT-100, TAS-115, BMS-986278, GB0139, CSL312, CC-90001, C21, BI1015550, ZSP1603, HEC585, Jaktinib Dihydrochloride Monohydrate, Ifenprodil, HZN-825, DWN12088, MG-S-2525, Saracatinib, LTI-03, BBT-877, AZD5055, KIN001-IPF, Treprostinil palmitil inhalation powder (TPIP), Brilaroxazine, ANPA 0073, SHR 1906, AK 3280, OCF 203, and others. and others. In May 2023 , Kinarus Therapeutics announced the signing of a strategic convertible loan agreement for a CHF 1.5 million investment by ChaoDian ( Hangzhou ) Investment Management Co., Ltd., an investment company based in Hangzhou City, China ("CDIM"). Further, this agreement forms the basis for discussions on the introduction, development and commercialization of KIN001 for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in China . Great Health Companion Group Ltd (GHCG), a subsidiary of Hakim Unique Group, introduced CDIM to Kinarus. announced the signing of a strategic convertible loan agreement for a investment by an investment company based in City, ("CDIM"). Further, this agreement forms the basis for discussions on the introduction, development and commercialization of for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in . Great Health Companion Group Ltd (GHCG), a subsidiary of Hakim Unique Group, introduced CDIM to Kinarus. In April 2023 , AGC Biologics announced it signed a service agreement with The Jikei University in Japan . Under the agreement, AGC Biologics will assume a technology transfer and feasibility study for a drug product focused on the treatment of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at the CDMO's center of Cell and Gene Excellence in Milan . announced it signed a service agreement with in . Under the agreement, AGC Biologics will assume a technology transfer and feasibility study for a drug product focused on the treatment of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at the CDMO's center of Cell and Gene Excellence in . In February 2023 , Insilico Medicine announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted Orphan Drug Designation to INS018_055 for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted to for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). In February 2023 , Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it had dosed the first subjects in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of ARO-MMP7, the company's investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic designed to reduce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) as a potential treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). announced that it had dosed the first subjects in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of ARO-MMP7, the company's investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic designed to reduce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) as a potential treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In February 2023 , South Korea's Daewoong Pharmaceutical secured an exclusive licensing agreement with CS Pharmaceuticals for a first-in-class PRS inhibitor Bersiporocin in the Greater China region, including mainland China , Hong Kong , Taiwan , and Macau . Under this agreement, CSP will in-license Bersiporocin for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and potentially other fibrotic indications for a total consideration of up to $336 million , including up to $76 million in upfront and development milestone payments and double-digit royalties on Net Sales. secured an exclusive licensing agreement with for a first-in-class PRS inhibitor Bersiporocin in the region, including mainland , , , and . Under this agreement, CSP will in-license for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and potentially other fibrotic indications for a total consideration of up to , including up to in upfront and development milestone payments and double-digit royalties on Net Sales. In January 2023 , Insilico Medicine announced the positive topline results of safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) from the Phase 1 clinical trial of INS018_055 , a potential first-in-class drug discovered by Insilico's end-to-end AI platform for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). announced the positive topline results of safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) from the Phase 1 clinical trial of , a potential first-in-class drug discovered by Insilico's end-to-end AI platform for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In January 2023 , Pliant Therapeutics announced 12-week interim data from the 320 mg dose group of INTEGRIS-IPF, a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a clinical trial of bexotegrast (PLN-74809) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). announced 12-week from the 320 mg dose group of INTEGRIS-IPF, a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a clinical trial of in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In December 2022 , Vallon Pharmaceuticals announced that they entered into a definitive agreement (the "Merger Agreement") pursuant to which GRI Bio will merge with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vallon in an all-stock transaction (the "Merger"). The combined company will focus on advancing GRI Bio's innovative pipeline of NKT cell regulators for the treatment of inflammatory, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases. Following the closing of the Merger, the combined company is expected to operate under the name "GRI Bio, Inc." Request a sample and discover the recent advances in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drug treatment @ Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Report The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pipeline report provides detailed profiles of pipeline assets, a comparative analysis of clinical and non-clinical stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drugs, inactive and dormant assets, a comprehensive assessment of driving and restraining factors, and an assessment of opportunities and risks in the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis clinical trial landscape. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Overview Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia that primarily affects middle-aged and older adults. It affects lung tissue by thickening, stiffening, or persistent and progressive scarring that worsens irreversibly over time. Scarring affects the air sacs of IPF patients, decreasing the amount of oxygen that enters the circulation. With less oxygen in the blood, ordinary tasks such as walking can cause dyspnea. This set of lung illnesses is also known as 'Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Diseases,' and it is distinguished by a broader umbrella of 'Interstitial Lung Diseases (IDLs)'. The cause of IPF is uncertain; experts believe the condition is caused by a mix of hereditary and environmental factors. There is a significant chance that genetic variations enhance a person's risk of acquiring IPF and then being exposed to environmental variables that aggravate the condition. However, much remains unknown about this new field of study. Find out more about drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis @ New Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Drugs A snapshot of the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Drugs mentioned in the report: Drugs Company Phase MoA RoA Pamrevlumab FibroGen Phase III Connective tissue growth factor inhibitors Intravenous Tipelukast MediciNova Phase II 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors; Leukotriene receptor antagonists; Phospholipase C inhibitors; Thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists; Type 3 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors; Type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors Oral PLN-74809 Pliant Therapeutics Phase II Integrin alphavbeta1 inhibitors; Integrin alphaVbeta6 inhibitors Oral TTI-101 Tvardi Therapeutics Phase II STAT3 transcription factor inhibitor Oral Taladegib Endeavor BioMedicines Phase II SMO protein inhibitors Oral Olitigaltin Galecto Inc Phase II Galectin 3 inhibitors inhalation Learn more about the emerging idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pipeline therapies @ Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Trials Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapeutics Assessment The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pipeline report proffers an integral view of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis emerging novel therapies segmented by stage, product type, molecule type, mechanism of action, and route of administration. Scope of the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Report Coverage : Global : Global Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapeutic Assessment By Product Type: Mono, Combination, Mono/Combination Mono, Combination, Mono/Combination Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapeutic Assessment By Clinical Stages: Discovery, Pre-clinical, Phase I, Phase II, Phase III Discovery, Pre-clinical, Phase I, Phase II, Phase III Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapeutics Assessment By Route of Administration: Oral, Parenteral, Intravitreal, Subretinal, Topical Oral, Parenteral, Intravitreal, Subretinal, Topical Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapeutics Assessment By Molecule Type : Monoclonal Antibody, Peptides, Polymer, Small molecule, Gene therapy : Monoclonal Antibody, Peptides, Polymer, Small molecule, Gene therapy Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapeutics Assessment By Mechanism of Action: Connective tissue growth factor inhibitors, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, Leukotriene D4 receptor antagonists, Leukotriene receptor antagonists, Phospholipase C inhibitors, Thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists, Type 3 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors, Type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors, Integrin alphavbeta1 inhibitors, Integrin alphaVbeta6 inhibitors, Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, Interleukin 4 receptor antagonists, SMO protein inhibitors, Galectin 3 inhibitors Connective tissue growth factor inhibitors, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, Leukotriene D4 receptor antagonists, Leukotriene receptor antagonists, Phospholipase C inhibitors, Thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists, Type 3 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors, Type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors, Integrin alphavbeta1 inhibitors, Integrin alphaVbeta6 inhibitors, Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, Interleukin 4 receptor antagonists, SMO protein inhibitors, Galectin 3 inhibitors Key Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Companies : FibroGen, United Therapeutics, Bellerophon Therapeutics, MediciNova, Novartis, Endeavor BioMedicines, Pliant Therapeutics, Nitto Denko , Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, Calliditas Therapeutics, Avalyn Pharmaceuticals, PureTech Health, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Galecto Biotech AB, CSL Behring, Celgene Pharmaceutical, Vicore Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Guangdong Raynovent, Sunshine Lake Pharma co, Suzhou Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals, Algernon Pharmaceuticals, Horizon Therapeutics, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Metagone Biotech, AstraZeneca, Lung Therapeutics, Bridge Biotherapeutics, AstraZeneca, Kinarus AG, Insmed, Reviva Pharmaceuticals, Annapurna Bio, Guangdong Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Ark Biosciences, Ocean Biomedical, and others. : FibroGen, United Therapeutics, Bellerophon Therapeutics, MediciNova, Novartis, Endeavor BioMedicines, Pliant Therapeutics, , Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, Calliditas Therapeutics, Avalyn Pharmaceuticals, PureTech Health, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Galecto Biotech AB, CSL Behring, Celgene Pharmaceutical, Vicore Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Guangdong Raynovent, Sunshine Lake Pharma co, Suzhou Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals, Algernon Pharmaceuticals, Horizon Therapeutics, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Metagone Biotech, AstraZeneca, Lung Therapeutics, Bridge Biotherapeutics, AstraZeneca, Kinarus AG, Insmed, Reviva Pharmaceuticals, Annapurna Bio, Guangdong Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Ark Biosciences, Ocean Biomedical, and others. Key Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Therapies: Pamrevlumab, Treprostinil, Nitric oxide inhalation - INOpulse, MN-001 (tipelukast), VAY736, ENV-101, PLN-74809, ND-L02-s0201, KD025, GKT137831, AP 01, LYT-100, TAS-115, BMS-986278, GB0139, CSL312, CC-90001, C21, BI1015550, ZSP1603, HEC585, Jaktinib Dihydrochloride Monohydrate, Ifenprodil, HZN-825, DWN12088, MG-S-2525, Saracatinib, LTI-03, BBT-877, AZD5055, KIN001-IPF, Treprostinil palmitil inhalation powder (TPIP), Brilaroxazine, ANPA 0073, SHR 1906, AK 3280, OCF 203, and others. Dive deep into rich insights for new drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment; visit @ Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Medications Table of Contents 1. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Report Introduction 2. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Report Executive Summary 3. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline: Overview 4. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Trial Therapeutics 5. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline: Late-Stage Products (Pre-registration) 6. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline: Late-Stage Products (Phase III) 7. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline: Mid-Stage Products (Phase II) 8. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline: Early-Stage Products (Phase I) 9. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Therapeutics Assessment 10. Inactive Products in the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline 11. Company-University Collaborations (Licensing/Partnering) Analysis 12. Key Companies 13. Key Products in the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline 14. Unmet Needs 15. Market Drivers and Barriers 16. Future Perspectives and Conclusion 17. Analyst Views 18. Appendix For further information on the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pipeline therapeutics, reach out @ Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Drug Treatment Related Reports Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis companies, including FibroGen, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, United Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pliant Therapeutics, Inc., Galecto Biotech, Horizon Therapeutics, CSL Behring, Kadmon Corporation, LLC, among others. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Epidemiology Forecast Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Epidemiology Forecast - 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis epidemiology trends. Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Insight - 2023 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key pulmonary fibrosis companies, including Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Galecto Biotech, Cipla, Gilead Sciences, Fibrogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, among others. Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key pulmonary fibrosis companies, including Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Galecto Biotech, Cipla, Gilead Sciences, Fibrogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, among others. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve. Contact Us Shruti Thakur info@delveinsight.com +1(919)321-6187 www.delveinsight.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-clinical-trial-pipeline-appears-robust-with-80-key-pharma-companies-actively-working-in-the-therapeutics-segment--delveinsight-301834340.html Liege, Belgium, 25 MAY 2023 - 5:45 CEST - Mithra (Euronext Brussels: MITRA), a company dedicated to Women's Health, today announces that at its Annual General Meeting, held today all agenda items put to vote were approved, including the appointment of Directors for a two-year mandate. The Board of Directors is now made up of 7 members with varied backgrounds spanning both the financial and pharmaceutical sectors, bringing extensive expertise to Mithra covering all aspects of pharmaceutical development. The Board will include four new Directors, including: Ribono SRL, Mr. Sidney Bens (Independent Director) Sidney is a seasoned financial executive, with over 35 years' experience. He spent most of his career at Atenor, an international real estate development company listed on Euronext, where he served as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to this he worked in banking, as Senior Corporate Banker at Paribas Bank Belgium). Mrs. Igne Beernaert (Independent Director) Igne is an experienced financial services professional, specializing in audit, corporate finance, internal controls, tax, management and M&A. She is the founder of Bedrijfsrevisor Beernaert, a financial advisory firm that provides audit, M&A and strategic financial consulting for growing companies, where she served as company auditor for the last 27 years. Prior to this, she founded bb3 Revisoren, another financial advisory firm. Igne holds a Masters degree in Applied Economics from KU Leuven, Belgium and a postgraduate degree in liability and insurance law from the University of Antwerp,). Life Science Strategy Consulting SRL, Mr. Christian Homsy (Independent Director) Christian is a leading life sciences executive with over 30 years' industry experience. Most recently he founded and served as interim Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of biotechnology company Capstan Therapeutics. He was also founder, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Celyad SA for 15 years. He spent a large part of his career at Guidant Corporation). Gaudeto SRL, Mr. Jacques Galloy (Independent Director) Jacques has over 25 years of business leadership experience including private and public equity capital markets, focusing on digital imaging, medical technology, digital media and digital transition. He is currently the founder and managing partner of Guadeto SPRL, an investment consultancy firm advising small to mid-size media, health technology and digital transition companies. He is a current investor in 7 companies, entrepreneur in 5 businesses and charities, and has over 10 board mandates. He also has 12 years' experience as Board member and CFO of EVS Broadcast Equipment SA, a worldwide leader in TV Technology niches and a top 30 Belgian listed company. Jacques holds a Masters in Commercial Engineering from Ulg-HEC Liege, Belgium,). Christian Moretti, Chairman of the Board, commented: It is fantastic to welcome such established and experienced professionals to the Mithra Board of Directors. Their collective knowledge spanning both the financial and life sciences sectors will be invaluable to the Company as we continue the commercialization of our lead product, Estelle and develop our exciting and innovative pipeline of products to address key unmet need. The General Meeting also renewed the mandates of: Selva Luxembourg SA, Mr. Christian Moretti (Chairman and Non-Executive Director) Christian is a seasoned financial executive who spent over 10 years in banking before founding the industrial holding Dynaction listed on the Paris stock exchange. He then focused on the development of one of the holding's subsidiaries, PCAS Biosolution, which he managed as CEO for 13 years and enabled it to become the European leader in the chemistry of complex molecules, employing more than 1,000 people worldwide. Christian holds a Masters in Marketing and Finance from HEC School of Management, Paris and a Masters of Business Administration from Columbia Business School,). Alius Modi SRL,Ms. Valerie Gordenne (Non-Executive Director) Valerie has over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical Research & Development with extensive leadership experience in full drug development across a range of therapeutic areas in particular in women's health). Eva Consulting SRL, Prof. Jean-Michel Foidart (Executive Director) Co-founder of Mithra, Jean-Michel is a trained doctor specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is the author of more than 1300 publications on women's health and experimental oncology. He is a member of many national and international scientific committees and is currently a Board member of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. Jean-Michiel holds the Francqui Chair, Doctor Honoris Causa of the Pierre and Marie Curie University of Paris and the Paul Sabatier University of Toulouse. Professor Extraordinary, Honorary of the ULg and Perpetual Secretary of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium. Professor Foidart graduated in Gynecology from the University of Liege and also obtained a PhD in cell biology and biochemistry, before directing its Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics,). ******** For more information, please contact: Investor relations: https://www.mithra.com/ About Estelle Developed by Mithra, Estelle is a novel patent protected combined oral contraceptive pill containing 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) and 15 mg estetrol (E4). E4 is a naturally produced estrogen during pregnancy, which can now be made from a plant source. In two phase 3 clinical studies conducted in 3,725 women, Estelle was shown to be both safe and effective and met its primary efficacy endpoint of pregnancy prevention. It also delivered excellent results on a variety of secondary endpoints that demonstrated outstanding cycle control, bleeding control, safety, and tolerability. Mithra has signed 15 licensing deals for Estelle with a number of leading women's health companies covering more than 100 countries in the world. The product is marketed in Belgium by Gedeon Richter under the brand name DROVELIS and by Ceres Pharma under the brand name -LYDISILKA. About Mithra Mithra ESTELLE, DONESTA, LYDISILKA are registered trademarks of Mithra Pharmaceuticals or one of its affiliate Important information The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Attachment EQS-News: WebAccountPlus (Holding) AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous WebAccountPlus (Holding) AG, the Swiss Fintech StartUp of the next decade, announces worldwide exclusive partnership with ESM Software, LLC for Micro and Small Business owners / SMEs up to 50 employee 25.05.2023 / 18:00 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. WebAccountPlus (Holding) AG, the Swiss Fintech StartUp of the next decade, announces worldwide exclusive partnership with ESM Software, LLC for Micro and Small Business owners / SMEs up to 50 employees (Larger companies can also be integrated on the platform on a case-by-case basis). ESM is one of the world's top leading Software Provider when it comes to Strategy and Performance Management or Cyber Risks. Zurich / Pfaffikon SZ, Switzerland; Lincoln, MA, U.S.A. -- WebAccountPlus , inventor and pioneer of the ground-breaking digital business advisor and developer and provider of the world's first ecosystem for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), banks, fiduciaries, insurance companies, accounting firms, and corporate and wealth advisors, is pleased to integrate and offer ESM Software's flagship application, ESM+STRATEGY, to its clients (fiduciaries, banks, SMEs, insurances). For the first time ever, small companies will be able to work with their client advisor to create a Balanced Scorecard tailored to their company size and industry. Small businesses will be equipped to track progress, automatically monitor performance and generate alerts, dashboards, and reports empowering them to successfully execute their strategy. Normally, such solutions are reserved exclusively for larger companies due to limited budgets, resource availability, and effort to configure. The creation of a company strategy or the existence of such a strategy is unique in this form for small companies - SMEs - but offers both the customer and the company consultant huge advantages, across product consulting, growth strategies, and succession planning. Drs. Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton are the creators of the Balanced Scorecard concept and founders of ESM. For over 23 years and 1,000+ client implementations in more than 60 countries, ESM+STRATEGY takes organizations step-by-step through both the construction of, and reporting on, Balanced Scorecards and strategy maps so they can achieve breakthrough results. The ESM application can substantially improve the effectiveness of an organization's strategy management program, helping to: Clarify and deploy a business strategy that is "execution ready" Focus team members around one strategy to drive alignment Acquire the performance measurements and data to make faster and better decisions Create a permanent and robust process for disciplined strategy execution Provide a scalable technology solution that can be applied to both small and large companies "We are very pleased to be able to use the original Balanced Scorecard software from the inventors of the Balanced Scorecard methodology. There are probably few management schools in the world where Drs. Kaplan and Norton's strategy frameworks are not taught. The fact that we were able to partner with a globally active and renowned company of a novel business model makes us proud" says Roland Staehli, CEO and founder of WebAccountPlus. "The integration of this strategy tool forms an important component in the 360 view of a company including real-time data - it seamlessly complements our cloud based software suite (Financials, Expense Management, Marketing and Sales Data Evaluations, Analytics, Strategies, HR, Securities and Portfolio Analyzer, Multi-Banking). The Business Banker of the Future will cooperate and directly assist and advise the SME in his Business Strategy - more than that - whenever a target is missed or some other factors have changed the Bank advisor will get a notification and could guide with his economic background the SME in many different ways to still achieve the defined goals." According to Kent Smack, CEO of ESM Software, "Our new partnership with WebAccountPlus has the promise to bring the proven Balanced Scorecard framework to thousands of small businesses around the world and uniquely position these organizations with line-of-sight visibility into their strategy execution. Ultimately, ESM as part of the WebAccountPlus platform will give these organizations and their advisors the data and insights to make critical business decisions that drive performance. We are very excited to partner with such proven banking and software experts, and to be working together to open up new market segments around the world in the near future." About ESM Software ESM Software, LLC, formerly Palladium Group, Inc. is the global leader in strategy execution software and services. Since ESM's initial launch in 2000, we have dedicated ourselves to helping organizations understand and manage business strategy. Our suite of software products support Balanced Scorecard, employee performance management, cyber security, risk, compliance, and OKR. For more information, visit www.esmgrp.com . About WebAccountPlus WebAccountPlus stands for the world's first digital business advisor and as a provider of a globally scalable ecosystem for SMEs, banks, fiduciaries, insurance companies, trustees and corporate and wealth advisors, among others. WebAccountPlus offers a revolutionary cloud-based collaboration platform and is on a mission to digitize and permanently transform the banking advisory and fiduciary business. The Future of Business Banking has started. Please visit www.webaccountplus.com . ? Contact Details WebAccountPlus (Holding) AG ?Roland Staehli +41 55 210 32 22 ? info@webaccountplus.com ? Company Website ? https://webaccountplus.com/ 25.05.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / The Barber Shop Marketing, heralded as one of the best full-service Marketing and Advertising agencies in North Texas, announced their win of three 2023 Telly Awards for Television Excellence, the world's largest honor for video and television across all screens. "The honor of these awards highlights the quality of the work performed by our small but dedicated team of creative professionals who all truly care about telling the stories of our clients," said Amy Hall Phyfer, President of The Barber Shop Marketing. "The caliber of the work this season coming from creators such as The Barber Shop Marketing truly has reflected the theme of breaking out and standing out," said Telly's Executive Director Sabrina Dridje. "Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, crafting truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world's most pressing issues, and companies big and small are turning to more sustainable practices to break the cycle of past production processes." The award-winning works from The Barber Shop Marketing include: Yo Quiero Squad Goals is a Silver Telly Winner in Social Video Craft-Art Direction, credited to Senior Graphic Designer Madeleine Flint, The Barber Shop Marketing Amon Carter Museum- Speaking with Light is a Bronze Winner in Promotional Video General- Museums and Galleries, credited to Producer Taylor Loyd, and Creative Director David Adkins, The Barber Shop Marketing The Warren Center- Sienna is a Bronze Winner in Non-Broadcast - Not-for-profit, credited to Director Taylor Loyd, The Barber Shop Marketing Receiving over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies, and publishers from around the world. "We are dedicated to producing high-quality and engaging commercials and content for our clients. Recognition from prestigious awards like the Tellys keeps us reaching new levels of excellence in the work and service we provide to the business and non-profit communities we serve, year after year," said Phyfer. About The Telly Awards The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council-an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multiscreen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include Green The Bid, SeriesFest, Video Consortium, Ghetto Film School, We Are Parable, Future of Film, NAB, Stash, NYWIFT, Production Hub with support from The Commercial Director's Diversity Program. About The Barber Shop Marketing The Barber Shop Marketing is a full-service marketing and advertising agency in Dallas with category-leading clients including Uplift Education, Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric, Yo!Quiero, City of Richardson, Smith Thompson Home Security, Town of Addison, and Bill Dickason Chevrolet Buick. Their specialization includes advertising, creative, media, digital, social media, public relations, and search optimization. For more information about The Barber Shop Marketing,For more information about The Barber Shop Marketing, visit www.thebarbershopmarketing.com or phone 214-217-7177. Follow The Barber Shop Marketing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thebarbershopmarketing or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-barber-shop-marketing. Contact: Amy Hall amy@thebarbershopmarketing.com SOURCE: The Barber Shop Marketing View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757336/The-Barber-Shop-Marketing-Boasts-a-Trio-of-Awards-at-2023-Telly-Awards Signature of an Agreement With Adoro SIA for the Sale of ORPEA Activities in Latvia Regulatory News: ORPEA (Paris:ORP) announces that it has signed an agreement with Adoro SIA for the sale of a retirement home in Riga, its entire scope of activities in Latvia. With this transaction, ORPEA continues to implement its Refoundation Plan announced on November 15, 2022, by beginning to review its geographic footprint. ORPEA wishes to focus on all geographies where the Group can achieve a sustainable and committed leadership position, always with the objective of satisfying the expectations of the residents, patients and their families. Adoro SIA is a Baltic actor present in the elderly care sector in Latvia. Their experience of the market and their reputation make it possible to envisage the takeover of our Latvian activities under good conditions, particularly for the residents and employees of the retirement home. The completion of this transaction remains subject to usual conditions precedent and is expected to take place during the third quarter of 2023. Laurent Guillot, ORPEA's Chief Executive Officer, said: "The evolution of the ORPEA group towards a more transparent and efficient development model is well underway, in full accordance with the objectives announced at the presentation of the ORPEA Change! With you and for you plan on 15 November 2022. It is in this spirit that we, together with the management team, are determined to review the scope of our activities by focusing on markets in which the group has a leading position among private operators, while satisfying the expectations of our residents, patients and their families. This sale in Latvia is being carried out with a partner that has proven local experience and shares our goal of achieving a quality of care and support that meets the requirements of residents and their families. Finally, I would like to thank our Latvian colleagues for their commitment and professionalism." About ORPEA ORPEA is a leading global player, expert in providing care for all types of frailty. The Group operates in 21 countries and covers three core businesses: care for the elderly (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homecare and services), post-acute and rehabilitation care and mental health care (specialized clinics). It has more than 76,000 employees and welcomes more than 267,000 patients and residents each year. https://www.orpea-group.com/en ORPEA is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000184798) and is a member of the SBF 120, MSCI Small Cap Europe and CAC Mid 60 indices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005609/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations ORPEA Benoit Lesieur Investor Relations Director b.lesieur@orpea.net Toll-free number for shareholders: 0 805 480 480 Investor Relations NewCap Dusan Oresansky Tel: 01 44 71 94 94 ORPEA@newcap.eu Press Relations ORPEA Isabelle Herrier-Naufle Press Relations Director Tel: 07 70 29 53 74 i.herrier-naufle@orpea.net Image7 Charlotte Le Barbier // Laurence Heilbronn 06 78 37 27 60 06 89 87 61 37 clebarbier@image7.fr lheilbronn@image7.fr 83% of glioblastoma patients remain alive after 14 months on study, a percentage well above what is expected for the enrolled population of chemotherapy refractory patients Survival data will improve further as time progresses and patients remain on study Continued strong performance improves NOX-A12 profile for partnering and eligibility for accelerated regulatory pathways Regulatory News: TME Pharma N.V. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALTME), a biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapies for treatment of cancer by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), announces clinical update on survival of newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients in the GLORIA expansion arm evaluating NOX-A12, TME Pharma's CXCL12 inhibitor, in combination with standard of care radiotherapy and anti-VEGF, bevacizumab. After 14 months on study (median), 83% of GLORIA expansion arm patients (5 of 6) are still alive. As long as treatment or follow-up for these patients is ongoing, median overall survival (mOS) will continue to improve.1 As a reference, the expected median overall survival for patients under current standard of care with chemotherapy refractory tumors (MGMT unmethylated) and whose tumor remains detectable after surgical intervention is approximately 10 months.2 "The fact that the glioblastoma patients are 14 months on study and median overall survival will continue to improve is a very positive clinical development. It demonstrates a clinically meaningful improvement over the 10-month expected survival rate for this patient population as well as the median overall survival of 12.7 months achieved in the GLORIA cohort treated with NOX-A12 and radiotherapy alone," said Aram Mangasarian, CEO of TME Pharma. "The latest survival data from the treatment combination of NOX-A12 with radiotherapy and bevacizumab continues to validate our therapeutic approach, demonstrates a highly encouraging trend towards prolonged overall survival and underlines the potential for superior benefit of this treatment combination for glioblastoma patients. We believe that this further improves the profile of NOX-A12 for partnering discussions and for access to accelerated regulatory pathways in glioblastoma, which we estimate to be $2.5 billion per year addressable market. We are looking forward to providing more clinical updates as the data mature." About TME Pharma TME Pharma is a clinical-stage company focused on developing novel therapies for treatment of the most aggressive cancers. The company's oncology-focused pipeline is designed to act on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking tumor protection barriers against the immune system and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the TME, TME Pharma's approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses and enable greater therapeutic impact. In the GLORIA clinical trial, TME Pharma is studying its lead drug candidate NOX-A12 in newly diagnosed brain cancer patients who will not benefit clinically from standard chemotherapy. TME Pharma has delivered top-line data from the NOX-A12 three dose-escalation cohorts combined with radiotherapy of the GLORIA clinical trial, observing consistent tumor reductions and objective tumor responses. Additionally, GLORIA expansion arms evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in other combinations where the interim results from the triple combination of NOX-A12, radiotherapy and bevacizumab suggest even deeper and more durable responses. NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy has received orphan drug designation for glioblastoma in the United States and glioma in Europe. TME Pharma has delivered final top-line data with encouraging overall survival and safety profile from its NOX-A12 combination trial with Keytruda in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients, which was published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer in October 2021. The company has entered in its second collaboration with MSD/Merck for its Phase 2 study, OPTIMUS, to further evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in combination with Merck's Keytruda and two different chemotherapy regimens as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The design of the trial has been approved in France and Spain and is in discussion with regulatory authorities in the United States. The company's second clinical-stage drug candidate, NOX-E36, is designed to target the innate immune system. TME Pharma is considering several solid tumors for further clinical development. Further information can be found at: www.tmepharma.com. TME Pharma and the TME Pharma logo are registered trademarks. Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp Dohme Corp. Visit TME Pharma on LinkedIn and Twitter. About the GLORIA Study GLORIA (NCT04121455) is TME Pharma's dose-escalation, Phase 1/2 study of NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy in first-line partially resected or unresected glioblastoma (brain cancer) patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter (resistant to standard chemotherapy). GLORIA further evaluates safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 three additional arms combining NOX-A12 with: A. radiotherapy in patients with complete tumor resection; B. radiotherapy and bevacizumab; and C. radiotherapy and pembrolizumab. About the OPTIMUS Study OPTIMUS (NCT04901741) is TME Pharma's planned open-label two-arm Phase 2 study of NOX-A12 combined with pembrolizumab and nanoliposomal irinotecan/5-FU/leucovorin or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in microsatellite-stable metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. Disclaimer Translations of any press release into languages other than English are intended solely as a convenience to the non-English-reading audience. The company has attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original text in English, but due to the nuances in translating into another language, slight differences may exist. This press release includes certain disclosures that contain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are based on TME Pharma's current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the risks inherent in oncology drug development, including clinical trials and the timing of and TME Pharma's ability to obtain regulatory approvals for NOX-A12 as well as any other drug candidates. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and TME Pharma undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. 1 In a clinical study, measuring the median overall survival (mOS) is one way to assess how well a new treatment works. The longer the patients remain alive, the longer it takes to reach mOS. mOS can only be calculated when more than half of patients in the study decease. 2 Kreth 2013, Annals of Oncology 24:3117. Rounded up from mOS 9.7 months reported in patients with incomplete resection, without MGMT promoter methylation who received standard of care (radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005648/en/ Contacts: For more information, please contact: TME Pharma N.V. Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D., CEO Tel. +49 (0) 30 726247 0 investors@tmepharma.com Investor and Media Relations: LifeSci Advisors Guillaume van Renterghem Tel. +41 (0) 76 735 01 31 gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com NewCap Arthur Rouille Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15 arouille@newcap.fr AMSTERDAM, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In addition to being recognized as a tourist destination and for its commitment to sustainability and democracy, Costa Rica also enjoys an international position for the quality and diversity of its export products. It is precisely these characteristics that this Central American country promoted with the help of the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) at the PLMA trade show in Europe -- organized by the Private Label Manufactures Association -- held on May 23 and 24 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Costa Rican delegation was comprised of the companies Tertulia Brugge, Grupo VISA, Beneficio Las Penas, and Todo Natural with the support of PROCOMER, rated the Best Foreign Trade Promotion Agency in the World from 2014 to the present by the International Trade Center (ITC). At the trade show, Costa Rica showcased the high value-added, private-label food segment in Europe, which included products such as roasted green coffee, cocoa powder, pineapple, and other frozen and dried fruits. "The private label segment is opening up many opportunities for Costa Rica because we have a solid, innovative, and diversified food industry that adapts to global trends and seeks to satisfy consumer needs. For this reason, this year, our participation in PLMA was focused on promoting our products with high added value and telling the world that, in Costa Rica, they can find a reliable business partner that meets their needs," said Mario Saenz, Exports Development Principal Director at PROCOMER. Over the course of the trade show, the companies and PROCOMER had a stand of the country brand Esencial Costa Rica, where visitors had the opportunity to set up business meetings, exhibit and taste their products, and a counter showcasing their renowned "golden grain": Costa Rican coffee. Erika Araya, representative of Beneficio Las Penas - producers, intermediaries, and exporters of coffee - added that PLMA was attended by those interested in the HoReCa market (hotels, restaurants, and cafes). "Being able to produce, roast, and package coffee for hotels, restaurants, and cafes under the brand of these companies is a fairly large market, and we cannot pass it up. In Europe, our expectations are to have access to boutique hotels, shops, cafes, and businesses that seek to exploit their own brand, and we support them by offering a high-quality product," she said. Finally, Benjamin Piza, manager of Todo Natural, mentioned that they were interested in expanding their customer base in Europe and increasing the volume of dried pineapple exports. "That's why this trade show is so important, considering the private label segment that is becoming a very strong trend globally as well as for us within our pipeline. What do we expect from our participation in the trade show? We would like to significantly increase our leads and the number of potential customers we work with every day. Private label allows us to be much closer to the end consumer." By the first quarter of 2023, the food industry was positioned as the third largest exporting sector of goods in Costa Rica with 13% of total exports. In this period, exports from this industry reached $577 million. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085830/1.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/costa-rica-promotes-diversification-and-high-quality-food-at-the-plma-trade-show-in-europe-301834942.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Edison International The swearing in of elected public officials is usually a cause for a well-attended celebration. However, the city of Monterey Park held a quiet, private ceremony in late January to swear in its new mayor, Jose Sanchez, and mayor pro tem, Thomas Wong. Even family members were restricted from attending out of respect for the tragedy that occurred just one week prior: a mass shooting during the city's Lunar New Year Festival that killed 11 people and severely injured nine others at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio. Wong, a policy engagement advisor for Southern California Edison for more than five years, was preparing for his new role with the city when he was called on to help coordinate police response, media inquiries and recovery resources after the shooting. Since then, the community has been eager to connect in person. Recent public events in Monterey Park have had more attendance than usual. "I think there's a hunger and desire to have these community spaces so we can come together to heal, support and enjoy each other's company. It has been helpful for us as a community to support each other by simply being physically in the same space," Wong said. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a significant occasion for many cultures to convene and celebrate the community's diversity following Lunar New Year. At SCE, Wong builds relationships with large business associations, nonprofits and community leaders to advance clean energy, climate and environmental priorities and policies . Giving back to his community is a priority, and he has been involved in public policy long before working for the company as a Monterey Park City commissioner and a San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District board member. During SCE's 17th annual AAPI Heritage Month Celebration, Wong presented the Community Impact Award to Brandon Tsay for confronting and disarming the gunman during the shooting at the nearby Lai Lai Dance Studio. Tsay has since focused on turning the tragedy into positive action and impact for the Monterey Park and AAPI community. "The Brandon Tsay Hero Fund is to rebuild and heal after this tragedy, so I've partnered with the Asian Pacific Community Fund to develop a couple of projects and initiatives to draw awareness and make an impact in the AAPI community," Tsay said. The work that we do at SCE is personal to me. We're committed to enabling the state's efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality. We're leading the transformation of the electric power industry focusing on clean energy, the grid of the future and customer choice. SCE recognizes that the progress toward a clean energy future will be successful only if it is equitable and accessible for everyone, including our most vulnerable communities." Larry Chung, SCE Vice President The celebration also recognized the Asian Business Association with the Gwen Moore Diversity Award, Asian Pacific Community Fund and Asian American Professional Association with the Community Partnership Award. Larry Chung, SCE vice president of Local Public Affairs, presented GreenWealth Energy with the Clean Energy Champion award for its partnership with SCE's Charge Ready program. Chung began his career in government promoting electric vehicle charging infrastructure years ago when EVs were more of a concept than reality. "The work that we do at SCE is personal to me. We're committed to enabling the state's efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality. We're leading the transformation of the electric power industry focusing on clean energy, the grid of the future and customer choice," Chung said. "SCE recognizes that the progress toward a clean energy future will be successful only if it is equitable and accessible for everyone, including our most vulnerable communities." Learn more about Edison International's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in its annual DEI Report. Click here to view a video of the AAPI Month Celebration. Thomas Wong was sworn in as Monterey Park City Council member by Betty Yee, vice chair of the California Democratic Party and former California state controller, last December, before the shooting incident. 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: info3blmedia.com SOURCE: Edison International View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757356/Monterey-Park-Shows-Resilience-Solidarity-During-AAPI-Heritage-Month NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Lenovo's Product Diversity Office was formed in 2020 to ensure that Lenovo's emerging technologies work for people of all backgrounds and abilities. While the team works to eliminate bias, they also look for improvements that provide a competitive user experience for people with disabilities. "At every meeting, I emphasize that it's the responsibility of all Lenovo employees to consider the perspectives of our diverse customer base whenever we evaluate a product or make a design recommendation," shared Ada Lopez, Manager of the Product Diversity Office (PDO). "We don't always have users testing product accessibility in person with us, but the consideration of our users' diverse abilities and needs is ever-present." The team recently heard from one such user, Brent Skinner, a software engineer who has faced a lifetime battle with progressively worsening visual impairment (VI). Brent's vision challenges began early. "I had my first pair of glasses when I was nine months old," he says. "My eyes weren't focusing properly so the doctors used prisms to precisely direct the light onto my retinas." When asked how his parents managed to keep a pair of unwieldy goggles on their baby, Skinner jokes, "I couldn't talk at that stage, but I provided my parents with a lot of informative and unignorable user feedback: I screamed and cried every time they took the glasses off." Doctors eventually diagnosed Brent with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease that has slowly but inexorably eroded his ability to see. "I have blind spots that my brain fills in," he says. "Unfortunately, it doesn't fill them in with what's actually there. I used to tell people that I could see a paper clip across the room, but I might trip over an elephant if I tried to walk over and pick it up." During the early stages of his 34-year career with Kodak and its subsidiaries, the impact of the disease was minimal. "My eyes were getting worse, but it was happening so slowly that I just kept making small adaptations," he says. Indeed, his decision to begin using a Lenovo Yoga 730 instead of his prior PC was motivated by the need for better accessibility. "First, the Yoga's touch screen was a huge help," he says. "On the other PC I was having a hard time locating the cursor or the pointer. That may not seem like a big issue to sighted users but finding that thin blinking light can be enormously problematic and frustrating for the visually impaired. I was wasting a ton of energy I might have devoted to my job simply trying to find the place where I should start typing and resume working. When you're developing creative ideas and getting into a flow, stopping for mundane reasons like finding the pointer is intolerably disruptive. For someone with normal vision, this is like having the computer shut down every couple of minutes. How effective are you going to be under these conditions?" With a characteristically mischievous grin, he adds, "Who knows how many potential Nobel Prize winning ideas slipped through my fingers as I was trying to track down that inconspicuous pointer!" A second accessibility plus was the placement of the power button, which sits alone on the side of the Yoga keyboard so it cannot be confused with anything else. "Again, this might seem trivial to sighted users, but it isn't," Skinner says. "I recently used a friend's non-Lenovo PC. I had to have a sighted user help me turn it on because their power button is in the top row of the keyboard-between the Delete key and the Page Down key. That can cause all manner of headaches. It may be a simple fix. But I want to work with a company that cares enough about inclusive design to make that fix. "I've noticed that Lenovo's ThinkPad has a similarly clear design," he adds. "In that case the power button is set off to the right of the keys, and it's the only round button on the keyboard, so the user can't miss it." "The third accessibility feature that served me well was the backlit keyboard," Brent says. "Obviously, this won't help someone who is blind, but as my eyes got worse, being able to illuminate the keys and adjust the brightness level was extremely helpful: it increased the contrast between the keys and the rest of the keyboard. Again, there isn't going to be one set of interventions that works for all VI users. It's a matter of providing the right support at the right time to meet the individual's specific needs. And in a degenerative disease, those needs are going to change over time-sometimes drastically." "The fourth accessibility feature was the Yoga's on-screen keyboard," Brent says. "It provides a fallback solution when the user's eyes are no longer acute enough for the backlighting to work. The bigger keys and better contrast enabled me to keep working efficiently during this stage of my downward trajectory. A PC with a standard keyboard would have been essentially unusable at this point." After all the accessibility features, Brent adds that "The Lenovo computer was simply a better and more economical machine. I'd have switched even if my eyes were perfect. It has more power and a faster processor with quicker data retrieval. I spend hours compiling code, and the Yoga has made my work more efficient. Back then the Yoga also supported USB-C connections, and while my other PC did not. The USB-C connections allowed me to daisy chain peripherals together in ways that I needed. I also like having a solid-state drive, and the RAM was extremely affordable. A sighted coworker enthusiastically endorsed the Yoga, so I felt confident purchasing it simply as a computer upgrade. I've never been tempted to switch back!" Over the past year, Brent's vision has continued to deteriorate. He is now restricted to a mere two degrees of central vision (essential for reading and recognizing faces) with an acuity of 20/200, which meets the definition of "legally blind" and means that what a normally sighted person can see at 20 feet Brent sees as if he were 200 feet away. "I'm new at being blind," he says stoically. "I haven't developed the skills and intuitions that someone would have if they'd been blind since infancy. I don't read braille, for example, and I'm not yet adept with screen readers and other tools. But I'm speaking with one of the Lenovo PDO's accessibility consultants about the problems I'm encountering, and the solutions Lenovo offers. I'm encouraged that he's willing to address my questions and listen to my suggestions and feedback." "At the end of the day, I'm looking for a hardware company that cares enough about blind users to provide us with the technology we need to stay productive," he concludes. "Based on my experience, Lenovo is that company." View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Lenovo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Lenovo View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757352/New-to-Being-Blind-How-Lenovos-Accessibility-Features-Help-Overcome-Vision-Loss NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable Project Name: Charco Bendito Follow Charco Bendito on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn Welcome to our series aimed at spotlighting BIER projects. As part of our Member and Stakeholder spotlight series featuring the individual leaders within BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations, our project spotlight series highlights BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations involved in the innovative Charco Bendito project. Learn how these practitioners and their companies have collaborated to develop and implement this innovative, first-of-its-kind, basin-level watershed initiative addressing three main goals: water accessibility, quality, and availability. Gain insights into key learnings and what inspires each of them to advance environmental sustainability in the beverage sector and collectively, overall. What is the Charco Bendito watershed project? Charco Bendito, meaning "Blessed Pool," is an innovative, first-of-its-kind watershed collaboration addressing shared water challenges in the Municipality of Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco Mexico, a part of the Lerma Santiago watershed in and around Guadalajara, Mexico. Who is involved in the Charco Bendito watershed project? The project, initiated in 2020, has been designed and implemented by a team of individuals from BIER member local beverage operations in the Guadalajara area with technical support from Red Bio Terra and public relations support from Bardo Communications. This team works with local stakeholders to realize the project's goals. Championing the project includes: ABInBev - locally as Modelo Bacardi - locally as Tequila Patron Beam Suntory - locally as Casa Sauza Brown-Forman - locally as Casa Herradura Diageo Keurig Dr Pepper - locally as Penafiel Pernod Ricard Grupo Bimbo - Stakeholder - Non-BIER member Mars Stakeholder - Non-BIER member What does the Charco Bendito project aim to achieve? BIER companies collaborating on Charco Bendito are keenly aware of the water crisis; as such, project partners are working meticulously and proactively to propagate a water-secure future in the watersheds they operate in. The project involves seven BIER members and two non-BIER members working collaboratively to conserve 355 hectares as a goal. To date, progress has been made with 125 restored hectares of important land to improve the quality and quantity of water in the region. Key activities include planting native vegetation to increase groundwater levels and reduce soil loss, improving water infrastructure, and increasing awareness about the importance of water to healthy communities. What is the significance of the Charco Bendito watershed project? What makes it special? There are many contributing factors that make Charco Bendito a particularly inspiring watershed project. At its core, Charco Bendito is unique because its collaboration is comprised of beverage industry competitors, the local community, and committed local partners, working collaboratively to address complex watershed challenges at the basin level. Additionally, the governance and finance of the collaboration support the project's green infrastructure restoration activities, including reforestation and conservation, and promoting equitable water access and connection for the population of San Lucas Evangelista by 2023 by investing in improving water quality through green infrastructure and water quality monitoring. Municipal President from Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Salvador Zamora Zamora, sums up the unique aspects of the project, "The local community is key to the success of this project, which is of great importance because it improves water conditions in an area of high cultural and ethnic significance. This project is unprecedented, and we acknowledge, and thank this group of companies for sharing a common vision." How to learn more about the Charco Bendito watershed project? Due to its innovative, collaborative, and results-generating nature, the Charco Bendito watershed project has been garnering much well-deserved attention. With presentations at the recent United Nations Water Conference and and an upcoming presentation at World Water Week on August 21, 2023, there are several ways to continue learning about the project, including: Read more on BIER's website Visit the Charco Bendito website Follow Charco Bendito on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn Listen to the Charco Bendito Podcast "Conversando el agua" on Spotify View Charco Bendito on YouTube Read: A corporate water strategy manifesto: We can and will do better Learn how Charco Bendito aligns with BIER's principles of World Class Water Stewardship Finally, stay tuned for the upcoming Member and Stakeholder Charco Bendito-specific spotlights showcasing how these practitioners and their companies have collaborated on this innovative, first-of-its-kind, basin-level watershed initiative. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/beverage-industry-environmental-roundtable Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757361/BIER-Project-Spotlight-Charco-Bendito WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / International Paper (NYSE:IP) the leading global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, Always, the leader in global menstrual care, Brooke and Breanna Bennett, Co-Founders of Women in Training, Inc. (WIT), and Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, joined forces in Washington, D.C. in advance of Menstrual Hygiene Day to drive awareness of period poverty in the U.S. and to pack 600 Period Care kits for donation to the Greater DC Diaper Bank and Mary's Center. Period poverty is the lack of access to period products and education - it affects at least 500 million women and girls globally, even in the most economically developed countries.1 In the U.S., 1 in 5 girls have missed school due to the lack of access to the period products2 - that is more than 3.5 million girls3. It's an issue that leads to a number of problems like school truancy, reproductive issues, health risks and unnecessary shame. Beginning on International Women's Day in March, IP launched its award-winning Fighting Period Poverty in Our Communities program by hosting a series of period care packing and donation events across its global operations to raise awareness about period poverty and provide Period Care kits to people who need them the most. Period Care kits include period products donated by Always. By the end of this year, IP will have hosted 50 Period Care kit packing events, and together with Always, will have provided more than 25,000 Period Care kits to people across the world in 2023. However, donations alone cannot resolve the systemic issue of period poverty. The stigma surrounding periods can prevent those affected from voicing their needs and prevents potential solutions from being widely discussed and implemented. To date, only 22 states have passed a law to provide free period products in some capacity. There is a need for national change to solve the issue of period poverty. We applaud the leadership of Congresswoman Grace Meng for the introduction of the Menstrual Equity for All Act which would ensure people have access to free period products in federal buildings and schools. "People are often unaware the impact period poverty is having on so many individuals in their own communities and across the nation. Millions of people in the United States and around the world lack access to period products and are forced to forego educational or employment opportunities because of it," said Congresswoman Grace Meng. "We cannot thrive as a society or economy without the full participation and education of women, girls, and people with periods in society. That is why I am proud to reintroduce my Menstrual Equity for All Act, a whole-of-government approach that will help ensure affordable access to menstrual products so that we can end period poverty." As part of the event, Always recognized and honored International Paper as part of Always Period Heroes which represents people and organizations across the U.S. who have already made significant efforts to address period poverty. "We're proud to partner with Always and Feeding America to help address the issue of period poverty and to support the Greater DC Diaper Bank and Mary's Center," said Sophie Beckham, vice president and chief sustainability officer, International Paper. "Our Fighting Period Poverty in Our Communities program is part of our ongoing commitment to improve the lives of 100 million people as outlined in our Vision 2030 goals. As a woman and mother to a teenage daughter, I am personally passionate about this issue and resolute in our effort to drive change for women and girls." "Always' brand purpose is built on the ability to foster girls' confidence, especially during puberty. When someone isn't properly protected during their period, it puts their confidence, dignity, and education at risk," said Balaka Niyazee, Senior Vice President of North America Feminine Care at Procter & Gamble. "Our purpose fuels our ongoing commitment to raise awareness of the issue of period poverty, donate products, tackle stigma, and help drive systemic change. As a mother of a 12-year-old daughter, I am motivated to do more so she can enter puberty feeling supported and educated. Always is proud to continue to partner with International Paper and Feeding America - together we are advocating for the Menstrual Equity for All Act so all girls can stay confident and stay in school." The fight does not end here. To help EndPeriodPoverty, we encourage everyone to contact their elected officials here and ask them to show their support for the Menstrual Equity for All Act. IP was honored with an inaugural award from The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for this Fighting Period Poverty in Our Communities initiative. ### About International Paper International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of North America's largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what's next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting www.internationalpaper.com. About Always Always, the world's leader in menstrual protection, offers a wide range of pads, wipes and liners designed to fit different body types, period flows and preferences. For over 35 years, Always has been supporting millions of young people globally through puberty and confidence education, providing products to those in need and tackling societal barriers to girls' confidence. Together, Always believes we can create a world where neither periods nor gender get in the way of young people reaching their full potential. Please visit www.always.com for more information. About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.2 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. About Women in Training, Inc. One in five American girls and young women skip school or miss work because they cannot afford sanitary pads or tampons to stay healthy and clean during their period. To alleviate period poverty, Women in Training, Inc. (WIT) provides monthly donations of WITKITS - canvas bags containing full pack of Always period products, dental and hygiene supplies to at-risk girls, young women and gender expansive youth. WIT also provides formal educational programs about menstruation and teen pregnancy prevention, and publishes the brochure, "The WIT Guide to the Menstrual Cycle." For more information, see www.womenintraining.org About the Greater DC Diaper Bank Greater DC Diaper Bank (GDCDB) works to empower vulnerable families and individuals by providing an adequate and reliable source for basic baby needs and personal hygiene products across the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The Monthly is a project of Greater DC Diaper Bank that addresses period poverty by collecting donated tampons and pads, working with more than seventy-five nonprofit organizations in the area to get these products to the people who need them. Learn more information at www.greaterdcdiaperbank.org About Mary's Center Mary's Center is a community health center serving over 65,000 people of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds in the Washington, DC metro area for over 30 years. With an integrated model of health care, education, and social services, Mary's Center offers each participant individualized care on the path toward good health, stability, and economic independence. Learn more at www.maryscenter.org International Paper Media Contact Amy Simpson, 901-419-4964, Amy.Simpson@ipaper.com 1 World Bank, 2018 2 1000 U.S. females, 16-24 y.o., Research Now '17 3 1000 U.S. females, 16-24 y.o., Research Now '17 & U.S. 2016 Census View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: International Paper Company Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: International Paper Company View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757365/International-Paper-AlwaysR-and-Feeding-AmericaR-Join-Forces-To-Help-EndPeriodPoverty-in-the-US WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Today, the American Conservative Values ETF (NYSE:ACVF) announced that it divested its holdings of and initiated a "Refuse to Buy" rating for Target Corp. (TGT) on May 24th, 2023. Target Corp.'s ever increasing pandering to the Woke LGBT agenda has backfired and its management team's inept response to a crisis of their own making has significantly damaged their brand across the political spectrum. We believe their stocks' long-term performance will suffer because of it. Their actions have also removed any doubt about the company's hostility to conservative values. After a comprehensive review of our continued investment in Target ACVF's management team has decided to divest its holding of Target Corp. (TGT). "Not only weren't they smart enough to stay apolitical, they picked the wrong side," stated ACVF CEO and co-founder William Flaig. "Hopefully the examples of Target and Bud Light reinforce the need for liberal corporate managers to focus on maximizing shareholder returns and stop playing politics," stated ACVF's President and co-founder Tom Carter, adding "Go woke go, broke is real." According to Investor's Business Daily, Anheuser-Busch's market value has dropped a staggering $15.7 billion between April 1st and May 23rd. JP Morgan analyst Jared Binges told his clients "We believe there is a subset of American consumers who will not drink a Bud Light for the foreseeable future," adding "We believe a 12% to 13% volume decline on an annualized basis would be a reasonable assumption." ACVF attempts to dynamically align with the concerns of politically conservative investors without sacrificing performance. [ACVF Factsheet] [Videos] "We do not want to invest in the likes of Disney, Meta, Blackrock, Google, etc. We do not want to give these companies that are eagerly working to destroy conservative values our hard-earned investment dollars, and neither should you," states Flaig. [List of current Boycotts] "Target has shown their true colors," stated Tom Carter, adding, "We have been keeping an eye on Target's behavior for some time. Although we have historically perceived Target as trending towards "The Woke" liberal agenda, we felt their behavior wasn't the worst of the worst among general merchandising companies." In our ongoing survey of woke/liberal companies, Target (TGT) ranked 9th overall in our June 2022 survey, with 10% of participants selecting them as their top 3 most woke/liberal companies. This was up significantly from 3% of participants in our previous survey. [Survey Link] "Giving conservative investors the power to respond to such concerns is an example of why we built ACVF," said Tom Carter, adding that "the management team continually seeks to better understand politically conservative investors' sentiments and opinions as corporate reputations are impacted by news events and market performance." "We must hold these companies accountable for their actions and insist on transparency. We need to vote with our wallets. Politically conservative consumers and investors have started to react, boycotting goods and services as well as denying them access to the capital they need. ACVF is currently refusing to invest in 34 such companies," said Flaig, adding, "I'm proud to offer an alternative to the S&P 500*, which currently keeps 25 cents of every invested dollar from these companies." The final decision to boycott a company is qualitative. Fund management uses a weight-of-the-evidence approach that takes into consideration the company's standing reputation among political conservatives. Management evaluates their potential portfolio performance risk, economic sector, and reputation relative to peers. Typically, not one simple thing creates a reputation, but there is an event such as this that calls us to action. Links InvestConservative.com Fund Material About ACVF The American Conservative Values ETF (ACVF) is based on the conviction that politically active companies negatively impact their shareholder returns as well as support issues and causes that conflict with our conservative political ideals, beliefs, and values. ACVF's priority is shareholder returns and providing an investment alternative for politically conservative investors. Simply put, ACVF seeks to boycott as many companies hostile to conservative values as possible without sacrificing performance. ACVF is designed to replace your current large-cap investments. To schedule an interview with Mr. Flaig or Mr. Carter, please contact them at: wflaig@ridgelineresearch.com 301-685-7121 tcarter@ridgelineresearch.com 301-685-7122 www.InvestConservative.com *The S&P 500 is a broad-based unmanaged index, which is widely recognized as representative of the equity market in general. As of 5/24/2023 the fund holds 0.00% of Target, Anheuser-Busch, Disney, Meta, Blackrock, Google. Carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risk factors, charges and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Fund's prospectus and summary prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting ACVETFS.com. Read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing. An investment in the Fund is subject to risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. Overall stock market risks may affect the value of individual securities in which the Fund invests. The Fund is actively managed, and the adviser's investment decisions impact the Fund's performance. The Fund and adviser are new, and the ETF has only recently commenced operations. This Fund may not be suitable for all investors. The equity securities in which the Fund invests will generally be those of companies with large market capitalizations. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, and will fluctuate in market value. Transactions in shares of ETFs will result in brokerage commissions, which will reduce returns. Unlike typical exchange-traded funds, there are no indexes that the Fund attempts to track or replicate. Thus, the ability of the Fund to achieve its objectives will depend on the effectiveness of the portfolio manager. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful investing. The Fund is new and has a limited operating history. The ACVF Fund is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. SOURCE: American Conservative Values ETF View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757354/ACVF-Hits-Target-Corp--Divesting-in-Wake-of-Latest-Woke-Debacle Signing of a strategic partnership with Furui, a leading Chinese healthcare player and Theraclion's long-term partner Launch of a global financing of up to 15M Appointment of Martin Deterre as CEO Regulatory News: THERACLION (ISIN: FR0010120402; Mnemo: ALTHE), an innovative company developing a scalable robotic platform for non-invasive ultrasound therapy, announced today the signing of a strategic agreement with its long-term partner Furui, the launch of a financing with various investors for a total amount of up to 15M, which would allow it to finance the deployment of its strategy over 3 years, and the appointment of its new CEO, Martin Deterre. Accelerated strategy execution Theraclion is focusing on the treatment of varicose veins through 3 strategic axes, with regular deliverables, starting this year: US market clearance by the FDA via the launch in the coming months of a pivotal multi-center study Rapid access to the high-potential Chinese market and the development of industrial capacities in China, in close partnership with Furui Artificial Intelligence and further advances in technology and robotics, to shorten and simplify treatments The new CEO will have the funding to execute this strategy, which should contribute to rapid value creation for Theraclion, the world leader in non-invasive focused ultrasound therapy, approaching 2,000 varicose veins treatments to date. Strategic partnership with Furui Furui has been a shareholder of Theraclion SA since 2016 and the co-shareholder in Theraclion China. Furui will invest through its subsidiary Furui Paris 7 million, including 6 million in the 11 million capital increase decided by Theraclion's Board of Directors on May 24th, 2023, and 1 million, through the exercise of warrants, conditional on the achievement of milestones. Furui brings its know-how in supporting innovative medical companies in their international expansion with particular expertise in the Chinese market. Theraclion and Furui will develop a production capacity for Echopulse and SONOVEIN in China. Theraclion will license its technologies and trademarks in China to Theraclion China, for 3 million based on the achievement of milestones. An immediate capital increase of 11M, which can be increased to a maximum of 12.7M The funds will be raised through a capital increase, decided by the Board of Directors at its meeting on May 24th, 2023, by issuing 19,064,124 shares with warrants attached (the "ABSAs") for a total amount of 11 million. The subscription price per share is 0.577, i.e. a discount of 20% compared to the weighted average of the market prices of the last five trading sessions preceding the issue. This amount may be increased to a maximum of 21,923,742 ABSAs for an amount of 12.7 million. In addition, six new shares will give the right to subscribe to one new share at a price of 0.577. Appointment of a CEO On May 24th, the Board of Directors appointed Martin Deterre as CEO of Theraclion, previously Director of Engineering and Development of Theraclion since 2020. He has successfully led the development of the new generations of SONOVEIN and demonstrated his ability to achieve ambitious goals in a short timeframe with dynamism and pragmatism. "I am honored and grateful to have been promoted to lead Theraclion in executing our strategy to commercial success," concluded Martin Deterre. ANNEXES Furui-Theraclion Partnership The objective of this transaction is to more actively and effectively introduce Theraclion's advanced high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy technology and products to the Chinese market, particularly the non-invasive treatment of varicose veins, thyroid tumors and breast fibroadenomas. This partnership will create medical products suitable for the Chinese market with advanced international medical devices combined with local industrial manufacturing capabilities and will encourage medical institutions to create new models of corresponding medical services. At the same time, the resources provided by Furui will help Theraclion to better promote its products worldwide. In the long term, this transaction will expand the company's business scope, strengthen its competitiveness, and improve its sustainability and business performance, in line with the company's development strategy and shareholders' interests. Terms and conditions of the fundraising The fundraising will be carried out in two distinct but concomitant parts: a capital increase through the issuance of ABSAs with cancellation of the preferential subscription right to the benefit of categories of beneficiaries (investment companies and investment funds under French or foreign law investing in a sector similar or complementary to that of the Company as well as strategic partners of the Company) (in accordance with the 10th resolution of the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting of June 30 th , 2022) (the " Offering to Categories of Persons "); and , 2022) (the " "); and a capital increase by way of issuance of ABSAs with cancellation of preferential subscription rights within the framework of a public offering addressed exclusively to a limited circle of investors acting on their own behalf and/or to qualified investors as referred to in article L. 411-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (in accordance with the 9th resolution of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting of June 30th, 2022) (the "Private Placement Each ABSA will have attached to it a warrant to subscribe for shares (the "BSA") on the basis of one BSA for six shares. The BSAs will be detached from the shares immediately upon issue. They will be exercisable until December 31st, 2025. The issue price of the ABSAs, set by the Board of Directors, is 0.577 per new share, representing a 20% discount to the weighted average of the Theraclion share price over the last five trading days preceding the setting of the issue price, in accordance with the 9th and 10th resolutions of the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting of June 30th, 2022. The subscription price of the ABSAs is identical for the Offering and the Private Placement. The subscription period for the ABSAs starts on Thursday, May 25th, 2023, from the close of trading, until June 15th, 2023. Pursuant to Article 1.4 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017, the Fundraising will not give rise to the preparation of a prospectus subject to the approval of the Autorite des marches financiers ("AMF This press release does not constitute a prospectus under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017, as amended, or an offer to the public. Undertaking to abstain None. Commitment to subscribe Under the terms of the agreement entered into on May 24th, 2023, Furui has undertaken, subject to certain conditions, to subscribe via Furui Paris for 10,398,614 ABSAs, i.e. a subscription of 6M to the Classified Offering. Subject to the achievement of certain operational performance indicators, Furui has also committed to exercise the BSAs through its French subsidiary, representing a potential additional contribution of 1M. In addition, upon completion of the capital raising, two representatives of Furui will be appointed to the Board of Directors, in accordance with the agreement entered into on May 24th, 2023. Impact of the issuance of the ABSA on the shareholders' participation The impact of the ABSA issue described above on shareholders' equity interests (calculated on the basis of 29,618,027 shares making up the share capital and 30,764,005 shares on a fully diluted basis prior to the ABSA issue) would be as follows: Shareholder's participation in % On a non-diluted basis On a diluted basis Before issue of new shares 1,00% 0,96% In the event of the issue of 19,064,124 new shares 0,61% 0,59% In the event of the issue of 19,064,124 new shares and 3,177,354 shares on exercise of all the warrants 0,57% 0,56% Impact of the issuance of the ABSAs on shareholders' equity The impact of the issuance of the ABSAs described above on the share of equity (calculated on the basis of the 29,618,027 shares making up the share capital and the 30,764,005 shares on a fully diluted basis before the issuance of the ABSAs) would be as follows: Shareholders' equity at December 31, 2022 On a non-diluted basis On a diluted basis Before issue of new shares 0,025 0,024 In the event of the issue of 19,064,124 new shares 0,241 0,236 In the event of the issue of 19,064,124 new shares and 3,177,354 shares on exercise of all the warrants 0,262 0,256 Potential cash inflow from operations (excluding over-allotment option) Cash contribution Including Furui Royalties from licensing agreement with Furui 3M 3M Capital increase 11M 6M Additional funds raised in the event of exercise of the warrants attached to the ABSAs (assuming 100% greenshoe option exercised) 1.8 M 1M Total 15,8 M (including 9M from Furui) About Martin Deterre Martin Deterre received an Engineer degree from the Ecole Polytechnique, a Master of Science from M.I.T. and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Paris Sud. His professional career in the medical device industry, and more particularly in disruptive technology start-ups, has led him to work on various technical, regulatory and operational issues, from pacemakers (Sorin Group) to retinal implants (Pixium Vision). His technical knowledge of Theraclion's products, strong customer orientation and proven managerial skills are the basis of his legitimacy to lead the company's teams today. Risk Factors Detailed information about Theraclion, including its business, results and risk factors, is presented in the annual financial report for the year ended December 31st, 2022. It is available, together with other regulated information and press releases, on the company's website www.theraclion.com. The occurrence of some or all of these risks could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results, development or prospects. The risk factors presented in the annual financial report remain unchanged as of the date of this press release. About Theraclion Theraclion is a French MedTech company committed to developing a non-invasive alternative to surgery through the innovative use of focused ultrasound. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) does not require incisions nor an operating room, leaves no scars, and allows patients an immediate return to their daily activities. Echotherapy, as the HIFU treatment method is called, concentrates therapeutic ultrasounds to an internal focal point from outside of the body. Theraclion has developed two CE-marked robotic platforms delivering echotherapy: SONOVEIN for varicose veins and ECHOPULSE for breast fibroadenoma and thyroid nodules. Each representing the potential to replace millions of surgical procedures every year. Based in Malakoff (Paris), the Theraclion team is made up of 30 people, mainly in technological and clinical development. For more information, please visit www.theraclion.com or www.echotherapy.com and follow the account on LinkedIn. About Furui Furui is a Chinese medical group specializing in the manufacture and marketing of drugs, as well as the R&D and distribution of medical devices, mainly in pediatric and liver indications. Furui has extensive resources in the field of medical devices and has achieved significant commercial success, contributing to its reputation in China and France. The company has been listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2010. Theraclion is listed on Euronext Growth Paris Eligible for the PEA-PME scheme Mnemonic: ALTHE ISIN code: FR0010120402 LEI: 9695007X7HA7A1GCYD29 Disclaimer This press release, and the information it contains, does not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe, or the solicitation of an order to buy or subscribe, shares in Theraclion in any country. This press release constitutes a promotional communication and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) n2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation With respect to Member States of the European Economic Area other than France (the "Member States"), no action has been taken or will be taken to permit a public offering of the securities making it necessary to publish a prospectus in any of these Member States. Consequently, the securities cannot and will not be offered in any Member State (other than France), except in accordance with the exemptions provided for in article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, or in other cases not requiring the publication by Theraclion of a prospectus under article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation and/or the regulations applicable in those Member States. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities in the United States of America. The shares, or any other securities, of Theraclion may not be offered or sold in the United States of America except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements, except that the shares of Theraclion have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. Theraclion does not intend to register the offering in whole or in part in the United States of America or to conduct a public offering in the United States of America. With respect to the United Kingdom, the announcement is directed only at persons located (x) outside the United Kingdom or (y) in the United Kingdom, who are "qualified investors" (as that term is defined in the Prospectus Regulations which form part of domestic law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) and who (i) are investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Financial Promotion Order"), (ii) fall within Article 49(2) (a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc. "of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to take part in investment activities (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) may lawfully be communicated or passed on (the persons referred to in paragraphs (y)(i), (y)(ii) and (y)(iii) together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). This press release is intended for Authorized Persons only and may not be used by anyone other than an Authorized Person. This press release contains information about Theraclion's objectives and forward-looking statements. This information is not historical data and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts and data stated will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by Theraclion. Theraclion operates in a competitive and fast-changing environment. It is therefore not in a position to anticipate all the risks, uncertainties or other factors that might affect its business, their potential impact on its business, or the extent to which the materialization of a risk or combination of risks could have results materially different from those mentioned in any forward-looking information. This information is given only as of the date of this press release. Theraclion undertakes no obligation to publicly update this information or the assumptions on which it is based, except as may be required by law or regulation. The distribution of this press release may be subject to specific regulations in certain countries. Consequently, persons physically present in such countries and in which the press release is circulated, published or distributed must inform themselves of and comply with such laws and regulations. The information contained in this press release does not constitute an offer of securities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or any other country. This press release may not be published, transmitted or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Australia, Canada or Japan. This document may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005805/en/ Contacts: Theraclion Martin Deterre CEO martin.deterre@theraclion.com Teams from Rochdale, Reading and Rochester Win Award Funds to Help Them Protect Native Wildlife and Habitats LONDON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EarthEcho International, the global nonprofit dedicated to building a youth movement to protect and restore our ocean planet, today announced the first three UK school teams selected as the Grand Prize winners of its OurEcho Challenge . The winning teams, from Rochdale, Reading and Rochester were part of an innovation competition designed to engage young problem solvers in protecting the diversity of species and ecosystems that make life on earth possible. The competition is made possible through the support of Aramco Europe. This is the first year the OurEcho Challenge was available to enter for UK students, Years 6-10. The competition has run for three years in the US. "The 2023 OurEcho Challenge grand prize winners impressed our judges with their in-depth knowledge of local biodiversity issues and their vision in developing viable solutions tailored to their communities," said EarthEcho founder Philippe Cousteau, Jr. "We congratulate all of the finalist teams who participated in the Challenge, and we know their passion and dedication will inspire others to take action for a sustainable future for all." The OurEcho Challenge supports three grand prize winners that were selected from five finalist teams competing for 5,000, 2,500, and 1,000 grants to further the work of their projects to protect and restore biodiversity in their communities. The OurEcho Challenge UK winning teams are: 5,000 Grand Prize Winner - Team Falinge, Falinge Park High School, Roch dale, Lancashire 2,500 Grand Prize Winner - Team Bio Ha zard, Reading School, Reading , Berkshire - 1,000 Grand Prize Winner - Team TA SREWS, The Thomas Aveling School, Rochester, Kent Team Falinge, Team Bio Hazard, and Team TA SREWS were selected after presenting their projects virtually to a panel of expert judges and with the public on May 25th during a Facebook live stream event. A panel of judges - including scientific experts from Aramco Europe and Ocean Alliance, an educator from Incredible Oceans, and youth advocates from EarthEcho and the Global South Focal Point - reviewed presentations from the five finalist teams and selected the three grand prize winners based on their projects' vision, scientific rigour, feasibility, and the teams' pitch. The public also had the opportunity to vote for their favourite team projects during this year's People's Choice Awards, learning more about each project from their Finalist videos . Follow EarthEcho on social media to learn about the People's Choice Award winner later this week. The OurEcho Challenge equips US and UK students, guided by a teacher or mentor, to tackle the decline in biodiversity by identifying threats and proposing solutions to protect natural resources in their own communities. For more information and updates about the OurEcho Challenge, visit www.OurEchoChallenge.org. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthecho Twitter: www.twitter.com/earthecho and Instagram: www.instagram.com/earthecho/ . For more information about EarthEcho International, visit www.earthecho.org . For more information about program sponsor Aramco, visit Europe.aramco.com . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085930/OurEcho_Challenge.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/philippe-cousteau-jrs-earthecho-international-announces-the-uks-first-three-winning-school-teams-in-its-ourecho-challenge-to-protect-biodiversity-301835044.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Covia's focus on Safety First extends beyond our Team Members and sites. We take pride in involving our communities, contractors, and customers in discussions about safety, gauging what safety practices are most important our stakeholders. Therefore, when our Chardon, Ohio facility learned about an opportunity to assist their local first responders with a special training opportunity, they were eager to get started. After collaborative planning, Covia was pleased to donate a property that was scheduled to be demolished to the Munson (OH) Township Fire Department. The Fire Department was able to use it for a "live burn"-a training exercise that gives firefighters a chance to practice with a burning structure. National Fire Protection Association instructors led firefighters from all over Northeast Ohio in the live fire training. The training was staged over two full days in 2022. Leading up to the live training, Team Members worked with the Munson Township Fire Department for months preparing the building and planning for the two 12-hour days of training. In total, it took four months to ensure the structure could be used for the training safely and was in compliance with Ohio regulations. Firefighting instructors came from as far away as Tennessee and New York when they learned about the event and more than 80 firefighters from around Northeast Ohio participated. "It was the most monumental fire training our township ever had," Munson Township Assistant Fire Chief Brian Gray told township trustees. "The training was second to none." Visit https://www.coviacorp.com/esg/positive-social-impact/ to learn more about Safety & Health at Covia and how it is more than just a skill used at work - it is a habit that translates to every aspect of our Team Members' lives. Firefighters participate in the live fire training. Photo Credit: Geauga County Maple Leaf View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Covia on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Covia Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/covia Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Covia View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757376/Covias-Chardon-Site-Proud-To-Support-Community-Safety More than 5,900 completed surveys from across the senior living provider organization reflected high marks for team member trust and overall experience, which surpassed the certification benchmarks and helped secure the high-profile honor. BONITA SPRINGS, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery") a nationally recognized senior living provider, has been certified as a Great Place to Work by the Great Place to Work Institute and its senior care partner Activated Insights. This certification is a testament to Discovery Senior Living's commitment to creating a positive and inclusive work environment for its employees. Great Place To Work 2023-2024 For the second year in a row, Discovery Senior Living has been awarded a Great Place to Work Certification The certification process involved surveying Discovery Senior Living's employees from across its community locations and evaluating more than 60 elements of team members' experience on the job. These elements included employee pride in the organization's community impact, belief that their work makes a difference, and feeling their work has special meaning. Rankings are based on employees' experiences, no matter who they are or what they do. "We are thrilled to receive this certification for the second year in a row," said Lisa Lacy, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Discovery Senior Living. "Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, and we strive to create a supportive and engaging work environment that empowers them to do their best work. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team members, and we are honored to receive this distinction for the second year in a row." Discovery Senior Living is committed to providing its employees with a range of benefits, including competitive compensation, comprehensive healthcare benefits, and opportunities for professional development. The company has also increasingly emphasized volunteerism and giving back through its Discovery Makes a Difference charitable initiative. The team-members lead group provides financial and other backing in support of selected causes and beneficiaries. Over the past three years, Discovery Makes a Difference has built homes for Habitat for Humanity, given to local food banks, animal rescues and veterans organizations, raised more than $50,000 for Alzheimer's research, and rallied food, supplies and monetary support for Hurricane Ida victims in Louisiana and Hurricane Ian victims in Southwest Florida. "We believe that our employees are our most valuable asset, and we are committed to creating a workplace culture that reflects this belief," said Bill Sciortino, Chief Operating Officer for Discovery Senior Living. "We are incredibly proud of our team members and grateful for their dedication to our residents and communities." About Discovery Senior Living Discovery Senior Living is a family of companies that includes Discovery Management Group, Morada Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, Discovery Marketing Group, and Discovery At Home, a Medicare-certified home healthcare company. With almost three decades of experience, the award-winning management group has been developing, building, marketing, and operating upscale senior-living communities across the United States. By leveraging its innovative "Experiential Living" philosophy across a growing portfolio of more than 13,000 existing homes or homes under development, Discovery Senior Living is a recognized industry leader for lifestyle customization and, today, ranks among the 10 largest U.S. senior living operators and providers. Contact Information: Heidi LaVanway Vice President of Marketing hlavanway@discoverymgt.com 239.301.5330 SOURCE: Discovery Senior Living View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757346/Discovery-Senior-Living-Honored-as-a-Great-Place-to-Work-for-the-Second-Consecutive-Year EQS-News: World Health Organisation, Regional Office for Africa / Key word(s): Miscellaneous A New Era of Redefining How Africa Deals with Health, Humanitarian and Climate Crises 25.05.2023 / 21:35 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. A New Era of Redefining How Africa Deals with Health, Humanitarian and Climate Crises Launch of Partnership between World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) From humanitarian crises triggered by conflict to climate-change induced disasters, Africa deals with over 100 disease outbreaks every year. To tackle these challenges, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) ( www.Afro.WHO.Int ) are pleased to announce the launch of a Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan (JEAP). This pioneering five-year strategic collaboration will boost emergency preparedness and response efforts throughout Africa and thus ensure disease outbreaks during humanitarian crises and otherwise are managed efficiently. The JEAP underscores the shared vision of Africa's two leading public health institutions - to strengthen emergency preparedness and response and health systems on the continent. The plan builds upon existing frameworks and initiatives while capitalizing on the Africa CDC and WHO's unique capabilities and resources. Aligned with the Africa CDC's New Public Health Order ( https://apo-opa.info/3MY2ZYk ), WHO AFRO's Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies (2022-2030) ( https://apo-opa.info/434fLuj ), and WHO EMRO's four-year strategy ( https://apo-opa.info/42cWpBD ) for the Eastern Mediterranean region to address health emergencies - the JEAP strengthens emergency preparedness and response across six critical areas. "The collaboration between the Africa CDC and WHO exemplifies the power of partnership in global health. JEAP will bolster our collective efforts to fight public health emergencies, saving lives and protecting our communities. We are proud to stand with Africa CDC and work towards a healthier and safer future for all Africans," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. Priority areas of action are strengthening surveillance intelligence and genomic sequencing for quicker detection; stockpiling emergency supplies at newly established sub-regional hubs to improve emergency response operations (70% of response activities during emergencies relate to such supply chain measures); and deploying first responders within 24-48 hours of a disease outbreak. Most critically, this ground-breaking collaboration outlines impactful initiatives to be implemented in unison with countries to enhance the continent's capacity to detect, monitor, and respond swiftly to health emergencies. In a first-of-its kind collaboration, the JEAP serves as a guiding beacon for targeted emergency response interventions and embodies the importance of cross-cutting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and resource mobilization. "Africa CDC is proud to partner for this important continental strategic plan. Joining forces with WHO will significantly improve our ability to safeguard the health of African populations during times of crisis. Together, we will build resilient health systems and ensure a coordinated and effective response to emergencies across the continent," said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC. In an inspiring take, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean iterated "This visionary collaboration will breathe new life into the efficiency of current coordination mechanisms, strengthen institutions, and ultimately help us deliver quality healthcare services to our communities" These efforts are galvanizing the commitments from governments, health agencies, and stakeholders to strengthen health emergency preparedness, detection, and response efforts. Through collective action and unwavering commitment, we will build resilient systems, enhance capacities, and safeguard the well-being of our communities. This partnership is a testament to our unwavering dedication to a healthier, safer Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa. For more information about the Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan (JEAP) you can read here ( https://apo-opa.info/426yvb2 ). For further details on the collaboration between Africa CDC and WHO, please contact: Bakano Otto Senior Editor/Writer World Health Organization African Region Email: ottob@who.int Inas Hamam Communication Officer WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Email: hamami@who.int Ndahafa Nakwafila Senior Communication Officer Africa CDC Email: NakwafilaN@africa-union.org About Africa CDC: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous health institution of the African Union established to support public health initiatives of Member States and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect, prevent, control and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats. For more information, visit www.AfricaCDC.org and follow us on Twitter ( https://apo-opa.info/437iOBJ ) and Facebook ( https://apo-opa.info/428V8Mb ). About WHO: World Health Organization contributes to a better future for people everywhere. Good health lays the foundation for vibrant and productive communities, stronger economies, safer nations and a better world. As the lead health authority within the United Nations system, our work touches people's lives around the world every day. In Africa, WHO serves 47 Member States and works with development partners to improve the health and well-being of all people living here. The WHO Regional Office for Africa is located in Brazzaville, Congo. Learn more at www.Afro.WHO.Int and follow us on Twitter ( https://apo-opa.info/43hSHrA ), Facebook ( https://apo-opa.info/45wpj2D ) and YouTube ( https://apo-opa.info/3q9aYZO ). 25.05.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE: WDGY) (OTCQB: WDGRF) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company") announces that pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102"), on May 23, 2023, D&H Group LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants ("D&H"), was asked to resign by the directors of the Company (the "Board"), as the Company's auditor, and the Board resolved to appoint Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants ("Davidson"), as the Company's successor auditor (the "Change of Auditor"). Wedgemount's request of D&H to resign did not occur because of any reportable disagreement or unresolved issue involving the Company, or any consultation with Davidson and was considered, approved and recommended by the Audit Committee of the Board, as was the decision to appoint Davidson as successor auditor. In the opinion of the Company, there have been no modified opinions expressed in D&H's auditor reports on any of the Company's financial statements relating to the "relevant period" or any "reportable event" as such terms are defined in Section 4.11 of NI 51-102. All documents relating to the Change of Auditor have been filed under Wedgemount's profile at www.sedar.com. As a result of the Change of Auditor, at the Company's annual and special meeting scheduled for June 15, 2023 (the "Meeting"), Davidson will be appointed as auditor to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders at a remuneration to be fixed by the Board, not D&H as indicated in Wedgemount's management proxy materials dated as of record date for the Meeting, May 11, 2023, filed under Wedgemount's profile at www.sedar.com. About Wedgemount Resources Corp. Wedgemount Resources is a junior natural resources company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, development and exploitation of natural resource projects in North America. On behalf of the Board of Directors, WEDGEMOUNT RESOURCES CORP. Mark Vanry, President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at: Telephone: (604) 343-4743 info@wedgemountresources.com www.wedgemountresources.com Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167565 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp. (TSXV: KLDC) (formerly Warrior Gold Inc., "Kirkland Lake Discoveries" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that the Company has completed its acquisition of the Lucky Strike property (the "Lucky Strike Property") and related private placement offering of Subscription Receipts (as defined below). Acquisition of Lucky Strike Property As previously announced in its news release dated February 22, 2023, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with New Found Gold Corp. ("NFG") dated February 16, 2023, as amended May 8, 2023 (the "Purchase Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company has now acquired from NFG all of the properties comprising the Lucky Strike Property located in the Kirkland Lake gold camp in Ontario, Canada (the "Transaction"). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired the Lucky Strike Property by issuing to NFG 28,612,500 common shares in the capital of the Company, and granting to NFG a 1.0% net smelter return royalty on the Lucky Strike Property pursuant to a royalty agreement. The common shares issued pursuant to Purchase Agreement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. In addition, under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, NFG agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to distribute all the common shares of the Company that it holds to its shareholders, pro rata, within one year following the completion of the Transaction. The Company's board of directors was reconstituted in conjunction with the completion of the Transaction and now consists of four directors: Denis Laviolette, Daniele Spethmann, Gary Nassif, and Stephen Burleton. Two additional directors may be nominated by NFG later. Consolidated Land Package The Lucky Strike Property, located immediately east of the Company's neighboring land package in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, consists of 653 unpatented mining claims covering approximately 11,367 hectares (114 km2). The consolidated properties of the Company now form the largest land package in the Kirkland Lake Gold Camp with an area of approximately 38,000 hectares (380 km2). The consolidated land package is 53 kilometres in length and up to 20 kilometres wide and hosts past-producing gold and copper operations, several with underground workings, numerous pits and many mineral showings of gold, copper, silver, critical and other precious metals. The property lies within the Blake River mafic volcanic formation, the same host rocks as Agnico Eagle's Upper Beaver deposit and roughly eight kilometres north of the "Mile of Seven Mines", which includes the Macassa Mine. The consolidation of the properties represents property acquisitions over nine years from more than 18 prospectors and owners of patented claims. Daniele Spethmann, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Discoveries, stated: "The completion of this transaction and the consolidation of this highly prospective land package in a renowned mining district is a rare and very exciting opportunity. The addition of Denis Laviolette as a director of the Company strengthens the Company's board and helps position the Company to realize its goal of achieving exploration success within the combined properties." Private Placement Financing In connection with the Transaction, the Company has closed its best-efforts brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") through the issuance of 18,690,000 subscription receipts of the Company (each, a "Non-FT Subscription Receipt") at a price of $0.25 per Non-FT Subscription Receipt (the "Non-FT Offering Price"), and 11,547,299 "flow-through" subscription receipts of the Company (each, an "FT Subscription Receipt", and together with the Non-FT Subscription Receipts, the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.275 per FT Subscription Receipt (the "FT Offering Price", and together with the Non-FT Offering Price, the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of $7,848,007. Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the "Agent") acted as agent in connection with the Offering. The Company entered into a subscription receipt agreement dated May 25, 2023 (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") with the Agent and Olympia Trust Company, as subscription receipt agent (the "Escrow Agent"). Following satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions in accordance with the Subscription Receipt Agreement, each Non-FT Subscription Receipt entitles the holder thereof to receive one unit of the Company (each, a "Non-FT Unit"), subject to adjustments. Each Non-FT Unit will consist of one Common Share and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Non-FT Warrant"). Upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, each FT Subscription Receipt entitles the holder thereof to receive one unit of the Company (each, a "FT Unit", and together with the Non-FT Units, the "Units"), subject to adjustments. Each FT Unit will consist of one Common Share (a "FT Unit Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (a "FT Warrant", and together with the Non-FT Warrants, the "Warrants"). Each FT Unit Share and FT Warrant will qualify as a "flow-through share" as defined in subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985 c. 1 (5th Supp.), as amended (the "Tax Act"). Each Warrant will be exercisable by the holder thereof into one Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") for a period of two (2) years following the date of the Escrow Release (as defined below) at an exercise price of $0.40 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustments. The Company satisfied the Escrow Release Conditions on May 25, 2023. The conversion of the Subscription Receipts and the release of the escrowed proceeds of the Offering is expected to occur on or about May 30, 2023 (the "Escrow Release"). Following Escrow Release, the net proceeds from the Offering are intended to primarily be used to fund the Company's initial planned exploration program at the combined Kirkland Lake/Lucky Strike Property and for general working capital purposes. In consideration of the services rendered in connection with the Offering the Company paid cash commissions in the aggregate amount of $467,880 and issued an aggregate of 1,802,238 broker warrants of the Company (the "Broker Warrants"), exercisable into the same number of common shares of the Company (the "Broker Warrant Shares") at a price per Broker Warrant Share equal to the Non-FT Offering Price for a period from the date of the Escrow Release until 24 months following the date of the Escrow Release. The Company anticipates the common shares will resume trading on or about May 31, 2023. The Offering was conducted in all provinces of Canada pursuant to private placement exemptions and in such other jurisdictions as were agreed to by the Company and the Agent. The Offering remains subject to the final approval of the TSXV. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp. Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp (KLDC) is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed company that has consolidated a district-scale and prospective land package in the Kirkland Lake gold camp in Ontario, Canada. The properties are hosted in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the world's best-endowed greenstone belts, with +200 million ounces of gold produced to date. The properties are host to regional and property-scale mineralized structures that are considered second-order structures off the Larder Lake Cadillac Deformation Zone - LLCDZ - the regional structure in the belt known to be spatially associated with the gold mines hosted in the camp. The properties assembled include the 100%-owned Lucky Strike Property, Goodfish-Kirana, the Arnold property, the optioned KL West (KLW) and KL Central (KLC). The Company's land position comprises approximately 38,000 ha, over 1,338 claims and 29 patented claims in the Kirkland Lake region. For additional information, please contact: Daniele Spethmann, P.Geo. President & CEO kirklandlakediscoveries.com +1 416 414 7011 daniele@kirklandlakediscoveries.com The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the expected conversion of the Subscription Receipts, the use of proceeds from the Offering, and the final approval of the TSXV. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, availability of necessary financing, potential mineralization on the Company's mineral projects, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to them, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, title and environmental risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167568 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCEESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Kidoz Inc. (TSXV:KIDZ) (the "Company"), mobile AdTech developer and owner of the market leading Kidoz Contextual Ad Network (www.kidoz.net); and the Kidoz Publisher SDK, announced todayits unaudited condensed interim financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. All amounts are presented in United States dollars and are in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Recent Kidoz Inc. Q1 2023 highlights include: Total Revenue of $1,673,685 a decrease of 27% compared to Q1 2022 Total Revenue of $2,287,471 Direct Ad Tech Advertising Revenue of $1,538,046 a decrease of 29% compared to Q1 2022 Direct Ad Tech Advertising Revenue of $2,154,854. Programmatic Ad Tech Advertising Revenue of $68,070, an increase of 153% compared to Q1 2022 Programmatic Advertising Revenue of $26,954. Sales and Marketing expenditure of $327,522, an increase of 82% from $180,014 in Q1 2022 Non-Capitalized R&D expenditures of $744,33, an increase of 44% from $516,639 in Q1 2022. Net loss after tax of ($1,066,612), compared to a net loss after tax ($731,042) in Q1 2022. Adjusted EBITDA of ($796,915) compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $($427,284) in Q1 2022. Cash of $2,304,757 and working capital of $3,331,745 as at March 31, 2023, compared to cash of $2,363,530 and working capital of $4,147,176 as at December 31, 2022. Cash used in operations in Q1 2023 of ($46,996) compared to Free Cash Flow of $15,881 in the prior year. For full details of the Company's operations and financial results, please refer to the Securities and Exchange Commission website at www.sec.gov or the Kidoz Inc. corporate website at https://investor.kidoz.net or the www.sedar.com website. "Unfortunately, weakness in the wider advertising market was experienced by Kidoz during Q1 2023," stated Jason Williams, Kidoz CEO. "While this decline was expected and we can see this weakness is isolated to only the first quarter of the year, our performance has suffered as a result. The good news for the quarter is that our programmatic revenues are rising, our cash flow from operations was almost neutral and our gross margins showed improvement increasing to 40% from 36% in Q1 2022." "More important than the temporary revenue decline during the slowest quarter of the year is the Company's continued trajectory in building a leading technology platform and establishing strong commercial relationships with the world's leading brands. We continue to increase investments in our software systems and are seeing returns in our programmatic efforts which we expect will continue to grow for the duration of 2023. Advanced systems and features have also been applied to our publisher SDK, bidder technology, and performance (app install) campaign technology. Each and every system upgrade opens new commercial opportunities in the US$400 billion dollar digital advertising industry. "Kidoz also continues to make significant investments in our direct and agency sales relationships to support the Kidoz and Prado brands in the market. We are engaged in a record number of brand and campaign planning discussions and anticipate these will result in another record full year of revenues and profit for Kidoz Inc. Since the beginning of April 2023, we have seen network activity return to year-over-year gains. We are building the systems and processes to support a scale of business many times higher than our current volumes and believe it's only a matter of time before we can unlock this scale as a result of our continued delivery of world class media for our brand partners." CAUTION REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES This press release refers to "Adjusted EBITDA" which is a non-GAAP financial measure that does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not presented in accordance with, or as an alternative to, GAAP financial measures and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"). We encourage investors to review the GAAP financial measures included in our annual Management Discussion and Analysis and our Form 20-F, to aid in their analysis and understanding of our performance and in making comparisons. We use Adjusted EBITDA internally to evaluate our performance and make financial and operational decisions that are presented in a manner that adjusts from their equivalent GAAP measures or that supplement the information provided by our GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDA is defined by us as EBITDA (net income (loss) plus depreciation expense, amortization expense, interest, stock-based compensation and impairment of goodwill), further adjusted to exclude certain non-cash expenses and other adjustments. We use Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it more clearly highlights business trends that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures, since Adjusted EBITDA eliminates from our results specific financial items that have less bearing on our core operating performance. Our Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled as follows: Three Months ended March 31, 2023 Three Months ended March 31, 2022 Loss after tax $ (1,066,612 ) $ (731,042 ) Less : Depreciation and amortization 139,287 140,371 Stock awareness program 18,492 19,733 Stock-based compensation 111,974 159,998 Gain on derivative liability - warrants (51 ) (16,344 ) Interest and other income (5 ) - Adjusted EBITDA $ (796,915 ) $ (427,284 ) About Kidoz Inc. Kidoz Inc. (TSXV:KIDZ) (www.kidoz.net) owns the leading COPPA & GDPR compliant contextual mobile advertising network that safely reaches hundreds of millions of kids, teens, and families every month. Google certified, and Apple approved, Kidoz provides an essential suite of advertising technology that unites brands, content publishers and families. Trusted by Disney, Hasbro, Lego and more, the Kidoz Contextual Ad Network helps the world's largest brands to safely reach and engage kids across thousands of mobile apps, websites and video channels. The Kidoz network does not use location or PII data tracking commonly used in digital advertising. Instead, Kidoz has developed advanced contextual targeting tools to enable brands to reach their ideal customers with complete brand safety. A focused AdTech solution provider, the Kidoz SDK and Kidoz Programmatic network have become essential products in the digital advertising ecosystem. The Prado (www.prado.co) technology provides a leading mobile SSP (Supply-side Platform), DSP (Demand-side Platform) and Ad Exchange programmatically to the entire Ad Tech universe. By activating high-performance programmatic campaigns across thousands of apps on their network, Prado makes digital advertising more efficient and effective by simplifying the process across a connected technology platform. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by the company) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to anticipated future success of the company. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the company. For a description of additional risks and uncertainties, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, readers should read the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the SEC and the Annual Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis filed on SEDAR on April 19, 2023, and the prospectus filed under Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on March 9, 2005 and the SB2 filed July 17, 2007, and the TSX Venture Exchange Listing Application for Common Shares filed on June 29, 2015 on SEDAR, for a more thorough discussion of the Company's financial position and results of operations, together with a detailed discussion of the risk factors involved in an investment in Kidoz Inc. For more information contact: Henry Bromley CFO ir@kidoz.net (888) 374-2163 SOURCE: KIDOZ Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757402/Kidoz-Inc-Announces-First-Quarter-Total-Revenue-of-1673685 INGLESIDE, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / The Chemours Company ("Chemours") (NYSE:CC), a global chemistry company, and Ingleside Independent School District (Ingleside ISD) announced a partnership through the company's Chemours Future of Engineering, Science, Trades, and Technology (ChemFEST) program, to promote early engagement in STEM education in the Ingleside community. The ChemFEST school partnership program is a company-wide effort designed to champion change toward a more diverse science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce. Through ChemFEST, Chemours is investing in middle schools in its footprint communities worldwide to ensure that younger students are exposed to STEM education early on. This is critical as research shows that proficiency and interest in STEM are most influential when initiated before students reach high school and begin choosing their courses. There will be more than 800,000 job openings in STEM-related fields over the next 20 years. Ingleside ISD is a public school district based in Ingleside, Texas. In addition to Ingleside, the district serves the city of Ingleside on the Bay. Leon Taylor Middle School is the district's only middle school and the center of the ChemFEST Partnership. The ChemFEST school partnership model allows for customization to meet the needs of each partner school and the local community. In Ingleside, the partnership will support the Leon Taylor Middle School STEM curriculum for grades 6-8. All middle school students will benefit from the curriculum as it will be used to prepare students for the revised Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills exam and provide continuous professional development for staff members. Additionally, the partnership will allow Chemours employees to engage with students throughout the year, including STEM showcases, after-school events, mentorship programs, science fairs, and more. On Tuesday, May 9, representatives from the Corpus Christi Chemours site presented a check to the Ingleside ISD School Board. During the meeting, Chemours Corpus Christi Site Manager Mark Reyes stated, "This ChemFEST partnership with Ingleside ISD includes a grant of $85k over the next three years. This initial investment will enhance STEM and science programs for all middle school students. We hope to make similar investments throughout the district that impact all Ingleside students to provide more exposure to STEM education and career opportunities to help build a more vibrant community." "We are thrilled to partner with Chemours, as they are a company dedicated to sustainable chemistry, innovation, and developing future leaders in the Coastal Bend. This partnership will provide students with a unique opportunity to learn about the exciting world of STEM and the critical role that robotics plays in shaping our future," says Ingleside ISD Superintendent Troy Mircovich. "By engaging with industry professionals and participating in hands-on activities, students will develop the skills and knowledge they need to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. This collaboration is a powerful example of how public-private partnerships can create new pathways to success for young people and drive innovation in our communities." "All ChemFEST programs include multi-year financial support as part of Chemours' Corporate Responsibility Commitment goal to invest $50 million to create and sustain vibrant communities. The time, talent, financial resources, and expertise of Chemours and its employees will be used to help meet each school's needs with the goal of engaging and inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. To learn more about Chemours' ChemFEST school partnership program, visit www.chemours.com/chemfest. View original content here. Ingleside ISD School Board Members, Superintendent of Schools, and Leon Taylor Middle School Principal pictured with Chemours Representatives during Ingleside ISD School Board Meeting View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Chemours Company on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: The Chemours Company Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/chemours-company Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: The Chemours Company View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757409/Chemours-Corpus-Christi-Site-Establishes-ChemFEST-Partnership-With-Ingleside-Independent-School-District Music festivals inject vitality into culture, tourism People's Daily Online) 09:57, May 25, 2023 Music festivals, which see the wide participation of young people, are now being brought to more second- and third-tier cities, vigorously promoting the recovery of consumption in the tourism and culture sectors. Figures indicated that during the five-day May Day holiday this year, 40 music festivals were held in 17 provinces and regions in the country, a remarkable rise from the same period of last year. Photo shows a view of the first GreenCity Music Festival held in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from April 21 to 22, 2023. (Photo courtesy of the Outstanding Power Media) Zhang Chunxiao, vice president of the Taihe Music Group, said the number of music festivals increased because citizens have a great demand for cultural and recreational activities, and that many music festivals which had been canceled or postponed have started to resume. Fan Zhihui, founder of Music Pioneer, believes that as traveling to another city to watch a music festival has become an option for many people, the model of "music plus tourism" can attract tourists to a place in a short period of time, which helps boost consumption in the local cultural and tourism sectors. Music festivals are also a good way to boost a city's cultural charm. Zhang Chunxiao said more and more music festivals are held in second- and third-tier cities because these cities have a strong desire to expand cultural and tourism consumption and have rolled out policies to support the sectors. "Music festivals can help increase publicity for a city and enhance the city's influence," said Zhang Qian, an associate professor at the School of Music and Recording Arts of Communication University of China in Beijing. Music festivals not only ignite music fans' passion, but also cause a craze for cultural and tourism projects. Statistics from the China Association of Performing Arts indicated that during the May Day holiday, more than 50 percent of people buying tickets for music festivals watched performances in other cities. The consumption in transportation, accommodations, dining and other businesses related to the music festivals held during the same period surpassed 1.2 billion yuan ($170 million). Music festivals bring new perspectives to the development of culture and tourism. The Water Music Festival in Hengdian, which is a major film and television program production center in east China's Zhejiang Province, has been held for three consecutive weeks. During the event, the number of people entering the Hengdian World Studio exceeded 70,000 and bookings to the tourist spot saw a maximum single day increase of 250 percent, according to Fang Yuan, who is in charge of marketing at online music service provider Kugou, which launched the Water Music Festival in Hengdian together with Kugou's live-streaming platform. The 2023 Huang Bo Hai Midi Festival in Yantai city, east China's Shandong Province a month ago is expected to make rock music a new calling card of the city. Yantai will work with Midi, one of China's first original music festival brands, to hold music festivals, contests, and music camps, and organize training for students. Music festivals are an important driving force for the culture and tourism sectors to gain steam. Many people come to music festivals not just for music, as music festivals provide places for them to take pictures. They are also important venues for people to get together and socialize with friends, said Zhang Qian. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Green Mountain Energy BikeHouston is celebrating the funding of 15 new bike stations and an electric cargo trike, thanks to a $50,000 grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. The new electric cargo trike will eliminate the need for gasoline-powered vehicle transport for BikeHouston, while strategically placed bike stations with racks and air pumps at local businesses and trail entry points will encourage more usage. "BikeHouston is committed to filling gaps in the bike network and taking down the barriers that keep people from getting on bikes," said Joe Cutrufo, BikeHouston Executive Director. "We are grateful to Green Mountain Energy Sun Club for their generosity and look forward to Houston becoming a city where anyone can bike." BikeHouston was founded in 2004 on a mission to transform Houston into a city where anyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, can safely and easily get around by bike. The nonprofit is the only one in Houston focused on these issues and works to achieve this goal through partnerships, advocacy, education, and enhancing bike parking in the city, which is a primary factor in why people do not bike. Through BikeHouston's advocacy, the City of Houston has made incredible progress with the continual expansion of parks and trails as well as safe on-street biking to provide access to these expanding parks and trails. "Sun Club recognizes the importance and benefits of sustainable practices from organizations in the community," said Mark Parsons, Green Mountain Energy vice president. "We are excited to play a role in the impact these new bike stations and electric cargo trike will have in supporting BikeHouston's mission of promoting safe and accessible bike riding in the city of Houston." Green Mountain Energy, the nation's longest-serving renewable energy retailer, founded Sun Club in 2002 to advance sustainability by partnering with nonprofit organizations engaged in meaningful work that supports the communities the company serves. BikeHouston is one of more than 150 projects to receive a sustainability grant since Sun Club's founding. The grants are awarded to nonprofits seeking to implement projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship. The first bike station installation from this grant is located at the headquarters of The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. This location's installation will provide bike accessibility for riders arriving from the Brays Bayou bike path in addition to making bike transportation and parking more accessible to the art center's headquarters. To learn more about BikeHouston and the 14 remaining bike stations being set up across Houston, visit bikehouston.org. ### About Green Mountain Energy Sun Club Green Mountain Energy is changing the way power is made and advancing sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $13 million to 156 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub. About BikeHouston BikeHouston is on a mission to transform Houston into a city where anyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, can safely and easily get around by bike. Media Contacts: Green Mountain Energy Jeanie Davey Jeanie.davey@greenmountain.com / 267-240-3047 Joe Cutrufo, BikeHouston Executive Director, and Johnny Richardson, Green Mountain Energy Program Manager, smile with a $50,000 Green Mountain Energy Sun Club check for BikeHouston at the Houston Bike Summit Soiree on May 24. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Green Mountain Energy on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Green Mountain Energy Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/green-mountain-energy Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Green Mountain Energy View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757410/BikeHouston-Paves-the-Way-for-Bike-Accessibility-in-Houston-Thanks-to-a-50000-Grant-From-Green-Mountain-Energy-Sun-Club TIERRA VERDE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Nestled in the tranquil and scenic landscapes of Tierra Verde, Florida, lies an extraordinary property that harmoniously blends contemporary elegance and serenity. Recently featured in luxury magazine, Haute Living , Tre Sorelle is a stunning Tuscan farmhouse that offers a haven of luxurious indulgence, unparalleled beauty, and absolute privacy. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, every aspect of this remarkable home - from its awe-inspiring design to its unparalleled construction - exudes exceptional quality and craftsmanship. This is the ultimate luxury retreat, where modern sophistication meets serene seclusion. The idea of Tre Sorelle began with the purchase of lot 24 on Oceanview Drive by the current owner in 1997. It is one of the largest lots on the street and provides both privacy and protection. After much persuasion, Albert Alfonso, a brilliant architect, agreed to work on this project under one condition. He would take on the project only if the owner was committed to building an authentic Tuscan farmhouse. To make this project a reality, both the owner and architect traveled to Tuscany twice to research and take hundreds of photographs of buildings throughout the countryside. They visited scores of houses and toured many to get an idea of what they wanted. They took photos of roofs, roof lines, doors (interior, exterior, barn), windows, shutters, stone, stonework, landscaping, and fire pits to get real reference information to drive every detail of the design. On the plane ride back to Tampa, they sat together and imagined the home they now call Tre Sorelle. Without a single architectural drawing, Albert Alfonso painted the building almost exactly as it exists today. The same watercolor painting is still sitting on its tiny easel in the family room of Tre Sorelle, as it has been since the house was finished two decades ago. Constructed to withstand the tests of Mother Nature, Tre Sorelle features massive spread footings, a concrete block structure from foundation to roof line, and fortified exterior walls featuring an additional 10 to 12-inch layer of limestone quarried and shipped from Barletta-Andria-Trani, Italy. The authentic Ludowici Italian terracotta roof tiles come with a 75-year warranty, while the hurricane-impact windows and doors are supplied by the world's pre-eminent manufacturers like Tischler und Sohn and Hope's Windows. Encompassing over 12,000 square feet of luxury living, the home boasts seven bedrooms, eight full baths, three half baths, a library, two offices, an elevator, a wine cellar, a gym, and a four-plus-car garage. The interior showcases soaring ceilings, impressive Douglas Fir beam and plank work, and solid mahogany doors. A stunning, cool honey-colored pink-veined Corton limestone spiral staircase unites the three levels of the home, adding an air of French elegance from the Burgundy region. The main level offers an open floor plan with a living room, gourmet kitchen, casual and formal dining areas, two offices, and a guest suite. The upper level features six en-suite bedrooms and a sun-filled library, while the lower level houses additional storage rooms, a wine cellar, and a gym. Outside, a tranquil oasis welcomes fun and relaxation. Tre Sorelle has expansive covered lounging and dining areas, a fire pit surrounded by a moat, and a geothermal-heated pool. Ideally located close to the downtown of St. Petersburg and Gulf beaches, Tre Sorelle is less than 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport, offering the perfect balance between peace and serenity and the conveniences of modern living. In a sea of homes that simply mimic the Tuscan style, Tre Sorelle stands out as a rare gem that remains true to the architectural heritage of Tuscany. The level of authenticity and dedication invested in this property is unparalleled, and it is evident in every detail of its design and construction. With the exorbitant cost and logistical challenges involved in building a property of this caliber today, Tre Sorelle truly represents a one-of-a-kind luxury that is sure to captivate and inspire all who experience it. About Robyn Gunn: With a wealth of experience spanning four continents, Robyn Gunn is a distinguished real estate agent with a proven track record of marketing and selling luxury properties in Tampa Bay and beyond. As the top individual agent for Premier Sotheby's Tampa Bay area, her global perspective sets her apart from other real estate professionals. Originally from Australia, Robyn's professional background includes successful tenures in human resource management and co-owning two businesses. Her collaboration with The Royal Bank of Canada has allowed her to offer valuable insights as a guest speaker on Florida's real estate market and help buyers understand current conditions. Robyn's unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in her exceptional focus on anticipating client needs, fostering strong relationships, and delivering exceptional services that consistently exceed expectations. With her wealth of knowledge and responsiveness, Robyn Gunn is a true standout in the world of luxury real estate. Her unparalleled achievements in high-value sales for luxury and second homes are a testament to her expertise. Contact: Robyn Gunn Premier Sotheby's International Realty SellingLuxuryHomes0@gmail.com https://www.robyngunn-realtor-premiersir.com/ SOURCE: Premier Sotheby's International Realty View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757415/Robyn-Gunn-of-Sothebys-International-Realtys-Listing-Tre-Sorelle-Featured-in-Haute-Living-and-Recognized-as-a-Tuscan-Architectural-Masterpiece-In-Tierra-Verde-Florida Not intended for UK-, US- or Canada-based media Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced that 43 abstracts covering several modalities and mechanisms will be presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, June 2-6, Chicago, Ill., US. New data for the medicines BAVENCIO(avelumab), ERBITUX(cetuximab), and TEPMETKO (tepotinib) and pipeline assets including the first-in-class investigational IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein) inhibitor xevinapant demonstrate the Company's efforts to pioneer novel medicines intended to improve the lives of people living with cancer. "The research we will present at ASCO 2023 demonstrates that we are not only maximizing the impact of our standard-of-care treatments but also advancing development programs focused on synergistic approaches targeting key cancer pathways and mechanisms," said Victoria Zazulina, M.D., Head of Development Unit, Oncology, for the Healthcare business of Merck. Key presentations include: BAVENCIO (Abstracts: 4515, 4516) clinical data reinforce its role as a standard of care in first-line maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC): Poster discussions, including long-term safety analyses and an analysis of quality-adjusted survival from the Phase III JAVELIN Bladder 100 study, confirm the acceptable long-term benefit-risk profile as well as the net benefit estimate of BAVENCIO first-line (1L) maintenance and further support its use as a standard of care for advanced UC. As part of the JAVELIN Bladder regimen, BAVENCIO first-line maintenance has demonstrated the longest survival benefit seen to date in a global, randomized Phase III trial in advanced UC. Xevinapant (Abstracts: TPS6101, 6027) preclinical data supporting dosing rationale for this investigational IAP inhibitor as well as a trial-in-progress poster outlining design of the recently initiated Phase III XRay Vision study in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN): Preclinical data demonstrate the benefit of extended xevinapant treatment beyond the completion of xevinapant plus radiotherapy (RT) and support the rationale for administration of six cycles of xevinapant in the ongoing Phase III studies, while also indicating that restoring sensitivity to apoptosis may address some unmet treatment needs in LA SCCHN. The trial design of the ongoing randomized Phase III XRay Vision study also will be featured. This study is assessing xevinapant plus RT in patients with resected, high-risk LA SCCHN who are not eligible for cisplatin. TEPMETKO (Abstracts: 9021, 9060, 9070, 9074) data continue to demonstrate durable efficacy for first-line treatment of METex14 advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Long-term outcomes from the VISION study, the largest study of a MET inhibitor in patients with METex14-skipping advanced NSCLC (N=313), demonstrate the robust and durable clinical activity of TEPMETKO, particularly in the first-line setting, detected by liquid and/or tissue biopsy: with median follow-up of 32.6 months, in 164 first-line patients, overall response rate was 57.3% (95% CI: 49.4, 65.0) and median duration of response was 46.4 months (13.8, not estimable). A manageable safety profile further supports its use in clinical practice. Additional presentations for TEPMETKO include analyses from the INSIGHT 2 study in EGFRm METamp NSCLC for patients treated with TEPMETKO plus osimertinib. ERBITUX (Abstracts: 3507, 3544, 3603) data to be presented at the congress add to the growing body of evidence supporting the role of cetuximab-based therapies across the continuum of care in the treatment of RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer and as a backbone of treatment in SCCHN. Additional company-sponsored activity at ASCO: CME Live Symposium Webcast, "After More Than a Decade: Can We Now Enhance Treatment of Patients With LA SCCHN?" with course director Kevin Harrington, PhD, FRCR, FRCP, The Institute of Cancer Research, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK, on June 3, 7:00-8:00 PM CDT, Hilton Chicago (720 South Michigan Ave.), room Continental A. A UC Biosphere Connect event, "First-Line Maintenance Therapy: Supporting Patient Care in aUC" on June 4, 6:30-8:00 PM CDT, Marriott Marquis Chicago (connected to McCormick Place, 2121 S. Prairie Ave.), Great Lakes Ballroom C, Level 2) In addition to the data being presented at ASCO 2023, Merck will launch a new educational initiative for oncology professionals on the unmet medical need in LA SCCHN, cancer's resistance to apoptosis, and the role of apoptosis proteins. More information on the initiative can be found at www.TheWallinSCCHN.com. Select Merck-related abstracts accepted for presentation at ASCO 2023 include (all times in CDT): Title Lead Author Abstract Session Information BAVENCIO (avelumab) Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Long-term safety of avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) in the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial Bellmunt J 4516 Genitourinary Cancer: Kidney and Bladder Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Poster Discussion Time: 3:00PM-4:30PM Estimated net benefit of avelumab (AVE) best supportive care (BSC) vs BSC alone for patients (pts) with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) using a quality-adjusted time without cancer symptoms or toxicity (Q-TWiST) analysis Powles T 4515 Genitourinary Cancer: Kidney and Bladder Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Poster Discussion Time: 3:00PM-4:30PM Real-world response (rwR) rates and clinical outcomes of patients treated with first-line (1L) platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) for advanced urothelial cancer (aUC) Moon HH 4567 Genitourinary Cancer: Kidney and Bladder Saturday, June 3, 2023 8:00 AM-11:00 AM Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma Avelumab as second-line or later (2L+) treatment in patients (pts) with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC): analysis of real-world outcomes in France using the CARADERM registry and the French national healthcare database Blom A 9537 Melanoma/Skin Cancers Saturday, June 3, 2023 1:15PM-4:15PM Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Modified FOLFOXIRI plus cetuximab and avelumab as initial therapy in RAS wild-type unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer: results of the phase II AVETRIC trial by GONO Conca V 3575 Gastrointestinal Cancer: Colorectal and Anal Monday, June 5, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Xevinapant Phase 3 study of xevinapant plus radiotherapy (RT) for high-risk, cisplatin-ineligible patients with resected, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN) Ferris RL TPS6101 Head and Neck Cancer Monday, June 5, 2023 1:15PM-4:15PM Effect of extended treatment with IAP inhibitor xevinapant post radiotherapy (RT) on efficacy and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in preclinical models Yeung TL 6027 Head and Neck Cancer Monday, June 5, 2023 1:15PM-4:15PM TEPMETKO (tepotinib) Long-term outcomes of tepotinib in patients with MET exon 14 skipping NSCLC from the VISION study Paik P 9060 Lung Cancer: Non-Small Cell Metastatic Sunday, June 4, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Tepotinib osimertinib for EGFR mutant (EGFRm) NSCLC with MET amplification (METamp) after first-line (1L) osimertinib Tan D 9021 Lung Cancer: Non-Small Cell Metastatic Sunday, June 4, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Poster Discussion Time: 4:30PM-6:00PM Detection of MET amplification (METamp) in patients with EGFR mutant (m) NSCLC after first-line (1L) osimertinib Yu H 9074 Lung Cancer: Non-Small Cell Metastatic Sunday, June 4, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Patients with EGFR-mutant (m) MET-altered NSCLC receiving tepotinib with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI): a case series Le X 9070 Lung Cancer: Non-Small Cell Metastatic Sunday, June 4, 2023 8:00 AM-11:00 AM ERBITUX (cetuximab) Phase III FIRE-4 study (AIO KRK-0114): Influence of Baseline Liquid Biopsy results in first-line treatment efficacy of FOLFIRI/cetuximab in patients with tissue RAS-WT mCRC Stintzing S 3507 Oral Abstract Session Gastrointestinal Cancer: Colorectal and Anal Sunday, June 4, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Early tumor shrinkage (ETS) as clinical factor to select maintenance with cetuximab (cet) alone in RAS/BRAF wild-type (wt) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients (pts): a secondary endpoint analysis of the ERMES study Orlandi A 3603 Gastrointestinal Cancer: Colorectal and Anal Monday, June 5, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Prognostic role of TP53 variants in the phase III study of FOLFIRI/cetuximab versus FOLFIRI/cetuximab followed by cetuximab (Cet) alone in first-line therapy of RAS and BRAF wild-type (wt) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients (ERMES study) Normanno N 3544 Gastrointestinal Cancer: Colorectal and Anal Monday, June 5, 2023 8:00AM-11:00AM Advancing the Future of Cancer Care At Merck, we strive every day to improve the futures of people living with cancer. Our research explores the full potential of promising mechanisms in cancer research, focused on synergistic approaches designed to hit cancer at its core. We are determined to maximize the impact of our standard-of-care treatments and to continue pioneering novel medicines. Our vision is to create a world where more cancer patients will become cancer survivors. Learn more at www.merckgrouponcology.com. About BAVENCIO(avelumab) BAVENCIO is a human anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody. BAVENCIO has been shown in preclinical models to engage both the adaptive and innate immune functions. By blocking the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 receptors, BAVENCIO has been shown to release the suppression of the T cell-mediated antitumor immune response in preclinical models. The Merck-Pfizer strategic alliance regarding BAVENCIO was mutually terminated, with an effective date of June 30, 2023, with Merck regaining exclusive worldwide rights for BAVENCIO. BAVENCIO Approved Indications The European Commission (EC) has authorized the use of BAVENCIO as monotherapy for the first-line maintenance treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) who are progression-free following platinum-based chemotherapy. BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). BAVENCIO is also authorized by the EC for use as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). In the US, BAVENCIO is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) that has not progressed with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. BAVENCIO is also indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib is indicated in the US for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced RCC. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for BAVENCIO for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic MCC. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. BAVENCIO is currently approved for at least one indication for patients in more than 50 countries. BAVENCIO Safety Profile from the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) The special warnings and precautions for use for BAVENCIO monotherapy include infusion-related reactions, as well as immune-related adverse reactions that include pneumonitis and hepatitis (including fatal cases), colitis, pancreatitis (including fatal cases), myocarditis (including fatal cases), endocrinopathies, nephritis and renal dysfunction, and other immune-related adverse reactions. The special warnings and precautions for use for BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib include hepatotoxicity. The SmPC list of the most common adverse reactions with BAVENCIO monotherapy in patients with solid tumors includes fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, infusion-related reactions, weight decreased and vomiting. The list of most common adverse reactions with BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib includes diarrhea, hypertension, fatigue, nausea, dysphonia, decreased appetite, hypothyroidism, cough, headache, dyspnea, and arthralgia. About TEPMETKO (tepotinib) TEPMETKO is a once-daily oral MET inhibitor that inhibits the oncogenic MET receptor signaling caused by MET (gene) alterations. Discovered and developed in-house at Merck, TEPMETKO has a highly selective mechanism of action, with the potential to improve outcomes in aggressive tumors that have a poor prognosis and harbor these specific alterations. TEPMETKO was the first oral MET inhibitor to receive a regulatory approval anywhere in the world for the treatment of advanced NSCLC harboring MET gene alterations, with its approval in Japan in March 2020. In February 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to TEPMETKO, making it the first and only once-daily oral MET inhibitor approved for patients in the US with metastatic NSCLC with METex14-skipping alterations. In February 2022, the European Commission (EC) approved once-daily oral TEPMETKO as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring alterations leading to mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor gene exon 14 (METex14) skipping, who require systemic therapy following prior treatment with immunotherapy and/or platinum-based chemotherapy. TEPMETKO is available in a number of countries. To meet an urgent clinical need, TEPMETKO is also available in a pilot zone of China in line with the government policy to drive early access for innovative medicines approved outside of China. Merck is also investigating the potential role of tepotinib in treating patients with NSCLC and acquired resistance due to MET amplification in the Phase II INSIGHT 2 study of tepotinib in combination with osimertinib in MET amplified, advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring activating EGFR mutations that has progressed following first-line treatment with osimertinib. TEPMETKO Safety Profile from the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) The special warnings and precautions for use for TEPMETKO monotherapy include Interstitial lung disease (ILD) or ILD-like adverse reactions including pneumonitis, increase of liver enzymes (ALT and AST), QTc prolongation, and embryo-fetal toxicity. The most common adverse reactions in 20% of exposed to tepotinib at the recommended dose in the target indication are oedema, mainly peripheral oedema, nausea, hypoalbuminemia, diarrhea and increase in creatinine. The most common serious adverse reactions in 1% of patients are peripheral oedema, generalized oedema and ILD. About Xevinapant Xevinapant (formerly known as Debio 1143) is an investigational first-in-class potent oral small-molecule IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein) inhibitor for the treatment of LA SCCHN. In preclinical studies, xevinapant restored sensitivity to apoptosis in cancer cells, thereby enhancing the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Xevinapant, the most clinically advanced IAP inhibitor, improved efficacy outcomes in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT), including three-year progression-free survival and five-year survival, compared with placebo plus CRT in a Phase II study in patients with unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN). In March 2021, Merck gained exclusive rights from Debiopharm to develop and commercialize xevinapant worldwide. Xevinapant is not approved for any use anywhere in the world. About ERBITUX(cetuximab) ERBITUX is an IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As a monoclonal antibody, the mode of action of ERBITUX is distinct from standard non-selective chemotherapy treatments in that it specifically targets and binds to the EGFR. This binding inhibits the activation of the receptor and the subsequent signal-transduction pathway, which results in reducing both the invasion of normal tissues by tumor cells and the spread of tumors to new sites. It is also believed to inhibit the ability of tumor cells to repair the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels inside tumors, which appears to lead to an overall suppression of tumor growth. Based on in vitro evidence, ERBITUX also targets cytotoxic immune effector cells towards EGFR-expressing tumor cells (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity [ADCC]). ERBITUX has already obtained market authorization in over 100 countries worldwide for the treatment of RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer and for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Merck licensed the right to market ERBITUX, a registered trademark of ImClone LLC, outside the U.S. and Canada from ImClone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, in 1998. All Merck press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. About Merck Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 64,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices the company is everywhere. In 2022, Merck generated sales of 22.2 billion in 66 countries. Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005670/en/ Contacts: Your Contact noelle.piscitelli@emdserono.com Phone: +1 (781) 427-4351 ELK GROVE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / The U.S. Small Business Administration's Sacramento District Office has named Apex Site Solutions the Sacramento District Office Veteran-owned Small Business of the Year. This honor highlights the innovation, ingenuity, and determination of this remarkable company. Apex Site Solutions receives National U.S. Small Business Award for the Business of the Year Kenny Blakeslee, CEO/President, Apex Site Solutions (center) receives National U.S. Small Business Award for the Business of the Year. Left: Eric Manning, Vice President, U.S. Bank Business Banking. Right: Jeremy Elmas, CFO, Apex Site Solutions. "The greatest award our company can receive is centered on service - serving our customers, our family, our community and our country," said Kenny Blakeslee, CEO/President of Apex Site Solutions. As a United States Navy veteran, Blakeslee is grounded on service. His military training laid the foundation of his success and his creed to be 1% better every day. U.S. Small Business Administration, Sacramento District Office District Director, Heather Luzzi, said, "Celebrating small business achievement and resilience is not something we get to do every day, but we can during the first week of May during National Small Business Week." The winners were recognized during the Capital Region Small Business Week. Last year, Blakeslee was celebrated as a 40 under 40 honoree by the Sacramento Business Journal for his leadership of his organization. Apex Site Solutions Apex Site Solutions offers advanced construction and technical expertise for the wireless industry, proudly connecting the Western United States since 2010. The mission of the organization is to transform lives by providing growth and development opportunities that empower our TRIBE. Apex Site Solutions' commitment to rise above doesn't stop with our customers. The growth of Apex isn't just about filling jobs; it's designed to launch and develop careers that positively impact families and future generations. Growth and advancement of team members is a core component of our mission and includes extensive training, career development and competitive comprehensive compensation packages. The Apex Team shows up, stands up, and speaks up for causes that matter and find solutions to strengthen the communities we serve. When connected for a cause and partnered for purpose, the tribe is better, stronger, and healthier. The power of partnership is on full display through our partnering with 3 Strands Global to create and launch T.A.T.E, an industry-wide initiative to help fight human trafficking, training and hiring our nation's veterans through Allegiant Giving, honoring First Responders with the Sacramento Kings, creating and hosting an annual Brewfest to build community and funds for charitable giving, and supporting families through the Tower Family Foundation. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. ### Media contact: Kenny Blakeslee at kenny@apexsitesolutions.com or by phone at 916.685.8619. Contact Information: Kenny Blakesless CEO/President kenny@apexsitesolutions.com 916.685.8619 SOURCE: Apex Site Solutions View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/757416/Apex-Site-Solutions-Wins-National-US-Small-Business-Award-for-Business-of-the-Year Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Idaho Champion (CSE: ITKO ) (OTCQB: GLDRF) (FSE: 1QB1) ("Idaho Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has changed its name to "Champion Electric Metals Inc." ("Champion Electric") and will change its stock trading symbol on the Canadian Securities Exchange from "ITKO" to "LTHM". The Company expects the symbol change to take effect on or around May 29, 2023. No action will be required by existing shareholders with regards to the name and symbol change. Champion Electric's new CUSIP Number will be 15850F105 and the new ISIN will be CA15850D1053. The Company is focused on the exploration of its highly prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. About Champion Electric Metals Inc. Champion Electric is a discovery-focused exploration company that is committed to advancing its highly prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. In addition, the Company owns the Baner gold project in Idaho County and the Champagne polymetallic project in Butte County near Arco. 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". Idaho Champion strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates, taking its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CHAMPION ELECTRIC "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: nkonkin@idahochamp.com 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 Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Statements with respect to completion of the private placement financing of the expected size or at all, the expected closing date, obtaining the necessary approvals to complete the financing and the Company's expected work programs in 2023 are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company, including discussions with investors and other participants in the private placement. 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 are subject to risks, including that the Company including but not limited the risk that market conditions, commodity prices, or other circumstances can affect the Company's ability to complete the financing, as well as other risks with respect to the Company described in the Company's public disclosure filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 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. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167567 Checkmate, a Los Angeles, CA-based automated savings platform for modern online shopping, raised $15M in Series A funding. The round was led by GV (Google Ventures), with support from Mantis VC (The Chainsmokers), Common Metal, BDuck Capital, Black Angels Group, Wischoff Ventures, Fuel Capital, Blackbird Ventures, F7 Ventures, Night Capital, Scribble Ventures, Paris Hilton, Cart Reum (M13 Ventures), Saurabh Gupta (Partner at DST Global), Tim Kendall (Meta & Pinterest), Jeff Boneforte (exGrindr & Yahoo), James Chin Moody and Geraldine Chin Moody (Sendle), Alex Zaccaria and Anthony Zaccaria (LinkTree), Trevor Neff (Ashton Kutchers Sound Ventures), Arthur Levy and Michael Tannenbaum (Brex). The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach. Led by CEO Harry Dixon, Checkmate finds the best deals from an email and across the web and applies them at checkout. It also track all package shipments in a dashboard and store gift cards in a digital wallet. The phone app leverages the Safari Mobile Browser via an extension plugging into it to automatically provide users savings while they shop at 40,000 stores. Checkmate finds codes online, extracts codes from email, and partners exclusively with brands on new codes. FinSMEs 25/05/2023 Dock Health, a Great Barrington, MA-based administrative hub for healthcare professionals, raised $5M in funding. The round was led by MM Catalyst Fund (MMCF) with participation from DaVita Venture Group and initial seed investor, August Capital. The company intends to use the funds to grow its administrative hub for healthcare from its initial task and workflow management platform to an automation engine and analytics platform with new integrations to drive administrative best practices. Founded in 2020 by a physician-led team out of Boston Childrens Hospital, Dock Health is a HIPAA-compliant workflow management platform for the administrative side of care delivery. It reduces care delays, eliminates administrative friction through process improvements and accountability, and delivers better patient care. From managing complex workflows and protocols to tracking phone calls, emails, prior authorizations and forms, Dock gets the clinical and administrative teams on the same dashboard and accelerates processes with workflow automations and meaningful integrations. The company has teams outside Boston, New York Metro, Minneapolis, Chicago, San Francisco and Denver to serve customers in every healthcare specialty and setting. FinSMEs 25/05/2023 Manoj Bajpayee has several stellar films and web series to his credit. As someone who has experienced several ups and downs over the course of his three-decade-long career, the actor feels that his professional success or failure does not necessarily define him. With such appreciation and fandom, it comes unsurprising that several reports circulate on social media estimating his net worth. In a recent interview to Aaj Tak, the 54-year-old actor was asked about his net worth, which reports suggested to be Rs 170 crore. Upon hearing the number, Manoj Bajpayee reacted with shock and said, Baap re baap! Aligarh aur Gali Guleiyan karke? Bilkul nahi hai par haan itna zaroor hai bhagwan ki daya se ki mera aur meri patni ka budhapa ache se guzar jayega aur meri beti set ho jayegi (Oh my God! By doing films like Aligarh and Gali Guleiyan? Absolutely not! However, through Gods grace, I have enough for my wife and me to live comfortably and my daughter will be well looked after.) The actor opens up about his lifestyle choices In the same interaction, The Family Man actor also opened up about his lifestyle choices and career path. The actor, who originally comes from Bettiah in Bihar said, I have always said that I am not in the middle of this film industry. I am still sitting at the boundary and it is a choice I have made. About how he still lives in a suburb of Mumbai contrary to most other in the film fraternity, he added, I am not from South Mumbai or Bandra. I still live in Lokhandwala, Andheri. Earlier, the actor who shot to fame with Ram Gopal Varmas Satya, said he tries to make career choices that offer him and his audience a unique experience. Its been 26 years in the industry and I have been through so many emotions, excitement, success, and failures. All this has just become a part of my life. They dont define my craft or me as an actor or person. Im a realist and dont get swayed by success or depressed by failures, Bajpayee told PTI. On the Work Front Manoj Bajpayee was last seen in a courtroom-drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, which was released on 23 May. The Apoorv Singh Karki directorial is currently streaming on Zee 5. Previously, Manoj had appeared in Gulmohar with Sharmila Tagore. His upcoming projects include Soup, Dispatch, and Joram. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Actor Swara Bhasker is known for her unconventional roles. After her wedding she will be seen in Manish Kishores Mrs. Falani. Her next, Mrs. Falani is based on eight different stories. In recent times, wherein actors struggle to ace even a single look in the film efficaciously, She shall be pulling off eight different characters belonging from different regions, speaking different dialects, sporting different attires in one single movie. Swara Bhasker shall be seen in the role of a home-maker representing different states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab apart from others. Reportedly, going the extra mile, Swara has also got her nose pierced for the film. Swara said, Mrs. Falani is real special film because its first time I got to essay multiple characters in one project. It was real challenge to build eight distinct female characters that were distinguishable and unique in their own identity but also united in their woman-hood and their experiences. It was first time I was shooting in Chattisgarh which was an eye opener in its beauty and diversity. Collaboration with Manish Kishore Ji and his team was a happy and fulfilling experience and I am proud to be part of this film and play various Mrs. Falanis. Manish Kishore, director of the project added, It is a very compelling story, in fact its a collection of stories from various geographies in the country defying the odds by being themselves. These stories shall inspire other women to go after what they love to do. It is rare for a director to direct eight different stories all in a single film and am grateful for the opportunity. Special thanks to the entire cast and crew for their unwavering support. Swaras portrayals are amazing. Cant wait to bring our film to the audiences. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In an astonishing breakthrough, a paralysed man has regained the ability to walk again. The reason behind the breakthrough? A digital bridge connecting his brain and his spinal cord. The study was published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. Lets take a closer look: What happened? In 2011, Gert-Jan Oskam broke his neck in a traffic accident in China, as per The Guardian. Doctors told Oskam he would never walk again. When we met him, he was completely paralysed, unable to take a step by himself without assistance, Gregoire Courtine, the author of the study, told NBC News. According to The National, Oskam in 2016 then received a spinal cord implant that allowed to him to take steps with the assistance of a walker. However, his mobility remained limited to flat surfaces. Starting and stopping also remained an issue. Despite using the [spinal cord implant] stimulation for three years, he hit a plateau in his recovery, and became interested in using the new brain-controlled stimulation, Courtine, a neuroscientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology added. So, he became our first test pilot. Courtine said the aim was to hand over control to Oskams brain. What is it? According to Swissinfo.ch, scientists in Switzerland have created a brain-computer interface. Scientists implanted electrodes above the part of the brain that controls leg movement and in Oskams spine. As per The Guardian, the electrodes in the brain sense neural activity whenever Oskam attempts to move his legs. The interface uses algorithms based on artificial intelligence methods to decode brain recordings in real-time, the researchers said. These are then sent in the form of pulses to the electrodes implanted in the spine. The pulses then trigger nerves and switch on muscles to allow the intended movement, as per The Guardian. What weve been able to do is re-establish communication between the brain and the region of the spinal cord that controls leg movement with a digital bridge, Courtine told the newspaper. He added that the system could capture the thoughts of Gert-Jan and translate those thoughts into stimulation of the spinal cord to re-establish voluntary leg movements. Courtine told The National the digital bridge simply bypassed the injury to restore communication. What we observed is a digital repair of the spine, a recovery of neurological function that he has lost for many years. The validation of this digital bridge was restricted to a single individual with severe but partial damage of the spinal cord, and it therefore remains unclear whether the BSI will be applicable to other injury locations and severities, the researchers wrote, as per The Print. Feel like a toddler Oskam can now stand, walk, and even climb stairs, according to The National. Some days, he can even walk over 100 metres. The most surprising thing I think happened after two days, Oskam told Sky News. Within five to minutes, I could control my hips. I feel like a toddler, learning to walk again, Oskam was quoted as saying by the BBC. It has been a long journey, but now I can stand up and have a beer with my friend. Its a pleasure that many people dont realise. After six months of training, Gert-Jan recovered some sensory perception and motor skills that he had lost in the accident. He was even able to walk with crutches when the digital bridge was turned off. Guillaume Charvet, a researcher at Frances CEA, told AFP this suggests that the establishment of a link between the brain and spinal cord would promote a reorganisation of the neuronal networks at the site of the injury. What are the implications? Some experts say this could trigger a revolution in science. Physiologist V Reggie Edgerton of Californias Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Centre, told Science News: The results are consistent with what Id hope would happen, which is encouraging. Edgerton likened this development when it comes to treating spinal cord paralysis to the stage of the Wright brothers and flight. There is no reason why it would not apply to the vast majority of people with spinal cord injury, Courtine told NBC News. But others say thats far too optimistic an assessment. As Megan Gill, an assistant professor of physical therapy at the Mayo Clinic, told NBC, This isnt taking someone completely paralysed from lying in bed and not moving to up and walking. This person had some ability to stand. They had some ability to walk even before this technology was implanted. Charvet agreed that it would take many more years of research to help paralysed people all around the world walk again. But the team are already preparing a trial to study whether this technology can restore function in arms and hands. They also hope it could apply to other problems such as paralysis caused by stroke. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The new Parliament building is set to be inaugurated on Sunday, but the event has already been engulfed in controversy. While the BJP, has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the four-storey building to symbolise the spirit of a self-reliant India, the Congress and Opposition have argued for President Droupadi Mourmu to open the building and announced a boycott. But this isnt the first time the new Parliament building has been involved in controversy. Lets take a closer look: Construction during COVID-19 Modi had in December 2020 laid the foundation for the new Parliament building nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic. The government had during the lockdown brought the construction work for the ambitious project under the ambit of essential services to ensure smooth movement of labourers. The Opposition Congress among other political parties criticised the work in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in May 2021, a plea was filed in the Delhi High Court seeking the suspension of construction activity in Central Vista the power corridor of the country to protect the lives of the workers. The court, describing the work, as a vital and essential project of national importance, dismissed the plea. It further imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners. The petitioners then filed a case in the Supreme Court. In June 2021, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra, allaying any concerns, said over 50 per cent of the workers engaged in the construction of the new parliament building have been vaccinated against COVID-19. On-site 2,180 and off-site workers are contributing with excitement and enthusiasm. Over 50 per cent (workers) are vaccinated and Covid appropriate behaviour is being observed strictly. Environment sensitive measures like dust control, pollution mitigation, sound barrier etc are being fully observed, Mishra tweeted. The Supreme Court in June 2021 dismissed the plea. You have been selective about one project. We do not find in your writ petition anything about any other project, the bench told petitioners, as per The Hindu. Cost of Central Vista project The Central Vista project came in for much criticism over spending a slew of Opposition leaders. The leaders claimed it was a vanity project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned the need to spend thousands of crores on government buildings rather than on vaccine development and distribution or scaling up health infrastructure. Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri in 2021 rebutted these claims, pointing out that the plan was put together in 2019 before the outbreak of the pandemic. Lion Statue In July 2022, the unveiling of the four-lion national emblem sitting atop Parliament was mired in controversy. Opposition leaders claimed that the graceful and regally confident Ashokan lions were given an unnecessarily aggressive appearance. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary tweeted: @narendramodi Ji, please observe the face of the Lion, whether it is representing the statue of Great #Sarnath or a distorted version of GIR lion. please check it and if it needs, mend the same. Adhir Chowdhury (@adhirrcinc) July 12, 2022 Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Jawahar Sircar tweeted: Insult to our national symbol, the majestic Ashokan Lions. Original is on the left, graceful, regally confident. The one on the right is Modis version, put above new Parliament building snarling, unnecessarily aggressive and disproportionate. Shame! Change it immediately! pic.twitter.com/luXnLVByvP Jawhar Sircar (@jawharsircar) July 12, 2022 Lawyer Prashant Bhushan tweeted: From Gandhi to Godse; From our national emblem with lions sitting majestically & peacefully; to the new national emblem unveiled for the top of the new Parliament building under construction at Central Vista; Angry lions with bared fangs. This is Modis new India! pic.twitter.com/cWAduxPlWR Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) July 12, 2022 Historian S Irfan Habib also joined in the fray. Meddling with our national emblem was totally unnecessary and avoidable. Why should our lions look ferocious and full of angst? These are Ashokas lions adapted by independent India in 1950, Habib said. But the sculptor Sunil Deore was quoted as saying by CNN it was all a matter of perspective. The angle makes a lot of difference. If you check its proportions and the proportions of my lion, it has been enlarged exactly, he said. My brief was to create a replica of the (original) sculpture. Green cover According to India Today, some environmentalists took aim at the Central Vista project as a while for destroying the green cover. As per Outlook, at least 80 per cent of the trees affected by any development works are by law required to be transplanted. The Delhi State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) had initially raised a red flag over the excessively high proportion of trees that would be removed. The number of trees to be transplanted was then lowered to 487 from 630 and the number of trees retained was increased from 320 to 154. But Union ministry of housing and urban affairs in a September 2022 statement said that environmental sustainability is at the core of the project. The projects will result in overall increase in green cover. Trees will be transplanted in Eco-Park being developed by NTPC at Badarpur after due permissions from competent authorities. Steps are being taken to minimise on-site air emissions, noise, wastewater discharge, soil erosion as well as construction waste, the ministry said, as per Outlook. Its name The new name of the Parliament building has not yet been revealed. But that didnt stop some from making suggestions. In May 2022, the Delhi unit of the Congress and the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha (ABKM) chimed in with their own suggestions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress urged the prime minister to name the building after former president APJ Kalam to send a message about harmony and cohesion. Meanwhile, the ABKM requested that the building be named after Delhis last Hindu emperor Prithviraj Chauhan or the city founderAnangpal Tomar. The ABKM president Mahendra Singh Tanwar wrote, The Tomar Rajput dynasty of Delhi built several structures in and around Delhi after the citys establishment in the early eight century. Some of them are still present like the Anangpur Dam and the Surajkund in Faridabad. He said people still remembered Prithviraj Chauhan and it would be apt to name the new Parliament after either of these two heroes. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Central government and dozens of Opposition parties are embroiled in a row over the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday (28 May) in New Delhi. Following a joint statement on the boycott of the event by 19 Opposition parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) hit back, calling their decision a blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation. At least 20 Opposition parties have said they will stay away from the inauguration of the new Parliament complex by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides NDA allies, some political other parties will also be present at the event. Lets take a look at who has been invited, who is attending and who is not. Who is invited? Besides the members of Parliament (MPs) of both Houses, sources told news agency ANI that chief ministers of all the states and Union Territories (UT) have been invited to the inauguration. Apart from sitting members of Parliament of both houses, invitations have been sent to former Lok Sabha Speakers and former Rajya Sabha Chairmen, sources said on condition of anonymity. Invitations have also been forwarded to secretaries of all ministries of the Government of India, as per the news agency. Parties attending the inauguration The BJP, along with NDA allies, will be present during the inauguration ceremony. In a sharp attack, leaders of 14 parties of the ruling NDA coalition have called the Opposition parties boycott disrespectful and implored them to rethink their decision. This letter was signed by BJP president JP Nadda, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, National Peoples Party (NPP) leader and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, NDPP leader and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio; Sikkim chief minister and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM)s Prem Singh Tamang; Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga (Mizo National Front); Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala (Jananayak Janata Party); RLJP leader Pashupati Kumar Paras; Republican Party of India (Athawale) leader Ramdas Athawale; Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)s E Palaniswami; Tamil Maanila Congress GK Vasan; AJSUs Sudesh Mahto; and IMKMK leader Devanathan. Such flagrant disrespect towards this institution betrays not only intellectual bankruptcy but a disturbing contempt for the very essence of democracy. Regrettably, this is not the first instance of such disdain. Over the past nine years, these opposition parties have repeatedly ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2023 Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will take part in the opening of the new Parliament building. As per a Times of India (TOI) report, BJDs floor leader in Rajya Sabha, Sasmit Patra, said that there will be no whip and party MPs can attend at their convenience. The BJD shall be a part of this momentous occasion, he added. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Daljit Singh Cheema confirmed on Wednesday (24 May) that party president Sukhbir Singh Badal will mark his presence at the inauguration. Calling the inauguration of the new Parliament building a moment of pride, Cheema said that we do not want any politics to be played at this time, reported PTI. YS Jagan Mohan Reddys YSR Congress party has also planned to attend the ceremony. Andhra Pradesh chief minister Reddy said in a tweet that boycotting such an auspicious event is not in the true spirit of democracy. Setting aside all political differences, I request that all political parties attend this glorious event. He also congratulated the prime minister for dedicating the grand, majestic and spacious Parliament building to the nation. A YSRCP leader told Hindustan Times (HT) that Reddy, who will be in New Delhi for the NITI Aayog governing council meeting on 27 May, is likely to stay back to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament complex the following day. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will also attend the inauguration, party MP Vijayasai Reddy told ANI earlier. ALSO READ: Row over new Parliament: Who inaugurated Sansad buildings in the past? Parties boycotting the inauguration As many as 19 Opposition parties issued a joint statement of the boycott on Wednesday, accusing the Modi government of completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu. The inauguration of a new Parliament building is a momentous occasion. Despite our belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion. However, Prime Minister Modis decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response, the parties said in the statement. When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott inauguration of new Parliament building. Joint Statement of Like-Minded opposition Parties pic.twitter.com/YMPsSrxUsP Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) May 24, 2023 The letter was signed by Congress; Trinamool Congress (TMC); Aam Aadmi Party (AAP); Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK); Janata Dal (United); Nationalist Congress Party (NCP); Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray); Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD); Communist Party of India (Marxist); Samajwadi Party (SP); Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD); Communist Party of India (CPI); Muslim League; Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM); National Conference; Kerala Congress (M); Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP); Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK); and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). Separately, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) announced it will stay away from the event as it insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution, reported ANI. Moreover, All India Majlis Ittehad ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has indicated that his party will also not be present during the opening of the new Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not inaugurate this. If Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will not inaugurate the new Parliament building, then we (AIMIM) will not attend the ceremony, he was quoted as saying by Indian Express. Likely to attend/boycott Mayawati-headed Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is likely to attend the inauguration. Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) is expected to take a call on Thursday. However, as per The Hindu, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Raos party has decided to stay away from the inauguration. We are not attending Sundays inauguration. The party has decided not to speak on the issue, a top BRS functionary told the newspaper. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A volcano near Mexico City is spewing intense ash, smoke and gas. Towering a couple of hours from one of the worlds largest cities, the Popocatepetl volcano has been coating nearby towns with ash and disrupting flights at Mexico Citys airport, the busiest in Latin America. Hundreds of explosions have spit lava from the snow-tipped peak of the 17,797-foot Popocatepetl (puh-puh-ka-TEH-pet-tl). Dozens of flights out of Mexico City were cancelled over the weekend due to worsened activity. After heightened activity from the countrys most deadly active volcano, millions of Mexicans have been told to prepare for an evacuation. On Sunday, authorities increased their warning level to one step below red alert, which, if reached, would mean evacuation for thousands living near the volcano, whose name means smoking mountain in the indigenous Nahuatl language. Approximately 25 million people live within 60 miles of the mountain. Volcanologists say that, while a massive eruption doesnt appear imminent, eruptions are likely to continue, as they have for three decades. Heres a closer look at whats going on. What is happening with the Popocatepetl volcano? The Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City has been erupting on and off since 1994, but it has rumbled every day for the past week. Hundreds of explosions have been recorded by scientists, and webcams trained on the volcano have revealed it to be spewing incandescent debris. A column of ash can be seen rising from the top. Popocatepetl is an active stratovolcano located 70 km (43 miles) southeast of Mexico City that has had three major eruptions since the mid-Holocene. How dangerous has Popo been? The volcano known as Popo, had periods of intense activity between 2000 and 2003, and again between 2012 and 2016. In 2000, that activity triggered a red alert and evacuations before the volcano calmed down again. In the past weeks, the volcano entered another one of those periods, spewing ash, gas and lava. Authorities have increased the alert to yellow, the second level on a stoplight-style scale, but not yet to red. Popocatepetl saw similar episodes in the late 1990s and early 2000s, although the current phase could potentially go in a more dangerous direction, said the National Autonomous University of Mexico researcher, reports NDTV. In 1997, intense activity blanketed parts of Mexico City in thick layers of ash, which can cause respiratory illness and clogged drains. Also Read: The Hill That Smokes: Mexico City airport halts after volcanic ash disruption Previous surges in activity date back centuries. Pre-Hispanic writings speak of intense activity at Popocatepetl at the beginning of the 16th Century. In Guatemala, the Volcano of Fire claimed the lives of hundreds of people in a 2018 eruption. It has recently prompted evacuations for heightened activity as well. Is a major eruption imminent? Scientists and Mexican authorities say theres no sign that the current waves of small eruptions at Popocatepetl will turn into anything more destructive, said Servando de la Cruz Reyna, a senior geophysics researcher at the UNAM in Mexico City, adding that is there nothing new or surprising about recent movements. The probability that this continues as it has previously is far higher than the probability that this grows to much higher levels, he said. Popocatepetl has been active for a half-million years. Its last major eruption happened more than a thousand years ago. There are over 2,000 volcanoes in Mexico, of which 48 are active or potentially active. Almost two-thirds of the countrys population lives on the ground shaped by volcanic activity What is the government doing? Experts are continually monitoring seismic activity surrounding the volcano, as well as the composition of the materials and gases it spews out, in order to forecast a possible large eruption. Authorities have closed schools in dozens of municipalities across three states, put troops on alert, prepared shelters and checked evacuation routes. Other than that, they are encouraging people to remain calm. On Monday, Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in his morning briefing that the movements of the volcano are being monitored 24 hours a day. Authorities have warned people not to go within 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of Popocatepetl, and to use face masks due to the falling ash. Troops have also been deployed to sweep up ash in the streets. What is likely to happen? Popocatepetls recent activity is not necessarily a bad thing, said Robin Campion, a volcanologist at the Institute of Geophysics. The scientist explained that small explosions alleviate pressure from magma inside the mountain, and likely mean that it wont lead to a build-up and larger eruption. The good thing is that its constantly releasing energy, Campion said. Hopefully, itll continue being as constant and moderate as it is, so it doesnt all erupt at once, like it did in prehistoric times. As it continues puffing, ash could eventually become a problem in surrounding areas, particularly in the 7.5 miles surrounding the volcano, but also in Mexico City. While the ash is not toxic, Carlos Valdes, head of UNAMs National Seismological Service, said it could affect breathing and air quality and also continue to affect flights to and from Mexico Citys international airport. While the ash continues to billow toward southern Mexico, he and other scientists monitoring the volcano expect winds to shift and blow ash into the capital in June. Already on Saturday, volcanic ash carried in by shifting winds forced the citys airport to temporarily shut down. Others expressed worries that the weight of ash building up could collapse precariously constructed homes in poorer areas of Mexico. They have recommended residents wash their eyes and wear face masks. It has had important consequences. The only danger were really entertaining right now is the ash, Valdes said. People shouldnt be scared, more than anything they should take precautions. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tipu Sultans sword has been sold for Rs 140 crore. The bedchamber sword of the 18th Century king was sold for a record price for an Indian an Islamic object, according to the auction house Bonhams. This spectacular sword is the greatest of all the weapons linked to Tipu Sultan still in private hands, said Oliver White, Bonhams Head of Islamic and Indian Art and auctioneer, in a statement ahead of the sale on Tuesday. Its close personal association with the Sultan, its impeccable provenance traceable to the very day it was captured, and the outstanding craftsmanship that went into its manufacture make it unique and highly desirable, he added. But what do we know about the sword itself? Lets take a closer look: Exceptional quality The sword dates to the reign of Tipu also known as the Tiger of Mysore between 1782 and 1799. It is described as a fine gold koftgari hilted steel sword referred to as sukhela an emblem of authority. The sword was crafted by Mughal swordsmiths on the model of German blades which came into India in the 16th Century. The hilt is inlaid in exquisitely executed gold calligraphy with the qualities of God and invocations calling on God by name. The weapon itself is of exceptional quality, with the blade inscribed The Sword of the Ruler. As per News9live, the spine of the sword it reads shamshir-e malik, while the hilt reads Ya allah! ya nasir! ya fattah! ya nasir! ya muin! ya zahir!, O Allah!, O the Helper! O the Ever-opener! O the Aider! O The Helper! O The Evident! On constant alert against attack, Tipu slept in a hammock suspended from the ceiling of his locked and bolted bedchamber with a pair of pistols and this sword by his side. It was discovered in Tipus private apartments after his defeat at the battle of Seringapatam on 4 May, 1799, according to brecorder.com It was then given to Major General David Baird by the Army of the East India Company as a token of their high esteem of his courage and conduct in the assault which resulted in the killing of Tipu. The sword was loaned to the British Museum London by Major General Augustus WH Meyrick and Nancy Dowager, according to IndulgeExpress.com. The sword was purchased by Vijay Mallya after Bairds descendants decided to sell it. Mallya picked up the artefact a mere Rs 1.5 crore, as per Financial Express. However, the fugitive liquor baron gave the sword away in 2016 saying his family told him it brought bad luck. As per News9live, Mallyas lawyers in 2018 claimed they had no idea where the sword was Delighted with result The sword fetched 14 million after being listed at between 1.5 and 2 million. Bonhams did not give any information about the person that purchased the sword, as per TheArtNewspaper. We are not authorised to disclose the identity of our sellers and buyers at it is against our privacy policy Bonhams sale coordinator Enrica Medugno told News9live. The sword has an extraordinary history, an astonishing provenance and unrivalled craftsmanship. It was no surprise it was so hotly contested between two phone bidders and a bidder in the room. We are delighted with the result, said Nima Sagharchi, Group Head of Islamic and Indian Art. This is one of the most astonishing objects Bonhams has had the privilege of bringing to auction. It is a stupendous price for a stupendous piece. I am so thrilled for our teams that worked so hard to deliver this result, said Bruno Vinciguerra, CEO of Bonhams. Tipu famously pioneered the use of rocket artillery in wars both against neighbouring states and also the East Indian Company, of which he was an implacable opponent until his death. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. With the advancement of technology, incidents of ransomware have increased throughout the country. Now, a new report has come, which claims that 73 per cent Indian organisations said that they have been the victim of such attacks in 2022. The report also points out that the majority of these attacks took place in Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Delhi and Mumbai were also on the list. Sophos, a cybersecurity company, conducted a survey between January and March in 14 countries, including India. Chester Wisniewski, field CTO of Sophos, said that almost three-quarters of Indian organisations reported that they have been the victim to ransomware criminals, and a lot of work needs to be done. The key to lowering this number is to work to aggressively lower time taken to detect as well as to respond. There was no particular reason why Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru were on top of the list of ransomware attacks. The report claims that in 35 per cent of such attacks the cybercriminals invaded the system by exploiting vulnerabilities. Theses cybercriminals used malicious emails, phishing and brute-force attacks to get access. Notably, hackers encrypted the data of 77 per cent companies that were victims of these attacks, whereas in 38 per cent cases, data was stolen. In terms of recovering data, backups remain the most common method, used by 73 per cent of respondents. But 85 per cent of private sector companies in India reported losing revenue or business as a result of the attack. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Congress is leading the charge of the Oppositions opposition to the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Modi, slated on May 28. Their primary argument has been that the buildingParliament, the embodiment of Indias Constitutionbe unveiled by the President, and not the prime minister. Here are five instances, starting 1927, when the Congress did not have a problem with the constitutional head not having unveiled or inaugurated a constitutional or legislature building. 1- The current Parliament building was inaugurated by Viceroy Lord Irwin on January 18, 1927. Newspaper reports from that time bear witness to the fact that Congress leaders and Swarajists, who were a breakaway faction of the Congress, including Rahul Gandhis great great grandfather Moti Lal Nehru proudly attended the inauguration ceremony. The BJP took a dig at the Congress citing the same. The Congress, which then had no compunction genuflecting in front of the British, today, has a problem attending the inauguration, even though the person helming the ceremony is a democratically elected Prime Minister. What explains Congresss loyalty towards the British and disdain for the people of India? asked Amit Malviya. 2- Not the Speaker or the President of India, but Indira Gandhi, as prime minister, had inaugurated the Parliament Annexe Building on October 24, 1975. This was the first big construction undertaken in the Parliament complex. Actually, then President VV Giri had laid the foundation stone of the Parliament Annexe Building on August 3, 1970. 3. The building housing the two houses of the Maharashtra state legislature, better known as the Vidhan Bhavan at Nariman Point, was inaugurated by Indira Gandhi, and not the Governor, on 19 April 1981. 4. Rajiv Gandhi, in his capacity as the prime minister of India, had laid the foundation of the Parliament Library building on August 15, 1987. 5. In 2020, Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone for the new Chhattisgarh Assembly, but it should have been the Governor by the logic of the Congress. Interestingly, not the Governors name, but that of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are etched on the commemorative plaque. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA has asked cash-strapped Go First to submit a comprehensive plan for the revival of its operations, including details about the availability of operational planes and pilots, within 30 days, a source said on Thursday. The no-frills carrier, which is undergoing a voluntary insolvency resolution process, stopped flying on May 3 and lessors are looking to take back aircraft leased to the carrier. The source at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the regulator advised the airline on May 24 to submit a comprehensive restructuring plan for a sustainable revival of operations. The plan has to be submitted within a period of 30 days, the source added. Go First has been asked to furnish the status of the availability of the operational aircraft fleet, pilots and other personnel, maintenance arrangements, funding and working capital, and arrangements with lessors and vendors, among other details. The revival plan, once submitted by Go First, would be reviewed by the watchdog for further appropriate action, the source said. The airline had submitted its response to the show cause notice issued by DGCA on May 8. In its reply, Go First requested that it may be allowed to use the moratorium period to prepare a comprehensive restructuring plan for restarting operations and present the same to DGCA for approvals before restarting operations, the source said. The regulator had issued the show cause notice under the relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, for its failure to continue the operation of the service in a safe, efficient and reliable manner. On May 2, Go First announced filing the plea for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings as well as suspension of flights, initially for two days May 3 and 4. At that time also, DGCA had issued a show cause notice to Go First for cancelling flights for May 3 and 4 without any prior intimation. The suspension of flights has been extended. On May 22, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld the NCLTs decision to admit Go Firsts plea for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings. The ruling had come on petitions filed by four lessors opposing the insolvency resolution proceedings of the airline. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Sengol, the ancient Indian scepter of authority and rule of law from the Chola period, which will be installed in the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a historic symbol of Indias Independence, but for long it was locked inside a glass display at a museum marked as a golden walking stick gifted to Jawaharlal Nehru. The discussion of the Sengol gained momentum after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday announced its reintroduction as it signifies the Transfer of Power from the British to India. Sengol was gifted by a group of priests from Tamil Nadu on the eve of Indias independence. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has turned the tables on the Oppositions high-pitch rejection of the idea of PM Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday said, The Sengol was integral to our Independence, but the Left relegated it as a nondescript walking stick in a museum corner despite Pandit Nehrus crucial role. This is another instance of how an entire eco-system censored any event in history that glorified ancient Bharat and Hindu rituals, he added. #NewParliamentBuilding | The Sengol was integral to our Independence but the Left relegated it as a nondescript walking stick in a museum corner despite Pt Nehrus crucial role. Another instance of how an entire eco-system censored any event in history that glorified ancient pic.twitter.com/U3usN5eSVJ ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 Disdain for Hindu rituals in Congress Highlighting the significance of the Sengol, BJP leader Amit Malviya said: The vesting of the sacred Sengol with Jawaharlal Nehru, on the eve of Indias Independence, was the exact moment of transfer of power from the British to India. But instead of being given the pride of its place, it was tucked away in Anand Bhavan, and called the golden stick gifted to Nehru. Such is the disdain for Hindu rituals in the Congress. He further said that PM Modi will install the Sengol, from 1947, in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speakers podium. It will be displayed for the nation to see, and will be taken out on special occasions, Malviya added. It is now Sengol vs Opposition," the BJP leader said. The vesting of the sacred Sengol with Jawaharlal Nehru, on the eve of Indias Independence, was the exact moment of transfer of power from the British to India. But instead of being given the pride of its place, it was tucked away in Anand Bhavan, and called the golden stick pic.twitter.com/TSLqPYn5Ft Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 25, 2023 Sengols Glorious Past Sengol derives its name from the Tamil word "semmai" which means "righteousness". In 1947, the Sengol was handed over to India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, minutes before the national flag was hoisted and before the leader made his famous 'Tryst with Destiny speech at midnight on August 15, 1947. It had been kept at his Prayagraj residence-turned-museum till now. "Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru accepted Sengol around 10:45 PM of 14 August, 1947 through the Adhinam of Tamil Nadu. It was a sign of shift of power from British to the people of our country, Shah said on Wednesday. The Union Home Minister also said that the Sengol has been important from the time of the Chola dynasty. "This Sengol will be kept in New Parliament PM Modi will accept this Sengol and it will be placed near the Speakers seat, he said. Also Read: Hands of Gold: PM Modi to honour 60,000 workers who built new Parliament building Shah also said that it was "inappropriate" to keep this sacred Sengol in a museum. Ahead of India's independence, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, had on several occasions asked Nehru what would mark the transfer of power when India attains Independence. Nehru then turned to C Rajagopalachari, Indias last Governor General, who informed him about the Tamil tradition of the high priest handing over a Sengol to a new king when he comes to power. Rajagopalachari also told Nehru that the tradition was followed during the reign of the Cholas as he went on to suggest him that it could mark India's freedom from British Raj. Rajagopalachari was then asked to arrange a Sengol for the historic moment of India's independence. He contacted Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam, a prominent mutt in present-day Tamil Nadu. Don't Miss: Boycotting history? Which Opposition parties will skip inauguration of new Parliament building by PM Modi The then seer of the mutt accepted the responsibility and a Sengol was made by Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, a jeweller in then Madras which was five feet long and has a 'nandi' bull on top, symbolising justice. A senior priest of the mutt had first handed over the Sengol to Mountbatten and then took it back. It was then sprinkled with gangajal and was taken in a procession to the then PM Nehru and handed over to him. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to people in Manipur to maintain peace and promised that justice will be ensured to all sections of society. While laying the foundation stone of the tenth national campus of the National Forensic Sciences University to be set Changsari area of Kamrup district, Shah said he will travel to the northeastern state to help resolve disputes. I will go to Manipur soon and stay there for three days but before that, both groups should remove mistrust and suspicion among themselves and ensure that peace is restored in the state, he said. The Centre will ensure that justice is given to all who suffered in the clashes which broke out in the state, but people must hold a dialogue to ensure peace in the state, Shah said. Referring to the setting up of the NFSU campus here, the home minister said that this will guarantee employment opportunities for all students passing these courses. The Centre was planning to bring legal changes to make site visits by forensic experts compulsory for crimes which attract more than six years of imprisonment, he added. The first phase of the NFSU campus was expected to be completed by 2026 and the second by 2030 while classes will start this year at the temporary campus in Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). Shah also launched an interactive web portal the Seva Setu of the Assam police, developed jointly with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), which will enable people to lodge FIRs, missing persons complaints, as well as fill up online forms for tenant, paying guests and domestic help verifications, without visiting any police station. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Security has been tightened in Manipur soon after fresh violence was reported from Manipurs Imphal West and Bishnupur districts. A delegation of state BJP MLAs will travel to Guwahati to meet Union home minister Amit Shah, who is visiting Assam today. The delegation, led by Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker T Satyabrata Singh will meet the home minister along with representatives from the ruling BJP, NPF and NPP. According to officials, firing incidents were reported in the Kadangband region of Imphal West. Manipur security advisor Kuldeep Singh told ANI that the firing happened around 1.30 am from the upper hill of Singda Kadangband. Fresh violence was also reported in the Tronglaobi area of Bishnupur, resulting in the death of one person. The Congress on Wednesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi call a meeting of community leaders of Manipur in an effort to bring peace to the ethnic violence-hit state. Congress leader Ajoy Kumar said India is in danger if things are not set right in the northeastern state as it shares the international border with Myanmar. Also, the house of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district was vandalised on Wednesday by a group of people claiming that the government in the strife-torn state is not doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community, officials said. The minister who is a BJP leader and his family members, however, were not present at the house when the mob, comprising mostly women, attacked the house in the Ningthoukhong area and damaged a portion of a gate, windows, a few furniture and electronic gadgets. This is the first time a ministers house was attacked during the ongoing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in the state that started three weeks ago and claimed more than 70 lives. With inputs from agencies. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Thursday called the Opposition parties boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfair as she welcomed the forthcoming opening. She said she will not be attending the inauguration on May 28 due to some other commitments, even though she has received an invitation. Nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP, and AAP, on Wednesday announced their boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Narendra Modi, saying they find no value in the new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out. In a series of tweets on Thursday, the BSP supremo said, Be it the government of Congress party or now the BJP at the centre, the BSP has always supported them on issues related to the country and public interest. Rising above party politics and looking at it in this context, the party also supported the inauguration of the new building of the parliament on May 28, it is welcomed. She also said the opposition parties insistence that the new building be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu was unfair. The government has made it, so it has the right to inaugurate it. It is also unfair to link this with the respect of a tribal woman. They should have thought of this while fielding a candidate against her instead of electing her unopposed, she said. I have received the invitation for the programme dedicated to the country, that is, the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building for which I thank and extend my best wishes. But due to my pre-scheduled engagement regarding the continuous review meetings of the party, I will not be able to attend the function, she said. The opposition parties in a joint statement on Wednesday had said that Modis decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building himself was a grave insult and direct assault on Indian democracy. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that a technologically advanced military is crucial to protect the interests of the nation. Inaugurating a two-day DRDO- Academia conclave in New Delhi on 25 May 2023, Singh stressed that for a country like India, it becomes vital to have such a military as it faces a double threat on borders. Today, India is one of the largest armed forces in the world, the bravery and valour of our military is praised all over the world. Countries across the world express their willingness to conduct joint exercises with our armed forces. In such a situation, it becomes imperative that we have a technologically advanced military to protect the interests of the country. For a country like India, it becomes very important because we are facing a double threat on our borders, he said. Underscoring the significance of the theme of the conclave DRDO-Academia Partnership Opportunities & Challenges, the defence minister said It is a dire need that DRDO and Academia work in partnership with each other to find solutions to the challenges being faced by us in the 21st century. This partnership will prove helpful in making India a leading nation in defence technologies,. Underlying the path to acquire advanced technologies traverses through research and development which plays a key role in the development of any country, he said We will not be able to adopt new technologies without doing research. It has the ability to convert ordinary substances into valuable resources. Elaborating on the importance of the DRDO Academia partnership, he stressed that the DRDO through this synergy, will get a skilled human resource base from eminent institutions like IISC, IITs, NITs and other universities from across the country as these institutions, nurture a large pool of talented and skilled youth. On the other hand, the academia will be benefited from the R&D fund of DRDO that it spends on developing new technologies besides getting access to the advanced infrastructure and lab facilities of the defence research organisation. This symbiotic relationship will prove helpful in further enhancing the start-up culture in our country, he said. Singh further emphasised that such technologies developed through collaboration and collective efforts could have applications in both civil and defence sectors. He also urged the DRDO scientists and academia to deliberate on the option of deployment of the scientists of DRDO as faculty in the academic institutions for a specific period, which will give a new perspective to our Academia, whereas the intellectuals of Academia can also serve on deputation as a scientist within DRDO. On the occasion, the defence minister also felicitated eminent scientists who have made outstanding contributions in the area of aeronautics, armaments, life sciences and naval systems and other DRDO requirements through the grant-in-aid DRDO projects. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Two more cubs of Cheetah Jwala died on Thursday inside Kuno National Park in Shehopur district of Madhya Pradesh. The first among the four cubs born to the Namibian cheetah died on Tuesday. The official statement released by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Madhya Pradesh said that after a cub died on Tuesday, the remaining three cubs and their mother cheetah Jwala were sent to wildlife doctors posted in Palpur. They were being monitored round the clock by a special team and supplemental food was provided to cheetah Jwala. However, on 23 May, the three surviving cubs of cheetah Jwala did not seem normal. Also, the temperature in the region was around 46-47 degree Celsius on that day. The statement further said the cubs had to be shifted to critical care for treatment when loo wind and rising temperatures led to their health to worsen. The condition of one surviving cub is said to be critical. The first cub died on 23 May due to weakness. The monitoring team found that one of the four cubs of feline Jwala was lying at the spot where they were spotted earlier while three other cubs were roaming with their mother, the statement said. The team alerted veterinarians who rushed to the spot and administered necessary treatment to the cub, but it died. Cheetahs death As per a report by ToI, six fatalities among cheetahs translocated from African countries to Kuno were reported within the past two months. Preliminary investigations suggested malnutrition to be the cause of death of these cubs. A Namibian cheetah named Sasha succumbed to a kidney-related ailment on 27 March, while another carnivore from South Africa, Uday, died on 13 April. Daksha, a cheetah brought from South Africa, died of injuries following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt on 9 May. Cheetah Jwala, formerly known as Siyaya, was brought from Namibia to Kuno National Park in Sheopur district in September 2022. She gave birth to four cubs in Marchs last week. Cheetahs were reintroduced in India almost 70 years after the species was declared extinct. Eight Namibian cheetahs five female and three male were released into enclosures at the Kuno National Park on 17 September last year at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The relocation of cheetahs from Africa is part of an ambitious plan to revive their population in India. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. With the first-ever MiG-29K fighter jet night landing on INS Vikrant, the Indian Navy has accomplished another historic first. The Indian Navy has claimed that this is an important step towards the Indian governments goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector. #IndianNavy achieves another historic milestone by undertaking maiden night landing of MiG-29K on @IN_R11Vikrant indicative of the Navys impetus towards #aatmanirbharta, the Indian Navy said in a statement on Twitter. Praising the personnel on board the INS Vikrant and others involved in the successful operation, Indian Navy PRO Commander Vivek Madhwal said, "This challenging night landing trial also demonstrates the resolve, skill and professionalism of the Vikrant crew and the naval pilots. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also praised the Indian Navy for the achievement. "Congratulations to the Indian Navy for successfully undertaking the maiden night landing trials of MiG-29K on #INSVikrant. This remarkable achievement is a testimony to the skills, perseverance and professionalism of the Vikrant crew and Naval pilots. Kudos to them," Rajnath Singh tweeted. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Amongst the myriad virulent things on social media, one video made the rounds that caught the global attention, wherein Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, in an emotional gesture, touched Narendra Modis feet. The eighth prime minister of Papua New Guinea made an exception for Prime Minister Modi and has not done the same for any other leader in the world. It is purportedly the first visit by an Indian prime minister to PNG. According to a statement issued by the government, PNG Prime Minister James Marape, in a special gesture, received Modi at the airport. A salute of 19 guns and a Guard of Honour were accorded to PM Modi, said the statement, adding that the visit underscored the close friendship of India with Pacific Island countries. The visit also comes at a time of growing Chinese hegemony in the region. India sees its tryst with the 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) as a part of its Act East Policy. Without a shred of doubt, Narendra Modi is perhaps the first prime minister to manifest globally the conception of Indias Amrit Kaal. Indias growing global stature has, as predicted, not fared well with the leading western nations. As the nations civilisational and nationalistic aspirations reawaken with Narendra Modi as its vanguard, a torrent of concerted efforts to destabilise the nation has been demonstrated. While tens of thousands of the Indian diaspora huddled in the Sydney stadium for Prime Minister Narendra Modis majestic event, his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese thundered at the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is The Boss'. While India officially took over the G20 Presidency on 1 December, it also assumed the rotational presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on 16 September. The G20 is a major forum for the worlds most economically flourishing countries international economic cooperation. Taking over the presidency of this influential bloc from the current chair, Indonesia, India was set to organise around 200 meetings regarding 32 different sectors at 55 locations in the country. Together, the influential G20 bloc represents 85 percent of global GDP, more than 75 per cent of world trade, and two-thirds of the worlds population. Moreover, the SCO, known as the platform of disagreement, represents 30 per cent of the global GDP and 40 per cent of the worlds population. In an editorial penned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he wrote that Indias G20 agenda would be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive, listing terror, climate change, and pandemics as the three greatest challenges that can be best fought together. He observes, Indias G20 Presidency should work towards benefiting humanity as a whole. The theme of Indias G20 Presidency Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or One Earth One Family One Future is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. India and the Pacific Islands India has fostered a strong and mutually beneficial friendship with Pacific Island countries, symbolizing its commitment to regional cooperation and solidarity. This partnership is rooted in shared values of democracy, peace, and sustainable development. Indias engagement with Pacific Island countries encompasses a wide range of areas, including political dialogue, economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and capacity building. Through diplomatic initiatives such as the Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC), India has provided a platform for dialogue and collaboration. The cooperation extends to various sectors, including renewable energy, healthcare, education, maritime security, and climate change. India has offered scholarships and training programs to Pacific Island nationals, enhancing their skills and fostering people-to-people connections. Indias assistance in infrastructure development and connectivity projects has further deepened its friendship with the Pacific Island countries. Indias commitment to sustainable development aligns with the aspirations of these nations, which are vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Overall, Indias friendship with Pacific Island countries is characterized by respect, solidarity, and a shared vision for a prosperous and inclusive future. The cooperation between India and the Pacific Island nations exemplifies the spirit of South-South cooperation and underscores Indias commitment to fostering regional partnerships and global harmony. Moreover, as Ron White said about hurricanes, Its not that the wind is blowing, its what the wind is blowing. By no stretch of the imagination, the BBC documentary, the anti-Hindu attacks, the consistent anti-India global press coverage, and the Hindenberg report seem to be coincidences, but they are a concerted effort by a larger conspiracy to malign Indias rising spot under the adept stewardship of PM Modi in the global league. Indias presidency at both forums provides India with the best opportunity to broker peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, steering discussions in the direction it prefers. Resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict can bolster Indias credentials on a global stage and clear Indias shimmering path to a permanent seat at the UNSC council. Shaping new paradigms for a defining role in global affairs, New Delhi will be the capital of global diplomacy. Also, India has recently pipped the United Kingdom to become the fifth-largest economy in the world. In the recent World Economic Outlook report of the International Monetary Fund, India has retained its crown as a bright spot, projecting a growth rate of 6.1 per cent for the Indian economy during the next financial year from April 2023 to March 2024 and 6.8 per cent in the subsequent financial year, both ahead of many advanced economies. India remains a bright spot. Combined with China, it will account for half of the global growth this year, versus just a tenth for the US and euro area combined, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, an IMF official, wrote in a blog accompanying the World Economic Outlook update, a quarterly report. Suffice it to say that, with Modi being the vanguard of the India Story on a global platter, Bharat has come of age! The author is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @pokharnaprince. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The break up has begun. Or, as Imran Khan calls it, a forced divorce. The scale of the arm twisting is enormous, and has shocked Pakistanis, already accustomed to the heavy hand of the state. As the arrests of party leaders and workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf continue, it now appears that the attacks against the army installations were done by a part of the state itself, under the instigation of the Interior Minister. The mess is unbelievable. The question is what comes next, not just tomorrow but down the line for the Pakistani state, and Imran Khan himself. As of now, the one seems to be inextricably intertwined with the fate of the other. Thats not good news. In fact, its the worst. The Pakistan Army Act and its many twists and turns The downslide of even a facade of democracy has been appalling. Immediately after the 9 May protests that saw what seemed like large crowds apparently walking in at will into a usually heavily guarded cantonment, but vandalizing various symbols of army might. The ransacking of the Lahore Corps Commander house puzzled most Pakistanis, since security is normally so tight that even a mall nearby had its windows boarded up to prevent anyone peering into the august residence of the General. The reaction of the army should have been clue enough. As the Supreme Court itself under threat from the government moved to grant pre-arrest bail to Khan in case after case, the army decided to try rioters under the Army Act, a decision which was rubber stamped by the National Security Committee. The Pakistan Army Act 1952 was originally meant to try only army personnel and civilians attached to the army. It was expanded in 1966 under Ayub Khan to try civilians accused of inciting mutiny, while Clause 5 added those who damage any military property including buildings, railways, canals, causeways etc. That clause in fact, pretty much covers everything. In 2015, the Act was amended further to include trials of terrorists, with a clause that also includes the offence to raise arms or wage war against Pakistan, or attack the Armed Forces of Pakistan or law enforcement agencies, or attack any civil or military installations in Pakistan. That was during the term of Nawaz Sharif, and though it lapses every two years , it can be re-enacted to deal with the PTI. Civilian leaders need to take care when they expand army powers. And heres the ultimate irony. Imran Khan himself used the Army Act to try civilians whom he found difficult. That includes a case against human rights defender Idris Khattak, an anthropologist, for allegedly handing over sensitive information to Michael Semple, an Irishman and an expert on Afghanistan and Pakistan, but supposed to be working with British intelligence. At least twenty others were tried under the Army Act during Imran Khans period earning for himself a dismal ranking from Amnesty International and others. Today, Khan is raging against the lack of help from human rights organisations who are actually raising this strongly forgetting that he started the trend in the first place. Parliament is shooting itself in the foot Meanwhile, in an agony of desperation, the ruling coalition is busy tying a rope that could strangle its own neck in future. These acts of desperation include the most recent Contempt of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) Bill 2023, tabled by PTI dissident Rana Qasim Noon. This is supposedly to strengthen Parliament, the proposed law, for example, would make it an offence to refuse to obey any order or direction of the House or a Committee thereof. This is vague language, and could be extended to almost anything, as against the Constitution which specifies contempt on those who refuse to provide documents or give evidence before a Parliamentary committee. Second, the bill also provides parliament with direct penal powers, rather than through a court, clearly with the intention of bypassing a determined court. In another case, Parliament passed legislation to the Supreme courts discretionary powers to take suo-moto notice. Efforts to first send it to the concerned senate committee was rejected, and the law was passed. As expected, it was struck down, with an eight judge bench ruling that the act that comes into being shall not have, take or be given any effect nor be acted upon in any manner. Meanwhile a Lahore court struck down a sedition law dating back to the British era, as unconstitutional, even as the government was preparing to charge Khan with this offence. But the worst act of all seems to be that of Rana Sanaullah, Interior Minister, who had earlier said He [Khan] has brought the nations politics to a point where only one of us can exist. When we feel our existence is being threatened, we will go to a point where we will not bother whether a move is democratic or not. Now it is reliably reported that the attacks against the army installations had been orchestrated by the powerful Minister together with the Intelligence Bureau and Ministry of Defence, in an assessment by the Military Intelligence given to the Army Chief. This, if true, is the lowest of actions by a cabinet minister. But the army was to go even lower. The breaking up of the party That the establishment is bent on breaking the back of the PTI is apparent to all and sundry. A slew of senior leaders have quit the party, after condemning the violence of 9 May. Among these Shireen Mazhari, former human rights minister, was arrested and re-arrested until she finally announced a decision to not just quit the party, but also end political activity entirely. The public address was an exercise in humiliation, but also a display of raw power of the army. The fate of Shah Mahmoud Qureshi is as yet uncertain, as he was rearrested minutes after he was freed. Meanwhile, even as hundreds of PTI workers have been arrested, the courts have intervened to release whoever they could including office holders like PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, notably advising him, They will not spare you until you hold a press conference [to denounce 9 May violence].The blatant use of force and the announcement of the 9 May attacks as a Black Day(which was not done even after the tragic Peshawar Army school bombing) is ironical, particularly if the violence was indeed orchestrated. Worse, as almost daily terror attacks hit the periphery, including against oil production units in Hangu, the Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan seems to have issued a new hit list including Rana Sanaullah, Maryam Nawaz and others who coincidentally are all against Imran Khan. The list appeared after Maulana Fazl ul Haq survived a suicide bombing attempt. This seems to be another way to get Khan labelled as a terrorist, and underline his links with these groups. All this from an establishment that has come under fire from the UN Human Rights Council for its hundreds of cases of Enforced Disappearances, which is the legal terminology for those it lifts and disappears with impunity. In response, a commission has been established to look into this, at which Justice Athar Minallah of the Islamabad High Court averred, The commission has failed in its duty, nor can it justify its existence in the circumstances. Pakistans army is out of control, and it doesnt care who knows it. That Pakistani politicians have got themselves into the present predicament is apparent. Reliance on the army and indulging it in its constant demands for power have worked against institutional growth, so vital to establishing the foundations of a country. Instances like Maryam Nawaz calling the Chief Justice a threat to national security only underlines the decay. In all fairness, the tug of war between politics and the legal system is all pervasive, particularly in South Asia, but in Pakistan it has gone to the limits, pushed by a security apparatus that sees its own survival as equivalent to the survival of the state. Thats dangerous stuff, especially when it is considered that they are pushing matters in a direction where, in truth, it is either Imran will survive or a functioning state. To get the one, the whole establishment is bent upon destroying the other. The author is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. She tweets @kartha_tara. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Russia said on Thursday it would expel five Swedish diplomats in what it said was a retaliatory measure for Swedens confrontational course in bilateral relations. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was responding to the expulsion of five of its diplomatic staff from Sweden last month, which it called an openly hostile step. Relations between the two countries have worsened since Sweden last year announced its intention to join NATO following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Russian statement said ties had reached an unprecedented low. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Mehul Reuben Das Googles former CEO, Eric Schmidt, has issued a warning that democratic elections are vulnerable to AI interference. Schmidt, who led the tech giant for ten years, expressed concern that during election campaigns, fake images and videos of politicians would likely flood the internet. This proliferation of AI-generated misinformation will make it difficult for the public to discern what is true, leading to confusion and potential manipulation. During an interview with Andrew Marr on LBC, Schmidt emphasized that the UK and US were clearly leading the AI race and stressed the importance of determining what is deemed acceptable in a democracy regarding AI regulation. Schmidts remarks come as ministers are preparing measures to safeguard future general elections from AI manipulation, particularly in relation to deep fake technology, which could be exploited by hostile entities. Notably, Schmidt is the second former executive from Google, which has been accused of engaging in an AI arms race with Microsoft, to highlight the risks associated with this technology. Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, a renowned British scientist known as the Godfather of AI, recently left his position at Google to raise awareness about the potential dangers AI could pose to humanity. Schmidt, who served as Googles chief executive from 2001 to 2011 and later as executive chairman, expressed deep concerns about the impact of AI, stating that democratic elections are not immune to its interference. He described the ability of AI to deceive people as horrific and emphasized the widespread use of generative AI to create false images and videos that could cause public confusion. Schmidt stressed the urgent need for solutions to authenticate content, as distinguishing between authentic and manipulated media is currently challenging. As the UK and US lead the global AI landscape, Schmidt emphasized the necessity of establishing guidelines for AI in a democratic context. Schmidts warning underscores the importance of addressing the potential misuse of AI technology and ensuring its responsible deployment within democratic processes. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. An increase in fraudulent visa applications has prompted two other Australian institutions to prohibit recruiting students from certain Indian states, according to a media report. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales wrote to education agents last week instructing them not to recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The news comes as visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of more Australian and Indian students living and studying in each others countries, and bringing those experiences home. In addition, the two countries inked a migration and mobility collaboration agreement today to boost student, graduate, researcher, and commercial exchanges. The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs, the Federation Universitys letter to agents said. We hoped this would prove to be a short-term issue (but) it is now clear there is a trend emerging, the letter, published in The Herald, read. Australian universities, including Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, Torrens University, and Southern Cross University, imposed a ban or restriction on students from certain Indian states last month in response to an increase in fraudulent applications seeking to work rather than study in the country. A large number of Indian students who commenced study in 2022 intakes have not remained enrolled, resulting in a significantly high attrition rate, the Western Sydney University told agents in a message sent on May 8. The university designated Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana as the locations with the highest risk of attrition. Due to the urgency of this matter, the university has decided to pause recruitment from these regions in India, effective immediately, the university message said, adding that recruitment from all other regions in India will continue as usual. The Western Sydney University said the ban would be in place for at least two months May and June 2023. It further said that additional measures would be taken to address the issue of non-genuine students enrolling with the university from these regions, including changes to application screening, stricter admissions conditions and increases to commencement fees. According to the study, one in every four Indian applications is now declared fraudulent or non-genuine by the Department of Home Affairs. According to reports, Australia will enrol the most Indian students ever, exceeding the previous high of 75,000 in 2019. Last Thursday, the Department of Home Affairs told a federal parliamentary investigation that the rejection rate for Indian applicants is 24.3 per cent, the highest since 2012. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Saudi Arabia and Canada have agreed to resume diplomatic ties after five years of diplomatic feud and appointed new ambassadors on Wednesday. In separate statements, the two countries said they would restore the level of diplomatic relations that had been in place prior to the 2018 spat, bringing to a close a 2018 dispute that damaged relations and trade. The decision follows discussions held between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok in November last year, according to statements from Canada and Saudi Arabia. The decision stems from the desire for both sides to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect and common interests, the statements said. The 2018 row pre-dated the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi later that year, which Canada and all Western countries condemned. It started when Canadas embassy in Riyadh published a tweet in Arabic urging the immediate release of womens rights activists held by Saudi Arabia. That prompted Riyadh to recall its ambassador and bar the envoy from returning, and institute a ban on new trade. Punitive trade measures will be lifted, said a Canadian government source familiar with the agreement who was not authorized to speak on the record. It is unclear what effect the dispute had on trade. Saudi Arabia was the biggest export market for Canada in the region in 2021, according to official data, when they totalled C$2.2 billion ($1.65 billion). Imports were $2.4 billion. Almost all of Canadas imports were oil and petrochemicals. More than 80% of exports to Saudi Arabia were transportation equipment. Empty chairs at the end of the day dont push our interests forward, and they dont push things like human rights forward, the source added. The normalization comes as the Saudi prince, known as MbS, seeks to reassert Saudi Arabia as a regional power by using his place atop an energy giant in an oil-dependent world consumed by the war in Ukraine. Saudi Arabia is pivotal within its region. Its an important player, said Roland Paris, Trudeaus former foreign policy adviser and professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa. It only makes sense to have ambassadors back in place in order to keep channels of communication open. Canada will appoint Jean-Philippe Linteau as its new ambassador in Riyadh. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has said We need to have conversations with people we dont always agree with on everything in order to find global solutions to global problems, the source added. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. US intelligence agencies and Microsoft have reportedly detected the presence of an unidentified computer code that has been surfacing within telecommunications systems across Guam and various other locations across the United States (US). According to a report by The New York Times, the installation of the code has been ascribed by Microsoft, a US-based tech giant, to a hacker gang connected to the Chinese government, raising serious concerns. The alarm is being raised because Guam, with its important strategic ports and sizable US air base, is crucial to any potential reaction by the US military to an invasion or blockade of Taiwan by China. According to the research, this code was frequently installed with great stealth, frequently using routers and other widely used internet-connected consumer equipment. The tracing of the incursion was purposefully made more complex by using this method, which made it more difficult for investigators. The particular code in question is referred to as a web shell. A server can be accessed remotely without authorization thanks to this rogue malware. Home routers are particularly prone to such flaws, especially older devices without updated software and security protections. Microsoft has named the hacker collective behind the code as Volt Typhoon and linked its efforts to a Chinese government-sponsored initiative. The objectives of this initiative cover maritime operations and transportation systems in addition to essential infrastructure, such as communication networks and electric and gas utilities. Although it appears that espionage is the main objective of the current hacks, the codes potential to get past firewalls is alarming. According to the NYT, the Chinese government might use the code for harmful reasons to enable deadly assaults if they so want. Microsoft claims that there is no proof that the Chinese hacking group used the access they had gained to launch hostile assaults. Chinese intelligence and military hackers, in contrast to Russian outfits, typically prioritise espionage efforts over launching aggressive cyberattacks. According to the study, the recent balloon incident indicated that China is conducting an extensive intelligence-gathering campaign that spans several domains, including cyberspace, outer space, and even the lower atmosphere. The identified code is only one part of this campaign. Even in noteworthy cases like the theft of security clearance information from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under the Obama administration, China has continuously denied involvement in hacking into American networks. Six million sets of fingerprints were among the sensitive data from over 22 million Americans that were stolen as a result of the OPM attack. This multi-month long cyberattack has far-reaching effects. Following the event, Presidents Xi Jinping and Barack Obama, who were both in office at the time, came to an agreement that temporarily reduced harmful Chinese cyber activity. The most recent incident, however, shown that because of their importance, telecommunications networks are attractive targets for hackers, and the Guam network is particularly significant to China. This is due to the fact that military communications use commercial networks regularly, making them a desirable target for information gathering. China could acquire private military communications and intelligence by hacking Guams telecommunications network. Officials assessing Chinas capacity to strike or disrupt Taiwan have paid close heed to the focus on Guam. By 2027, according to President Xi Jinping, the Peoples Liberation Army must be ready to annex Taiwan. However, various US government representatives have also made it clear to Congress that this direction does not necessarily signify a firm determination to launch an invasion. It has been predicted that in the case of a conflict, Chinas initial steps would disrupt American communications and limit its reaction capabilities. This expectation has been reflected in multiple tabletop exercises conducted by the United States in recent years to mimic hypothetical attack scenarios. These drills simulate attacks on satellite and ground-based communication networks, concentrating primarily on facilities where American military resources might be deployed.\ Guam is one of these facilities that is quite important. The Guam-based Andersen Air Force Base would be a critical starting point for many Air Force missions to defend the island. Additionally, American submarines require a Navy port on Guam. Guam is a key target in the exercises due to its strategic importance and its function in assisting and coordinating military activities in the region. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The most fearsome aircraft carrier group of the United States, which was previously thought to be immune to conventional weapons, may reportedly be destroyed with certainty by a certain number of hypersonic strikes, according to a recent set of war game simulations conducted by Chinese military planners. The Chinese military planners have come to a conclusion on the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and its supporting fleet that will be no doubt disturbing for the US Navy, according to a rare published source. According to them, using hypersonic missiles could theoretically destroy the carrier and all of its auxiliary equipment with certainty, as SCMP stated. In a report published in the Chinese-language Journal of Test and Measurement Technology in May, the results of a war game simulation that primarily focused on hypersonic strikes on a US carrier group were made public for the first time. According to the article, Chinese forces used a barrage of 24 hypersonic anti-ship missiles to successfully sink the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier fleet in a series of more than 20 furious fights that were simulated on a platform used by Chinas military the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). In accordance with the simulations depiction, despite repeated warnings, US ships continued to approach a Chinese-claimed island in the South China Sea. The results of the wargame showed that almost all of the US surface vessels were seriously damaged by the onslaught and eventually sank. In the scenario, two hypersonic anti-ship missile models were fired, some of them coming from the distant Gobi Desert. The report claimed that the Chinese military showcased remarkable prowess with their sophisticated launch strategy, employing a complex three-wave attack to outsmart the US carrier groups formidable defense systems. Six surface ships that were meticulously chosen for their cutting-edge technology and unmatched strength made up the US fleet in the war scenario. The CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford served as the groups flagship. It was joined by the CG56 San Jacinto of the Ticonderoga class and four DDG-103 Arleigh Burke class Flight IIA guided missile destroyers. Modern features on the 2017-commissioned Ford-class carrier include an electromagnetic launch system, cutting-edge radar, and electronic warfare systems. The cruisers and destroyers in the carrier group were also outfitted with cutting-edge defences and armaments, including radar systems that could track and detect several targets at once. The RIM-161E SM-3, a missile designed to intercept ballistic missiles, was one of 264 missiles in the carrier groups armament of air defence weapons. In the simulation, the Chinese military was subject to a number of restrictions, including restricted use of surveillance satellites and a finite number of hypersonic missiles. The war game sought to provide a realistic evaluation while adhering to the maxim of lenience with the enemy and strictness with oneself. According to reports, the two anti-ship missile variants used by the Chinese side have exceptional capabilities, being able to cruise at great heights and achieving an amazing top speed of Mach 11. Surprisingly, with just two hits, either model could destroy a carrier or major cruiser. The study also found that one device had an 80 percent success rate and an operable range of 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles). The other Chinese model, in comparison, had a 90 percent success rate with a range that was double. The actual names of the hypersonic missiles used in the simulation are not included in the article, though. It only focuses on the two models used by the Chinese side and their performance traits. The PLA detected the US carrier group during the simulation using its sea-based surveillance network. They simultaneously fired eight less-reliable hypersonic missiles from southern and central China. The strike depleted the SM-3 munitions on board the US fleet, albeit some were intercepted. In response, the carrier, destroyers, and cruiser were the targets of eight more precise hypersonic missile launches by the PLA from northern and western China, according to the report. Four ships from the US side escaped the attack, primarily destroyers because of their weak defence capabilities. Enemy radar was jammed by electronic warfare devices, and incoming missiles were misdirected by chaff and flare dispensers. The Chinese military carried out a mop-up operation with six less precise hypersonic missiles after the PLA verified the status and positions of the remaining targets. The carrier group was destroyed by the three-wave attack on average when the simulation was run numerous times, which led to the destruction of 5.6 out of every six surface vessels. Prioritising targets and using lure techniques were stressed in order to maximise efficiency and save ammo. However, the South China Sea-focused war game simulation suggests that this area might end up being a flashpoint for warfare between Chinese and US naval troops. The fact that these two troops have previously engaged in escalating combat in the area only serves to highlight how important the results of the war game simulation are. Wargame simulations are useful for providing insights, but they cannot take the place of actual testing and evaluation. The reasons for Chinas dissemination of the outcomes of the war game are still unknown. Additionally, it is impossible to independently verify the data used in the war games. However, if the information used in the war game simulation on Chinese hypersonic missiles dramatically differs from reality, it could degrade the simulations accuracy and lead to false conclusions. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A stubborn House Speaker Kevin McCarthy asserted that the debt ceiling crisis was not my fault on Wednesday as he dispatched Republican negotiators to the White House to wrap up negotiations. McCarthy, though, cautioned that the two sides need more time as they attempt to negotiate a budget agreement with President Joe Biden. McCarthy expressed optimism that they may reach an agreement before a deadline as early as next week, when the Treasury Department may run out of cash to pay its payments. Financial markets are wobbling as Washington inches closer to a debt default catastrophe unmatched in modern history, sending shockwaves throughout the world. Late in the day, the Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States AAA credit on ratings watch negative, warning of a possible downgrade because of what it called the brinkmanship and political partisanship over lifting the debt ceiling. The White House blamed the Republicans led by McCarthy for risking a devastating default that would hit every single part of the country as they demand extreme spending cuts that would hurt millions of Americans. Were not going to default, McCarthy, R-Calif., assured. The Republican speaker said the negotiators made some progress at the White House. I want to work as hard as we can and not stop. Debt ceiling negotiations are locked on a classic problem that has divided and disrupted Washington before, particularly the last time Republicans used the borrowing limit as leverage to extract priorities a decade ago: Republicans want to roll back federal government spending, while Biden and other Democrats do not. From the White House, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre decried what the administration called a manufactured crisis set in motion by Republicans pushing extreme proposals that would hurt every single part of the country, whether youre in a red state or a blue state. Time is short to strike a deal. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Wednesday that it seems almost certain that the United States would not make it past early June without defaulting. That would be catastrophic, as the government risks running out of cash to pay its bills as soon as 1 June. We are seeing some stress already in Treasury markets, Yellen said at a Wall Street Journal event. Failure to raise the nations debt ceiling, now at $31 trillion, would risk a potentially chaotic federal default, almost certain to inflict economic turmoil at home and abroad. Anxious retirees and social service groups are among those making default contingency plans. While Biden has ruled out, for now, invoking the 14th Amendment to raise the debt limit on his own, Democrats in the House announced they have all signed on to a legislative discharge process that would force a debt ceiling vote. But they need five Republicans to break with their party and tip the majority to set the plan forward. Sign the bill! Democrats yelled on the House floor after Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., announced lawmakers could keep plans to recess on Thursday but could be called back for votes. Dragging into a third week, the negotiations over raising the nations debt limit were never supposed to arrive at this point. The White House insisted early on it was unwilling to barter over the need to pay the nations bills, demanding that Congress simply lift the ceiling as it has done many times before with no strings attached. The newly elected speaker visited Biden at the Oval Office in February, urging the president to come to the negotiating table on a budget package that would reduce spending and the nations ballooning deficits in exchange for the vote to allow future debt. Cheered on by a hard-charging conservative House majority that hoisted him to power, McCarthy was not swayed by a White House counter-offer to freeze spending instead. A freeze is not going to work, McCarthy said. We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point. Negotiations are focused on finding agreement on a 2024 budget year limit. Republicans have set aside their demand to roll back spending to 2022 levels, but say that next years government spending must be less than it is now. But the White House instead offered to freeze spending at current 2023 numbers. By sparing defence and some veterans accounts from reductions, the Republicans would shift the bulk of spending reductions to other federal programs, an approach that breaks a tradition in Congress of budget cap parity. Agreement on that topline spending level is vital. It would enable McCarthy to deliver spending restraints for conservatives while not being so severe that it would chase off the Democratic votes that would be needed in the divided Congress to pass any bill. But what, if anything, Democrats would get if they agreed to deeper spending cuts than Bidens team has proposed is uncertain. McCarthy and his Republican negotiators said what the Democrats get is a debt ceiling increase typically something both parties take responsibility for doing. The problem is not the White House. The problem is Kevin McCarthy and the extreme Republicans, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the chair of the progressive caucus. They are the ones holding this economy hostage, that are putting all these cuts on the American people. The White House has continued to argue that deficits can be reduced by ending tax breaks for wealthier households and some corporations, but McCarthy said he told the president at their February meeting that raising revenue from tax hikes is off the table. The negotiators are now also debating the duration of a 1 per cent cap on annual spending growth going forward, with Republicans dropping their demand for a 10-year cap to six years, but the White House offering only one year, for 2025. Republicans, however, are pushing additional priorities as the negotiators focus on the $100 billion-plus difference between the 2022 and 2023 spending plans as a place to cut. They want to beef up work requirements for government aid to recipients of food stamps, cash assistance and the Medicaid health care program that the Biden administration says would impact millions of people who depend on assistance. All sides have been eyeing the potential for the package to include a framework to ease federal regulations and speed energy project developments. They are all but certain to claw back some $30 billion in unspent COVID-19 funds now that the pandemic emergency has officially been lifted. The White House has countered by keeping defence and nondefense spending flat next year, which would save $90 billion in the 2024 budget year and $1 trillion over 10 years. McCarthy promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting, making any action doubtful until the weekend just days before the potential deadline. The Senate would also have to pass the package before it could go to Bidens desk to be signed. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The European Union should prohibit leveraged bets on crypto assets by imposing rules on investment funds, exchanges, and other enterprises to prevent shocks in that market from jeopardising financial stability elsewhere, according to an EU watchdog on Thursday. The European Systemic Risk Board issued many proposals, ranging from requiring frequent reporting from all companies working with crypto assets to instituting particular guidelines for the largest enterprises in that field. It comes after a rollercoaster 18 months in which the price of bitcoin fell as much as 77 per cent, the cryptocurrency Luna crashed, and exchange FTX went from buying Super Bowl advertisements to declaring bankruptcy. Systemic risks could arise quickly and suddenly, the ESRB said in a report. If the rapid growth trends observed in recent years were to continue, crypto-assets could pose risks to financial stability. In a proposed change from recently passed EU regulation, the ESRB proposed introducing leverage limits for investment funds exposed to crypto-assets. It also called for limiting crypto firms ability to lend tokens to their clients, which is one way of making leveraged bets, and for setting higher collateral requirements for distributed finance products and stablecoins. The ESRBs recommendations are not binding but they are likely to inform the EUs future work on new versions of its markets in cryptoassets regulation (MiCA). Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Amid the political crisis in Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government has decided to add names of former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and around 80 members of his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on a no-fly list, according to reports. Among those included in the no-fly list and barred from travelling abroad include Murad Saeed, Maleeka Bukhari, Fawad Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar, Qasim Suri, Asad Qaiser, Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Mian Aslam among others, Samaa TV reported. The names were put in the list on the recommendation of the institutions concerned. This was done after the police department, National Accountability Bureau and the anti-corruption department requested the Ministry of Interior to include these names to the no-fly list. The May 9 violent protests in Pakistan after the arrest of Imran Khan have triggered mass exodus of leaders from the former ruling party. Imran Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case. During the protests, the unruly supporters and workers of PTI reportedly stormed and torched state installations across the country. The violent protests, which went on for nearly three days, claimed the lives of at least eight people and injured dozens of others, forcing the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government to suspend internet services and deploying army troops to maintain law and order situation, Geo News reported. (With inputs from agencies) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Islamabad: Pakistans government has barred former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife along with at least 80 people from leaving the country, a media report said on Thursday. Khan and several top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party are facing cases following the violence after he was arrested on May 9 in a corruption case. The federal government has decided to add the names of 80 people, including PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, to the no-fly list, the Samaa News channel reported. However, there was no official confirmation on the development from Khans party. In addition to Khan and Bushra, those included in the no-fly list and barred from travelling abroad include PTI leaders Murad Saeed, Maleeka Bukhari, Fawad Chaudhry and Hammad Azhar, Qasim Suri, Asad Qaiser, Yasmin Rashid and Mian Aslam, the channel said. Fawad Chaudhry has already quit the party but his name has been listed among those who cannot fly out of Pakistan. The names of all the PTI leaders were put in the list on the recommendation of the institutions concerned, the news channel reported. It said that the police department, National Accountability Bureau and the anti-corruption department had requested the Ministry of Interior to include these names to the no-fly list. The no-fly list is maintained by the Ministry of Interior and officials deployed at airports or other land exit routes are provided the names of individuals who cannot go out. Pakistan authorities maintain different categories of people who are banned from leaving the country for various reasons, including those who face corruption cases. But these lists had been used in the past by the governments to muzzle the opposition. When Khan was the prime minister, names of several high-profile personalities, including PML-N leader and current prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, were put on the no-fly list. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. According to reports on Tuesday, the prices of iPhones in Russia have experienced a significant decline of six to ten per cent at major retail chains. This drop in prices is attributed to an excess supply of Apple products through parallel imports, leading to a saturated market. News outlet Izvestia has revealed that the prices of certain smartphone models have decreased by up to 10 per cent. The surplus of iPhones in the market has compelled retailers to lower prices in order to manage the overstocking situation. This surplus has been fueled by numerous suppliers utilizing parallel import schemes, resulting in intensified competition. In fact, iPhones in Russia, are now at least 10-15 per cent cheaper than anywhere in the EU. Its worth noting that this price reduction doesnt solely apply to iPhones but extends to other Apple products as well. These products are officially categorized as unavailable for purchase or delivery in Russia by Apple. Apple exiting the Russian market Last March, Apple halted the direct sale of iPhones and other products in Russia, aligning with the trend of Western brands withdrawing from the market due to sanctions related to the situation in Ukraine. In order to meet the demand for Apples gadgets that are no longer officially available in Russia due to sanctions and limited supply, Russian retailers have resorted to parallel imports. Parallel imports involve the procurement of genuine products from other countries through alternative supply channels, without the explicit permission of the intellectual property owner. This practice has been legalized in Russia to address the absence of goods that Western companies have ceased delivering or producing in the country as a result of sanctions. By allowing parallel imports, Russia aims to ensure that its market still has access to these popular gadgets despite the restrictions imposed by Western companies. What are parallel imports? To mitigate the impact of punitive sanctions imposed by the US and the EU, due to the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow has implemented a parallel imports scheme to enable Russian consumers to continue accessing various foreign products. Under this mechanism, Russian companies are permitted to purchase goods from any company outside of Russia, including the country of origin, as long as the purchase is conducted legally. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has expanded the list of products covered by parallel imports. It now includes luxury brands such as Lancome, Giorgio Armani, and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as domestic goods brands like Wahl and Zanussi. Additionally, Japans Nintendo, motor oil brands, and agricultural equipment manufacturers have been added to the list. Do companies have any control over their supply chains? Despite top brands withdrawing from the Russian market, many of their products remain available due to the consolidation and expansion of parallel import mechanisms in the past year. This highlights the challenges faced by companies in controlling their supply chains when exiting a market. But is that the only option they have, if they really want their products not to be used in Russia? Or North Korea for that matter. Of course not. Tech products, especially network-related products can be geo-locked, i.e. locked up in a way that some of its core functionalities are not available in certain areas. Russian carriers can easily be rendered incompatible with smartphones and iPhones, should their manufacturers want to do so. Yes, there are ways to move around these restrictions, but implementing them on a large scale, certainly isnt a piece of cake. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kurds who oppose President Tayyip Erdogan worry that a win for him in Turkeys presidential election will deepen the states years-long onslaught on them, and they are worried by a spike in nationalist rhetoric ahead of Sundays vote. Kurds, who make up around one-fifth of Turkeys population, have been considered as potentially critical to the oppositions aspirations of ending Erdogans 20-year reign, during which he courted but then harshly repressed Kurdish organisations. However, Erdogan has the momentum heading into Sundays vote after the first round handed him a lead over the oppositions Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who trailed despite the support of six parties and the endorsement of the pro-Kurdish HDP party. For some Kurdish voters, the stakes couldnt be higher as Erdogan dials up his nationalist tone in a bid to win more votes ahead of the runoff. Voting is a matter of life and death now. Erdogan hardened his stance on Kurds during the election campaign, said Ardelan Mese, 26, a cafe owner in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir in the southeast who is urging his friends to vote. I cant imagine what he will be capable of after declaring victory. The HDP won 61 per cent support in Diyarbakir in the May 14 parliamentary election, while Erdogans AKP got 23 per cent. Nationwide, HDP support was 8.9 per cent. The issue of HDP support for Kilicdaroglu has this week been complicated by his deal with an anti-immigrant party that HDP said was against universal democratic principles. The HDP was expected to issue a statement on the issue on Thursday. In his early years in power, Erdogan expanded political and cultural rights for Kurds, a stateless group scattered between Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq. He removed restrictions on using the Kurdish language and oversaw a peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which took up arms against the state in 1984 and is viewed as a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies. But after a ceasefire collapsed in 2015, he changed course, with the authorities waging a crackdown that led to the arrest of thousands of HDP members, typically on charges of militancy, with many of its lawmakers and mayors unseated and jailed. Seizing on the HDPs support for Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan has repeatedly accused the opposition of siding with terrorism. The HDP denies accusations of militant ties. Erdogan also repeatedly drew attention to a doctored video to accuse Kilicdaroglu of ties to the PKK, which has been waging an insurgency in which more than 40,000 people have been killed. Kilicdaroglu called the accusation slanderous. But Erdogans stance has won the endorsement of Sinan Ogan, a hardline nationalist who came third in the first round. Ogan has said the endorsement was based on a principle of non-stop struggle (against) terrorism, referring to pro-Kurdish groups. Black propaganda The sloganeering marks an effort to tap deep-running nationalist sentiment a powerful force in Turkish politics which has been hardened by factors including years of hostilities with Kurdish militants and the influx of millions of refugees from Syria since war began there in 2011. Critics say Kilicdaroglu has also struck a more nationalist tone since a disappointing first round, vowing to repatriate all refugees. Turkey hosts some 5 million migrants, of whom 3.4 million are Syrians, according to Interior Ministry data. He has also noted Erdogan sat at the table with terrorist organisations a reference to the failed peace process. Tayip Temel, a senior HDP official, expressed fear that Erdogan had achieved his desired goal through black propaganda alleging links between Kilicdaroglu and terrorists. Erdogans victory will consolidate one-man rule and pave the way for horrible practices, bringing completely dark days for all parts of society, Temel, HDP deputy co-chair, said. He also noted Kilicdaroglus switch to a more nationalistic discourse which he said could cost him some Kurdish support. Reha Ruhavioglu, director of the Diyarbakir-based Kurdish Studies Center, believes many Kurdish voters have lost the will to vote ahead of the runoff, blaming the shift in the tone adopted by Kilicdaroglu. Demotivation stems from the CHPs political discourse which shifted from reconciliation to security politics. The HDP should motivate its base by saying, If Kilicdaroglu loses, we lose too, he said. The HDP contested the elections under another partys banner due to a court case threatening to ban it for alleged links to Kurdish militants, which it denies. Critics fear a statement by Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu on Sunday accusing a group of Kurdish lawyers of PKK links could be a sign of a new crackdown ahead. Nahit Eren, head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, told Reuters the statements could prompt the authorities to open a new terrorism investigation. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Charlotte Von Schedvin and PK Mahanandia fell in love at first sight. Schedvin, 19, made an exquisite journey from Sweden to India after hearing about Mahanandias art. The journey took 22 days, crossing Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan- to reach India from Sweden, to get a portrait made by the artist. In 1975, the duo first met on a winter evening in Delhi. Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia, an art student at Delhis College of Art, was a small but brilliant figure. He was just making the grade as an artist. But he enjoyed a good reputation as a sketch artist in the local press. As reported by BBC, Schedvin was intrigued by his promise to make a portrait in 10 minutes. Several newspapers wrote about his art in the 1970s. He also painted portraits of politicians, including BD Jatti, the then acting Indian president. As luck would have it, they both fell for each other. While Mahanandia appreciated her beauty, Schedvin fell for his simplicity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by PK Mahanandia (@pkmahanandia) It was an inner voice that said to me that she was the one. During our first meeting we were drawn to each other like magnets. It was love at first sight, Mahanandia told BBC. The two soon exchanged vows but Charlotte had to return to Sweden and unfortunately, Pradyumna could not accompany her. They kept in touch through letters for more than a year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by PK Mahanandia (@pkmahanandia) The budding love story An epic bicycle journey from India to Europe followed. In January 1977, the artist made a major decision. He decided to sell all of his belongings, buy a bicycle and take a journey from India to Sweden. Mahanandia told BBC, Art came to my rescue. I made portraits of people and some gave me money, while others gave me food and shelter. He added, I think love is the universal language and people understand that. It took him 4 months and 3 weeks, for which he cycled around 70 km (44 miles) every day. As fate had it, he was reunited with his love. It took several cultural shocks and a great deal of effort to impress Schedvins parents before the two got officially married in Sweden. The artist continues to live in Sweden with his wife Charlotte and their two children. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A long-lost book finally found its way back to the St. Helena Public Library in the United States recently after believe it or not almost a century. Ninety-six years later, a long-overdue book, accompanied by a captivating caption was returned to the library. An Instagram post on the incident shared intriguing images of the long-overdue book, accompanied by a caption that read, Prepare to be amazed! 96 years ago, this book was borrowed from our library. Its a testament to the timeless value of returning library books. The returned book called, A History of the United States by Benson Lossing, arrived with a rich legacy, adding an unexpected chapter to its remarkable journey. The narrative unfolds in 1927 when an individual borrowed the book on a chilly February day. Decades passed, and generations came and went, yet the borrowed book remained missing from the librarys shelves. It wasnt until the year 2023 almost a century later that the unexpected return of the book occurred. One look at the book reveals that it has weathered and aged, and has all the marks of time which only added to its allure. The St. Helena Public Library now proudly displays the returned book, creating a special exhibit to commemorate this unforgettable event. As visitors arrive, they are reminded of the power of literature, the importance of returning borrowed items, and the everlasting connection between the past and present and between the old and the new. A host of reactions flooded social media about the remarkable incident. From admiration for the act of finally returning a book long overdue to humorous observations about the books age, the comments revealed a genuine appreciation for the individual who took the initiative. One Instagram user captured the sentiment perfectly, writing, This is truly amazing. Yes, the book may not be in the best shape, but what matters is that it was RETURNED, and thats something truly special in this day and age! Aw, man and it was a new release too, read another comment. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The New York State Assembly intends to pass legislation to observe Diwali and the Lunar New Year as federal holidays, bringing to fruition yearslong efforts by lawmakers and members of the diaspora in making festivals formal holidays in the state. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement on Wednesday that it is important to recognise New Yorks rich and diverse culture. Therefore, it is the intention of the Assembly to pass legislation to observe Lunar New Year and Diwali as holidays in New York State before the close of our legislative session. We will continue discussions with stakeholders as to how this affects the school year calendar, he said. Congresswoman Grace Meng, representing New Yorks 6th Congressional District parts of West, Central and Northeast Queens, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, will on Friday announce the legislation that would make Diwali a federal holiday. Under the Congresswomans Diwali Day Act, Diwali would become the 12th federally recognised holiday in the United States, a statement from her office said. Establishing a federal holiday for Diwali, and the day off it would allow families and friends to celebrate together, and demonstrate that the government values the diverse cultural makeup of the nation, it added. Joining Meng for the announcement will be Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and State Senator Joe Addabbo, sponsors of the New York State bill that seeks to allow the designation of Diwali as a school holiday in New York City; Councilman Shekar Krishnan, the first Indian American member of the New York City Council; and Councilwoman Linda Lee who recently passed a resolution in the City Council supporting a New York City school holiday for Diwali. I am thrilled to learn that the Assembly will vote on the legislation that seeks to observe Lunar New Year and Diwali as holidays in New York State. I was proud to champion these issues when I served in the State Legislature where I led the bill for Lunar New Year. I worked to make Lunar New Year a school holiday in New York City, and I have long called for the same to be done for Diwali, she said. Meng added that holidays should recognise and reflect the great diversity of our communities, and I look forward to these bills moving through the State Assembly. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Googles former CEO, Eric Schmidt, has issued a warning that democratic elections are vulnerable to AI interference. Schmidt, who led the tech giant for ten years, expressed concern that during election campaigns, fake images and videos of politicians would likely flood the internet. This proliferation of AI-generated misinformation will make it difficult for the public to discern what is true, leading to confusion and potential manipulation. During an interview with Andrew Marr on LBC, Schmidt emphasized that the UK and US were clearly leading the AI race and stressed the importance of determining what is deemed acceptable in a democracy regarding AI regulation. Schmidts remarks come as ministers are preparing measures to safeguard future general elections from AI manipulation, particularly in relation to deep fake technology, which could be exploited by hostile entities. Notably, Schmidt is the second former executive from Google, which has been accused of engaging in an AI arms race with Microsoft, to highlight the risks associated with this technology. Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, a renowned British scientist known as the Godfather of AI, recently left his position at Google to raise awareness about the potential dangers AI could pose to humanity. Schmidt, who served as Googles chief executive from 2001 to 2011 and later as executive chairman, expressed deep concerns about the impact of AI, stating that democratic elections are not immune to its interference. He described the ability of AI to deceive people as horrific and emphasized the widespread use of generative AI to create false images and videos that could cause public confusion. Schmidt stressed the urgent need for solutions to authenticate content, as distinguishing between authentic and manipulated media is currently challenging. As the UK and US lead the global AI landscape, Schmidt emphasized the necessity of establishing guidelines for AI in a democratic context. Schmidts warning underscores the importance of addressing the potential misuse of AI technology and ensuring its responsible deployment within democratic processes. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A noodle shop in Taiwans Taipei has begun topping up bowls of noodles with huge isopods, a 14-legged deep-sea creature, and pictures of the startling dish are going viral on social media all across the globe. Ramen Boy Noodle Bar, the restaurant which has started serving this exotic dish, is located in Taipeis Zhongshan district. The restaurant enthusiastically announced the limited-edition dish in a post on its official Facebook page, noting first that it had finally gotten this dream ingredient! The enormous isopod is known as the big king pods. According to a South China Morning Post report, the 14-legged goliaths are normally found 500 metres (1,640 feet) or more below the oceans surface, and the specimens sourced by The Ramen Boy were fished from the waters surrounding Dongsha Islands, southwest of Kaohsiung City. They are crustaceans that are distantly related to woodlice and can reach more than 30 centimetres (12 inches) from head to tail. Explaining the manner of eating it with a description of the taste, the noodle bar wrote, Its simple to handle, remove the intestines of the stomach sac; the glands can be kept for food. This time it is steamed. The white meat part tastes like lobster and crab. The yellow glands taste like crab cream. The overall taste is unexpectedly sweet! The taste is more pink and loose. Although not as solid as lobster and crab chewing, it is also super worth eating to understand your life achievements! It remains unclear whether introducing the exotic isopods have managed to boost sales of the noodle bar or is just a publicity gimmick which has taken social media by storm. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Khadija Shah, eminent fashion designer and granddaughter of Pakistans former Chief of Army Staff Gen (retd) Asif Nawaz Janjua, was arrested as a key investigator in the attack on Jinnah House, following ex-PM Imran Khans arrest on 9 May. Jinnah House is currently used as the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander. The Punjab police said Khadija, daughter of countrys former finance minister Salman Shah and ardent supporter of Imrans party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was the prime suspect in the attack in Lahore Corps House. A report by Express News said that Khadija turned herself in at the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Iqbal Town police station on Tuesday. Her husband and other family members have already been arrested. PTI leaders and supporters stormed the premises of Corps Commander House and set it ablaze on May 9 following the arrest of Imran Khan in charges of corruption in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. Pakistan Army displays its power by arresting a woman designer, who is the granddaughter of a former army chief. Irony is Army has made her main accused in the burning down of the house of an army general during protest! pic.twitter.com/VrCnzvAJ7N Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) May 24, 2023 The arrest comes mere days after an audio clip of Khadija went viral on social media where she was heard explaining the immense hardship her family has faced over the past few days. She admitted that she was a supporter of PTI and was also part of protests outside the Lahore Corps Commander's House, but denied committing any wrongdoing and inciting people to people. 'Last 5 days remained very tough for me' In a voice note released on Sunday, Khadija said the cops invaded her house during midnight and abducted her father, brother, and husband. She further alleged that her domestic workers were also subjected to torture. Khadija said she admitted her mistake and was going to surrender to the police. She accepted that she had made "inappropriate" tweets against the military leadership in rage and emotion, but later they were deleted. I am going to surrender to the police. I have taken this decision because the last five days remained very tough for me, she said. Khadija clarified that she believes in democracy and the Constitution, despite the charges levied against her. Before her surrender, police claimed to have unsuccessfully raided two houses in Gulberg and one in Bahria Town to apprehend Khadija. It was claimed that she had left her residence donning a burqa an hour before the police arrived and was using a friend's mobile phone for communication. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The South Korean and American forces were poised to conduct large live-fire drills near the North Korean border on Thursday, despite the Norths warning that such a hostile invasion rehearsal on its doorstep will not be tolerated. Thursdays drills, the first of five rounds of shooting exercises between the allies until mid-June, commemorate the 70th anniversary of the formation of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea has historically responded to big South Korean-US drills with missile and other weapons tests. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles but none since it fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. North Korea has argued its torrid pace of tests was meant to respond to the expanded military drills between the US and South Korea, but observers say the North aims to advance its weapons development and then wrest greater concessions from its rivals in eventual diplomacy. The US-South Korean firing exercises, called the combined annihilation firepower drills, would be the biggest of their kind. The drills have been held 11 times since they began in 1977, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. Ministry officials said this years drills are to involve advanced stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters, tanks and multiple rocket launch systems from South Korea and the United States. It wasnt immediately known how many troops would take part in the drills, but previous exercises in 2017 the most recent ones before this year drew about 2,000 soldiers and 250 weapons assets from both countries. An earlier Defense Ministry statement said the drills are meant to enhance the allies combined operational performance capabilities. It said South Korea and the United States will seek to establish the overwhelming deterrence and response capabilities to cope with North Korean nuclear and missile threats. Last Friday, North Koreas state media called the drills a typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal. It said North Korea cannot but take a more serious note of the fact that the drills would be held in an area a few kilometres (miles) from its frontier. KCNA said the US and South Korea will face unspecified corresponding responses over their series of large-scale, provocative drills. Earlier this year, the South Korean and US militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in five years. The US also sent the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bombers for joint exercises with South Korea. Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said North Korea could use the South Korea-US drills as a pretext to resume testing activities to attain its stated goal of modernizing its weapons arsenals. He said domestic issues such as North Koreas push to increase agricultural production amid the rice-planting season could still affect its decision on weapons tests. North Korea cant help feel some burdens over the South Korea-US joint firepower drills being held for the first time in six years and in the strongest manner, Moon said. He said North Korea may test a solid-propellant ICBM, a submarine-launched ballistic missile or short-range ballistic weapons. In their summit last month, US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced steps to reinforce their deterrence capabilities such as the periodic docking of US nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea; bolstering joint training exercises; and the establishment of a new nuclear consultative group. Biden also issued a blunt warning that any North Korean nuclear attack on the US or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, later said the Biden-Yoon summit agreement revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further bolster her countrys escalatory nuclear doctrine, saying The pipe dream of the US and South Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength. Worries about North Koreas nuclear program grew after the North last year legislated a law that authorizes the preemptive use of nuclear weapons. Many foreign experts say North Korea has yet to possess functioning nuclear missiles. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. State-sponsored Chinese hackers have hacked crucial US infrastructure networks, the US, its Western allies, and Microsoft announced on Wednesday, warning that similar espionage strikes might occur internationally. Microsoft singled out Guam, a US island in the Pacific Ocean with an important military installation, as one of the targets, but added that malicious activity had been discovered elsewhere in the US. The stealthy attack, carried out by a China-sponsored actor called Volt Typhoon since mid-2021, facilitated long-term spying and was likely targeted at hindering the US if there was violence in the region, according to the report. Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises, the statement said. In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. Microsofts statement coincided with an advisory released by US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and UK authorities. They said a state-sponsored cyber actor from China was behind Volt Typhoon and that the hacking was likely occurring globally. This activity affects networks across US critical infrastructure sectors, and the authoring agencies believe the actor could apply the same techniques against these and other sectors worldwide, the advisory said. Living off the land The US and its partners claimed the actions constituted living off the land strategies that use built-in network capabilities to blend in with standard Windows PCs. It cautioned that the attack may potentially include benign lawful system management instructions. Volt Typhoon, according to Microsoft, attempted to blend into regular network activity by routing traffic through the infected small office and home office network equipment, such as routers, firewalls, and VPN devices. They have also been observed using custom versions of open-source tools, Microsoft said. Microsoft and the security agencies released guidelines for organisations to try and detect and counter the hacking. Its what I would term a low and slow cyber activity, said Alastair McGibbon, chief strategy officer at Australias CyberCX and a former head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre. This is someone wearing a camouflage vest and carrying a sniper rifle. You dont see them, theyre not there, he told AFP. When you think about something that can really cause catastrophic harm, it is someone with intent who takes time to get into systems. Once inside, the cyber attackers can steal information, he said. But it also gives you the ability to carry out destructive acts at a later stage. Highly sophisticated While China and Russia have long targeted critical infrastructure, Volt Typhoon offered new insights into Chinese hacking, according to John Hultquist, the chief analyst at US cybersecurity company Mandiant. Chinese cyber threat actors are unique among their peers in that they have not regularly resorted to destructive and disruptive cyber attacks, he said. As a result, their capability is quite opaque. This disclosure is a rare opportunity to investigate and prepare for this threat. The director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, also released a warning related to Volt Typhoon. For years, China has conducted operations worldwide to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from critical infrastructure organizations around the globe, Easterly said. Todays advisory, put out in conjunction with our US and international partners, reflects how China is using highly sophisticated means to target our nations critical infrastructure. This joint advisory will give network defenders more insights into how to detect and mitigate this malicious activity. China offered no immediate response to the allegations. But it routinely denies carrying out state-sponsored cyber attacks. China in turn regularly accuses the United States of cyber espionage. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Sudans warring parties accused each other on Thursday of violating the latest truce, which is now in its third day and was arranged by the US and Saudi Arabia. The one-week truce was broken just minutes after it went into force on Monday night, with residents of Khartoum reporting air strikes and artillery fire. The ceasefire deal has now been violated, preventing much-needed humanitarian help from reaching war-torn areas of the northeast African country. It is the latest in a long line of truces that have all been routinely broken. Since 15 April, Sudans capital and other parts of the country have been gripped by brutal urban warfare between the regular army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). But though the current ceasefire has been violated, it has allowed for a lull in fighting that has seen frightened residents cautiously venture out of their homes, some for the first time in weeks. Many have gone out for supplies of food and water or to seek much-needed medical attention after nearly six weeks of war that have sharply depleted vital supplies and pushed the healthcare system to the brink of collapse. In a statement issued late Wednesday, the RSF, which is led by Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, sought to place the blame for ceasefire breaches on the army led by Sudans de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The army launched a series of unwarranted attacks today, the RSF said, adding that our forces decisively repelled these assaults. Our forces successfully shot down a SAF MiG jet fighter, it said, reiterating however that it remained committed to the humanitarian truce and called on the aggressors to respect the ceasefire. The army responded Thursday morning, saying it had countered an attack on armoured vehicles by the militias of the Rapid Support Forces in a clear violation of the truce. The United States and Saudi Arabia, which brokered the ceasefire, on Wednesday, pointed to reports indicating that both sides violated the agreement but said, fighting in Khartoum appeared to be less intense. But desperately needed aid has yet to reach the capital despite the brief lull. Representatives of the warring Sudanese generals have since early May been involved in negotiations in the Saudi city of Jeddah on the Red Sea. The conflict has so far killed over 1,800 people, according to the latest figures from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. More than a million Sudanese people have been displaced, including 300,000 who have fled to safety in neighbouring countries, according to the United Nations. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. London: Armed police arrested one man after a car crashed into the gates of the UK prime ministers Downing Street office and residence in central London on Thursday, Scotland Yard said. At around 16:20 (1520 GMT) a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, police said in a statement. No injuries were reported and police added that enquiries were ongoing. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was reported by British media to have been in the building when the incident occurred, and left soon after. Video footage of the incident showed a silver car driving at low speed across Whitehall, where many government ministries are located, having emerged from a pull-in area in front of the Ministry of Defence car park, opposite Downing Street. It appeared to then mount the footpath and came to a halt after hitting the large metal gates that guard the entrance to Downing Street. Other footage showed a police cordon surrounding the car, which appeared to be a Kia, with its boot open. Simon Parry, 44, said: I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with taser guns shouting at the man. A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area. He added: There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad. Dean Parker, 36, told AFP the driver didnt look distressed. He looked like he must have had some sort of episode or something. Parker, part of a protest on the opposite side of the street, said the car was not driving fast. It doesnt look like he tried to ram the gates off It was a pretty slow impact. The police dealt with it pretty professionally and promptly. Downing Street is a short walk from the Houses of Parliament, and the area has a high security presence with barriers on the footpath and in front of government buildings following previous incidents. A man drove a car into pedestrians on the pavement close to parliament in 2017, killing four people. He then crashed the car into the fence surrounding parliament and ran into the grounds, where he fatally stabbed a police officer. He was shot dead by an armed police officer. Large gates were put up at the entrance to Downing Street in 1989 as a result of IRA bomb attacks in London, and the group launched three homemade mortar shells at the prime ministers residence in 1991. The gates are the first line of security, with armed police stationed at the entrance. Official cars entering the street normally have to be checked before strengthened bollards are lowered to allow them through. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Russias Wagner mercenary group chief said that he has lost 20,000 fighters in the in the battle for Bakhmut. The figures stood in stark contrast to Moscows widely disputed claims that just over 6,000 of its troops were killed throughout the war as of January. By comparison, official Soviet troop losses in the 1979-89 Afghanistan war were 15,000. Yevgeny Prigozhin said about half of those who died in the eastern Ukrainian city were Russian convicts recruited for the 15-month-old war. Ukraine hasnt said how many of its soldiers have died since Russias full-scale invasion began in February 2022. White House officials said Wednesday that Prigozhins comments were in line with their own estimates that Russian losses have accelerated. The White House estimated this month that Russian forces had suffered 100,000 casualties, including 20,000 killed in the fighting, since December. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said then that about half of those killed were Wagner forces. Analysts believe many of those killed in the nine-month fight for Bakhmut were Russian convicts with little military training. Prigozhin himself a former convict has frequently criticized Russian military officials for not supplying his troops with enough ammunition. He also has questioned their tactics, commitment and leadership capabilities, and complained they havent sufficiently credited his forces for battlefield successes. Hes highlighted his forces sacrifices, and on Saturday touted what he claimed was the capture of the city of Bakhmut. In an interview published late Tuesday with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Kremlin political strategist, Prigozhin went even further in his criticism questioning some of Russian President Vladimir Putins rationale for the war. Prigozhin said Russias goal of demilitarizing Ukraine has backfired because Kyivs military has become stronger with Western weapons and training. In invading Ukraine, Putin also cited the need to increase Russias security and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Since the war began, Ukraine has applied to join NATO, and cross-border attacks into Russia itself have increased. In Washington, Kirby speculated Wednesday on Prigozhins motives. And its possible that this could be a sort of morbid way of him claiming credit for whatever theyve been able to achieve in Bakhmut, but also trying to publicly embarrass the Ministry of Defence further that the cost was borne in blood and treasure by Wagner, and not by the Russian military. In the interview, Prigozhin also challenged Moscows vehement denials that Russian forces had killed civilians. In what it says is likely a low estimate, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says that from February 2022 until early April 2023, it recorded 22,734 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 8,490 killed and 14,244 injured. Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman with longtime links to Putin, is known for his bluster often spiced with obscenities and has previously made unverifiable claims from which he later backtracked. Earlier this month, his media team published a video of him shouting, swearing and pointing at about 30 uniformed bodies on the ground, saying they were Wagner fighters who died in a single day. He claimed the Russian Defense Ministry had starved his men of ammunition, and he threatened to give up the fight for Bakhmut. Prigozhin has frequently warned of a counteroffensive that Ukrainian officials have said theyre planning, and in Tuesdays interview, he said that, given continued Western support, Kyivs forces might succeed in pushing Russian troops out of all territory they occupy in southern and eastern Ukraine, as well as annexed Crimea. A pessimistic scenario: the Ukrainians are given missiles, they prepare troops, of course, they will continue their offensive, try to counterattack, he said. They will attack Crimea, they will try to blow up the Crimean bridge (to the Russian mainland), cut off (our) supply lines. Therefore we need to prepare for a hard war. Prigozhins admission of heavy losses appears to show the impact of Ukraines strategy. Ukrainian officials have said their goal in Bakhmut was to exhaust and deplete Russian forces, distract them from protecting territory they occupy elsewhere, and buy time for more Western weapons and ammunition supplies to arrive, and for training to be completed. Russias largest state-run and pro-Kremlin media did not report Prigozhins interview, posted in a Telegram channel with only 50,000 followers, making it unlikely to be widely seen in Russia. Nor did Russian military bloggers, whose popular Telegram pages are important sources of information about the war to many Russians, mention it. On the battlefield, the Ukrainian General Staff said Wednesday that heavy fighting was continuing inside Bakhmut, days after Russia claimed it had completely captured the devastated city. Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four Russia illegally annexed last fall and only partially controls. The head of Ukraines ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Kyivs forces are continuing their defensive operation in Bakhmut, with unspecified successes on its outskirts. He didnt elaborate. A Ukrainian commander in Bakhmut told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Ukrainians planned to trap the Russians. Now we dont need to fight in Bakhmut. We need to surround it from flanks and block it, Yevhen Mezhevikin said. Then we should sweep it. This is more appropriate, and thats what we are doing now. Elsewhere, more attacks continued in a border region that Russian officials had claimed had calmed down after one of the most serious incursions since the war began. Russian forces shot down a large number of drones in Russias southern Belgorod region, a local official said Wednesday, a day after Moscow announced that its forces crushed a cross-border raid from Ukraine. The drones were intercepted overnight, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, and another was shot down Wednesday just outside the regional capital, also called Belgorod. He said no one had been hurt, but the property had been damaged. Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. In Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu vowed to respond promptly and extremely harshly to such attacks. Details of the incident in the rural region, about 80 kilometres (45 miles) north of the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine and far from the wars front lines, are unclear. Moscow blamed the incursion on Ukrainian military saboteurs. Kyiv described it as an uprising against the Kremlin by Russian partisans. It was impossible to reconcile the two versions, to say with certainty who was behind the attack or to ascertain its aims. The region is a Russian military hub holding fuel and ammunition depots. The Belgorod region, like the neighbouring Bryansk region and other border areas, has seen sporadic spillover from the war. With inputs from agencies. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The United States approved a $285 million sale of a NASAMS air defence system and accompanying equipment to Ukraine on Wednesday, as Kyiv looks to strengthen its defences against Russian strikes. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency issued a statement saying that Ukraine urgently needs to improve its ability to fight against missile and aircraft attacks from Russia. Acquiring and effectively deploying this capability will enhance Ukraines ability to defend its people and protect critical national infrastructure. The agency also stated that the sale will help the US achieve its foreign policy and national security goals by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The sale would not require any additional US government employees or contractors to be assigned to Ukraine, the statement added. The State Department approved the sale, and the DSCA on Wednesday provided the required notification to Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transaction. Countries including the United States that are supporting Ukraine in its battle against invading Russian forces have donated tens of billions of dollars of military equipment to Kyiv, but this transfer would be a sale. Ukraines air defences have played a key role in protecting the country from strikes and preventing Moscows forces from gaining control of the skies. When Russia invaded in February 2022, Ukraines air defences largely consisted of Soviet-era planes and batteries. They have since been significantly augmented by Kyivs international supporters, who have donated a series of systems including NASAMS. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. During his visit to the United States, Chinas Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will meet with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, his ministry stated on Thursday. Wang and Raimondo will meet on Thursday, according to Shu Jueting, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Commerce Ministry, at a routine briefing in Beijing. According to Reuters, the meeting will take place in Washington, making it the first cabinet-level encounter in the US capital between American and Chinese officials from the Biden administration. Wang is in the United States for the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which will be held in Detroit from Thursday to Friday, where he will meet Tai. The Chinese side will exchange views on China-US relations and issues of common concern, Shu said. On Monday, Wang met representatives of American firms in Shanghai, including Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Dow, Merck, and Honeywell, according to the Ministry of Commerce, telling them that China will continue to welcome US-funded enterprises to develop in China and achieve win-win results. China on Sunday declared US chip manufacturer Micron a national security risk, banning the firm from selling its memory chips to key domestic industries. The ban followed a series of raids on American consultancies operating in China. Wangs trip to the US comes after Group of Seven (G7) leaders met in Hiroshima, at which US President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders took aim at China over economic coercion and said they would de-risk without decoupling from the worlds second-largest economy in everything from chips to minerals. China hopes the G7 will not abuse trade and investment restrictions while saying that they will not seek to decouple from the country, Shu said. Wang this month met US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns in Beijing, amid speculation about a visit from top US officials after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a trip in February after the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon that flew over sensitive military sites. Raimondo and Blinken, as well as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, have all expressed interest in visiting China. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. China and the US have been going at each other in the tech space for quite some time now. Now, a misinformation war between the two countries has reached an all-time high, with both of them accusing the other of trying to sabotage their national infrastructure. Microsoft has warned that Chinese state-sponsored hackers have compromised critical US cyberinfrastructure across numerous industries with a focus on gathering intelligence. The Chinese hacking group, codenamed Volt Typhoon, has operated since mid-2021 and is apparently working to disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia, Microsoft said, to stymie efforts during future crises. The attack is apparently ongoing. In an advisory, Microsoft urged impacted customers to close or change credentials for all compromised accounts. Microsoft and NSA warn against China The National Security Agency put out a bulletin on Wednesday detailing how the hack works and how cybersecurity teams should respond. US intelligence agencies became aware of the incursion in February, around the same time that a Chinese spy balloon was downed, the New York Times reported. The infiltration was focused on communications infrastructure in Guam and other parts of the US, the Times reported, and was particularly alarming to US intelligence because Guam sits at the heart of an American military response in case of a Taiwanese invasion. Chinas Digital Spear Volt Typhoon Volt Typhoon is able to infiltrate organizations using an unnamed vulnerability in a popular cybersecurity suite called FortiGuard, Microsoft said. Once the hacking group has gained access to a corporate system, it steals user credentials from the security suite and uses them to try to gain access to other corporate systems. According to Microsoft, the state-sponsored hackers arent looking to create disruption yet. Rather, the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible. Infrastructure in nearly every critical sector has been impacted, including the communications, transport, and maritime industries. Government organizations were also targeted. Chinese government-backed hackers have targeted critical and sensitive information from US companies before. Covington and Burling, a prominent law firm, was hacked by suspected Chinese state-sponsored hackers in 2020. In a joint statement with international and domestic intelligence services, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned that Chinese attacks pose a continued risk to American intellectual property. For years, China has conducted aggressive cyber operations to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from organizations around the globe, CISA director Jen Easterly said in a statement. Chinese hacker, living off the land, infecting the same In another statement, Rob Joyce, cyber security director of the US National Security Agency, said: A PRC state-sponsored actor is living off the land, using built-in network tools to evade our defences and leaving no trace behind. That makes it imperative for us to work together to find and remove the actor from our critical networks. For those who are unaware, Living off the land means a cyber attack that uses legitimate, preinstalled tools and programmes, to carry out a hack, making it far more difficult to detect than traditional malware attacks that work off of already infected files being downloaded by the victim. China reponds to accusations of hacking US infrastructure On their part, the Chinese not only denied the allegations but also made an accusation of their own, claiming that the United States and its allied nations were actively involved in a disinformation campaign. This accusation came shortly after Washington, along with its European partners and Microsoft, made statements against that China, claiming the vulnerabilities in their systems were because of Chinese hackers, sponsored by the state. A spokeswoman for Chinas Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning criticized the report, dismissing it as highly unprofessional and lacking a coherent chain of evidence, referring to it as mere cut-and-paste work. Mao further characterized these allegations as part of a collective disinformation campaign orchestrated by the Five Eyes coalition countries, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The claims made by the United States and its allies in the Five Eyes security alliance, consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, echoed the allegations, despite Beijings denial of involvement. Mao asserted that the United States was actively exploring new avenues to disseminate disinformation. However, she argued that no change in tactics could alter the fact that the US remained a dominant force in the realm of hacking activities, referring to it as a hacker empire. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Humans have the tendency to forget things. We often forget things when we are getting late or are just irresponsible. But this time an employee left something important that could delay the restart of the worlds biggest nuclear plant. Several days after Japanese regulators postponed the restart of the worlds biggest nuclear power plant over safety concerns, a careless employee exacerbated the situation. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japans Niigata prefecture is operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Co or Tepco. It claimed that an employee placed a stack of documents on top of a car before driving off and losing them, according to a Bloomberg report. The incident adds to a string of mistakes for the utility and is likely to further erode the regulators confidence in Tepco. After the 2011 Fukushima disaster, lapses in safety and strict regulatory processes have stopped Japan from restarting most of its nuclear reactors. The breach was discovered when a local resident discovered some of the lost papers. The papers found were related to dealing with fires and floods. The company is trying to recover as many as 38 pages of the document. The manager and the employee were given warnings. Tepco claimed that all the staff will follow stringent rules on taking documents and information off-site. Japans Nuclear Regulation Authority, which oversees safety protocols for the countrys remaining 33 reactors, halted the power stations operation last week, saying the utilitys preventative measures were insufficient, reported Bloomberg. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. After teasers, realme today announced that it has signed Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as the companys new brand ambassador ahead of the launch of its realme 11 Pro series in June. The company signed Salman Khan as the brand ambassador for the realme 6 series back in 2020, and signed KL Rahul in 2021. The company has already teased 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP3 SuperZoom Camera with 4x lossless zoom mode, Super Group Portrait and One Take camera features. The new teaser shows the design of the phone, with lychee leather back and a lace-like strip that encircles its camera module and runs straight down to the bottom. We should know more details and the launch date of the phone in the coming weeks. Regarding this, the company said: Get ready to witness #TheNextLeap as the king of Bollywood, the one and only SRK, transforms from reel to real! Brace yourselves for an electrifying journey with our very own Dare To Leap Pioneer! Get ready to experience the power of #realmeXsrk and witness how #SRKDaresToLeap to new heights! "For Fraunhofer, Holger Hanselka is the right person at the right time in the right office. He stands out due to his excellent reputation in research, his profound knowledge of national and international scientific systems, his many years of experience with the transformation and development of research units as well as the management of institutions. In these challenging times of constant change, I am also certain that he will lead Fraunhofer into a successful future with his insight, drive and great enthusiasm, said Hildegard Muller, chair of the senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. She referred to Hanselka's many years of management experience, including at the helm of the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Darmstadt. "As a leader, Holger Hanselka understands how to spur people on to top performance through collaboration. It is precisely this team spirit that will lead Fraunhofer into a successful future. The annual conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was held in Dresden on Thursday and Friday (May 25/26) on the topic of "Political sovereignty through economic competitiveness." At this time, the senate thanked Prof. Neugebauer for his commitment at the helm of Fraunhofer: "As the president of Fraunhofer, Reimund Neugebauer spent more than a decade contributing to Germany as a high-tech location and developing the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft into the world's leading institution for applied research with more than 30,000 employees today, said Hildegard Muller. New research fields such as energy technologies, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and smart farming have been established and expanded. Since Neugebauer took office office, the total budget of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft rose from roughly 1.9 billion euros to around 3 billion euros, and the number of institutes increased from 64 to now 76. "The senate and the entire Fraunhofer family would like to thank him for this achievement, said Hildegard Muller, chair of the senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Hanselka: "Expanding the leading global position of the Fraunhofer institutes" Holger Hanselka, a mechanical engineer born in Oldenburg in 1961, has headed the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) since 2013 and led this back into the ranks of universities of excellence. Among other things, he has been the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Darmstadt and he was a member of the presidential council of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft from 2006 to 2012. "I am honored and delighted by the trust placed in me by the senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The office of Fraunhofer president is one of the most exciting and, at the same time, one of the most challenging in German research. Together with the 30,000 employees, I will do my best to expand Fraunhofer's top position among the world's leading research institutions and to strengthen Fraunhofer's profile, said Holger Hanselka. In an initial statement, Hanselka cited the continuing internationalization of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the development of a modern mission statement as key tasks at the beginning of his term: "We live in a time of massive global changes and challenges. Research must also develop a more demand-oriented, global focus. Externally, this requires innovation, creativity and a cosmopolitan approach. Internally this also requires sound knowledge, modern corporate governance structures, new forms of cooperation and a powerful, shared mission statement that is characterized by trust, said Holger Hanselka. Discussions are currently underway between all parties with the aim of Prof. Hanselka taking up his post as soon as possible. Until then, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will be managed on an interim basis by Dr. Sandra Krey, Executive Vice President for Finance and Controlling. News Brain has natural weapon to fight Alzheimer's, UTMB scientists find Giulio Taglialatela GALVESTON Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch have discovered people with Alzheimers disease who dont also have dementia are protected by autophagy, a natural physiological process that removes toxic proteins from living cells. A paper published this month in Alzheimers & Dementia, the journal of the Alzheimers Association, indicates the brain doesnt have to be a victim to Alzheimers and suggests hope for a therapeutic treatment to help prevent dementia in people who develop the disease. Scientists examined the postmortem brains of patients from the Oregon Brain Bank, all who died between the ages of 90 and 100. Among them, those who hadnt had dementia but whose brains exhibited all the physiological traits of Alzheimers were shown to have reactivated the autophagy process, eliminating toxic proteins that cause cell damage and dementia. Those fortunate individuals are telling us there is a natural way for the human brain to protect itself against dementia, said Giulio Taglialatela, a professor and director of the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases at the medical branch. The question is can we understand how they do it and can we introduce that process into everyone with Alzheimers disease. How do we stimulate autophagy? Taglialatela likens autophagy to a fire in a fireplace that burns brightly, producing energy, then leaving behind discharged matter in the form of ash that eventually is swept away. During their vital activity, cells produce a lot of things that must be eliminated, like the ash in the fireplace, he said. Very often these products are proteins. Some, like the tau protein, become dangerous because instead of being eliminated, they hang around in the cell, disturbing its normal vital activity. The tau protein produces the well-known tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimers. Weve discovered that these junk proteins are capable of blocking the autophagy process; they keep accumulating and eventually lead to the demise of brain cells, Taglialatela said. For the past 10 years, neuroscientists at the medical branch have been studying how to keep the level of toxic protein at bay, culminating in this most recent study. The protective mechanism found in non-dementia Alzheimers patients, preserved autophagy that continues to reduce the tau protein, supports the future potential of autophagy-inducing strategies and therapeutic treatments, some of which Taglialatela hopes to see tested at the medical branchs Brain Health Institute, a new center being created under his direction. Of particular interest are the immunosuppressant agents sirolimus and tacrolimus, drugs used to prevent rejection in organ transplant patients. According to data collected by federal health providers, it appears patients using those drugs are protected from Alzheimers, Taglialatela said. Studies with mice in the medical branchs lab have demonstrated autophagy can be reignited and can eliminate the tau protein with application of these immunosuppressants. Because humans now live longer than they used to, the prevalence of Alzheimers and age-related dementia place enormous strain on elderly people, on their caregivers and on the medical care system at large, amplifying the need for preventive therapeutic treatment. We have pushed our lifespan beyond what nature intended, Taglialatela said. Consequently, we have more aging bodies and aging minds and need to induce resistance to dementia. If this were a gunfight, instead of trying to hit the person shooting at me, Id put on a bullet-proof vest, protecting me against the toxic proteins associated with Alzheimers. Taglialatela acknowledged the contributions of co-author and research developer Anna Fracassi, an expert in autophagy and a neurology postdoctoral fellow at the medical branch who will join the faculty soon, and those of other scientists on his team. These studies will grow significantly under the auspices of the institute, he said. In 2021, Taglialatelas team received the Alzheimer Award given annually by the Journal of Alzheimers Disease for a paper on their research into synapse function in the brain and reduced tau protein. Police Should Produce Officer Allegedly Assaulted By Seun Kuti For Trying To Kill His Family amasan1 at 25-05-2023 06:58 AM (3 days ago) (m) Human rights and pro-democracy group, Take It Back Movement (TIB) has said the Nigeria Police Force must provide the officer whom the Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, slapped in a viral video for allegedly threatening to kill him and his family. Human rights and pro-democracy group, Take It Back Movement (TIB) has said the Nigeria Police Force must provide the officer whom the Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, slapped in a viral video for allegedly threatening to kill him and his family. The group made the demand on Wednesday while protesting at the Yaba Magistrate Court, Lagos, against the polices claim that the police officer had been in a coma for seven days after the incident. The protesters further demanded a full inquiry into the incident to ascertain the magnitude and accurate details of what happened. The group made the demand on Wednesday while protesting at the Yaba Magistrate Court, Lagos, against the polices claim that the police officer had been in a coma for seven days after the incident.The protesters further demanded a full inquiry into the incident to ascertain the magnitude and accurate details of what happened. Quote If the Nigeria Police is really a legal body that has been doing legal things and it is not a lying body, the Nigeria Police Force should immediately leave Seun Kuti in the hands of the court, said one of the protesters who spoke on behalf of the group. There should not be any press trial. There should not be any situation whereby the police have gone ahead to search Seuns house, his cars, his wifes phones, and have done a lot of other things. And they have even made two attempts to draw blood from Seun and at the same time, take him to the psychiatric hospital. We are here to remind the Chief Magistrate that he is a public servant and that he has done a lot of illegal things. He gave Seun bail and withdrew the bail. The same Chief Magistrate allowed the police to illegally take Seun back to the court without contacting his lawyers. The Chief Magistrate here has been the Chief Magistrate of illegality. Chief Magistrate of no conscience and impunity. Post Reply I am an investigative reporter at Gistmania, I conduct fact-finding investigative journalism. Posted: at 25-05-2023 06:58 AM (3 days ago) | Hero smart61 at 25-05-2023 07:09 AM (3 days ago) (m) Joblessness is a curse. They should think of better things to do with their time. How could an officer who remained calm after being slapped made attempt to kill him and his family? Posted: at 25-05-2023 07:09 AM (3 days ago) | Gistmaniac Joblessness is a curse. They should think of better things to do with their time. How could an officer who remained calm after being slapped made attempt to kill him and his family? Reply Ojex004 at 25-05-2023 08:32 AM (3 days ago) (m) Quote from: smart61 on 25-05-2023 07:09 AM Joblessness is a curse. They should think of better to do with their time. How could an officer who remained calm after being slapped made attempt to kill him and his family? Just shut up guy, stop reason and conclude with your anus. Do you watch what transpired between them from beginning and what led him to slap the policeman? Even if he is not right to slap the officer. You can't just come online and be spewing trash by siding one person base on half video you watch. Stupid zombidence that are been killing our officers in different style by cutting thr head, NB reast, private parts . but they are asking the same police to nail one man that slap and office while dey refuse to condemn the killing act from thr sadeast region. always hailing thr ipob and unknown gunman any time they attack and kill police, soldiers, civilians. Stupid people Posted: at 25-05-2023 08:32 AM (3 days ago) | Upcoming Just shut up guy, stop reason and conclude with your anus.Do you watch what transpired between them from beginning and what led him to slap the policeman?Even if he is not right to slap the officer. You can't just come online and be spewing trash by siding one person base on half video you watch.Stupid zombidence that are been killing our officers in different style by cutting thr head, NB reast, private parts . but they are asking the same police to nail one man that slap and office while dey refuse to condemn the killing act from thr sadeast region.always hailing thr ipob and unknown gunman any time they attack and kill police, soldiers, civilians.Stupid people Reply SweetDaddy1 at 25-05-2023 11:30 AM (3 days ago) (m) If I may ask, how can a man who was slapped be in coma ? The Nigeria police has become useless since 1966. Posted: at 25-05-2023 11:30 AM (3 days ago) | Gistmaniac Reply onyioben at 25-05-2023 12:19 PM (2 days ago) (m) Quote from: Ojex004 on 25-05-2023 08:32 AM Just shut up guy, stop reason and conclude with your anus. Do you watch what transpired between them from beginning and what led him to slap the policeman? Even if he is not right to slap the officer. You can't just come online and be spewing trash by siding one person base on half video you watch. Stupid zombidence that are been killing our officers in different style by cutting thr head, NB reast, private parts . but they are asking the same police to nail one man that slap and office while dey refuse to condemn the killing act from thr sadeast region. always hailing thr ipob and unknown gunman any time they attack and kill police, soldiers, civilians. Stupid people ,,,, see tribalism at its peak,,I watched the commenters name and the name is an English name but this tribalistic bigotry concluded that the person is from the southeast and even if the person is from the southeast ,what did he commented that warrants all this sycophantic comment from you,, it is really appalling to see people with this mindset living together with other tribes. Are u Seun lawyer or is seun fans his lawyer,,if seun wants to sue the police officer ,his lawyer will do that and not a tribalisric bigotry like u,, atleast the officer has a video evidence, so let seun provide his own video evidence. Useless set of people. Posted: at 25-05-2023 12:19 PM (2 days ago) | Upcoming ,,,, see tribalism at its peak,,I watched the commenters name and the name is an English name but this tribalistic bigotry concluded that the person is from the southeast and even if the person is from the southeast ,what did he commented that warrants all this sycophantic comment from you,, it is really appalling to see people with this mindset living together with other tribes. Are u Seun lawyer or is seun fans his lawyer,,if seun wants to sue the police officer ,his lawyer will do that and not a tribalisric bigotry like u,, atleast the officer has a video evidence, so let seun provide his own video evidence. Useless set of people. Reply Foldable Phone Market to Grow by 55% in 2023: TrendForce Report News lekhaka -Anu Joy Analysis and research firm TrendForce predicts that foldable smartphone sales will jump by 55% YoY with 19.8 million shipments in 2023. The report attributes the growth to the stagnation of the smartphone market, which could shift the market's focus to foldable devices. More Users May Adopt Foldable Phones in 2023 According to a TrendForce report, this year's market size for smartphones is projected to fall short of a whopping 1.2 billion units, owing to the economic decline across the globe. "Advancements in both software and hardware of new devices have plateaued, shifting the market focus toward foldable smartphones," the report states. The publication anticipates the number of shipments of foldables to rise to 19.8 million units in 2023 to register a 55% YoY growth. The foldable smartphone market is still in the early stages, with smartphone makers experimenting with various displays and materials. The resultant high prices of foldables have been a deterrent for potential buyers so far. To recall, the Huawei Mate X2 debuted back in 2021 with a price tag of $2,600. The price of foldables has declined significantly over the years as brands continue to develop new materials and technology to cut down on production costs. Foldable Phones to get Cheaper "As more suppliers enter this competitive landscape, prices are forecasted to fall. Similarly, the price of hinges-another critical component-used to range between CNY 800-1200, but is now adjusting downwards, alleviating the overall cost pressure of foldable smartphones and boosting consumer acceptance." Samsung has been one of the earliest adopters of foldable smartphones and dominates the market with a 70% share. Challenging Samsung's near-monopoly are Chinese companies like Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, Honor, and Xiaomi, which further brings down costs due to competition. "With an increasing number of brands expected to venture into foldable smartphone production, TrendForce estimates the market penetration of foldable phones to be around 1.7% in 2023. With continuous improvements in cost and design, this figure is expected to surpass 5% by 2027," states the report. Source Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey Edition launching in India soon: All you need to know News oi -Carlsen Martin OnePlus is gearing up to launch a new version of its flagship smartphone in India. The company recently announced a limited OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey would be heading to the Indian market soon. To recall, the OnePlus 11 5G was first unveiled in India and globally back in February. At the time of its launch, OnePlus announced two colour options for its 2023 flagship smartphone - Eternal Green and Titan Black. OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey Edition Now, the OnePlus 11 5G is getting a new shade titled - Marble Odyssey. It is worth noting that this version of the OnePlus 11 5G may only be available for a limited time or in a limited quantity. This smartphone also looks a lot like the OnePlus 11 Limited Jupiter Rock Edition that was unveiled in China in March. The Jupiter Rock Edition of the OnePlus 11 5G used a material the brand called "3D microcrystalline rock". The brand also pointed out, that the new back material had a 50% yield rate, as compared to other usual glass variants. The unique aspects of this material are its pattern and texture. In its release, OnePlus said, "This limited-edition smartphone is a testament to OnePlus' commitment to delivering a right balance between excellent craftsmanship and unparalleled power." OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey Edition According to GSMArena, the OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey Edition price in India will be set at Rs 64,999. It will also be offered in a sole 16GB/256GB configuration. Moreover, the customers will also get a OnePlus Buds Z2 free with the Marble Odyssey Edition of the OnePlus 11 5G. The OnePlus 11 5G price in India is set at Rs 56,999 for the 8GB/128GB model, while the 16GB/256GB variant will set you back Rs 61,999. The handset is offered in Titan Black and Eternal Green shades as mentioned earlier. The OnePlus 11 5G is arguably one of the best smartphones in the segment with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, 120Hz QHD+ LTPO OLED display, Hasselblad-tuned triple-rear camera setup, and the 5,000 mAh battery with 100W fast charging support. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Vivo S17, Vivo S17 Pro launch date set for May 31: All you need to know News oi -Carlsen Martin Vivo is gearing up to launch a new smartphone in its S series in China soon. The Vivo S17 series was officially teased on the company's official Weibo account. The line-up is said to include the Vivo S17 and Vivo S17 Pro. The Vivo S17e was unveiled in China under the radar earlier this this month, although no information was provided about the release date of the Vivo S17 and S17 Pro. The Vivo S series smartphones rarely make their way outside China, they are often rebranded under Vivo's V series in India and globally. Vivo S17 Series Launch Date, Availability Now, the company has confirmed that the Vivo S17 series launch date in China will take place on May 31 at 02:30 pm local time. The Vivo S17 series will likely make its global debut as the Vivo V29 series. The Vivo V29 Pro, which is likely to be a rebranded version of the Vivo S17 Pro, was recently leaked. To recall, the Vivo V27 Pro, which was unveiled in India earlier this year, debuted as a rebranded version of the Vivo S16 Pro. Vivo S17 Specifications (Expected) The Vivo S17 is expected to use the Snapdragon 782G SoC paired with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The phone will run Android 13 out of the box with Vivo's OriginOS skin on top. The handset is also expected to pack a 4,500 mAh battery with 80W fast charging support. The Vivo S17 could also sport a 6.78-inch 1.5K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. On the back, the phone will opt for a triple-camera setup with a 64 MP primary sensor with OIS. For selfies, the Vivo S17 is expected to get a 50 MP sensor. Vivo S17 Pro Specifications (Expected) The Vivo S17 Pro is expected to use the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. The phone will run Android 13 out of the box with Vivo's OriginOS skin on top. The handset is also expected to pack a 4,600 mAh battery with 80W fast charging support. The Vivo S17 Pro could also sport a 6.78-inch 1.5K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. On the back, the phone will opt for a triple-camera setup with a 50 MP primary sensor with OIS. For selfies, the Vivo S17 Pro is expected to get a 50 MP sensor. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Xiaomi Civi 3 Launching Today: What to Expect? News oi -Kabir Jain Xiaomi is set to unveil the follow-up to its Civi 2 smartphone, the Xiaomi Civi 3 today. The Chinese tech giant has set the launch date for today, May 25th at 02:00 pm local time or 11:30 am (IST). The company has released a teaser video on Weibo-a social media platform specific to China-which unveils the design of the smartphone along with other details. Read on to know everything about the upcoming smartphone. Xiaomi Civi 3: Design The back of the Xiaomi Civi 3 showcases a dual-tone finish, complemented by a circular camera module. The teaser images reveal four vibrant color options for the phone: Adventure Gold, Coconut Grey, Mint Green, and Rose Purple. The Civi 3 boasts a slim and lightweight construction, weighing 173.5 grams and measuring a mere 7.56mm in thickness. Xiaomi Civi 3: Specs & Features Xiaomi has officially announced that the Civi 3 smartphone will be equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC. This powerful chip can be combined with a maximum of 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. The phone is expected to come with a 6.55-inch FHD+ Curved AMOLED display that has a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth visuals. Images of the phone have also revealed a 50MP primary camera sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) support. The Civi 3 is anticipated to include two additional sensors, possibly an ultrawide lens and a portrait or macro lens. Furthermore, Xiaomi has confirmed that the phone will feature two 32 MP front cameras. One of these cameras is designed for taking selfies, while the other is optimized for vlogging, boasting a wide 100-degree field of view and the ability to record 4K videos. The smartphone is expected to come with a 4,500mAh battery that will likely support fast charging of up to 67W. To enhance security, it is expected that the Xiaomi Civi 3 will include an in-display fingerprint scanner. As for the software, the Xiaomi Civi 3 is anticipated to run on MIUI 14, based on Android 13. Xiaomi Civi 3: Availability It is worth noting that the Xiaomi Civi 2 did not have an official release outside of China; however, it was rebranded as the Xiaomi 13 Lite for global markets. Similarly, there is an expectation that the Xiaomi Civi 3 will also be exclusive to the Chinese market and might be launched globally as the Xiaomi 14 Lite, according to rumors. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Apple Launches Health Data Privacy Campaign Across the Globe, Including India News lekhaka -Anu Joy Apple has released a new campaign that focuses on the company's commitment to privacy. The iPhone maker touts its privacy features, stating that health data included in the Health app and Healthkit framework is secured with end-to-end encryption. Apple Health Data Privacy Apple has also published a new Health Privacy Overview whitepaper which explains how the firm focuses on four tenets of privacy-data minimization, on-device processing, transparency and control, and security. "Health data, stored in HealthKit, is encrypted on-device and is only accessible with your passcode, Touch ID or Face ID," Apple explains. Health app data synced to iCloud will not be accessible by Apple if two-factor authentication is enabled. Apple also talks about app privacy, "Apps can't see any Health app data, or add any data to the Health app, without your permission. Before accessing any data, apps have to prompt you to access Health app information." Even for third-party apps on Apple's operating system, Apple claims that users have full control over what Health app data can be used by a third-party app. Before such apps request access to health data, they will need to meet the requirements in the App Store Review Guidelines and the Developer Program License Agreement. The metrics for the Health app are generated by the sensors on the iPhone and Apple Watch on-device. All the data is processed locally, ensuring that Apple won't be able to touch it. The firm also states that the end user gets granular control over the health data. Apple's New Privacy Ad Campaign Apple will be rolling out the campaign across the globe, including India. The company will release the campaign on social media, television, and billboards in twenty-four time zones. Apple's latest ad, narrated by comedian Jane Lynch, is set in a hospital's waiting room, envisioning a world where everyone in the room knows the reason behind your visit to the doctor. "Worried your most personal data might get into the wrong hands? The Health app on iPhone helps you control who sees your health data-and who doesn't. Because when it comes to your health, privacy matters," the ad states. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Russian intelligence chief advises US, UK to leave Iran alone, mind own business Iran Press TV Wednesday, 24 May 2023 7:13 PM The head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) says the US and the UK should leave Iran alone and mind their own business. Sergei Naryshkin was quoted as saying by RT that he would advise the "Anglo-Saxons to take care of their own internal civil conflicts. Or better yet, go to their old pal - the devil." He made the remarks commenting on the US and UK's policies towards Iran at a security forum outside Moscow attended by foreign security officials. Naryshkin said Washington and London are dismayed by the success of China in reconciling Iran and Saudi Arabia, and view the normalization in a strictly negative light. The official said that the two allies are wary that Beijing's diplomatic activities in the region could undermine their long-term strategy to weaken the Islamic Republic. He added that American and British government agencies have been tasked with derailing China's diplomatic efforts and discrediting its role as a mediator. Citing to this effect in Western media, he noted that the US and the UK are unlikely to succeed with their supposed smear campaign "in the new geopolitical reality." Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in March to restore diplomatic ties, and soon afterwards announced plans to open their respective embassies under the China-brokered deal. On Tuesday, Iran appointed its new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, following a similar move by the Saudi kingdom. US trains Daesh for anti-Russia attacks The Russian intelligence chief accused the US of training Daesh members for acts of sabotage in Russia in its al-Tanf military base located in Syria near the Arab country's borders with Jordan and Iraq. "According to our information, the US' al-Tanf military base located on the border of Syria, Jordan and Iraq is used to train Daesh militants for carrying out subversive acts; moreover, not only on Syrian territory but also in Russian regions," the foreign intelligence chief was quoted as saying by RT. The Unites States continues to keep its illegal military presence in northeastern Syria, occupying part of the sovereign state, Naryshkin pointed out. He also said the US is waging an economic war in the form of sanctions against Damascus, which prevents the restoration of the country. Elsewhere in his remarks, the official accused Washington and London of thwarting efforts to reach a settlement over the conflict in Ukraine and of turning a blind eye to increasing "terrorism and violence" inflicted on civilians by Ukraine. Naryshkin also expressed satisfaction that most countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America have not imposed sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, despite what he called colossal pressure from Washington to do so. West resisting multipolar world Naryshkin accused the West of trying to resist a shift towards a multipolar world, and doing all it can to stop other powers from rising. Russia's top intelligence official argued that Western powers could play a role in ensuring global security and prosperity, but only as one of numerous centers of a multipolar world. However, the "insane vanity" of these nations precludes them from acting on an equal footing with other players, Naryshkin added. "Turbulent periods (in world history) are essentially a test of the extent to which nations and peoples have preserved their true foundations," said Naryshkin. "Our countries, unlike the West, have preserved a significant margin of strength and strategic depth in this respect," he said. Quoting from the Bible, the Russian official added that "their end will correspond to their deeds," and predicted that America and Britain's fate "will be sad." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 23, 2023 By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News U.S., Czech Defense Leaders Sign Security Agreement Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Jana Cernochova, defense minister of the Czech Republic, today signed a security cooperation agreement that is meant to further strengthen defense ties, enhance NATO operations, advance transatlantic security, and protect shared interests and values between the two nations. "I'm proud that we'll sign the defense cooperation agreement today," Austin said. "It will deepen our defense ties even further, enhance our interoperability, strengthen NATO, and increase stability in Europe." In advance of their talks, Austin said the relationship between the U.S. and the Czech Republic is stronger than it has ever been. "Our strategic partnership has never been stronger, and that's especially true after Russia's cruel and unprovoked assault on its peaceful neighbor, Ukraine," Austin said. "I know that your citizens hear the echoes of Moscow's invasion in 1968, so we are very glad that the Czech Republic has committed itself to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes." Austin also thanked the Czech defense minister for contributions to defending NATO's eastern flank. "The Czech Republic is leading the way as a framework nation in the new NATO battlegroup in Slovakia," he said. "So, thank you, Madam Minister, for your contributions to the alliance and for being a strong, clear voice for NATO unity." The U.S. defense secretary also noted that July marks the 30th anniversary of the Czech Republic's partnership with Texas and Nebraska National Guard units as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program. The security cooperation program is managed by the National Guard Bureau. It links a state's National Guard with the military of a partner nation. The relationship allows both the Guard unit and the partner nation's military to further their respective defense goals. Today, 88 such partnerships exist with 100 countries. Cernochova commented on how long the U.S. and the Czech Republic have been allies and how the new agreement would only continue to strengthen that relationship. "I'm glad that the United States is still deeply engaged in Europe's security and is our most important ally," she said. "The defense cooperation agreement will make our cooperation even stronger." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia terminates bilateral agreement between Finland and Russia on military evaluation visits Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland 23.5.2023 On 23 May, Finland was informed by Russia that Russia will terminate the bilateral agreement between Finland and Russia on additional military evaluation visits as of 1 June. Under the agreement, Russia may make one evaluation visit to Finland per calendar year, and reciprocally Finland may make one evaluation visit to Russia's Leningrad Military District. This bilateral agreement, signed in 2000, complements the Vienna Document adopted by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In the Vienna Document, OSCE Participating States agree on military visits, evaluation visits and prior notifications of certain military activities, among other confidence- and security-building measures. The Vienna Document is one of the main instruments for conventional arms control. The Vienna Document itself is still in force, and Russia's decision to terminate the bilateral agreement does not affect other measures under the Vienna Document, such as observation and evaluation visits. The bilateral agreement on additional evaluation was last applied before the COVID-19 pandemic. Russia evaluated the Karelia Air Command in 2017 and 2019-2021 and the Lapland Air Command in 2016 and 2018. Finland has made comparable evaluation visits to Ostrov in 2016, to Besovets in 2017, to Sputnik in 2018 and to Luga in 2019. Finland did not visit Russia in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, and neither country made any visits in 2022 because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There are 23 similar bilateral agreements in the OSCE region. Finland has a similar agreement with Sweden, while Russia has no other bilateral agreements. However, Russia is a Party to two similar multilateral agreements in the Black Sea region. Finland and the international community condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The full implementation of the Vienna Document should be resumed without delay. Finland will work to strengthen the international arms control system, safeguard the functioning of the treaty organisations and to increase security. We emphasise the importance of compliance with arms control agreements and the application of confidence-building measures. There is even greater need for conventional arms control and confidence- and security-building measures in Europe after Russia's war in Ukraine has ended. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 23 May 2023 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. ** Security Council I just want to flag that the Secretary-General spoke this morning at today's high-level Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. He noted at the outset the cost of the nearly six weeks of war in Sudan. In that time, he said, hundreds of civilians have been killed including members of the UN family, while 250,000 people have fled the country. The Secretary-General added that his recent report on the protection of civilians found that a total of 100 million refugees have been forced from their homes due to conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution. He noted that armed conflict is a key factor driving food insecurity around the world. Last year, more than 117 million people faced acute hunger primarily because of war and insecurity. This is an outrage, he said. He noted that his newly appointed Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator is leading a system-wide response to rising food insecurity. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General added that the Black Sea Initiative and the memorandum of understanding to promote Russian food and fertilizer to global markets has helped to stabilize those markets, bringing down prices and easing the food crisis. In parallel with today's Council meeting, a series of informal side events known as "Protection of Civilians Week 2023" are taking place in New York this week, coordinated by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Member States such as Belgium, Switzerland, as well as the NGOs CIVIC and the International Rescue Committee. It brings together Member States, UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and civil society organizations to discuss the protection of civilians, including by amplifying the voices of people most impacted by armed conflict. ** 2023 ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment And after the Security Council, the Secretary-General walked over to the ECOSOC Chamber, where he addressed the opening of the high-level dialogue between the Secretary-General and Member States of the ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment. The Secretary-General warned that halfway through the timeline of the 2030 Agenda, we are leaving more than half the world behind, poverty and hunger are again growing, the climate crisis is escalating, and conflict and persecution have forced 100 million people from their homes. But it is not too late to turn the tide, he said, and we are determined to do just that. The Secretary-General noted that when we started the reform process, no one foresaw that our country teams would be operating in such challenging conditions, pointing out that despite that, four years on, the reforms have succeeded, and that his report on the implementation of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review demonstrates just that. Mr. Guterres underscored that the Resident Coordinator system is the anchor for all our efforts to support countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda, yet, in 2022, the resident coordinator system suffered from a funding gap of $85 million. He noted that countries are spending more than 2 trillion dollars a year on military budgets and that it is simply not credible to pledge support for peace if they are not prepared to invest a tiny fraction of this amount in sustainable development the greatest conflict prevention tool we have. ** Sudan Turning to Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues say that, following the recent ceasefire agreement, humanitarian organizations are ready to move about 168 trucks to reach more than 4 million people across the country. However, currently, conditions are not allowing for full-scale humanitarian operations. Despite the challenges, we and our partners are expanding humanitarian operations to some locations in Sudan. The World Food Programme (WFP) has now reached a half million men, women and children in several states with food and nutrition assistance since distributions resumed on 3 May. For its part, UNICEF is supporting Sudan's Ministry of Health in maintaining immunization services across the country. As of 16 May, vaccine supplies for nearly 244,000 children were sent from Khartoum to seven states. UNICEF has also delivered nearly 1,500 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic food to an orphanage in Khartoum, where more than 300 children are facing acute food shortages. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I can tell you that we and our partners continue to help the Government respond to the deadly floods and landslides in the east of the DRC. Kalehe territory, in the eastern province of South Kivu, which was hit particularly hard. At least 17,000 people have received assistance since 10 May. This includes food, health care, shelter and psychosocial support. We have also provided more than 50,000 litres of clean water to impacted communities on a daily basis. The Humanitarian Coordinator for the UN in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, allocated $3 million from the Humanitarian Fund to strengthen the ongoing operations. According to the latest official figures, at least 443 people have died, hundreds have been injured and many more are still missing. More than 3,000 homes were damaged, as well as schools serving 9,000 children. Our colleagues say that there is still an urgent need for tools to excavate and bury bodies of the victims. Other top priorities are shelter and relocation of survivors, food assistance, fixing roads and bridges so we can get to people most impacted. ** Myanmar In Myanmar today, the humanitarian community launched a flash appeal, asking for $333 million to help communities devastated by Cyclone Mocha over a week ago. The acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Myanmar, Ramanathan Balakrishnan, said that we are in a race against time to provide people with shelter and prevent the spread of water-borne diseases. Mr. Balakrishnan said that if we fail to mobilize enough resources, those impacted by the storm will face a long and miserable monsoon season. The flash appeal aims to support some 1.6 million people in the high-impact zone across Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing and Kachin States. ** International Day And today is the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. As you know, obstetric fistula is a condition that can lead to infections, kidney disease, painful sores, infertility and even death. It is treatable and, more importantly, it is preventable. The United Nations Population Fund leads the global "Campaign to End Fistula" to transform the lives of vulnerable women and girls around the world. ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : It's your cue to ask questions, should you have any. Yes, sir. Sorry. Yeah. I should have told you how this whole system works. Right? I speak, you ask questions. That's all right. Take your time. Question : Today, the UN Secretary-General in his address to the Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict didn't mention Ukraine casualties caused by the Russian war. He then recalled the Black Sea Initiative. Is this an accident or is there any reason for such forgetfulness? Spokesman : I think the Secretary-General was speaking about the protection of civilians in all conflict. He mentioned the 100 million refugees that have been displaced by war. I think the Secretary-General, the UN system as a whole has been very vocal about the need to protect civilians, protect civilian infrastructure, and so on in the conflict in Ukraine. Celhia. Question : Steph, could the war in Sudan have an impact on the peace in South Sudan? Spokesman : Well, the ongoing conflict in Sudan, if not halted, can very likely have a regional impact. The region itself is rather fragile. It could have an impact on what is going on in South Sudan. It could have an impact in Chad. I mean, you're seeing a country like Chad, which is already dealing with its own challenges, welcoming more refugees, welcoming Chadians who are returnees. On top of that, we know they have, there are refugees from Cameroon, Central African Republic, and other places. We need to have the leadership in Sudan, the two generals who are fighting each other, put the interest of the Sudanese people first and foremost. We've been outlining the humanitarian tragedy that is unfolding, but this risks not only impacting Sudan, which it already is, but the region as a whole. Abdelhamid. Question : Thank you, Stephane. Yesterday, I asked you about the meeting of the Israeli Cabinet in a tunnel under the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Your comment was about Ben Gvir storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque. But the meeting of the Cabinet, which is a major development, US State Department issued a strong statement about that. They assigned 18 million to expand on excavating more tunnels under Al-Aqsa. And I didn't see any comment from the UN, neither from the SG nor from Tor Wennesland on this specific development. Spokesman : I think we are concerned, and we do not want to see anything that changes the status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and of all of the religious sites in Jerusalem. Question : The second question: Yesterday, Israel killed three Palestinians in Balata refugee camp. Killing Palestinians is becoming a daily action by Israel. And no day passes without killing a person. It's become killing person becoming no news. It's becoming regular, like exactly storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque today, about hundreds of settlers also storm Al-Aqsa and yesterday and tomorrow. It's becoming no news. Will the UN accept this kind of breach of international law and a humanitarian law, to see that again... Spokesman : Abdelhamid, what is news and not news is a purview of journalists. Right? Question : Yeah. Spokesman : It's not the purview of the UN. In fact, the Secretary-General of the UN has spoken about repeatedly, about the ongoing violence in the occupied West Bank. We put reports out and reports out. I mean, so whether or not that gets covered is a question you need to ask journalists. We've repeatedly expressed our concern about it and spoken out very clearly against the continuation, the expansion of settlements, which are against international law. We've continually spoken out about our concern on the continued violence and the impact on Palestinian civilians. We continue to urge all to do whatever they can to reduce tensions and to see a stop to this violence. Yvonne. Question : Thanks, Steph. Two questions. First on Sudan. The UN is monitoring this week-long ceasefire along with other parties. Is that correct? And exactly how are they carrying out the monitoring? Spokesman : I think Mr. [Volker] Perthes [Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan] spoke about it pretty clearly that we are there to support, provide strategic and technical inputs to security arrangements. But we are not, as far as I know, we are not part of an official monitoring mechanism. Question : Second question. Sorry. Second question is on the two Taiwanese journalists who were accredited to attend the World Health authority meeting in Geneva this week, they had their credentials revoked abruptly yesterday. And the UN officer reportedly told them that it was because of pressure from China. Does the UN Secretary-General approve of these credentials being taken away? Spokesman : I don't have any information on that but let me check on that and we'll get back to you. Question : Okay. Because the WHO said that the accreditation was governed by the UN, not... Spokesman : Okay. No. Let me, I will check on that and get back to you. Question : Okay. Thanks. And then, sorry, just a follow-up on that. Given that this event is going on this week in Geneva, the World Health authority, do you think, does the Secretary-General have any comment on the exclusion of Taiwan once again from this meeting given that they were the first to raise it [inaudible]. Spokesman : The membership of the World Health Assembly is a question to be decided by the members of the World Health Assembly. Yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead. Question : Hi, Stephane, Vladimir [inaudible] TASS Agency. Have you looked up at the situation at Belgorod yesterday? Have you any comments about what happened? Spokesman : Yes, Vladimir. Thank you. We're obviously following with concern the reports of incident in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. We've seen the statements and are aware of statements made by officials, both in Ukraine and the Russian Federation. As far as the UN is concerned, we're not in a position to confirm the reports or any information concerning the groups allegedly involved in what we are seeing in the media. We do, however, call on all parties to ensure that the fighting does not escalate or spread, and to refrain from actions or rhetoric that could further raise tensions. Sylviane, excuse me. Question : Thank you, Stephane. The Israeli Army Chief of Staff, General Halevi warns today that a new war against Israel from Lebanon will be 70 times more difficult for Lebanon and even more so for Hizbullah, because Hizbullah was staging the biggest manoeuvre in years in southern Lebanon commemorating the 2000. Any comment from, any warning... this warning is, it seems very dangerous for Lebanon. How much is the UN is... Spokesman : Well, we're very much aware of tensions going on in southern Lebanon. We have a peacekeeping mission there with an established mechanism that brings together the Israeli defence forces, the Lebanese Armed Forces with the UN. It is very important that all the parties use this mechanism to address any outstanding issues and to do whatever they can to avoid any conflict. Let me go to the screen and I'll come back. Oh, sorry, Murad. You had a question. Let's finish the first round and then we'll go... Question : Thank you. On Sudan, for all human rights violations that are committed in this fight, what the UN is going to do and is there a message from the SG on this regard? Spokesman : In this type of conflict, the two first victims are usually hunger and human rights. We are aware of very disturbing reports of human rights violations, including sexual violence and all sorts of other violations. There will need to be accountability. All of the parties involved in this conflict have a responsibility to uphold international human rights law, to uphold humanitarian law and everyone will need to be held to account. Betul, and then we'll go to Stefano on the screen. Question : Thank you, Steph. The SG has now a special coordinator for Afghanistan, the former Turkish Ambassador, to find a way on how to deal with the Taliban regime. Are we going to hear from him from time to time, or is it going to be you, on the work of what he's doing? Spokesman : My understanding is that he was named following the passage of the resolution by the Security Council. He will report back to the Security Council and when we get closer to that time, we'll see if we can get him here. Mr. Vaccara. Question : Thank you very much, Stephane. The Secretary-General, during the G7, he said that time had come to fix Bretton Woods system and reform the UN Security Council. It's a... this is essentially a question distributing power in the line with the realities of today's world. Question is, does he think that the Security Council should have new permanent members or just adding new elected members? Spokesman : So, the exact formula will need to be found by the Member States themselves. I think the Secretary-General has spoken out very clearly in ways that are more eloquent than myself on this issue. He has also notably pointed out the fact that Africa is arguably the only continent that does not have a permanent representation on the Security Council, which hits at the legitimacy of a lot of the work that the Security Council does, given that so much of it is actually focused in Africa. I would refer back to what he said very clearly in Kingston, in Jamaica, about 10 days ago and also what he said in his press remarks in Japan and Hiroshima on that issue. Question : Yeah, but just one thing. I understand and he's... I read his comments on Africa and... but because the reform did not happen the last over 25 years, because there is this bloc, between who once had new permanent members, who instead wants another enlargement. If some if well, let's say, a country that wants to vote a reform asks the Secretary-General and advised like, okay, what do you think is the better reform, the best reform? What he will say? He must have an idea about it? Spokesman : Well, let's see what the question is and who asks it, and we'll see what the advice is. Abdelhamid. Question : Thank you. Three journalists of Al Jazeera have been detained in Egypt for, some of them for four years. On 28 April, the court decided to release Hisham Abdelaziz. But after he was released, they cancelled it and they put him back in detention and this is, I think, his fourth year also. So, is there any contact between the UN and the Egyptian authority to protest. [cross talk] Spokesman : This issue has been brought up in the past, we continue to be very concerned about the fate of journalists who are in prison just for doing their work, whether it's in Egypt or any other country where we're seeing it, and we have seen a trend throughout the world, very worrying trend recently of journalists being harassed, imprisoned, or even worse. It's hard to imagine how we can operate in this very complex world without journalists being able to do their work freely. Sylviane and then Betul. Question : On the President, Syrian President, he was... the President Bashar al-Assad has been welcomed warmly at the Arab League. Is there any contact now between the SG [Secretary-General] and the President, Syrian President, direct contact? Spokesman : No. No direct contact that I'm... no direct contact that I'm aware of. Betul. Question : Thanks, Steph, just a follow-up on Abdelhamid's question. Why doesn't the SG [Secretary-General] have a special envoy for the protection of journalists or a special representative then? Spokesman : It's an issue that he has been dealing with sometimes himself directly. Our human rights High Commissioner has also been dealing with it. Our UNESCO colleagues have been dealing with it, and we've used other channels. Okay, speaking of other channels, time for the GA [General Assembly] channel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Final DEFENDER 23 exercise, Saber Guardian 23, begins By Terry Welch May 24, 2023 WIESBADEN, Germany -- Exercise Saber Guardian 23, the third and final connected exercise making up the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness 2023 exercise, or DEFENDER 23, begins May 29. Led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa's V Corps and a Romanian multinational division, Saber Guardian activities include Army prepositioned stock equipment draws; a tactical road march; river crossings; response to simulated chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear threat; and medical evacuation operations through the region. Simultaneously, the 41st Field Artillery Brigade will conduct Multiple Launch Rocket System/High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and HIMARS Rapid Infiltration missions in the Black and Baltic Sea regions, with USAREUR-AF's 56th Theater Fires Command. Simultaneous combined arms training will also occur in these regions. "Saber Guardian and exercises like it demonstrate our ability to quickly assemble, deploy, receive, onward move and integrate forces from the United States or from inside Europe in support of NATO requirements," said Lt. Gen. John S. Kolasheski, commanding general, V Corps. "This is important as it provides U.S. and NATO leadership options for employing combat-credible forces across the conflict continuum." Saber Guardian, the largest of the Black Sea region exercises, includes more than 2,400 U.S. and 7,300 multinational participants. Countries participating in Saber Guardian include, but are not limited to: Albania, Bulgaria, Belgium, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia and the United States. Saber Guardian will incorporate the State Partnership Program between Romania and the Alabama National Guard, who will deploy from the U.S. to Eastern Europe to conduct training and military-to-military engagements alongside their long-time partners. "One of the great things about the DEFENDER exercise each year is how it showcases to the world the strength and capability of the NATO cooperation and, specifically, our National Guard State Partnership Program. It demonstrates a level of mutual understanding and international camaraderie against which nothing else on the globe can compare or withstand," said Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon, adjutant general for the state of Alabama. The Department of Defense's SPP supports security cooperation objectives by developing enduring relationships with partner countries and carrying out activities to build partner capacity, improve interoperability and enhance U.S. access while increasing the readiness of U.S. and partner forces to meet emerging challenges. "Hundreds of our Alabama National Guard Soldiers will be able to seamlessly integrate and operate alongside our Romanian counterparts on Romanian soil because we've been doing so for 30 years," Gordon said. "That's what makes these alliances unique." Romania signed a bilateral affairs agreement with the Department of Defense and the state of Alabama in July 1993, establishing the Alabama-Romania SPP. "But Saber Guardian is not just a spotlight. It will also serve as exceptional training for these Soldiers. I expect great things from this engagement with our NATO and SPP partners, but I am proud to know we will come away even stronger," Gordon said. Saber Guardian is scheduled to run through June 9. DEFENDER 23 is a multinational joint exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between U.S. and NATO allies and partners. The exercise demonstrates the U.S. military's ability to rapidly deploy combat-credible troops and equipment the European theater. This assurance of commitment to our Allies deters those who would threaten the peace of Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 24, 2023 Release DoD Announces $10 Million Defense Production Act Title III Agreement With Six Sigma to Strengthen the Domestic Microelectronics Industrial Base As part of the nation's effort to sustain the microelectronics manufacturing capability necessary for national and economic security, and in support of Executive Order 14017, America's Supply Chains, the Department of Defense recently entered a $10 million agreement with Six Sigma utilizing Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III authorities. Six Sigma will increase the capacity of both its copper solder column manufacturing and column attach processes to enable the production of high-reliability Column Grid Array components (such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays and Application Specific Integrated Circuits) for military and aerospace applications. The project will run 51-months and be performed at its facility in Milpitas, California. "This investment ensures critical DoD military and space programs operating in extreme thermal and vibration environments are available to meet the needs of American strategic interests," said Dr. Taylor-Kale, ASD (IBP). "It exemplifies the Department's commitment to ensuring the resilience and integrity of our nation's critical supply chains." About the Department of Defense's Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy Industrial Base Policy is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) for developing Department of Defense policies for the maintenance of the United States defense industrial base (DIB), executing small business programs and policy, and conduction geo-economic analysis and assessments. The office also provides the USD(A&S) with recommendations on budget matters related to the DIB, anticipates and closes gaps in manufacturing capabilities for defense systems, and assesses impacts related to mergers, acquisition, and divestitures. IBP monitors and assesses the impact of foreign investments in the United States and executes authorities under sections 2501 and 2505 U.S.C. Title 10. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3404320/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 24, 2023 Speech Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities Dr. Mara Karlin's Remarks at the Third Annual Middle East Institute CENTCOM Conference (As Prepared) Thank you, Bilal for the kind introduction, and thank you to the Middle East Institute for inviting me today. It is such a treat to speak to this distinguished group of colleagues on a set of issues that so many of us in the room, myself included, have focused on for much of our careers. I thought I would help frame today's discussions by outlining how the U.S. Department of Defense views the Middle East region from a strategic perspective, particularly through the lens of the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS). As you all know, last year, the Department released the National Defense Strategy, for the first time, in an integrated way with the Missile Defense Review and the Nuclear Posture Review. Because we delivered the strategic reviews to Congress at the same time as the President's FY23 budget request, we intentionally built into our review process a deliberate link between strategy and resources. This linkage has carried over into the FY24 budget request, released in March. With support from Congress, this will be the most strategy-aligned budget in recent history. The central premise of the NDS is the urgent need to sustain and strengthen deterrence with the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the pacing challenge. The PRC is the only competitor with both the intent and increasingly the capability to systemically challenge the United States across the board: militarily, economically, technologically, and diplomatically. The NDS describes Russia as an acute threat one that is both immediate and sharp. Russia's illegal and brutal war of choice against Ukraine is a profound manifestation of that. The NDS also emphasizes the need to be vigilant against a range of persistent threats, including Iran, North Korea and violent extremist organizations, as well as transboundary challenges such as pandemics and climate change. This NDS is clear in its prioritization of these challenges. It outlines where we are going to accept risk and how we are going to mitigate those risks. And as we implement this strategy, we must grapple with these tradeoffs around the world, including in the Middle East. On our broader policy framework in the Middle East, I'd like to highlight five declaratory principles of the National Security Strategy, under which our NDS nests. They include partnerships, deterrence, diplomacy, integration, and values. This framework, which was first set forth by President Biden during his visit to the Middle East last year, sets the foundation for the NDS and DoD's approach to the region. The NDS is clear that the United States will remain engaged in the Middle East. U.S. interests are interwoven into the region. As Secretary Austin outlined: "Ultimately our mission is to support diplomacy, and to deter conflict, and to defend the United States and our vital interests. And if we're forced to turn back aggression, we will win- and we will win decisively. All of this involved constantly evaluating and updating our global posture. But let's be clear: America's commitment to security in the Middle East is strong and sure. Of course, the NDS also demands that our engagement and posture must be effective and sustainable over the long-term. Effective deterrence does not require the basing of hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops in static formations; in fact, that would be ineffective deterrence. Our strength comes from our ability to leverage partnerships, coalitions, and in our agility - our ability to flow forces to where they are needed, swiftly and effectively. Thus, a key NDS focus is "integrated deterrence." While this is a global priority, it has particular relevance in the Middle East. Secretary Austin emphasized this in his speech at the Manama Dialogue in 2021 so I want to underscore it today as it remains a constant in our approach: our collective security benefits from an integrated coalition of partners, synchronizing actions across political, economic and security sectors, all within the framework of a rules-based international order. In the defense space, multilateral security cooperation, interoperability among partner militaries, and integration of defensive capabilities are more necessary than ever in order to deter adversaries, contribute to regional stability, and support the United States as we maintain our enduring commitment to the region. We are doing this by emphasizing partnership, leveraging innovation and exercises to advance interoperability, and having frank discussions with our partners about the need to protect our decades-long mutual investments from strategic competitors. To be clear: this is a paradigm shift in our approach to the region - one that de-emphasizes unrealistic aims of transformation, or regime change, often pursued through unilateral military means, but focuses rather on our comparative advantages in partnerships and the fundamentals of sound policy: building coalitions, aligning ends and means, and setting clear and achievable aims. We believe this approach is already paying dividends, as the region today - despite its many problems, which keep us focused every day - is about as stable as it's been in many years: the war in Yemen is experiencing the longest period of calm since the war began; Iraq is increasingly being integrated into the region, including through game-changing infrastructure projects with the GCC; the GCC itself is as united as it's been in years; ISIS and al Qaeda remain under constant pressure; and a trend of diplomacy and de-escalation has taken root, backed by the deterrent power of U.S.-led coalitions and partnerships. Let me discuss what this new paradigm means in the defense space: It requires advancing our bilateral relationships in the Middle East, but collectively taking steps toward integrating our bilateral security relationships into a multilateral approach. Multilateralism is the relevant currency, and it requires a level of consultation and coordination, including some diplomatic give and take, with our regional partners. It requires increased transparency by our partners with us, and with each other. It also requires us to be there for our partners when we need to adjust our approach. It requires willingness to synchronize investments in communications infrastructure, defense platforms, and capabilities. (Everyone in this room is familiar with the long-standing instincts of regional partners to diversify defense acquisitions, even if this detracts from combat effectiveness and contributes to sustainment challenges.) Obviously, this all means that both DOD and the entire Administration need to articulate the importance of U.S. foreign military sales to Congress so that our unique approach to arms exports does not inadvertently undermine this essential component of defense integration and deterrence across the region. For integration and interoperability to take root, we want our partners purchasing U.S. and allied systems. That's in our interests, both for long term influence that does not require tens of thousands of troops, and for our own defense industrial base. Not doing so undermines our partnerships as well as elements of our strategic approach to the region. Congress also plays a key role here. We owe it to our partners to ensure a timely, diligent and fair review of each proposed sale. We need the full and bipartisan partnership of Congress if we are going to succeed and remain our competitive edge in military sales. It also requires commitment to increasingly complex exercises and training on a regular schedule on a multilateral basis. And political will at the highest levels of our partner governments. We have been clear with our long-standing partners in the region - integration and interoperability are necessary to address Iran's reckless activities across all domains, to meaningfully counter violent extremist organizations, and to address crises whether natural or man-made. The United States cannot continue to address these challenges unilaterally. The scope, scale, and cross-border nature of the threats demand integration and multilateral cooperation. We are asking our partners to increase their contributions and support for integration. Our enduring commitment is to (1) continue working together and alongside them, within the region, while (2) maintaining the most combat credible fighting force in the world that can dynamically and rapidly flow forces into the region and reposition global assets and capabilities to respond to crises. Again, to underscore, this is a paradigm shift: in the future, how we fight and win will not be determined simply by numbers of boots on the ground, but rather by maintaining our readiness to rapidly respond to any crisis. Success will require us to be dynamic and capable of quickly flowing forces where they are needed around the world, seamlessly falling in with interoperable allies and partners. This shift is not binary it's not a matter of simply in or out, big or small. The United States is leaning into key relationships in the region to leverage our strengths to maximum effect. We remain committed to the region and maintain a potent force posture and military capability throughout a variety of host countries. I'd now like to highlight three ways we are doing this that are rooted in the NDS. First, we are leveraging our unparalleled network of allies and partners in the Middle East. The NDS identifies allies and partners as a center of gravity. Secretary Austin has described the strategy as a call to action to break down barriers to working with allies and partners toward common objectives. From the top down, we've led strategic dialogues, high-level visits including two presidential visits exchanges, and over 200 military exercisesall while continuing our constant consultations and engagements to help ensure that our partners have the means to defend themselves and our interests. Our work as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS is a great example. Together with local partners and a global coalition of 80 nations and five international organizations, U.S. and Coalition forces succeeded in defeating ISIS' territorial caliphate in Iraq and Syria. Today, that mission continues through vital partner-led efforts to maintain pressure against ISIS and ensure the group cannot resurge. U.S. and Coalition forces continue to train, and advise, and assist, and equip local partners in Iraq and Syria, ensuring that ISIS cannot once again threaten the stability of the region or the international community. As another example, this week, we launched a new multinational task force under the U.S.-led Combined Maritime Forces, the world's largest international naval partnership. Thirty-eight nations strong, Combined Maritime Forces has been a powerful showcase for remarkable progress in promoting regional security and stability The new task force, Combined Task Force 154, will further focus regional efforts on enhancing maritime security. It will leverage regional expertise to facilitate critical training in maritime awareness, maritime law, maritime interdiction, maritime rescue and assistance, and leadership development. Building capability in these five areas will enhance interoperability among our forces. The training will be designed to meet specific requests from partners - ranging from basic to advanced levels. Combined Task Force 154 will not only create new training opportunities for the United States and our allies and partners across the Middle East, but also enable new nations to participate. These nations won't need a ship or aircraft, they can simply send their people. This means building more partnerships and stronger relationships, which are essential to regional defense cooperation and integration. We are indeed at our best when we train, operate and work closely together with our allies and partners in the Middle East. Finally, I would emphasize that our cooperation with our Middle East allies and partners even extends beyond the immediate region. This is evidenced by our Middle East partners' solidarity with Ukraine - a cause that has garnered wide-spread international support, in start contrast to Russia's isolation. Every U.S. partner in the Middle East voted in favor of the U.N. General Assembly resolution on the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And we continue to encourage our partners in the Middle East to stand on the right side of history against Russia's unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine. We are and have been for the last year asking all of our partners across the world to do what they can to support Ukraine. In February, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and senior Saudi humanitarian and energy officials traveled to Kyiv for meetings with President Zelenskyy and Ukraine officials, and formalized arrangements for $400 million of generators and energy support. This was the first ministerial visit from an Arab state to Kyiv since the war began. Israel has also provided substantial humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, to include over 100 tons of supplies and a field hospital. And recently, we have also seen President Zelensky attend the Arab League Summit. These are positive steps from the Middle East region, and we hope to see more from our partners in the coming months. Second, we are strengthening integrated deterrence, a foundational concept of the NDS, in the Middle East. From the DoD perspective, a terrific case of how we're sharpening integrated deterrence is the JUNIPER OAK bilateral, live-fire exercise that took place in January of this year across Israel and the Mediterranean Sea. Involving more than 140 aircraft, 12 naval vessels, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and multiple-launch rocket systems, it underscored our ability to interoperate jointly across all domains: on land, air, sea, as well as in space and cyberspace. It also reinforced deterrence by demonstrating the United States' ability to quickly deploy in and out of the region, seamlessly integrate with a key strategic partner, and respond to contingencies. Finally, it signaled that the U.S. commitment to Israel's security is ironclad and our broader commitment to the entire region is enduring. A second example is U.S. CENTCOM's work to integrate and expand regional security cooperation in the maritime domain. The Combined Maritime Forces is 34-member partnership that address threats such as piracy and drug smuggling on the high seas, while the International Maritime Security Construct aims to deter state-sponsored malign activity, reassure commercial shipping, and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region's waterways. A final example of this concept is happening as we speak. Eagle Resolve 2023 is a multilateral exercise designed to improve interoperability with our Gulf partners to builds towards a more secure and stable Middle East. This iteration of Eagle Resolve is hosted, for the first time, by Saudi Arabia and includes our partners who comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council. The exercise centers on (1) Integrated Air and Missile Defense, (2) Medical and Chemical Counter Measures, (3) Explosive Ordinance Disposal, and (4) Maritime Interdiction. The exercise is a great demonstration of the work underway to build a more networked architecture for enhanced collective defense that counters destabilizing activities in the region. Third, we are building enduring advantages by developing and deploying new technologies and exploring innovative approaches to security in the region. As outlined in the NDS, building enduring advantages is all about accelerating force development, capitalizing on the latest technology, and making investments in the extraordinary people of the Department, our most valuable resource. As we continue our close collaboration with our partners in the Middle East, this approach will be more important than ever. As many of you know, NAVCENT and the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain have really been a great showcase for what it means to marry regional integration and innovative technology. For example, Task Force 59 has been using artificial intelligence and unmanned systems to better secure the region's vital waterways. Mutually-beneficial alliances and partnerships are our greatest global strategic advantage. Let me state clearly what President Biden has made clear himself: Our commitment to the Middle East region is unshakeable because the region is vitally im-portant to our shared future and deeply interwoven with American interests and those of our Allies. The approach to the Middle East region that I have described requires tremendous commitment, tenacity and persistent engagement at all levels of the U.S. government, from the President on down, including Cabinet-level officials, the USCENTCOM Commander, and of course the military officers and civil servants who work every day to make this vision a reality. As Secretary Austin has made clear through his personal oversight of the strategy's development and implementation, the NDS is truly the "North Star" guiding the Department. The Department is acting urgently to sustain and strengthen deterrence, and we need to leverage our unparalleled network of allies and partners around the world to work together and enable our comparative advantages. Your voices are part of the rich thinking that will help the United States and our allies and partners maintain our military advantage and promote peace and security in the Middle East and around the globe. https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3406446/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel/Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson on settlements expansion and housing demolitions European External Action Service (EEAS) 24.05.2023 EEAS Press Team The European Union is gravely concerned by and condemns the decision of the Israeli authorities to allow Israeli citizens to establish permanent presence in the outpost in Homesh in the occupied West Bank. The EU urges the Israeli government to reverse this and its decisions taken on 17 May to advance plans for more than 600 housing units in existing and new settlements in the West Bank. Settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the viability of the two-state solution. Such unilateral actions go against efforts to lower tensions on the ground. The EU is appalled to learn that the Palestinian community of Ein Samiya in the occupied West Bank, which comprises 172 people, including 78 children, was forced to leave their homes permanently, as a result of repeated settler attacks and demolition orders. The EU firmly condemns settler violence and calls on Israel to ensure accountability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China places buoys in Nansha Islands in South China Sea, 'demonstrating sovereignty, jurisdiction' Global Times By Liu Xuanzun, Xu Yelu and Guo Yuandan Published: May 24, 2023 08:28 PM China announced on Wednesday that it has recently placed three buoys in some reefs of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, a move experts said serves to not only provide navigation safety, but also shows that China is safeguarding its territorial sovereignty, demonstrating it is the true owner of South China Sea islands. To ensure navigation and the safe operation of vessels, the Southern Navigation Service Center of the Maritime Safety Administration under China's Ministry of Transport recently placed three light buoys in waters off the Huo'ai, the Niu'e and the Nanxun reefs of the Nansha Islands, the ministry said in a press release on Wednesday. The announcement came after the Philippines said earlier this month that it had placed navigational buoys within its self-proclaimed exclusive economic zone in an attempt to claim sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, Reuters reported on May 14. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, it installed the buoys in five areas, including the Niu'e and the Huo'ai reefs, Philippine news website inquirer.net reported. It means that at least two Chinese buoys are placed in places overlapping the Philippine ones, observers pointed out. China's buoy placements show it has the capability and the determination to stabilize the situation in the South China Sea, Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday China does not want to see turbulence in the region, nor does it want any party to take provocative moves to stimulate or escalate tensions in the South China Sea, Xu said. As the true owner of islands and reefs in the South China Sea, China's buoy placements are proof of its effective administration and exercise of rights in safeguarding its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and maritime rights, Ding Duo, deputy director of the Research Center for Oceans Law and Policy at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday. By placing the buoys, China is also fulfilling its international obligation as the largest country in the region, providing maritime public goods to the international community to safeguard navigation safety, Ding said. In 2015, China built the lighthouses on the Huayang Reef and Chigua Reef of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, providing passing vessels with efficient guidance and substantially improving navigational safety. Tensions in the South China Sea have been rising after the US gained access to four additional military bases of the Philippines in April, and the largest-ever US-Philippines Balikatan joint military exercise this year targeting China, observers said. As a country from outside the region, the US is instigating the Philippines to make provocations against China and uses it as a forward deployment outpost, so it can reinforce the weaker part in the first island chain which aims to contain China, analysts said. At a time when a Cold War mentality as well as regional bloc confrontation are resurging, it is important to iron out differences and show China's positive will to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, promote cooperation in less-sensitive fields and deepen maritime governance cooperation in the region, experts said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Unified Support for our Ally Turkiye US Marine Corps News 24 May 2023 | Capt. MacKenzie Margroum Marine Corps Forces Europe TURKEY -- Marines and Sailors from Task Force 61/2, commanded by Brig. Gen. Andrew Priddy, operating under U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Sixth Fleet, and U.S. European Command supported the U.S. Department of Defense's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in Turkiye for over ten weeks, standing up a 24-hour crisis center, delivering hundreds of tons of aid, and standing up a field hospital. In coordination with the Government of Turkiye and U.S. Agency for International Development the DoD concluded their earthquake relief support on May 3, 2023. Since Feb 6. the U.S. military, facilitated relief requests from our Turkish Ally by coordinating with USAID following the catastrophic earthquakes that tragically struck Turkiye and Syria. Hours after the earthquake, U.S. Marines and Sailors from U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Sixth Fleet, Task Force 61/2 established a forward crisis response operations center, led by Brig. Gen. Andrew Priddy, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkiye, in close coordination with USAID and Turkish officials. "Our U.S. military worked in support of Turkiye, our NATO ally, and hand-in-hand with our USAID and Embassy teams to provide critical relief support and material in the aftermath of such a horrific natural disaster," said Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. "I thank every Sailor, Marine, Soldier and Airmen involved for your steadfast commitment the people of Turkiye, a country known for its hospitality and for helping other countries during in their time of need." The U.S. Air Force's 39th Air Base Wing will continue to facilitate the flow of relief material through Incirlik Air Base, in continued coordination with Turkish officials and USAID. The seamless integration between the DoD and USAID was instrumental in delivering relief material across Turkiye. "Our relationship with the DoD is strong," said Stephen Allen, USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team Lead. "From the very beginning, we understood working with DoD was crucial because of the severity of the earthquakes." Allen added, "Our main role was to make sure we were looking at the capabilities of the U.S. Federal Government and that's why our relationship with DoD was so critical because the DoD provided additional capabilities." "We knew we had to come together quickly," said Brig. Gen. Andrew Priddy, commanding general, Task Force 61/2. "From the moment we arrived, we understood the scope of devastation and our team came together immediately to support USAID in their efforts of providing humanitarian assistance to our ally Turkiye." The U.S. military, along with U.S. allies and partners, delivered more than 35.2 million pounds of humanitarian aid to Incirlik Air Base. The task force's aviation support, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, alone, flew critical humanitarian aid and delivery missions, transporting 573,250 pounds of aid throughout the devastated areas of Turkiye. TF 61/2 and USAID also delivered 40,000 pounds of humanitarian assistance on 113 pallets from the USS Hershel "Woody" Williams to the Turkish Ministry of Interior's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency. Additionally, TF 61/2 and Airmen from 633d Surgical Operations Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, and Medical Installation Support Team built and manned a 100-bed field hospital in Antakya, Turkiye. "Being able to be in another country to help out people in need means a lot to me," said Staff Sgt. Perseus Duites, U.S. Air Force paramedic, MIST. "I'm an immigrant from the Philippines who was aided by the United States Air Force after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. This was my way of paying back a debt of honor." The field hospital is equipped with an emergency room, two operating rooms, and an intensive care unit. Along with the field hospital's emergency care, it is capable of providing pediatric and gynecological care. For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary General thanks Latvia for commitment to NATO NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 24 May. 2023 Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins to NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (24 May 2023), thanking the Prime Minister for Latvia's contributions to the Alliance, including leadership on defence spending, and deployments to maritime operations and missions in Kosovo and Iraq. Mr Stoltenberg also thanked Prime Minister Karins for Latvia's substantial political and military support to Ukraine, including through NATO's comprehensive assistance package, and by providing training - together with Canada - for thousands of Ukrainian soldiers. Looking ahead to the NATO Summit in July, the Secretary General outlined his expectations, saying: "It is vital that we step up and sustain our support to ensure Ukraine prevails as a free and sovereign nation. In Vilnius we will also continue to strengthen our own deterrence and defence - with new regional defence plans, a new force model, and a strengthened command structure. And I expect we will agree on an ambitious new defence investment pledge in Vilnius with 2 percent of GDP as a floor, not a ceiling." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General outlines "The Road to Vilnius" at Brussels Forum NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 24 May. 2023 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg outlined preparations for the Vilnius Summit in July at the Brussels Forum on Wednesday (24 May 2023). The Brussels Forum is an annual event organised by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. In a session titled "The Road to Vilnius", moderated by Helene Cooper of the New York Times, the Secretary General stressed that NATO Allies are providing unprecedented support to Ukraine and are determined to sustain it for as long as it takes. At the Vilnius Summit, Allied leaders will further strengthen the political relationship with Ukraine, as well as NATO practical support for the longer term. He made clear that Russian President Putin underestimated the bravery, the resolve and the courage of Ukraine, but he also underestimated NATO. "He didn't expect at all our unity, our resolve to support Ukraine. And we have provided a lot of support over a long period of time," said Mr Stoltenberg. The Secretary General stressed the importance of Europe and North America working together in NATO in a more dangerous and competitive world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain takes command of NATO Mission Iraq NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 24 May. 2023 Lieutenant General Jose Antonio Aguero Martinez of Spain assumed command of NATO Mission Iraq on Wednesday (24 May 2023) at a change of command ceremony in Baghdad. He succeeds Lieutenant General Giovanni Maria Iannucci of Italy, who had been in post since May 2022. "Over the past 12 months, we have worked hard, along with the Iraqi security forces and institutions; together we have agreed areas and priorities to work upon, in order to boost structural changes and reforms necessary to make the Iraqi security forces even more effective and sustainable, so that they themselves are able to stabilise their country, fight terrorism, and prevent the return of Daesh," Lieutenant General Iannucci said. "Tangible results have been achieved to create the conditions for lasting security in Iraq and stability across the region. Indeed more work lies ahead, but the cooperation developed with our Iraqi counterparts is solid and is moving forward," he added. Lieutenant General Jose Antonio Aguero Martinez pointed out: "Our Iraqi colleagues have their own history, culture, organization and tradition. It is up to the them to organise their national security framework; through NATO Mission Iraq, we will continue to provide our advice in a manner tailored to Iraqi requirements." Established in Baghdad in October 2018, NATO Mission Iraq is a non-combat advisory and capacity-building mission that assists Iraq in building more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions and armed forces, so that Iraq is able to stabilize the country, fight terrorism, and prevent the return of Daesh. All efforts of NATO Mission Iraq are carried out with the consent of the Iraqi government and conducted in full respect of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity. NATO Mission Iraq is a concrete demonstration of NATO's readiness to address all challenges to the Euro-Atlantic region, from any direction. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A look at the Defence news 15- 21 May Netherlands Ministry of Defence 24-05-2023 Last week, HNLMS Tromp launched two missiles into the Norwegian Sea as part of a military exercise. The large-scale maritime Exercise Formidable Shield was conducted both there and in the Atlantic Ocean. The Dutch frigate HNLMS Van Amstel also took part in the exercise. Record drugs haul in Caribbean thanks to improved intelligence Last year, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, together with various partners, intercepted almost 35 tonnes of drugs. Never before in this region was so much contraband taken off the market in one year. Improved intelligence played an important role in this success. This information and much more can be found in the coastguard's annual report, which the Netherlands Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren sent to the House of Representatives last week. Successful completion of compensation projects after Hawija bombardment The two projects to restore and improve infrastructure, basic services and employment in the Iraqi town of Hawija have been completed successfully. The Netherlands Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren recently informed the House of Representatives to that effect in a letter. In 2021, the Netherlands commissioned two organisations to carry out the two projects. The projects were initiated after a Dutch F-16 attack on an ISIS bomb factory caused a large and unexpected explosion. HNLMS Holland intercepts almost 1,400 kilos of cocaine just before return HNLMS Holland is back in the port of Den Helder, after it had been deployed as the Royal Netherlands Navy's guard ship in the Caribbean for seven months. Before the patrol vessel set sail for the Netherlands, it managed to thwart the plans of drug smugglers one last time. The Royal Netherlands Navy ship intercepted almost 1,400 kilos of cocaine in two days. The Ministry of Defence released this news last week. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fighting persists in Sudan despite new truce as UN urges halt to violence Iran Press TV Wednesday, 24 May 2023 11:41 AM Sudan's shaky ceasefire has remained in force as the rank-and-file members continue to fight, prompting the United Nation's rights chief to urge the nation's top generals to stop the "senseless violence." Witness accounts cited by news outlets on Wednesday said clashes between rival military factions could be heard overnight in parts of Sudan's capital, Khartoum. This is while a week-long ceasefire designed to allow for the delivery of aid and lay the ground for a more lasting truce has been in force since Monday. The ceasefire agreed by Sudan's warring factions entered into force hours after five weeks of intensive fighting that was to conclude after the country's army launched huge airstrikes across the capital Khartoum against positions of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). However, local residents reported that the sound of clashes could still be heard overnight in Khartoum. Residents of Omdurman, one of the three cities around the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers that make up Sudan's greater capital, said there had been exchanges of fire late on Tuesday in several areas. Heavy artillery fire could be heard near the Wadi Sayidna military base on the outskirts of the capital, they said. Reacting to the continued fighting in Sudan, the United Nations human rights chief called on the country's top military brass to end the conflict. Volker Turk called on the two sides' warring generals on Wednesday to stop the violence and spare the lives of civilians. He said the conditions in Sudan were bad, describing the situation there as "heartbreaking". "General (Abdel Fattah) al-Burhan, General (Mohamed Hamdan) Dagalo, you must issue clear instructions, in no uncertain terms to all those under your command that ...civilians must be spared and you must stop this senseless violence now," Turk told a Geneva press briefing, directly addressing the two Sudanese generals. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egypt, Saudi Arabia Reportedly Looking to Buy Chinese Weapons Sputnik News 20230524 Fantine Gardinier China is reportedly currently in talks with Saudi Arabia and Egypt to sell the two Arab states a variety of new weapons, including the Chengdu J-10C, the fighter jet that forms the backbone of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). A Monday report published by Tactical Report, a Beirut-based intelligence service, has claimed that Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is currently in talks with China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) to buy fighter jets, reconnaissance drones, and air defense systems. The agency also said negotiations have continued between the Egyptian Air Force and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, with the two sides meeting on the sidelines of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia on Tuesday. Cairo seeks a dozen of Chengdu's J-10C fighter jets, which have only been sold abroad to Pakistan thus far. First unveiled in 2006 after it had already entered PLAAF service, the J-10 was the first indigenously-designed Chinese fighter jet to approach the capabilities of those built by Russia and the West. It has an advanced radar, a fly-by-wire control system, a top speed of Mach 1.8, and can perform ground strike missions in addition to interceptor duties, which are its primary purpose. Riyadh is reportedly seeking to acquire the Sky Saker FX80, a truck-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); the CR500 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV; Cruise Dragon 5 and 10 loitering munitions; and the HQ-17AE short-range air defense system, which was derived from Russia's Tor-M1 SHORAD system. Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia are among the world's top weapons importers, and both have been increasingly looking to Russia and China as partners in multiple fields in order to reduce their dependence on the United States. Beijing has expanded its cooperation with Riyadh in recent years on multiple fronts, including economic, military, and diplomatic, recently helping to negotiate a revival of relations with Iran. The Saudi appetite for weapons has also been fueled by its eight-year-long war in Yemen against the Houthi movement, with whom peace talks are presently underway. Egypt has historically enjoyed a closer relationship with Russia than Saudi Arabia has, and its military equipment is a testament to that: where the Saudis fly US-made F-15s, the Egyptians field Russian-made MiG-29s. Both nations also use US-made F-16s. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denmark Joins EU Military Cooperation as It Drops Historic Opt-Out Sputnik News 20230524 Igor Kuznetsov Pundits have described the move as a signal of Denmark moving closer to the EU, as the US and UK, its traditional security and military partners, have become increasingly unreliable. In a historic milestone, Denmark has ended its 30-year-long opt-out on EU's military collaboration and joined the Permanent Structured Cooperation program, also known as PESCO. This is a result of a referendum held in June 2022, in which Danes voted in favor of joining the EU's common security and defense policy and contributing to the bloc's military missions and operations. To complete this shift, Denmark also joined the European Defense Agency. According to Denmark's acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, with this move, Denmark has become a full member of the EU's joint defense policy. "Now we have cleared all obstacles from the table in relation to being able to cooperate on the EU's defense dimension. So it's a really good day for Denmark," Poulsen told local media. This move was also welcomed by the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell, who praised Denmark for joining "the core of our defense cooperation." Christine Nissen, a researcher of the EU's defense and security policy at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), argued that this constitutes a change of heart. "In the past, we have aligned ourselves very closely with the US and the UK in security and defense policy. But those partners have become more uncertain cards in recent years, and now we are instead moving closer to the other European countries in the area," Nissen told Danish media. What is PESCO? The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is seen as a key EU military initiative. It provides a framework for defense cooperation among the 26 participating states (from Sweden in the north to Cyprus in the south), which jointly develop defense capabilities, coordinate investments, enhance the operational readiness, interoperability and resilience of their armed forces through various collaboration projects. As of now, PESCO involves 68 projects covering areas ranging from training facilities, land formation systems, maritime and air systems, cyber, and enabling joint multiple services and space. They range from a joint intelligence school in Greece to a Romanian-led project to train soldiers to protect themselves against chemical or nuclear attacks. Denmark's Newfound Military Interests Earlier this spring, the Danish Defense Ministry said it would allocate DKK 38 billion ($5.6 billion) on bolstering its military in order to get closer to NATO's spending target. The money will be spent on gear, equipment, buildings, information technology, personnel and new investments. The ministry cited the "current geopolitical situation" which warrants "more resources." The Danish military has also placed a stronger emphasis on its forward presence in the Baltic countries, ostensibly to "protect" them from Russia. Last but not least, Denmark's massive military spending spree, also involves bulging aid to the Kiev regime in the Ukraine conflict, which involves funding, materiel and training. Nevertheless, despite unprecendented funding, the Danish military remains admittedly understaffed to the point of curtailing its overseas presence in the Middle East and limiting its Arctic patrols. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories continues to deteriorate: UK statement at the Security Council Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East. 24 May 2023 President, the security situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories has deteriorated further to the detriment of both Israelis and Palestinians. In Gaza, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militant factions fired 1,748 rockets at Israel. Indiscriminate rockets from Gaza caused the needless deaths of an Israeli and 4 Gazans. The UK condemns unequivocally the indiscriminate fire of rockets against civilians and all forms of terrorism. The UK Foreign Secretary welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and militant factions in Gaza, and is grateful for the support of Egypt, Qatar and the US. We urge all parties to honour the ceasefire and prevent further loss of life. President, the UK supports Israel's right to self-defence. But Israeli conduct must always be in line with international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, humanity, proportionality and military necessity. We were concerned by the reports of at least 12 civilian deaths, including 6 children, in Israeli strikes in Gaza. This month, we have also seen further deaths in the West Bank, where Israeli security forces have killed 110 Palestinians this year, including militants and civilians. If killing continues at this rate, 2023 will be the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since UN records began in 2004. Israeli security forces must show restraint in their use of force and investigate civilian casualties. 19 Israelis, residents and tourists including Lucy, Maia and Rina Dee, have already been killed in terrorist attacks in 2023. The Palestinian Authority must also re-assert control over Area A and take steps to tackle terrorism. President, a solution to this conflict won't be found until both Israel and the Palestinians tackle inflammatory rhetoric and incitement, as they agreed in Sharm El Sheikh on 19 March. Yet only last week, we heard from President Abbas and Israeli participants in the Flag March in Jerusalem racist slogans and slurs. Such rhetoric and incitement, including by both Israeli and Palestinian political leaders undermines the cause of peace. Israel must also tackle increasing settler violence and coercion which on Monday resulted in the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population from Ein Samiya and desist from settler expansion which is illegal under international law. Finally President, the United Kingdom also strongly supports the historic Status Quo governing Jerusalem's holy sites and values the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's important role as custodian. The UK remains firm in its belief that a negotiated two state solution, based on 1967 lines with Jerusalem as a shared capital, is the only way to ensure a lasting peace, security and prosperity between the two parties. At the General Assembly committee meeting on voluntary contributions to UNRWA in June, it is vital that the international community puts the agency onto a sustainable footing to protect the delivery of critical services to millions of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA is crucial to stability throughout the region. As the Foreign Secretary stated on 14 May, the UK will support all efforts to promote dialogue and create a pathway towards a just and sustainable peace. The first step on that pathway is clear: both sides must honour the commitments they made in good faith in Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK pledges support for over a million people in East Africa The UK Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell has announced a new package of humanitarian support for people affected by food insecurity, drought, conflict and climate change in East Africa. 24 May 2023 UK today pledges vital life-saving assistance to East Africa to support vulnerable communities new funding will support people facing the drastic impacts of drought, conflict, food insecurity and climate change in countries across East Africa including Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya UK support will also provide humanitarian assistance to Sudan, to help address people's urgent needs, one month after conflict broke out in the country The Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell will announce humanitarian aid to East Africa at the UN Horn of Africa pledging conference today [Wednesday 24 May]. This vital assistance will enable the UN and NGO partners to continue the delivery of cash support; the delivery of water and sanitation services; and the supply of specialised health and nutrition treatment. As vulnerable countries are impacted by more frequent and more severe weather events, the UK is supporting them to adapt and build resilience for the long term. Funding will boost the climate resilience of communities and provide support for those displaced due to drought and extreme weather. The conference is co-hosted by the UK, Qatar, Italy and the US and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In a video statement to the UN, Minister Andrew Mitchell will pledge 143 million for East Africa, 96 million of which is going to the drought-impacted countries of the Horn. The minister will call for long-term solutions to break the cycle of crises afflicting the region, sustainable development, and adapting to climate change. The Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said: The Horn of Africa faces one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in the world. The catastrophic drought over the last 2 years has brought unimaginable suffering and millions cannot access adequate water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. As we've sadly seen in Sudan, conflict across East Africa is tearing apart communities, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the violence. Our funding could not come at a more critical moment, and it is clear that we must act now, and do all we can to save lives. Across the Horn of Africa around 43 million people require humanitarian aid due to the devastating effects of conflict and climate change. The Horn of Africa has also experienced a drought of an unprecedented nature following 5 seasons of failed rains, with livelihood systems collapsing, millions displaced and hundreds of thousands of children forced to drop out of school. The new UK funding will address the crisis by supporting victims of gender-based violence, providing families with access to basic services, nutritional support, emergency food and cash assistance and sustainable water supplies. As part of the UK, US and Qatar's pledges made today, all 3 countries have partnered to commit 8.4 million for drought response and resilience support in Somalia. The UK is also pursuing all avenues to secure safe humanitarian access in Sudan, and UK support pledged today includes 21.7 million to help address people's urgent needs. The UK continues to call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to uphold international humanitarian law and allow life-saving humanitarian access in Sudan. Background the UK has committed 143 million to East Africa for the financial year 2023 to 2024. The funding includes: 42 million for Ethiopia 5.8 million for Kenya 48 million for Somalia 18.9 million for South Sudan 21.7 million for Sudan 7 million for Uganda as a longstanding and committed donor to Sudan, the UK has contributed more than 250 million in humanitarian aid in the past 5 years across East Africa the UN estimates that almost 72 million people require humanitarian aid this year due to a combination of pressures, following 5 seasons of failed rains, conflict and flooding the FCDO will host a conference at Wilton Park 17 to 19 July to bring together key stakeholders to look at how we can improve access to climate finance for countries with high humanitarian needs as part of the UK's commitment to Somalia, the US, Qatar and the UK have jointly pledged/provided 8.4 million to support urgent assistance and build resilience to the drought through the Building Resilience Communities in Somalia (BRCiS) consortium. The UK contribution to this partnership is 2 million, with the UK taking on grant management and technical leadership the London School of Tropical Medicine estimate 43,000 excess deaths occurred in Somalia in 2022 due to drought, half of which were children under 5 years old NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Targeted attacks on humanitarian assets threaten the humanitarian response in South Sudan UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 24 May 2023 The escalating violence against humanitarians and looting of humanitarian supplies leaves countless people without access to life-saving support (Juba, 24 May 2023) The Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim (ai) in South Sudan, Mr. Peter Van der Auweraert, strongly condemns a targeted attack and looting of humanitarian assets outside the UN Compound in Bor, Jonglei State. On 23 May, a large armed group on motorbikes looted five lorries loaded with food supplies outside of the UN compound in Bor. "All looting of humanitarian assets and attacks on humanitarian facilities is utterly unacceptable. Humanitarians save lives and must be able to safely deliver life-saving supplies to those in need," said Peter Van der Auweraert. The lorries were loaded with 100 metric tonnes of WFP food assistance, enough to feed more than 11,000 people for one month. The food was to support those in most need living in Twic East. Almost 7 metric tonnes of the food was looted in the attack. Following the incident, WFP has paused movements out of Bor for the third time this year. "WFP has been grappling with a significant number of attacks on our convoys this year, as we provide humanitarian aid to people in urgent need of assistance," said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Representative to South Sudan. "To have lorries attacked on the perimeter of the UN compound is beyond unacceptable and we have no choice but to pause operations out of Bor until the safety and security of our staff and assets can be assured. This will have an impact upon more than a million people in Jonglei and Pibor, many of whom are women and children, who rely on the assistance WFP provides." Since the beginning of the year, there have been several violent acts against humanitarian personnel and assets. Humanitarian access continues to be adversely affected by sub-national and inter-communal violence, operational interference, and physical constraints, affecting the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance. Contributory factors are escalating conflict, disturbing trends of physical assault, detention, intimidation and harassment against aid workers, confiscation of humanitarian assets and looting of humanitarian aid. "Millions of people in South Sudan bear the brunt of the protracted humanitarian crisis. They face appalling living conditions, limited access to basic goods and services, and a heightened risk of genderbased violence, and rely on life-saving support," stated Peter Van der Auweraert. "The crisis in Sudan leaves millions of families in South Sudan at risk and they need extra humanitarian support," he added. The fighting which erupted in Sudan on 15 April this year, forced thousands of people to flee their homes. As of 24 May, 71,605 people have been registered crossing the border from Sudan into South Sudan. Of those, over 93 per cent are South Sudanese returnees, whereas the remaining are refugees and third-country nationals. The Sudan crisis puts an additional strain on the humanitarian response as humanitarian organisations are redirecting their limited resources toward the new emergency to address the most critical needs of the newly arriving vulnerable returnees and refugees. "Soaring prices, disruption of supply chains and a lack of basic services are negatively impacting the already overstretched humanitarian response. Looting of humanitarian assistance further compounds the problem faced by the neediest," Peter Van der Auweraert added. *Notes to editors An estimated 9.4 million people, 76 per cent of South Sudan's population, are projected to need humanitarian and/or protection assistance in 2023. Before this latest crisis, South Sudan has 2.2 million internally displaced persons; over 1.4 million people identifying as returnees; over 5.8 million resident population projected to have critical life-threatening needs; and 337,000 refugees. In 2023, humanitarian partners are targeting 6.8 million people with urgent life-saving assistance and protection services. As of 24 May 2023, the Humanitarian Response Plan is reported as funded at 27.8 per cent. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Enduring PACE exercise bolsters communications readiness throughout South Korea Published May 24, 2023 By Lt. Col. Kelley Jeter and Master Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman 7th Air Force Public Affairs OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- In modern warfare, the ability to communicate rapidly and effectively can be the difference between victory and defeat. To effectively maintain Fight Tonight readiness and provide the best possible defense of the of South Korea, servicemembers must function test their capabilities and identify ways to improve their procedures, which is exactly why they conduct routine training exercises. The 7th Air Force recently conducted exercise Enduring PACE from May 15-19. The exercise put communication equipment to the test and involved communications Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, the 51st FW, the 607th Air Operations Center at Osan AB and other communications units dispersed throughout South Korea. "Enduring PACE is an exercise that practices communications resilience across multiple networks, ensuring the commander's ability to operate in any environment," said Master Sgt. Adam Johnson, 7th Air Force contingency and exercise manager. "The 8th Communication Squadron, 51st CS, 607th Air Communications Squadron and 607th Materiel Maintenance Squadron detachments, execute exercise requirements in parallel while maintaining coordination with 7th AF Staff." A key aspect of contingency communication is the efficiency in which equipment can be deployed and employed. "Our portion of this exercise is doing an in-house contingency test of all our systems," said Staff Sgt. Acacia Gilbert, 607th ACOMS radio frequency transmissions supervisor. "We are trying to see how quickly we can get our systems up and running and functional, according to our base plan." Enduring PACE aimed at establishing operational-to-tactical communications linkages, which are essential for command and control during contingencies. Another goal was to conduct communication systems validation between all Air Force components from contingency locations throughout the South Korea. "Communication resilience across the peninsula is essential for South Korea and U.S. to partner effectively," Johnson said. "With the capability to communicate quickly and securely, our partnership can coordinate operations across different regions and respond to changes more effectively. Without reliable communication for command and control, our ability to project air power promptly would be degraded." Every exercise has challenges and shortfalls and that is a good thing because it provides the opportunity for process improvement. "The greatest success of this exercise is our Airmen's ability to adapt and overcome challenges to achieve their objectives," Johnson said. "Looking at all the entities involved across 7AF, U.S. Forces Korea, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Defense Information Systems Agency, the Airmen on the ground shoulder the preponderance of responsibilities. Their dedication not only provides command and control during exercises but in everyday life in the Air Force." Exercise Enduring PACE is conducted quarterly as part of the routine training cycle in South Korea. "One goal of the exercise is to stoke innovation in the future of command and control," Johnson said. "The 7th AF takes feedback from all units involved to help shape the future of communications. As Enduring PACE continues each quarter, we're excited to see where the next generation of Airman take us." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO task group strengthens high-end capabilities with French Navy ahead of Toulon port visit US Navy 24 May 2023 From Cmdr. Fernando Estrella, NATO Allied Maritime Command TOULON, France -- During a busy period in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) flagship, USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), carried out a series of exercises and activities with FS Languedoc (D653) of the French Navy. These included vigilance surveillance, cross-deck boat operations, as well as surface, communications and electronic warfare exercises, in order to enhance the collective readiness and warfighting skills of the NATO task group. While FS Languedoc then sailed to the Eastern Mediterranean to continue her vigilance activities, USS James E. Williams sailed into the French port of Toulon on 19 May, for a scheduled three-day visit. A programme of key leader engagement served to strengthen ties with France, one of NATO's key Allies. SNMG2 Commander, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Scott Sciretta, also invited media to board the ship. "As a result of our maritime responsibilities in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea throughout a large part of our deployment this past year, this is actually the first French port call SNMG2 has conducted under my command," said Sciretta. "I want to make it clear how important it is for us to be here today and engage with French leadership. As one of the original 12 founding members, since 1949 France has played a key leadership role working within the NATO Alliance, to ensure the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. "During my tenure," he continued, "France has been a tremendous intelligence-gathering and anti-submarine warfare asset to my SNMG2 Task Group. I couldn't be more impressed with the professionalism and performance of the French Naval assets and Sailors that have served under my command." The crew of the USS James E. Williams made the most of the port visit, touring Marseille, Le Panier, Vieux Port, and Esplanade St. Jean. "This is my first time visiting this part of the world and I am excited for the opportunity to experience it," said Petty Officer Alphonse Powell, from Plainfield, New Jersey. "It's exciting to visit the south of France, there's so much culture and history. I loved seeing some of the beautiful architecture, and to the people of France, merci beaucoup NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban Guidelines for Women's Work 'Nearly Complete' By Akmal Dawi May 24, 2023 Months after banning Afghan women from work for the United Nations and other aid agencies, Taliban authorities have told aid workers that new guidelines allowing women to return to humanitarian work are almost complete. "Taliban leaders in Kandahar said 'guidelines' that will allow women back to work & resume girls' education are 'nearly completed,'" Jon Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), tweeted on Wednesday after meeting Taliban officials in their stronghold in southern Afghanistan. The Taliban have not said when the new rules will go into effect. It is also unclear whether the new guidelines will permit women to return to jobs in public service. A Taliban official who met Egeland said aid agencies should expand their operations because "corruption and insecurity have been completely terminated" in Afghanistan. Immediately after seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban fired almost all female government employees except in the health and education sectors. No woman serves in the Taliban's interim cabinet. The Islamist leadership has also closed secondary schools for girls for nearly two years, though it has said the ban is temporary and will be lifted after new guidelines are completed. Until the new guidelines are announced, some female aid workers could return to work under an interim solution. "We have initial agreement of looking for interim solutions so that our brave professional female colleagues can come back to work," Egeland said in a video adding that the NRC would not work with male-only staff. Since the ban on women's work, the NRC has downgraded its activities in Afghanistan by 40%, Egeland said. Huge funding gaps In addition to sparking widespread international condemnation, the ban on women's work has also adversely affected humanitarian operations in Afghanistan. On Wednesday, the U.N. warned about "huge funding gaps" disrupting critical aid work in the country. To assist over 28 million vulnerable Afghans, some of whom face starvation, the U.N. has asked donors for $4.6 billion this year. As of May 24, less than 8% of the appeal ($353 million) has been fulfilled. The United States has contributed about $35 million to the appeal this year, second only to Japan's $61 million contribution. Last year, the United States was the largest donor to the Afghanistan appeal and gave over $1.2 billion. Earlier this year, Thomas West, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, warned that aid to Afghanistan would be reduced for various reasons. In response to global criticism of their misogynistic policies, Taliban officials insist their denial of women's basic rights is an internal Afghanistan matter and that it should not be "politicized" to cut off aid to the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan Restarts Direct Flights to China After 3 Years By Ayaz Gul May 24, 2023 The Taliban have announced the resumption of direct flights between Afghanistan and China after a gap of three years, saying it would help boost bilateral economic and political relations. The first weekly passenger flight of the national flag carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines left Kabul on Wednesday for Urumqi, the capital of the western Chinese border province of Xinjiang. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the air operation in early 2020. The Taliban deputy minister for transport and civil aviation, Ghulam Jilani Wafa, hailed the resumption of the air service while addressing reporters at the airport in the Afghan capital. "These flights would directly impact enhancing economic, political, and commercial ties between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and China," Wafa said, using the official title for the Taliban's unrecognized government. No country, including China, has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, mainly over human rights concerns and restrictions imposed on women's access to education and work. China has stepped up engagements with its conflict-ravaged neighbor since the Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021, when all United States-led Western troops closed out their involvement in the Afghan war and departed the country after almost two decades. On Tuesday, the Chinese ambassador to Kabul, Wang Yu, told Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi that Beijing "has maintained normal relations with Afghanistan and is willing to strengthen it." Muttaqi's office said the Chinese diplomat promised his country would facilitate increased Afghan exports to China and expedite "preliminary work" on the Mes Ainak mines, which contain Afghanistan's largest copper deposits. The Taliban's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has said it hopes for Chinese investment in the site, which is about 40 kilometers southeast of the Afghan capital. In April, the ministry reportedly talked with a Chinese company about a potential $10 billion deal to extract lithium but offered no further details. The South Asian nation has an estimated untapped mineral deposit of about $1 trillion, including iron ore, copper, lithium, gold, gemstones, and hydrocarbon resources. In January, Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar and Wang jointly announced a contract with a Chinese company to extract oil from the Amu Darya basin in the northern provinces of Afghanistan over the next 25 years. The deal would bring about $540 million in Chinese investment and would create an estimated 3,000 jobs, according to Taliban officials. China reportedly will build a refinery in Afghanistan to process the oil. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended a trilateral dialogue with the Taliban and Pakistan in Islamabad earlier in May, and he agreed to extend Beijing's global Belt and Road Initiative to Afghanistan. Islamabad has received billions of dollars in Chinese investment, building major economic infrastructure projects, such as roads, power plants, and ports. The collaboration the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC is the BRI's flagship project. Both countries say they are set to link it to Afghanistan to promote regional connectivity. The Chinese foreign ministry recently released an 11-point policy statement regarding Afghanistan. It emphasized the need for the Taliban to ensure "moderate and prudent" governance in Afghanistan through an "open and inclusive" political structure, while urging the international community to enhance engagement with Kabul. The statement also expressed hope the de facto Afghan authorities would fulfill their "commitment in earnest" to effectively combat terrorism. In exchange for its economic outreach, China primarily seeks assurances from the Taliban to prevent the spread of extremism from Afghanistan into Xinjiang and beyond and ensure the security of Chinese nationals. Beijing has long alleged that extremists linked to the anti-China East Turkestan Islamic Movement use sanctuaries on Afghan soil to wage cross-border terrorism. China's deepening engagement with Afghanistan apparently stems from its interest in mineral extractions and to further its own influence in the broader region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Substantial Funds Still Needed for Drought-Stricken Horn of Africa By Margaret Besheer May 24, 2023 Donors raised around a billion dollars Wednesday in new commitments for the drought-stricken Horn of Africa during a pledging conference held at the United Nations, but failed to close the gap on an appeal seeking $7 billion. "We must act now to prevent crisis from turning into catastrophe," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told donors. "Make no mistake: action will make all the difference." The U.N. says $7 billion is needed this year to assist nearly 32 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia who are facing acute food insecurity after five failed rainy seasons have caused unprecedented drought. With the year nearly half over, Guterres said they have received just 20% of the funds. "Without an immediate and major injection of funding, emergency operations will grind to a halt and people will die," he told donors. With Wednesday's commitments and the money the U.N. has already received this year, it brings the total to around $2.4 billion for the Horn. Enormous needs The U.N. children's agency, UNICEF, says more than 7 million children under the age of five are malnourished and in need of nutritional therapy. Nearly 2 million could die from severe malnutrition. Across the Horn, crops have failed and more than 13 million livestock have died, wiping out both livelihoods and food sources. Conflict in parts of Ethiopia and Somalia have further exacerbated food insecurity. Last year, a famine was averted in Somalia after increased international funding, led by the United States, helped scale up humanitarian assistance. But the country still suffered severely, with the U.N. estimating that 43,000 people died, most likely due to the drought. This year, difficulties continue, as the World Food Program had to reduce food assistance to 3 million Somalis last month due to severe funding shortfalls. Without a cash injection, the agency says it will have to make more cuts in July. U.N. deputy humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya told the conference that although famine was averted in Somalia, the humanitarian emergency is not over. "This year, while improved rains have started to ease the impacts of drought, they have brought a new set of risks and challenges, including disease outbreaks," she said. U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced an additional $524 million to address humanitarian needs in the Horn, bringing Washington's assistance to more than $1.4 billion through the end of September 2023. "In a world abundant with food, entire communities should never starve to death. Never," she said. Germany announced $226 million for this year and next; Britain pledged $178 million for East Africa, of which $120 million will target the drought-affected countries in the Horn. But many countries did not step forward with new or expanded pledges. Aid organizations disappointed International aid organizations expressed disappointment, pointing out that many pledges were not new. "This was a vital moment for rich donors to step up and show their commitment to saving lives," said Fati N'Zi-Hassane, Oxfam's Africa director. "They have failed millions of people caught up in this vicious spiral of hunger, displacement, and insecurity." "People will continue to die from hunger and malnutrition if they are not supported with long-term and scaled-up investments that address immediate needs while contributing to resilience and climate adaptation," said Allison Huggins, deputy director for Africa for Mercy Corps. "The truth is that the data, the early warning systems and some of the solutions are clear, but the political and financial commitment has so far been far too weak," David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee, told the meeting. Wednesday's conference was co-hosted by the United Nations, with the governments of Britain, Italy, Qatar and the United States, in collaboration with Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hunger emergency far from over in crisis hit Horn of Africa World Food Programme 24 May 2023 NAIROBI -- Millions of people in the Horn of Africa are trapped in a hunger emergency as the region lurches from crisis to crisis: the longest drought in recorded history has given way to rains and flash flooding, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned today. Food and energy prices remain stubbornly high and the impact of the conflict in Sudan reverberates around the region. "Conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks: the Horn of Africa region is facing multiple crises simultaneously. After five consecutive failed rainy seasons, flooding has replaced drought, killing livestock, damaging farmland, and further shattering livelihoods," said Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director for Eastern Africa. "And now the outbreak of conflict in Sudan is forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes." When the region's long-awaited rains arrived in March, they should have brought some relief. But instead, flash flooding inundated homes and farmland, washed away livestock, and closed schools and health facilities. Yet more people were forced from their homes: 219,000 people in southern Somalia, where 22 people were also killed. The last three years of drought has left more than 23 million people across parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia facing severe hunger. Mortality and malnutrition rates remain unacceptably high. Consecutive failed harvests and high transport costs have pushed food prices far beyond the reach of millions in the region. A food basket in Eastern Africa in March 2023 cost 40 percent more than a year ago. In Ethiopia, fuel prices have almost doubled in a year. It will take years for the region to recover, and humanitarian assistance is a lifeline. Yet limited humanitarian resources are being stretched further still by the conflict in Sudan, which has sent over 250,000 people fleeing into neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and South Sudan where food insecurity is already desperately high. Last year, WFP and partners launched a rapid scale up of life-saving assistance in drought-hit Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia which helped to keep famine at bay in Somalia. But now WFP is facing a funding crunch and is being forced to scale back assistance. "WFP's rapid expansion of life-saving assistance helped prevent famine in Somalia in 2022. But despite the emergency being far from over, funding shortfalls are already forcing us to reduce assistance to those who still desperately need it. Without sustainable funding for both emergency and climate adaptation solutions, the next climate crisis could bring the region back to the brink of famine," said Dunford. By the end of 2022, WFP was distributing food assistance to a record 4.7 million people in Somalia. But in April, funding shortfalls forced WFP to reduce this to 3 million people. Without additional funds, WFP will have to further reduce the emergency food assistance caseload in Somalia to just 1.8 million by July. This means that almost 3 million people will not receive support, despite their continuing needs. WFP urgently requires US$810 million over the next six months to keep life-saving assistance going and invest in long-term resilience in the Horn of Africa. # # # 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 24 May 2023 - Day 455 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 credible research by independent Russian journalists suggests that between January and May 2023, Russian military courts dealt with 1,053 cases of personnel going absent without leave (AWOL) more than during the whole of 2022. Russia's military has struggled to enforce discipline in its ranks throughout its operations in Ukraine, but its issues have highly likely worsened following the forced mobilisation of reservists since October 2022. Court data suggests that most of those found guilty of going AWOL are now punished with suspended sentences, meaning they can be redeployed to the 'special military operation'. Russia's efforts to improve discipline have focused on making examples of defaulters, and promoting patriotic zeal, rather than addressing the root causes of soldiers' disillusionment. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 24th, Russian forces carried out 17x airstrikes, launched about 20 MLRS attacks on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces. The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine. Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on the Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. In total, 23x combat clashes took place on the specified axes of the front. Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly, there are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings. Certain units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus continue to serve near the areas bordering with Ukraine. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain enhanced military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. The adversary shelled the settlements of Yanzhulivka, Chernihiv Oblast; Bunyakyne, Shpyl', Oleksiivka of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Udy, Veterinarne, Lyptsi, Zelene, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Zemlianka in the Kharkiv Oblast. Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces continue to improve tactical positions. They conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the area of Masyutivka. Stroivka, Kam'ianka, Krasne Pershe, Ridkodub, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Tabaivka, Berestov, Kharkiv Oblast, and Stelmakhivka, Luhansk Oblast, were shelled by Russians. Lyman axis: Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. They carried out an airstrike near the the settlement of Dibrova. Nevske, Belogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast were shelled by artillery; Tors'ke and Spirne of Donetsk Oblast. Bakhmut axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Ivanovs'ke. They carried out an airstrike near Bila Hora. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivs'ke, Stupochki, Kostyantynivka, Bila Hora, Torets'k, Pivnichne, Pivdene and New York of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled. Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the axis of Novokalynove and Avdiivka. Russian forces carried out airstrikes in the vicinities of Novokalynovo and Stepovo. They carried out artillery shelling at Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Karlivka, Pervomais'ke and Netaylove in the Donetsk Oblast. Mar'inka axis: units of the defense forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the area of the city of Ma'rinka. At the same time, Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast got under Russian fire. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces shelled the settlements of Vodyane, Vugledar and Velyka Novosilka. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They shelled Vremivka, Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast; Olhivs'ke, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipils'ke, Novoselivka, Omelnyk, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka, Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Veletens'ke of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson. Ukrainian Air Force carried out 7x strikes on Russian manpower and military equipment concentrations. Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 2 Russian attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type and 1 reconnaissance UAV of the "Orlan-10" type. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 2x manpower concentration areas, 4x ammunition depots, an electronic warfare station, 4x artillery units at firing positions and 4x other important Russian targets. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that following the 26 September 2022 terrorist attack on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are taking measures to protect such facilities. And not in vain. At 5:30 a.m. today, the Ukrainian Armed Forces unsuccessfully attempted to attack the Black Sea Fleet's ship Ivan Khurs ship, which is carrying out tasks to ensure the safe operation of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Turkey, by three unmanned speedboats. All the enemy's boats have been neutralised by standard weapons if the Russian warship 140 km north-east of the Bosphorus Strait. The Black Sea Fleet ship Ivan Khurs continues her missions. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Dvurechnaya, Pershotravnevoye, Timkovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic). In addition, actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been thwarted near Sinkovka and Kislovka (Kharkov region). Over 40 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and D-20 and D-30 howitzers have been neutralised in this direction during the day. In Krasny Liman direction, Russian Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces hit units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chervonaya Dibrova, Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), and Torskoye and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy has suffered losses of over 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer in this direction in the past 24 hours. Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Verkhnekamenskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). In Donetsk direction, units, aviation, and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have eliminated up to 150 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles during the day. Moreover, ammunition depots of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade and 112nd Territorial Defence Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been destroyed close to Slavyansk and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on AFU units close to Ugledar, Shevchenko (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malaya Tokmachka, Marfopol, and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region). Total enemy losses in these directions amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer. In Kherson direction, up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen, one Msta-B howitzer, and two motor vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised by fire. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 93 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 107 areas during the day. A command and observation post of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was engaged close to Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian air defence systems have shot down one MiG-29 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Griogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, 16 HIMARS projectiles have been intercepted. In addition, 20 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been downed in the areas of Pokrovskoye, Terny, Kirillovka, Krapivnitskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Zolotarevka, Chervonaya Dibrova, Novokrasnyanka, Zmiyevka (Lugansk People's Republic), Tsvetkovoye (Zaporozhye region), and Rubanovka (Kherson region). In total, 429 airplanes and 235 helicopters, 4,293 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 air defence missile systems, 9,295 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 4,893 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,433 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Terrorist Designation of al-Shabaab Leaders US Department of State Press Statement Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State May 24, 2023 The United States continues to support Somalia and our other East African partners in their efforts to disrupt al-Shabaab's operations. Countering one of al-Qa'ida's most dangerous affiliates, which has killed thousands of people, including Americans, in Somalia and across East Africa remains a shared priority with the Somali government. Today, the Department of State is designating five al-Shabaab leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended: Maxamed Siidow is a finance emir and a commander in the group's armed wing, the Jabha. Siidow oversees illicit taxation operations in Aliyow Barrow in the Lower Shabelle, Somalia. He has also led al-Shabaab fighters in attacks and participated in attack planning operations utilizing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Cali Yare is a finance emir who oversees al-Shabaab's illicit taxation operations for the village of Beled Amin, Lower Shabelle. Yare is responsible for consolidating all religious taxation and illegal taxes collected from civilians and clan elders. Yare directed and claimed responsibility for the November 14, 2018, IED attack on Somali Armed Forces near the village of Calagaad, Lower Shabelle. Maxamed Dauud Gabaane is a finance emir, responsible for all al-Shabaab finance operations in Wanlaweyn District and Beled Amin, Lower Shabelle. Gabaane also serves as the head of the group's intelligence wing, the Amniyat, in Wanlaweyn District. Gabaane operates an extensive early warning and informant network that regularly collects information on coalition forces and Somalis who work at the Baledogle Military Airfield. Suleiman Cabdi Daoud is a finance emir, and wali (commissioner) of Beled Amin. Daoud also oversees al-Shabaab's illicit taxation operations in the Lower Shabelle, responsible for collecting religious taxation from villagers. He also assists in overseeing an al-Shabaab "court" that stores fines collected from civilians in the region. Daoud previously served as an Amniyat official. Mohamed Omar Mohamed is the wali of the al-Shabaab group in the Diinsor District, Bay Region, Somalia, and has been responsible for a series of attacks targeting civilians. Mohamed was previously the wali and Jabha commander of the Berdaale District, Bay Region. Additionally, the Department of the Treasury is concurrently designating 15 al-Shabaab financial facilitators and operatives, four charcoal smugglers, and seven of their associated companies. These combined designations reflect the United States' counterterrorism priorities in Somalia and support the dynamic relationship we have established with the Somali government to counter the terrorist threats endangering their people and undermining their communities. As a result of these actions, all property and interests in property of those designated today that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and all U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them. Treasury Designations were taken under E.O. 13224, as amended, and E.O. 13536, as amended. For more information about the Treasury designations, please see this page. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Designates Terror Operatives and Illicit Charcoal Smugglers in Somalia U.S. Department of the Treasury May 24, 2023 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted 26 individuals and entities connected with the terrorist group al-Shabaab, including 15 financial facilitators and operatives, four charcoal smugglers, and seven of their associated companies. This action targets key regional leaders, affiliates, and members of the terrorist group in Somalia who are involved in a wide range of activities in support of al-Shabaab, including financial facilitation, business activities, collection of funds on behalf of the terrorist group, proliferation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and illegal charcoal smuggling from Somalia, all of which have exacerbated local conflicts and suffering. "Today's designations highlight al-Shabaab's reliance on networks of regional and international actors and entities, who provide funds, direct attacks, and enable the group's malign activities, including the manufacturing and planting of explosives in local communities and fostering corruption," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "The United States remains committed to leveraging our authorities in support of our partners, such as the Federal Government of Somalia, in their efforts to counter terrorist threats, which undermine both national and regional stability and security." These OFAC actions are taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups and their supporters, and E.O. 13536, as amended, which targets actors who directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security, or stability of Somalia. Concurrent with Treasury's designations, the U.S. Department of State designated five al-Shabaab leaders pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for their leadership roles within al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab fundraising and operational networks in somalia The al-Shabaab-associated individuals designated today have served as key regional leaders and members of the terrorist group in the Lower Shabelle, Lower Juba, and Middle Juba regions of Somalia. They have been involved in extensive revenue generation and other activities in support of al-Shabaab through the illegal fee collections from local Somalis, coercing local residents to follow al-Shabaab's directions through its illegitimate "police force," known as the Hisbah, kidnappings, and facilitating the manufacture and placement of IEDs. The illicit activities of the al-Shabaab members designated today have generated the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars to support al-Shabaab operations and weapons procurement in southern Somalia. Amid ongoing drought, food insecurity, and violent instability, money that is being collected by al-Shabaab could instead be used to help local Somalis sustain themselves through these challenges. The following are 15 Somalia-based al-Shabaab regional leaders and financial facilitators who are being designated pursuant to Treasury's counterterrorism authority: Hasaan Abshir Xuuroow (Xuuroow) is an al-Shabaab intelligence and finance officer who has led a group of other al-Shabaab associates to collect mandatory "donations" from civilians in Kismayo, Somalia. Xuuroow has taken livestock from owners as donations for al-Shabaab, later auctioning them off to make a profit for personal financial gain. Aadan Yusuf Saciid Ibrahim (Ibrahim) is an al-Shabaab mandatory donations collector in Lower Shabelle, Somalia. Specifically, Ibrahim has been responsible for enforcing the collection of fees associated with livestock and market sales. Ibrahim has levied heavy charges on behalf of al-Shabaab but retains at least some of those profits for his own personal enrichment As of early 2022, Mumin Dheere (Dheere) was the deputy emir of Wayanta, Lower Juba, Somalia. Dheere has coordinated retaliatory attacks for al-Shabaab by targeting Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) security forces, and has planned to use vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and mortars in the attacks. Separately, Dheere has also planned to attack Kismayo International Airport. Macalin Burhan (Burhan) was appointed as the al-Shabaab Hisbah Commander of the Wayanta area in Lower Juba, Somalia, in late 2021. As recently as mid-2022, al-Shabaab had imprisoned more than 80 civilians in the Wayanta area. Burhan, in his position as the al-Shabaab regional Hisbah Commander, has refused to release the civilians. Ali Ahmed Hussein (Hussein) is an al-Shabaab emir in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia. Hussein has demanded payment from local clans, assisted in the movement of al-Shabaab fighters who kidnapped citizens in Lower Shabelle, and purchased and stored weapons for al-Shabaab militants in the region. Maxamed Cali (Cali) is an al-Shabaab company commander in charge of 100 fighters. Cali reports to Dheere and has regularly associated with Roobow, Burhan, and Xuuroow. Ahmed Kabadhe (Kabadhe) was the al-Shabaab emir in Jubaland, Somalia, and has ordered al-Shabaab fighters under his command to attack and continually harass local security forces. In late 2022, al-Shabaab members Kabadhe, Dheere, Cali, and Burhan, all also designated today, plotted an attack using VBIEDs and suicide bombers. In mid-2021, Siyaat Ayuto (Ayuto) was appointed as the al-Shabaab Hisbah commander for the Wiliyat area, Lower Juba, Somalia. Previously, Ayuto served as the Hisbah commander of Beer Xaani, Somalia. Ayuto has also served as the al-Shabaab emir for Kismayo operations. Mohamed Abdullah Hirey is the al-Shabaab Governor of the Juba Region and has participated in pro-al-Shabaab propaganda. As of early 2022, Cabdi Roobow (Roobow) was a mid-level al-Shabaab commander in charge of the Wayanta area in Lower Juba, Somalia. Roobow, with Dheere and another al-Shabaab official, has planned attacks against Abdi Biroole, Lower Juba, Somalia. Hassan Yariisow Aadan is an al-Shabaab commander who has collected fees from locals in the Lower Shabelle area to support al-Shabaab. Siciid Abdullahi Aadan (Aadan) is an al-Shabaab member who has operated as an IED expert and facilitator. Separately, Aadan has also extracted fees from the local population on behalf of al-Shabaab. Shiek Aadan Abuukar Malayle is an al-Shabaab leader who oversees the collection of fees from the local population in Lower Shabelle, Somalia. The money collected by al-Shabaab is then used to purchase weapons, ammunition, and supplies for the group. Aadan Jiss (Jiss) serves as a Hisbah commander for al-Shabaab. Jiss has also managed a detention center and handled detainments for al-Shabaab's so-called "courts." Cumar Guhaad is an al-Shabaab commander in the Lower Shabelle, Somalia, who has used his leadership position in al-Shabaab to order clans in the region to pay large sums of money to support the terrorist group. Hasaan Abshir Xuuroow, Aadan Yusuf Saciid Ibrahim, Mumin Dheere, Macalin Burhan, Ali Ahmed Hussein, Maxamed Cali, Ahmed Kabadhe, Siyaat Ayuto, Hassan Yariisow Aadan, and Siciid Abdullahi Aadan are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, al-Shabaab. Mohamed Abdullah Hirey, Cabdi Roobow, Shiek Aadan Abuukar Malayle, Aadan Jiss, and Cumar Guhaad are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, al-Shabaab. Somali charcoal smuggling Network The four charcoal smugglers designated today have operated primarily between Somalia and the Persian Gulf, engaging in the illegal export of charcoal from Somalia. Charcoal smuggling has contributed to local conflicts and revenue generation for groups like al-Shabaab, as well as causing deforestation and other environmental damage. The illicit charcoal trade has previously generated the equivalent of more than $20 million in revenue per year for its associated smugglers, traffickers, and al-Shabaab. Due to its role in fueling instability in Somalia and serving as a source of revenue for criminal and terrorist organizations, the export and import of Somali charcoal after 2012 was banned pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036. Ali Ahmed Naaji Ali Ahmed Naaji (Naaji) has been a supplier and coordinator for the illicit Somali charcoal trade since at least 2013. Naaji has facilitated the export of charcoal from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), involving up to 90,000 bags of charcoal in 2016 alone. As part of Naaji's role as a smuggler, he has coordinated between charcoal suppliers, traffickers, and al-Shabaab, to include facilitating payments for moving the charcoal to al-Shabaab. Naaji has also brokered a revenue sharing agreement between the charcoal producers and al-Shabaab, as well as traffickers, and has facilitated revenue payments to al-Shabaab. Additionally, Naaji is an al-Shabaab financial facilitator and has maintained a relationship with the terrorist group since at least 2011, when he stored and distributed al-Shabaab's petroleum supplies in Somalia. Naaji has also been identified as a former al-Shabaab revenue collector for mandatory donations. Naaji is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Jamame Brothers Company, a Somalia-based company that has business ties to the UAE, Kenya, Djibouti, China, India, and Pakistan. As recently as mid-2022, Naaji transferred nearly $1.2 million to Jamame Brothers Company to finance al-Shabaab. Naaji has additionally purchased nearly 2,500 metric tons of gasoline and 2,000 metric tons of gas oil for a business linked to the Jamame Brothers Company. Naaji is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13536, as amended, for having engaged, directly or indirectly, in the import or export of charcoal from Somalia on or after February 22, 2012. Jamame Brothers Company is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13536, as amended, for being owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Naaji. Bashir Khalif Musse and his UAE- and Djibouti-based Companies Since at least 2013, Bashir Khalif Musse (Musse), a businessman based in Dubai, UAE, has been involved in the illicit charcoal trade out of Somalia. Musse has facilitated the transshipment of charcoal through Iraq and Iran ultimately to the UAE. In addition, Musse has used fraudulent charcoal shipping paperwork, such as certificates of origin and bills of lading, to facilitate his charcoal smuggling operations. As recently as 2022, Musse has continued to engage in the illicit charcoal trade, having illicitly shipped approximately 4,400 metric tons of charcoal from Somalia to the UAE. Musse owns or controls the following UAE-based companies also designated today: Sitti General Trading LLC, Kismayo General Trading LLC, and Bushra Bachir Shipping and Logistics Services L.L.C. Musse additionally owns or controls Djibouti-based companies Red Sea Transit & Transport Service and Royal Shipping Agency. Sitti General Trading LLC was the consignee and Bushra Bachir Shipping and Logistics Services L.L.C. was the charter party of the 2022 charcoal shipment from Somalia to the UAE, in which Musse was involved. Since at least 2013, Kismayo General Trading LLC has been involved in the production of fraudulent paperwork and repackaging of charcoal cargoes to disguise their origin to facilitate its import to Persian Gulf countries. Musse has similarly used Red Sea Transit & Transport Service to obtain false bills of lading. Naaji was also responsible for a shipment that used both Red Sea Transit & Transport Service and Kismayo General Trading LLC. Musse is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13536, as amended, for having engaged, directly or indirectly, in the import or export of charcoal from Somalia on or after February 22, 2012. Sitti General Trading LLC, Kismayo General Trading LLC, Red Sea Transit & Transport Service, Royal Shipping Agency, and Bushra Bachir Shipping and Logistics Services L.L.C. are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13536, as amended, for being owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Musse. Mariam Barreh Mariam Barreh (Barreh) is the director of Bushra Bachir Shipping and Logistics Services L.L.C., which was implicated in the 2022 shipment of Somali charcoal in which Musse had an interest. Barreh is a partner and investor in Bushra Bachir Shipping and Logistics Services L.L.C., however the business is ultimately controlled by her spouse, Musse. Barreh is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13536, as amended, for having engaged, directly or indirectly, in the import or export of charcoal from Somalia on or after February 22, 2012. Abdulwahab Noor Abdi As of 2014, Abdulwahab Noor Abdi (Abdi), also known as "Tomato," had brokered the charter for a charcoal delivery to Oman from al-Shabaab-controlled territory in Somalia. Abdi's operations have been referred to by locals as "Iskaashatada Yaanyo," or the "Tomato Association." Naaji, Abdi's business partner, has sent funds to Abdi totaling approximately $200,000. Both Abdi and Naaji have also previously collected funds for al-Shabaab. Abdi is a five percent shareholder in and has been the General Manager of Al Nezam Al Asasy General Trading L.L.C since 2017. Abdi was also previously the Director of Al Nezam Al Asasy General Trading L.L.C since 2012. Al Nezam Al Asasy General Trading L.L.C has separately received nearly $200,000 from Naaji. Between 2020 and 2022, Al Nezam Al Asasy General Trading L.L.C and Jamame Brothers Company have been involved in receiving at least ten Somali charcoal shipments in the UAE. Abdi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13536, as amended, for having engaged, directly or indirectly, in the import or export of charcoal from Somalia on or after February 22, 2012. Al Nezam Al Asasy General Trading L.L.C is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13536, as amended, for being owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Abdi. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with a number of the individuals and entities designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here. Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Diesel engine contract ensures capability is always ready to deploy 24 May 2023 Defence has signed a contract with Penske Australia, which will ensure local industry support for diesel engine sustainment activities to enable the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to deploy where and when needed. Acting Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm said the $190 million, five-year contract would build on the previous contract's benefits but include greater cost transparency, more effective risk management, and the opportunity to increase sovereign capability. "This is a great example of Defence's commitment to achieving improved value for money, in conjunction with a robust performance management framework that continues to support the deployment of the ADF, " Rear Admiral Malcolm said. "Penske Australia supports MTU-Friedrichshafen branded diesel engines on Navy's Anzac, Hobart and Armidale class vessels, as well as other crucial systems on Navy and Army platforms." The new contract moves Penske Australia from a fixed price arrangement to a target cost incentive model, allowing Defence to monitor actual costs and verify value, while improving efficiencies across different platforms. "The contract will support more than 90 jobs across seven Australian sites, further improving training and skills in the sustainment industry that are essential to providing the ADF with the equipment they need to complete their mission and return home safe," Rear Admiral Malcolm said. "Support for new platforms, such as the Arafura class offshore patrol vessels, can be included in the future, providing incentives for industry partners to invest in the critical area of sustainment. "This contract showcases the benefits of a collaborative partnership between Defence and its long-term Australian industry partner, Penske, who are both committed to creating value-driven solutions for materiel sustainment." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Opening remarks - Bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India Transcript 24 May 2023 Admiralty House, Sydney Prime Minister, Prime Minister of India E&OE ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister, I'm absolutely delighted to welcome you here, formally now, to Australia. Of course, you got a welcome from about 20,000 people last night that was extraordinarily warm and the energy and affection in the room was obvious to all who were there, and all who witnessed it. Can I say that following the discussions in Tokyo with Quad leaders, when we first met a year ago, it seems like it has gone very quickly. So this is our sixth meeting now in just my first year of my prime ministership. And it says a lot about the friendship between Australia and India that that has happened. Can I say that the relationship between Australia and India has shown its strength over the coming year. I welcome the finalisation of our Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement. And I also very much welcome the Australia-India green hydrogen taskforce that we are establishing to expand our cooperation on the global clean energy transition. I was very pleased last night to launch the operations of the Centre for Australia-India relations that will be based in Parramatta here in Western Sydney. This month, Australia will open a new Consul-General in Bengaluru, our fifth diplomatic presence in India. It was wonderful last night to celebrate the Australian-Indian community in such a warm way. The community here are a very important part of our vibrant multicultural democracy. And I'm looking forward to returning to India in just a few months for the G20 meeting. My ministers are regularly visiting India for the G20 discussions that have taken place across the full range of portfolios which are there. Sir, you were such a generous and warm host in March. I hope that we're returning some of that hospitality that I was able to receive. And on a personal level, can I thank you for the very warm friendship that we've established between ourselves as well as between our nations. NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA: Thank you to Australia for extending a warm reception welcome and respect for me and my delegation. Yesterday, you completed one year of your term - and despite being extremely busy, you took time out to participate in the Indian community event. And not just yourself, you brought the senior members of your team to this location. It really has enhanced the respect for you in India. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your presence yesterday. It is also a matter of satisfaction that Little India was inaugurated yesterday through your administration's support. With this, the respect for Australia and yourself has enhanced in India and in the people of India. I once again thank you for that. It is a clear message of the multicultural values of Australia to the entire world, the multicultural values of Australia in the Indian community has enhanced because of that. Last year we met in Tokyo. It was just two days after you took over your administration. It reflected the concerns and your commitment to the global issues. Since 2014, our bilateral partnership has reached new heights. We have many high-level engagements between our two countries. India, under its G20 Presidency, is hosting a lot of meetings. We have already done 100 different meetings in 100 different places in India, in which Australia has participated positively, and I thank you for that as well. I thank you for the annual summit that you organised in March this year during your visit. We're also signing a migration and mobility partnership agreement, which I believe will further strengthen the people-to-people links between our two countries. Besides students and professionals, it will also lead to more contact between our businesses. Our relations will be further strengthened by the new Indian consulate we are opening in Brisbane. I thank you for the agreement for the same and I understand a similar initiative is being taken by Australia in Bangalore. Yesterday, I interacted with top CEOs from Australia, and I could see the optimism and excitement they have for India. Today I'm also going to participate in a business roundtable. We will look forward to greater Australian investment in India. India will soon become the third-largest economy in the world. We are creating a favourable ecosystem for attracting more investment in India, in fields such as electronics, defence and other sectors, and I think that there is huge potential for further cooperation between India and Australia, between our private sectors. The CEO forum organised during your visit recently to India was also a very positive development. In the Indo-Pacific, we can work together, to make a free, open, rules-based and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Once again, I thank you for the warm welcome and reception extended to me and my delegation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Celebrating Australia-India ties with Prime Minister Modi Media release 24 May 2023 Prime Minister Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met today in Sydney for bilateral discussions that deepened the friendship between our two nations. The Australia-India relationship is already strong, but we both see potential for growth and an opportunity shape a better future for our region. The meeting built on the outcomes from the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit in March and reinforced their commitment to an open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific. The leaders discussed the strength of the bilateral trade, investment and business relationship and reiterated their shared ambition for an early conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. Further reinforcing the economic and people to people ties between our two countries, the leaders announced the finalisation of the Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement, which will promote the two-way mobility of students, graduates, academic researchers and business people, while also enhancing cooperation to prevent irregular migration and people smuggling. The Prime Ministers welcomed progress towards establishing an Australia-India Green Hydrogen Taskforce and today announce the Terms of Reference for the Australia-India Green Hydrogen Taskforce have been agreed. Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that the new Centre for Australia-India Relations will be head-quartered in Parramatta. The Centre began operations this month and will drive deeper engagement with India through business, policy and cultural activities and work with Indian diaspora communities. The Centre will be led by Chair Swati Dave and CEO Tim Thomas. Prime Minister Albanese also announced the establishment of the new Australian Consulate-General in Bengaluru. Expanding Australia's diplomatic footprint to Bengaluru will connect Australian businesses to India's booming digital economy and innovation ecosystem, and reinforce our growing links in science and technology. Prime Minister Albanese welcomed India's plans for a Consulate-General in Brisbane. Yesterday, Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Modi celebrated Australia's valued Indian diaspora communities at a community event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. In recognition of the important contributions of the Indian diaspora to Australia's rich multicultural society, the leaders unveiled a plaque for the foundation stone of a "Little India" gateway for Harris Park. The leaders also welcomed the City of Perth and Western Australian Government's decision to rename a road along Perth's Swan River in recognition of Private Nain Singh Sailani, one of 12 known ANZACs from the Indian community who fought in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: "Prime Minister Modi's visit to Australia has strengthened the close and strong relationship that Australia enjoys with India." "This is a relationship we need to invest in. Our strong partnership with India will deliver benefits for Australia in trade, investment and business, and in regional security and stability." "In my first year as Prime Minister, I have met with Prime Minister Modi six times, which underscores the value we place on deepening ties between our nations." "Australia is a better place because of the contributions of Indian-Australian community, and we want to see more connections between our countries." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada and Saudi Arabia Agree to Restore Diplomatic Ties Sputnik News 20230524 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Canada and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore their diplomatic ties and appoint ambassadors, ending the fallout from a 2018 row, Global Affairs said on Wednesday. "It has been decided to restore the level of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia to its previous level," the Canadian foreign ministry said in a statement. The decision follows a meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok in November 2022, the ministry noted. Canada appointed Jean-Philippe Linteau as its new ambassador to Riyadh, the statement said. In August 2018, Saudi Arabia downgraded diplomatic ties with Canada after the latter urged Riyadh to "immediately release" jailed women's rights activists. In response to the "interference" in its domestic affairs, the kingdom expelled the Canadian ambassador, terminated its state airline's direct flights to Toronto, halted imports of Canadian wheat and barley, froze new trade and investment relations with Ottawa, and obliged Saudi students to relocate to other countries. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's new ambassador assumes office amid resumption of high-level re-engagement between Beijing and Washington Global Times By Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi Published: May 24, 2023 08:22 PM China's new ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, a former Vice Foreign Minister who is widely known as a specialist in US-related affairs for his vast experiences in the field over the past decades, arrived in New York on Tuesday to assume office. His appointment comes as bilateral relations face "serious difficulties and challenges," the Chinese envoy said. Some Chinese experts believe that filling the Chinese ambassador vacancy signals more progress in the recent resumption of high-level re-engagements between Beijing and Washington, and that stabilizing the current complex and fragile bilateral relations will be Xie's priority. "As a representative of the Chinese people, I have come here to safeguard the interests of China, and I take this as my sacred responsibility. As an envoy of the Chinese people, I have come here to enhance China-US exchanges and cooperation, and I take this as my important mission," Xie told media. The China-US relationship faces serious difficulties and challenges, Xie said, noting that he hoped that the US will move in the same direction as China, and act in the common interests of the two peoples and the world, properly handling important and sensitive issues, such as the Taiwan question in accordance with the principles in the three Sino-US joint communiquAs. Xie's arrival comes as US President Joe Biden hinted there will soon be a "thaw" in the frosty bilateral relations following the latest G7 summit and Quad meeting in Japan - which descended into an anti-China workshop. Yet the two countries have seen a gradual resumption of high-level interactions, such as the recent exchanges between China's top diplomat Wang Yi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Vienna, and the meeting between the US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing. Meanwhile, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is scheduled to meet his US counterpart Gina Raimondo and other US officials on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal said. And it will be "the first cabinet-level meeting in Washington" between the two countries during the Biden administration and "a first barometer" to determine whether the two countries are able to restore high-level exchanges. However, some Chinese experts hold a cautious attitude toward the bilateral relations that have been at a low point due to the US' misperceptions about China. Washington defines Beijing as a strategic competitor and pursues a China policy focused on all-round strategic containment. A resumption of high-level engagement does not mean a real thaw, some experts said, noting that it is unlikely there will be "any concrete progress" in bilateral ties if Washington does not change its Cold War and zero-sum mindset and containment-centered China policy. Steady, flexible manner According to the open record, From 1993 to 2014, Xie was engaged in diplomatic work concerning the US, switching positions between the Department of North America and Oceanian Affairs of the ministry and the Chinese Embassy in the US. He was posted to the Chinese Embassy in the US in 2000 and for about three years, he focused on US Congressional affairs and then became the embassy's spokesperson. Xie is known as an expert on the US, considering his considerable experience in the past in handling China-US relations. From 2003 to 2008, he was the deputy head in charge of US affairs at the ministry's Department of North America and Oceanian Affairs. Two years later, he was posted to the Chinese Embassy in the US. Since he assumed his position as vice foreign minister in 2021, Xie had been involved in a lot of US-related work. He met with senior US officials while taking part in high-level exchanges between the two sides multiple times. In April 2022, Xie met with new US ambassador to China Burns and in December 2022, he held talks with visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Senior Director for China and Taiwan of the White House National Security Council Laura Rosenberger in North China's Hebei Province. Some Western media pointed out that Xie was involved in the arrangements for the meeting between the top leaders of China and the US in November 2022 in Bali, Indonesia, and was also involved in coordinating with the release of Huawei's Meng Wanzhou. "The priority for Xie upon his arrival is to have extensive contacts and exchanges with all walks of life in the US, introduce China's basic position and major concerns on handling China-US relations, enhance mutual understanding and promote the improvement of bilateral relations," Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Considering his vast experiences in US-related work in the past three decades, some experts believe that Xie, with a steady and flexible working style, is very familiar with American politics, business and academia, which will help him to fully communicate and reduce the misjudgment between the two sides. Cautious view While some US media questioned whether Xie's arrival could make any improvement in the tense bilateral relations or would it be an impossible task to "thaw relations," some Chinese experts hold a cautious view as the resumption of high-level re-engagement could only be a superficial improvement unless Washington moves to tackle substantive issues such as trade and people-to-people exchanges. The Biden administration's willingness to "increase engagement with China" does not equate to "improving China-US relations" as it is more American logic and rhetoric simply to meet their own interests, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "We cannot expect Washington to have a truly equal, mutually beneficial China policy. This is a test and challenge for our new ambassador," Li said. If Washington really wants to see a "thaw" in US-China relations, it should stop provoking China on the Taiwan question, remove unilateral tariffs on Chinese products, lift sanctions on Chinese institutions, and reduce obstacles for people-to-people exchanges, some experts said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed the hope of rescheduling his visit to China and the Pentagon is seeking a meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Singapore in June, according to media reports. Although the US government has shown an attitude of wishing to re-engage with China, it has not changed its strategic judgment of treating China as the most serious long-term challenge and its policy approach toward China is mainly one of repression and containment, Wu noted. "Under such circumstances, it is difficult to expect significant progress in China-US relations in the short term." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China reaffirms support for core interests amid Russian PM's visit Global Times By Yang Sheng and Du Qiongfang Published: May 24, 2023 10:32 PM Updated: May 24, 2023 10:18 PM Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is willing to promote mutual support with Russia in the fields that involved their respective core interests and enhance coordination on multilateral arenas during a meeting with visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Beijing on Wednesday. Experts said the stable development of China-Russia relations is crucial for world peace and the process of multilateralism to withstand the threat of hegemony and unilateralism. Chinese Premier Li Qiang also met Mishustin on Wednesday and held a welcome ceremony for the Russian prime minister. This major diplomatic activity between the two major powers showed that the two sides are paying efforts to rebuild mechanism of routine face-to-face dialogue between the heads of governments of the two sides after the three-year-long COVID-19 pandemic, and to further strengthen and implement consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries in March, analysts said. Xi asked Mishustin to convey his sincere greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi said that during his successful state visit to Russia in March, he and Putin drew a blueprint for the future development of China-Russia relations and cooperation in various fields. Xi said that it is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times to consolidate and develop China-Russia relations. China and Russia should continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and strengthen coordination on multilateral arenas such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20, Xi stressed. Mishustin said during the meeting with Xi that Russia is willing to work with China to promote the process of multi-polarization for the world and consolidate the international order based on international law. Russia looks forward to further strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China so that the friendship between Russia and China will be passed on from generation to generation. China and Russia also signed a series of bilateral agreements on service trade cooperation, sports, patents, and Russian millet exports to China, according to media reports. Cui Heng, an assistant research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that President Xi and President Vladimir Putin signed two joint statements in March during Xi's state visit to Russia, and these statements cover a series of cooperation, so this requires the two governments to conduct dialogue and coordination to implement the consensus after the two top leaders pointed out the direction of the development of bilateral ties. "This is the main task for the Russian prime minister's visit to China this time," Cui noted. Mishustin also attended a high-level China-Russia business forum in Shanghai on Tuesday, and this shows that he wants to promote pragmatic cooperation amid the international turbulence and instability of the world economy, Cui said. Chinese analysts said the China-Russia cooperation has nothing to do with the Ukraine crisis, and it's crucial to avoid and deter more conflicts and tensions from happening when the US is being increasingly hostile to China and Russia, and Washington also keeps forcing its neighbors to forge bloc-confrontation worldwide. On one hand, China is upholding a neutral and fair stance to help relevant parties to find a way for a political solution of the Ukraine crisis with increasingly active diplomatic efforts; on the other hand, China and Russia are developing bilateral ties based on legitimate and reasonable demands and interests of the two peoples, said Chinese experts. Western media and politicians are in no position to accuse the normal development of China-Russia ties as the Western governments, especially Washington, are hindering efforts to end the conflict. Further cooperation The two sides should further tap the potential to raise the levels of economic, trade and investment cooperation, improve bilateral cooperation institutions and mechanisms, consolidate and expand energy and connectivity cooperation, and create more new growth points, Xi said during the meeting with Mishustin, noting the people-to-people and cultural exchanges should be expanded. When attending the China-Russia business forum in Shanghai on Tuesday, Mishustin expected that bilateral trade between China and Russia could hit the $200 billion goal this year and cooperation will expand beyond traditional areas. Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that under the sanctions and isolation by the West after the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, Russia is getting more and more motivated to expand trade with China, and this is the first visit of Mishustin since he was appointed to be the Russian prime minister, so this diplomatic activity is significant for the China-Russia cooperation in the next stage. Xi said at the meeting with the Russian prime minister that China is willing to work with Russia and Eurasian Economic Union members to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union to facilitate the formation of a more open, large regional market, ensure the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains, and bring tangible benefits to countries in the region. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of Belt and Road Initiative, and Russia, as the biggest country alongside the routes of the BRI, is a key player for the further development of the Belt and Road, so the two countries will also seek deeper cooperation and coordination to better connect the BRI and the Eurasian Economic Union, analysts said. The US has tried to instigate the China-Russia relations by saying China's increasing presence in Central Asia will affect Russia's influence and interest, but Chinese experts said that Washington's attempt is useless and pointless, as Beijing and Moscow share common views and goals for development and security, and they both understand the real purpose of Washington, so there is no hope for the US to instigate and interrupt the high-level mutual trust between China and Russia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China special envoy meets with French official in Paris Global Times By Global Times Published: May 24, 2023 10:53 AM Updated: May 24, 2023 10:44 AM The Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs, Li Hui, held talks with Frederic Mondoloni, the director general of political and security affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France in Paris, France on Tuesday. The two sides exchanged views on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, China-France relations, and other issues, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. Li said that French President Emmanuel Macron's successful visit to China in April had yielded positive results. We will implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, constantly deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance communication and cooperation on major international and regional hotspot issues, making a continued contribution to maintaining global peace, stability and development, Li said. China and France have several areas of consensuses on the Ukraine crisis, Li pointed out. China is willing to strengthen dialogue and exchanges with all parties on the basis of the document - China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis - and lay the foundation for gradually building consensus toward a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, according to Li. China supports Europe in strengthening strategic autonomy and promoting the building of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework, he noted. Mondoloni said that the two countries have maintained close high-level exchanges and pushed forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between France and China since the beginning of this year. France is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China, Mondoloni said. France and China are both permanent members of the UN Security Council. It is of great significance for the two countries to strengthen dialogue on a wide range of topics, including the Ukraine crisis. France attaches great importance to Li's visit and expects China to continue to play a constructive role in the cessation of hostilities, Mondoloni noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA Navy's Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer leads intensive drills in South China Sea amid rising tensions Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: May 24, 2023 09:56 PM A flotilla of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy led by a Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer has carried out a combat-oriented exercise in the South China Sea amid rising tensions in the region stirred up by the US. Not targeted at a third party and aimed at safeguarding national security, the drills sent a signal that the US' provocative muscle-flexing against China will not work, experts said on Wednesday. The Type 055 large destroyer Dalian, Type 052D destroyer Changsha, and Type 054A frigates Liuzhou and Yueyang attached to the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command formed a flotilla and conducted a coordinated exercise in the South China Sea for more than 80 hours extending across four days and three nights, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday. Live-fire anti-ship, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine exercises were included in the drills, the CCTV report showed. The drills honed the combat-oriented capabilities of individual ships and the flotilla as a whole, and laid a solid foundation for them to carry out flexible military struggles and enhance their capabilities to deal with emergency situations rapidly and properly, CCTV said. The exercise was a routine one not targeted at any third party, but it was carried out against a complex geopolitical background in which the US recently rallied the Philippines and carried out the largest Balikatan joint exercise in the South China Sea targeting China, Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday. China's regular exercises could serve as a message that China will not compromise because of the US' provocative muscle-flexing and discord-sowing through military strength, and that countries should have dialogue and seek cooperation, Chen said. The US is raising its military activities in the South China Sea from a tactical level, highlighted by frequent close-in reconnaissance operations, to a strategic level, like adding new bases in the Philippines and deploying advanced weapons like HIMARS rockets and Patriot missiles in joint drills, in an attempt to reinforce the first island chain and link such activities to the Taiwan question to deter China, observers said. Unlike US moves that serve its hegemony and harm the regional situation, the PLA's routine drills are for the safeguarding of China's rightful interests, and they contribute to regional peace and stability, Chen said. Earlier this month, the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command announced that the Type 055 large destroyer Dalian had completed a 28-day far sea exercise stretching for more than 8,000 nautical miles (14,816 kilometers) in the South China Sea and the West Pacific. The latest exercise in the South China Sea means that the Dalian participated in consecutive, intensive drills, demonstrating its high combat readiness and reliability, analysts said. It also showed that the PLA naval and aviation forces are fully capable of safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests in the South China Sea, observers said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BRI acts as pathway toward common development: FM Global Times By Global Times Published: May 24, 2023 08:38 PM The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as demonstrated by fruitful cooperation outcomes, could be compared to a pathway toward common development, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Wednesday. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Monday that BRI cooperation has provided tangible benefits to Cambodia. The comment was made during a speech he delivered at the achievement exhibition of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, which celebrated the 10th anniversary of the BRI on Monday. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is a flagship project of China-Cambodia cooperation under the BRI. According to Hun Sen, China has helped Cambodia build an array of infrastructure including roads and bridges, and China's stable supply of raw materials has guaranteed Cambodia's exports and millions of jobs for the country. "If we look at China's policy, no declaration of enmity has been made with any country and China has never set out a policy of blocking or hostile to other countries," he said. In response, Mao said that the BRI is committed to facilitating connectivity among individual countries and achieving joint development. "As Hun Sen said... It's always about helping and supporting other countries' development," Mao noted. According to Mao, the initiative, building on the principle of "wider consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits," has grown into a popular global public good and international cooperation platform since being proposed 10 years ago. To date, the initiative has attracted the participation of three-quarters of the world's countries, and has created 420,000 jobs for those participants and helped more and more countries to speed up economic development. Mao said that with the continuous advancement of high-quality BRI cooperation, the initiative is set to bring more opportunities to the common prosperity of all participants. China will follow through on the important common understandings between the Chinese and Cambodian leaders to further enhance the cooperation under the BRI and bring more benefits to the people.aa This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI, which has gained strong momentum. By January 6, as many as 151 countries and 32 international organizations had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation documents with China, according to statistics provided by the official Belt and Road Portal website. Hun Sen said in the speech that in the past decade, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone has embarked on a rapid development, with over 175 enterprises being set up in the zone and together, they provided more than 30,000 jobs to Cambodia, the China Youth Daily reported. The special zone's production value contributed to over 50 percent of Sihanoukville's economy, and it is dubbed as the "economic engine of Sihanoukville," the report said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on May 24, 2023 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China CGTN: Xie Feng, the new Chinese Ambassador to the US, arrived in the US on May 23. He spoke to Chinese and foreign reporters and people from various sectors at the airport. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on the same day that the US welcomed Ambassador Xie's arrival and "We look forward to working with the ambassador designate and his team. We remain committed to maintain channels of communication with the PRC to responsibly manage competition". Do you have any response? Mao Ning: China's new Ambassador to the US Mr. Xie Feng has arrived in the US to take on his new mission. Ambassadors are an important bridge and bond between China and the US. We hope the US will provide support and facilitation for Ambassador Xie Feng as he carries out his duty. The China-US relationship is vitally important to both countries and the world. China views and grows its relations with the US in accordance with the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping. We also remain committed to defending our sovereignty, security and development interests.aWe hope the US will bear in mind the shared interest of people in the two countries and the world, work with China to enhance dialogue, manage differences and boost cooperation and bring China-US relations back to the right track of sound and steady growth.a People's Daily: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly said on May 22 that the Belt and Road Initiative has brought great benefits to Cambodia. China has helped Cambodia build an array of infrastructure including roads and bridges. China's stable raw material supply has supported Cambodia's export and millions of jobs for the country. He added that, "If we look at China's policy, no declaration of enmity has been made with any country and China has never set out a policy of blocking or hostile to other countries." Do you have any comment? Mao Ning: The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is aimed at boosting connectivity and common development. As Prime Minister Hun Sen said, there is no part of China's policy that declares itself the enemy of any other country or looks for ways to hinder other countries' development. It's always about helping and supporting other countries' development. Since its launch ten years ago, guided by the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the BRI has deepened mutually beneficial cooperation with Cambodia and other partners and has become a popular global public good and international cooperation platform. To date, over three quarters of countries around the world have joined this initiative, which has generated 420,000 jobs in these countries and helped more and more countries speed up economic growth. All those fruitful outcomes fully indicate that the BRI is a pathway toward common development. We believe that the advancement of high-quality BRI cooperation will create more opportunities for the common prosperity of countries. China will follow through on the important common understandings between the Chinese and Cambodian leaders to further enhance our cooperation under the BRI and bring more benefits to our peoples.aa Reuters: Two questions on chips. The US government has said that China's ban on Micron is not based in fact. What's China's response? And secondly, US House Representative Mike Gallagher told Reuters that the US should sanction a Chinese chip-maker in response to the Micron ban. What's China's response? Mao Ning: On your first question, the cybersecurity review by relevant Chinese authorities on Micron's products sold in China is carried out in accordance with the law and the latest decision is based in facts. China's cybersecurity review does not target any particular countries or regions, nor does China seek to exclude technologies or products from any specific country.a The US used national security as a pretext to put more than 1,200 Chinese companies and individuals on various lists and subjected them to all kinds of restrictions despite the lack of hard evidence of wrongdoing. This is what constitutes economic coercion. This is unacceptable. As to your second question, China strongly opposes the US's unjustified suppression of Chinese companies by over-stretching the concept of national security and abusing state power. The discriminatory and unfair practice seriously hurts normal trade and economic exchanges and cooperation between China and the US, violates market rules and the international trade order and severely disrupts global industrial and supply chain stability. The Chinese side will continue to do what is necessary to firmly safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and institutions. Beijing Daily: Myanmar was recently hit by a cyclone. What's China's consideration on providing disaster relief assistance to Myanmar? Mao Ning: China expresses sincere sympathies to Myanmar over the fatalities and serious financial loss caused by the tropical cyclone. As a friendly neighbor and "pauk-phaw" brother of Myanmar, China provided disaster relief supplies to Myanmar soon after the cyclone hit. The Red Cross Society of China also provided assistance to the Myanmar Red Cross Society. This reflects the spirit of China-Myanmar community with a shared future of supporting each other through thick and thin. Looking forward, China will continue to do what it can to provide humanitarian assistance in response to Myanmar's need to help the local people overcome current difficulties and rebuild their home soon. AFP: Can you confirm reports that Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will visit the US this week and can you provide any details of this visit? Mao Ning: I would like to refer you to the Ministry of Commerce of China on that visit. Reuters: Japanese Prime Minister Kishida said that Japan is considering opening a NATO liaison office, but it will not join NATO itself. What's China's response? Mao Ning: We have responded to this question before. NATO claims to be a regional organization and should not extend its geopolitical reach. The Asia-Pacific does not welcome bloc confrontation or military blocs. Given Japan's history of aggression, it needs to be prudent on military and security issues and make sure its actions are conducive to regional peace and stability. AFP: The US State Department has said it's signing a deal with Micronesia to extend a 20-year-old security agreement and give the US the right to locate military facilities across a large part of the central Pacific. What's China's reaction to this? Mao Ning: We do not object to normal exchange and cooperation between relevant parties and Pacific island countries. We believe the rest of the world needs to pay more attention and give more support to the development of Pacific island countries. Any cooperation should serve this purpose. China has no interest in competing for influence with anyone and we oppose attempts by any country to bring geopolitical contest into that region. Tokyo Shimbun: It was reported that the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee canceled a press conference in Aichi Prefecture aimed at promoting the Asian Games, without explaining the decision. Could you tell us why this event was canceled? Mao Ning: I have no information on this. AFP: Canada has announced that it will not hold a public probe into alleged foreign interference in Canadian elections. A Canadian official, David Johnston, said that foreign governments are undoubtedly attempting to influence elections in Canada, but these efforts did not change voting outcomes. Do you have any response to this? Mao Ning: As we have repeatedly stressed, China follows a foreign policy of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. We are also firmly against interference by any country in other countries' internal affairs. We have no interest in interfering in Canada's internal affairs, including its elections, nor will we do any such thing. We urge Canada to abandon its ideological bias and Cold War mentality and stop keeping making an issue of China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese president says Beijing, Moscow to continue to back each other on 'core' issues Iran Press TV Wednesday, 24 May 2023 3:19 PM Chinese President Xi Jinping says Beijing will give Moscow "firm support," assuring Russian leaders that his administration would be backing them on "core" issues of mutual interest despite pressure by the West. In a meeting with visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Wednesday, Xi said Beijing and Moscow would continue to provide one another with "firm support on issues concerning each other's core interests and strengthen collaboration in multilateral arenas," according to a readout by the official Xinhua news agency. Beijing and Moscow should "push cooperation in various fields to a higher level," he insisted, and should "raise the level of economic, trade and investment cooperation" between them. In recent years, the two countries have hugely ramped up economic and diplomatic cooperation, growing closer to one another despite pressure on Beijing from the West to sever its ties with Moscow over its military operation with Ukraine. China is Russia's largest trading partner, with trade between them reaching a record level. Mishustin, who is accompanied by Russia's deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, is on an official two-day visit to China to seal trade contracts. He is the highest-ranking Russian official to visit China since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine last year. The Russian official, who also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday, said the two countries had established bilateral relations based on "mutual respect of each other's interests, the desire to jointly respond to challenges, which is associated with increased turbulence in the international arena and the pattern of sensational pressure from the collective West." "Our country is the leading supplier of oil to China. Exports of natural and liquefied gas, as well as coal, are steadily increasing," Mishustin noted, adding that the two sides "are ready to collaborate on the implementation of other major projects, including those involving renewable energy." Moscow was hit last year by a slew of Western sanctions over its special military operation in Ukraine, which started in February 2022. The sanctions slapped against Moscow, which include a cap on Russian oil prices, resulted in China becoming the world's top buyer of Russian oil. Novak, who is in charge of Russia's energy policy, told a Russia-China business forum in Shanghai on Tuesday that Russian energy supplies to China would increase by 40 percent year-on-year in 2023, Moscow's state media reported. Li, for his part, praised the establishment of a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Russia in the new era." "The scale of investment between the two countries is also continuously upgrading," Li said. "Strategic large-scale projects are steadily advancing." Ministers from the two countries on Wednesday signed several agreements to expand Beijing's cooperation with Moscow. China has made it clear that it will not give in to foreign pressure, indicating that it will act in accordance to its foreign policy based on securing its national interests in international relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Russia sign deals as ties at 'unprecedented high level' Iran Press TV Wednesday, 24 May 2023 7:27 AM China and Russia have signed several deals to expand Beijing's cooperation with Moscow despite the West's pressure on broadening ties. Chinese premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday that the two sides aim to broaden their pragmatic cooperation in various fields. Pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia has shown a "good" development trend, the number of investments has increased, and now we want to take our relation to a "new level," Li said in Beijing in a meeting with visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Mishustin, who arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for a two-day visit, is in China to sign a set of bilateral agreements. China's growing ties cooperation with Russia comes despite pressure from the West, urging Beijing to sever its relations with Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. However, China has made it clear that it will act in accordance to its foreign policy based on securing its national interests in international relations. This is while trade between China and Russia doubled in 2022. "Today, relations between Russia and China are at an unprecedented high level," Mishustin told Li in their meeting in Beijing. "They are characterized by mutual respect of each other's interests, the desire to jointly respond to challenges, which is associated with increased turbulence in the international arena and the pattern of sensational pressure from the collective West," he said. Mishustin then also predicted that bilateral trade will reach up to $200 billion in 2023. He affirmed, "Our country is the leading supplier of oil to China. Exports of natural and liquefied gas, as well as coal, are steadily increasing." Russia and China "are ready to collaborate on the implementation of other major projects, including those involving renewable energy," Mishustin noted. Last year, Moscow was hit by a slew of Western sanctions over its special military operation in Ukraine, which started in February 2022. One of the outcomes of the West's punitive measures against Moscow, which included a cap on oil prices, was that China became the top buyer of Russian oil Ever since the beginning of the war, the United States and its allies have been providing Ukraine with advanced weapons and imposing sanctions on Russia. The Russian prime minister and other members of the delegation have also been on the US Treasury Department's sanctions list of Russian people and entities since last year. The United States has imposed a raft of sanctions on China as well. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hong Kong leader slams Cathay Pacific over treatment of mainland Chinese passengers Flight attendants fired after they commented about passengers who don't speak English or Cantonese By Cheryl Tung for RFA Cantonese 2023.05.24 -- Hong Kong leader slams Cathay Pacific over treatment of mainland Chinese passengers Hong Kong leader John Lee on Wednesday called on the city's flagship Cathay Pacific airline to "retrain" staff after they were reported for alleged discrimination against mainland Chinese passengers on a weekend flight who couldn't speak English or Cantonese. Cathay said it had fired three flight attendants after a passenger complained about comments from a flight attendant on flight CX987 from Hong Kong to the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu on Sunday. Cathay CEO Ronald Lam said the company had carried out an internal investigation after a complaint on social media attaching a recording claiming to be of the flight crew joking about passengers who couldn't ask for a blanket in English wouldn't be given one. "If you can't say 'blanket' in English, then you can't have one," says one flight attendant on the recording. According to the post, an announcement also warning people to return to their seats before take-off was only made in Cantonese - and not in Mandarin, the dominant tongue on the mainland - meaning that passengers might have missed crucial safety information. "I feel deeply indignant and disappointed that these vile remarks and actions took place on a Hong Kong flight," Lee told the opening ceremony of Hong Kong-Guangdong Cooperation Week in the southern city of Guangzhou. "These disrespectful remarks and actions have hurt the feelings of both Hong Kong and mainland compatriots, and damaged Hong Kong's reputation for being respectful, courteous and inclusive," Lee said in comments reported by government broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong. Lee's comments came after the airline was denounced by the People's Daily, the official paper of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. "Cathay Pacific has issued an apology, saying that it has suspended the flight missions of the flight attendants and immediately launched an internal investigation," the paper said in a recent commentary. "However, responsibility for the incident obviously cannot just be shifted to the small number of employees involved." "What Cathay Pacific needs to reflect on is its own management system and corporate culture." 'Sense of superiority' The opinion article said the airline was founded by foreigners with British roots, and had "an inexplicable sense of superiority" over mainland Chinese. "In Hong Kong, China, the countercurrent of worshiping English and looking down on Mandarin will soon be lost in the tide of history," the paper said. Lee called on Cathay to take prompt action to rebuild its public image following the incident, including reviewing its staff training program. Lam had earlier said: "Cathay Pacific takes a 'zero tolerance' approach to serious violations of company rules and ethics by individual employees and will not tolerate them," Lam said. He pledged to lead a task force in a total review of service processes and staff training. "We must ensure that all Cathay Pacific staff respect passengers from different backgrounds and cultures and provide professional and consistent service in all areas served," Lam said. Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said he was "deeply saddened by the inappropriate remarks made by some crew members" at Cathay Pacific. "I hope that the review will be completed as soon as possible, and can fundamentally improve the company's system and employee attitudes negative to Hong Kong's reputation as an international aviation hub and a city of hospitality," he said. 'Decolonized' The row shows that Beijing is keen to stamp out the legacy of foreign influence in Hong Kong, said current affairs commentator Sang Pu. "This whole thing has been escalated to show how Hong Kong hasn't been properly decolonized, and how it's still dancing to Britain's tune, by remaining nostalgic for English and Cantonese [rather than Mandarin]," Sang said. "They are using it to show that Hong Kongers are incapable of respecting non-Cantonese Chinese, particularly mainlanders," he said. "They are escalating it by bringing out the big guns, so people in Hong Kong will be intimidated and then 're-educated' to be more obedient." "They've made this tiny incident an excuse to target all Hong Kongers, claiming that they're insufficiently decolonized," Sang said. "[They want] Hong Kongers to install their own miniature party committee in their own heads, and then self-censor all of their speech and actions." Beijing has blamed the 2019 protests and other recent pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong on "hostile foreign forces" trying to foment a revolution in the city, imposing a draconian national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 that criminalizes criticism of the authorities. In October 2022, social media platform Douyin pulled the plug on a live-stream host broadcasting in Cantonese, a regional Chinese language that is also the lingua franca of Hong Kong. In 2010, thousands of people took part in mass protests in Guangzhou in support of the Cantonese language after a mainland Chinese political body called for cuts in Cantonese-language broadcasts. However, fewer recent migrants to Hong Kong are now able to speak Cantonese, amid fears that a growing emphasis on Mandarin could threaten the city's indigenous culture. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with Prime Minister of Australia India - Ministry of External Affairs May 24, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia on 24 May 2023 at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia. 2. Prime Minister was accorded a Ceremonial Welcome and Guard of Honour on arrival at Admiralty House. 3. Both leaders recalled their productive 1st Annual Leaders' Summit held in March 2023 in New Delhi and reaffirmed their commitment to further broadening and deepening of the multifaceted India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 4. The discussions focused on cooperation in defense and security, trade and investment, new and renewable energy, green hydrogen, critical minerals, education, migration and mobility and people to people ties. 5. Both leaders welcomed the signing of the India-Australia Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA), which will further facilitate mobility of students, professionals, researchers, academics and others, including through a new skilled pathway named MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals Scheme) specifically created for India. 6. They also welcomed the finalization of Terms of Reference of the India-Australia Hydrogen Task Force, which will advise on opportunities to accelerate manufacture and deployment of clean hydrogen, focusing on hydrogen electrolysers, fuel cells as well as supporting infrastructure and standards and regulations. 7. Prime Minister Modi thanked Australia for its support in establishing a Consulate General of India in Brisbane. 8. The two leaders reiterated their determination to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, underpinned by a rules-based international order. They also discussed reform of UN Security Council. 7. Prime Minister Albanese expressed Australia's strong support to India's G20 Presidency and initiatives. Prime Minister looked forward to welcoming Prime Minister Albanese for the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023. Sydney May 24, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with Governor-General of Australia India - Ministry of External Affairs May 24, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. David Hurley, Governor-General of Australia on 24 May 2023 at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia. 2. Prime Minister recalled his meeting with the Governor-General in 2019 during the latter's visit to India as Governor of New South Wales. 3. Both leaders discussed ways to strengthen the long-standing bilateral partnership. 4. Prime Minister recalled the positive contributions of the Indian community in Australia, and their role in fostering closer links between the two countries. Sydney May 24, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC dismantles terrorist group in SE Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 24, 2023 Zahedan, IRNA -- A terrorist group has been dismantled by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the intelligence forces in southeastern Iran, in a statement announced that According to the IRGC statement, the terrorists were arrested in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan province before doing any terrorist operation. During the operation, two terrorists were killed and another one was arrested. A hoard of weapons and ammunition was also discovered with them and confiscated. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian, Russian central banks call for using nat'l currencies IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 24, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Governors of the central banks of Iran and the Russia have emphasized strengthening trade exchanges and using their national currencies in bilateral trade. During a meeting with Governor of the Central Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina on Tuesday, the Central Bank of Iran chief Mohammad Reza Farzin emphasized the need to increase banking and monetary exchanges between the two countries. Farzin, meantime, said that strengthening and accelerating the development of brokerage relations between commercial banks of Iran and Russia tops the two major banks' agenda. Referring to the vast commercial capacities and potentials that Iran and Russia have, Farzin further emphasized increasing the banking infrastructure cooperation between the two countries. Referring to the potential of the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) member states, Farzin invited Russia to participate in the 51st edition of the ACU summit which started on Tuesday in Tehran. Nabiullina, for her part, stressed the strengthening of monetary and banking exchanges and the maximum use of the banking infrastructure of the two countries in order to develop trade and economic cooperation. She also stated that "the exchange of technical and specialized teams of the central banks of the two countries with the aim of developing and deepening monetary and banking relations are considered important in this regard, which has already been done". 2050**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Enemies' withdrawal from Islamic lands 'result of resistance': IRGC chief Iran Press TV Wednesday, 24 May 2023 4:56 PM The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has highlighted the value of resistance in defending Muslim countries, saying the enemies' withdrawal from Islamic lands is the result of resistance and struggle against adversaries. Major General Hossein Salami made the remarks at an event on Wednesday commemorating the 41st anniversary of the liberation of the southwestern city of Khorramshahr during Iraq's war of aggression against Iran in the 1980s, which falls on the 3rd of Khordad in the solar calendar. "Today is the anniversary of a momentous event in the history of our country after the 1979 Revolution, which returned Khorramshahr to dear Iran, and the third of Khordad was one of the most auspicious days of this nation," Salami said. Emphasizing that what happened during Iraq's imposed war cannot be forgotten, the IRGC chief said, "If a nation does not defend its identity, independence and culture, it will be erased from history forever and will be captured, humiliated, surrendered and left destitute." Salami added that such a country would lag behind in history and its identity would be lost. The IRGC's first-in-command underlined the high value of martyrdom and struggle against enemies among Muslim countries, saying, "In Yemen and Lebanon, they say that we are standing with the support of young people, and the same spirit exists in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan." "Today, we see the effects of that struggle and martyrdom with the enemy's withdrawal from the Islamic lands and the despair of the Zionists and the failure of the US," he added. Iranian forces recaptured the strategic port city Khorramshahr during a landmark operation code-named Beit ol-Moqaddas in 1982, putting an end to over 500 days of the Iraqi occupation. During the weeks-long operation, some 6,000 Iranian soldiers were martyred and nearly 24,000 others injured. Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein launched the war with the support of major powers and their allies in the region in 1980, a year after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The war ended in August 1988, when Iran accepted UN Security Council Resolution 598 which declared Saddam as the initiator of the conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Farda Briefing: Appointment For Powerful Policy-Shaping Post Is 'Sign Of Growing Influence' Of The IRGC By Golnaz Esfandiari May 24, 2023 The Big Issue Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has appointed Ali Akbar Ahmadian, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). Ahmadian replaces Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, an ethnic Arab who had served as secretary of the key policy-shaping body since 2013 and recently signed a China-brokered agreement aimed at mending ties with Saudi Arabia. Shamkhani had come under scrutiny over his ties to British-Iranian citizen Alireza Akbari, who was hanged in January after being convicted of spying for the United Kingdom. Shamkhani, a former defense minister under reformist President Mohammad Khatami, has also faced allegations of corruption, which he denies. He was appointed to the SNSC by former relative moderate President Hassan Rohani. According to conservative political activist Mansoor Haghighatour, the hard-line Raisi had sought to replace Shamkhani since taking over as president in 2021, but had not been able to find a suitable replacement. Raisi settled on the 62-year-old Ahmadian, a dentist and a veteran of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War who rose through the ranks of the IRGC and headed the IRGC's Strategic Center. Ahmadian also previously served as chief of the IRGC's Joint Staff and as commander of the IRGC's naval forces. Unlike Shamkhani, who served under various governments, Ahmadian does not have any political experience, and he's virtually unknown to the public. Why It Matters: Ahmadian's appointment comes at a critical time for the Islamic republic, which faces an ailing economy crushed by U.S. sanctions as well as widespread anti-regime sentiment following the recent wave of nationwide antiestablishment protests. It also comes amid speculation about who might succeed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is 84 and who underwent prostate surgery in 2014. What's Next: Analysts believe the reshuffling in the SNSC is unlikely to have an immediate impact on state policies in the Islamic republic, where the supreme leader has the last say in all state matters. "I don't think there will be a change in domestic policies, state repression, and foreign and regional policies," Paris-based analyst Reza Alijani told RFE/Rl's Radio Farda. Alijani noted that Shamkhani was replaced with "a military figure who had been until now active behind the scenes" and who does not carry any political baggage, unlike his predecessor. Sina Azodi, a lecturer of international affairs at George Washington University, told me that Ahmadian's appointment highlights the increasing control of the IRGC over the country's affairs. "I think that Shamkhani's departure -- who was close to the reformists, he was Khatami's defense minister, and to pragmatic forces, he was appointed to the SNSC by Rohani -- is yet another sign of the growing influence of IRGC forces in Iran's security establishment and decision-making," Azodi said. "Shamkhani remains the highest-ranking Iranian naval officer and is being replaced by an IRGC commander of lower rank, which in itself is interesting." Azodi also suggested that Ahmadian's nomination to the SNSC could have an impact on the succession process by giving the IRGC more influence. Stories You Might Have Missed Prominent photojournalist Yalda Moayerihas protested the sharp rise in executions in Iran, where over 200 people have been hanged so far this year. The family of Mahsa Amini has accused Iran's security forces of vandalizing the graveof the young woman, whose death while in police custody in September 2022 ignited nationwide protests that turned into one of the biggest threats to the Islamic republic's leadership since it took power in 1979. What We're Watching Iran's judiciary has announced that two imprisoned journalists who helped break Amini's story -- Elhahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi -- will go on trial next week. A judiciary spokesman said on May 23 that Mohammadi's preliminary hearing will be held on May 29, while the hearing for Hamedi will be held on May 30. The two journalists face a number of charges, including "collaborating with the hostile government of America, conspiracy and collusion to commit crimes against national security, and propaganda against the establishment." Hamedi's husband, Mohammad Hossein Ajorlu, was quoted by domestic media as saying on May 23 that the lawyers of the two imprisoned journalists have not yet been able to meet with them. Why It Matters: Mohammadi from the Sharq daily and Hamedi from Hammihan have been in prison since September for doing their jobs: covering Amini's September 16 death while in the custody of the morality police and the ensuing several months of nationwide antiestablishment protests in Iran. Hamedi reported from the Tehran hospital where Amini was taken following her arrest for allegedly violating Iran's hijab rule, while Hamedi reported from Amini's funeral in her hometown of Saghez. Their plight highlights the dire situation of press freedom in Iran, which is listed 177thout of 180 nations ranked in Reporters Without Borders' 2023 press freedom index. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/farda-briefing-irgc- commander-policymaking-influence/32425774.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar's junta increasingly relying on airstrikes, research group says Report found more than 1,400 airstrikes since the 2021 coup, including almost 500 just this year. By RFA Burmese 2023.05.24 -- Myanmar's junta is increasingly relying on airstrikes in its war against groups opposed to its rule, according to tallies compiled by Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica, an independent local research group, because its troops have faced fierce resistance on the ground. The military carried out 1,427 airstrikes across Myanmar since taking power by force in a coup d'etat on Feb. 1, 2021, the group said in a report released Monday. During the first four months of 2023, the junta launched 454 airstrikes - a rate that puts it on track for double the 2022's total of 820, the group said. Most of the attacks have taken place in Kayin state and the Sagaing region - areas where junta forces have struggled to maintain control. Even former military officers have criticized the army's reliance on airplanes. "The military uses its air power depending on the need for ground operations," said Thien Tun Oo, executive director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, which is made up of former military officers. "It's funny to say that the military has to use its air power, as its ground troops cannot handle the battles," he said. "That's our opinion." The number of people killed by junta airstrikes is also increasing every year, said Moe Htet Nay, a research and political adviser for Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica. In 2021, 74 civilians were killed; in 2022, 168 civilians were killed; and during the first three months of 2023, 192 have been killed, he said. Civilians targeted 'indiscriminately' The airstrikes are intended to bring chaos to anti-junta forces and to separate them from villages and civilian populations, Moe Htet Nay said. The most deadly airstrike came last month when 188 people were killed in Kanbalu township of Sagaing region on April 11. Political analyst Than Soe Naing believes the junta will continue to target airstrikes at civilian populations, in addition to the People's Defense Forces, made up of ordinary citizens who have taken up arms against the military. "The military first used the air forces to relocate its ground troops," he said. "But later, the air forces started attacking every possible target of the PDFs. Now, the junta launches airstrikes at any populated place indiscriminately." Radio Free Asia reached out to a junta spokesman to ask about the airstrikes, but there was no response. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica collected data on the airstrikes from reports in more than 40 news outlets, including RFA, Voice of America and Myanmar Now, and through the social media sites of more than 1300 PDFs. Some villagers afraid to dig bomb shelters Kyaw Zaw, spokesman for the president's office of the shadow National Unity Government, told RFA in early May that they are constructing a system that can notify the public in advance of incoming junta air strikes. The project also includes a proposal to build bomb shelter bunkers. But many villagers wouldn't dare dig bomb shelter trenches because junta forces believe that families with bomb shelters are aligned with PDFs, according to a resident of Kanbalu township who refused to be named for security reasons. "How can we protect ourselves against the danger of their airstrikes during the battles? Their ground troops destroy our bomb shelters as they raid our places," the resident said. Chinese and Russian entities have sent more than US$660 million in weaponry and other arms-related equipment to the junta since the coup, according to the United Nations' special rapporteur for Myanmar, Tom Andrews. That includes Russian-made Mi-35 military helicopters, MiG-29 and Yak-130 planes and Chinese-made K-8 jet fighters that have been used by the military to target and destroy civilian homes and buildings, Andrews said in a report last week. Pro-democracy activists, including NUG acting President Duwa Lashi La, have called on the international community to stop the junta from purchasing military equipment and technology, and to cut off its sources of jet fuel. Translated by Myo Min Aung. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Looting and destroying, junta declares war on Myanmar's cultural sites and artifacts Churches, temples are destroyed, jewelry and other artifacts are stolen Special for RFA 2023.05.24 -- In Myanmar, junta troops aren't just terrorizing villages and committing atrocities - they're looting and destroying historical sites and cultural artifacts, villagers say. Ever since soldiers set fire to scores of houses and church buildings in Thantlang, in the northern Chin region, in late 2021 and early 2022, they've been raiding homes to steal jewelry, shaman ropes, handwoven bags and drums, said Yaw Maung, from the civilian administration office in Mindat that's linked to the anti-junta opposition. "Soldiers knew they were significant and precious," he said. Wildlife preserves and national parks are also being destroyed as a result of the fighting. Nationwide, over 132 religious buildings have been destroyed by arson and gunfire, and others have been looted and designated construction projects by the regime. The pace of destruction has increased this year, residents say. The looting and destruction appears to be part of military efforts to break the spirits of locals, terrorize areas with strong resistance forces and destroy ethnic culture. In the midst of the junta's land grabbing in liberated areas, valuable sites are among the hardest hit. As culturally significant areas around the country face damage from gunfire, airstrikes and raids, the shadow National Unity Government - made up of former political leaders ousted by the military in the 2021 coup and other opponents - has taken measures to designate them as heritage sites. Protecting treasures Toward that end, the NUG established the Interim Board for Heritage Administration last June. It has coordinated with consultative councils, resistance groups and People's Administrative offices across Chin, Sagaing, Magway and Kayah States to try to protect these areas. Some strategies include PDF groups driving fighting away from these sites, guarding historical monuments and educating these local administration offices on conservation techniques. So far, the board has designated 59 heritage sites across Magway and Sagaing regions, including already recognized UNESCO sites like Hanlin and the Pyu archeological site of Beikthano, as well as others, like pagodas and schools. The board says that they have proposed around 100, though. Hanlin, a village and archeological site with UNESCO recognition, was among the first to be designated as a protected heritage site in late 2022. But in January, 100 soldiers based in the ancient Pyu village set fire to one monastery and 50 houses the neighboring Kan Gyi Taw village. "This is a war crime," Interim Board for Heritage Administration spokesperson Soe Thura Tun said. "It's against the Geneva Convention and other conventions our government signed." Since the coup, Hanlin has been subjected to several types of culture destruction, including the torching of villages and the theft of artifacts. Despite being listed under the board's recognized sites, the area has remained a battleground. "We don't have enough forces for things like [full-time protection]. It's our problem until now. Even in Hanlin, they attack it frequently. Our resistance forces try to protect it, but it's not successful every time," Soe Thura Tun said. Threatening wildlife The fighting and disruptions have taken a toll on wildlife habitats as well. Mount Victoria, a sprawling national park located in northern Chin State, was lauded by both ASEAN and UNESCO for its biodiversity and decade-long conservation. But as the Burma Army attacked surrounding villages, displaced people and villages within the park have taken a toll as they've needed to supplement their livelihood. This has threatened the wildlife the state had worked for a decade to preserve, Yaw Maung said. Yaw Maung said he's heard reports of people killing up to 200 birds a day, hunting large bears and other endangered animals in the park. He says the farmland has expanded into the park by 10 hectares (1,000 acres) and rampant timber trade also threatens the area. "It's headed for something way worse because of the war that's going on- everybody is fighting for survival," said. In the northern region of Sagaing, similar concerns are surfacing. One of the hardest-hit areas is Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, where illegal logging is shrinking forest land, according to satellite images, said Henry, an expert for the heritage board and as a technical advisor for the opposition Nation Unity Government's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. While educating people's administrative offices on how to best preserve these regions, he says reports of complications on the ground continue to surface, including airstrikes, security while monitoring the areas and working with people's defense forces that are not under the National Unity Government. "There is so much damage to the natural heritage sites compared with the cultural heritage sites," he said, requesting to use a pseudonym to protect his identity. "In some areas, it's very remote, so it's very difficult to control and reach the resources. So those kinds of limitations are always heard from the local administrative bodies. They report so many challenges." Seeking refuge Civilians often seek shelter in places that hold cultural and historical significance, believing that they would be safe from attack there, Soe Thura Tun said. "They like to stay in such kinds of places because they will be protected. People do not like to attack such kinds of areas, pagodas, churches, everything. he said. "It's simple. We're anxious for our people." Administrators and advocacy groups report these attacks are on the rise. In Karenni State, four church buildings were burned in 2021, killing four villagers who were sheltering in one. Over 2022, the number of damaged and destroyed churches rose from 12 to 36, with attacks on Buddhist temples also growing, according to Banyar, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group. "This is part of the strategy of the junta. When they approach the area, they went to three particular areas. The first area is the temple or church," he said. He added the military takes these, along with schools and community centers, as bases because they're often centrally located in the town with a fence and strategic vantage points. "The troops take those buildings mainly by force, so they're shelling those areas first." For many, the concern with fading culture and heritage is intertwined with the loss of livelihood and increased demands of international humanitarian assistance. Both UNESCO and the Myanmar Archeology Association declined to comment, citing a lack of ongoing cultural projects in the country. "These kinds of ethnic cultures are not being documented, not being recorded, not being encouraged, not being preserved," Yaw Maung said. "Then they are just evaporating into oblivion, like they never existed." 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar troops raid Chin state hospital, arresting doctor and nurses Locals say the 5 were members of the civil disobedience movement. By RFA Burmese 2023.05.24 -- Junta troops have raided a hospital in Myanmar's northwestern Chin state, arresting a doctor and four nurses, according to a local resident. The local identified the five women as Dr. Ci Ci Lia and nurses Henny Zivalem, KhupSian Lun, San Hniang Sung and Van Niang Mawi, all ethnic Chin. "They were arrested at midnight [Sunday] and informed they would be questioned," said the resident who declined to be named for security reasons. "Many soldiers came to the hospital at the time of the arrest." Agape Hospital is a privately-run medical facility, set up by the Presbyterian Church in Myanmar, which said it wanted to provide basic healthcare to a state with insufficient facilities. The doctor and four nurses all joined Myanmar's civil disobedience movement soon after the military seized power in a February 2021 coup, the local told RFA although they said the junta had not given a reason for the arrest. The five are being held at the local police station in Hakha township and have been allowed to see their families. Other residents told RFA troops arrested at least 15 people in Hakha township on Sunday evening when they checked lists of visitors staying overnight. Sunday's raid follows a similar one on April 2 when troops arrested two doctors and a staff member at Agape Hospital. Locals say the three were freed in exchange for the release of junta officials who had been detained by the Chin People's Defense Force in Hakha, suggesting the latest arrests may also be part of a planned prisoner exchange. RFA has not been able to confirm this independently. The Chin People's Defense Force confirmed Sunday's arrest of the five medical workers but did not comment on any possible prisoner swap. RFA called Chin state's junta spokesman and social affairs minister Thant Zin Wednesday, seeking comment on the latest arrests, but the calls went unanswered. Last week the junta revoked the business licenses of three private hospitals in Myanmar's central Mandalay region. Palace, City and Kant Kaw hospitals had already been told to stop accepting patients because they were using staff belonging to the civil disobedience movement. According to Myanmar's parallel National Unity Government, the junta has attacked hospitals and clinics 188 times since the coup. They damaged 59 ambulances and seized 49 more, the NUG's Ministry of Health said, adding that 71 medical workers were killed and 836 arrested in the past 27 months. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin says Russia, its allies bound to achieve 'a more just world' Iran Press TV Wednesday, 24 May 2023 6:52 PM Russian President Vladimir Putin has given an assurance that Russia and its allies across the globe will be successful in achieving "a more just world". Addressing participants at the 11th international meeting of high-ranking security officials held on Wednesday near Moscow, Putin slammed the proponents of Western Neo-colonialism, saying the exclusivity ideology supported by this group will soon be dead. "The ideology of exceptionalism, as well as the Neo-colonial system, which allowed the exploitation of the entire world's resources, will inevitably become a thing of the past," he said, adding that there will be "a more just world" in their place instead. Commenting on Russia's foreign policy, Putin said Moscow is going to strengthen its relations with African, Asian and Latin American states in all possible ways. "We highly appreciate the fact that Russia has many partners in different regions and on different continents. We sincerely value the historically strong, friendly, and truly trusting ties with the nations of Asia, Africa and Latin America. And we will strengthen them in every possible way," Putin told the participants at the meeting via video link. The Russian leader cited current global instability, new international divisions and the emergence of new hotspots in different regions as common features of the new era. "We see that the current international situation is characterized by increasing instability. In different regions, the former ones are expanding and new hotbeds of tension are emerging," he said. Putin said the dire situation today is because of individual states that want to maintain their global dominance over others. He said certain states completely ignore the sovereignty and interests of other countries and build formidable armies to expand their influence into other countries. "All this is accompanied by a buildup of military potential, a show of force, unceremonious interference in the affairs of independent countries, as well as attempts to extract one-sided advantages from the energy and food crises fomented by the United States and a number of Western states," said the Russian president. To meet the common challenges that humanity faces today, Putin said, Russia is ready to work with all those countries that are interested in creating "a more just world." In the meantime, Putin has ordered Russian officials to take "proactive" measures to counter the West's hostile economic campaign against the country. Since February 2022 when Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, US-led Western countries have slapped a slew of economic sanctions on Moscow. The sanctions, coupled with the flooding of weapons to Kiev, are seen by Russian officials as counterproductive measures that only prolong the conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Interview: The 'War Of Clans For Putin's Throne Has Begun' By Vazha Tavberidze May 24, 2023 Roman Anin is a Russian investigative journalist who worked for Novaya gazeta and was among the founders of the independent iStories outlet in 2020. He has taught journalism in Moscow and worked with international networks including the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), in addition to his work investigating millions of documents leaked among the so-called Panama Papers. He has also reported deeply on the leadership within Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). In 2021, Russian authorities labeled him a "foreign agent." He resides abroad. Anin spoke with RFE/RL's Georgian Service recently about potential risks to Vladimir Putin stemming from the Russian leader's decision to invade Ukraine, the current maneuvering for power by men like Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and National Guard head Viktor Zolotov, and whether a possible Russian defeat in Ukraine could spell a new Time of Troubles. RFE/RL: Many Western experts are skeptical of a scenario in which Putin is challenged or ousted inside Russia and the Kremlin. If the title of your piece (on iStories in January) is anything to go by -- A Clan War For Putin's Throne Has Begun -- you don't share that skepticism. Why not? Roman Anin: I believe that the war of clans for his throne has begun. It doesn't mean that they will overthrow him. Putin is 70-something years old; he's not a young man. That means that his circle understands that sooner rather than later he will die or he will step down. They realize that they need to work on the different scenarios after his death. And the problem of his circle is that it's so split, they have been constantly fighting against each other for dozens of years now, for access to him, for the opportunity to influence his decisions, for power. These fights were sometimes not "cold" but fought. There are plenty of examples. Take [Security Council member and National Guard (Rosgvardiya) Director Viktor] Zolotov, for example, who is very close to Putin -- or rather used to be very close to Putin. He used to be his bodyguard, a guy who spends most of his time together with Putin. Zolotov hates [Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Aleksandr] Bortnikov, and Bortnikov hates Zolotov; they're constantly fighting. That makes it very difficult for them to agree about a possible successor. And that's why I think that it actually increases the chances that one of them, or a coalition of them, will start acting even before Putin's death or before he loses power -- just because they will realize that they don't want to lose time. RFE/RL: When you write that a battle for Putin's throne is already raging, what do these people want: to replace Putin or to get closer to the tsar, to whisper in his ear? Anin: It's even simpler. They want to save their lives, assets, the lives of their relatives. They understand that after Russia loses the war - because nobody among them believes in the victory anymore -- they understand that it will be the starting point of this battle for the throne. And the one who loses the battle will lose everything -- power, assets.... Imagine that the next president of Russia is somebody from [Nikolai] Patrushev's clan, who is the head of the National Security Council of Russia, one of the major governmental bodies of the country. That means that people who were fighting against him during all these years will not be able to save their assets, and even [their] lives or maybe freedom, and they understand that. And that's what I believe will make a war really be fought. They will be fighting for their lives. Because the other problem is that they're stuck on this boat -- because of the sanctions, because of their involvement in various crimes. They can't leave the country. They can't just say, "OK, let's betray Putin and go somewhere." They're stuck there. And imagine snakes stuck in the same bottle and they just hate each other. RFE/RL: What's the take of Putin himself on this power struggle? One interpretation is that he's trying to set his underlings against each other so as to remain strong while they're being weakened. Anin: Before the war, that really was a part of his strategy. He loves to behave as judge in those battles of the inner circle. Today, it's obviously not the case, because those public clashes between [former bodyguard and Wagner Group founder Yevgeny] Prigozhin and [Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu, between Prigozhin and [Chechen Republic head Ramzan] Kadyrov, they definitely don't make Putin's power stronger. It's vice versa; they're making it weaker. Putin's problem is he's a politician who is constantly afraid of making decisions, who would rather sit and do nothing and wait until the problem somehow solves itself.... RFE/RL: That's a strange assessment of a man who made a decision to invade his neighbor. Anin: But these are different types of decisions. Because he believed, when he made this decision, that it would be a very easy war; they believed they would conquer Ukraine in three days. So, he wasn't actually risking anything. The decision to do something inside his clan [is different] -- and actually he doesn't have that many choices, Putin. If you read public statements of Prigozhin, of many other opinion leaders, so-called patriots, they have already started criticizing him. They have already started saying that he is betraying the country. These are very serious accusations, and either Putin acts himself -- meaning he starts repressions against his former allies -- or it will become too late. And that's a very difficult decision. It's ridiculous that such a kind of decision for him is more difficult than the decision to invade Ukraine. And he hasn't made this decision. But I believe that as we are approaching the presidential elections, the more he will have to act, and I believe that we will witness repressions against his former allies. RFE/RL: Another decision he could have made, but hasn't, is to appoint some kind of successor-in-waiting. Why hasn't he done that? Anin: I believe because he doesn't have a good figure. He knows that his clans are separated, and it's very difficult to find somebody who will serve all the clans. And simultaneously because he's really afraid for his freedom and life. He's afraid of losing power. I think the biggest regret he must have these days is that he doesn't have a son who could become a natural successor.... Five years ago, I did a story about his bodyguards -- how they started getting positions in different agencies, especially in secret services. And I asked one of the bodyguards, "Why is Putin doing that?" And the answer was really simple: "Because he trusts these people. These people for 20 years stood behind his back with a gun and they didn't kill him, you know?" Finding a successor is a really risky decision, because how can he be sure that the successor will not betray him the next day after he becomes the president? That is why he's afraid, and I'm sure that Putin will go for another presidency. RFE/RL: What does this power or succession struggle spell for his legacy, which he's so obsessed with? Anin: I think it has become clear these days what his legacy is and what his historical role will be. In the history of Russia and the world, it is clear today, he will remain as a near-Hitler, as one of the worst dictators, one of the persons who started one of the cruelest wars in in Europe. He wanted to live on in the history of Russia and the world somewhere in between Peter I and Catherine the Great. But he will be somewhere between Hitler and [former Libyan leader Muammar] Qaddafi. RFE/RL: Let's discuss those who are vying for his throne, and let's begin with the most notorious one -- that's definitely Prigozhin. Who is the "happy grandpa" that Prigozhin was mocking in his recent videos? Is it [Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces General Valery] Gerasimov, as he later claimed, or the "bunker grandpa," as Putin has been repeatedly been called since the war? Anin: I'm absolutely sure that it's Putin, not Gerasimov. First of all, "Grandpa" is the nickname of Putin, and everybody knows it. Prigozhin chose that nickname not accidentally. Then, of course, he realizes that Gerasimov is officially in charge of what they call the "special military operation," but all the major decisions are, of course, made by Putin. And the decision whether to provide weaponry and ammunition to Wagner is made not by Gerasimov but by Putin. And what is also really important and interesting in the framework of this war of clans and Prigozhin himself was his public statement [in the same video]...that they are going to leave Bakhmut on the 10th of May. And everyone paid attention only to the first part of this statement. But, in my opinion, the last part was more important. What he said was that "we will leave on the 10th of May, and we will wait until the Russian people need us, which we believe is going to happen really soon if you look at how our leaders are acting." It was obvious that he was referring to some kind of revolution, coup, or whatever. So he sees Wagner as this kind of military group that represents the interests of the majority of Russians, and if Russians need it, they will be ready there. That's a very dangerous statement and nobody noticed. But I believe that Putin and his people in the Kremlin really read between the lines. RFE/RL: If so, can Putin really afford for Prigozhin to get away with this? There was also this other statement where he said something to the effect of, "We should cut our losses, consolidate our gains, and freeze the war in Ukraine." People have been thrown into jail in Russia for much less. Anin: Absolutely. Again, these statements weaken Putin's power.... It's very interesting, because they're very dependent on each other. Prigozhin is in charge of 50,000 people at the most important section of the front lines. If they leave, you know, that will be the end of the war -- or at least that will be a very serious defeat of the Russian Army. Prigozhin is dependent on Putin because they can't fight without ammunition, without weapons. So I believe that Putin is dreaming more than [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskiy that Prigozhin dies there -- that would be the best solution of his problem. RFE/RL: What does it say about Russia itself that a former strangler of women, a bandit, and now a guy who prances around with a sledgehammer is vying for the top spot in power? We do have historical analogues here, the precedent of Stalin being a bank robber. But still. Anin: I actually don't think there were examples, at least in recent history, of such a country. Sometimes I close my eyes and imagine that I am somewhere in 2007, and a screenwriter from Hollywood comes to me and says, "Look, here's an amazing book or script which says that Russia starts a war against Ukraine, Putin is sitting in his bunker for two years, the main military guy is an ex-criminal who was beating women and robbing them. He is recruiting tens of thousands of prisoners and they're being killed on the front line without anything, and Russia is becoming the most isolated country, somewhere between Iran and North Korea." I would have told the screenwriter that he's crazy. But this is the reality. We were talking about Putin's legacy. When he became president, Russia was one of the most developed, elite countries of the world. Where is it today? It's such a tragedy, of course, first of all for Ukraine, but [look at] what Putin also did to Russia: He threw his country dozens and dozens of years back, and I don't know how much time it's actually going to take to recover or whether the recovery is possible at all. RFE/RL: If Prigozhin, indeed, has some sort of big game plan in mind, what would be his selling pitch to the Russian people? Anin: We have to admit that he's very talented PR guy, and he was already selling this idea that, "Look at these fat cats from Rublevka, the wealthiest part of Russia. They betrayed the country. They're sending your sons to the front line without anything. They stole everything. Your sons are dying there. I know how to win the war, but these traitors don't allow me. They don't allow us to win." And Russians are buying that. He's becoming more and more popular. Because he's actually saying the truth, or he is saying something that resonates with Russians. Because, unfortunately, the majority of Russians do support the war, or at least maybe not the war itself but they think these days that "if we started the war, then there is no way for us to lose it. We've got to go until the end." And Prigozhin's ideas resonate with Russians. RFE/RL: He's also the only one who can, to some extent, claim some sort of success in Ukraine, compared to others. Anin: Exactly. That's what Ukrainians say. That's what Western experts say. And that's what people in Russia say: That his private army is more effective than the official army. RFE/RL: With all that in mind, who do see coming out on top in this Prigozhin versus Shoigu and Gerasimov duel? Anin: It really depends on what's going to happen after and during any Ukrainian counteroffensive. Things can start changing and developing really quickly, and I'm afraid that we are a step before the start of the real chaos in Russia -- unless Putin decides to withdraw the troops, close the country, proclaim a military dictatorship, arrest all his enemies, and transform the country into really a North Korea.... RFE/RL: If he decides to do such things, will he be able to do that? Anin: That's the thing; I think he's not ready to do that, and he's hoping for a miracle. He's not doing anything. He's kind of stuck in his bunker. And that's why he's criticized, you know. If you read the most popular "Z" channels, they're saying, "Where is our leader? What is our plan? Are we going to win?" He's afraid to do that, and that's why I think that he will not do that. And on the one hand, I am afraid; on the other hand, I hope that the successful [Ukrainian] counteroffensive will start this hot fight between elites, this chaos. But I am afraid that somebody even worse can win this battle. And that will be the real challenge for the West. How is the West going to act? Because imagine Prigozhin wins the battle, and now the country with the second-biggest arsenal of nuclear weapons is in the hands of a notorious criminal, a criminal who is even worse than Putin, a crazy criminal, a sadist, a guy who loves torturing people and killing them. And I hope the West has a plan for how it's going to act if somebody like Prigozhin or [Igor] Girkin (aka Igor Strelkov, who played a role in the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and supported armed separatists in eastern Ukraine) or anybody else wins the war [for power]. Unfortunately, there are no reasonable people within the elite, those with power. Liberals are very weak. There are some liberals within the Putin circle - people like [longtime Kremlin strategist Sergei] Kiriyenko, people like [Aleksei] Kudrin, people like [Anatoly] Chubais -- but these people don't have physical power. In a failed state -- and in my opinion Russia has become a failed state -- the one with the biggest gun wins. Those liberal forces, both within Putin's circle and in general in Russia, unfortunately don't have this power; they can't use it. RFE/RL: Another colorful figure is Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the "notable Chechen academic," as you dubbed him in your article, who was ready to replace Wagner troops with his own Akhmat detachment in Bakhmut. What realistic or unrealistic ambitions might Kadyrov have in this power struggle? Anin: I think that actually the majority of experts kind of exaggerate his ambitions. I don't think that he has any kind of presidential ambitions or even more. If you look at what he's doing in his republic, he has been putting his relatives in major posts within the republic. It's ridiculous. I think he has appointed more than 25 or 30 members of his family in the most important posts in Chechnya. RFE/RL: A monarchic approach? Anin: Exactly. In my opinion, he just wants to be where he is right now: the leader of Chechnya, the king of Chechnya, a guy who can do whatever he wants in Chechnya and continue receiving federal money. It's an amazing state within the state that's being financed by all Russians. Chechnya, I think, is more than 90 percent dependent on money from the federal budget. So, I don't think that he has any other ambitions rather than to just stay there in power and die on his throne and give his power to one of his relatives. RFE/RL: Let's move on to the less colorful figures then. We have this myriad of clans, like [Security Council Secretary Nikolai] Patrushev, the [billionaire Yury] Kovalchuk, the [oligarch Igor] Sechin, and so on. How would you assess their chances of coming out on top? Anin: Well, of course, all of them are different. It is believed -- well, I think it's a fact -- that Kovalchuk is the second [most powerful] person in the country. He's one of the closest to Putin, and definitely he was the one who knew about the invasion, and maybe he was the one who influenced this decision. We don't know, but that's what the majority of experts think. Simultaneously, those people who are considered to be the oldest friends of Putin -- like Sechin, [Rostech defense conglomerate CEO Sergei] Chemezov, Kovalchuk -- there are a lot of fights between them as well. For instance, [Transneft head Nikolai] Tokarev, who used to serve with Putin in the KGB in Germany, is constantly fighting with Sechin, who's also an old-time friend of Putin. In some cases, they've even resulted in criminal cases against people. People within the inner circle can't start criminal cases against each other, so what they do is that second or third people, subordinates [do it], and it hasn't changed. And sources are telling me that those fights have intensified in the last year because the pie is becoming smaller. They understand that the risks are higher, and, of course, they want to protect their clan in the best way, and they want to weaken other clans. It's all going on behind the curtain. But the most important, the majority of them, we don't see them. RFE/RL: In your piece, you kind of partitioned those into three major camps. One of them was "bloodthirsty," which contained people like Prigozhin and so on; then we had the "privileged," which included Putin's inner circle, more like oligarchical, finance-minded persons; and then there was this "dark horse" of "patriots," people who want to remove the upper echelons of Kremlin power because of corruption and incompetence, but they also want to win the war. How is this race shaping up? Anin: The best option for Russia -- and not only for Russia, but for Ukraine and the whole world -- would be if the clan of the "privileged" wins. What I mean by that is that within this inner circle of Putin -- I mean, there are no good people, all of them are corrupt, all of them are involved in different crimes -- but there are some people who are more reasonable than Prigozhin or Strelkov. And if the coalition of these people realizes in the end that they can stop the war and can change everything in Russia really quickly -- imagine a situation where this coalition of clans brings the head of Putin to the International Criminal Court and promises that "we will withdraw all the troops from Ukraine on the borders of 1999, we give security guarantees to Ukraine, and in return the West guarantees our safety -- ours and our assets -- cancels all sanctions, and let's start from the beginning." I believe that the West, which is really already tired of the war, will agree to that, because it will mean the victory of Ukraine, the end of the war, and the start of a new relationship with Russia. It actually would be the best-case scenario. And I really hope that the coalition of what we call the "privileged," will sooner rather than later understand it; otherwise, Russia will be stuck somewhere in between Prigozhin and Strelkov. And this is not a very good option. RFE/RL: What happens if Ukraine wins the war on the battlefield? Anin: We all hope that it will happen, that Ukraine will win on the battlefield. It would mean the start of chaos in Russia and the start of this "war of clans" that we've discussed...the start of Smuta (the so-called Time of Troubles in Russian history from 1598 -1612.) And then we'll see who wins this war. We can't predict the scenarios afterwards. The range is so wide -- from complete chaos and the transformation of Russia into a kind of African state with gangs and constant fighting on the streets to a transformation into a democratic country in 20 years or 50 years. I don't know. It will depend on who's going to win this war for the throne. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-clans-war-russia- interview-succession-ukraine-war/32425962.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Date Set For Trial Of Siberian Missile Scientist Charged With High Treason By RFE/RL May 24, 2023 Anatoly Maslov, the first of three Russian hypersonic missile scientists from the Siberian city of Novosibirsk to be charged with treason, will go on trial on June 1, the St. Petersburg City Court said. The 76-year-old Maslov and his colleagues at the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM) -- aerodynamics experts Valery Zvegintsev and Aleksandr Shiplyuk -- are accused of passing classified information to an unspecified country's intelligence agents. The St. Petersburg City Court also ruled on May 24 that Maslov's detention would be extended until at least November 10. It was said at the hearing that Maslov had been transferred from a detention center in Moscow to a pretrial detention center in St. Petersburg. The details of the case are classified, but some local media reports cited sources close to scientific circles as saying that the three scholars are suspected of handing information related to their research to China. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on May 24 that the Kremlin does not see any evidence that the scientists might have spied for China. "I would not draw conclusions about any trends in this case," Peskov said. Last week, scholars at the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences issued an open letter condemning the arrests of the physicists, stressing that the men are innocent and that the ongoing crackdown on scholars in Russia will harm the country's performance in science. In July 2022, another physicist from Novosibirsk, Dmitry Kolker, died at the age of 54 of cancer while in custody, days after he was arrested as a suspect in a treason case. Kolker, who held numerous patents and headed the Laboratory of Quantum Optics at Novosibirsk State University, had given lectures at Chinese universities. Since January 2023, at least 21 treason investigations have been launched in Russia. Over the last five years, at least 12 employees of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have been targeted in criminal investigations. With reporting by Reuters, TASS, and RIA Novosti Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-scientist-trial- hypersonic-missile-treason/32426199.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the 11th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues, Moscow, May 24, 2023 24 May 2023 12:53 994-24-05-2023 Mr Chair, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I appreciate the invitation to speak at the 11th international meeting of high representatives for security issues. The importance of these discussions can hardly be overestimated. International relations are going through truly crucial and tectonic shifts. The idea of one country or even a group of countries dominating the world has sunk into oblivion. The world continues to head confidently towards a more just multipolar system which, as President Vladimir Putin noted during the Victory Parade held on Red Square on May 9, is based "on the principles of trust and indivisible security, of equal opportunities for a genuine and free development of all nations and peoples." The countries from the Global South and the Global East are primarily guided by their core national priorities rather than the self-serving interests of former colonial powers and are consistently strengthening their positions right before our eyes. Multilateral diplomacy is part of the general trend as well. The democratisation of international life is facilitated by associations of a new type, such as the SCO, BRICS, and the EAEU. In the long run, all of that should bring about a more balanced, sustainable, and inclusive international order. This objective trend is outright rejected by the US-led Western minority. In an attempt to achieve global domination, Washington and its satellites do not hesitate to use any means ranging from unilateral sanctions to media wars. Acting in line with the logic of the Cold War, they have added liberal doses of ideology to geopolitics. In defiance of the sovereign equality principle that is enshrined in the UN Charter, they are imposing on the international community an artificial division of the world into "democracies" and "autocracies". As follows from statements made at the recently held G7 summit in Japan, the West sees Russia and China as strategic adversaries that pose an almost existential threat to its dominance. It has got to the point where the West is now seeking to replace the UN-centric world order that took shape after the Second World War with some kind of "rules-based order." The Western elites seek to internationalise these "rules", which no one has ever seen and which, by definition, cannot be legally binding. Their goal is clear and it is to destroy the existing international legal system and to hold back the development of new world centres in the hope of being able to stick to their colonial policies as they continue to deal with their issues at other countries' expense. Washington has been purposefully destroying the European security architecture for years on end, as it remained focused on creating threats that were unacceptable to Russia. The US withdrawal from the ABM treaties (including 20 years ago), the INF Treaty and the Treaty on Open Skies are among such threats. Having degraded the OSCE into a fringe entity with no influence whatsoever on the state of affairs regarding European security, the United States and its European allies have long since taken an openly provocative course on NATO's eastward expansion despite the political promises to the Soviet leadership not to expand the alliance "one inch," or the commitments assumed at the highest level not to strengthen their own security at the expense of the security of other countries. In fact, reckless NATO expansion is reminiscent of Hitler's Drang nach Osten policy. The Western politicians' true intentions once again transpired in December 2021, when Washington and Brussels once again rejected Russia's proposals to provide our country with legally binding security guarantees. Notably, Russia's recent decision to denounce the CFE Treaty is just a formal statement of the fact that this treaty has become outdated amid deep degradation of the military-political situation in Europe through the fault of the United States and Brussels. Acting under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which sets forth the right of states to self-defence, we were compelled to carry out the special military operation. It was also a necessary step in order to eliminate security threats created by NATO along our border and prevent the extermination of people, whose ancestors have lived on their land in cities founded by Russia for centuries. The so-called collective West has made no secret of its intention to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, and has been using the Kiev regime as an anti-Russia battering ram by sending more and more NATO weapons there. However, most of the Western deliveries spread around the world in an uncontrolled manner. In fact, NATO countries essentially, I mean de-jure, are directly involved in the conflict on Kiev's side. This irresponsible policy does nothing but heighten the threat of a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers. We have been signalling to our partners that this would be an unacceptable path to take, but unfortunately, they either ignore these signals or grossly distort them for propaganda purposes. There is also another reason why our opponents have been seeking to raise the stakes in Ukraine. For them, the attempt to rely on Ukrainian neo-Nazis in order to break Russia emerged as an integral part of their overall aspiration to revive the unipolar world order. They placed their bets on getting rid of competitors to enable the so-called golden billion to keep following its neo-colonial agenda by siphoning off resources from other countries. This is the very purpose of Western-style globalisation, including its monetary and trade aspects. When the United States realised that it was about to lose its global dominance and had to undermine its competitors, Washington moved swiftly and without any second thought or hesitation in violation of its own sacrosanct principles of free trade, fair competition, inviolability of property and the presumption of innocence. Apart from Moscow, most other countries have been facing these threats and blackmail. We see that the United States is intentionally seeking to escalate tension around Taiwan as part of its so-called Indo-Pacific strategies. Washington has been drawing its satellites, not only those in Europe, but also in the Far East into its destructive plots. During the NATO summit in Madrid, the West proclaimed the principle of indivisible security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, deciding to deal a fatal blow to the ASEAN-centric security architecture in that part of the world. Instead of effectively cooperating for the benefit of all, the Anglo-Saxons have been deploying NATO's military infrastructure in the region, established AUKUS and other variable-geometry military and political alliances in an attempt to draw several Southeast Asian countries into these incendiary games. All this cannot but cause serious concern. For many years now, the collective West has been sowing instability in the Middle East and North Africa. It has been trying to institute its own rules across the post-Soviet space, including in South Caucasus and Central Asia. In keeping with its colonial practices, it has been seeking to exploit the African continent with its rich resources. The United States still views countries in Latin America and the Caribbean as its backyard and takes it badly whenever any of these countries adopts an independent policy line. In all the regions I mentioned, the West has been intentionally inciting inter-ethnic and religious strife and interstate conflicts. Sudan provides the latest example. The problems the country is facing are rooted in the long-standing policy by the United States to break a single state - Sudan - apart into Sudan and South Sudan. As a result, neither of the two can live in peace and achieve wellbeing. In the interests of reducing international tensions, we call on Washington and Brussels to give up their strong-arm unilateral solutions and their attempts to marginalise the United Nations and create select organisations outside of its framework, organisations devoid of any legitimacy but aspiring to dominate others. We have to state that the Western ruling circles are not ready to readjust their foreign-policy thinking based on the principles of international law, collectivity, equality, and regard for each other's interests. Coming to the fore today is the task of renewing the global security architecture and making it more stable based on unconditional respect, in practice, for the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interconnection. Given the West's destructive policy and its unpreparedness for honest cooperation, this goal can be attained by creating regional and inter-regional security mechanisms that are not controlled by Washington and its satellites, something that might be done by forming coordinated spaces for pragmatic cooperation and stable growth. Some truly democratic interstate organisations are likely to provide crucial support in this work, organisations promoting a constructive, creative, and forward-looking agenda, and based on consensus rather than on the bloc discipline of the rod. Intensifying versatile ties between multilateral associations in Greater Eurasia, including the CSTO, the EAEU, CIS, SCO, ASEAN, and CCAS, is highly relevant as well. All of this begs the inclusion of continental security issues on the list of subjects to be considered by an international organisation, which is to be established to replace CICA. The need to create a stable international environment and an atmosphere of neighbourliness is increasingly important for states in a dynamically developing Eurasia. I am pleased to state that there is interest in joint activities without diktat or interference by extra-regional forces. Collective security efforts are designed to complement naturally the existing cooperation in industry, infrastructural connectivity, and contacts between people. In the final analysis, this will benefit not only the peoples of Eurasia but also the world at large. Colleagues, We consistently proceed from the premise that the current geopolitical turbulence should not be an obstacle to aligning international efforts designed to effectively curtail numerous threats common to the whole of humanity. Biological security is still a high-profile matter, primarily in connection with uncontrolled US military biological activities in different regions of the world. Under the guise of sanitary and epidemiological assistance, the Pentagon has organised mass-scale construction or upgrading of microbiology laboratories to develop components for biological weapons along the borders of Russia and China. The activities conducted by the United States and its allies are at variance with their obligations under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction. There is ever wider support for initiatives aimed at an urgent strengthening of this convention by coordinating reliable verification mechanisms that can guarantee the transparency of these programmes and their non-orientation towards developing biological weapons. In recent years, the collective West has applied pressure to create obstacles to international antiterrorist cooperation, this despite the mounting threats of terrorism and extremism. Strong challenges are still coming from ISIS and al-Qaeda, as well as from the extremist groups under their control. Operating in the Middle East, Africa, and East and Central Asia, they demonstrate the ability to rapidly adjust to the changing geopolitical conditions. The NATO countries, led by the United States, continue their vicious routine of using radical nationalists and extremists in their irresponsible geopolitical games. This includes turning Ukraine into a seat for fostering and disseminating Nazi ideology and practices, where the rights of national minorities guaranteed by numerous conventions are trampled on through openly racist methods. The United States and its satellites are turning a blind eye to the Kiev regime using terrorist methods to kill politicians, public figures, journalists and anyone who disagrees with the revival of Nazism. The militarisation of outer space is a problem that requires close attention. Russia has put forward a number of constructive initiatives in this regard. Russia and China have proposed a draft treaty on the prevention of the deployment of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force against outer space facilities. We believe that the use of commercial satellites by the United States and its allies for military purposes, to interfere in other countries' internal affairs and for other subversive actions is an extremely dangerous trend. Like the overwhelming majority of countries, we call for using civilian space infrastructure exclusively for stated purposes, in accordance with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. The mounting threats from the use of information and communications technologies have become a challenge to international security. The United States and its allies have committed to the militarisation of cyberspace, and are building up respective offensive arsenals and perfecting attack methods. Washington is grossly abusing its position, given that the internet today is actually under the sole control of the United States and American corporations. We call for the intensification of the long-term effort by the International Telecommunication Union to put an end to this monopoly and democratise internet governance. Contrary to the West's attempts to turn the digital space into an arena of geopolitical confrontation, the majority of member states are in favour of depoliticised and constructive interaction. The concept of establishing a special UN international information security convention, as well as the draft of another convention on combating crime in cyberspace, presented by Russia, were given a broad and positive response. Russia, the largest Eurasian and Euro-Pacific power and one of the world's leading centres, has consistently advocated the consolidation of the international community in countering pressing security challenges. Russian diplomacy is always open to dialogue with its partners to reach practical agreements based on a balance of interests and respect for each other. The key to success is reliance on the universal norms of international law, primarily the principle of sovereign equality of states. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address National Centre for State Defence Control hosts Defence Ministry Board Session chaired by General of the Army Sergei Shoigu 24.05.2023 General of the Army Sergei Shoigu started is address with a few words regarding another terrorist attack carried out by the Kiev regime against unarmed civilians. On 22 May 2023, a unit of a Ukrainian nationalist formation attacked Russian territory close to the Kozinka border crossing in Belgorod region. The nationalist formations were stopped and annihilated during the counterterrorism operation which involved airstrikes, artillery fire, and active actions of the units guarding the state border of the Western Military District. After being driven back into Ukraine, the remaining nationalists were repeatedly attacked until they were completely eliminated. More than 70 Ukrainian terrorists were neutralised, as well as motor and armoured vehicles. Russia will keep responding to such actions of Ukrainian militants promptly and rigorously. Then, the Defence Minister turned to the agenda of the session. First, he moved to consider implementation of social guarantees for military personnel involved in the special military operation and their families. To date, the rights of this group have been significantly enhanced by the adoption of 63 normative legal acts. The status of combat veteran was established, and additional compensation was given, including for exceptional performance of missions. Loans are repaid or loan vacations are given, and lump sum aid in the amounts of three and five million rubles is given to wounded servicemen and bereaved families, respectively. The command of military units and local authorities pay special attention to the families of servicemen. Women's councils, veteran's organisations, and Yuarmiya members are all actively involved in offering targeted help. Additional assistance is provided by charitable foundations and public organisations. The decision of the President of the Russian Federation established the State Fund to Support Participants of the Special Military Operation 'Defender of the Fatherland'. 'This kind of organised work will continue,' Sergei Shoigu said. 'We believe it is crucial for military personnel involved in the special military operation to be aware that their nearest and dearest are being protected by the government'. Next, let's discuss how the training of junior specialists in the Armed Forces is improving. Since the start of the special military operation, more than 120,000 troops have received training. More than 21,000 specialists were trained specifically for Russian groups of forces and newly established formations, and military units, including about 5,000 troops for the use of advanced models like T-90M Proryv tanks, BMP-2M IFV with Berezhok combat module, BMP-3 IFV, as well as various unmanned aerial vehicles. It should be noted that the training centres offer training programmes for both individuals and tank and combat vehicle crews, including training for formations and military units being formed in new territories. There is no doubt that the workload on the educational system has increased significantly recently, but this should not in any way affect the quality of the educational process. Training programmes need to be adjusted to take into account the experience of the special military operation. 'Military personnel must be proficient in new combat techniques, be able to use weapons effectively, and be aware of enemy tactics and techniques in order to counter the adversary skillfully,' the Defence Minister added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow-Beijing Relations at Unprecedentedly High Level - Russian PM Mishustin Sputnik News 20230524 The head of the Russian government arrived in the PRC earlier today for the Russian-Chinese Business Forum, meeting with business executives and top officials. "The decisions made by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President [Xi Jinping] have defined strategic guidelines for stepping up cooperation in eight priority areas. The governments of Russia and China have launched a coordinated effort to implement the agreements reached at the highest level," Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin stated during a meeting with Li Qiang, the premier of the State Council of China. Mishustin said that relations between Russia and China "are at an unprecedentedly high level, characterized by mutual respect for each other's interests, by the intention to jointly respond to new challenges that are associated with increasing turbulence in the international arena and the illegal sanctions pressure from the collective West." He added that "as our Chinese friends say, unity makes it possible to move mountains." Commenting on economic issues, Mishustin stressed that Russia-China trade may top $200 billion in 2023. "I am convinced that this year we will not only fulfill the task set by the heads of state to increase mutual trade to $200 billion ahead of schedule, but will also pass this milestone," he said. The head of the Russian government - ranking official added that 70 percent of cross-border settlements between Russia and China are already carried out in national currencies - rubles and yuan. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Prime Minister Praises Ties with China By VOA News May 24, 2023 Visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has praised his country's ties with China, saying relations "are at an unprecedented high level." Mishustin made the comment during a meeting Wednesday in Bejiing with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Mishustin also met with President Xi Jinping, and reports say Xi offered Beijing's support on Moscow's "core interests." Mishustin said the bilateral relationship is "characterized by mutual respect of each other's interests, the desire to jointly respond to challenges, which is associated with increased turbulence in the international arena and the pattern of sensational pressure from the collective West." According to the Associated Press, Mishustin did not mention Russia's war in Ukraine. Mishustin and Li signed several agreements involving cooperation on trade services, Russian exports of agricultural products to China, and sports. Mishustin is the highest-ranking Russian official to visit Beijing since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. China has become Russia's biggest customer of oil and gas exports due to sanctions by Western nations in response to the invasion. Russian state media recently said that Russian exports to China will increase by 40% this year. China has refrained from publicly criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Beijing maintains it is neutral in the conflict. The United States has cautioned China against providing military support to Russia for the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chief of General Staff Discusses Defense Cooperation with Bangladesh Army Chief of Army Staff Saudi Press Agency Riyadh, May 24, 2023, SPA -- The Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, met with the Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff, General Sheikh Mohammad Shafiuddin Ahmed, currently on an official visit to the Kingdom. During the meeting, they reviewed relations between the two countries, especially in the field of defense and military cooperation and ways to enhance them. They also discussed a number of issues and topics of common interest. Held at the headquarters of the General Staff in Riyadh today, the meeting was attended by a number of commanders and senior officers of the armed forces of the two countries. --SPA 23:45 LOCAL TIME 20:45 GMT 0043 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria lashes out at France over 'hysteria' on President Assad Iran Press TV Thursday, 25 May 2023 1:25 AM Damascus has lashed out at France over its call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand trial, describing it as an isolated and detached "hysteria." The Syrian foreign ministry on Tuesday cited the Arab country's improving international standing as evidence for the disapproval of France's desire for Assad's trial. Asked during a television interview on Tuesday if she wanted the Syrian leader to be tried, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said, "The answer is yes". The Syrian foreign ministry reacted to the top French diplomat's comments in a statement on Wednesday. "We have recently followed the hysteria and isolated and detached positions of French diplomacy, which has lost its senses after the historic decisions of the Arab summit in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia when it comes to Syria," the statement read. "The backward French diplomacy must review its positions," the ministry added, also accusing France of seeking to "restore the legacy of the colonial era". Colonna's remarks came despite an ongoing wave of rapprochement between many regional countries and Syria. The countries had cut their ties with Damascus right after the eruption of a hugely deadly and destructive scourge of foreign-backed militancy and terrorism across the Arab nation in 2011. Over the past several years, though, many of the same states started resuming diplomatic ties after Syria took great strides in quelling the foreign-backed violence thanks to its own resilience as well as the support of its allies, Iran and Russia. The diplomatic overtures were crowned earlier this month with the Arab League's deciding to readmit Syria in the regional grouping, and Assad's addressing of the AL's gathering in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on Friday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Health Minister vows to promote WHA inclusion by expanding global links ROC Central News Agency 05/24/2023 08:44 PM Geneva, May 23 (CNA) Despite failing to secure admission this year, Taiwan will not give up efforts to attend the World Health Organization's annual assembly and will continue to expand links with the international community, Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (ecza) said in Geneva Tuesday. Despite strong international support, Taiwan's bid to attend the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) from May 21-30 was rejected. "Everyone knows Taiwan's failure to participate in the WHA is due to China's obstruction," Hsueh said in an interview with CNA, as the forum entered its third day in Geneva. He added that Taiwan's exclusion will make it impossible to provide information and expertise to other countries, which is an injustice and a loss to the world. When asked how Taiwan could break through China's block on Taiwan's WHA participation, Hsueh said that although there was no clear solution currently, Taiwan must not give up trying. He stressed that at present Taiwan's strategy was to make partnerships around the world, adding that the country's increasing strength in biotech and healthcare will be an asset when forming these relationships. During the WHA on Tuesday and Wednesday, 20 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies and other like-minded countries spoke in support of Taiwan's participation as a WHA observer. Although Taiwan has not been invited to the forum, Hsueh is in Geneva for private meetings with other delegations. Taiwan has been blocked from attending the WHA for seven years, following the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party's rise to power. From 2009 to 2016, while cross-Taiwan Strait relations were warmer under the then Kuomintang government, Taiwan was permitted to attend as an observer. (By Judy Tseng, Tien Hsi-ju and Evelyn Kao) Enditem/KB NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 23, 2023 By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News F-16 Training, Aircraft, to Fill Ukraine's Mid-Term, Long-Term Defense Needs Last week in Japan during a meeting of G7 leaders, including those from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, President Joe Biden said the U.S. will support an effort with partners and allies to train Ukrainian fighter pilots on the F-16 aircraft. Today, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder explained in further detail that the training, and any eventual transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine is meant to support mid- and long-term defense needs, rather than defense in the short term for an expected counter-offensive against Russian forces. "F-16s for Ukraine is about the long-term commitment to Ukraine," Ryder said. "These F-16s will not be relevant to the upcoming counter offensive." Right now, no number of F-16s, any indication of where those aircraft will come from, or when they will be delivered, has been revealed. What has been revealed, however, is that the U.S. will participate with partners and allies in training Ukrainian pilots on how to use the aircraft. "That training will take place outside of Ukraine at sites in Europe," Ryder said. "But in terms of ... when that training will begin, how those jets will be provided, who will provide them, we're continuing to work with our international partners on that front." For some time, F-16s were not on the table for Ukraine. But recently, the U.S. agreed that partner nations can train Ukrainians on use of the aircraft. At the last Ukraine Defense Contact Group in April, Ryder said, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III received several requests from countries who wanted U.S. permission to train Ukrainians on the F-16. "He subsequently took that matter, introduced it into our national security council policy process as part of a conversation about how we support Ukraine in the mid- to long-term in terms of their defense needs, and there was unanimous agreement that this was something that we should and need to support," Ryder said. The F-16 aircraft is an American weapon system, and in the same way that nations who want the F-16 must work with the U.S. to acquire it, foreign military sales agreements also mean that those who own the F-16 must seek permission from the U.S. before they transfer those aircraft to other nations. Training on the F-16, Ryder said, might begin in the next few weeks or months, though he couldn't yet say exactly who would be doing the training, where a besides in Europe a that the training would happen, or where the aircraft required for training would come from. He did say the U.S. would be involved, however. "As a U.S.-built platform, clearly exportability aspects, technology transfer aspects, are things that we'll be looking at as well a working with our allies and partners on that front," he said. "We'll have much more to follow in the days ahead." Since the very first meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in April 2022, the DOD has said the focus is not just on Ukraine's immediate defense needs a but its long-term defense needs. The F-16 training and any eventual transfer of aircraft to Ukraine, will be part of that long-term support plan. "The fight right now is to ensure that they are able to successfully defend themselves while at the same time taking back sovereign territory," Ryder said. "But we look forward to a long-term relationship with Ukraine in terms of their security assistance needs, and again, with the idea here that they can secure their hard-won gains and deter future aggression by Russia." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia claims victory over "Ukrainian nationalists" in border region People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:07, May 24, 2023 MOSCOW, May 23 (Xinhua) -- "A Ukrainian nationalist formation" that broke into Russia's Belgorod region on Monday has been defeated, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. "During a counter-terrorist operation, the nationalist formation was blocked and destroyed due to air strikes, artillery fire and active action by the units of the Western Military District that covers the state border," the ministry said in a statement. The "remaining nationalists" were pushed back into Ukraine, where they continued to be hit until wholly eliminated, said the statement. They lost over 70 people, four armored fighting vehicles and five pickup trucks. The Ukrainian side has denied involvement in the incursion. Two anti-government paramilitary groups in Russia were behind the operation in the Belgorod region, which aimed to create a "security strip" to protect Ukrainian civilians, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said. The Belgorod region, located next to Ukraine's Kharkov region, has recently been a center of hostilities. On Tuesday, the region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported several drone attacks that caused damage to local private residential buildings. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskiy Urges Expedited Delivery Of F-16 As British Defense Minister Visits Kyiv For Talks By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 24, 2023 British Defense Minister Ben Wallace met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksiy Reznikov, during a surprise visit to Kyiv on May 24, Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called in a video address for allies to speed delivery of promised F-16 fighter jets. The visit comes a day ahead of a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), which consists of dozens of countries that have supported Kyiv in its fight against Russia's invasion. "We talked about the ongoing training of our servicemen on British territory, about the main priorities and importance of this training. We had the opportunity to shake hands with pilots who trained in Britain and are already successfully using the Storm Shadow weapon," Reznikov said in a statement posted on the ministry's website. Wallace noted that the long-range Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Britain to Ukraine were the first of this type, the statement said. "We provided this kind of weapon because of Russia's continued use of its long-range missiles, which it uses to harm civilians and critical civilian infrastructure," Wallace was quoted as saying. Reznikov on May 23 held a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who provided his Ukrainian counterpart with an update on recent U.S. security assistance efforts for Ukraine. The UDCG virtual meeting is to discuss ways to sustain Ukraine's armored maneuver capabilities and bolster its air defenses against Russia's continued attacks, the Pentagon said. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said the providing of U.S.-made F-16s to Kyiv is a clear sign that Russia is destined to lose the war in Ukraine. "The very first Ukrainian F-16 will be one of the strongest signals from the world that Russia will only lose because of its aggression. It will be weaker and further isolated," Zelenskiy said. "The main thing is speed in training and in supply, meaning the time between decisions in real protection for our skies," he added. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said three Ukrainian remote-controlled surface vessels had attempted to attack a Russian warship in the Black Sea. The ministry said in a Telegram post that the Russian craft had been protecting the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines that transport gas from Russia to Turkey but that no damage was done to it and that all attacking vessels were destroyed. Kyiv did not immediately comment on the claim, which could not independently be verified. On the battlefield, Russian shelling of Ukraine's Kherson region has killed two civilians and wounded three others, a regional official said on May 24. "Russia targeted residential quarters of civilian-populated areas, and infrastructure objectives in [Kherson's] Beryslav district," the head of Kherson's regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Telegram. Prokudin said Russian forces carried out 64 shellings of the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government in Kherson, using heavy artillery, Grad missiles, tanks, and drones. After Ukraine recaptured parts of the Kherson region last fall, Russian forces have been shelling the region and the city of Kherson almost daily from across the Dnieper River. In eastern Ukraine, fighting for control of Bakhmut and its surroundings is still under way, with Ukrainian defenders repelling 26 assaults by Russian forces over the past 24 hours, Ukraine's General Staff reported on May 24. Russia's main directions of attack concentrate around the Bakhmut-Avdiyivka-Maryinka front line, which remains at the epicenter of hostilities in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Russian forces have also been launching attacks on Lyman, north of Bakhmut, and Kupyansk, in the Kharkiv region, the military said in its daily report from the front. Both Russia and Ukraine have recently claimed success in Bakhmut. Russia claims it has the city under its control after months of fighting that is estimated to have claimed thousands of casualties, but the Ukrainian military says it has been advancing on the northern and southern flanks of the city, aiming to encircle it. Meanwhile, fighting appeared to cease around Russia's Belgorod region a day after armed fighters allegedly coming from inside Ukraine launched one of the largest cross-border incursions since the start of the war. Pictures purporting to show abandoned or damaged Western military vehicles, including U.S.-made Humvees, have circulated on social media. The Ukrainian government has denied any role in the events, while the U.S. State Department voiced skepticism about Russian claims that U.S. military equipment had been used in the alleged incursion. "We've seen some of the reports circulating on social media and elsewhere making claims that U.S.-supplied weapons were used in these attacks. I will say that we're skeptical at this time of the veracity of these reports," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told a media briefing on May 23. "As a more general principle, as we've said, as I've said yesterday, we do not encourage or enable strikes inside of Russia, and we've made that clear. But as we've also said it is up to Ukraine to decide how to conduct this war," Miller added. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kherson- russia-bakhmut/32425272.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Five Foreign Nationals To Be Tried In Absentia In Russia For Joining Ukrainian Armed Forces By RFE/RL May 24, 2023 Russia's Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don said on May 24 that five foreign nationals will be tried for joining Ukraine's armed forces fighting against Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. According to the court, the trial of three Britons -- John Harding, Andrew Hill, and Dylan Heal --Swedish citizen Mathias Gustafsson, and Croatian national Vjekoslav Prebeg on alleged terrorism and other charges will start on May 31. Since all five men are believed to have been released as part of a prisoner exchange last year, the trial would be held in absentia. Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern region of Donetsk said in mid-August that the five men went on trial in what separatists call the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) on charges of mercenary activities, preparing for terrorist activities, and training to "seize power." Later reports said the five men were among persons released in prisoner swaps last year. Britain's Foreign Office condemned the "exploitation" of prisoners of war and civilians for political purposes following the capture of Healy and Hill last year. It was confirmed at the time that another Briton, Paul Ury, who was captured along with Healy and Hill, died in the separatists' custody. The British government insisted then that as legitimate members of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Britons and other foreigners captured by Russian troops should be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention. In early March 2022, shortly after Russia started its full-scale aggression against Ukraine, Kyiv launched a website to recruit foreign volunteers to an "international legion" to fight invading Russian troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a decree then, introducing visa-free entrance to Ukraine for foreign nationals who intend to join the legion. With reporting by AFP and RIA Novosti Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/five-foreign-nationals- tried-absentia-russia-ukraine-/32426240.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wagner Chief Prigozhin Says Russia's Plan To 'Demilitarize' Ukraine Has Failed By RFE/RL May 24, 2023 The leader of Russia's Wagner private mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, says Moscow's plan to "demilitarize" Ukraine with its full-scale invasion has failed, instead turning its neighbor's army into one of the "most powerful in the world" and setting Russia up for a possible uprising. In an interview with pro-Kremlin political observer Konstantin Dolgov, the full version of which was published on May 24, Prigozhin, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, recalled that when Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February last year the Kremlin called it "a special military operation to demilitarize and de-nazify Ukraine." Some 15 months later, the West has not tired of the war nor backed off its support of Ukraine, which has not only put up staunch resistance but is now preparing a counteroffensive, the Wagner chief said. Prigozhin, 61, didn't mince words in the interview, saying Russia's military leadership had "f**ked up" many times during the war, leading to failures such as this week's cross-border incursion into Russian territory by forces fighting against Russia and heavy troop losses, including some 20,000 Wagner troops during the monthslong fight for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. "Ukraine's army now has a high level of organizational skills, a high level of training, a high level of intelligence. They have different types of weapons and, what is most important, they can easily and successfully work with all systems -- Soviet, NATO systems, you name it," said Prigozhin, who has at times bitterly complained about Russia's defense apparatus failing to support his fighters, who have played a key role in the few victories claimed by Russia during the conflict. Prigozhin's frequent, bluntly worded press releases and unrestrained, profanity-laced criticism of senior Russian officials and military brass have become something of a personal trademark, prompting some to speculate the Kremlin-connected businessman harbors political ambitions that could even include challenging Putin. In recent months, as his ostensibly private mercenary group has borne the brunt of the fierce fighting in and around Bakhmut, Prigozhin has stepped out into the limelight. His company has released videos showing him personally visiting prisons to recruit convicts to fight in Ukraine and purportedly touring the battle-scarred streets of Bakhmut, sometimes with corpses littering the spaces behind him. Although the gruesome videos have appalled most of the world, the sledgehammer image has become an integral part of the Prigozhin brand and, more importantly, symbolic of the brutal shift that Russian political culture has undergone since Putin invaded Ukraine. In the interview, Prigozhin reiterated his previous criticism of the country's main defense officials, accusing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff Valery Gerasimov of unprofessionalism and corruption that led to troop losses in Ukraine. Prigozhin also criticized Shoigu and Russia's elite for allowing their children to evade mobilization and "enjoy life and have fun in Dubai and elsewhere," suggesting the war in Ukraine could lead to "what happened in 1917" in Russia, meaning a mass mutiny by soldiers and their refusal to take part in the World War I that led to the Russian Revolution. "We are at such a point that we could f**king lose Russia -- that is the main problem.... We need to impose martial law," he said, concluding that the "scenario for us will not be good, and that is why need to get ready for an arduous war." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-wagner-prigozhin- failure/32425650.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon: State Dept Approves $285 Million Sale of NASAMS Air Defense Systems to Ukraine Sputnik News 20230524 Fantine Gardinier The US Department of Defense said on Wednesday that the State Department had given its approval to the pending sale of another surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine. "The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $285 million," the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement. According to the Pentagon, Kiev has requested to buy another NASAMS system, which includes an AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel Radar as well as a Fire Distribution Center (FDC), canister launchers, secure communications, GPS receivers, code loaders, and cable sets, tool kits, test equipment, support equipment, prime movers, generators, technical documentation, spare parts, contractor technical support; and related logistics and program support. Ukraine previously received a NASAMS system in November 2022, which was purchased for them by Canada. However, the Pentagon has been hesitant to ship more such systems to Ukraine, since it would have to obtain them from countries it has already sold them to and then promise to replace them later, as building a brand new NASAMS battery would take an estimated two years. The Pentagon has not said which nation would be offering up its NASAMS for Ukraine this time around. The NASAMS is a joint product of the US contractor Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg, designed to serve as a ground-based launch pad for AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM anti-air missiles, which are typically carried by fighter jets. Each launcher system can carry six missiles. A complete NASAMS battery consists of up to four firing units, each of which includes three missile launchers; one AN/MPQ-64F1 Improved Sentinel radar, one Fire Distribution Center vehicle, and one MSP500 electro-optical camera vehicle. The latest comes as Ukraine has already been provided with the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system, which is considered to be one of the most advanced technology used by the Pentagon. However, the Patriot isn't without its own hiccups; in fact, it was recently determined a Patriot system stationed in Kiev had been struck on May 16 by a Kinzhal ("Dagger") hypersonic ballistic missile fired from the Russian supersonic interceptor MiG-31K. The Kinzhal was unveiled in 2018 by Russian President Vladimir Putin after having been first used in combat the year prior for testing. Officials have stated the nuclear-capable weapon is the first hypersonic missile system to be fielded by any nation. Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told Sputnik that the Kinzhal missiles had destroyed some five Patriot systems in mid-May. At the time, a military expert with the Center for Military-Political Journalism commented the strike proved the Patriot system was "quite vulnerable." A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Not Ready to Give Security Framework to Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict Sputnik News 20230524 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO is not ready to provide security frameworks for Ukraine in relation to its potential accession to the alliance amid the ongoing military conflict, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday. "There will also be a discussion about frameworks for Ukraine. I think it's a bit early for security frameworks for Ukraine, it's too early to conclude. Of course, these issues will be discussed at the [Vilnius] summit, but I don't expect any final conclusion in the midst of a war," he told reporters at a joint press conference with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins in NATO headquarters in Brussels. Last month, Stoltenberg said Ukraine would eventually join the bloc, as all NATO members support its ambitions. This idea was rejected by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. In September 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would apply for accelerated NATO membership. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was closely monitoring the situation, and pointed out that Kiev's orientation toward the alliance was one of the reasons for the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine last year. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Repels Ukraine's Drone Attacks on Ships Protecting Gas Pipelines in Turkiye Sputnik News 20230524 Ukraine unsuccessfully tried to attack with unmanned boats the ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet "Ivan Khurs," which ensured the safety of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. All enemy boats were destroyed by the Russian military 140 kilometers (86.9 miles) northeast of the Bosphorus Strait, the ministry said, adding that the ship Ivan Khurs continues to fulfill its tasks. "After the terrorist attack on September 26, 2022 on the Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2, the Russian military has been taking measures to protect such facilities. And not in vain. Today, at 5:30 a.m. [local time, 2:30 GMT], the Ukrainian armed forces with the use of three unmanned high-speed boats made an unsuccessful attempt to attack the ship Ivan Khurs that was performing tasks to ensure the safety of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Turkiye," the ministry said. The Blue Stream is the main gas pipeline transferring gas from Russia to Turkiye through the Black Sea. The pipeline constructed by Russian Gazprom and Italian energy company, runs through territories of Eastern Europe. The TurkStream (formerly Turkish Stream) is an 11.5 billion euro pipeline capable of pumping up to 31.5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas per year to Turkiye. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Top General Zaluzhny Injured in Russian Missile Strike in Early May - Source Sputnik News 20230524 GENICHESK, Kherson Region (Sputnik) Commander of the Ukrainian armed forces Gen. Valery Zaluzhny received a head injury and shrapnel wounds as a result of Russia's missile strike in early May, a representative of Russian law enforcement agencies told Sputnik on Wednesday, citing Ukraine military sources. "First aid was provided Zaluzhny in Nikolayev in order to stop the bleeding. He had a cranial trepanation done in the Kiev military hospital," the representative said. The condition of the Ukrainian commander-in-chief is complicated by the presence of an underlying disease of Type 2 diabetes, the source said. "The forecast is that he will live, but he will not be able to do his job," the representative concluded. The Ukrainian top general stopped appearing on public after a Russian missile strike on a number of military objects. A member of a hacktivist group in the Donetsk People's Republic told Sputnik, citing sources in Ukrainian Armed Forces, that Western patrons have urged Kiev to hide information about Zaluzhny's condition in order to preserve the last bits of morale, which has been completely undermined by the Russian liberation of Artemovsk. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Defense Minister Arrives in Kiev on Unannounced Visit Sputnik News 20230524 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace came to Kiev on an unannounced visit to discuss military cooperation, including arms supplies, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Wednesday. He also said that the sides discussed Ukraine's accession to NATO and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace formula. The Ukrainian minister also expressed gratitude to the British people for its support. Besides, Wallace said that it was his pleasure to travel to Kiev and speak with Ukrainian military officers, according to a statement by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. Both ministers also met with soldiers who had received training in the UK and used Storm Shadow missiles in combat. On May 11, Wallace confirmed London was sending long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Kiev. Ukraine has been using this weaponry to target Russian positions since then. The strikes have resulted in injuries among civilians, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine will win. Russia is denying the reality of its horrific war of choice: UK statement to the OSCE UK military advisor, Ian Stubbs, says Russia repeatedly underestimates the strength of the Ukrainian people and our unwavering resolve to support them in defending their homeland. 24 May 2023 Thank you, Madam Chair. Despite our Russian colleagues' futile attempts to portray it otherwise, the simple truth is that Russia is responsible for this horrific war, which is in breach of the UN Charter, and for the needless deaths of thousands of innocent men, women and children. To characterise such a situation as anything other than a human tragedy for both sides denies the reality. However, that is what the Kremlin does - it denies the reality to itself and to the Russian people. Here in Vienna, we have watched our Russian colleagues use this Forum as a mouthpiece to try to justify the unjustifiable. They have perpetuated a campaign of lies, threats and propaganda which has no solid foundation whatsoever. They have complained of confrontation and professed to seek dialogue. Yet, it is our Russian colleagues who have become increasingly contemptuous of this Forum, belligerent towards the Chair, and threatening towards fellow delegates. Let us step back and remind ourselves of Russia's approach to dialogue and diplomacy: Russia repeatedly lied in this and other multilateral fora over the true purpose of its extraordinary military build-up on Ukraine's borders and in illegally annexed Crimea. Russia not only ignored its commitments under the Vienna Document, but weaponised this Confidence and Security Building measure to support its disinformation campaign. Russia rejected calls for dialogue and de-escalation and instead pursued a path of confrontation. Russia said there would be no war. Russia said it had no intentions of invading Ukraine. Russia conducted an unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic State to conquer it by force and failed. Madam Chair, whilst Russia persists in launching large-scale missile and drone strikes on towns and cities across Ukraine, we are thankful that most continue to be successfully intercepted by Ukraine's air defences, including with those systems gifted by Ukraine's international partners. Russia also continues to struggle to achieve air superiority. Last week, we reported that four Russian military aircraft lost over Russia's Bryansk region indicated that Russia's ability to operate safely in its own airspace was now compromised. This increased air threat over Russia's border region will be of exceptional concern to the Russian Air Force because it uses the area to launch air power in support of its illegal war. Ukraine's repeated success in shooting down the Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missile, once lauded by Putin as "undefeatable", will add to Russia's concern. Madam Chair, Russia has repeatedly underestimated the strength and determination of the courageous Ukrainian people to defend their homeland. In addition, Russia has severely underestimated our unwavering resolve to support Ukraine, alongside our friends and partners, for however long it takes. Russia has also clearly underestimated NATO's resolve. Russia's own aggressive actions have directly resulted in NATO growing stronger: welcoming new members; strengthening its forward presence; transforming the NATO Response Force; and boosting its ability to defend every inch of Allied territory. Madam Chair, Russia could end this all now. It could end the pain and suffering of so many. It could end the terrible impact on the Russian people - needless deaths; grieving families; discontent; and isolation. It could end all this if it stopped its brutal and barbaric invasion of its sovereign neighbour and withdrew its forces from Ukraine. Ukraine has regained territory and liberated thousands of Ukrainian people thanks to the awe-inspiring bravery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the overwhelming international support. Together, the UK and partners are ensuring that Ukraine will win. Our united approach of providing Ukraine with the support it needs to defend itself and push Russia out of Ukraine's sovereign territory is the swiftest, and only, path to a just and lasting peace. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The first Ukrainian F-16 will be one of the strongest signals from the world that Russia will only lose - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 24 May 2023 - 21:56 I wish you health, dear Ukrainians! Today, I held the first meeting of the Staff after all the important visits, meetings and decisions - defense decisions that we have been working on for quite some time and are now getting them in cooperation with our partners. First of all, this concerns the aviation coalition - a coalition of modern fighter jets for Ukraine. We are doing everything we can to reduce the time until the result is achieved, until new and powerful aircraft with Ukrainian pilots emerge in the Ukrainian skies. It is clear that this global step will allow us to expand our defense capabilities. Because it is only with powerful aircraft that an air defense system can be complete. On the other hand, the first Ukrainian F-16 will be one of the strongest signals from the world that Russia will only lose because of its own aggression, becoming weaker and more isolated. This will be a signal that Russian terror has lost, and our world, which is based on respect for independent nations and the right of peoples to choose their own path, has endured. We will prepare the necessary basis to ensure that our aviation transition is as quick and efficient as possible. Our warriors have already proved that they can master modern weapons with efficiency that was not expected from us. I'm sure they will be just as successful with the aircraft. The main thing is the speed of training and supply, i.e. the time that will pass between decisions and the actual defense of our skies. Today, as usual, I heard reports from the commanders, the Commander-in-Chief, the Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate on the current situation at the front, our counteraction to the occupier, and the capabilities that Russia is going to use against us. We know how to respond. In particular, this applies to the missile threat and the constant terror of kamikaze drones. Now Russia is increasingly resorting to so-called combined strikes - different types of missiles, different types of drones. I am grateful to our Air Force, to all our defenders of the sky, to our intelligence for improving our defense faster than Russia can change its terror tactics. If we take, for example, just one weapon of Russian terror, the Iranian Shaheds, our soldiers have shot down almost 900 of these drones to date. In total, about 1160 Shaheds have been used against Ukraine. We shoot down most of them. And we are constantly looking for tools to make the share of downed Iranian drones 100%. But today, given that such strikes are ongoing, I would like to appeal to the people of Iran directly. To everyone - to society, to Iranian ulama, to every Iranian family, to those people who are able to influence government decisions in Iran. A simple question: why do you want to be accomplices in Russian terror? Why are you on the side of the evil state? The world sees what is happening, and you all in Iran see it. Support for evil cannot be denied. Even though we have learned to shoot down most of your kamikaze drones that you are handing over to Russia, there are still hits. When an Iranian drone kills a pregnant Ukrainian girl and her husband in their home, why do you, mothers and fathers in Iran, need this? When your Shahed hits a dormitory with our students, people die, a fire starts, rescuers arrive, and in a few minutes a second Shahed hits, taking the lives of those who were saving the lives of others... Why does Iran need such cynical murders? Committed by Russia's hands, yet with your weapons. What do you, the people in Tehran, or in Shiraz, or in Saqqez, or in any other city in your country, get from this? Unfortunately, even greater isolation from the world and even greater problems. For Russia, absolutely everything is a target. Homes, schools, hospitals, houses of worship, churches, power plants, markets, even humanitarian aid distribution points and bus stops... There are thousands of examples of this. People of Iran! Russia is hitting everything indiscriminately. With artillery and mortars, missiles and drones - with what it has and what Russia is given on your behalf. I am sure you must be on the other side of history - not with evil. Russia started this war for the sake of enslavement. It is a war of a colonizer against a neighboring nation. Russia even steals people - our children! Thousands and thousands... Only absolute evil can steal the children of another nation. And by going against Ukrainians, the Russian occupiers are destroying all other national communities that have lived on the land of Ukraine for centuries. The villages of Greek Christians burned by Russians and Russia's systematic repression of the Crimean Tatar people, our Ukrainian Muslim community, are proof of this. The people of Iran could live a very different life if you were not put on the same side with such evil as Russian aggression. Your Shaheds who terrorize Ukraine every night only mean that the people of Iran are being pushed deeper and deeper into the dark side of history. Glory to all who defend life! Thank you to everyone in the world who helps strengthen our air defense, our aviation and save our people from Russian terror! If we are strong, we will live! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Wagner Chief Says 20,000 of His Forces Killed in Bakhmut Fighting By VOA News May 24, 2023 New developments: Poll by University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy and NORC finds half of people in the United States support U.S. military aid for Ukraine, while about one-fourth oppose it. The level of support is nearly unchanged from last year. United Nations says it recorded nearly 8,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine since Russia invaded last year, as it warned the world is failing to protect civilians. The toll of casualties is fast mounting in Ukraine, with the head of the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group saying Wednesday that 20,000 of his men have been killed in the lengthy fight for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prigozhin said about half of those killed in the battle for control of Bakhmut were Russian convicts who were promised their freedom from sentences for criminal offenses if they fought in Ukraine for six months. But the mercenaries were often sent to the battlefront with scant training and often were killed soon after in fierce combat with better-trained Ukrainian troops. White House officials said Prigozhin's casualty estimate was in line with their own that Russian losses have accelerated. Russia claimed in recent days it has captured Bakhmut, while Ukrainian officials say they have not given up the fight for the city and are trying to surround it. Casualty figures for the now 15-month conflict have varied widely, depending on the source of the information. Prigozhin's estimate for Bakhmut alone stands in sharp contrast to Moscow's widely disputed claim that just over 6,000 of its troops had been killed as of January, about 11 months into the war. The U.S. estimated this month that Russia had sustained 100,000 casualties, including 20,000 killed in the fighting, half of them Wagner forces, since December alone. Analysts say Ukraine has also lost thousands of its troops, although Kyiv has not said how many. U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says that from February 2022 until early April 2023, it recorded 22,734 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 8,490 killed and 14,244 injured. Prigozhin, despite his forces fighting alongside Moscow's troops, has been a frequent critic of Russian defense leadership, claiming Moscow has not supplied Wagner with enough ammunition. In an interview published late Tuesday with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Kremlin political strategist, Prigozhin extended his criticism a questioning some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rationale for the war. Prigozhin said Russia's stated goal of "demilitarizing" Ukraine has backfired because Kyiv's military has become stronger with Western weapons and training. Asked why Prigozhin would make the Bakhmut death toll claim, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, "It's possible that this could be a sort of morbid way of him ... claiming credit for whatever they've been able to achieve in Bakhmut, but also trying to publicly embarrass the Ministry of Defense further that the cost was borne in blood and treasure by Wagner, and not by the Russian military." Russia: Belgorod under attack again A Russian official said Wednesday the Belgorod region along the border with Ukraine came under attack by drones overnight. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that administrative and residential buildings were damaged, but that no one was hurt. Gadkov said Russian air defenses shot down most of the drones. The attack came a day after Russia said it halted a cross-border ground attack in the same area. Russia blamed the raid on Ukrainian military saboteurs, while Ukraine contended that it was an uprising against the Kremlin by Russian partisans. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia will react "promptly and extremely harshly" to further attacks on Russian soil. Bakhmut fight Ukraine's military said Wednesday the focus of fighting was in Bakhmut and Marinka, with the probability of Russian forces attacking Ukraine with missiles and air strikes remaining high. The Ukrainian military's general staff said in its daily update that Russia had launched 41 airstrikes during the past day, and that the attacks injured civilians while also damaging civilian and administrative buildings. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters Tuesday the situation in Bakhmut remains "very dynamic." Russia claimed to capture the city that has been the focus of months of intense fighting. Ukraine said it was still in control of some areas on the outskirts of the city. Ryder also told reporters the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group is expected to focus on ground-based air defenses, ammunition and training on F-16 fighters when they hold their next meeting Thursday. Peace effort The speaker of the Czech Parliament's lower house, MarkAta PekarovA AdamovA, told VOA that peace talks are not possible right now since Russian troops occupy parts of Ukraine and that the peace plan put forward by China includes contradictory points. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said peace talks cannot happen until Russia pulls its forces from occupied Ukrainian lands. PekarovA AdamovA said Tuesday during a visit to Washington that Europe cannot accept Russia's occupation of Crimea, Donetsk or Luhansk, areas that Russia has claimed as its own. "The end of the war must be when really Ukrainians decide that this is acceptable on the conditions of the best for them," PekarovA AdamovA said. She also said Russia needs to be punished through a special tribunal, not only President Vladimir Putin but also "all people who are responsible." PekarovA AdamovA expressed support for continuing military aid to Ukraine, "because they show us they are really brave and do their best to protect their country and their people." State Department Counselor Derek Chollet told VOA the best thing China could do to bring about an end to the conflict is use its relationship with Russia to convince Putin to halt the invasion. "Clearly, they have a close relationship with Russia. President Xi [Jinping] and President Putin have met several times, and before this war, they released a very lengthy joint communique talking about a relationship, a partnership with no limits. What we would be asking our PRC friends to do is use whatever influence they have over Russia to get Putin to stop this war," Chollet said. "I haven't seen much to suggest that they're willing to use that influence. And I haven't seen much to suggest that even if they were willing to use the influence, it would work to change Putin's mind. But that's the simple thing we're asking." VOA's Nike Ching and Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House Probes Claims US-Made Gear Was Used in Russia Raid By Ostap Yarysh, Hanna Tverdokhlib May 24, 2023 The White House says it is looking into reports about the alleged use of U.S.-provided equipment in what appeared to be a raid by anti-Putin Russian volunteers Monday in the Belgorod region in Russia, although the U.S. cannot confirm the claim. "We don't support the use of U.S.-made equipment for attacks inside Russia. And we've been clear about that with the Ukrainians. We've been nothing but consistent about our concerns in that regard," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday. Russia called Monday's incident an incursion by saboteurs deployed by Kyiv, with officials and state media using various epithets ranging from "militants" to "terrorists." Ukraine denied involvement in this week's Belgorod incident, calling it an act by disgruntled Russians. Earlier, Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder confirmed that the U.S. government had not approved any third-party transfers of equipment to paramilitary organizations outside the Ukrainian armed forces, nor had the Ukrainian government requested any such transfers. "The United States has communicated regularly with Ukraine that the security assistance that we're providing them is for them to use inside Ukraine, as part of their efforts to defend their country and their sovereignty," said Ryder. He noted the Pentagon could not confirm the veracity of the images with the alleged U.S.-provided vehicles inside Russia. "I don't know if it's true or not," said Ryder. He pointed out that a couple days ago there were "some bogus images" of reported explosions at the Pentagon, which never happened. "We have to take a look at these things and make sure we get the facts before we make assumptions." When asked by reporters about the fighters' use of U.S.-made hardware, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday, "It is no secret for us that more and more equipment is being delivered to Ukraine's armed forces." Previously, the Russian government released images of the alleged American Humvees, which according to the Russians were destroyed near Belgorod. Some users on Twitter, however, suggested the images with the trucks might have been staged. Russia's vulnerability The raid in the Belgorod region means the Russians cannot effectively protect their borders, analysts told VOA. The Russians did not expect the battles would move to their territory, said George Barros, a Russia analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, or ISW. "If these Russian volunteers indeed penetrated as deep as they claim to have, then it demonstrates that Russian field fortifications don't really mean anything if they're not sufficiently manned," Barros said. He added that the raid exposed the vulnerability of Russia's defense lines. "I'm sure a lot of people have seen all those maps of the extensive lines that the Russians have dug all across the entire front line. Some analysts have argued that these extensive field fortifications and trenches mean that the Ukrainians are going to have a hard time moving," he said. "But if you don't have enough soldiers physically occupying those lines, then they're not going to be effective at preventing maneuver. And we know that for the entirety of the Ukrainian front line, which is about a little over 1,000 kilometers long, the Russian forces do not have enough infantry to be able to physically occupy to effectively defend the entirety of it," Barros said. Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk, now head of the Center for Defense Strategies, a Ukrainian security think tank, said that until this point, observers had seen mostly bombings or other forms of sabotage inside Russia. Now, "the idea of the inviolability of Russia as a territory was seriously undermined," he told VOA. "Here, we are talking about armed personnel who entered the territory of the Russian Federation and stayed there for some time," Zagorodnyuk said. "Therefore, people who are citizens of Russia demonstrated to Russia that it is not protected. The idea that Russia is physically untouchable and completely protected from different threats or raids from any side is a fiction. Russia is as vulnerable as many other countries." Raid objective Ilya Ponomarev, a political representative of the "Freedom of Russia" Legion that was involved in the raid, told VOA that the goal of the Belgorod operation was to "create a piece of free Russia and keep it as long as possible." Ponomarev said another objective was to distract the Russian army from the Ukrainian front line ahead of the expected Ukrainian offensive. "The Russians were surprised. They didn't expect this." He said Ukraine's role was minimal and emphasized that none of the Ukrainian military participated in the operation, only Russian citizens. Ponomarev said he was hopeful that the Russian volunteers could free the country from the current regime. "This is our country, and we will liberate it. ... There will be a new flag and a new government," he said. Alexander Vindman, former director for European affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, said this could be significant. "It seems to me that this is actually a Russian separatist movement - maybe with the support of Ukraine, but they act independently, achieving their own goals," he told VOA. ISW analysts said that so far they had not seen any unusual movement of Russian troops. Regardless, Barros said events in the Belgorod region have caused a certain degree of panic, factionalism and incoherency within the Russian informational space. "Frankly, I think Russian sources have done much more to actually amplify and create panic around these particular raids, more so than the Ukrainian information space," he said. VOA's Tatiana Vorozhko and Iryna Matviichuk contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VOA Interview: Ukrainian Air Forces Command Spokesperson Ihnat By Myroslava Gongadze May 24, 2023 Ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's participation at the Group of Seven Summit in Japan, the G-7 leaders announced last week that it would provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and the training for Ukrainian pilots to fly them. After months of Ukraine pleading for Western fighter jets, U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said the United States would support a joint international effort to train Ukrainian pilots on modern fighter aircrafts, including F-16s. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko responded to the news on Saturday with a warning that Western countries would run "colossal risks" if they supplied Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, according to the TASS news agency. On Tuesday, Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson of the Air Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, discussed the training of Ukrainian pilots with VOA's Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze. The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: Let's talk about the pilots. Because there are also a lot of questions now: Are they training already? And for how long do they have to train? Yurii Ihnat, Ukraine Air Force spokesman: Everyone is asking questions regarding the pilots. Infrastructure is a secondary issue for now. Indeed, the training is the issue. Because Western technology has a different philosophy, ultimately, for piloting, these are completely different technological things. MiG-29 and F-16 aircraft are the same age, they are fourth-generation aircraft. But the F-16 went through several stages of deep modernization. The onboard equipment was replaced there, the radar was replaced there, the most basic thing is that in the plane, it is a radar that sees targets and can track several targets at once, at which several missiles can be fired at once. This is very important for war. Specifically for war. Several stages of deep modernization made this aircraft completely different. Unlike the MiG-29, with which the Russians compare it, they say these are aircraft of the same class. Well, let them try to face the F-16. Thus, the pilot just needs to transfer, let's say, from an old 1960's car to a new 2010's car, where everything is automated, where there is an automated gearbox, a new display and so on. The same is in the plane. There are approximately 300 switches and buttons in the MiG-29, the pilot must manually control all these devices, distract himself from combat operations, and perform these movements. In [the] F-16, part of this is already limited and automated. VOA: So, the pilots can be even more educated and have more experience? Ihnat: Yes. Here again, the focus is on young pilots who are able to communicate better with the latest technologies, gadgets and so on. The touchscreens, it's all in the F-16. Here, you just need to understand how it works, like a child playing a computer game. Likewise, the child learns it step by step. It takes some time to adapt. Even the control handle, in the MiG-29, in the Soviet equipment, it is in the middle, the pilot controls. Here [in the F-16], it is on the side. VOA: Like in a car. Ihnat: Yes. Like a gamepad. He [the pilot] controls it like a gamepad. ... The plane will do part of the work for him, for the pilot. And the main thing to do is to learn how to fight on it. This is the key. They will fly in a week or two, who knows how much. But use all types of weapons against air, ground and surface targets. To work in a pair, as part of a link, an aviation unit, and to use all types of this weapon effectively, requires flight hours, this requires flight time with an instructor, then independent flights in simple weather conditions and difficult weather conditions. All this is achieved by the level of preparation. In principle, those pilots and young people who will go to study in different countries of Europe, maybe the United States ... they already have 200 flight hours after university. They already have tens or hundreds of hours of flying in combat operations on Soviet equipment. Therefore, I think they have a huge incentive, a huge desire. VOA: Have you already determined how much time the pilots will need, and how many of these pilots Ukraine has today who can quickly master [F-16s]? Ihnat: As for the number of pilots, we have the list: first round, second round, third round. The commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, personally makes decisions regarding the dispatch of certain specialists. VOA: Are we talking about 100? 200? Ihnat: No, we're talking about dozens. Surely, we can't afford to send all the pilots at once. What are we going to be left with? We carry out dozens of airstrikes against them [Russians] every day. With the Soviet equipment, but we do. There is no other way out. The infantry needs air support. If it is not there, then more people will die. Therefore, there are no options here. Thus, dozens of pilots have been identified and will go in waves, possibly to different countries, as well as aviation engineers who will service the equipment. This is also the second component that is also needed. Here are those pilots who already know English, young pilots, motivated, who will go there to study. Two pilots underwent training in Arizona ... not training, it is necessary to separate evaluation, evaluation of Western and American specialists. They put them on flight simulators, as they are called in America, and said: "Fly." ... They watch how well they can adapt to this fighter jet, to the F-16, and try to fly it. To perform take-off and landing, other things on simulators, was done. We stated in the Air Force that it would be six months of training. Well, the Americans came to the conclusion that up to four months. And who knows how, maybe someone will master it faster. People are different, everyone has different individual training. That's why there are such good predictions about training, and we think they will come true. VOA's Patsy Widakuswara and Carla Babb contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Environmental analysis clears Sentinel missile infrastructure construction for takeoff Published May 24, 2023 By Mollie Miller and Natalia Perez Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) -- The construction phase of Sentinel, the Air Force's multi-billion-dollar missile modernization effort, was cleared to begin May 19 as Robert Moriarty, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, signed the project's environmental record of decision. "This decision is the linchpin that gives us the authority to proceed with numerous construction activities supporting the Sentinel program," said Ken Rogers, chief of Sentinel Infrastructure Division, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. "This is a very important milestone the Sentinel National Environmental Policy Act team was able to deliver on time, which allows the Sentinel program to move to the next step." The record of decision, or ROD, details the findings of the Air Force's analysis of environmental, natural resource and cultural considerations in the construction of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile project. The document identifies the selected course of action and basis for the decision and provides information on how the Air Force intends to avoid, minimize or mitigate environmental impacts throughout the life of the project, to the maximum extent possible. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center's NEPA team partnered with the AFNWC to conduct the environmental impact analysis that led to the decision. AFCEC is a primary subordinate unit of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center. The Sentinel project will replace the 50-year-old Minuteman III ICBM program. The effort to modernize the land-based leg of the nation's nuclear triad touches multiple states, covers thousands of miles, and impacts communities in Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. "The Sentinel project is a complex, dynamic, vast enterprise that will bring global stability to the United States for years to come," said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. "We are grateful for the mission partners who have shepherded this phase of the process to completion and who are continuing work to ensure the success of the largest Department of Defense modernization program launched in the last 50 years." Air Force teams began gathering data in support of three key pieces of the Sentinel environmental analysis in 2019. The cultural resource programmatic agreement, the natural resource biological opinion and the environmental impact statement all had to be completed prior to the secretary's decision. Nine public hearings and dozens of consultations with tribes, federal agencies and other stakeholders informed each of the elements analyzed and ensured the Air Force had visibility on the public's environmental concerns related to the Sentinel. The EIS project managers, Russell Bartholomew, AFNWC, and Stephanie Newcomer, AFCEC, guided what many consider the largest-scoped environmental impact analysis in the history of NEPA. Community engagements encouraged the teamwork needed to make this part of the process successful, Newcomer said. "This project shows the Air Force is sensitive to balancing mission requirements and environmental impacts," Newcomer said. "We wanted the public to see that we are going to minimize our environmental impact as much as we can while supporting our national security." Citing examples of cultural resource experts living out of suitcases to complete more than 50 face-to-face tribal consultations that turned stakeholders into mission partners, Bartholomew said the Sentinel NEPA team's commitment to the environment was evident throughout the four-plus years leading up to the signing. "By starting stakeholder engagements early, the team created many opportunities where we were able to truly understand stakeholder concerns and, through further discussion and identification of mitigating actions, the team moved the conversation to a point where our mission partners were on board," Rogers said. "Never in my career have I seen an EIS for a proposed action of this magnitude go as smoothly. It is truly remarkable what this team has been able to accomplish," said Col. Chris Stoppel, Nuclear Enterprise Division chief, AFCEC. With the Sentinel ROD officially signed and in place, officials will now move forward with permitting and construction of the installation command center and the material handling complex at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming later this year. Project activities at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, are expected to begin in 2026 and at Minot AFB, North Dakota, in 2029. "So many people and organizations with unique ideas came together and made this happen," Newcomer said. "We all came to the table and made this work for our country. It has been very humbling to be part of this process." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York, New York, May 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northern Star Investment Corp. II (NYSE American: NSTB) (the Company), announced today that New York Stock Exchange Regulation, Inc., by letter dated May 23, 2023, notified the Company that it was not in compliance with NYSE Americans continued listing standards because the Company did not timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter March 31, 2023 (the Quarterly Report), which was due on May 22, 2023. As reported in the Form 12b-25 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2023, the Company does not have a full-time accounting and administrative staff. As a result, the Company required additional time to compile and verify the data required to be included in the Quarterly Report. The Company has a period of six months from the original due date of the Quarterly Report to file such report. The Company can regain compliance with the NYSE Americans continued listing standards at any time before that date by filing the Quarterly Report with the SEC and any other subsequent reports that are required to be filed during the cure period. The Company intends to file the Quarterly Report as soon as practicable and in any event within the above-referenced six-month period. About Northern Star Investment Corp. II Northern Star Investment Corp. II is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. For additional information, please visit https://northernstaric2.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as estimate, plan, project, forecast, intend, will, expect, anticipate, believe, seek, target, may, intend, predict, should, would, predict, potential, seem, future, outlook or other similar expressions (or negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Companys control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Contact Information: Jonathan Ledecky Chief Operating Officer c/o Graubard Miller (212) 818-8800 ADELAIDE, Australia, May 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carina Biotech (Carina), a cell therapy immuno-oncology company, today announced that the management team will participate in the three upcoming conferences as follows: 9 th Annual Immuno-Oncology Innovation Forum will be held in person in Chicago on June 2. Deborah Rathjen, Carinas Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to participate in the Competing in the Cell & Gene Therapy Space panel on June 2 at 11:20 am CT. The Carina team plans to host meetings and present on Friday, June 2 at 2:35 pm CT. will be held in person in Chicago on June 2. Deborah Rathjen, Carinas Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to participate in the Competing in the Cell & Gene Therapy Space panel on June 2 at 11:20 am CT. The Carina team plans to host meetings and present on Friday, June 2 at 2:35 pm CT. 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting will be held in person in Chicago and online from June 2-6. The Carina team will be sharing a poster presentation showcasing its Phase 1/2a clinical trial of its LGR5-targeted CAR-T cell therapy candidate CNA3103 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Poster Details Title: A phase 1/2a, multicenter, open-label study of CNA3103 (LGR5-targeted, autologous CAR-T cells) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) Lead Author: Jose Iglesias, MD, Carinas Chief Medical Officer Session Type/Title: Poster Session - Gastrointestinal CancerColorectal and Anal Session Date and Time: Monday June 5, 2023 from 8:00 AM CDT - 11:00 AM CDT Published Abstract Number: TPS3632 2023 BIO International Convention will be held in-person in Boston from June 5-8. The Carina team will host meetings at the event. About CNA3103 Carinas proprietary CNA3103 CAR-T cell targets LGR5, a cancer stem cell marker that is highly expressed on advanced colorectal cancer and some other cancers. In colorectal cancer patients, LGR5 expression has been correlated with poor prognosis. Cancer stem cells are a small sub-population of cells within a tumor with the ability to self-renew, differentiate into the many cell types of a tumor, initiate new tumors, and resist chemotherapy and radiotherapy (leading to relapses). By targeting cancer stem cells, it is hoped that this therapy will reduce the tumors ability to generate new cancer cells, resulting in durable tumor suppression and preventing the relapses that are very common in patients with colorectal cancer. Carinas pre-clinical studies of CNA3103 have shown promising results with complete tumor regression and no tumor recurrence following a single administration. CNA3103 has also demonstrated impressive tumor access and prolonged survival, enabling rejection of new tumors. About Carina Biotech Immuno-oncology company Carina Biotech is developing CAR-T and other adoptive cell therapies for the treatment of solid cancers. In addition to its LGR5-targeted CAR-T cell therapy CNA3103 for advanced colorectal cancer, Carina has a deep pipeline of CAR-T programs. Using its proprietary chemokine receptor platform, Carina aims to improve access to and infiltration of solid cancers by CAR-containing cells, resulting in more potent and specific cancer killing and reduced off-target effects. Carina also has a fully integrated, proprietary manufacturing process that has both reduced manufacturing time and improved CAR-T cell quality, capable of delivering robust serial-killing CAR-T cells to patients. For more information please contact: SUNNYVALE, Calif. And GATESHEAD, England, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Turntide Technologies ("Turntide"), developer of breakthrough electrification and sustainable operations technologies, has been named the preferred supplier for the design and supply of traction battery systems for Hitachi's intercity battery train trial. The North East partnership is working towards a UK trial to demonstrate how its battery technology can simultaneously reduce emissions and fuel costs. This pioneering technology stands to make the UK a global leader in intercity battery train technology. This agreement and the potential mass production of the Hitachi battery management system would lead to high-quality production line jobs at Turntide's design and production facilities in North East England and represents Hitachi's commitment to engaging, where possible, with local suppliers in close proximity to its County Durham manufacturing base. It also represents a significant development in building a supply chain cluster in the region to support the electrification of transport outside of passenger cars, which can support UK and international decarbonization ambitions. In addition to being named as a preferred supplier, Turntide received the Hitachi Rail Partner Award for Sustainability. The award recognizes Turntide's outstanding work developing and manufacturing the battery system prototype for Hitachi's reduced emissions bi-mode and tri-mode trains. Installing battery technology on a Hitachi intercity train will help cut fuel usage and reduce carbon emissions by at least 20%. Battery and hybrid trains provide a much faster, more affordable alternative to electrifying tens of thousands of kilometers of track across the UK or millions of kilometers globally. These trains can switch seamlessly between diesel power, overhead electric power, or battery power. They can run on battery power alone, effectively bridging between electrified stretches of track or when entering/existing stations. "The innovation and ingenuity that Turntide brings to electrification is exemplary, and we are delighted to name the company as our preferred battery systems supplier," said Jim Brewin, chief director for UK & Ireland, Hitachi Rail. "We also recognize the importance of building local supply chains, which makes this appointment even more significant and highlights the role North East England has to play in electrification." He added: "The electric car industry has already proved battery solutions. The real challenge has been to scale this technology designed to power a two-ton vehicle for a 200 to 400-ton train. It's not as simple as just making the battery bigger. Hitachi Rail's engineers, in collaboration with Turntide, have been working for more than a year on creating the necessary algorithms and software to achieve this upscaling." Mark Cox, general manager of Turntide's transport business unit, said, "Recognition for the development of this battery system speaks to the level of collaboration and expertise the Turntide team brings to complex electrification projects. We possess the advanced skills necessary to assist clients such as Hitachi Rail in overcoming the technical challenges associated with electrifying passenger rail cars and decreasing carbon emissions in the railway sector." The electrification of passenger trains is a crucial step towards reducing carbon emissions and achieving net-zero goals. Hitachi and Turntide's partnership and commitment to innovation will help create a sustainable future for the UK and decarbonize the transportation industry. Turntide's transport division offers a world-class suite of high-performance electrification components, including batteries, inverters, fans, pumps, and EV motors. With more than 60 years of electrification expertise and 300,000+ vehicles in the field, Turntide is a trusted partner to leading OEMs in construction, agriculture, trucks, buses, marine, rail, and hypercars. From initial concept and prototyping to validation, Turntide's end-to-end approach reduces supply chain risks and speeds time to market by working with a single supplier. About Turntide Technologies Turntide Technologies (Turntide) invents and scales breakthrough technologies to accelerate electrification and sustainable operations for energy-intensive industries. Turntide's solutions support commercial and industrial electric vehicles, building operations, and agriculture to optimize how the world uses energy. For more information, visit https://turntide.com/ or follow the company on LinkedIn and YouTube. About Hitachi Rail: Hitachi Rail is connecting the future of mobility - helping every passenger, customer and community enjoy the benefits of more seamless, sustainable journeys. The company's pioneering technology enables more than 18bn passenger journeys every year and helps to safely transport millions of tonnes of freight. As a trusted partner to operators around the world, Hitachi Rail delivers every part of the railway, from manufacturing and maintaining high speed bullet trains to digital signalling infrastructure and more. Hitachi Rail is delivering value for its customers through Digital Transformation. The company's new Smart Mobility and Digital Asset Management solutions are cutting costs, carbon and congestion, while offering more choice and convenience to passengers than ever before. Hitachi Rail is becoming a climate change innovator by innovating greener products with its customers - such as battery trains, and through its commitment to reduce its own CO 2 emissions to net zero by 2030. Hitachi Rail's reach is global, but its business is local - with success built on investing in the people and communities that it serves. With over 14,000 employees in 38 countries, the company is growing and looking to recruit diverse talent now. Find out about more by visiting hitachirail.com or hitachirail.com/careers/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1002cc19-df79-4830-8d8e-8b95219f7970 Dublin, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Geospatial Analytics Market - Forecasts from 2023 to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The geospatial analytics market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 22.56%, reaching US$264.391 billion in 2028 from US$63.651 billion in 2021. Geospatial analytics is a field of study that involves the analysis of geographical or spatial data. It is a process of collecting, processing, and analyzing spatial data to uncover patterns, trends, and relationships that are not easily visible through other data analysis techniques. Geospatial analytics is used in various industries, including transportation, agriculture, environmental management, and public health. The main objective of geospatial analytics is to provide insights that can be used to make informed decisions. For example, businesses can use geospatial analytics to identify optimal locations for new stores or to analyze customer behavior in specific geographic areas. In addition, governments can use geospatial analytics to monitor and manage environmental issues, such as pollution or deforestation, or to identify areas at risk for natural disasters. Market Drivers Growing demand for satellites and location-based services The volume of geospatial data has been rapidly increasing due to advancements in satellite imaging, GPS, and other technologies. For example, according to the European Space Agency, satellite Earth observation data is expected to increase from 7 petabytes in 2020 to over 60 petabytes by 2025. This is due to the launch of new satellites and the increasing resolution of imaging technology. Further, Location-based services (LBS) are becoming increasingly popular in the retail, transportation, and logistics industries. These services rely on geospatial analytics to provide insights into consumer behavior, optimize routing and logistics, and improve overall efficiency. Growth in the Internet of Things (IoT) The proliferation of IoT devices, such as sensors and GPS-enabled devices, has created new opportunities for collecting and analyzing geospatial data. This has helped to fuel demand for geospatial analytics solutions, particularly in industries such as smart cities and transportation. Based on type, the geovisualization segment is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period. The geospatial analytics market is undergoing significant growth, with a particular focus on the geovisualization type. Geovisualization is becoming increasingly important in industries such as utilities, smart cities, and oil and gas, where effective management of assets is critical. Geospatial analytics is also used in agriculture, defense, and healthcare fields. In addition, with the increasing availability of data from sources such as satellites, drones, and terrestrial sensors, there is a growing need for geospatial analytics solutions to process and analyze this data. North America accounted for a significant share of the global geospatial analytics market in 2021. The geospatial analytics market is segmented based on geography into North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. North America is one of the leading regions in the geospatial analytics market due to major players, technological advancements, and the growing adoption of geospatial technologies in various industries. The United States and Canada are the major countries contributing to the market growth in this region. The increasing adoption of cloud-based geospatial analytics solutions and the integration of geospatial technologies with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics are driving market growth in the United States. In addition, the government sector is a major contributor to the development of the US geospatial analytics market, with many government agencies using geospatial technologies for applications such as disaster management, urban planning, and defense. Market Segmentation: By Component Software Services By Type Surface & Field Analytics Network & Location Analytics Geovisualization Others By Enterprise Size Small and Medium Large By Application Surveying Medicine & Public Safety Military Intelligence Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Others By Geography North America USA Canada Mexico South America Brazil Argentina Others Europe Germany France United Kingdom Spain Others Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Others Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Indonesia Taiwan Others Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 155 Forecast Period 2021 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2021 $63.65 billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $264.39 billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 22.5% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4. MARKET DYNAMICS 5. GEOSPATIAL ANALYTICS MARKET BY COMPONENT 6. GEOSPATIAL ANALYTICS MARKET BY TYPE 7. GEOSPATIAL ANALYTICS MARKET BY ENTERPRISE SIZE 8. GEOSPATIAL ANALYTICS MARKET BY APPLICATION 9. GEOSPATIAL ANALYTICS MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY 10. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS 11. COMPANY PROFILES Companies Mentioned ESRI TomTom International BV Fugro Bentley Systems Incorporated SAP SE Google LLC RMSI Hexagon AB CARTO ALTERYX, INC. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mgrz4c About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Mexico Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This database (excel) product covers the Mexico data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide the following information on the colocation data centers: Detailed Analysis of 31 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 9 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Queretaro, Mexico City, Monterrey, Jalisco, Merida, Quintana Roo, Guadalajara, Heroica Veracruz, Puebla, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Hermosillo, Cuernavaca, Xalapa, Villahermosa, San Luis, Bajio Region, San Juan Del Rio, Tepotzotian. Existing white-floor space (square feet) Upcoming white-floor space (square feet) Current IT load capacity (2022) Future capacity additions (2023-2025) Retail Colocation Pricing Quarter Rack (1/4) Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.) Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing KEY MARKET HIGHLIGHTS: Mexico has a presence of local and global data center operators. Some major existing operators in the country include KIO Networks, Nabiax, Serveris Data Center Services, and BBVA. Ascenty (Digital Realty), ODATA, Equinix, and CloudHQ are the major upcoming investment companies in the country. The increase in the adoption of cloud-based services in the country is expected to drive the establishment of cloud regions by major cloud services providers, such as AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and Huawei. In terms of geography, Queretaro and Mexico City contribute to more than 60% of the white floor area in the Mexico Data center Market. The country is also a significant OTT market in Latin America and is likely to surpass Brazil as the largest OTT market in Latin America in the next two to three years. The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned below: EXISTING DATA CENTERS (31 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name i.e., (Guadalajara Edge data center) Core & Shell Area (White-Floor Area) Core & Shell Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Rack Capacity Year of Operations Design Standards (Tier I - IV) Power/Cooling Redundancy UPCOMING DATA CENTERS (9 Facilities) Investment Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Investor Name Area (White-Floor Area) Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Investment ($ Million) Electrical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) Mechanical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) General Construction Services Investment ($ Million) Announcement Year Project Status (Opened/Under Construction/Announced & Planned) Active or Expected Year of Opening INVESTORS/OPERATORS COVERED Ascenty (Digital Realty), Telmex (American Movil), KIO Networks, Equinix (Axtel), Serveris Hosting, Nabiax, Cybolt, IPXON, HostDime, Layer 9 Data Centers, Scala Data Centers. TARGET AUDIENCE Data center Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) Data center Construction Contractors Data center Infrastructure Providers New Entrants Consultants/Consultancies/Advisory Firms Corporate and Governments Agencies Key Topics Covered: 1. About the Database 2. Scope & Assumptions 3. Definitions 4. Snapshot: Existing & Upcoming Data Center Facility 5. Existing Data Center Database 6. Upcoming Data Center Facility 7. Existing Vs Upcoming Capacity (Infographics) Colocation Pricing 8. Explore the Publisher's Comprehensive Portfolio A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Ascenty (Digital Realty) Telmex (American Movil) KIO Networks Equinix (Axtel) Serveris Hosting Nabiax Cybolt IPXON HostDime Layer 9 Data Centers Scala Data Centers. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/aa7b99 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. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX.V: ARK) (Arras, or the Company) is pleased to announce assay results from holes Bg22021, Bg22022, Bg22016, Bg22018 and Bg22019 from the ongoing drill program at the Beskauga copper-gold deposit and surrounding area (Beskauga or the Project). Highlights Include: Bg22021: 603.7 m of mineralization grading 0.40% copper-equivalent (CuEq) (0.24 g/t gold (Au), 0.19 % copper (Cu), 0.86 g/t silver (Ag)) starting at 136.0 m. Including: 317.6 m grading 0.55 % CuEq (0.35 g/t Au, 0.25% Cu, 1.05 g/t Ag) starting at 351.0 m depth down-hole. (0.35 g/t Au, 0.25% Cu, 1.05 g/t Ag) starting at 351.0 m depth down-hole. Consistent mineralization was seen for the entire length of hole Bg22021 (739.7 m) and further defines a high-grade core to the Beskauga deposit within a lower grade halo. Bg22022: 546.9 m of mineralization grading 0.14 gram per ton (g/t) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (0.12 g/t gold (Au), 0.01 % copper (Cu), 0.1 g/t silver (Ag)) starting at 31.1 m to the end of the drill hole. Including: 65.0 m grading 0.44g/t AuEq (0.41 g/t Au, 0.02% Cu, 0.2 g/t Ag) starting at 105.0 m depth down-hole. (0.41 g/t Au, 0.02% Cu, 0.2 g/t Ag) starting at 105.0 m depth down-hole. Including: 34.0 m grading 0.30g/t AuEq (0.28 g/t Au, 0.01% Cu, 0.13 g/t Ag) starting at 243.0 m depth down-hole. Mr. Tim Barry, CEO commented, Drilling at Beskauga continues to deliver near-surface, broad intervals of significant copper-gold mineralization. Hole Bg22021 also included two zones of high-grade mineralization including 26 meters at @ 1.01% copper equivalent and another zone of 18 meters at 1.41% copper equivalent. These grades are indicative of high-grade zones found throughout the deposit which we continue to review as we explore for the core of this very extensive system. Table 1. Summary table for drill holes for this news release is shown below Notes: Copper Equivalent (CuEq) grades reported for the drill holes at Beskauga were calculated using the following formula: CuEq % = Copper (%) + (Gold (g/t) x 0.8264) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0107) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 3.3333). Gold Equivalent (AuEq) grades reported for the drill holes at Beskauga were calculated using the following formula: AuEq g/t = Gold (g/t) + (Copper (%) x 1.2100) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0129) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.0334). Assumptions used for the copper and gold equivalent calculations were metal prices of US$3.00/lb. Copper, US$1,700/oz Gold, US$22/oz Silver, US$10/lb. Molybdenum, and metallurgical recoveries were assumed to be 100%. Bg22021: drill hole was designed as an infill in an untested zone between Arras drill holes Bg21008 and Bg21004 and further tested the eastern boundary of the potassic-altered monzodiorite intrusion (magnetic bullseyes) at Beskauga main Cu-Au deposit. Drill hole also targeted deeper extension of mineralization based on the defined steep SW plunge of Beskauga Main Cu-Au mineralization. The drill hole started in weak to moderate argillic (Illite-smectite) altered diorite. Diorite Cu-Au mineralization is comprised from quartz-tennantite-chalcopyrite veins and weak tennantite-chalcopyrite dissemination within broad veins halo. Bornite is rarely observed. Diorite is cut by two post mineral porphyritic diorite dykes at 193.5-245.0m and 325.0-330.7m. At 344.1 m after diorite drill hole continued in potassic (biotite, K-Feldspar, magnetite) altered monzodiorite. Monzodiorite mineralization is seen in quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins with weak and rare presence of bornite and molybdenite, and very rarely covellite and tennantite closely related with weak and local - structurally controlled epithermal overprint. Monzodiorite is cut by couple of post mineral porphyritic diorite dykes. After monzodiorite from 668.8 m drill hole ended in weakly potassic (K-Feldspar, magnetite, biotite) altered microdiorite. Microdiorite mineralization is comprised by weak quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite veins and weak presence of chalcopyrite only veinlets. Bg22022: drill hole was collared as a step back hole on fence of holes Bg22011 and Bg22013 (see Arras' press release on March 6 2023) 200 m SW of Bg22013. Tested the continuity and geometry of the strong Au mineralization in these earlier holes and potential of NW-SE striking magnetic low corridor. Drill hole intersected quartz monzonite with moderate Argillic (illite-smectite) alteration in first 379.0 m from where alteration gradually changed to weak potassic (K-Feldspar, magnetite, epidote) alteration and continues till the end of the drill hole. Quartz monzonite is cut by porphyritic quartz monzonite at 135.0-150.3 m. Unmineralized basaltic andesite is intersected at 311.6-355.8m. Intersected mineralization is mainly related to the quartz-pyrite veins with sporadic mainly weak presence of chalcopyrite, and infrequent quartz-magnetite veins with first appearance starting from 390.0m to the end of the drill hole. Bg22019: Hole designed as 200 m step back to the SW from drilled hole Bg22016 with aim to test continuation of phyllic altered Diorite hosting Quartz-Pyrite veining intersected in hole Bg22016. Testing strong magnetic low anomaly corresponding with interpreted phyllic magnetite destructive alteration starting from top to the bottom of proposed hole and testing chargeability high anomaly. The drill hole intersected diorite with strong phyllic (sericite-pyrite) alteration up to 200 m depth where phyllic alteration becomes weaker further down the hole and potassic (K-Feldspar, biotite, magnetite) alteration remnants start prevailing. Weak random Au and Cu mineralization is related mainly with quartz-pyrite (D type) veins having sporadic weak presence of chalcopyrite within the first 300 m of drill hole. Bg22018: drill hole was drilled at angle of 65 degrees toward northeast to test anomalous KGK copper values going up to 0.47 % and 0.15 g/t Au, and to test demagnetized zone surrounding several discreet mag highs. With first 154.0 m drill hole intersected weak potassic (magnetite-biotite-epidote-chlorite) altered monzonite cut by several less than 1.0 m thick apophyses of diorite. Monzonite weak mineralization is driven by weak veining of quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins. From 154.0 m drill hole continued through propylitic (epidote-magnetite-smectite) altered diorite with sporadic presence of quartz-pyrite veins without significant mineralization. The drill hole is terminated at depth of 357.1m. Bg22016: was drilled approximately 1 km west of the Beskauga Main deposit with aim to test magnetic low and chargeability high anomalies, and anomalous As, Cu, Au, Bi and Mo values in historical KGK drilling. The drill hole started in diorite with moderate phyllic (sericite-pyrite) alteration up to depth of 163.2m down the hole. Diorite is hosting moderately intense quartz-pyrite (D type) veins with typical sericite halo and carrying weak and on spots Au mineralization. After diorite from 163.2m drill hole continued through in lithic tuff that is moderately argillic (kaolinite-illite) altered but hosting no veining and mineralization. Drill hole is terminated at 247.4 m depth. Figure 1. Location of the holes completed to date as part of Arras planned 30,000-metre drill program on the Beskauga Main deposit and wider area. The surface projection of the block model from the current NI-43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate is shown for copper. The inset map in Figure 2 below shows the location of Beskauga Main relative to Beskauga South. Figure 2. Location of the holes completed to date at the Beskauga South area, located approximately 3.2 kilometres SSW from the Beskauga Main deposit, and outside of the current NI-43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate. The inset map shows the location of Beskauga South relative to Beskauga Main. Figure 3. Cross-section showing drill holes Bg22021 in relation to historical drill hole Bg-084, Bg-097 and Bg-101. Also shown are grade contours based on the Beskauga block model for copper (only) developed for the purposes of the current Mineral Resource Estimate for Beskauga (for further details, please (see Arras press release on June 20, 2022). CuEq grades of key intercepts in Bg22015 and historical holes are shown. The cross-section demonstrates the steep dipping high-grade copper-gold-silver trend observed through Arras exploration to date. This trend is observed beginning at the paleo-bedrock surface (41 m in depth) and averages between 200-300 m wide and to be consistently mineralized down to at least 1000 meters. Figure 4. Cross-section showing drill holes Bg22021 in relation to historical drill hole Bg-084, Bg-097 and Bg-101. Also shown are grade contours based on the Beskauga block model for gold (only) developed for the purposes of the current Mineral Resource Estimate for Beskauga (for further details, please see Arras press release on June 20, 2022). AuEq grades of key intercepts in Bg22012 and historical holes are shown. The cross-section demonstrates the steep, southwest dipping high-grade copper-gold-silver trend observed through Arras exploration to date. This trend is observed beginning at the paleo-bedrock surface (41 m in depth), to average between 200-300 m wide and to be consistently mineralized down to at least 1000 meters. Figure 5. Cross-section showing drill holes Bg22022 in relation with previously drilled Bg22011 and Bg22013 and historical holes drilled by Copperbelt. AuEq grades of key intercepts in Bg22022, Bg22011, Bg22013 and historical holes are shown. The cross-section demonstrates structurally controlled mineralization largely focused in the contacts between steep, southwest dipping quartz monzonite intrusion and surrounding porphyritic quartz monzonite and andesite basalts. Qualified Person: The technical information of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Tim Barry, a Chartered Professional Geologist MAusIMM CP(Geo), and a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM (CP(Geo)) Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 info@arrasminerals.com Further information can be found on the Companys website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp. Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group). The Companys shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol ARK. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms measured resources, indicated resources, and inferred resources which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras management. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, continues, may, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond managements control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR on March 30, 2023 and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 24, 2023 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company 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. A table accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/091d2b40-3ec8-412d-b7c5-d4244f4b5bec Figures accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6355eb70-eb5c-44b5-b944-358863e08d01 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a5ebb75-83e8-4b2e-9618-a50689621da6 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a5015e7-fd47-4cb7-a896-0c094e13a9d9 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12ddcd8a-916f-4231-839c-0241c1c42851 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83bfd538-1920-449b-b0e2-d403f07bdb8f Fayetteville, Ark., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AcreTrader, the land investment platform at the intersection of agriculture, tech and finance, recently released Themes in the California Wine Industry: Exploring Paso Robles AVA, an analysis of supply and demand dynamics in todays wine market. The report examines market shifts in order to provide farmland investors insight into factors affecting land values of Californias wine grape-bearing acreage, especially within the rapidly growing Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA). California wine grape markets have been marked in recent years by ongoing premiumization in consumer tastes. Known for its red wine varietal cabernet sauvignon, Paso Robles is well-positioned to meet demand for premium wines. As Paso Robles wines have grown increasingly popular, the wine region has received coverage in leading industry publications such as Wine Enthusiast and Bloomberg , underlined by high-profile property acquisitions by major wineries like Duckhorn and E&J Gallo. AcreTraders research examines these factors in-depth and looks at potential impacts of water scarcity on vineyard acreage and land values. AcreTraders farm sourcing team consists of professionals in finance and alternative asset management as well as individuals with prior experience in agricultural operations. As part of a rigorous due diligence process, the team conducts macroeconomic research on any specialty crop grown on an investment property offered on the platform. They have previously released market reportage on pistachios and almonds . AcreTrader is passionate about bringing unique permanent crop investment opportunities to farmland investors. Our research efforts aim to equip investors with the knowledge they need to make informed investment decisions on opportunities like those were seeing in Paso Robles, said Drew Lipke, Director of Investments at AcreTrader. Since its founding in 2018, AcreTrader has completed over 130 farmland investments totaling approximately $400 million, including vineyard investments. Their industry relationships and experienced team provide maximum exposure to deal flow and scalable investing. About AcreTrader AcreTrader is a land investment and technology company that empowers its customers to buy and sell land smarter through advanced technology, data, and expertise. Since its founding in 2018, AcreTrader has broadened access to research, buy, sell, and invest in land for thousands of investors, registered investment advisors, farmers, and landowners across the U.S. and Australia. AcreTrader Financial, LLC, is a registered broker dealer, member FINRA/SIPC offering access to farm and timberland investments to accredited investors through its platform. For more information, including our terms of use, privacy policy, and risk factors, find out more by visiting acretrader.com . Securities offered through AcreTrader Financial, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Alternative investments are considered speculative, involve a high degree of risk, including complete loss of principal and are not suitable for all investors. Learn more about the risks of investing in farmland and the nature of the asset class by looking at our general risk factors. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment decisions should be made based on an investors objectives and circumstances and in consultation with your financial or tax professional. This is not intended to be a recommendation or investment advice and is not an offer to buy or sell any specific security. Investment decisions should be made based on an investors objectives and circumstances and in consultation with your financial or tax professional. Offerings are unregistered securities subject to certain limitations and restrictions, considered illiquid investments and considered a long term investment. Distributions are not guaranteed. This is not an offer to buy or sell a security, only the private placement memorandum makes such an offering. There is no assurance any investment will meet its objectives. ### Attachment SALISBURY, N.C., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Food Lion Feeds honored a select group of food banks, volunteers, community leaders and associates at the eighth annual Food Lion Feeds Feedys Awards. The event celebrates and recognizes individuals and partners who exemplify commitment and dedication to help nourish neighbors facing food insecurity. Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves. We at Food Lion Feeds envision a world where no one goes hungry, where families do not have to choose between dinner and rent or gas and groceries and where everyone works together to nourish families and set them up for success, said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. Despite each individual and organizations challenges, they persevere and embrace uncertainty to nourish our neighbors. As a result of their tireless work and leadership, we recognize and honor their exceptional partnership and compassionate efforts. The following individuals and organizations were recognized for their contributions: The Food King Feeding Partner Award Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries (Augusta, GA) This award honors a food bank that demonstrates outstanding commitment through financial support, innovation, encouragement and motivation for others to take leadership roles in hunger-relief programming and community involvement. A vital part of the community since 1978, Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries partners with 12 churches to address food insecurity. In 2022, DCCM distributed nearly 200,000 pounds of food to more than 5,700 individuals. The pantry creates an inclusive environment and welcomes volunteers who support the distribution events and lead discussions for innovative ways to end food insecurity in their community. Watch a video highlighting the work of Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries. The Lion Heart Volunteer Award V.O. Dobbins Jr., Volunteer Leader, Central Baptist Church Food Ministry (Kingsport, TN) This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating groups of donors and volunteers for hunger-relief projects for the benefit of Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks. A humble, servant leader of the Central Baptist Church Food Ministry, V.O. Dobbins Jr. has been a volunteer leader for more than 30 years. He served as the purchasing agent and food coordinator in his earlier years. Dobbins ability to lead, motivate, manage and inspire others allows the ministry to serve approximately 350 individuals every month through a mobile food distribution model he initiated during the pandemic. View a video about Dobbins role in supporting hunger relief in his community. The Grand Lion for Good Vendor Award Robinson Fresh, Produce Supplier (Duplin County, NC) This award, presented to a Food Lion supplier, recognizes outstanding commitment to partnering with and participating in Food Lion Feeds hunger-relief projects. Since Food Lion Feeds launched in 2014, Robinson Fresh has been the sole vendor of the Food Lion Feeds Apple Bag campaign. In 2022, Food Lion Feeds partnered with customers to provide 4.5 million meals through this annual campaign. In addition to the product and financial support Robinson Fresh provides, they participate in volunteer events with Food Lion associates, helping pack boxes to distribute to individuals and families in need. Watch a video about Robinson Fresh and its impact as a Food Lion supplier. The Store that Roars Motivational Award Food Lion at 613 Frost Ave., Warrenton, VA 20186 With a standout team of associates to help combat food insecurity, this Food Lion store is a longtime supporter of Fauquier Food Bank in Warrenton, VA. Through Food Lions pioneering food rescue program, the store distributes unsold, edible food that might otherwise go to waste, providing nutritious food to individuals and families in need. In addition to food donations, store associates regularly volunteer their time and resources to help increase the reach and impact of the food bank, allowing it to serve even more neighbors in need. View a video about Food Lion associates combating food insecurity. The Lions Pride Store Associate Award honors a Food Lion associate who demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating store associates and volunteers for hunger-relief projects for the benefit of Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks. In 2023, Food Lion Feeds honors two associates for the impact they have made to combat hunger in their community: Brenda Howell, Direct Store Delivery Receiver (Spring Hope, NC) Volunteering to make an impact in the towns and cities she serves, Howell champions hunger-relief efforts at her Food Lion store located at 603 E. Nash St., Spring Hope, NC. In her role, Howell interacts with partner food banks such as the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, which benefits from the food rescue program. With food insecurity at 14% in Spring Hope, Howell takes the time to talk to and learn about the partner agencies to understand their needs. Check out this video about Howells efforts to lead regional hunger relief to benefit partner food banks. Demetrius Dee Morrison, Store Manager (Jonesville, NC) Instrumental to making a positive difference in her community, Morrison, a Store Manager at the Food Lion located at 101 Valley Drive, Jonesville, NC, volunteers at food rescue events and coordinates efforts across the 11 counties the Statesville region she serves. For example, she supported a partnership with a local shelter to serve meals at Fifth Street Ministries in Iredell County. Morrison also worked with the local nursing homes to show care and provide nourishment to seniors. In addition, she coordinated a regional event for associates from 23 stores to prepare 1,500 backpacks for local schools. View a video about Morrisons heartfelt impact on nourishing her neighbors. Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion has helped to provide more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. For more information on Food Lion Feeds commitment to ending hunger, visit foodlion.com/feeds. About Food Lion Food Lion is an omnichannel retailer committed to nourishing its neighbors during the moments that matter most. More than 82,000 associates across 1,100+ stores deliver an easy, fresh and affordable shopping experience throughout 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Through its Count on me culture, Food Lion fosters a sense of belonging for all associates, promoting a diverse and inclusive environment that has supported LGBTQ+ equality for nearly two decades. Food Lion is the only company in the country to be named an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 22 consecutive years. It also pioneered a food rescue program to support food-insecure neighbors. Through Food Lion Feeds, the retailer has donated more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Founded and based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit foodlion.com. CONTACT: Food Lion Media Relations 704-245-3317 publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d7539fa-2d28-48ed-a63e-b3b6e56bd355 New York, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Power Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06459657/?utm_source=GNW Power Market is projected to register a CAGR of over 4.3 % during the forecast period. COVID-19 negatively impacted the market in 2020. Presently the market has now reached pre-pandemic levels. Key Highlights Over the medium term, factors such as the growing electricity generation along with energy consumption demand, with changing power generation industry dynamics, are expected to drive the demand for the power market. On the other hand, the phasing out of coal-based power plants, which account for a major share of power generation around the globe, and volatile crude oil prices leading to delays in several upstream projects are expected to hinder the growth of the Power Market. Nevertheless, the increasing closures of fossil-fueled generation, an influx of wind, solar, small hydro, and other renewables-based power generation, rising electric vehicle and heat pump demand, and increasing export requirements via interconnectors have resulted in increased requirements for installation of Transmission and Distributions (T&D) lines, creating several opportunities for the major companies. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the largest market during the forecast period, owing to the high urbanization growth rate and growing electricity demand, mainly from China and India. Power Market Trends Thermal Source for Power Generation to be the Largest Market Power generation uses a variety of sources ranging from fossil fuels like coal and oil to renewable sources like wind and solar. The energy mix for electricity generation is dominated by fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, with the three constituting almost 65% of the global energy mix. The power generation mix is heavily skewed toward coal, with a major contribution, because of cheaper domestic fuel availability. Its share in the mix has increased over the years due to constraints in adding other conventional generation sourceshydro, nuclear, and gas. Coal thermal power plants are the most widely used thermal power plant and are expected to have the largest share in the electricity power (global) supply, in 2025, in the world. More efficient technologies like Ultra Supercritical Coal Technology, which reduces pollution (per KW), are likely to replace aging power plants. As per BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022, in 2021, a coal-based thermal power plant holds the largest share in total global power generation. Globally, the amount of power generated from coal remained the dominant fuel for power generation in 2021, with its share increasing to 36%, up from 35.1% in 2020. In 2021, coal-based power generation had reached 10244 TWh. In March 2022, Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), the state-owned electric utility of Mexico, issued direct awards on five projects expected to add 2.26 GW of gas-based power generation capacity. Wartsila was awarded contracts to build two internal combustion engine power plants: the 429 MW CCI Mexicali Oriente plant in Baja California, and the 202 MW CCI Parque Industrial in Sonora. The other three are combined cycle plants: CCC San Luis Potosi (442MW) in CCC San Luis Potosi and the 932MW CCC Salamanca plant in Guanajuato, both awarded to Mitsubishi Power; and finally, CCC El Sauz ll (256MW) in Queretaro, with the contract going to TSK and Siemens Energy. In November 2021, Wartsila signed a contract with the Brazilian?Ministry of Mines and Energy to supply three gas engine power plants with a combined output of 150 MW in Brazil. The projects are going to be delivered on Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) basis to existing power plant sites UTE Luiz Oscar Rodrigues de Melo and UTE Viana 1, as well as a new power plant UTE Povoacao1, all located in EspiritoSanto, a state in Southeast Region of Brazil. Therefore, based on the factors mentioned above, the thermal source for power generation is expected to be the largest segment of the Power Market during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Market Asia-Pacific is home to more than 50% of the global population and 60% of the large cities, and in the future, the continent will face increasing demand for power as millions of new customers are gaining access to electricity, with rapid population growth and industrialization. For instance, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022, the primary energy consumption in the region increased from 220,48 exajoules in 2013 to 272.45 exajoules in 2021. Many countries in Asia-Pacific have inadequate transmission and distribution (T&D) networks, and hence, electricity is not available in some of the remote and rural areas. To bring electricity to these areas, the countries in the region are investing heavily in building a transmission line network. China dominates the power market in the region, and the energy sector is moving in a new direction by transitioning toward cleaner and sustainable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060. Furthermore, as of 2021, China has the most significant renewable installed capacity globally. According to Chinas National Energy Administration, the countrys renewable installed capacity reached 1.063 terawatts by the end of 2021, accounting for about 44.8% of the total installed generation capacity. In addition, China has set a target for about 1.2 terawatts of renewable installed capacity by 2030, which it is expected to reach comfortably, directly aiding the renewable power market in the nation. For instance, in 2022, the government of China announced that it plans to build 450 gigawatts of solar and wind energy power plants in the Gobi desert regions to achieve the renewable energy target by 2030. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India is the third largest energy-consuming country globally, owing to the rising income levels and improving standards of living, which directly aids the power market in the nation. Over the coming years, millions of Indian households will buy new appliances and air-conditioners, and to support the growth, the nation will have to add a large amount of power systems in the forecast period. In addition, the Government of India is investing heavily in renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions and undertaking various large-scale sustainable power projects, and promoting green energy heavily. As of 2021, Indias installed renewable energy capacity stood at 147 GW, and the country is targeting about 450 Gigawatt (GW) of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, which will directly aid the market. For instance, in 2022, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) commissioned the largest floating solar power plant in India with a capacity of 100 MW in the state of Telangana, which will reduce the carbon dioxide emission by 2,10,000 tonnes per year. Therefore, based on the factors like expansions and upgrades, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, along with increased power demand, is expected to have a positive impact on the power market. Power Industry Overview The Power Market is fragmented. Some of the major players (not in particular order) in the market include State Grid Corporation of China, Iberdrola, S.A., Tokyo Electric Power Company Holding Inc, NTPC Ltd, and Electricite de France S.A., among others. Additional Benefits: The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format 3 months of analyst support Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06459657/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Hinesville, GA, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Legions first district of Georgia recognized real estate company, American Veteran Properties (AVP) as 2023s veteran owned business of the year. The American Legions mission is to enhance the well-being of America's veterans, their families, military, and communities by devotion to mutual helpfulness and its vision is "The American Legion: Veterans Strengthening America. This aligns with AVPs mission to help military families enjoy homeownership and build financial security. Founder and CEO, Eric Lukkarinen, is a veteran who builds career opportunities for other veterans who are uniquely positioned to understand the challenges and needs of military families, especially regarding military PCS/relocations. AVP was founded in 2021 with a commitment to support and encourage responsible home buying. The company has an expertise in military real estate sales with use of VA loan packages and overall income-producing real estate management. We are honored to have been selected as the American Legions first district Veteran Owned Business of the Year, Lukkarinen said. We did not seek out this award and to be recognized by such a respected organization as the American Legion is a real endorsement of our success in employing and working with military families to improve their quality of life. American Veteran Properties advocates for the military community and is working with Representative Buddy Carter to generate support for AVPs campaign to increase Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) in Hinesville as there is a significant discrepancy between current BAH and the cost of housing for families. This advocacy campaign is encouraging military families who are struggling to find affordable housing to contact AVP at sales@americanveteranproperties.com. American Veteran Properties offers the highest quality advice and support for military members to make the best decision for themselves and their families, in addition to helping military members enjoy responsible homeownership while building and growing personal wealth and serving anyone that supports the military and employment for veterans. For more information, please visit www.legion.org or www.americanveteranproperties.com Attachment Attn: Assignment Editor Almost a thousand voting stations will be staffed by thousands of volunteers in a massive effort to force the Ford government to respect democratic process and input on their hospital privatization plans Vote counting & results announcement information listed here TORONTO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A map listing all voting stations across the province is available online at https://publichospitalvote.ca/find-voting-station This is what it looks like (below). On the website, you can zoom in for details and a list by region is below the map. Media are invited to go and see the voting taking place at voting stations across Ontario. Map I: Southern Ontario to Northeast Ontario is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d657a135-5476-4929-9cd1-c3bfe3fd887c Map II: Northwestern Ontario is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67de2079-6701-4558-82c3-eaf7e868a1c2 Online voting is also available for all Ontario residents at PublicHospitalVote.ca Voting closes on Saturday, May 27 at midnight. At time of writing, more than 160,000 votes have been received online and in advance polls. Province-wide results will be announced outside Queens Park on Wednesday May 31 at 10 a.m. A massive pile of ballots from the peoples referendum will be brought in from across Ontario and piled in front of the Legislature to be delivered to the government. Local health coalitions across the province will be counting ballots on Saturday evening May 27 or Sunday May 28 as listed below and announcing results locally on Tuesday, May 30 as listed below. Media contact: Natalie Mehra, executive director, Ontario Health Coalition 416-230-6402 (cell). List of contacts and information for media to view vote counting and receive local/province-wide results: Algoma Region: Vote results will be announced outside Roy Romanos office at 390 Bay St, Sault Ste. Marie at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 30. Media contact: Albert Dupuis 613-808-7710, aldupuis@rogers.com Atikokan Region: Media contact: Diana Coulomb 807-598-1189 Chatham-Kent: Vote counting will take place at 36 Plantation Place, Chatham at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 28. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday, May 30 at 10 AM outside the front entrance of Sydenham District Hospital in Wallaceburg. Media contact: Shirley Roebuck 226-402 2724, goddess@bell.net Cornwall & Region: Vote counting will take place at the Automotive Room in the Benson Centre, Cornwall, starting at noon, Sunday, May 28. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday, May 30 at 10 am in front of the Cornwall Community Hospital, on McConnell Avenue, midway between the emergency entrance and the general parking entrance. Media contact: Louise Lanctot 613-932-1943, louiselanctot18@gmail.com Durham Region: Vote counting will take place at Valleyview Clubhouse, 81 Gladstone Ave., Oshawa starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 28. Vote results will be announced outside Lakeridge Health in Alexandra Park at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30. Media contact: Pam Parks 905-447-1124, president20226364@hotmail.com Fort Frances: Media contact: Richard McKinnon 807-274-5013. Guelph & Wellington County: Vote counting will take place at 7 Sugarbush Place, Guelph, starting at 1 pm, Sunday, May 28. Vote results will be announced on Monday, May 29 at 10 am at 116 Gordon St, Guelph ON at Speed River beside Boathouse Tea Room. Media contact: Karen Rathwell, 519-362-7615, guelphdistricthealthcoalition@gmail.com Grey Bruce: Vote counting for the northern half of the region, including Meaford, Town of Blue Mountains (Thornbury, Clarksburg), Owen Sound, Rockford, Eugenia will take place on Sunday, May 28, at 107 Kiowana Beach Rd., Meaford. Media contact: Norah Beatty 519-477-3513, greybrucecountyhc@gmail.com Norah Beatty 519-477-3513, Vote counting for the southern half of Grey-Bruce will take place on Sunday, May 28 in the afternoon at 105 8th Street South East in Chesley under the supervision of Shawn Morrow, a well-respected local business person. Media contact: Brenda Scott 519-375-5812, bscott6176@yahoo.ca Haliburton: Vote counting will take place at 1 pm on Sunday, May 28 at the Haliburton Highlands Outdoor Association, 6712 Gelert Rd. Vote results will be announced at 10 am on Tuesday, May 30 at Head Lake Park in Haliburton Village near the Information Center. Media contact: Bonnie Roe 705-457-6579, Hhltccoalition@gmail.com Halton Region: For vote counting and results please contact Trudi Ford, 905-580-7962, trudiford@cogeco.ca Kingston & Region: Vote counting will take place at 393 Knightsbridge Road, Kingston on Sunday, May 28 at noon. Vote results will be announced at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30 at the corner of Princess and Concession Sts. Media contact: Joan Jardin 613-305-2716, kingstonhealthcoalition@gmail.com London: Vote counting will take place starting at 11 a.m., Sunday May 28 at London Health Coalition Referendum HQ/Reimagineco 206 Piccadilly St, London Vote results will be announced at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30 at London Health Coalition Referendum HQ/Reimagineco 206 Piccadilly St, London Contact Peter Bergmanis 519-860-4403 Muskoka Region: Vote results will be announced in front of Graydon Smith MPPs office, 230 Manitoba St., Bracebridge at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30. Media contact: Sandra.ashcroft@ufcw175.com Niagara Region: Vote results will be announced at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30 in front of the St. Catharines Hospital at the corner of 4 th Avenue and First Avenue Louth. Avenue and First Avenue Louth. Media contact: Sue Hotte 905-932-1646, niagarahealthcoalition@yahoo.ca Norfolk County: Vote counting will take place at 19 Somerset Drive, Port Dover on Saturday evening May 27. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday, May 30 at 11 a.m. at Powell Park, 250 Main St., Port Dover. Media contact: Gail Heald-Taylor 519-428-6083, ghealdtaylor@outlook.com North Bay and Region: Vote counting will take place on Sunday May 28 at 11 a.m. at the Campaign office 335 Main Street East North Bay. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday, May 30 at 10 a.m. the OPSEU office,150 First St. East. Media contact: Henri Giroux 705-471-1146, hgiroux1@hotmail.com Ottawa: Vote counting will take place at The Spot Community Room at the Carlingwood Shopping Centre, 2121 Carling Avenue, Ottawa on Sunday, May 28 from 12 3 p.m. For vote results on Tuesday, May 30 please contact Ed Cashman at 343-999-6886, Ottawahealthco@gmail.com . Peel Region: Vote counting will take place at 1022 Franconia Dr, Mississauga on Sunday, May 28, starting at 11 a.m. Vote results will be announced at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30 outside Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Hospital, 77 Queensway West, on the sidewalk, north side of the hospital. Media contact: Mohammad Aumeer, 416-770-7858, mohammad.aumeer@gmail.com Peterborough Region: Vote counting will take place on Sunday May 28 from 10 a.m. until completed at the campaign office in the Maple Ridge Plaza, 1840 Lansdowne St. W. Peterborough. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday May 30 at 10 a.m. at the campaign office in Maple Ridge Plaza 1840 Lansdowne St W. Peterborough. Media contact: Marion Burton 705 868-7352, marionburton@nexicom.net Renfrew County: Vote counting will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday May 28 at the Giant Tiger, 171 Alexander St #1, Pembroke. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday May 30 time and location TBA. Media contact: Leona Haley 613-602-1646 Sarnia-Lambton: Vote counting will take place at the Dunlop United Church, 757 Rosedale Ave., Sarnia on Sunday, May 28 at 12:30 p.m. Vote results will be announced in front of the Sydenham District Hospital in Wallaceburg at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30. Media contact: June Weiss 519-466-3372, junebug111@hotmail.com Simcoe County: Vote counting will take place at the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario office, 351 King St. #3, Barrie starting at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 28. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday, May 30 at 11:30 a.m. in the Sunnidale Park Arboretum at 265 Sunnidale Road, Barrie. Media contact: Anisa Carrascal 647-835-7870, simcoecountyhc@gmail.com Stratford: Vote counting will take place at 9 Douro Street, Stratford on Saturday May 27 starting at 6:30 p.m. Vote results: media contact Sharon Sippel (519) 276-1291 Toronto: Vote counting will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 28 at USW Hall, 25 Cecil St. Toronto results will be announced with the Ontario-wide results on Wednesday, May 31 at 10 a.m. outside the Main Legislative Building, Queens Park, Toronto. Volunteers from communities across Ontario will come in to the city with their ballots and create a huge pile in front of the Legislature. Media contact: Carolyn Egan 416-806-7985, greatertorontohc@gmail.com Thunder Bay: Vote counting will take place on Sunday, May 28 starting at 1 p.m. at the OPSEU Regional Office, 326 Memorial Ave. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday May 30th at 2:00pm at the OPSEU Regional Office, 326 Memorial Ave. Media contact: Jules Tupker 807-627-6249, jtupker@tbaytel.net Waterloo Region: Vote counting will take place at the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario-Waterloo Region Office 610 Wabanaki Dr Kitchener ON on Sunday May 28 from 12 - 5 p.m. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday, May 30 at 8:30 AM outside the Main Entrance to Grand River Hospital, 835 King St W., Kitchener. Media contact: Jim Stewart 519 588 5841 waterlooregionhealthcoalition@gmail.com Windsor: Vote counting will take place at Chapter Two Brewery, 2345 Edna St., Windsor, Sunday May 28, 12 -2 p.m. Vote results will be announced on Tuesday, May 30 at 10am at the Southeast corner of Prince Road and Glenfield St, Windsor, next to the new Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare site. Media contact: Patrick Hannon 519-796-0410, PatrickJHannonM@gmail.com More information will be provided as we get details in from volunteers across Ontario. For more information: Natalie Mehra, executive director (416) 230-6402 text or call. New York, USA, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biosimilars Market Overview: According to a Comprehensive Research Report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Biosimilars Market Information, By Product, Application, End Users And By Region - Forecast Till 2030, the market size was valued at USD 24.38 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from USD 28.13 Billion in 2022 to USD 95.00 billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.90% during the forecast period (2022 - 2030) Market Scope: Increase in demand for biosimilars will result in promoting business growth in the future. According to the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), biosimilar drugs are priced 20% to 30% lower than their reference drugs. Companies must continually adjust their market positioning and strategy to the shifting competitive landscape as new biosimilars hit the market. We think that successful commercial strategies strike a balance between three competing demands: improving patient affordability and developing tender capabilities to secure volume gains; creating additional cost savings for payers and providers through incentives; and customizing pricing and channel strategies to particular products and nations to gain traction at the physician level. Get Free Sample PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1329 Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2030 USD 95 Billion CAGR 23.90% Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Historical Data 2020 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product, Application And End Users Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Growing Demand for Biosimilars to Boost Market Growth Rising prevalence of cancer patients and high treatment adoption rate Biosimilars Market Competitive Dynamics: The success of biosimilars is sometimes attributed to their capacity to offer lower prices; nevertheless, businesses must take into account the circumstances under which discounting may be more important than in their prelaunch market models. Due to this, originating businesses now compete using a variety of strategies, such as modified commercial terms. Key Companies in the Market Includes Pfizer (US) Sandoz (Germany) Biocon (India) Biogen (US) Fresenius Kabi AG (Germany) Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany) Merck KgaA (Germany) Mylan (US) Eli Lilly (US) Teva Pharmaceutical (Israel) Biosimilars Market Trends: Market Drivers Due to their affordability and the increasing frequency of chronic diseases worldwide, biosimilars are in more demand. Their decreased cost, which enables both cost-effective patient care and treatment, will be a key growth element. Additionally, the price competition between reference pharmaceuticals and follow-on biologics drives down the cost of reference biologics, accelerating business growth. The lower unit price of a biologic due to its competitor drug and enhanced patient access to a variety of biosimilars are two ways that these drugs' cost-effectiveness helps to reduce total healthcare costs. Therefore, it is anticipated that the succeeding entry biologics' overall competitive costs will support their demand during the course of the analysis period. However, there have been major advancements to credit to their cost-effectiveness in order to meet the demand for biosimilars on the market. Market Limitations The complexity of the biosimilars' manufacture, however, poses a significant problem for the market's players. Additionally, the high expense of producing biosimilars may limit market expansion in the years to come. Browse In-depth Market Research Report (95 Pages) on Biosimilars: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/biosimilars-market-1329 COVID-19 Analysis: The capacity to balance business models across many channels will be crucial in developed markets. To do this, one must first build a thorough understanding of how doctors and patients make decisions, as well as how money moves at payers and providers, before using that information to divide these groups into different channels. This is not a one-time issue but an ongoing effort. Companies will need to continue changing and fine-tuning their strategy in response to how physicians and payers get more comfortable with biosimilars and how stakeholder engagement evolvespartly as a result of the disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic. Biosimilars Market Segmentation: By Product The majority of the revenue generated by the biosimilars market in 2021 was accounted for by the segment of recombinant non-glycosylated proteins. The high treatment adoption rate and increased prevalence of cancer patients are the main causes of this. Additionally, because to technical development, cancer has recently become a condition that is partly controllable. Some of the serious side effects from the chemotherapy and radiotherapy given to cancer patients include neutropenia, or reduced white blood cells. As a result, one of the key factors driving the industry's need for biosimilars for both treatment and auxiliary therapies is the increased incidence of cancer. By Application In terms of revenue generated by the biosimilars market in 2021, the oncology category dominated the market. This is a result of the widespread high prevalence of cancer. Additionally, it is anticipated that an increase in cancer cases will increase the demand for sophisticated cancer treatments. Therefore, increasing cancer rates have a favorable effect on the growth of the biosimilars industry. End User In terms of the revenue generated by the biosimilars industry in 2021, hospital pharmacies held the biggest market share. This is due to the fact that these medications are simple to obtain and that using them in hospital pharmacies has enhanced treatment options for important ailments. Retail pharmacies, on the other hand, controlled the second-largest market share in 2021. The expected expansion of this market can be attributed to rising healthcare investment as well as an increase in retail pharmacies around the world. Buy Now: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1329 Biosimilars Market Regional Analysis: The Americas In 2021, biosimilars had the biggest market share. This is a result of both increased investment in research and development efforts by the leading firms in the region and the rising incidence of chronic diseases like cancer. Due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the implementation of biological product patent expiration, the rise of new competitors, and the introduction of novel biosimilars, Europe holds the second-largest market share for biosimilars. Additionally, the UK market had the quickest rate of growth in the European region, while the Germany market had the largest market share. With the use of multistakeholder platforms that include payers and providers, support for hospitals and statutory-health-insurance doctors about biosimilars might be formed in Germany. Manufacturers in the UK could coordinate distribution with "chemo at home" suppliers and chemo compounding businesses. Throughout the anticipated period, the Asia-Pacific biosimilars market is anticipated to expand at a considerable rate. This is a result of an increase in pharmaceutical businesses and significant R&D spending on biosimilar research. Additionally, the India market had the quickest rate of growth in the Asia-Pacific region, while China's market had the largest market share. Discover more research Reports on Healthcare Industry by Market Research Future: Growth Hormone Market Research Report Information Information by Brand (Norditropin, Genotropin, Humatrope, Saizen, Omnitrope, Skytrofa, and Others), by Route of Administration (Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, and Intravenous), by Application (Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency, Adult, Growth Hormone Deficiency, Idiopathic Growth Hormone Deficiency, Small for Gestational Age, Turner Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and Others), by Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacy, and Specialty Pharmacy), and By Re Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Market Research Report Information By Treatment (Drug (Insulin, Sensitizers, Sglt-2, Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors, Others), Devices (Blood Glucose Monitoring, Insulin Delivery Devices)), By The End User Forecast Till 2030 Digital Diabetes Management Market Research Report Information by Type (Wearable Devices, Handheld Devices), Product & Services (Devices, Digital Diabetes Management Apps, Services), End User (Homecare, Academic & Research Institutes)- Forecast till 2030 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. MOUNT AIRY, N.C., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SECU Foundations support of $750,000 for Surry Medical Ministries (SMM) newly expanded clinic, the SECU Health Resource Center, is good news for residents in Northwest North Carolina with little or no access to primary healthcare. The opening of the Centers fully equipped medical office, inclusive of an ambulatory surgical center, will enable the non-profit to increase its capacity for the underserved by 20% in the first year, assisting an additional 600 to 800 eligible individuals in Surry, Alleghany, Wilkes, Stokes, and Yadkin counties. The impact of this project will be significant for many North Carolinians, including the more than 62,000 SECU members who reside in this area, said Damian Carter, SECU regional senior vice president. The expanded capacity and access to SMMs services will help create a deeper connection within communities that will result in positive health and economic benefits for the people of this region. We are pleased to support their important work. The non-profit began as a small acute-care no-cost medical clinic in 1993 and has grown its healthcare services to accommodate more than 5,000 patient appointments since 2021. Surry Medical Ministries provides a wide range of healthcare services, telehealth visits to local farm workers, and is the primary care physician for a local womens homeless shelter, two transitional care homes, and the direct healthcare provider for two former Foundation grantees, The Shepherds House and The Childrens Center of Northwest North Carolina. Our new larger capacity Surry Medical Ministries SECU Health Resource Center, designed for low-income patients, has already begun to pay dividends for our entire region in the first seven months since opening, said Nancy Dixon, SMM president. But most importantly, this clinic embodies the mission of SECU Foundation. Whether it is $1 at a time or one person helping another person, this clinic is creating a healthier more connected community. And our businesses cannot remain healthy and survive in communities without healthy people. This partnership between SECU Foundation and Surry Medical Ministries is a win-win for everyone. This is how good change happens. About SECU and SECU Foundation A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, and federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 85 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States with $50 billion in assets. It serves over 2.7 million members through 274 branch offices, over 1,100 ATMs, Member Services Support via phone, www.ncsecu.org, and a Mobile App. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high-impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of over $235 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide. Contact: Jama Campbell, Executive Director Office: 919-839-5562 | secufoundation@ncsecu.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da4721bf-0156-49d9-88ae-9745d815c2a8 Charlotte, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Charlotte, North Carolina - Nationwide Microsoft consulting firm Aerie is solving business challenges by implementing and customizing Microsoft apps, especially on the Azure platform. Azure is Microsofts flagship cloud platform composed of over 200 different products and cloud services that provide access, management, and development of applications and services via globally distributed data centers. With over 95% adoption among Fortune 500 companies and more than $1 billion spent annually by Microsoft to fight cyber threats, Azure is one of the most popular and secure platforms that businesses in the United States and all over the world can choose to build on. Aerie is helping businesses of all sizes make the most of Azure, and other Microsoft products, by offering a range of application design and development services. The companys Microsoft Certified experts help clients make the most of their existing Microsoft products and subscriptions, optimize their current configurations and workflows, and even create custom apps that increase productivity and boost the bottom line. The power of Azure is not just in its convenience, speed, and security but also the level of customization it offers, says the spokesperson for Aerie. Our team of Azure experts taps into this unprecedented flexibility to maximize your use of the platform, saving time and money where it matters while also increasing throughput. From determining the optimal strategy for migrating data and applications to Azure to walking you through the steps of building and running open-source solutions, our developers can help you accelerate your Azure implementation. We also offer a series of hands-on workshops, where we provide high-level guidance and technical support, as well as Azure best practices, to ensure user adoption. As a result of the companys efforts, its clients can expect outcomes such as ensured data availability and infrastructure reliability, increased data capacity allowing them to achieve scale and reduce costs, gained compliance with government and industry regulations, enhanced security for data at all access points with threat detection and mitigation, and improved organization and efficiency through artificial intelligence tools. To build secure solutions for its clients, Aerie recently brought on Eric Flanders as Senior Azure Engineer. Eric holds the Microsoft 365 Certified Security Administrator and MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certifications. His experience includes services such as Azure Active Directory for identity security, Azure Virtual Machines for cloud computing/storage, and Azure Backup for secure data backup/recovery. I love working on new and exciting challenges that necessitate leveraging existing Azure features in creative and optimized ways, says Eric. No matter how big or small the project Im working on is, every day offers a chance to try the latest & greatest Microsoft software updates and products. At Aerie, my aim is always to ensure that my clients get the most mileage out of their investment in Azure and other Microsoft Cloud Services. Apart from its Azure services, the company also offers solutions for other Microsoft business applications including Power Apps, Power BI, Teams, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Power Automate, Viva, and more. Aeries clients have also come to rely on Aeries managed cloud services and licensing optimization services offered through proprietary solutions such as Accelerated Intranet, SetPoint, People Directory, and Help Desk. The company has also achieved the Microsoft Silver Partner distinction for Application Development and the Cloud Platform, as a part of the Microsoft Partner Network. Founded in 2009, Aerie has worked with several companies and organizations, in both the public and private sectors. The companys clients include big names such as Subaru, Helm, The University of Vermont, Nucor, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Landmark College, KU Medical Center, and many others. On its website (www.aerieconsulting.com), Aerie makes available several case studies that detail how the company crafted custom solutions for its clients using Microsoft products and services. Readers can get in touch with Aerie Consulting at (720) 526-3909 to speak to Sarah Fisher, an Aerie rep. The company also has offices in Denver, CO, St. Petersburg, FL, Winooski, VT, and Charlotte, NC. ### For more information about Aerie Consulting, contact the company here: Aerie Consulting Dave Fisher (704) 533-9661 marketing@aerieconsulting.com 1213 W Morehead St 5th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28208 CHICAGO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific centred biotech CRO is sponsoring key oncology focussed expert events for ASCO: a pre-ASCO Summit with eChina Health, and a webinar panel discussion on accelerating development of advanced therapies with Endpoints. Meet with the Novotech team at ASCO here Novotech, which has more than 15 senior executives and oncology leaders attending ASCO, is sponsoring the eChina Health pre-ASCO China Summit and Dinner. The Summit brings together world leaders in oncology for a 1-day series of expert presentations. Novotech CEO Dr. John Moller will give the welcome address, Novotech Chief Commercial Officer Barry Murphy will present during the session on Bringing Transformational Medicines to Patients Worldwide and Novotech Head of China Andy Liu is a panellist on the Future of China Biopharmaceutical session. Session topics include: Showcase Novel Breakthrough Therapies from China Bringing Transformational Medicines to Patients Worldwide Future of China Biopharmaceutical China Clinical Oncology Breakthrough Global Clinical Oncology Breakthrough (by ASCO Breakthrough Organizing Committee) Location: 320 S. Canal St. The Platform Conference Center Chicago Date: June 1 Time: 1-8.30pm (Central Time) Register here The Novotech ASCO expert webinar panel in partnership with Endpoints is titled How to accelerate development in novel & advanced oncology therapies from the starting line. Confirmed panelist include: Dr. Vishal Navani, Consultant Medical Oncologist Tom Baker Cancer Centre, University of Calgary Consultant Medical Oncologist Tom Baker Cancer Centre, University of Calgary Michele Gerber, CMO, Myeloid Therapeutics CMO, Myeloid Therapeutics Kedan Lin, Senior Vice President, Harbour Biomed Senior Vice President, Harbour Biomed Prof Jayesh Desai, Medical Oncologist/Clinical Research Head, Early Drug Development, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Medical Oncologist/Clinical Research Head, Early Drug Development, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Dr. Patricia Mucci LoRusso, Director Early Phase Clinical Trials Program, Associate Center Director Experimental Therapeutics, Yale Cancer Center/Yale University Some of the questions covered include: What ways we are seeing technologies such as CAR-T, ADCs, Immunotherapies, and mRNAs advance and innovate oncology development? How can we set up trials with the end game in mind? In what ways is Bayesian Data playing a role in early phase clinical trial design moving forward? What are the key considerations to accelerate oncology clinical development timelines to support a global program strategy? Register here Date: June 5 Time: 1.30-2.25 pm EST (Virtual Event) Novotech, a biotech CRO with global footprint and more than 25 years of clinical trial and drug development consulting experience was this month selected for the prestigious CRO Leadership Award 2023 for exceeded biotech customer expectations. Novotech offers biotechs a unique and unparalleled suite of early to late-phase CRO services across the US and Europe, with a foundation in Asia Pacific where the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality expedited clinical trials. The company has been selected for the CRO Leadership Award 2023, benchmarked as a top 10 CRO among the worlds leading CROs, is the recipient of the Asia Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence award and the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award, and has signed 45 Leading Site Partnership agreements over the last 3 years. About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com Novotech is the leading Asia Pacific centred biotech CRO with global execution capabilities. Novotech is a clinical CRO with labs, phase I facilities, drug development consulting services and FDA regulatory expertise and has experience in over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. Novotech is positioned to serve biotech clients conducting clinical trials in Asia Pacific, the US and Europe. Novotech has over 3,000 staff globally and 34 office locations across the US, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information visit https://novotech-cro.com/contact CALGARY, Alberta, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eguana Technologies Inc. (Eguana or the Company) (TSX.V: EGT) (OTCQB: EGTYF) will post its financial results for its first quarter, ended March 31, 2023, on Tuesday May 30th. Eguana management will also host a conference call on Tuesday May 30th, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. eastern time (EDT) to discuss the results, provide a business update, and hold a question and answer period. Registration in advance is required. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS Date: May 30, 2023 Time: 5:30 PM EDT Telephone Access: Canada/USA Toll Free: 1-800-319-4610 International Toll: +1-604-638-5340 To ensure the conference begins in a timely manner please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start time to register. Webcast: https://services.choruscall.ca/links/eguanatechnology2022q4.html About Eguana Technologies Inc. Based in Calgary, Alberta Canada, Eguana Technologies (EGT: TSX.V) (OTCQB: EGTYF) designs and manufactures high performance residential and commercial energy storage systems. The Company also markets and sells a suite of micro inverter products which are integrated with its energy storage platform providing consumers with full solar + storage system architecture for residential and commercial applications. Eguana has two decades of experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications, and delivers proven, durable, high-quality solutions from its high-capacity manufacturing facilities, in Europe, North America and Australia. With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is one of the leading suppliers of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications at the grid edge. To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech Company Inquiries Justin Holland CEO, Eguana Technologies Inc. +1.416.728.7635 Justin.Holland@EguanaTech.com Forward Looking Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, the "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, and is subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the Company's control. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, information with respect to: the Debentures and the Conversion and the expected effects thereof; TSXV approval of the Debt Settlement and the Outstanding Debentures. Agreements and issuance of the Accrued Interest Shares to the Electing Holders. The words "may", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect, intend", "plan", "target" and similar words and expressions are used to identify forward-looking information. The results or events anticipated or predicted in such forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events. Material factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from such forward- looking information include, among others: the value of the total Debentures outstanding on the Conversion Date; the number of Common Shares issued by the Company as a result of the Conversion; the amount of interest payments that would have been payable if the outstanding Debentures were held until maturity; the TSXV may not approve the Debt Settlement Agreements and issuance of the Accrued Interest Shares to the Electing Holders; the Company may not force the conversion of the Outstanding Debentures into Common Shares and the uncertainty surrounding the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it will have on the Companys operations and economic activity in general, and the risks and uncertainties discussed in our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, which risks and uncertainties are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward looking information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. TORONTO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Continuing to showcase its commitment to electrification through its Plan S strategy, Kia Canada has unveiled its second Electric Vehicle Inspiration Centre (EVIC) in the country. Designed to inspire and educate the public on Kias electrified vehicles, the Electric Vehicle Inspiration Centres are a place to educate and engage the public on making the switch to an electric vehicle with the help of specialized EV advisors, and test drive vehicles. The brands first EVIC opened its doors to the public in Vancouver in 2021. This newest facility, owned by La Force Kia Group in Quebec City hosted local media and dignitaries to mark its official grand opening last evening. Kia understands the importance of educating the public when it comes to electric vehicles, says Elias El-Achhab, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kia Canada. These centres are designed to be a place where the public can test our different types of electric vehicles, while learning about charging infrastructure, government incentives and the savings associated with EV ownership. It truly is a place where the public can learn about the EV lifestyle in a relaxed environment. Inspiring Canadians to go electric The Quebec EVIC is a collaboration between Kia Canada and La Force Kia Group, a dealer group which includes Kia Quebec, Kia Ste-Foy and Kia Val-Belair dealerships. At both locations (BC or Quebec), visitors can book an interactive tour and will be guided through the facilities by an eVisor - an experienced EV educator. Guests will learn about: The benefits of electric vehicles The different types of electric vehicles An orientation on EV chargers and the charging speed offered by each level How to navigate public charging networks The history and future of mobility technology Associated savings of owning an EV, including available government incentives The tours conclude with an opportunity to test drive a Kia EV. The future is electric Currently the brand offers five electrified models including the EV6, Niro EV/PHEV, Soul EV as well as the Sportage and Sorento PHEV. The EV9, Kias all-new fully electric three-row SUV is expected to be available later this year. Kia Canada is introducing seven all-new plug-in hybrid or dedicated electric models by 2025, and with greater choice comes greater opportunity for learning, continues El-Achhab. Kia is committed to an electric future and that includes inspiring consumers to make the shift. Book an EV tour Quebecs brand-new Electric Inspiration Centre is located at 1540 Rue Cyrille-Duquet, Quebec, QC G1N 2E5. Visitors are welcomed at the centre Monday through to Saturday. More information can be found here. Vancouvers Electric Inspiration Centre is located at 1778 W 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 4T3 and tours with eVisors are available seven days a week. More information can be found here. About Kia Canada Kia Canada Inc., founded in 1999, is a subsidiary of Kia Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. The company employs 190 people at its headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, as well as in locations across Canada and at its regional office in Montreal, Quebec. Kia offers award winning products that are dynamic, stylish and innovative and services that are meaningful and convenient through a network of 198 dealers across the country. The company's brand slogan Movement that inspires reflects Kias desire to create the space for you to get inspired and more time to bring your ideas to life. To learn more, visit kia.ca or Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. For media inquiries only, please contact media@kia.ca. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f7ac73b-b9b7-4395-99da-3c69515b8a13 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a05d0e40-6d3e-4e2e-9cdc-24d7b0a6cf06 Lower Southampton Township, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lower Southampton Township, Pennsylvania - Home Cash Guys is providing property owners in the greater Philadelphia area with fast all-cash offers on all types of real estate. Ideal for Philadelphia homeowners who need to sell off a property quickly, Home Cash Guys has streamlined the home-buying process to reduce all possible sources of friction. The result is a property appraisal and transfer process that takes a fraction of the time compared to selling through conventional means and is completely hassle-free, with the real estate experts at the Philadelphia cash home buying company taking care of all the heavy lifting. Just head over to our website to get an instant cash offer on your home in 90 seconds, says Greg Yuter, the owner of Cash Home Guys. With information such as your property address, its details, and current condition, our proprietary algorithm will determine a cash offer based on comparable recent sales in your neighborhood, adjusted for repair and remodeling costs. If the offer sounds good, we start with the paperwork and can close the deal in as little as 2 weeks. So, if you are searching online for How do I sell my home fast Philadelphia?, give us a call, and rest assured that you will get a fair cash offer for your home as soon as possible. Greg buys properties regardless of their condition. The final cash offer will be impacted as properties in good condition will receive a larger offer, however, it takes the burden of making those repairs and improvements off the homeowners plate. Moreover, as there is no need to work with an agent, homeowners can also save money on listing fees, commissions, and closing costs. The Philadelphia homebuyer makes offers on everything from single-family homes to commercial buildings, apartment complexes, condos, and townhomes in the greater Philadelphia area, including Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks, Northampton, Lehigh, and Berks counties. With over 20+ years of experience in real estate, Greg Yuter and his team have received several 5-star testimonials from clients, netting it an impressive overall rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 from over 40 reviews on its Google Business Profile. A recent Google review says, I want to thank everyone at Home Cash Guys and especially Greg, Tyler, and Mae for all their help with selling my parents home. Wasnt sure how we were gonna be able to do it with my mom not living in the same state as the house she was selling, but you all made it so easy for us by communicating through emails and text messages to help us navigate the sale process. Cant thank Mae enough for always keeping us updated on everything and making sure we were always aware of where things stood with the sale. I would highly recommend anyone wanting to sell their home give Home Cash Guys a call. Another Philadelphia homeowner says, I was very nervous to try selling a home this way. Home Cash Guys answered all of my questions and helped me along the way. The whole team is very responsive to e-mails and calls and the entire process was completed a month earlier than expected. Thank You Home Cash Guys. Greg talks about why his clients in Philadelphia prefer the companys services by saying, Time waits around for no one. Many of our clients need an urgent cash infusion to put toward other life goals. Some might be moving on to greener pastures, may have come into possession of a property through inheritance, or might want to get their home sold off because of problematic tenants. Whatever your reason, if time is of the essence, there is no faster and simpler option to make good on your property investment than a cash home-buying company, and, in Philadelphia, Home Cash Guys is your ideal partner for just that. Homeowners searching online for Sell My House Philadelphia can contact Home Cash Guys at (215) 515-0064 to get started with a free and fast no-obligation offer. ### For more information about Home Cash Guys, contact the company here: Home Cash Guys Greg Yuter (215) 515-0064 greg@homecashguys.com Home Cash Guys 148 E. Street Rd Suite170 Feasterville, PA 19053 TORONTO, May 24, 2023 - Jourdan Resources Inc. (TSXV: JOR; FRA: 2JR1) ("Jourdan" or the "Company") announces today that the it has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") to extend the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing of units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.07 per Unit (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to $3 million to June 18, 2023. The Company closed a first tranche of the Offering on April 21, 2023 (the "First Tranche") and anticipates that the second and final tranche closing will occur on or before June 1, 2023. For more information on the Offering and the First Tranche, please see the Company's press releases dated March 17, 2023, and April 21, 2023, respectively. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a best efforts non-brokered private placement financing of up to 12,500,000 common shares of the Company (each, a "Flow-Through Share") issued on a "flow-through basis" at a price of $0.08 per Flow-Through Share for proceeds of up to $1,000,000 (the "FT Offering"). Closing of the FT Offering is expected to occur on or about June 15, 2023. All securities issued in connection with the FT Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four-months and one day. Completion of the FT Offering is subject to a number of conditions, including without limitation, receipt of TSXV approval. Finder's fees may be paid to eligible finders in accordance with the policies of the TSXV consisting of a cash commission equal to up to 8% of the proceeds raised under the FT Offering and finder warrants ("Finder Warrants") in an amount equal to up to 8% of the number of Flow-Through Shares sold pursuant to the FT Offering. Each Finder Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.10 per share for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the FT Offering. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the FT Offering to fund exploration expenses on its Baillarge lithium mining property. About Jourdan Resources Inc. Jourdan is a Canadian junior mining exploration company trading under the symbol "JOR" on the TSX Venture Exchange and "2JR1" on the Stuttgart Stock Exchange. The Company is focused on the acquisition, exploration, production, and development of mining properties. The Company's properties are in Quebec, Canada, primarily in the spodumene-bearing pegmatites of the La Corne Batholith, around North American Lithium's Quebec lithium mine. For more information: Rene Bharti, Chief Executive Officer and President Email: info@jourdaninc.com Phone: (416) 861-5800 www.jourdaninc.com 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 with respect to the Offering, including the timing of closing the final tranche, and the FT Offering, including the Company's intended use of proceeds, closing conditions and timing and other matters relating thereto. 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 Jourdan to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information, including but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other risks of the mining industry. Although Jourdan 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. Jourdan does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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. 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. TORONTO, May 25, 2023 - Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the "Company" or "Torex") (TSX: TXG) today released its 2022 Responsible Gold Mining Report (the "Report"), the Company's eighth annual disclosure of its Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") performance. The Report can be found on the Company's website at www.torexgold.com. Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex, stated: "I am very proud of our 2022 Report, which shines a spotlight on the heart and soul of our Company and how we authentically live our organizational purpose - to transform finite mineral resources into lasting prosperity by positively impacting all the lives we touch. While the quantitative metrics showcase our positive performance, it is the many stories within the pages that demonstrate how our purpose statement truly comes to life as we continue to minimize our environmental footprint, build productive relationships based on trust and partnership, create prosperity through well-paying jobs and local procurement, and foster lasting economic impact through sustainable community development. "One of the key strategic pillars of our Company is to build on ESG excellence. As we create our future with the Media Luna Project and look to grow and diversify in other jurisdictions, we will continue to demonstrate what responsible mining looks like and broaden the positive impact we have on all those who share stakes in Torex." Jennifer Hooper, Chair of the Safety and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the Torex Board of Directors, stated: "At Torex, operating responsibly has always been at the core of who we are as a Company. We recognize that responsible and sustainable mining starts with the Board of Directors, and we continue to incorporate evolving best practices to sustain and build on our reputation as an industry leader when it comes to ESG, and to provide confidence to our shareholders on our ability to deliver on financial and operational commitments with the highest level of ethics, rigour, and social harmony." 2022 RESPONSIBLE GOLD MINING REPORT HIGHLIGHTS Industry-leading safety performance, achieving 10 million hours worked without a lost-time injury for the second time since 2020, and ending 2022 with a lost-time injury frequency of 0.28 per million hours worked for our employees and contractors; Zero reportable environmental incidents; Released inaugural Climate Change Report aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), including a credible pathway to achieve 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets; Almost 60% water usage recycled; 44% reduction in cyanide consumption from 2021; Continued implementation of our Community Development Agreements (CODECOPs) in partnership with 11 host communities, with $4.6M directly invested in community development and infrastructure projects; 99% employees from Mexico with ~60% from Guerrero State; 92% of procurement spend in Mexico; approximately $107 million in procurement within Guerrero State; Completed Year 2 implementation of the requirements of the World Gold Council Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs), including a public RGMPs Progress Report that was independently assured; Made substantial progress on compliance with the International Cyanide Management Code and formally approved adoption of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management; Received the ESR 2023 Distinction from the Mexican Center for Philanthropy and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico for the fifth consecutive year, for our public and voluntary commitment to implement socially responsible management at our operations in Mexico; Recognized by major Canadian and international media for our ESG performance, including receipt of the 2022 Mining Magazine Safety Award for community relations, and selection as an honouree on The Globe and Mail's "Women Lead Here" list in recognition of the high proportion of women on our Executive Team. The Company's 2022 Responsible Gold Mining Report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Metals and Mining Sustainability Accounting Standard. It also includes energy and climate-related data aligned with the Phase 1 recommendations of the TCFD. Aspects of our supply chain disclosures have also been aligned with the Local Procurement Reporting Mechanism (LPRM) of the Mining Shared Value Initiative of Engineers Without Borders Canada. ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City. The Company's principal asset is the Morelos Complex, which includes the El Limon Guajes ("ELG") Mine Complex, the Media Luna Project, a processing plant, and related infrastructure. Commercial production from the Morelos Complex commenced on April 1, 2016 and an updated Technical Report for the Morelos Complex was released in March 2022. Torex's key strategic objectives are to optimize and extend production from the ELG Mine Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Torex Gold Resources Inc. Jody Kuzenko Dan Rollins President and CEO Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Direct: (647) 725-9982 Direct: (647) 260-1503 jody.kuzenko@torexgold.com dan.rollins@torexgold.com CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the purpose statement to transform finite mineral resources into lasting prosperity by positively impacting all the lives the Company touches; the Company continues to incorporate evolving best practices to sustain and build on its reputation as an industry leader when it comes to ESG, and to provide confidence to its shareholders on the Company's ability to deliver on financial and operational commitments with the highest level of ethics, rigour, and social harmony; and the key strategic objectives to extend and optimize production from the ELG Mining Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "strategy" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", or "is expected to" occur. 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, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: skarn deposits, ability to obtain the timely supply of services, equipment and materials for the operation of the ELG Mine Complex and the design, development and construction of the Media Luna Project; the regulatory process and actions; ability to finance the Media Luna Project on reasonable terms, and those risk factors identified in the technical report ("Technical Report") titled ELG Mine Complex Life of Mine Plan and Media Luna Feasibility Study, with an effective date of March 16, 2022, and a filing date of March 31, 2022 and in the Company's annual information form and management's discussion and analysis or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. 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 information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Rock Tech Enters into an Option Agreement for a 100% Acquisition of the "Boston Lake Claims" in the Thunder Bay Mining District, Ontario Claims will Expand Rock Tech's Footprint in the District, as well as Provide Additional Exploration Potential CIBC Capital Markets ("CIBC") Mandated to Assist in Selection of a Strategic Partner to Jointly Advance the Georgia Lake Project VANCOUVER, May 25, 2023 - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire a 100% undivided interest in a total of 6,150 hectares in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario (the "Boston Lake Claims"). Adding to the Company's Georgia Lake Project, these claims will expand Rock Tech's footprint in the District, as well as provide additional lithium exploration potential in a region that is already historically well-studied. Robert MacDonald, General Manager at Rock Tech's mining entity, noted: "As leaders in lithium exploration in the Thunder Bay Area, Rock Tech is keen to add to its land position with perspective properties. The Georgia Lake Project contains over 50% of the published Mineral Resources in the Thunder Bay District and the Boston Lake mining claims offer an exciting opportunity to expand our exploration footprint." Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Rock Tech has made an initial deposit and will make additional annual cash payments totaling CAD 175,000 until the third anniversary of this agreement. Concurrent with the cash payments, the Company will additionally issue in total CAD 175,000 in shares. This Agreement and the Georgia Lake Project which has successfully completed Pre-Feasibility stage1 demonstrate Rock Tech's continued ambition and growth path in its home market. Additionally, the Company is excited to announce the appointment of CIBC as Strategic Advisor. CIBC, a longstanding participant in the mining industry, will assist in the selection of a strategic partner to jointly advance the 100%-owned Georgia Lake Project. "We are delighted to have partnered with CIBC and their strong, globally networked Capital Markets team. CIBC will work closely with Rock Tech to ensure we find the strongest strategic partnership to develop our Georgia Lake asset. With the PFS successfully completed, and the latest exploration drilling programs progressing, the project is now significantly de-risked and represents a unique opportunity to invest in a high-quality hard rock lithium project in Canada," Sonja Rossteuscher, Rock Tech's Chief Financial Officer, stated. _____________________________________ 1 Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS); ref. press release "Rock Tech Lithium completes Pre-Feasibility Study for its Georgia Lake Project", issued November 15, 2022 On behalf of the Board of Directors,? Dirk Harbecke Chairman?& CEO ABOUT ROCK TECH Rock Tech is a cleantech company with operations in Canada and Germany on a mission to produce lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries. The Company plans to build lithium converters at the door-step of its customers, to guarantee supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery, beginning with the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide merchant converter and refinery facility in Guben, Germany. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its wholly-owned Georgia Lake spodumene project located in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada, as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw material from discarded batteries. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system. www.rocktechlithium.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.? CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, forward-looking statements contained in this news release include: estimations or predictions about the Mineral Resource or Reserve therein; the further potential of the Boston Lake Claims; and the Company's future plans and expectations as described in the section "About Rock Tech". Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The material factors or assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements include: the Exploration Expenditures, the existence of certain spodumene pegmatites, the possible type of mining and concentration of lithium; the distance required for transportation of concentrate; the Company's ability to procure equipment necessary for its business; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; and that financing will be available to the Company on commercial terms. There may also be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis and annual information form filed with the applicable securities regulators. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. ATTACHMENT Map 1 | Rock Tech's Georgia Lake Project and the Boston Lake Claims in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rock-tech-options-additional-property-in-thunder-bay-mining-district-and-appoints-strategic-advisor-for-georgia-lake-project-301834535.html SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE USA/ KAMLOOPS, May 25, 2023 - Progressive Planet (TSXV: PLAN) (OTCQB: ASHXF) ("Progressive Planet", "PLAN", or the "Company"), a leader in developing CleanTech solutions for the planet, advances its strategy to become a global supplier of natural fertilizers, with a confirmed reorder from a major North American manufacturer of fertilizer. On February 27, 2023, Progressive Planet announced it had received an initial 40-tonne order of its volcanic-derived fertilizer ingredient, swelling bentonite, used in popular sulphur bentonite fertilizers. This additional 96-tonne order continues to expand Progressive Planet's entry into the $60-Billion USD North American fertilizer and agrochemicals market. "Based on our historic customer-retention record, we were highly confident the initial fertilizer order would be the first of many," said Progressive Planet COO Ian Grant. "Because the fertilizer ingredient is a mineral by-product from our established operations, each additional sale is important not only for building our fertilizer business, but also to boost margins of some of our branded products." "These branded products are an important piece of our growth strategy as they provide ready market access to many of the largest retail chains across North America for launching new, proprietary fertilizer products," added Grant. The dry-form fertilizer segment of the North America fertilizer market is expected to surpass $24-Billion USD in revenue by 2028, owing to the potential for easy storage and slow-release rate, which helps in efficiently feeding the crops for a longer time. Progressive Planet is aggressively developing and commercially introducing new, proprietary fertilizers into this market over the next 12 months. Progressive Planet provides regular information for investors on its website: progressiveplanet.com/investors/. This includes press releases and other information about financial performance, patents filed, and information on corporate governance. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Progressive Planet: We are a CleanTech and manufacturing company based in Kamloops, British Columbia, in the heart of some of Canada's richest volcanic fields, which are the prime ingredient of our innovations. Our expertise lies in merging CleanTech with ancient volcanic ash and recycled minerals to create planet-friendly products that fight climate change and protect our planet's health. Our products are in 10,000+ retail stores across North America. Our innovations, created at our C-Quester Centre of Sustainable Innovation, bring positive disruption to the cement, agricultural and animal-care sectors by creating products that help reduce carbon footprints and restore ecosystems. Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the matters described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance, or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including factors beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Disclaimer: This news release, required by Canadian laws, does not constitute an offer of securities and is not for distribution or dissemination outside Canada. SOURCE Progressive Planet Solutions VANCOUVER, May 25, 2023 - Stuhini Exploration Ltd. (the "Company" or "Stuhini") (TSXV: STU) (OTCPK: STXPF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase agreement with G. Mark Lindsay (the "Purchase Agreement") for the acquisition of strategic information and access to a proprietary database regarding mineral prospects in Arizona and Manitoba ("Strategic Information"). The Strategic Information led to the Company's identification of four (4) mineral claims which it recently acquired in Arizona, USA (the "Arizona Claims"). As a result, in recognition of the Strategic Information's utility, the Company has agreed to compensate Mr. Lindsay. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Mr. Lindsay received an immediate cash payment of $35,000 on signing and will receive additional cash payments on an annual basis in respect of each Arizona Claim on the anniversary of the signing date (provided the Company has not abandoned such claims prior thereto) until May 25, 2027. The Company has also granted to Mr. Lindsay a 1% net smelter returns royalty in respect of all ores and concentrates produced from the Arizona Claims upon achieving commercial production (the "NSR Royalty"), with an option to repurchase at any time one-half of the NSR Royalty on any of the 4 Arizona Claims (reducing the NSR Royalty to 0.5% on such Arizona Claim) for consideration of $1,000,000 per Arizona Claim NSR repurchased. In addition to the Arizona Claims, the Strategic Information from G. Mark Lindsay also led to the Company identifying one (1) mineral claim which it acquired by staking in Manitoba referred to as the South Thompson Nickel Project (see news release dated May 21, 2021). As a result, in recognition of the utility of the Strategic Information, the Company has agreed to compensate Mr. Lindsay by granting him a 1% net smelter royalty in respect of all concentrates and ores produced from the South Thompson Nickel Project, (the "Manitoba NSR Royalty"), with an option to repurchase at any time one-half of the Manitoba NSR Royalty (reducing the Manitoba NSR Royalty to 0.5% on the South Thompson Nickel Project) for a consideration of $50,000. There are no cash payments or work commitments associated with the acquisition of the South Thompson Nickel Project. These transactions are in the ordinary course of business for the Company and management does not consider it to be a material change for the Company. About Stuhini Exploration Ltd. Stuhini is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and development of precious and base metals properties in western Canada and southwestern USA. The Company's portfolio of exploration properties includes: its flagship, the Ruby Creek Property located approximately 20 km east of Atlin, British Columbia; the Que Project located approximately 70 km north of Johnson's Crossing in the Yukon; the South Thompson Nickel Project located approximately 35 km northwest of Grand Rapids, Manitoba; the Big Ledge Property located approximately 57 km south of Revelstoke, British Columbia; and its portfolio of 4 properties in southeast Arizona. 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. Web: www.stuhini.com SOURCE Stuhini Exploration Ltd. Vancouver, May 25, 2023 - Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: PBM) ("Pacific Bay" or, the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated March 28, 2023, it has issued 4,000,000 common shares of the Company ("Shares") at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share to settle $200,000 of previously outstanding indebtedness owed to the estate of former Pacific Bay director Guilford Brett (the "Estate"). The Shares are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day after the date of issuance. As a further update to the March 28, 2023 press release, the Company understands that the Estate and Mr. David Brett, Chairman of the Company (collectively, the "Creditors"), have identified a purchaser for approximately $60,000 of the remaining Company debt owing to the Creditors. Pacific Bay anticipates making further announcements regarding the transfer of the debt and the related debt forgiveness by the Creditors in due course. The debt reorganization transactions are designed to improve the financial condition of the Company. The Company has insufficient cash on hand, and no immediate source of cash that would be sufficient to satisfy the debts described above. No new "Control Person" (as defined under the applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) will be created pursuant to the foregoing transactions. The board of directors of the Company considers the terms of the transactions to be fair and reasonable to the Company having regard to its current circumstances. About Pacific Bay Minerals Limited Pacific Bay Minerals is a Canadian mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mining projects. Pacific Bay Minerals is focused on advancing its flagship project, Atlin Goldfields, located in Atlin, British Columbia, with a 56,569-hectare package of mineral tenures. The company also holds 100% interest in three mineral properties located in British Columbia: Wheaton Creek Gold, Haskins Reed, and Weaver Gold. Pacific Bay aspires to see its environmentally responsible exploration and development activities bring meaningful benefits to the communities in which it operates. Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. Per/ Reagan Glazier, President and CEO reagan@pacificbayminerals.com (604) 682-2421 pacificbayminerals.com / Twitter / LinkedIn This news release contains "forwardlooking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forwardlooking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the timing for and expected completion of the debt consolidation transactions, statements regarding the financial condition of the Company, spending commitments, and regulatory approvals (including approvals of the TSXV). Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Pacific Bay will operate in the future. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forwardlooking statements include, amongst others, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition, results of exploration activities and development of the Company's properties, and risks relating to regulatory approvals. Although Pacific Bay has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forwardlooking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements. Pacific Bay does not undertake to update any forwardlooking statements, except in accordance with 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. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167417 Vancouver, May 25, 2023 - Cariboo Rose Resources Ltd. ("Cariboo Rose") (TSXV:CRB) (OTC:CROOF) has been advised by optionee BRS Resources Ltd., a private company who are earning an interest in the Cowtrail project that a crew and equipment have been mobilized to the property in preparation for diamond drilling in early June 2023. The 4592 hectares (46 sq Km) Cowtrail project is 100% owned by Cariboo Rose Resources and located in southcentral BC, south of the existing Mt. Polley mine and contiguous with the Woodjam copper-gold porphyry project owned by Vizsla Copper Corp and the Redgold Copper project to the west also recently acquired by Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSX.V: VCU) (OTCQB: VCUFF) (FRA: 97E) The Cowtrail property covers a magnetic feature that extends to the northwest from a buried alkalic intrusive discovered by Eastfield Resources and Imperial Metals Corporation in 1998. The magnetic signature is comparable in several ways to that of the Mt. Polly mine (15 km northwest). Reconnaissance drill testing of extensive induced polarization anomalies (vintage 1997, 2004 and 2006) define a vector of mineralization trending to the west beyond the area drilled. Significant drill intercepts include 1.16 g/t gold over 18.3m and 0.17% copper and 0.11 g/t gold over 40.0m. A soil grid at Cowtrail was expanded in 2021 and 2022. Of note is a 600 metre long northwest trending gold-arsenic in soil anomaly that covers an area of the BM Showing. The project was optioned to BRS Resources Ltd in November 2022 who may earn a 60% interest over a four-year term by making payments totalling $400,000 and completing $2,000,000 in exploration. The project is fully permitted. J.W. (Bill) Morton P. Geo, within the context of the requirements of NI-43-101, is the qualified person who takes responsibility for this news release. Bill Morton J.W. (Bill) Morton, P.Geo. President Cariboo Rose Resources Ltd. Click Image To View Full Size ontact: Phone: (604) 681-7913, Toll Free: 888-656-6611; email: info@eastfieldgroup.com Click Image To View Full Size About Cariboo Rose Resources Limited Cariboo Rose owns seven mineral projects in British Columbia. A summary of these projects is as follows: Carruthers Pass, 100% owned subject to an option with Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSX-V:VSU) (a spinout from Vizsla Silver completed Oct 1, 2021) who may earn a 60% interest by making payments of $650,000 and completing $3,000,000 in exploration, sediment hosted massive sulfide discovered by Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold in 1997, a 100% interest was acquired by Cariboo Rose from FMC in 2011, located in northern BC south of the Kemess copper-gold mine, most significant to the project is a mineralized slab of rock weighing several hundred tonnes protruding from talus with a drill intercept through it of 3.1 meters grading 6.2% copper, 5.8% zinc, 2.37 g/t gold and 192.0 g/t silver, numerous untested geochemical and geophysical targets. Lightning Strike, 100% owned, located 50 kilometers northeast of the community of 100 mile House, BC. Same rock suite and style of mineralization as exists at Spanish Mountain Gold located 90 kilometers to the northwest, and F G Gold 30 kilometers to the north. Drilling completed in 2008, 9 &10 included intercepts of 4.54 g/t Au and 60.2 g/t Ag over 3.8 meters, 19.9 g/t Au over 1.5 meters and 1.03 g/t Au over 26 meters. Deposit example types include the giant Murantau and Sukoy Log deposits in Russia. Cariboo Rose recently completed 11 reverse circulation drill holes at lightning Strike which are currently being analyzed (see news dated Sept 24, 2021). Lightning Strike is fully permitted. Coquigold, 100% owned, epithermal gold (quartz-adularia) located in southern BC 10 kilometers north of Shovelnose Mountain (Westhaven Gold Corp.-Shovelnose discovery), central to Coquigold is an area where in 2008 the BC Geological Survey identified and sampled quartz sinter and several areas of silicified (chalcedonic) volcanic and intrusive breccia, bedrock sampling in 2019 by Cariboo Rose confirmed an epithermal mineralizing event with bedrock samples returning up to 43.1 grams per tonne silver, 559 ppm arsenic, 13,400 ppb mercury and 101ppm antimony, trenching is planned for 2021. Cowtrail, 100% owned, located in southcentral BC, contiguous with the Woodjam copper-gold porphyry project owned by Vizsla Copper Corp. Reconnaissance drill testing of extensive induced polarization anomalies (vintage 1997, 2004 and 2006) define a vector of mineralization trending to the west beyond the area drilled, significant drill intercepts include 1.16 g/t gold over 18.3m and 0.17% copper and 0.11 g/t gold over 40.0m, an untested soil gold arsenic anomaly with coincident strong IP is located a further 2km to the west. Results for 900 soil samples collected earlier in 2021 have now been received. Cowtrail is fully permitted. Koster Dam, 55% owned (Ameriwest Lithium Inc. 45%), located in southern BC 10 kilometers north of the former producing Blackdome gold mine, volcanic hosted gold target related to the Fraser River Fault system, recent programs have located areas of >1 gram/t gold in rubble and chalcedonic quartz in outcrop. A Triaxial magnetic survey and a liDar Survey were completed in June of this year with data currently being interpreted. Koster Dam is fully permitted. Pat, 100% owned, staked by Cariboo Rose in 2004, located in southcentral BC contiguous with the Woodjam copper-gold porphyry project owned by Consolidated Woodjam Copper, very strong unexplained magnetic airborne anomaly in prospective Nicola Group volcanic rocks. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Aston Martin will be the only recipient of works Honda engines in 2026, Japanese official Koji Watanabe insists. Team owner Lawrence Stroll was on hand in Tokyo for Wednesday's big announcement, but Honda president Toshihiro Sanbe denied that the F1 deal is a precursor to joint Honda-Aston Martin road car projects. "This announcement is limited to racing, so we are not talking about mass production at this time," he said. "I'm not saying it will not be possible in the future, but first of all we would like to focus on Formula 1 and get good results." It was also made clear that Aston Martin will be Honda's sole 'factory team' - with no plans yet to supply customer F1 outfits. "Aston Martin will be the only factory team, so it will be one team," said Honda Racing Corporation boss Koji Watanabe. "I'm not saying there will be no customer supply at all, but there are no plans at this point." (GMM) Charles Leclerc says he is not accustomed to the kind of rumours that are currently swirling around his future in Formula 1. International reports this week suggested Ferrari president John Elkann has been in touch with Mercedes' seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton about a big-money deal. Earlier, Leclerc had to deny that he has also had talks - with Mercedes' Toto Wolff. Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone doesn't believe any of it. "I would be surprised that Ferrari would want to get rid of Leclerc to sign Lewis because they are very much in love with Leclerc," he told Press Association. The question is whether 25-year-old Leclerc is still 'in love' with Ferrari amid the fabled Maranello team's performance and personnel problems. "I won't comment on the recent speculations but it's true that it's something new in my career," Leclerc told Monaco-Matin newspaper. "I arrived in F1 to Alfa Romeo without rumours and then to everyone's surprise I was announced by Ferrari," he added. "Since then there has never been any doubt because I have a long-term contract with the team." Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, however, said recently that the Leclerc deal would have a break clause. "I love Ferrari, I've always dreamed of racing for this team and these rumours don't affect me," Leclerc insisted. But as rumours of Hamilton's talks with Elkann swirl, Leclerc denied that he too may be in discussions with Ferrari's top management about his own contract. "I haven't set myself a deadline to manage it," he said. "We'll see when the time comes but the discussions haven't started yet and I think you have to ask Fred (Vasseur) this question." As for the rumours surrounding 38-year-old Hamilton, Ecclestone once again dismissed the topic by insisting that Ferrari is "not a retirement home". The Italian media also agrees, with Corriere della Sera correspondent Daniele Sparisci insisting: "Ferrari needs engineers and ideas, not Hamilton." Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese, meanwhile, told Quotidiano Sportivo: "If I was Ferrari, I wouldn't take him. "Ferrari doesn't need a top driver, they need a top car," he insisted, explaining that a driver's influence is much more limited today than in the past. "Not everyone understands this," said the Italian. "A driver no longer has much influence on the development of the car, or the power to change the minds of the engineers as was the case with Prost, Schumacher and Senna." (GMM) Red Bull may not be the hot favourite as usual this weekend in Monaco, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez have won every single grand prix so far in 2023 with the dominant Red Bull. But the team's Marko warned: "We will not be able to use our advantages in Monaco. "Tyre wear will not be a decisive factor," he told motorsport-magazin.com, "and there are virtually no straights where we can demonstrate our advantage in speed." Marko, 80, thinks Ferrari could be the favourite due to the team's qualifying pace and speed in slower corners. Highly respected Spanish broadcaster Antonio Lobato agrees with that. "Monaco is the only place where different things can happen because the man matters more than the machine," he told Radio Marca. "It is a special race that can defy logic. Aston Martin could win or Ferrari or Mercedes could win - or at least they have more chance than elsewhere. "Qualifying will be very important," Lobato added. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was on pole in his native Monaco for the past two years. "If there is a small glimmer of hope, Leclerc can put his car ahead of everyone in qualifying," F1 legend Riccardo Patrese told Quoditiano Sportiva. "He's a phenomenon on a flying lap and he's from Monte Carlo - he knows every inch of the asphalt. If he starts ahead, he can keep them all behind him on Sunday." (GMM) BoG commissions centre to fight cyber attacks Emmanuel Bruce Business News May - 25 - 2023 , 12:05 The Bank of Ghana has commissioned a Financial Industry Command Security Operations Centre (FICSOC) to help in the fight against cyber security threats and attacks in the country. The centre is established as a threat intelligence sharing platform to coordinate cybersecurity efforts within the banking and financial industry. It is aimed at supporting financial sector players to build cybersecurity resilience against threats. The centre which was fully funded by the central bank is part of the requirements in the Cyber and Information Security Directive (2018) which was issued to support banking and financial industry players to implement critical information security controls. It is structured in phases and would serve as a long term financial sector Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team, working closely with the Cyber Security Authority. In collaboration with the Ghana Association of Bankers, all the 23 commercial banks in the country have been connected to the FICSOC platform. Real time visibility Speaking at the commissioning of the centre, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, said the project would help provide real-time visibility into cyber threats and attacks targeting the banking sector. He said the BoG and the Cyber Security Authority were collaborating to improve the cybersecurity posture in the banking sector. In particular, he said the two institutions were discussing various ways to approach implementation of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) for the sector. Dr Addison noted that three years ago, the central bank started working with the commercial banks as key external stakeholders to create a secure cybersecurity environment in the financial sector, the results of which had now materialised. In October 2018, the Bank of Ghana issued the Cyber and Information Security Directive (CISD) for banks and other Bank of Ghana-regulated financial institutions with expectation that all regulated financial institutions would implement the required Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) controls to ensure the delivery of a safer digital financial Industry. The implementation of the Directive was phased over 36 months, and through effective monitoring and supervision among regulated banks, he stated. He said as these institutions worked towards full implementation of the directive, it became evident that the BoG had to establish an industry Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system to enable those institutions implementing SIEMs to send logs/alerts, aggregate information and reports. To achieve this, he said the central bank initiated FICSOC which is now completed and operational with reports/alerts in the form of threat intelligence provided to the banks to improve their incident response mechanisms. Support BoGs efforts In his keynote address, Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, said the government was committed in supporting BoGs efforts in strengthening the cybersecurity landscape for the banking and financial services industry. He said the central bank had over the years invested heavily to ensure that the digital financial industry remained safe and the commissioning of the FICSOC marked another milestone to firm up information security controls in reducing the impact of cyber threats on financial institutions. This will become one of the top national security facilities in the country and contribute to improving cybersecurity issues among financial sector institutions and beyond. Use of technology The Vice President noted that the use of digital technologies continues to transform business models of financial institutions with new revenue and value producing opportunities. He said while these digital technologies support banking services and enable banking strategies, the underlining security vulnerabilities pose key cyber risks among these institutions. He added that these risks may impair operational capabilities and threaten the viability of financial institutions. Likewise, the contagion of cyber risks in the financial system is heightened by the extent of interconnectedness and therefore any severe cyber-attack could threaten the stability of the financial system. The Basel committee on banking supervision, the primary global standard setter for the regulation of banks has recognised the evolving nature and scope of cyber risks and called upon banks to improve their resilience to cyber threats and incidence in line with the national cybersecurity strategy in their countries, he pointed out. He said the establishment of the FICSOC would therefore help banks in this regard. Tussle for 7% shares in Jubilee Holdings; GNPC still engaging on way forward - Freddie Blay Emmanuel Bruce Business News May - 25 - 2023 , 17:22 There appears to be a tussle between the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) over the seven per cent shares in Jubilee Oil Holding Limited (JOHL) which was formally held by Anadarko Offshore Holding Company. Although the GNPC paid $164 million for the seven per cent stake following the exit of Anadarko from the TEN and Jubilee fields, PetroSA remain unhappy with the arrangement and threatening to go for arbitration to settle the matter. This is because PetroSA believe as a shareholder of JOHL, they also had the right to purchase the seven per cent shares under the Petroleum agreement. Speaking to the media in Accra, the Board Chair of GNPC, Freddie Blay, said it was to avoid the matter going for arbitration that he suggested at one of their meetings that instead of one party having all the seven per cent share to itself, why dont they split it into 3.5 per cent each to settle the matter amicably. Giving details on the tussle for the shares, he said PetroSA being a shareholder of JOHL was also entitled to the seven per cent shares following the exit of Anadarko and made that intention clear. There was a seven per cent interest in JOHL which government through GNPC decided to acquire but this seven per cent forms part of shares that Anadarko had decided to leave. When you decide to sell your shares in a conglomerate, other members of the shareholding have the first right of refusal. PetroSA who has been a long time shareholder of JOHL identified that there were also interested in the available shares and they insisted that under the petroleum agreement they are also entitled to it so they made a bid for it but we took it all and they appear not to be happy with it and eventually they may have to go to arbitration for it to be decided. As Board Chair, I thought it was rather best to meet them and decide on something. We had a couple of meetings and I proposed to them that if need be, the seven per cent that they are talking about instead of them taking it or we taking it, lets split it, he explained. He said he made it clear that should that be agreed on, it would still be subject to approval from the Minister of Energy. Mr Blay said assertion by some Civil Society Organisations that he was single handedly seeking to sell share of the GNPC to a foreign company was therefore unfair. The Minister had already indicated to me that they will not do that so I asked him to deal with his counterpart minister in South Africa while I also deal with the South African chairman, he stated. He said GNPC was still engaging the Minister and PetroSA on the way forward. 3-Storey building collapses at Winneba "5 Escape unhurt" Emmanuel Bonney May - 25 - 2023 , 06:54 A three-storey building has collapsed at Winneba in the Central Region. This brings to five, the number of storey buildings that have collapsed across the country this year. The Winneba Municipal Fire Service Commander, DO2 Kwesi Hugues, told the Daily Graphic that five persons who were in the building managed to escape unhurt. He said the service had a distress call at about 3 :15 p.m. last Tuesday about a collapsed structure after the Winneba Roundabout on the Accra-Cape Coast Highway. According to him, the building had been completed with tenants in it, adding that fortunately nobody got hurt, because as of the time of the collapse, most of the people had gone to work. However, he said, five of the tenants who were around came out before the building crumbled. Trapped Fortunately, nobody got trapped. They knew the building had issues so they were always watching out for warning signs of collapse. What happened is that some had left for their daily businesses while others had left for school. So when we got here, those who were apparently not doing anything were the ones in the house; they are about five and all of them came out, he said. DO2 Hugues said the property of the tenants, however, got destroyed with nothing to salvage. He said when they enquired whether the occupants of the facility had money in the collapsed building, they all responded in the negative. We are now standing by to meet the owner of the house to have further discussions with him, he said. He said the fire service arrived on time to the admiration of other residents, and we conducted a head count and fortunately, everybody was around and so we made sure that the electricity connection to the house was disconnected. Asked whether or not he knew how long the building had been at the site, he could not give the exact number of years but said it had been there for a long time. Collapsed buildings Early this month, three multi-storey buildings collapsed at three different places within a spate of one week. They are a six-storey building under construction at the University for Development Studies, City Campus at Sagnarigu in Tamale in the Northern Region, a three-storey building at Nanakrom in the Adentan municipality as well as a three-storey building under construction at the SDA Junction at the Adentan side of La-Nkwantanang Madina, in Accra. That incident resulted in the death of one person, with three others sustaining varying degrees of injury. Committees Following the collapse of the earlier buildings, four ad hoc committees were set up by key professional bodies to investigate the cause of the collapsed buildings in some parts of the country. Has company law sculpted Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for Ghana? Ace Anan Ankomah May - 25 - 2023 , 15:19 SOCRATES said that judges must listen courteously, answer wisely, consider soberly and decide impartially. Ghana expects a lot more of a Chief Justice, as the head of the Judiciary, described by Alexander Hamilton in The Federalist Papers (1778) as the least dangerous branch of government because it has no influence over either the sword or the purse. However, our Chief Justice is the fourth person in the constitutional order of precedence, is a member of every superior court, and chairs the Judicial Council and Rules of Court Committee. The Chief Justice also plays critical roles in the removal from office of the President, superior court judges, Auditor-General, Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of the Electoral Commission and CHRAJ, and Governor of the Bank of Ghana. Parliaments approval process probes Chief Justice-nominees judicial philosophy, background and suitability for office, requiring infinitely more effort, detail, time and space than is available or afforded here. Therefore, this merely attempts to identify the kind of judge that Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has been by examining a few of her Appeal Court decisions in Company Law, a technical subject that several, including the Registrar of Companies, lawyers and judges, have sometimes struggled with. As a foundation judge on the High Courts Commercial Bench, Justice Torkornoos most significant judicial influence has been in the areas of commercial, business, company and corporate law. However, from even the deliberately selected and admittedly limited Company Law perspective, she comes across as a no-holds-barred straight shooter, taking no prisoners, observing strict fidelity to both the theory of and exceptions to the law, and conscious that law does not operate in a vacuum, but must be applied to varying factual circumstances. And more importantly, she is aware and critical of the challenges facing justice administration, and it is hoped that, if approved, her tenure would address those too. Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, then Justice of the Court of Appeal, addressing a stakeholder forum by the Ghana-UK Chamber of Commerce on private sector anti-corruption in Accra Lifting the veil This doctrine probably has the highest number of Company Law decisions in Ghana. It describes when the law disregards the classical distinction (an allegedly opaque and impassable veil) between companies and their human actors (Salomon Principle), and sometimes holds the latter liable for acts allegedly done on the companys behalf or in its name. However, even in England, from where it originated, it has been characterised by incautious dicta and inadequate reasoning, according to Lord Sumption in PREST v PETRODEL. Ghanaian decisions were similarly buffeted, until Justice Sophia Akuffos magisterial decision in MORKOR v KUMA firmly established three broad bases on which the doctrine applies here: (i) dictates of justice, (ii) public policy, or (iii) under statute (Morkor v Kuma Standard). Although the courts have in the main followed this standard, some have either treated it perfunctorily or simply misapplied it. But in ROBERT ASHIE KOTEI VENTURES LTD v SADAT CAR ACCESSORIES ENTERPRISE, Justice Torkornoo carefully restated the doctrines theoretical underpinnings, keeping fidelity with the Morkor v Kuma Standard. She explained that although the Salomon Principle remains true,it does not reflect the holistic state of the law. Like much of law, it is not set in stone, and because legal principles are applied to multitudes of factual situations, law often creates hedges around circumstances that would be considered lawful and those that must stand outside the hedge. She said: To protect third parties who deal with companies, both statute and common law have made extensive provision to prevent the slavish abuse of this doctrine when the company acts by its organs or human managers. The law recognises that those persons represent the directing mind and will of the company, and they control what it does. Thus, the state of mind of these managers is the state of mind of the company. Their acts bind the company, but if they take steps for which the corporate veil has to be lifted in order to hold the human agents personally liable for fault, the law would not hesitate to do so. Fidelity to the law and its exceptions. Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, then a nominee to the Supreme Court, taking an oath at the Appointments Committee of Parliament Foss V Harbottle Rule This principle has an intriguing jurisprudential existence in Ghana. It is expressed in (i) the proper plaintiff rule when a company is wronged, the company itself is the proper person to sue, not its members; and (ii) the majority rule the court will not interfere in a companys internal matters if the alleged wrong could be regularised by a majority vote. However, in 1963, the Professor Gower-authored Companies Code introduced exceptions such as rules on illegality and irregularity, protection against oppression and unfair prejudice, and use of derivative and representative actions. He then boldly declared that the majority rule was abolished in Ghana. However, the courts have largely preferred the more nuanced position advanced by Dotse JSC in PS INTERNATIONAL v CEREDEC, that although the Companies Act has significantly chipped away the relevance of the rule in FOSS v HARBOTTLE in Ghanaian corporate governance, the courts will still uphold the majority rule, upon a finding that the irregularity or act complained of is one that can be remedied or regularised by an ordinary resolution. Justice Torkornoo has played her part in keeping the rule on the nuanced life-support. In NANA KWADWO GYASI COMPANY LTD v SAND & STONE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, where the Appeal Court dismissed an action by individual shareholders in the companys name, Her Ladyship applied the proper plaintiff rule, repeating that individual members have no cause of action if a company is wronged; the action should be brought either by the company itself or by way of a derivative action. She has also upheld the majority rule. In AGME v UPPER QUARRY LTD, where the Appeal Court refused to interfere with the removal of a director from office, Her Ladyship said that once the majority had gone through the process, the court would not pry into it. This court must necessarily uphold the process, she concluded. President Akufo-Addo congratulating Justice Gertrude Torkornoo (left) after her swearing in as a Justice of the Supreme Court Liquidation & Horrors of Delays In BERNARD SAM v REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES, Justice Torkornoo showed how sometimes, directors, the Registrar of Companies and even the courts get Company Law wrong. The companys directors wrote to the Registrar that they wish to cancel our [company] due to financial constraint and hope the Registrar of Companies will take action on it. Ten days later, the Registrar, ignoring every known statutory procedure, simply declared the company dissolved and struck its name off the register. When one of the directors subsequently backtracked and applied to the High Court to restore the company, the trial judge dismissed the application on grounds of estoppel by conduct, saying the applicant was trying to conjure back a company he himself caused the Registrar-General to dissolve... The application is unmeritorious; the dissolution is confirmed. Worse, the judge restrained the applicant from bringing any further application in respect of this matter. On appeal, the Court unanimously corrected the patent errors. Justice Torkornoos lead judgment first summarised the respective statutory procedures for private and official liquidation, and company dissolution with or without winding up, which the Registrar had ignored. Then, taking no prisoners, she took the Registrar on: Strict and mandatory steps are set out, which are designed to protect the public, creditors, people doing business with the company, the company itself and its directors and shareholders from mischief through the liquidation or winding up of the company in issue. A mere letter expressing a wish to cancel a company and a hope that the Registrar of Companies does so is definitely not a valid route to dissolving a company. Then, ever the straight shooter, she tackled the trial court: The matter in issue is very simple. Was the court right or wrong in refusing the application for restoration of the company to the register? And the answer is not far-fetched . The learned trial judge was wrong and manifestly so. She was not done. Pulling no punches, she frontally addressed how the canker of unnecessary delays had plagued the case: It is my humble evaluation that this is a case which typifies the horrors of delays in our justice system. The appeal record is all of 24 pages. So why has it taken this appeal so long to reach judgment? The inordinate delay of two years between the High Court judgment and the placing of the case before the Court of Appeal for judgment is indeed worrisome and calls for reforms in the sluggish mode in which appeal records are prepared, rectified, served and made ready for judgment. Concluding comments Successive Chief Justices have made considerable efforts to modernise the courts and speed up the delivery of justice, with a lot still left to be done. It is hoped that, if or when confirmed, Justice Torkornoos undoubtedly redoubtable judicial fervour and expressed frustrations with the justice delivery system, combined, will lead to the much-needed root-and-stem reforms that scale up the current E-Justice System to completely digitise and digitalise the court experience, deploying technology to further reimagine and transform our civil and criminal justice systems. Reforms must, for instance, minimise the antiquated and environmentally unfriendly production and filing of the volumes of paper that Charles Dickens contemptuously called mountains of costly nonsense in 1853. Reforms must also reduce physical courtroom appearance where 21st Century Africans, bewigged in 17th century-inspired pieces of blond horsehair with curls and pigtails, robed in anachronistic black gowns while sweating in Ghanas two-tone (hot and hotter) weather, compete to show mastery over arcane technicalities and complex procedures garnished with archaic jargons and redundant legalese, often for just an adjournment. In sum, may we conclude the journey from bricks and mortar to clicks and order, and making court, not necessarily a place, but a service. And maybe, just maybe, navigating the realms of Company Law from both the Bar and the Bench has just moulded Justice Torkornoo for this. The writer is the Senior Partner of the law firm of Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah Benkum SHS Head Teacher interdicted by GES over sexual misconduct allegations GraphicOnline May - 25 - 2023 , 12:06 The Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken action against Emmanuel Nyarko, the head teacher of Benkum Senior High School (SHS) in the Eastern Region, following allegations of sexual misconduct. Mr. Nyarko has been interdicted pending investigations into his reported involvement with approximately 15 female students at the school. It has been revealed that several teachers at the institution, who were allegedly engaged in similar misconduct, cited Mr. Nyarko's behaviour when attempting to arrange their transfers to different schools. The incident took place in 2022 and has been under investigation since then. In an interview with Citi FM, Yaw Opoku Mensah, the deputy spokesperson for the Education Ministry, confirmed that the regional education body is leading the investigation. He emphasized that the Ministry is closely monitoring the progress of the investigation, and the school has cooperated by creating a conducive environment for the committee to carry out its work in accordance with the GES code of conduct. Mensah urged the public to remain calm and assist with the investigative process. He said the outcome of the investigations will be reported to the GES headquarters for further action to be taken. The investigation has started and the regional education outfit is in charge and the school has paved the way for investigations to start for the headmaster to give out the space or step aside for the committee to have the atmosphere to carry on with the investigations as per the code of conduct of GES," Mr Mensah said. The Ministry is monitoring the development, and we urge the public to stay calm and help with the investigative process. And eventually, a report of the outcome of the investigations will be communicated to the GES in headquarters for other actions to be taken,. By-election: NPP's Annim wins Kumawu Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor May - 24 - 2023 , 17:48 The New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the Kumawu by-election, Ernest Yaw Annim, has won the contest with an overwhelming 15,264 votes representing 70.91 per cent of the total valid votes cast. Annims unsurprising victory was also emphatic as he won in all the 76 polling stations, thus leaving all three contestants scrambling for the over 20 per cent of the valid votes cast. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Kwasi Amankwaa, secured 3,723 votes, an improvement over his predecessor, representing 17.29 per cent of the total valid votes cast, ahead of the Independent candidate who defected from the NPP, Kwaku Duah, who garnered 2,478 or 11.51 per cent of the votes. The confusion which was expected to cloud the votes of the two with the same name, Kwaku Duah, both of whom wore similar apparel on the ballot, did not pan out as the other Independent candidate, whose symbol was a bird, could only manage 62 votes or 0.29 per cent of the total valid votes cast. Long before the declaration of the results, supporters of the party had started jubilating when reports of some polling stations started trickling in indicating that their candidate was in a comfortable lead. It was not in doubt that the NPP was going to retain the seat which became vacant following the death of its sitting Member of Parliament, Philip Atta Basoah. However, the threat posed by one of the Independent candidates, Kwaku Duah, made the party to work extra hard to neutralise that threat. So serious was the threat that the party and the government had to marshall all their functionaries to the constituency to help in the campaign activities. Even on the polling day, government appointees had to act as observers and polling station agents to play the watchdog roles. Victory speech Mr Annim, in an interview with the media after he was declared winner, said the people reposed their confidence in him because they knew he was the right person to ensure unity and bring development to the place. He said he was hopeful that God would lift his finger and sure that he would be remarkably victorious as the NPP was the party to take the country to the promised land. The NPP Member of Parliament-elect said he would lead the party to make it and its presidential candidates proud. Mr Annim said his victory was an emphatic statement that the NPP was ready to break the eight in the 2024 general election. Keen contest There were no major incidents aside from earlier allegations mainly levelled by the NDC that the election supervisors, the Electoral Commission (EC), in connivance with the NPP agents, had caused some polling station agents to sign the pink sheets at the start of the contest, even before the close of polls. The allegations were vehemently denied by officials of the EC and the NPP. The NDC also accused the ruling NPP of massive vote buying, including the hurried development projects such as the construction of roads. There was heavy security presence as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) himself led the high-powered Police Management Team to ensure flawless security operation on election day. The quiet and peaceful Sekyere-Kumawu District was turned into a police town as the Ghana Police Service moved a large number of personnel to the constituency to ensure that the polls went on smoothly. Aside from the number of police personnel deployed to the polling stations, there was a large number of them patrolling the town on foot and others in vehicles which were moving from one location to the other. Guided by the recent events in Ayawaso West Wuogon, the police adequately prepared to prevent and stop anything that could mar the election. Personnel in crowd control gear and crowd control vehicles placed at vantage points presented a very intimidating picture. The large police presence made the Kumawu contest one of the most peaceful by-elections in the country in recent times. Attestation The Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Benjamin Banor-Bio, commended the police for ensuring an incident-free polls. Skirmishes There were, however, few reported cases of violence. An NDC member was slapped and the windscreen of his vehicle vandalised for using a branded vehicle during the polls. He had some NDC stickers on his vehicle and was attacked allegedly by members of the NPP. One of the polling station coordinators of the NPP was also slapped allegedly by the older Kwaku Duah for supposedly inducing the electorate. ECOWAS launches women in peacebuilding project Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson May - 25 - 2023 , 14:47 Ecowas has launched a project to increase women's participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Known as Support to national early warning and response mechanism in harnessing gender empowerment as a tool to strengthen human security, the project is being implemented under the auspices of the ECOWAS Directorate of Early Warning. It will highlight the importance of women in conflict prevention, build their capacity and increase advocacy on the need to make women cardinal principals in conflict prevention and peace-building processes in ECOWAS member countries. It is also designed to identify and address structures that drive the gender gap to ensure inclusiveness at all levels of early warning mechanisms and conflict prevention. As part of the launch, the ECOWAS Commission also organised a two-day workshop in Accra for women groups, civil society organisations (CSOs), security experts and other stakeholders in conflict prevention and peacebuilding from across the sub-region. Improve security The Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, said women had consistently played key roles in peacebuilding and conflict prevention and, therefore, the need to further build on such initiatives to improve security in the sub-region. She cited the 2015 Mali Peace Agreement and said women were instrumental in the negotiations leading to the agreement. Indeed the acknowledgement of the complex role of gender in human security has facilitated the adoption of many international and regional instruments to foster women's participation in conflict prevention, Mrs Tchintchibidja added. The project, she said, would also help operationalise the ECOWAS framework on national early warning and response mechanism that sought to strengthen the capacity of member states in detecting and addressing issues of security. Mrs Tchintchibidja further said that the West African sub-region faced serious security challenges, especially in the Sahel region, adding that due to conflicts, about 46,000 refugees from Burkina Faso had fled to countries such as Cote dIvoire, Benin, Ghana and Togo, with many internally displaced people in countries such as Nigeria, Niger and Mali. Despite efforts made at all levels in gender policies aimed at improving peace and human security, a lot still needed to be done, she said. Attainment of SDGs The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, said peace was the foundation of development and was key in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He, therefore, lauded ECOWAS for launching the project to help empower women for sustainable peace and development and added that women play key roles in reconciliation and return to peace after men express their testosterone on the battlefield. Mr Abani said it was unacceptable that despite the rising population of women, coupled with the key roles they played in various sectors, they were still relegated to the background in leadership roles. For instance, according to the population census, about 50.7 per cent of Ghanas population are women but unfortunately the representation in Parliament is at 14 per cent, he said. For his part, the Director of ECOWAS Early Warning, Dr Gueye Abdou Lat, added that the project would promote peace and security in the sub-region in line with the UN, AU and ECOWAS resolutions and framework on peace. EOCO and Ghana Police bust human trafficking syndicate in Accra Kweku Zurek May - 25 - 2023 , 07:25 In a joint operation, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Ghana Police Service have apprehended a human trafficking syndicate, leading to the arrest of forty-nine Nigerian nationals. EOCO in a statement said the suspects, consisting of forty-seven males and two females, aged between 18 and 34, were taken into custody in Accra. The arrested individuals are believed to be involved in human trafficking and cybercrime-related activities. During the operation, authorities discovered and seized seventy laptop computers, two saloon cars, fifty-one mobile phones, nine internet modems, and other devices from the syndicate's hideout. Upon further investigation and screening of the suspects, it was revealed that forty-five of them were victims of human trafficking, while the remaining four were identified as traffickers. The rescued victims have been repatriated to Nigeria, where they will be reunited with their families. The four alleged traffickers, namely Godstine Omoruyi, Junior Nosa Omoruyi, Marvelous Omoruyi, and Evbuomwan Idowu, have been presented before the court to face legal proceedings. The operation was conducted based on intelligence obtained by EOCO, which indicated the presence of young Nigerians who had been trafficked into Ghana. These victims were enticed with promises of job opportunities but were coerced into engaging in cybercrime activities upon their arrival. The traffickers resorted to physical abuse and torture to maintain control over their victims. Efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide support to the rescued victims are underway as authorities continue their investigations. Get pregnant at healthier age - Population Council advises women Diana Mensah May - 24 - 2023 , 16:50 Women, especially the young ones, have been advised to get pregnant at their healthiest age for optimal outcomes. The recommended healthy reproductive age is between 24 and 34 years. The Executive Director of the National Population Council, Dr Leticia Adelaide Appiah, also said in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra that about 14 per cent of the countrys population were teenage mothers. She, however, said that early pregnancy led to severe health problems for both the mother and child, adding that it was a major social and health issue for the country. The medical doctor and reproductive health expert also said that early childbearing reduced womens educational and employment opportunities. According to her, the foundation for the countrys sustainable development depended on a healthy population. Human capital Dr Appiah stressed the need to invest in human capital to accelerate the nations development, adding that the growth of a nation is primarily based on the skills of the youth. It is human capital that will transform the natural capital for use, so if you have a country where your 10-year-olds are giving birth, you cannot be said to have developed intellectually to harness the natural resources, he added. Dr Appiah, therefore, suggested that the state should use a portion of the tax revenue to cater for teenage mothers and their children. Self-esteem Dr Appiah, who received the Order of the Volta (Companion) Award in recognition of her selflessness, hard work and outstanding contribution as a member of the National COVID-19 Task Force, further stressed the need for young girls to develop their self-esteem. She, therefore, urged parents to inculcate the necessary virtues in their children to build their self-esteem, saying esteem and self-esteem is from home. Young girls need to have self-esteem, you can be illiterate, but If you have self-esteem you will be better off in whatever decision you may make in your life. Young girls with self-esteem do not allow themselves to be treated anyhow because they have a sense of value in them, Dr Appiah added. She equally entreated parents to train their young boys to treat girls with dignity, including protecting them from all forms of molestation. Mourners pay last respects to former IGP Peter Nanfuri Justice Agbenorsi & Jemima Okang Addae May - 25 - 2023 , 07:36 Mourners on Wednesday joined the family and friends of the longest-serving Inspector General of Police (IGP), Peter Nanfuri, to pay their last respects at a solemn farewell service at the State House in Accra. There were glowing tributes, particularly from the Catholic Church and the Police Service, eulogising the late Naa Angsoleh Ganaa II, the Paramount Chief of the Jirapa Traditional Area, and a well-known member of the Catholic Church who passed on at 80. Notable among the personalities present at the ceremony were the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin; the IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare; the Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama; the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison; the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah; the Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, Professor Edmund Nminnyem Delle Chiir VIII, chiefs and retired officials from the other security agencies. The casket containing the remains of the man who entered the Police Service in 1968 and subsequently became the longest serving Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) was opened to the public for filing past as early as 7 a.m. The mourners took turns to file past the body to bid farewell to the former President of Jirapa Traditional Council. Many of the mourners, including the immediate family members, were adorned in black. The casket was closed at exactly 9:a.m. after the family and clergymen from the Catholic Church had filed past their beloved, who served as the IGP until he retired in 2000. He was also a former member of the Council of State. There was also a procession and display by officers from the Police Service and its band. The former IGPs remains are expected to be airlifted to the Upper West Region where the burial Mass will take place at the Naaviri Park in Jirapa on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Hero In a tribute read on behalf of the Police Administration, the Director General of Administration of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, described Mr Nanfuri as one of his heroes who became the cornerstone of the Police Service. He added that during Mr Nanfuris administration, he improved the service conditions of all police officers irrespective of ranks, and also fought for numerous allowances for the personnel, adding: This can be attested to by personnel of the Service and Ghanaians as a whole. We are glad to say that you have mentored and positively affected so many lives and we are grateful to God for giving you to us. Today, we bid a final goodbye to a great icon of our noble profession and we do so with a heavy heart. No amount of words can express sorrow and sense of absence as we pay this tribute to our dear colleague, COP Yohuno said. He further noted that Mr Nanfuri did everything in his power to enhance police professionalism by applying the strict enforcement of the Police Code of Conduct while insulating the services from external influences. One of his children, Philip Gandaa Nanfuri, touted his father as a man with numerous qualities who guided them through the journey of life. Your positive attributes, focused mind and sometimes unfathomable resilience to pain as well as your hard-guy attitude and zero-emotions persona are what will keep us going. Your ability to bring people of different divides together was highly remarkable, a quality that through the world, from infancy to adulthood, deserves the highest order of respect. We cannot thank you enough for your unbounded love in this journey of life, he added. Exhortation A former Parish Priest of the Christ the King Parish in Accra, Very Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell, said Nanfuri was a man of prayer who walked with Christ and shared his love. He encouraged the mourners to have personal time with God as they were mostly engaged in work. Nowadays, we are so busy that we dont have time to pray. Have time with God and pray. No talking, no phone. Just a quiet time with you and your father, he said. The Very Rev. Fr Campbell advised them to be faithful in their heart and all aspects of their lives. Learn to be faithful to God and everyone. He (Nanfuri) lived his life in service to his church and country, he added. Stanbic Bank donates laptops to KNUST Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor May - 25 - 2023 , 06:49 Stanbic Bank Ghana has presented 50 laptops to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as part of its support to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The laptops are expected to enhance the teaching and learning of STEM courses. The presentation of the 50 laptops formed part of the last consignment of the 200 laptops the bank pledged three years ago to support STEM education, with a focus on Women in STEM (WiSTEM). Making the presentation, the Head of Marketing and Communication of the bank, Mawuko Afadzinu, said the bank decided to focus on girls education to encourage more of them to study STEM. He said although the university had the prerogative to choose the beneficiaries, at least 80 per cent of the recipients should be needy girls in ICT. Mr Afadzinu said the bank had designed a programme to track the progress of the beneficiaries of the laptop and So far we are seeing improvement in their performance. Challenge According to him, it was the feedback from that programme that encouraged the bank to fulfil its promise to the university in spite of the challenges that the industry went through last year. Mr Afadzinu explained that the year 2022 was a very challenging year for the banking industry in general. He said the organisation found it prudent to still find money to support such a project. Mr Afadzinu explained that per the structure of the organisation, such programmes could only be supported with profits made from the business. The organisation decided that it was going to take a long-term view of the relationship and we, therefore, treated the very peculiar difficult circumstances of 2022 as a unique case and made this exception that, yes, the year was difficult, but we will still go ahead and find money from somewhere to support a project like this, he said. Appreciation The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, was very grateful to the bank for keeping faith with the university and honouring its promises in spite of the financial challenges of last year. She said the bank had proved to be a dependable partner in development because even in the midst of the hardships you can still bend beyond yourselves and show such great love to the university and to the students and ladies who without this kind of assistance would find it difficult to cope with studies on campus. Prof. Dickson said the university was now using the hybrid system of teaching which included 30 per cent online. She expressed the belief that the donation would go a long way to support the students. Appeal Prof. Dickson appealed to other corporate bodies to support the university to train the manpower needs of the country. Taxi cab smashed by train at Alajo; social media users call for arrest of driver GraphicOnline May - 25 - 2023 , 11:50 This morning, a taxi driver emerged unharmed after his vehicle was struck by an Accra-bound train from Tema. According to an eyewitness onboard the train, the taxi driver made a hasty attempt to cross the train's path at Alajo while it was approaching at a high speed, but unfortunately, his vehicle became trapped on the tracks. The collision resulted in minor damage to the train, causing the taxi to be pushed off the tracks. Thankfully, none of the passengers sustained any injuries. After a brief pause to assess the situation, the conductor decided to proceed with the journey to Accra. The incident took place around 7:30 am on Thursday, May 25, 2023. A video of the aftermath of the incident depicted the mangled driver's side of the taxi. Reacting to the video on social media, some social media users called for the arrest of the driver while others said his impatience was the cause of the accident. Watch the video below; Unlawful use of conformity marks: GSA threatens to prosecute manufacturers Kester Aburam Korankye May - 25 - 2023 , 15:56 Local manufacturers have been cautioned against the use of illegal Standards Authority (GSA) marks of conformity on their products. The authority said it would pursue, arrest and prosecute individuals and entities who were engaged in the use of illegal marks on their products to gain credibility. The Head of Special Projects at the GSA, George Anti, who gave the advice, said through its market surveillance, the authority had identified some products bearing the illegal marks of conformity. We have noticed a worrying trend where some manufacturers pick up application forms for certification, make some payments and then start using the mark on their products for sale, he added. Mr Anti was speaking at a meeting with manufacturers, importers and dealers of electrical cables in Accra last Tuesday. Present at the meeting were executives of the Ghana Union of Trade Organisations (GUTA), led by its president, Joseph Obeng and the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), including its General-Secretary, Nana Opoku. The meeting discussed the rationale behind the GSAs rigorous clampdown on substandard electrical cables which have inundated the market, among other issues. According to Mr Anti, the illegal use of the marks cut across sectors but he mentioned some electrical cable dealers as some of those abusing the system most. Commitment The Director-General of the GSA, Prof. Alex Dodoo, said the government was committed to changing the narrative of standards and services offered to consumers in the country. In line with that, he said the authority had recruited about 200 trade standard officers (TSAs) who would be deployed around the country to enforce standards. Meanwhile, manufacturers, importers and traders of cables in the country have pledged support for the exercise and said they would join forces with the GSA to fight the influx of substandard products in the market. Support The GUTA president, Mr Obeng, said the discussions on standards had been ongoing for some time now, adding that the practice was a dent on the image of traders. I always defended cable importers whenever they were blamed for fire outbreaks just to protect the industry, but we must to do the right thing because nobody will plead on anyones behalf anymore. We will support the destruction of substandard products when they are confiscated. The only thing that will ensure quality is standards, and I will plead with the authority to expand the reach of its enforcement drive, he said. For his part, Nana Opoku also expressed his support for the exercise and said the GSA must begin to crack the whip. He, however, entreated the authority to deepen engagement with the trading community on the need for them to abide by the rules. Suspect from 2021 shootout sentenced to prison time Sergeant Jesse Nielson, Officer Zachary Owens and Officer Kevin Lennon display the Medals of Valor they received for their actions during a shootout in 2021. Three members of the Green River Police Department were recently given the Medal of Valor for their actions in response to a suspect who exchanged fire with them in the summer of 2021. This award was given after the recent sentencing of the suspect. Officers awarded for valor Sergeant Jesse Nielson, Officer Kevin Lennon and Officer Zachary Owens of the GRPD were recognized during the May 16 Green River City Council meeting and presented with the Medal of Valor. "In July of 2021, these three officers were involved in an incident that simply doesn't happen very often in Green River," GRPD's Interim Chief of Police Shaun Sturlaugson explained at the meeting. "What began as a very scary assault on two of our younger citizens ended that night when these officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect from that incident. Their actions that night brought that incident to a safe conclusion for the city and for its citizens, and we're here to award them for their actions." The Medal of Valor certificates given to the officers describe the incident in more detail. On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, GRPD officers received a report of an aggravated assault in which the suspect brandished a weapon and threatened to shoot two juveniles. Sergeant Nielson located the suspect's vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Officers Lennon and Owens responded to Nielson's location as back-up. Due to the severity and nature of the report, verbal commands were issued to the suspect from the officers' patrol vehicles, but the suspected refused to exit the vehicle or comply with commands. Due to the suspect's behavior, officers on scene relocated for better cover. Within seconds of the officers moving, the suspect exited his vehicle with a rifle and began firing in the direction of the officer's prior location. Officer Lennon, Officer Owens, and Sergeant Nielson all returned fire, and the suspect re-entered his vehicle. The suspect was wounded during the fight, which ended his actions, and he was taken into custody. "The actions of Officer Lennon, Officer Owens, and Sergeant Nielson and the leadership of Sergeant Nielsen that night saved their own lives and the lives of the other officers on scene," Sturlaugson read from the certificates. "They also potentially saved the lives of other innocent civilians driving by and walking in the area. Their actions exemplify the seriousness with which they approach their jobs as police officers, and the commitment they have made to protecting the City of Green River, as well as the citizens who reside there." "The character and courage of these officers that night saved who knows how many lives," Sturlaugson added. "For their courage, it's my great honor to present them with the Medal of Valor." The Medal of Valor certificates given to the officers were originally signed by Former Police Chief Tom Jarvie and dated March 24, 2022. Sturlaugson noted it took longer to officially present the awards because of the nature of the case and the need to wait until it was concluded in court. He said the wait was frustrating, but the timing ended up working out well. "I think it's very fitting that we're able to give them their awards during National Police Week," Sturlaugson said. "It's very coincidental but it's pretty neat at the same time." Suspect sentenced Matthew Riley Culley, the suspect involved in the shootout with GRPD officers in July 2021, was recently sentenced to time in prison. Culley pleaded no contest to four counts of aggravated assault and battery during an argued sentencing hearing before Judge Suzannah Robinson in District Court April 17 and 18. The defendant's pleas of no contest were accepted by the court and he was "adjudged guilty of the crimes" of all four counts according to court documents. After originally pleading not guilty and not guilty by mental illness during his arraignment May 18, 2022, Culley changed his pleas to no contest in Feb. 2023 after a plea agreement. Original charges of alleged attempted murder in the second degree, felonious restraint, and property destruction and defacement were dismissed. Culley was sentenced to seven to 10 years in prison on the first three counts of aggravated assault to be served consecutively, and seven to 10 years on the fourth count to be served concurrently. He faces a maximum time of up to 30 years in prison. He will receive time off his sentence for the 642 days he served in in pre-sentence confinement. Culley was also ordered to pay $800 to the Wyoming Crime Victim's Compensation Fund and to pay restitution in the amount of $1,000 to the City of Green River, as well as to reimburse the State of Wyoming $75 for the substance abuse assessment (ASI/ASAM). He also has to pay $50 in court and legal fees. Several people have been arrested by local and state law enforcement recently on drug charges, including one man who the Rock Springs Police Department allegedly found in possession of Fentanyl pills. On Thursday, May 18, officers with Rock Springs Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a dark-colored passenger vehicle, according to a press release. Contact was made with the passenger of the vehicle, identified as Alec Praytor, who had an active warrant for his arrest. A search was conducted where drug paraphernalia and pills were located. In total, 243 Fentanyl pills and three grams of methamphetamine were located, according to the RSPD. Subsequently, Alec Praytor was arrested for alleged unlawful manufacture or delivery - schedule I or II narcotic drug; unlawful possession pill or capsule > 3 grams; unlawful possession schedule I II or III > 3 ounces, 3/10 gram, 3 grams or 5/10 gram respective; and additional charges related to the warrant. Praytor, who is from Casper, is now being held in the Sweetwater County Detention Center with a $50,000 bond. A Rock Springs man, Tracy Ray Warren, was also booked into the Sweetwater County Detention Center on May 18 after being arrested by the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI). He faces multiple charges of alleged unlawful manufacture or delivery - schedule I or II narcotic drug, as well as multiple charges relating to alleged traffic offenses, resisting arrest, and fleeing or attempting to elude police officers. He is being held with a $500,000 bond. Three other Rock Springs men were also arrested by DCI last week and booked into the Detention Center May 16. Robert Neil Houston, James Robert Combs and Brent Barry Quickenden all face charges of alleged unlawful possession - Schedule I or II > 3 ounces, 3/10 gram, 3 grams or 5/10 gram respective; unlawful manufacture or delivery - schedule I or II narcotic drug; attempts and conspiracies; and other charges. Houston and Combs both have $150,000 bonds and Quickenden has a $125,000 bond. Law enforcement officers would like to remind the public that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Jill A. Cordova, 69, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Sage View Care Center in Rock Springs, WY. She was born on June 13, 1953 in Rock Springs, WY, the daughter of Robert and Daisy Kinnaman. Jill was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She married Jose Cordova, he preceded her in death on July 19, 2010. Jill enjoyed reading, and loved playing bingo. She is survived by her daughter Andrea Morrison of Spokane Valley, WA; and brother Larry Curry. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Jim Chailland and husband Jose. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, May 19, 2023 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 900 Hitching Post Drive, Green River, WY. A Rosary Vigil will be held a half hour prior to services at the Church. Inurnment will take place in the Riverview Cemetery Columbarium in Green River, Wyoming. Condolences may be left at http://www.foxfh.com. Dear Editor, My name is Harry Holler. My grandpas name is Harry Holler and my dads name is Harry Holler. Thats why I named my son Michael. Michael was my only son. He was killed in a car wreck. I was born in Peoria, Illinois. Later we moved to Chicago Heights, Illinois. I worked for a company called Dawes Labs both in Peoria and Chicago Heights. Eventually it was bought out by Solvay. I worked a short stint in Iowa at a feed plant, where they were looking for a foreman. It didnt last long because Im an easy-going guy but they wanted somebody to play hardball. I got the production out, but they wanted somebody to knuckle down and Im not that kind of guy. So I called my step-dad up and said Do you have a job for me? He said Youre going to have to start at the bottom. I said At least its a job. I started to work for my step-dad, but there was a big layoff coming, so he said to me, Why dont you enlist in the army and get that over with, and by the time you come back youll have a job waiting for you. Back then, kids could enlist in the army without a high school education. Its not that way anymore. I wanted to be an MP. I really admire law enforcement agencies. But I got bamboozled right from the start. I was told to go in unassigned and Id probably be made an MP. Well, they made me a medic. I didnt mind that. I got to meet my first wife in Germany. I still speak some German. But the army kind of screwed me over. Maybe if they read this theyll give me my stripe back. Its not the entire army, its a few nincompoops that wanted me to stay in the army because they had the highest reenlistment at that time. They had all these young kids reenlisting because they got them their GEDs. I didnt want to stay in the army. I had a job back here in the states. I had this wonderful lady I married. It was the commanding officer and a select few officers that had me busted. But I wanted to go home. I wanted to take my wife home. She was probably the best wife I had. I just didnt know it. I was arrogant. As far as the army, I think they owe me an apology and I think they ought to give me my rank back. I have a hearing aid now. When I was a foreman, I made a product with nothing but heavy metal, like magnesium and iron and lead. I had a guy in the basement, we had to feed it through a pneumatic tube, I had to put my ear up to the pipe and listen to it, and if he didnt do it just right it would plug up the tube. It would slow down production. You didnt want that. Thats why I have a hearing aid now. It was joining the Mormon church that kept me from drinking. I was in the hospital for a long, long time. Now Im living in a house that Ill never live long enough to see it paid off. Everythings going to my daughter in Rock Springs. She can share it with my first wife. After Michael died, I had nobody to take over my name. I feel that Councilman George Jost cut me short in the last City Council meeting. I dont blame Councilman Jost, he doesnt know. I was a councilman once. Harry Holler Green River Dwain and Connie Driggs recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at a dinner with family and friends. Dwain and Connie were married on May 26, 1963, in Elko, Nevada. The couple has resided in Green River since 1969 and raised three kids. They now have seven grandkids and six great-grandkids. Courtesy photos Today almost everyone interacts with the digital world through the 2D display of their smartphone or computer. But the future may be a lot more immersive with head-mounted displays that look a lot like ordinary sunglasses. Nreal, the current leader in the AR segment, believes that is the way forward and is launching a pair of products that can work together to add AR capabilities to almost anything the Xreal Spatial Display and the Xreal Beam. The company is throwing its whole weight behind these products and is even changing its name to Xreal to match. The Xreal Spatial Display is the evolution of the Xreal Air (formerly Nreal Air). It can create a virtual display up to 201 in size and it features 3 Degrees of Freedom (3 DoF) tracking so that the virtual display stays in a fixed position relative to your body rather than moving with your head. The new Xreal Spatial Display is disguised as glasses There are two main use cases. The first is when you sit down for a long time be it on a long commute or when you settle in at home to watch a movie, for example. The Xreal Beam is a key part of that, but well get to it in a moment. The other major use case is when you are out and about. The Spatial Display has a feature called Smooth Follow, which is sort of like optical image stabilization for virtual displays it will keep things steady by countering small and sudden movements. Sideview is another important feature, this shrinks the virtual display and keeps it to the side of your field of view, so you can walk around the real world fully aware of your surroundings. The Xreal Air worked on the platforms that supported the Nebula app that was Android and macOS. The Xreal Beam will greatly expand the selection of devices that can work with the new Spatial Display. It takes in video either over a wire or using a wireless screen casting protocol and forwards the feed to the Display. The Xreal Beam supports wired and wireless screen sharing It has two USB-C ports on board so you can plug in an external power source for really long sessions. On its own, the Beam has a 4,870mAh battery that can power the Spatial Display for 3 hours. The initial focus is on getting things to work for PC users. The Xreal Spatial Display + Beam combo can replace a gaming monitor or a large TV. At launch, users will be able to enjoy YouTube and TikTok content, but DRM support is in the works to enable streaming services as well. The spatial display is paired with DTS:X Ultra, which enables spatial audio. Nebula is coming to Windows so that Windows PCs and laptops, as well as handhelds like the Asus Ally will work with the Xreal Spatial Display directly. The company is also working on a version of the app for Steam OS so that Steam Deck will be able to do that too. Other consoles and platforms can use the Xreal Beam to connect to the Spatial Display. Well wrap up with some good news. Existing Xreal Air users are getting an upgrade that will increase the refresh rate for both screen mirroring and 3DoF mode to 90Hz. Currently, Xreal products are available through Amazon in the US and Japan. Starting in Q3, the company will expand to Amazon UK and the European branches as well. The sales of Samsung's Galaxy S23 family went down significantly this month, according to a new report from a leakster on Twitter. Rumor has it sales for the full second quarter (April to June) of the Korean company's flagship slab-style line will be down 20% compared to what the Galaxy S22 series managed last year. This seems to be down to lower than expected demand from "general consumers". The early adopters all bought their brand new devices by March, and after that apparently not many others wanted in on Samsung's latest and greatest. This is obviously far from ideal, and it allegedly led Samsung to push the launch of the Galaxy S23 FE forward. Now this model is rumored to arrive on the market before the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5, which are reportedly due for a July unveiling and an early August release. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE If this rumor pans out, we might see the Galaxy S23 FE out and about in July, or maybe even earlier. The mythical phone has been doing the rounds in the rumorsphere for months, and it's now said to be a "budget-friendly" version of the Galaxy S23, with only a few specs changed, thus needing a shorter development period than normal. As usual, we advise you to take all of this with a dose of salt, as it's simply an unconfirmed rumor at this point. Speaking of which, the Galaxy S23 FE has so far been rumored to sport Samsung's Exynos 2200 SoC in all regions, a 50 MP main camera, a 4,500 mAh battery, 6/8GB of RAM, and 128/256GB storage options. Earlier this month, it was rumored to arrive "months after" the new foldables, so now it looks like things have shifted dramatically on that front. Source The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is coming to Europe soon and it will cost 1,499. The price, while not officially announced, was confirmed by multiple sources. For that 1,499 you get a 12/512GB Xiaomi 13 Ultra in Black or Green, which is around 100 more than a 12/512GB Galaxy S23 Ultra, but the Xiaomi ships with a case, cable, and a 90W charger to the Galaxy's nothing. Xiaomi has confirmed that the 13 Ultra will make it out of China and onto the international markets, but it hasn't specified anything about the price or availability dates. Whenever it arrives in European stores, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be one of the best phones. It packs a zippy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 6.73-inch 1440p AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery that charges from 0% to full in just 40 minutes, and a premium metal and leather design. On the camera front, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has the most versatile setup with a wide, midrange 3.2x zoom, telephoto 5x zoom, and an ultrawide - all with focus and large sensors. Source 1 | 2 Forecasters warned that the island of Guam would wake up to a very different landscape on Thursday morning. They were right. While battering the island for six to eight hours, Typhoon Mawar's 140 mph winds destroyed homes, tore down trees, damaged buildings and knocked out power to all but a few customers. Phone and water services were disrupted, and a boil-water notice was issued. Huge waves rolled into shore, rivers overflowed and water covered streets and fields. In Hagatna, the statue of Chief Kepuha was torn at the ankles and toppled on its side. Nearby, trees were uprooted and branches littered the ground. Although the typhoon winds subsided by 2 a.m. Thursday, tropical storm winds continued. The government of Guam kept the island in Condition of Readiness 1 while officials assessed the damage. Landon Aydlett, warning coordination meteorologist for National Weather Service, said while the island suffered extensive damage from Mawar, it was not the catastrophic storm forecasters had feared. "I do think we dodged a bullet," he said late Thursday. A day before approaching Guam, Mawar had reached super typhoon status, and the storm was expected to pass over southern Guam. But Mawar's track shifted, and the system underwent an eyewall replacement - a phenomenon in strong storms where the old eyewall decays and is replaced by a new, stronger eyewall. That can cause a shift to the storm's path, and it makes it harder for forecasters to tell exactly where the storm is heading. In this case, Mawar moved to the north, passing over northern Guam on Wednesday night. While much of the island got 9 to 15 inches of rain, 24 inches was recorded in Dededo. "Peak conditions persisted for such a long time," Aydlett said. "We know people were getting fatigued." While the island can expect a period of cleanup and recovery, the Joint Information Center stated that no serious injuries or deaths were attributed to Mawar. "I think the island was well-prepared for this event," Aydlett said. "I think they took it seriously." With Typhoon Mawar moving away from the island, Guam has returned to Condition of Readiness 4. Military bases are in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 1R, which is set after the destructive winds have subsided to allow for repairs and recovery work. Until damage has been repaired, installations are limited to essential personnel only. Dangerous waters Surf of 12 to 16 feet is expected for south and west-facing reefs. The community is reminded to stay out of the water as hazardous surf and seas will be life-threatening. No major injuries The government of Guam reported that no major injuries or deaths resulted from Mawar's passage. Throughout the storm, and immediately after, emergency response personnel executed rescue and evacuation efforts as long as it was safe to do so. GWA update Guam Waterworks Authority is working to restore water service. A boil water notice and water conservation notice have been issued by GWA, until further notice. GPA update Guam Power Authority has begun its post-typhoon power restoration process. Crews have begun 24/7 shift work clearing lines and restoring power. Some GPA crews will first work on the transmission lines bringing power from the power plants out to the substations. Other crews will begin to restore power to circuits and ultimately to customers. GPA will work on restoring critical and priority facilities such as the hospital, water wells and wastewater facilities, critical infrastructure and key areas. Crews will then focus on areas throughout the island. Dispatch lines with inquiries regarding service restoration. Updates on power restoration will be provided to news media, Office of Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense, the village mayors, GPA website and posted on GPAs Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GuamPowerAuthority). Customers can contact GPA's 24-Hour Trouble Dispatch at 475-1472/3/4 or via direct message on GPAs Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GuamPowerAuthority. Mayors Mayors have been out helping their village constituents throughout the duration of the typhoon. The mayors will continue to work with the Guam Environmental Protection Agency to establish staging centers for storm waste collection to include metals, white goods, plastics and green waste. Airport Flights are not operating at this time. The A.B. Won Pat International Airport Guam activated its Emergency Coordination Center and completed damage inspections of its terminal facilities and airfield with recovery efforts well underway. In coordination with the FAA Agana Air Traffic Control Tower, the airport has decided it will accommodate humanitarian and cargo flights to Guam at this time. The first priority in the terminal building is safely removing water in flooded areas to get the airports equipment back online. The GIAA team is assessing the airfield for operational capabilities. Thursday updates: Guam in COR 4 (5 p.m.) With Typhoon Mawar moving from the area, Guam has been placed in Condition of Readiness 4. GPA working to restore power GPA update (5 p.m.) Guam Power Authority has begun its post-typhoon power restoration process. Crews have begun 24/7 shift work clearing lines and restoring power. Some GPA crews will first work on the transmission lines bringing power from the power plants out to the substations. Other crews will begin to restore power to circuits and ultimately to customers. Shell stations open in Yigo, Tamuning (3 p.m.) Shell gas stations in Yigo and Tamuning are open for the general public, according to a news release from the company. Some Mobil and Circle K stations are also open. The Shell station in Upper Tumon is reserved for government first responders. All other Shell gas stations remain closed, according to the company. Boil water notice issued for Guam (1:30 p.m.) The Guam Waterworks Authority has issued a boil water notice due to possible bacterial contamination in the water that can occur when increased run-off enters a drinking water source following heavy rains. Villages are experiencing water outages and crews are working to restore service. Outages are affecting Tamuning, Nimitz Hill, Hagat, Santa Rita, Yona, Talofofo', Ipan and Malojloj. The agency will assess the water system to be within acceptable levels as soon as possible, according to Guam Waterworks Authority. Wednesday updates: 927 people in shelters (11 a.m.) There were 927 people in 11 emergency shelters Wednesday morning. The shelter at Harry S. Truman Elementary School was closed bcause of a generator problem, and people at that shelter were taken to Inalahan Elementary School. GPA: no intent to shutdown islandwide power (9:10 a.m.) GPA does not intent to shut down the island-wide power system. The system runs automatically and only cuts out power service when damage has occurred to the circuit. It shuts down automatically for safety. The system will be energized as long as power circuits remain intact. Repairs of the system will resume once high winds die down to a safe level. GPA will mobilize to proceed with assessments and repairs. This will begin the recovery phase of the island-wide power system around Guam. 4 p.m. passage over southern Guam (9 a.m.) Typhoon Mawars track has shifted slightly to the south, with the eye expected to pass over the southern part of the island this afternoon. The worst weather will be between 1 and 6 p.m. today, forecasters said. As of 9 a.m., Guam was experiencing tropical storm conditions, with winds of 58 mph. Later today, the island could see sustained winds of up to 145 mph, with gusts of 170 mph. The storm underwent an eyewall replacement cycle overnight - a phenomenon in intense storms where a new eye develops around an older eye. That caused the windspeed to drop, and the storm went from a super typhoon to a typhoon. As the new eye develops, the storm can intensify again, according to forecasters. Tuesday updates: 862 people in shelters (9 p.m.) There were 862 people in shelters as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, with emergency officials warning that people who lived in coastal areas and in homes that weren't made of concrete would be in significant danger during the storm. Staying safe during the storm (5:15 p.m.) With low-lying coastal areas being evacuated Tuesday evening, emergency officials are encouraging residents to avoid filling sandbags at the beach. People who need sand for sandbags are encouraged to contact their mayor's office for assistance. Use flashlights, not candles The Guam Fire Department recommends the use of flashlights instead of candles during power outages but if you have to use candles, keep these tips in mind: Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish candles completely before you leave the room or go to sleep. Do not burn candles on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep candles away from decorations, curtains, beddings, paper, walls, furniture, and other combustible materials. Always keep candles, matches, and lighters out of the reach of children and never leave children unattended in a room where candles are lit. Place candles out of the reach of children and pets and away from areas where they can be knocked over. Keep burning candles away from flammable liquids. Never touch or move a burning candle when the wax is liquefied. Mawar is a Cat 4 typhoon (3:21 p.m.) Typhoon Mawar is a Category 4 Typhoon that continues to intensify as it moves toward Guam, according to a bulletin from the National Weather Service. The storm was 170 miles southeast of Guam, packing 140 mph winds and heading northwest at 12 mph. "Passage very near or directly over Guam as a Category 4 typhoon on Wednesday is looking increasingly likely. The triple threat of Cat 4 typhoon force winds, torrential rains and life-threatening storm surge are all expected for Guam," according to the Weather Service. Post offices closed (2:48 p.m.) All U.S. Postal Service facilities on Guam, Saipan and Rota closed Tuesday and will remain closed on Wednesday because of Typhoon Mawar. The Guam, Saipan and Ptoa post offices will remain closed until further notice, according to the Postal Service. There will be no street delivery, PO box delivery or retrieval of mail from blue collection box or mail slots while the offices are closed. Position at 1 p.m. (1 p.m.) The eye of Typhoon Mawar was located near Latitude 11.4 degrees north and longitude 146.7 degrees East. Mawar is moving north at 8 mph. It is expected to make a turn toward the northwest with little change in forward speed over the next few days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 130 mph. Mawar is forecast to intensify through tonight. Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center up to 25 miles. Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center up to 100 miles. Guam in COR 1 (1 p.m.) Guam moved into Condition of Readiness 1 at 1 p.m. Tuesdy, meaning destructive winds are possible within the next 12 hours. The community is advised to remain indoors until COR 4 is announced. Simultaneously, Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz are also in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 1 All Andersen gates are now closed. All Navy Base Guam gates will be closed at 10 p.m., subject to weather conditions. Governor orders evacuations from low-lying coastal areas. (11:20 a.m.) Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has ordered the evacuation of residents living in low-lying coastal areas, especially in the south. She has ordered the National Guard to help with the evacuations, as well as with traffic control. United flights canceled (11 a.m.) Due to inclement weather as a result of Typhoon Mawar, United Airlines announced that most of the afternoon flights scheduled for May 23 and all flights for May 24 have been tentatively canceled. United has issued a travel waiver for all Guam, Saipan, and Micronesia flights scheduled between May 22 and 24. The United City Ticket Office in Guam will be closed after 1 p.m. on Tuesday and will remain closed Wednesday. United customers who are scheduled to depart on May 23 and May 24 are encouraged to check united.com or the United app for the most current flight information or to reschedule their flights as a result of Typhoon Mawar. Customers can contact United Reservations at 1-800-864-8331 for assistance. Public Health (9:50 a.m.) The Department of Public of Health and Social Services Northern Pharmacy will close today at 12 p.m. in preparation of Typhoon Mawar. DPHSSs Northern Community Health Center in Dededo and Southern Community Health Center in Inalahan will remain open throughout Typhoon Mawar. Haiti - Crisis : African and Caribbean countries ready to help Haiti, but Haitians remain divided On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, the Dominican Minister of External Affairs, Roberto Alvarez, declared that several countries on the African continent were ready to help Haiti deal with the political, humanitarian and security crisis that Haitians are going through. He also pointed out that Rwanda (the 6th country with the most peacekeepers in the world) has publicly expressed its interest in helping Haiti. In the Caribbean, "[...] Jamaica and the Bahamas, among others, have said they are ready to send men to support the National Police of Haiti. The problem is that the Haitian political elites cannot come to an agreement..." which prevents any intervention... In addition, Roberto Alvarez indicated that the closure of the Dominican Consulates in Haiti was temporary when the crisis began and that now the Dominican Consulates were functioning normally. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Cholera : Daily bulletin #189 May 15, 2023: (latest available data, previous Ministry bulletin May 14 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39612-haiti-cholera-daily-bulletin-188.html Data calculated since the first confirmed case (October 3, 2022) Total suspected cases: 44,604 cases +250 in 24 hours, the day before +118 in 24 hours Total confirmed cases: 2,678* cases +0, the day before +0 in 24 hours Total hospitalized cases (suspected and confirmed): 38,989 cases +217 cases in 24 hours, the day before +119 in 24 hours Total deaths: 687** deaths ((460 institutional (+0) and 227*** community (+1)) +1, previous +1 *No information on the number of samples received and the number of cases confirmed by the MSPP Laboratories. Information not updated for 25 days. **Institutional not updated for 6 days. ***Very partial community, heavily affected areas, inaccessible due to urban violence. Partial assessment of cholera in Haiti according to data from the Department of Epidemiology, Laboratories and Research of the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP). Distribution of suspected cases, total since October 3: Less than 1 year: 1,024 cases (+4) 1-4 years: 8,928 cases (+65) 5-9 years: 6,421 cases (+33) 10-14 years old: 3,197 cases (+26) 15-19 years old: 2,345 cases (+14) 20-29 years old: 5,741 cases (+36) 30-39 years old: 4,904 cases (+29) 40-49 years old: 3,626 cases (+13) 50-59 years old: 2,751 cases (+14) 60-69 years old: 1,946 cases (+8) 70-79 years old: 1,124 cases (+3) 80 years and over: 465 cases (+5) Men: 54.40% men (+); Women 45.60 (-) Positivity rate by age segment: Number of tests performed: 7.606* +0 in previous 24 hours +0 in 24 hours Positivity rate: 35.20%, previous 35.20% *No information on the number of samples received and the number of cases confirmed by the MSPP Laboratories. Information not updated for 26 days Departments with confirmed cases: Artibonite, Centre, GrandAnse, North, North West, Nippes, North East, West, South and South East Previous bulletin: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39612-haiti-cholera-daily-bulletin-188.html List of Treatment Centers for acute diarrhea (including Cholera): https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37939-icihaiti-flash-list-of-acute-diarrhea-treatment-centers-including-cholera.html Definitions: Suspected cases: Anyone with acute watery, profuse diarrhea with or without vomiting and dehydration Confirmed case: Any suspected case with a positive culture for Vibrio cholerae or presenting an epidemiological link with a confirmed case of cholera Hospitalized case: Any suspected or confirmed case that spends at least 24 hours in a care centre Institutional death:Any suspected or confirmed case who dies in a treatment center. Community death: Any suspected case that dies outside of a caring institution. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38148-haiti-humanitarian-the-un-and-its-partners-launch-a-flash-appeal-of-$1456m-for-haiti.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37816-icihaiti-cholera-entry-ban-on-cooked-food-from-haiti-on-the-dajabon-market.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37807-haiti-flash-cholera-the-who-is-sounding-the-alarm.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37803-haiti-flash-already-7-dead-from-cholera-and-dozens-of-suspected-cases.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37795-haiti-flash-cholera-back-in-haiti-fear-of-epidemic-the-un-ready-to-intervene.html HL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Subscribe to our daily NewsLetter Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password or receive our NewsLetter. Stay logged in Lost password Contact Benachrichtigung aktivieren Durfen wir Sie in Ihrem Browser uber die wichtigsten Nachrichten des Handelsblatts informieren? Sie erhalten 2-5 Meldungen pro Tag. Fast geschafft Erlauben Sie handelsblatt.com Ihnen Benachrichtigungen zu schicken. Dies konnen Sie in der Meldung Ihres Browsers bestatigen. LINVILLE, N.C. The North Carolina General Assembly has declared 2023 the Year of the Trail, encouraging the state to emphasize showcasing, promoting and celebrating its unique and extensive trail systems while getting people outside and immersed in nature. Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is joining in this celebration by recognizing the American Hiking Societys National Trails Day. A premier hiking destination in the Southeast, renowned by trail enthusiasts, Grandfather has historically hosted a Trails Day event and is bringing the festivities back for N.C.s Year of the Trail. On June 3, the Linville, N.C., nature preserve will host various interpretive tables and programs at the Woods Walk, located about a third of a mile from the Grandfather Entrance Gate. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., included with park admission, guests will have the opportunity to learn about a diverse range of topics such as how to plan a hike, the principles of Leave No Trace, essential hiking items to bring and more. Additionally, interpretive park guides or resource management technicians will lead multiple guided hikes. John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, stated that the hikes will focus on the mountains unique natural resources as well as how participants can prepare themselves for expeditions of their own. The hiking trails on Grandfather Mountain have a long history of attracting hikers for the ruggedness, views and natural beauty that this place has to offer, said Caveny. We are happy to offer this event to showcase our trails and assist participants in being better prepared for all of their outdoor adventures. As some programming will occur concurrently, guests are encouraged to move from table to table to gain the widest extent of information. The full schedule of the days events is listed below 11 a.m. 2 p.m.: Interpretive Tables around Woods Walk 12 12:30 p.m.: Woods Walk guided hike 1 1:30 p.m.: Woods Walk guided hike 2 3 p.m.: Black Rock guided hike Grandfather Mountain Trails Grandfather Mountain offers a variety of hiking trails suitable for all fitness levels, ranging from easy and moderate to more dynamic and technical. Looping from a picnic area near the parks entrance gate and just under half a mile long, Woods Walk is perfect for a leisurely woodland stroll. Beginning from the Black Rock Parking Area, hikers can take on a few more moderate and scenic trails. The Bridge Trail ends at the Top Shop by the Mile High Swinging Bridge, just under half a mile each way. The Black Rock Trail, offering stunning views and extending to a rock outcropping, is about a mile each way. The Grandfather Trail Loop utilizes three trails, taking visitors through towering boulders and underneath the bridge with an elevation above 5,000 feet. For experienced hikers looking for a more adventurous trail, the Grandfather Trail offers a 2.4-mile trek into Grandfather Mountain State Park featuring cables and ladders for hand-over-hand progress, and ends at the mountains highest point, Calloway Peak, at 5,946 feet. Backcountry trails, including the popular Profile Trail and Daniel Boone Scout Trail, have separate trailheads accessed from the state park off of N.C. 105 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Always remember to have a plan before you leave for a hike. Let someone know where you are going and when you intend to return, read signage at the trailheads for important information and regulations about the trail you are going on and be prepared for all different weather conditions. To view Grandfather Mountains hiking guides, visit www.grandfather.com/hikes. For more information on the National Trails Day event, visit www.grandfather.com/event/national-trail-day. The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket The total represents an increase of 14,00021,000 from previous years, an increase that may be partly attributable to the scrapping of entry restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, Johannes Hirvela , the director of development at the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), stated to STT on Wednesday. Scrapping the restrictions, he explained, allowed for the release of pent-up demand. There were increases across permit types. There was an increase in work-based permits, there were more students and also family members arrived in higher numbers. The only type without growth was asylum seekers, he revealed to the news agency. While the number of immigrants is not expected to be as high this year, the long-term trend is clearly pointing upward. Immigration to Finland has been growing throughout the 2000s, reminded Hirvela. Although the outcome of the ongoing coalition formation negotiations will be reflected in the number of residence permits granted, the demand and application numbers will surely continue growing. Russia was the largest source country of immigration, with the number of immigrants jumping to the 30-year high of roughly 6,000. Such immigration levels have not been witnessed since some 5,500 people moved from the Soviet Union to Finland in 1991, the last year of existence for the Soviet Union. The next largest source countries of immigration were Sweden (2,600), India (2,400), Estonia (2,400) and the Philippines (2,250). Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion are not incorporated in the statistics, as they are granted residence on grounds of temporary protection. According to Migri, over 47,000 Ukrainians applied for temporary protection in Finland in 2022. STT on Wednesday reported that Finland attracts immigrants particularly due to study and work opportunities. From the Philippines, for example, many immigrated to work as domestic helpers or practical nurses. The labour shortage has resulted in the development of international recruitment networks in Finland, said Hirvela. Studying in Finland is appealing to foreigners due to the relatively low tuition fees. Hirvela, though, pointed out that there may not be more potential for growth due to the limited student capacity of programmes taught in English. Internal migration contributed to the population growth of six regions in Finland in 2022, according to Statistics Finland. Pirkanmaa, the region surrounding Tampere, made the largest gains from internal migration in more than 70 years, increasing its population by 3,800. The next biggest beneficiaries of internal migration flows were Uusimaa and Southwest Finland, which each registered gains of around 1,000. Aleksi Teivainen HT Riikka Purra , the chairperson of the populist right-wing party, has cited a calculation made by the ministry as justification for the limit. AN OFFICIAL at the Ministry of Finance has challenged the Finns Partys justification for its demand for requiring 2,500 euros in gross monthly income from work-based immigrants from outside the EU, reports Helsingin Sanomat. The calculation, she said, indicates that on average people contribute positively to the public economy that is, they pay more in taxes than they receive in social security benefits only if their gross income exceeds 2,500 euros a month. A work-based residence permit can presently be granted if the immigrant will earn at least 1,331 euros a month in a job not covered by a collective bargaining agreement or the minimum wage in a full-time job covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Jukka Mattila, a financial advisor at the Ministry of Finance, told Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday that public interpretations of the calculation are founded on an unfortunate misunderstanding. He stated to the newspaper that the calculation in fact indicates that an employed person on average has a net-positive impact on the public economy if they earn slightly over 2,000 euros, rather than 2,500 euros, a month. The calculation, he also reminded, is unrelated to work-based immigration as it was drafted as part of the employment services reform to estimate the benefits of employing an unemployed person to municipalities. If the estimate was extended to the impact of work-based immigration on the public economy, it would also have to take into account the indirect taxes, such as value-added tax, paid by and the cost of the public services used by the employee. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment viewed earlier this month that the income limit for work-based immigrants should be set at 1,500 euros. The proposal is based on its estimate that people of foreign backgrounds are typically so-called net contributors if they earn over 1,500 euros a month. Mattila argued that the calculation has similar problems. It both fails distinguish between work-based immigrants and other immigrants, and takes into consideration only the taxes immigrants pay on their earnings and the direct income transfers they receive. He underlined that it is crucial to examine the economic impact of work-based immigrants in the long term in order to answer questions such as do they stay in the country, does their pay increase over time and do they become reliant on social security benefits if made redundant. Setting a single income criterion for work-based residence permits on economic grounds is virtually impossible given the effects of variables such as age, according to Mattila. A person moving to the country at a younger age, he explained, is more likely to contribute positively to the public economy because they can work longer before retiring. Work-based immigration is one of the most contentious issues in the coalition formation talks underway between the National Coalition, Finns Party, Swedish Peoples Party and Christian Democrats. While the Finns Party has called for limitations also on work-based immigration, the Swedish Peoples Party is seeking to increase both humanitarian and work-based immigration in order to address labour shortages and promote economic growth. The four parties are seeking common ground on the most contentious issues, including immigration, this week before resuming work on other issues. Aleksi Teivainen HT Bearcat valedictorian earns BRCC degree before HHS graduation Photo Credit: Graduate Berit Raines poses with her degree on May 13. [BENJAMIN RICKERT/Blue Ridge Community College] As Berit Raines proudly walked across the stage at Blue Ridge Community College on May 13, she achieved something unique; she graduated from college before finishing high school. Now, she is waiting for her big day at Hendersonville High on June 9, where shell pick up diploma as valedictorian of the Class of 2023. As Raines was presented an Associate in Arts degree by Blue Ridge President Laura B. Leatherwood, she had a lot on her mind. I was thinking about how supportive everyone has been and how great of a community Blue Ridge has been, said Raines. A big thought was also do not trip on this stage, she joked. Berit Raines began her college career as a Hendersonville junior in Blue Ridges Career and College Promise (CCP) program, which allows students to take numerous tuition-free college classes while enrolled in high school. Many of the credits she earned from these classes - several of which were fully online - applied toward both her high school and college credentials. Berit also took Blue Ridge classes over the summer and made use of her advanced placement class credits. This is how she graduated from college with honors nearly a full month before finishing grade 12. I really enjoyed the variety of courses I was able to get in addition to what was available at my high school, she explained. With encouragement from her high school advisor as a junior, Raines chose Blue Ridges College Transfer CCP pathway. This decision will expand her options and help her save money when she later pursues a four-year degree. Raines now plans to attend Wellesley College near Boston, Massachusetts, and her current career goal is to work in an art museum, serving in a role that involves curation or conservation. The art and art history classes she took at Blue Ridge were a perfect fit for her future goals. All of my instructors were incredibly supportive and collaborative, and it was a really great experience, she said. In fact, Raines said her instructors were the best part of her college experience. She explained that the faculty understood her needs and capabilities, as well as how to collaborate to help her get the best results. She specifically named art instructor Aaron Bernard and philosophy/world religions instructor Eric Williamson as inspiring educators. Before Berit can take all she has learned to the Boston area this fall, she still has a few weeks of high school remaining. Shell also need to wear the iconic cap and gown once more. Its an odd feeling having graduated from college before high school. Its not the usual order of things, she said with a smile. But its refreshing. At Blue Ridge Community College, area high school students can pursue numerous transferable tuition-free Career and College Promise pathways. These pathways lead to numerous credentials that prepare a student for entry level positions after high school, or for accelerated completion of credentials, degrees, and diplomas at the college level. In addition to on-campus and online courses that high school students can participate in, Blue Ridge Community College offers a unique program called Blue Ridge Scholars, which offers face-to-face college courses provided in a cohort model on the high school campus for qualified juniors and seniors. Students earn 25-27 semester hours of college credits. A COUNCILLOR who represents Benson on Oxfordshire County Council has been appointed its chairman. Felix Bloomfield, who lives in Ewelme, succeeds Susanna Pressel, having served as her deputy last year. Councillor Bloomfield, a Conservative, was formally elected as chairman at the councils annual meeting on Tuesday and agreed to be politically impartial. His responsibilities include chairing meetings of the council, accepting invitations and attending events and inviting individuals to events at county hall and elsewhere. Cllr Bloomfields duties include promoting objectives and services of the council, acting as an ambassador for it and Oxfordshire as a whole and to foster community identity and pride. His theme for the year is anxiety and he will be raising money for several charities, particularly those promoting Sepsis awareness for the public and medical practitioners. Cllr Bloomfield was born in Oxford and educated locally before attending university in London. He has lived and worked in Oxfordshire most of his life. He served on South Oxfordshire District Council for 20 years and was its youngest ever chairman. He was also a professional photojournalist for many years, specialising in motor sport and the music industry. Councillor Alison Rooke, who represents the Abingdon East division, has been elected as vice-chairman of the council for the year. SUPPORTERS of a headteacher who took her own life after her school was rated inadequate by inspectors described a meeting with the Education Secretary as positive. Ruth Perry, 53, who had been headteacher of Caversham Primary School in Hemdean Road since 2010, died in January. She had been told that the school was to be downgraded from outstanding to inadequate following a two-day Ofsted inspection in November. Her death led to nationwide calls for reform of the education watchdog, including demands that one-word overall ratings are scrapped. On Tuesday, the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan held a three-hour meeting with a delegation of campaigners which included Mrs Perrys sister Julia Waters and Matt Rodda, MP for Reading East. Ms Keegan said the meeting was very constructive and pledged to hold another in the future. Professor Waters said she felt that she had been listened to. She said: Gillian Keegan genuinely was listening. There was a genuine recognition in the room that something went terribly wrong, that Ruth was not an inadequate teacher and therefore that the whole system needs to be looked at. She acknowledged our concerns, so Im encouraged by three hours of very positive discussions and listening and by the commitments that have been made that in Ruths name we will push forward for a more humane and more effective, fit-for-purpose inspection system for schools. I dont want warm words, I want action in the name of my sister and for the teaching profession; Ofsted needs to be reformed, we need proper positive change. Mr Rodda said: I am grateful to the Education Secretary for spending some time listening to our concerns about Ofsted. I am pleased that the Government is starting to listen. However, it is important that ministers now take action and reform Ofsted. The reform should include ending single word judgements on inspection reports. Ofsted has previously said that inspections were carried out professionally and sensitively, in the interests of children. On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered at Reading town hall to remember Ms Perry. The memorial service was for family, friends, colleagues and students. A eulogy and readings were given which described her as hugely loved and respected. Speaking outside the town hall, Prof Waters said: Its the first time since Ruths death in January, weve really been able to come together as a broader family but also with Ruths friends and colleagues past, and more recent, and with a large number of her former pupils as well. We shared memories of Ruth and what she meant to us, how she influenced all our lives for the better and how much we miss her. Today is a bittersweet moment and poignan tbut I think weve still not really come to terms with our loss. Were still grieving but we know that so many other people are too and its just a really special occasion to be together with people who knew Ruth. There has been a lot of talk from people who dont know Ruth, claiming to know what her motivations were and so we are gathering to remember the Ruth that we knew and loved and respected. Mrs Perrys death set off a wave of anger among school leaders at the pressure and mental toll imposed on them by Ofsted. Schools in the Caversham area removed all mention of it on their websites in protest. But Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector, said she had no reason to doubt the report on the school and she believed the findings were secure. She said the inspectors had worked with the professionalism and sensitivity that I would expect from what Ive seen I dont have any reason to doubt the inspection. She has also defended Ofsteds one-word assessments, which have been criticised for being too simplistic, arguing they are easier for parents to understand. Ms Spielman acknowledged there was a culture of fear in schools over inspections but attributed this to several factors. She said inadequate judgements made up a tiny proportion overall and that the inspection process was positive and affirming for most schools. Ofsted has said it only gives an inadequate judgement to a school for safeguarding reasons if it has serious cause for concern. On May 21, 22, and 23, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra joined leaders from across the world in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) to discuss global health priorities. In addition to addressing the member states at the WHA, Secretary Becerra held bilateral meetings with counterparts and represented the United States in key events on womens, childrens, and adolescents health; pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response; and antimicrobial resistance. During these and other meetings, Secretary Becerra stressed: The benefits of building robust health systems based on equity, inclusion, and opportunity; The importance of continued collaboration and coordination when it comes to promoting policies that address global health and human services challenges and preparing for the challenges we will face in the future; The U.S. government's ongoing commitment to fortifying the global health and health security architecture, including through pandemic preparedness to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies; The urgency of advancing access to essential health services, including through universal health coverage and sexual and reproductive health and rights both domestically and abroad; The U.S. government's support for sustainable funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) to meet today's health challenges; and The U.S. government's continued commitment to supporting Ukraine. HHS Office of Global Affairs (OGA) Assistant Secretary Loyce Pace will assume the role of head of the delegation to continue member-state discussions and events in Geneva this week. This week, the festivals of Ganga Dussehra and Gayatri Jayanti will be celebrated in different parts of India. Talking of planetary transits, Venus the planet of love and beauty will transit into the watery and emotional sign of Cancer. Apart from this, there are auspicious muhuratas available this week for marriage, griha pravesh (housewarming), as well as purchase of property and vehicles. Let's explore the important Panchanga details for New Delhi, NCT, India, for the week. Get weekly Panchang to determine auspicious and inauspicious time for performing day-to-day tasks based on the prevailing planetary position. Shubh Muhurat This Week According to Vedic Astrology, the odds of accomplishing a task successfully are significantly enhanced if they are carried out during an auspicious muhurata. An auspicious muhurata provides us with the best outcome possible according to our destiny if we execute the work in harmony with the cosmic timeline. That is why it is essential to take muhurata into account while commencing any auspicious work. This weeks Shubh Muhurat for various activities are as follows: Vivah Muhurat: Auspicious muhuratas for marriage this week are available on May 27 (08:51 PM to 11:43 PM), May 29 (09:01 PM to 05:24 AM, May 30), May 30 (05:24 AM to 08:55 PM) and June 1 (06:48 AM to 07:00 PM) Griha Pravesh Muhurat: Auspicious muhuratas for griha pravesh are available this week on May 29 (11:49 AM to 04:29 AM, May 30) and May 31 (06:00 AM to 01:45 PM) Property Purchase Muhurat: Auspicious muhurata for purchasing property is available this week on May 26 (05:25 AM to 05:25 AM, May 27) Vehicle Purchase Muhurat: Auspicious muhurata for purchasing vehicle this week is available on May 31 (05:24 AM to 01:45 PM) and June 1 (01:39 PM to 05:24 AM, Jun 02) Upcoming Planetary Transits This Week In Vedic astrology, planetary transits are particularly crucial since they are the principal way of anticipating the changes and advances in life. Planets move on a daily basis and go through several nakshatras and rashis in the process. It assists in comprehending us the nature and characteristic of events as they occur. Here are the upcoming transits this week: Sun and Moon Vyatipata on May 26, Friday, at 12:14 AM Sun and Saturn positioned at an angle of 90-degree on May 28, Sunday, at 4:13 PM Venus enters Cancer sign on May 30, Tuesday, at 7:51 PM Upcoming Festivals This Week Dhumavati Jayanti (May 28, Sunday): Dhumavati is a goddess in Hinduism, often considered one of the ten Mahavidyas (Great Wisdom Goddesses). On this day, goddess Dhumavati is worshipped. Dhumavati is a goddess in Hinduism, often considered one of the ten Mahavidyas (Great Wisdom Goddesses). On this day, goddess Dhumavati is worshipped. Mahesh Navami (Monday, May 29): It is a day to worship Lord Shiva, who is also known as Mahadev, Bholenath, and Shankar. The festival is observed on the Shukla Paksha Navami Tithi of the Jyeshtha month. It is a day to worship Lord Shiva, who is also known as Mahadev, Bholenath, and Shankar. The festival is observed on the Shukla Paksha Navami Tithi of the Jyeshtha month. Ganga Dussehra (Tuesday, May 30): It is a significant Hindu festival that celebrates the descent of the holy river Ganga (Ganges) onto the Earth. The festival holds great importance for devotees of the Ganges River, as they believe that bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganga on this day can cleanse them of their sins and grant them liberation. It is a significant Hindu festival that celebrates the descent of the holy river Ganga (Ganges) onto the Earth. The festival holds great importance for devotees of the Ganges River, as they believe that bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganga on this day can cleanse them of their sins and grant them liberation. Jyeshtha Gayatri Jayanti (Wednesday, May 31): It is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of the goddess Gayatri. It is observed on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of the Jyestha month in the Hindu calendar. Gayatri is the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment. She is also the mother of the Vedas, the sacred texts of Hinduism. Inauspicious Rahu Kalam This Week According to Vedic astrology, Rahu is an inauspicious planet. During transition of planets the time under the influence of Rahu should be avoided to do any auspicious work. Doing Puja, Hawan or Yagya to propitiate auspicious planets during this time is interfered by Rahu due to its malefic nature. It is important to consider Rahu Kaal before starting any new work. By doing so, possibility of achieving desired results is increased. Following are the timings of Rahu Kalam for this week: May 26: 10:35 AM to 12:18 PM May 27: 08:52 AM to 10:35 AM 08:52 AM to 10:35 AM May 28: 05:29 PM to 07:12 PM May 29: 07:08 AM to 08:52 AM May 30: 03:46 PM to 05:30 PM May 31: 12:19 PM to 02:03 PM June 01: 02:03 PM to 03:47 PM Panchanga is a calendar used in Vedic astrology to determine the auspicious and inauspicious time for performing day-to-day tasks based on the prevailing planetary position. It comprises of five elements - Vaara, Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana. The essence of the Panchanga is the inter-relationship between Sun (our soul) and Moon (mind) on a daily basis. Panchanga is used for different branches of Vedic astrology such as natal, election, prashna (horary), religious calendars and to understand the energy of the day. The day of our birth panchanga depicts our emotions, temperament, and nature. It can provide more insight into who we are and how we feel. It can amplify the effect of the planets and endow us with additional characteristics that we may not understand only based on our natal chart. Panchanga is the life force energy that nourishes the birth chart. ---------------------- Neeraj Dhankher (Vedic Astrologer, Founder - Astro Zindagi) Email: info@astrozindagi.in, neeraj@astrozindagi.in Url: www.astrozindagi.in Contact: Noida: +919910094779 When a book grabs her attention at a bookstore, Komal Seth immediately flips it open. If it doesnt move in the first 20-30 pages, I just leave it, she says adding that she never judges books by their covers. I always wrap them so the covers are irrelevant to me. PREMIUM Paramita Brahmacharis cover for Pebble Monkey by Manindra Gulpta won the Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize 2023. (Oxford Bookstore) Seth would be right at home in Canada where, according to a 2022 BookNet Canada study, most readers care more about the subject (30%) and book description (19%). The study also says, though, that book covers are among the top five purchase influencers. Clearly, there are cultural differences when it comes to the matter. According to a Little Brown Group study in 2017, reported by The Scottish Sun, 52% readers chose books based on jacket artwork. In 2019, WHSmith, which has 50+ stores in India spanning six airports, the Delhi metro and some universities, surveyed 2,500 customers and uncovered some truths on the nations book-buying behaviour. 65% of our buyers had never read a book or had read one book in the past six months. Thats the kind of impulse purchase in travel retail. So today, cover design is the difference between maximising and minimising chances of a books success, says category head, Sandeep Gulia. All that goes into designing a cover (balabolka / Shutterstock) Publishing insiders also confirm a shift in the value attached to book covers. Today, the cover has become more important. Books are only sold by the cover. Here, Im talking about those who are new to reading. Therefore, designers are getting far more prominence than earlier. Every publishing house now has an art director. Sales and marketing also have a lot more say, says Amrita Talwar, Senior Marketing and Publicity Manager of Westland Books, Pratilipi. What also signals this shift is an award dedicated to the niche the Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize. Namita Gokhale had mooted the idea; its really good that Oxford started this because its like the movies; people only know the actors but the producer, cinematographer, everyones important. Similarly, designers are important as they give books a face, says author, academic and museum curator Alka Pande, who has been on the award jury since its launch in 2015. In the last eight years, the number of entries has tripled to 336. Open to regional players and independent designers, the prize aims to further awareness and recognition. They manage to pick unique covers (for longlists and shortlists) so you get to see a range, says Bonita Vaz Shimray, art director, HarperCollins India. Awards definitely boost a winners profile. Pinaki (De) once said that earlier he couldnt choose, but just making it to the lists has given him options, says Neeta Sreedharan, who coordinates the awards. Shimray believes having an award dedicated solely to recognising book covers ensures that the honour isnt lost in a welter of awards for different publishing categories. The cash component makes it enticing for independent publishers and accessibility makes a difference too as earlier only publishers could apply, she says. Regular readers too are drawn in by book covers. Radio professional Anita Naidu Pawaskar (50) who buys about 12 books a year says a third of them are by authors she doesnt know. Especially with new authors, book covers influence you a lot. I might not buy it but even if the rib catches my attention, Ill read what the books about, says Pawaskar who has often bought books because the covers made her nostalgic. The 2011 edition of Hans Christian Anderson fairytales, for instance, reminded her of the impeccable, painting-like illustrations of Ladybird books. Naturally, she snapped it up. Shes made repeat purchases of The Hungry Caterpillar, Matilda and others too. If I like a cover, Ill buy the book again, and also gift it, she says revealing that she recently bought beautifully illustrated hardbound editions of Oliver Twist, Anna Karenina, and Gone With The Wind. George Orwell's 1984. Classic cover (Shutterstock) Vinitha Ramchandani, whos written over 25 childrens books and headed Popular Prakashans (PP) English publishing from 2009 to 2014, says book covers are a marketing tool. Talwar agrees. The book cover has to be shouting, screeching at the customer visiting the bookstore because now many books dominate. Often now, its about the loudness; you dont find soft, subtle covers, she says. Covers often become flashier once the book is a success. One of Shimrays favourites was a cover of Gale Honeymoons Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. It had a house made of match sticks with an understated white-background, and hand-written type, she says. It suggested perfectly the story of a young woman, whose house burnt down in her childhood. When the book did well, however, the background was changed to yellow. Its one of those tropes where yellow and red backgrounds shout from a mile. This is simply a case where youre saying, Lets make the book brighter so that those who missed it the first time, dont miss it now Digitisation has also had an impact on cover design. Fonts are larger than they were before. Titles need to be larger because of the small thumbnails you see on Amazon, says Mansi Shetty, who leads marketing for Puffin, Penguins childrens vertical. Collectors items (Julie Clopper / Shutterstock) Wall Street Journals article from 2016, Book Covers See Yellow to Attract Online Shoppers, discussed exactly this. Amazons growing influence has led to publishers to push for brighter, bolder covers that attract online shoppers. Talwar says that market feedback indicates that black and white covers dont sell. Colour contrast might make covers pop but the highest-contrast combination of black and white can turn off publishers, who worry that without colour, the book wont stand out. White covers in particular recede against the white backgrounds of Amazon and other online retailers. Yellow, on the other hand, jumps off online pages and can support both dark and bright type and graphics, she says. Social media has intensified the trend. Consumers today want books that are good looking, slick and visual. It wasnt so important 20 years ago. Today, we are catering to short attention spans, people whore very visually stimulated. Its the Instagram generation, she says adding that feedback from bookstores have also added to the accumulated insights on cover design. They say that the authors name should be on top and that readers do not like too many illustrations or too much messaging. Marketing-driven rules are often the bane of designers. Shimray, for whom form follows function, finds it formulaic to use loud and clear titles for books by celebrity authors. Thats never been my approach. Its always the story first, and within that to see what concept can add value to large typeface. This is true even if it means, out of a million typefaces, choosing that one that can emote the story better, connect with the reader more. Thats the designers job. There might be feedback that we need to be out there and obvious but, even within that, theres plenty of room to explore and find something refreshing, she says. Covers that stand out. (Jeff Whyte / Shutterstock) Perhaps thats why she seeks designers whore interested in reading the book, and understand its sensibilities and can creatively interpret the brief. Earlier, at Popular Prakashan things were different. Designers werent expected to read the book, says Ramchandani adding that generally designers prefer to be part of meetings to absorb the books nuances via verbal and visual cues. Lower budgets also meant PP books werent displayed at eye level in bookstores or were placed in stacks. To make the most of the situation, the publishers designers began paying attention to the spine. Certain fonts stood out, even from afar, and some didnt, even if the cover was designed well. Blurbs underwent a transition too, says Ramchandani who reveals that originally, the trend was towards packing a lot into the blurbs. However, it soon became clear that the blurb is just one of the many elements on the cover. Endorsements, on the other hand, are important, especially in fiction. If Salman Rushdie says a book is fantastic, then Ill look at it again. I spoke to a number of people and got similar feedback, she says. Today, endorsements often make it to the front cover. Therefore when book editors send the design team a detailed brief, alongside the title and subtitle, Shimray also expects to know if shout-lines are coming. So when were visualising a cover, especially if its type-driven, you know the number of lines that will add to the cover composition. Having to fit it in after everythings in place really kills the cover, she says. Typically, style decisions are taken after a synopsis or vivid and visual extracts are given. Thats when designers wonder if they should go for a photo, illustration, or a combination of the two. Draft covers follow. The one that the the publisher, sales and marketing teams and the CEO like is then shared with the author. The process could take six months with timelines varying for fiction and non-fiction. The approach differs according to the genre. If its a big book, you want to generate interest in the personality youre publishing, so cover work could precede editing, whereas with fiction, both literary and commercial, editing and design run parallel, says Shimray. Another enduring classic. (Petr Kahanek / Shutterstock) Pande believes covers are becoming very international and global. Covers also depend on book trends. A lot more women authors, autobiographies and personal stories are coming, so when the content changes, the cover changes, she says. Covers also change when books travel to international markets or when foreign titles are published in India. Shimray says she wouldnt change a good one as the same cover seen across markets can steer publicity from international coverage towards the Indian edition. It works 90% of the time, she says. But things are different with commercial fiction. You want visuals directly relatable to your audience, specifically addressing your market. So with Chitra (Banerjee Divakaruni), weve always had different covers for India and the US, she says revealing that the international covers tend to be very exotic when dealing with India. Here, however, the understanding would be more refined. Context drives makeovers for non-fiction too. Shimrays award-winning cover for Remnants of a Separation, which revisits Partition through the objects that refugees carried across the border, had a shot of author Aanchal Malhotras grandmother wearing the maang tikka (middle parting ornament) mentioned in the book. It shows her face only till the eyes, and shows her wrinkles, so it doesnt say who the person is, but defines an era, a passage of time... Internationally, both the cover and the title of the book changed. The international title is Remnants of Partition. While separation is an emotional term, Partition is an event in history; they wanted that understood without any confusion, says Shimray. Context drives makeovers for non-fiction too. Shimrays award-winning cover for Remnants of a Separation, which revisits Partition through the objects that refugees carried across the border, had a shot of author Aanchal Malhotras grandmother wearing the maang tika mentioned in the book. (HarperCollins) Likewise, the title and the cover of Katherine Ebans bestseller, Bottle of Lies, was changed for the Indian market. The subtitle too went from The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom to the more direct Ranbaxy and the Dark Side of Indian Pharma. If marketing drives so much, do authors have a say? We would first ask the author, says Ramchandani. Sometimes they came with a very fixed idea. If it worked with us, we executed it. If it didnt, the editor would think up a title and visual, and share it with the designer. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and his marketing team were very involved. Final options were also whetted with bookstores. Authors often feel theyre treated badly, not heard enough. Many prominent authors came to us because they never got that kind of audience with bigger publishing houses. They often want to collaborate like partners. There, the book would be taken, contract filled, and authors would see it only towards the end, she says. Shimray says this might be true internationally but is almost never the case here. Were very mindful that its the authors creative work first. Well always try address their inputs, make them feel heard. Weve never forced a cover the author doesnt feel for, she says. Incidentally, Paramita Brahmacharis striking cover for Pebble Monkey by Manindra Gupta won the Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize 2023, earlier this week. Perhaps more prizes should be instituted for covers. Theres no doubt that they do play a very big role in the eventual success of a book. Pooja Bhula is an independent journalist based in Mumbai. She is the co-author of Intelligent Fanatics of India. She is @poojabhula on Twitter Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the quest for groundbreaking advancements in cancer research and fostering positive societal change, two prominent organizations, Quatech Research Center and Gorgio International Holding, have come together to make a significant impact. While Quatech Research Center focuses on revolutionizing cancer treatment through their innovative formulations, Gorgio International Holding is driven by a strong commitment to making the world a better place. This article explores the collaborative efforts of these organizations and their shared vision of creating a sustainable future while redefining societal standards. Quatech Research Center's Advancements in Cancer Treatment: At the forefront of the fight against cancer, Quatech Research Center has dedicated its expertise to Epithelial Cancers, a wide range of malignant tumors. Over the years, their team of brilliant scientists has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in the field of medicine and anti-cancer supplements. Their innovative formulations have shown immense promise in combating cancer and are currently undergoing the patenting process. Recognizing the importance of collaboration, Quatech Research Center has recently assembled a team of leading oncologists from around the world to further enhance their achievements. Gorgio International Holding: A Commitment to a Better World: Gorgio International Holding is a distinguished organization built on strong values and a profound sense of responsibility. Their primary objective is to make a positive impact on the world through sustainable development and creating value-driven business environments. With the support of renowned scientists, economists, and inventors in various fields, Gorgio International Holding is well-equipped to redefine living standards and facilitate social prestige for all individuals. By fostering trust, encouraging personal and professional growth, and motivating others, they empower people to make a meaningful difference in their lives and society as a whole. Collaborative Synergy: Quatech and Gorgio Join Forces: Recognizing the shared values and aspirations for a better future, Quatech Research Center and Gorgio International Holding have united their efforts. With Quatech's groundbreaking advancements in cancer treatment and Gorgio's commitment to societal progress, this collaboration holds immense potential. By leveraging the knowledge and expertise of scientists, economists, and partners in various fields, they aim to create sustainable solutions that address pressing challenges. The fusion of Quatech's leading oncologists and Gorgio's diverse network ensures a multidimensional approach to cancer research, treatment, and social betterment. Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future: Driven by a collective vision, Quatech and Gorgio are committed to a sustainable future. Inspired by their distinguished think tank, comprising prominent scientists and economists, they strive to redefine societal norms and shape a brighter tomorrow. Their collaborative efforts exemplify the belief that everyone has a responsibility to contribute to making the world a better place. As they work towards this common goal, the anticipation for significant advancements in cancer treatment and societal progress grows. Conclusion: The partnership between Quatech Research Center and Gorgio International Holding signifies a powerful alliance in the pursuit of transformative achievements. Quatech's revolutionary developments in cancer treatment, coupled with Gorgio's dedication to societal progress, create a dynamic force poised to drive positive change. By combining their expertise, networks, and shared values, these organizations aim to redefine standards in cancer research, treatment, and social betterment. As they embark on their collaborative journey, the world eagerly awaits the promising advancements and the positive impact they will have on individuals and communities alike. Together, Quatech and Gorgio demonstrate the power of collaboration in shaping a better future for all. 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. New Delhi (India), May 25: Musafir.com, a leading online travel company in India, has partnered with the Royal Commission for AlUla to promote one of Saudi Arabia's hidden gems in the Indian market. With Musafir.coms expertise in travel planning and the Royal Commission for AlUla's commitment to preserving the region's heritage, this partnership promises to offer visitors a truly authentic experience of Saudi Arabia's fascinating history and culture. Rajat Suri, CBO Musafir.com India, said, Our partnership with The Royal Commission for AlUla aims to showcase the beauty and cultural richness of this hidden gem of Saudi Arabia which offers a truly authentic experience for Indians looking for the perfect mix of history and natural beauty combined with exclusive shopping experiences and luxurious resorts. Beena Menon, Representative India - Royal Commission for AlUla, said, AlUla has grown in popularity with Indian tourists due to its rich historical and archaeological sites. AlUla also has stunning natural scenery, with its sandstone canyons and rich oasis, making it a perfect location for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. As a whole, AlUla offers a one-of-a-kind and enriching vacation experience for Indian travellers interested in adventure, history, culture, and natural beauty. We are very excited to be working with Musafir to bring visitors to AlUla so that they can witness AlUla's beauty and charm for themselves. Through our partnership, we are committed to providing exceptional service and making our visitors' stay unforgettable. Located in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia, AlUla is one of the most interesting destinations in the Middle East. Given its rich cultural heritage and stunning natural landscapes, AlUla has remained relatively unknown to the outside world, making this location a true hidden gem where travellers can explore the city's ancient ruins and monuments, including the tombs of the Lihyanite kings and the Nabataean city of Hegra, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the striking features of AlUla is its breathtaking natural beauty. The region has towering sandstone cliffs, rolling dunes, and lush green oases and is perfect for anyone looking to combine natural beauty with thrilling adventures like hot-air balloons, cruising in vintage vehicles in the desert or roughing it out while rock climbing and ziplining at high speeds over the terrains. One can also explore the area on horseback or a camel safari, thereby experiencing the traditional modes of transportation used here for centuries. Hegra, the first UNESCO world heritage site in AlUla, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the region's rich cultural heritage and offering travellers the chance to explore the tombs of the Lihyanites and Nabateans as well as the towering rock formations of Hegra. Here one can explore over 110 remarkably well-preserved tombs set in a desert landscape while learning about the ancient people and culture of AlUla. There are exciting tours available to experience Hegra after dark! Among the natural rock formations, the Elephant Rock in AlUla is a massive sandstone formation in the shape of an elephant which is a favourite spot for travellers to capture its unique beauty at different times of day and in different lighting conditions. The Jabal Alfil is one of the popular attractions among the face rock, arch rock, dancing rocks and Jar rock. These locations are very exciting to visit as they offer different experiences and fun things like camping, tours around the area or stargazing while surrounded by natural beauty and incredible landscapes. A must-see attraction in AlUla is the Old Town. With nearly 900 houses, 400 shops and 5 town squares, the Old Town of AlUla still contains remnants of some of the original stone and mud brick buildings from thousands of years ago. Visitors can wander through the streets, stopping in at local shops and cafes and taking in the sights and sounds of this ancient city. In addition to its rich cultural heritage, AlUla is also known for its vibrant arts and cultural exhibitions in the AlJadidah Arts District. This region is home to several art galleries, museums, and performance spaces, and it is quickly becoming a hub for contemporary artists and musicians. In the AlJadidah Arts District, there are several workshops and activities to indulge in. Visitors can also partake in events and festivals that take place in AlUla. Visit Maraya, a stunning piece of art set in the desert canyon of Ashar Valley. The state-of-the-art structure is covered in 9,740 mirrored panels reflecting AlUla's beauty, making it the largest mirrored building in the world, according to Guinness World Records. Maraya is an excellent example of how AlUlas modern architecture has been carefully designed to fit seamlessly into the environment. Musafir.com has curated a wide range of packages for travellers to visit and explore this wonderful destination and experience the rich history, breathtaking natural beauty, and vibrant culture of Saudi Arabia. Whether you're a history buff, an art lover, or simply someone looking for an unforgettable travel experience or some thrilling activities, AlUla is a destination that should be on your bucket list of places to visit. 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. Unveiling luxury under one concrete setting and paving a brand-new culture, designer Manish Malhotra becomes the first Indian fashion house to set-up their individual design headquarters in Mumbai. Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space Malhotras new state of the art atelier and headquarters located in Mumbais upscale and prominent prime real estate of Bandra is set to redefine the new-age work culture in the luxury fashion industry. The expansive atelier stands as the first landmark by an Indian designers corporate-infused luxurious organisation. Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space Spanning over 40,000 square feet, the expansive, revamped and spacious facility efficiently divides various functions over four floors, accommodating over 400 employees and promoting seamless collaboration, productivity and imagination powered by sustainability. Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space The designer cements his position as a pioneer in the Indian fashion industry as he sets a new standard through his synergetic approach to workplace design, demonstrating that luxury and fashion in India is embracing unity and collaboration. Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space From the process of designing, creating and constructing pieces to the final experience of purchasing couture, the atelier boasts of creativity, collaboration and communication. The result is a space that reflects the importance of a unified, inclusive, luxurious and well-organised work space: an open glass room for the brands continued growth. With the focus on building an open-door policy work environment and incorporating the Gen Z work culture, the space serves Manishs vision for the future. Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space The lavish new office is filled with space, freshness and brightness. It nurtures both young and seasoned talent that boasts of creativity in style, design, fashion and brand communication, while paving a new path for this undying fashion industry. Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space The lush atelier features a range of open, interactive and enclosed brainstorming spaces, a collaborative cafeteria, a meeting lounge, as well as a versatile showroom space for photoshoots, trials and make-up spaces. The made to perfection headquarters boasts of Manishs minimalist yet magical creations with a personal touch of perfection. Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space It further represents a significant investment in the future of Manish Malhotras brand and its commitment to creating innovative and timeless designs. Manish Malhotra opens Indias first luxury headquarters in the fashion space Police on Wednesday arrested a man for allegedly attacking an employee of the Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM) in Koppal district, and refusing to pay his electricity bill dues. The man abused and attacked a GESCOM employee when he was asked to pay the power bill. (HT File) A resident of Kukanapalli in Koppal abused and attacked a GESCOM employee when he was asked to pay the power bill, police sources said. READ | Free power plan poses challenge for Karnataka Congress The supply of power to the house of the accused was cut for not paying the bill. However, the accused is said to have taken an illegal connection, and when the GESCOM staff had gone to question him and asked him to pay the bill, he allegedly abused and attacked one of them, they said. The incident, recorded on the mobile phone by the GESCOM employee's colleague, is being circulated on social media. People have linked this incident with several alleged incidents of people arguing with power supply company staff, refusing to pay bills and dues. READ | Bommai, Kateel slam Cong's 'no saffronisation, no moral policing' move in Karnataka Videos are circulating on social media of such incidents where people are seen giving the excuse that the Karnataka government has guaranteed free electricity. The Congress has promised free electricity for up to 200 units to every house on coming to power. The new government in its first cabinet meeting on May 20 had accorded in-principle approval to its five poll guarantees, including 200 units of free power. After the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had assured that the guarantees would "most likely" be implemented after the next Cabinet meeting. California-based online ride-hailing platform inDrive is planning to start operations in Karnataka capital Bengaluru soon, the company said on Thursday. It is already operational in 10 cities, such as Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Bhopal, news agency PTI reported. inDrive offers ride-hailing, intercity, freight and delivery services in India. "We are spreading to the new cities, which are organically growing as our brand becomes more and more popular in India. Soon, we will launch our services in Bangalore and Pune," the company said in a statement. inDrive follows a price setting model in which the passengers and the drivers can set the fares and choose the best suitable option for themselves. They may also negotiate and come to a fare price together. This comes in the midst of several complaints from commuters in Bengaluru against cab aggregators Ola and Uber on excessive fares. READ | Ola, Uber slapped with 292 cases in Bengaluru for charging excess fare: Report inDrive, which offers ride-hailing, intercity, freight and delivery services in India, said, Creating fairer solutions to address the existing gaps in underserved markets is a crucial part of inDrive's global expansion strategy. The platform is also mulling offering services in regional languages like Tamil, as part of its expansion plans. READ | Bengaluru traffic story: Man books Uber auto, ride is 24 km, 71 mins away Amid the never-ending tussle between customers and taxi aggregators, an autorickshaw union in Bengaluru recently launched a new ride-hailing mobile app called Namma Yatri that connects customers directly to auto drivers without an intermediary. Such alternatives are deemed necessary as customers face long wait-times and repeated cancellations from existing giants. A Congress worker was brutally killed by five unidentified assailants near Laggere, Choudeshwari Nagar on Wednesday. The victim, identified as Ravi alias Matti Ravi (42), worked as an auto driver. The incident took place in front of Halli Ruchi hotel, sending shockwaves through the local community. Congress worker killed by unidentfied assailants near Choudeshwari Nagar on Wednesday (Representational image) According to senior officials, Ravi had returned home after completing his work around 11 pm on Wednesday. Subsequently, he visited a nearby bar and consumed alcohol. Later in the evening, Ravi attended a birthday party organized by his fellow Congress worker, Krishnamurthy. As Ravi was leaving the party, he was ambushed by unknown individuals riding a motorcycle. Desperate to evade the sudden attack, Ravi attempted to flee, but he was relentlessly pursued and cornered near Halli Ruchi hotel. The assailants brutally assaulted him with a knife and struck him on the head with a stone, resulting in his untimely death. It was my birthday today. I had asked workers to come for dinner. Events finished at 10 pm. Around 11 pm, I heard a sound. When I came around 8 people were attacking him inside a hotel and they ran away, Krishnamurthy said. The motive behind the murder remains unclear, and investigators are actively working to determine the exact cause. Where he was killed, we found that Ravis face was scratched out from a poster nearby. Only his face was cut from the poster. We suspect a personal motive is behind the heinous act. The Nandini Layout police arrived at the crime scene last night and conducted a thorough inspection, said a senior police officer. Bengaluru north DCP Shiva Prakash Devaraju said that an FIR has been registered on the complaint of the wife of the deceased and added that the police are trying to nab the absconding accused. On the complaint of Ravis wife Pushpa, a case has been registered under section 302 & SC/ST Act. During a birthday celebration of one Krishna Murthy, a fight broke out between two groups when five people attacked Matthiravi with a knife and stones and fatally injured him. We are trying to nab the absconding accused, the DCP said. The victims body has been transferred to Victoria hospital for a detailed post-mortem examination. He was hit on his head with a stone that led to his death. Police sent the body to Victoria Hospital for postmortem, DCP Shiva Prakash said. Days after forming the government in the southern state, the Karnataka Congress has registered an FIR against former minister and BJP MLA CN Ashwath Narayan for his statements against CM Siddaramaiah. Karnataka minister CN Ashwath Narayan said his words about Siddaramaiah were casual, not malicious. Ashwath Narayan, who was higher education minister in the previous BJP government, was named in the complaint for his controversial finish-off Siddaramaiah remark. He had asked people to "finish off" Siddaramaiah the way two Vokkaliga chieftains - Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda - had killed 17th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan while addressing a public event this February. A delegation of Congress leaders submitted the complaint at the Devaraja police station in Mysuru on Wednesday, and an FIR was registered under Sections 506 and 153 of the IPC, which covers intimidation and provocation. READ | Karnataka's govt school teacher suspended for a Facebook post on Siddaramaiah's freebies policies Narayan had earlier clarified that he had only meant to say that the Congress should be defeated in the elections. "Let me make my stand clear. The words used to compare Tipu Sultan and Siddaramaiah in Mandya are casual allusions and not malicious words. But my words are being misconstrued. It wasn't meant to hurt anyone," he tweeted. "Debate is an integral part of politics & essential for a healthy democracy. It is in this spirit that my words should be interpreted. It may be @siddaramaiah 's culture to be calling the Prime Minister a "mass murderer" and assailing the Chief Minister," he added. "The people of the State are well aware of Siddaramaiah's language proficiency. I was merely alluding to the fact that Congress should be defeated in this election. And, after all, our people of Mandya do not possess the brutal mentality of Tipu," he had further said. Complaint against BJP MLA in Puttur In a similar instance, a complaint was filed against Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja at the Puttur town police station after the leader allegedly made false allegations against CM Siddaramaiah during the BJPs celebrations after winning the Belthangady seat, on Monday. He had alleged that Siddaramaiah was responsible for the murder of 24 Hindu workers. Municipal councillor Mohammed Riaz filed the complaint against Poonja on Tuesday. (With inputs from ANI, PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After wresting power from BJP in Karnataka in the Assembly polls, the state Congress has set its sight on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the party asking its MLAs to work towards winning 20 seats. Karnataka Congress Chief and Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru.(ANI) Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats, and the target of 20 seats was fixed at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting held at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday. READ | Karnataka: CM, his deputy head to Capital to discuss cabinet expansion "We should win 20 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. We cant sit quietly thinking that we have won the Assembly election. The momentum must carry into the Lok Sabha polls, state Congress president and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said at the meeting. The BJP had swept 2019 Lok Sabha polls by winning 25 out of 28 seats, while an independent supported by it won one seat. The Congress and JD(S) won just one seat each. Asking MLAs not to neglect party workers and to respond to people who voted them to power, Shivakumar called on them to ensure that the Congress office is functioning in every district and constituency across the state. READ | Congress govt in Karnataka to overturn hijab ban? Priyank Kharge's relook hint Later, speaking to reporters, the KPCC chief said the government's top priority is to fulfil the five 'guarantees' made to citizens ahead of polls. "MLAs have been asked to tour their constituencies to thank voters for the win in Assembly polls," he said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the CLP leader, asked MLAs to regularly attend Assembly sessions. He also asked the MLAs to create awareness among citizens on the "discrimination" Karnataka is facing at the hands of the Narendra Modi-led government at the centre in terms of devolution of funds, and the injustice that happened to the state with respect to the finance commission. At least 15 spinning mill workers suffered injuries after the staff bus that they were travelling in was hit by a speeding truck at a flyover on the National Highway in Khanna on Thursday morning. The injured in the accident in a local hospital in Ludhiana on Thursday. (HT Photo) Such was the impact of the collision that the bus rammed into the flyovers divider. According to the mill worker the driver of the bus used presence of mind otherwise the bus could fall off from the flyover. Passers-by came to the injured persons aid, rushing them to the government hospital in Khanna. The condition of one of the injured was said to be critical. The bus, ferrying the employees, mostly women, towards Payal, where the spinning mill is based. As per eyewitnesses accounts, upon reaching the flyover near Gurudwara Kalgidhar Sahib, the bus was hit by a speeding truck from behind and dragged along for a few metres. The truck driver, meanwhile, managed to escape from the spot. Anita, one of the workers, said the bus met with the mishap minutes after picking her up. She recalled experiencing a strong, sudden jolt and falling off of her seat. Rahul, a passer-by, said he was crossing the road when he witnessed the mishap and heard the injured employees calling for help. Sharing further details, sub-inspector Gurmeet Singh, station house officer (SHO) at the Sadar police station, Khanna, said a first information report (FIR) has been registered against the unidentified truck driver. Police are trying to trace the accused. The SHO added that most of the injured were discharged from hospital after being administered first aid. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four months after a 70-year-old city resident went missing, police have now initiated murder investigation into the case. The same comes after the arrest of the mans business partner, who confessed to the murder, and his aide. During investigation, police arrested Gurinder Singh and his employee Gurmeet Singh for murdering Gurcharan Singh over a monetary dispute. (iStock) The arrested accused have been identified as Gurinder Singh of Jalvana, Malerkotla, and his employee Gurmeet Singh. Probe officials recovered the victim, Gurcharan Singhs, motorcycle from the Kaind Canal Bridge following information provided by the accused. His body, however, is yet to be recovered. Police have also impounded a black Maruti Suzuki Alto Car allegedly used to transport the deceaseds body to the Bhakra Dam before being dumped into the water. Sharing further details, commissioner of police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff had been investigating the matter for the past three months and suspected that the deceaseds partner Gurinder had something to do with his disappearance. On Wednesday, police arrested him and his employee. The commissioner of police stated the deceaseds son, Bhupinder Singh of Racheen, Dehlon, had filed a missing persons complaint back in February. He had told police that his father, who ran a pig farm in partnership with Gurinder, had left for work on January 23 only to not return home. His phone had remained switched off since. Bhupinder Singh had suspected that someone had kept his father in confinement. Police had at the time registered a first information report (FIR) under sections 346 (wrongful confinement in secret) of the Indian Penal Code and initiated an investigation. Later, on February 26, the investigation of the matter was shifted to CIA staff-1, the commissioner of police said. During investigation, police arrested Gurinder Singh and his employee Gurmeet Singh for murdering Gurcharan Singh over a monetary dispute. The accused had bludgeoned him to death on January 23 with a blunt weapon. They kept the body at the farm for a day. Later, they dumped it into the Bhakra Canal. They also dumped his motorcycle in a canal near Kaind Canal bridge, he added. Further, the commissioner of police said police have added sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 342 of the IPC to the FIR. Attempts to fish out the deceaseds body are underway. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police arrested a city resident for allegedly hacking his cousin to death with a sickle late on Tuesday night. The accused dumped the deceaseds body in the canal near Sudhar power grid. The family found Amans body floating in the canal near the power grid in Sudhar. He had multiple injuries on head and face. (iStock) The deceaseds family went looking for him after he did not return home and on Wednesday, discovered his body floating in the canal. Police registered a murder case and arrested Iqbal Singh, the cousin of the deceased, Amandeep Singh. Sharing details, inspector Sikander Singh, station house officer (SHO) at the Jodhan police station, said the accused blamed Aman for his sisters divorce and hatched a conspiracy to kill him. The accused hacked Aman to death with a sickle. He had earlier consumed liquor with the victim. The complainant, Amandeep Singh of Chowkimann, Jagraon (the complainant and victim share the same name), the victims paternal cousin, told police Iqbal had picked them up in his Maruti Suzuki Swift car on the day of the incident. The group visited the agricultural fields near Chowkimann-Sohian road, where they consumed liquor. The complainant added that Iqbal Singh had him and another friend home, but took Aman with him. On Wednesday morning, Amans mother enquired about his whereabouts. Upon searching for him, the family found Amans body floating in the canal near the power grid in Sudhar. He had multiple injuries on head and face. Senior superintendent of police (SSP, Ludhiana Rural) Navneet Singh Bains said police rounded up Iqbal Singh and questioned him and the accused confessed to killing his cousin. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu late on Wednesday visited Dhagwar Milk Processing Plant near Dharamshala and announced 250 crore for its upgrade. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu being welcomed upon his arrival in Hyderabad on Thursday. (ANI) Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the state government aims to collect milk from cattle rearers and sell milk by-products to improve the rural economy. To achieve this, the government is going to introduce the Him-Ganga scheme, which aims to develop a milk-based economy in the state, he said. Under the scheme, cattle rearers will receive fair prices for their milk, based on the real cost, and efforts will be made to enhance the quality and efficiency of milk procurement, processing, and marketing systems, he added. Sukhu said the government will also protect milk producers from regional and seasonal price fluctuations, particularly those from poorer sections of society. An allocation of 500 crore has been made for the Him-Ganga scheme, and it will be initially launched on a pilot basis by linking farmers before gradually expanding to other areas. He said Milk Producers Cooperative Societies will be established as needed, ensuring effective marketing of milk and its products through these cooperatives. The success of the Him-Ganga scheme will require the establishment of new milk processing plants and the upgrade of existing ones. This will involve developing the necessary infrastructure and supply chains in a phased manner, he said. Agriculture minister Prof Chander Kumar said Congress party has guaranteed the purchase of cow milk at 80 per litre and buffalo milk at 100 per litre, indicating a forthcoming milk revolution in Himachal Pradesh, he said. Local MLA Sudhir Sharma expressed gratitude to the chief minister for preparing a roadmap to upgrade the Dhagwar Milk Plant. Later, the chief minister also inspected the Biodiversity Park site in Narwana. In a significant move aimed at ensuring social security for its employees, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led state government has assured to include the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) employees under the ambit of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) employees stage a protest demanding restoration of the old pension scheme, in Shimla on Thursday. (PTI) Approximately 6,500 HPSEBL employees will be benefitted from this decision of the state government. The chief minister highlighted the crucial role played by government employees in the progress and development of the state and said in the very first cabinet meeting, the state government accorded sanction to reinstate the OPS, benefiting over 1.36 lakh state employees. By including HPSEBL employees in this scheme, the state government ensures that they will not be deprived of the benefits provided under the system, said Sukhu. The chief minister emphasised that the welfare of government employees is of utmost importance to the state government. As Himachal Pradesh continues to make rapid stride in the field of development, the well-being and empowerment of government employees will together remain our utmost priority, said Sukhu. He said by prioritising their welfare, the government aims to enable these employees to contribute effectively to the overall development and growth of the state. The chief minister said in addition to the decision on the old pension scheme, the state government has implemented several other measures to enhance the well-being of government employees. He said a 3% dearness allowance installment has been also released. Despite the challenging fiscal situation of the state, the government has adopted a balanced approach and is committed to maintaining the pace of development, he said. The chief minister alleged that while the previous BJP government made announcements, the actual financial benefits were not provided to employees, but the present government is determined to gradually clear all liabilities as the economic condition of the state improves. J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the G20 meet was a joyous occasion for the people of UT and it has brightened the J&Ks image in the world. J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha (PTI file) Manoj Sinha congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the successful G20 meeting that concluded in Kashmir last night. During the G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting, the entire world has witnessed awe-inspiring socio-economic progress of Jammu Kashmir. Faster and inclusive growth and our sustained effort to boost tourism sector is attracting the attention of the entire world, he said. Sinha said the three-day meeting of 57 delegates from 27 countries in Srinagar has infused new enthusiasm, new confidence among the people. The way every section of the society enthusiastically participated in the G20 event is a sign of the rise of new and emerging Jammu and Kashmir. Event ends peacefully, officials heave sigh of relief Top security officials heaved a sigh of relief after the G20 meeting ended peacefully in Kashmir. All delegates and foreign guests left Srinagar amid tight security, some of the delegates had left last night. High security arrangements were made on the route to airport and the delegates were taken in cavalcade of vehicles on Thursday morning. Director general of police Dilbag Singh termed the event as historic and said the event has opened new vistas and hopes, denouncing many myths and fake anti-Kashmir and anti-peace narratives based on falsehood and propagated by our neighbouring country. People of Kashmir deserve special compliments for seeing through the falsehood of Pak narratives and welcoming and participating in the event in every way wholeheartedly. The delegates not only enjoyed the beauty of Kashmir but also lauded the local people and their hospitality. The security arrangements made for the event were least obtrusive, ensuring full normal life and business for the people, said Singh in a statement. Additional director general of police Vijay Kumar congratulated officers and jawans of police, CRPF, Army, BSF, SSB, NSG, MARCOS, NDRF and intelligence agencies for conducting incident free and successful G20 meeting. City mayor Junaid Azeem Mattu expressed gratitude to people for successful event. KARNAL: The Karnal police have arrested five people for allegedly robbing the house of a jeweller at gunpoint in Assandh area of Karnal district. A pistol and a motorcycle used for the robbery have been recovered at their instance, police said. Four of the five men arrested by the Karnal police participated in the robbery. The fifth accused was a friend of the victim but tipped the robbers about him (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sandeep Kumar said that the accused were arrested from Nagura village on Wednesday and produced before the court which remanded them in police custody for five days. Police said the accused have been identified as Wazir of Kasoon village, Deepak of Mohangarh village, Sandeep of Chhattar village, Deepak alias Goni of Nagura village of Jind district and Suchha Singh of Mandwal village in Karnal. DSP Kumar said Wazir was the mastermind. Succha Singh was a friend of the victim and helped Wazir with information about the jeweller. He said that the accused have a criminal record as several cases of theft have already been registered against them in various police stations in Haryana and Rajasthan. According to the FIR filed by the jeweller Deepak Mehta, four armed men entered his house at about 2:30am on May 3 night after breaking the main gate of the house. They also attacked the jeweller with a sword and left with 5.8 lakh in cash and gold and silver jewellery weighing about around 600 gram. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The PGIMER Safai Karamchari Union held a three-hour protest outside Kairon Block on Thursday, voicing their grievances against the prolonged delay by the hospital administration in addressing their demands. The Safai Karamchari Union staging a protest outside Kairon Block on the PGIMER campus in Chandigarh on Thursday. (HT Photo) Union president Pankaj Sachan, along with adviser Tejpal, went on a hunger strike during the protest. At 1 pm, a meeting of the committee, constituted under the chairmanship of the medical superintendent, was called to discuss the unions demands. The hunger strike was called off after the PGIMER administration sought one week to consider their demands, including implementation of the third cadre, reclassification of sanitary attendant as hospital attendant, designation of workers with pay grade 1,800 and 1,900 as medical record technicians similar to AIIMS, implementation of pay anomaly from 2006, creation of grade 1 supervisors, increment in uniform expenses from 2017 with direct disbursement to workers accounts, the appointment of sanitary workers in grade II instead of grade III, conducting examinations for sanitary workers in both Hindi and English, and immediate granting of jobs on compensation grounds. Sachan said, The hospital administrations apathy compelled me to resort to a hunger strike. Authorities have requested a weeks time to consider our demands and assured of a meeting thereafter. So, we ended our hunger strike. But if our demands are not met, we will escalate our protest. Police have arrested four persons, including two juveniles, for snatching a mobile phone near Mauli Complex Community Centre on May 22. The complainant, Shakil Ahmed, 40, of Mauli Complex, had informed the police that he was returning home after work from Rajiv Colony, when four youths snatched his phone in Sishemwali Gali near Mauli Complex Community Centre. (Getty images) The two juveniles, aged 16 and 17, were caught near the booth market in Mauli Complex, and the other accused, Tushar, 18, and Rohit, 20, both from Rajiv Colony, Sector 17, Panchkula, were arrested from behind the tubewell in Mauli Park on Wednesday. Police recovered the snatched mobile phone from the possession of Rohit. The complainant, Shakil Ahmed, 40, of Mauli Complex, had informed the police that he was returning home after work from Rajiv Colony, when four youths snatched his phone in Sishemwali Gali near Mauli Complex Community Centre. The snatchers also took out 500 from his shirts pocket before fleeing. A case under Section 379A (theft) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at the Mauli Jagran police station following his complaint. The 17-year-old accused was also found involved in a case registered under Sections 394 (causing hurt in committing robbery), 452 (house-trespass), 34 (act done in furtherance of common intention), 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 379-A (snatching) of the IPC at the Mauli Jagran police station on October 24, 2022, and another registered under the Arms Act on April 8, 2023. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The state health department has proposed to replace regular MBBS doctors of the PCMS (Punjab Civil Medical Services) cadre with empanelled doctors at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), including those 400 Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) in rural areas, which were upgraded from PHCs. Earlier there were 422 PHCs in Punjab but out of them 400 were upgraded into AACs. (Representational Photo) Earlier there were 422 PHCs in Punjab but out of them 400 were upgraded into AACs. MBBS doctors roped in by state government on incentive-basis as empanelled doctors are not paid any fixed remuneration but get an incentive of 50 per consultation. Earlier the Aam Aadmi Party government engaged the empanelled doctors to work only in AACs, as it did not sanction any regular posts . Later, government upgraded 400 PHCs into AACs . However, the government is now mulling to deploy empanelled doctors at regular posts by shifting the regular doctors of AACs to secondary healthcare institutes. The department is considering to shift these regular medical officers at vacant posts in secondary health care institutes, which include district, sub-divisional hospitals and community health centres (CHC). The empanelled doctors are already working at some AACs getting paid 50 per consultation. The proposal to replace regular medical officers with empanelled doctors was discussed in a meeting between director, Health Services and civil surgeons on Wednesday. The directions were also issued to all civil surgeons to share the number of medical officers and name of secondary health care institutes, where they want to relocate them in their respective district. There are 607 regular posts of medical officers at 422 PHCs in Punjab. Out of it, state government has converted around 400 PHCs into AACs. An official of the health department, requesting anonymity, said, The department is planning to relocate the medical officers at secondary health care institutes as the emergency services were jeopardised at these facilities after they doctors were entrusted with only the job of running out patient departments (OPDs) at PHCs converted into AACs. Earlier these medical officers were also performing emergency services at nearby sub-divisional hospitals and CHCs on rotation basis along with their OPD duties at PHCs. The move will also jeopardise national health programmes, outreach vaccination or other camps in villages as these are also being run by these medical officers. A civil surgeon, who attended the meeting, said, We have been directed to immediately share details of the healthcare facilities where the medical officers can be shifted to, The Punjab Civil Medical Service (PCMS) Association, an organisation of regular doctors, has expressed concern that the movebto replace regular medical officers with empanelled doctors will abolish regular posts in rural areas, Dr Akhil Sarin, PCMSA state president said, Government should clarify that it is not abolishing the existing posts of MOs at PHCs-AACs and they will be sent back to their parent station in near future. Besides, required tenure of the rural service needed for the PG courses of MOs will also be affected with this exercise. The government should also clarify what will happen to their required tenure of three years if they were shifted to secondary health care as the majority of them are located in urban areas, he added. Dr Adarshpal Kaur, director health, said, It is just a proposal as of now. Everything will be taken care of when the policy is framed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Odia version of the book, Gita Acharan: A practitioners perspective, written by senior Punjab IAS officer Shri K Siva Prasad, was released by Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal at the Raj Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Senior Punjab IAS officer Shri K Siva Prasad and Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal during the launch of the formers book. (HT Photo) Prasad is presently posted as the additional chief secretary to the Punjab governor. Speaking on the occasion, Lal said, Gita helps take everyone to the state of realisation by removing the identity crisis. He appreciated Prasads efforts to make Bhagavad Gita easy to understand. Talking about the book, Prasad said the book was an attempt to elaborate the concepts of Bhagavad Gita in a simple way through short essays. The complex issues presented in the Gita were simplified through these articles using contemporary scientific understanding. Gita Acharan is already available in English, Hindi and Telugu, and work is on to release the Punjabi and Bengali editions of the book, he added. Twenty days after being booked for planting spools of plastic kite string at a cycle repair shop in Khanna in an alleged bid to implicate the owner, the woman constable joined the investigation after availing anticipatory bail from the court on Wednesday. Police said the duo shared an old enmity with the shop owner. They have been booked under sections 451 , 211 , 417, 420 and 120-B of the IPC (HT File Photo) The woman constable, Ravinder Kaur was booked on May 4, but no efforts were made for her arrest. Her aide Gurdeep Singh of Deepi, Alaur, was also booked. The duos involvement in the case surfaced after the arrest of Chandar Sharma of Gobindgarh, the man who had planted a gunny bag containing 25 spools of plastic kite string at the cycle repair shop owned by Jasvir Singh of Alaur. Khanna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Amneet Kondal had already suspended constable Ravinder Kaur and ordered for her to be sent to police lines with immediate effect. The shop owner had earlier been arrested by Sadar police of Khanna for possessing banned plastic kite string. A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Wildlife Protection Act and Environment Protection Act was registered against him. During investigation, the shop owner said a scooter-borne man had requested him to keep the gunny bag at the shop saying that he would return to collect it soon. Minutes after he left, police conducted a raid at the shop and arrested the owner Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Avtar Singh, who is investigating the case, said police had initiated an investigation on the basis of claims made by Jasvir Singh. Police on April 24 identified the scooter-borne man as Chandar Sharma and he was arrested on May 1. During questioning, he told police that he had kept the spools in the shop at the behest of Gurdeep Singh and Ravinder Kaur. Later, the duo informed the police about the spools, following which the raid was conducted. Police said the duo shared an old enmity with the shop owner. They have been booked under sections 451 (house-trespass), 211 (false charge of offence made with intent to injure), 417, 420 (both cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.. The ASI added the constable availed anticipatory bail and joined the investigation on Wednesday. Gurdeep Singh is yet to be arrested. The Centres ordinance curbing the Delhi governments power over the Capitals services department has pitted many of the citys top officers against its elected administration, with reinstated vigilance special secretary YVVJ Rajasekhar holding meetings in the state secretariat and ordering checks of files in his office, even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called him an illegal occupant of the position. On May 13, Delhi services minister Saurabh Bharadwaj (pictured here) relieved the official of all duties, citing allegations of corruption and extortion. Rajasekhar has been in the eye of a major storm since May 13, when services minister Saurabh Bharadwaj divested him of all duties, citing allegations of corruption and extortion. The officer rejected the claims and alleged that some of his files were photocopied by unknown people, shortly after he was shunted. He was eventually reinstated on Monday, days after the Union government issued an ordinance essentially overturning a Supreme Court judgment that gave the elected Delhi administration power over the citys bureaucratic machinery. Also Read | Citing Centres ordinance, Delhi vigilance directorate reinstates special secretary On Wednesday, Rajasekhar worked out of his office in the Delhi secretariat and met vigilance officers, directing them to prepare an inventory of records to ascertain if they were tampered with in his absence. Rajasekhar has been at the helm of several probes against the Delhi government and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. These included the ones concerning the 2021-22 excise policy, the advertising expenses allegedly in violation of apex court guidelines, alleged instances of the government spying on administrative officers, as well as expenses made while renovating the CMs official residence. An officer aware of the matter said the Centres ordinance had restored in the citys bureaucratic machinery the status quo that existed before the top courts May 11 order. The power over the control of officers in Delhi seems to be resting with the LG after the central government promulgated the ordinance, the bureaucrat said, requesting anonymity. Another bureaucrat, who also did not want to be named, said there is a lack of clarity about whether the elected government has the power to control officers, or the LG. The ordinance places transfer posting powers under the LG, which has to be done through the national capital civil services authority, which is largely conceptualised as a recomendary body where the CM, despite being its chairman, is in minority. My interpretation of the ordinance is that it is silent about allocation of work, so I believe the elected government has power over allocation of work among officers, said the official. It was not immediately clear if officers found any errors or any evidence of tampering of the records. The files are huge. Some of them have hundreds of pages, all containing information related to sensitive cases. A reconciliation of the records has been started and will be completed in a couple of days, said the first official. Bharadwaj, who also holds the services portfolio, on Wednesday doubled down on his position, terming Rajasekhars reinstatement illegal and unauthorised. Also Read | Ordinance row: Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj says reinstatement of vigilance official illegal The Supreme Court has twice ruled that the Delhi government has power over all subjects except three land, public and public order and the power of services has always been with the Delhi government, he said during a press conference. The central government cannot take away the power, he added. Rajasekhar did not respond to HTs requests for comment. HT also reached out to the LGs office, but officials did not respond to queries for a comment on the development. Bharadwaj, in an order on Tuesday, said he is the competent authority to allocate work among officers in the department. Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain has been put on oxygen support and admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) in the intensive care unit (ICU) for further treatment, the party said. This development comes hours after Jain had suffered injuries to his back after he fell in the washroom of Tihar Jail. (ANI file image) Doctors at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (DDU), where he was shifted from Tihar earlier, said that Jain was brought to the hospital on Thursday morning after being referred by the Tihar medical team. His X-ray and scans were conducted, and he was kept under observation till 10am, after which he was referred to Lok Nayak Hospital, as he complained of persistent pain in his back, shoulder, and knee, hospital officials said. Also Read: God is watching: Arvind Kejriwal after Satyendar Jain falls in Tihar Jail, sent to hospital This development comes hours after Jain had suffered injuries to his back after he fell in the washroom of Tihar Jail number 4. A statement issued by the AAP said that his condition was a result of a fall in the Tihar jail last year, which requires immediate spinal surgery. Satyendar Jains condition has deteriorated after a debilitating injury from a fall in the jail washroom, which resulted in a spinal injury leaving him in excruciating pain. The gravity of the situation demands immediate spinal surgery, as recommended by his attending doctors, AAP statement read. It added, A closer examination of his medical condition reveals a troubling array of ailments. He suffers from acute lumbar pain, causing vertigo and chronic lower back pain due to a slipped disc. The pain radiates throughout his lower limbs, leaving him with a constant tingling sensation and decreased mobility. The party also claimed that an MRI conducted on May 3, showed degeneration in all intervertebral discs, with Jains doctors advising urgent spinal surgery and proper post-operative care. He has been placed as number 416 on a waiting list by jail authorities and is expected to be able to undergo the surgery only after five months, the party said. Apart from the impacts of his spinal injury, Jain apparently also suffers from sleep apnea and has lost nearly 35kgs over the last one year. He was later examined by the doctors there, where they found his vitals normal. He was further referred to DDU Hospital as he complained about pain in back, left leg and shoulder. According to the doctors there, his condition is stable, and he is out of danger, he said. Reacting on the development, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was praying for his health. God is watching all of this, he will do justice when time comes. I pray to God for Satyendar Jis speedy recovery. May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances, Kejriwal shared on his official Twitter account. A Delhi court on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment serial killer and rapist Ravinder Kumar for kidnapping, raping and murdering a six-year-old, a case that emerged eight years ago, helping the police unearth a series of the mans sordid crimes and sending ripples through the national capital. During interrogations, Ravinder made a series of startling revelations that stunned the citys police force. (HT Photo) The court of additional sessions judge Sunil Kumar on Thursday observed that the six-year-olds 2015 rape and murder was the act of a predator and merits no leniency. I have no hesitation to hold that the convicts act was no less than an act of a predator which has shaken the conscience of the society. The accused does not deserve any leniency on any account, said the judge, awarding Ravinder, who has been in jail since 2015, life imprisonment. The court also ordered the District Legal Services Authority to pay the victims family 15 lakh as compensation. Ravinder was first arrested in July 2015. The police, at the time, were investigating only the disappearance of a six-year-old girl from her residence in Begumpur. Ravinders arrest, from Kanjhawala, led them to the girls body and a confession that he raped her after strangling her to death. But during interrogations, Ravinder made a series of startling revelations that stunned the citys police force. He said that he had raped or murdered at least 36 children over eight years, between 2007, when he was 17 years old, and 2015. The police initially refused to believe him, but were swayed after his vivid and accurate descriptions of the incidents, said an investigator aware of the matter. Vikramjit Singh, additional police commissioner (New Delhi), was deputy commissioner of police of Outer Delhi when Ravinder was arrested and called the 32-year-old a cold-blooded killer with no sense of guilt or remorse. His crimes followed a similar pattern, said police officers. He would get drunk, look for a minor, strangle them with just three fingers, and then rape them. Once arrested, he recollected each incident in shockingly accurate detail, said the police. One of his confessions helped get a girls father, who was being tried for her murder, off the hook, said Singh. In that case, he described the exact location and date on which he had committed the crime. When I called the Hathras police, they confirmed it and said that the girls father was undergoing trial for the killing, said Singh. Read | Chandigarh shocker: Five schoolboys held for raping Class 7 girl The precision of that recollection and corroboration with case papers eventually pushed the police to believe he was involved in the other crimes he claimed to be. Still, Kumar was only charged in three of those 36 cases, with police citing a lack of evidence. He was convicted and sentenced to 10-years imprisonment in one of those cases in 2019. Kumar was convicted in the 2015 case on May 6 this year, under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The court also further convicted him under sections, 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping, abducting, or inducing woman to compel her marriage), 376A (punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim), 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The third case is pending before a local court. With inputs from Shiv Sunny Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, hours after Aam Aadmi Party colleague Satyendar Jain was injured in Tihar Jail, where he has been held since May last year facing money laundering charges. Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain was taken to Safdarjung Hospital on Monday.(PTI) Kejriwal tweeted a dictator is bent on killing that good person. Jain, Delhi's former health minister, was rushed to the city's Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital this morning after falling in a prison washroom; he had minor injuries, jail officials told news agency PTI. Jain has been put on oxygen support and has been shifted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital (LNJP) for further treatment. "The person who was working day and night to provide good treatment and good health to the public today a dictator is bent on killing that good person. That dictator has only one thought - to finish everyone, he lives only in 'I'. He only wants to see himself," a furious Kejriwal tweeted. "God is watching all, He will do justice to all," the chief minister declared. Arvind Kejriwal also prayed for his ex-cabinet member's swift recovery, tweeting, "May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances." Earlier today, Sanjay Baniwal, Delhi's Director General (Prisons), said Jain had been kept under observation for general weakness in the jail's hospital and that he slipped and fell in the bathroom. "He was examined by doctors (at Tihar Jail) they found his vitals normal. He was referred to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital as he complained about (a) pain in his back, left leg and shoulder. According to doctors there (at the hospital), his condition is stable, and he is out of danger," Baniwal said. On Monday, Jain was taken to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital after he complained of ill health. Kejriwal had then too criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over its 'oppression' of the AAP leader. "The people of Delhi and the country are watching this arrogance and oppression of the BJP government very well. Even God will never forgive these oppressors. The public is with us in this struggle, God is with us, we are the disciples of Sardar Bhagat Singh. Our fight against oppression, injustice and dictatorship will continue," the Delhi CM had said. The AAP, which holds the reigns of the Delhi government, and the BJP, which is in power at the centre, have been frequent and fierce rivals on a number of political and governance-related issue, including the centre's controversial ordinance for control of bureaucratic services in the city. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed a supplementary charge sheet in the Rose Valley chit scam case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), lawyers representing the federal agency said. (Representative Photo) The Rose Valley financial scandal or Rose Valley Chit Fund Scam was a multi-crore financial scam and alleged political scandal involving around 17,000 core caused by the collapse of a Ponzi scheme run by Rose Valley Group in West Bengal. The charge sheet names all the accused persons and around 35 companies. This is the first time charges have been filed against Subhra Kundu, wife of Gautam Kundu, the arrested owner of Rose Valley. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) named her in its complaint but ED did not tag her in its two cases so far, said Abhijit Bhadra, a senior public prosecutor representing ED. Also Read: Ayush admission scam: CBI to take over probe after direction from high court Subhra Kundu has been charged with laundering money through Govind Agarwal, a chartered accountant who has been accused in several cases, Bhadra added. In 2014, the Supreme Court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the scam orchestrated by the West Bengal-based Rose Valley group and also the suspected role of influential people in money laundering. The ED launched a parallel probe into the case. The investigations are being carried out in West Bengal and Odisha. Two Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha members, Sudip Bandopadhyay and Tapas Pal were arrested by CBI in 2017. Bandopadhyay got bail after 136 days but Pal, who was also a popular actor in Bengali cinema, was in judicial custody for around three years. He died in 2020, months after being granted bail. Subhra Kundu, a former actress, was arrested by CBI from her Kolkata residence in January 2021. She is now in judicial custody in Odisha where CBI filed a case on the basis of complaints lodged by people who invested in Rose Valley. Also Read: ED raids 25 premises in FEMA probe against online gaming firms The two TMC MPs were also lodged in an Odisha jail. ED arrested Gautam Kundu in 2015. He is in judicial custody at Kolkatas Presidency correctional home. Although CBI and ED are investigating several high-profile Ponzi scam cases such as the Saradha and Rose Valley, a trial has not started for these. The group had allegedly floated a total of 27 companies for running the alleged chit-fund operations out of which only half a dozen were active. It is alleged that the firm had floated the scheme by promising inflated returns on investments between 8% and 27% to gullible investors in various states. LUCKNOW Water drones will soon be a part of UP fire services armoury to help fight tragedies in areas inaccessible for fire tenders. The trial of one such drone was conducted at Hazratganj recently and officials suggested some changes in the gadget so as to make it more effective in dousing fires in high-rise buildings and narrow lanes. Water drone demonstration at Hazratganj fire station on May 20. (Sourced) The department plans to purchase water drones. A company gave a demonstration of the gadget at Hazratganj fire station on Saturday. The drone apparently seemed to be effective, but needed some modifications keeping in mind real-life crisis situations, said Mangesh Kumar, chief fire officer (CFO), Lucknow. He explained that the demonstration drone had a lighter and narrow water pipe. But in real-life situations, the drone should be able to carry the heavy water pipes used in fire tenders and also be able to bear the water pressure while carrying out rescue operations. Water drones can be helpful in carrying out rescue operations in high-rise buildings of over 42 metres where fire fighters face difficulty in reaching out, added Kumar. The CFO said the hydraulic ladder of the fire department can reach up to 42 metres, but now buildings are over 100 metres tall and these drones could be effective in cases of fire at such heights. Water drones could also be helpful reaching out to buildings having narrow passage where fire tenders cant reach, he emphasised. Kumar, however, added that the fire departments technical committee would not clear the purchase order till it is fully satisfied with the modifications in the water drones. He said initially these water drones were planned to be used in cities like Lucknow, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad where many buildings over 100 meters height had come up in the recent times. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai: Using common facts and basic knowledge, a sessions court on Thursday acquitted two men booked for allegedly attempting to sell firearms illegally outside Ganesh Talkies, Parel in 2005 and raised questions on the premise of this case where police officials claimed they reached Parel from Juhu in 20 minutes during the daytime after receiving information about the firearms sale. HT Image It is common knowledge to the residents of Mumbai that the distance from Juhu to Lalbaug via road is approximately a minimum 10km. Usually, the roads between Juhu to Lalbaug, as also at that time in 2005, were busy with traffic. It is impossible to travel from Juhu to Parel during the daytime in 20 minutes, the court observed, doubting the case. In 2017, a 42-year-old businessman from Pydhonie Nadeem Sayyed and a 40-year-old resident of Dongri Guljar alias Danish Jariwala were held guilty by a magistrate court for dealing illegally in firearms. They were sentenced to two years imprisonment with a fine of 2,000 each. The duo approached sessions court against the conviction. As per the prosecution case, on October 17, 2005, police officials attached with ATS namely Tanaji Patil received information at around 3:40pm that the accused were to come to Ganesh Theatre to trade in firearms. Patil immediately informed his seniors, noted it down in their diaries and a trap was arranged. According to the prosecution, the police team reached the spot at 4pm. Besides, it was claimed that at about 5pm an officer spotted Sayyed near the bridge. Accordingly, an officer was sent to get material to seal the articles which were to be seized from the accused. Meanwhile, another accused came there. The police said when they were talking, they surrounded them and recovered two revolvers and cartridges from them. The session court disbelieved the very premise of this case. Receiving of the information, telling the information to PI Deshmukh, gathering of the police squad in the chamber of PI Deshmukh, giving instructions to the police party, making entry in the station diary, boarding in Qualis jeep and travelling to Lalbaug, are the sequence of events, which had taken place within a short span of 20 minutes. None of the prosecution evidence elucidated as to how all these events had taken place within 20 minutes, the special court further said. Besides, the prosecution claimed that after receiving the information, 13 officials travelled in one Qualis Jeep. The court said the prosecution failed to bring a logbook of the vehicle and also questioned that Doubt remains as to how 13 police officials boarded one Qualis vehicle and travelled in it. Considering the body and make of the Qualis vehicle, it is the fact of the common knowledge that, hardly 8 to 10 persons can be accommodated in one Qualis vehicle. In this case, 13 police persons have travelled in one Qualis vehicle. There is no explanation as to how and why all the police persons have travelled in one Qualis vehicle and as to how they had adjusted themselves in the space available in the Qualis vehicle, the court further said. Thus, the court while acquitting the two observed that, The depositions of the prosecution witnesses while considered as a whole depict an incongruent picture. There is no convincing evidence when tested against the entire probabilities and circumstances. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai: When Etihad Airways flight EY 204 from Manama (Bahrain) to Mumbai via Abu Dhabi landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Thursday night, it ended a three-year ordeal for 29-year-old Yashmin Kiyamuddin Ansari. Stranded in Bahrain after divorcing Pak husband, city woman, infant reunited with family She moved to Bahrain to marry a Pakistani national, got divorced within months after complaining of domestic violence and could not return to Mumbai as her 28-month-old daughter Malak had no legal birth certificate. After months of a legal battle in Bahrain by Pravasi Legal Cell, an NGO which works with Indian diplomatic missions abroad to provide legal and humanitarian assistance to stranded Indians in foreign countries, Ansari finally boarded the Etihad Airways flight on Thursday at 10.40am. After a stopover in Abu Dhabi, it arrived in Mumbai shortly after 8pm, reuniting Ansari with her parents, a brother and five sisters who live in a Kajuwadi Chawl in Andheris Chakala. Yashmin arrived in Bahrain somewhere around March 2020. She got married to a Pakistani national, Khalid Akram in June 2020. From their marriage, they had a girl child, born in January 2021. She faced domestic violence at home leading to her separation from her husband. When the child was born, she could not get the birth certificates from the authorities as she was already going through the separation process and the mental trauma from the whole episode, said Sudheer Thirunilath, the country head of Pravasi Legal Cell in Bahrain. In May 2022, Thirunilath received Ansaris official request for assistance. Yashmin and her daughter Malak were not having proper shelter, no food, no money to pay rent etc. We took up the matter and raised it with the Indian ambassador to Bahrain, Piyush Srivastava and we also filed a case at Madad, Ministry of External Affairs management system which provides consular services, he said. Thirunilath also approached advocate Tariq Alowin and requested him to file a case in Bahrain. This journey has been challenging, as we filed three cases after receiving the Power of Attorney through Adv Tariq. We pursued two cases for DNA testing and the issuance of a birth certificate, both of which were unfortunately rejected. Additionally, we filed a case for the amendment of the marriage date, which the Court agreed to after reviewing the details and witness testimonies. However, due to the absence of parents during the marriage and non-payment of Mehr, the Court ultimately rejected our request, said Tirunilath. The legal battle went on with its own ups and downs based on the merit of the case. During this period, the PLC team paid her room rent several times, arranged food rations for them, paid court fees etc. Yashmins former employer was asked to renew her visa, which was necessary to approach the court, and give her a job to support her daily needs. Given the unavailability of a birth certificate through the government authorities, we approached the Ministry of Information, presenting them with comprehensive evidence, including marriage and divorce records, hospital documentation, and court judgments. After understanding the urgency and sensitivity of the situation, they graciously agreed to assist us. With their support, along with the cooperation of health authorities, we were able to provide a certificate of delivery and birth notification, he said. On May 21, 2023, Thirunilath approached the Bahrain Immigration office and explained the situation to them. They agreed to help in sending the mother and her child back to India. The PLC produced a letter from the Salmaniya Hospital about the delivery. The Immigration authorities, including Naef Al Sherooqi, Adhil Mohd Amadi, Captain Yousef Jamal, and their dedicated officers played a crucial role in resolving this matter. Over the past two days, we have been present alongside Yasmeen and her child, explaining the situation in detail, and they have meticulously documented all relevant information. They even called her ex-husband, Khalid, to Immigration and obtained his no-objection statements, he said. Looking at the poor financial condition, Bahrain-based Devji Group sponsored the air tickets for Etihad Airways for Yashmin and her child. Ansari or her family was not available for comment. LUCKNOW The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has asked the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow, whether any action has been taken against the additional commissioner (administration) in the alleged case of corruption. The court was hearing a petition filed by the clerk of the additional commissioners office who has been suspended on corruption charges. The court was hearing a petition filed by the clerk of the additional commissioners office. (Sourced) Shailendra Kumar Sharma, peshkar (clerk) attached with the executive court of the additional commissioner (administration), and his assistant Ashok Kumar Pandey, were suspended on January 31 this year. Now, Pandey has approached the high court for revocation of his suspension. Earlier this month, a single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh ordered the office of the divisional commissioner to apprise the court of the action taken against the additional commissioner (administration). During the hearing of the case, the lawyer representing the petitioner urged the court to revoke the suspension order. Following this, the court has sought a reply from the office of the divisional commissioner about the action taken against the department head. The court has fixed May 29 as the next date for the hearing of the case. LUCKNOW The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to take over the investigation into the Ayush admission scam soon. The development comes after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Wednesday directed the central agency to probe the matter. The court ordered the CBI to investigate the role of former Ayush minister and the then additional chief secretary (ACS) of the Ayush department. Development comes after order from the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Wednesday. (Representational photo) A senior advocate, IB Singh, who was counsel for one of the 16 accused arrested in the case, said that the bench issued the aforementioned direction while considering the bail plea of his client Dr Ritu Garg, who was arrested by the STF on March 1, 2023. Singh also pointed out that Dr Garg is the owner of Santushti Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital in Mirzapur. Notably, Dr Garg was accused for facilitating admissions of at least 70 undeserving candidates to her institution in connivance with other officials of Ayurveda directorate. Singh further said that the bench, while allowing bail of Dr Garg, directed for the CBI probe as the court felt that the investigation was going in the wrong direction. During the hearing, lawyer IB Singh argued that the college management had nothing to do with the admission process as the counselling was done by the agency hired by Ayurveda directorate for the purpose. Therefore, the court has ordered to investigate the role of former Ayush minister and the then ACS, he said. Separately, a senior government official said that the state government had recommended a CBI probe into the matter twice after anomalies surfaced in the admission process in November 2022 but the agency did not take up the matter as the U.P. Special Task Force (STF) was already carrying out investigation into the admission scam. The official further said that the STF is probing the scam since November 2022 and has arrested 16 people -- including Dr Garg, the former director, Ayurveda, SN Singh, counselling in-charge, Umakant Yadav, former senior assistant director, Ayurveda, Rajesh Singh, and former junior assistant in Ayurveda Directorate, Kailash Chandra Bhaskar, among others. A senior police official privy to the investigation said that the CBI is likely to register FIR with its police station and take up the probe any time this week. The cop added that the state authorities and the STF are coordinating with the central agency and have already shared document related to the scam. Earlier, the STF took up the probe when the then Ayurveda director SN Singh had lodged an FIR at Lucknows Hazratganj police station. The FIR alleged that some irregularities were found during the online counselling for admissions for NEET 2021-22. During the counselling for NEET 2021-22, ineligible candidates were given admission to UG courses. The hired agency Uptron Powertronics in Lucknow and the vendor company named by it (V3 Soft Solutions Private Limited) -- whose representative is Kuldeep Singh -- were mentioned in the FIR, stated the complaint lodged by Singh. The work for online counselling was given to Uptron Powertronics as the department of AYUSH doesnt have an IT cell. The STF, however, arrested SN Singh and other officials and staff of Ayush Directorate. The official said the counselling process, held in three rounds, took place between February 1 and May 19, 2022. He said that the firm, which was made the vendor company for the process, was also given the responsibility to complete the procedure and allot colleges to the students. Later, 891 first-year students, who took admission to Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy colleges in three under-graduate courses had come under the scanner, the official added. Four members of a family, including three women, were killed after a tree fell on their makeshift tent in a forest area amid heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district, police said on Thursday, adding a case has been registered in this regard. The nomad family was on its way to Dachhan with sheep and goats, police said (Twitter/video screengrab) Kishtwar district senior superintendent of police (SSP) Khalil Poswal said, The family was asleep in their makeshift tent amid heavy rains and strong winds in the forest. A big tree fell on their tent that caused their deaths. Police said the incident took place in the wee hours of Thursday at the Bhalna forest range amid heavy rains. Also Read: 7 workers killed as vehicle falls into gorge in J&Ks Kishtwar Poswal said the family was moving to the upper reaches with their livestock for the greener pastures and halted for the night at Bhalna forests. The nomad family was on its way to Dachhan with sheep and goats, said the SSP. Police have identified the deceased as Nazir Ahmed, 55, his wife Anzara, 42, their daughter-in-law, Shama Bano, 18, and Shaqila Bano, 26, all residents of Barwal Ghati in Kathua district. Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the death of the family members. Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in a tragic incident in Kishtwar. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones, Sinha said. He further directed the deputy commissioner to provide all assistance to the next of kin of the deceased. Meanwhile, the district administration released an immediate relief of 50,000 from Red Cross Funds for the kin of the deceased. Union home minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that the Congress and other opposition parties who are planning to boycott the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building on May 28 will pay the price in the 2024 general elections for disrespecting the prime minister and the peoples mandate. Union home minister Amit Shah arrived in Assam on Thursday to attend a state-government-organised event (Twitter Photo) Congress and 18 other parties, including Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Party, and Aam Admi Party have decided not to attend the inauguration event stating that the new building should be inaugurated by President Draupadi Murmu and not by the prime minister. This is a democracy and the people of India have voted Narendra Modi to be the PM. But the Congress party and its royal family (the Gandhis) are not willing to accept the PM even after nine years. They dont allow the PM to speak in parliament and boycott proceedings when he speaks or attends some event, said Shah while attending a public gathering in Guwahati, Assam on Thursday. Shah arrived in Guwahati earlier in the day to attend a state-government-organised event. He was received by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the airport. Speaking at the event, Shah said the boycott by the Congress and other opposition parties doesnt mean a thing as blessings of the countrys masses are with Modi. Over 1.3 billion people of India are watching what you (Congress) are doing. And in the next Lok Sabha polls, when you go to seek the peoples mandate, you will get a lesser number of seats (than in 2019) and Modiji will become PM again by winning over 300 seats, the Union home minister said. This negative outlook will never benefit the country. When the BJP was in opposition, we used to respect you (Congress) and played a constructive role. But despite becoming PM with a clear majority, you are not supporting him (Modi), this is disrespect of the peoples mandate, added Shah. Taking a swipe at other opposition parties who boycotted Sundays event, the Shah said they would also meet a similar fate just like the Congress in the next general elections in 2024. He mentioned that the foundation stone of the Jharkhand assembly was laid by chief minister Hemant Soren an event to which the state governor was not invited. I want to ask Congress, didnt Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Chhattisgarh chief minister lay the foundation stone of the new assembly building there? Where was the governor of the state, who was a tribal woman, then? You didnt invite her, Shah said. Shah cited similar instances in Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where leaders of the Congress and other parties laid foundation stones or inaugurated new assembly buildings without inviting the governor of the respective states. Shah was on a days visit to Assam. The Union home minister laid the foundation stone of the 9th campus of National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Guwahati campus and distributed appointment letters to 44,703 newly recruited candidates of various Assam government departments. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON letters@htlive.com On November 12, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dedicated the multi-modal terminal on the Ganga to the nation. (PTI) VARANASI Multi-modal terminal/port in the district will be expanded to promote the transportation of goods by cargo ships through waterways. Starting the process for land acquisition, the district administration has prepared a social impact assessment report and social impact management plan. The administration has also put the report and the plan on its website for perusal. The land owners, whose land is proposed to be acquired, may have a look at it and submit their suggestions and objections to the report, if any, by June 2. District magistrate S Rajalingam said that the administration is proposed to acquire 6.0265 hectares of land for the multi-modal terminal/port expansion in Ralhupur village under Sadar tehsil in Ramnagar. According to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act-2013 and Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (U.P.) Rules-2016, a social impact assessment report and a social impact management plan have been prepared. This report is available for perusal in the office of the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Sadar, and on the website of Varanasi district, said the DM. He added that SDM Sadar has been nominated for public hearing on the social impact assessment report and a social impact management plan under Section-5 of the said Act and Chapter-2 Social Impact Assessment Rule-7(3). The hearing of the village and pargana Ralhupur/Ramnagar will be conducted by SDM Sadar in his office auditorium on June 2 from 11 am. On November 12, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dedicated the multi-modal terminal on the Ganga to the nation and received the first container cargo. Since its inauguration, cargo ships came to the MMT/Port through waterways and headed back over two dozen times. It transported goods from U.P. to Kolkata via waterways. At least eight people were injured after two groups clashed over a petty dispute in Kokhraj area of Kaushambi district on Thursday morning. (Pic for representation) Senior police officials rushed to the spot with heavy force and controlled the situation. The injured have been admitted to the hospital and an FIR has been registered against over 40 people in this connection, police said. A resident of Kokhraj Uparhar village under Kokhraj police station, Bhola Kesarwani is a grain trader. He is locked in an old dispute with his neighbour Shanu and others. On Wednesday evening Bhola again had an argument with his neighbours over dumping debris in front of the house. It is alleged that on Thursday morning, the two families again confronted each other over the same issue. After a heated argument, both the groups attacked each other with stones and sticks. Bhola Kesarwani, Vikas, Deepu, Suresh Prajapati, Anuj, Shivbabu, Pappu and six-year-old Aradhya were injured in the clash. Locals had to intervene to stop the fight. Later, ASP Samar Bahadur reached the spot and controlled the situation. The injured persons were admitted to the hospital for treatment. On the complaint of Bhola, an FIR was registered against 15 named and 30 unidentified persons and police force was deployed in the village as a precautionary measure, ASP said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) found the handwriting on physics answer sheets of 372 students in Sambhajinagar division identical. The state board on Thursday declared the result of these students sans physics subject marks. The answer sheets of 372 students of 23 junior colleges of Sambhajinagar division were found to have been written by a single person. The state board and the police interrogated the students and noticed that they were not involved as per the primary investigation. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO) The state board officials said that a police investigation is underway. The answer sheets of 372 students of 23 junior colleges of Sambhajinagar division were found to have been written by a single person. The state board and the police interrogated the students and noticed that they were not involved as per the primary investigation. Sharad Gosavi, president, MSBSHSE, said, The rest of the answer sheets written by these students were assessed and their results were announced. The Aurangabad divisional board has filed a police complaint. The state board had filed a police case after a Class 12 question paper leak incident was reported at a centre in Sindkhed Raja taluka of Buldhana district. To ensure that devotees and Warkaris (a section of pilgrims) are served hygienic, healthy food and beverages during the Palkhis (processions), the district administration has started inspecting hotels and vendors on the Palkhi routes along with screening the staff of these joints for communicable diseases so as to avoid the spread of infection. As thousands of Warkaris partake of the food and beverages at various food joints, restaurants and hotels on the Palkhi routes, these food business operators have been banned from serving stale, spoiled and uncovered food. Upon successful completion of the inspection which is mandatory, the respective food vendors will be given a card by the Zilla Parishad (ZP) health officials. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) As thousands of Warkaris partake of the food and beverages at various food joints, restaurants and hotels on the Palkhi routes, these food business operators have been banned from serving stale, spoiled and uncovered food. Upon successful completion of the inspection which is mandatory, the respective food vendors will be given a card by the Zilla Parishad (ZP) health officials. Dr Ramchandra Hankare, district health officer, said, The water sources at 45 locations and 106 water tankers supplying drinking water will be inspected, and water samples will be tested at regular intervals. A survey has been conducted along the Palkhi routes and no stone will be left unturned in the prevention of vector-borne diseases. The spraying and fogging of insecticide in the villages on the Palkhi routes has started. This will help us avoid any outbreak of vector-borne disease/s during the event. During the Palkhis, the team will also create awareness about heatwaves and heat-related ailments. During the Palkhi last year, 946 patients the highest in the last nine years - required emergency care. Whereas nearly 23,827 patients required onsite care. This year, all nearby government hospitals and private hospitals empanelled under government schemes will be contacted for effective stabilisation of patients during emergency. Private hospitals on the route have been asked to keep 10% of the beds reserved for the Warkaris. Ayush Prasad, chief executive officer (CEO) of the ZP Pune, said that awareness will be raised regarding the dos and donts for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes and for maternal and child health during the Palkhis. Arrangements will also be made for management of waste and biomedical waste. Prasad said, There will be round-the-clock indoor patients facility available through the health centres. Doctors and a health team will be available with the Palkhis throughout. At Dive Ghat, a special 10-bed indoor patients facility has been set up, considering there would be thousands of Warkaris including the elderly walking along the Ghat section. This centre will have cold drinking water, coolers, fans, medicines and intravenous fluids as medical aid. Medical kits will be given to the people who need them. A total 75 ambulances of 108 service and 110 ambulances of 102 service will be deployed on both Palkhi routes. In Pune, 15 ambulances will be deployed during Palkhi Mukkam. Fifteen ambulances will be deployed at Pandharpur before, during, and after Ashaadi Ekadashi. The overall pass percentage of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Educations (MSBSHSE) Class 12 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination 2023 for Pune division has increased by 1.29% as compared to the previous year. Students celebrate their success at BMCC College in the city after the announcement of HSC results on Thursday. (Kalpesh Nukte/HT PHOTO) The Pune division recorded an overall pass percentage of 93.34% in the HSC exam results declared by the state board on Thursday. The corresponding figure of last year was 92.05%. As per the information given by the Pune board, 227,751 of the 247,343 students from different streams cleared the exam. The passing percentage of girls in the Pune division is 93.70% and 88.90% for boys. The Pune HSC board division comprises three districts Pune, Ahmednagar and Solapur. Solapur registered highest passing percentage with 93.69 per cent, followed by Ahmednagar 92.63 per cent and Pune 91.14 per cent. The average passing percentage differs between 3 and 4 per cent every year. One of the reasons for increase in percentage as compared to last year is students had to cover the full syllabus. The state board had reduced syllabus and there was confusion over exam dates last year due to the Covid pandemic. said Anuradha Oak, secretary, MSBSHSE Pune division. Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has declared Higher Secondary Certificate or HSC or Class 12th board exam result today, May 25. Students can check Maharashtra HSC result 2023 on the official website of the board from 2 pm. Maharashtra HSC result 2023 live updates. Maharashtra HSC result 2023 out(HT) There are the official websites where Maharashtra HSC results will be available: Mahahsscboard.in. Mahresult.nic.in. Hscresult.mkcl.org and hsc.mahresults.org.in. This year, around 14 lakh students took the HSC or Class 12 board exam in Maharashtra. The exam was held from February 21 to March 21, 2023. The overall pass percentage stands at 91.25 per cent. Maharashtra HSC Results 2023: How to check Go to one of the official websites mentioned above. Open the Maharashtra Board HSC Results 2023 link available on the home page. Now, enter the login credentials and click on submit. Your result will be displayed on the screen. Check the result and download it. Last year, 94.22% students cleared the HSC exam in Maharashtra. The number was 5.41 percentage points lower than 2021. Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education will release RBSE 12th Arts Result 2023 on May 25, 2023. The results will be announced at 3.15 pm. Candidates can check the result after declaration on HT Portal along with official website of RBSE. RBSE 12th Arts Result 2023 Live Updates RBSE 12th Arts Result 2023: How to check Rajasthan Class 12 results on HT Portal The direct link to check RBSE 12th Arts Result 2023 in HT Portal is given below. All the appeared candidates can follow the steps given below to check the results on HT Portal. RBSE 12th Arts Result 2023: How to check Rajasthan Class 12 results on HT Portal Visit the official site of Hindustan Times at hindustantimes.com. Click on Education link available on the left hand side of the portal. A new page will open where you will get the Board exam tag on the top of the page. Click on it and a new page will open having names of all the boards. Click on Rajasthan board page link and then go to Rajasthan Class 12 Arts result link. Enter the required login credentials. Click on submit and your result will be displayed on the screen. Check the result and download the page. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. Uttarakhand Board of School Education has announced UK Board 10th, 12th Result 2023 on May 25, 2023. Candidates who have appeared for UBSE Class 10, 12 board examinations can check the results through the official site of UBSE and also on HT Portal. UK Board 10th, 12th Result 2023 Live Updates UK Board 10th, 12th Result 2023: How to check UBSE results on HT Portal(HT/File Photo) The direct link for Class 10, 12 will be available on Hindustan Times Education Page. The links given below. UK Board 10th, 12th Result 2023: How to check UBSE results on HT Portal To check the results, candidates can follow the steps given below. Visit the official site of Hindustan Times at hindustantimes.com. Click on Education link available on the left hand side of the portal. A new page will open where you will get the Board exam tag on the top of the page. Click on it and a new page will open having names of all the boards. Click on Uttarakhand board page link and then go to Uttarakhand Class 10 or Uttarakhand Class 12 result link. Enter the required login credentials. Click on submit and your result will be displayed on the screen. Check the result and download the page. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. TS EAMCET Result 2023: Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH) has announced TS EAMCET result 2023 at 9:30 am. These results are available on the official website, eamcet.tsche.ac.in. Apart from the official website, result link is available on Hindustan Times. TS EAMCET result 2023 live updates. TS EAMCET 2023 result to be out on HT portal, direct link (Getty Images/iStockphoto) To check TS EAMCET result on HT portal, students can use this link. Telangana Education Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy is going to declare EAMCET result at 9:30 am after which the result link will be activated. To check TS EAMCET result, students have to use their hall ticket numbers. How to check TS EAMCET result 2023 on HT portal Go to the the link given above. Open the EAMCET result tab. Login by entering the asked details and check your result. JNTUH conducts TS EAMCET 2023 on behalf of the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) for admitting students to Engineering, Agriculture and Medical (Pharmacy) courses. In a new interview, actor Sangeeta Odwani said she was left heartbroken, when she found out that all the stories about casting couch in the film industry were indeed true. She opened up about her own casting couch experience. Sangeeta said that a popular and influential filmmaker had once asked her to meet him alone, and when she took her friend along with her, he cancelled the meeting. Also read: Imli actor Seerat Kapoor sheds light on the dark reality of casting couch in the TV industry Sangeeta Odwani recalled her her casting couch experience. Sangeeta is known for her roles in the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer The Big Bull (2021) and the show Shubh Mangal Mein Dangal, among others. She said that during her initial days in Mumbai, she went for an audition with a friend and she was later asked to meet the producer. But when she took her friend, who is also an actor now, along with her for the meeting, the producer allegedly cancelled the meeting and said she was supposed to visit him alone, not with a friend. Why she didn't take action against producer Sangeeta told SpotboyE, Actors life is never easy. Especially when you are an outsider and people target you and try to influence you to sleep around. I remember during my initial days a popular producer tried on me and asked me to meet him alone. During that time me and my friend Sonali (Singh) who's also an actress now, arrived together to dream city Mumbai to pursue our acting dream. We went together for an audition and later were asked to meet the producer. So when I took her along with me, he cancelled the meeting saying I was supposed to come alone as they are going to launch me. So that needs to be a personal meeting. I could really doubt his intentions, but he was popular and very powerful so instead of taking action against him we went back and didn't entertain him anymore." The actor further said, I was heartbroken because I was puzzled that whatever we listen that an actress need to compromise to get a good break in showbiz, was it true! But by God's grace, I gave myself another chance and proved that it was a myth. Actually, it's upon an individual whether he wants to choose a shortcut or keep trying with faith in their talent and destiny." Actors say casting couch exists everywhere Previously, many actors have called out the casting couch culture in TV industry and Bollywood. Earlier this year, actor Jatin Singh Jamwal had said in an interview with Hindustan Times that he cried after facing casting couch. The actor said he was shocked when a director had asked him to send a picture wearing just an underwear. Last year, actor Shama Sikander had said that casting couch exists everywhere, as she recalled her own experience. She told Bollywood Life in September 2022, The industry has changed so much and for good. Today, young producers are far more professional and treat people respectfully. They do not have the notion of sex for work. In the past, I have had producers tell me that they wanted to be friends with me. I was like, how can we be friends if we do not work together. I feel the whole concept of asking for sex in return for work is the lowest of low. I mean, you have to be a terribly insecure human being to do that. Some of these producers and makers were well-established names in the industry" SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy had its world premiere at Cannes on Wednesday. The writer-director walked with his actors Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat on the red carpet before the screening. On Thursday, the trio was back to attend a photocall for the press at Cannes. While Sunny and Rahul matched in black for the photo session, Anurag was a bit more casual for the interaction. (Also read: Anurag Kashyap fixes Sunny Leone's dress in sweet moment from Cannes premiere of their film Kennedy. Watch) Kennedy was screened at the Midnights Section of the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes photocall The official handle of the Cannes Film Festival shared the photographs on their Instagram page and wrote, "Its a wrap! #Photocall KENNEDY de ANURAG KASHYAP With the film crew, Rahul Bhat, Sunny Leone & Anurag Kashyap #Cannes2023 #SeanceDeMinuit #MidnightScreening #SelectionOfficielle #OfficialSelection." In the first photo, the lead actors pose with Anurag, while the director goes solo in the second pic. The third picture captures team Kennedy that had travelled to France to support each other for the premiere. After the film's premiere, Sunny Leone had posted on Instagram, "The world premier of #kennedy and I could not be more proud to represent Indian cinema . Such an amazing moment for myself and the entire team!" The actor had worn a one-shoulder Naja Saade silk gown for the screening. What is the film about? Kennedy, which also stars Mohit Takalkar, Abhilash Thapliyal and Megha Burman, features Rahul as the title character. He is a former police officer. Kennedy is an insomniac, w is presumed dead, but still works within the corrupt system, trying to find redemption. Anurag wrote the script of the film during the lockdown. Kennedy was mostly shot during nights in Mumbai over a period of 30 days. The film is produced by Zee Studios and Anurag's Good Bad Films. Before the release of Kennedy at Cannes, Anurag told Film Companion in an interview that he wanted to cast Tamil actor Vikram in the film. He said, I actually had a specific actor in mind when I wrote this film; which is why the film is called Kennedy. The film was called Kennedy Project. It is Chiyaan Vikram, whose real name is Kennedy. I reached out to him. He never responded. So then, I reached out to Rahul (Bhat). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi got married for the second time on Thursday. He had an intimate registry marriage with Rupali Barua in a Kolkata club as per multiple reports. Pictures from their wedding have now surfaced online. Also read: Fans call it 'ghor aparadh' as actor Ashish Vidyarthi tries 'rasgulla chai' in new vlog Ashish Vidyarthi marries Rupali Barua at 60. Ashish Vidyarthi marries Rupali Barua In the photos, Ashish is seen dressed up as a groom in a Mundu from Kerala. Complementing him, Rupali opted for a white and golden Mekhela Chador from Assam and completed with some golden jewellery inspired by South Indian temple art. Reportedly, their wedding was attended by close family and friends only. Ashish Vidyarthi on marrying Rupali Barua at 60 Talking about the wedding, the actor told Times Of India, At this stage of my life, getting married to Rupali is an extraordinary feeling. We had a court marriage in the morning, followed by a get-together in the evening. Who is Rupali Barua? Rupali hails from Guwahati and is an entrepreneur. She is known for her upscale fashion store in Kolkata. Ashish, on the other hand, was seen several times visiting Kolkata in his vlogs. When asked about how the two met, Ashish told the newspaper, Oh, that's a long story. Will share it some other time." We met some time ago and decided to take it forward. But both of us wanted our wedding to be a small family affair, said Rupali. She also briefly opened up about what drew her to the actor who is known for complex and dark roles in the industry. She commented, He is a beautiful human being and a great soul to be with. Reportedly, Ashish and Rupali's wedding was followed by a formal reception. The National Award-winning actor was previously married to Rajoshi Barua who is the daughter of actor Shakuntala Barua. They also have a son, Arth Vidyarthi. Ashish was last seen in Trial by Fire and Kuttey. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Actor Juhi Chawla's daughter Jahnavi Mehta graduated from Columbia University in New York recently. On Wednesday, the actor took to Instagram to share a family photo from Jahnavi's graduation ceremony, along with some solo pictures of her daughter. Juhi wrote in her caption, "Proud and Happy." Many celebs, including actors Priyanka Chopra and Raveena Tandon, commented on Juhi's post. Also read: Shah Rukh Khan cheers for Juhi Chawla's daughter as she graduates from Columbia University Jahnavi Mehta with Jay Mehta, Juhi Chawla and Arjun Mehta at her convocation in New York. Juhi and businessman-husband Jay Mehta were seen posing with their daughter Jahnavi Mehta as well as their son Arjun Mehta in one of the pictures shared by the actor. Jahnavi sported her blue graduation robe in the pictures. She was also seen holding a flower bouquet in her hands in a few of the pictures. Jahnavi also posed with her graduation robe and hat in a solo photo. Her brother Arjun sported his sister's graduation hat in another picture as he posed solo. Priyanka Chopra, Raveena Tandon congratulate Juhi Reacting to Juhi Chawla's post, actor Priyanka Chopra commented, "Wohooo congratulations (clapping and heart eyes emojis)." Raveena Tandon wrote, "Congratulations!!!!!" Actor Tanishaa Mukerji also took to the comments section, and wrote, "Congratulations (clapping emojis)." Some fans also compared Juhi's daughter with her. One wrote, "Her (Jahnavi Mehta's) smile is a exactly like yours." Another person commented, "Same smile (heart eyes emoji)." Last week, announcing Jahnavi's graduation from the prestigious Columbia University, Juhi had tweeted a photo of her daughter from her convocation ceremony. She wrote, Columbia class (of) 2023." Juhi's friend, actor Shah Rukh Khan, had congratulated her and Jahnavi, and tweeted, "This is so awesome. Cant wait for her to get back and celebrate with her. And a feeling of extreme pride. Love you Jaanz (Jahnavi). Juhi says she cant take credit for daughter's knowledge Talking about Jahnavi, Juhi Chawla recently told News18 in an interview, One shouldnt be praising ones own kid, but she is a brilliant kid and boasts of a praiseworthy academic record. She did great in her International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams, too, and topped History in India. In IB, she topped her school. At Columbia University, she is on the Deans List. The actor further said about her daughter as she compared her to other star kids, Sometimes I wonder all this knowledge comes from! I find it very surprising. This is what she has chosen for herself, so I cant really take the credit for it. It all comes rather organically to her. I see many star kids trying to make it big in Bollywood. They are trying to be on the screen as actors and I feel its a lot of pressure on them. You dont know if your next assignment, should you get it, will be successful. And then there is the scrutiny on social media. Its all a lot to deal with." Juhi was last seen in the web series Hush Hush alongside Soha Ali Khan, Karishma Tanna, Kritika Kamra and Shahana Goswami. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Vaibhavi Upadhyaya tragically died on May 22 in a car accident in Himachal Pradesh. The late actor was only 33. She was known for her role as Jasmine in the family comedy Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. The team from the show, had fond memories of Vaibhavi. Writer Aatish Kapadia recalled how she impressed him with her audition, while Rajesh Kumar who played Jasmine's boyfriend Rosesh recalled her as 'a mountain girl'. (Also read: Vaibhavi Upadhyaya funeral: Gautam Rode breaks down, JD Majethia shares how accident occurred) Vaibhavi Upadhyaya played Jasmine on the show Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai. Vaibhavi's funeral The late actor's last rites was held in Mumbai on Wednesday after her body was brought back to the city. Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai producer JD Majethia, Aatish along with actors Deven Bhojani and Sumeet Raghavan also attended to pay their condolences to Vaibhavi's family. Actor Gautam Rode was seen getting emotional as he wiped away his tears at the crematorium. Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai team remembered Vaibhavi Speaking to Mid-Day, Rajesh shared his memories of Vaibhavi. He said, She was a mountain girl, although she is from Mumbai. I realised we had common friends after I met her on set. She had some of the toughest tongue-twisters in her dialogues, but Vaibhavi would know them by heart after one glance and perform with absolute confidence. She had a photographic memory. Off camera, she loved listening to PJs; humour was her strong point. Aatish, who still seemed shocked by her passing, also told the newspaper, "I cannot use the past tense for her. I was mesmerised by her performance. The elan and confidence with which she performed stayed in my mind, but the show never got made. When we were [casting actors] for the character of Jasmine, she was my first choice. We had some great scenes together. She was confident enough to stand up to goliath actors including Satish Shah, Rupali Ganguly, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sumeet Raghavan, and Rajesh Kumar. There cannot be another Jasmine." On Tuesday, SP Kullu Sakshi Varma told the news agency PTI that after her car fell down a valley, Vaibhavi tried to get out and was grievously injured in the process. SP Kullu said, "Vaibhavi tried to get out of the vehicle through the window and sustained a head injury which proved fatal. She was rushed to Banjar Civil Hospital where the doctors declared her dead." The police officer also confirmed that late actor was not wearing a seatbelt. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Marvel Studios recently unveiled a fascinating conversation between president Kevin Feige and director Jon Favreau, marking the 15th anniversary of the groundbreaking superhero film, Iron Man. The discussion provided insights into the origins of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and revealed the pivotal decision that forever transformed Hollywood: the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. (ALSO READ: Will MCU keep Jonathan Majors in Phase 6? Here's what we know) Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Iron Man director Jon Favreau.(Marvel) A Momentous Casting Decision Feige lauded the decision as a monumental moment in Hollywood history, stating, "I think that's probably one of the greatest decisions in the history of Hollywood." He acknowledged Downey Jr.'s contribution to the success of Marvel Studios, noting, "We wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for you." (ALSO READ: Your favourite Marvel actors also have these surprising skills! Check here) Elevating Iron Man to New Heights Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Tony Stark in the 2008 film Iron Man propelled the franchise to new heights. From constructing the iconic Iron Man suit in a cave to captivating audiences worldwide, his performance made a lasting impact. Surprisingly, Downey Jr. initially auditioned for a different Marvel project before being considered for Iron Man. The Perfect Fit for Tony Stark Favreau reminisced about his realization of Downey Jr.'s potential, saying, "I remember sitting down with [Robert] and I was like, he just got it and he's got that spark in him and his eye and he's ready." Favreau expressed how finding the perfect actor for the role made his life easier. Unwavering Commitment to Excellence Downey Jr.'s unwavering dedication to excellence set him apart. Favreau fondly recalled nights spent collaborating with the actor, reworking scenes to exceed expectations. Downey Jr. refused to settle for mediocrity, striving to make Iron Man a truly special film. As Iron Man celebrates its 15th anniversary, we reflect on the significance of Robert Downey Jr.'s casting. It not only shaped the trajectory of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also left an indelible mark on the superhero film landscape. The legacy of Downey Jr.'s performance serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that well-chosen casting decisions can have. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After nine action-packed seasons, the highly adored CW series "The Flash" bid farewell in its grand finale. The show, adapted from the DC Comics series of the same name, concluded on Wednesday, evoking a range of emotions among fans, who experienced a mixture of joy, melancholy, and a deep sense of satisfaction. Bartholomew Henry "Barry" Allen is portrayed by Grant Gustin.(The CW / Warner Bros. Television) The Emotionally Charged Finale The ultimate season took viewers on an emotional rollercoaster as Barry Allen prepared for his final race. Executive producer Eric Wallace commended the extraordinary dedication of the cast and crew, singling out the remarkable performances of Grant Gustin (Barry), Candice Patton (Iris), Danielle Panabaker (Khione/Caitlin), and Danielle Nicolet (Cecile/Virtue). A Battle Against Time Titled "A New World: Part 4," the series finale brought back Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett) and a league of Barry's former adversaries, manipulated by the Negative Speed Force, with a nefarious plan to manipulate the timeline and obliterate The Flash once and for all. Barry joined forces with his fellow Team Flash members to confront Eddie and his alliance of supervillains, which included formidable foes like Godspeed (Karan Oberoi), Savitar (Gustin), Eobard Thawne (Tom Cavanagh), and Zoom (Teddy Sears). As they neared victory against Eddie, he absorbed the speed from his fellow villains to rejuvenate himself, leading to a climactic and intense showdown. Striking a Delicate Balance In a desperate attempt to halt the Negative Speed Force's influence without resorting to Eddie's demise, Barry proposed an alternative solution. He implored Eddie to embrace the role of the Negative Speed Force's avatar while resisting the darkness within him. With Eddie's compliance, the destructive blue crystal that had possessed him was obliterated. New Beginnings Following the gripping confrontation, Barry returned to the hospital where Iris had given birth to their baby girl, Nora. In a heartwarming scene, Iris was joined by her father Joe (Jesse L. Martin), who cradled his granddaughter for the first time. Simultaneously, Khione (Danielle Panabaker) received a visit from a Wells who revealed her destiny to "ascend" and become the natural "protector of all things," signifying the end of her human form. Khione bid farewell to Team Flash at S.T.A.R. Labs and transformed into a whirlwind of elements, only for Caitlin Snow to reappear in her stead. Celebration and Clues for the Future A week after Nora's birth, Barry and Iris celebrated their newborn with the members of Team Flash, including the future version of Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy). The gathering concluded on a joyous note, with future Nora teasing the imminent arrival of Bart, a character introduced in season 7. Thus, the final episode of "The Flash" concluded, drawing the curtains on an era in the Arrowverse and leaving behind a legacy of heartfelt moments, comedic brilliance, and awe-inspiring spectacles for fans to treasure in the years to come. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Last of Us and Critical Role star, Ashley Johnson, has recently taken legal action by filing a restraining order against her former boyfriend following a series of disturbing incidents. Ashely Johnson with her ex-boyfriend Brian Wayne Foster. (Image Credit: Getty Images) The restraining order was sought due to allegations of abuse, threats, and extortion attempts directed toward Johnson and her family after their separation. Johnson and her former partner, Brian Wayne Foster, had been in a long-term relationship that started brewing back in 2012. They lived together for a considerable period of time and even announced their engagement in 2018 through various social media platforms, including Instagram and Critical Role live streams. However, their relationship was far from the idyllic image portrayed to fans. The Blindspot actress claims to have endured "many acts of terror" and a history of verbal abuse from Foster. After attempting to end the relationship for over two years, she finally severed ties with Foster in March. This decision triggered an escalation in Foster's violent and dangerous behavior. According to the 39-year-old-actrsses statements, Foster's drug use intensified his already unhinged conduct. Fearing for her safety and that of her family, Johnson was compelled to flee her home and promptly filed an emergency restraining order on May 15. In the legal document, The Last of Us Games voice actor described Foster as being "close to the edge" with the potential for causing harm not only to her but also to her immediate family. ALSO READ| 'I am Iron Man,' Marvel Studios reveal stunning details of Downey Jr casting | Watch The situation took a darker turn when the stars ex-boyfriend allegedly locked Johnson out of her internet and devices, leaving her isolated and vulnerable. In a disturbing twist, he attempted to extort $150,000 from the actress shortly after their breakup. As a result, the restraining order has been extended to include Johnson's mother, sister, and two nephews. A hearing regarding the order is scheduled for June 9. Ashley Johnson is renowned for her portrayal of Ellie in The Last of Us video game series and her recent cameo as Ellie's mother in the TV adaptation. She also played the character Patterson, and Teen Titans, where she voiced Terra. Brian Wayne Foster was also connected to Critical Role, having hosted various talk shows related to the franchise, including Talks Machina and Between the Sheets. He also participated in several one-shot adventures and ran the Undeadwood miniseries. Amazon Originals highly anticipated series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, faced an alarming wave of racist backlash, leading the production to take significant measures to support the cast. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power cast receives a therapist as they face and overcome a wave of racist backlash. (Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video) Scheduled to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in September 2022, the series boasts a diverse ensemble cast, which unfortunately sparked immediate racist backlash targeting colored actors. The objection to the presence of people of color within the Middle-earth universe prompted Prime Video to respond firmly, denouncing the threats, harassment, and abuse directed at the cast. Ismael Cruz Cordova, who portrays the elf Arondir in The Rings of Power, opened up about the severe impact of the backlash in an interview with Variety. The pointy ear elf revealed that the production went as far as hiring an on-set therapist to provide support for the actors. Cordova expressed his appreciation for the therapist's presence, even when they didn't engage in conversations. You need support when this happens because the voices are so loud and theyre coming at you from so many places... I loved seeing her there, even if we didnt speak. I knew there was someone there seeing me completely. It wasnt just as an actor... It hurt. It had a psychological and mental health impact. Thats something that Im very, very open about so that people understand that what they do and say online really hurts people, really has an impact on us... My phone got hacked. I had bank account attempts of being hacked. My PayPal got hacked. My friends got messages. I got death threats. I got things mailed to me. People found out my address. It was a lot of that, he expressed The intensity of the backlash extended beyond online vitriol, as Cordova shared deeply disturbing incidents, including his phone being hacked, attempts to compromise his bank accounts, and receiving death threats. The situation escalated to the point where the elf actors personal information, including his address, was discovered and exploited. About the Racist Backlash The debut of The Rings of Power, Amazon's highly anticipated series, was met with both overwhelming support and a disheartening wave of racist backlash. Ismael Cruz Cordova, who passionately donned the role as the elf Arondir, braced himself for the hate, recognizing the significance of enhancing visibility and representation. Despite the intense backlash, numerous influential voices stepped forward to show solidarity with the cast, including Whoopi Goldberg, the Star Wars franchise, and original Lord of the Rings actors Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and Sean Astin. ALSO READ| | Web-Slinging surprise! Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse confirms Venom's universe appearance The Rings of Power is not alone in facing a racist hate wave in recent years due to diverse casting choices. Moses Ingram, The inquisitor Reva in Obi-Wan Kenobi, encountered similar vicious attacks and even received a prior warning from Lucasfilm about potential harassment. Like Prime Video, Lucasfilm offered support to Ingram and denounced the abuse. HBO Max's House of the Dragon series also faced comparable issues. While Cordova anticipated some backlash, the overwhelming magnitude of the hate directed at the cast was deeply distressing. Nevertheless, it is encouraging that the studio provided support to the actors and took a public stand against the backlash. Several speculations about Sony Pictures upcoming movie "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" have been circulating for months, particularly regarding which characters from the live-action Spider-Man films will make a cameo appearance. Chris Miller, Phil Lord, cast members Brian Tyree Henry, Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Luna Lauren Velez, producer Amy Pascal, directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson and Kemp Powers attend a photo call for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni(REUTERS) While fans are still eagerly awaiting confirmation about the involvement of actors from the live-action franchises, one piece of information has revealed that a recognizable character from Tom Hardy's "Venom" universe will be featured in the movie. Amidst the speculation surrounding Tom Holland's potential involvement in Across the Spider-Verse, Sony Pictures added fuel to the fire by including archival audio from all three live-action Spider-Man actors, Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire, in one of the film's trailers. However, the YouTube trailer did not confirm any of the actors' appearances. Interestingly, a promotional image shared by Sony Pictures Vietnam's Facebook page shed some light on a different character's appearance. The promotional picture for the upcoming animated Spider-man title featured on Sony Pictures Vietnam's Facebook page, showcased a scene with the Spot reaching through a portal into a familiar-looking convenience store and a recognizable convenience store owner. The Vietnamese text on the image roughly confirmed the presence of Tom Hardy's Venom universe in the movie. This revelation not only confirmed the inclusion of Hardy's Venom universe but also identified the woman in the image as Venom's Mrs. Chen. This won't be the first instance of the Venom universe crossing paths with another Spider-Man universe. In a mid-credits scene from "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock is shown conversing with a bartender played by Cristo Fernandez. The conversation implies that Eddie has been catching up on events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Avengers, and decides to find Spider-Man. However, he is transported back to his own universe before he can act on this decision, leaving behind a small bit of a symbiote. Given the connection established between Eddie and Venom's universe and the official MCU timeline, it's plausible for Eddie and Venom to appear in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." While their inclusion remains speculative, the fact that an official Sony Pictures account shared an image depicting the Venom universe increases the likelihood of their appearance. Though there has been no official confirmation regarding Eddie or Venom's involvement in the film or Hardy's participation. ALSO READ| | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's Pavitr Prabhakar lives in Mumbattan, doesn't like people saying chai tea. Watch As fans await further details and official announcements, the anticipation for "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" continues to grow. With the success of the first film and the potential crossover of multiple Spider-Man universes, the sequel has the potential to be an extraordinary cinematic experience. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is set to shake Big Screens on June 2, 2023. The teaser of Karthis upcoming Tamil film Japan, which has been directed by Raju Murugan, was unveiled on Thursday to coincide with the actors birthday. The teaser is an introduction to Karthis character and going by the visuals, he plays neither the hero nor villain. The makers have confirmed the film will hit the screens for Diwali festival. (Also read: When Karthi was thrown out of a theatre while watching Rangeela: 'Got tickets for the next shows, came back inside') Karthi's next film Japan is slated to be released this Diwali. Japan teaser Japan marks the maiden collaboration between Karthi and Raju Murugan. It also stars Anu Emmanuel. The teaser was introduced on Twitter with the caption, Here comes our #Japan - Made in India. As per the makers, the film will also be dubbed and released in Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Karthi plays a character called Japan in the film. The video introduces him as someone who is very mysterious. He can be very serious sometimes and too funny occasionally. In the video, Karthi can be seen sporting a very different hairstyle and goes on to introduce himself as Japan made in India. The film has music by GV Prakash Kumar and is produced by Dream Warrior Pictures. Karthi was recently seen in Mani Ratnams magnum opus, Ponniyin Selvan 2. He played the character of commander Vandhiyathevan in the film, which has so far grossed around 290 crore globally. Karthi met fans who travelled from Japan A few days after the release of PS 2, Karthi took out time to meet and interact with his ardent fans who came all the way from Japan to Chennai to watch Ponniyin Selvan 2. Terumi Kakubari Fujieda and Isao Endo, whove been a fan of Karthi for a long time, travelled all the way from Japan to catch him in Mani Ratnams film. Talking about how she started following Karthis work, she said in an interview to DT Next, When I was in Chennai , I watched Tamil films. I immediately liked Karthi. I have watched Kaithi several times. Since Tamil is a totally different language, I follow subtitles. Being Japanese, English subtitles are also difficult to follow. So, only when a DVD with Japanese subtitles was released, I bought it and ended up watching it often. It would be really grateful and helpful if Tamil films release in our country with Japanese subtitles. ott:10 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Karthi, who was recently seen playing the character of Vanthiyathevan in Mani Ratnams Ponniyin Selvan: II, was once thrown out of a theatre during a show of Urmila Matondkar and Aamir Khans 1995 film Rangeela. During the promotions of Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS1) last year in Mumbai, Karthi recalled the incident, while talking about the experience of watching Hindi films during his college days. Also read: Karthi meets fans at home as they travel from Japan to Chennai to watch Ponniyin Selvan 2. See pics Karthi was thrown out of a theatre as he watched Rangeela. Karthi, who turned 46 on Thursday, revealed why him and his group of friends were thrown out of a theatre, which was playing Rangeela. He went on to add that if Tanha Tanha from Rangeela is played, it will take him back to his college days. Karthi was thrown out of the theatre for this reason Ive watched so many Hindi films during my college times. I clearly remember Rangeela (1995). We went there to watch Tanha Tanha. We were running inside the theatre. We had to be thrown out. But we got the tickets for the next shows and that is how we came back inside, he had said during a media interaction in 2022 in Mumbai. Earlier, Karthi spoke about why Ponniyin Selvan 1 couldnt register the same kind of impact at the box-office in the North as it did in Tamil Nadu. In a pre-release media interaction in 2022, he said that audiences in the North did find it a bit difficult to follow PS1. Karthi opened up on why PS1 couldnt receive the same kind of response from audiences in the North vis-a-vis Allu Arjun's Telugu drama Pushpa and Rishab Shetty's Kannada film Kantara. I think they (North audience) found it a little difficult to understand. Thats what I felt from my understanding of the reception. Imagine reading a novel with so many character names, you forget some of them when you reach the tenth page. Think thats what happened with them, Karthi had said. Karthi will be next seen in Japan On the career-front, Karthi currently awaits the release of his upcoming Tamil film, Japan. The films makers on Thursday announced via a poster that the film will release for Diwali. Japan marks Karthis maiden collaboration with director Raju Murugan, who recently directed a segment in Prime Video's Tamil anthology, Modern Love: Chennai. He also has a yet-untitled Tamil film with director Nalan Kumaraswamy in the offing. ott:10 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Sachin Pilgaonkar has been in show business for the past six decades. The veteran actor has been working since the age of four and next will be seen as a scheming politician in season three of Disney+ Hotstar's City of Dreams. He shared that he has no plans to retire and wants to continue working till he can. (Also read: Sachin Pilgaonkar jokes he still has to show ID to watch A-rated films, Kapil Sharma calls him taaza aur jawan) Sachin Pilgaonkar in a still from season three of the web series City of Dreams. Veteran of film and TV industry Since his debut in the Marathi film Ha Maza Marg Ekla (1962) as a child artiste, the actor has explored all kinds of avenues in the film industry. He has worked in films, television and OTT. He has also acted, directed, produced, penned and sung songs in different industries. The actor has won two National Film Awards for Best Child Artist and has been part of popular films like Jewel Thief (1967), Sholay (1975), Balika Badhu (1976), Trishul (1978), Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978), and Satte Pe Satta (1982). In an interview with Indian Express, the actor stated, "I dont think any whiskey bottle, or an actor has an expiry date. I say this while giving respect to both, the statement isnt derogatory at all. Because I feel things are here to stay and if they are, let them stay, there is no harm in it. As long as you dont overkill or impose yourself on something. You should not do something that doesnt suit your age. A person like me cannot even think of retirement." Sachin's next role In Nagesh Kukunoor's web series City of Dreams, Sachin plays the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Jagdish Gaurav, who has many political battles with the Gaikwad family. The show also stars Atul Kulkarni, Priya Bapat, Eijaz Khan and Adinath Kothare. The third season will begin streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on May 26. The actor is married to Supriya Pilgaonkar; the couple have worked together on numerous projects, both in Hindi and Marathi. Their daughter Shriya Pilgaonkar is also an actor. She was last seen in the web series Taaza Khabar with Bhuvan Bam. Sachin has also been active in the Marathi film industry. He acted in the superhit musical Katyar Kaljat Ghusali in 2015 and directed late actor Laxmikant Berde's son Abinay Berde in Ashi Hi Ashiqui (2018). His last Hindi film was the Rani Mukerji-starrer Hichki in 2018. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday said the country will get three versions of Vande Bharat trains by February-March next year. In an interview with news agency PTI, Vaishnaw said the three versions of indigenous semi-high-speed trains will include Vande Chair Car, Vande Metro and Vande Sleepers. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami take a ride in newly flagged-off Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express train, in Dehradun, Thursday, May 25, 2023.(PTI) "There are three formats of Vande Bharat. Vande Metro for less than 100 kilometres, Vande Chair Car for 100-550 kilometres and Vande Sleepers for a journey beyond 550 kilometres. These three formats will be ready by February-March (next year)," Vaishnaw told PTI. The minister was speaking after the launch of a Vande Bharat train from Uttarakhand's Dehradun to the Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station in Delhi. A total of 17 Vande Bharat trains have been launched so far, all of them flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vaishnaw said every state will get a Vande Bharat train by mid-June. "Every eighth or ninth day, a new train is coming out of the factory. Work is going to start at two more factories. We will have a new train coming out of these factories once their supply chain gets stabilised," Vaishnaw said. Vande Bharat trains are designed with a top speed of 160 kmph but they will run at a speed of up to 130 kmph according to track capacity. The minister asserted that the railway tracks will be upgraded to support the maximum speed of Vande Bharat trains in the next three to four years. "Old tracks were designed to support speeds between 70 and 80 kmph. 30,000-35,000 kilometres of tracks are being upgraded to support speeds of 110 kmph, 130 kmph and 160 kmph. It will be done in the next three to four years," Vaishnaw said. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 'God is watching': Arvind Kejriwal after Satyendar Jain falls in Tihar Jail, sent to hospital Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, hours after Aam Aadmi Party colleague Satyendar Jain was injured in Tihar Jail, where he has been held since May last year facing money laundering charges. Read more Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (HT Photo) 'This is strength of democracy': PM Modi jabs Opposition on new Parliament opening boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a swipe at the opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament complex which is scheduled to take place on May 28. Read more Rashmika Mandana wows fans with her stunning red-hot pantsuit look. Check out her glam pics Rashmika Mandana, a talented actress, is gaining recognition in the film industry not only for her impeccable acting skills but also for her remarkable fashion sense. Read more Esha Gupta calls her high slit gown from Cannes 2023 red carpet risky: I was so nervous, my stomach was upset Esha Gupta recently walked the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival 2023. On May 16, Esha was a sight to behold, as she walked wearing a white plunging gown with high-slit and a unique asymmetrical collar with floral embellishments. Read more Maruti Suzuki Jimny to launch on this date, will rival Mahindra Thar The car that everyone was waiting for at the Auto Expo 2023 was the Jimny. The media drives of the Jimny have finally been completed and the manufacturer is all set to launch the off-roader in the Indian market on June 7th. Read more Who is Akash Madhwal? MIs newest pace sensation whose record 5/5 crushed LSG in IPL 2023 Eliminator Mumbai Indians (MI) took Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to town in Chennai during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator to book a place for themselves in Qualifier 2 and incredibly, their dominance was powered by the performance of a bowler who was virtually unknown before that. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two of the cubs born to Namibian cheetah Jwala at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh died on Thursday amid sweltering heat. The latest fatality took the death toll of cheetahs, translocated from African countries to the Kuno National Park, to six in the last two months. Officials have suspected that the deaths of the cubs were a case of dehydration and weakness. Namibian cheetah Jwala, earlier known as Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs on March 27. (File) When the monitoring team visited the park, the cub looked weak, so the team called veterinary doctors and took the cub to the hospital but after 5-10 minutes, the cub died, JS Chouhan, the MP chief conservator of forests, said. Cheetah Jwala, earlier known as Siyaya, was brought from Namibia to Kuno in Sheopur district in September 2022. She gave birth to four cubs in the last week of March this year. The wild cat had already lost a cub to suspected dehydration and weakness on Tuesday and is now left with only one newborn. While experts called the death unfortunate, they said it was within expected mortality rates. Also read | Inadequate space for cheetahs in Kuno National Park, claims ex-WII official Cub mortality is particularly high for wild cheetahs. For this reason, cheetahs have evolved to give birth to large litters compared to other wild cats. This enables them to compensate for high cub mortality rate. Weaker cheetah cubs in a litter will typically survive less than their stronger siblings. This death should be viewed within the context of survival of the fittest, Vincent Van Der Merwe, South Africa metapopulation project head, said. The South African cheetah expert also suggested that India should fence two to three habitats for cheetahs as there has never been a successful reintroduction into an unfenced reserve in recorded history. The Supreme Court recently expressed concerns over the death of cheetahs in Kuno and asked the Madhya Pradesh government to rise above politics and consider shifting a few to Rajasthan. It appears that Kuno is not sufficient for so many cheetahs Why dont you look for a suitable place in Rajasthan? Merely because Rajasthan is ruled by (an) Opposition party does not mean you will not consider it, the top court told Centre. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced that he will be visiting violence-hit Manipur soon and appealed for peace in the northeastern state. Addressing a rally in Guwahati, the union minister said that he will stay in Manipur for three days and talk to the people of the state to establish peace. Union home minister Amit Shah (File Photo) There were clashes in Manipur after the verdict of a court. I would appeal to both groups they should maintain peace. The Centre will ensure that justice is given to all who suffered in the clashes which broke out in the state, but people must hold a dialogue to ensure peace in the state, Amit Shah said. Shah's comments came as one person was killed and another was injured in fresh violence in strife-torn Manipur earlier in the day. According to reports, suspected militants opened fire at a group of people - mostly comprising those who were displaced during the recent ethnic clashes in Churachandpur and took shelter in a relief camp at Moirang in Bishnupur. Tensions have prevailed in Manipur since May 3 after an interethnic violence erupted during a solidarity march called by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in protest against an April 19 Manipur high court order directing the state government to consider giving Centre Scheduled Caste (ST) reservation to the Meitei community. At least 70 people have been killed in the violence so far, with over thousands of people being displaced. Around 2,000 houses were also burned down across the state, reported AFP. The military has deployed thousands of troops to the state - where curfews have been imposed and the internet has been cut for several weeks. Meanwhile, in view of the fresh violence, an indefinite curfew has been reimposed on Wednesday in the flashpoint Bishnupur district. (With inputs from agencies) Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday alleged that the Congress party displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by relegating Sengol, a five-feet long sceptre that will be installed near the Speakers seat in the new Parliament, as a walking stick despite former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's crucial role in it. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and ceremonial sceptre 'Sengol'.(ANI, PTI) The ceremonial sceptre was handed over by then governor-general Lord Mountbatten to Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power from the British to India in August 1947. It was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now receive the same Sengol on May 28 and install it in the new Parliament House. The Sengol was integral to our Independence but the Left relegated it as a nondescript walking stick in a museum corner despite Pt Nehrus crucial role, Sarma said in a tweet. Another instance of how an entire eco-system censored any event in history that glorified ancient Bharat & Hindu rituals, he added. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya earlier asserted that the sceptre has been given its rightful place. Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday told a press briefing that Prime Minister Modi took a decision to adopt the Sengol as a national symbol of the "Amrit Kaal". The new building of Parliament will witness a similar event to the one in 1947, with Adheenam (Priests) repeating the ceremony and vesting PM Modi with the Sengol. Sengol, which has an important place in our history, means righteousness. Its recipient has the order to rule justly and fairly. Those elected to serve the people must never forget this. And thats why this Sengol will be dedicated to the nation. It will be displayed in Parliament and will be taken out on special occasions, Shah said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two Australian universities - Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales - have separately announced bans on the intake of students from some Indian states citing concerns over a rise in fraudulent visa applications. The education agents were instructed to not consider students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. (Representational Image)(Courtesy issa.house.gov) The education agents were instructed to not consider students from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The report indicated that one in four applications is now deemed fraudulent or non-genuine by the country's Department of Home Affairs. The ban was announced prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to Australia on Monday, during which a large community event for the Indian diaspora was scheduled to take place in Sydney. Also Read | 2 Australian universities to set up campuses in Gujarat: Pradhan In a letter on May 19, Federation University said that they have observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs. We hoped this would prove to be a short-term issue [but] it is now clear there is a trend emerging, the letter said. Western Sydney University informed agents in its letter that they could no longer recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, citing a large number of Indian students who started courses in 2022 who had dropped out. The regions within India that have been identified as presenting the highest attrition risk are Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat," the letter from the university on May 8 said. Due to the urgency of this matter, the university has decided to pause recruitment from these regions in India, effective immediately. the letter further said. An earlier report from The Sydney Morning Herald said that a significant trend has emerged regarding the handling of applications from Indian students by several renowned educational institutions in Australia. Emails obtained from Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, the University of Wollongong, Torrens University, as well as agents affiliated with Southern Cross University, suggested a noticeable tightening of scrutiny on these Indian students' applications. Also Read | Australia to establish Consulate in Bengaluru: PM Albanese The concern was that a considerable number of applicants, rather than genuinely seeking educational opportunities, appear to have ulterior motives centered around employment prospects in Australia instead of pursuing their intended studies. In February, Edith Cowan University in Perth implemented a comprehensive prohibition on accepting applicants from the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. Subsequently, in March, Victoria University further tightened its restrictions on student applications, extending to eight Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao Trainee Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital Stream. India's regional languages attract me. ...view detail NEW DELHI: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday renewed his partys appeal to the Congress to attend the historic event to be held to formally inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 and asked the opposition not to politicise the event. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said they have absolute respect for the President and do not want to bring the presidential office into controversy. (PTI) Please do attend the event. Parliament is the crown of Indias democracy; the prime minister is also an important part of parliament, the former Union minister said at a media briefing on Thursday amid a political row over the event on Sunday. Twenty-one political parties have declared that they will not attend the event because PM Narendra Modi, and not President Droupadi Murmu was going to preside over Sundays event. This, the Congress and many other opposition parties have said, was a humiliation of the President. Also Read: Petition in Supreme Court wants Murmu invited for new Parliament inauguration Ravi Shankar Prasad said they have absolute respect for the President and do not want to bring the presidential office into a controversy. Suggesting that the Congress move to boycott the event had nothing to do with the President, Prasad asked rhetorically if the Congress was part of the event to lay the foundation stone for the parliament building in December 2020. Or if they have ever gone to pay their respects to Sardar Patels statute in Gujarat, or the militarys memorial at India Gate? No. They did not. Because Modi made it. This is their problem, Prasad said. Back in December 2020 when PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament building, the Congress boycotted the ceremony, criticizing the event at a time farmers were camped outside Delhi in protest against the Centres new agriculture laws that were subsequently withdrawn. On Wednesday, 19 political parties issued a joint statement to announce their decision to boycott the inauguration of the parliament building on May 28, saying that they found no value in a new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out of Parliament. Later, two more parties, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), also said they will stay away from the event. Opposition parties say that as the President summons, prorogues and addresses Parliament, and her assent is a must for any act to become law, her absence from the event is an insult to her office. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman adivasi President, the statement added. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) hit back at the opposition parties, saying this was not the first instance of such disdain by the opposition and that it was just another feather in their cap of disregard for democratic processes. The new Parliament was built at a cost of 1,200 crore and aimed at a facelift and amenities not available at the iconic colonial-era building next door that served as Indias Parliament for 75 years after being opened in 1927. A two-hour-long programme with multi-faith prayers and a guest list that includes all members of Parliament (MPs) and chief ministers is scheduled for the inauguration on Sunday at 12 noon. Modi will lead the ceremony inside the new Lok Sabha chamber that can accommodate nearly 900 people. The programme will also showcase modern facilities of the new building that is likely to start functioning from the monsoon session in July. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday asked the Opposition to respect democracy and reverse its decision to boycott the opening of the new Parliament on May 28, deepening the political controversy looming over the inauguration of a building that will host Indias lawmakers later this year. In Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to make a veiled reference to the controversy in his remarks after returning from a three-nation visit.(ANI) Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman led the charge, criticising 21 opposition parties that decided to withdraw from the ceremony over Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to preside over the event instead of President Droupadi Murmu. Whether you like the Prime Minister or do not like to see him... Whatever it is, you have to respect the temple of democracy. ...it is not good to boycott the temple of democracy where we debate peoples issues. ...At least for the people, participate in the function, Sitharaman told reporters in Chennai. In Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to make a veiled reference to the controversy in his remarks after returning from a three-nation visit. It was the atmosphere of democracy that everyone joined in the Indian communitys programme. Not only the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, was in the audience, but also the countrys former PM and the entirety of the opposition who were together for the sake of their nation, he said, referring to an event in Sydney. Everyone accorded respect to the Indian representative, and it was not about Modis glory but about Indias strength, the PM added. Read: '140 crore Indians won't forget': NDA slams Oppn in Parliament inauguration row His comments came a day after 21 opposition parties announced that they will boycott the inauguration. A joint statement by 19 parties which together control 11 state governments and 230 seats in the Lok Sabha said Modis decision to inaugurate the new Parliament was an assault on democracy and undermined the office of the President. Later, two more parties, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), said they would also stay away from the event. The controversy even reached the Supreme Court with a lawyer filing a public interest litigation in the apex court on Thursday, arguing that the Lok Sabha secretariat and the central government violated the Constitution by keeping Murmu out of the event. The petition by advocate CR Jaya Sukin might be mentioned before the vacation bench for urgent hearing on Friday. The respondents (Lok Sabha Secretariat and Union government) are try(ing) to humiliate the Indian President, the petition added. It sought a direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat for inauguration of the new Parliament by Murmu. Twenty five parties are expected to attend the inauguration, including 18 members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and seven other outfits the Bahujan Samaj Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, Biju Janata Dal and Telugu Desam Party. The presence of these seven parties is a boost for the government and may help blunt Opposition criticism. The Opposition statement was signed by the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Indian Union Muslim League, National Conference, Communist Party of India, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (Mani), Vidhuthalai Chirunthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary Socialist Party, and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The new Parliament was built over three years at a cost of 1,200 crore; it is aimed at providing a facelift and amenities not available at the iconic colonial-era building next door that served as Indias Parliament for 75 years after being opened in 1927. The ceremony will begin with an early morning ritual and a multi-religion prayer followed by the formal opening in the Lok Sabha chamber by Modi. Read: Why is new Parliament building triangular-shaped? All features explained Officials said the ritual havan will be held in the Parliament premises outside the new building around 7 am where the ceremonial sceptre, or Sengol, will be handed over to Modi by the high priests of the Shaivite order. The Sengol will be installed near the chair of the Speaker in the new Parliament. The main function is likely to begin around noon in the presence of the PM, former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former PM HD Deve Gowda, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, among others. The Opposition kept up its attack on the government. Mr. Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of the Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system. 140 crore Indians want to know what do you want to express by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House? tweeted Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. But the BJP hit back. I would like to tell the Congress and other opposition leaders to please attend the event. Parliament is the crown of Indias democracy; the PM is also an important part of Parliament, said senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad. Read | New Parliament inauguration: List of parties attending, boycotting the event For Congress colleagues, I would say that Modiji had said on August 15, 2014, that all PMs are equally remembered. The fame of all the PMs has been established in the PM Museum. Modiji is not there, this is the big thinking of PM Modi. It would be good if Congress expands its heart, he added. Besides the BJP, the 18 NDA members attending the event include the Shiv Sena, National Peoples Party, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Jannayak Janata Party, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, IMKMK , All Jharkhand Students Union, Republican Party of India, Mizo National Front, Tamil Maanila Congress, ITFT (Tripura), Bodo Peoples Party, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Apna Dal and Assam Gana Parishad. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has called the boycott of opposition parties of the new Parliament buildings inauguration on Sunday contempt for the very essence of democracy while imploring them to revisit the decision. New Parliament building. (Hindustan Times)(HT_PRINT) 140 crore people of India will not forget this egregious insult to our democracy and to their elected representatives, NDA leaders said in a statement on Wednesday. Also read: How 19 parties came on board for joint statement on new Parliament BJP president J P Nadda, Shiv Senas Eknath Shinde, and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma are among those who signed the statement. They said the decision to boycott the ceremony is not merely disrespectful; it is a blatant affront to the democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation. Twenty-one parties announced on Wednesday the boycott over Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to preside over the ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. Parties such as the Biju Janata Dal and the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party, which are not part of the NDA but considered friendly to the BJP, will attend the inauguration. The NDA leaders said Parliament is a hallowed institution, the beating heart of our democracy, and the epicentre of decision-making that shapes and influences the lives of our citizens. They added that flagrant disrespect towards this institution betrays not only intellectual bankruptcy but a disturbing contempt for the very essence of democracy. The NDA slammed the parties for showing scant regard for parliamentary procedure. It accused the opposition parties of repeatedly showing scant regard for parliamentary procedures for disrupting sessions, staging walkouts during crucial legislation, and demonstrating an alarming lackadaisical attitude towards their Parliamentary duties. This recent boycott is just another feather in their cap of disregard for democratic processes, the statement said. It blamed the opposition for disrupting Parliament and sidestepping parliamentary etiquette. The statement accused the opposition parties of hypocrisy and said they boycotted the special GST session presided over by the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee, skipped the ceremony when he was given the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, and extended a late courtesy call to Ramnath Kovind upon his election as President. The statement referred to the suspension of civil liberties and democratic processes during the Emergency. It added the boycott makes it apparent that the Opposition shuns Parliament because it represents the will of the people - a will that has repeatedly rejected their antiquated and self-serving politics. The statement took potshots at the oppositions attempts to coalesce against the BJP. It said the so-called unity is marked not by a shared vision for national development, but by a shared practice of vote bank politics and a propensity for corruption. The statement said the actions of the opposition tarnish the values upheld by leaders such as BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. We implore the Opposition parties to reconsider their decision, for if they do not, the 140-crore people of India will not forget this egregious insult to our democracy and to their elected representatives, the statement said. Also read: Rahul Gandhi's bricks of ego tweet as 19 parties to boycott new Parliament building event In a joint statement, 19 of the parties boycotting the inauguration said Modis decision to inaugurate the new Parliament was an assault on democracy. Later, two more parties, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, also said they would stay away from the event. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Smriti Kak Ramachandran Smriti covers an intersection of politics and governance. Having spent over a decade in journalism, she combines old fashioned leg work with modern story telling tools. ...view detail The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday dismissed Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge's reported statement threatening a ban on RSS and Bajrang Dal as vacuous comments and said the Congress should instead focus on implementing the five poll guarantees. Priyank Kharge, a Congress MLA from Chittapur and son of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, reportedly said the Karnataka government will ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, BJP's ideological fountainhead, and Bajrang Dal if they disturb the peace in the state. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya and Congress MLA Priyank Kharge. Posting the snapshot of a newspaper report, Malviya tweeted, Is Priyank Kharge the super CM of Karnataka? Or does being Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges son give him a bloated head to speak over CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivkumar? Instead of unleashing ministers without portfolio to make such vacuous comments, Congress should focus on delivering on its 5 Guarantees, he added, warning that people are ready to hit the streets if the grand old party goes back on its poll promise. Hitting back at the BJP functionary, Kharge said that Amit Malviya fails history again as the concept of super CM was introduced during the tenure of BS Yediyurappa. Countering the charge of dynastic politics, Kharge asked Malviya to show the courage to & ask Amit Shah ji, Rajnathji, Goyalji, Pradhanji, Anuragji, etc & then swing by to speak to me. In 2020, the Congress alleged that then chief minister BS Yediyurappas second son BY Vijayendra was acting as a super CM of the state and had indulged in corruption running into several thousand crores. Vijayendra is the vice president of the Karnataka BJP unit while his elder brother Raghavendra is a Lok Sabha member representing the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency. The state Congress claimed that even BJP MLAs themselves had written to the party high command complaining of the high-handed ways of Vijayendra and how he was indulging in corruption by interfering in government transfers, awarding of tenders and purchases made. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Thursday welcomed the new Parliament building inauguration and slammed the Opposition parties for boycotting the launch, calling it unfair. Mayawati said that if the government had made the new Parliament, they also have the right to inaugurate it. BSP supremo Mayawati.(PTI) Also read: Petition in Supreme Court wants Murmu invited for new Parliament inauguration Adding that the opposition parties' insistence that the new building be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu was unfair, Mayawati said, It is also unfair to link this with the respect of a tribal woman. "They should have thought of this while fielding a candidate against her instead of electing her unopposed," she said in a series of tweets. Welcoming the launch, Mayawati wrote, Be it the government of Congress party or now the BJP at the centre, the BSP has always supported them on issues related to the country and public interest. Rising above party politics and looking at it in this context, the party also supported the inauguration of the new building of the parliament on May 28. Meanwhile, the BSP chief said she will not be attending the inauguration on May 28 due to some other commitments, even though she has received an invitation. I have received the invitation for the program dedicated to the country i.e. the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament House, for which I thank and extend my best wishes. But due to my pre-scheduled engagement regarding the continuous review meetings of the party, I will not be able to attend that function, she wrote on Twitter in Hindi. As many as 19 opposition parties - including the Samajwadi Party, Congress, among others - issued a joint statement on Wednesday announcing the boycott of the new Parliament buildings launch on May 28 - which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate. According to the opposition, it is sidelining President Droupadi Murmu and is not only a grave insult but also a direct assault on our democracy. In a counterattack, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also issued a statement asking the opposition parties to rethink their decision to boycott the event. "The people of India will not forget their egregious insult to our democracy and to their elected representatives if they go ahead with their stand, they said. The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress on Thursday held a convention of leaders from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to demand a caste census and increase in reservation for the concerned population. In January this year, Bihar initiated its own caste survey which was later stayed by the Patna high court. (HT Photo) The convention, according to party functionaries, was held to mark the death anniversary of former Union minister Chandrajeet Yadav and was attended by nearly 200 leaders. We are going to fight for the cause of the OBCs and for this, we need a caste census. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has already spoken in favour of a caste census. The Congresss social justice policy won the peoples support in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee organisation secretary Anil Yadav said. Anil also said the party has been holding similar smaller conventions at the district level for the past four months in Muzaffarnagar, Mau, Deoria, Prayagraj, Kanpur and Lucknow. A demand to scrap the 50% limit for OBC quota was made at Thursdays convention, party functionaries said. Several opposition parties have demanded for a caste census across the country. In January this year, Bihar initiated its own caste survey which was later stayed by the Patna high court. The Supreme Court has also refused to lift the survey. The Congress raises such issues only ahead of elections. It has never been serious about the welfare of OBCs. The BJP has been working for the cause of OBCs and the deprived sections of society and was established in the recently concluded civic polls, BJP spokesman Avnish Tyagi said. Professor SK Dwivedi, former head of department political science, Lucknow University, said: The Congress is inspired by the Karnataka poll outcome. The party is obviously preparing for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and this is why it is reaching out to different caste groups. The Congress party on Thursday took a swipe at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati for her stance on the ongoing controversy over the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alluding that the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister has received a phone call from the ruling BJP. Congress's social media head Supriya Shrinate said the picture of the alliance in UP has become a bit more clear, apparently alleging a tacit understanding between the BJP and BSP. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati.(ANI) It seems that the phone call has reached Behenji. BSP supremo Mayawati ji in the field in defence of Modi government. The picture of the alliance in UP has become a bit more clear, Shrinate said in a tweet in Hindi. BSP president Mayawati on Thursday called the opposition parties' boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament House by PM Modi "unfair" as she welcomed the forthcoming event. The BSP chief said, however, she will not be attending the inauguration due to some other commitments, even though she has received an invitation. In a series of tweets Thursday, the BSP supremo said, "Be it the government of Congress party or now the BJP at the centre, the BSP has always supported them on issues related to the country and public interest. Rising above party politics and looking at it in this context, the party also supported the inauguration of the new building of the parliament on May 28, it is welcomed." She also said the opposition parties' insistence that the new building be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu was "unfair." "The government has made it, so it has the right to inaugurate it. It is also unfair to link this with the respect of a tribal woman. They should have thought of this while fielding a candidate against her instead of electing her unopposed," she said. "I have received the invitation for the programme dedicated to the country, that is, the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building for which I thank and extend my best wishes. But due to my pre-scheduled engagement regarding the continuous review meetings of the party, I will not be able to attend the function," she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail Enormous progress in relationship: US ambassador Garcetti calls on Jaishankar US ambassador Eric Garcetti called on external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, with the meeting coming a month ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modisread more. External affairs minister S Jaishankar discussed bilateral relations and regional issues at a meeting with US ambassador Eric Garcetti.((Twitter/DrSJaishankar)) Delhi court seeks ATR from police on plea seeking FIR against protesting wrestlers A court here on Thursday sought an action taken report from the Delhi Police on a complaint seeking registration of an FIR against the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar for allegedly levelling false allegationsread more. Rishi Sunak vows to cut immigration as figures hit record high of over six lakhs Net migration in the UK hit a record 606,000 in 2022, official figures showed on Thursday, heaping pressure on the government, which has pledged to cut dependency on foreign labour. Responding to the figuresread more. 'Down but not...': Gautam Gambhir drops blockbuster reaction after Rohit's MI knock LSG out of IPL 2023 in playoffs Akash Madhwal's bowling brilliance fashioned Mumbai Indians' (MI) memorable win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as Rohit Sharma and Co. crushed the KL Rahul-less in the Eliminator of the Indian Premier Leagueread more. Concerned about your child's mental health? Understand this for better parenting Being a parent can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life but it is also one of the most challenging where as a parent, you want to provide your child with the best possible life but sometimes that meansread more. Boney Kapoor says he and Sridevi never thought Khushi Kapoor would join films: 'Did not expect anything' Boney Kapoor's youngest daughter Khushi Kapoor will be making her Bollywood debut later this year with Zoya Akhtar's The Archies. The producer's other children, Arjun Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor, are also actorsread more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Defence ministerRajnath Singh on Thursday asked industry captains to pump money into defence research and development, make inroads into new sectors and develop innovative solutions to help India transform into a leader from an imitator in futuristic technologies and stay prepared to deal with challenges stemming from the current global security scenario. Defence minister Rajnath Singh addresses during the 'CII Annual Session 2023' in New Delhi on May 25 (PTI) We need to set new goals and achieve them through innovative methods to keep ourselves prepared to deal with challenges arising out of the ever-evolving global situation. Technology improves the utilisation of available resources. It acts as a force multiplier, Singh said at the annual session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) themed on Future Frontiers: Competitiveness, Technology, Sustainability and Internationalisation. He said a leader nation grabs an opportunity, innovates and invents a new technology, while the imitator follows the leader. Singh said security equations were changing at an unprecedented pace and countries were focusing more than ever on technological advancements in different fields. He said R&D in cutting-edge technology was the only way to achieve goals, as it opened new dimensions crucial for the development and security of any nation in todays times. He underlined the need for R&D to achieve excellence in various fields, including defence, health, education, agriculture, commerce and communication, while stating that it can give the country an edge over others. To keep ourselves strong, we need to maintain our edge in these sectors. It will be possible only if we become technology leaders. Singh said the key requirements for a country to become a technology leader included substantial capital, a robust R&D infrastructure, and the ability to adopt, understand and create a base of previous technologies. He said the countrys population, which was once considered a liability, was now being seen as an asset. India is currently passing through a demographic dividend. Policies have been rolled out for the optimum utilisation of this population. We have strengthened the ease of doing business and ease of living in India through the socio-economic technology of good governance. Reforms have been made in the education and health sectors, which focus on making the population educated as well as healthy and skilled. Speaking at another event, Singh said a technologically advanced military was crucial to protect the interests of the nation in the backdrop of threats from China and Pakistan. Today we are one of the largest armed forces in the world, and the bravery and valour of our military is praised all over. Countries express their willingness to conduct joint exercises with our armed forces. In such a situation, it becomes imperative that we have a technologically advanced military to protect the interests of the country. For a country like India, it becomes very important because we are facing a double threat on our borders, he said while inaugurating a DRDO- academia conclave. At this event too, Singh focussed on R&D. Unless we do research, we will not be able to adopt new technologies. R&D can convert ordinary substances into valuable resources. I dont see the partnership between DRDO and academia from the point of view of 1+1=2, but as 1+1=11. That is, when these two entities cooperate with each other, not only will both get double benefit, but the entire nation will benefit greatly, he added. Jaipur: Family members of Rakbar Khan, the 28-year-old man from Haryanas Nuh who was fatally assaulted in Alwar by a vigilante group claiming to work for protection of cows in 2018, have said that they will appeal against the decision that handed down prison terms of seven years to four accused, and acquitted the fifth. Rakbar Khan (File photo) Khans family said the ruling did not amount to justice being done since they have been convicted not for murder, but for culpable homicide, adding that the acquittal was of the man who led the killer mob. Our family is unhappy with the courts decision as the punishment that has been given is not commensurate with the scale of the crime, said Saddeek Khan, the grandfather of the deceased. On July 21, 2018, Rakbar Khan and his friend Aslam, 32, had travelled to Lalawandi in Rajasthan to purchase two cows to expand their milk business. They were bringing the cows back to their village in Haryana when they came under attack by a mob that alleged they were cow smugglers. Aslam escaped in the cover of darkness but Rakbar Khan was caught, assaulted, and turned over to police, who were accused by the family of delaying taking him to the hospital. He succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a wife and seven children. It was murder. We believe that section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) under which they were punished is not correct. There should have been a harsher sentence, said Khans brother Harun. Harun also said that the family was disappointed that the man they saw as the leader of the mob, local VHP leader and then head of the Ramgarh Gau Raksha Cell Sharma, had been acquitted. In September 2019, the Alwar court had rejected the plea of Rakbar Khans wife Akseena for Naval Kishore Sharma and another man named Suresh to be summoned as accused. The family had then gone to the Rajasthan High Court, which directed the trial court not to pass a final decision till it disposed of the familys plea. Later, Kishore was named as an accused in the case. It is disappointing that Kishore has not been punished. The decision has brought some peace to us, but we intend to go to the Supreme Court to get justice, Harun Khan added. Read: In Alwar lynching incident, police admit to 'error of judgement' Kishore has maintained that it was he who alerted the police about the attack, and handed over the injured Khan to them. Hemraj Gupta, the lawyer representing the accused, said during the judicial inquiry, police officers were found to be responsible in negligence of handling Rakbar, due to which he succumbed to his injuries and died. It was also stated in the judicial inquiry that the prime eyewitness, Aslam, never named any accused during the investigation. We will file an appeal in the high court, he said. Political parties also reacted to the judgement, with BJP Alwar MP alleging that the conviction was a result of the appeasement politics of the Congress. They did not follow proper procedure and I believe the police is hiding evidence which proves the four men innocent. The state government failed to get punishment to accused in serial bomb blast case in Jaipur and now intentionally is trying to trap gau sevaks, Balaknath said. Congress spokesperson RC Choudhary rejected the charge and said: The BJP has no issues or agenda, besides polarisation. An Indian Navy MiG-29K fighter jet on Wednesday landed on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant for the first time at night, an important step towards the warship becoming fully operational along with its air wing by the year-end, navy officials said on Thursday. Indian Navy MiG-29K fighter jet lands on indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant for the first time, on Wednesday night. (PTI) The aircraft carrier is currently sailing in the Arabian Sea. It was commissioned into the navy last September, marking a pivotal point in the countrys quest for self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector. The challenging night landing trial demonstrates the resolve, skill and professionalism of the Vikrant crew and naval pilots, navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. The development came three months after a MiG-29K and a prototype of the naval version of the locally made light combat aircraft (LCA) landed and took off from the aircraft carrier for the first time during day in February. Watch what happened after Indian Navy's MiG-29 fighter landed on INS Vikrant first time at night The aircraft carrier is presently undergoing air certification and flight integration trials with rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft to achieve combat-ready state at the earliest, Madhwal added. The ongoing flight trials on board INS Vikrant involve the Russian-origin MiG-29K fighter jets that use the ski-jump to take-off, and are recovered by arrestor wires or what is known as STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery) in navy parlance. Twelve MiG-29Ks are likely to be deployed on Vikrant, and the carrier will operate a new deck-based fighter that the navy is looking to buy as an interim measure to meet its requirements before the indigenous twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) is ready in a few years. The first prototype of TEDBF could make its maiden flight by 2026 and be ready for production by 2031, the officials said. The navys other aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, operates MiG-29K fighters. The French Rafale M fighter has edged out the American F/A-18 Super Hornet in a direct competition to equip the navy with 26 new deck-based fighters for INS Vikrant, as previously reported by HT. The Rafale is manufactured by Dassault Aviation while the Super Hornet is a Boeing product. Dassault and Boeing demonstrated the capabilities of their aircraft to the navy at a shore-based test facility in Goa in January 2022 and June 2022 respectively. The 26 fighters that the navy plans to buy are only a stopgap until the country develops its own TEDBF. Read: INS Vikrant receives historic bell of first warship from former Navy vice chief Vikrant, which has 76% indigenous content, will operate an air wing consisting of 30 aircraft including the new fighters, MiG-29Ks, Kamov-31 choppers, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, and advanced light helicopters. The 45,000-tonne Vikrant was built at Cochin Shipyard at a cost of 20,000 crore. Only the US, the UK, Russia, France and China have the capability to build aircraft carriers this size. It has been named after aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which was operated by the navy from 1961 to 1997. A second indigenous aircraft carrier to project Indias maritime power in the far seas is also on the navys radar, the officials said. INS Vikramaditya was bought second-hand from Russia for $ 2.33 billion. The navy has been arguing it needs three such floating airfields given its vast area of interest. Vikrant is the fourth aircraft carrier to be operated by the Indian Navy -- first Vikrant (British origin) from 1961 to 1997, INS Viraat (British origin) from 1987 to 2016 and INS Vikramaditya 2013 onwards. Read: INS Vikrant to get battle-ready post-monsoon after INS Vikramaditya Vikrant is 262 metres long, has a height of 61 metres (keel to mast) and its flight deck measures 12,500 square metres (equivalent to 10 Olympic-size swimming pools.) It has an endurance of 7,500 nautical miles, a maximum speed of 28 knots, 2,300 compartments and can carry a crew of 1,600. With Quad nations joining hands on maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific, India plans to speed up acquisition of armed drones from the US even as the Indian Navy is working towards extending the lease of two General Atomics manufactured Sea Guardian surveillance drones which expires in January 2024. The two Sea Guardian drones are based at Rajali Naval Base in Tamil Nadu. The Indian Navy leased two Sea Guardian drones from the US in 2020 While the cost of armed Predator drones (MQ-9B) will be a determining factor in the acquisition programme, the Indian Navy is satisfied with the output of its surveillance version, the Sea Guardian, since two of them were leased in 2020 for maritime domain surveillance. Given the endurance of the drones, the Sea Guardians provide real time domain awareness from the eastern board of Africa and Gulf of Aden to Sunda Straits in Indonesia and beyond. The leased drones were also used to survey the Chinese build-up all along the LAC after the May 2020 aggression by the PLA in East Ladakh. The acquisition of armed drones, hi-tech technology transfer and Indo-Pacific will be among the topics of discussion when Prime Minister Narendra Modi goes for his State visit to the US next June 22. The state dinner will be preceded by International Yoga Day on June 21 and a diaspora function at Chicago later. The preparations for the US visit, said to be a game changer, was discussed during PM Modi interaction with US President Joe Biden and in a bilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on the sidelines of the G-7 summit. ALSO READ: Opportunity to deepen partnerships: US State dept on PM Modi's June visit In the Quad summit joint statement released on May 22, the leaders of US, India, Japan, and Australia have decided to join hands on Indo-Pacific partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPDMA) with regional fusion centers in the Indian Ocean, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands for shared domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific. While the stated goals were to respond to humanitarian and natural disasters as well as combat illegal and dark fishing, the unstated purpose is to monitor the expansion and surveillance activities of the Chinese Navy and its client states. It is in this context that the US has accelerated its ship building activity in Quad countries to match the expansion of the Chinese Navy with the latter making deep forays into the Indian Ocean region since 2017. Given that China has leveraged its ties with Cambodia, Myanmar, Iran, and countries on Africas eastern seaboard apart from client state Pakistan, the Chinese Navy will be sending long range patrols into the Indian Ocean as early as 2025. The armed drones are one of the key military platforms to counter the Chinese challenge. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON South Africa: Rwandan fugitive wanted for genocide nabbed in SA A Rwandan fugitive, wanted in connection with the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has been arrested in Paarl in the Western Cape by a South African Operational Task Team (OTT). The task team included, among others, Home Affairs, Department of International Relations and Coopertion, Interpol, Department of Justice and the National Prosecuting Authority lead by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. South African police said on Thursday that the Rwandan fugitive, aged 61, was arrested on an Interpol Red Notice which was issued by the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (UN IRMCT). This came after the OTT received information regarding the fugitives whereabouts and pictures from the IRMCT, which led to the identification of the fugitive, who has been wanted since 2002. According to the arrest warrant issued and IRMCT indictment, the fugitive was a Police Inspector in Rwanda who allegedly played a significant role in the planning and execution of genocide where more than 2000 people were killed in 1994. He was wanted for genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity. At the time of his arrest at a grape farm in Paarl, in the Western Cape, on 24 May 2023, the Rwandan fugitive was living under a false identity (Donatien Nibashumba). The investigation conducted by OTT led to the arrest of the fugitive in Paarl, said the police in a statement. The fugitive will remain in custody until he appears in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Friday, at the disposal of South African judicial authorities pending his extradition to Rwanda. The National Head of the Hawks Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya commended the team for their excellent work. He said the arrest demonstrates the power and effectiveness of international co-operation between police in obtaining information in relation to the identification, location and apprehension of fugitives around the world. It proves that however long it takes, the law enforcement community will keep on searching for fugitives until they are located and arrested, he said. The operation is a credit to law enforcement officers and agencies in South Africa and Rwanda, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-05-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. LOS ANGELES, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, U.S. state of California, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. The Display Week 2023, hosted by the Society for Information Display (SID), is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 21 to 26. From Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), auto tech, organic light-emitting diode (OLED), micro-OLED and microdisplays to wearables, digital signage and e-Paper, the Display Week showcases the latest and greatest technology and advancements from the global electronic display and visual information technologies industries. BOE Technology Group, one of the world's largest manufacturers in the semiconductor display industry and an Internet of things (IoT) company, brought a slew of cutting-edge technologies to the exhibition, including many new launches under its technology brands of ADS Pro, f-OLED and -MLED (mini LED), as well as brand-new innovative applications such as smart in-vehicle display, glasses-free 3D and the metaverse. BOE's newly released 110-inch 16K UHD display, which adopted the company's cutting-edge oxide TFT technology and features high charge carrier mobility and an ultrahigh resolution, drew lots of visitors. Its 10-inch 8K LCD display, which is tailored to 3D printing, was selected as the "Display Application of the Year." "It was one of the many state-of-the-art technologies BOE exhibited at the event, giving a glimpse of an even smarter, more fantastic and more power-efficient future of the semiconductor display industry," BOE Chairman Yanshun Chen told Xinhua. In addition to showcasing its display technologies and smart interactive experiences, BOE hosted an innovation ecosystem forum at the Display Week, in a bid to explore new pathways to the innovation-driven development of the global industry ecosystem jointly with SID and global partners. Louis Lazar, a senior consultant at Newry Corp, an innovation and growth strategy consulting firm based in Lakewood, Ohio, showed great interest in BOE's 16K UHD display. Lazar said he expects to learn the latest technologies and trends in the display industry at the Display Week, and was amazed by a wide array of China-made innovative products. "China has been pushing innovations in the display industry, and has been leading the way, which was really impressive," he told Xinhua. Visionox, a Chinese high-tech company with OLED display technology, brought innovative display technologies and applications to the Display Week, including self-aligned pixelization technology, portable and rollable laptops, visual medical kits, and transparent car displays. Eben Yang, vice president of Visionox, told Xinhua that North America is one of Visionox's most important overseas markets. Currently the company is cooperating with many American clients to provide display solutions for VR devices, wearable devices, mobile phones and other products. "We hope to take the opportunities of participating in the Display Week to demonstrate our innovative technologies, provide customers with more competitive products, and further expand overseas markets," Yang said. TCL CSOT, a Chinese company focused on new technologies and innovations in the display industry, unveiled over 30 of its latest products and advanced technologies at the Display Week, including more than ten firsts in the world. The company offered display technology solutions across a range of sizes, categories, and forms -- spanning Mini LED, Micro LED, medical displays, vehicle-mounted displays, light field displays, as well as consumer electronics displays. "Driven not only by a commitment to building a display industry ecosystem, but also to supporting a healthy and more sustainable planet for all through low-carbon, energy-saving, and eye-friendly products, we look forward to driving progress and uncovering more innovations to further accelerate the development of high-end display technology," said Jun Zhao, CEO of TCL CSOT. Investment in clean energy has been more than the money that has gone to the fossil fuel industry since 2016, and the gap was the highest in 2022. While this is good news on the climate crisis front, the current pace and geographical spread of investment in clean energy is not enough to deal with the challenge at hand. These findings are based on a reading of the World Energy Investment Report released by the International Energy Agency on May 25. Here are five charts which explain the salient points in the report. PREMIUM Storing energy at lower prices is one of the central challenges in making things such as solar energy economically viable.(AP) Clean energy investment will be 1.7 times that in fossil fuels in 2023 First, the good news. The headline numbers of the report show that the world has at least understood that it needs to invest more in clean energy. The world is expected to invest $1.74 trillion (2022 prices) in clean energy in 2023, 1.7 times the money which will go in fossil fuel investments. This ratio has been increasing every year from 2017 onward and was 1.61 last year. That this represents a major change can be understood from the fact that in 2015, only eight years ago, we were investing more in fossil fuels than in clean energy. First, the good news. The headline numbers of the report show that the world has at least understood that it needs to invest more in clean energy. The world is expected to invest $1.74 trillion (2022 prices) in clean energy in 2023, 1.7 times the money which will go in fossil fuel investments. This ratio has been increasing every year from 2017 onward and was 1.61 last year. That this represents a major change can be understood from the fact that in 2015, only eight years ago, we were investing more in fossil fuels than in clean energy. Also Read: A strategy to win energy independence by 2047 Investment in clean energy is not just about energy production though To be sure, the investment figures for clean energy shown above do not quantify just investment in generating energy from renewable sources. They also show investment made towards decreasing energy consumption by boosting efficiency or promoting direct use of renewables in activities such as heating. A break-up of the investment pattern in 2023 shows that over a third of the investment is actually going towards this very aspect of cleaning up the energy sector, classified as end-use in the report. A similar share of clean energy investment will go to generation from renewables and 19% to setting up electricity networks. To be sure, investments in what are so far small components of clean energy investment are rising fast. Investment in storage, for example, has grown at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 47.7% since 2015, faster than any other component: from $2 billion (in 2022 prices) in 2015 to $37 billion in 2023. Storing energy at lower prices is one of the central challenges in making things such as solar energy economically viable. More investment in clean energy does not mean the world is consuming more clean energy today To be sure, investments are more of an indicator of what to expect in the future than the energy mix we are consuming right now. For example, 61.7% of the investment in energy in 2022 went to clean energy. However, only 38.5% of electricity was generated from renewable and nuclear sources in the year, according to IEAs Electricity Market Report of 2023 earlier this year. This share will increase only up to 44% by 2025. This means that investment in clean energy will have to increase much more for a quick turnaround to actual generation. The May 25 report says that investment in clean energy is still less than half of what is required for net zero emissions by 2050. Why is the investment slower than required so far? The report gives a good idea why this is the case. For the moment, sustainable finance instruments remain concentrated in advanced economies, accounting for nearly 80% of sustainable debt issuance in 2022, the report says. Who is investing in clean energy? The IEA report also gives data on investment by three economic groups: advanced economies (38 OECD countries, plus Bulgaria, Croatia, Malta and Romania), China (including Hong Kong), and all remaining countries. The break-up of investment in clean energy by these groups shows that advanced economies will contribute slightly more than half (51%) to it, China will invest 33%, and the other countries will make up the remaining 16%. These numbers were 50%, 27%, and 23% in 2015, the first year for which the report gives data. It suggests that clean energy investment has grown in China faster than in the other two groups in the period for which the report gives data. The CAGR of clean energy investment since 2015 is 6.6% in advanced economies, 8.9% for China, and 0.7% for emerging markets and developing economies. Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar and bagged the party's support against the ordinance brought in by the Centre on the transfers and postings of bureaucrats in the national capital. Addressing a press conference after their meeting in Mumbai, Pawar said that he will also talk to other leaders to support Kejriwal. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal met NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, in Mumbai on Thursday. (AAP Twitter) There is a crisis in the country and its not an issue limited to Delhi. NCP and the people of Maharashtra will support Kejriwal. We must focus on bringing all non-BJP parties together, Sharad Pawar said. Meanwhile, Kejriwal told the media, Sharad Pawar ji has assured us that NCP will support us in defeating in Rajya Sabha the bill to replace the Centre's ordinance against the Delhi government. We are trying to gather support from all non-BJP parties. The two leaders met as Kejriwal embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the Centre's ordinance in the Delhi services row. He was accompanied by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP MP Raghav Chadha, Delhi minister Atishi, and other leaders. Earlier, Kejriwal met West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai and sought their support. On May 19, the central government issued an ordinance that strengthened the position of the Lieutenant Governor, allowing him to act in sole discretion in deciding matters related to the transfer and posting of bureaucrats. This came just days after a verdict by the Supreme Court upheld the primacy of the city-states elected government over bureaucracy. Chief minister M K Stalin on Thursday sought Union home minister Amit Shahs intervention in directing Gujarat-based milk cooperative Amul to desist from procurement from milk shed of Tamil Nadus cooperative Aavin, saying it will create unhealthy competition. Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin. (ANI) This comes after the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to strangulate Nandini, Karnatakas milk cooperative, in the run-up to the polls in that state after Shah, who is from Gujarat and also the cooperation minister, spoke about the collaboration between the milk cooperatives. The Congress stormed back to power in Karnataka this month. In a letter to Shah, Stalin said Amul was until now just selling its products through outlets in Tamil Nadu and that it has come to their notice that the Gujarat-based cooperative has utilised its multi-state licence to install chilling centres and a processing plant in Krishnagiri district. He added Amul plans to procure milk in and around Tamil Nadus Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts. Stalin said it has been a norm in India to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each others milk shed areas. He added such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of Operation White Flood, the project launched in 1970 that transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into its largest producer. It would exacerbate problems for the consumers given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country, Stalin wrote. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavins milk shed area which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades. He called regional cooperatives the bedrock of dairy development in the states. ...they are better placed to engage and nurture producers and to cushion consumers from arbitrary price hikes. Therefore, I request your urgent intervention to direct Amul to desist from milk procurement from the milk shed area of Aavin in Tamil Nadu with immediate effect. He said 9,673 milk producers co-operative societies function for the benefit of rural milk producers and consumers under the Aavin cooperative, which Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited and the state government own. They procure 35 LLPD of milk from about 4.5 lakh pouring members, Stalin said. He added under this arrangement, the milk producers are assured of remunerative and uniform prices throughout the year. Stalin wrote Aavin provides cattle feed, fodder, mineral mixture, animal health care, and breeding services for animals of milk producers. In addition, it ensures the supply of quality milk and milk products to consumers at one of the lowest prices in our country, Stalin said. Thus, Aavin plays a vital role in improving the livelihood of rural milk producers and meeting the nutritional requirement of consumers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after fresh incidents of ethnic violence were reported from parts of Manipur, the state returned to a sense of tenuous calm on Thursday, with a strict curfew reimposed in Imphal and Bishnupur; but worried residents continued to stay indoors, and businesses counted their losses. Shops remain shut at a market in Imphal on Thursday, a day after fresh clashes erupted in Manipur. (PTI) Senior government officials in Manipur said no further violence was reported from the northeastern state on Thursday, but personnel were deployed in strategic locations to keep the fragile peace, and more would be brought in over the next few days. Manipur has been witnessing bouts of ethnic clashes since May 3 when tribal Kuki groups called for protests against a proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community that forms 53% of the state population. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, leaving over 73 people dead, over 200 injured, and over 30,000 people displaced, fleeing arson and attacks. While a majority of the violence took place in multiple districts over three days between May 3 and 5 after which the army was called in, sporadic incidents have continued to erupt, delaying any efforts at restoring normalcy, and showing that ethnic divisions continue to run deep, and there has been little reconciliation. On Wednesday, one person was shot dead and another suffered bullet injuries in Bishnupur district, which remained relatively peaceful thus far, and three abandoned homes were set ablaze by suspected militants. There were also reports of homes being burnt in localities in Imphal. Kuldiep Singh, former CRPF DG who was appointed security advisor to the state after the clashes began, said: There is no violence in Bishnupur and Imphal but the situation is still tense. The security forces are still present on the spot. Our areas of concern are in places near the hills because these are regions where the two groups coexist. There are isolated places where people are indulging in violence because of rumour mongering. We are taking action. Singh added that over the next few days, 20 more companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed in disturbed areas. More senior army and paramilitary officers will also be brought in to handle the situation, he said. Senior police officials said that there was one incident reported from Kangpokpi district, where suspected militants attempted to abduct five Meiteis. But local villagers managed to chase them. One young boy was kidnapped, but later rescued by security forces, a senior officer said. On Thursday, with the reimposition of a curfew, Imphals busy Khwairamband Keithel locality was desolate, with shutters across shops and business establishments closed. Transport services, from local services between villages and districts, to those that run between states, all suspended their regular routes. For people like auto-rickshaw driver Harojit Singh, a Meitei, the fresh clashes mean a continuation of a sense of fear, exacerbated by the loss of daily wage. The situation is very tense. Complete curfew has been clamped in Imphal city after some houses were set on fire in the New Chekon area on May 23. I have not earned a rupee in three days, Singh said. In Churachandpur, a hill district where the Kukis are a majority, locals said that they were facing an increasing shortage of daily supplies. LPG cylinders are very difficult to get, several essential medicines required for those with diabetes and high blood pressure are running low, and we cant send or receive money online because of the internet shutdown, said a Kuki politician based in the district. Letlunthang Haokip, a Kuki who fled to a relief camp that he still occupies said, We are being shifted from one camp to another. Some have fled to Assam, but our people are scared of returning home to West Imphal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One person was killed and another injured in a fresh violence between suspected militants and a group of people in an area bordering Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts in strife-torn Manipur, police said on Thursday. A road wears a partially deserted look after a fresh violence, in Kangkopki district of Manipur, Tuesday.(PTI) Toijam Chandramoni, 30, was shot dead during the violence on Wednesday, and Leichombam Abungnao, aged 22, was injured when suspected militants opened fire at the group of people, mostly comprising those who were displaced during the recent ethnic clashes in Churachandpur and took shelter in a relief camp at Moirang in Bishnupur, the officer said. There were reports that militants late Tuesday night torched the houses of some villagers at Toronglaobi in Bishnupur district, he said. The villagers and those living in the Moirang camp were angry over the burning of their houses. As these people came to know that militants could torch a school located in an area near Thamnapokpi in Bishnupur and Kanganthei in Churachandpur, they went to the locality. Once, they reached the spot, militants opened fire at them, leaving two persons injured. One of the two succumbed to his injuries when he was taken to a hospital, the senior police officer said. Following the violence, the authorities clamped curfew for 24 hours in the area and reduced the curfew relaxation hours in several other districts. Meanwhile, the house of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district was vandalised on Wednesday by a group of people claiming that the government in the violence-hit state was not doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community, an official said. The minister who is a BJP leader and his family members, however, were not present at the house when the mob, comprising mostly women, attacked the house in Ningthoukhong area and damaged a portion of a gate, windows, a few furniture and electronic gadgets. This was the first time a ministers house was attacked during the ongoing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in the state that started three weeks ago. Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to control the situation in the state. 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 in Manipur 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. The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives and some 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot suggested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to speak to each other and decide on inviting President Droupadi Murmu for the inauguration of the Parliament building and said that it is still not too late to rectify the mistakes that the Centre may have made. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.(HT_PRINT) Pointing out that buildings such as the new Parliament are made once after almost 100 years, the chief minister said that the sudden announcement of the inauguration was not made with dignity. What was the emergency (behind the inauguration)? The announcement should have been made at least months ahead of the inauguration. All governors, chief ministers and dignitaries would have attended the event, he added. He further supported the collective boycott by opposition parties to attend the inauguration ceremony. Also read: How 19 parties came on board for joint statement on new Parliament PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28. A row has erupted after the announcement, with the opposition parties questioned the practicality of a Prime Minister launching the new building and not the President. They contested that President Droupadi Murmu should do the honours as she is the integral part of Parliament. A war of words broke out between the ruling BJP and opposition parties, with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor dismissing Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri's argument of supposed precedence. "If your head of government can inaugurate Parliament annexe and library then why can't the head of the government of this time do? It's as simple as that," Puri said. To which, Tharoor countered saying those were subsidiary buildings while Prime Minister Modi will be inaugurating a whole new Parliament convened and prorogued by the President of India. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel echoed Tharoor in the same lines and marked a difference between inaugurating a portion of a building and a complete Parliament. "The Parliament was built during the British era. Rashtrapati Bhavan was also built during the British period, so how could Indira Gandhi have inaugurated it? If someone inaugurates a portion of a building, then that is a different matter. The new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President," CM Baghel said. May 28 will be a glorious day for independent Indias history, PM Modi will dedicate the new Parliament complex to the nationinstead of turning this historic day into a graceful and proud one, the Opposition parties including the Congress are issuing statements that are highly saddening and irresponsible, the UP CM said in a video shared on his Twitter profile. Also Read: How 19 parties came on board for joint statement on new Parliament Yogis remarks came as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies and several Opposition parties continued to trade barbs over the decision to have PM Modi inaugurate the new complex, instead of President Droupadi Murmu. While the entire country and the world looks up to the worlds biggest democracy that India is, the Opposition is trying to undermine it, Yogi said, adding that such attempts will be definitely rejected by the people. Yogi Adityanath also recalled the time when former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe and laid the foundation of the Parliament Library, respectively, during their tenures. He said, This is not the first time when a PM is presiding over such an event..so instead of being a witness to such a glorious and proud moment, the Opposition is trying to cloud the event with their irresponsible behaviour. The UP CM appealed that everyone must be witness to the event, which he said was a significant step towards bolstering the democracy of the nation. Yogi Adityanath echoed the arguments of his colleagues and other BJP leaders including Union home minister Amit Shah and Ravi Shankar Prasad who also lashed out at the Opposition parties for politicising the issue and rejecting peoples mandate by placing such demands, as they remarked that PM Modi, being the head of the government, is right in inaugurating the new building. As many as 19 Opposition parties united Wednesday to declare their objection to the inaugural event and criticised an authoritarian prime minister and his government saying that the President is not only the Head of State but also an integral part of the Parliament. "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out of Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building a joint statement by the Opposition parties read. Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said they would not attend the event if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new building. So far, 25 parties are likely to attend the ceremony, including 18 members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, BJD and TDP are the seven non-NDA parties expected to be present at the event. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Follow today's live updates on New Parliament building inauguration here New Parliament building inauguration row Highlights: A political row over the decision to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi preside over the inauguration of the new Parliament building instead of President Droupadi Murmu has erupted with 20 Opposition parties having decided to boycott the event, scheduled for Sunday. The row has sparked a debate on the role of the President and the Prime Minister in the constitutional framework. On Thursday, a lawyer also petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking an invite for President Droupadi Murmu to the preside over the cermony. The top court is expected to hear the petition on Friday. 20 parties including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress and others issued a joint statment Wednesday, describing PM Modis decision to inaugurate the new Parliament as an assault on democracy. While some parties including the Biju Janata Dal have accepted the invite hailing the event in the true spirit of democracy and a momentous occasion. Ahead of the new Parliament inauguration, the makers of the historic Sengol (sceptre) - which will be installed inside the building - lauded the central government and said that it is a very nostalgic moment for them. The Chairman of Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers (who made the Sengol) Vummidi Sudhakar said that it took a month to make the sceptre. Sengol', a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, will be installed in the new Parliament building, to be inaugurated on May 28, in New Delhi.(PTI) We are the makers of the 'Sengol'. It took us a month's time to make it. It is made of silver and gold platedI was 14 years at that time. We are grateful to PM Modi, he said. Meanwhile, the great-grandson of jeweler Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, Vummidi Balaji, said, Today after 75 years, Sengol is being remembered. The government is recreating the entire event that happened in 1947. It is very nostalgicIt is a beautiful feeling for us that our forefathers were part of history and now we are also going to witness the recreation of that event. The Sengol - a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu - was received by India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to represent the transfer of power from the British. It was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum. PM Modi is set to receive the same Sengol and install it in the new Parliament House on May 28. Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the purpose of the installation was clear then and even now. Sengol represents the same feeling that Jawaharlal Nehru felt on August 14, 1947, he said. The timeline goes thus: The Great Nicobar Township project met with criticism, prompting NGT to set up a panel to look into its approval (Shutterstock)(HT_PRINT) HT reported on May 21 that there were restrictions on non-islanders travelling to Great Nicobar. On May 24, the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS), Andaman and Nicobar administration, tweeted that tickets to Campbell Bay-bound passenger vessels could be availed through STARS e-ticketing portal from 9am on May 25. On May 25, several non-islanders and HT tried to book online tickets to Campbell Bay but failed, with the DSS website clearly mentioning the provision of booking tickets from Port Blair or Chennai to Campbell Bay was allowed only for islanders. But, tickets from Campbell Bay to Port Blair and Chennai were available for non-islanders also. Read: Great Nicobar plan needs transparency Asked why non-islanders were being barred from travelling to Campbell Bay, which is not a tribal area and is usually open to tourists, the Andaman and Nicobar administration did not respond to HTs queries till the time of this report going to print. On May 19, in response to a separate batch of queries by HT, the administration had said that travel to Nicobar is permitted, however, visits to tribal area requires a tribal pass as per the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation. The DSS website said on Thursday: Passengers travelling to Nicobar group of islands must possess tribal pass... foreign nationals are not permitted to travel beyond Hut Bay (Little Andaman). Nicobar district has three sub-divisions Car Nicobar, Nancowry and Great Nicobar. Campbell bay is a part of Great Nicobar Island, and is open for Indian tourists. HTs May 21 report cited activists and residents who claimed the restriction on non-islanders, was imposed to curb criticism against the 72,000 crore project called the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration is concerned about outsiders influencing the views of indigenous people living there on the infrastructure project, they said. Non-islanders are not being allowed into the Great Nicobar area, including Campbell Bay. Only those with islander passes, which is proof that they are residents of Campbell Bay, can enter the village or enter Great Nicobar by air or ships, a member of the elected panchayat (village council) of Great Nicobar said over the phone on condition of anonymity. Campbell Bay is not a tribal area and entry of non-islanders was permitted here before. Its only being imposed in the past couple of months. Read: Online tickets to Andaman and Nicobar islands back amid project row The 72,000 crore development project proposed by Niti Aayog involves building an international container transhipment terminal, an international airport with a capacity to handle 4,000 passengers every day, a township and area development, as well as a 450 MVA gas and solar based-power plant over 16,610 hectares in the island. The project has drawn widespread criticism from former bureaucrats, retired-defence personnel, legal experts, tribal rights activists, parliamentarians, financial analysts, anthropologists, seismologists and ecologists because of the possible wide-ranging impact of the project on tribes and the fragile ecology of the region which is highly vulnerable to seismic hazard. The Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar had in November 2022 withdrawn the no-objection certificate (NOC) given in August last year for diversion of forest land, roughly half of which is tribal reserve land, for the controversial Great Nicobar township and other infrastructure projects, HT reported on April 14. The withdrawal of the permission was after the council said it was not informed that the land being marked for development included areas and villages the communities lived in prior to the 2004 tsunami. The forest clearance to the project for diversion of 130.75 sqkm was granted on October 27 last year. As you are well aware, 84.10 sqkm of this diverted forest is a tribal reserve which is now set to be de-notified. We were not made aware of this information, nor were we shown on a map the extent of the Tribal Reserve area that falls within the proposed plan, the letter by the Tribal Council said. We were shocked and distressed to learn that parts of our pre-tsunami villages of Chingenh (along the south east coast) and Kokeon, Pulo Pacca, Pulo Baha and In-haeng-loi (along the southwest coast which are affiliated to the largest Great Nicobarese village Pulo Bhabhi) also will be denotified and diverted as part of holistic development plan of Great Nicobar. We are aware of the restrictions imposed on outsiders. We are not against the development project but we want to return to our ancestral villages, a tribal council member said last week over phone, seeking anonymity. We are hoping to get a response from the government on sparing our ancestral villages. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a high-powered committee headed by the secretary, Union environment ministry to revisit the environmental clearance (EC) granted by the environment ministry to the Great Nicobar township and area development and other infrastructure projects involving an area of 16,610 hectares in the ecologically fragile islands. Environmentalists have questioned the wisdom of having the secretary of the very ministry that granted EC to review it. Authorities resumed online bookings for passenger vessels heading to Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar, days after the Andaman and Nicobar administration announced that such bookings could only be made in person at counters while residents and activists said entry of outsiders to the island had been restricted. The local administration, however, said access to Great Nicobar Island is permitted, but visit to tribal area requires pass as per regulations (PTI) Campbell Bays surrounding areas are home to a large number of tribal communities who were resettled following the 2004 tsunami that destroyed their homes these communities are at the centre of a controversy surrounding a project in Great Nicobar, which many now oppose. The directorate of Shipping Services, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, tweeted on Wednesday that tickets to Campbell Bay bound passenger vessels can be availed through STARS e-ticketing portal from Thursday 9 am onwards. HT reported on May 21 that there were restrictions on non-islanders traveling to Great Nicobar. The restriction on non-islanders, according to activists and residents, was imposed to curb criticism against the 72,000 crore project of the government think tank Niti Aayog called the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration is concerned about outsiders influencing the views of indigenous people living there about the project, they said. Also Read: Great Nicobar plan needs transparency On April 17, the administration issued a press note stating that tickets to Campbell Bay will only be issued through offline mode only due to administrative reasons. Only those with islander passes, which is proof that they are residents of Campbell Bay, can enter the village or enter Great Nicobar by air or ships, a member of the elected panchayat (village council) of Great Nicobar said over the phone on condition of anonymity last week. Campbell Bay is not a tribal area and entry of non-islanders was permitted here before. Its only been imposed in the past couple of months. The local administration, however, had said access to Great Nicobar Island is permitted, but visit to tribal areas requires pass as per regulations. HT had sent queries to the chief secretarys office last Friday. An assistant commissioner responded by saying: ...Travel to Nicobar is permitted. Further, visit to tribal area requires pass as per The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked tough against temple vandalisation incidents in Australia and said that the world agrees with him when he says the attack on pilgrimage sites is not acceptable. He was addressing a public gathering in Delhi after he arrived in the national capital from a three-nation visit on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(PTI) He added that the world is eager to listen to him when he speaks about the culture and tradition of India. "I want to tell you that while speaking about the culture and great tradition of India, never get immersed in a slave mentality, speak with courage. The world is eager to listen. The world agrees with me when I say that attack on our pilgrimage sites is not acceptable," PM Modi said. Earlier, PM Modi had red-flagged the temple vandalism in Australia while he met with PM Anthony Albanese during the last leg of his visit in the country. "PM Anthony Albanese and I have, in the past, discussed the issue of attack on temples in Australia and activities of separatist elements. We discussed the matter today also," he said, adding that PM Albanese assured taking strict actions againsts elements that harm friendly and warm ties between India and Australia. "I gave him (prime minister Modi) the assurance Australia is a country that respects people's faith... that we don't tolerate the sort of extreme actions and attacks we have seen on religious temples, be they Hindu temples, synagogues, or churches. This has no place in Australia," PM Albanese told reporters after the bilateral meeting. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday landed in India after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Addressing the party workers at Delhi's Palam airport, the prime minister said the world wants to know what India is thinking. PM Modi addressed a public gathering on Thursday. (ANI/ Twitter) "When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi," he said. The prime minister also spoke on India's vaccine diplomacy. The people here asked me why I gave the vaccines to the world. I want to say that this is the land of Buddha, Gandhi. We care even for our enemies... Today the world wants to know what India is thinking, ANI quoted Modi as saying. Read here: India-Australia ties entered T20 mode: PM Modi in Sydney PM Modi further talked about the release of the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea and said, "Tamil language is our language. It is the language of every Indian. It is the oldest language in the world. I had the opportunity to release the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea." PM Modi was welcomed by BJP President JP Nadda along with party leaders and members on his arrival from the three-nation visit in Delhi. The world appreciates your governance model. US President Joe Biden asked for your autograph, this shows how the world is seeing India under your leadership, ANI quoted Nadda as saying. "The way the PM of Papua New Guinea touched your feet, shows how much respect you have there. The people of India feel proud when they see that our Prime Minister is being welcomed like this," he added. Read here: PM Modi is the boss: Why Australia's Albanese mentioned Bruce Springsteen Meanwhile, Modi thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Australia visit, which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and said that both the leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." During his visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with Albanese and addressed a community programme in Sydney. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend the event. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." PM Modi had also tweeted, From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India. During his visit to Papua New Guinea, Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after he wrote to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy urging him to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint meeting of the United States (US) Congress, Congressman Ro Khanna has said that he is very confident that the Speaker will extend an invite to PM Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a joint session of US Congress in 2016.(Twitter/MEA India) As co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional caucus on India and Indian-Americans, Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Michael Waltz, a Republican from Florida, met McCarthy on Wednesday to discuss the invitation. After the meeting, Khanna told HT, We had a very constructive discussion with the Speaker and, based on the discussion, I am very confident that he will extend an invite to the PM to address a joint session of the Congress. Khanna added that McCarthy saw India as a critical ally and the relationship with India as among the consequential for the US in the 21st century. ALSO READ: Opportunity to deepen partnerships: US State dept on PM Modi's June visit At the invitation of President Joe Biden, Modi is travelling to Washington DC on June 22 for a state visit. Biden will host him for bilateral talks as well as a state dinner, making Modi only the third Indian leader after President S Radhakrishnan in 1963 and PM Manmohan Singh in 2009 to receive the honour. On Tuesday, Khanna and Waltz, as co-chairs of the bipartisan India caucus, wrote a letter to the Speaker urging him to invite Modi. As State Dinners have come to signify the Presidents utmost respect for visiting heads of state, granting a joint address to Congress is a commensurate honor for the leader of the worlds largest democracy and perhaps the most critical partner to countering China in the 21st century. Modi had addressed the US Congress in 2016, where he famously spoke about how the two countries have overcome the hesitations of history. If McCarthy invites Modi, and if Modi accepts the invite, it will make the PM among a handful of leaders who would have spoken to US Congress twice. Others who have received the honour have included Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Yitzhak Rabin and Benjamin Netanyahu. In their letter to McCarthy, Khanna and Waltz pointed out that this was the 75th anniversary of Indian independence and India-US relations and the foundation of the partnership rested on a shared commitment to democracy and the upholding of a rules-based international system. With mutual interests in promoting global security, stability, and economic prosperity through trade, investment, and connectivity, the United States and India have forged a deep bond, the letter stated. It also referred to recent meetings between Modi and Biden as having reaffirmed their dedication to a resilient international order that safeguards sovereignty, upholds democratic values, and promotes peace and prosperity for all. Khanna and Waltz said that Quad had provided a platform to US and India, along with Japan and Australia, to discuss shared regional and global security interests. The United States recognizes and supports India's emergence as a leading global power and a vital partner in safeguarding the Indo-Pacific region as a place of peace, stability, and growing prosperity. The caucus co-chairs also mentioned the strong people to people ties between the two countries. The four million-strong Indian American diaspora and vibrant educational exchanges between our countries exemplify the deep connection and potential for collaboration. Such ties are a tremendous source of strength and serve as a solid foundation for our strategic partnership. Based on these reasons, Khanna and Waltz said they believed a joint address by the PM to the Congress would provide an invaluable opportunity for members on both sides of the aisle to engage in constructive dialogue. We firmly believe that inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver a joint address to Congress would further strengthen the deep and enduring friendship between the United States and India. Under Khanna and Waltz, the India caucus has witnessed a new energy and dynamism. At the end of April, the caucus hosted a one-day summit on the Hill to discuss various aspects of the bilateral relationship. They have also stepped up their engagement with Indian and diaspora interlocutors and the caucus leaders hope to visit India at some point this year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a swipe at the opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament complex which is scheduled to take place on May 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese at an Indian community event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on May 23(AP) The Indian diaspora event in Sydney was not only attended by the Australian PM but also by former PM, MPs from opposition parties, and the ruling party. This is the strength of democracy. All of them together participated in this program of the Indian community, Modi said after returning from his three-nation tour of Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Prime Minister Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese had addressed the diaspora at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. During the address, the PM announced that India will soon open a consulate at Brisbane to address the long standing demand of the diaspora. Modi's jibe was directed that 21 opposition parties which have decided to boycott the PM's decision to preside over the inauguration ceremony instead of President Droupadi Murmu. In a joint statement, the opposition parties including Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party said, "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building". However, some parties like Biju Janata Dal, YSRCP and TDP which are not in the NDA, have decided to attend the event. The NDA was quick to hit out at the opposition's boycott, calling it a contempt for the very essence of democracy". SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a peace plan to end the 15-month long war with Russia on the side-lines of the G-7 summit in Hiroshima and sought Indias endorsement as the country had resonance and credibility in the comity of nations. PM Modi met President Zelensky on May 21. Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding talks with Ukrainian President V Zelensky on sidelines of G-7 summit in Hiroshima on May 21. According to authoritative sources, Zelensky was most respectful of PM Modi and made no demands on India except for asking support for his peace proposal as he felt that many countries look towards the largest democracy in the world. The proposal is under consideration of the Modi government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to the Capital after a three nation tour this morning with a breakthrough in the bilateral relations with Australia and deepening cooperation with the Far Pacific nations at the Indo-Pacific Forum summit. Despite the hectic overseas tour, PM Modi hit the ground running by addressing party workers outside the Palam Technical Area early morning and will flag the Vande Bharat Express for Dehradun from New Delhi at 11 am. According to officials, G-7 leaders including US President Joe Biden asked PM Modi for his secret behind his long innings in Indian politics as he was the senior most international leader at the Quad summit. PM Modi was taken aback by impromptu gestures of Papua New Guinea PM James Marape at the Jackson airport with the latter showing utmost respect to the Indian PM. The Indo-Pacific Forum countries showed eagerness to cement cooperation with India after vaccine diplomacy and humanitarian relief support by New Delhi in a time of need. However, significant progress was recorded in the bilateral ties with Australia with the body language of the two PMs revealing mutual trust and respect. After working hard to improve relations with Canberra since 2014, the two sides broke new ground with Australia willing to supply lithium to India for its electric car batteries. The two leaders clearly were in sync with each other on further improving bilateral ties and were on the same page on the Indo-Pacific. The signing of the migration mobility agreement with Australia shows the trust that Canberra has on the Indian diaspora, said a senior official. Another senior official said that India has been able to expand its diplomatic footprint in the Indo-Pacific and laid the foundation to comprehensive bilateral ties with Australia. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Praveen Sood on Thursday took charge as the 34th director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Praveen Sood is the 34th director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (File Photo) The 1986 batch Karnataka cadre officer took over the charge from Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, who completed his fixed two-year tenure in the agency on Thursday. People familiar with the developments said Sood had a brief interaction with senior officers of the CBI, during which he was familiarised with the work of the premier investigating agency and its branches. Sood joins CBI at a crucial time when the agency is investigating several sensitive cases, including the Delhi excise policy scam, in which former deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia has been arrested. Also Read: Who is Praveen Sood, the Karnataka DGP now appointed CBI director? 5 points A high-powered panel including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury approved Soods name for heading CBI on May 14. Sood who previously served as the Karnataka chief of police has served in various important positions, including as superintendent of police (SP) Bellary and Raichur; additional commissioner of police (Traffic) Bengaluru City; commissioner of police, Mysuru City and Bengaluru City; additional director general of police (ADGP), principal secretary (home); director general of police (internal security) and DGP (CID). Besides, he has worked as an advisor to the government of Mauritius. He has supervised investigation in high-profile cases involving high net-worth individuals and cases having inter-state and international ramifications and also investigation and detection of crime, including cybercrime, information technology etc. Specifically, he worked for strengthening of CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems) and ICJS (Interoperable Criminal Justice System) networks in the Karnataka state along with the judiciary, a CBI spokesperson said on Thursday. A graduate of IIT Delhi, Sood has also done post-graduation in public policy and management from IIM Bengaluru and Maxwell School of Governance from Syracuse University, New York. He was awarded the Presidents police medal for distinguished service in 2011 and the police medal for meritorious service in 2002. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The smile is the same open, innocent, gap-toothed. Pinki was born with a cleft lip or a cleft palate, a condition that affects tens of thousands of children born in India every year. (HT PHOTO) It is a smile thats been splashed across Indias newspapers for days on end and not once, but twice, the first time in 2009, and the second in 2013. And both occasions were newsworthy: the first was the Oscar awards ceremony; the second, the mens Wimbledon final. In 2009, the Oscars were all about India, and not just because of Slumdog Millionaire, which won the Best Picture that year; the winner in the documentary (short) category was Smile Pinki, Megan Mylans feature on the young lady in front of this reporter. She was six years old at the time, and a special guest, along with her father, at the award ceremony. Four years later, Pinki Sonkar, then 10, was a smiling presence between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray (Murray won, the first male Briton do so since 1936) on Centre Court for the toss. Pinki was born with a cleft lip or a cleft palate, a condition that affects tens of thousands of children born in India every year. In these babies, the lips or the palate (the roof of the mouth) do not join together during their development in the womb. The cleft causes social ostracism. But Pinki was lucky. She was the recipient of free corrective cleft lip surgery by Varanasi-based plastic surgeon Subodh Kumar Singh, who is associated with Smile Train India (part of Smile Train, a charity that works exclusively in the area of cleft lips and palates). Smile Pinki was her story (and the story of the charity itself). It took her to Los Angeles, and then, four years later, to London. I dont remember much. What I can recall though is that I was honoured by the Smile Train team and the documentary film director. She thanked me. I was given a trophy. I treasure it very much. This trophy is a symbol of the fact that we went to America and participated in the Oscar award ceremony. Wahan bohot bade bade log maujud the (Many prominent people were present there). The ceremony was very grand, she adds. Her father Rajendra Sonkar and Dr Singh accompanied her. She smiles wistfully recalling the memories. The magic of the trips to London and Los Angeles did not last. Now 20, and a Class 12 student, Pinki is still a resident of the same village, and she and her family arent really concerned abut their past encounter with fame because they have the more pressing task of managing their daily encounter with poverty. Sonkar was a fruit and vegetable seller then, and he remains one now. The family (now grown to six) was poor then, and remains poor now. Read | Spreading Smiles: Meet the Pune doctor who gives free cleft repair surgeries to children Pinki and her family have to walk over 100 metres to a well to fetch water daily. Even the school where she is enrolled, SRVS Inter College in Ahiraura, is 9km from her village. My father has to work very hard to fulfil our basic needs. He has very little land. Selling seasonal fruits and vegetables is his only source of income, Pinki says. See, the condition of my house. We have just two small rooms, one without a door. Sonkar adds: After returning from America, life became the same again. I restarted selling seasonal fruits to meet expenses of my family. Pinki acknowledges she couldnt have continued her education without support from Mamta Carroll, Smile Trains senior vice-president and regional director for Asia. Mamta Madam helped me a lot. She loves me very much. Her affection and assistance are my strength. Every month, Madam sends money so that I can continue my studies, Pinki says. Madam says she will continue to help me as long as I study. But the family received no other help. Sitting next to Pinki, her uncle Lalchandra Sonkar says, Gareeb ki parwah kise hai (who cares for the poor). The family didnt get a house under the Awas Yojana (housing scheme) as names of her father and uncle were missing from the list prepared for providing pucca houses to those lacking one, according to Rampur Dhabahis village head Kunj Vihari Singh. I am trying my best to get the name of Pinkis father and uncle listed, he added. And he says that he will talk to senior block officials to make drinking water arrangements at Pinkis house. Smile Pinki took our villages name international. We are proud of her, headman Singh said. That fame came after documentary film maker Megan Mylan found out that the GS Memorial Hospital, where Dr Singh works, a centre supported by Smile Train, had completed tens of thousands of surgeries to correct cleft lips. As she set out to make a feature, Mylan encountered Pinki and her father. When I first met Pinki, she was a shy, unsure, thin girl, all of six years old from a small village of traditional weavers and farmers in Mirzapur. Pinki underwent her cleft surgery followed by speech training and other treatment at GS Memorial Hospital, supported by Smile Trian. She gradually settled into the normalcy of life: regular school, ease of eating, speaking, and for the first time, smiling. Pinki is today full of beans, a bright, confident young girl. A Class 12 student , she aspires to join the police and serve the nation, says Mamta Carroll. Pinki says that when she becomes a police officer she will work for the benefit of girls who live in villages such as hers. The day will come when I will beat poverty and emerge victorious, she says. And then she smiles. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sudhir Kumar Sudhir Kumar is Varanasi based senior staff correspondent.He covers all developments, politics, education--primary, secondary and higher -- crime, offbeat, tribes and human angle stories ...view detail Hyderabad Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao asked the district collectors to follow the day-wise schedule finalised for the districts. (ANI) Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday announced release of 105 crore for the decennial celebrations of Telangana state formation beginning June 2. KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, made the announcement at the day-long Collectors and SPs conference held at the state secretariat. He directed that the finance department release the amount to all the 33 district collectors in the state to conduct the 21-day-long celebrations in a big way, a release from the chief ministers office said. Explaining the day-wise programmes to be conducted during these 21 days, the chief minister called upon the district administrations and the state-level officials to extensively campaign the achievements made by the state after its formation on June 2, 2014. While highlighting the sacrifices made by the people who had laid down their lives for the formation of the separate Telangana state, KCR directed that the authorities make all efforts to showcase the development of the state in the last nine years. KCR said Telangana state had become a reality after six decades of struggle and sacrifices. The statehood was achieved in the most democratic way without much bloodshed. After its formation, the state had become a role model for the entire country with a series of welfare and developmental programmes, he said. Reviewing the preparatory arrangements for the celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of Telangana formation, the chief minister wanted the event to be organised in a big way involving all sections of people. He asked the collectors to follow the day-wise schedule finalised for the districts. There should be a festive atmosphere all over the state for three weeks, starting June 2. There shall be celebrations at every village, town and assembly constituency, he said. He asked the district collectors to coordinate with ministers, MLAs and other public representatives for the smooth conduct of the celebrations. KCR will inaugurate the celebrations on June 2 by paying tributes to Telangana martyrs at Gun Park in Hyderabad. Later, he will unfurl the national flag at the Telangana secretariat premises and address the participants. As per the schedule already announced, daily programmes will be held to highlight the progress achieved by the state in sectors like electricity, agriculture, irrigation, health care and industry. The programmes will also highlight schemes being implemented for welfare of farmers and other sections of people. KCRs cabinet colleagues, government advisors, chief secretary, secretaries in Chief Ministers Office, district collectors, superintendents of police, Director General of Police and other top officials participated in the day-long meeting. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail The inauguration of the new parliament building coming up on Sunday has sparked a row amongst political parties as to who are against the event and will be boycotting the same, and those who are in favour and will be attending it. 20 opposition parties, including the Congress, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, issued a joint statement on Wednesday announcing to boycott the event as they called the inauguration of the new parliament building a grave insult and "direct assault" on democracy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a surprise visit to the new Parliament building, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI ) On the other hand, there are several parties who have announced their decision to attend the event saying it will be in the true spirit of democracy and a momentous occasion. There are also parties, like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) that have not boycotted the event but will not be attending the same. BSP chief Mayawati welcoming the inauguration, tweeted, Whether it was the government of the Congress party at the Center before or now of the BJP, the BSP has always supported themthe party also supported the inauguration of the new building of the Parliament on May 28. Boycott is unfair for not inaugurating the new Parliament by President Draupadi Murmu. The government has made it, so it has the right to inaugurate it. It is also unfair to link this with tribal women's respect. However, Mayawati stated that she wouldn't be attending the event due to pre-scheduled engagement. Here's a full list of the parties which will attend the inauguration along with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal said in a statement, "Such issues can always be debated later in the August house. Hence the BJD shall be a part of this momentous occasion. Further, the release stated, The President of India is the Head of the Indian State. The Parliament represents the 1.4 billion people of India. Both institutions are symbols of Indian democracy and draw their authority from the Constitution of India. Their authority and stature should always be safeguarded. Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) YSRCP leader Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said, I congratulate @narendramodi ji for dedicating the grand, majestic and spacious Parliament building to the nation. Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nation's soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties. Boycotting such an auspicious event is not in the true spirit of democracy. Setting aside all political differences, I request that all political parties attend this glorious event. In the true spirit of democracy, my party will attend this historic event. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal will be attending the inauguration, party leader Daljit Singh Cheema said. He added that India getting a new parliament was a moment of pride for the country and we do not want any politics to be played at this time. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) National People's Party (NPP) Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) Mizo National Front (MNF) Jananayak Janata Party (JJP) All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) Republican Party of India (RPI) Apna Dal (S) India Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam (IMKMK) Tamil Maanila Congress Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-Ram Vilas) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ITFT (Tripura) Bodo Peoples Party (BPP) Pattali Makkal Kacchi (PMK) Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON GUWAHATI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday stressed that only talks between various groups can bring peace in violence-hit Manipur, adding that he will visit the northeastern state soon and hold talks with different stakeholders. Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses during the inauguration of 'Assam Police Seva Setu' in Guwahati on Thursday (PTI) Union minister of state (Home) Nityanand Rai, who arrived in Imphal on Thursday, later told reporters that Amit Shah will reach Manipur on May 29 to take stock of the situation in the state and stay back till June 1. Also Read: Meiteis, Kukis keep moving to safer areas as tensions persist in Manipur In Manipur due to a court order, some clashes have taken place. I would appeal to brothers in Manipur to maintain peace and have belief in the system. People from both groups should first decide to maintain peace. I assure you all from Centre that justice will be done to all and those indulging in violence wont be spared, Shah, who is on a days visit to Guwahati and will address a public meeting later in the afternoon, said at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) campus at Changsari on the outskirts of Guwahati. Ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis since May 3 has claimed at least 74 lives, injured over 200 and displaced over 30,000 people. Curfew has been imposed in several parts of the state and internet services remained shut down for the past three weeks. Also Read: A ground report from Manipur An order by the Manipur high court last month directed the state government to submit a recommendation to the Centre for including the Meitei community, which comprises 53% of the states population in the scheduled tribe (ST) category and is considered one of the main triggers for the clashes. I appeal to all brothers and sisters in the state to bring back normalcy that existed in the past six years (since BJP came to power). We should address the present dispute through peace and talks so that no injustice is done to anyone. I will visit the state in the next few days and hold talks over three days with all brothers and sisters there to bring peace, said Shah. Also Read: Ethno-cultural ties hold cues for Manipur turmoil But peace can be brought only by people of the state. I urge all to shed disbelief and hold talks with the state government and Centre to find the road to peace. I am sure only talks can help restore peace, he added. There have been no talks between the Meitei and Kuki groups or with the state government since the violence started. Ten tribal MLAs belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar communities (including seven from the ruling BJP), have demanded a separate administration for the hill areas where Kukis and other tribes predominantly reside. No union minister or senior BJP leader has visited Manipur since the violence erupted on May 3 . On Wednesday, a group of MLAs from Manipur comprising legislators from the BJP, the National Peoples Party and Naga Peoples Front reached Guwahati to meet Amit Shah. The team of legislators, which also include state assembly Speaker T Satyabrata Singh, are expected to meet the union home minister on Thursday evening, apprise him about the situation in the state and also submit a memorandum. On Tuesday, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a conglomerate of tribes in Churachandpur district, submitted a memorandum to Manipur security advisor Kuldiep Singh seeking total separation from Manipur. Last week, the 10 MLAs, said that they would not sit for talks with the state government to discuss their demands. In his address on Thursday, Amit Shah said that setting up the NFSU campus at Changsari at a cost of 500 crore was a big boost to students from the northeast as it will provide them with jobs. He said it will become mandatory for forensic experts to visit all crime scenes where the jail sentence exceeds six years. Nearly 3000-5000 students will be able to study in the NFSU university. Agreements would also be signed with other countries in south and southeast Asia which will allow students, police and forensic officers from those countries to get trained in the Changsari centre, Shah said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday called for peace in violence-torn Manipur and said he will visit the northeastern state next week to hold talks with all stakeholders the first major public intervention by the Centre since ethnic clashes broke out three weeks ago, killing 74 people and displacing another 30,000. **EDS: IMAGE VIA PIB** Guwahati: Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah addresses the gathering at the laying foundation ceremony of National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), in Guwahati, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (PTI Photo) (PTI05_25_2023_000255B)(PTI) Speaking at an event in neighbouring Assam, Shah said only talks between various groups can bring calm. His comments came a day after fresh bouts of violence roiled a district in Manipur that had previously been relatively unscathed by the clashes that convulsed the state from May 3. I will go to Manipur soon and stay there for three days but before that, both groups should remove mistrust and suspicion among themselves and ensure that peace is restored in the state, he said. Union minister of state (home) Nityanand Rai, who arrived in Imphal on Thursday, told reporters that Shah will reach Manipur on May 29 to take stock of the situation and stay till June 1. The Centre will ensure that justice is delivered to all those who suffered in the clashes in the state, but people must hold dialogue to ensure peace.in the last six years, prior to the recent clashes, there was no blockade or bandhs in Manipur and people must ensure the return of such a situation again, Shah said. Charcha ke saath hi shanti ho sakti hain (Peace can only be restored through dialogue), he added. This is the first announcement of a high-level intervention by the Centre in Manipur since May 3, when clashes broke out in Churachandpur town after tribal Kuki groups called for protests against a proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the majority Meitei community. Violence quickly engulfed the state, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders. To be sure, the Indian Army has been deployed in the region since May 4. Despite thousands of security personnel patrolling the streets of major cities and remote villages, curfew clamped over large swathes of the state, and internet suspended for three weeks now, the authorities have failed to muzzle ethnic passions that have often spilled over into violence and arson on the streets. Shahs statements underline the urgent need for rapprochement in a state where ethnic fault lines run deep and state forces are often considered divided on community lines. The fresh violence showed that communal passions continued to drive a wedge between communities, and underlined the need for the government to bridge the divide, institute peace-building measures and remain on alert for any attempts to ratchet up sectarianism. Signs of some of that distrust bubbled to the surface hours after Shahs statement. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from the Kuki community said that they welcomed the home minister but would not meet him in the presence of chief minister N Biren Singh. The Kuki tribe will welcome Shah. We will extend all cooperation to him. But we dont want to talk to Shah in presence of the chief minister. We are firm on that, said Letzamang Haokip, the BJP legislator from Henglep in Churachandpur district. Haokip, who, along with nine other tribal legislators, want a separate administration for the hills, a demand rejected by Biren Singh. Earlier in the day, Shah urged the common people of Manipur to bring back normalcy in the state. He was speaking at a ceremony in Guwahati where he laid the foundation stone for the ninth campus of the National Forensic Sciences University. Due to a court order, some clashes have taken place in Manipur. I would appeal to brothers in Manipur to maintain peace and have belief in the system. People from both groups should first decide to maintain peace. I assure you that from the centre, justice will be done and all those indulging in violence will not be spared, he added. He was referring to an April 19 order, in which the Manipur high court asked the BJP-led state government to submit recommendations to the Union government to consider inclusion of Meiteis in the ST list. Meiteis comprise around 53% of the states population, are largely Hindus and live in the Imphal valley region. The move sparked concerns among the tribal populations, which live in the hill districts and constitute about 40% of the states population. Manipur has 31% reservation for STs in jobs and education. Read: Ethno-cultural ties hold cues for Manipur turmoil On May 3, thousands of tribal people took out a solidarity march in the states 10 hill districts. In Churachandpur, miscreants set ablaze a portion of the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial, sparking clashes. Retaliatory attacks quickly swept the state. Till date, at least 74 people have been killed and 200 injured, and 30,000 people have been displaced by the violence. In Meitei-majority areas such as the Imphal valley, Kukis have been at the receiving end of the violence, while in the hill districts where the Kukis are the dominant community, Meitei homes and establishments have been attacked and ransacked. After the first throes of violence, tensions had somewhat abated. But over the last week, separate incidents of violence have worried authorities. On Sunday night, three people were shot at in Imphal. Then on Monday, a group of armed men set three abandoned houses ablaze in the state capital. On Wednesday, one person was shot dead and another suffered bullet injuries in Bishnupur district, a region that had remained relatively peaceful earlier. State security adviser Kuldiep Singh said that a few more houses were burnt in nearby areas in retaliation on Wednesday, triggering violence. At about 9.30am, two people received bullet injuries at Thamnapokpi foothills under Moirang police station which was due to firing from the side of the hill, said the former Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) chief. Immediately, the forces retaliated; one of the injured persons, namely Toijam Chandramani Singh of Churachandpur, succumbed to the injury while being taken to a hospital, he added. Read: In Manipur, a need for building bridges Since the violence began, there has been no conversation between Meitei and Kuki groups. On Wednesday, a group of thirteen state lawmakers including three ministers from the BJP, National Peoples Party and the Naga Peoples Front travelled to Guwahati to meet Shah. After attending two official events, Shah held detailed discussions in Guwahati later on Thursday evening on the situation in Manipur with a delegation of MLAs and ministers from the state representing BJP, National Peoples Party and Naga Peoples Front. The meeting was held at Assam state guest house at Koinadhora in Guwahati. We had a detailed discussion with the Union home minister and apprised him about the ground situation in Manipur. He asked us to work towards restoring peace and normalcy in the state at the earliest. The process will be taken forward after Shah arrives in Imphal on May 29 for a three-day visit to Manipur, said one of the MLAs who attended the meeting on condition of anonymity. Manipur state Congress president K Meghachandra criticised the BJP and the state government. Although late, it is good that Shah is coming because this tension will continue. Shah seemed to have forgotten Manipur. Everything is in the hands of the Centre, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday appealed to opposition parties boycotting the new Parliament buildings inauguration on Sunday to reconsider their decision for the sake of the people. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (Twitter) Whether you like the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] or do not like to see him... Whatever it is, you have to respect the temple of democracy. ...it is not good to boycott the temple of democracy where we debate peoples issues. ...At least for the people, participate in the function, Sitharaman told reporters in Chennai in the presence of Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi, his Telangana and Nagaland counterparts, Tamilsai Soundararajan and La Ganesan, Union minister L Murugan, and state minister PK Sekar Babu. Sitharaman said 20 aadeenams or heads of monasteries from Tamil Nadu have been invited for the inauguration, where Sengol (sceptre), the symbol of governance in Tamil kingdoms, will be installed near the Speakers seat. Lord Mountbatten handed over the five-feet long sceptre made of silver and gold to Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947, as a symbol of the transfer of power. Sitharaman said Tamil Nadu has a big proud part in the episode symbolising the transfer. The Tiruvavduthurai adheenam advised the handing over of Sengol following Nehrus consultations with Indias last Governor-General C Rajagopalachari, who was popularly known as Rajaji. Rajagopalacharis great-grandson, C R Kesavan, said Mountbatten suggested shaking hands or exchanging a piece of paper. He added Rajaji suggested to Nehru the concept of a Sengol. Twenty-one parties, including Tamil Nadus ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, announced on Wednesday the boycott of the new Parliament buildings inauguration over Modis decision to preside over the ceremony for it instead of President Droupadi Murmu. In a joint statement, 19 of the parties boycotting the inauguration said Modis decision was an assault on democracy. Later, two more parties, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, also said they would avoid the event. Sitharaman said that she was surprised by the allegation that the Union government disrespected the president. Sitharaman said that the president is given her due respect. Parties which today see the president as a very eminent leader, particularly coming from a tribal background, are the ones which undertook a bitter campaign. I do not wish to recall the kind of words they used at that time, said Sitharaman. Leaders belonging to these opposition parties spoke ill of her, abused her, and said that she is going to be a rubber stamp... SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Garima Lohia of Buxar district in Bihar, who bagged the second position in the prestigious civil services examination 2022, said she could crack the coveted exam because of her late father's blessing. Celebrating her success, she remembered her father with wet eyes. It is his blessing behind my success. I have kept his photo everywhere for inspiration, she added. UPSC CSE Garima Lohia, who secured 2nd rank in civil services exam 2022, moved to her native place Buxar from Delhi for civil services preparation.(HT photo) Her father, Manoj Kumar Lohia, passed away in 2015, leaving behind a wife and three children. After her father's demise, Garima said the family worked as a team, supporting each other in their time of need. My mother and family members supported me a lot throughout the journey, she added. It took Lohia, 24, a Commerce graduate from Kirorimal College of Delhi University, two attempts to clear the civil services exam. Thousands of students migrate to Delhi every year to prepare for the civil services exams, but Lohia moved to her native place Buxar for exam preparation. Also read | These UPSC candidates defy disability to achieve their dreams She told HT, I decided to prepare for the civil services exam in 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown. After returning home, I started self-study and also took help from online study platforms. In my first attempt, I could not clear the prelims examination. I again worked hard and cleared the exam on the second attempt. I was expecting to clear the exam but I did not imagine I would get second rank. Read: UPSC CSE 2022: Mayur Hazarika only male in top 5. Himanta Sarma reacts. Who is this Assam doctor? Lohia further shared an important message for the young aspirants: "Motivation, self-study, and analysis will make anyone successful in the examination. Proper guidance is also necessary," she added. She also said there's no single formula for preparations it varies from person to person. Preparation strategies vary from person to person. I usually studied for 15 hours in a day. I referred to different books and online study material. My family always supported me. I believe one should prepare for exams wherever they feel comfortable for better productivity. My mother constantly motivated me during my preparation. She used to stay awake with me, she said SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: US ambassador Eric Garcetti called on external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, with the meeting coming a month ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US. External affairs minister S Jaishankar discussed bilateral relations and regional issues at a meeting with US ambassador Eric Garcetti (Twitter/DrSJaishankar) Discussed the enormous progress in our relationship, especially over the last decade. Exchanged views on the recent Quad Summit, Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting, referring to the gathering of the four Quad leaders on the margins of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima last week. Confident that India-US ties will continue to grow from strength to strength, Jaishankar added. There was no official readout from the Indian side on the meeting. Indian and US officials have been holding a series of meetings focused on key areas such as trade, investment, defence and security in the run-up to Modis state visit on June 22. Garcetti said in a tweet that he is committed to enhancing the India-US relationship. As the US Ambassador to India, I am thrilled to be here and witness the strong bond between our nations. The #USIndia partnership holds immense potential, and I am committed to further strengthening our ties, he said. Jaishankar also met US secretary of state Antony Blinken on the margins of the G7 Summit and discussed preparations for Modis visit to the US. At the time, Blinken tweeted that he had a great discussion with Jaishankar and added: We look forward to hosting Indian Prime Minister @NarendraModi in June, whose visit will celebrate the deep partnership between the United States and India. Though Modi has travelled to the US to meet former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, those were not state visits. This will also be the first state visit by an Indian premier since 2009. A state visit is the highest-ranking visit for which a foreign head of state can be invited by a US president. A state visit includes a meeting with the president, a state dinner at the White House, a full honours arrival and departure ceremony on the south grounds of the White House, and a 21-gun salute. Modi is only the third foreign leader invited by Biden for a state visit, after French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in April this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually flagged off Uttarakhand's first semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express train connecting Dehradun with the national capital New Delhi at 11am. The Vande Bharat express at the Dehradun Railway Station after arriving from Delhi on a test drive, in Dehradun. (PTI) Read here: What makes Vande Bharat- an Indian beauty on tracks- so great "Uttarakhand is getting its first Vande Bharat Express today from Dehradun to Delhi. This Express train will reduce the travelling time of the people," he said at the launch event. 100% electric rail routes in Uttarakhand: PM Modi will also dedicate the newly electrified rail line sections as a part of his vision to provide cleaner means of public transport and electrifying rail routes in the country. With this, the state will have its entire rail route 100% electrified. First Vande Bharat of state: The semi-high speed train will be India's 17th and Uttarakhand's first-ever Vande Bharat train which would commence its inaugural run from Dehradun to Delhi's Anand Vihar terminal. According to the Prime Minister Office's (PMO) official release, the train equips world-class amenities which would herald a new era of comfortable travel experiences, especially for tourists travelling to the state. The train has been indigenously manufactured and is equipped with advanced safety features, including the Kavach technology. Read here: Vande Bharat Express trains now operational on 15 routes in India. See full list Journey duration: According to IRCTC, the regular operations for the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express will commence on May 29. The train will cover a distance of 302 km in four hours and forty-five minutes. It will operate six days a week, except Wednesday. Timings and stoppages: The state's first Vande Bharat is scheduled to depart from Dehradun at 07:00 am and will reach Delhi's Anand Vihar terminal at 11:45 am, while it would depart from Anand Vihar at 05:50 pm, and arrive at Dehradun by 10:35 pm. During the journey, it will stop at Meerut City, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Roorkee, and Haridwar. Read here: Mumbai locals soon to be a past: Vande Metro to replace the suburban trains Fares: The fare for an AC chair seat from Delhi to Dehradun will be 1,065, while an executive chair car ticket will cost 1,890. Actor Aditi Rao Hydari is back in Cannes and how. Aditi is among many celebrities attending the 76th edition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The star arrived in the French Riviera town and shared her first pictures from the festival. She lived her modern Princess moment in a stunningly gorgeous blue gown. Her pictures garnered a comment from her rumoured boyfriend Siddharth and several other netizens. Scroll ahead to see Aditi's look and find out what Siddharth commented on her post. Aditi Rao Hydari has a Princess moment in an Oscar de la Renta gown for first pictures from Cannes. (Instagram) Siddharth comments on Aditi Rao Hydari's latest post from Cannes Aditi Rao Hydari shared her first pictures from Cannes with the caption, "Nice to meet you again Cannes [blue heart emoji] #walkyourworth #cannes2023." The photos show Aditi living her modern Disney Princess moment in a strapless blue gown while taking a stroll on the cobbled streets of the French Riviera town. Her ensemble is from the shelves of the label Oscar de la Renta, styled by Sanam Ratansi. Siddharth loved Aditi's pictures and commented, "Oh my [heart eye and fire emojis]." Others called her 'beauty' and 'glam girl'. A fan remarked, The best dressed Bollywood star at Cannes. Meanwhile, Aditi's Oscar de la Renta gown comes in a strapless design featuring a decolletage-flaunting plunge neckline, a nude corseted design on the torso embellished with shimmering diamantes, a quirky belted structure under the bust, a voluminous pleated flowy skirt, an asymmetric hemline, a leg-baring thigh-high design, and a floor-sweeping train on the back. Aditi styled the Princess-esque gown with white strappy heels, delicate earrings with chain embellishment, and a statement ring. In the end, feathered brows, nude pink lip shade, shimmery eye shadow, mascara on the lashes, rouged cheekbones, dewy base, and beaming highlighter completed the glam picks. Centre-parted open wavy locks gave the finishing touch to Aditi's Princess ensemble. Meanwhile, the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 27. Actor Sunny Leone just experienced the proudest moment of her career at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Sunny walked the red carpet at the 76th edition of the prestigious film festival for the screening of Kennedy with director Anurag Kashyap and co-star Rahul Bhat. Kennedy was a part of midnight screenings during the Festival de Cannes. The actor stole the spotlight on the red carpet with her gorgeous look in a risque thigh-high slit blush pink gown. Scroll through to see Sunny's pictures from the event. Cannes 2023: Sunny Leone walks the red carpet for Kennedy screening with Anurag Kashyap and Rahul Bhat. (Instagram) Sunny Leone is proud as she walks the Cannes Film Festival red carpet Sunny Leone walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival to attend the screening of Kennedy. The star posted pictures of herself with Anurag Kashyap and Rahul Bhat on the iconic front steps of the Palais des Festivals and shared that it was the proudest moment of her career. "The proudest moment of my career so far! Thank you, @anuragkashyap10 for this moment! And @itsrahulbhat for letting me be share the screen with you in this amazing performance! Love you both!," Sunny wrote. She wore a blush pink gown for the screening event. Check out her post below. Sunny stole the spotlight at the event, dressed in a blush pink-coloured gown from the shelves of the couture label Naja Saade. The ensemble comes with a one-shoulder detail, double-strap with a shimmering brooch embellishment, cut-outs on the shoulder and waist, a figure-skimming silhouette, a risque thigh-high slit, a floor-sweeping hem length, and a cape-like attachment flowing like a train on the back. Sunny accessorised the silk-satin blush-pink gown with minimal jewels, including statement rings and delicate tear-drop earrings. Lastly, strappy high heels, a side-parted pulled-back sleek bun, winged eyeliner, bold red lip shade, shimmery eye shadow, feathered brows, rouged cheekbones, and beaming highlighter completed the glam picks. Nine out of ten people do not survive pancreatic cancer, and the survival rate has not improved for almost 60 years. There are hardly any effective treatment options. That's why every advance in therapy is a revolution. And that is exactly what is happening now. Researchers in the US treated 16 pancreatic cancer patients with a personalized mRNA vaccine after they had their tumors surgically removed. By the end of the 18-month trial period, half of the patients had not relapsed. For a cancer that usually returns within a few months of surgery, that's a huge success. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers of all. A new mRNA vaccine could prevent tumors from returning. (Ersin Arslan/Zoonar/picture alliance) In the world of medical science, superlatives are few and far between. In this case, however, pancreatic cancer experts are more than a little excited: Niels Halama, a tumor immunologist at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, described the latest development as "fantastic" and "unexpected" news. Thomas Seufferlein, a gastroenterologist from Ulm, declared it a decisive breakthrough with a "completely new approach". His colleague Alexander Kleger called it a "huge step" that will revolutionize the field. With only 16 patients, the study, published in the journal Nature, is small. However, it provides the first evidence of the successful use of mRNA technology for one of the deadliest and most difficult-to-treat forms of cancer. It's also a decisive breakthrough in the years-long effort to develop cancer vaccines tailored to the tumors of individual patients. What was done during the study? At the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, tumors were removed from patients and sent to Germany. The tumor tissue's genome was then sequenced by the biotechnology company BioNTech and examined for the presence of mutations, so-called neoantigens. A selection of neoantigens to be targeted was then compiled individually for each patient itself a highly complex process based on years of research and an mRNA-based vaccine was produced. Like the mRNA vaccine against COVID-19, the goal was to induce an immune reaction against these neoantigen structures. This vaccine was administered for the first time nine weeks after the patients went through surgery to remove the primary tumor in the pancreas. In addition, the patients also received chemotherapy and so-called checkpoint inhibitors (these are molecules that prevent cancer from shutting down the immune system). In the eight patients who showed an immune response, the tumor had not returned by the end of the study. The other eight patients did not show an immune response they relapsed. "I am very excited about the fact that there is an apparent correlation between the induction of immunity and the early indication of longer-term survival," said Nina Bhardwaj, who researches cancer immunology at New York's Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, adding that the findings would need to be confirmed by larger clinical trials. Why is pancreatic cancer so deadly? The pancreas is a small organ located deep in the abdominal cavity. Carcinoma there is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. The main problem is that pancreatic cancer is usually detected at a very late stage. There is no early detection method, and patients don't usually have any symptoms until the cancer becomes unusually large or has spread to other organs. Even if it is possible to surgically remove the tumor, it often returns. Another factor that complicates therapy is that the cancer is constantly changing. It modifies its environment and is itself modified by its environment. s a result, no two pancreatic cancers are alike. This makes it particularly difficult to treat. "Every pancreatic cancer is like a disease in its own right," said Alexander Kleger. That makes it a "prime example of a tumor for which you want to generate an individualized therapy," explained Thomas Seufferlein. Scientists surprised by vaccine efficacy The idea of fighting cancer with the help of a vaccine is not new. A vaccine against prostate cancer was approved in the US. back in 2010. And research into mRNA vaccines for cancer has also been going on for some time. Only recently, an mRNA vaccine developed by the companies Moderna and Merck showed success in the treatment of high-risk melanoma. Still, many scientists did not expect a vaccine against pancreatic cancer to work. Pancreatic cancer, after all, is categorized as "cold tumor," meaning that it does not elicit a strong immune response and thus hides better from the immune system. Cold tumors usually do not respond to immunotherapy. "I know they were looking at a bunch of different types of cancer," said Drew Weissmann, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania. "I'm surprised that pancreatic was one that it worked so well in. Cautious optimism - and many unanswered questions Despite all the initial excitement, some measure of caution is also called for. With only 16 patients, the study was as small as the 18-month observation period was short. It was also conducted without a control group, meaning without a comparison group that received only surgery, chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibitor. The effect of vaccination alone is therefore difficult to measure, and a comparison with previous therapy methods is also difficult. The fact that each patient received a tailor-made vaccine also makes it hard to produce a comparative assessment of the study's results. It is still unclear why the vaccination resulted in an immune response against cancer in only half the patients, or whether and how the selection of neoantigens can be optimized in the future. Interestingly, an mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 administered during the same period led to an immune response in all patients, indicating their reaction to neoantigens was not impaired in some way. It is also unclear whether the vaccination helps those patients whose tumors are already so advanced that they are effectively inoperable. The study only included patients who could have their tumors removed. "In advanced disease, I think the situation is different," said Nina Bhardwaj. There are probably many immune suppressive factors already in play. And even if you generate a good immune response, getting the right cells in this case the T cells into tumor itself could be difficult. It's a big bulky tumor." For this reason, vaccination alone might prove to be an insufficient treatment. However, experts emphasize that it is conceivable that it could be used as a supplemental therapy, for example at the metastatic stage. Will mRNA vaccines revolutionize cancer treatment? At this stage, there are also a great many practical questions: How much can the process be accelerated? How expensive will a vaccine be once it is established? BioNTech founder Ugur Sahin told the New York Times that within the last few years, the company has been able to lower production times to under six weeks, and reduce production costs from $350,000 to $100,000 per treatment. "And with a clinical application on this scale, we can assume that there will be more opportunities with the reduction of the price further on down the road," said tumor immunologist Niels Halama. It is also questionable whether the process, which experts describe as highly complex, can be established outside of specialized centers. "This is a vaccine that right now probably requires two or three centers in the world that can do it," said Drew Weissman. "But ultimately, we're going to want a vaccine that can be used throughout the world." There is still much work to be done, and many unanswered questions remain. For now, trial and error is the order of the day, according to Drew Weissman. He is convinced that not all cancers will respond to an RNA vaccine. So perhaps this is not yet a revolution. But it could well prove to be a crucial next step in overhauling how we currently treat pancreatic cancer. Its been a week of high-powered diplomacy for New Delhi: G7, Quad and Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modis meeting with Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Hiroshima, Japan, ending with a showstopping visit to Australia. PREMIUM As China and America vie for influence, an endorsement by the Pacific Island countries for India is a testament to the incremental gains made by New Delhi as a development partner(AP) Beyond these high-profile meets, however, an important process played out in a remote corner of the world before the stop over in Sydney. It was highlighted not only by the warm ceremonial accorded to Modi by PM James Marape of Papua New Guinea, but the firm vote of confidence in India as both leaders opened the 3rd Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) meet. We are victims of global power play... You (PM Modi) are the leader of Global South. We will rally behind your (Indias) leadership at global forums, Marape said. As China and America vie for influence, compounding the friction of internal fault lines in this small but strategic geography, this endorsement by the Pacific Island countries (PICs) for India is a testament to the incremental gains made by New Delhi as a development partner. It also underscores how India is hoping to carve out its space as an alternative to countries that dont want to get caught in the crossfire of binary choices in the Indo-Pacific. PM Modis outreach to the PICs came after United States (US) President Joe Bidens visit to the region was cancelled. Chinas presence as a provider of development aid, the third-largest trading partner, and a new avatar as security guarantor to the PICs, has unnerved the US and caused alarm in Australia and New Zealand. So, India engaging leaders and listening to them in this larger geopolitical context was consequential. But, more importantly, PM Modis mindfully chosen language of speaking to this region as one not of small island nations but large ocean countries, respecting (your) priorities and acknowledging pride for being chosen as a development partner of the PICs has struck the right chord. It demonstrates an equal, open and inclusive vision for the Indo-Pacific that New Delhi vouches for. PM Modis 12-point plan at FIPIC continues to emphasise Indias role as a development partner and capacity builder with a slew of granular proposals. In its third iteration, the forum, which PM Modi started in 2014 for the 14 countries, focused on the specific demands of these nations, given the rising problems of food, energy security and climate action exacerbated by the Ukraine crises. Indias niche competencies in inexpensive renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure remain on the table. Indias Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative addresses various aspects of the blue economy crucial to the region. Indias expertise as a regional skill development partner has seen programmes in IT and cybersecurity, digital economy, solar electrification and training of hydrologists. Remember that Indias transformational project of training rural women from the Pacific at Barefoot College in Rajasthan to become solar engineers, popular as the Solar Mamas project, has reaped dividends. Similarly, FIPIC has been instrumental in helping the PICs build niche markets and businesses in the small and medium enterprises sector. Notably, India has doubled down on health infrastructure support to overcome Covid-19 setbacks. These measures, India hopes, anchors meaningful presence and reassures support in a way that differentiates it from Beijings hardball cheque book diplomacy. In an era where connectivity is contested and development aid weaponised, New Delhi is trying to extend help not in zero-sum game terms but in a way that is both sustainable and in line with its capacity to deliver beyond rhetoric. The appetite for an Indian presence in the region and calls for India to emerge as a third power are significant, given that Indias G20 presidency is committed to being a bridge builder in a polarised global order. The Quad summit underlined how the group was throwing its weight behind overlapping national and regional initiatives across sectors to reassure regions, such as the Pacific, of its positive agenda. PM Modi reiterated the importance of this collective action. Viewed by the PICs as independent from bloc-style politics, New Delhi is helping build this strategic trust. If it delivers, the India way in the Indo-Pacific would find more traction. Shruti Pandalai is fellow, MP-IDSA. The views expressed are personal. Her social media handle is @shrutipandalai on Twitter. A state-sponsored Chinese hacking group has been spying on a wide range of U.S. critical infrastructure organizations, from telecommunications to transportation hubs, Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft said on Wednesday. Chinese hackers are known to spy on Western countries.(Reuters) The espionage has also targeted the U.S. island territory of Guam, home to strategically important American military bases, Microsoft said in a report, adding "mitigating this attack could be challenging." It was not immediately clear how many organizations were affected, but the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) said it was working with partners including Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, as well as the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to identify breaches. While Chinese hackers are known to spy on Western countries, this is one of the largest known cyber-espionage campaigns against American critical infrastructure. "A PRC (People's Republic of China) state-sponsored actor is living off the land, using built-in network tools to evade our defenses and leaving no trace behind," NSA Cybersecurity Director Rob Joyce said in a statement. Such "living off the land" spy techniques are harder to detect as they use "capabilities already built into critical infrastructure environments," he added. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Microsoft said the Chinese group, which it dubbed "Volt Typhoon," has been active since at least 2021 and has targeted a number of industries including communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education. As opposed to using traditional hacking techniques, which often involve tricking a victim into downloading malicious files, Microsoft said this group infects a victim's existing systems to find information and extract data. Analysts assessed with "moderate confidence" that this Chinese campaign was developing capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises, Microsoft added. Guam is home to U.S. military facilities that would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia-Pacific region. Canada's cybersecurity agency separately said it had no reports of Canadian victims of this hacking as yet. "However, western economies are deeply interconnected," it added. "Much of our infrastructure is closely integrated and an attack on one can impact the other." The UK similarly warned the techniques used by the Chinese hackers on U.S. networks could be applied worldwide. (Additional reporting by Chavi Mehta and Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Sonali Paul) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Souleymane Sana, a New Bern resident and native of Mali, Africa recently won $100,000 (approximately. 82,00,000) in a scratch-off card. Now with this lottery money, he wants to help school children in his hometown. Souleymane Sana, who won a lottery.(NC Education lottery) NC Education lottery shared in a press release that 39-year-old Souleymane Sana, who is a dance instructor, purchased $30 Millionaire Maker ticket from Neuse Shop & Fuel on West New Bern Road in Kinston. Sana claimed his win at the lottery's headquarters. After deducting the necessary state, and federal taxes, he received $71,259. In a statement to NC Education lottery, Sana said, "Im going to keep doing my best to help build more classrooms for the children in Mali. That is the thing that makes me really happy. This was my dream. That was one of the main reasons I bought that scratch ticket was to be able to keep helping them" He further added, I love to dance, and I want to teach the children in Mali to love it too. If you talk about culture and you talk about education, they both go together. Some of the money is going to be used to start building a dance center there. My dream is just becoming true little by little and I hope it will keep going. There are several videos that showcase foreigners learning about Indian culture. It could be through art, dance, food or even learning various Indian languages. Now, a video that shows an American's fluent Hindi accent has gone viral. It shows the man talking in Hindi and complaining about the samosa prices in the US. American man speaking fluently in Bihari.(Instagram/@DrewHicks) In a video shared by Instagram user Drew Hicks, you can see him sitting in a restaurant. He can be heard saying, "India mein two samosa ka 20 rupees lagega, yaha pe two samosas ka 500 rupya hai. Chalo wapas Bihar chalte hai bhai. (In India, two samosas only cost 20, but here it costs 500. Let's go back to Bihar.) Watch the video below: This video was shared on April 17. Since being shared, it has been liked over 14,000 times. The share has also received several comments. Check out a few reactions below: An individual wrote, "I am from Bihar. I love your video so much." A second added, "You were accidentally born in America, you are Bihari only." A third posted, "In 20 rupees you will also get litti, chokha, chutney and more." A man named Jamie McDonald from Britain has accomplished a truly astounding feat as he travelled all seven wonders of the world, not over months or weeks, but in less than seven days. Yes, you read that right! Jamie McDonald at the Great Wall of China. (Instagram/@adventureman) According to Guinness World Records, McDonald started on March 6 from London and first visited the Great Wall of China. Undeterred by time zones, he flew to India, where he visited the Taj Mahal. Next on his list was Petra in Jordan. He then headed to the Colosseum in Rome. From there, he soared across continents to reach Brazil and see Christ the Redeemer, before stopping by the Machu Picchu in Peru. Next, he visited Chichen Itza in Mexico on March 12 and concluded his trip. Throughout this tour, McDonald travelled across four continents and landed in nine countries, covering about 22,856 miles. He embarked on 13 flights, nine buses and four trains. He navigated through bustling cities in 16 taxis. But his adventure wasnt limited till here, as he even indulged in the thrill of a toboggan (a type of sledge) ride. McDonald even documented his entire journey and shared it on social media. Watch the video right here: Are you impressed by his unwavering determination? Well, youre not alone. Many in the comments section echoed the same sentiment. Heres what people have said about his journey: Wow! Man you are really great, posted an individual. Another added, Wow! What an incredibly special challenge! Well done! This is wonderful! commented a third. A fourth shared, Wow that is bonkers and epic at the same time! You are truly inspirational. So honoured to be part of your journey. Keep being amazing, expressed a fifth. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 14-year-old girl student has emerged as the prime suspect for a major fire incident which happened recently at the Mahdia Secondary School in Guyana. 19 children had died in the unfortunate incident after their dormitory was set on fire. The children couldn't escape as the dorm's doors were locked. In this photo provided by Guyana's Department of Public Information, the dormitory of a secondary school is burned in Mahdia, Guyana, Monday, May 22, 2023. A nighttime fire raced through the dormitory early Monday, killing at least 19 students and injuring several others, authorities said. (AP) As per reports, the girl suspect allegedly committed the crime after her cellphone was confiscated by school authorities. The tragic incident has rocked the South American country and hit headlines across the globe. National Security Adviser Gerald Gouveia told the Associated Press that the suspect's phone was taken away to discipline her for having an affair with an older man. Miffed at the school authorities for seizing her phone, the girl set the dorm on fire. ALSO READ| Komagata Maru incident to be commemorated in name of Vancouver street The house mother was asleep at the time inside the building but panicked and could not find the right keys to unlock the building from inside but she made it out, said Gouveia. "A female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was taken away by the dorm mother and a teacher," said Mark Ramotar, Guyana Police's communications chief in a statement. Meanwhile, Deutsche Welle reported an unnamed official as saying that the girl had admitted to her crime. The girl suspect also got injured in the blaze and is currently being treated in a hospital. She will be held in Juvenile detention after her recovery. View of the school dormitory that caught fire and left at least 19 people dead in Mahdia, Guyana on May 22, 2023. At least 19 people, most of them youths, were killed and several injured Sunday in a school dormitory fire in Guyana, the government said in a statement, with the nation's president calling it a "major disaster".(AFP) Out of the 19 children who died in the blaze, the 19th victim was dorm mother's own 5-year-old son. 13 of the victims got burnt beyond recognition. Guyana has accepted assistance from USA and other countries to ascertain the identity of such victims through DNA testing by forensic experts. AP reported that the older man with whom the girl suspect was having an affair, is expected to be charged with statutory rape as the girl was under 16 at the time. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As G7 leaders were preparing for their recent summit in Japan, Chinas president Xi Jinping hosted his central Asian counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Chinese President Xi Jinping(AFP) Read here: Eye on China, India unveils 12-point plan to deepen ties with Pacific nations Central Asia is critical to Chinas attempts to build an alternative to the US-led liberal order that is unquestionably dominated by Beijing and in which Russia will, at best, be a junior partner. In his opening address, Xi outlined his vision of a China-central Asia community with a shared future. This will rest on four principles: mutual assistance, common development, universal security and everlasting friendship. While the relationship between China and central Asia is often framed in terms of security and development, it also has a political side. This is all evident in the initiatives to create more regional cooperation launched at the summit in Xi'an. These propose links between Chinese ministries and government agencies and their counterparts in central Asia, increasing educational and cultural exchanges, and creating mechanisms like the Central AsiaChina Business Council. All of these are likely to further consolidate of Chinas dominant regional role. In return, China will insulate the mostly authoritarian leaders of central Asia from western economic and political pressure to move towards democracy and protect their sovereignty and territorial integrity against any Russian adventurism. Summit achievements The summit resulted in a staggering 54 agreements, 19 new cooperation mechanisms and platforms, and nine multilateral documents, including the Xi'an declaration. Read here: Implications of Chinas increasing security footprint in Central Asia Even if one were to discount most of these as having uncertain prospects of actual implementation, there can be no doubt about Chinas regional significance. According to UN statistics, for example, the volume of trade in goods between China and the five countries of the region rose from a mere USD 460 million three decades ago to more than USD 70 billion in 2022 a 150-fold increase. Historically, Russia was the main partner for central Asia, harking back to the Soviet period and the first decade after its break-up. But Moscow can no longer match the value of Chinese investments and construction contracts in central Asia, which now totals almost USD 70 billion since 2005. China takes over from Russia A shift towards China is also reflected in the declining importance of Russias regional integration project the Eurasian Economic Union in comparison to Chinas massive global Belt and Road Initiative. This programme of infrastructure investment was launched by Xi in Kazakhstan in 2013 and has since drawn the region closer to China not just economically but also politically. The Belt and Road Initiative featured prominently in the Xi'an declaration, explicitly linking it to national development strategies in central Asia. Transport connections remain at its heart. The countries at the summit recommitted to a China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, to highways from China to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and to transport infrastructure for trans-Caspian trade routes using seaports in Kazakhstan and in Turkmenistan. Read here: G7 and Quad are finally taking China head on This focus on transport infrastructure in, and importantly across, central Asia highlights how important the region is for Chinas attempts to diversify its trade routes to Europe away from Russia. It also means that China, for now, will continue to use infrastructure development and trade to recruit more partners for its alternative international order. The Russian northern corridor is now largely closed as a result of Ukraine war-related sanctions. So the route often referred to as the middle corridor has regained importance not only for China but also, crucially, for the G7 countries. However, the middle corridor, which begins in Turkey and continues via Georgia and through central Asia, would be risky for China as a sole alternative. Its capacity is low (currently only about 5% of the northern corridor) because goods have to cross multiple borders and switch several times between road, rail and sea. Afghanistans role Another alternative with similar geopolitical significance is transport through Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea via the Pakistani port of Gwadar. In the long term, a trans-Afghan route is in the interest of both China and central Asia. It would contribute to (but also depend on) stability and security in Afghanistan. And it would reduce Chinas exposure to the risks associated with the existing route along the China-Pakistan economic corridor, especially those arising from the ongoing Taliban insurgency in Pakistan. In light of this, China and its central Asian partners committed to developing the transport capabilities of the Uzbek city of Termez, on the border with Afghanistan. China also now has an official position on the Afghan issue and Afghanistan was name-checked by Xi in his speech at the summit. So more regional engagement there is to be expected. Read here: Russia, China hold bilateral talks, sign pacts amid Western criticism Despite the obvious risks associated with Afghanistan, China is likely to include a trans-Afghan trade route in its plans. This is also evident from the fact that Beijing appears reluctant to engage with Russia and Iran on their international northsouth transport corridor. Both Russia and Iran face heavy international sanctions and recent tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan cast further doubt on the long-term viability of this route. The enthusiasm with which the five central Asian presidents have welcomed these initiatives indicates the extent to which they are keen to embrace China. It remains to be seen, however, how sustainable, or popular, an approach this is in light of the considerable and widespread anti-China sentiment in the region. China is likely to see its Covid-19 wave peaking at about 65 million infections a week toward the end of June, according to a senior health adviser, while health authorities rush to bolster their vaccine arsenal to target the latest omicron variants. China is also preparing to roll out new vaccines that will target XBB(Bloomberg) XBB has been fueling a resurgence in cases across China since late April and is expected to result in 40 million infections a week by the end of May, before peaking at 65 million a month later, local media outlet the Paper reported Monday, citing a presentation by respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan at a biotech conference in the southern city of Guangzhou. His estimate provides rare insight into how the much anticipated second wave may play out, with immunity among the countrys 1.4 billion residents waning nearly six months after Beijings sudden dismantling of Covid Zero curbs saw coronavirus run rampant. In the wake of the pivot to living with the virus, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention stopped updating its weekly statistics earlier this month, leaving a question mark over Covids impacts. The 65-million-case estimate from disease modeling indicates the resurgence is likely to be more muted compared with the previous wave unleashed late last year and into January. Back then, a different omicron sublineage probably infected 37 million people every day, sending residents scrambling for limited supplies of fever medicine, overwhelming hospitals and leaving crematoriums across the country with piles of bodies. China is also preparing to roll out new vaccines that will target XBB. The countrys drug regulator has already given preliminary approval to two and another three or four will be cleared soon, Zhong said. We can lead the pack internationally in developing more effective vaccines. The batch of XBB-specific vaccines will also add to a growing number of homegrown immunizations Beijing has signed off throughout the pandemic, and is in line with a recommendation from an expert panel recommendation at the World Health Organization last week to move away from using the original Wuhan strain in future shots. WestVac Biopharma, a vaccine developer based in the western Chinese city of Chengdu, also got the go-ahead to start testing its XBB-based shots on human last week. Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov and translator Angela Rodel were named Tuesday winners of the International Booker Prize with the novel "Time Shelter" -- a first for a book in Bulgarian. Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov poses with his book Time Shelter on the red carpet upon arrival for the International Booker Prize award ceremony. (AFP) The prestigious award recognises works of fiction from around the world that have been translated into English and the 50,000 ($62,000) prize is split equally between the author and the translator. The winning novel focuses on a "clinic for the past" that offers experimental Alzheimer's treatment. To trigger patients' memories, it recreates the atmosphere of past decades down to the smallest detail. But with time healthy people start coming to the clinic, seeking an escape from the horrors of modern life. "It is a novel that invites reflection and vigilance as much as it moves us, because the language -- sensitive and precise -- manages to capture, in a Proustian vein, the extreme fragility of the past," Franco-Moroccan writer and judges panel chair Leila Slimani said. Born in 1968, novelist and poet Gospodinov is the most internationally acclaimed modern Bulgarian author. His works are translated into 25 languages. Speaking about the book's nomination, Gospodinov said "this encourages writers not only from my country, but also from the Balkans, who often feel themselves outside the sphere of English-speaking attention". Rodel is originally from the US state of Minnesota but lives and works in Bulgaria. Her poetry and prose translations have been published across literary magazines and anthologies. In 2014, she was granted Bulgarian citizenship for her work and contribution to Bulgarian culture. "We need not only to recognise the translators, but also put them on an equal footing with the authors," Rodel told journalists. "It was really trying to decide with Georgi how we were going to not just translate the text but translate the atmosphere, the context... all of those socialist sort of ghosts that were haunting the text itself." Gospodinov agreed that "It was not easy at all to translate this kind of book, because the book is dealing with different decades in the 20th century and with different languages that we have in this decade." Last year the International Booker Prize was awarded to the Hindi novel "Tomb of Sand" by Indian author Geetanjali Shree, and translated by Daisy Rockwell. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Construction at North Koreas satellite launching station has hit a new level of urgency, most likely in preparation for a launch, a US-based think tank said in a report citing commercial satellite imagery. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (top, 2nd R) and his daughter, presumed to be named Ju Ae (top, R), meeting with the Non-permanent Satellite Launch Preparatory Committee and inspecting a military reconnaissance satellite, at an undisclosed location in North Korea.(AFP) North Korea says it has completed its first military spy satellite, and leader Kim Jong Un has approved final preparations for a launch to place it in orbit, without publicising a date. Commercial satellite imagery from Monday shows that progress on a new launch pad in a coastal area east of North Koreas Sohae Satellite Launching Station is moving forward at a "remarkable pace", 38 North, a Washington-based programme that monitors North Korea, said in a report on Thursday. "While the key components of the Sohae complex have been undergoing modernization and expansion over the past year, this uptick in activity suggests a new level of urgency in making the site ready to accommodate satellite launches," the report said. The new launch pad appears to feature a rail-mounted assembly structure, a possible mechanism for lifting a rocket into place, lighting towers, and a tunnel for funnelling flames away. If it is meant to service liquid-fuelled rockets, additional infrastructure will most likely be needed, the report added. At Sohae's main launch pad, crews appear to have completed modifications to the gantry tower, while work continues on a storage for fuel and oxidizer. A new area for VIPs to observe launches also appears largely completed, 38 North concluded. Analysts say a military satellite is part of the reclusive, nuclear-armed state's efforts to advance surveillance technology, including drones, to improve its ability to strike targets in the event of a conflict. North Korea has tried several times to launch "earth observation" satellites, of which two appeared to have been successfully placed in orbit, including the latest in 2016. International observers have said the satellite seemed to be under control, but there was lingering debate over whether it had sent any transmissions. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday said that his Home Secretary Suella Braverman's handling of a speeding offence in 2022 did not breach ministerial rules and will not face an investigation. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.(AP) After days of speculation around The Sunday Times' newspaper claims that Braverman appealed to civil servants to try and avert the normal course of action after being caught speeding, Sunak wrote to his minister to say that he did not believe the actions amounted to a breach of the ministerial code of conduct. The Opposition parties had been demanding Sunak refer the 43-year-old Indian-origin minister to his Independent Adviser on ethics, Sir Laurie Magnus, to determine if there had been a breach. Braverman was caught speeding in June 2022, while she was attorney general, and given the option of three penalty points or a group speed awareness course. I have consulted with my Independent Adviser. He has advised that on this occasion further investigation is not necessary and I have accepted that advice. On the basis of your letter and our discussion, my decision is that these matters do not amount to a breach of the Ministerial Code, Sunak wrote in a letter to Braverman. "As you have recognised, a better course of action could have been taken to avoid giving rise to the perception of impropriety. Nevertheless, I am reassured you take these matters seriously. You have provided a thorough account, apologised and expressed regret," he said, with reference to Bravermans letter to her boss apologising for the distraction the controversy had caused the government. Sunak reiterated that he believes integrity, professionalism and accountability are core values of his leadership and it is right when issues are raised, they are looked at professionally to ensure the appropriate course of action. In the exchange of letters released by Downing Street, the Home Secretary admitted that "if faced with a similar situation again, I would have chosen a different course of action". She said she had "at all times been truthful and transparent, and taken decisions guided by what I believed was right and appropriate given my office, not by any personal motivation". 'The Sunday Times' newspaper reported that instead of signing up for an in-person speed awareness course with other motorists or completing one online that would show her name and face to other participants, Braverman allegedly asked civil servants to arrange a private one-to-one course. When the civil servants refused, she reportedly sought help from a political aide, who requested for the course organiser to provide a private session, or allow her to use an alias or turn her camera off. When the course provider refused, Braverman opted to take the penalty points on her licence which she was trying to avoid. In a letter to the prime minister, Braverman explained that she "sought to explore whether bespoke arrangements were possible" due to her "personal circumstances" and the security she receives as a government minister. "I recognise how some people have construed this as me seeking to avoid sanction at no point was that the intention or outcome," she said. "Nonetheless, given the fundamental importance of integrity in public life, I deeply regret that my actions may have given rise to that perception, and I apologise for the distraction this has caused," she added. The Liberal Democrats have branded Sunak's decision "a cowardly cop-out". "Sunak is too weak to even order an investigation, let alone sack his home secretary," Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said. Braverman resigned as home secretary in October last year after admitting breaches of the ministerial code during Liz Truss's short-lived premiership. She returned as home secretary after Sunak became prime minister, and has been spearheading his government's efforts to curb the arrival of migrants on small boats. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' highly anticipated presidential campaign announcement encountered a tumultuous start on Wednesday night, leaving many disappointed and frustrated. Ron DeSantis' Presidential Campaign mocked with memes. (Image Credit: Twitter/Mindcite_US) The Florida governor, who is eyeing the 2024 presidential race, took part in a Twitter Spaces event alongside Twitter CEO Elon Musk and Craft Ventures co-founder David Sacks to kick off his Presidential campaign. But, the overwhelming audience caused the app to crash multiple times within the initial minutes of the event. The rocky beginning of DeSantis' significant announcement, falling short of expectations, triggered widespread backlash as Twitter users voiced their discontent, labeling the launch as "disastrous" and trending #Desaster. The technical failures continued to plague the event, with glitches, echoes, and deafening feedback, resulting in only brief snippets of comments from Musk and Sacks in the first 24 minutes, and none from DeSantis. Sacks attributed these issues to the massive influx of participants (More than 200,000), which reached nearly half a million by 6:13 p.m. Eastern time. While Sacks perceived the overwhelmed servers as a "good sign," his audio went silent once again. Around 6:15 p.m., the online video conference played instrumental music before crashing once more. Shortly thereafter, the Twitter Spaces event went offline, although listeners could still access a glitchy recording of the proceedings. Then on several fans took to Twitter to drop memes on DeSantiss Presidential launch marred by the unfortunate tech meltdown. One Twitter user stated with a hilariously comically picture of DeSantis, Ron DeSantis presidential campaign launch is going exactly how I would expect a guy who eats pudding with his fingers presidential campaign launch would. #failuretolaunch Another Twitter handler, @RebelOutlaw5 posted a representation of DeSantis, a picture of a cat posing as a lion. @Mindcite_US trolled the point that the wealthiest man had laid off major Twitter staff to lowball their cost. They should have seen it coming. This link works, the 46th U.S. President Joe Biden posted on his personal Twitter account, mocking the Desaster situation of the Florida Governor, while linking to a donation page for his campaign. The President also posted a mock video on DeSantis saying, No matter what happens, you can hear Ron DeSantis agenda loud and clear. Musk relaunched Twitter Spaces at approximately 6:20 p.m., finally allowing DeSantis to make his presidential bid announcement uninterrupted. Once the technical issues were resolved, the event proceeded smoothly. DeSantis and other speakers praised Musk for revolutionizing Twitter as a platform that protects "free speech." The event exceeded its scheduled time by more than 20 minutes as DeSantis attempted to address questions from pre-selected contributors, including Congressman Thomas Massie and talk show host Steve Deace. ALSO READ| | Ron DeSantis launches Presidential bid with Elon Musk : 5 key takeaways Musk concluded the event by extending an invitation via Twitter Spaces to other presidential candidates. Shortly after the event ended, he reaffirmed his invitation in a tweet, stating, "All Presidential candidates are most welcome on this platform." On Wednesday Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made an unconventional move by announcing his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential primary through an audio stream on Twitter Spaces, joined by the platforms celebrity CEO Elon Musk. A screen grab shows Florida Governor Ron DeSantis participating in a Twitter Space event with Elon Musk and others as he announces he is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, May 24, 2023. Elon Musk via Twitter/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES MANDATORY CREDIT(via REUTERS) Breaking away from the traditional stage appearances in front of supporters, DeSantis chose a unique method to kick off his Presidential campaign. While it is very unusual for presidential candidates to launch their candidacy alongside a more prominent public and social figure, especially in the same virtual room, DeSantis opted for this approach. However, technical glitches hindered the audio stream. Here are the five key takeaways from the inaugural night of the official DeSantis campaign. Technical issues, #failuretolaunch The launch of Governor DeSantis' campaign on Twitter Spaces encountered significant challenges, as evidenced by the trending topic #failuretolaunch. The initial moments of the conversation on Twitter Spaces, featuring DeSantis, Elon Musk, and moderator David Sacks, were plagued by several audio and video glitches. Microphone feedback and intermittent interruptions disrupted the stream, leaving Twitter users frustrated. Sacks attributed the technical difficulties to the overwhelming number of listeners (almost 200,000 people tried to listen in), humorously comparing it to Musk's previous company setbacks. These issues persisted for several minutes, causing further interruptions. It wasn't until approximately 24 minutes into the event that they resolved the problem by hosting the stream on David Sacks's account instead of Musk's. The incident highlighted the importance of adequate preparation, including anticipating server demands when over 200,000 people attempted to listen in. DeSantiss blunt speech During his campaign announcement, the Florida Governor adhered closely to the platform he presented during his successful reelection bid. He emphasized his perspective from Tallahassee, stating that the rest of America is in a state of collapse. DeSantis claimed that the border has "collapsed" and highlighted the issue of "spiking crime" in cities. He criticized President Biden, asserting that he "lacks vigor" and is influenced by the "woke mob." DeSantis even went as far as labeling the President as a victim of the "woke mind virus." In his speech, DeSantis proclaimed, "We chose facts over fear. Education over indoctrination. Law and order over rioting and disorder." These lines may sound familiar as they were taken from his victory speech delivered in November. Concern about the election During his address, DeSantis made a resolute declaration to his audience, pledging that if he secures the Republican nomination, he will go on to claim the White House. With conviction, he stated, "If you nominate me, you can set your clock to January 20, 2025, at high noon because on the west side of the US Capitol, I will be taking the oath of office as the 47th President of the United States, no excuses. I will get the job done." ALSO READ| How Ron DeSantis' collaboration with Elon Musk strengthens his presidential bid| 5 points While this statement could simply reflect his confidence in winning the general election, it also carries the potential for an allusion to the previous presidential contest. During that time, Donald Trump contested his loss and persistently pursued baseless claims of election fraud. By expressing his determination to "get the job done," DeSantis might be implying a steadfast commitment to not back down, even if he does not secure the electoral college victory. Musk was mainly focusing on Twitter spaces The broadcast during the Presidential campaign announcement was undeniably unusual. The event saw a peculiar mix of topics, where questions about education for DeSantis were intermittently interrupted by Elon Musk discussing the Twitter outage in January. Notably, Republican congressmen like Thomas Massie and operatives like Chris Rufo joined the conversation, posing easy questions to DeSantis and expressing gratitude to Musk for his acquisition of Twitter. Trump who?. Hosting an event with celebrity CEO Musk and a prominent donor like Sacks has its own drawbacks, aside from the potential technical issues. One such downside is the likelihood of encountering less challenging questions. One fundamental and significant inquiry that Republican primary voters might have is, "Why should I vote for DeSantis over Donald Trump?" Surprisingly, this question was not addressed during Thursday night's event, although there was enough time for a dogecoin shoutout, which is a favorite topic of Musk. The name"Trump" only made an appearance in DeSantis's stump speech, where he emphasized that "merit must trump identity politics. " Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday formalizing the procedure for deploying Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko talk to each other during the plenary session of the Eurasian Economic Forum in Moscow, Russia.(AP) The move formalized the deal agreed on earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Putin previously announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. The inking of the deal comes as Russia braces for Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive. Both Russian and Belarusian officials framed the step as driven by hostility from the West. Deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said in Minsk during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere, Shoigu added. Belaruss Ministry of Defense said the agreement refers to a special storage facility on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. No detail was announced regarding when the weapons would be deployed in Belarus, but Putin previously said that the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would be completed by July 1. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the move. We must do everything to prevent Putins plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will ensure Russias control over Belarus for years to come, Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. This will further jeopardize the security of Ukraine and all of Europe. Independent Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said about two-thirds of Russias arsenal of medium-range nuclear-tipped missiles were held in Belarus during the Cold War, adding that there are dozens of Soviet-era storage facilities that could still be used to store such weapons. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia in a U.S.-brokered deal after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Documents in Minsk on the return of nuclear weapons were defiantly signed just at the moment when Ukraine declared a counteroffensive and Western countries are handing over weapons to Kyiv, Alesin told the AP. This Belarusian nuclear balcony should spoil the mood for politicians in the West, since nuclear missiles are capable of covering Ukraine, all of Poland, the Baltic states and parts of Germany. Khrenin also announced plans to build up the combat potential of the regional grouping of Russia and Belarusian troops, including the transfer to Minsk of the Iskander-M missile system, capable of carrying a nuclear charge, and the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading neighboring Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there. A prominent street in downtown Vancouver is likely to be accord the honorary name of Komagata Maru Way to commemorate the incident in 1914 when the Japanese steamship of that name carrying 376 passengers from India was escorted away from city in British Columbia due to discriminatory laws that were then in place in Canada. A historic photograph from 1914 of passengers from India aboard the ship Komagata Maru. (City of Vancouver Archives) Vancouvers Canada Place is a significant two-block section of the city. Vancouvers city council is expected to give it a secondary name of Komagata Maru Way later this month. According to the outlet Vancouver Sun, a report from the council staff said that the location will offer residents and tourists arriving to Vancouver on foot, transit and by ship an opportunity to reflect as they learn more about this historic incident from the secondary name signage. Raj Singh Toor, descendant of one of the passengers on the ship, was pleased that the naming will become reality soon. I gave this request five years ago to the city of Vancouver, he said. The location was important as it was on the waterfront and those walking along the street can see where the ship was detained over 100 years back. Toors grandfather Baba Puran Singh Janetpura was the only student aboard the ship. Similar recognition has been accorded elsewhere as well in recent years. In July 2019, a street in the town of Surrey in the Metro Vancouver region was formally assigned the name of Komagata Maru Way. In June that year, a Komagata Maru Park was inaugurated in the town of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area. Earlier this year, the town of Abbotsford, also in the Metro Vancouver area, decided on a commemorative renaming of a portion of a highway. Toor said the formal signage will be installed there this summer. In 2016, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had formally apologised on behalf of the nation in the House of Commons, for the discriminatory event that led to the turning back of the vessel from Vancouver Harbour. A permanent memorial marking the episode exists in Vancouver. In 1914, The Japanese ship arrived near Vancouver harbour on May 23, and its passengers were mostly Sikhs from India, many seeking to immigrate to Canada, though it was also a political act as some among those returned to India to fight for Independence. However, immigration authorities refused to allow the majority to come ashore, citing the discriminatory Continuous Passage Regulation, a law that mandated that immigrants arrive in Canada directly from the home country. For those from India, that was logistically impossible. The racist legislation was meant to be exclusionary. The passengers had a standoff with the authorities, at times the angry passengers confronted them. Part of the reason for the action against those aboard the ship was that the British empire also considered some of the passengers to be linked to the revolutionary Ghadar movement. On July 23, two months after the arrival of the ship, the resistance was overcome and the ship was escorted away from Vancouver and back to India. On its arrival, British police boarded the vessel and attempted to arrest the leaders of the passengers who they considered to be insurgents. In the resultant riot, 19 passengers were killed and over 200 arrested. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail San Diego - Cloudbeds, the hospitality management platform powering more reservations and happier guests for lodging businesses around the globe, today announced it was selected for the inaugural Travel Tech Titans award in the Late Stage Titan ($50M + funding) category. The award recognizes game-changing startups and scale-ups that are redefining the future of travel and hospitality. Cloudbeds was selected for the award from a pool of 200 nominees across 21 countries, representing more than 12,000 employees and with $6.9 billion in funding. Were incredibly proud of this honor and to be recognized for the impact that our technology has on the industry as a whole. Our mission is to drive revenue and elevate guest experiences through streamlining operations, enabling hospitality businesses to thrive. By reducing time spent on distribution, payments, reservations, reporting, and more, were giving back valuable resources for our customers to reinvest into their guests. Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds Launched in 2023, the Travel Tech Titans award aims to highlight the incredible innovation and impact seen by travel tech startups. The award is hosted by F-Prime Capital and Eight Road Ventures, two investment firms with a deep understanding of how technology can disrupt the status quo in legacy industries to create positive change. In selecting winners for the Travel Tech Titans, the firms assembled a diverse group of 18 judges who voted for five companies each at the early (0-$10M in funding), mid ($10-$50M), and late ($50M+) stages. We have assembled an extraordinary group of judges who bring a diverse set of experiences from across the industry, executives at leading incumbents, successful entrepreneurs who built and exited their own businesses, and investors who are backing the best of the best. With their expertise, this annual list will help shine a light on the great work being done in travel tech and identify the future pillars of this industry. Gaurav Tuli, Partner at F-Prime Capital The Cloudbeds seamlessly combines tools for operations, revenue management, guest experience, and marketing with a marketplace of third-party integrations to help independent hoteliers and hosts grow revenue, streamline operations and enable memorable guest experiences. By offering a variety of mission-critical functions in a single integrated software platform with an open API, Cloudbeds helps properties maximize revenue while minimizing time spent on administrative tasks. The platform is designed to elevate every aspect of a property from the business to the staff, to the guests and equip hospitality leaders with what they need to stay competitive in an evolving market. To learn more about Cloudbeds, please visit the Cloudbeds website. About Cloudbeds Cloudbeds is the platform that powers hospitality, enabling tens of thousands of lodging businesses in more than 150 countries worldwide to grow and thrive. The award-winning Cloudbeds Platform brings together technology solutions to increase revenue, delight guests, and streamline operations into a single unified system, enhanced by a curated marketplace of third-party integrations. Founded in 2012, Cloudbeds was named No. 1 PMS, No. 1 Hotel Management System, and No. 1 Guest Messaging Software by Hotel Tech Report in 2023 and was recognized as a major player in the 2022 IDC Marketscape Report. For more information, visit www.cloudbeds.com. The Travel Tech Titans award recognizes game-changing disruptors in the travel tech industry. Winners are selected by a panel of judges including leading investors, industry executives, and founders who review nominations to select the startups and scale-ups who will form the future pillars of the travel tech industry. The Travel Tech Titans are divided into three stages based on the amount of funding raised: Early (0-$10M in funding), Mid ($10-$50M), and Late ($50M+). Travel Tech Titans is organized by F-Prime Capital and Eight Roads Ventures. Bianca Facey Paris, France and CHICAGO - Ecole Ducasse and Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts (Escoffier) announced today a new academic partnership offered to Escoffier students interested in pursuing their culinary arts degree with immersive study abroad program at Ecole Ducasse campuses in France. The partnership is an academic collaboration between Escoffier, the largest culinary school brand in the U.S., and Ecole Ducasse, Culinary School founded by renowned multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse. As a result of the partnership, qualifying students now have the unprecedented opportunity to expand their education and techniques and learn alongside Ecole Ducasses renowned instructors at the Paris-based campuses state-of-the-art facilities. We welcome Escoffiers next generation of talented students and designed these dedicated pathways to inspire and enhance their educational experiences by learning from our chef instructors, Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, craftsmen, and hospitality experts. Elise Masurel, managing director, Ecole Ducasse Escoffier students who have completed their associate degree or diploma program in culinary arts at Escoffiers Austin or Boulder campuses, including online distance learning programs, are eligible to enter the second year of Ducasses three-year bachelors degree in culinary arts and graduate from the prestigious culinary school in Paris, France. This is a partnership Auguste Escoffier himself would be proud of. This joint effort is an homage to Augustes legacy of chefs supporting one another and always striving to learn and hone techniques. Kirk Bachmann, Escoffiers Boulder campus president and provost The Ecole Ducasse and Escoffier partnership also includes a wide range of eight to nine-week long study-abroad educational programs for qualifying Escoffier students. Led by Ecole Ducasses culinary and pastry chef instructors, the immersive programs are designed to enhance core culinary programs and bring famed chef Alain Ducasses culinary vision and French gastronomy to life for students during their stay in France. For more information about the Ecole Ducasse and Escoffier Study Abroad program, visit https://www.escoffier.edu/french-culinary-school/. About Auguste Escoffier College of Culinary Arts Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S. (based on comparable student population data currently reported in IPEDS). It is the only U.S. accredited institution, available through its Boulder campus, to offer 100 percent online culinary degrees which include culinary classes and real-world industry externships. Ranked in the top 10 culinary schools in the United States by USA Today and number one in the world by Chef's Pencil, the school's professional programs offer the proven combination of a classic and contemporary approach to modern industry skills training as well as sustainability-centered and business-focused curriculum. Escoffier offers Diploma programs for Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Food Entrepreneurship and Plant-Based Culinary Arts as well as Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts and Associate of Occupational Studies Degrees (AOS) in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Restaurant Operations Management, Holistic Nutrition and Wellness and Food Entrepreneurship. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas is nationally accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE). Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is a Great Place to Work-Certified institution, a Newsweek Top Online Learning School and its Boulder (includes online programs) and Austin campuses are designated as Military Friendly Schools. For more information: https://www.escoffier.edu/ About Ecole Ducasse Ecole Ducasse is a network of schools founded in 1999 by multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse, dedicated to the transmission of outstanding French expertise and excellence in culinary and pastry arts. Ecole Ducasse runs three schools in France Paris Studio, Paris Campus and the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Patisserie as well as international schools with Manila Campus in the Philippines, Gurugram Campus in India, and Nai Lert Bangkok Studio in Thailand. All are united by a desire to share a passion for gastronomy with seasoned professionals as well as food enthusiasts, career changers and students. This broad portfolio of programs aims to meet all training needs: from short programs for experts or food enthusiasts to intensive two, four or six-month programs, to three-year undergraduate programs and bachelors degree in culinary and pastry arts. Ecole Ducasse is part of Sommet Education, a worldwide leader in hospitality education. For more information: https://www.ecoleducasse.com/en. Anouck Weiss Chief Communication Officer Sommet Education Sommet Education View source Riverside, CA Crescent Hotels & Resorts, the award-winning operator of over 120 hotels and resorts, announced the addition of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa to its Latitudes: Lifestyles by Crescent portfolio. The iconic AAA Four-Diamond hotel evokes the graceful ambiance experienced by its very first guests in 1876. We understand that our community, our guests, and our employees are the heart of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. It's their affection and dedication to this landmark that have made it more than just a hotel. It's a shared piece of our collective history. With this in mind, we took great care in selecting a partner who respects and cherishes our legacy as much as we do. Crescents proven dedication to maintaining the unique character of their portfolio hotels, combined with their commitment to exceptional service, ensures that the magic of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa will not only continue but flourish. Were simply embarking on a new journey, and were confident that it will be just as extraordinary as the last. Kelly and Duane Roberts, owners of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. A National Historic Landmark and member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America, The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa represents the perfect balance of bygone grandeur, as evidenced by its magnificent archways and impressive towers, coupled with stylish accommodations and event venues that showcase every service detail and modern amenity todays travelers expect. Our collaboration with owners, Kelly and Duane Roberts, sets the stage for a new era of hospitality at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. We couldnt be more excited to partner with The Roberts to elevate the unmatched elegance of this historic property to a new audience of contemporary travelers. Michael George, President and Founder of Crescent Hotels & Resorts. The propertys distinctive architecture is mirrored in its 238 unique guest rooms including 27 suites. Striking elements such as fireplaces and window seats have been preserved to honor the hotels storied past and seamlessly combined with contemporary amenities including luxurious bedding, high-definition flat-screen televisions, and comfortable workspaces. As The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa embarks on this new journey with Crescent Hotels & Resorts, it continues to extend a warm welcome to all its guests and the community. The promise is not just to meet expectations but to exceed them, preserving the past while embracing the future. Guests are invited to indulge in the propertys luxurious oasis, Kellys Spa at The Mission Inn Hotel. Ranked among the top ten on Conde Nast Travelers Top 50 Hotel Spas in the United States, Kellys Spa is inspired by Spanish architecture and the serene ambiance of an ancient Tuscan wellness retreat and features a high-quality, paraben- and cruelty-free in-house skincare line developed by founder, Kelly Roberts. Dining at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is an equally inimitable experience with six award-winning restaurants to select from, each with its own unique ambiance and style. The Mission Inn Restaurant is recognized as one of the "Top 100 Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in America" by OpenTable Diner's Choice Award and offers indoor and al fresco dining options on the spectacular Spanish Patio. Duanes Prime Steaks & Seafood is a proud recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award since 1996, the Golden Baccus Award, and the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence offering an expansive selection of the worlds best wines. The California Lounge is the newest dining option at the property, offering craft cocktails, and expertly curated beer and wine selections to complement shareable plates. Las Campanas Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Bar is known for authentic Mexican cuisine, as well as their signature Tequila Bar with over 100 fine tequilas. Bella Trattoria Italian Restaurant provides an elegant European cafe setting with delicious pasta, Napoli-style pizza, and other Italian delicacies. Paying tribute to the 10 U.S. Presidents who have visited The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, The Presidential Lounge reflects the prominence of these esteemed guests with exquisite and lavish architecture. The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa has hosted not only Presidents but also European royalty, media celebrities, and illustrious corporate magnates. Today, the hotels 20,000 square feet of flexible event space can accommodate memorable weddings, executive meetings, and company-wide conventions. To learn more about The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa or to make a reservation, please visit the hotel website or call 951-784-0300. About Crescent Hotels & Resorts Crescent Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, nationally recognized, operator of hotels and resorts with over 120 properties in the United States & Canada. Crescent is one of the few elite management companies approved to operate upper-upscale and luxury hotels under the brand families of Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt. Crescent also operates a collection of independent and lifestyle properties under the Latitudes Collection umbrella. These properties include PGA National Resort, Horseshoe Bay Resort, and The Opus Westchester, Autograph Collection. Powered by innovative, forward-thinking experts, Latitudes is a modern management platform for lifestyle hotels and resorts where creative concepts connect with modern travelers from urban boutique hotels to oceanside luxury resorts. Crescents clients include premiere REITs, private equity firms and major developers. For more information, please visit www.crescenthotels.com and www.latitudesbycrescent.com or connect with Crescent on LinkedIn. Discovering a new destination inspires creativity and curiosity and is one of lifes greatest privileges; however, it is impossible to ignore the significant environmental impact of the travel industry. The latest IPCC warning on climate change reminds us that drastic action on a global scale is required to avoid irrevocable damage to the world, but it is also true that small, everyday changes can make a difference. And this is the inspiration behind The Hoxtons introduction of The Good Rate; to reward guests who choose to travel more sustainably whilst staying at two or more Hox hotels in Europe or catching the train to one Hox in the US. Whether it's bouncing around for business or embarking on a European city hop, The Hoxton will take 20/20/$20* off the room rate at each location booked as part of a multi-Hox trip navigated by rail, The Hoxton has always been in the business of being a good neighbour, from donating winter beds to the homeless communities through its annual Stay for a Stay campaign to regular volunteering in partner shelters, and this initiative is the natural next step in strengthening its commitment to taking good actions, both locally and globally. In recent years, the European rail industry has undergone a resurgence, supported in part by a growing awareness of the environmental impact of the carbon-heavy travel industry, the rise of the slow travel trend and a pandemic-driven change in consumer habits. The railway renaissance is further supported by wider geopolitical developments including the EUs plans to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030** and Frances recent ban*** on certain short-haul domestic flight routes, specifically selected as the distances they cover can be travelled by rail in two and a half hours or less. In the US, the government has announced plans to invest over $1 billion in transport infrastructure****, of which considerable funds will be dedicated to the improvement of the rail network in states including New York and California. As well as the environmental advantages of train travel, there is a sentimentality and unique sense of adventure that accompanies that hypnotic clickety-clack of the tracks. For those looking for a quick European jaunt, rail is the quickest and most convenient way to journey between many existing and upcoming Hox locations including London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels. Stateside, Hox guests embarking on the epic West Coast route between L.A. and Portland are rewarded with a veritable smorgasbord of natural wonders right outside the carriage window including vast forests, lush valleys, and snow-capped mountain ranges, while the recent resurgence of European sleeper trains brings with it a slice of those golden-hued, vintage slow-travel vibes. The Good Rate is available to anyone staying in two or more Hoxtons and travelling between the hotels by rail, or catching a train to one Hox hotel in the US. Guests simply need to book directly on thehoxton.com and flash the relevant train ticket at check-in to receive 20/$20/20 off the room rate at each hotel. The Good Rate can be used in conjunction with existing Hox room offers and promotions as long as both stays are taken consecutively and booked directly through thehoxton.com. The Good Rate marks the latest step in The Hoxtons ongoing commitment to doing right by its guests, neighbours, people and planet, and forms part of a wider sustainability and social responsibility programme collectively known as The Good Stuff. This is a collection of everything Hox is doing to help make the world a better place, whether its by championing Good Actions such as eliminating single-use plastics or using repurposed materials and upcycled furniture, or being a Good Neighbour to the hotels local communities by providing meaningful, long-term support to neighbourhood projects, charities, and shelters. * In the US, The Good Rate discount applies to any single stay in Williamsburg, Chicago, Portland or Downtown LA where guests can show they travelled to the hotel by train ** European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility & Transport, 14 December 2021 *** The routes included in the ban are between Paris Orly and Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux. Reported by Politico, 2 December 2022 **** White House Statement, 31 January 2023 For further information visit thehoxton.com/thegoodstuff/ About The Hoxton The Hoxton is a series of open house hotels, rooted in culture and community, located in key cities across the UK, Europe and North America. Each hotel is a reflection and extension of its neighbourhood, inspired by the diversity and originality of the streets that surround them. Vibrant, welcoming public spaces and exciting dining concepts mean every Hoxton is as much a destination for the local community as it is for guests. The Hoxton, Shoreditch opened in 2006, followed by Holborn (2014), Amsterdam (2015), and Paris (2017). Global expansion saw the arrival of The Hoxton, Williamsburg (2018), Portland (2018), Chicago (2019) and Downtown LA (2019), Southwark (2019), Rome (2021), Barcelona and Shepherds Bush (2022), Charlottenburg and Brussels (2023). The Hoxton is part of Ennismore, a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Jodie Tice Ennismore Les Roches in Crans-Montana and Spark, its innovation center dedicated to the hospitality industry is abuzz this Thursday with the presentation to investors of the winning startups in the second edition of the Awake Tourism Challenge, an international competition organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations' specialized agency. The event took place in the presence of the UNWTO's Investment Director and was attended by around 100 participants including stakeholders in private equity, international investment funds, consulting firms, Spark's technology partners, as well as several representatives of the Swiss authorities. The pitch day is the culmination of the incubation program with Spark for the winning startups of the Awake Tourism Challenge, as part of a collaboration agreement signed last year between Les Roches and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). This partnership is inseparable from the person of Carlos Diez de la Lastra, CEO Les Roches, who has placed hospitality and tourism training among the educational elite by acquiring a leading position for his academy. Nominated in 2023 as one of the 150 most influential personalities in Spains tourism industry, Carlos Diez de la Lastra said: "I wish all the very best for these youthful entrepreneurs projects. The history of our institution is based on entrepreneurship and innovation. Personal qualities expected of all future leaders, who also require in-depth knowledge and methods that have always been core to our teaching programs. From May 3 to 30, the Les Roches campus is hosting 10 of the 15 winning projects of the young entrepreneurs taking part in the global challenge, chosen among 2,000 applications from more than 120 countries around the world in six thematic categories: Local community involvement; Green and blue economies; Ecological and Sustainable Capital Creation; Tourism Tech for Good; and finally, Womens Empowerment. Among the projects highlighted today are: Noytrall (Portugal) an interface for tracking travelers carbon footprints and related expenses; the NomadHer project (South Korea) an A.I. application for women travelling alone aimed at making individual travel safer and preventing violence; Accessible Qatar (Qatar) a collaborative platform that provides disabled people with all the information needed to travel around the country; and Quantum Temple (USA) a Web 3.0 platform that aims to preserve living cultures through local partnerships by creating NFTs, which in return can offer immersive experiences in the tribes or the sale of native art artworks. An exciting month of May that is all about bringing innovative ideas to life thus transforming a vision into a successful project, summed up Pablo Garcia, Director of Spark in Crans-Montana. The young entrepreneurs learn from experts and receive feedback on their project, and the incubation program mobilizes all of Spark's existing ecosystem, including consulting firm Deloitte for example, as well as the Academic and business experts from Les Roches. Some of the master classes and workshops include topics such as technology, fundraising, marketing development and pricing strategy, legal aspects, financial strategy and performance measurement. For more information https://www.unwto.org/unwto-awake-tourism-challenge on the UNWTO website Spark About Les Roches established a global innovation platform in 2020 to support promising hospitality projects, encompassing pre-incubation and incubation solutions for entrepreneurs who bring innovative ideas to the hospitality and tourism sector. Spark enables learners, graduates and allied companies to design and implement new hospitality solutions in living labs on the Crans-Montana and Marbella campuses. Spark offers consulting, research and project support services with advanced technological and digital resources. Today, Spark has 70 private and public partners, 100 projects carried out in collaboration with regional companies, and 50 start-ups in incubation Spark Innovation Sphere website. Les Roches Les Roches is a Swiss institution focused on creating innovative and entrepreneurial minds of tomorrow. Founded in 1954, Les Roches offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Hospitality and Tourism Management following the Swiss educational model. With campuses in Switzerland and Spain, and a student body of more than 100 different nationalities, the institution offers its students a unique experience based on cultural diversity. Since 2021, Les Roches has also had an academic partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality (ISH) with a partner campus in Gurugram (Delhi NCR). Les Roches is among the world's top four higher education institutions in hospitality management (QS World University Rankings, 2023). Part of Sommet Education, a world leader in hospitality education, Les Roches is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). For more information, visit Les Roches. Anouck Weiss Chief Communication Officer, Sommet Education Les Roches View source Meli Collection Milan Hotel Announced for 2024 Melia Hotels International announced the 2024 opening of a Melia Collection hotel in Milan, becoming the group's fifth hotel in the city. Situated just 400 metres from the Piazza del Duomo, one of Milan's emblematic symbols, on Via Cardinal Federico, and inspired by the style, elegance and unmistakable creativity of the city, this hotel will make the ideal base for discovering this vibrant and cosmopolitan metropolis. The Melia Collection is made up of an exclusive selection of hotels influenced and deeply rooted in the destination they are located, that defines the unique personality of each of them. To that end, the brand's latest project will occupy an ancient building in Milan's centre, which will be completely restored with the characteristic elegance and design of this major city. Its 31 apartments will be anything but conventional. A contemporary style with high-end details and finishings, the apartments are divided into three different spaces: the bedroom, bathroom and living room with kitchen. With exquisite interiors of sober lines and superior materials, the project aims to elevate the guest experience to new heights. The hotel will also have a gym, bar, and a la carte restaurant, with a spectacular inner terrace to enjoy the outdoors. The opening of this hotel reinforces the presence of Melia Hotels International in one of the most important cities in Europe and shows its commitment to its growth in Italy. The group has three more hotels in Milan: the charismatic and recently renovated Melia Milano, the laid-back and cosmopolitan INNSiDE Milano Torre Galfa, and the icon of luxury lifestyle ME Milano. This fall, the majestic Palazzo Cordusio, a member of the exclusive Gran Melia family, will be added to the list, located in one of the most well-known Renaissance buildings in the city in Piazza Cordusio. The hotel aims to follow the path of success of the Gran Melia Villa Agrippina in Rome, which marked the start of the company's growth in the luxury segment in Italy ten years ago. The Melia Collection debuted just a year ago in Italy with the exceptional Tenuta di Artimino, part of the former Medici estate, offering a unique experience in the Tuscan countryside. Currently, the brand brings together some of the most special hotels in the company's portfolio, such as the Melia Serengeti Lodge (Tanzania), Hacienda del Conde (Tenerife), Hotel Villa Marquis (Paris, France) and Melia Desert Palm (Dubai, UAE), among others. Analysts Skeptical Over Rumored Choice-Wyndham Deal Excerpt from CoStar A major U.S. newspaper has reported hotel brand franchisor Choice Hotels International wants to buy its competitor Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, but industry analysts have their doubts. The Wall Street Journal article cites unnamed sources familiar with the matter as saying Choice is seeking to buy Wyndham, but it adds the two companies arent in serious talks and it isnt clear whether Wyndham wants to do a deal. It reports that Choice could take its offer directly to Wyndhams shareholders, but its also possible nothing could come from this. In a note to investors, Michael Bellisario, director of equity research and senior analyst at Baird, said its still early days but Wyndham was just put in play, so other interested financial or strategic parties could reveal themselves. He noted that while there are strategic merits to a merger, namely Choice gaining scale as well as a large development pipeline and a platform with positive net unit growth, the math doesnt point to earnings per share accretion even with Wyndham shares underperforming peers. For Choice, leveraging the balance sheet and taking advantage of the valuation spread would appear to be a logical move, he wrote. However, our merger math suggests little to no EPS accretion. The deal would require too much cash consideration and incremental debt issuance to achieve the necessary EPS accretion, Bellisario said. Net leverage would then approach 4.5 times. In an all-stock deal, too many [Choice] shares would need to be issued for EPS accretion to occur, he wrote. In his note to investors, C. Patrick Scholes, managing director of lodging and leisure equity research at Truist, said while a deal is possible, he doesnt think theres a high likelihood that Choice will acquire Wyndham. "We find it odd that WSJ came out with the original piece and then a follow-up of the companies not in serious discussions, which almost sounded like they were walking back their original article," he wrote. Click here to read complete article at CoStar. What mistakes can we avoid when researching the future of travel? In my first piece on Traveler Tribes 2033 we explored some of the thinking behind the structure of the project, examining what we were working to achieve and how we did so. Today, I would like to look at some of the decisions we took to ensure accuracy, to create the best possible understanding of what travel might look like in ten years time. Traveler Tribes 2033 was a complex, global endeavor. Travel itself is complicated as it contains so many elements from inspiration, through the journey and into the destination. Further complication is then added as travelers themselves are complex, and looking into the future adds additional challenges. With this in mind, below are some of the key steps we took in search of accuracy. Moment in time Firstly, we were deliberate in the selection of 2033 rather than 2030. We know that if we are specific about a timeframe, being as precise as possible, it is easier for participants to imagine what the world of tomorrow will be like. If we asked about 2030, this might be considered too close to the present day, and people can find it hard to expand their horizons and differentiate. Asking about 2030 would also have risked people imagining the whole decade, the 2030s. At the same time, 2040 is too distant, and we risk having conversations around space travel and other distant ambitions. The Institute for the Future is explicit in saying we must be as precise as possible when we examine the future and that looking ten years into the future is the most appropriate timeframe to use. From the data Launching the project, we were unsure how many Traveler Tribes may be discovered less than three and we might miss some of the nuances of each, while with more than seven or eight, we might struggle to make them truly distinct. Looking at the data from various perspectives and different numbers of potential Traveler Tribes, if a Traveler Tribes profile emerged frequently, this was the sign the Traveler Tribe had the potential to be concrete it was real. With Traveler Tribes 2033, the four Traveler Tribes emerged from the data with real strength and consistency. With Memory Makers and Pioneering Pathfinders there was clarity from the start which is understandable, one is perhaps more progressive and one a little more conversative in their views of technology. The two remaining Traveler Tribes Travel Tech-fluencers and Excited Experientialists - sit somewhere in between. Reality check One of the most important elements was the work with experts people in a position to interrogate the Traveler Tribes. We worked with a hugely diverse set of people who were able to share expertise in constructive ways. Before surveying travelers to collect the data the Traveler Tribes were based on, we interviewed people who worked in travel-adjacent sectors, including sustainability, mobility and elsewhere to understand their view on how travel and travelers will change. We also spoke to behavioral scientists and psychologists to ask them, based on what they know about human behavior, what the barriers are to the changes other experts predicted? A good example is the role of virtual reality (VR). People tend to be afraid of risk, of losing what they have, and VR can help prevent that. If a traveler is able to see a destination before they make a booking, to see they would enjoy a visit through a VR headset, the chances of loss are reduced. Thus, we see a growing role for VR in the future. The ordering of the expert inputs was so important in the process of Traveler Tribes 2033 with the behavioral scientists really underpinning the human angle on the project, tying it to reality. If we had done things in a different order, we could have ended up with overly ambitious suggestions for change that lacked that grounding. This feedback helped inform the content for the survey responsible for collecting the data on which the Traveler Tribes are based. The breadth of experts we spoke to, and the way we had experts in human behavior evaluate their predictions meant that the data the Traveler Tribes were based on would be based on a broad view of travel and what future behavior was realistic. We called on a diverse array of opinions again to evaluate the Traveler Tribes we created. This was important to make sure the Traveler Tribes were intuitive, not created in an echo chamber and that the story for each Traveler Tribe was compelling and realistic. People are people Finally, people tend to be more skeptical in their belief in change carried out by others. If asked if they are personally willing to pay a higher price for a flight powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the future, for example, they say they are. However, when asked if other people are willing to make the change, they are less confident they will. Is it useful to know this allowing us to further ground the Traveler Tribes 2033 project. The project was quite ambitious, but we worked to tie everything to the reality of human behavior: how people make decisions in general; how human behavior will evolve by 2033; how people respond to surveys, and the pace of change in the industry to date. By applying this understanding coupled to the planning outlined in my first blog we believe we have captured a legitimate portrait of the future, deepening our understanding of how travel might look in 2033. Jack Miles is the Senior Director, Northstar Research Partners. Connect with Jack on LinkedIn. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. remaining of Thank you for using HudsonValley360! On your next view you will be asked to log in or create an account to continue reading. Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires Awards Community Leaders The event was held at Berkshire Hill Country Club. See more photos here. PITTSFIELD, Mass. Community leaders, organizers and residents gathered at Berkshire Hills Country Club on Tuesday morning to recognize people who work with nonprofits to better the community. Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires recognized eight women who have gone above and beyond in their work with nonprofits: Susan Crofut, Leigh Doherty, Florence Afanukoe, Tyeesha R. Keele-Kedroe, Anne Nemetz-Carlson, Julianne Boyd, Shirley Edgerton and Sheila Dargie. There is power in collaboration and you can see this collaboration prevalent in the Berkshires, said Berkshire United Way President and CEO Thomas Bernard. "At Berkshire United Way our mission is to ignite the collective power of individuals and organizations to build a stronger community together and boy is there collective power in this room this morning." A panel of 21 judges from the business and nonprofit worlds combed through 64 nominations. They were solicited in seven categories: Lifetime Achievement, Executive Leadership, Board Leadership, Rock Star, Unsung Hero, Volunteer, and Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership. For the first time, the judges selected two winners for the Lifetime Achievement award: Julianne Boyd of Barrington Stage Company and Anne Nemetz-Carlson of Child Care of the Berkshires. Both of the winners started out working in a basement more than 30 years ago and then went on to grow their nonprofits into thriving impactful organizations. Both of the award recipients retired in this last year, NPC founder Liana Toscanini said. "This award honors an individual who has been a leader and role model and "has made an enduring and profound difference in the community and the lives of those around them," she said. "It was hands down a tie. The judges struggled with that, but we decided, 'hey, we can make our own decisions, we're gonna have two this year.'" Boyd has had a major influence on not only her peers at Barrington Stage but on American theater as a whole by being a pioneer in musicals, the company's Artistic Director Alan Paul said. Actor Alan H. Green agreed with this sentiment noting the effect she has had on him as a person by serenading her with a line of the song "For Good" from the musical "Wicked." Nemetz-Carlson has been working to promote high-quality early education and care for children and vulnerable parents since 1974. Although she was unable to attend to accept the award, she said in the pre-recorded interview with Pittsfield Community Television that she was honored and wished to share it with the staff who worked with her for 39 years because she could not have done it alone. "It's a really nice award. It's nice to be recognized. I know a couple of people that recommended me and I've been up and thanked them and they said, 'you've done so much for my life.' And I really liked the impact I made on families that is so meaningful," she said. She hopes the kindness she shared with the children and families will spread to other people in the community. The Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership Award was presented to Multicultural Bridge member Afanukoe. The award is in honor of the late Stumo of Sheffield, who died in in a plane crash on the way to her new nonprofit job in east Africa. The award recipient receives $250 to donate to the nonprofit of their choice in Stumo's memory. This award is fitting for Afanukoe because she inspires, cares, educates, and makes the world a better place, said Jennifer Connor Shumsky, Greylock Federal Credit Union's assistant vice president for community support and events. The Rock Star was awarded to Keele-Kedroe, a prekindergarten teacher at 18 Degrees Inc. "Everything that you do at 18 Degrees, bringing it back to igniting collective power, is about nurturing that spark in young people and helping them to grow and to thrive," Bernard said. The Executive Leadership Award was given to Doherty, executive director of Literacy Network of South Berkshire. The award honors a "nonprofit staff leader whose strategic vision, passion, perseverance and integrity has led us to a strong record of extraordinary organizational results," Salisbury Bank Vice President Andrea McArthur said. "I just feel like everything we're doing is serving a purpose. I love the community as well. I've really learned the most about the Berkshires through my role as executive director," Doherty said. "Just learning about other organizations and what they're doing. So the creativity and the purpose I would say are my two favorite things." Crofut was presented the Board Leadership Award for her work on the board for Sandisfield Arts Center and Unsung Hero to Dargie, director of the Berkshire Area Health Education Center. Dargie is celebrating her 25th anniversary at AHEC later this year and was described as being the glue that holds it together,said Jennifer Vrabel, director of communications and development at Berkshire Health System. Volunteer award was given to Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) founder Shirley Edgerton who has done a "tremendous work in supporting and uplifting young people, especially young women of color," Berkshire Bank Foundation Director Lori Gazzillo Kiely said. State Sen. Paul Mark was scheduled to speak but was unable to attend. State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier presented Boyd with her award and state Rep. John Barrett III said those in the room genuinely care about people and helping them. "When I come before so many not-for-profits, and I think my colleagues in the Legislature feel the same way, we're in awe of it for many reasons because you're in this business to help people who need help all the time," he said. Williamstown Police Looking into Weekend Break-Ins WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Police are looking into a spate of crimes that were reported last weekend. On Sunday, May 21, at about 10 a.m., police received a report of a break-in at Crisp Catering at 96 Water St., police files show. The caller reported that two males and one female broke into the business and stole "cases of alcohol," according to the police call log. The log indicates that there was video footage of the break-in. Video of what appeared to be surveillance footage was posted in a local Facebook group over the weekend with a request for help in identifying the people seen entering a local business and stealing a large quantity of wine. That post and footage subsequently was taken down by the poster. Police Chief Michael Ziemba on Thursday indicated the Water Street break-in is an open investigation. One day earlier, police received three different calls from people reporting break-ins on Hoxsey Street. The logs show calls at 9:30 a.m., 11:25 a.m. and 3:18 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. The first reported that their vehicle door was unlocked and a shed door opened with nothing reported missing, the log reads. The second, at 11:25 a.m., reported "vehicles being gone through." One of the vehicles had a laptop computer that was removed from the vehicle and placed on the roof, according to the log. The same caller reported a pickup truck was found with its tailgate down but all contents remaining. At 3:18 Saturday afternoon, a third caller told police that their, "unlocked vehicle was broken into last night and was gone through, the doors left open," according to the call log. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Roger Waters was seen dressing in an outfit resembling that of a Nazi SS officer during recent live performances in Germany. The former Pink Floyd musician, 79, also projected the name of Anne Frank on a giant screen during the shows, along with several other names of contemporary figures including George Floyd and Shireen Abu Akleh. Frank was a Jewish teenager killed during the Holocaust, whose personal diary, written while living in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, went on to become one of the best-known accounts of the Holocaust. Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minnesota in May 2020. His death prompted a wave of global anti-racism protests, and led to the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement. Abu Akleh, a correspondant for Al Jazeera, was shot and killed last year while covering a raid by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on a Palestinian refugee camp. After initially blaming her killing on Palestinian shooters, Israel then said it was possible the bullet had come from an Israeli gunman. A number of separate investigations, including by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the UN, concuded that Abu Akleh had been killed by Israeli forces. Some reports, including those by the Palestinian Authority and CNN, concluded that her killing had been targeted and deliberate. Israel has denied this. Waters decision to associate the name of Anne Frank with that of Abu Akleh has proved contentious, with some deeming the comparison antisemitic. The musicians show opened with a statement that read: On a matter of public interest: a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite. Just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly. The Independent has contacted a representative of Waters for comment. Earlier this year, some Jewish groups called for the cancellation of Waters German shows. Frankfurt city council called off a planned date for the artist, claiming that he is considered one of the most far-reaching antisemites in the world. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Waters has previously compared the Israeli governments oppression of the Palestinian people with the actions of the Nazis under the rule of Adolf Hitler. Speaking to Berliner Zeitung newspaper, Waters addressed the allegations of antisemitism. He characterised the criticism against him as being part of an outrageous and despicable smear campaign to denounce me as an antisemite, which I am not, never have been and never will be. Waters performing onstage in Amsterdam on 6 April 2023 (ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Waters claimed that the backlash arose because I lend my voice to the 75-year-old fight for equal human rights for all my brothers and sisters in Palestine/Israel, alleging that the Israeli state is comitting genocide. Earlier this year, Waters became embroiled in a row with his former bandmate, David Gilmour, and Gilmours wife, the writer Polly Samson, who accused Waters of being being antisemitic to your rotten core, in an online row over Israel and the Ukraine war. In the extraordinary attack on Twitter in February, Samson also claimed her husbands former bandmate was a Putin apologist, saying: Enough of your nonsense. Waters responded on his official account saying he was aware of the incendiary and wildly inaccurate comments made about him on Twitter by Polly Samson which he refutes entirely, adding: He is currently taking advice as to his position. The row between Waters and Samson came as Waters sought to attack the Israel lobby for trying to silence him amid controversy ahead of his concerts in Germany. A number of local politicians and religious leaders called for them to be cancelled over his past comments on Israel, following a backlash in Poland regarding his stance on Ukraine. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} North Koreas state media has lashed out at the US, Japan, and South Korea after they announced plans to share real-time data on Pyongyangs missile launches. The information sharing pact was described as sinister measures after the leaders of the three countries met at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, over the weekend and agreed to deepen trilateral cooperation on security. In a commentary published in KCNA under the name of Kang Jin Song, an international affairs analyst said the pact is a result of US efforts to incite confrontation and boost its military edge in the region by cooking up the Asian-version Nato. This is heightening the vigilance of regional countries including the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] to the maximum, it said, using the initials of the countrys official name. The commentary also criticised other US-led military alliances, including the AUKUS pact with Britain and Australia, the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance and the Quad group of nations, which also includes India, Australia and Japan, as exclusionary and confrontational. The pact between the three countries was first announced at a trilateral summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last November. It was then described as an effort to improve each of the members ability to detect and assess the threat posed by incoming missiles, a major step for deterrence, peace and stability. The discussions in Hiroshima this weekend included new coordination in the face of North Koreas increasing nuclear and missile threats along with economic security, and on their respective Indo-Pacific Strategies, the White House said. It came as North Korea undertook a record number of missile and weapons tests in recent months. Meanwhile, a report by 38 North a Washington-based thinktank said on Thursday that construction at North Koreas satellite launching station hit a new level of urgency. Citing satellite imagery from Monday the report said progress on a new launch pad in a coastal area east of North Koreas Sohae Satellite Launching Station is moving forward at a remarkable pace. While the key components of the Sohae complex have been undergoing modernisation and expansion over the past year, this uptick in activity suggests a new level of urgency in making the site ready to accommodate satellite launches, the report said. The new launch pad appears to feature a rail-mounted assembly structure, a possible mechanism for lifting a rocket into place, lighting towers and a tunnel for funnelling flames away, it said. If the launch pad is meant to service liquid-fuelled rockets, additional infrastructure will most likely be needed, the report added. At the main launchpad, images showed crews appear to have completed modifications to the gantry tower, while work continues on a storage for fuel and oxidizer. A new area for VIPs to observe launches also appears largely completed, the think tank said. Last month, 38 North said satellite images from 3 March and 17 March at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center indicated that an Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR) was nearing completion and transition to operational status. Additional reporting by agencies BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin on Wednesday in Beijing. Xi asked Mishustin to convey his sincere greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi said that during his successful state visit to Russia in March, he and Putin drew a blueprint for the future development of China-Russia relations and cooperation in various fields. It is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times to consolidate and develop China-Russia relations, Xi said. He expressed his hope that both sides will continue to take advantage of the great potential, broad prospects and strong impetus of China-Russia ties to advance cooperation in various fields and enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. China and Russia should continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and strengthen coordination on multilateral arenas such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20, Xi stressed. The two sides should further tap the potential to raise the levels of economic, trade and investment cooperation, improve bilateral cooperation institutions and mechanisms, consolidate and expand energy and connectivity cooperation, and create more new growth points, Xi said, adding the people-to-people and cultural exchanges should be expanded. China is willing to work with Russia and Eurasian Economic Union members to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union to facilitate the formation of a more open, large regional market, ensure the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains, and bring tangible benefits to countries in the region. Mishustin, who is on an official visit to China, extended Putin's sincere greetings and best wishes to Xi. He said Xi's historic state visit to Russia in March was a great success, which has inaugurated a new era for the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. Russia is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and make full use of the regular premier-level meetings and relevant mechanisms to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, Mishustin said. He said that Russia is willing to work with China to promote the multipolarization of the world and consolidate the international order based on international law. Russia looks forward to further strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China so that their friendship will be passed on from generation to generation. Despite living all his life in a remote backwater of Indias Sundarbans, 52-year-old Mihir Sardars only experience of tiger attacks was through stories circulated among his fellow villagers. After decades of fishing in the worlds largest mangrove forest without a single close encounter, he thought little of the dangers involved until a chilly December morning in 2021. That day Sardar went fishing with his friend Babloo, taking his boat out at dawn and laying nets across a quiet stretch of brackish water. With the bulk of the work done by 8am, the pair planned to stay through the day and overnight before returning home with a full net around the same time the next morning. It was late evening. I was tired, I slept in the boat, he recalls in an interview with The Independent at his home, no more than 25 miles from where they anchored their boat that night. There were two doors on that boat. In front and at the back. So, while I had locked the front door, I forgot to lock the back door. It was an oversight that almost cost him his life, he explains. Thats where the tiger came from and attacked me. Mihir Sardar, 52, survived a tiger attack in the Sundarbans (Namita Singh/ The Independent) Straddling the border between India and Bangladesh, the Sundarbans are home to the largest population of Bengal tigers anywhere in the world. There are around 100 on the Indian side of the national park, about 1,330 square kilometres of dense forest where the River Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal. Tiger attacks are rare across the whole of India but particularly so in the villages bordering the Sundarbans. The big cats generally prefer to stay inside their semi-aquatic territories rather than venturing into populated areas, says Dr Yadvendradev Jhala, a wildlife conservationist and dean of the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India. Once humans enter their protected habitat, however, its a different matter. Tigers hunt by hearing here [in the Sundarbans] and anything that moves or makes a sound is on the menu, Jhala says. Sundarban tigers do not have the inherent fear of humans [that others do] as they may never have experienced humans as hunters in this habitat. Sardar admits to entering the protected area of the forest for what turned out to be his last fishing expedition, a mistake which turned into a 20-minute nightmare and left scars he will carry for the rest of his life. The tiger caught me by my left leg and dragged me into the jungle, he recalls. It was my friend Babloo who fought the tiger to save my life. While I held the tiger with his two front claws as it attacked me, Babloo managed to sit on the tigers back and tried to hold him by his head, trying to prevent it from eating me. Then he fell to the ground. Local produce, including fruits, vegetables and honey being sold at market in Sundarbans Wild Animal Park, Jharkhali (Namita Singh/ The Independent) Sardar explains that tigers typically only target one person that they have identified as prey during an attack, ignoring others in the process. So, as Babloo tackled the tiger, I tried to slowly crawl back in the boat. Babloo threw mud in the tigers eyes. The tiger finally fled, and Sardar escaped by a whisker what would have been a deadly bite to the head from the cats jaws. But his injuries were still so severe that his life hung by a thread: the attack cost him a leg, an ear, an eye and part of the left side of his skull. His friend Babloo saved his life a second time over, Sardar explains, by using mud to cover his wounds in a bid to stop the bleeding. If I had lost more blood, I could have died there, he says. Because the attack occurred at night, the two had to wait on the boat until first light to make their way out of the forest and to the hospital. For the next two months, doctors there were unable to say with confidence whether Sardar would survive. Though I am back home now, there is a lot of pain, Sardar says, nearly a year and a half after the attack. A side of my skull looks flattened. But if you look at the CT scan, you will understand the scale of skull damage I have survived. Since the attack none of his family members have stepped foot in the forest. My son has taken a loan to buy an auto (rickshaw), so we are no longer dependent on the forest as our source of income, he says. Now that I have survived the tiger attack, I cannot let another member of my family go through the same. Boats at Sundarbans Wild Animal Park, Jharkhali (Namita Singh/Independent) There are more than 4.5 million people like Sardar living in traditional communities on Indias side of the Sundarbans, spread across its 54 inhabited islands. These people are reliant on the forests resources for their daily needs and livelihoods, explains Dr Medha Nayak, a researcher at the Wildlife Trust of India, a conservation charity. Here, they hunt for crabs, prawns and other crustaceans, catch fish and collect honey and firewood. Some resources are collected sustainably, but pressures on others have increased far beyond the supply available in the villages and border areas around the tiger reserve. Over time the market demand for some specific items like prawns and honey has grown manifold, says Dr Nayak. The market is not limited [to India] but extends beyond, to the international market. The protected reserve doesnt just provide a home to tigers it is hugely biodiverse, supporting about 110 species of mollusc, 64 different kinds of crab and 165 species of fish, says Dr SP Yadav, a senior official at the federal National Tiger Conservation Authority. Other than tigers, fishing cat and leopard cat are also found here. Spotted deer, wild pig, and Rhesus macaque form the major prey species of the tiger. So conflict with wildlife in the human-dominated landscape cannot be ruled out, he says. The good part of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR) is that its core area is completely inviolate, meaning the core area is completely free from human habitations, as envisaged in the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Soft toys sold at the market in Sundarbans Wild Animal Park, Jharkhali (Namita Singh/ The Independent) The problem in STR is the illegal entry and illegal fishing by the locals, despite knowing the imminent danger of conflicts, he says. While Sardar survived his run-in with a tiger, there are others in his district of South 24 Parganas who were not so lucky. Among them is Binoy Sarkar, who was attacked in 2018 and whose remains were never found. He was cooking on the boat, recalls his widow Geeta Sarkar. Two more people had gone along with him. They were fishing. The tiger attacked [Binoy] near the neck and took him away. Sarkar says she and her husband were always dependent on the forest for food and whatever money could be made by selling Binoys catch. I have six children. If he does not go to the jungle for fishing, how will we eat? she asks. There is no [other] means of livelihood. She says her husband and the others on his boat had paid for a pass to legally hunt and fish on the periphery of the tiger reserve, and that the family should therefore be owed government compensation for his death by tiger attack Rs 300,000 (about 3,000), considerably more than the average yearly salary in India, and a potentially life-changing sum for Sarkar and her family. But five years on from her husbands death, Sarkar has received nothing. She says she saved up to travel to the government offices in Alipore, south of the state capital Kolkata, to first make a claim. But there they told me to get his post-mortem report. I did not know at the time. So, I went back to the village. I returned to [Alipore] after I had enough savings to travel again. When I visited the office with the report, they told me that his case had slipped to the bottom of files. We will let you know if we reopen it again, they said. Geeta Sarkar, who lost her husband to tiger attack, claims she did not receive compensation of Rs300,000 due to bureaucratic hurdles (Namita Singh/The Independent) Unlike Sarkar, Aparna Siyali had no awareness of her potential entitlements when her husband was killed in a tiger attack in 2016. I did not apply for compensation because I did not know at the time [that it existed], she says. About nine months ago, she finally started receiving a basic state widows pension, but for many years after her husbands death she struggled as the only breadwinner in the family, earning a fraction of what he had. When he was alive, we could earn up to Rs 8,000-10,000 (about 80-100) a month, she says. But after he passed away the [family] income went down significantly. This was exacerbated by a severe gender pay discrepancy for the same work, while a man receives Rs 300, I receive only Rs 150, she says. Dr Yadav says guidelines across India state that following any death by tiger attack that is proven in postmortem reports, the victims next of kin are entitled to around Rs 500,000 in compensation, adding that the rates differ from state to state. But cases become more complicated when it is suspected that the victim had entered a protected area without permission. Most of the human-tiger conflicts in tiger reserves take place because of chance encounters when people illegally enter into the reserve, he says. In particular the encumbered tigresses (those who are pregnant or with young cubs) are extremely protective and when they see an intrusion they attack human beings. Aparna Siyali lost her husband to tiger attack in 2016 (Namita Singh/ The Independent) It is difficult for those venturing into the forest without permission to receive compensation, admits a senior Sundarbans forest official, speaking on condition of anonymity. But he defended the compensation system and said it was a smooth process in the case of victims who entered the forest with appropriate boat licences. When we get the report of an accident, we conduct a spot inquiry, then we make a report and send it to higher-ups, he says. The kin always receives compensation on time. The entire process takes 20 days to a month at maximum. He says that the biggest challenge is spreading awareness among villagers of the rules, as well as precautions to take. Attacks dont take place when they fish in their boats, the problem arises only when they step out, he claims, despite the contradictory experiences relayed to The Independent by survivors and relatives of those killed. Locals say the official boat licences are prohibitively expensive, and that sometimes they have no choice but to hunt and forage in the forest to survive. This becomes the case for many more people in the aftermath of a cyclone and studies have shown that the region is likely to be exposed to more powerful extreme weather events more often as the climate warms. After the cyclone hits, most of our crop produce gets wasted, the land remains saline for months if not years, and the fisheries and poultry farms get damaged, says Aarti Mondol, a 60-year-old woman who lost her husband to a tiger attack about a decade back after Cyclone Aila struck the region. My husband had just entered the forest for fishing, she says. The tiger swam through the river and attacked him. Aarti Mondol, 60, lost her husband after Aila cyclone (Namita Singh/The Independent) She stopped allowing her son to venture anywhere near the forest after her husbands death, but finding a safer alternative for him to make a living wasnt easy. My son drives this car that we bought on loan, and takes it to other states [as a taxi driver], she explains. He earns only Rs 4,000-5,000 (40-50) a month not enough for the family to be comfortable, she says, but better than losing another family member to a tiger. A local NGO named Goranbose Gram Bikash Kendra (GGBK) claims that alongside cyclones, other external factors can lead to sudden changes in the dynamic between humans and tigers in the Sundarbans. One that they cite is the Covid-19 pandemic. The first Covid wave in India was characterised by a dramatic migration of workers out of locked-down cities back to their home villages, using whatever means of transport they could find. Nihar Ranjan Raptan, the founder-secretary of GGBK, says this influx of people to the rural Sundarbans increased the pressures on forest resources and, in the process, the risk of tiger attacks. Due to the pandemic, they lost their jobs and there was reverse migration and they were not able to go outside the state. So they had no work in the local area, he says. Figures compiled by GGBK and first reported by The Hindu last October show that while 30 tiger attacks took place in 2019, this went up sharply to 78 in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, and stood at 60 in 2021. A shop at a market in Jharkhali (Namita Singh/The Independent) Human-tiger conflict incidents do shoot up at times, says Dr Anamitra Anurag Danda, a senior visiting fellow with Observer Research Foundation. This may be attributed to higher dependence of the local population on forest resources in times of crises such as Cyclone Amphan coinciding with Covid-19 lockdown. Cyclones can also cause damage to the nylon net fences which have otherwise proven effective at discouraging tigers from entering areas of human habitation, he says. This could also be a reason for spurts in human-wildlife conflict following high-intensity weather events. But he adds that such spikes do not necessarily mean tiger attacks are on the rise, saying that in general, there is no growth in human-wildlife conflict. And Dr Yadav says claims of a link between Indias mass Covid migration and increased conflict with tigers is not supported by the governments own statistics. The data from the last four years show no specific trend in human-tiger conflict in and around STR, he says. Tourists boarding for ecotourism at Sundarbans Wild Animal Park, Jharkhali, South 24 Parganas (Namita Singh/The Independent) There is consensus, however, over the efforts needed to reduce the dependence of the locals on the forest in a bid to reduce human-animal encounters. Schemes [like] Ujjawala providing cooking gas to the poor people is helping a lot to reduce their dependency on wood from forest areas for fuel, says Dr Yadav, while conservationist Dr Jhala says that the Tiger Task Force has recommended sharing 30 per cent of revenues generated from gate receipts and from ecotourism activities with the buffer zone communities. The government (park management) needs to provide economic benefits by sharing profits obtained by the Tiger Reserve with the buffer zone communities, says Dr Jhala. If these are not sufficient the Central and State governments need to provide funds to subsidise the livelihood opportunities lost due to creation of the core area of the Tiger Reserve, he says adding the citizens of India and the world need to bear this cost of conservation, not the poor local communities. Additional reporting by Alisha Rahaman Sarkar For the first part in our series on 50 Years of Project Tiger, read here about how a decorative shrub introduced by the British to India is now threatening tiger habitats. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} China has resumed operating direct commercial flights with Afghanistan after a hiatus of about three years in a sign of growing diplomatic ties between Kabul and Beijing, officials said. The Taliban regime will have a direct flight operating from its Kabul airport one of four international airports in the country to Urumqi in China every Wednesday, Imamuddin Ahmadi, the spokesperson for the Talibans ministry of transport and civil aviation told The Independent over a phone call. This will add to the list of the existing 20 or 30 flights leaving Afghanistan daily, increasing the revenues of the countrys aviation sector. Afghanistan will be using its flagship carrier Ariana Afghan airlines for the direct flight to China. There will be passenger flights as well, the ministry said. This is the first time China has resumed direct flights to the Taliban-ruled country since the end of 2019. It has joined Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India, all of which had gradually resumed some direct flights after the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Current daily flights from Afghanistan are mostly to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Turkey, Mr Ahmadi said. After the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani regime in 2021, the countrys international airports were damaged and left barely functional. But now, almost two years after it took power, the Taliban has four functional international airports Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif the spokesperson said. The hardline Islamist regime is yet to get any direct or connecting flights to the US and Europe. The resumption of direct international flights will help Afghanistans economy and prove to be beneficial for political and commercial relations between Afghanistan and China, said Ghulam Jailani Wafa, the Talibans deputy minister of transport and civil aviation minister. It has a direct impact on the economy of the country, economic and political relations, and between the Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] and China as well as on trade and the public, the minister said at a ceremony held to announce the resumption of operations. Mr Ahmadi added that the development will be a boost for the nation. This has several benefits for Afghanistan. Our economy will grow, there are several passengers who will be able to bring goods from China, aiding the trade relations the countries have, Mr Ahmadi said. Businessmen from Afghanistan can now directly fly to China instead of having to take connecting flights, he said. The ministry is keeping the door open for other airlines to resume direct flights to China and other nations if, with time, they can find more passengers to travel to international destinations. We are supporting this facility of flight travel out of Afghanistan, he said. An official from the Chinese embassy said the resumption of flights will promote the economic and trade collaboration between the nations, reported TOLO news. This comes as China and Afghanistan have increasingly become closer. The countries have signed financial investments and projects this year in a bid to help the shunned regime build back the countrys economy. Earlier this month, the caretaker regimes ministry of industry and commerce said China signed investment contracts worth around $2bn in various areas like extraction of mines, services at airports and industrial parks. China, along with Pakistan, also backed calls for bridging gaps in humanitarian funding for Afghanistan, stating the financial aid should be not linked with political considerations. Officials monitoring Talibans moves to fund its economy have warned that aid to Afghanistan will drop sharply this year as donor countries seek to challenge curbs on female aid workers imposed by the Taliban administration and try to cope with an increase in crises around the world. The ministers underlined that humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan must remain delinked from any political considerations, the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and the Taliban said in a joint statement earlier this month. China is a traditional friendly neighbour of Afghanistan and believes that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin had said, calling on the Taliban to reform its radical policies against women and girls. The well-being and interests of the Afghan people deserve attention, the peace and reconstruction process of Afghanistan should be encouraged, and its sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, he had said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A noodle vendor in Vietnam who came under the scanner for mocking a senior government minister by parodying celebrity chef Salt Bae, has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail for acting against the state. Bui Tuan Lam, 39, became a viral sensation in 2021 after a video showed him imitating Turkish celebrity chef Nusret Gokce, popularly known as Salt Bae. Gokce became a household name and inspired thousands of Internet memes after a video of him seasoning meat with elan went viral. Tuan Lams video came days after Vietnams minister of public security To Lam was filmed eating a gold-encrusted steak, worth around 1,450, at the Turkish chefs London restaurant. The costly meal by the minister raised eyebrows as the southeast Asian country has a huge population under the poverty line as it is still recovering from decades of war. Vietnam has 4.4 per cent of its people living below the poverty line, according to a 2021 report by the Asian Development Bank. Tuan Lam described himself as Green Onion Bae in a Facebook post and said he made the satirical video clip for fun. He said it was also to advertise his beef noodle shop. More customers have been coming since I posted it, Tuan Lam told Reuters. He said it was not clear whether the police summons were because of his video. Tuan Lam has also publicly advocated for democracy in Vietnam. Human rights groups said the street vendor was known for sharing his opinions on human rights on Youtube and Facebook. According to the BBC, he has been a political activist for nearly a decade. It cost him his job in Ho Chi Minh City. His passport is now confiscated and he has been unable to leave Vietnam since 2014, a BBC report said. The authorities accused him of posting content that affected the confidence of the people in the leadership of the state, according to the report. Rights groups denounced the conviction and pre-trial detention of Tuan Lam as the latest in the governments wide-ranging attempts to silence voices critical of the ruling Vietnamese Communist Party. Tuan Lam was arrested in September last year on charges of anti-state propaganda and has remained in detention since. On Thursday, he was convicted by a court after a one-day trial found him guilty of anti-state propaganda. The Danang Police Department said he was found guilty of "making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, and items against the state". Ahead of his trial, Amnesty International urged the Vietnamese authorities to drop trumped-up charges against Tuan Lam and immediately release him. A screengrab from Amnesty International which used Green Onion Baes original video in a campaign to call for support for the Vietnamese noodle seller. (Amnesty International) The authorities have hounded him for his posts and videos, showing the length that Vietnamese authorities can go to deny people the enjoyment of their right to freedom of expression, no matter how benign, satirical or light-hearted. Satire is not a crime. This travesty of justice must end, it said. This case is emblematic of the beleaguered state of human rights in Vietnam, where even the mildest satirical jab can potentially result in blowback from authorities. The international community should demand that Vietnamese authorities end their relentless assault on peoples basic human rights. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the Vietnamese authorities deem just about anything as propaganda against the state to crack down on activists and dissidents. The Vietnamese government should abolish rights-abusing article 117 of the penal code and stop prosecuting Bui Tuan Lam and others for criticizing the Vietnamese Communist Party, he added. His treatment has sparked criticism of the one-party rule known for its intolerance of dissent. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} UK car makers recorded a 9.9 per cent increase in production in April, with 66,527 new models being built in the month. According to figures revealed today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 82.4 per cent of cars built in the UK in April were destined for export. In total, 54,820 cars manufactured were produced for overseas markets a 14.7 per cent increase on last year. Its the third month in a row that exports saw a double-digit rise. The largest overseas market was the European Union, accounting for 58.4 per cent of exports, followed by the US, China and Australia. The number of cars built in the UK heading to British homes fell by 8.3 per cent however, to 11,707 units. The UK remains a leader when it comes to production of electrified models, with combined volumes of EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids accounting for 37.7 per cent of all vehicles made in April. This was likely driven by strong continued demand for hybrid versions of the Nissan Qashqai and Toyota Corolla, which are built in Sunderland and Derby respectively. While the SMMT said the increase was good news for the UK car industry, it warned that more needed to be done to safeguard the competitiveness of trading relationships. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: UK car production is starting to motor again, and its good news for the sector and the many thousands of jobs and livelihoods it sustains. These figures also show how exports, particularly to Europe, continue to be the foundation of British automotive manufacturing so we must do all we can to safeguard the competitiveness of these trading relationships. Most immediately, this means finding a solution to the rules of origin challenge faced by manufacturers on both sides of the Channel, or else we risk the application of tariffs and therefore unnecessary cost on the very vehicles we are trying to encourage consumers to purchase. The news follows last weeks comments from car manufacturing giant Stellantis owner of firms such as Vauxhall and Citroen that it could close its UK manufacturing operations if the cost of making EVs here becomes uncompetitive. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jonnie Irwin has discussed his ongoing health issues in a typically candid interview, as he continues to deal with terminal cancer. The A Place in the Sun star, 49, has detailed his journey since disclosing his diagnosis to the public last year. Appearing on the new podcast OneChat, he emphasised that he prefers to think of his situation as living with cancer, rather than dying from cancer. Irwin, who has three young children with his wife, Jess, explained how he began to feel alive again after going public with his illness, but noted that didnt mean his journey had been easy. I have been close to deaths door, twice at least, he said. He added: You lose your memory, you lose your patience. I have got a very short temper. Its not made me a better person, thats for sure. He expressed his frustration with the way he had been treated by As soon as you say youve got cancer, people just write you off, people just think you are going to cark it, he said. As an example of this, he told of how he had been dropped from his presenting role on A Place in the Sun after telling showrunners about his illness. Unfortunately, one of the companies claimed they couldnt insure me and so they didnt renew my contract and left a massive hole in my income, he said. Jonnie Irwin with his wife, Jess, on a trip to Paris last year (Instagram/Jonnie Irwin) In a statement issued in November last year, the shows producers Freeform Productions said that they had been unable to secure adequate insurance cover to allow Irwin to film abroad. Jonnie has been a hugely important part of the A Place in the Sun family for over 18 years and all of us were deeply saddened by his diagnosis, a spokesperson said. Much loved by everyone on the production, no stone was left unturned in trying to enable Jonnie to continue his international filming with us during COVID but the production company were unable to secure adequate insurance cover for him. Whilst we were unable to continue to film abroad with him were delighted that he was able to remain as part of our team in the UK for exhibitions. We of course understand how frustrating this must be for him at this incredibly difficult time. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A single mother has revealed her struggle to look after her eight-year-old son after he was diagnosed with a terrifying deadly illness and claims doctors missed the signs. Victoria Stainton, 45, originally from Lincolnshire, rushed her son, Harrison, to hospital after noticing he was struggling to breathe. She says medical professionals believed his symptoms were due to constipation at first, but following a chest X-ray spotted a serious problem his lungs had filled with fluid. The mother was left distraught after aggressive cancer that left Harrison being fed through a tube meant she had to leave her job to become a full-time carer. Even to my untrained eye I could see something was seriously wrong with my son, as you couldnt define his two lungs on the X-ray, the mum told NeedToKnow.co.uk. Within an hour, Harrison was in theatre having a chest drain inserted and two litres of infected fluid were instantly drained off! In total, eight litres of fluid, including blood, were drained off over three weeks. It was then, in November 2022, they received the horrifying diagnosis of T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, fast-growing cancer that showed as a mass in his thorax. There are no words to describe how it feels to hear those words as a diagnosis for your beloved child, said Victoria. I felt broken and scared, how can this be happening to him as he'd always been a good child I was afraid of losing him as he is my whole world. I found it hard to process at the beginning. When I was told, I just broke down... it felt very surreal like it wasn't really happening. It still feels unreal at times as it's such a long treatment plan. But you have to pull up your bootstraps and crack on. (Jam Press/Victoria Stainton) Initially, following Harrisons complaints of constipation, his GP prescribed a laxative, but when that didnt work Victoria became concerned. She said: After a day there was still no improvement and I notice his breathing was shallow and he wasnt able to walk as fast as usual and definitely not as far as usual. I decided to call 111 for advice, and after several calls back and forth I took the decision to take him to our urgent care centre. By this point, he was very tired and weak and unusually fell asleep waiting to be seen. When we got to see the Dr, he referred us to our local hospital, again I mentioned his breathing, but nothing was checked, so off to the local hospital we went and after a 15-minute wait, he was triaged. The triage Nurse was our saviour, she listened to what I said about his breathing, lifted up his top and said This is not normal' He needs a chest X-ray. Harrison was then transferred to King's College London Hospital, before arriving at St Georges two days later. He began treatment immediately, with chemotherapy three times a week, as well as twice-daily blood thinner injections to lessen the chance of blood clots, a chest drain removing eight litres of fluid in total, lumbar punctures and a catheter. Victoria said: So far it's been a combination of three different types of chemotherapy that need to be done on three consecutive days, to begin with, then two the next week. The first six months are very intensive and once through that, it goes into maintenance phases for the remainder of the three years and three months Despite receiving help from her sister, Susannah Matthews, the single mum struggled to fund transport to the hospital, food and heating bills and was forced to leave her job as a learning assistant to care for her son. The immunocompromised Harrison cant travel on public transport, and with parking costing 4 an hour, Victoria now has to rely completely on the generosity of others, with one of Harrisons classmates' Dads setting up a GoFundMe page to help. Harrison is predominantly fed through a nasal-gastric feeding tube, however, when he can eat solid food, Victoria makes sure he is able to eat what he likes, often going without food herself, with chemotherapy affecting his sense of taste. She said: Before Harrison was diagnosed, I was working at his school as a learning assistant, obviously Im no longer able to work whilst caring for him. (Jam Press/Victoria Stainton) To my relief though, they have said when Harrisons better I can return, which is one less thing to worry about for the future. I am also spending money on heating at home, as I cant let him get unnecessarily poorly, so it needs to be on all the time. Normally he's in a blanket, but I need to encourage him to move and not stiffen up he has lost so much muscle already and needs to stay strong to fight his cancer. One thing carrying the pair through treatment is Beads of Courage, a programme backed by Children with Cancer UK where children are given coloured beads for each procedure they undergo. Harrison has now amassed a collection of hundreds of beads, showing off his collection proudly to everyone who visits. She said: At the end of each day, before bed, we sit together and tick off what procedures or treatments hes had that day. He definitely holds his head high when explaining them and showing his act of courage beads and also showing visitors his favourites. Despite his condition, his cancer will not stop Harrison from fighting for others as he has raised 830 for the Childrens Cancer and Leukaemia group's big play dates by selling pin badges and keyrings to his neighbours. She added: Harrison is very grateful to everyone because it means that I can be right beside him through every step of his journey. Harrison's heroes, our amazing neighbours, are on standby if we need to go to the hospital. Im so proud of him, we take it each day at a time. There have been so many bumps along the road so far, but weve made it through and still are because we have the support of some amazing people. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A surgeon has issued a warning of the dangers faced by Brits who fly abroad for cosmetic surgery. Thousands of UK residents fly to places like Turkey and Poland for cosmetic and dental work, which costs less money than the price to get the work completed in the UK. A plastic surgeon has said that people are often misinformed before deciding to undergo the procedure. Dr Ahmed Alsayed, who is lead surgeon and medical director at plastic surgery specialists Signature Clinic told HullLive: Many people fail to do their research and focus too much on money, rather than the quality or safety of the clinic. The surgeon has said that people are usually not made aware of the aftercare they might need after surgery, which could incur more costs back in the UK. Clinics in the UK have to adhere to the strictest levels of expertise, safety and cleanliness. You just cant be sure youll get that from a cheaper option abroad, Alsayed said. The medical professional adds that aftercare is likely not included in the treatment plan, and it can be difficult for patients if something goes wrong and their doctor is in a different country. I would always advise doing as much research as possible into the surgery and the clinic to make sure you are totally confident you are making the right decision, the surgeon said. Dr Alsayed added: Surgery is an incredibly personal decision, so its important to go into the process fully informed, and totally sure that it is what you want to do. The best clinics will provide a comprehensive before and aftercare program that puts the patient at the heart of it. Brits are seeking cosmetic surgery abroad to find cheaper treatments (Getty Images) Last year, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) found that the number of Brits being treated for serious complications following cosmetic surgery abroad rose by 44 per cent. These opportunities for cheaper surgery are often sold as a package holiday with hotel stay, airport transfer and flights included in the price of the overall procedure. Speaking to the Independent earlier this year, BAAPS president Marc Pacifico warned of the effects of selling treatment in this way. Making a decision about surgery is a lifelong decision, Pacifico said. By glamorising the procedure, and making it sound like its a holiday, it takes away the reality of the risks and problems. Also speaking to The Independent, a 25-year-old woman who received faulty cosmetic dental surgery at a clinic in Turkey advised other people to rethink before they go abroad for surgery. Do your research in the UK and think before you go, she said, adding: I wouldnt have got the work done if I had known about the long-term effects and now I have to pay to try and correct that. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The designer behind Targets Pride Month collection has condemned the religious right critics after the items were allegedly removed by Target amid anti-LGBTQ threats. Despite the backlash, orders for his Pride collection has reportedly surged as people show their support for the designer. This week, Target announced in a statement that it would be pulling some Pride merchandise from stores and its website after employees experienced threats over the items. Since introducing this years collection, weve experienced threats impacting our team members sense of safety and well-being while at work, Target said in a statement to USA Today. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the centre of the most significant confrontational behaviour. Although the company did not specify which items it was removing, Reuters reported that the store pulled items from British designer Erik Carnells LGBTQ-focused brand Abprallen. According to the report, the backlash stemmed from Carnells other merchandise, which includes images of Satanic symbols such as pentagrams. As of Wednesday, searches for Abprallen merchandise yielded zero results on Targets website. However, the company was previously selling a $25 sweater that read: Cure transphobia not trans people, a tote bag that read: Too queer for here, and a fanny pack emblazoned with: We belong everywhere. On the Abprallen Instagram account, the designer who is trans and gay condemned the response that led to the decision to remove the items, while clarifying that the merchandise was created for Targets adult section. In the first of a series of posts to the brands Instagram Story, the designer shared two screenshots of the news headlines covering Targets decision. Not like theres real problems in the world. Gotta talk about this instead. Satanic panic and transphobia running riot. Eighties mindset without the cool clothes, Carnell wrote. (Abprallen) (Abprallen) (Abprallen) In another post, the designer said that, despite the hundreds upon hundreds of hate messages, articles and social media posts about him, he has no intention to stop what [hes] doing. Your time is better spent taking care of the homeless in your area, ensuring your neighbours children are fed, making sure theres enough money to pay doctors and teachers, he wrote. The passion you have is admirable, but its misplaced and wasted. Ive been told Im going to hell since I was 11, if I was going to change I would have done it by now Please dont waste your precious time engaging with a stranger on the internet, I have not and will not respond to any of you. Instead, support your local community, take care of your fellow man. Theres so much good you could be doing in this world, dont let your time go to waste. Carnell then addressed the outrage over his Target collection, with the designer sharing a photo of the three items hed created for the companys adult section for Pride. The designer also reflected on his partnership with Target, which he said began with the company informing him that some of his designs, such as Satan Respects Pronouns, would not be a good fit for the store. [Target] was observant enough and had the necessary critical thinking skills to realise that my use of occult imagery is as harmless as any horror movie targeted towards adults, but wanted my collection for adults to be a bit less gothic, he said. Carnell then condemned the religious right, which he claimed has twisted the narrative so much that they have themselves convinced I was, via Target, selling my entire brands collection to children specifically. According to Carnell, this was never the case. I have no desire to sell or market my work to children. They dont have money, for one thing, he wrote. The UK-based designer also said that he has no desire to make any children trans or make any children gay, as he noted that being transgender or gay is not a choice [and] cannot be forced upon anyone. In his posts, Carnell then acknowledged the importance of positive trans role models and visibility for young people, before clarifying that he does not include himself in that category. I am not an activist or a spokesperson or a figurehead. I am an artist and designer, he wrote. (Abprallen) (Abprallen) Carnell also responded to suggestions that he is a Satanist, with the designer clarifying that he is not, nor does he believe in Satan. As for his designs, he said its Camp, its fun, its metal. Its a fairytale, he added. The London-born designer behind the brand then took the opportunity to thank all of those who have shared messages of support amid the controversy, as he noted that he has been inundated with love and well wishes and a record number of sales on his website. I feel so honoured that my community has come out in droves to support me, without me ever having asked, he wrote. As of Thursday (25 May), Carnell said his Etsy store and Abprallen website has been inundated with orders, so much so that he temporarily had to stop taking requests, according to Reuters. Your support during this extremely difficult time means more than I can express, Carnell wrote on the brands Etsy page. In his series of Instagram posts shared yesterday, Carnell also defended Targets staff, who have no say whatsoever in the items Target carries, from the violence, threats, and hatred being directed at them over the companys Pride collection. (Abprallen) The designer concluded the posts by revealing that he does not know whether Target will begin selling the items he created for the companys Pride collection again or if the unjust backlash is not worth the risk of supporting the LGTBQ community. As for what he hopes people take away from the controversy, Carnell said he wants those in the LGBTQ community to focus on the most marginalised members of our community instead of wasting time and energy on Target. In a statement from Abprallen shared with The Independent, Carnell, who described the partnership with Target as the biggest opportunity of his career to date, said he has been incredibly negatively impacted emotionally by the false narrative that his Target merchandise was meant for children. The British company also said that Target has not reached out to Carnell about its decision to pull the merchandise from its Pride collection. According to Abprallen, Carnell was contacted by the companys distributor, who let him know after the fact. On social media, Targets decision to remove items from its annual Pride collection has been met with backlash from customers, with many disappointed in the brand for caving to critics. Pretty disappointed with @Target for caving in and giving those bigots what they want. Removing Pride Merchandise off the floor? Get a grip, one person tweeted, while another said: Target pulling Pride merch and caving to homophobic backlash is honestly disgusting If they wanna profit off Pride, the least they can do is stand their ground on this. In addition to criticism over the brands partnership with Carnell, the company has also faced backlash over a tuck-friendly bathing suit option. According to Reuters, the company is currently reviewing these items, but a decision has not yet been made. Targets annual Pride collection is typically well received, with the company unveiling more than 2,000 products ahead of Pride month this year. The Independent has contacted Target for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Portugal have ended the latest search for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British child who went missing in 2007 in southern Portugal. Authorities gave no details about the results of the search Thursday. A statement by Portugals Judiciary Police said some material had been collected and would be handed over to German authorities for examination. The search around a dam some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Praia da Luz resort, where the three-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago, began Tuesday following a request by German authorities. A German man who is a suspect in the case is currently in jail in Germany for a different case. Portuguese, German and British police took part in the three-day operation during which detectives probed the banks of the Arade reservoir and also used sniffer dogs and a drone. Germany prosecutor Christian Wolters told the Associated Press Thursday authorities would gauge the success of the search after its conclusion, adding that a statement may be issued next week. Portuguese media said this was the fourth police search for McCann, following the initial one in 2007 in the southern Algarve area and further efforts in 2013 and 2014. Another search was held in Germany in 2020. The reservoir is less than half full because of a drought affecting Portugal and neighboring Spain. The search would've been below the water line under normal rainfall. In mid-2020, German officials said that a 45-year-old German citizen, identified by media as Christian Brueckner, who was in the Algarve in 2007, was a suspect in the case. Brueckner has denied any involvement. Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder in the McCann case but hasnt been charged. He spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of Madeleines disappearance. The case of Madeleine McCann stirred worldwide interest for several years, with reports of sightings of her stretching as far away as Australia, along with a slew of books and television documentaries about the case. British, Portuguese and German police are still piecing together what happened on the night when the toddler disappeared from her bed in the southern Portuguese resort on May 3, 2007. She was in the same room as her twin brother and sister, who were two years old at the time, while her parents had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant. Madeleines parents did not comment due to the active investigation, according to an email response from the website set up for the search for the child, findmadeleine.com. ____ Ciaran Giles in Madrid, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Archaeologists have uncovered an underground bunker in northeast China that was purportedly used during the Second World War by Japanese scientists to conduct horrific experiments on human subjects. The site at Anda, China, is reported to have been used by the infamous Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army, which conducted some of the most brutal germ warfare experiments between 1935 and 1945. In these experiments, Japanese scientists dissected live prisoners to determine the effects of pathogens on the human body. The imperial army learnt from these experiments and began to spread typhoid, cholera and plague across China. Some of these human experiments were conducted in underground bunkers in order to contain any potential spread of the pathogens, researchers said. Following the war, key figures who were part of the gruesome programme, including several Japanese scientists, were given immunity from prosecution by the US occupation in exchange for the research findings. For instance, Shiro Ishii, who ran Unit 731, escaped prosecution because he was given immunity by the US. He was allowed to continue undertaking medical research in Japan after the war, and died of natural causes in 1959, aged 67. Several other Japanese military scientists also pursued lucrative careers in the medical field following the war. In 2018, Japan disclosed the names of 3,607 members of Unit 731 in response to a request by Katsuo Nishiyama, a professor at Shiga University of Medical Science. The latest research, whose results were published recently in the journal Northern Cultural Relics, could lead to new evidence about war crimes committed against the Chinese by Japanese military scientists. Researchers including a cohort from the Heilongjiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology used several methods, including drilling and excavation, to uncover the underground facility, which consists of several tunnels and chambers. They found a U-shaped structure at the site, about 33 metres long and more than 20 metres wide, that ran from east to west with a room on each side. Scientists suspect that one circular room discovered at the site, measuring around three metres in diameter, may have been where human subjects were brought for observation after being exposed to pathogens or chemical agents. The latest findings, according to researchers, highlight the legacy of Unit 731s gruesome war crimes and their impact on global efforts to prevent biological warfare, the South China Morning Post reported. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Aukus alliance is looking to rapidly drive advanced artificial intelligence (AI) into military capabilities after a trial saw world firsts achieved with the technology, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The developments made by the trilateral partnership will help uphold the principles of freedom and democracy around the world, the US said. Experimental work was carried out in Upavon in Wiltshire in April which included the live retraining of models in flight, according to the MoD. The trial saw AI retrained to improve performance against known targets and to be able to identify emergent targets, involving vehicles including the UKs Blue Bear Ghost and Challenger 2 tanks. Accelerating technological advances will deliver the operational advantages necessary to defeat current and future threats across the battlespace Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff General Rob Magowan Among the other equipment used were Warrior armoured vehicles, Viking unmanned ground vehicles and a commercially hired FV433 Abbot self-propelled gun and former Eastern Bloc BMP OT-90. Joint machine-learning models were developed and also quickly updated to include new targets, the MoD said. In a press release, the MoD said they achieved world firsts, including the live retraining of models in flight and the interchange of AI models between Aukus nations. The event was attended by senior Aukus leaders including Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff General Rob Magowan. He said: This trial demonstrates the military advantage of Aukus advanced capabilities, as we work in coalition to identify, track and counter potential adversaries from a greater distance and with greater speed. Service personnel, scientists and engineers from our three nations combined to develop and share critical information to enhance commanders decision making. Accelerating technological advances will deliver the operational advantages necessary to defeat current and future threats across the battlespace. We are committed to collaborating with partners to ensure that we achieve this while also promoting the responsible development and deployment of AI. By pooling our expertise and resources through our AUKUS partnerships, we can ensure that our militaries are equipped with the latest and most effective tools to defend our nations and uphold the principles of freedom and democracy around the world Abe Denmark, US US senior adviser to the secretary of defence for Aukus Abe Denmark said: We recognise the immense importance of this collaboration in strengthening our collective national security of our nations. The development and deployment of advanced artificial intelligence technologies have the potential to transform the way we approach defence and security challenges. This capability demonstration is truly a shared effort and is thus a critical step in our collective initiative to stay ahead of emerging threats. By pooling our expertise and resources through our Aukus partnerships, we can ensure that our militaries are equipped with the latest and most effective tools to defend our nations and uphold the principles of freedom and democracy around the world. Australian deputy secretary of strategy, policy and industry Hugh Jeffrey said: I was impressed to see AI models rapidly updated at the tactical edge to incorporate new targets, which were immediately shared among the three partners to deliver decision advantage and meet changing mission requirements. More than 70 military and civilian defence personnel and industry contractors were involved in the exercise, according to the MoD. The Aukus partnership was first announced in 2021 as Australia sought to respond to Chinas actions in the Pacific. Ties between the countries were reinforced as the UK published its updated integrated review of foreign and security policy, which highlights Chinas more aggressive stance. The deal caused a diplomatic rift with France, which had expected to supply diesel-powered submarines to the Canberra government. It has so far involved a pact to deliver a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines, which would be in operation for the Royal Navy by the late 2030s under current plans. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A South London-based charity is using poetry as an outlet to give young people a voice and says writing poems is helping young people, especially men, feel safe discussing their feelings. Poetic Unity, a grassroots charity founded in Brixton, focuses on supporting young people, especially those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, through employment, the cost-of-living crisis, mental health and black British history initiatives and programs. One of the charitys programs, The Poets Corner which started in May 2015 holds bi-weekly open mic events at Brixtons Black Cultural Archives, where young people can perform and improve their poetry skills. The program is a part of the Poetic Relief Project, a partnership between Poetic Unity, Theatre Peckham and Black Cultural Archives. Ryan J Matthews-Robinson, the 35-year-old founder of Poetic Unity, from Brixton, told the PA news agency: We realised that young people, especially young men, when it comes to mental health and deep discussions, they struggle to speak about how they feel in a conversation. When they write their feelings into a poem its almost like they feel safe to do it, its a different feeling. Thats a great example of what we do in terms of using poetry as an outlet for young peoples mental health and how creativity can help them. Because creativity is great anyway because youre expressing yourself, but if you can express yourself discussing difficult topics thats even better. Mr Matthew-Robinson added that at The Poets Corner and other programs, the charity seeks to encourage discussions on racial justice, identity, anti-misogyny and colourism, among other topics. Its allowed us to help build young poets poetry skills and their performances as it is an open mic event where you can try anything you want, he said. Its the basis of what we do as an organisation: create safe spaces, platforming young voices. It gets to a point where they have improved so much, that Ill start putting on events where they are getting paid to perform. Since 2015, the charity has also aimed to normalise the teaching of black British History at their workshops as it has been monumental for Britain. Mr Matthew-Robinson said: At our workshops it is really important that we normalise black British history. When I was in school, I only learned about American black history, [black British history] was just grazed over it wasnt done properly. So, when we teach black British history, its not even about just for black people, we want all young people to learn about this. There are over 18s who come here, who have already finished school and still havent learnt about the stuff we are teaching them. Black history has been monumental to this country. The charity has also created a six-month youth employment scheme called The Cultural Leaders, where six young people are paid to create workshops and events, to ultimately benefit their future employment endeavours. The 35-year-old, who has Jamaican and Irish heritage, says he is living in his purpose by reaching and helping thousands of young people every year. I cant ask for more than that, he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fermanagh showed off its strong community ties as the King and Queen completed their two-day visit to Northern Ireland at Enniskillen Castle on Thursday. Charles and Camilla spent around an hour at the 16th century site meeting schoolchildren and community groups. A choir performed Rather Be by Clean Bandit as the couple entered the historic courtyard. Learning about the Kindness Postbox, which helps people who are isolated, Camilla nodded, saying thats so important. She went on to meet schoolchildren who were learning about how youngsters were evacuated from Belfast during the Second World War to Fermanagh, commenting: Youre learning a lot, but its fun isnt it? Charles and Camilla went on to meet a long table of people who had taken part in the Big Lunch initiative which brought neighbours and communities together as part of the celebrations over the coronation weekend. Charles met a number of military veterans, including George Stephens, 96, who was in the Inniskilling Fusiliers and a former curator of the castle museum. The couple enjoyed a display of dancing put on by Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers reflecting Northern Irelands two main traditions, before being presented with a specially made Belleek Pottery coronation basket by Fermanagh and Omagh council vice chairman Allan Rainey. Moving outside the castle walls to the banks of the River Erne, the King appeared taken by the busy waterway with people on canoes, kayaks and waterbikes waiting to greet him. He waved and navigated the grass slope to speak those in the closest canoe, as well as shaking the hand of a man on a waterbike, listening as he explained his route around the local waters. Charles also met with RNLI volunteers as the charity enters its 200th year, and thanked them for their work. The visit finished with an impromptu walkabout, meeting people in the crowds, including visitors from Canada and Australia. Mr Stevens smiled as he said he was so overwhelmed by meeting the King he had not quite taken in all he had said. He previously met the late Queen at Buckingham Palace when he received his MBE. Its been a great day, he said. Catholic priest Father Brian DArcy also spoke of how much he had enjoyed the day. He spoke with both Charles and Camilla during the visit. They did a great job meeting everybody today, it was lovely the way they came round and were interested in people, and it wasnt just a run-of-the-mill event for them, they were very interested in community work, what people were doing, coping with loneliness, Camilla was very keen on that and people getting out, he told the PA news agency. Charles was very interested in the environment, he felt that we had a lot of work to do, he said we have a lot of work to do to save the environment, and no time to waste. Father DArcy went on: I think it was a lovely day for Fermanagh because Fermanagh is forgotten in a lot of ways, and it was lovely to see them taking time to realise that people down here are valuable too. We showed off our county as best as we can, the water, the tourism, the friendliness, the cross-community, the co-operation between churches. All of that was on show today, and all of that is really Fermanagh. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Environmentalist Chris Packham has welcomed a High Court ruling as a full and frank vindication of my innocence after he was accused of defrauding the public. The TV naturalist sued three men for libel over nine articles that included claims he manipulated people into donating to rescue five tigers while knowing the animals had been well looked after. Dominic Wightman, editor of the online site Country Squire Magazine, defended the libel claim along with writer Nigel Bean and a third man, Paul Read. Mr Justice Saini ruled in Mr Packhams favour against Mr Wightman and Mr Bean but dismissed his claim against Mr Read who had said he was a mere proofreader of some of the articles. Outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Mr Packham described the allegations he had faced. In the offending articles and tweets they accused me of defrauding the public to raise money to rescue tigers from circuses, defrauding the public by promoting a crowd-funder during the Covid epidemic, lying about the burning of peat during Cop26, writing a death threat letter to myself, and elsewhere of bullying, sexual misconduct and rape, he said. They also accused me of faking an arson attack at my home and repeatedly called upon the BBC to sack me. Chris Packham outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday (PA) In a full and frank vindication of my innocence, the court has found that Mr Packham did not lie and each of his own statements was made with a genuine belief in its truth. But the Springwatch presenter said the issue of online abuse would vanish overnight. The onslaught of abuse and hatred continues simply because I want reform, I want the world to be a healthier place for wildlife, wild animal welfare, domestic animal welfare, the environment, so on and so forth, he said. And there are people who have a vested interest in preventing that reform. In his 58-page judgment, Mr Justice Saini awarded 90,000 in damages to Mr Packham, which the presenter said would be going to charity. What weve seen here is the exposure of an agenda, of a calculated campaign, Mr Packham said, adding that the damages would be put firmly in the hands of those charities that are going to be doing good work for wild animal welfare. Packham speaks to reporters after winning his case against a magazine that accused him of misleading the public (PA) He later said the law needs to be reformed and that the planned Online Safety Bill must be significantly robust against online abuse. Draft legislation, currently going through the House of Lords, aims to keep people, especially youngsters, secure in the cyber world by imposing new legal duties on big tech companies and service providers. Every day at this moment, people across this country and all over the world are suffering online abuse, and its ruining their lives, their livelihoods, their businesses, some people end up taking their own life, their mental health is damaged, their education is ruined it cannot continue, the law has to be reformed, Mr Packham said. And at the moment, the only recourse is to take civil action here, which is what Ive done. I hope Ive drawn a line in the sand, I hope Ive shown a degree of strength and resilience, which others will be able to draw into their lives so that they will be able to stand up against this online hatred, which really does need to be regulated. The governments Online Safety Bill needs to be robust, significantly robust, particularly to support young people who are continually exposed to all sorts of problems online, which again, are extremely damaging at that point in their lives. David Price KC, for Paul Read who successfully defended the claim, said: The judgment is an important recognition that the serious harm hurdle is meaningful, which will benefit all social media users on all subjects, and that people with limited involvement in an article should not be sued when the author and editor are available. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a car was driven into the gates of Downing Street. The silver Kia car crashed into the gates at around 4.20pm on Thursday. Images on social media showed the car surrounded by emergency vehicles and a man being led away. Police said the incident is not being treated as terror-related. Video footage broadcast by the BBC showed a car driving from the far side of Whitehall towards the gates, and appearing to slow down before impact. Passers-by could be seen starting to run from the scene seconds later. Photos showed a middle-aged white man being taken away by armed officers as police vehicles swarmed the area. The Metropolitan Police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, and remained in custody as investigators established the circumstances of the incident. The incident is being dealt with by local officers in Westminster and isn't currently being treated as terror-related, a spokesperson added. Police at the scene after a car collided with the gates of Downing Street in London. (PA Wire) Rishi Sunak was inside 10 Downing Street when the crash happened, and a fleet of vehicles were seen leaving out of its back entrance shortly afterwards. A spokesperson said the prime minister was already scheduled to leave but was slightly delayed by the crash and security scare. Witness Simon Parry said: I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with Taser guns shouting at the man. A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area. Mr Parry said the car appeared to slow down before reaching the gates of Downing Street, having driven out from the other side of the road, and the driver was arrested with his face to the floor. (Reuters) There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad, he added. We saw people that were in a panic running away and we saw people who were excited. Police cordoned off Whitehall in the immediate aftermath of the crash and The Independent understands government staff in the area were asked not to leave buildings. Restrictions were later relaxed after security checks. The Metropolitan Police said a car hit the gates that separate Downing Street, which houses the prime ministers official residence, from Whitehall at around 4.20pm. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, a spokesperson added. He has been taken into custody. There were no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances. Police were seen searching the car as the operation continued, and large sections of Whitehall were temporarily closed to the public and vehicles. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} One in six students registered at English universities and colleges are taught abroad, figures from the higher education watchdog reveal. Some overseas partner institutions prioritise student numbers over quality and subcontracting can make it more difficult to oversee all aspects of the teaching, according to an Office for Students (OfS) report. Research by the higher education regulator in England into the scale of transnational education (TNE) found that students living overseas now account for 16% of all students registered at English institutions. In 2021-22, 146 English universities and colleges taught 455,000 students in other countries, and China had the highest proportion (14%) of TNE students (61,505 students in total). More than one in four (27%) students abroad were taught by overseas partner organisations and a quarter (25%) were taught by distance, flexible or distributed learning. Six per cent studied at English universities overseas branch campuses, with the remaining 42% covered by other arrangements, including collaborative provision, according to the OfS report. TNE constitutes an increasing proportion of the teaching of many English universities to an increasingly significant income stream, the report says. As transnational education continues to grow, an increasing number of universities and colleges are seeing it as a component of their plans to diversify and grow their income Jean Arnold, director of quality at the OfS The watchdog engaged with seven English universities in July last year to learn more about how they ensure high quality education is delivered overseas. Challenges identified by these universities included a preference on the part of some overseas partner institutions to prioritise student numbers over quality, as well as subcontracting by overseas partner institutions making it more difficult to oversee all aspects of the teaching. Open University accounted for the latest population of students (46,300) living and studying overseas in 2021-22 which equates to 10% of the total TNE population. The University of London was responsible for 37,400 students (8% of the total) in 2021-22, and Coventry University for 21,400 (5%). Transnational education allows people to get a trusted UK qualification without leaving their home. It also helps UK universities spread their wings without raising carbon emissions through lots of extra flights Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute Jean Arnold, director of quality at the OfS, said: As transnational education continues to grow, an increasing number of universities and colleges are seeing it as a component of their plans to diversify and grow their income. Our regulatory remit is not limited to students located in England. It is important that students studying outside the UK are confident that their course is of the same high quality as would be the case if they were studying in England. She added: Transnational education is a vital and thriving part of our higher education sector. By underlining that it is robustly regulated to ensure quality we intend to maintain and enhance the reputation of English higher education at home and across the world. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) think tank, said: This is fantastic news. Not everyone wants to move to study and not everyone can afford to do so. Transnational education allows people to get a trusted UK qualification without leaving their home. It also helps UK universities spread their wings without raising carbon emissions through lots of extra flights. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Security guards at Heathrow Airport will launch a three-day strike on Thursday in a dispute over pay. Members of Unite have already held 15 days of industrial action, including over the busy Easter period. Heathrow said it has contingency plans in place to keep the airport open and operating as usual, adding that passengers can expect to have a smooth half-term getaway. The 15 days of strike action over the Easter peak and coronation weekends have had no impact on the smooth running of the airport, and passengers have not noticed any difference from the normal great service they expect at Heathrow John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: Passengers should not be concerned about strike action by Unite over the half-term getaway. The 15 days of strike action over the Easter peak and coronation weekends have had no impact on the smooth running of the airport, and passengers have not noticed any difference from the normal great service they expect at Heathrow. These strikes are completely unnecessary. When I speak to colleagues the overwhelming message is that they just want to vote on our pay offer, but Unite wont let them. We made a generous 10% offer early on, to make sure colleagues got a substantial increase when they needed it most. Unites delays mean non-union colleagues, as well as the majority of colleagues who are union members, who voted to accept our previous offer are losing out. May half-term is always a very busy time for travel, and Heathrow said it may take a little longer than usual to get through security, but added this will be well-managed and kept flowing. Unite said Heathrow security officers are paid less than workers at other major airports in London and the South East. Heathrow regularly trumpets how successful it is as the UKs premium airport so there is no defence in it paying bargain basement wages Wayne King, Unite Regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said: There is absolutely no justification for security officers at Heathrow being paid far less than comparable officers at other London airports. Heathrow regularly trumpets how successful it is as the UKs premium airport so there is no defence in it paying bargain basement wages. Heathrow can clearly meet a cost-of-living increase for our members; theyre deliberately choosing not to, pushing our members deeper into financial difficulties. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: While it is positive to see Heathrow has put contingency plans in place to minimise disruption during the forthcoming strike action, those with flights booked over half term will no doubt still have concerns that their trips could be impacted. Its essential that airlines and airports work together to keep travellers updated during this period of industrial action, and fulfil their legal obligations to passengers in the event of cancellations or delays. Travellers should also ensure they have travel insurance from the date they book their trip and always check the policy carefully, to ensure it covers all the eventualities you would expect in particular, not all policies will cover travellers in the event of strikes by airline or airport staff, for example. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A group of animal rights activists claim they broke into King Charles Sandringham Estate to rescue three lambs who they say were set for slaughter. Sarah Foy, 23, Rosa Sharkey, 23 and Rose Patterson, 33, say they handed themselves into a police station in Windsor this morning for stealing the sheep as part of what they called an open rescue mission. The trio - from campaign group Animal Rising - said they entered Appleton Farm in Norfolk on Wednesday evening to remove the animals before they claimed they were set to be slaughtered. They surrendered to officers after saying that the animals safety was secured. The group told the Daily Telegraph that they had been taken to an undisclosed location. The animal rights group says the lambs have since been taken to a safe but undisclosed location (Animal Rising) Before handing themselves in, the women held with placards carrying photographs of the animals - since named Sooty, Sunny and Sammy - and slogans including I rescued the Kings Sheep. In a statement to The Independent , a spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said it was investigating reports three lambs were stolen from a farm in West Newton, Norfolk. Three women aged in their 20s and 30s voluntarily attended a police station in Slough and were arrested on suspicion of theft, she added. They remain in custody. Sandringham Estate said it was a police and and wouldnt comment on an ongoing investigation. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Foy said: Like anyone, animals want to live out their lives safely and without being used or exploited. Sadly that is not the case here at Sandringham, or anywhere they are used in our food system. That is exactly why we rescued three sheep today - three beautiful lambs wholl now live their lives to the fullest. We urgently need a national conversation about our relationship with other animals and nature. "The Royal Family could be leading the way in this; they own land around twice the size of Greater London. "It would be an incredible statement for them to fully commit to the transition to a safe, secure, plant-based food system and a rewilding programme. Mending our connection to animals is vital in tackling the climate and nature crises. News of the stunt came shortly after the Extinction Rebellion offshoot pledged to protest at next months Epsom Derby in bigger numbers than at the Grand National in April. The race was delayed by 14 minutes after several protesters attempted to glue themselves to fences on the course. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The body of a 16-year-old boy has been recovered from a river in Castleford, police have said. West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the River Calder just before 7pm on Wednesday evening, to a report of concern for the safety of a male in the water. The emergency services attended the scene, close to where the A639 crosses the river, and were witnessed using drones and several rigid-hull inflatable rafts to search for the teenager. His body was pulled from the water shortly before 8:30pm, according to police, who said his family are being supported by officers. During last Julys heatwave, 16-year-old Alfie McCraw drowned in the same waterway just over a mile away from Wednesdays incident. It came after Tomi Solomon, aged 13, died in the river the previous year, prompting police to issue a warning about the potential dangers of open water swimming. At the inquest into Tomis death, his mother Frida Ndabue accused authorities of negligence for not putting up warning signs on the bridge he jumped from, with the coroner echoing her concerns. According to the voluntary National Water Safety Forum, a total of 226 people died in UK waterways in 2022 in situations where accidents or natural causes were suspected, 61 of whom were under the age of 25. In a statement about Wednesdays fatal incident, West Yorksire Police said: Police were called to the River Calder off Leeds Road, Castleford, at 6.58pm this evening to a report of a concern for safety for a male in the water. Emergency services used drones and rafts to search for the boy (YappApp screengrab) Emergency services attended at the scene and shortly before 8.30pm a body was recovered from the water. It is understood to be that of a 16-year-old boy. His family are aware and being supported by officers. We would ask that people are considerate of his family at this difficult time. Police are making enquiries into this incident and would ask that anyone who witnessed any part of what has taken place contact Wakefield District CID via 101 Live Chat or by calling 101, quoting log 1652 of 24/05. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Finance expert Martin Lewis has shared eight key things to know about how the first energy price drop in two years will affect you. Energy regulator Ofgem today dropped its energy price cap by 450, amid warnings that consumers are likely to feel little benefit to their household finances. The price cap rocketed from 1,162 a year for a typical household in August 2021 to 3,280, having briefly reached 4,279, with the pandemic and Russias war in Ukraine both pushing up wholesale prices. Campaigners have warned that the lower cap is unlikely to provide much relief to struggling households due to the ending of government support with energy bills. Consultancy firm Cornwall Insight has also warned that energy bills are still about 1,000 higher compared to 2021, and while bills are falling, it does not expect them to return to pre-Covid levels before the end of the decade at the earliest. The new price cap, which limits the amount providers can charge households per unit of gas or electricity, will last for three months starting on 1 July. In the Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert newsletter, the money saving expert shared eight things to know about the price cap: Current energy bills will decrease considerably Mr Lewis pressed Ofgems strategy head Neil Kenward on Good Morning Britain about the new price cap. Mr Kenward did not confirm the new rate but he said it will drop below the current 2,500 limit. He said: I can be clear that the number will be down considerably on the 2,500 limit that applies at the moment for that average annual bill. Price cap rates will likely drop by up to 40% The current energy price cap is 3,280. However, since last October, the rate we pay has been set by the governments Energy Price Guarantee, which limits annual energy costs to 2,500 for the average household. But from July, the Energy Price Guarantee will revert to 3,000. However, the new Ofgem price cap will be lower than the Energy Price Guarantee, so we will be paying at the new Ofgem price cap rate of 2,054. Energy bills are still similar to last winter Consultancy firm Cornwall Insight has warned that energy bills are still about 1,000 higher compared to 2021, and while bills are falling, it does not expect them to return to pre-Covid levels before the end of the decade at the earliest. Meanwhile, fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) has warned that while a cut to the price cap might seem like good news, bills in July will be comparable to last winter because of the end to the governments support. Mr Lewis has warned consumers who use the lowest amount of energy will be hit the worst since they will lose out on the 66 per month support provided by the government, which came to an end in March. Government support for lower to middle-income households unlikely The government will no longer be subsidising all home energy bills via the Guarantee from July, meaning only those in receipt of means-tested benefits, pensioners and those with disabilities will now receive further help with their energy bills, amounting to 900, 300 and 150 respectively. On BBC Ones Kuenssberg show, Mr Lewis quizzed environment secretary Therese Coffey on whether there is any further support for lower to middle-income households planned. She said: Im conscious that there is only a limited amount of support going to every billpayer. 300 annual standing charge likely to remain The standing charge the roughly 300 paid each year by households just to access gas and electricity is unlikely to fall, Mr Lewis said. Firms could offer fixes Mr Lewis said short-term price certainty as a result of Thursdays energy cap announcement may be the catalyst to restart deals. Based on current predictions, if any firm offers a fix for not much more than the July Price Cap, for the sake of certainty its worth considering, he said. Run down the credit on your prepayment meter before July If you have a non-smart prepay electricity meter, you should aim to reduce your credit down to the minimum by 1 July, Mr Lewis said. The finance expert added that after the date, you should start topping up your meter to take full advantage of the cheaper rates. Cost-of-living payments available for those on certain benefits to help with bills The first 301 instalment of a 900 cost-of-living payment has been paid to those who are eligible, which could help households with their energy bills, Mr Lewis said. People will be eligible for the 301 cost-of-living payment if they have been entitled to a payment for certain benefits between 16 January and 15 February 2023, including, for example, universal credit, pension credit and child tax credit. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Only a handful of Afghans have been brought to safety in the UK under schemes set up to help vulnerable refugees from the war-torn country. Just 54 people have been resettled under the governments flagship scheme designed to help those who were not supported during the initial evacuation after the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Meanwhile, the number of Afghans risking their lives in Channel crossings has sky-rocketed as they struggle to access the governments beleagered resettlement schemes. New official figures show 8,429 Afghans arrived in the UK on a small boat in the year ending March 2023, compared to 2,466 a year earlier. Charities have claimed Afghans, including war veterans, are being driven to take risky journeys because so few are finding help through the schemes. The Independent is campaigning for Afghans who worked alongside British armed forces to be given safe haven in the UK. It comes after we revealed the plight of an air force lieutenant who served alongside coalition forces and is now being threatened with deportation to Rwanda after fleeing to the UK on a small boat. After the Office for National Statistics figures were released, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) said the schemes were not fit for purpose. Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Boris Johnson and Priti Patel launched Operation Warm Welcome and pledged to give Afghans who worked alongside the British new lives in the UK. The government said it would resettle up to 20,000 people through the Home Offices Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The scheme was set up in January 2022 for those who assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and for vulnerable groups, such as women and girls at risk. It pledged to resettle more than 5,000 people within the first year and these spots were filled by Afghans who had already been brought to the UK under the initial evacuation programme. Around 9,000 people have been helped through this pathway, government stats show. However under pathway 2 of the scheme, which is for those who are outside the UK, just 40 people have been resettled in the UK via referral from the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR. Pathway 3 of the scheme was set up for Afghans who held specific roles as British embassy workers, British Council contractors or Afghans with UK study scholarships. Only 14 people have come to the UK under this pathway, according to ONS figures released on Thursday. Charities have pointed out that it is not possible to apply directly for ACRS pathway 1 or 2. Refugees must be referred by the UNHCR to pathway 2, and they cannot register with the UNHCR if they are in Afghanistan. The JCWI said: The UK resettles only a handful of people each year. Safe routes have been shut down and existing schemes are not fit for purpose - we have only resettled 40 Afghans under pathway 2 of ACRS. Mary Atkinson, campaigns manager at the charity, added: The government has broken its promises to the Afghan people. It talks about safe and legal route while presiding over a system thats so slow that Afghans are forced to risk their lives in small boats to find safety here. Emily Graham, at Safe Passage International, said that it was outrageous that the government is continuing to fail people fleeing the Taliban. She said it was sadly no surprise that more and more Afghans were making the dangerous journey across the Channel. There has also been a dip in the number of people coming to the UK through the Ministry of Defences Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, which is for Afghans who had worked for the British forces in exposed roles. 55 people arrived under this scheme in the first quarter of 2023, a drop from the 1,515 people helped in July to September 2022. The government stopped charter flights to the UK for Arap-eligible Afghans who are living in Pakistan in November last year. Since then, Afghans have been told they have to source their own accommodation in the UK and provide proof of finances if they want to come to the UK. A growing number of senior military chiefs, politicians and celebrities have backed The Independents campaign. Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Hollywood director Guy Ritchie, music legend Sting, and former head of the UK armed forces General Sir David Richards have all called for the government to stand by those Afghans who supported the British mission. A Home Office spokesperson said: The UK has made an ambitious and generous commitment to help relocate and resettle Afghans, and this remains a top priority. We are proud that so far we have brought around 24,600 vulnerable Afghans to safety. It is vital that those arriving have somewhere suitable to stay once they are in the UK, which is why we continue to work at speed with partners to find suitable accommodation." Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police have said materials unearthed during a three-day hunt for evidence over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann at a remote reservoir in Portugal are being sent off for analysis. Authorities have been scouring Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve this week, using sniffer dogs and cutting down trees as part of the search inland from the coastal resort where the then-three-year-old went missing in 2007. As police concluded their three-day search on Thursday, they confirmed materials collected had been sent to Germany for analysis. Follow The Independents live coverage for the latest updates A source close to the investigation told Reuters there was nothing tangible to report, while German prosecutor Christian Wolters played down hopes of a breakthrough, saying: Of course, there is a certain expectation, but it is not high. He added that the investigators were looking for a body, but also for anything that could help the investigation, such as clothing. Mr Wolters said he did not expect the results of the studies of the collected samples to be announced any time soon. Madeleine McCann has been missing since 2007 (PA Media) Madeleine was three when she vanished while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, after they left her and her twin siblings asleep in their apartment while they went out to dinner with friends. The new search operation was carried out at the request of German investigators who believe their prime suspect, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, 45, kidnapped and murdered the youngster. He is in prison in Germany for the rape of a woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, and is suspected of further rapes and child sexual abuse committed in the area between 2000 and 2017. German authorities have not revealed what triggered the latest search operation, but the prosecutor for the city of Braunschweig, Christian Wolters, said they were acting on the basis of certain tips. He told German public broadcaster NDR the new information had not come from the suspect and they did not have a confession or any indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search. The Sun reported that investigators previously found photos and video of Brueckner at the reservoir. He has reportedly denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance. Police officers are seen at the site of a remote reservoir where search is underway for evidence related to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (REUTERS) British police who assisted their Portuguese and German counterparts at the Arade reservoir had left by early Thursday afternoon, followed by German investigators who packed up their tents at a camp on a hill. As part of this latest three-day investigation, police dug holes of around 60cm and these have been left, along with piles of soil, now that authorities have left the digging area. The surrounding woodland showed pathways had been cut by heavy machinery, leading to the main flattened 160 square-foot excavation area. A no-fly zone was also imposed over the reservoir for the first two days. Judicial Police (PJ) criminal investigation unit members leave the base camp set near the Arade dam in Silves on May 25 (AFP via Getty Images) Broken rocks were also scattered around the site in Portugal after pickaxes were seen used by personnel over the course of three days. The small area close to the banks of the Barragem do Arade has been clearly marked out. The cordon around the site has since been lifted, and evidence of attempts to cut the vast undergrowth was clear, with large branches and bushes lining freshly made pathways. In a statement, police in Portugal said: [The search] resulted in the collection of some material that will be subject to the competent expertise. The material collected will be handed over to the German authorities. The new searches come as the Home Office granted an extra 110,000 in funding this financial year for the Metropolitan Police to assist with finding Madeleine, down from just over 300,000 last year. The total funding given to Operation Grange has been just under 13.1 million since 2011. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Home secretary Suella Braverman has been accused of going to ground after figures revealed that net migration had hit a record high of 606,000 with around 1.2 million people arriving to live in the UK in 2022. The new figures, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday, have fuelled accusations that the government has lost control of immigration despite a 2019 manifesto pledge to bring overall numbers down. Senior Tories told The Independent that Ms Braverman had become a liability warning Rishi Sunak that he may have to sack his damaged home secretary if she fails to tackle net migration levels. Despite immigration being one of the home secretarys key policy areas, Ms Braverman did not comment on the figures or attend an urgent question in the House of Commons on Thursday. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper asked what is the point of Ms Braverman. She said: Where is the home secretary, who is in charge of these policies? She has gone to ground. What is the point of her? The backlash extended to the Tory benches. Aaron Bell MP warned Mr Sunak that voters will expect to see [net migration] fall given the partys previous pledges on the issue, while fellow backbencher Martin Vickers said voters anger and frustration will grow when they become aware of the new record high. Moderate Tories are split on whether Mr Sunak should sack the home secretary. One senior Tory told The Independent that Ms Braverman had been acting as a shield for Mr Sunak, saying she was being used to take the pain when No 10 needed to blame the Home Office for the governments failures on immigration. The former minister said many Tories were still angry with Ms Braverman for freelancing on government policy at last weeks right-wing National Conservatism Conference, where she lashed out against multiculturalism, political correctness, and radical gender ideology. But another former Tory minister urged Mr Sunak to get rid of Ms Braverman now, saying: She is already a liability. Rishi has been generous to her, but she is damaged now. Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman are under pressure to bring down net migration (PA Wire) Senior Tory John Hayes a key ally of Ms Braverman called on Mr Sunak to take further steps to cut the number of people arriving in the UK. The leader of the Tories Common Sense Group wants to see higher salary thresholds implemented and further limits imposed on overseas students. Mr Hayes told The Independent: When political parties come to power on a manifesto platform as clear as a pledge to reduce migration, people will say, Well, did you do it, or didnt you? Urging Mr Sunak to cut Britains dependence on foreign labour, another senior Tory said voters did not like somebody coming to work at Amazon up the road when there are people unemployed, taking unemployment pay, that could work there. Home secretary Suella Braverman has angered Tory moderates (PA Wire) On Monday, Ms Braverman announced a controversial crackdown on visas for the families of international students, claiming it would help to cut net migration. The government is reported to be considering further moves to limit the amount of time overseas graduates can stay and work in the UK. But official figures show several factors contributing to the total including wider economic migration driven by shortages in sectors dominated by EU workers before Brexit. Tory MP Alicia Kearns, chair of the foreign affairs committee, urged the government to avoid a knee-jerk reaction to the record figures. Students shouldnt be included in net migration figures, she said. The soft power dividends as an academic superpower are significant. The ONS revised its previous estimate of net migration in the year to June 2022 dramatically upwards, from 504,000 to 606,000. Although they account for only a small fraction of the overall total, English Channel crossings also hit a new record during the year, while significant numbers of people arrived under government schemes set up for Afghans, Ukrainians, and British nationals in Hong Kong. Long-term migration driven by non-EU nationals (ONS) Almost 45,000 people crossed the Channel in the year to March, with 90 per cent claiming asylum. Afghans still accounted for the highest proportion by nationality among those making the crossing. The asylum backlog also hit a new record high, with almost 173,000 people awaiting an initial decision in March surpassing a previous peak in 1999. Mr Sunak denied immigration was out of control when he was grilled earlier by ITVs This Morning. Numbers are too high, its as simple as that. And I want to bring them down, he said, without committing to any particular number. The Migration Observatory think tank said early indications were that the net migration numbers may already have peaked and were now starting to go down. Despite Mr Sunaks commitment to cut the asylum backlog, his immigration minister Robert Jenrick suggested that processing claims more quickly could lead to more migrants trying to come to the UK. Grilled by Labour MPs on the confusion and on whether the government wanted to reduce the backlog or not Mr Jenrick said ministers did want to bring down the caseload, but added: The faster the process, the more pull factor there is to the United Kingdom. When asked about Mr Jenricks comments, No 10 insisted that tackling the asylum backlog is the right approach. Asked if Mr Sunak was worried that his backlog plan was going backwards, the Downing Street spokesperson added: Some of these approaches do take time to bed in. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Suella Braverman is facing fresh allegations of ministerial code breaches over her failure to formally disclose years of previous work with the Rwandan government. The home secretary co-founded a charity called the Africa Justice Foundation with Cherie Blair, which trained Rwandan government lawyers between 2010 and 2015. Several people the charity worked with are now key members of President Paul Kagames government and are involved in the UKs 140m deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Ms Braverman did not officially disclose her previous links to the country when appointed home secretary in 2022, despite the deal being a linchpin of the governments migration policy and ongoing legal challenges alleging politically-driven human rights violations including torture, murder and kidnappings. One former minister told The Independent that the home secretary never mentioned her work with the charity and should have been upfront and transparent, while two former standards chiefs said Ms Braverman should have formally disclosed her former role. Ms Braverman resigned from her post as director of the Africa Justice Foundation weeks before being elected to parliament, and did not declare her previous role to Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft last year. A source close to the home secretary said it was not necessary for her to disclose her previous work, adding: This was charity work carried out by Ms Braverman before she was an MP, and for which she wasnt paid. But the omission has sparked calls for Rishi Sunak to widen a potential investigation into a speeding scandal, just seven months after she resigned for breaking the ministerial code through her use of official documents. Sir Alistair Graham, former head of the Committee of Standards on Public Life, told The Independent: If the Rwanda policy was there when she produced a declaration of interest, and did not include it, then I would have thought that could be a breach of the ministerial code. Suella Bravermans official visit to Rwanda in March was her third visit to the country (PA Wire) It would be a personal failure that the prime minister should address, and may want to consult his ethics adviser on. Sir Alex Allan, the former adviser on ministerial standards who quit under Boris Johnson, said the home secretarys past work should have been declared after she became responsible for the Rwanda deal. I would have thought that it would be an issue that she would have had to discuss with the Home Office permanent secretary, he added. There would have been an internal discussion. The former minister said Ms Braverman should have referenced any previous work with the Rwandan government to colleagues: It absolutely has to be flagged - this is all part of the ministerial code. During a Commons debate over Ms Braverman's alleged attempt to have civil servants arrange a speeding awareness course on Tuesday, the chair of parliament's human rights committee chair questioned whether her rosy-eyed view of Rwandas human rights record had been influenced. SNP MP Joanna Cherry asked whether her robust defence of the country has anything to do with her undisclosed links to the Rwandan government, and if the new potential ministerial code breach would be included in any inquiry. Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin said the home secretary's work was a charitable endeavour before she entered parliament, while the prime minister's official spokesman told journalists there were no plans for an investigation into her disclosures. Suella Braverman resigned from the Africa Justice Foundation weeks before being elected as a Conservative MP in the 2015 general election (Companies House) Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner asked how many strikes it would take for Mr Sunak to sack his home secretary, adding: After days of dither and delay, the prime minister still has not decided whether his ethics adviser should investigate. The ministerial code states that ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests. It is the personal responsibility of each minister to decide whether and what action is needed to avoid a conflict or the perception of a conflict, taking account of advice received from their permanent secretary and the Independent Adviser on Ministers interests, the document adds. Official guidelines state that ministers must complete a written declaration on appointment, which must be comprehensive and, even in instances where a particular interest may not appear relevant to the office held, err on the side of disclosure so that the fullest advice can be offered in return. An excerpt from the financial accounts of the Africa Justice Foundation from its first year of operation, signed by Suella Braverman under her maiden name (Charity Commission) Directorships and links to charities are listed as examples of information that must be given, and The Independent understands that any past connections with foreign governments are particularly sensitive. The Liberal Democrats said Ms Braverman was embroiled in scandal after scandal. Chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said: This looks like yet another potential breach of the ministerial code from the home secretary. Rishi Sunak must immediately request his ethics adviser to investigate these latest allegations. This situation is becoming farcical. The chief justice of Rwandas supreme court sat on the Africa Justice Foundation board that Ms Braverman chaired, when she was a practising barrister working under her maiden name Suella Fernandes. Records obtained by The Independent show that the charity received more than 300,000 in donations and spent the bulk of the funding on a scholarship scheme seeing Rwandan government lawyers sent to British universities. A 2011 document signed by Ms Braverman said the Africa Justice Foundation aimed to strengthen the rule of law in Rwanda and help the country achieve its aims for justice sector reform. It said the charity ran training as part of the governments strategy to strengthen its justice sector, and provided services for both lawyers and judges that were a priority for the Rwandan government. The charity built on work by a Conservative Party volunteering project backed by Rwandan president Paul Kagame, seen with Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell during a celebration for the 10th anniversary of Project Umubano in Kigali on 11 August 2017 (Paul Kagame/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Despite the Africa Justice Foundations name, all of its in-person work abroad was carried out in Rwanda and the country remained its core focus, although the scholarship programme was later broadened to lawyers from Sierra Leone, Ghana and Ethiopia. By the time Ms Braverman resigned her directorship in 2015, Rwandan media reported that 19 alumni were serving in government institutions including the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister and Rwanda Law Reform Commission, and research by The Independent shows that some now hold senior posts in the countrys Ministry of Justice. The Africa Justice Foundation ceased operation shortly after Ms Bravermans departure and was formally removed from the Charity Commission register in 2016. The home secretary has alluded to previous visits to Rwanda with a Conservative Party volunteering scheme while being grilled on its human rights record and suitability for receiving asylum seekers from the UK in parliament, without providing detail. In November, she told the Home Affairs Committee: I have actually visited Rwanda twice, quite a while ago around 2010 or 2009, and Ive always found Rwanda to be a very inspiring country actually. A spokesperson for the home secretary said she had not disclosed her involvement in the Africa Justice Foundation and the nature of its work training Rwandan government lawyers because it was not necessary. They said Ms Braverman did not make any submissions to colleagues on the countrys suitability for the asylum deal struck when she was attorney general, and had not discussed her former role publicly since becoming home secretary because it was not relevant. The spokesperson denied that her view that Rwanda is a fundamentally safe and secure country had been influenced, or that she had deliberately concealed links to the country. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old girl from Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve on 3 May 2007, a case still unsolved and still the subject of intense interest among the public and press. Follow all the latest updates on The Independents live blog Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, posted a statement on the Find Madeleine website on 3 May 2023 marking the latest anniversary of their daughters disappearance, reiterating their hopes of being reunited with her one day and posting a poem, The Contradiction by Clare Pollard, to express their feelings. Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleines abduction. Still missing... still very much missed, they wrote. The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough. Thank you to everyone for your support- it really helps. Here is a reminder of the events of the case. The story began when the McCanns affluent doctors Kate and Gerry, their three-year-old daughter Madeleine and her two-year-old twin siblings joined a group of seven family friends and their five children on holiday at the Ocean Club in the village of Praia da Luz on the southwestern tip of Portugal on 28 April 2007. After a pleasant spring break by the sea, the adults in the party went out for dinner at the resorts open-air tapas bar on 3 May, gathering at 8.30pm. The children were left behind sleeping in their respective apartments with the doors unlocked and a rota system in place among the parents to ensure that someone returned every half-hour to check on them. When Kate McCann took her turn and returned to her apartment at 10pm, she raced back to the restaurant screaming Madeleines gone! Someones taken her! The police were quickly called and 60 staff and fellow guests searched the complex, calling out the girls name in vain until daybreak the following morning. Border police and airport staff were put on alert and hundreds of volunteers joined the efforts to find the missing girl over the coming days, the case fast becoming a sensation. Madeleine McCann (PA) The Portuguese authorities would later attract criticism over their conduct in the crucial earliest hours of the investigation when the trail might still have been warm, accused of making rudimentary mistakes like failing to conduct a house-by-house search of every local residence or interview all of the other guests at the resort, acting slowly to erect roadblocks and potentially compromising forensic evidence at the crime scene. The police initially stated that they believed Madeleine was still alive and had been abducted from the room by a stranger as the parents described their anguish and despair over her vanishing, a worst fear realised for any parent. On 26 May, police issued a description of a suspicious man seen on the night of the girls disappearance. The individual in question was spotted by Jane Tanner, one of the McCanns dining companions, who said she had seen a Mediterranean man with dark hair and beige trousers carrying a child close to the apartment when she went to check in on her own children. Scotland Yard would later come to dismiss the sighting as a red herring. The search continued as the summer progressed amid a wild media circus and with huge fundraising activities underway, the McCanns setting up Madeleines Fund on 15 May to raise cash to support further investigation and keep the profile of the case high, attracting generous donations from celebrities like Richard Branson, Simon Cowell, JK Rowling and Coleen Rooney. By 30 May, the case was such a cause celebre that they were being flown out to meet the Pope at the Vatican in Sir Phillip Greens Learjet. A local man, Robert Murat, subsequently became its first suspect and had his house and car searched, his swimming pool drained and his electronic devices confiscated but no evidence was found to link him to Madeleine and the matter was soon dropped. By June, the Portuguese police admitted that they had failed to protect potentially useful evidence at the scene as frustration with the lack of developments grew and the media began to question whether the McCanns themselves had been involved in the matter. Lurid tabloid allegations suggested the couple and their friends might have been swingers and that the McCanns, as physicians, might have been in the habit of sedating their children, while others claimed inconsistencies in their version of events. Gerry and Kate McCann (AP) The intensity of the hostility towards the parents would later be described by Roy Greenslade of The Guardian as no journalistic accident, but a sustained campaign of vitriol against a grief-stricken family, singling out The Daily Express and Daily Star for particular condemnation. In July, assistance offered by former South African police officer Danie Krugel who claimed his handheld matter orientation system could help to find Madeleine was rubbished, while British police sent over two springer spaniel sniffer dogs to search for DNA. Relations with the local authorities would ultimately sour as the latter came to resent British intrusion into a Portuguese inquiry, according to Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swans book Looking for Madeleine (2014). By August, Madeleine has been missing for 100 days and police admitted for the first time that she may never be found. They also told the McCanns that they were no longer considering the matter an abduction case but, rather, a murder inquiry. The McCanns themselves were interviewed as arguidos (suspects) by Portuguese police in September, with the parents told that the dogs had discovered DNA evidence from the missing girl in the boot of their holiday rental car, lines of inquiry that had already been leaked to the British press. They vehemently denied having any part in her disappearance. Despite being listed as suspects (a designation that would linger until the following July), the McCanns were allowed to return to Britain on 9 September. A day later, chief inspector Tavares de Almeida of the Policia Judiciaria in Portimao signed a nine-page report concluding that Madeleine McCann had died in their apartment as a result of an accident, that the tapas dinner and rota checks on the McCann children had been part of a planned cover-up, that the familys friends had helped to mislead the police and that the McCanns had concealed the body and then faked an abduction. A public prosecutor subsequently applied for the confiscation of Kate McCanns diary and Gerry McCanns laptop plus the groups phone records. On 2 October, chief inspector Goncalo Amaral was removed from the case and transferred after alleging that the British police were only interested in pursuing leads favourable to the McCanns. He would later publish a book, Maddie: The Truth of the Lie, the following summer, resulting in a lengthy libel battle with the McCanns that would run back and forth through the courts until March 2017. Back in Britain, Gerry McCann issued a video that November in which he speculated that his family had been watched by a predator during their stay at Praia da Luz. His wife had come to believe that a potential perpetrator could have seen a note in the resorts guest book visible to all in reception noting their dining arrangements on the evening of Madeleines disappearance. The couple followed up on 20 January 2008 by releasing a sketch of a creepy man they said other holidaymakers had said they had seen loitering at the Ocean Club. In April, a month before the one-year anniversary of the fateful night, Portuguese police travelled to Leicestershire to conduct further interviews with the McCanns friends. Then, on 21 July, Portugals attorney general, Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro, announced that there was no evidence to link either the McCanns or Robert Murat to the disappearance and closed the case, unsolved. With the trail cold and no closure in sight, the McCanns continued to publicise their cause, issuing computer-generated images of how Madeleine might look now that she had aged on 3 November 2009 and condemning the release of previously unseen Portuguese police files detailing possible sightings of their daughter to British newspapers in March 2010. The McCanns published a book of their own about their ordeal in May 2011, entitled simply Madeleine, which was serialised in The Sun as the newspaper led a campaign calling on British prime minister David Cameron to launch a new inquiry. He did so. Commenced by then-home secretary Theresa May, the Metropolitan Polices Operation Grange would be led by commander Simon Foy and comprise a team of three detective inspectors, five detective sergeants, 19 detective constables and six civilian staff. It began to yield results in 2013, with Scotland Yard formally announcing a new investigation in July and saying in October it had identified 41 potential suspects. That same month, BBC Crimewatch released an e-fit image of a man of particular interest who had been seen in Praia da Luz with a child matching Madeleines description in May 2007. Detectives arrived in Portugal in January 2014 promising new arrests and finally searched the village in June, interviewing four people the following month but without unearthing new information. The quartet would be definitively ruled out in April 2017, before the UK government said it would continue to fund the investigation until 2020, having already admitted it had cost 10m in its first four years of operation. That investment had enabled detectives to have tens of thousands of documents translated, investigate over 8,000 potential sightings, take 1,338 statements, collect 1,027 exhibits and investigate 650 sex offenders and 60 persons of interest, all without definitively establishing the truth. The Madeline McCann case lay dormant before suddenly exploding into life in June 2020 when German media revealed that Christian Brueckner, a 43-year-old prisoner with a track record of child abuse and drug trafficking, had been identified as a new suspect by the public prosecutor of the German city of Braunschweig. Christian Brueckner (Italian Carabinieri) He had reportedly been living in a Volkswagen camper van in the Algarve at the time of Madeleines disappearance and one woman has since come forward to suggest she saw a girl that might have been Madeleine speaking German in a supermarket in Portugal in 2017. German investigators classified their probe into his movements as a murder inquiry, saying they were working on the assumption that Madeleine is dead and reporting in July 2021 that they had found an abandoned cellar beneath his former allotment near Hanover where she could, theoretically, have been held captive. Hans Christian Wolters, the prosecutor leading the investigation into Brueckner, has said he was very confident the inmate is responsible for kidnapping her. If you knew the evidence we had you would come to the same conclusion as I do but I cant give you details because we dont want the accused to know what we have on him these are tactical considerations, he told the BBC. It was subsequently revealed that Madeleines Fund still had 773,629 to spend as of 31 March 2020, meaning the McCanns can continue to bankroll a private investigation to find their daughter long after the police hunt is finally drawn to a close, should they choose to. Brueckner was formally made a arguido in relation to the case on 21 April 2022. On 19 September, the McCanns lost their libel case against Mr Amaral, the former chief inspector who had investigated the disappearance, before the European Court of Human Rights. The couple had attempted to argue that Mr Amaral was responsible for damaging their reputation and breaching their rights to respect for their private life and to be presumed innocent after taking exception to his book and associated media appearances in which he had repeatedly suggested they were responsible for the vanishing. Their complaint also argued that Portugals Supreme Court had failed to allow them proper redress over the alleged libel by Mr Amaral after judges threw out their earlier claim in 2017. The verdict left the McCanns with three months to appeal against the decision. In February 2023, a Polish woman called Julia Faustyna made headlines by claiming she was Madeleine, using the Instagram name @iammadeleinemccann. Ms Faustyna, 21, did not provide any supporting evidence but sought DNA tests to prove her origins. The results ultimately revealed that she was entirely of Polish origin, with no British heritage, disproving her claims for good. In April 2023, a court in Braunschweig dropped a rape charge against Brueckner, unrelated to the Madeleine McCann case, concluding it did not have jurisdiction. Police in Germany continue to claim they have concrete evidence that Madeleine is dead but this has still not been confirmed and their investigation is ongoing, with Brueckner still not charged in the McCann case. Like her parents, Madeleines sister Amelie, now 18, observed the 16th anniversary of her disappearance in May 2023. Speaking publicly for the first time at a prayer meeting in Rothley, she said: Its nice that everyone is here together but its a sad occasion. Amelie McCann reportedly joined in with chants including Never never give up, leave no stone unturned, dont forget about me and still missing, still missed. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The King and Queen have completed their two-day visit to Northern Ireland in the UKs most westerly town. Crowds cheered and sang God Save The King at Enniskillen Castle in Co Fermanagh as Charles and Camilla did an impromptu walkabout before departing the region. The King started the second day of the visit by attending a service at St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh, Co Armagh, attended by various religious leaders, while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were the Church of Irelands the Rev John McDowell and Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin. At the library, the Queen met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. The royals both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square in Armagh. Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met performers who gave a showcase of Ulster Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. The King added: I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. Charles said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands with Rebekah Busby and patted her golden-doodle Teddy, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. She said: Weve been here since 8.50am, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? (Camilla) said Hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' Ms Busby described the atmosphere as unreal, and said she would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. Charles and Camilla travelled by helicopter from Armagh to Enniskillen for their final engagement of the day and their trip. Crowds of well-wishers cheered as they approached the 16th century castle, Charles wearing a grey suit and Camilla in an emerald green coat dress by Fiona Clare and emerald and diamond Cartier brooch which belonged to the late Queen. They were greeted by the High Sheriff for Co Fermanagh Noelle McAlinden and Fermanagh and Omagh council vice chairman Allan Rainey while they were serenaded by the Caritas Chamber Choir. Local school children and Army cadets were lined up to welcome the King and Queen into the historic courtyard while a community choir performed Rather Be by Clean Bandit. There was also a display of dancing put on by Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers reflecting Northern Irelands two main traditions. Charles and Camilla appeared touched to learn about the Kindness Postbox initiative, which aims to help those who are isolated and disconnected, before meeting those involved with The Big Lunch in Fermanagh. Thanking the King and Queen for their visit, Mr Rainey presented them with a specially made coronation basket from Belleek Pottery. Large crowds had gathered outside the castle by the end of the engagements. Camilla was drawn to a family with an Australian flag and kangaroo teddy bear, and greeted them saying, All the way from Australia?, to be told by one of the ladies she was originally from Enniskillen and brought her family home for a visit. Catholic priest Father Brian DArcy said it had been a lovely day for Fermanagh, and praised the King and Queen for a great job chatting to so many people. Fermanagh is forgotten in many ways and it was lovely to see them taking time to realise that people down here are valuable too, he said. We showed off our county as best we can, the water, the tourism, the friendliness, the cross-community, co-operation between churches all of that was on show today, and all of that is really Fermanagh. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak insisted immigration was not out of control despite figures showing net migration has hit a record high. The Prime Minister, who has promised to reduce immigration and is under pressure from the Tory right to act on the issue, said the net migration figure of an estimated 606,000 for 2022 was too high. Office for National Statistics estimates show a total of 1.2 million people are likely to have migrated to the UK in 2022, while 557,000 are thought to have left the UK in the same period. The Prime Minister told ITVs This Morning: Numbers are too high, its as simple as that. And I want to bring them down. He said measures put in place this week to prevent overseas students bringing dependants with them are significant and will bring levels down over time. Asked whether immigration is out of control, Mr Sunak said: Well, no, I think the numbers are just too high. Tory concerns about immigration were laid out in the Commons as MPs demanded to know how the level would be reduced. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: We expect net migration to fall to pre-pandemic levels in the medium term. But veteran Tory Sir Edward Leigh told the Commons: Some people in the Treasury seem to think a good way to grow the economy is to fill the country up with more and more people, but this is bad for productivity and bad for British workers who are being undercut by mass migration from all over the world. Tory MP Martin Vickers said: The anger and frustration of my constituents has been focused on illegal migration up until now, but that anger and frustration will grow when they consider these legal migration figures. Were creating, roughly speaking, eight new parliamentary constituencies with this number and if that continues its clearly unsustainable. The Government faces a balancing act, with years of Tory promises to cut net migration coming up against demands from businesses and public services for overseas workers to fill skills gaps. The figures have also been inflated by people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and the decision to offer a route out of Hong Kong. But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper pointed to a 119% increase in work visas granted in the year to March 2023 compared to 2019 as evidence that the Government has no plan and no grip on the immigration system. She also highlighted Home Office figures showing a rise in the backlog of asylum claims to 172,758. She said: Ministers have completely failed to tackle skills shortages, especially in health and social care, or to get people back into work after Covid. Net migration should come down and we expect it to do so. Support we have rightly given to Ukrainians and Hong Kongers has unusually affected the figures this year. But that cant disguise the fact that the Conservatives chaotic approach means that work visas are up 119%, net migration is more than twice the level ministers were aiming for, and the asylum backlog is at a record high despite Rishi Sunak promising to clear it this year. SNP home affairs spokeswoman Alison Thewliss hit out at the Westminster obsession with net migration figures and claimed the UK government is failing to attract the talent we need in key sectors to boost our economy and NHS showing why Scotland needs the full powers of independence and control over migration. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hundreds of people will gather at an historic central London church on Thursday for the funeral of one of the last black RAF pilots to have fought in the Second World War. Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died alone aged 96 at his home in Maida Vale, west London, in December last year. Arrangements have been made to ensure the Lancaster bomber receives a dignified send-off worthy of his life story at a service hosted by the RAF. He had appeared destined for a low-key funeral until a council appeal to trace his relatives was picked up by historians, military researchers, genealogists, community groups and the media. His neighbour Paul Newman found his body six days before Christmas after becoming worried he was not answering the door while cards that could have helped find his family were cleared out soon after police decided the death was not suspicious, The Sun reported. Plans to hold the funeral at a 140-capacity chapel in Mortlake, south-west London in March were postponed because of a surge in requests to attend from well-wishers. Thursdays service will be held at St Clement Danes Church on The Strand, the central church of the RAF, which can seat 600 mourners. Relative Brooke Alexander last month told The Sun she hopes to travel more than 4,000 miles from the Jamaican capital Kingston to attend while other relatives told the newspaper they hope to travel there from Florida. Representatives from Caribbean community organisations and those who helped trace his relatives are also expected to attend. Mr Brown, who was born in Jamaica in 1926, enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and became one of the so-called Pilots of the Caribbean, carrying out missions as a radio operator and gunner. He is one of, if not the last, among this group to have passed away. After the war ended, he re-enlisted in the RAF, working as a signaller before joining civilian life. Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said: The national response to Peter Browns story has been overwhelming. The details of his life and subsequent search for relatives have truly captured the public imagination and moved people around the world. Our priority has always been to ensure Mr Brown receives a fitting, dignified send-off which allows those wishing to pay their respects the opportunity to do so. We are grateful to the RAF who have stepped in and provided a perfect venue to reflect Peters military service. We will continue to work with the RAF, community groups and well-wishers to ensure the service represents the many aspects of Mr Browns life. An RAF spokesperson said: Flight Sergeant Brown is an example of the selfless contribution of all Commonwealth personnel who have served throughout the RAFs history. We should never forget their sacrifices which have defended our freedom and kept us safe. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The outgoing chief constable of Police Scotland has admitted the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory. Addressing a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on Thursday, Sir Iain Livingstone said acknowledging the issue exists is essential to a commitment to champion equality and become an anti-racist service. He stressed the admission absolutely does not mean all officers and staff are racist, sexist or homophobic, and he praised the incredible work they do each day to keep people and communities safe. Sir Iain went on to warn there is no place in Police Scotland for people who do harbour prejudices, and that the behaviour of colleagues who have been found to hold such views is utterly condemned. Scotlands First Minister Humza Yousaf hailed Sir Iains statement as historic and monumental. Sir Iain said: It is right for me, the right thing for me to do as chief constable, to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist. Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory. Publicly acknowledging these institutional issues exist is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service. It is also critical to our determination to lead wider change in society. Prejudice and bad behaviour within policing, as highlighted by court and conduct cases, various independent reviews and by listening to our own officers and staff over recent years, is rightly of great concern and is utterly condemned. There is no place in Police Scotland for those who reject our values and standards. The admission comes days after it was announced that thousands more Police Scotland officers would be enlisted to stamp out offensive banter and so-called canteen culture as part of a mandatory programme entitled Policing Together. This in turn came as a report was published which found instances of ongoing discrimination against minoritised communities, including first-hand accounts of racism, sexism and homophobia by serving officers. Women who have worked in the police have spoken out about their experiences, and former armed response officer Rhona Malone last year won almost 1 million in compensation from the force after an employment tribunal ruled she had been victimised while raising sexism concerns. Sir Iain, who told the SPA his last working day at Police Scotland will be August 10, put the onus on the force to rid itself of institutional racism. He said: A candid, clear assessment of institutional discrimination means recognising our absolute duty to provide just and effective policing for all according to their specific needs and circumstances. It also requires identifying and removing the deep-rooted barriers to achieving this. These are necessary steps to progress the commitment that Police Scotland will be anti-racist; a personal commitment I made to my fellow citizens at the commencement of the public inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh. And, as a commitment to the people of Scotland, it is also a commitment to Sheku Bayohs family and loved ones. The onus is on us, the police service, to address gaps and challenge bias, known or unwitting, at every level, wherever bias occurs, to maintain and build confidence with all communities. Speaking during First Ministers Questions at Holyrood, Mr Yousaf said: There is no doubt that institutional racism exists in our society, and I want to take a moment just to say as a person of colour the statement from the chief constable is monumental, historic. A spokesman for the First Minister later told journalists Mr Yousaf still has confidence in Police Scotland as an organisation as well as the concept of a centralised police force. Sir Iain said acknowledging institutional racism within policing should act as a catalyst for change, telling the SPA: Injustice and discrimination are insidious wrongs with deep roots in history and our work to address institutional discrimination will and must continue beyond me as chief constable, beyond any individual. Acknowledging institutional discrimination, acknowledging institutional racism, will, I believe, act as a catalyst to drive and embed progress. The whole service must and will retain our resolve, our commitment and our focus. Mr Bayoh died after he was restrained by police officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in May 2015. His familys solicitor Aamer Anwar said Sir Iains statement is testament to families like them and others and all those struggles fought by the victims of racial violence and injustice. He added: Today is testament to all those officers who took an oath to serve our community, but because of their race, sexuality or gender were persecuted and discriminated against by their police service. The family of Sheku Bayoh want me to thank the chief constable for raising his voice for the truth and being brave enough to say what black and Asian communities have known for decades. Lord Bracadale, who is chairing the inquiry into Mr Bayohs death, said it welcomes Sir Iains statement. He said: The Sheku Bayoh inquiry was set up to examine the events surrounding the death of Mr Bayoh, including whether race was a factor in those events. I look forward to the continued co-operation of Police Scotland in the work of the inquiry. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A solicitor who has represented female officers with claims of sex discrimination against Police Scotland said she is disappointed there is a reluctance to admit there are individuals within the force who are racist and sexist. Margaret Gribbon represented former armed response officer Rhona Malone, who won almost 1 million in compensation in a landmark legal case which found she had been victimised after raising concerns about sexism within Police Scotland. Ms Gribbon said while she welcomed Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstones admission that the force is institutionally racist and sexist, she was disappointed he appears to be reluctant to acknowledge there are individual officers who have discriminatory attitudes. She said: I welcome the chief constables admission that the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory and congratulate the Independent Review Group (IRG) on their first report. I am disappointed however that there appears a reluctance by the chief constable to admit that there are, unfortunately, officers who are racist and sexist. Not to acknowledge this does a disservice to the public, the women police officers I represent, and those serving officers who carry out their challenging roles to an exemplary standard. There is evidence of male officers who are the subject of serious conduct complaints of sexism and misogyny, even criminality, who face no meaningful censure and then go on to be promoted to senior ranks. Police Scotland must face up to the reality of the challenge they face, and like the Met, commit to removing racist, misogynistic and homophobic officers from policing. On Thursday, Sir Iain told a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority that Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory. He added: It is right for me, the right thing for me to do as chief constable, to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist. Publicly acknowledging these institutional issues exist is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service. It is also critical to our determination to lead wider change in society. His statement was hailed as historic and monumental by First Minister Humza Yousaf. Unison, the union which represents civilian staff at Police Scotland, has called on the force to take firm and immediate action on the issue. Deputy branch secretary David Malcolm said: There is no place in policing, or in Scotland, for racism. Sir Iain Livingstones public acknowledgement that Police Scotland is institutionally racist means they must now take firm and immediate action to become an anti-racist service and champion equality. Unison stands ready to work with Police Scotland to take the necessary steps. In 2023, Unison is celebrating the year of black workers to campaign for lasting change in workplaces and communities across Scotland. We look forward to working with Sir Iain to end racism in our police service. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnsons head of communications joked about ordering a drone strike on Partygate investigator Sue Gray. Guto Harri said he made the comment in a bid to calm down the former prime minister who was hysterical the night before the former senior civil servant published her report into Downing Street gatherings that breached lockdown rules. Mr Harri said: Boris, look at me. Look at me. Here's what we're going to do. We're going to order a drone strike. Welll take her out. Well take Sue Gray out. The extraordinary joke, revealed on Mr Harris podcast Unprecedented: Inside Downing street, laid bare Mr Johnsons dislike for Ms Gray, whose Partygate scandal found there was a serious failure by Mr Johnsons No 10 to abide by the standards expected of the entire British population during the Covid pandemic. Mr Harri said: He started referring to Sue Gray as the psycho or the total psycho, someone who was planning an orgy of pain, abuse and humiliation. On another occasion, she was the destroyer of the nation trying to do us in. Mr Johnson expected Ms Gray to be tough but fair, Mr Harri claimed. That changed pretty soon after I'd arrived at No. 10, he added. Mr Harri took over as director of communications for the former prime minister in February last year. He previously served as a key aide to Mr Johnson while he was mayor of London. He claimed that, in calmer times, the then-prime minister joked about Sue Gray, even telling people he would be able to move on once he was acquitted of genocidal war crimes. Mr Johnson and Mr Harri, who took over as director of communications for the former prime minister in February last year (PA Archive) Mr Harri added: But it all came to a head on the eve of the publication of her report, when he would have to go and present this in Parliament and face the music in a big, big way. We were struggling to make any progress because he was getting more and more angry, uncharacteristically sweary and cross, the more he thought about the impact of this and what Sue Gray had done to his premiership. At one point Mr Johnson was literally hysterical, he said. Mr Harris comments came as Boris Johnson was referred to police by the Cabinet Office over new potential lockdown breaches at Chequers. Also on Thursday, the official Covid inquiry threatened legal action over the Cabinet Offices refusal to share details of the former PMs Whatsapp messages from the pandemic, as Mr Johnson revealed he had sacked his legal team. Previous claims by Mr Harri as part of the poscast series, on Global Player, include that Mr Johnson joked about sending a message to Rishi Sunak calling him a c*** in the aftermath of his resignation as chancellor. He also said Mr Johnson squared up to King Charles for branding his Rwanda asylum policy appalling. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An irate Lindsay Hoyle kicked a Tory MP out of the House of Commons during prime ministers questions on Wednesday, telling him: Im not having it. The Commons speaker apparently angered by yelling from the government benches told Peterborough MP Paul Bristow to leave the chamber just four minutes into proceedings. Mr Hoyle had already had to pause proceedings twice in the first three minutes of PMQs to ask MPs to stop shouting during the exchange between prime minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer. Order, order. Mr Bristow, I think youre going to be leaving. Im asking you to leave now, because otherwise Ill name you. Im not having it, and Ive warned you before. Its the same people, he said. Turning to the opposition benches he said: And the same will happen on this side. The threat to name the MP is parliamentary language for formally disciplining a politician possibly resulting in their suspension. Mr Bristow left the chamber to cheers and shouts of bye from those on the opposition benches. Sir Lindsays spokesperson later said: Following a noisy start to PMQs, the Speaker asked Paul Bristow to leave the chamber, saying he would name him if not. Mr Bristow left voluntarily and so no formal powers were exercised by the Speaker. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 24 May 2023 Horses enjoy the sunny weather on Middleham Gallops in North Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2023 An aerial view of a yellow rapeseed field in Hemel Hempstead, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 22 May 2023 Manoj Malde and Clive Gillmor kiss after getting married, the first wedding ever at the Chelsea Flower Show AP UK news in pictures 21 May 2023 People enjoy the warm weather as they take punt tours along the River Cam in Cambridge PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2023 Protesters emerge from the sea as Surfers Against Sewage hold a UK-wide paddle-out protest at Brighton West Pier in East Sussex PA UK news in pictures 19 May 2023 Good Karma ridden by Daniel Muscutt (right) wins the Earl & The Pharaoh Novice Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire PA UK news in pictures 18 May 2023 Choristers from the Choir of St Johns College at the University of Cambridge look out from the top of the Chapel Tower before performing the Ascension Day carol - a custom dating back to 1902. PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2023 Oxfam activists wearing 'big heads' of G7 leaders during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, highlighting their lack of action to tackle the East Africa hunger crisis ahead of the start of the G7 summit in Japan PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2023 Part of a childs jacket during a photo call for the Chinas hidden century exhibition, which opens at the British Museum PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2023 Viewing assistant and History of Art student Emma Scarr Hall takes a closer look at @Pink Roses (1923) by Scottish Colourist artist Leslie Hunter which is estimated at 60,000-80,000 in the forthcoming Bonhams Scottish Art Sale in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 14 May 2023 Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Sharon Horgan and Anne-Marie Duff, with the award for Drama Series, for Bad Sisters at the 2023 BAFTA TV Awards in London EPA UK news in pictures 13 May 2023 Singer Loreen performing on behalf of Sweden celebrates with the trophy after winning the final of the Eurovision Song contest 2023 AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 12 May 2023 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer views a cancer tumour under a microscope during a visit to the Francis Crick Institute in north London where he met scientists working on research into lung cancer PA UK news in pictures 11 May 2023 Judging takes during the artisan cheese awards at St Marys Church, Melton Mowbray PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2023 A dog joins members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) on the picket line outside HMRC in East Kilbride during a strike in the long-running civil service dispute over pay, jobs and conditions PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2023 Two trains carrying 170 Eurovision song contest superfans arrive into Liverpool Lime Street train station PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2023 Britains Prince Louis eats toasted marshmallows as they take part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, England, AP UK news in pictures 6 May 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla can be seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony ahead of the flypast during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla Getty UK news in pictures 5 May 2023 Britain's King Charles III leaves after speaking to well-wishers on The Mall near to Buckingham Palace in central London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 May 2023 A night time rehearsal in central London for the coronation of King Charles III PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2023 Teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) at a rally in Westminster, London, as they stage walkouts across England in an ongoing dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 1 May 2023 Former US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the tarmac after disembarking "Trump Force One" at Aberdeen airport on the north-east coast of Scotland AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 April 2023 Handout photo issued by the Big Partnership of walkers at the start of The Kiltwalk 2023 from Glasgow Green. PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2023 Englands flanker Marlie Packer celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the Womens Six Nations Grand Slam at the end of the Six Nations international womens rugby union match between England and France at Twickenham in south-west London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 28 April 2023 Lucy Williams, from Aberfan, holds her son Daniel Williams, one, as he takes the handbag of the Princess of Wales, during her visit with her husband the Prince of Wales, to the Aberfan memorial garden, to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Aberfan disaster on October 21st 1966 PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2023 Teachers on the picket line outside Bristol Cathedral School, College Square, Bristol, as they take strike action in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2023 Protesters wait for the arrival of King Charles III and the Queen Consort for their visit to Liverpool Central Library PA UK news in pictures 25 April 2023 Wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph in central London, in commemoration for Anzac Day PA UK news in pictures 24 April 2023 Waves crash over Tynemouth pier on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 23 April 2023 People cross the finish line at the 2023 London Marathon Getty UK news in pictures 22 April 2023 A Wrexham fan in a Deadpool costume ahead of the Vanarama National League match at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2023 A demonstrator wears a costume as people protest during the Extinction Rebellion's 'The Big One' event, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 20 April 2023 The funeral cortege of Paul OGrady travels through the village of Aldington, Kent ahead of his funeral at St Rumwolds Church PA UK news in pictures 19 April 2023 Georgia Harrison, who was a victim of revenge porn, at a demonstration organised by Refuge outside the Houses of Parliament, calling for a violence against women and girls code of practice to be added to the Online safety bill PA UK news in pictures 18 April 2023 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Tree Orchard at Alnwick Gardens in Alnwick, Northumberland Reuters UK news in pictures 17 April 2023 A pelican sits in St Jamess Park, London PA UK news in pictures 16 April 2023 People take part in the Nagar Kirtan procession through the city centre in Southampton, during Vaisakhi celebrations to mark the birth of the Khalsa and to celebrate the spring harvest and the solar new year PA UK news in pictures 15 April 2023 Former Chelsea players and fans show the Samaritans' 24-hour helpline number 116 123 on the back of their shirts during the launch of the TalkMoreThanFootball campaign from Three, during halftime of Chelsea v Brighton at Stamford Bridge, London PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2023 Protesters outside York Magistrates Court, where Patrick Thelwell is charged with threatening behaviour after eggs were thrown at King Charles III during his visit to York in November PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2023 British milliner Justin Smith, from J. Smith Esquire, with a crown he has created using 319 Scrabble tiles to mark Scrabble's 75th anniversary and King Charles III's coronation PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2023 US President Joe Biden delivers a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 11 April 2023 People take part in a rally in Trafalgar Square in London, in support of striking NHS junior doctors, as the British Medical Association holds a 96-hour walkout in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 10 April 2023 Masked people attack a police vehicle with petrol bombs in Derrys Creggan area on on 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2023 People taking part in the annual procession in Glasgow as part of the Sikh Vaisakhi celebration to celebrate the Birth of the Sikh Nation PA UK news in pictures 8 April 2023 Visitors dressed in costumes during the Star Wars Celebration at the ExCel London in east London PA UK news in pictures 7 April 2023 Lorries queue to enter the Port of Dover in Dover, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 April 2023 Seating being erected on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London, ahead of King Charles IIIs Coronation. PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2023 Police officers stand guard outside the home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow, Scotland Getty UK news in pictures 4 April 2023 Workers protest outside Google London HQ over the treatment of staff facing redundancies PA UK news in pictures 3 April 2023 Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union on the picket line outside the Passport Office in east London, as more than 1,000 members of the PCS working in passport offices in England, Scotland and Wales begin a five week strike as part of the civil service dispute PA Mr Bristow worked as a lobbyist before becoming an MP in 2019 and now sits on the Commons health select committee. He later told reporters: I got a little over-excited. The Commons speaker has previously criticised MPs for shouting during debates and says it reflects poorly on parliamentary proceedings and is unpopular with the public. Earlier this month he turned his ire on trade secretary Kemi Badenoch, asking her: Do you think youre speaking to? after she gave an apparently dismissive response to his concerns about the governments approach to dealing with parliament. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Closing the employment gap between Black, Asian and minority ethnic people and the wider population could provide a 36bn boost to the UK economy, new analysis suggests. Analysis of Office for National Statistics Labour Market data found that the current employment rate of these groups was 69.4 per cent, eight percentage points below that of the white population (77.2 per cent). The Labour Party, which carried out the analysis, estimates closing that gap would mean 539,000 extra employees contributing an additional 35.6bn to the UK economy, based on average productivity levels. It said bringing parity between different groups of the population would help to tackle inequality while driving economic growth. Anneliese Dodds, the Labour Party chair and shadow women and equalities secretary, said the time is now to expand wealth and opportunity as she accused the government of 13 years of failure. Inequality has soared during the Conservatives 13 years of failure, with Black, Asian and minority ethnic people often paying the price, Ms Dodds said. We believe that everyone should have a fair shot at life, whatever your background. The intervention comes on the third anniversary of Black man George Floyds murder by white police officers in Minneapolis, US. Mr Floyds killing sparked protests throughout the US and across much of the West, with campaigners and activists issuing fresh calls for racial equality. Responding to those concerns in the UK, Labour pledged to introduce a Race Equality Act to tackle structural inequality. The plans are being developed by the Labour front bench, working with Baroness Lawrence, policy and legal experts and community groups. The party has also promised to introduce mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for firms with more than 250 staff to begin to close the glaring pay gaps between Black, Asian and minority ethnic employees and the wider population. Anneliese Dodds has accused the Conservatives of 13 years of failure on equality (PA Archive) Through our Race Equality Act we are committed to eradicating the structural inequality that is holding too many people back, Ms Dodds added. This means expanding opportunities for all, and the time to do that is now. Doing so will be good for those individuals, good for business and good for our economy as a whole. The cost-of-living crisis has disproportionately impacted on low-income households which spend a larger share of their income on fuel and food. The Runnymede Trust found last year that Black and minority ethnic people are disproportionately falling faster and further below the poverty line amidst the cost-of-living crisis. Black and minority ethnic people are 2.5 times more likely to be in relative poverty, and 2.2 times more likely to be in deep poverty (having an income that falls more than 50 per cent below the relative poverty line), than their white counterparts. Labour analysis earlier this year found that Black African adults had an average of 80,000 (78,929) less wealth than White British adults, even after controlling for factors such as economic activity, status or education level. It also found that over two thirds of Black adults (69 per cent) were finding it difficult to afford their energy bills, compared with under half of all adults (45 per cent) and one in five Black adults (21 per cent) saying they were behind on payments, compared with 5 of all adults. In April the government published new guidance for employers which sets out how to voluntarily measure, report on and address any unfair ethnicity pay gaps within their workforce. Ministers said the new guidance would help those employers who want to use ethnicity pay reporting to improve transparency, adding it would provide a consistent approach that should provide robust and meaningful data. A government spokesperson said: This government remains committed to tackling all areas of disparities in this country, including in employment. It is crucial that everyone is treated fairly in the workplace, so that they can thrive and reach their full potential and we want to ensure that everyone has access to the same employment opportunities. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has said the Government is considering ways to strengthen rules on vape advertising after figures showed the proportion of children trying e-cigarettes has doubled in the past decade. The Prime Minister expressed concern about his own daughters potentially being targeted by some of the marketing, which he says appears to be aimed at young people. Campaigners have argued that vapes are designed to attract children with their brightly coloured packaging and sweet flavours and called for a Government crackdown. I have two young girls. Im also worried about that, Mr Sunak told ITVs Good Morning Britain. Were looking at how can we strengthen the rules on how are they marketed, promoted, what do they look like. It looks like they are targeted at kids, (which is) ridiculous. I dont want my kids seduced by any of these things. Ministers announced a crackdown on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s with an illicit vapes enforcement squad earlier this year. They said the task force would conduct test purchasing at shops and share intelligence across regional networks and local authorities. Mr Sunaks latest comments come after Labour pledged to change advertising rules to prevent products such as vapes being marketed to children. In a major speech outlining the partys approach to health and the NHS, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: We will change advertising rules and we will make sure that products which are harmful to our childrens health vaping, junk food, sugary snacks cannot be advertised to our children. No not in Britain. It comes after YouGov data for Britain suggested experimental vaping among 11 to 17-year-olds rose from 5.6% in 2014 to 11.6% in 2023. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, has warned the Governments task force would not work without measures targeting the marketing of the products. But enforcement on its own wont do the trick without tougher regulation to address the child-friendly promotion of these cheap and attractive products, she said. Geoff Worsley, a father from Abergele, North Wales, whose change.org petition Stop Children Vaping More Regulation Now has more than 100,000 signatures, is among campaigners calling for a crackdown, saying: Parents like me up and down the country are calling on Government to act to protect our children from vaping as well as smoking. More funding for enforcement is a good first step but its not enough. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fresh figures are expected to show net migration reached record levels last year as Labour accused the Government of making a mess on immigration and the Prime Minister claimed the Opposition have absolutely no ideas on the subject. The Office for National Statistics will publish data on Thursday for the year ending December 2022. Analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies forecasts net migration could have hit between 700,000 and 997,000 in that period. This mess on immigration reveals a Tory Party with no ambition for working people and no ambition for Britain Sir Keir Starmer Those figures are substantially higher than the 226,000 level when the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto promised that overall numbers will come down following the introduction of post-Brexit border controls. Rishi Sunak has promised action to bring down net migration, telling reporters on a recent trip to Japan that he wanted to be crystal clear with the public that the numbers are too high and he wants to bring them down. The latest available figures showed levels are already at a record high. Total net migration the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number leaving the country in the 12 months to June 2022 stood at an estimated 504,000. This was up sharply from 173,000 in the year to June 2021. The rise was driven by a series of unprecedented world events, according to the ONS, including the war in Ukraine, the end of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the resettlement of Afghan refugees, the new visa route for British nationals from Hong Kong and students arriving from outside the European Union. There are absolutely no ideas ... absolutely no semblance that there would be any control. Why? Because he believes in an open-door migration policy Rishi Sunak on Labour On Tuesday, as part of attempts to attempts to curb net migration, the Government announced that overseas students will be banned from bringing dependants to the UK from January 2024. The change will not apply to those on postgraduate research programmes. Mr Sunak said it was the biggest-ever single measure to tackle legal migration, removing the right for international students to bring dependants, toughening the rules on post-study work, and reviewing maintenance requirements. Meanwhile, Labour has unveiled immigration plans under which businesses would be stopped from easing staff shortages by hiring cheaper overseas workers. During Prime Ministers Questions, Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: The Prime Minister stood on three Tory manifestos, each one promised to reduce immigration. Each promise broken. This mess on immigration reveals a Tory Party with no ambition for working people and no ambition for Britain, just the same old failed ideas low wages and high tax. Mr Sunak questioned Labours contribution, saying: There are absolutely no ideas absolutely no semblance that there would be any control. Why? Because he believes in an open-door migration policy. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The King has thanked Armagh for the warm welcome he and the Queen received during the second day of their visit to Northern Ireland. Charles attended a service at St Patricks Cathedral attended by various religious leaders while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. At the library Camilla met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were Church of Ireland leader Rev John McDowell and the leader of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin. They both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square. Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met with performers who gave a showcase of Ulster-Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault, he joked. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse, and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. He said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met with some people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands Rebekah Busby and gave her golden-doodle Teddy a pet, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. Weve been here since 8.50pm, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? [Camilla] said hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' She described the atmosphere as unreal, and that they would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The family of an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by police after his mother asked him to call 911 to report a domestic incident are calling for the officer to be fired. Aderrien Murry is recovering at home after he was shot in the chest by an Indianola Police Department officer early on Saturday morning. His mother, Nakala Murry, told a news conference that she asked Aderrien to call police after the father of one of her other children allegedly showed up at her home at 4am in an irate mood. Ms Murry said that an officer arrived at the house with his gun drawn, and called on everyone inside to come out. She said her son had just walked around a hallway corner and into the living room when he was shot. Aderrien kept asking Why did he shoot me? What did I do wrong?, Ms Murry said during Mondays press conference. She said she applied pressure to the wounds until first responders arrived. The 11-year-old was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he was found to have suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. He was released from hospital on Wednesday, his mother told CNN. Two other children were inside the home at the time of the shooting, she said. Aderrien Murry, 11, was shot by police after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance (Murry family) The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation confirmed in a statement to The Independent it was investigating the shooting. Spokesman Bailey Martin said agents would turn over the findings to the Attorney Generals office upon completion of the probe. The Indianola Police Department is yet to release the bodycam footage from the incident. It confirmed to CNN that the officer involved in the shooting was Greg Capers, who was previously named the departments best officer. The Independent did not immediately hear back after contacting the Indianola mayor and police to confirm the officers identity. This cannot keep happening. This is not OK, Ms Murry said during Mondays news conference. Carlos Moore, the familys attorney, said Mr Capers had been suspended on Tuesday. The family believes this is a step in the right direction but still demands that he be terminated, Mr Moore said. The family plans to hold a protest at the Indianola City Hall on Thursday. Indianola is a small town of about 15,000 residents that lies about 100 miles north of Jackson. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A newborn bison calf in Yellowstone National Park was euthanised after an attempted rescue effort by a tourist caused it to be rejected by the herd. The National Park Service (NPS) has appealed for help to identify the tourist after the unfortunate incident at the junction of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek on Saturday. The man approached the calf after it became separated from its mother when the bison herd crossed the swollen Lamar River in the northeastern corner of the Wyoming park, the NPS said. He then pushed the struggling calf up a river bank and onto a roadway. Witnesses said the man and other tourists patted the noticeably distressed and shivering baby bison, the Cowboy State Daily reported. The calf and mother were seen calling out to each other from opposite sides of the river, the news site reported. Park rangers attempts to reunite the calf with the herd were unsuccessful, and the calf was euthanised after it caused a hazardous situation by following cars and visitors, the NPS said. Authorities are appealing for information to identify a tourist who attempted to rescue a newborn bison calf in Yellowstone National Park (National Park Service) Yellowstone regulations state that visitors must remain at least 25 yards (23m) away from all wildlife including bison, elk and deer, and at least 100 yards (91m) away from wolves and bears. Park rangers recently appealed to tourists to stay clear of wild animals after several documented incidents of bison being approached for selfies or pets. Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in this case, their survival, an NPS spokesperson said. The tourist is described as a white male in their 40s or 50s, who was wearing a blue shirt and black pants. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Yellowstone National Park Tip Line at 307-344-2132 or email YELL_Tip@nps.gov. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A letter that Brian Laundries mother wrote to her son vowing to help him dispose of a body before he went on a fatal roadtrip with fiancee Gabby Petito has been released to her family. The burn after reading letter is at the centre of a civil emotional distress lawsuit brought by Petitos parents against the Laundrie family alleging they were complicit in their daughters murder. On Wednesday, the Petitos attorney Patrick Reilly told a judge in Sarasota, Florida, that the letter was evidence of criminal acts by Brians mother Roberta, according to CNN. The Laundries attorney had argued that the letter should not be part of the case, claiming that her unfortunate choice of words were not relevant to the lawsuit. Florida Judge Danielle Brewer ruled the letter was admissable evidence in the case, prompting its public release by the family. Petitos body was discovered on 19 September 2021 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming after a nationwide search that attracted global attention. Laundrie returned to his parents Florida home without notifying her family or authorities, and later went on the run after being declared a person of interest. His remains was discovered in the nearby Carlton Reserve a month later. A medical examiner would later rule that Laundrie had shot himself in the head. Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito (Supplied) The letter was recovered from a backpack found near his body inside an envelope that said burn after reading. Ms Laundrie wrote to her son: If youre in jail I will bake a cake and put a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. I just want you to remember I will always love you and I know you will always love me. You are my boy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing can or ever will divide us no matter what we do, or where we go, or what we say we will always love each other. If youre in jail I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. This is the Roberta Laundrie burn after reading letter she gave to Brian Laundrie. Sent to me by Petito family attorney. pic.twitter.com/VIiLk3wa4J Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) May 25, 2023 Ms Laundrie has previously said in an affidavit that she wrote the letter to her son when the pair were experiencing a difficult period in our relationship. She said that the language used in the letter pertaining to disposing of a body were common enough in our circle of friends and family to describe who you could turn to in the most troubling times of your life. The Petitos claim in their suit that the Laundries were aware that their son had killed Gabby even as they released a statement saying they hoped she would be found. They claim that the Laundries ignored their calls and texts while they were frantically searching for their daughter. Instead, they claim that the Laundries knew he had killed Petito and took him on a final camping trip as a family while refusing to put the Petito family out of their agony by revealing what they knew. A photo of Gabby Petito showing blood and bruises on her face just before her and her ex-fiance Brian Laundrie were stopped by Moab police officers investigating a domestic abuse call (Parker and McConkie lawfirm) The Laundries former attorney Steven Bertolino is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The Laundrie family deny any knowledge of what had happened and have previously said they believe they did everything the right way in the wake of the couples disappearance. In November, the Petitos were awarded $3m from Brian Laundries estate after taking a separate wrongful death lawsuit. The Petito family have also filed a $50m wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab City Police Department. Moab police officers pulled the couple over on 12 August after receiving a 911 call from a witness saying they had seen Laundrie hitting Petito. The lawsuit accuses the police department, three Moab police officers and 10 other individuals of negligent failure. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Canadian police have solved a 48-year-old cold case of a teenagers rape and murder using DNA evidence. Investigators in Longueuil, Quebec says that the evidence allows them to be 100 per cent certain that Franklin Maywood Romine murdered teenager Sharron Prior in 1975. Romine was born in Huntington, West Virginia, in 1946 and died in 1982 at the age of 36 in Verdun, Montreal, under mysterious circumstances. Sharron Prior and Franklin Maywood Romine (Longueuil Police) His body was exhumed from a West Virginia cemetery earlier this month and the DNA testing linked him to the murder. Police say that the DNA from Romine, who had a long criminal history, matched DNA found at the crime scene. Prior disappeared on 29 March 1975 after leaving her home in Montreals Pointe-St-Charles neighbourhood to meet friends for pizza. Her body was found three days later in a wooded area of Montreals South Shore. The solving of Sharrons case will never bring Sharron back. But knowing that her killer is no longer on this Earth and wont kill anymore, brings us to somewhat of a closure, Priors sister Doreen said, according to CTV News. And her sister Moreen added: You may never have come back to our house or Congregation Street that weekend but you have never left our hearts and you never will. Investigators had looked at more than 100 suspects over the decades, but Romines name did not come up until last year, reported WCHS-TV of West Virginia. Picture of crime scene (Longueuil Police) Police in Longueuil began combing through criminal records and found that Romine had a long history of violence and had moved regularly between West Virginia and Canada to evade the authorities. Officials say that Romine first attempted to escape from the West Virginia Penitentiary in 1967, according to WCHS. In 1974, he was arrested for breaking into a house and raping a woman in Parkersburg, West Virginia. When he was released on $2,500 bail several months later he fled to Canada. Several months after Priors 1975 slaying, Romine was arrested by Canadian border officials and sent back to West Virginia where he was sentenced to five to 10 years in the Parkersburg case. He died in 1982 shortly after his release from prison and his family buried him in the Pine Grove Cemetery in West Virginias Putnam County. Its a combination of the most evil element in the human race, contacting the most innocent element in the human race a child, Putnam County Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia told WCHS. Some things are worse than death losing a child like that, for a family, for a mom. To know that your child died that way. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The horrifying case of four University of Idaho students butchered in an off-campus home has taken another dramatic twist after it emerged that the parents of their accused killer are testifying in a separate case thousands of miles away in Pennsylvania. In a bombshell development this week, it emerged that Bryan Kohbergers parents have been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating the disappearance and death of mother-of-three Dana Smithers. Smithers, 45, was last seen alive in May 2022. Her remains were finally discovered last month, with her cause of death still a mystery. It remains unclear what connection if any her disappearance and death may have to Mr Kohberger, who was living close to Smithers at the time she vanished. But multiple reports have revealed that Mr Kohbergers parents Michael and Maryann Kohberger have been ordered to testify in the case. A source told CNN that the accused killers mother has already given evidence to the grand jury while his father was expected to testify on Thursday. Any information in the case can then be turned over to prosecutors in Idaho who have charged Mr Kohberger with the quadruple murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. On Thursday, the Stroud Area Regional Police Department released a statement insisting that there is no evidence showing a link between Mr Kohberger and Smithers disappearance. The Stroud Area Regional Police Department is aware of the many currently reported news articles, in which various media outlets have reported connections between the SARPDs Dana Smithers missing person investigation and Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger, the statement read. The SARPD has NO EVIDENCE that Dana Smithers disappearance, is in ANY WAY tied to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger. Yet, there was still no explanation as to why the Kohbergers had been called to testify in the grand jury probe. While many questions remain unanswered, heres what we know about Dana Smithers and what happened to the mother-of-three. Mysterious disappearance In May 2022, Smithers vanished without a trace from Monroe County the same county in Pennsylvania where Mr Kohberger was living at the time before moving cross-country to Washington state in the summer to pursue a graduate degree program in criminal justice. A ring video camera captured Smithers leaving a neighbours house at around 11.05pm on 28 May, holding her cellphone in her hand. She was never seen alive again. Dana Smithers was found dead last month (Stacey Smithers) What was especially odd was that Smithers cellphone, wallet and daily medication were all found at her home. Earlier that day, Smithers and her youngest daughter, 7, had gone to a local festival at the Happy Hour Bar and Grille in Stroudsburg with her daughters father. Smithers sister Stacey told NBCs Dateline in December that the couple were no longer together but were still on good terms. At the festival, Smithers appeared to be having a good time, dancing and saying hello to people. The three later returned to the home that Smithers, her daugher and Smithers mother shared. Later that night, best friend Tara Cioni said that Smithers called into her home to hang out. The two women lived just a couple of doors down from each other and would often just stop by to see each other on an evening. Were best friends. Shes been my neighbor for 16 years. Weve raised our children together, Ms Cioni told Dateline. It was an open door policy, like, with her. So she came in and she was here for a little bit. Ms Cioni said that, in hindsight, she wonders if something was troubling her friend that night. Smithers who had a history of substance abuse was smoking, something she only did if she was nervous or on edge. Ms Cioni said that Smithers later asked her if she wanted to come back to her house to hang out but she was tired so said she was going to bed. Dana Smithers missing persons poster (Stroud Police) That was the last time anyone saw her. If I would have known that was the last time I would have seen her, I would have definitely asked more questions but I was sort of like, Im going to bed, she said. Looking back, she said that she doesnt think Smithers was using drugs again. I really dont think it was that, she said. Her sister added that Smithers had recently had her medication adjusted and appeared to be getting much better at the time. It was the following morning when Smithers mother realised her daughter had not come home that night. Initially, the family wasnt too concerned as Stacey said the 45-year-old had stayed out all night in the past. But, when she didnt show up for Memorial Day celebrations with the family on 30 May, they knew something must be wrong. Smithers and her children, aged 25, 23 and 7, had a family tradition to go to Knoebels Park in Pennsylvania ever Memorial Day. She would not have missed Memorial Day, said Stacey, adding that she would also never have left her youngest child for that long. She didnt do anything that didnt involve her kids, she said. That was her thing. I mean she was always there with the kids. Smithers was finally reported missing days later after Stacey said law enforcement initially didnt take her disappearance seriously. Dana Smithers remains were found in a wooded area one year after she vanished (Facebook) In June, the Pennsylvania State Police and local police carried out searches with cadaver dogs at Glen Park in Stroudsburg a heavily wooded area close to her home. The search did not turn up anything and the case went cold for months. A missing persons report described Smithers as a 45-year-old white female, 5 foot 5 inches, approximately 165 pounds, with brown eyes, brown hair and last seen wearing black jeans with a burgundy shirt. For almost a year, the mother-of-threes family desperately searched for answers and Smithers case featured in an episode of NBCs Dateline in December 2022 one month after the four students were murdered in Idaho. Stacey feared the worst, saying: I think something happened. I dont think shes here anymore. Remains found Almost one year later on 27 April Smithers remains were found in a wooded area in Stroudsburg. Stroud Area Regional Police said that a Borough employee had discovered decomposing human remains in a wooded area close to Park Avenue in the Borough of Stroudsburg. Due to extensive decomposition, the gender and identity of the individual was unclear at the time. Using dental records, the remains were later identified as belonging to Smithers. Her cause and manner of death is not yet known. What is Bryan Kohbergers connection to the case? There are many unanswered questions around what happened to Smithers and what it may have to do with Mr Kohberger. It is currently unclear why Mr Kohbergers parents Michael and Maryann Kohberger have been called to testify in the case. A lawyer for Mr Kohbergers parents tried to have the subpoenas cancelled but was unsuccessful, the source told CNN. Pennsylvania judges will be permitted to share transcripts of the grand jury witness testimony with law enforcement agencies across the country in Idaho. Bryan Kohberger in court for his arraignment over the Idaho murders (Reuters) At the time of Smithers disappearance in May 2022, Mr Kohberger was also living in Monroe County with his family. That summer, he then moved cross-country to Pullman for a graduate program in criminal justice at Washington State University (WSU). A few months later on 13 November, he allegedly broke into an off-campus student home just over the border in Moscow, Idaho, and murdered the four college students. He was back at his parents home in the Pocono Mountains for the holidays when police swooped and arrested him for the quadruple murders on 30 December. In that case, it remains unclear what motive and what connection Mr Kohberger may have had to the victims. And now, in Smithers case, a possible link also remains unclear. Mr Kohberger is said to have a solid alibi for Smithers disappearance and is likely not connected to her death, a source told Eyewitness News. But the grand jury investigation is still ongoing and no findings have been revealed. On Thursday, the Stroud Area Regional Police Department released a statement saying there is NO EVIDENCE that Dana Smithers disappearance, is in ANY WAY tied to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger. Smithers sister Stacey also said that the two cases are not connected. Stacey told NewsNation that authorities had told her even before Mr Kohbergers arrest and therefore before the discovery of Smithers remains that a grand jury was meeting to investigate her sisters case and other cases. Following Mr Kohbergers arrest the grand jury investigated whether he could have been tied to her disappearance but she said it became clear the cases werent connected and the accused killer was not in the area at the time she went missing. Back in January, Stacey had posted an update on the Facebook page Finding Dana saying that many people had contacted her about a possible link between her sisters disappearance and the Idaho murders. Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 (Instagram) Thank you to everyone who has been reaching out recently regarding the possibility of the suspect in the horrific murders in Idaho having been in our area around the time of my sister, Danas disappearance, she wrote. I have forwarded all of your suggestions on to local law enforcement. Please pray for everyone involved. However, it comes following a report that one of the accused killers older sisters grew increasingly suspicious that her brother could have been involved in the Idaho murders prior to his arrest. Her suspicions were so great that at one point several family members searched Mr Kohbergers white Hyundai Elantra for possible evidence of the crime when the family gathered to spend the holidays together, sources told NBCs Dateline. They found nothing but investigators had already allegedly seen Mr Kohberger scrubbing his car with bleach. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The parents of Idaho student murders suspect Bryan Kohberger have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in the familys home state of Pennsylvania in the case of a woman found dead one year after her sudden disappearance, it has been revealed. Mr Kohbergers father is expected to testify before the grand jury in a sealed proceeding in Monroe County on Thursday, a source told CNN. His mother has already given evidence to the grand jury, the source told the news outlet and added that their testimony, which will be given under oath, may be shared with Idaho prosecutors. The investigation is said to be about the disappearance and death of a 45-year-old woman Dana Smithers, reported Eyewitness News. Smithers vanished without a trace back in May 2022 when she left a friends house in Monroe County the same Pennsylvania county where Mr Kohberger lived at the time before he moved to Washington state that summer to pursue a graduate program in criminal justice. For over a year, the mother-of-threes family desperately searched for answers. Last month on 27 April her remains were found in a wooded area in Stroudsburg. Her cause of death is not yet known and her remains had to be identified using dental records. Despite the bombshell development, Mr Kohberger has a solid alibi for Smithers disappearance and is likely not connected, a source told Eyewitness News. The grand jury investigation is still ongoing. It is not clear what the Mr Kohbergers parents Michael and Maryann Kohberger are being asked in connection to the case. However, it comes following a report that one of the accused killers older sisters grew increasingly suspicious that her brother could have been involved in the Idaho murders prior to his arrest. Bryan Kohberger appears in court for his arraignment (Reuters) Her suspicions were so great that at one point several family members searched Mr Kohbergers white Hyundai Elantra for possible evidence of the crime when the family gathered to spend the holidays together back in Pennsylvania, sources told NBCs Dateline. In the Smithers case, a lawyer for Mr Kohbergers parents tried unsuccessfully to have the subpoenas cancelled, the source told CNN. Pennsylvania judges will then be permitted to share transcripts of the grand jury witness testimony with law enforcement agencies across the country in Idaho. Mr Kohberger is accused of brutally killing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on 13 November in a horror attack that rocked the college town of Moscow and sent shockwaves across America. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student appeared in Latah County Court on Monday morning where he refused to enter a plea on four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of burglary. Shackled and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, the accused killer showed no emotion as the judge read out the charges and the names of the four victims who he is accused of violently killing. Mr Kohberger spoke only to answer defiantly and loudly yes and yes I do when asked if he understood the charges, maximum penalties and his rights in the court. Dana Smithers was found dead last month (Stacey Smithers) His attorney Anne Taylor told the court that he was standing silent on the charges, leaving the judge to enter not guilty pleas on his behalf. Judge John Judge set Mr Kohbergers trial date for 2 October 2023 and the prosecution now has 60 days to confirm whether or not they are seeking the death penalty. Mr Kohberger had been due to appear in court for a week-long preliminary hearing on 26 June, where the prosecution would lay out the case and evidence against the suspect. However, last week, a grand jury indicted Mr Kohberger on the charges, paving the way for the case to proceed to trial without that hearing. Mr Kohberger is accused of breaking into an off-campus student home on King Road in the early hours of 13 November and stabbing the four students to death with a large, military-style knife. Two other female roommates lived with the three women at the property and were home at the time of the massacre but survived. One of the survivors Dylan Mortensen came face to face with the masked killer, dressed in head-to-toe black and with bushy eyebrows, as he left the home in the aftermath of the murders, according to the criminal affidavit. For more than six weeks, the college town of Moscow was plunged into fear as the accused killer remained at large with no arrests made and no suspects named. Then, on 30 December, law enforcement suddenly swooped on Mr Kohbergers family home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania and arrested him for the quadruple murders. The motive remains unknown and it is still unclear what connection the WSU PhD student had to the University of Idaho students if any prior to the murders. However, the affidavit, released in January, revealed that Mr Kohbergers DNA was found on a knife sheath left behind at the scene of the murders. It also revealed that his white Hyundai Elantra was caught on surveillance footage close to the crime scene. New details have emerged since about what was found during an initial search of his apartment in Pullman and a rental storage unit. The court documents show that two items found in his apartment a mattress cover on the bed and an uncased pillow tested positive for blood. The documents do not reveal who the blood belongs to. Investigators also seized a string of other items from his home including possible human and animal hair strands, a disposable glove and a computer. Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, took this photo together hours before they died (Instagram/Kaylee Goncalves) Meanwhile, the murder weapon a fixed-blade knife has still never been found. As a criminal justice PhD student at WSU, Mr Kohberger lived just 15 minutes from the victims over the Idaho-Washington border in Pullman. He had moved there from Pennsylvania and began his studies there that summer, having just completed his first semester before his arrest. Before this, he studied criminology at DeSales University first as an undergraduate and then finishing his graduate studies in June 2022. While there, he studied under renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland who interviewed the BTK serial killer and co-wrote the book Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer with him. He also carried out a research project to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime. He is facing life in prison or the death penalty for the murders that have rocked the small college town of Moscow and hit headlines around the globe. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The families of two of the four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in an off-campus home are now preparing to sue the college over their brutal murders, it has been revealed. An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month leaving them open to filing lawsuits within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, protect their rights to sue the University of Idaho, Washington State University the university where accused killer Bryan Kohberger was a student the city of Moscow and Idaho State Police. No lawsuit has been filed at this stage and the notices do not reveal what claim the families may make or how much damages they may seek. The families attorney Shanon Gray said that the legal move isnt meant to do anything other than protect the interests of the families and the victims moving forward. Filing a tort claims notice is really just a safeguard, he told ABC News. Its a safeguard to protect the interests of the families, the victims and really the whole community around, because if something goes wrong, or was done improperly, then someone is held accountable for that. The notices, filed in early May, come as the man accused of killing Goncalves, Mogen, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Etham Chapin, 20, appeared in court for his arraignment. Mr Kohberger, a 28-year-old criminology PhD student, appeared in Latah County Court on Monday morning where he refused to enter a plea on four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of burglary. Shackled and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, the accused killer showed no emotion as the judge read out the charges and the names of the four victims who he is accused of violently killing. Mr Kohberger spoke only to answer defiantly and loudly yes and yes I do when asked if he understood the charges, maximum penalties and his rights in the court. Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves pictured together before their murders (Instagram) His attorney Anne Taylor told the court that he was standing silent on the charges, leaving the judge to enter not guilty pleas on his behalf. Judge John Judge set Mr Kohbergers trial date for 2 October 2023 and the prosecution now has 60 days to confirm whether or not they are seeking the death penalty. Mr Kohberger had been due to appear in court for a week-long preliminary hearing on 26 June, where the prosecution would lay out the case and evidence against the suspect. However, last week, a grand jury indicted Mr Kohberger on the charges, paving the way for the case to proceed to trial without that hearing. Mr Kohberger is accused of breaking into an off-campus student home on King Road in the early hours of 13 November and stabbing the four students to death with a large, military-style knife. Two other female roommates lived with the three women at the property and were home at the time of the massacre but survived. One of the survivors Dylan Mortensen came face to face with the masked killer, dressed in head-to-toe black and with bushy eyebrows, as he left the home in the aftermath of the murders, according to the criminal affidavit. For more than six weeks, the college town of Moscow was plunged into fear as the accused killer remained at large with no arrests made and no suspects named. Then, on 30 December, law enforcement suddenly swooped on Mr Kohbergers family home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania and arrested him for the quadruple murders. The motive remains unknown and it is still unclear what connection the WSU PhD student had to the University of Idaho students if any prior to the murders. However, the affidavit, released in January, revealed that Mr Kohbergers DNA was found on a knife sheath left behind at the scene of the murders. It also revealed that his white Hyundai Elantra was caught on surveillance footage close to the crime scene. New details have emerged since about what was found during an initial search of his apartment in Pullman and a rental storage unit. Bryan Kohberger listens in court at his arraignment (Reuters) The court documents show that two items found in his apartment a mattress cover on the bed and an uncased pillow tested positive for blood. The documents do not reveal who the blood belongs to. Investigators also seized a string of other items from his home including possible human and animal hair strands, a disposable glove and a computer. Meanwhile, the murder weapon a fixed-blade knife has still never been found. As a criminal justice PhD student at WSU, Mr Kohberger lived just 15 minutes from the victims over the Idaho-Washington border in Pullman. He had moved there from Pennsylvania and began his studies there that summer, having just completed his first semester before his arrest. Before this, he studied criminology at DeSales University first as an undergraduate and then finishing his graduate studies in June 2022. Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, took this photo together hours before they died While there, he studied under renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland who interviewed the BTK serial killer and co-wrote the book Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer with him. He also carried out a research project to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime. He is facing life in prison or the death penalty for the murders that have rocked the small college town of Moscow and hit headlines around the globe. Close Moment Idaho student murders suspect arrives in court for arraignment Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Pennsylvania have spoken out about the possible connection between Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger and the death of a woman whose body was found almost a year after her disappearance. It emerged this week that Mr Kohbergers parents had been ordered to testify before a grand jury investigating the disappearance and death of Dana Smithers, 45. Smithers vanished without a trace in May 2022 from Monroe County, Pennsylvania where Mr Kohberger was living at the time. Her remains were found last month in a wooded area, her cause of death still unknown. A source told CNN that the accused killers mother had already given evidence to the grand jury while his father was appearing to testify on Thursday. Stroud Area Regional Police Department has now issued a statement insisting there is NO EVIDENCE that Dana Smithers disappearance, is in ANY WAY tied to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger. The development comes days after Mr Kohberger was arraigned on four counts of murder and one count of burglary in Moscow, Idaho. Mr Kohberger is accused of killing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on 13 November. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Kentucky man allegedly shot his roommate in the backside after accusing him of eating the last Hot Pocket snack in the house. The Louisville Metro Police Department says that the victim, who has not been named, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the bizarre incident. Clifton Williams, 64, was arrested on Sunday and charged with second-degree assault, police said. When he appeared in court on Monday Mr Williams pleaded not guilty, according to Louisvilles WAVE. Clifton Williams accused of shooting roommate for eating last Hot Pocket (LMPD) A police citation stated that a physical fight had first broken out over the fate of the frozen food. Mr Williams got mad he ate the last Hot Pocket, the citation read, and allegedly began throwing tiles at him. The victim tried to fight back and threatened Mr Williams before leaving the home. Investigators claim that Mr Williams then got a gun and followed the victim outside where he shot him in the backside. The victim travelled several blocks to get help and was taken to the University of Louisville Hospital for treatment. Mr Williams was released on a $7,500 bond and is due back in court on 30 May for a preliminary hearing in the case. He faces between five to 10 years if convicted of second-degree assault. In Kentucky, that offence is charged if someone intentionally causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The leader of the far-right Oath Keepers anti-government militia has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after federal prosecutors argued he committed an act of terrorism on January 6. Last year, a jury found Elmer Stewart Rhodes guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 in a violent attempt by Donald Trumps supporters to overturn the results of an American election. Rhodes is a former Army paratrooper and Yale Law School graduate who formed the anti-government extremist group and launched it at rally in Lexington, Massachusetts, in 2009. He was dressed in a prison-issued orange jumpsuit during his sentencing hearing in US District Court in Washington DC on 25 May, at which he described himself as a political prisoner. The Oath Keepers say that their mission is to defend the rights of Americans from the government, with the groups name referring to the oath they have taken to defend the US Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. From its inception, observers say that the group has tried to recruit members of the military and law enforcement into its ranks. In 2014 Mr Rhodes claimed that the group, which has chapters across the US, had 35,000 dues-paying members, although experts say that number is more likely to be around 5,000. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors extremist groups, the main crux of the groups messaging asserts that the government is engaged in attacks against its own citizens, working to strip them of their civil liberties. FILE - This artist sketch depicts the trial of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, left, as he testifies before U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on charges of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Nov. 7, 2022. (AP) The SPLC states that the group advocates for Americans to prepare for inevitable conflict with the government by stockpiling goods and supplies, engaging in paramilitary training and working to create small, self-reliant community networks. Mr Rhodes has not shied away from his goal for the group. We want to see a restoration of the militia in this country, he said during an appearance on the God and Guns podcast. We think a good first step is to have the veterans stand up in every community and go help form and train neighborhood watches, to get the people to take back into their own hands their own personal self-defense and security. (Nathan Posner/Shutterstock) Since its formation, the group has shown up at a string of high-profile incidents across the US. In April 2014, they took part in the protest at the Nevada ranch of Cliven Bundy but left amid false claims that the Obama administration was going to launch a drone attack. They also showed up in Ferguson, Missouri, following the death of Black teen Michael Brown, where police said they illegally tried to protect local businesses from rioters without proper licenses. During the 2016 election, the group threw its support behind Donald Trump, claiming that the one-term president was an ally in the fight against a corrupt elite. And following the 2020 election Mr Rhodes pushed Mr Trumps false claims of a stolen election, urging people at a Stop the Steal rally in Virginia to not accept Joe Bidens victory. What do you have right now if nothing but a communist insurrection intent on overthrowing our Constitution? he told the rally. After a nearly two-month trial, Rhodes and Oath Keepers member Kelly Meggs were found guilty of seditious conspiracy after jurors deliberated for three full days. Three other Oath Keepers associates were charged in the case but were found not guilty. Rhodes and his allies spent weeks discussing a violent response to the 2020 election on encrypted messaging apps, then organised a weapons and supply cache at a nearby hotel before joining the mob that broke through the Capitols doors and windows to storm the halls of Congress and block the certification of Joe Bidens presidency, according to federal prosecutors. US District Judge Amit Mehta told the court on 25 May that seditious conspiracy is among the most serious crimes an individual American can commit and an offence against the people of the country. What we cannot have, we absolutely cannot have, is a group of citizens who because they didnt like the outcome were then prepared to take up arms in order to foment a revolution. Thats what you did, he told Rhodes. You are not a political prisoner, Mr Rhodes. For decades, Rhodes wanted American democracy to devolve into violence, Judge Mehta said. You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country and its democracy and the very fabric of this country, he added. You are smart, you are compelling, and you are charismatic. Frankly, that is what makes you dangerous. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An Arkansas man who propped his feet on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office in a widely circulated photo from the US Capitol riot was sentenced Wednesday to more than four years in prison - after a judge dismissed his claim of being a passive participant in the mob. Richard Bigo Barnett became one of the faces of the January 6 riot by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, and US District Judge Christopher Cooper said in announcing that sentence that Barnett seemed at times to enjoy the notoriety. All the folks who follow Bigo need to know the actions of January 6 cannot be repeated without some serious repercussions, Judge Cooper said, alluding to the media attention and social media following Barnett attracted after the riot. The 54-month sentence for Barnett, a retired firefighter from Gravette, Arkansas, comes after he was convicted at trial on eight counts, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, in this case a 6 January 2021 session of Congress to certify Joe Biden's victory over Mr Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The photos of Barnett lounging at a desk in Ms Pelosis office made him one of the most memorable figures from the riot. Barnett, 63, testified he was going with the flow and struck a pose after news photographers told him to "act natural." He told the judge that joining the riot was an enigma my life that he regretted, but said prosecutors wanted him to be remorseful for things I did not do." January 6 was a traumatic day for everyone, not just law enforcement, he said. He has vowed to appeal his conviction. He testified at trial that he was swept along with the crowd into the Capitol, and was looking for a bathroom when he unwittingly entered Ms Pelosis office and encountered two news photographers. Judge Cooper, though, said he did not believe Barnett played such a passive role. You were an active participant, he said. It was established at trial that Barnett brought into the Capitol a stun gun with spikes, concealed within a collapsible walking stick. Barnett also took a piece of Ms Pelosi's mail and left behind a note that said, Nancy, Bigo was here, punctuating the message with a sexist expletive. Before leaving Capitol grounds, Barnett used a bullhorn to give a speech to the crowd, shouting, We took back our house, and I took Nancy Pelosis office! according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also said Barnett has since posted falsehoods on social media about January 6 and downplaying his role. The defendant still believes he can say or do whatever he wants and if someone else is threatened by it, thats their problem, prosecutor Alison Prout said. Defence attorney Jonathan Gross said Barnett didn't hurt anyone or damage property, and was being singled out because the photo had made him famous. Mr Barnett should not be punished because the government thinks he's a symbol, he said. Judge Coopers sentence fell short of the approximately seven years prosecutors sought, though it was more than defence attorneys' request for a 12-month term. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Just over 500 of them have been sentenced. More than half have received prison terms ranging from a week to over 14 years. Also sentenced Wednesday was Robert Morss of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. He got more than five years in prison after being convicted on three counts. Prosecutors say Morss dressed in fatigues and tried to take a baton from an officer, as well as shields, while working to organize members of the crowd to push past Capitol guards. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The leader of the far-right anti-government militia group the Oath Keepers was sentenced to 18 years in prison, after federal prosecutors argued that Stewart Rhodes committed an act of terrorism by conspiring to commit treason in what became a violent attempt to overturn the results of an American election. Last year, a jury found Rhodes guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. He wore a prison-issued orange jumpsuit to his sentencing hearing in US District Court in Washington DC on 25 May. His sentencing is the first among January 6 defendants convicted of seditious conspiracy, and the first among hundreds of cases stemming from the attack that includes additional terrorism-related penalties. Federal prosecutors sought a sentence of 25 years, with an enhanced sentence for crimes they compared to terrorism, arguing in court filings that the need to deter others is especially strong because Rhodes engaged in acts that were intended to influence the government through intimidation or coercion. In other words, terrorism, prosecutors wrote. Rhodes, speaking in his defense for more than 20 minutes at his sentencing hearing, called himself a political prisoner. His only crime, he said, was opposing those who are destroying our country, comparing himself to Donald Trump, whose baseless narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him fuelled the siege in the halls of Congress. Under my oath, I cannot ignore the text of the Constitution, said Rhodes, who was convicted of plotting an attempt to oppose the constitutionally mandated transfer of presidential power. US District Judge Amit Mehta told the court on 25 May that seditious conspiracy is among the most serious crimes an individual American can commit and an offense against the people of the country. What we cannot have, we absolutely cannot have, is a group of citizens who because they didnt like the outcome were then prepared to take up arms in order to foment a revolution. Thats what you did, he told Rhodes. You are not a political prisoner, Mr Rhodes. For decades, Rhodes wanted American democracy to devolve into violence, Judge Mehta said. You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country and its democracy and the very fabric of this country, he added. You are smart, you are compelling, and you are charismatic. Frankly, that is what makes you dangerous. Rhodes, expressing no remorse for his actions, sought leniency for his sentence after his November conviction alongside several other Oath Keepers members who faced a range of federal charges for their roles in the riots. After a nearly two-month trial, Rhodes and Oath Keepers member Kelly Meggs were found guilty of seditious conspiracy after jurors deliberated for three full days. Three other Oath Keepers associates were charged in the case but were found not guilty. Jurors were asked to consider whether the Oath Keepers were not only motivated by Mr Trumps baseless narrative but also had planned to forcibly disrupt the peaceful transfer of power during a joint session of Congress. Rhodes and his allies spent weeks discussing a violent response to the 2020 election on encrypted messaging apps, then organised a weapons and supply cache at a nearby hotel before joining the mob that broke through the Capitols doors and windows to storm the halls of Congress and block the certification of Joe Bidens presidency, according to federal prosecutors. Rhodes and Meggs who were also charged alongside Jessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson and Thomas Caldwell were among the first Americans to be convicted of treason-related charges in decades, representing the largest case with the most serious charges to grow out of the sprawling criminal investigation from the US Department of Justice. All five defendants were found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress. Meggs and Watkins were also found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct. Federal prosecutors did not allege that the group had a plan to break into the Capitol but had conspired to commit an act of treason against the federal government. They took matters out of the hands of the people, and put rifles into their own hands, assistant US attorney Jeffrey Nestler told jurors during his closing remarks in the trial last year. They claimed to wrap themselves in the constitution. They trampled it instead. They claimed to be saving the Republic, but they fractured it. Fourteen others connected to the January 6 attack, including the leader of the neo-fascist gang the Proud Boys and three of his lieutenants, have either been convicted by a jury or pleaded guilty on charges of seditious conspiracy in the aftermath of the riots major victories for the Justice Department. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. A courtroom sketch depicts Stewart Rhodes with US District Judge Amit Mehta during a seditious conspiracy trial in November 2022. (AP) Rhodes and Meggs not only contributed to the attack on the Capitol but helped to organize it and their sentences will be noted by those who would foment such political violence in the future, prosecutors wrote in court filings. In those documents, federal prosecutors outlined for the first time what the Justice Department believes is an appropriate prison sentence for a defendant convicted of sedition in connection with the attack. These defendants attempted to silence millions of Americans who had placed their vote for a different candidate, to ignore the variety of legal and judicial mechanisms that lawfully scrutinized the electoral process leading up to and on January 6, and to shatter the democratic system of governance enshrined in our laws and in our Constitution, prosecutors wrote in the filing. And when they did not get what they wanted, they acted by together attacking the very people and place at the very time when those laws were in action. These defendants are in part responsible for that national tragedy and played significant roles in spreading doubt about the presidential election and turning others against the government, and they are incomparable to the actions of single actors on January 6, according to prosecutors. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Supreme Court sided with a 94-year-old grandmother who sued a Minnesota county government after it sold her home over unpaid tax and pocketed the profits. In a unanimous decision handed down on Thursday, the justices ruled that Hennepin County had violated the 5th Amendments prohibition on seizing private property when it sold Geraldine Tylers $40,000 condominium in 2015 over an unpaid $15,000 tax bill. The County had the power to sell Tylers home to recover the unpaid property taxes. But it could not use the toehold of the tax debt to confiscate more property than was due, Chief Justice John Roberts said in a written opinion. The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesars, but no more. Ms Tylers home was seized over a $2,300 unpaid tax bill, which had soared to $15,000 with interest and penalties. She appealed the state forfeiture laws that allowed the county to keep $25,000 in surplus profits. Ms Tyler took the case to the Supreme Court in April after lower courts ruled against her. Attorneys from the Pacific Legal Foundation who represented the grandmother celebrated the decision as an important victory for property rights. Geraldine Tyler, 94, had her home taken by Hennepin County, Minnesota over $15,000 in unpaid property taxes, interests, and fees (Pacific Legal Foundation) This decision affirms that property rights are fundamental and dont depend solely on state law, Christina Martin said in a statement. The Courts ruling makes clear that home equity theft is not only unjust, but unconstitutional. Ms Tylers lawyers said she had fallen behind on property taxes after moving to an apartment for assisted senior living. The case will now go to trial in a lower court for Ms Tyler to argue that she is owed the fair market value of her property, minus her tax debt. Justice Roberts opinion stated that Minnesota law recognises in many other contexts that a property owner is entitled to the surplus in excess of her debt. "If a bank forecloses on a mortgaged property, state law entitles the homeowner to the surplus from the sale. And in collecting past due taxes on income or personal property, Minnesota protects the taxpayers right to surplus," his decision said. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a concurring opinion that the law also supported Ms Tyler over the state taking excessive fines. Economic penalties imposed to deter willful noncompliance with the law are fines by any other name, the justices wrote. And the Constitution has something to say about them: They cannot be excessive. The Pacific Legal Foundation said in a statement that more than a dozen states engage in home equity theft, costing homeowners more than $860m. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fox News host Greg Gutfeld sang the praises of an alleged child sex abuser during a recent episode of his show. Gutfeld made the comments on Monday during a segment discussing a 38-year-old math teacher who allegedly slept with a 16-year-old male student, according to Media Matters. "OK, this 38-year-old math teacher in California, was once named teacher of the year and I support that was arrested and booked into jail for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old male student. She posted bail but this is what bothers me," Gutfeld said during the broadcast. At that point, co-host Kat Timpf cut in and asked if "what bothers" Gutfeld is the fact that a teacher had sex with a minor who was also her student. "No, that she went to jail for it!" Gutfeld responded. "I'm sorry! Come on! 16-years-old I would have died for that!" Someone in the studio off-screen can be heard laughing. The camera then cuts to Timpf, who Gutfeld is goading for a response. "Again, I am vehemently against banging kids," she replies, to laughter. "I can't believe how many times I've had to say that just sitting in this chair." Gutfeld continues trying to break through to his co-hosts, asking them to "live in the real world", while Timpf walks back her joke, assuring the audience "I've never had to say it any other time." Regardless of what Gutfeld and Timpf's actual views on the subject are, neither appear to be taking the child sex abuse story seriously during that moment in the broadcast. "A 16-year-old boy! 16-year-old boy with like a hot teacher. You're, I mean what was the Van Halen song? Hot for teacher? That was written about this!" Gutfeld said. "It wasn't about, hey, let's have a responsible relationship with someone close to my age." He then tosses the subject to one of his guests, Dr Peter Boghossian an "intellectual dark web" type who quit his job teaching philosophy at Portland State University because it got too woke and asks him what he thinks. "Peter, you're a professor. You deal with, you've dealt with topics in a way like this. Am I right to say it's an unfair comparison to do the female-to-male teacher?" Gutfeld insists. "Like a male teacher, 38-year-old, creepy. Female, heroic." Timpf calls Gutfeld who just called an alleged child rapist a hero "disgusting". Mr Boghossian and the studio audience laugh. The Independent has reached out to Fox News for comment. Gutfeld has by his own admission been quick to sling the term "groomer" at LGBT+ activists and drag queens. Those allegations fuel conspiracy theories that LGBT+ people and media are secretly trying to corrupt and sexualize conservatives' children. Mr Boghossian gives a rambling explanation about how men and women are different and how society views men and women differently before ultimately concluding that yes, it is wrong to sexually abuse a child. Gutfeld tosses the same question to Never Back Down PAC comms director Erin Perrine, who seems incredulous that he even has to ask. "I agree with Kat [Timpf]! The idea that a teacher is sleeping with such a young student is wholly inappropriate," she said. Gutfeld then concedes that he does not condone the sex abuse, "I just envy it." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A television interview about crime reduction efforts in a Memphis park with a neighborhood resident was interrupted by a drive-by shooting happening in the area. Just as Yolanda, a resident of the Whitehaven neighbourhood in south Memphis identified only by her first name, was introducing herself to the camera, a number of gunshots rang out nearby. Yolanda and the television crew dove to the ground, where Yolanda could be heard saying: Its okay. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Just stay down and get down. The entire incident was captured on film by ABC24. After the shooting stopped, Yolanda could be heard comforting the reporter who was breathing heavily out of the frame. Its okay, James, Yolanda could be heard saying. Thank you Lord for the blood of Jesus that covers us. Thank you Father for the blood of Jesus. After another moment, Yolanda determined that the danger had passed. Alright, she said. We should be alright. Yolanda then asked whether the incident was a drive-by shooting and identified a black car as having been on the scene. No one was hurt in the shooting, which was reportedly aimed at an apartment building, and police have not yet made any arrests. ABC24 aired the footage of the incident after it was over, with the networks Richard Ransom mentioning that bullets had struck the building of a fellow news outlet several weeks ago. I fear its only a matter of time before some stations crew does get hurt, Ransom said. Doing an interview, in a park, at 11am, should not be dangerous. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Calls for unity dominated Thursday's 60th anniversary celebrations for the continent-wide organization preceding the African Union (AU) that represented 55 member states. But critics say the AU has become a paper tiger where there's plenty of talk, but not much much real clout to enforce its mandate. Africa Day events across the continent honored the founding of the AU's predecessor - The Organization of African Unity (OAU) -- whose original purpose was to fight colonialism before evolving in 2002 to incorporate the aims of defending it's members sovereignty and independence as well as encouraging their socio-economic integration. In Addis Ababa where the AU is seated, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed underscored that unity is no more a catchphrase but a means of survival in an increasingly complex world. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa echoed Abiy, appealing for unity and to uphold the bonds that frame our destiny. In his address, Abiy argued for the need of an African permanent seat at the UN Security Council and proportionate representation at the G7 and G20. Ramaphosa urged for improved governance across the continent amid the conflict in Sudan as well as previous coups in Chad, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. We use Africa Day to reaffirm the importance of consolidating democracy and consolidating good governance across Africa, Ramaphosa said. Critics say the AU has failed to achieve some of its objectives, but supporters argue that it's powers are restricted so as to allow the members' heads of state to remain in control. Kenyan political analyst and lawyer Danstan Omari says the AU is a dead bulldog that lacks mechanisms to enforce any of its mandate. Its a talk show that has no impact at all. If you dont have the mechanisms to enforce anything, then why are you there? So in my own view its a body that needs to be completely removed, Omari told the Associated Press. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has begun meeting with Democratic and Republican leaders in the statehouse to try to end a three-week-old boycott by GOP senators. Her office said Wednesday this year's troubled legislative session has reached a crucial point. No progress was announced, however, with only one month remaining in the session that began Jan. 17. Because of the walkout, over 100 bills that have emerged from committees remain in limbo. Both the Senate and House must also approve state budgets for the next two years before the session closes by a June 25 deadline. Republican Senate Minority Leader Sen. Tim Knopp said on Tuesday the boycotters are not returning until the session's last day, when they intend to pass bipartisan budgets and bills. The walkout, which began on May 3 ostensibly because bill summaries werent written at an eighth grade level as required by a long-forgotten law, has focused on a sweeping measure on abortion rights and gender-affirming care that the conservatives particularly object to, and a gun safety measure that would raise the minimum purchasing age of AR-15-style rifles and some other firearms from 18 to 21. The walkout hit the three-week mark on Wednesday and is reportedly the longest in Oregon history. Republicans carried out boycotts in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and Democrats did so in 2001 to prevent a quorum of two-thirds of members. The governor recognizes that we are at a crucial point in session. She has been listening to all concerns and gathering all perspectives ... She will continue meeting with legislative leaders in the coming days in hopes of finding a resolution, said Anca Matica, the Democratic governors spokesperson. Kotek met separately with Democratic and Republican caucus leaders on Monday, with most Republicans dialing in instead of appearing in person. She has not ruled out ordering the Oregon State Police to bring the boycotters to the Senate floor to reach a quorum in the 30-member chamber. Then-Gov. Kate Brown in 2019 instructed state police to track down and round up boycotting senators, but most had fled to neighboring states out of the officers' jurisdiction. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Tim Knopp told reporters on May 3 that legal action would be taken if the state police try to forcibly bring boycotters to the Senate floor. Knopp recalled that in the 2019 boycott, he got a call from then state police Superintendent Travis Hampton while hiding out in Spokane, Washington. Knopp suspected that Hampton was trying to triangulate Knopp's location with the call, but the superintendent replied that he already knew Knopp's whereabouts. And he said, Youre out of our reach, Knopp said. Knopp said if the governor deploys the state police this time, they would probably make calls. They would probably visit homes. "We dont believe they have a legal authority to detain or put hands on anyone. Should that happen, legal action will be taken immediately, Knopp said. Under a ballot measure passed by Oregonians last November, Knopp is among nine Republican senators and the Senates lone Independent who have become disqualified from being seated in the Legislature after their terms expire because they have 10 or more unexcused absences this year. That limit was set by a ballot measure that almost 70% of Oregonians voted for last November and is now part of the state Constitution. Some of those senators who want to seek reelection in 2024 are expected to file court challenges to the ballot measure once they can begin filing as candidates in September. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As he launches his presidential campaign, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is being mocked for the choice of logo greeting visitors to his official website as he files the paperwork to officially become a candidate taking on former President Donald Trump. Before his event hosted on Twitter alongside the platforms owner Elon Musk, his campaign site consisted of a simple image of an alligator in a swamp. The logo appears to be intended as a reference to Mr DeSantiss home state of Florida, but Twitter users were quick to mock the choice of the logo as depicting a swamp creature after Mr Trump spent much of the 2016 campaign pledging to drain the swamp in reference to Washington, DC and railing against the deep state. Look, Im doing my best to stay neutral (for now), but using a swamp creature as a teaser for your presidential campaign seems like quite the misstep, Nick Sortor tweeted. Could this be the biggest communications blunder by Team DeSantis so far? another Twitter user asked. Far-right commentator Laura Loomer wrote: So hes admitting hes a Swamp creature? Got it. Im amazed at how s***y @GovRonDeSantiss political instincts are When he loses the primary, Im going to eat some fried gator to celebrate. An adviser for Mr Trump previously told Fox News that announcing on Twitter is perfect for Ron DeSantis because this way he doesnt have to interact with people and the media cant ask him any questions. One of Mr DeSantiss supposed weaknesses compared to the former president, whos more than 30 years his senior, is thought to be his lack of charisma and ability to personally connect with voters. The Twitter Spaces event on Wednesday will be moderated by tech entrepreneur David Sacks, a supporter of the governor and an adviser to Mr Musk, according to NBC News. The alligator image also appeared on Mr DeSantiss Twitter account. DeSantis changed his Twitter banner to a swamp creature right before his Presidential bid announcement. You cant make this stuff up, one Twitter user said. The Trump campaign released an ad slamming Mr DeSantis as a swamp creature. Rick Wilson, a former Republican strategist who later turned on the party with his work at the Lincoln Project, wrote on Wednesday morning that Today is the day Ron DeSantis emerges from his cocoon, blossoms into a beautiful butterfly, flutters around the forests of Elon, and then is eaten by a giant buzzard named Donald Trump. Far-right Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted on Wednesday afternoon that Mr DeSantis is not a serious candidate. America First Republicans and MAGA have been loud and clear: President Donald J. Trump is the only candidate they want to send to the general election in 2024, she added. Joe Walsh, a former Illinois GOP Representative, told The Miami Herald that I dont want Donald Trump to be the nominee because I do consider him an existential threat. I think most Never Trumpers would probably support DeSantis, even those who dont like him and have reservations, he added. Lawyer Ron Filipkowski, a strong critic of Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis, told the paper that I think DeSantis is just an a** and extreme right-winger who likes to play to the mob a little too much. But I dont think DeSantis is going to pull us out of NATO or fire half the civil service. Reacting to those comments, Donald Trump Jr tweeted: Theres only one candidate for President that the radical left and the establishment RINOs actually fear and his name is Donald J. Trump! Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Protesters demonstrated outside a luxury hotel in Miami as wealth donors to newly announced 2024 candidate Ron DeSantis met. The protest assembled outside the citys Four Seasons hotel hours before Mr DeSantis announced his bid for the presidency in a chaotic Twitter event with Elon Musk. Mr DeSantis was not actually present at the hotel, according to the Miami Herald. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr DeSantis filed his statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. The long-awaited move by the Florida governor follows a campaign announcement video released a day earlier by his wife, Casey, on Twitter. A video of the protest was posted to Twitter by Natasha Korecki of NBC News. The rising Republican star is in his second term as governor of the trending-red Sunshine State, having won re-election by double digits just last year. He previously won election to office in 2018 by a fraction of a percentage point. But not everyone is happy that he is taking his far-right brand of politics to the national stage. The Four Seasons crowd which seemingly numbered around 100 protesters, according to the Miami Herald chanted F*** DeSantis as the meeting took place. Ban DeSantis not books one sign reads. Protect trans youth, reads another. Crowd chanting fuck DeSantis pic.twitter.com/XRxSTn3kIH Natasha Korecki (@natashakorecki) May 24, 2023 Signs also read Ban DeSantis not books and Protect trans youth. Earlier this month, more than a dozen people were arrested for protesting outside Mr DeSantiss Florida Capitol office. The 14 arrested were charged with misdemeanour trespass and were booked into the Leon County Jail, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The protest was organised by a human rights group called the Dream Defenders. Mr DeSantis has leaned heavily into right-wing culture war issues during his time as Florida governor and will hope that helps him in his bid to win the GOP presidential nomination. Months of polling have shown him consistently behind Donald Trump in a Republican primary matchup. That same polling has shown him in the double digits, however, which is consistently better than rivals such as Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson and others. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday said he would aggressively use presidential pardons to free people whove been charged or convicted of crimes including former President Donald Trump. Speaking during an interview with hosts Buck Sexton and Clay Travis, Mr DeSantis claimed that the Department of Justice has been weaponised under the Biden Administration. He cited a laundry list of GOP grievances about federal law enforcement targeting conservative activists and other GOP figures who have allegedly violated federal laws. What Im going to do is ... on day one, I will have folks that will get together and look at all these cases, who people are victims of weaponisation or political targeting, and we will be aggressive at issuing pardons, he said. Mr DeSantis downplayed what he described as technical violations of the law and suggested hed issue pardons for January 6 rioters because Black Lives Matter protesters have not been prosecuted to the same extent by the federal government. If there are other people who did the same thing, but just in a context like BLM and they dont get prosecuted at all, that is uneven application of justice, and so were going to find ways where that did not happen. And then we will use the pardon power and I will do that at the front end, he said. Asked whether hed look at granting blanket reprieves to Mr Trump, who is currently the target of multiple criminal probes including one looking at his alleged unlawful retention of national defence information and his efforts to obstruct that probe, the Florida governor said any example of disfavoured treatment based on politics or weaponisation would be included in his review of charges brought under the Biden Administration, including the twice-impeached ex-president. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ron DeSantis began a whirlwind media tour around the launch of his 2024 presidential campaign with an interview on Fox News on Wednesday evening when the governor outlined his misconceptions about climate change. Mr DeSantis was speaking to former congressman Trey Gowdy, a conservative Republican who himself is a climate change denier, in an interview with the conservative news network following his disastrous Twitter Spaces event minutes earlier with Elon Musk. Gowdy began the conversation on the topic by bluntly noting that Florida had experienced a number of hurricanes a statement of the profoundly obvious before asking the governor for his views on climate change and the governments role in addressing it. Mr DeSantis responded by correctly noting that Florida was not experiencing an increase in the number of hurricanes making landfall, and referred to the existence of those storms as a fact of life in the Sunshine State. He then swerved into denialism with his next remark, however, quipping that people said when we had [Hurricane] Ian, it was because of climate change. Ive always rejected the politicisation of the weather, Mr DeSantis said. The governor went on to say that he believed emissions could be reduced by encouraging innovation in the private sector, and dismissed the necessity or effectiveness of government regulations on that subject. While the governor rightly noted that Florida is not experiencing more hurricanes making landfall as a result of climate change, the statement itself is rooted in a misunderstanding of the issue. While some advocates for addressing man-made climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions have incorrectly made that assertion, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that warming temperatures are contributing to a two-pronged trend the frequency of hurricanes is dropping around the world, while the average intensity (judged by the number of category 3 storms or higher) is rising. And there are other reasons for Florida, surrounded by coastline, to be concerned about warming temperatures. Coastal areas will see continued sea level rise throughout the 21st century, contributing to more frequent and severe coastal flooding in low-lying areas and coastal erosion. Extreme sea level events that previously occurred once in 100 years could happen every year by the end of this century, reads the UN panels report. Mr DeSantiss entry into the 2024 Republican field was marred by technical difficulties that delayed the beginning of his Twitter Spaces launch event; the governors candidacy has received heightened national attention due to his longstanding status as Donald Trumps only competitive challenger for the GOP nomination, as judged by polling of Republican voters. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} If Ron DeSantis was hoping for a flashy entrance into the 2024 race for the White House, Wednesdays Twitter Spaces event hosted by CEO Elon Musk and moderator David Sacks was not it. The long-awaited official launch event of the DeSantis 2024 campaign ended up being a disjointed mess peppered with technical issues that was instantly ridiculed by his political enemies. The governor spoke for a little more than an hour before he rushed off to attend a slightly more technically-sound interview on the Fox News channel; the Twitter event began late, with the first iteration of the chat room crashing and haveing to be rebooted. Campaign staffers for President Joe Biden didnt miss the opportunity to stick a knife in the governors wound, tweeting: This link works, and providing a portal to a donation page. The second iteration fared better, but quickly became equally as focused on a sort of Elon Musk lovefest as it was on the Florida governor, who found himself pushing his record in the state at every opportunity while other speakers focused on national issues including, mainly, the supposed censorship of conservatives on social media platforms. He found no openings to substantively hit former President Donald Trump, who meanwhile was battering the governor in a series of press releases and Truth Social postings. Mr DeSantiss launch event was joined by Congressman Thomas Massie, an endorser of the governor in the House of Representatives. Still, Mr Massie couldnt help ending his remarks not with a rousing call to support his friend, the governor, but rather with starstruck praise for Mr Musk including the excited declaration that he owned a Tesla. The governor spent a notable portion of his time defending his war against the Disney corporation, which has begun to look increasingly costly for the state of Florida with the company filing a lawsuit against him and accusing him of using his office to discriminate against their business over a political agenda. The Disney corporation recently announced that it was axing a major business development project in Orlando as the dispute escalated, which did not escape Mr DeSantiss focus on Wednesday evening. He complained that the once-planned project was wholly unrelated to the states dispute with Disneys self-managed business district, and speculated without any real knowledge that the company had fallen on tough financial times, supposedly necessitating the shuttering of the project. His remarks came as foes on all sides mocked the governors belly-flop into the 2024 race; Donald Trump, his main rival for the GOP nomination, dubbed the event Mr DeSantiss failure to launch in a press release from his campaign, while Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gleefully noted that her own non-campaign-related Among Us session with Twitch streamers Hasanabi and Pokimane had easily surpassed the attendance of Mr Musk and Mr DeSantiss Twitter Space. Even frequent Musk fanboy Catturd2, a hero of the right-wing Twittersphere, panned the event as like being forced to listen to a conference call you can't wait to get off of. "Ron DeSantis botched campaign announcement is another example of why he is just not ready for the job. The stakes are too high, and the fight to save America is too critical to gamble on a first-timer who is clearly not ready for prime time. President Trump is the proven leader that will be ready on day one to turn the country around, said a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign. The bloodletting didnt stop there. Mr DeSantis couldnt even find a friendly reception on the website of Fox News, where he was headed only minutes later for an interview, which dubbed the event amateur hour. Much-hyped Ron DeSantis presidential announcement a disaster on Twitter, declared the conservative news site in a headline. Altogether, the reception of the event was indeed a disaster even if the performance of the candidate himself found little room for critiques. The governor sounded composed and prepared to hit his talking points on the rare occaision that he actually got to make them, and there were none of the awkward gaffes that have hounded his potential general election opponent Joe Biden. But the actual event itself, with control of much of it being handed away from the DeSantis campaign, was at times hardly focused on the candidate itself. Compounded by the audio-only nature of the discussion, it led to a series of branding and showmanship failures that quickly added up to a muddled mess which was potentially, in the end, less impressive than the campaign launch of longshot candidate Sen Tim Scott earlier in the week. Mr DeSantis enters the 2024 race as the only Republican polling in the double digits in matchups against Donald Trump and others. But Wednesday nights wheezing jog onto the track by the Florida governor did not give the impression of a candidate capable of maintaining a sustained campaign against the former president, who has already focused his sights directly on his rival. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump Jr and Rep George Santos mocked Ron DeSantis as his Twitter Spaces presidential announcement with Elon Musk crashed from tech issues. The Twitter event, which began at 6pm ET, was plunged into chaos when it was hit by tech issues and dropped audio almost immediately. David Sacks, one of the moderators of the event, said the massive number of participants was melting the servers. Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of the one-term president, took to Twitter to ridicule his fathers main rival for the GOP presidential nomination, branding the campaign launch a DeSaster. DeSantis is making JEB! look high energy right now, he added. Meanwhile, Mr Santos, a Republican congressman from New York facing federal charges of fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and false statements, also got in on the fun. Twitter is crashing! LOL, the embattled lawmaker tweeted. And a Trump campaign spokesperson added: Glitchy. Tech issues. Uncomfortable silences. A complete failure to launch. And thats just the candidate! Twitter is crashing! LOL George Santos (@Santos4Congress) May 24, 2023 Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, a vocal supporter of Mr Trump, tweeted, DeSedative. After 21 minutes of difficulties, the event managed to get started and Mr DeSantis got his opportunity to belatedly kick off his campaign. This is such a train wreck, tweeted Lincoln Project founder Rick Wilson as he called the events participants a small, grumpy claque of incels and whiners. Tom Nichols, a staff writer at The Atlantic, also slammed the event. Okay, Im out, I cant listen to three resentful rich white guys bitching about how unfair the world is being to them, he tweeted. And Chris Hayes of MSNBC, added: Im sorry but this is an ASTOUNDINGLY HUMILIATING degree of incompetence. Unspinnable failure. Total and complete. Fully public. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two members of Donald Trumps staff moved boxes of documents just a day before the Department of Justice visited Mar-a-Lago, according to a report. The files were moved the day before FBI agents and a prosecutor visited the private club in Floridas Palm Beach. The timing of the move is considered by the authorities to be suspicious and a sign that obstruction may have taken place, according to The Washington Post. Mr Trump and his associates are alleged to have conducted a dress rehearsal for moving the sensitive files even before getting a subpoena in May last year, The Post noted, citing anonymous sources. Prosecutors also have evidence indicating that the former president had classified documents in his office in a visible spot and at times showed them to other people. The new information adds more details to the allegations of obstruction discovered by the FBI and Department of Justice and expands the period of time that instances of obstruction may have occurred from events before the subpoena was issued to the FBI raid on 8 August. The timing of Mr Trumps and his staffs actions are important components in the allegation that the ex-president attempted to keep hundreds of classified documents after he left the presidency on 20 January 2021. These components make up a case which may lead to charges of obstruction of justice or the improper handling of national security information. The Post previously reported that boxes were moved from a storage area after the office of the former president got a subpoena, the exact timeline of which vital factor in the ongoing probe, the anonymous sources told the paper. The Trump legal team have shared their possible defence with members of Congress, and they have also attempted to get a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland, indicating that they may think that a decision on charges may be nearing. The grand jury in the case hasnt convened since 5 May following months of frequent activity in the Washington, DC federal courthouse. Its the longest break for the jury since December, not long after Mr Garland appointed Jack Smith as Special Counsel to head the investigation. Mr Smith is also looking at Mr Trumps attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he continues to falsely claim was fraudulent. Mr Trump has been charged with falsifying business records in the New York hush-money case involving adult actor Stormy Daniels and hes also being investigated in Georgia in connection to his efforts to change the election results in the state. Mr Trump has rejected the allegations in all of the cases. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told the paper that this is nothing more than a targeted, politically motivated witch hunt against President Trump that is concocted to meddle in an election and prevent the American people from returning him to the White House. Just like all the other fake hoaxes thrown at President Trump, this corrupt effort will also fail, he added. Mr Cheung argued that prosecutors are showing no regard for common decency or key rules that govern the legal system. He also claimed that the authorities have harassed anyone and everyone who works [for], has worked [for], or supports Donald Trump. In the course of negotiations over the return of documents, President Trump told the lead DOJ official, anything you need from us, just let us know, Mr Cheung added to The Post. That DOJ rejected this offer of cooperation and conducted a raid on Mar-a-Lago proves that the Biden regime has weaponized the DOJ and FBI. The DoJ has said previously that the search at Mar-a-Lago was only done following months of failed efforts to get back all the classified files. Evidence gathered reportedly reveals that boxes were moved to a storage area on 2 June, before Justice Department attorney Jay Bratt came to Mar-a-Lago alongside agents on 3 June to gather material in connection to the grand jury subpoena in May demanding that all files with classified markings be handed back. In the evening on 2 June, a Trump lawyer reached out to the Department of Justice saying that they could come to collect documents in connection to the subpoena, prompting the arrival of Mr Bratt and the agents the next day. Mr Trumps attorneys handed the officials an envelope with 38 classified files and a signed attestation that a diligent search had occurred and that all relevant documents had been handed over. Mr Bratt and the agents were invited to see the storage room where Trump associates said that boxes had been kept. Court filings by DoJ state that they were told by the Trump lawyer that they werent allowed to open the boxes. More than 100 classified were later found in the office and in the storage area. John Irving is an attorney representing one of the two staffers who moved the boxes. According to The Post, Mr Irving said the employee didnt know what was in the boxes and was trying to help a Trump valet who was using a dolly to move several boxes. Mr Irving said his client was seen on surveillance footage helping the valet move the boxes into the storage room on 2 June last year. He added to The Post that his client spotted the valet moving the boxes and volunteered to help him. The worker helped the valet pack an SUV the following day, when former president Trump left for Bedminster for the summer. The attorney said his client has cooperated with the authorities and didnt have any reason to think that helping to move boxes was at all significant. Disclosure reports have revealed that Mr Irvings law firm is being paid by Mr Trumps Save America PAC. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} For 1,000 days, after a decade of racist violence and unrest in Florida and around the US, a boycott launched by Black residents in Miami called on Black tourists and businesses to stay out of the city. From 17 July 1990 to 12 May 1993, a boycott supported by the NAACP and other civil rights groups urged visitors to steer clear, inflicting potentially tens of millions of dollars in lost tourism revenue in Miami-Dade County. Black Miami residents had long been subject to systemic inequality and exclusion from the citys lucrative tourism industry, but the citys rejection of Nelson Mandela following his release from a 27-year prison sentence proved to be the tipping point. Thirty years later, another coalition of civil rights groups has issued travel advisories warning visitors before traveling to the state, where Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has advanced a far-right platform targeting civil liberties, education, healthcare and immigration. Governor Ron DeSantis has inflicted deep and lasting damage upon our state, eroding the fundamental rights of our residents and visitors while exploiting the word free as a hollow campaign slogan, said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida. We understand everyone must weigh the risks and decide what is best for their safety, but whether you stay away, leave or remain we ask that you join us in countering these relentless attacks, she added. Help reimagine and build a Florida that is truly safe for and open to all, and where freedom is a reality, not a hollow campaign slogan. The group warned LGBT+ people traveling to the state last month after the governor advanced a sweeping set of policies targeting LGBT+ people, particularly transgender youth, that have echoed in state legislatures across the US. Other advisories followed from the League of United Latin American Citizens and the NAACP, two of the oldest and largest civil rights advocacy groups in the US. The Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest LGBT+ political advocacy group, also has joined Equality Floridas advisory. Since the day he took office, Governor DeSantis has weaponized his position to weave bigotry, hate, and discrimination into public law for his own political gain, Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said in a statement this week. In June 1990, Miami officials rescinded a proclamation welcoming the leader of the movement to end South African apartheid after he expressed support for Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat and Moammar Gadahfi. The following month, Miami attorney HT Smith launched Boycott Miami, encouraging Black tourists and businesses to avoid the state. In quick succession, local, state and national groups including the ACLU, the National Conference of Black Mayors and the National Organization for Women, among others canceled or moved their meetings and conventions out of the state. But unlike that movement, the coalition of civil rights groups behind recent travel advisories are not calling for an economic boycott, but drawing attention to the governors far-reaching assault on civil liberties that have animated his newly launched 2024 campaign for the Republican nomination for president. Meanwhile, his feud with the Walt Disney Company a tourism mammoth and political heavyweight has boiled over into lawsuits and spurred the company to pull out of a $1bn project in the state. More than 137.5 million tourists visited Florida last year, and tourist spending in the state in 2019 totaled nearly $100bn, according to the states tourism promotion agency Visit Florida. Several Black tourism groups have questioned whether the NAACP is taking the right approach. The question we all must ask ourselves is, Who does the Florida travel advisory really hurt? according to a statement from the Future of Black Tourism, Blacks in Travel & Tourism and the Black Travel Alliance. We believe there is a better way to make a statement to Governor DeSantis beyond a travel advisory petitioning African Americans and people of color to stay away from Florida, the groups added. Small Black businesses and marginalized communities certainly should not be the sacrificial lamb. There are more than 7,000 Black-owned businesses in Miami-Dade County alone, according to the countys chamber of commerce. Whats happening in Tallahassee goes against everything we are as Black people, according to Eric Knowles, president and CEO of the chamber, speaking to the Miami-Herald. But a potential boycott is going to affect and impact Black businesses and my first and foremost responsibility is to help and grow Black businesses, he added. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2022. (AP) Since entering the governors office, Mr DeSantis has restricted honest discussion of race and racism in schools and in the workplace, prohibited classroom discussion of issues related to gender and sexuality, and signed measures targeting LGBT+ people and their healthcare, abortion rights, immigrants, voting rights, and constitutionally protected speech. On 17 May, Mr DeSantis approved a slate of bills that restrict affirming healthcare for transgender minors, threaten drag shows, forbid people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity, and prevent people from using their chosen pronouns at schools. The legislation follows administration policy restricting gender-affirming care for trans people in the state over the objections of major health organisations and LGBT+ advocates. One law creates a new informed consent process that requires trans patients 18 and older to see a physician in person for gender-affirming healthcare, which will likely prohibit many trans adults from using telehealth or relying on other health providers such as nurse practitioners for their care. That ambiguity has left health providers and legal analysts unclear how to navigate the law, which could prompt providers to stop providing gender-affirming care altogether, for patients of any age, according to LGBT+ advocates. Mr DeSantis also recently expanded a measure labelled by opponents as the Dont Say Gay law prohibiting classroom instruction on issues related to gender and sexuality, which critics argue will have a chilling effect on LGBT+ people in schools as part of an effort to erase LGBT+ people from public life. Another recently signed law targeting immigration voids out-of-state drivers licenses for people without proof of citizenship and bars municipalities from using state money to issue identification cards for undocumented immigrants, and most companies in the state must verify whether their patients are living in the country legally. Immigration advocates warn that such measures will devastate the states construction, restaurant and agricultural industries that rely on immigrant workers. Florida hospitals that accept Medicaid will also be required to collect their patients immigration statuses, which LULAC warns will place an unjust ethical burden on providers administering necessary medical care and perpetuates discrimination based on immigration status. The administrations migrant relocation programme also will get another $12m, after the governor orchestrated widely derided flights that sent people seeking asylum in the US to Marthas Vineyard hundreds of miles away from where their cases were being considered in El Paso, Texas in his apparent protest of Democratic immigration policies. The actions taken by Governor DeSantis have created a shadow of fear within communities across the state, according to Lydia Medrano, LULAC vice president for the southeast. Food banks report witnessing individuals seeking one last food donation as they prepare to flee Florida. Families are torn apart as some members choose to stay while others have to leave, foreseeing worsening conditions for immigrants. Protesters gather outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami on 24 May as the governor holds fundraising events ahead of his presidential candidacy announcement. (AFP via Getty Images) The Florida Immigrant Coalition which launched a website named floridatraveladvisory.com advises people to consult an attorney before traveling or reconsider travel to the state altogether. Travel to all areas of Florida should be done with extreme caution as it can be particularly unsafe for people of color, LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals who speak with an accent, and international travelers, according to the advisory. Every county in Florida poses a heightened risk of harassment, possible detainment, and potential family separation based on racial profiling. Last year, Mr DeSantis and Republican state lawmakers pursued the Stop WOKE Act to target critical race theory, a legal framework to examine systemic racism that its opponents have invoked to broadly restrict discussion of concepts from inequity and social justice to honest instruction on civil rights history and racist violence. The law, the subject of several federal lawsuits, was followed by another recent measure aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, or DEI, which the governor said would encourage diversity of thought, civil discourse and the pursuit of truth for generations to come, while he continues to rail against woke indoctrination and falsely depicts a state school system held hostage by leftist mobs. Florida also is at the centre of a nationwide trend of challenges against books and materials in libraries and schools. Earlier this month, one of the worlds largest publishers and several prominent authors and families filed a federal lawsuit against a school district where activists have challenged dozens of books, largely involving or written by people of colour or LGBT+ people. Let me be clear failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all, NAACP president Derrick Johnson said in a statement. Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon, he added. He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. The NAACPs advisory was proposed by the groups board of directors by its Florida State Conference, according to the organisation, and is in response to the unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms from Mr DeSantis and his allies in the state legislature. The boards chair Leon Russell has called the governors agenda a blatant war against principles of diversity and inclusion in an effort to appeal to a dangerous, extremist minority. We will not allow our rights and history to be held hostage for political grandstanding, he added. The governor, members of his campaign and other right-wing pundits and GOP officials have largely waved off the advisories as a stunt. Claiming that Florida is unsafe is a total farce, Mr DeSantis said in a Twitter event announcing his presidential candidacy on 24 May. He called the advisories a political stunt from leftwing groups who are colluding with legacy media to try to manufacture a narrative. His former press secretary and current campaign aide Christina Pushaw dangled a thinly veiled racist dig at news of the NAACPs advisory. Ms Pushaw, referencing the name of a Memorial Day weekend festival with a largely Black crowd, wrote: Does this mean no Urban Beach Week? The chair of the Florida GOP suggested that the NAACPs Mr Russell should move out of the state. If you think our state is so bad, [the Florida Republican Party] will help with moving costs, he said. Republican Senator Rick Scott appeared to embrace criticism that labelled the governors agenda as a far-right authoritarian assault by issuing an advisory of his own: he said that his home state is openly hostile to socialists, communists, and those who enable them. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has filed paperwork declaring his candidacy for president. Later on Wednesday 24 May, Mr Desantis will formally launch his 2024 bid during a Twitter Spaces event with CEO Elon Musk, putting the Florida governor in direct conflict with former president Donald Trump. Much of Mr DeSantiss case for being president has focused on electability, with his pitch being that he is the only Republican candidate who can beat President Joe Biden. Similarly, Mr DeSantis has sold himself as a conservative warrior who has passed legislation restricting abortion access and curtailing how sexual orientation and gender identity are taught in schools. At the same time, his donors argue that his relative youth at age 44, he is the youngest male governor in the country as well as his focus on the environment could help him appeal to moderate voters. This argument largely began to solidify after the 2022 midterm elections, when multiple Trump-endorsed candidates lost their races. Mr DeSantis, meanwhile, cruised to re-election in Florida by almost 20 points. In the following months, Mr DeSantis began to take the lead in polling against Mr Trump. In December of last year, a Suffolk University/USA Today poll showed that 56 per cent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents preferred Mr DeSantis to be the Republican nominee. Furthermore, the polling showed that he beat Mr Biden by three points in a head-to-head matchup. A week after the midterm elections, Mr Trump announced his re-election campaign. And thats when things began to sour for Mr DeSantis. In the days before the 2022 midterms, Mr Trump began testing out attacks against the Florida governor, calling him Ron DeSanctimonious at a rally in LaTrobe, Pennsylvania. Mr Trump continued ratcheting up his attacks in the intervening months. But the governor almost never responded to the attacks from Mr Trump. Instead, Mr DeSantis launched a book tour, often a precursor to a campaign for the White House, where he visited some of the early contest states such as Iowa and New Hampshire. A host of former Trump allies also launched a Super PAC called Never Back Down. Mr DeSantiss polling began to decline around this moment. In January, Mr DeSantis only trailed Mr Trump by 20 points in a Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll, but that number dropped by five points in February. The decline coincided with a series of perceived missteps by Mr DeSantis, including taking a swipe at Mr Trump allegedly making hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and calling Russias invasion of Ukraine a territorial dispute. But Mr DeSantiss support among Republicans began to drop precipitously more recently. In the beginning of January, a Morning Consult survey showed only a 13-point gap between Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis. But Mr Trumps support has grown prodigiously, while Mr DeSantiss has dropped to the point at which Mr Trump leads Mr DeSantis by a whopping 38 points. At the same time, Mr DeSantis fares slightly better than Mr Trump against Mr Biden in the Morning Consult survey. In a hypothetical rematch, Mr Biden and Mr Trump would be tied at 42 per cent each, while Mr DeSantis would beat Mr Biden 43 per cent to 40 per cent. Election Day 2024 remains more than a year away, giving Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis plenty of time to sharpen their messages and appeal to voters. But if Mr DeSantis wants to increase his chances against Mr Trump, the governor may need to change tack. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An Internal Revenue Service criminal investigator who has accused Justice Department officials of slow-walking a long-running probe into President Joe Bidens son Hunters tax affairs has cut off communication with a key congressional committee amid questions about the veracity of his claims and his motivations for coming forward. The special agent, Gary Shapley, is a veteran of the IRS criminal investigations department who on Thursday revealed his identity in an interview with CBS News. Mr Shapley is set to give evidence in a closed session before the House Ways and Means Committee on Friday. That panel, which has jurisdiction over the IRS, is led by Representative Jason Smith, a Missouri Republican. But even as he is poised to testify before the House panel, the 14-year IRS veteran has now cut off communication with the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the Internal Revenue Service, after his attorney met with committee representatives. Mr Shapley has also cancelled a scheduled interview with that committee, which is led by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon. A Finance Committee source told The Independent that staffers from both the GOP and Democratic sides of the committee had met with one of the attorneys known to represent Mr Shapley, a former federal prosecutor named Mark Lytle. Democratic and Republican Finance Committee staff previously met for several hours with counsel representing an IRS whistleblower, and counsel were made aware of the committees investigative procedures. Committee staff on both sides agreed with counsel to meet directly with the whistleblower next week, however the whistleblower has since backed out of that agreement and declined an attempt to reschedule, they said. The source added that Finance Committee Chair Senator Wyden and his staff are ready to arrange a meeting on terms that comply with laws protecting taxpayer data and ensure a fair and rigorous investigation. Gary Shapley speaks about investigation into Hunter Bidens tax affairs (CBS Evening News) In his interview with CBS, Mr Shapley claimed that multiple steps in the long-running probe into Hunter Biden were slow-walked at the behest of Justice Department officials, and said he began raising concerns about the conduct of the investigation shortly after he was first assigned to it in early 2020. When I took control of this particular investigation, I immediately saw deviations from the normal process. It was way outside the norm of what Ive experienced in the past, he said. That probe, which began under the Obama administration, has long been under the supervision of David Weiss, a veteran federal prosecutor who has served as the US Attorney for the District of Delaware since 2018. Mr Weiss, whose nomination was approved by a Senate voice vote, was one of two US attorneys appointed by President Bidens predecessor who was asked to stay on after former president Donald Trump left office in January 2021. According to Biden administration officials, the president chose not to ask Mr Weiss to resign the customary fate of all US attorneys when a new administration takes office to avoid any appearance of meddling in the investigation into his son. The younger Mr Biden disclosed the existence of the investigation shortly after his father won the 2020 election in a statement, and said at the time he believed a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately. The IRS criminal probe into Hunter Biden has focused on whether he violated US tax laws by not paying required taxes on income he made from several foreign business ventures, as well as examining whether he possibly violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act and other federal laws. He reportedly paid off a massive tax bill in 2021 after receiving a $1m loan from a friend who also serves as a member of his legal team. Although paying off an unpaid tax bill doesnt obviate a violation of tax laws, prosecutors have often had trouble securing indictments or convictions of defendants who paid off any taxes they may have owed. Although Hunter Biden has not been charged with any crime as a result of the probe being overseen by Mr Weiss, The Wall Street Journal reported late last year that federal prosecutors were weighing whether to seek an indictment against him from the grand jury that has been hearing evidence in the case. Biden's presidential run and the Hunter Biden baggage His attorneys reportedly met with prosecutors to dissuade them from seeking an indictment against their client last month. Such a meeting is generally a sign that the investigative work performed by special agents has been completed and a case file has been handed off to prosecutors. Separately, persons familiar with the investigation have told other media outlets that the criminal investigators working on the case believed there is enough evidence to support seeking charges against Mr Biden. But ultimately, the choice of whether or not to ask a grand jury to indict a target of a given investigation is the sole province of prosecutors in the US Attorneys office and the Department of Justice. Experts cast down on investigators claims of slow-walking probe In a letter to the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee chairs that was first reported on by the New York Post, Mr Lytle said his client now known to be Mr Shapley could speak about examples of 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. Mr Shapley also has alleged that he and his team were removed from the Hunter Biden investigation to punish him for speaking out. The allegations of favouritism towards Hunter Biden are consistent with grievances expressed by prominent Republicans such as Donald Trump, who as recently as Tuesday had his legal team send a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland claiming he has been treated unfairly by the special prosecutor probing his alleged unlawful retention of national defence information because the presidents son has not been charged with a crime. But Mr Shapleys claim that the reassignment of him and his investigative team is either retaliatory or evidence of favouritism towards the Biden family was met with scepticism by veterans of Justice Department and IRS investigations who spoke to The Independent. The former prosecutors and investigators say theres nothing unusual about sending investigators on to work on their next case when prosecutors are ready to make charging decisions, as they appear to be in the case of Mr Biden. Hunter Biden with his father (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Because federal criminal investigators have no formal role in prosecutors decisions to seek charges or decline to prosecute in a particular case, its not unheard of for conflicts to arise between special agents and US attorneys, especially when the agents feel prosecutors are reluctant to bring evidence theyve gathered to a grand jury for indictments. Yet even when investigators feel there is sufficient evidence to support charges, prosecutors often balk at presenting that evidence for indictments because they better understand the legal requirements to obtain convictions that can be sustained on appeal. Nick Akerman, a former federal prosecutor who worked on tax cases in the Southern District of New York for many years, told The Independent its likely that the IRS agents assigned to the Hunter Biden probe were reassigned because the investigation is over and there is nothing more for them to do. They [special agents] do a very detailed report thats done with all certain information and thats really it. And then the prosecutor looks at that and takes it from there, he said. At that point, theyve got no role if you go to trial, you might want to use him for certain things, but thats it. Mr Akerman also noted that the US Attorney supervising the probe, Mr Weiss, is an appointee of Mr Trump, and suggested that it would make no sense for him to consent to having agents pulled off the case for any reason except there was no more investigative work to be done on it. Another federal law enforcement veteran, ex-FBI special agent Peter Strzok, told The Independent in a phone interview that the most likely explanation for why an entire IRS CI team would be removed from the Hunter Biden investigation en masse is that theyve completed the investigation and it is now up to prosecutors to decide what to do with the evidence theyve obtained. He said it is a frequent occurrence for there to be disagreements between agents and prosecutors over whether the agents have brought them enough to form a case that will withstand the scrutiny of a jury trial. The agents are just trying to investigate what happened, and prosecutors are thinking: Okay, how do we get this admitted into evidence? Whats the credibility of the source? Whats other information? Is it going to be undercut? So prosecutors usually are much more cautious, he said. He added that in his experience, prosecutors usually win arguments over whether to bring charges in a particular case, even in politically sensitive matters such as an investigation into a sitting presidents son. Mr Strzok, who once served as the Deputy Assistant Director of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division, also suggested that the fact that only two of the investigators have chosen to go to Congress with allegations of favouritism towards Hunter Biden is a sign that the special agents in question have an axe to grind. Theres a whole team of people if there was a real problem, I would have expected to see more, he said. It sounds very much like at least this one [agent] believes that charges should be brought. But at the end of the day, its not his call. Hes not trained as a prosecutor, hes not thinking about, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, he doesnt know what hurdles are going to exist in the courtroom. Mr Strzok added that if the concerns raised by the agents in question were valid, its highly likely that prosecutors in Mr Weiss office would have already resigned over a decision not to charge Hunter Biden if improper political influence was being exerted over the probe. Identity of Mr Shapleys other attorney raises alarms In his interview with CBS, Mr Shapley said he is a registered Republican and suggested that he should be thought of as not a political person because he has never been involved in political campaigns, though his position as an IRS criminal investigator means participating in political campaigns would be a violation of federal law. He also told the television network that his legal efforts are being aided by a nonprofit staffed by former Republican congressional staffers in addition to Mr Lytle, a former federal prosecutor who has experience representing federal employees whove been accused of political bias as well as white-collar criminal defendants. But it is the involvement of that nonprofit, Empower Oversight, that has raised suspicions of political motivations among people close to congressional oversight efforts, particularly after Mr Shapley declined to speak to the Democratic-led Finance Committee. In addition to Mr Lytle, Mr Shapley has also been represented in his whistleblower matters by the president of Empower Oversight, Tristan Leavitt. Mr Leavitt served as the general counsel and active chief executive officer for the Merit System Protection Board during the Trump administration, and was appointed to a seat on that board by President Joe Biden in 2022. He also spent time during the Trump administration working for the Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency charged with enforcing whistleblower protection laws as well as the Hatch Act, a New Deal-era statute which prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain partisan activities while on the government payroll. Since leaving government service, he has been involved with representing a group of former FBI special agents who call themselves The Suspendables. The ex-agents claim they were unlawfully retaliated against for expressing what they describe as conservative political viewpoints and for voicing concerns about excessive use of force when arresting suspects charged with crimes stemming from participation in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Mr Leavitt testified alongside several of the agents at a congressional hearing last week, during which two of his fellow witnesses admitted to receiving funds from a prominent ex-aide to former president Donald Trump, Kash Patel. While Mr Leavitt claimed in his testimony that his clients were unlawfully retaliated against for making protected disclosures of alleged wrongdoing, a top FBI official stated in a letter reported by The New York Times that one of the agents in question had his security clearance revoked for having espoused an alternative narrative about the events at the US Capitol in communications with supervisors, as well as refusing to carry out orders to join an FBI Swat team to aid the arrest of a suspect known to own multiple AR-15-style rifles and who belonged to the Three Percenter anti-government extremist movement. According to sources familiar with congressional efforts to verify Mr Shapleys allegations, Mr Leavitts involvement raised a big red flag because of allegations that his clients may have lied to the House Judiciary Committee regarding their receipt of funds from Mr Patel and in their description of events leading up to their dismissal from government service. The sources say Mr Shapleys use of Mr Leavitt as an attorney and the nature of the allegations which they described as appearing to be a run-of-the-mill dispute between criminal investigators and prosecutors over whether the former has collected enough evidence for the latter to justify bringing charges against a target give them reason to believe the IRS special agent is part of a coordinated effort to browbeat prosecutors into charging Hunter Biden and weaponise dispute between investigators and prosecutors against both the Biden administration and President Bidens family. One person with knowledge of Mr Shapleys efforts told The Independent that members of Congress and staff have also been troubled by the way legally protected taxpayer information information which House and Senate committees take great pains to keep secret has made it into the right-wing press at the same time it has been provided to the House and Senate panels with jurisdiction over the IRS. They noted that he was previously represented by a prominent Washington, DC attorney with extensive experience in representing law enforcement and intelligence whistleblowers and said Mr Shapley appeared to change attorneys because his first attorney appeared more concerned with following the law than getting his allegations into the press. While this person commended Mr Shapley for his years of government service, they suggested that he is being taken advantage of by Mr Leavitt, who they described as a partisan actor whose goal is to further negative narratives about the Biden administration not protecting his client. In a statement, Mr Leavitts organisation disputed that Mr Shapley had backed out of an interview with the Finance Committee and said the panel never committed to a date on which the IRS agent would have given evidence. This story has been updated to correct an earlier version which described Tristan Leavitt as a Trump appointee to the Merit Systems Protection Board by specifying that he served in multiple leadership roles at the agency under the Trump administration before being nominated for a seat on the board by President Biden Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Representative Lauren Boebert reportedly interfered in a 911 call her son made during a domestic dispute at her home in December, according to a recording of the emergency call. The call was reportedly made by Ms Boebert's son, who is said to have reported that his father, Jayson Boebert, had become physical with him and was "throwing" him around the house. He told the operator he did not know why his father was acting aggressive, according to Insider, which said it had obtained a recording of the call. Insider reports that the teenager was "sobbing, gasping for air, and had trouble speaking" on the call. The Independent has not been able to independently verify that information, and Ms Boeberts office did not immediately return a request for comment. The operator reportedly asked the teenager if his father had been physical with him. "Yes he was throwing me across," he reportedly said, before changing directions and saying "he called me a psycho, when he's the...," trailing off. The operator told the teen that she was dispatching an officer and told him not to worry. She then asked if the Boeberts had weapons in the house. "I mean there are weapons in the house yeah, but I don't think he'd use them on me," the son reportedly said. "He just does this to me so much." He then reportedly said he was going to his mother's farmhouse, where she was staying "because there's problems with [Ms Boebert and her husband.]" Less than five minutes later the teenager made a second call taking back his report. A woman can reportedly be heard in the background. "All I wanted to say was is me and my dad were starting to yell, he didn't really get physical with me," he said. That's when Ms Boebert supposedly took the phone, saying "hi, I'm the mom." "Ok. There was an argument over dinner. I understand you guys got to come and talk to them. I'm down at our second location with [our son] getting ready for an event," she reportedly said. "Just to let you know, I have him. His dad's at the house." The dispatcher reportedly tells Ms Boebert that she is dispatching an officer to see if he needs help, but Ms Boebert assures her "he doesn't need help" before saying "yeah, they can come here." When officers arrived, Mr Boebert reportedly admitted that he and his son got into a verbal argument, but said he did not touch him, though "maybe the door touched his butt on the way out," according to a police record detailing the visit. The teenager reportedly also told officers that he "started yelling at his dad first and his dad wasn't physical." He then said that he "wasn't sure why he said that his dad hurt him, but he was upset." Police found no physical marks on him, and noted that the Boeberts were cooperative. No charges resulted from the incident. Garfield County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched after the call ended. Minutes later, Ms Boebert's son called again and recanted the accusations. During that call, Ms Boebert took the phone and told the operators that her son "doesn't need help." Mr Boebert has denied all accusations that he was physical with his son. "He overreacted. We're back to being a family," he told the outlet on Thursday. "All I do is work and come home and try to raise everyone." He said he disciplines his sons by making them run laps and do push-ups, not by hitting them. Mr Boebert chalked the incident to his son wanting to "test the bull," which he says all teenage boys do. Ms Boebert also commented on the incident to the outlet. "The safety and well-being of my family are the most important things in the world to me," Ms Boeberts office told The Independent on Thursday. "We've had some tough times and heartache. I've taken action to ensure there are better days ahead for all of us." The news of the 911 call comes on the heels of Ms Boebert's move last month to file for divorce from her husband, citing "irreconcilable differences." A court affidavit suggests Mr Boebert became "extremely angry" when he received the notice. "He started yelling and using profanities," the process server wrote in the affidavit. Ms Boebert has denied that her husband reacted negatively, calling the process server's comments a "complete lie." The congresswoman has stated that she will not "discuss this matter further in public," citing her children's well-being. She is suing for child support and for parental decision making powers for her four sons. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene faced laughter and mockery after urging decorum while holding the speakers gavel. The far-right member of the GOP was presiding over the House as Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana was trying to speak. Mr Scalise was attempting to talk about the debt ceiling standoff between President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy. We are in fact the only body in this town who has actually taken steps to address the debt ceiling and the spending problem in Washington, the majority leader claimed, prompting one lawmaker to call out and Ms Greene to pound the gavel and call for order to be restored. I ask that the House be in order and there be some decorum on the other side, Mr Scalise said. The members are reminded to abide by the decorum of the House, Ms Greene told the room a moment later, prompting raucous laughter from the Democratic benches. After a few moments, Mr Scalise continued his speech. California Democrat Adam Schiff tweeted: I havent laughed this hard in a while but Marjorie Taylor Greene just called for decorum on the House Floor. The Lincoln Project wrote: We usually add a laugh track here, but House Democrats did us the favor this time Were watching Marjories Joker origin story play out in real time, they added. Im not sure Ive ever seen the occupant of the Chair openly mocked like this before, reporter Jamie Dupree noted. California Democrat Jared Huffman tweeted: Irony died today on the House Floor, but comedy triumphed as the GOP chose MTG as their keeper of decorum. Fellow Californian Jimmy Gomez said that Ms Greene, calling for decorum is like Leonardo DiCaprio telling people to date people their own age. Adding a second one-liner, Mr Gomez said that Ms Greene calling for decorum is like George Santos telling people not to lie. The chief of staff at Young Democrats of America, Matt Royer, compared the incident to the famously more uncontrolled behaviour in the UK House of Commons. This is some parliament-type behavior as Democrats laugh off MTGs plea for decorum in the House, he said. And I am absolutely here for it. Ms Greene has become infamous for the many instances when she has blatantly disregarded the decorum of the House. She was removed from her committee assignments in 2021 by the Democrats, which were restored following the GOPs narrow House victory in the midterms last year. During Mr Bidens State of the Union speech earlier this year, Ms Greene stood up and yelled at the president on several occasions, including calling him a liar for saying that some Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare. During other parts of the speech, she yelled Chinas spying on us! and Secure the border! Ms Greene also heckled Mr Biden during his 2022 State of the Union alongside Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert. When the president spoke about border security, the two members began chanting build the wall. They were also seen having their backs turned to Mr Biden as he walked into the chamber. Ms Greene has also garnered attention for harassing New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and anti-gun violence activists, including school shooting survivors. She was seen in a vocal confrontation with another New York Democrat, Representative Jamal Bowman, outside the US Capitol last week. Ms Greene then went on to claim that being called a white supremacist was comparable to being the target of the N-word. Mr Bowman said Ms Greene was the source of an utter and blatant lie in the long tradition of Black men who are passionate, outspoken, or who stand their ground, being characterised as threatening or intimidating, according to The Guardian. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Due to technical difficulties, a number of people were unable to tune into Gov Ron DeSantis presidential campaign announcement on Twitter Spaces on Wednesday. But people who were able to tune in were treated to, among other things, Elon Musk complaining about his comparisons to white supremacist David Duke. Florida is great state and I think... people realize that the some of the things that have been said are just truly absurd, Mr Musk said partway through his conversation with Mr DeSantis, moderator David Sacks, and others. I mean, I saw some headline from The Atlantic basically claiming that anyone who listens to this Spaces on Twitter is basically a Nazi. Mr Musk was mistaken about the publication that seemingly compared him to a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. The outlet that made the comparison was Vanity Fair, not The Atlantic, and its headline read Report: Ron DeSantis Will Formally Announce His 2024 Bid With Elon Musk, Because Apparently David Duke Wasnt Available. The headline was widely criticised in conservative media as over-the-top. Mr DeSantiss gamble in launching his campaign on Twitter was widely panned as a failure after technical difficulties derailed the beginning of the Spaces conversation between the candidate and Mr Musk. Meanwhile, some people were caught off guard by the discussion of Mr Duke. After Mr Musks comments about the Vanity Fair headline, Mr DeSantis mused that the headline was the result of the failings of legacy media and corporate journalists. Theyre in their little bubble, and to draw allusions to stuff like that I mean, how crazy do you have to be? But in their little bubble, sounds like theyre making some type of profound point, Mr DeSantis said. And so part of, I think, what Twitter is standing for is, people should be exposed to different viewpoints. And I think the elites in our society have tried to cluster themselves to where their assumptions are never challenged. And thats not a good way I think to live. Mr DeSantis has long been touted as a top threat to former President Donald Trumps supremacy over the Republican Party, but his poll numbers have fallen in recent months as Mr Trump and his allies have made him the target of numerous attacks. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Oprah Winfrey is reportedly being considered to replace Dianne Feinstein should the 89-year-old California senator choose to retire. A list of names, that includes the talk show host, is being considered, according to the Associated Press. This comes as Ms Feinsteins office confirmed last week that the longest-serving Democrat in the current US Senate is suffering health complications from a recent case of shingles. A spokesperson told CNN that Ms Feinstein experienced Ramsay Hunt syndrome and encephalitis as part of the diagnosis. While the encephalitis resolved itself shortly after she was released from the hospital in March, she continues to have complications from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, the spokesperson said on Thursday. Ms Feinstein returned to the Senate earlier this month after her bout of shingles to cast her vote. Following her return, she spoke to reporters and denied she was ever absent. She has faced calls to resign due to questions around her cognitive abilities. Governor Gavin Newsom has the authority to name a successor to fill Ms Feinsteins seat if a vacancy arises. He could even pick himself, though that is unlikely. State rules dictate when an election would have to be held. According to the AP report, the governor could also select a caretaker. Voters would then decide in next years election on someone who would hold the seat but is not a Senate candidate. The report said that is where names like Winfreys come up. Winfrey, a famous celebrity and media proprietor, happens to meet Mr Newsoms pledge to appoint a Black woman to the seat. However, the governor might find it challenging to land on someone willing to take a short-term appointment. Mr Newsom recently said in an interview that he was swamped with recommendations for how to fill the possible Senate vacancy. He called Ms Feinstein a mentor and one of his closest friends, and said he hoped he never had to make the decision to fill her seat. I get it. For those who say, Enough of Newsom making these picks! I get it. Im with you. I understand, he was quoted as saying to Fox 11 TV in Los Angeles. Winfrey is one of the worlds most famous media personalities, and has a multi-billion-dollar net worth. Her talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show which ran for 25 years until 2011, was one of the biggest daytime talk shows of all time. While she said she will never run for president in the wake of Donald Trumps victory in 2016, she admitted she had considered it briefly. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jacob Chansley, better known as the horned and war-painted QAnon Shaman who was seen in pictures storming the US Capitol on January 6, says he has forgiven the US government for locking him up. Chansley, in his mid-thirties, was released in March after serving about two years of a three-and-a-half-year sentence he was handed in November of 2021, having already served almost a year behind bars at the time. This week, he appeared in a video message obtained by Democratic operative Ron Filipkowski, in which he appears to embrace a nonviolent message while still promising to continue spreading the truth. He also goes on to say that he has forgiven his captors, an apparent insinuation to the idea that he was being discriminated against or persecuted by the government as it sought to hold him accountable for his role in storming the Capitol with a violent mob. The video posted by Mr Filipkowski is edited, and does not contain the full context of Chansleys remarks. It wasnt immediately clear where the video had originally been posted. Chansley pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing a federal proceeding in late 2021 and received what was at the time the longest sentence that had been handed down in response to the January 6 attack; that record was later shattered by the sentencing of Oathkeepers leader Stewart Rhodes to 18 years in prison on Thursday. The QAnon Shaman has reportedly been living in a halfway house since March. In November of 21, an attorney for Chansley claimed that his clients focus is not social media his focus is on What do I need to do to commence the healing process? He is absolutely embracing being held accountable, defence attorney Albert Watkins said at the time. He is a man of discipline, he gets it, he understands what he was looking at, he understood the risks associated with trial. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} After a 30-minute delay caused by technological glitches with Twitters Spaces audio conversation system, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis much-hyped announcement of his 2024 presidential campaign kicked off with a billionaire praising another billionaire. The first billionaire, venture capitalist and DeSantis booster David Sacks, opened the conversation with fulsome praise for Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX impresario who bought Twitter last year with the aim of allowing unfettered conversations by all sorts of right-wing characters whod been banned for violating the sites rules under its prior management. Mr Sacks then turned to introduce Mr DeSantis, who he said first drew his attention when the Florida governor began attacking public health measures recommended by medical professionals at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. And with that, Mr DeSantis began making his pitch to voters or at least the voters who are on Twitter and cared enough to listen. Here are some key takeaways. Expect attacks on the press to be a central focus of Mr DeSantiss campaign Like most Republicans, Mr DeSantis has made bashing journalists part of his everyday stump speech. As governor, his press team was notorious for attacking reporters who wrote stories that displeased the governor, with many such journalists receiving death threats as a result. Mr DeSantis, who rarely takes questions from the press, made clear that tearing down journalistic institutions and undermining the idea that news outlets work in good faith to deliver the news will be a centrepiece of his campaign. The governor framed his opposition to mainstream journalism as support for truth telling, citing blowback hed received when opening his state during the pandemic from the media. There was a concerted effort to try to stifle dissent. There is an official narrative about lockdowns about closing schools about forced masking, and all these different things that we had to navigate during Covid, and it was an orthodoxy being enforced by the major tech platforms in conjunction with the federal government, he said. He later accused the legacy media of colluding with civil rights groups such as the NAACP to manufacture a narrative about policies he has instituted that led the group to say recently that Florida is not safe for Black Americans to visit. I would just say as an American citizen, if you are uncritically accepting narratives spun by legacy media and left wing groups, you're failing at your job of being a conscientious citizen, he said. He surrounded himself with sycophants When it came time to take questions from the audience whod virtually gathered to hear him announce his candidacy, Mr DeSantiss choice of interlocutors was telling. Instead of taking questions from ordinary people who had taken the time to listen to a man who wants to be the next President of the United States, the people chosen to question him were known right-wing activists and online personalities, some of whom have worked with him or currently work with him in Florida. The first to ask a question was Dr Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford Medical School professor who gained fame in right-wing circles during the Covid-19 pandemic for his advocacy of a herd immunity strategy that would have seen millions of Americans deliberately contract the virus long before any vaccine for it had been approved. Next up was Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican who, like other panelists, devoted a portion of their remarks to praising Mr Musk for buying Twitter before asking how Mr DeSantis would restrict the power of federal agencies which conservatives believe are biased against them. He also took questions from Steve Deace, an Iowa radio host who has questioned the validity of the 2020 election, Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist who has helped Mr DeSantis take over Floridas New College with the aim of turning it into a right-wing educational bastion, and Dana Loesch, a right-wing radio commentator who previously worked for the National Rifle Associations defunct NRA TV streaming service. His rhetoric largely mirrored concerns of the online Right From his attacks on the legacy media to promises to ban Central Bank Digital Currency something that does not exist in the United States and prohibit banks from dropping customers because of their political viewpoints, the issues Mr DeSantis discussed largely tracked those that animate the right-wing commentators who dominate Twitter discourse under Mr Musk. He attacked the Federal Reserve and the Department of Justice for allegedly pushing debunking of conservatives and claimed banks are colluding to prevent Americans from exercising their Second Amendment rights. I just signed the anti ESG legislation which said things like no ESG criteria and our pension fund we got $180bn state pension fund, no social credit scores for consumers when they're going to bank in other words, if you apply for a loan, a loan should be judged based on your credit worthiness not whether your genuflecting to the appropriate left wing causes, he said. Mr Musk also spoke of the threat to America from a woke mind virus a phrase Mr Musk and other online conservatives use to describe progressive beliefs because they believe it is a form of social contagion. He wants to dismantle much of what makes up the modern American system of government Mr DeSantis also spent a portion of his remarks describing how he wants to defang federal agencies, including the FBI, if they cannot be brought in line with conservative ways of thinking. Asked how he would bring recalcitrant agencies to heel, he replied: I understand different leverage points that you would have under Article Two of the Constitution. I studied that a lot of becoming governor about Florida's constitution, saying the same thing for the federal constitution and you've got to know how to use your leverage to advance what you're trying to accomplish. He also threatened to have the Department of Education establish new criteria for accrediting colleges and universities based on whether they refuse to engage in practices meant to promote diversity or teach so-called woke curricula, and to reverse much of what President Joe Biden has done since taking office, including his immigration policies. Additionally, Mr DeSantis voiced support for the REINS Act, a Republican-backed bill that would let Congress override any decision by a regulatory agency that a majority of members dislike, and suggested that the Supreme Court should overrule a decades-old decision that says courts should defer to experts at agencies when they interpret ambiguous legislation. I also think that we're going to have a good chance to see some of the Chevron deference really curtailed or maybe even eliminated based on the US Supreme Court's upcoming jurisprudence, and I think that's another reason why the bureaucracy has become so powerful because courts have basically been told they can pretty much do what they want, and courts are supposed to just defer, he said. I don't think that that's actually correct. I think the courts they have to make a judgment about what is the law actually say, you can't just defer to quote unquote, experts in the bureaucracy. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} It wasn't always this way. Before Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis were leading rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, they were allies. Trump gave DeSantis' gubernatorial bid an early boost by tweeting his support even before DeSantis formally entered the race. In his 2018 victory speech, DeSantis made sure to thank the president, saying, I think we'll have a great partnership. Here's how DeSantis and Trumps relationship has evolved and broken down as the two face off to take on Democrat Joe Biden: UNITE BEHIND THE REPUBLICAN TICKET During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-congressman DeSantis said he wouldn't make an endorsement in the crowded field but would support the eventual nominee. When that ended up being Trump, DeSantis issued a statement calling on fellow Republicans to back the celebrity businessman. It is now clear that Donald Trump will accumulate the delegates necessary to be nominated by the Republican Party, DeSantis said in a statement, according to NPR. If we want to defeat Hillary Clinton and have a chance to change the trajectory of our country, we need to unite behind the Republican ticket this November. THE RUSSIA PROBE Early in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia, then-congressman DeSantis stepped up to the president's defense to offer his support. Whatever (Mueller) ends up doing, it does not have legitimacy, when you have all this evidence of tainted and political bias and the disparate treatment between Hillary Clinton and then how they are treating Trump associates, DeSantis told Fox News commentator Lou Dobbs in one such TV hit in December 2017. TWEET OF SUPPORT BEFORE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN Before DeSantis entered the Florida governors race in 2018, he asked Trump to send out a tweet touting him as a good candidate. Trump obliged. Congressman Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader, Yale and then Harvard Law, who would make a GREAT Governor of Florida. He loves our Country and is a true FIGHTER! Trump tweeted in December 2017. THAT AD WITH DESANTIS BUILDING A WALL OUT OF HIS KIDS' BLOCKS One of the most memorable moments of DeSantis' gubernatorial campaign was an ad with his children in which he shows voters just how devoted he is to Trump. Build the wall, he says to daughter Madison as she stacks cardboard brick blocks. Holding son Mason in his lap, DeSantis pretend-reads to him from Trump's The Art of the Deal: Then Mr. Trump said, Youre fired.' I love that part. Another scene shows DeSantis holding a Trump campaign sign in front of Madison in a high chair: Make America Great Again, DeSantis reads. DESANTIS THANKS TRUMP IN VICTORY SPEECH After narrowly winning his 2018 race, DeSantis singled out Trump in his victory speech as he recognized the many people who had supported his campaign. Id like to thank our president for standing by me when it wasnt necessarily the smart thing to do," DeSantis said. Mr. President, I look forward to working with you to advance Florida's priorities. I think youre going to get tired of me calling you asking you for things for Florida, but I look forward to that, and I think well have a great partnership. WELCOME TO FLORIDA, MR. PRESIDENT In 2019, Trump changed his residency from Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and held a homecoming rally with Gov. DeSantis near Miami. Welcome home to Florida, DeSantis told him. Trump quipped that DeSantis better not be more popular in Florida than me" after extended cheers for the governor. He went on to suggest to the crowd that DeSantis should wear jackets less frequently so people know he's not fat. EARLY COVID-19 RESPONSE In the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump applauded DeSantis for how he had handled governing the response to the virus. Hes done a lot of things right. And hes been truly I mean, he cares so much about health care. He cares so much about the cost of prescription drugs. Hes been a fantastic governor for Florida. Theyre very happy with him, Trump said at a press conference. DeSantis initially resisted issuing a statewide stay-at-home order but reversed course and issued it after facing pressure from Trump and White House advisers. TRUMP JOKES ABOUT FIRING DESANTIS IF HE LOSES FLORIDA At a campaign event ahead of the 2020 election, Trump praised DeSantis and called him a friend but also joked that he would blame the governor if he did not win Florida. Ill fire him somehow. Im going to fire him. I will find a way, he said. Trump ended up winning Florida in 2020 by 3.4 percentage points a bigger margin of victory than in 2016. A TRUMP-DESANTIS TICKET? Trump and DeSantis remained publicly supportive of each other in early 2021 so much so that Trump even floated the Florida governor as a possible 2024 running mate. A lot of people like that, Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo in April 2021. You know, Im just saying what I read and what you read. They love that ticket. But certainly Ron would be considered. He is a great guy. DESANTIS BECOMES DESANCTIMONIOUS As DeSantis' national profile began to rise, so did chatter about his potential as a 2024 presidential prospect and the former president noticed. If I faced him, Id beat him like I would beat everyone else," Trump said of DeSantis in October 2021, while saying that he didn't expect the governor to challenge him. Days before the 2022 midterm election, Trump unveiled his new nickname for the governor: Ron DeSanctimonious. He then visited Miami for a rally to support U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio but not DeSantis, who was holding a separate campaign event that same day for his own reelection. In the days following DeSantis' reelection victory, Trump put out a statement knocking him as an average REPUBLICAN governor with great Public Relations" and criticizing him for not ruling out a 2024 presidential bid. He says, Im only focused on the governors race, Im not looking into the future. Well, in terms of loyalty and class, thats really not the right answer, Trump said. DeSantis, asked to comment on Trump's remarks at a press conference, said being the target of attacks was simply part of the job. What you learn is all thats just noise," DeSantis said. THE ATTACKS ESCALATE In recent months, Trump has dramatically intensified his criticism of DeSantis, taking particular umbrage as what he sees as the governor's ungratefulness. DeSantis got elected because of me. You remember he had nothing. He was dead. He was leaving the race. He came over and he begged me, begged me for an endorsement, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in February. He said, If you endorse me, Ill win. And there were tears coming down from his eyes. Trump's campaign resurrected the 2018 DeSantis ad to remind viewers of Trump's help in the governor's political rise. Isnt it time DeSantis remembers how he got to where he is? the ad says. Trump has also shared a photo suggesting impropriety when DeSantis was a teacher two decades ago, despite no evidence of that; said DeSantis needed a personality transplant; and aired an ad accusing DeSantis of sticking his fingers where they don't belong a reference to a Daily Beast report that the governor once ate chocolate pudding with his fingers. On Wednesday, after DeSantis' presidential announcement on Twitter Spaces was plagued by glitches, Trump posted a video on Truth Social of a Ron rocket falling over and exploding. DESANTIS FIGHTS BACK KIND OF Although the Florida governor has largely avoided confrontation with Trump, he has managed to throw a few jabs back. As prosecutors prepared an indictment against Donald Trump in New York, DeSantis criticized the investigation but also said, I dont know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair." In a Piers Morgan interview that aired a few days later, he laughed off a question about the nicknames Trump was using for him. I dont know how to spell DeSanctimonious. I dont really know what it means, but I kind of like it. Its long, its got a lot of vowels. I mean, so well go with that. Thats fine. You can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner, DeSantis said. On Wednesday, after launching his campaign, DeSantis avoided referencing Trump by name but made a subtle dig at him over national Republican election losses. We must end the culture of losing that has infected the Republican Party in recent years," DeSantis said on Twitter Spaces. "The tired dogmas of the past are inadequate for a vibrant future. We must look forward, not backwards. Close Listen: Ron DeSantiss presidential launch suffers major technical issues Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump Jr has shared a seemingly AI-generated clip of Ron DeSantis edited into the role of Michael Scott in The Office in a clip in which the character is mocked for wearing a womans suit. Imagine when next time its not an obvious spoof from The Office but an attempt to depict itself as legitimate and much more nefarious, CNNs Jake Tapper tweeted. Since his 2024 campaign got off to a shaky start on Wednesday evening with its much-derided Twitter Spaces launch, Mr DeSantis has been doing the rounds of right-wing media outlets, reminding voters of his record in Florida and taking the occasional dig at his chief rival, former president Donald Trump. In one interview, he said that if hes elected president, he would consider pardons for those charged with January 6 Capitol riot offences, and when pressed as to whether that would include Mr Trump, he said the measure would include everyone. His remark was criticised not just by Democrats, but was also sharply rebuked by former Republican Rep Liz Cheney, who tweeted: Any candidate who says they will pardon January 6 defendants is not qualified to be president. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Elon Musk has rushed to defend Ron DeSantis launch after the Twitter Spaces event was marred by glitches and technical issues. In a tweet, the Twitter boss insisted that the audio-only event was a success, calling it the top story on Earth despite the biggest talking point from the night being the technical problems plunging it into chaos. I call it massive attention. Top story on Earth today, he tweeted, in response to a tweet from MSNBC executive producer Kyle Griffin who listed off the negative press coverage of the event. Mr DeSantis finally launched his 2024 campaign to seek the Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday evening but the takeoff proved to be anything but smooth. The Florida governor chose to appear at an audio-only Twitter Spaces event with Musk and moderator David Sacks which ended up being dogged by technical problems. The event began late, the first iteration of the chat room crashed and had to be rebooted, and the sound repeatedly dropped out leaving long silences and echoes. Then, Mr DeSantis had to abruptly leave the event to take part in a more conventional television interview with Fox News. But despite the issues, Musk and Mr Sacks were determined to put a positive face on the debacle. I think you broke the internet there! We had half a million people in one Twitter Space and it was growing by, like, 50,000 a minute, Mr Sacks said at one point, attempting to make light of the teething problems. You can tell by some of the mistakes that this is real, Musk joked. After the event, Musk tweeted cheerily: All Presidential candidates are most welcome on this platform. Mr Sacks also attempted to look beyond the blunders, tweeting: This was by far the biggest room ever held on social media. Twitter performed great after some initial scaling challenges. Thanks Twitter Team for adapting so quickly to make history! Mr DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin also tried to downplay the issues, tweeting: There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet. Washington is next. $1 million raised online in one hour... and counting! In between the glitches, Mr DeSantis was able to declare his intention to run for the White House, discuss his record leading the Sunshine State, his anti-woke policy positions, his prolonged battle with the Walt Disney Corporation and the need to revitalise America although much of the conversation ended up being derailed by a heavy focus on Musk himself. Mr DeSantis also found few opportunities to attack Donald Trump, his biggest rival for the GOP nomination. Meanwhile, Mr Trump trolled the Florida governor remorselessly throughout the evening, deriding him on Truth Social and posting vicious memes of exploding Tesla rockets and a spoof version of the Spaces page in which Adolf Hitler, Satan, the FBI, Dick Cheney, George Soros and World Economic Forum chairman Klaus Schwab appeared to be taking part. As DeSaster trended on Twitter, Democrats Joe Biden and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined in the ridicule, as did Donald Trump Jr, Matt Gaetz and George Santos, while the launch was labelled variously a fiasco by The New York Times, awkward by The Washington Post, a meltdown by NBC, just plain horrendous by Politico and amateur hour by Fox. Lincoln Project founder Rick Wilson called it a train wreck while MSNBC presenter Chris Hayes went furthest of all, declaring: Im sorry but this is an ASTOUNDINGLY HUMILIATING degree of incompetence. Unspinnable failure. Total and complete. Fully public. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ron DeSantis attempt to launch his 2024 presidential campaign via Twitter Spaces did not go as planned as the platform faced a plethora of technological issues, prompting a flood of memes and mockery. The social media platform was filled with jokes about Mr DeSantis and Twitter owner Elon Musk, who co-hosted the Spaces meeting, on Wednesday evening. From the start, the platform faced glitches that caused the audio to cut out at random moments and the Twitter mobile app to crash periodically. The Spaces meeting, which was supposed to start at 6pm, ended up kicking off around 20 minutes later when Mr Musk and other Twitter employees figured out how to keep it from crashing. But a lack of communication from Mr Musk, Mr DeSantis and David Sacks, the moderator of the Spaces conversation, left many Twitter users confused for the 20 minutes of tech issues. While people were searching for the correct link to the Spaces meeting, several presidential candidates, including President Joe Biden seized an opportunity. This link works, Mr Biden tweeted with a link to donate to his presidential campaign. Former governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson wrote, Just like my policies, this link works with a link to donate to his campaign too. According to Mr Sacks, the Spaces kept crashing because servers were overloaded with the number of people trying to listen. We got so many people here that we are kind of melting the servers, which is a good sign, Mr Sacks said during the meeting. Some mocked Mr Musk for failing to consider the high volume of listeners given that the Spaces meeting was highly publicised and Mr DeSantis was expected to announce his campaign. When the Twitter Spaces event did begin working, it had some microphone glitches and awkward silences as the speakers attempted to figure out how to work the platform. Donald Trump, Mr DeSantis largest rival in the race for the Republican nomination, joked about the tech issues on his platform Truth Social. Mr Trump shared a meme of a rocket falling and exploding, calling it Ron! 2024 Is the DeSantis launch FATAL? Yes!, Mr Trump wrote He added, Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH! Many agreed that the launch via Twitter Spaces was semi-disastrous for Mr DeSantis and a rough start to his campaign, calling it a failure to launch. On Twitter, Mr Musk disagreed with headlines that indicated the Twitter Spaces launch went poorly, claiming the attention it garnered reflects positively on Twitter. I call it massive attention Top story on Earth today, Mr Musk wrote. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday appeared flummoxed when an otherwise-friendly Fox News host asked him to say how hed help bring Russias unprovoked war on Ukraine to an end if he is elected president of the United States. Mr DeSantis, who followed up on his disastrous Twitter-based campaign rollout by appearing on the right-wing network with ex-South Carolina congressman Trey Gowdy, previously drew scorn and criticism earlier this year when he called the war a territorial dispute. Members of his own party slammed his characterisation of the war, which came in an answer to a questionnaire sent out by then-Fox host Tucker Carlson. The Florida Governor appeared not to have settled on a position regarding the war and did not offer one when Gowdy asked him how he would address the ongoing war in Eastern Europe between Russia and Ukraine on day one of a Ron DeSantis presidency. Instead, the former US Navy Judge Advocate turned to attacking the US military, repeating a laundry list of GOP grievances against the American armed forces in a rambling answer that did not even begin to address Gowdys question. I think what we need to do as a veteran is recognise that our military has become politicised. You talk about gender ideology. You talk about things like global warming, that they're somehow concerned and that's not the military that I served in, he said. Mr DeSantis comments appeared to be a critique of the Defence Departments policy allowing transgender people to serve in the armed forces if they are otherwise qualified to do so, as well as long-standing Pentagon positions which state that climate change is a threat to US security because changing weather patterns will destabilise global food supplies and cause widespread migration. Republicans have also attacked the US military for working to root out extremists and white supremacists from the ranks, and many in the GOP have claimed that the Pentagons efforts to recruit non-white people, women and LGBT+ people have harmed recruiting efforts for the all-volunteer force. Mr DeSantis appeared to allude to these criticisms of the US armed services as he continued his answer. We need to return our military to focusing on commitment, focusing on the core values and the core mission would be something that I can take care of on day one, he said. He added that he would be a new sheriff in town as commander-in-chief and said hed cause recruiting to return to desire levels because people don't want to join a woke military. Finally, he attempted to address the original question hed been asked, but did not offer much in terms of his own views on the war other than to say hed like to see a settlement of some sort rather than a wider war. I think it's completely unknowable what it will look like in January of 2025, but I would not want to see the United States with our troops get enmeshed in a war in Russia or in Ukraine, he said. Close Donald Trump Jr accidentally says his father has the charisma of a mortician in bungled attack video Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prosecutors in Mr Trumps criminal case in Manhattan have shared a recording of the former president speaking to a witness with Mr Trumps legal team, according to CBS News. The witness hasnt been identified, a document made public by the prosecutorial office on Friday stated. The document is known as an automatic discovery form and outlines the charges that a defendant is facing and also provides an overview of the evidence gathered against Mr Trump thats set to be put forward at trial or at a preliminary hearing. Meanwhile, as competition builds for the Republican Partys 2024 presidential nomination, Mr Trumps other legal woes continue to mount as a maintenance worker has made a shocking claim about the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. The worker recalled helping to move boxes into a storage room just one day before the Department of Justice visited Mar-a-Lago seeking the papers, reported The New York Times. The worker didnt know what the boxes contained at the time. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Madeleine McCanns disappearance has puzzled detectives for more than 15 years but in 2020 a new potential suspect emerged. Now, police are searching a remote reservoir in Portugals the Algarve that he used to visit in a renewed effort to shed further light on the case. Follow all the latest updates on the Independents live blog German prisoner Christian Brueckner was first named in connection with the unsolved mystery that summer, and officially named as a suspect last year. His yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly identified as having been near to the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where the young girl went missing on May 3, 2007. Christian Brueckner is serving seven years behind bars in Germany (Reuters) Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from the bed of her holiday apartment while her parents and family friends dined 180 feet away. Her two-year-old twin siblings were also in the apartment she went missing from. Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann have been searching for answers ever since. The Metropolitan Police took over the investigation, Operation Grange, in 2011 but they hit dead ends. There has not been another significant suspect in the case since 2007 until Brueckner. Who is Christian Brueckner? German prisoner Christian Brueckner is a prolific burglar and has been previously convicted for sex crimes against young girls. He was born in Germany in 1976 and moved to Portugal in his late teens. It is believed he lived there between 1995 and 2007 working in the food industry. Brueckner is described as being about 6ft tall, slim and white with short blond hair. Brueckner had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz (PA Archive) What are the accusations against him? Brueckner was declared a prime suspect in the case of the disappearance of Madeleine by Portuguese police in April 2022. Already in prison in Germany for the rape and murder of a 72-year-old woman, he has now also been charged with multiple sex offences which are alleged to have taken place between 2000 and 2007. Police in Germany claim to have concrete evidence that the British girl is dead though this has not been proven. A spokesperson from the Braunschweig prosecutors office previously said: The accused is the same person against whom charges were brought in connection with the disappearance of the then three-year-old British girl Madeleine Beth McCann. Specifically, the accused is charged with three offences of aggravated rape and two offences of sexual abuse of children. The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann continues. The charges mentioned do not relate to the McCann case. But in May German police claim to have found new evidence linked to Madeleine inside a van belonging to Brueckner. Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann have been searching for answers ever since her disappearance (PA Wire) How was he identified as a suspect? Brueckner had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz the Algarve resort where the McCanns were holidaying at the time Madeleine vanished. German prosecutors say telecomms data shows Brueckner received a phone call on 3 May 2007 near the Praia da Luz holiday apartment from which the three-year-old went missing, but he reportedly claims to have been miles from the scene with a young German woman. Brueckner, who has always denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance, insists he drove the woman, who was on holiday with her parents, to the airport in Faro for her return flight home the following day. They were stopped and photographed at a police roadblock, according to Sky News. When Portuguese police named Brueckner an arguido a formal suspect on 21 April last year, it was the first time they had identified an official suspect since 2007. Back then, they named Madeleines parents, Kate and Gerry McCann as suspects but both were later cleared. Brueckner is the first significant suspect in the case since 2007 (PA Media) Why is he in prison in Germany? In April 2022, Brueckner was jailed in Germany for the rape and murder of a 72-year-old woman in the same resort - Praia da Luz - as where Madeleine went missing. Police in Germany, who are treating the case as a murder enquiry, believe Brueckner planned to rob the holiday apartment but moved on to a sexual motive. It is believed he has a total of 17 convictions including burglary as he steals from hotels and holiday let apartments. Other cases Brueckner has been linked to Brueckner has also been linked to other disappearances of children, including a boy, six, in Portugal in 2000, a five-year-old girl in Germany in 2015 and a number of others. In 2020, he was being investigated over the rape and murder of Tristan Brubach, a 15-year-old boy from Germany. Belgian authorities have also linked him to the murder of teenager Carola Titze, 16. She went missing while on holiday in De Haan, Belgium on July 5, 1996 and her body was discovered among sand dunes severely mutilated on July 11. Other cases believed to be linked to Brueckner include that of Inga Gehrike who went missing from Saxony-Anhalt in Germany on May 2, 2015, Rene Hasee, six, who vanished while on a family holiday in Aljezur, Portugal on June 21, 1996 and Jair Soares who disappeared in August 1995. Peggy Knoblochs case has also been linked to Brueckner after she went missing in May 2001. Close Madeleine McCann Footage shows holes in the ground in Portugal as search ends For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A British couple claimed they found a makeshift shrine to missing Madeleine McCann at the Portuguese reservoir searched by police last week. The couple, named only as Ralf and Ann, told the Mail on Sunday they found the strange shrine seven months after the toddler vanished 16 years ago, and reported it to Portuguese police, but never heard back. The shrine consisted of a row of stones pointing to a picnic site which was dug up by police last week, a bouquet of white lilies and a photograph of the missing toddler. The retired couple, who regularly visit their holiday home near the Algarve reservoir, later reported the shrine to police after suspect Christian Brueckner was identified by German police in 2020, and gave a formal statement. Ralf, 66, described the shrine as very strange. Ann, 67, said: Thinking about it now gives me goosebumps because when we saw where the police were searching the past few days you could see thats where the row of stones was pointing to. Officers concluded their search of the Algarve reservoir on Thursday, where Christian Brueckner reportedly visited some days after the three-year-old vanished on May 3, 2007. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch =as Portuguese authorities search a reservoir near the area where British girl Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 for a third day. The prime suspect in the search, Christian Brueckner, is said to have visited the area some days after Madeleines disappearance, a source close to the investigation has revealed. Divers are also preparing to enter the reservoir in the Algarve again on Thursday (25 May). The Barragem do Arade is around 31 miles from the Praia da Luz resort where Maddy disappeared back in 2007. We have indications that we could find evidence there. I dont want to say what that is exactly, and I also dont want to say where these indications came from, Christian Wolters, the Braunschweig prosecutor, said of the search. Investigators believe the 45-year-old killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russia has started to move tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in the first such deployment on foreign soil since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, according to the Belarusian president. The movement of the nuclear weapons has already begun, Alexander Lukashenko told reporters during a summit of the Eurasian Economic Forum in Moscow. Asked if the weapons were already in Belarus, he said: Possibly. When I get back I will check. The comments came a few hours after the two countries signed a deal formalising the transfer of the weapons, though control over their use remains in the hands of the Kremlin. The move was denounced by the White House as an example of [Moscow] making irresponsible and provocative choices. The US believes Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, which include bombs that can be carried by aircraft, warheads for short-range missiles, and artillery rounds. Such weapons have a relatively short range, and lower yields than nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles. The US has around 200 of these tactical weapons, half of which are at bases in Europe. Belarus borders three Nato members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Russias defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said that Iskander-M missiles, which can carry conventional or nuclear warheads, had been transferred to the Belarusian armed forces. He also said that some Su-25 aircraft had been converted for the possible use of nuclear weapons. Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the move late in March, having repeatedly warned Western allies about the risks of stepping up their military support for Ukraine in the wake of Moscows invasion. The collective West is essentially waging an undeclared war against our countries, Mr Shoigu claimed at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk, according to Russias defence ministry. Deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us, the Belarusian defence minister, Viktor Khrenin, said at the meeting. The signing of the deal, which further aligns the two countries militaries, comes as Russia prepares for a counteroffensive by Ukraine. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, left, and Belarusian defence minister Viktor Khrenin, in Minsk on Thursday (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service) On the battlefield, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said his forces had started to withdraw from the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and that the group would hand all of its positions over to the Russian army by the beginning of June. The fight for the city, which has been one of the bloodiest of Moscows invasion so far, has taken on symbolic significance for both Ukraine and Russia. Mr Prigozhin claimed last week that his soldiers had taken control of Bakhmut, although Kyiv has denied this, saying that Russia does not control the area and that its own troops retain small footholds in parts of the city. Mr Prighozin a Putin ally appeared in a video on Thursday wearing battle gear and standing beside a war-damaged residential block, and announced: From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the [Wagner] units will rebase to camps in the rear. Having constantly berated Russian defence officials and military chiefs for their failure to provide ammunition and supplies for the Wagner forces and recently for losing some of the ground the mercenaries had gained to Ukrainian advances Mr Prigozhin could not resist another dig in his announcement. He said that some Wagner fighters would stay behind to assist the Russian troops. The moment when the military are in a tough situation, they will stand up, he said, while also jokingly warning two of his mercenaries not to bully the military. Mr Prigozhin has a long-running feud with the Russian military leadership, dating back to Wagners creation in 2014. He has also built a reputation for making inflammatory statements on which he later backtracks. Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said in a message on the Telegram app that Wagner had handed over positions on the citys outskirts, but that inside the city itself Wagner fighters remain. Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukraines eastern military command, said the number of Russian attacks in the area had fallen in the past three days, and that there had been two military engagements in the last 24 hours, though shelling continued. We can definitely note a reduction in attacks, and possibly this is linked to their regrouping. It is clear that we have inflicted heavy losses and they need [to regroup], he said. Ms Maliar said Russian forces were also reinforcing their positions on the flanks of Bakhmut, and that they were shelling Ukrainian forces to try to stop the Ukrainians from advancing. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report Close G7 summit: Zelensky and Fumio Kishida lay wreaths at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Russian ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin has claimed that Russia has not yet started acting seriously in Ukraine. In an interview on the BBCs Kuenssberg show, Kelin said Russia is yet to act very seriously in Ukraine, and warned Russia has enormous resources to fight. Ambassador Kelin also warned of a new dimension in the Russia-Ukraine war. He said: It is a big idealistic mistake to think that Ukraine will prevail. Russia is 16 times bigger than Ukraine. We have enormous resources and we havent just started yet to act very seriously. We are just defending the lands which are under control and assisting Russian people over there. We are rebuilding the Donbas. It depends on the escalation of war that is taking place. Sooner or later this escalation might have a new dimension that we do not need and we do not want. We can make peace tomorrow, if Ukrainian side will be prepared to negotiate but there is no preconditions for that. Ambassador Kelins claims of enormous resources come after reports that Russian forces on the ground are poorly equipped and without proper training. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The fighters are exuberant after their cross-border mission, showing off a captured BRT armoured car and machine guns among their battle trophies, while vowing further attacks in a long campaign and predicting Vladimir Putins downfall. They have not invaded Russia on Ukraines behalf, but started a war of liberation, declares Denis Kapustin, the head of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) at a camp in northeastern Ukraine. We went back to our homeland. There were no Ukrainian soldiers with us; they will not appear in the territory of the Russian Federation. This is our internal problem, he insists. The group, along with another anti-Putin militia, the Freedom of Russia Legion, claim that they were answering a cry for help from the people of Belgorod, the region in which they have taken over a few villages amid much publicity. The deputy commander of the Freedom of Russia Legion, call sign Caesar, says: Not long ago, as you know, Russian Su-35s [warplanes] dropped two bombs over Belgorod. After this, we began to receive letters from local residents with a request to demilitarise the region. Our aim is to create a demilitarised zone in all regions neighbouring Ukraine. Russias armed forces pose a threat not just to Ukraines population, but also to Russians. Our next plan is to expand deeper into Russian territory please wait for a little bit, just a few days, and youll hear from us again. After completing this task, well begin to liberate Russia. Whatever happens to the long-term liberation plan, the reality is that the current incursions by fighters are part of the shaping operations being carried out by Ukraine ahead of a spring counteroffensive, which is supposed to begin in the near future. The aim is to force Russian troops out of their positions and keep them moving with varying assaults. Similar probes are taking place in Zaporizhzhia, in the Donbas, and with airstrikes in Crimea. The Kremlin had to send new units to the Belgorod region in response to the attacks, putting Colonel General Alexander Lapin, who was appointed chief of staff of Russias ground forces four months ago, in charge at the border. Those troops will now have to stay in the area with the Russian-exile militias threatening further raids while the Ukrainian offensive unfolds elsewhere. While maintaining that the exiles have autonomy of action, Kapustin acknowledges there has been Ukrainian assistance and encouragement from comrades. He says the Ukrainians are asked: What do you think of our plans, is this possible? What information can you give us?, adding: And we need to ask if such an operation would help or make things difficult for Ukraine. Russian Volunteer Corps commander, Moscow-born Denis Kapustin, also known as Denis Nikitin or by the nom de guerre White Rex (Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters) Caesar explains: We all have Russian passports, or are ethnic Russians, who came to defend Ukraine. Of course we coordinate our activities with certain structures in Ukraine; it would be strange if it were otherwise. The Ukrainian governments line is that it is not involved in actions carried out by opposition groups inside Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky said after the recent drone attack on the Kremlin and a spate of bombings on Russian territory: Ukraine is defending our country within the territories of Ukraine. We are not in a foreign country. Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps have expressed far-right, neo-fascist views something the Kremlin has sought to exploit. Ukrainian officials have tried to explain the countrys links with such groups with some difficulty. A senior officer in the SBU, the Ukrainian intelligence service, said: Look, of course we dont support extremist views ourselves. But Our enemys enemy is our friend isnt that the English phrase? As for our activities, there are things we cant talk about of course, like your MI6 and SAS. But there are a lot of Russians, we are finding, who are against Putin and this war, and willing to help whether at the border, or St Petersburg, or Moscow. Members of the Freedom Legion have a more moderate political stance than their paramilitary partners. Caesar says that differences between the armed groups have to be buried, and he wants to contrast their unity with the divided Russian political opposition. Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps (Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters) The fact that we take a more centre-ground position and the Volunteer Corps is more right-wing does not change anything. Our goal is to protect Ukraine and liberate Russia. We are determined to fight and die for our cause. This is different from the political opposition, who are constantly slinging mud at each other. This only helps the Putin regime, he stresses. If someone thinks that there is another way to put an end to Putins regime, he is either a scumbag or a fool. Its clear that mass peace demonstrations in Russian will not change anything. People in the squares will be rolled into asphalt by tanks. With combat like in Belgorod, we have shown the only way to change power in the country is by force of arms. After more than a day of skirmishes, the Kremlin announced that 70 Ukrainian nationalists had been eliminated. The militias say two of their fighters were killed and 10 wounded. The Russians also produced images of American Humvees and MRAP (light armoured) vehicles supposedly abandoned by the militias and captured. The US administration has sought to distance itself from the attacks. At the Pentagon, Brigadier General Patrick Ryder of the US Air Force said: The US has not approved of any third-party transfers of equipment to paramilitary organisations, nor has the Ukrainian government requested any such transfers. Well keep a close eye on the issue. State department spokesperson Matthew Miller said: We do not encourage or enable strikes inside of Russia. But, as weve also said, it is up to Ukraine to decide how to conduct this war. Asked about the American weaponry, Kapustin says: I know exactly where I got my weapons from unfortunately not from the Western partners. Caesar adds: Yes, we used Humvees. We buy them in international shops, war shops... everyone who has money can do this. The militias remain small in numbers, and it is far from clear that they have the capability to carry out deep penetration missions inside Russia. But the border raids have provided more ammunition to powerful figures in Russia who have been attacking the military high command over the war. Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose mercenary fighters have been heavily involved on the frontline especially in the battle for Bakhmut has been one of their most vocal critics. Sabotage and reconnaissance forces calmly enter Russia and march, uploading videos, driving their tanks, armoured infantry vehicles. Wheres the guarantee that they will not enter Moscow? the Wagner boss has railed. So far as I understand, nobody gives a s*** about residents of Belgorod region. I say to the elite of the Russian Federation: you sons of b****es, gather your children. Send them to war. When you come to a funeral and start burying them, people will say, It is all fair now. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel ran aground in the Suez Canal and blocked traffic in one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes before it was successfully refloated. According to tracking data, the Xin Hai Tong 23 ran aground just inside the southern mouth of the Suez Canal. Leth Agencies, which oversees traffic in the canal, acknowledged the incident and said it was able to refloat the stricken vessel more than two hours later. Tracking data showed no vessels moving in that area of the canal at the time. In a tweet Leth Agencies said: "M/V XIN HAI TONG 23 has grounded in the Suez Canal at KM 159/0400 hrs." It added it was "leaving behind 4 vessels from the early convoy in addition to the ordinary group which was planned to enter Suez Canal at about 0600 hrs." Canal authorities said that they had been informed of an engine malfunction. The process to refloat the shup using tugboats was briefly delayed by a failure of the ship's winch. After the cargo vessel was refloated, the canal authority confirmed that "shipping activity on both directions would return to normal as soon as the towing process is finished, as a precautionary measure." The ship had set out from Dhuba port in Saudi Arabia. It is owned by Xiang B12 HK International Ship Lease and managed by Tosco Keymax International Ship Management. The ship measures some 190 metres (625 feet) by 32 metres (105 feet) and typically carries cargo. Shipping data from Refinitiv Eikon shipping data earlier showed the ship as "not under command" near the southern end of the canal. It was initially positioned at an angle with its stern abutting the canal's eastern side, but by 9am local time the ship appeared to have been moved towards the centre of the canal and was pointed south. Three Egyptian tugboats were also seen surrounding the vessel, according to tracking data. The ship is smaller than the Ever Given, a colossal container ship that crashed into a bank on a single-lane stretch of the canal in March 2021, blocking the waterway. The crisis ended six days later, after a massive concerted efforts by a flotilla of tugboats that freed the skyscraper-sized vessel and allowed hundreds of waiting ships to pass through the canal. Additional reporting by Associated Press Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A systems outage has forced British Airways to cancel at least 60 flights, stranding thousands of passengers and leaving many more without their luggage. The IT collapse crippled operations at the airline, causing huge delays to departures and arriving flights, and also affected the carriers website and booking systems. It is the latest in a series of systems failures at British Airways in recent years, including some that triggered days-long chaos and cost it millions of pounds in compensation payouts. Dozens of short-haul flights have been axed, as well as a handful of long-haul flights, ahead of what is already expected to be Heathrows busiest travel day at the start of a bank holiday weekend and half-term getaway. Our teams are working hard to resolve a technical issue that weve experienced this afternoon, the airline said. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank our customers for their patience. Long queues have begun to form at Heathrow as passengers seek alternative flights, while many of those landing at the airport are unable to disembark. Vienna, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Venice, Rome, Hamburg, Aberdeen and Milan are among the affected destinations from Heathrow. Boston, New York JFK and Mumbai are the long-haul cancellations. At Heathrow, recorded announcements told passengers on cancelled flights to leave the airport and book themselves into hotels to be reimbursed later. BA flights at London Gatwick were also delayed. (Turning Left For Less blog) The outage also briefly knocked the carriers booking system offline, preventing customers from checking in for flights or accessing their existing bookings or accounts. Earlier this year, British Airways returned to profit for the first time since 2019. Parent company IAG, which also owns Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, made 7.9m in operating profit in the first quarter of 2023 compared to a loss of 660m over the same period in 2022 and the firm predicts a bumper summer. BA said customers should still check in as normal for its flights. Heathrow Airport said: British Airways has suffered a technical issue which is impacting some British Airways departing and arriving flights. For the status of flights please contact either British Airways or your travel provider. Martin Lewis has warned that households could be paying more for their energy bills this winter compared to last year. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, the MoneySavingExpert founder used a graph to illustrate his predictions of how much bills could rise and fall over the course of the year. If these predictions are right, and its somewhat crystal ball gazing, you will be paying more next winter than you did last winter, Lewis explained. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Trump clone wars have begun. With Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's extremely online campaign announcement, the 2024 GOP primary just kicked into high gear. In an audio-only conversation on Twitter Spaces with Elon Musk and VC David Sacks, DeSantis officially announced he is running for president. But first, much like some of Musk's rockets, there was a failure to launch that overshadowed everything that followed. For 20 minutes, there was almost no talking, but there were repeated crashes. The app crashed for me at least 16 times while I tried to listen in to Twitter Space. As the Space hit 680k listeners at 6.20 pm, Musk just ended it after remarking about the servers being strained. Minutes later, Musk started another Twitter Space and DeSantis began reading off a statement attacking "woke ideology" and the "woke mob," but he recited this to an audience that was 1/5 the size of the first Twitter Space at about 150,000 listeners when he read his announcement and around 300,000 at its peak. President Joe Biden responded by simply tweeting out a donation link with the words: "This link works." The Twitter Space itself served up nothing new. Questioners praised DeSantis for his handling of Covid and praised Elon Musk for his purchase of Twitter, attacking legacy media. DeSantis reiterated his attacks on Disney and falsely called the book bans in Florida a "hoax." The Space dragged on for an hour after its restart, ending at about 7.30pm. There was nothing of substance in this announcement for the average American who cares about kitchen table issues. Another topic notably missing from this announcement: the frontrunner of the Republican primary, Donald Trump, and why DeSantis thinks he can beat him. DeSantis instead appeared to subtweet Trump, saying that he will actually get things done, just like he did in Florida. DeSantis's claim that he can do for America what he's done for Florida may read like a promise to his extreme base, but it is perceived as a warning for the majority of Americans who oppose his extremism. After winning his 2018 gubernatorial campaign by advertising himself as a Trump clone in order to get his endorsement, DeSantis went on to put Trumpism into practice. DeSantis began to get more national attention with his anti-lockdown approach during Covid, reopening schools and businesses earlier than other states. Heading into 2021 and 2022, Ron DeSantis began to focus on culture wars. He signed a bill critics panned as "Don't Say Gay," which restricts how LGBTQ+ issues are taught in schools. DeSantis also signed the "Stop Woke Act" which limits the way race is taught in school. It was built on the 2021 bans of Critical Race Theory in K-12 schools CRT was never taught in K-12 schools in the first place. Those are among a slew of bills that triggered book bans over the past year and brought even more controversy and attention to DeSantis. In response to the backlash, he's doubled down. Heading into this year, DeSantis was fresh off a supermajority in his state legislature. He then escalated things, targeting the liberal arts school New College and blocking an advanced placement African-American history class. In recent weeks, DeSantis banned Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in colleges and ordered a review of college courses that teach about "systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege." Just this week, a Florida county limited access to Amanda Gorman's poem she read at President Joe Biden's inauguration after one parent complained. DeSantis has clearly been more preoccupied with national culture wars rather than dealing with the real issues Florida residents face. DeSantis implemented a six-week abortion ban and eliminated concealed carry permits. His policies have been widely seen as dangerous. The NAACP recently issued a traveling advisory, claiming Florida "has become hostile to Black Americans." This comes as the League of United Latin American Citizens and Equality Florida, an LGBTQ advocacy group, also issued travel advisories. Even some Republican donors have expressed concern over his culture war stances, specifically on abortion and book bans. DeSantis's recent feud with Disney has also drawn him more negative attention. After Disney opposed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, DeSantis launched a rhetorical and legislative attack on Disney, seeking to place it under the control of a DeSantis-controlled board. This resulted in multiple lawsuits and Disney withdrawing its $1bn project that would've brought 2,000 jobs to Florida. DeSantis will have to explain to already skeptical Americans why he's feuding with one of the most beloved companies in the world. Poll after poll indicates a majority of Americans oppose book bans and oppose bills like "Don't Say Gay." One poll even found 56% of Americans believe the word "woke" is a positive term." So Ron DeSantis might need to rethink his strategy, and whether he'll reuse his infamous quote, "Florida is where woke goes to die." It's important to take a moment to note that DeSantis is acting out a broader Republican attack on education. Republican lawmakers have made false claims of "indoctrination" in schools because they know educated young people reject them. This is an ongoing panic reaction to the 2020 racial justice protests and mass national re-education on systemic racism. Instead of changing their unpopular and extremist approach, Republican lawmakers are attempting to prevent the youth from learning real American history, media literacy, and social awareness. This is all an electoral tactic. They're the ones seeking to indoctrinate. This kind of government overreach is antithetical to the stated limited government ideals of conservatism. It fully embraces the authoritarian impulses that have consumed the modern Republican Party. DeSantis embodies what it looks like when Trumpism has a supermajority with no guardrails, and showcases that Trumpism without Trump could be even more dangerous. Speaking of Trumpism, we have to address the orange elephant in the room that DeSantis refused to acknowledge. The question on everyone's mind is, can Ron DeSantis beat Donald Trump in the GOP primary? The answer is yet to be known. DeSantis is far from the star he was in the days after the 2022 midterm election when Trump seemed to be on the decline. Trump has since become the frontrunner of the GOP 2024 primary. After being neck and neck, DeSantis has recently been lagging behind Trump in the polls by over 30 points in FiveThirtyEight's polling average. Recent gaffes, from his underwhelming appearances overseas to his socially anxious trek through New Hampshire, Ron DeSantis has been critiqued as "not ready for prime time" by those covering his on-the-ground efforts to engage in retail politics. DeSantis clearly does not have the charisma of Trump, in spite of his best efforts to emulate him. He also doesn't have Trump's shamelessness. Trump is also capable of going lower than anyone. We'll see if DeSantis can keep up. DeSantis has yet to make a coherent case against Trump or articulate why Republican voters should pick him over Trump. It seems the moderate contrast is ruled out for DeSantis given how he's governed Florida. So it seems he'll have to squeeze to the right of Trump, which could help in the primary but will pigeonhole him in the general election. Despite DeSantis's stumbles, it's clear Trump sees DeSantis as his primary threat. Trump has launched attack after attack on DeSantis, branding him "Meatball Ron" or "Ron DeSanctimonious." Trump has actually gone as far as to seek to differentiate himself from DeSantis on policy too. Trump has trolled DeSantis for his feud with Disney and claimed DeSantis's six-week abortion ban is "too harsh." When you're too extreme for even Donald Trump, you know you're extreme. There's one key thing DeSantis has going for him: Trump's baggage. The mounting legal troubles Donald Trump faces can't be ignored. Trump was just found civilly liable for sexually abusing and defaming E Jean Carroll. Justice Juan Merchan just set Trump's criminal hush money trial for March 25, 2024, right in the middle of the primary season. And as Special Counsel Jack Smith's classified document probe nears its end, reporting indicates Trump's team fears an indictment could be imminent. These developments could hobble Trump during the primary, and bolster the case for an alternative. We have to keep in mind that we're very far away from 2024, and anything can happen. Maybe someone else in the growing field of candidates will rise to the moment, but right now it seems like the core battle is between the Florida men. We'll see if Trump's apprentice can defeat his old master or if he'll be laughed off the field by the man who made him. At the start of this week, an unknown number of paramilitaries entered the Russian region of Belgorod from Ukraine. The details are both unclear and contested, but what appears to have happened is essentially this: they took over a border post, attacked a few villages on the Russian side of the border north of Ukraines second city, Kharkiv, and advanced several dozen kilometres further into Russia before being beaten back by Russian troops. Russia claims they killed 70, but there is no corroboration. Ukraine says it was a couple of Russian volunteer groups opposed to President Putin, operating independently of the Kyiv government; Russia says it was Ukrainian saboteurs and terrorists operating with the full knowledge and support of Kyiv. But whoever was behind this raid is a secondary detail to the fact that it happened. Vodafone Ireland plans to invest 500m in its network over the next five years to improve services for customers. This follows the completion of a 300m investment programme as part of Vodafones network modernisation programme. The new investment will focus on services, such as improved call and text reliability, 4G, 5G and wider high-definition voice coverge. It will also support the transition of the entire 3G service over to a 4G and 5G network. Vodafone said that it is also investing in smart networks programme to reduce its network energy usage, even as customer data usage continues to rise. Vodafone was also recognised as Irelands best network by umlaut, part of Accenture, for the eighth consecutive year for its mobile service. "Our work is never done, and even in challenging times for the industry we are continuing to invest to futureproof our network using smart technologies and solutions to the benefit of all our partners and customers, Vodafone Ireland chief executive Amanda Nelson said. Last week, Vodafone announced that it would cut 11,000 jobs from its global operation over three years to simplify the telecoms group. Earnings declined 1.3pc to 14.7bn for the year to March 31, a dip the company attributed to challenges in its biggest market Germany, as well as soaring energy costs. Richard Quirke and his son Wesley Quirke, who is married to Rosanna Davison. Photo: Brian McEvoy THE company behind the Dr Quirkeys Good Time Emporium arcade and casino business in Dublin says it has introduced new security measures for handling cash after it was the victim of an alleged 2m fraud. The company revealed last year that it had uncovered the alleged fraud, which took place between 2018 and 2020. Newly-filed accounts for the business, owned by Rosanna Davisons father-in-law Richard Quirke, detail steps that have been taken following a comprehensive investigation. Last year, the company revealed it determined that between 2018 and 2019 it had been the victim of an alleged fraud totalling more than 2m. A further claimed fraud amounting to 543,000 was detected in respect of 2020, the directors of the business stated. The company had previously revealed that of the alleged fraud, 2.2m related to cash that was allegedly misappropriated, while 342,000 was connected to bank payments that were allegedly misappropriated. The Sunday Independent reported last year that the chief suspect in the alleged fraud died in 2020. The latest accounts for the business note that a major investigation was undertaken by the company after the purported fraud was uncovered. As a result of a comprehensive investigation led by external financial consultant [sic], the company implemented an extensive, wide-ranging programme of governance and operational improvements at all levels within the organisation, the directors note in the accounts. They point out that the new measures include a suite of actions designed to tighten control and oversight. New manual and electronic systems to manage cash handling have been introduced, as have new security measures in relation to cash handling. The company said it has also introduced a stringent recruitment process and enhanced training programmes for employees in all roles and at all levels. Other measures include the introduction of enhanced IT procedures and management, new appointments to the board of directors, as well as new appointments in key areas including human resources, accounts and operations. The accounts note that Wesley Quirke, Ms Davisons husband and son of Richard Quirke, was appointed a director of the company behind the gambling business, Dublin Pool & Juke Box Company, in October last year. Turnover at the business in the 12 months to the end of June last year soared to 7.6m from 1.5m in the previous financial year as pandemic-related restrictions eased. The companys loss was sharply reduced to just under 1m from a loss of 14m in the 2021 financial year. Last year, the directors of the company said that the investigation undertaken on its behalf had led to the identification of unpaid tax and interest liabilities. The latest set of accounts, signed off last month, note that the company is currently the subject of a Revenue investigation, the outcome of which is uncertain at present. The directors have provided for additional liabilities and interest in the financial statements, but have not provided for potential penalties that may arise, they note. The company has made previous unrelated settlements with the Revenue Commissioners. Google and the European Commission aim to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) pact involving European and non-European companies ahead of rules to govern the technology, EU industry chief Thierry Breton said yesterday. Mr Breton had earlier met Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai in Brussels. Sundar and I agreed that we cannot afford to wait until AI regulation actually becomes applicable, and to work together with all AI developers to already develop an AI pact on a voluntary basis ahead of the legal deadline, Mr Breton said in a statement after the meeting. He also urged EU countries and EU lawmakers to finalise details of the Commissions proposed AI rules before the end of the year. Both groups have yet to start negotiations to iron out their differences. It comes after the EU and the United States said that they plan to step up cooperation on artificial intelligence to establish minimum standards before legislation enters force. The European Unions AI Act could be the worlds first comprehensive legislation governing the technology, with new rules on facial recognition and biometric surveillance, but EU governments and lawmakers still need to agree a common text. EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager told a briefing that the process might be completed by the end of the year. Ms Vestager said that this would include generative AI algorithms such as ChatGPT. Also reviewed this week: Sisu and 406 Days Talk about a long gestation. Written by Robert Rodriguez in 2002, made two years ago and not released till now for various reasons, Hypnotic has all the hallmarks of an overcooked disaster. Hypnotic (15A, 94mins) Oddly enough though, it isnt quite that. Ben Affleck, the Hamlet of movie stars, who goes about his business accompanied by a small black cloud and always gives the impression his good fortune is a curse, is well cast as Danny Rourke, a Texan police detective whos obsessed with the unsolved disappearance of his seven-year-old daughter. A culprit was arrested, but the little girls body was never found, which leaves Danny wondering if, against all odds, she might be out there somewhere, waiting to be found. Hypnotic - Official Trailer (2023) In downtown Austin, meanwhile, an anonymous tip has been received about a possible bank heist. In the middle of a session with his shrink, Danny rushes to the scene with his partner Nick (JD Pardo) just in time to watch a bizarre scene unfold. A middle-aged man (William Fichtner) walks slowly towards the building, pausing to chat briefly to two armed security guards, who suddenly agree to become his accomplices. Its 9.30am, but once inside the bank, he convinces a teller that its late afternoon: she closes her till and becomes his getaway driver. And when Danny intervenes and chases the man on to the roof, two cops, whove also been won over to his cause, turn their guns on each other and shoot. Ben Affleck and Alice Braga in Hypnotic Danny is baffled, even more so when he reaches the deposit box the criminal had been after and finds a photo of his missing daughter inside, with the words Find Lev Dellrayne scrawled underneath it. Danny becomes convinced the mystery bank raider is Dellrayne and that he may know where his daughter is. The source of that anonymous tip, meanwhile, turns out to be one Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), a cut-rate fortune-teller who clearly knows more than shes letting on. Reluctantly, she tells Danny about the Hypnotics, an elite group of hypnotists trained by a secret government division, and whose powers are so strong, they can invade peoples minds to distort reality and make them do their bidding. Dellrayne is the most powerful of them, a ruthless and power-mad monomaniac. And when Diana and Danny join forces to try and stop him, they soon realise the magnitude of their task. All very high-falutin then, and keener viewers will detect the fingerprints of everyone from sci-fi master Philip K. Dick to the mind-bending confections of Christopher Nolan. A sequence during which the road rises before Danny and melds into the sky looks like Inception on a shoestring, but the Nolan film Hypnotic most resembles in tone is Memento, the 2000 mystery starring Guy Pearce as a concussed cop who finds it impossible to distinguish illusion from reality. Were not long into Hypnotic before we start to ask if that bank job was really happening and if Danny ever really had a daughter at all. And how come he, and he alone, seems so hard to hypnotise? All is revealed, after a fashion, by a story full of twists and thoroughly in love with its own hokum. I mentioned at the start that the screenplay was written in the early 2000s, and theres a definite bang of that era off Rodriquezs movie, which is relatively low on special effects and high on clumsily manufactured tension. Theres a certain charm though in this old-fashioned style of cinematic storytelling and the idea that a total stranger can persuade you to jump off a high building is rather compelling. Im not sure I was entirely convinced by the ending, nor the shoddy manner of its execution, but for most of Hypnotic, I bought into the daft concept and passed a relatively pleasant 90 minutes (that running time also refreshing). And Ben Affleck, in his own inimitable and almost reluctant fashion, is a charismatic enough actor to provide a tent pole around which all this airy nonsense can be hung. Hypnotic is released Irish cinemas on Friday 26 May Rating: Three stars Jorma Tommila in Sisu Sisu (16, 91mins) A western with Nazis, a B-movie without pretensions, Jalmari Helanders gruesome Finnish caper Sisu is set in the autumn of 1944, as the Germans were preparing to evacuate their forces to Norway. By a remote river high in Lapland, a grizzled prospector called Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) is searching for gold. He finds it in great quantities, packs bags of the stuff on to his horse and begins the long journey south to civilisation. Before long, however, he encounters a ragged SS unit led by Bruno Helldorf (Aksel Hennie), who decides to take his gold and kill him. But he gets away and as the Germans try to hunt him down, it becomes apparent this is no ordinary prospector: Korpi is in fact a legendary Finnish commando with over 300 Russian dead to his credit. In Sisu, the only good Nazi is a dead Nazi. This rather myopically nationalistic film glories in Korpis mass kills and miraculous escapes, which become ever more absurd, but Helanders outrageous action romp is never afraid to laugh at itself. Rating: Three stars Debenhams staff lie on the ground in protest in Limerick 406 Days (PG, 90mins) In April 2020, thousands of Irish Debenhams workers received perfunctory emails informing them their services would no longer be required. Shops closed under cover of the lockdown would never reopen and staff members would not receive the redundancy packages they had been promised. Instead of meekly accepting their fate, a group of workers took decisive action and mounted a protest that would last 406 days. Joe Lees gritty documentary reveals the stories of the women involved, many of whom are still traumatised by that email. Your name wasnt even on it, one says. It was just a generic email and it was very harsh, I think, to treat people like that. But I didnt think they would walk away and not pay us our 2+2. The 2+2 refers to a redundancy agreement reached with management in 2016, and when protesters found out that would not be honoured, they picketed shops to prevent trucks from taking stock away. Their brave effort may have a lasting impact as a new bill aimed at protecting workers during liquidation is currently being considered. Rating: Three stars Ruth Lawrence at the a special sitting of Trim District Court on Thursday evening. Picture: Collins Courts A woman who was extradited back to Ireland from South Africa has this evening been charged over the murders of two men in 2014. Kenny Jacobs also hopes for new routes to Brazil and China DUBLIN Airport boss Kenny Jacobs says security waits can be slashed as low as 15 minutes but only if airport charges are hiked. Mr Jacobs, who took over as chief executive of the Daa in January this year, spoke to Independent.ie about the challenges and opportunities facing the airport this summer. This time last year, passengers were forced to join queues up to a kilometre long that snaked down Dublin Airports entrance road. Dublin Airport was later penalised 3.1m by the Commission for Aviation Regulation for failing to meet quality-of-service targets during the second quarter of last year. Ultimately what were trying to do here is have a resilient airport, said Mr Jacobs (49) in his first in-depth interview since taking over the role. DAA CEO introduces new C3 Technology - A game changer in airport security and passenger experience One of the key things he wants is to cut the security clearance time for passengers from a target of 20 minutes to 15. To do that we need additional staff, and to have additional staff we need a higher charge, said Mr Jacobs, pointing out that the maximum passenger charge Dublin Airport can levy this year is 30pc lower than in 2019 in real terms. In that same timeframe, air fares have gone up 30pc. Nothing is cheap in Ireland. Nothing is cheap in Dublin. "The average European capital city airport charge is north of 18 [per passenger]. The max Dublin charge is 8.50. That really doesnt allow us to give the type of service that we want to have, he added. He insisted families should not be unnecessarily stressed out when going on holidays. We want to put the smile back on those faces, take away the hassles that existed last year and the anxiety of travel we want to reduce that. But airlines, including Ryanair and Aer Lingus Dublin Airports two biggest customers think passenger charges are too high and baulk at the notion that the DAA should be allowed to levy more. Mr Jacobs has previously stated that changes in passenger charges have virtually no impact on the price of airline tickets. Ryanair, which this summer is operating its biggest ever schedule out of Dublin, has warned against charges going any higher at Dublin. The airline and Aer Lingus have joined a High Court case where the DAA is seeking a judicial review of the charges. Mr Jacobs, the former chief marketing officer at Ryanair, has had a busy few months since he took over the new role. There has been drone activity at the airfield that caused flight diversions and disrupted thousands of passengers; a Ryanair plane suffered a landing gear collapse; US president Joe Biden visited Ireland, necessitating a huge security operation at Dublin Airport; and controversy over flight paths for Dublin Airports new runway. Kenny Jacobs pictured at the new passenger security screening facility in Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport. Photo: Gerry Mooney At its busiest in the coming months, more than 100,000 passengers a day will pass through Dublin Airports doors. And yesterday Dublin Airport warned that parking will be extremely limited this weekend, with car parks already sold out as the busy summer season begins. The airport has advised people travelling to consider using alternative modes of transport to travel to and from the airport. It said both short-term and long-term car parks are sold out and expected to be full in the upcoming days. The number of parking spaces is still reduced by 20pc due to Quick Parks 6,200 spaces being out of action. While the DAA is planning to expand Terminal 1, Mr Jacobs insists theres no need for a third terminal at Dublin Airport anytime soon. Dublin Airport is likely to be handling 40 million passengers a year by the end of the decade. And the airport is likely to have a direct connection to China again by the end of this year, according to Mr Jacobs. A direct route into China, other places in Asia, India, and South America would be top of my long-haul list, he said. The 2016 census showed almost 14,000 Brazilians living here, while the Brazilian embassy in Ireland reckoned in 2021 that there were 70,000 at that stage on the island. Dublin-Sao Paulo would be a massively exciting route, according to Mr Jacobs, who added that the DAA has already held informal talks with Latam, the Latin American airline. With close to 100,000 Brazilians here and theyre currently flying to Lisbon to go to Sao Paulo and get home, would that fill a weekly frequency? It absolutely would. He added: Id be surprised if Dublin to China doesnt operate quite soon. I think this year. The Chinese government are keen to reconnect with the world. I think we can see that one definitely operate before the end of the year. That service is likely to operate to either Beijing or Shanghai and scheduled two or three times a week initially. A German chiropodist is putting her best foot forward after picking up the worlds largest prize for a single novel published in English. Author Katja Oskamp and her English translator Jo Heinrich today scooped the 2023 Dublin Literary Awards for the book, Marzahn, Mon Amour. Described as a mixture between a personal memoir and a collective history, the book tells the story of a woman approaching the invisible years' of middle-age who retrains as a chiropodist. She was inspired to write the book after working in the suburb of Marzahn, formerly east Germanys largest housing estate on the outskirts of Berlin. As a result of working so intimately with her clients, she heard all about their colourful lives and experiences of their time in the GDR (east Germany) and detailed them all in individual vignettes in a manner that was lauded by the judges. Ms Oskamp said it was unbelievable to win this prize and paid tribute to her clients for sharing their personal histories with her. I cant imagine the person who looks after peoples feet Marzahn is the same one who has won this award here today. Im very happy and Im very thankful, she told independent.ie. She walks away with 75,000 for her literary efforts while her translator Jo Heinrich, has won 25,000 for the prize nominated by libraries with the winner plucked from 70 titles nominated by 84 libraries from 31 countries. Ms Heinrich said it was absolutely unbelievable to pick up the accolade at a ceremony in Merrion Square as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin. Were being treated like stars here. This is my first literary translation and Im a complete unknown so its the most remarkable validation for my work. Its gorgeous, she said. She said that apart from names and a few little details, the whole book is entirely true and based on real-life events in the authors life. Katja was a writer for a long time and she was fed up with writing as she wasnt getting very far and she became a chiropodist and then she wrote these stories, based on her clients in east Germany. "And the stories from east Germany were inspirational and unique and it became a best-seller and she had to give up chiropody because her writing career took off, she said. On the theme of feeling invisible when she hits middle age, Ms Oskamp said its a problem that effects many women and men too. I learnt from my clients, mostly older people in my practice, that its very helpful to stop looking into a mirror and start looking at other people. And if you do that, you can learn from them what to do with the second half of your life, she said. Im very thankful to my clients and their open hearts. They told me their stories, both funny and tragic and Ive learned a lot from them. Without them talking to me, I couldnt have written the book. Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy described it as a beautifully written novel. "Its a warm, witty and moving portrait of older residents in Berlin, which offers the reader an insight into a community often overlooked. "Id like to congratulate Katja Oskamp and Jo Heinrich on winning the 2023 Dublin Literary Award and to thank everyone involved in the award writers, translators, librarians, publishers and the administrative staff of Dublin City Council, she said. Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has accused opponents of the proposed Nature Restoration Law of scaremongering in relation to its impacts. Mr Ryan said much of the argument he had heard against it was inaccurate and was leading to unnecessary division. A lot of the commentary it seems to me is not reflecting what the actual law is saying, he said. I do think its very good to have debate on it and very good to listen to concerns but it should be based on the facts and the facts are different to some of the information being put out. Mr Ryan was responding to claims by Irish MEPs, including those from government parties, that the proposed law would destroy farming by requiring widescale rewetting of peatland drained for agriculture. Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher and Fine Gaels Colm Markey have been outspoken against the law, as has Sinn Feins Chris McManus. Supporters of the law have said that much of Irelands early targets could be achieved through re-wetting projecs already underway by Bord na Mona which is rehabilitating lands it used to strip for turf. Mr Ryan said any impact on farmers lands would be negotiated and compensated for. No-one is going to be forced and they will have to be paid, he said. The Minster was speaking at conference hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on land use and climate change. He said farmers would also benefit by being able to charge a premium for produce which could genuinely be described as green because it was sustainable from an environmental and climate perspective. We want a family farm system, not big contractors, not intensive. Were not going to compete with 15,000 cattle in a lot outside Beijing, were not going to be able to compete with the prairies of Ohio but we can compete as a producer of green food, he said. I hear the views the scaremongering Id call it in recent times that this Nature Restoration Law from Europe is going to destroy the family farming system and I absolutely, fundamentally disagree. Are we going to vote for nature destruction law? Weve lost our water quality and half our wildlife. That has to stop. That has to be reversed. We are all healthier, wealthier and more secure on an island where nature is strong. Let's not get distracted, lets not get divided into a spat over a law in Brussels which we do need but which Isn't the fearful threat that some people present it as. Mr Ryan said agrifood companies were at huge risk of losing their reputation as producers of green food and the Origin Green label that is meant to certify sustainability. He said he believed they were aware of the risk but they had to be part of the solution. They have to pay the farmers more for more sustainable solutions, he said. "The international markets and the retailers will not buy produce or will not pay a premium if its not come from a truly origin green source. Ways of reducing the cost of higher and further education are being explored today at a meeting convened by minister Simon Harris. The focus is to identify priorities for the Governments autumn Budget, which will set out its spending plans for 2024. Options for a cut in the student contribution and an improved student grants regime are among the matters being considered. More than 100 representatives of students, including apprentices, and the further and higher education sector are attending the meeting. It gives learners a unique opportunity to have their voice heard, have their priorities discussed and inform the budgetary process. Mr Harris has committed to publishing an annual paper on reducing the cost of education ahead of the Budget, setting out the options for the following year. Todays meeting, which is also being attended by officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, will inform that process. The cost of education paper is expected to be published in June. Ahead of the meeting, Mr Harris said reducing the cost of education was a priority for him. He said while Ireland had one of the highest participation rates in third level education in Europe, it remains out of reach for so many people. Todays meeting allows me and officials from my Department to hear directly from the people that matter. We will hear from the students themselves who are in further and higher education including apprenticeships, access and support officers; and groups advocating for students who are currently underrepresented in education about what could make the greatest impact. Mr Harris said in Budget 2023, the student fee was reduced and it was also made easier for more students to access a grant. We are also helping higher education institutions build student accommodation so that it will be easier for students to study the course they want, where they want. However, it is clear we need to do more. Taoiseach suggests Irish supports for asylum seekers could soon be aligned with those of EU so there is no pull factor An extra 350 beds for asylum seekers, including for some who are currently rough sleeping, are to be put in place over the next week. Integration Minister Roderic OGorman said people may have preconceptions about international protection applicants and those fade away once asylum seekers settle into communities. However, he said accommodation for asylum seekers at Magowna House in Inch, Co Clare, which has been the subject of protests in recent days, must be used. His comments come as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested that Irelands social supports for asylum seekers could soon be aligned with the rest of the EU so that there is no pull factor to attract them to this country. Speaking in Iceland this evening where he is attending an EU summit, he said: What we're trying to do when it comes to the kind of support and offering that we have (in Ireland) is to align them with other European countries so that they're roughly the same. He added that this was because if somebody is seeking asylum, we want them to apply in the first safe country that they arrive in, and not to be moving around in different countries because different countries may have different offerings. So we should try to align them across the European Union. Asked if this could involve time-limiting certain supports like accommodation or welfare payments, Mr Varadkar said: It does depend on the circumstances because depending on your status, you're entitled to different things. He added: What we've tried to do as much as we can, is to align them (social supports) with other European countries and with the UK so that we don't have what they call a pull factor, where people leapfrog over other countries to apply for asylum, for example, in Ireland. Meanwhile Mr OGorman said he held a meeting with Co Clare politicians earlier today in which he made it clear that the accommodation at Mogowna House must be used in light of the pressure that the system is on right now. We are hoping over the course of the next week to open, to make available about an additional 350 beds in a number of centres around the country. This will allow us offer accommodation to a significant number of international protection applicants, including some who are currently rough sleeping, he added. Independent.ie previously reported that Mr OGorman was willing to meet the protestors in Inch, Co Clare. He said this is now something he wants to advance. Often I know people have preconceptions about international protection applicants, I think often when they meet after accommodation has been established for a while, I think those preconceptions fall away. Thats happened all over the country, both with IP applicants and with Ukrainians and I believe that can happen in Inch. Junior minister at the Department of Integration, Joe OBrien, said that once contracts for accommodation at properties are signed, we have to move fast in moving asylum seekers in. That timelag between when the contract is signed and when it is opened is quite short - it can be a couple of days, can be a week, he said. Therein lies the problem, that problem relates to the fact that people can just be on the streets, so when we get the contract signed, we have to move fast. Mr OGorman held a video call with local politicians this morning to discuss the situation at Magowna House. More than 30 asylum seekers arrived at the hotel in recent days and the Government moved to clarify they are staying in three holiday homes beside Magowna House, a former hotel. Clare-based Fine Gael senator Martin Conway called for an immediate end to the protest. "The blockade is wrong and should be abandoned immediately. I support legitimate protest and there are ways and means of protesting," he said. "But you cannot blockade people from going to where they are living." Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe, who took part in the meeting this morning, said he understands a meeting between the minister and protestors will now happen. Mr OGorman is also understood to have told the meeting that he did not have any personal involvement in organising the contract for Magowna House and that his officials carried out this work instead. Mr Crowe said he raised concerns about the woeful lack of information and told the meeting that there has been a withholding of information. He said there are around 20 other accommodation facilities in Clare which currently have Ukrainians living in them and that there is no media commentary around them as they are in the main, located in good places and the people being accommodated are very well looked after. It doesnt appear that [the minister] is going to rescind or revoke the contract [with Magowna House], said Mr Crowe. There is currently one bus that brings the asylum seekers in and out of the accommodation and this is set to be improved, according to the minister. Locals protesting have also raised concerns about fire safety certs at the accommodation. It is understood the meeting heard this would be resolved in two weeks. Mr O'Gorman listened to concerns raised by local representatives, particularly around transport links and communications with the local community, said a spokesperson for the minister said. He agreed to continue dialogue and work towards a solution that will work for all concerned. Tourism Minister Catherine Martin today said there has been a whole government approach since day one to the accommodation crisis. What we see unfortunately when you have the amount of people coming in such vast numbers unfortunately there will be accommodation shortages, she said. "We are traditionally known for our cead mile failte and I really do think communities across the length and breadth of our country have shown solidarity. Ms Martin said there is a right to peacefully protest, but urged people to remember the horrific circumstances that many refugees and asylum seekers have come from. "I think rather than blockades or rather than these protests, its better to tease out the issues and engage. She defended the lack of notice that some communities might be given regarding the accommodation of asylum seekers in their local area, adding the opportunities arent there when accommodation is found quickly. The ideal scenario would be to communicate in advance, she said, though added this was not always possible when the priority is quickly finding shelter for them. Earlier today the Taoiseach toughened his language on the Magowna asylum seeker blockade - but stopped short of calling on the protesters to disperse. Leo Varadkar said nobody gets to have a veto on who lives in their area and the Government has to stand up to the small minority of people who hold racist views. Mr Varadkar said yesterday the blockade wasn't necessary, and it was put to him in Iceland today that this was a lily-livered response. The Taoiseach replied in Reykjavik today: Well, I do think the blockade is wrong. Nobody should have their free access over public roads stopped in that way. Locals block access to accommodation provided for asylum seekers in Co Clare But I also don't want to dismiss the fact that sometimes people in local communities do have genuine concerns that need to be listened to. "And that's why there is going to be an engagement today involving the minister (Roderic OGorman) and also local reps, to give communities the information and the reassurance that they need. He added: It's not a veto. Nobody gets to say who can or cannot live in their area. And we can't have that kind of situation. But I think we shouldn't dismiss concerns that people have about their locality. People do want to know what's happening. They want certain assurances and we have a responsibility to do that. But that doesn't mean that anyone can say that certain types of people cant live in their area. We can't tolerate that. The Taoiseach was asked if he was calling for those carrying out the blockade to disperse pending the talks, and to go home. Lets see how the talks go today, he replied. Ill be speaking to Minister Roderic OGorman later on today. And I'm confident that we'll be able to get to a situation whereby we'll be able to bring in some of the buildings, as part of that complex, to use for people who need accommodation. The Taoiseach said he thinks there has been more than 100 protests on the accommodation issue in the last couple of weeks. Most of them are very small, but some larger and a small number have become violent. I think there are two things to consider: Government has a responsibility to provide information and to communicate with local people about what's happening in their area, and we're stepping up our efforts to do that all the time. But we also have a duty to dispel a lot of the misinformation and false stories that are being put about. There are people who hold extreme views, who hold racist views, essentially, and we have to stand up to that. He explained however: When it comes to most people, with information and with communication and with assurance, I think you can get them on board. But there always will be a small minority of people who have extreme views or have racist views and they need to be stood up to. Mr Varadkar said,to the best of his knowledge, gardai kept informed of where asylum seeker accommodation will be, given risk of protest, he said. I have to say, the gardai have done a very good job to date in managing what can be a difficult situation and they have the full support of Government. Additional resources are being provided throughout the course of this year. More than 30 male asylum seekers arrived by bus to the Magowna House Hotel on Monday but locals blocked the entrances with tractors and silage bales. Members of the local community have said the property, which has been vacant since 2019, is not suitable for the refugees over fire cert and sewage concerns and are looking for written assurances that their concerns about the suitability of the property and the location will be addressed. They were also angry about not being consulted before the refugees were transported to the property. On Monday evening, 33 asylum seekers arrived by bus at Magowna House hotel. Talks took place last night between the local community, Fianna Fail Senator Timmy Dooley and the hotel operator. Prior to this mornings video call with Mr OGorman, Mr Dooley said efforts must be made to de-escalate the situation. Its hard to know how it will go. People are embedded in their views, he said. Mr Dooley said there had been good engagement and goodwill shown on all sides. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday said the blockade of the new asylum centre in Inch, is not necessary. I don't think what's happening there is necessary. I don't think the blockade is necessary. What we do need to do is engage with the community, he said. We are facing an unprecedented situation. Nearly 100,000 people from other parts of the world - mainly Ukraine - have come to Ireland seeking refuge and seeking shelter, he said. We have to provide for them whatever accommodation is available and it isn't always going to be perfect. But it is the best we can do. I know that huge numbers of us throughout Ireland have welcomed people into their communities - including in Co Clare - and there will of course be engagement with the rest. You always try to do better. But I think if you look at the bigger picture, if people are being fair, Ireland as a society, not just the Government, has done very well. There's no country in Western Europe that has taken in as many people from Ukraine as we have, as a percentage of our population, Mr Varadkar added. While Ireland hasn't taken in as many asylum seekers as other countries, we have dealt with dramatically increased numbers (of those seeking International Protection) in the last couple of years. And we're dealing with it as well as we can, he said. BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng Wednesday said that China is ready to work with the international community to strengthen communication and exchanges, promote trade and stimulate growth drivers for investment cooperation. He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit of 2023. It is of great significance to hold the summit again this year, He said. The vice premier noted that China is now a force of certainty and stability in the world's economic recovery and international trade and investment. He said China will create more opportunities for the world through its own development. He expressed the hope that the global community will work together to accelerate international trade and investment and inject a strong impetus into global economic recovery. Former Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny with Councillor Sinead Sheppard, who is being hotly tipped to run in Cork East. Photo: Martin Nolan Fine Gael is lining up a former pop star to run for the Dail as the party searches for new candidates to replace TDs who are not standing in the next general election. Sinead Sheppard, a former member of the pop band Six, has been a Fine Gael councillor in Cobh, Co Cork, since 2009 and is now being lined up to run in Cork East after sitting TD David Stanton announced his retirement. Ms Sheppard runs dancing schools in Cork having risen to fame in the early 2000s in the RTE reality show Popstars where she was selected to become a member of pop band Six. The mum of three told the Irish Independent she is definitely considering putting her name forward and she was passionate about needing more women and more young mums in politics but added that she needs to discuss her political future with her family. I am flattered that my name is being mentioned but I have not made that decision yet, she said. On her former career as a pop star, Ms Sheppard said: It was a huge part of my life and gave me a platform, but I did that world for two and a half years, whereas I am in the political arena almost 15 years. Elsewhere, Fine Gael is likely to run two candidates in Dublin Bay South where it lost a Dail seat following Eoghan Murphys resignation two years ago. Councillor James Geoghegan, who unsuccessfully contested the 2021 by-election, will run and is likely to be joined by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Emma Blain. In Carlow-Kilkenny, where sitting TD John Paul Phelan is standing down, party HQ hopes former TD Pat Deering, who is Carlow-based, will run again. Mr Deering said he was giving it serious consideration. Cllr David Fitzgerald is tipped to run in the Kilkenny end of the constituency. In Cork North West, where sitting TD Michael Creed is stepping down, two potential candidates are local councillors Eileen Lynch, who is based in Macroom, and John Paul OShea, who is based in Kanturk. In Kerry, where sitting TD Brendan Griffin has also confirmed he is not standing at the next general election, party headquarters is thought to favour running Listowel-based county councillor and solicitor Aoife Thornton. It is unclear, however, who Fine Gael will run in Donegal where former education minister Joe McHugh is standing down. Irish peacekeeper Private Sean Rooney is to be posthumously honoured at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The 23-year-old was killed while on duty in Lebanon last December. Pte Rooney, whose family are from Dundalk, had been serving with the 121st Infantry Battalion with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon when the convoy he was travelling with came under attack outside Beirut. The Louth native, who was engaged to be married, was based in Dundalks Aiken barracks, close to where he grew up, and his family is rooted in the military tradition of the town. At a ceremony in the UN General Assembly Hall, the Irish Ambassador to the United Nations, Fergal Mythen, will receive the Dag Hammarskjold medal on behalf of the family of Private Rooney. The medal ceremony forms part of a series of events planned to mark the 75th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, will lay a wreath at the Peacekeeper's Memorial in the grounds of the UN compound to commemorate the 4,200 peacekeepers, including 91 Irish personnel, who have died. Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Mr Guterres said UN peacekeepers were "the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world." "Today, on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, we honour their extraordinary contributions to international peace and security," he said. Pte Rooney also had close links to the village of Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal. He spent several years in his youth living and attending school in the county. Ireland has contributed peacekeepers to UN missions on a continuous basis since 1958. Today, there are nearly 500 Irish police and military personnel serving under the UN flag. Peacekeepers protect civilians, actively prevent conflict, reduce violence, strengthen security and empower national authorities to assume these responsibilities. Rylee is our little miracle she was given to us unexpectedly, we weren't hopeful of another baby Newborn Rylee OShea with mum Georgina OShea, her husband Ken and son Leon at home in Kilmichael, Co Cork. Photo: John Allen/Provision A woman who suffered 23 miscarriages has hailed her newborn daughter as her familys miracle baby. In the past two decades, Georgina OShea suffered an ectopic pregnancy, multiple miscarriages, and was warned by doctors that she may never have a second child after giving birth to her son Leon almost 19 years ago. Now, Ms OShea, her husband Ken and son Leon are over the moon following the safe delivery of little Rylee at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). Ms OShea told the Irish Independent that Rylees arrival was a dream come true for the family. Rylee was born at CUMH last Wednesday and she is one week old today, she said. She was 7lb 6oz at delivery and is doing very well. The little girl is now back at the familys home, where she is doted on by her parents, big brother and extended family. The family, who live at Kilmichael in Cork, said Rylee represents the fulfilment of almost 20 years of hopes, prayers and dreams. Leon will celebrate his 19th birthday next month. Despite wanting another child, Ms OShea and her husband went through almost two decades of heartbreak and loss before Rylees arrival. Ms OShea urged people to never give up hope and said Rylee is proof that miracles do happen. She paid tribute to her medical team and the staff at CUMH for their incredible support throughout a fraught pregnancy. Rylee is our little miracle she was given to us unexpectedly, we werent hopeful of having another baby, Ms OShea said. Never give up there is always a reason. Even if the doctors tell you that your chances are slim, miracles do happen. Life has a funny way of adjusting. But I would never give up hope. For sure, Rylee is our miracle baby. Ms OShea had previously spoken on RedFMs Neil Prendeville Show almost a decade ago about suffering multiple miscarriages. She told the Irish Independent this week: I had an ectopic pregnancy so I had one of my tubes removed. They discovered scarring on the other tube and told me a pregnancy was very unlikely.There was a whirlwind of emotions when we found out (last year) we were expecting a baby. There were 23 miscarriages in total. In one sense it became the norm if we fell pregnant, it was almost as if you expected it, she said. It was sorrow rather than joy, because you felt, I know where this is going. That is why Rylee is our miracle baby. After her seventh miscarriage, Ms OShea travelled to meet a specialist in the United States, but to no avail. What is meant for you wont pass you by, she said. She said that when she went for a scan last year with her husband, they were clearly able to see baby Rylee. There was a glimmer of hope, I have to say that. We could see her heartbeat, she said. It progressed to the point where we were seeing things we had never seen before (because of the early miscarriages). From 23 weeks, I began to accept that I was pregnant and we now had a viable pregnancy. She said she and Mr OShea were nervous but Leon was incredibly positive, convinced that everything would work out fine and his baby sister would arrive safely. He was convinced he would have a sibling, and is now thrilled to have a baby sister. From 30 weeks it was mentally tough, because I felt I was so close but yet so far, Ms OShea said. The weeks then flew by. The birth was extremely emotional I remember looking up at Ken after she was born following 45 minutes labour and his face was soaked with tears. Leon is ecstatic he always wanted another sibling, so to wait 19 years is something else. When all four of us were in the labour ward, it was something special. We were all on cloud nine. Ms OShea said the delivery staff at CUMH were thrilled that, after so much heartbreak, the familys wish for a second child had finally come true. Leon was brought into the delivery ward shortly after Rylees birth so the happy family of four could have their photograph taken. Making the celebration that bit extra special, Leon is expecting his first child with his partner in just over a month. Im just so grateful for all the support we have been shown and especially thankful to our medical team who have been with us every step of the way, Ms OShea said. Some animals had to be euthanised to ease their suffering In Germany, people are assessed before being allowed to own a dog. Photo:Getty Ireland must urgently follow the Scandinavian example of tightening controls on dog breeding, and enforce tough animal-welfare penalties. The call has been made by animal-welfare charities after an alarming surge in complaints over cruelty to animals over the past two years. In Kerry, a pony had to be rescued from an upstairs building, while in Tipperary 27 dogs were found in appalling conditions, many suffering from parasitic diseases, while variously chained to a tree, or locked in metal cages. The Cork-based Donkey Sanctuary expressed shock at the abandonment of 20 donkeys in Galway. Five of the donkeys either died or had to be euthanised to ease their suffering. Four pregnant mares and three foals arrived at the sanctuarys facilities in March after the complex rescue operation. Eight others have been rehomed after receiving vital medical attention. In another case, a dog in Kerry required specialist veterinary care after its drunk owner attacked the frightened pet with a broken bottle. In Dublin, a Japanese Spitz was discovered so neglected that it was virtually being eaten alive by maggots. Animal-welfare charities and activists now want Ireland to adopt the Swedish approach to pet ownership and in particular to dog breeding. They have called for tighter regulation. Incredibly, while Irish animal shelters are struggling to cope with the explosion in the number of abandoned animals, countries like Sweden have no animal rescues. Dogs Trust Ireland confirmed it has taken in 1,357 unwanted dogs since January 1, amid an explosion in the number of surrendered pets. ISPCA chief inspector Conor Dowling said they had 20 successful court outcomes in respect of animal-cruelty cases in 2022. But the seizure of large numbers of animals mostly dogs has put enormous strain on ISPCA resources, and it has had to rely on private kennels for additional capacity. Donkey Sanctuary Ireland director Laura Foster said that prevention and strong legal deterrents are the only sustainable solution for all agencies involved in animal welfare. We will be increasing our education and support activities to reach as many donkeys as we can. However, this work can only be effective alongside robust law enforcement, which is why our relationship with government veterinary inspectors, the gardai, and the ISPCA is so important. We must also tackle the donkey population issue through castration and effective end-of-life decision-making. Too often, we see suffering that could have been prevented or stopped much sooner. Unfortunately, had we been contacted a lot sooner this [the Galway] case could have been dealt with. Intervention is a key step to a positive outcome. Sera Husky Animal Rescue operator Maurice Enright said the Government needs to take action. He told Radio Kerry that certain other European countries do not even need to have animal rescues. "The Government should look at these countries and see why they dont have these problems they dont even need dog wardens. It is time to put in practices and introduce legislation to make it harder for people to either breed or get dogs. Countries such as Germany have a special assessment before a person is allowed to own a dog. Over 500 workers about to be made redundant by Meta, owners of Facebook, are having to watch Government ministers kite-flying on the Budget when little has been done to strengthen employee rights, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik told the Dail. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, in reply, appeared to chide three Fine Gael junior ministers for presuming on the tax package for next year. He said: We believe there should be reduction in taxation, but the precise manner in which you do that and who you target (for benefits) that is something for Government collectively to engage in. He indicated other priorities for assistance, apart from the 1,000 cut for the squeezed middle of PAYE workers urged by a Fine Gael trio. Apart from reducing taxation, which the three parties have committed to, and reducing the cost of public services and increasing expenditure in areas like childcare, weve made really appreciable gains, he said. We have opportunities now to do something very significant in that area (childcare), and in education and health, as well as disabilities. And Im conscious of people working in the disability sector, Section 39 agencies, who, because of national pay agreements, have fallen somewhat behind. Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit said the people talking about the squeezed middle were the very ones who had squeezed the middle. Peoples disposable incomes had been eroded by the Government in recent years, he added. Mr Martin countered that Mr Boyd Barretts policies would destroy enterprise. But the Labour Party leader, Ms Bacik, returned to the issue of big corporates allegedly having an unfair upper hand over their employees. Meta's HQ in Dublin. Photo: PA Rounding on Fine Gael messaging about wanting tax cuts in the autumn, Ms Bacik said Meta, the Facebook giant, would be wreaking devastation among families, while the Government appeared to be concerned with giving such companies options with their employees, rather than obligations. Workers were awaiting news as to who will be affected by the Meta announcement, but it appeared the question for Government was what to do next in the context of a massive Budget surplus, she said. Certainly the kite-flying from ministers (in Fine Gael) has not been helpful. People are now looking for some certainty as to what social protections will be in place and what measures will be adopted by Government in the forthcoming Budget. The reality is that workers rights for your Government were not important enough to get a stand-alone section in the Programme for Government, Ms Bacik said. And now what were seeing is workers being left without recognition for their trade union representatives in the context of collective redundancies. She said the Government should enshrine the right to organise, and a right to collective bargaining in legislation along with heeding the calls from ICTU, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, for a 2-an-hour increase to the minimum wage. Mr Martin said in reply: I think it's fair to say that theres been significant enhancements of workers rights over the last two and a half years since this Government came to office. Tanaiste Micheal Martin. Photo: PA He cited sick leave and redundancy payments legislation. He added: Could I say that in respect to the Budget, the Summer Economic Statement will be published as normal before the summer recess. That will give the broad envelope in terms of the taxation package and weve been reducing taxation in last three years. I know the Opposition would like to increase taxes, not reduce them. Thats their stated position. We believe there should be reduction in taxation, but the precise manner in which you do that and who you target is something for Government collectively. Last year there was a 1bn package for personal tax reductions, he said, but also an additional 6bn in expenditure of new measures and existing levels of service. After the Summer Economic Statement, once the 2024 envelopes are decided on by the two ministers [Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe], we can get on to the real work then, of working out where we allocate that. Monica Hyland was famous for her wit during lockdown Helen O'Rahilly and her brother, Stephen O'Rahilly, nephew and niece of the late Monica Hyland pictured leaving the Dublin District Coroner's Court. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin The family of an elderly Dublin woman who was the inspiration for a best-selling book during the Covid-19 pandemic have called for improved funding for public health services in Ireland after claiming she suffered a sub-optimal death. Monica Hyland (91) of Thornleigh, Rush, Co Dublin, died at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on March 27, 2021, less than 48 hours after being admitted with bad nausea and vomiting. The retired pharmacy assistant became an online celebrity through her acerbic wit and pithy observations on lockdowns during the pandemic and life in general, being published by her niece, Helen ORahilly on the latters Twitter account which had over 35,000 followers at the time. The popularity of the conversations between the two women resulted in Ms ORahilly a former director of TV at RTE and former deputy controller of BBC in London subsequently publishing a collection of their exchanges, where Ms Hyland was simply known as Aunt. The book, The Stairlift Ascends: Tweets from a Covid Cocoon, has sold over 10,000 copies. Ms ORahilly told a sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court today that she had become her aunts main carer after returning to Ireland from having spent over 30 years working in London. She said Ms Hyland, who had lived in their family home since she was a child, was like a second mother to herself and her brother. The retired TV executive described how Ms Hyland was brought to hospital by ambulance on March 25, 2021, after vomiting bile in her home. Ms ORahilly said there was an offensive odour from a dark vomit stain on her aunts gown when she visited her the following morning. She described how her aunt was in the emergency department for around 18 hours before she was transferred to a ward. Ms ORahilly said her aunt had still wanted to get out of hospital to go shopping at the Pavilions shopping centre in Swords and her final words to her were please be back. Fighting back tears, Ms ORahilly said: She was a wonderful woman. She was spirited and incredibly independent. We loved her and still miss her. A respiratory consultant, Peter Branagan, said the patient had been comfortable with stable vital signs and no signs of pain during most of her short stay. Prof Branagan explained that medical staff felt the vomiting was secondary to any infections which Ms Hyland had because it was totally settled when she had been examined. Neil Fennelly, a pathologist who carried out a post-mortem on Ms Hylands body, said she had suffered acute pneumonia which he said would have been difficult to survive. The inquest heard she also had a urinary tract infection as well as a previously unknown tumour in her pancreas while blood was found in her small intestine. Ms ORahillys brother, Stephen ORahilly a UK-based medical expert in human obesity who attended the inquest with his sister said he was not convinced that the pneumonia and urinary tract infection were responsible for his aunts sudden demise which he believed was linked to the internal bleeding. Prof ORahilly said he felt confident that the vomiting had played a significant role in his aunts death but it had been overshadowed by the focus on pneumonia. However, he stressed that there was no issue of blame as he recognised that there were various potential diagnoses for his aunts condition. Although solicitor for Beaumont Hospital, Jane ONeill, called for a verdict of death by natural causes, the coroner, Clare Keane returned a narrative verdict. Dr Keane said the evidence from a post-mortem showed acute aspiration pneumonia was the main cause of Ms Hylands death, while a tumour in her pancreas and a urinary tract infection were contributory factors. Offering her condolences to Ms Hylands relatives, she noted that they had been concerned about the length of time it took to hold the inquest. Dr Keane apologised for the delay and revealed that the average waiting time for an inquest was currently 22 months due to multiple reasons. Speaking at the conclusion of the inquest, Prof ORahilly said he did not believe his aunt would have survived the cancer if she had gotten over her other illness. However, Prof ORahilly said the manner of her dying was sub-optimal and such an unpleasant way to go. He expressed hope that investment would be provided for the public health services In a very wealthy country that an elderly lady ended her days in that way should not be acceptable, Prof ORahilly said. He also observed that intolerable delays in holding inquests should not be the mark of a civilised country. Ms ORahilly said she was happy that her aunt was alive to take delight in the success of their lockdown book. She was absolutely thrilled to read the cards and messages that people sent her, she added. The Cork Migrant Centre (CMC), the Children and Young People Services Committee (CYPSC) and the Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) will host an anti-racism youth-led summit in City Hall on Friday, May 26 YOUTH organisations are to spearhead an anti-racism fightback amid mounting concerns over the growth of the far right in Ireland and the targeting of asylum seeker centres. Three major groups will stage the first ever anti-racism summit in Cork in a bid to highlight the scale of racism in Ireland, the threat posed by extremist groups on the far right and what State and voluntary organisations can do to promote equality and understanding in society. The Cork Migrant Centre (CMC), the Children and Young People Services Committee (CYPSC) and the Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) will host an anti-racism youth-led summit in City Hall on Friday, May 26. It aims to highlight the experiences of racism in modern Ireland, outline strategies to tackle discrimination and programmes to promote an inclusive, fair and multi-cultural society. While organised by the youth committees of the three bodies, the summit will be attended by politicians, policy makers and other voluntary organisations in a bid to promote a national conversation on racism. "The goal is to bring together people from all walks of life including front-line service providers, service users, policymakers, and politicians, to have a conversation about positive change," a summit spokesperson said. "The young organisers will not only share their experiences of racism through the creative medium of music, spoken word, and drama but will also facilitate shared discussions on how to collaborate on strategies for creating an anti-racist society." "Our summit comes at a time when we are seeing the rise of the far right, culminating in protests towards migrants and those living in Direct Provision. Anti-Traveller sentiment and discrimination towards Travellers have also long been experienced by this community." The summit was organised as a follow-up to a 2020 webinar on racism which was launched in the wake of the George Floyd murder and the Black Lives Matter movement. It is funded by the Governments International Protection Integration Fund and part-funded by CYPSC, Cork City Council Social Inclusion Office and the National Youth Council. Cork Migrant Centre said the voices of those who have suffered from racism need to be heard. "We are one, colour means nothing - the blood we shed, it has the same colour. That is what matters," a CMC official stressed. The Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) warned that racism and discrimination is sadly nothing new to Ireland. Together with all young people who get discriminated against, we should show the Government we are collectively coming together on the day to show them we are good young people who have bright futures." Organisations collaborating with the anti-racism summit include Cork City Council, Cork Migrant Centre, Corks Mexican Community, the HSE, Nano Nagle Place, National Youth Council, Corks Roma Community, TUSLA, Traveller Visibility Group, UCC, YMCA and many others. "We are demonstrating that it takes a concerted, collaborative, system-wide effort and commitment to generate the necessary momentum to make Cork an anti-racist county," a summit spokesperson said. Two RTE board members said a colleague who leaked confidential details about the appointment of its next director general should consider their position. Internal emails reveal anger and mistrust among board members about a breach of confidence and accusations that inaccurate details were disclosed during the hiring of Kevin Bakhurst for the top job. The fallout came after claims were made that the appointment had been delayed due to board objections. An insider alleged that a vote to finalise the move was postponed despite an interview panels decision to select Mr Bakhurst as the preferred candidate. They claimed some board members had questioned the interview process and backed David McRedmond, chief executive of An Post, for the role. Mr Bakhurst, who was previously deputy director general at RTE, was unanimously appointed by the board last month. He will replace Dee Forbes when her term ends on July 11. Clearly one of our board colleagues broke confidence, and I would urge that person to reflect upon their position over the coming days, said board member Ian Kehoe, in an email on April 7 released to the Irish Independent under FoI legislation. Mr Kehoe, editor of The Currency and a former editor of the Sunday Business Post, said he worked in the media, as they all knew, and understands better than most how leaks work. He said the disclosures were utterly disappointing, in the extreme. Jonathan Ruane, a fellow board member and academic, said he agreed with Mr Kehoe. He said whoever leaked the details should consider their position on the board. Leaving aside the obvious disrespect to each of us as colleagues, more importantly it undermines the organisation and adds unnecessarily to its already substantial challenges, he said. Board member and journalist Robert Shortt said there was clearly no way the disclosures could have come out so fast without a leak at board level. Barrister Susan Ahern said it made the boards work extremely difficult if we cannot trust that what is said in the room stays in the room. Trust is everything. UCD associate professor PJ Mathews said a blatant breach of confidentiality was deeply disappointing, while director of the Ark Cultural Centre, Aideen Howard, said it made it exceptionally difficult for the board to do its business properly. Technology entrepreneur Connor Murphy said it was very concerning, former presenter David Harvey described it as disappointing and managing partner at 150Bond and co-founder of the Web Summit, Daire Hickey, said it was not helpful. At a board meeting on April 12, its chair Siun Ni Raghallaigh said inaccurate details had been revealed that purported to come from a meeting earlier that month. She asked Cian McCourt of Arthur Cox to bring the board through their obligations and duties under legislation and a code of governance. Documents show the selection committee for the director general job was made up of Ms Ni Raghallaigh, a former TG4 chairperson, Anne OLeary, a business executive, and Jonathan Ruane, a lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The rest of the 12-member board are Dee Forbes, Aideen Howard, Ian Kehoe, Daire Hickey, Dr PJ Mathews, Robert Shortt, Connor Murphy, Susan Ahern, and David Harvey. When asked if any board members had indicated an intention to resign, a spokesperson said: We wont be making any comment on the matter. An RTE spokesperson said the director general Dee Forbes had not been involved in the selection of the next director general. Bog rewetting being carried out on Clonwhelan Bog, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. Photo: Jeff Harvey Up to now, Irelands plans to tackle the fallout from climate change have been largely on paper. But things are about to get real as the European Union pushes towards a final agreement on a huge piece of legislation aimed at nature restoration, which is expected to begin taking effect from next year. Farmer representatives are worried and Independent TDs from affected areas are becoming increasingly loud in their opposition. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael rural backbenchers are beginning to feel the heat, while the Green Party insists there is little room for manoeuvre here. Bord na Monas role reversal For the almost eight decades of its existence, Bord na Mona (BnM) was all about draining bogs and cutting turf in vast quantities. Now it has been given a reparation role as it switches roles to bog restorer and protector. BnMs job will be to rewet a vast portion of 330,000 hectares of drained and cutaway bogland, making it a haven for wildlife once more and contributing strongly to cutting Irelands carbon emissions. Ecologists insist this country cannot become carbon-neutral by 2050, as pledged without such big initiatives, but the Government acknowledges that this is among the biggest environmental projects in Europe. A very, very tight timeframe The draft European law was produced by the policy-guiding EU Commission last year. It is now the subject of a bargaining session between the law-making Council of Ministers, representing the 27 governments, and the directly-elected European Parliament. A result is expected within the next few weeks. It involves what one Irish official described as a very, very, tight timeframe, with extremely ambitious targets that farm organisations say will punish farmers. The proposed targets and the timeframes are: by 2030, rewetting 30pc of drained and farmed peatlands; by 2040, restoring 40pc of drained and farmed peatland, rewetting half of this area; and by 2050, restoring 50pc of bogland, with half of this area rewetted. Critics say that this timeframe is not realistic, with the early targets being just seven years away. They say the proposals are disrupting farmers ability to plan for the medium-term future on reclaimed peatlands. There is a fear that the EU stick could be cuts, or total blocks, on Brussels farm grants for peatlands. Coalition strains to cool things down Last Tuesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dail he believed some of the EU proposals went too far, and he hinted that amendments could soften the final text. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue also made a very important intervention, saying he believed Ireland could meet its targets via use of state land only largely the BnM controlled cutaway bogland. That could mean no compulsion for farmers. That assurance may help defuse a row, but it is not a magic bullet. Farmers with lands adjoining BnM sites currently being rewetted fear a knock-on effect on their own lands, making them wetter and disrupting production. Full impact studies are pledged, but so far there are no guarantees of compensation for damage to farmland adjoining BnM lands. The body is currently rewetting 80,000 hectares. Politics of discontent The Taoiseach said the coalition has so far worked closely together on the issue, especially Environment Minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and Fianna Fail Agriculture Minister Mr McConalogue. But the Green Party has publicly stated its determination for an extensive piece of EU law that must be implemented to protect wildlife and tackle climate change. The gaps between the two bigger parties, and the Green Party, risk seriously widening before summer is much older. US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued a warning that social media could be harming children. His advisory is a welcome road map for what everyone policymakers, tech companies, parents, kids and researchers should be doing to better understand the impact of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat on the developing brains of adolescents. Mark Zuckerbergs motto, Move fast and break things, was supposed to encapsulate his innovative management processes. It spoke of a fearless engagement with whatever disruption lay on the horizon. The message was: Bring it on. But even in the bulletproof tech sector, you have to be careful what you wish for. He has now declared this to be the year of efficiency a plan to cut costs as his company, Meta, struggles to come good on its hugely ambitious virtual reality venture, the metaverse. The harsh reality of this efficiency has come home for 490 Irish workers, whose jobs have been axed in the social media giants latest cull. The company reported a peak of 87,000 employees globally last year. This was on the back of a hiring spree that escalated after the Covid pandemic, which sent online activity booming. This week, Meta has been hit with a 1.2bn fine by the EU for privacy violations and ordered to suspend transfers of user data to the US the biggest such penalty in the blocs history. Last October, investors wiped $80bn (74bn) off the companys market value after a poor earnings report. Around the same time, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos warned of an impending market slowdown. Most people dramatically underestimate the remarkableness of this bull run, he said. Such things are unstoppable until they arent. And right now it appears they arent. Meta intends to cut 21,000 jobs and has implemented a hiring freeze. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the State would offer support to those affected by the job losses. The cooling-off in the tech sector, which has been a red-hot industry for so long, is hardly surprising. Yet for those losing their livelihoods, it is deeply concerning. So it will have been reassuring for them to hear Mr Varadkar say the Government will engage with the company to ensure decent redundancy packages. Some contraction was probably inevitable, given the working-from-home revolution. The war in Ukraine and the supply chain disruption that followed have not helped. However, as Mr Varadkar pointed out, the latest Central Statistics Office figures showed 2.6 million people were working in Ireland more than ever before. Yet some people, such as Labour leader Ivana Bacik, have expressed worries that the Government needs to rebalance power between workers and corporations in light of the cuts at Meta. Earlier this year, fears that our over-reliance on the international tech sector could pose risks to growth, employment and tax revenues in the event of a severe or prolonged downturn were cited in an article published by the Central Bank. It argued the best way to guard against such threats was to boost investment and productivity in indigenous tech firms. There is no cause for alarm, yet the aura of invincibility the sector has had for so long looks a little less impenetrable than before. The shemozzle on RTEs Sunday Game programme between Donal Og Cusack and Joanne Cantwell made for riveting viewing. By any standards, Donal Ogs recent remarks on the Tailteann Cup competition were ill-considered. In raising the topic, Ms Cantwell allowed Donal Og a glorious opportunity to dig himself gracefully out of a hole that he himself had dug. Instead, he chose to dig ever deeper by engaging in semantics that would make the most gimlet-eyed Vatican canon lawyer appear reasonable. As a venerable veteran viewing this, I could see Donal Og had experienced a Padraig Flynn or a Brian Lenihan moment. As a pundit, Donal Og is a class act, so surely on mature recollection he would be well-advised to tone down his tirade on the Tailteann Cup players. Fr Iggy ODonovan Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary We already know what booze does without label reminder Good old Stephen Donnelly to the rescue again. Never mind fixing our crippled health service its far more important to inform the nation of the harmful effects of drinking alcohol, to the point where were going to print the warnings on cans and bottle labels. Of course, as the renowned best pupil in the European Union class, well be the first to do so. Good man, Stephen. Im just wondering what the major drinks companies are making of this ground-breaking legislation. Lets consider a little prediction, shall we? Well, now, Ireland, you can put whatever you like on your alcohol containers and labels. However, if you would like us to take the time and trouble to design special labels just for the relative paltry orders we get from the Emerald Isle, that comes at a cost. Or maybe it should be a secondary exercise. Maybe we ought to set up a new government institution lets face it, we havent set one up in weeks to stick these labels on before the ignorant Irish population get their grubby hands on them. And what a reaction well get. Well, well its says here that drink is bad for you. No more of that drinking lark. Enough is enough. Ive seen the label, Im cured. Well done, Mr Donnelly. We appreciate it. In essence, all this will do is alienate drinks distributors and again increase the price of alcohol. Are they ever going to give the people of this country some credit for the ability to make their own decisions? Eamon Kearney Ayrfield Road, Dublin Leo can take me to big events without fear of controversy I would like to say I found Matt Barretts lack of manners when attending our nearest neighbours big day the coronation of King Charles III lamentable. But even more troubling was An Taoiseachs defence of his comments as merely those of a private citizen. Untrue. Mr Barrett was invited to accompany Mr Varadkar in his capacity as Taoiseach of the Irish people. The next time the Taoiseach needs to be accompanied to an event of international significance, may I volunteer myself Mrs Very Ordinary Private Irish Citizen? Eibhlin Ni Thraoi Dublin 20 Solution to refugees plight should be left to Brussels As we read in the papers, there is ample evidence of the need to find new solutions to managing the increasing number of people seeking international protection. As we can see, the Government is leaving no stone unturned in trying to cope. Apart from Ukrainians, there are many others who need to be accommodated. The State may be about to copy what is happening in the UK with regard to the use of barges and ships. There are also stories about more protests when it comes to housing refugees. Wayne OConnor, writing from Inch, Co Clare, described the difficulties there. Your editorial of May 17 reminded us how any targeting of asylum-seekers is unjust and senseless. In the same edition, we read about how cabinet ministers had clashed over the handling of refugee housing. Your columnist, Ian ODoherty, also wrote about how the torching of tents was a new low for Ireland We further learned that migration has surged across the EU since the pandemic restrictions came to an end. I would suggest the only way to manage is to charge the EU with responsibility for managing the project. I would also suggest we encourage our American friends to divert some of the costs of arms for Ukraine to assisting Ukrainians displaced by the war there. Hugh Duffy Cleggan, Co Galway For years, cryptocurrencies operated on the outskirts of the finance world. Officials including Irelands Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf called unbacked cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin Ponzi schemes. But news in recent weeks could see all that changing. Last week, the EU gave final approval to introduce measures to regulate the crypto world, the first to do so globally. The Markets in Crypto Assets (MICA) will mean firms trading cryptoassests will be required to hold a license and service providers must obtain the names of those sending and receiving cryptocurrencies. This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian is joined by Lory Kehoe adjunct associate professor at Trintiy College Dublin and Jon Ihle, deputy business editor of the Irish Independent to discuss the new rules. Lory says the news is a positive move for the EU. The key thing from a European specific perspective is the ability to passport. So you create a hub, let's say, for your MICA hub in Ireland and that enables you to provide those services to the other member states on a seamless basis. So that really is the draw for Europe. What will the impact of these new rules have on the everyday crypto trader? I think by and large the impact to the average Joe [or] trader will be minimal in the short term Lory says. What you should get out of this though is the entities that meet the MICA requirements. You should feel that they are reputable organizations they're being effectively monitored and that you can effectively trust them as opposed to entities that don't meet that test. You can listen to the full episode on Independent.ie or wherever you get your podcasts. Cork East Fine Gael Deputy said it has been a huge privilege to have served as a TD, a role that I have loved The Cork East TD David Stanton has become the second sitting Fine Gael Deputy from Cork, after Cork North-West Deputy Michel Creed, to announce they will not be seeking re-election to the Dail at the next general election. The long-serving Midleton-based TD announced his intention to stand down at the Fine Gael constituency meeting on Monday evening, bringing the number of sitting Fine Gael TDs to announce that they will not be seeking re-election to five. The other three being John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny), Brendan Griffin (Kerry) and Joe McHugh (Donegal). A former teacher, Deputy Stanton was elected to the Dail in 1997, holding onto his seat at five subsequent elections. He has filled several roles during his time in office, including party spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs and Equality, Labour Affairs and Defence. In 2016 he was appointed Minister for State at the Department of Justice and Equality, with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration, by the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Speaking to The Corkman, the 66-year-old said while it was not an easy decision to make, he felt it was the right time for him to announce he would not be seeking re-election. It been a huge privilege to have served as a TD, a role that I have loved. However, I have to be realistic, Im reaching the age where I dont want to be rambling around Leinster House in my 70s, he grinned. I also took the decision now because I felt it was the right time to do so in order to give the party and my colleagues enough time to identify someone else to stand in Cork East and allow them the time and space to build their own profile, he added. Asked if a successor had been identified, Deputy Stanton said we will have to wait and see. Im not going to mention any names because that would be unfair. There will be a convention called, probably sometime in the autumn after the constituency boundaries have been sorted out. The changes wont make a massive difference to the East Cork region, because it is already squared off between Waterford and Cork City, said Deputy Stanton. Looking back over his 26-year tenure in the Dail, Deputy Stanton said there were a number of highlights, chief among them his role in assisting the passage of legislation making coercive control a criminal offence. He also spoke of his pride at helping to establish the National Missing Persons Day, an idea first proposed by students at Davis College in Mallow. I was chair of the Justice Committee at the time and invited the students to Leinster House to make a presentation to the committee. I then went to the then Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, and he agreed to bring the idea to fruition, said Deputy Stanton. Asked about his plans for life away from the Dail, Deputy Stanton said he would remain involved and interest in politics. I still have a year and a bit to go, so I will continue to work on behalf of my constituents. Its funny, listening to some of the nice things that have been said about me over the past couple of days has been like standing at your own funeral, he grinned. I dont like the word retire, but I have to be realistic. When you are closing in on 70, you do not have the same energy you did when you were 20, so for me its a matter of changing step and doing something else. That said, I will remain involved and interested in politics and whoever is elected by the party to run in Cork East will receive my full support, he added. Deputy Stanton paid a warm tribute to all those who have supported him during his time as a TD, in particular acknowledging the support of his family. My job is only made possible by my loving family. They provided me with great fortitude throughout my time as a public representative for which I am eternally grateful, said Deputy Stanton. An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, led tributes to Deputy Stanton, describing his being a brilliant TD and an excellent Minister of State for four-years. Anyone who has worked alongside David knows he is a true gentleman, and also one of the hardest-working TDs in Fine Gael and in the Oireachtas. Theres never any fuss, just hard work done well and consistently, said the Taoiseach. He was an excellent minister and helped to progress the new gambling laws which are now coming into force. He piloted a new Youth Justice strategy and continues to work on youth work issues. David also helped to steer legislation to deal with coercive control through the Oireachtas, campaigns on special needs education and is currently calling for a poet laureate for the Houses of the Oireachtas, he added. Report finds Ireland is falling behind when it comes to childrens rights issues Almost one-third of 1,812 complaints received by the Ombudsman for Childrens office last year related to education. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, said Ireland was not where it should be in relation to childrens rights. THE Ombudsman for Childrens office (OCO) has revealed there were 145 complaints made to them from Cork over the course of 2022. The figure was contained in the OCO annual report for last year, which showed that Cork recorded the second highest number of complaints behind Dublin, accounting for 8% of the total State tally of 1,812. The OCO is a human rights institution that promotes the rights and welfare of all children and young people under the age of 18 living in Ireland. The free service is charged with investigating complaints about services provided to children by public organisations covering broad headings including education, health, justice and finance and is an alternative to court for people who are not satisfied with the responses they have received from government departments and public bodies such as local authorities and Tusla (the Child and Family agency) Entitled Falling Behind, the 2022 OCO report revealed that education was the most complained about issue last year, generating almost one-third of the total number of complaints from across the State. Among the most common issues raised were bullying, expulsion & suspension, special education resources and access to school transport. There was an increase in the number of justice complaints, which accounted for a quarter the overall total, with the OCO saying most of there related to passports issues. Other complaints under the justice heading related to direct provision & emergency accommodation, safety fears, privacy and legal issues. Health accounted for 14% of complaints, with the impact that delays that accessing services can have on quality of life and well-being. Complaints about Tusla accounted for 13% of the total, with issues raise including how they communicate with service users and their families, family and foster carer supports, aftercare and step-down services and how they deal with complaints. Complaints about local authorities relating to issues including homelessness, housing and traveller accommodation, accounted for 6% of the total, with 1% of complaints about financial allowances and supports. The remaining total fell into the other category where the complaints were either redirected or deemed not to be fall under the OCOs remit. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, said the Falling Behind title of the report was a reflection of how Irelands was starting to fall behind on childrens rights. This was highlighted in two key OCO reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of Children and their subsequent conclusions, which raised concerns about the standard of living and child poverty issues, mental health services for children in Ireland, the lack of inclusive school places for all children and the States failure to integrate childrens rights into legislation. These reports, as well as Falling Behind can be accessed by following the link at www.oco.ie. Dr Muldoon said the 2022 and the preceding year were the busiest on record for his office. Our Annual Report this year is called Falling Behind because we wanted to highlight how Ireland is doing in relation to childrens rights and unfortunately, were not where we should be, said Dr Muldoon. The Taoiseach has said that he wants Ireland to be the best country in Europe to be a child. If this is to happen we need to finally incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into legislation 30 years after its ratification. We also need to totally reform our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) which we know are hugely dysfunctional and failing our most vulnerable children. Changes also need to be made to provide inclusive education for all children in Ireland, he added. Dr Muldoon said it was important that children and families know the OCO was there if they need help or advice. If you have complained about a service and are not happy, come to us and we will help if we can, he said. Water tankers have been deployed in various locations across Dublin which have been hit by the major outage The burst water pipe has impacted supply for thousands of customers across Dublin Uisce Eireann said repair crews worked through the night to progress repairs. Photo: @IrishWater Emergency repairs have been completed to a burst water mains which caused water outages for tens of thousands of people in Dublin. Irish Water said crews worked through the night to progress repairs, which were completed at around 2am. Normal water supply is expected to return to all areas of the city this morning as the water network refills. However, Irish Water said this may take several hours due to the size of the network. Tens of thousands of customers, on the north and south side of the city centre, were affected by the outage caused by a burst water main. The issue arose on Thursday morning and the force of the mains burst at Marrowbow Lane, in the south inner city, was so great, that damage was caused to the roadway. Damaged caused by the burst water main at Marrowbow Lane. Photo: @IrishWater Repairs were complex due to the location of the pipe and the presence of other underground services. However, to minimise disruption as much as possible, crews worked throughout the night to progress repairs which were completed at approximately 2am this morning, said a spokesperson for Irish Water. Following the repairs, it takes several hours for normal water supply to return to all customers due to the size of Dublins network, especially for those on higher ground or at the end of the impacted network. Customers in the following areas may be impacted by reduced water pressure: Dolphins Barn, Harolds Cross, Kilmainham, Fleet Street, Brunswich Street, The Liberties, Gardiner Street, Dorset Street, Drumcondra, Whitehall, Artane, Coolock, Beaumont, Fairview, Raheny, Clontarf, Killester, Home Farm and surrounding areas. Revealed: The counties predicted to be the hottest this weekend Water tankers are in place from 7am until 9pm today at the following locations: Northside Shopping Centre, Artane Shopping Centre, Killester Shopping Centre, Griffith Avenue (near Philpsburgh Avenue), Clontarf Coast Road, Clonliffe Road (Croke Park), Newmarket Square off Cork Street, Howth Road, Killester Village, Smithfield, North King St. Joe OReilly of Irish Water said: We understand how disruptive unplanned outages are for local communities and would like to thank all impacted customers across Dublin for their patience during while crews worked on repairs. I would like to thank the specialist water services crews in Dublin City Council for their dedication and expertise and for working throughout the night to limit the impact on customers and successfully complete the repairs. In addition, thanks to the residents in the area for their patience and understanding as we worked through the night on the repairs, he added. Labour South West Inner City Councillor Darragh Moriarty said constituents in the Dolphins Barn and Cork Street areas were severely impacted yesterday. I got a couple of phone calls from people living on Dolphins Barn Street, which is right opposite from the Coombe Hospital, and theres a local Facebook group in Maryland and there were all reporting that the water had either stopped altogether or had reduced to a trickle, he said yesterday. Cllr Moriarty said there are a lot older people in the affected areas and he urged neighbours to shared whatever water they can spare. I know that in Maryland in particular, there would be a lot of older people who might not have access to social media, who might not have even seen that the outage has happened. The messages that are going around on Facebook groups are, check in on your neighbours, see how their fixed and offer any sort of support you can in terms of going down to the shop for them, he added. Green Party North Central Councillor Donna Cooney echoed this sentiment and urged residents to notify Dublin City Council via its online alert service if they are affected by the outage. She said the outage is further proof of the importance of the ongoing work to replace old water pipes across the city. They are liable to burst. A lot of people are complaining about the disruption thats causing in terms of traffic on Alfie Byrne Road but theyre replacing a 100-year-old water pipe. So hopefully, these things will happen less often when we have these pipes replaced, she said. Manager at Centra Bonnington, Drumcondra, Sharon Hutch had to call their supplier for an emergency delivery of water, as they have been bringing supplies to vulnerable customers throughout the day yesterday. Theres a lot of old people near us that we know would need help, so we ran over with water to them before its sold out, she said. Theres some people that cant even leave their house and were bringing water over to them. The outage also impacted thousands of other business across the city, including the Pearse Lyons Distillery, on James Street, which had to close early yesterday as a result. John F Kennedy greets well-wishers during his visit to Ireland in 1963 Dublins EPIC Museum will mark 60 years since John F Kennedys visit to Ireland with a new exhibition. Homecoming: JFK in Ireland, has been created in collaboration with the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in memory of JFKs arrival on Irish shores six decades ago. This curated exhibition delves into the cultural and political significance of Kennedys four-day trip in 1963, using original documents, photography, and oral history interviews. It conveys what the visit meant to politicians and onlookers, the purpose it served during a time of national transition, and how international observers perceived the event. The visit itself was filled with fanfare and joyous scenes as Kennedy was welcomed by large crowds in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and in New Ross and Wexford, his familys ancestral county. Nathan Mannion, Head of Exhibitions and Programmes at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, said: Although there are many US Presidents who can lay claim to Irish roots, JFK is probably the most well-known. When he visited Ireland in 1963, the entire nation was won over by his charm, charisma, and genuine affection for the Irish people. Of course, the visit also had a significant impact on Irish and US politics, with President Kennedy delivering the first official address by a foreign Head of State to the joint houses of the Oireachtas. A new exhibition in the EPIC Museum will mark 60 years since JFK's visit to Ireland The exhibition, which opens on June 7, will highlight the pivotal role Kennedys visit played in strengthening Irish-American relations and shaping a new era of optimism for the country. Rachel Flor, Executive Director, John F Kennedy Library Foundation, said: President Kennedy relished his Irish heritage. From the time he was a young boy, he loved to hear stories of his great-grandparents who all migrated to Boston during the famine of the late 1840s. As President, his return to Ireland was a homecoming he later described as one of the most moving experiences of his life. Were grateful to partner with EPIC and the Department of Foreign Affairs to tell the story of this seminal moment in President Kennedys life and in Irish history. The themes of the exhibition will range from Irelands rapid modernisation in 1963 to the pomp and ceremony surrounding the visit. It also explores JFKs Irish heritage and the history of his ancestors, tracing the Kennedys rise to power and influence. Following the passing this week of the late, great musical icon Tina Turner at the age of 83, fans of the 1980s pop behemoth will be afforded the chance to celebrate her music and life at Tralees Siamsa Tire this coming June Bank Holiday weekend. Cork native Rebecca OConnor will bring her show Simply the Best to Siamsa for the very first time on Sunday June 4 in what will be one of the very first tribute shows to the Queen of Rockn Roll since she passed away on Wednesday night her home in Kusnacht near Zurich in Switzerland. Rebecca has made a name for herself over the past 12 years as one of the best Tina tribute acts out there having performed sold-out shows throughout Australia, South Africa and Europe. Amazingly, Rebecca was even endorsed by Tina herself many years ago when after footage was shown to her of Rebecca performing. Speaking to The Kerryman this week about the upcoming show and of course, Tina's passing, Rebecca said that getting to sing the icons songs will take on an even more special meaning now that she has passed on. "I was dumbfounded really [when she heard the news]. It's still hard to believe it. She was such an iconic legend in the music industry and I don't think it's actually going to hit me until I'm standing in front of the mirror putting on my wig and the outfit before I head on stage, she said. "Its such an honour for me to sing her songs, especially after she endorsed me as well all those years ago. I mean, for her to turn around and tell me to keep her music alive was amazing and now that she's passed, that request becomes even more special, she continued. "She saw video footage of me performing and Tina got back to my manager and she was saying that I was so good that it was scary and that if she had my energy, she'd still be touring and then she said for me to keep her music alive, Rebecca said. As for finally getting to play in Tralees most famous venue, Rebecca said she has heard only great things about Siamsa. "It's going to my first time in Tralee so I'm looking forward to it. I've never been lucky enough to perform in Tralee, I've done everywhere in Ireland but never there so I can't wait. I said to my manager, I want to play there [at Siamsa Tire]. I really wanted to play it finally after being everywhere else in Ireland. A few of my friends have played there over the years and they always said how amazing it was so I've wanted to do it for so long, she said. You can book your tickets for the show here: https://siamsatire.com/event/simply-the-best-rebecca-oconnor-as-tina-turner/ or by calling the booking office on 066 712 3055. See Rebeccas own website here: https://www.rebeccaoconnorsimplythebest.com/ Peacekeepers remember Pte Sean Rooney as a plaque in his honour was unveiled at Camp Shamrock, Lebanon earlier this month. Photo: Mark Young Media The memorial to Pte Sean Rooney which was unveiled at Camp Shamrock, Lebanon earlier this month. Photo: Mark Young Media The Dundalk soldier, Private Sean Rooney, who was killed in the Lebanon last December, is to be honoured at the 75th anniversary of the United Nations at their headquarters in New York The Irish Ambassador to the UN, Fergal Mythen, will receive the Dag Hammarskjold medal, named after the second Secretary-General of the UN, on behalf of Private Rooney's family Twenty-four year old Pte Rooney, who grew up in Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, where he attended Gaelsocil Dhun Dealgan and the Martist, before moving to Newtwoncunningham, Co Donegal. On leaving school he joined the Irish Defence Forces in March 2019 and was based with the 27th Infantry Battalion, Aiken Barracks, Dundalk. He was killed while serving on his second overseas mission in Lebanon on December 14, 2022. The presentation of the medal in the UN General Assembly Hall coincides with a series of events planned to mark the 75th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping. The memorial to Pte Sean Rooney which was unveiled at Camp Shamrock, Lebanon earlier this month. Photo: Mark Young Media The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, will lay a wreath at the Peacekeeper's Memorial in the grounds of the UN compound to commemorate the 4,200 peacekeepers, including 91 Irish personnel, who have died. Earlier this month, on Sunday May 14, a memorial plague to Pte Sean Rooney was unveiled at UNP 2-45 Camp Shamrock in Lebanon. A supply chain services company from Sligo have been selected as one of the finalists in the National Enterprise Awards that take place next month. ProNav Clinical Ltd. will represent Local Enterprise Office Sligo at the prestigious awards that take place on the 1st June in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin. PRONAV Clinical provides customised supply chain services for early phase clinical trials being conducted in Europe and across the globe. Their primary clients are pharmaceutical and Biotech innovators who are moving from laboratory based, pre-clinical development of new drugs to testing in human clinical trials. The company, which was founded in 2019, is based at Dublin Road Business Park, Carraroe, Sligo and employs 7 staff. Cllr. Michael Clarke, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council said: I would like to extend the good wishes of Sligo County Council to Jim and his team at ProNav Ltd.,and wish them every success in the National Enterprise Awards Final. From a base just outside Sligo, they are dealing with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the U.K., Europe and North America. They are an excellent example of what makes County Sligo a great place to live, work and invest. Jim Kernan, Managing Director of ProNav Clinical Ltd., said: ProNav are delighted to represent Sligo at this prestigious competition and are looking forward to the chance to network with other leading businesses at the event. We are proud of the fact that we can work with leading international pharmaceutical and biotech companies from our base here in Sligo, in the north-west of Ireland, and look forward to the continued growth of our business, with help from Local Enterprise Office Sligo. This is the 23rd year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by Aqualicence, supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow. This year, the finalists cover a range of sectors and industries from augmented reality tours and sensory friendly clothes designers to energy saving software platforms and agtech solutions farmers. The finalists also include a range of consumer products from chocolate and whiskey to artisan bakery products and a zero-waste food company. John Reilly, Head of Enterprise with Sligo County Council said: The National Enterprise Awards serve to highlight the very best businesses that the Local Enterprise Offices are working with across the country. Local Enterprise Office Sligo have been working with Jim and the team at PRONAV Clinical since early 2020. We have been hugely impressed with both their vision and their determination to grow their business and secure customers outside of Ireland. We are delighted to have them as our representative at the National Enterprise Awards Final on June 1st. The Finalists compete for a prize fund of 50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland. Previous winners of the National Enterprise Awards include the likes of Irish Yoghurts (1998), Obelisk (2000), Simtech Aviation (2008), Digiweb (2004) and Design Pro (2013), Terra NutriTech (2018), Pestle & Mortar (2019) and Bevcraft in 2021. The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Womens Enterprise Day, and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland. Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 25,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie Damien Challonder, Tommy Kavanagh and John Bermingham were at the Gorey Community School's teachers retirement function in the Amber Springs on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Jackie Meehan and Margaret Corcoran were at the Gorey Community School's teachers retirement function in the Amber Springs on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Pictured at the Gorey Community School's teachers retirement function in the Amber Springs on Friday evening were Therese MacCormaic, Nian MacCormaic, Laura Molloy, Deborah Cosgrave. Pic: Jim Campbell At the Gorey Community School's teachers retirement function in the Amber Springs on Friday evening were Brendan Bonner, Paddy McNulty and Kevin Gahan. Pic: Jim Campbell Pictured at the Gorey Community School's teachers retirement function in the Amber Springs on Friday evening were Emily Fairweather, Maria O'Loughlin, Ciara Walsh and Eleanor O'Mahony. Pic: Jim Campbell Rory McCarthy (Deputy Principal), Stella Kehoe, Linda McEvoy, Mary Fitzpatrick, Michael Finn (Principal), Freda Conboy-Yague, Rosemary Lenehan and Sean MacCormaic as presentations are made to four teachers who are retiring at the end of the school term in Gorey Community School at an event in the Amber Springs Hotel. Photo: Jim Campbell Staff at Gorey Community School celebrated the long and fruitful careers of four of their colleagues as they marked their retirement from teaching recently. At a special ceremony in the Amber Springs Hotel, staff from Gorey Community School gathered to mark the retirements of Spanish teacher Freda Conboy-Yague, Economics and Maths teacher Rosemary Lenehan, Home-Ec teacher Mary Fitzpatrick and Maths teacher Sean MacCormaic. The four teachers were joined by their family members for the momentous occasion. All four of the teachers taught their subjects up to Leaving Certificate higher level. While Mary and Sean finished up in their roles last year, Rosemary and Freda are currently teaching and will finish in August 2023. At the retirement ceremony, each one of them was presented with a gift voucher from the schools Board of Management and a cheque from the school staff. Theyre outstanding teachers, very dedicated and very committed to Gorey Community School. They will be very difficult to replace, said Principal Michael Finn. Mary, Freda and Rosemary spent the majority of their teaching career at Gorey Community School, while Sean has worked there for seven years, having previously taught at Good Counsel College, New Ross. The retirement ceremony is a very formal occasion and really respectfully marks and acknowledges a long career. All of them had the average of about 35 years teaching. It is really important to acknowledge all of their work, added Mr Finn. Mr Finn and several teachers shared some parting thoughts about each of the four teachers in a series of speeches, while the teachers themselves also took the time to reflect on their roles in the school on the evening. The hidden histories of Rosslare Harbour will be revealed next Monday as the Ports, Past and Present team launch a new interactive for the local community and visitors to the area. Taking place on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. this free, guided walk, which is suitable for all abilities and is wheelchair accessible, will be led by local historian Leo Coy. Participants will be guided through some of Rosslare ports many sites of interest and will learn how to use the app to discover the hidden history of the area. Leo will be joined by the Ports, Past and Present team from University College Cork (UCC) and Wexford County Council (WCC). Rosslare is one of five ports (along with Dublin, Fishguard, Pembroke Dock and Holyhead) included in the heritage app that spotlights the rich maritime stories, history and relationships that are unique to sea ports. Long a source of intrigue and adventure, ports have been overlooked in recent decades but that is now changing, said Claire Nolan, Ports, Past and Present researcher in UCC.. As more tourists turn to slow travel on ferries to help lower their carbon emissions, sea travel is expected to rise. Now, this innovative new app encourages travellers to linger and explore the ports and their surrounding regions as destinations in themselves. Cathrine Agnew, Ports, Past and Present Project Officer in Wexford County Council added, Through walking tours and stories of characters and adventures shared by local people, artists and academics, the app reveals the exciting history of ports including Rosslare as well as opportunities for the future. The walk begins at the Dock Boutique Hall, to book your place contact Claire Nolan on clairenolan@ucc.ie The Tinahely Bee Sanctuary project received recognition as one of the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023 Commended Projects in the Sustainability category. A Tinahely-based biodiversity project has been recognised for its efforts and commitment to digital innovation at this years .IE Digital Town Awards. The national registry for .ie domain names announced the winning entries for the awards at a Gala event held at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone. The awards were created by .IE in 2021 as part of a broader four-year 1 million investment in the .IE Digital Town Programme, which encourages the uptake and use of the internet and digital technologies for businesses, citizens and communities. Set up to tackle the biodiversity crisis and raise awareness of the current threats to bees, Tinahelys Bee Sanctuary received recognition as one of the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023 Commended Projects in the Sustainability category and were awarded a prize fund of 2,000. With a booking feature on their website for farm tours and through the clever use of Twitter hashtags, the bee sanctuary has reached a global audience. Now featuring in the Metaverse, they continue to educate the public on sustainability practices. In 5 years, they have gone from a 'bricks and mortar' project advocating for bees and nature locally to a digitally focused project with international reach. In total, 22 town and community digital projects were recognised at this years .IE Digital Town Awards 2023, which recognise and reward digitally inspired projects run by towns and local community groups, and offers a prize fund of 100,000 each year, split across several categories. Winners and runners-up this year were chosen across the seven main categories, three special category winners and one overall prize winner. The .IE Digital Sustainability award was a new category introduced this year with Hollymount in Mayo announced as the winner with its Eco-Powered Cabinets which store life-saving equipment. This years category sponsors included Western Development Commission, Connected Hubs, and AIB Merchant Services with Vodafone as the overall presenting sponsor. Oonagh McCutcheon, National Director, .IE Digital Town Programme said: "The quality of entries in this years .IE Digital Town Awards has been incredibly impressive. Irelands towns and communities are identifying and solving connectivity challenges, driving digital innovation and developing creative digital solutions to enhance the lives of their fellow citizens. This year 22 projects were recognised at the .IE Digital Town Awards Gala event, which adds significantly to the lives of their local communities and improves our nations digital footprint. Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Neale Richmond said: I want to congratulate all the winners of this years .IE Digital Town Awards. The 22 groups honoured at this years awards are great examples of how by embracing digitalisation, even small groups can make a big difference to their local communities, friends and neighbours. Congratulations again to all the winners, and thank you to every group that entered this years awards. Representing Vodafone, Sinead Bryan, Managing Director, Vodafone Business said: At Vodafone, our goal is to be a connectivity and technology partner to our customers the length and breadth of Ireland. We are delighted to support the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023 which cements our commitment to powering inclusion through technology and enabling a better Ireland through the use of digital. More information on the .IE Digital Town Awards can be found here TWO men have been jailed for their role in transporting over almost 1.2 million worth of cannabis resin last year. Anthony Larkin (46) of Killarney Park, Bray, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply of just over 92kg of the drugs, worth an estimated 556,800 just outside Brittas, Co Dublin on April 1, 2022. Gerard Windrum (38) of Oliver Bond House, Dublin pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of 105 kg of the same drug, worth just over 630,000, at a storage unit in Mount Seskin, Tallaght on the same date. Larkin has no previous convictions. Windrum has 103 previous convictions, the majority of which are for road traffic offences, but include a conviction for the sale or supply of 1kg of heroin. Judge Martin Nolan said there was no doubt that both men were couriers and getting little or nothing but possible alleviation for a debt. But they were mature men and unfortunately for everyone they entered into this, the judge said. He acknowledged that they were both well liked by their family and their community and they have a good work history. Both have particular problems that rendered them vulnerable to temptations put in front of them, Judge Nolan said. He sentenced Windrum to eight years in prison, having taken into account his earlier conviction for a similar offence. He sentenced Larkin to five years in prison. Detective Garda Val Russell told Katherine McGillicuddy BL prosecuting, that gardai had a storage unit in Mount Seskin under surveillance following a tip off when they saw Windrum arrive in a van. He removed four bags from the unit and loaded them into the van. Gardai then followed the van until Windrum parked up in a carpark on the Blessington Road in Brittas. Larkin then arrived into the carpark. Windrum and Larkin spoke for a few minutes before they drove off in tandem, Windrum leading the way. Det Gda Russell said the two vehicles pulled up into a second location in Brittas where Windrum transferred the four bags, with Larkins assistance, into Larkins vehicle. The two vehicles drove off in different direction but were followed by gardai and stopped a short time later. The keys for the storage unit were found on Windrum and a follow up search of the unit revealed 105kg of cannabis resin, while the four bags found in Larkins van were found to contain just over 92kg of the same drug. Both men were arrested and taken in for questioning during which Larkin said his life was in danger because of a drug debt. He said he had been approached and given instructions about what to do. He said he was very sorry. Det Gda Russell agreed with Fiona Murphy SC, defending, that Windrums baby died due to cot death in October 2000 which led to an escalation in his drug use. He accepted that Windrum was a vulnerable person. He agreed with Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending, that there is a second case pending against Larkin relating to him collecting 37,000 on behalf of third parties in January this year. He is facing a charge of money laundering. Ms Murphy told Judge Nolan that her client had experienced a very difficult time and slipped back into cocaine use as a coping mechanism following the death of his child. She said his addiction spiralled and he found himself in serious debt with no reality of being able to pay it off. She said he was put in fear of his life and felt he was not in a position to say no. Ms Murphy submitted that her client was vulnerable and exploited by more sinister people. Mr O Lideadha handed in testimonials on behalf of his client which described him as very reliable and said he helped in the local community. He was described as a hard working and trusting person who lives for his kids. Blessington Bug Ambassadors is designed to inspire a deep appreciation for the world of insects and invertebrates in young people. Blessington Tidy Towns is thrilled to announce the launch of its exciting new educational initiative Blessington Bug Ambassadors. Designed to inspire young people aged nine years plus, the creative program aims to foster a deep appreciation for the captivating world of insects and invertebrates that inhabit the local Blessington area. Under the guidance of local entomologist Brian Murray, founder of Bees & Wasps of Ireland, children and their parents will embark on an unforgettable 2-hour field trip each month from June to September 2023. These captivating excursions will take place in some of the breath-taking biodiversity hotspots scattered throughout our beautiful region. During these adventurous outings, children will be encouraged to explore and discover a diverse range of fascinating creatures, including bees, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, woodlice, centipedes, and more. Guided by Brian, participants will have the opportunity to identify most of these incredible specimens directly in the field. The Blessington Bug Ambassadors initiative is made possible through generous grant funding received from Creative Wicklow - Ireland", a Culture & Heritage Programme dedicated to embedding culture and creativity into the very heart of communities in County Wicklow. This invaluable support ensures that young minds have the opportunity to connect with nature and wildlife in a meaningful way, nurturing their curiosity and understanding of the world around them. With safety as their utmost priority, Blessington Tidy Towns will offer limited spaces for up to 15 enthusiastic bug explorers and an accompanying parent/guardian. The carefully planned field trips will follow strict safety protocols, guaranteeing a secure and enjoyable experience for all participants. Jason Mulhall, Chairperson of Blessington Tidy Towns said: We believe that immersing children in the wonders of biodiversity at a young age sparks a lifelong passion for nature and that through the Blessington Bug Ambassadors initiative, we aim to cultivate a new generation of environmentally conscious individuals who appreciate the importance of preserving and protecting our fragile ecosystems. If you are a parent seeking a captivating and educational experience for your child, we encourage you to get in touch with us today. Places for the Blessington Bug Ambassadors initiative are limited, so don't miss this extraordinary opportunity. Blessington Tidy Towns is a community-driven organization committed to enhancing the natural beauty and sustainable development of Blessington and its surroundings. Through various initiatives, they strive to create a cleaner, greener, and more vibrant environment for the benefit of all residents. For further information and to register for Bug Ambassadors contact Jason Mulhall of Blessington Tidy Towns at blessingtontidytowns@gmail.com Alexa Chung has said women are being dismissed, misdiagnosed and left floundering before getting tested for endometriosis. The fashion designer, presenter and model, 39, said she received treatment for the painful condition while a cyst was being removed. In a piece for British Vogue, she details her and other womens experiences and also cites medical professionals advice. Chung, who was on shows such as Popworld and former Channel 4 strand T4, writes: The condition is shrouded in mystery and misinformation, and frequently mishandled by doctors. Theres no cure. Often sufferers end up going back for surgery after surgery. Shockingly, there are stories of some doctors suggesting that women have a baby to suppress their symptoms. A research paper at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said in 2019 that women in the city have been recommended pregnancy despite no research evidence for benefit. Chung also said when she told a gynaecologist she had been unable to leave a bathroom stall due to heavy flow at an airport, the doctor asked if she knew what periods are. Chung added: This kind of experience is unfortunately not an anomaly. It can take an average of eight years to diagnose endometriosis. Those who have it often find themselves dismissed, misdiagnosed and left floundering before getting on waiting lists for a laparoscopy: a type of keyhole surgery used to seek out pesky endometrial cells, which is currently the only way to know for sure if someone has the condition. In March, scientists launched the first clinical trial in four decades to assess a potential new treatment for endometriosis. Researchers from the universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Birmingham plan to see whether the drug, dichloroacetate, could be the first ever non-hormonal and non-surgical treatment for endometriosis. If successful, it could help manage pain among those with the condition. According to Endometriosis UK, it takes an average of seven-and-a-half years for women to get a diagnosis and affects around 1.5 million women in the UK. The chronic condition sees tissue similar to the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body, such as around the ovaries. The tissue sheds in the same way that blood does during the menstrual cycle, but has nowhere to escape to, causing inflammation, pain, and a build-up of scar tissue. Indira Varma will star in Doctor Who as the mysterious Duchess (Suzan Moore/PA) Indira Varma will star in Doctor Who as the mysterious Duchess who unleashes her terror, the BBC has announced. The 49-year-old Olivier Award-winning actress, known for playing Ellaria Sand in Game Of Thrones, has previously played Suzie Costello in one of the science fiction shows spin-off series, Torchwood. The broadcaster previously teased a future episode with the tagline dress to impress and beware the duchess alongside images of actors in 1800s period fashion. Mindhunter actor Jonathan Groff, Ncuti Gatwa, who is set to take over as the Time Lord, and Millie Gibson, who is playing the Doctors companion Ruby Sunday, were dressed in regency era-style clothing in the photos. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Varma said: Im thrilled to be in Doctor Who and particularly excited to be crossing cosmic paths with Ncuti, as the Doctor, and look forward to creating interplanetary mischief with him. I loved playing Suzie Costello for Russell T Davies in Torchwood so am thrilled to be entering this world again. Varma has also starred opposite Idris Elba in Luther, acts alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, and featured in historical fiction series Rome and in Obi-Wan Kenobi alongside Ewan McGregor. She is also a theatre actress, who won an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Liz Essendine in Noel Coward play Present Laughter and has been in productions of George Bernard Shaws Man And Superman and Anton Chekhovs The Seagull. Russell T Davies, who has returned as showrunner, said: Im overjoyed to be reunited with Indira after our Torchwood days, and this part is truly spectacular. A whole new audience will be hiding behind the settee when the Duchess unleashes her terror. Ncuti Gatwa (Jane Barlow/PA) Other previously announced cast members include drag queen Jinkx Monsoon in an undisclosed role as the Doctors most powerful enemy yet and Heartstopper actress Yasmin Finney playing Rose. To coincide with the shows 60th anniversary, Doctor Who will return for three special episodes featuring David Tennant as the 14th doctor. Sex Education star Gatwa, 30, will then take over as the 15th doctor with his first episode airing over the festive period. He will be joined by Coronation Street actress Gibson, 18, who will become the youngest companion in the shows history. Doctor Who will air on the BBC in the UK and Ireland and streaming platform Disney+ will show episodes to audiences elsewhere. Sean OGrady: Reverse Megxit? Admit it the UK needs Harry and Meghan With the right set of duties, and with the automatic police and military protection theyd be entitled to, the Sussexes could once again be a valuable asset to the UK Prince Harry and his wife Meghan. Reuters Sean O'Grady UK Independent Thu 25 May 2023 at 10:26 Anne Franks friend on meeting her in Belsen: She was a broken figure, a shadow of the girl I knew A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday said she will dismiss a lawsuit that the stars of 1968's Romeo and Juliet" filed over the film's nude scene, which they said involved them being subjected to fraud, and sexual abuse and harassment when they were in their teens. Russian mercenary boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin has warned that Moscows brutal war with Ukraine could plunge Russia into turmoil similar to the 1917 revolution. He says this will happen unless its detached, wealthy elite become more directly committed to the conflict. In an interview with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-war blogger, . the founder and leader of the Wagner mercenary group, also asserted that the war had backfired spectacularly by failing to demilitarize Ukraine, one of President Vladimir Putins stated aims of the invasion. He also called for totalitarian policies. We are in a situation where we can simply lose Russia, Prigozhin said, using an expletive to hammer his point. We must introduce martial law. We unfortunately . . . must announce new waves of mobilization; we must put everyone who is capable to work on increasing the production of ammunition, he said. Russia needs to live like North Korea for a few years, so to say, close the borders . . . and work hard. Citing public anger at the lavish lifestyles of Russias rich and powerful, Prigozhin warned their homes could be stormed by people with pitchforks. He singled out Ksenia Shoigu, the daughter of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was spotted vacationing in Dubai with her fiance, Alexei Stolyarov, a fitness blogger. The children of the elite shut their traps at best, and some allow themselves a public, fat, carefree life, Prigozhin said in the interview, which was released Wednesday on video. This division might end as in 1917, with a revolution - when first the soldiers rise up, and then their loved ones follow. Prigozhin, who earned a fortune and the nickname Putins chef off government catering contracts, seized a central role in the war in Ukraine, first by deploying his mercenaries on the front lines and later by recruiting heavily from prisons to bolster Moscows depleted forces. In the interview, Prigozhin said that he did not know how to cook, and that journalists should have called him Putins butcher. Wagner led the onslaught in Bakhmut, which culminated this week in Putin declaring the city under Russian control - his first significant territorial gain since last summer. Ukraine insists it is still fighting on the citys outskirts. But while Prigozhins role in Bakhmut has given him a major platform, he has been engaged in a nasty running feud with Shoigu and other Russian military commanders, accusing them of denying Wagner needed ammunition. He also repeatedly threatened to withdraw from Bakhmut. In the interview with Dolgov, Prigozhin professed to be guided by love for his motherland and loyalty to Putin. But he also delivered blistering criticism of the war, which the Kremlin calls a special military operation. Instead of demilitarization, he said, the invasion turned Ukraines army into one of the most powerful in the world and Ukrainians into a nation known to the entire world. If they, figuratively speaking, had 500 tanks at the beginning of the special operation, now they have 5,000, he said. If they had 20,000 fighters who knew how to fight, now they have 400,000. How did we demilitarize it? Now it turns out that we militarized it - hell knows how. Prigozhin this week again said that his fighters would leave Bakhmut, potentially in a bid to leave Shoigu responsible for holding the city, which Kyiv insists it will retake. In the interview, he had special venom for the children of the elite and for the many wealthy Russians who have tried to avoid letting their lives be disrupted by the war. Prigozhin, however, did not comment on the fact that this effort to shield Russians has been a central strategy of Putins since the invasion started. Prigozhin said that the grief of tens of thousands of relatives of killed soldiers might reach a boiling point, and the Russian government will have to contend with broader anger and discontent, exacerbated by economic disparity. My advice to the Russian elites - get your lads, send them to war, and when you go to the funeral, when you start burying them, people will say that now everything is fair, Prigozhin said in the interview. Prigozhins rants often undermine Moscows official line and almost certainly would result in harsh punishment for anyone else. The country has outlawed criticism of the military and many citizens have faced prosecution. Private military companies are technically illegal in Russia, but Prigozhin has operated with impunity, deploying his fighters to countries in the Middle East and Africa, and to Ukraine In Mali, Wagner soldiers are suspected of war crimes following reports of executions, torture, rape and abductions. Wipro Chairman Rishad Premji (Image Credit: commons.wikimedia.org) Mumbai: Wipros Executive Chairman Rishad Premji has taken a voluntary reduction in his salary for the fiscal year 2023, according to a recent filing made to the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US. This year, his total annual compensation amounts to $951,353, which is nearly 50% lower than his earnings in the previous year, amounting to $1,819,022. This reduction in salary reflects a decrease of approximately $867,669 compared to his previous year's compensation. According to Form 20-F submitted by Wipro Limited to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Rishad Premji's salary is broken down as follows: $861,620 in salary and allowances, $74,343 in long-term compensation benefits, and $15,390 in other incomes. In his role as Wipro's Chief Strategy Officer, Rishad Premji played a pivotal role in conceptualizing Wipro Ventures, a $250 million fund dedicated to investing in start-ups that focus on developing technologies and solutions that align with Wipro's business objectives, particularly in the realm of next-generation services and products. As Wipro's Chief Strategy Officer held the responsibility of managing investor relations and government relations for the company. As the Executive Chairman of Wipro, Rishad Premji collaborates closely with the company's leadership team, offering guidance and strategic perspective to drive the business forward. Before joining Wipro Limited in 2007, Rishad Premji gained experience at Bain & Company in London. During his time there, he worked on various projects spanning industries such as consumer products, automobiles, telecommunications, and insurance. He also had a professional stint at GE Capital in the United States, where he focused on the insurance and consumer lending sectors. Rishad is a graduate of GE's Financial Management Programme, which further augmented his knowledge and expertise in the financial domain. Representative image/ Unsplash/Christopher Burns Winnipeg/IBNS: A wildfire is getting close to Manitoba's northern community displaced hundreds of people with emergency evacuations underway, Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias said. The residents have gone to Thompson, The Pas and Brandon, while others went to Winnipeg, but have yet to secure hotel accommodations. Monias noted that after he asked for help from the Red Cross and Indigenous Services Canada on Wednesday night, the Red Cross reportedly confirmed that it was activated to support the evacuation of Pimicikamak. Monias was reported to say that since last week the fire has been burning south of Cross Lake, where the community is located. Crews from several First Nations in the area have been battling it, but strong winds on Wednesday pushed flames closer. Rain has been falling Thursday morning in Pimicikamak, Monias said he is praying it will help to extinguish the flames. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) Representational image by Jon Tyson on Unsplash The Department of Employment, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship (ESDE) has joined forces with the Changeinkk Foundation, a renowned non-profit organization dedicated to integrating individuals with learning disabilities into mainstream society. This collaborative effort aims to empower individuals who often go unnoticed due to their invisible disabilities by providing them with essential skills, stated Nagaland Post, By tapping into their innate entrepreneurial spirit, the partnership seeks to harness their talents to drive innovation and foster growth for the state. According to a recent report by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), the Department of Employment, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship has recognized the invaluable contributions of individuals with invisible disabilities, specifically those with Specific Learning Disabilities. These individuals have often been the driving force behind groundbreaking innovations that have shaped the world as we know it.Therefore, the partnership with the Changeinkk Foundation will primarily focus on empowering these individuals by equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed as entrepreneurs and innovators. The Changeinkk Foundation is strongly committed to building inclusive ecosystems that champion the integration of individuals with learning disabilities throughout their lives, from early childhood to their professional careers. Instead of creating separate systems of inclusion, this unique partnership aims to enhance the capabilities of all stakeholders involved, enabling them to foster a sustainable culture of inclusion. Both the Nagaland government and the Changeinkk Foundation are fully dedicated to this collaborative endeavor, firmly believing that it will serve as a catalyst for innovation, productivity, and overall growth in India. Image tweeted by @zarrar_11PSF Khalistan movement, spearheaded by some hardcore secessionist elements in India and abroad, is virtually buried in history now in India though it lingers on in pockets of liberal West. Its violent end in India came in 1984 in the holy city of Amritsar duringOperation Blue Star with armed forces killing its main crusader Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and his cronies. Attempts miserably failed to radicalize youth in Punjab and elsewhere in India in the name of so called Dharam Yudh by Bhindranwale, who had proclaimed himself head of Khalistan, a Pakistan like theocratic state, for the Sikhs. Many radical off-shoots of majority Sikh organizations like Dal Khalsa, Damdami Taksal, All India Sikh Students Federation and the like had mushroomed,spearheading the violent movement for the establishment of Khalistan. Most of them have since become part of history, either crushed or banned by the government. Even at the height of their violent agitation in 1982-84, the Khalistan separatists were not able to break communal harmony in their battle ground state of Punjab. People did not lose their good sense; Hindus and Sikhs lived traditionally concerned for each other's miseries and joys, maintaining Roti -Betirelations, sharing succor and marital relationships. A constant fear of threat to their lives from radical elements, however, gripped them all the time in those turbulent days. By the early nineties, peace was restored in Punjab and people and the government heaved a sigh of relief. Well, even after the Blue Star Op and the events that followed, that had left deep scars undeniably, a microscopic number of radicalized youth have survived mainly in border areas of Punjab as what are known as sleeper cells. Instigated by Pakistan, which, for the past five decades has been following a policy of inflicting thousands of cuts on India, these sleeper cells come alive from time to time and try to foment trouble. The recent mob violence near a prominent temple in Patiala, and the murder of a pro-Hindu Party Shiv Sena leader in broad daylight in Amritsar are such acts to keep the security forces on high alert. Significantly, none of these violent acts could disturb communal harmony in Punjab. Nor could they trigger any hatred or discord among the Hindus and the Sikhs. Viewed against this backdrop, the failure of Mission Amritpal Singh does not come as a surprise. Amritpal is a self-styled Khalistan preacher - fugitive. He migrated to India in September 2022 from Dubai where he worked as a truck driver since 2012, to head Waris Punjab De (Heirs of Punjab), a radical outfit. This February he and his militant followers stormed a police station at Ajnala, near Amritsar to get the release of their associate held in a kidnapping and extortion case. They brandished swords and brazenly displayed firearms. Yet, the police observed restraint. It is because Amritpal and co took the shield of Sikh Holy book, Guru Granth Sahib while storming the police station in Ajnala. Any police action had the potential for flare up. In the chase that followed, many of his militant followers were arrested. His mentor, who is also his uncle, was nabbed and charged under the National Security Act. Amritpal Singh himself was arrested after a hot pursuit for 36 days, and swiftly moved to a jail in Dibrugarh in the far eastern state of Assam,where eight of his associates are jailed. Amritpal Singh tried to imitate Bhindranwale style of functioning to become popular in double quick time. He also tried to endear himself to the Punjabi youth by weaning them away from drug menace. He even organised drug de-addiction centres, making a beginning from his native village under the garb of social reforms. These centres became his platform to deliver fiery sermons. He and his associates tapped social media for their Homeland for the Sikhs campaign.And toured the countryside preaching secessionism. Police found a shooting range in his village tucked inside agriculture fields, where training in arms was given to youth. After his escape from the police dragnet, Amritpal Singh tried all sorts of gimmicks and approached prominent Sikh organizations and leaders to hold a Sarbat Khalsa (religious congregation) to approve his line of action forKhalistan. Deafening silence was the response followed by the homily surrender to the police. Naturally, Amritpal was crestfallen. His dream of Sikh clergy adopting a homeland resolution remained a pipe dream. During Bhindranwales time, one such resolution was adopted at a congregation held at Anandpur Sahib. And it is called Anandpur Sahib resolution. Despite his bravado, the self-styled Khalistan protagonist changed his hideouts while on the run since February 18. High alert was sounded at all escape routes, including airports and borders with Nepal and Pakistan. His wife, a British national, was stopped from boarding a flight to London. Amritpal was finally arrested from Rode village to which Bhindranwale belonged on a tip off that he was hiding in the local Gurdwara. With all escape routes closed, he walked out of the Gurudwara into the police hands. Well, just before walking out, he reportedly delivered a brief sermon on Khalistan to the handful of people present in the Gurudwara. Conventional wisdom made the Punjab Police fear a backlash after Amritpals arrest. So, they packed him off to an Assam jail. But nothing of the sort happened. People in all major cities, towns and villages acrossPunjab continued their usual business. Perfect harmony and peace prevailed in the state signaling that separatists and secessionists would have no sympathy and support from the people at large. With the arrest of Amritpal and all prominent activists of the outfit Waris Punjab De which he was heading since September 2022, the Khalistan movement can be said to have died down in Punjab. This does not mean all sleeper cells are liquidated. It is possible that some sleeper cells may still be out there and they may still try to trigger sporadic incidents; such flare ups will be a routine policing problem. Nothing more. Nothing less. Post - Laffaire Amritpal, the overseas Khalistani elements notably Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) appear to have bestirred themselves with some goading by their Pakistani mentors. Result was an attempt to hoist the Khalistan flag after pulling down the tri-colour at the Indian High Commission in London. There are reports of defacing Hindu temples from Canada, the United States and Australia. Well, small headlines, no front-page stuff. New Delhi has been taking up the issues of these attacks at the diplomatic level from time to time. Going by the turn of events, the response is far from satisfactory. Image Credit: Twitter Video Grab The liberal West must realise that patronage or any pampering of secessionist movements like Khalistan is a misguided missile wrapped in human rights. For two reasons. Such patronage when they are courting India as an emerging economic power, and as a counterfoil to the Dragon country is patently unfair, if not, absurd. Every one of the Western liberal democracies have their own share of active or dormant secessionists. They simply cannot lose sight of their own backyard in their exuberance to needle others. Moreover, as Laffaire Amritpal demonstrated, the Khalistan campaign targeted at India has become a damp squib. Put simply, Khalistan Movement is dead in India but survives outside India with its protagonists raising the bogey from time to time, and trying to foment trouble in India. The diplomatic corps and intelligence agencies need to be extra vigilant on this score. Now to the Pakistan factor in the Khalistani campaign. Indian agencies have found clinching evidence of involvement of Pak Armys Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in organizing training camps for militants and pushing them into India to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Drones are being used by handlers sitting in Lahore and elsewhere in Pakistan to send consignments of arms and drugs into border areas of Punjab. Several such drones were either shot down or captured by the border security forces recently. India cannot change its neighbours. It has to live with a prickly Pakistan, hoping for the day when the land of the pure will realise the dangers of what Hillary Clinton once told them of nurturing snakes in the backyard. (The writer is a veteran broadcast journalist) Image Credit: Facebook/Satyendar Jain New Delhi/UNI: Former Delhi Minister Satyendra Jain was admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital after he slipped and fell down inside bathroom in Tihar Jail and got minor injuries on Thursday morning, Tihar Jail official said. On Thursday morning at around 6 am, Jain fell down in the bathroom of MI room of the hospital located at central jail number 7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness, claimed Tihar Jail official. He was referred to DDU hospital as he complained about pain in back, left leg and shoulder, Tihar Jail official said. Satyendar Jain was arrested on May 30 last year on allegations that he laundered money through four companies owned by him. Image Credit: UNI New Delhi/UNI: Stepping up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress on Thursday said it is one man's "ego" and desire for "self-promotion" that has denied President Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building. "Yesterday, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the country's largest judicial campus at the Jharkhand High Court complex in Ranchi. "It is one man's 'ego' and desire for "self-promotion" that has denied the first Adivasi woman President her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28," said Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh in a tweet, in a veiled attack on the PM. He added, "Ashoka the great, Akbar the great, Modi the inaugurate." On Wednesday, as many as 19 Opposition parties including Congress announced to "boycott" the inauguration of the new Parliament building by PM, instead of President. "The inauguration of a new Parliament building is a momentous occasion. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave 'insult' but a direct 'assault' on our democracy which demands a commensurate response," the Opposition parties had said in a statement. On December 10, 2020, the foundation stone of the new building of Parliament was laid by Modi. Image Credit: PIB New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually flagged off first semi-high-speed Vande Bharat train between Uttarakhand's capital Dehradun and national capital Delhi. The prime minister said the new service will connect the national capital with Devbhoomi, as Uttarakhand is often referred to for its large number of pilgrimage sites, at a faster speed. He also dedicated to the nation, newly electrified rail sections in Uttarakhand. With this, the states entire rail route will be electrified. This is also the first Vande Bharat that has been introduced in Uttarakhand with world-class amenities. The train has been indigenously built and is equipped with advanced safety features including the Kavach technology. The new Vande Bharat Express will cover the distance between Dehradun to Delhi in 4.5 hours. Inaugurating the Vande Bharat Express train, PM Modi congratulated the people of Uttarakhand and said it will contribute well to the tourism sector of the state and the travel time between the Delhi and Dehradun cities will be further reduced. Speaking about his recent international tours, the Prime Minister said the world is looking at India with high hopes. India has emerged as a ray of hope for the world when it comes to strengthening the economy and fighting poverty, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister emphasised that beautiful states like Uttarakhand should make the most of today's situation when people from around the world want to come to India. Modi also underlined that the Vande Bharat train is also going to help Uttarakhand in taking full advantage of this opportunity. The Prime Minister also recalled his visit to Kedarnath and said, This decade is going to be the decade of Uttarakhand. This train will be extremely helpful for crores of devotees who travel to Kedarnath every year," he said. The Prime Minister informed that only one-third of the country's rail network had been electrified by 2014, which was an impediment to operating fast-running trains. The all-around work to transform the railways began after 2014," the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister informed that 600 km of rail lines were electrified every year on an average before 2014 whereas 6,000 km of railway lines are being electrified every year today. Today, more than 90 percent of the country's railway network has been electrified. In Uttarakhand, 100 percent electrification of the entire rail network has been achieved, the Prime Minister said. (With UNI inputs) Image: Pixabay New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday sentenced a man to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of over 30 minors between 2008 and 2015, media reports said. Ravinder Kumar admitted his guilt in carrying out crimes across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh during the period from 2008 to 2015. Some of these crimes also involved acts of necrophilia, reported India Today. Following six years of committing these horrific acts and an eight-year-long trial, he was pronounced guilty by a Delhi court on Saturday. Ravinder, employed as a labourer in Delhi, developed a horrifying routine at the young age of 18 in 2008. He would take drugs, watch pornographic films, and then go out hunting for children to sexually assault before ultimately taking their lives. This disturbing pattern continued for the following seven years, until 2015, during which Ravinder was responsible for the deaths of more than 30 children. Ravinder migrated from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi in 2008 with the aim of finding employment. His father was employed as a plumber, and his mother worked as a domestic worker. A few days after coming to Delhi, Ravinder got addicted to drugs and got access to pornographic film video cassettes, according to police. He would sleep in his room between 8 pm till midnight and then go around looking for his prey near construction sites and slumps. Sometimes, he would even walk up to 40 km in search of his prey. In 2008, he first kidnapped, raped, and murdered a girl in Delhis Karala area. He continued with the sexual assault and killings, as he managed to evade the police radar. Police said he killed his victims over the fear of being identified and chose different locations every time to avoid being traced. Guwahati/IBNS: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday appealed for peace in Manipur and said he would visit the northeastern state soon and interact with people of both ethnic communities involved in the ongoing violence. "Amit Shah will take stock of the prevailing situation in Manipur and will stay on from May 29 to June 1," Nityanand Rai, Minister of State Home Affairs in Imphal said. "There were clashes in Manipur after the verdict of a court. I would appeal to both groups, they should maintain peace, and justice will be done with everyone. I will myself go to Manipur after few days and will stay there for three days and will talk to people of Manipur for establishing peace," Shah said at an event in Guwahati. One person was shot dead and houses were set on fire as fresh ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, reports said Thursday. Manipur has been on the boil after an explosion of interethnic violence this month killed at least 70 people and left tens of thousands displaced. Some 2,000 houses were also burned down across the state. The violence was sparked as a result of rage among the Kuki tribal group at the prospect of the majority Meitei community being given guaranteed quotas of government jobs and other perks in the form of affirmative action. This led to long-held fears among the Kuki that the Meitei might also be allowed to acquire land in areas currently reserved for them and other tribal groups. The military has deployed thousands of troops to the state, where curfews have been imposed and the internet cut for several weeks. An indefinite curfew was reimposed on Wednesday in the flashpoint Bishnupur district after suspected militants fired at a group of people, fatally wounding one person. Astana/New Delhi: While the international community moves towards an era of increased polarization and geopolitical division, Kazakhstan has launched a new international conference, the Astana International Forum, to join efforts on tackling key global challenges. The Forum will be held under the aegis of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on June 89 next, in Astana. It will serve as a platform for eminent delegates from governments, international organizations, business, and academia, to engage in a dialogue to seek ways to address climate, food scarcity and energy security challenges. Commenting on the launch of the Astana International Forum, President Tokayev noted:Today, across the globe we face historic challenges, the likes of which we have not encountered for decades or longer. These challenges are putting unprecedented pressure on the international community, creating new dividing lines and challenging the principles of globalization and multilateralism." The Astana International Forum was created to respond to these challenges, prioritizing cooperation as a core tenet of a functioning international system. "Kazakhstan has a long history of advancing constructive international relations, serving as a bridge between East and West and while this policy has been firmly tested in 2022, it has proven resilient. We have shown the value of cooperation," he said. "Through the Astana International Forum, we hope to build new bridges and strengthen ties, as we come together to overcome the collective challenges we face, charting a new way forward diplomatically, economically and politically. The Astana International Forum grew out of the success of the Astana Economic Forum. It was conceptualized to address four key global issues: foreign policy, security & sustainability, energy & climate, and economy & finance. These pillars are at the heart of the Forums mission of Tackling Challenges through Dialogue: Towards Cooperation, Prosperity and Progress. The programme of the Forum will include keynote speeches, panel sessions, armchair discussions, and other side events. Secretary General of CICA Ambassador Kairat Sarybay addresses media in New Delhi Meanwhile in New Delhi, Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Ambassador Kairat Sarybay said India, which is a CICA member since 2002, can play a key role in advancing the agenda of CICA, a 28-nation grouping, in boosting "Asian spirit" and expanding economic cooperation and connectivity. Sarybay met Indian Ministry of External Affairs officials and the junior minister on Tuesday. Sarybay said while bilateral issues between countries like India and its neighbours Pakistan or China can be sorted between themselves, it is serious about combating terrorism. India can play an important role to expand cooperation in areas like connectivity and economic cooperation, he said Representational image by Voice of America (VOA) via Wikimedia Commons Swat: Class-IV employees from different parts of Swat in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday demanded a 200 percent hike in their salaries. All Pakistan Clerk Association district president Ali Rehman, Class-IV Association general secretary Malik Fazal, All Swat Class-IV Employees Union president Syed Khitab, Subhan and WSSC employees leader Mohammad Raziq joined the protesters outside Swat Press Club. The agitation was organised by All Swat Class IV Employees Association. The leaders of the agitators said that prices of daily use commodities increased by 200 percent and Class-IV employees couldnt even buy food for their families. Protesters said that they could not meet their needs as the government did not increase their salaries. Agitating Class-IV employees said that apart from food items, prices of medicines also increased manifolds. Image: Facebook/David Johnston Ottawa/IBNS: Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly said that his government would follow David Johnstons recommendations against calling a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics. Johnstons decision followed a call for an inquiry by all opposition parties and after the government itself said it would support one, if Johnston recommended it. When I began this process, I thought I would come to the same conclusion that I would recommend a public inquiry, Johnston said in a news conference Tuesday. While it would have been an easy choice, it would not be the correct one. Appointed by Trudeau as a special rapporteur on foreign interference in March in response to the commotion over Chinese government interference, Johnston has spent the last two months interviewing policymakers and reviewing documents. While defending his impartiality in response to attacks from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre citing Johnstons relationship with the Trudeau family and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, Johnston said that while he isnt recommending a public inquiry, he did find serious shortcomings in the way intelligence is communicated and processed from security agencies through to government." Johnston said hell continue his work through to October as special rapporteur by holding hearings to find ways to fix those shortcomings and added he will produce a second report later this year. The public process should focus on strengthening Canadas capacity to detect, deter and counter foreign interference in our elections and the threat such interference represents to our democracy, Johnston said in his report tabled Tuesday. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) Representational image by Ajay Suresh on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons New York: The Microsoft and American intelligence agencies have detected a mysterious computer code that has been popping up in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States, The New York Times reported. The New York Times reported quoting Microsoft that the code was installed by a Chinese government hacking group. This report raises alarms because Guam, with its Pacific ports and vast American air base, would be a centrepiece of any American military response to an invasion or blockade of Taiwan, according to reports. As per The New York Times, the code was installed with great stealth, sometimes flowing through routers and other common internet-connected consumer devices to make the intrusion harder to track. The National Security Agency and Microsoft were set on Wednesday to publish details of the code that would make it possible for corporate users, manufacturers and others to detect and remove it. According to The New York Times, the code is called a web shell, in this case a malicious script that enables remote access to a server. Home routers are particularly vulnerable, especially older models that have not had updated software and protections. Microsoft called the hacking group Volt Typhoon which was part of a state-sponsored Chinese effort aimed at not only critical infrastructure such as communications, electric and gas utilities, but also maritime operations and transportation, reports The New York Times. Microsoft says there is no evidence that the Chinese group has used the access for any offensive attacks. Unlike Russian groups, the Chinese intelligence and military hackers usually prioritize espionage, according to reports. Administration officials, in interviews, said they believed the code was part of a vast Chinese intelligence collection effort that spans cyberspace, outer space and, as Americans discovered with the balloon incident, the lower atmosphere, according to The New York Times. Residents to Rally at Local Courthouse in Support of Measure Z SAN FRANCISCO, May 24, 2023 The California Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday in a lawsuit that will determine whether Monterey Countys local ordinance banning new oil and gas wells and phasing out wastewater disposal is preempted by state laws.Attorneys for Protect Monterey County, the official proponent of the 2016 Measure Z initiative, will argue that the voter-approved restrictions on oil and gas development are a valid use of longstanding local power to make such decisions.Voters were loud and clear that we want to move Monterey County away from dirty fossil fuels and toward a healthy future, said Dr. Laura Solorio, a Measure Z backer and an intervenor in the case. Enough with the oil industry lawsuits standing between us and our right to a clean community.The state Supreme Courts review of the case will focus on whether state laws override local laws that restrict land uses like those passed in Measure Z.Local governments have always had the ability to protect their residents from the dangers of oil and gas pollution, and Measure Z is no different, said Hollin Kretzmann, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversitys Climate Law Institute.Protect Monterey County is represented by Shute Mihaly & Weinberger LLP, Robins Kaplan LLC, Stanford Environmental Law Clinic, and the Center for Biological Diversity.Background2016s voter-approved Measure Z prohibited drilling new oil and gas wells, phased out wastewater disposal and banned fracking in Monterey County. Oil companies launched a $5.4 million legal and multimedia campaign to stop it. Despite being outspent 18 to 1, advocates with Protect Monterey County mobilized thousands of supporters and Measure Z won with 56% of the vote.Monterey Countys oil largely comes from the San Ardo oilfield, which produces some of the most climate-damaging oil in the world, comparable to the Canadian tar sands. Its heavy, bottom-of-the-barrel consistency means oil companies use dangerous techniques like steam injection to extract the crude. These processes require substantial amounts of energy and lead to much higher air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.Measure Z RallyWhat: Measure Z backers rally to support Monterey Countys ban on new drilling and fracking in advance of state Supreme Court hearing.When: Noon, Thursday, May 25, 2023Where: Monterey County Superior Court, Salinas Courthouse, 240 Church St., Salinas, CA 93901Who: Speakers include former California Senate Majority Leader Bill Monning and leaders of Protect Monterey County.California Supreme Court ArgumentsWhat: Oral arguments in Chevron USA et al. v. County of Monterey, Case No. 271869When: 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 25, 2023Where: California Supreme Court. Judges and attorneys will appear via virtual hearing only. Livestream will be available through the California Supreme Courts website: https://supreme.courts.ca.gov/ Who: Kevin Bundy, partner at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, will argue on behalf of Protect Monterey County and Dr. Laura Solorio.Photo: San Ado Oil Fields, San Ardo, California by Drew Bird Photography.The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. Earlier, Mr. Sarmas swore a religious oath before the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou to head the caretaker government that will lead Greece to the June 25 elections Outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred national honours on President-elect Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, the vice-president-elect. President Buhari also conferred the vice president-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima with the Grand Commander of Order of the Niger (GCON) honour. The investiture ceremony took place on Thursday at the state house in Abuja. The event also marked the official handover of transition documents from Buhari to Tinubu. Speaking at the event, the president said he is confident that Nigeria is in capable hands. READ MORE: Im Desperate To Leave, I Cant Cope With The Pressure President Buhari Buhari said he has run a good race while calling on Tinubu not to forget that leadership comes with responsibility. Last week, the federal government released the programme of activities to usher in the Tinubu administration. The transition programme tagged NIGERIA: Better Together features 13 events spread across eight days. Tinubu will be sworn into office on May 29 at Eagle Square in Abuja. Ahead of the May 29 inauguration of Nigerias President-elect, Bola Tinubu, world leaders have indicated interest to attend the ceremony billed for the Eagle Square in Abuja on May 29, 2023. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that this was made known on Wednesday by the head of the media unit of the British High Commission in Abuja, Dean Hurlock. The United Kingdom High Commission in Abuja also gave an indication that a strong delegation from the UK will attend the event. This was disclosed on Wednesday to LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER by the head of the media unit of the British High Commission in Abuja, Dean Hurlock. READ MORE: Joe Biden Announces Delegation To Attend Tinubus Inauguration Hurlock said, the UK delegation will be headed by the Prime Ministers Special Envoy for the inauguration The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Minister of State for Development and Africa at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with the Prime Ministers Trade Envoy to Nigeria and Special Envoy on Girls Education, The Rt Hon Helen Grant OBE MP and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria Dr Richard Montgomery CMG. Following the trail of the US and UK was Canada, which announced on Wednesday through its High Commission that the country will be represented by Honorable Ahmed Husain, Minister For Housing Diversity and inclusion. However, the Indian High commission in Abuja also revealed on Wednesday that the country will be represented by a powerful delegation. The media officer of the mission Vipul Mesariya, told LEADERSHIP that Delhi might send in a strong delegation led by a Minister. The Chinese authorities at the Embassy in Abuja also confirmed that a team from the Chinese government will be at the event to show solidarity to Nigeria and strengthen the existing bilateral ties with the country. Officer in charge of the political and media unit Gu Jing said that the country will certainly send a representative but it was not certain yet. Recall that Tinubu was declared winner of the 25 February 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He defeated his closest rivals, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party to clinch Nigerias most coveted seat. The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced three men, Kasumu Ademola, Salau Mikailu, and Ganiyu Ishola to 20 years imprisonment for defrauding a stock firm of N45.6m. Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke handed down the jail term after he found them guilty of the offence. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the convicts on four counts of conspiracy, unlawful fund conversion, and money laundering before the court to which they pleaded not guilty. READ ALSO: Kaduna Man To Get Eight Strokes Of Cane For Stealing 10 Chickens The convicts, who were first arraigned in 2019, had pleaded not guilty to all eight counts and they were admitted to bail on various terms. However, the convicts in 2021, informed the court of their intentions to change their earlier not-guilty plea, and they pleaded guilty to the charges. The three convicts were accused of conspiring and unlawfully converting 298,550 stocks of a deceased man, the late Joseph Adeyemi, valued at N34m. They were also said to have unlawfully retained the aggregate of the sum of N9.481m, in their bank account. At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, the convicts lawyers, O Muyideen and A. Olufemi, in their plea for leniency, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convicts, by considering that they have been in the detention since 2018 when they were first arrested. Delivering judgment, Justice Aneke sentenced the convicts to five years in each of the four counts. The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos says it will declare former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, wanted if he fails to appear on the next adjourned date for his trial. Justice Olubumni Abike-Fadipe frowned upon the constant non-appearance of the defendant, noting that the last time he was in court was November 4, 2022. It was gathered that the ex minister is standing trial on a 12 counts bordering on the use of false documents, use of fabricated evidence, procuring the execution of documents by false pretense and fabricating evidence. Fani-Kayode however, He pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was first arraigned on December 17, 2021. READ MORE: Fani Kayode Jubilates As Court Dismisses N4.6bn Fraud Charge After his arraignment and commencement of trial, the defendant has been absent at his trial on at least three adjourned dates, a development which the judge frowned upon. At the last adjourned date, his counsel, Wale Balogun, informed the court of the absence of the defendant on grounds of ill health and some issues he was said to have had with the Department of State Services (DSS). Balogun had also pleaded with the court to grant him an adjournment with a promise to make his client available at todays proceeding. When the matter was called today, Chinozo Eze, who represented the defendant told the court that Fani-Kayode was not in court due to health issues. He informed the court that a medical report and a letter seeking the leave of the court to vacate the two dates listed for hearing is already in the court file. The counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Zeenat Atiku confirmed the development and said the prosecutions hands are tied as to how to forge ahead. However, the judge frowned at the constant series of excuses that had been tendered by the defendant for his non appearances. The court subsequently held that it will issue a bench warrant against Fani-Kayode if he fails to show up on the next adjourned date. The judge also frowned upon the prosecutor for non-diligent prosecution of the case, noting that the EFCC can withdraw the matter if it is not ready to prosecute same. Justice Olubumni Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case until November 7, 2023, for the continuation of trial. Popular Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo has jokingly urged netizens not to tell his wife about a beautiful lawyer sitting next to him in court. Kenneth Okonkwo who was among Peter Obis legal team fighting to reclaim what they describe as their stolen mandate shared the video of himself and the pretty learned colleague which sparked reactions. READ MORE: Do The Needful Or Confess You Rigged The Election Kenneth Okonkwo Tells INEC In the clip, the young lady was seen filming with her phone while Okonkwo made his presence felt by winking at the camera. The actor went on to plead with netizens not to tell his wife, while stating that all work and no play make him a dull man. In his words: We are back here today, 23rd of May, 2023, for the conclusion of the pre-hearing session with a report by the court of appeal. Before the Judges came in, I stole some play with one beautiful lawyer. All work without play makes Kenneth a .. Complete the rest, shaa!!, but dont tell my wife. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had earlier reported that the Labour Party chieftain, challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant his party, access to all election materials or confess in court that the 2023 election was rigged to favour their preferred candidate. Okonkwo made this known while outlining the reasons the Presidential Election Tribunal on Tuesday handed the LPs Peter Obi three weeks to submit its plea. He said LP would not fold its hands and allow the impunity to continue, hence, INEC must follow the court orders on the provision of electoral materials or confess the election was rigged. He claimed that LPs Lead Counsel Livy Uzoukwu lamented INECs refusal and neglect to give the party all the evidence required to pursue their court petition notwithstanding the courts direction during an interview in court. See video here: https://twitter.com/realkenokonkwo/status/1660943519433777153 Ahead of May 26th, which has been fixed by the Supreme Court for the hearing of oppositions suites over Tinubu/Shettimas victory, Nigerians have been told not to expect any magic judgement from the ongoing election petition tribunal in Abuja. This was made known by former Chairman of Nigerias National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu on Wednesday. Odinkalu said that anyone who is expecting magic from the tribunal should read the Supreme Courts judgment on the Osun State government election petition. However, the human rights lawyer said the apex court has already predetermined the outcome of the major cases through an unrealistic standard of proof by demanding that whoever claims that there was election manipulation must produce all the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used for all the affected polling units (PUs). He said that, Those expecting some form of magic from #Nigerias judiciary in election dispute resolution should read this judgment in the Osun State governorship case. The #SupremeCourt says to prove results have been manipulated, you need to produce each BVAS machine for the affected PU. So, if you are alleging manipulation of results in 1,000 PUs, you must produce 1,000 BVAS machines, 1 for each PU. Meanwhile, these cases are decided in courthouses not warehouses. The court may just have pre-determined the outcome of the major cases through an unrealistic standard of proof. READ MORE: Court Okays Peter Obi, Atikus Three Weeks Request To Present Witnesses Against Tinubu Think of it this way: to prove I have sent you an SMS, it is not enough for you to get the network provider to certify what transpired, you must produce the phone from which the SMS was sent. The quality of judicial decision-making in election disputes is utterly diabolical. He added that the Supreme Court had in its judgment on the Osun State governorship election petition held that the BVAS devices for each of the 744 polling units which the appellants solely relied on as the basis for grounds 2 and 3 of their petition were not produced and tendered by them as evidence in support of their case. Rather they sought to prove the record of accredited voters in the BVAS devices for each of the 744 polling units by means of a report of the examination of the INEC database or backend server (exhibit BVR) said to contain the information on the number of accredited voters and number of votes cast in a polling unit transmitted by the BVAS to the said INEC database during the election on election day. The record in the BVAS machine for each polling unit is the direct and primary record of the number of voters accredited in that polling unit on the election day in the process of the election. It is not in dispute that the disputed polling units results were collated in their respective wards by their Ward Collation Officers. The collation by virtue of Regulation 48(a) of INEC Regulations and Guidelines (supra), a presumption arises from the collation of the polling units results that the number of accredited voters recorded in the result in Form EC8A agrees with the record of accredited voters in the BVAS. So it is the number of accredited voters recorded in the BVAS that the number of accredited voters recorded in the result in Form EC8A must be compared with or verified from, to determine if there was manipulation. A student of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro (FPI), Ogun State, Samuel Adegoke, who committed suicide after losing his school fee and that of his colleague to gambling, has left the father with no choice than to reject his corpse. Information Nigeria had reported that Adegoke, a National Diploma II student of Electrical Electronic Engineering, drank a substance after he lost the money in an online betting game. The act, was committed on Monday, at a time he should be getting set for the first semester examination. After losing his money in the online betting, Adegoke allegedly stole his roommates money by getting his password, but also lost. Having been unable to register for the exam, the student reportedly drank Sniper a few minutes before the exam which started on Monday. According to reports, friends rushed the deceased to the school clinic, from where he was referred to another hospital in Ilaro, where he was later pronounced dead. READ ALSO: Ogun Student Commits Suicide After Losing School Fees To Online Betting Sola Abiala, the FPI Deputy Registrar, who confirmed the incident, saying the polytechnic referred the student to Hossanah Specialist Hospital, but he died shortly after he was admitted. He said Adegokes father told the management that his son also lost his fee to gambling last session but he (his father) saved the situation by making another payment. Abiala further disclosed that the father of the deceased student refused to go home with the corpse. He added that, the father said he would have paid the current fee if he had known that his son diverted it into gambling. When we asked the father to take possession of the corpse, he rejected it, saying he could not take his sons body home. He asked us to bury him, Abiala stated. He explained that the school paid part of the burial expenses and paid the fee for the other student whose fee the diseased used for gambling, so as to avoid another calamity. We dont want him to also commit suicide, he added. Though the student did not leave any suicide note, Abiala said the bottle of the Sniper he drank was found in his room. President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his desire to quickly leave office as he maintained that he could hardly cope with pressure around him in recent times. President Buhari who said he could only cope with the pressure of office, spoke at the commissioning ceremony of the Armed Forces Officers Mess and the last presidential/regimental dinner held in his honour by the Military High Command at new Mess, Asokoro in Abuja. He said, Please, I will like to digress a bit from the prepared speech. I apologise most sincerely for keeping you waiting for at least half an hour. Actually, I can hardly cope with the pressure and Im desperately looking forward to the next six days, before saying good night at about 11pm. Earlier, Buhari charged the military, police, para-military, as well as other security and intelligence services not to relent in working to guarantee complete security in every area of the nation, even as he showed appreciation for the sacrifices they had already made. Please permit me use to this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for their unwavering loyalty, hard work, dedication and selfless service to our beloved nation. READ MORE: My Father Is A Silent Achiever Buharis Daughter Tells Nigerians Im fully aware of all your sacrifices and commitment in tackling the various security challenges and your contributions to the successful elections in our country. The Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa has been exonerated from charges of culpable homicide among others leveled against him by the Kano State government. Recall that the police in Kano charged Mr Doguwa with murder for allegedly killing three people during the 25 February election. It was initially alleged that the lawmaker was involved in a violent confrontation between members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) that led to the killing of three people and the burning of a campaign office of the opposition party in the Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano. READ ALSO: Alleged Murder: Reps Majority Leader, Doguwa Granted N500m Bail, Barred From Kano Election Exonerating him of murder charges on Thursday, May 25, Kanos Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Musa Abdullahi Lawan, said they have no sufficient evidence linking Doguwa to the arson attack that killed some residents of the state. Lawan said, Based on the foregoing facts and observations, we cannot substantiate charges of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire and culpable homicide against Doguwa. We cannot find sufficient evidence to link him with the said offences considering that we are faced with so many inculpatory and exculpatory evidence for and against him. The statements of those that implicated Doguwa were full of contradictions and could not find medical evidence to prove the death of the victims. The law is clear that the allegations that Doguwa killed people cannot be substantiated. However, eight to 12 suspects arrested would be charged with mischief by fire under Section 336 of the Penal Code (as amended). 0utgoing Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday, said the office of Minister of State is an aberration and unconstitutional. According to him, most of his colleagues were redundant in the last eight years but many have not had the courage to speak up. Keyamo read this in his speech at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark the end of the administration. The key player in the ruling All Progressive Congress, seized the valedictory session to thank Buhari for enriching his curriculum vitae through the appointment. Lamenting the situation further, the Minister who revealed that some other Ministers of State, have been grumbling but mum on the issue, said it was difficult to assess the individual performances of the Ministers of State since their discretion was shackled under the senior Ministers. He decried that original ideas developed by a minister of state are usually subjected to clearance by another colleague in Cabinet before they can sail through for consideration by Council. He said: Mr. President, you first appointed me as Minister of State in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in August, 2019 and you later redeployed me as Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. I cannot find the words to express the depth of my gratitude to you for finding me worthy, out of over two hundred million Nigerians, to be nominated and subsequently appointed to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My curriculum vitae has been greatly enhanced forever. READ ALSO: Live Broadcast: We Shall Continue To Educate Them Keyamo Mocks Atiku, Peter Obi From my very humble beginnings in a small dusty town in Delta State where I was born and raised by my struggling parents, all the way to the Council Chambers at the Presidential Villa where I had the honour and privilege to participate weekly in decision-making for my country in the last four years, it has been like a fairy tale. I give God all the glory. What I am about to say, therefore, is not and should not be construed as an indication of ingratitude. Far from it. What I am about to say is just my own little contribution to our constitutional development as a relatively young democracy and to aid future governments to optimize the performance of those they appoint as ministers. Mr. President, the concept or designation of Minister of State is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed. Successive governments have come and gone and many who were appointed as Ministers of State have not spoken out at a forum such as this because of the risk of sounding ungrateful to the presidents who appointed them. However, like I said earlier, this is not ingratitude. As a private citizen, I am on record to have gone to court a number of times to challenge unconstitutional acts of governments for the sake of advancing our constitutional democracy, so it will be out of character for me to have gone through government and be carried away by the pomp of public office and forget my role as a member of the Inner Bar and my self-imposed role over the years as a crusader for democracy and constitutionalism. The two remaining kidnapped students of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, have on Thursday regained freedom from their abductors after 707 days in captivity. The two remaining female students, Faida Sani Kaoje and Safiya Idris were released after intensive negotiations by a special committee set up by their families and wellwishers, with the leadership of the bandits. Dogo Gide, a notorious bandit kingpin, had insisted that the Kebbi State Government must meet some conditions before the remaining girls could be released. Information Nigeria had reported on April 22, that four Yauri female students with two babies were released after huge ransom payments to Dogo Gide. Weeks later, on May 7, three other girls, Elizabeth Ogechi Nwafor, Esther Sunday, and Aliya Abubakar were also freed by their captors. READ ALSO: Osun School Pupils Hospitalised After Inhaling Teargas Fired By Police The release was however effected after a huge ransom was generated by parents and other stakeholders when the Kebbi State Government was reluctant to meet the bandits demands. In a letter addressed to all Nigerians in January 2023, which PRNigeria obtained, the group known as Committee of Parents of 11 Abducted Students of F.G.C Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, Nigeria, passionately solicited financial assistance towards raising the sum of N100 million as ransom to be paid to the terrorists, in exchange for their wards. In their letter, the Chairman and Secretary of the Committee of Parents, Salim Kaoje and Mr. Daniel Alkali, respectively, said their female children (aged between 12-16 years) had been in the custody of their abductors for about 20 months now. And the abductors are demanding the sum of N100 million before they release the girls, they added. The 11 students were kidnapped when bandits invaded their school on 17th June 2021. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has confirmed that plane for Nigeria Air will arrive the country on Friday ahead of commencement of operations. The minister who made this known on Channels Television on Wednesday, promised that the aircraft will be unveiled in Nigerias colours in fulfilment of all the promises made by the administration in the aviation sector. He said the actualisation of the vision was due to the unwavering resolve of the current administration. On Friday, in two days, the Nigeria Air airplane will land in Nigeria, as part of the processes to commence operations, he said. He, however, noted that the only incomplete item is the aerotropolis, which is the airport city and is 60 percent complete. READ MORE: Aviation Workers In Kaduna Shutdown Operations Amid Unpaid Salaries We would, on that day, unveil the aircraft with delivery and everything in Nigeria colours, belonging to Nigeria Air and we will proceed to do the retrofit and bring back those airplanes. So, we have achieved a lot of whats in the roadmap. The only item that is missing on (sic) my table is the aerotropolis. Even that, the groundwork has been done. All the airports (the four of them) are free zones. They are free zones to allow you to come in there and take advantage of what a free zone is. And that of course will enhance and boost the aerotropolis, which is the airport city. Abuja is sitting on 12,000 hectares of land, courtesy of Mr. President and that is why you would see this huge aerotropolis. Sirika had at an aviation stakeholders forum in Abuja in March said that Nigeria Air will commence full operations before the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The minister however, reacted to a question on when exactly Nigeria Air will commence operations, the minister had said, Before the end of this administration, before May 29th, we will fly. He added that the Federal Government is leaving the aviation sector better than it met it having achieved over 90% of the aviation sector road map. Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a member of a dreaded kidnap syndicate, four one-chance robbers and a suspected drug dealer in different parts of the state. Spokesperson of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, May 25, 2023, said one English Berretta, fifteen rounds of AK-47 ammunition, Indian hemp and other illicit drugs were recovered from the suspects. On 24/05/2023 at about 0215hrs, the commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS) SP Omouwuigbe Nosakhare, acting on credible intelligence about a suspect who hibernates somewhere in Warri but a member of a dreaded kidnap syndicate, led operatives of RRS and stormed his criminal hideout in Uvwie LGA of Delta State, where the suspect named Cyril Efe m 25yrs of Ohorhe community was arrested. A search warrant was executed in his premises where one (1) English Berretta pistol and fifteen (15) rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition were recovered. Investigation is ongoing, the statement read. READ ALSO: Suspected Cultists Gang-Rape Pastors Wife To Death In Rivers On 24/5/2023, the Commands Decoy squad led by the commander ASP Julius Robinson embarked on a covert operation. This operation was sequel to a previous complaint lodged by a victim of one chance robbery (name withheld) who was robbed by these syndicate on the 16/5/2023 at about 1900hours, along Benin-Asaba expressway close to Asaba airport, carting away her handbag and other valuables. On 24/5/2023, the operatives armed with technically derived information on the suspects trailed and arrested one Ananias Omachefu Akoji m aged 31yrs of Kogi state but resident at Okwe, Asaba. The suspect led the operatives to Abraka market where the leader of the gang named Chinedu Sunday m aged 33yrs, in whose possession the victims sim card was recovered and he was also arrested. During the course of investigation, the suspect confessed to the crime and took the operatives to their hideout where properties of the victim and other suspected stolen items were recovered. Further investigation led to the arrest of two other suspects who usually buy some of these stolen items from them. They are all in custody, and investigation is ongoing. On 24/5/2023 at about 1000hours, operatives attached to Orerokpe Division, while on intensive stop and search/visibility patrol along Jeddo road, intercepted one Tuji Oyeniwe m aged 38yrs, of small town street Jeddo community with a suspicious looking bag. The suspect was subjected to a search during which weeds suspected to be indian hemp and other hard drugs in large quantities were found in his possession and packaged in a mini rubber cups for sale. The suspect was promptly arrested and taken into custody. Preliminary investigation also revealed that he is suspected to be a notorious drug peddler in Okpe and environs. Effort to arrest his accomplices is ongoing. The Nigerian House of Representatives on Thursday interrogated the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami over claims of an illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil worth over $2.4bn in China. Malami, in company with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice/Solicitor-General of the Federation, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, is appearing before the House Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged loss of Over $2.4 Billion in Revenue from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Export in 2015, including All Crude Oil Exports and Sales by Nigeria from 2014 Till Date. Malami while addressing the committee, revealed his previous statements regarding the allegation and requested the committee provide him with any relevant documents to assist in the investigation. This appearance marks the second time Malami and Jedy-Agba have been brought before the committee since the investigation began. During his first testimony on April 27, 2023, Malami refuted the claim that 48 million barrels of crude oil, worth over $2.4bn, were illegally sold to China. Malami stated, Mr Chairman, let me state on record and for the benefit of Nigerians and the committee, that the allegations relating to the 48 million barrels are baseless. The allegation is unfounded. It is lacking in merit, and indeed lacking in substance. It is in its own right the allegation devoid of any reasonable ground pointing to a material suspicion that is cogent enough to invoke the constitutional oversight of the committee. READ MORE: Malami Slammed With N1bn Lawsuit Over Alleged Abuse Of Office Why do I say so? Sometimes in 2016, allegations were rife and hyped on social media. There were allegations of the existence of stolen 48 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil in China, said to have been valued at $2.4bn. President Muhammadu Buhari informally requested the Attorney-General making reference to my humble person; (the then Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) Mele Kyari; former Director-General, Department of State Services, Lawal Daura; and the late Abba Kyari (the then Chief of Staff to the President) to look into it and advise. But unfortunately, Mr Chairman, for there to be a reasonable ground for suspicion, at least you require certain basic facts. If you are talking about a product, you cannot establish the substance relating thereto without confirming the origin of the purported product in China. If you talk of a product in China, is it of Nigerian origin? That can be established by way of samples and specifications. Is it Bonny Light which you know apparently emanates from Nigeria? The basic detail of the existence of the product and connecting it to Nigeria was not there at all. Abdulrasheed Bawa, chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has got some incoming lawmakers under the anti graft agencys watch list as President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to hand over power in four days. Information Nigeria reports that on Wednesday, the EFFC boss presented to the President a memento of the Commissions performance under his watch at the State House, Abuja. Bawa was appointed by Buhari in February 2021 and was later confirmed by the Senate in the same month. In the 10th National Assembly, multiple members elected February 25 are already entangled in corruption charges under the EFCC, while some are contesting for leadership roles. Gabriel Suswam, a returning Senator from Benue North East district, faces 32 charges by the Federal Government, all tied to his tenure as Governor of Benue State. He is alleged to have diverted N9.79b, including funds earmarked for police reform and a subsidy reinvestment program. Next is Orji Uzor Kalu, a Nigerian politician and businessman who is the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District and currrntly serves as the Chief Whip of the Senate. He served as Governor of Abia State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. Kalu was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2019 for N7.65 billion fraud during his first Senate term. However, the Supreme Court nullified his conviction, ordering a retrial. The anti-graft agency alleged that he stole and mismanaged Abia State funds during his governorship. READ ALSO: Court Threatens To Declare Fani-Kayode Wanted For Forgery Ifeanyi Ubah, Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited and Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, is equally under investigation by the EFCC for allegedly receiving N43.29bn through a petroleum subsidy scheme in 2011. A former interior minister and Senator representing Benue South senatorial zone, Abba Moro, is currently under investigation for alleged fraud connected to a disastrous Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise in 2014, resulting in 20 deaths. Moro is also under watch in a corruption trial over an alleged $2.5 million fraud. Aliyu Wamakko, former governor of Sokoto State, is under investigation by the EFCC over alleged public fund theft and money laundering totaling N15 billion, although, Wamakko denied the allegations. Peter Nwaoboshi, the Delta North representative, was arraigned by the EFCC for alleged N322 million fraud in 2018. Irrespective of his ongoing trial, Nwaoboshi is set to return to the Senate. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday had an open clash with his Deputy, Idris Wase during the plenary of the lower chamber of the National Assembly. It was gathered that Mr Gbajabiamila was said to have overlooked his deputy to endorse Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna State. Since then, the relationship between them has deteriorated. At the close of plenary on Wednesday, Mr Gbajabiamila directed the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa), to include a few items on the agenda for Thursdays plenary, citing a need to close plenary before 2 p.m. in order to attend the commissioning of the permanent site of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). Chairman Business and Rules, lets make the Order Paper light for tomorrow because we have this NILDS commission; it is very important the permanent site of the NILDS. It is at 2:30. So it will be good if we close by 2 p.m, he said. But Mr Wase raised a point of order, questioning the rationale for the House to adjourn to commission a project instead of using the time to conclude the business of the 9th House ahead of the final adjournment of the House. Mr Speaker, I am getting to see this getting so funny, and we have lost quite a number of times. For the commissioning of projects, for Gods sake, why do we have to shelve a lot of activities that we have just to go and witness the commissioning of a project of NILDS? I want to beg, sir that we should do our functions. Those who have the interest to go, they have the right to. But our main primary function is this parliament and making the citizens a priority, he stated. The point of order raised by the deputy speaker caused a back-and-forth between the duo. Perhaps DS (Deputy Speaker), you dont appreciate the importance of NILDS like some of us do. I think NILDS is very important, Mr Gbajabiamila told his deputy. Mr Wase, who was at this point on his feet, interrupted the speaker; I have every information and idea of what NILDS is. READ MORE: Speakership: APC Chose Jibrin, Abbass To Compensate North West Gbajabiamila Mr Gbajabimaila responded, It was set up by this same institution by statute. We are not adjourning the House to go to NILDS. What I said was, lets try and make it light and leave here by two (p.m.). If you want, we can resume by 10 (a.m.). We will do our work, but we will adjourn this House at 2 p.m. I will witness NILDS because it is important to me. Once again, the deputy speaker interrupted, noting that, The parliament is about us, not about I. The speaker was visibly vexed with the open confrontation and said no deputy speaker has ever confronted the speaker in the open since the return of democracy. Mr Deputy Speaker, this is the first time in history I have been in this House for many years, perhaps even longer than anybody here this is the first time in history that a deputy speaker will be challenging what the speaker is saying, he said. Three children of the same parents have reportedly been found dead inside their landlords Toyota RAV4 in the Imota area of Ikorodu, Lagos State. According to Daily Trust, the victims, Uche (3), Marvelous (5) and Lazarus (8), all children of one Mr. Osondu, were said to be playing inside the compound when they entered the SUV and suffocated. A witness said the children were playing with their cousin, identified as Blessing (11), around 11am on Tuesday May 23, inside the compound before they entered the RAV4. READ ALSO: Father Rejects Corpse Of Son Who Killed Self After Loosing School Fee To Gambling He said nobody could tell why Blessing, who was the most senior, did not enter the car and also failed to raise alarm when she discovered that her cousins had been trapped inside the car. Some neighbours said Blessing failed to raise alarm out of fear of being flogged for venturing into the area. It was gathered that a mob descended on the landlord and beat him until he was rescued by policemen. Spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident, said that the Officer in Charge (O/C) Police Family Support Unit (FSU) got a distress call from anonymous callers of a suspected Sudden and Unnatural Death (SUD) by suffocation of under-aged children. He said a patrol team and FSU personnel moved to the scene where they met a crowd that besieged the residence of one Moses in Ikorodu. The father of the deceased children said he was from Izii community in Ebonyi State and a tenant at the aforementioned address. The children were playing with their cousin, one Blessing Hyacinth, a girl of about 11 years, a foster daughter to Mr Osondu, at about 11am inside the landlords RAV4 SUV parked in a fenced and gated compound, the PPRO stated. One of them inadvertently pressed the central lock button of the vehicle and it ended up locking the trio till they got suffocated. The three children were taken to the Ikorodu General Hospital where they were confirmed dead by medics and their corpses deposited at the hospitals mortuary for autopsy in the presence of their father. The landlord was brought to the station for protective custody and the RAV4 SUV was taken to the station for safekeeping too, he added. Meanwhile, Don-prof Kesh, from Ebonyi State, shared a photo of the girl in a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, who he mourned. Controversial Human Right Activist and a strong supporter of Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, has called out President Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in her recent post. Yesufu argued that Tinubu was able to clinch the presidency due to the use of violence and thuggery. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that, barely four days to inauguration, Aisha has decided to storm Twitter with some posts that portraying the incoming President as an incompetent fellow and as a result of this, there is nothing about him because he only thrives on illusion he created. She insisted that despite having decades of experience in the Nigeria political environment, there is still nothing spectacular about the former Lagos governors modus operandi. Yesufu noted that Tinubu was able to win the election because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) refused to field Peter Obi as its presidential candidate. Speaking via a series of tweets, she wrote, Tinubu thrives on illusion he creates. There is nothing in him. People focusing on politics for the first time within 10 months showed him to have nothing spectacular inspite of decades of political experience. READ MORE: Canada, India, Others Send Strong Delegation For Tinubus Inauguration People begged PDP to give them Peter Obi and PDP spat on them. Now you all are out here trying to make Tinubu look like some master planner. Tinubu has no political master plan other than violence and thuggery. Didnt you all tell us nobody can defeat him in Lagos? The thing many of you do not get is that Peter Obi is a beneficiary of the collective anger people had at the established and correct politicians. It was not Peter Obi going to Labour Party that made him popular. It was his consistent character. Drop the conspiracy theories! The Presidency has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari failed to dissolve his cabinet at the last valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday. Information Nigeria reports that there were claims that the President had dissolved his cabinet following the meeting but a cording to Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, the information were all fake news. However, the President instead, directed his ministers to return to their offices and continue work until 29th of May. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who stated on Channels Televisions Politics Today on Wednesday revealed that there is no rule that says the President should dissolve his cabinet after valedictory. It depends on the President. Style is typical to each person, that is the style of the President. He wants them to work till the very last day. We know some Presidents who would dissolve after the last FEC meeting, that is their own style, he stated. Speaking on the massive debts owed, Adesina stated that Buhari gave the nod for last-minute funds a few days away to handover to the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu because the government needs funds to clear debts. A wicked man pays and owes not, that is what the good book says. When you owe and you refuse to pay, the Bible says you are a wicked man. If the government is owing all those debts, why shouldnt it pay? It should pay. The government has a mandate from a time to a certain time, that mandate was from 2019 to 2023, so the government is working, he said. According to the him, the Buhari administration did not fight dissenting voices, adding that it accommodated every shade of opinion. READ ALSO: Buhari Doesnt Need To Go To Niger Republic , Ive Forgiven Him Ortom Critics have the right to their opinion, they can make their own assessment. There are fact sheets published to show that the government worked, and it achieved a lot, he said. Meanwhile, at the FEC meeting the President was quoted by Adesina, as saying, he hopes Daura does not become too distant because I am no longer Mr. President. As he commended cabinet members and other employees, Buhari praised them for working closely with him despite many odds and challenges, and for maintaining the synergy that translated into many achievements. I am proud to say we gave our best, he said. In the cause of our years together, ranging from our newest addition to the oldest members of the team for the past seven and half years, we have differed on many issues. I urge that we understand that those positions were for the collective good, and no one should keep grievances, or carry these differences forward. For those of us that will not directly be in government, I know that I am one of such, I ask that we continue to provide our support, in whatever way we can, if called upon by our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC) that gave us the platform to stand and we must continue to support it in every way we can, he added. I also thank God for the strength and for keeping us together.I look forward to a great many of you, disproving that Daura has not become too distant because I am no longer Mr President. I will also be happy to do the many things that I have not been able to since May 29th, 2015, one of such is my favorite pastime of taking care of my cattle. I wish all of us the best and hope to hear good news whenever any of our names are mentioned. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he stated. Betsy Wyeth in the late 1950s. She created the worlds in which they lived says Maine photographer and Wyeth family friend Peter Ralston, by way of explaining Betsys understated yet enormous impact on her husband, artist Andrew Wyeths legacy. Read more Only two images in the Brandywine Museum of Arts Home Places exhibit of Andrew Wyeths paintings and drawings of local buildings, include a human figure. One of them, 747 (1980) references an airplanes slim, dissipating vapor trail. The woman in the painting, seen from behind, is the artists wife, Betsy. Her left shoulder is thatched with shadows that match her raven-black hair. Wyeth evokes her soft felt hat and the seams of her barn coat. The paintings dominant object is a home its upper story window flung open. The open window is in the couples bedroom. This was not the first time Betsy inspired her husbands art. Within hours of meeting, Betsy James, then 17, drove Andew, 22, to another magnificent house. The three story clapboard belonged to Betsys friends Alvaro Olson and his sister, Christina and looked like a ship run aground. Wyeth stood on the roof of the car and painted a watercolor, demonstrating to his future wife (they married within a year) his affinity for pre-industrial structures. Advertisement Wyeth later rendered Christina Olson from behind, kneeling in a field, leaning toward her home. Christinas World (1948) is perhaps Wyeths most well-known piece. Home Places features drawings and paintings of many houses and is the first organized exhibit of the artists work since Betsy Wyeths death in April 2020. All the buildings, as curated by William L. Coleman, the Brandywine Museums inaugural Wyeth Foundation curator, exist or existed within a radius of just about two square miles, from where they now hang on the gallery walls. By 1958, Betsy and Andrew Wyeth had been married for nearly 20 years, and were living in Chadds Ford, Pa, in a renovated schoolhouse owned by the artists parents. One day, while roaming a property closeby, as her husband sketched, Betsy unearthed a For Sale sign half buried by a recent flood and purchased the place (asking her mother for help with the down payment). According to Wyeth biographer Richard Meryman in his 1993 book, Andrew Wyeth: A Secret Life, Betsy restored Brinton Mill with its gristmill, granary, and a dilapidated millers house. She got the grist mill running with a 16 high water wheel. The landscape was her canvas. The Wyeths began full time occupancy of the property in 1963. Ten works in the Brandywine show a fifth of the exhibition depict this Brinton Mill property, including a study for Noahs Ark and a watercolor study for Battleground. The finished Battleground an egg tempera owned by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. includes a portrait of George Heebner, one of the men Betsy hired to refurbish the old mill. Brinton Mill also appears in two Betsy portraits: The Country (1965) and Outpost (1968). And in his much-loved work, Night Sleeper (1979) featuring the slumbering family dog. Betsy created the worlds in which they lived says Maine photographer and Wyeth family friend Peter Ralston, by way of explaining Betsys understated yet enormous impact on her husbands legacy. In 1979, Betsy Wyeth hired Mary Landa, to assist with her epic documentation efforts for Andrews paintings. The same year, she published The Stray, her novel for children which doesnt find any mention in Betsys obituaries. Published in the year Betsys first and only grandchild was born, and illustrated by her son Jaimie, The Stray is a 13 chapter story a kind of poor mans Wind in the Willows, Ralston describes it. The book recounts a friendship between an animal-like narrator and their animal friend, a stray named Lynch. It begins the day Lynch first arrives to the Ford. Descriptions of Ford are accompanied by a fictional map which bears a strong resemblance to (and can be overlaid) with the map of Chadds Ford visitors can see at The Home Places. Chadds Ford was, as Betsy described from her first encounters, really just a crossroads with Gallaghers General story on the corner and a gas station on the other, Willard Sharplesss blacksmith shop on the thread and a marsh on the fourth. Route 1, now a four-lane highway with a traffic light at the crossroad, she said, was easy to cross on foot any time. From the introduction she wrote to the book, Andrew Wyeth: Close Friends (2001), it mirrored the sleepy quality of The Strays fictive Ford. Betsy led a Brownie scout group; she became an authority on Pennsylvania antiques; she knitted dozens of sweaters, often for her husband. She hunted for yarns the exact blue of her husbands eyes, says Landa, who continues to oversee the Wyeth archives. Betsy also almost always had a menthol cigarette in her hand. Throughout, Betsy Wyeth continued to promote and educate the public about her husbands art. She wrote the text to accompany Christinas World: Paintings and Pre-studies of Andrew Wyeth (1982), co-produced Snow Hill, the 1995 documentary about three generations of the Wyeth family, and worked with an IBM executive in 1987 to facilitate one of the first digital art archives. In 747, Betsy Wyeths back is to the mill, near where she built a studio for her husband. In 1985 this is where he would set out 15 years worth of clandestine paintings of neighbor Helga Testorf. The first Helga painting dates to 1971 when Betsy, potentially unaware, was selecting and editing a crate of 1,200 letters penned by her late father-in-law in preparation for publishing The Wyeths: The Letters of N.C. Wyeth 1901-1945. The same year, a nearby museum opened; Betsy was the energy behind its manifestation. She assured the museums founder George Frolic Weymouth (an artist married to Wyeths niece): You build the buildings and well put pictures in it. Its now known as The Brandywine Museum of Art. Home Places is on view at the Brandywine Museum through July 30. brandywine.org/museum Nardeep Khurmi is the director of 'Land of Gold,' which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022. Read more Back in 2003, filmmaker Nardeep Khurmi was up on stage in Downingtown West High School, playing Ali Hakim, the Persian peddler in his schools production of Oklahoma!, when he paused for a minute. The school had picked the show so he could play a part which, he said, was an honor. But it made him question his place in the industry as an aspiring Indian American actor. It kind of hit me at that moment where I thought, Im so subservient to whats available. And I just was like, No, there are stories I want to tell, Khurmi said. The director-actors years in Downingtown influenced his debut film Land of Gold, which went on to premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming on Max. Advertisement The film tells the story of an unlikely father-daughter-like relationship between a Punjabi American truck driver Kiran Singh (Khurmi) and a young undocumented Mexican girl Elena (Caroline Valencia), as they journey to Boston and confront generational traumas together. The relationship, as Khurmi illustrates, may remind audiences of Joel and Ellie in HBOs The Last of Us but it takes place in the every day reality of living as an other in America. The Last of Us had zombies we have cultural oppression, Khurmi joked. Khurmis parents grew up in Punjab, India moved to Switzerland in 1985, where he was born. His fathers pharmaceutical job led them across the Atlantic to the U.S., landing in New Jersey in 1990 and then later establishing roots in Downingtown during the blizzard of 96. Growing up in the white suburbs of Philly without a South Asian community, Khurmi remembers being one of very few brown kids in the Chester County borough. As a kid, he decided that if he could make people laugh then they wouldnt bully him he would be the funny guy who excelled in the arts, not the Indian kid with weird, smelly food. And it worked. Khurmi played trombone in the school band where he found a community of lifelong friends. Being a part of band and choir led him to take the first steps into his acting and filmmaking career. It wasnt until he saw the works of filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan that Khurmi thought Oh. There is a path... Our journeys kind of parallel each other because were brown kids from the woods of Pennsylvania who went to NYU to make films, he said. The armor he created for himself as the class clown in Downingtown is something Khurmi wanted to explore with Kiran. You start judging yourself and you start judging this rich culture you come from simply to survive and just live, he said. Not being an active member of the Sikh community and hiding himself behind hats and clothes and things like that hes [Kiran] built an armor. Khurmi has dedicated his work to spotlighting the hyphen in his identity, one of an immigrant growing up in the boonies who hid his culture but embraced it through storytelling. Theres a line in the film where Elena asks Kiran about God, and why would God do bad things. And Kiran says, You have the choice of how you respond to things, said Khurmi. I think as people of color growing up in America, we often have to make that choice on a daily basis. When Land of Gold played at the 2022 Philadelphia Film Festival, his high school teachers and classmates came out to support his debut, along with the South Asian community. I had to fight my parents to be able to do that and convince them that this was worth it. Its only I think recently that they were like, Okay, we dont have to worry its on HBO now. The next hurdle is to go win an Oscar like Daniel Kwan, he laughed. Land of Gold, directed by and starring Nardeep Khurmi, is available for streaming on Max. Marigold, one of the four capybaras at the Cape May County Zoo, eating bamboo leaves for a midday treat. Read more When the baby capybaras at the Cape May County Zoo were born in February 2022, the two siblings were no bigger than good-sized sweet potatoes. Now the 1-year-old sisters, Buttercup and Marigold, are as big as their 8-year-old mother, Budette, and are the stars of the zoos capybara encounter and exhibit. For $400 for a group of four, and $75 for each additional person, capybara enthusiasts can enter the exhibit for a 20 to 30 minute up close visit with the worlds largest rodents. But no, you cant pet them. Though capybaras have a reputation online for being chill and unbothered, theyre still wild animals, and get skittish when approached by humans. But you can, accompanied by one of the zoos educators, bring bamboo treats to the four capybaras Buttercup, Marigold, their mom, and their older sister, Capychino. When armed with a sheath of bamboo fronds, the capybaras, making low-pitched chirping noises, will amble right up to guests to demand a snack. You get a chance to admire these creatures up close imagine a gentle guinea pig the size of a golden retriever, with giant, ratlike front teeth. A lot of people come here solely for the capys, said Bailey Wolf, 23, an educational zookeeper who also leads the zoos encounters with camels, sloths, and giraffes. Theyre like giant potatoes. How do you not love a potato? Capybaras are semiaquatic, so they spend much of their time sunbathing or relaxing in the enclosures pond. Thereabouts, you can also spot red-eared sliders, an invasive New Jersey turtle species that wandered into the exhibit of their own accord. Turtles really enjoy eating the capy poop, Wolf explained. A small group of children gathered, cackling, to watch the turtles feast in the pond. The zoo introduced the encounters during COVID-19, and the capybara one is open seasonally, depending on the weather, from April to October. After that, it gets too cold for the capybaras to be out. Their indoor facility boasts a heated floor and a warm water pool. Its like a jacuzzi in there, Wolf said. The encounters run once a day, in the mornings, and are booked well in advance. If capybaras arent your thing, Wolf recommends the camel encounter, which runs at $240 for four people, and $35 per additional person. Camels sound boring, she said, but the two under their care, Walter and Marty, are rambunctious companions. Theyre like giant dogs, she said. They have big personalities. Even if you cant make an encounter, or $400 sounds like too high a price tag for a brief rodent hangout session, you can still visit the capybaras outside their enclosure all summer. The Cape May County Zoo has free admission, and a host of other animals to gawp at, including a new baby wombat and a baby lemur. Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland (left) and Councilmember Stafan Roots (right), rivals in the Chester Democratic mayoralty primary, are in accord at a council meeting last month honoring a group of Chester young people. Read more Voters in bankrupt Chester overwhelmingly affirmed that come January they want a sea change in how Pennsylvanias oldest city is governed. On Wednesday, state officials argued in Pennsylvania Supreme Court that the citizenry would be better served by not waiting. We still have six, seven months working with this administration, Tiffany Allen, counsel to the state receiver who has taken the city into bankruptcy, said during a hearing in Harrisburg marked by frequently pointed questioning from the justices. We cannot wait. Citing intransigence and obstructionism by Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland and his administration, in a perhaps unprecedented decision Commonwealth Court gave Michael Doweary the receiver appointed to help the city resolve a spiraling financial crisis the authority to strip key powers from the five members of City Council, which includes the mayor. READ MORE: Chester's bankruptcy was 70 years in the making Advertisement The ruling was stayed when the city appealed to the high court. I think everyone understands the challenges facing the City of Chester, city attorney Mark Pfeiffer argued. Removing the elected officials only takes their self-government away from them. Earlier in the day, after announcing that the citys regular council meeting was canceled because three members were absent, Kirkland suggested that he planned to remain active for the rest of his term, which would expire in January. Theres a lot to be done, he said, and well get it done. READ MORE: A Commonwealth Court judge called the city government 'dysfunctional' On May 16, Kirkland was defeated in the Democratic primary by first-term Councilmember Stefan Roots, by a nearly 2-1 ratio. In effect, that was the general election. No Republican was on the ballot, and Kirkland said he had no plans to run for office again. In appealing the Commonwealth Court order, the city held that it was protecting the will of the voters who had put Kirkland and other Council members in office. Kirkland holds that he inherited, not caused, Chesters problems, noting the city has been in state distressed status since 1995. The receiver countered that Chester officials have been judicially determined to be incapable of governing and have intentionally obstructed the receivers efforts. Under the Commonwealth Court order, Council members, including Will Morgan, the director of finance, would lose their department-head powers. Morgan lost more than $400,000 in a phishing scam, and the receiver wasnt informed about it for three months. Within a month of learning about it, Doweary filed for bankruptcy. Other incidents it cited included several months of payments made to an incarcerated employee, later convicted of child rape, and botched federal tax payments that led to a $750,000 penalty. However, the major driver of a deficit that approaches 80% of the annual city budget has been several years of missed pension payments. Kirkland has said he was unaware that the payments werent being made. READ MORE: The city lost $400,000 in a phishing scam In its Supreme Court filing, the receivers office said it was seeking to create a baseline level of professional management required for the basic functioning of the city. Allen said the problem was the Kirkland administration: Its still there. It was not known when the court might render a decision. Cosmo DiNardo, seen here in 2017, is serving four consecutive life sentences in state prison. Read more The families of four teens killed by Cosmo DiNardo in 2017 have settled their wrongful-death lawsuits against him and his parents. Terms of the settlements, reached earlier this month in lawsuits filed in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia, are confidential, court records show. DiNardo, 26, remains in custody at the state correctional facility at Phoenix, serving four consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty in 2018 to killing Mark Sturgis, Thomas C. Meo, Dean A. Finocchiaro, and Jimi Patrick on a farm his parents owned in Solebury Township. The lawsuits, filed by the victims families, contended that DiNardos parents, Sandra and Antonio DiNardo, should have barred him from accessing guns, ATVs and construction equipment because of his earlier erratic behavior and commitment to mental-health institutions. One of the plaintiffs lawyers, in announcing the the filing of the lawsuits in 2018, said DiNardos parents supplied him with a playland for illegal acts. Advertisement READ MORE: From 2018: "Murder victims' families sue Cosmo DiNardo's parents, saying they gave him a 'playland for illegal acts'" In July 2017, DiNardo lured the teens to the farm under the guise of selling them marijuana. He shot and killed three of the victims, and his cousin, Sean Kratz, killed the fourth. DiNardo then tried to burn the bodies in a pig roaster, then used a backhoe to dig graves and bury the corpses on his parents sprawling farm. When the boys disappeared, investigators searched for them for days in a determined hunt that drew national and international media attention. State and federal investigators scoured the region and finally focused in on the remote Solebury property, where they used shovels, metal detectors, cadaver dogs, and excavators before DiNardo in a bid to avoid the death penalty eventually disclosed the location of the bodies. In the lawsuits, lawyers for the victims families said DiNardos parents should have known of his propensity for violence and aberrant behavior. A year before the murders, DiNardo was arrested for carrying a shotgun around his Bensalem neighborhood and had been barred from the campuses of his high school and college for his disruptive behavior, according to court filings. The DiNardo familys lawyer, Jeffrey Ogren, declined to comment Thursday, citing the confidentiality of the settlement. Tom Kline, who represented the Finocchiaro family, said the end of the lawsuit brings a measure of closure to the Finocchiaro and all of families impacted this tragedy, which sadly and tragically resulted in so much suffering and loss. Attorneys for the Sturgis, Meo, and Patrick families did not immediately return requests for comment. READ MORE: Violent Deaths, Shattered Lives: Remembering the Solebury Township victims a year later In a crime that shocked the region, Patrick was killed first DiNardo shot him with a .22-caliber rifle. Two days later, DiNardo and Kratz drove Finocchiaro to the farm, where Kratz shot him in the head with a handgun owned by DiNardos mother. Kratz was convicted of first-degree murder, and is serving a life sentence in state prison. The final two victims, Sturgis and Meo, were killed days later. DiNardo fatally shot Sturgis and shot and wounded Meo before crushing him with a backhoe owned by his parents. DiNardo then tried to burn the bodies and used the backhoe to bury the corpses on the farm. Anthony Vitelli was caught in the crossfire of two rival teens as he walked down a street in Norristown in October, police said. Read more A Norristown teen was charged with murder Thursday for killing a bystander while shooting at a neighborhood rival in October, prosecutors said. Damien Wilson, 19, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in North Philadelphia after being on the run since that shooting. Wilson has been charged with first- and third-degree murder and related crimes in the death of Anthony Vitelli, 47, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. The evidence indicates this was an attempted retaliatory killing that instead killed an innocent man, Steele said Thursday. We are working to interrupt this cycle of violence in Norristown and elsewhere in Montgomery County to make our communities safe from these senseless killings by young men with guns. On the day of the Vitellis death, Wilson was targeting another teen, who prosecutors said was a friend of a teen who shot Wilson in the leg months earlier. Advertisement Seeking revenge, Wilson approached his intended target on Hall Street in Norristown as Vitelli was walking by, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Wilsons arrest. Wilson opened fire at the other teen, who dove out of the way and returned fire. In the crossfire, Wilson struck Vitelli once in the chest, authorities said. Police rushed Vitelli to Paoli Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Vitellis wife, Alyson, said Thursday that he was renting an apartment near the shooting, and was preparing to move to Florida just days later to join her and their 9-year-old daughter. The couple wouldve celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in July. He was a great husband and a wonderful father, she said. This was all over a senseless act of violence. It couldve been avoided. Vitellis sister, Andrea, said news of the arrest was a relief. But nothing, she said, can truly bring back her brother. Detectives eventually learned the identity of Wilsons intended target, who in turn helped them identify Wilson, the affidavit said. They then obtained a search warrant for Wilsons cellphone and uncovered text messages between him and his ex-girlfriend in which they discussed the murder, and she encouraged him to lie low as police searched for him, the document said. Wilson remained in custody Thursday, denied bail. There was no indication he had hired an attorney. Daniel Rohloff is escorted into a courtroom in the Montgomery County Courthouse. He was convicted Wednesday of attempted murder for causing what prosecutors called catastrophic injuries to his newborn son. Read more A Bridgeport man was convicted Wednesday of attempted murder for causing what prosecutors described as catastrophic injuries to his newborn son. Daniel Rohloff, 35, was also found guilty of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and related crimes after a two-day bench trial before Montgomery County Court Judge Thomas P. Rogers. In July 2021, prosecutors say, Rohloff and his fiancee took their 8-week-old baby to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where doctors found that he had severe injuries to multiple organ systems, rib fractures both new and healing as well as bruising and lacerations to his liver. Those injuries were likely deliberate, doctors said, the result of someone shaking, squeezing, and hitting the child. Advertisement READ MORE: Montgomery County man is charged with attempted murder in the beating of his 2-month-old son Investigators later discovered that there were surveillance cameras in the home installed by Rohloff, and uncovered footage of Rohloff carrying his son into a bedroom before covering the cameras lens with a cloth. Immediately afterward, they said, the child could be heard wailing. Detectives also learned that the countys Office of Children and Youth had assigned a caseworker to the family after Rohloff had exhibited strange, erratic behavior while the childs mother was in labor. He was barred from the hospital, they said, and was not present for his sons birth. County officials created a safety plan for the family that prevented Rohloff from being alone with the child. But prosecutors presented evidence that he was frequently the babys sole caretaker and could have inflicted the injuries doctors later observed. Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ringwood said Rohloff, an admitted methamphetamine user, didnt believe the child was his, and saw the boy as the source of his lifes problems. He was the only person in that house who had a motive to see harm done to that child, Ringwood said. He had a desire, above all else, to use meth, and this child was the source of all this sudden attention on him. Rohloffs lawyer, Frank Genovese, disputed this. He said that although it was clear the boy had been abused, the prosecution was relying purely on circumstantial evidence to link his client to those injuries. The critical inquiry of this case lies in regard to reasonable doubt, Genovese said. And I think the evidence falls woefully short of a specific intent to kill. Rohloff, for his part, vehemently denied abusing his son and said the boy brought joy to him and his fiancee. He said he had covered the bedroom cameras because he had been looking for narcotics he had stashed in the room. Ringwood, in her closing argument Tuesday afternoon, pointed to what she described as Rohloffs unstable behavior in the days before the infants injuries to cast doubt on his testimony. Hours before Rohloff and his fiancee brought their son to CHOP, she said, the couple had an argument, after which the childs mother fled the home and confided in friends that she wanted to get a protection-from-abuse order against him. In an attempt to have her return to the home, Ringwood said, Rohloff texted her, saying the baby was having a seizure. He later admitted that was a lie, according to Ringwood. He doesnt care about the childs physical condition, she said. Hes using him to manipulate people to get his way. In delivering his verdict, Rogers, the judge, said he did not find Rohloffs testimony credible. Rohloff was taken into custody afterward. He will be sentenced in the coming days. Another Folcroft fire official has been charged in relation to a child endangerment investigation. Read more A Delaware County fire chief was charged with obstructing an investigation into child abuse Tuesday, according to court documents. The Delaware County District Attorneys Office charged Thomas Weber Sr., chief of the Folcroft Fire Department, with endangering the welfare of children in addition to the obstruction charge. The charges come after another department official, Folcroft Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Thomas Bateman, was charged late last year with a handful of sex crimes. Investigators alleged that the 28-year-old Bateman sexually assaulted a 15-year-old member of the departments junior firefighter division multiple times inside the firehouse last summer. The District Attorneys Office could not be reached for comment on the latest charges, and it is not clear whether the investigation into Weber is related to Batemans charges. In January, though, law enforcement sources told CBS3 they were actively investigating other leaders within the Folcroft Fire Department who may have known about the alleged abuse and failed to report it. Advertisement Webers attorney also did not respond to a request for comment. Folcroft Borough officials released a statement Wednesday saying that the mayor and council members would refrain from commenting on Webers charges. Those individuals entrusted to serve and protect our community are under a constant duty to protect children, including the prevention, deterrence, and reporting of suspected child abuse, the statement said. Silence in the face of child abuse has no place in Folcroft Borough and will not be tolerated from mandated reporters employed by the Borough. CBS3 first reported in December that Bateman and another high-ranking Folcroft fire official were suspended after Bateman was accused of assaulting the junior firefighter. In CBS January coverage of Batemans court appearance, an attorney for the underaged victim said the assaults could have been avoided with proper oversight and reporting procedures within the department. Bateman pleaded not guilty and awaits trial. Webers bail was set at $200,000. Aerial photograph of New Jersey's Horseshoe Island in June 2021, looking northwest towards Little Beach Island, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Read more New Jersey has once again closed off what it has dubbed Horseshoe Island, a curl of sand roughly the shape of its name off Brigantine that officials say provides thousands of birds with an undisturbed habitat but has been used by boaters in the past. The island, formed from a sandbar, or shoal, is about 100 acres, complete with lagoon. The state Department of Environmental Protection this week reminded the public that it was restricting access to the island through Sept. 30, saying it has become one of the most critically important areas for birds in the state of New Jersey, including many species that are endangered, threatened, or are species of special concern. Officials moved to close it for the first time last year just before Memorial Day weekend, angering boaters who had flocked to the island to sunbathe, swim, and picnic. Advertisement READ MORE: A new island emerges at the Jersey Shore, and boaters are angry its been closed to protect birds The yearly closure is the result of a state Tideland Resource Council vote in 2022 to assign management rights of Horseshoe Island to NJDEP Fish and Wildlife, including restricting public use annually from March 1 to Sept. 30 for five years. This seasonal restriction on Horseshoe Island provides thousands of birds with an unparalleled opportunity to utilize a disturbance-free inlet island for nesting, migrating, and roosting, the DEP said in a statement. In this instance, providing undisturbed habitat has paid big dividends for avian species including red knot, piping plover, black skimmer, least tern, common tern, and American oystercatchers, which the New Jersey Wildlife Action Plan identifies as focal species of greatest conservation need. The island is about 1,200 feet offshore, just south of Little Egg Inlet off whats known as Little Beach Island near Brigantine. So far, its survived years of storms, unlike some sandbars that disappear or reduce in size. Sandbars are nothing new at the Jersey Shore coming and going with the tides, and ever shifting their shapes. But Horseshoe Island is different, officials have said, because of its size, location near protected areas, and apparent staying power. Though it seems counterintuitive, the wide open island with little vegetation provides prime habitat where birds can lay eggs in the sand that serves as camouflage. The island formed in an area thats part of both Little Egg and Brigantine Inlets in Atlantic County. The area includes more than 100 miles of inlets. Little Egg Inlet is within the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its also adjacent to other state and federal wildlife management areas or preserves. The region harbors Endangered Species Act-listed bird species native to New Jersey including piping plover, red knot, black rail, and roseate tern, as well as numerous state endangered and threatened species including black skimmer and least tern. Biologists first confirmed in May 2021 that shorebirds and waterbirds were using Horseshoe Island for breeding. However, boaters have complained that the island is really nothing more than a sandbar thats been around in one shape or another since at least 2013. They objected to its closure, calling that decision excessive, given that the area is already surrounded by tens of thousands of off-limits acres. Boaters say they cleaned up after themselves and respected the areas with posted signs around bird habitat areas. On weekends before the ban, 20 to 30 watercraft might be anchored on the island. On holidays, there were more. Ken Johnston, Philadelphia's "Walking Artist," speaks with Delores Jackson Foster at the Storer College campus in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., on May 17. Johnston walked from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg, visiting sites of significance to Black Americans. Jackson Foster, 85, grew up playing on the campus because her mother was a cook there. Read more If Harpers Ferry is the starting point for a walk commemorating the Black freedom struggle in the United States, one might assume the intent was to call attention to abolitionist John Browns infamous raid on the U.S. military arsenal there in 1859. But you would be wrong. Ken Johnston, the Philadelphia walking artist who completed a walk to Canada last year following Underground Railroad routes used to help enslaved people escape to freedom, said his current walk just completed Wednesday from Harpers Ferry, W.Va. to Gettysburg, Pa., wasnt focused on John Brown. Last September, Johnston walked to St. Catharines, Ontario, in Canada, where Harriet Tubman once lived, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Tubmans birth. Advertisement That walk was the completion of a walk he had begun in December 2019 from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Philadelphia. He later walked from Philadelphia to New York. And in July 2022, he set out to walk the last 450-mile stretch from Harlem to Canada. Once he reached Canada, Johnston said, one of his hosts there drove him to where W.E.B. Du Bois and the other men who were part of the Niagara Movement held their first meeting on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls in 1905. The Niagara Movement leaders met to create an organization to demand civil and political rights for Black people, and it was a forerunner of the NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. What inspired me to go to Harpers Ferry [this year] is that in Canada, someone told me that the second Niagara Movement meeting was held at Storer College, a traditionally Black college in Harpers Ferry, Johnston said. That second Niagara Movement meeting, at Storer College in 1906, was the first held on American soil. We claim for ourselves every single right that belongs to a freeborn American, political, civil and social, DuBois said while speaking at the 1906 Niagara Movement meeting at Storer College. Records show the Niagara Movement members chose Storer because of its historic significance as the site of Browns anti-slavery raid in 1859 and because the school had been founded with a mission to educate people of all races, including formerly enslaved people. The college was shuttered in 1955, one year after the Brown v. Board of Education decision that ruled segregated schools were unconstitutional. Johnston, 62, who lives in Cobbs Creek in West Philadelphia, said he got a ride to Harpers Ferry last Tuesday, where he met with 85-year-old Delores Jackson Foster. She grew up playing on the Storer College campus because her mother had been a cook there. The most recent walk, named We Still Here, after a mural featuring Philadelphia poet Ursula Rucker, was intended to tell the stories of Black struggle south of the Mason-Dixon line. He said people in this region often gave support to freedom seekers, or those escaping enslavement, even though there may not have been an organized Underground Railroad system. After spending some time at Storer, he began the approximately 80-mile walk from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg last Thursday. Along the way, he stopped on Sunday, for the Maryland Iron Festival hosted by the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society not far from Frederick. The furnace, which opened as early as 1775, was ready to operate in time to produce cannon balls for George Washington in the Revolutionary War. The site was significant for Black people because about 271 enslaved Black Americans made up the bulk of its workforce in its early years, until the furnace owner decided he could save more money by hiring recent European immigrants, Johnston said. The furnace owner did not have to feed and clothe the new immigrants. Johnston said the walk from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg, where he arrived about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday was the fourth walk hes conducted to seek to tell the stories of Black peoples struggle for civil and political rights. The hills and valleys bordering South-Central Pennsylvania ... resonate with the untold hidden stories of Black life past and present. Ken Johnston During my walk, I discovered the hills and valleys bordering South-Central Pennsylvania and Western Maryland, above and below the Mason-Dixon line, continue to resonate with the untold hidden stories of Black life past and present, he said late Tuesday. From Frederick Johnston said he walked, following the path of the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, to Hagerstown, Md., which had a reputation for being particularly hard for enslaved people. In Hagerstown, he visited the Doleman Black Heritage Museum. Hagerstown was a noted regional market for the sale of enslaved people, and a Mecca for slave catchers due to the close proximity to Pennsylvania and freedom to the north via the C and O Canal, according to the Washington County (Md.) public library. The Doleman Black Heritage Museum is currently located inside a public building. However, the museum recently began a $23 million campaign to repair a building it has purchased as its future home. When he arrived in Gettysburg Wednesday morning, Johnston said he felt conflicted by the history there. I want to pay homage to all the young men who died here, and yet I am unhappy with some of the history that followed the end of the [Civil] War, the end of slavery and the countrys embrace of Jim Crow and segregation, he said. As he walked south of the Mason-Dixon line, Johnston said he has not come across people who want to ban or ignore the history of Black Americans. The whole idea of book banning and shutting down history is not what I was discovering in communities like Harpers Ferry, Frederick, and Hagerstown, he said. They are embracing the Black history and giving those communities the opportunity to tell their stories. Demonstrators gather outside Cup Foods to celebrate the murder conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd in 2021 in Minneapolis. Read more MINNEAPOLIS The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the fervent protests that erupted around the world in response, looked to many observers like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. For more than nine minutes, a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of Floyd, a Black man, who gasped, I cant breathe, echoing Eric Garners last words in 2014. Video footage of Floyds May 25, 2020, murder was so agonizing to watch that demands for change came from across the country. But in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, economic uncertainty, and a divisive U.S. presidential election, 2020 ended without the kind of major police reforms that many hoped, and others feared, would come. Then, 2021 and 2022 also failed to yield much progress. READ MORE: Im a protester getting part of the $9 million settlement. Its not enough. Advertisement Now, three years since Floyds murder, proponents of federal actions such as banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and changing the so-called qualified immunity protections for law enforcement still await signs of change. When people casually, and I think too frequently, say that there is some sort of racial reckoning that were in the midst of, I see no evidence of that, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) said during a recent news conference convened by a Black Lives Matter collective. To be clear, racial justice activists and their champions in elected office havent slowed down. But the beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long its taking to achieve meaningful change. I dont play with words like reckoning, Pressley said. That needs to be something of epic proportion. And we certainly have not seen a response to the lynching, the choking, the brutality, [and] the murder of Black lives. Since 2020, what has happened in Minneapolis? Soon after Floyds murder, Minneapolis adopted a number of changes, including bans on chokeholds and neck restraints, and requirements that police try to stop fellow officers from using improper force. Minnesota lawmakers approved statewide police accountability packages in 2020 and in 2021, as well as tight restrictions on no-knock warrants just this month. The city is still awaiting the results of a federal investigation into whether its police have engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. A similar investigation by the state Department of Human Rights led to what it called a court-enforceable settlement agreement in March to revamp policing in the city. The federal investigation could lead to a similar but separate agreement with the city called a consent decree. Police in several other cities already operate under such oversight for civil rights violations. We are shifting the culture of our police department to ensure that our officers strengthen and hold the trust of our entire community. This work has been ongoing for the past few years and will continue for years to come, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement Thursday. Strengthening our community-police trust will take time. We know its not enough to just put pen to paper and write a new policy the culture shift will only be real when it is truly seen and felt by the community. Activists say that Minneapolis has started to make critical changes, but that the work necessary to transform policing must continue. There were also immediate cries to defund the police and instead fund public housing, infrastructure, and mental health services. But a ballot measure that had roots in that movement failed, even in some heavily Black neighborhoods. An AP review of police funding found that some municipalities elsewhere made modest cuts that fell far short of activists calls. Whats happening in Minneapolis this week? To mark the anniversary, Minneapolis activists scheduled a candlelight vigil Thursday night at George Floyd Square, the corner where Floyd died. A festival at the square Saturday will celebrate change in Minneapolis. Gov. Tim Walz declared Thursday George Floyd Remembrance Day in Minnesota. In his proclamation, he said: True justice for George Floyd will come only through real, systemic change to prevent acts like this from happening again. We must continue to do everything in our power to come together to deconstruct and undo generations of systemic racism in our state. What happened to the officers? Derek Chauvin, the white officer who killed Floyd, and the three other officers who failed to stop Chauvin at the scene are all in prison. Chauvin was sentenced in state court to 22 years for second-degree murder. Two of the three other officers pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter and received shorter terms, while the third officer was convicted of that count by a judge and awaits sentencing. Chauvin also pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge, admitting that keeping his knee on Floyds neck resulted in his death. In that case, he received a concurrent sentence of 21 years. The three others were also convicted of violating Floyds rights and got much shorter sentences. What happened after protests? Around the world, protests against racial violence and police brutality erupted after Floyds murder, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement. Videos circulated on social media of U.S. police using tear gas and less-lethal munitions like rubber bullets, which fueled calls for accountability. That accountability so far has largely come in the form of civil settlements. New York City found 146 officers had committed misconduct at protests involving excessive force and violence, including one officer who drove a car into protesters. Independent reviews in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles also found those departments had mishandled their responses. In some cities, a handful of officers were fired. Some faced criminal charges: In Austin, Texas, 19 officers were indicted by a grand jury. But few have been convicted. Minneapolis has agreed to millions of dollars in settlements with people who alleged they were victims of excessive police force during unrest that followed Floyds killing, which included the burning of a police station. But few officers faced disciplinary action. Whats happening on the federal level? In 2020, the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, a piece of federal legislation, showed some signs of promise. It would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, like the one that enabled Louisville police to kill Breonna Taylor. It would also create a database listing officers who were disciplined for gross misconduct, among other measures. The following year, the House passed it but the Senate failed to reach a consensus. Last year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that applied key elements of the bill to federal law enforcement. On Thursday, Biden he renewed his call for Congress to act in order to bring real and lasting change at the state and local levels. I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it, he said in a statement. I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for police accountability in Congress, and I remain willing to work with Republicans and Democrats alike on genuine solutions. Pressley, the Massachusetts congresswoman, has been promoting the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, a measure she has reintroduced every year since 2020. What about the Floyd family? Over the last three years, George Floyds family members have appeared at rallies and spoken out against police violence. Within days of his brothers death, Philonise Floyd testified at a congressional hearing about police reform. While relatives and reform advocates urged for legislation changes, George Floyds youngest daughter, Gianna Floyd, met Biden at the White House in 2021. A photo of a Marine holding the door for the 7-year-old went viral. New York City-based Terrence Floyd, who became an activist after his brothers murder, planned to hold the third annual memorial event at a Harlem church on Thursday evening. He has supported get-out-the-vote efforts and promoted music paying tribute to his brother. You have to have the faith that it will happen, because it didnt happen overnight for Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. It didnt happen overnight for Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, he said about meaningful social change. You cant expect it to happen overnight for us, but it will happen. Looking northwest at the 350-unit apartment building proposed for 40th and Market Streets in University City. Read more The University City apartment boom is set to continue with an L-shaped, 350-unit building at 40th and Market Streets. The developer, Quaker Lane Capital, wants to bring a high-rise to the transit-accessible intersection that is walkable to many major institutions. The 12-story buildings entrance will be on Market Street, with a 53-space underground parking garage opening on Filbert Street, and an amenity space on 40th Street. The precise street address is 4011-19 Market St. and 18 N. 40th St., which speaks to its block-straddling configuration that brings the project closer to the rowhouse neighborhood to its north. At the corner of 40th and Filbert Streets, the project was carefully designed to match the materials of Powelton Village with brick masonry materials, plantings, and low-impact safety lighting, reads a PowerPoint presentation by the architects, CUBE 3. The intersection, especially to the west of 40th, is currently dominated by one-to-two story discount retail, fast-food stores, and public services providers. On that strip of Market, this is the first large development that weve seen, said Pam Andrews, chair of the West Powelton RCO, a community group that is negotiating with the developer. That area has been blighted for a long, long, long time. Advertisement To the east of 40th Street is the affordable senior high-rise University Square Apartments and the University City Townhomes, which have been the site of a contested plan to close and sell the existing affordable units for market-rate development. Quaker Lane Capital is a certified minority business based in Philadelphia, although as a relatively young company most of their completed projects are in Massachusetts. About a fifth of the units will be earmarked for workforce housing, a designation that often ranges between 80% to 120% of area median income, which is $105,400 for a family of four. Details on that aspect of the project are still being worked out. The project is targeted toward professionals in the community, and highly focused toward having a portion of the units as workforce-accessible housing, said Puja Suneja Peruto, one of the principals with Quaker Lane. The new building will be aimed at professionals, including those with small families, who work at nearby educational and medical institutions. The units will be a mix of studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Peruto emphasized that the project is not meant to be targeted as shared student living, as there is already an abundance of that kind of housing in the area. We view three bedrooms as more what you see in student housing so we didnt include that in the mix, said Peruto. There will be 2,835 square feet of commercial space next to the buildings entrance on Market Street, with 1,350 square feet of back-of-house space behind it. The space is marked as a coffee shop in the renderings, although no decisions have been made for a use yet. Currently, the existing two-story beige building on Market Street is home to a well-used day-care center, Brightside Academy. The architects at CUBE 3 say the new buildings brick base will echo the nearby rowhouse neighborhoods. A distinct masonry base connects the building to the surrounding buildings and provides more public uses at the ground level, the PowerPoint reads. Residential units above the retail create a vertical tower using blocks reminiscent of historical residential buildings [in] Philadelphia. The project will go before Philadelphias advisory Civic Design Review on June 6. No other approvals are needed. The company anticipates being under construction in 12 to 24 months. Quaker Lanes project comes in the midst of a transformation of University City, which for decades saw little new development. But over the last 15 years, home prices have soared in neighborhoods such as Powelton Village, Spruce Hill, and Cedar Park, and long-vacant sites have begun filling in. Closer to the universities, huge student apartment towers are on the rise. Along major thoroughfares such as Market and Chestnut Streets, meanwhile, sun-blasted parking lots and other auto-oriented uses have been sold for redevelopment. The intersection of 40th and Market, with its proximity to the University of Pennsylvania and the Market-Frankford Line, has similarly attracted developer attention due to its abundance of low-rise buildings including the fraught case of the University City Townhomes. Andrews said that some members of her neighborhood group are uncomfortable with the amount of change, but that Quaker Lane had been more open to engaging with the community than most other developers. It will change the demographics of the area, and there are people in the community who have been here for decades, and theyre sad to see it, Andrews said. Were trying to work creatively with the developer to get the best possible results for the community. Im feeling encouraged with them. A federal appellate court has revived a lawsuit from a Temple University professor who sued the U.S. government six years ago after he was falsely accused of being an economic spy for China. In an opinion Wednesday, a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed a lower court decision dismissing claims from Xiaoxing Xi, 66, that the FBI had violated his constitutionally protected rights during an investigation that accused him of stealing schematics for a sophisticated piece of equipment known as a pocket heater. That probe abruptly fell apart within months of Xis indictment after his attorneys proved the government had fundamentally misunderstood the technology at the heart of the case. Though Xi sued the FBI in 2017, alleging investigators had knowingly ignored evidence that proved his innocence, a lower court judge dismissed the case, citing legal protections shielding government employees from many types of civil suits. Advertisement In their 37-page ruling Wednesday, the Third Circuit judges disagreed with that decision. They maintained that while those protections give investigators wide latitude to conduct their work without second guessing by the courts, it did not give them free rein to investigate, search, and prosecute people without probable cause. Writing for the panel, Circuit Judge Cheryl Ann Krause concluded the professor had laid out several concrete claims that agents had willfully ignored or recklessly disregarded evidence that would have cleared Xi of suspicion. Still, she stressed that the court was basing its decision solely on Xis allegations ones that he will have to back up with evidence should his case go to trial. She was joined in the decision by Circuit Judges Marjorie Rendell and Stephanos Bibas. We are pleased that the court has affirmed the basic principle of justice: that no government agent has the discretion to violate the Constitution, said David Rudovsky, a Philadelphia civil rights lawyer who is representing Xi along with the ACLU. We are heartened by the fact that Professor Xi can seek damages for the reckless misconduct that caused so much pain and suffering for his family. In his suit, Xi a naturalized U.S. citizen and world-renowned expert in the field of superconductivity contends that well before he was indicted on wire fraud charges, experts informed FBI Special Agent Andrew Haugen, a counterintelligence investigator who led the probe, that he had misinterpreted the technology at the heart of the charges. The inventor of the pocket heater, whose schematics Xi was accused of stealing, told investigators the device was not as revolutionary as they believed and that the blueprints Xi had shared with China were for a different device entirely. As for Xis e-mails with colleagues in China, Rudovsky insisted they werent nefarious and likened them to the type of international collaboration among academics that goes on every day. He has alleged through Xis lawsuit that Haugen willfully ignored those facts in order to secure an indictment. The government maintains the evidence of Xis innocence wasnt so cut-and-dried during the investigation, that Haugen made honest mistakes and that prosecutors have already acknowledged them by dropping the charges. Either way, the consequences for Xi were as swift as they were severe. Armed agents arrested him in front of his family during a 2015 raid at his Penn Valley home. Two days before he was charged, Xi has said he was offered the opportunity to lead Temples physics department. By the time the charges were dropped and he was permitted to return to campus, the position had been filled by a colleague. (University officials have disputed that plans for Xis chairmanship were ever concrete.) Even today, the professor maintains his physics research at Temple has been affected by his brush with the justice system. He once led a bustling lab filled with assistants and funded by multiple government grants. Now, Xi said he only has one other person working with him and has limited himself to one government grant at a time out of concern that his work might draw federal scrutiny again. Xi also alleged in his suit that the FBIs case was driven by ethnic bias part of a series of Justice Department cases targeting Chinese-born scientists in the U.S. that critics have likened to red scares of the Cold War. But in its ruling Wednesday, the Third Circuit agreed with the lower court that dismissed that part of his suit, finding that Xi had failed to specifically detail those allegations. Xi does not allege that Haugen harbored personal animus against the Chinese, Krause wrote, adding later that the mere possibility that Haugen may also have had a discriminatory motive is insufficient. The case will now return to district court for further proceedings on Xis constitutional claims. U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick has not yet set a date for a hearing. Still, Xi said Wednesday that he viewed the Third Circuits ruling as a victory for him. This is the first step in a long path to some semblance of justice for me, my family and the broader community of Chinese scientists and scientists of Chinese descent who have been falsely accused of spying because of where we were born, he said. Photographer Rodney Atienza was photographed in the Chinatown section of Phila., Pa. on Thurs. May 18, 2023. Read more The suns out again, with highs in the low 70s. Todays lead story highlights the efforts of a Philadelphia photojournalist to captivate the rich history of Chinatown. If you see this in todays newsletter, that means were highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories. Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If youve ever attended a protest or march in Philly, you may have been right next to him without realizing it. Rodney Atienza is often stealthily running around with his camera shutter clicking from different angles, recording life in living color. Advertisement Thats particularly true in Chinatown, which Atienza has been documenting since the late 1990s, his lens conveying often unseen stories about the historic neighborhood. In his own words: Its more than a place where you go eat. Its more than restaurants. Theres a vibrant community behind it that people dont know about, and we need to bring that to the forefront. Atienza first moved to Philly from Virginia in 1995 to volunteer with Project HOME, and soon after met award-winning photographer Harvey Finkle, whose career has focused on covering social justice issues and movements. I was like, Thats what I want to do, Atienza said. Keep reading about Atienzas dedication to capture the chronicles of Chinatown. The Masonic Temple may seem ominous at first glance. But its actually open to the public. The landmark in Center City turns 150 this year. It attracts about 11,000 visitors and hosts about 125 weddings, corporate gatherings, and other non-Masonic events annually. Its not a secret, forbidden place, library and museum director Michael G. Comfort said. Its a meeting hall, an event venue, and an educational facility with books, artifacts, documents, and artwork. Behind the design: Architect James Hamilton Windrim, a Mason, was at the helm. It cost $1.6 million (about $40 million in todays dollars) to complete the five-story, 97,000-square-foot Romanesque-style structure showcasing Masonic culture and history. Inside the building: Seven enormous and meticulously maintained meeting halls, each with a distinctive theme such as Egyptian, Renaissance, and Gothic, were designed by George Herzog, also a Mason. These spaces are regularly used for Masonic gatherings as well by visitors who snap selfies against opulent backdrops. It was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Learn about the temples storied history and its challenges for the future, plus how you can attend a free anniversary tour. What you should know today Trivia time The lineup at next weekends Roots Picnic at the Mann Center in Fairmount Park has been shaken up. Whos replacing Diddy as a headliner? A) Drake B) Usher C) Beyonce D) Kendrick Lamar Find out if you know the answer. What were... Brainstorming: Names for the twin sloth bear cubs born this week at the Philadelphia Zoo. Dreading: Netflixs incoming crackdown on password sharing. Rummaging: What remains of Penn Christmas a.k.a. the trash apocalypse. Unscramble the anagram Hint: This YouTube star from Ventnor has surfed all 50 states but loves New Jersey best. AVG BERNY Think you got it? Email us if you know the answer. Well give a shout-out to a reader at random who answers correctly. Cheers to Judy Pidgeon who guessed Wednesdays answer: American Gladiators. Photo of the day Turn on some Tina Turner and have yourself a lovely Friday Jr. Were almost there. We encourage drivers to always expect the unexpected and know ahead of time what they should do which is slow down and brake but avoid swerving so as not to endanger yourself and other drivers. It's far less dangerous to keep driving and damage your car than swerve to avoid it and collide with another vehicle or tree, Dwight said. The IB team invited brokers from across Australia to rate the performance of nine insurers they have dealt with in the past 12 months. For each of the 11 categories, the brokers ranked the insurers in order of merit according to an average score calculated from a tally of their ratings. GLOBALink | Meeting endangered animals by China's Yangtze River Pub Date:23-05-25 09:22 Source:Xinhua Have you ever seen the "giant panda of the water?" Follow Xinhua to find out the reason behind the expanding population of some endangered species in central China's Hubei. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Zheng Chen Related News G7 must stop splitting the world into two ... Spate of anti-China bills reveal US legisl... FM urges Netherlands to oppose decoupling US a practitioner of economic coercion Financial results For year ending March 31, 2023, the PHI industry reported a decrease in net profit after tax of 19.6% to $1.6 billion. Gross and net margins also dropped compared to the previous year. New directors of the IBC board Mered has over 29 years of experience in the insurance industry. He joined Zurich in 2008 and has been CEO for Canada since 2018. He was previously the regional CEO in the Middle East and Africa and the group chief claims officer. He also spent time with AIG at the beginning of his career, holding various underwriting leadership and general management roles in the US, Europe and Egypt. We are pleased to partner with Argo and believe the collaboration will expand support for both Argo and Trisura stakeholders, said Sekine. For Trisuras North American surety platform, we are excited to continue negotiations to finalize terms to access Argos licensed and Treasury Listed paper in all US jurisdictions and assess co-surety and shared surety opportunities together. The strategic partnership will advance both of our businesses across North America. We are excited to welcome Josh to NFP and our aviation practice, Schott said. Given the current challenges in the aviation market, it is more important than ever to ensure our clients have access to the expertise required to navigate the myriad exposures they face. Joshs energized approach to serving clients and his understanding of various elements of the aviation market, including insurance carriers and brokerage, make him a great fit to lead our aviation practice. We can now take a bunch of records and data, feed it through software and it will pick out relevant key words and other information an underwriter should be aware of, such as if a company uses a certain chemical that may be contentious. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) Firefighting foam used in battling a fatal fire in an apartment building entered the public water system, prompting the water district to order thousands of residents not to drink the water. The do-not-drink order went into effect Monday for about 9,000 Kennebec Water District customers in Waterville, Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Vassalboro. Testing was being conducted Tuesday to determine whether the water is safe to drink. While the extent of the contamination is unclear, out of an abundance of caution, Kennebec Water District is issuing a system-wide Do Not Drink Order, the water district announced Monday. Firefighting foam entered the public water distribution system as firefighters battled a blaze in an apartment building for seniors. One person was killed and several others were injured Monday. Water samples that were taken Tuesday morning were being delivered to a lab in southern Maine for analysis. Officials hoped to be able to provide an update by days end. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Maine New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of a new admissions policy at an elite public high school in Virginia that critics say discriminates against highly qualified Asian Americans. The 2-1 ruling from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond overturns a ruling last year from a federal judge who found that the Fairfax County School Board engaged in impermissible racial balancing when it overhauled the admissions policy at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The school frequently is cited among the best in the nation, and parents jockey and prepare for years to get their children admitted. But for decades Black and Hispanic students have been woefully underrepresented, while Asian Americans made up more than 70% of the student body. In 2020, the school board significantly revamped the admissions process, scrapping a standardized test that had been a linchpin in favor of a system that set aside equal numbers of Thomas Jefferson slots at each of the countys middle schools, among other changes. The process does not take race into account. It does give weight in favor of applicants who are economically disadvantaged or still learning English. The first freshman class admitted under the new rules saw a significantly different racial makeup. Black students increased from 1% to 7%; Hispanic representation increased from 3% to 11%. Asian American representation decreased from 73% to 54%. Critics of the new policy say it discriminates against Asian American applicants who would have been granted admission if academic merit were the sole criteria, and that efforts to increase Black and Hispanic representation necessarily come at the expense of Asian Americans. But Tuesdays majority opinion from Judge Robert King said the school board had a legitimate interest in increasing diversity at the school, and twisting those efforts to call it discrimination against Asian Americans simply runs counter to common sense. A concurring opinion from Judge Toby Heytens went even further. He said the school boards new policy is race-neutral on its face, just as courts have required. Having spent decades telling school officials they must consider race neutral methods for ensuring a diverse student body before turning to race-conscious ones, it would be quite the judicial bait-and-switch to say such race-neutral efforts are also presumptively unconstitutional, he wrote. Judge Allison Jones Rushing dissented. The Policy reduced offers of enrollment to Asian students at TJ by 26% while increasing enrollment of every other racial group. This was no accident. The Board intended to alter the racial composition of the school in exactly this way, she wrote. Rushing said the policy is neutral on its face but the debate that surrounded its implementation reflected a clear desire for racial balancing. She criticized her colleagues for refusing to look past the Policys neutral varnish. King and Heytens were appointed by Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, respectively. Rushing was appointed by Republican Donald Trump. Tuesdays ruling comes as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs a pivotal case challenging whether Harvard University and the University of North Carolina should be allowed to take race into account in their admissions policies. Pacific Legal Foundation which filed the lawsuit on behalf of a group of current, former and prospective TJ parents said it will seek to have its case heard by the Supreme Court. Discrimination against students based on their race is wrong and violates the Constitutions guarantee of equal protection, said foundation attorney Erin Wilcox. John Foster, an attorney for the school board, praised the ruling. The court reached the correct decision, and we firmly believe this admission plan is fair and gives qualified applicants at every middle school a fair chance of a seat at TJ, he said. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics K-12 Virginia Education Italys Generali confirmed all its 2024 business plan targets on Thursday after first quarter profits rose on a strong non-life performance which more than offsetting weakness in the insurers life business. Generali reported net outflows of 190 million euros ($209 million) in its life business, compared to inflows of 3.7 billion euros in the same period last year, as attractive yields on Italian government bonds prompted customers to switch to BTP bonds, its finance head Cristiano Borean told a press briefing. Borean said this was particularly true of affluent customers and high-net-worth individuals who bought insurance products in bank branches and approached them as an investment. We saw this trend already in the last quarter of 2022, and it continued in the first quarter of 2023, but the banking channel accounts for less than 10% of the groups total life reserves, Borean said. Preliminary numbers for April and May showed an improving trend in Italy, Generali General Manager Marco Sesana told an analyst call. The Bank of Italys latest Financial Stability Report last week said that redemptions in the life insurance sector amounted to 85% of premiums at the end of March, compared with 53% as of the end of December. For insurers relying on banks and financial advisers for distribution, redemptions were 119% of premiums. Overall Generalis life segment proved resilient, with operating profit growing 1% year-on-year in the first quarter. The groups adjusted net profit came in at 1.23 billion euros, up 49.7% year-on-year, while its operating profit, most closely watched by the market, grew 22.1% to 1.82 billion euros. Generali said it has started reporting adjusted net profit to better reflect the underlying business dynamic. Borean said Generali maintained a solid capital position with a solvency ratio of 227% at the end of March from 221% at the end of 2022. It rose to 228% as of May 19. ($1 = 0.9084 euros) (Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; editing by Federico Maccioni, Shailesh Kuber, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Alexander Smith) Topics Trends Profit Loss This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Cowbell Cyber and Allianz Commercial. A summary of these new hires follows here. Cowbell Names CNAs Bilbao as UK Director of Underwriting Cowbell, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based provider of cyber insurance for small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), announced it is bolstering its underwriting capabilities with new additions to its UK and US teams. Claud Bilbao joins as UK director of underwriting, reporting to Simon Hughes, general manager for UK operations. most recently served as a senior underwriter at CNA, responsible for running the London Specialty Cyber and Technology portfolios on both their company and Lloyds platforms. He played a vital role in the successful development and execution of CNAs London strategy. Bilbao was previously a US technology and cyber underwriter at CFC Underwriting, where he was focused on US West Coast and Silicon Valley technology startups and SMEs. This new hire follows Cowbells recent opening of a new technology center in Pune, India, and announcement of Simon Hughes as general manager to lead the UK operations. Cowbells continuous underwriting platform, powered by Cowbell Factors, compresses the insurance process from submission to issue in less than five minutes. Cowbell is backed by 20 prominent leading global re/insurance partners and serves SMEs in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 2019, Cowbell has employees across the U.S., Canada, India, and the U.K. *** Allianz Commercial Promotes Execs in Iberia, Latin America Allianz Commercial has announced managing directors to lead its business in two key regions: Iberia and Latin America. Agustin de la Cuerda was appointed as commercial managing director for Iberia, and David Colmenares Spence was named commercial managing director for Latin America. Each managing director will represent the integrated Allianz Commercial insurance business across all countries in their region and bring to the market Allianzs full set of solutions for specialty clients, large corporates and mid-sized companies, simplifying and enhancing the experience of clients and distribution partners. de la Cuerda has had many years of leadership and technical insurance experience across Iberia and Latin America, including as chief operating officer of Allianz Seguros (Spain) and Allianz Portugal, and since 2021 as deputy general manager and commercial chief underwriting officer (CUO) at Allianz Seguros (Spain). He will oversee Allianz Commercials business across Spain and Portugal, reporting to Veit Stutz, CEO of Allianz Spain, in conjunction with Henning Haagen, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS) board member and chief regions & markets officer whose responsibility includes this region. David Colmenares Spence has been CEO of Allianz Colombia since 2017, prior to which he worked as chief claims officer and chief executive officer in insurance companies such as AIG, ACE (Chubb), Zurich and brokers including Marsh in Latin America and Asia Pacific. He will continue as CEO of Allianz Colombia until further notice, pending the confirmation of his successor. Allianz services clients across Latin America through its businesses in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico and for multinational insurance programs through network partners in other countries. Colmenares will oversee Allianz Commercials business across this region, reporting to Javier Bernat, CEO Allianz Latin America in conjunction with Tracy Ryan, board member of AGCS and chief regions & markets officer for the Americas. Allianz announced on March 10, 2023 that it will serve the global commercial insurance segment as one go-to-market business, using the new trading name of Allianz Commercial, combining its AGCS business serving large corporate and specialty clients together with the insurance businesses of Allianzs operating entities serving mid-sized country-based accounts. These appointments and responsibilities are with immediate effect, subject to regulatory approval where required. Topics Commercial Lines Underwriting CHICAGO (AP) More than 450 Catholic clergy in Illinois sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950, the states attorney general found in an investigation released Tuesday, revealing that the problem was far worse than the church had let on. Attorney General Kwame Raoul said at a news conference that investigators found that 451 Catholic clergy abused 1,997 children in Illinois between 1950 and 2019, though he acknowledged that the statute of limitations has expired in many cases and that those abusers will never see justice in a legal sense. It is my hope that this report will shine light both on those who violated their positions of power and trust to abuse innocent children, and on the men in church leadership who covered up that abuse, Raoul said, crediting the accusers for making the review possible. These perpetrators may never be held accountable in a court of law, but by naming them here, the intention is to provide a public accountability and a measure of healing to survivors who have long suffered in silence. The review began in 2018 under Raouls predecessor, Lisa Madigan, who released a blistering report as she prepared to leave office. Raoul continued the investigation, and he said Tuesday that 25 staff members reviewed more than 100, 000 pages of diocesan documents and engaged in more than 600 confidential interactions with contacts. The lengthy report describes Illinois church leaders as woefully slow to acknowledge the extent of the abuse. It also accuses them of frequently dragging their feet to confront accused clergy and of failing to warn parishioners about possible abusers in their midst, sometimes even decades after allegations emerged. In a joint statement issued Friday ahead of Raouls announcement, the states Catholic dioceses said the attorney generals investigation prompted a yearslong review of their policies and unspecified changes. Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, on Monday called abuse repugnant but said the church in 1992 began overhauling its policies and programs and cooperated fully with the states review. My hope is that the release of this report will be an occasion for the attorney general to issue a rallying cry to all adults to join in the work of safeguarding children, lest this moment be a lost opportunity, Cupich said. I stand ready to continue to do my part. Much of the report is dedicated to individual accounts of sexual abuse and lists of clergy and religious brothers in each diocese accused of child sexual abuse. Some of those named have become infamous due to criminal proceedings or lawsuits, including Father Daniel McCormack, who was the subject of more than 100 abuse claims in the decades before his 2006 arrest for abusing five boys in Chicago. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison. Even after McCormicks first arrest in 2005 for sexual abuse, the Chicago archdiocese did not remove him from the ministry since those charges were dropped for a lack of evidence, the report says. An archdiocese review board recommended McCormicks removal that year, but then-Cardinal Francis George declined. According to the report, the mother of one of McCormicks victims later said: If Cardinal George (had) done the right thing, these other boys would not have been molested. (Instead), he just opened the door for (McCormack) to take advantage of other Black children. Many of the accounts contained in the report have remained private for decades. It includes the account of Bob Corcoran, who reported that Father Thomas Considine, who was a teacher at a high school in Elgin, repeatedly sexually abused Corcoran in the 1970s. Considine was removed from ministry in 1980 for undetermined reasons and died in 1988, the report states. Corcoran told state investigators that he reported the abuse to the Rockford diocese in 2011 and that the church eventually determined his claims couldnt be proven or disproven. He asked that Raouls office include his name in its final report and said the documents release provided a sense of relief. To see the light at the end of the tunnel, and there is no longer a freight train racing towards me, is freeing, Corcoran said in a statement released by his attorneys. We all need to do our part in bringing resolution to the most vulnerable children like you and me. In a statement released Tuesday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests called the report stunning but emphasized that the numbers of victims and abusers cited by Raoul are likely undercounted. The group also called on state and local officials to conduct similar reviews. There is no questioning the facts of the report until 2018 when the investigation began, hierarchs in every Illinois diocese kept known abusers under wraps, declined to include them on their accused lists, and refused to acknowledge the truth that survivors of abuse who came forward to make a report shared with them, the group said. Similar government-led investigations detailing reports of clergy sexual abuse and church leaders failure to hold perpetrators accountable have rocked archdioceses in other states, including Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Catholic Conference of Illinois says 3.5 million Catholics make up approximately 27% of Illinois total population, and that the Church maintains 949 parishes and has 2,215 priests, 1,372 deacons, and 260 religious brothers. Accusers and activists for years have complained that abusers belonging to orders have often been able to avoid the scrutiny other clergy received because of their semi-autonomy from archdioceses. The new report, however, officially names some former clergy tied to such orders. Among those listed is Bruce Wellems, a former priest with the Claretians missionaries assigned for years to Hispanic neighborhoods in Chicago. His accuser says Wellems sexually abused him more than a dozen times starting in 1973 when they were neighbors in New Mexico. The accuser was in the second grade and Wellems was in high school. Wellems admitted in a 2014 interview with The Associated Press that he had inappropriately touched the boy, but he said he never again abused a child. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Illinois Church Kenneth O. Lester Company, Inc., doing business as PFG Customized Distribution Indiana, will pay $709,971 in monetary relief and furnish significant equitable relief to settle a federal sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. According to the EEOCs lawsuit, from at least 2018, PFG Customized Distribution refused to hire female job applicants for order selector positions because of their sex at its Kendallville, Indiana warehouse. The EEOC further charged that hiring officials, other management and supervisory employees, human resources personnel, and recruiters expressly stated sex-based criteria for the order-selector position, including making statements to female applicants that the company prefers to hire men as order selectors. The EEOC also asserted that the company discriminatorily assigned females to the small-wares section of the warehouse, where they had less earning potential. Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits using sex-based criteria in employment. The EEOC filed the lawsuit (EEOC v. Kenneth O. Lester Company, Inc. d/b/a PFG Customized Distribution Indiana, Case No. 1:22-cv-329-HAB) in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana after first attempting to reach a voluntary pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The three-year consent decree settling the lawsuit provides $650,000 in monetary relief to the class of female applicants who were not hired, $39,971 to the female applicant who filed the underlying EEOC charge, and $20,000 to a class of females who were subjected to work assignments based on their sex. The consent decree also enjoins PFG Customized Distribution from failing to hire women to order selector positions because of their sex, from making work assignments based on sex, and from engaging in retaliation in the future. In addition, the company will implement equitable relief, including giving hiring preference to qualified female applicants who were denied order selector positions; revising its hiring policies and procedures; and conducting equal employment opportunity training. PFG will be subject to ongoing reporting and monitoring procedures to ensure that the company complies with the law in the future. Topics Lawsuits Indiana New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A top U.S. regulator said on Tuesday there is no way to police all cryptocurrency fraud because there is so much, though her agency is working on several big cases. Christy Goldsmith Romero, one of five commissioners at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said cryptocurrency cases account for about 20% of the agencys portfolio, including recent civil cases against the exchanges Binance and FTX. Theres just a lot of fraud in the space, Goldsmith Romero said at a white collar crime conference at the New York City Bar Association. Theres just no way we can police all the fraud, but weve got to do something. CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam has sought greater authority from lawmakers for the agency to oversee spot crypto markets. Goldsmith Romero pushed back on the idea there was a turf war between the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission over regulating crypto, but acknowledged that many of the industrys products are new and the agencies were still trying to figure it out. She also said crypto companies should not view the CFTC as a potentially friendlier regulator than the deeper-pocketed SEC. I dont like the idea that somehow the CFTC is light touch, Goldsmith Romero said. Light touch regulator would never be written on my tombstone. In March, the CFTC sued Binance and Changpeng Zhao, its founder and CEO, for allegedly operating a sham compliance program. Zhao has called the complaint an incomplete recitation of facts. The CFTC case against now-bankrupt FTX accuses the exchange and founder Sam Bankman-Fried of causing the loss of more than $8 billion in customer deposits. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to related criminal charges from the U.S. Department of Justice. Topics Fraud Law Enforcement OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma lawmakers on Tuesday signed off on a $1.05 million settlement with the family of a state prison inmate who died of appendicitis in 2018 despite five visits to the prisons medical staff in the week before his death. Attorneys for Joshua Englands family say the 21-year-old citizen of the Choctaw Nation reported severe abdominal pain and classic appendicitis symptoms that worsened during his five separate visits with medical clinic staff in May 2018. Englands mother, Christina Smith, filed a federal lawsuit against prison officials in 2019, alleging that medical staff at the Joseph Harp Correctional Center in Lexington, Oklahoma, also falsified records after his death. Despite rapid weight loss and worsening symptoms, England was given acid reflux medicine and a laxative but was never given a proper abdominal exam or sent to a nearby medical facility for a surgical evaluation, the lawsuit alleges. England was to be released in a few months, and he died alone in agonizing pain on the concrete floor of his cellblock, caused by an entirely treatable and preventable condition, Smiths attorneys said in a statement on Tuesday. Kay Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, declined to comment on the case, citing the pending litigation. In response to the lawsuit, attorneys for the state claimed the defendants were acting within the scope of their employment and were therefore improper parties to the claim. England had been sentenced to 343 days in prison after convictions in 2017 on multiple charges, including taking oil field equipment, fourth-degree arson, contributing to the delinquency of minors and conspiracy, prison records show. England and another man, along with a juvenile, damaged oil field equipment and set some hay bales on fire after a night of drinking, court records show. If the state of Oklahoma is intent on locking up so many of its citizens for nonviolent offenses, the state needs to devote far more resources and attention to its correctional system to fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide basic medical care for people in its custody, Smiths attorneys said. The Oklahoma Senate approved a resolution on Tuesday authorizing the settlement agreement. That measure now heads to the House for final approval. Such approval is required under state law for any litigation settlement expenditures of more than $250,000. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Oklahoma CONROE, Texas (AP) Two people were killed and several others were hurt Tuesday afternoon when a home that was under construction collapsed as strong storms hit north of Houston in the Conroe area. A home under construction in the Ladera Creek area fell sometime after 3 p.m., news outlets reported. Two workers were killed and seven injured victims were taken to a hospital, according to Conroe Assistant Fire Chief Mike Legoudes. The conditions of the injured workers werent known. Conroe Fire Chief Ken Kreger stopped short of saying that the collapse was caused by the storms, but said that his department got the call just after the storms passed. The series of storms prompted warnings in the area of incoming tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Storm damage was also reported north of Conroe in Huntsville. More than 18,000 customers were without power as of Tuesday evening in Montgomery County, where Conroe is located, as well as in neighboring Walker County, where Huntsville is located, according to Poweroutage.us. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Windstorm New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Greasy, toxin-laden wastewater discharges by a Mississippi animal feed maker were not accidents and thus are not covered by a Crum & Foster pollution policy, a federal appeals court decided this week in a case that stemmed from an investigation that led to guilty pleas by two company officials. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on May 22 upheld a lower courts 2022 ruling in Gold Coast Commodities Inc. vs. Crum & Forster Specialty Insurance Co. Gold Coast, which made feed and fertilizer from recovered restaurant cooking oil and animal fat, asked the federal district court to declare that Crum & Forster had a duty to defend the firm in a lawsuit brought by the city of Brandon. The district court and the appeals court declined, noting emphatically that Mississippi law, like statutes in most states, requires defense of a third-party complaint only when the complaint contains allegations covered by the language of the policy. The pollution liability policy covered only accidents, not the intentional, surreptitious, and repeated dumping of the oily mess alleged by the state and local authorities. Facially-speaking, Gold Coasts alleged wrongdoings clearly sound intentional, not accidental, the 5th Circuit panel wrote in the opinion. Gold Coasts attorneys had tried to argue that the key word in the citys complaint was negligence, which arguably means the discharges were accidental in nature. We arent convinced, the judges wrote. Drive-by or conclusory uses of the word negligence dont transform the character of the factual allegations of intentional misconduct. The highly publicized dumping case began in 2017, and reads a little like a crime novel. The city of Brandon, an affluent suburb of Jackson, told the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality that it suspected that Gold Coast was secretly discharging the oily, low-pH, untreated wastewater into public sewers. The DEQ and the city began investigating. Brandon crews collected samples of sewage downstream from the feed plant and found that the water was much hotter and more acidic with high levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury, the court opinion explained. The city filed suit, charging that the discharge from Gold Coast was so corrosive that the city had to spend significant funds repairing its sewer system. In August 2022, the owner of Gold Coast pleaded guilty to illegally dumping industrial waste into the Jackson sewer system. A month later, the president and the plant manager were indicted on the same charges, according to news reports and the U.S. attorneys office. An employee at an industrial services firm also pleaded guilty to assisting Gold Coast in disposing of the toxic waste. Circuit Judged Andrew Oldham dissented from the majority in the Crum & Forster opinion. He argued that the city of Brandons complaint was ambiguous and did not allege an intentional act. But, he said, Crum does not have duty to defend because the tortious conduct began before the insurance policys effective date. The coverage dispute was not the first for Crum & Forster over oil products in recent months. In April of this year, two Crum subsidiaries asked a federal court in Massachusetts to declare that they have no duty to defend or cover a heating oil company over its delivery of oil that contained biodiesel. The incompatible oil allegedly damaged customers heating systems and set off class-action lawsuits. The Crum companies argued that class actions fall outside the primary and umbrella policies and that the oil company knew the risks of mixing the fuels. The insurers said the policies excluded expected or intentional actions that caused damage and excluded damage from erroneous delivery of liquids. Topics Pollution Mississippi New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Attorneys for a group of workers who believe their jobs cleaning up a massive coal ash spill in Tennessee led to a slew of illnesses, including fatal cancers, have reached a settlement with the contractor who organized the cleanup for the Tennessee Valley Authority, according to a notice posted on the Jacobs Engineering website on Tuesday. Beginning in 2013, more than 200 workers sued Jacobs, claiming the companys supervisors misled them about the dangers of the ash, failed to provide them with protective gear like respirators, and tampered with the air monitoring equipment meant to keep the workers safe. In 2018, a Knoxville jury took only a few hours to decide that Jacobs had breached its duty of safety, exposing workers to airborne fly ash with known carcinogens. The jurors said Jacobs actions were capable of making the workers sick. The key question of whether they caused each workers specific illness was left for a different jury in a second phase of the federal civil trial. That second phase never came. The judge at the time recognized that the workers still had a long road ahead with the lawsuit and ordered the two sides to try mediation, alluding to many of the workers urgent need for medical care. Mediation, however, was not successful, and the suit dragged on as Jacobs continued to file appeals, repeatedly trying to get the case thrown out. Twice, the company asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to find that it is immune from being sued because it was acting on behalf of the Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal agency. The court ruled against Jacobs both times, most recently last year. Jacobs also brought a claim that most of the workers cases should be dismissed because they failed to file doctors reports concluding that the ash exposure was a substantial contributing factor to their illnesses. The requirement is part of the Tennessee Silica Claims Priorities Act, which the workers attorneys argued did not apply to them. The act specifically refers to silica, which is just one component of coal ash. The Tennessee Supreme Court heard arguments last year and has yet to rule. While the workers suit against Jacobs faced repeated delays, dozens of plaintiffs died. They include people like Tommy Johnson, who arrived at the Tennessee Valley Authoritys Kingston Fossil Plant just hours after the Dec. 22, 2008, spill, and got to work. He labored long hours, driving a fuel truck in the coal ash sludge with few or no days off for months at a time. As the sludge slowly dried over the yearslong course of the cleanup, it turned into a fine dust that had to be constantly watered down but still filled the air, especially on windy days. Johnson developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and told The Associated Press in a 2019 interview that he would regularly pass out because he could not get enough oxygen. When he was working in the ash, my doctor told me to that I needed to wear a mask, and they wouldnt let us wear a mask, he said. They told us we didnt need them. Johnson collapsed at church on April 30, and he died last week on May 18, his wife of 26 years, Betty Johnson, said Tuesday. She described her husband as a loving, happy man who cared for people. The couple had planned to travel around the world together but had to cancel those plans because Tommy Johnson became too sick, she said. Speaking of Jacobs and the Tennessee Valley Authority, Betty Johnson said they should be ashamed. Jacobs has always maintained that it handled the cleanup in a safe way and was not at fault for the workers illnesses. TVA has not commented on the personal injury cases other than to say Jacobs was responsible for worker safety. The agency has stressed that coal ash is classified as nonhazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency. Duke University geochemist Avner Vengosh, who is not involved in the litigation, tested ash from the Kingston spill and found high levels of radioactivity and toxic metals, including arsenic and mercury. In a statement about his 2009 peer- reviewed study, he warned that inhaling airborne particles could have a severe health impact on local residents or workers. But the workers said Jacobs safety supervisors told them you could eat a pound of it a day and it wouldnt hurt you. The agreed settlement has not yet been filed with the courts. A notice on the Jacobs website says only to avoid further litigation, the parties chose to enter into an agreement to resolve the cases. The terms of this settlement are confidential. Top photo: A memorial near the Kingston Fossil Plant. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Contractors Tennessee New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A Mississippi woman has pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal houses that were mortgaged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, federal prosecutors said. Ella Martin, 69, of Jayess, pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. District Judge David Bramlette in Natchez to a violation of a federal statute that criminalizes conspiracies against the laws of the United States, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Mississippi said in a news release Monday. Court documents show Martin conspired with others to identify and steal USDA- mortgaged properties that were processed through the Office of USDA Rural Development in Brookhaven. The agency helps low-income, rural residents buy or rent safe, affordable housing, prosecutors said. As an employee, Martin had access to a list of abandoned, foreclosed, nearly- foreclosed or similarly distressed properties and created fraudulent warranty deeds designed to convey ownership of those properties, records show. The deeds included forged signatures from former homeowners, including at least one person who was deceased, and the fake deeds were filed in chancery courts throughout the state with the intent to deprive the actual owners of the use and benefit of the properties and to deprive the federal government of the properties actual value, the news release said. Sentencing is set for Sept. 19. She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Co-defendants in the case, Barry Martin and Fiesta Kagler, pleaded guilty last year and are scheduled for sentencing on June 15. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Mississippi New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Former South Carolina injury attorney Alex Murdaugh, convicted in March of murdering his wife and son, has been indicted on 22 federal counts of defrauding clients, laundering money, and diverting insurance proceeds into his personal account. Murdaugh set up a fake bank account in the name of a corporation that he presented as a structured insurance settlement program. He funneled personal injury settlements through the account but used the money for personal gain, the indictment and the U.S. Attorneys office said Wednesday. Also, he conspired with another attorney to defraud his housekeepers family out of life insurance proceeds after her suspicious death in a fall at Murdaughs home in 2018. Murdaugh recommended that the housekeepers estate hire the attorney, Cory Fleming, to represent them and file a claim against Murdaugh to collect from his homeowners insurance policies. Murdaughs insurance companies settled the estates claim for $505,000 and $3,800,000. The indictment alleges that Murdaugh and Fleming then conspired to siphon the funds, disguised as prosecution expenses, for their own personal enrichment. Fleming, a longtime friend and Murdaughs college roommate, pleaded guilty this week to fraud charges in connection with the scheme, according to prosecutors and court records. Fleming now faces a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, the U.S. Attorney said. In another part of the scheme, the grand jury found that from 2011 to 2021, Murdaugh conspired with his banker, Russell Laffitte, to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Murdaugh and his law firm asked Laffitte to serve as conservator for a number of clients, and Laffitte collected more than $350,000 in fees. As part of the scheme, the law firm made settlement checks payable to Palmetto State Bank. The checks were then delivered to Laffitte, who then paid off Murdaughs personal loans and used the money for Murdaughs personal expenses and cash withdrawals. Laffitte was convicted in November of fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, for his role in this scheme. He is currently awaiting sentencing. Photo: Murdaugh, center, and his attorneys at sentencing in March. (AP) Christopher Phelps, 40, of Yucaipa, and his wife, Kimberly Phelps, 40, were sentenced this week after pleading no contest to felony counts of insurance fraud, child abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. The sentencing comes after a California Department of Insurance investigation revealed the couple caused collisions in an attempt to collect undeserved insurance payouts. CDI detectives arrested the couple March 22 in San Bernardino. The CDIs investigation began after the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department became aware of a YouTube channel where dashcam videos of traffic collisions and road rage incidents were posted. The investigation connected the channel to Christopher Phelps under the name BLU3 GHO57. The channel had roughly 162 dashcam videos of vehicle collisions, attempted or near collisions, road rage incidents, and other content involving the couple. In multiple incidents Christopher Phelps child is also in the vehicle. The investigation reportedly discovered 23 collisions documented on the channel linked to 17 insurance claims filed by Christopher Phelps and 42 videos related to road rage incidents and attempted collisions involving him. Several of the videos reportedly appeared to be intentional acts. Prior to the arrest in March, the department was contacted by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office after Christopher Phelps was involved in a collision, appearing to stop for no apparent reason and causing a truck pulling a trailer to rear-end his vehicle. Shortly after the collision, he reportedly posted to YouTube a rear-facing dashcam video of the moments leading up to the collision. Department detectives responded to the area of the collision in Yucaipa and canvased the area for surveillance video and witnesses, which led to an earlier arrest. Christopher Phelps was sentenced to three years in state prison and is currently in the custody of the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. His drivers license was revoked because of the assault with a deadly weapon charge. Kimberly Phelps was sentenced to 90 days in weekend county jail/work release, three years of supervised probation and to attend a 52-week child abuse prevention program. She is currently out on bail. The couple is scheduled to return to court on July 7 for a restitution hearing. The San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office prosecuted the case. Topics California The parents of a suicidal Black teenager who was fatally shot by police in 2020 in Nevada have agreed to a $2 million settlement with the city of Sparks that also includes more crisis intervention and mental health training for police officers. The city of about 110,000 on the edge of Reno said in a statement Monday it hopes the agreement helps bring closure to all parties. Miciah Lee, 18, Sparks, had no criminal history and was not wanted for any crime when a white officer shot him five times while he was sitting in his car with a handgun between his legs and his hands in plain sight on Jan. 5, 2020, his familys lawyer, Terri Keyser-Cooper, said. But she said Lee did have a long history of mental illness and drug abuse, and that the officers rush to violence defied any limited training they had received to diffuse such confrontations. Lees mother, Susan Clopp, called 911 shortly before the shooting and told the dispatcher three times her son was mentally unstable, had a gun and intended to die by cop or die by himself. One of the officers who responded to the scene after Lee fled an initial attempt to confront him and crashed in a suburban neighborhood said in an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court last year before the settlement talks that they did everything they were trained not to do with mentally ill persons. A federal judge ordered mediation and the parties said last month they had reached a settlement. The citys insurance company completed the final installment of the $2 million in payments on May 18, lawyer Keyser-Cooper said. The size of this settlement speaks volumes, said Keyser-Cooper, who alleged Lee would still be alive if he was white. I am greatly encouraged that Sparks has promised to provide to its officers more training, with oversight to ensure officers act pursuant to their training, and a tragedy like this will not occur again, she said in a statement late Friday. As part of the settlement, Keyser-Cooper said Sparks agreed that all officers will receive 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Training and that each year all Sparks police officers will receive refresher training. In addition, each officer will receive annual training on some additional new policies which include: Use of Force, Suicidal Subject Response, and Interacting With Persons Suffering From Behavioral Health Issues, she said. The city of Sparks confirmed in a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Monday that the citys insurance carrier hired outside counsel to handle the case and that the parties agreed to settle it for $2 million during a settlement conference in Las Vegas. The City of Sparks is hopeful that all parties involved will get closure after this settlement, the statement said. About six months after the shooting, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks cleared Sparks police of any wrongdoing. His office was not part of the civil case and declined comment on the settlement on Monday. The lawsuit filed in 2022 said Lees death was an unjustifiable homicide that resulted from a police culture in Sparks a police department so poorly trained that it had a history of failing to investigate, analyze, or even talk to any officers involved in any police shootings for the past 15 years. The lawsuit also alleged the Sparks Police Department failed to sufficiently train officers on how to interact with the mentally ill and systematically, failed to de-escalate as required when interacting with the mentally ill. Former Sparks Police Chief Peter Krall testified that responding officers knew what they were required to do and their conduct in failing to utilize their training was an aberration. However, it was anything but an aberration: It was a highly predictable consequence of system-wide failures, Keyser-Cooper wrote in the original lawsuit. It is consistent with a pattern endemic in SPD but also throughout the country-that, when encountering mentally ill persons, officers all too frequently choose violence as their first resort, she said. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Here is a selection of people starting new roles with Heineken Ireland, Holmes, Irish Emergency Alliance, EssenceMediacom, Childhood Services Ireland and Barretstown. Orla Joyce has been appointed to the management team of Heineken Ireland. She joined the Cork-based brewery in 2014 as head of legal, where she has been instrumental in building a strong legal function. A native of Cork, Orla holds a degree in Law from UCC. She trained as a solicitor with A&L Goodbody solicitors in Dublin and worked in the firms commercial litigation department for over 15 years. She previously worked as a senior in-house legal advisor with Ervia on the establishment of the first national water utility. She has also lectured on Commercial Law for many years with the Law Society and Griffith College. Stephen Walker has been appointed as corporate partner with law firm Holmes. He joined the firm in 2020 as of counsel, having spent 14 years with Dublin law firm Whitney Moore, including eight years as managing partner. He is a highly experienced corporate lawyer, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, shareholder arrangements, commercial contracts, corporate restructurings, corporate governance and commercial advisory matters. As corporate partner, Stephen will be based in Holmes Dublin office and will head up the corporate team as it continues to grow. Holmes O'Malley Sexton LLP rebranded to Holmes and Homs Assist in 2021, with offices in Limerick, Dublin, Cork and London. Liz ODonnell, journalist, broadcaster and former TD and Minister of State, has been appointed to chair the board of the Irish Emergency Alliance, a voluntary role. The IEA is a group of humanitarian agencies responding to major emergencies worldwide. She was first elected to Dublin City Council in 1991. She was vice-chair of the Womens Political Association and worked on the presidential campaign of Mary Robinson. She was a TD for Dublin South. She was Minister of State for Overseas Development and Human Rights. A media columnist and broadcaster, she is also chair of the Road Safety Authority. She studied at TCD Law School. Laura Murphy has been appointed as digital director with EssenceMediacom Ireland, the media planning and buying agency. She will lead the operations for clients across digital channels. She joins from her role as digital director with Wavemaker, another GroupM agency in Toronto, Canada. She was also previously senior media planner with Isobar in Canada, and as account manager with Dentsu in Ireland. Laura holds a degree in Global Business from Dublin City University. She also holds Digital Marketing certifications with Google, Amazon, DoubleClick, Avado and the European Association of Communications Agencies. I look forward to contributing to the culture of innovation and excellence at EssenceMediacom, said Laura. Regina Bushell, managing director of Grovelands Childcare, has been appointed as the new chair of Childhood Services Ireland, the Ibec group representing the childcare sector. Regina is an early learning and care expert with experience in designing and managing state of the art child care centres. She is also chair of Seas Suas, which represents independent early learning and care providers nationwide. She is a member of Athlone Chamber Of Commerce, and is a director of the RTE All Ireland Drama Festival. I am thrilled to represent and support services in the early learning and care sector during this time of transition and increased regulation, Regina said. Anne Heraty has been appointed as chair of Barretstown childrens charity. She first joined the board of Barretstown in 2019. A business leader and entrepreneur, the Longford native brings a wealth of experience to the board. She founded recruitment firm CPL Resources in 1989, and became the first female CEO of an Irish-listed company a decade later. She is a board member of Kingspan Group, Ibec and Outsourcing Inc. She is chair of the judging panel of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year. She won the Irish Times Business Person of the Year for 2021 and holds a BA degree in Mathematics and Economics from UCD. The main firm behind the Louis Fitzgerald hospitality group last year returned to profit to record pre-tax profits of 16.94m. The pub, restaurant and hotel group owns the likes of Kehoe's and the Stag's Head in Dublin and new accounts filed by the groups holding company, Burtse Ltd show that the business returned to pre-tax profit after revenues increased more than threefold from 16.05m to 55.75m in the 12 months to the end of June last. It was reported in the Irish Examiner this month that the company is to acquire Cork's Imperial Hotel. The group also benefited from 7.94m in other operating income that included 5.87m in Government grants. The pre-tax profit of 16.94m followed a covid-19-related pre-tax loss of 306,598 for the prior year. The business continued to be impacted by covid-19 restrictions for the first half of the year under review and the revenues were still someway off the pre-covid year revenues of 71.39m in fiscal 2019. The directors state that the group "is in a strong financial position and state that in a post-balance sheet event that the group has repaid all bank loans. They also state that as a result of this repayment, all bank loans at June 30 last are presented as current liabilities. The groups bank loans at the end of June last year totalled 14.4m compared to 37.28m a year previous. The accounts show that the business repaid loans of 22.8m during the year and this followed loan repayments of 6.22m in the prior year. The directors said that management aims to increase the profitability of the company through increasing turnover and management of its operating costs. Pay to directors, Louis Fitzgerald and his wife, Helen declined sharply from 318,292 to 140,264 last year. The two lead the family-owned Louis Fitzgerald group where the Fitzgerald adult children now take a prominent role in the running of the business. The groups businesses include well-known Dublin City centre pubs, Stags Head, Kehoes, Bruxelles, The Gin Palace, Grand Central and Quays Temple Bar. The group also operates An Poitin Stil, The Laurels, Palmerstown House, The Roost, Annie Mays, Carrolls, The Arlington Hotel and The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel. As the business recovered from covid-19, numbers employed by the business increased by 164 from 677 to 841 as staff costs increased almost threefold from 5.8m to 16.58m. Burtse recorded the pre-tax profit after taking account of non-cash depreciation costs of 3.2m. Burtse enjoyed operating profits of 17.5m and paid out 591,290 in interest payments. The hospitality group recorded a post tax profit of 14.54m after paying out corporation tax of 2.399m. The business had shareholder funds of 72.199m including accumulated profits of 27.85m. The shareholder funds were also boosted by the group's revaluation reserve increasing from 11.25m to 25.8m. Burtses cash funds increased sharply from 1.34m to 22.66m. Shena Brien, CEO of IP Telecom, a company that helps businesses phase out old technology, including landlines, said she does not envisage Irish carriers such as Eir announcing mass layoffs while it updates its infrastructure. Ms Brien made the comments after the announcement by BT in the UK that it will lay off 55,000 people following the completion of its fibre-rollout nationwide. I think we're a very different market here in Ireland. We're a completely different business model here, said Ms Brien. A BT spokesman said more than 15,000 roles would end after those employees had replaced its slower, copper-based network with more reliable fibre optics by the end of 2026. At least 10,000 fewer people would be needed for running and maintaining that more efficient network, he said. IP Telecom was created in 2010 by Ms Brien and Brian Chamberlain and has since seen the emergence of fibre and AI and the impact they have had on the industry. Ms Brien said: Telecoms carriers have all this infrastructure that's degrading and falling apart, and it's costing them a fortune to actually maintain it. There is a campaign to phase out landlines across Ireland with updated technology but Ms Brien said this process is expected to be slow and therefore mass layoffs such as happened at BT are more unlikely. IP Telecom CEO Shena Brien says redundancies are possible but 'a lot of people can be retrained'. Carriers want to basically sunset their old technology, she said. The process is set to take as long, if not longer, than the exercise completed last year to end the use of some non-geographical numbers. We've just got rid of 1890 and 1850 numbers here in Ireland and it was a massive exercise and it took us in the industry probably the best part of two years to communicate that to business, said Ms Brien. Itll be another project like this, she said. The process is starting very, very slowly. However, Ms Brien said that some redundancies may occur among players in the telecoms market as skills such as laying copper wire for landlines will no longer be required. I suspect the people that BT are letting go are people who were working on old technologies, she said. But a lot of people can be retrained." Irelands communication regulator ComReg said in the coming years, with the widespread availability of fibre-based networks and other modern technologies, the copper network will eventually be switched off. Ms Brien said the covid pandemic sped up the need for better telecommunications infrastructure as many businesses are thinking about how they can equip their employees should a health emergency happen again. A new economic impact study by independent consultants EY shows that Tirlan generated economic activity of 5.5bn in 2022. A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Agribusiness and technology. The results of the assessment were announced this week at Tirlan's first annual general meeting, which follows the formal creation of Tirlan last year, arising from the acquisition of the remaining 40% of Glanbia Ireland from Glanbia plc. The total economic activity of 5.5bn in 2022 was generated through revenue, expenditure across production, employment activities, and, in particular, the record milk and grain prices which saw over 2bn paid to more than 5,000 farm families, Tirlan said. The study shows that Tirlan supports 19,200 direct and indirect jobs spread throughout the companys operations in 17 counties and rural communities of Ireland. This total figure includes over 2,230 people directly employed by Tirlan at its 11 processing facilities, 52 agri-branches, offices, and farm advisory network, with an additional 6,700 people employed in the farm supplier base. The remainder of the indirect jobs are located across a range of different parts of the economy such as logistics, retail, and machinery sales. The report also highlights the scale of Tirlans capital investments, with 90m spent in 2022 to upgrade facilities across the business. The 90m capital expenditure figure also includes a contribution towards the investment in the 200m continental cheese facility, Irelands largest ever dairy investment, that is under construction in South Kilkenny with partners Royal A-Ware and due to be commissioned early next year. Impact of agri activity Speaking at the annual general meeting, Tirlan chairman John Murphy said that the economic impact study "sets out the scale of Tirlans economic contribution, employment footprint, and role in both national and rural economies". "Its importance is demonstrated by the fact that for every 1 Tirlan earns in revenue, 1.80 is generated in the wider economy," Mr Murphy said. "The EY study demonstrates the huge impact of agricultural activity across the rural economy, it is a tribute to our farmers as excellent business people and technical managers something that our policymakers should not take for granted." Tirlan chief executive Jim Bergin said there is a "great responsibility" on policymakers, co-op leaders, and farmers "to work positively together". "We are determined to identify the opportunities to protect this great industry and to ensure the sustainability of our farm families into the future," he added. Tirlan is Irelands largest farmer-owned food and nutrition business. It exports to over 100 countries, with its portfolio including many of Irelands best-known Irish brands such as Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Premier, Wexford, and GAIN Animal Nutrition. Anna Stack is a young woman with serious publishing ambitions. Some day, the East Cork 23-year-old wants to be a bestselling author, to live in the US, and to be a role model for young people. Last October, Cork City Libraries published her childrens book, Squirrelys Baby Sister, and it was launched in the library with a reading. The book, both illustrated and written by Stack, is the first in a series shes working on centred on Squirrely and a host of other woodland animals. In them, Squirrely encounters a series of dilemmas and challenges that young children can relate to, learning lessons along the way. I got the idea for Squirrely and his adventures from my friend in Castlemartyr who told me that when her daughter was younger she would make up stories about a little red squirrel running through the woods near her home, Stack says, sitting with a folder full of her illustrations in front of her. I decided to turn that book into a whole series following the everyday adventures of a fun-loving plucky little red squirrel. Anna Stack in the Crawford Art Gallery with some of her work. Picture: Denis Minihane Squirrelys Baby Sister is not Stacks first book, although its the first in the Squirrely series. Stack was diagnosed as autistic as a child, but she has worked tenaciously on her dream of being an author and illustrator for many years. She created her first book, Victoria Bunnyham, when she was in sixth class and producing a colouring book, Annas Dream World, when she was in sixth year in secondary school. Her colouring book drew some attention from local press, and she loves to do interviews and discuss her work. She dreams of being on television, and being able to inspire others. What Id really, really love to happen is I would love to be famous for writing middle-grade novels and to be a New York Times Bestselling Author, she says. I want to write childrens books in America so I can publish them worldwide, and hopefully become an iconic American heroine. As she talks, she resumes working on her latest Squirrely drawing: Squirrelys baby sister is being woken from a nap, in a book called Squirrelys Drum. Its raining outside and Squirrely is bored because he cant go out and play, she explains. Grandpa gives Squirrely a toy drum to play with. Grandma doesnt like the really loud noise of the drum but Squirrely loves it. Squirrely is driving everyone up the wall with his drum. This is a topic that both children and their parents can relate to because small children love making loud noise, but their parents dont like it. Stack herself doesnt like to be around noisy environments: I prefer the quiet, she says. Anna Stack in 2018 with her book, Anna's Dream World. Picture: Jim Coughlan Ive always loved reading and living in my own imaginary world. Stack is one of three new members of the Crawford Supported Studios, a long-term collaboration between the Crawford Art Gallery and MTU Crawford College of Art and Design that provides support to artists with learning disabilities. She and her fellow newcomers, Nicola Moran and John Noel Kenneally, came to be members of the groups through a SECAD STRIVE programme in East Cork, joining veteran artists including Rosaleen Moore, Yvonne Condon and John Keating, who have worked on a wide array of different projects and exhibitions in their time with the Supported Studios. Stack is the first member of the group to be both an artist and a writer, though: she says shes able to be 100% both, and equally invested in both the stories she writes and the illustrations she makes, a little like her hero, Beatrix Potter. Ive been coming to the studio for more than a year, she says. I like that I get to just draw my illustrations here, and sometimes colour them. I used to do painting when I was younger, but now I like to stick to drawing. I use Uniball pens, Crayola twistables and colouring pencils, and sometimes glitter gel pens. Shell often start work on a story with the illustration, making the line drawings and coming up with the storyline and adding finishing touches of colour at the end of her process. Stack, the youngest of four children, is currently living with family in Castlemartyr, where she can indulge her love of nature and animals with walks in the woods, but she would like to live more independently: walking around town, getting the bus or the train to other places, those kind of things. She brings the books that shes working on into the Supported Studio with her, but will continue to work on her illustrations for many hours each week at home. Its a lot of work, but when its published, its all worth it, she says. Such is her work ethic that she has four Squirrely books either completed or nearing completion, and shes eager to see them published, to get them out into the world. Readings and public engagements are something shes keen to do more of. She recently did an autism-friendly reading of Squirrelys Baby Sister at Midleton Arts Festival and has read in primary schools too. The sky is the limit for Stacks ambitions and her inspiring message is a simple one: autism may come with challenges, but shes going to aim high and keep focused on doing what she loves. I always think that just because Im autistic doesnt mean that I cant follow my dreams, she says. I may have autism, but I dont let that stop me from doing what I love to do most in the world. Whether youre autistic or not, you should go out there and follow your dreams and show the world what you love to do. The late Hermann Marbe of GASP. Pic: Clare Keogh About Crawford Supported Studios Its 15 years since photographer and nurse Hermann Marbe founded GASP, the Glasheen Artist Studio Programme; he had been working in the Cope Foundation and realised that many of the people he was assisting had little outlet for creative or artistic expression, often purely due to resources. Marbe passed away tragically young in 2018, but his original vision and ethos continue to be upheld. Crawford Supported Studios was founded and artists from GASP and from another project, Cuig, which was founded in Mayfield Arts Centre, joined. Artists meet regularly in spaces provided by the Crawford Art Gallery and MTU Crawford College of Art and Design. The Supported Studio provides studio space, art materials, equipment, studio facilitators, assistance with transport and communications, access to exhibitions, audiences, peers, and support with training and development. The 18 current members of the Supported Studio live in Cope Foundation residential care, LArche Cork, or private accommodation. Rosaleen Moore, one of the artists from the Crawford supported studio, pictured in the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, with her art work. In early 2020, Rosaleen Moore represented the Crawford Supported Studio artists and exhibited her work at the School of Visual Arts Gallery in New York. Supported Studio artist Tom OSullivan received an Arts and Disability Ireland Connect Mentoring Award to work with abstract landscape painter Tom Climent and went on to exhibit the resulting works in the cafe of the Triskel Arts Centre. Works by five Supported Studio artists were purchased by the Crawford Art Gallery in 2021 and are now in the national collection. Cmere, whats the story with supporting Limerick? Im double old-dolling at the moment, Ive started seeing this one at work, on the sly obviously, because Im engaged to my actual old doll. Another thing Im keeping under wraps from the likes of my wingman Budgie is that this second old doll is from Limerick. Completely from Limerick now like, its not like her father was a guard from Cork and went up there and never came back. She goes all the way back up there and you can hear it in her accent and this is where things get completely filthy Im turned on by her Limerick accent. Not in the normal scheme of things I have to remind myself not to scream when she speaks during the day at work. But at night, lights turned down and Barry White on the tunes, I do get fierce aroused by her ordering me around in a Limerick accent, leathers and whips and everything. So like, she has commanded me to go to Limerick this weekend, IN A LIMERICK JERSEY, go to the match, and shout insults at Cork players during the parade in my thorough-bred Norrie accent. I wont go into details here but she has promised to make it well worth my while. Im worried Ill get an earful from the Cork fans, particularly if we lose. (She has me referring to Limerick as we and everything.) So, will Limerick lose? Dowcha Donie, Blackpool and Limerick. I rang my GAA mad ex there, No Fault Froggy. I said, Would you shout insults at the Cork players in a Limerick jersey? He said, no, I do that in a Cork jersey. Hello, its Rosealeen here in Ballydesmond. Oh, for the love of Cromwell, would someone deliver me from Berna and her judgey fecking ways? I have a new fella that I met on an app called New Fella Every Fortnight, its like those wellness scams where they send you out a packet of mush on a regular basis that is guaranteed to help you lose weight and gain night vision. Except with this one, they send out a man. Or at least, the eircode where you can go and meet a man. Its as dodgy as it sounds, but needs must and I met my first man last week. He has a grand set of arms up on him and I can barely make out a word he says because he is from Monaghan. Win-win I believe they call it. Anyway, he messaged me last night and said we should go away for the weekend. Yes, says I, ordering a next-day delivery of a five-pack of knickers from Marks and Sparks. Well, didnt I tell Berna and she called it a dirty weekend? Im a bigger fool for listening to the old wind-bag, but I cant get the phrase dirty weekend out of my mind. Dont get me wrong, Im planning all kinds of filth with the man. But I dont think I can go now thanks to Berna. Would hypnosis be any help, tell me? Rosealeen, Ballydesmond. My friend is a hypnotist, shes considered the brightest woman in Clonakilty because she can count down from 10. I rang her there and said, what would you say to someone going on a dirty weekend? She said, make sure to get a five-pack of knickers from Marks and Sparks. What the? So, like, the old man bought me an apartment in the Elysian Tower, and gives me 10 grand a month to leave him alone with his new girlfriend that he met in the sex addiction clinic. Shes a 27-year-old Slovenian, there are no words. I was sitting in the apartment two nights ago looking down on my city, doorbell goes, its the 27-year-old Slovenian saying she wants to give me a massage. Christmas in May, dude, I buzz her in, Im actually lying on my massage table by the time she gets to my penthouse. Turns out she wanted to give me a message, talk about awkward . But we got to talking and now Im toe-dally in love with the old mans 27-year-old girlfriend. So like, how do I get with her without the old man cutting me off? Ed, Ballintemple My cousin runs a course in cheating called Not if You Dont Get Caught. I said, whats the best way to have sex with your fathers 27-year-old girlfriend from Slovenia? She said, hang on there Ill get my copy of the Karma Sutra. #Position4Everything Its getting tetchy on our WhatsApp group Douglas Road Stunners Who Dont want to Take Their Kids out of School Early in Case People Think Youre Trying to Save Money on Your Holidays. Caoimhe_2SwimmingPools is taking her Hugo out in mid-June, so shes sending him to school in a t-shirt saying Fortnight in 5 grand villa in Tuscany. Is it worth doing something like that? Jenni, Douglas Road. I rang the Posh Cousin there and said whats the story if you take your kids out of school early? She said, youre toast Audrey if the nanny isnt bringing them home from school forget about it. Whats the point in having a nanny if they dont do the school run and ensure that if your husband is going to have an affair, at least its in-house. Is there ever such a thing as a just war? Should food companies put calorie counts on their products? Was Plato trying to warn us against social media thousands of year ago? The standard of enquiry at this years Young Philosophy Award was mind-blowing. Student-led, the award makes you feel a little less panicked about the future of humankind. Sure, we might be dealing with power-hungry despots and the chaos of global warming, but we still have young people. And what a mighty force, indeed. In fact, having spent last Tuesday with two busloads of secondary school students travelling up from Cork to Dublin for the event, Im willing to wager that they are our biggest asset, tipping the balance, certainly in my mind, towards the positive. There were other groups from Cork sharing their musings at University College Dublin. Other students came from Donegal, Derry, Wicklow, Waterford. We left the city at 6am sharp, semi-conscious but buoyed by enthusiasm and excitement, carrying banners and posters, clutching our iPads, eager to share our projects with the judges. Students went straight from the bus to set up their stalls without a grumble, eagerly anticipating the judges who circulated, inviting them to chat about their work. I used the time to check out projects from other schools, ending up in two fairly heated debates with students from Gonzaga College in Dublin. These boys certainly knew their stuff. With one, I discussed the merits of Ireland belonging to the EU and, with the other, I argued against the idea that religion still dominates modern thought. It was wonderful fun. Both students knew to revel in the argument, to enjoy the challenge of other thinkers. If the antithesis of Twitter could exist in physical form, it would be this competition. These young people do not have to resort to ad hominem attacks, because they know how to follow a logical argument. How wonderful! They have the language to articulate their feelings, instincts and ideas and they are open to listening and disagreeing respectfully. Should all Irish politicians step out of the Dail and attend the event next year? I bumped into the wonderful Kevin McArevey, the headteacher in the documentary Young Plato, as I milled about the conference rooms. The documentary, about his primary school in the heart of Belfast, has reached the hearts of people all over world, as far flung as Tokyo. It is no wonder. If the power of philosophy to overcome conflict and misunderstanding is immense, the combined power of philosophy and children is unstoppable. I picked up his book, predominately, no surprise, written by children. Its all about children teaching adults how to figure things out, he shared with me, before giving me a heartfelt hug. This is what I respond to most, an educator with his heart on his sleeve and a way of seeing that is deeply compassionate and full of a slow thinking-out. Like I say, the antithesis of Twitter. Jennifer Horgan. Picture Dan Linehan I was surprised to meet any primary school contingent, not realising that the Young Philosophy Award includes children from fifth and sixth class. I only wish philosophy could reach every child in every school from an even younger age. I was hoping that President Michael D Higgins would make an appearance, having never met him. Alas, no such joy, but Bressie stepped up onto the podium, much to the delight of the young audience. We were split into two rooms, due to the huge numbers in attendance, and he made an effort to come visit us, fist-pumping the lucky youngsters in the front row. He spoke about the importance of not fitting into a box, doing things your own way, and knowing how to use your body to calm your mind. As the award-giving kicked off, the atmosphere in the adjoining room, where we watched the main podium on live stream, got a little raucous, but in a good way. It was the supportive kind that involves a lot of good-natured cheers and drum-rolling on benches. All sorts of categories were awarded by age, and others for creativity and innovation. A separate international section recognised entries from other countries. Our room picked up multiple accolades. Our own school came away with eight awards. Myles Stomaite Palomino picked up second place in the grand final. His project on the ethics of hostile architecture was justly recognised for its brilliance. We made sure the silver trophy got a seat of its own on the bus back to Cork. This is an award ceremony of which Ireland should be very, very proud. And as for the participants? Well, my heart swells. A high-profile mother and baby home survivor who died in November last year was only buried on Thursday after a lengthy DNA investigation to confirm his identity. Anthony (Tony) Kelly was fostered out by the State to 10 families as a child and only discovered the identity of his birth mother in 2013 after attending her funeral without knowing who she was. Mr Kelly, 76, from Tallaght in South Dublin, spent 31 years trying to trace his family after suffering abuse in the care of the State. At 16, he moved to the UK where he became a champion wrestler alongside Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy. When he retired in 1980, he returned to Ireland to begin tracing his family. He died suddenly on November 1 at his home and it is believed his remains were not discovered for about two weeks. Tony Kelly moved to the UK at the age of 16, where he became a champion wrestler alongside Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy. Mr Kelly had never married or had children and confirming his official identity delayed his funeral. The issue was raised in the Seanad this week by Senator Erin McGreehan, who told the Irish Examiner: "I wanted to record his name on the record of the house, and it was around the redress scheme, he should have received something as well as all his records, all the things we are fighting for. "He was such a lovely man, an activist. We have so many victims in this country who are alone and he died alone. He needed support and local authorities need to have some sort of check-in on people like Tony. That man was in his house for around two weeks without being found. He was vulnerable coming into the world and going out." In 2018, Mr Kelly found eight siblings on his fathers side and two of his nieces travelled from the UK for his funeral. One niece, told the the congregation the reunion brought them peace. Speaking afterwards, a relative told the Irish Examiner the DNA tests were not from a full sibling and they were based in the UK so the process took time. Mother and Baby home campaigners Sheila OByrne and Rose McKinney at Tony Kelly's funeral. The celebration at St Kevins church Kilnamanagh in South Dublin was attended by about 45 people, including mother and baby home campaigners Sheila OByrne and Rose McKinney. Ms O'Byrne's son was adopted from St Patricks mother and baby home while three of Rose McKinneys babies were taken by the nuns from the Tuam home. Ms McKinney said: Tony fought hard for mother and baby home survivors, he did his best and I hope hes at peace." Ms O'Byrne said: His life was not easy, he did good things and he was hurt like the rest of us, but hes at peace now and we wanted to pay our respects to him." Tony as a child. Speaking at his Mass Deacon Derek Leonard said Mr Kelly was a well-known wrestler who wrestled with life. In 2018, Anthony found his family. What a search. His reward was the love he gave his family and that they gave to him. It was an instant love, it happened naturally, it wasnt put on, it wasnt fake." Born in Holles Street in Dublin on June 15, 1946, Mr Kelly spent a few weeks with his mother, Bridget Kelly, before he was sent to Blackrock Mother and Baby Home. He was later fostered several times before being sent to a long-term foster family in Mayo. An activist accused of driving into anti-immigration protesters in Dublin during an incident live-streamed on social media has told a court he wants to face trial before a jury. Audio visual technician and stage rigger Stephen Bedford, 36, with an address at a hostel, on Usher's Quay, Dublin 8, remains on bail with strict terms. He was charged earlier with dangerous driving after a protester was hospitalised on February 15 last and appeared again at Dublin District Court on Thursday. Judge Bryan Smyth noted that gardai were ready to send the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for directions concerning possible further charges. A seven-week adjournment was sought; however, Mr Bedford asked for a shorter remand. The court heard he wished to leave the country in about three weeks for three to six months for work. Counsel said a variation of his bail terms was required, and Garda Eoin Canon, the investigating officer, was amenable subject to being provided with proof. Mr Bedford complained about the time extension granted to gardai. Judge Smyth replied that it was not unreasonable because the alleged offence was relatively recent. He was disposed to grant the adjournment sought, otherwise, Mr Bedford would have to return to court on a week-by-week basis. Mr Bedford then told the court, "I would like to request a trial by jury," and asked for his trial date to be set. However, Judge Smyth said further charges were possible. He adjourned the case until June 8 for the application to vary his bail terms. February hearing At his first hearing in February, Mr Bedford claimed people "threw" themselves in front of his car. Garda Eoin Cannon told the court that Bedford had "strong political and moral beliefs". A protest in Dublin's north inner city led to a "tense stand-off" with his counter-demonstration. He explained that they often turned violent, so gardai intervened, and Mr Bedford was advised to leave for his safety. He went at about 7.30pm and drove off in his jeep-like car. The court has heard that two people from the other protest were on his bonnet at one stage. One was hospitalised, but the level of injury was not stated. The court heard Mr Bedford allegedly "live-streamed it onto Facebook via his phone". The defence had said a group of 60 to 100 were there to demonstrate against "anti-immigration protesters", and there was a lot of animosity between them. Mr Bedford used a PA system and believed the other group was "racist and far-right". The court heard Mr Bedford maintained that he was threatened and left but came across a second branch of the protesters and tried to drive slowly. The court heard that Bedford claimed they had threatened to kill him previously. However, Garda Cannon said his client could have used four other routes, and there was no official record of the threats. The court had heard he usually streamed his demonstrations on Facebook. Mr Bedford gave evidence at the bail hearing and the court and alleged the anti-immigration group was inciting racist attacks in Dublin. He claimed they shouted, "That's him, that's him," and "threw themselves in front of my car" as he "tried to get away". His bail terms state he must sign on three days a week at a garda station and not attend demonstrations involving anti-immigration protests, and not drive any motor vehicles. Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney has denied that there are any tensions within the coalition and said that no one is being bullied. It comes as relations between the two main parties have become strained in recent days after three Fine Gael junior ministers Jennifer Carroll McNeill, Martin Heydon, and Peter Burke stated in a newspaper op-ed that the budget should include a 1,000 tax cut for workers, a proposal that has been slammed as "nuts" by senior Fianna Fail figures. Tanaiste Micheal Martin strongly criticised the three during a private Fianna Fail meeting on Wednesday night and made it clear that Finance Minister Michael McGrath should be given the space and respect to work on budgetary measures and he would ensure that this happens. However, a number of Fine Gael members dug in and stressed the need to push for a strong tax package at their own party meeting on Wednesday night. Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Speaking on RTE radio's Morning Ireland, Mr Coveney said the article was an opinion piece which reflected Fine Gael policy which he supported. He said: I don't think there was an intention to upset anyone. It was an opinion piece. Three junior ministers were outlining again, a policy which I support, which is that when the economy is growing, that we should give, what many people call the squeezed middle. "In other words, people who are middle income, that we should try to give them a break from a tax point of view to allow them take home more of the money that they earn themselves for their families. That's what we did last year in the budget. That's what we did the year before. "And, because the Irish economy is as strong as it is, we can afford to increase pensions, to increase welfare rates, to reduce the cost of childcare, to invest in education, but also to give people who are working hard, who are earning less money that is the source of the revenue for Governments. "It gives them a break as well. We do think that people who are on middle incomes should be able to take home more of the money that they earn for themselves. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Micheal McGrath TD arriving for a cabinet meeting at Government Buildings, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Mr Coveney denied that Mr McGrath was being bullied. Let's be clear, nobody's bullying anybody. And you know, there are lots of senior mature politicians in Government and in the different parties in Government. Just because we're in coalition doesn't mean we're the same. Different parties have different priorities in Government and at different times, those priorities get to appear in newspapers and opinion pieces and so on. And this is no different to that. There'll be lots of discussion in the months ahead. Mr Coveney pointed out that he did not attend Wednesday nights Fine Gael parliamentary party as he was en route to Brussels so he could not comment on comments made. What I would say is that this is a good coalition Government. The parties have worked well together. That doesn't mean that the parties have the same views all the time when it comes to policy. And what we're seeing now is different parties in the coalition outlining different views as to how we can use a growing strong economy to ensure that we support families across the country. And that will involve increasing pensions and welfare rates, reducing childcare costs. "But it also needs to involve giving people who are working hard, who are paying for everything through their taxes to give them a break and to allow them to hold on to a little bit more of the income that they earn. Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has blasted scaremongering around the EUs proposed Nature Restoration Law, contradicting the position of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who has said parts of the proposal go too far. Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists. In the latest sign of the ramping-up of tensions between the government parties, Mr Ryan told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual climate change conference that he "absolutely, fundamentally disagrees" with those claiming the law would harm family farming. Mr Ryan's comments are a direct rebuke to Mr Varadkar's assertion in the Dail earlier this week that so-called "rewetting" of land on a large scale would be going too far. The European Commission's proposal to restore ecosystems would be the first continent-wide law of its kind and calls "for binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters". Elements include 35% of land previously that has previously been drained for agriculture being rewetted by 2050. Rewetting ostensibly means bringing back a natural water flow and saturating peatland in order to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other benefits such as reducing wildfire risks and enhancing biodiversity. The plan has received stiff pushback from some Irish MEPs, who claim it would disproportionately affect Irish agriculture, while environmental campaigners and scientists say it is vital in the current climate and biodiversity crises. Mr Varadkar said: "I want to make it very clear that it is a proposal at this stage. We all understand the need to protect nature, restore biodiversity loss and allow nature to regrow. "But there are aspects of it that go too far, particularly if it comes to taking agricultural land out of use for food production." Addressing the EPA conference, Mr Ryan said: "For those arguing scaremongering, I'd have to call it in recent times that Nature Restoration Law from Europe is going to destroy a family farming system, I'd absolutely, fundamentally disagree. "Are we going to vote for nature destruction law? Is that going to be the future? It doesn't make any sense," he said. Bord na Mona has already started it, he said. Farmers can be the "climate heroes" in storing carbon in how they farm in relation to nature restoration, he added. "We know we can do it... Let's not get distracted, let's not get divided over a law in Brussels... that we do need, " he said. People should not be "fearful" of the law because it is not the threat to Ireland's farming future that some people have suggested, Mr Ryan said. Fianna Fail Minister Dara Calleary has refused to confirm that he will back party leader Micheal Martin into the next general election. Mr Calleary, who was formerly the deputy leader of Fianna Fail, was asked by RTEs Drivetime radio programme if there was any doubt that Mr Martin was the person to lead the party into the next general election. Heres my cultural weekend in reverse order. Sunday afternoon: roaring in vain at the television while the county which invented hurling in the nineties robbed Cork at the death. More to the point. Saturday, a trip to South Main Street, with an essential stop on the way at Gusto on Washington Street for coffee. South Main Street was the objective because of the STAMP Festival being held there, a joint venture by Benchspace, Cork Craft & Design, Sample-Studios, and Shandon Art Studios. The festival was located in and outside the old Beamish & Crawford Counting House. Readers will be familiar with that striking facade, which now has modern apartment blocks behind and around it, but on Saturday it was open for a visit, and inside there were plenty of interesting works to see in the big open spaces upstairs, in particular. Benchspace, Cork Craft & Design, Sample-Studios, and Shandon Art Studios joined forces to present the STAMP Festival of Creativity at the Counting House in Cork. On the lower floor there were craft stands which I enjoyed as well, and all told it was illuminating to finally be standing inside a building youve been passing for years, and to get the reverse perspective on the streetscape outside. On the plaza outside there were coffee stands and more craft outlets, and with the mild weather, it was a great experience. All of a sudden a part of the city which was for long synonymous with narrow vistas and tight spaces was opened out, and there was a whole new way to appreciate the buildings on the eastern side of South Main Street. My research assistants and I had a great time and left in good humour. Progress. Excellent. Fast forward to Tuesday's newspaper, in which Eoin English had some news. A new city plaza which has been developed outside the regenerated Beamish & Crawford Counting House in Cork city will remain closed to the public until the building is occupied. Excuse me? The Counting House, which dates back to 1792 in the heart of the citys medieval precinct, has undergone extensive restoration as part of BAMs Brewery Quarter regeneration project on the South Main Street site, Eoin added. The project included the development of a large plaza outside the Counting House which has been fenced off throughout the project. The fencing came down at the weekend as the building hosted the Stamp creative festival, which attracted thousands of people to experience the new venue. But BAM has confirmed that the plaza will be fenced off again and will remain off-limits to the public until the Counting House is occupied. The restored Counting House has a footprint of almost 90,000 square feet, with ancillary basement car parking, bicycle and shower facilities, and is currently being marketed as office space. A spokesman for BAM said the plaza area will become public realm once the Brewery Quarter development is completed along with the planned multi-million streetscape upgrade of South Main Street and surrounding areas which is being advanced by Cork City Council. Apologies for the lengthy quotation, but I felt it was worth it to give the complete picture. Visitors browse stands at the STAMP Festival. In short, the addition of a public space to the city last weekend was a fleeting dream, a once-off, until the Brewery Quarter development is completed. Obviously, BAM is a commercial venture and has made a significant investment in the Counting House. They are, of course, entitled to get value for money on that investment. Why even bother to open up the building and plaza to the public last weekend, then, and tease all and sundry with that fleeting glimpse of what might have been? Its particularly annoying to lose out on the latter part of that equation the plaza. Having an open public space in the middle of the city is a boon, because there are not as many as you might think, and some of those which exist are being encroached upon already. And as it happens, the plaza outside the Counting House is a good vantage point from which to observe this phenomenon. If you stood there if it was open to the public, that is and looked across the road and down Tuckey Street, you could just glimpse the Freemasons Hall which backs onto Bishop Lucey Park. Councillors in Cork have agreed to allow the Freemasons to extend their premises into the park, which will necessitate the removal of some mature trees from the park. It seems remarkable that a secretive private organisation can be facilitated to such a degree by the municipal authorities at the expense of the public, but thats a matter for another day and another column. Events centre Back on the plaza, a quick glance southwards in the direction of Barrack Street will reveal another large space, though not one which seems likely to be occupied any time soon. I refer, of course, to the events centre which is to be located near the South Channel of the river. The events centre is now almost as mythical as Brigadoon, the supernatural Scottish village in the musical of the same name. Older readers such as myself will recall 'Almost Like Being In Love', the showstopper from Act One, but we also remember that in the musical Brigadoon appears once every one hundred years. The events centre has not appeared yet. It only feels like weve been waiting one hundred years. And, of course, the thread which holds all this together is BAM, the company which gave us a quick sniff of the freedom of an open public plaza last weekend, only to remove it hastily, as it is also the company building the events centre. Happily, Eoin brought the events centre up with BAM for his piece: BAM has also confirmed that it is still progressing with the detailed design and up-to-date costings for the long-stalled events centre project which is earmarked for a site next to the Counting House, and "anticipates being on-site" in the third quarter of this year. The sod for the 6,000-capacity venue was turned in February 2016 but not a single brick has been laid on the venue since. In February 2022, the Cabinet sanctioned an additional 7m of government funding for the project to meet the cost of construction delays caused by the covid-19 pandemic, bringing to just over 57m the total amount of taxpayers money in the project which is supposed to be delivered by BAM and Live Nation. Yes, you read that correctly. You and I have already contributed in excess of 57 million to this project, which still has not been delivered seven years after the sod was turned on the site. You know what might be a nice gesture from BAM to the people of Cork? Opening up that plaza a hundred yards down the street from the mythical event centre. Putting in some benches, a little landscaping. Classy lighting. In other words, creating a space that would be an accessible public amenity to all the people of the city and one that doesnt cost them any money to use. Thats only fair. Theyve already contributed enough for facilities in that part of town. While efforts at EU level to push through a Nature Restoration Law are being stymied at every turn, is it instead our dysfunctional political process thats in need of restoration? Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dail this week that aspects of the proposed law go too far. They say that in politics, timing is everything. Just as Varadkar mounted his stout defence of the do-nothing status quo, a study from the University of Exeter confirmed that business-as-usual would leave around 2bn people exposed to potentially deadly heat later this century and involving what scientists describe as phenomenal human suffering. A separate study released this month confirmed that the global collapse in wildlife populations is more acute than previously understood, with almost half the species on Earth undergoing rapid declines. This accelerating extinction pulse the most severe since the mass die-off event following an asteroid strike around 66m years ago is ripping apart the web of life. Amphibian populations have been devastated globally, with insect, bird, and mammal populations also in sharp decline. However, according to the Taoiseach who heads a government whose own Climate Action Plan commits Ireland to stronger nature restoration actions than being mooted at EU level doing our bit to arrest this devastating crisis is just too much, too soon. After all, he explained, it doesnt fully recognise how we use land in Ireland in particular. His position was echoed by the entire group of Fine Gael MEPs, all of whom on the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture voted for a flat rejection of the nature restoration law. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar believes that the Nature Restoration Launch doesnt 'fully recognise how we use land in Ireland in particular'. The only senior Fine Gael figure to show any backbone on this issue has been EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who pointed out these proposals would help, not harm, farmers. Without the actions set out in our proposal for nature restoration and the sustainable use of pesticides, farmers livelihoods and, indeed, food security will be put at risk, McGuinness said. This is what the science is telling us. As a former agricultural journalist, McGuinness knows well this is not a popular position with the big-money lobbyists, but it remains the truth nonetheless. Some Fianna Fail MEPs have similarly rejected the proposed law, while Sinn Fein has adopted its now customary sphinx-like position, with electoral advantage rather than environmental protection in mind, and ever wary of drawing the ire of agri activists. Predictably, the very rural TDs who claim to represent the custodians of the landscape are invariably the most shrill in shooting down any reforms, however modest, that might in any way discommode the agri-industrial lobby whose talking points they echo. Roscommon TD Michael Fitzmaurice laughably described the EU proposals as a land grab that would make Cromwell blush. However, rather than being marginalised for such extremist rhetoric, Fitzmaurice is instead a media fixture, afforded copious opportunities to repeat this theatrical, fact-free schtick. Environment Minister Eamon Ryan yesterday dismissed the scaremongering around the proposed new EU law. Are we going to vote for nature destruction law? Is that going to be the future? It doesnt make any sense, he added. So, is Ireland already doing uniquely well in terms of nature protection that there is, in effect, no need for further burdensome intervention, as Varadkars argument infers? It may come as a surprise that the world we inhabit here in Ireland at least has already experienced a total collapse of ecological systems, according to Padraic Fogarty, ecologist with the Irish Wildlife Trust. Our native boglands have been almost completely destroyed, and barely 2% of Ireland is covered in native woodland. Of that, only a fraction is intact, biodiversity-rich ancient rainforest. Apart from the ecological wreckage, this is also disastrous for climate. Emissions from drained grasslands on peaty soil in Ireland are nearly 8.5m tonnes of CO2 per annum thats only slightly less than our entire transport sector. Most of our uplands are in an extremely poor ecological condition, having been overgrazed to the point of collapse, with turf extraction and maintenance burning by landowners, legal or otherwise, adding to the carnage of wildlife. A study by Birdwatch Ireland last September found that 63% of Irelands bird species are in decline, compared to a global average of under 50%. Farmland birds are in the most severe decline due to changes in land use in recent years, while water pollution and habitat destruction (including wetland and bog drainage) is also hitting populations of upland birds. Around one in 10 of all species on Earth depend on wetlands and peatlands. While traditionally considered to be unproductive, these lands are havens of biodiversity, as well as performing vital ecological functions, including purifying water and mitigating flooding risks. Some 60% of all birds use wetlands or peatlands for at least some part of their life cycles, from breeding and feeding, to shelter and protection from predators. Loss of these unique habitats has devastating consequences for both our native and migratory bird species. In the 1980s, more than 500 Irish rivers and lakes were described as being in pristine condition. By 2020, that number was just 20, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The top pressure on our waterways is excess nutrients arising from agriculture. Around one in 10 of all species on Earth depend on wetlands and peatlands. Other pressures include land drainage, dredging, forestry activities, and urban wastewater. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue confirmed this week that at least until 2030, all nature restoration could take place exclusively on State-owned lands, including Bord Na Mona and Coillte holdings, yet even this assurance has done little to dial down the hysteria. Joining in the race to the bottom, Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen said this modest, limited proposal smacks of cultural imperialism. A common argument put forward by some politicians and lobby groups is that they are defending against out-of-touch urban elites who want to shut down rural Ireland. But how accurate is this caricature? Last month the final report of the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss was published. It had brought together 99 randomly selected members of the public to listen to experts from across the spectrum and to debate the issues. The conclusion? The State has comprehensively failed in relation to biodiversity. An overwhelming 83% of assembly members supported a constitutional referendum on the rights of nature, while almost unanimously backing nature restoration. Within weeks of the assembly recommendations, politicians from Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and Sinn Fein plus most rural independent TDs sided with the agri-industrial PLCs while completely disregarding the will of the Irish people, as articulated by the citizens assembly. The thriving natural world the Irish public actually wants is, according to the Irish Farmers Association, an attack on our industry. Pressure groups with decades of revolving-door access to politicians, civil servants, and media have been deeply frustrated at their inability to shape the outcome of the rigorously independent citizens assembly discussions. Meanwhile, Europe is rapidly drying up. The European Environment Agency in March projected a 50% collapse in food production on the continent in the next 30 years as a result of climate change. With the rest of the world facing similar crises, the spectre of famine is set to return to our shores. To stave off the worst impacts, we need to set aside as much land as possible for natural systems to regenerate. This can be achieved by shifting to vastly more efficient food systems, including horticulture, that are predominantly plant-based. Change is coming, like it or not. Were out of excuses and were almost out of time. John Gibbons is an environmental journalist and commentator Why are we not facing up to the incontrovertible fact that the policy of privatisation as practiced by this government continues to be detrimental to the wellbeing, health, and wealth of our nation? This Government has demonstrated beyond doubt that it is not one which should be entrusted to deal with big business at any level let alone one which will shape the parameters of the nations vital energy requirements well into the future. Here we are in the midst of an energy crisis which is causing penury, misery, frustration and despair amongst the people. Just look at the Corrib Gas Field giveaway, parts of which were subsequently farmed out to Norwegian, Canadian, and Spanish interests by Shell. Look at the National Childrens Hospital debacle. Look at the sale of the Whitegate gas-fired power station which had cost 400m to build only four years previous and was then sold off to the British conglomerate Centrica for 120m. Then we had the broadband giveaway to Eir which has been mired in ongoing complaints and controversy for years. Prior to that we had Telecom Eireann sold off and stripped down by the profiteers. Look at Bord Gais. These are but a few of a long list. The one commodity which is necessary to advance the nation and the lives of every man, woman, and child in this country every day of the week, fifty-two weeks of the year and every year into the future is ENERGY. Every single aspect of life on this island will depend on security of energy supply every day from here on in. This disastrous merry-go-round is starting all over again with the signing over of ownership and control of our green energy fields to private enterprise and their private boardrooms and shareholders. How does the question of our future energy security fit in to all of this? The citizens are the real shareholders of the nations natural resources which should not be in the gift of a political party elected for five years but who assume the power to sign over ownership and control of these resources to private enterprise for an indeterminate number of years. With 50-60 billion coming on stream it beggars belief that any government would not secure a good portion of our energy resources completely independent of the casino-like international energy markets so that future crises can be averted. Where are the politicians with vision and courage? Joe Brennan Ballinspittle Co. Cork Inch community could go extra mile As you will see from my address I live in a place that is isolated, is short of facilities whatever that means, and has 60+ people living in a hotel. They are people whose country has been ravaged, they show us photos of their destroyed houses. We have made them welcome, we have supported them, we have provided clothes and other equipment as needed. They are supported by the HSE and Department of Social Protection. When they need to go to the nearest town they need to take a boat and a bus. Can the people of Inch not help their refugees? Barry Mahon Sherkin Island Cork Better housing supports needed Regarding the article Ministers and gardai discuss issues around asylum-seeker housing (May 19): There is a big problem with housing in Ireland, some of it coming because of the war between Russia and Ukraine. This country is beautiful and I really enjoy everything about it except housing. My advice to the councils is dont control people too much you have to alow us to live with friends. I feel I am in prison because of the system. If you try to rent for a short period of time they will tell you you can pay your bill forever, which is not fair at my age as I need their support. I remember some direct provision centres in Dublin helping people to get a place so newcomers will get their place. I never see this outside Dublin. there is no housing support except registration with the council or HAP. We need more support. Mesgana Aster Hatch Hall Dublin Undesirable treatment Regarding the article by Sarah Clancy, Clare has welcomed thousands, but what happened this week is inexcusable (May 20). The authorities must act immediately and stop this because soon Ireland will be ruled by bullies and intimidators who will dictate whats acceptable, not only in relation to refugees, but anyone deemed undesirable. I was sickened by the news that people entered a privately hired bus and did a headcount, segregating refugees into acceptable and others that have no right to be here. This mob harassed already severely traumatised people! The same as citizens of Ireland have their rights, asylum seekers and refugees have their rights of protection. When providing accommodation to refugees, the authorities are obligated to protect them while they are getting to their destination and when they live there. I demand this from the government! Aneta Stepien Maynooth Co Meath Ireland faces into the modern age Regarding the article Micheal Martin: Far right accusing asylum seekers of terrible things to spread fear. Being an English citizen and currently living in Ireland my observations are a comparable assimilation of what has happened in the UK over the past 30+ years ... a complex situation, and currently a place of turmoil and uncertainty. Irelands history until the late 20th century was idyllic, archaic and terrifying, its geographical location unique. Unlike the UK, there was no industrial revolution that accelerated it into the modern age. The current threat and intimidation of outsiders is understandable within this context and inflicted on an unsuspecting public with political diffidence, uncertainty and foolishness. Multiculturalism has its pros and cons however, whatever will happen to national and cultural identity and historical significance? Peter Teasdale Bantry Co Cork Longwave goodbye I have a quite elderly relative who lives in the English midlands. One of his daily pleasures over the years has been tuning into RTE radio via longwave to keep abreast of events in Ireland. While it is certainly understandable that RTE would move to embrace new technology, surely the move to abandon the longwave service completely is somewhat premature. There are still many of the Irish diaspora who moved to Britain in the post-war years who avail of this service, and with the best will in the world it is perhaps asking a little too much that they now have to devote time and expense to avail of internet-based technologies. Surely preserving the longwave service for another five to 10 years would justify the expense in maintaining this age cohorts links to Ireland, especially given the role many of them played over the years in sending financial remittances back home, and in preserving Irish culture and community in Britain. We owe them at least this much. Declan Burke Celbridge Co Kildare Curricula changes must be discussed Ireland has rapidly become a multicultural and multi-ethical society. The associated upheaval gave rise to the existence of diversity of religions and diversity of ethical stances of various communities residing in Ireland. The Muslim community, which happily chose for themselves, their families, and their children to live and to set down roots here in Ireland, are aware that they have rights and responsibilities to observe. We are aware that the contemporary situation has given rise to a variety of challenges that people in the past did not have to contemplate or deal with. However, this has to be done in an appropriate way, taking into consideration the multicultural and multi-ethical aspects of Irish society. Currently it is argued that the Department of Education is considering a proposed set of changes introduced to SPHE/RSE junior level. The proposal includes teaching on pornography, consent, sexual orientation, and gender identity. There is no doubt that we support improving curricula that reflect day-to-day challenges and equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to make choices based on awareness. However, the current proposal is in need of further consideration and deliberation conducted among educationalists and religious scholars. We are concerned about the proposal as it stands, since it leads to the exposure of children to such topics at an inappropriate age, and hence it may lead to values unwelcomed by their parents. We believe that at this stage it is appropriate to invite educationalists and scholars to cooperate in preparing such a programme in order to respect Irish diversity. We prefer that these classes remain optional out of respect for parental values. Dr Ali Selim Islamic Cultural Centre Ireland Clonskeagh Dublin 14 AN EASTERN flavour seems set to continue at the large, purpose-built restaurant at 4/5 South Main St in Cork City, developed at a cost of 1.6m 20 years ago when a Wagamamas opened on its ground floor, with a Captain Americas above. Up to lease for the Press Up group with agent David McCarthy, of Lisney Cork, is the ground floor at No 4/5, previously occupied by Japanese noodle bar Wagamama, until 2017, and more recently by Chinese restaurant Rice, which considerably refitted the interior. Wagamama restaurant was at 4/5 South Main St, later occupied by Rice Current interest is being shown from Asian-related/street food-style operators, says Mr McCarthy, adding that its suited to a range of other occupiers. Its to let on a new lease of 67,000 pa, and seats 120, says Mr McCarthy, who PRESS Up invice new uses to step in showe vacated by Wagamama Cokrdescribes the location just off Washington Street as excellent, close to student accommodation schemes recently completed nearby at Broga House, at the Beamish & Crawford site on South Main St, and at Colemans Court, North Main St. Location of 4/5 South Main Street in Cork city centre No 4/5 South Main Street was created following the second redevelopment of the rear of the former Queens Old Castle which ran from Grand Parade to South Main St by Paradise Place, with previous developments led by Paddy McKillen and Tony Leonard of Clarendon Properties. The original Queens Old Castle dated to the 1840s and, after a closure in the 1970s, housed a Penneys and was developed as a shopping centre in the 1980s by Robin Power and Tony Leonard, with a then-legendary upstairs restaurant, Cafe de Paris, looking over South Main St. McKillen was again involved in its re-fashioning in 2004 to a design by Kiosk Architects, with Wagamama taking the lower floor, Captain Americas the floor above, and another eatery, Suas, on its roof terrace. All subsequently ceased trading and the Captain Americas premises has been vacant for a number of years, despite the McKillen familys involvement in a second generation via the Press Up Group which operates 50 restaurant, cafe, bar, and hotel experiences nationwide. Press Ups own roots date to 1971 with the founding of Captain Americas above Dublins Grafton St, followed by Wagamama in 1998: both legendary food names are now gone from 4/5 South Main St, and Press Up is passing on the premises ground floor to lease. Use your noodle: Ireland and Munster rugby players Donncha O'Callaghan, Simon Zebo and Peter O'Mahony pictured in 2013 at a Wagamama Cook-Off, for a Transition Year class class on food safety, kitchen skills and healthy eating. The ever-evolving company opened the Dean Hotel three years ago, and bought the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville last year. Its also involved in plans to complete Dunboy Castle in West Cork. Meanwhile, Clarendon Properties, which owns the other, larger section of Queens Old Castle, got planning permission early in 2022 to significantly redevelop it (it houses a Dealz, and an Argos closed there back in 2019, after 20 years trading. A Virgin Megastore had been there previously). Clarendon, via City Properties, proposed a renewal at 84 to 89 Grand Parade, to include facade conservation, refurbishment, partial demolition, alteration, and change of use for a mixed-use office and retail development of 104,000 sq ft, with just 1,320 sq ft retail, with four to seven levels. A previous plan to redevelop the building for retail and office space was approved in 2020, which included about 36,000sq ft of office space. The current application allows for secondary access from St Augustine St, where loading access for 4/5 South Main St (next to Brick Lane bar) is part of the package up for restaurant use via Lisney. Mr McCarthy says the Washington St area comprises a mix of offices, retail, and some restaurants with a predominance of the citys bars and nightclubs in this area. He says the 2,342sq ft No 4/5 South Main St comprises a fully fitted, self-contained, ground-floor restaurant which forms part of a larger three-storey building, laid out with open-plan seating area for approximately 120 patrons. DETAILS: Lisney 021-4275079 The right answer to what colours should I decorate my house with is whatever colours you like. When it comes to your own home theres no right or wrong its your home, design it however you wish! That said, with an overwhelming array of options it can help to consider some guidelines to narrow your choices. When I was putting together my (many) Pinterest boards, I noticed I kept adding images influenced by wherever I had just been. Following a trip to Paros I was temporarily obsessed with the vibrant pink bougainvillea and cheery blue-and-white of Greek homes. When I came home from a ski trip in Norway I was fully set on incorporating the classic red-painted wood of Norwegian cottages. All these notions wore off after a few days, of course, when I realised that I wasnt a Norwegian fisherman and that Greek blue is really only cheery in bright sunshine. Sometimes a dose of reality can be a good thing, and we are lucky in Ireland to have an environment of verdant landscapes, charming stone walls, and deep Atlantic blues. There is a lot that works well with our natural colours and lighting, and focusing on these complementary options can result in a home that feels harmonious with its surroundings especially if you're blessed with a view. Here are some suggestions for connecting with our beautiful environment when considering your interior colour scheme. LEAN INTO GREEN Ive written before about the versatility of using green in your interior colour scheme see my article from March 16 for more. Green is a beautifully calming colour that works extremely well with our climate. 'Lean into green,' advises Jennifer, as she does in her home office which doubles as a guest bedroom. Picture: Moya Nolan Choosing a warm green undertone in your base paint works very well in north-facing rooms. Green as a kitchen cabinet colour has surged in popularity in recent years, and green velvet couches have yet to go out of style. Bringing in green through plants and accents is a great way to harmonise your home with the surrounding landscape. EARTHY NEUTRALS There are few things cosier than relaxing into textured, neutral-coloured blankets and pillows. Warm greys, stoney beiges, and soft creams are timeless shades that embrace our cloudy skies and rainy days. Paired with natural wood and stone, neutrals provide the perfect base that complements our climate and allows you to layer on any colours you like. Bring in local textures such as wool and linen for maximum Irishness! COASTAL BLUES Nobody is ever far from a body of water in Ireland. While the vibrant Greek-home blue might be unusual in Ireland, we do have a wide range of softer blues in our environment grey blues, deep stormy navy blues, and seafoam green blues are most prevalent. These shades are deeply serene and calming and work beautifully as accent colours in Irish homes. Even better, they pair perfectly with earthy neutrals for an overall calm and sophisticated effect. SUNNY YELLOW Every Easter for as long as I can remember, I drive across the country to Achill Island. One of my favourite things in the world is to see the beautiful sunny furze (or gorse) bursting across the green landscape. I adore yellow, its my favourite colour, and for a few months at least its very much a colour found in the Irish landscape. Jennifer brings in cheery yellow accents with her furniture. Picture: Moya Nolan Yellow is cheerful and stimulating, making it an excellent choice to add to your colour scheme. It brings a sunny warmth to Irish homes on those days when the clouds just wont let up. While yellow can be a bit much for large surfaces, you can bring in yellow accents with paint, furniture, and accessories I have it on the inside of my front windows and doors, my couch is yellow, and my dining area lampshade is yellow. RICH TONES Other accent colours that are synergistic with the Irish climate are what I like to think of as Irish foliage colours. These are the rich pinky-reds of Irish berries, the deep blue purples of blackberries, the rusty crimson of beetroot, and the browny-russet of red potatoes. Raspberry red is the perfect accent colour, believes Jennifer, who uses it here in her downstairs bathroom. Picture: Moya Nolan These colours provide the perfect accents for Irish homes, through rugs, pillows, throws, lampshades, and artwork. METALLIC ACCENTS Im stretching with this one because Ill take any excuse to bring in a metallic accent, but Ireland does have an abundance of quartz and granite, both of which have at least flecks of metallic throughout. During the Celtic Tiger, Ill admit that we went too far with chrome, but we have learned from those mistakes and its now safe to bring in brushed brass hardware, copper pots and pans, gold-leaf tiles, gilded frames, and mirrored backsplashes. Metallics reflect light, and we need a lot more of that, so dont hold back! Read More DIY and repair tricks that make your home feel good as new Haunting images of undernourished children hit our screens daily, innocent victims of an unjust world of bone-dry rivers and mounting climate challenges. However, Concerns frontline staff in five of the worlds poorest countries are working on an innovative EU-funded programme to tackle childhood malnutrition and its underlying causes, and so prevent it recurring. Childhood malnutrition is one of the greatest injustices the world is currently facing, with 45.4 million children under five years of age acutely malnourished in 2020. The scale of malnutrition is shocking and unacceptable, the Global Coordinator of the Enhanced Responses to Nutrition Emergencies (ERNE) programme Aoife Black said. Against this background the EU deserves major credit for funding an innovative response to the issue. Nyahok Diew with her 10-month-old daughter Nyariek who was treated for malnutrition a health care centre in Unity State, South Sudan, which is supported by Concern as part of the ERNE programme. Photo: Ed Ram/Concern Worldwide Over the last three years, the programme has helped over 1.2 million people in five of the worlds poorest countries Ethiopia, Niger, Republic of Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The multi-pronged approach adopted by ERNE combines lifesaving emergency nutrition treatment and prevention and preparedness activities to help make communities more resilient to malnutrition in the longer run. Were not just putting a band aid on things we're trying to solve the problem and prevent it from recurring, so that eventually these communities can survive without humanitarian aid and be in charge of their own lives, Aoife explains. The multi-faceted approach ranges from providing practical and financial support to local health facilities (including training, equipment and renovating clinics), to providing emergency cash payments to vulnerable communities. It also includes training health workers to proactively monitor malnutrition and disease trends to pre-empt spikes in demand for healthcare by providing additional staff or medical supplies in advance. Aoife Black, Global ERNE Programme Co-ordinator, with Gashaneh Woldie, Concerns Programme Co-ordinator in Ethiopia (foreground) and other members of Concerns Ethiopia ERNE Programme Team meeting women who are part of a Mother to Mother Support Group in the drought-stricken Somali region of Ethiopia. These support groups are a key part of the ERNE programme and help provide much needed training and resources to women to help them ensure their children receive good nutrition in the early years of their lives. Ive been lucky enough to visit some of the programme areas and witness the incredible field work being done by our staff, Aoife said. One of the villages I visited in Ethiopia had a river running through the middle of it that has completely dried up. No rain has fallen and the community there have endured extreme drought conditions for the past three years. Their crops have failed, which is especially devastating as a lot of these communities would be highly dependent on pastoralism and raising livestock. They have herds of camels that they are dependent on for both milk and meat. But because those camels now don't have any water to drink, theyre dying in huge numbers. The result is that families simply don't have enough food, leading to high levels of child malnourishment. The point is hammered home by Concerns use of a Family MUAC a tape used to measure childrens mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) for early detection of malnutrition. Many of the children being supported through the ERNE programme have such tiny arms that they fall into the MUACs red zone a circumference of less than just eleven centimetres. Despite the sad circumstances behind its use, the band is a source of optimism for those being treated through the ERNE programme. MUAC is such a powerful tool that enables parents to manage their own childrens health, Aoife explains. Empowering the local communities in the five countries involved is a key element of the ERNE programme. Whats special about ERNE is that it does so much more than provide life-saving treatment and assistance because it's a three year programme with such a multi-sectoral approach, we're able to look at some of the underlying root causes of malnutrition." Education has been one of the key steps in making these communities more self sufficient specifically, education aimed at challenging existing gender norms. For many of the communities we work in, gender inequality is quite prevalent. Mothers and fathers might not share the same roles or the same level of responsibility within the household. Fathers would typically be quite hands off in terms of raising children and might not understand exactly how a child needs to be fed, so what we've tried to do with this programme is introduce an element of education for both mothers and fathers. We teach them that the first thousand days of a childs life are the most critical period for their nutrition, as it aids their brain development and sets them up for life. Its why we focus so much on children under five years of age, and why wed recommend breast feeding in the first part of a child's life. Once both parents are armed with that information, we're seeing many families beginning to change their behaviour. Fathers are taking more responsibility for the child rearing, being more supportive to their wives, and in turn women feel able to speak up more within the home, contribute to decision making, and control resources so as they can feed their families and nourish their children well." The programme has had to overcome many challenges since it began in 2020. Like everyone, the Concern Worldwide staff were forced to react at lightning speed when the Covid-19 pandemic began that year, and to change their ways of working practically overnight. For the ERNE programme, which had been nailed down for 2020-2023 specifically under a Pilot Programmatic Partnership between Concern and the EU, the timing was challenging. Abudayabou Malam Hadabi (35) with four of his children. His youngest child, 13-month-old Mahamadou, was severely acutely malnourished is receiving emergency therapeutic food at a Concern-supported health centre in Kalfou Rahi, Niger. Photo: Darren Vaughan/Concern Worldwide The context in which we started this programme was incredibly difficult, Aoife reflects. At field level we were suddenly faced with all kinds of lockdowns and restrictions, meaning our staff couldnt get out to work directly with communities. Local staff in health facilities were restricted from doing their jobs and were seeing people who were badly in need of health nutrition treatment. We found solutions, like everyone, we pivoted and worked really hard to adapt the programme to remote working. We linked in with local governments around their restrictions. At local level we were supplying masks to people so they could visit health facilities and supplying protective clothing to health workers, applying social distancing all the things we were doing in Ireland, we were facilitating that in these five other countries too. The pivoting was more than worth it as the ERNE programme draws to a close this year, it leaves behind a number of huge achievements. Over 100,000 acutely malnourished children have been successfully treated through the programme, while practical and financial support has been provided to 304 health facilities in the five countries involved. In addition, Concern have educated 16,000 mothers and 2,777 fathers about nutrition and good hygiene practices through community support groups. We hope there will be lasting impact from this programme, but we also know the scale of needs is huge and continues to grow, Aoife says. Were facing very big challenges in terms of climate change, conflict, instability profound global challenges. So we foresee this type of humanitarian aid will continue to be needed for some time to come, and were currently exploring options to continue the programme into the future. To find out more about ERNE, and how you can support Concern Worldwide with their future work, visit www.concern.net/knowledge-hub/ERNE While there has been a lot of talk about the unaffordability of upgrading ones home to make it more energy efficient, many people are unaware of how much easier and impressive the process has become. Its a question of getting the balance right for your life. We all work hard to create comfort for ourselves and our loved ones. Once you realise just how much your life can be transformed by upgrading your home comfort, and how much support there is from SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland), youll wonder why you didnt do it sooner. Cormac Maddens 1960s home has leapt from a G rating (one of the lowest BER levels G) to an A3 rating (one of the highestA3), with the help of SEAI grants. Cormac Madden in Dublin, for example, had an old home that was built in the 1960s, where valuable heat was just pouring out of poorly insulated walls. After his home energy upgrade with SEAI grant supports, he no longer uses fossil fuels for heat and is benefitting from a much warmer and healthier home. Its so much healthier and drier than it used to be, he says, proud of the fact that it went from one of the lowest BER levels (G) to one of the highest (A3). The Building Energy Rating (BER) is a measure of how energy efficient your home is the highest level being A1. Many Irish homes are in the D category or lower. The Government, through SEAI has made it a national priority to bring as many homes as possible up to a B2 BER rating (the target is 500,000 B2 homes by 2030). Robert Settino another homeowner in County Meath also took on an old house, built in 1979. After another SEAI-supported transformation, he has a warm dry house that costs a fraction to heat compared to the vast quantities of energy he had been using to keep the chill out of his home and out of his bones. And, he says, something that we didnt expect was, even though we live close to a busy road, when we close the door, its quiet. We dont hear the traffic anymore. Johanna Walshe couldnt believe how easy it was to upgrade her home. Johanna Walshe from County Dublin couldnt believe how possible her dream suddenly became when she embarked on her journey of upgrading her home: Id always dreamed of having an A-rated house, she said, but to get it with a retrofit is just amazing! After moving into a 1993 house, she had a D-level BER (Building Energy Rating) with a gale-force wind coming through the front door we got external insulation and the heating upgraded to a heat-pump system, ten solar panels on the roof and all the windows and doors and attic insulation. We got an A1 rating. All our bills were halved we never had a problem with hot water running out. We literally only have the heating on for an hour in the morning. One of the most transformative energy upgrades that many people discover for the first time is the heat pump. Its a simple enough concept that usually isnt what people might think it is. The heat pump system is a highly efficient alternative heating system to a fossil fuel oil or gas boiler. It uses less energy to create the same level of heat in a home. If you install a heat pump in your home, you are not only improving the energy efficiency of your home and reducing your carbon footprint, but you are also addressing that most urgent of needs creating a cleaner, healthier living environment in your home for you and your loved ones. These days, we are all getting used to spending more and more money on burning fossil fuels and on our electricity bills. When you look into how the SEAI grant system works and the substantial grant supports available, its very much a no-brainer. Rather than pouring your hard-earned cash into ever-escalating bills, you divert it into upgrades that will stop the rot and SEAI are right there with you all the way. In other words, you take back control of your energy management. With the advice and grant supports from SEAI, you can create a comfortable, healthy, warm home that costs you and the environment less. Just how much you want to upgrade your home and how quickly you want to do it are up to you. The first point of call should be to go on the SEAI website (seai.ie/grants) to see the full range of grant options and upgrades available. It really pays to upgrade your home energy. When you look into how the SEAI grant system works and the substantial grant supports available, its very much a no-brainer. Youll see that there are options to suit different homeowner budgets and needs, with the option of completing a full home energy upgrade in one go or to do individual upgrades over time. The Individual Energy Upgrades option gives you greater flexibility to choose the right upgrades for your home that suit your timescale, your needs, and your budget. You might want to take just a couple of steps initially. Perhaps you want to avail of the SEAI grant to upgrade your attic and wall insulation, install a heat pump, or get external wall insulation. There are over 1,000 contractors nationwide to choose from all registered with SEAI to carry out individual energy upgrades. If you are ready to go for a full home energy upgrade in one go and bring your home to a B2 BER rating or better, then you can choose the SEAI One Stop Shop grant option. The big advantage of going One-Stop-Shop is that they will manage the entire project from start to finish. They will look after the ins and outs and the grant process, assessing what your home needs and applying their unparalleled knowledge and project-management skills so that the entire process is a hassle-free experience for the homeowner. The value of the grants are deducted from the costs up front too meaning that cashflow is king and theres no forking out of monies and then awaiting with baited breath for the arrival of a grant after the event. SEAI has a growing list of registered One Stop Shops to choose from on their website: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/one-stop-shop. So, check out the good news today. Its all supported by a big push from the EU and the Irish Government to get all homes in Ireland up to a wonderful, modern standard of living, to reduce energy consumption and help save on energy bills. In no time at all, you wont be wondering how can you afford to do this, but instead how can you NOT afford to do this. www.seai.ie/home-energy/home-upgrades/ An FBI file relating to a visit to the United States by the late Queen Elizabeth II has revealed a potential plot to assassinate her. The document, available on the FBIs online vault, outlines what appears to be intelligence provided to federal agents about a threat to the Queens life in California 40 years ago. The Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, made an official visit to the west coast of America in February and March 1983. The file states that a phone call was made by a man who claimed that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet. The Queen Elizabeth during a visit to Glasgow in 1983 (PA) It adds: This man additionally claimed that he was going to attempt to harm Queen Elizabeth and would do this either by dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the royal yacht Britannia when it sails underneath, or would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite National Park. The file refers to a club which has a popular reputation as a republican bar that is frequented by sympathisers with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). Another document, among more than 100 pages published by the FBI online, this time relating to the Queens state visit to the US in 1991, reveals concerns that Irish groups were planning to protest at the monarchs attendance at a baseball game as well as a White House event. The information came from the Philadelphia Irish paper titled Irish Edition. The Queen with the now King, the then Prince of Wales, in 2022 (Jane Barlow/PA) The file said: The article stated anti-British feelings are running high as a result of well publicised injustices inflicted on the Birmingham Six by the corrupt English judicial system and the recent rash of brutal murders of unarmed Irish nationalists in the six counties by loyalist death squads. Though the article contained no threats against the president or the Queen, the statements could be viewed as being inflammatory. The article stated that an Irish group had reserved a large block of grand stand tickets. A separate file among the documents, dated 1989, pointed out that while the FBI was unaware of any specific threats against the Queen the possibility of threats against the British monarchy is ever present from the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Asia Myanmar Junta Releases Detained Rakhine Charity Leader Wai Hun Aung (right) with survivors of Cyclone Mocha on May 22 in Rakhine State. (Photo: Wai Hun Aung) Myanmars military regime released Rakhine writer-turned-charity leader Wai Hun Aung and four other people on Wednesday afternoon, after they were detained while delivering aid to victims of Cyclone Mocha in western Myanmars Rakhine State. The junta arrested Wai Hun Aung, his daughter, a staff member, and two other people from Yangon accompanying them on Tuesday evening, while they were traveling from the Rakhine capital Sittwe to Ponnagyun Township to deliver relief supplies to storm-affected communities. His charity is one of a number of local rescue teams carrying out humanitarian assistance in storm-hit areas in Rakhine. After a day-long interrogation, Wai Hun Aung and the other four were released on Wednesday afternoon, according to a source close to the family. Rakhine media outlets reported that Wai Hun Aungs daughter and the staff member were released on Wednesday morning, with Wai Hun Aung and the other two released in the afternoon. Regime spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told Voice of America and BBC Burmese on Wednesday that they detained the five for examination, and that the two people from Yangon were found to have connections with news outlets the junta regards as illegal and needed further interrogation. Wai Hun Aungs detention while carrying out relief work and speaking to the media has been criticized as a threat to aid workers and volunteer groups working in Rakhine State. Cyclone Mocha wreaked havoc in northern Rakhine State when it made landfall on May 14. More than one week on, official relief operations have done little to help affected areas, while international aid agencies are still waiting for the regimes approval to deliver relief supplies. Burma Chin State Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Aid Agencies Fail to Gain Access People whose houses were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha in Chin State / CJ More than a week after cyclone Mocha hit Myanmar, Chin State is yet to receive any relief aid from the outside world, leaving locals to struggle alone amid scenes of destruction second only to neighboring Rakhine. Around 2,500 buildings were either destroyed or damaged by the cyclone in Chin State, according to an update on Monday morning. Matupi and Mindat townships were hit hardest by the storm, which tore through displacement camps and damaged hundreds of grain silos. Locals are in urgent need of food and medical supplies as well as tarpaulin sheets and other building materials, according to local resistance authorities. Around 600 houses and other buildings were damaged in Mindat. The border of Paletwa, where the regime has cut off phone and internet access, and Matupi suffered serious impacts, with 112 silos destroyed, said Ko Yaw Marn, spokesman of Mindat Township Peoples Authority. Three displacement camps were hit by the cyclone in Matupi, but no relief aid has reached the area. May 18 editions of junta-controlled newspapers claimed that only 129 houses and a few monasteries, schools, clinics and government offices were damaged in Chin State. Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has assigned Lieutenant-General Min Naing and three brigadier-generals to lead relief and recovery operations in Haka, Matupi, Paletwa and Tedim townships. Junta media also stated that the regime had provided relief supplies for 170 households in Matupi Township and Lailinpi town. But this is a tiny effort compared with the huge amount of humanitarian aid needed by local people. Chin State is among the least developed areas in Myanmar and suffers from poor transportation infrastructure. Even before Cyclone Mocha, nearly 100,000 people had fled fighting between junta forces and resistance groups and were sheltering in displacement camps. The cyclone was another terrible blow to the local population and worsened the humanitarian crisis. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) estimates that around 150,000 people were affected by the cyclone in Chin State and other areas of northwestern Myanmar. Cyclone victims urgently need shelter, drinking water, food, fuel and basic healthcare services, it said. Some 500 people have been left homeless in Chin State alone, and around 50,000 people were affected by the storm, the UN agency said on May 18. Yet despite UN statements about the devastation and urgent humanitarian needs in Chin State, no international organizations are providing help on the ground, said local civil society organizations. Salai Issac Khen, spokesman of the Interim Chin National Consultative Council, said: [Civilian] authorities are distributing supplies provided by the National Unity Government in respective townships. But those supplies are nothing considering that Chin State has fought the defensive war for the past two years, and 20 percent of the states population of 500,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. There is a need to help Chin State too. Fighting continues in storm-hit northwest Myanmar including Chin State, where challenges faced by humanitarian agencies include disrupted communications, travel restrictions, limited access and roadblocks, said UNOCHA-Myanmar. All areas of Chin State except Paletwa Township have been under martial law for months as the junta conducts large-scale attacks in a desperate bid to reestablish control. It has also imposed restrictions on travel and supplies of food and other commodities, as well as cutting communications in the state. The regime carried out airstrikes on villages in Mindat Township in the cyclones aftermath on May 15 and 17. Some 300 junta troops were also deployed in neighboring Kyaukhtu, making fresh clashes likely, said Ko Yaw Marn, spokesman of Mindat Township Peoples Authority. Local resistance forces suspect the regime will use clean-up operations as an excuse to send in troops to occupy areas currently controlled by Chin Defense Forces (CDF). [The regime] can negotiate with us to help people. We wont allow them to enter our areas without our permission, said Ko Yaw Marn. Matupi CDF said it would not allow any group including those representing the regime to enter its territory without permission. Local resistance groups are caught in a dilemma, said Salai Issac Khen of the Interim Chin National Consultative Council. Their image will be marred if they fight junta troops entering Chin State on the pretext of relief operations; but if they open the roads, it will allow the regime to retake control of the area easily while claiming that local resistance forces now accept the Myanmar military. Local organizations have called on international aid agencies to deliver relief supplies through the civilian National Unity Government or local peoples authorities. If they hand over [supplies] to the regime, it will only deliver some of them in the towns for show, warned Mindat Authoritys Ko Yaw Marn. It would not supply rural villages. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it delivered [international] supplies only to towns and kept the rest. [Donors] can provide supplies [for cyclone victims in Chin] through India and Bangladesh. There are many routes the regime cant control. Burma Five Sagaing Civilians Die in Myanmar Junta Raids Taung Mwhar village after the regimes raid. / Ayadaw Post Five civilians, including four elderly people, from northern Ayadaw Township in Sagaing Region have been killed by Myanmars regime, according to residents. Around 75 troops and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members raided Taung Mwhar village on Tuesday, shelling and seizing eight villagers as hostages, according to residents. Seven of the hostages were released on Thursday and one was still being held. They were released with wounds. Ko Win Min is still in their hands, a villager said. Ko Min Min, 30, was shot dead while trying to escape the raid and U Hla Htay, 80, was killed when a shell hit his house. U Yar Nyunt, 75, died from a heart attack during the raid. Troops occupied the village monastery for the day, searched houses and looted the monks phones, according to a villager. A short clash with resistance forces was reported on Tuesday evening. We entered the village because we thought they had left but soldiers were hiding in the houses so we retreated, a resistance member told The Irrawaddy. On Wednesday morning the troops torched the village and Daw Khin Sein and Daw Aye Htoke, both around 70, were killed in the fire. Daw Khin Sein was not in good health and was immobile. I told Daw Aye Htoke to flee on Tuesday but she didnt. All five villagers have been buried, a resistance member said. Taung Mwhar village had around 400 houses of which around 150 were burned, according to villagers. The fires were not extinguished until Thursday. At least four or five goat farms, crops and machinery were destroyed. The loss is heavy, a villager said. The troops moved 2km to Kyaway Bagan village on Wednesday and burned around nine houses. Thousands of civilians from six villages in northern Ayadaw have fled their houses since the regime raids. The troops reportedly raided and torched Ma Kye Sout village in southern Ayadaw on Thursday. Burma Forty Myanmar Junta Soldiers Killed in 10 Days: Kayah Resistance Weapons and ammunition seized by Kayah State resistance groups during the clashes with regime forces in Demoso Township. / KNDF Resistance groups in Kayah State claim to have killed nearly 40 Myanmar junta soldiers, including officers, since May 14 in Demoso Township. A large number of troops from three infantry battalions raiding a mountain range in the eastern Demoso on May 14, said the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), which was involved in the fighting. The KNDF said it coordinated with the Karenni Army, the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party, and Loikaw Peoples Defense Force to attack regime forces. Junta fighter jets conducted about 60 airstrikes and regime units based in neighboring Hpruso and Loikaw townships shelled the mountains, the KNDF said. The regime planes bombed villages away from the fighting. After suffering heavy losses, regime forces retreated and suffered further casualties in resistance attacks as they fled, said the KNDF. Several captains were among at least 40 soldiers killed and many more troops were injured, the group said. Two regime soldiers were seized alive during the clashes along with 16 weapons and much ammunition, it claimed. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. Eight resistance fighters were also killed, said the KNDF. Heavy clashes broke out in the east of Demoso Township in March amid a heavy junta deployment to look for resistance bases. Civilians have been urged to leave the mountains. After losing control of the ground, the junta has been escalating airstrikes and shelling in Kayah State and adjacent southern Shan State townships, according to rescue groups. During April the junta conducted 108 airstrikes on Kayah State, as well as in Pekon and Pinlaung townships, in southern Shan State, according to the KNDF. Many civilian buildings, including hospitals, churches and monasteries, were destroyed. Burma More Than 40 Tanintharyi Civilians Detained by Myanmar Junta in Week Junta forces during a crackdown on a peaceful protest against the coup in Dawei in March 2021. / CJ Myanmars junta troops have detained more than 40 civilians within a week over alleged links to resistance groups in Tanintharyi Region. Resistance groups have stepped up attacks on regime forces in Myanmars southernmost region, leading to retaliation against civilians. On Tuesday Guerilla Dawei and Dawei Dragon Peoples Defence Force raided Launglon Township police station, the regimes military intelligence and immigration offices. The groups issued a statement saying the operations did not involve the Launglon community. But the junta later detained four Launglon civilians, Ko Hlaing Nay Oo, Ma Swe Zin Htet, Ma Thet Thet Aye and her husband, according to residents. On Tuesday a junta convoy was attacked with a bomb near Kyauk Ka Nyar village in Yebyu Township, injuring an officer. On Wednesday troops raided homes in the village and detained 20 residents. Arrests were also reported in Palaw, Tanintharyi, Dawei and Thayetchaung townships. Seven Kyauk Kar villagers in Palaw Township were detained on May 19 after a junta-appointed administrator was killed by a resistance bomb. At the weekend 10 owners of food and grocery stalls and tea shops in Yay Phyu village, Tanintharyi Township, were detained after junta informants reported that resistance groups bought food from them, residents said. Only five have been released. A man and couple in Tanintharyi Township were detained after at least five junta troops were killed in a resistance bomb attack, a resident said. Six Pa Nat Nge villagers were detained in the township and they remain in custody, a resident told The Irrawaddy. In Dawei, 12 people were detained as human shields after resistance groups in the township ambushed troops on their way back from burning down houses in U Yin Gyi village on Saturday. A 17-year-old was held after the others were freed when the troops reached safety. The teenager reportedly remains in detention because of what the troops found on his phone. His condition is unknown. On Sunday Maung Kyaw Htet Aung, 17, and a female 15-year-old were detained in Thayetchaung Township after their phones were inspected by junta troops at a checkpoint. Their parents are very concerned for them. Now they are still being detained and interrogated, said a relative of Maung Kyaw Htet Aung. Wai Yan Soe, a student activist in Dawei. said the junta was now behaving in Tanintharyi Region like it always had in Myanmars ethnic-minority states. People must be careful and should stay alert to the dangers at all times, he added. Southern Monitor, which researches the conflict in Tanintharyi Region, reported that at least 394 people have been killed and over 28,000 displaced since the 2021 coup. Burma Myanmar Junta Arrests Hip-Hop Artist for Criticizing Power Shortages Hip-hop artist Byuhar / Byuhar's Facebook Myanmar junta forces arrested hip-hop artist Byuhar in Yangon on Wednesday for criticizing the regimes inability to supply sufficient electricity for the country, according to reports from local media and pro-junta news channels. Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar citizens have endured the return of prolonged power outages in the country, even in the commercial capital Yangon and second-largest city, Mandalay. The situation has gotten worse since last year, with electricity supply reduced to three or four hours per day on a rotation basis, creating hardships for peoples daily lives and for businesses. In a Facebook livestream on Tuesday night, the hip-hop artist, who is popular among youth in Myanmar, strongly criticized the military regimes leaders and the junta-appointed Ministry of Electric Power for failing to supply enough electricity. In the five years under the previous government led by the old lady [ousted State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi], we even enjoyed discounted power bills and there were no power blackouts, Byuhar said. He also said the military regime did not have good will or show kindness to the people of the country. The next day, a large number of regime forces arrested Byuhar after raiding his apartment in Yangons North Dagon Township, local residents close to the artist told the media. His current whereabouts are unknown. Myanmars Crisis & the World Thailand Will No Longer Be Quiet on Myanmar: Incoming Coalition Fuadi Pitsuwan / Thai PBS World A key foreign policy advisor to the leader of Thailands liberal Move Forward Party (MFP) has told Thai PBS World that the incoming MFP-led government will no longer be silent on the crisis next door in Myanmar. Myanmar has been engulfed in bloody conflict since the 2021 coup and brutal crackdown triggered a popular armed resistance against military rule. Diplomatic efforts to end the crisis have stalled and the issue has become a threat to regional stability, especially for neighboring Thailand. Fuadi Pitsuwan, foreign affairs chief for MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat, said the incoming government will revive Thai foreign policy to improve its image in ASEAN and alleviate Myanmars political crisis. MFP is forming an eight-party coalition after winning the largest number of seats in the countrys May 14 general election. Harvard-educated Fuadi, who is the son of former Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan, said that Thailand will move away from the current governments quiet diplomacy in dealing with the crisis in Myanmar. The outgoing military-backed Prayut Chan-o-cha administration has been criticized for being too friendly with the junta. Thailand needs to play a more active role in dealing with problems confronting the region, especially the crisis in Myanmar, Fuadi said on Tuesday. We will engage in inclusive dialogues with all stakeholders, while focusing on both humanitarian and economic aspects that are in Thailands interest, he said. He added that under the new government, Thailand will rebalance its foreign policy to restore its reputation in the international arena. Under the Prayut government, Bangkok foreign policy leaned away from western countries and more towards China. Fuadi also insisted Thailand under the MFP-led government would be more active in international efforts to tackle global crises such as environmental degradation. Fuadi studied at Harvard and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in foreign service. His father, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, once reconfigured ASEANs constructive engagement policy with the previous military regime in Myanmar to flexible engagement. Surin later became secretary-general of the bloc and helped lead ASEAN and UN relief efforts for cyclone-hit Myanmar in 2008. As chair of the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, he visited the military regime to negotiate delivery of aid to the Ayeyarwady Delta, where cyclone Nargis left 84,500 people dead, 53,800 missing, and affected 2.4 million people, according to UN estimates. MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat revealed his Myanmar policy at a post-election press conference on May 15, saying We want to push ahead to make sure the Five Point Consensus is actually achieved. The consensus is the peace plan for Myanmar adopted by ASEAN adopted in the wake of the 2021 coup. The junta has ignored the plan and continued its deadly campaign of ground and air attacks against civilians. Pita highlighted the importance of the Burma Act, which he said Thailand would use to start working with the international community to make sure that we have the right amount of pressure and incentives for people to resolve their conflict. Passed by US Congress last December, the Burma Act authorizes US funding of non-lethal support for resistance forces in Myanmar. On Saturday, Pita told a senior official from the World Economic Forum that the Move Forward-led government will revive Thailands leading role in ASEAN and work to lessen the violence in Myanmar. On Sunday, he tweeted in English and Burmese that his thoughts and prayers are with the people of Myanmar, especially those affected by the recent cyclone that devastated the countrys western region. He urged the caretaker Thai government and international community to hasten delivery of aid to those affected by cyclone Mocha, adding that the call was made in line with his new foreign policy agenda as PM-in-waiting. Significantly, he said his Myanmar policy will engage with all stakeholders indicating an intention to engage with anti-regime forces in a fresh push for peace. The story was updated at 6:03 PM on Thursday. Analysis Internal, External Challenges Await New Leadership of Myanmars KNU New KNU chairman Padoh Kwe Htoo Win / The Irrawaddy The Karen National Union (KNU), the most powerful ethnic armed organization (EAO) in Myanmar, held its 17th congress in secrecy early this month, electing new leadership after a two-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup. With 91-year-old Mutu Say Poe having stepped down on health grounds, former vice chairman Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win was elected to succeed him as KNU chairman. Elections were also held to fill other key positions, including vice chairman, three secretaries, chief justice, and the heads of the KNUs 12 departments, in the first week of May. In a May 5 statement issued after the congress, the armed group vowed to continue to fight for equality and a federal, democratic Union. Growing tensions with junta In its statement, the KNU Congress vowed to fight racial chauvinism and military dictatorship, establish federal democracy, and work together with the people of the entire Karen nation for equality and self-determination. It also vowed to collaborate with ethnic armed revolutionary organizations, pro-democracy forces, and people from different walks of life that are fighting chauvinism and military dictatorship and for the cause of democracy, equality and self-determination, and the establishment of a federal, democratic Union. The military regime denounced the KNU statement. On May 10, the juntas National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee said the KNUs statement was counter to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and would result in confrontation. It insisted the NCA is the only path to peace and stability. The KNU signed the NCA under U Thein Seins quasi-civilian government, and actively engaged in the peace process until the 2021 military coup, but since then it has provided shelter and training for those who have decided to take up arms against the Myanmar military. Along with other EAOs including the Kachin Independence Army, Karenni Army, Chin National Front and All Burma Students Democratic Front, the KNU has rejected the juntas peace overtures and has been fighting alongside resistance forces collectively known as the Peoples Defense Force (PDF), which operates as the army of the parallel National Unity Government (KNU). A high-ranking KNU official said the stance presented in the statement following the 17th congress was nothing new, and continued the armed organizations long-standing policy, adding that the new leadership was unlikely to engage in talks with the Myanmar military regime. The majority of the [new] leadership are middle-aged people. They are active and enthusiastic. The regime has invited the KNU to many of its ceremonies. The KNU has a policy of not holding talks with military dictators. [KNU spokesman] Padoh Saw Taw Nee has also said we have nothing to talk with the military about, and will only talk with an elected civilian government, he said. External, internal pressures The 17th congress was repeatedly postponed for fear of junta air attacks since the coup. Attendees were kept in suspense throughout the congress as junta aircraft were spotted frequently over KNU territory, according to KNU sources. Junta troops and KNU-led allied forces clashed in territories controlled by the KNUs brigades 1, 3, 5 and 6 during the congress. As of December 2022, a total of 365,178 people had been affected by junta air and artillery attacks and by clashes on the ground, according to a report by the KNUs human rights committee and research section. Combined with people already displaced by previous fighting, the displaced population totaled some 500,000 in KNU territories. The 17th congress drew widespread attention as the KNUs Central Executive Committee was under pressure due to the alleged involvement of KNU commanders in KK Park, a crime hub on the Thai border. Karen civil society organizations around the world even demanded the resignation of the entire Central Executive Committee for failing to punish certain KNU leaders involved in KK Park. Notorious as a hub of human trafficking and online scams, the China-backed so-called new city project is located near the village of Maw Hto Talay in an area controlled by KNU Brigade 6 in the north of Myawaddy Township. KNU Brigade 2 and Brigade 5 didnt participate in the voting to choose the new leadership and did not put up any candidates. Brigade 5 has called on the new leadership to punish senior KNU members who violated the organizations rules and regulations, and to crush all illegal businesses in Kawthoolei, as the KNUs territory is known in the Karen language. The committee said it would probe allegations of KNU leaders involvement in KK Park. It appears that how leaders of the KNU central body handle the internal problems will affect the relationship between KNU headquarters and brigades 2 and 5. New chairman Former vice chairman Padoh Kwe Htoo Win was elected the 10th chair of the KNU. An alumnus of Yangons University of Economics, he served as the KNU Brigade 4 chairman from 1990 to 2012 and was elected general secretary of the KNU at the 15th congress. As the KNU general secretary, he attended the signing of the NCA between U Thein Seins quasi-civilian government and the KNU in October 2015. He was elected vice chairman at the organizations 16th congress in 2017. Following his election, the Myanmar military regime has carried out a number of operations probably intended to test how he will conduct himself as the new KNU leader. On May 14, around 50 junta troops arrested the younger brother and nephew of KNU vice chair Padoh Hser Gay in Bago Regions Kyaukkyi Township. The two were released the following day. Kyaukkyi in Nyaunglebin District, where the KNU Brigade 3 is based, is a conflict zone where junta troops and KNU-led allied forces are currently fighting. Junta troops also killed 20 residents, including 11 women and four children, from Nyaungbinthar Village in Nyaunglebins Mone Township by setting fire to them. Intensified clashes ahead? Over the past four months, during the countrys hot season, there were 1,642 clashes between the two sides in areas controlled by the KNU. PDF groups fought alongside the KNU in those clashes. Around 1,700 junta soldiers were killed in the period, according to the KNU, but The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the junta casualties. The KNU said it suffered 59 fatalities with around 200 others injured. A source close to the KNU said it is difficult to predict whether clashes will intensify in the rainy season, which begins in June, because the regime tends to conduct more air and artillery attacks during the rainy season. What is good about the KNU is it has a policy of collective leadership, said an observer of Karen politics based on the border. Half of the new leadership are middle-aged persons. We will wait and see their political acumen, and if they can provide checks and balances on the chairman, added the observer. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. How to Clip Click and hold your mouse button on the page to select the area you wish to save or print. You can click and drag the clipping box to move it or click and drag in the bottom right corner to resize it. When you're happy with your selection, click the checkmark icon next to the clipping area to continue. It was no longer a secret on Wednesday that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is joining the Republican presidential candidates in challenging Donald Trump for the 2024 nomination. Despite being described as an elitist with impressive academic credentials, military service and conservative credentials, DeSantis needs to walk a fine line between appealing to Trumps supporters and distancing himself from Trump in order to win the Republican nomination. As part of his campaign strategy, he has been visiting states that hold early voting contests and has been waiting to receive conservative credibility by allowing the Florida Legislature to give him policy victories including the six-week abortion ban, making it easier for Floridians to carry concealed weapons, and eliminating funding for diversity programmes at public universities. He has also made an effort to buff up his foreign policy credentials and has supported tough sanctions on Russia, whereas former President Trump prefers a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Emmanuel Macron states that France is undergoing an uncivilising process of violence. French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that France is undergoing an uncivilising process, according to a government source. This comes after the deaths of a nurse and three police officers, as well as multiple attacks on elected officials. We must be uncompromising on the fundamentals. There is no legitimate violence, whether verbal or towards people, Macron stated during a cabinet meeting. We have to work from top to bottom to counteract this uncivilising process, he added. Macrons comments were initially reported by Le Parisien and then confirmed by AFP. The Prime Minister also participated in a minutes silence for the nurse who was killed in Reims on Monday. Macron was scheduled to travel to Roubaix on Thursday to pay his respects to the three policemen who died in a car accident on Sunday. Attacks on elected officials have been on the rise, including one mayor who resigned after his house was set on fire in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. The arson is believed to have been perpetrated by opponents of an accommodation centre for asylum seekers. Other officials, including MPs, have had their offices vandalised for political reasons amidst fierce protests over Macrons unpopular pension reform. (AFP) On Thursday, a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street in central London, where the British Prime Ministers offices and residence are situated. The incident triggered an intense security response from one of Londons most-fortified sites. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and authorities do not believe the occurrence was terror-related. The police arrested a man on charges of criminal damage and dangerous driving. The incident is currently being investigated by local officers and not counterterrorism detectives. During the collision, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in his office. While it remains unclear whether the event was deliberate, footage on social media shows a silver hatchback car heading straight for the gates at low speed across Whitehall. A witness, Simon Parry, reported hearing a bang and seeing taser guns being used. Shortly after the accident, several police officers minutely examined the vehicle, removing items from the trunk, and taking them as evidence. A car transporter arrived a few hours to take the vehicle away. The police cordoned off a wide area of Londons government district, but the barriers were lifted less than two hours after the collision, allowing people back onto Whitehall. Normally, the street is full of civil servants and tourists keen to see the Houses of Parliament and other historic buildings. Downing Street is a narrow street with a row of Georgian houses that include the prime ministers official residence at No. 10. Access to the street is limited, and the gates are always guarded by armed police officers. The gates were erected in 1989 to combat threats from Irish Republican Army militants. The street witnessed a similar attack in 1991 when the IRA fired three mortars at the street, injuring three police officers and a civil servant. In 2017, the area was targeted by an extremist who killed four people with a vehicle on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer to death outside Parliament. Similar attacks have occurred in seats of power across the globe. Just three days ago, a man crashed a rented truck outside the White House and waved a Nazi flag. Sai Varshith Kandula has been charged with damaging U.S property. On the Second Day of Tense Ceasefire, Sudanese Are Still Awaiting Aid. The second day of the truce in Sudan has still not brought increased humanitarian aid to war-torn communities. Meanwhile, Senegal is waiting for the verdict in Ousmane Sonkos rape trial. The prosecution is pushing for a ten-year prison sentence for the opposition leader. Finally, perennial conflict and poor infrastructure have resulted in an unreliable power grid in Central African Republic, leaving only ten percent of the population with access to electricity. The second day of the truce in Sudan has not yet brought any relief to the war-torn communities. Despite the ceasefire agreement, there has been no significant increase in humanitarian aid, leaving many people still struggling to survive. Sudan has been in turmoil for years, with violent conflicts ravaging the country. The current truce is seen as a small glimmer of hope for the Sudanese people, but the lack of aid is hampering progress towards a lasting peace. Meanwhile, in Senegal, the verdict in the rape trial of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko is awaited. The prosecution is pushing for a ten-year prison sentence for the politician, who has denied the allegations against him. The case has led to protests and unrest across the country, with many people calling for justice for the alleged victim. The outcome of the trial is likely to have significant political implications, as Sonko is a prominent figure in the Senegalese opposition. In Central African Republic, the ongoing conflict and poor infrastructure have led to an unreliable power grid, leaving only ten percent of the population with access to electricity. This lack of electricity is a major hindrance to development in the country, as it affects everything from healthcare to education to economic growth. The government has been struggling to improve the situation, but progress has been slow due to the ongoing conflict and lack of resources. Overall, these stories highlight the challenges faced by many African countries, from conflict and violence to poverty and underdevelopment. While there are signs of progress, much more needs to be done to improve the lives of the people of Africa and build a brighter future for the continent. Rwandan authorities apprehend one of the most sought-after genocide suspects in South Africa. One of the most sought-after suspects in the Rwandan genocide, a police officer believed to have orchestrated the massacre of more than 2,000 people at a church almost three decades ago, was apprehended in South Africa on Wednesday after 22 years on the lam, according to a special United Nations tribunal established to bring the perpetrators to justice. Fulgence Kayishema, who is suspected to be in his early sixties, had adopted a false identity and gone by the name Donatien Nibashumba, South African police stated. He was arrested in a collaborative operation by the tribunals fugitive tracking team and South African law enforcement after a probe that had traced him through various African nations, including Mozambique and Eswatini. Kayishema was indicted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2001 and charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity. He had been on the run since then, the tribunal said. ( Al-Shabaka ) Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from a worsening energy crisis due to the Israeli regimes ongoing siege. As a result, they have adopted different coping strategies, including solar energy technology to offset electricity shortages. Al-Shabaka policy analyst and 2022 Visiting Gaza Fellow Asmaa Abu Mezied examines this reality, and offers recommendations for Palestinian leadership and stakeholders to promote Palestinian economic self-determination in Gaza. Introduction Since 2006, Palestinians in Gaza have suffered from a worsening energy crisis due to the Israeli regimes unrelenting siege. As a result, they have sought alternative sources of energy that are funded by donor aid, as well as governmental and private-sector initiatives. While these schemes can provide Palestinians with short-term solutions to alleviate their energy needs, they fail to confront the fundamental obstacles imposed by the Israeli siege, thus depoliticizing the energy crisis and perpetuating the status quo. Addressing the complexities of the energy crisis in Gaza is beyond the scope of this policy brief. Instead, it contextualizes Gazas wider energy crisis within the Israeli regimes siege in order to look more closely at the enclaves electricity crisis specifically, as well as the strategies Palestinians adopt to confront it, including solar energy technology. As the analysis makes clear, any attempt to adopt alternative energy sources within the context of economic siege places undue burdens on Palestinian households that are already suffering from limited access to basic needs. The brief ends with policy recommendations for Palestinian leadership, as well as the international donor community and environmental activists, to ease the energy crisis in Gaza and contribute to Palestinians economic self-determination. Energy Under Siege Israels policy of depriving Palestinians from access to energy is multifaceted across colonized Palestine, causing chronic energy poverty. In Area C of the West Bank, the regime bans Palestinians from connecting to power grids and denies them permits to install solar energy systems. In 2018, it also threatened to destroy solar energy projects in Areas A and Bostensibly under the governance of the Palestinian Authority (PA)for not being licensed according to Israeli law. In Gaza, not only does the Israeli regime deprive Palestinians of energy resources, it also targets the only diesel-based power plant in what amounts to political vengeance, systematically devastating Gazas economy and Palestinians livelihoods. This is particularly worrying given Palestinians increasing reliance on energy imported from Israel. Indeed, between 2010 and 2020, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza increased their imports of electricity from the Israeli regime by 56%, representing 91% of total imported electricity. This is 11 times greater than electricity purchases from the Palestine Electric Company in Gaza. In 2017, Palestinian households and businesses, as well as the Gaza Power Generating Company (GPGC), spent $769.7 million (22% of Gazas GDP) on imported energy sources from the Israeli regime, including petroleum, diesel, gasoline, liquid propane gas, and electricity, among others. However essential donor aid may be for Palestinians in Gaza, the absence of a plan to orient these investments towards self-determination for the Palestinians guarantees the protraction of the Israeli siege Click To Tweet The supply of each source fluctuates based on prevailing political and economic conditions. For example, in 2017, the Israeli regime collectively punished Palestinians in Gaza following the PAs refusal to pay energy bills. From a daily average of 120 megawatts (MW), Israel restricted its monthly supply of energy to Gaza to 70 MW per day during the last six months of 2017. Similarly, during its assault on Gaza in May 2021, Israel reduced its energy supply to Gaza to 86 MW per day. Importantly, access to energy in Palestineincluding imported energy sources such as fossil fuels, electricity, and renewable energyis contingent on the stipulations of the 1994 Paris Economic Protocol (PEP), which ensures the Israeli regimes control over the levers of the Palestinian economy. Indeed, clause 12 of the PEP conditions Palestinian imports of petrol to meet European and US fuel standards enforced in Israel. The PEP also stipulates that the difference between prices of petrol sold between 1948 territories, the West Bank, and Gaza should not exceed 15%. It has therefore become increasingly unaffordable for the PA to import fuel from other countries. As a result, Palestinians are paying the highest prices for energy in the regiondespite consuming the lowest levelswhich, in turn, exacerbates their financial burdens. The Vicious Cycle of Donor Aid The international communitys refusal to hold the Israeli regime accountable ensures the perpetuation of Palestinian reliance on donor aid for basic needs. This includes energy resources that Israel blocks from Gaza and vital infrastructure that it destroys. Indeed, Israel has demolished donor-funded solar-power projects in Gazas industrial city and solar panels in Area C of the West Bank, yet donors continue to overlook these violations while pouring in aid to help Palestinians meet their humanitarian needs. From 2006 to 2009, the EU provided the GPGC with fuel, while Qatar and Turkey offered grants to cover the cost of industrial diesel and the blue tax the Israeli regime imposes on Palestinian fuel purchases. And while the use of solar-powered energy has been steadily rising in Gaza as a result, 69.2% of the institutions that have adopted it since 2010 have indicated that it can only cover up to 20% of their energy consumption costs. However essential donor aid may be for Palestinians in Gaza, the absence of a plan to orient these investments towards self-determination for the Palestinians guarantees the protraction of the Israeli siege. Ultimately, by continuing to sidestep Palestinian calls for sovereignty over their land and natural resources, and by continuing to shield Israel from accountability, donors do nothing more than entrench Palestinian oppression and energy poverty. A Closer Look at the Electricity Crisis Structural Issues In 2020, 83.8% of the electricity supply in the West Bank and Gaza, and almost all its fuel demand, was imported from the Israeli regime. The rest was imported from the Palestinian Electricity Transmission Company (5.3%) and Jordan (2.6%). The remaining supply (8.3%) was purchased locally from the Palestine Electric Company through the GPGC. In Gaza specifically, electricity from GPGC constituted just 35% of purchased electricity in 2020, while the rest was imported from the Israeli regime. The besieged enclaves electricity supply from the GPGC is contingent on the availability of funds to purchase diesel to power the plant. In 2021, the Israeli regime further restricted the entry of fuel to Gaza for a month following its May 2021 ceasefire with Hamas. Consequently, the GPGC could only operate at half capacity most of the time, producing an average of 65 MW per day. Energy poverty in Gaza means that many women work more hours in unpaid household labor, leaving them with little or no discretionary timethis creates increased stress and pressure, often leading to mental health struggles Click To Tweet In addition to the restrictions on electricity supply, the overall demand for electricity in Gaza is increasing with population growth. Households register the highest percentage of electricity consumption (60.69%) compared to the industrial, transport, and commercial sectors. In 2021, while the daily average demand for electricity was 500 MW, the average supply was only 190 MW (120 from Israel and 70 from the GPGC), resulting in a deficit of 310 MW. This deficit is a chronic crisis affecting almost all Palestinian households in Gaza. The electricity crisis is worsened by frequent outages, which hinder the ability of public-sector institutions to provide basic services related to water and waste management, healthcare, and education. For example, wastewater treatment plants in Gaza are often unable to process sewage due to electricity shortages, resulting in a significant daily amount of partially treated water being dumped into the Mediterranean Sea, threatening marine life and Gazas vital fishing industry. Via hosny_salah at Pixabay Healthcare provision is also severely impacted by power shortages. Indeed, hospitals in Gaza are often forced to postpone non-emergency surgeries, with waiting times reaching 16 months in 2021 compared to three months in 2005. Educational institutions are likewise impacted; this was particularly acute during the COVID-19 pandemic, when frequent power outages left teachers unable to use classroom technologies and many students were forced to study by candlelight. The electricity crisis is also impacting the private sector. Some businesses have been forced to scale down operations or cease operating altogether. Others have reported a 30% increase in operational costs for securing electricity from alternative sources during outages. This has resulted in depleting profit margins and discouraging further investments in Gazas private sector. For workers, the situation is even more precarious, with many either forced to accommodate their working hours to the electricity schedule in businesses and factories, or to accept reductions in their daily wages due to shortened working hours. Disproportionate Effects on Women The structural issues outlined above also highlight the direct correlation between energy poverty and the perpetuation of gender inequality in Gaza. For example, some companies exploit the crisis to justify refusing to employ women under the pretext that they would not be able to work night shifts in the event of a power outage during the day. This is due to the patriarchal expectation that women in the labor force should work shorter hours and only during the daytime. The shortage in electricity also has a severe impact on household labor, for which Palestinian women, like women all over the world, are disproportionately responsible. Indeed, energy poverty in Gaza means that many women work even more hours in unpaid household labor, leaving them with little or no discretionary timea phenomenon known as time poverty. In turn, this creates increased stress and pressure, often leading to mental health struggles. Furthermore, many women rely on homemade food processing techniques, such as cheese production. Frequent electricity outages damage electrical appliances needed for these techniques, leading to spoilage and unaffordable repair costs that place serious financial burdens on the family and home-based businesses. In addition, because of the risks of food-born diseases that can result from perishable foods not properly stored during lengthy electricity outages, women are often forced to cook all the food to avoid spoilage. As a result, they are often compelled to rely on canned foods to feed their families, or to cook and bake using wood, exacerbating health and environmental problems. Moreover, electricity is vital in helping Palestinians in Gaza navigate the worsening climate crisis, which is causing extreme temperatures. As a result, Palestinians are increasingly relying on electrical appliances, such as fans and air conditioning units, to alleviate the stifling heat in the summers, and on heating units to survive the bitter winter cold. Living under these climate conditions with limited electricity affects women in particular, as they generally carry the burden of caring for their homes and families, especially children and older adults. Ultimately, while all Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from the consequences of energy poverty, the effects on women are undoubtedly disproportionate due to prevailing gender inequalities. Palestinian Coping Strategies A 2021 study found that the monthly energy bill for half of the sampled Palestinian households in Gaza ranged between 150-300 NIS ($40-80), amounting to one-fifth of Gaza households average monthly income of 1,260 NIS ($342). As a result, Palestinians in Gaza have been developing methods to conserve electricity, allowing them to shrink their consumption by half that of Palestinian households in the West Bank. Palestinians in Gaza are no strangers to solar-powered energy. Thanks to a daily average of eight hours of sunlight, 88% of families in Gaza owned solar thermal water heaters in 2004, a practice they adopted in the 1970s. While more recent figures on the scale of solar water heater use in Gaza are not available, in 2015, 56.5% of Palestinian households in the West Bank and Gaza used solar water heaters; in 2017, researchers found that solar water heaters saved Palestinians in Gaza 24.8% of their annual electricity bills. Solar Photovoltaic Energy as an Alternative to Electricity Since 2013, some Palestinians in Gaza who can afford to do so started adopting solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, either by connecting to an existing electricity grid (on-grid system), through a hybrid model, or entirely off-grid. Unlike solar thermal panels, which convert solar radiation into heat, PV technology converts sunlight to electricity, thus allowing households to power electrical appliances in addition to heating water. Although existing estimates about the contribution of PV technology to the electricity supply in Gaza are unreliable, researchers were able to determine that the number of PV systems installed in Gaza increased from 591 in 2015 to 8,760 in 2019, while solar panel surface space increased from 115 square meters in 2012 to 20,000 square meters in 2019. The discussion of solar energy adoption as a solution to the energy crisis in Gaza must be reframed from a technical issue to a political one, with justice and liberation for Palestinians at its core Click To Tweet Despite its potential, PV technology is costly. The price of installing an off-grid PV system of one kilowatt (KW) is between $1,000-2,500, excluding maintenance costs. Such systems cover household illumination, while operating other electrical devices such as fridges, fans, and washing machines requires a larger capacity of three KW at a cost of $3,000-5,000. By contrast, one KW of an on-grid systemwidely used in the West Bankranges between $850-1,000. Beyond costliness, the Israeli regime has sporadically restricted the entry of materials needed to install solar energy equipment over the past two decades. Moreover, its successive attacks on Gaza have destroyed necessary infrastructure for PV system installation, including residential buildings needed to house a rapidly expanding population, expected to reach 3.1 million in 2030. Combined with diminishing land and roof space, these realities render it extremely challenging for most Palestinians in Gaza to consider adopting PV technology. Indeed, Palestinians in Gaza generally support the use of solar energy as a means of reducing household expenditures and coping with power outages. However, they point out that accessibility and affordability are the main obstacles to doing so. For example, solar energy suppliers indicate that while donor aid has largely covered the costs of PV system installations in marginalized communities in Gaza, the systems operate at minimal capacities (one KW), only sufficient for lighting. Moreover, public-sector employees working in the health sector indicated that the maximum amount of money they can set aside for solar system installation is 5,000 NIS ($1,360), which is less than the amount needed to purchase one KW. Access to alternative energy sources, especially electricity, is thus a costly luxury. In a society fraught with increasing socioeconomic divisions, many cannot afford the expenditure. Instead, families in villages and refugee camps depend on candles and gasoline stoves to power their households during outagescheaper alternatives that can be hazardous and life-threatening. Indeed, between 2012 and 2022, 35 Palestinians in Gaza were killed, and 36 injuredmostly children and womendue to fires caused by candles and/or other open flames. Governmental and Private-Sector Initiatives As part of its strategic plan for 2020-2030, the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority (PENRA) ambitiously set out to produce 500 MW of power by 2030, 80% of which would be produced by solar power at a cost of $650-734 million. The PA also issued decrees in 2015 and 2017 to encourage private-sector investment in renewable solar energy. These decrees provided investment and tax incentives to companies generating electricity from renewable sources such as feed-in tariffs and net metering (only the latter is implemented in Gaza). However, the Israeli siege and the political division between Fatah and Hamas create disparity in implementing these green financing initiatives in Gaza. Indeed, initiatives by PENRA and private companies like the Palestine Investment Fund to encourage household adoption of solar energy have mainly extended to the West Bank. As an example, SUNREF, an EU-sponsored project, provided 25 million euros in interest-free loans to private-sector companies to invest in renewable energy between 2017 and 2021; Gaza-based companies only received around 6% of these loans. As a result, the adoption of solar-powered energy technology in Gaza has largely been limited to healthcare facilities, state institutions, and private businesses that can afford the installation and operational costs. But extending loans to households would not solve the problem. The Gaza Solar Revolving Fund, launched by the World Bank and PENRA, is an initiative aimed at providing small businesses and households with interest-free loans. However, the political division between Fatah and Hamas continues to alienate many Palestinians from their leadership, especially due to government cuts to public employees salaries. As a result, the Gaza Solar Revolving Fund initiative, like others, has seen low consumer buy-in, even with the option to pay in installments. Indeed, the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company also launched a project offering solar system installation for households payable in monthly installments. However, the cheapest package is 6,956 NIS ($1,892) over 28 months, which is beyond the maximum amount public-sector employees reported they can set aside for solar energy systems. More companies have followed suit, providing installment payment schemes to encourage consumer buy-in with limited success. Moreover, the existing requirements for qualifying for green financingincluding proof of employment, a regular salary, and a registered bank accountmean that few Palestinians in Gaza can apply, leaving the majority reliant on the Israeli regime and/or donor aid for access to electricity. This highlights the critical gap between private sector, donor, and governmental policies, and the needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Despite the initiatives implemented by the PA to alleviate energy poverty in Gaza, they have been limited in scope and implementation. Recommendations It is imperative to understand the rights of Palestinians in Gaza to access energy within the contexts of the Israeli siege, the Palestinian political divide, and donor complicity. The discussion of solar energy adoption as a solution to the energy crisis in Gaza must therefore be reframed from a technical issue to a political one, with justice and liberation for Palestinians at its core: Reddit Email 52 Shares Hint: rationing is a better approach than markets. ( Foreign Policy in Focus ) The burning of fossil fuelsoil, coal, natural gasis responsible for nearly 90 percent of global carbon emissions. Despite almost-universal recognition of the need to reduce the use of those fossil fuels, the industrialized world is having the hardest time breaking its addiction. The economic rebound from the COVID-19 shutdowns generated the largest ever increase in global emissions from fossil fuels in 2021around 2 billion tons. The increase in 2022 was considerably more modestthanks to a surge in renewable energy investmentsbut it was an increase nonetheless. Meanwhile, subsidies for fossil fuel consumption rose to a record $1 trillion last year. The prevailing approach to reducing dependency on fossil fuels has been price-basedeither by way of a carbon tax or some form of emissions trading scheme. Around two dozen countries levy carbon taxes: establishing a price for carbon and making emitters pay that price per unit of carbon consumed. Meanwhile, under the various cap-and-trade systems in place in the European Union and other places, a cap on emissions is established through the issuance of permits. But industries can exceed their cap by simply paying a penalty, while those that dont use the full value of their permit can effectively sell their allowance to others. One problem with the carbon tax is that the price of carbon has traditionally been set too low, so that producers and consumers do not feel the economic push to abandon fossil fuels. The problem with the cap-and-trade mechanism is that it has generally moved carbon emissions around rather than substantially reduce them. As Ive explored with colleagues in peer-reviewed work in the past, cap-and-trade almost invariably contains no meaningful cap, explains Shaun Chamberlin, an author and activist who has advised the UK government on carbon rationing and was involved with the Transition Towns and Extinction Rebellion movements from the outset. It always has some form of safety valve mechanism, which basically means that if the price gets out of hand, the cap is ignored. Accordingly, the market has failed to guide the global economy to a fossil-fuel-free future in the time frame necessitated by rising temperatures and other effects of climate change. Scientists now estimate that the world will pass the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees over pre-industrial levels in the first half of the 2030s. Market-based approaches tend to reinforce the status quo rather than transform the structures that have created the problem in the first place. By contrast, in crises characterized by scarcity, one common solution has been to ration valuable resources. During wartime, for instance, many commodities have been rationed, from food to energy. During natural disasters, water might be rationed. Such systems introduce a measure of equity to prevent the rich and the powerful from simply buying up the scarce items and the unscrupulous from engaging in price-gouging to make quick profits. In such circumstances the cap on consumption is obvious since more food, energy, or water is simply not available. With fossil fuels, the urgency is not around scarcitytheres still a lot of oil, natural gas, and coal under the ground and ocean (though its not limitless). Rather, the international community must act quickly because of the collective harm that fossil fuels produce. As such, the various plans put forward to ration fossil fuel use are not temporary measures that elapse when surpluses return. Rather, the cap-and-ration approach establishes a cap that declines over time to eliminate dependency in a way that ensures sufficiency, equity, and justice for all, observes Stan Cox, a research fellow in ecosphere studies at the Land Institute. These policies would include, at a minimum, careful allocation of energy among economic sectors and fair-share rationing for consumers. Using rationing to reduce fossil fuel useespecially in the Global Northhas already come close to political reality. The UK government commissioned a feasibility study of such a rationing system, Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQs), which reported positive findings in 2008, and a significant number of MPs supported the implementation of a TEQs system in 2011. The idea also attracted interest from the European Commission in 2018, because it offered the means to actually implement and achieve the carbon capping targets set by the politicians. Since these caps are designed at a national levelbased on internationally agreed-upon carbon reduction targets like those of the Paris agreementthey are subject to democratic decision-making. But they dont necessarily reflect global justice. It doesnt take into account the existing climate debt, points out Ivonne Yanez, an Ecuadorian environmentalist and founder member of Accion Ecologica and Oilwatch international. The richer countries have historically occupied the atmosphere with their emissions. So, these carbon budgets are calculated without regard to this historic injustice. Via Pixabay. In a March 21 session sponsored by Global Just Transition, Chamberlin, Cox, and Yanez discussed the value of rationing fossil fuels as a method to address the worsening climate crisis. Beyond Carbon Pricing The United Kingdom has a carbon budget that is legally bindingat least theoretically and that restricts the amount of carbon emissions the country as a whole can emit over each five-year period. It was the first country to enact such a measure. As our government never tires of telling us, here in the UK weve been leading the world in carbon budgets since 2010, Shaun Chamberlin notes. Our Climate Change Act said we would reduce emissions in the UK by 80 percent by 2050. What we dont haveand dont look to have anytime soonis any reasonable plan for actually delivering on these targets. Instead, we have a Climate Change Committee that regularly puts out reports saying, Actually, were nowhere near delivering on what the government promised in its legally binding targets. According to its targets, the UK is supposed to cut its carbon emissions by 68 per cent by 2030 (relative to 1990 levels) in order to reach net zero by 2050. But the government has admitted that even in the best of circumstancesshould all projected cuts be made and the latest carbon-capture technology actually workthe UK will still only hit 92 percent of its 2030 goal. In other words, their strategy based on carbon pricing continues to fail. Theres been such a focus, and rightly so, on agreeing to globally appropriate carbon budgets that are sufficiently steep to address the problem of climate change, but also not so demanding that that they destroy economies and lives, Chamberlin explains. But theres been so little focus on the parallel question of how we actually reduce Global North emissions by 90 percent in 20 years, or whatever we consider to be radical emissions reductions. The plan the UK almost adopted more than a decade agoTradable Energy Quotas or TEQswould have taken a very different approach. TEQs emerged from a different paradigm to the whole carbon pricing approach, Chamberlin explains. Theres this impossible tension built into carbon pricing. We need to make carbon sufficiently expensive that it gets driven out of the economy. But at the same time, we need to keep energy affordable. According to the International Energy Agency, however, about 80 percent of global energy still comes from fossil fuels, a level that has remained consistent for decades. So, if our energy is so highly carbonized, it becomesunsurprisinglyimpossibly difficult to raise the carbon price without raising the energy price, Chamberlin points out. The carbon pricing approach has not been able to square this circle. What TEQs would do is turn that on its head, he continues. By removing any need to raise carbon prices, it would unify everybody in common purpose around genuinely shared and actually compatible goalsminimizing the destabilization of our climate while striving to keep energy services available and affordable. And it would make the economy exist within a carbon budget, rather than the other way around. TEQs Explained The TEQs system, established by economist and cultural historian David Fleming in 1996, is a national-level system for capping and then reducing the fossil fuel-based energy consumption of all energy usersindividual, institutional, and corporate. Its a national system for implementing national carbon commitments agreed by the government of that country, Chamberlin explains. All individuals within that country receive an unconditional, equal, and free entitlement of what are called TEQs units, which you might think of as electronic ration coupons. To purchase any fuel or energy anywhere in the economy, these units have to be surrendered alongside the usual payment of money. So, you go to the gas station, you pay in cash or by credit card, and you also surrender some of these TEQs units. He continues, Your entitlement will be an equal proportion of the national carbon budget. If you use less than that, if you are a below-average energy user, then youll have some spare left from your entitlement which you receive each week, and you can sell that spare back to the issuer. So, those who are energy-thrifty get a financial benefit from using less. Those who want to use more than their entitlement can buy those spare units, but of course theyre then effectively paying the more energy-thrifty people for the benefit of doing so. The system is administered by a registrar that issues the quotas. In the UK, around 40 percent of emissions come from individuals and households, and around 60 percent of emissions come from industry and companies and non-household energy users, Chamberlin says. In line with those proportions, 40 percent of the budget goes to individuals while 60 percent goes via an auction to all other users. Only individuals and households get the free TEQ units; all other energy users need to purchase the units they need, which sets a single national price. The only place that anybody can get their TEQ units is from the registrar. Theres no trading between you and your neighbor directly. If you want to sell some units, you sell them to the registrar. If they want to buy some units, they buy them from the registrar. Since TEQs units are necessary for all energy use, and are only issued in line with the national carbon cap, the national carbon cap cant be exceeded. As such, carbon pricing is unnecessaryand without that artificial need to raise the price of energy, everyones focus can turn to keeping energy as affordable as possible and life as good as possible under the cap, he continues. The other key part of the system is a rating system. The government will assess each energy retailer in the country for the carbon intensity of its fuel, Chamberlin explains. For example, if one oil company has a more carbon-efficient refining process than another, their petrol will require fewer TEQs units from the consumer at the point of purchase. This creates an incentive all the way through the economy for lower carbon processes. And of course, relative to any oil producer, renewable energy is going to require vastly fewer TEQs units. Not none, because there is still fossil fuel used in the production of wind turbines or solar panels, but vastly fewer. And because the carbon-intensity of energy/fuels is assessed and rated where they enter the economy, there is no need for impossibly complex lifecycle analysis of products. We dont need to figure out how much carbon went into every bag of crisps, Chamberlin continues. Theres no need to measure the emissions that come out of every chimney or every car exhaust pipe. Instead, the rating system applies upstream, and people engage with it downstream. Equity is also built into the system. At any point, people can go to the registrar to purchase more TEQs units if they feel that they need them, and at any point people can sell, Chamberlin adds. Because the number of units issued into the economy is fixed by the carbon budget, the price at any given time is determined by the demand. If lots of people are really struggling to live under the carbon budget, there are going to be lots of people trying to buy TEQs units, which will drive the price up. This creates a very clear message to the whole society that its not adapting very well to the budget, which creates a common purpose and real political momentum behind decarbonizing the economy and bringing that price down for everyone. Equally, if the price is dropping, just about everybodys going to welcome that. Everybody has access to units at the same price at any time. The national price fluctuates in line with national demand. And buying and selling is very straightforward, like topping up a mobile phone. The system we have today is essentially rationing by wealth, he notes. Theres only so much energy available and the richest get it. TEQs would move us from this system in which you burn what you can afford, to a system which fairly shares out what we can collectively afford to burn, while facilitating the radical reductions that an understanding of climate science demands. TEQs would also generate money through the auctioning of the units to non-household energy users such as industries, which is then used to subsidize consumers who are hardest hit by the price of fuel or to invest in difficult-to-fund infrastructure projects like public transportation. Gas stations and electricity generators would surrender their TEQs when they purchase from wholesalers. When they buy their fuel from suppliers or from the drillers or the extractors or the importers, they have to surrender units, Chamberlin continues. No matter whether thats all integrated into one company or whether its 20 companies along the line, eventually those units end up with the people who are bringing the energy into the economy, whether theyre extracting it within the national borders or importing it. In order to have their license to operate, they have to surrender those units back to the registrar. So, you have a circular system. Chamberlin enumerates the benefits of the system. It doesnt take money from people in the way taxation does, so its actually improving their situation, he says. It benefits the poorer in society, because they tend to use less energy, but also provides assured entitlements to energy for all. It addresses fuel scarcity as well as guaranteeing emissions reductions. Its not cumbersome or difficult for ordinary people to deal with, but does actively integrate into our daily lives the importance of reducing energy usage. And it provides a new paradigm of leadership for the nation that allows us to actually achieve our climate change targets, by making the economy exist under a carbon cap rather than the other way around. Approaching Implementation The UK first funded research into the TEQs system in 2006. Two years later, the government enacted the Climate Change Act, and the government launched a full feasibility study into TEQs. The conclusion, however, was that the TEQs system was ahead of its time. The government decided instead to focus on what it called international abatement, Chamberlin laments. In other words, rather than actually reducing UK emissions, the government intended to pay other countries to reduce them on its behalf, because that was more economically efficient. That same year, 2008, the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, which is the official body that reviews Parliaments proceedings, was incredibly critical of this position, saying that the government should be looking at this much more urgently and pushing forward toward implementation. Three years later, an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change published a report on TEQs that garnered international media coverage, received the endorsements of a number of prominent people, and again was essentially ignored by the government, Chamberlin recalls. In 2015, Chamberlin teamed up with two academics to publish a peer-reviewed paper on TEQs in the journal Carbon Management. That year, and again in 2018, the European Commission took up the issue but failed to implement the system. His experience of the details behind these headlines has made Chamberlin somewhat wary. If we do again get TEQs anywhere close to political implementation, were going to again face a determination to undermine it, he says. Lets imagine a global campaign for TEQs over the next five years that creates irresistible political momentum. There would come a point at which the people within some government department or corporate think tank would say, Yeah, thats fine but we just need to put in this little safety valve to make sure that prices dont get too high. And the significance of thatessentially changing it back into yet another carbon-pricing policywill be something that only us policy-wonks will understand. The danger here is that something implemented under the name of TEQs or rationing will not actually be either, and theyll be able to channel all of that political momentum into something that just maintains the status quo. So, for me thats a central challengehow can we defend the core facets of the system as it gets closer to political reality? Who Makes the Decisions? Despite many discussions of clean transitions and dramatic cuts in carbon emissions, the Global North remains a heavy consumer of fossil fuels. The United States, for instance, is the leading consumer of oil and natural gas in the world. (China and India, however, are the leading consumers of coal.) These consumption rates have not only kept carbon emissions high but have shaped the conversation to focus on carbon budgetshow much is still feasible to emitrather than simply slashing extraction and consumption as quickly as is feasible. TEQs could be put to work in support of either aim but, as Chamberlin points out, TEQs offers no help with political agreement on how rapidly nations should cut fossil fuel userather it offers the means to make it possible to achieve more radical and rapid energy use reductions in the Global North, when or if that aim is deemed politically acceptable. Ivonne Yanez works for Accion Ecologica in Ecuador, which has worked on climate change for more than 20 years, she points out. Also, for more than 20 years, we have supported the idea of leaving fossil fuels in the ground. This is the most important premise that we have to take into account in defining any policy regarding carbon dioxide reductions, regarding energy, or any energy transition or transformation. Chamberlin agrees: Absolutely the priority should be to leave fossil fuels in the ground. Then, the question becomes, how do we get that to happen? One of the things we need to do is for people in the Global North to learn to live without using as much energy as they do, which is where TEQs comes in. Yanez points out that carbon budgets are established by national governments. The budgets that count, in terms of having an impact on oil and gas production and consumption, are those of Global North countries. These are the same countries that are responsible for fully half of global emissions since the start of the Industrial Revolution. So, when a commission establishes the UK carbon budget, is it taking into account the current consumption of energy in the country or the 50 less percent energy that the UK should be consuming according to a fair calculation of climate justice? she asks. I agree that the idea of a carbon budget is itself problematic, Chamberlin replies. To my point of view, there is no acceptable carbon budget left to burn. Were already at a point where the climate has been destabilized and is having profoundly undesirable effects. Were torn between the physical reality and the political reality: if I could click my fingers and transform both of those, I would. But the reason why countries arent willing to say, Yes, well just stop emitting carbon tomorrow is because their whole economy is dependent on the fuel that contains that carbon. And hence weve got this huge and very dysfunctional UN process of countries trying to negotiate among themselves over what would be an appropriate carbon budget. Ensuring Equity Fossil fuels are quite cheap to usebecause governments use subsidies to keep prices low for consumers and because the environmental costs of extraction and use are not factored into the price tag. This means that an increase in fuel prices disproportionately affects the consumers who can least afford to buy solar panels or switch to an electric vehicle. It also means that increasing the price of gas is politically unpopular. TEQs and other cap-and-ration systems have solid potential to gain broad political acceptance, Stan Cox says. As long as its clear that the majority in society under these systems would have guaranteed access to affordable energy to meet their needs and with greater economic security than they may even have today. Cox and his colleague Larry Edwards, an engineer and environmental consultant, have developed a system similar to TEQs that they call Cap and Adapt. The difference is that the caps and the rations are measured in terms of barrels of oil, cubic meters of gas, and tons of coal, rather than carbon units. The rationing in these systems, Cox explains, doesnt put the burden of emission reductions on individuals in households by limiting their consumption. Rather, its the declining cap that ensures the reductions in total emissions. Such a straight-ahead rationing program is meant to ensure that everyone has enough and that access is equitable, he says. In these systems, rationing is not the bully, rationing is your friend. Its something to make society fairer and ensure sufficiency. Such systems would ideally dovetail with a comprehensive industrial policy that directs energy and other resources toward the production of essential goods and services and away from wasteful and unnecessary production, he adds. Such policies, for example, could divert resources away from military production and toward development of green infrastructure and retrofitting buildings. Or away from aircraft and private vehicles and toward public transportation. Or away from the construction of McMansions toward affordable, energy-efficient, durable housing. Or from the production of feed grain for cattle and toward grains and legumes for food. Or, overall, away from luxury goods and towards basic necessities. Cox also proposes a more comprehensive approach that goes beyond price controls and rationing: a system of universal basic services that guarantees every household sufficient access to essential goods and services, including such things as public water and energy supplies, medical services, public education, and transportation, good quality food, affordable housing, green space, clean air, and public safety without repression. He is quick to clarify. I dont mean that everything would be free. But there would be some guarantee that people, no matter what their income, would have access. Could all of this be feasible? Yes, by focusing energy supplies on essential goods and services rather than on wasteful, solely-for-profit production. It would also mean the sacrificing of growth for growths sake. Movements in the Global South have also been addressing the problem of unrestrained growth. Yanez points out that the term degrowth has little resonance because how can we ask the indigenous people to degrow? Id rather talk about post-growth or this idea of living well: buen vivir in Spanish or sumac kawsay in Quechua. The degrowth movement is centered mainly in Europe, Cox concedes, but it has been very valuable in envisioning what a degrowth or postgrowth society would look like, and pointing out the differences between economic growth and the growth of human well-being. The movement purposely has not gotten into mechanisms to achieve degrowth. But I think its important for society to see that we have to choose between growth or survival, and that if we do whats necessary for survival, we wont have growth. We in the affluent societies would be better off with less, and in the meantime, there are going to be other solutions in non-affluent societies. Actions Together Although a rationing system for fossil fuels has yet to be implemented by any national governments, several states have joined together to end their dependency on oil and gas. Led by Denmark and Costa Rica, the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance members have pledged to end new exploration for oil and gas. Under the new leadership of Gustavo Petro, Colombia too wants to join their ranks, which is significant given the countrys economic dependency fossil fuel exports. In 2018, Ireland became the worlds first country to divest from fossil fuel funds. The Pacific island nations of Tuvalu and Vanuatu, meanwhile, are leading an initiative at the UN level to pass a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that would end the expansion of fossil fuel production, phase out existing fossil fuel infrastructure, and accelerate a just transition to clean energy. There have also been many initiatives from below to reduce fossil fuel use. One path has been to stop extraction. For decades, movements of indigenous peoples, campesinos, and fisherfolk have been fighting against climate change, Ivonne Yanez points out. And how? They do not talk about carbon emissions or reductions. They just want to stop oil, gas, and coal extraction. Here in Ecuador, for example, there are so many communities resisting oil extraction and being criminalized because of this. Yanez also notes that acting together means not only solidarity among peoples but establishing stronger links with the rest of nature. It would be good to incorporate in the TEQs proposals and debate the point of view of non-humans, including the stones and the spirits, she proposes. Chamberlin strongly agrees on both points. I myself have been arrested in trying to shut down fossil fuel extraction sites, and I was one of the first arrestees with Extinction Rebellion, he relates. TEQs is an attempt to translate some of the wisdom of restraint and absolute limits into the language of a sick empire. This is an attempt from within an omnicidal culture to limit some of the damage that its doing. He continues, Ultimately, its not about the growth or degrowth of the market economy. Its about getting ready for the moment when the system collapses under the weight of its own unsustainability. We have inherited a system that depends on growth; that growth will end by accident or by design, and soon. After this system fades into history, future systems will again be based on informal relationships between beings on the planet just like they always have been in the past before these few centuries of madness. The older cultures on our planet know how to live in that world and we should absolutely be listening to them more. In the meantime, we would doubtless be wise to slash emissions as drastically as we can, he concludes. And it is surely beyond time to move from the endless debates over fair carbon budgets to the actual work of reducing fossil fuel consumption in the Global North, in solidarity with the indigenous-led resistance in the Global South working to stop fossil fuel extraction. For this, cap-and-rationwhether TEQs or other closely-related proposalsappears the only policy paradigm suited to cut the paralyzing Gordian knot that carbon pricing has tied us into. Via Foreign Policy in Focus VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - DFR Gold Inc. (TSXV: DFR) ("DFR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the first phase of a 10,000 metre drilling program (the "Drilling Program") on the Cascades Project in Burkina Faso, West Africa as announced on 13 February 2023. The completion of 5,641 metres of reverse circulation drilling represents the latest part of a longer-term programme to systematically test exploration targets within the mineralised shear corridor at the Cascades Project. Highlights of the recent drilling include: 5,641 metres of Reverse Circulation drilled in 57 drillholes at five target areas Two significant new zones confirmed with resource potential from first pass drilling at Sina Yar and Far East targets Intersections at Sina Yar included 34 metres @ 1.83 grammes per tonne (g/t) of gold in CS23-RC077 from 50-84 metres At the Far East target a wide mineralised zone with 48m@ 0.42g/t Extension of the 2022 discovery zone from step-out drilling at the TT13 target John McGloin, CEO of DFR Gold, stated: "These positive drilling results reinforce the potential scale of the gold resource at Cascades through the identification of new zones and further delineation of already identified areas. We are encouraged by the consistent mineralisation across the licence area and are undertaking further analysis to determine the optimal approach for the second phase of drilling." Background to the Drilling Programme The recently completed programme at the Cascades Project is the first part of a planned two-phase 10,000 metre programme. This first phase targeted extensions to the current resources and several new targets (Figure 1): Two newly defined targets immediately north and southwest of the Daramandougou resource pit shell western Zone extension, and Dara North respectively Step-out drilling on the TT13 target, a significant new gold zone identified during 2022 First-pass drilling on three other newly delineated targets in the Wuo Land 2 licence area at Far East, Sina Yar and TT13-West Phase two of the Drilling Programme will be a results-driven follow-on programme targeting the highest priority results from the first phase. Drilling Progress Drilling commenced on 11 February 2023 and concluded on 18 April 2023 with 57 holes drilled for an aggregate of 5,641 metres. Table 1 shows the planned drilling programme with the proposed holes and meterage versus actual drilling completed. Fire assay results have been received while Bottle Roll analysis results are awaited. Drilling Results Sina Yar Ten drillholes were drilled for an aggregate of 903 metres. Significant mineralisation was intersected in each hole drilled. In particular, three consecutive holes testing 250m metres of strike length of the main north-south trending structure in metasediments intersected significant widths of mineralisation as follows: CS23-RC077 50-84 metres, 34 metres @ 1.83g/t and CS23-RC077 23-29 metres 6 metres @ 1.14 g/t and CS23-RC078 53-71 metres, 18 metres @ 1.13g/t and CS23-RC078 74-78 metres, 4 metres @ 1.25g/t and CS23-RC078 88-96 metres, 8 metres @ 1.64g/t and CS23-RC078 103-113 metres, 10 metres @ 1.02g/t CS23-RC079 50-78 metres, 28 metres @ 0.53g/t Target Area Target description Holes targeted Metres targeted Holes drilled Metres drilled Dara North chargeability/resistivity anomaly; artisanal workings; proximity to resource; further along strike potential to north 8 640 8 809 Western Zone Extn (incl NPG targets) chargeability/resistivity anomaly; no artisanal workings; extension of resource structure 10 1,440 13 1,398 TT13 Step-Out Tested by first pass drilling; aim to demonstrate continuity over 500 strike length; 9 720 10 872 TT13-West Newly opened artisanal zone 800 metres west of TT13 discovery; already 500 metres long but along strike potential to north; could be skinny 6 600 5 546 Sina Yar Intensive artisanal workings; broad area of shallow pits but drilling focus on line/s deeper pits into bedrock; geochemical anomaly 8 640 9 903 Far East-N artisanal workings; support from rock grab samples; geophysics ambiguous 5 400 5 501 Far East-S artisanal workings; support from rock grab samples; geophysics ambiguous 7 560 7 612 TOTAL 53 5,000 57 5,641 Table 1 Details of the recently completed drilling programme at the Cascades Gold Project The mineralisation is hosted by narrow quartz veins within a north-south trending mineralised envelope hosted by a banded greywacke and sandstone metasedimentary sequence. Sina Yar is currently the target of significant artisanal mining activity. Mineralisation appears open to the north of the drill tested area. In the more southerly holes mineralisation was weaker and patchier although artisanal activity remains intense. A highly altered felsitic intrusion has been mapped towards the southern end of the Sina Yar workings, similar in the intrusions mapped at both the Daramandougou and Wuo Ne mineral resource areas. Follow-up drilling is planned at Sina Yar, starting with stepping out to the north of CS23-RC077. Far East The three northernmost holes at the Far East target appear to have snagged a significant zone of mineralisation albeit at so far lowish grade. Significant intersections included hole CS23-RC066 32-60 metres, 28 metres @ 0.56g/t. Although the intersections are low grade, historical drilling by High River Gold intersected a number of high grade intercepts nearby and grab samples by DFR in 2022 returned grades up to 9.3g/t in quartz veins being exploited by artisanal miners. The mineralisation appears to be open north of CS23-RC066 and the current orpaillage appears to extend at least 250 metres (and likely 450 metres) further north of CS23-RC066. TT13 target The TT-13 target was tested by DFR with a first pass drilling programme of 9 holes in July 2022. A 1,800 metre strike length of intermittent mineralisation has been delineated from field mapping and drone surveys. The zone is characterised by near continuous artisanal workings at surface. The 2022 drilling here delineated a 300 metre strike length with significant mineralisation in three holes for example CS22-RC029 27-36m, 9 metres @ 1.0g/t plus 56-66m, 10 metres @ 1.81g/t. The current campaign targeted the northerly and southerly extensions of the zone. Mineralisation is somewhat patchy but several holes intersected significant mineralisation which extends the zone. For example, hole CS23-RC098, collared 370 metres north of CS22-RC029, returned 8 metres @ 1.21g/t (30-38 metres) plus 4 metres @ 1.81g/t (63-67 metres). TT-13 West target In the first pass drilling at the newly delineated TT-13 West target five easterly inclined holes targeted a vertical shear zone in a new orpaillage area 800 metres west of the TT13 target. The artisans are targeting an array of thin, reportedly high grade, quartz veins in metasediment but mineralisation intersected was patchy. Highest grade intersected in the drilling was CS23-RC086, 61-62 metres downhole, 1 metre @11.6g/t gold. The broadest intercept was in CS23-RC088 63-78 metres, 15 metres @ 0.88g/t. Western Zone SW-Extension and Dara North targets Drilling at the Dara North and at the Southwestern Extension of the Western Zone was targeted primarily at combined resistivity/chargeability geophysics anomalies and at each target significant mineralisation was not intersected over mineable widths. At Dara North a pervasive linear zone of artisanal mining confirms the northerly extension of Western Zone mineralisation from the main Daramandougou artisanal area. However, the mineralised zone thus far appears to be quite thin and relatively patchy within the 750 metres of strike length tested. Note on the laboratory assays All assays referenced here are for Fire Assay analyses performed by SGS Laboratories in Ouagadougou. All samples reported here were either one-metre primary samples or composites of three one-metre primary samples. Splits (3kg) of one-metre primary samples from selected mineralised intersections have been prepared for "Leachwell" Bottle Roll. Experience from comparisons between fire assay and bottle roll analyses from previous drilling programmes at the Cascades Project points to a likely small percentage increase in grade for bottle rolls versus fire assays. This drilling report will be updated when all of the Bottle Roll analysis results have been received. Artisanal Miners The Company was notified of a recent accident involving unlicensed artisanal miners in which a ground collapse resulted in fatalities at a location within the 304km2 exploration licence area of the Company's Cascades Project. There has been no licenced mining activity within the Company's exploration area in recent years and none of the Company's staff were present in the area when the accident occurred. DFR has offered its support to the relevant authorities in their investigation of this tragic incident. David J Reading, M.Sc., FIMM, Fellow SEG, a director of DFR and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 has prepared or supervised the preparation of, or approved, as applicable, the technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Reading has over 40 years' experience in the mining industry covering all stages of mine development, including exploration, feasibility, financing, construction and operations. He has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and of the Society of Economic Geologists. Notes to Editors: DFR Gold is a TSX Venture Exchange listed exploration and mine development company focused on gold in West Africa. DFR Gold holds interests in a portfolio of West African gold exploration projects including the highly prospective Cascades gold project ("Cascades") in Burkina Faso. Cascades has a Mineral Resource* prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 comprising 5.41 million tonnes of indicated resources at an average grade of 1.52g/t Au for a total 264,000 ounces of gold: and 6.93 million tonnes of inferred resources at an average grade 1.67g/t Au for a total of 371,000 ounces of gold. Please see the Company's technical report titled "Amended and Re-stated Technical Report on the Labola Project Burkina Faso" dated April 2, 2022, with an effective date of April 20, 2022 for further information regarding Cascades. This report can be located at www.dfrgold.com. In Madagascar, DFR Gold has an advanced high grade hard rock zircon exploration prospect located in the west of the country, approximately 220km east of the port of Maintirano and close to a state road. DFR Gold acquired Beravina from Pala Investments and Austral Resources in 2016. Website: www.dfrgold.com The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com Neither the TSX-V 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. Additional Mineral Resource Estimate Disclosures *Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues. The Mineral Resources in this note were reported using CIM (2014) Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines and adopted by CIM Council. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define this Inferred Resource as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading the Inferred Resource to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. The Mineral Resource has been constrained by an open pit evaluation using a gold price of US$1900 per ounce, and then reported at a cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au. Contained metal and tonnes figures in totals may differ due to rounding. Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this release that address activities, events or developments that DFR Gold expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Debenture Offering and the completion thereof; and the intended use of proceeds of the Debenture Offering. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "aim", "aspire", "strive", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "believe" or similar expressions as they relate to DFR Gold. Forward- looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information. There are a number of important factors that could cause DFR Gold's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: the ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals; the ability to finance the drilling campaign; commodity prices; the gold exploration and mining industry in general; the potential impact of the announcement on relationships; including with regulatory bodies, employees; suppliers, customers and competitors; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; and compliance with extensive government regulation. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statement prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. DFR Gold cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on DFR Gold's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, shareholders should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. DFR Gold 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 release represents the expectations of DFR Gold as of the date of this release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While DFR Gold may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. (All amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated) TORONTO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the Company or Torex) (TSX: TXG) today released its 2022 Responsible Gold Mining Report (the Report), the Companys eighth annual disclosure of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance. The Report can be found on the Companys website at www.torexgold.com. Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex, stated: I am very proud of our 2022 Report, which shines a spotlight on the heart and soul of our Company and how we authentically live our organizational purpose to transform finite mineral resources into lasting prosperity by positively impacting all the lives we touch. While the quantitative metrics showcase our positive performance, it is the many stories within the pages that demonstrate how our purpose statement truly comes to life as we continue to minimize our environmental footprint, build productive relationships based on trust and partnership, create prosperity through well-paying jobs and local procurement, and foster lasting economic impact through sustainable community development. One of the key strategic pillars of our Company is to build on ESG excellence. As we create our future with the Media Luna Project and look to grow and diversify in other jurisdictions, we will continue to demonstrate what responsible mining looks like and broaden the positive impact we have on all those who share stakes in Torex. Jennifer Hooper, Chair of the Safety and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the Torex Board of Directors, stated: At Torex, operating responsibly has always been at the core of who we are as a Company. We recognize that responsible and sustainable mining starts with the Board of Directors, and we continue to incorporate evolving best practices to sustain and build on our reputation as an industry leader when it comes to ESG, and to provide confidence to our shareholders on our ability to deliver on financial and operational commitments with the highest level of ethics, rigour, and social harmony. 2022 RESPONSIBLE GOLD MINING REPORT HIGHLIGHTS Industry-leading safety performance, achieving 10 million hours worked without a lost-time injury for the second time since 2020, and ending 2022 with a lost-time injury frequency of 0.28 per million hours worked for our employees and contractors; Zero reportable environmental incidents; Released inaugural Climate Change Report aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), including a credible pathway to achieve 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets; Almost 60% water usage recycled; 44% reduction in cyanide consumption from 2021; Continued implementation of our Community Development Agreements (CODECOPs) in partnership with 11 host communities, with $4.6M directly invested in community development and infrastructure projects; 99% employees from Mexico with ~60% from Guerrero State; 92% of procurement spend in Mexico; approximately $107 million in procurement within Guerrero State; Completed Year 2 implementation of the requirements of the World Gold Council Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs), including a public RGMPs Progress Report that was independently assured; Made substantial progress on compliance with the International Cyanide Management Code and formally approved adoption of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management; Received the ESR 2023 Distinction from the Mexican Center for Philanthropy and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico for the fifth consecutive year, for our public and voluntary commitment to implement socially responsible management at our operations in Mexico; Recognized by major Canadian and international media for our ESG performance, including receipt of the 2022 Mining Magazine Safety Award for community relations, and selection as an honouree on The Globe and Mails Women Lead Here list in recognition of the high proportion of women on our Executive Team. The Companys 2022 Responsible Gold Mining Report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Metals and Mining Sustainability Accounting Standard. It also includes energy and climate-related data aligned with the Phase 1 recommendations of the TCFD. Aspects of our supply chain disclosures have also been aligned with the Local Procurement Reporting Mechanism (LPRM) of the Mining Shared Value Initiative of Engineers Without Borders Canada. ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City. The Companys principal asset is the Morelos Complex, which includes the El Limon Guajes (ELG) Mine Complex, the Media Luna Project, a processing plant, and related infrastructure. Commercial production from the Morelos Complex commenced on April 1, 2016 and an updated Technical Report for the Morelos Complex was released in March 2022. Torexs key strategic objectives are to optimize and extend production from the ELG Mine Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Jody Kuzenko Dan Rollins President and CEO Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Direct: (647) 725-9982 Direct: (647) 260-1503 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. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the purpose statement to transform finite mineral resources into lasting prosperity by positively impacting all the lives the Company touches; the Company continues to incorporate evolving best practices to sustain and build on its reputation as an industry leader when it comes to ESG, and to provide confidence to its shareholders on the Companys ability to deliver on financial and operational commitments with the highest level of ethics, rigour, and social harmony; and the key strategic objectives to extend and optimize production from the ELG Mining Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects, strategy or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will, or is expected to occur. 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, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: skarn deposits, ability to obtain the timely supply of services, equipment and materials for the operation of the ELG Mine Complex and the design, development and construction of the Media Luna Project; the regulatory process and actions; ability to finance the Media Luna Project on reasonable terms, and those risk factors identified in the technical report (Technical Report) titled ELG Mine Complex Life of Mine Plan and Media Luna Feasibility Study, with an effective date of March 16, 2022, and a filing date of March 31, 2022 and in the Companys annual information form and managements discussion and analysis or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. 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 information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. TORONTO, May 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consolidated Uranium Inc. (CUR, the Company or Consolidated Uranium) (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX: CURUF) is pleased to announce the creation and planned spin-out (the Spin-Out) of Premier American Uranium Inc. (PUR), currently a majority-controlled subsidiary of CUR focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium projects in Wyoming and Colorado. (Figure 1). On May 24, 2023, the Company entered into an arrangement agreement with PUR (the Arrangement Agreement), pursuant to which among other things the Company has agreed to transfer ownership of certain indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries which hold eight U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) leases and certain patented claims located in Colorado (the CUR Assets) to PUR in exchange for 7,753,752 Class A common shares of PUR (PUR Shares), a portion of which will be distributed to the Companys shareholders on a pro rata basis (the Arrangement). PUR intends to apply to list the PUR Shares (the TSXV Listing) on the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV). The TSXV Listing will be subject to PUR fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSXV. In addition, CUR and PUR have entered into a purchase agreement (the Premier Agreement) with, among others, Premier Uranium Inc. (Premier), a privately held U.S. uranium focused project acquisition vehicle which owns a 100% interest in the Cyclone project in the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming (the Cyclone Project) and various mining claims in the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado (collectively, the Premier Assets), pursuant to which PUR has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Premier. Separately, PUR has also staked 368 unpatented mining claims, covering approximately 6,940 acres in key areas of the Uravan Mineral Belt. To view a summary of todays news delivered by Philip Williams, Chairman and CEO of CUR, and Tim Rotolo, Chief Executive Officer of Premier and planned Chief Executive Officer of PUR, click here. Transaction Highlights: Stable, Long-term Shareholder Base Ahead of Public Market Listing Backed by Sachem Cove Partners, CUR and with additional institutional investor support, PUR is working toward a public listing on the TSXV. Backed by Sachem Cove Partners, CUR and with additional institutional investor support, PUR is working toward a public listing on the TSXV. Extensive Land Holdings in Two Prominent Uranium-Producing Regions in the U.S. PUR plans to explore and develop its large land position in the Great Divide Base of Wyoming and the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado. PUR plans to explore and develop its large land position in the Great Divide Base of Wyoming and the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado. Rich History of Past Production and Historic Uranium Mineral Resources with Strong Discovery Potential The Cyclone Project, in Wyoming is an In Situ Recovery ( ISR ) project comprised of ~25,500 acres with past work supporting an exploration target with a range of 6.5 million short tons averaging 0.06% U3O8 (7.9 million lbs. U3O8) to 10.5 million short tons averaging 0.06% U3O8 (12.6 million lbs. U3O8). 1 See below for additional details. The Colorado projects include multiple past producing mines with historic uranium mineral resources and exploration potential. Well-Timed Opportunity with Strong Market Fundamentals and Need for U.S. Domestic Supply Uranium fundamentals are the strongest in a decade with a large supply deficit as forecasted by industry and financial analysts. Security of supply following the Russian invasion of Ukraine is driving long-term contracting, a key feature leading up to the previous uranium price rally in 2005 to 2007. PUR presents an attractive opportunity to participate in the anticipated resurgence and advancement of the U.S. uranium industry. Uranium fundamentals are the strongest in a decade with a large supply deficit as forecasted by industry and financial analysts. Security of supply following the Russian invasion of Ukraine is driving long-term contracting, a key feature leading up to the previous uranium price rally in 2005 to 2007. PUR presents an attractive opportunity to participate in the anticipated resurgence and advancement of the U.S. uranium industry. Unparalleled Experience in the U.S. Uranium Sector across the Team, Led by Disciplined Capital Allocators PUR will be led by Tim Rotolo, co-founder of Sachem Cove Partners and Founder of Lloyd Harbor Capital Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Together, the PUR board of directors, management and technical team will have deep technical, operational, and permitting expertise in the U.S. with a track record of financing and advancing uranium companies and significant institutional investment experience in the uranium sector. PUR will be led by Tim Rotolo, co-founder of Sachem Cove Partners and Founder of Lloyd Harbor Capital Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Together, the PUR board of directors, management and technical team will have deep technical, operational, and permitting expertise in the U.S. with a track record of financing and advancing uranium companies and significant institutional investment experience in the uranium sector. Initiating Work Programs to Advance Portfolio in 2023 Cyclone Project Exploration Airborne radiometric survey completed in Q4 2022 in preparation for exploration and permitting activities planned for the remainder of 2023 and subsequent drilling expected in 2024. Uravan Mineral Belt Exploration Monogram Mesa Full data review for on trend exploration targets with subsequent drilling. Atkinson Mesa Historical data review in preparation for planned drilling program to delineate the extent of mineralization in the central and northern parts of the properties. Additionally, PUR intends to look to further increase its land position both in Wyoming and the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado. ______________________ 1 The potential quantity and grade of this exploration target is conceptual in nature and based on the geologic interpretation that mineralization is Sandstone Type mineralization, aerial radiometric anomalies, and indications of the presence of oxidation reduction interfaces with mineralization from available drill data. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if a mineral resource will be delineated. Philip Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CUR, commented We are very excited to announce the spin-off of PUR, in partnership with Sachem Cove. At CUR, our focus in the U.S. has been squarely on readying our past-producing Tony M, Daneros and Rim mines in Utah for production once market conditions warrant. This inherently meant our Colorado DOE leases, with a history of production and strong exploration potential, have received little attention. At the same time, in Premier, Tim and Sachem Cove have assembled a portfolio of projects in Colorado, which complement ours, as well as a compelling land package in the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming with large-scale ISR potential. CURs strategy has been to realize value in our portfolio, either directly by advancing projects to production, or through spinouts/divestures where a compelling strategic rationale could be identified, similar to our Labrador Uranium transaction last year. In PUR, we are convinced that this is a case where one plus one could equal much more than two and we believe CUR shareholders will be the ultimate beneficiaries when we complete the planned TSXV listing and direct distribution of PUR Shares in the coming months. Tim Rotolo, Chief Executive Officer of Premier and planned Chief Executive Officer of PUR commented, The U.S. was once the global leader in uranium production at over 40 million pounds per year, enough uranium to supply nearly its entire nuclear fleet - the largest in the world and provider of 20% of U.S. electricity. Today, the U.S. produces almost none of its own domestically consumed uranium as U.S. utilities have turned to buying nearly half of their uranium needs from former Soviet states Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. We believe we are on the precipice of a resurgence in domestic production. For the first time in decades, a large supply deficit, which may push uranium prices higher, has converged with a global nuclear renaissance and newfound bi-partisan political support to safeguard our domestic nuclear fleet from geopolitical risk of a former Soviet-bloc dominated nuclear fuel cycle. In respect of this, we started Premier to capitalize on the U.S. uranium resurgence, accumulating projects and waiting for the right time to bring them to market. That time is now, and our partnership with CUR whose projects are complementary, sets up an exciting and well-timed launch for PUR. The Arrangement Agreement Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, among other things, CUR has agreed to transfer certain indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries which hold the CUR Assets to PUR in exchange for 7,753,752 PUR Shares. Under the terms of the Arrangement, CUR intends to distribute 50% of the PUR Shares it receives to its shareholders on a pro-rata basis based on the number of CUR Shares held at the effective date of the Arrangement. There will be no change in CUR shareholders proportionate ownership in CUR as a result of the Arrangement. In addition, holders of options and warrants of CUR as of the effective date of the Arrangement will have such securities adjusted in accordance with their terms as a result of the Arrangement. The Arrangement will be effected by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). The Arrangement will be subject to regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSXV for the Arrangement and the TSXV Listing, court approval, as well as approval by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at the annual general and special meeting (the Meeting) of the CUR shareholders, anticipated to be held in the third quarter of 2023. Full details of the Arrangement will be included in the management information circular to be sent to CUR shareholders in connection with the Meeting. It is anticipated that the Arrangement and the TSXV Listing will be completed in the third quarter of 2023. The Premier Agreement On May 24, 2023, the Company and Premier entered into the Premier Agreement with PUR, among others, pursuant to which PUR has agreed to acquire all the outstanding shares of Premier in exchange for 12,000 Class B common shares of PUR (Compressed Shares). Each Compressed Share carries the right to 1,000 votes per share and is convertible into 1,000 PUR Shares, with each PUR Share carrying the right to one vote per share. Completion of the Premier Transaction is subject to certain closing conditions including, among other things, completion of the Arrangement and the conditional approval of the TSXV for the TSXV Listing. About PUR Proposed Management and Board of Directors Tim Rotolo, Chief Executive Officer 15+ years as an investment professional with background in fund management. Co-founder of Sachem Cove Partners and Founder of Lloyd Harbor Capital Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Founder of North Shore Indices, Inc., which launched URNM, a uranium mining ETF in 2019 and raised over $1 Billion before selling to NYSE listed, Sprott Asset Management. Greg Duras, Chief Financial Officer 25+ years in the resource sector in corporate development, financial management and cost control. Marty Tunney, Chairman Mining engineer with significant technical and capital markets experience. Current President and Chief Operating Officer of CUR. Michael Harrison, Director 25+ years of executive, financial and technical experience in the mining industry. Current Managing Partner at Sprott Inc. Daniel Nauth, Director Lawyer with a specialty in U.S.-Canada cross-border capital markets, M&A and corporate and securities transactions and regulatory compliance. Technical Advisors Ted Wilton 50+ years as a Senior Geologist in the mining industry, including 25+ in the uranium sector. Involved in discovering 8 deposits containing more than 10 million ounces gold in the U.S. and Australia. Mike Neumann 40+ years in environmental and regulatory affairs, specialized in uranium mine permitting in the U.S. and Kazakhstan. Gained regulatory approval for expansion of Daneros, compliance for Tony M, and Rim Mines in Utah. Tyler Johnson 14+ years formerly with Denison and Energy Fuels Inc. Geologist specializing in exploration, mine development, and resource estimation on uranium and vanadium projects. The Projects Figure 1: PUR Project Portfolio located in the States of Wyoming and Colorado Wyoming Great Divide Basin Wyoming is one of the leading jurisdictions for U.S. uranium production and produced approximately 230 million lbs of U 3 O 8 since the first discovery in the 1950s.1 The State ranked 11th of 84 jurisdictions in the Public Policy Perception Index of the Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2021.2 The Great Divide Basin is also one of the least exploited of the Wyoming Basins known to contain significant deposits of uranium, including the Crooks Gap mining district, Sweetwater deposit, Lost Creek ISR mine. Nearby property owners include Uranium Energy Corp. and UR-Energy Inc.1 _____________________ 1 Source: Wyoming State Geological Survey; Critical Minerals in Wyoming; https;//www.wsgs.wyo.gov/minerals/critical-minerals.aspx 2 Source: www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2021.pdf Cyclone Project The Cyclone Project is located approximately 45 miles northwest of Rawlins, Wyoming and 15 miles from the Sweetwater Uranium Mill. The project covers 25,500 acres comprising: 1,061 claims totaling 21,220 acres and 7 state leases covering 4,280 acres. The uranium deposits in the basin are hosted in flat-lying sandstones of the Battle Spring Formation, with a widespread alteration of host sandstones and numerous roll-front uranium deposits associated with altered rocks. Exploration potential remains high on the project with drilling required to follow up on historic work and delineate mineralized zones. Previous exploration on the project includes ~80 holes drilled during 2007-2008, with mineralization showing typical grades and thicknesses to uranium deposits found elsewhere in the Great Divide Basin. Intersections from exploration on the Rim Target include hole UT-8 which intersected 8.0 ft. averaging 0.092% eU308 (0.02% cut-off) or 5.5 ft. @ 0.121% eU308 at 200 feet from the surface and hole UT-44 which intersected 7.5 ft. averaging 0.081% eU3O8 (0.02% cut-off grade) or 5.5 ft. averaging 0.104% eU308 at a 0.05% cut-off grade. Sufficient historical exploration data is available for the North and East claim blocks to define an exploration target, which shows a range of 6.5 million short tons averaging 0.06% U3O8 (7.9 million lbs. U3O8) to 10.5 million short tons averaging 0.06% U3O8 (12.6 million lbs. U3O8). The potential quantity and grade of this exploration target is conceptual in nature and based on the geologic interpretation that mineralization is roll-front sandstone type mineralization, and that mineralization is present as indicated by airborne radiometric anomalies, indications of the presence of oxidation reduction interfaces with associated uranium mineralization as depicted in available historic drill data. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if a mineral resource will be delineated. For the definition of the exploration target, the following criteria based on direct knowledge and experience in the area and similar sandstone hosted uranium deposits in the Great Divide Basin and other areas of Wyoming was used: (i) a minimum cut-off grade of 0.02% U3O8 and a grade thickness product (GT) of 0.10, (ii) a radiometric disequilibrium factor of 1, and (iii) a bulk density of 16 cubic feet per ton. A detailed review of the historical drill data is planned with permitting underway in preparation for drilling in 2024. Colorado Uravan Mineral Belt The Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado has a rich history of uranium exploration and production and produced nearly 80 million lbs of U 3 O 8 and more than 400 million lbs of V 2 O 5 since 1945.3 Colorado ranked 5th of 62 jurisdictions in the Investment Attractiveness Index of the Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2022.4 PURs projects in Colorado are in the heart of the Uravan Mineral Belt, in proximity to significant infrastructure. Mineralization is hosted in the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation. _______________________ 3 Source: Chenoweth, William L., 1981, "The Uranium-Vanadium Deposits of the Uravan Mineral Belt and Adjacent Areas, Colorado and Utah. In New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 32, Western Slope, Colorado" and Goodnight, Craig S., William L. Chenoweth, Richard D. Davyault and Edward T. Cotter, 2005: "Geologic Road Log for Uravan Mineral Belt Field Trip, West-Central, Colorado" Rocky Mountain Section of the Geologic Society of America. 4 Source: www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2022.pdf Monogram Mesa The Monogram Mesa project covers approximately 7,431 acres and consists of 361 mining claims. The property includes multiple historic mines on the northeast and the West (Bull Canyon) sides of Monogram Mesa. The historic mines are generally stable and dry, with numerous mineralized zones exposed. The property is strategically located within several miles of a paved highway with mine roads and power lines crossing the property. Historical drilling data indicates presence of numerous exploration targets. Historic Production1 Tons (short) Grade (%U 3 O 8 ) Pounds U 3 O 8 Grade (%V 2 O 5 ) Pounds V 2 O 5 Monogram Mesa Mines 840,761 0.30 4,992,179 1.19 20,001,113 As disclosed in Nelson-Moore, James L, Donna Bishop Collins, and A. L. Hornbaker, 1978; Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado, Colorado Geological Survey Bulletin 40, 1,054 pages, 18 figures, 3 tables, 12 plates. An exploration drilling program to confirm and potentially expand currently known mineralization is planned with the potential to acquire surrounding properties, further consolidating the area. Atkinson Mesa Project The Atkinson Mesa project covers 5,863 acres, including 128 unpatented lode mining claims, 4 DOE leases. The project also includes approximately 2,702 acres, and 18 patented (fee simple) mining claims spanning 360 acres. Several past producing mines are present on the property, including the King Solomon mine, a large-scale underground mine that was one of the most significant uranium producers in the entire Uravan Mineral Belt.5 The property is situated within one of the most substantial uranium-vanadium production areas within the entire Uravan Mineral Belt.5 Historic Production1 Tons (short) Grade (%U 3 O 8 ) Pounds U 3 O 8 Grade (%V 2 O 5 ) Pounds V 2 O 5 King Soloman Complex 1,230,000 0.21 5,160,000 1.11 26,540,000 Goodnight, Craig S., William L. Chenoweth, Richard D. Davyaault, and Edward T. Cotter, 2005; Geologic Road Log for Uravan Mineral Belt Field Trip, West-Central Colorado; Rocky Mountain Section of Geological Society of America, 2005 Annual Meeting. _______________________ 5 Source: Goodnight, Craig S., William L. Chenoweth, Rochard D. Davyault and Edward T. Cotter, 2005; Geologic Road Log for Uravan Mineral Belt Field Trip, West-Central Colorado; Rocky Mountain Section of the Geological Society of America. Outlaw Mesa & Slick Rock Projects The Outlaw Mesa and Slick Rock projects are located at the northern and southern ends of the Uravan Mineral Belt, respectively. Outlaw Mesa covers 5,759 acres with 2 DOE leases and Slick Rock covers 1,226 acres with 2 DOE leases. Both projects include historic production from multiple mines, including the well-known Spud Patch mines in the Slick Rock area and the Calamity Mesa mines in the Outlaw mesa-Calamity Mesa area. All leases contain uranium and vanadium mineralization. In January 2020, a new 10-year lease was signed with the DOE, providing long-term potential for the project. Historic Production1 Tons (short) Grade (%U 3 O 8 ) Pounds U 3 O 8 Grade (%V 2 O 5 ) Pounds V 2 O 5 Slick Rock 434,300 0.34 2,953,600 1.30 11,333,800 Outlaw and Calamity Mesas 423,500 0.34 2,917,200 1.29 10,994,500 As disclosed in the above and by Nelson-Moore, James L, Donna Bishop Collins and A. L. Hornbaker, 1978; Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado, Colorado Geological Survey Bulletin 40, 1,054 pages, 18 figures, 3 tables, 12 plates. Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Dean T. Wilton: PG, CPG, MAIG, a consultant of CUR who is a Qualified Person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical drilling results. CUR has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. CUR considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through drilling. About Premier American Uranium Inc. Premier American Uranium Inc., a subsidiary of Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV:CUR), is focused on the consolidation, exploration, and development of uranium projects in the United States. One of PUR's key strengths lies in the agreements it has to acquire extensive land holdings in two prominent uranium-producing regions in the United States: the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming and the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado. With a rich history of past production and historic uranium mineral resources, PUR is initiating work programs to advance its portfolio in 2023. Backed by Sachem Cove Partners, CUR, additional institutional investors, and an unparalleled team with U.S. uranium experience, PUR's entry into the market comes at a well-timed opportunity, as uranium fundamentals are currently the strongest they have been in a decade. PUR intends to apply to list its shares on the TSXV, cementing its position as a leading U.S. uranium player. Listing will be subject to PUR fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSXV. For more information, please visit www.premierur.com. About Consolidated Uranium Inc. Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX: CURUF) was created in early 2020 to capitalize on an anticipated uranium market resurgence using the proven model of diversified project consolidation. To date, Consolidated Uranium has acquired or has the right to acquire uranium projects in Australia, Canada, Argentina, and the United States each with significant past expenditures and attractive characteristics for development. Consolidated Uranium completed a transformational strategic acquisition and alliance with Energy Fuels Inc., a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company, and acquired a portfolio of permitted, past-producing conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah and Colorado. These mines are currently on stand-by, ready for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning Consolidated Uranium as a near-term uranium producer. For More Information, Please Contact: Philip Williams Chairman and CEO This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Toll-Free: 1-833-572-2333 Twitter: @ConsolidatedUr www.consolidateduranium.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in 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 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 timing and outcome of the Arrangement, the Premier acquisition and the Listing, including required shareholder, regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals; the anticipated timing of the Meeting; the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement; the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement and the Premier Agreement; the exploration activities anticipated for the remainder of 2023 and 2024; the anticipated management team and board of directors of PUR; the final approval of the Arrangement and Listing by the TSXV; anticipated strategic and growth opportunities; expectations regarding the U.S. uranium industry; any expectations with respect to defining mineral resources or mineral reserves on any of the projects and any expectation with respect to any permitting, development or other work that may be required to bring any of the projects into development or production and other activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. 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. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, completion of the Arrangement, the Listing and the Premier acquisition, including the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, court and shareholder approvals; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, the Listing and the Premier acquisition; that the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement will be realized; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the 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: the failure to obtain shareholder, regulatory, court or stock exchange approvals in connection with the Arrangement, the Listing and the Premier acquisition; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement or implement the business plan for PUR; the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; expectations regarding negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, reliance on key management and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approval and the risk factors with respect to Consolidated Uranium set out in Consolidated Uraniums annual information form in respect of the year ended December 31, 2022 which has been filed with the Canadian securities regulators and is available under Consolidated Uraniums profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information 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. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / iMetal Resources, Inc. (TSXV:IMR) (OTCQB:IMRFF) (FRANKFURT:A7V) ("iMetal" or the "Company") an emerging gold exploration company, is pleased to announce the formation of an Advisory Board to assist in the further development of the Company and the appointment of Mining Industry Veteran Robert Scott as the Inaugural Advisor. Saf Dhillon, President & Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Rob to our team. The addition of such a highly accomplished mining executive is an endorsement of all we have built to date as we continue to enhance IMR shareholder value through the exploration and development of our highly prospective projects." Robert James Scott is a CPA, CA, and CFA Charterholder, and brings more than 20 years of professional experience in accounting, corporate finance, and merchant and commercial banking. He is a founder and President of Corex Management Inc., a private company providing accounting, administration and corporate compliance services to privately held and publicly traded companies and has served on the management teams and boards of a number of Canadian publicly traded companies. Some of Mr. Scott's current and recent senior management and board positions with TSX Venture Exchange Issuers include First Helium Inc, ValOre Metals Corp, Riverside Resources Inc., and Great Bear Resources Ltd. About iMetal Resources Inc. iMetal is a Canadian based junior exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of resource properties in Ontario and Quebec. One of its Flagship properties Gowganda West, is an exploration-stage gold project that borders the Juby Deposit and is located within the Shining Tree Camp area in the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt about 100 km south-southeast of the Timmins Gold Camp. The 665-hectare Kerrs Gold deposit comprises a series of gold-bearing pyritized quartz vein replacement breccias with a 2011 historic resource, 90 kilometres ENE of Timmins. The 220-hectare Ghost Mountain property, 42 kilometres NE of Kirkland Lake, lies 5 kilometres W of Agnico Eagle's Holt and Holloway Mine. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Saf Dhillon President & CEO iMetal Resources Inc. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel. (604-484-3031) Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6. https://imetalresources.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. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration, variations in results of mineralization, relationships with local communities, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws. VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company"); (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of April 27, 2023, it has closed its non-brokered private placement financing (the "LIFE Offering") of 22,367,977 common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of $0.26 per Common Share, and the Concurrent Placement (as defined below) of 25,708,946 Common Shares at the same issue price, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$12.5 million (the Life Offering, collectively with the Concurrent Placement, the "Offering"). The Concurrent Placement includes a lead order from RCF Opportunities Fund II L.P. ("RCF Opps II"), consisting of 25,552,380 Common Shares for gross proceeds of C$6.6 million. John Robins of Discovery Group and Strategic Advisor to the Company, also participated in the Offering. Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, commented: "We are very pleased to welcome RCF Opps II as a key shareholder. We will continue to advance the Wicheeda Light Rare Earth Elements project and we look forward to working with the many stakeholders. We believe the Wicheeda Light Rare Earth Elements project is the best rare earths project in Canada and one of the best developing REE projects globally." Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Common Shares issued pursuant to the LIFE Offering were offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada, except Quebec, and/or other qualifying jurisdictions pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"), which Common Shares are not subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. In connection with the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, the Company filed an offering document dated April 27, 2023 on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.defensemetals.com. In addition to the LIFE Offering, the Company completed a concurrent non-brokered private placement to purchasers pursuant to applicable exemptions under NI 45-106 (the "Concurrent Placement"). The Common Shares issued pursuant to the Concurrent Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash finder's fees of $211,056 and issued 2,311,753 non-transferable common share warrants (the "Warrants"). The Warrants are exercisable at $0.32 per Common Share for a period of two years from the closing date of the Offering. Notably, RCF Opps II subscribed as lead order in the Concurrent Placement, for approximately C$6.6 million for 25,552,380 Common Shares, representing approximately 9.99% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Defense Metals upon completion of the Offering. In consideration for RCF Opps II agreeing to subscribe as lead order in the Concurrent Placement, RCF Opps II was granted the right to participate in subsequent equity or debt financings of the Company on a pro rata basis based on RCF Opps II's ownership stake (determined on a partially diluted basis immediately prior to the proposed financing), while RCF Opps II's ownership in the Company is greater than or equal to 5% (determined on a partially diluted basis). The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to advance the Company's wholly-owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Elements Project ("Wicheeda") including: (i) the completion of the ongoing pre-feasibility study work; (ii) regional exploration activities; and (iii) general working capital and corporate expenses. The Common Shares of the Company 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 absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta, who is a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101. About the Wicheeda REE Property Defense Metals 100% owned, 4,262-hectare (~10,532-acre) Wicheeda Light REE property is located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia; population 77,000. The Wicheeda REE Project is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is near infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia. The 2021 Wicheeda REE Project Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report ("PEA") outlined a robust after-tax net present value (NPV@8%) of $517 million and an 18% IRR1. This PEA contemplated an open pit mining operation with a 1.75:1 (waste:mill feed) strip ratio providing a 1.8 Mtpa ("million tonnes per year") mill throughput producing an average of 25,423 tonnes REO annually over a 16 year mine life. A Phase 1 initial pit strip ratio of 0.63:1 (waste:mill feed) would yield rapid access to higher grade surface mineralization in year 1 and payback of $440 million initial capital within 5 years. About Defense Metals Corp. Defense Metals Corp. is focused on the development of its 100% owned Wicheeda Project that contains Rare Earth Elements that are commonly used in the defense industry, national security sector and in the production of green energy technologies, such as, rare earths magnets used in wind turbines and in permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB, and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D". Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: http://www.discoverygroup.ca/ For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com or contact: Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd. Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: (778) 994 8072 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. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the use of proceeds of the Offering, advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, the expected completion of the pre-feasibility study on the Wicheeda REE Project, completing regional exploration on the Wicheeda REE Project, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical and engineering assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of COVID-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to, the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law. VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Stuhini Exploration Ltd. (the "Company" or "Stuhini") (TSXV: STU) (OTCPK: STXPF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase agreement with G. Mark Lindsay (the "Purchase Agreement") for the acquisition of strategic information and access to a proprietary database regarding mineral prospects in Arizona and Manitoba ("Strategic Information"). The Strategic Information led to the Company's identification of four (4) mineral claims which it recently acquired in Arizona, USA (the "Arizona Claims"). As a result, in recognition of the Strategic Information's utility, the Company has agreed to compensate Mr. Lindsay. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Mr. Lindsay received an immediate cash payment of $35,000 on signing and will receive additional cash payments on an annual basis in respect of each Arizona Claim on the anniversary of the signing date (provided the Company has not abandoned such claims prior thereto) until May 25, 2027. The Company has also granted to Mr. Lindsay a 1% net smelter returns royalty in respect of all ores and concentrates produced from the Arizona Claims upon achieving commercial production (the "NSR Royalty"), with an option to repurchase at any time one-half of the NSR Royalty on any of the 4 Arizona Claims (reducing the NSR Royalty to 0.5% on such Arizona Claim) for consideration of $1,000,000 per Arizona Claim NSR repurchased. In addition to the Arizona Claims, the Strategic Information from G. Mark Lindsay also led to the Company identifying one (1) mineral claim which it acquired by staking in Manitoba referred to as the South Thompson Nickel Project (see news release dated May 21, 2021). As a result, in recognition of the utility of the Strategic Information, the Company has agreed to compensate Mr. Lindsay by granting him a 1% net smelter royalty in respect of all concentrates and ores produced from the South Thompson Nickel Project, (the "Manitoba NSR Royalty"), with an option to repurchase at any time one-half of the Manitoba NSR Royalty (reducing the Manitoba NSR Royalty to 0.5% on the South Thompson Nickel Project) for a consideration of $50,000. There are no cash payments or work commitments associated with the acquisition of the South Thompson Nickel Project. These transactions are in the ordinary course of business for the Company and management does not consider it to be a material change for the Company. About Stuhini Exploration Ltd. Stuhini is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and development of precious and base metals properties in western Canada and southwestern USA. The Company's portfolio of exploration properties includes: its flagship, the Ruby Creek Property located approximately 20 km east of Atlin, British Columbia; the Que Project located approximately 70 km north of Johnson's Crossing in the Yukon; the South Thompson Nickel Project located approximately 35 km northwest of Grand Rapids, Manitoba; the Big Ledge Property located approximately 57 km south of Revelstoke, British Columbia; and its portfolio of 4 properties in southeast Arizona. 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. Web: www.stuhini.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 (TSXV:OGN) (OTCQX:OGNRF) Orogen Royalties Inc. ("Orogen" or the "Company") is pleased to report profitable financial results from its operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023. Paddy Nicol, CEO of Orogen, commented: "Orogen's first quarter financial results in 2023 represent the Company's fifth consecutive quarter of profitability. During the period, royalty revenue from our 2% NSR royalty on the Ermitano mine increased by 78% compared to the same period in 2022. Our prospect generation business was also robust with a 415% growth in revenue compared to the same period last year along with the creation of three new royalties due to the transactions completed on Ball Creek and Cuprite. In Nevada, project owner AngloGold Ashanti NA continues an aggressive drilling campaign with eight drill rigs in a planned 45,000 metre program at the Silicon and Merlin areas, where Orogen holds a 1% NSR royalty. To date over 200,000 metres of drilling has been completed within Silicon and Merlin and we look forward to an integrated concept study in Q3-2023." Q1-2023 Highlights All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Net Income from Operations: Net income was $632,213 or $0.003 per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to a net profit of $426,081 or $0.002 per share in 2022, representing a $206,132 or 48% increase in net income. This was due to an increase in royalty revenue and a profitable prospect generation business that was offset by higher G&A and overhead expenses. Net income was $632,213 or $0.003 per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to a net profit of $426,081 or $0.002 per share in 2022, representing a $206,132 or 48% increase in net income. This was due to an increase in royalty revenue and a profitable prospect generation business that was offset by higher G&A and overhead expenses. Royalty Revenue: Royalty revenue of $1,314,066 was earned from the Ermitano royalty during the current period with 508 attributable gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") sold at average price of US$1,877 per ounce. This is an increase of $575,224 or 78% compared to a revenue of $738,842 earned in 2022. The Company holds a 2.0% uncapped and non-buyable net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Ermitano Mine with First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") as the operator. Royalty revenue of $1,314,066 was earned from the Ermitano royalty during the current period with 508 attributable gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") sold at average price of US$1,877 per ounce. This is an increase of $575,224 or 78% compared to a revenue of $738,842 earned in 2022. The Company holds a 2.0% uncapped and non-buyable net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Ermitano Mine with First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") as the operator. Prospect Generation : Net income of $940,059 from prospect generation activities compared to $182,459 reported in 2022, representing a 415% increase. This includes $938,034 (2022 - $177,741) for net gains from project sales and option agreements. Gains are recognized in a project when total recoveries including proceeds received from sale, option payments, and/or other reimbursement are greater than the project's total carrying value. : Net income of $940,059 from prospect generation activities compared to $182,459 reported in 2022, representing a 415% increase. This includes $938,034 (2022 - $177,741) for net gains from project sales and option agreements. Gains are recognized in a project when total recoveries including proceeds received from sale, option payments, and/or other reimbursement are greater than the project's total carrying value. G&A Expenses : General and administrative expenses of $1,493,432 were incurred in 2023 compared to $863,288 incurred in 2022, representing a 73% increase. The increase in G&A expenses during the current period was due to higher salaries and share-based compensation costs. : General and administrative expenses of $1,493,432 were incurred in 2023 compared to $863,288 incurred in 2022, representing a 73% increase. The increase in G&A expenses during the current period was due to higher salaries and share-based compensation costs. Cash flow : Cash flow of $1,149,770 was generated from operating activities in the current period compared to $90,412 in 2022. Cash flow generated from operating activities in the current period, excluding changes in non-cash working capital, was $246,032 (2022 - $229,246). : Cash flow of $1,149,770 was generated from operating activities in the current period compared to $90,412 in 2022. Cash flow generated from operating activities in the current period, excluding changes in non-cash working capital, was $246,032 (2022 - $229,246). Working Capital: The Company has working capital of $15,683,481 at March 31, 2023 compared to $12,083,375 at the beginning of the fiscal year. The Company has no long-term debt. For complete details of the Company's financial results, please refer to the condensed interim consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023, and 2022. The Company's filings are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Orogen's website at www.orogenroyalties.com. Please also see non-IFRS Measures at the end of this news release. Summary of Results Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2023 2022 Income from Royalties $ 1,314,066 $ 738,842 Income from Prospect Generation activities 940,059 182,459 Other income 55,489 18,767 Total income 2,309,614 940,068 G&A 1,493,432 863,288 Operating income before other adjustments $ 816,182 $ 76,780 Other income 13,616 1,971 Gain (loss) on marketable securities fair value adjustment (197,585 ) 347,330 Net income and comprehensive income for the period $ 632,213 426,081 Basic income per share $ 0.003 $ 0.002 Diluted income per share $ 0.003 $ 0.002 Non-IFRS and Other Measures GEOs 508 315 Average realized gold price per GEO 1,877 1,877 Cash flow from operating activities, excluding changes in non-cash working capital $ 246,032 $ 229,246 To date, the Company has over 44 royalty and mineral property assets in Canada, United States, Mexico, Argentina, and Kenya including 23 royalties, 14 mineral properties under option, five projects that are available for sale or option and two alliances. During the current quarter, the Company had completed the following transactions: Cuprite : On January 23, 2023, the Company sold a 100% interest in the Cuprite gold project located in Nevada to Strikepoint Gold Inc. for a total consideration of $450,000 and a 3.0% NSR royalty on the project. The Cuprite project was generated under the Nevada Generative Alliance with Altius Minerals Corporation and as such, the total consideration received was split evenly between the Company and Altius with the Company retaining $225,000 of the total consideration and a 1.5% NSR royalty on the project. : On January 23, 2023, the Company sold a 100% interest in the Cuprite gold project located in Nevada to Strikepoint Gold Inc. for a total consideration of $450,000 and a 3.0% NSR royalty on the project. The Cuprite project was generated under the Nevada Generative Alliance with Altius Minerals Corporation and as such, the total consideration received was split evenly between the Company and Altius with the Company retaining $225,000 of the total consideration and a 1.5% NSR royalty on the project. Ball Creek : On March 3, 2023, the Company announced that it has divided the Ball Creek project into two claim blocks that included Ball Creek East and Ball Creek West. The Company entered into a purchase and sales agreement with P2 Gold Inc. for 100% interest in Ball Creek West for a total consideration of $1.0 million, a 1.0% NSR royalty, and the right to acquire an additional 1.0% NSR royalty. The Company also entered into an option agreement with Kingfisher Metals Inc. whereby Kingfisher can earn 100% interest in Ball Creek East by issuing $3.5 million in fair value of Kingfisher common shares and incurring $7.5 million in exploration expenditures over a four-year period. After Kingfisher satisfies its obligation to the option agreement and exercises its option to acquire the project, the Company will retain the right to acquire 1.0% NSR royalty on the project. As additional consideration, Kingfisher has granted the Company a 1.0% NSR on its Ecstall project, located in central coast British Columbia, Canada. : On March 3, 2023, the Company announced that it has divided the Ball Creek project into two claim blocks that included Ball Creek East and Ball Creek West. The Company entered into a purchase and sales agreement with P2 Gold Inc. for 100% interest in Ball Creek West for a total consideration of $1.0 million, a 1.0% NSR royalty, and the right to acquire an additional 1.0% NSR royalty. The Company also entered into an option agreement with Kingfisher Metals Inc. whereby Kingfisher can earn 100% interest in Ball Creek East by issuing $3.5 million in fair value of Kingfisher common shares and incurring $7.5 million in exploration expenditures over a four-year period. After Kingfisher satisfies its obligation to the option agreement and exercises its option to acquire the project, the Company will retain the right to acquire 1.0% NSR royalty on the project. As additional consideration, Kingfisher has granted the Company a 1.0% NSR on its Ecstall project, located in central coast British Columbia, Canada. Project Acquisitions: During the quarter, the Company acquired the Celts project located in Walker Lane, Nevada and the Cuervo project located in British Columbia. Both are epithermal gold-silver targets and were acquired through staking under the Company's generative exploration programs. The Company reported a gain of $938,034 from these prospect generation activities. Gains are recognized in a project when total recoveries including proceeds received from sale, option payments, and/or other reimbursement are greater than the project's total carrying value. During the current period, the Company incurred $1,493,432 in G&A and overhead expenses, representing a 73% increase compared to $863,288 incurred in 2022. The increase in G&A expenses during the current period was due to higher salaries and share-based compensation costs. Over 2022, the Company conducted a benchmarking study of its compensation policy against its peers to ensure that the Company's compensation metrics are comparable to compensate performance, attract, and motivate employees to deliver on the Company's short and long-term objectives and strategies. As a result, the Company adopted short and long-term incentive plans that include salary, annual bonus, and share based compensation that aligns with personal and corporate performance. The compensation policy was adopted on January 1, 2023, and resulted in higher salary and share-based compensation expenses compared to 2022. Higher salary expenses incurred during the current quarter were due to salary increases, and 2022 annual bonuses paid to employees. Higher share-based compensation expenses incurred were due to stock options, restricted share units and deferred share units granted to directors, officers, employees, and consultants as part of the Company's long-term incentive plan that vests for a period between two to three years from the date of grant. Ermitano Royalty (Sonora, Mexico) First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") operates the Ermitano mine where the Company holds an uncapped and non-buyable 2.0% NSR royalty. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, the Company reported royalty revenue of $1,314,066 earned from the Ermitano royalty with 508 GEOs sold at an average price of US$1,877 per ounce. This is an increase of $575,224 or 78% compared to a revenue of $738,842 earned in 2022. Higher revenue and production during the current period were due to transitioning to 100% Ermitano ores at the Santa Elena mine by First Majestic whereas production in previous periods was based on a combination of Ermitano and Santa Elena ores. The Santa Elena mine was suspended to focus on exploration and definition drilling. In accordance with First Majestic's 2023 guidance, the Company forecasts that quarterly royalty revenue for the remainder of the year will be US$850,000 per quarter, a 20% increase in revenue compared to 2022. Silicon Royalty (Nevada, USA)1 Orogen holds an uncapped and non-buyable 1.0% NSR royalty on 125 square kilometres of ground at the Silicon project that includes the Silicon deposit and the Merlin area located in Nye County, Nevada. The project is owned and operated by AngloGold Ashanti NA ("AngloGold"). Drilling at the Silicon and Merlin areas continues with eight drill rigs following the 4.22 million ounce resource announced at Silicon in February 2023. (see Orogen press releases from February 23, 2023 and March 30, 2023). At Silicon, drilling is targeting extensions at depth where mineralization remains open. At Merlin, mineral resource delineation continues to deliver results that AngloGold describes as "very promising". Figure 1 - Map of Silicon area showing Silicon deposit and Merlin areas where Orogen holds a 1% NSR royalty. Source:https://www.anglogoldashanti.com/investors/reporting/financial-results/ Qualified Person Statement All technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been verified by Laurence Pryer, Ph.D., P.Geo., VP Exploration for Orogen. Dr. Pryer is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Certain technical disclosure in this release is a summary of previously released third-party information and the Company is relying on the interpretation provided. Additional information can be found on the links in the footnotes. About Orogen Royalties Inc. Orogen Royalties is focused on organic royalty creation and royalty acquisitions on precious and base metal discoveries in western North America. The Company's royalty portfolio includes the Ermitano gold and silver Mine in Sonora, Mexico (2.0% NSR royalty) operated by First Majestic Silver Corp. and the Silicon gold project (1.0% NSR royalty) in Nevada, U.S., being advanced by AngloGold Ashanti. The Company is well financed with several projects actively being developed by joint venture partners. On Behalf of the Board OROGEN ROYALTIES INC. Paddy Nicol President & CEO To find out more about Orogen, please contact Paddy Nicol, President & CEO at 604-248-8648, and Marco LoCascio, Vice President of Corporate Development at 604-248-8648. Visit our website at www.orogenroyalties.com. Orogen Royalties Inc. 1015 - 789 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6C 1H2 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Orogen Royalties Inc. (the "Company") expect to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking information in this news release includes disclosures regarding NSR royalty payments to be paid to the Company by First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic"), the owners and operator of the Ermitano mine located in Mexico and that the forecasted revenue which are based on First Majestic "NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates" having an effective date of June 30, 2021. In addition to the technical report, the disclosure herein also contains and the updated mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Ermitano mine based on the Santa Elena Mineral Reserve, Resource Estimates with an effective date of December 31, 2022 as announced by First Majestic on March 31, 2023 and as disclosed in their December 31, 2022 AIF, and First Majestic's MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2023. Forward-looking statements are based on several material assumptions, which management of the Company believe to be reasonable, including, but not limited to, the continuation of mining operations in respect of which the Company will receive NSR royalty payments, that the commodity prices will not experience a material adverse change, mining operations that underlie the royalty will operate in accordance with the disclosed parameters and other assumptions may be set out herein. 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by 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. Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this news release relating to properties and operations in which Orogen holds a Royalty are based on information publicly disclosed by the owners or operators of these properties and information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof, and none of this information has been independently verified by Orogen. Specifically, as a Royalty holder and prospect generator, the Company has limited, if any, access to properties on which it holds Royalty or other interests in its asset portfolio. The Company may from time to time receive operating information from the owners and operators of the mining properties, which it is not permitted to disclose to the public. Orogen is dependent on, (i) the operators of the mining properties and their qualified persons to provide information to Orogen, or (ii) on publicly available information to prepare disclosure pertaining to properties and operations on the properties on which the Company holds Royalty or other interests, and generally has limited or no ability to independently verify such information. Although the Company does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such third-party information is complete or accurate. Some reported public information in respect of a mining property may relate to a larger property area than the area covered by Orogen's Royalty or other interest. Orogen's Royalty or other interests may cover less than 100% of a specific mining property and may only apply to a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and or production from a mining property. Non-IFRS Measures The Company has included certain results in this news release that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") including total GEOs sold, average realized gold price per GEO, and cash flow from operating activities excluding changes in non-cash working capital adjustments. The Company's royalty revenue is converted to a gold equivalent ounce by dividing the royalty revenue received during the period by the average gold price of the period. The Company has also used the non-IFRS measure of operating cash flows excluding changes in non-cash working capital. This measure is calculated by adding back the decrease or subtracting the increase in changes in non-cash working capital to or from cash provided by (used in) operating activities. 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. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE) (OTCQB: AMEGF) ("American Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced strategic investment in the Company by Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A) (TSX: TECK.B) (NYSE: TECK) ("Teck") through a structured charity flow-through financing on a private placement basis. The Company has issued 14,400,000 common shares on a flow-through basis (the "Charity FT Shares") at a price of C$0.205 per Charity FT Share for issue proceeds of approximately $2.96 million (the "Offering"). Through a structured flow-through transaction, Teck subsequently acquired 14,400,000 common shares of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $1.87 million, or $0.13 per common share. Highlights: The Offering fully funds the American Eagle's 2023 drill program on NAK and provides the capital to advance its ongoing exploration activities at the NAK copper-gold porphyry project located (the "Nak Project"), near Smithers, BC . Drilling on American Eagle's NAK is expected to recommence in June. No warrants or finders fees were issued in connection with the Offering. "We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully secured Teck's investment and obtained all the necessary permits, paving the way for our upcoming drill program in 2023. The timing of these developments couldn't be more favorable, and we anticipate that the investment community will soon recognize the immense potential of our NAK property, just as Teck, a prominent industry leader and expert, has. We are excited to have Teck's backing to advance work on the project, given the company's track record in exploration, and commitment to collaborative relationships to advance exploration projects," said Anthony Moreau, CEO of American Eagle Gold. American Eagle announced on May 10th (see release here) it had received its 5-Year Drill Permit for the NAK Project. The proceeds of the Offering fully funds American Eagle's 2023 drill program. The primary objectives for this year's drill program will be to: Follow up the 2022 drill program via east-west step-out drilling and begin to delineate the true size of this potential deposit; Expand and better define the orientation and distribution of the higher-grade zones of dyke-hosted bornite mineralization; Expand the known footprint of the high-grade at-surface south gold zone; and Step out and investigate the highly prospective southern margin of the main Babine stock porphyry. View 2023 Drill Targets View NAK Technical Webinar About the Previous Drilling Historical drilling defined a large surface copper and gold footprint measuring 1500 x 1500m open in all directions. However, historical drilling had been restricted to the upper parts of the mineralized alteration zone, testing to an average vertical depth of only 170m. American Eagle's 2022 drill program tested mineralization below the historical shallow drilling and discovered broad intercepts of bornite bearing copper-gold porphyry mineralization. 2023's objective is to continue advancing the NAK property by expanding its known mineralized footprint and identifying the high-grade source of copper and gold on NAK. About American Eagle's NAK Project NAK is a porphyry copper-gold target that exhibits many signs of a robust and large-scale system. Historical drilling, while shallow, defined a near-surface copper-gold system with a footprint greater than 1.5km x 1.5km. Drilling in 2022 showed that the property holds substantial deep potential but remains largely untested at depth, while near-surface mineralization potential was significantly larger than historically defined. The NAK property is road accessible, and many target areas coincide with forest industry clear cuts. Drilling can be undertaken year-round, and no helicopter support is required. The NAK property is 85 kilometres from Smithers, BC, in the Babine copper-gold porphyry district of west-central British Columbia. It lies close to past-producing mines (Bell, Granisle) and excellent infrastructure. NAK's highly encouraging initial results make it a prime candidate for further exploration. The Company's main objective is to advance this newly revitalized prospect into a major discovery. Drilling is expected to commence in early June 2023. Closing Details Pursuant to the Offering, a total of 14,400,000 Charity FT Shares were issued on a charity flow through basis. An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the Offering will be used to incur, on the Company's Canadian mineral exploration properties, eligible resource exploration expenses that will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Income Tax Act (the "Tax Act"), (ii) "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"); and (iii) as a "BC flow-through mining expenditure" for purchasers in British Columbia. The Qualifying Expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Offering will be incurred on or before December 31, 2024 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the Charity FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023. In the event that the Company is unable to renounce the issue price for the Charity FT Shares on or prior to December 31, 2023 for each Charity FT Share purchased and/or if the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will as sole recourse for such failure to renounce, indemnify each initial purchaser for the additional taxes payable by such subscriber to the extent permitted by the Tax Act as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures as agreed. No warrants are included in the Offering, and no finders fees or commissions were paid. The Charity FT Shares are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day following the closing of the Offering. Following the issuance of the Charity FT Shares, Teck acquired the 14,400,400 common shares of American Eagle ("Common Shares") for an aggregate purchase price of $1.87 million, or $0.13 per Common Share. In connection with the Offering, American Eagle and Teck entered into a letter agreement wherein Teck was granted certain investor rights for so long as Teck's ownership in American Eagle remains greater than 5.0% of American Eagle's issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis. Such rights include Teck being granted equity participation rights to maintain its pro-rata ownership in the Company and certain information rights relating to the NAK Project. Early Warning Disclosure Upon closing of the Offering, Teck now holds a total of 14,400,000 Common Shares of American Eagle, amounting to approximately 15.0% of American Eagle's issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis. As a result of the completion of the Offering on May 25, 2023, Teck acquired beneficial ownership and control of 14,400,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.13 per Common Share, which represents approximately 15% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares after the Offering. Prior to the completion of the Offering, Teck held no Common Shares. As a result of the Offering, the amount of Common Shares beneficially held by Teck is now 14,400,000 Common Shares, amounting to 15.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a diluted and non-diluted basis. Teck's purchase of the Common Shares was made for investment purposes. Teck may determine to increase or decrease its investment in American Eagle depending on market conditions and any other relevant factors. This release is required to be issued under the early warning requirements of applicable securities laws. A copy of the early warning report may be obtained from the contacts listed below. Teck's head office is located at Suite 3300 - 550 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 0B3. A copy of Teck's early warning report may be obtained from Chris Stannell at 604 699 4368. A copy of the early warning report in relation to the above Offering will appear with American Eagle's filings on SEDAR. The disclosure in this news release under the heading "Early Warning Disclosure" has been issued under the early warning provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For the latest videos from American Eagle, Ore Group, and all things mining, subscribe to our YouTube Chanel: youtube.com/@theoregroup. About American Eagle Gold Corp. American Eagle is focused on exploring its NAK project in the Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry district of central British Columbia. Anthony Moreau, Chief Executive Officer Phone: 416.644.1567 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.americaneaglegold.ca QP Statement Mark Bradley, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., a Certified Professional Geologist and 'qualified person' for the purposes of Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties, has verified and approved the information contained in this news release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements"), including details about the business of the Company. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the intended use of proceeds from the Offering to fully fund the 2023 drill program on the Company's NAK project; the expected timeline and results for the 2023 drill program; the anticipated favourability of the investment community for the Offering and the NAK project; the ability of the Company to incur the Qualifying Expenditures on or before December 31, 2024 and the effective renunciation of the full issue price for the Charity FT Shares on or prior to December 31, 2023. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are discussed in the Company's public disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX.V: ARK) (Arras, or the Company) is pleased to announce assay results from holes Bg22021, Bg22022, Bg22016, Bg22018 and Bg22019 from the ongoing drill program at the Beskauga copper-gold deposit and surrounding area (Beskauga or the Project). Highlights Include: Bg22021: 603.7 m of mineralization grading 0.40% copper-equivalent (CuEq) (0.24 g/t gold (Au), 0.19 % copper (Cu), 0.86 g/t silver (Ag)) starting at 136.0 m. Including: 317.6 m grading 0.55 % CuEq (0.35 g/t Au, 0.25% Cu, 1.05 g/t Ag) starting at 351.0 m depth down-hole. (0.35 g/t Au, 0.25% Cu, 1.05 g/t Ag) starting at 351.0 m depth down-hole. Consistent mineralization was seen for the entire length of hole Bg22021 (739.7 m) and further defines a high-grade core to the Beskauga deposit within a lower grade halo. Bg22022: 546.9 m of mineralization grading 0.14 gram per ton (g/t) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (0.12 g/t gold (Au), 0.01 % copper (Cu), 0.1 g/t silver (Ag)) starting at 31.1 m to the end of the drill hole. Including: 65.0 m grading 0.44g/t AuEq (0.41 g/t Au, 0.02% Cu, 0.2 g/t Ag) starting at 105.0 m depth down-hole. (0.41 g/t Au, 0.02% Cu, 0.2 g/t Ag) starting at 105.0 m depth down-hole. Including: 34.0 m grading 0.30g/t AuEq (0.28 g/t Au, 0.01% Cu, 0.13 g/t Ag) starting at 243.0 m depth down-hole. Mr. Tim Barry, CEO commented, Drilling at Beskauga continues to deliver near-surface, broad intervals of significant copper-gold mineralization. Hole Bg22021 also included two zones of high-grade mineralization including 26 meters at @ 1.01% copper equivalent and another zone of 18 meters at 1.41% copper equivalent. These grades are indicative of high-grade zones found throughout the deposit which we continue to review as we explore for the core of this very extensive system. Table 1. Summary table for drill holes for this news release is shown below Notes: Copper Equivalent (CuEq) grades reported for the drill holes at Beskauga were calculated using the following formula: CuEq % = Copper (%) + (Gold (g/t) x 0.8264) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0107) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 3.3333). Gold Equivalent (AuEq) grades reported for the drill holes at Beskauga were calculated using the following formula: AuEq g/t = Gold (g/t) + (Copper (%) x 1.2100) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0129) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.0334). Assumptions used for the copper and gold equivalent calculations were metal prices of US$3.00/lb. Copper, US$1,700/oz Gold, US$22/oz Silver, US$10/lb. Molybdenum, and metallurgical recoveries were assumed to be 100%. Bg22021: drill hole was designed as an infill in an untested zone between Arras drill holes Bg21008 and Bg21004 and further tested the eastern boundary of the potassic-altered monzodiorite intrusion (magnetic bullseyes) at Beskauga main Cu-Au deposit. Drill hole also targeted deeper extension of mineralization based on the defined steep SW plunge of Beskauga Main Cu-Au mineralization. The drill hole started in weak to moderate argillic (Illite-smectite) altered diorite. Diorite Cu-Au mineralization is comprised from quartz-tennantite-chalcopyrite veins and weak tennantite-chalcopyrite dissemination within broad veins halo. Bornite is rarely observed. Diorite is cut by two post mineral porphyritic diorite dykes at 193.5-245.0m and 325.0-330.7m. At 344.1 m after diorite drill hole continued in potassic (biotite, K-Feldspar, magnetite) altered monzodiorite. Monzodiorite mineralization is seen in quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins with weak and rare presence of bornite and molybdenite, and very rarely covellite and tennantite closely related with weak and local - structurally controlled epithermal overprint. Monzodiorite is cut by couple of post mineral porphyritic diorite dykes. After monzodiorite from 668.8 m drill hole ended in weakly potassic (K-Feldspar, magnetite, biotite) altered microdiorite. Microdiorite mineralization is comprised by weak quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite veins and weak presence of chalcopyrite only veinlets. Bg22022: drill hole was collared as a step back hole on fence of holes Bg22011 and Bg22013 (see Arras' press release on March 6 2023) 200 m SW of Bg22013. Tested the continuity and geometry of the strong Au mineralization in these earlier holes and potential of NW-SE striking magnetic low corridor. Drill hole intersected quartz monzonite with moderate Argillic (illite-smectite) alteration in first 379.0 m from where alteration gradually changed to weak potassic (K-Feldspar, magnetite, epidote) alteration and continues till the end of the drill hole. Quartz monzonite is cut by porphyritic quartz monzonite at 135.0-150.3 m. Unmineralized basaltic andesite is intersected at 311.6-355.8m. Intersected mineralization is mainly related to the quartz-pyrite veins with sporadic mainly weak presence of chalcopyrite, and infrequent quartz-magnetite veins with first appearance starting from 390.0m to the end of the drill hole. Bg22019: Hole designed as 200 m step back to the SW from drilled hole Bg22016 with aim to test continuation of phyllic altered Diorite hosting Quartz-Pyrite veining intersected in hole Bg22016. Testing strong magnetic low anomaly corresponding with interpreted phyllic magnetite destructive alteration starting from top to the bottom of proposed hole and testing chargeability high anomaly. The drill hole intersected diorite with strong phyllic (sericite-pyrite) alteration up to 200 m depth where phyllic alteration becomes weaker further down the hole and potassic (K-Feldspar, biotite, magnetite) alteration remnants start prevailing. Weak random Au and Cu mineralization is related mainly with quartz-pyrite (D type) veins having sporadic weak presence of chalcopyrite within the first 300 m of drill hole. Bg22018: drill hole was drilled at angle of 65 degrees toward northeast to test anomalous KGK copper values going up to 0.47 % and 0.15 g/t Au, and to test demagnetized zone surrounding several discreet mag highs. With first 154.0 m drill hole intersected weak potassic (magnetite-biotite-epidote-chlorite) altered monzonite cut by several less than 1.0 m thick apophyses of diorite. Monzonite weak mineralization is driven by weak veining of quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins. From 154.0 m drill hole continued through propylitic (epidote-magnetite-smectite) altered diorite with sporadic presence of quartz-pyrite veins without significant mineralization. The drill hole is terminated at depth of 357.1m. Bg22016: was drilled approximately 1 km west of the Beskauga Main deposit with aim to test magnetic low and chargeability high anomalies, and anomalous As, Cu, Au, Bi and Mo values in historical KGK drilling. The drill hole started in diorite with moderate phyllic (sericite-pyrite) alteration up to depth of 163.2m down the hole. Diorite is hosting moderately intense quartz-pyrite (D type) veins with typical sericite halo and carrying weak and on spots Au mineralization. After diorite from 163.2m drill hole continued through in lithic tuff that is moderately argillic (kaolinite-illite) altered but hosting no veining and mineralization. Drill hole is terminated at 247.4 m depth. Figure 1. Location of the holes completed to date as part of Arras planned 30,000-metre drill program on the Beskauga Main deposit and wider area. The surface projection of the block model from the current NI-43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate is shown for copper. The inset map in Figure 2 below shows the location of Beskauga Main relative to Beskauga South. Figure 2. Location of the holes completed to date at the Beskauga South area, located approximately 3.2 kilometres SSW from the Beskauga Main deposit, and outside of the current NI-43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate. The inset map shows the location of Beskauga South relative to Beskauga Main. Figure 3. Cross-section showing drill holes Bg22021 in relation to historical drill hole Bg-084, Bg-097 and Bg-101. Also shown are grade contours based on the Beskauga block model for copper (only) developed for the purposes of the current Mineral Resource Estimate for Beskauga (for further details, please (see Arras press release on June 20, 2022). CuEq grades of key intercepts in Bg22015 and historical holes are shown. The cross-section demonstrates the steep dipping high-grade copper-gold-silver trend observed through Arras exploration to date. This trend is observed beginning at the paleo-bedrock surface (41 m in depth) and averages between 200-300 m wide and to be consistently mineralized down to at least 1000 meters. Figure 4. Cross-section showing drill holes Bg22021 in relation to historical drill hole Bg-084, Bg-097 and Bg-101. Also shown are grade contours based on the Beskauga block model for gold (only) developed for the purposes of the current Mineral Resource Estimate for Beskauga (for further details, please see Arras press release on June 20, 2022). AuEq grades of key intercepts in Bg22012 and historical holes are shown. The cross-section demonstrates the steep, southwest dipping high-grade copper-gold-silver trend observed through Arras exploration to date. This trend is observed beginning at the paleo-bedrock surface (41 m in depth), to average between 200-300 m wide and to be consistently mineralized down to at least 1000 meters. Figure 5. Cross-section showing drill holes Bg22022 in relation with previously drilled Bg22011 and Bg22013 and historical holes drilled by Copperbelt. AuEq grades of key intercepts in Bg22022, Bg22011, Bg22013 and historical holes are shown. The cross-section demonstrates structurally controlled mineralization largely focused in the contacts between steep, southwest dipping quartz monzonite intrusion and surrounding porphyritic quartz monzonite and andesite basalts. Qualified Person: The technical information of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Tim Barry, a Chartered Professional Geologist MAusIMM CP(Geo), and a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM (CP(Geo)) Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Further information can be found on the Companys website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp. Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group). The Companys shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol ARK. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources This press release uses the terms measured resources, indicated resources, and inferred resources which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras management. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, continues, may, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond managements control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Companys profile on SEDAR on March 30, 2023 and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 24, 2023 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company 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. New Copper Lens Discovered - Highlight Intercept 9.97% CuEq over 2.1m Additional New Precious Metals Lens Grading 208 g/t Ag over 9.4m Up-Dip Extension Confirmed with Wedge Hole Assays Step-Out Drilling Potentially Entering Higher-Grade Feeder System Summer Drill Program Targeting ~20,000m to Commence Early June VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Foran Mining Corporation (TSXV: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) ("Foran" or the "Company") is pleased to announce final assay results from the 2023 winter drill program at the new Tesla target. This release includes the results from three new holes, along with additional significant new high-grade intersections from the bottom part of previously released TS-23-10. Additionally, the Company has provided an overview of the geological interpretations completed to-date, along with details for our upcoming summer drill program. The Tesla Zone is located approximately 300 metres ("m") north of Foran's McIlvenna Bay Deposit in Saskatchewan. Key Highlights: Another new lens discovered at the northern end of Tesla shows that we could be entering the feeder part of the system, where we have encountered some of our highest-grade intercepts to date. Significant new assay results with new zones from the bottom of Hole TS-23-10: 3.5m grading 6.47% Cu, 1.49% Zn, 86.5 g/t Ag and 0.03 g/t Au (6.76% CuEq), including 2.1m grading 9.95% Cu, 0.99% Zn, 127.8 g/t Ag and 0.04 g/t Au (9.97% CuEq). 9.4m grading 208 g/t Ag and 0.67 g/t Au, including 1.6m grading 355.5 g/t Ag and 0.82 g/t Au Results from new wedge hole confirms continued up-dip extension of the main Tesla lens. 100% hit rate at Tesla over winter program with all drill holes intersecting sulphide mineralization. Upcoming 20,000m summer exploration drilling will focus on expansion drilling at Tesla and testing of high priority near-mine and regional targets. Dan Myerson, Foran's Executive Chairman & CEO, commented "As our exploration efforts progress at Tesla and our understanding of this captivating discovery deepens, it continues to unveil exciting opportunities. The discovery of an additional deeper high-grade base and precious metal lens further augments its potential as we diligently carry out systematic drilling and extend our reach along the known geophysical conductor. While we are in the initial phases of delineating this target, we are leveraging our expanding knowledge and extrapolating our findings to guide our exploration at other promising near-mine and regional targets in the upcoming summer season. Our commitment to maximizing risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders remains steadfast as we pursue the development of Canada's next critical minerals champion, and we look forward to providing further exciting exploration updates over the summer." Tesla Zone Results The Tesla Zone lies adjacent to the McIlvenna Bay Deposit and was discovered during the 2022 summer program (see June 8, 2022 press release), while drill testing a ~900m (strike) by 300m (width) electro-magnetic "EM" conductor (Figure 3). Significant widths of copper and zinc-rich sulphide mineralization have now been intersected in thirteen drill holes completed during 2022 and 2023 programs, successfully defining ~550m strike length for the zone which remains open in all directions for expansion with further drilling. Foran's winter drilling successfully expanded the footprint of the Tesla mineralization up-dip, down-dip and along strike in both directions, with thick intersections of massive to semi-massive and stringer sulphides intersected in all step-out and wedged holes. Additional zones of high-grade copper mineralization were also intersected at the northwestern extent of current drilling and remain open for expansion. Results presented here include the remaining assay results from the bottom of TS-23-10 and three wedged holes (TS-23-08w1, TS-23-09Aw1 and TS-23-11w2). The results continue to reaffirm consistency of the upper massive sulphides, as well, as the exciting potential for a series of copper-rich lenses at depth (Figures 1 & 2). Summer targeting has also now been refined by recent borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) surveys that provide additional 'high confidence' geometric information about the immediate extensions of the Tesla mineralization. Figure 1 Long-section of Tesla and McIlvenna Bay showing the location of two new lenses beneath the main Tesla lens. Mineralization is represented by single intersection points and do not reflect intersection thickness. Figure 2 Tesla 3D views in long-section and cross section, showing the distribution of the upper copper stringer zone (yellow) to illustrate the current extent of the Tesla Zone, with remaining intersections coloured by their mineralization zone. Figure 3 Plan View of Tesla Drilling and McIlvenna Bay 2023 SUMMER EXPLORATION PROGRAM Planning is currently underway for a summer drill program of up to 20,000m commencing in early June, with 11,000 metres allocated to expanding the Tesla zone with the remainder to test several high-priority targets adjacent to Tesla (e.g. Higgs and Ferme targets) plus several others further afield (e.g. Flinty, Ada, Maxwell targets). See Figure 4 for target locations. At Tesla, directional drilling technologies will be utilized to reach the conductor plate from land focusing on expanding the mineralized footprint through the summer prior to ice drilling commencing again in winter. It is currently anticipated that the summer program will begin with three drill rigs at Tesla, with additional drills added to the program as work advances and the summer exploration program expands to incorporate regional, helicopter-supported targets from August onwards. Planning for several regional airborne geophysical surveys is also underway, designed to define further drill targets on our extensive land holdings. Figure 4 Map of Foran's highly prospective northern claims showing the location of Tesla, McIlvenna Bay and further target areas. INTERPRETATION OF NEW DRILLING RESULTS Hole TS-23-10 New assay results show that the lower sections of TS-23-10 continued to encounter additional copper-rich massive sulphide intervals near the bottom of the hole returning 3.5m grading 6.47% Cu, 1.49% Zn, 86.5 g/t Ag and 0.03 g/t Au from 1,334m. This zone consisted of significant volumes of chalcopyrite associated with strong chlorite alteration and brecciation. Higher in the hole, a 38m thick interval of gabbro from 1,294 to 1,332m was cut by numerous thin quartz-carbonate veinlets associated with significant silver mineralization, returning a composite interval of 9.4m grading 208.0 g/t Ag and 0.7 g/t Au. This zone appears to represent a new style of mineralization for the Tesla area. In total, TS-23-10 has intersected four zinc and/or copper-rich massive sulphide lenses and several significant zones of copper-rich stringer-style mineralization over a total core length of 287m, some which we retrospectively also see evidence of in the previously released hole TS-23-07 (Figure 5). We currently interpret the lower, copper-silver-rich, stacked lenses in TS-23-10 to represent structurally transposed parts of the volcanic-hosted massive sulphide ("VHMS") feeder zone (see the Interpretation section of this release below). Hole TS-23-10 is located at the northern limit of current drilling at Tesla and this area will be a focus for further drilling this summer as we continue to follow the target EM plates northwest along strike. Figure 5 TS-23-10 downhole plot of zinc, copper, lead, gold and silver assays compared with TS-23-07 (nearest hole collared 100m to the southwest), demonstrating spatial correlation of the lenses over ~80m of strike length at depth. Hole TS-23-08w1 Drill hole TS-23-08w1 was drilled as an up-dip wedge starting from 400m depth on the pilot hole TS-23-08 and reaching a final depth of 1,198m. TS-23-08w1 successfully intersected the Tesla zone mineralization approximately 63m up-dip from TS-23-08, returning an upper massive sulphide intersection of 1.9m grading 1.20% Cu, 7.72% Zn, 21.9 g/t Ag and 0.08 g/t Au from 974.6m followed by a thicker stringer zone of 17.0m grading 0.96% Cu, 1.00% Zn, 17.3 g/t Ag and 0.08 g/t Au from 980.4m. Hole TS-23-09Aw1 Drill hole TS-23-09Aw1 was drilled as an along-strike wedge from approximately 400m depth on pilot hole TS-23-09A, which was collared in the southeastern part of the Tesla Zone. TS-23-09Aw1 successfully intersected the main Tesla horizon approximately 52m to the northwest along strike where it also contained a thickened zone of mineralization relative to the pilot hole, with zinc-rich massive and semi-massive sulphides underlain by a thick copper-rich stringer zone of 17m grading 1.11% Cu, 0.73% Zn, 13.9 g/t Ag and 0.30 g/t Au from 989m. Hole TS-23-11w2 Drill hole TS-23-11w2 was drilled 100m southeast of TS-23-09A at the southern limit of current Tesla drilling, where it successfully intersected significant sulphide mineralization. The hole was wedged off the parent hole at 390m to hit the conductor target plate and returned a 16.5m interval of massive and semi-massive sulphides, followed by stringer style and foliation-parallel copper sulphide mineralization associated with moderate to strong chlorite and local silicification in mafic volcanic rocks. Together this intersection returned 16.5m grading 1.12% Cu, 4.85% Zn, 41.1 g/t Ag and 0.06 g/t Au from 1,072m, including 7m grading 0.91% Cu, 10.45% Zn and 53.6 g/t Ag. TS-23-11w2 also intersected another massive sulphide and associated stringer zone approximately 190m below the main lens in an interval of broken core which may suggest a fault repetition, with the intersection returning 4.4m grading 1.93% Cu, 1.78% Zn, 31.0 g/t Ag and 0.06 g/t Au from 1,276m. Additional drilling will be conducted in this area to determine the true relationship of this lower zone to the other zones intersected to date from the Tesla drilling. TESLA-McILVENNA BAY INTERPRETATION With conclusion of the Winter 2023 Tesla drilling program, Foran's exploration team has been focusing on interpreting results to date. While our understanding is continuing to evolve as new data is collected, intriguing relationships between Tesla and McIlvenna Bay are beginning to emerge. Through a combination of detailed core observations, the results from the TruscanTM analysis and the ongoing McIlvenna Bay Orebody Knowledge Study, we believe it is possible that the two deposits, while heavily structurally modified today, may represent different parts of the same original VHMS system. In this interpretation, McIlvenna Bay represents the uppermost, originally lowest-temperature, sulphide mound zone in contact with associated upper copper stringer zones, while Tesla contains the same mineralization styles plus copper-rich ore lenses that are interpreted to represent deeper, originally higher temperature parts of the mineralizing system. In particular, the repeated higher-grade copper lenses that we see in hole TS-23-10 may reflect mineralized fluid feeder zones that have been heavily transposed by deformation events soon after formation, such that they appear to be flattened into a series of laterally continuous, stacked lenses that are sub-parallel to the consistently present, upper zinc-copper-rich massive sulphide lens (Figure 6). If our interpretation is correct, then we may expect to find the VHMS "boiling zone" somewhere to the northwest of Tesla. In other VHMS deposits such as Lalor (Manitoba), the boiling zones represent the hottest part of the mineral system and typically contain the highest copper and gold grades. Figure 6 Simplified schematic interpretation of how the Tesla-McIlvenna Bay VHMS system may have been affected by early deformation events, demonstrating why Tesla could start to see more copper-rich lenses as drilling steps out away from McIlvenna Bay. *Note that these diagrams are highly simplified and used for illustrative purposes only to depict one possible scenario for mineralization. They are not to scale and exclude internal complexity and the effects of subsequent igneous events and deformation. Drill core photo is from hole TS-23-10, 1335.4m. This interpretative model is consistent with newly collected TeleviewerTM structural orientation data, which provides an image of the fabrics in the rock in-situ and confirms that the contacts of the upper massive sulphides and copper stringer zones are generally parallel to the regional stratigraphy, while the newly defined, deeper copper sulphide lenses appear to cross-cut stratigraphy at a low angle. Furthermore, geochemical analysis shows that McIlvenna Bay is generally dominated by micaceous (lower temperature) alteration minerals, except in very close proximity to sulphide mineralization, while at Tesla alteration is increasingly becoming chlorite dominant (indicating a higher temperature of formation). Detailed composites from the current release are provided in Table 1 below. Table 1 Tesla Assay Results1 Hole Zone From_m To_m Interval_m Cu % Zn % Ag g/t Au g/t CuEq % TS-23-11w2 MS/CS 1072.3 1088.7 16.5 1.12 4.85 41.1 0.06 2.70 Including CS 1072.3 1075.4 3.2 2.40 0.91 42.7 0.05 2.68 And MS 1075.4 1082.4 7.0 0.91 10.45 53.6 0.03 4.22 TS-23-11w2 CS 1093.7 1097.7 4.0 2.21 0.47 13.1 0.01 2.22 TS-23-11w2 MS/CS 1276.4 1280.8 4.4 1.93 1.78 31.0 0.06 2.47 Including MS 1276.4 1277.7 1.3 3.20 0.58 38.2 0.08 3.31 TS-23-08w1 CS 940.1 941.2 1.1 1.44 0.67 18.2 0.002 1.60 TS-23-08w1 MS 974.6 976.5 1.9 1.20 7.72 21.9 0.08 3.55 Including MS 975.6 976.5 0.9 1.10 15.40 24.3 0.11 5.79 TS-23-08w1 CS 980.4 997.4 17.0 0.96 1.00 17.3 0.08 1.30 Including CS 982.0 986.0 4.0 1.26 0.78 25.4 0.03 1.52 And CS 992.1 994.1 2.0 1.77 0.25 15.0 0.30 1.93 TS-23-09Aw1 CS 937.1 940.1 3.0 1.01 1.17 16.3 0.001 1.35 TS-23-09Aw1 MS 972.8 973.3 0.5 1.44 2.54 21.4 0.01 2.18 TS-23-09Aw1 CS 988.5 1005.5 17.0 1.11 0.73 13.9 0.03 1.31 Including CS 1002.6 1004.5 1.9 2.21 0.67 17.7 0.01 2.30 TS-23-10 CS 1294.8 1304.2 9.4 0.04 0.02 208.0 0.67 1.39 Including CS 1297.3 1298.9 1.6 0.06 0.02 355.5 0.82 2.18 TS-23-10 CS 1334.3 1337.8 3.5 6.47 1.49 86.5 0.03 6.76 Including CS 1335.3 1337.4 2.1 9.95 0.99 127.8 0.04 9.97 Note: True widths for are estimated to be approximately 80% of reported intersections, except TS-23-06A which was drilled down dip. Intervals generally composited using a 0.5% Cu cut-off grade in stringer zones. 1Copper Equivalent values calculated using metal prices of $4.00/lb Cu, $1.50/lb Zn, $20.00/ounce Ag and $1,800/ounce Au and LOM metallurgical recovery rates derived from test work on blended ores for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit completed as part of our April 2022 Feasibility Study: 91.1% Cu, 79.8% Zn, 88.6% Au and 63.2% Ag (MS massive sulphide, CS copper stockwork/stringer). To date no metallurgical test work has been completed on the Tesla mineralization. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Drilling was completed using NQ size diamond drill core and core was logged by employees of the Company. During the logging process, mineralized intersections were marked for sampling and given unique sample numbers. Sampled intervals were sawn in half using a diamond blade saw. One half of the sawn core was placed in a plastic bag with the sample tag and sealed, while the second half was returned to the core box for storage on site. Sample assays are performed by the Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") Geoanalytical Laboratory in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. SRC is a Canadian accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) and independent of Foran. Analysis for Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn is performed using ICP-OES after total multi-acid digestion. Au analysis is completed by fire assay with ICP-OES finish. A complete suite of QA/QC reference materials (standards, blanks and duplicates) are included in each batch of samples processed by the laboratory. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. Qualified Person Mr. Roger March, P. Geo., Senior Geoscientist for Foran, is the Qualified Person for all technical information herein and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release. The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the TSXV under the symbol "FOM". Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Foran Mining Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future, empowering communities and creating circular economies which create value for all our stakeholders, while also safeguarding the environment. The McIlvenna Bay project is located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. The Company also owns the Bigstone Project, a resource-development stage deposit located 25km southwest of its McIlvenna Bay project. McIlvenna Bay is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. McIlvenna Bay sits just 65km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran's ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225km. McIlvenna Bay is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company announced the results from its Feasibility Study on February 28, 2022, outlining that current mineral reserves would potentially support an 18-year mine life producing an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. The Company filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the McIlvenna Bay Feasibility Study on April 14, 2022. The Company filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bigstone Deposit resource estimate on February 11, 2022. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of these technical reports which may be found on the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Foran trades on the TSX.V under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCXF". Forward Looking Statements CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of Foran Mining Corporation and reflect management's expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof or as of the date of such forward looking statement. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "potentially", "intends", "likely", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement. Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to the following and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to the following: The proposed strategic investment by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan; the status and progression of credit facility discussions; unlocking the untapped value of the Company's properties, delivery of superior or any investment returns; scale, scope and location of future exploration and drilling activities; the potential for the Company's land package to be transformational, the focus of the Company's future drill programs, the incorporation of geotechnical and hydrogeological information into the overall project design; The long-term investment horizon of shareholders; The growth of the Company from developer to producer; The certainty of funding; The future of the Company; De-risking McIlvenna Bay; Delivering on the Company's Net Positive Business strategy; Ownership and reliance on the Company's mineral projects; The Company's history of losses and potential inability to generate sufficient revenue to be profitable or to generate positive cash flow on a sustained basis; The Company's statements about the expected life of mine, productive capacity and other technical estimates on its projects, and the Company's reliance on technical experts with respect thereto; The Company's exposure to risks related to mineral resources exploration and development; Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Infectious Diseases and Other Health Crises on the Company; Global financial volatility and its impact on the Company; The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict; Government, securities, and stock exchange regulation and policy; Legal proceedings which may have a material adverse impact on the Company's operations and financial condition; Capital market conditions and their effect on the securities of the Company; Insurance and uninsurable risks; Environmental, health and safety regulation and policy; Mining hazards and risks; Title rights to the Company's projects; Indigenous peoples' title and other legal claims; Mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; Uncertainties and risks relating to the Feasibility Studies; Fluctuations in commodity prices, including metals; Competition; Expertise and proficiency of management; Limited operating history; The availability of future financing; Dilutive effects; Impacts of global climate change and natural disasters; Inadequate infrastructure; Relationships with local communities; Reputational damage; Risks arising from the Company's reliance on financial instruments; Risks arising from future acquisitions; Management conflicts of interest; Security breaches of the Company's information systems; and the additional risks identified in our Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 and other securities filings with Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Readers are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed above do not contain an exhaustive list of the factors or assumptions that may affect the forward-looking statements, and that the assumptions underlying such statements may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the Company's securities filings and this news release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. VANCOUVER, BC, May 24, 2023 /CNW/ - Kootenay Silver Inc. ("Kootenay" or the "Company") (TSXV: KTN) announces that it has closed its previously announced brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units") for gross proceeds of approximately $2.1 million with a non-brokered portion for gross proceeds of approximately $1.6 million, at a price of $0.10 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,772,500. The Offering was led by Research Capital Corporation, as co-lead agent and sole bookrunner, and together with Red Cloud Securities Inc. as co-lead agents, on behalf of a syndicate of agents, including Canaccord Genuity Corp. (collectively, the "Agents"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.14 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes. The Offering is subject to the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a Canadian securities law resale restriction period expiring on September 25, 2023. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. A certain related party of the Company participated in the Offering, as set out below. The participation in the Offering by the related party of the Company constitutes a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval in connection with the participation of the insider in the Offering in reliance on the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively. The Offering was unanimously approved by the board of directors of the Company, with James McDonald declaring and abstaining from voting on the resolutions approving the Offering with respect to his participation in the Offering. James McDonald, the CEO, President and a director of the Company and a related party to the Company within the meaning of MI 61-101, subscribed for 3,000,000 Units. There has not been a material change in the percentage of the outstanding securities of the Company that are owned by Mr. McDonald. In connection with the Offering, the Agents received a cash fee of $128,340. In addition, the Company granted the Agents 1,283,400 non-transferable compensation warrants (the "Compensation Warrants"). Each Compensation Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Unit at an exercise price of $0.10 per Unit for a period of 36 months following the Closing of the Offering. In addition, the Agents received an advisory fee of $22,140 and 660,000 advisory broker warrants on the same terms as the Compensation Warrants. The Company also paid aggregate cash finders' fees of $75,870 to six arm's length finders and issued to Canaccord Genuity Corp. non-transferable finder's warrants exercisable into 20,100 Units at an exercise price of $0.10 per Unit for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Offering. About Kootenay Silver Inc. Kootenay Silver Inc. is an exploration company actively engaged in the discovery and development of mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region of Mexico. Supported by one of the largest junior portfolios of silver assets in Mexico, Kootenay continues to provide its shareholders with significant leverage to silver prices. The Company remains focused on the expansion of its current silver resources, new discoveries and the near-term economic development of its priority silver projects located in prolific mining districts in Sonora, State and Chihuahua, State, Mexico, respectively. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. 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. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering. 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 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 Company's plans or expectations include risks relating to regulatory 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. These forward looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. VANCOUVER , Oct. 28, 2016 - Gitennes Exploration Inc. (TSXV GIT) provides an update on exploration on its mining claims in the northern part of the Barkerville Gold Belt. The first phase completed by Gitennes was a reconnaissance program to provide a base of information and to determine the next... Read More Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 2, 2022) - NINE MILE METALS LTD. ( CSE: NINE ) (the " Company " or " Nine Mile ") announces that it has granted 400,000 stock options to a consultant of the Company. The options will vest over the year at 25% every three months and may be... Read More Where was Philippe Hategekimana at the end of April 1994, when the first massacres of Tutsis began in the Nyanza region of southern Rwanda? This is the question that haunted the first days of the trial, as colleagues and superiors of the former Rwandan gendarme took the stand or testifies in video-conference. Accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, the 66-year-old man, who became a naturalised French citizen in 2005 under the name Philippe Manier, has been on trial since May 10 before the Paris Assize Court. He is accused of various massacres that took place in the sub-prefecture of Nyanza between 23 April and May 1994. The former Hutu gendarmerie chief warrant officer denies it, assuring that he was not even present in the region for most of the events of which he is accused. In this game of dates that goes back nearly thirty years, it is the accuracy of the memory of the accused and the witnesses that is questioned. While it is established that at some point during the bloody spring of 1994, the accused was transferred from the gendarmerie company in Nyanza to the one in the capital Kigali, the question is to know when. Hategekimana himself is not clear about the date of his departure from Nyanza. During the investigation, the former gendarme repeatedly contradicted himself. He first stated that he had been transferred on 23 April 1994 to the Kacyiru camp in the capital city, with an effective departure two days later, but then went back on this statement several times, finally concluding that he had left "in the second half of April". In Kacyiru, he was said to have spent some time under the orders of Major Kanimba, himself supervised by Major Nsapfakumunsi, before being seconded to the security of Colonel Laurent Rutayisire, the director of external security who had just been dismissed and threatened. During the investigation, however, the accused again went back on his previous statements, saying in turn that he had spent a week at the Kacyiru camp before his secondment or, on the contrary, that he had been sent directly to Colonel Rutayisire. In any event, he would have not participated on 23 April 1994 in the arrest and murder of Narcisse Nyagasaza, bourgmestre of the commune of Ntyazo and a group of Tutsis, because he was then at the Nyanza camp, "preparing his departure". Nor would he have participated on the same day in the massacre on the Nyabubare hill where some 300 Tutsis were killed. When he left, "in [his] mind [he] was already in Kacyiru", he said during the trial. As for the large massacre on Nyamure hill on 27 April, he could not have been there, as he was already in the capital. Nor could he have been present at the massacre at Isar Songa, the Rwandan Institute of Agronomic Sciences, on 29 April. Memory of the facts and personal conflicts However, when the former Tutsi gendarme Angelique Tesire took the stand on 17 May, she recognised Philippe Hategekimana as the man who brought the mayor of Ntyazo to the Nyanza camp on 23 April. "I can say many things about him, but I prefer to say the things I witnessed first hand," said the former secretary of Captain Birikunzira, commander of the territorial company of Nyanza. "As for the acts committed outside the camp, I only heard about them because I was not there. But what happened inside the camp, I saw it. One day in April 1994, she recalls seeing Hategekimana returning to the camp in a white van with Narcisse Nyagasaza on board. "I was outside, I saw them and I couldn't stand it" because the mayor, a Tutsi, was "not treated like when he had responsibilities". In my head," she says, "I told myself they were going to kill him. Brought to the camp to be presented to Captain Birikunzira, the bourgmestre was then allegedly taken to his death by Hategekimana and other gendarmes. But the witness cannot say who, precisely, executed him. Several days later, during the Isar Songa massacre, she claims to have seen the accused loading a 60mm mortar into a vehicle, telling others to "wait for me, I'm going to stop these bandits". According to the investigation a mortar was indeed used at the Isar, where thousands of people were killed on 29 April 1994. But Tesire was not there and does not remember the exact date. She only remembers that it was the day of the massacre because "on the way back, in the evening, the killers were bragging about it". In the box, Hategekimana shakes his head and smiles discreetly. This woman is testifying against him out of resentment, he had said during the investigation. In 1993, he allegedly sent her to the hospital to undergo a clinical examination to determine whether or not she had aborted. A procedure designed "to humiliate me because I was a Tutsi", Tesire asserts, when, according to Hategekimana, it was a routine examination. Anti-Tutsi remarks When questioned the same day, former gendarme Didace Kayigemera, a Tutsi, also claimed to have seen the former chief warrant officer take the mayor of Ntyazo and load a 60mm mortar into a vehicle on the day of the Isar Songa massacre. He also said that he heard him refer to the Tutsis as "cockroaches". While another witness, a former Tutsi nurse at the gendarmerie camp, reportedly heard him refer to "those Tutsi dogs". None of these three witnesses directly witnessed the killings allegedly committed by their former superior. "When Philippe Hategekimana went out of the camp, he went out to kill," said Kayigemera. In court, the former gendarme formally recognised the accused, but the latter said he did not remember him. According to Kayigemera and Tesire, it was in May and not in April that Hategekimana left for the capital. May or April? As the hearings progressed, the date of Hategekimana's arrival in Kigali remained unclear. Major Callixte Kanimba, who was stationed at the Kacyiru camp in 1994, confirmed that he had seen the accused there that spring, when he was interviewed by videoconference from the Rwandan capital on 22 May. It was under his orders that Hategekimana said he had been detached for a time. But Kanimba did not confirm this. The witness was talkative and was not stingy with his estimates. He figured Hategekimana's arrival in Kacyiru was on 19 April, even though he did not see him that day. The major claims that the accused came at the same time as a detachment of gendarmes from the Butare prefecture. The problem is that the accused himself never said that he went to Kacyiru with this detachment on that day. And the former commander of Butare, Cyriaque Habyarabatuma, who was interviewed the previous week, said he had not taken any Nyanza gendarmes with him. He was interviewed by video conference from his Rwandan prison, where he is serving a life sentence in Rwanda for his participation in a massacre of Tutsis in April 1994. He was clear on this point, less so on others. To the French investigators, he had claimed to have heard Hategekimana make anti-Tutsi remarks; in court, he finally admitted that these were reported remarks. "If I had known that he had been involved in massacres, I would never have recruited him Jean-Marie-Vianney Nzapfakumunsi, the only former senior officer in the Rwandan army to appear personally in court, cannot say more about Hategekimana's arrival in Kacyiru or the position he held there. A naturalized French citizen under the name of Munsi, the witness clearly described the hierarchy at work in the camp but denied ever having seen Hategekimana there, whereas the latter claims to have crossed paths with him. A former commander in charge of security at Kigali airport, Nzapfakumunsi lived in the Kacyiru camp, where he was also an officer until May 1994. "I was in charge of operations, I only worked with the unit commanders," he said on 22 May. He had known Hategekimana in the 1980s. He also knew his wife. So if he had run into him at the camp, he probably would have remembered, he said. A few hours earlier, the president of the court, Jean-Marc Lavergne, sighed at Callixte Kanimba: "My problem is that you say that Mr Hategekimana came to Kacyiru with the Butare gendarmes. But the head of the Butare group says that did not happen. Philippe Hategekimana says that when he arrived he presented himself to you. But you tell me that no, that he was not under your orders. Mr Munsi says that he was not under his orders either. So there is a Hategekimana mystery. I have nothing to add, but in your hearings, [you should try and] know exactly who transferred him to Kacyiru," the witness ingenuously advised the presiding judge. That leaves Colonel Laurent Rutayisire, to whose protection the accused claims he was placed shortly after his arrival in Kacyiru. The 72-year-old former officer lives in Belgium and did not attend the hearing. In a letter sent to the court, he mentions health concerns and an important medical appointment. But above all, he would have nothing more to say than what he had already stated during the investigation, he insisted. The Manier family had contacted him in the past to testify on behalf of the accused, he wrote, but when he learned that the events in question had taken place in April 1994, he explained that he was not in a position to do so. According to him, it was in May that Philippe Hategekimana/Manier entered his service. Read out in court on 16 May, his testimony during the investigation referred to the recruitment of the accused, whom he vaguely knew through his wife and whom he had been recommended for protection. At the time, Rutayisire, considered too moderate by the Hutu extremists, knew he was under threat. Removed from office in April 1994, he was working to prepare his family's flight abroad and decided to recruit an escort for his own safety. "I couldn't say anything about [the accused] background until he was assigned to my protection," Rutayisire told the court. "We didn't talk. There was a gap between people of my rank and those of his. [...] If I had known that he had been involved in massacres, I would never have recruited him. Rutayisire nonetheless confirmed that Hategekimana, under his orders, had participated in the transfer of a Tutsi family friend of the colonel to the Hotel des mille collines, a place considered relatively safe and guarded by UN forces. The accused stated that he was assigned to the colonel's security between 8 and 10 May. "I said mid-May but it could have been the 10th," Rutayisire replied. "That was more than 25 years ago..." Yoo Ah In attended the special hearing after authorities planned on filing an arrest warrant against the actor amid his drug charges. On May 24, at 10:30 a.m., the actor presented himself at the Seoul Central District Court along with his legal counsel. Following the warrant review, the actor opened up about the charges regarding illegal substance use and spoke about the accusations against him. Yoo Ah In Admits to Some of Allegations Against Him, Except for Helping His Accomplice Leave the Country In a report cited by a media outlet, Yoo Ah In arrived at Seoul Central District Court wearing a black suit and tie. He also took a minute to answer the media's question regarding the update on his case. Yoo Ah In was asked by the press regarding cocaine use, to which he replied, "I admit to some parts of the drug charges." As for the allegation that he tried to help his accomplice leave the country, the scandal-ridden actor answered, "I did not attempt to help accomplices flee away." In the same outlet, the warrant review started at 11 a.m. Besides Yoo Ah In, Writer A, who is said to be the actor's accomplice and acquaintance, will also be reviewed for a warrant on the same day. The media is expecting that the review will be completed around this afternoon, along with the decision if authorities will arrest Yoo Ah In and Mr. A due to the drug charges. Will Yoo Ah In Escape Authorities Plan to File Arrest Warrant? Since February of this year, Yoo Ah In has been making headlines for his involvement in a drug case. The award-winning actor tested positive for four types of drugs, particularly, marijuana, cocaine, propofol, and ketamine. As for zolpidem, which is said to be the fifth drug, this is yet to be confirmed since it didn't appear on his urine and hair strand tests, but the medical prescriptions says otherwise. Police will also investigate if Yoo Ah In's usage of zolpidem, is for medical purposes or not. As the probe continues, more individuals and acquaintances of the "Seoul Vibe" star undergo investigation. From the doctors, medical staff, and his friends, the police dig deep into the case. Meanwhile, the 36-year-old actor recently faced a warning from the authorities after dodging the second private summon twice. The initial report states that the actor arrived at the scheduled hearing at Seoul Central District Court but failed to attend the summons after seeing "too many reporters." He also failed to attend the rescheduled session, which prompted police to request the filing of a warrant of arrest. With the warrant review, it will be determined if the actor attempted to "destroy evidence," as the police are pointing out. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Ma Dong Seok discusses his expectations for the upcoming movie "The Roundup: No Way Out" and looks back on the success of the 2022 sequel "The Roundup." In an interview with local news outlet Wikitree, the South Korean top star, who is also known as Don Lee by global viewers, also spoke about his current relationship. Ma Dong Seok Recalled the Record-Breaking Success of 'The Roundup' In 2022, Ma Dong Seok's movie "The Roundup" garnered an overwhelming response from the viewers after surpassing 12 million moviegoers since its premiere and becoming the 14th Korean film in history to score that huge number of viewers. Looking back, the 52-year-old top star, who is also the producer of the action-packed movie, confessed that he didn't "expect" such a huge achievement. "We didn't expect it at all," he said, adding, "It was a pandemic, so luckily it happened, and in fact, the production team was also surprised." "The Roundup" is the sequel to the 2017 movie "The Outlaws," with Yoon Kye Sang as the villain. Interestingly, his team-up with the new antagonist, Son Seok Koo, piqued the interest of viewers. As for the third sequel, "The Roundup: No Way Out," Ma Dong Seok reprised his role as the legendary detective Ma Suk Do, who is assigned to clean up drug crimes in Incheon. For his new mission, he is set to face the new villain, Joo Sung Cheol, played by Lee Joon Hyuk, who is unrecognizable with his transformation as a gang leader. Along with fellow lead star Japanese actor Aoki Munetaka as Ricky, "The Roundup: No Way Out," will hit the big screen on May 31. In addition, joining for a cameo role is veteran Japanese star Kunimura Jun as the Yakusa boss. Ma Dong Seok on His Marriage: 'I'm Happy' In October 2022, following the release of "The Roundup," Ma Dong Seok surprised the public by annoucing his marriage in the most shocking way. After gracing the stage to receive the Film Artist Award at the 12th Beautiful Artist Awards, the actor thanked everyone, including the actress and longtime girlfriend Ye Jung Hwa. Interestingly, he addressed her as his "wife," which surprised the audience. Months after Ma Dong Seok's shocking announcement, he revealed that he included his wife's name in the film credits to show his deep affection for Ye Jung Hwa. When asked about his marriage life, Ma Dong Seok said, "I am doing well now. I'm happy," he said, smiling. To recall, the couple started dating in 2016, and despite the 17-year age gap, they got married in 2021 but only announced it in public a year later. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Following rumors regarding Song Joong Ki's wife Katy Louise Saunders joining him at Cannes Film Festival 2023, the South Korean heartthrob and "Hopeless" star went solo and stepped at the famous red carpet for the first time. Cannes 2023: Song Joong Ki Makes Debut on the Red Carpet Looking dapper in his sleek suit, the 37-year-old actor graced the red carpet, along with his "Hopeless" co-stars BIBI, Hong Sa Bin, and director Kim Chang Hoon. In addition, joining them at the spectacular event were production company Mani Pictures CEO Han Jae Deok, and Hwang Ki Yong, the co-producer and CEO of Song Joong Ki's agency, HighZium Studio. According to a media outlet, the "Hopeless" team was welcomed by a cheering crowd, showing their support for the top star and the rest of the cast. As for Song Joong Ki's wife, who was initially scheduled to join the actor on the red carpet, Katy Louise Saunders was unable to attend due to health concerns. As mentioned by the same outlet, the British actress is in full-term pregnancy; hence, her absence at the event. Song Joong Ki's Cannes 2023 Experience In his 15-year career, this was the first time that Song Joong Ki participated in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for his movie "Hopeless." The movie got invited to the Notable Gaze section, a non-competition section. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Song Joong Ki Talks About Debut at Cannes Film Festival, Baby With Katy Louise Saunders Interestingly, during the casting stage, it was confirmed that Song Joong Ki agreed to star in the upcoming noir movie with "no guarantee," which means that he decided not to receive payment for his appearance. According to a news portal, the top star believes in and supports the "artistic quality" of the project. On the other hand, "Hopeless" will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 but officials are yet to confirmed the movies' debut in theathers. Song Jong Ki's new movie, depicts the story of teenage boy named Yeon Gyu, played by Hong Sa Bin, whose goal is to escape his hellish life. However, he crosses paths with Chi Geon, portrayed by Song Joong Ki. Unfortunately, the duo gets caught up in a tricky situation, forcing them to team up against the dangerous world. Song Joong Ki's Wife Joins Him in France After confirming his relationship with the British actress Katy Louise Saunders and announcing bombshell news regarding their marriage and her pregnancy, the media had often spotted the duo together, whether the actor was filming a project overseas or not. As for Song Joong Ki's Cannes Film Festival debut, local media outlet, YTN, revealed photos of the couple at an interview site in a hotel located in Cannes, France ahead of "Hopeless" official screening. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Yoo Ah In, who is under investigation for violating the Narcotics Control Act, evaded possible arrest following the court's decision. During the warrant review on May 24, the actor appeared for interrogation along with his legal counsel at around 10 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court. Yoo Ah In's Arrest Warrant Rejected by Court According to a media outlet, after 12 hours, the court released a decision dismissing the request for an arrest warrant against Yoo Ah In. As mentioned by the news portal, the judge explained that it is "difficult to conclude" whether the actor attempted to destroy the evidence "or escape beyond the scope of the exercise of the right to defend." Moreover, the court ruling pointed out that "it is difficult to admit the reason and necessity of arrest." To recall, police have filed a request for the court to grant a warrant of arrest against the actor. It was after he failed to attend the second private summon twice. Moreover, the Seoul Central District Court decided that it would be best to have the arrest warrant since they consider that Yoo Ah In might possibly "destroy evidence" by trying to help his accomplice flee the country, which he denied. Prior to the warrant review, the "Seoul Vibe" star briefly answered the questions raised by the media. Yoo Ah In admitted "to some parts of the drug charges" but said that he "did not attempt to help accomplices flee away." Did Yoo Ah In Lie About His Registered Address? In a separate report, traces of evidence were found at Yoo Ah In's home, which prompted the police to file the warrant of arrest. In an exclusive report cited by JTBC, traces of drugs were discovered in the actor's newly confirmed residence. It was after the registered address under his name was not his property. With this, police have confirmed the actual residence of the actor, which led them to their latest discovery significant to the case. Since February, Yoo Ah In has been facing countless accusations against him for violating the Narcotics Control Act. As the investigation began, he is barred from leaving the country. On the other hand, his agency, UAA, shared that the actor will participate during the probe. Following a series of drug tests, it was found out that he is positive for four types of substances: marijuana, cocaine, propofol, and ketamine. As for the fifth drug, which is zolpidem, it didn't appeared on the test but appeared on his prescription records. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Police in Arua district have recovered a gun that was being used by two suspected robbers who were lynched by an angry mob. West Nile Region police spokesperson, Ms. Josephine Angucia says a concerned resident of Tilevu parish Vurra sub-county, Arua district last evening tipped police that two men were seen clad in the Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF) uniform and armed with an AK 47 rifle. Police attached to Vurra quickly mobilised the personnel and proceeded to Vurra army detach for more manpower. Together with the team of intelligence they proceeded to the said village and laid an ambush, she explained. All this was however in vain and they withdrew, but upon returning to their station, a motorcycle was robbed at the same place which the thugs used to escape towards Arivu sub-county side in Arua. Angucia adds that police and the sister forces pursued the suspected robbers and recovered the motorcycle which was abandoned due to lack of fuel. Later on, an angry mob from Arivu sub-county found and allegedly lynched the two suspects. When the team of officers reached the scene, they recovered the AK 47 with a magazine containing 3 rounds of ammunition, noted Ms. Angucia Meanwhile, the lifeless bodies of the two suspected robbers have been moved to Arua regional referral hospital mortuary for identification and postmortem examinations as inquiries continue This is the second rifle in a month. On April 29, 2023, police in Hoima recovered another gun belonging to the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) in a foiled robbery. The AK47 rifle registration number UPDF 767183, with 30 rounds of ammunition was recovered when a suspected robber attempted to attack a mobile money agent operating along Main Street in Hoima City. By Gertrude Mutyaba Pilgrims using the Masaka-Kampala highway have been asked to follow police directives while crossing the temporary bridge provided for at Katonga River. This is after the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) set up a temporary pedestrian crossing last evening to ensure safe passage for pilgrims. At least 75 pilgrims from Kakoma parish in Isingiro district had since the start of the week been left stranded in Kalungu following the collapse of River Katonga Bridge on the Kampala-Masaka highway, after refusing to use the alternative route through Ssembabule-Mpigi road. Addressing the group before crossing the bridge, the Assistant District Police Commander (DPC) Katonga region, Osele Jimrol, urged them to follow police guidelines for their safety. Meanwhile, George Ssonko, the UNRA official in charge of Katonga region, warned motorists against using the bridge, stressing that it is only meant for foot pilgrims coming from the western region heading to Namugongo in Wakiso district for the June 3rd Martyrs Day celebrations. UNRA officials say the temporary bridge will also be provided for the pilgrims after the celebrations, assuring motorists that rehabilitation works to restore the bridge will be done in less than three weeks. President Musevenis ban on charcoal business has drawn mixed reactions from environmentalists and the general public. In an executive order issued on May 19, 2023, but made public yesterday, the president banned charcoal burning business in northern and north western Uganda. The National Forestry Authority Executive Director Dr Tom Obong has welcomed the directive as key to reversing environmental damage and restoring security nationwide. However, some environmentalists and leaders are saying that while blacklisting the business which destroys nature is great, lack of affordable alternative energy sources for household needs is likely to affect the implementation of the directive. According to Stephen Mugabi, the acting director for environment affairs at the Ministry of Water and Environment, people are going for archaic methods of cooking with charcoal and firewood because prices of electricity and gas are out of reach. Currently, a sack of charcoal costs between Shs60,000-Shs100,000, while a bundle of firewood goes for about Shs3,000. These, according to some of the activists, only require a charcoal stove that costs not more than Shs.10,000 or three simple traditional cooking stones that are availed by nature. This is compared to electricity and gas which require one to buy a modern cooker which goes for not less than Shs1m shillings and mini gas stove that costs about Shs500,000. The charcoal ban comes barely two months after the president met leaders from Acholi sub-region, who raised desertification fears in the area over rampant felling of trees for charcoal trade. Other directives in the Executive Order include; a ban on Turkana entering Uganda with guns, nan on illegal presence of Balaalo in northern Uganda, deployment of 18 police officers and 3 motorcycles per sub-county, and expediting of works on security roads in Karamoja. The Uganda National Roads Authority has set up a temporary pedestrian crossing at River Katonga to ensure safe passage for pilgrims. At least 75 pilgrims from Kakoma parish in Isingiro district have since been left stranded in Kalungu following the collapse of River Katonga bridge on the Kampala-Masaka highway. After walking for over 220 kilometers, the pilgrims who had pitched camp at Lukaya had expressed no intention of making their way to the alternative route of using the Ssembabule-Mpigi road. However, the latest update is that foot pilgrims can now cross River Katonga. Speaking to KFM, Allan Ssempebwa, the UNRA media relations manager said the temporary provision is strictly for pilgrims from Masaka to Kampala. He says the pedestrian crossing will also be available on their return journey after Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3. At the moment, what we have just done on-site is set up a temporary pedestrian crossing at Katonga to ensure safe passage for the pilgrims. This is only for this period of time, and it is only available to pilgrims heading from Masaka further to Kampala, Ssempebwa told KFM. Meanwhile, Ssempebwa assured that rehabilitation works to restore the bridge will be done in less than three weeks. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Even in case of increasing electrification, renewable liquid fuels will be needed for heavy-duty, air, and ship traffic. (Photo: Markus Breig, Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT) Synthetic fuels from renewable energy sources are needed to reach the climate goals in the transport sector. So-called refuels promise to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent compared to conventional fuels. To cover future needs of heavy-duty vehicles, airplanes, and ships and provide chemical industry with basic substances, we will require the corresponding industrial facilities. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and their partners have now launched the REF4FU project to determine the refuel quantities needed and what future green refineries will have to look like to supply these quantities. In spite of increasing electric mobility in the transport sector, we will continue to need liquid fuels for a long time, says Professor Nicolaus Dahmen from KITs Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT). He heads the project Refineries for Future (REF4FU) and adds: Only 60 percent of the fuel today is consumed by individual car traffic. When talking about phasing out of combustion engines, it is referred to car engines only. The REF4FU project is therefore aimed at developing, testing, and standardizing 100 percent renewable fuels for all transport sectors, including water and air traffic. Renewable Resources as a Basis REF4FU covers the use of sustainable hydrogen, pyrolysis oil based on biological residues, such as straw or waste wood, methanol from renewable feedstocks, and Fischer-Tropsch oil that corresponds to green crude oil. The advantage of these products is that they can be transported, stored, and handled just like todays crude oil, Dahmen explains and points out that green crude oil will also be needed by chemical industry for the production of plastics, for instance. Scenarios for Ramping up Production Refuels are being produced on a pre-industrial scale: We already have processes and big, technically mature test facilities to produce tons of synthetic fuel, Dahmen says. However, it is not yet clear how these fuels will be commercialized and transferred to the customers. We cannot just sell them from barrels at the roadside, Dahmen says. To find out when and where which quantities of synthetic gasoline, diesel, or kerosene will be needed, researchers use scenarios that also take into account political goals regarding the electrification of road traffic or the expected developments in the different transport sectors. According to these scenarios, gasoline will disappear from the market first, Dahmen points out. This will affect future production capacities. The REF4FU collaboration project coordinated by KIT is funded with around EUR 7 million by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. Apart from the institutes of KIT (IKFT, IMVT, EBI-ceb, IFKM, IIP), the project partners are DLR The German Aerospace Center, Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ), Technische Universitat Bergakademie Freiberg, and Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz, BASF, EDL Anlagenbau, and Ineratec. The MiRO refinery, Porsche, and ASG are associated project partners. 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. May 24 (Reuters) - Top fund manager BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) won support from investors at its annual meeting on Wednesday as it seeks a middle ground in debates over its environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies. BlackRock said each of its director nominees received "well over a majority" of votes cast at the meeting, held online, and that 92% supported the pay of Chief Executive Larry Fink and other leaders. In addition New York-based BlackRock said two shareholder resolutions raising climate concerns won less than 10% support, while a third resolution from a conservative group that targeted BlackRock's diversity policies won less than 1% support. One of the climate resolutions asked BlackRock to report on how it could improve pension fund client returns by focusing its stewardship efforts and proxy voting to "engineer decarbonization in the real economy." Fink said that is not BlackRock's role. "We have clients who wish for that, but we also have clients who are not interested in that, and our job is to be working with our clients," he said during the meeting. With some $9.1 trillion under management, BlackRock has become a top investor at most large U.S. corporations and faces growing criticism both from both liberal and conservative-leaning investor activists and politicians. Late last year an activist firm as well as North Carolina's state treasurer had separately called for Fink's departure, but he received backing as a director from top proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Coinbase is making good on its pledge to expand its international operations as the top U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange has signed a licensing deal with Bitpanda, an Austrian crypto investment business, that will see Coinbase serve as Bitpandas liquidity and custody provider. According to a blog post from Bitpanda announcing the new partnership, Coinbase will be added as a liquidity provider for Bitpanda Technology Solutions, the companys investing-as-a-service arm, giving Coinbase Institutional clients access to Bitpandas platform. The new arrangement will allow Coinbase to use Bitpanda Technology Solutions business-to-business infrastructure to connect directly with banks and fintechs. This collaboration between two industry leaders will enable Coinbase to offer one of the most scalable Investing-as-a-Service infrastructures to their institutional clients, such as banks and financial institutions outside of the United States, the blog post said. This will open up a new European investment solution that mirrors Coinbases standards in safety and security. Through the integration, institutional clients at Coinbase will be able to utilize Bitpandas regulatory licenses and KYC-as-a-service to speed up their go-to-market time across Europe without having to migrate away from Coinbase. With Bitpanda Technology Solutions, our aim is to provide a swift and seamless route for institutions to meet the growing demand for modern investing solutions, instead of facing the alternative that going alone brings: high costs, extensive delays and an outdated final product, Bitpanda said. Bitpanda and Coinbase share an ambition to make investing in digital assets safe and secure in a regulated way, said Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, deputy CEO and COO of Bitpanda. At a time of unparalleled opportunity for the industry to harness the potential of digital assets for its customers, we are coming together to define a clear future and drive forward that ambition. Coinbase joins a growing list of Bitpanda partners, which includes the traditional bank Raiffeisenlandesbank NO-Wien, European mobile bank N26, German core banking provider Mambu, French money app Lydia, and UK fintech Plum, among others. Through these partnerships, we continue to cater to the growing demand for simplified investment opportunities, Bitpanda said. [Coinbase is] excited to partner with Bitpanda, enabling our institutional broker clients outside of the U.S. to white-label Bitpanda's investing-as-a-service platform, providing their end customers with 24/7 trading across the full range of Bitpanda's asset classes, Coinbase wrote in a tweet announcing the collaboration. This partnership comes as Coinbase is looking to get established in jurisdictions outside of the U.S. to support their Go Broad, Go Deep international expansion drive amid a crackdown on digital asset companies by U.S. regulators. In April, Coinbase obtained a license to operate in Bermuda and has since launched the Coinbase International Exchange, which offers Bitcoin and Ether perpetual futures settled in USDC with up to 5x leverage to institutional clients in eligible jurisdictions outside of the U.S. Other recent developments for Coinbase on the international front include the launch of Signpass in Singapore and free bank transfers for retail customers in the region; a streamlined onboarding process for customers in Brazil and integration with Pix to allow easy withdrawal and deposits of Brazilian reals; significant resource investments in their Canadian operations and the signing of an enhanced Pre-Registration Undertaking (PRU) with Canadian policymakers; and the entry into discussions with authorities in Abu Dhabi with the goal of launching a regulated exchange in the region. LONDON, May 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bank watchdogs are mulling changes to deposit insurance schemes after a string of lenders failed. Yet one of the most promising fixes has little to do with insurance, or even deposits. Forcing more U.S. banks to fund more of their loans and investments by issuing long-term debt, and relatively less with deposits, could offer an extra layer of protection for customers. The only question is who shoulders the cost of the extra safety. Globally systemic U.S. megabanks, like Jamie Dimons JPMorgan (JPM.N), already issue oodles of loss-absorbing bonds a product of post-2008 regulations designed to end government bailouts. Yet unlike in Europe, where even small lenders fund themselves with this class of debt, the vast majority of U.S. players dont have to. Thats a problem for depositors, since long-term debt acts as a buffer for customers too. It works thus: if the asset side of a banks balance sheet shrinks say because loans or securities it holds fall in value the liability side of the balance sheet must get crunched too by the same amount. First to take the hit is equity. Once that has been vaporized, any unsecured debt the bank has issued will be next. And if even that isnt enough, depositors not covered by government insurance schemes are in line for the chop, giving them an incentive to rip out their money if they sense danger. Something like that happened at Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic and Signature Bank, the three lenders that failed in March and April. The trio had respectable capital ratios of about 8.5% of assets on average at the end of 2022, including common equity and preferred stock. The extra layer of protection from loss-absorbing debt, however, was almost non-existent. Compare that with behemoths JPMorgan and Bank of America (BAC.N), whose customers are shielded by a giant slab of long-term borrowings, which would get wiped out before deposits in a crisis. The difference helps to explain why it was so expensive for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which backstops U.S. bank accounts, to wind the three lenders down. The agency chaired by Martin Gruenberg has tallied the total cost at $31.5 billion a chunky 6% of combined assets. Partly in response to that thwack, Gruenberg and several U.S. lawmakers floated various options for extending deposit insurance beyond the current $250,000 limit, which might help to make bank runs less frequent. Forcing the issuance of more long-term bank debt could make them cheaper too. Imagine that SVB, First Republic and Signature had loss-absorbing debt equivalent to 4.5% of their total assets roughly the required threshold for globally systemic lenders. In this scenario, assuming the bondholders got wiped out completely, the overall losses to the FDIC would have been roughly halved to about $15 billion. The FDIC and other agencies are already considering introducing long-term debt requirements for banks with more than $100 billion of assets, Gruenberg said in a recent speech. Doing so could swell the number of lenders compelled to issue loss-absorbing bonds to about 30, from eight now. It would make it a lot less risky for Gruenberg and Congress to expand deposit insurance, since future hits would be lower. Theres an argument for going even further, forcing even smaller lenders to issue debt too. True, that wouldnt work for the thousands of tiny American banks that would struggle to find a market for their bonds, and which can mostly fail without causing a systemic crisis. But for those 130-ish banks above, say, $10 billion in assets, being able to raise debt at a reasonable price in the capital markets is a pretty good test of being able to demonstrate a viable business model. Having a more extensive market for mid-sized banks debt could thus stop the weakest ones from growing, easing the risk of moral hazard that stems from deposit insurance. The trickier part is figuring out who ultimately bears the cost of loss-absorbing debt. If a bank fails, its obvious: the bondholders get wiped out or converted to equity. But they ought to seek compensation for this risk from the outset by charging the bank more interest. In that case, the burden would really be passed on to shareholders through lower returns, or customers through pricier loans and other fees. That shouldnt deter the regulatory agencies from pushing ahead. Someone has to pay for a safer banking system. Shareholders and customers already fund deposit backstops through periodic bills from the FDIC, such as the $15.8 billion it is now charging lenders for the protection offered to uninsured customers at SVB and Signature. Relying more on loss-absorbing debt could make such giant ad-hoc bills less likely in the future. Follow @liamwardproud on Twitter (The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.) CONTEXT NEWS Banks in the United States with more than $100 billion in assets may have to issue loss-absorbing long-term debt to increase protection for depositors in case of failure, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chair Martin Gruenberg said on May 18. Speaking to the Senates Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Gruenberg said that an added debt buffer would have protected uninsured depositors in recent banking failures. The FDIC has estimated that it will take a combined $31.5 billion hit from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic Bank and Signature Bank. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, has released a new report recommending that the country consider adopting a national strategy on crypto regulation as the asset class gains wider adoption around the world. The report highlighted that despite the fact that there are no large institutional investors or financial institutions in Norway or internationally that have substantial exposures to crypto assets, the evolution of the industry and sectors such as decentralized finance necessitate the establishment of regulations to protect users and address societal considerations. This includes combating crime and promoting financial stability. Norges Bank highlighted the development of specially adapted crypto-asset regulations in other regions, including the rules proposed by the Basel Committee regarding capital requirements relating to banks crypto-asset exposures and the recently passed Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill in the EU. The MiCA regulation targets a number of risk-generating activities related to crypto-assets, although coverage is not exhaustive, Norges Bank said. Such targeted regulation often fails to capture risk related to the newest technological developments and activities and can therefore be insufficiently resilient to developments and circumvention made possible by technological innovation. The bank cited the fact that MiCA does not address the developments in decentralized finance due to its focus on centralized market participants. It is therefore important to take advantage of the potential of robust general regulations to reduce risk related to new developments. The cryptocurrency ecosystem has generated multiple new types of activity that the bank said may fall within the scope of general fraud regulations, and the unfamiliarity of regulators with these activities results in enforcement coming after the infringement has occurred. For these to have an ex-ante disciplinary effect, it is necessary that participants perceive the likelihood of being detected as sufficiently high and that the sanctions provide sufficient deterrence, the bank said. Enforcement will increase the disciplinary effect. Norges Bank called for the development of specific regulations that can be adapted to different risks associated with an activity, such as systemic risk, and can contribute to a more efficient allocation of responsibility for risks. Specific regulation can also facilitate more effective enforcement and increase the likelihood of infringement detection through follow-up by dedicated supervisory authorities. The central bank concluded that An international regulatory framework is crucial, but said that Norwegian authorities should assess whether to proceed more quickly rather than wait for international regulatory solutions. The need for a homegrown regulatory strategy is due to national needs, gaps in international regulation, and the fact that international standardization takes time, they said. The absence of such a strategy may provide more scope for private entities to influence Norwegian regulatory developments in an undesirable manner. And the scope of regulatory coverage extends beyond buying and selling cryptocurrencies. Other considerations include regulations related to data center operation, electricity taxes and other tax rules. A national strategy requires cooperation among national authorities not only financial authorities but also consumer protection and judicial authorities, the bank said. The Norwegian authorities should consider: whether initiatives for further national regulations are needed; and the scope for national rules provided by the EU legislation. LONDON, May 25 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates has become a key trade hub for Russian gold since Western sanctions over Ukraine cut Russia's more traditional export routes, Russian customs records show. The records, which contain details of nearly a thousand gold shipments between Feb. 24, 2022 and March 3 this year, reveal the names of over 100 non-Russian companies that have handled Russian gold since Western markets banned imports from Moscow. The shipments in the records, supplied to Reuters by a commercial provider, may not cover all exports in the period. In many cases, the records show only shippers or traders involved in the transaction, not the end buyer, which could be a refiner, jeweller or investor. Following are details of some of the companies that have been involved: LONDON According to the customs records, a handful of Russian shipments arrived in London after the Ukraine war started, but before Western import bans kicked in. U.S. bank JPMorgan (JPM.N) was sent 72.4 kg of gold worth $4.5 million in shipments in March and April last year while Swedish security firm Loomis (LOOMIS.ST) was sent of 97.4 kg worth $5.9 million during March, May and June. Both companies operate precious metals vaults in London. The customs records for the shipments to JPMorgan and some of those to Loomis named French bank Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) as the recipient. A source close to Societe Generale said while the bank cannot comment on specific client matters, any transactions of such a nature were debt settlements arranged prior to the war in Ukraine and would contain gold bars made before March 7, 2022, when the London Bullion Market Association banned Russian gold. A spokesperson for JPMorgan declined to comment. Loomis said it does not conduct business with any sanctioned parties or sanctioned goods and does not buy or take ownership of goods, only transports them for clients. The firm declined to comment on specific shipments but said it seemed the customs records referenced by Reuters contained incorrect information, without specifying what. UAE The records show the biggest handler of Russian gold exports to the UAE was Temis Luxury Middle East, a Dubai subsidiary of French logistics provider Temis Luxury, which participated in the import of 15.6 tonnes valued at $863 million between Feb. 24, 2022 and March 3 this year. It was followed by Transguard, which is part of the Emirates Group, the airline-to-hotels conglomerate owned by the Gulf state's wealth fund, with 14.6 tonnes worth $820 million. Temis Luxury said it fully complied with the laws and regulations of the UAE for freight forwarder activity. Emirates said Transguard had not bought any Russian gold and had now stopped transporting Russian bullion. The next largest handlers of gold shipped to the UAE in the year to March 3, 2023 were Shams Gold Trading with 8 tonnes, Privilege Group DMCC with 7.5 tonnes, Al Aseel Jewellery LLC with 5.3 tonnes and Paloma Precious DMCC with 5.1 tonnes, the customs documents showed. Privilege did not respond to an email seeking comment, a lawyer representing Paloma said it had not committed any wrongdoing and Reuters was unable to reach Shams or Al Aseel for comment. Another 17 non-Russian companies were each involved in transporting more than a tonne of Russian bullion to the UAE between Feb. 24, 2022 and March 3, 2023. The other companies that helped shipped Russian gold to the UAE each handled fewer than 5 tonnes, in most cases far less. Some large importers were, like Temis, subsidiaries of European firms. Open Mineral, a metals trader in Switzerland set up by former traders at global commodities house Glencore (GLEN.L), shipped 3 tonnes of Russian gold worth $167 million to the UAE, some before Swiss sanctions came in, and some afterwards. All the deals after Swiss sanctions came into force involved Open Mineral's subsidiary in Abu Dhabi, not the Swiss company. "Open Mineral was in full compliance with the relevant sanctions' regime in place at the time of these trades," the company said. HONG KONG Almost all the Russian gold shipments to Hong Kong and mainland China were handled by Vpower Finance Security Hong Kong Ltd, a Chinese logistics company. It was involved in the shipment of 20.5 tonnes of gold worth $1.2 billion between May 2022 and March, the records showed. Vpower Finance Security did not respond to requests for comment. Five other non-Russian companies handled more than a tonne of gold imports from Russia. Most of these shipments also involved Vpower. TURKEY No individual non-Russian company shipped more than a few tonnes of gold to Turkey. Eight took part in the import of more than one tonne of Russian gold in the year to March 3, 2023. LBMA At least two of the companies named in the customs records are members of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). Vpower Finance Security is a full member and Transguard an affiliate member. The LBMA said members and accredited refiners must comply with its rules, which include complying with U.S., UK and EU sanctions against Russia. It said it would investigate any allegations that LBMA members handled Russian gold and could rescind the membership of any companies that had done so. BERN, May 25 (Reuters) - The Swiss government on Thursday moved to speed up work on extending a public liquidity backstop Credit Suisse received access to in March under emergency rules to other systemically important banks and make it a permanent part of regulatory framework. Provision of state-guaranteed cash for such banks were they to fall in distress was proposed over a year ago with the finance ministry tasked with preparing draft legislation by mid-2023. But a global banking turmoil and a deepening crisis of confidence in Credit Suisse prompted Swiss authorities to authorize the central bank in March to provide 200 billion Swiss francs ($225.00 billion) in liquidity to the nation's no. 2 lender in emergency measures. Up to 100 billion francs was provided via a public liquidity backstop to Credit Suisse, which by the end of April had drawn 10 billion of the loans. The stricken bank had already tapped a 50 billion franc liquidity lifeline under existing arrangements. The consultation on making such liquidity backstop available to the nation's five systemically important banks (SIB) will start on May 25, the government said in a statement. The country's number one lender UBS (UBSG.S), Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) now being absorbed by UBS as part of a government-orchestrated rescue, are SIBs according to the Swiss National Bank. Unlisted lenders Raiffeisen Group, Zuercher Kantonalbank and PostFinance are also SIBs. Measures were needed to improve the resilience of these banks because of their vital roles in taking domestic deposits, lending and carrying out payment transactions. "If a SIB gets into distress or fails, this can cause considerable turmoil in the financial system and significant economic damage," the government said. It said the consultation on the public backstop would be shortened due to the urgency of the matter and will last until June 21. Banks, business associations and other affected institutions will be asked for their input. Other regions such as the European Union, the United Kingdom and the U.S. have already created the conditions to provide liquidity support to systemically important banks in an emergency. It also said a broader review of the regulatory framework announced after Credit Suisse's takeover was under way. ($1 = 0.8889 Swiss francs) WASHINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and top Republican lawmaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday were edging close to an agreement on the U.S. debt ceiling, according to a person familiar with the talks, with the two sides just $70 billion apart on a deal that would involve trillions of dollars. The deal aims to raise the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling in exchange for limits on government spending. Negotiations are going down to the wire as the Treasury Department has warned the government could run short of funds to cover all its expenses as soon as June 1, which without a deal could trigger an economically catastrophic default. The deal would specify the total amount the government could spend on discretionary programs like housing and education, another source said, but not break that down into individual categories. Lawmakers would fill in the blanks in the weeks and months to come. McCarthy said earlier in the day that the two sides were making progress. "We worked well past midnight last night," McCarthy told reporters. "There's still some outstanding issues and I've directed our teams to work 24/7 to try to solve this problem." Representative Kevin Hern, who leads the powerful Republican Study Committee, told Reuters a deal was likely by Friday afternoon. Even as Republicans tout progress, McCarthy is preparing to possibly let lawmakers leave Washington on Thursday for a week-long holiday recess, with the proviso that they need to be ready to return for a vote. The Senate is currently out but on similar orders to be ready to return. Time is running short. A U.S. default could upend global financial markets and push the United States into recession. But Treasury's forecast is not iron-clad and some private sector analysts reckon the government could go another week without defaulting, which has led some hardliners in McCarthy's caucus to dismiss the significance of the June 1 deadline. Credit rating agency DBRS Morningstar put the United States on review for a possible downgrade on Thursday, echoing similar warnings by Fitch, Moody's and Scope Ratings. Another agency, S&P Global, downgraded U.S. debt following a similar debt-ceiling standoff in 2011. The months-long standoff has spooked Wall Street, weighing on U.S. stocks and pushing the nation's cost of borrowing higher. The yield on U.S. Treasury bills maturing in early June climbed in early Thursday trading, in a sign of investor unease. Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said concerns about the debt ceiling had pushed up the government's interest costs by $80 million so far. "Ultimately that's money that's out of the American people's pockets," he told an investment industry conference in Washington. THREE DAYS Congress will need several days to pass any agreement through the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate. Lawmakers regularly need to raise the self-imposed debt limit to cover the cost of spending and tax cuts they have already approved. House lawmakers will get three days to read any debt-ceiling bill before they have to vote on it. In the Senate, Republican Mike Lee said he would block a quick vote if he did not like the deal, which could delay action for days and could push final passage well past June 1. McCarthy has insisted that any deal must cut discretionary spending next year and cap spending growth in the years to come, to slow the growth of the U.S. debt, now equal to the annual output of the economy. Biden has offered to freeze spending at current levels next year and proposed several tax increases to help curb the debt. Lawmakers on the right and left flanks are growing frustrated by signs of compromise. Republican Representative Chip Roy, a member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, has insisted that any deal must include the sharp spending cuts they passed last month. Some Democrats, meanwhile, worry that Biden is too eager to find common ground with Republicans who are threatening the health of the U.S. economy. "They are looking to waste time, play games and make sure we default because they think that somehow that is going to be a political advantage," Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar said at a news conference on Wednesday. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks during a meeting on the debt ceiling with President Joe Biden, not pictured, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 22. Bank of Ireland Group plc (OTCMKTS:IREBY Get Rating)s share price crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $11.86 and traded as low as $11.80. Bank of Ireland Group shares last traded at $11.86, with a volume of 16,800 shares. Bank of Ireland Group Trading Up 0.3 % The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $11.86. Bank of Ireland Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Bank of Ireland Group plc is an Ireland-based financial services company. The Company provides a broad range of banking and other financial services. Its services include current account and deposit services, overdrafts, term loans, business and corporate lending, international asset financing, leasing, installment credit, invoice discounting, foreign exchange facilities, interest and exchange rate hedging instruments, life assurance, pension and protection products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Ireland Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Ireland Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GLG Life Tech (OTCMKTS:GLGLF Get Rating) and Ascend Wellness (OTC:AAWH Get Rating) are both small-cap consumer staples companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, risk and analyst recommendations. Risk and Volatility GLG Life Tech has a beta of 1.88, meaning that its stock price is 88% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ascend Wellness has a beta of 2.63, meaning that its stock price is 163% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get GLG Life Tech alerts: Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.0% of Ascend Wellness shares are held by institutional investors. 24.9% of Ascend Wellness shares are held 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. Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio GLG Life Tech $8.40 million 0.05 -$25.42 million ($0.69) -0.02 Ascend Wellness $405.93 million 0.40 -$80.90 million ($0.38) -2.21 This table compares GLG Life Tech and Ascend Wellness top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. GLG Life Tech has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Ascend Wellness. Ascend Wellness is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than GLG Life Tech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for GLG Life Tech and Ascend Wellness, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GLG Life Tech 0 0 0 0 N/A Ascend Wellness 0 2 2 0 2.50 Ascend Wellness has a consensus target price of $2.75, indicating a potential upside of 227.38%. Given Ascend Wellness higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Ascend Wellness is more favorable than GLG Life Tech. Profitability This table compares GLG Life Tech and Ascend Wellness net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GLG Life Tech -358.36% N/A -150.71% Ascend Wellness -16.45% -40.01% -7.88% Summary Ascend Wellness beats GLG Life Tech on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About GLG Life Tech (Get Rating) GLG Life Tech Corp engages in the agricultural and commercial development of zero-calorie natural sweeteners. Its products include stevia, monk fruit, and Red M Gold. It specializes in the growing, refining, and production of extracts for distribution to the food and beverage industry. The company was founded on June 5, 1998 and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada. About Ascend Wellness (Get Rating) Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. engages in the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of cannabis consumer packaged goods. Its cannabis product categories include flowers, pre-rolls, concentrates, vapes, edibles, and other cannabis-related products. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 20 retail locations. It also sells its products to third-party licensed cannabis retail stores. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for GLG Life Tech Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GLG Life Tech and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Globeflex Capital L P acquired a new position in Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 10,523 shares of the insurance providers stock, valued at approximately $1,495,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Reinsurance Group of America by 27.3% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 132,902 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $14,548,000 after purchasing an additional 28,536 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in Reinsurance Group of America by 13.0% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,817 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $309,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its position in Reinsurance Group of America by 11.6% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 39,323 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $4,428,000 after acquiring an additional 4,073 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Reinsurance Group of America by 20.9% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,421 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,141,000 after acquiring an additional 1,799 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 47.8% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 368 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.46% of the companys stock. Get Reinsurance Group of America alerts: Reinsurance Group of America Stock Down 0.6 % RGA stock traded down $0.85 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $143.69. The stock had a trading volume of 35,308 shares, compared to its average volume of 423,076. Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated has a 1-year low of $109.06 and a 1-year high of $153.35. The company has a fifty day moving average of $138.78 and a 200 day moving average of $141.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.44 and a beta of 0.91. Reinsurance Group of America Dividend Announcement Reinsurance Group of America ( NYSE:RGA Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The insurance provider reported $5.16 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $1.79. The firm had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.23 billion. Reinsurance Group of America had a net margin of 5.66% and a return on equity of 23.94%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.47 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated will post 17.74 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 16th will be issued a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 15th. Reinsurance Group of Americas dividend payout ratio is presently 23.10%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In RGA has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Reinsurance Group of America in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. They set an overweight rating and a $163.00 target price for the company. Barclays upped their target price on Reinsurance Group of America from $146.00 to $149.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on Reinsurance Group of America from $144.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Citigroup raised shares of Reinsurance Group of America from a sell rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $133.00 to $158.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Reinsurance Group of America from $170.00 to $164.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $156.60. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Reinsurance Group of America news, EVP William L. Hutton sold 1,952 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.03, for a total value of $292,858.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 13,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,095,919.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Todd C. Larson sold 1,018 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.96, for a total value of $151,641.28. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,260 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,592,969.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP William L. Hutton sold 1,952 shares of Reinsurance Group of America stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.03, for a total value of $292,858.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 13,970 shares in the company, valued at $2,095,919.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.31% of the companys stock. Reinsurance Group of America Profile (Get Rating) Reinsurance Group of America, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Corporate and Other. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RGA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Reinsurance Group of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Reinsurance Group of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Charles Schwab Stock Down 1.3 % SCHW stock traded down $0.71 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $52.08. 10,033,112 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 21,448,854. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $86.63. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $52.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $69.53. The company has a market capitalization of $92.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.83% and a net margin of 34.82%. The company had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.77 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Charles Schwab The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 27.32%. A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.5% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 20,822 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,847,000 after buying an additional 1,452 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 4.3% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,263 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $528,000 after buying an additional 259 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 25.4% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,064 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,101,000 after buying an additional 2,648 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the first quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $321,000 after purchasing an additional 267 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 16.6% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 73.49% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America decreased their price target on Charles Schwab from $53.00 to $51.00 in a report on Monday, April 17th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on Charles Schwab from $83.00 to $75.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Raymond James upgraded Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, May 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Charles Schwab from $89.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Redburn Partners lowered Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $68.73. 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Plastiques du Val de Loire (EPA:PVL Get Rating)s share price traded down 0.6% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as 3.17 ($3.45) and last traded at 3.20 ($3.48). 1,058 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at 3.22 ($3.50). Plastiques du Val de Loire Stock Down 0.6 % The company has a 50 day moving average of 3.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of 3.42. Plastiques du Val de Loire Company Profile (Get Rating) Plastiques du Val de Loire engages in the production and sale of plastic parts in France, the United States, and the rest of Europe. It offers interior equipment for motor vehicles, such as cockpits, decoration, and mechanisms; exterior appearance parts; technical front facades; seat parts; lighting and signaling parts; and under the hood parts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Plastiques du Val de Loire Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Plastiques du Val de Loire and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ryman Healthcare Limited (OTCMKTS:RYHTY Get Rating)s stock price traded down 1.3% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $18.30 and last traded at $18.30. 797 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 62% from the average session volume of 2,105 shares. The stock had previously closed at $18.55. Ryman Healthcare Stock Down 1.3 % The companys 50 day moving average is $16.79 and its 200 day moving average is $18.86. Get Ryman Healthcare alerts: Ryman Healthcare Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th were issued a dividend of $0.4302 per share. This is an increase from Ryman Healthcares previous dividend of $0.20. This represents a yield of 5.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. Ryman Healthcares dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.30%. About Ryman Healthcare Ryman Healthcare Ltd. engages in the development and management of integrated retirement villages for the elderly. The firm offers serviced apartments, resthomes, hospitals, and provides dementia and short-term care. It operates through the following geographical segments: New Zealand and Australia. The company was founded by John William Dudley Ryder and Kevin James Hickman in 1984 and is headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ryman Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ryman Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TheWorks.co.uk plc (LON:WRKS Get Rating)s share price traded down 2.8% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 34.58 ($0.43) and last traded at GBX 35 ($0.44). 151,728 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 62% from the average session volume of 404,260 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 36 ($0.45). TheWorks.co.uk Trading Down 2.8 % The stock has a market capitalization of 21.88 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3,500.00 and a beta of 1.51. The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 31.13 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 33.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 979.05. TheWorks.co.uk Company Profile (Get Rating) TheWorks.co.uk plc operates as a retailer of gifts, arts, crafts, toys, books, and stationery products. The company sells its products through a network of stores, as well as through its online platform. As of May 1, 2022, it operated 525 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Birmingham, the United Kingdom. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for TheWorks.co.uk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TheWorks.co.uk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 81F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Angola, IN (46703) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Auburn, IN (46706) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 81F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. slide 2 of 6 Note: If you're having trouble viewing the photo slideshow above, please open this article link in your phone's internet browser app or on your desktop. Last Saturday, 20th May 2023, NCT Dream, the beloved seven-member boyband, delivered a mesmerizing concert in Kuala Lumpur that left fans in awe and created lasting memories. The highly anticipated event was met with sold-out enthusiasm as fans eagerly gathered at the Stadium Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil. NCT Dream, known for their energetic performances and chart-topping hits, surpassed expectations with their In A Dream tour, leaving fans yearning for more. A Captivating Showcase of Talent From the moment the curtains were raised, NCT Dream showcased their immense talent, captivating the audience with their powerful vocals, synchronized dance moves, and infectious energy. With a setlist (total 24 songs) that spanned their discography, the group delivered hit after hit, including crowd favorites such as "Glitch Mode," "Hello Future," "We Go Up," "Chewing Gum," "Hot Sauce," and "Beatbox." Surprises and Emotional Moments The concert was filled with surprises that heightened the excitement and emotional connection between NCT Dream and their fans. During the ment segment, the boys took a heartfelt moment to express their gratitude and affection in Bahasa Malaysia, much to the delight of the fans. Renjun's heartfelt message, "Gembira berjumpa dengan Malaysia czennies sekali lagi, terima kasih, jumpa lagi lain kali. Saya cinta padamu!" (Happy to meet you again Malaysia czennies, thank you, hope to see you again, I love you!), melted hearts, while Jaemin's declaration that "Malaysia czennies adalah yang terbaik di dunia" (Malaysia czennies are the best in the world) garnered thunderous applause. A Promise for the Future One of the most exciting announcements of the night came as NCT Dream promised to return to Kuala Lumpur for a two-day show in the future. The audience erupted with excitement, eagerly anticipating the group's next visit and the prospect of an even more immersive and unforgettable experience. A Visual Spectacle Beyond their outstanding performances, NCT Dream treated fans to a visually stunning concert experience. The stage production, lighting effects, and meticulously choreographed performances seamlessly blended together, creating a dynamic and immersive atmosphere. The NCTzens 'czennies', dressed in neo green outfits and waving their neobongs, added to the spectacle, transforming the venue into a beautiful neo pearl champagne ocean. Unbreakable Bond with NCTzens ~czennies~ The concert showcased the unbreakable bond between NCT Dream and their dedicated fanbase, NCTzens. The overwhelming support and passion displayed by the fans were reciprocated by the members, who poured their hearts into each performance, ensuring an unforgettable night for everyone present. The mutual love and admiration between the artists and their fans further solidified the special connection that makes NCT Dream concerts truly remarkable. NCT Dream's concert last Saturday in Kuala Lumpur was an unparalleled experience that will be etched in the memories of fans forever. With their incredible talent, electrifying performances, and genuine interactions with the audience, NCT Dream once again proved why they are one of the most beloved K-pop groups today. As the concert concluded with the promise of a future return for a two-day show, the anticipation and excitement for the next chapter of NCT Dream's journey reached new heights. The concert was a testament to the group's immense popularity and the unwavering support of their dedicated fans, solidifying NCT Dream's status as one of the leading forces in the K-pop industry. Star Planet and Yes 5G proudly presented the NCT Dream's "THE DREAM SHOW 2 IN A DREAM" tour in Kuala Lumpur. Kpopstarz extends its heartfelt gratitude to the organizer for extending the invitation to this extraordinary concert experience. Photos by: Star Planet SDN BHD | Article by: Ain Osman Thane, May 25 (PTI) Police have registered a criminal offence against two owners of a godown in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly storing hazardous chemicals worth Rs 1.27 crore without a permit, an official said on Thursday. Also Read | Lucknow Shocker: Stalker, With Razor in His Mouth, Assaults Teacher at Her House in Cantonment Area, Absconding. A team of police personnel on Wednesday conducted a raid on the godown located at Purna in Bhiwandi area and seized the stock, a police spokesperson told PTI. Also Read | Ram Mandir Inauguration: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Invites Public To Attend Mega Event, Monitors Progress of Various Projects in Ayodhya. The police did not specify which chemicals were stored in the godown, but said they were hazardous and harmful to humans. The chemicals were illegally stored in the godown, even as the owners knew any accident due to the chemicals would endanger the lives of citizens, the official said. Offences have been registered against the two persons under relevant provisions, the police said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], May 25 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to Enforcement Directorate on a plea challenging the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in liquor irregularities matter in Chhattisgarh. A vacation bench of justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha issued notice to ED on a plea filed by one Pinki Singh Also Read | Odisha Horror: Man Beheads Wife With Sharp Axe, Carries Severed Head to Village in Gajapati District; Detained. Pinki Singh, who was represented by senior Advocate Siddharth Dave and assisted by advocate Aakashi Lodhi, has also challenged certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The petitioner has sought not to take any coercive step against her probe agency in the matter. Also Read | Rajasthan: Gangster Vikram Gurjar Alias Laden Flees After Police Intercepts Car in Jaipur's Sanganer Area, Girlfriend Arrested. The matter is listed for further hearing next Monday, May 29 2023. "ED is conducting an investigation into the liquor scam which ran between 2019 to 2022 in which corruption was done in multiple ways. The bribe was collected from the distillers per each case of liquor procured from them by the CSMCL," they said. ED investigation has revealed that Arun Pati Tripathi through his direct actions at the insistence of Anwar Dhebar, corrupted the entire liquor system of Chhattisgarh to maximize corruption in the department. He made policy changes in conspiracy with his other colleagues and gave tenders to associates of Anwar Dhebar so that maximum benefits could be taken. Despite being a senior ITS Officer and MD of CSMCL, he went against the ethos of the functioning of any State Excise Department and used the State-run shops to sell unaccounted kacha liquor. His complicit actions resulted in massive losses to the State Exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of the Liquor Syndicate with more than Rs 2000 Crore in illegal proceeds of crime. He also received a substantial share in this loot. Thus, the very objective of CSMCL to increase the State's revenue and to provide quality controlled liquor to citizens was violated by him for his personal illegal gains, read the official statement. ED has conducted consequential search operations at locations in Raipur, Bhilai and Mumbai and the searches have resulted in the discovery of 53 acres of land in Naya Raipur having a book value of Rs 21.60 crore acquired by Anwar Dhebar by using proceeds of crime in the name of a JV. This property was purchased through a maze of transactions in the name of an associate by routing proceeds of crime acquired from the FL-10A licensee. During recent search proceedings, ED has seized cash worth Rs 20 lacs and multiple incriminating documents, mentioned the official statement. In searches in Mumbai, unaccounted investments worth around Rs 1 Crore, with a Share trading firm in the name of Arvind Singh and Pinki Singh w/o Arvind Singh were found and the same have been frozen under PMLA. Earlier, ED had frozen Fixed Deposits worth Rs 27.5 Crore from Trilok Singh Dhillon. Earlier, ED had seized jewellery worth Rs 28 crore from the house of a Country Liquor Distiller. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 25 (ANI): The G20 summit in Srinagar is a step towards projecting Jammu and Kashmir as an international film shooting destination. The three-day Tourism Working Group Meeting of G20 delegates in Srinagar on May 22, 2023, commenced with the side event on "Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural Preservation." Also Read | German Economy Enters Recession, Shrinks 0.3% in 1st Quarter. Participants deliberated upon the importance of film tourism and its impact on the economy and culture. They unanimously agreed upon the fact that J-K is the best place to shoot the films. They exuded hope that the scenic locations of Union Territory would be explored by the filmmakers in times to come and the G20 meeting would give a fillip to film tourism in the region. Also Read | Uttarakhand's First Vande Bharat Express: PM Narendra Modi Flags Off Delhi-Dehradun Semi-High Speed Train (Watch Video). It may be recalled that till 1990, Kashmir was the second home for Bollywood. Way back in 1949 late Raj Kapoor shot some sequences of his film Barsaat in Kashmir, taking its serene beauty to the audience. After that Kashmir became the focus area of many film producers. In the 1960s and 1970s, several Bollywood films, including 'Kashmir Ki Kali' (1964), 'Jab Jab Phool Khile' (1965) and 'Bobby' (1973), among many others, were shot in Kashmir. The songs of these films remained favourites for generations to come. However, after insurgency broke out in J-K in the early nineties the filmmakers were compelled to snap ties with the region due to uncertainty and chaos that prevailed due to the violence orchestrated by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and the separatists. Due to the insurgency cinema halls were burnt, artists and others who were associated with the film industry were threatened. Bollywood made a comeback to J-K post-2000 when films like 'Mission Kashmir' and 'Haider' were shot in Kashmir. But the return was incomplete as the sporadic violent incidents like grenade throwing, cross-firing and stone-pelting continued. On August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government took a historic decision to abrogate Article 370, a temporary provision in the Constitution, and merged J-K completely with the Union of India. The move marked the beginning of peace returning to J-K, especially Kashmir. It ended the hegemony of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and separatists. The breaking out of a new dawn in the Himalayan region led to J-K embarking on the journey of peace, prosperity and development. J-K Film Policy 2021 In August 2021, the government launched a new 'J-K Film Policy' with an aim to develop the Union Territory as the first choice of film shooting destination for filmmakers and to bring back the golden era of filmmaking to the strife-torn region. The new film policy led to the creation of a vibrant film ecosystem. Filmmakers from across the world were invited to visit J-K and explore the pristine beauty of the region. At the same time, they were also offered a host of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, besides world-class facilities. The government set up a 'single window clearance mechanism; prepared equipment, location and talent directories, besides offering a host of incentives for filmmakers coming to J-K. The new policy also maximized the potential of promising local talent and created livelihood opportunities for many others. The 'J-K Film Policy 2021' was drafted after consultations with the experts and an in-depth study of progressive film policies of other states, UTs and abroad. Suggestions from renowned people in the Indian film industry were also incorporated while formulating it. At present J-K is offering all the facilities to filmmakers that are available at locations in Europe, America and other countries. Film shooting returns After 2019 J-K regained its proud legacy of association with the world of cinema, and the long and cherished tradition of film shooting. Unexplored places in J-K that were left unattended have been developed as potential destinations for film shoots with the requisite facilities. The new film policy has also given a fillip to the film tourism sector, thus opening up more employment avenues for the locals. Around 1.88 million tourists visiting J-K in 2022 are ample proof that the security concerns have been addressed and the terrorism has been wiped from Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory is fast emerging as the most profitable, cost-effective and economically viable destination for filmmakers. Film production can have a major impact on travel destinations as the cinematic exposure to a destination transforms the place into a tourist destination. J-K's culture and heritage provide an enabling environment for the world to shoot the best films in the region. The government has also set up Jammu and Kashmir Film Development Council; providing hands-on access to a website for the talent pool and all shooting destinations; development of shooting locales, and infrastructure for the film screening. Silver screen shines after 3 decades In September 2022 J-K Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha inaugurated the first-of-its-kind multiplex in Kashmir after cinemas were shut down in the region in the 1990s, in the Shivpora locality of Srinagar district. The multiplex, which has a capacity of 520 people, is designed by INOX with the latest technology. With the opening of the multiplex, in Srinagar, silver screen returned to Kashmir after more than three decades. Just a few days before throwing open a multiplex in Srinagar, LG Sinha inaugurated two cinema halls in Shopian and Pulwama in South Kashmir. Both districts in 2019 were considered to be the hotbeds of terrorism and stone-pelting. The work is on to open up cinema halls in all the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir so that people of the erstwhile princely state don't remain deprived of any facility that is enjoyed by the denizens of other states and UTs across the country. Gates reopen for Bollywood, Hollywood Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led regime has opened up the gates of J-K for Bollywood and Hollywood. In 2022, more than 300 films and serials were shot in J-K. Hundreds of new tourist destinations have been added to J-K's tourist map of which many are already on the global map. New hotels and resorts have been built across J-K and tourists are also being provided with the option of homestays in various beautiful villages. The suggestions that have come to the fore in the G20 meetings that entail green and eco-tourism have already been started by the J-K administration. The film industry reviving its connection with Jammu and Kashmir is yet another achievement of the PM Modi-led regime. By revoking the so-called special status of J-K incumbent dispensation at the Centre addressed the root cause of violence, terrorism and separatism and opened up J-K to the world. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], May 25 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Government of NCT Delhi and others on a plea seeking direction to consider bringing suitable amendments to the Delhi Nursing Council (DNC) Act. Petitioner Indian Professional Nurses Association Petitioner through plea sought direction to declare Section 3(1)(h) of the Delhi Nursing Council Act, 1997, as unconstitutional. Also Read | Pune Fire: Seven Shops, Eight Houses, School Rooms Gutted After Massive Blaze Erupts at Bhawani Peth Timber Mart (Watch Video). Plea seeks amendments in the DNC Act whereby which all the Nurses registered with the Delhi Nursing Council, can participate in the process by which members are elected to the Delhi Nursing Council. The bench of Justice Satish Chander Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad on Thursday sought responses from the Delhi Government, Delhi Nursing Council, and the Trained Nurses Association of India. Also Read | Bihar: Upset Over Youth's Death, Violent Mob Attacks Police Team in Muzaffarpur. The Petitioner organization through Advocate Robin Raju challenges Section 3(1)(h) of the Delhi Nursing Council Act, 1997, which grants special privilege to the members of the Trained Nurses Association of India to elect a member from its Delhi branch to a member of the Delhi Nursing Council. The plea stated that the Trained Nurses Association of India with the special status to have one of its representatives in the council is clearly discriminatory and violates Article 14 of the constitution. "Section 3(1)(h) violates Article 14 and it fails when tested on the touchstone of equality. It is also hard to fathom why special status is being given solely to Trained Nurses Association of India when there are a host of other similarly placed organisations that are working for the welfare of nurses and is registered in Delhi as well. The aforestated provision is thusmanifestly arbitrary and resultantly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution," the plea stated.It is further submitted that Section 3(1)(h) of the DNC Act, disregards the fact that the Trained Nurses Association of India is not a statutory body for it to be given a special status. Furthermore, it is reiterated that only a fragment of nurses who are members of the Trained Nurses Association of India is getting the right to participate in the process of election of the Council. "The large section of Nurses registered with Delhi Nursing Council who have affiliation with a body other than Trained Nurses Association of India are being deprived of the right to vote in DNC elections, which in effect means that their fundamental right as enshrined under Article 19(1)(a) is also being violated. It is clearly arbitrary to deny the nurses the right to partake in the election process of a body which is constituted for their own welfare," the plea read. (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 25 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday attacked Home Minister Amit Shah over his Assam visit, saying he goes all the way to Guwahati but does not deem it fit to visit Manipur which has been "burning for 22 days". Shah is on a day-long visit to Assam to attend three events to mark the completion of two years of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government in the state. Also Read | Rakbar Khan Mob Lynching Case: Four Get Seven-Year Rigorous Imprisonment, One Acquitted. Taking a dig at Shah, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The Union Home Minister goes all the way to Guwahati today, but does not deem it fit to visit Imphal when Manipur has been burning for 22 days." "This is the same Union Home Minister who held 16 rallies and 15 road shows in Karnataka, but cannot find time for the people of Manipur who are suffering a lot due to the ideology and politics of the so-called Double Engine Sarkar," Ramesh said in a tweet. Also Read | Fake Currency Note Racket Busted in Gujarat's Rajkot, Three Held. The Congress on Wednesday had demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi call a meeting of community leaders of Manipur in an effort to bring peace in the ethnic violence-hit state. Congress leader Ajoy Kumar had said India is in "danger" if things are not set right in the northeastern state as it shares the international border with Myanmar. Clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts of the state on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence in Manipur 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. The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives and some 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kishtwar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 25 (ANI): Four members of a nomadic family were killed after a tree fell on a tent they were sleeping in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, said police on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Devansh Yadav said that the incident took place at Bhalna area of Keshwan forest on Wednesday night. Also Read | Suraj Tiwari From Mainpuri, Who Lost His Legs, Arm in Accident Cracks UPSC Civil Services Exam 2022. "A police team has been sent to the spot," he said. More details are awaited. Also Read | Odisha Horror: Man Beheads Wife With Sharp Axe, Carries Severed Head to Village in Gajapati District; Detained. Earlier, two persons including a 4-year-old were killed and three others were left injured after a tree fell on them due to the heavy storm in two separate incidents in Uttarakhand's Haridwar. In another incident, two people came into the grip of a falling tree in the Laljiwala area in which a devotee from Sonipat died. (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 25 (PTI) The Press Club of India on Thursday urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to lift the restrictions on media covering Parliamentary proceedings that were imposed during the Covid pandemic. In a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Press Club of India (PCI) said a large number of journalists were still being denied the opportunity to cover Parliament proceedings despite having permanent press gallery passes. Also Read | Tipu Sultans Bedchamber Sword Sold for Whopping Rs 140 Crore at Hotly-Contested Auction in London, Sets New World Record for Indian and Islamic Object (See Pics). The PCI said the "superfluous" restrictions on media have "no logical basis or rationale" as the Covid situation had eased and even the World Health Organization had announced that it was no longer a global health emergency. "...we strongly feel that these curbs are part of a wider agenda aimed at controlling the media and restricting freedom of press in order to impede free flow of independent news stories and information to the people of the largest democracy of the world," the PCI said in the letter, which came days ahead of the inauguration of the new Parliament Building on May 28. Also Read | PSEB 10th Results 2023 Date Announced: Punjab Board To Declare Class 10th Exam Results on May 26 at pseb.ac.in; Know Steps To Check Scorecard. It said the restrictions have not only impeded the media's ability to report on parliamentary proceedings but have also severed the vital line of communication between the government, media, and Parliamentarians. "...as the Covid-19 situation has substantially eased and stabilised and is getting tapered down by each passing day we earnestly appeal to you to take immediate action and restore the pre-COVID-19 situation as regards the entry of media persons into the press gallery of the new Parliament House building," the PCI said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thane (Maharashtra) [India], May 25 (ANI): A massive fire broke out at a scrap godown in Bhiwandi town of Thane in Maharashtra earlier on Thursday, officials said. No casualties or injuries were reported in the blaze till the filing of this report. Also Read | GSEB SSC Result 2023 Declared: Gujarat Board Class 10th Results Released on gseb.org, Know How To Check Scorecards, Check Pass Percentage and Download Marksheet. "Massive fire broke out at a scrap godown in Bhiwandi town of Thane earlier this morning," said an official of the Thane Municipal Corporation. Upon receiving the information, four fire tenders were deployed to douse the fire. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Tree Falls on 'Bakarwal' Family Members in Kishwar District, Four Killed. "Efforts are on to douse the blaze," the official said, adding that the cause of the fire could not be ascertained immediately. More details are awaited. Meanwhile, officials said that a massive fire broke out at a furniture warehouse in the Bhawani Peth area of Pune city in Maharashtra, in the early hours of Thursday. No casualties or injuries were reported so far, they said. "Massive fire breaks out at a furniture warehouse in Bhawani Peth area of Pune City at around 4 am today," an official of the Pune fire department said. Upon receiving the information, eighteen fire tenders were deployed to bring the blaze under control. "Efforts are being taken to douse the fire," the official said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar, May 25 (PTI) Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that stray dogs are moving freely inside the Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC), Cuttack, Odisha, and biting patients, the National Human Rights Commission, issued notices to the State Government, Hospital Administration and the City Municipal Corporation. The NHRC took a serious view of the issue after as many as five patients were bitten by stray dogs inside the hospital premises during the last week thus delaying their vital procedures like chemotherapy and radiation critical for cancer treatment, an official release issued on Thursday said. Also Read | Assam Witnessing New Era of Peace and Development, Says PM Narendra Modi. The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Odisha, the Director, Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC), Cuttack, and the Commissioner, Cuttack Municipal Corporation seeking a detailed report within 6 weeks. The notice also said that the reports should include the steps taken or proposed to be taken to deal with the stray dogs' menace inside the AHPGIC Hospital and to ensure the safety of the patients as well as their attendants, inside the hospital premises Also Read | Germany: Last Generation Plan Further Protests After 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, May 25 (PTI) Senior IPS officer Praveen Sood took over as the new CBI director on Thursday and he will be in the post for two years, officials said. On his last working day, the outgoing director, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, handed Sood the charge of the agency at its headquarters here, they said. Also Read | Delhi Road Accident: Truck Rams Into Stationary Vehicle in Welcome Area; Two Killed, Four Injured. Sood is a 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Karnataka cadre and was the state's director general of police, officials said. He is the senior-most IPS officer in the country after Jaiswal. Sood's name was cleared in a meeting of a high-powered committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Also Read | Thane Water Cut News Update: Water Supply To Remain Disrupted in Parts of Thane for 24 Hours Due to Maintenance and Repair Works; Check List of Affected Areas, Dates and Timings. Chowdhury, a Congress leader, had reportedly given a dissent note on the selection of Sood as the next CBI director In an order, the Department of Personnel and Training had said, "Approval of the competent authority is hereby conveyed to the appointment of Praveen Sood, IPS (KN:86) as Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the office vice Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, IPS (MH:85) consequent upon completion of his tenure." (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 25 (ANI): In a resounding display of cultural opulence and artistic finesse, the G20 delegates at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) found themselves captivated by the exquisite handicrafts of Kashmir. The second day of the third Tourism Working Group meeting witnessed a vibrant gathering of craftsmen and vendors, as they showcased their masterpieces to an international audience. From the plush Pashmina shawls that enveloped visitors in luxurious warmth to the hand-woven carpets that told stories through intricate patterns, the tapestry of Kashmir's artisanal brilliance was on full display. Delicate hand-embroidered fabrics, exquisitely carved walnut wood masterpieces, ancient Kangris (fire pots), and vibrant papier-mache art added further depth to the exhibition. Also Read | Lucknow Shocker: Stalker, With Razor in His Mouth, Assaults Teacher at Her House in Cantonment Area, Absconding. The visiting delegates, representing 20 countries, were spellbound by the craftsmanship and attention to detail in each artefact. The sight of live demonstrations by skilled artists, coupled with the opportunity to interact with local vendors, created an immersive experience that bridged the gap between overseas consumers and Kashmiri artisans. Ajaz Ahmad, a local handicraft trader, expressed his excitement, stating, "It is a great opportunity for us. We were visited by numerous foreign delegates who were highly impressed by our products and also sought information about the manufacturing of different local products." Also Read | Ram Mandir Inauguration: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Invites Public To Attend Mega Event, Monitors Progress of Various Projects in Ayodhya. The enthusiasm and appreciation from the delegates served as a testament to the artisans' dedication to their craft. A P Vicky Shaw, Chair of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashmir, commended the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir for organizing such a magnificent showcase. Shaw described the pavilion of handicrafts as a reflection of the team's perseverance and commitment to preserving Kashmir's cultural legacy. "The G20 group was mesmerized by the fine craftsmanship, detailed needlework, and premium materials utilized. The remarkable workmanship on display is a clear indication of Kashmiri artists' devotion to their trade," Shaw expressed. The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom once again emerged as a major player in the preservation and development of Kashmir's artistic heritage. The awe-inspiring display not only captivated the delegates but also allowed them to delve deeper into the distinctive cultural legacy of Kashmir. Visitors had the chance to admire, learn, and acquire these remarkable pieces of art, forming a connection that transcended borders. As the G20 delegates immersed themselves in the rich tapestry of Kashmiri handicrafts, it became evident that the passion and commitment of the artisans were matched only by their pursuit of perfection. With each intricate stitch and delicate brushstroke, the artisans painted a vivid picture of Kashmir's artistic soul, leaving an indelible impression on all who witnessed their mastery. As the Tourism Working Group meeting continues, it is certain that the allure of Kashmir's handicrafts will continue to inspire a newfound appreciation for the region's artistic brilliance, fostering cultural exchange and strengthening bonds between nations. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Milan, May 25 (AP) German airline Lufthansa on Thursday signed a deal with the Italian government for a minority share in the long-struggling ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia. Lufthansa's industrial plan calls for revenues of 2.5 billion euros (USD 2.68 billion) this year, growing to 4.1 billion euros in 2027, the Italian Finance Ministry said in a statement. No financial terms were disclosed. Also Read | Tipu Sultan's Bedchamber Sword Creates New Auction Record in UK; Fetches Over GBP 14 Million. The cashflow will allow ITA airlines to expand its fleet from 71 aircraft to 94 in the next four years, the statement said. The airline also foresees new hires to expand the workforce to 5,500. Under the strategy, Rome's Fiumicino airport will become one of the Lufthansa Group's hubs, as ITA Airways focuses on long-range flights. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr also identified Milan, Italy's business and finance hub, as having potential for growth. Also Read | Singapore Airlines To Not Use Paper Boxes for In-Flight Meals After Travellers' Feedback, Says Report. The deal must be approved by EU competition authorities. ITA Airways and its Alitalia predecessor have long been searching for an industrial partner as the Italian airline lost out on domestic and European routes to low-cost carriers. A string deals with potential and real partners had all fallen through over the last 15 years. ITA officially launched in October 2021 after bankrupt flag carrier Alitalia landed its final flight, ending a 74-year run which in later years was characterised by financial uncertainty and slides into bankruptcy. Lufthansa was the only airline that submitted an offer in the latest tender earlier this year. The German airline already operates Air Dolomiti in northern Italy, funnelling long distance traffic from cities like Milan, Verona and Venice to connections in Munich and Frankfurt. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], May 25 (ANI): India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Thursday (local time) met US Congressman James Clyburn and discussed avenues to strengthen the India-US partnership in healthcare, digital, IT, and renewables. The two sides also discussed knowledge partnership, particularly in next-gen areas for the public good. Also Read | Bird Flu Outbreak in Brazil: Brazilian Government Declares Six-Month Health Emergency After Several Avian Influenza H5N1 Cases Found in Wild Birds. Taking to Twitter, Sandhu wrote, "Pleasure to reconnect with one of the most senior members of Congress @RepJamesClyburn. Discussed transformational changes underway in India & avenues to further strengthen Healthcare, Digital, IT, Renewables & knowledge partnership, particularly in next-gen areas for public good!" As the United States' concerns about China grow, India shines as a promising alternative in supply chains, innovation hubs, and joint ventures. As the world's largest democracy with an increasingly open economy and a strong technology sector, it has the potential to operate at scale. Also Read | Earthquake in Caribbean Sea: Strong Quake of Magnitude 6.6 on Richter Scale Strikes Panama-Colombia Border, No Casualty Reported. India is in a global sweet spot. It is now the world's most populous country -- home to more than 1.4 billion people--and has had robust economic growth for the past three decades, with GDP per capita having risen by 245 per cent, reported Harvard Business Review. As India considers its own leadership in the world, it must look toward becoming a stronger innovator in technology with a more comprehensive capacity to move up the value chain in software and hardware. This necessitates a much closer and deeper relationship with America, both at the governmental but also at the private-sector level. Recently, in a first-of-its-kind meeting, three Indian ministers and four European commissioners discussed semiconductor supply chains and artificial intelligence regulation, reported Sri Lankan publication Daily Mirror Online (DMO).After the first meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council in Brussels, EU officials spoke of "very promising beginnings." James Clyburn is the Assistant Democratic Leader in the United States House of Representatives and Chairman of the Democratic Faith Working Group. He previously served in the post from 2011 to 2018 and served as Majority Whip from 2007 to 2010 and 2019 to 2022, making him the first African American to serve multiple terms as Majority Whip. A native son of South Carolina, Clyburn has represented the state's Sixth Congressional District since 1993. India-US bilateral relations have developed into a "global strategic partnership", based onshared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues. The regular exchange of high-level political visits has steadily boosted bilateral relations between the two countries. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) London, May 25 (PTI) An Indian-origin mastermind of a fake designer clothing scam, accused of trying to steal around GBP 97 million through VAT repayment claims on false exports of textiles and mobile phones with the help of a criminal gang, was on Thursday sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for tax fraud in the UK. Sock manufacturer Arif Patel, 55, was found guilty last month in what Britain's tax department described as one of the country's largest ever "carousel" tax frauds. Also Read | Tipu Sultan's Bedchamber Sword Creates New Auction Record in UK; Fetches Over GBP 14 Million. Patel was found guilty of false accounting, conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, the onward sale of counterfeit clothing and money laundering following a 14-week trial at Chester Crown Court. "Arif Patel lived a lavish lifestyle at the expense of the law-abiding majority. Tax crime is not victimless and fraudsters like this pair steal the money that funds the NHS [National Health Service] and other vital public services we all rely on, said Richard Las, Director of the Fraud Investigation Service at His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which was part of a joint investigation with the local Lancashire police. Also Read | Singapore Airlines To Not Use Paper Boxes for In-Flight Meals After Travellers' Feedback, Says Report. Patel and his gang imported and sold counterfeit clothes that would have been worth at least GBP 50 million had they been genuine and the proceeds were then used to buy property across Preston in northern England and London through offshore bank accounts. A co-accused, 58-year-old Mohamed Jaffar Ali from Dubai, who was also found guilty of conspiracy to cheat HMRC and money laundering has also been sentenced on Friday to 11 years' imprisonment. "Arif Patel and Mohamed Jaffar Ali were at the heart of one of the biggest carousel tax frauds this country has ever seen and the severity of their crimes has been recognised by today's sentencing, said Eamonn O'Neill, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC. The UK tax department said in total, 26 members of the criminal empire have now been convicted and sentenced following six trials between 2011 and 2023, leading to jail terms totalling 147 years and seven months. More than GBP 78 million of the gang's assets have been restrained and the process to recover these proceeds of crime is in progress. "Patel was sentenced in his absence, having remained in Dubai throughout the trial," said Andrew Fox, Senior Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). "The CPS will now pursue confiscation proceedings against the defendants, to prevent them enjoying the benefits of their criminal enterprise," he said. The HMRC said that Patel's criminal enterprise relied on "dozens of lieutenants" around the UK, including professional enablers. This involved two chartered accountants from a Preston-based practice: Anil Hindocha, 69, from Preston, and Yogesh Patel, 66, from Aylesbury. Earlier, Hindocha was jailed for 12 years and 10 months in 2014 after being found guilty of false accounting, conspiracy to cheat the tax department and money laundering. Yogesh Patel was jailed for five years and seven months for the same offences. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New York, May 25: The New York State Assembly intends to pass a legislation to observe Diwali and the Lunar New Year as federal holidays, bringing to fruition yearslong efforts by lawmakers and members of the diaspora in making festivals formal holidays in the state. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement on Wednesday that it is important to recognise New York's rich and diverse culture. Therefore, it is the intention of the Assembly to pass a legislation to observe Lunar New Year and Diwali as holidays in New York State before the close of our legislative session. We will continue discussions with stakeholders as to how this affects the school year calendar, he said. Action on the bills is expected to be taken by June 8, when the legislative session concludes. Diwali 2022 Celebrated at White House; US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden And Vice President Kamala Harris Interact With Indian-Americans Amid Celebrations (Watch Video). New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Makes Announcement: We will continue discussions with stakeholders as to how this affects the school year calendar. Carl E. Heastie (@CarlHeastie) May 24, 2023 Congresswoman Grace Meng, representing New York's 6th Congressional District - parts of West, Central and Northeast Queens, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, will on Friday announce the legislation that would make Diwali a federal holiday. Under the Congresswoman's Diwali Day Act, Diwali would become the 12th federally recognised holiday in the United States, a statement from her office said. Establishing a federal holiday for Diwali, and the day off it would allow families and friends to celebrate together, and demonstrate that the government values the diverse cultural makeup of the nation, it added. Year of the Rabbit or Chinese New Year 2023: Five Things You Should Know About the Spring Festival. Joining Meng for the announcement will be Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and State Senator Joe Addabbo, sponsors of the New York State bill that seeks to allow the designation of Diwali as a school holiday in New York City; Councilman Shekar Krishnan , the first Indian American member of the New York City Council; and Councilwoman Linda Lee who recently passed a resolution in the City Council supporting a New York City school holiday for Diwali. I am thrilled to learn that the Assembly will vote on the legislation that seeks to observe Lunar New Year and Diwali as holidays in New York State. I was proud to champion these issues when I served in the State Legislature where I led the bill for Lunar New Year. I worked to make Lunar New Year a school holiday in New York City, and I have long called for the same to be done for Diwali, she said. Meng added that holidays should recognise and reflect the great diversity of our communities, and I look forward to these bills moving through the State Assembly. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhaktapur [Nepal], May 25 (ANI): Newa; also called Newars are the natives of Kathmandu Valley on Thursday, are celebrating the annual festival of Sithi Nakha to mark the beginning of the monsoon season by cleaning water sources such as ponds, wells, and stone spouts. One of the important festivals in the Newar community in Nepal is observed on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Jestha (May/June). According to Hindu mythology, it is said that the day is dedicated to Lord Kumar Kartikeya, the first son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Also Read | Most Innovative Companies in the World: From Apple To Tesla and Tata Group, List of Firms That Thrive on Innovation. The act of cleaning the water sources, community ponds, wells and water spouts on the day of Sithi Nakha has special significance in the Newar. It is celebrated at the onset of the rainy season. People believe that the rulers of water Nagas (Snake) leave the wells for other destinations, as the water reduces because of the driest period of the year. Also Read | Sami Abraham, Senior Pakistan Journalist 'Abducted' by Unidentified Men in Islamabad, Claims Family. People also prepare traditional pancakes such as Bara and Chatamari as a tribute to their ancestral god. "Sithi Nakha: is one of the important festivals of the Newar community. On this day, all the households cook Bara (a Newari dish made of lentils) and Chatamari (a Newari dish made of rice flour). Also, this day is observed as Kumar Khasti- the birthday of Kumar (Kartikeya)," said Krishna Jyatha, a resident of Bhaktapur told ANI. As per the folklore, the food items are not just for taste. Two delicacies consumed on this day are high in carbohydrates, protein, and iron. As the monsoon approaches, bodies are exposed to different types of bacteria and these types of food increase the immunity of one's body. Apart from it the religious side of the 'Sithi Nakha' festival also highlights the importance of water source conservation and the need for clean water. It is customary to worship around wells, boreholes, and ponds and clean up before worship. It is believed that the water resource should be closed for a few days after cleaning in Sithi Nakha to stabilize the water level. The cleaning is done by entering inside the dug wells, ponds, and boreholes, and by doing so, the underneath wastes like mud, silt, and sediment come up to the surface of the water. Before the monsoon, Kathmandu valley becomes increasingly dry and the water level falls to the lowest level so it is the best time to clean water resources. 'Nagas', the serpent deities who are believed to be the rulers of water resources are also worshipped on this day. As a part of the festival, the Newar community works together to clean public water resources. On this day, the farmers avoid working in the fields. Also, it is said that whoever takes bathes on this day and worships Lord Kartikeya, won't fall sick during the monsoon. Another tradition is that all construction should be completed by the Sithi Nakha Day lest a calamity befalls the project-usually coming in the form of monsoon rains which quickly undermine unfinished mud-brick buildings. Sithi Nakha also marks the end of the one-month Dewali period, when Newars of related ancestry gather for great feasts and complicated rituals to honour their family gods and goddesses. This day is chosen for the cleaning of water bodies because the serpent deities themselves are away performing their ancestral Dewali worship. Thus the wells can be cleaned with lime without disturbing the Snake Gods. (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 police had received a complaint about sex racket being run under the guise of spa centres, and on the basis of which the action was taken," DCP Vivek Kumar told ANI. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will attend the new Parliament building inauguration in Delhi on May 28, the party's top leadership confirmed on Thursday. N Chandrababu Naidu, President of Telugu Desam Party took to social media to confirm the news and congratulate PM Narendra Modi and the Union Government. He said, "I wish for the New Parliament building to become the abode for transformational policy and decision-making." Naidu confirmed that his party will attend the new Parliament building inauguration in Delhi on 28th May. New Parliament Building Inauguration Date: PM Narendra Modi To Dedicate New Sansad Bhavan to Nation on This Day. Telugu Desam Part Will Attend New Parliament Building Inauguration N Chandrababu Naidu, President of Telugu Desam Party says, "I wish for the New Parliament building to become the abode for transformational policy and decision-making," as his party will attend the new Parliament building inauguration in Delhi on 28th May.. pic.twitter.com/OVEdNSqcOd ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 Read N Chandrababu Naidu's Tweet Here: As we have a new Parliament building, I join a joyous and proud nation in congratulating PM @narendramodi Ji, the Union Govt, and every hand that has contributed to building this historic structure. I wish for the New Parliament building to become the abode for transformational N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) May 25, 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.) San Francisco, May 25: US telecom carrier Verizon has warned its customer service employees about impending layoffs as part of "restructuring" and "streamlining" measures. Over 6,000 employees received a pre-recorded message from the company about upcoming "significant" layoffs, reports The Verge. Meta Layoffs Continue! Facebook Parent Company Conducts Fresh Round of Job Cuts, 6,000 Employees To Be Axed Globally. They were told they would be able to accept a severance offer (two weeks per year of tenure) or, in select cases, apply for roles to "transition to the next stage of your career journey". According to an internal document provided to The Verge, those roles revolve around customer experience, loyalty, and technology positions. The layoff warning as the company lost 127,000 postpaid subscribers in the first quarter this year. The company appointed Sowmyanarayan Sampath as CEO of Verizon Consumer Group in March, which oversees its customer service operation. The company has given affected workers a deadline of June 7 to make a decision on their preference. Amazon Layoffs Leave Employees Frustrated; 1,000 Workers in Seattle Plan to Walk Off Job Over Sackings and 'Work From Office' Rule: Report. "Those who apply for new positions are not guaranteed to be hired, and for those who don't take the severance option, June 23rd is the date that Verizon will inform employees of their future at the company," the report said late Wednesday. The US telecom carrier was yet to comment on impending layoffs officially. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 25, 2023 09:38 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai, May 25: Realme has enlisted the renowned Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as its latest brand ambassador. This announcement comes ahead of the upcoming launch of Realme's highly anticipated Realme 11 Pro series in June. Realme has already provided glimpses of the impressive features of their upcoming phone, including the 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP3 SuperZoom Camera with a 4x lossless zoom mode, Super Group Portrait capabilities, and One Take camera features. iQOO Neo8 Pro Launched Debuting MediaTeks New Dimensity 9200+ Chipset; All Key Details Inside. The latest teaser showcases the phone's elegant design, featuring a lychee leather back and a lace-like strip that encircles its camera module and extends down to the bottom. "Get ready to witness #TheNextLeap as the king of Bollywood, the one and only SRK, transforms from reel to real! Brace yourselves for an electrifying journey with our very own Dare To Leap Pioneer! Get ready to experience the power of #realmeXsrk and witness how #SRKDaresToLeap to new heights!," the company expressed regarding this exciting collaboration. In the past, Realme had chosen Salman Khan as the brand ambassador for their Realme 6 series in 2020, followed by KL Rahul in 2021. Samsung Galaxy F54 5G Gets Rendered Revealing Design; Check Expected Specs and Price Details Here. Further details and the official launch date of the phone will be revealed in the coming weeks. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 25, 2023 01:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). On 23 May, the leader of Mexico's right-wing Partido Accion Nacional (PAN), proposed that candidates should demonstrate the support of at least 1% of voters (about 1m signatures) on the electoral roll to qualify to win the 2024 presidential nomination for the opposition Va por Mexico coalition. End of preview - This article contains approximately 364 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 24 May Brazils lower house of congress completed the approval of the governments proposed legislation for a new framework of fiscal discipline rules. End of preview - This article contains approximately 381 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 24 May three people were killed and at least 10 wounded in a terrorist attack in Tibu municipality, in Colombias north-eastern department of Norte de Santander. Analysis: The attack in Tibu demonstrates the difficulties that President Gustavo Petro will face in improving the security situation along the border with Venezuela. In addition to the areas status as a national centre of coca production that has made it a focal point of Colombias internal conflict, it is made more vulnerable by the ability of armed groups to cross back and forth across the border, evading patrols by the Colombian military. Petros rapprochement with President Nicolas Maduros government in Venezuela has seen efforts to improve security cooperation between the two countries, which may bring some benefits. The reopening of the border to vehicle traffic in September last year after a seven-year closure should also bring about a gradual improvement in the regions economy that may reduce communities dependence on criminal groups. However, serious doubts remain regarding Petros ability to negotiate the demobilisation of the main armed groups active in the border regions, as demonstrated by this weeks collapse of a ceasefire with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), the largest alliance of dissident units of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) guerrilla group. Two police officers and a civilian woman were killed when a police vehicle was targeted in an attack using explosives in the outskirts of the town of Tibu. At least ten other people were injured, with one police officer reportedly in intensive care. Lying on the border with Venezuela and part of the volatile Catatumbo region which spans both sides of the border, Tibu is home to a number of drug trafficking and insurgent groups. The Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) guerrilla group, currently engaged in peace talks with the Petro administration, is known to have a presence there, as are dissident Farc units, the smaller guerrilla group Ejercito Popular de Liberacion (EPL), and local drug trafficking gangs. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Any evidence indicating the involvement of the ELN, which nearly derailed peace negotiations in March with a deadly attack on a military base in the nearby municipality of El Carmen, could prove catastrophic for the peace talks. Alongside the ELN, the most powerful armed group in Tibu is arguably the dissident 33rd Front of the Farc a member of the EMC alliance with which the government suspended a ceasefire on 22 May in response to the murder of four indigenous teenagers. The Petro administration is facing some international pressure to restore the ceasefire. Yesterday, a joint statement by international organisations including the European Unions embassy in Colombia and the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia urged the government and the EMC to take actions that enable the consolidation of the ceasefire. Looking Ahead: Petro has recently stepped up security cooperation with the Maduro government, which is widely seen as essential in calming the volatile situation along the porous 2,200km border. On 11 May, following a meeting in Caracas, Colombias Defence Minister Ivan Velasquez and his Venezuelan counterpart Vladimir Padrino Lopez announced that both governments will ramp up their security presence on the border and would intensify bilateral intelligence sharing. Despite slipping in the polls again, controversial Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has now announced his run for the presidency in 2024. This came after he signed into law a bill that would make it easier for him to make a run for the White House. One of the things making DeSantis' run complicated is Florida's "resign-to-run" law which would force the governor to resign from his position should he decide to run. However, DeSantis quietly signed the bill to repeal it last Wednesday. According to NBC News, Republican legislative leaders in the state have already stated that they would change it to ensure there were no legal concerns about DeSantis running. The repeal of the law comes as the Florida governor prepared to announce his run on Twitter alongside Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of DeSantis. In addition to taking out "Resign to Run," Florida Republican lawmakers also created exemptions to state public records laws. This would make the governor's travel and potential donor meetings opaquer. It also gave him an additional $1 million for staff raises, as this would likely keep his team together as he makes a run for the White House. His biggest rival in the Republican Primaries, former President Donald Trump, has repeatedly pointed out that the "resign-to-run" law prevents him from running and that repealing it "totally weakens election integrity in Florida." Ron DeSantis Presidential Run Announcement Plagued by Glitches DeSantis has now announced his run officially after the law was signed, though the announcement itself was marred by disasters. The Associated Press reported that the Florida governor tried to project confidence as he announced it with Musk. However, the audio stream crashed repeatedly, with most users not being able to hear him in real-time. READ NEXT: Florida 'Openly Hostile Toward African Americans,' Warns NAACP As the stream glitched, DeSantis stated, "American decline is not inevitable, it is a choice. And we should choose a new direction - a path that will lead to American revitalization," before formally announcing his run for the presidency "to lead our great American comeback." Political experts pointed out that DeSantis tried to "take a page out" of Donald Trump's playbook but it ultimately did not go as planned. Meanwhile, Elon Musk explained that the glitches happened because the number of people watching "strained" the servers. "You can tell by the mistakes that it's real," said the Twitter CEO. Ron DeSantis 2024 Opponents React to Announcement As soon as the glitchy announcement concluded, his political rivals for 2024 quickly pounced, including Donald Trump, who took to Truth Social to write, "The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH!" Trump added that "Ron DeSanctus can't win the General Election (or get the Nomination)" and continued, "He was, and is, a disciple of horrible RINO Paul Ryan, and others too many to mention." Meanwhile, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley released a video to mock DeSantis being a Trump copycat and stated, "America deserves a choice, not an echo." President Joe Biden, who is defending his seat in 2024, also weighed in, posting a link to his campaign donation page and saying, "This link works" as a clear reference to DeSantis' glitchy announcement. READ NEXT: Florida Could Face Mass Labor Shortage Due to Ron DeSantis' New Immigration Law This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: DeSantis presidential launch on Twitter hit by glitches - Associated Press Residents of Houston came together Wednesday at Eleanor Tinsley Park to commemorate the tragic Uvalde shooting a year ago at Robb Elementary School, Huston Public Media noted. Local activist and event organizer Sarah Gish led the gathering. She had previously participated in similar gatherings held in Uvalde. In the small town of Uvalde, where access to libraries is limited, El Progreso Memorial Library has emerged as a symbol of healing and remembrance for the victims of the massacre. Gish shared that she maintains contact with Mendell Morgan, the librarian at El Progreso, who came out of retirement nearly a decade ago to oversee the library's operations. Gish expressed her intention to return to Uvalde later this year to organize another event focused on healing and support. Situated conveniently near Robb Elementary School, where 21 lives were lost in the tragic shooting, El Progreso Library played a vital role in the incident's aftermath. Gish emphasized that the Uvalde shooting ranks third deadliest in U.S. school history. Following the tragedy, the library became a central hub, providing a safe space for the community to gather, decompress, and heal. Therapists were available, art therapy sessions were conducted, and story times were organized to offer solace and support. Gish encouraged Houstonians to attend the ceremony to show solidarity with the victims and their families in Uvalde. A prayer and meditation gathering was held in Houston at 7 pm, allowing individuals to reflect and offer their support. READ NEXT: Uvalde Shooting: New Video Shows Texas Police Failure During Tragic Attack Uvalde Shooting Exactly one year ago today, Uvalde's Robb Elementary School was struck by an unimaginable tragedy when a teenage shooter took the lives of 19 students and two teachers before ultimately ending his own life, Texas Tribune reports. The devastating incident, which also left 17 others injured, thrust the city of approximately 25,000 residents into the heart of the nationwide discourse surrounding semi-automatic firearms. While grappling with profound anguish, Uvalde shooting became a focal point for discussions on gun control. In the aftermath, state officials and media investigations have shed light on failures in communication and leadership within public safety systems. These deficiencies resulted in significant delays in both response and treatment, exacerbating the impact of the tragedy. Families who lost loved ones in the shootings traveled to state and federal capitals, tirelessly advocating for measures to curtail access to firearms. Their efforts yielded significant results as the federal government swiftly passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act weeks after the incident. This landmark legislation, representing the most substantial federal gun reform in nearly 30 years, received crucial support from Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn, who played a pivotal role in its negotiation and passage. However, on the state level, policymakers have predominantly focused on enhancing school safety measures and improving access to mental health care, opting against enacting comprehensive gun control laws of their own. Throughout the past year, the survivors of the Uvalde shooting, as well as the families and friends of the victims, have endured the arduous journey of processing their grief and anguish. Robb Elementary School and Uvalde Shooting Survivors The Uvalde school board has reached a significant decision to permanently close the Robb Elementary School, the site of the tragic shooting that took place a year ago, according to AP. In its place, plans are underway to construct a new campus, symbolizing a fresh chapter for the Uvalde community. Uvalde schools were closed to mark the solemn anniversary as a collective show of respect and remembrance. Within the confines of the classroom where the shooting unfolded, only a small group of approximately a dozen students managed to escape the harrowing incident. Some of these students decided to return to school last fall. Among them was a young girl who spent nearly two months in the hospital despite enduring multiple gunshot wounds and continued her education remotely. Moreover, Veronica Mata, a kindergarten teacher who tragically lost her 10-year-old daughter Tess in the Uvalde shooting, found the strength to return to her profession this year. In the wake of the incident, some Uvalde residents have taken legal action, filing lawsuits against the firearms manufacturer and the government. These legal proceedings reflect the community's search for justice and accountability after the devastating event. READ NEXT: Uvalde Children Going Back to School, Robb Elementary Won't Re-Open This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Uvalde, Texas mass shooting: one year later - From NBC News Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano, known locally as "El Popo," continues to rumble and spew ash in nearby areas, including Mexico City. Volcanic ash and lava released by the Mexican volcano have already engulfed nearby towns, affecting approximately 25 million people who live within 60 miles of the volcano. Experts monitoring the volcano have confirmed that a massive eruption from Popocatepetl "doesn't appear imminent," though more minor eruptions are likely to continue. According to the Associated Press, the volcanic ash has continued disrupting flights at Mexico City's international airport. The Popocatepetl volcano is expected to affect more flights as it continues to billow ash and smoke. Scientists continue to monitor the Mexican volcano, which is already one of Earth's most monitored active volcanoes, even before it started rumbling again. READ NEXT: Mexico's Most Dangerous Volcano Emits Ash, Sparks Evacuation Warning Mexico President AMLO Says Popocatepetl Volcano Is Now Emitting Less Ash Despite the continued ashfall, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has a bit of good news. The president, who receives regular briefings regarding "El Popo," said Tuesday that the volcano is emitting less ash after weeks of increased activity. CNN reported that this could be a welcome sign for millions living near its danger zone and affected by its toxic ash emissions. Lopez Obrador noted that they are monitoring the volcano day and night. He said there is no need to panic as the volcanic activity has decreased. Its ash emissions have reportedly been heading more toward Puebla. The president's announcement was made a few days after people living near Popocatepetl were warned of a possible call for evacuations as classes were canceled. The Mexican National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) had already raised the alert level to "yellow phase 3." Evacuation centers have been put in place, and high-ranking officials have inspected possible evacuation routes. Still, authorities urged residents to stay vigilant, with Environment Secretary Bety Manrique announcing that the air quality index in Puebla had improved, recording a drop in polluting particles. However, authorities still advised locals to wear masks and reduce driving in cars. Mexico Government Still Has Not Issued an Evacuation Volcanic ash continues to coat nearby towns, and residents can still be seen wearing masks. However, according to Al Jazeera, an evacuation order has yet to be announced. The states of Veracruz and Puebla are the areas affected by the ashfall. Despite no evacuations being announced yet, residents are still worried. People living in nearby towns are not just dealing with ashfall but also with continuous tremors from the volcano's rumbling. In its report Tuesday, the CNPC noted that small domes of lava continued forming inside the crater, which were often destroyed by small and moderate explosions. It advised those living near the Popocatepetl volcano that these explosions will likely continue over the coming weeks. READ MORE: Jalisco New Generation Cartel's Timeshare Fraud Network Sanctioned This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Popocatepetl: Millions Preparing to Flee Homes as Mexican Volcano Spews Ash and Rock - From Sky News Yellowstone National Park officials made a difficult decision to kill a baby bison after a visitor helped the animal cross a river, but its herd rejected the calf. According to NBC News, Yellowstone said in a press release that the calf had been separated from its mother when the herd crossed the Lamar River in the park's northern section in Wyoming on Saturday. As he saw the newborn bison struggle to cross the river, the park visitor intervened by pushing the animal from the river and onto a roadway. Visitors then reported seeing the calf walk up and approach cars and humans. The statement said park rangers repeatedly tried to reunite the animal with the herd. However, those efforts failed as human interference can cause wildlife to reject their offspring. The release noted that the park staff had to euthanize the baby bison after the failed reunification efforts because "it was abandoned by the herd and causing a hazardous situation by approaching cars and people along the roadway." "We made the choice we did because national parks preserve natural processes," Yellowstone National Park officials said in the statement. Responding to questions about why the baby bison was not sent to a sanctuary or zoo, the park tweeted that "this is a conversation that is difficult to have on social media." The park's website has a section explaining why it does not rescue animals after they become separated from their mothers or are injured. READ NEXT: Yellowstone National Park Flood Yellowstone National Park Visitor to Face Charges If Found Guilty Officials at Yellowstone National Park said the park regulations require visitors to stay at least 25 yards from bison, elk, and deer and 100 yards from bears and wolves. They noted that approaching these wild animals can affect their well-being and survival. In the press release, the park also released an image of the man who lifted the calf from the river. CNN reported that if the unidentified visitor was found guilty of any wrongdoing, he could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, facing up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. Yellowstone National Park told the outlet that the charge would include approaching and disturbing wildlife and disorderly conduct. The park has established a tip line in connection with its investigation and urged anyone in the area on May 20 to call here for any information. This incident is not an isolated occurrence. At least three incidents occurred in May and June last year when three park visitors interacted with bison and were injured severely. In one instance, a 71-year-old woman was attacked and gored by a bison a day after a different calf hurt another visitor. Why Did the Herd Reject the Baby Bison? According to Dr. Jeff Martin, director of South Dakota State University's Center of Excellence for Bison Studies, humans have historically been bison's primary predators, shaping their behavior towards human interaction. The bison's keen sense of smell allows them to detect the odor of a human on a calf's fur, leading them to reject the calf as a potential threat, KELOLAND reported. Martin explained that bison are naturally wary of humans and prioritize the entire herd's safety. Despite their seemingly calm demeanor, he said bison are still wild animals and one of "the largest land mammals on this continent." Martin noted that bulls can weigh up to a ton or 1,000 kilos, while calves can weigh up to 500 kilos. He reminded visitors of national and state parks to always remember that these wild animals are not domesticated and should be treated cautiously. He warned against intervening or approaching them, especially without proper training, as such actions can be dangerous for humans as well as animals. For example, he said interfering between a mother and her calf could provoke an aggressive response from the mother. READ MORE: Uvalde Shooting After 1 Year This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: YNP Officials Search for Man Who Disturbed Bison Calf Resulting in its Death - From NBC Montana Editors note: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced. If you are in crisis, call the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8 or visiting 988lifeline.org. The body recovered Friday from the Lehigh River near the Easton border has been identified as that of a missing Lehigh University student, Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek said Wednesday. Daniel Lee had been missing since Jan. 20, the Bethlehem university said the following day in a campus-wide bulletin. There was concern that self-harm may have been involved in his disappearance, authorities had said. Lysek said Wednesday his office had completed the identification process and ruled Lee died from drowning. The death was ruled a suicide. Lee was a second-year engineering and university center facilities work-study student from East Hanover, New Jersey. Lehigh University President Joseph J. Helble issued a statement Wednesday as follows: I am deeply saddened to share an update regarding the search for second-year Lehigh student Daniel Lee. After a concerted search effort last winter failed to provide any information about his disappearance, we received confirmation today that a body recovered in the Lehigh River last week was Daniels. Lehigh University representatives have been in contact with Daniels family, and our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with his family, friends and loved ones. Struggling with mental health and well-being is a difficult subject that is important to address openly and directly as a community. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress, there are counselors and resources available through Lehigh for students, faculty and staff (including off-campus support through MySSP). You also can call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988 or using chat services at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. As we come together to support one another, I also encourage those who may be struggling with their mental health to seek support. The lack of definitive information surrounding Daniels disappearance has been especially hard on those close to him, and the loss of a student is upsetting for our entire Lehigh community. If you are struggling with your thoughts or emotions, remember you are not alone, and there are resources and Lehigh staff to support you. My thoughts are with everyone in our community as we process this difficult news together. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. A New Jersey stadium has issued a warning to those who wish to attend Taylor Swifts The Eras Tour on Memorial Day weekend dont come without tickets. MetLife Stadium reminded concertgoers in social media blasts Wednesday night that event tickets are required to access the parking lots of the venue. The message comes two weeks after about 20,000 fans who did not have tickets flocked to a stadium in Philadelphia and gathered in the parking lot to sing along to her songs. The crowd of Swifties were seen in a viral TikTok video, signing in a parking lot at the Lincoln Financial Field stadium on May 13. Following the incident, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, issued a warning to fans ahead of its Eras Tour shows last weekend, stating that a ticket was needed in order to enter the stadiums parking lots. What exactly would happen to anyone who attempts to go without tickets to the New Jersey this weekend was not exactly clear. MetLife did not specify in its messaging, which also included a list of other rules and reminders for attending the shows. The New Jersey State Police, the agency that patrols MetLife Stadium, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Swifts The Eras Tour runs from March 17 to August 9, with tour dates at the East Rutherford stadium on Friday, May 26; Saturday, May 27; and Sunday, May 28. Tickets for the three-plus hour show currently range from $1,476 to $4,155, according to VividSeats.com. The Eras Tour is Swifts biggest and most expensive tour yet. The concerts are three hours and 15 minutes long, not including the opening acts, and feature a setlist of 45 songs. The songs date back to her second album, Fearless, released in 2008. The average ticket for the tour is $700, while the average ticket for her previous tour, the Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018, went for just $279, according to StubHub. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Editors note: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced. If you are in crisis, call the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8 or visiting 988lifeline.org. Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday brought a focus on mental health to a Lehigh Valley high school that offers a range of resources to students in or at risk of crisis. Those resources at Parkland High School include a staff who works tirelessly to address students mental health needs, team mentoring for academic or social difficulties, school counselors and psychologists, partnerships with local hospitals to offer psychotherapy when needed, and the availability of crisis teams, according to Principal Nathan Davidson. We are incredibly fortunate to have all of those resources for our students, but our needs are consistent and growing, Davidson said during a news conference with the first-term Democrat. Not every Pennsylvania school enjoys those same resources as Parkland, Shapiro stressed, which is why hes proposing in his 2023-24 budget proposal the start of a $500 million investment over the next five years to increase mental health support in schools and up to $60 million annually by 2027-28 to restore county mental health funding. Shapiro spoke of productive dialogue with the state lawmakers who have until the end of June to offer up amendments and get a budget passed for the fiscal year starting July 1. The governor heard directly from students about their personal experiences with mental health issues during a roundtable discussion at the school in South Whitehall Township. He commended them for their willingness to speak openly, and said thats where addressing mental health needs to start by listening to those in need. I feel like my cup is fuller as a result of being here today, Shapiro said. I learned a lot, Im going to take a lot of this back to our team as we continue that work, and I want to thank the young people today for their willingness to engage with us on this important work. The stressors on mental health facing young people are myriad, said one student who spoke alongside Shapiro during the news conference: homework, tests, projects, extracurricular activities, working at a job or jobs. But while the challenges may look similar, each school needs to individualize its approach based on the wide variety of students needs, said the student, graduating senior Reva Gandhi. Also taking part in Thursdays visit was state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, whom Shapiro called the states legislative leader in addressing mental health issues. Schlossberg has spoken openly for years about his battles with anxiety and depression, and suicidal ideation. Schlossberg, who was joined by Republican Lehigh County state lawmaker Sen. Jarrett Coleman, called for continued conversations over mental health. Hes seen tremendous strides, he said, but many people still wont talk about taking antidepressants the way they might discuss cholesterol medication. The state House Human Services Committee just this week unanimously approved legislation that would allocate $100 million in federal funding to address Pennsylvanias mental health needs, under a bill authored by Schlossberg. Approximately 1.7 million Pennsylvanians live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals, he said in a statement on Tuesdays vote sending House Bill 849 to the full state House of Representatives for consideration. In the last year, 98,000 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 have been diagnosed with depression, yet 57% of them were unable to receive any care. Five Pennsylvanians take their own life every day. The time for hearings and studies is over! We know the problems. We have solutions. It is time to act, and act swiftly. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. The parents of a Pennsylvania man accused of killing four University of Idaho students have been subpoenaed to testify before a Monroe County grand jury, CNN reports. Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested in December in Monroe County and charged with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in the Nov. 13 slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus. Citing an anonymous source familiar with the situation, CNN said Michael Kohberger is expected to testify today before the grand jury in Monroe County and Maryann Kohberger previously testified before the panel. Grand jury proceedings are secret by law. The testimony under oath could be shared with prosecutors in Idaho, since Pennsylvania law allows judges to release transcripts of witness testimony before grand juries to other investigative agencies, CNN said in its report. In a news release Thursday afternoon, Stroud Area Regional Police shot down reports connecting Bryan Kohberger to the investigation into missing person Dana Smithers. The SARPD has NO EVIDENCE that Dana Smithers disappearance is in ANY WAY tied to Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger, the department said in news release. A grand jury in Idaho indicted Bryan Kohberger in the stabbing deaths, allowing prosecutors to skip a planned week-long preliminary hearing that was set for late June. At a hearing Monday, Kohberger refused to enter pleas to his criminal charges in Latah County District Court in Idaho, prompting a judge to make not guilty pleas on his behalf. The judge set a tentative trial date for Oct. 2. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Lafayette College will assure a historic bed-and-breakfast on the outskirts of its campus will remain a boutique hotel. The college announced Thursday it has a deal in place to buy the Lafayette Inn at 525 W. Monroe St. Closing is scheduled for Aug. 31 on the 18-room Georgian mansion that dates to 1895, according to a news release. The inn hosts many families visiting their students at Lafayette, potential Leopards touring the campus, and alumni who visit or speak at the college, said Audra Kahr, Lafayettes Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration. We are thrilled to keep the property operating as an inn that will continue to welcome community members, Lafayette families, and visitors to Easton. New York transplant Steele Andrews bought the hotel in 2021. He said he was forced to sell due to expensive repairs caused by roots growing through a sewer line. He blames the previous owners, Laura and Paul Di Liello, for failing to disclose the problem until after the sale. He sued the Di Liellos in 2022. The lawsuit was dismissed in April 2023. Andrews said he plans to appeal. The attorney for the Di Liellos didnt immediately return a message seeking comment. Nor did Andrews attorney. Andrews said Lafayette College will give the elegant building the care it needs. They can do what I cant do, he said. The college says the inn will keep taking reservations up to and beyond the sale date. It helps meet a growing need for hotel rooms that has the college considering building a hotel on its Metzgar Fields property in Forks Township. Lafayette College spokesman Scott Morse said the college has agreed to pay $2.7 million for the inn. He said the inns few part-time employees will be considered for positions deemed necessary. The mansion was built by Elizabeth Wagner Leary in 1895. A group of investors purchased and renovated the property into an inn in 1986. It lies on part of the Wagner farm, owned by one of the families that helped settle Easton three generations earlier in the mid-1700s. Andrews said it was important for him to sell to someone willing to maintain and restore the property in keeping with its history. His renovation plans were derailed by the sewer issue. He considered but ultimately rejected a development proposal that would have converted the inn into an office building for an insurance company. What a terrible loss it would have been, Andrews said. The sale to Lafayette College will allow for appropriate renovations and will allow the building to remain a hotel. The Di Liellos owned the inn for 16 years. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. A man faces decades in prison for trafficking a young woman in Berks County, the Pennsylvania Attorney General announced. A jury found 52-year-old Hector Rivera, of Reading, guilty in February of 15 charges, including human trafficking, involuntary servitude, promoting prostitution and possession with intent to deliver drugs. Rivera was being held on $1 million bail, but bail was revoked following the guilty verdicts, court records show. On Wednesday, Rivera was sentenced to 33-and-a-half years to 69 years in prison, and he will be required to register as a tier one sex offender. The defendant exploited and manipulated a young woman, using drugs and threats of violence to keep her under his control, Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a news release. (The) sentencing ensures that Rivera is held accountable for perpetrating this cruel and violent behavior. The victim struggled with addiction and Rivera began selling her drugs in 2019, prosecutors said. When she could no longer pay for the drugs, Rivera forced her to perform sexual acts for him and other men in exchange for crack-cocaine. In April 2020, Rivera brought the young woman to a hotel in Reading, where she was coerced to have sex with men in exchange for money. Rivera kept all of the money from those transactions, investigators said. In early 2020, a confidential source provided information to state police and the subsequent investigation into Rivera and others was presented to the 45th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury in May 2021, prosecutors said. Rivera was charged in July 2021 along with two other people, accused of running a drug and human trafficking ring in and around Reading, Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Laois schoolchildren are getting lessons in creative songwriting, thanks to Music Generation Laois. Bicycles, Boomerangs and Blue Macaws is a new suite of songs composed with 100 schoolchildren from Cloneyhurke, Rath and Paddock National Schools. On Thursday June 1 at 1pm, their songs will be premiered in The Malthouse, Stradbally, performed by the young composers themselves, and directed by Sarah Murphy, Lorna McLaughlin and Music Generation Laois Lead Musician, Nuala Kelly. The performance will be supported by the Music Generation Laois House Band. More detail below photos. Below: Children from Rath NS and Cloneyhurke NS rehearsing their songs. Photos: Alf Harvey The suite of six original songs is inspired by The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Composers Sarah Murphy and Lorna McLaughlin were commissioned by Music Generation Laois, with funding from Creative Ireland Laois and The Arts Councils Young People, Children and Education Award Commissions Series, to facilitate a collaborative song-writing project with one hundred primary school children aged 7-12, in five classes across three schools: Cloneyhurke NS; Paddock NS, and Rath NS. Song-writing took place between November 2022 and March 2023, with children exploring various articles from the convention alongside their rights and responsibilities as global citizens, with the children brainstorming themes they wanted to explore. The new suite of songs emerged organically from this process, with every child contributing ideas, words, sentences, musical lines, and working with Sarah and Lorna to shape the ideas, and make decisions together. A pupil from Paddock NS singing their song. Rosa Flannery is Music Generation Laois Music Development Officer. "We were very keen to prioritise singing in schools, post-covid, thats how this project came about. We are blown away by what these young composers, alongside Sarah and Lorna, have created! The newly composed songs are fantastic and give a great insight into childrens views of the world. For us, this project has really highlighted the importance of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child," she said. Tickets to the premiere are available on musicgenerationlaois.ie, 10/5. Music Generation Laois is holding Summer Camps from June 26 to July 7 in Laois Music Centre, Church Avenue, Portlaoise, or sign your school or child up to a music programme for September 2023. Email mgl@loetb.ie or call 057 8681782 Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation, Irelands National Music Education Programme, funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and the Department of Education. Music Generation Laois is part of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board and supported by Laois County Council. For the second year in a row, the team at Ballykilcavan Brewery has taken home a prestigious award from the National Sustainable Business Awards. Having been named best small to medium sustainable business last year, Ballykilcavan won the best agri-food project in this years awards. The brewery is based on the family farm of David and Lisa Walsh-Kemmis, just outside Stradbally. The award was presented on the same day as the brewery was nominated as the Laois entry to the National Enterprise Award. Mr Kemmis was delighted and revealed plans for the business to make it even more sustainable. The category was open to food and drinks businesses of all sizes throughout Ireland, so were absolutely thrilled that the judges recognised our efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the brewery and from the barley that we grow on the farm to make our beers. "Weve implemented a number of efficiency measures in the brewery and are now generating 80% of the power we use from our own solar panels. Well shortly be applying for planning permission for a small hydro generator, and if that is granted by Laois County Council, we will be able to generate all the energy we need on-site. Weve also introduced a number of measures on the farm to improve the sustainability of our malting barley, and we estimate that we can reduce its carbon footprint by 30%, he said. The Sustainable Business Awards, organised by the Sunday Business Post and sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, were created to recognise excellence in sustainable business practice, and are adjudicated by an independent panel of experts in environmental, social and governance issues. Its a very rigorous judging process. said David, Theyre looking for projects that have made a real difference to the environment and to the communities where the businesses are based, and that are independently audited to show that the claims being made are accurate. There were some incredibly impressive companies in our category, including the likes of Diageo and Bread 41, so we were very happy just to make it to the final. To actually win it is almost unbelievable. The Ballykilcavan team are busy. They are booked into DM Shellys in Portlaoise to celebrate Independent Beer Week, the flagship event promoting independent Irish craft breweries, and they will then be heading to Phoenix Park for Bord Bia Bloom over the June bank holiday weekend. The South African Gathering 2023 will be held on July 8 at Ballykilcavan Farm & Brewery which is a beautiful venue in Stradbally, Co. Laois Local fears are mounting for the long term future of credit union branches in three Laois towns. Three towns are to have the opening hours cut at their local credit unions, towns which have already suffered the closures of banks. Mountrath, Rathdowney and Durrow are all branches that were taken over by St Canice's Credit Union in Kilkenny in the past decade. St Canice's claims to be the biggest community-based credit union in Ireland with 65,000 members across Kilkenny, Laois, Carlow and Tipperary. However, staff have been told in recent weeks that their opening hours are under consideration for cutbacks. Rathdowney would be open just one day a week down from three, Durrow for two days down from three, and Mountrath for three days, down from four. Speaking to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, the CEO of St Canice's, Carmel Butler, confirmed that the cuts to open hours are being considered but played down the impact and insisted that the decision was not being taken to save money. "It is not as drastic as it sounds. Of the three offices, the opening days would be down from 10 to six overall. There is a consultation period yet to start and we will look at the feedback from staff. But it is not finalised. We haven't made a final decision," she said. She spoke about the impact on staff. "There will absolutely not be staff losses... We had a communication meeting with staff to update them on our strategy. We have given a commitment to redeploy them in other roles. There will be no changes to their working hours, their salary or their general location. "This is not a cost-cutting exercise. This is a redeploy of resources to meet demand. I am very conscious of the distance to work. "We are not closing any of our offices. I would be very firm, that is not the intention at all. "We are not like the banks. We will be keeping a presence in every community. There is a need for us in these communities, and we will continue to stay while there is a need and support for us there," Ms Butler said. She gave the reason for the planned cut to open hours. "We are reacting to the change in customer behaviour. These are quiet days when very few customers come in. Activity has changed dramatically since Covid with electronic online activity," she said. The cuts would not come into effect until Autumn, Ms Butler said. "We don't plan to do it until September or October. There is a potential things may change," she said. One other office in Kilkenny is also in line to have opening hours changed the CEO confirmed. However local Laois councillors are concerned. Cllr Ollie Clooney from Durrow, Cllr James Kelly from Mountrath and Rathdowney based Cllr John King are due to meet with the CEO next week to discuss the plan. They fear it could result in closures long term. Cllr Clooney was a founder member of Durrow Credit Union before it amalgamated. "A lot of people do business online and that may sound lovely but what happens to branches if no-one comes in? There won't be a need for rural credit unions and that would be an out and out tragedy. "People look forward to seeing the friendly face, a lot don't go online. "There are two staff in Durrow, there were three. This is death by 1,000 cuts, the way the banks started. It's too late if it happens. One day is unacceptable, after a little while it's no day at all, it's gone. Rural places are under pressure. It's just a wipeout, an out and out wipeout," Cllr Clooney said. Cllr John King agrees. "If they reduce it from three days to one, the next thing it'll be closure. "It's grossly unfair if they are going to go ahead with this. We won't give up without a serious fight. A lot of people in Rathdowney who are farming, in business and the public have little accounts. They could have 2 million in shares. This is a small bank for ordinary people. We haven't even a bank. The credit union in Rathdowney serves a radius of seven to 10 miles," he said. Mountrath may only lose a day but it is still too much says Cllr James Kelly. "Mountrath has been very badly affected and doesn't have any bank branch or any other public ATM. The credit union is very important, it's very busy serving a big market town. I know everything is going online but the older generation is increasing and they go in with their book to meet a friendly face. "I would be asking them to leave everything as it is. We don't want to lose any days," he said. A delay has occurred to deliver a landmark social housing development beside Portlaoise train station that leaves tenants waiting longer for promised front door keys. Goldencroft under construction by Cluid is to deliver 67 social homes in a mix of bungalows, houses, apartments and duplexes to cater for a range of family types. The first phase of 37 units was due to handover in early 2023 but now it will not happen until August. The second phase of 30 homes is promised by November. Another Portlaoise set of houses, the final 18 homes in Clonrooske Abbey, is similarly delayed, and not due until August. While the homes and apartments are largely completed, tenants won't be given keys until two big issues are overcome. Laois County Council gave an update this May to Cllr Willie Aird at the Portlaoise Municipal District meeting. "Both Cluid turnkey schemes currently under construction have experienced delays due to financing issues and utility connections," they said. The finance delay is blamed on a switchover to a new model of CALF Government housing fund recently announced. The delay in connecting utilities may include gas, water and electricity, says Director of Services Simon Walton. He will send a letter to the Department of Housing to speed them up, on Cllr Airds request. "These two particular issues are to be raised with the Department of Housing. There are contract parties here that didn't involve the council. There are ongoing negotiations and these should not be giving rise to delays in tenants moving in," Mr Walton said. Cllr Aird had vented ire at the delays. "It's absolutely disgusting. Irish Water was set up by the Government. Surely you can bang heads and give connections and sort this out, after all who's paying? Here we have two projects held up because of utility services. Nobody could stand over that. "I feel for people who are waiting for their keys. They got word on these houses in March and April and told landlords they could take back their accommodation. It's very wrong. It is a matter of urgency. To think we have two absolutely beautiful schemes lying idle. They should be allowed to occupy them and sort out the money later," he said. Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded. "I had motions on Clonrooske Abbey on numerous occasions. In December when phase 1 was given out it was 16 months late. Nowe we are into May. There are tenants on borrowed time in tenancies that have clearly expired, their notices to quit are gone. The landlords are allowing them extra grace. They are illegally in rented accommodation. "It's a sad reflection of where we're going with housing. We need to be building our own. We're not getting these types of delays. We're one step removed, it's crazy," she said. Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald supports the demand for action by the Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien. She suggests forming a working group to include the council, housing bodies and utilities to keep paths smooth for construction. "We are in the middle of a housing crisis. There is an urgency to provide these houses as soon as possible," she said. Two separate Kildare Senators have welcomed Minister for Disability Anne Rabbitte's commitment to tackle the Assessment of Need waiting lists. Minister Rabbitte told the Dail yesterday that if six regional assessment units are not in place by August 1 to tackle Assessment of Needs waiting lists, she will seek funding in Budget 2024 for families who have had to pay privately. The announcement was welcomed by Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, who said: "Fianna Fail in Government is committed to delivering health care in a manner that promotes patient empowerment, improves quality of life, increases life expectancy and supports people with disabilities to choose the supports that most meet their need. "It is important to acknowledge that the development of every child with a disability, including those with autism, to reach his or her full potential is of the upmost importance. "We recognise the requirement to provide timely access to health and social care services that meet the presenting needs of individual children and their families. She concluded: "I welcome this significant commitment by Minister Anne Rabbitte: it further demonstrates Fianna Fail's commitment to reduce the waiting times for Assessment of Need and the access to intervention therapies identified from that process." 'AT BREAKING POINT' Labour Party Senator Mark Wall also welcomed the news from Minister Rabbitte, calling it 'a rare victory for all families with children waiting for an assessment of needs.' He said: "No child should have to wait for an assessment of need but unfortunately as it stands, thousands of children are. "I was delighted that the Darmody family joined us today to hear Government concede at last. The Darmody family are just one of the thousands of families nationwide who are at breaking point." Senator Wall continued: "As of March 2023, 10,696 children have been waiting for over 12 months for initial contact with a Childrens Disability Network Team (CDNT), an increase of 836 since December, and 17,157 were waiting in total. "The uncertainty and lack of support for these families is nothing short of a national disgrace." "In March of this year, Minister Rabbitte confirmed to me in the Seanad during a commencement matter that there were 2,665 families waiting on an assessment of needs in the CHO7 area where we are living. "We need to see action from Government now. Labour will continue to hold the Minister to account to ensure that children currently on waiting lists have their needs assessed without any further delay." "Early intervention is crucial for children," he concluded. A one-man Exhibition of artist Sean Currans watercolours is being launched at 8pm tomorrow in the multicultural centre in Ardclough village. John Whelan Chairman, Ardclough Village Centre CLG said: Sean, a near neighbour from Rathcoole, now based in Naas, brings his wide-ranging display of art work featuring local and nationwide iconic scenes brought to life in brilliant watercolour. The Exhibition explores the artists fascination with Kildares built environment as well as with maritime Ireland. An unmissable opportunity to view the work of one our great local painters, the exhibition features an array of watercolours. From light and atmosphere to the luminous sublime, this selection of works showcases Sean Currans mastery of light, colour and atmosphere. Ardclough Village Centre is a multicultural exhibition and events centre , located in a lush rural area of Kildare , nestling on the banks of the Grand Canal , it features different exhibitions , speaker series and social events. It is a not for profit Community centre that brings culture to rural Ireland. The Ardclough Village Centre (formerly the old primary school) is located at a key turning point from the Grand Canal to the Arthur Guinness graveyard on the recently completed Arthurs Way, carried out by the Dept of Public Works. Arthurs Way did not have an interpretative centre along the route, hence in December 2019 European Commissioner Phil Hogan performed the official opening of the Malt to Vault Arthurs Grave interpretative centre at Ardclough. From Malt to Vault celebrates the amazing life and times of Arthur Guinness, founder of the world-famous brewery in 1759, who was born in the locality and returned to be buried in the historic cemetery with a view on nearby Oughterard Hill. The Centre supports the wider Kildare tourism objectives by providing information about, and context to Arthurs way and the surrounding area, which is steeped in history. It will also provide a supportive link to the Ancient East national tourism project. The creation of the Ardclough Village Centre and its many exhibition features could not have been done without the financial support of Kildare County Council and the Dept of Rural & Community Development. The AVC group is very conscious of the rich heritage of the locality and it has already undertaken a number of projects in this area. These include the erection of a high stone (Ard Cloch) to honour the history of the area, historical photo exhibition and holographs. Remembering the long association of Ardclough with the equine species and in particular its association with famous race horses, going back to the great sire the Tetrarch at the beginning of the 20th century to more recent outstanding horses such as Star Appeal, Mill House and Kicking King, the Centre also hosts an exhibition of the Four Horses of the Ardclough-alypse. PICTURED ABOVE: Eoghan Ryan, Director of Services, Kildare County Council; Liam Kett, Kildare Older Persons Council; Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Cllr Fintan Brett; Minister of State in the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler TD; Marian Higgins, Director of Services Kildare County Council; Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive Kildare County Council Minister of State in the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler was guest of honour at the launch of the Kildare Age Friendly Strategy 2023 2027 in McAuley Place, Naas today. The Strategy sets out the shared ambitions and goals to ensure the creation of an age-friendly county and one which is a good place to grow old. The voices of Kildares older citizens are central to the new strategy, and throughout its development, to ensure their requirements are met, and the necessary supports and services are delivered, and properly co-ordinated. Speaking at the launch of Kildare Age Friendly Strategy 2023 2027, Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Cllr Fintan Brett said; I warmly welcome the launch of Kildare's new Age friendly strategy. The presence of the Minister of State at the Dept of Health with responsibility for Mental Health & Older People is indicative of the importance of older people in society today. Older people have a wealth of knowledge and life experience that should be tapped into at every opportunity. The age friendly strategy, I believe, provides that platform. Speaking at the official launch, Minister Butler said; Informed by the voices of older persons across the county, Kildares fourth Age Friendly Strategy is ambitious, timely, and opportune. Its guiding principles of supporting social inclusion, embedding age friendly principles, and practising good communication will ensure that the wealth of initiatives to which the Strategy commits support the full participation of all older persons in the life of the community. I commend the leadership provided by Kildare County Council, the Kildare Age Friendly Alliance, and Kildare Older Persons Council in the preparation of the Strategy and thank all the partners involved for their invaluable contribution to this important initiative. I look forward to the significant enhancement of supports for Kildares older persons which the Strategy promises to deliver. Welcoming the new Kildare Age Friendly Strategy, Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council said; Our vision for our fourth Kildare Age Friendly Strategy is not only to build on our progress to date but to ensure a more socially inclusive approach throughout all age friendly work in the county. As life expectancy increases, the onus is on society to adapt in a manner that provides older people with the physical, social, economic and cultural opportunities to ensure they enjoy the best quality of life. Kildares Age Friendly Strategy 2023 2027 supports ongoing efforts at National and International level including key policies and progammes to support positive and healthy ageing for all. Central to this policy agenda is the National Positive Ageing Strategy. Kildares strategy identifies a number of key priority areas: Outdoor Spaces & Buildings Transportation Housing Respect & Social Inclusion Social Participation Communication & Information Civic Partnership & Employment Community Support & Health Services In addition to these themes, a number of cross-cutting themes have also been identified, which underpin the action plan and support the strategy in achieving its overall vision of a more inclusive society for older people. They are: Supporting Social Inclusion Embedding Age Friendly Principles Practicing Good Communications Collaboration has been central to the development of the fourth Kildare Age Friendly Strategy. The development of the strategy brought together local groups and organisations including Kildare County Council, Age Friendly Kildare, Kildare Older Persons Council, Kildare Age Friendly Alliance, as well as ongoing consultation, to ensure the delivery of a robust and representative Kildare Age Friendly Strategy. The Kildare Age Friendly Strategy 2023 2027 can be viewed here https://kildarecoco.ie/ YourCouncil/Publications/ Community/ Attendees at the launch in McAuley Place, Naas also had the opportunity to experience Future Tapestry a newly commissioned virtual reality artwork which is an artistic response to the current state of sheep farming and wool production in Ireland. Directed and produced by John Conway and written by Aisling Byrne, with visual by NOHO Dublin. The artwork was Commissioned by Kildare County Council Library Service, Climate Action and Age Friendly Co-ordinators and funded by Creative Ireland through the Creativity in Older Age Scheme. The exhibition is available to view 26th & 27th May 10am-4pm in The Luisne Centre, McAuley Place. The Minister for Justice has said he is genuinely worried about the far right following recent anti-migrant protests across the country. Speaking to The Tonight Show on Virgin Media Televison, Simon Harris said: There is a relatively small number we shouldnt overstate it because it is a small number of what I call bad actors who are traveling around the country, who are in some cases involved in criminality and are stoking up fear. I worry what theyre doing is exploiting local residents who can actually have concerns and questions, which is perfectly legitimate and I worry that starts to get mixed. He said he wanted to appeal to members of the public not to fall for the playbook of the far right. Mr Harris said he was confident that gardai were monitoring this. However, he added that there was a trap that the far right wanted the visuals of gardai breaking up a protest to feed what he believes is their propaganda. He described actions such as the hijacking of the Irish flag, the burning of tents, and attempts to block access to migrant accommodation as abhorrent. Mr Harris said there had been 11 arrests in Dublin so far in relation to anti-immigration protests. He also said blockades are not a form of acceptable protest. He added: The idea of blockading cannot become, seen in any way, shape or form, as a new form of acceptable protest. It isnt. You do have a right to protest in this country but you dont have a right to continue to obstruct, continue to impede, intimidate or endanger. I do think theres a very fine line and I do think on some occasions that line has been crossed. Asked why a recent blockade of migrant accommodation in Co Clare was not stopped by gardai, Mr Harris said it needs to be reflected on. He said: Thats not a criticism, by the way, of operational decisions that were made by the gardai in good faith and I trust the commissioner and trust his judgment but we cant have a scenario where this becomes the new norm. He said gardai were keeping all operations under review. The minister said Government needed to do more in communicating with communities that were accommodating international protection applicants. Asked if the asylum system was fit for purpose, Mr Harris said he was happy with progress being made. He said arrivals to Ireland from a country deemed to be of safe origin will get their interview date on the day they will arrive and that the interview will be within two weeks with a decision within three months. He said that a year and a half ago that this process took 17 months. He added: Were back using deportation orders and I dont say this to be a crackdown on migration, I say this to fill the vacuum that the far right wished for there to exist. So theres a rules-based system here. If youve a right to stay, you get that right quicker. If you dont have a right to stay, you get asked to leave quicker. Mr Harris said this year there had been 175 fines for airlines for people who have gotten on flights without documents, adding that gardai are based abroad working with these companies. He also said there was almost 100 additional staff in the International Protection Office since December, but added it needed to get to more than 450 by 2024. Inland Fisheries Ireland has appealed to farmers to help protect Irelands rivers and lakes from agricultural pollution during the silage season. Livestock manure and other organic fertilisers, silage effluent, and soiled water are highly damaging substances, and on entering a watercourse can kill fish and severely impact their habitats. Commenting on the new appeal, Barry Fox Head of Operations at Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) said: We continue to secure successful convictions for agricultural pollution of waters, and breaches of legislation. We encourage farmers to work with IFI, and other statutory agencies, to prevent water pollution incidents from occurring. We ask farmers to take all possible precautionary measures over the current silage season to stop any harmful run-off flowing into Irish rivers, lakes, streams or the sea, over the summer months. Agricultural pollutants can cause an increase in excessive nutrients which drastically reduce oxygen content in the water and create fish kills. When rivers are at a low level in summertime, even a small leak can cause huge damage. Maintenance of silage pits and slurry storage facilities is essential to ensure that accidents dont happen. IFI is advising farmers to follow its six-point SILAGE plan for optimum silage and slurry spreading etiquette to reduce the risk of polluting rivers and lakes: S. Spread slurry during dry weather only, and never when a period of heavy rain is forecast. I. Investigate if silage pits are properly sealed to prevent the entry of water, and/or if there is leakage from underneath the slabs. L. Lead slurry away from a watercourse when working the land. Be aware of the slope of the field, and respect the buffer zones near a river, lake, stream or shoreline. A. Avoid cleaning slurry tankers/spreading equipment close to a stream, river or lake. G. Generate good yard cleaning hygiene - to curb effluent and soiled washings from inadvertently flowing to a watercourse E. Engage with the statutory requirements by ensuring that adequate storage capacity for slurry, soiled water, and silage effluent, meet the regulations. Farmers are asked to contact their local IFI office before carrying out works in or near any watercourses. In 2022, IFI staff carried out 1,986 inspections in agricultural settings to help identify environmental risks, and prevent damage to the local aquatic environment and valuable fish populations. IFI, the State agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, reminds farmers and members of the public they can report instances of pollution, fish kills or illegal fishing nationwide by calling its confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24. Sligo Chamber of Commerce, one of the biggest business organisations in the North West, has urged Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to allow the much-needed upgrade of the N17 between Ireland West Airport and Sligo to go ahead. Shelving this project would be a monumental failure of Government responsibility towards the economic development of counties including Sligo and Mayo and other areas all along the Western and North Western Atlantic seaboard. Commenting, Sligo Chamber CEO Aidan Doyle, whose organisation represents more than 300 businesses including many Foreign Direct Investment companies, said the N17 was the main artery and regional link connecting Galway to Ireland West Airport and Sligo. It is currently unsafe, unsuitable for the huge volume of traffic using it and in dire need of State intervention to support a long-planned for 600 million transformation. Aidan Doyle said: A decision to delay this project would be astonishing and not grounded in reality. The Government has for many years been promising our businesses and policy makers a vibrant Atlantic Economic Corridor, its own initiative to encourage investment in the West and North West of Ireland. Minister Ryans own Government colleagues identified the N17 in the National Development Plan as a key project to improve accessibility to the northwest and achieve the national strategic outcome of enhanced regional accessibility and compact growth in addressing regional imbalance. Thats why any failure by Minister Ryan to allow the upgrade of this project would be highly damaging for this region. The project plans for the revitalisation of a legacy section of the N17 network which is no longer fit for purpose. It is needed to improve regional accessibility, facilitate economic development, introduce active travel facilities, improve public transport, and provide a safe and efficient network constructed to modern standards. This section of the N17 will boost the region by delivering 55km of modern carriageway, sustainably reusing up to 40% of the existing N17 road in the process. It is needed to ensure the road is safer, removing heavy goods vehicles and traffic from villages and to protect pedestrians. The project must be funded or, once again, the North West of Ireland will be left behind. We call on the Government to show its commitment to, and understanding of, the important strategic priorities for our region of which the N17 is paramount. Sligo Chamber of Commerce would welcome a meeting with Minister Ryan so he can hear our members views. The project is not a luxury - it is essential, and we urge him to sanction, without delay, the upgrade of the N17. The Garda Commissioner will host a ceremony to award deceased, retired and serving members of An Garda Siochana with Scott Medals for bravery at Walter Scott House, Military Road, Dublin 8, on Friday, 26th May. 11 Scott medals will be awarded including: 1 Gold Medal (Posthumously) 7 Silver Medals 3 Bronze Medals (1 Posthumously) One of the Bronze Scott Medals will be presented to Sergeant Daniel Kelleher (posthumously). On 24th November 1983, Mr. Don Tidey, a prominent businessperson was abducted in Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, by armed members of the IRA posing as members of An Garda Siochana. On 16th December 1983, when Mr. Tidey was in his twenty-third day of captivity a large search party of members of An Garda Siochana supported by Irish Army personnel assigned to the 58th battalion, based in Finner Camp, Co Donegal, were undertaking a search of a Drumcroman Wood, Derradda, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim. The IRA hideout was discovered and Mr. Don Tidey was released from capture. During the course of the search Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly were shot, fatally wounded and died at the scene. Despite the active shooting and in full knowledge of the potential danger, Detective Garda Kelleher provided armed cover to other Garda members who were escorting Mr. Tidey to safety. A car then approached at high speed and a number of shots were discharged by the occupants of the car. This resulted in Detective Garda Kelleher being shot and injured in both legs. Subsequently, three people were convicted relating to criminal charges arising from their involvement in the abduction of Mr. Tidey. Among the others to receive Scott Medals are: Gold Scott Medal: Inspector Samuel Donegan (posthumously), Drumboghanagh Lane, Legakelly, Co Cavan on 8th June, 1972. Gardai were operating with the Irish Defence Forces along the Cavan/Fermanagh Border, led by Inspector Sam Donegan. Information was received that a suspect device had been identified near Legakelly. Insp Donegan approached the suspect device and was able to determine that it was a hoax. A short distance away, a second similar device was also located. As Inspector Donegan approached this device to carry out an assessment, the device exploded. Inspector Donegan died a short time later from injuries sustained. Bronze Scott Medal: Sergeant PJ Gallagher, Garda Thomas McGuiness, Aughamore Far, Sligo, 7th October, 1983 Gardai were on proactive anti-crime patrols in County Sligo when they came across a number of vehicles parked up in a rural layby late at night. The two Gardai were overpowered by a number of armed males and ordered at gunpoint to lie face down on the ground. The members were bundled first into a van and then the boot of a car when they were driven towards Bawnboy, Co Cavan. There, they were ordered into a second hijacked car and driven to Kilnaleck, Co Cavan where the car was abandoned. The members successfully released themselves from the boot of the car and raised the alarm. In 1924 Colonel Walter Scott donated to An Garda Siochana a $1,000 gold bond, in perpetuity, to endow a bravery medal, the Walter Scott Medal, and included the dies from which all Scott medals would be struck. The Scott Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana and is awarded for most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty. The Hermes luxury store on the prestigious rue Grande-Chaussee in Lille after robbers used a car to gain entry into the store, May 25 2023. SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP Thieves on Thursday, May 25, smashed a car into a luxury store for the third time this year in the same French city to steal handbags and other valuables, a police source said. The burglary at dawn from the Hermes shop in the northeastern city of Lille comes just days after another store belonging to Louis Vuitton was targeted some 100 meters down the road on Wednesday last week. The Louis Vuitton shop was itself already burgled in January. The thieves on Thursday made off with clothes, jewelry and handbags, but part of the loot was abandoned on site, the source said. They also left behind two cars, including the one used to ram-raid the shop, but police were on the lookout for a third vehicle used, the source added. Le Monde with AFP The investigation by Access Now and its technical partners has not been able to attribute these new infections to a specific operator. EMRAH GUREL / AP Smartphones belonging to an Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, a UN official and several members of Armenian civil society were infected with Pegasus spyware, revealed a new report by the NGO Access Now on Thursday, May 25. The investigation, conducted in partnership with Citizen Lab, Amnesty International's Security Lab, the Armenian organization CyberHUB-AM and independent researcher Ruben Muradyan, identified 12 people whose phones were infected with the controversial bug made by the NSO Group between October 2020 and December 2022. The timing of the infections and the choice of infected phones suggest that these spying campaigns were linked to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which has been going on for more than 30 years, and the 44-day war that broke out in 2020. According to Citizen Lab's findings, a phone belonging to Kristinne Grigoryan, who was at the time working as Armenia's Human Rights Defender, was infected with the spyware on October 4, shortly after a report on human rights abuses committed by the Azeri army was published, eliciting many reactions from the international community. "At the time I was so absorbed in my work that I thought less about my private life I didn't really have one than about my colleagues, the people who were coming to us for help," she told Le Monde. "I felt responsible for the risks they were running because of my phone; it tortured me." Similarly, numerous traces of Pegasus infection were found on Anna Naghdalyan's phone between October 2020 and July 2021, when she was a spokesperson for the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The technical analysis also identified several Armenian journalists and researchers targeted and monitored by Pegasus, most of whom have reported on or spoken out about the conflict. A journalist highly critical of the Armenian government, Samvel Farmanyan, was also infected by Pegasus in June 2022, according to Citizen Lab. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Azerbaijani soldiers accused of war crime against Armenians Ajouter a vos selections Ajouter a vos selections Pour ajouter larticle a vos selections identifiez-vous Sinscrire gratuitement Se connecter Vous possedez deja un compte ? An unidentified client The investigation by Access Now and its technical partners has not been able to attribute these new infections to a specific operator. NSO has always claimed that it sells its products exclusively to governments and law enforcement agencies. In 2021, the Pegasus Project, an investigation run by a consortium of media (including Le Monde) and led by Forbidden Stories, identified a large number of Azerbaijani phone numbers, including those of political opponents and journalists, selected by a Pegasus operator for a potential infection attempt. Technical analyses revealed, for example, that investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova's phone showed evidence of spyware infection between March 2018 and May 2021. In addition, the Access Now report explains that Citizen Lab, a leader in spyware market analysis, has identified two potential Pegasus operators in Azerbaijan connected to, among other things, domain names purchased in 2018. The first, dubbed 'YANAR,' "appears to select exclusively domestic targets in Azerbaijan while [the second], BOZBASH, is aimed at a wide range of targets within Armenian entities." In Grigoryan's view, it seems clear that the NSO client who tapped her is in Azerbaijan: "I know almost all of the Armenian victims, and all of these people were actively working in connection with the conflict, whether in the media or in international organizations." Armenian authorities have never been technically linked to spying campaigns using Pegasus. However, analyses conducted by Meta and Citizen Lab in 2021 revealed in Armenia the existence of a client of Cytrox, which is another surveillance mercenary based in North Macedonia. A disturbing new use For years, private companies selling increasingly sophisticated spyware to governments have been singled out for the abuse that they facilitate. This "Uberization" of espionage allows certain authoritarian countries to monitor opponents, journalists and human rights defenders, thanks to tools sold by companies that are not subject to checks or oversight. Access Now's new report lifts the lid on a previously less studied case. "NSO has always claimed that Pegasus was sold to fight crime and terrorism. The Pegasus Project revealed that this software was also used for espionage: This new investigation proves that Pegasus is also used during armed conflicts," John Scott Railton, an expert at Citizen Lab, told Le Monde. "Specifically, if I were a state whose diplomats were involved in some way in this conflict [in Nagorno-Karabakh], I would be concerned about the possibility that their activities and conversations were exposed to this surveillance." Florian Reynaud Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version. A South London-based charity is using poetry as an outlet to give young people a voice and says writing poems is helping young people, especially men, feel safe discussing their feelings. Poetic Unity, a grassroots charity founded in Brixton, focuses on supporting young people, especially those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, through employment, the cost-of-living crisis, mental health and black British history initiatives and programs. One of the charitys programs, The Poets Corner which started in May 2015 holds bi-weekly open mic events at Brixtons Black Cultural Archives, where young people can perform and improve their poetry skills. The program is a part of the Poetic Relief Project, a partnership between Poetic Unity, Theatre Peckham and Black Cultural Archives. Ryan J Matthews-Robinson, the 35-year-old founder of Poetic Unity, from Brixton, said, We realised that young people, especially young men, when it comes to mental health and deep discussions, they struggle to speak about how they feel in a conversation. When they write their feelings into a poem its almost like they feel safe to do it, its a different feeling. Thats a great example of what we do in terms of using poetry as an outlet for young peoples mental health and how creativity can help them. Because creativity is great anyway because youre expressing yourself, but if you can express yourself discussing difficult topics thats even better. Mr Matthew-Robinson, who has Jamaican and Irish heritage, added that at The Poets Corner and other programs, the charity seeks to encourage discussions on racial justice, identity, anti-misogyny and colourism, among other topics. Its allowed us to help build young poets poetry skills and their performances as it is an open mic event where you can try anything you want, he said. Its the basis of what we do as an organisation: create safe spaces, platforming young voices. It gets to a point where they have improved so much, that Ill start putting on events where they are getting paid to perform. Since 2015, the charity has also aimed to normalise the teaching of black British History at their workshops as it has been monumental for Britain. Mr Matthew-Robinson said: At our workshops it is really important that we normalise black British history. When I was in school, I only learned about American black history, [black British history] was just grazed over it wasnt done properly. So, when we teach black British history, its not even about just for black people, we want all young people to learn about this. There are over 18s who come here, who have already finished school and still havent learnt about the stuff we are teaching them. Black history has been monumental to this country. The charity has also created a six-month youth employment scheme called The Cultural Leaders, where six young people are paid to create workshops and events, to ultimately benefit their future employment endeavours. The 35-year-old says he is living in his purpose by reaching and helping thousands of young people every year. I cant ask for more than that, he said. GLOBAL financial services provider Apex group has announced it's to expand its presence in Ireland with the opening of a new office in Limerick. The expansion, which will see the creation of several new jobs in Limerick, is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. The company, which currently employs around 500 experts across offices in Dublin, Cork, Maynooth and Sligo, is currently represented in Limerick, via management company FundRock, which employs nearly 100 people in Limerick. Apex group says it is seeking to hire 'talented professionals' to work in Limerick with experience in fund administration, accounting and corporate services industries - details of the roles can be found on its website. The company says its expansion plans are being driven by increased demand from both new and existing clients its locally- delivered, single-source solution in Ireland, including Fund Administration, Corporate Solutions, Banking, Depositary & Custody and ManCo services. Commenting on the announcement, Bryan Atkinson, Apex' Country Head for Ireland said: We are excited to expand our footprint in Ireland with the opening of our new Limerick office to deliver our full suite of Fund and Corporate Solutions, alongside our FundRock and EDB brands. With its thriving business ecosystem, and established financial services community, Limerick offers an abundant pool of talented and highly skilled professionals to help drive our local growth plans. We would like to thank the IDA Ireland team for their continued support and valuable insights. Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment, Simon Coveney TD, added: The launch of Apex Groups new Limerick hub is further evidence of Irelands growing reputation as a sought-after home for international financial services providers. With multiple offices across Ireland, Apex Group clearly understands that local hubs offer attractive, proximate employment opportunities, and this approach will undoubtedly attract talented professionals to join their team. I wish the best of luck to Bryan and all the leadership team. Limerick city TD and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran ODonnell has also welcomed the announcement. "I am delighted to welcome the official opening of Apex Groups new offices here in Dooradoyle with the creation various new jobs which they are now recruiting. I would like to thank the Apex Group for selecting Limerick as a key location for its growth plans and acknowledge the strong financial services pool that exists in the region," he said. Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, commented: Apex Groups commitment to growth in Ireland is excellent news for Limerick and complements the Mid-Wests strong IFS cluster. IDA Ireland remains committed to winning investment and jobs for every region in the country. Supporting and facilitating our global clients establish and expand in Ireland is central to IDA Irelands strategy. I wish Apex Group every success. LIMERICK is gearing up for another protest scheduled to take place this Sunday, May 28, in response to the concerning number of patients on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). Despite the public outcry earlier this year, the number of patients on trolleys at UHL has once again reached alarming levels. A previous protest, in January, which witnessed a very high turnout of over 11,000 people, called for the immediate reopening of all three Mid-West emergency departments in Ennis, Nenagh, and St. John's. The protest is scheduled for 2pm on Sunday, outside City Hall on Merchants Quay, Limerick city. The aim of the protest, like in January, is to alleviate the mounting pressure on UHL, as emergency departments across the country face record-breaking trolley figures. However, despite the public's united demand for change, the situation at UHL has not improved significantly. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) consistently highlight UHL as the worst-performing hospital in the country, reflecting a persistent systemic issue. The organisers hope that a strong turnout of public outcry will send a clear message to the government about the current state of UHL. Protest organiser Mike Daly said, the current system in UHL is broken and has been for a number of years. This is evidenced in the INMO trolley watch numbers which consistently show Limerick as the worst in the country. He added, this is literally a matter of life and death and we are asking everyone to turn out and let their voice be heard. As the people of Limerick rally together in the face of this ongoing healthcare crisis, it remains to be seen whether their collective voice will be the catalyst for major and necessary changes at UHL. THE REPUTATION of University of Limerick (UL) was under threat when Professor Kerstin Mey took over as president, she has said. In her opening address to the Public Accounts Committee over questions related to the college's purchase of the former Dunnes Stores site in 2019 for 5m over a council value, Prof Mey said: Upon taking office, it became abundantly clear to me that the very reputation of this institution was itself under threat. However, she says since she took over, initially as interim president, then on a permanent basis, the college has become a much-changed institution. I am happy to tell the committee that since I last addressed it, UL is a much-changed institution, she told Oireachtas members. The implementation of significant changes to our operational model and our institutional culture have required resolute action, Prof Mey said. She said since she has come in, It has not been an easy task to tackle the governance, performance and systems issues. Though there is a journey yet to travel, I am pleased to tell the committee today that major change has been delivered. She said there had been changes in structure, culture and personnel. Former practices, she added, had been eradicated, and there has been the introduction of high standards of transparency, accountability and probity. But there was criticism of the assembled UL executives from the committee for their approach to some of the questions. Dublin TD Paul McAuliffe asked on several occasions whether university staff believed they paid more than market value for the former Dunnes Stores site in Sarsfield Street. Another member of the committee, Sinn Fein's John Brady criticised the college's representatives for being less than helpful and evasive in their approach to the committee. He pressed Prof Mey on whether media consultants had been hired to help them through the committee hearing. After asking the questions a number of times, he was told this was the case. I hope you have the receipts for the media consultants. Id be looking for a full refund, concluded the TD. BILLED as an academic cross between Dancing with the Stars and Dragons Den, the UL50 Citizens Assembly will bring together 100 community stakeholders and citizens from Limerick city and county this Thursday. The participants have been tasked with selecting four projects from University of Limerick that will contribute to building a sustainable future for Limerick city and county. Each selected project will receive 10,000 in funding to make their idea happen. The Assembly is a collaboration between the University, Limerick City and County Council, Limerick Public Participation Network (PPN) and Limerick Comhairle na nOg. The event is supported by the Limerick Community Education Network and is designed to provide a platform for further engagement between UL and community. From microplastics to ethical investing to singing your way to health as you get older, project proposals were drawn from across the University and selected according to their capacity to address an identified UN Sustainable Development Goal. Those behind each of the project had to show in detail their plans to engage with the people of Limerick and their projects potential for positive impact in the city and county. Commenting ahead of the Assembly, Professor Nigel Healey, VP Global and Community Engagement at UL said: "As part of ULs fiftieth anniversary year, we were anxious to do something that would engage with the wider Limerick community and, perhaps, reverberate beyond next May when our Jubilee concludes. An event that would provide an opportunity for academics to develop their public engagement skills and experience and where citizens would gain insight into who we are and what we do, seemed like the answer. Lorraine Broderick, Planning Group, Limerick PPN Resource Worker, added: As PPN Limericks Resource Worker I am always keen to source opportunities for our member groups to contribute to and engage with meaningfully. With its focus on the Sustainable Development Goals and significant funding available for projects in Limerick, the Citizens Assembly fits into our core ethos of collaborative consultation and working together for a better Limerick. There will be six presentations in the morning and six in the afternoon with teams being given 10 minutes each to tell the Assembly about their proposed project - see ulcitizensassembly.ie. Mike Finn will act as the Master of Ceremonies for the all-day event which takes place at the Engine, Cecil Street in the city centre. A YOUNG woman, thought to be from Limerick, was airlifted to University Hospital Limerick following a climbing accident in North Clare. The woman, who is said to be in her 20s, reportedly fell a distance of around six metres onto rocks while climbing on the Mirror Wall at Ailladie off the R477 Lisdoonvarna to Ballyvaughan coast road. The incident happened at approximately 7:30pm on Wednesday. After the alarm was raised, Paramedics from the National Ambulance Service, the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard, and Rescue 115 - the Shannon-based helicopter were dispatched. A spokesperson for Irish Coast Guard stated: "On the evening of May 24, MRSC Valentia coordinated the response to an incident involving a woman who had fallen from the Mirror Wall at the Burren Sea Cliffs in County Clare. The Shannon Coast Guard Helicopter (Rescue 115) and Doolin Coast Guard unit were dispatched to the scene, and casualty airlifted to Limerick University Hospital a short while later." The helicopter is said to have landed at a safe distance from the scene, while paramedics assessed and treated the woman before she was then airlifted to UHL for treatment. It is understood her injuries are not life-threatening. A FORMER principal in Limerick city who had a "chronic" gambling addiction stole close to 100,000 from a school, the circuit court had heard. Stephen Condon, aged 43, of The Grange, Raheen, Limerick city, pleaded guilty to 109 counts of theft over a four-year period between September 2012 and July 2016. Prosecuting barrister John OSullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the case with the assistance of Detective Garda Brendan OReilly this Wednesday. Mr OSullivan said there were 11 representative charges before the court in relation to Mr Condon who was appointed principal of St John the Baptist NS in Garryowen in 2011. In 2016, the barrister said the chairperson of the board of management, Ger Hegarty attended Henry Street garda station and said he suspected the defendant of taking money from the school accounts for his personal use. Mr Hegarty also brought it to the attention of the Department of Education. Gardai then met with the department and a team of forensic accountants commenced a review. Mr Condon was placed on "administrative leave". The report established he stole 56,406 from the school bank account in cash. A further 37,329 was withdrawn on his behalf, said Mr OSulliven, who explained how the fraud was implemented. He was in a position of responsibility and trust. The school had a cheque book which the chair of the board of management was in charge of. The principal was trusted with the cheque book. "The chair of the board of management and another person - Terry Daly - were signatories to the schools Bank of Ireland and Credit Union accounts. Mr Condon became a co-signatory. It was common to sign six / eight blank cheques at any one time for school-related payments. Mr Hegarty trusted Mr Condon when he requested this. This continued until May 2016, said Mr OSullivan. The court heard Mr Condon cashed cheques himself or money was "withdrawn on his behalf". The prosecuting barrister said Mr Hegarty got a phone call from Mr Condons wife, Ita Monaghan (a teacher in the same school), in 2016 who said she "believed there were irregularities in the school accounts". It was the first time Mr Hegarty became aware. A review of the finances was carried out and it established there was a misappropriation of funds. In general, he stole sums of money less than 1,000 - the property of the national school, said Mr OSullivan. Mr Condon was arrested and questioned by gardai in January 2020. He told gardai he was very sorry. I had a severe gambling addiction in 2012. I hid it from my family. I went through all our savings and then school funds. I got treatment. I got back with my wife. Im sorry, Mr Condon told gardai when interviewed. When asked by officers if he ever won money, Mr Condon said sometimes but not really. Judge Tom ODonnell asked about the 37,329 that was withdrawn on Mr Condons behalf. Maybe Im being naive but he (Mr Condon) gave a cheque to a member of staff, they cashed it and gave the money back to him? asked Judge ODonnell. Det Garda OReilly confirmed the money was "withdrawn on his behalf". Mr OSullivan asked the investigating garda about restitution? All monies have been paid back in full, said Det Garda OReilly. Yvonne Quinn, barrister for Mr Condon, spoke of the initial phone call made by Mr Condons wife to Mr Hegarty. She also asked the detective garda if the co-operation was over and above ordinary experience? Yes, said Det Garda OReilly. The court heard Mr Condon apologised to each and every charge when put to him by gardai. Ms Quinn said her client wishes to sincerely apologise to Mr Hegarty, teachers, staff, whole school community, his wife and parents. It is a genuine expression of remorse. The cornerstone of his offending was a serious and chronic gambling addiction. He was in a position of trust. He was a very young principal. He made an enormous mistake. "His marriage broke up but is now back on track. They have three young children. He got enormous family support and attended residential treatment. He resigned from his job and is now in gainful employment in another school, said Ms Quinn. The defending barristers handed in a number of letters to Judge ODonnell including one of apology from Mr Condon, and letters from his wife, current and past principals, colleagues and neighbours. He has made enormous strides. His family is in a very good place and his principal is fully aware of the findings before the court. He has no previous convictions and is at a low risk of offending. He is entirely remorseful for his behaviour, said Ms Quinn, who asked Judge ODonnell to be as lenient as possible. The judge said he would give his decision this Friday, May 26. He said there was a very comprehensive probation report and a number of letters he wished to read. I want time to consider them due to the nature of the case, said Judge ODonnell. A 30-year-old woman, who is charged with the murder of a four-year-old boy has had her plea of guilty to manslaughter rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. At the Central Criminal Court this Thursday, Aoife O'Leary BL, prosecuting, said the defendant's plea on the first count was not acceptable to the DPP and the woman's case would proceed to trial on the charge of murder next year. The woman, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions, is charged with the murder of the boy, who sustained injuries at an address in the south west of the country and who died in hospital on March 16, 2021. The defendant pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the child on March 16, 2021 when the first charge was put to her by the registrar at the Central Criminal Court. The woman also pleaded guilty to willfully assaulting the child, in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to his health or seriously to affect his well being, being a person having charge or care of the child, on a date unknown between January 1 2021 and March 5 2021, both dates inclusive. The woman began to cry in the dock before she was arraigned on the third count before the court. She further pleaded guilty to a second count of willfully assaulting the child on a date unknown between March 6, 2021 and March 11, 2021, both dates inclusive. Seamus Clarke SC, defending, told Mr Justice Paul McDermott that his client's trial date was fixed for April next year and asked for her pleas to be marked "as early". The barrister said the trial date for the woman's co-accused was also listed for April 8, 2024. Counsel for both the prosecution and the defence said that reporting restrictions in the case apply under Section 252 of the Children Act 2001. They told the judge that the deceased was a child and that there is a living child witness in the case. The judge remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail. Mr Clarke said his client's co-accused was not charged with murder but with other counts "similar to count two". THE TECHNOLOGICAL University of the Shannon (TUS) has joined with ACI Worldwide to provide recycled laptops to Ukraines OM Beketov National University of Urban Economy Kharkiv (NUUEK). In March the two universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which solidified the work undertaken by both universities to build a long-term relationship, identify ways that TUS can continue to support the Kharkiv university and provide a framework for further academic collaborations. As part of the support offered to OM Beketov NUUEK, TUS IT Department is currently housing a server for the most war-damaged university in Kharkiv. Developing that project further TUS has also begun sending recycled laptops to OM Beketov NUUEK with the support of locally based businesses such as ACI Worldwide. ACI Worldwide is a global leader in mission-critical, real-time payments software with its EMEA headquarters based in the National Technology Park in Limerick. The company donated 20 laptops last week, with a commitment to providing more via TUS in the future. Accepting the laptop donation Alan Barry, IT Manager TUS Midwest said: TUS is a regional university that works in collaboration with both industry and our communities to provide sustainable change through education and research that transforms lives, our region and the world beyond. This project encompasses that vision as we work together with industries here in the Mid-West to repurpose laptops for use by our colleagues and the students of O.M. Beketov NUUEK in Ukraine, ensuring continuous access to education by a generation of Ukrainian students, Mr Barry added. OM Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv has a student population of over 8,000 with 2,500 more students attending the universitys colleges. The duration of the MoU signed with TUS is for a period of five years. A BOIL WATER notice has been issued in West Limerick. Almost 200 customers are impacted by the notice, announced this evening by Uisce Eireann in partnership with Limerick City and County Council. It affects north-west Dromcollogher village and its surrounds. The notice is being issued to protect the health of 197 customers due to issues with treatment processes at the water treatment plant. Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section of www.water.ie and entering the propertys Eircode or by calling the Uisce Eireanns customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. Drinking water experts from Uisce Eireann (fomerly Irish Water) and Limerick council are working to rectify the issues at the treatment plant and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE. Duane O Brien, Uisce Eireann, said the utility regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers. "Public health is Uisce Eireann's number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health. We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses and would like to assure customers that we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly as possible," he said. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. Water must be boiled for drinking, drinks made with water, and the preparation of uncooked salads and similar foods. On top of this, water must be boiled for the brushing of teeth and the making of ice. Irish Water is advising people to use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked, for example the washing of salads. Water can also be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling. As for preparing infant formula, where a boil water notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once and cooled beforehand. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as natural mineral water as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. Natural Mineral Water can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated. If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute), and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used. Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children. It's not the first boil water notice to hit Limerick in recent weeks. Already, 7,000 householders along the Shannon Estuary are impacted by a separate notice. The University of Limerick's UL@Work team will launch a one-of-a-kind Master's programme later this month, designed for working professionals who want to take their careers to the next level and gain the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their chosen field. The Master of Professional Practice is a part-time, flexible, and customisable programme combining three Professional Diplomas over five years across multiple disciplines. Professionals can stack programmes across disciplines of interest and value, from Data Analytics and Strategic Leadership to Data Communications and Law and Technology. This allows for a highly-tailored learning experience specific to personal goals and interests. Whether working professionals wish to advance in their current field or pivot to a new role, this new programme provides the practical skills, knowledge, and experience needed to succeed. Professor Ann Ledwith, Project Lead for UL@Work, said: University of Limerick's new Master of Professional Practice is the first of its kind in Ireland. It allows working professionals to build an interdisciplinary master's award that aligns with the skills they need to develop their careers. For example, we have learners working in aviation who might also be interested in improving their skills in Lean or IT professionals who want to learn more about Data Analytics but also need to develop skills in management. This approach is very much in demand by industry. It supports developing 'T-Shaped' professionals with two or more areas of deep expertise and broad transversal skills." The Master of Professional Practice offers a diverse range of programmes and experiential learning opportunities, complete with industry-relevant projects and networking events. These opportunities help working professionals develop the skills and connections needed to succeed in their chosen fields. The Master of Professional Practice is now accepting applications for the upcoming academic year. To learn more, visit ul.ie/gps/courses professional-practice-masters UL@Work offers online programmes for undergraduate, postgraduate, and work-based learners. These agile and dynamic programmes in AI & Technology, People & Performance and Communications have been co-designed with industry to enable upskilling and reskilling to support industry growth and professional development. The initiative is funded by the Human Capital Initiative (HCI), part of the National Training Fund. For information on UL@Work courses, go to ul.ie/gps/ulwork *SPONSORED CONTENT In Wall-E", a film that came out in 2008, humans live in what could be described as a world of fully automated luxury communism. Artificially intelligent robots, which take wonderfully diverse forms, are responsible for all productive labour. People get fat, hover in armchairs and watch television. The Culture" series by Iain M. Banks , a Scottish novelist, goes further still, considering a world in which AI has grown sufficiently powerful as to be superintelligentoperating far beyond anything now foreseeable. The books are a favourite of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, the bosses of Amazon and Tesla. In the world spun by Banks, scarcity is a thing of the past and AI minds" direct most production. Instead, humans turn to art, explore the cultures of the vast universe and indulge in straightforwardly hedonistic pleasures. View Full Image (Graphic: The Economist) Such stories may seem far-fetched. But rapid progress in generative AIthe sort that underpins OpenAIs popular chatbot, ChatGPThas caused many to take them more seriously. On May 22nd OpenAIs founders published a blog post saying that its conceivable that within the next ten years, ai systems will exceed expert skill level in most domains, and carry out as much productive activity as one of todays largest corporations." Last summer forecasters on Metaculus, an online prediction platform that is a favourite of many techies, thought it would take until the early 2040s to produce an AI capable of tricking humans into thinking that it was human after a two-hour chat, had good enough robotic capabilities to assemble a model car and could pass various other challenging cognitive tests. After a year of astonishing AI breakthroughs, Metaculus forecasters now think that this will happen by the early 2030s. There is no shortage of money for research, either. Five new generative-AI unicorns (startups valued at $1bn or more) have already been minted this year. The road to a general AIone better than the very best of humanity at everythingcould take longer than expected. Nevertheless, the rising possibility of ultra-powerful AI raises the question of what would be left for humans when it arrives. Would they become couch potatoes as in Wall-E"? Here is a thought experiment, guided by the principles of economics, to provide something of an answer. AI is your oyster Inevitably, such a thought experiment involves some fairly heroic assumptions. For a start, we suppose that AI will be benevolent, controllable and distinguishable from humans. We also suppose that human culture will not be radically altered by technological progress to the point that people begin to love or even worship AIs. Instead, we imagine AI as a tool: a virtual, super-smart, dirt-cheap bot. We assume that constraints on the widespread use of AI, such as energy limits, will be resolved. None of this is guaranteed, but it helps make an exercise like this possible. In 2019 Philippe Aghion, Ben Jones and Chad Jones, three economists, modelled the impact of AI. They found that explosive economic growth was plausible if AI could be used to automate all production, including the process of research itselfand thus self-improve. A nearly unlimited number of AIs could work together on any given problem, opening up vast scientific possibilities. Yet their modelling carried an important caveat. If ai automated most but not all production, or most but not all of the research process, growth would not take off. As the economists put it: Economic growth may be constrained not by what we do well but rather by what is essential and yet hard to improve." An idea put forward by William Baumol, a late economist, offers an explanation for this. In a paper published in 1965, he and William Bowen, a colleague, examined wages in the performing arts. They noted that the output per man-hour of the violinist playing a Schubert quartet in a standard concert hall is relatively fixed". Even as technological progress made other industries more productive, the performing arts remained unaffected. Because humans were still willing to spend on the arts even as prices rosedemand was inelastic"the arts took up more of GDP and therefore weighed on overall growth. Baumols example points to a broader principle. If the domains that AI is able to fully automate are only imperfect substitutes for those which it cannot, and the demand for non-automatable industries is hard to budge, then the unproductive sectors will grow as a share of GDP, reducing overall growth. Messrs Aghion, Jones and Jones note that this is in fact what has happened across much of the past century. Technology has automated swathes of agriculture and manufacturing, driving down the relative price of their outputs. As a result, people have spent a greater share of their incomes on industries such as education, health care and recreation, which have not seen the same productivity gains. Will Baumols story matter in a world in which ai is more capable than the most talented humans? If the AI is not embodiedmaybe because progress in robotics lags that in computingthen the answer is surely yes. Much of the economy, including construction and manufacturing, are decidedly physical. There are countless forms of employment, including many in health care, that require a combination of braininess and an ability to traverse the physical world. These jobs would only increase in importance in a scenario where ai began to dominate cognitive labour. Humans would work in the physical world, perhaps under the guidance of ai chief executives" or professors". View Full Image (Graphic: The Economist) But what if ultra-powerful AI develops super-humanoid robots, too? Material needs would almost certainly be met by machine hands. One might then expect humanity to give up on toil, much like in Wall-E". Indeed, in 1930 John Maynard Keynes, another economist, penned an essay entitled Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren", in which he speculated that a century in the future people would work for less than 15 hours a week. The growth generated by technology would solve the economic problem", he predicted, and allow people to turn their attention to activities which are intrinsically pleasurable. Admittedly, Keyness 15-hour work week has not arrivedbut higher levels of wealth, which reduce the benefit of working an additional hour, have cut working hours. The average number of hours worked a week in the rich world has fallen from around 60 in the late 20th century to under 40 today. There are, nevertheless, some wants that perhaps only humans can satisfy even in a world of supercharged, embodied AI. It is also worth noting that what is intrinsically pleasurable may include work. Consider three areas where humans may still have a role: work that is blurred with play, play itself and work where humans retain some kind of an advantage Fun and games Start with the blurring boundary between work and play. Although working hours have fallen over the past century, most of the drop was before the 1980s. Increasingly, rich people labour for longer than poorer people. Keyness essay hints at an explanation for this odd development. He divided human desires in two: Those needs which are absolute in the sense that we feel them whatever the situation of our fellow human beings may be, and those which are relative in the sense that we feel them only if their satisfaction lifts us above, makes us feel superior to, our fellows." Keynes perhaps underestimated the size of this second class of wants. A cynic might suggest that entire academic disciplines fall into it: existing with no apparent value to the world, with academics nevertheless competing furiously for status based on their braininess. Economists would say that, for many, work has become a consumption good", offering far more utility than the income it generates. Games offer another hint as to why people may not stop working altogether. Millions of people are employed in entertainment and sports, competing for clout in activities that some consider immaterial. Perhaps when AIs overtake humans, interest in watching such games will wane. But evidence from sports where humans are already second-rate suggests otherwise. Since IBMs DeepBlue defeated Garry Kasparov, the world grandmaster, in chess in 1997, interest in the game has only increased. Other games that have been solved" by AI, including Go, an ancient Chinese board game, and competitive video games, have witnessed a similar pattern. Across the world the number of video-game players has nearly doubled in the past decade, reaching 3.2bn last year. Nowadays a growing class of gamers compete or stream for a living. AI might supercharge this interest. As Banks speculated, humans might specialise in the things that really [matter] in life, such as sport, games, romance, studying dead languages, barbarian societies and impossible problems, and climbing high mountains without the aid of a safety harness." Other humans would presumably want to watch them, too. It seems unlikely that humans will give up control of politics to robots. Once AIs surpass humans, people will presumably pay even closer attention to it. Some political tasks might be delegated: humans could, for instance, put their preferences into an AI model that produces proposals for how to balance them. Yet as a number of political philosophers, including John Locke in the 17th century and John Rawls in the 20th, have argued, participation in political procedures gives outcomes greater legitimacy in the eyes of fellow citizens. There would also be more cynical considerations at play. Humans like to have influence over one another. That would be true even in a world in which everyones basic needs and wants are met by machines. Indeed, the wealthiest 1% of Americans participate politically at two to three times the rate of the general public on a range of measures from voting to time spent on politics. Lastly, consider areas where humans have an advantage in providing a good or servicecall it a human premium". This premium would preserve demand for labour even in an age of superadvanced AI. One place where this might be true is in making private information public. So long as people are more willing to share their secrets with other people than machines, there will be a role for those who are trusted to reveal that information to the world selectively, ready for it then to be ingested by machines. Your correspondent would like to think that investigative journalists will still have jobs. The human premium" might appear elsewhere, too. People value history, myths and meaning. Non-fungible tokens, for which provenance can be verified on a blockchain, are typically valued at many multiples more than images with identical pixels but a different history. In areas such as caregiving and therapy, humans derive value from others spending their scarce time with them, which adds feeling to an interaction. Artificial diamonds, which have the same molecular structure as those from the ground, trade at an enormous discountaround 70% by one estimate. In the future, items with a made by a human" tag might be especially desirable. People problems If this premium is sufficiently large, it could even weigh on growth. Divide the sectors of the economy into those with a large human premium and those without. If humans are unwilling to substitute machine-produced goods and services for those made by fellow humans, the Baumol effect would only deepen. Measured economic growth could even hit zero. Indeed, if extremely powerful AI failed to supercharge growth, it would suggest that the economy had already moved beyond materiality towards play, politics and areas where what people value most of all is interacting with others. Perhaps one day AIs will produce entirely new goods and services that will outcompete the desire to please and interact with other humans. The manner in which such a contest played out would reveal something profound: just how much of a social animal" is a human? 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com New Delhi: Steel prices have been on a decline since the beginning of FY2024, with domestic hot rolled coil (HRC) prices plummeting 3.8% in the current quarter due to falling Chinese exports, rating agency Icra said in a report on Thursday. Icra has revised its baseline steel price predictions for FY2024, forecasting an average year-on-year decrease of 4-5% in domestic HRC prices, a stark contrast to the previously projected marginal year-on-year increase of 1-2%. Domestic steel demand has demonstrated resilience by growing 7.2% in April 2023, aligning with ICRAs full-year growth projection of 7-8%. However, the likelihood of a substantial price recovery in the near future appears slim amidst external headwinds. As a result, ICRA has revised its baseline steel price forecasts for FY2024, anticipating an average year-on-year decrease of 4-5% in domestic HRC prices, in contrast to the previously expected marginal year-on-year rise of 1-2%, " the agency said. Jayanta Roy, senior vice-president & group head of corporate sector ratings at Icra, noted that despite 2023 starting positively for the steel industry, bolstered by the reopening of the Chinese economy and the subsequent potential for recovery in steel demand, the present dynamics suggest a more challenging landscape. However, the initial surge in demand seems to have lost momentum, resulting in a surplus in the domestic market. Consequently, Chinese HRC export offers have plummeted by 21% in FY2024, reaching $550/MT at present, while Chinese monthly steel exports soared to an almost two-year high of nearly 8 million tonnes in April 2023. ICRAs analysis indicates that domestic HRC prices are currently trading at a premium of $ 50/MT compared to Chinese imports. Although Japanese HRC export offers are higher at $ 615/MT (in contrast to $ 550/MT for Chinese offers), domestic HRC prices are trading at a premium of $25/MT over Japanese imports due to their duty-free access to the Indian market. This situation raises the possibility of a greater-than-expected surge in steel imports in FY2024, as trade flows divert to high-growth markets such as India. Consequently, unless the domestic premium significantly decreases from its current highs, steel imports to India could increase by as much as 30-40% year-on-year in FY2024, potentially making India a net steel importer after a five-year interval. While steelmakers face challenges in the market, they may find relief through the moderation of input costs in FY2024. Seaborne prime hard coking coal offers from Australia, which constitute around 40% of the overall steelmaking cost for blast furnace operators, are projected to average between US$ 255-260/MT in FY2024, a 20-25% decrease from FY2023 levels, owing to improved supplies from Australia. Thermal coal prices have also shown moderation, with domestic e-auction premiums from Coal India falling to 137% in April 2023 (compared to an average of 265% in FY2023), and RB1 grade imported thermal coal spot prices currently trading at US$ 111/MT, substantially lower than the FY2023 average of US$ 253/MT. Furthermore, a correction in domestic iron ore prices is expected, with a projected 5-6% year-on-year decrease in FY2024 amid softening seaborne iron ore prices. These factors are anticipated to partially mitigate the impact of steel price corrections observed thus far in the current fiscal year, thereby helping to maintain industry operating profit margins at levels similar to FY2023. Roy emphasized the industrys resilience, stating, While these subdued margin levels were last witnessed during the downcycle years of FY2017, what has given the industry more resilience to withstand further downturns is the aggressive deleveraging during the last upcycle of FY2021/FY2022. This has brought down the industrys bank borrowings to US$ 178/MT of installed capacity in March 2023, representing a decline of 52% from March 2017 when it stood significantly higher at US$ 371/MT." Despite upcoming capacities amounting to approximately 36 million tonnes per annum, the governments capital expenditure drive and efforts to stimulate domestic steel consumption are expected to maintain the industrys capacity utilization rate at around 80% in FY2024. However, as earnings moderate from the peak observed in FY2022, the industry may increasingly rely on external financing to meet committed expansion plans. Early signs of this trend can be observed in the steel industrys bank borrowings, which increased by 22% during FY2023. Consequently, the industrys leverage (total debt to operating profits) is projected to worsen, estimated at 2.5-3.0 times in FY2023E/FY2024P compared to 1.1 times in FY2022. Nevertheless, with the industrys average EBITDA per metric ton expected to range from approximately $100-150 per MT in FY2024, Icra maintains a stable outlook for the sector. Amazon has reportedly postponed the issuance of employment offer letters to campus hires from prestigious Indian institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs). A recent graduate from IIT Bombay, who had secured a position as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon, disclosed to Business Today that his offer letter had been deferred until January, instead of the originally planned June commencement. The deferral of offer letters appears to have affected numerous students from IITs, as indicated by the affected graduate, who mentioned that this situation is widespread across IIT campuses. The graduate further noted that several individuals who had interned alongside them from various campuses also experienced the deferral of their offer letters. Likewise, students from NITs have also received intimations regarding the deferral of their offer letters, and there have even been instances where the offers were subsequently revoked. In response to these developments, Business Today has sought a comment from Amazon, awaiting an official statement on the matter. LiveMint could not independently verify the claim. The impacted graduate from IIT expressed concerns over the prolonged waiting period of six months, prompting him to actively seek alternative job opportunities to avoid potential negative implications on his professional profile. Despite acknowledging the challenges posed by the current job market, he has initiated networking with alumni and exploring other avenues for employment. Several prominent technology giants, such as Google and Amazon, have been recruiting H1B foreign workers for specialised positions in the United States, despite ongoing layoffs in the tech industry. Meanwhile, Amazon India has issued a statement on the issue. "In light of the challenging economic conditions, we're delaying the start dates for some of our college hires by upto six months. We're offering assistance to help address any financial impact. Amazon remains committed to university recruiting and developing next generation of leaders and builders," it said. In March, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy made a public announcement regarding the company's decision to terminate an additional 9,000 employees. This latest round of layoffs represents the largest workforce reduction implemented by Amazon thus far, following the prior dismissal of approximately 18,000 employees. On the other hand, recent reports indicate that companies in Silicon Valley, which have already experienced significant downsizing, may potentially announce further workforce reductions. Notably, the roster of firms engaging in this practice includes Google, Meta, Amazon, Zoom, Salesforce, Microsoft and Palantir. After making testing mandatory before the export of Indian cough syrups , the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has now asked some specified state laboratories to examine such samples from manufacturers on top priority and issue the test report at the earliest. In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated that cough syrup exporters will have to produce a certificate of analysis issued by a government laboratory before the product is exported, effective June 1. "The export of cough syrup shall be permitted to be exported subject to export samples being tested and production of a certificate of analysis issued by any of the laboratories..., with effect from June 1, 2023," the notification read as quoted by news agency PTI. This came amid instances of quality concerns being raised abroad on cough syrups exported by Indian firms. The country's top drug regulator on Wednesday wrote to state drug controllers of Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand and central laboratories and referred to the notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries regarding the export policy of cough syrups. "State Drug Controllers are hereby requested to give instructions to your state-owned NABL accredited laboratories to analyze the samples received from the manufacturers of cough syrups for export purposes on top priority and issue the test report at the earliest," the letter read. It also requested all central laboratories to prioritize the analysis of samples received from the manufacturers and issue the report immediately in order to avoid delays, PTI reported. "It is requested to all state licensing authorities to forward the e-mail Ids of their NABL accredited laboratories of their state to this office by return mail," the letter stated. The specified central government labs include Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, regional drug testing lab (RDTL - Chandigarh), central drugs lab (CDL - Kolkata), central drug testing lab (CDTL - Chennai Hyderabad, Mumbai), RDTL (Guwahati) and the NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited drug testing labs of state governments. India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally, supplying over 50% of the global demand for various vaccines, about 40% of generic demand in the US, and about 25% of all medicine in the UK. India-made cough syrups were allegedly linked to the deaths of 66 and 18 children in Gambia and Uzbekistan, respectively, last year. India exported cough syrups worth USD 17.6 billion in 2022-23 as against USD 17 billion in 2021-22. (With PTI inputs) Former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain was admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital after he slipped in the bathroom at Tihar Jail and got minor injuries, the officials said on Thursday. In an official statement, the prison official said, This morning around 6 am, under trial prisoner (UTP) Dr Satendra Jain slipped and fell in the bathroom of the Medical Inspection (MI) room of the hospital of Central Jail (CJ-7), where he was kept under observation for general weakness." They added that the former minister was examined by doctors and his vital organs were found to be normal. He was further referred to DDU Hospital as he complained about back, left leg and shoulder pain." However, Jain has now been shifted to the ICU of LNJP Hospital in Delhi. Currently, he is on oxygen support, said AAP sources as quoted by ANI. AAP leader Satyendar Jain admitted to the ICU of LNJP hospital in Delhi after he was referred here from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. Jain is on oxygen support. He was taken to Deen Dayal Hospital earlier today when he felt dizzy and fell in the bathroom of Tihar jail: AAP pic.twitter.com/iwJ9HP3a3a ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 Earlier on Monday, the former AAP minister Jain was taken to Safdarjung Hospital after he complained of health issues. The party claimed that Jain suffers from acute lumbar pain, causing vertigo and chronic lower back pain due to a slipped disc. A recent MRI conducted on May 3 demonstrates degeneration in all intervertebral discs of Satyendar Jain leading the doctors to advise urgent spinal/vertebral surgery and proper post-operative care, read the AAP statement, ANI reported. However, the AAP said, Jain has been placed as No 416 on a waiting list by Jail authorities and is expected to be able to undergo the surgery only after a further five months. Jain on May 15 had moved a plea in the Supreme Court, seeking bail in the alleged money laundering case against him. He has challenged the Delhi High Court's order dismissing his bail plea in the alleged case. Jain was arrested on May 30, 2022, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by Enforcement Directorate and is presently in Judicial Custody in the case. The ED case is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint registered on the allegation that Satyender Jain had acquired movable properties in the name of various persons from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, which he could not satisfactorily account for. (With ANI inputs) A Dubai-bound Indigo flight suffered bird-hit on the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) when the aircraft was taxiing on the runway, airport sources told news agency PTI. After the bird-hit, flight carrying 160 passengers was then cancelled for take-off. As per sources, the incident took place at around 8:30 am. As per the report, the bird hit on one of the wings of the aircraft, which was all set to take off. The pilot took immediate action and informed the Air Traffic Control and the take-off was aborted. All the passengers on the Dubai bound flight were deboarded and alternate arrangements were made for the passengers to travel to Dubai by another flight, which arrived from Bengaluru. As per the report, the incident caused anxious moments at the airport for some time. The grounded flight is being inspected by the technicians, they said. MIA authorities in a statement said the flight 6E 1467 IXE-DXB (8.25 am departure) suffered a bird hit as it entered the runway from taxiway. The pilot informed the ATC and returned to the apron at 8.30 am. All the passengers were deplaned and the aircraft was declared aircraft on ground (AOG) for a thorough engineering inspection. IndiGo has made alternate travel arrangements for the 165 passengers who were scheduled to fly to Bengaluru on flight 6E 5347 (scheduled departure at 9.10 am). There was no panic as reported," the statement said. The rescheduled Dubai flight left at 11.05 am. Earlier, on 10 May, a Singapore-bound IndiGo flight was diverted to Kualanamu airport, Medan (Indonesia) after a crew member informed about a burning smell from the cabin. IndiGo A320ceo operating 6E-1007 from Tiruchirappalli was diverted to Indonesia's airport. Prior to this, in February, an IndiGo flight travelling from Surat to New Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad after hitting a bird during its climb. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation flight 6E-646 landed safely at Ahmedabad. The 150-odd passengers and crew members were then flown to Delhi onboard another aircraft. (With inputs from PTI) Online bookings for passenger vessels to Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar have been restarted. Earlier the bookings could only be made in person at counters, with restrictions to activists and outsiders to the island, said Andaman and Nicobar administration in its order. The restriction was announced by the authority after a major controversy erupted due to a development project in the Nicobar Island. It is worth noting that Campbell Bay's surrounding areas are home to a large number of tribal communities that were resettled following the 2004 tsunami. The natural calamity destroyed their homes. Many of these residents are opposing the 72,000 crore project in the Great Nicobar Islands. There was a restriction on the entry of activists and non-islanders in the Great Nicobar Island, reported HT on May 21. Later the entry was restarted. The news of the resumption of online ticket booking services was given by the directorate of Shipping Services, Andaman and Nicobar Administration in its latest tweet on Wednesday. The tweet said that the online tickets to Campbell Bay bound passenger vessels can be availed through the STARS e-ticketing portal from Thursday 9 am onwards. The restriction on activists was made to curb criticism against the 72,000 crore project of the government think tank Niti Aayog called the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island, reported HT based on activists' and residents' inputs. The local administration is concerned about outsiders influencing the views of indigenous people living there about the project. The local administration, on April 17, issued a press note stating that tickets to Campbell Bay will only be issued through offline mode only due to administrative reasons. People with islander passes or residents will be allowed entry inside the Campbell Bay islands via air or ships, a member of the elected panchayat of Great Nicobar told HT last week. The leader also added that Campbell Bay is not a tribal area and entry of non-islanders was permitted a few days ago. The restriction has been imposed in the past couple of months. The local administration told HT that entry to Great Nicobar Island is allowed, but it is restricted in tribal areas without a pass as per regulations. New Delhi: India registered 423 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to an update by the union health ministry on Thursday. The nation has seen a decline in active cases, currently at 6,168. Since the onset of the pandemic three years ago, over 44.9 million Indians have been infected, with death toll at 531,854. Health experts have said that most hospital admissions are currently among the elderly and individuals with underlying health conditions. They stress the importance of receiving booster shots. Recent reports indicate that the COVID-19 variant XBB.1.16 was responsible for a recent surge in cases. However, numbers are now decreasing nationwide. Scientists believe that a blend of vaccination and natural infection has spurred hybrid immunity, reducing the severity of the virus. Approximately 444 million individuals have recuperated, with 953 recoveries recorded in the last day. India boasts a recovery rate of 98.80%. The union health ministry has encouraged states to adopt a risk-assessment approach to infection control, underlining the necessity of effective management at the micro level, like district and sub-districts. Indias comprehensive strategy comprises testing, tracking, treating, and vaccinating. An impressive 220.66 crore vaccinations have been administered, with 1,596 doses given in the last day. Total tests have surpassed 92.93 crore, with 1,23,395 conducted in the last 24 hours. The government has urged citizens to mask up in crowded places and ensure their vaccinations are up to date. New Delhi: India and Australia on Wednesday committed themselves to the conclusion of a comprehensive trade deal by the end of the year, even as Prime Minister raised Indias concerns over the recent incidents of attacks on temples in Australia and activities of pro-Khalistani elements in that country. In his statement in the presence of Anthony Albanese, PM Modi said their bilateral relations are based on mutual trust and respect" and that the Indian community in Australia is a living bridge" between the two countries. Prime Minister Albanese and I have in the past discussed the issue of attacks on temples in Australia and activities of separatist elements. We discussed it today also," said Modi. We will not accept any elements that harm the friendly and warm ties between India and Australia by their actions or thoughts. I thank the prime minister for the actions that have already been taken. Prime Minister Albanese has once again assured me today that he will take strict actions against such elements in the future also," he added. The two leaders met on the final day of Modis three-day visit to Australia to review bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation such as critical minerals and renewable energy. The two sides signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that will open up opportunities for students, researchers and businesspeople. Describing his meeting with Albanese as constructive", Modi said they deliberated on taking the Australia-India comprehensive strategic partnership to greater heights" in the next decade. Last year, the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) came into effect. Today, we have decided to focus on the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement this will further strengthen our economic partnership and open up new avenues for cooperation," Modi said at a joint media interaction after the talks. In his remarks, Albanese said the aim is to conclude the CECA by the end of the year. We reiterated our shared ambition for an early conclusion of the Australia-India comprehensive economic cooperation agreement later this year," he said. The Australian PM said that they had constructive discussions on strengthening strategic cooperation in the sectors of mining and critical minerals. And, they also identified concrete areas for cooperation in the renewable energy sector. We had constructive discussions on strengthening our strategic cooperation in the sectors of mining and critical minerals. We have identified concrete areas for cooperation in renewable energy, Modi said. It was decided to set up a task force on Green Hydrogen, he added. During the media interaction, PM Modi and Albanese noted they had met six times in the past year and said this reflects the strength of the bilateral relationship. The visit of PM Modi to Australia solidified the commitment of both countries to deepen their economic ties, address security concerns, and explore opportunities in renewable energy. With their shared vision, India and Australia are poised to strengthen their strategic partnership and foster cooperation in various sectors for mutual benefit and regional stability. Of the 524 buildings, 61 buildings fall under C-1 category which indicate most dangerous, unfit for occupation and require immediate demolition, 114 are in C-2A category which states the building need to be vacated and structural repairs required). About 300 buildings fall under C-2B category which indicate that repairs works are required without vacating and 49 of them fall under C-3 category. This indicate that these 49 building need only minor repairs, in a release, Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar said. As per the civic body, power and water supply to buildings classified under the C-1 category will be immediately disconnected. These buildings need to be razed immediately. As per the release, the owners and occupants of the dangerous buildings have been asked to vacate the premises to avert any accident and loss of life. The occupants of buildings in categories other than C-1 need to carry out the repairs and reoccupy after the civic body certifies them as fit for occupation, it added. Not just in Navi Mumbai, earlier this month, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) had also declared about 294 buildings as dangerous and had issued notice to them, a report by FPJ stated. Of these 294, eight of them were declared as extremely dangerous after which UMC assistant commissioner Ganesh Shimpi issued an order of demolition, the report stated. He further told the daily that 50 of the 294 buildings were suggested to be repaired after vacating them and 214 buildings were suggested to be repaired without vacating while 22 of them needed minor repairs. (With inputs from PTI) Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be invited to address a joint meeting of the US Congress by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. On June 22, PM Modi has been invited by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for an Official State Visit. In his capacity as Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, Khanna wrote to McCarthy on Tuesday urging him to invite Modi to address a joint session of the US Congress. After a meeting with McCarthy on Wednesday, Khanna said that he is very confident that the Speaker would extend an invitation to Modi to address the joint session. Though the dates of the address have not been finalised yet. The purpose of a Joint Meeting has usually been for Congress to hear an address from an important figure generally a visiting foreign leader. Earlier on 27 April, 2023, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who visited the US last month to commemorate 70 years of the US-South Korea bilateral defence treaty, addressed a Joint Meeting of the Congress. As per details, The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. With agency inputs. The UK government on Tuesday announced a new immigration crackdown aimed at overseas students, including those from India, regarding their visa rights to bring dependant family members to the country while studying at a British institution. Home Secretary Suella Braverman stated that only international students on postgraduate courses designated as research programs will be allowed to bring their family members, such as children and elderly parents, as dependants. Apart from that, the new law also removed the ability for international students to switch to work visa before finishing their courses. This decision comes in response to a significant rise in the number of visas granted to dependants of sponsored students, increasing from 16,000 in 2019 to 136,000 by the end of 2022. Here are the key updates. International students barred from bringing dependants This package includes: removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes," Bravermans statement notes. No switching from student to work route The new measures also put a curb on international students switching out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been completed. Clamp down on unscrupulous education agents She also pledged steps to clamp down on unscrupulous education agents who may be supporting inappropriate applications to sell immigration not education". Terms of the graduate route remain unchanged The terms of the graduate route remain unchanged... We are committed to attracting the brightest and the best to the UK. Therefore, our intention is to work with universities over the course of the next year to design an alternative approach that ensures that the best and the brightest students can bring dependants to our world-leading universities while continuing to reduce net migration," she said. The new curbs are expected to be enforced as soon as possible", after consultation with the educational sector and key stakeholders. How is it going to affect the Indian students in the UK? While the vast majority of students will be unaffected by proposals that limit the ability to be accompanied by dependants, more information is needed on the programmes that are in scope before a proper assessment of the impact can be made," said Jamie Arrowsmith, Director of Universities UK International (UUKi) the representative body for 140 UK universities. Yet we do know that any changes are likely to have a disproportionate impact on women and students from certain countries. We, therefore, urge the government to work with the sector to limit and monitor the impact on particular groups of students and on universities, which are already under serious financial pressures," he said. It is to be noted here, Indians are the highest cohort to access this visa launched in July 2021. As per official data for 2020-21, there were 87,045 Indian first-year enrolments behind Chinas 99,965 and ahead of Nigerias 32,945. The Popocatepetl volcano has been coating nearby towns with ash and disrupting flights at Mexico City's airport, the busiest in Latin America. Hundreds of explosions have spit lava from the snow-tipped peak of the 17,797-foot Popocatepetl, according to a report published by The Associated Press. Volcanologists said that the eruptions are likely to continue and around 25 million people live within 60 miles of the mountain. What is happening with the Popocatepetl Volcano? Pre-Hispanic writings speak of intense activity at Popocatepetl at the beginning of the 16th century. Scientists at Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM) have been tracking the volcano's movements since a surge of activity began in 1994, AP reported. In Guatemala, a volcano of fire claimed the lives of hundreds of people in a 2018 eruption. Recently, it has prompted evacuations for heightened activity as well. The Mexican volcano known as Popo" has had periods of intense activity between 2000 and 2003, and again between 2012 and 2016. In 2000, that activity triggered a red alert and evacuations before the volcano calmed down again. Popocatepetl Volcano: Can a major eruption take place? Servando de la Cruz Reyna, a senior geophysics researcher at the UNAM in Mexico City said there's no sign that the current waves of small eruptions will turn into anything more destructive and there is nothing new or surprising about recent movements. The probability that this continues as it has previously is far higher than the probability that this grows to much higher levels," he said. Popocatepetl has been active for a half-million years. Its last major eruption happened more than a thousand years ago. Popocatepetl Volcano: Steps taken by Mexican Govt Authorities have closed schools in dozens of municipalities across three states, put troops on alert, prepared shelters and carried out evacuation drills. Other than that, they are encouraging people to remain calm. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday said in his morning briefing that the movements of the volcano are being monitored 24 hours a day." Popocatepetl Volcano: What can happen next? Robin Campion, a volcanologist at the Institute of Geophysics explained that small explosions alleviate pressure from magma inside the mountain, and likely mean that it won't lead to a buildup and larger eruption. The good thing is that it's constantly releasing energy," Campion said. Hopefully, it'll continue being as constant and moderate as it is, so it doesn't all erupt at once, like it did in prehistoric times." As it continues puffing, ash could eventually become a problem in surrounding areas, particularly in the 7.5 miles surrounding the volcano, but also in Mexico City, as per AP reports. While the ash continues to billow toward southern Mexico, he and other scientists monitoring the volcano expect winds to shift and blow ash into the capital in June. Already on Saturday, volcanic ash carried in by shifting winds forced the city's airport to temporarily shut down. Others expressed worries that the weight of ash building up could collapse precariously constructed homes in poorer areas of Mexico. (With AP inputs) The US Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval to Pfizer's oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, for adults are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalisation or death. Paxlovid is the fourth drug and and first oral antiviral pill approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19 in adults. The approval for the pill, initially authorized in late 2021 for emergency use in the US, will provide doctors with more flexibility in prescribing it to adults with severe COVID-19 symptoms. "Today's approval demonstrates that Paxlovid has met the agency's rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness, and that it remains an important treatment option for people at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19," FDA's Patrizia Cavazzoni said in a statement. The decision comes more than two months after a panel of advisers to the health regulator voted in favor of granting full approval for the drug. As per the FDA's statement, the efficacy of Paxlovid was primarily supported by the final results of the EPIC-HR clinical trial. Data presented by both the FDA and Pfizer during the advisory meeting helped ease safety concerns around a potential rebound in COVID-19 symptoms after a five-day Paxlovid course. The concerns emerged after numerous anecdotal reports about a return of symptoms following treatment with Paxlovid, including in high-profile patients such as President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci. Earlier this month, Pfizer first-quarter profit and revenue outpaced analysts expectations as demand for its for pandemic products persisted even as they face pressure amid waning infections. Adjusted first-quarter earnings were $1.23 a share, the company had said in a statement. Revenue of $18.3 billion also handily beat Wall Street expectation. The company left untouched its full year earnings guidance at $3.25 to $3.45 a share, and revenue at $67 billion to $71 billion. The New York-based drugmaker announced the $43 billion planned acquisition of cancer-drug biotech Seagen Inc. earlier this year, giving investors more assurance that its seeking new avenues for growth. Pfizers Covid vaccine Comirnaty and Paxlovid antiviral transformed the company, contributing more than half its $100 billion in sales last year. But in the first quarter, revenue for the shot fell 77 percent to $3.1 billion, more than the $2.6 billion analysts expected. Paxlovid saw quarterly purchases at $4.1 billion, beating estimates for $2.7 billion. (With inputs from Reuters) I was struck by a remarkable statement by software engineer Kent Beck, author of Extreme Programming . I have been reluctant to try ChatGPT," he tweeted, today I got over that reluctance. Now I understand why I was reluctant. The value of 90% of my skills just dropped to $0. The leverage of the remaining 10% went up 1000x. I need to recalibrate." I got reminded of this as I was flipping through a new report ( bit.ly/3BGbIby ) on AI and the future of work by Microsoft WorkLab. It had some interesting revelations: More than half the typical workday of a corporate employee was devoted to communication like emails, meetings, chats, etc. The remaining 43% was for actual creative tasks, and even a lot of that was also about creating spreadsheets, documents in various formats or slides to present at meetings. No wonder that more than two-thirds of workers complained they did not have uninterrupted focused time during their workday. I tend to empathize with this. I was a corporate citizen for more than two decades and have been a solopreneur for the last few years. While there are infinite struggles being an entrepreneur, my productivity has ratcheted up several times unencumbered by countless meetings discussing the same old issues, with similar information being presented to different people in different formats in a work routine that leaves virtually no time for any deep thinking. As the Generative AI tidal wave sweeps across industries and offices, I believe what it will impact the most is this aspect of corporate life. We often do not consider work as an industry in itself, though it is a several trillion dollar one, and confuse work with jobs. We are rightly worried about how AI will impact jobs, but tend to neglect how it will impact work. Investigating this, I stumbled on another post, this time on LinkedIn, which had a wonderful way to deconstruct work into three kinds. The first is where you must act, which is about your role, be it as an accountant, a programmer, marketer or a journalist. The second is where you show, by means of a format, be it a slide, chart, spreadsheet, code or a summary. And the third is when you need to create, or perform a creative task, like an essay, a recipe, code or a sales pitch. The show part is probably the most tiresome and repetitive for a worker. Good visualization and presentation are important, but time consuming and often tedious. This is where Generative AI is coming into its own, with innovations like Microsoft Copilot building slides, charts and documents on the fly, and even converting content from one format, say a document, to another, like a slide deck. As we have realized, ChatGPT and its ilk are reasonably proficient at cognitive tasks, and therefore have the potential to help humans in the third work area of creative tasks. Copy and Jasper help create great marketing material, Stable Diffusion and Dall-E2 create amazing images for artists and designers, Jukebox help create ad jingles and GitHub Copilot writes solid code. AI wont create superlative pieces of work, at least not yet, and will require human workers to finesse and fine-tune its output to perfection. What this will do is enable you and me to focus more on the act part of work: being a star investigative journalist, for example, or a 10x programmer, creative marketer, or a meticulous accountant. In a sense, it will allow us to go back to the roots of work, where we can spend our working hours far more productively doing either high cognitive or intense manual jobs, leaving mundane and repetitive tasks to AI tools. There is a flip side, though, to delegating basic jobs to AI. There are a lot of human workers who do these jobs to earn a livingwhether they are customer service representatives, basic programmers or payroll accountants. As Generative AI sweeps across our organizations, these jobs are at risk; cases in point are Vodafone, which wants to cut jobs by nearly half and use AI instead, or IBM halting some recruitment for the same reason. This is where we humans will have to step up and learn how to work with AI and develop an AI aptitude" as the WorkLab report calls it. We have been good at working with revolutionary technologies. We learnt how to use tools like fire, the personal computer and internet to make our work better and create new jobs for humans. We will have to do the same with this powerful technology and use it to lift ourselves away from the mundane and the monotonous. It will not be AI which takes our jobs, but other human beings using AI could, and we need to choose which of the two we are. We need to recalibrate. Jaspreet Bindra is a technology expert, author of The Tech Whisperer, and is currently pursuing his Masters in AI and Ethics from Cambridge University Pundits are making much of the opposition Congress Partys emphatic victory over the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Some even think it spells trouble for Prime Minister Narendra Modi heading into next years national elections. Karnataka is an impressive win for the beleaguered Congress Party, which now boasts a nearly two-thirds majority in the state Assembly, but drawing national lessons from a state election is woefully premature. Its true that Karnataka carries a particular political significance. With about 70 million people, the state is only Indias ninth most populous, roughly analogous to North Carolina in the U.S. in terms of electoral heft. But by some measures Karnataka boasts Indias third-largest state economyan important consideration for a cash-strapped party like Congress. The states capital, Bangalore, is a technology and startup hub. The election is also the first of a string of important state elections this year leading up to general elections next summer. This makes it a logical place to begin the countdown for 2024. Congresss victory also seems to underscore the geographical limits of the BJPs strident brand of Hindu nationalism. Of the five relatively prosperous states that make up southern India, the BJP has held power only in Karnataka. The party has struggled to make inroads in the south, with its relatively large Christian and Muslim populations and more relaxed approach to fraught cultural issues such as beef consumption and interfaith marriage. The BJP government Karnataka just turned out tried to ban the hijab from high schools, scrapped educational and job quotas for Muslims in favor of Hindu caste groups, and demonized an 18th-century Muslim ruler who fought the British. The BJPs traditional association with Hindithe language Mr. Modi speaks most often in publicdoesnt do it any favors either in this part of the country, which values English as a tool for educational and professional advancement. So while the BJP dominates the Hindi heartland and western India, it has performed pitiably in the south. The five southern states account for about a fourth (129 of 543) of the seats in the directly elected lower house of Parliament. In the last national election, in 2019, the BJP managed to win only 29 of those seats, and 25 were in Karnataka. The party does even worse in state elections. Outside Karnataka, it has struggled to get more than 12% of the vote in southern states. These factors explain why pundits are making much of the BJPs defeat. Historian Ramachandra Guha told the Wire that Congresss victory means all of southern India is free of Mr. Modis party. A large part of the country, that is the most economically dynamic, that is the most socially progressive" and much more open to scientific research and innovation," he said, is completely outside the realm of the BJP." To Mr. Guhas mind, Karnataka was inarguably the most significant victory" for Congress since Mr. Modi became prime minister in 2014. And to some, it raises serious doubts about Mr. Modis re-election next year. Opposition leader Yashwant Sinha, a former Indian foreign minister and finance minister, told the Wire in a separate interview that the BJPs Karnataka defeat was the beginning of 2024." According to the political analyst Yogendra Yadav, the election result shows that 2024 is an open election." But while southern exceptionalism may be real, pinning the oppositions national hopes on it is a stretch. Indians often vote differently in state and national elections. Five years ago, a little more than a third of Karnataka voters picked the BJP to lead the state, but more than half voted for the party in national elections the following year. And as we saw in the last two national elections, the BJP can perform relatively poorly in the south and still win a comfortable majority in Parliament by dominating its traditional strongholds in the north and west. Fundamentally, the national picture heading into 2024 is unchanged. The BJP is still entering that contest with a bulging war chest, fawning national TV coverage and a prime minister who enjoys enviable approval ratings. Morning Consult shows him at 78% after the election and a poll for NDTV by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies shows the BJP leading Congress by 39% to 29%. Karnataka may have put a little wind in the oppositions sails, but its a long way to safe harbor. By Susan Sontag, Edited by David Rieff Picador. 184 pp. $16 - - - The great French writer Colette once speculated that "certain highly complex human beings" are marked by their "mental hermaphroditism." The fabled essayist Susan Sontag was among them. She was a woman, but she dressed in the glamorously genderless garb of an intellectual celebrity and wrote on the weighty topics usually reserved for her male peers. In her journals, she mused that "to be an intellectual is to be attached to the inherent value of plurality." At her best, Sontag refused to truncate herself in the interest of legibility or to simplify her thinking in the service of easy answers. At her worst, she was dodgy and noncommittal. For the duration of her romance with the photographer Annie Leibovitz, which lasted from 1989 until Sontag's death in 2004, she never publicly identified as a lesbian. An acquaintance, the formidable critic Terry Castle, recalls that Sontag's "usual line (indignant and aggrieved) was that she didn't believe in 'labels.'" It is easy to see why this cliche might have rankled queer activists - and why "labels" might belong in scornful scare quotes. But whether Sontag's silence was misguided as a matter of political strategy, it was part and parcel of her earnest commitment to androgyny as a higher form of life. "The aim of struggle should not be to protect the differences between the two sexes but to undermine them," she writes in "On Women," an indispensable new volume edited by her son, David Rieff. The seven reflections on feminism that make up the book - some of them essays, some interviews - were published in various venues in the early 1970s, but most have since become difficult to track down. The only version of "The Double Standard of Aging" that I could find when I searched several years ago was a smudgy scan on a website of dubious legality. Sontag is best known as a meticulous critic of high culture, but there is a reason I was so desperate for a copy of her bracing meditation on the "humiliating process of gradual sexual disqualification" that women undergo as they age. Her writing on modernist novels and foreign-language film is erudite, challenging and occasionally ponderous; her writing on women is crisp and cutting. Heretically, I prefer the latter. In "On Women," Sontag is concerned with both limiting and expanding the scope of feminism. Limiting, because she opposes the movement's incursion into every facet of discussion. "Fascinating Fascism," a probing appraisal of Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, would be a bit of an outlier in the book, if not for the exchange with the poet and feminist theorist Adrienne Rich that it so famously prompted. In a letter to the editor of the New York Review of Books, where the piece first appeared in 1975, Rich faulted Sontag for neglecting to emphasize the connection between fascism and patriarchy. "One is not looking for a 'line' of propaganda or a 'correct' position," she wrote, as an unconvincing prelude to doing just that. Sontag's reply is satisfying in the manner of neatly arranged shelves, efficiently packed suitcases and other emblems of exactitude. In response to Rich's question as to how the "same mind" could have produced both "Fascinating Fascism" and more explicitly feminist writings, she replied: "Easy. By addressing itself to a different problem, with the intention of making a different point." In a 1975 interview in the literary magazine Salmagundi, also included in "On Women," she clarified: But Sontag's belief that feminism was not the be all and end all of intellectual life did not mean she was a tepid ally. In one of the most exhilarating passages in "On Women," she roars: Feminism may not be the only appropriate topic of conversation, or the answer to every question, but it must nonetheless be imported into even the most intimate sanctums. "Liberal" feminism, which operates at the level of public policy, is powerless against the sexism that is "expressed on all levels of human interchange, not just in laws but in the detail of everyday life." Sexism of this sort prevails "in forms of politeness and in the conventions (clothes, gestures, etc.) which polarize sexual identity, and in the flow of images (in art, news, and advertising) which perpetuate sexist stereotypes." It seeps, like a gas, into every crevice of consciousness. One set of norms that particularly worried Sontag - and to which she devoted three of the essays in "On Women" - concerns beauty, which is "women's business in this society" as well as "the theater of their enslavement." The indignity of aging in a culture that fetishizes female youth is not unrelated to class, as Sontag acknowledges. But even if economic justice could equalize access to the creams and poultices purported to reverse the creep of the years, it could not overturn the widespread conviction that "only one standard of female beauty is sanctioned: the girl." Another problem that remains impervious to legal and economic solutions involves the fraught influx of women into the workforce. Sontag maintained that the crux of the issue was not only that women did not have the means to support themselves (and thereby escape their abusive husbands), but also that they tended to flock to stereotypically feminine occupations. "The colonialized status of women is confirmed and indeed strengthened by the sexist division of labor," by women's ghettoization in jobs that are "public transcriptions of the servicing and nurturing roles that women have in family life." Work must therefore become "fully desegregated sexually." It is a delight to watch such an agile mind slicing through the flab of lazy thinking. To those who claim that women have different natures than men, Sontag replies succinctly: "The argument from 'nature' is self-confirming. Individual lives which do not confirm the argument will always be taken as exceptions, thereby leaving the stereotypes intact." To those who "deny they believe these differences make women inferior," Sontag responds: The aim of feminism must be to "abolish the mystique of 'nature,'" she wrote, to "work toward an end to all stereotyping of any kind." The wholesale abolition of gender is our only hope of escaping its cruelties and curtailments. Whether Sontag's defiant uncategorizability strikes you as subtlety or evasiveness depends on your stomach for uncertainty. "No position can be a comfortable one or should be complacently held," she said in the Salmagundi interview. The most important debates of the era must remain knotty, "unresolved." For my part, I prefer conclusiveness in argument - but in life, I am greatly moved by the image of a world in which everyone has the chance to embody the "mental hermaphroditism" that allowed Colette and Sontag to be so intricate, so multiple, so ample and so whole. A man landed behind bars after his 9-month-old son tested positive for marijuana, according to the Webb County Sheriffs Office. Israel Martinez, 44, was recently served with arrest warrants charging him with two counts of child endangerment by criminal negligence and possession of marijuana. The Sheriffs Office received a medical emergency call at about 2 p.m. April 1 for a 9-month-old boy. The caller was the infants father, who was identified as Martinez. Martinez reported that his son was not moving, had swelling in his eyes and had shallow breathing. EMS services were dispatched to their residence inside the Villarreal Ranch on FM 2895, about 4 miles north of Texas 359 in Aguilares. The baby and the mother were taken to Laredo Medical Center. At about 5:45 p.m., Laredo police informed the Sheriffs Office that officers were called out to LMC because the infant tested positive for marijuana, according to an arrest affidavit. A deputy then met with the mother. Asked why her son tested positive for marijuana, she stated that her husband, Martinez, smokes marijuana and she believed he might have accidentally dropped some inside the house, where the baby picked it up and put it inside his mouth, according to court documents. The deputy then met with the father in the emergency room and asked him why his son tested positive for marijuana. Martinez stated that it could have been the medication his son takes. He added that he was not present when his wife found the infant unresponsive, states the affidavit. Investigators then responded to look further into the case. Authorities learned from LMC staff that the baby appeared to be very lethargic and his reflexes were decreased. He was difficult to arouse. When a doctor applied an IV, the infant did not respond to any pain, the affidavit states. But his vitals were stable. A nurse asked the mother if she or anyone consumes drugs at home. The mother stated that Martinez smokes outside of the home but never in front of their children. A urinalysis for the baby resulted positive for marijuana. Child Protective Services was notified, authorities said. While talking to an investigator, the mother stated that Martinez has ADHD and uses marijuana as a substitute for his medications. She added that her husband is always careful and never smokes in front of the children, according to court documents. Regarding her son testing positive for marijuana, the only explanation the mother could think of was that Martinez might have dropped a little piece of marijuana inside her sons playing area, the affidavit states. Once the baby was medically cleared, the parents were taken to the Sheriffs Office Substation for further questioning. In an interview with investigators, Martinez admitted being a marijuana user. He added he purchases 4 to 7 grams of marijuana for $40 to $60 in Laredo every two weeks. He denied keeping or storing the marijuana inside his home, authorities said. Martinez added he usually rolls inside the restroom on top of a boiler platform that is not within the childrens reach, according to the Sheriff's Office. He said he places a napkin, rolls blunts on it and usually removes the edges of the marijuana but cleans the residue afterward and disposes of it. He stated that he believed a tiny piece of marijuana might have fallen and that is how (the baby) got access to it, states the affidavit. Martinez added he keeps the marijuana inside a container that children cannot access and described himself as a careful father. He stated he smokes near the barn and added that he last smoked the night before around 11:30 p.m., states the affidavit. A search of the familys home resulted in the discovery of an unlabeled orange medicine bottle containing 0.045 ounces of marijuana on top of the kitchen counter. In addition, there was a stool on the floor near the area where the container was that any of his children could have used to gain access, authorities said. The investigator told Martinez that his child could have easily reached the container. Martinez replied he thought he had gotten rid of everything, the affidavit states. The investigator also found another medicine bottle containing multiple cigarette butts believed to be from marijuana blunts in a bedroom next to the restroom. The medicine bottle was inside a Cafe Diario plastic container on top of a dresser. Other evidence recovered from the dresser included drug paraphernalia such as grinder, a smoking pipe and rolling paper packages, the Sheriff's Office said. With 1,524 students graduating from the Laredo Independent School District this week, administrators and members of the Board of Trustees congratulated them in a pair of videos released by the district on Thursday, May 25. The messages expressed pride and optimism for the students future, and many also commented on their perseverance to earn a diploma amid the challenges of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The following are messages from members of the LISD Board of Trustees: Board of Trustees President Monica Garcia Congratulations to each and every one of our graduates. We are so proud of all that you accomplished in our classrooms and all the efforts that culminated with your graduation today. Your success today is also due in part to the dedication, encouragement and support you received from your family and teachers. To your parents, I say thank you for entrusting your children to LISD. We appreciate all that you have done to ensure their success. Felicidades. Board of Trustees Vice President Rick Garza Remember when you first set foot in our classrooms? Well today you are stepping out into the brave new world ready to leave your mark. You have proven that you are more than capable of achieving your goals. Congratulations, and best wishes as you set out on the next chapter of your life. Board of Trustees Secretary Dr. Gilberto Martinez Jr. You did it because you are amazing. The world is yours. Now we want you to follow your passion. As Confuscious once said, wherever you go, go with all your heart. Congratulations. District I Trustee Juan Ramirez Today we celebrate your achievements and the incredible adults you have grown into along the way. Hold your head up high, and dont forget to appreciate all those who got you here, especially your parents, your teachers and your friends. Make sure to thank them. Mil felicdades. District II Trustee Rodolfo Morales III As you graduate high school, I wish you the wisdom to handle the challenges that will come your way and the confidence to trust yourself. Chase your dreams and catch them with courage. District III Trustee Veronica Orduno We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished so far. Dont forget to dream big and reach higher. We are so happy and excited for you and all the possibilities of your future. The sky is the limit. You are a star, and this is your time to shine. District V Trustee Goyo Lopez Today marks the end of a successful journey and the beginning of a new adventure. May you always have dreams to inspire you, wisdom to guide you and friends and family beside you. Congratulations to the LISD class of 2023. The following are messages from members of the LISD Board of Trustees: Superintendent Dr. Sylvia Rios You have accomplished so much in your last four years. You have managed the pandemic, you have reached all of your academic goals, you have been involved in extracurricular activities, and now you are a graduate from Laredo ISD. We are so very proud of you, and we have so many dreams for you, dreams that I know that you hope to accomplish. Well I can tell you that Laredo ISD has prepared you, and I know that you have the courage and you have the will to make a difference in this world. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business Services Flor Ayala You are in fact what gives us hope, not only because we succeeded in our mission but also because you succeeded in your quest to earn a high school diploma. With a great deal of courage, you came to school on a daily basis and completed your high school requirements. Therefor we salute you and celebrate your completion here at LISD and the bright future we so desire for you. Executive Director of Communications Veronica Castillon My hope as you enter the world as graduates of LISD is this, that you are prepared for both a life of purpose and a life of continual learning and exploration. God bless each and every one of you as you graduate. You are the best there can be. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Gerardo Cruz This significant milestone marks the culmination of your hard work and dedication. You should be immensely proud of yourself for all that you have accomplished. Your high school graduation is just the beginning of an exciting journey filled with endless opportunities. Whether you pursue higher education, enter the workforce or explore different paths, have confidence in your abilities and follow your passions. Executive Director of Technology Services Ambrosio Gomez You have shown tremendous dedication, hard work and commitment to achieving this milestone. I am confident that you will continue to achieve great things in your future. As the technology director, I want to encourage you to keep exploring and learning about the world of technology. Technology is an ever-growing field that presents exciting opportunities and challenges, and your generation will play a critical role in shaping its future. Chief of Police Doreen Hale Be proud of what you have accomplished, but be humble, especially with those who helped you get here. As you pack your bags for college, head to the military or start a career, may you be safe and enjoy success in the years to come. So please make good decisions and lets be careful out there. Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services Maggie Martinez We may not live in a perfect world, but in my heart I know that every one of you, in your own way, will rise to the challenge and make the world a better place. You have the ability to reason, and I know you will use it in meaningful and inspiring ways. On this day, we celebrate you, all that you achieved, and the institution that made it happen, proving that LISD is the place to be. Executive Director for Health and Occupational Support Services Oscar Perez Satisfying your requirements for a high school diploma has its challenges. The demands can be rigorous, but you did it before, during and after the pandemic. You should be very proud. We are certainly proud of you. Executive Director for Human Resources Gaby Rogerio We hope that all of you will return often to LISD and update us on your progress. We are proud of you, we will miss you, and we eagerly anticipate seeing what you will achieve. Assistant Superintendent for Plant Facilities and Support Services Angel Velazques We are delighted to share this important day with you and your family, for this education that was provided to you at LISD is the foundation for your future success. We have nourished your minds and taken you to new adventures that enriched your young lives. Congratulations to the class of 2023. WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that European allies are developing a coordinated program to train Ukrainian forces on the F-16 fighter jet, but Pentagon leaders warned that it will be a costly and complex task and won't be a magic solution to the war. Austin said the allies recognize that in addition to training, Ukraine will also need to be able to sustain and maintain the aircraft and have enough munitions. And he said air defense systems are still the weapons that Ukraine needs most in the broader effort to control the airspace. There are no magic weapons, said Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who spoke alongside Austin at a Pentagon press conference. He said providing 10 F-16s could cost $2 billion, including maintenance. "The Russians have a thousand fourth and fifth-generation fighters, so if youre going to contest Russia in the air, youre going to need a substantial amount of fourth and fifth-generation fighters." As a result, he said, allies did the right thing by first providing Ukraine with a significant amount of integrated air defense to cover the battlespace. He said F-16s have a future role as part of Ukraine's air capabilities, but it's going to take a considerable length of time to build up an air force thats the size and scope and scale that would be necessary. Austin said the Dutch and Danish defense ministers are working with the U.S. on the effort, and that Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to the training. In addition, he said the allies will set up a fund so that other nations can contribute to the overall effort. We expect more countries to join this important initiative, Austin said, adding that the training is an important example of our long-term commitment to Ukraine security. Austin earlier in the day said he hopes that training for Ukrainian pilots on American-made F-16 fighter jets will begin in the coming weeks, bolstering Ukraine in the long run but not necessarily as part of an anticipated spring counteroffensive against Russia. Austin and Milley spoke at the close of a virtual meeting of defense leaders from around the world to discuss the ongoing military support for Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders gave them an update on the war effort and the military gaps that troops are facing. Austin said the biggest gap continues to be ground-based air defense. The leaders, in their 12th meeting, heard about ongoing combat operations and the counteroffensive and discussed how the allies, who have faced their own stockpile pressures, can continue to support Kyiv's fight against Russia. Ukrainian officials have not formally announced the launch of their much-anticipated counteroffensive, although some say it has already begun and the pace of attacks suggests its underway. Were going to have to dig deeper, and were going to have to continue to look for creative ways to boost our industrial capability, Austin said before the military leaders began their closed session. The stakes are high. But the cause is just and our will is strong. European leaders have said they are talking about which countries may have some of the F-16s available. The United States had long balked at providing the advanced aircraft to Ukraine, and only last weekend did President Joe Biden agree to allow other nations to send their own U.S.-made jets to Kyiv. We hope this training will begin in the coming weeks, Austin said. This will further strengthen and improve the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force in the long term. And it will complement our short-term and medium-term security agreements. This new joint effort sends a powerful message about our unity and our long-term commitment to Ukraines self-defense. European allies have been vocal in their support for the fighter jet training in recent days. Josep Borrell, the European Unions foreign policy chief, said Tuesday that training for Ukrainian pilots had begun in Poland and some other countries, though Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said training was still in the planning phase. The Netherlands and Denmark, among others, are also making plans for training. We can continue and also finalize the plans that were making with Denmark and other allies to start these these trainings. And of course, that is the first step that you have to take, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said. Ukraine has long sought the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge as it battles Russias invasion, now in its second year. The Biden administration's decision was a sharp reversal after refusing to approve any transfer of the aircraft or conduct training for more than a year because of worries that doing so could escalate tensions with Russia. U.S. officials also had argued against the F-16 by saying that learning to fly and logistically support such an advanced aircraft would be difficult and take months. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DOVER, Del. (AP) A Delaware woman is facing decades in prison after pleading guilty to killing her 3-year-old daughter and dumping her burned remains on a softball field. Kristie Haas, 31, pleaded guilty Thursday to murder by abuse or neglect, abuse of a corpse, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of 50 years in prison on the murder charge, suspended for non-custodial supervision after 30 years behind bars. The murder charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Prosecutors are recommending probation for the other counts and will drop several other felony and misdemeanor charges. Yes, your honor, Haas repeatedly intoned softly as Superior Court Judge Noel Primos asked whether she understood the nature of the charges and the consequences of entering a guilty plea. At the request of attorneys, Primos, who is not bound by the sentencing recommendation, deferred sentencing until July 10, the date on which a trial for Haas was to begin. Prosecutor Kevin Smith said the delay will allow time for relatives of the victim, Emma Grace Cole, to make arrangements to travel from out of state to attend the sentencing. Attorneys, in the meantime, will prepare sentencing memoranda. Smith said prosecutors are recommending a mental health evaluation of Haas. Defense attorney Patrick Collins told the judge that Haas is already being treated for bipolar disorder and depression. She is current on her medications, he said. The defense and prosecution disagree on whether Haas should be barred from having any contact with her three other children, as recommended by prosecutors, or whether she should be allowed contact pursuant to court orders. Collins declined to comment as he left the courtroom. The court entered a partial gag order in June 2021 restricting what attorneys could say about the case, which has drawn widespread media attention. What this defendant did to her own daughter was heinous, and this week brings a complex and harrowing case to a just end, Attorney General Kathy Jennings said in a prepared statement. This conviction doesnt just bring certainty in outcome and a lengthy sentence it ensures that Emmas young siblings, who would otherwise have been absolutely required to testify at trial, will not be retraumatized by having to relive the terror of Emmas last days. The childs body was found in September 2019 by a person walking a dog through Smyrna-Clayton Little Lass Fields, a softball park near Smyrna Middle School in central Delaware. At the time, Emma lived with her parents and siblings less than a mile from the ball field. Authorities believe Emma had been dead for several weeks before her body was found. Haas and her husband, Brandon Haas, who was the childs stepfather, were arrested in Pennsylvania in October 2020, more than a year after the childs body was found. Both were originally indicted on felony charges of child abuse, child endangerment and hindering prosecution involving Emmas death, as well as misdemeanor child endangerment charges involving her siblings. Kristie Haas also was charged with felony assault, abusing a corpse and reckless burning. The charges against her were later upgraded to include two counts of murder. Authorities alleged that the couple withheld food and medical care from Emma and subjected her to torture or maltreatment, while also subjecting her and her siblings to excessive forced exercise and inappropriate physical discipline. A trial for Brandon Haas is set to begin July 10. He faces more than 40 years in prison if convicted on all charges. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUBURN, Maine (AP) Employees of a Maine restaurant got a surprise when they opened a large wooden crate that they thought was a shipment of mugs they had recently ordered. Instead, they found a plastic tote that contained what law enforcement suspect is 14 kilograms (31 pounds) of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl with an estimated street value of $3 million, Auburn police Deputy Chief Timothy Cougle said in a statement Saturday. The tote had a shipping label with the restaurant's address but the name of someone who did not work there. Employees who opened it saw what they thought looked like drugs, so they contacted police, Cougle said. The crate from Arizona that arrived in the Maine town about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Portland was taken to the police department, where a chemical field examination confirmed it contained fentanyl. About an hour later, the man whose name was on the shipment showed up looking for the crate and was arrested, police said. Jeremy Mercier, 41, of Auburn, was charged with drug offenses and for violating bail conditions. He is being held in a county jail without bail. It could not be determined if he had an attorney. Mercier previously spent time behind bars on a 2007 federal drug conviction, Cougle said. The investigation is ongoing, and Cougle said he anticipates state and federal law enforcement getting involved. Mike Peters, the co-owner of Mac's Grill, told WMTW-TV in an email that he is glad the drugs did not make it to the streets. The instances of overdose in our, and surrounding, communities is awful, and fentanyl seems to be front and center when it comes to fatalities, he said. It is very sad. SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed one of the nations largest wholesale drug distributors to keep shipping highly addictive painkillers for nearly four years after a judge recommended it be stripped of its license for its cavalier disregard of thousands of suspicious orders fueling the opioid crisis. The DEA did not respond to repeated questions from The Associated Press about its handling of the case against Morris & Dickson Co. or the involvement of a high-profile consultant the company had hired to stave off punishment and who is now DEA Administrator Anne Milgrams top deputy. But the delay has raised concerns about how the revolving door between government and industry may be impacting the DEAs mission to police drug companies blamed for tens of thousands of American overdose deaths. If the DEA had issued its order in a timely manner, one could then credibly believe that its second-in-command was not involved despite an obvious conflict of interest, said Craig Holman, an ethics expert at the watchdog group Public Citizen in Washington. The mere fact that its action has been delayed four years just raises red flags. It casts the entire process under grave suspicion. Last week, after the AP reached out to the DEA for comment, the agency broke its silence on the issue and abruptly notified Morris & Dickson that it has decided to revoke its registration to distribute controlled substances, according to two people familiar with the development who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the exchange. However, no final order has yet been published. The company has described revocation as a virtual death sentence and is almost certain to challenge the decision in federal court. Louis Milione, who was named DEAs principal deputy administrator in 2021, did not respond to requests for comment. He retired from the DEA in 2017 after a storied 21-year career that included two years leading the division that controls the sale of highly addictive narcotics. Like dozens of colleagues in the DEAs powerful-but-little-known Office of Diversion Control, he quickly went to work as a consultant for some of the same companies he had been tasked with regulating, including Morris & Dickson. Milione was brought in by Morris & Dickson as part of a $3 million contract to save its registration to supply painkillers after the DEA accused the company in 2018 of failing to flag thousands of suspicious, high-volume orders. Testifying in 2019 before federal Administrative Law Judge Charles W. Dorman, Milione argued that Morris & Dickson spared no expense to overhaul its compliance systems, cancel suspicious orders and send daily emails to the DEA spelling out its actions. But those efforts were too little, too late, the judge wrote in a 159-page recommendation which has not been previously reported and was recently obtained by the AP. Anything less than the most severe punishment, he said, would communicate to DEA registrants that despite their transgressions, no matter how egregious, they will get a mere slap on the wrist and a second chance so long as they acknowledge their sins and vow to sin no more. Acceptance of responsibility and evidence of remediation are not get-out-of-jail-free cards that erase the harm caused by years of cavalier disregard, Dorman wrote. Allowing the respondent to keep its registration would tell distributors that it is acceptable to take a relaxed approach to DEA regulations until they are caught, at which point they only need to throw millions of dollars at the problem to make the DEA go away. Shreveport, Louisiana-based Morris & Dickson, the nations fourth-largest wholesale drug distributor with $4 billion a year in revenue and nearly 600 employees, has said losing its license would effectively shut it down and have a catastrophic effect on patients in 29 states. In a statement to AP, the company said it has invested millions of dollars in compliance systems, executives and advisors. "If DEA attempts to revoke our license for previous actions, the company will vigorously appeal and seek a stay in federal court," it said. We are confident we will achieve an outcome that safeguards the supply chain for all of our healthcare partners and the communities they serve. Neither Milgram nor two DEA administrators who preceded her have taken any enforcement action since Dormans 2019 recommendation, allowing Morris & Dickson to continue operating even as it pursued a potential settlement. Former DEA officials told AP a nearly four-year wait in such a case is highly unusual, noting it rarely takes the agency more than two years to issue a final order. Milgrams management of DEA since the Biden nominee came into office nearly two years ago has been called into question on another front. AP reported last month that a federal watchdog is investigating whether the agency improperly awarded millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to hire Milgram's past associates. As for Milione, federal ethics rules bar government employees from taking part in decisions that could benefit companies where they previously worked. DEA spokesperson Christina Pryor declined to comment, but a person familiar with Milione's work said he recused himself from issues related to Morris & Dickson after returning to the DEA in 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about DEA officials' recusals. Milione, a lawyer and former bit Hollywood actor, impressed fellow DEA agents for his risk taking and toughness. Among his achievements was running the overseas sting that in 2008 nabbed Russias notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout, aka The Merchant of Death. But after taking over as the head of Diversion Control in 2015, he ended his predecessors refusal to meet with drug manufacturers and distributors and opened the DEAs doors to the industry it was charged with regulating. Among those Milione met with on at least two occasions was Paul Dickson Sr. then-president of Morris & Dickson. That included a 2016 visit to the Louisiana headquarters with DEA investigators to discuss the companys compliance program. John Gray, the head of the Healthcare Distributors Alliance, a lobbying group that includes Morris & Dickson, recounted in a 2015 email how Milione, under orders from then-incoming DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg, wanted to reset relations with the drug industry. And Milione even delivered the keynote speech at the groups annual meeting. Overall, he was engaging, exceedingly pleasant and seemed genuinely concerned that we had lost touch with each other, Gray wrote. It is a very different tone and approach than we have all seen in the past 8-10 years. Morris & Dickson had been punished for its mishandling of addictive drugs before. In 2019, before Dorman issued his recommendation, the company agreed to pay $22 million in civil penalties to resolve federal prosecutors' claims that it violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to report suspicious orders of hydrocodone and oxycodone. The company also agreed to multimillion-dollar upgrades of its compliance program to ensure it reports suspicious orders moving forward. The case drew far less attention than the enforcement actions DEA took in recent years against Morris & Dicksons larger competitors, a trio of pharmaceutical distributors who have agreed to pay the federal government more than $1 billion in fines and penalties for similar violations. Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen and McKesson also agreed to pay $21 billion over 18 years to resolve claims as part of a nationwide settlement. Among the more than 12,000 suspicious orders that Dorman said Morris & Dickson should have reported to the DEA were 51 unusually large orders of opioids made by Wilkinson Family Pharmacy in suburban New Orleans. Wilkinson purchased more than 4.5 million pills of oxycodone and hydrocodone from Morris & Dickson between 2014 and 2017, and federal prosecutors say during that time owner Keith Wilkinson laundered more than $345,000 from illegal sales made with forged prescriptions or written by pill mill doctors. In one month, as many as 42% of all prescriptions filled by Wilkinson were for painkillers and 38% of those were paid for in cash. The DEA considers a pharmacys sales of controlled substances suspicious whenever they surpass 15% or cash transactions exceed 9%. Yet Morris & Dickson never suspended any shipments to the pharmacy. Over three years, it filed just three suspicious order reports to the DEA none of which resulted in shipments being suspended. Anybody with half a brain couldve seen something wasnt right, said Dan Schneider, a retired pharmacist near New Orleans whose fight to hold drug companies accountable for the opioid epidemic was featured in a Netflix documentary series. They were way out of line. _____ Goodman reported from Miami. Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org. Authorities are investigating a Houston-area nursing home resident's death stemming from months of alleged severe neglect last week. After suffering a stroke in fall of 2022, Michael Minott, 73, was admitted to Ben Taub Hospital in Houston for treatment. After stabilizing, Minott was unable to take care of himself, and hospital social workers found him a placement for care at Seabreeze Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Texas City, Texas. Lauren Lake, Minott's daughter, explained that during her father's first few months at the facility, she was able to check on him by phone from her home in Michigan. "I basically just told myself, 'he's in good hands,'" Lake said. So Lake was shocked when she learned that her father had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at HCA Mainland Hospital on May 16. According to Lake and Helen Marr, Minott's ex-wife, Minott was admitted to the ICU after a social worker discovered that he had developed severe bedsores and was suffering from malnutrition. "The nurse said it was horrible, that he was down about 80 pounds, and he had not eaten in so long that he now could not eat, " Marr said. "She said the bed sores were to the bone. You could see the bone," Marr added. Upon learning that her father was in the ICU, Lake called Texas City police to conduct a wellness check at the ICU. The cop told her that Minott's case was "the worst [they'd] ever seen," Lake told Chron. Minott died four days after his admittance in HCA Mainland's ICU unit. State and local authorities are now looking into the case: according to emails reviewed by Chron, Texas Health and Human Services investigators opened an investigation into Minottt's case on Mar. 22 in response to a complaint filed by Lake. Texas City police also confirmed in an email reviewed by Chron that an officer conducted a "initial investigation" into Minott's case at HCA Mainland Hospital. The email states that the case would be forwarded to the Department's Criminal Investigations Division. Texas City Police did not respond to a request for comment made Wednesday regarding the current status of the case. This isn't the first time Seabreeze has been scrutinized for alleged abuse and neglect: in Oct. 2022, relatives of a 60-year-old Seabreeze resident claimed that facility staff kept the woman confined to her bed while covered in feces until she developed open sores and swelling across her body. The Texas City facility was reportedly fined more than $130,000 for multiple violations by Texas Health and Human Services in 2022 alone. Seabreeze Nursing and Rehabilitation Center did not respond to a Thursday morning request regarding Minott's care. michelmond/Getty Images/iStockphoto The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning on Wednesday stating the U.S. LGBTQ community is currently facing an increased risk of extremist violence. "In the coming months, factors that could mobilize individuals to commit violence include their perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues," DHS officials said in a bulletin published Wednesday afternoon. "Likely targets of potential violence include individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community." Officials also listed "US critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement," as potential targets for extremists in the near future. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) Calls for unity dominated Thursday's 60th anniversary celebrations for the continent-wide organization preceding the African Union (AU) that represented 55 member states. But critics say the AU has become a paper tiger where there's plenty of talk, but not much much real clout to enforce its mandate. Africa Day events across the continent honored the founding of the AU's predecessor - The Organization of African Unity (OAU) -- whose original purpose was to fight colonialism before evolving in 2002 to incorporate the aims of defending it's members sovereignty and independence as well as encouraging their socio-economic integration. In Addis Ababa where the AU is seated, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed underscored that unity is no more a catchphrase but a means of survival in an increasingly complex world. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa echoed Abiy, appealing for unity and to uphold the bonds that frame our destiny. In his address, Abiy argued for the need of an African permanent seat at the UN Security Council and proportionate representation at the G7 and G20. Ramaphosa urged for improved governance across the continent amid the conflict in Sudan as well as previous coups in Chad, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. We use Africa Day to reaffirm the importance of consolidating democracy and consolidating good governance across Africa, Ramaphosa said. Critics say the AU has failed to achieve some of its objectives, but supporters argue that it's powers are restricted so as to allow the members' heads of state to remain in control. Kenyan political analyst and lawyer Danstan Omari says the AU is a dead bulldog that lacks mechanisms to enforce any of its mandate. Its a talk show that has no impact at all. If you dont have the mechanisms to enforce anything, then why are you there? So in my own view its a body that needs to be completely removed, Omari told the Associated Press. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The United Arab Emirates' highest court Tuesday ordered a British hedge fund trader convicted of orchestrating a $1.7 billion tax fraud to pay that amount to Denmark's tax authority. Financier Sanjay Shah was convicted in a lower court of masterminding a scheme that ran from 2012 to 2015. Under it, foreign businesses pretended to own shares in Danish companies and claimed tax refunds for which they were not eligible. He was arrested in Dubai last year. Shah and his lawyers declined to comment on Tuesday's ruling. The Court of Cassation also ordered Shah and several foreign businesses implicated in the scheme to pay 5% interest on the $1.7 billion accrued from when the case was first filed in August 2018. This conclusive ruling after a nearly five-year pursuit of justice underscores the serious and uncompromising stance of the UAE authorities against financial misconduct, said OGH Legal in Dubai, a law firm acting on behalf of Danish authorities, in a statement. Last September, the Dubai Appeals Court found Shah and his accomplices guilty of illegally extracting money from Danish tax authorities. His lawyers appealed that verdict to the Court of Cassation, which upheld the earlier ruling Tuesday and ordered Shah to pay the $1.7 billion. In a separate ruling, Shah was ordered to be extradited to Denmark after the Dubai court rejected his appeal against deportation in April. He is expected to face prosecution in Denmark on the tax fraud allegations. It wasn't immediately clear when he will be extradited. The 52-year-old financier has maintained his innocence in interviews with journalists but never appeared in Denmark to answer accusations. His defense has argued in closed-door hearings that Denmark did not follow the procedures laid out in international extradition treaties. Shahs arrest came at a time when pressure was growing on Dubai, the regions financial hub, over its alleged weaknesses in combating financial wrong-doing. The UAE has long invited the wealthy, including disgraced public figures, to invest in the country without questioning where they made their money. Recently, however, the UAE has arrested several suspects wanted for major crimes, including two brothers from South Africa, accused of facilitating vast public corruption and draining state resources with former President Jacob Zuma. An Emirati official also recently became president of Interpol, the international police agency. CAIRO (AP) A Hong Kong-flagged ship briefly blocked Egypts vital Suez Canal on Thursday morning, authorities said, the latest such incident in the busy waterway. According to Leth Agencies, a canal services company that oversees the waterway, the Xin Hai Tong 23 ran aground before dawn at the southern entrance to the canal, blocking four vessels. The ship was refloated by the Suez Canal Authority a few hours later, the company said, and normal traffic was restored. However, Egypt's state-run Suez Canal Authority said the vessel had broken down during its transit through the canal due to engine failure. It said the ship was towed away from the area by three tug boats. The two conflicting accounts as to how the incident unfolded could not be reconciled. The bulk carrier, measuring about 190 meters (625 feet) by 32 meters (105 feet), had set off for Suez from the Saudi Red Sea port of Duba. Later in the day Thursday, it was at sea about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) south of the canal, according to Marine Traffic, a vessel tracking firm. Thursday's incident is the latest in a flurry of ships running aground in the Suez Canal or getting stuck in the crucial waterway over the past few years. In January, a vessel owned by Greek firm Primera Shipping Inc. broke down at the 38 kilometer (24-mile) mark of the canal, near the Egyptian city of Qantara. In March a Liberia-flagged ship ran aground in the two-lane part of the waterway. Both vessels were refloated hours later. The most prominent case was that of the skyscraper-sized container ship, the Panama-flagged Ever Given, which ran aground in a single-lane stretch of the canal in March 2021, blocking the waterway. A massive salvage effort by a flotilla of tugboats, helped by the tides, freed it six days later, ending the crisis and allowing hundreds of waiting ships to pass through the canal. Opened in 1869, the Suez Canal provides a vital link for oil, natural gas and cargo of Egypts top foreign currency earners. In 2015, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi s government completed a major expansion of the canal, allowing it to accommodate the worlds largest vessels. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) One of the most wanted suspects in Rwanda's genocide, a police officer suspected of orchestrating the killing of more than 2,000 people at a church nearly three decades ago, has been arrested in South Africa after 22 years on the run, a special tribunal set up by the United Nations to find the perpetrators said Thursday. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) said Fulgence Kayishema was arrested Wednesday at a vineyard in Paarl, a small town in a wine-making region about 30 miles east of Cape Town. Kayishema, who is believed to be in his early 60s, had assumed a false identity and gone by the name Donatien Nibashumba, South African police said. He was captured in a joint operation by the tribunal's fugitive tracking team and South African authorities, the tribunal said, following an investigation that had tracked him across several African countries, including Mozambique and Eswatini, since his indictment in 2001. The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Kayishema's arrest through its Rewards for Justice program. More than 800,000 people were killed in Rwandas genocide, which took place over the course of three months in 1994 when members of the Hutu ethnic group turned on the minority Tutsis, slaughtering them and moderate Hutus who tried to protect them. His arrest gives the survivors hope that other fugitives still at large will be arrested too, said Naphtal Ahishakiye, the executive secretary of the Rwandan genocide survivor organization Ibuka. A genocide crime is too grave to go unpunished. Kayishema was indicted by the U.N.'s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes. He had been at large since 2001, the tribunal said. The tribunal said he is alleged to have organized the killings of more than 2,000 ethnic Tutsi refugees men, women and children at a Catholic church on April 15, 1994, during the first days of the genocide. The indictment alleges Kayishema, who held the rank of police inspector at the time, directly participated in the planning and execution of the massacre by acquiring petrol to burn down the church with the people trapped inside. When that failed, Kayishema and others used a bulldozer to knock down the church, burying and killing those inside, which included young children but also many elderly men and women. Kayishema and others then moved the bodies from the church grounds into mass graves over two days, the indictment alleges. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Kayishemas apprehension which sends a powerful message that those who are alleged to have committed such crimes cannot evade justice and will eventually be held accountable, even more than a quarter of a century later, his spokesman said. The U.N. chief commended the cooperation between South Africa and the Rwanda tribunal which led to Kayishema's arrest, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. His thoughts today are first and foremost with victims of Kayishemas alleged crimes and their families and he stressed that ending impunity is essential for peace, security and justice. South African police said Kayishema would appear in a courtroom in Cape Town on Friday before likely being extradited to Rwanda. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals was formed in 2010 to continue investigating atrocities and hunting down suspects of the Rwandan genocide and those suspected of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia during its ethnic conflicts in the 1990s and early 2000s. Fulgence Kayishema was a fugitive for more than 20 years. His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes, IRMCT chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement. Genocide is the most serious crime known to humankind. The international community has committed to ensure that its perpetrators will be prosecuted and punished. This arrest is a tangible demonstration that this commitment does not fade and that justice will be done, no matter how long it takes. The tribunal said it has now tracked down five suspects wanted in the Rwandan genocide since 2020. It is still searching for three more fugitives, it said. ___ Ssuna reported from Kigali, Rwanda. The AP's correspondent Edith M. Lederer in New York and AP writer Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg contributed to this report. ___ More AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea successfully launched a commercial-grade satellite for the first time Thursday as part of its growing space development program, as rival North Korea is pushing to place its first military spy satellite into orbit. The two Koreas, technically in a state of war, have no military reconnaissance satellites of their own and both are eager to possess them. The South Korean launch Thursday will likely assist its efforts to develop a space-based surveillance system. The domestically built three-stage Nuri rocket lifted off from a launch facility on a southern island with a payload of eight satellites, including a main commercial-grade satellite whose mission is to verify radar imaging technology and observe cosmic radiation in a near-Earth orbit. Science Minister Lee Jong Ho later told a televised news conference that the launch was successful, saying it proved the rocket's reliability and South Korea's potential to operate various satellites and explore space. Lee said seven of the eight satellites including the main one were successfully released from the rocket. He said more time is required to confirm the release of the eighth satellite. Today, we confirmed that dreams can come true, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol wrote on Facebook. I hope our future generations have a great dream and challenge while looking at the Nuri rocket soaring into space. The launch boosted South Koreas hopes of catching up with Asian neighbors such as China, Japan and India in a regional space race. Lee, the science minister, said South Korea plans to conduct three more Nuri rocket launches by 2027 and will seek to develop more advanced launch vehicles. The launch was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed at the last minute due to a technical problem. Last year, South Korea used a Nuri rocket to place a performance verification satellite" in orbit, becoming the worlds 10th nation to send a satellite into space with its own technology. But that launch was primarily designed to test the rocket. Many experts say Thursday's launch will also help South Korea accumulate technologies and knowhow to operate military spy satellites and build long-range missiles. South Korea is expected to launch its first spy satellite later this year. It currently relies on U.S. spy satellites to monitor North Korean facilities. Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, noted that the satellite launched Thursday is designed to be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit, which is typically used for reconnaissance satellites. South Korea already has missiles capable of reaching all of North Korea. But experts say it needs longer-range missiles to prepare for future security threats from potential adversaries China and Russia. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following North Koreas barrage of missiles tests since the beginning of last year. Some of the tests demonstrated its potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on the mainland U.S. and South Korea and Japan. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seeking to develop more sophisticated weapons systems, including a spy satellite, to cope with what he calls intensifying U.S. and South Korean hostilities. Analysts say Kim wants to use an expanded weapons arsenal to win greater concessions from Washington in future dealings. North Korea must be so concerned about the South Korean satellite launch Thursday because much of Kim Jong Uns interest now is in possessing a spy satellite, said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. He has a strong desire to launch a spy satellite before South Korea does. Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas main launch center in the northwest shows activities that suggest a new level of urgency in making the site ready to accommodate satellite launches, 38 North, a North Korea-focused website, said Wednesday. It said the images indicate progress on a new launch pad is moving forward at a remarkable pace. Last week, Kim examined a finished spy satellite and approved a plan for its launch during a visit to the countrys aerospace agency. The spy satellite disclosed in North Korean state media doesnt appear sophisticated enough to produce high-resolution imagery. But Lee, the expert at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, said it is likely to be capable of monitoring deployment of U.S. strategic assets such as an aircraft carrier and the movements of South Korean warships and fighter jets. A former New Hampshire doctor has pleaded guilty to authorizing orders for medically unnecessary knee, wrist and back braces that were used by companies to submit more than $1.9 million in false Medicare claims The award marks the second such honor for the Broome/Heron team. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A woman originally sentenced to die for the 1982 rape and slaying of a 13-year-old Georgia girl in Alabama has waived her parole hearing. Fifty-three-year-old Judith Ann Neelley says in a letter obtained by AL.com that she waived t If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. The State have been given a further two weeks to extract forensic evidence in its case against a south Longford man on assault and threat to kill charges. Paul Boyce (46) Kinard, Legan, Longford is currently on remand in prison charged with false imprisonment, assault and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a female at Aghnavealoge, Legan on a date unknown between April 1 2023 and April 2 2023. Sgt Mark Mahon, for the State, said gardai were still awaiting a report from the Forensic Science Laboratory of Ireland concerning details relating to the alleged case. He said despite a longer than expected delay, a senior garda has joined the investigation in a bid to fast-track the process. I moved it up along the line, said Sgt Mahon. Detective Inspector (John) Costello has taken an interest in the case and it has been given top priority in the forensic science laboratory. Sgt Mahon also said a forensic scientist had been appointed to the case. In defence, solicitor Frank Gearty said his client, who appeared via video link, was appreciative of those comments but said Mr Boyce was eager to secure bail as soon as possible. The wheels of an application to the High Court have commenced, he stated. A request to adjourn the case for three weeks to Tuesday week (June 6) was agreed to by Mr Gearty. Judge Bernadette Owens rubber-stamped that order and remanded Mr Boyce in custody, by consent, to a sitting of Longford District Court on June 6. A Longford born Garda Inspector who died in the line of duty will be posthumously honoured with a Gold Scott Medal for bravery at a ceremony on Friday, May 26 at Walter Scott House, Military Road, Dublin 8. Samuel Donegan, born on November 20, 1911, was a native of Ballintampen, Ballymacormack, Co Longford. On June 8, 1972, Gardai led by Inspector Sam Donegan were operating with the Irish Defence Forces along the Cavan/ Fermanagh border. Information was received that a suspect device had been identified near Legakelly, Co Cavan. Insp Donegan approached the suspect device and was able to determine that it was a hoax. A short distance away, on a country lane at Drumboghanagh, a second similar device was also located. As Inspector Donegan approached this IRA booby-trap bomb to carry out an assessment, the device exploded. Insp Donegan died a short time later from injuries sustained. Shortly before he turned 23, Insp Donegan joined An Garda Siochana on September 4, 1934 and he was assigned Registration No. 8586. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1952 and Inspector in 1967. Insp Donegan, a married man with six children, served in Co Mayo and Co Sligo before being transferred to Cavan in 1967. As a young Garda in North Mayo, Sam was taken by ambulance to hospital in Ballina and the ambulance nurse was Mai Marren, a native of Curry, Co Sligo. After he was discharged, Sam returned on his motor-bike to ask her out on a date. They married in August 1940 and went on to have six children - four daughters Maura, Kathleen, Frances and Sheila; and two sons John and Michael. Mai died on March 18, 2006 at the age of 95 years. A memorial to mark the 50th anniversary of the killing of Insp Donegan in the line of duty took place last year at Cavan Garda Station. The event was organised by the Garda Siochana Retired Members Association (GSRMA) Cavan branch. While last October, speaking on the way into a service acknowledging hidden victims of the Troubles in the Republic of Ireland at St Tighernachs Church in Clones, Co Monaghan, Insp Donegan's son, Michael, said he and fellow victims felt they had been ignored by the authorities. The peace process has moved on and it is wonderful that it has, but I suppose I feel that people who have suffered because of these events many years ago, and in many cases are still suffering, they deserve their suffering to be recognised, he said as he arrived for the 10th annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving organised by the victims organisation South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF). Mr Donegan criticised what he said was a failure by the authorities in the Republic of Ireland to offer therapy, counselling and other services that may help victims. The Scott Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana and is awarded for most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty. The ceremony will take place at the An Garda Siochana National Bureau Headquarters, Walter Scott House. Walter Scott House is named after Colonel Walter Scott. 11 Scott medals will be awarded at Friday's ceremony including; 1 Gold Medal (Posthumously) 7 Silver Medals 3 Bronze Medals (1 Posthumously) Gold Scott Medal Inspector Samuel Donegan, 8586 (posthumously) Silver Scott Medal Sergeant Edward Griffin, 23682K Detective Garda Darren Carter, 32776L Detective Garda Enda Jennings, 33019A Garda Louis Browne, 25440A Glenties, Donegal 22nd February 2020: A male armed with a high velocity rifle was walking through Glenties, Co. Donegal and discharged a number of shots. Front line uniform and plain clothes Gardai responded to and contained the scene whilst coming under fire from the armed male. The members subsequently arrested the male, who has been charged and convicted. Silver Scott Medal Sergeant Andrew OConnor, 28670B Detective Garda Niall Minnock, 31366A Garda Conor Garland, 32132L Ballymun, Dublin 11th March 2019: Gardai responded to a call of a male armed with a firearm in the vicinity of shops in Poppintree, Ballymun. On arrival at the scene Gardai observed a male running with what appeared to be a black sub machine gun in his hand. The male ran into a private house followed by the three Gardai. The male ran into the bathroom of the house and as the members followed a number of shots were discharged from the bathroom. The Gardai tackled the male in the bathroom and the firearm was safely recovered. Gardai then observed what appeared to be a grenade on the floor of the bathroom. The members arrested the male and safely escorted him from the house. An Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit attended the scene to examine the grenade and a controlled explosion was conducted. The male has been charged and convicted. Bronze Scott Medal: Sergeant PJ Gallagher, 23097K Garda Thomas McGuiness, 17300B Aughamore Far, Sligo 7th October 1983: Gardai were on proactive anti-crime patrols in County Sligo when they came across a number of vehicles parked up in a rural layby late at night. The two Gardai were overpowered by a number of armed males and ordered at gunpoint to lie face down on the ground. The members were bundled first into a van and then the boot of a car when they were driven towards Bawnboy, Co Cavan. There, they were ordered into a second hijacked car and driven to Kilnaleck, Co Cavan where the car was abandoned. The members successfully released themselves from the boot of the car and raised the alarm. Bronze Scott Medal Sergeant Daniel Kelleher, 19904D (Posthumously). Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, 16th December 1983: On 24th November 1983, Mr. Don Tidey, a prominent businessperson was abducted in Rathfarnham, County Dublin, by armed members of the IRA posing as members of An Garda Siochana. On 16th December 1983, when Mr. Tidey was in his twenty-third day of captivity a large search party of members of An Garda Siochana supported by Irish Army personnel assigned to the 58th battalion, based in Finner Camp, Co Donegal, were undertaking a search of a Drumcroman Wood, Derradda Ballinamore, Co Leitrim. The IRA hideout was discovered and Mr. Don Tidey was released from capture. During the course of the search Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly were shot, fatally wounded and died at the scene. Despite the active shooting and in full knowledge of the potential danger, Detective Garda Kelleher provided armed cover to other Garda members who were escorting Mr. Tidey to safety. A car then approached at high speed and a number of shots were discharged by the occupants of the car. This resulted in Detective Garda Kelleher being shot and injured in both legs. Subsequently, three people were convicted relating to criminal charges arising from their involvement in the abduction of Mr. Tidey. A BENCH warrant has been issued for the arrest of a woman who has admitted stabbing a man she allegedly met on the dating app Tinder. Inita Romanovska, aged 36, who has an address at Cahercalla, Kilrush Road, Ennis, County Clare, pleaded guilty, in February, to a charge of intentionally attempting to cause serious harm to Stephen O'Flaherty during an incident at an apartment complex at Henry Street, Limerick on March 11, 2020. Ms Romanovska, who was initially charged with attempted murder, was previously told she would not stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for over two years due to the backlog of court cases that had arisen during the pandemic. The defendant, who is originally from Latvia, has been on bail since she pleaded guilty three months ago, ahead of a sentencing hearing which was due to take place this Wednesday. However, when the case was called, her lawyer Michael Bowman SC told the Central Criminal Court she had not arrived and was not contactable by phone. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant and postponed the sentencing hearing. At a district court hearing in Limerick, where Ms Romanovska was originally charged, the court heard that she met the injured party on Tinder and while they had been on a number of dates, they were not in a relationship. Local News By Ls Cohen Published: May 25 2023 We hear these a lot! Long Island, the land of beaches, bagels, and Billy Joel, always leads to some amusing conversations when people find out you're a proud Long Islander. Here are ten humorous and sometimes predictable responses that Long Islanders often encounter. "Say 'caw-fee!'" Long Islanders are no strangers to their distinctive accent, especially when it comes to pronouncing "coffee" as "caw-fee." It's as if our vocal cords have taken a detour to Brooklyn before settling down on Long Island. Weve perfected the art of ordering coffee with an accent that's also part New York, part bird squawk. It's like our secret initiation into the caffeinated club. So, yeah, we're pretty fluent in "caw-fee" language. "I could never drive in a city! Long Island is not the city. Not even close. We get it. Long Island might be just a stone's throw away from the Big Apple, but it's a world apart. We have wide roads, tranquil neighborhoods, and actual parking spots. Long Island is our sanctuary away from the city madness, where we can navigate traffic without breaking a sweat. You won't find skyscrapers here, but we've got plenty of space to park our minivans, thank you very much. "Is that like Staten Island?" Again, not the city. Oh, Staten Island, our misunderstood cousin from the city. We may share some similarities, we're a unique breed. Think of Staten Island as the cousin who dabbles in city life, while Long Island is the cousin who spends weekends at the beach, rocking flip-flops and sunscreen. "Do you know... fill in the blank (LI Medium, Amy Fisher... their cousin from Massapequa)." Long Island has seen its fair share of famous faces and infamous stories, but sorry to disappoint, not every Long Islander is rubbing elbows with them. Unless we're clairvoyant or have a direct line to the paparazzi, we probably don't know your aunt's best friend's hairstylist who went to school with Long Island Medium's nephew. "Billy Joel is from LI! Really? You don't say! Hold on to your seats, folks, because it's true! Billy Joel, the Piano Man himself, is a Long Island legend. Our local pride swells whenever we hear him on the radio. He's our musical hero, and we never miss an opportunity to let everyone know about it. Billy Joel, the piano maestro and Long Island's unofficial soundtrack, is practically our patron saint. We may have an entire playlist dedicated to his greatest hits, and yes, we've been known to burst into song when "Piano Man" comes on. We're not shy about our Billy Joel love affairit's like a musical rite of passage for all Long Islanders. "Lawn Guy land" LOL Yeah, that's how we say it! Welcome to the land of meticulously maintained lawns and perfectly trimmed hedges. Long Island's reputation as "Lawn Guy land" is no joke. We take our landscaping seriously, as if our lawns have their own red carpet events. Just don't ask us about our secret fertilizer formula. We may or may not have secret lawn competitions where we silently judge our neighbors' grass length. Welcome to "Lawn Guy land," where lawns are manicured to perfection, and the sound of mowing becomes our unofficial anthem. It's a suburban utopia, one blade of grass at a time. And yes, thats how we pronounce it. Get over it. The joke isn't funny anymore. "Do you eat a lot of pizza?" Yes! Pizza is our sacred offering to the food gods on Long Island. We have an unwritten law that requires us to devour delicious slices on a regular basis. We've perfected the art of foldable slices, mouthwatering toppings, and that perfect ratio of cheese to sauce. Pizza is our love language, and we're fluent in the dialect of pepperoni and extra cheese. It's practically our civic duty to indulge in this cheesy delight. "Do you eat a lot of bagels? Also yes. Long Island bagels are the best! "So you live in Long Island? Arrrgggghhh No, I live on Long Island! It's a battle cry we've learned to master. We don't just live "in" Long Island; we proudly reside "on" it.. We're surrounded by miles of breathtaking beaches, salty air, and endless opportunities to perfect our beach bum status. So, prepare for correction when you make the cardinal mistake of saying "in" instead of "on." "You must go to the beach a lot. Yeah. Its our second home and the ultimate escape from the daily grind. It's where we go to relax, soak up vitamin D, fish, surf and perfect our sandcastle-building skills. Long Islanders practically have sand in their DNA. We know the best beaches like the back of our hand and have a knack for finding the perfect spot, even on the busiest summer days. Going to the beach isn't just a hobby; it's our way of life. Next time you meet a Long Islander, feel free to share a laugh or two about these ten entertaining topics that come up when the island is mentioned. Just remember, it's "caw-fee," not "coffee," and we live "on" Long Island, basking in the sun and devouring a bagel and caw-fee on our way to the beach. A Hezbollah Brigades video featuring rocket attacks in eastern Ramadi Hezbollah Brigades, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, is deploying forces to the western provincial capital of Ramadi to fight off an Islamic State offensive. The Iranian-backed Shiite militia continues to promote past attacks against US forces on its official website. Hezbollah Brigades has begun to release videos of its fighters operating in the western city, which has been contested for the past year. The Islamic State stepped up its offensive in Ramadi earlier this week. [See LWJ report, Islamic State launches assault on Ramadi.] One video, from April 12, shows Hezbollah Brigade artillery units launching rockets against Islamic State forces in the Sijariyah district in eastern Ramadi. The district is considered to be under Islamic State control. It is unclear how many Hezbollah Brigade fighters have deployed to Ramadi. More than 3,000 Shiite fighters from the so-called Popular Mobilization Committee, or Hashid Shaabi, are being dispatched to the city, according to RFE/RL. The Popular Mobilization Committee was created by former Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to combat the Islamic State after the Iraqi military collapsed during the summer of 2014. The militia committee, which includes groups that have attacked US forces in the past, is led by Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The US government has described Muhandis, whose real name is Jamal Jaafar Mohammed, as an advisor to Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Qods Force, the external operations wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. [See LWJ report, US sanctions Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades and Qods Force adviser.] Hezbollah Brigades and other Iranian-backed Shiite militias who have attacked US forces in the past have been the beneficiary of US air support during the Iraqi government and militia offensives in Amerli, Jurf al Sakhar, and most recently in Tikrit. These militias committed war crimes in Amerli after ejecting the Islamic State, according to Human Rights Watch, and are accused of doing the same in Tikrit. [See LWJ report, Iranian-backed militias rampaged in central Iraq after freeing town: HRW.] Despite the US air support, Hezbollah Brigades routinely publicizes its attacks on US forces during the occupation of Iraq from 2006 until the end of 2011. On the front page of Hezbollah Brigades official website, the group promotes a section that publicizes videos of attacks on US forces. One video, from 2007, shows US troops being ambushed in an IED attack in Baghdad. Also, an article on the front page claims that the group captured a Kuwaiti CIA agent who was spying on Hezbollah Brigades. The US military launched airstrikes in Tikrit despite the fact that Hezbollah Brigades and other Iranian-backed groups such as Asaib al Haq led the ground assault. Hezbollah Brigades was designated by the US State Department as a terrorist organization in July 2009. In that designation, State described the militia as a radical Shia Islamist group with an anti-Western establishment and jihadist ideology that has conducted attacks against Iraqi, US, and Coalition targets in Iraq. State also reported that the militia receives funding, training, logistics, guidance, and material support from Qods Force. Hezbollah Brigades and Asaib al Haq are two of Shiite terrorist groups that the US military used to call the Special Groups. These militias are responsible for killing and maiming hundreds of US and Coalition troops up until US forces withdrew from Iraq in December 2011. Hezbollah Brigades deployed the deadly explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, as well as IEDs and improvised rockets against Coalition forces, and also launched ambushes and other attacks. A screen shot of Hezbollah Brigades website. The section featuring attacks on US troops is in the upper left hand part of the page. A compilation video of Hezbollah Brigade attacks on US forces: Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of The Long War Journal. Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. 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. Since Sundays airstrikes in Syria targeting militants from the Iranian-backed Hezbollah Brigades, various Shia militias from around the Middle East have sent their condolences or support to the US-designated terrorist group. Several militias in Bahrain were among the first to send their statements of support. Saraya al Mokhtar was the first within this group, decrying both Israel and United States as being behind the airstrikes. The group also released its new logo with the statement, a logo which adheres more closely to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) branding. Two other Bahraini militias also released statements, Saraya Waad Allah and Saraya al Ashtar. Saraya Waad Allah, which was behind a deadly attack on a bus near Manama last November, extended its condolences to the Iraqi group before proclaiming it is ready to stand up in the face of the enemies for the defense of Islam. Saraya al Ashtar, a group also espousing IRGC branding, also proclaimed its inclusion in the axis of resistance and unity with the Hezbollah Brigades in its statement. Various Iraqi Shia militia groups, many of which also operate inside Syria, sent condolences and messages of support to the Hezbollah Brigades as well. Harakat al Nujaba, a militia controlled by the IRGC, said that it and the Hezbollah Brigades were partners in blood. Asaib Ahl al Haq condemned the cowardly act and added that the Iraqi militia was in Syria at the behest of the Syrian government to combat terrorism. It also implored the Iraqi government to take action against the United States for the airstrikes. Meanwhile, Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada, another IRGC-backed militia, decried Israel, the United States, and the Iraqi government for the airstrikes. Harakat al Abdal, another militia that operates in both Iraq and Syria, released a video of a pro-Hezbollah Brigades demonstration in Iraq on its Facebook page. While not explicitly sending its condolences, Lebanese Hezbollah did republish the original statement from the Hezbollah Brigades on the airstrikes on its Central War Media website. All of these groups, including the Hezbollah Brigades, consider themselves part of the Axis of Resistance, which refers to a network of state and non-state actors led by Iran that operates against the United States and its allies in the Middle East and beyond. Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. 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. Lebanese Hezbollahs Golan Unit is conducting military exercises in preparation to attack American troops operating in Syria, two U.S. intelligence officials confirmed to FDDs Long War Journal. The training involved tanks and unspecified weapons at a base in Dumeir City, 45 kilometers northeast of Damascus. The report, originally published by Al-Hadath, highlighted the increasing danger Iran-backed proxies pose to American forces operating in Syria. The Golan Unit is headed by Musa Ali Daqduq, a US-sanctioned Hezbollah military commander who was a significant figure in forming Iran-backed Shia terror organizations responsible for the murder of American soldiers in Iraq. According to Treasury: In approximately 2005, Iran asked Hezbollah to form a group to train Iraqis to fight Coalition Forces in Iraq. In response, Hassan Nasrallah established a covert Hezbollah unit to train and advise Iraqi militants in Jaish al Mahdi (JAM) [or Mahdi Army] and JAM Special Groups, now known as Asaib Ahl al Haq [League of the Righteous], a Mahdi Army faction which is a U.S. listed Foreign Terrorist Organization. The group has emerged as one of the most powerful Shia terror organizations in Iraq today. Daqduq also helped establish other Iraqi Shia terror groups such as the Hezbollah Brigades, also a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and the Sheibani Network, which was listed by the U.S. government as a threat to Iraqi security in 2008. In 2007, Daqduq was captured by the U.S. military. After 11 months, he was transferred to Iraqi custody and released in Nov. 2012 after being acquitted of terrorism charges. Following his release in 2012, the U.S. added Daqduq to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Daqduq soon returned to Lebanon and was placed in charge of training Hezbollahs special forces. In 2019, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified Daqduq as the commander of the Golan Unit, a Hezbollah military infrastructure operating in southern Syria. The goal of the network is to create a second front against Israel under the auspices of the Syrian regime, to turn it into an Iran-backed stronghold similar to southern Lebanon. Initially, Hezbollahs presence in southern Syria became a strategic problem for Israel. However, its clear American forces are also a target for the Iran-backed terror group. Numerous Shia groups, many thought to be fronts for Iran-backed Iraqi and Shia militias as well as Lebanese Hezbollah, have launched attacks against U.S. forces based in eastern Syria that are battling the Islamic State. These militias have launched multiple rocket, mortar, and drone attacks on U.S. bases at Al Tanf, Mission Support Site Conoco, and the Green Village over the past several years. Now, they appear to have their sights set on American troops again. 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. On behalf of everyone at Zoo Miami, please accept our most profound and sincere apology for the stress initiated by a video on social media depicting the handling and housing of Paora, a statement from the zoo read. They later stated that the Kiwi encounters would stop effective immediately and a new habitat for Paora would be built. A federal grand jury indicted two Massachusetts residents in connection with the armed robberies of United States Postal Service letter carriers in 2022, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levys office said Thursday. Myesha Lewis, 22, of Boston, and Kenneth Demosthene, 22, of Stoughton, were indicted on two counts each of robbery of any person having lawful charge, control or custody of any mail matter or of any money or other property of the United States, aiding and abetting; two counts each of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees, aiding and abetting. Read more: Postal service asks for improvements to your mailbox beginning Sunday On Nov. 29, 2022, Demosthene and Lewis followed and then forcibly robbed a USPS letter carrier of an arrow key in Mattapan, Levys office said. Arrow keys are a specific key designed to open designated blue USPS collection boxes in a specific area and are the property of USPS, making it a federal offense for an unauthorized person to possess one. Demosthene reached for the carriers satchel as he said he wanted the key. Secured on a chain, the key was pulled from the carrier. The chain broke as the carrier was pulled down from a homes front steps, Levys office said. The two suspects turned and fled in a rental car. A month later, on Dec. 16 in Hyde Park, they both approached a mail carrier and held them at knifepoint. Demosthene said, Give me your f****** arrow key, and the carrier raised their hands. The two suspects then pulled and cut the chain with the knife before they fled, Levys office said. Since July 2022, 13 USPS letter carriers have been assaulted on the job in Boston and in the surrounding communities, Levys office said. Such incidents included the attempted or successful robbery of USPS arrow keys from letter carriers in at least 10 instances. Six were armed robberies where the perpetrators carried a knife, firearm or both. The charges of robbery of any person having lawful charge, control, or custody of any mail matter or of any money or other property of the United States each provide for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Both suspects will appear in federal court at a later date, Levys office said. A judge denied a defense attorneys request to interview two key witnesses in a Boston police officers killing. Karen Read, 42, is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, after Norfolk County prosecutors allege she hit him with her SUV and left him for dead during a snowstorm outside of a Canton home in January 2022. One of the witnesses owned the home the Boston cops dead body was found outside and the other googled: Ho[w] long to die in cold, the Boston Globe reported. Investigators said Read drove intoxicated when the incident occurred. She pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving impaired and leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury and death. John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer of 16 years, was found dead outside a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. (Boston Police Department). In Norfolk Superior Court Wednesday, Reads attorneys motioned for the cellphone records of Brian Albert, another Boston police officer, and owner of the Canton home OKeefes dead body was found outside, according to the Globe. Defense attorneys are also searching for phone records of Alberts sister-in-law Jennifer McCabe who was at the Canton home the night before OKeefes body was found. The defense team accused prosecutors of concealing the evidence for more than a year and a suspicious Google search made by McCabe. There is simply no innocent explanation for McCabes search at that time, Reads defense team wrote in a statement. This evidence unequivocally exonerates Karen, because it establishes that individuals who were in the house at 34 Fairview that night were aware that John was dying in the snow before Karen even knew he was missing. Norfolk prosecutors strongly pushed back on the claim in a 34-page court filing that accuses the defense team of attempting to establish a wide-ranging conspiracy without any evidence. There is nothing to demonstrate that the items sought are either evidentiary or relevant, or that this is anything but a fishing expedition, wrote Adam Lally, Norfolk assistant district attorney, in a memo seeking to squash a motion seeking cell phone evidence. Reads attorneys called for an evidentiary hearing which would allow them to interview both McCabe and Albert. Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly J. Cannone denied the defenses request and placed the attorneys arguments under advisement, the Globe reported. Reads next court date was scheduled for July 25, she is currently free on a $100,000 bond. OKeefe, who was a Boston police officer, was off-duty and out with Read at the Waterfall Bar in Canton past midnight on Jan. 29, 2022, prosecutors wrote in court documents. Read dropped OKeefe off at a party at the Canton home of Albert. Prosecutors accused Read of hitting OKeefe with her vehicle while making a three-point turn leaving the Canton residence. Early the following morning, after growing worried that OKeefe had not returned home, prosecutors said Read and two friends found him in the snow outside the Canton house, bruised, cut and bleeding. During an April court hearing, Reads lawyers David R. Yannetti of Boston and Alan Jackson of Los Angeles presented phone records from McCabe they characterized as being suspicious At 2:27 a.m., hours before Read would find her boyfriends body buried in snow, McCabe searched ho[w] long to die in cold into her phone. Forensic data analysts discovered that McCabe later deleted the search from her phones history, according to the defense attorneys. Lally wrote in the court memo that the Google search referenced by defense attorneys is not accurate and that the search did not actually happen at that time. Lally explained that the data extracted from McGabes cell phone is inaccurate and unreliable. In the same batch of data that defense lawyers relied on for their arguments, it shows that OKeefe supposedly took hundreds of steps in the hours after he was pronounced dead at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Lally wrote. To call this data unreliable is an understatement, he wrote. A Maine woman who pretended to be a tenant living at a Wellfleet vacation home pleaded guilty to stealing federal housing assistance benefits for almost two decades, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levys office said Thursday. Rebecca Amelia Cranford, 63, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. A 54-year-old Norwood man is dead following a two-car crash on Truman Highway in Boston Wednesday night, Massachusetts State Police said. At around 11:54 p.m., Massachusetts State Police, along with Boston police, firefighters and EMS, arrived at the area of 820 Truman Highway in the Hyde Park neighborhood, state police said in a statement. The world returns to Jacobs Pillow this summer. For the 91st season which runs from June 28 to August 27 companies from Germany, The Netherlands, Northern Ireland and France will perform at this legendary dance festival famous for featuring some of the most adventurous modern dance groups in the world. There will also be some familiar faces at this summers festival, including Mark Morris Dance Group, Dorrance Dance and Martha Graham Dance Company. We invite you to journey to Western Massachusetts to experience dance in a setting thats like nowhere else in the world, and to celebrate the astonishing ways a body can move, with an array of U.S. and international companies brought together to perform their best work at this hallowed ground for dance, Jacobs Pillow Executive and Artistic Director, Pamela Tatge, said in a recent statement. We also encourage you to visit us online through Jacobs Pillow on Demand (watch.jacobspillow.org), where you can access the extraordinary artistry for which the Pillow is known from the comfort of your own home. Like last summer, performances will take place in the historic Ted Shawn Theatre and on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage. The Pillow, as its affectionately known among dance fans, is still in the process of rebuilding the Doris Duke Theater, which was destroyed by a fire in November 2020. The new Doris Duke Theatre is scheduled to be completed in 2025. If you have never been to Jacobs Pillow, its hard to imagine a more unlikely place for presenting a summer dance festival. There are barely any houses or businesses on the winding two-lane road leading to The Pillow in the Berkshires. And yet, every summer since 1933, many of the best dance companies in the world have made the journey here to present groundbreaking work at the 220-acre National Historic Landmark. In addition, since 2017, many of these dance companies have returned to The Pillow during its off season to create new pieces as part of The Pillows year-round Pillow Lab, a residency program now in its sixth year. This summers festival will feature several works developed at the Pillow Lab. This summers festival kicks off with a Season Opening Gala on June 24, where American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland will be awarded this years Jacobs Pillow Dance Award. Im honored to be recognized by Jacobs Pillow, Copeland said in a statement released by Jacobs Pillow. This treasured teams longstanding commitment to the arts and dance are perfectly aligned with my desire to bring this art form to as many people as possible. I look forward to celebrating with everyone at the Gala. This summers festival will also feature many free talks, workshops and Choose What You Pay performances, along with the other performances listed below. The full schedule of ticketed performances can be found at Jacobs Pillows website: www.jacobspillow.org Jacobs Pillow Festival Schedule Mark Morris Dance Group June 28 July 2, Ted Shawn Theatre One of the most inventive, playful and insightful choreographers, Mark Morris dance company will return to The Pillow to present his latest evening-length work, The Look Of Love, an homage to the music of composer Burt Bacharach. For Morris, everything starts with the music, which will be performed live. I choreographed it the way I do everything, Morris said in a 2017 interview I did with him about a new piece created that year. I listened to it (the music). I studied it. And I made up a dance. That might sound simple. But like any great artist, Morris masterpieces look effortless and magical. Morris made his Pillow debut in 1982 and The Mark Morris Dance Group first performed at The Pillow in 1986 and has returned more than 20 seasons since then. Dutch National Ballet July 5 9, Ted Shawn Theatre In a historic debut, Dutch National Ballet one of the worlds most critically acclaimed ballet companies will perform at Jacobs Pillow for the first time this summer. The Netherlands-based ballet company will perform several works, including Variations for Two Couples choreographed by Hans Van Manen, Two & Only (Wubkje Kuindersma), The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude (William Forsythe); Grand Pas Classique (Victor Gsovsky) and Five Tangos (Hans van Manen, music by Astor Piazzolla). The performances will feature the companys newest member, Bolshoi Ballet star Olga Smirnova, who joined the Dutch National Ballet after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart July 12 16, Ted Shawn Theatre Based in Germany, Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart has been blurring the boundaries between modern dance and ballet for decades. Founded by Canadian dancer, choreographer and musician Eric Gauthier, the company will return to The Pillow to celebrate its 15th Anniversary. Many of their Pillow performances have been the highlight of the summer in years past, including in 2015, when Gauthier Dance thrilled audiences with a dazzling genre-defying show. After the 2015 performance, Gauthier talked with the audience about what he thinks makes a great dance. My taste is as long as it says something, thats all that important, he said. AXIS Dance Company July 14 16, Henry J. Leir Stage Led by Artistic Director Nadia Adame and Managing Director Danae Rees, AXIS Dance Company is one of the nations most acclaimed ensembles of disabled and non-disabled performers. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company will make its Jacobs Pillow debut this summer performing Desiderata by Asun Noales, Flutter by Robin Dekkers, and a third piece to be announced. Dorrance Dance July 19 23, Ted Shawn Theatre Based in New York City, crowd-pleasing Pillow favorite Dorrance Dance was founded in 2011 by Artistic Director Michelle Dorrance with the goal of engaging audiences on a musical and emotional level while sharing the complex history and powerful legacy of tap dance. Every time we pick up our foot, were responsible for music, Dorrance said in a 2013 interview I did with Dorrance the year she received the 2013 Jacobs Pillow Dance Award. The possibilities are endless. And thats why this form (of dance) is so exciting. What inspires us is theres such a connection with tap and music. This summer, the company will perform SOUNDspace, one of the early works that brought Michelle Dorrance to prominence. The program will also feature 45th & 8th, a new work featuring the original compositions of vocalist Aaron Marcellus. Oona Doherty OD Works July 26 30, Ted Shawn Theatre A rising star in contemporary dance, Oona Doherty will be making her Jacobs Pillow debut this summer as the first headlining artist from Northern Ireland to perform at the festival. Based in Belfast and touring internationally, Doherty a choreographer, dancer, collaborator, and visual artist is the recipient of numerous international awards. Dohertys group will perform Navy Blue, an ensemble piece that will be a U.S. premiere at The Pillow. The company will also perform Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus. Hip Hop Across the Pillow August 2 6, Ted Shawn Theatre In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, The Pillow will present a festival within the Festival. This one-of-a-kind program will feature dance artists including Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater, which returns to the Pillow after 13 years. The program will also feature the world premiere of two works commissioned by Jacobs Pillow specifically for the Festival: a new duet by hip hop icons Rokafella and Kwikstep, and a work performed by the Ladies of Hip Hop created by Los Angeles-based multi-disciplinary artist d. Sabela Grimes. Complexions Contemporary Ballet August 9 13, Ted Shawn Theatre For nearly three decades, New York-based Complexions Contemporary Ballet has been thrilling audiences around the world with its intense, high-energy performances designed to bring unity to the world one dance at a time. For its Pillow debut, the dance company will perform STAR DUST, a one-act tribute to the iconic rock star David Bowie, featuring many of his best-known songs. Additional works are also scheduled to be part of the program. Decidedly Jazz Danceworks Aug. 9 13, Henry J. Leir Stage Making their Jacobs Pillow debut this summer, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (DJD) is a 38-year-old jazz company from Calgary, Canada, dedicated to the rich traditions and boundless future of jazz dance. DJD is known for its crowd-pleasing works, exceptional musicality and rhythmic, percussive aesthetic, often featuring live music. Martha Graham Dance Company Aug. 16 20, Ted Shawn Theatre The Martha Graham Dance Company was founded in 1926 by Graham, who remains one of the greatest modern dance choreographers in history. Theres no mistaking a piece created by the late, great Graham sharp, angular movements often punctuated by electrifying or sensuous passages that suggest a sea of emotions simmering just below the surface. Nearly a century later, the acclaimed dance company continues to thrill audiences around the world. The company has performed many times at the Pillow, including in 2015. This summers Pillow program includes Cave of the Heart, a one-act ballet choreographed by Graham in 1946 to music by Samuel Barber, featuring sets by Isamu Noguchi. The company will also perform a CAVE, a 2022 work created by Hofesh Shechter which was inspired by communal nightlife dancing and the Rave scene. Additional works to be announced. Tulsa Ballet August 23 27, Henry J. Leir Stage Tulsa Ballet will make its Pillow debut this summer as the first company from Oklahoma to perform at the festival. Tulsa Ballet was founded in 1956 by Moscelyne Larkin, one of five Native American ballet dancers termed the American Indian ballerinas of Oklahoma (all of whom have Pillow connections), who performed in and helped organize the Oklahoma Indian Ballerina Festival in 1957 and 1967. This summer at The Pillow, Tulsa Ballet will perform Nicolo Fontes Divenire, Andrew McNicols Celestial Bodies and the pas de deux from Katarzyna Kozielskas Ode. Compagnie Kafig August 23 27, Ted Shawn Theatre Founded in 1996 by French hip hop artist Mourad Merzouki, the Lyon, France-based Compagnie Kafig enthusiastically blurs the lines between dance genres. An electrifying mixture of modern dance, hip hop, performance art and acrobatics, this dance company does it all, often at the same time on the same stage. Pillow regulars will vividly remember this companys dazzling 2012 Pillow performance, which they performed again at The Pillow in 2013. This summer, the company will perform Pixel, one of their best-known works created by Merzouki in collaboration with Adrien Mondot and Claire Bardainne. Jacobs Pillow is located at 358 George Carter Road in Becket. To purchase tickets or for more information, click here or call (413) 243-0745. When Kamryn Yanchick graduated, she hoped to decorate her cap with a beaded pattern in honor of her Native American heritage. Whether she could was up to her Oklahoma high school. Administrators told her no. Yanchick settled for wearing beaded earrings to her 2018 graduation. A bill vetoed earlier this month by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, would have allowed public school students to wear feathers, beaded caps, stoles or other objects of cultural and religious significance. Yanchick, a citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and descendent of the Muscogee Nation, said she hopes the legislature tries again. Being able to unapologetically express yourself and take pride in your culture at a celebration without having to ask a non-Native person for permission to do so is really significant, said Yanchick, a Native American policy advocate and a former intern with the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma. For Native American students, tribal regalia is often passed down through generations and worn at graduations to signify connection with the community. Disputes over such attire have spurred laws making it illegal to prevent Native American students from wearing regalia in nearly a dozen states including Arizona, Oregon, South Dakota, North Dakota and Washington. High schools, which often favor uniformity at commencement ceremonies, take a range of approaches toward policing sashes, flower leis and other forms of self-expression. Advocates argue the laws are needed to avoid leaving it up to individual administrators. Groups like the Native American Rights Fund hear regularly from students blocked from wearing eagle feathers or other regalia. This week in Oklahoma, a Native American high school graduate sued a school district, claiming she was forced her to remove a feather from her cap at a ceremony last spring. When Jade Roberson graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School, the same school attended by Yanchick, she would have liked to wear a beaded cap and a large turquoise necklace above her gown. But it didnt seem worth asking. She said a friend was only able to wear an eagle feather because he spoke with several counselors, consulted the principal and received a letter from the Cherokee Nation on the feathers significance. It was such a hassle for him that my friends and I decided to just wear things under our gown, said Roberson, who is of Navajo descent. I think it is such a metaphor for what it is like to be Native. When Adriana Redbird graduates this week from Sovereign Community School, a charter school in Oklahoma City that allows regalia, she plans to wear a beaded cap and feather given by her father to signify her achievements. To pay tribute and take a small part of our culture and bring that with us on graduation day is meaningful, she said. In his veto message, Stitt said allowing students to wear tribal regalia should be up to individual districts. He said the proposal could also lead other groups to demand special favor to wear whatever they please at graduations. The bills author, Republican state Rep. Trey Caldwell, represents a district in southwest Oklahoma that includes ancestral land of Kiowa, Apache and Comanche. Its just the right thing to do, especially with so much of Native American culture so centered around right of passage, becoming a man, becoming an adult, he said. Several tribal nations have called for an override of the veto. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said the bill would have helped foster a sense of pride among Native American students. Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill said students who choose to express the culture and heritage of their respective Nations are honoring their identity. It means a lot that the bill was able to garner support and make it to the governor, Yanchick said, but she wishes it wasnt so controversial. Native American students shouldnt have to be forced to be activists to express themselves or feel celebrated, she said. By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AP Education Writer. Mumphrey reported from Phoenix. AP reporter Sean Murphy contributed to this story from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Fall River police are disputing the claims made by a car crash victim after he said he was shot on Wednesday, according to a police statement released Thursday. The crash took place in the area of Fourth and Wade streets and involved a parked car, police said. Before arriving, police were advised that the occupants of the parked car fled the crash site. The driver had an injury to his left cheek and he yelled that he was shot. The driver, only identified as a 32-year-old man, was taken to St. Lukes Hospital for a medical evaluation and was later released with a minor injury, police said. The juvenile passenger was not injured. Major crimes division detectives interviewed residents in the area, along with the passenger, to find that no one reported hearing gunshots at the time of the crash, police said. An examination of the car determined it did not appear to have been shot at. Based on preliminary investigation, there is no credible evidence of a shots-fired incident, police said in the statement. They added that the drivers injuries were not consistent with a gunshot wound. Despite these findings, the investigation into the cause of the crash and the drivers claims remain ongoing. Fall River police detectives provided no information about the other vehicle involved. A similar incident happened Wednesday night in Stoughton on Plain and West streets following a crash that sent five people to the hospital, including one gunshot victim. The crash involved multiple vehicles including a pickup truck, and gunshots came from a black sedan while the injured person was in the drivers seat of a white sport utility vehicle. He started beating me, a Charlestown woman told police of an interaction with a man she called a friend, after they found her with cuts near her eyes and other facial injuries on Monday, according to a police report. The woman claimed the man, Ismail Mohamed, prevented her from leaving the apartment where they were staying, then assaulted her, a Boston Police Department officer wrote in the report. Mohamed faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with serious physical injury, kidnapping and mayhem, following the incident earlier this week. Mohamed is set to appear at a dangerous hearing in Charlestown District Court Thursday. After Boston Police responded to the apartment in the early-morning hours of May 22, they discovered the unidentified woman suffering from severe bruising to her face and cuts above and below her eyes, the report said. Officers noted a large amount of blood on the bedding in the bedroom where she was found. Police described her as disoriented and unable to open her eyes. She was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. According to the report, the woman first told officers at the scene that the facial injuries were self-inflicted. She said she and Mohamed were not in a relationship, but were friends. Later, at the hospital, she told them he had assaulted her after she had tried to leave the apartment, the report said. Multiple interviews with Mohamed resulted in inconsistent statements, though he told officers he cut the womans eyes to help with swelling, after waking up and finding her with bruises. According to the report, Mohamed told officers he and the woman had had a fight the previous night that wasnt serious, after which he had fallen asleep. SOUTH HADLEY Delaneys Market unveiled its latest gourmet outlet Thursday at 459 Granby Road, adding to its existing Longmeadow, Wilbraham and Westfield locations. The new store has an expansive, 5,000-square-foot kitchen, becoming the heart of Delaneys food production. This store holds a special place in our journey as weve moved our central kitchen here, said Peter Rosskothen, co-owner of Delaneys Market. This kitchen is the hub from where meals for all our stores and the Big Y markets will be prepared. It truly puts us at the forefront of homestyle, heat-and-eat cuisine. The local chain, which specializes in gourmet and comfort food entrees, caters to a wide-ranging clientele, from retirees to busy couples without time, to those purchasing meals for homebound individuals. The stores offer 80 to 90 choices per location, including dishes like lemon parmesan cod, chicken salad with vegetables, and homestyle favorites like chicken parmesan, pot pie and shepherds pie. Based on Rosskothens experience at Boston Market, he adopted the home meal replacement concept in 2015 and 2016, providing fresh, pre-made meals. While the company anticipates acquiring a liquor license for the new location, Rosskothen acknowledged a legal issue over a proposed fifth outlet in Holyoke. We are unfortunately suing the city to approve that location. Nevertheless, the current focus remains on the newly opened South Hadley store, he said. Executive chef Richard Poggi and his team prepare and package up to 8,000 meals weekly for the chains locations and Big Y. The kitchen relocation also has freed up space for The Log Cabin, the groups main banquet facility in Holyoke. Executive chef Richard Poggi shows off the new Delaney's Market kitchen in South Hadley My commitment is to maintain the highest standards of quality, efficiency and consistency. This new kitchen aids us in those efforts. Poggi highlighted additional popular offerings, such as New England pot roast, turkey dinners, chicken-bacon-ranch macaroni and beef stroganoff. The new kitchen is slated to become U.S. Department of Agriculture certified by the end of July, permitting it to serve all Delaneys Market and bolster the chains wholesale offerings. Poggi showed off the stew pots and the combination ovens in the kitchen. These are the tools that enable me to maintain quality, he said. The team at Delaney's Market in South Hadley. The chains heat-and-eat offerings became even more popular during the pandemic, Poggi said. Our clientele is mainly the working class. People who want restaurant-quality meals, he said. Endorsing the opening, Town Administrator Lisa Wong said, This is fantastic. Theres been a lot of anticipation and excitement. And I know the community has wanted something like this. Wong added that Delaneys Market suits her busy lifestyle. I dont always have time to sit down for lunch or even have time to make dinner, she said. First and foremost, theyve done a great job rehabbing the lot and the building, said Andrea Miles, the South Hadley Select Board chair. Having a small market feel at this end of town will be nice. AMHERST Police Capt. Gabriel Ting has been named interim chief of the Amherst Police Department, while a search for permanent replacement for retiring Chief Scott Livingstone is underway. A 26-year veteran of the force, Ting is the right person to lead this agency not just on an interim basis, Livingstone told The Republican in an interview today. He has the utmost respect of all of the officers, the chief said. People have told me the vast majority of the Amherst community supports him. The chief also said Ting, the captain of police operations, has an unbelievably great working relationship with UMass. A lifelong resident of Amherst, Ting joined the force 1997 as patrol officer, became part of detective bureau in 2004, was promoted to sergeant in 2010, then to lieutenant in 2016 and named captain four years ago. He earned bachelors degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and masters degree from Western New England University. He graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1991. Staff at the Barnes & Noble store in Hadley voted Thursday to unionize, becoming what the union members say is only the second of the bookselling chains locations to do so. Employees at the store complained of inadequate compensation, a lack of benefits and demanding working conditions. On Thursday, they took a hopeful step toward change. There came to be a certain point where we realized it was important to not let our working environment hinge on other people, but have it be based on conditions we set ourselves, said Lainie LaRonde, a Barnes & Noble bookseller. We didnt feel listened to by management or anyone else, said Izzy Farrick, another employee. A union gives us a voice. A Barnes & Noble spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. In a unanimous vote, 11 booksellers and baristas at the Hadley store on Route 9 elected to unionize and affiliate with the United Food and Commercial Workers, which claims 1.3 million members in the United States and Canada. The Hadley employees followed in the footsteps of their counterparts at the Barnes & Noble location at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where staff formed a union earlier this month. The Hadley stores staff believes the Rutgers union is the first in the country at a Barnes & Noble store. Employees of the bookstores flagship location in Manhattan have also reportedly filed for a union election. On Thursday, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union said staff at a Barnes & Noble store in Brooklyn had also filed for a union vote. The unionization at the Hadley bookstore came about 10 months after workers at a Trader Joes store less than a half-mile down Route 9 became the first in their companys history to unionize. Staff at the Barnes & Noble store said the nearby Trader Joes unionization inspired their organizing effort, as did the successful push to unionize at the Barnes & Noble location at Rutgers on May 12. Hadley is a UNION TOWN! the Barnes & Noble Hadley Union wrote on social media Wednesday, following a rally of employees and their supporters. All appeared routine at the Hadley bookstore as the staff voted in a backroom Thursday afternoon in an election monitored by the National Labor Relations Board. Customers meandered through rows of paperbacks and hardcovers, while others sipped coffee and turned pages at the stores attached cafe. When the vote concluded at 5:30 p.m., members of the newly formed union said they had little doubt their effort would succeed. They informed Barnes & Noble leadership in April of their intent to unionize. We believe that unionizing is the best course of action for us to take to ensure that our workers are cared for and prioritized in ways that Barnes & Noble has so far consistently failed to do, the employees wrote in a letter to company CEO James Daunt. They said that despite the bookstore giants recent successes, retail staff remain underpaid, underappreciated, and disrespected. Barnes & Noble, which has more than 600 stores nationwide, said earlier this year that it would open 30 new locations in 2023, part of its largest expansion in a decade. Company sales are on the rise, growing last year by 4%, NPR reported in March. Meanwhile, the majority of our staff are still underpaid and without benefits, even while many of us are working nearly or actually at full time hours, the letter to Daunt read. Some staff said they were bothered that after multiple years of employment at the Hadley store, their pay remained at Massachusetts minimum wage, which this year is $15/hour. We are often told that booksellers and baristas are Barnes & Nobles most valuable assets, the letter to Daunt added. We agree, and have decided to come together to stand up for our rights as workers in order to foster the working conditions we deserve. Massachusetts State Police have identified the young Springfield woman killed on Interstate 91 on May 7, after she was thrown from her car and run over by multiple oncoming vehicles. Jemyliana Vargas, a 21-year-old woman from Springfield, was identified on Thursday by state police as the woman killed in the early morning, multi-vehicle crash. Vargas was the passenger in one of the cars, police said. At around 2:55 a.m. on May 7, police responded for a serious crash to the northbound side of I-91, just over the Enfield, Connecticut border in Longmeadow. Upon arrival, officers found a 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit that had rolled on the highway, police said. The car had hit the rear of a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck, causing it to flip across the road. Vargas was ejected from the Volkswagen as the car rolled, and the 21-year-old landed on the highway, police said. The woman was then hit by at least one other oncoming vehicle officials believe was a Nissan Infiniti, police said. The driver of the Infiniti fled the scene on foot, and police said the department has still not located that person. It is unclear at this time whether there have been any charges in this case, police said. The driver of the Volkswagen, a 29-year-old Springfield man, was seriously injured in the crash and taken to Baystate Medical Center by the Agawam Fire Department, police said. The four occupants inside the pickup truck, which came to a stop at a guardrail on the highway, were also taken to the hospital, police said. Services for Vargas were held on Tuesday, May 16, at the Henderson Funeral Home in Springfield, according to a Facebook post by a family member. The family had asked everyone who attended to wear yellow, her favorite color, the post said. A married Longmeadow couple was arrested in connection with a commercial lender defraud scheme in which the couple was accused of providing fake rent rolls and forged lease agreements for several western Massachusetts properties. Authorities arrested Louis Lou R. Masaschi, 57, and his wife, Jeannette Norman Masaschi, 56, in connection with the fraud scheme on Tuesday. The couple was indicted by a Springfield grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; two counts of wire fraud; and one count of aggravated identity theft, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Massachusetts wrote in a statement. According to court documents, Masaschi and Norman were partners in dozens of limited liability companies that owned commercial and residential property in Springfield, East Longmeadow, Enfield, Connecticut as well as other Western Massachusetts and Connecticut municipalities. A limited liability company essentially is a business that takes its debts or liabilities away from its owners. The business itself becomes its own legal entity that bears all financial responsibility The couple owned the following limited liability companies, according to officials: Longmeadow Hospitality; JLL Realty Developers, LLC; Shaker Rd, LLC; and 79 Enfield Realty, LLC. Prosecutors accused the couple of conspiring to fraudulently obtain loans for their companies from financial institutions and commercial lenders by providing false, fictitious and fraudulent financial information including false rent rolls and fraudulent lease agreements. After receiving the loans, the couple made some or no payments and ultimately defaulted on the loans, causing substantial losses to the financial institutions and commercial lenders, prosecutors stated. On May 11, 2018, Masaschi and Norman received a $350,000 loan for JLL Realty Developers secured by the first mortgage of a residence in Springfield. Days later, the couple changed the loan agreement and issued a $765,000 loan to the same company, according to prosecutors. The couple went on to cross-collateralize and cross-default the first loan to secure a second mortgage on two homes in East Longmeadow, officials said. Around June 29, 2018, Masaschi and Norman obtained an $875,000 loan for 79 Enfield Realty secured by Masaschis 100% interest in the company, prosecutors said. Officials believe the loan was used to pay off an outstanding loan from another financial institution, which was only 45 days from maturing. To obtain these loans, it is alleged that Masaschi and Norman failed to disclose that the income reportedly produced by commercial properties listed in their loan applications was based on materially false, fictitious and fraudulent rent rolls and lease agreements, feds said. Masaschi and [Norman] also allegedly overstating [sic] the amount of income collateral properties were paying by providing fraudulent rent rolls, forged tenant signatures and inflated lease amounts and rental terms. Prosecutors accused the couple of canceling payments on the JLL Realty Developers loans in January 2020. Additionally, apart from six months of interest reserves provided by the commercial lender, prosecutors said Masaschi and Norman never made any payments on the 79 Enfield Realty loan. Masaschi and Norman were released on conditions and scheduled to next appear in court on July 24. Related Louis Masaschi content: SPRINGFIELD A New Jersey man was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to one year and a day in prison for his role as a bag man in an elaborate scheme to steal a Hampshire County womans life savings. Gaurang Contractor, an immigrant from India, will serve a few more months in prison and then face deportation once his term expires after U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni sentenced him. Contractors attorney argued he was a patsy. Gaurang Contractors decision to assist shadowy figures in their scheme has destroyed his life. Detained now for more than nine months in a place he had never before been to and half a world away from his daughter and family, he yearns only to return to his native India and put this disastrous chapter in his life behind him, public defender Timothy Watkins said in a presentencing memo. Contractor, 39, of North Bergen, New Jersey, was in the U.S. on a student visa when he somehow got tangled up with said shadowy figures and agreed to pick up what he claims he only knew as a parcel in a parking lot in Hadley in August of 2022. According to prosecutors, he was drawn in by men with apparently fake names including Shiv and Oscar White. They have not been caught or prosecuted. Theres a lot more we wish we knew about this. This is only a slice of what we know, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bennett told Mastroianni on Wednesday. Contractor said he was instructed by the others to drive 150 miles from New Jersey to Massachusetts in his BMW to pick up the parcel outside a steakhouse. Inside the car, there were buckets of apparent gold. But the assets were fake, as local police and the FBI became involved to thwart a scheme to fleece a retiree of more than $300,000 her lifes savings, according to court records. Investigators subbed in fake gold for the real gold the scammers requested. The scam began days before when a man called the woman claiming to be a DEA agent who informed her that her bank accounts had been purportedly hijacked by a drug cartel. They demanded cash, and when the woman balked, they demanded she go purchase gold from a local jeweler instead. Bennett argued for a sentence of up to 21 months in prison. The 150 miles he drove gave him a lot of opportunities to turn around, Bennett said. Watkins countered with a time served proposal, telling the judge his client just wants to get out of the country and back to his child. Mastroianni split the difference. This is a very ugly scam. People just shouldnt have their financial lives and emotional lives subject to upheaval because of scammers, the judge said. The Middlesex County District Attorneys Office identified the man killed in a fatal shooting in Waltham early Monday morning. Shelson Jules, 22, of Waltham, was identified as the person killed in the fatal shooting, according to the district attorneys office. Monday at around 1:29 a.m., police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Lyman Street and Faneuil Road. Authorities found Jules injured from gunshot wounds on the sidewalk and rushed him to Lahey Hospital for treatment. Although life-saving measures were performed, Jules died of his injuries at the hospital, officials said. No arrests have been made in the fatal shooting. Officials are asking any member of the public with information connected to the fatal shooting to call Waltham Police at 781-314-3550 or Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorneys Office at 781-897-6600. Stoughton police officers were called to a serious car crash when they discovered one person was injured by a gunshot Wednesday night. The car crash was on Plain Street and West Street, according to police. It had been closed to all traffic but had reopened Thursday morning. The person shot was taken to the hospital, officials said. WCVB reported four other people were also taken to the hospital following the crash. Multiple cars were likely involved. The shot was likely fired from a black sedan, police told the news outlet, while the person who was shot was in the drivers seat of a white sport utility vehicle. WCVB also reported a pickup truck was also involved. Massachusetts State Police have not yet located the driver of a Nissan Infiniti, which police said hit a woman on Interstate 91 after she was thrown from a car in a multi-vehicle crash earlier this month. Jemyliana Vargas, a 21-year-old woman from Springfield, was killed in the multi-vehicle crash on I-91 in Longmeadow just over the Enfield, Connecticut border on May 7, according to Massachusetts State Police. Vargas was the passenger of a 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit heading north on I-91 that hit the rear of a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck, according to the police investigation. The collision caused the Volkswagen to roll over and throw Vargas from the vehicle onto the highway. Police said Vargas was at least hit by one other vehicle, a Nissan Infiniti, after she rolled onto the highway. The driver of the Infiniti ran away from the crash on foot, according to officials. As of Thursday, May 25, authorities have not found the driver of the Infiniti, which they believe hit Vargas. The driver of the Volkswagen, a 29-year-old Springfield man, was seriously injured in the crash and taken to Baystate Medical Center by the Agawam Fire Department, police said. The four occupants inside the pickup truck, which came to a stop at a guardrail on the highway, were also taken to the hospital, police said. Vargas was remembered as a devoted mother of three children who was full of life, according to her obituary. Her family and loved ones held her services at the Henderson Funeral Home in Springfield on May 16. Editors Note: This article has been updated to include a response from the City of Worcester. When Carmen Rodriguez fell behind on her real estate taxes, she wasnt concerned, given her $2,600 bill was pennies compared to her house, valued at up to $300,000, according to her lawyers. But when the City of Worcester sold its right to foreclose on her house to a tax title buying group, the new owner brought an eviction action against her and her son. This, despite the fact that Rodriguez continued making payments to the city, according to a press release from her attorney group, Greater Boston Legal Services. Read more: Bank takes Springfield Plaza in foreclosure auction In Massachusetts law, a foreclosure negates any equity the foreclosed party had in a property. But a U.S. Supreme Court ruling released Thursday regarding a similar Minnesota case could allow for Rodriguez to recoup the profits on the sale of her house, the legal group said. In Tyler vs. Hennepin County, Minnesota, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Geraldine Tyler, whose $40,000 house was sold against a $15,000 tax bill and all her equity forfeited. Tylers lawyers argued that violated the taking clause of the Fifth Amendment. Chief Justice John Roberts, in the opinion of the court, wrote, The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesars, but no more. Todd Kaplan, of Greater Boston Legal Services, said in a statement that cases like Rodriguez most benefit entities like Tallage Davis, LLC, the company that bought the title. The process used by Worcester does not even benefit the citys citizens, because while Worcester received less than $4,000, Tallage took the deed to Carmens home worth about $300,000, Kaplan said. This process makes no economic sense for Massachusetts communities; it only enriches people like those who own Tallage. In a statement, Rodriguez praised the Supreme Court decision that homeowners have rights and they should not lose the entire value of their home for a small amount of taxes owed. The City of Worcester responded Friday, with the following statement: The City of Worcester is a party to an action brought by Carmen Rodriguez in the U.S. Bankruptcy court. The City does not comment on legal issues concerning pending litigation. As stated, in Ms. Rodriguezs court filings, when the real estate taxes on her property remained unpaid, the City perfected a tax lien on the property. In compliance with Massachusetts law, the City then sold the tax lien by way of a tax collectors deed to a third party for the amount of the outstanding real estate tax obligation, plus an amount to cover administrative costs. The third party then brought a judicial foreclosure action and took title to the property. The City did not foreclose on the property at issue, nor would it obtain any surplus as a result of a sale of the property by the third party. NORTHAMPTON ValleyBike Share which had its busiest year ever in 2022 with 117,000 rides is unlikely to be back this summer. The city of Northampton which administers the bike rental program for eight Pioneer Valley communities said Thursday it has given up plans for a short-term contract that would have gotten the electric-assist bikes back on the streets in 2023. That interim fix, meant to plug a gap after the collapse of a Canadian vendor, didnt work out. Instead, Northamptons director of planning and sustainability, Carolyn Misch, said the best way forward is to host a competitive bid process for a new vendor. We own the bikes and the stations will stay where they are, Misch wrote in response to emailed questions. We know that there are possible vendors who would be able to get us back up and running, but we need to go through the proper procurement channels. So I do not want to assume that this will be a fast process. While ValleyBike could operate this year, its unlikely. ValleyBike will be back. We need to find a partner that can reliably provide this important transportation service for Northampton and the coalition communities, Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said in a news release. ValleyBike had been operated by Bewegen Inc. The Canadian company, mired in a bankruptcy reorganization in its home country, sought to get out of its contract. According to its end-of-year 2022 report, ValleyBike had 568 bikes and 71 stations in Springfield, West Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Easthampton, Northampton, South Hadley, Amherst and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The 117,000 trips in 2022 totaled more than 240,000 miles ridden, nearly 10 times around the Earth. Riders burned more than 20 million calories. The program recorded about 3,500 more trips in May 2022 than in May 2021, when gas was more than $2 cheaper per gallon, indicating some commuters opted to use ValleyBike to get around. ValleyBike says riders have traveled more than 400,000 miles since the system opened in 2018. The most popular time for riders is Fridays around 2 p.m. Bewegens troubles shut down bikeshare programs across the country. Officials in Richmond, Virginia, said they got just 24 hours notice that their system would stop. Riders make use of ValleyBike in Springfield's south end in 2018. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)(Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Repub In Raleigh, North Carolina, officials say the bikeshare will be back up and running in the second week of June, after a veteran-owned company, Corps Logistics, was brought in. Corps Logistics worked on ValleyBike in its early days. The idea is that bike rentals provide exercise and recreation, while also linking people to other transportation options, like peddling from Springfield Union Station to a city destination. Each bike has a GPS tracking system, enabling it to be retrieved if riders do not return them to designated stations. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission used $1.3 million in funding from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program in 2017 to start ValleyBike. The commission spent $87,000 in state money on feasibility studies and preparation starting in 2015. Cities are eligible for federal funding for infrastructure involving bicycles that are supported by user fees. ValleyBike expanded its network in 2021 thanks to a $1.1 million state and federal transportation grant. The absence of ValleyBike leaves Bird e-scooters in West Springfield and Pittsfield as the regions only examples of trendy short-term rentals. And then he did what? Ali Jaafar, the man sentenced this week for defrauding the Massachusetts Lottery and the U.S. government, hasnt been shy about his long con. For nearly a decade, he and two sons ran a counter game on the lottery, secretly paying people holding winning tickets themselves at a discount then redeeming the tickets for the full value. Jaafars latest score: Five years of free room and board in prison. The fraud worked until it didnt. The case offers takeaways worth noting. One is the sheer audacity of this criminal scheme. Another is that hundreds of people were eager to swap winning tickets for lesser payouts to save themselves money or grief. It takes a village to defraud the lottery. The Jaafars were the chieftains. After the lottery barred the family from its games, they filed a lawsuit, in 2019, demanding to be allowed to play. They wanted back on that gravy train. That civil case chewed up hours and hours of court time and yielded fascinating examples of probability, Lottery-style. Make that improbability. The Jaafar men claimed they were just lucky. They cashed more than 13,000 winning tickets during the familys fraudulent campaign, which officials say was worth about $21 million. Another son, Mohamed, admitted to his role last November. Just lucky? Their own lawsuit, heard in 2020 by a Suffolk Superior Court judge, put the lie to that. The claim of luck withered under scrutiny. For the period the court examined, Ali Jaafar would have had to buy 2,283,649 tickets; he claimed to have been lucky enough to win 559 times. That court review went further. To pull that off, Jaafar would have had to buy 12,441 tickets a day. That worked out, the courts ruling said, to buying 517 an hour, or eight a minute in places as far apart as Nantucket, Worcester, Boston and Lowell. Alas, the owner of one of the stores that sold a winning ticket testified that Ali Jaafar tried to enlist her to abet the scheme. Eventually, she agreed. Other lottery agents, for a slice of the action, also appear to have aided the fraud. One said she was paid $50 to connect ticket winners with the Jaafars. The lottery says it is suspending or canceling licenses of more than 40 agents. Why did people holding winning tickets accept discounted payouts from this clan? To run little frauds of their own. One agent testified that the Jaafars typically paid $7,000 to the holder of a $10,000 winning ticket. The actual ticket holder the truly lucky one got that cash free and clear, without tax withholdings. Some who said yes to the Jaafars offers would otherwise have seen their winnings taken for unpaid child support or back taxes. The scam is known as 10 percenting. Its not new, but court papers said the Jaafars took it to a new level. They cultivated an expansive network of co-conspirators and became the most active lottery fraudsters in Massachusetts. And what a network it was. The family hired runners to claim lottery winnings, keeping their own heads down. But dad and the boys werent shy. Each stepped forward to pose with those big checks. Ali Jaafar cashed more winning lottery tickets than anyone else in 2019. Son Mohamed Jaafar came in third and Yousef fourth. Though the con fed off the lottery, that alone wasnt enough for the Jaafars. They were also found guilty of defrauding the IRS by claiming fake gambling losses of more than $6 million that offset ticket winnings; the IRS unwittingly refunded the family $1.2 million, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Now, its five years in jail for Ali Jaafar and about four years for his son Yousef. They must also forfeit money amassed through the scheme and pay a little over $6 million in restitution. Thats the cost of operating a criminal enterprise for nine years pretty much in daylight. It took a while for the hammer to come down, but presenting more than 13,000 winning tickets to the lottery was never going to pass as a matter of luck. For all their nerve and bluster, the math was not in the Jaafars favor. Their scam might have gone undetected at a smaller scale, but the prosecution established that the Jaafars wanted more and more, and were tripped up by the thing that usually gets grifters in the end: Greed. A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment. New York City is considering a first-of-its-kind homeless statement of rights that would give unhoused people the right to sleep outside, apply for rental vouchers and vote, among other provisions. The bill was introduced by Public Advocate Jumanee Williams in April 2022. City Council unanimously approved it in April. Mayor Eric Adams is expected to make a decision on the measure soon. His spokesperson, Fabien Levy, told the Associated Press that the mayor was still evaluating the measure. The legislation comes at a time when more local governments are increasingly taking steps to criminalize homelessness. This year, California lawmakers considered a bill that would make it a misdemeanor crime or infraction to sit, lie, sleep, store, use, maintain or place personal property on any street, sidewalk or other public right-of-way within 1000 feet of a school, daycare center, park or library. The legislation failed to make it out of committee. A similar bill was passed in Los Angeles two years ago. Last year, Missouri passed a law making it a misdemeanor to sleep on state-owned land. Rhode Island became the first state to pass a bill of rights for those experiencing housing insecurity in 2012. Missing from the New York City bill is a right to housing, a detail that has been publicly criticized by advocates. A Homeless Bill of Rights isnt truly complete without guaranteeing housing, a basic human need, for everyone, the National Homelessness Law Center wrote in a statement on Twitter. Other additions to the bill include a right to shelter; right to request an interpreter and have certain documents translated into other languages when interacting with agencies; educational options for unhoused children; right to file a complaint and be protected from retaliation for filing complaints; right to receive diapers and feminine hygiene products and right to shelter space consistent with a persons gender identity. Similar pieces of legislation have died elsewhere. In Oregon, the states House majority leader said a right to rest bill was not moving forward because it missed key deadlines. It wouldve given people experiencing homelessness the right to rest on public land. Lawmakers in California previously attempted to pass a right to rest bill, but their efforts were unsuccessful in 2015. The New York City legislation is a direct contrast to some directives issued in the past to help solve the homelessness issue, including sweeps of encampments and forcing unhoused people off of the citys metro system. According to Gothamist, only 5 percent of people displaced from encampment sweeps in New York City wound up in shelters in 2022. Subway crime rates have gone down since the city began closing off the metro system to unhoused people and increased its subway police presence. It is cruel and inhumane to allow unhoused people to live on the subway and unfair to paying passengers and transit workers who deserve a clean, orderly and safe environment, Adams said after announcing the initiative last year. The days of turning a blind eye to this growing problem are over. Justin Schmautz spent about a year building his remote controlled boat. So when it got stuck in the muck in Flint Pond in Shrewsbury on Feb. 13, he wasnt going to leave it there. Schmautz, who was at the pond with his girlfriend, first tried to get the boat out with a remote controlled car, but it immediately sank into the mud. The 24-year-old Shrewsbury resident took off his shoes and entered the water himself in hopes of retrieving the boat that had a motor he put together himself, but soon he became just as stuck. Read more: Worcester child abuse prevention team honored for work by DA Joe Early First he sank into the mud up to his knees, then he continued to sink until the water and muck were up to his neck, all while he was holding his cell phone in his mouth. Schmautz guessed the air temperature was between 35 to 45 degrees that day, and even though it was sunny, he said the water felt absolutely insane and like needles pricking his skin, especially the longer he was in the water. Schmautz said he shouted at his girlfriend not to come in because she wanted to run in after him to help, and told her to instead call the police. Shrewsbury Police officer Alex Disimone arrived within minutes, according to Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr., who honored DiSimone for saving Schmautzs life along with Shrewsbury Police officers Dillon Zona and Tyler Vlass and Sgt. Mark Sklut with his offices Team Excellence and Merit (TEAM) Award on Wednesday. Disimone first tried to wade into the water himself to help Schmautz, but when he realized he would get stuck himself, instead went to his patrol car and got a ResQ Disc, a frisbee-like device meant to aid in water rescues. The officer threw him the disc and his fellow officers worked to wrap the discs cord around a tree to get leverage to pull Schmautz out of the pond, Zona said. Read more: Worcester DA honors first responders for saving man trapped under Jeep for over 24 hours Desimone acted as an anchor for the disc in the pond as well and Zona, Vlass and Sklut all pulled on the rope, according to Early. They were able to free Schmautz less than a minute after arriving on the scene, Zona said. They all worked together to get Justin out. Justin called the officers afterwards his dream team and I couldnt agree more, Early told the crowd gathered at the award ceremony Wednesday. This is why we call it the TEAM award. Its about working collectively. Its about working together. The groups teamwork and quick thinking allowed them to save a life, Early said. Read more: Finding Toro: How a firefighter with a drone reunited a family with its dog Shrewsbury Police Chief Kevin Anderson saw the team pull Schmautz out of the water and said hes never been more proud to be a police officer than in that moment. Zona and Vlass, both 24, said it was the first water rescue they had been a part of, but said they had trained for a situation like it and let their training take over. It wasnt until Schmautz came into the office the next day to thank them that Zona realized they had actually attended the same middle school. When asked what it was like to save someone from his own community that he knows, Zona said it was one of the reasons why he became a police officer. Ive grown up in this town, this towns given a lot to me, Zona said. I was just happy to give back to my community. When it comes to receiving a TEAM award for their efforts, Vlass said it was nice to get recognized with everyone at the station and Schmautz present, especially since the day in and out of being a police officer can sometimes feel thankless. Schmautz made sure to thank the officers on multiple occasions. During the whole ordeal, Schmautz said he felt like he could die, was in shock, and freaking out. Every time he tried to pull himself out, he would get sucked back down, he said. I just want to say thank you very much guys for saving my life, Schmautz told the officers, That was one of the scariest days of my life. He called the officers actions unbelievable and lightening quick. I wouldnt be here without you, Schmautz said. Schmautzs mother, Lauren Schmautz, was also grateful for the officers actions. They were just incredible, they worked as a team and got it done and hes still here, Lauren said. Getting the call that her son was stuck was terrifying, she said and going through the experience changed her perspective on life. I dont take anything for granted, Lauren said. She said it reminded her to tell people she loves them every day, because things change very quickly when you least expect it. After the whole ordeal, Schmautz said he was really sore but was overall OK. Going forward, he said hell think things through a little more and prepare himself a little better when he uses his boats. His father was able to retrieve the boat with a fishing pole after he was rescued, which Lauren said he did to make sure no one would experience the same fate as Schmautz if they tried to go out and get it. The Africa Fintech Summit is pleased to announce that its 10th edition will be hosted in Lusaka, Zambia on November 2-3, 2023. The summit will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders to explore, debate, and pave the future of the financial technology industry across the African continent and the globe. This Novembers summit comes after the 9th AFTS which took place in Washington DC this past April where the Tech for Trade Alliance was launched by the US governments Prosper Africa initiative along with several US-Africa partners focused on supporting cross-border trade and e-commerce innovation on the continent. Since its inception in 2017, the Africa Fintech Summit has become the premier bi-annual summit of Africas fintech industry. The summit has been held in several cities across the continent, including Lagos, Addis Ababa, Cairo, and Cape Town, and has attracted thousands of participants from over a hundred countries across the world. This Novembers summit will feature Africas largest annual financial technology exhibition, keynote addresses, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and will feature an array of industry topics, including digital payments innovation, blockchain use cases, lending for individuals & MSMEs, commodity supply chain, and fintech regulation. ambia is an ideal location for the 10th edition of the summit, as the country has a rapidly growing fintech ecosystem and sits at the crossroads of several key industries and economic communities such as COMESA. According to a report by the Ministry of Technology & Science and the UNCDF published in 2022, mobile money penetration in Zambia reached 69.4% in 2020, up from 53.3% in 2015. Despite this, there is still much room for growth and innovation within Zambia, particularly in the areas of financial services, connectivity, commerce, and digital infrastructure. Hon. Felix C. Mutati, Minister of Technology & Science for Zambia stated, We are excited that the Africa Fintech Summit team has selected Lusaka, Zambia as the host of this Novembers edition. This summit comes at an important moment in Zambia where the Ministry of Technology & Science continues to work diligently to implement our national digital transformation strategy. The summits focus on the advancement of financial inclusion and sustainable economic development via the fintech industry will play a key role in driving digital transformation not only here in Zambia, but across the African continent. We are thrilled to bring the 10th Africa Fintech Summit to Lusaka, Zambia, said Zekarias Amsalu, Co-Founder of the Africa Fintech Summit. Zambia hosts substantial potential for the fintech industry and will continue to play an increasingly crucial role in an array of sectors across the global economy. Financial technology is actively being leveraged to support more sustainable mobility, more productive agriculture, more efficient cross-border trade, and more sustainable mining operations, just to name a few. AFTSLusaka will take a step beyond simply discussing fintech-powered financial inclusion and explore how fintech-adjacent industries are witnessing structural changes and powering digitization across Africa. We look forward to welcoming the entire African fintech industry in Lusaka this November. Articles similaires The Association of Information Systems Users in Morocco (AUSIM) recently published its report on the 6th edition of the AUSIM Conference, which was very successful with the participation of eminent speakers and experts. Placed under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, this major event brought together more than 1,200 actors representing all activities of the digital sector. Under the theme Digital National, Unleash the Potential, the event focused on the place of digital in the new development model of Morocco. The Minister in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Mrs. Ghita Mezzour, the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, Mr. Younes Sekkouri, as well as the President of AUSIM, Mr. Hicham Chiguer, all emphasized the importance of the digital transformation in the national development strategy and its impact on the Moroccan economy. As part of this event, AUSIM presented 30 strategic and operational recommendations that aim to strengthen the role of digital in the transformation of Moroccan companies and improve their competitiveness both nationally and internationally. From May 31 to June 2, AUSIM will participate in GITEX AFRICA Morocco, which will be held in Marrakech. Media and partners interested in collaboration opportunities in the digital field in Morocco, Africa, or internationally are invited to come and meet AUSIM at its Stand located in Hall 9 (Stand n 9D23). AUSIM, as an association of information systems users in Morocco, plays an essential role in promoting the effective use of information and communication technologies in all sectors of activity. Its objective is to promote the digital transformation of Moroccan companies and to support the development of the digital sector in the country. AUSIMs members include representatives from public and private companies, administrations, academic institutions, and experts in the digital field. AUSIMs vision is committed to continuing to promote debates on the role of digital technology in the transformation of Moroccan companies, strengthening links between startups and established companies, and promoting national and international collaborations. This is illustrated by the agreement signed with the Agence de Developpement du Digital (ADD) and the JADARA Foundation on the sidelines of the 6th edition of the Assises de lAUSIM to collaborate on topics of common interest and to support young people. Articles similaires Dans une lettre ouverte, des salaries de la compagnie de telephonie fixe et mobile ont fait part de leurs frayeurs apres larrestation de deux de leurs collegues dans le departement du Procurement, des persones qui ont plus de 30 ans de services. To the Prime Minister We, employees of Mauritius Telecom, are desperate and have no other alternative than to share our plight with you as we are subject to a very repressive and unhealthy atmosphere. We are outraged by the way we are being treated. Our colleagues of procurement have been called by the police and two of them have been arrested. Both of them have more than 30 years work experience in the company and are loyal defendants of the interest of Mauritius Telecom. They have worked under several government regimes, but have never been treated in such inhumane way. Beyond the pressures and threats, some were denied any legal assistance by the company. It has always been the practice to offer the services of legal counsels to employees when they are to depone to police, Icac, court or any other legal instances. The same practice was applied in the sniffing case investigation. But, our colleagues from procurement have been deprived the right to counsel. This is unfair and unacceptable! They should be released immediately. Our voices no longer reach higher management. Mr Kapil Reesaul, the CEO, is never available to meet staff. He is just busy protecting himself, enjoying his benefits, planning his trips abroad, and scheduling endless strategic meetings which never result in any innovative launches anyway. He has no concern for staff whatsoever. Now it is clear that he will not hesitate to jeopardise staff and companys interest to be the blue-eyed boy of the PMO. It is the first time that we are witnessing politics controlling everything in the company. Employees are being questioned and if someone tries to present his arguments, he is either threatened or transferred or shown the exit door. Even our phone calls and emails are being constantly tracked. More than 200 colleagues have worked on the copper project. All set processes have been followed at field, store, procurement and finance level. Even the internal audit and external audit undertaken by the American firm, FTI, did not find anything which could have been qualified as illegal. We are being unjustly targeted. The processes defined and adhered to under the copper project were clearly explained in the legal case of Mauritius Telecom against Top Fm. The said case was supported with facts and relevant proofs. It was definitely a clear-cut winning case for Mauritius Telecom. But why the case, worth Rs 100 million, was dropped by Mauritius Telecom recently? Did the external legal counsel faced any political dilemma in defending MT against Top Fm, thereby confirming that all procedures are to the point and proving the allegation against MT to be wrong? There is an overall feeling of helplessness and disgust today. We are being used as a scapegoat. The trade unions and France Telecom representatives are also helpless. We have no one to defend us. Please consider our request to keep political revenge out of Mauritius Telecom and its staff. Let us live and work peacefully. We have deliberately chosen to share our concerns anonymously in order to protect us and our families. From employees of Mauritius Telecom McHale Raceday, Ballinrobes richest race day of the year, takes place on Monday next, May 29. This is now the tenth year of the hugely popular raceday with an all-jumps card going to post at 4.30 pm. To mark the occasion, the graded McHale Mayo National has now an increased prize fund of 80,000, making it Ballinrobe's most valuable race in 2023. The McHale Mayo Hurdle of 30,000 and the McHale Tiger Roll Beginners Steeplechase also take place on a very competitive looking card. The Willie Mullins-trained Rock Road won last years feature race under jockey Kieran Callaghan and the champion trainer is very much looking forward to McHale Raceday again at Ballinrobe on Monday. We had a great day last year with Rock Road giving young jockey Kieran Callaghan his first big win over fences in the McHale Mayo National. We would like to wish McHale and Ballinrobe Racecourse well on the day, said Willie, who hopes to run Fighter Allen in Monday's big event. Padraic McHale, Managing Director of McHale commented: We are delighted to be teaming up again with our neighbours, Ballinrobe Races, to sponsor another exciting days racing on Monday next. The McHale Race Day is now in its tenth year in a row and has developed greatly over the years to become a part of the racing calendar with the McHale Mayo National being the feature race. Thanks to John and his team for all their efforts and we look forward to a great evening. John Flannelly, Ballinrobe Racecourse Manager added: We are extremely grateful to McHale for their sponsorship of McHale raceday over the last ten years. The day has gone from strength to strength and we could not have done so without their support. We look forward to a great evening of racing. It has also been announced that Rasai BEO, TG4s highly-acclaimed racing programme, will broadcast live coverage from Ballinrobe on the day. TG4s Head of Sport, Ronan O Coisdealbha, said: TG4 are very grateful to Horse Racing Ireland for continuing to provide us the opportunity to broadcast top quality race meetings from around the country and we look forward to our extended Rasai Beo coverage this year. McHale Raceday takes place on day one of the two-day May Festival. Tuesday, May 30, is also an all jumps card featuring the Monroes Live John Monroe Memorial Handicap Hurdle of 22,000. MORE Visit www.ballinroberacecourse.ie to avail of the best ticket offers on the day The global Cell-free Protein Expression market size is expected to reach USD 459.9 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.4% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Coherent Market Insights Inc. When working in either the basic or applied fields of molecular biology, CFPE (cell-free protein expression) is an indispensable tool. Research teams in high-throughput functional proteomics and genomics are increasingly turning to CFPE (cell-free protein expression) due to its many advantages over expressing proteins in living organisms. Enzyme engineering by means of display methods, and the fabrication of protein arrays, like nucleic acid programmable protein arrays (NAPPA), require cell-free expression of proteins. A DNA template (in the form of a plasmid or a polymerase chain reaction product) encoding the desired protein and product for translation and transcription that includes everything you need, are required for CFPE (cell-free protein expression). Following the removal of the cell membrane, this liquid is considered an extract because it consists solely of cytosol and organelles. The target protein is expressed once DNA and the resulting cellular extract are united. Request Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1082 We have an updated report [Version 2023] available. CFPE (cell-free protein expression) helps meet the demand for personalized medicine caused by the prevalence of long-lasting diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. As a result, the global market for CFPE (cell-free protein expression) is predicted to expand during the aforementioned estimate time frame For example, in 2021, it was estimated that 537 Mn adults (aged 20-79) around the world were dealing with diabetes, in accordance to data released in December 2021 at the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas Tenth edition. Across the world, total people with diabetes are expected to reach 643 Mn by the end of the year 2030 and 783 Mn by 2045, according to the same source. It is anticipated that key players efforts to spread the word about the improvements theyve made to their CFPE (cell-free protein expression) systems will fuel market expansion over the next few years Antibody Engineering and Therapeutics Europe Conference will be held from 7th June to 9th June, 2022, and on 1st June, 2022, Codex DNA, Inc., a synthetic biology company based in the United States, declared the company would be introducing for antibody and protein engineering processes, its BioXp system and RapidAMP technology at the conference. The BioXp system fully automates the processes without any human intervention along the way, including DNA assembly, amplification, cloning and mRNA synthesis. Top Key Players: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Takara Bio Inc. Promega Corporation New England Biolabs Jena Bioscience GmbH GeneCopoeia Inc. Cube Biotech GmbH CellFree Sciences Co., Ltd., Moderna Therapeutics Biotechrabbit GmbH Bioneer Corporation, Merck KGaA Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. Daicel Arbor Biosciences Profacgen Creative Biolabs biotechrabbit Roche Molecular Systems Inc. Cusabio Technology LLC LenioBio This report also splits the market by region: Americas, United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, APAC, China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain, Middle East and Africa, Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries Detailed Segmentation : By Product Type: E. coli Cell-free Protein Expression System Rabbit Reticulocytes Cell-free Protein Expression System Wheat Germ Cell-free Protein Expression System Insect Cells Cell-free Protein Expression System Mammalian Cell-free Protein Expression System Labelling Tags Others (Vectors, yeast cell extracts, among others) By Expression Mode: Continuous flow Expression Batch Expression By Application: Enzyme Engineering Protein Labeling Protein-Protein interaction Protein Purification Others (High Throughput Production, among others) We Offer Customized Report, Click: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/1082 Over the forecast period, the global CFPE (cell-free protein expression) market is expected to face challenges from factors like the inefficiency of current post-translational modification systems and the prohibitive cost of protein expression systems. Large-scale protein expression is impractical with CFPE (cell-free protein expression) systems because of the high cost of reagents like phosphate chemicals in nucleotide form and secondary energy sources. In addition, CFPE (cell-free protein expression) systems can be negatively impacted by the addition of energy and substrate sources due to short reaction scales, which in turn limits the ability of the resultant protein foldings. Purchasing the Cell-free Protein Expression Market: Outlook for the worldwide Cell-free Protein Expression market in both developed and emerging markets, both now and in the future. Both the market segment with the largest projected share and the market segment with the highest CAGR throughout the projection period. Countries and regions anticipated to experience the fastest development throughout the projected period. The most recent innovations, market shares, and business tactics used by the key market participants. Study examines emerging market trends as well as the likelihood that various trends will impact expansion. Analysis also discusses the factors, challenges, and opportunities that will have a significant impact on the global Cell-free Protein Expression industry. Research includes a detailed analysis of market statistics as well as historical and current growth conditions in order to provide futuristic growth estimates. Purchase This Complete Business Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/1082 Table of Content Chapter 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Assumptions 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Market Analysis by Regions 1.5 Cell-free Protein Expression Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030 11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Cell-free Protein Expression Industry Impact Chapter 2 Global Cell-free Protein Expression Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries 2.1 Global Cell-free Protein Expression (Volume and Value) by Type 2.3 Global Cell-free Protein Expression (Volume and Value) by Regions Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis 3.1 Global Production Market Analysis 3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis Chapter 4 Global Cell-free Protein Expression Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2017-2023) Chapter 5 North America Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 6 East Asia Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 7 Europe Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 8 South Asia Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 10 Middle East Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 11 Africa Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 12 Oceania Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 13 South America Cell-free Protein Expression Market Analysis Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Cell-free Protein Expression Business Chapter 15 Global Cell-free Protein Expression Market Forecast (2023-2030) Chapter 16 Conclusions Explore More Related Insights: Cell Therapy Market Stem Cell Manufacturing Market Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market Human Embryonic Stem Cells Market Cell Expansion Market Fuel Cell Market Brucellosis Vaccines Market Middle East And Asia Pacific Cell And Gene Therapy Market Microfibrillated Cellulose Market Adoptive Cell Therapy Market Uk Cell And Gene Therapy Research Challenges Market T Cell Lymphoma Market Basal Cell Carcinoma Market North America Sickle Cell Disease Market About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights Pvt Ltd, 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 400, Burlingame CA 94010, United States Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com United States of America: +1-206-701-6702 United Kingdom: +44-020-8133-4027 JAPAN: +81-50-5539-1737 INDIA: +91-848-285-0837 The global Industrial Microbiology market size is expected to reach USD 20.23 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 8.4% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Coherent Market Insights Inc. There is a subfield of applied microbiology called industrial microbiology that focuses on the study and application of microorganisms in manufacturing. It has applications in the healthcare, food, and chemical industries. The pharmaceutical industry utilizes industrial microbiology for the large-scale production of vitamins and antibiotics. Fermentation using yeasts and bacteria is commonly used in the food industry to create items like breads. The global market for industrial microbiology is predicted to expand in the coming years as a result of rising demand for antibiotics, vitamins, and vaccines. Example: in August of this year (2019), the FDA gave Nabriva Therapeutics the green light to market its antibiotic Xenleta for the therapy of CABP in the community (CABP). There is also optimism that the introduction of novel enzymes will contribute to the expansion of the market. For example, in January of 2020, CARBIOS is a provider of bio-industrial solutions which formed collaboration with Novozymes, a provider of biological solutions, to advance the demonstration and industrial-scale development of Carbios proprietary PET-degrading enzymes. In 2018, North America had a 27.4% value share of the market for industrial microbiology worldwide, with Europe in second place. Request Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/981 We have an updated report [Version 2023] available. (The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, a Table of Contents, a Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis, and our research methodology.) Our Sample Report May Includes: 2030 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis. 100+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research). Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Requests. 2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes Updated List of tables & figures. Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis. Competitive Landscape: The given section on the global Industrial Microbiology Market will include an extensive examination of the various players in this industry, their respective company overviews, an analysis of existing product portfolios, financials, etc. We even include a supply-chain analysis, a PEST analysis, market probability scenarios, Porters Five Forces analysis, and other related frameworks that are meant to aid in the expansion of your reputed organization. The specific application of these given findings allows all our clients to apply essential yet accurate data when formulating the most-suitable business strategies with the aim of improving their business footprint in this global industry. Top Key Players: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. Becton Dickinson and Company Asiagel Corporation Eppendorf AG bioMerieux SA Novamed QIAGEN Sartorius AG 3M Merck KGaA Danaher Corporation. To increase their market share, the industrys top players are concentrating on introducing innovative new products. For instance, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. updated their EndoScan-V software system for endotoxin detection and measurement in September 2019, and they introduced the Celsis automatic inspection solution for rapid sterility to maintain product quality and prevent contamination for their pharmaceutical manufacturing clients. As of this past June, Hygienaa company that offers rapid microbial detection, controlling, and identification solutionshas released its EnSureTouch Monitoring System, a cutting-edge tool for collecting, analysing, and reporting data from a battery of quality tests. Market participants can anticipate significant growth prospects as a result of the rising need for microbiologic applications in vaccine development. Research and development of vaccines for the treatment of various diseases can benefit from the rationale-based approach provided by molecular biology. It is anticipated that the veterinary vaccination schedule will be shortened as a result of the use of different type of bacteria to create recombinant vaccines. Boosting production of flu vaccines is also anticipated to yield substantial financial rewards for the vaccine industry. There is potential for the market to expand as more sophisticated methods are used to analyze the patterns of infectious diseases. For example, clinical microbiology employs next-generation sequencing for infectious disease diagnosis and monitoring. Its also applied to deciphering how infectious diseases spread. Detailed Segmentation : By Product Type: Equipment & Systems Filtration Pumps & Systems Microbial Detection Systems Air Monitoring Systems Incubators & Culture apparatus Others Reaction Consumables Medial Simple Medial Complex Media Defined Media Specialty Media Reagents & Stains Others Laboratory Supply Bags & Bottles Loop & Needles Petrifies, Racks, Seals, Plates & Holders Sample preparation & Collection Filtration Discs and Membranes Others By Test Type: Sterility Testing Microbial Limit Testing Bio-Burden Testing Water & Environmental Testing Others We Offer Customized Report, Click: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/981 Key Highlights Market Study: Revenue and Sales Estimation: Historical Revenue and sales volume is presented and further data is triangulated with top-down and bottom-up approaches to forecast complete market size and to estimate forecast numbers for key regions covered in the report along with classified and well recognized Types and end-use industry. Additionally macroeconomic factor and regulatory policies are ascertained in Industrial Microbiology industry evolution and predictive analysis. Manufacturing Analysis: The report is currently analysed concerning various product type and application. The Industrial Microbiology market provides a chapter highlighting manufacturing process analysis validated via primary information collected through Industry experts and Key officials of profiled companies. Competition: Leading players have been studied depending on their company profile, product portfolio, capacity, product/service price, sales, and cost/profit. Demand & Supply and Effectiveness: Industrial Microbiology report additionally provides distribution, Production, Consumption & Export & Import Purchasing the Industrial Microbiology Market: Outlook for the worldwide Industrial Microbiology market in both developed and emerging markets, both now and in the future. Both the market segment with the largest projected share and the market segment with the highest CAGR throughout the projection period. Countries and regions anticipated to experience the fastest development throughout the projected period. The most recent innovations, market shares, and business tactics used by the key market participants. Study examines emerging market trends as well as the likelihood that various trends will impact expansion. Analysis also discusses the factors, challenges, and opportunities that will have a significant impact on the global Industrial Microbiology industry. Research includes a detailed analysis of market statistics as well as historical and current growth conditions in order to provide futuristic growth estimates. Purchase This Complete Business Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/981 Table of Content Chapter 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Assumptions 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Market Analysis by Regions 1.5 Industrial Microbiology Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030 11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Industrial Microbiology Industry Impact Chapter 2 Global Industrial Microbiology Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries 2.1 Global Industrial Microbiology (Volume and Value) by Type 2.3 Global Industrial Microbiology (Volume and Value) by Regions Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis 3.1 Global Production Market Analysis 3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis Chapter 4 Global Industrial Microbiology Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2017-2023) Chapter 5 North America Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 6 East Asia Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 7 Europe Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 8 South Asia Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 10 Middle East Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 11 Africa Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 12 Oceania Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 13 South America Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Industrial Microbiology Business Chapter 15 Global Industrial Microbiology Market Forecast (2023-2030) Chapter 16 Conclusions Explore More Related Insights: Us Europe And Asia Pacific Molecular Diagnostics Market South East Asia And South Asia Industrial Microbiology Market Swab Market Molecular Diagnostics Market Sepsis Diagnostic Market Industrial Microbiology Market Green Packaging Market Digital Pathology Market In Vitro Diagnostics Ivd Market Clinical Laboratory Services Market About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights Pvt Ltd, 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 400, Burlingame CA 94010, United States Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com United States of America: +1-206-701-6702 United Kingdom: +44-020-8133-4027 JAPAN: +81-50-5539-1737 INDIA: +91-848-285-0837 by Fern Siegel , May 25, 2023 Mental health is often cited as a necessity for public health and well-being. But getting people to access facilities and services is a challenge. That's particularly true in certain segments of society. The Cactus agency and sister company Grit Digital Health have debuted their latest iteration of Man Therapy, the research-backed digital mental health platform for the Maine Coast Fisherman Association. The campaign employs humorous social-media posts, point-of-purchase postcards and OOH posters all designed in a vintage, weather-beaten New England seaport style. The goal is an accessible message that encourages fishermen to take action to protect their mental health. advertisement advertisement Print and OOH adds can be seen around the Maine fishing community and on social media for both the Maine Coast Fisherman Association and Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety. In addition, the new Frame of Mind video series continues this week with new episodes. Despite commercial fishing being one of the most dangerous civilian occupations in the United States, commercial fishermen have historically not received enough attention and resources to support their mental health. Now, as the industry undergoes significant change and uncertainty, it is crucial to reach out to fishermen and develop effective tools to support them, said Monique Coombs, director of community programs, Maine Coast Fishermen's Association. Man Therapy works to combat any stigmas that surround getting help. Its campaigns specifically target men in construction, veterans, first responders, etc. to connect them with tools and resources. A CDC-funded study found that men who access Man Therapy reported a decrease in depression and suicidal ideation, a reduction in poor mental health days, and an increase in help-seeking behavior. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 24, 2023 Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai committed to an AI Pact in a meeting with Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market. The meeting with top European Union officials that took place on Wednesday involves creating a set of voluntary rules or standards while formal regulations for applying artificial intelligence (AI) are underway. Agreed with Google CEO @SundarPichai to work together with all major European and non-European #AI actors to already develop an AI Pact on a voluntary basis ahead of the legal deadline of the AI regulation, Breton wrote in a tweet Wednesday. The EU is trying to be proactive and work on an AI pact ahead of incoming EU legislation set to apply to AI, reports Reuters. advertisement advertisement The AI Pact, in theory, would involve all major European and non-European companies developing AI tools, on a voluntary basis -- and do it ahead of the legal deadline of the pan-EU AI Act. The only technology company that has been publicly named to the initiative is Google, according to reports. Discussions also were centered on disinformation, including those related to AI. Breton also welcome Pichais commitment to step up the fight against disinformation ahead of elections in Europe. We expect technology in Europe to respect all of our rules, on data protection, online safety, and artificial intelligence. In Europe, its not pick and choose, tweeted Vera Jourova, vice president for values and transparency at the EU. I am pleased that @SundarPichai recognises this, and that he is committed to complying with all EU rules. by Ray Schultz , May 24, 2023 BuzzFeed, which last month announced it was shuttering its news division, is moving ahead on other digital fronts. The media company announced two new collaborative projects this week: an online storefront for its wellness brand Goodful, powered by Verishop; and an AI-powered culinary companion, Botatouille, designed by Tasty for its global community. For the Goodful storefront, BuzzFeed is deploying a Creator Collective of wellness creators to highlight lifestyle content and curated products to consumers on social platforms like TikTok, Instagram & Facebook Reels. Verishop will support one-stop checkout, and online customer service.. BuzzFeed has had affiliate partnerships with retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair, Macy's, and Etsy. The Botatouille offering will allow Tasty app users to have a real-time conversation with the Botatouille chatbot about recipes, cooking and cleanup. We developed Botatouille with our audience in mind, bringing together Tastys culinary insights and innovative AI technology to help our community navigate every part of the cooking process, says Hannah Bricker, general manager, Tasty. advertisement advertisement Tasty seeks to collaborate with our users to continue adapting and improving this AI-powered chefbot based on their feedback leveraging new technologies to enhance the cooking experience online and in the kitchen. Speaking at an investor conference last week, Buzzfeed founder Jonah Peretti predicted that generative AI is going to replace the majority of static content. BuzzFeed has had its challengesit recently reduced its staff by 15%, while closing the news division. HuffPosts is now its only news product. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 24, 2023 The Biden administration is urging the Supreme Court to turn away Genius Music Group, which is attempting to revive claims that Google scraped song lyrics from the Genius site, in violation of its terms of service. In a friend-of-the-court brief filed Tuesday, the Department of Justice says the battle between Google and Genius has some wrinkles that render the case a poor vehicle for deciding the main point of contention -- whether federal copyright law precludes Genuis's lawsuit. The battle dates to December of 2019, when Genius sued Google, along with the company LyricFind, for allegedly copying lyrics from Genius and displaying them in the search results. (LyricFind allegedly scraped the lyrics and licensed them to Google.) Genius licensed the right to display the lyrics, which were posted by users, but didn't own a copyright in the lyrics and didn't claim that Google infringed federal copyright law. Instead, Genius alleged that Google and LyricFind breached Genius's contract by failing to abide by the site's terms of service, which prohibit website visitors from distributing content for commercial purposes. advertisement advertisement Google countered that the dispute was governed by copyright law, and argued that Genius could not proceed because it didn't own the copyright to the lyrics. U.S. District Court Judge Margo Brodie in the Eastern District of New York dismissed the case in 2020, ruling that Genius's claims were precluded by copyright law. A three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit upheld that decision last year. Genius then urged the Supreme Court to hear an appeal, essentially arguing that federal copyright law shouldn't override claims stemming from alleged contractual violation. The company wrote that the only way it can protect its business is to condition otherwise-free access on a visitors promise not to collect Geniuss content and use it for competing commercial purposes. The Supreme Court subsequently sought input from the Biden administration. The Department of Justice says the Supreme Court should reject the request for an appeal from Genius, arguing that the matter is not a run-of-the-mill contract dispute because Genius didn't require website visitors to expressly agree to its terms of service. Petitioners own breach-of-contract claims are atypical ... because access to petitioners website is not conditioned on any express promise to abide by petitioners terms of service, and petitioner does not contend that respondents made any such express promise here, attorneys with the Solicitor General's office wrote. The Biden administration also suggested that other circuit courts would have sided with Google under the circumstances. There is little indication that any other court of appeals would reach a different outcome in this case, the government argued. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 24, 2023 A lawsuit accusing Meta Platforms of tracking app users hinges on sheer speculation, the company says in a new bid to convince U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin in San Francisco to throw out the case. This case rests on nothing more than sheer speculation layered atop a mischaracterized blog post -- not on any well-pled facts, the company argues in papers filed Tuesday. The complaint against Meta turns a hypothetical concern into a conclusory allegation, the company adds. Meta's argument comes in a class-action complaint filed last September, when Wayne Mitchell and other Facebook users claimed that the company wrongly collects data from mobile users, including iPhone users who did not explicitly consent to tracking. Apple doesn't allow developers to collect data from app users unless they opt in to tracking. The complaint alleges violations of the federal wiretap law, as well as various California state laws. advertisement advertisement Mitchell sued shortly after security researcher Felix Krause reported on his blog that Facebook and Instagram can track app users who click on in-app links to retailers, advertisers, or other outside companies. Meta is able to do so because its apps automatically open a Meta browser when people click on links. That browser then injects tracking code into those outside sites, according to Krause. Krause added that Meta told him the injected code helps to aggregate events such as online purchases, and that the code respects Apple's privacy setting. Earlier this year, Meta sought a dismissal at an early stage of the proceedings, arguing that the complaint's core allegation -- that Meta monitors all activity by users in in-app browsers -- isn't supported by Krause's blog post. The users opposed that request, arguing earlier this month that their allegations regarding tracking were plausible enough to warrant further proceedings. Meta on Tuesday pressed Martinez-Olguin to dismiss the complaint with prejudice -- which would prevent the users from revising their claims and bringing them again. The sole alleged factual basis for plaintiffs core claims is a purported experts supposed say-so: they point to the Krause post as their basis for claiming that Meta collects everything that users do on third-party websites in the in-app browser and that Meta uses the data for advertising purposes in violation of Apples ... policy, Meta writes. The Krause post does not in fact say these things, Meta continues, adding that the post itself contains disclaimers that make clear that he is not making these assertions. Martinez-Olguin is expected to hold a hearing in the matter on July 20. by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, May 25, 2023 Characterizing the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) as an arms race between Google, Microsoft and other leading developers, Omnicom CEO John Wren Wednesday disclosed that the agency holding company is working on betas with all of them -- and currently has "71 active projects" going on both with clients, as well as internal ones to transform the way it operates. "I think the next war that youre going to see is going to be between all the big players, because they all have to get their stakes in the ground," Wren told J.P. Morgan analysts Wednesday during an investor presentation in Boston, adding: "We are partnering with them, and we will service them in ways too." The presentation -- which also touched on the current state of advertising demand, the "macro environment" influencing it, as well as how much Omnicom has shifted away from being an agency to become a "principle-based" media trading company -- was dominated by his sentiment surrounding the revolutionary implications of AI. advertisement advertisement Im pretty aggressive in terms of what I think the implications of what AI will be in a relatively short number of years, so we are pushing quite a number of jobs that I believe will get automated or eliminated at some point into offshore locations," he said -- adding that the goal is to reduce workflow and overhead in a way that enables Omnicom's "knowledge workers" to be more productive and competitive in the marketplace. Wren provided two anecdotal examples -- one internal and one client-facing -- on how AI is transforming the way Omnicom operates. On the internal front, Wren said Omnicom currently has a multitude of databases covering its 318-building real estate portfolio and 70,000-person workforce, estimating it would take his human resources seven days -- "if they worked really hard" -- to compile it into a report to give to him. "If I type it into OpenAI, I can get the answer by myself in five minutes," he said, adding that as powerful as that technology is, Omnicom still needs to resolve both legal and ethical issues related to processing all that data -- some of it incredibly sensitive and potentially private -- in order to output it via AI. In terms of client-facing examples, Wren noted that Omnicom currently is testing various AI-enabled ways of creating ads utilizing "artbots," and said there recently have been important breakthroughs in terms of copyright issues, but he also gave an explicit media planning anecdote for making a $10 million media buy in the New York market. "AI can give you a plan," he said, noting: "What it cant do is give you information about every individual who lives in the New York metropolitan area." He also said current versions of AI likely could not factor in the various deals Omnicom has with media suppliers that would make one plan more optimal than another -- not just for Omnicom's clients, but for its own bottom line too. During the presentation Omnicom CFO Phil Angelastro disclosed that Omnicom currently acts as a principal -- not an agent -- in at least some way in virtually every area of its business, but that three major service areas -- event marketing, field operations and media -- are the three main ones, at that media services currently accounts for roughly half of all its principle trading activities currently. That disclosure raises profound questions about the nature of modern-day holding companies, their cost-accounting methods, and the extent of their media neutrality, as well as potential media risk liabilities, because as principal traders they likely are explicitly on the hook if clients default on media payments. In an analysis focusing on that disclosure, industry analyst Brian Wieser published an edition of his Madison and Wall newsletter discussing the implications for Omnicom, as well as other big agency holding companies. Exactly how Omnicom's transformation to an AI-based organization will impact that wasn't clear, but Wren said the holding company is in the process of figuring out "how to be paid properly" as AI processing squeezes human time-based workflow and reduces margins for doing business that way. He likened the potential compensation transformation associated with that to Madison Avenue's seminal commission-based media-buying model. Wren also disclosed that Omnicom has struck proprietary beta-testing deals with the biggest AI developers -- including one for client Disney that is testing the next generation of Microsoft's AI, as well as one "I'm not allowed to talk about" with Google's Bard technology. In terms of the current state of advertising demand in what has been a recessionary media spending marketplace, Wren said most of Omnicom's biggest clients are not pulling back on ad spending, but are focusing on "flexibility," which he said likely will impact 2023-24 advertising negotiations. "Theyre preserving as much flexibility as they possibly can," he said, adding: "I think youll see that reflected in the upfronts." by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, May 25, 2023 Microsoft on Thursday joined a growing chorus of voices calling for regulation of the most powerful types of artificial intelligence, such as the language learning model GPT-4 The type of highly capable artificial intelligence is both impressive and somewhat unpredictable, the company writes in its new paper, Governing AI: A Blueprint for the Future. We need regulatory frameworks that anticipate and get ahead of the risks, Microsoft writes. And we need to acknowledge the simple truth that not all actors are well-intentioned or well-equipped to address the challenges that highly capable models present. The company specifically endorsed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's recent recommendation that a new agency oversee and license the most advanced types of artificial intelligence. (Microsoft is an investor in OpenAI, and has incorporated GPT-4 into the Bing search engine.) advertisement advertisement Despite rigorous prerelease testing and engineering, weve sometimes only learned about the outer bounds of model capabilities through controlled releases with users, Microsoft writes. And the work needed to harness the power of these models and align them to the law and societal values is complex and evolving. The company's report comes as lawmakers and other officials are increasingly eyeing artificial intelligence. Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan recently said the technology could give a boost to fraudsters, while also facilitating discrimination and privacy violations. Other watchdogs have long sounded an alarm about bias in algorithms, such as those used in artificial intelligence systems. Last year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission noted that chatbots could facilitate discrmination against people with disabilities. For instance, the commission wrote, a chatbot algorithm might screen out all candidates who disclose gaps in their resumes, even if the gap was caused by a disability. OpenAI itself warned last year that artificial intelligence could potentially fuel disinformation, and that ChatGPT will sometimes respond to harmful instructions or exhibit biased behavior. The New York Times reporter Kevin Roose to divorce his wife. What's more, the technology has gone awry in unexpected ways: In one highly publicized example , Microsoft's AI-powered chatbot, Sydney, recently attempted to persuadereporter Kevin Roose to divorce his wife. Not everyone thinks a new agency is the best way to handle the potential pitfalls of artificial intelligence. The digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation argues against a new government commission, writing that a licensing agency is likely to favor large or well-financed companies. Forcing developers to get permission from regulators is likely to lead to stagnation and capture, legislative counsel Ernesto Falcon writes. An army of lobbyists and access to legislators through campaign contributions and revolving doors will ensure that such an agency will favor only the most well-connected corporations with licenses. The organization says lawmakers should focus on how the technology is used, instead of the technology itself. If policymakers are worried about privacy, they should pass a strong privacy law, Falcon writes. If they are worried about law enforcement abuse of face recognition, they should restrict that use. In the realm of iconic Bollywood movies, 3 Idiots stands tall as one of the movies that resonated with audiences worldwide. For Indian students, especially, it became a film they wanted to watch with their parents, so they could finally express how pressured they felt by an education system that stifled their creativity and dreams. For years, weve seen Chatur (Omi Vaidya) be vilified for his rote learning and adherence to the Indian education systems suffocating rules. However, amidst all the laughter and life lessons, I cant help but feel that Rancho (Aamir Khan) may not be the virtuous hero we all believed him to be, but rather the real villain of the story instead of Chatur. Vinod Chopra Films One of the key instances that cast a shadow over Rancho's character is when he publicly humiliates Chatur, his studious and ambitious classmate. Rancho's intent is to prove that his unorthodox methods of learning are superior to Chatur's rote memorization approach. While the scene may elicit laughter from the audience, it raises questions about Rancho's ethics and the need to belittle others to validate his own ideologies. The fact that he uses sexual expletives to prove his point is something we need to take a hard, long look at. Vinod Chopra Films Furthermore, Rancho's actions reveal a selfish streak when he chooses to abandon his girlfriend, Pia (Kareena Kapoor Khan), in pursuit of his own dreams and ambitions. He places his academic goals above their relationship, leaving Pia heartbroken and questioning his commitment. This callous disregard for emotional bonds undermines Rancho's integrity and casts doubt on his supposed righteousness that is glorified in the film. Vinod Chopra Films Throughout the film, Rancho consistently rebels against the established education system, criticizing its flaws and advocating for a more practical and holistic approach to learning. However, his rebellion is not without its contradictions. Despite challenging the system, Rancho himself becomes complicit in perpetuating its injustices when it is revealed that he took on a fake identity to help get the real Rancho (Javed Jaffrey) an engineering degree. This act undermines the integrity of the educational institution, exposing Rancho's hypocritical nature. Vinod Chopra Films The more I rewatch 3 Idiots, the more evident it becomes that Rancho's character is not as morally upright as initially perceived. His actions raise important questions about the true nature of heroism and the consequences of unbridled idealism. Rancho's intentions, though seemingly noble, often come at the expense of others' dignity, relationships, and the integrity of established institutions. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) New Bedford was once the city that lit the world, exporting vast quantities of whale oil for lamps in the early 1800s. Workers packed the docks, unloading casks of oil that had been extracted at sea from whale carcasses and brought in by a fleet of hundreds of whaling ships. Nearly two centuries later New Bedford aspires to light the world again, in a different relationship with the sea, as the offshore wind industry arrives here. On Wednesday, the vessel UHL Felicity bringing wind turbine tower sections from Portugal reached the Port of New Bedford. Once assembled out on the water this summer by developer Vineyard Wind, the turbines will stand more than 850 feet high. Theres this sort of poetic coming-about for New Bedford as a center of energy, Mayor Jon Mitchell said. Its also a milestone for the industry. The United States does not yet have a single commercial-scale offshore wind farm. But it will soon. THE BUILDOUT Vineyard Wind is building a 62-turbine wind farm 15 miles (24 kilometers) off the Massachusetts coast. Its expected to put out 800 megawatts, enough electricity to power more than 400,000 homes, beginning this year. The first U.S. offshore wind farm opened off Rhode Islands Block Island in late 2016. But with five turbines, its not commercial scale. Another project, South Fork Wind, is scheduled to start construction this summer off the coasts of New York and Rhode Island. Since its smaller than Vineyard Wind, it will likely be the first U.S. commercial-scale wind farm to open. The United States is decades behind Europe, where the worlds first offshore wind farm was erected in 1991. The first U.S. wind farm was supposed to be a project off the coast of Massachusetts known as Cape Wind, but it failed after years of litigation and local opposition. Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Skoust Moeller said New Bedford is the cradle of large-scale offshore wind in the United States, and this wind farm sets the stage for the next project, and the next, and the next. As he and Mitchell stood together Wednesday night, looking at the ship and massive cranes that would unload it, he turned to Mitchell and said, This is a proud moment for the industry and the country. The Biden administration wants to build 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. That would be enough to power more than 10 million homes. The activity is bringing jobs and opportunities for businesses across the country. Developers are investing in multi-million dollar projects to upgrade ports along the East Coast, including New Bedford, New London, Connecticut, Brooklyn, New York and Portsmouth, Virginia. They're planning to invest in ports along the West Coast and on the Gulf Coast as wind farms are approved there. Billions of dollars will be spent inland too, at shipyards that are building a fleet of specialized vessels to erect and maintain wind farms, according to the American Clean Power Association. New Bedford saw it coming. Necessity had the city looking for a way forward. NEW BEDFORD'S NEXT ACT New Bedford, now a city of about 100,000, is not part of a major metropolitan area. Like similarly situated cities, Mitchell said, they had to figure out how to make their way at a time when the spoils of the American economy are going to the big, superstar cities. The town Herman Melville immortalized in Moby-Dick remains a top port for commercial fishing and seafood processing, but the citys economy cant depend on just that, he said. Industrial cities have been burdened with the stigma of being gritty and failing and struggling, Mitchell said. We eschew all those victimhood labels. So to become a leader in offshore wind, to compete successfully for investment and to grow, it was really an opportunity for us, for our residents, to see our city in a different way, for the rest of the world to see our city in a different way. So New Bedford opened the first U.S. port facility specifically designed for offshore wind, in 2015, to become a hub for the industry as it came to the United States, recognizing its promise. Today, Vineyard Wind leases that marine terminal. Now construction is happening all around the port of New Bedford, more than at any time since the start of the whaling industry, Mitchell said. Bristol Community College is planning to open a National Offshore Wind Institute in New Bedford late this summer to train and certify workers. A NEXT ACT FOR PEOPLE, TOO Ed Gilhouse, a 60-year-old construction safety expert, was at the terminal overseeing the preparations for the ship arrivals. He said he went to work for Vineyard Wind to try something new as his career winds down. It also keeps him close to home. He had been commuting out-of-state to work. This is just like a cherry on top for me, so to speak, to be able to do this, to take offshore wind to the next level, he said. This is the future. Before the turbine tower sections arrived, Moeller invited local business and community leaders to the terminal to share their plans for the weeks ahead. New Bedford native Bernadette Souza went because she wants to be able to tell local students what's happening here. Souza is the executive director of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, which takes students on bike rides along New Bedfords scenic South End peninsula to introduce them to their everyday surroundings. One of their favorite destinations overlooks the marine terminal. They're looking over and they have so many questions, she said. I want to get them excited. I love my city. I want to give these kids that opportunity, to say, 'I know about wind. That's where I'm from.' __ Video journalist Rodrique Ngowi contributed to this story. ___ 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. Opening along the Saginaw River, H2O's Waterside Grill will be offering up eats in a once-abandoned spot on the west side of Bay City. Going into the former Hooters building at the end of Midland Street, the restaurant, inside and out, is unrecognizable from the chain eatery that came before it. The official date for the opening will be June 12, based on an announcement on the restaurant's Facebook page. However, Marc Owczarzak, who is the owner of H2O's Waterside Grill, said that if they are able to beat that day, they will open sooner. "This site came about because Art Dore, who had owned the building, had some grandchildren who worked for us at O's," said Owczarzak. "He was in for lunch, and we had said we were interested in expanding. He said, 'Hey, you should look at Hooters.'" Owczarzak is also the owner of O's in Auburn, and it was the success of the original restaurant that caused him to open a second location. "Auburn O's is a very busy place and we are blessed to have that business," he said. "It just got to the point where we were deciding if we were going to add on to it. We had to do something with the mass of people who wanted to come there and how do we take that on. (My wife) Laura (Owczarzak) and I decided that we didn't want to mess with the recipe that was out there. We decided to start looking for a second location to offer customers that want to come visit us." The restaurant held open interviews in the first half of May and was able to fill its staff after a large pool of applicants came through. "We are fully staffed," said Skylar Jablonski, bar manager for H2O's Waterside Grill. "It was a huge turnout for open interviews, and even prior to that, we had hundreds of resumes in and we got to look through them before that. All hands on deck just for the floor, bar, serving, and host will be about 70 people. It's going to take a village to run this place." Owczarzak added that the kitchen staff will add around 10 people to the team as well. The menu will have some similarities to O's in Auburn with burgers, sandwiches, and fish options available, but will offer a few different varieties than the original restaurant. They will also be offering pizzas and pasta, both of which are not available at O's. Jablonski added that there will of course be great signature cocktails and wine, as well as 16 rotating beers on tap. "Someone could definitely go to O's and eat lunch, then come here for dinner and get different choices," said Owczarzak. "The quality that people see at O's, (they) will see that here as well." The location will have guests in a semi-open atmosphere with garage doors behind the bar and two counters on the inside and two on the outside deck. The deck will also have seating as well as a few tables right next to the water once everything is set up. "I think as a bar in general, there is nothing like it in Mid-Michigan," said Jablonski. "It's going to be like a vacation right in my hometown just to work here. I think this is going to be the next biggest thing and will bring everyone together." A lot of the work going into it was to make it "perfectly imperfect," said Owczarzak, with the cement floors being touched up just a little, a handmade bar, and handmade decorative shelves. In addition, the once open kitchen is now closed in to allow the dining room to be open-air on good-weather days. "The dream early on was to make this place feel like no other," said Owczarzak. "Skylar hit the nail on the head, it's a vacation. I feel like I can go to Charlevoix or Petoskey or somewhere in a water town and have that same vibe. It's like I'm away but I'm in Bay City." H2O's Waterside Grill will also see many ticketed events throughout the year, being right on the water, including the 4th of July Fireworks Festival. More details will be announced as the date moves closer. H2O's Waterside Grill is at 966 East Midland Street in Bay City and can be found online through its website at h2oswatersidegrill.com or on Facebook This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A former correctional officer at the biggest womens prison in California has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting at least 13 inmates over the past nine years, prosecutors said Wednesday. Gregory Rodriguez, who worked at the Central California Women's Facility, faces 96 counts including rape, sodomy, sexual battery and rape under color of authority, the Madera County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. It couldn't be determined Wednesday if Rodriguez, 54, has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. He was being held in lieu of $7.8 million bail, the DA's office said. The alleged assaults date back to 2014, but most happened within the past two years, prosecutors said. The charges involve 13 separate victims, according to the DA's office. If convicted on all charges, Rodriguez could be sentenced to more than 300 years in prison. The women's prison where Rodriquez worked for 12 years is located in Chowchilla, a small city about 120 miles (190 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco. Rodriguez retired in August after being approached about the assaults as part of an internal investigation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in December. The investigation, which found that Rodriguez may have engaged in sexual misconduct against at least 22 inmates, was handed over to the district attorney's office earlier this year. These allegations are in no way a reflection on the vast majority of correctional officers who act professionally and do their best to make sure prisoners serve their time while remaining safe, the DA's office said Wednesday. It is our hope that the removal and arrest of this defendant encourages them to continue in their honorable profession upholding the law every day. Two unidentified inmates filed lawsuits in December accusing Rodriguez of sexual assault at the prison, which holds about 2,100 inmates. A 2003 federal law known as the Prison Rape Elimination Act created a zero-tolerance policy for the sexual assault of inmates. But California prison officials have still been accused of sexual misconduct in recent years. That includes Israel Trevino, a former correctional officer at the Central California Womens Facility, who was fired in 2018 after being accused of groping and making sexually harassing comments to inmates. An Associated Press investigation found that a high-ranking federal Bureau of Prisons official, who formerly worked at a womens prison in the San Francisco Bay Area, was repeatedly promoted after allegations that he assaulted inmates. Another investigation found a pattern of sexual abuse by correctional officers at the womens facility. These types of accusations extend beyond California. Former prison officers in Kentucky and New Jersey have recently been charged with sexually abusing or assaulting inmates. MANISTEE Members of the Manistee County Library Board of Trustees were expected to vote on whether to demolish the Book House building at a meeting on Tuesday. That decision, however, may not be theirs to make. The building is currently used as added storage for the library and serves as headquarters for the Friends of the Library, a nonprofit organization which raises funds on behalf of the Manistee County Library system. The property at 388 First St. in Manistee is titled in the countys name, according to David Richards, certified public accountant for the library. The decision to raze the building, therefore, belongs to the Manistee County Board of Commissioners, Richards told the trustees at their May 23 meeting. Thankfully, they provided this building and they allowed the purchase of that building, but its not a library building, Richards said. The board (of trustees) itself cannot destroy it without the countys approval. Manistee County Board of Commissioners chair Jeff Dontz, who was in attendance for the meeting, said that he would seek legal counsel regarding the issue. We dont sign off on renovations, anything along those lines. If it was to be sold, that definitely falls in our purview, he said. Im not sure on the context of demolition or construction, but its a question worth posing. Development options for the property could potentially include a greenspace that will allow more library programs to take place on site during the summer, according to a written statement provided to the News Advocate by assistant director Julie Cirone. Library officials are also exploring future plans to construct a new permanent facility at the First Street property which they say could better serve the librarys needs. If constructed, the new facility would contain meeting rooms, study rooms and community space, according to Cirone's statement. Following Richards counsel, the board voted in favor of a recommendation to the county board to demolish the building. Library trustee Richard Blue abstained from the vote, stating that he felt any new library executive director should have a say in the decision. The librarys current executive director, Debra Greenacre, is stepping down from her role to take a new position at the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library in June. The delayed vote is likely welcome news to members of the Friends of the Library, including its president Marian Jarvinen, who spoke in favor of postponing plans to demolish the building during the meetings public comment session. We have been told over and over, the library does not have enough space and there is a plan for an annex building to solve that issue, Jarvinen said. This is a reasonable plan, which we can surely accept and get behind. However, demolishing that building years before there's funding in place for a new building is not reasonable. Scott Fraley/News Advocate Jarvinen said the Friends of the Library would need additional time to vacate the building ahead of the demolition. Minutes from a March 21 meeting of the Manistee County Library Board suggested a fall 2023 target for the building's removal to take place. If we have to lose that building this fall, it would mean a lot of extra work for us this summer, she said, adding that the friends group would need to know that right now, because emptying that building is not going to be an easy task for us. The Friends of the Library have several book sale events planned this summer in Bear Lake, Onekama and Manistee, and are accepting donations of books, DVDs, CDs and puzzles. Dontz, who had met previously with library officials and representatives of the friends group in March, said those involved needed to refocus on a resolution. The reason everybody is in this room is for the good of the library, Dontz said during public comment. We need to set aside our differences that we have for whatever reasons and do whats in the best interest for the community to get books into the hands of people, regardless of their age we dont want to lose sight of that. BIG RAPIDS A "Farmers Against Gotion" rally is planned for 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, along Northland Drive between 18 Mile Road and 19 Mile Road in Big Rapids, according to a news release from Big Rapids Grassroots Organizers. Vehicles will begin at Majestic Friesians Farm just east of the 19 Mile Road exit on U.S. 131. Big Rapids Grassroots Organizers is a coalition of Mecosta and neighboring county residents united in opposition to Project Elephant, a plan to bring a Gotion North America electric vehicle battery component manufacturing facility to Green Charter Township. Farmers in Mecosta County, Marshall, and agricultural communities across West Michigan are angry that prime Michigan farmland is being sold to a partial Chinese owned company to be developed into battery facilities. There is absolutely no good reason we should be selling any of our land to China, let alone our richest farmland, U.S. veteran and organic farmer Larry Finkbeiner said in the release. Finkbeiners farm is located in Green Charter Township within a mile of the proposed site. This practice of selling our agricultural land to other countries and to China in particular has got to stop, he said. Were on the brink of war with China over Taiwan. Selling our best agricultural land to them right now isnt just stupid. Its dangerous. Local realtor Lori Brock, who owns a horse farm located adjacent to the proposed Gotion site, agreed. Nothing about this deal is okay, Brock said. They think they can come in here and bully us around, and violate national security, and pollute our water and our night skies, and do whatever they want because they have power. Well, we have power in our community, too. Bring your tractors, your semis, your motorcycles, your trucksbring your pedal bikes if you want to, Finkbeiner said. Bring your flags, and lets tell these state officials we dont want our farmland being sold to China." For more information about the rally and the Big Rapids Grassroots Organizers, visit: edraofmi.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Show More Show Less 3 of 3 MECOSTA COUNTY In honor of Memorial Day, and the sacrifices made by those who served and those who died to preserve our freedoms, the Mecosta County Habitat for Humanity has erected an American flag at the ReStore facility on Northland Drive in Big Rapids. Memorial Day is an opportunity to honor military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it began during the American Civil War when citizens placed flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle. After World War I, it came to be observed in honor of those who had died in all U.S. wars, and its name was changed. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Police in Wisconsin say the fentanyl-laced drugs that killed one person and caused three more to overdose in a village north of Milwaukee were bought at a state lawmaker's tavern that has been the subject of multiple calls to police in recent years. Republican Rep. Rob Brooks has owned the Railroad Station in Saukville since 2007 and said he was aware of issues with drugs at the bar shortly after purchasing it but thought they had been addressed. A regular patron of Brooks' bar sold cocaine laced with fentanyl to 28-year-old Nick Hamilton and three friends attending a birthday party there on May 5, Village of Grafton Police Chief Jeff Caponera said Monday. Hamilton overdosed that night and died in the hospital on May 8. Brooks said he was not at the bar that weekend. It's a tragedy what happened, no doubt, and we'll do everything within our power to ensure nothing like this happens again, Brooks said on Thursday. Were not running a bad establishment. But Joe Hamilton, Nick Hamilton's father, questioned Brooks' sincerity. Brooks has not reached out to the family or responded to their calls and did not publicly comment on the recent death or answer questions about the bar until Thursday. "It ticks me off. It seems like he doesnt care, like he doesnt care about the community, Joe Hamilton said on Wednesday. While Brooks has sponsored measures to crack down on drug distribution as a member of the Assembly, police have been called for drug-related complaints at his bar. In 2018, an undercover informant told Ozaukee County Sheriffs deputies that a patron regularly dealt drugs at the Railroad Station on Thursday evenings, according to police reports obtained by The Associated Press. Officers searched for the man at the bar and other locations but did not find him. Brooks said he was not aware of the 2018 police report and had no reason to suspect drugs were being used or sold at his bar in recent years. In the incident tied to the bar this month, Nick Hamilton and three friends overdosed in the early morning hours of May 6 at a home in Grafton. One of the victims called police after realizing that Nick Hamilton was not breathing and that another victim had been mauled by a dog while unconscious. Officers performed CPR and administered Narcan, a nasal spray that can reverse opioid overdoses, according to a police statement. Police have not named the surviving victims but said two were expected to recover quickly and the woman who was mauled had received surgery for wounds on her face. Joe Hamilton called on Brooks to do more to deter drug activity at the bar, including installing surveillance cameras and keeping a closer eye on the business. Brooks questioned the usefulness of cameras but said Thursday that he does plan to install them. Security cameras are not going to prevent something like this, he said. We cant put security cameras in bathrooms or other areas or cover every square inch of the property. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, is highly addictive and can be lethal in doses as little as 2 milligrams, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. Experts have attributed a national surge in overdose deaths in recent years to fentanyl being laced into many other illicit drugs. The state Department of Health Services said roughly 1,280 people in Wisconsin died from fentanyl overdoses in 2021. Brooks and fellow Wisconsin Republicans have pushed for harsher criminal penalties to crack down on fentanyl distribution. Brooks cosponsored a bill in February that would set a maximum prison sentence of 60 years for someone convicted of reckless homicide for providing drugs that led to a fatal overdose, up from the current 40. The bill passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the Assembly. Whats he going to do now? Promote it more because of the loss of my son? In reality, four people couldve died, and they almost did," Joe Hamilton said. Can I say Robert Brooks knew? No, I can't honestly say that. But I know that he's been there enough. When asked about other incidents police have responded to at the Railroad Station, Brooks said, We're a bar, and there is alcohol served. Last year, officers arrested a regular patron of the bar after he allegedly beat the son of the bars former owner for calling Brooks a racist. The victim told police that a patron repeatedly punched and kicked him in the bars parking lot, breaking three ribs and a bone in his face as well as puncturing his lung. Brooks was not at the bar when the fight took place. A case in 2014 reached the Wisconsin Supreme Court after an off-duty Railroad Station employee ejected an intoxicated man who had been ordered to leave. The off-duty employee allowed a man to fall down concrete steps and then dragged him onto the grass outside the bar, according to court filings. The man suffered head injuries and hypothermia from the cold weather. Brooks owns several other businesses in the Saukville area, including a restaurant and rental properties. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2015. A bill he authored that was signed into law in his first term allows landlords to evict tenants with five days' notice for using, making or selling drugs at a rental property. Brooks stepped down from a top legislative leadership position in 2018 amid backlash over racial and sexual comments he made to female lawmakers. He ignored calls from former Republican Gov. Scott Walker to resign from office, saying he made stupid comments while under the influence of alcohol." ___ Harm Venhuizen is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Harm on Twitter. HONG KONG (AP) A Hong Kong man was sentenced Thursday to almost six years in prison for alleged involvement in a foiled plot mostly by high school students to bomb court buildings following 2019 anti-government protests. Three other defendants younger than 21 were sentenced to rehabilitation, while the sentencing of two others was postponed. Prosecutors said Alexander Au, 21, and the five others planned to manufacture explosives and target court buildings. They said the plot was foiled due to a police investigation, and no bombs were made and no casualties occurred. Though the six are not among the most prominent activists in Hong Kong's suppressed democracy movement, their case has drawn attention because they were all students when the prosecution began in 2021 and they were charged with conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities under the National Security Law. Earlier this month, Au and four defendants aged between 17 and 20 pleaded guilty to conspiring to cause explosions that were likely to endanger life and property, an alternative to the terrorism charge that falls under a separate law. The remaining defendant, Ho Yu-wang, 19, pleaded guilty to the terrorism charge. Ho was described as one of the plot masterminds. Judge Alex Lee said at Thursday's sentencing that the plot would have worsened the social situation in Hong Kong had it materialized and could have caused casualties. Lee sentenced Au to five years and eight months, saying he was more culpable since he was involved in renting a room in a guesthouse for making explosives and inspecting targeted buildings with Ho. The three defendants who were younger than 21 and had relatively minor roles will be sent to rehabilitation-focused training centers, Lee said. They could be held for up to three years, but the length of their stays will depend on authorities' evaluation of their conduct. The sentencing hearing of Ho and the remaining defendant was postponed to September. While Lee was handing down the penalties, two of the defendants shook their heads slightly. Police said they raided the guesthouse room in 2021 and seized equipment believed to be used for making explosives. They also alleged Ho had written notes saying that his goal was to destabilize Hong Kong, promote conflicts between the central government and others, and build up a resistance group. The alleged plot also involved two other suspects whose legal proceedings are still pending. The National Security Law that Beijing imposed on the city after the protests criminalizes acts of succession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. It has led to the arrests of many prominent activists, including activist publisher Jimmy Lai and former student leader Joshua Wong. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD As Travelers Insurance shareholders entered the Marriott in downtown Hartford, protesters carrying red umbrellas emblazoned with flames approached them. "Traveler's has a gas problem," they chanted. The Connecticut Citizen Action Group and other local activists as well as representatives from 4,300 miles away in Alaska, convened outside Travelers' Annual Shareholder Meeting in hopes of convincing shareholders to vote in favor of environmental resolutions that would force the insurance giant to cut ties with fossil fuel companies. The shareholders eventually struck down the measures which would have phased out insuring fossil fuel companies, aligned policies with the Paris Climate Agreement and conducted a racial equity audit. "Travelers is one of the largest insurers of oil and gas projects, and we need them to understand that this is a big part of climate change and that they are people that are funding and fueling the climate crisis," said Helen Humphreys, communications coordinator with CCAG. "They need to be held accountable for that." At the protest, Humphreys said if Travelers were to agree to the demands it would have made a "huge" difference in the fight against climate change. "It would not only make a difference in practice, but also positioning themselves as an industry leader," Humphreys said. Travelers did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. A statement to shareholders from the board of directors said that the resolution "would result in a competitive disadvantage for the company." The Travelers board also said the resolution would "require an inadvisable use of significant management time and corporate resources." The protest of about 25 people Wednesday is part of a larger effort of CCAG and Alaska-based Gwichin Steering Committee to engage insurance companies and banks in hopes that without financing or insurance, fossil fuel projects will stall. The steering committee represents the indigenous Gwich'in people of Alaska and Canada. Among the protestors was one Travelers shareholder, Tom Swan, who said he didn't have much hope the shareholders would side with the activists. Swan is also the executive director of CCAG. "It's an important arena to begin to have this argument in this way," Swan said. "You can't build fossil fuel infrastructure in this way if you don't have insurance. And it only behooves Travelers shareholders and policyholders to fight climate change." A June 2020 report from Insure Our Future lists Travelers and The Hartford among the 15 largest oil and gas insurers in the world. An annual scorecard from Insure Our Future lists Travelers as the second-worst for investing and insuring fossil fuels. This year marks the activists second protest outside a Travelers shareholder meeting. At this year's meeting, Gwich'in Steering Committee Executive Director Bernadette Demientieff delivered a statement in favor of the environmental resolution. "We are interconnected with our lands, waters and animals, which sustained us since time immemorial," Demientieff said. "We ask Travelers to respect the rights of the Gwichin and adopt a policy that will protect the Arctic Refuge, so that we can continue to live and thrive off the land Creator blessed us with. The Gwichin will not allow the destruction of our homelands. We will always protect our ways of life. Travelers holds nearly 4 percent of the market in Alaska for property and casualty insurance in the fire category and 7 percent of the market for products liability according to a 2021 report. Travelers also holds the largest share of the market in fidelity insurance in Alaska. Some protestors argued insuring projects related to fossil fuels was not only dangerous for the future of the planet but a foolish investment. "It's a losing proposition," said Chris Feely of West Hartford. "It's terrible for the climate, but it's not even a good investment. Gas extraction is on its way down. It doesn't even make any sense." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) A wave of newly approved abortion restrictions in the Southeastern United States has sent providers scrambling to reconfigure their services for a region with already severely limited access. Stiff limitations enacted in South Carolina and pending in North Carolina and Florida states that had been holdouts providing wider access to the procedure are threatening to further delay abortions as appointments pile up and doctors work to understand the latest constraints. Theres really going to be no way for the whole abortion-providing ecosystem to manage it all," said Jenny Black, the president of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. Black, who oversees the organizations work in North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and parts of Virginia, said providers have had to quickly determine how to comply with the pending laws amid the decimation of abortion access across the South. She expects new restrictions will compound the stressors on a system that was already seeing lengthy waiting periods in North Carolina driven by an influx of patients from Georgia and Tennessee. Abortion is 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. South Carolina joined its neighbors rolling back the procedure Thursday when the governor signed a bill banning most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy. But providers quickly filed a lawsuit seeking to block the law that resembles one already deemed a violation of the state constitution's right to privacy by the South Carolina Supreme Court. This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed, Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. A report released in early April by the Society of Family Planning found rising numbers of abortions in states near those with the deepest restrictions but where abortion had remained largely legal. Florida and North Carolina were among the states with the biggest increases and among those where new limits are pending. Most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy will be banned in North Carolina beginning July 1 and a six-week ban in Florida will take effect only if the states current 15-week ban is upheld by the state Supreme Court. South Carolina had also proven to be a key destination for people seeking abortions. Provisional state Health Department data showed larger numbers of out-of-state patients after the state's highest court overturned previous restrictions and left abortion legal through 22 weeks. The new law will change that status, according to Caitlin Myers, an economics professor at Middlebury College. Myers, who studies the effects of reproductive policies, said limited evidence suggests about half of the people who want abortions won't be able to make the six-week threshold. Its likely to end up sending a lot of desperate people seeking abortions even farther distances and result in even greater congestion at the facilities that are left to receive them, Myers said. Jessica Tarleton, an OB-GYN in Charleston, anticipates sending patients outside the state for abortions. She said the new law will disproportionately affect those who lack financial means for child care, hotels and air travel. Most women who get abortions are already mothers, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The action comes as many state legislatures convene for their first regular sessions since the U.S. Supreme Court struck federal abortion protections. Over the past two months, Republican officials in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida have pushed Virginia closer to being a regional outlier as a place with relatively permissive access. The tide of state-level activity has been welcomed by anti-abortion groups who had long chipped away at access. Caitlin Connors, the southern regional director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, celebrated the recent legislative changes as victories made possible by last summers ruling. We are officially in an era where states who have tried to pass pro-life legislation laws that would protect unborn children, laws that would also implement services for moms and families and babies to finally be able to be enacted and not be under the chokehold of the Roe v. Wade decision, Connors said. That shifting landscape has also heightened uncertainty among providers that has kept them from expanding services, Myers said, and likely will prevent some patients from getting abortions as doctors weigh what is and isn't permissible. Erica Pettigrew, a family medicine doctor in North Carolina, said the new constraints will make it much more difficult for her to help patients navigate the system. Although North Carolina Republicans pitched the new 12-week limit as a middle-ground change, Pettigrew pointed to other provisions that make it much more restrictive. New hurdles require that women make in-person visits to a medical professional at least 72 hours before the procedure. The three-day waiting period could previously be initiated over the phone. The law also requires a doctor to schedule a follow-up visit for women who have a medically induced abortion, increasing the hardship on those who travel from other states. Those regulations will make it harder to advise patients on their options, she said, especially when waiting periods already spanned two to four weeks in some cases. Other delays may result from what Pettigrew called unclear exceptions for certain life-threatening conditions. Now were in this horrible purgatory of trying to figure out how to interpret it, how we can comply with the law, Pettigrew said. "Theres so many unknowns. Immediate reproductive care has been slowed in states restricting abortion, and Tarleton believes South Carolina will be no different. The new law mandates that doctors document their rationale for inducing an abortion under a list of excepted circumstances and make reasonable efforts to avoid the procedure. She expects to seek legal advice when treating patients for early pregnancy complications and miscarriages, which she fears will increase maternal mortality in a region where many states already report some of the nation's worst rates. We are likely to see sicker pregnant patients, sicker babies, Tarleton said. Thats going to start happening now that theres really no place to turn in the Southeast for this kind of care. - Associated Press writer Hannah Schoenbaum contributed to this report from Raleigh, North Carolina. 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. Elon Musk wants to turn Twitter into a digital town square, but his much-publicized Twitter Spaces kickoff event, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announcing his run for president, struggled with technical glitches and a near half-hour delay Wednesday. The billionaire Twitter owner said the problems were due to straining servers because so many people were trying to listen to the audio-only event. But even at their highest, the number of listeners listed topped out at around 420,000, far from the millions of viewers that televised presidential announcements attract. Theres so many people, said host David Sacks amid the disruptions. Weve got so many people here that we are kind of melting the servers, which is a good sign. After it concluded without further disruptions, Musk, DeSantis and Sacks played off the event as a success, with Sacks quipping it's not how you start, it's how you finish and we finished really strong." Musk a day earlier dubbed the event a historic first for Twitter, saying it would be the first time something like this is happening on social media. The webcast was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET but nearly 30 minutes passed with users getting kicked off, hearing microphone feedback and enduring other technical problems before it finally began. The audience remained under 500,000. DeSantis opponents had a field day with the delayed announcement. "Glitchy. Tech issues. Uncomfortable silences. A complete failure to launch. And thats just the candidate! said Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for former President and current candidate Donald Trump. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, tweeted, We had more people join when I played Among Us, referencing the popular video game. Twitter has suffered a host of technical issues since Musk took over and fired or laid off roughly 80% of its staff including engineers tasked with keeping the site running. A day before the DeSantis event, speaking at The Wall Street Journals CEO Council Summit in London, Musk expressed confidence about Twitter's future and said he is going to start adding people to the company but gave no further details. Musk bought Twitter last fall for $44 billion. Since then, he has upended the platform's verification system, loosened its content moderation policies in line with his views as a free speech absolutist, spread misinformation and engaged with far-right figures, all the while working to attract jittery advertisers back to the platform to turn it profitable. His grand vision, he has said repeatedly, is to eventually turn Twitter into an everything app for everyone a digital town square where people can hear from world leaders and politicians without the need for traditional media as a go-between. But he seems to mainly be courting conservatives and Republicans lately, referring to Democrats and liberals as infected by the woke mind virus and reinstating extremist accounts that were banned by Twitter's previous administration. Wednesday's campaign launch event with DeSantis continued the trend though it remains to be seen whether the platform can become a go-to destination for mainstream politicians when it continues to show evidence of instability. For instance, the word DeSaster was trending on Twitter Wednesday evening as users mocked the botched campaign launch. In the world of traditional media and politics, a glitchy half-hour delay and an audience in the hundreds of thousands rather than millions, Wednesday's Twitter Spaces event might look like a failure. But in Silicon Valley, failure is often spun as positive, even essential in developing new products and improving existing ones. Twitter Spaces which Twitter launched in 2020 to compete with the then-popular audio chat site Clubhouse is generally not used for audiences in the hundreds of thousands, so in some ways it was not a surprise that the event was marred with technical problems. It's much worse for DeSantis than it is for Musk, said Jo-Ellen Pozner, a business professor at Santa Clara University, noting that just a month ago Musk's SpaceX launched a rocket that exploded minutes after its launch from Texas. After the explosion, Musk called it an exciting test launch of Starship! Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months" in a tweet. It is clearly a difficult situation for DeSantis, who wants to project competence, who wants to forestall criticism, she said. Musk has an easier out by just saying that this was the first time we tried it, it didnt work out perfectly, but next time well do much better, in the classic Silicon Valley approach to failing fast and learning more. Pozner said it remains an open question how Twitter is going to be valued as a broad digital platform down the line. I think will depend on, you know, how he and the top management react to this and how they spin it, she said. After DeSantis logged off, Musk and Sacks extended an open invitation to any other presidential candidate who wants to do a Twitter Spaces event. Whether or not they get any takers could signal what the future holds for Twitter as a public square." ___ This story has been updated to correct the day of the week that the Twitter Spaces event took place. It was Wednesday, not Tuesday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIAMI (AP) It wasn't always this way. Before Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis were leading rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, they were allies. Trump gave DeSantis' gubernatorial bid an early boost by tweeting his support even before DeSantis formally entered the race. In his 2018 victory speech, DeSantis made sure to thank the president, saying, I think we'll have a great partnership. Here's how DeSantis and Trumps relationship has evolved and broken down as the two face off to take on Democrat Joe Biden: UNITE BEHIND THE REPUBLICAN TICKET During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-congressman DeSantis said he wouldn't make an endorsement in the crowded field but would support the eventual nominee. When that ended up being Trump, DeSantis issued a statement calling on fellow Republicans to back the celebrity businessman. It is now clear that Donald Trump will accumulate the delegates necessary to be nominated by the Republican Party, DeSantis said in a statement, according to NPR. If we want to defeat Hillary Clinton and have a chance to change the trajectory of our country, we need to unite behind the Republican ticket this November. THE RUSSIA PROBE Early in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia, then-congressman DeSantis stepped up to the president's defense to offer his support. Whatever (Mueller) ends up doing, it does not have legitimacy, when you have all this evidence of tainted and political bias and the disparate treatment between Hillary Clinton and then how they are treating Trump associates, DeSantis told Fox News commentator Lou Dobbs in one such TV hit in December 2017. TWEET OF SUPPORT BEFORE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN Before DeSantis entered the Florida governors race in 2018, he asked Trump to send out a tweet touting him as a good candidate. Trump obliged. Congressman Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader, Yale and then Harvard Law, who would make a GREAT Governor of Florida. He loves our Country and is a true FIGHTER! Trump tweeted in December 2017. THAT AD WITH DESANTIS BUILDING A WALL OUT OF HIS KIDS' BLOCKS One of the most memorable moments of DeSantis' gubernatorial campaign was an ad with his children in which he shows voters just how devoted he is to Trump. Build the wall, he says to daughter Madison as she stacks cardboard brick blocks. Holding son Mason in his lap, DeSantis pretend-reads to him from Trump's The Art of the Deal: Then Mr. Trump said, Youre fired.' I love that part. Another scene shows DeSantis holding a Trump campaign sign in front of Madison in a high chair: Make America Great Again, DeSantis reads. DESANTIS THANKS TRUMP IN VICTORY SPEECH After narrowly winning his 2018 race, DeSantis singled out Trump in his victory speech as he recognized the many people who had supported his campaign. Id like to thank our president for standing by me when it wasnt necessarily the smart thing to do," DeSantis said. Mr. President, I look forward to working with you to advance Florida's priorities. I think youre going to get tired of me calling you asking you for things for Florida, but I look forward to that, and I think well have a great partnership. WELCOME TO FLORIDA, MR. PRESIDENT In 2019, Trump changed his residency from Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and held a homecoming rally with Gov. DeSantis near Miami. Welcome home to Florida, DeSantis told him. Trump quipped that DeSantis better not be more popular in Florida than me" after extended cheers for the governor. He went on to suggest to the crowd that DeSantis should wear jackets less frequently so people know he's not fat. EARLY COVID-19 RESPONSE In the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump applauded DeSantis for how he had handled governing the response to the virus. Hes done a lot of things right. And hes been truly I mean, he cares so much about health care. He cares so much about the cost of prescription drugs. Hes been a fantastic governor for Florida. Theyre very happy with him, Trump said at a press conference. DeSantis initially resisted issuing a statewide stay-at-home order but reversed course and issued it after facing pressure from Trump and White House advisers. TRUMP JOKES ABOUT FIRING DESANTIS IF HE LOSES FLORIDA At a campaign event ahead of the 2020 election, Trump praised DeSantis and called him a friend but also joked that he would blame the governor if he did not win Florida. Ill fire him somehow. Im going to fire him. I will find a way, he said. Trump ended up winning Florida in 2020 by 3.4 percentage points a bigger margin of victory than in 2016. A TRUMP-DESANTIS TICKET? Trump and DeSantis remained publicly supportive of each other in early 2021 so much so that Trump even floated the Florida governor as a possible 2024 running mate. A lot of people like that, Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo in April 2021. You know, Im just saying what I read and what you read. They love that ticket. But certainly Ron would be considered. He is a great guy. DESANTIS BECOMES DESANCTIMONIOUS As DeSantis' national profile began to rise, so did chatter about his potential as a 2024 presidential prospect and the former president noticed. If I faced him, Id beat him like I would beat everyone else," Trump said of DeSantis in October 2021, while saying that he didn't expect the governor to challenge him. Days before the 2022 midterm election, Trump unveiled his new nickname for the governor: Ron DeSanctimonious. He then visited Miami for a rally to support U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio but not DeSantis, who was holding a separate campaign event that same day for his own reelection. In the days following DeSantis' reelection victory, Trump put out a statement knocking him as an average REPUBLICAN governor with great Public Relations" and criticizing him for not ruling out a 2024 presidential bid. He says, Im only focused on the governors race, Im not looking into the future. Well, in terms of loyalty and class, thats really not the right answer, Trump said. DeSantis, asked to comment on Trump's remarks at a press conference, said being the target of attacks was simply part of the job. What you learn is all thats just noise," DeSantis said. THE ATTACKS ESCALATE In recent months, Trump has dramatically intensified his criticism of DeSantis, taking particular umbrage as what he sees as the governor's ungratefulness. DeSantis got elected because of me. You remember he had nothing. He was dead. He was leaving the race. He came over and he begged me, begged me for an endorsement, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in February. He said, If you endorse me, Ill win. And there were tears coming down from his eyes. Trump's campaign resurrected the 2018 DeSantis ad to remind viewers of Trump's help in the governor's political rise. Isnt it time DeSantis remembers how he got to where he is? the ad says. Trump has also shared a photo suggesting impropriety when DeSantis was a teacher two decades ago, despite no evidence of that; said DeSantis needed a personality transplant; and aired an ad accusing DeSantis of sticking his fingers where they don't belong a reference to a Daily Beast report that the governor once ate chocolate pudding with his fingers. On Wednesday, after DeSantis' presidential announcement on Twitter Spaces was plagued by glitches, Trump posted a video on Truth Social of a Ron rocket falling over and exploding. DESANTIS FIGHTS BACK KIND OF Although the Florida governor has largely avoided confrontation with Trump, he has managed to throw a few jabs back. As prosecutors prepared an indictment against Donald Trump in New York, DeSantis criticized the investigation but also said, I dont know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair." In a Piers Morgan interview that aired a few days later, he laughed off a question about the nicknames Trump was using for him. I dont know how to spell DeSanctimonious. I dont really know what it means, but I kind of like it. Its long, its got a lot of vowels. I mean, so well go with that. Thats fine. You can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner, DeSantis said. On Wednesday, after launching his campaign, DeSantis avoided referencing Trump by name but made a subtle dig at him over national Republican election losses. We must end the culture of losing that has infected the Republican Party in recent years," DeSantis said on Twitter Spaces. "The tired dogmas of the past are inadequate for a vibrant future. We must look forward, not backwards. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota workers will be entitled to paid time off when they're seriously ill or to care for newborns and loved ones starting in 2026 under a bill that Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed Thursday, making his state the 12th to require those benefits. The paid family and medical leave program will allow Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks a year off with partial pay to care for a newborn or a sick family member, and up to 12 weeks to recover from their own serious illness. Benefits will be capped at 20 weeks a year for employees who take advantage of both. Business groups fought to block the proposal, warning that it would impose heavy costs and regulatory burdens on employers and aggravate their staffing problems. But it was hailed by supporters who said it would bring equality and fairness to the workplace. Everyone deserves paid time away from work, to heal, to grow, and to live, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said at the signing ceremony. This time is not optional. Its not a nice-to-have. Its a must-have if we truly are going to be the best state in the country to raise a family. The program will operate similarly to unemployment insurance. It will be funded by a new 0.7% payroll tax on employers that will take effect in 2026. Employers can deduct half of their premiums from workers' wages. The law contains protections against retaliation for workers who take the time off. It also includes premium relief for smaller companies. Paid family and medical leave will dovetail with the state's new earned sick and safe time program that takes effect on Jan. 1 to provide shorter-term relief. Employees will earn one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours a year, unless the employer agrees to more. Minnesota will become the 12th state plus the District of Columbia that have some form of a paid family and medical leave program. Walz said the legislators, activists and administration officials who developed it have worked closely with those states to learn from their programs and how to improve on them. Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, said Minnesota will end up with one of the strongest programs in the country. A national paid leave program was part of President Joe Biden's original Build Back Better agenda and passed the U.S. House but didn't make it into law. Frye said her group hopes Minnesota's adoption will add to the impetus for national program someday. But she acknowleded that that will be difficult with the current divided Congress. Like so many issues, what happens in the states influences whether Congress takes up issues across the board, and paid family and medical leave is no exception," she said. But John Reynolds, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business in Minnesota, called it a deeply flawed proposal that will cost much more than expected and make it harder for small businesses to keep their doors open. Doug Loon, president and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, said the program could become the largest mandate on employers in state history. This massive policy will bring fundamental changes to every employer and employee in the state from $1.5 billion or more in annual payroll taxes, unwarranted shifts in benefits, to state approved leave for employees," Loon said in a statement. But supporters said Minnesota needs to consider the costs of not offering paid leave. They said programs elsewhere have reduced infant and maternal mortality, made it easier for mothers to go back to work after giving birth and reduced reliance on social service programs. This is going to be a huge equalizer to address the deep and persistent disparities that exist in Minnesota," said the lead House author, Rep. Ruth Richardson, of Mendota Heights. "This is going to ensure people who have been left out of paid leave programs will for the first time have the ability to care for themselves and not choose between a paycheck and their loved ones. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Legislature on Thursday overrode Gov. Kevin Stitts veto of a bill that would allow students to wear Native American regalia during high school and college graduations. The state House and Senate easily cleared the two-thirds threshold needed to uphold the measure, which takes effect July 1 and had strong support from many Oklahoma-based tribes and Native American citizens. It would allow any student at a public school, including colleges, universities and technology centers, to wear tribal regalia such as traditional garments, jewelry or other adornments during official graduation ceremonies. Weapons such as a bow and arrow, tomahawk or war hammer are specifically prohibited. Stitt, a Cherokee Nation citizen who has feuded with many Oklahoma-based Native American tribes throughout his two terms in office, vetoed the bill earlier this month, saying at the time that the decision should be up to individual districts. In other words, if schools want to allow their students to wear tribal regalia at graduation, good on them, Stitt wrote in his veto message. But if schools prefer for their students to wear only traditional cap and gown, the Legislature shouldn't stand in their way. Stitt also suggested the bill would allow other groups to demand special favor to wear whatever they please at a formal ceremony. Lawmakers also overrode vetoes of several other measures, including one adding experts on Native American health to a wellness council and another allowing for the existence of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, the states Public Broadcasting Service affiliate. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. thanked the Legislature on Thursday. I hope Governor Stitt hears the message that his blanket hostility to tribes is a dead end, Hoskin said in a statement. "The majority of Oklahomans believe in respecting the rights of Native Americans and working together with the sovereign tribes who share this land. Kamryn Yanchick, a citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, was denied the opportunity to wear a decorated cap with a beaded pattern when she graduated from her high school in 2018. Being able to unapologetically express yourself and take pride in your culture at a celebration without having to ask a non-Native person for permission to do so is really significant, said Yanchick, who is now a Native American policy advocate. A Native American former student sued Broken Arrow Public Schools and two employees earlier this month after she was forced to remove an eagle feather from her graduation cap prior to her high school commencement ceremony. ___ Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) A car collided Thursday with the gates of Downing Street in central London, where the British prime minister's home and offices are located, setting off a rapid, intense security response at one of London's most-fortified sites. No one was injured and police said they were not treating the incident as terror-related. Police arrested a man on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, and local officers, rather than counterterrorism detectives, were handling the investigation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in his office at the time of the crash, which revived memories of attacks on London's government district. It was not immediately clear whether the crash was deliberate. Video footage posted on social media showed a silver hatchback car heading straight for the gates at low speed across Whitehall, the main thoroughfare in London's government district. "I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with taser guns shouting at the man, said witness Simon Parry, 44. A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area. The BBC showed a photo of officers leading away a man with handcuffed hands behind his back. Footage shot soon after showed a car with its trunk open up against the tall metal gates. Several police officers minutely inspected the vehicle, removing items from the trunk and inside the car and placing them in evidence bags. About two hours after the crash, a car transporter arrived to take the vehicle away. Officers cordoned off a wide area of Londons government district, but lifted the barriers less than two hours after the collision took place, allowing people back into Whitehall. The street normally teems with civil servants and tourists keen to see the nearby Houses of Parliament and other historic buildings. "A small cordon remains in place outside Downing Street after a car collided with the gates earlier this afternoon," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. The incident is being dealt with by local officers in Westminster and isnt currently being treated as terror-related." Downing Street is a narrow street with a row of Georgian houses that includes the prime minister's official residence at No. 10. Public access to the street is restricted and the heavy steel gates are protected at all times by armed police officers. Bollards and metal crowd barriers also help keep threats at bay. The gates were erected in 1989 in response to threats from Irish Republican Army militants. In 1991 the IRA fired three mortars at the street, one of which exploded in the backyard of No. 10 while Prime Minister John Major was leading a Cabinet meeting inside. Three police officers and a civil servant suffered minor injuries. The area was targeted in 2017, when an extremist inspired by the Islamic State group killed four people with a vehicle on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer to death outside Parliament. Seats of power around the world are often magnets for protest, and sometimes violent attack. The incident came three days after a man crashed a rented truck into a security barrier outside the White House in Washington, got out and began waving around a Nazi flag. Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, has been charged with damaging U.S. property. HARTFORD The Democratic majority in the state House of Representatives, with a little help from a handful of Republicans, approved an amended version of Gov. Ned Lamont's gun-safety legislation on Thursday, including a tighter definition of prohibited military-style rifles and drastic reductions in places where gun owners can carry their weapons in public. "Gun violence is an epidemic in our nation," said Rep. Steve Stafstrom, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee who introduced the bill at 11:15 a.m. "There have already been more mass shootings in 2023 than there have been calendar days. Gun violence is the leading cause of death of our children. Connecticut, thankfully, remains one of the safest states in the nation because of the steps we have taken to address the root causes of gun violence and to limit access to fire arms to those who shouldn't have it." He pointed to the April 11 shooting of three people in the popular Seaside Park in his hometown, adding that residents of the state's major cities and elsewhere do not need to be reminded about "the plague that gun violence continues to be." He called the legislation the most comprehensive gun safety measures since the 2013 response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. The bill includes further safe-storage requirements including mandatory trigger locks during gun sales; limiting permit holders to purchasing no more than three weapons a month; restricts the sale of body armor to most residents; orders the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to update a strategy on mass shooting incidents; and address the proliferation of so-called ghost guns, often homemade firearms without serial numbers, by requiring that owners of such weapons report them to the State Police by Jan. 1. Repeat firearms offenders would be subject to higher bail amounts, and prosecutors would have easier paths to revoke probation of offenders. Courts in the state's major cities would have special units for focusing the repeat offenders. Penalties would increase for failure to report stolen firearms. Persons convicted of an expanded list of domestic violence would be banned for firearms permits. Gun owners would be restricted to openly carrying pistols in their properties, homes and businesses. As we see other states around the nation recklessly retreat from sensible gun regulations, Connecticut will continue to lead," Stafstrom said. "Connecticut will continue to stand strong and push to make our communities and our streets safer." Lamont, speaking elsewhere in the Capitol on Thursday morning, said he believed the House support would easily approve the bill. "Especially given all the mass killings we have seen around the country," he told reporters. "People feel a new urgency. I think it could be one of the most-important gun safety bills since Sandy Hook. Look at our gun crimes, look at our suicides. Look at our violence compared to other states around that don't have the same gun safety laws. I'm really proud that we're taking it up today." After a three-and-a-half-hour debate, the bill passed 96-51, with support from seven Republicans and opposition from five Democrats. It next moves to the Senate, amid criticism from conservative Republicans that the legislation will have no impact on stopping criminal activity. Rep. Craig Fishbein of Wallingford, a top Republican on the Judiciary Committee who collaborated on the bill, led opposition, charging that the legislation would do little to reduce urban gun violence. "The majority of this legislation goes after the law-abiding," he said. "That is not where we should be." The open carry restrictions would do little to improve public safety, he said. "Criminals don't follow the law," he said, stressing that lawful individuals would be affected, not lawbreakers. Fishbein called the use of the phrase ghost guns a "term of the media." He reminded the House that Connecticut's tradition of gun manufacturing is centuries-long. "There are hobbyists in the state of Connecticut that engage in the hobby of creating these implements. What this provision has to do with, is whether or not this implement has a number on it. Criminals don't follow the law." He quoted state police officials who told lawmakers that 90 percent of gun crimes are committed with illegal weapons. He called the current system for obtaining a gun permit "onerous" that in some cases can take as long as two years, or five years in cases of administrative appeal of rejections. Sixth-term state Rep. Mitch Bolinsky, R-Newtown, who was first elected the month before the 2012 school massacre, criticized House members. "The one thing I see in this building that discourages me the most, is that I am speaking to a chamber where 70 percent of the people that I know will vote yes for this bill are not in the chamber, and the other 30 percent are sitting down on their (rears), not paying attention to what I'm saying," said Bolinsky, who was offended that Lamont did not contact him. "We're happy to do everything in our power as a government to punish the most law-abiding citizens in our state," Bolinsky said. "I'm just absolutely offended to the core. Firearms don't fire themselves. They don't hate. They don't even murder. They are tools. But the problem here, ladies and gentlemen, for God's sake, the problem is people." State Rep. Tom ODea, R-New Canaan, who voted in favor of the bill, praised lawmakers for reaching a compromise. They didnt have to do that, he said, looking to his left, where the 98-member Democratic majority sits in the House chamber. You could have forced legislation down our throats that was very bad, in my humble opinion. Stafstrom thanked Republicans led by Fishbein for their efforts. This is a bill that puts very few additional restrictions and mandates on lawful gun owners, he said. Unfortunately, we may continue to be plagued by gun violence after this passes. This bill misses the mark, said House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, stressing that few sections of the bill address the issues of urban violence or make the state safer. He said that the bill would force gun owners to buy safes, because it would shift liability to gun owners. We need to hold the people accountability for breaking our laws. House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, summing up the three-and-a-half-hour-long debate, acknowledged that the legislation would not assure safety throughout the state. We know that there are imperfections within the existing legal system that we have that require us to continue to act on behalf of all of the residents of the state of Connecticut to ensure that they can be as safe and live the lives that they want to live in their communities," Rojas said. "I speak on behalf of a number of members on this side of the aisle who believe in the Second Amendment and who believe in the right to own firearms. " The Navy confirmed Wednesday it has fired both of the top two officers from the missile destroyer USS John Finn, after first announcing the firing of the commander over the weekend. Cmdr. Angela Gonzales, the commanding officer, and Cmdr. Jonathan Zang, the executive officer, were fired from the John Finn on May 19, according to a statement from Cmdr. Hayley Sims, a spokeswoman for the Navy's Seventh Fleet. The firings were "due to a loss of confidence in their ability to fulfill their responsibilities in leading the ship" and were ordered by Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, the commander of Seventh Fleet. Read Next: Army Special Operations Could Be Cut 10% as Military Looks to Conventional Warfare In her statement, Sims said that the Navy had conducted a command investigation and the findings led to Thomas' decision. The Navy initially announced only the firing of Gonzales in a press release posted online Saturday. Navy Times first reported Zang's ouster. The firings come just over two months after the ship and its crew completed a homeport shift from San Diego to Yokosuka, Japan. At the time, Gonzalez said that the ship was "excited for the opportunity to join 7th Fleet" and that the crew "trained diligently over the past few years in preparation for this transition." When asked why the Navy didn't name both Gonzales and Zang in the public message released Saturday, a Navy spokesperson said that the service only "releases the names of commanding officers who have been relieved." Cmdr. Jacqueline Pau, a spokeswoman for the Navy, told Navy Times that the service will only confirm firings of executive officers and command master chiefs when asked. However, just in the last year, the Navy did announce the firing of the top two officers of its Naval Justice School in May and a destroyer commander and command master chief in June. The Navy said that Cmdr. Matthew Hays has taken over for Gonzales as John Finn's commanding officer but did not offer any information on who would replace Zang. In her statement, Sims said that "the removal of the commanding officer and executive officer is an administrative action," before adding that "it would be inappropriate to discuss possible future actions at this time." -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Fired Texas Army Commander Charged with Sex Abuse Faces Court-Martial The Treasury Department pays $25 billion worth of bills for the Department of Veterans Affairs each month -- for veterans benefits, employee salaries, private health care, pharmacy costs and other programs like payments to small and veteran-owned companies that do business with the VA. A default on the debt on June 1 could put all those payments at risk -- a situation that could be "catastrophic," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Wednesday, paraphrasing his boss, President Joe Biden. Acknowledging that such a default would be unprecedented and the immediate, short- and long-term impacts unknown, McDonough said there is potential for any of the department's programs or payments to be "halted or severely delayed." Read Next: Army Special Operations Could Be Cut 10% as Military Looks to Conventional Warfare "There is no blueprint for what happens to VA if the debt limit is reached," McDonough told reporters at a press conference. Roughly $12 billion in veterans benefits are expected to be paid out June 1 to 7.1 million veterans or their families, and experts have said those would likely be delayed in the event of a default. But other payments could be affected as well, according to McDonough. They include: $2.6 billion to health providers who treat 900,000 veterans through the community care program; $1.8 billion to medical and non-health contractors; $835 million for pharmacy costs for 57,000 payments; $3 billion for other costs, including payments to small and veteran-owned businesses; and paychecks to 451,000 VA employees totaling $4.8 billion. "The president has made clear that a default would be catastrophic for the American people and for our nation's veterans," McDonough said. "In addition to the potential impacts listed above, a default could erase millions of jobs, potentially trigger a recession, devastate retirement accounts, and increase borrowing costs." The debt ceiling or debt limit is the amount of money the Treasury Department can borrow to pay the nation's bills. The exact timing of when the U.S. would default is unknown, as the amount of cash the Treasury has on hand is dependent on how much tax revenue it receives, but Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned it could happen as soon as June 1. House Republicans have demanded spending cuts in exchange for lifting the ceiling, while the White House has argued that negotiations on cuts should come after the ceiling is raised to ease economic turmoil and preserve the country's credit rating. The two sides have been in talks, with House Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., saying Wednesday that negotiators were heading to the White House to continue the discussions. He added, however, that both sides are "still far apart," according to The Associated Press. "I'm hoping we can make progress," McCarthy said. McDonough has been at odds with Republican lawmakers since the VA issued a press release in April discussing the potential impact of a GOP budget proposal to reduce overall government funding by 22%. McDonough has maintained that such cuts would reduce programs for veterans, including health care services and benefits. Republicans say they never had any intention to cut VA funding and accused the VA of politicizing budget discussions, noting that the Republican-led House is considering appropriations legislation that would cover the president's request for the VA for fiscal 2024, roughly $320 billion. McDonough said Wednesday that the debt ceiling discussion is a completely separate debate. "We were asked, and we continue to be asked, about what the impact of those cuts would look like, and that's what we communicated. ... Again, that is a different thing than the default," McDonough said. The Bipartisan Policy Center has estimated payments could be missed, including veterans benefits, if the nation defaults, based on analysis of past Treasury reports on its daily transactions. Experts see two possible scenarios for how the Treasury could try to pay U.S. bills after hitting the debt ceiling. In one, the Treasury could choose to prioritize making certain payments before others as cash comes in. In that case, how long veterans benefits and military pay is delayed would depend on where they fall in line for priorities. Yellen has downplayed the possibility of prioritizing payments, doubting that it is technically feasible. In another scenario, the Treasury could wait until it has enough cash in hand to make a full day's worth of payments in the order in which they came due. Then, if a default happened June 1, veterans benefits due that day might see only a short delay, but delays for later veterans benefits and other payments would grow the longer the impasse lasts. Roughly $12 billion in military and civilian retirement pay expected to be disbursed June 1, along with $4 billion in military pay scheduled for June 15, could be disrupted by a default as well, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. -- Military.com reporter Rebecca Kheel contributed to this report. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: VA $325 Billion Budget Proposal Includes Funding for Toxic Exposure Benefits, Medical Facilities Construction Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown was nominated by President Joe Biden on Thursday to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the country's top uniformed officer. If Brown is confirmed by the Senate, the post will be handed over from an Army general to an Air Force general with experience in the Pacific region, where the U.S. is hoping to counter China. Brown, who has been the Air Force's top officer since 2020, will also be the first Black service member to helm the Joint Chiefs in 30 years. "For the future in the Indo-Pacific, Gen. Brown has built a reputation across the force as an unflappable and highly effective leader, and someone who creates an environment of teamwork, trust, and executes with excellence," Biden said. Read Next: Army Special Operations Could Be Cut 10% as Military Looks to Conventional Warfare The Joint Chiefs job is currently held by Gen. Mark Milley, who was appointed by President Donald Trump but eventually ran afoul of the former president. Milley's term as chairman ends Sept. 30. The announcement ends months-long speculation and chatter that Brown would be nominated. He was seen as an ideal candidate, namely because of his background as a command pilot with 130 combat hours and his previous roles as commander of Pacific Air Forces and as air component commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Biden highlighted Brown's Texas roots, his father's military service and that the Air Force general who knows how to smoke a "mean brisket." The president also mentioned Brown's call sign, "Swamp Thing" -- a reference to an incident in which he had to eject from his burning F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet and parachute into the Florida everglades. "While General Brown is a proud butt-kicking American airman first and always, he's also been an operational leader in the joint force," Biden said. "He gained respect across every service of those who have seen him in action and have come to depend on his judgment." Many Air Force officers and military experts praised Biden's choice. Dave Deptula, a retired Air Force lieutenant general and dean of the nonprofit Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, told Military.com on Thursday that Brown's experience in the Pacific will be a notable pivot from past leadership. "His real-world experience in the Pacific theater will help transition U.S. military leadership from dominance by Army generals with a counterinsurgency and Mideast-focused set of experiences to a focus on the challenges of operating in the Pacific and countering the advantages that China holds," Deptula said. Biden has made diversity in his administration a priority, and he appointed the first Black secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, early in his term. The last Black officer to hold the role of Joint Chiefs chairman was retired Gen. Colin Powell, who held the role from 1989 to 1993 during the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. Powell died in 2021. Brown's confirmation as Air Force chief of staff in 2020 made him the first Black officer to lead the Air Force, as well as the first Black service member to lead any of the branches. Beyond Brown's military resume, he has not shied away from talking about race as the U.S. has grappled with unrest and the military looks to attract as wide a range of recruits as possible. Shortly before his confirmation as the Air Force's top officer, Brown rose to national prominence after releasing a video that discussed the racism he had personally experienced while serving. That video, produced in the wake of the national racial reckoning that happened after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, kicked off a round of discussion about the continued scarcity of senior officers of color in the services. The likelihood of Brown's nomination as Joint Chiefs chairman had been openly acknowledged by Air Force leadership. During a March speech at the Air and Space Force Association's Warfare Symposium, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall complimented Brown and acknowledged that he could be moving up the ladder. "Gen. Brown is an exceptional leader with broad strategic perspectives and a thoughtful, measured approach to any problem set," Kendall said. "I'd hate to lose such a great partner, but there is a chance somebody who outranks me considerably might see those same attributes in C.Q." An Air Force official spoke to Military.com on condition of anonymity following Kendall's speech and said the reference to Brown's future career was a bittersweet recognition for the Department of the Air Force. "He's immensely talented, and you recognize that as a potential," the official said. "The most painful thing about leadership is giving it away, but if it were to happen, it would be for the right cause." However, Brown's confirmation could drag on in the Senate, especially as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., continues his months-long hold on hundreds of military nominees. Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro, the former staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in an emailed statement that he anticipates Brown will ultimately have bipartisan support. "The Senate Armed Services Committee will conduct a thorough and complete confirmation process and hearing, and I fully expect Gen. Brown to be confirmed on an overwhelming bipartisan basis -- once he leaps over any procedural hurdles currently in place for senior military nominations," Punaro said. Traditionally, the chairman role rotates among the service branches, and the Air Force is overdue. It has been nearly two decades since the last airman, Gen. Richard Myers, was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Many thought Air Force Gen. David Goldfein would get the job in 2018, but then-President Donald Trump picked Milley instead. Brown joined the Air Force in 1984 and was a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Texas Tech University, according to his service biography. In his nearly 40-year career, he has also held numerous leadership positions, ranging from commanding a ghter squadron, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, two ghter wings and U.S. Air Forces Central Command. "He is thoughtful and listens before weighing in on an issue -- a rare and valued virtue among senior leadership," Deptula said. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Chatter Builds About Gen. 'CQ' Brown Candidacy for Chairman of Joint Chiefs CHASIV YAR, Ukraine -- The soldiers firing 50 to 60 rounds a day from a howitzer cannon in Ukraine gave up on wearing earplugs long ago: Protection doesn't mean much when you've already lost much of your hearing. The acrid fumes are just another commonplace occurrence, as is the smoke that socks in their position on the outskirts of Bakhmut, masking them from Russian forces trying to identify the source of the projectiles. "Better for cover," Andrii, the artillery unit's commander with silver-tipped hair and a sharp black goatee, half joked as he looked up to the sky, ever vigilant for enemy drones. The unit of nine, code named the Black Birds, carefully tends to its M777, artillery that was delivered by Ukraine's benefactors after a lengthy negotiation process. There are only a few hundred in the country, and each cannon is considered a high-value target by the Russians. Read Next: VA Can't Account for $187 Million in Emergency COVID-19 Funding When Ukraine received its first shipment of the deadly weapon last April, it was a godsend for Ukrainian forces. Highly accurate and lightweight, howitzers are beloved by American and British forces alike who relied heavily on the cannon during the war in Afghanistan. While the exact number of howitzers in Ukraine is not publicly available, the U.S. has donated the largest number to Ukraine -- 142, officially -- followed in much smaller quantities by the U.K., Canada and Australia, according to officials. Andrii, a 44-year-old lighting engineer who joined Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces after the Russian invasion began in February 2022 whose full name is being withheld due to security concerns, stays glued to his radio as targets are called in. The group of men shares a familiarity forged from day after day of fighting and, like troops everywhere, the biggest point of contention stems from food. Who can make the best borscht -- the ruby red soup made of beets and carrots that is a staple in every Ukrainian kitchen -- serves as a constant source of debate. Their unit is part of Ukraine's militia reserve forces that have been mobilized and incorporated into the broader armed forces after the Russian attack. When the call comes in to send ammunition down range, there's a rapid scramble to the howitzer embedded a couple of feet into the ground and hidden by trees and camouflage netting. They have to move fast, as the coordinates they receive often point to moving targets and will no longer be accurate in a matter of moments. Andrii writes the coordinates in a small notebook he keeps with him at all times, reading them out to another soldier, who then manually turns the dials of an analog GPS that adjusts the height of the cannon's 17-foot-long barrel in preparation. They wait to get the go-ahead from the unit on the other side of the radio, then hurriedly load a 95-pound shell into the howitzer before stepping back and turning away, crouching to protect themselves from the blast wave, opening their mouths ever so slightly to prevent their ear drums from exploding due to the intensity of the shot. Ukrainian soldiers stack artillery shells. They have a combination of decades old munitions and much more recently produced shells, though global manufacturing is struggling to keep up with the pace of fighting. (Military.com/Narciso Contreras) On busy days, this unit can fire up to 100 shells, with only brief moments to rest before the radio crackles again, a small fraction of the 4,000 to 7,000 rounds per day U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently estimated that Ukraine fires. But that's only a drop in the bucket compared to his estimate of 20,000 for Russia. The howitzer is capable of firing several different types of shells, lobbing them up to 25 miles away. This team works almost exclusively with 155mm shells that have been donated from countries across the world -- like the U.S., U.K. and Bolivia. Much of the ammunition comes from the stockpiles of nearby former Soviet states, stamped with dates of manufacture from 50-plus years ago. While this Cold War-era ammunition still works, newer shells are preferred because they are much more reliable, Andrii said. The gunpowder of older shells can fail to ignite properly, he said, causing either a malfunction that completely prevents firing or a loss of accuracy in targeting. But malfunctions like this happen rarely, the unit commander said. When a shell does not explode, the team must wait a few minutes before replacing it with another, in case the ordnance catches fire and explodes inside the cannon. Luckily, Andrii said, this has never happened to his group. Soviet-era shells are also more likely to have faulty fuses -- the small metal trigger that sparks the gunpowder, yielding the explosion that launches the shell -- requiring replacement before firing, the commander added. Although changing out a fuse takes less than a minute, any time wasted can cause them to miss their target and waste their ammunition. And the unreliability adds risk to battle plans. All of the guys are from the same region in western Ukraine and joined up shortly after the full-scale invasion began in early 2022. They have worked together since then, helping to liberate the occupied villages around the eastern capital of Kharkiv and were some of the first troops to enter the town of Izium last autumn, finding its mass graves and torture chambers that are now the subject of war crimes investigations. At night, the soldiers' faces are illuminated by only the blue light of their cell phone screens as they call their loved ones or stream videos of harrowing moments from the battlefield. But that respite does not last long. Their Starlink internet connection is cut when the generator is shut off about an hour after sunset to preserve energy and avoid detection of their lights from above. Stationed near Chasiv Yar, along the only open corridor to the besieged city of Bakhmut and its surrounding villages, new civilian evacuees trickle through the area every day but typically only stay long enough to organize transport west, away from the fighting. Ukrainian soldiers check their phones during a lull in the fighting. They have to be careful to limit the use of communications devices because they might give away their position to Russian troops. (Military.com/Narciso Contreras) The sounds of incoming artillery mix with the blasts of outgoing shells day and night, peppered with machine gun and tank fire exchanges in the distance. Local residents don't venture out onto the streets often, and with good reason: Most civilians at nearby hospitals were injured by shrapnel or blast trauma while walking or driving on the empty streets. Soldiers no longer travel here by foot or without armored vehicles, and they never stay in one location very long. The nine men have been based here for several weeks, with the shelling nearly constant. It's spring time, which means it's also mud season. Colloquially referred to as bezdorizhzhya in Ukrainian or rasputitsa in Russian, this slushy time of year is responsible for slowing down offensive actions from both combatants and making sure that soldiers like the Black Birds are in a constant struggle to stay clean and dry. The battle is eating through much of the world's stock of artillery shells. The daily usage is equivalent to the entire annual production capability for 155mm shells for many of the small European governments helping Ukraine. Even larger countries, like the U.S., previously produced 13,000 155mm shells per month until last year, when production jumped to 20,000 per month -- a figure that still falls short of what the Ukrainian armed forces says it needs. At a meeting of NATO defense ministers in March, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the waiting time for large-caliber ammunition like that needed by the howitzer "has increased from 12 to 28 months." Artillery units like the Black Birds never get close enough to the enemy to gauge whether their shots hit their targets or witness the death and destruction caused by their weapon. When asked if they knew how many enemy combatants they were responsible for taking out of action, they could share only an estimate of the number of their strikes that they were told were successful: several hundred. Despite the concerns over future munitions shortages, the deadly cannon is still a symbol of the international community's aid to Ukraine for many soldiers and civilians alike. "Anti-tank missiles slowed the Russians down, but what killed them was our artillery," a spokesman for Gen. Valery Zaluzhnyi, commander of Ukrainian forces, told the Economist last year, referring to the M777 and other weapons in its class. New T-shirts and restaurant menus in Kyiv feature howitzers, HIMARS and Javelins, alongside words of thanks to their American and international partners. The importance of these weapons will likely be put to the test when Ukraine's much anticipated spring counteroffensive campaign kicks off. Since the beginning of 2023, tens of thousands of soldiers have been returning to the country from training abroad on advanced weapons systems and field tactics, while several deliveries of long-promised weapons and ammunition from foreign allies should be in position for battle. More soldiers will be able to operate weapons like the M777, and more deliveries of similar artillery systems are expected. For now, while they await the looming counteroffensive and any new orders that may arrive at their shadowy base in the desolate town of Chasiv Yar, the members of the Black Birds feel hopeful about their odds of winning the war. Although days run together and they often need to remind each other exactly how long they've been stationed there, they frequently talk about being back home with their families by the end of the year, in the near future. They all know the names of each other's family members by now. But chat about home lasts only as long as the pauses in-between radio calls for more strikes. "I just hope it will all be over soon," said Andrii, his eyes alternating between his cot in the corner and his radio resting on the table nearby. Related: Inside Ukraine's Makeshift Training Camps, Where Soldiers Are Forged from Civilians KYIV, Ukraine The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed Thursday that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagners millionaire owner with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in a video published on Telegram that the handover would be completed by June 1. There was no immediate comment from the Russian defense ministry. It was not possible to independently verify whether Wagners pullout from the bombed-out city has begun after a nine-month battle that killed tens of thousands of people. Ukraines deputy defense minister said Thursday that Wagner units have been replaced with regular troops in the suburbs but Wagner fighters remain inside the city. Ukrainian forces still have a foothold in the southwestern outskirts, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar said. Prigozhins Bakhmut triumph delivered a badly needed victory for Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has lost momentum and now faces the possibility of a Ukrainian counteroffensive using advanced weapons supplied by Kyivs Western allies. Top Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Thursday that Ukraines counteroffensive was already underway, cautioning that it should not be anticipated as a single event starting at a specific hour of a specific day. Writing on Twitter, Podolyak said that dozens of different actions to destroy Russian occupation forces had already been taking place yesterday, are taking place today and will continue tomorrow." Prigozhin has a long-running feud with the Russian military leadership, dating back to Wagners creation. He has also built a reputation for inflammatory and often unverifiable headline-grabbing statements that he later backtracks on. During the 15-month war in Ukraine, he has repeatedly and publicly chastised Russias military leadership, accusing them of incompetence and failure to properly provision his troops as they spearheaded the battle for Bakhmut. Wagner's involvement in the capture of Bakhmut has added to Prigozhins standing, which he has used to set forth his personal views about the conduct of the war. Prigozhin is using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said. His frequent critical commentary about Russia's military performance is uncommon in Russias tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin can usually air such criticism. His flat statement of what he would do over the next week in Bakhmut came a day after he again broke with the Kremlin line on Ukraine. He said its goal of demilitarizing the country has backfired, acknowledged Russian troops have killed civilians and agreed with Western estimates that he lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed 36 drones against Kyiv in its 12th nighttime air assault on the Ukrainian capital this month but the citys air defenses shot down all of them, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. The Kremlins forces also launched 30 airstrikes and 39 attacks from multiple rocket launchers as well as artillery and mortar attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said. At least one civilian was killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine on Wednesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said Thursday. SEOUL, South Korea The South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted large live-fire drills near the border with North Korea on Thursday, despite the Norths warning that it wont tolerate what it calls an invasion rehearsal on its doorstep. The drills, the first of five rounds of live-fire exercises through mid-June, mark 70 years since the establishment of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea typically reacts to such major South Korean-U.S. exercises with missile and other weapons tests. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles, but none since it fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. It says the tests are a response to expanded military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, but observers say North Korea aims to advance its weapons development and then wrest greater concessions from its rivals in eventual diplomacy. The U.S.-South Korean firing exercises, called Combined annihilation firepower drills, are the biggest of their kind. The drills have been held 11 times since they began in 1977, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The drills involved 2,500 troops and 610 weapons systems such as fighter jets, attack helicopters, drones, tanks and artillery from South Korea and the United States, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The most recent exercises in 2017 drew about 2,000 soldiers and 250 weapons assets from both countries. The drills simulated artillery and aerial strikes on front-line North Korean military facilities in response to an attack. The troops later practiced precision-guided attacks on simulated targets in the rear areas to completely annihilate North Korean military threats, according to a ministry statement. It said South Korea will seek to establish peace through overwhelming strengthen to counter North Korean threats. North Korea didn't immediately respond to the start of the drills. Last Friday, its state media called the drills a typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal," saying it cannot but take a more serious note of the fact" that the exercises are a few kilometers (miles) from its frontier. The North's Korean Central News Agency said the U.S. and South Korea would face unspecified corresponding responses to the drills. Earlier this year, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in five years. The U.S. also sent the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bombers for joint exercises with South Korea. Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said North Korea could use the South Korea-U.S. drills as a pretext to resume testing activities. He said domestic issues such as North Koreas push to increase agricultural production during the rice-planting season could still affect its decision on weapons tests. North Korea cant help feel some burdens over the South Korea-U.S. joint firepower drills being held for the first time in six years and in the strongest manner, Moon said. In a meeting last month, U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced steps to reinforce their deterrence capabilities such as the periodic docking of U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea, strengthened joint training exercises and establishment of a new nuclear consultative group. Biden also issued a blunt warning that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the Biden-Yoon agreement revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further strengthen her countrys nuclear doctrine, saying, The pipe dream of the U.S. and South Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength. Worries about North Koreas nuclear program grew after the North last year passed a law authorizing preemptive use of nuclear weapons. Many foreign experts say North Korea does not yet possess functioning nuclear-armed missiles. HAGATNA, Guam Guam's governor gave the all-clear Thursday after Typhoon Mawar tore through the second-largest U.S. territory the night before, ripping off roofs, shredding trees and leaving much of the remote Pacific island without power and utilities. There were minor injuries reported but no fatalities, according to the office of Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. She declared the all clear Thursday evening, returning the island to its typical condition of typhoon readiness as the National Weather Service lifted a typhoon watch. She thanked the people of Guam for keeping themselves safe and protected during the storm. We now continue to focus our efforts on repairing infrastructure and restoring services to residents, Leon Guerrero said in a statement. After speaking with department leaders and seeing the incredible rapid response to the storm I am confident we will make significant progresses towards restoration of services. Survey and work crews were assessing damage at military installations, which were limited to essential personnel only, according to Joint Region Marianas. The central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain as the eyewall passed. The island's international airport flooded and the swirling typhoon churned up a storm surge and waves that crashed through coastal reefs and flooded homes. We are waking up to a rather disturbing scene out there across Guam. Were looking out our door and what used to be a jungle looks like toothpicks it looks like a scene from the movie Twister, with trees just thrashed apart," Landon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said in a briefing streamed online. Most of Guam is dealing with a major mess thats going to take weeks to clean up, he added. The strongest typhoon to hit the territory of roughly 150,000 people since 2002, Mawar briefly made landfall around 9 p.m. Wednesday as a Category 4 storm at Andersen Air Force Base on the northern tip of the island, weather service officials said. Power and internet failures made communication on the far-flung island difficult in the early going. Leon Guerrero said in a video message late Thursday morning that roads were passable, but residents should avoid driving and stay home due to ongoing strong winds. We have weathered the storm, she said, adding that the worst has gone by. Guam Power Authority said crews were working to restore power to critical and priority facilities such as a hospital, water wells and wastewater plants. Guam Waterworks Authority was working to restore water service and had issued a notice advising customers to boil their water. The A.B. Won Pat International Airport Guam completed damage inspections, with recovery underway. The airport will accommodate humanitarian and cargo flights to Guam. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday that more than 130 staffers were pre-staged or already deployed to support the storm response. More than 100 generators as well as emergency communications equipment and specialized personnel have been mobilized. The agency's distribution center is fully stocked with about four times the food and water that was in place during Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, with additional supplies ready if needed, FEMA said. The storm is expected to move northwest for days over a large, empty expanse of ocean and enter the Philippine area of responsibility late Friday or early Saturday. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Facebook that officials are preparing, and that the storm could bring heavy rainfall and flooding. The storm could threaten Taiwan next week. It strengthened to 165 mph (266 kph) winds Thursday and regained its status as a super typhoon, according to the weather service. Mawar, a word that means rose in Malay, was forecast to maintain that intensity for the next two days. By Thursday night, Mawar was centered 195 miles (314 kilometers) northwest of Guam and 210 miles (338 kilometers) west of Rota, Guams neighbor to the north, moving west-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph). Officials also declared all-clear on Rota, Saipan and Tinian on Thursday. Power was knocked out for all of Rota, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. said Wednesday. The island has about 2,500 residents. As the typhoon crept slowly over Guam, it sent solar panels flying and crumbled part of a hotel's exterior wall to the ground, according to videos posted on social media. At what felt like its peak intensity, the winds screeched and howled like jets, and water swamped some homes. Leah del Mundo spent the night with her family in their concrete home in Chalan Pago, in central Guam. She told The Associated Press they tried to sleep but were awakened by violent shaking of the typhoon shutters and the whistling strong winds. Its not our first rodeo, she said via text message. Weve been through worse. But we brace ourselves for the cleanup, repairs, restoration afterwards. Winds peeled back the roof of Enrique Baza's mother's house in Yona, allowing water to damage everything inside. My moms house didnt escape, he said, adding that his mother stayed with him in his concrete home during the storm. He drove around in a pickup truck looking for supplies to repair his mothers roof, but most stores were without power and only accepting cash. Many wooden or tin homes he passed were badly beaten or collapsed. Its kind of a shock," he said. In Tumon, on Guams western shore, winds tore a granite countertop from a hotels outdoor bar and tossed it into the air. Guests scrambled to stack chairs to brace the doors, and windows buckled and creaked. It was like a freight train going on outside, said Thomas Wooley, who recounted how wind and rain pushed through the aluminum shutters of his family's concrete home overlooking Tumon Bay. When day broke, he found their outdoor china cabinet toppled and its contents shattered on the ground. A chainsaw-wielding relative helped clear downed branches. Weve got tons of work to do, Wooley said. Its going to take a few days to clean it up. Guams weather service office in Tiyan said it would shut down operations in the morning for workers to get home to families and assess damage at their homes. Counterparts in the Honolulu office took over their duties. Guam is a crucial hub for U.S. forces in the Pacific, with about 6,800 service members assigned to the island, according to the Pentagon. Military officials evacuated personnel, dependents and employees, sent ships out to sea and moved aircraft off the island or secured them in protective hangars. The Navy ordered the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group to head to the island to assist in the recovery effort, according to a U.S. official. The Nimitz, along with the USS Bunker Hill, a cruiser, and the USS Wayne E. Meyer, a destroyer, were south of Japan and expected to arrive in Guam in three or four days, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ship movements not yet made public. ___ This story was updated to correct that Tumon is on Guams western shore, not its northeastern shore. ___ Kelleher reported from Honolulu. AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland, and Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor and Sarah Brumfield in Washington, Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, and Ed Komenda in Seattle contributed. Everyone who served likely knows what FUBAR means. After all, we veterans created this term. "FUBAR" might be the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger's new Netflix spy series, but the show is not beyond recognition: We've seen something like this before. There's a reason everyone is comparing it to his 1994 movie "True Lies." In "FUBAR," we meet Schwarzenegger's Luke Brunner, who has been lying to his family about being a mild-mannered everyman for decades, while he secretly is off saving the world in international espionage action, just like his character Harry Tasker in the "True Lies" movie. But what if one of the other family members were also a trained intelligence operative and they happen to meet one another in the field? That's what happens when Luke's daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro, "Top Gun: Maverick") turns out to be an operative just like her dad. When she needs to be bailed out of a mission before her cover is blown, the agency sends the elder Brunner in to do it. Luke Brunner is trying to retire while Emma Brunner's career is just getting started, but there is, of course, a special mission that requires the two Brunners to work together as a team. Luke is forced to watch his daughter come of age all at once, since the daughter he knew before lived as much a lie as he has. Meanwhile, Emma resents the father she always thought was a little shady, and yet is more like him than she realizes. The agency requires that the two sit in therapy sessions throughout the mission, which also feels familiar in a "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" kind of way, which is the best part of the show. What we get is a workplace family comedy with a bit of actual family tension and body-dropping action sprinkled in. Where "True Lies" was a buddy cop espionage action movie with a bit of romantic family comedy thrown in, the espionage action sometimes feels like an afterthought in "FUBAR." Listen: Nothing is ever going to be "True Lies." Even the recently canceled "True Lies" reboot television show couldn't live up to its name. I don't know if anyone else has the guts to say it, so I'm going to say it: Both of these shows need more Tom Arnold in them. Miss you, buddy. (20th Century Fox) Anyone expecting more than a tip of the hat to Schwarzenegger's action movies of days gone by might be disappointed in "FUBAR," but a lot of it will feel familiar to fans of his previous work. Just don't expect too much from the actor's first foray on the small screen. The first season of "FUBAR" is now streaming on Netflix. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn. Keep Up With the Best in Military Entertainment Whether you're looking for news and entertainment, thinking of joining the military or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to the Military.com newsletter to have military news, updates and resources delivered straight to your inbox. Before Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the world's deadliest terrorist -- and certainly the one who killed the most Americans -- was someone the U.S. public knew little about. Americans were well aware of Imad Mughniyeh's work. He masterminded the 1983 attack on the Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 members of the U.S. military and the second bombing that day, which killed 58 French paratroopers. "I think he wasn't as well known because by design, he kept his name secret," Greg Barker, director of the new Showtime series "Ghosts of Beirut," tells Military.com. "People knew his name, but only within certain circles. For 25 years, the only photo they had was his high school passport photo." Mughniyeh also executed the bombing of the U.S. embassy compound in Beirut, one that killed 63 people, including CIA Station Chief Kenneth Haas and Robert Ames, the agency's Near East director. Hunting Imad Mughniyeh became a near obsession for many in the CIA, but they didn't even know what he looked like. "Ghosts of Beirut" is a new four-episode limited series that recreates the CIA's hunt for Mughniyeh, dramatizing the agency's partnership with Israel's intelligence service, Mossad, and shows the international cloak-and-dagger mission that ultimately resulted in Mughiyeh's 2008 assassination on the streets of Damascus. "There was blood lust to go after him, over time within the agency," says Barker. "There were people whose careers were shaped in a very dramatic way by the events in Beirut in the mid-1980s, who then went on to other positions across the agency, even at the very highest levels." Among the numerous other attacks on foreign nationals in Lebanon and elsewhere, Mughniyeh's enduring legacy is probably the development of the suicide bomber as a terror tactic. Suicide attacks had happened in the past, but it was Mughniyeh's Beirut-based Islamic Jihad organization that made martyrs of bombers. "I think there were lessons the CIA took from that, that informed how the agency evolved over the years, particularly how it reacted after 9/11," Barker says. "Here you have this kid on the streets, who at 19 reinvents suicide bombing, something he could convince people to do for his own cause." Lebanese terrorist mastermind Imad Mughniyeh (Hisham Suleiman, right) meets with his Iranian financier, Qassem Suleimani (Khalid Benchegra), in Ghosts of Beirut. (Showtime) Mughniyeh and Islamic Jihad would later be accused of the kidnapping and murder of numerous civilians in Lebanon, including journalist Terry Anderson and William Francis Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut who took over after Haas' murder. Mughniyeh had also been charged with the hijacking of TWA Flight 847, where U.S. Navy Seabee Robert Stethem was tortured and killed. His other crimes include an attack on the Israeli embassy in Argentina, cross-border attacks on the Israel Defense Forces and bombing attacks on foreign embassies, industrial centers and an airport in Kuwait. "Ghosts of Beirut" seamlessly blends real archival news reports and interviews with real-world CIA operatives who were involved with the agency during Mughniyeh's reign of terror in Lebanon with the striking dramatized narrative about how the he went from a 19-year-old kid in Beirut to the world's deadliest terrorist leader. Even after the September 11th attacks, Mughniyeh and his image were a closely guarded secret within Hezbollah. The CIA didn't know what a 44-year-old Mughniyeh might look like. How did a filmmaker like Greg Barker get inside the head and history of such a shadowy figure? "I can't give names," Barker says, "but there was a former Mossad guy who told us how they got a picture of him for the first time in 25 years, which is shown at the end of episode three. His son and wife, to whom he was married at 19, confront him about an affair he's having." "From there, you extrapolate back. I can't get into details, but they were like any other 19-year-olds who got married. We have other sources that tell us about what she may have gone through, Mughniyeh's personal timeline, an Iranian defector who was a recruiter. We would find these stories and they all clicked." When Barker would find a snippet of information, that would unlock a retired CIA officer or someone else with personal experience in the hunt for Mughniyeh. He began piecing together facts that had never been put together before. "In the course of doing this research, we managed to lay them all out in a timeline with this new insight, connecting this current story with the past," Barker says. "And then suddenly it just kind of appeared to be a kind of narrative structure of how to tell the story." The result is Barker's masterful retelling of how Imad Mughniyeh became a terrorist supervillain and how the CIA and Mossad teamed up to take him down. "Ghosts of Beirut" is currently airing on Showtime and streaming on the Showtime Anytime app and is available through the Paramount+ app. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn. Keep Up With the Best in Military Entertainment Whether you're looking for news and entertainment, thinking of joining the military or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com newsletters to get military news, updates and resources delivered straight to your inbox. The Giants have signed right-hander Phoenix Sanders to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. Hes been assigned to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. Sanders, 28 next month, was a Rays draft pick in 2017 and made his way to the majors with that club last year. He got into eight games out of Tampas bullpen, logging 14 2/3 innings with a 3.07 ERA. He struck out 21.1% of batters faced and walked 5.3%, getting grounders on 41.5% of balls in play. He also tossed 30 innings for their Triple-A club with a 5.40 ERA though his 3.91 FIP suggests some bad luck, supported by his .388 batting average on balls in play and 67.5% strand rate. He stuck out 27.9% of opponents at that level against a walk rate of just 1.6%. The Rays put Sanders on waivers in August and he was claimed by the Orioles. They kept him in the minors and then passed him through waivers in September. He made nine appearances for their Triple-A team to start this year with an ERA of 2.00, striking out 31.4% of batters faced while walking 8.6%. Despite those solid results, he was released last week but has quickly found his next job with the Giants. The bullpen hasnt been a strong part of the roster in San Francisco this year, as the clubs relievers have a collective 4.90 ERA. That places them 28th out of the 30 teams in the league, ahead of just the White Sox and the As. Sanders will head to Sacramento and try to work his way back to the big leagues. If he succeeds, he still has options and less than a year of service time, allowing him to be utilized as a depth reliever for the foreseeable future. DETROIT - Janet Jackson has a lot of hits and she performed bits and pieces of darn near every single one of them at her concert in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, May 24th, her first concert in Michigan in nearly six years. This the first time Jackson has performed in Michigan since bringing her State of the World tour to Detroit and Grand Rapids in October 2017. Grammy Award winner and Fast and Furious actor, Ludacris, opened for Jackson, taking the stage around 7:45 p.m. and performing for about 40 minutes. Then, it was the icons turn. Jackson hit the stage around 8:55 p.m. She played for an hour and 50 minutes taking fans on a journey through her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career, exiting the stage shortly a few times for wardrobe changes. Backed by four male dancers, a band and a DJ, Jackson did what she does best, showcasing her voice while showing off her dance moves, albeit a little toned down than in the past. She went from one song to another, often too fast as many songs didnt last longer than a minute, including a many of her biggest hits. Even though the medleys were necessary to get in many of her hit songs into the concert, as a fan, you were just starting to get into most of them before, all of a sudden, she went into the next song. All medleys aside, her voice was solid as she hit every note on each old-school hit and her dance moves were fun to watch. A couple of snafus, like the video screens being slightly off-sync with the live performance and background vocals being artificially pumped into the speakers, didnt damper the show. The concert featured mostly music with little banter. And when we say hits, we mean it. The setlist included: If, Thats the Way Love Goes, What Have You Done for Me Lately, Nasty, The Pleasure Principle, Because of Love, When I Think of You, Control, Come Back to Me, Lets Wait Awhile, Again, Any Time, Any Place, All for You, Miss You Much, Love Will Never Do, Escapade, Scream, Rhythm Nation and Together Again. See what we mean. She performed shortened versions of hit after hit after hit with a few newer songs and deep tracks mixed in. Could she have played a few of her hits in their entireties? Sure. But then wed probably be mentioning all of the hits she wasnt able to perform for fans. Darned if you do, darned if you dont. MORE FROM MLIVE: Christopher Lloyd and 29 more pics of celebrities who just hung out in Michigan The Voice season 23 winner crowned: Either way, Michigans Grace West is victorious Michigan has 3 of the Top 10-ranked wineries in the entire Midwest Walleye fishing is slowing down in many parts of Michigan but theres one area where anglers were catching limits this past week, officials said. Anglers were catching limits of walleye just out from the Bartnik Boat Launch (in Monroe) on gold crawler harnesses in 17 to 22 feet of water (on Lake Erie), according to the Wednesday, May 24, weekly fishing report from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Nearby on the Detroit River, walleye anglers were having a fair bit of luck trolling with crawler harnesses and bandits in 7 to 10 feet of water near Lanse Creuse Bay and near the Salt River, the report said. Other walleye anglers did very well near Grosse Pointe in 6 to 9 feet of water. The fishing report covers the entire state and is broken down into five regions with information about several areas in each region. It includes where anglers are casting their lines, what methods and bait theyre using, what theyre targeting and how well they did. In the Upper Peninsula, anglers targeting walleye on Little Bay de Noc reported fair to good fishing. Out of St. Joe, there was another good week of salmon fishing, the report said. Up in Presque Isle and Alpena, anglers were seeing good numbers of trout and Atlantic salmon. Heres the DNRs Weekly Fishing Report from May 24: Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie: Anglers were catching limits of walleye just out from the Bartnik Boat Launch on gold crawler harnesses in 17 to 22 feet of water. Catfish were plentiful from the hot hole just offshore from the coal power plant on worm rigs. Largemouth and smallmouth bass were caught closer to shore on artificial jigs. Detroit River: Walleye anglers were having a fair bit of luck trolling with crawler harnesses and bandits in 7 to 10 feet of water near Lanse Creuse Bay and near the Salt River. Other walleye anglers did very well near Gross Point in 6 to 9 feet of water. Smallmouth bass anglers did well near Metro Beach and near the Veterans Memorial Park in shallow water as well (6 to 9 feet) and had the best luck casting with soft plastics. Chartreuse and orange were hot colors this week. There was also quite a bit of bass action between Gross Point and the mouth of the river. Anglers fishing that location were starting to catch white bass and quite a few caught northern pike. Anglers also hooked a few musky near the Clinton River Cutoff location. Saginaw Bay: Walleye were caught by boat anglers trolling in 18 feet of water out in front of Linwood while using crankbaits and crawlers. Boat anglers trolling in front of the Bay City State Park in 12 feet of water were using crankbaits and crawlers. Some smallmouth and largemouth bass were caught at the mouth of the Pine River while boat anglers were casting an assortment of crank baits. Anglers were doing well when targeting walleye on the east side of the bay when weather allowed. Out front of Quanicassee in 12 to 14 feet and off Callahan Reef were good areas. The slot from Sunset towards North Island was good in 12 to 15 feet of water. Inside Wildfowl Bay walleye were caught around weed beds and drop off areas. Both body baits and crawler harnesses in purple and greens were very productive. Largemouth and smallmouth bass continued to be caught and released around nearshore areas on a variety of artificial baits. Saginaw River: Bass anglers did well catching and releasing good numbers of largemouth bass through Bay City while casting various artificial baits in about 5 feet of water. Elsewhere, a couple walleye were caught while casting jigs from shore at Veterans Park in Bay City. Tittabawassee River: Good numbers of white bass were caught upstream of Center Road near the Railroad Bridge. Anglers were still picking up an occasional walleye in places on the Tittabawassee, but it was slow. Port Sanilac: Anglers were trolling in 13 to 20 feet of water using planer boards, dipsy divers with body baits and small spoons to catch steelhead, coho and an occasional Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon and some pink salmon. Lake trout were caught in 40 to 50 feet of water while using downriggers with spoons fishing closer to the bottom. From the north breakwall, Atlantic salmon and a few steelhead were caught while fishing the lake side of the wall using minnows with bombers and casting small spoons. The south break wall anglers were fishing at the end of wall and catching a few salmon and trout. Lexington: Anglers were trolling straight out of the harbor and heading north in shallow water 12 to 20 feet using planer boards with spoons to catch a mix of coho, steelhead some Atlantic salmon and a few pink salmon. Lake trout were caught in 40 to 50 feet of water trolling with downriggers and spoons about 30 feet down. Anglers fishing inside the harbor from the break walls and shore anglers caught Atlantic salmon, coho and rock bass with minnows and casting small spoons. Find last weeks fishing report here: Fishing report: Good fishing is here for boat anglers targeting salmon Southwest Lower Peninsula Muskegon: Boat anglers found the salmon action to be fair. Salmon were caught 30 to 80 feet down in 70 to 180 feet of water. Blue and orange spoons worked well, and the morning bite was the best. Muskegon River: Above Newaygo, anglers fishing for rainbow trout and brown trout did well. Small inline spinners and flies produced the best numbers. Smallmouth bass, which was the most popular species to target, were spread throughout the entire river below Croton Damincluding some very large ones. Incidental catches of rock bass, crappie, pike, walleye were also reported throughout the river. Multiple species of suckers were plentiful, but few anglers were targeting them. Bluegill fishing near the mouth of the river was especially productive. Grand Haven: Good numbers of Chinook salmon were caught by boat anglers. Salmon were caught from the pierheads out to 180 feet of water. Pier anglers found the Chinook salmon and steelhead action to be slow. A few were caught on alewives. Salmon were caught 35 to 100 feet down on green and blue spoons. The morning bite was the best. St. Joe: Salmon anglers had another good week. Fish were caught from 70 feet of water to way past 120 feet of water, mostly all caught on spoons. Pier anglers were catching steelhead on shrimp. Anglers were also catching good numbers of catfish and freshwater drum. Most of these fish were caught on night crawlers fished on the bottom. Perch fishing was slow. South Haven: Boat anglers targeting salmon and trout continued to have good fishing. The fish were spread out from 50 feet of water out to well beyond 120 feet of water. Most fish seemed to be caught on spoons fished in the upper portion of the water column. Pier anglers had slow fishing. There was an occasional steelhead caught on shrimp. Perch fishing was slow. Northeast Lower Peninsula Tawas: Lake trout were caught in 40 to 60 feet of water off Tawas Point. Some walleye were caught around the bay. Fishing was slow around the pier with the occasional walleye or pike caught. Oscoda/Au Sable: Lake trout were caught in 40 to 60 feet of water. Walleye and Atlantic salmon were few and far between at the mouth of the river. Presque Isle: Atlantic salmon were still hanging around the harbor and outside of breakwall. Minnows and spoons in blue/silver, green/silver and oranges were producing fish on and off throughout the day. Stoneport was giving up good catches of trout and salmon in 40 to 80 feet of water. Spoons ran all through the water column were producing fish on a wide variety of colors. Lighthouse Point, North Bay and Thompson Harbor were giving up good numbers of Atlantic salmon and trout. Anglers running flashers and spin glows on deeper sets in 70 to 100 feet were doing well on trout with yellows and greens being the most productive. Bright colored spoons ran high in the water column of 50 to 60 feet of water were taking good numbers of Atlantic salmon. Speeds of 2.5-2.8 mph were working best for silver fish. Rockport: Anglers were taking good numbers of both lake trout and Atlantic salmon. Fish were scattered in the water column around Middle Island. Best results were coming from the 30 to 60 feet range. Bright colored spoons high in the water column were taking Atlantic salmon while the majority of trout were coming on deeper sets. Some nice pike were taken around the boat launch on spoons and large spinners. Alpena: Anglers were finding good numbers of Atlantic salmon and lake trout along the north shores of Thunder Bay and around Thunder Bay Island. A fair number of Chinook salmon were taken as well in these waters. Depths from 30 to 70 feet were the most productive. Lead core and copper lines as well as dipsy divers were getting the best results. Best results were coming from spoons in orange, orange/silver, greens, and watermelon. Lake trout were also found scattered in the water column and were being taken on watermelon, green and chartreuse colored spoons. Walleye were found from the pier head all the way to Sulphur Island. Depths of 20 to 30 feet seemed to be the most productive with crawler harnesses working well in the mornings and evenings and crankbaits trolled did well after dark. Waters around Partridge Point and Sulphur Island were producing good numbers of northern pike and smallmouth bass. Tube jigs and various plastics were working well for bass and the majority of pike were taken on large spinnerbaits and stick baits. Thunder Bay River: Anglers jigging the river mouth were having success on walleye early and late in the day. Anglers were also finding success around Mill Island Park, 9th Street Bridge, and along the 2nd Street Bridge while casting crankbaits and drifting crawlers and leaches. Suckers were still in the river as well as bass, pike, carp, and panfish. Anglers using crawlers caught all species in the river. Spinnerbaits and stick baits were taking the majority of pike while tube jigs were the most productive for smallmouth bass. Cheboygan: Anglers reported that the lake trout fishing was good with a few limits reported. Anglers were fishing around Cordwood Point. Best depths were from 40 to 70 feet. Anglers were mostly running spoons with lots of orange and greens. Cheboygan River: Anglers were trying for walleye but not much success to report. They were catching a lot of smallmouth bass and suckers. Anglers were casting various body baits or spoons. Anglers were also drifting jigs with live bait. Rogers City: When weather permitted, anglers were catching lake trout on Lake Huron. The best was straight out and northwest of the harbor up towards 40 Mile Point Lighthouse. The best depths were 40 to 70 feet of water. Anglers were running lines all over the water column. Lake trout were suspended because of the cold water. Anglers were using spoons, but they were also fishing dodgers and spin-n-glos. Good colors were greens and chartreuse for lake trout. Atlantic salmon should be present. Anglers should target the top 20 feet with brightly colored spoons. Good colors to try are oranges, orange and green or orange and silver. Try the smaller or reg size spoons. Northwest Lower Peninsula Manistee River: Fishing pressure was low throughout the weekend with the very occasional dark steelhead caught. Successful anglers on the river were primarily targeting trout and suckers. Trout anglers were having success using small artificial spinning and crank lures while casting. Those casting also found some luck catching smallmouth throughout the upper section of the river. Sucker anglers were using still methods with natural bait on the bottom of the river. Manistee Lake: Anglers on the lake were primarily targeting panfish, bass and pike. Natural bait under a bobber produced the best results for a variety of panfish in shallow weeds towards the southern end of the lake. Anglers fishing for pike had the most success casting spinners and stick baits near shore. Manistee: Anglers trolling for Chinook caught fish just outside the harbor and straight out in 160 to 240 feet of water while fishing 40 to 60 feet down with spoons. In the harbor, a couple brown trout were caught while trolling and casting off the pier with spoons. A few alewife have shown up around the piers as well. The perch bite died down. Ludington: Anglers trolling for Chinook caught some at Big Sable Point while fishing 100 to 130 feet of water, but the bite was hit or miss. Off the projects, a few lake trout were caught in 70 to 100 feet of water. Chinook were also caught south to Pentwater and at Little Sable Point. Pier action was slow. East Grand Traverse Bay: Fishing slowed significantly since last weekend. Water temperatures dropped during the week with cold nights. Lake trout and cisco were found in shallow water, but the bite had been tough, especially for cisco. The few cisco and lake trout that were caught were scattered anywhere from 15 to 100 feet of water. Jigging and casting had been best. Smallmouth bass fishing had been slow, but a few boat anglers were catching 10 to 20 per trip in shallow water. Ontonagon River: Some walleye were caught by determined anglers but overall the bite had been fairly slow following the opener. Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Anglers had success finding fish while trolling artificial lures in shallow waters. Common catches had a good variety in species, consisting primarily of lake trout but also including steelhead, coho salmon, Chinook salmon and brown trout. These catches occurred during all times of day. Black River Harbor: Fishing efforts were low out of the harbor but the few anglers that did go out found some success trolling artificial lures for lake trout and coho salmon. There was some success by anglers sucker fishing within the harbor. Upper Peninsula Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers reported fair to good fishing. Limited success for those fishing near the mouth of the Whitefish River. The east bank, Gladstone, the Escanaba and Ford rivers were productive. Anglers were both trolling and jigging. Trolling small profile crankbaits and jigging structure with soft plastics or worms produced good results. Some large fish were reported, but mostly good eating-sized walleye were spotted. Big Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers had mixed results. Smallmouth anglers were catching quality fish. The yellow perch bite was slow. Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Most anglers had luck trolling for coho salmon, Chinook salmon and lake trout. Anglers who had success were in shallower water using artificial presentations. Most anglers reported an increasing water temperature and have seen many fish on radar with activity increasing. Most successful trips of fishing were during the mornings with some anglers reporting fish being done biting by 9am. Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Canal: Anglers were trolling and jigging on successful trips. During jigging trips, anglers found lake trout usually deeper than 100 feet while trolling produced more fish in shallower waters. Trolling catches included coho, brown trout, Chinook salmon and lake trout. Lake trout and coho salmon made up the majority of the catch. Cedar River and Green Bay (Lake Michigan): At J.W. Wells State Park and Cedar River State Harbor, walleye fishing was sporadic out on Green Bay. Some anglers were finding quality sized walleye in 12 to 18 feet of water while trolling crankbaits. People were catching a mix of smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike in the Cedar River. Munising Bay: Boat anglers did well this past week for coho with incidental catches of splake and a few Chinook salmon. Anglers were mainly trolling within the bay. Water temperatures were still cold around 40 degrees offshore. Shore fishing remained slow. Grand Marais: Boat anglers did well for coho with a few scattered reports of rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout. Anglers were mainly trolling just outside the breakwall either east or west in about 20 to 30 feet. Whitefish anglers reported fair to good catches off the pier using single eggs. Anglers that were specifically trolling for lake trout did well reporting limits with most fish averaging around 3 to 4 pounds. READ MORE: Michigan State football stadiums fluffy falcon chicks get tracking bands Iconic Budweiser Clydesdales to appear 4 times in Northern Michigan next month Every picnic table, bench and grassy knoll is dining room for this picnic-focused restaurant What do new double red flags mean at Great Lakes beaches? HOUGHTON, MICH. -- Isle Royale National Park, which sits surrounded by Lake Superior some 55 miles from the tip of Michigans Keweenaw Peninsula, is so rugged and remote that most experts recommend travelers plan on spending several days to an entire week there in order to enjoy the full island experience. But what if youve only got one day? Thats a common question from many would-be Isle Royale visitors, say the folks at Visit Keweenaw, which is what prompted the regional travel and tourism organization to recently publish a robust day-trip guide to the island archipelago. One of the least-visited properties in the entire National Park Service, Isle Royale is home to a diverse and unique array of wildlife and plants, which is what has made it a haven for nature lovers and outdoor adventure seekers. While day trippers have to be realistic about what they can pack into their island time, Visit Keweenaw says there are still ways to enjoy a single day on Isle Royale. Read on for a quick overview of planning a day trip to Isle Royale National Park: Getting there: There are two options for traveling to the island: Via Isle Royale Seaplane (30-45 minutes one way) or the Isle Royale Queen IV ferry (a little more than 3 hours one way). A seaplane daytrip gives you a maximum of seven hours to explore, while the ferry leaves you with three hours not a ton of time, but enough for an adventure. Dont skip the visitors center: Whether you arrive at the islands Windigo or Rock Harbor visitors center (dependent on your transportation to the island), make sure you stop in: Not only is this where youll pay park entrance fees, but you can also pick up helpful maps and brochures. This is a great opportunity to ask park rangers for timely tips or pointers on how to make the most of your brief time on the island. RELATED: Headed to Michigans remote Isle Royale? Here are 12 tips from the pros Hiking: According to the experts at Visit Keweenaw, youll want to choose your hikes based on your transportation to the island. Youll also want to have a realistic idea of your pace and hiking abilities so trips dont take longer than you anticipate. Suggestions for seaplane visitors range from the 1.2-mile Windigo Nature Trail to the six-mile Minong Ridge Overlook, which offers just a taste of the islands rugged, 28-mile Minong Ridge Trail. Ferry travelers might try the 4.4-mile figure-eight shaped Stoll Trail to scenic Scoville Point, or the relatively easy 3.8-mile Hike to Suzys Cave to see a sea arch carved roughly 4,000 years ago. Paddling: Enjoy a day soaking up the scenery and wildlife by renting a kayak or canoe just mind the time and distance so you dont miss your flight or ferry trip back to the mainland. Ferry-goers can rent from Rock Harbor Marina to enjoy a few hours paddling the Rock Harbor area; seaplane visitors may consider paddling protected Tobin Harbor or Washington Creek. RELATED: Michigans Isle Royale named among least-visited national parks in the U.S. Fishing: Home to more than 40 documented species of fish, including whitefish, walleye, perch and pike, Isle Royale is a great spot for angling. Visit Keweenaw suggests bringing some light fishing gear, and fishing off a dock or a rented boat. Relaxing: Dont feel like you have to maximize every minute during your daytrip; enjoy a picnic, nap in a packable hammock or take in a meal or drink at the historic Rock Harbor Lodges Greenstone Grill. For more day trip ideas, including tips for the best-possible day trip experience and how to recreate responsibly at Isle Royale National Park, see the full guide on VisitKeweenaw.com. RELATED: Why Michigan is seeing the Northern Lights more often New forest bathing walks at Sleeping Bear Dunes aim to deepen connection to nature U.P. waterfalls are peaking right now: 4 that have easy access MARQUETTE, MI A Michigan was killed in a single-vehicle crash in the Upper Peninsula. According to the Marquette County Sheriffs Office, the crash occurred on County Road 550 near Saux Head Lake Road in Powell Township at 5 a.m. on Thursday. The crash was discovered by a passing motorist who called 911 around 6:25 a.m. Police say a 2009 Toyota Corolla driven by a 52-year-old man from Skandia was traveling North on County Road 550 when it crossed the southbound lane, left the roadway, and crashed into the ditch on the west side of the road. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. His name has not been released pending the notification of family. Powell Township Fire and EMS and UPHS EMS assisted at the scene. The crash remains under investigation. READ MORE: Michigan man pleads guilty to torturing ex-girlfriends Yorkie Its Yooperlite season in Upper Peninsula, see glowing treasures at new Michigan Tech exhibit Search crews on horseback find more human remains in U.P. woods UPDATE: Missing 23-year-old woman found dead in Upper Peninsula HANCOCK, MI Police are looking for a missing woman in Michigans Upper Peninsula. The Hancock Police Department is asking for the publics help in locating Mary Ylitalo, 23, of Hancock. She was last seen in the 800 Block of Ingot Street in Hancock around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. She is between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8 tall and about 150 pounds, police said. She also has shoulder-length, light brown hair and may be wearing a red plaid coat. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hancock Police Department at 906-482-3102 or Call 911. YPSILANTI, MI - Bulldozers and backhoes currently mark an expansive property along the Huron River in Ypsilanti. But developers and city officials look at the mounds of dirt and see the promise of a home, 308 of them to be exact. Construction is underway on two parallel housing developments at 845 and 945 Clark Road, bringing the promise of affordable apartments to a city people say is in desperate need of them. Its important that we recognize that whats being built here is more than a building, said Ypsilanti City Council Member Desirae Simmons. Its a community, and its a beautiful addition to our community here in the city of Ypsilanti. Simmons who before she was elected shaped the projects by serving on a citizens committee that negotiated with developers made the pronouncement overlooking the site across the river from Eastern Michigan University during a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday, May 24. Developers with Lincoln Avenue Capital, the California-based company that invests in affordable projects across the country, gathered with Michigan housing officials and city council members to mark the occasion. Rising from the dirt during the next year and a half will be a series of buildings. One portion, dubbed Huron Vista, will bring 156 units for individuals and families, split between one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The other, The Residences at Huron, involves 156 one- and two-bedroom apartments for senior housing. Residents of Washtenaw County, like so many Americans across the country, face a persistent housing crisis. Its a real issue, Lincoln Avenue Capital Chairman Neal Schore said. The project is meant to help, with all units reserved for residents with below-average incomes, including some 40% or under the countys median income. This is the way we have to do affordable housing. Its not easy, but it does get the products delivered that we need into communities that are going to last quite a while, said Tony Lentych, Michigan State Housing Development Authority chief housing investment officer. The agency is providing tax credits and tax-exempt bonds. The city also played a significant role through an arrangement forfeiting much of the new property taxes generated by the construction, in exchange for the affordability measures. The development was one of the test runs for the citys community benefits ordinance, unique rules requiring developers to negotiate with residents to mold projects getting public support. Read more: Ypsilanti residents negotiated directly with developers for the first time. How did it go? When citizens groups fought for the passage of the ordinance in 2018, detractors claimed it would discourage developers from coming to the city, Simmons said. Five years later, two projects have gone through the process, with a third on the way. It wasnt all rabbits and rainbows but we came in with serious questions, with serious desires of what we wanted to see in the community and we had a serious partner. And so we were able to move things forward that we didnt know that we could do, Simmons said. An agreement produced by negotiations with Lincoln Avenue Capital included boosting the number of more affordable apartments, creating space for a free store or food pantry at Huron Vista and the formation of a tenant governance council. Read more: More affordable apartments, food pantry part of agreement with developer in Ypsilanti City Council OKd the deal in June 2022, though some city leaders lamented the project would effectively destroy an old-growth oak forest, much of which has now been cut down. The tax incentive was also not without controversy, with some arguing it wouldnt result in enough benefit for the city as a whole and was unwise with Ypsilanti facing budgetary challenges. Even with the agreement and financing in place, other behind-the-scenes roadblocks threatened to derail the project. In November, with the project fully approved and financing ready to go, the general contractor set to make it a reality walked away, Lincoln Avenue Capital Developer Kyle Brasser said. I was scared, he said. These two projects that I spent two years working on were failing miserably. Developers found an alternate construction team, Wolverine Building Group, to take on the project. Theyre honestly one of the only reasons were all standing here, Brasser said. Brasser, the public face of the project as it moved through Ypsilantis approval process, hailed the development as effective collaboration between developers and public officials. If you involve members from the private sector and the public sector in a true partnership what you get is a much better end result, he said. Construction is slated to continue throughout the year and into 2024, with the buildings ready for occupancy in fall 2024, according to the developer. We did this to answer a need in our community for more affordable housing, for more housing opportunities and choices for seniors, for more places for people who are single and for families to live that is beautiful and joyous, Simmons said. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. More from The Ann Arbor News: Ypsilanti school bus hit by bullet was not intended target, police say New $115M deal triggers privatization fears again at Eastern Michigan University Ypsilantis Peninsular Paper Dam removal project gets almost $3.8M boost from state Ypsilanti suspends law targeted by landlords lawsuit as unconstitutional YPSILANTI, MI -- Jennifer Ware went to the hospital to give birth to her son, but they said she wasnt ready to deliver and sent her home. And then I had to call 911, Ware said. I thought I was going to make it back to the hospital but when I came back, I was coming back with the baby. That was in 2005. Ware gave birth to Jermir Bennett, the youngest of her five children, at home with the help of Ypsilanti Fire Department firefighters Greg Brierley and Joe Knasiak. Bennett, now 17, was reunited with the men who delivered him this week for the first time since his birth. They said they couldnt miss it to come see me graduate, Bennett said. Brierly and Knasiak met with Bennett and his family on Wednesday, May 25, the afternoon of his graduation from Washtenaw International High School. While firefighters sometimes get a thank you card, being invited to a family function was special, they said. The only time I ever met him was when they were having a medical emergency and delivery, said Brierly, who now serves as a fire chief near Traverse City. Now, we get to go back and actually see him under different circumstances. Knasiak said he thought it was unique. I thought, man what a great opportunity to see this individual that grew up 17 years later, Knasiak said. And now hes graduating from high school. The trio talked about Bennetts high school career and his next steps, which include studying criminal justice and social work at the University of Toledo. The circumstance of his birth inspired Bennett to go into a career helping people, he said. While Bennett said he got to hear some of his birth story from the firefighters perspectives, the trio mostly just caught up with each other, he said. The pair couldnt resist a few nudges toward joining a fire department, though, Bennett said. Bennett also learned Brierly had delivered his own children at home. I thought that was kind of cool, that his kids were like me a little bit, Bennett said. And, when he walked the stage during the graduation ceremonies, Bennett said he could feel and hear the pairs support. They were one of the loudest people in the auditorium, Bennett said. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: No injuries after engine fire strikes veteran freighter on Lake Erie Ann Arbor students built a home. Its the nations largest from high schoolers, teacher says Prosecutor wants teen charged as adult in fatal crash that killed 13-year-old SALINE, MI Carrigan Cafe in downtown Saline is officially on the market and open for prospective buyers. Owners Karen and Jason Carrigan have announced they are selling the business after running it nine years. The couple opened the coffee shop at 101 S. Ann Arbor St. in September 2014 in the citys former My Favorite Cafe space. Read more: Carrigan Cafe now open in Saline The business has become known for its coffee, breakfast sandwiches and for being a place where people can connect seven days a week. The decision to sell comes after the couples move to Georgia in December 2020. While Karen has traveled back and forth for the business, she said shes ready to join her husband full time and focus more on her job as a driver trainer for a shuttle service company. Read more: Michigans Best Local Eats: Tiger latte shows its stripes at Carrigan Cafe in Saline The business in a 40-seat, 1,888-square-foot cafe is on the market for $140,000, according to a listing from OConnor Real Estate. Karen said she is planning to keep the business open until a new owner takes over. Theres already some interest from prospective buyers, she said. Karen said she would love if the new owner would keep some of the business the same, including its ties with its Plymouth-based coffee supplier, Coffee Express. She also hopes Carrigan Cafe can continue to be a place where families and children can enjoy time together. Karen also said she hopes the next owner can make some changes. I hope whomever keeps it as a cafe can find a couple areas here and there where they can actually improve on it, she said. Theres always room for improvement and to do things differently. Customers who have walked through Carrigan Cafes doors have all become friends and family, Karen said, adding she wants to thank each of them for giving her this opportunity over the years. She also highlighted the relationships she has made with the city, Saline Main Street and surrounding businesses. Saline has been a wonderful extended family to me. I love every person who comes through the door, she said in a statement. I will come back to visit you well just meet in another persons cafe. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Honor fallen soldiers with these Memorial Day events in Washtenaw County Whats that? A new restaurant has opened right outside downtown Chelsea Demolition sets stage for final phase of Michigan Theater high-rise project WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- A semitruck spilled hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel on a Washtenaw County highway Wednesday morning. Ypsilanti Fire Department crews were called to eastbound I-94 near Wiard and Rawsonville roads after a semitruck spilled more than 200 gallons of diesel fuel over the distance of a quarter mile. The drive shaft had broken on the semitruck, puncturing both diesel saddle tanks, fire officials said. Crews were able to patch the leak in one of the tanks and prevent diesel fuel from getting into a nearby environmental area. The right and middle lanes of the highway were shut down for an extended period of time, according to Jeffrey Schulz, Ypsilanti Fire Department captain. There were no injuries and no other vehicles were involved. The Ypsilanti Fire Department eventually turned over the scene to Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Transportation. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Ann Arbor students built a home. Its the nations largest from high schoolers, teacher says Firefighters delivered this Michigan baby. 17 years later they watched him graduate No injuries after engine fire strikes veteran freighter on Lake Erie GRAND RAPIDS, MI With warm and sunny weather on the horizon for the Memorial Day weekend, Grand Rapids again has a lot to offer people looking for adventure on a holiday weekend. The activity lineup includes a 10-year anniversary concert for a band, a game night with cats and a chance to drink wine while potting plants. In addition to Memorial Day activities, here are five fun events for you to check out this weekend in Grand Rapids, May 26-28. 1. Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish 10-Year Anniversary Show The Pyramid Scheme bar is hosting a Rock n Roll Blues band from Grand Rapids Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, for their 10-year anniversary show on Friday, May 26. Doors open at 7 p.m. at the bar, 68 Commerce Ave. SW, with the opening act, The Gasoline Gypsies and Tito Villarreal, starting soon after. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The band has come back to their hometown roots to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of being a group. Their hit songs include Gasoline and Two Face Talkin. To reach the venue for more information, visit their website or call (616) 272-3758 2. Awaken Series 23 Contemporary Ballet The Deos Ballet is making their St. Cecilia Music Center debut on Saturday, May 27 with their program, AWAKEN, showcasing six world premiere pieces with choreography from Deos Ballet Artistic Director Tess Sinke and Deos Ballet Faculty Sydney Zelent. The program will be at 24 Ransom Ave. NE from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $35. The show will include original dance pieces to music such as Vivaldis The Four Seasons and work with live musicians to bring the piece to life. Deos new piece Art of Gold will also be performed as well as Bitter Earth, a modern dance piece that has been presented in major dance companies. To learn more, go to their website or call (248) 783-6967. 3. Family Game Night at Second Chance Cats Second Chance Cats of West Michigan, 1120 Knapp St. NE Ste B, is hosting a night of cards and cats, giving Grand Rapids a chance to game with the furry friends that are up for adoption. The night of family fun is Saturday, May 27 from 6-8 p.m. While the event is free, there is a $10 donation suggested to keep adoption events like this from continuing at Second Chance Cats. For more information on the event or adopting, email info@sccatswm.org. 4. Sips and Succulents For those with a green thumb and a long week, sip wine and plant succulents at the same time at Spruced Studio on Friday, May 26. The DIY workshop will be from 6-7:30 p.m. and prices range from $28-$48 depending on the container size of succulents you want to arrange. Every participant also will get to make their own wine cork planter. 4. Danny Richardson Trio at GR Noir Wine & Jazz If you are in the mood for live jazz and a variety of wine and food. The Danny Richardson Trio will be performing on Friday, May 26 at GR Noir & Jazz, 35 S. Division Avenue. The trio is scheduled for performances at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. The venue can be reached at 616-719-1191. 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. Read more: Memorial Day 2023: Where to observe the holiday around Grand Rapids Grand Rapids Community College offering new athletic scholarships for soccer program Talent development group launches $9.2M initiative to help more adults earn college degrees To Myron Shekelle, Ph.D., an instructor and research associate in the biology department at Western Washington University, tarsiers are way more than their weird mashup of features; they are a fascinating example of primate evolution. Shekelle has conducted decades of research contributing to what we know about tarsiers and primate evolution. "When I handed in my first grant proposal, which would have been in 1993, or 1994, one of the reviewers commented, 'Shekelle has outlined a career's worth of research,' and now ... I'm just about to the point where I can publish the answer to the questions I posed in that research grant proposal all those years ago," he says. Advertisement Though every species has different characteristics, tarsiers tend to range in size from 3.5 to 6 inches long (8.9 to 15 centimeters), with tails that can be twice that length, making them among the smallest known primates. Some species of tarsiers have hairless rat-like tails, while others have tufts of fur along the length of the tail or at the end. Tarsiers, like owls, can rotate their head 180 degrees and have round, furry bodies with very long legs. Their ankle bones (tarsals) are particularly long that's where they get their name, tarsier. Their long legs and ankles allow them to jump and leap like lemurs. Their fingers are also exceptionally long, with small sticky pads at the ends to help them cling to trees where they live and hunt for prey. They are the planet's only primate species that is entirely carnivorous. They eat the best that the Southeast Asian forests offer, including insects, lizards and even snakes. " " Tarsiers have long fingers with sticky pads at the ends to help them cling to trees to hunt for prey. Bambara/Shutterstock GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A man and woman were injured in a late-night fire involving an unattached garage in Grand Rapids Township. The fire was reported about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24 in the 3700 block of four Mile Road NE. Grand Rapids Township Fire Chief Luke Werdon said fire crews arrived to discover that two people had escaped the fire, but were injured. Both were taken by ambulance to a hospital. Werdon said he was told Thursday that both of the inured were awake and talking. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Werdon said it may never be determined because of the extent of damage. The garage, about 30-feet-by-40-feet, was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. Werdon said there was three vehicles and two trailers inside the garage. Fire departments from Plainfield, Cannon, Ada, Algoma, Alpine, Sparta and Grand Rapids all were called to help fight the fire. Werdon said the fire was challenging to fight because a second-floor storage area collapsed onto the first floor. 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. More from MLive Zoning change would permit 20-story buildings in part of downtown Grand Rapids Man who shot and killed 13-year-old auto theft suspect gets lengthy prison sentence GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A pickup truck crashed into a Grand Rapids bank then left the scene. The crash happened about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, May 24 at Chase bank, 2705 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Witnesses described the driver as an older person. The driver exited the pickup, but soon after got back in and left the scene. The truck was last seen going east on Lake Michigan Drive. More from MLive Paws With A Cause showers puppy love on EMS workers for National EMS Week Ottawa County prosecutor to continue enforcing all state laws after constitutional county vote GRAND RAPIDS, MI A Grand Rapids-based talent development alliance has launched a $9.2 million statewide initiative to help more adults earn a college degree or postsecondary certification. TalentFirst, a regional coalition of business and education leaders from West Michigan, recently announced the creation of the Michigan Center for Adult College Success, an initiative aimed at finding ways to improve adult postsecondary enrollment and completion. The center will partner with community colleges and universities to research, design, fund, pilot and evaluate innovative programs that meet the unique needs of Michigans adult learners and help them finish their postsecondary journeys, said Kevin Stotts, president of TalentFirst. If we hope to compete economically, we must close our skills and education gaps, Stotts said in a May 23 statement. Adult learners are critical to that. These nontraditional students have complex lives. They have jobs. They have families. We can and must do better to help them enroll and complete their post-secondary education. A recent Lumina Foundation report found Michigans 2021 postsecondary attainment rate was 50.5%, lagging the national average of 53.7% and last among the Great Lakes states, according to a news release. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has set a goal to increase the number of adults with a postsecondary degree or credential in Michigan to 60% by 2030. Its known as the Sixty by 30 plan. To achieve that goal, the state needs approximately 431,000 more adults to reach that milestone, according to TalentFirst. For Michigans overall economic competitiveness, the state must find new and unique ways to serve and support adults who want to go back to school and earn their postsecondary degrees, Stotts told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press Thursday, May 24. We have a declining K-12 population, and we have 50% of Michiganders lacking postsecondary credential, he said. So if we really want to be competitive as a state, in terms of attracting and retaining companies and talent, we need to be thinking about serving these adults better in their pursuit of postsecondary credentials. Stotts sees the new Michigan Center for Adult College Success as being critical to that effort. In addition to providing the funds for institutions to research adult postsecondary needs, the Center will also be able to document those efforts to determine best practices moving forward. We can say, this worked for that institution, this could be a model for other institutions, he said. Theres really not sort of a clearinghouse to be able to collect all that on whats working and document what is tried with these innovative grants, what worked, and then disseminating those successes to more institutions. The Center is funded by a one-time state appropriation of $9.2 million to be spent over four years, primarily on launching pilot programs at community colleges and universities, according to the release. Jeremy Hendges, the Centers executive director, brings 20 years of experience as a legislative staffer and in state department leadership. He was involved in the establishment of Michigan Reconnect, a state program that provides tuition support for adult students. Reconnect has been an important investment in improving state talent, Hendges said in a statement. Now we need to work on maximizing the return on that investment by increasing enrollment of adult learners and helping more of them complete their postsecondary education. We aim to make Michigan the leader in adult enrollment and completion of credentials and degrees. Stotts said he has already heard from colleges and universities interested in collaborating with the center to develop better ways to attract adult learners and help them succeed. Later this summer, the center will announce the first grant application window for colleges and universities to apply for seed funding to test their ideas for increasing credential completion, he said. TalentFirst is led by a governing council of education and business leaders from across the state of Michigan, including: Chris Baldwin, senior fellow at the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement; Brian Calley, president of the Small Business Association of Michigan; Todd Gustafson, president & CEO of nonprofit Kinexus; Paula Herbart, president of the Michigan Education Association; Jim Jacobs, president emeritus of Macomb Community College; Bill Rayl, executive director of the Michigan Manufacturers Association; Amy Lee, executive dean of collaborative programs for the Michigan Community College Association; Sarah Szurpicki, director of Sixty x 30 for the state of Michigan. Stotts also will serve on the governing council. In addition to the emphasis on adult postsecondary education, TalentFirst also recently published a report, Restoring the Promise of Adult Education in Michigan, and issued a call for reforms to the states strategy on adult foundational education, according to the release. Stotts said an estimated 716,000 adult Michiganders are unable to take advantage of opportunities like Michigan Reconnect because they lack a high school diploma. These are complementary objectives, he said. If we can increase the number of adults earning their diploma or high school equivalency, we increase the pool eligible to enroll in postsecondary education. And if we increase access of that group to innovative supports, we will increase the numbers who succeed at that next level. More on MLive: Grand Rapids Community College offering new athletic scholarships for soccer program Enrollment declines at Michigan colleges outpacing national levels Three housing, commercial projects get state relief amid occupancy, tenant turnover challenges WALKER, MI Jireh Metal Products, which makes goods for the furniture, automotive and security hardware industries, has received a $200,000 state grant for an expansion in Walker thats expected to generate a $1.6 million capital investment and 50 new jobs. The company, based in Grandville with 84 employees, expanded to a 30,000 square foot building at 2680 Elmridge Dr. NW in Walker. The expansion is designed to help the company integrate its metal fabrication and assembly operations. Doing so would help control costs and manage the transition from prototypes to finished parts, according to a news release from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. This expansion will enable us to provide exceptional service to our customers and cater to the increasing market demand for prototypes, R&D, and small-batch fabrication, said Michael Davenport, president and CEO of the company. Jireh Metal Products was founded in 1983. The 50 new jobs are expected to pay an average wage of $748 per week plus benefits, according to the MEDC. Andy Otteman, the companys director of sales and marketing, said the $1.6 million capital investment is for new equipment at the Walker facility. That equipment includes a fiber laser, two press brakes, a turret punch press and more. Jireh Metal Products is investing more than $1.5 million in Kent County, creating 50 manufacturing jobs for Michiganders and building on Michigans economic momentum, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. I am proud of our bipartisan efforts to grow our economy and create opportunity in every region of our state. 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. More from MLive: Amid safety concerns, business leader warns of crisis brewing in Grand Rapids office market Talent development group launches $9.2M initiative to help more adults earn college degrees Memorial Day 2023: Where to observe the holiday around Grand Rapids U.S. Marines memoir banned from Hudsonville High School library GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- In a packed Houseman Field under a beautiful, cloudless sunset, Innovation Central and Montessori students celebrated their crowning achievements in front of a massive crowd of loved ones as the Class of 2023 graduated. In the stands, only standing room remained as the cheers and adulation rained down like the golden sunlight falling on the scene. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Amid big demand for new housing, the Grand Rapids Planning Commission on Thursday supported a zoning code amendment that would permit construction of new buildings as high as 20 stories just outside the core of downtown. The amendment, which now goes to the city commission for final approval, would eliminate the current rule limiting the height of buildings just outside the core of downtown to 10 stories. It would also eliminate an incentive that permits buildings, in that same area, up to 16 stories if developers incorporate mixed-income housing, green elements and public art. Kristin Turkelson, the citys planning director, said permitting the larger buildings will help increase the downtown population and add more housing. It makes sense to eliminate obstacles to be able to invest and build downtown, she said. Currently, there is no height limit on buildings in the core of downtown around Rosa Parks Circle. The change was supported by the Grand Rapids Chamber and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., a nonprofit that coordinates development and placemaking in the citys urban core. No one spoke against the proposed change at a public hearing during Thursdays planning commission meeting. The area of the map in light pink encompasses the portion of the city where buildings could be as tall as 20 stories under the proposed zoning amendment. (Map provided by the city of Grand Rapids) The change would affect a stretch of downtown from as far south as Wealthy Street to as far north as just south of Leonard Street. The area extends just west of the river to Mt. Vernon Avenue and east of Division Avenue. The amendment is happening now because a development firm from Chicago, Cornerstone Investment Group, told the city it wanted to construct a 20-story mixed-use building in the 800 block of Monroe Avenue in the Monroe North Neighborhood, Turkelson said. The city had talked about making the change prior to now, but it hadnt done so because it lacked the bandwidth. Turkelson said. Cornerstone Investment Group offered to help by hiring local architectural and design firm Progressive AE to craft the zoning change. Suzanne Schulz, the urban planning practice leader at the firm and the citys former planning director, worked on the zoning change. There are a number of projects that I know of that this amendment would facilitate, Turkelson said. I think its important that we think less about individual projects and more about whats best for downtown and what our needs are. That was really my focus. Its less about facilitating a specific project and more about achieving the vision and needs of the city. Jay Johnson, president of Cornerstone Investment Group, was not available for an interview Thursday. A study released earlier this year by the group Housing Next shows an estimated demand for 34,699 new housing units in Grand Rapids and Kent County by 2027 to meet projected population growth. 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. More on MLive: Grand Rapids Community College offering new athletic scholarships for soccer program Enrollment declines at Michigan colleges outpacing national levels Three housing, commercial projects get state relief amid occupancy, tenant turnover challenges JACKSON, MI Chick-fil-A would one day like to feed Jacksonians, but it cant without a good location for the restaurant. The fast-food chain has eyed the city of Jackson as a potential place to open a location, but one issue holding it back is finding the perfect spot, Jackson Anchor Initiative Board Chairman Terry Mierzwa said. Theyd love to be close to I-94, and major traffic flow nearby, Mierzwa said. I think theres always going to be an interest but its a matter of finding the right spot. Chick-fil-A, Inc. stated in an email that it is always evaluating potential new locations. While it hasnt given up on serving the Jackson community, the company cant confirm if and when and where that might be, company officials said. Take a look at social media any time theres news of a new building going up and you can see the buzz from Jackson-area residents anxious for it to be filled by Chick-fil-A. Mierzwa thinks if it does, the restaurant would thrive. Jackson eats. If we get a new restaurant, it does well in Jackson, Mierzwa said. Im sure if we had a Chick-fil-A it would do pretty well. The closest Chick-fil-A locations to Jackson are in Okemos at 2075 W. Grand River Ave.; in Lansing at 5617 W. Saginaw Highway, and on Eastern Michigan Universitys campus at 878 W. Cross St. Theres a possibility another location could be coming to a former Dennys restaurant in Ann Arbor, too. Read more: Chick-fil-A may be coming to site of former Ann Arbor Dennys Chick-fil-A, Inc. is an Atlanta-based, family-owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1967, according to its website. The restaurant offers chicken sandwiches, salads, waffle fries and its Chick-fil-A sauce. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily. More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: New restaurant aiming for fall opening in Brooklyn Permit OKd for large medical marijuana grow operation in Jackson Death of man in police custody under investigation in Jackson County Whats that? A new storage facility is being built in Jackson Man heading to trial in armed robbery of gas station near Clark Lake KALAMAZOO, MI People with guns used in previous crimes may face federal criminal charges this summer in Michigan. With a goal to reduce gun violence, the Safe Summer 2023 initiative from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan was launched Thursday, May 25, across Southwest and West Michigan. People who illegally have guns linked to prior shooting crimes found through ballistic evidence will face federal prosecution, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said. The people who wield those guns present an increased threat to the community. By focusing our efforts here, we hope to increase the deterrent against gun violence, Totten said at a news conference at the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. The evil of gun violence in our communities cannot continue, he said. Related: Kalamazoo man killed on Mothers Day loved his family, put others first Totten also held news conferences in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Benton Harbor to announce the program. Safe Summer 2023 includes Benton Harbor, Benton Township, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights and neighboring communities. Federal prosecution will happen for people who have guns previously used in crimes, Totten said. Federal sentencing tends to allow longer time in prison than sentences at the state level, he said. The threat of federal prosecution will hopefully be enough to deter people from using guns that were previously used in crimes, Boysen said. Related: Man accused in Muskegon Heights fatal bar shooting turns himself in The U.S. Attorneys Office will talk with local county prosecutors offices about cases to decide which office will prosecute, Totten said. Weve seen the devastation the escalation of gun violence can do to individuals, families, and our community, Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said in a news release. We welcome this effort to bring the potential of federal charges to the table when possible. During the Grand Rapids stop, Winstrom gave a 2020 example of how one gun was used 10 times in violent incidents ranging from a drive-by shooting where just by chance, no one was struck to a tragic murder. He also referenced two events this month in which guns were confiscated from elementary students at school. Related: Backpacks banned at Grand Rapids schools after 4th gun incident this academic year In the 20 plus years of me being a police officer, Ive never encountered a seven-year-old with a handgun before, much less a seven-year-old then an eight-year-old with a loaded handgun a week later. So to say that times have changed, and we need to take this very seriously is an understatement, Winstrom said. Kalamazoo sees a small number of people commit the gun violence in the city, KDPS Chief Dave Boysen said. The partnership tells shooters to put the guns down, he said. Related: Man charged with open murder in weekend slaying outside of hotel There has been an increase of juveniles using guns, Totten said. Federal law is not really set up to prosecute minors, but part of the reason the program focuses on gun crimes is because people have to get guns from somewhere, he said. The goal is to reduce the number of illegal guns. Every child deserves a safe community to play and just be a kid. Everyone shares in this responsibility, Muskegon Director of Public Safety Timothy Kozal said in the release. Muskegon Heights Police Chief Chris Sain spoke during the Grand Rapids press conference about how he thinks they are moving in the right direction to help reduce gun violence with this initiative. In order for us to truly have success in reducing gun violence in our community, the citizens of our community have to take some accountability, he said. We have to get rid of the no snitch mindset that a lot of our communities have when it comes to prosecuting, and being witnesses of violent crimes. Safe Summer 2023 runs through the end of September. MLive/The Grand Rapids Press reporting intern Liz Nass contributed to this article. More from MLive: Police searching for women who allegedly abandoned living Jane Doe Community rally, march for Patrick Lyoya being held this weekend Ex-gymnastics coach accused of sexually assaulting girls went by different name, police say BATTLE CREEK, MI -- More big news is coming out of Battle Creek Public Schools -- this time for teachers. Teachers in the district will receive an average increase of more than $10,000 to their salary next school year, thanks to an agreement between the district and the Battle Creek Education Association union. The announcement comes one week after the district announced the Bearcat Advantage, a scholarship program offering full tuition coverage to students in the district. The money will come from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. RELATED: Free tuition will be game-changer, surprised Battle Creek students say We knew that this scholarship would not exist without the passion and commitment of BCPS teachers, Kimberly Carter, BCPS superintendent said. Teachers are the heart and soul of the district. A long-term goal of the partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is to increase enrollment. More enrollment would lead to more state funds which in turn would would allow the district to better compensate staff, the district said in a news release. The average starting salary for a teacher in Michigan is $38,963, per the National Education Association, lower than the national average of $42,844. After the increase, starting pay for teachers in BCPS will rise from $40,170 to $50,000, the press release said. Anthony Pennock, president of BCEA, called the agreement life-changing history for teachers in the district and said the move would not have been possible four years ago. Together, we know this agreement and significant increase will help attract new teachers to the district and support our current members while honoring the commitment they have made to all of our students, Pennock said. More on MLive Free tuition will be game-changer, surprised Battle Creek students say Loss of grants prompts 2 Kalamazoo schools to change names Parent complaints prompt Kalamazoo Public School Board to review suspension policy KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI Police are looking for two women they believe abandoned a living Jane Doe in the Al Sabo Land Preserve in April. Takai Crute, 22, of Kalamazoo, was found wandering Al Sabo Land Preserve by April 20. Her mother, Angela Crute, and an unknown woman allegedly abandoned Takai Crute around 7:10 a.m. that day. Takai Crute was not able to communicate with police and did not have identification on her when she was found. A flood of tips helped police identify Takai, who is a vulnerable adult, police said. Related: Police identify living Jane Doe thanks to flood of tips Angela Crute, Takai Crute and the unknown woman exited a bus on O Avenue before walking behind Kalamazoo Valley Community College and into the land preserve, Michigan State Police said in a news release. A maintenance worker saw them walking into a wooded area, and talked with them, police said. They told the employee they were talking Takai for a walk in the preserve, but the employee thought it was suspicious and told the community police about the interaction. This woman was found by a hiker April 20, 2023, at Al Sabo land preserve in Kalamazoo County. Police cannot communicate with her and are asking the public's help with identification. Officers looked for the group, but were not able to find them in the 741-acre preserve, police said. A hiker found Takai Crute alone around 6:40 p.m. that day. Angela Crute, 50, is believed to have fled to the Richmond, Virginia area, which is where shes from, police said. She is expected to be charged with vulnerable adult abuse charges, police said. Want more Kalamazoo news? Our 3@3 newsletter rounds up Kalamazoos top stories every weekday at 3 p.m. Enter your email to get our free newsletter: Police are also asking for help identifying the other woman. Anyone with information is asked to called MSP Tip Line 844-642-8384 or email msp-51tips@michigan.gov. They can also anonymously called Silent Observer at 269-343-2100. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. More from MLive: Man arraigned in fatal stabbing of ex-girlfriend in Kalamazoo Parent complaints prompt Kalamazoo Public School Board to review suspension policy See renderings of how downtown Kalamazoos streets will be reconfigured YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent congratulatory messages to King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein Al-Hashimi of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Prime Minister, Minister of Defense Bisher Al-Khasawneh on the occasion of Independence Day. The congratulatory message addressed to the King of Jordan states: "Your Royal Highness, On the occasion of the national holiday of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Independence Day, I convey to you my sincere congratulations and best wishes. Armenia highly values the traditionally friendly relations with Jordan and is highly interested in further expanding the mutually beneficial Armenian-Jordanian cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral platforms for the benefit of both peoples. I warmly recall your historic visit to Armenia and the meeting with you, during which a number of important agreements were reached. Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health and new success, and peace and permanent progress to the friendly people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." The message addressed to the Prime Minister of Jordan reads as follows, "Your Excellency, I convey to you my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The centuries-old friendly ties between the Armenian and Jordanian peoples create a solid foundation for developing Armenian-Jordanian relations and moving them to a new qualitative level. I am confident that with joint efforts we will be able to further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of both peoples. Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health and success, and continued development and all the best to the friendly people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." MUSKEGON, MI A rapidly growing cleaning equipment company is doubling its size in Muskegon with a $2.6 million addition. Pacific Floorcare is constructing a 36,000-square-foot manufacturing facility addition onto its existing building that is of equal size, according to company President Bill Fisher. The firm manufactures such cleaning equipment as automobile scrubbers, wet vacs, and floor machines, Fisher told the Muskegon City Commission. The commissioners on Tuesday, May 23, unanimously approved a 12-year, 50% property tax break for the new facility. Taxes paid to school districts, which in this case is Orchard View Schools, are exempt from the tax breaks. The value of the tax abatement is $39,844 per year, according to information provided to the commission. That equates to about $478,000 over the next 12 years. The new facility will generate the same amount of new property taxes, as well as an estimated $12,358 annually in new income taxes, according to city information. Were growing rapidly, Fisher told commissioners. The reason for the expansion is we have a new product, a very innovative product, that were coming to the market with that conceivably can double our business in the next two to three years. He added that theres a tremendous amount of excitement in our industry for what he called its new high-volume product. Pacific Floorcare is located at 2259 S. Sheridan Drive in the Port City Industrial Park. The addition is expected to be completed in January 2024, according to the companys application for the tax exemption. Were excited about the future, Fisher said. Were looking to hire a lot of people from Muskegon. Initial estimates are that its 47-employee workforce will grow by another 17 full-time workers. However, that number could grow depending on the new products success, Fisher said. The addition includes a 2,100-square-foot customer training center, according to information provided to the commission. The 75-year-old company was purchased in 1985 by Larry Hines, president of the Hines Corp. based in Norton Shores, who moved the company to Muskegon from California. The company was Hines first purchase, and had been a competitor of Clarke Floor Machine, where Hines previously worked. Other Hines Corp. companies include Johnston Boiler, located in Ferrysburg; Bennett Pump, located in Spring Lake and China; Cimline Pavement Maintenance, located in Plymouth, Minnesota, and Pearl, Mississippi; and Garlock Safety Systems and Garlock Equipment, located in Plymouth, Minnesota, according to the Hines Corp. website. Muskegon City Commissioner Rachel Gorman thanked Hines Corp. for its reinvestment in the city and noted that it also invests its time in city causes. I really appreciate not only the investment in the city, but the culture youre creating at Hines Corp. to be part of our community, Gorman said. So, Im very excited to be voting in favor of this. Want more Muskegon area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Muskegon daily newsletter. Also on MLive The world needs your unique voices: Muskegon Big Reds graduate 240 Man accused in Muskegon Heights fatal bar shooting turns himself in Paws With A Cause showers puppy love on EMS workers for National EMS Week SAGINAW, MIIf youve taken a drive around downtown Saginaw or the Old Town business district, youve probably noticed this years graduating seniors from Saginaw High School, Arthur Hill High School and the Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy have all been honored once again with light post banners. According to Jeanne Conger, director for Positive Results Downtown Saginaw, this year marks the fourth year in a row students have received this recognition. Stemming from the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, a year where the district could not put on proms or a graduation ceremony, the banners were done as a way to give graduating seniors another memory of high school in place of those. Saginaw Public School District Printing and Publication Specialist Leisa Schirmer said shes looking forward to seeing students enjoy both this year and next year, the final two school years that the district will have Saginaw High and Arthur Hill done separately. Next year will be the last year before we go into the new high school so these last couple have been really nice, Im a bit nostalgic, Schirmer said. To have them both right now and next year, we can celebrate. In 2025 we can celebrate them together as one. While close, the banners dont wholly reflect the entire SPSD graduating class of 2023. According to numbers provided by several officials at the districts high schools and banner print numbers provided by Schirmer, preliminary graduation numbers show: 197 will be graduating from Arthur Hill High School, 176 of which have opted for banners 111 Graduates at Saginaw High School, 92 of which have opted for banners 39 graduates at SASA, 40 of which have opted for banners. Schirmer said the differing SASA numbers are a result of either a foreign exchange student graduating officially with their home program, or a half-day student stemming from another of the districts schools. Student banners from each school can be found in the following areas: SASA: West Genesee Ave. to East Genesee Ave.; North Washington Ave. to Johnson Street and turning east to South Warren Ave. Saginaw High: East Genesee Ave. to Janes Ave.; South Washington Ave. until just south of Ascension St. Marys Hospital Arthur Hill: Hamilton St. and Court St.; North on South Washington Ave. from City Hall until meeting with Saginaw Highs banners Schirmer said that the cost for this years banners was roughly $10,000, which she said was a really good deal. We love doing this for graduates as a way to make our community a little smaller, By showing off our grads, were trying to make the community closer and more personalized. After a month or so, volunteers with the UA85 and UAW699 will help the district take down the banners, just as they aided in their hanging. Once down, the district will dispense each banner to the appropriate graduate. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news pages or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. More from MLive: Michigan beekeepers to visit Fremont as bees return home after pollinating almond crops in California Longtime Bay City elementary teacher, Kristin Brashaw, says education through play is key Nexteer to host Generation Next: Embedded Coding Scholarship Competition Saginaw Promise Foundation names 66 student awardees, increase in scholarship funds KOCHVILLE TWP, MI In March, law enforcement raided a Saginaw County animal shelter and pulled dozens of ailing cats from it. Nearly three months on, the shelter continues to operate, still adopting out sick animals. Well-meaning adopters, eager to have a furry new friend in their families, are thus left with steadily mounting veterinary bills. The afternoon of March 6, sheriffs deputies served a search warrant on Amazing Grace Animal Rescue, 3365 Freeland Road in Kochville Township, after receiving several allegations regarding multiple public health violations. Deputies and Saginaw County Animal Care & Control personnel found 237 cats and 16 dogs at the facility. They seized 27 severely sick cats in need of urgent veterinary care and took them to Animal Control, with a 28th cat seized the next day. Sheriffs office investigators sent their reports to the Saginaw County Prosecutors Office for review the last week of March. Since then, prosecutors have not decided if criminal charges will be forthcoming. In the meantime, the nonprofit no-kill shelter remains open for business, asking for donations and seeking volunteers on its Facebook page. Adopters accounts One customer who was unaware of the controversy surrounding Amazing Grace and inadvertently took a sick cat into her home is Rose Reyes. Reyes, 60, had been wanting a cat since December to give her 12-year-old dog a playful companion after seeing how the dog interacted with her adult sons cats, she said. She spent months buying the odds and ends needed for a cat, taking her time to ensure her home was prepped and hospitable for a new feline. In April, Reyes twice visited Amazing Grace on a friends recommendation. The shelters condition was far from ideal, she said. I saw cats with their eyes watery and crusted and diarrhea on the floor, Reyes said of her observation of Amazing Grace. Sick cats were not separated from healthy ones, she added. Nevertheless, Reyes returned a third time on May 2 and adopted a black, 2-year-old cat named Elaine. While Elaine appeared quite skinny, to the extent Reyes was initially hesitant to hug her for fear of breaking her bones, Reyes liked that she was a polydactyl, meaning she had an extra toe on each paw. Reyes paid a $100 adoption fee and received paperwork stating Elaine had been spayed but was not current on her immunizations. She renamed the 5-pound, 5-ounce cat Patas Spanish for paws and took her home. Things immediately went south. From day one, she had diarrhea, bad. It was everywhere, she said. Reyes initially considered this might stem from Patas nerves being shaken by a move to a new environment, but the diarrhea did not abate. Patas also began sneezing and showing signs of a respiratory infection. In the following days, Reyes twice took Patas to a veterinarian. Combined, the visits and medication totaled about $285. She also learned Patas may need bloodwork in the future, to the tune of another $220. While Reyes is committed to Patas, who is gaining weight and whose symptoms are waning, she is less than pleased that such an ill animal was adoptable to begin with. I told them I did not want a special needs cat and this is what she is now, she said. I have to give her medicine all the time. She advised others to search elsewhere before taking in a new pet. Patas, a cat adopted by Rose Reyes from Amazing Grace Animal Rescue in Saginaw County's Kochville Township. The only way I would adopt from there is to get animals out of there, she said. If they cant keep the sick ones from the well ones, they should not be in that business. I just feel so bad for the other animals in there. On the plus side, Patas and her Reyes 96-pound pit bull have bonded nicely. Its a sight to see, them playing together, she said. Offering a similar account is Chan Brady, albeit one that began before police served their warrant on Amazing Grace. Having bought a home in October and with two cats already, Brady and her boyfriend sought to bring a third feline into their family. They visited Amazing Grace on Feb. 11 and adopted a female cat they later named Dusty Peach. As they paid the $50 adoption fee, a volunteer asked Brady if she promised to get Dusty spayed but did not make her sign a contract or put down a deposit to ensure such a procedure would take place. Two days after taking Dusty home, Brady took her to veterinarian Dr. Genevieve Hoffman of Veterinary Health Center, 305 N. Center Road in Saginaw Township, and learned the cat should have been spayed before they adopted her. Since then, Dusty has been beset by numerous ailments, costing Brady and her boyfriend about $450 in vet bills by early April. On her fifth visit to the vets on April 11, Dusty was diagnosed with pyometra, a potentially fatal bacterial infection in her uterus. The affliction has left Dusty often yowling in pain and acting as though shes in perpetual heat, Brady said. Dusty Peach, a cat adopted by Chan Brady from Amazing Grace Animal Rescue in Saginaw County's Kochville Township. Her reproductive organs are completely shot and need to be removed ASAP, and, as you might imagine, that adds a whole new layer of complexity to getting her spayed, Brady said. While in the past our cats spays have only cost around $350, the cost to spay Dusty is running us $900. Brady wondered if Dustys pyometra and the expense of addressing it is why Amazing Grace did not have her spayed before adopting her out. As of May 24, Dusty has not been spayed, due to her having had a seizure that stopped everything in its tracks, Brady said. Dusty received medication for this and has not had a recurrent episode, but Dr. Hoffman also determined she had severe kidney problems which will cost Brady about another $400 to address, she said. We are going down a rabbit hole of trying to fix everything wrong with our kitty, she said. At this point, my boyfriend and I have had to say we need to stop paying attention to how much it costs. Its so frustrating and our vets are doing the best they can. Every time we bring her in, there are new symptoms and something new going on that is constantly getting in the way of getting her spayed. Its affecting her quality of life. Neither Brady nor her veterinarian have received paperwork from Amazing Grace regarding Dustys medical records or vaccination history. That part is really concerning to me, Brady said. Did they have paperwork that said she had this? Despite Dustys litany of medical issues, Brady does not think there was anything malicious on the part of Amazing Graces volunteer staff. I know people there are trying their best, she said. It comes down to negligence. The idea you can save every animal if you try hard enough, when you get down to it, thats not how it works. Case background Of the 28 cats authorities seized from Amazing Grace on March 6-7, all were diagnosed with upper respiratory infections, some had ringworm, one had FIV, and one had FeLV, analogous to leukemia. One of the cats died of bacterial pneumonia suspected to have been from an untreated respiratory infection. Amazing Grace Director Shawna Guiett has relinquished her ownership rights to 20 of the 27 cats. Seven remain with Saginaw County Animal Care & Control, several of which are still undergoing veterinary care, said Director Bonnie Kanicki on May 24. Guiett was supposed to provide documentation that a veterinarian was to inspect the remaining hundreds of cats at her facility. She has not done so, Kanicki said. Amazing Grace Animal Rescue in Kochville Township Between August 2022 and March 2023, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (or MDARD) received 10 complaints against Amazing Grace. The complaints described sick cats overcrowded in cages, poor ventilation leading to noxious odors, sick cats not receiving proper care, adoptable animals not being sterilized, and cats being taken home only to immediately come down with illnesses including ringworm, respiratory infections, and FIV. Between the start of the new year and the March 6 raid, Saginaw County Animal Care & Control received six complaints regarding animal care at Amazing Grace. The complaints were submitted by Humane Society of Saginaw County President Liz Quarm, a volunteer at Amazing Grace, a veterinarian, a professional pet groomer, and civilians. In her complaints to both MDARD and Saginaw County Animal Control, the veterinarian recounted the unsavory stories of 11 cats adopted from Amazing Grace going back years. Several had to be euthanized, and one died at Amazing Grace in the arms of the woman who was going to adopt him. The vet wrote she filed numerous complaints against Amazing Grace going back more than 10 years, alleging state regulatory violations. 6 1 / 6 Dozens of severely sick cats seized from Saginaw County animal rescue My history with Amazing Grace Animal Rescue has been long and, quite frankly, heartbreaking, the vet wrote in one complaint. Needless to say, my frustration with MDARDs lack of concern for the welfare of animals housed in a facility dubbed a Slow Kill Shelter has recently been reignited by the alarming increase in the number of owners seeking treatment for sick, diseased, or dying cats adopted from Amazing Grace Animal Rescue. MDARD on Oct. 17 conducted its annual inspection of Amazing Grace and found several issues of concern requiring corrective action. Of those, four were classified as critical and two as priority. The majority of the cats in the isolation room exhibited signs consistent with upper respiratory disease, the report states. Multiple cats in all community rooms also exhibited upper respiratory signs, including the room in which FeLV-positive cats are housed. There must be a way to keep healthy cats safe from sick cats. Click here to read the full inspection report. Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on May 18 sent a letter to Saginaw County Sheriff William L. Federspiel, Kanicki, Quarm, and MDARD lauding them for their investigative efforts. Thank you and everyone else involved for working to ensure the safety and welfare of animals who were reportedly found in desperate need of veterinary care at a self-professed animal rescue doing business as Amazing Grace Animal Rescue, wrote Teresa Chagrin, animal care and control issues manager of PETAs Cruelty Investigations Department. Thank you for your hard work for residents in your community, both two-legged and four-legged. In her letter, Chagrin said there are 3,000 PETA members residing in Saginaw County. 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: Complaints detail overcrowding, ailing cats at Amazing Grace Animal Rescue in Saginaw County Inspection report details critical concerns at Amazing Grace Animal Rescue in Saginaw County Amazing Grace Animal Rescue strikes agreement with authorities after 28 cats seized, investigation ongoing Dozens of severely sick cats seized from Saginaw County animal rescue FRANKENMUTH, MI The Frankenmuth Dog Bowl returns this Memorial Day weekend, bringing hundreds of competitive dogs and tens of thousands of dog lovers to Michigans Little Bavaria. Here are all the details to know before you go: Hundreds of dogs competing Hundreds of dogs will compete in the 17th annual Frankenmuth Dog Bowl, touted as the worlds largest Olympic-style festival for dogs. Spectators can see these canine competitors in events like DockDogs and Disc Dogs of Michigan competitions, border collie sheep-herding demonstrations, a pet parade and costume contest, trick competitions and doggie fun run races. Where and when The dog-centric festival takes place Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, at Frankenmuth River Place Shops, a German-themed outdoor shopping mall with more than 40 shops and attractions located at 925 S. Main. The annual event is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors to Frankenmuth over the holiday weekend. Memorial Day is Monday, May 29. Dogs are welcome guests as long as they are kept on a 6-foot leash. Balloons Over Bavarian Inn Part of the festival is Balloons Over Bavarian Inn, featuring 25 hot air balloon pilots from across the country, taking to the skies for morning and evening competitions and returning to River Place Shops for nightly balloon glows throughout the weekend. Visitors will have the chance to see the hot air balloons light up and interact with pilots and their crews from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of the Balloon Glow Village event. Fireworks The 2023 Frankenmuth Dog Bowl will conclude with the Zehnders of Frankenmuth fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. Sunday. The fireworks are visible from across Frankenmuth, and can be best viewed from the large field east of River Place Shops. Cost The Frankenmuth Dog Bowl is free to attend, but some events, such as the annual canine cruise on the Cass River, require a registration fee. VIP packages are also available here. More Frankenmuth fun While youre in town, be sure to check out some of the restaurants, shops and unique sites Frankenmuth has to offer. The Bavarian-themed town is home to the worlds largest year-round Christmas store, Bronners Christmas Wonderland, 25 Christmas Lane; the iconic Bavarian Inn and Zehnders restaurants, both known for their family-style chicken dinners; Zehnders Splash Village indoor waterpark; and Frankenmuth Brewery, 425 S. Main, which is believed to be Michigans oldest craft brewery, according to the company and the Brewers Association. For a full schedule of events, visit dogbowlfun.com/events. And click through the gallery above to see photos from last years event. For more information and things to do around town, visit frankenmuth.org. Read more from MLive: Hundreds of dogs to compete in 17th annual Frankenmuth Dog Bowl Cannabis lounge coming to Bay City, Kokomos reopens as Press Play 989 and more business news Friday Night Live celebrates 25 years of music and memories in downtown Saginaw See the special events happening this spring and summer at the Saginaw Childrens Zoo Saginaw Art & Garden Festival will feature 40+ vendors, new peony show LANSING, MI Backed by Detroits mayor and police leaders in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Democrats in the legislature want to divert millions of dollars of sales tax revenue to fight violent crime in Michigans worst-affected cities. House Bills 4605 and 4606 would create a public safety and violence prevention fund to give monthly payments to municipalities proportional to their share of violent crime in the state. This will be for new law enforcement in the cities that need it the most, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan told reporters Wednesday, noting violent crime and mental health demands have increased since COVID-19 began. If the fund existed for this fiscal year, which ends in October, it would have distributed about $100 million. Payments will begin this November if the bills become law. Hypothetically, if a city accounted for 1% of Michigans violent crimes, it would receive 1% of the money. No municipality, however, can receive more than 25% of the states monthly payout. Police departments would not be allowed to use this money to replace existing local funds, said one of the sponsors, Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn. The money, he added, will allow locals a comprehensive approach so each municipality can address violent crime how it sees fit. In my district, a repeat theme is that we love our neighborhood police officers, Farhat said, but what our residents are concerned about is that there is not enough of them to properly build those meaningful relationships in our community. For Detroit, Duggan and police Chief James White want more neighborhood police officers, more people investigating shootings and more mental health professionals working with police. We know what the cause of the increase in the crime is. We know what the answers are, Duggan said. Up until now, we havent had the resources. As of Monday, White said, the Detroit Police Department has received 6,137 mental health-related calls this year, as opposed to 5,455 by the same time last year. White, who added that violent crime is at its worst in his 28-year career, said he would use the money to add to the 19 officers and mental health professionals on the departments co-response unit and also increase neighborhood police officers from 50 to 100. Grand Rapids police Deputy Chief Joseph Trigg told reporters that staffing is the biggest issue for his department and for others across the country. He said the money will help departments make jobs more attractive to prospective officers. Farhat and Rep. Nate Shannon, D-Sterling Heights, are the sponsors of the bills. They also have the backing of House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit. Read more from MLive: Trans athletes can play sports in Michigan, just not win, under GOP-backed bill How will road construction impact Memorial Day travel in Michigan? 70% of Michigan retailers expect strong summer sales Black swallowtail could be Michigans first state butterfly Many Michiganders hitting the road this Memorial Day Weekend will get a break from ongoing construction projects. Beginning 3 p.m. Friday, May 26, the state is suspending road work and lifting traffic lane restrictions on 81 of its 146 statewide road and bridge projects (55%) to ease traffic delays and improve driver and worker safety. Construction suspensions will expire 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, when work will resume as planned, according to the states Department of Transportation. An estimated more than 1.2 million Michiganders will travel 50 miles or more during the upcoming holiday weekend, according to AAA Michigan. Thats a 9% increase from last year and a near return to pre-pandemic levels. Drivers may still notice equipment and certain traffic configurations remaining in place, including temporary shifts or shoulder closures. While many projects will be paused, drivers may still encounter work zones and should exercise caution. Brad Wieferich, acting state transportation director, reminds drivers to slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions. You depend on us to fix the roads; road workers are depending on you with their lives, Wieferich said in a prepared statement. Lets make sure everyone makes it home each and every night. Below are some of the projects that will continue to include lane closures throughout the weekend: Traveling to the U.P. Drivers heading up to the Mackinac Bridge should expect possible slowdowns leading up to, and after, the bridge. Traveling north, the left lane of I-75 is closed for about nine miles from Levering Road to U.S. 31. in Cheboygan County. Its a two-year, $52 million rebuilding project thatll conclude in 2024. Once across the bridge, theres construction along I-75 in Mackinac and Chippewa counties. One lane will be left open for travel. There will also be lane closures on M26 in Keweenaw County, M69 in Crystal Falls, M123 in Luce County, U.S. 2 in St. Ignace, U.S. 41 in Houghton County, U.S. 45 in Ontonagon County, and U.S. 141 in Iron County. West Michigan I-96 in Grand Rapids will continue to have one lane open in each direction between Cascade Road and 28th Street (M11). In Ottawa County, I-196 will have one eastbound lane and two westbound lanes open between Zeeland and Hudsonville. The I-196 Business Route (BR) will remain closed at the I-196 interchange, as well all ramps at the interchange except the westbound I-196 ramp to westbound I-196 BR. Further south, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties will be down to one lane of traffic in either direction of U.S. 131 between Schoolcraft and Three Rivers, and U.S. 31 in Berrien County will have one lane in each direction between U.S. 12 and M139. I-69 in Lapeer, St. Clair counties One lane of traffic will be open in either direction of I-69 between M24 and Lake George Road in Lapeer County. There are also lane closures and traffic shifts from M19 to Taylor Road in St. Clair County, with some ramps closed with marked detours. On the I-69 Business Loop in Port Huron, westbound lanes from 24th Street to I-94 Business Loop will remain closed. Drivers will be detoured using the I-95 Business Loop, Lapeer Street, and 24th Street. Parade closures The states construction schedule lists 24 short-term road closures for special events between Saturday, May 27, and Monday, May 29. Most of those closures are Memorial Day parades. Drivers may be experience increased traffic and slight detours on local roads as a result of community parades in the following counties: Allegan, Eaton, Genesee, Huron, Ingham, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Tuscola. For more information on road construction projects in your area, check out MDoTs online map, here. Read more on MLive: Boat & Beach forecast: Great weekend to put boat in water, but beware at beaches Up North weekend weather: Very close to a 5-star Memorial Day weekend Trans athletes can play sports in Michigan, just not win, under GOP-backed bill Millions of midges are making a disgusting mess at our favorite Michigan locations LAKE ERIE Authorities say nobody was injured during an engine room fire this week on one of the oldest freighters in service on the Great Lakes. Eight of 20 crew members aboard the Cuyahoga, an 80-year-old lake freighter, were evacuated to shore after a fire broke out in the ships engine room about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, according to the Canadian Coast Guard. No pollution has been reported. The ship remained anchored off Point Pelee, Ontario, on Thursday, May 25. Cause and extent of the fire has not been disclosed by ship owners or authorities. The 620-foot vessel is owned by Lower Lakes Towing of Port Dover. It was built in 1943 and repowered by a diesel engine in 2000 according to the website Boatnerd. Shipping experts say engine room fires are uncommon on the Great Lakes. Fires more frequently strike while a ship is being worked on at the dock during winter layup, as with the Alpena in 2015 and the Roger Blough in 2021. The Cuyahoga is the oldest Canadian-flagged Great Lakes freighter still in service. A sister ship built the same year, the Mississagi, was decommissioned and scrapped in 2021. Coincidentally, the most recent freighter to experience a high-profile mishap on the lakes, the Mark W. Barker, passed within a couple miles the anchored Cuyahoga on Thursday afternoon while en route to Fairport Harbor, Ohio, from Milwaukee, Wis. The Mark W. Barker, the newest Great Lakes freighter, ran aground on Belle Isle in the Detroit River on May 17 after experiencing an electronics malfunction. Earlier this evening, MV Cuyahoga reported an engine fire while transiting on #LakeErie IVO #PeleeIsland. #USCG STA Marblehead, AIRSTA Detroit, @ohiodnr, @TowBoatUS and @CoastGuardCAN responded. MV Cuyahoga contained the fire with no injuries. BZ to all involved! #Interagency pic.twitter.com/odbffPSVJs USCG Great Lakes (@USCGGreatLakes) May 24, 2023 Related stories: WW2-era freighter heads to scrapyard Electronics malfunction strikes freighter in Detroit Titanic-era cruise ship moved to Ontario museum Scrapyard in the sky awaits 111-year-old freighter Freighter catches fire in Duluth harbor Roger Blough damaged in Wisconsin fire Today, May 25, is National Wine Day and deals abound on wine, gift baskets and delivery services. If you are looking to restock your wine cellar (or pantry), Splashwines is offering $20 off the first $59 monthly price for shipments of wine every month, every other month or quarterly. Wall Street Journal Wine has a special welcome offer that saves you $135 on top 12 wines for $59.99, whether it be reds, whites or a mixture. You can also try a Cratejoy Wine Subscription Box, including standard wine club subscriptions that will deliver two boxes of wine at $60 a box over a 4-month period. If you need your wine sooner, Drizly will deliver in under 60 minutes. And if you are in the entertaining mood, Harry and David has a selection of wine that you can pair with fruit and cheese. Celebrate National Wine Day with retail deals below: Delivery Services Drizly Minibardelivery Reservebar SHIPFREE1 Wineonsale - Free Shipping On Orders of 6+ Bottles With Code Saucey Gift Baskets and other offers DETROIT -- When the Detroit Tigers take the field at Comerica Park on Thursday night, theyll wear more than just the Olde English D on their jerseys. The Tigers jerseys will include an advertising patch for the first time in the clubs 122-year history. The clubs first patch partner is Meijer, the Grand Rapids-based supermarket chain, whose logo will be placed on the upper sleeve. Last April, the San Diego Padres became the first MLB team to break the longtime taboo on uniform ads when they announced a partnership with Motorola. On Thursday, the Tigers will become the 10th MLB club (out of 30) to add an advertising patch. Two iconic Michigan brands committed to grow together, to push Detroit ahead together, and to win together. The Tigers are proud to announce an expanded partnership with @meijer as our official jersey patch partner. pic.twitter.com/dt5IiMtMXv Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 25, 2023 The Detroit Tigers and Meijer are synonymous with the state of Michigan, and were thrilled to extend our partnership with an organization that has a common vision about community engagement, said Tigers executive vice president and chief operating officer Ryan Gustafson in a release. These are two of the most iconic brands in the state, creating millions of memories for fans and families each year. We appreciate Meijers support and partnership, and look forward to working together serving our great fans and customers for years to come. The Tigers were seeking a design that was subtle and incorporated the clubs core colors. But even small changes to the teams historic duds could spark a backlash from fans protective of the clubs heritage. The Tigers made a small change to the logo size on their caps in 2018 only to nix the idea a year later after fans complained. For better or worse, its expected that all 30 teams will eventually have a patch partner -- yes, even the Yankees. The Tigers hoped that by pairing with a well-known Michigan brand, rather than an out-of-state or less-established company, fans would be more likely to embrace (or at least accept) the change. When you think about Michigan, Meijer and the Detroit Tigers are quintessential brands. Both organizations are rich with history and a genuine commitment to community, which spans generations, said Meijer president and CEO Rick Keyes. Were so pleased to strengthen our longstanding partnership with the Tigers and the Detroit community. The patch will be placed on the left sleeve for left-handed hitters or right-handed pitchers and the right sleeve for right-handed hitters or left-handed pitchers. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan has met with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger in New York City. The humanitarian crisis situation in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor and details on the ICRC efforts were discussed, the foreign ministry said in a readout. Gevorgyan spoke about Azerbaijans disregard for its international obligations and international humanitarian law and human rights norms, including the illegal installation of a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor in gross violation of the International Court of Justice February 22 ruling. In this context, the Deputy FM attached importance to the ICRCs active involvement in addressing the existing humanitarian challenges in Nagorno Karabakh and the need for ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access. Emphasizing the imperative for speedy release and repatriation of the Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held captive in Azerbaijan, Deputy FM Gevorgyan appreciated the activities of the ICRC, among others, in the direction of ensuring the implementation of norms of international humanitarian law. Lachin Corridor the only road linking Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. The United Nations highest court the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan on 22 February 2023 to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. Azerbaijan has so far ignored the order. Nigerian actress and politician, Tonto Dikeh has revealed that she is battling a severe heart ailment. Despite her condition, the 38-year-old actress has expressed her desire to live long for her son. To achieve this, she has recently started going to the gym, even though she used to hate it. In a social media post, Tonto Dikeh shared that as part of her birthday gift to herself, she has decided to "live a long life" by going to the gym. She emphasized that despite being a "surgery girl" who has undergone liposuction and other cosmetic procedures, exercise and fit-keeping are necessary for a healthy life. She went on to encourage her followers to join her in her fitness journey and find motivation in her story. Her post reads, As part of my birthday gift to my self, I have decided to live a long life by gifting me a membership to a gym. I am a 38 years old woman with a bad heart, This is not fun, nor do I like it here but it's my 3rd day and I can only say I breathe better, my pulse are open, my Blood is pumping and I am over all in pain. But I have a goal. I have a dream "to live a long and healthy life for my son. I am and will always be a surgery girl (lipo and all), but I realize also that all the millions I put into making my body will be a waste without Exercise and Waist trainers, Faha etc. If you are looking for motivation today, let me ne yours, I am the laziest woman on earth when it comes to fitness but what I have is extreme strength, I love been lazy, it's my comfort zone but I am here today... Eritrea is widely considered to be one of the world's most repressive states in the world. As it marks three decades of independence, the impoverished Horn-of-Africa nation has only ever been ruled by one man since independence from Ethiopia, in 1993. Eritrea has never conducted a census, but estimations place the population between three and six million, with nine ethnic groups, half of them Christians, the others Muslims. Tigrinya, Arabic and English are the most frequently used languages. These Eritrean are expected to join today's public commemorations, including school children singing patriotic songs and hours of television programmes celebrating important battles. Yet, for Bereket Teweldemehdin, who served in the army, the excitement of 1993 has long gone. "Today, no one supports the government except, perhaps, those with a financial interest," he told RFI's Leonard Vincent. "The others - all the others - are simply afraid because if we say anything that displeases President Issayas, we end up in prison". He now lives in exile in Uganda. There have been no elections in Eritrea since the country formally declared independence. With only one president - Isaias Afwerki - the authorities consistently crack down on political opposition. It has also been accused of arbitrary arrests and detention without trial. Human Rights Watch describes the regime as a "one-man dictatorship", with no legislature, no independent civil society organisations, and no independent judiciary. The situation for journalists is also appalling: Independent media has been banned since 2001.Religious freedom is also curtailed. The regime also put into place compulsory national service, which rights activists say amounts to slave labour for the state. Consequently, in the past three decades, hundreds of thousands have fled the country. The United Nations also classifies Eritrea as one of the world's least developed countries, ranked 176th out of 191 countries on the UN's human development index (2021). Troubled history The Red Sea nation was an Italian colony, between 1890 and 1941 before it became a British protectorate after Italy's defeat in World War II. For its colonial Italian modernist architecture, its capital, Asmara was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. In 1952, Eritrea decided to join Ethiopia within a federation, but 10 years later, the Ethiopian regime annexed the smaller territory as a province. Eritrea then launched a war for independence that lasted nearly 30 years. Eritrean rebels finally seized Asmara in 1991. They also helped overthrow the Marxist regime of Ethiopian Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam. The rebels installed a government and achieved statehood in May 1993, after an independence referendum, with the blessing of the Ethiopian authorities. Yet the move deprived Ethiopia of its only access to the Red Sea with the result that border disputes increased in number in the 1990s to finally blow up into a war between the two nations. The 1998-2000 conflict left about 80,000 people dead and 1.3 million displaced. A new border between the two countries was set by an independent international commission in 2002. Howeve, it was not respected until 2018, when the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed finally accepted the demarcation. The move facilitated the reopening of embassies in Asmara and Addis Ababa as well as the re-establishment of air links and telephone lines. Abiy won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. The Tigray war When a war broke in Tigray in northern Ethiopia, in November 2020, Eritrea sent troops to support Ethiopian forces against the TPLF ( Tigray People's Liberation Front ) , a longstanding enemy of Asmara. Eritrean soldiers were accused of brutal atrocities against civilians, and sanctioned by the United States in 2021, an allegation that Isaias dismissed as "a fantasy", at a rare press conference during a visit to Kenya in February 2023. Abiy's government finally signed a peace deal with the TPLF in November 2022 to end the two-year war, without Eritrea. Since the, a UN report presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March 2023 showed that the Eritreans' withdrawal from Tigray remained "very slow and largely incomplete". (with AFP) UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called on nations to ramp up funding to the Horn of Africa, which is suffering its worst drought in generations. The United Nations says that more than 43 million people across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are in urgent need of lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance. "Without an immediate and major injection of funding, emergency operations will grind to a halt, and people will die," Guterres told a conference in New York, where world governments gathered to seek $7 billion to help those in need across the region. The secretary-general said only 20 percent of the UN's humanitarian response plan for the region was funded so far. "This is unacceptable," he told delegates. Somalia and its neighbors in the Horn of Africa including Ethiopia and Kenya have been suffering the worst drought in four decades after five failed rainy seasons that have left millions of people in need and decimated crops and livestock. More than 23.5 million people are enduring high levels of acute food insecurity in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, according to the OCHA, the UN humanitarian agency, In Somalia alone, the number of people displaced now stands at 3.8 million, with 6.7 million people struggling to find food, according to the UN and Norwegian Refugee Council. More than half a million children are severely malnourished, they added. Deaths from hunger are on the rise in Africa because of droughts worsened by climate change and conflict, UN officials say. Guterres said people in the region were "paying an unconscionable price for a climate crisis they did nothing to cause." "We owe them solidarity. We owe them assistance. And we owe them a measure of hope for the future. This means immediate action to secure their survival. "And it means sustained action to help communities across the Horn adapt and build resilience to climate change," he added. Fighting eased in Sudan on Wednesday, the second full day of a ceasefire that has allowed beleaguered civilians to venture out, even as they await safe aid corridors and escape routes. Sporadic air strikes and artillery fire have still boomed across the capital, residents told AFP, but US and Saudi observers said "fighting in Khartoum appeared to be less intense" since the one-week humanitarian pause entered into force late Monday. Washington and Riyadh, which brokered the ceasefire between the forces of two rival generals, however pointed to reports "indicating that both sides violated the agreement". Nonetheless, they stressed preparations were underway "to deliver lifesaving assistance" to the people of Sudan, who have endured more than five weeks of fighting that has claimed more than 1,800 lives, according to updated figures released Wednesday by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). Aid agencies had already been ramping up deliveries despite the killing of some of their workers, looting of their facilities, and most hospitals being unable to function in conflict areas. Sudan conflict: over 1,800 victims. By Sophie RAMIS, Nalini LEPETIT-CHELLA, Laurence SAUBADU (AFP) Humanitarians have sought safe corridors so assistance can reach the 25 million Sudanese -- half the population -- who the UN says need aid. The war broke out on April 15, sparking frantic mass evacuations of thousands of foreigners and forcing more than 1.3 million people to flee their homes internally and across borders. The chaos has left millions hunkering down in their homes to hide from the bullets and roaming looters amid power blackouts and shortages of water, food, medicines and other staples. Residents in various district of the capital on Wednesday reported columns of black smoke rising as some fighting continued. "In spite of successive ceasefires, civilians continue to be exposed to serious risk of death and injury," United Nations rights chief Volker Turk said. The relative calm provided a chance for some to venture out. Khartoum resident Ali Mohammed said the water supply still had not been restored on Wednesday, "but at least I was able to go out and buy water for my family". Mohammed Taher, 55, was finally able to "go to Khartoum's central market five kilometres (three miles) away to buy food and return without incident", he said. 'Trajectory of collapse' The relative calm gave Ihssan Dafaallah the chance to take his mother to a doctor, "because she had gone without medicine for 20 days". Men sit outside a burnt-out bank building in southern Khartoum. By - (AFP) In southern Khartoum, men sat on plastic chairs in front of a burned out bank building. The fighting pits Sudan's de facto leader, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, nicknamed "Hemeti", who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Battles have displaced more than a million people inside Sudan, the International Organization for Migration reported on Wednesday, with a further 319,000 people seeking refuge across borders. Numerous ceasefires were previously announced and immediately violated, but the US and Saudi Arabia said this one is different because it is a signed deal supervised by a monitoring committee. A mass exodus has continued into neighbouring countries, including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan, sparking regional fears the conflict will spread across borders because of transnational ethnic ties. Fighting has been especially deadly in the Darfur region, where more than 700 fatalities have been reported in the West Darfur state capital El Geneina since the war began, ACLED said. People sell fruits and vegetables in southern Khartoum during the truce's relative calm. By - (AFP/File) In the early 2000s Sudan's then strongman Omar al-Bashir unleashed in Darfur the notorious Janjaweed militia in response to an uprising against the power and wealth of Sudan's Arab elites. An estimated 300,000 people may have died and more than 2.7 million were displaced at the peak of the years-long conflict, from which Darfur has never fully recovered. The RSF are descendants of the Janjaweed. 'Somali scenario' Sudan expert Alex de Waal warned the "trajectory of state collapse" is now threatening "to turn Sudan as a whole, including Khartoum, into something that resembles the Darfur of 10 to 15 years ago". He pointed to Daglo's roots in the Janjaweed and said this "is the environment within which Hemeti thrived, where money and guns determine everything -- this is the future of Sudan if this carries on". Residents continue to flee. By - (AFP) Jean-Nicolas Armstrong Dangelser of aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said that, after the looting of an MSF medical warehouse in Khartoum, "fridges were unplugged and medicines removed", meaning "the medicines are spoiled and can't be used to treat anyone". The violation of humanitarian principles and space for aid workers to operate "is shrinking on a scale I've rarely seen before", he said. Like many Sudanese citizens, Yasser Abdelaziz, a civil servant in the northern town of Shendi, said he fears a war worse than other Middle East conflicts and more like the turmoil seen elsewhere in the Horn of Africa. "I'm afraid that the scenario to come will not be Syria, Libya or Yemen," he said, "but the Somali scenario, with people driven by racism and tribalism". As Namibia's Supreme Court recognised same-sex marriages contracted abroad between citizens and foreign spouses last week, many see the ruling as a step towards decriminalising homosexuality in the country. Others hope the change could also influence other African countries. The latest court ruling in Namibia resonates way beyond the Southern African country. For Neela Ghoshal, a long-time researcher on LGBT issues and Senior Director of Law, Policy, and Research at Outright International, it is a "really big step forward, focusing on equality and dignity". She told RFI that, "even though there is still no ruling on decrimilising homosexuality in Namibia, this gives a hint as to how the court would handle such a case." She added that it is now "highly likely that Namibia would one day decriminalise homosexual behaviours." Southern Africa's constitution Namibia's Supreme Court decision overturns a ruling last year by the High Court, which refused to accept same-sex marriages concluded outside Namibia. This new ruling is bringing hope to the entire continent. "We are hoping for progress, as this moves offers an alternative model," Ghoshal added. "And it can now influence middle-of-the road MPs across the board." Same-sex relations are legal in only 22 of Africa's 54 countries. Only South Africa allows gay-marraige - legalised in 2006 - under the post-apartheid constitution.. West and Eastern Africa Same-sex relations are however punishable by death or lengthy prison terms in some African countries, according to a global review by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). Africa accounts for nearly half of the countries worldwide where homosexuality is outlawed, according to the review. For most of these countries, the situation is the result of old colonial law, and conservative religious influence from US anti-LGBT charities. Thrity-two African countries already ban same-sex relationships, but a new law passed in Uganda on 3 May is the first to outlaw merely identifying as LGBTQ, Human Rights Watch said. Recently, Uganda's parliamentpassed a new draft of anti-gay legislation, retaining many draconian provisions despite President Yoweri Museveni's call to rework an earlier version of the bill, following outcry from Western governments. But activists are not losing hope. In Uganda and among the Ugandan diaspora abroad, activists have been mounting efforts to try and stop the legislation, and raise awareness on the need to protect LGBTIQ+ people. Neela Ghoshal, who lived in Kenya and worked in Uganda, says that countries with better and freer space for civil society are doing better, like Kenya. In Kenya, on 24 February, the Supreme Court ruled that the National Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) must be allowed to officially register as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). It said it is unconstitutional to deny registration on the basis of the applicants' sexual orientation. The ruling aligned with previous judgments from the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The ruling, however, didn't alter the Kenyan penal code, which still criminalises sexual acts against the order of nature. Those found guilty face up to 14 years in prison. More LGBTIQ+ voices Kevin Mwachiro is a Kenyan writer, activist and podcaster based in Kilifi. For a few years, he has been producing a successful literary podcast called Nipe Story, enabling him to broadcast queer voices from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria or South Africa. He says the latest backlash in against queer people in March was a shock, but many weren't surprised. "We thought we had made so much progress," he told RFI, "but then came this barrage of hate speech... I found it absolutely awful. "It comes as the result of deliberate misinformation against the LGBT+ community. Yet, it's up to us to write and speak about ourselves now, and I believe we're slowly recovering." He lauded the Nambia ruling on his social media page when it was announced. However he adds that "it had very little coverage in the media [as] most people don't care about our progress." He says he will be happier when the ruling is applied to a Black queer couples. "This ruling about foreign spouses of queer African people has a feeling of privilege and whiteness. For me, the real progress has been made in the visibility we now have. We must also learn from other movements, who brought rights to women and other marginalised people over the century. Because there is still work to be done." Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Wednesday for certain African nations to end their "neutrality" over Russia's invasion of his country. Fifteen months into the devastating war, Kuleba was in Ethiopia on a regional tour to drum up African support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's "aggression". "We speak with our African friends, trying to explain to them that neutrality is not the answer," he said in English at a press conference in Addis Ababa, home of the African Union. "By being neutral towards the Russian aggression against Ukraine, you project your neutrality to the violation of borders and mass crimes that may occur very close to you, if not happen to you." In February, 22 of the African Union's 54 member states abstained or did not vote on a UN General Assembly resolution marking the one-year anniversary of the war that called for Russia withdraw from Ukraine. Two of them -- Eritrea and Mali -- voted against the resolution. During his visit, Kuleba held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the head of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat and the current AU chair, Comoros President Azali Assoumani. "I know that there are countries and people in Africa who sympathise (with) Russia because they connect Russia with the support these countries were receiving during the Soviet Union times and the role of the Soviet Union in the decolonisation of Africa," Kuleba said. "This Russia is very different. I think the biggest real investment of Russia in Africa today is the Wagner mercenaries," he said, referring to the private military group fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Russia, he claimed, did not appear on the list of countries providing Africa with humanitarian aid or of major investors on the continent. "Russian propaganda is very good. And they work very actively in Africa," he added. Kuleba noted that he was the first Ukrainian foreign minister to visit Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa. "Unfortunately our relations with African countries did not receive proper attention in our foreign policy for years and we lost a lot," he added. The minister pledged that breadbasket Ukraine was on Africa's side when it came to food security, with the continent among those hard hit by rising prices and supply disruptions caused by the Russian invasion. The political scene of the country is set to heat up once again as the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) gears up to contest in another by-election. This time, the battleground is set at Assin North, in the Central Region where the fight for the parliamentary seat continues following the Supreme Courts declaration that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) James Quaysons election was unconstitutional. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin is yet to declare the seat vacant but the NPP which is basking in the in euphoria following the Kumawu by-election election victory says its not leaving anything to chance. The governing party says it is preparing for the election awaiting the Electoral Commissions decision to hold another by-election in the area. With the stakes high, it is expected that both major parties will spare no effort in their bid to secure the seat. The NPP, in particular, seems to be taking the fight seriously, with the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and the National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, arriving in Assin North yesterday ahead of the polls. The two NPP gurus among others had just returned from Kumawu where they retained the seat for the party. Yaw Anim polled 15,264 votes to defeat the National Democratic Congress candidate, Kwesi Amankwaa, and the two other Independent Candidates. The NDC's Kwesi Amankwaa managed 3,723 votes while Kwaku Duah (1) had 2,478 votes with the other Kwaku Duah getting only 62 votes. Last week, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the election of James Gyekye Quayson. In a unanimous decision a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to expunge the name of Mr Quayson as MP. It was the considered view of the court that the election of Mr Quayson breached Article 94(2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution because at the time he filed to contest the elections he was not qualified to be elected as a legislator since he had not renounced his dual citizenship The court therefore declared Mr Quayson filing to contest, the EC's decision to allow him to contest as well as his swearing-in as MP in Parliament as all unconstitutional, null and void. The seven-member panel of the court was presided by Justice Jones Dotse, with Justices Nene Amegatcher, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkornoo, Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi and Barbara Ackah-Ayensu. The court said the full reasons for its decision will be filed at the court's registry by June 7, this year. This follows the case filed by a resident of the Constituency Michael Ankomah Nimfah. Mr Nimfah had asked the court to rule that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, 1992 of Ghana, at the time Mr Quayson filed his nomination form in October 2020 to contest the 2020 Parliamentary election for the Assin North Constituency, he was not qualified to contest as a Member of Parliament. This is because the Constitution does not allow a person with dual citizenship to hold certain public offices, including a Member of Parliament. Currently, the former lawmaker for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson is back in court facing criminal charges. He is facing five counts of criminal offences of Deceit of public officer contrary to section 251 (b) of the Criminal offences Act, 1960, Act 29; Forgery of Passport or Travel Certificate, contrary to section 15 (1)(b) of Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155); and, Knowingly making a False Statutory Declaration in contravention of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1971, Act 389. He also faces Perjury as per section 210 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act 29; and False Declaration for Office as against section 248 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act 29. -DGN online Global airline and the UKs flag carrier, British Airways has announced an expansion of its African route with the addition of three return services a week from Accra to London Gatwick. From October 29, Ghanaian travellers will have more choice of flight times and airports, with the additional flights operating into London Gatwick. The airline already flies daily between Accra and London Heathrow Terminal 5. The new flights will depart Accra at 21.20 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, landing into London Gatwick at 04.00. The Accra-bound service will depart at midday, landing into the capital at 18:35. Moran Birger, British Airways Head of Sales for Africa, Middle East and South Asia said: Restoring our Africa network after the pandemic gave us an opportunity to carefully consider the routes and regions where there was potential for growth. Accra was one of those routes and Africa is one of those regions. He added that Gatwick provides Ghanian expats and UK holidaymakers with an alternative gateway from London and premium customers as well as Gold and Silver Executive Club members can ease their way into holidays or family visits in the recently refurbished lounges. The new services also add cargo capacity on the route, increasing opportunities for Ghanaian exporters to quickly get perishables and other goods to market through IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, British Airways parent company. To mark the start of the new services British Airways, which has served Ghana for over 85 years, is offering a launch special, with fares from Gatwick to Accra starting from $2,947 in Club World and $689 in World Traveller. Customers on these flights will also soon start to see the new British Airways uniform as cabin crew, pilots and check-in agents switch over from their current Julien MacDonald uniforms. Designed by British, Ghanaian Savile Row fashion designer and tailor Ozwald Boateng OBE, it is the first new uniform to be unveiled in 20 years. Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the Ghana Police Service have jointly arrested 49 Nigerian nationals with their ages ranging from 18 to 34 years. They were arrested in Accra on Tuesday 2nd May 2023. The suspects were made up of forty-seven males and two females. They were arrested after the security agencies picked up intelligence on their operations. A statement issued by EOCO on Wednesday, May 24 said The said individuals were suspected to have been involved in human trafficking and cybercrime-related activities. 3news.com YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. 630,000 tourists visited Armenia in the first four month of 2023, Tourism Committee Chairperson Sisian Boghossian said on May 25. The figure is a 35% growth compared to the same period of 2019, she added. Most of the tourists, around 52%, come from Russia, followed by Georgia and Iran. We are seeing a rather active dynamics of visits from the Emirates. April stood out in terms of many tourist visits. We had 180,000 tourists in April alone, Boghossian said. The Tourism Committee chief added that they are actively working to promote Armenia in the international market, focusing on European countries and the Emirates. From the scorching summer heat to war profiteers and bureaucratic foot-dragging, Sudanese fleeing battles at home have encountered many obstacles -- but also help from strangers -- on the long road to safety in Egypt. Among the hundreds of refugee families waiting at the border, some had no passports. Others would not go further until their husband, brother or son was granted a visa -- which women and children are exempt from. One woman was "sleeping sometimes on the ground, sometimes on a bus" for several days, she told AFP, waiting for her cousin to be issued a visa by the Egyptian consulate in the border city of Wadi Halfa. She eventually crossed together with a few of her aunts, but "my cousin, he's still waiting", a month after fleeing their home in Khartoum, said the woman, who asked not to be identified. Sudanese evacuee Walid Soliman walks to the residence where he and his family are hosted, at an Egyptian family's home in Wadi Karkar village. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP/File) Stuck in Wadi Halfa, "everything is overpriced because of war profiteers", said a Sudanese man who finally made it to Cairo after a two-week wait. Others prefer to try their luck at another Egyptian consulate, in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, more than 650 kilometres (400 miles) away from Wadi Halfa. But they are not guaranteed relief there either. Youssef al-Bashir said he had been waiting "for five days" along with hundreds of others to submit his application. Passengers fleeing war-torn Sudan arrive at Qastal land port crossing between Egypt and Sudan. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP/File) Since fighting began on April 15 between the forces of two rival generals, more than 132,000 refugees have arrived in Egypt, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday. More than a million others have been displaced internally in Sudan, and across the borders of other countries. Many of those who could not flee have hunkered down in their homes without basic supplies. For those who make it across the border to Egypt, the Egyptian Red Crescent provides care for the sick and hands out water and biscuits. 'Our second country' Unlike in other neighbouring countries that have been taking in Sudanese refugees, humanitarian operations in Egypt are limited. Cairo refuses to set up refugee camps and instead says the new arrivals are given the right to work and move freely. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has repeatedly said his country is hosting "not war refugees" but "guests". Volunteers prepare aid packages for refugees fleeing Sudan, at the Wadi Karkar bus station near the Egyptian city of Aswan. By - (AFP/File) Sudanese who cross into Egypt's south must then buy a bus ticket to take them to the nearest major city, Aswan, around 200 kilometres north of the border. They are greeted there by volunteers who offer a hot meal -- the first for many since embarking on the perilous desert journey. "We serve three meals a day. For lunch there is chicken, pasta and beans," said Mansour Jomaa, one of about 60 volunteers. "We also deliver meals to a dozen houses," where "sometimes eight families are crammed together", he told AFP. More than four million Sudanese were living in Egypt before the war, according to the United Nations. The neighbouring countries share the Arabic language, cultural ties, and fabled history dating back to the Pharaonic era. Egypt was an "obvious" destination, said Walid Ahmed, a refugee who left Wadi Halfa and headed north. "It's our second country." Long-term needs "The number of people waiting to cross into Egypt is increasing," said Carlos Cruz, head of the IOM mission in Egypt. The UN agency needs $19.9 million to provide them with "water, food, hygiene kits and medicines", specifically for diabetes and other chronic illnesses, he told AFP. "In the longer term, there will also be other needs including education and livelihoods," Cruz added. The Sudanese border town of Wadi Halfa. By - (AFP/File) Many of the Sudanese refugees AFP spoke to believe it would take a long time, perhaps decades, before they can return home. They carried with them their savings in dollars, a precious asset in Egypt where an economic downturn has boosted the purchasing power of foreign currency. A Sudanese official, who asked that her name be withheld, said she had only meant to spend the holy month of Ramadan in Cairo, but the war broke out days before its end, forcing a change of plans. She had to "negotiate an extension with the landlord for an apartment rented only for 30 days and for five people", she told AFP. "When my family came to join me from Sudan, I had them enter in the middle of the night once the concierge was asleep, because there are 12 of us and the owner doesn't know." The woman said she has no idea what the future holds, and in the meantime goes out only from time to time with her cousins. "But always in small groups so that people wouldn't notice us." A Lebanese judge has banned central bank governor Riad Salameh from travelling, following an Interpol Red Notice filed by France requesting his arrest and extradition so he can be questioned and possibly charged as part of an investigation into his allegedly illicit accumulation of wealth. French investigators suspect that during his three decades as central bank chief Salameh misused public funds to accumulate assets that have been concealed through a fraudulent financial network. He is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, which is not an international arrest warrant, but it asks authorities to provisionally detain people pending possible extradition or other legal actions. Salameh has been the target of a series of judicial investigations both at home and abroad on allegations including embezzlement, money laundering, fraud and illicit enrichment, which he denies. Salameh has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and continues to serve as central bank governor. His mandate ends in July. Try him in Lebanon On Wednesday, judge Imad Qabalan questioned Salameh and "decided to release him pending investigation, ban him from travelling, and confiscate his Lebanese and French passports," an official told the AFP news agency, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. Activists say the travel ban helps shield Salameh from facing justice abroad, and from potentially exposing others in Lebanon's political class to scrutiny. Qabalan asked the French judiciary to refer Salameh's file to Lebanon's judiciary, so it can prosecute him. In February, Lebanon charged Salameh with embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion as part of its own investigations. Other arrest warrant On Wednesday, Germany also notified Lebanon's general prosecutor that it had also issued an arrest warrant for Salameh, and that it would submit the warrant to Interpol. In March 2022, France, Germany and Luxembourg seized assets worth $130 million (121 million euros) as part of an investigation into Salameh's wealth. European investigators have questioned Salameh in Beirut and also heard from his assistant Marianne Hoayek, his brother Raja, a Lebanese minister and central bank audit firms. Raja Salameh and Hoayek are reportedly due to appear before the French judiciary on 31 May 31 and 13 June, respectively. (with AFP) The Ghana Education Service (GES) has published the approved subject areas for Study Leave with Pay for the 2023 academic year amidst false speculations. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of education by enabling teachers to further their studies and gain new skills and knowledge while being given portions of their salary. To qualify for Study Leave with Pay, employees must serve a minimum of three years with GES and agree to be bonded for the duration of their studies plus one additional year. Teachers who have served in deprived areas for two years may also be eligible, according to GES. The approved subjects have been allocated different pay percentages, with high-demand areas like STEM subjects eligible for 60% pay, followed by 30% pay for subjects like languages, social sciences and special education. Non-teaching staff can apply for 10-30% pay for subjects relevant to their roles. Teachers must submit applications to their district offices by October 31, 2023. Once approved, the selected candidates will be bonded for the duration of their course of study plus one year. Find in the attached releases from the GES, the subjects details; 25.05.2023 LISTEN The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service have clamped down on a human trafficking syndicate operating in Accra after rescuing 45 victims who were being forced into cybercrime activities. In a press release dated May 24, Faustina Lartey, EOCO's Head of Public Affairs, said they arrested a total of 49 Nigerian nationals on Tuesday, May 2 in Accra. The suspects comprised 47 males and 2 females between the ages of 18 and 34. During the operation, officers recovered 70 laptop computers, 2 saloon cars, 51 mobile phones, 9 internet modems and other gadgets from the syndicate's hideout. After screening the suspects, authorities determined that 45 of them were in fact victims of human trafficking while the remaining 4 were the traffickers. The victims, the statement said, have since been sent back to Nigeria to reunite with their families. The 4 alleged traffickers - Godstine Omoruyi, Junior Nosa Omoruyi, Marvelous Omoruyi and Evbuomwan Idowu - have been arraigned in court. The release added that "The said victims were lured into the country with the promise of securing them jobs but were subsequently forced to engage in cyber-crime activities upon their arrival in the country. The traffickers also resorted to various forms of physical torture and abuse to coerce their victims into subjection." The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is a specialised agency established by EOCO Act 2010 (Act 804) to monitor and investigate economic and organised crime and on the authority of the Attorney General prosecute these offences to recover the proceeds of crime. As part of the functions of the Office, it cooperates with relevant foreign or international agencies in furtherance of its objectives. In 1985, the iconic image titled "The Agony of Omayra Sanchez" captured the hearts of people worldwide and was named World Press Photo of the Year. The haunting photo shows 13-year-old Omayra trapped in murky floodwaters for three days after the Nevado del Ruiz volcanic eruption in Colombia. According to a tweet from the official account of Historic Vic on Thursday, May 25, photojournalist Frank Fournier arrived in Armero days after the eruption when most of the town had been destroyed and thousands were trapped or missing. Fournier was then taken to Omayra, still alive but trapped under the debris of her home with floodwaters up to her neck. "The agony in her eyes conveyed the suffering she was enduring," Fournier recalled, as shared by Historic Vid, adding, Rescuers tried to comfort her but they were unable to free her." Over three hours, Fournier documented Omayra's deteriorating condition as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Despite her predicament, Omayra showed immense strength, even wondering aloud if Fournier could take her to school since she feared being late. Omayra sadly succumbed to hypothermia and dehydration. Fournier sent his photographs and six months later, "The Agony of Omayra Sanchez" was released, depicting Omayra's indomitable spirit in the face of unspeakable hardship. The photo moved people worldwide with its raw depiction of human suffering but also humanity's tenacity and resilience even in our most vulnerable moments. Omayra became a symbol of the strength of the human spirit. Fulgence Kayishema, one of four remaining fugitives sought for their role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, has been arrested in South Africa, UN investigators said on Thursday. "Yesterday afternoon, Fulgence Kayishema -- one of the world's most wanted genocide fugitives -- was arrested in Paarl, South Africa in a joint operation," the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) said in a statement. Around 800,000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, were slaughtered over 100 days at the hands of Hutu extremists. Kayishema, a former judicial police inspector, faces charges of genocide, complicity in and conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity. He has been on the run since July 2001, according to the MICT website, which gives his year of birth as 1961. Slaughter: 2004 file picture of a mass grave and the ruins of the Notre Dame de la Visitation church in Nyange where around 2,000 Tutsis were killed. By STR (AFP/File) He and others allegedly murdered more than 2,000 Tutsi men, women and children who had taken refuge in a Catholic church in Nyange in Kivumu district. "Kayishema directly participated in the planning and execution of this massacre, including by procuring and distributing petrol to burn down the church with the refugees inside," the statement said. "When this failed, Kayishema and others used a bulldozer to collapse the church, burying and killing the refugees inside. "Kayishema and others then supervised the transfer of corpses from the church grounds into mass graves over the next approximately two days." 'Finally face justice' MICT, which is based in The Hague and the Tanzanian city of Arusha, in 2015 took over the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which the United Nations set up following the genocide. His arrest was carried out in a joint operation by MICT's Fugitive Tracking Team and the South African authorities, the statement said. 'Fulgence Kayishema was a fugitive for more than twenty years. His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes," MICT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in the statement. The three other fugitives on the wanted list also face multiple charges of genocide and crimes against humanity: Aloys Ndimbati; Charles Ryandikayo; and Charles Sikubwabo. The ICTR court issued dozens of rulings, from life sentences to acquittals, before closing in late 2015 and handing over over to the MICT. In September 2022, one of Rwanda's richest men before the genocide, Felicien Kabuga, who moved to France under a false identity, went on trial in The Hague. He is accused of setting up hate media that urged ethnic Hutus to kill rival Tutsis and supplying death squads with machetes. His trial was put on hold in March amid concerns over his health. Timeline with maps of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.. By Paz PIZARRO, Alain BOMMENEL (AFP) Kigali itself started trying genocide suspects in 1996, and on a single day in April 1998 had 22 of them executed by firing squad. It abolished the death penalty in 2007, lifting the main obstacle for the ICTR to extradite genocide suspects to Rwanda for trial. Between 2005 and 2012, more than 12,000 "gacaca" community-based courts put nearly two million people on trial and convicted 65 percent, sending most to prison. Other convictions have been handed down in the former colonial power Belgium as well as in France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Canada. Something impressive has been done and we must commend Hon. Godfred Yeboah Dame for lifting the image of the Attorney General Department.... The few years he has served as an AG, he has appeared before the Supreme Court on three occasions on matters of review of the SC own decisions... The first was in Republic v High Court [ Exparte Attorney General] interested party Exton Cubic Limited. That decision was in respect of the Nyinahini Bauxite brouhaha... Dissatisfied with the decision of the Supreme Court, the AG went back to the SC court under rule 54 of the Supreme Court rules 1996(CI 16) and told the judges that, they were wrong in their previous decision. The same Supreme Court found favor in the AG's submissions and reviewed its own decision and ruled in favour of the AG.... The second was also the decision in *Republic v High Court [ Exparte AG) Interested Party Stephen Kwabena Opuni*. The previous decision of the SC which sought to prohibit Rtd Justice Clemence Huyenuga from proceeding with Opuni's case was overturned through demonstration of legal prowess by the AG when he appeared before a panel of nine judges. The recent one being Ezuame Mannan v AG . In that case, the SC struck down section 43 of the Narcotics Commission Act. The AG dissatisfied with the decision went to the Supreme Court for a review of the previous decision of the court... Today, a 5-4 ruling went against the AG..... A very narrow decision. The truth of the matter is that, it is not easy to challenge a previous decision of the supreme court on review. It takes a smart and bold lawyer to challenge the SC. This particular herculean task is the reason why rule 54 of the Supreme Court rules 1996 CI 16 provide(s) a high(er)threshold in order to satisfy the court the reason why it should review its previous decision and depart from same in accordance with law. The rule says that a party must demonstrate exceptional circumstance which he alleges has given rise to a miscarriage of justice for which reason the previous decision must not be allowed to stand on all force. See *Republic v High Court[ Ex parte Abubakr, Ellis Tamakloe v The Republic,*. *Fofie v Zanyo*, *Charpel Hill International v Ghana Revenue Authority*, *Edusei [no.2] v Attorney General*, *Martin Alamisi Amidu v Alfred Agbesi Woyome, Waterville* *BV & Another*. The truth of the matter is that, even Dr.Obed Asamoah and Mr.Martin Amidu who remain the longest serving AG's could not come this far in their entire years in the AG's department... This current AG in four years has done more than what you and I can think of. Dawda Eric 25th May,2023 Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra Region, is blaming Emmanuel Ashie Moore, the region's chairman, for failing to turn over funds from former President John Dramani Mahama meant for the transportation of delegates in the area during the party's primaries. Mr. Chaie claimed that the chairman hijacked the allocation the funds. His comments follow complaints from certain delegates who claimed they weren't given the funds Mr. Mahama had promised for transportation. Prior to the NDC's presidential and parliamentary primaries held on Saturday, May 13, Mr. Mahama's team promised delegates GH40 as transportation money after voting. Theophilus Tetteh Chaie stated on Eyewitness News that Mr. Ashie Moore handled the disbursement of the monies and should be held liable for any issue regarding the distribution. Well, these are monies for delegates, and there was a channel for distribution. What Im saying is that the resources were not distributed by the regional treasurer. It was the regional chairman who did the disbursement. The resources were put into our account, and it happened that the resources were withdrawn. And it is the partys regional chairman who disbursed the money, so the regional executives do not hold that responsibility. In effect, it should be the treasurer who should be held responsible but since it is not the treasurer who distributed the money, why must we suffer for the disbursement of the money? the NDCs Secretary in the Greater Accra Region stated. There was uneasy calm in some of the voting venues when GHS40 meant for each delegate was improperly disbursed during the NDC primaries. Some delegates threatened to boycott the election, for instance, NDC delegates in the Western North Region's Sefwi Wiawso Constituency demanded their share of the money before they took part in the voting. 25.05.2023 LISTEN It is incredible how uninformed most Africans are when it comes to the issue of Pan-Africanism. According to them, any call for Africans to take their own affairs into their own hands is tantamount to reverse racism and anti-white. When you ask them why the 27 European countries who formed the European Union are not accused of anti-Black, these fellas go mute! It is said, but it is clear that many Africans have been so miseducated and so thoroughly brainwashed that they suffer pathological self-hatred! How else will a normal human being equate self-love with the hatred of others? The truth of the matter is that Europeans did not join together to form the EU because they so much love one another. No, they did not. The Poles cannot stand the Germans (few people can). The Hungarians have problems with many European countries especially on cultural issues. But, despite all the divisions and feuds, they coalesced to form an economic union in order to get good leverage in their dealings with the non-European world. It has nothing to do with either love or hatred; it is simply the promotion of self-interests. Sadly for us in Africa, we continue to consider international relations as lovefests whereby we seek friendships instead of the promotion of our national interests. A few days ago, I penned to following to a friend who spewed some bs about Pan-Africanism. To those who keep on deriding Pan-Africanism as a hopeless dream, I say: 1. The future, they say, belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. 2. Stop confusing Pan-Africanism with African-Romanticism. PA is not about falling in love with your fellow African, it is about combining our strength to face a very hostile, dog-eat-dog, man-eat-shit, Social-Darwinistic world where might is right, and the weak are swallowed whole. I can imagine your falling in love with the geographic expression of the colonial garrison you choose to call a country. I can even understand your need to beat your chest, wave flags, and belch anthems as you feel giddy with excitement and awe at the display of the appurtenances of your ostensible independent country. What I cannot understand is why it is beyond you to see how puny and pathetically insignificant your beloved country actually is in the global scheme of things. Apart from Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt none of the other countries in Africa packed enough punch to rate high in geo-strategic, geopolitical or geo-economic calculations. So, Mr Patriot, try to imagine yourself the president of say, Benin Republic, going to negotiate a trade deal with, say, Germany. What exactly will you bring to the table? Your economy, all of US$14:39 billion GDP, is significantly less than that of any of the states that made up the Bundesrepublik - North Rhine Westphalia tops the list at US$711.4 billion, the lowest, Bremen, stands at US$33.6 billion. Try to do the maths! At US $ 3.9 trillion, the German economy makes your national economy looks very tiny in comparison. The Germans will simply roll over you. That's just the teaser. I know that, for many of us, thinking deeply is an encumbrance, but try not to forget that Germany, being part of the EU, no longer negotiate bilateral trade deals with other countries. The EU does that on its behalf. If the German economy makes your national economy looks tiny, the behemoth of the combined EU economy at US$ 18.8 trillion reduces your national economy to virtual invisibility. Since we are still imagining things, now try to imagine if, instead of you going alone to Bonn ( actually Brussels) to negotiate a trade deal as the Beninois Minister for Trade and whatever, you are part of an ECOWAS negotiating team. By sheer scale of the combined population of the ECOWAS (300+ million), your prospects have dramatically improved. Your chances of being considered a serious player have increased exponentially. You can also try to imagine if the owners of the Kasapreko Distillery in Ghana can consider the entirety of the ECOWAS as its natural market. Can you begin to imagine the scale of operation or how many jobs would be created? I know that thinking is a very difficult thing for most of us in this part of the world, but try to imagine yourself as a struggling app or web developer in Ghana who suddenly has a 300+ million strong market to satisfy. Try to think about it even if the efforts will render you comatose! It is a great tragedy that instead of African tertiary institutions teaching our history and the cultural unity of Black Africans, they waste time and resources promoting national, ethnic, and tribal divisions. Instead of helping to promote regional and continental unity, they promote pseudo-patriotism of the neo-colonial garrisons the Europeans set up to make us eternal hewers of wood! Have a wonderful day. Femi Akomolafe September 18, 2020 #ThingsWeDoNotThinkAbout Why is the West not supporting Africa to gain access to its science and technology with the same zeal it is supporting its twin evil projects (religion and 'democracy')? We all know that the power the West wields over the rest of us is because of its superior technological skills. Please, don't get me wrong, I stopped blaming anyone for African woes long time ago. WE are equipped with the same faculties like the rest of humanity, why do we refuse to ask critical questions? For example, if religion was such a good idea and paradise exist in reality, will those who denied us entry into their Fortress Europe or MAGA USA show us the way to get there? Will those who do not hesitate to slap sanctions on anyone who try to acquire their scientific secrets be so willing to promote democracy if they know that it was not such an insane scam? The very idea that some plutocrats will spend their money to gain power and look after the interests of the ordinary folks is so absurd that it beggars belief that we spend so much time in studying it in our schools. We governed ourselves successfully for thousands of years before the world knew of any European. Unfortunately, we have over-educated ourselves to think properly. Very sadly, we have so over-educated and over-civilized ourselves to the extent that we cannot even feed, clothe or house ourselves without foreign help. Femi Akomolafe August 29, 2020 25.05.2023 LISTEN The Emir of Qatar on Wednesday (March 24, 2023) assured Bangladesh of providing all sorts of facilities to Bangladesh regarding a larger supply of LNG from his country. I promise you that I, being the Amir, will provide all sorts of facilities to you as you are a friendly country, Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani was quoted as telling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a meeting at Amiri Diwan in Doha on March 23, 2023. The two leaders also discussed different issues of bilateral cooperation on energy, business, investment, Bangladeshi manpower as well as Muslim Ummah and development of Bangladesh This meeting was held in a very warm environment, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at a press briefing here. About energy, Emir said the negotiation of signing a new contract over the larger supply of energy from Qatar to Bangladesh remains pending for a few months. Momen said it (the promise) is a big achievement for Bangladesh, adding that this fresh contract might be signed anytime soon. Now Bangladesh is importing some 40 containers of energy that means 1.8-2.5 MTA as per a 15-year contract signed in 2017. But now Bangladesh seeks a larger supply of LNG from Qatar. Bangladesh and Qatar have continuous cooperation in several bilateral aspects including labor migration (8 Lakh Bangladeshi workers and USD 1.3 Billion remittances), energy cooperation (15 years G-2-G LNG agreement), and continuous aid to Rohingya. It continues to buy liquefied natural gas from Qatar and Oman under long-term contracts and imports about four million tonnes of liquefied gas a year. The agreement with Qatar will expire in 2032 and that with Oman will expire in 2029. Qatar is one of the top energy producers. Bangladesh has already a government-to-government LNG deal with Qatar for 15 years. However, the Ukraine crisis, western sanctions on Russia, and subsequent energy price hikes resulted in an Energy crisis in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is currently struggling to cope with a mounting natural-gas demand due to dwindling natural gas production from local gas fields and higher price of LNG on the wayward international market. Qatar is an oil-rich country in the Middle East. To support its economy the country is largely dependent on foreign labour: 89.5 per cent residents of Qatar are foreign nationals. On the contrary, Bangladesh is one of the largest labour-exporting countries in the world. Approximately 400,000 Bangladeshi expatriates are working there, which is 12.5 per cent of the total inhabitants of Qatar. The oil-rich country is undeniably an important one for Bangladeshs expat and migrant workers. Qatar Charity runs several schools, orphanages and training centres in Bangladesh. In June 2017, Bangladesh signed an agreement with Qatari company RasGas to receive 2.5 million tonnes of LNG annually for the following 15 years. It is important to notice that the remittance inflow from Qatar in the last five years has reached the $1 billion mark. As Bangladesh suffers from energy crisis, Qatar would stand beside Bangladesh to meet its increasing demand of energy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for one more million ton of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year. The Prime Minister met with the countrys emir at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) in Doha, Qatar on Sunday (March 5) on the sidelines of the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries . Meanwhile, she wants this fuel. In view of this, the emir of Qatar has assured to provide fuel to Bangladesh. At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, AK Abdul Momen told this information to the journalists in the briefing. The foreign minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the Emir of Qatar that after the war in Ukraine, we have a big energy problem. We want more fuel. Now Bangladesh imports about 40 containers of fuel annually from Qatar, i.e., 1.8 to 2.5 million tonnes. We will renew what we take. Also, we want more LNG. Abdul Momen said, responding sincerely to the Prime Ministers request, the Emir of Qatar asked to know how much more Bangladesh wants. We have said, we want 1 million tonnes more, 16-17 more containers. She said, after the request of Bangladesh, the Emir of Qatar told the Prime Minister that I am giving orders to our energy minister today. Before you (Sheikh Hasina) return home, I will meet you and I will give instructions on what to do in the meantime. I want to help you. Qatar will always stand by Bangladesh. Bangladesh and Qatar have recently strengthened their bilateral ties. The Qatari businessman and officials have already shown interest to invest in Bangladeshs energy sector, LPG storage terminals, power and infrastructural sector. Bangladesh has already pursued Qatar for emergency LNG and extended credit on the supply at a relatively cheaper price. The extended credit on and emergency supply of LNG would help Bangladesh with energy security. Bangladesh which is dependent on imported liquefied natural gas, has been struggling with an energy crisis in recent months. If Bangladesh can get Qatari LNG on a deferred payment basis, it will ease up Bangladeshs foreign exchange reserves and help Bangladesh in terms of purchasing other necessary imports which require instantaneous payment. Qatar can cooperate in capacity building in the refinery sector. The OIC membership and Muslim identity may help Bangladesh in this regard. Bangladesh, a developing country, has now made its mark on the world map by working hard. Bangladesh, like others, also suffers because of the Russia-Ukraine war. Lack of essential fuel is likely to lead to the loss of overseas orders for export-oriented apparel units. Production in other industries is also severely disrupted. A large number of people, especially women workers, may lose their job in such a situation and there will be unrest in society. Bangladesh has very good relations with all the countries, including the Middle East. It is, therefore, hoped that the international community would play a stronger role in solving the current energy crisis for the sake of development and peace and order. Meanwhile, The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani is very keen on developing the bilateral relations to new heights and he has accepted the invitation from the president of Bangladesh to undertake a visit to Dhaka. This would be a landmark event in the history of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar leading to the consolidation of ties, especially in trade and commerce, investment and economic cooperation. A good number of bilateral instruments MoUs and agreements may be signed during the visit of the Emir, which would strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries significantly. Emirs Bangladesh visit will definitely strengthen bilateral relations and pave the way of Qatari Investment in Bangladesh. Bangladesh needs Qatar. The cabinet of Bangladesh has approved recently the draft of a deal to send 1,129 members of the armed forces to Qatar on deputation. The deal will be automatically renewed after the end of its five-year tenure.The armed forces of the two countries will sign the final deal. Bangladesh and Qatar both are interested in defense and security cooperation now. The overall relations suggest that these two countries can be viable partners to each other. Bangladesh is a land of opportunities to a country like Qatar. Bangladesh produces medicines of international standard while Qatar imports medicines from abroad. Qatar has huge opportunities to invest in our hydrocarbon and service sectors. Moreover, since the income taxes were reduced with corporate taxes, investment in Bangladesh will be more beneficial to the country. Bangladesh is enjoying a demographic dividend and both countries can be beneficial from this rare opportunity. In the digital space, Bangladesh is also gaining ground and Qatar can invest in Bangladeshs IT sector too. Rather optimistically, Bangladeshs economy is going to transform itself into a middle-income group. Investing in government bonds is attractive while the currency is stable. Additionally, Bangladeshs policy governance has been exemplary in recent years. The country has been mapped positively, in terms of Economic, Social, Environment and Human risk successfully to continue its growth momentum. Meanwhile, it is also important for the Bangladesh government to remove all unnecessary bureaucratic red tape concerning foreign investment, especially when the country is yet to establish itself as a safe, secure and business-friendly nation. Economic conditions and trends of both partners are favourable to boost bilateral cooperation since Qatar regularly invests in potential sectors overseas. While Bangladesh has the goal to be a developed country by 2040, countries like Qatar can directly engage and contribute to Bangladeshs economic and development activities. Jubeda Chowdhury working as a teacher in Dhaka city. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The State Legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona has affirmed the Republic of Artsakhs (Nagorno Karabakh) right to self-determination in a proclamation issued by Arizona State House Speaker Ben Toma, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). We welcome the proclamation from the Speaker of Arizonas State Assembly recognizing Artsakhs right to self-determination an important step towards justice for the Armenians of Artsakh, remarked ANCA National Board Member Zanku Armenian. Amid Azerbaijans blockade of Artsakh, this demonstration of solidarity is a crucial part of our communitys ongoing efforts to raise awareness of this unfolding humanitarian catastrophe and ensure Azerbaijan is held accountable for its unabated aggression against the Armenian people. This proclamation is a testament to the tireless advocacy of Arizonas Armenian-American community, and the ANCA looks forward to continuing to work alongside local activists in the state to ensure our communitys voice is heard at every level of government. Arizona Armenian community leaders Artur Artenyan and Vartan Arabyan, working in conjunction with the ANCA, spearheaded the legislative effort. The proclamation cites Artsakh as the indigenous homeland of the Armenian people, and has been a center of Armenian cultural, political and religious life for several millennia. It goes on to document Soviet Azerbaijans decades of Artsakh oppression and post-independence aggression, culminating in an assault on Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 that saw Azerbaijan perpetrate war crimes against the regions Armenian population, and resulted in Azerbaijan seizing control of 70% of Karabakhs territory. The proclamation salutes the Artsakh Armenians efforts to exercise the right to self-determination and live free from violence and repression, and by recognizing the government of Artsakh, the international community can help put to rest this century-old conflict. Arizona House Speaker Toma then affirms support for the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakhs right to self-determination, and its continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation, in order to guarantee its citizens those rights inherent in a free and independent society; and be it further, I encourage the United States government to strengthen and solidify our countrys economic and cultural relationship with the Artsakh Republic and its citizens and continue to promote the humanitarian and economic rehabilitation of the region. The full text of the Arizona legislative proclamation is provided below. ##### STATE OF ARIZONA SUPPORTS ARTSAKH RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION Whereas, The Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) is the indigenous homeland of the Armenian people, and has been a center of Armenian cultural, political, and religious life for several millennia; and Whereas, despite its historical and cultural ties to Armenia, in 1921, Joseph Stalin arbitrarily severed Artsakh from Armenia, and placed it under the administration of Soviet Azerbaijan in violation of the national, territorial and human rights of the Armenian people; and Whereas, following decades of oppression under Soviet Azerbaijani rule, the Armenians of Artsakh in a popular referendum voted overwhelmingly in support of exerting their right to self-determination and declared independence from the Soviet Union; and Whereas, Azerbaijan responded to these calls for independence by force, plunging the region into a bloody conflict that ended with a ceasefire agreement that secured Nagorno-Karabakhs self-governance; and Whereas, in defiance of the ceasefire agreement and conflict resolution efforts, Azerbaijan continued to threaten the security and sovereignty of Artsakh in the decades following the war, culminating in an assault on Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 that saw Azerbaijan perpetrate war crimes against the regions Armenian population, and resulted in Azerbaijan seizing control of 70% of Karabakhs territory; and Whereas, The Armenians of Artsakh remain resolute in their efforts to exercise the right to self-determination and live free from violence and repression, and by recognizing the government of Artsakh, the international community can help put to rest this century-old conflict. Therefore, I, Representative Ben Toma, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, do hereby recognize and support the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakhs right to self-determination, and its continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation, in order to guarantee its citizens those rights inherent in a free and independent society; and be it further, I encourage the United States government to strengthen and solidify our countrys economic and cultural relationship with the Artsakh Republic and its citizens and continue to promote the humanitarian and economic rehabilitation of the region. ##### Lusaka, May 24, 2023Malawi authorities should thoroughly and speedily investigate the recent assault of journalist Francis Mzindiko and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On the morning of May 17, political activists attacked Mzindiko, a photographer with the privately owned Times Group newspaper, while he covered a fight between supporters of the ruling Malawi Congress Party and its allied United Transformation Movement in the city of Blantyre, according to media reports, a statement by the Malawi chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa regional press freedom group, and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ. About 15 people in MCP party regalia approached Mzindiko after he filmed a fistfight between MCP and UTM supporters and demanded he delete his photos and video. When the journalist refused, they slapped him, grabbed his crotch, stole his cameras lens, and deleted footage from his laptop and camera memory card. On May 19, the MCP and Information Minister Moses Kikuyu each issued apologies over the incident, according to news reports. Authorities must ensure that those who assaulted journalist Francis Mzindiko are arrested and prosecuted, in order to send an unequivocal message that violence against journalists will not be condoned in Malawi, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. While apologies are welcome, they cannot absolve those in authority from acting swiftly and decisively. Mzindiko told CPJ that his camera lens had not been returned to him as of May 24, and that his camera was not functioning properly following the attack. He filed a police report shortly after the incident, he said. President Lazarous Chakwera, who leads the MCP, and Vice President Saulos Chilima, who leads the UTM, both attended the event where Mzindiko was attacked. In his statement, Kikuyu noted that he apologized in his capacity as the countrys information minister, and not as an MCP official. In a separate statement signed by MCP Publicity Secretary Ezekiel Peter Chingoma and reviewed by CPJ, the party apologized and promised to help police identify the perpetrators. CPJ called Chingoma and sent him questions via messaging app but did not receive any replies. Malawi Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya also did not reply to CPJs request for comment sent via messaging app. The Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Freddie Blay has threatened legal action against some 29 CSOs calling for his resignation over a decision to sell a 50% stake in Jubilee Holdings Limited (JOHL) to PetroSA. In a statement, Mr Blay also described the call for his resignation, as well as that of GNPC CEO, Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah, as deeply regrettable and unfortunate. According to the former Chairman of the NPP, CSOs, are expected to protect the interests and rights of civil society, seek the public good and national interest. Instead, the 29 CSOs that have called for my resignation, chose to engage hastily in this matter without seeking the facts, and rather misinform the public, in pursuit of ulterior motives and vested interest. I have taken due note of the libellous statements against me by my detractors including the said CSOs, and reserve the right to take legal action against these organizations and anyone engaged in this diabolic exercise of destroying my name and reputation. The call for Mr Blays resignation comes in the wake of GNPC's intention to sell a 50% stake in Jubilee Holdings Limited (JOHL) to PetroSA, despite the substantial revenue potential this interest holds for the state. Addressing the press on Tuesday, May 23, the Coordinator for the coalition, Abdul Karim Mohammed said the continuous presence of Mr Blay and Mr Ahweneeh Danquah, closely associated with petroleum operations, poses significant risks to Ghana's interests. The CSOs are made up of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC), Imani Centre for Policy and Education and 25 others. The CSOs also accused the two men of working against the interest of the state. But Mr Blay claims the allegations surrounding the supposed surreptitious, clandestine, and scandalous sale of so-called GNPC shares are unequivocally false. There is no intention by GNPC or me as its Chairman, to divest 7% shareholding in JOHL nor has there been any claim by PetroSA to acquire shareholding interests in JOHL. Such claims can only stem from an uninformed and malevolent mind. Below are details of Mr Freddie Blays statement PRESS RELEASE RE: PRE-EMPTION OF JOHL ACQUISITION OF ANADARKO INTEREST Recently, Ghanas media landscape has been inundated with unfounded and malicious allegations surrounding Freddie Blay, the Chairman of GNPC. These baseless claims, propagated through statements attributed to a purported group of 29 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), have gone so far as to demand my resignation as Board Chairman. My detractors, without verifying the facts with GNPC, make baseless claims suggesting my involvement in a supposed scandalous transaction aimed at offloading 50% of GNPCs existing stake in the Deepwater Tano Contract Area (DWT). Furthermore, they assert that this action constitutes a divestment of the States beneficial interest. Interestingly, there are others who assert, quite sadly, that they have uncovered a secretive and covert endeavour by GNPC and its board chairman to sell the 7% shares acquired by the Republic of Ghana from Anadarko West Cape Three Points Company (Anadarko) to Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (Petro SA). To present the truth, I provide the following information for those seeking accurate insight. Sale and Divestment of 7% Shares Acquired from Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited (JOHL) Ghana is a country of law, and there are laws and procedures governing the sale and transfer of shares, under Ghana's Companies Act 2019 (Act 992), even for private companies. I encourage all my accusers, and the public to Google what is the procedure for share transfers in Ghana, educate themselves, and draw their own conclusions on the veracity or duplicity of the allegations. Shares of a company are not a pack of cigarettes anyone, and for that matter, the Chairman of GNPC can keep in his or her pocket and vend by the street! The allegations surrounding the supposed surreptitious, clandestine, and scandalous sale of so called GNPC shares are unequivocally false. There is no intention by GNPC or me as its Chairman, to divest 7% shareholding in JOHL nor has there been any claim by PetroSA to acquire shareholding interests in JOHL. Such claims can only stem from an uninformed and malevolent mind. The Matter of The Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) In March 2006, the Government of the Republic of Ghana (The State) represented by the Minister for Energy (Minister), the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), executed a Petroleum Agreement (PA) in respect of the Deepwater Tano Contract Area (DWT), with Tullow Ghana Limited (Tullow), Sabre Oil and Gas Limited (Sabre), Kosmos Energy Ghana HC (Kosmos) and Anadarko Offshore Holding Company, LLC (AOHC). These companies are hereinafter collectively referred to as Contractor. GNPC as is mandatory in the PA holds a 10% carried interest in DWT. PetroSA, in July 2012 completed the acquisition of the shares of Sabre after receiving the consent of the Minister of Energy, the Honourable Joe Oteng-Adjei, earlier in February of the same year. By the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of Sabre, PetroSA legally assumed the equity interests of Saber as a Contractor in the PA relating to the DWT. Specifically, PetroSA bought out Sabre's interest in three assets i.e., the producing Jubilee field (1.7%), the Deepwater Tano Block at (4.05%), and the West Cape Three Points Block at (1.854%). Also, and by virtue of becoming a Contractor under the PA, PetroSA also, became a party in the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) relating to the DWT. As a party to the DWT JOA, PetroSA like all other parties in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits and rights granted in the said agreement. This includes the ability to exercise a right to pre-empt any divestments to any unidentified third party for any intended transfers of all or a portion of and Participating Interests, whether directly or indirectly by assignment, merger, consolidation, or sale of stock or shares or other conveyance. In 2021, AOHC created and incorporated a new Company i.e., Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited (JOHL), in Cayman Islands. JOHL, and Anadarko assigned to JOHL (JOHL Transfers) a 7% Participating Interest in the DWT JOA and a 5.95% interest in the DWT Petroleum Agreement. It also entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Kosmos Energy for the sale of Anardarko, and with the GNPC for the sale of JOHL. Post the acquisition of JOHL by GNPC, after serving a notice to pre-empt rights to purchase the 7% Participating Interest in the DWT JOA currently held by JOHL, PetroSA has since engaged GNPC to acquire said Interests. As a compromise solution, we have proposed the option of a 50:50 split of the 7% shares GNPC was holding. It is important to note that we have yet to outline specifics for the finality on the matter, and this compromise is subject to confirmation, and subsequent advice of the Minister. We are still in the stage of ongoing discussions. GNPCs doors remain wide open to all Civil Society Organizations and individuals alike. I extend an invitation to investigate and ascertain the facts before succumbing to orchestrated and futile frenzies. The call for my resignation, as well as that of the CEO, in relation to this matter is deeply regrettable and unfortunate. CSOs are expected to protect the interests and rights of civil society, and seek the public good and national interest. Instead, the 29 CSOs that have called for my resignation, chose to engage hastily in this matter without seeking the facts, and rather misinform the public, in pursuit of ulterior motives and vested interest. This is detrimental to the public good, and the national interest. I have taken due note of the libellous statements against me by my detractors including the said CSOs, and reserve the right to take legal action against these organizations and anyone engaged in this diabolic exercise of destroying my name and reputation. FREDDIE WORSEMAO ARMAH BLAY CHAIRMAN Dated: Thursday, 25 May 2023 -Citinewsroom 2006 retrenched workers of the Ghana Railway Company have slapped an injunction on the accounts of the Company following the failure to settle their arrears after they were laid off 17 years ago. Chairman of the retrenched workers John Kojo Appiah told Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson , the host of Connect FM's Omanbapa morning show that the injunction was ordered by the Sekondi High Court after all efforts to retrieve their locked-up funds proved futile. The Cape Coast Appeals Court ordered the payment of our money in 2015, he said. Since then, the company has refused to pay the money to us and all efforts have proven unsuccessful. Our lawyer led us and an injunction has been placed on the accounts where salaries of workers are paid from. Out of the 674 retrenched workers, 111 have died and the rest are above 50 years. Most of them are currently battling one sickness or the other. Secretary of the retrenched workers Edward Roberts, 76, is blaming the Western Region Minister, Kobby Otchere Darko Mensah, former Railways Minister, Joe Ghartey, and Peter Amewu for refusing to act. We have informed all of them about our plight, they are all aware of the Court ruling but have failed to act. I'm 74 years and very sick, I don't even have money to buy drugs but they are refusing to pay us. Most of our members have died and the rest of us are very sick, he added. With the assistance of their lawyer, J.A.E Abakah, an injunction has been secured on the Ghana Commercial Bank Account of the Company in Takoradi, Kumasi, and Accra. According to them, the company currently owes them GH56million and until their money is paid, the workers cannot receive their salaries. -3news.com Africa must not become a "geostrategic battleground" for global powers, as the continent grapples with several threats to its peace and security, African Union leaders warned Thursday. They were speaking at an event to mark the anniversary of the creation of the AU's precursor, the Organisation of African Unity, on May 25, 1963. "In this international context of confrontation of divergent political interests, the will of each side threatens to transform Africa into a geostrategic battleground, thereby creating a new Cold War," AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat said. "In this zero-sum game, where the gains of others would translate into losses for Africa, we must resist all forms of instrumentalisation of our member states," he added in an address at AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The continent has become the stage for a battle for influence among the major powers, which has redoubled since Russia's invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago. Moscow is seeking deeper political, economic and military ties in Africa as well as Asia as Russia becomes increasingly isolated on the international stage over the conflict in Ukraine. 'Capacity for resilience' On Wednesday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, on a visit to Addis Ababa, urged certain African nations to end their "neutrality" over the war. The African Union on Thursday marked the 60th anniversary of its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity. By Amanuel Sileshi (AFP) In February, 22 AU member states abstained or did not vote on a UN General Assembly resolution that called for Russia withdraw from Ukraine. Two of them -- Eritrea and Mali -- voted against the resolution. Faki meanwhile also hailed the successes of the 54-nation AU which succeeded the OAU in 2002: "Independence and victory against apartheid, that of significant economic and scientific progress, sports, arts, the growing international role of Africa and so on." However, he also acknowledged "negative factors such as democratic decline through unconstitutional changes of government, with their litany of oppression and gagging of freedoms, insecurity, the spread of terrorism, violent extremism, the uncontrolled circulation of arms, the harmful effects of climate change". Despite the difficulties, Faki said, Africa remains "characterised by its greater capacity for resilience", pointing for example to its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The current head of the African Union, Comoros President Azali Assoumani also denounced "the unconstitutional changes of power" which have multiplied in Africa in recent years. "Inter and intra-African conflicts but also terrorism persist and consequently the peace, security, democracy and development of our continent are threatened in several of our countries," he said. Assoumani spoke of the conflict between rival generals in Sudan which erupted in mid-April and has persisted despite several truce agreements. "We must convince our brothers in Sudan to favour dialogue so that the fratricidal war raging in this country ends," he added. President Nana Akufo-Addo has hailed the Planting for Food and Jobs policy, attributing it to the abundance of food supply in Ghana. According to President Akufo-Addo, despite severe economic challenges, Ghana has avoided food shortages experienced by other West African countries. The President believes that effective policies, including the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, have played a vital role in ensuring sufficient food production in the country. Speaking at the 7th African Leadership Forum in Accra, he acknowledged the governments successful management of the agricultural sector. However, Mr. Akufo-Addo cautioned that providing continued subsidies for agriculture may not be sustainable in the long term. There is a whole programme we call Planting for Food and Jobs, where we subsidize our smallholder farmers. It has yielded some results, and we have seen that even in these difficult times economically, the availability of foodstuff on the market has not been an issue. It isnt as if in this period of difficulty we have also witnessed a shortage of food. On the contrary, access to food has been the more robust response that our economy has had and it is so because the system we have put in place has been relatively successful but clearly there is a limit to how far we can go down that road of public subsidy for agriculture. -citinewsroom Fulgence Kayishema, who is accused of participating in the killing of some 2,000 Tutsi refugees during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has been arrested in South Africa. He is one of four remaining fugitives sought by the United Nations tribunal for war crimes committed in Rwanda. A former police inspector in Rwanda, Kayishema is alleged to have participated in the planning and execution of the massacre of over 2,000 Tutsi men, women and children who had taken refuge in a church in April 1994. He has been on the run since July 2001 and was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Paarl, South Africa, in an investigation carried out with the cooperation of South African authorities. "Fulgence Kayishema was a fugitive for more than 20 years. His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes," Serge Brammertz, the prosecutor for the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT), said in a statement released Thursday. War crimes More than 2,000 people died when Nyange Catholic Church in Kivumu, in western Rwanda, was set alight and then bulldozed as they sheltered inside. Parish priest Athanase Seromba and businessman Gaspard Kanyarukiga have already been convicted for ordering the massacre. Kayishema was indicted in 2001 by the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which charged him with genocide, complicity in and conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for murders and other crimes. Kayishema directly participated in the planning and execution of this massacre, including by procuring and distributing petrol to burn down the church with the refugees inside, the MICT said, adding that he and others used a bulldozer to collapse the church, burying and killing the refugees inside. Afterwards, the prosecutor's office said, Kayishema and others then supervised the transfer of corpses from the church grounds into mass graves over the next approximately two days. Worldwide investigation During the genocide, around 800,000 Rwandans, most of them ethnic Tutsis, died over 100 days at the hands of Hutu extremists. Brammertz said the investigation that led to Kayishema's arrest spanned multiple countries in Africa and beyond. The Rwanda tribunal finished trying cases in 2008, after which the MICT was established, taking over the work in 2015. The tribunal referred Kayishema's case to Rwanda in 2007, after the country had abolished the death penalty, in a bid to encourage countries to hand over genocide suspects. Kayishema was one of only four fugitives still wanted by the MICT. Three others remain at large: Charles Sikubwabo, Charles Ryandikayo and Aloys Ndimbati. Top fugitive and alleged genocide financier Felicien Kabuga, who was arrested near Paris in 2020, went on trial at the MICT's Hague tribunal in September 2022. (with newswires) Spin Boldak On the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, dozens of colorful trucks, cars and rickshaws crisscross a sandy road, creating thick clouds of dust. The atmosphere tense, rain begins to fall as the border guards of the de facto authorities (DfA) try to organize the coming and going of vehicles. A few months ago, exchanges of gunfire resulted in deaths on both sides of the Zero Point, the line where Afghanistan becomes Pakistan. Since August 2021, tensions between the two countries have intensified. Brawls between guards at border crossings like Spin Boldak or Torkham are recurrent. Border guards organizing the coming and going of vehicles. Photo: IOM/Leo Torreton Across the Durand Line, a fence some 2,600 kilometres long divides Afghanistan and Pakistan. Photo: IOM/Leo Torreton From the east to the south-west of Afghanistan, across the Durand Line, a fence some 2,600 kilometres long divides the two countries. Spotlights beaming from guard posts chase through the mountains to ensure no travelers, from refugees to migrants, cross to the other side overnight. Nevertheless, many Afghans attempt to travel to Pakistan, whether regularly or irregularly, usually to work, study, seek medical treatment, visit family or flee life-threatening situations. Smuggling routes are being used more frequently as many Afghans lack the legal documentation required to travel. In March 2023, at least 340,000 Afghans traveled to Pakistan through the border points and an estimated higher number did so through irregular crossing points. Our Position The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently approved a $3 billion bailout from the IMF to the Ghana government. This is after a history of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) rejecting IMF bailouts as solution and promising to stay clear of the IMF. Unsurprisingly, they have now fully embraced the IMF as the saviour of the Ghanaian economy and are jubilating and asking Ghanaians to join them in celebration. However, we in the Social Justice Movement of Ghana (SJMG) refuse to celebrate with them. We will not be celebrating because the historical record of IMF bailouts shows that an IMF bailout has never solved the countrys economic problems. After going to the IMF seventeen times, it will be naive to think that this bailout will do anything different from what it has always done; give us only temporary relief rather than solve our economic problems. Since the underlying factors that led us into an unsustainable debt situation which forced the trip to the IMF remain unresolved, the bailout only gives the ruling elite some relief and opportunity to borrow from the capital markets and sink us further into debt. And as past experience shows, borrowing on the capital markets has tended to benefit individuals in power rather than the Ghanaian economy. The predominantly government sympathetic media almost unanimously see and endorse the IMF as the saviour. Governments, past and present, are usually blamed for the failure to manage our economy properly. The conclusion is that if our governments had managed our economy prudently, we would not have been going back to the IMF so often. Bizarrely the NPP is claiming that this bailout will lay for the basis for economic recovery and there may not be the need to go back to the IMP again. If previous bailouts did not lead to economic recovery why should this one do the impossible given the nature of our neo-colonial economy? There is no doubt that our governments; both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) have performed poorly when it comes to the management of our economy. Had it not been the fact that both parties control the levers of power when they are in office, have the economic muscle, and are supported by powerful economic interests that supports them to buy votes and win elections, they would have been thrown into the dustbin of history. And who are these external forces that support them to continue to mismanage and destroy our economy. It is the same forces that we are praising Ghana today for the bailout. They relaxed their conditionalities and made them implementable after the bailout has been agreed only because they want to keep the farce that Ghana is a model country with an entrenched democratic culture. It is the IMF/WB that has supported our political parties to maintain the present neo-colonial economy that makes it possible for us to be running back to the IMF/WB frequently. Though Ghana is supposed to be a member of the IMF and it is argued that as a member we have a right to access their resources when we are in need, the costs of membership far outweigh the benefits. These Bretton Woods institutions were set up by the United States with the support of Western Europe to control the economies of the third world countries. As an emergent super power, the United States wanted to use soft power, and not necessarily military might all the time, to maintain its economic dominance over the world. They were set up to keep developing countries under their control and thereby continue to provide natural resources to the United States and Europe. These institutions were not meant to develop our countries. Now you will ask, and whose fault is this? After all we are independent, but are we? We have what is described as flag independence. We have black people occupying the visible political positions. These people who occupy these positions do the bidding of the United States and Europe because it also benefits them. Our so-called leaders will continue to maintain our countries as producers of raw materials and importers of most things needed by our economy. They will not set up import substituting industries as Nkrumah did. They will give out, for peanuts, our gold, diamond, uranium, manganese, lithium to international capitalists. They will implement neo-liberal policies that allow foreign capital to take control of our minerals and extract them for the benefit of western capital and few local interests. Our political leaders benefit and their interests coincide with foreign interests. Foreign capital takes away the bulk of wealth especially in the extractive sector. Our ruling elites who control the government, and their allies, take the crumbs that fall from the table. The United States has in the past come down heavily and even helped to overthrow leaders, especially Kwame Nkrumah because, he dared to extricate us from foreign control. Our so-called leaders know this very well and therefore will not take any action against foreign interests. In as far as our resources and our economy is in the hands of foreign capitals, these our so-called leaders will periodically go cup in hand crying to their masters to come to their aid, anytime they are failing to supervise the neo-colonial economy. This is what explains the unfair trade arrangements reached with many countries such as the United States, Western Europe, and us. We will never be able to get out of this quagmire, if we continue to operate and oil the economy that favours foreign interest. Ghana has enough resources, especially minerals. If we take control of these minerals and engage in meaningful export and import substituting industrialisation we will not always be running to the IMF/WB for bailouts. An independent approach through delinking from the domination of foreign control is the only way out though very painful but it must be done. In the coming months our people are going to suffer immensely. Apart from increases in almost everything, our public utilities are in danger of being privatised. When this happens, foreign capital would have taken full control of almost everything in Ghana. We have to resist the IMF/WB control of our country. We must have full control of our country. Forward Ever, Backwards Never If you require further information, please contact: Phanuel Yao Ayawli 0208850004, Hillary Adongo 0209381802 Nyeya Yen 0542026869 & Richard Asueme 0202228991 Most people who patronize the courts in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region have been left stranded and confused since there is no one to attend to them. Members of the Judicial Staff Association (JUSAG) have begun an indefinite nationwide strike on Thursday. This reporter who visited some courts in the Kumasi Metropolis, observed that the usual busy scenery at the courts was absent, as JUSAG members observed full compliance of the strike. JUSAG in a press release noted that they are embarking on industrial action to drum home their demand for the government to review their salaries. The Ashanti Regional Secretary for JUSAG, Mr Ntansah in an interview on the "Nyansapo" on OTEC FM told the host, Captain Koda, that, the strike marks an escalation of a row between government and JUSAG over issues concerning their salaries. "Per the constitution, the salaries of staff of the judicial service have to be reviewed by the President, acting on the advice of the Judicial Council, and by convention they said the review is done every two years. "As we speak now, the President has failed to implement the recommendation by the Judicial Council on February 2023 for the salary review. "Due to this, all staff of Judicial Service with the exception of security officers, will not report to work from Thursday, May 25, 2023 unless the President heed to demands," he said. Meanwhile, some residents who were stranded at the Appeals Court in Kumasi called on the two parties to resolve their differences. They noted that the strike if not called off will have serious implications on their cases which will in turn affect their lives. 25.05.2023 LISTEN The organizer for Berekum East constituency of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Bono Region, Ishaq Hamza has called for post-election unity talk amongst the ranks and file of the NDC at the various constituency levels after the just-ended presidential and parliamentary primaries. The biggest opposition party in Ghana, the NDC, on Saturday, 13th May, 2023 held its internal elections to elect both presidential and parliamentary candidates at the various constituencies for the 2024 general elections. Mr Ishaq Hamza, in an interview with this reporter underscored the need for all aspirants, in the supreme interest of the party to embark on a conscious and deliberate post-election unity talk at in all constituencies with the main aim of closing all ranks to forge ahead for the upcoming general elections in 2024. Mr Ishaq Hamza, stressed the importance of bringing every aspirant onboard to garner maximum support at the various branches to ensure work in unity to win more votes for the party. The Berekum East NDC organizer appealed to all aspirants, especially, those who could not make it in their bid to become the parliamentary candidates, to call on their supporters and their campaign team members to come onboard to work wholeheartedly in the interest of the party. According to him, they must come out in full support of the elected candidates towards the general elections in 2024. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and government of Armenia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which lays the foundations for the 2024 EBRD Annual Meeting to take place in Yerevan on 14-16 May 2024. The event will be the EBRDs 33rd Annual Meeting and is the most important event in the Banks calendar. A central part is the meeting of the Board of Governors, the Banks highest decision-making body, assessing the Banks performance and setting future strategic directions, the EBRD announced in a press release. The conference also includes the Business Forum, a gathering of business representatives, investors, government officials and media who engage in panel discussions and networking events. In addition, the Annual Meeting comprises a civil society programme, a donors meeting and other auxiliary events. The Memorandum of Understanding sets out the responsibilities regarding the organisation, planning and delivery of the Annual Meeting. Both parties expressed their commitment to a successful event, which is expected to attract up to 2,000 participants to Armenia. EBRD Secretary General Kazuhiko Koguchi said at the signing in Samarkand: We are very pleased to sign this agreement today and we hope for a successful cooperation with the Armenian authorities. Preparations are already underway and we are confident that the event in May will be a big success for guests and the host. Vahe Hovhannisyan, Minister of Finance of Armenia and EBRD Governor, commented: We are delighted to host the Annual Meeting of the EBRD in Armenia in 2024. It will give us the opportunity to showcase our country to a wider audience and attract investments of unprecedented significance. The EBRD is one of the leading institutional investors in Armenia. Since the beginning of its operations in the country, it has invested around 2 billion across 206 projects, supporting private sector development and the energy, infrastructure, telecommunications and financial sectors. The Wa West District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has engaged pupils of Wechiau Senior High and Technical School with a call to members of the public to be vigilant of the activities of suspicious characters and report such activities to the security agencies and people in authority. The engagement formed part of the Commissions sensitization derive on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) as part of activities marking this years Constitution Week Celebration under the theme "30 years of Consolidating Constitutional Democracy: Building National Cohesion through Civic Education and Participating in Local Governance." Addressing the students, Inspector Iddrisu Abdul-Sallam from the Wechiau Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service disclosed that violent acts have adverse effect on the socioeconomic development of the country and tasked the students to be abreast with issues in their environment and report suspicious characters to the security agencies and elders in their community for immediate action. He said even though the security agencies are on high alert, it is important for members of the public to complement that with information to help deal with the problem. The Upper West Regional Director of the Commission, Mr. Victor E. Nuworkpo used the occasion to remind the citizenry of 30 years of uninterrupted constitutional and democratic rule and called on the public to live in peace and harmony with one another. Mr. Dorzie Jacob, the Wa West District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education also urged the pupils and the general public to participate and exercise their franchise in this years District Level Elections. This he said is important for community development and good way to achieve true democracy in accordance with Article 35(6) (d) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana. President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to build on the legacy of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari and deliver impactful governance for Nigerians. In his acceptance speech after being conferred with the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, Tinubu noted that he will never disappoint the nation. The task ahead is large but so too is his responsibility, he stated, promising to give his best. "I understand the magnitude of the honour conferred on me today and the task ahead. Nigerians deserve no less, he said. Tinubu stressed that "You (Buhari) have charted the course and I shall not disappoint you." The president-elect pledged to continue and build on the legacy of President Buhari, his predecessor in a speech at the State House in Abuja. Meanwhile, Mr. Tinubu has received the transition book ahead of his inauguration next Monday, May 29. The recent spate of flagbearership campaigns by the aspirants on the ticket of the NPP have been laced with transgressions against the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The problem is that it almost seems as if it is a religious duty to do so if they want to be acknowledged. Wrong! The delegates feel repulsed! How disconcerting it must be for the aspirants to unleash their Pitbulls to attempt gnawing at the first gentleman of the land and how hypocritical it is of them to attend meetings in which he sits as the leader. Do they have no shame? I have not yet heard any apology from Alan Kyeremanten debunking the unintelligent assault by his spokesperson, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, on Nana Akufo-Addo! Does it mean that he has planned and okayed such unethical attacks? Certainly so, if you ask me! Alan had been a core member of this government for six years before he resigned to attempt yet another failed shot at the Flagbearership of the NPP. It seems to me that his desperation knows no bounds! I cant say that he is making things better for himself. All this while that he had been a Minister in Nana Addos government, what had he achieved other than supervising the projects that the President had given directions for implementation? Alan claimed that there is hardship in Ghana, forgetting that it is a world phenomenon, but to apportion blame to Nana Akufo-Addo when he was an integral member of the Cabinet and chairman of the economic management team of that same Cabinet made it clear that he was on a mission to self-destruct. Yes, the hardship was not there until the causative factors made manifest. He knew that all too well, yet chose to disparage the President for his own selfish reasons. All I am saying is that neither Alan nor any other aspirant must come near President Nana Akufo-Addo in their desperation to become flagbearer of the NPP. My compliments go to the Vice President, Dr Mahmoudu Bawumia whose campaign has thus far been characterised by reason, respect, and due acknowledgement of the achievements of his Boss, the President! He is not engaging in any form of mockery of the government, but rather insisting on continuing in the blessed footsteps of his predecessors once he becomes flagbearer and, subsequently, President in January 2025, in shaa ALLAH. There is an apothegm that says, If you cant beat them, join them! I advise Alan and others to stop their uninspiring campaigns and time-money-wasting endeavours so that we can get an NPP president come January 7, 2025. Let us all, aspirants included, put shoulder to bumper and lurch the NPP into position to deliver yet another inspiring leadership come 2025 with Dr Bawumia After all, in Alan Kyeremantens own words of 2010, NPP race is not a queue, we want a President! 25.05.2023 LISTEN This is a quick one! I have seen a video in which Dr. Richard Anane, in an interview with a journalist, was making Aduru Wo So case for Dr. Bawumia, with the argument that Dr. Bawumia can equally say Aduru ne so because his father, the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, was part of those who formed the Northern Peoples Party. Quite frankly, one thing I really find difficult to do is to publicly correct a mistake or an error committed by someone I have great respect for, but for the sake of Dr. Anane's own political reputation, and for the sake of setting the record straight for our party members, Im respectfully compelled to correct the historical distortion and misinformation he may have inadvertently put out there through that interview. Yes, historically, its an undeniable fact that the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, the father of the Vice President, was a founding member of the Northern Peoples Party (NPP) in 1954, which later joined other political parties to form the United Party (UP) in 1957. However, it is an equally undeniable fact that at the time the Northern Peoples Party was in the process of joining the other parties to form the United Party, Dr. Bawumias late father, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, decided to leave the Northern Peoples Party for the Convention Peoples Party of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. That is to say that, at the time that crucial merger decision was eventually made by the Northern Peoples Party, he had already betrayed them and left for a political appointment in the CPP. In actual fact, his decision to cross carpet to the CPP for appointment is still considered the biggest betrayal in the political history of our country. That is why Dr. Bawumias late dad can never be linked to the New Patriotic Party in any way. Linking him to the NPP is the greatest error anyone can commit. Kindly let me use this analogy to buttress the point Im making: If a man marries a woman and have one child with her, and the man unfortunately dies and, as a result, the woman later marries again to have another child, the dead mans family cannot claim any relationship with the womans second child, by virtue of their dead family mans previous relationship with the woman. Never! Again, let the record be set straight emphatically for our people to know that, our party, the New Patriotic Party doesnt even take its root from the Northern Peoples Party. The party takes its root from the United Party. This clarification is imperative, as it cures all the mischiefs and fabrications being propagated out there in respect of the jaundiced Busia-Danquah-Dombo argument. Besides, it may interest you know that, Dr. Bawumias late dad, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, after shockingly betraying Dombo and other members of the Northern Peoples Party, always became a member of a political party that fought against our tradition. He joined Nkrumahs CPP against our UP, joined Limanns PNP against our PFP, and finally joined Rawlings NDC against our NPP. And, dont forget that Dr. Kwabena Duffour has recently come out to reveal that he brought Dr. Bawumia to the Bank of Ghana because of the latter's connection with the NDC, which is traceable through his late dad, who was the Chairman of the Council of State of the NDC government. Perhaps you may have also heard that Dr. Bawumia's late mum was a regional womens organiser of the NDC. So, one can understand why Dr. Bawumia didnt vote for the NPP in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. Obviously, he wasnt happy when we won the 2000 election. He started voting for the party from 2008, when he was brought in by Ken Ofori Atta and his Databank guys to become a running mate because Nana Addos preferred choice, Hajia Alima Mahama, was painfully rejected by the party elders. In NPP, if one objectively considers the history of the party and the contributions and sacrifices people have made since 1992, one can emphatically conclude that Dr. Bawumia has no basis whatsoever to make Aduru me so claim. In fact, it would sound so ridiculous should any of his people make that claim as part of their campaign message. In any case, Mr. Alan Kyerematen has never said anywhere that the partys delegates should vote for him because Aduru ne so. He has demonstrated through his track record that he is the most competent you can find in the lot. Besides, he is the only potential aspirant who has boldly put out his vision for the party and the country. A distorted truth is like a life-threatening injury that requires quick care and attention, hence my quick rebuttal to the man I greatly respect. Shalom shalom! E. G. BUCKMAN Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah has rubbished reports suggesting that President Akufo-Addo has said government will soon return to the international capital market to borrow. The President on Wednesday indicated that now that the country is well-positioned to go back to the international market, it only makes sense that government takes advantage. We have positioned ourselves to be able to go back into the International market which had been a source of funding for us during the first three or four years of our government. There is no rush but obviously why not take advantage of global savings, it makes a lot of sense to me, President Akufo-Addo said while speaking at the Qatar-Africa Economic Forum in Doha. The President continued, We will try as much as possible to maintain the discipline which is required and the most important requisite for a successful programme. After sharing these thoughts, news headlines suggested that what the president meant is that his government will soon return to the international market to borrow. Unhappy with the reportage, Richard Ahiagbah has today noted that what the President said has been misconstrued. President Akufo-Addo did not say Ghana will go to the capital market SOON. Interpretations of what the President said must not be construed as his, the NPP Communications Director said in a post on Twitter. Listen to what President Akufo-Addo said about Ghana's return to the International Capital Market below: Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has issued a short statement to commemorate the 2023 Africa Union Day. In his statement, the former President said we must hope that Africans will be able to travel visa-free within our own African borders to explore trading opportunities without difficulties The flagbearer of the NDC insists that Africans must strive for the efficient implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Happy Africa Day 2023. As we applaud the collective efforts of African nations to promote peace, development and integration, we must also strive for the efficient implementation of the AfCFTA; and hope for Africans to be able to travel visa-free within our own African borders and explore trading opportunities with ease and comfort, former Ghana President John Dramani Mahama said in a post on Facebook. Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on May 25, 1963. The Day is celebrated in various countries on the African continent and around the world. This years Africa Day is being commemorated on the theme; Our Africa, Our Future. A Ghanaian historian, Anokye Frimpong has jabbed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his indifference towards Pan-Africanism to sustain the tenets of the African Union (AU). He said Akufo-Addos posturing clearly states that he has no vision for the growth of Pan-Africanism on the continent. It is a shame how Ghana has scraped the celebration of the AU day as a statutory public holiday to a commemoration day, he said. According to him, Ghana as a sovereign state was at the forefront of the unity of the African continent which led to the creation of the African Union. Speaking on the 60th anniversary of the AU, he added that the cancellation of the day as a public holiday to observe the day for the African Renaissance is a worry to historians. This, he noted, is a dishonour to the memory of the first President of the Republic of Ghana who played key roles in the establishment of the union He said Ghana has dented its image in the AU. He added that Dr Kwame Nkrumah devoted his entire life to the renaissance of Africa. It is the fight of the AU that ensured no country is still colonized on the continent, he explained. The historian who is a lawyer expressed these worries about how the vision for the AU has been bastardised in Ghana while speaking on the mid-day news on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, May 25, 2023 -Classfmonline Former NDC Deputy General Secretary Samuel Koku Anyidoho has criticized the NDC flagbearer John Mahama for what he described as his inordinate desire to become president "by force." Mr Anyidoho condemned Mahama's alleged intention to allow his aides to 'insult' the Supreme Court, describing it as 'nonsense.' He noted that the behaviour exhibited by some NDC supporters under the one-time president is unfortunate. He implied that Mahama's desire to become President drove him and his personal aides to describe the apex court as stupid. In a tweet on Thursday, May 25, Koku Anyidoho wrote, Isnt it a big shame that bcos of the inordinate desire of someone to become President by force, he can get his aide to insult the Supreme Court of Ghana & refer to the apex court as a stupid court? And because I refuse to be part of such stupidity they insult me. Nonsense! Though Koku Anyidoho did not mention any name in his tweet, it is clear he was referring to Mahama following his constant swipes at the former President. The Supreme Court has summoned National Democratic Congress' failed parliamentary aspirant for Shai-Osu Doku, Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte, to defend himself against being held in contempt over a recent "stupid court" tweet. The Research Fellow with the History and Politics Section at the Institute of African Studies (IAS), tweeted on the back of the Supreme Courts declaration of the election of Mr James Gyakye Quayson of the Assin North constituency, as unconstitutional. In that tweet on Friday, 19 May 2023, Dr Kpessa-Whyte said: They have succeeded in turning a Supreme Court into a Stupid Court. Commonsense is now a scare commodity. He noted: A major element in the death of democracies is partisanship in the delivery of justice. Our judges need lessons in political philosophy and ethics, he added. 25.05.2023 LISTEN The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has called on the Forestry Commission to take decisive action against individuals, regardless of their status, who are engaging in illegal mining activities causing harm to Ghana's forests. Speaking passionately in an address to the media, Mr Jinapor emphasised the need to protect forest reserves and urged the commission to carry out its responsibilities in accordance with the laws and regulations governing their work. ...do so without fear or favourdo so dispassionately. Do so in accordance with the laws of our country and the rules and regulations governing the forestry commission, he said this while charging the Forestry Commission. Specifically highlighting the Atiwa forest and other forests in the Eastern Region that are under threat from illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey and illegal logging, the Minister urged the Forestry Commission to rid these reserves of such persons, regardless of their social status. He said, The Atiwa forest and the various forests in the Eastern Region, particularly, those that are under attack; from illegal miners, galamseyers, please, rid these forest reserves of illegal miners and illegal loggers as well as any other activities that attack the integrity of the forest reserves in this country. You have our full support, whether they are high people or low people, political leaders or not - your mandate, your work is to make sure that all forest reserves in this country are protected, he added. The minister reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment to supporting the Forestry Commission in fulfilling its duties, by providing them with the necessary resources and logistics required in carrying out their tasks effectively. Let me conclude, ladies and gentlemen, by reaffirming the government's full commitment to the management and staff of the Forestry Commission. We will continue to provide you with all the support and all the logistics you require, he said. He continued, Im very familiar with some of your challenges and issues of welfare are very important and we're going to take a look at that. Issues of training are very important to you and we know - were going to take a look at that, as well as issues of empowermentbullet proof vests, weapons and the rest to be able to protect all the forest reserves of our country. 25.05.2023 LISTEN Sudan has been plunged into despair by the conflicting ambitions of two generals. Having conspired together in the military coups of 2019 (which removed the dictator, Omar al-Bashir) and 2021 (which removed the replacement transition government), now Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo have turned against one another. Which general to back in this fight? The prevailing view of western governments is neither. That, in part, explains why western intervention has been limited to scrambling to evacuate their diplomatic staff and expats, leaving the Sudanese to fight it out amongst themselves. American and European strategic indifference to Sudans fate is understandable. Neither al-Burham or Hemedti represent anything laudable. Both are implicated in the misery of Darfur, a conflict that led President Omar al-Bashir to be charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. There are no good guys let alone our guys in this war. Yet, other powers arent so dispassionate. Understanding who stands where in the conflict between the warring generals is to grasp why the outcome of Sudans strife matters to geopolitics. As Sudans northern neighbour, it is natural that Egypt has an interest in who wields power further up the Nile. Cairo backs the general-incumbent, al-Burham. But what is really worrying analysts is Russias involvement. In theory, Moscow cant lose: both sides are tooled-up with Russian kit. Indeed, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute calculates that 87 per cent of Sudans armed forces weaponry comes from Russia. Additionally, credible reports denied in Russia suggest that Hemedtis army, the so-called Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been supplied via the Wagner Group with surface-to-air missiles and that it is Hemedti that Moscow is backing. Can the Russian private army contractors, Wagner, possibly be active in as many places around the world as is claimed? It may seem like analysts who fear its spreading tentacles are inadvertently doing backhanded PR favours to it and its chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin. For his part, Progozhin denies his groups involvement in the Sudanese conflict, maintaining that reports to the contrary are nothing more than an attempt at provocation and that his mercenaries have not been active there for a couple of years (in 2017, they helped Omar al-Bashir put down his opponents). But, alongside its combat roles in Syria and Ukraine, Wagner has successfully embedded itself in resource rich African countries. In Sudans case, that resource is gold. Sudan is Africas third largest gold producer and Russia needs it to prevent the depletion of its sanction-constrained reserves so that it can stay financially secure whilst prosecuting its war in Ukraine. Wagners regime-support for al-Bashir in 2017 provided companies linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin with the reward of Sudanese gold mining and smelting rights. The main entity is Meroe Gold Limited (whose parent company is Progozhins M Invest) which smelts gold at al-Ibaidiya, northeast of Khartoum. As an investigation by Le Monde and Organized Crime and Corruption (OCCRP) helped uncover, the Sudanese government granted Meroe unusually generous terms, waiving what would legally have been the Ministry of Minerals mandatory 30 per cent share in the company. Taking a cut of the resources in return for no-holds-barred and no-questions-asked muscle for corrupt African regimes is a lucrative business strategy for Wagner. Its mercenaries answer the security needs of West African governments like Mali that lost confidence in Frances protection (the feelings in the Quai dOrsay, ultimately, were mutual). In Sudan, gold production has benefited greatly from the Russian concession (even if Sudans own coffers has not seen the full benefit). Unnamed Central Bank officials in Khartoum quoted by the Wall Street Journal estimate that around 70 per cent of Sudans gold ends up in Russia. How does it get there? Officials on the ground and flight tracking show numerous planes (at least sixteen between January 2021 and July 2022 according to CNN) allegedly carrying smuggled gold between Sudan and Russia. There have been repeated flights between Port Sudan and the Russian airbase in Latakia, Syria from where it can then travel on into the Russian Federation. There have been efforts to disrupt this loot route. Only weeks before General Hemedtis RSF turned its guns on the national armed forces, arrests of Russian nationals on gold smuggling charges had been made a doubtless disquieting development for those with a self-interest in keeping the Russian relationship sweet. But airfreighting gold to Russia via Syria is not the only supply line open to Moscow. Gold is also believed to be smuggled overland across Sudans border to the Central African Republic where Faustin-Archange Touadera's government is protected by about a thousand Wagner mercenaries. There is also the Wagner protection across Sudans north-western border where it is supporting Khalifa Haftar, a Libyan warlord who the US Department of Defense suspected in 2020 was backed by the United Arab Emirates. Only days before the fighting in Sudan began, Wagner supplied Hafter with more arms. Hafter like the officially neutral UAE is perceived to favour Hemedtis RSF which has operated from bases in Libyas and the Central Afrcian Republics neighbour, Chad. In Washington there is mounting exasperation about the extent of the UAEs friendly attitude towards Moscow (the UAE refused US entreaties to condemn Putins invasion of Ukraine in the UN Security Council and backed OPECs decision not to ameliorate rising oil productions by boosting production; high-level meetings between Abu Dhabi and Moscow have continued unabashed and unabated and the three UAE-registered aviation companies have been hit with US sanctions for allegedly transporting arms to Russian and Wagner entities). Certainly, the war in Ukraine has not greatly hindered Dubais economy which has become a place of financial asylum for Russians with money and assets from where they can more easily re-register their trading operations. It should not be a surprise that so much of the Russian oil sold to Indian refineries is priced in Emirati Dirhams. As an important regional gold market, Dubai is perfectly placed to be exploited as a Mali and Sudanese gold laundromat, turning bars into dollars. If Russian reserves do not seem as depleted by sanctions as the Ukraines allies would wish, then the role played by North African mined gold in finding ways to Moscows coffers provides at least a part of the answer. Why might Russia have an interest in disturbing a situation that has been so helpful to it? The falling out between the two generals may not have been its doing, but it nevertheless has to adapt to the consequences. General Hemedti was in Moscow, furthering Sudanese relations, on the eve of Russias invasion of Ukraine and whether or not Putin and Prigozhin really have anything to fear about General al-Burham cutting Russia off from Sudanese gold reserves they appear to regard Hemedti as the better bet. Whoever, ultimately, occupies the presidential compound in Khartoum, one of the decisions to be made concerns the agreement to provide Russia with a 25-year (and renewable thereafter) lease on a naval base at Port Sudan. The port is already the subject of a recently agreed multi-billion UAE investment plan and offers huge economic and strategic advantage for shipping out the resources not just of Sudan but the landlocked countries beyond, including the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The deal which requires signoff by Sudans currently non-existent legislative assembly permits Russia to fortify the base with 300 Russian soldiers and dock four warships at any one time, giving Moscow a port on the Red Sea. It is a prize Putin will want to secure once the battle of the generals ends with one of them still standing. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) members should seek to achieve the same high level of development. Speaking at the EEU summit, Putin again mentioned Armenias high GDP growth, stressing that its going to be difficult to keep up with Armenia. We will jointly seek to achieve the same high level of development within the framework of our union. Of course, its going to be difficult to keep up with Armenia, today we already noted that the GDP there has grown over 12%. This is a very high and serious indicator, Putin said. President Putin called for ensuring 100% free movement of goods, services, finances and human capital within the EEU, in order for citizens of all five member states to travel, study, engage in business or work easily in each others countries. 25.05.2023 LISTEN A 43-year-old father of six has reportedly murdered his wife at Mpasaaso No1 in the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti Region. He says he acted upon instructions of some evil spirits hunting him. The suspect Kwasi Brefo is said to have killed his wife on a farm on Monday, May 20, 2023. The deceased, who was identified as Janet Pokuaa, 40, according to residents in the area died after she was hit in the head with a gun by her husband. Kwasi Brefo in an interview with OTEC News said he drank poison after he realized his wife was dead, but some residents who were in nearby farms rushed him to hospital. "I sometimes see two fetish priests in my vision asking me to kill my wife or they will kill me, I go blank anytime this voice comes in my mind," he stated. Sexual exploitation in job recruitment, sexual harassment in the fishing industry, and inadequate remuneration have been identified as part of a range of human rights abuses prevalent in businesses across Ghana. To address these concerns, the Attorney General's office and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) are leading efforts to develop a National Action Plan (NAP) in collaboration with other institutions. During a stakeholder consultation workshop held in Takoradi, Western Region in sub-group discussion, participants raised their concerns about the prevalence of the abuse in various sectors. Dr Sylvia Dosu, Chairperson of the Business and Human Rights National Action Plan Committee, in an interview with JoyNews monitored by ModernGhana News highlighted the significance of the discussions, particularly the alarming reports of sexual abuse in the fishing industry. Dr Dosu stated, "In the group I led, participants expressed concerns about the high incidence of sexual harassment in the fishing industry, with young girls being exploited as prostitutes due to the prevailing poverty in the area. Unfortunately, these girls have limited avenues for seeking redress, as the very individuals they could report to are often the perpetrators of these human rights violations." The workshop shed light on other issues as well, including allegations of harassment faced by media professionals. Recommendations were made to address these challenges and enforce accountability. The media has also complained of sexual harassment and so there is a lot of recommendations that have come out on what we should do about it and I think they are very important recommendations. One of them is that the chieftaincy institution should be empowered to be able to help against these human rights abuses, she said. US-based Memphis University has awarded GHS50million worth of scholarships for Ghanaian students after meeting with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Under the term of the agreement between the two countries, qualified students from Ghana will peruse their bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees. The Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Dr Kingsley Agyeman on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 presented the signed documents to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for further deliberations. Speaking to this reporter after the presentation, Dr Kingsley Agyemang said it took the good leadership of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to help Ghana get the scholarship package. He explained that the package will help Ghana develop an experienced, creative and knowledgeable workforce that will lead the industrialization agenda of the government. "We will forever be grateful to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II because he personally requested this scholarship package when he served as the special guest at the renowned Memphis in May Festival last year. "Now I can assure you that under the guidance of the Asantehene, Ghana and Memphis University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), finalizing the agreement that outlines the implementation of the Scholarship," he stated. The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II after receiving the documents commended the leadership of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat for their sterling leadership in the last few years. He charged them to continue discharging their duties in a patriotic way and serve Ghanaians in all humility. The overlord of the Asante Kingdom said he secured the scholarship package for all Ghanaian students and called in the Secretariat to award the scholarship to any Ghanaian student who qualifies to study at Memphis University. The Chiefs and Traditional rulers of Teshie, a suburb of Accra in the Greater Accra region have cautioned the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Henry Quartey and the Registrar of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Mr. Enoch Addo to desist from interfering in the chieftaincy matters in Teshie. The call was made during a press conference organised by the Chiefs and Traditional rulers of Teshie on Thursday 25th May 2023, in Teshie following an alleged attempt by Hon. Henry Quartey and Mr. Enoch Addo in collaboration with some members of the Teshie community to constitute an illegitimate Traditional Council for Teshie. According to the Chiefs and Traditional rulers led by the Oblahia Mantse of Teshie Gbugblah, Original Nii Martey Laryea I, there is no recognized Teshie Mantse hence the move by the Regional Minister and Registrar of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to form a Traditional Council is illegal and will be resisted. He further cautions Hon. Henry Quartey of deliberately trying to destabilize the peace and stability being enjoyed by the people of Teshie. He warns that if he does not desist from such actions, it might create unnecessary tension and eventually throw Teshie into chaos. Some unknown agitating youth of Akatsi South in the Volta Region, have injured a Police officer (name withheld) to launch a mob attack on two suspects, who allegedly murdered Louis Agbogli, a 28-year-old motor rider. The incident happened on Wednesday, May 24 after the Police put in efforts to arrest the suspects and retrieve the body of the deceased at Nyatsive, a village near the Republic of Togo, where he was allegedly murdered. Chief Superintendent Isaac Baah, the Akatsi South Municipal Police Commander, narrating the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the Police officer got injured on his forehead to prevent the mob justice for the suspects. He said the incident happened when his men returned from the scene of the alleged murder act together with Etse Datsomor, a 20-year-old suspect in connection with the crime. The development the GNA observed led to the massing up of some rampaging youth and residents of Akatsi at the Akatsi Police station demanding the release of the suspects, for them to visit 'instant justice'. However, it took the timely intervention of the Municipal Chief Executive for the area and the rapid deployment of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Police Service to calm tempers down. The suspects have since been moved to an unknown location waiting to reappear in court on Friday, June 2. Security has since been beefed up at the Police station, while further investigations into the incident continue. One suspect had been arrested in connection with the injury caused to the police officer who is receiving medical attention. GNA Some of us are very surprised that the government of Nana Addo ended up in the hands of the IMF know what some of his ministers and party members said in 2016 about going to the IMF. Dr Bawumiah: He laid down some of the conditions that necessitate a country to go to the IMF. He said if the country is spending too much relative to income, if the government is borrowing too much and if the external payment position of the starts deteriorating. Gabby Otchere Darko: He said NDC went to the IMF because we failed to manage our finances well; NDC borrowed recklessly and NDC lacked the discipline in solving our own issues. He then went on to say the IMF does not solve issues, the IMF is not interested in economic growth and IMF policies are not meant to help countries create jobs. Ken Ofori-Atta: He said Ghana will not go to the IMF because the consequences of going there are dire. He said we are a proud nation, whose people are not short sighted, and we can solve our own problems. John Kumah - Deputy Finance Minister: He said Ghana is not going to the IMF today, tomorrow and as long as the NPP government remains in power. Abronye DC: He said when you go to the IMF, it means you are so stupid, so you go there to tell them that you dont have the brains to manage your economy. They should therefore, come and manage your economy for you. Kennedy Agyapong: Ken said those in this government who took us to IMF are not even fit to lead the party again. He added that going to IMF meant that the NPP is going to hand over victory to the NDC without a contest. So, knowing what all these people know, what got them to send us to the IMF? They are telling us the $3 billion from IMF is going to create jobs and for economic growth. Meanwhile, they have told us IMF policies dont do that. So, who are they deceiving? Themselves or Ghanaians? The road to IMF has been bitter because when Nana Addo was recklessly renting private jets for his foreign trips and Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwah was speaking against it, didnt the NPP tell him to use trotro when he is traveling from Accra to his constituency? When Nana Akufo Addo appointed 125 ministers and wise people were criticizing him, didnt he say he was in a hurry to fix Ghana problems and that the output of the Ministers will justify why he needed them? So the justification is to send us to the IMF? When wise people were criticizing this government of excessive borrowing, didnt Dr. Bawumiah tell us their borrowing is a smart one? He realized their borrowing was more than reckless when the international community shut Ghana down from further borrowing. I dont know what you have seen about this government, but they have done 50 times worse than anything they accused John Mahama of doing. If such caricatures come to you again for your vote, go back and listen to what they said they will NOT do when given the power in 2016. Lawrence Appiah-Osei Celebrity activism is not a new phenomenon, and Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson has made headlines once again for her bold stance against the Akufo-Addo-led government and its policies. Known for her outspoken nature and dedication to social issues, Nelson recently voiced her concerns and criticisms of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, specifically targeting President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. In recent news, some Ghanaians, including the filmmaker, are horrified by reports that China may seize Ghana's mineral and electricity revenues if it defaults on its loan arrangement, as stated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in several media reports. Yvonne has expressed disappointment in government's approach to the IMF deal, stating it's "unbelievable" for the government to go for such deals and come back proud. On May 24, she took to Twitter to express her disappointment in the country's leadership. She wrote: "It's just unbelievable! Like howwww? You guys can sleep at night? @NAkufoAddo @MBawumia." Yvonne also raises concerns about the government's handling of corruption allegations. She believes that the NPP government should take a stronger stance against corruption and hold officials accountable for their actions. According to many, Yvonne Nelson's decision to publicly criticise President Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, and the NPP government reflects her dedication to a better Ghana. Through her activism, Yvonne aims to ensure that the government remains accountable for its promises and actions. Regardless of differing opinions, her bold stance has ignited discussions about governance, economic policies, and social issues in Ghana. Panelists at a forum organized by the National Communications Authority (NCA) have called for increased collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve communication connectivity in Ghana. The panel discussion was held as part of the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD-23) celebration which was commemorated globally on May 17th, 2023. The event which was held at the NCA Tower in Accra centered on the adopted theme, "Public-Private Partnership to Improve Connectivity" and brought together key stakeholders to explore collaborative efforts in enhancing connectivity. The panellists included the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Mr. Selorm Adadevoh, Mr. Prince Ofosu Sefah, the Administrator of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Mr. Emmanuel Kwarteng, Country Manager for MainOne and Solomon Richardson from the National Information Technology Agency (NITA). The Deputy Director General in charge of Technical Operations at the NCA, Prof. Ezer Osei Yeboah-Boateng, moderated the discussion. The Panellists sharing knowledge on the theme Sharing valuable insights on connectivity, Mr. Selorm Adadevoh of MTN emphasised the significant growth in connectivity through both inland and undersea infrastructure. He however highlighted that lack of connectivity infrastructure in some areas is a major obstacle preventing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) from being competitive in Ghana's telecoms market. Mr. Adadevor mentioned that MTN Ghana has partnered with the government, particularly the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, to bridge the digital divide and provide access to essential communication services to all. He also asserted that, as part of this collaboration, MTN has committed to investing $25 million in an ICT hub. CEO of MTN, Mr. Selorm Adadevoh speaking at the event This investment, which has been discussed with the Honourable Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, aims to provide digital skills education, particularly for youth and girls and enhance ICT literacy. Mr. Adadevoh also highlighted MTN Ghana's collaboration with GIFEC in the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project (GRT&DIP). Through this project, he said MTN is involved in building 2016 rural sites to improve telephony and digital access in rural areas. On the side of GIFEC, Mr. Prince Ofosu Sefah discussed the Fund's primary programmes focused on rural connectivity, cyber labs, and ICT capacity-building. These programmes, he said, serve as the foundation for achieving meaningful connectivity. He said GIFEC's commitment is to ensure that underserved and unserved communities have access to connectivity. Mr. Prince Ofosu Sefah, Administrator of GIFEC, speaking at the event Mr. Sefah also reiterated the challenges they face in providing devices to facilitate access and connectivity citing that this underscores the importance of capacity-building initiatives to empower users in utilising these devices and making the most of the available access. Further, he expressed GIFEC's intention to collaborate with investors in line with their vision of expanding connectivity to unserved and underserved communities. They recognise the necessity of making infrastructure available to accomplish this goal. On the side of GIFEC, Mr. Prince Ofosu Sefah discussed the Fund's primary programmes focused on rural connectivity, cyber labs, and ICT capacity-building. These programmes, he said, serve as the foundation for achieving meaningful connectivity. He said GIFEC's commitment is to ensure that underserved and unserved communities have access to connectivity. Mr. Sefah also reiterated the challenges they face in providing devices to facilitate access and connectivity citing that this underscores the importance of capacity-building initiatives to empower users in utilising these devices and making the most of the available access. Mr. Solomon Richardson, the Director for Technical Services at NITA Further, he expressed GIFEC's intention to collaborate with investors in line with their vision of expanding connectivity to unserved and underserved communities. They recognise the necessity of making infrastructure available to accomplish this goal. According to Mr. Emmanuel Kwarteng from MainOne, the challenge of fibre cuts remains significant in the Industry. MainOne, for instance, spends at least six (6) million dollars to repair the fibre whenever there is a cut. To address this issue, he said, the company has implemented an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to monitor the country's shores, covering approximately 120 kilometers. Country Manager for MainOne, Mr. Emmanuel Kwarteng, speaking at the event The terrestrial aspect, on the other hand, involves multiple licensed players engaged in metro operations whose costs increase due to frequent fibre cuts. Mr. Kwarteng also indicated that MainOne has been proactively collaborating with Industry Regulators to educate road contractors and engineers, ensuring that they are aware of the importance of protecting fibre infrastructure. Participants at this year's WTISD event included the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), various Agencies operating under MoCD, Service Providers, Consumer Protection Agencies, and the media. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, Epiroc Equipment Ghana Ltd, a subsidiary of the Epiroc Group has renovated and handed over a 4- unit Kindergarten block to the authorities of Anyinam Methodist 'B' school in Obuasi. The gesture was to also commemorate the 30th anniversary of the company's operations in Ghana. Speaking at an event to handover the renovated block to the school, the Human Resource and Business partner of Epiroc Rhoda Aboagye said the project which is valued at GH222,911.40 aligns with the company's objective of improving education, facilitating skills development and ensuring a sustainable local society. The KG block was initiated by erstwhile Atlas Copco (now Epiroc) in 2009 which renovated the then existing 2- unit classroom block unit and built 2 new classroom blocks, making it 4-unit classroom block. We at Epiroc prioritise education and view it as one of our corporate social responsibilities and we believe that education at the foundational level is very important hence our quest to provide a safe and conducive environment for the kids to learn," she stated. She added that the scope of work covered demolishing and alternation works, carpentry and joinery roofing, metal works, glazing, electrical works, fixtures and accessories, wall, foot screeding (terrazzo) and painting. Mrs. Aboagye further added that the employees of Epiroc Ghana voluntarily contributed an amount of GH 15,000 for the installation of two new gates of the school to improve security. Managing Director of Epiroc Ghana Anders Berglund on his part said as part of the 30th anniversary of the company, they have presented a set of new furniture, sleeping mats, branded notebooks, water bottles and learning tools to the school in a move to give back to the society. The Obuasi Municipal Director of Education George Alfred Koomson lauded Epiroc for supporting the development of education in the Municipality. He was optimistic that the renovated block will boost teaching and learning in the school. He admonished parents to support the education of their wards. "I want to appeal to parents not to shirk their responsibilities towards supporting the educational needs of their wards. Government, other organisations are doing their part so parents should also play their roles effectively." Nana Amoabeng Kotoko, Odikro of Anyinam speaking at the event said the gesture from Epiroc is a confirmation of the company's resolve to contribute to the development of the Anyinam community and Obuasi at large. He appealed to other companies operating in Obuasi to take a cue from Epiroc and also support the development of Obuasi. Right Rev. Baffour Asamoah Agyei, Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana paid glowing tribute to Epiroc Ghana for giving a facelift to the school block. He encouraged teachers of the school to double their efforts in ensuring quality education in the school. 25.05.2023 LISTEN The Trades Union Congress, Ghana (TUC-Ghana) is unhappy about neglect in the formulation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) policy. This sentiment was shared on Thursday, May 25, when TUC organised Social Partners Consultative Dialogue on the AfCFTA with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The dialogue session was put together to enable cooperation among social partners on the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement in Ghana. The meeting set the stage for crucial engagements to generate ideas and consensus on the pathways towards the realisation of the aspirations and interests of social partners. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the dialogue, Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, TUCs Director of Labour Research and Policy Institute bemoaned the fact, that, the union was not consulted in the formulation of the AfCFTA agreement. He said the lack of involvement in such an initiative that is going to affect labour on the entire continent is very disappointing. Trade is an important component of our daily lives but it also affects employment. It has an impact on our members across all sectors of the economy. So far as the trade policy stands or the AfCFTA has an impact on our members, we thought that it was only a matter of necessity that the unions would have been involved to share their perspectives. It is not simply stopping the process, it is actually sharing our perspectives and making sure that the process is fair, inclusive and eventually inures you the benefit of the country including all its workers. So we are extremely disappointed that such a mammoth, very monumental initiative could go on across the continent without the involvement of unions, Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo said. According to him, it is important that all the countries submit to a certain basic standard when it comes to the treatment of Labour under the implementation of AfCFTA. He argued that if this is not done, many companies will be affected negatively under the Agreement, leading to shutdown and the loss of employment. In his interview, Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo noted that the TUC is not giving up. He emphasised that his outfit will go beyond advocacy to drum home the need for the views of the unions to be taken into consideration in the implementation of AfCFTA. This platform we have today will help us to find strategies and that should go beyond advocacies to take the issues up with our national government first before we go to the continental level, he shared. On her part, Senior Technical Specialist at the ILO Country Office in Abuja, Inviolata Chinyangarara noted that it is important for decent work to be embedded in the African Continental Free Trade Area policy. She explained that as a tripartite Organisation, the ILO acknowledges that trade is about goods and services but strongly believes human beings are key actors and their welfare should be prioritised. ILO is a tripartite Organisation. What we want to see in trade investment policies is to ensure that decent work is at the heart of all trade agreements because trade is about goods, its about services but its also about human beings. So we want to see international labour standards particularly the fundamental principles and freedom of association and standards against child labour to be embedded in trade agreements. So decent work should be at the heart of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and that is why we are enhancing capacities of our social partners like the TUC to ensure that they come up with positions, they come to the table with their papers and they will also advocate, Inviolata Chinyangarara told journalists. In a presentation on behalf of Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, at the Social Partners Consultative Dialogue, he assured that government will put the necessary structures in place to ensure the country benefits from the implementation of AfCFTA. He said he is convinced that this will be possible if government is supported by TUC and all other stakeholders. We believe that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement provides an enormous opportunity for Ghana to take advantage to promote good trading relations, nurture and grow industries, promote skills development and create employment opportunities for job seekers. It is therefore our responsibility to put in place the needed structures and systems to harness the economic prospects presented to us by agreement for the benefits of workers and jobseekers. We can achieve this when we work together as partners to develop and implement the required measures for the maximisation of job creation, the Minister said in his presentation. About the African Continental Free Trade Area: The AfCFTA is the worlds largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight (8) Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The overall mandate of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market with a population of about 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately US$ 3.4 trillion. The AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, the African Unions long-term development strategy for transforming the continent into a global powerhouse. As part of its mandate, the AfCFTA is to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade. In particular, it is to advance trade in value-added production across all service sectors of the African Economy. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The trilateral declaration of November 9 mentions only one corridor, and that is the Lachin corridor, ARMENPRESS reports, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the extended-format session of the EAEU Supreme Council, referring to the so-called "Zangezur Corridor" expression of the President of Azerbaijan. "In his speech, the president of Azerbaijan used an expression that in recent years serves as a title for presenting a territorial claim against Armenia. It is used within the framework of the implementation of point 9 of the trilateral declaration of November 9. I want to emphasize that the statement mentions only one corridor, and it is the Lachin corridor, which was supposed to be under the control of Russian peacekeepers, but, unfortunately, is illegally blocked by Azerbaijan," said Pashinyan. The Prime Minister of Armenia assured that the Armenian side is ready to unblock all economic and transport links in the region. He noted that Armenia is ready for the opening of regional communication within the framework of the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries through the territory of which they pass. The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin also noted that conditions are being created for the recognition of the borders according to the agreements reached back in 1991, these conditions give hope to believe that it will be possible to reach an appropriate agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including regarding transport communications. "I think we can discuss all that at the tripartite meeting today," said Putin. The Russian President expressed hope that it will be possible to agree on what is clearly in the interests of both Armenia and Azerbaijan and the economic development of the entire region. He expressed hope that it will be discussed in detail at the tripartite meeting. The president of Azerbaijan, in his turn, assured that they have no territorial claims against Armenia. Referring to the term "corridor" used by him, Aliyev said: "The name corridor does not in any way mean encroachment on anyone's territory. It's an international term." Aliyev added that "people who are familiar with international terminology would not give it such importance as the Prime Minister of Armenia does." Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also responded. "All those who are familiar with the trilateral declaration of November 9, know that there is only one instance of the use of the word corridor in that statement. In that context, the word has a special meaning, and it is about the Lachin Corridor, which I repeat, according to the trilateral declaration, should be under the control of the Russian Federation and ensure the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. Shares of Bird Construction Inc. (TSE:BDT Get Rating) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$8.38 and traded as high as C$8.89. Bird Construction shares last traded at C$8.89, with a volume of 76,802 shares traded. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In BDT has been the topic of several research analyst reports. TD Securities increased their price target on shares of Bird Construction from C$9.00 to C$10.50 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. ATB Capital raised their target price on shares of Bird Construction from C$11.00 to C$12.00 in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on shares of Bird Construction from C$11.00 to C$12.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Bird Construction from C$11.00 to C$12.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, CIBC raised their target price on shares of Bird Construction from C$9.00 to C$10.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Get Bird Construction alerts: Bird Construction Stock Down 2.7 % The firms 50 day simple moving average is C$8.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$8.39. The company has a market cap of C$460.27 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 54.34. Bird Construction Increases Dividend Bird Construction ( TSE:BDT Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 7th. The company reported C$0.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.23 by C$0.06. The firm had revenue of C$657.18 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$642.04 million. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Bird Construction Inc. will post 1.1310433 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.036 per share. This represents a $0.43 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This is a positive change from Bird Constructions previous monthly dividend of $0.04. Bird Constructions dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.25%. Bird Construction Company Profile (Get Rating) Bird Construction Inc operates as a general contractor in Canada. The company primarily focuses on projects in the industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors of the general contracting industry. It constructs industrial buildings, including manufacturing, processing, distribution, and warehouse facilities; undertakes structural, mechanical, piping, electrical, and instrumentation works that include off-site metal and modular fabrication; and provides insulation, metal siding and cladding, ductwork, asbestos abatement, and high voltage testing and commissioning services, as well as constructs power lines. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bird Construction Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bird Construction and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM Get Rating) CEO David A. Burwick sold 1,644 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $326.38, for a total transaction of $536,568.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 47,910 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,636,865.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Boston Beer Stock Performance SAM traded down $3.38 on Wednesday, hitting $327.30. The company had a trading volume of 83,267 shares, compared to its average volume of 139,589. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $318.69 and a 200-day moving average price of $341.95. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. has a 12-month low of $287.00 and a 12-month high of $422.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 68.04 and a beta of 1.09. Get Boston Beer alerts: Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported ($0.73) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.32) by ($0.41). Boston Beer had a net margin of 2.82% and a return on equity of 7.58%. The company had revenue of $410.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $412.47 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.16) EPS. Boston Beers revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that The Boston Beer Company, Inc. will post 7.02 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Boston Beer Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Southeastern Asset Management Inc. TN acquired a new stake in Boston Beer in the first quarter worth about $35,680,000. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Boston Beer by 2.4% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 260,052 shares of the companys stock worth $85,479,000 after purchasing an additional 6,185 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Boston Beer by 14.7% during the first quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 281 shares of the companys stock worth $92,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Boston Beer by 3.0% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 130,842 shares of the companys stock worth $43,008,000 after purchasing an additional 3,815 shares during the period. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Boston Beer by 11.8% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 32,322 shares of the companys stock worth $10,572,000 after purchasing an additional 3,414 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.72% of the companys stock. Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Boston Beer from $400.00 to $375.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Citigroup dropped their price target on Boston Beer from $340.00 to $330.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Boston Beer from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and lowered their target price for the company from $320.00 to $255.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Boston Beer in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Roth Mkm lowered their target price on Boston Beer from $282.00 to $276.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $298.58. Boston Beer Company Profile (Get Rating) Boston Beer Co, Inc engages in the production of alcoholic beverages. Its brands include Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea, Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Hard Cider and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Boston Beer produces alcohol beverages, including hard seltzer, malt beverages (beers), and hard cider at company-owned breweries and its cidery, and under contract arrangements at other brewery locations. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Boston Beer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Beer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AXQ Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 9,570 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $437,000. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Kentucky Retirement Systems lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 140,965 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,692,000 after buying an additional 6,588 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,630,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $120,243,000 after buying an additional 116,654 shares during the last quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC now owns 14,223 shares of the companys stock valued at $664,000 after buying an additional 715 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 36.2% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 128,178 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,151,000 after buying an additional 34,055 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Balentine LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 80.2% during the 4th quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 43,366 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,982,000 after buying an additional 19,305 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.68% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades MO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $44.67. Altria Group Stock Performance Shares of MO opened at $44.76 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $45.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.86. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $40.35 and a 52-week high of $54.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $79.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Rating) last released its quarterly 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.89 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.12 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Altria Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.94 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.40%. Altria Groups payout ratio is currently 120.90%. About Altria Group (Get Rating) Altria Group, Inc operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. It operates through the following segments: Smokeable Products, Oral tobacco products, and Wine. The Smokeable Products segment consists of cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Airtel Africa Plc (OTC:AAFRF Get Rating) rose 2.8% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as C$1.46 and last traded at C$1.46. Approximately 65,864 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 45% from the average daily volume of 45,417 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$1.42. Airtel Africa Stock Up 2.1 % The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$1.37. About Airtel Africa (Get Rating) Airtel Africa Plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications and mobile money services to customers in Nigeria, East Africa, and Francophone Africa. It offers prepaid and postpaid wireless voice, international roaming, and fixed line telephone services; data communication services, including 2G, 3G, and 4G; and mobile money services, such as digital wallet payments systems, microloans, savings, and international money transfers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Airtel Africa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Airtel Africa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Angang Steel Company Limited (OTCMKTS:ANGGF Get Rating) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 105,800 shares, a decline of 97.1% from the April 30th total of 3,639,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently days. Angang Steel Price Performance Shares of Angang Steel stock remained flat at $0.28 on Thursday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.30. Angang Steel has a twelve month low of $0.28 and a twelve month high of $0.34. Get Angang Steel alerts: About Angang Steel (Get Rating) See Also Angang Steel Co, Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of iron and steel products. It offers hot rolled sheets, cold rolled sheets, and medium and thick plates. The company was founded on May 8, 1997 and is headquartered in Anshan, China. Receive News & Ratings for Angang Steel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Angang Steel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Asian Television Network International Limited (CVE:SAT Get Rating)s stock price fell 7.1% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as C$0.13 and last traded at C$0.13. 8,000 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 62% from the average session volume of 21,274 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.14. Asian Television Network International Stock Performance The firm has a 50 day moving average of C$0.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$0.20. The stock has a market cap of C$3.17 million, a P/E ratio of -3.25 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 193.84, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.76. Asian Television Network International Company Profile (Get Rating) Asian Television Network International Limited engages in the specialty, pay television broadcasting, and television broadcasting advertising primarily for the south Asian community in Canada. It operates approximately 50 premium pay specialty television channels in 9 languages. The company provides its flagship ATN-HD general interest service; and various Bollywood movie channels with approximately 100 movies a month, as well as various channels that include sports, news, music, lifestyle, spiritual, and regional language channels. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Asian Television Network International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Asian Television Network International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO Get Rating) (NYSE:BMO) had its price objective dropped by analysts at Bank of America from C$134.00 to C$125.00 in a research report issued on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. Bank of Americas price objective would suggest a potential upside of 9.90% from the companys current price. BMO has been the topic of several other reports. CIBC reduced their price target on Bank of Montreal from C$145.00 to C$139.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Fundamental Research set a C$160.30 target price on Bank of Montreal and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. TD Securities cut their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$130.00 to C$126.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Barclays cut their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$149.00 to C$127.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Cormark cut their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$140.00 to C$131.00 in a research report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$138.59. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: Bank of Montreal Stock Performance Shares of TSE:BMO traded up C$0.90 during trading on Thursday, reaching C$113.74. 1,063,604 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,424,466. Bank of Montreal has a 12-month low of C$111.88 and a 12-month high of C$138.85. The firm has a market cap of C$79.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.13. The firms 50-day moving average price is C$119.42 and its 200 day moving average price is C$125.89. About Bank of Montreal Bank of Montreal ( TSE:BMO Get Rating ) (NYSE:BMO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The bank reported C$3.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$3.13 by C$0.09. The firm had revenue of C$6.47 billion for the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a return on equity of 21.06% and a net margin of 40.56%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Bank of Montreal will post 13.4068182 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:BCAUY Get Rating) were up 2.2% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $4.80 and last traded at $4.60. Approximately 2,100 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 64% from the average daily volume of 5,787 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.50. Brilliance China Automotive Trading Up 2.2 % The companys 50-day moving average price is $4.60 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.60. Brilliance China Automotive Company Profile (Get Rating) Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures and sells BMW vehicles and automotive components in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company offers minibuses under the JinBei, Renault, Haise, Grand Haise, and Granse brands, as well as multi-purpose vehicles under the Huasong brand. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Brilliance China Automotive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brilliance China Automotive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SWX Get Rating) major shareholder Carl C. Icahn purchased 15,681 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 24th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $57.98 per share, for a total transaction of $909,184.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,610,217 shares in the company, valued at approximately $615,180,381.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Large shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Southwest Gas Price Performance Shares of Southwest Gas stock traded down $0.03 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $58.03. The stock had a trading volume of 625,242 shares, compared to its average volume of 544,491. Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $53.79 and a fifty-two week high of $95.62. The firm has a market cap of $4.14 billion, a P/E ratio of -15.31, a PEG ratio of 4.14 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 1.40. The business has a fifty day moving average of $58.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $62.91. Get Southwest Gas alerts: Southwest Gas (NYSE:SWX Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.57 by ($0.41). Southwest Gas had a negative net margin of 4.79% and a positive return on equity of 6.24%. The company had revenue of $1.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.22 billion. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. will post 3.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Southwest Gas Announces Dividend Hedge Funds Weigh In On Southwest Gas The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be given a $0.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.27%. Southwest Gass dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -65.44%. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Spirit of America Management Corp NY acquired a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Byrne Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Southwest Gas by 82.9% during the 4th quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 556 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 252 shares during the period. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.59% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an underweight rating and set a $95.00 price target (down from $100.00) on shares of Southwest Gas in a research report on Monday, March 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Southwest Gas from $78.00 to $75.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Southwest Gas in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Southwest Gas from $71.00 to $63.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $79.60. About Southwest Gas (Get Rating) Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc engages in the energy business. It operates through the following business segments: Natural Gas Operations and Utility Infrastructure Services. The Natural Gas Operations segment focuses on purchasing, distribution, and transportation of natural gas in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Southwest Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southwest Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of The Conygar Investment Company PLC (LON:CIC Get Rating) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 125.40 ($1.56) and traded as low as GBX 111 ($1.38). Conygar Investment shares last traded at GBX 111.50 ($1.39), with a volume of 51,827 shares trading hands. Conygar Investment Price Performance The stock has a market cap of 66.20 million, a PE ratio of 214.66 and a beta of 0.43. The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 120.67 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 125.41. The company has a quick ratio of 11.14, a current ratio of 22.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. Conygar Investment Company Profile (Get Rating) The Conygar Investment Company PLC (Conygar) is an AIM quoted property investment and development group dealing primarily in UK property. The group aims to invest in property assets where we can add significant value using our property management, development and transaction structuring skills. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Conygar Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Conygar Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan participated in the jubilee 30th session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow. The Presidents of the Russian Federation, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan also took part in the narrow-format session of the event, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. The President of Azerbaijan took part in the extended-format session as a guest, and the leaders of the EAEU observer countries - Uzbekistan, Cuba, as well as the President of Tajikistan as a guest, participated remotely. In his speech at the narrow-format session, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, noted that during the previous year, the largest economic growth in the area of the Eurasian Economic Union was recorded by Armenia - 12.6 percent. In turn, Prime Minister Pashinyan added that during the first four months of this year, a 12.1 percent increase in economic activity was recorded in the Republic of Armenia. In his speech at the extended-format session, Nikol Pashinyan specifically stated, Dear Heads of State, Dear members of delegations, I am glad to welcome you at this years first meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Let me to thank the presiding party and personally the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for the traditional hospitality and the high-level organization of the thirtieth jubilee session of the Supreme Council. Dear colleagues, At the narrow-format meeting, we had a thorough exchange of views on key issues of the agenda, and I would like to briefly touch on some of the issues relevant to the Union. Strengthening the potential of national economies is conditioned also by a competent approach to ensuring energy security. As has been repeatedly noted, the timely launch of the EAEU common gas market will contribute to the formation of favorable and mutually beneficial terms of trade, will ensure an increase in energy security, the level of economic integration and competitiveness of the Union Member States in the international market. In this context, the Armenian side is ready for a constructive dialogue with the aim of reaching a consensus on outstanding issues as soon as possible. Thanks to the great work done by the Commission and the authorized bodies of the Union Member States, we have managed to record significant progress in the development of a regulatory framework for the creation of a new format for financing industrial cooperative projects. Financial assistance to joint cooperative projects in the field of industry will provide us with the opportunity to stimulate individual economic sectors of our countries. At the same time, we attach importance to their balanced development in order to minimize the risks that imply stagnation or a decrease in activity in other economic sectors of the EAEU Member States. Therefore, at the stage of project selection, it is important to develop mechanisms that eliminate these risks, which will give us a long-term perspective for such projects. Let me note that one of the important aspects of cooperation between our countries is food security, which is aimed at ensuring the availability and quality of food for the population, as well as protecting the market from low-quality and dangerous products. Today, the need to form a collective system for ensuring food security has sharply increased. I consider it obvious that there is a need to consolidate the efforts of the EAEU countries in this direction. It is gratifying that, using various formats of cooperation, in 2022 we made systematic efforts to form a mutually beneficial partnership outside the Union, as evidenced by the information presented in the reports on the main directions of EAEU international activity and approaches to the development of trade and economic cooperation with the main partners of the Union in the medium term. Given the high dynamics of the development of cooperation with Iran, the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement and its further implementation are a priority for us in the context of the real expansion of trade cooperation with third countries. The continuation of the work in such priority and promising negotiation directions as India and Egypt, as well as the development of a comprehensive dialogue on the economic agenda and the deepening of trade and economic cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia will provide an additional impetus to the process of integration of the Union into the world economy. Despite the achieved results, based on the current realities, it is necessary to swiftly create effective mechanisms of interaction with partners from third countries, which will consistently lead to the creation of conditions for the sustainable development of the economies of our countries. Dear participants of the session, Obviously, effective planning of steps to develop a common economic space implies an open dialogue with entrepreneurs and representatives of business circles. In this context, I would like to highlight the holding of the Eurasian Economic Forum and, taking this opportunity, once again thank the Russian side for organizing large-scale events and for efforts to develop discussion topics that maximally cover topical areas of interaction within the EAEU. The forum attracts leading political figures and leaders of business, cultural and other circles of the societies of the member states, becoming a key platform for the formation of promising ideas and projects, a platform for discussions around topical issues. In conclusion, I would like to once again confirm the readiness of the Armenian side for the consistent implementation of joint projects aimed at reaching mutually acceptable solutions on important issues of the functioning of our integration union. Thank you for attention. During the session, issues related to the development of cooperation in various fields within the framework of EAEU were discussed. In his speech, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev used the wording "Zangezur Corridor", to which Prime Minister Pashinyan responded. "In his speech, the president of Azerbaijan used an expression that has been used in recent years as a title for making territorial claims against Armenia. I would like to note that this is used in the framework of the implementation of point 9 of the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020. I would like to emphasize that the Declaration mentions only one corridor, and it is the Lachin corridor, which was supposed to be under the control of Russian peacekeepers, but, unfortunately, is illegally blocked by Azerbaijan. On the other hand, I want to confirm the readiness of the Republic of Armenia to unblock all transport and economic connections and communications in the region that pass through the territory of the Republic of Armenia - we call it the "Armenian Crossroads" and we are ready to open regional communications within the framework of the sovereignty and jurisdiction of those countries through which they pass. I mean the transport and economic communications mentioned in point 9 of the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020 and the trilateral statement of January 11, 2021." Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that those who are familiar with the text of the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, know that there is only one use of the word "corridor" in it. "And in this context, this word has a special meaning, and it is the Lachin Corridor, which, I repeat, according to the trilateral declaration, should be under the control of the Russian Federation and provide a connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. But, unfortunately, in the presence of Russian peacekeepers, Azerbaijan illegally closed this corridor. On the other hand, I would like to confirm that Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity. And on this basis, yes, it can be said that we are going quite well in the direction of normalizing our relations. In this context, I would also like to mention a very important issue, the issue of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh within the framework of the international mechanism. I hope that soon a normal constructive dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert will begin," said the Prime Minister. Referring to Aliyev's statement that Russia also supports the idea of Zangezur Corridor, Nikol Pashinyan noted: "It is very interesting to know that Russia supports the project you mentioned. To be honest, this is the first time I have heard about it. I know that Russia supports the opening of all transport and economic communications in our region. You said "Lachin road", but according to our trilateral declaration, "Lachin road" does not exist, there is a corridor which, according to the trilateral declaration signed by three of us, should be under the control of Russian peacekeeping forces, that is, no one else should exercise any control of this corridor. And what is happening there is a direct violation of the trilateral declaration. And you said that the corridor is open, but we don't see it, we don't think so. Therefore, we consider it important that an international fact-finding mission be sent to both the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno Karabakh to assess the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh. And I must say that, unfortunately, we have a humanitarian crisis there since December, because due to the closure of the Lachin corridor, obstacles are created for the supply of food and other necessities. And this is a very serious situation. Gas and electricity have also been blocked by Azerbaijan. I mean the gas and electricity going to Nagorno Karabakh. And, Vladimir Vladimirovich, you know about it very well, because we have talked about this many times." Eagle Materials (NYSE:EXP Get Rating) had its price objective increased by DA Davidson from $140.00 to $175.00 in a research report released on Monday, The Fly reports. Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Stephens upped their price target on shares of Eagle Materials from $170.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Eagle Materials from $155.00 to $195.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Loop Capital upped their price target on shares of Eagle Materials from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Eagle Materials in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Eagle Materials from $130.00 to $149.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $168.75. Get Eagle Materials alerts: Eagle Materials Price Performance Shares of NYSE:EXP opened at $164.89 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $5.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.23 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 2.45 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $148.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of $141.74. Eagle Materials has a one year low of $101.98 and a one year high of $169.19. Eagle Materials Announces Dividend Eagle Materials ( NYSE:EXP Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 18th. The construction company reported $2.79 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.35 by $0.44. The business had revenue of $470.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $452.11 million. Eagle Materials had a net margin of 21.49% and a return on equity of 40.09%. The firms revenue was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.90 EPS. Research analysts predict that Eagle Materials will post 12.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. Eagle Materialss payout ratio is 8.03%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Eagle Materials news, SVP William R. Devlin sold 4,914 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.30, for a total value of $827,026.20. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 26,269 shares in the company, valued at $4,421,072.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in EXP. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Eagle Materials by 9.2% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 10,727 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,377,000 after buying an additional 905 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in shares of Eagle Materials by 4.8% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 3,810 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $511,000 after buying an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eagle Materials by 29.5% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 25,532 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $3,277,000 after buying an additional 5,821 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its stake in shares of Eagle Materials by 7.4% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 14,478 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,858,000 after buying an additional 993 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its stake in shares of Eagle Materials by 6.5% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 22,071 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $2,913,000 after buying an additional 1,347 shares in the last quarter. 93.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Eagle Materials Company Profile (Get Rating) Eagle Materials, Inc engages in the provision of heavy construction materials and light building materials. It operates through the following segments: Cement, Concrete and Aggregates, Gypsum Wallboard, and Recycled Paperboard. The Cement segment deals with the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of Portland cement. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Eagle Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eagle Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DoorDash, Inc. (NYSE:DASH Get Rating) General Counsel Tia Sherringham sold 12,243 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.86, for a total transaction of $818,566.98. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 286,320 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,143,355.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. DoorDash Price Performance DoorDash stock traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $66.00. The stock had a trading volume of 2,892,975 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,440,361. The company has a market cap of $25.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -18.59 and a beta of 1.51. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $62.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $58.02. DoorDash, Inc. has a 52 week low of $41.37 and a 52 week high of $87.00. Get DoorDash alerts: DoorDash (NYSE:DASH Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($0.41) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.56) by $0.15. DoorDash had a negative net margin of 18.98% and a negative return on equity of 14.00%. The firm had revenue of $2.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.92 billion. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that DoorDash, Inc. will post -1.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On DoorDash Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DASH. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in shares of DoorDash by 123.4% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 6,286 shares of the companys stock valued at $737,000 after acquiring an additional 3,472 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of DoorDash by 43.2% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 3,825 shares of the companys stock valued at $448,000 after acquiring an additional 1,153 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of DoorDash by 18.3% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,444 shares of the companys stock valued at $521,000 after acquiring an additional 689 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in shares of DoorDash by 204.6% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 926 shares of the companys stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 622 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of DoorDash by 305.6% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,553 shares of the companys stock valued at $415,000 after acquiring an additional 2,677 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.65% of the companys stock. A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on DASH. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of DoorDash from $80.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. DA Davidson decreased their price objective on DoorDash from $77.00 to $72.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Moffett Nathanson initiated coverage on DoorDash in a report on Monday, January 30th. They issued an outperform rating and a $79.00 price objective for the company. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price objective on DoorDash from $75.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on DoorDash from $68.00 to $70.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, DoorDash currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $80.40. About DoorDash (Get Rating) DoorDash, Inc operates a logistics platform that connects merchants, consumers, and dashers in the United States and internationally. It operates DoorDash marketplace, which provides an array of services that enable merchants to solve mission-critical challenges, such as customer acquisition, delivery, insights and analytics, merchandising, payment processing, and customer support; and offers DoorDash Drive, a white-label logistics service; DoorDash Storefront that enables merchants to offer consumers on-demand access to e-commerce. See Also Receive News & Ratings for DoorDash Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DoorDash and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. increased its stake in shares of FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY Get Rating) by 61.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 210,000 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 79,720 shares during the period. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. owned 0.18% of FREYR Battery worth $1,823,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of FREY. Citigroup Inc. grew its stake in FREYR Battery by 634.5% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 74,308 shares of the companys stock worth $911,000 after acquiring an additional 64,191 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in FREYR Battery by 22.2% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 18,332 shares of the companys stock worth $225,000 after acquiring an additional 3,332 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new stake in FREYR Battery in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,103,000. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in FREYR Battery by 43.3% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,136 shares of the companys stock worth $3,692,000 after acquiring an additional 91,041 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. purchased a new stake in FREYR Battery during the 1st quarter worth $180,000. 78.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get FREYR Battery alerts: FREYR Battery Price Performance Shares of FREYR Battery stock traded down $0.36 on Thursday, hitting $7.11. 1,076,395 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,520,478. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $7.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.28. The company has a current ratio of 8.16, a quick ratio of 8.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. FREYR Battery has a 12-month low of $6.20 and a 12-month high of $16.94. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades FREYR Battery ( NYSE:FREY Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The company reported ($0.27) EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($0.27). During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.24) EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that FREYR Battery will post -1.44 EPS for the current year. FREY has been the subject of a number of research reports. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of FREYR Battery in a research report on Friday, February 10th. They set a buy rating and a $13.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of FREYR Battery from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their target price for the company from $26.00 to $13.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $17.60. FREYR Battery Profile (Get Rating) FREYR Battery engages in the production and sale of battery cells for stationary energy storage, electric mobility, and marine applications in Europe and internationally. The company designs and manufactures lithium-ion based battery cell facilities. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Luxembourg. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FREY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for FREYR Battery Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FREYR Battery and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSEAMERICAN:SIM Get Rating) gapped down before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $32.00, but opened at $31.04. Grupo Simec shares last traded at $31.04, with a volume of 104 shares. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Grupo Simec in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Get Grupo Simec alerts: Grupo Simec Stock Up 1.6 % The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $34.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $32.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.98 and a beta of 0.30. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Grupo Simec Grupo Simec ( NYSEAMERICAN:SIM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $687.21 million during the quarter. Grupo Simec had a return on equity of 14.87% and a net margin of 13.44%. An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Grupo Simec stock. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSEAMERICAN:SIM Get Rating) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 7,455 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $273,000. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Grupo Simec Company Profile (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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Simec Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Simec and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HireRight Holdings Co. (NYSE:HRT Get Rating) major shareholder Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 104,654 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.35, for a total value of $1,083,168.90. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 7,479,852 shares of the companys stock, valued at $77,416,468.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Large shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Rjc Gis Holdings Llc also recently made the following trade(s): Get HireRight alerts: On Wednesday, May 24th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 41,112 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.34, for a total value of $425,098.08. On Friday, May 19th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 87,917 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.17, for a total value of $894,115.89. On Wednesday, May 17th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 60,000 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.03, for a total value of $601,800.00. On Thursday, May 11th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 24,608 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.20, for a total value of $251,001.60. On Monday, April 17th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 86,862 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.29, for a total value of $893,809.98. On Friday, April 14th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 42,669 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.14, for a total value of $432,663.66. On Wednesday, April 12th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 23,194 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.29, for a total value of $238,666.26. On Monday, April 10th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 122,607 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.39, for a total value of $1,273,886.73. On Wednesday, April 5th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 20,200 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.45, for a total value of $211,090.00. On Monday, April 3rd, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 144,946 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.47, for a total value of $1,517,584.62. HireRight Trading Down 1.3 % HRT opened at $10.27 on Thursday. HireRight Holdings Co. has a 1-year low of $6.88 and a 1-year high of $18.66. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $10.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.93. The stock has a market cap of $28.96 million, a PE ratio of -41.08 and a beta of 0.17. Institutional Inflows and Outflows HireRight ( NYSE:HRT Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 9th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $175.36 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $171.03 million. Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HRT. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in HireRight by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 66,612 shares of the companys stock worth $1,139,000 after buying an additional 8,527 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in HireRight by 55.4% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 15,433 shares of the companys stock worth $264,000 after buying an additional 5,503 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in HireRight by 36.7% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 23,900 shares of the companys stock worth $409,000 after buying an additional 6,420 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in HireRight by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,006,910 shares of the companys stock worth $17,218,000 after buying an additional 23,943 shares during the period. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in HireRight by 234.9% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 347,435 shares of the companys stock worth $5,941,000 after buying an additional 243,690 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 12.49% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on HRT shares. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $12.00 price objective on shares of HireRight in a report on Friday, March 10th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on HireRight from $12.00 to $11.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. StockNews.com downgraded HireRight from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and issued a $17.00 price objective on shares of HireRight in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on HireRight from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $12.98. About HireRight (Get Rating) HireRight Holdings Corporation provides technology-driven workforce risk management and compliance solutions worldwide. The company offers background screening, verification, identification, monitoring, and drug and health screening services for customers. It provides its services through software and data platform that integrates into its customers' human capital management systems enabling workflows for workforce hiring, onboarding, and monitoring. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for HireRight Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HireRight and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (OTCMKTS:IIJIY Get Rating)s share price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $41.29 and traded as high as $42.68. Internet Initiative Japan shares last traded at $41.92, with a volume of 595 shares trading hands. Internet Initiative Japan Stock Up 1.0 % The firm has a market capitalization of $3.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.05 and a beta of 0.62. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $41.29 and a 200-day moving average of $38.18. Internet Initiative Japan Company Profile (Get Rating) Internet Initiative Japan Inc engages in the provision of Internet connectivity and wide area network services; network systems construction, operation and maintenance; and telecommunications equipment. It operates through the Network Service and Systems Integration (SI), and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Operation segments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Internet Initiative Japan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Internet Initiative Japan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Krung Thai Bank Public (OTCMKTS:KTHAF Get Rating) was upgraded by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Krung Thai Bank Public in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. They set a neutral rating on the stock. HSBC upgraded shares of Krung Thai Bank Public from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Get Krung Thai Bank Public alerts: Krung Thai Bank Public Price Performance Shares of KTHAF opened at $0.54 on Tuesday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $0.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.40. Krung Thai Bank Public has a 1-year low of $0.45 and a 1-year high of $0.58. About Krung Thai Bank Public Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited provides various commercial banking products and services. The company operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Treasury and Investment. It provides various retail banking products and services, including current, savings, and fixed deposit accounts; time and foreign currency deposits; personal and housing loans; debit, travel, cash and top up, and credit cards; investment services; travel, motor, and home asset insurance products; money transfer, payment and top up, foreign exchange, and overseas education services; and e-banking services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Krung Thai Bank Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Krung Thai Bank Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan European Growth & Income plc (LON:JETG Get Rating) was down 0.5% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 363 ($4.51) and last traded at GBX 363 ($4.51). Approximately 7,932 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 78% from the average daily volume of 35,464 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 365 ($4.54). JPMorgan European Growth & Income Trading Down 0.5 % The company has a market cap of 570.77 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.34. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 363 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 363. The company has a current ratio of 72.47, a quick ratio of 72.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.82. JPMorgan European Growth & Income Company Profile (Get Rating) JPMorgan European Investment Trust plc Growth Shares is an open-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets in Europe. The fund primarily invests its portfolio in the financial sector. See Also Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan European Growth & Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan European Growth & Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JSF Financial LLC acquired a new stake in General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 6,748 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $566,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Czech National Bank lifted its position in General Mills by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 69,474 shares of the companys stock worth $5,825,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. lifted its position in General Mills by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 15,881 shares of the companys stock worth $1,332,000 after acquiring an additional 265 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in General Mills by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 198,283 shares of the companys stock worth $16,626,000 after acquiring an additional 13,823 shares during the last quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in General Mills by 47.2% during the 4th quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 16,116 shares of the companys stock worth $1,351,000 after acquiring an additional 5,166 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its position in General Mills by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 518,203 shares of the companys stock worth $40,057,000 after acquiring an additional 2,425 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.48% of the companys stock. Get General Mills alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.86, for a total value of $1,866,081.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 47,560 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,083,501.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other General Mills news, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.86, for a total transaction of $1,866,081.24. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 47,560 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,083,501.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Mark A. Pallot sold 4,081 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.32, for a total transaction of $368,595.92. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 13,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,185,088.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 55,371 shares of company stock worth $4,849,178 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades General Mills Price Performance A number of research analysts have weighed in on GIS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of General Mills from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of General Mills from $75.00 to $80.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on shares of General Mills in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of General Mills from $76.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $84.76. NYSE:GIS traded down $0.44 on Thursday, reaching $84.63. The stock had a trading volume of 1,267,076 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,208,194. The company has a market capitalization of $49.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.27. General Mills, Inc. has a 1-year low of $64.94 and a 1-year high of $90.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $86.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $83.09. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.06. General Mills had a net margin of 14.04% and a return on equity of 24.51%. The firm had revenue of $5.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.84 EPS. General Millss revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.23 EPS for the current year. General Mills Profile (Get Rating) General Mills, Inc engages in the manufacture and marketing of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. The firm operates through the following segments: North America Retail, Europe & Australia, Convenience Stores & Foodservice, Pet, and Asia & Latin America. The North America Retail segment includes grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains and e-commerce grocery providers. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG Get Rating) have been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the nine brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $61.40. LYG has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 70 ($0.87) to GBX 69 ($0.86) in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Barclays upgraded shares of Lloyds Banking Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Berenberg Bank increased their target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 55 ($0.68) to GBX 58 ($0.72) in a research note on Friday, February 24th. StockNews.com raised shares of Lloyds Banking Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, May 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 61 ($0.76) to GBX 56 ($0.70) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Lloyds Banking Group Stock Performance NYSE LYG opened at $2.28 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. The company has a market capitalization of $37.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.70, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.28. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $2.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $2.33. Lloyds Banking Group has a 12-month low of $1.70 and a 12-month high of $2.63. Lloyds Banking Group Increases Dividend Lloyds Banking Group ( NYSE:LYG Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.07 by $0.03. Lloyds Banking Group had a net margin of 21.31% and a return on equity of 11.52%. The firm had revenue of $14.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.68 billion. Analysts anticipate that Lloyds Banking Group will post 0.42 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.076 per share. This represents a yield of 5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. This is an increase from Lloyds Banking Groups previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.04. Lloyds Banking Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.50%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lloyds Banking Group Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 11.1% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,821,016 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,225,000 after acquiring an additional 181,703 shares during the period. Boston Common Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 10.3% in the first quarter. Boston Common Asset Management LLC now owns 1,968,993 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,568,000 after buying an additional 183,631 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 5.7% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 87,891 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $204,000 after buying an additional 4,744 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC purchased a new position in Lloyds Banking Group during the 1st quarter valued at $851,000. Finally, Aspen Grove Capital LLC increased its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 9.7% during the 1st quarter. Aspen Grove Capital LLC now owns 78,432 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $182,000 after purchasing an additional 6,920 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.15% of the companys stock. Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Lloyds Banking Group Plc is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retail, Commercial Banking, Insurance and Wealth, and Other. The Retail segment offers broad range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance and unsecured consumer lending to personal, and small business customers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, emphasized that bilateral cooperation between Armenia and Russia in various fields continues to develop actively, ARMENPRESS reports, Vladimir Putin said at the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. "I would like to emphasize that our trade turnover registers very positive dynamics. Last year, it grew by more than 83 percent and reached 5 billion USD. In January-March of this year, it increased by another 1.5 billion USD. If this process continues at the same pace, we will definitely surpass last year's record. Referring to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Putin emphasized that once again he discussed the issue face-to-face with the Prime Minister of Armenia, they will also have the opportunity to discuss the issue of unblocking transport communications at the meeting in a trilateral format with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. "The issues are very important and sensitive. I am sure that if we finally, despite all the difficulties, reach decisions on these issues, it will undoubtedly be beneficial for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, but not only for those two countries. It will be beneficial for the entire region, because many states are interested in it, and it will contribute to the normalization of relations in all directions, including the political direction from the point of view of ensuring the safety of people living in that area," said the Russian President. Putin also thanked the Armenian Prime Minister for his active participation in the work of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. The President of the Russian Federation also thanked Nikol Pashinyan for that the latter agreed to the participation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating) SVP Michael J. Holston sold 58,292 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.68, for a total transaction of $6,102,006.56. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 70,537 shares in the company, valued at $7,383,813.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. General Electric Stock Down 0.7 % General Electric stock opened at $100.98 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $109.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.17, a PEG ratio of 7.16 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The companys 50-day moving average price is $97.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $87.97. General Electric has a 52 week low of $46.55 and a 52 week high of $105.94. Get General Electric alerts: General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.14. General Electric had a net margin of 11.85% and a return on equity of 9.45%. The company had revenue of $14.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.46 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.24 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that General Electric will post 2.03 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On General Electric Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in GE. Old North State Trust LLC boosted its holdings in shares of General Electric by 177.6% in the first quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 397 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 254 shares during the period. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Electric in the first quarter worth about $223,000. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Electric in the first quarter worth about $1,022,000. Power Corp of Canada acquired a new position in shares of General Electric in the first quarter worth about $914,000. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of General Electric by 33.1% in the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 823,617 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $78,736,000 after buying an additional 204,903 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.12% of the companys stock. A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of General Electric from $96.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 14th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of General Electric in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of General Electric from $97.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of General Electric from $90.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of General Electric from $104.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, General Electric has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $103.20. General Electric Company Profile (Get Rating) General Electric Co engages in the provision of commercial and military aircraft engines and systems, wind, and other renewable energy generation equipment and grid solutions, and gas, steam, nuclear, and other power generation equipment. It operates through the following segments: Aviation, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, and Power. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Get Rating) have been given a consensus rating of Hold by the nineteen research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $57.87. Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Molson Coors Beverage from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $59.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $52.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. They set a neutral rating and a $55.00 price target on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Molson Coors Beverage Price Performance TAP opened at $60.91 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $57.38 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $54.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a current ratio of 0.77. Molson Coors Beverage has a 52 week low of $46.69 and a 52 week high of $66.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.17 billion, a PE ratio of -51.18, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.83. Molson Coors Beverage Announces Dividend Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $2.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. Molson Coors Beverage had a negative net margin of 1.97% and a positive return on equity of 7.16%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.29 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Molson Coors Beverage will post 4.32 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd will be paid a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -137.81%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TAP. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,521 shares of the companys stock worth $79,000 after acquiring an additional 171 shares during the period. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 48,740 shares of the companys stock worth $2,519,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the period. Utah Retirement Systems lifted its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 31,385 shares of the companys stock worth $1,506,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Forza Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Forza Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,940 shares of the companys stock valued at $824,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 4,692 shares of the companys stock valued at $242,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.24% of the companys stock. Molson Coors Beverage Company Profile (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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MPC Container Ships ASA (OTCMKTS:MPZZF Get Rating)s stock price rose 5.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $1.75 and last traded at $1.70. Approximately 6,142 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 32% from the average daily volume of 9,081 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.60. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, DNB Markets lowered MPC Container Ships ASA from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. Get MPC Container Ships ASA alerts: MPC Container Ships ASA Stock Performance The firms 50 day moving average price is $1.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.69. About MPC Container Ships ASA MPC Container Ships ASA engages in the provision of container tonnage, with a focus on small to mid-size containerships. It is involved in the operation of a portfolio of container ships serving intra-regional trade lanes on fixed-rate charters. The company was founded on January 9, 2017 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for MPC Container Ships ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MPC Container Ships ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of National Australia Bank Limited (OTCMKTS:NABZY Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $8.33 and last traded at $8.42, with a volume of 525709 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $8.57. National Australia Bank Price Performance The company has a fifty day moving average price of $9.22 and a 200-day moving average price of $10.01. Get National Australia Bank alerts: National Australia Bank Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a $0.2666 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 5.74%. This is a boost from National Australia Banks previous dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. National Australia Bank Company Profile National Australia Bank Ltd. engages in the provision of banking and financial services. Its services include banking, credit and access card facilities, leasing, housing and general finance, international banking, investment banking, wealth management, funds management and custodian, trustee and nominee services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for National Australia Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Australia Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New York Life Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Get Rating) by 42.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 641,305 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 190,523 shares during the period. New York Life Investment Management LLCs holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $24,998,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Albion Financial Group UT boosted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 39.5% in the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 907 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 257 shares during the period. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,183 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares during the period. Accel Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 63.3% during the 4th quarter. Accel Wealth Management now owns 722 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 280 shares during the period. Colorado Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Colorado Capital Management Inc. now owns 11,514 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $448,000 after acquiring an additional 281 shares during the period. Finally, Ifrah Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Ifrah Financial Services Inc. now owns 21,569 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $787,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares during the period. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:VWO traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $39.26. 3,858,232 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,962,404. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $40.03 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $40.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $69.88 billion, a PE ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 12 month low of $34.88 and a 12 month high of $44.28. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Profile The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NOV Inc. (NYSE:NOV Get Rating) gapped down before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $15.63, but opened at $15.22. NOV shares last traded at $15.25, with a volume of 299,067 shares changing hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Cowen upped their target price on shares of NOV from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of NOV in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $27.00 price objective on shares of NOV in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of NOV from $22.00 to $21.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of NOV from $25.00 to $23.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $24.13. Get NOV alerts: NOV Trading Down 2.6 % The company has a market capitalization of $6.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.61 and a beta of 1.89. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 2.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $17.16 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $20.35. NOV Announces Dividend NOV ( NYSE:NOV Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.22 by $0.10. NOV had a net margin of 4.33% and a return on equity of 6.51%. The business had revenue of $1.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.13) earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 26.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that NOV Inc. will post 1.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.31%. NOVs payout ratio is currently 23.81%. Insider Transactions at NOV In related news, Director Eric L. Mattson sold 20,681 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.90, for a total transaction of $452,913.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 46,600 shares in the company, valued at $1,020,540. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other NOV news, Director Eric L. Mattson sold 20,681 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.90, for a total value of $452,913.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 46,600 shares in the company, valued at $1,020,540. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Christy Lynn Novak sold 9,607 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.86, for a total transaction of $210,009.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 84,600 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,849,356. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.59% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of NOV A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. PAX Financial Group LLC increased its stake in shares of NOV by 3.6% during the third quarter. PAX Financial Group LLC now owns 13,541 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $219,000 after purchasing an additional 467 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue grew its stake in NOV by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 54,982 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $1,148,000 after acquiring an additional 490 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV grew its stake in NOV by 52.8% during the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,638 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 566 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its stake in NOV by 15.3% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 4,515 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $94,000 after acquiring an additional 598 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its stake in shares of NOV by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 18,956 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $306,000 after buying an additional 598 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.18% of the companys stock. NOV Company Profile (Get Rating) NOV, Inc provides equipment and technology to the upstream oil and gas industry. It operates through the following segments: Rig Technologies, Wellbore Technologies, and Completion and Production Solutions. The Rig Technologies segment focuses on the engineering, manufacturing, and support of advanced drilling equipment packages and related capital equipment for oil and gas wells. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for NOV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NOV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (CVE:RECO Get Rating)s stock price was up 16.4% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as C$1.31 and last traded at C$1.28. Approximately 184,795 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 9% from the average daily volume of 203,663 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$1.10. Reconnaissance Energy Africa Price Performance The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$1.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$1.57. The company has a market cap of C$246.42 million, a PE ratio of -6.74 and a beta of 1.34. About Reconnaissance Energy Africa (Get Rating) Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd., a junior oil and gas company, engages in exploration and development of oil and gas potential in Namibia and Botswana. It holds a 90% interest in a petroleum exploration license that covers an area of approximately 25,341.33 km2 located in Namibia; and 100% working interest in a petroleum license, which covers an area of 8,990 square km2 located in northwestern Botswana. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Reconnaissance Energy Africa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Reconnaissance Energy Africa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Scottish American Investment Co PLC (LON:SCAM Get Rating)s stock price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 417.50 ($5.19) and traded as low as GBX 415.48 ($5.17). Scottish American Investment shares last traded at GBX 417.50 ($5.19), with a volume of 170,822 shares changing hands. Scottish American Investment Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.49, a quick ratio of 3.80 and a current ratio of 3.80. The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 417.50 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 417.50. The stock has a market capitalization of 603.25 million and a PE ratio of 9.08. Scottish American Investment Company Profile (Get Rating) The Scottish American Investment Company P.L.C. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Baillie Gifford & Co and OLIM Property Limited. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Scottish American Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scottish American Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 34.1% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 34,375 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 8,749 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $1,419,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 326,822,162 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,144,788,000 after buying an additional 3,920,830 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 20.9% during the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 105,621,983 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,248,626,000 after purchasing an additional 18,252,701 shares during the period. Sanders Capital LLC raised its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 25,041,576 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,007,172,000 after purchasing an additional 416,171 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 21,901,706 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,061,357,000 after purchasing an additional 64,080 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 19,602,513 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $809,364,000 after buying an additional 571,850 shares during the period. 72.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts recently commented on WFC shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Citigroup cut their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $64.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $49.45. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance Shares of WFC stock opened at $40.87 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $153.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.83. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $35.25 and a one year high of $48.84. The companys 50-day moving average is $38.96 and its 200 day moving average is $42.71. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.15 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $20.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.06 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 15.93% and a return on equity of 10.07%. The businesss revenue was up 16.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.88 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.79 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 4th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.94%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is 34.38%. Wells Fargo & Company Profile (Get Rating) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage products and services, and consumer and commercial finance. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vital Energy (NYSE:VTLE Get Rating) had its target price boosted by Stifel Nicolaus from $110.00 to $112.00 in a report issued on Monday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on VTLE. Mizuho reduced their price objective on Vital Energy from $53.00 to $49.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Vital Energy from $57.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Vital Energy from $59.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Get Vital Energy alerts: Vital Energy Price Performance NYSE VTLE opened at $45.38 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $45.76. The firm has a market cap of $844.07 million, a P/E ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 3.35. Vital Energy has a 1-year low of $39.74 and a 1-year high of $120.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.59. Insider Buying and Selling at Vital Energy Vital Energy ( NYSE:VTLE Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $4.50 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.69 by ($0.19). The firm had revenue of $332.51 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $328.67 million. Vital Energy had a return on equity of 34.78% and a net margin of 48.36%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 37.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.17 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Vital Energy will post 21.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, Director Edmund P. Segner III sold 1,155 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.00, for a total value of $50,820.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 14,328 shares in the company, valued at approximately $630,432. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock. About Vital Energy (Get Rating) Vital Energy, Inc engages in the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties. It operates in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The company was founded by Randy A. Foutch in October 2006 and is headquartered in Tulsa, OK. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Vital Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vital Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Madeleine McCann: Police searching reservoir in Portugal told to look for her pink pyjamas Searches as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are taking place in Portugal (PA Media) Police searching in and around a Portuguese reservoir in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are reportedly looking for scraps of her clothing. Reports say officers have been instructed to search for pieces of the pink pyjamas the three-year-old was wearing on the night she went missing in 2007. The fresh searches at the Barragem do Arade around 30 miles from where Madeleine went missing in the Algarves Praia da Luz resort is allegedly linked to photographs of the reservoir found at the hideout of German man Christian Brueckner. (PA) A convicted child abuser and prime suspect in Madeleines disappearance, Brueckner reportedly spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017. The 45-year-old is behind bars in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same area of the Algarve from where Madeleine went missing. Investigators believe he killed Madeleine after abducting her from the Algarve holiday apartment at which she was staying with her family. Police are combing the banks of the reservoir with the help of sniffer dogs, rakes and pickaxes. Tuesday saw officers concentrate their search at one area of the reservoir. White tents were erected on a hill on the banks, while officers were seen removing a number of large bags from the zone. (PA) Uniformed and plain-clothed officers spent hours scouring the banks hammering away at the ground with pickaxes and combing through small rocks with rakes and spades. Further around the water, emergency services and officials from Portugal, Germany and the UK were seen holding briefings near blue police tents. Emergency service divers were seen entering the water on a rigid-hull inflatable boat early on Tuesday morning. A no-fly zone has been put in place over the water and media and other onlookers are being kept a mile back from the site of the search. Portuguese police confirmed on Monday that they are co-ordinating searches in the Algarve at the request of German police and in the presence of British officers. The Metropolitan Police said officers will be there in order to inform Madeleines family if there are any developments. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell said: The Met continues to work with and support colleagues in Portugal and Germany, with their investigations into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. (AFP via Getty Images) Met officers will be in Portugal and I am grateful to the Policia Judiciaria and Bundeskriminalamt for allowing us to be present whilst their work is ongoing, so that we can inform Madeleines family of any developments. A brief statement from the prosecutors office in the German city of Braunschweig confirmed the search, but did not reveal why it was taking place. Braunschweig prosecutor Christian Wolters told reporters that investigators were acting on the basis of certain tips but would not give further details. Four teams of officers from the Portuguese Policia Judiciaria are involved in the operation, along with at least 20 of their German counterparts, Portuguese news outlet SIC said. It is not the first time the reservoir has been searched. In 2008, Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to scour it after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleines body was there. (AFP via Getty Images) The most recent search in Portugal in relation to her disappearance took place nine years ago in 2014, when British police were given permission to examine scrubland near where she vanished. Earlier this month, her parents Kate and Gerry McCann posted a short statement on their Find Madeleine Campaign website to mark the anniversary of her disappearance. Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleines abduction, they wrote. Still missing still very much missed. It is hard to find the words to convey how we feel. The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough. The search continues. StockNews.com cut shares of Paycom Software (NYSE:PAYC Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Monday morning. Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $450.00 price objective on shares of Paycom Software in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Paycom Software from $350.00 to $300.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Paycom Software from $324.00 to $336.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. DA Davidson raised Paycom Software from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $350.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 30th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their target price on Paycom Software from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $368.53. Get Paycom Software alerts: Paycom Software Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of Paycom Software stock opened at $280.84 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $16.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.19. The company has a fifty day moving average of $285.50 and a 200 day moving average of $302.69. Paycom Software has a fifty-two week low of $255.82 and a fifty-two week high of $402.78. Paycom Software Dividend Announcement Paycom Software ( NYSE:PAYC Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The software maker reported $2.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.00 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $451.64 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $444.23 million. Paycom Software had a net margin of 20.96% and a return on equity of 26.29%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Paycom Software will post 6.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.375 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 26th. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.53%. Paycom Softwares dividend payout ratio is presently 28.14%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Paycom Software news, Director Jason D. Clark sold 1,070 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.33, for a total value of $297,813.10. Following the transaction, the director now owns 4,741 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,319,562.53. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 14.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Paycom Software A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of PAYC. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in Paycom Software by 4.0% in the third quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 771 shares of the software makers stock valued at $254,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Paycom Software by 19.8% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 200 shares of the software makers stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA grew its stake in shares of Paycom Software by 10.2% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 401 shares of the software makers stock worth $122,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. FourThought Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of Paycom Software by 11.9% during the 3rd quarter. FourThought Financial LLC now owns 385 shares of the software makers stock worth $127,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Finally, Czech National Bank grew its stake in shares of Paycom Software by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 5,690 shares of the software makers stock worth $1,766,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. 88.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Paycom Software Company Profile (Get Rating) Paycom Software, Inc engages in the provision of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) software solutions delivered as Software-as-a-Service. It offers functionality and data analytics that businesses need to manage the complete employment life cycle from recruitment to retirement. Its solutions include talent acquisition, time and labor management, payroll, talent management, and human resource management. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Paycom Software Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Paycom Software and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) by 2.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,298,864 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 56,222 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. owned approximately 0.13% of Charles Schwab worth $191,405,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 19.1% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 203,986 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $16,984,000 after acquiring an additional 32,653 shares during the period. Weatherly Asset Management L. P. purchased a new position in Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter worth approximately $205,000. ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 325,162 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,073,000 after purchasing an additional 5,432 shares in the last quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Charles Schwab in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $233,000. Finally, Condor Capital Management lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Condor Capital Management now owns 52,887 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,801,000 after purchasing an additional 241 shares in the last quarter. 73.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth SCHW has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Redburn Partners cut shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $72.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $99.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $83.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $68.73. Insiders Place Their Bets Charles Schwab Trading Up 3.7 % In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other Charles Schwab news, President Richard A. Wurster bought 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $54.39 per share, with a total value of $108,780.00. Following the purchase, the president now owns 101,391 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,514,656.49. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have purchased 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,706,960 and have sold 123,103 shares valued at $7,530,942. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. NYSE SCHW traded up $1.95 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $54.03. 9,087,085 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,321,770. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 1-year low of $45.00 and a 1-year high of $86.63. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $51.92 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $95.59 billion, a PE ratio of 14.23, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.83%. Charles Schwabs revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.77 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement The business 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. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, May 25th, RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 6th will be given a dividend of 0.31 per share by the business services provider on Tuesday, June 20th. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.31%. Interpublic Group of Companies has increased its dividend by an average of 7.3% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 11 years. Interpublic Group of Companies has a dividend payout ratio of 39.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Interpublic Group of Companies to earn $3.16 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.24 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 39.2%. Get Interpublic Group of Companies alerts: Interpublic Group of Companies Trading Down 0.3 % NYSE IPG traded down $0.12 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $37.49. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,797,144 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,959,735. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $36.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $35.33. The stock has a market cap of $14.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.12. Interpublic Group of Companies has a 52 week low of $25.14 and a 52 week high of $39.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Interpublic Group of Companies ( NYSE:IPG Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The business services provider reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $2.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.19 billion. Interpublic Group of Companies had a net margin of 8.31% and a return on equity of 29.28%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.47 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Interpublic Group of Companies will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. IPG has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Interpublic Group of Companies in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on Interpublic Group of Companies from $42.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Bank of America upgraded Interpublic Group of Companies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $38.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Interpublic Group of Companies from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Interpublic Group of Companies from $36.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $40.50. Insider Buying and Selling at Interpublic Group of Companies In other news, Director Dawn E. Hudson sold 5,950 shares of Interpublic Group of Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.15, for a total value of $197,242.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 26,930 shares in the company, valued at approximately $892,729.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Christopher F. Carroll sold 16,507 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.54, for a total transaction of $586,658.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 55,406 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,969,129.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Dawn E. Hudson sold 5,950 shares of Interpublic Group of Companies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.15, for a total value of $197,242.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 26,930 shares of the companys stock, valued at $892,729.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 91,779 shares of company stock worth $3,250,936 in the last quarter. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Interpublic Group of Companies during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Clear Street Markets LLC raised its holdings in Interpublic Group of Companies by 94.9% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 764 shares of the business services providers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the period. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Interpublic Group of Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. First Manhattan CO. LLC. raised its holdings in Interpublic Group of Companies by 1,176.5% in the 1st quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 1,085 shares of the business services providers stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its holdings in Interpublic Group of Companies by 22.2% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 1,734 shares of the business services providers stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 315 shares during the period. 96.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Interpublic Group of Companies Company Profile (Get Rating) Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc engages in the provision of marketing, communications, and business transformation services. It operates through the following segments: Media, Data, and Engagement Solutions, Integrated Advertising and Creativity Led Solutions, and Specialized Communications and Experiential Solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Interpublic Group of Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Interpublic Group of Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE:TNET Get Rating) SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 2,442 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.64, for a total value of $221,342.88. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 39,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,540,217.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. TriNet Group Price Performance Shares of TNET opened at $89.91 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a current ratio of 1.18. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $84.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $77.83. TriNet Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $60.60 and a 52-week high of $95.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.34 billion, a PE ratio of 16.29 and a beta of 1.16. Get TriNet Group alerts: TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $2.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.77 by $0.58. TriNet Group had a return on equity of 47.82% and a net margin of 6.96%. The firm had revenue of $394.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $364.55 million. Sell-side analysts predict that TriNet Group, Inc. will post 4.71 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Institutional Investors Weigh In On TriNet Group Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on TNET shares. Cowen boosted their target price on TriNet Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Needham & Company LLC started coverage on TriNet Group in a research report on Friday, May 12th. They set a buy rating and a $115.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on TriNet Group in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. One investment 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 stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $88.00. Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in TriNet Group by 2,866.7% in the 1st quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 445 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 430 shares during the period. Amundi bought a new stake in TriNet Group in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in TriNet Group by 176.1% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 508 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its position in TriNet Group by 78.7% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 620 shares of the business services providers stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 273 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in TriNet Group by 31.7% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,017 shares of the business services providers stock worth $72,000 after buying an additional 245 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 91.65% of the companys stock. TriNet Group Company Profile (Get Rating) TriNet Group, Inc provides human capital management (HCM) solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. Its services include HR expertise, benefit options, payroll services, risk mitigation, and a technology platform. The company was founded by Martin Babinec in 1988 and is headquartered in Dublin, CA. Read More Receive News & Ratings for TriNet Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TriNet Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tritax Big Box REIT plc (LON:BBOX Get Rating)s share price passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 144.34 ($1.80) and traded as high as GBX 146 ($1.82). Tritax Big Box REIT shares last traded at GBX 143.50 ($1.78), with a volume of 12,371,392 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on BBOX. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Tritax Big Box REIT in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Berenberg Bank raised shares of Tritax Big Box REIT to a buy rating and set a GBX 170 ($2.11) price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a GBX 195 ($2.43) target price on shares of Tritax Big Box REIT in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Barclays raised Tritax Big Box REIT to an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 172.50 ($2.15). Get Tritax Big Box REIT alerts: Tritax Big Box REIT Trading Down 3.6 % The stock has a market cap of 2.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -414.93, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.83. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is GBX 144.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 146.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.18. Tritax Big Box REIT Cuts Dividend Insider Buying and Selling at Tritax Big Box REIT The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 11th will be paid a GBX 1.75 ($0.02) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. This represents a yield of 1.15%. Tritax Big Box REITs dividend payout ratio is -2,058.82%. In other Tritax Big Box REIT news, insider Elizabeth Brown bought 11,042 shares of Tritax Big Box REIT stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 135 ($1.68) per share, with a total value of 14,906.70 ($18,540.67). Corporate insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock. Tritax Big Box REIT Company Profile (Get Rating) Tritax Big Box REIT plc is the only listed vehicle dedicated to investing in very large logistics warehouse assets (Big Boxes) in the UK and is committed to delivering attractive and sustainable returns for shareholders. Investing in and actively managing existing built investments, land suitable for Big Box development and developments predominantly delivered through pre-let forward funded basis, the Company focuses on large, well-located, modern Big Box logistics assets, let to institutional-grade tenants on long-term leases (typically at least 12 years in length) with upward-only rent reviews and geographic and tenant diversification throughout the UK. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Tritax Big Box REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tritax Big Box REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP Get Rating) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. They currently have $257.00 target price on the railroad operators stock, up from their prior target price of $226.00. A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $237.00 to $235.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. TD Securities decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $230.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $222.00 to $216.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $223.00 to $213.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $215.00 to $207.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $217.41. Get Union Pacific alerts: Union Pacific Trading Down 2.3 % UNP opened at $191.91 on Monday. Union Pacific has a 12 month low of $183.69 and a 12 month high of $242.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $117.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.95, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.50, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $196.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $203.86. Union Pacific Announces Dividend Union Pacific ( NYSE:UNP Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The railroad operator reported $2.67 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.57 by $0.10. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 57.75% and a net margin of 27.91%. The firm had revenue of $6.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.03 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.57 EPS. Union Pacifics revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. 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 paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. Union Pacifics payout ratio is currently 45.94%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Union Pacific news, EVP Elizabeth F. Whited sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $213.00, for a total transaction of $532,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 39,080 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,324,040. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Koesten Hirschmann & Crabtree INC. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. NewSquare Capital LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 116.7% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 130 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 108.3% in the 1st quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 125 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Centerpoint Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 86.7% in the 1st quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC now owns 155 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. 77.27% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Union Pacific Company Profile (Get Rating) Union Pacific Corp. engages in the provision of railroad and freight transportation services. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Omaha, NE. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brokerage firm UBS has downgraded Tata Motors Ltd from neutral to sell. However, it has raised its twelve-month target price for the company's shares to Rs 450 from Rs 320 earlier. UBS conducted an extensive analysis of the global premium electric vehicle (EV) industry with a focus on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which constitutes over two-thirds of its sales and EBITDA in fiscal year 2023. The findings reveal that the market is underestimating the risks and vulnerabilities faced by JLR due to the rapid electrification of premium cars. Additionally, Tata's domestic market share in the automotive industry is nearing its peak due to intensifying competition. UBS believes that JLR's recent strong performance, surpassing the S&P BSE Auto Index by approximately 23% year-to-date, is not sustainable. This performance was driven by an unsustainable product mix and minimal discounts, leading UBS to view it as a favorable opportunity for investors to sell their holdings. Despite JLR's lagging financial and technology parameters, its current price implies a price-to-earnings ratio that is 70% higher than that of BMW AG/Mercedes. UBS highlights JLR's anticipated decline in average selling prices and margins in the second half of FY24, along with India's underperformance in market share and margins, as key factors supporting their view. However, it should be noted that the expansion of JLR's margins poses a risk to UBS's assessment. UBS suggests that investors may be overlooking the significant impact of electrification on the global premium car market. The firm highlights the disruption caused by electrification in China to the profit pool of premium brands worldwide, anticipating a similar trend in other regions. Consequently, UBS expects JLR's margins to decline to around 4% in FY25/FY26, deviating significantly from the company's medium-term guidance of achieving double-digit EBIT margins. UBS also expresses caution regarding JLR's strategy of prioritizing Jaguar and introducing three new electric vehicle models, citing previous lackluster attempts to revive the brand. Tata has successfully revitalized its presence in the passenger vehicle (PV) segment in India through its new model cycle and innovative approach of converting ICE vehicles to EVs. However, UBS predicts that Tata's market share in the PV segment will peak due to a relatively weaker launch pipeline compared to market leader Maruti, coupled with increasing competition in the EV market. UBS also notes that Tata's competitors have strong EV launch pipelines, prompting a reassessment of Tata's EV valuation. In the commercial vehicle (CV) segment, Tata continues to struggle with lower volumes and margins, raising concerns about a potential CV market slowdown. "We value JLR at 7x FY25E PE, in line with BMW's and MBG's current average multiples. We assign 11x/6x EV/EBITDA for India's CV/ICE PV (15-30% discounts versus our target multiples for peers, owing to Tata's market share losses), and value the EV business at a 40% discount to the stake sale price, considering the sharp valuation correction for pure-play EV companies since Tata's sale of its stake", UBS said in its note. Justice Parthiba Singh, judge of Delhi High Court, on May 24 recused from hearing pleas by Go First aircraft lessors against Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), seeking possession of their aircraft. The judge, decided to recuse after it was pointed out to her that her spouse senior advocate Maninder Singh appeared for suspended management of the airline at NCLAT. The case is to come up tomorrow before another judge. The aircraft lessors objected to her recusal stating that the proceedings before Delhi High Court have no bearing on the proceedings before NCLAT. The judge however decided to place the case before the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and noted in her order that it could be listed on May 26, subject to the schedule of the court where the case will be listed. On May 24, DGCA provided an update on the Go First case during proceedings at the Delhi High Court. In response to a plea filed by Pembroke Aviation seeking the release of their aircraft, the DGCA stated that the application by the aircraft lessor to take possession of their aircraft has not been officially rejected. Rather, it has been kept in abeyance due to the ongoing moratorium. DGCA further told the court that it takes five days to process any such application and before they could take a decision on Pembroke's application, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) passed the order admitting Go First to moratorium. The Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) of Go First told the court that they need the possession of aircraft to run the airline as a going concern. Pembroke reiterated that once the lessor terminates the lease for the aircraft, the airline company has no right to operate it. So far this month, several lessors have approached aviation regulator DGCA for deregistration and repossession of Go First's 45 planes. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Wednesday directed three aircraft lessors of Go First to approach NCLT over their claims for possession of aircraft, whose leases were terminated by them prior to the initiation of insolvency proceedings against the Wadia group entity. The appellate tribunal directed Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2, Eos Aviation 12 (Ireland), and ACG Aircraft Leasing Ireland to file appropriate applications at NCLT over the applicability of the moratorium on their aircrafts. However, according to the airline official, Go First is working on a plan to resume operations at the earliest. A senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday said the airline submitted its response to the show cause notice. "They have submitted their response indicating that they are working on the details of a plan to resume flights at the earliest," the official said. On May 8, DGCA issued a show cause notice to the budget carrier under the relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, for its failure to continue the operation of the service in a safe, efficient and reliable manner. The reply was to be submitted within 15 days. Go First stopped flying on May 3 after it filed for insolvency. The new 24-member governing council of industry body Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) will not have any Big Tech members with Dream11's Harsh Jain set to become its chairperson, as Indian entrepreneurs seek to wrest control of policy-making in the fast-evolving and growing technology and startup sector. Apart from Jain, Rajesh Magow of MakeMyTrip will be the vice chairperson, and Satyan Gajwani of Times Internet will be the Treasurer, according to sources, forming the industry body's 4-member executive council. Shubho Ray serves as president ex-officio on the executive council. The other members of the new governing council include Ajay Kaushal of Billdesk; Alok Mittal, Indifi; Aloke Bajpai, Ixigo; Anant Goenka, Indian Express; Anupam Mittal, People Interactive; Ashish Kashyap, IndMoney; Chintan Thakkar Info Edge; Dinesh Agarwal, IndiaMart; Harshil Mathur, Razorpay; J Murugavel, Matrimony.com; Jitendra Gupta, Jupiter; Miten Sampat, Cred; Naveen Kukreja, Paisa Bazaar; Neeraj Roy, Hungama; Nitish Mittersain, Nazara; Rajendra Nalam, Paytm; Ritesh Malik, Innov8; Rohan Verma, MapmyIndia; Sameer Nigam, PhonePe; Upasana Taku, Mobikwik; Vishwas Patel, Infibeam Avenues. These appointments pertain to the election that the industry body announced for its governing council on May 15. IAMAI had said that 83 of its members were contesting the election for the 24-member IAMAI Governing Council. The top three companies, in terms of votes received, forms the executive council. These results will seemingly assuage the sentiments of Indian entrepreneurs who were batting for representation of homegrown companies in the industry body's leadership. Sources said that the decision to keep Big Tech companies out of the IAMAI governing council was a conscious one. There was a sense that the industry body and Indian internet organisations were rubber-stamping the demands of Big Tech, and people were particularly upset with Google related to the Play Store and billing policies. "I am honoured to be elected as the Chairman of IAMAI. I look forward to working with the Governing Council, IAMAI team and all the members to foster a thriving Indian tech ecosystem that will unlock new opportunities and drive economic growth for India," Jain of Dream Sports said in a statement. He, along with the other governing council members will take charge from the present council at the upcoming Annual General Meeting in June. These results come after a controversy erupted in April when IAMAI, whose members include both Indian companies and large foreign companies, argued against the need for a separate digital competition framework aimed at regulating "anti-competitive practices" by Big Tech companies, in a draft submission. Indian entrepreneurs had slammed IAMAI, saying that a digital competition law was indeed necessary and insinuated that the industry body's stance on the matter reflected the composition of its leadership. Many Indian entrepreneurs and a few Big Tech companies had thrown their hats in the ring for the much-coveted posts of the chairperson, vice chairperson, and treasurer. 'No bearing on future relationship with IAMAI' Outgoing executive council members include Google's country head and vice president Sanjay Gupta as chairman, Meta's director and head of India public policy Shivnath Thukral as vice chairperson, and Razorpay CEO and co-founder Harshil Mathur as treasurer. Industry sources say relationship of companies like Meta or Google will not be impacted by the results because they have been long-standing members of IAMAI, and their engagement is across all such trade bodies where they continue to interact, irrespective of positions they may hold. Moneycontrol has reached out to Google and Meta requesting comments on the IAMAI election results. The article will be updated when a response is received. A clean India has been one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet objectives, with the Swachh Bharat Mission being launched in October 2014, just months into his first term. At the time, India's rural sanitation coverage was 38.7 percent. Since then, crores of toilets have been constructed which in turn have even spawned a mainstream Hindi film. More importantly, rural areas in all states were declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) in October 2019. With Modi completing nine years at the helm of the central government this month, Moneycontrol takes a look at how the mission to improve sanitary conditions in India has progressed in the Prime Minister's second term and the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The big promise Launched in February 2020, just before the coronavirus pandemic brought the country to a standstill, the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) focusses on making villages 'Open Defecation Free Plus' (ODF Plus), which includes ODF sustainability and management of solid and liquid waste, and toilets for all. This phase, operational till 2024-25, has been allocated Rs 1.41 lakh crore in total. One-and-a-half years later, in October 2021, the government launched the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). Covering a period of five years, the scheme's total allocation is Rs 1.42 lakh crore, with a focus on "complete faecal sludge management and waste water treatment, source segregation of garbage, reduction in single-use plastic, reduction in air pollution by effectively managing waste from construction-and-demolition activities, and bio-remediation of all legacy dump sites," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her 2021-22 Budget speech. The story so far Nothing tells the progress made so far in the second phase better than the numbers. And the numbers are staggering. As per latest data for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0: Total number of ODF Plus villages has risen to 3.15 lakh. The number of villages with minimal litter stands at 4.71 lakh, with 4.61 lakh villages having minimal stagnant water. When it comes to waste management, 2.54 lakh villages have arrangements for liquid waste management, while 1.73 lakh villages can manage solid waste When it comes to Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0: 95 percent of India's 94,443 wards have 100 percent door-to-door collection of solid waste As many as 89 percent of wards have complete source segregation of solid waste By the start of 2023-24, 75 percent of total waste generated was being processed The unfinished business The huge numbers do not mean the government's job is done. The sheer size of the government's task in cleaning up rural India becomes apparent when one considers there are a total of 5.93 lakh villages. As such, 47 percent of all villages are not yet ODF Plus. The situation gets more serious when one looks at the ODF Plus indicators: 71 percent of villages don't have solid waste management arrangements, while 57 percent can't take care of liquid waste. The task is even taller when it comes to cleaning urban India. Of the total legacy waste of 2,440 lakh tonne, 71 percent is yet to be remediated. Further, the area currently occupied by large national dumpsites containing total waste of more than a thousand tonnes each remains huge, with 84 percent or 15,780 acres yet to be reclaimed. But there is still time: until 2024-25 for the rural mission and 2025-26 for the urban. (Reuters) -Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko had to be driven a short distance to an event during Tuesday's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and skipped a lunch hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko, a close Putin ally, looked tired and a little unsteady on his feet, and a bandage was visible on his right hand. His appearance sparked speculation online about his health, though he otherwise showed no obvious sign of being unwell. Video footage showed the 68-year-old chatting with Putin and army top brass after the annual parade on Red Square and then taking a lift to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier nearby while Putin walked there with the leaders of Armenia and five Central Asian countries. He rejoined the others to lay flowers at the Tomb beside the Kremlin, only about 300 metres from the spot where they had earlier watched the parade marking the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. In a rare departure from custom, the Belarusian president then missed the state lunch hosted by Putin in the Kremlin and attended by the other leaders. Belarusian authorities have issued no statements on Lukashenko's health, but he has appeared at few public events in the past two weeks and at one of them his voice was hoarse. Lukashenko later on Tuesday resurfaced for the Victory Day wreath-laying ceremony in Minsk but in another departure from tradition he wore civilian clothes - not a military uniform - and made no speech. Russia used the territory of Belarus as a launchpad for its invasion of their common neighbour Ukraine in February last year, and since then their military cooperation has intensified, with joint training exercises on Belarusian soil. But Lukashenko has insisted that Belarus is not a party to the war and has not sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces in what Putin calls a "special military operation". At Tuesday's Victory Day parade Putin said Russia was engaged in a "sacred" fight with the West over Ukraine. (Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) Gurugram district administration officials said that the ban imposed on registration of properties in projects developed by Chintels India Limited has been revoked. The approval for registration of flats was given after the developer submitted that it will not be able to settle the claims of affected flat owners of Chintels Paradiso housing complex in Sector 109 in the Delhi suburb unless registration of property in its other projects is allowed to raise funds. The ban on registration of any property developed by Chintels India was imposed after a portion of tower D collapsed on February 10, 2022, killing two women. A meeting in this connection was held on May 3 after the builder proposed that the ban on registry of flats in its projects should be lifted as it would be necessary to raise funds for the settlement process. The proposal was reviewed and the ban was revoked on Wednesday (May 24), said an official of the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), Haryana, who asked not to be named. He said that the move will allow the developer to sell flats in its other projects and arrange funds for the settlement of the affected residents. As per the minutes of the meeting, the builder submitted that fulfilling the commitment of settlement of Paradiso residents would not be possible unless the ban on registration of properties in its projects is lifted. At the meeting district administration discussed the issue with the DTCP officials. The developer said that since it has given final settlement offers, as directed by the administration, registration of its projects should be opened as soon as possible so that their affected cash flows are normalised. We are thankful to the authorities who finally accepted our request by revoking the ban on registries of our projects. All parties will benefit now as we will be able to fulfil our commitments of the buyback offer. We also thank our customers who have stood with us in this time of difficulty, said JN Yadav senior vice president, Chintels India. On April 30, 2023, the developer had offered to either pay an all-inclusive price of Rs 6,500 per square foot (psf) on the super-built-up area, plus the stamp duty paid by the flat owners, or get the property repaired or rebuilt by a reputed contractor per the technical requirements of CSIR-CBRI (Central Building Research Institute, which comes under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), and hand over possession within 36 months from the date of receipt of all necessary approvals. However, residents opting for the latter would have to pay Rs 1,000 psf as construction costs had increased. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but the price tag can jump to mind-boggling levels in the blink of an eye. USD 500 billion, for example. On May 22, shortly after the US markets opened for trading, an alarming image started doing the rounds on Twitter. It showed a large plume of smoke near the Pentagon Complex in Washington DC, sending netizens into a tizzy. Multiple verified handles on Twitter began sharing the picture and stating that the Pentagon headquarters of the US military has been hit by an explosion. The panic rapidly spread to the markets and the S&P 500 index skidded to the sessions low, leaving investors poorer by USD 500 billion within minutes. Before participants could make a sense of what was happening, the index made an equally stunning recovery. Reason? It turned out the image was a deepfake created by an artificial intelligence tool, though the who and why aspects still remain a mystery. This was possibly the first case of an AI-created image causing the financial markets to swing. Considering the mushrooming growth of AI and related fields, theres high chance this wont be the last. Brave New World At his much-awaited US Senate hearing last week, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (creator of ChatGPT), pitched for something not traditionally associated with Silicon Valley executives. Regulation. He advocated setting up a new agency for licensing AI companies, adding that this technology could be as pivotal as the invention of the printing press. But he did not try to play down the potential pitfalls. "I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong...we want to be vocal about that," Altman told US lawmakers. "We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening." The issue has been vexing some of the brightest minds on the planet. Also Read: INDIAai working groups likely to submit AI framework soon In April, some tech luminaries, including Twitter chief Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, wrote an open letter calling for suspending the development of AI systems for at least six months so that there is a proper assessment of the risks posed to humanity. Strictly speaking, AI has been a part of our lives for a long time now. The Google search algorithm, the autocorrect function on our smartphones, voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa, facial recognition cameras etc are all examples of artificial intelligence. Computer programmes started being used to execute large trades on Wall Street since the early 1980s. The models rapidly grew in complexity, spawning a whole sub-sector of tech-enabled arbitrage trade like high-frequency trading (HFT). AI-powered ETFs too have been around since the past few years, though their performance has been mixed compared to their traditional peers. The current disruption, however, is due to the rise of a more evolved beast -- generative AI. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Dall-E, Midjourney and others create such hyper-realistic content that it is indistinguishable from the real deal. (And in many cases, better than human output). Combine this with social media frenzy and the increasing use of trading algorithms which track news updates and other signals, and we are left clutching a grenade with a wobbly pin. The potential to generate fake videos, fake photos and other realistic sounding media using AI is huge. This can have an impact on the markets as was seen recently. Any media will need confirmation in this scenario. Only verified and authenticated media should be put on mainstream media, Ajay Bagga, Chairman of Elyments Platforms, told Moneycontrol. We will need cross checking and verification procedures to be strengthened and the one-upmanship for breaking-news supremacy to be given up in the wider interest of public order, he added. Compounded Problems Analysts fear the mushrooming of generative AI content will act as an explosive fuel for HFT algorithms, which are designed to react in milliseconds to real-time developments. This can trigger a vicious feedback loop where bad news (whether real or fake) is amplified by HFT algos executing large trades in tandem, causing sudden market crashes. The relief rallies too are expected to be swift, though as John Maynard Keynes quipped around a century back, the markets can stay irrational longer than some of us can stay solvent. Which means that the individual traders already at a Himalayan disadvantage vis-a-vis algo trading need to have nerves of steel and wills of iron to navigate the choppy waters. Even long-term investors would do well to spot the emerging trends. In a recent report, Goldman Sachs said generative AI could drive a 7 percent increase in global GDP, equivalent to almost $7 trillion, and lift productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points over a 10-year period. But it can also expose 300 million full-time jobs to automation, the report added. Advances in AI are expected to have far-reaching implications for the global enterprise software, healthcare and financial services industries, not to mention humongous second-order effects across multiple sectors and the wider society at large. "We are strongly of the view that AI will change the world," Jim Reid, strategist at Deutsche Bank, said in a recent note. Understatement of the year, perhaps, but nevertheless encapsulating a momentous truth. Alternative investment funds (AIFs) have been running schemes that help regulated lenders mask loans that could be in default or be at risk of default. Not anymore, if the market regulator has its way. Regulated lenders include banks, non-banking financial companies and microfinanciers. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is cracking the whip on these schemes, saying that they could help hide stressed loan books, in the evergreening of loans and in tranching of securities that leads to a lack of transparency for investors, much like the tranching of collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) did during the 2008 financial crisis. Also read: How a company's 'lackadaisical' manner lost 80 percent of funds raised through preferential issue In a consultation paper released on May 23, SEBI has proposed that AIFs no longer sell schemes that allow this through what is known as a preferential distribution (PD) model. In doing so, the regulator has set aside the recommendations made by a working committee set up last November to address regulatory concerns. The committee had suggested an evaluation of checks and balances to prevent misuse of the PD model, and had recommended that the model not be entirely prohibited. The problem model Under the PD model, the profits or losses are not distributed pro rataproportional to investmentbut are distributed based on the waterfall method. That is, one set of unitholders (junior class/tranche) other than sponsor/manager absorbs a loss that is more than the proportion of their holding in the AIF versus another class of unitholders (senior class/tranche). For example, if a junior unitholder owns 20 percent of the AIFs investment, the unitholder may absorb a loss not of 20 percent but higher. This is because the senior unitholder is prioritised in the distribution of proceeds. The senior unitholder may be compensated for the loss out of the residual capital of the junior class investors, according to the SEBI paper. When a profit is made, distribution is first made to senior class investors till a hurdle rate is met; then the remaining is distributed to the junior class investors. How is this model open to misuse? If a regulated lender wants to take out loans that are at risk of default from its books, it can subscribe to the junior class units of an AIF/scheme set up for this purpose. The size of investment made by the regulated lender seems to be determined by the expected loss on the loan portfolio at the time of structuring (haircut). Then, the AIF gets on board investors who are willing to subscribe to the senior class of units. Investors in the senior class put money to the extent of perceived fair market value of the assets acquired by the AIF from the regulated lender. Then, the AIF invests in non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of the borrower companies that are expected to use these funds to repay the loans extended to them by the regulated lender. The regulated lender replaces the loan portfolio on its books with the amount repaid by the borrower-investee company and investment in units (junior class) of the AIF. It is pertinent to note that the regulated lenders investment in AIF units, which appear to represent the haircut in the loan portfolio, may be shown in its books of accounts at value at par with senior class units, stated SEBIs paper. This may facilitate the regulated lender in avoiding the classification, provisioning and other applicable compliance requirements with respect to the loans in or expected to be in default. Further, the probable loss in loan repayment, if any, may reflect as loss in investment in AIF, in future, it added. Also read: Sebi proposes amendment to Insider Trading Regulations: But is it necessary? While this arrangement hides bad loans, it also masks the deteriorating creditworthiness of the borrower-investee company, according to SEBI. SEBI believes that this (PD model) could create a systemic risk, said Venkatakrishnan Srinivasan, a debt market veteran and founder of advisory Rockfort Fincap. There are certain sets of investors who are also being given side letters, which say that in case of any problem, they will be the first to be compensated or given an exit. Other investors may not know about this (arrangement through the side letters) Therefore, SEBI does not want this practice to continue, or if it continues, it should be done by informing the other investors about this. That should be done without hiding the information from the other investors, he added. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The ninth anniversary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi being sworn into power falls on May 30. It comes at a time when Indian aviation is soaring to new heights and civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has termed "Indian aviation as the most important market in the years to come". However, the growth in Indian aviation over the last nine years has not been a cakewalk. As many as four ministers have led the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the last nine years, and nearly three airlines have collapsed under the watchful eye of the current government. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Suresh Prabhu, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Jyotiraditya Scindia have all shared the throne atop the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in the last nine years. The big promise and the story so far Let us begin with the basics, that of providing facilities to the burgeoning number of people who can now access a mode of travel that was until a decade ago was limited to the elite. Aviation infrastructure In 2018, the government set a goal to have 855 million air by 2030-31. At the same time, it said that it would double the civil aviation infrastructure in the country by 2025 by building 220 airports. Back in 2014, around 67 million domestic passengers had taken to the skies. By 2022 that figure had nearly doubled to 123.2 million domestic passengers, despite being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and part of 2021. The number of airports in India has gone up from 74 in 2014 to 147 in 2022, with the government aiming to increase this number to 220 by 2024-25. The BJP-led government had also said that it was keen to provide an enabling ecosystem for the growth of the aircraft maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) industry in the country. To encourage such ventures, the government inked a deal with Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturing giant, to procure 56 C-295MW tactical transport aircraft, a deal estimated to be worth Rs 21,935 crore. French defence and aerospace company Safran, which is part-owned by Airbus, has also opened a test centre outside Thiruvanthapuram in Kerala and announced that it will set up a production facility in Hyderabad for 36 million euros. Thats not all that the government is doing. It had also proposed to make India a hub of aircraft leasing and financing by creating a world-class business district at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), the upcoming smart city and financial centre intended to supplant cities like Singapore and London. When the government in the 2015 budget announced tax benefits for financial services companies at GIFT City, expectations were that aircraft leasing companies will look at India as an alternative market. However, eight years down the line not a single commercial airline made a transaction through GIFT City. UDAN The Modi government also launched India's first regional connectivity scheme (RCS), Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN), in 2016 with the aim to make air travel affordable and augment economic development. Since the launch of the scheme, more than 114 million passengers have travelled in more than 216,000 UDAN flights, with the government providing Rs 2,300 crore as a part of the viability gap funding (VGF). As on November 29, 2022, 453 routes were operational, with 70 airports including two water landing sites for seaplanes and nine heliports. Sale of Air India and the drone policy The government had set its sight on completing the sale of Air India as part of its larger plan to divest stakes in public sector undertakings. In January 2022, it completed the divestment of Air India to the Tata Group. The airline, which was nationalised in 1953, returned to the fold of the Tata Group, which had started the one-time flag carrier, after burning a hole of roughly Rs 1,57,339 crore in the governments pocket in 10 years. The Tata Group bid Rs 18,000 crore as the airlines enterprise value. The government had also said that it will come out with a policy to boost drone manufacturing in India and make the country a global manufacturing hub for UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles. Two years ago, it passed the new Drone Rules 2021, which the industry saw as a major step in promoting the use of drones across various segments. With the introduction of the new rules, the industry said the domestic market had the potential to grow to Rs 50,000 crore ($6.8 billion) or more in five years. A September 2022 joint report by EY (formerly Ernst & Young) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry pegged the manufacturing potential of Indias drone industry at $23 billion by 2030, adding that India can become the world's drone hub. The unfinished business While there are pockets of sunshine, the industry has across decades had to map its flight path through some pretty stormy weather. Airline collapses Even as Indian aviation, well, took off in the last nine years in terms of passenger traffic, airports and routes, the age-old problem of the health of domestic airlines in India continues to linger. Back in 2014, CAPA India, the domestic arm of the aviation Asia-focused data analytics company, had said that Indian carriers together were expected to make losses of $1.3-1.4 billion in 2014-15. Fast-forward to 2023-24. CAPA India expects Indian airlines to record a consolidated loss of $1.6-1.8 billion in the next financial year. Since 2014, SpiceJet went bankrupt and had to find a new owner, Jet Airways, a high-flier at one time, went into insolvency and has been awaiting resurrection for four years now, and no-frills carrier Go First (earlier GoAir) has filed for voluntary insolvency. CAPA India has said that India needs a new civil aviation policy that should deliver airline viability and growth by design. According to the aviation specialist, airlines must be provided a level playing field by dismantling the negative fiscal regime and providing infrastructure ahead of time. Make in India Despite doubling in terms of the market size in the last nine years, the government has failed to attract the biggest aircraft original equipment manufacturers or OEMs to set up shop in India or create an infrastructure for commercial aircraft leasing. The lack of manufacturing facilities in India poses a massive problem for airlines in the country which till date suffer due to the unavailability of spare parts and engine manufacturing in the country. In fact, Go First had blamed engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitneys inability to supply spare parts and engines for its Airbus aircraft for grounding its fleet in May. The two companies are currently in a legal fight. As of that month, around 70 planes of Go First, IndiGo (the countrys largest airline by passengers carried) and SpiceJet were grounded across multiple airports in India due to the unavailability of spare parts and lack of MRO infrastructure in India. Show me the money Most international aircraft lessors blame the failure of GIFT City as a viable alternative on the government's lack of incentives for airlines to set up bases in the special economic zone. "Shift the focus to airlines and give them tax benefits for leasing out of GIFT City," said Simran Singh Tiwana, chief executive officer of Star Air. The lack of a proper financing framework has also proved to be a dampener for aircraft leasing. Suthesh Selvaratnam, vice-president leasing Asia Pacific, AerCap, the Ireland-based aviation lessor, said that GIFT City is focused more on the mitigation of downside risks while lessors are more interested in the return on investment. Simply fly The idea of getting ordinary Indians onto aircraft was the stated aim of GR Gopinath, whose now long-defunct airline Air Deccan (which was taken over by Kingfisher Airlines before it too went bust) had the tagline Simplifly. The UDAN scheme was meant to replicate this ideal. But while it should be considered a success in establishing regional routes and airports across the country, the scheme has struggled to find success. More than half the awarded routes under the UDAN scheme are yet to start service and many among those operationalised are falling off the air map as they have become unfeasible after the government-provided VGF ended in three years. "Private airlines have taken a massive hit to their finances due to the pandemic (the Covid-19 outbreak) and are not in a position to operate any loss-making routes. Back in 2019, airlines were making profits and operating UDAN flights was necessary for the growth of overall passenger traffic in India," said an IndiGo official. A report submitted to parliament by the Standing Committee on Civil Aviation said that only one out of four routes under the scheme was operational at the end of the governments subsidy period of three years. Of the 94 RCS-UDAN routes that had completed three years till November 30, 2021, only 22 routes were in operation, the report said. Talking heads Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation, while speaking at the CII annual session on May 24: "Indian aviation has moved away from the days of planes sitting on the ground with no passengers to today not having enough planes to cater to the growing demand." Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India: "We already manufacture the 737 Max vertical fin in Hyderabad, and we also manufacture a large amount of defence equipment in India with our suppliers. Then there are the inlet and outlet barrels, as well as the fan cowls for engines that are being sourced from India. In addition, structural floor beams are being sourced from India. Aviation industry veteran and analyst Mohan Ranganathan: "What is urgently required in Indian aviation is transparency and accountability. This includes not just the airline owners and promoters but also the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) and the officials concerned. The day is not far off when another favoured and the propped-up airline is going to lose its wings. Go First is just the beginning. And it is not going to be the last. A complete revamp of Indias civil aviation policy is required." Here is a collection of the most important stories this afternoon: Ola Electric taps Kotak, Goldman Sachs for IPO, likely to hit market in early 2024 Ola Electric has engaged investment banks Kotak Mahindra Capital and Goldman Sachs for an initial public offering (IPO) in early 2024. The electric mobility startup aims to go public before the government subsidies for electric vehicles are discontinued. This makes Ola Electric one of the few venture capital-backed companies to enter IPO discussions within a six-month timeframe. Read more Go First Crisis: Justice Parthiba Singh recuses from hearing pleas by Go First aircraft lessors against DGCA Justice Parthiba Singh, a judge of the Delhi High Court on May 25 recused from hearing pleas by Go First aircraft lessors against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), seeking possession of their aircraft. The judge decided to recuse after it was pointed out to her that her spouse, senior advocate Maninder Singh, appeared for suspended management of the airline at NCLAT. The case will come up before another judge on May 26. More here UBS downgrades Tata Motors to sell; ups target price to Rs 450 a share Brokerage firm UBS has downgraded Tata Motors Ltd from "neutral" to "sell" but raised its 12-month target price for the company's shares to Rs 450 from Rs 320. UBS conducted an analysis of the global premium electric vehicle (EV) industry with a focus on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which constituted over two-thirds of its sales and EBITDA in fiscal year 2023. The findings reveal that the market is underestimating the risks and vulnerabilities faced by JLR due to the rapid electrification of premium cars. Know more MC Exclusive | JSW Energy to set up 3,800-tonne green hydrogen plant in Karnataka, sign 7-year supply deal with JSW Steel JSW Energy is planning to set up a green hydrogen plant in Karnataka with a capacity of 3,800 tonne. It is also signing a seven-year contract with JSW Steel, from the same conglomerate, for supplying green hydrogen and green oxygen to produce green steel. In an interview with Moneycontrol, Prashant Jain, Joint MD and CEO of JSW Energy Ltd, speaks about the companys diversification plans and its performance in FY2023. Read on Meta India's head of legal among senior leaders affected by layoffs The legal head of Meta's India arm has been laid off as part of the company's planned trimming of 10,000 people globally, at a time when the big tech firm is enmeshed in several important legal and regulatory matters in the country, according to people aware of the matter. More on this here AI-created pic triggers market crash: Welcome to investing in the wackadoodle world On May 22, shortly after the US markets opened for trading, an alarming image started doing the rounds on Twitter. It showed a large plume of smoke near the Pentagon Complex in Washington DC, sending netizens into a tizzy. Multiple verified handles on Twitter began sharing the picture and stating that the Pentagon headquarters of the US military has been hit by an explosion. The panic rapidly spread to the markets and the S&P 500 index skidded to the sessions low, leaving investors poorer by $500 billion within minutes. Read more The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of Indias (IRDAI) ambitious plan to roll out an industry-wide, tech-enabled distribution and servicing platform Bima Sugam could be a UPI-like (united payment interface) moment for the industry, IRDAI chairman Debasish Panda said. We are working with insurance councils to create a UPI-like moment for the insurance industry. The conceptual framework is in place. The execution will start soon, he said. The other two components of the ambitious plan include Bima Vistaar and Bima Vaahak. Bima Sugam will be the protocol of the platform. It will enable people to access insurance through this portal. Through Vistaar, we are trying to design a bundled life, health, casualty (accident) and property product. It will be priced in a manner that it is affordable, said Panda at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) plenary session in New Delhi on May 25. Also read: Bima Sugam may make policy buying easier, cut commissions A wider platform Bima Sugam will initially enable buying and selling of insurance policies but going forward, will facilitate servicing of policyholder requests and also settlement of claims. It will enable efficient policy and claim servicing, he said. Insurance repositories will also be connected to the platform. If digitised death registries (maintained by states) are connected to this platform, death certificates could be accessed at the time of life insurance claim settlement, making the process simpler and faster. Policyholders (or their families) can give their consent to pull insurance policies from the repository and death certificates from registries. The claims can be processed swiftly money could be in the bank account within, say six-eight hours, he said. Distributors, too, can use this platform to sell policies. There will be no job losses, instead more jobs will be created. This will lead to efficient distribution models, Panda said. Value-added services The IRDAI has also recommended an amendment to the Insurance Act which will enable insurance companies to offer value-added services along with their policies. Currently, the statute does not permit this. For example, if yoga or gym memberships are offered, it could appeal to millennial customersor, nursing services for their parents. They would be keen to go for such policies rather than plain vanilla policies. If they do so now, a huge capital charge will be levied on insurers, so it is not attractive, Panda said. Also read: Win-win deal?: Now, save on health insurance premiums, even as your smartwatch or fitness band helps you maintain good health The IRDAI is also working on moving from a factor-based solvency capital regime to a risk-based capital (RBC) regime. We are looking at experiences of other jurisdictions, trying to evolve an India RBC model. In the next 2-3 years, we will get it down to insurance companies to adopt the RBC regime, which will lead to more efficient use of capital. In the short term, some companies could need more capital, while some will also free up capital that can be used for growth. In the long term, it will lead to more efficient use of capital, he said. The insurance regulator has sent proposals to the government to amend the Insurance Act to allow composite licences for insurance companies and also enable the entry of newer players. These could be micro, regional, small, captive and specialised players. By allowing this kind of differentiation, we will be able to cater to different geographies and strata of the population. Different capital requirements will be recommended (for such players) through regulations, Panda said. If you are a State Bank of India (SBI) customer, you would have received messages over the last few days urging you to sign revised locker agreements. Dear Customer, please visit your branch for the execution of a revised locker agreement. In case you have already signed the revised agreement earlier, you still need to execute a supplementary agreement, reads the message sent by SBI. Like SBI, Bank of Baroda has also been exhorting customers who maintain lockers at its branches to sign revised locker agreements by June 30, 2023. Soon, all banks are likely to follow suit. RBI mandate In January 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had extended the deadline for banks to complete the process of renewal of locker agreements in a phased manner by December 31, 2023. The first milestone of renewal of 50 percent of the agreements by June 30, 2023, is just a month away. The second milestone for the banks is a renewal of 75 percent of the agreements by September 30, 2023. The instructions have their genesis in a February 2021 Supreme Court (SC) judgment. The SC had directed the RBI to finalise regulations for locker management within six months from the date of the order. The RBI complied with the order in August 2021, issuing a circular that requires banks to have a board-approved agreement in place for lockers. Banks may adopt the model locker agreement to be framed by the Indian Banks Association (IBA). This agreement shall be in conformity with these revised instructions and the directions of the Honble Supreme Court in this regard, the RBI notification said. Agreements incorporating the new rules came into force on January 1, 2022, for new locker customers, but for existing customers, banks had to complete the process by January 1, 2023. Just before the January 1 deadline was set to expire, the RBI and the banks realised that a large number of customers were yet to sign the revised agreements. In fact, several banks hadnt even alerted their customers on the need to sign the revised agreement by January 1. Consequently, the RBI decided to extend the deadline for banks to complete the process for existing safe deposit locker customers in a phased manner by December 31, 2023. Also read: Here's why you need to visit your bank lockers regularly Agreement on stamp paper According to RBI guidelines, the agreement needs to be on stamp paper, which the banks are to provide free of charge. The primary objective of the revised agreement is to protect the interest of locker holders. Banks are advised to facilitate the execution of fresh / supplementary stamped agreements with their customers by taking measures such as arranging for stamp papers, franking, electronic execution of the agreement, e-stamping, etc., and provide a copy of the executed agreement to the customer, the RBI circular issued on January 24, 2023 had said. While some banks are providing the required documents, others have asked customers to procure the stamp papers, says Reji Thomas from Hyderabad, who has a locker with a public sector bank. However, the RBI has not specified the denomination of the stamp paper. Purvi Dalal, from Ahmedabad, has two lockers; one with a public sector bank and another with a private one. The public sector bank is asking for the agreement on a Rs 20 stamp paper, whereas the private bank is asking for it on a Rs 100 stamp paper. Customers have also complained that their banks are demanding stamp papers in varying denominations of up to Rs 200. In fact, different branches of the same bank in the same city differ on the denomination of the stamp papers, the customers told Moneycontrol. There is a lack of clarity on the denomination of the stamp paper, said a bank official who handles retail banking operations, requesting anonymity. According to RBI guidelines, banks have to provide a copy of the agreement to customers. A copy of the locker agreement signed by both parties shall be furnished to the locker-hirer to inform her about her rights and responsibilities. The original agreement shall be retained with the banks branch where the locker is situated, stated the guidelines. Its about standardising agreements rather than changing something the RBI has been doing a lot, says Adhil Shetty, CEO, BankBazaar.com, and adds that standardising makes it easy to check for any discrepancy in the terms and conditions between banks. For instance, it is now mandatory that customers have a copy of the agreement, making it easy for them to refer to the terms and standard operating procedures (SOP) for lockers. It is also mandatory to display all terms and SOPs at branches and on the banks website. If your bank has given you an agreement to sign on, read it carefully. If you disagree with the clauses your bank has put down, talk to your bank and ensure the terms are per the RBI guidelines. Also read: Hiring a bank locker? Here's a checklist of what you should know FDs for the locker At the time of locker allotment, the RBI has permitted banks to obtain fixed deposits (FD) capable of covering three years rent and charges for breaking open the locker, if needed. This is to cover situations where the locker-holder neither operates the locker nor pays the rent. However, banks cannot break open the locker in case of customers with a good track record. Also, if the bank collects locker rent in advance, but the locker-holder surrenders the locker mid-term, the bank will have to refund the proportionate amount of advance rent collected. Discharge from liability The bank shall not be liable for deterioration or damage to the contents of the locker, whether caused by rain, flood, earthquake, lightning, civil disturbance, riot, terrorist attack, or negligence of the customer. Compensate in case of theft, fire However, it is the responsibility of banks to take all steps for the safety and security of the premises in which the safe deposit vaults are contained. The bank will have to compensate the locker-holder in case of incidents like fire, theft, burglary, robbery, dacoity, building collapse, negligence by the bank, or fraudulent activity by its employees. The banks liability will be equivalent to 100 times the prevailing annual rent of the safe deposit locker. Alert for locker access Register your email id and mobile number with the bank. The banks will send an email and SMS alert intimating the date and time of locker operation. The banks will also provide the redressal mechanism for unauthorised locker access. Krisumi Corporation Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation of Japan and Indias Krishna Group, is expected to spend 60 to 70 percent of its sales revenue on the development of 322 luxury suites in Gurugram, a top company official told Moneycontrol. The company has sold 322 luxury homes in the second phase of its project in Gurugram Krisumi City coming up along the Dwarka Expressway, for around Rs 500 crore, the official said. The official added that the total sales potential of the 30.38 acre-project is approximately Rs 10,000 crore. The cost of construction, including the land cost, is estimated to be about Rs 7,500 crore. Sumitomo Corporation, a company belonging to the Sumitomo Group, entered the Indian real estate market in 2018 in partnership with Krishna Group, a leading auto component manufacturer. "We recently launched the second phase of our Krisumi City project, and sold all 322 units within three days," Krishna Group Chairman Ashok Kapur said. The residential units, named 'Waterfall Suites,' are priced between Rs 1.47 crore and Rs 1.92 crore, he said, adding that the units have been sold at Rs 16,000 per sq ft. The first phase was launched in 2020 and the price quoted then was Rs 9,500 per sq ft. The price appreciation is largely due to the development along the Dwarka Expressway and the upcoming Global City project, Kapur added. He said that the company plans to complete the design work of the remaining phases by the end of this year. We may launch the third phase at the beginning of next year, he added. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Singapore Airlines (SIA), a leading international partner of Air India, on Thursday, said it will not proceed with using paper boxes for in-flight meals on medium and long-haul flights "for now", following the feedback from its trial earlier this year, according to a media report. The trial was rolled out in March this year for economy class meals on a small number of medium and long-haul flights which sparked criticism about the airline's food standards, including the presentation of meals, Channel News Asia reported. Some said the move made SIA appear "cheap" and that it was a cost-cutting measure, the report said. "Some of (our customers) have shared their feedback regarding the service ware, as have members of the public. We have taken that on board," a spokesperson for the airline was quoted as saying. "We have also received the operational feedback on the trial, and noted that we may need to improve the design of the box," the spokesperson said. The trial in March was part of SIA's efforts to "enhance the in-flight experience on medium and long-haul flights by offering more main course options" that were frequently asked for, such as gravy-rich dishes like laksa, mee siam, and congee. Taking all the feedback into account, the spokesperson said the airline has "decided not to proceed with this new service ware for now". SIA uses paper food boxes for economy-class meals on short-haul flights under three-and-a-half hours. In recent months, some netizens gave a thumbs down to the national carrier for its economy class meals, with the paper service ware trial igniting discussion around the airline's food presentation. SIA had previously addressed comments about cost-cutting, stating that the trial food boxes cost more than the disposable plastic casserole dishes that it uses, the report added. Amid heightened complaints, SIA reported a record annual profit of SGD 2.16 billion (USD1.63 billion) earlier this month. The spokesperson on Wednesday said that the airline has not reduced its budget for in-flight meals. Its current budget is about 20 per cent higher than that for the 2019-2020 financial year, even though the airline expects that its capacity will be lower than that year. "SIA remains committed to constantly innovating with the aim of enhancing the in-flight dining experience, and to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers," the spokesperson was quoted as saying. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Here's where you can catch art and other exhibits in the Cayuga County area over the next week: (Have something to add to our listings? Email david.wilcox@lee.net. All listings are free.) Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus; (315) 673-1350 or baltimorewoods.org; Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays Artwork by students from Auburn, Skaneateles and more (through May 26) Cafe 108, 108 Genesee St., Auburn; (315) 252-2233 or cafe108.org; Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays Art by Drake Nix Cayuga Museum of History & Art, 203 Genesee St., Auburn; (315) 253-8051 or cayugamuseum.org; Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays "Fabrication: Telling Stories Through Clothing" "Both Sides of the Wall: Auburn and Its Prison" CNY Emerging Artist Project: "Positive, Negative, Shallow and Deep" by Tyrone Johnson-Neuland (through May 27) Cayuga Owasco Lakes Historical Society History House, 14 W. Cayuga St., Moravia; (315) 497-3906 or colhs.org; Open 9 a.m.-noon Mondays or by appointment New exhibit on President Millard Fillmore Genoa Historical Association and Rural Life Museum, 920 Route 34B, King Ferry; (315) 364-8202 or genoahistorical.org; Open 10 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, Wednesdays by chance or appointment Easter bonnet display (bonnets old and new and Easter photos wanted) (through May 31) Collections on town cemeteries, photos of the community and a hands-on one-room 1840s schoolhouse museum Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, 180 South St., Auburn; (315) 882-8060 or nps.gov/hart; Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, guided tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Exhibits about and artifacts from the life of Harriet Tubman Howland Stone Store Museum and Opendore, Route 34B, Sherwood; howlandstonestore.org; Open 1-4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays Exhibits on abolitionism, the Underground Railroad, and the early life and call of Emily Howland Lock 52 and Montezuma historical societies, 73 Pine St., Port Byron; lock52hs@gmail.com; Open 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays by appointment Unique display of artwork showing iconic scenes of the early Erie Canal era (through Sept. 16) Local genealogy, digital library and photo collections related to Port Byron and Mentz New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, 25 South St., Auburn; (315) 258-9820; Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays Drawings by Karen Bove in honor of National Preservation Month Old Brutus Historical Society, 8943 N. Seneca St., Weedsport; (315) 834-9342; Open 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays (historian's night) and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursdays (research and organization) Collections on the history of Brutus and its people Schweinfurth: Featured artist releases microaggressions through art AUBURN Artist Theda Sandiford channels microaggressions commonplace verbal, behavioral or environmental slights, whether intentional or un Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, 205 Genesee St., Auburn; (315) 255-1553 or myartcenter.org; Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays "Triggered, Truth & Transformation" by Theda Sandiford (through May 28) "Made in NY 2023" (through May 28) CNY Emerging Artist Project: "Positive, Negative, Shallow and Deep" by Tyrone Johnson-Neuland (through May 28) Seward House Museum, 33 South St., Auburn; (315) 252-1283 or sewardhouse.org; Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays "Rooted in Reform" exhibit about founding of Auburn Correctional Facility, relationships to Miller and Seward family, and history of the criminal justice system Art in gift shop by photographer Todd Tanner Shepherds Brewing Co., 132 Genesee St., Auburn; shepsbeer.com; Open 4-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 3-10 p.m. Fridays, 1-10 p.m. Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. Sundays Art and custom sneakers by Pete Maywalt Skaneateles Artisans, 3 Fennell St., Skaneateles; (315) 685-8580 or skaneatelesartisans.com; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays Work by more than 175 local artists Skaneateles Historical Society Museum at The Creamery, 28 Hannum St., Skaneateles; (315) 685-1360; Open 1-4 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays Records, photos, newspaper articles and more items from Skaneateles history South Shore Artisans, 576 Main St., Fair Haven; facebook.com/southshoreartisans; Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays Local artists, including Marsha Decker's soaps Sterling Nature Center, Jensvold Road, Sterling; (315) 947-6143 or cayugacounty.us.; Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily 2022 Cayuga Naturally Photograph Contest winners The Underground Bottle Shop, 29 E. Genesee St., Auburn; undergroundbottleshop.com; Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays Art by Martin Kepecs Gallery: 2022 Cayuga Naturally Photograph Contest winners Startup founders will adopt more rational valuations when they return to the market to raise funds after enduring a challenging fundraising period, said partners at Matrix Partners India, one of the most active venture capital firms in the country, as they closed their largest-ever India-dedicated fund. In 2021, I think a lot of companies raised capital at very attractive valuations. Perhaps, one can argue, maybe a few years ahead of where the companys actual performance was, said Matrix India Managing Director Rajinder Balaraman in a virtual interview with Moneycontrol. In some ways, Indian founders were lucky because they had six months more time to react to the global macros. Most good companies have grown into their valuations or at least will grow into their valuations in the next 12 months and whenever they come back to the market to raise capital, they will have realistic expectations. I think Indian founders will navigate this cycle better, Balaraman added. Balaraman and Tarun Davda, Partner and Managing Director of Matrix Partners India, spoke to Moneycontrol after closing their fourth India-dedicated fund, raising $525 million. Along with General Partner Commitment and employee participation, the fund was closed at $550 million, the two partners said. This fund is the largest ever raised by the venture capital firm and will be used to invest in around 45-50 companies. Matrix will be targeting companies in sectors like consumer technology, financial technology, B2B (business-to-business), and software-as-a-service (SaaS), which have been its focus. It will also target newer sectors like generative artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and climate tech, Davda said. The VC plans to do about 15-20 deals a year. Davda and Balaraman said that the VC closed around 15-20 deals in the last 12 months and was one of the most active VC firms. The two partners also mentioned that this year the VC has participated in investments through the new fund, but it has not yet announced any of the deals. Moneycontrol reported earlier this week that Matrix increased the size of its fund and is also raising a sidecar fund of $14.75 million, according to its regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. To be sure, Matrix had set its sights on raising funds, starting at $450 million, from May 2022 onwards. The first close of the fund took place in the first half of 2022 itself, according to the two partners. But the fund expanded in size and added new Limited Partners (LPs) on board, which led to some regulatory requirements. This, along with the worsening macroeconomic environment, slowed the process for the final close of the fund, according to the two partners. Matrix onboarded a few sovereign funds from Asia and the Middle East, the two partners said, without divulging any details. They said that the fund garnered a lot of interest from regions outside of the US, unlike its previous three funds. Matrix Partners, a Seed to Series A stage investor in India, has as many as five unicorns valued at over $5 billion on its portfolio, including Ola, Razorpay, Dailyhunt, and Josh parent VerSe Innovation. The VC has also seen five of its portfolio companies go public, including Five Star Finance and Zomato. In 2021, Moneycontrol reported that Matrix's exits were far less than those of some of its peers, such as Nexus Venture Partners, Sequoia, and Accel. Davda and Balraman, however, said that the VC has been taking some secondaries in some of its portfolio companies ahead of future IPOs. The two partners however did not disclose many details on the rate of return. We have done partial secondary stake sales in some of our large companies where funds were looking to buy additional stakes. But the important thing here to note is you have to be profitable at scale Davda said. Davda and Balaraman also said that the IPO market will may open up again by the end of this year or early next year, which will be a lucrative option for exits again. The two were confident that their larger portfolio companies would be getting listed soon. Without taking names of the companies, they said they were aware of the startups that were in the pipeline for IPO Matrix's new fund comes at a time when many early-stage VC firms, including some of the most aggressive ones such as Sequoia Capital, Elevation Partners, and Accel, among others, have raised large India-dedicated funds but are waiting for the investment floodgates to open amid uncertainty in the global macroeconomic environment. With a majority of VCs staying out of the market, funding to the startup ecosystem has dropped substantially, particularly since the second half of 2022. Just as Balaraman said, valuations of companies have also faced a reality check. According to him, down rounds have happened in the ecosystem and will continue to happen going forward. He mentioned that while none of Matrix Partners companies have undergone a down round yet, the companies that need to raise cash in the near future may opt for down or flat rounds. Corroborating Balaramans remarks, Davda said,Some of the assets were overpriced post-Covid. The companies that managed to grow into these prices will raise at higher prices. But the companies that were unable to grow into those prices and are in the market to raise funds, might have to take a down round. But it's okay, companies should be prepared to take a down round and move forward. Matrix was founded by Avnish Bajaj and Rishi Navani in 2006. Bajaj was the co-founder and CEO of Baazee, which was later acquired and became Ebay India, while Navani was a former McKinsey executive and an investor with Westbridge Capital. Matrix raised a $300 million first fund in 2006, and another $300 million in 2011. In 2016 it raised $110 million to top up its second fund, and raised a full third fund of $300 million in 2019. However, in 2015, co-founder Navani left to start his own firm, Epiq Capital. Besides Bajaj, Matrix Indias current leadership has three managing directors- Vikram Vaidyanathan, Tarun Davda, and Rajat Agarwal. India will continue to be a massive investment theme for the new funds as it is a major growth hotspot, said Sandeep Patil, Partner, head of Asia, QED Investors, on the recent announcement of its $925-million fund-raise. His comments come at a time when the macro sentiments in the US and Europe continue to remain low amidst a funding winter and economic uncertainties. QED Investor is a global fintech-focussed venture capital firm whose India portfolio includes OneCard (FPL Technologies), Jupiter, Upswing, Refyne and Financepeer. Globally, some of its bets are ClearScore, Creditas, Credit Karma, Current, Flywire, Kavak and Klarna. The firm closed its Fund VIII of $650 million for early-stage investing, and the Growth II fund of $275 million for early growth-stage investing, which will be for Series B to pre-IPO rounds. These global funds will invest across the US, the UK, Europe, Latin America, India, Southeast Asia and Africa, but India remains a bright spot. In its previous Fund VI and Fund VII too, India was a significant theme, Patil told Moneycontrol. India has been a massive investment theme for Fund VI and VII. It is a big part of the story. So, I don't see India being anything but a big investment theme for Fund VIII, he said. From a macro perspective, India is a growth hotspot, given the headline GDP growth rate, and its the fastest-growing large economy in the world. That fact is not just well known now. It is well-embraced, well-regarded and getting set in the investor psyche. Other factors driving India opportunity The other factors driving the bullishness on India opportunity is the emerging affluence and the growing middle class. Patil expects good returns on fintech investments to come from the next 50-150 million of the population and not from the top 30-40 million alone. This is where we think the best investment returns will come from, be it lending to those customers, banking for those customers, insurance and payments for those customers, he said. He said the countrys distinguished payments and digital infrastructure with innovations like UPI and Account Aggregator took a decade of work to develop, and other countries are getting on to it now. Indias infrastructure is far more superior. Further, finding the right trained talent in technology is also a big benefit of investing in India. Themes to watch out Overall, in terms of cheque size through these two funds, in the early stage, the average cheque size will be between $3 and $20 million, and in the growth stage, it will be around $20-50 million. But given the current macro uncertainties, Patil highlighted that even in the Series A rounds, cheque sizes have started to get compressed from $15-17 million to $12 million and now down to $7-9 million. Among the segments within fintech that QED will be looking at include startups that are building full-stack offerings that will take care of user experience, product marketing and taking it all the way to how balance sheet is done. Embedded finance, which includes any startup looking at fintech as a major monetization angle integrated into products, be it for working capital loans or point of sale financing, is another area. Other prominent themes of interest for the fund are consumer lending, SME lending and insurance. In fact, in India, Patil said that consumer lending will be an important theme. I think India is a massive consumer story that will play out over the next 15-20 years. So it makes sense to continue to invest behind it, he explained. Despite the global headwinds and negative consumer sentiments in the US and Europe, Patil said this is the best time to invest in fintech, as risk models and underwriting methods are automatically getting trained for downturn scenarios. The businesses, which will eventually emerge, are going to be robust. Limited partners (LPs) are also finding better picks at advantageous valuations, and would get a seat at the table to steer these companies. All eyes on lending In India, of late, existing fintechs wanting to diversify into digital lending has been a growing theme. This includes QED Investors portfolio bet Jupiter, apart from Jar, PhonePe etc. Patil said the trend is hardly surprising. In banking, all roads will first lead you to lending and then to insurance. Profit pools for banks anywhere in the world, 60-70 percent of it will be in lending and another 20 percent in insurance and then everything else. Its no surprise that these fintechs are looking at lending for monetisation. But lending is easier said than done. Its easy to lend but you need to get your money back, with interest, he said. Though bullish on lending, QED has consciously stayed away from the buy now, pay later (BNPL) theme in India. He called it a consumer behaviour-focused product, and that building resilience and long-term profitability through it can be done with the right innovations but it will be challenging. Ola Electric has engaged investment banks Kotak Mahindra Capital and Goldman Sachs for an initial public offering (IPO) in early 2024. The electric mobility startup aims to go public before the government subsidies for electric vehicles are discontinued. This makes Ola Electric one of the few venture capital-backed companies to enter IPO discussions within a six-month timeframe. On May 23, Moneycontrol had reported that Nexus Ventures and Westbridge Capital-backed affordable housing company India Shelter had picked i-banks for a Rs 2,000 cr IPO. The electric mobility startup, backed by some of the world's biggest private market investors, including SoftBank and Tiger Global, held meetings with several domestic and foreign investment banks in May to initiate preparations for an IPO, according to people familiar with the matter who informed Moneycontrol. Following these discussions, Kotak Mahindra Capital and Goldman Sachs are currently in advanced talks to be selected as financial advisors, with Kotak closely collaborating with the startup to determine the IPO's structure, the people said, requesting anonymity. Additionally, Ola Electric plans to appoint at least two more investment banks at a later stage, the people added. The company has also engaged Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas as legal advisor for the IPO, according to the people. A few key events to watch out for in the roadmap to the IPO are the motorcycle launch and the progress of the battery unit, said one of the people quoted above. The person was talking about Ola setting up a new research and development (R&D) facility called the battery innovation center in Bengaluru, spread over 500,000 square feet. Additionally, the company has plans to introduce a new electric motorcycle. Until now, Ola Electric has solely operated in the electric scooter segment. No specific timelines have been finalised as yet but the target is to launch the IPO before the elections next year, the person quoted above added. Sources indicate that the IPO planned by Ola Electric will consist of a combination of primary and secondary share offerings. However, the company is currently deliberating on the valuation, considering the volatile and nascent nature of the electric vehicle market. The firms founder, Bhavish Aggarwal, who also runs a cab aggregation business Ola, has ambitions of a $10 Billion market capitalisation, people familiar with his thinking said. Goldman Sachs and Kotak did not respond to queries sent by Moneycontrol, despite reminders. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Ola Electric declined to comment. To be sure, the company was last officially valued at $5 billion when it raised $200 million in January 2022 from Tekne Private Ventures, Alpine Opportunity Fund and Edelweiss, among others. According to a media report, the company raised $300 million at $6 billion valuation earlier this week. Sources said that Singapores Temasek or sovereign fund Qatar Investment Authority may have shown interest. However, theres no confirmation on this from Ola yet. The extent to which investors are willing to dilute their stakes remains uncertain, and any figures currently mentioned may undergo significant changes as the IPO approaches, contingent upon the market conditions and investor sentiment, as per the sources. However, a source said that the company would be looking for a significant premium from its private market valuation. As Ola Electric contemplates its IPO, the timing aligns with the company's ambitions to capitalise on the significant growth in sales of its electric two-wheelers. According to Redseer's electric mobility report released in April, Ola Electric witnessed an impressive three-fold increase in sales volumes, reaching 730,000 units in the fiscal year 2022-2023 (FY23). This notable surge in sales provides a favorable backdrop for Ola Electric's IPO considerations. Olas market share also went up to 30 percent in the March quarter and for the full year, too, it was leading with a market share of 22 percent, followed by Okinawa, Ampere, Ather and Hero, according to the report. In addition, Ola Electric has a target to go public before the government's subsidies provided under the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India) scheme come to an end. Recently, the Ministry of Heavy Industries received approval from the central government to decrease the FAME-II subsidies applicable to electric two-wheelers purchased on or after June 1. This development further emphasizes the urgency for Ola Electric to list publicly and take advantage of the existing subsidies before they diminish. The subsidy rate for electric two-wheelers was brought down to 15 percent of the ex-factory price of vehicles from 40 percent at present. This proposal is likely to impact EV players in India and may likely bring down the demand in the initial phases. Furthermore, Ola Electric's IPO discussions coincide with a period of declining valuations for electric vehicle companies worldwide. Notably, the share prices of prominent EV firms such as NIO Inc and Rivian Inc in the United States have witnessed substantial decreases, with NIO Inc experiencing an 85 percent decline and Rivian Inc facing a 90 percent drop from their respective peak values. (With inputs from Bhavya Dilipkumar) Bengaluru-based Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) may apply for a universal banking license after the completion of its reverse merger with parent Ujjivan Financial Services Limited (UFSL), people aware of the development said. We may apply for a universal bank license with the regulator after the completion of our reverse merger, one of the people said. In October 2022, Ujjivan SFBs Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ittira Davis said the institution may apply for a universal banking license in the future. Currently, Ujjivan SFBs reverse merger process with UFSL is pending at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). A reverse merger typically entails a larger company being taken over by a smaller one; the resultant entity is named after the acquirer. A proposal for the reverse merger has been submitted to the NCLT and approval is expected by October or November 2023, the people cited above said. Also read: MC Exclusive: Ujjivan SFB eyes double-digit growth in housing finance, to expand network in tier 2 and 3 cities, says MD & CEO The bank is expecting to complete the reverse merger process around April or May 2024 after receiving NCLT approval. A universal bank is one that provides services ranging from retail and wholesale to investment banking all under one roof. SFBs can offer deposits as well as loans but cannot set up any subsidiaries to offer any non-banking financial services. RBI rules Under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines for "on tap" licensing of universal banks in the private sector, large industrial houses cannot apply for bank permits. Under the so-called fit and proper criteria, applicant promoters should have a past record of sound financials, credentials and integrity, and have a minimum 10-year successful track record. Also read: MC Explains: What is Annapurna Finance which has applied for a universal banking licence from RBI? The RBI guidelines have also stipulate an initial minimum paid-up voting equity capital for a bank of Rs 500 crore. Thereafter, the bank shall have a minimum net worth of Rs 500 crore at all times. The RBI last issued universal bank licenses in 2014 when it gave its approval to IDFC and Bandhan Bank. Since then, IDFC Bank merged with Capital First Ltd to form IDFC First Bank, and Bandhan Bank acquired Gruh Finance (NBFC). In March 2021, RBI constituted a committee headed by former deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath to evaluate applications for universal banks as well as SFBs. These applications will be first screened by the RBI to ensure the eligibility of the applicants. Thereafter, the panel will evaluate the applications. Fragile business model Experts noted that before applying for a universal bank license, SFBs need to re-check their books as they have a large microfinance book that is very sensitive to macroeconomic issues. SFBs have a volatile business model. A majority of their books are concentrated towards microfinance customers and unsecured lending, which is prone to macro issues, said Chandan Sinha, former executive director at RBI. Another former RBI executive, who did not wish to be named, said the regulator would look at the numbers and operations of banks who have received the universal banking licenses to look at the overall picture of these banks. RBI would look at the operations and books of Bandhan Bank and IDFC First Bank. The regulator would make the decision to give the universal bank license to applicants based on the growth, possibility of risks, and other factors of these banks, said the executive. Reverse merger The reverse merger between UFSL and Ujjivan SFB, which was recommended by an audit committee and committee of independent directors, was given inter-alia approval by the Board of Directors in October 2022. Also read: Ujjivan Financial Board approves merger with Ujjivan SFB. Check details of scheme The scheme shall be operational from the effective date and effective from the appointed date defined in the scheme as April 1, 2023, or such other date as may be approved by the NCLT. UFSL began its operations as a non-banking financial corporation in 2005. The NBFC in 2017 acquired a license to operate as an SFB from RBI and commenced banking operations as Utkarsh SFB. The bank, in the March 2023 quarter, reported a more than two-fold jump in net profit to Rs 309 crore, helped by higher core income and a write-back in provisions. Its core Net Interest Income grew 36 percent to Rs 738 crore on a 33 percent increase in the loan book, and limited by a 0.85 percent narrowing in the Net Interest Margin. Also read: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Q4 net up 144% to Rs 309 crore On the asset quality front, it showed an improvement with the gross non-performing assets ratio coming down to 2.88 percent from 3.64 percent three months ago. With an experience of nearly five years in Information Technology (IT), techie Prachi Gupta (name changed on request) has switched three firms, most recently in November 2022, when news of layoffs in the industry started. Gupta regarded herself as lucky. The job hopping could have resulted in onboarding delays a factor prevalent these days. Because she wanted to work at her next employer for at least two years, Gupta thought of checking out demand in the talent market. She said she was shocked to see so many recruiters open to hiring her. Two offered her a hike of 40-50 percent above the last salary. Whats more, she even received a call from the Human Resource (HR) department of a former employer that recently laid off over 200 employees, offering a role in the organisation with better pay. Gupta is thinking of switching jobs again! Shes not alone. Studies by recruitment firms such as Michael Page, Randstad and TeamLease have shown that the Great Resignation wave hasn't disappeared entirely from the Indian talent market; traces of it lingered on. For instance, Michael Page India found that 75 percent of employees in India were active job seekers, meaning they are looking right now or plan to find a new job within the next six months. Twenty-three percent are on the fence, but open to a new job. ALSO READ | India Inc readying the next-gen workforce with in-house universities The demand for talent, especially for niche skills, is still high, led by both the IT and non-IT sectors. In the past, the confidence of Indian talent was driven by buoyancy in hiring; now, it is about replacement hiring, said Anil Ethanur, co-founder of specialist staffing company Xpheno. While enterprises across key talent consuming cohorts of IT have paused or slowed hiring, their attrition rates have remained significant. Enterprises are not seen hiring in volumes for expansion or additional capacity. However, attrition-linked replacement hiring is in play as enterprises intend to retain size and capacity, he said. Xpehno data shows that the high potential cohort of Indian Unicorns and Soonicorns has attracted nearly 170,000 professionals during the last year. Nearly 100,000 of this was replacement hiring. The top eight IT service providers, despite a drop in expansion hiring, had to hire 475,000 to maintain their headcount size. The gross hiring by this cohort, including the expansion hiring, was 560,000 lakh in the financial year ended March 2023. Focussed hiring Major firms in the non-IT segment are investing heavily in retaining and attracting talent, more so in Electric Vehicles (EVs), domestic airlines, financial services and even startups. Agreeing that some businesses prioritise stability and a proven track record, Pankaj Gulati, Chief People Officer of Fincare SFB, said confident candidates showcasing their skills, adaptability, and value proposition can find organisations that appreciate their attitude and potential contribution even in these challenging times. The Bengaluru-based bank plans to hire over 1,500 people in this financial year and its recruitment process will involve rigorous evaluation and selection to ensure that the most qualified and suitable candidates are selected. ALSO READ | Hiring challenges keep startup CXOs awake at night A similar trend is visible in CXO hiring. Although companies are hiring consciously, executive search firm Korn Ferry observed that as companies realign their business models and look for future-focused roles, there is a growing need for talent with advanced skills. However, multinational firms are putting in certain hiring checks and controls as they are tied to global businesses which are influenced by macroeconomic factors, said Konika Chadha, Regional Market Leader of India in Korn Ferry. Even for startups with major hiring plans such as Codleo Consulting, Homesfy.in and Mymagnet.io, the offer letter vs offer letter battle remains in addition to facing the challenge of retaining top-performing talent in a competitive job market. Temporary slowdown Randstads Workmonitor 2023 study shows that a minimum of eight out of 10 employees are confident about securing a new job within 3-6 months. The staffing firm observed that the temporary slowdown in hiring was primarily because companies were looking to utilise their bench strength before onboarding fresh talent. Having said that, compared to the first quarter of 2022, Randstad has already witnessed a jump in hiring intent by around 18-20 percent in the first quarter of 2023. In fact, some sectors like telecommunications, financial services, and pharma have almost doubled their hiring intentions. On the other hand, sectors like e-commerce, retail, and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) have also shown significant growth, each with more than 80 percent expansion in hiring outlook. ALSO READ | Why WhatsApp has become a fertile ground for job-offer scams Over the next five years, the job market in India is projected to undergo a significant 20-22 percent turnover, with the most promising roles originating from the AI (Artificial Intelligence), machine learning, and data sectors, said Yeshab Giri, Chief Commercial Officer of Staffing and Technologies at Randstad India. All eyes on next 6 months With nearly half the calendar year in the rearview mirror, all bets are now on the next six months for a stabilisation of the talent market, Xphenos Ethanur said. He said key talent sectors typically cannot stay away from hiring for longer than 2-3 quarters because it impacts their future talent supply chain and business prospects. India's top five IT companies Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCL Tech, Wipro and Tech Mahindra added 83,906 employees in FY23, a 69 percent decline from the previous year's addition of 273,377 employees. The six months starting July will witness a recovery of talent action in the slowdown sectors, in response to stabilisation of global market climate, Ethanur said. The agricultural sector of the country went through several ups and downs under the second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modis government. While Indias food production saw a rise, with Indias agriculture exports hitting a historic high of $50 billion in FY22, the introduction of three contentious farm laws that had to be withdrawn after thousands of farmers came on the streets to protest against them dented the governments image. The Modi governments biggest promise of doubling farmers incomes, however, remains unfulfilled despite introducing direct cash transfers to farmers. The big promise In the last four years, doubling of farmers income has been the main theme for the sector, since Modi announced it in 2017 during his Independence Day speech. It was reiterated again in the Bharatiya Janata Partys term 2.0 manifesto. The party promised rising farm sectoral incomes and prosperity for the sector. The story so far The farm sector during Modis second term witnessed an annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent over the last six years, the Economic Survey for 2023 said. The agricultural annual budget has increased fivefold to Rs 1.25 lakh crore in 2023, from Rs 30,223.88 crore in 2013-14. Institutional credit for the agricultural sector rose from Rs 7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 18.5 lakh crore in 2022-23, as per a statement issued by the agriculture ministry on March 21 this year. The 2019 launch of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, an income support scheme intended for farmers with small landholdings that provides Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments, has been the success story for the second term of the Modi government. More than Rs. 2.24 lakh crore has been released so far to more than 11 crore farmers as of now. The government claims that digital transfers have meant that the money reaches the end user. Moreover, concessional institutional credit through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme is being extended at 4 percent interest per annum for all those who repay loans within one year. This is a measure to allow farmers to rid themselves of indebtedness to informal sources of credit, and a special drive was initiated in February 2020 to enrol more members. As per the latest data made available by agriculture ministry, over 387.87 lakh new KCC applications had been sanctioned as on December 23, 2022, with a sanctioned credit limit of Rs. 4,49,443 crore as part of the drive. The government has also taken steps to promote organic farming and micro irrigation including creation of a Micro Irrigation Fund with an initial corpus of Rs 5,000 crore with NABARD, along with the introduction of latest technology such as drones for farm use. During the period from 2014-15 to March 2022, Rs 5,490.82 crore was allocated for agricultural mechanisation, the ministry of agriculture said in a March 21, 2023, statement. As many as 13,88,314 machines have been provided to farmers on subsidy basis, it said. Also Read: Karnataka to use blockchain-based seed traceability to support farmers The government is also working on creating a startup ecosystem in agriculture and allied sectors by giving various grants. As per a February statement by the agriculture ministry, between FY20 and FY22, 1,102 startups were selected by different knowledge partners and agribusiness incubators. A total of Rs 66.83 crore grants-in-aid was released for funding these startups. The unfinished business A parliamentary panel on agriculture in a report tabled in Parliament on March 23 this year noted that the government is far from its 2022 goal of doubling the income of farmers. The panel said that the monthly agricultural household income rose from Rs 8,059 in 2015-16 to Rs 10,218 in 2018-19, while flagging that incomes in states such as Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, and Odisha, declined instead of rising. While PM KISAN over the past three year has provided assistance worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore to needy farmers, giving them Rs 6,000 each year in three equal instalments, as per data made available by the agriculture ministry in a statement, the amount is too little to make any noticeable difference in farmers incomes as it amounts to only Rs 500 a month. Another challenge is issues of climate change that are directly affecting foodgrain production. This will remain among the biggest challenges for years ahead. The effects of the countrys green revolution that helped it make great strides in domestic food production and transformed India from a food-deficit nation to a food-surplus, export-oriented country are now waning. As the country faces second-generation problems of sustainability and nutrition, and the adoption of new agricultural technologies, a dialogue needs to be initiated to find suitable solutions for the future and make farmers adopt the means to it. Talking heads Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture in Parliament on February 7 said responding to a question on measures taken to double farmer incomes: The government has adopted and implemented several policies, reforms, developmental programmes and schemes for achieving higher income for farmers directly or indirectly. Results are looking very positive. Devinder Sharma, agriculture expert: PM KISAN scheme looks like a mega scheme but is only Rs 500 in the pockets of farmers. This is, however, a tectonic shift to move from price policy to income policy. The income support must rise as we move ahead. Indra Shekhar Singh, independent agri-policy analyst, former director, policy and outreach, National Seed Association of India: Doubling farmers income programme was the biggest promise of the Modi government but it has failed miserably. Pressure on the farm sector has gone up with over 80 crore people to be fed under the public distribution system. For the first time, the MiG-29K fighter aircraft undertook night landing on indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, a feat described by the Indian Navy as a "historic milestone". The Navy said the "challenging" night landing trial demonstrated the resolve, skill and professionalism of the crew of the INS Vikrant and the naval pilots. The night landing of the Russian-origin MiG-29K took place on Wednesday night when the ship was sailing in the Arabian Sea. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Indian Navy for the successful maiden night landing trials of MiG-29K on INS Vikrant. "Congratulations to the Indian Navy for successfully undertaking the maiden night landing trials of MiG-29K on #INSVikrant. This remarkable achievement is a testimony to the skills, perseverance and professionalism of the Vikrant crew and Naval pilots. Kudos to them," Singh tweeted. In a statement, the Navy said the aircraft carrier is presently undergoing "air certification and flight integration trials" with rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft for achieving a "combat ready" state at the earliest. "As part of the trials, the maiden day landing of MiG-29K and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) was achieved on February 6. Since then, day and night landing trials of all helicopters in the Naval inventory have progressed," it said. "In continuation with the impetus on the aviation trials, the Navy has achieved another historic milestone by undertaking the maiden night landing of MiG-29K on May 24," the Navy said. It said this "challenging accomplishment" within three months of the maiden day landing demonstrates the resolve, skill and professionalism of the Indian Navy, Vikrant crew and the Naval pilots. The Navy said INS Vikrant is a "big boost" to the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) vision of the government. In February, Russian-origin MiG-29K and a prototype of the Naval variant of the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas jets had conducted day landings on the aircraft carrier. In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant that made the country part of an elite group of nations capable of manufacturing aircraft carriers above 40,000 tonnes category. The Navy had said the aircraft carrier would be able to play a role in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore, INS Vikrant has a sophisticated air defence network and anti-ship missile systems. It has the capacity to hold 30 fighter jets and helicopters. At the commissioning ceremony of the vessel, Prime Minister Modi called it a "floating city" and that it is a reflection of India becoming self-reliant in defence. The night landing of the MiG-29K aircraft came as part of flight trials onboard the aircraft carrier. The INS Vikrant has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1700 people, including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers. It has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles. The ship is 262 metres long, 62 metres wide and it has a height of 59 metres. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) this week brought the focus back on an ongoing scramble between global and regional powers for expanding influence on the strategically important islands in the Pacific Ocean. The United States has been the dominant power in the Pacific since World War II. But Chinas aggressive rise and attempt to establish itself as an equally powerful player in the Pacific in recent months has created considerable tension in the region. Modi visited Papua New Guinea for the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit, --an initiative that he began in 2014 to deepen and strengthen relations with the 14-member islands of the FIPIC. He was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit PNG. The 14 countries that are in the FIPIC include, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu islands that are located to the northeast of Australia in the Pacific Ocean. Strategic importance Modi, who also visited Australia, called for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Although the islands are mostly small in size, it is their extended Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs)about 200 to 230 miles -- as well as their location that enhances their strategic importance. India is a major power in the Indian Ocean region, but it wants to expand presence in the Pacific through its engagement with the islands under FIPIC. Experts say the Pacific has long been seen as the United States backyard and a region where Australia holds a hegemonic status. China factor The increased tussle between the US and China over the Taiwan issue has been a major factor for hectic activities between the outside powers and the island nations in the Pacific. China has been overactive in the region to convince the island's nations to switch their diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). Beijing fears being encircled by the islands under the influence of the US and its allies to curtail its rise and use the islands to launch attacks in the event a war breaks out over Taiwan. China has made significant inroads in many of the islands by offering to build its infrastructure under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and by providing military and financial assistance to these countries. Tension in the region has begun to rise. China signed a bilateral security agreement with Solomon Islands last year. US response The US and its allies saw it as a major challenge in the region that America has dominated for the past 70 years. They feared the agreement was the first step by China to secure a military presence in the Pacific. China has also provided Fiji with warships and begun construction of a port and roads in Papua New Guinea. Its decision to build a large seaport in Vanuatu has alarmed observers who believe that it will later be used as a military base. China has convinced Kiribati to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, which strategists see as Chinas attempt to expand a pro-Beijing bloc around Australia to gain geopolitical advantage over the US. America has also begun to increase its military footprint across the Indo-Pacific to bolster a line of defence against an assertive China. War is not inevitable, and it's not imminent, experts say, but acknowledge that this decade presents a period of increased risk. Military presence The US provides economic assistance to countries like the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau in exchange for military cooperation under its compacts of free association agreements. The Biden administration has requested $7.1 billion over 20 years to fund economic assistance and postal services in the three island nations. The Pacific compact nations are strategically important because of their proximity to sea lanes that connect Australia to Northeast Asia and North America, and extends from Japan's Ogasawara Islands to Guam and Papua New Guinea. In the event of a war with China over Taiwan, they could be potential locations for military operations, The US plans to install an advanced radar system in Palau to bolster over-the-horizon situational awareness in the region. It deployed F-35 fighter jets there in 2022. The US has an agreement with Micronesia to develop military facilities that can also serve as a resupply hub for aircraft and vessels. America operates a missile test site under a lease through 2066 in the Marshall Islands. Washington is spreading military assets across the Pacific in response to China's growing missile capabilities, both in precision and in range. India factor Observers say that India offers a third option in the ongoing Sino-US tussle for dominance in the region. India announced a 12-point development plan for the Pacific Island nations in a range of areas like healthcare, renewable energy and cyber-security. India will establish a super specialty cardiology hospital in Fiji and assist in setting up dialysis units in all the 14 island countries. It has also decided to provide sea ambulances to all the FIPIC member countries. At the FIPIC summit, leaders described Modi as the leader of the Global South and asked him to offer a third big voice in the face of the global north. Part of this could indeed be rhetoric by the local leaders, but Modis presence at the summit shows that India can genuinely offer a third option to countries in the Pacific Ocean. Asserting that power transfers never happen merely at the shake of hands, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 25 appealed to opposition parties to reconsider their decision to boycott the dedication of the new Parliament building scheduled on May 28, saying it is a "temple of democracy." Addressing reporters here, she said 20 "aadeenams" (pontiffs) from Tamil Nadu have been invited for the inauguration, where the 'Sengol' will be installed, as did in 1947 to symbolise the power transformation from the British. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday. Sitharaman addressed a press conference at the Raj Bhavan here in the company of TN Governor RN Ravi, his Telangana and Nagaland counterparts, Tamilsai Soundararajan and La Ganesan, respectively, Union Minister L Murugan and TN Minister PK Sekar Babu. The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, one among the 19 opposition parties in the Centre that are boycotting the inauguration, dubbed the Sengol (sceptre) a symbol of monarchy and insisted it had nothing to do with democracy. Responding to the opposition taking exception to the inauguration by PM Modi, instead of President Droupadi Murmu, Sitharaman said in a veiled attack on the Congress that its former chief Sonia Gandhi had laid the foundation stone for the Chhattisgarh assembly building instead of the Governor of that state earlier. It was strange that those who censured the President, now find themselves morally motivated, Sitharaman said. "I am surprised by their allegation. These parties saw the President coming from a tribal background and took up a bitter campaign against her. Leaders of the opposition parties spoke ill of her and said she will be a rubber stamp and that she represents evil forces," Sitharaman said. "But the Prime Minister gave her due respect. Those who ran a bitter campaign then are now suddenly speaking for her," the finance minister said. Asked for her comments on the boycott of the inauguration by several political parties, she replied, "Parliament is a temple of democracy and these parties should reconsider their decision and participate." Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said certain political parties seem to have the habit of playing politics as per their convenience. "I was not invited for the inauguration of the Assembly complex which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister (K Chandrasekar Rao). Some parties know how to play politics, when to invoke the name of governor or the chief minister, as per their convenience," she added. Sitharaman said the unveiling of the golden Sengol marks an important event in the history of Indian Parliamentary democracy. "The Rajya Sabha is part of the Parliament complex and the Sengol will be placed in the Lok Sabha signifying an important event in the temple of democracy and also Tamil Nadu's connection to the symbolic transfer of power through the Sengol," she said. "Never ever power transfers are done at the shake of hands. There are many things which go to make the events sanctified and the Sengol represents one such sanctifying event. This talks about the civilisational link," she said. On whether the embossment of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi images on the sceptre be accepted by people of all faiths, she said that when the British left India there were Christians and Muslims in the country. None had objected to those images when it was given to Lord Mountbatten and later handed over to the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. "Indonesia, a Muslim majority nation, for instance, has Ganesh and Lakshmi on their currency notes. They find nothing wrong to display their civilisational symbols," she said and expressed hope that the Sengol too would find acceptance. Sitharaman further said TN has a "big proud part" to the episode of handing over of the Sengol to Nehru, symbolising the power transfer from the British to the people of India in 1947. This was done on the advice of the Tiruvavaduthurai adheenam after the late CR Rajagopalachary discussed it with the Shaivite pontiff following Nehru's consultations with him. As many as 20 'aadeenams' from Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvavaduthurai, Perur and Madurai have been invited for the May 28 inaugural event, she said. In Tamil, the word 'Aadeenam' refers to both a Shaivite monastery and the head of such a math. "The pontiffs will attend the event, there will be Oduvars (scholars in Shaivite scriptures and hymns) who will recite the Thevaram. In 1947 also the Sengol was handed over to Nehru when othuvargal recited Kolaru Pathigam," she said. Meanwhile, the DMK lashed out at the government for the invitation to the pontiffs, asking if religious heads of other faiths have been invited. DMK spokesperson and former MP TKS Elangovan said Sengol represents monarchy. "Sengol is an identity of a monarchy. In a monarchy there was no sperate judicial system, the king was the chief justice, the king was head of defence, head of administration; king controls the entire nation.The king renders justice to his subjects," he told PTI. He said in a democracy there is no role for the Sengol. "Sengol represents monarchy, it talks about the functioning of a monarch, how he should be upright in holding justice among his people. In 1947, some people gave Sengol to Pundit Nehru when India got independence. It is just a sympbol, a gift," he added. On the invitation extended to the 20 adheenams, he said "they are opening a Parliament inviting one religious group, let them answer that," and claimed the Centre was "violating the Constitution. " The world appreciates the way India has strengthened its economy over the past few years despite various challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday while flagging off the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express via video conference. The prime minister also inaugurated 100 per cent electrification of railway tracks in the state. Equipped with state-of-the-art amenities for passengers, the first such train for Uttarakhand reduces the journey time between Dehradun and the national capital to four-and-a-half hours from the six hours and 10 minutes it takes on the Shatabdi Express. "Global tourists want to visit India to see the country and understand it. This is a great opportunity for Uttarakhand," the prime minister said at the launch. Addressing the flag-off ceremony, Modi said he just returned from a tri-nation tour and can say that the whole world looks towards India with great hope. "The world appreciates the way India has strengthened its economy over the past few years despite various challenges," he added. The prime minister also mentioned various road and rail projects undertaken in Uttarakhand by the BJP's "double-engine government" to boost connectivity. He mentioned the efforts underway to upgrade the facilities for Chardham pilgrims through reconstruction projects in Kedarnath and Badrinath, and those aimed at expanding the health infrastructure across the state. In his speech, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami thanked the prime minister for giving yet another facility to the state which will further boost connectivity between the Uttarakhand capital and Delhi. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Auburn Community Hospital hosted EMS providers for a celebration on Wednesday that included the proclamation presentation along with lunch for all members of the EMS community, including police, fire and ambulance workers. The tussle between Aam Aadmi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party seems to have no end in sight after the Centre brought an unprecedented ordinance retaking effective control of the national capital territory. The direct attack against the AAP makes one thing clear: The BJP is hellbent on stopping Arvind Kejriwal. While this is a good opportunity for Kejriwal to break the ice with several opposition political parties and play an active role in uniting the opposition, the reality is that he has limited scope to make much of a difference in stopping the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha. Why AAP? As Narendra Modi ascended to power in national politics, the BJP's narrative was constructed primarily in opposition to the Congress and other established regional parties. The political narrative of the BJP had no effective counter to a new party like the AAP. Even amidst the BJP's triumph and its unstoppable juggernaut between 2014 and 2019, the ascent of Arvind Kejriwal was a noteworthy development. BJPs critique of dynastic politics is invalidated in this case because the AAP is not a party run by a single family. In a similar vein, it is worth noting that the AAP's foundation was not rooted in any particular caste, regional, or religious ideology and had no baggage of policy missteps or bad governance. Moreover, AAP has also successfully embraced both Hindutva (albeit a softer version) and nationalism. In the final analysis, it appears that the BJP is not yet equipped to contend with such a political party that leans towards the right of centre. Kejriwal's political agenda is primarily focused on development and is characterised by a populist approach that emphasises the provision of freebies. More gallingly for BJP, Kejriwals freebies have received wide notice. Against these political pillars of the AAP, the BJP has so far been able to corner the AAP in only one area corruption and that is where control of Delhi government officials becomes important for the Centre. The middle class and poor have been drawn to Kejriwal's brand of politics. From Delhi to Punjab, Gujarat, and Goa, there were numerous instances where disenchanted Congress voters are embracing AAP as a viable alternative rather than BJP supporters. This helped Kejriwal's party quickly achieve the distinction of being a national party in a mere decade. Given the fewer weak points to attack AAP, BJP is not keen on allowing the AAP to flourish, gain traction, or emerge as a viable substitute for the Congress. Kejriwals Opportunity The central ordinance has the potential to create administrative hurdles and confusion within the Delhi government. However, it also presents a unique opportunity for Arvind Kejriwal to leverage it as a means to build bridges with opposition parties. Since his entry into politics, Kejriwal has taken a confrontationalist approach towards opposition parties. He has not shared a cordial relationship with them; many still recall his scathing attacks on every political veteran and party, from Sharad Pawar to the Samajwadi Party. Today, the landscape has shifted. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has taken on the role of anchoring opposition unity, wasted no time in meeting with Kejriwal, and extending his support. In a strategic move, Kejriwal is seizing the moment to reposition his party and demonstrate AAP's preparedness to join the opposition coalition. In an effort to secure backing from the opposition parties to block this ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, Kejriwal has begun to meet with several CMs and opposition leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, Mamata Banerjee, and Sharad Pawar. Beyond the immediate matter of the ordinance, these meetings present an opportunity for Kejriwal to expound upon his perspective regarding the opposition alliance and to initiate dialogue with other political factions. The Congress Position But a focal point of concern lies in the tense dynamic between Kejriwal and the Congress party. To effectively thwart the ordinance, it is imperative that the Congress lends its support in the Rajya Sabha. Even with Congress support, the bill may still secure passage if neutral outfits such as BJD and YSRCP abstain from casting their votes. Kejriwal has been adopting an amiable stance toward Congress. Following Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Lok Sabha MP, Kejriwal was first among the opposition figures to speak out against BJP. Despite this, the Congress's state units in Delhi and Punjab have thus far been hesitant to align themselves with Kejriwal. It makes sense for Congress and AAP to reconcile for the present. Failure to oppose the ordinance will result in Kejriwal being unwilling to play second fiddle to the grand old party in 2024. Congress has an opportunity to make this a precondition for AAPs cooperation in 2024. Should Kejriwal fail to prevent the ordinance from passing in the Rajya Sabha, the legal battle will persist. However, the BJP has inadvertently provided Kejriwal with a powerful tool to galvanise opposition, foster inter-party communication, and garner public sympathy. Sayantan Ghosh is a columnist and doctoral research scholar in media and politics. He tweets at @sayantan_gh. Views are personal and do not represent the position of this publication. Rajasthan has become the pioneer as the first state to propose a law to protect the rights of gig workers and make them beneficiaries of various state welfare schemes. Gig workers are occupations such as app-based taxi drivers, food delivery agents, courier boys and so on. They are not formally employed by any firm hence their legal status as labour is also quite ambiguous. It is therefore that the proposed law in Rajasthan can be a good template across the country. However, it should be taken up by the Union government to draft a single national law, as labour laws are under the Concurrent List. It will thus be a milestone step in promoting good and better jobs in India. Today most global companies in terms of market capitalisation and over 70 percent of Indian unicorns are platform based. The optimal use of the gig and platform economy and Indias demographic profile has increased employment opportunities for unorganised sector workers, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Importance of The Gig Economy Critically, the gig economy and the gig workers have a crucial ally in the government. This is because there is no urban economic activity that has a greater potential to create jobs among the educated youth, than the gig economy. As per a NITI Aayog report in July 2022, around 7.7 million people were employed as gig workers as of June 2022. Their number is only likely to treble by 2029-30. The Rajasthan government has also estimated that there are 2.25-2.70 lakh gig workers in the state itself, with about 50,000 engaged with Ola and 35,000 with Uber. Some drivers are associated with both as there is no restriction, thus promoting healthy competition. While gig and platform-based employment provide a lucrative source of human capital for enterprises, it also exposes workers to various risks. This is due to the absence of a traditional employer-employee relationship. The companies hiring these workers skim their responsibility as employers by calling themselves aggregators, intermediaries or facilitators. The gig workers are then left vulnerable with no fixed income, insurance, retirement and pension benefits. Before drafting the welfare legislation, the Rajasthan government had conducted a sample survey to learn about the challenges faced by gig workers. The survey found that more than 50 percent of the gig workers did not have any kind of health insurance and about 40 percent were not covered under the state governments accident insurance schemes. If we look at the overall picture of gig workers, the existing labour laws in India offer limited or no recognition to these workers. The gig workers were earlier unable to register on the Union governments e-Shram portal as gig work was not shown as a category there. The Code on Social Security, 2020, for the first time, recognised gig workers as unorganised sector workers and extended social security benefits to them. But this was too little, and has largely remained on paper. Rajasthans Proposed Law In these circumstances, the Rajasthan government has introduced the Rajasthan Platform-based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023. This will help to formulate schemes for the benefit of the gig workers, provide them immediate financial assistance in case of accidents and medical emergencies, and offer them health insurance coverage under state government schemes. Moreover, it will ensure gratuity, scholarships, and pensions. It will thus result in attracting more youth to take up gig work. The state government has also allotted Rs 200 crore to the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund and levied a "welfare cess" (1 percent of the total value of the service or delivery) on consumers to ensure better rights and facilities for gig workers. Adding to this, as per the draft of the bill, the government proposes to constitute a welfare board for the platform-based gig workers to register them and their aggregators. The board will generate a unique ID for a gig worker, which would be valid for three years. The information of all registered gig workers will be maintained in a database and help workers seek benefits from government welfare schemes such as PM Sambhal scheme (which provides for old age pension), and also to seek redressal against aggregators over payment disputes and other issues. The bill also states that if the aggregators contravene any of the provisions made by the Board, such as not filing annual reports, and not integrating gig worker data with the boards database, they will have to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh or can be suspended or prevented from functioning in Rajasthan. An important question arises is whether foreign app aggregators (such as Fiverr and Amazon Mechanical Turk) will come under the ambit of the Bill. How will these aggregators be made accountable? Also, while the establishment of welfare boards is much appreciated, the reality of other sections of workers, say construction workers should not be ignored. These other groups of workers portray a poignant picture of the failure of such welfare boards set up in the past. The benefits claimed by the welfare board are far from the reach of the common workers. In such a scenario, it would be mindful to keep the learning from the failure of past similar initiatives in order to ensure the success of the new bill. Perhaps, the government should consider privatisation of the board so that it can be effective. Examples like the Passport Seva and GST administration come to mind. Both of these are much more sensitive to workers welfare. Seen in this context, the Rajasthan government has started recognising the potential of the gig economy and taking steps to ensure social security to gig workers. It has also motivated other states to introduce similar Bills with welfare measures for gig workers. For instance, the Kerala government is working towards framing a policy to regulate the gig economy to ensure fair wages and better working conditions for the workers in the sector. Therefore, Rajasthans Bill is a step in the right direction for the Future of Work. However, our plea is that the Union government should draft and adopt a national law, so that it is more efficient. (With inputs from Palashka Jha) The authors work for CUTS International, a global public policy research and advocacy group. This article has been written following research done under the project: Good and Better Jobs supported by the Ford Foundation. The scars of the horrific ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis leaving over 70 dead and displacing more than 35,000 people have not only hurt the image of the BJP state government in the northeastern state of Manipur but is also likely to have a political impact in the neighbouring state of Mizoram, which is slated to see elections later this year. The Mizos, who share an ethnic bond with the Kukis as both of them belong to the same group known as Zo, believe that the Kukis have become the victims of Meiteis and the state BJP government also favours Meiteis. Manipur Effect & No Naga Parallel The Mizoram BJP is worried on two counts: One, that these allegations of neglecting the Zo tribes in Manipur is likely to hurt its prospects in the state; and secondly, with elections round the corner, its rivals are likely to turn the violence into an important poll issue and portray it as an anti-Mizo party. Thats the reason the Mizoram state unit of the BJP concluded in its state executive meeting that the demand of the 10 Kuki MLAs of Manipur for a separate administration is reasonable. This is an attempt by the party to mitigate the impact of the violence in the upcoming elections. In Christian-dominated Nagaland, the BJP had got acceptance as it was able to pool significant local leaders and also groom young leaders like current state party president Temjen Imna Along, and make alliances with dominant state regional parties like Naga Peoples Front and the currently dominant Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party. However, in Mizoram, the party lacks pan-Mizoram popular faces. Thats the reason the party isnt a strong force in the Mizo areas. Consequently, the Mizo-dominated parties like the ruling Mizoram National Front or the opposition Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) are hesitant to ally with the party. No Opposition Vacuum In most states where BJP has done well in recent times, it was merely filling the opposition space vacated by another party. Although Congress has been on decline in Mizoram after losing power in 2018, the BJP isn't able to capitalise in the Mizo-dominated areas due to the presence of ZPM, which had ended the long Congress-MNF bipolarity in the 2018 elections and is now the main opposition party in the assembly. The ZPM swept all the seats of the first Lunglei Municipal Council elections held in April. The party polled 49.31 percent votes while the ruling MNF failed to win a single seat and managed to secure only 29.4 percent. As for the Congress, it doesnt seem to have put its house in order by preparing itself for a post-Lal Thanhawla era despite getting four years. Recently, Congress party treasurer Zodintluanga Ralte, a former minister, resigned from the post unhappy with the party state president Lalsawta. A senior leader resigning from his party post shows that everything isnt well within the grand old party. Minorities BJPs Best Bet, But Out of the 40 assembly seats in Mizoram, there are 14 where the ethnic minorities Chakmas, Brus, Hmars, and Lais are either dominant or are a crucial factor. In the last assembly elections, the BJPs vote share was in double digits in 10 seats and in all these, the ethnic minorities were a crucial factor. Also these ethnic minorities generally feel ignored in the Mizo-dominated state. In many of these 14 seats, ZPM isnt that strong, providing an opportunity for the saffron party to expand in these areas. BJP believes that being the ruling party at the Centre it has an advantage among the ethnic minorities. The only seat the party won last time was the Tuichawng assembly constituency, a Chakma-dominated seat. However, BJPs base is not that strong in the Bru, Hmar and Lai dominated seats. In the Mara dominated areas, the BJP has consolidated its position as was seen in the recently held Village Council polls of the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) where it performed well. It has to be mentioned that two assembly seats Siaha and Palak fall under the MADC. In the recently held elections of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), BJP, which expected to consolidate its strength in the area, failed to win the council. Out of 20 seats of the council, it won only 5 while the MNF emerged as the single largest party by winning 10 seats. The lone assembly seat falling under the CADC is the Tuichawng assembly seat, which was BJPs sole win in Mizoram in 2018. Taking the responsibility of the defeat, the partys MLA Buddha Dhan Chakma has resigned from the seat. The Chakmas, who practise Buddhism, are the largest religious minority in the state and account for 8 percent of the state population. Challenges Ahead BJP is hoping that the Mizoram elections will culminate in a hung assembly so that it can emerge as the kingmaker. For that to happen, BJP has to win some of these seats where ethnic minorities are a key influence. It banked on this method in the last elections and this time too seems to be a repeat of the same formula. But the failure to win a majority in the CADC is undoubtedly a big setback for the saffron party. It would suggest that even winnable seats are slipping out of the BJPs grip. This result has the potential to negatively impact BJP in the ethnic minority seats, including the Chakma-dominated West Tuipui seat and the Thorang seat, which has a 30 percent Chakma population. But there are still six months to go. If BJP can redraw its strategies and tackle the weakness that it is acutely feeling presently, it could still emerge as an important player in the upcoming state elections, especially in the event of a hung assembly. Sagarneel Sinha is a political commentator. Twitter: @SagarneelSinha. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Paying for restaurant meals is a cost. Taking classes to learn how to cook your own meals is an investment. Similarly, suffering through the effects of climate change is a cost, but spending money to avoid the worst climate outcomes is an investment. The difference is meaningful as Exxon Mobil Corp has inadvertently reminded us. In a regulatory filing last week, the oil giant argued it shouldnt have to bother disclosing more-detailed estimates of the cost of phasing out its fossil-fuel business to meet the International Energy Agencys Net Zero Emissions scenario for 2050, calling the goal too unrealistic to merit careful accounting. Thats fair enough, considering the world isnt on a path to keeping its net-zero promises. But then Exxon apparently couldnt resist adding: [I]t is highly unlikely that society would accept the degradation in global standard of living required to permanently achieve a scenario like the IEA NZE. The IEAs net-zero scenario is indeed a remote possibility. But a lot of shareholders more than half of whom voted for a net-zero accounting in 2022 want to see such details anyway as a form of stress test. Presumably, they worry that what seems aggressive today may not be within a generation. And they might be displeased that what little disclosure Exxon does provide is, shall we say, impressionistic, with future cash flows represented with vague charts. But with that extra zinger about global living standards, Exxon went from arguing narrowly about accounting requirements to presumptuously opining about what humanity will tolerate over the next three decades. Its certainly ironic, given that Exxon spent decades sowing doubt about climate change, discouraging all of us from an earlier and presumably less jarring transition. More importantly, the remark illustrates a fundamental problem with how decarbonisation is framed in the public arena. People may well balk at the behavioral changes and increased spending required to stop burning fossil fuels. But thats only one side of the ledger. If society wont accept the degradation in the global standard of living that Exxon alludes to, then it implicitly would be accepting the degradation that will be inflicted by unaddressed climate change in the form of floods, mass migration, shrinking food supply and a host of other frightening and economically damaging effects. Exxons warning that society isnt ready to confront a diminished standard of living also glosses over the fact that inaction on climate change might preserve immediate convenience only to worsen quality of life over the longer term. (When asked for comment, an Exxon spokesperson said energy poverty affects health, education and economic development.) The harms from continuing to burn fossil fuels are increasingly hard to bear. To take just one harrowing example: The Australian wildfires that burned an area half the size of California in 2019-20 have saddled children there with a lifetime of health problems, Bloomberg News reported last week. Some babies of mothers who breathed smoke were born prematurely with blackened placentas, and young children now must take medication daily just to breathe. A new study in the journal Science of the Total Environment suggests the air-quality effects of wildfires cause 4,000 premature deaths and $36 billion in economic damage every year in the contiguous US alone. Alberta, Canada, is already on track for its worst wildfire season on record, with five more months of potential burning to go, triggering air-quality warnings as far away as the eastern US. As carbon keeps accumulating in the atmosphere and the planet continues to warm, these wildfires will only become more frequent and destructive, putting more generations around the world at risk of deleterious health effects. Will society really prefer to face those kinds of costs over the shorter-term pain of transitioning away from fossil fuel? The world also looks increasingly certain to be in the grips of a strong El Nino system in the western Pacific Ocean by the end of this year. Typically these weather patterns cause global temperatures to spike, triggering wildfires in Australia, deadly droughts in Africa and mass coral-reef destruction. There is a good chance global warming will at least make such El Nino effects more intense, if not more frequent, in the decades to come. A new study by Dartmouth researchers in the journal Science suggests El Nino events could lead to $84 trillion in economic damage over the next century, even if countries stick to current net-zero pledges. Even half of such costs would represent quite a degradation in global standard of living. We have an awful habit of talking about the costs of decarbonisation. In reality, time and money spent strategically to address the problem is an investment. We should reserve costs for the damage inflicted on people and infrastructure by ignoring a glaring problem. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg The UK government spent much of this week trying to blunt the impact of new immigration numbers released Thursday morning. As expected, the numbers are up. Net migration is now at a record high of 606,000, up from a half-million in the year to June 2022. More striking than the numbers is the composition: Only 151,000 of those arriving to the UK in 2022 were from Europe, while 925,000 were non-EU nationals. EU migrants accounted for 13 percent of total immigration in 2022, down from the pre-pandemic levels of 52 percent and 42 percent in 2018 and 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics. Global Britain has arrived, though its not quite how Brexiteers imagined it would be. Politically, this is awkward. The Tories promised to reduce net migration in their last election manifesto in 2019, when Britain saw net immigration of around 270,000. The party of Brexit also promised to take back control over Britains borders. Now such a steep rise in numbers compounds the impression given by the increase in small boats of migrants arriving to the UK that the government doesnt have a good grip after all. Of course, these are very separate issues with distinctly different forces at play. The rise in small boats of migrants was an embarrassment for the government both because it showed Brexit had complicated border cooperation with Europe and because it exposed the chaos and dysfunction in Britains system for processing asylum claims. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already made tackling the migrant issue one of his five pledges for the year. Deals with Rwanda, France and Albania have been struck to improve border controls and facilitate deportations of asylum-seekers. And the governments Illegal Migration Bill, criticised as morally unacceptable by the Archbishop of Canterbury, criminalises anyone who comes without permission. The rise in legal migration reflects very different factors. The vast majority of those Britain lets in are people the UK economy needs (like nurses), those whose short-term stay brings longer-term benefits (students), and those whom Global Britain should take pride in welcoming (Ukrainians fleeting war). The Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that net migration is likely to eventually settle at around 245,000 a year. While some of the recent immigration is circumstantial (and temporary), that now seems low. A big chunk of the increase since last year has come from the greater numbers of migrants from Hong Kong (where Britain had widened its offer of residency in the wake of Chinas crackdown on democratic freedoms) and Ukraine. Another big slice (39 percent of non-EU migration) comes from students. Thats by design. In 2019, the government set an explicit policy to increase the international student population to 600,000 from half a million. Nor should it be any different. Education is one of Britains top exports, worth an estimated 28.8 billion ($35.6 billion) to the UK economy. International students bring fees to cash-starved universities, which both fund teaching and subsidise domestic students. Their spending on housing, food and other services helps local communities, and those who stay to work contribute through taxes. Beyond their economic benefits, international students enrich the country with different cultural perspectives and enhance Britains soft power as most return home with fond feelings toward the UK. Tuesdays announcement that visas would no longer be issued for most dependents of foreign graduate students was a weak attempt to be seen to be doing something, but it risks sending the wrong message to an immigrant group Britain should be welcoming. As in most advanced countries, there is a fringe in Britain who would like to see something approaching net zero immigration. Make no mistake, warned an email from Reform UK, the anti-immigrant party set up by Brexiteer Nigel Farage and run by Richard Tice. If total net immigration for 2022 is anywhere near three-quarters of a million people, it will change British politics forever. Most Britons take a more nuanced view of immigration. They broadly support offering refuge to Ukrainians, are grateful for immigrants filling jobs in the health service, and dont believe deporting asylum-seekers to Rwanda will change much. A report based on research by Ipsos last year showed that support for reducing immigration is at its lowest level since before the Brexit vote. Public concern tends to focus on whether the government is exercising control rather than the overall numbers. But a spike fuels fears about competition for hospital beds, school places and housing. And that is the paradox of Britains immigration debate. Britain cannot keep public services working without foreign labor (indeed economic growth depends on it), even as people worry that immigrants will increase demand for already threadbare supply. Yes, higher birth rates in the country would be nice, but try telling people to have babies when there is a lack of affordable childcare and housing. The government wants to demonstrate control over borders, while reaping the benefits of high levels of immigration, which has led to muddled messaging. The opposition Labour Party is no better on the issue. Keir Starmer spent the entirety of his face-off with Rishi Sunak Wednesday lambasting the prime minister over immigration. Both know that having a Goldilocks debate over the right level of immigration only makes sense if Britain has alternatives to importing more workers. Therese Raphael is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion covering health care and British politics. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will meet Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Thursday. Kejriwal and his party comrade and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday evening. The two CMs on Wednesday met Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence here to seek support for the AAP's fight against the Union government's ordinance for the control of services in Delhi. After meeting Thackeray, Kejriwal claimed the ordinance means the Narendra Modi government does not believe in the Supreme Court. He also said state governments were being toppled by using the CBI and the ED. The Centre last Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Backing Kejriwal, Thackeray said the Supreme Court's order was important for democracy. We have come together to defeat those against democracy. If we miss the train this time, then there will be no democracy in the country. We have come together to save the country and the Constitution, Thackeray said. On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Mann met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Its government up and running in Karnataka after a record win in the recently concluded polls, the Congress has turned its attention to factionalism in Rajasthan, which has to hold assembly elections in or before December 2023. The party high command has called a meeting at 4pm on May 26 in Delhi to resolve the festering feud between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, sources said. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi will preside over the meeting, which will be attended by the feuding leaders, state president Govind Singh Dotasra and partys Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa. The state unit has been grappling with factionalism for a while but the situation has worsened in the last few weeks, with most MLAs split between Gehlot and Pilot camps. Earlier this month, 45-year-old Pilot embarked on a five-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra, walking 125 kilometers from Ajmer to Jaipur. Also read: Ashok Gehlot could win this round too against a snubbed Sachin Pilot and lose Rajasthan for Congress to BJP The yatra was aimed at highlighting corruption during the previous regime, which was led by BJPs Vasundhara Raje. Pilot targeted the Gehlot government for failing to act against liquor and mine mafias as well as individuals involved in alleged wrongdoings. He set a 15-day deadline, saying if the government wouldnt address his demands by May 31, he would begin a state-wide protest. The meeting is seen as an attempt to prevent further damage and fight the election together. The meeting would look into the issues raised by Pilot and also discuss preparations for the assembly election, sources said. There would, however, be no discussion on power-sharing or the position of the chief minister, sources said. Read more: Mine scam, Lalit Modi, liquor mafia... Here is why Sachin Pilot protests against Ashok Gehlot The power struggle between the two tallest leaders of the party in the western state started in 2020, two years after the Congress was voted to power. In 2022, when the trouble last surfaced, Gehlot seemed to enjoy the support of most of the MLAs in the 200-member house. But the scales have seen evened out, sources said. In March 2022, Pilot wrote a letter to Gehlot, urging action against individuals involved in alleged corrupt practices when the BJP was in power from 2013 to 2018. Credibility should also be safeguarded. When allegations are made solely for electoral gains, the public loses trust in politicians, he wrote. In November 2022, Gehlot sparked controversy by labelling Pilot a traitor and accused him of accepting money from the BJP to overthrow the state government. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "world leader" and said his stature on the global stage has grown significantly, but criticised the opposition parties, alleging that they were pained by his growing popularity. Speaking to reporters in Solapur, around 400 km from here, Fadnavis said although the opposition parties are coming together only to oppose PM Modi, people have faith in him. During the recently-held Quad Summit in Japan's Hiroshima, US President Joe Biden walked up to PM Modi and one of the points he made was the large number of requests he was getting from prominent citizens to attend the Indian leader's programmes during his next month state visit to Washington DC. Biden even told Modi in a lighter vein that he should take his autograph, officials earlier said. Referring to it, Fadnavis said, "Even the US president has said that he is struggling to issue passes for PM Modi's dinner as they are overwhelmed by the response of the Indian diaspora in the US. Biden even wants to take Modi's autograph." Modi is set to visit the US in June and one of the key events during his visit would be the dinner organised at the White House for which tickets are being issued. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray to seek support for the AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi. He met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday. Commenting on it, Fadnavis sarcastically said, "I am glad that Kejriwal is meeting Sharad Pawar. He had once used such words against him (Pawar) that I can not utter here. Similarly, his acidic remarks against Thackeray and Shiv Sena's commentary against him is widely known. The videos of those days are being circulated again." "They all are coming together only to oppose PM Modi. But people have trust in Modi, which cannot be forgotten...Modi returned today from his foreign tour. The Australian PM called him boss; the countries like Papua New Guinea and Fiji bestowed their highest civilian awards on him," he said. "Our leader has now become world leader. Some people appear to be pained by it, although they should have been happy. Irrespective of how they see him, Modi has become a world leader. We don't have any medicine for such ailing opposition members," he added. Modi's elevation on the international stage is India's elevation as well. But some people in this country fail to see it, the former Maharashtra chief minister said. Fadnavis also criticised the opposition parties for their decision to boycott the May 28 inauguration of the new Parliament building at the hands of PM Modi. Twenty opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration, saying it was an insult to the great nation and an attack on the country's democratic values. They have claimed that the prime minister's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament complex by himself "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response". A passenger traveling in a Kochi to Bhopal via Bengaluru AirAsia flight was arrested after a 21-year-old flight attendant complained she was sexually harassed by him at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). The incident allegedly took place when passengers were deboarding the AirAsia aircraft number 6E-702 on Monday morning in Bengaluru. The flight attendant was from Jalpaiguri in West Bengal and the flight landed at KIA at 6:06 am. A report in Deccan Herald stated that as the passengers were deboarding the flight, the passenger in question- identified as Sijin A from Kerala-asked the attendant if he had to change flights to head towards Goa. The attendant informed him that that particular flight was headed towards Bhopal and asked him to disembark the flight and take another one. As the flight attendant stood near the aircraft's back seat, Sijin came up from behind and touched her back. The attendant confronted the passenger, but he did not reply. She then alerted the security, who detained the passenger and handed him over to the Bengaluru Airport police. Senior police officials stated that Sijin, who works as a manager at a private firm in Kerala, was arrested under sexual harassment charges. Earlier this month, Air India imposed a two-year flying ban on an individual who caused physical harm to two female cabin crew members onboard a Delhi-London flight on April 10. As per sources, The individual's behaviour was classified as Level 3 category offence. Also read: Tatas may consolidate AirAsia India, Vistara under Air India for operational synergy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A federal judge has sentenced an Auburn native who pleaded guilty last month to two felony charges in a case in which he was accused of tricking two women into giving him tens of thousands of dollars and later threatening them and their families with physical harm. Kiernan Major, a 2014 Auburn High School graduate, was in federal court in Los Angeles Monday for his sentencing on two counts of making threats via interstate communication, charges that are punishable by up to five years in prison and maximum fines of $250,000. As part of a plea agreement that satisfied five other charges, prosecutors had recommended Major receive a 21-month prison sentence, along with three years of post-release supervision. U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer added time to that recommendation with a three-year sentence along with the three years of post-release supervision. The judge waived fines, citing Major's inability to pay them, but did order an undetermined amount of restitution be paid to the victims. Orders of protection for the victims and their family members also were issued. Major admitted to sending dozens of threatening electronic messages to the two women, one whom he knew from Auburn and had persuaded to come to California to work for him. Court records state that Major convinced the two women to make tens of thousands of dollars in purchases for him by falsely claiming the secret nature of work he did in the intelligence industry prevented him from conducting the transactions. Both women eventually attempted to stop communicating with him, but he sent them messages that included threats to kill them and their family members. FBI: Auburn native swindled two women, threatened to kill them and their relatives An Auburn native is being held in an Iowa jail on a federal stalking charge in a case that has a connection to the arrest of his mother in 2021. "Given the prolonged nature of his harassment, he may well have continued his threats for an even longer period if he had not been arrested," prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo to the court. "Defendants conduct was cruel, prolonged, and devastating to his victims. The nature and circumstances of the offense are egregious." The Auburn-area victim told investigators she stopped communication with Major in October 2020 before he started sending texts and emails and attempted to call her up to 1,000 times per day. The threats continued into the summer of 2022. In July, he was found in Ames, Iowa, and taken into FBI custody on federal stalking charges. He was indicted the next month. The federal investigation of Kiernan Major began in June when the other alleged victim, a woman he met in San Francisco, filed a complaint with the FBI National Threat Operations Center. A restitution hearing in the case is scheduled for August. Prosecutors said determining how much he owes the victim "will be very complex." Major's sentence also includes restrictions on his use of digital devices and the internet. The judge ordered him to undergo mental health and substance abuse counseling, as well. In a world plagued by various infectious diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains a list of "priority diseases" that pose a significant risk of causing the next deadly pandemic. Familiar names like Ebola, SARS, and Zika have secured their place on this register, but there is one entry that stands out with an ominous monikerDisease X. The term Disease X serves as a placeholder for an unknown pathogen that has yet to be identified by medical science as a cause of human infections. The WHO introduced this term in 2018 to address the looming possibility of a new disease agent. Terrifyingly, when Disease X does emerge, whether it takes the form of a virus, bacterium, fungus, or another agent, we may find ourselves facing a scarcity of vaccines or effective treatments. Dr. Richard Hatchett from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations emphasizes the gravity of the situation by stating, "This isn't the stuff of science fiction. This is a scenario we have to prepare for. This is Disease X." The implications of Disease X are not to be taken lightly, as it represents a potential threat that could have devastating consequences on a global scale. The emergence of COVID-19 in 2019, caused by the novel coronavirus, serves as a stark reminder of the reality of Disease X. As the virus rapidly spread across China and eventually infiltrated countries worldwide, the world witnessed first-hand the chaos and devastation a new pathogen can unleash. Dr. Pranab Chatterjee, a researcher at the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, warns, "It is not an exaggeration to say that there is potential for a Disease X event just around the corner." He cites the recent outbreak of H5N1 bird flu cases in Cambodia as evidence of this looming threat. Disease X, like its predecessors Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19, may likely originate in animals and spill over into the human population, causing widespread illness and mortality. While zoonotic outbreaks remain a significant concern, there are other potential sources for Disease X. The authors of an article published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology caution against the possibility of an engineered pandemic pathogen. They suggest that the release of such pathogens, whether through laboratory accidents or bioterrorism, could lead to a catastrophic Disease X event. In a chilling revelation, scientists also contemplate the resurgence of ancient pathogens that have been locked in permafrost or other frozen landscapes for centuries. As the climate warms, these "zombie" viruses could be unleashed, presenting yet another avenue for Disease X to manifest. The WHO's list of priority diseases, which includes Marburg virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, Nipah and henipaviral diseases, Rift Valley fever, and Middle East respiratory syndrome, further highlights the urgency of preparedness. These diseases serve as constant reminders that the next outbreak could be just around the corner. Read: Disease X deadlier than COVID-19, could hit the world soon, warns scientist who discovered Ebola To prevent and effectively respond to an outbreak of Disease X, medical experts worldwide are advocating for increased funding to support surveillance and research into potential pandemic agents. The authors of the Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology article emphasize the need to learn from past experiences, stating, "The COVID-19 pandemic was not the first to wreak havoc on the world, and it will not be the last. Thus, we need to prepare for the next outbreak as soon as possible." Since the start of the 21st century, travelling overseas from India has become increasingly convenient with several global airlines operating from numerous airports across the country. However, overseas travel in the 20th century for Indians was not as easy as it is now. An example of this is the relationship and subsequent marriage of an Indian man and a Swedish woman. The man, identified as Dr Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia-an artist- met Charlotte Von Schedvin in Delhi in 1975. Schedvin travelled from Sweden to India after hearing Mahanandia's art and decided to get her portrait made by him. While making her portrait, Mahanandia fell in love with Schedvin and in turn, Schedvin fell in love with Mahanandia due to his simple nature. By the time Schedvin had to leave back to Sweden, the duo had decided to get married. "She wore a sari when she met my father for the first time. I still don't know how she managed. With blessings from my father and family, we got married according to tribal tradition," Mahanandia told BBC in an old interview. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @mignonettetakespictures Schedvin asked Mahanandia to accompany her to Sweden but the latter had to finish his studies and so could not join her. The two remained in touch through letters and after a year, he realised that he did not have sufficient money to buy an air ticket. Hence, Mahanandia decided that he would buy a cycle and go all the way to the Swedish town of Boras, where Schedvin lived. Mahanandia started his journey to Sweden on January 22 1977 and would cycle approximately 70 km each day. After passing through several countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mahanandia reached Europe on May 28 and eventually got to Gothenburg. The couple got married and Mahanandia later said that Schedvin had been a huge support for him at every step. "I had no idea about European culture. It was all new to me, but she supported me at every step. She is just a special person. I am still in love just as I was in 1975," he said. An Accenture Plc unit said on Wednesday it had secured an up to $2.6 billion deal with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for modernizing the government tax agency's systems. Accenture Federal Services said it had been awarded the contract for seven years, adding that it will have to compete for future orders to support the IRS with creating new ways for taxpayers and professionals to interact with the agency. Earlier this month, the IRS said it would launch a free, government-provided direct tax filing option next year, which could result in the launch of a full-scale IRS filing system on par with private tax prepapers such as TurboTax-parent Intuit Inc. Intuit on Tuesday forecast current-quarter profit below estimates as it prepares to tackle competition by investing in its products. "This is really not a threat at all," Intuit CEO Sasan Goodrazi said alluding to IRS' exploratory study that 72% of American taxpayers surveyed were "very interested in" or "somewhat interested in" using a government tool to electronically file their tax returns. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept A man remains under arrest on Thursday on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a car crashed into the gates of 10 Downing Street in London, the official residence of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Metropolitan Police said. Sunak was in his office at the time of the incident but left soon after from another exit for a pre-scheduled departure, sources from 10 Downing Street said. The cordons placed by police around the street have since been lifted even as armed officers remain on guard at the Prime Minister's office, as is usual. According to reports, counter-terrorism police are not involved in the ongoing police enquiries at this stage. "At around 16.20 hours [local time] a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall," the Met Police said in a statement. "Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing," the police said. Officers could soon be seen winding down the heightened security operation on Whitehall, the main political hub of London between Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square. Officials inside Downing Street were initially asked to stay indoors but could soon be seen moving out of offices, including from the Cabinet Office which is next door to 10 Downing Street. Meanwhile, images on social media showed a silver passenger car with its boot open slammed into the gates of Downing Street, which is significantly protected with barriers and a solid double-barrel black iron gate at all times. As CCTV footage emerged, a handcuffed heavy-set man with white hair could be seen being led away by armed Met Police officers. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a bang and officers shouting at the suspect as taser guns were deployed before the arrest. Officers were later pictured searching the vehicle's boot and removing a large white sheet. CCTV footage of the incident being played on television showed the small silver hatchback coming out of a car park next to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) building, crossing Whitehall before abruptly breaking and then driving forward directly into the gates of Downing Street. The security around one of the most famous streets of the world has been heightened ever since the militant Irish Republican Army (IRA) threat in the 1990s. The main gates remain shut at all times behind additional movable barriers and are opened only briefly for any official cars entering or exiting the street. Any visitors to Downing Street are subjected to strict checks through a side gate. China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao will meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai while visiting the United States, his ministry confirmed on Thursday. Wang and Raimondo will meet on Thursday, Shu Jueting, Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson, told a regular briefing in Beijing. Sources told Reuters the meeting would be in Washington, which would make it the first cabinet-level meeting in the U.S. capital between American and Chinese officials of the Biden administration. Wang has traveled to the U.S. for the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, in Detroit from Thursday to Friday, where he will meet Tai. "The Chinese side will exchange views on China-U.S. relations and issues of common concern," Shu said. On Monday, Wang met representatives of American firms in Shanghai, including Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Dow, Merck, and Honeywell, according to the Ministry of Commerce, telling them that "China will continue to welcome U.S.-funded enterprises to develop in China and achieve win-win results". China on Sunday declared U.S. chip manufacturer Micron a national security risk, banning the firm from selling its memory chips to key domestic industries. The ban followed a series of raids on American consultancies operating in China. Wang's trip to the U.S. comes after Group of Seven (G7) leaders met in Hiroshima, at which U.S. President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders took aim at China over "economic coercion" and said they would "de-risk" without "decoupling" from the world's second-largest economy in everything from chips to minerals. "China hopes the G7 will not abuse trade and investment restrictions while saying that they will not seek to decouple from the country," Shu said. Wang this month met U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns in Beijing, amid speculation about a visit from top U.S. officials after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a trip in February after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that flew over sensitive military sites. Raimondo and Blinken, as well as U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, have all expressed interest in visiting China. (Reporting by Joe Cash and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by William Maclean, Robert Birsel) Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the government invoking Article 245 in several provinces, terming it "undeclared martial law". Under Article 245 of Pakistan's Constitution, the army can be called in to aid the civil administration to defend the country. Khan has filed a plea in the Supreme Court, challenging the invoking of Article 245 in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad and calling it "undeclared martial law". In his petition, the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief said the arrests, investigations and trial of citizens under the Army Act 1952 were "unconstitutional and void and of no legal effect and amounts to negation of the Constitution, the rule of law and independence of the judiciary." He said that the "dismantling of PTI through forcible quitting of party membership and office are unconstitutional and void being against Article 17 of the Constitution," the Dawn newspaper reported. Khan also urged the apex court to order the formation of a judicial commission to probe the violence that erupted on May 9. The plea named Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other as respondents, the report said. Prime Minister Sharif has said the attackers of May 9 attacked the "idea and identity of Pakistan and gave the enemies of the country reasons to celebrate". "I don't see the tragic incidents of May 9 as merely a protest that became violent. The designs of those who planned them were actually very sinister," he tweeted on Thursday. "There was a clear build-up to the shameful incidents, as the whole nation witnessed in utter disbelief and a state of shock how the lust of some people for power made them do what was never done before," he said. Sharif said the "tragic and heart-rending events" of May 9 were a wake-up call. "We have to identify and expose all such people who want to destroy the foundations of Pakistan. May 9 has drawn up a dividing line between the protectors and builders of Pakistan and those who wish to weaken it," he said. On May 9, violent protests erupted after paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander's House, the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad in response to Khan's arrest. The mob also stormed the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time. 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. Thousands of Khan's supporters were arrested following the violence that the powerful Army described as a "dark day" in the history of the country. Several top PTI leaders were also arrested in the wake of the unrest. Prime Minister Sharif said on Sunday that those involved in attacks on military installations would be tried in the military courts while those charged with attacks on civilian targets would be prosecuted under civilian laws. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday the government was mulling a possible ban on Khan's PTI party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime minister's arrest. 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. Iran unveiled the fourth generation of its Khorramshahr ballistic missile under the name Khaibar, with a range of 2,000 km (1,243 miles) and a 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) warhead, the official IRNA news agency reported on Thursday. Iran has expanded its missile programme, particularly its ballistic missiles, despite opposition from the United States and expressions of concern by European countries. Tehran says the programme is purely defensive and is for deterrence. "Iran's newest ballistic missile and the latest product of the defence ministry's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) was unveiled today in a ceremony attended by the defence minister," IRNA added. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Artificial intelligence startup OpenAI has closed an investment fund, according to a Securities a Exchange Commission filing. The fund has a value of more than $175 million, the document shows. OpenAI has been investing in startups working in artificial intelligence for a while. The company launched the OpenAI Startup Fund and said it would seek to back companies pushing the boundaries of how powerful AI can positively impact the world and profoundly change peoples lives. The company said at the time it would put $100 million into the fund. The SEC filing shows that the fund, called OpenAI Startup Fund I, is larger than initially anticipated. A representative for OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tech news site The Information earlier reported on the filing. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday to formalise the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles on Belarusian territory, a step Moscow said was driven by rising tensions with the West. "In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere," TASS news agency quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying. The deployment of the missiles was first announced by President Vladimir Putin in March. Since invading Ukraine last year, Putin has said repeatedly that Russia would be ready to use nuclear weapons if needed to defend its "territorial integrity". NATO said at the time it did not see any need to adjust its own nuclear posture, though it said Putin's nuclear rhetoric was "dangerous and irresponsible". Ukraine said Russia's ally Belarus had been "taken hostage" by Moscow. Moscow will retain control over the weapons and any decisions on their use, Shoigu said. TASS quoted him as saying that Iskander-M missiles, which can carry conventional or nuclear warheads, had been handed to the Belarusian armed forces, and some Su-25 aircraft had been converted for the possible use of nuclear weapons. "Belarusian servicemen have received the necessary training in Russian training centres," Shoigu was quoted as saying. He added that the agreements signed with his Belarusian counterpart covered the procedure for establishing a "special storage facility for nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory." Tactical nuclear weapons refer to lower-yield weapons designed for battlefield use, as opposed to strategic ones capable of wiping out entire cities. Russia has not disclosed how many tactical nuclear weapons it has. Six drones were downed or blocked overnight in Russian-annexed Crimea, the region's Moscow-appointed governor said on Thursday. "During the past night, six drones were shot down or blocked ... in different parts of Crimea," Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Telegram, adding "there were no victims or injured". The incident comes after Moscow deployed jets and artillery against an armed group that crossed from Ukraine in the most serious attack on its soil since Moscow's offensive began in February 2022. On Wednesday, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said the territory was targeted overnight by numerous drones. Regional authorities said 13 people had been injured as the area came under sustained artillery and mortar fire. Moscow subsequently said its forces had killed "more than 70 Ukrainian terrorists" but AFP was unable to independently verify the claims. Ukraine has denied responsibility. The alleged perpetrators of the incursion hailed the "success" of the operation, telling Ukrainian media on Wednesday that they had highlighted the weakness of Russia's defences. "I want to prove to them that we can fight against tyrants and that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's power is not unlimited," said Denis Kapustin of the Russian Volunteer Corps, which claimed the sortie. Kapustin, nicknamed "White Rex", is well known in far-right circles in Russia. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. AURELIUS Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is hopeful for a resolution to the ongoing debt ceiling standoff between President Joe Biden and congressional Republicans. During his visit to Cayuga County on Wednesday, Schumer warned of default the likely outcome if Congress does not raise the debt limit. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has informed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that her department will not be able to pay the government's bills unless Congress raises or suspends the debt ceiling by early June. "Default would be devastating ... It would raise the cost of everything, so we have to avoid default," Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "Right now, there are bipartisan talks between the speaker and the president and we must do everything we can. Default would be the worst alternative." The political showdown pits Biden and Democrats, who want a clean debt limit hike, against congressional Republicans calling for significant government spending cuts as part of any debt ceiling increase. House Republicans passed a bill in April that paired the debt limit increase with $4.8 trillion in spending cuts over a 10-year period. The GOP plan also slashes green energy tax credits, cuts funding for the Internal Revenue Service to hire more employees, adds work requirements for Medicaid recipients and expands work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Schumer panned that legislation, saying in April that it would be a "gut punch" to upstate New York. He noted that the average household would lose nearly $400 in heating assistance and more than 2 million New Yorkers would lose Medicaid coverage because of the proposed work requirements. Another area of concern for Schumer is that the bill threatens funding to support domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing, including Micron's planned $100 billion investment to build a fab in central New York. Schumer ushered the CHIPS and Science Act through Congress last year. The legislation is a critical part of the strategy to increase domestic semiconductor production. With the deadline approaching, Schumer said Wednesday that he is working hard to avoid default. "The way to get this done is to have a bipartisan solution ... A bipartisan solution is not going to have everything that everybody wants, but it's a lot better than default," he added. Sony Group Corp said on Thursday its chip business would buy land in the western Japanese prefecture of Kumamoto. Local media reported in December the tech and entertainment conglomerate is considering building a factory in Kumamoto to make smartphone image sensors. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Britain is set to host a multi-billion-pound electric car battery plant from Tata Motors, the BBC reported on Wednesday without citing sources, saying the Indian company had chosen the UK instead of Spain. The boss of Jaguar Land Rover-owner Tata is expected to fly to London next week to finalise the deal, the BBC report added. The British government's business department declined to comment on the report. The decision by the Indian bluechip company would give a boost to the British car industry coming days after major automakers including Vauxhall owner Stellantis and Ford warned that looming post-Brexit trade rules risked making it unviable. Spain is also competing to host the plant, making any decision to choose Britain a major win for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who is under growing pressure from carmakers to make the country more attractive. Britain has fallen behind in the global race to build local electric vehicle (EV) battery capacity, threatening the future of the sector because it requires heavy batteries to be built near car manufacturing plants. A lack of a home-grown battery sector would also risk tariffs on British cars under post-Brexit rules that are due to come into force from next year. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A state inspector general's report raises concerns over the workers' compensation lost wage benefits available to corrections officers, a provision the watchdog says "appears to have created a strong motivation for fraud." The report followed hundreds of complaints submitted to the state inspector general's office accusing corrections officers of abusing the lost wage benefits, which are available to employees who sustain a work-related injury. Under the contract that recently expired, corrections officers may receive up to six months of full pay from the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for an injury or illness that occurred in the workplace. The officers do not have to use leave time or other pay through the state Insurance Fund to obtain the benefits. The inspector general's review found that the generous workers' compensation benefits may be contributing to staffing shortages at state prisons. Over a seven-year period, an average of one in three corrections officers at 10% of prisons filed a workers' compensation claim. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, DOCCS covered nearly 1.8 million hours of staff time due to workers' compensation absences a 61% increase over a 10-year period and a 9% increase compared to the prior fiscal year, according to the report. The inquiry also found that about two out of three workers' compensation claims submitted by corrections officers in the 2019-20 fiscal year were for injuries unrelated to contact with an incarcerated individual. "Not only have these increases brought with them a dramatic rise in spending for overtime, but also a dramatic decrease in morale for those officers compelled to perform it," the inspector general's office wrote in its report. The apparent problem is ongoing. According to the inspector general's findings, eight prisons had 10% or more of their security staff on workers' compensation leave. Three facilities had 17% of security staff on leave. Most of the claims about 70% were for injuries unrelated to contact with incarcerated individuals. Inspector General Lucy Lang has directed the attorney-in-charge of workers' compensation fraud and the attorney-in-charge of DOCCS matters to review the "workers' compensation-fueled staffing crisis to determine the extent of any potential fraud and to identify possible underlying causes." "My office is committed to identifying systemic failures that compromise state government's ability to serve vulnerable New Yorkers," Lang said. "Our report highlights the volume of workers' compensation abuse that has occurred under the existing incentive structure of the labor contract. We will continue to do our part to ferret out fraud and encourage anyone with information to reach us at 1-800-DO RIGHT." The inspector general's office acknowledges the dangers of working as a corrections officer. A record number of assaults on staff were reported in 2022 and violence has been increasing in state prisons over the past decade. While the agency says it does not seek to "impugn the integrity of hardworking and dedicated public servants who are legitimately injured at work," it adds that workers' compensation claims made by corrections officers "dwarf those of other security personnel." The timing of the report's release is also noteworthy. The unions representing state corrections officers are negotiating a new contract. With those talks ongoing, the inspector general's office recommends that the state Office of Employee Relations modify the lost wage benefit in the new contract. May 25, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-125 Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict. The current open thread for other issues is here. Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators. Posted by b on May 25, 2023 at 14:06 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The New York State Police will increase patrols to combat drunk, impaired, and reckless driving throughout this Memorial Day weekend. According to a news release, the special enforcement period starts on Friday, May 26, and runs through Tuesday, May 30, during one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols by troopers and local law enforcement agencies. According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University at Albany, 237 people were killed and 4,394 were injured in drunk driving related crashes in 2022. Another 237 people were killed in drug-related crashes. On Memorial Day weekend in 2022, troopers arrested 213 people for driving while impaired, issued 13,688 total tickets, and investigated 808 crashes, which resulted in four fatalities. The Governors Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation remind motorists that their Have a Plan mobile app (http://www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp) is available for Apple, Droid and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a suspected impaired driver. On Memorial Day, we take time to honor the brave men and women who died in service to our county, remembering the sacrifice they made for all of us," New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said in a statement. "If your Memorial Day weekend celebrations include alcohol, remember to make safety your top priority and arrange for a safe ride home. Wear your seat belt, remain alert and above all, drive sober. Troopers will be highly visible this weekend and will have zero tolerance for impaired and reckless drivers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed one of the nations largest wholesale drug distributors to keep shipping addictive painkillers for nearly four years despite a judges recommendation to strip its license for turning a blind eye to thousands of suspicious opioid orders. The case has drawn attention to the involvement of a high-profile consultant the company had hired to stave off punishment and who is now DEA Administrator Anne Milgrams top deputy. Here are the key takeaways from AP's investigation. WHATS AT STAKE? A federal administrative law judge in August 2019 found that Morris & Dickson failed to flag thousands of suspicious, high-volume orders from pharmacies and recommended that it lose its license. Failure to follow DEA rules by Morris & Dickson and other major distributors has been blamed for leading to more than 700,000 American overdose deaths in the past two decades.. The company said it overhauled its compliance system, canceled suspicious orders and sent daily emails to the DEA spelling out its actions. But Judge Charles W. Dorman said it was too little, too late, and issued a ruling to deter similar actions by other companies. Acceptance of responsibility and evidence of remediation are not get-out-of-jail-free cards that erase the harm caused by years of cavalier disregard, Dorman wrote in a 159-page ruling obtained by The Associated Press. But since Dormans 2019 recommendation, neither Milgram nor two DEA administrators who preceded her have taken any enforcement action. Former DEA officials told the AP that a nearly four-year delay is highly unusual, and that most such cases are resolved in half the time. WHO IS MORRIS & DICKSON? Shreveport, Louisiana-based Morris & Dickson is the U.S.' fourth-largest drug distributor, with annual sales of more than $4 billion. But it trails a trio of pharmaceutical distributors known as the Big Three, all of whom agreed to pay the federal government more than $1 billion in fines and penalties for similar violations. Morris & Dickson officials have repeatedly said in court filings that the loss of its license would be a virtual death sentence. Among the more than 12,000 suspicious orders that Dorman said Morris & Dickson should have reported to the DEA were several placed by the Wilkinson Family Pharmacy in suburban New Orleans. In one month, March 2014, 42% of all prescriptions filled by Wilkinson were for controlled substances such as painkillers and 38% of those were paid for in cash. Anybody with half a brain couldve seen something wasnt right, said Dan Schneider, a retired pharmacist whose fight to hold drug companies accountable for the opioid crisis was featured in a Netflix documentary series. WHO IS LOUIS MILIONE? Louis Milione was named DEAs principal deputy administrator in 2021. He had previously retired from the agency in 2017 after a storied 21-year career that included two years leading the division that controls the sale of highly addictive narcotics. Among his earlier achievements was running the overseas sting that in 2008 nabbed Russias notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout. Morris & Dickson brought Milione as part of a $3 million contract after the DEA accused the company in 2018 of failing to flag thousands of suspicious, high-volume orders. Testifying in 2019 before federal Administrative Law Judge Charles W. Dorman, Milione argued that Morris & Dickson deserved to keep its license because it spared no expense to overhaul its compliance systems. WHAT DOES DEA SAY? The DEA did not respond to repeated questions about its handling of the Morris & Dickson case or Milione's involvement. But a person familiar with Miliones work said he recused himself from issues related to Morris & Dickson after returning to the DEA in 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about DEA officials recusals. When her husbands Vietnam War draft stationed him in Japan, Daryl Howard went to be with him. There, she taught English and eventually met Hodaka Yoshida, a master printmaker in the traditional Japanese style known as Ukiyo-e. After apprenticing under him, Howard returned to graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin in 1976 studying mixed media. Shed later be known as one of Americas foremost practitioners of Ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking. To create her pieces, Howard must follow an intense and regimented technique packed with detail-oriented matter and placement. Every layer of coloring requires its own hand-carved piece of wood with the negative space (the area that is not the respective color) chipped away. Then, the ink is rolled onto the remaining shape and pressed onto the paper. In theory, the skill seems easy to learn, yet Howard remains as one of the only people left not only in Texas but the country as well attempting the time-consuming and entirely impressive artwork. NASH, Texas (AP) Authorities in east Texas have jailed an 18-year-old man on capital murder charges in the shootings of his parents, sister and brother. Police in the small town of Nash say officers responding to a report that a man had harmed his family and was threatening to kill himself on Tuesday found Cesar Olalde barricaded inside a home. They were told that multiple people were dead inside. Olalde later called police, saying he had pulled the trigger, and shot his family, according to a probable cause affidavit by Nash Police Officer Craig Buster. The officers persuaded Olalde to surrender and then found the bodies of his parents, Reuben Olalde and Aida Garcia, older sister Lisbet Olalde and younger brother Oliver Olalde in a bathroom. AP It appeared as if the victims had been shot at various places in the residence and drug to the bathroom, according to the affidavit. Multiple spent cartridge casings were found on the floor of the home, and there was blood spatter on multiple surfaces, it said. The affidavit said a co-worker of Lisbet Olalde had gone to the home because the woman had failed to arrive at work and, with a family member, forced his way inside where he was confronted by Cesar Olalde, who pointed a firearm at him. The co-worker told police that Olalde said he had killed his family because they were cannibals, and they were going to eat him, the affidavit states. Bowie County court records show Olalde was ordered held on $10 million bond. His listed defense attorney did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday. Nash is a town of about 3,800 on the western edge of Texarkana near the Arkansas state line. As of May 24, there have been at least 25 mass killing incidents in the U.S. so far in 2023, leaving at least 127 people dead, not including perpetrators who died, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. That puts the country on a faster pace for mass killing incidents than in any other year since at least 2006, according to the database, which defines a mass killing as an incident in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period. There have been at least 556 incidents in all since 2006 in the U.S., according to the database, leaving at least 2,892 people dead. Family mass killings in which four or more people were killed, not including the perpetrator have also been an all-too-common tragedy across the country. Theyve happened nearly every 3 1/2 weeks for the last two decades on average, according to the database. The perfect prolouge When Janie daughter of close friend Jessica Pierce received a brain tumor diagnosis, Beth Harris started thinking of what to send to show her love and support. Yet, instead of flowers or balloons or a card, Harris turned toward her experience as a childrens speech-language pathologist. With the help of fellow Midlander Jennifer Yeager, Harris created a goodie bag filled with hands-on activities meant to help time pass positively for both Janie and the rest of the Pierce family. The next day, Harris founded The Perfect Patient, a care package company focused on providing intentional and interactive items backed by joy for children and families experiencing hospital stays or medical events. Not only passionate about the project but a first-hand witness of the businesses impact, Jessica Pierce joined her friends partnership. The trio added Abby Christensen to seal the deal, and a dream team came to fruition. TPP launched on March 23 and has been making moves since then. The perfect pack Two already-made bags, The Janie and The John (both named after children undergoing treatment), provide the basis, but what exactly comes in a Perfect Patient care package, and how does it benefit everyone involved? Based on their own personal and professional experiences, the four-woman crew came up with the following. Notepad and pen: For parents, being in the hospital and not having something to write on is very stressful, Harris explained. You always need to write notes or questions for the doctor. Response card: When you're in the hospital and you receive gifts, it's like, OK, I want to send a thank you note, but out of sight out of mind. So, every package has a stamped card that can also just be sent to a friend to say, This is how I'm feeling, Harris said. Miniature coloring roll, card games, memory games, puzzles and more: A lot of these things serve as really great distractions while parents are talking to a nurse or a doctor, and it's also something a child life specialist could say, Hey, it's OK you're getting an IV, and then can pull something out to distract them. Everything is really used to facilitate fine motor skills and language because you can play with parents, siblings, friends who visit or even by yourself. Add-on options include a Lego set called The Perfect Pack-O-Potential, a jewelry making Bead Kit, a (very cozy) Sweatshirt Blanket, a TPP ball cap, and a matching set of bracelets (collaboration with Happy Magnolias). All items can be ordered at www.theperfectpatient.com. The perfect patient Although Harris and her crew market toward kids dealing with health problems, the entrepreneur said their kits have been sent to an array of recipients. Theyve been sent to a couple of 60-year-old men recovering from accidents, my mom is in a nursing home, and she received a blanket, theyve been sent to children grieving the loss of a loved one, and theyve also been sent in celebration, like being cancer-free, Harris said. While it seems like it should be a kid bag, everything in there is engaging and entertaining and a nice alternative to flowers and candy. Since the companys online opening, theyve worked with hospitals throughout the state, created partnerships and are continuing to change lives. As for the future, the squad has started creating a tween/teen focused bag, an adult bag and more. Dont know who to send a package to? No worries! Click on A Kit to a Kid on the TPP website and the group will handle it for you. (www.theperfectpatient.com). The perfect people If you arent convinced already that The Perfect Patient is a business you absolutely should support, then let me give you four more reasons: Beth, Abby, Jennifer and Jessica. For this team, TPP is not about the money or how aesthetically pleasing they can create a gift bag. For this team, the true purpose and passion comes from helping those in need, especially children. With all four women carrying the title of Mom, Beth, Abby, Jennifer and Jessica know what it takes to make a functional world go round, but when you add a hospital stay into the mix, life gets turned upside down. If they can help ease that stress for just one fellow mom, parent, guardian or caretaker, theyll never quit. Working out of their four homes (Beth and Abby in Midland, Jessica and Jennifer in Dallas), the group packs, mails (for next-day delivery), markets, develops, creates, preseveres and succeeds. These exceptional women do it all, and without their beaming, bright lights, the world would be a slightly darker place. After nearly a week, Belinda Mendoza finally brought her daughter home from the hospital Sunday. Mendozas eighth-grade daughter was hospitalized on May 15 and then transported to Lubbocks Covenant Hospital where she spent parts of three days in the ICU -- the result of an assault at Alamo Junior High School. Mendoza told the Reporter-Telegram on Wednesday that her daughters school year is effectively over, but the waiting continues. First, there is the wait that continues with the healing. Her daughter, who isnt being named in this story, still feels the pain associated with a hematoma on her pancreas. The injury caused internal bleeding and then so much pain that her daughter could not walk by herself for five days. Second, the wait continues to see if the person who is on video assaulting her daughter will be punished. The family claims they have not heard of an arrest, and that the other girl will be able to return to school next year when both will be in the ninth grade at Legacy Freshman High School. Mendoza said that Midland ISD Superintendent Stephanie Howard told Mendoza this week that her daughter will be able to transfer to another school if she chooses but there is nothing the district can do to prevent her attacker from being on the Legacy Freshman campus. (Editor's note: Howard said Thursday she has not spoken to the mother this week.) I have to pull my daughter out of MISD to protect my daughter from her, Mendoza said. I dont feel safe having (her daughter) attending any schools. That girl will be in MISD, and that isnt fair. The following is the districts comment on the situation. Midland ISD police are currently investigating an assault that occurred between two female students at Alamo Junior High last week. One student was taken to the hospital due to her injuries. The suspected aggressor in the incident is being disciplined according to the Student Code of Conduct. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. MISD wishes the student who was injured a full and speedy recovery. A student is beat down Mendoza said her daughter was walking in an outside hallway when the attacker a larger girl, one that her daughter claimed to not know well came up to her from behind and the assailant grabbed her and began hitting her. There wasnt much (her daughter) could do to defend herself once the attacker got her on the ground and continued to beat her. (Her daughter) could not be seen on the school camera, the other girl completely covered her, Mendoza said. The students in the hall all gathered around and started filming the assault. No one helped her. Staff arrived, broke up the assault and the students were sent to a vice principals office. Mendozas daughter claimed to not feeling good and that her stomach hurt. An initial examination by the school nurse didnt indicate any injuries, the family said. The whole time I was never notified by the school, Mendoza said. (Her daughter) called me to pick her up from school. Mendoza said that when she arrived at Alamo Junior High the school principal said the fight was mutual and that both student were talking trash, leading up to the assault. Mendoza said once Midland ISD police looked at the recording -- around an hour later they said it was an assault and that the other girl should be arrested. Mendoza said not long after MISD police and the principal were called out to another fight on campus. Mendozas daughter then started to throw up and complain about her stomach. A police officer told the mother she needs to take her daughter to the hospital, Mendoza said. Not at MMH long By the time the family reached the Emergency Room, Mendozas daughter couldnt walk because of the pain. A doctor gave her medicine for the pain, but there was no improvement. Finally, a scan showed what is happening internally, Mendoza said. The Alamo Junior High School student is transported to Lubbock via an ambulance. She arrives around between 2 and 3 a.m. on May 16. Mendoza said the goal was that recovery happen without surgery. Still, Mendozas daughter is kept in the ICU until May 18. At that time, hospital officials move her onto another floor. She was still in pain. Finally on Sunday, she can walk by herself, allowing for a discharge to take place. Mendoza said the Alamo principal has called regularly for updates. During this week the family started a GoFundMe page to help with expenses, and Mendozas sister provided updates, including one on March 17, Anything will help the family at this time, thank you again to everyone who has kept (Mendozas daughter) in your prayers. Prayers work Mendozas 14-year-old daughter told the Reporter-Telegram she thought she was going to die in the hospital because of the pain. She also said she is thankful for people praying for me, because if not for them, I am not sure I would have felt better. Mendozas daughter said she wants her attacker punished for what she did. I was in the hospital for a week, she said. What I went through is more than she will go through. Mendoza told the Reporter-Telegram the school district will not provide a copy of its video of the incident. She stated that the family is considering its legal options against the other student, her family and the district. For now, though, everyone is home. There are summer weeks to determine what to do about where Mendozas daughter will go to school next year and time to think about the system they claim affords her attacker more rights than her daughter. -- GoFundMe page: https://bit.ly/3q6gcFI This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed Thursday that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a convicted criminal and Wagners millionaire owner with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in a video published on Telegram that the handover would be completed by June 1. Russia's Defense Ministry didn't confirm this and it wasn't possible independently to verify whether Wagners pullout from the bombed-out city has begun after a nine-month battle that killed tens of thousands of people. Prigozhin said his troops would now rest in camps, repair equipment and await further orders. Ukraines deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, said Thursday that regular Russian troops had replaced Wagner units in the suburbs but that Wagner fighters remained inside the city. Ukrainian forces maintain a foothold in the southwestern outskirts, she said. Prigozhins Bakhmut triumph delivered a badly needed victory for Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has lost momentum and now faces a Ukrainian counteroffensive using advanced weapons that Kyivs Western allies have provided. According to top Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, that counteroffensive is already underway. He said Thursday that it should not be anticipated as a single event starting at a specific hour of a specific day. Writing on Twitter, Podolyak said that dozens of different actions to destroy Russian occupation forces had already been taking place yesterday, are taking place today and will continue tomorrow." Prigozhin has long feuded with the Russian military leadership, dating back to Wagners creation in 2014. He has also built a reputation for inflammatory and often unverifiable headline-grabbing statements from which he later backtracks. During the 15-month war in Ukraine, he has repeatedly and publicly accused the Russian military leadership of incompetence, failure to properly provision his troops as they spearheaded the battle for Bakhmut, and failure to credit his troops for their successes and sacrifices. Wagner's involvement in the capture of Bakhmut has added to Prigozhins standing, which he has used to set forth his personal views about the war's conduct. Prigozhin is using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said. His frequent critical commentary about Russia's military performance is uncommon in Russias tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin can usually air such criticism. Seth Jones, director of international security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Prigozhin appears to be pressuring the Russian Defense Ministry to take a more active role and responsibility in Bakhmut but he questioned whether regular troops are capable of taking over from Wagner. If you pull those forces out of Bakhmut, you lose your entire sort of first line of offensive and then defensive operations, because the Russians arent going to use havent used -- their seasoned military forces" for major advances, he said. "You dont want to waste well trained capable forces in areas where theyre likely to get killed. So removing them would almost certainly allow the Ukrainians to retake territory." With Russian forces suffering high casualties and their inability to integrate their, forces, he added, they "just they look miserable. Nikolai Petrov, senior Russia and Eurasia research fellow at Chatham House, was skeptical about Prigozhins claim the Russian military will take over. Nobody knows if that will happen, Petrov said, adding that Prigozhin is a populist and hes playing the cards of hatred" against ineffective Russian military commanders. Earlier this week, Prigozhin again broke with the Kremlin line on Ukraine, saying its goal of demilitarizing the country had backfired, acknowledging Russian troops had killed civilians and agreeing with Western estimates that he lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed 36 drones against Kyiv in its 12th nighttime air assault on the Ukrainian capital this month but the citys air defenses shot them all down, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. The Kremlins forces also launched 30 airstrikes and 39 attacks from multiple rocket launchers, as well as artillery and mortar attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said. At least one civilian was killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine on Wednesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said Thursday. In other developments Thursday: Russia attacked a dam on the Vovcha River in Karlivka, 40 kilometres (24 miles) west of Donetsk, destroying it and raising a flooding risk for three villages, Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said. The villages might be evacuated, he said on Telegram. Russia and Belarus signed a deal formalizing deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. Putin had announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. A U.K.-based technology firm says pro-Russia hackers faked the location data to form a giant letter Z a symbol of Russias war in Ukraine in the Black Sea. Geollect says location data for commercial ships has been remotely spoofed so vessels near Crimea appear to form a 65-mile (105-kilometer) long Z on open-source maritime tracking sites. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. The false location data increased the risk of collisions, the firm warned. A total of 106 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released in another major exchange with Russia, chief Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said. The eight officers and 98 soldiers released fought in the battle for Bakhmut. The bodies of two foreigners and a Ukrainian were also returned to Ukraine. Prigozhin posted a video of himself standing next to two wooden coffins, one draped with an American flag and another with a Turkish flag. Prigozhin said the bodies were being handed over to Ukrainian forces and provided the American's name but the State Department couldn't confirm it, pending an investigation and due to privacy concerns. Russian officials confirmed the swap, without providing any details on how many Russians were returned. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that five Swedish diplomats are to be expelled from the country. A statement said the decision is a response to Stockholms openly hostile step to declare five employees of Russian foreign missions in Sweden personae non grata in April. Moscow additionally announced its decision to close its consulate in Goteborg in September, as well as its withdrawal of consent to the activities of the Swedish consulate in St. Petersburg. Russia and Western countries have often expelled each other's diplomats since the war began. ___ Morton reported from London. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Hong Kong: Security chief wraps up bay area visit Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung concluded his visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area today by calling on public security and emergency management units in Huizhou. Mr Tang called on the Vice Mayor of Huizhou & Director-General of Huizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau Chen Haibo to exchange views on issues such as facilitating the flow of talent, emergency management as well as fire services and rescue. Mr Tang expressed his gratitude to the Huizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau for maintaining close ties and co-operation with Hong Kong's Security Bureau and its disciplined services. He introduced the new Greater Bay Area Emergency Response Operational Plan formulated by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for enhancing the capability of bay area cities in handling incidents together to Mr Chen and deputy head of Huizhou Municipal Emergency Management Bureau Li Zhengcheng who was also in attendance. During his stay in Dongguan and Huizhou, Mr Tang also inspected Huawei's terminal headquarters in Songshan Lake of Dongguan and the TCL Technology Group Corporation's headquarters in Huizhou to learn about the cutting-edge technology and equipment of the two leading high-technology enterprises. He also learnt about the technical knowledge related to law enforcement and emergency management of the disciplined forces to explore the enhancement of service and law enforcement capabilities with innovation and technology. As he wrapped up his two-day visit to Guangzhou, Dongguan and Huizhou, Mr Tang returned to Hong Kong this evening. This story has been published on: 2023-05-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post) Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has placed the island back into Condition of Readiness 4 as of 5 p.m. Thursday - the no 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. Zaldy Dandan is a recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com/. Follow Zaldy Dandan Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS A 14-year-old boy was arrested at 8:23 p.m. Tuesday at the Illinois School for the Deaf, 125 S. Webster Ave., on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery of a peace officer, and aggravated battery of a school employee. Police said he brandished a sharp object and threatened to stab someone and then bit both a school employee and a police officer. Four girls, ages 12 to 15, were cited at 11:59 a.m. Tuesday on charges of disorderly conduct for fighting in the 300 block of West Beecher Avenue. VANDALISM A brick was thrown through the window of a residence in the 200 block of Kentucky Street, according to a report filed at 2:38 a.m. Wednesday. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota prosecutors were so worried a judge would move the murder trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin out of the city where he killed George Floyd that they conducted a mock trial in a deep red rural county to test their strategy, Attorney General Keith Ellison reveals in a new book. It worked. Ellison was pleasantly surprised that even the mock jurors in Stearns County of central Minnesota would have convicted Chauvin and three co-defendants of manslaughter, and almost all would have convicted them on the top charge of second-degree murder. Two simulated juries in Hennepin County, where the case ultimately stayed, came back guilty on all counts. Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence, will be released Tuesday by Twelve, an imprint of the Hachette Book Group, two days ahead of the third anniversary of Floyd's death on May 25, 2020. Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on the Black mans neck for 9 1/2 minutes. A bystander video captured Floyds fading cries of I cant breathe. Our themes resonated, Ellison wrote. Several juries believed that the officers had a duty moral or legal to render aid to George Floyd. None were too concerned about the drugs. Even the Stearns County jury thought Floyds drug history was irrelevant. It is not clear if Chauvins defense team also conducted a mock trial. His attorney, Eric Nelson, did not return a call seeking comment. Ellison said he wrote the memoir because he wanted to provide a guide for other prosecutors and share the lessons his team learned about the difficulty of convicting police officers. The importance of getting jury selection right was one of the key lessons, Ellison recounts, but so was the value of getting testimony from witnesses who spoke up as Chauvin kept a dying Floyd pinned to the pavement outside a corner store, and, critically, got out their cameras. So was finding medical experts who could make it clear to the jury that Floyd would not have died but for Chauvin's actions. Many jurors have often associated Black victims with danger and criminality. Over the expanse of American history, juries have been part of the repeating pattern across the country of acquitting officers who shoot unarmed people, often Black men," Ellison wrote. "The sheer numbers of officers who have been acquitted after killing unarmed citizens is impressive. Ellison became a national figure in 2006 when he became the first Muslim and the first Black Minnesotan elected to Congress. The Democrat became the state's attorney general in 2019. Criminal prosecutions in Minnesota usually fall to county attorneys. But amid the turmoil and racial tensions that followed Floyd's killing, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz asked Ellison to take the lead. Ellison recounts in his book how he used his personal connections to assemble a high-powered, diverse team of volunteer and staff attorneys to try the case. In the end, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, who Ellison praises in the book, kept the trial in Minneapolis, though he tried Chauvin separately from the other three defendants. Ultimately, all four offers were convicted or pleaded guilty to state and federal charges. Despite extensive pretrial publicity, the court was able to seat a jury for Chauvin, through it took three weeks. Ellison wrote that it was the most diverse jury he had ever impaneled six Blacks and six whites. He credits Steve Schleicher, a former federal prosecutor in private practice, and jury consultant Christina Marinakis. It wasn't just luck," Ellison wrote. "I knew that if we convicted Chauvin, many people would be taking some awesome jury selection work for granted. For prosecutors, Ellison said in an interview, he hopes their takeaway from the book is that tough cases like this are winnable even though roles are reversed. In a normal case, he said, jurors of all colors tend to believe the police, which helps the prosecution. But that makes officers harder to convict, he said. And while jurors typically sympathize with victims, that's not guaranteed in a police case where the defense puts the victim on trial. For other readers, Ellison said he hopes their takeaway is that ordinary citizens like the bystanders who took video of the incident and had the courage to testify can do extraordinary things. Those people who were randomly selected by fate on the corner of 38th and Chicago at around 8 p.m. Memorial Day 2020, they didn't know George Floyd, but they saw a suffering human being," Ellison said in the interview. They stopped and they said something. They couldn't do much more than say something, but they whipped out their cameras and they took pictures of it. ___ This story was first published on May 22. It was updated on May 25 to correct the spelling of the last name of prosecution jury consultant Christina Marinakis, which had been misspelled Maranakis. Lego toy cars replicating their real-life avatars are nothing new. However, a life-sized sportscar made of plastic Lego bricks is uncommon. However, visitors to Legoland in Denmark can enjoy exactly that. Ferrari has posted images of a life-size Monza SP1 that has been built with iconic Lego plastic bricks. The car claims to have been built as a part of the project Ferrari Build and Race". The original Ferrari Monza SP1 made its debut alongside the SP2 back in 2018 as a limited edition model as part of the Italian supercar manufacturer's Icona range. The Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 models took inspiration from the automaker's sportscars in the 1950s and early 1960s but came equipped with modern powertrains. The Lego block-made Monza SP1 replica comes as a tribute to the original model that grabbed the world's attention with high performance. Also Read : Aston Martin DB12 breaks cover with 671 hp AMG V8 engine, promises 325 kmph top speed Speaking about the design of the Lego-made Ferrari Monza SP1, the sportscar replica wears the car brand's signature dark red paint. The front splitter and side air intakes sport a black theme, while the tyres feature contrasting yellow brake callipers - all made of Lego bricks. The car has real wheels and tyres, but everything else is made of Lego bricks. The images posted by Ferrari show the exterior fully, but don't give much detail of the car's cockpit to see how the builders incorporated the blocks in there. Also check these Cars Find more Cars UPCOMING Ferrari Purosanguesuv 3 - 3.35 Cr* *Expected Price View Details Explore your Vehicle Check vehicle details Check Insurance & PUCC due date Powered by: Ferrari 812 5.2 Cr* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Ferrari Roma 3.76 Cr* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers UPCOMING Ferrari Portofino Facelift 3.8 - 3.9 Cr* *Expected Price View Details Ferrari F8 Tributo 4.02 Cr* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Ferrari Portofino 3.5 Cr* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers Speaking of the original Ferrar Monza SP1's engine, this car was powered by a mammoth 6.5-litre V12 engine, capable of pumping out 809 hp of massive power output. The same engine powered the Ferrari Monza SP2 as well. Both the SP1 and SP2 models were capable of reaching 0-100 kmph in just 2.9 seconds, which made them one of the fastest cars in the world at that time. They were capable of reaching 0-200 kmph in 7.9 seconds. Top speed for both these sportscars was limited to 300 kmph. Both the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 cars were based on the same underpinning as the 812 Superfast. The SP1 came as a single-seater model, while the SP2 had space for a passenger. Both these cars featured a virtual windshield that was designed to deflect airflow over the occupants. A total of 499 units of these cars were built. First Published Date: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) An Arkansas man who propped his feet on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office in a widely circulated photo from the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced Wednesday to more than four years in prison. Richard Bigo Barnett became one of the faces of the Jan. 6 riot by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, and U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said in announcing that sentence that Barnett seemed at times to enjoy the notoriety. All the folks who follow Bigo need to know the actions of Jan. 6 cannot be repeated without some serious repercussions, Cooper said, alluding to the media attention and social media following Barnett attracted after the riot. The 54-month sentence for Barnett, a retired firefighter from Gravette, Arkansas, comes after he was convicted at trial on eight counts, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, in this case a Jan. 6, 2021, session of Congress to certify Joe Biden's victory over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The photos of Barnett lounging at a desk in Pelosis office made him one of the most memorable figures from the riot. Barnett, 63, testified he was going with the flow and struck a pose after news photographers told him to "act natural." He told the judge that joining the riot was an enigma my life that he regretted, but said prosecutors wanted him to be remorseful for things I did not do." Jan. 6 was a traumatic dey for everyone, not just law enforcement, he said. He has vowed to appeal his conviction. He testified at trial that he was swept along with the crowd into the Capitol, and was looking for a bathroom when he unwittingly entered Pelosis office and encountered two news photographers. Cooper, though, said he did not believe Barnett played such a passive role. It was established at trial that Barnett brought into the Capitol a stun gun with spikes, concealed within a collapsible walking stick. Barnett also took a piece of Pelosi's mail and left behind a note that said, Nancy, Bigo was here, punctuating the message with a sexist expletive. Before leaving Capitol grounds, Barnett used a bullhorn to give a speech to the crowd, shouting, We took back our house, and I took Nancy Pelosis office! according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also said Barnett has since posted falsehoods on social media about Jan. 6 and downplaying his role. The defendant still believes he can say or do whatever he wants and if someone else is threatened by it, thats their problem, prosecutor Alison Prout said. Defense attorney Jonathan Gross said Barnett didn't hurt anyone or damage property, and was being singled out because the photo had made him famous. Mr. Barnett should not be punished because the government thinks he's a symbol, he said. Coopers sentence fell short of the approximately seven years prosecutors sought, though it was more than defense attorneys' request for a 12-month term. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Just over 500 of them have been sentenced. More than half have received prison terms ranging from a week to over 14 years. Also on Wednesday, a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of assault and other charges in the riot. Prosecutors say Robert Morss, of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, dressed in fatigues and tried to take a baton from an officer, and stole a riot shield from another, while working to organize members of the crowd to push past Capitol guards. He yelled to officers: Take a look around. We are going to take our Capitol back, prosecutors say. An attorney for Morss, 29, declined to comment after his sentencing. His lawyer, Nick Smith, noted in court documents that his client saw three tours of duty in Afghanistan as a member of the Army and has already served two years behind bars. Morss alleges he was abused by guards in jail. This case has already turned Morsss life upside down. The governments suggestion that these heavy blows are insufficient to deter the one-time, situational crimes Morss committed is nonsense, Smith wrote. ____ Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this report. ___ The headline of this story has been corrected to show Barnett propped his feet on a desk in Pelosi's office, not her desk. Lets get one thing straight: Ron DeSantis is not a conservative. He is often called that by supporters and opponents who dont want to seem extreme. Still, his agenda pushes far beyond anything traditionally known as conservatism. And his War on Disney is a clear example of this. The genius of the American founders, drawing on the political philosophy of John Locke and others, was to create a limited government that respects a sphere of privacy into which government does not intrude. The invention of a written constitution is a symbol of that. To achieve this, separation of powers and checks and balances are defined in writing. And so is the Bill of Rights. Our Constitution exists to keep the government from doing whatever it wants. It is designed to limit governmental action. This concept of limited government is expounded brilliantly by Justice John Marshall in the classic Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison (1803). He says that when the people established the Constitution, they chose to limit the powers of government. To what purpose are powers limited, and to what purpose is that limitation committed to writing, if these limits may at any time be passed by those intended to be restrained? The distinction between a government with limited and unlimited powers is abolished if those limits do not confine the persons on whom they are imposed. DeSantis is attacking businesses in Florida for one reason: they disagree with his opinions about social policy. This is not the action of a conservative. He is intolerant of the mere existence within his state of different perspectives. He doesnt want to count on being able to persuade people to agree with him, so he resorts to economic and political force to achieve his goals. The leaders of the Disney corporation support gay rights and the rights of others who identify their genders in ways that are not popular. But it is not the governments job to root out opinions that political leaders consider bad. DeSantis is welcome to his opinions, but apparently, he does not believe that others are welcome to theirs. Disney has now gone to court to defend itself. We will see what happens. Corporations should be allowed to operate according to their leaders or shareholders consciences. That means they should have the right to support gay rights and gender orientations that the governor rejects. And beyond that, corporations have the right to put their resources behind efforts to change the law. Thats what limited government is all about. And that is, in fact, what conservatives in the United States once championed. In a recent speech in Charleston, South Carolina, DeSantis said: A free state means you're protecting your people from the lefts pathologies across the board. But as Conor Friedersdorf points out in his excellent article in The Atlantic, this is not freedom. It is not the business of government to fight woke ideology or any other set of political opinions across the board. As governor of Florida, DeSantis can certainly work with the state legislature to affect government policies, but he has now stepped over the line in attacking Disneys right to free speech. Limited government gives people the freedom to disagree and to promote their opinions passionately. Freedom of speech is more than freedom to hold an opinion quietly to oneself. It is the freedom to say what you believe and say it loudly. And it is the freedom to work with all your might to promote your beliefs. The so-called war on woke that DeSantis champions is a frontal assault on freedom of speech, and it is disturbing that so many people fail to see this. We can only hope that Disneys constitutional rights will be protected in court. If DeSantis succeeds here, where will it end? Do we really want to live in a country where unpopular political opinions are rooted out everywhere? I certainly dont. In Marbury v. Madison, Justice Marshall warns us that we will find ourselves threatened by unlimited government if governmental powers and actors are not held in check. DeSantis is embracing the idea of unlimited government. We have a word for that, and it is not conservatism. It is called totalitarianism. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Parkopedia, a provider of automotive data and connected services, has appointed Benjamin Xuan as the new Managing Director for its operations in China. Based at the company's Shanghai office, Benjamin will start playing his new role on the Parkopedia China team immediately. Benjamin Xuan; photo credit: Parkopedia His primary focus will be on delivering value to drivers and car manufacturers by leveraging Parkopedia's products in the Chinese market. With two decades of experience in the automotive industry, Benjamin brings extensive knowledge in automotive software, making him an ideal fit for Parkopedia's role in the industry. His background includes working with both Chinese and international automakers, providing him with a deep understanding of Parkopedia's unique position within the market. Eugene Tsyrklevich, CEO at Parkopedia, said: We are very pleased to welcome Benjamin to Parkopedia to lead our business in China. Benjamins experience in software and in core elements of the Chinese automotive industry means that he is perfectly placed to increase our presence within the industry and best serve our customers and their drivers. Talking about his new position, Benjamin Xuan said: I look forward to working for Parkopedia and building further awareness for the companys market-leading products in the Chinese market. The automotive industry in China is growing rapidly and I see numerous opportunities for Parkopedia to work with even more automotive manufacturers in China, as Chinese drivers have shown significant demand for the connected car services that Parkopedia provides globally. Missing Amador County resident Kevin David Rodman View Photos Pine Grove, CA If you have seen the man in the pictures in the image box, contact the Amador County Sheriffs Office, as he has been missing for more than a week. Not contacting his family for several days while also not answering his cell phone caused his family to report 70-year-old Kevin David Rodman as missing to the sheriffs office last Friday. Once at Rodmans home, deputies discovered he and his vehicle were gone. Rodman was last seen on Tuesday, May 16 in the afternoon in Pine Grove, and he is believed to be driving his 2016 Honda Civic with California license plate 7SBF546, with pictures in the image box. Sheriffs officials state, Rodmans family explained that he suffers from some medical conditions requiring medication, and he has battled memory loss in the past. Rodman is described by sheriffs officials as a Caucasian male, about 59 tall and 200 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should contact the Amador County Sheriffs Office at 209-223-6500. Update at 3:27.: The forward progress of the fire has been stopped. The size of the fire has been updated to 9.8 acres with crews remaining on scene strengthening lines and maintaining containment. Update at 3:21 p.m.: Fire crews are continuing to make good progress and contain the fire that is now burning at a slow rate of spread. The fire is being held at 15 acres. Resources on scene include nine engines, one hand crew, one dozer, one air attack, two air tankers, one helicopter, and one water tender. Original story posted at 2:24 pm: Copperopolis, CA A vegetation fire is burning in Copperopolis at Main Street near Reed Turnpike. It has been named the Reeds Fire and is currently burning at 15 acres with a moderate rate of speed and zero percent containment. No structures are threatened at this time and fire crews are currently at the scene. Firefighters are requesting air support and working on flanking the fire. ATLANTA (AP) A father from Georgia will not face another trial over his toddler's death in a hot car, prosecutors said Thursday, after the Georgia Supreme Court last year reversed his murder and child cruelty convictions. Justin Ross Harris, 42, was found guilty in November 2016 on eight counts including malice murder in the June 2014 death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. A judge sentenced him to life without parole, as well as 32 more years in prison for other crimes. But the state Supreme Court voted 6-3 to overturn his murder and child cruelty convictions last June, saying the jury saw evidence that was extremely and unfairly prejudicial. The Cobb County district attorney's office, which prosecuted the case, said in a statement that it disagreed with the majority's decision. But because of that ruling, prosecutors said crucial evidence about Harris' motive is no longer available for them to use. After doing a thorough review of the entire case, prosecutors said they decided not to retry Harris on the reversed counts. A judge on Thursday signed off on the dismissal of those charges. Harris' lawyers Maddox Kilgore, Carlos Rodriguez and Bryan Lumpkin have maintained from the start that Harris was a loving father and the boy's death was a tragic accident. Ross has always accepted the moral responsibility for Cooper's death, they said in a statement after the charges were dismissed. But after all these years of investigation and review, this dismissal of charges confirms that Cooper's death was unintentional and therefore not a crime. The high court upheld Harris convictions on three sex crimes committed against a 16-year-old girl that Harris had not appealed. He received a total of 12 years in prison for those crimes, and he will continue to serve that sentence, the district attorney's office said. Harris had moved from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to the Atlanta area for work in 2012. He told police that on the morning of June 18, 2014, he forgot to drop Cooper at day care, driving straight to his job as a web developer for Home Depot and leaving the child in his car seat. Cooper died after sitting for about seven hours in the back seat of the Hyundai Tucson SUV outside his fathers office in suburban Atlanta, where temperatures that day reached at least into the high 80s. The Georgia Supreme Court justices all agreed that there was enough evidence to support Harris' convictions. But the majority opinion said much of the evidence having to do with his sexual activities shouldn't have been allowed at trial and may have improperly influenced the jury. At trial, prosecutors put forth a theory that Harris was miserable in his marriage and killed his son so he could be free. In support of that assertion, they presented evidence of his extramarital sexual activities, including exchanging sexually explicit messages and graphic photos with women and girls and meeting some of them for sex. The high court found that they also "presented a substantial amount of evidence to lead the jury to answer a different and more legally problematic question: what kind of man is (Harris)? A dissenting opinion found that the state had the right to introduce detailed evidence of the nature, scope, and extent of the truly sinister motive it ascribed to Harris and found that the trial court was not wrong to allow the jury to see the challenged evidence. Harris' attorneys said the case tragically fits the pattern of how children are unintentionally left in cars. Charging a grieving parent for an unintentional memory failure does nothing to prevent the tragedy from happening to another, their statement said. In fact, child fatalities from hot cars increased after Ross' 2016 trial. Harris case drew an extraordinary amount of attention, drawing intense coverage in the Atlanta area and making national headlines and sparking debates online and on cable news shows. After determining during nearly three weeks of jury selection that pretrial publicity had made it too hard to find a fair jury in Cobb County in suburban Atlanta, the presiding judge agreed to relocate the trial to Brunswick on the Georgia coast. ___ This story has been updated to correct that the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the convictions in June 2022, not November. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Three flag poles stand at the northwest corner of the Hale County Courthouse. Until Thursday morning, only two were in use. The Hale County Commissioners Court gathered to raise a new flag around 8:30 a.m. The flag is a tribute to military veterans. The flag was raised a few days before Memorial Day, a holiday meant to remember those who have died in service to the country. The plan to add the Honor and Remember Flag was put into motion by Benny Cantwell, commissioner of precinct 4, who returned to the Commissioners Court this year. He happened to take notice of the empty pole and reached out to Jesse Mendoza, special projects coordinator for the county, to see what they could do. They pondered the idea of including some kind of tribute to the military. We wanted something that represents all the branches, Cantwell noted Thursday morning. Thats what Plainview needs, she added. This is a gift to our families. They did some research and found the Honor and Remember flag. The flag covers everybody, said Karla Glowicki, the countys Veterans Service Officer. It represents active service, those missing in action, prisoners of war, those who made the ultimate sacrifice everybody. The Honor and Remember flag bears a gold start with a flame placed over a white and blue border and a folded flag on a background of red over a banner that says Honor and Remember. The flag is laced with symbolism. When asked why this particular flag, The Herald was provided with the following information from honorandremember.org/flag-symbolism. Heres what each piece of the flag means: The Flame: This is a tribute to those who knew and loved a fallen hero. Folded flag: This is a tribute to an individual life that a family sacrificed and gave to the nation. Gold Star: This is a tribute to the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service. White border beneath the gold star: This is a tribute to the purity of sacrifice. Blue Star: This is a tribute to active service in military conflict. Red Field: This is a tribute to blood spilled by brave men and women in Americas military throughout our history, who willingly gave their lives so that we all would remain free. The words Honor and Remember: We will always Honor their selfless sacrifice and Remember them individually by name. Its a privilege for us to show some respect to our military, Cantwell said, adding that his dad served in the Korean War. A few minutes later as the group gathered at the Hale County Veteran Memorial to raise the flag, County Judge David Mull and Commissioner Harold King also noted their own family members served in the military. Mendoza is a veteran, himself, as is Glowicki, another county employee who supported the raising of this flag. Glowicki works closely with more than 200 local veterans. She acts as an outreach specialist and advocate for local veterans who seek services from places like the Veterans Affairs Office, for example. Her office (the Veterans Service Office) stays busy at 120 East 6th St. Those interested can drop in Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or call (806)291-5301. Raising this flag meant a lot to them as well and they hope the message resonates with the community, too. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) A U.S. senator on Thursday said he hopes Serbia would adopt Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, telling the Balkan country that there is no future in an alliance with Moscow. Russias invasion has been an absolute disaster and my belief is that Russia is ultimately going to lose this conflict, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn) told reporters in the Serbian capital Belgrade. Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed any sanctions on Russia. The future for Serbia is with the European Union and with the United States not with Russia, Murphy said. There is no future with Russia. They (Russia) are going to be devastated, a permanent pariah internationally after this invasion. Though Serbia is formally seeking EU membership and has condemned the invasion at the United Nations, Belgrade has maintained its historically friendly relations with Moscow. Murphy's visit to Belgrade came as Serbias staunchly pro-Russian intelligence chief Aleksandar Vulin travelled to Moscow for a security conference. Serbia is also one of few countries with direct air links to Russian cities and is almost completely reliant on Russia for energy supplies. Asked about Vulin's visit to Russia, Murphy replied that obviously Russia is searching for friends these days," but that it is not constructive for any nation to stand by Russian President Vladimir Putin. What Russia has done in Ukraine is unacceptable, said Murphy. I really hope that Serbias future is with the European Union, it is connected to the United States and the quicker that we can have better, more close alignment on Russia policy the better. Murphy, along with senator Gary Peters. met in Belgrade with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. The meetings also focused on Western efforts to push forward normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. The senators' week-long visit to the region also featured visits to Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. In Belgrade, the senators paid respects to the victims of Serbia's first-ever school shooting in early May when a teenager took his father's gun to open fire on fellow students and a school guard, killing ten people. Another mass shooting took place a day later in a rural area south of the capital, stunning the nation and triggering a gun crackdown. I hope that Serbia respond differently than the United States, as the United States has become numb to these mass atrocities," said Murphy. Serbia has an opportunity to show the world that indifference is not an option. UNITED NATIONS (AP) On the 75th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping, the United Nations chief said Thursday that peacekeepers are increasingly working in places where there is no peace and praised the more than 4,200 who have given their lives to the cause of peace since the U.N. authorized its first military deployment in 1948. It was a day to look back at the successes of peacekeeping from Liberia to Cambodia and its major failures in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, but also to the challenges ahead, including dealing with more violent environments, fake news campaigns, and a divided world that is preventing peacekeepings ultimate goal: successfully restoring stable governments. And it was a day to honor the more than 2 million peacekeepers from 125 countries who have served in 71 operations since the U.N. Security Council sent those first military observers to supervise implementation of Israeli-Arab armistice agreements following their war. At a ceremony honoring the fallen peacekeepers, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the hundreds of uniformed military officers and diplomats to stand for a moment of silence in their memory and then presented medals for the 103 peacekeepers killed in 2022 to ambassadors from their 39 home countries. And at the start of a U.N. Security Council meeting on peace in Africa shortly after, all those in the chamber stood in tribute to peacekeepers who paid the ultimate price. The secretary-general told the ceremony, after laying a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial on the lawn at U.N. headquarters, that what began 75 years ago as a bold experiment in the Mideast is now a flagship enterprise of our organization. For civilians caught in conflict, he said, peacekeepers are a beacon of hope and protection. But peacekeepers trying to help countries move away from conflict are now on the front lines in some of the worlds most dangerous places, he said. Guterres stressed the need for a new generation of regional operations to end conflicts and combat terrorism that are mandated and financed by the U.N.s 193 member nations. That has been a major goal of the African Union for years, and the continents nations are urging quick action to make this happen. At the Security Council meeting, there was widespread support for Guterres view but differences on how the U.N. should do this. U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the council that putting AU peace operations on solid footing is increasingly pressing and the case for adequate financing is beyond solid. The U.N. therefore hopes the council will provide financing from U.N. member states for AU-led peace operations, she said. Adeoye Bankole, the African Union commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, welcomed the very constructive and positive thrust of the secretary-generals comments. We cannot continue to use traditional peacekeeping methods in the face of the complex nature and scope of conflicts that traverse our beloved continent, particularly violent extremism, ideology of hate, terrorism, rebellion and insurgency," he said. U.N. peacekeeping operations have grown dramatically. At the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, there were 11,000 U.N. peacekeepers. By 2014, there were 130,000 in 16 far-flung peacekeeping operations. Today, 87,000 men and women serve in 12 conflict areas in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. There have been two kinds of successes, U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. Those are the long list of countries that have returned to a reasonable degree of stability with the support of U.N. peacekeeping, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Angola and Cambodia, and the countries where peacekeepers are not only monitoring but preserving cease-fires like in southern Lebanon and Cyprus. As for failures, he pointed to the failure of U.N. peacekeepers to prevent the 1994 Rwanda genocide, which killed at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutus, and the 1995 massacre of at least 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica during the war in Bosnia, Europes only acknowledged genocide since the Holocaust during World War II. The U.N.s reputation has also been tarnished by numerous allegations that peacekeepers charged with protecting civilians sexually abused women and children, including in Central African Republic and Congo. Another high-profile blunder was the cholera epidemic in Haiti that began in 2010 after U.N. peacekeepers introduced the bacteria into the countrys largest river by sewage runoff from their base. Despite that, Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Groups U.N. director, said U.N. peacekeeping has a surprisingly decent track record and "has done a good job of tamping down crises, protecting civilians and rebuilding broken states in cases from the Suez crisis in the 1950s to Liberia in the 2000s. Looking ahead, the U.N.'s Lacroix said the major challenge peacekeeping is facing is the divided international community and especially divisions in the U.N. Security Council, which must approve its missions. The result of that is that were not able to achieve what I call the ultimate goal of peacekeeping to be deployed, support a political process that moves forward, and then gradually roll down when that political process is completed, he said. Lacroix said peace processes aren't moving or aren't going fast enough so the U.N. has to be content with "what I call the intermediate goal of peacekeeping preserving cease-fires, protecting civilians, we protect hundreds of thousands of them and doing our best, of course, to support political efforts wherever we can. Lacroix pointed to other challenges peacekeepers are facing: more violent and dangerous operating environments and more sophisticated attacks and fake news and disinformation which are a massive threat to the population and the peacekeepers. And old and new drivers of conflict including transnational criminal activities, trafficking, drugs, weapons, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the impact of climate change exacerbating competition between herders and farmers are also having an absolutely massive influence. The Crisis Groups Gowan told AP its pretty clear that the U.N. is trapped in some countries like Mali and Congo where there arent enough peacekeepers to halt recurring cycles of violence. Some African governments, including Mali's, are turning to private security providers like Russias Wagner Group to fight insurgents, he said. I think we should be wary of dumping U.N. operations outright, Gowan said. We have learned the hard way in cases like Afghanistan that even heavily armed Western forces cannot impose peace. The U.N.s track record may not be perfect, but nobody else is much better at building stability in turbulent states. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China Sodium-ion Times (Shenzhen) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., (China Sodium-ion Times), a Chinese startup focusing on the development of sodium-ion battery technologies, announced on May 24 via its WeChat account the completion of its first financing round. The fresh round was led by Goldport Capital, with participation from Shenzhen High-tech Investment Group. The funds from this round will primarily be used for the construction of the sodium-ion battery cathode material production line and the development of sodium-ion battery cells. Photo credit: China Sodium-ion Times Incorporated in Dec. 2022 and located in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, China Sodium-ion Times is committed to becoming a leading company in battery energy system solutions field by focusing on the development of low-cost, high-rate, high-safety, low-temperature resistant sodium-ion batteries and materials. The company said its sodium-ion battery material research team has undertaken a total of 18 national, provincial, and municipal research projects, while the sodium-ion battery development team possesses core technologies and holds 18 patents. The company is also collaborating with the Sodium-ion Battery Research Laboratory at Zhejiang University to enhance the performance of core sodium-ion battery materials such as layered oxides and polyanionic materials. Meanwhile, China Sodium-ion Times revealed it plans to build a sodium-ion cathode material production line with a 10,000-tonne-level annual production capacity and a 0.5 GWh sodium-ion cell pilot production line. In 2021, the Office of Attorney General William Tong created the Elder Justice Hotline as a go-to support to report abuse and connect with the necessary financial, criminal or social services to help with the situation. Since launching, the hotline has been used to find resources for hundreds of Connecticut seniors experiencing elder abuse. Nationwide, an estimated 10% of adults 60 and older will experience one or more forms of elder abuse in a given year nationwide, according to the federal Department of Justice. Audrey Grove, director of CareConnect Navigator at Masonicare, explained that elder abuse is a widespread injustice that "could come in many ways" but continues to be underreported. "They say for a child it takes a village... being older is no different except that maybe you need even more [support]," Grove said. "And to know that there is somebody they could call that knows what they're going through and can listen to them then answer their questions and make connections with state resources, federal resources, local resources or other not-for-profits." What is elder abuse? According to the Department of Justice, elder abuse includes caregiver neglect, financial exploitation and psychological, sexual or physical abuse. Seniors may experience one or more of these abuses. They also found that the trauma related to elder issues ranges from increased chance of mortality to financial loss to disruptions in relationships. Grove explained that the most common form, however, are frauds and scams. She explained that scammers prey on seniors because they are often isolated and looking for connections. In addition, seniors often have a different Internet safety awareness than younger generations. For example, romance scams typically involve the scammer fostering a friendship or relationship with a senior before asking for money. These relationships usually occur over the internet and Grove said that most only realize they're being exploited after it's too late. "These romance scams hook people in on such a personal level that by the time they figure it out, they might have already lost thousands of dollars," she said. Another type of scam preys on fear, Grove added. Some seniors have received phone calls from scammers claiming to be first responders who tell them that their loved one was arrested, in a severe accident or killed. The scammers then ask the senior to send money to them to cover bail, hospital bills or funeral costs, respectively. These types of scams leave behind psychological scars. Grove said she had been chatting by the front desk when a Masonicare client rushed up looking for a ride to the bank. The senior explained that she received a call from a Tennessee police officer who had arrested her son. The "officer" then demanded $4,000 to post bail. Grove immediately recognized the demand as a scam and calmed her. "They're preying on the fear factor. You're going for the jugular of what is going to frighten people the most and what is that? Their family," Grove said. How does the hotline work? Although many resources and services are available to address elder abuse, Tong said many Connecticut seniors don't know who to call when they need help. He explained that they established the Elder Justice Hotline as a "one-stop shop" for seniors looking to ask questions about resources or looking to report abuse. Tong estimated that the hotline receives 70 calls a week, most relating to issues with housing, health insurance and navigating state agencies. For example, Tong said hotline operators could immediately connect callers with the Department of Social Services regarding issues with housing and food insecurities. In cases of physical and sexual abuse, the operators will connect with local criminal authorities and private legal counselors. "This hotline will help law enforcement, as well as family and friends, protect our most targeted and vulnerable population. Our older populations sometimes have difficulty and fear when they are trying to report that they are a victim. This will be a tremendous help," said James Rovella, the commissioner for the state department of emergency services and public protection, in the press release announcing the hotline. Tong added that by connecting the caller with a staff member rather than an automated message, callers could express their concerns and confusion in a non-judgemental space. In addition, he explained that having a hotline is helpful for seniors with limited Internet access or capabilities. He added that hotline operators will follow up on the caller to ensure that their issue is resolved. "We provide this resource so that people aren't alone. They have someplace to turn and can get someone in the Attorney General's office to focus on their issues personally," Tong said. The Elder Justice Hotline can be reached at 1(860) 808-5555. cvillalonga@record-journal.com203-317-2448 Health Equity reporter Cris Villalonga-Vivoni 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. MERIDEN The City Council will take up a proposed ordinance to establish a local Fair Rent Commission when it meets in early June. Under the local ordinance as proposed, the commission, once established, would have the power to receive complaints, inquiries, and other communications concerning alleged excessive rental charges and alleged violations, including retaliation, language that is similar to a model ordinance drafted by Partnerships for Strong Communities, a statewide advocacy group. The commissions purpose is defined by state law. State law, according to 2-1-1 of Connecticut, indicates that a fair rent commission has further authority: when it finds that rental housing does not meet the local or state health or safety requirements for housing, the commission may suspend rent payments until the housing is brought into compliance. Also, a commission may order a landlord to stop any retaliation against a tenant who makes a complaint to the commission. A fair rent commission has this authority only within the boundaries of the city/town that established it. According to Partnership for Strong Communities, every town with a population of at least 25,000 residents or more as of the most recent census count is required under state statute passed in 2022 to enact a local Fair Rent Commission. Meriden, Wallingford, Cheshire and Southington were among the municipalities that the law newly required to have established commissions by July 1, 2023. Wallingford, Southington and Cheshire all passed ordinances establishing those commissions, according to previous Record-Journal reports. The makeup of the five-member board as proposed in Meriden stipulates that one member be a current tenant, one a current landlord, and three other board members represent neither interest. The commissions membership, as proposed, would have two alternate members. The City Councils Economic Development, Housing and Zoning Committee held a public hearing regarding the proposed commissions establishment last week. Members of the public who either addressed the committee in person or submitted written comments recommended some amendments to the ordinance as proposed. Please know that a Fair Rent Commission is not rent control, said Jeffrey Freiser, a Meriden resident and former executive director of the Connecticut Housing Coalition. It will have no impact whatsoever on the vast, vast majority of Meriden landlords. Freiser said the commission would have the ability to act when a rent increase is so excessive that it imposes extreme rent burdens on tenants. Freiser, during his remarks also noted that the Rent Commission, through its review of complaints, would have the ability to help city officials ensure residential properties are in compliance with the current building code. The commission would have the authority to delay proposed rent increases until violations are corrected, Freiser said, adding this would help to eliminate substandard units and improve the housing stock in the city of Meriden. Freiser recommended that the proposed terms for commission members be reduced to three years from four years, which was the term length outlined in the draft ordinance. Another resident, Colleen Cyr, raised concerns that the proposed ordinance as presented on May 17, did not include language referencing the states Freedom of Information Act, including a requirement that commission hearings be open to the public. City Attorney Emily Holland also presented a series of amendments, some of which she said were intended to correct typographical errors in the proposed ordinances language. Holland also recommended amendments that addressed Freisers and Cyrs concerns about term lengths and Freedom of Information Act compliance. Hollands recommendation on terms was three years, like Freiser suggested. In response to Cyrs concern about FOIA compliance, Holland said the amendment she proposed would include language to make that compliance explicit in the ordinance. Another amendment Holland discussed was the inclusion of language within the ordinance outlining the commissions authority when landlords fail to comply with a commission order. The commission has the ability to enforce penalties and go to court to enforce its own orders, Holland said. ...Inserting this language would make it very clear. Holland recommended additional language that makes it easier for landlords, residents and tenants to know what their rights are. The EDHZ Committees discussion of the proposed ordinance centered largely on the proposed commissions composition. City Councilor Bruce A. Fontanella initially proposed amending the ordinance so that two of its five members needed to be tenants, two needed to be landlords and one a neutral party. I think that would be a lot better than the possibility, as it is written here, to have one tenant and four landlords I am afraid were going to have a hard time finding tenants, Fontanella said, adding he would like to see the parties with vested interest in the commissions actions be represented equally on it. City Manager Timothy Coon said his concern regarding that amendment is that there are not as many landlords available as there are tenants to potentially serve on the commission. Coon said Fontanellas concern is valid, but he recommended the amendment state one landlord and one tenant. Fontanella said he still believed it would be better to start with two landlords and two tenants, and one neutral party. The committee eventually arrived at a compromise, when councilor Yvette Cortez proposed language stating that no more than two landlords and two tenants can serve on the commission. Cortez said she appreciates Fontanellas concern about having individuals serve on the board without support. I dont think that would be fair, Cortez said. And weve got to be realistic with what were working with. Cortez recommended leaving room for additional neutral parties on the board. After further discussion, the committee settled on language stating one landlord, one tenant and three neutral parties. City Councilor Dan Brunet, who serves as EDHZ vice chairman, did not attend the committees May 17 meeting. Brunet said he believes the commission, much like the Civilian Police Review Board and the Human Rights, Racial Equity & Social Justice Committee, is an unnecessary board. The requirement to establish such a commission reflects feel good politics in Connecticut that are out of control with these mandates, Brunet said. Brunet said with substantial tax and insurance increases on the horizon, rents will need to be increased. It doesnt seem fair for landlords to have to publicly justify rent increases, Brunet said. mgagne@record-journal.com203-317-2231Twitter:@MikeGagneRJ Maria Canales was her family's English-to-Spanish translator growing up. She began going with her parents to medical appointments when she was nine. Her family had recently moved to Connecticut from Puerto Rico and her parents struggled to learn English. In addition, Canales was "the baby" of the family, so she was always with one of her parents. From filling out forms to explaining her parents ailments to the doctors, Canales said translating for people became an ingrained daily task. Simple things like acronyms were a challenge for her parents, she added. Tons of times they gave me this prescription [and said] 'can you read what it says on the bottle?' Something as simple as that, Canales said. Although Latinos are the second largest ethnic group in the U.S, only 7% of doctors identify as Latino nationwide, according to Pew Research Center. In addition, the American Board of Family Medicine estimates that 22% of family physicians were fluent in Spanish nationwide from 2013 to 2019. The lack of bilingual providers causes language barriers across all medical fields and leads to poorer health outcomes. The person goes home [after an appointment], theyve gotten a prescription, they have no clue how to take it, Canales said. Theyve gotten no directions, but whatevers on the paper, and the pharmacy is not going to print it in Spanish. Where are thebarriers? Assistant executive director for the Spanish Community of Wallingford (SCOW), Lizandra Mejias, started translating for her non-English speaking parents when she was nine years old. Her parents would regularly bring her to doctors appointments to translate for them. However, it wasnt until she got her medical interpreting license did she realize the potential consequences of translating incorrectly. Mejias described translating as getting the gist of what a person is saying and [giving] your own kind of opinions on what you understood. On the other hand, medical interpretation has to be as exact as possible, leaving nothing out and not letting your own opinions or your own understanding get in the way of what the person is trying to transmit. I had no idea I was doing it wrongI was a child and I had to be the interpreter, she said. National studies show language barriers in a medical setting can lead to miscommunication, confusion, and poor health. According to the Pew Research Center, 44% of 3,716 Latinos who responsed to a 2021 survey said that language barriers are a main contributor to them having worse health outcomes than other U.S. adults. Under half of the respondents also said they have a close friend or family member who needs a Spanish-speaking healthcare provider or translator. A JAMA Pediatrics Network survey found patients with limited English were less likely to advocate for themselves and ask questions at doctors appointments. As a result, they cannot fully communicate when they need clarifications or feel uncomfortable with the care offered. The language barrier, its like a vicious cycle and it doesnt affect everybody the same, Mejias said. There are people who are indiscriminately affected by just the fact that they dont have the same resources as everybody else. Mejias worked as a client services specialist for eight years at SCOW and is a trained medical interpreter. She has helped many clients by translating hospital documents, attending doctors appointments and providing over-the-phone translations. Mejias saw many examples of language barriers in the medical field over her career. For example, some clients reported being asked by medical providers to bring their own translators. She said patients often rely on their English-speaking children to translate on their behalf. If they cant bring someone to translate, the doctors may use any bilingual staff, regardless of medical specialty, during the appointment. Similarly, Mejias said clients brought in several documents and forms full of grammar mistakes. She explained that documents from private practices were more likely to have errors since they couldnt employ trained medical interpreters and typically use Google Translate instead. Some of these issues were life-and-death decisions that they had to make, but the information wasnt provided to them in their native language, she said. Language barriers also often hinder patients from receiving proper follow-up care in many ways, Mejias added. She said language barriers often result in confusion with aftercare instructions, or the patient may not fully understand their diagnosis. Meanwhile, patients who need to meet with specialists following a diagnosis might be unable to find a Spanish-speaking one. Even if they do find one, the specialist may not be available for several weeks or months, she said. Mejias recalled attending a patients cardiology follow-up appointment to help translate. The doctor had diagnosed the patient in a previous visit but they didnt fully understand the doctor. With Mejias help, the patient finally learned about her diagnosis and how to take her medications correctly. This person did not have the information that they needed in order to really make the appropriate changes in their lifestyle and prevent a future heart attack. It was that serious, Mejias said. Quality of care Language barriers may also result in lower quality of care and treatment during an appointment, said Canales, a Hispanic community educator for the Connecticut Alzheimers Association. Canales remembered how doctors would provide almost no health education and used the language barrier as an excuse when she was a child. They werent really taking the time to say this is the prescription. These are the potential side effects. Do you have questions? Canales said. Back then its like Im a doctor, Im giving you this, follow my directions, bye. Although hospitals have improved care toward Spanish-speaking patients, Canales still sees room for growth. Her mother learned enough English to hold her own in a doctors appointment. Over the years, however, Canales noticed her mothers medical care was worsening. She said doctors wouldnt listen to her mother as much due to the language barrier. Her mother was hospitalized following a massive stroke that left her aphasic and was discharged a week later. During the discharge, medical staff brought a translator to let her know Canales mother was finally going home. Although excited to go home, she knew her daughters were at work, so there would be no one home to care for her, but she couldnt communicate this to her medical team. Canales and her sister would leave a paper with their information and schedules so doctors would know when to send her home. She added that her sister called the hospital to check in and was told her mom was already in the ambulance. They were going to send her home to an empty house and they wouldve gotten here, no one would have answered, Canales said. They thought it was an English-Spanish language barrier and it was completely bigger. Mental health A language barrier in a mental health setting can lead to a complete breakdown of the appointment, said Paul Shaker, a licensed clinical social worker for Rushfords Latino mental health services. At Rushford, Shaker said most staff, including the front desk and case managers, are bilingual. Case managers can help connect clients with free English classes too. Shaker added that they also rely on the language lines to help translate in appointments. However, there are a few hindrances to using the line. For example, one of his Spanish-speaking clients recently had surgery and couldnt communicate clearly. The client needed to use a language line during an appointment, but the interpreter on the other end couldnt fully understand him. Everybody got frustrated and we had to basically start from scratch, Shaker said. In addition, mental health services in Spanish are limited. The Psychiatric Services Journals analysis of the National Mental Health Services survey found that mental health facilities offering treatment in Spanish have declined by 18% from 2014 to 2019 nationwide. Altogether, 44 states saw a decline in the availability of mental health treatment in Spanish despite increasing Hispanic populations, including Connecticut. Shaker said Rushford had to close its Latino Intensive Outpatient Program several years ago because it was understaffed. As a result, Spanish-speaking patients only had access to outpatient services and support groups that met once or twice a week. Once, Shaker needed to recommend his Spanish-speaking patient to Rushfords regular IOP, which was in English. He explained that the patient required more care than the Latino outpatient program could provide and knew enough English to get by. The patient transferred to the Latino IOP program when the program reopened earlier this year. Since moving, Shaker said his patient has been able to express himself more freely and with more vulnerability. In addition, the patient loves communicating in his native tongue with people from similar backgrounds. They speak the same language. They know the same culture. They use the same cultural expressions. [The patient] will feel much more engaged, at home and at ease, Shaker said. So that becomes a much better place for him. So, he is much more likely to continue in his treatment as a result. Solutions Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Middletown-based Moses/Weitzman Health System, Dr. Karoline Oliveira, said language barriers in the medical world must be addressed in a multifaceted and culturally humble way. Resources such as language lines and trained medical interpreters can lessen the burden of language barriers. Oliveira said the Moses/Weitzman Health System addresses language barriers in various ways. Connecticuts health system provides primary care through the Community Health Center and ConferMED. Their medical facilities use multi-language welcome kiosks and have pre-translated documents in multiple languages. Many facilities also have trained medical interpreters who can provide accurate translations during appointments. In addition, Oliveira said that they dont rely on untrained bilingual staff to translate since that could lead to mistakes and misunderstandings. If a patient brings a friend or family member to translate, the provider will welcome them into the appointment but ask them to refrain from translating. Not everyone always understands the nuances of medical language and terminology. So we try to be really intentional about that, Oliveira said. Oliveira said the best way to ensure patients fully understand what is going on medically is to have medical interpreters and providers that can speak Spanish and are culturally humble. Cultural competency sets an expectation that providers must know and understand everything about their patients cultural backgrounds. Meanwhile, cultural humility recognizes that the medical provider is not an expert in a patients culture and relies on provider-patient communication to provide care in a sensitive manner. Providing culturally humble care leads to a better understanding of the patients beliefs, builds trust and improves adherence to aftercare directions, Oliveira said. Youre more likely to have someone adhere to that plan if they feel like [the provider] heard them and theyve taken their cultural concerns into consideration in the delivery of care, Oliveira said. Trained medical interpreting Two years ago, Eastern Connecticut State University launched its Medical Interpreting in Spanish minor to encourage more students to enter the public health workforce as trained translators. Department Chair of Health Sciences Dr. Yaw Nsiah said the minor is a dual language program offered by his department and the department of world languages and culture. There are fewer than 10 people currently enrolled in the minor, with most of the students studying Spanish as a second language. According to its website, the program aims to help students "develop critical skill sets that future healthcare providers can use to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients." Nsiah explained that medical interpretation is taught using grammatical Spanish so that they can connect with patients from all over Latin America. However, as the students enter the workforce, they'll build a specified but accurate translation style for the community they serve. "The information you are trying to give to the patient or to the provider is very specific and it has consequences if it doesn't go according to what is meant or what is expected," he continued. Nsiah added that Eastern is launching a new nursing program in the fall and hopes students will pick up the minor so that more medical providers learn to communicate with their patients without an interpreter. He noted that more trust could be built when a provider can speak with the patient directly, thus creating rapport and understanding. Nationwide, about eight in 10 Spanish-language-dominant Hispanic adults prefer to see a Spanish-speaking healthcare provider, according to the Pew Research Center. [A patient] may not be able to say certain things in English to the provider who doesnt understand Spanish. But if the provider understands Spanish then there is no barrier anymore. They both can actually communicate effectively and fluently, Nsiah said. Lifelong educator Although Canales speaks five languages, she said that the hardest one to learn was English. So, whenever she sees someone struggling to communicate because of a language barrier, she steps in. In addition, her childhood experience inspired her to become a Spanish community educator for the Connecticut Alzheimer's Association to help other Latinos access the information they need in their native language. "At the end of the day, they should be eligible to get the same kind of care that we all are. And they know that they won't," Canales said. "If we can give education in our language, then at least they're more empowered when they go to the doctor." Editors Note: This story is part of More than Words, a Report for America initiative that brought together newsrooms covering Latino communities in eight states to examine the impact of language barriers on the social, economic and educational advancement of Latinos. Health Equity reporter Cris Villalonga-Vivoni is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. They can be reached at cvillalonga@record-journal.com and 203-317-2448. Support RFA reporters at the Record-Journal through a donation at https://bit.ly/3Pdb0re. To learn more about RFA, visit www.reportforamerica.org. Yves here. It is disheartening to see how the Democratic party and elite fondness for complex programs, best of all in eligibility rules to make the poors pay for their bennies in time and stress, then serves as a mechanism for gutting them. This article argues how drug companies are seeking to limit or end the Federal drug discount program 340B, which requires pharmaceutical companies to provide price breaks to some customers in return for Medicare and Medicaid. Their method is to misrepresent its economics, which is not hard to do since hardly anyone outside Big Pharma really understands it. Note that sadly, consistent with that fact, this article doesnt provide as much detail on the program itself or the distortions as I would like. I assume the author feared it would produce MEGO (My Eyes Glaze Over) in readers. By John Arcano, a policy analyst at AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Originally published at Common Dreams The recent wave of articles on the 340B Drug Pricing Programs supposedly out-of-control growth relies on faulty comparisons and fuzzy math. News reports and opinion columns often cite misleading statistics from 340B opponents. Drug industry-approved experts have become known for offering faint praise for the good intentions of a program gone awry. Faux concerns mask their real intent, which is to gut 340B. The truth is, the program functions today the same way Congress intended at its start in 1992. Drug company spin asserts 340B has morphed into a program unrecognizable to federal legislators. But, while 340B has admittedly grown since creation, the program is not on autopilot. Drug makers have the entire commercial insurance and federal entitlement drug markets to reap massive profits. Yet the drug industry remains unsatisfied with less-than-outrageous profits for a small slice of prescription drug sales. 340B critics obfuscate the true nature of the 340B program by referencing its federal origins. The tact is meant to mislead Americans into thinking they foot the bill for 340B. But the program is not analogous to Medicare and Medicaid. Unlike federal entitlement programs, future recipients do not pay into the program and expect returns upon retirement or as a backstop, should they face economic hardship. The government does not fund 340B with payroll taxes. In fact, 340B drug purchases do not cost the government one cent. Taxpayers are not on the hook for a single 340B purchase. Drug companies, not taxpayers, resource 340B drug purchases. And why do drug companies extend discounted prices to nonprofit healthcare providers? In return for discounts on less than 8% of total U.S. drug expenditures, pharmaceutical companies can access the much more lucrative Medicare and Medicaid prescription drug programs. Drug makers are not forced to participate in 340B; to the contrary, they eagerly entered into the program, salivating over millions of customers backed by a guaranteed federal payer. Drug companies resort to drug pricing gimmicks to exaggerate the size of 340B purchases. Instead of using the actual price, drug makers use their list prices to measure 340Bs relative size. By that metric, 340B sales in 2021 registered $93.6 billion. But think of drug company list prices as the sticker price for a new car. Car dealerships and drug companies can set their prices however they want. Consumers only care what they pay for cars, and in this case, their medications. And, just like with cars, no one pays the sticker price for prescription drugs. The federal government most certainly does not, nor do state Medicaid departments. Consumers do not either. Private insurance picks up the overwhelming majority of prescription drug spending for their plan holders. Taxpayers subsidize those who rely on federal aid to procure prescriptions.In 2021, real 340B purchases actually made up $43.9 billion. Yet the taxpayer does not finance 340B. Discounts come out of drug company profitsrevenue drug makers more than make up for through the quid-pro-quo arrangement which enables drug sales to entitlement program patients. The sketchy math does not end there. Drug companies want Americans to believe that 340B is the primary driver for exorbitant prescription drug price hikes. 340B, however, represents a fraction of overall prescription drug spending in the United States. In 2021, the healthcare system spent $603 billion on prescription medicines before rebates; retail drugs accounted for $421 billion of the total. According to the pharmaceutical industry, the explosive growth of 340B means they will have to make up for supposed lost revenue elsewhere. In reality, drug companies are more concerned that they cannot charge nonprofit providers arbitrary list prices. Drug makers want Americans to believe that, if not for 340B, drug price increases would magically disappear. Somehow, Medicare Part Da program over 2.5 times the size of 340B ($110.1 billion in 2021) in terms of net spendinghas less to do with drug price hikes than the program that cuts into drug industry profits. For some reason, drug companies never complain about explosive growth in federal entitlement drug spending. And why would they? Drug makers are the primary beneficiaries. When it comes to 340B, drug industry innumeracy is only rivaled by its greed. Drug makers have the entire commercial insurance and federal entitlement drug markets to reap massive profits. Yet the drug industry remains unsatisfied with less-than-outrageous profits for a small slice of prescription drug sales. Faulty pharmaceutical industry math places 340B sales on the wrong side of the ledger. Without 340B, drug companies would not make any money off the medically underserved. Drug makers should stop exaggerating the size of 340B purchases and abide by the terms of an agreement they voluntarily entered. Yves here. I must confess I had never heard of the Crusade Bulls before. I majored in the Industrial Revolution, and by then, the controversies over papal indulgences were over, even if their effects (Christian schism) were durable I wonder how many readers will agree with the core premise of this article, that their purchase was an indicator spiritual comfort and hence subjective well-being. But we do see societies like Japan with comparatively low inequality where despite a long period of economic stagnation they still score well on social well-being measures. By Carlos Alvarez-Nogal, Professor of Economics Universidad Carlos Iii De Madrid and Leandro Prados de la Escosura, Emeritus Professor of Economic History Universidad Carlos Iii De Madrid; Research Associate, CAGE University Of Warwick. Originally published at VoxEU The relationship between a countrys economic conditions and the subjective well-being of its citizens has attracted increasing interest from economists in recent decades, but the question is rarely pursued in a historical context. This column looks back to early modern Spain, which experienced an economic decline from the 1570s to 1650, to assess how that decline affected individual perceptions of well-being and inequality. A previously unexplored source the sale of papal Crusade Bulls suggests that improvements in subjective well-being were accompanied by a decline in subjective inequality. Subjective well-being, defined as either life satisfaction or happiness the latter being the most fashionable topic in Googles Ngram database (Barrington-Leigh 2022) and its relationship with GDP per capita has attracted the interest of economists researching welfare during the last half century (Clark 2018, Balasubramanian 2019, Reis et al. 2017, Rustichini and Proto, 2014). But the subject has hardly been explored in a historical context (an exception being Hills et al. 2019). The decline of early modern Spain provides an opportunity to study it. The modern academic debate on the decline of Spain goes back a long way (Hamilton 1938). New quantitative research shows that after a century of sustained progress, Spain experienced an economic decline from the 1570s to 1650. It recovered only gradually thereafter, and the peak per capita income of the early 1570s was not reached again until the 1820s (Prados de la Escosura et al. 2020, 2022). How did economic decline affect peoples perception of their well-being? In a recent paper (Alvarez-Nogal and Prados de la Escosura 2023), we look at the spiritual satisfaction of those who lived in Hapsburg Spain, a religiously dominated society. We rely on an unexplored source, namely, the papal Bulls of the Crusade. The origin of the Crusade Bull in Spain can be traced back to the indulgences and spiritual graces that the Church granted in the Middle Ages to those who risked their lives and wealth to fight in the Holy Land. In addition to some material benefits (such as consuming meat and other goods during times of the year in which the Roman Catholic Church forbade it), acquiring the bull brought more important spiritual benefits: plenary indulgencies that erased the penance for guilt after sinning, either in life or afterwards in Purgatory. In time, these indulgences were extended to those who fought the infidels in Iberia and the Mediterranean. Those who did not fight could enjoy the same spiritual graces by paying alms to help finance the war. Although these were spiritual benefits, the management of their sale and distribution remained in the hands of the monarchy. This type of concession from the Church to monarchs was widespread in Europe from the 11th century onwards, but its real boom came in the 15th century with the development of the printing press, which facilitated the sale of bulls at large scale. Printing the bulls on paper and hand-delivering a copy to each of the faithful allowed the bulls to be distributed and collected individually. The bull was personal and non-transferable because only those whose name was written on the back would enjoy these spiritual graces. Although the Church had been selling indulgences in Spain since the 13th century, ceding part of what they collected to the Crown, the reception to the indulgences preached between 1479 and 1492 intended to promote the conquest of Granada aroused the monarchys interest in controlling this income in full. After the conquest of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada (1492), the Spanish monarchy continued to demand financial help from the Church: first to keep the Turks away from their possessions in the Mediterranean; then to stop the Berbers in North Africa; and later to eradicate the Protestant heresy in Europe. The Pope yielded to pressure and, over the course of the 16th century, ceded to the Crown part of the revenues collected in Spain. Unlike the rest of Europe, where the sale of indulgences was suppressed by Pope Pius V (1567), the practice was consolidated in Spain. Despite widespread criticism of the Crusade Bull from the beginning of the 16th century, sparked by Martin Luthers Ninety-five Theses (1517), all attempts to put an end to it came up against the strength and diplomatic influence exercised by Philip II in defending it. The Turkish threat, the need to form the Holy League and to pay for the subsequent Battle of Lepanto were arguments skilfully used by the King of Spain to persuade the Pope to grant the bull again. After 1574, the Crusade Bull was annually collected by the Spanish Monarchy in its territories. The purchase of the bull was compulsory for those aged 12 and above who wanted to enjoy its benefits. Given its affordable price, practically all of them bought the bull in normal times, so the number of bulls sold moved in line with the population. We argue that the number of bulls sold from the relevant population, whatever drove their sale (economic hardship, social unrest, political turmoil, warfare), provided a measure of spiritual comfort and, hence, of subjective well-being in a very religious world. In Figure 1, we observe that our measure of subjective well-being deteriorated during the late 16th century and in the 1640s, but improved during the 1670s. Figure 1 Subjective well-being: Ratio of total bulls to population (normalised, logs) Another feature of our source is that it distinguishes between two types of bulls: the regular 2 reales bull for the common people, and the 8 reales bull intended for those of wealth and high social status. Notwithstanding the social pressure to procure the appropriate kind of bull, acquiring one type or another was an individual choice. Thus, the number of 8 reales bulls sold expressed as a percentage of the 2 reales bulls provides information on the proportion of the population that included itself in the top of the income distribution. In other words, it presents us with a subjective measure of inequality. We find that our measure of subjective inequality increased in the first decades of the 17th century and fell during the 1640s and late 1660s1670s (Figure 2). Figure 2 Subjective inequality: Ratio between bulls of 8 and 2 reales bulls, 15741700 (%) We can conclude, then, that subjective well-being and inequality evolve as mirror images; except in the 1640s, when both contracted, gains (losses) in subjective well-being were accompanied by a fall (rise) in subjective inequality over the almost 130 years considered. In fact, a negative association results from plotting subjective inequality against subjective inequality, suggesting that inequality declined as well-being improved (Figure 3). Figure 3 Subjective inequality versus subjective well-being Note: Subjective inequality is measured by the ratio between 8 and 2 reales bulls; subjective well-being is measured by the ratio of total bulls to the population (normalised, logs) But how does subjective well-being compare to GDP per capita? Kahneman and Deaton (2010) suggested a diminishing association between the two dimensions as per capita income increases, and Rustichini and Proto (2014) observed a hump shape relationship, with a positive association at lower income levels (countries) that flattens and even becomes negative as average incomes (countries) reach higher levels. In the case of Hapsburg Spain, we observe a weak association between subjective well-being and GDP per capita that turns negative as income gets higher (Figure 4). This result matches Proto and Rustichini and Protos (2014) finding, but given Spains relatively low average income levels at the time, a positive and non-flattening association would have been expected. Figure 4 Subjective well-being and GDP per capita, 15741700 Note: Subjective well-being is measured by the ratio bulls to Population (normalised). Source: See text. Furthermore, when the comparison between subjective and objective measures is extended to inequality (Figure 5), we find that our subjective inequality measure presents a positive, though weak, association with the Williamson index (that is, the ratio at current price between GDP per capita and wage rate). Figure 5 Subjective inequality and nominal Williamson index (1790/99=100) Note: Subjective inequality is measured by the ratio between 8 and 2 Reales bulls. See original post for references My position with the Post has evolved since 2000, when I began work with The City Paper. In 2008, SouthComm Inc. bought the Post and The City Paper, after which I worked with both publications. The City Paper ceased operations in 2013, two years after I was named Post managing editor. In 2018, FW Publishing acquired the Post. Follow William Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A hiker within Grand Canyon National Park died earlier this month on the Bright Angel Trail, park officials announced Wednesday. Park officials say several factors may have contributed to the hikers death, identified as a 36-year-old female from Westfield, Indiana. Contributing factors include heat-related illness and hyponatremia, a life threatening electrolyte imbalance from drinking too much water and not consuming enough salt. The hiker was one of four who were hiking up from the Colorado River, after descending to the river earlier that day, a spokesperson for the park told the Arizona Daily Sun. On May 14 at approximately 9 p.m., park officials received a call about an unresponsive hiker on the Bright Angel Trail. Within about an hour, rescue personnel had reached the hiker close to three miles below the rim, about halfway between Three-Mile Resthouse and Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse. Shortly after emergency personnel responded, the hiker became pulseless, according to National Park Officials. All attempts to resuscitate the individual were unsuccessful. An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner. Grand Canyon National Park sees about 12 fatalities on average each year, although the causes can vary significantly. Nonetheless, rangers at Grand Canyon National Park strongly urge visitors, especially inner canyon hikers and backpackers to be prepared for excessively hot days in the coming weeks. In the summer months, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120F (49 C) in the shade. Park rangers do not advise hiking in the inner canyon between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as most heat-related illnesses are from hikers on trail between these hours. The NPS does not recommend hiking from the rim to the river and back in one day. When the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in the era of remote working and Zoom classrooms, many Nashvillians tidied up their home workspaces and shopped around to upgrade their internet connections. But for people in neighboring counties, where internet access was far from guaranteed for many residential properties, just getting online presented a challenge. In places like Franklin, local governments offered up the parking lots of public buildings like libraries or parks as pseudo internet cafes, allowing residents to connect their devices while remaining in their cars. In other areas, residents relied on the internet connections of businesses like McDonalds to work, to file school assignments and to stay connected. Once you get outside of Nolensville and the city proper, those services are very limited or may be nonexistent, says Victor Lay, town manager of the growing Williamson County city. Those opportunities really start to deplete. Coronavirus lockdowns highlighted the so-called digital divide in Middle Tennessee. But as with so many issues, inequities in internet access existed long before the pandemic and have continued to affect Tennesseans as life has returned to normal. The states 2022 Broadband Accessibility Map shows that, while the overwhelming majority of properties in Davidson County have access to the federal standard broadband service speed of 100 megabits per second, large swaths of other counties in the greater Nashville area do not and the lower speeds are not limited strictly to rural, far-flung areas. Williamson County Davidsons affluent and rapidly growing neighbor to the south lacks internet access just outside growing population centers like Nolensville or Spring Hill. This lack of access causes huge issues for people both at home and at the workplace, community leaders say. Having broadband is as important as having roads and other infrastructure in the county, says Williamson County Commissioner Paul Webb. To bridge the digital divide, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development in September allocated roughly $446.77 million of its American Rescue Plan funding to the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund. According to department spokesperson Jennifer McEachern, the money will provide grant funding to internet service providers in 58 counties to either improve or establish new service to approximately 310,000 Tennesseans by August 2025. United Communications, which provides service in parts of Bedford, Franklin, Marshall, Rutherford and Williamson counties, received the largest portion of those funds at $53.36 million. The company, like others that received funding, is planning new service lines and purchasing materials in the early stages of its three-year projects to build out new broadband infrastructure. William Bradford, Uniteds CEO, says part of the companys challenge is to encourage adoption in areas that may never have felt they needed internet access. When you go to an unserved area, youre going to get a lot of people who sign up on day one, says Bradford. They get it. Theyve been begging for it. But theres another piece of the population that, maybe they gave up. Maybe, because theyve never had access to internet, they dont know how they can use it day to day. Part of it is an education process. Williamson County has also bolstered its cellular service by building new service towers on public properties and renting them out to companies like Verizon. While the towers are designed to improve broadband as a secondary goal, Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson says just having better cell service is a boon for first responders in the county, many of whom resorted to outdated forms of communication like two-way radios before the towers were built. When youre driving down the road, youre not losing dropped calls thats its simplest form, Anderson says. But from a public safety perspective, we need cell coverage in some areas as much as we need broadband. Maryam Abolfazli is an increasingly vocal presence in Nashville. The Iranian American and native Nashvillian is a writer, mother, organizer, self-described agitator and chair of the Metro Human Relations Commission, among other roles. She speaks out on issues like reproductive rights, economic development, school safety, protests against the Iranian government and more, and shes fostered a meaningful community in the process. If you come to people with your heart, they come back usually with their heart, says Abolfazli of Nashville and Tennessee. I lived in D.C. for 12 years. I love that progressive city, but it was really hard to connect to people. But here, its easy. Recently, Abolfazli arranged one of the many protests that followed the Covenant School shooting. On March 30, just three days after the tragedy, thousands of protesters gathered in and around the Tennessee Capitol to demand gun reform from state leaders. While Abolfazli spearheaded the organization of the protest, an event of that magnitude took immense collaboration to pull off and a lot of that happened on social media. People would message me and [ask], Have you thought about this? Abolfazli tells the Scene. [And I would say] Nope, thank you, can you handle it? The whole thing was like a peoples rally. It was totally decentralized. For better or for worse, social media is a powerful tool in facilitating these kinds of events and conversations. Its one that Abolfazli uses alongside op-eds, newsletters and her 2020 novel, Red Red. While she describes the community shes found on Twitter and Instagram as beautiful, she also acknowledges how divisive social media can be. A 2022 study by the Pew Research Center considers the relationships of social media and democracy in multiple countries. The report indicates that, while some experts consider social media harmful to the health of democracies, the majority of international respondents believe it has a positive effect on democracy and keeping people informed even as they recognize that it presents dangers such as division and misinformation. In the United States alone, however, respondents sentiment is different 64 percent of Americans say social media has a negative impact on democracy. I always ask myself, Is this [post] forwarding us toward change? says Abolfazli. And what change in particular? For me, a bunch of division and separation is not going to get us where we need to go. And theres so much of that. Is it a good place for city conversation? I think so. Is it totally inclusive? I would say no. Even still, social media provides a valuable arena for folks to stay educated and engaged. Following the March rally, Abolfazli noticed continued energy from folks who wanted to stay involved around local issues including but not limited to gun reform. Responding to that demand, she co-created Rise & Shine Tennessee, a grassroots volunteer group that aims to, as she puts it, unify, engage and economically secure Tennesseans. A linked signup sheet allows people to opt into receiving information about continued action and the state legislatures forthcoming special session, and share ideas about gun reform. We live in this city that largely is considered this progressive city in a state thats considered really, really the opposite of progressive, says Abolfazli. And its been like we live in a bubble, and they live in a bubble, whoever they are, and theres not been a lot of communication or connection. And that is what has kept power in its place. And even in Nashville, if youre in this neighborhood or that neighborhood the bubbled world has just expanded with social media. And I can be on my screen and you can be on your screen, we can be sitting next to each other and watching completely different things in our bubbles. But I think our future is in the bubbles breaking down. Ive said it before its really important that we get to know each other. Falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after it. That sentiment is just as true today as it was when author Jonathan Swift wrote it in 1710 though I shudder to think just how many social media influencers might assume Swifts A Modest Proposal is an earnest proposition, if they ever got around to reading it. Indeed, social media is beset by falsehood, exaggeration and misinformation. We all know how the spread of so-called fake news a term ironically popularized by lover of misinformation Donald Trump influenced the 2016 election. But falsehood flies at the local level as well, as weve seen time and again. Whether its misinformation about a local tragedy or disaster, or misinterpretation of intentionally vague state legislation, Nashvillians in recent years have seen bad information soar through the local social media sphere while the facts of the story come trailing behind. Mike Caulfield is a research scientist at the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington. He studies rumor and online information literacy, and a few years back he created a method known as SIFT, or The Four Moves, to help internet users sort truth from fiction. SIFT is an acronym, with each letter representing one step in a four-part series of sifting through online information: stop; investigate the source; find better coverage; and trace claims, quotes and media to the original context. Caulfield notes that Google has taken SIFT principles and incorporated them both in links that are included on search result pages and within the Chrome browser. He also notes that in a trial application of the method at several dozen universities, he and his fellow researchers found a sixfold increase in students being able to assess the reliability of information and defend that. If youre reading the retweet of the blog post of the news story of the press release of the research article, says Caulfield, you need to think about whether youve gotta go a little bit upstream, right? Caulfield notes that even established news organizations bear some responsibility here. He points out that election misinformation specifically often comes from decent publications that put up decent stories, but use exaggerated or inflammatory headlines to drive traffic. Weve come a long way in that news organizations realize they have to address the stuff out there thats dangerously false, he says. But at the same time, there is this continued problem the financial model for carefully researched truth is weaker than the financial model for just spewing out bullshit. And the disparity between those two continues to create an environment that is hard to navigate for people who want to get good information. The method for figuring out whether what youre reading online is real and reliable effectively comes down to two key principles, says Caulfield: Where did it come from, and what do knowledgeable people say about it? That means taking a minute to consider and actually examine the Instagram infographic, the pithy tweet or the incendiary Facebook post before sharing it. And this is especially true as we enter the era of copy generated by artificial intelligence models. AI text really projects a certain authority that it doesnt have, Caulfield says, referencing increasingly popular artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT. In general, right now, if I was to have one broad suggestion to people, its: If accuracy of the answer is important to you, dont get it from a large-language model at the moment. Ultimately, Caulfield thinks the average person has the capacity to incorporate the general principles of media literacy in their pursuit of online information, even if they seem resistant. Some people just prefer false, wrong information that supports their point of view, and thats always the case, he says. But most people, in my experience, would like to believe theyve come to their beliefs in a reasonable way, and would like to know that the things they are reading are not completely fabricated. The war on TikTok or more specifically, the war on Chinas ownership of TikTok was brought to the halls of the Tennessee State Capitol this year. The debate over data protection is an ongoing one that has resulted in multiple big tech casualties. In 2018, Facebook was hit with a class-action lawsuit over the misuse of 71 million peoples personal data. In 2022, Google paid a $391.5 million settlement over charges that it misled users about location tracking data. But recent actions over TikTok which, unlike Facebook and Google, is a Chinese-owned company have taken a slightly different tone. The internet has become a nearly inescapable facet of daily life. Eighty-five percent of Americans go online daily, and nearly a third of Americans say they use the internet constantly. Peoples lives are becoming more deeply intertwined with the internet than ever before, and as this happens, the amount of information that can be collected and used by corporations and governments is greatly increasing. User data falls into four main categories: basic data, interaction data, behavioral data and attitudinal data. Each of these is an umbrella term covering everything from a persons email and phone number, to what they decide to click on versus what they scroll past, to how much they pay attention to certain trends and what motivates them to dive deeper and click through a website. This information can be sold to other companies, fed to algorithms or used to predict market trends, and it allows companies to target consumers with products that will appeal to them. Of course companies arent the only entities purchasing and using data governments do it too. The U.S. government, through subpoenas and even purchases, collects and utilizes consumer data for law enforcement and various other purposes. The biggest secret in the military, I can reveal that secret, said Sen. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) while presenting Senate Bill 834 on the Senate floor back in March. The biggest secret is, candidly, how we obtain secrets. The bill, which was ultimately signed by Gov. Bill Lee and put into effect on April 13, bans access on public college campuses to apps that are based in China. Effectively, this means banning two apps for anyone using a public colleges Wi-Fi: TikTok and WeChat. The bill passed in both chambers with bipartisan support, but not without Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) pointing out in the House that, considering all the products the U.S. depends on China for including the iPhones being used by most members of the legislature banning one app from college campuses seemed inconsequential. The concern being leveled by lawmakers is that TikToks parent company, ByteDance, because it is based in China, might give sensitive user data to the Chinese government. Federal legislation to allow for a nationwide ban of TikTok began making its way through Congress in early March, and the Biden administration even went so far as to say that unless TikTok is sold to a non-Chinese company, it will be banned. Of course, much of the rhetoric surrounding TikTok has ranged from dog whistles to downright xenophobia, as lawmakers are primarily focused on the fact that TikTok is a Chinese company. But all the things U.S. officials seem worried about happening the acquisition of data, the lack of regulation and the spread of disinformation are practices that U.S. companies have directly engaged in. Most people would likely agree that some sort of internet regulation is a good thing particularly regulation regarding how data is shared and used. As algorithms continue to develop, they are becoming more effective at pushing people toward extremes. In some cases, such as the Myanmar genocide largely perpetuated through a flooding of Facebook with hatred, lack of regulation can even lead to horrible and deadly circumstances. But with data seeming to flow as freely as it does between corporations and governments, some have questioned whether a TikTok ban would actually even make a positive difference. While the TikTok ban made headlines, other Tennessee bills, such as House Bill 1181, quietly took actual steps toward introducing some guidelines for how data can be collected and used. But such legislation gets nowhere near the amount of attention or care that legislation aimed at TikTok does, and due to the chaotic, unorganized nature of data protection laws across the country, enforcement is a challenge. (Natural News) Republicans in the Arizona Legislature used their plenary authority on Monday, May 22, to ban the state from using electronic voting machines in any future federal elections, bypassing Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. In a letter to all 15 county boards of supervisors in Arizona, State Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli said the state legislature, through a resolution passed earlier this year, prohibits them from using electronic voting systems as the primary method of conducting federal elections until these systems meet certain criteria that the states election systems currently do not meet. (Related: Everything Home: Michele Swinick renews call for probe on AZ corruption, election fraud Brighteon.TV.) The resolution in question is Senate Concurrent Resolution 1037, passed by House and Senate Republicans in March on party-line votes. The resolution declared that state lawmakers were seriously concerned about the security of electronic voting systems. SCR 1037 noted that no electronic voting system could be used in the state as the primary way of conducting, counting, tabulating or verifying federal elections in the state unless the electronic voting systems in use were made in the U.S. and accredited as prescribed by the U.S. Department of Defense. The resolution adds that the source codes of these electronic voting machines must be publicly available and certain data must also be published within 24 hours after polls close. The Arizona Republicans main argument is that, while SCR 1037 is non-binding, they can use its authority to override state law as a matter of national security. They cite a 2017 report from the Department of Homeland Security that deemed election infrastructure critical to the nation. Paul Dragu, reporting on the issue for The New American, noted that all eyes will remain in Arizona for developments on this front, as he himself noted that election experts on the matter do not believe Arizonas Democratic officials holding the seats of power in the state will take this resolution lying down. Arizona Democrats claim resolution has no power Hobbs vetoed SCR 1037 when it reached her desk in April. She also vetoed an actual binding piece of legislation passed by both House and Senate Republicans which had similar language to SCR 1037, claiming that the bill neither strengthens our democracy nor ensures that Arizonans can better exercise their fundamental right to vote. At the time, Borrelli strongly criticized the governors veto, accusing her of playing blatant political games Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes denounced Arizona Republicans, claiming they are trying to exercise powers they do not have. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1037, which expresses a desire to restrict the use of certain electronic voting machines, is non-binding and does not have the force of law, said Fontes, who urged county leaders to proceed as normal and ignore SCR 1037. If those requirements or certification processes were to be changed, it would require a regular bill to be passed by the legislature and signed by the governor which is not the case for this non-binding resolution. We defer to the [Attorney Generals] office on all other legal questions. The attorney general agrees with the secretary of states legal assessment on the matter, said Richie Taylor, spokesperson for Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. The SCR is non-binding and has no legal impact. Christian Slater, spokesman for Hobbs, said Borrellis assertions regarding the power behind SCR 1037 are completely false and his actions are grossly irresponsible. But Borrelli is not backing down, which means that the Arizona Republicans are likely going to fight state Democrats in a protracted legal battle over the power of SCR 1037. But Arizona Republicans are prepared for this. Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers even said in an interview: Fine, take us to court. This is we, the state legislature, again recovering our plenary authority to tell them this is the way its going to be, she added. This is a separation of powers issue. Learn more about the threats to Americas election security at VoteFraud.news. Watch this episode of The New American TV as host Paul Dragu discusses the resolution of the Arizona Legislature that effectively bans voting machines. This video is from the channel The New American on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Rep. Chip Roy introduces bill cracking down on illegal immigrants voting in federal elections. Right Now with Ann Vandersteel: Josh Barnett optimistic about Arizona election recall Brighteon.TV. CLAIM: Arizonas Democrat governor, Katie Hobbs, accused of taking bribes from Mexican cartel through complex real estate scheme. Kari Lake: Kati Hobbs stole elections to protect cartels trafficking drugs, humans across border. The Prather Point: Arizona State Rep. Mark Finchem talks about Dem election rigging in Arizona. Sources include: Brighteon.com Arizona.VoteBeat.org ConventionOfStates.com AZMirror.com KJZZ.org (Natural News) Bud Light has been forced to buy back its unsold beer nearing expiry, as the fallout from its disastrous campaign with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney continues. It has gotten so bad that beer is still sitting on the shelves and lying unbought, as products run past their expiration date, noted Warner Todd Huston in a piece for the Western Journal. Not only is Bud Light losing sales, it is now entering into negative sales territory as the company is compelled to buy back its own, now spoiled, product. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) confirmed Bud Lights plan to purchase unsold beer cases in a May 21 piece. It stated that St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch recently told its wholesalers that it would buy back unsold cases of beer that have gone past their expiration date. Anheuser-Busch is a subsidiary of the Belgium-based AB InBev that purchased the Missouri firm in 2008. Worse, sales have been plunging for weeks with anywhere from 20 percent to nearly 30 percent lower sales over a year ago, said Huston. This cratering of sales is leaking into the number of parent company AB InBevs other brands, too. AB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris and top executives of the companys North American branch, including Anheuser-Busch CEO and President Brendan Whitworth, met with wholesalers in St. Louis. They presented a turnaround plan that featured special-edition Budweiser and Bud Light bottles that highlighted the companys 13-year sponsorship of Folds of Honor. The latter is a nonprofit that provides scholarships for family members of military veterans and first responders who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. According to distributors who attended the meeting, AB InBev executives said Bud Lights market share losses had stabilized. They added that during the conference, Whitworth pledged to get it all back and then some. But several wholesalers told the WSJ that Bud Light sales and market share in their markets were still failing, contrary to what the executives claimed. Bud Light learning the wrong lesson Huston remarked that the [WSJ] article also seems to make clear that Bud Light and AB InBev really havent learned any sort of lesson from this fiasco so far or at least, they are learning the wrong lesson. Bud Light, for decades, has sponsored LGBT rights groups and Pride events. AB InBev says it also has worked to cultivate an inclusive workplace for LGBT employees in its offices around the world. (Related: Video shows Bud Light parent firm vowing to purge WHITE MALE employees.) The WSJ also noted that Doukeris still sees no reason to stop supporting those promoting the twisted LGBT ideology. The AB InBev CEO reportedly drew drew a distinction between corporate sponsorship and brand marketing. Beer marketing, he remarked, should focus on broad themes such as sports, music and connecting people. The partnership with Mulvaney was not the first time AB InBev dipped its toes into transgender marketing. Back in 2021, Michelob Ultra featured transgender track star Cece Telfer in an ad campaign that pushed for gender equality in sports. The following year, Bud Light Canada released a limited edition can for Pride Month 2022 that displayed pronouns such as she, he and they. Celebrate everyones identity, the can urged drinkers. Huston pointed out: Notice what this means. It means that AB InBev will continue to undermine our system of education, our culture, our families and the safety of our children by supporting these radical groups. They just wont tie that support in with advertising their products anymore. So their solution to the Mulvaney fiasco is to just hide their donations to radical left-wing groups behind silent donations, instead of celebrating it in advertising. Despite this, he noted the power of boycotts against AB InBev and other companies that have pivoted toward wokeism. This is an example of what conservatives can do if they work in concert for a change, Huston wrote. Bud Light may not learn its lesson from this one example, but if we replicate it with some other brand that has gone woke, we can begin to put fear into these corporations that are spending the billions we give them in our patronage and purchases and putting it toward radical, left-wing, political causes. Watch this video about Bud Light sales plummeting by 26 percent. This video is from the Money Talk$ channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Analysis: Half of the 10 most popular beers in the US support LGBT. Budweiser sales PLUMMET after company pushed Bud Light male-in-drag trans advertising. PR expert blasts Anheuser-Busch for bewildering response to Mulvaney endorsement backlash. The boycotts are working: Keep PUNISHING woke corporations by denying them your financial support. Budweiser commits corporate SUICIDE by trying to shove TRANS perversion down the throats of beer drinkers. Sources include: WesternJournal.com WSJ.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The first-ever clinical trial on an injection-free microarray vaccine for children has just concluded. And those involved say it was successful at vaccinating kids as young as nine for both measles and rubella, using a small patch rather than a needle. With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta-based Micron Biomedical tested the new vaccine patch technology on children in Gambia. The microneedle patch, which looks like a Band-Aid, was applied to the kids bodies by simply pressing it onto the skin, penetrating the upper layer of their skin. A study on the test was presented at the recent Microneedles 2023 conference in Seattle. The paper looked at the safety, immunogenicity and acceptability of a combination measles-rubella (MR) version of the vaccine from the Serum Institute of India. According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, of which the Gates Foundation is a founding member, these microneedle patches are the future of vaccination, where these lifesaving interventions are delivered painlessly, without the need for syringes or perhaps even trained medical professionals. Supporting innovations in vaccine delivery is critical to addressing ongoing health inequities, said James Goodson, the studys co-investigator and a senior scientist and epidemiologist at the CDCs Global Immunization Division, in a press release about the technology. (Related: Last year, Gates announced that his foundation will be spending another $7 billion on abortions in Africa.) Gates has spent nearly $1 billion on microneedle patch vaccines, which he will easily recoup and then some following FDA approval The next step is for the microneedle patch vaccines from Gates to be licensed and commercially released, which is when the profits start flowing chaching! This is, of course, the primary impetus behind the technology that and depopulation through sterilization and other chemical damage. Together with the CDC, Unicef, PATH, and the Georgia Research Alliance, the Gates Foundation funneled $40 million into Micron to develop the microneedle patch technology. That money will easily and quickly be recouped once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inevitably grants its approval for the patch. In 2017, the Gates Foundation directly awarded Micron a $2.2 million grant, followed by another $900 million in 2022. Before all that, Gates gave Micron $2.5 million to develop a microneedle patch specifically for polio. In the last several months, numerous other investors, including the Global Health Investment Corporation and LTS Lohmann funneled even more cash into Microns coffers. J2 Ventures also gave the company $3 million in investment funds, bringing the companys total Series A funding to $17 million. Series A funding, the first round of equity financing for a startup company after it has demonstrated some success with seed funding, precedes a public offering, explains The Defender. Once normalized and mainstreamed, there will eventually be microneedle patch vaccines for covid, seasonal influenza, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV), typhoid, and rotavirus, among others. By the year 2030, the microneedle vaccine market for the flu shot alone is projected to reach $2.3 billion. In other words, Gates return on investment from all this is expected to be huge. This technology has revolutionary potential for extending the reach of vaccines in low resource settings and during pandemics, said David Hoey, president and CEO of Vaxxas, a biotechnology company based in Brisbane, Aus., in a statement to Gavi. Like Micron, Vaxxas has developed microneedle vaccines for measles and rubella, and currently has human trials underway for both covid and seasonal influenza. Former National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Francis Collins also spoke highly about microneedle vaccines, stating that they are a path toward innovative, next-generation Covid-19 vaccines and vaccine delivery technologies. Bill Gates has never met a child he did not want to vaccinate. To learn more, visit Vaccines.news. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org NaturalNews.com Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. From about half an acre on Monday to roughly 19 acres Wednesday, fire managers continue to respond to the Miller Fire northwest of Sedona within the Red Rock Ranger District. The fire, located about 4.5 miles west of Slide Rock State Park, is currently burning to the southwest toward the south side of Secret Canyon and Maroon Mountain, and away from more developed areas. The blaze is not threatening any structures, said Coconino National Forest spokesperson Randi Shaffer. It's mainly burning on the ground. It's kind of got a creeping, smoldering behavior, so there's some pretty low fire activity. It's nothing explosive, nothing severe at this point in time, Shaffer told the Arizona Daily Sun. So far, one Hotshot crew and the crews of two engines are working on the fire. Two helicopters have also been assigned to help tame the flames. Firefighters dug a control line on the eastern side of the fire in Secret Canyon on Tuesday, helping to stop the fire from spreading any farther east. But Shaffer said the difficult terrain in the area, full of steep slopes and canyon cliffs, does make fighting the fire somewhat more challenging. That area is pretty rough topography. There's a lot of exposed rock and sheer cliff faces. And because of those slopes, that makes it really impossible to directly place crews all over the fire line, Shaffer said. We want to make sure that we can safely ingress and egress our crews. We dont want to drop them down there without any way of getting them out. Crews began working Wednesday to hold control lines on the east side of the fire and work to suppress fire growth to the south. That effort is expected to continue in the days to come. Shaffer said despite the difficult terrain, recent wet weather may be assisting them in limiting the speed and growth of the blaze. There is a lot of fuel moisture in that fire area: we had a lot of snow this winter, we had a lot of rain this spring, so that is a plus, Shaffer said. The negative is that weather forecasts are always just a forecast. So we may have monsoons, we may have nonsoons. And if the fire continues to burn for some time, Shaffer said, the availability of firefighting resources are always a concern. Its not unusual for firefighters or other assets like helicopters to be pulled from a less threatening fire in order to respond to another blaze. We use a lot of national resources when we fight fires, and we don't know what things are going to look like next week, next month ... in terms of those resource availabilities, Shaffer said. The Miller Fire was first reported on Sunday, but due to weather conditions, aerial resources were not able to confirm the fire until Monday. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined. Fire and smoke will likely remain visible, and several trails might be closed to the public. Those trail closures are yet to take effect, but officials are asking the public to avoid the fire area, including the Secret Mountain Loop Trails (Secret Canyon No. 121, David Miller No. 164, Bear Sign No. 59 and Dry Creek No. 52), the HS Canyon Trail No. 50 and Long Canyon Trail No. 122. (Natural News) Chinese social media sites banned a Malaysian comedian based in the United Kingdom named Nigel Ng on Monday for making jokes about Chinas dystopian surveillance state, Chinese dictator Xi Jinping, and Taiwan. (Article by John Hayward republished from Breitbart.com) Ng was only the latest victim in Beijings crackdown on comedy, which it increasingly views as a subversive force. Ng frequently performs on social media as a character called Uncle Roger, a name under which he maintained accounts on all of Chinas largest platforms, including the Twitter-like Sina Weibo. Uncle Roger is a parody of a grumpy middle-aged Southeast Asian man who complains incessantly about things he doesnt like, especially food. Originally developed as a possible sitcom character, Uncle Roger became popular for making fun of cooking shows. Ng also uses the Uncle Roger persona for standup comedy routines. Last week, he posted a clip from a standup performance in which he poked fun at the Chinese surveillance state, as transcribed by the UK Guardian: In the video clip, taken from an undated standup show, Ng, in character as Uncle Roger, asks an audience member where he comes from. The man replies that he comes from Guangzhou, China, to which Ng makes a face and responds Good country! Good country! We have to say that now, correct? All the phones listening this nephew got Huawei phone, they all listening, he goes on to add. Ng then taps his phone in his pocket carefully and says: long live President Xi, long live President Xi phew. He then looks for audience members from Taiwan. Not a real country. I hope one day you rejoin the motherland, he says, prompting laughter from the audience. Uncle Roger about to get canceled, Ng wrote playfully when posting the clip. View on Instagram This bit of comical goading turned out to be an accurate prediction, as Ngs accounts on Weibo, Douyin (the version of TikTok available to Chinese users) and the Shanghai-based Bilibili were all suspended as of Monday morning. Weibo presented Ngs followers with a message that said his account has been banned indefinitely due to a violation of relevant regulations. The Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) noted that Ng clashed with Chinese censors once before, and might have been on their radar screen ever since, accounting for why his accounts were canceled so quickly after he posted a brief comedy clip: In 2021, Ng posted a video featuring, Mike Chen, a fellow YouTube star who had voiced criticism of Beijing over the treatment of Uyghur minorities as well as opposition to the controversial Hong Kong national security law. Ng later removed the video and apologized to Chinese fans, saying the clip had created a bad social impact after multiple users reported it. Some Weibo users were strongly supportive of banning Ng for his politically incorrect jokes, describing it as justice for him insulting China. Ng rolled with the punches. On Monday, he reposted his promotional clip on Twitter with the puckish observation, For some reason this clip got a ton of views this past weekend. I wonder why. On Tuesday, Ng wrote another tweet announcing that Uncle Roger was canceled and inviting viewers to buy his comedy special to strike a blow against censorship: ? UNCLE ROGER CANCELED! If you support free speech and comedy, go buy The HAIYAA Special, dropping June 4: https://t.co/iMQ3lySEwzpic.twitter.com/DtH4LrG7UC Nigel Ng (Uncle Roger) (@MrNigelNg) May 23, 2023 Last week, another comedian named Li Haoshi was arrested in China for making jokes about the Peoples Liberation Army that supposedly caused a severe social impact. Li, who uses the stage name House, was performing standup comedy in Beijing on Saturday when he made a joke about his two dogs chasing a squirrel together. Li said watching his extremely determined dogs go after the squirrel reminded him of Fight to Win, Forge Exemplary Conduct, which is a slogan the PLA adopted at the urging of Xi Jinping in 2013. Audience members laughed at Lis joke, but the PLA was all business. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), a single member of the audience touched off a wave of nationalist anger by slamming Li for mocking the Chinese military. Chinese Communist officials thundered that no company or individual would be allowed to use the Chinese capital as a stage to wantonly slander the glorious image of the PLA. Li was slapped with a fine of almost $2 million and could be facing years in prison, even though he apologized for the joke and said he felt deeply shamed and regretful. He was blacklisted by the China Association of Performing Arts and is under investigation by the Beijing city police. Lis comedy troupe, Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media, was also heavily fined and suspended from performing in both Beijing and Shanghai indefinitely. Chinese officials ordered the troupes members to correct their creative thinking. The size of the fine to the company which booked him was so large that there is speculation that stand-up comedy could be virtually wiped out in China following fears of similar punishment in the future, the BBC observed. At least two other production companies have already canceled comedy shows, and the Beijing police mentioned the Li controversy when they decided to shut down a music festival over the weekend. Last year, a comedian was fined $7,000 for making fun of the zero-Covid policy on stage. In December, stand-up comedy operations in 13 Chinese cities signed a pledge to eliminate content at odds with socialist core values. People who want to hear a comedy bit in Mandarin that takes on anything overtly political now have to travel to cities like New York, the WSJ observed. Last Friday, a woman was arrested for writing a Weibo post in support of Li and she was excoriated on social media for daring to join him in slandering the military. Without the military, how could you have a stable life today? You are not grateful for your words, you are not a human being! one of the womans tormentors wrote. Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) One of the leading causes of death in America today are the doctors, or more specifically Western medicine, a new report has concluded. Even when accounting for vaccine-related deaths and other factors, physicians kill more people every year than both cancer and heart disease, which are the other leading causes of death we constantly hear about in the corporate media. There are already plenty of awareness campaigns for cancer and heart disease, but what about Western medicine? Is it time for We the People to start wearing little colored bracelets and staging marches and special celebratory days to let the public know about the killing fields known as the American health care system? State-run health care as it currently exists has become death care. Dr. Vernon Coleman said more people are now dying in this death care system than are being saved this is how bad things have gotten the more we have veered away from nature and into Big Pharma. Health care is changing at a phenomenal rate, Dr. Coleman warned. Governments are closing small hospitals and casualty departments and concentrating services in bigger and bigger hospitals. (This is being done to please the EU whose bureaucrats believe that big is beautiful and bigger is even more beautiful). Patients who need a GP are being told to telephone for advice rather than to visit the surgery. (The excuse for this is that it will save the planet by reducing the use of petrol). Patients who are injured in accidents are told to telephone ahead and get permission in advance if they think they need to be seen in a casualty department. This may all sound bizarre. But its true. (Related: Ten years ago, we warned you that doctors even at that time were killing 2,450 percent more Americans than all gun-related deaths combined.) Modern medicine is all about money, not healing There was a time when the field of medicine was about helping people heal. Today, it has become a profit-seeking grift that benefits the pharmaceutical industry and large corporations at the expense of patient care and health itself. Even in supposedly private sector-driven health care systems like that of the United States, Big Pharma control over how disease is approached and what gets prescribed has created a system where death is now more common than life. The big issues are ignored and suppressed and those who raise them are dismissed as lunatics, heretics or fanatics, Dr. Coleman said about what happens to anyone who questions the health care system in its current perverted form. Anyone who dares to spread the truth, or raise questions, will be subjected to smear campaigns. Our liberty and our freedom of speech have been strangled by cross-party consensus and an obedient media. Politicians and commentators concentrate their efforts on narrow, specific questions. The big questions, the important questions, are never asked. And so, not surprisingly, no answers are forthcoming either. While there are certainly some elements of modern medicine that still work, mostly thanks to a few rogue physicians who continue to bravely and conscientiously buck the system, increasingly more of it is being upended by special interests that are more concerned about money than with healing. In the United Kingdom where Dr. Coleman lives, the National Health Service (NHS), Great Britains government-run health care system, no longer exists to help patients, but rather to preserve itself through corruption and the misappropriation of funding and priorities. The NHS is run by incompetent people who never question their competence and so do not recognise their shortcomings, he wrote. Discussions about health care never touch the real problems. Be sure to read Dr. Colemans full report to learn more. The latest news about Western medicine can be found at BadMedicine.news. Sources for this article include: Expose-News.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) According to failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, incumbent President Joe Bidens age is definitely a legitimate issue to consider ahead of the November 2024 presidential elections. She made the remarks during the Financial Times Weekend Festival held in Washington, D.C. last May 20. Financial Times (FT) editor Edward Luce asked the former secretary of state about the 80-year-old Biden stumbling at the Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Japan. He asked: There was that heart stopping moment when he almost fell over coming down the stairs. He didnt use a railing, and [First Lady] Jill [Biden] wasnt there with him. Every time that happens, your heart is in your mouth because these things could be consequential. Is that a concern? Its a concern for everyone, responded Clinton. Weve had presidents who had fallen before who were a lot younger, and people didnt go into heart palpitations. But his age is an issue, and people have every right to consider it. The former first lady cited a maxim from Biden: He has this great saying and I think hes right Dont judge him for running against the Almighty, but against the alternative.' Nevertheless, Clinton told Luce: I am of the camp that I think hes determined to run. He has a good record that, three years ago, people would not have predicted would have gotten done. He doesnt get the credit yet for what is happening out in the country in terms of jobs, growth and planning for the future. So, I obviously hope he stays very focused and able to compete in the election because I think he can be re-elected, and thats what we should all hope for. (Related: 25 NIGHTMARE things that will happen if Joe Biden wins the election.) White House insists Biden physically and mentally fit Despite the former first ladys comments about Bidens age being a legitimate issue, the White House has repeatedly downplayed concerns about the chief executives mental and physical fitness. Last summer, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed a question from news anchor Don Lemon about the presidents state of health. That is not a question that we should be even asking, she said. Just look at the work he does, and look how hes delivering for the American public. Last year, former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain praised Bidens fitness during a virtual interview with the Economic Club of Washington. He later left the White House in February. Hes definitely in better shape than I am, thats for sure. Hes very fit and he works out almost every day in the morning before he comes down to the Oval Office, Klain said at the time. People see him on the job every day and then what they see is a person who is fully capable of doing the job, fully vigorous, in great mental and physical health, and taking on the burdens of the office and executing them well. Two members of Congress also noted that Biden is at the peak of health. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said the chief executive puts many of us to shame with his energy. Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) remarked that he appreciates Bidens wisdom even more. In contrast, Republicans have criticized Biden for his many verbal gaffes. They have repeatedly called on him to take a cognitive examination a challenge that remains unanswered. GOP presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has called for mental health fitness tests for anyone older than 75. The call was a thinly veiled swipe at Biden and her fellow GOP presidential candidate, 76-year-old Donald Trump. But Trump agreed with Haley, noting that great mental acuity and physical stamina are required for anyone wanting to become the chief executive. Visit JoeBiden.news for more stories about the incumbent presidents physical and mental fitness. Watch Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) warning that President Joe Bidens cognitive decline is getting worse by the day. This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: White House releases bizarre video of Biden speech, sparking concerns about his ability to function. Mainstream media alters picture of Joe Biden to remove glaring evidence of cognitive decline. Former VP Joe Biden has not taken a cognitive test despite earlier claims. Sources include: FoxNews.com DailyMail.co.uk Brighteon.com (Natural News) Attorneys from Brisbane, Australia, the United Kingdom and elsewhere are suing governments and the pharmaceutical industry for the role they played in unleashing deadly vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) that have injured and killed millions of people. Numerous class-action lawsuits, we are told, have already been filed and more are on the way as part of a massive, worldwide effort to hold accountable those responsible for the manufacture and mandate of the deadly shots, which manifested through Operation Warp Speed. Podcast sensation Joe Rogan conducted an interview recently with Dr. Aseem Malhotra about the matter, in which they discussed the undue influence and control that Big Pharma has over medical research. Its not scientific, its not ethical and its not democratic, Dr. Malhotra told Rogan about how most peer-reviewed drug research is company-sponsored, meaning the drug industry controls its direction while withholding raw data access from scientists, who instead get the drug industrys own interpretation of that data, allowing for manipulation and obfuscation. The greater the financial interest in a given field, the less likely the research findings are to be true, Dr. Malhotra added, further noting that unless a scientist or doctor is directly involved in the peer review process, he or she is likely unaware of the hidden corruption that steers mainstream science. You can watch the interview with Dr. Malhotra and Rogan below: You can also learn more from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis how COVID vaccines were weaponized in the below clip: (Related: Check out these natural remedies that could provide relief and healing to those whose bodies became damaged from COVID injections.) Big Pharma colludes with Big Academic and Big Science to pull wool over patients eyes Concerning the lawsuits, an increasing number of individuals, many of them duped by Big Pharma themselves, are waking up to the truth about what modern science truly is: a scam perpetrated by private interests with dollar signs in their eyes. It is all about money, in other words, not patient health. In fact, the sicker the person, the more money that can be harvested through endless treatments and drug regimens, which produce adverse effects that require even more treatments and drug regiments and so on and so forth. According to Dr. Malhotra, the biggest scandal in all this has to do with how academic institutions and medical schools are turning a blind eye to all the corruption which is more than likely the case because they, too, are on the dole of Big Pharma. Those with the responsibility to uphold scientific integrity academic institutions, doctors, medical journals collude with industry for financial gain, Dr. Malhotra explained, adding that government regulatory agencies, i.e., the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are also on the take. With just about every major player now fully captured by the drug industry, there is virtually nobody left to protect patients. Consequently, a growing number of patients are taking matters into their own hands with lawsuits against the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity. The way drug companies conduct business actually meets the definition of a psychopath, which Dr. Robert Hare, the forensic psychologist who developed the original DSM criteria for psychopathy, describes as: Callous unconcern for the feelings of others, incapacity to experience guilt, deceitfulness and conning others for profit. Between 2003 and 2016, drug companies have been forced to pay out fines totaling $33 billion, which sounds like a lot until you realize that this is just a drop in the bucket compared to what the drug industry rakes in profit-wise every year. The latest news about the pursuit of justice against those who pushed and unleashed COVID jabs on the world can be found at VaccineWars.com. Sources include: GreatGameIndia.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A senior Ukrainian military official has admitted that his government has murdered quite a few Russian civilians, especially those who they claim support President Vladimir Putins special military operation in Ukraine. Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, chief of Ukraines Main Directorate of Intelligence, admitted this during an interview first reported by the Times of London, along with a promise that more Ukrainian attacks against Russian civilians will be coming. (Related: Military expert warns: Drone attack against the Kremlin could escalate Ukraine conflict to dangerous new levels.) In the interview, Budanov was asked by the Times of London journalist Maxim Tucker whether the Ukrainian military or its intelligence services had ever killed Russian propagandists. In response, Budanov said: Weve already successfully targeted quite a few people. There have been well-publicized cases everyone knows about, thanks to the media coverage. Since the beginning of Russias special military operation in Ukraine, several influential figures supportive of Russias actions have been either killed or wounded by explosives planted on Russian soil. The latest such incident occurred on May 6, when Russian writer and political activist Zakhar Prilepin suffered two broken legs in a car bomb that also killed one of his bodyguards. The attack against Prilepin took place near Nizhny Novgorod, a city 265 miles east of Moscow, deep within Russian territory. The main suspect of the car bombing is an individual named Alexander Permyakov, who is currently accused of working with Ukrainian intelligence to plant the car bomb. Other notable victims include Vladlen Tatarsky, a military blogger who was killed by an explosive hidden in a sculpture given to him as a gift; and Darya Dugina, a journalist for the state-owned RT television channel, who was killed by a car bomb thought to have been meant for her father, the political analyst and close ally of Putin, Alexander Dugin. Budanov further claimed that attacks against Russia would come deeper and deeper inside of internationally recognized Russian territory. Despite this, he still refused to directly comment on whether or not his country is responsible for some of these attacks. He claimed that he would only address these comments once the war is over. Budanov: The things they call terrorism, we call liberation In another interview, this time with Yahoo News, Budanov admitted that Ukraine will continue to kill Russians. Yahoo News reporters Michael Weiss and James Rushton were attempting to ask Budanov about Ukraines potential involvement in the killing of Dugina and the assassination attempt against her father. Budanovs answer was: Dont continue with that topic. All I will comment on is that weve been killing Russians and we will keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine. Budanov added that all of his actions are legitimate because Russia supposedly fired the first shot when it invaded and annexed Crimea and supported pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donbas region in 2014. Theyve been trying to charge me with terrorism since 2016, said Budanov. But I want to begin by saying that the things they call terrorism, we call liberation. And this began not because I went mad and started killing people in Moscow. It happened because they invaded our country back in 2014. In the interview with Yahoo News, Budanov seemed confident regarding Ukraines prosecution of the conflict, claiming that Russia no longer has the military, economic or political capital necessary to attempt another serious offensive anywhere in Ukraine. Besides that, it is completely incapable of waging serious defensive operations, and this is the very problem we are about to face, he said, referring to Ukraines anticipated counteroffensive. Budanov further claimed without presenting any evidence that Russias supply of offensive and defensive missiles is either running low or almost to the point of exhaustion. They are trying to accumulate certain stocks and have them ready in order to try to disrupt our offensive, he said. But the truth is that they have taken their stocks almost to zero. This makes Budanov confident that Ukraine will come out victorious. But even if the conflict ends in Ukrainian victory, Budanov said it will not end there, as he said Kyiv aims to invade up to 60 miles within Russian territory from the Ukrainian border to establish a demilitarized border zone that will deter any future attacks. Learn more about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and Kyivs crimes against Russians at UkraineWitness.com. Watch this clip of Kyrylo Budanov threatening to physically eliminate three million Russian Crimeans. This video is from the channel Cynthias Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Leaked docs: Zelensky planning to blow up Druzhba pipeline connecting Russia and Hungary. Pentagon to announce another $1.2B weapons package for Ukraine when does it end? Two drones shot down right above the Kremlin during an alleged Ukrainian attempt to assassinate Putin. Ukraine may have tried to ASSASSINATE Vladimir Putin using a kamikaze drone. Analysis: Ukraines proxy war with Russia really about persecuting ancient Christian community. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca TheTimes.co.uk ABCNews.go.com News.Yahoo.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Mexican authorities are preparing to evacuate millions of people as the Popocatepetl volcano continues its eruption, spewing massive amounts of ash and rock in surrounding areas. Popocatepetl, which means smoking mountain in the native Mexican Nahuatl language, is a nearly 18,000-feet high volcano with more than 1,000-foot-wide crater at its summit. It is Mexicos largest active volcano and it crosses the borders of the central Mexican states of Puebla, Morelos and the State of Mexico. Approximately 25 million people live within a 60-mile radius of Popocatepetl, which is just 45 miles southeast of Mexico City and its more than nine million inhabitants. (Relates: Is volcanic sulfur dioxide causing global crop failures? Listen in as David DuByne explains the threat to the food supply.) The volcano began erupting earlier this month after geological officials from both Mexico and the United States detected new and serious activity coming from it in mid-April. Its latest activity, according to the Mexican National Center for the Prevention of Disasters (CENAPRED), was between 11 a.m. local time Sunday, May 21, to 11 a.m. local time Monday, May 22. During this 24-hour period, CENAPRED recorded nearly 1,400 minutes of high-frequency tremors, two moderate explosions and five bursts of water vapor, volcanic gases and ash. CENAPRED on Sunday raised the alert level for the immediate area around Popocatepetl to phase 3, just shy of an evacuation order. Sergio Salomon, the governor of Puebla, said that roughly three million people who live in municipalities directly adjacent to the volcano have been told to stay alert and prepare for a possible evacuation. Phase 3 of the volcanic activity alert system is part of the three-tiered traffic light alert system that informs residents of current eruption risk. One level higher is red, which would begin evacuations for the millions of people living adjacent to the volcano. Popocatepetl spewing ash all over central Mexico Popocatepetl was inactive for nearly 50 years before it erupted in 1994. Since then, it has been erupting regularly, with its last major activity before the current one occurring in December 2022. Nicknamed El Popo by people who live in central Mexico, the volcano has been spewing enormous amounts of ash in the surrounding region since its recent series of volcanic activity. El Popo is always a presence. Theres usually smoke coming out, said Joseph Sorrentino, a freelance photographer living in Chipilo, a city in Puebla less than 20 miles east of Popocatepetls summit. He added that he has seen varying degrees of black and gray ash fall over the city in the last couple of weeks, sometimes getting inside homes and buildings. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 67-year-old said he was very concerned about the volcanos recent abnormal behavior. The government is preparing evacuation routes, so its pretty serious. Mexicos civil protection agency warned residents in cities affected by ashfall to protect themselves by covering their noses and mouths with face masks and wearing glasses and long-sleeved shirts and blouses when going outside to minimize contact. Authorities have also urged people to avoid exercising outdoors in the meantime. The ashfall has been so severe in some parts of the country that it has caused major disruptions. Two airports serving Mexico City had to be shut down for several hours on Saturday, May 20, after so much ash accumulated on runways that airport authorities had to cease all operations just to clean it up. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration reported that the ash eruption that affected the airport reached as high as 4.5 miles and dropped up to 32 millimeters (1.25 inches) of ash on Mexico City. Schools in at least 40 municipalities in Puebla, as well as several in Tlaxcala and the state of Mexico, shut down in-person instruction, reverting to remote learning to protect the health of children. All state parks in Puebla have also been shut down since Sunday. While Mexicans wait for more news regarding Popocatepetl, Laura Velazquez Alzua of the civil protection agency said the government has already identified at least 42 evacuation routes in the states of Mexico, Morelos, Puebla and the nearby state of Tlaxcala, which would also be greatly affected by a major eruption. The federal government has urged municipal authorities in these areas to keep these routes free of obstacles as much as possible. Nearly 500 shelter sites have also been identified. Learn more about natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, solar storms, earthquakes and floods at Disaster.news. Watch this episode of Evolutionary Energy Arts as hosts Michael and Cindy Lazaro discuss how millions of people are being prepared to evacuate due to Popocatepetls ongoing volcanic activity. This video is from the Evolutionary Energy Arts channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Spanish authorities knew about La Palma volcanos magma accumulation months before the eruption but DID NOTHING about it. Temperature changes due to Tonga eruption will affect food production, warns David DuByne. Study: Yellowstone supervolcano holds TWICE the magma previously believed. Underwater volcano eruption caused global dimming that deprived crops of sunlight; more famine and starvation to come. Ice cores drilled in Antarctica, Greenland reveal scores of gigantic volcanic eruptions during Ice Age. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk WSJ.com News.Yahoo.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) One big revelation that came out of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic involves the incestuous, revolving-door relationship between the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Hospitals and other health care facilities, we now know, were incentivized by the government to basically murder their patients in exchange for cash from Big Pharma, a cozy little arrangement that also seems to be true for pediatricians who are paid bribe money to push childhood vaccines on their patients. It is not just COVID vaccines that Western medicine continues to push on the public in exchange for pharmaceutical industry cash, but all vaccines. And since most vaccines are administered to children by pediatricians, it is important not to overlook the fact that this bribery scheme has been ongoing for decades, and did not just emerge as a product of covid. A 1999 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the average patient load for an American pediatrician, at least at the time, was 1,546 and significantly higher in less populated areas and solo practices. One in four pediatric patients at that same time was two years old or younger. More recent data from 2021 shows that 75 percent of American pediatricians have between 1,000 and 1,800 patients, suggesting that not much has changed. What has changed is the revelation in 2016 that pediatricians receive about $400 per pediatric patient that receives all 10 of the following vaccinations, amounting to 25 doses total, before his or her second birthday: DTaP vaccine IPV vaccine MMR vaccine VZV vaccine HiB vaccines Hepatitis B vaccines PCV vaccines HepA vaccine RV vaccines Influenza vaccines This $400 figure came from a document released by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) that was eventually leaked to reporters. Using the average statistics from 1999, if a pediatrician has 1,000 patients, 264 can be expected to be 2 years old or younger, reports the Discern Report. If all are fully vaccinated, the pediatrician would be eligible for a $105,600 year-end bonus. (Related: Some American pediatricians are child groomers in disguise who usher parents out of the room before pushing transgenderism on their innocent kids.) If pediatricians fail to achieve BCBS target vaccination schedules, they receive NOTHING in terms of bribe money In order to receive any money at all from BCBS, a pediatrician must at least reach a target level of 63 percent of the above vaccines. If a pediatrician achieves just 62 percent vaccination compliance or less, he or she receives nothing from BCBS. So, as you can see, there is a strong incentive for American pediatricians to push as many vaccine injections as possible on children through their parents because if there are too many anti-vaxxers enrolled at a given doctors office, then the pediatrician who runs it will not make any extra bribe money. This would explain why some of the sleazier pediatric clinics will not even accept unvaccinated children. Parents have encountered door signage telling them to scram if they do not plan to jab their children, and chances are the offices in question want that sweet, sweet bribery cash from insurance carriers and the drug industry. The black market for drugs does not even hold a candle to the criminal activity like this that plagues the legal drug racket. Doctors, pediatricians, pharmacists, and other white coat cartel members much reach certain quotas or else lose out on their cut of the bribery loot. Such incentives end up forcing a doctor to consider the financial implications of accepting patients who even just want to opt out of one vaccine, warns Dr. Bob Sears about the legal drug racket. Maybe a few such families wouldnt make them fail the chart reviews, but if they have too many, there goes their year-end bonus. The latest news about the fascist corruption of Big Pharma, Big Government, and the Western medicine system can be found at BadMedicine.news. Sources for this article include: DiscernReport.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) President Joe Biden reiterated that the U.S. is not looking to decouple from China during the recently concluded Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Japan. He made the remarks during a May 21 press conference at the Hilton Hiroshima hotel. The chief executives comments only underlined his support of globalism and his clear disregard of millions of American jobs lost. Were not looking to decouple from China. Were looking to de-risk and diversify our relationship with China. That means taking steps to diversify our supply chains so were not dependent on any one country for necessary product, Biden said. (Related: A look back at the Biden familys China business ties.) It means resisting economic coercion together and countering harmful practices that hurt our workers. It means protecting a narrow set of advanced technologies critical for our national security. Biden also emphasized that the G7 is united in [its] approach to China, citing a May 20 joint statement outlining shared principles the group agreed upon. This refusal to decouple from China has had serious economic repercussions for the U.S., according to the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA). It noted in a May 4 article that since 2001, U.S. free trade with China has eliminated 3.8 million American jobs with 2.89 million in the manufacturing sector. States that have a large concentration of technology firms, such as California and Texas, lost a significant number of manufacturing jobs, CPA noted. Chinas strategic focus on the export of computers and consumer electronics severely impacted domestic manufacturers in these industries. Back in 1985, the U.S. trade deficit with China totaled $6 billion. However, things changed in 2001 when Beijing became a member of the World Trade Organization. Washington granted China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status during that same year. This, according to CPA, gave permanent preferential treatment to Chinese manufactured goods and encouraged the offshoring of manufacturing. This also resulted in the growth of the U.S. trade deficit with China by more than $300 billion with the 2022 deficit amounting to $382.9 billion. GOP politicians call for decoupling with China ASAP Bidens comments at the May 21 press conference did not sit well with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). He took to Twitter to voice out his discontent: Tell that to the four million American workers who have lost their jobs to China. Hawley recently introduced a Workers Agenda that would see Washington end its job-killing free trade policy with China. He is not alone in this endeavor as four of his colleagues introduced a related bill. The proposal introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL ) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) seeks to end Chinas PNTR status. According to the senators, this PNTR designation is to blame for eliminating or drastically cutting U.S. tariffs on China-made goods resulting in a skyrocketing trade deficit and nationwide job losses. Even Peter Navarro, former director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, advocated for a decoupling with China through reciprocal tariffs. He gave this advice through an analysis incorporated in the Heritage Foundations Mandate for Leadership report. The report is designed to be a policy guide for Republican presidential administrations. Moreover, Navarro wrote that the next GOP president should prioritize the expansion of U.S. tariffs to all Chinese products and the increase of tariff rates to levels that will block out Made in China products. The erstwhile economic advisor for former President Donald Trump, however, called for the execution of this strategy in a manner and at a pace that will not expose the U.S. to lack of access to essential products, like key pharmaceuticals. Scott Paul, the president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, recently told lawmakers that the U.S. should suspend free trade with China. We should suspend or revoke normalized trade relations with China, he testified before the members of the House Select Committee on China. The Chinese Communist Party certainly doesnt deserve the same trade status as our allies and reciprocal partners. According to Paul, Americas hubris and neglect aided Beijings ambitions, weakened [U.S.] capabilities and hollowed out [the American] middle class. Watch this G News report about Germany and Italy wanting to decouple from China. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: China places additional restrictions on fertilizer exports to safeguard own fertilizer stocks as supplies dwindle. 97% of antibiotics are made in China; supply chain Armageddon will see U.S. pharmacy supplies wiped out. Kyocera president: Business model of producing in China and exporting abroad no longer viable. Beleaguered Western commodities buyers rely on Chinas refined lead, zinc. Sources include: Breitbart.com WhiteHouse.gov ProsperousAmerica.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) Every last Abprallen clothing item and accessory has been pulled from Target stores and website following massive public backlash against the retailer for its transgender targeting of children. LGBT-theme onesies, t-shirts and other grotesque apparel items for children and babies had littered the Pride Collection section of Target stores in anticipation of the upcoming pride month celebration, that is until Americans caught wind of it and made their voices heard across social media. The threat of a widespread boycott was enough to prompt Target to pull the filthy clothing line, which include phrases such as Bye Bye, Binary and What Are Your Words? both of which refer to transgenderism and the use of so-called gender-affirming pronouns. Since introducing this years collection, weve experienced threats impacting our team members sense of safety and wellbeing while at work, a statement from Target reads. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. (Related: Target is losing money hand over fist due to its woke agenda.) Target is a Satanic retailer pushing demonism and filth on Americas children and babies It is nothing new for Target to push LGBT rainbow-themed clothing items on children, having received backlash in the past for its constant peddling of sexual perversion. This year is different, though, because Target went all-out trans and unashamedly so. It also hired British designer Erik Carnell, a self-avowed Satanist, to design this years collection. The clothing items Carnell created for babies is so offensive that Americans everywhere were throwing them on the ground or otherwise destroying them upon encounter in the companys retail stores. Carnells designs are notorious for including disturbing elements such as pentagrams, horned devil-like skulls and other blatantly Satanic imagery, which Target attempted to push on children and infants. Target has been an openly perverted company for a long time many million times worse than Bud Light and worthy of being boycott out of existence, wrote conservative commentator Candace Owens in a sharp rebuke of the company. Calling Target the most pro-transgenderism company in the world, Owens had previously told her followers, as well as all people with a moral conscience, to stop shopping there. Boycott Target, added fellow conservative commentator Steven Crowder to the conversation. We dont need our kids seeing this [expletive] when we walk down the aisle at Target, added broadcaster Megyn Kelly. Perhaps the most offensive childrens clothing item Target was carrying up until now as part of its Pride Collection was a female swimsuit with a tuck-friendly design, meaning a transgender with unwanted genital body parts can tuck them into the folds. A spokesperson for Target told the Associated Press (AP) that the tuck-friendly swimsuits are only offered to adults, even though the childrens section is also littered with similar such apparel. What Target is doing is far worse than anything Bud Light did, commented The Daily Wires Matt Walsh about the situation. They are selling chest binders and tuck-friendly bathing suits for children. During a recent episode of Fortunes Leadership Next podcast, Target CEO Brian Cornell defended his woke companys decision to push transgender and Satanic apparel on both adults and children. I think those are just good business decisions, and its the right thing for society, and its a great thing for our brand, Cornell said. The things weve done from a [diversity, equity, and inclusion] standpoint, its adding value. Its helping us drive sales, its building greater engagement with both our teams and our guests, and those are just the right things for our business today. More of the latest news about the transgender grooming of children can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Dr. Jane Ruby talked about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) murders in many U.S. hospitals during a recent episode of Dr. Jane Ruby STAT!on Brighteon.TV. Ruby cited the game-changing evidence presented by lawyer Tom Renz during the Miami leg of the 2023 ReAwaken America Tour. The Dr. Jane Ruby STAT! host also showed footage of Renz discussing the evidence during a press conference. According to the Lawfare host, the government wanted to protect doctors and hospitals engaged in this COVID-19 murder by giving them immunity in all but the most egregious cases. Renz shared that a whistleblower pharmacist came to him with a recording of her conversation with an official from the Ascension healthcare system. The pharmacist told the official that the COVID-19 protocols they were doing would hasten the death of people. However, she was told to shut up and simply follow the protocol. The Ohio lawyer added that he is now in possession of the whistleblowers recordings that prove the hospital killing fields are active and intentional. Moreover, he said the pharmacists lawsuit is now moving forward. This is a health system in particular with 139 hospitals across 19 American states, Ruby pointed out. How many innocent Americans have been slaughtered? This is the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] protocol incentivized with huge bonuses at every step a patient encounters when they go to a hospital. Forced testing; fake positive PCR tests; quarantine, which means isolation in a cold, dark place without any access to your family; forced narcotics to suppress your respiration; forced remdesivir infusions to shut down your major organs. And then, of course, the inevitable forced intubation and mechanical ventilation. And dont forget the last stop the funeral director, who also gets the last bonus in a series of federal bonus money and the COVID-19 hospital trail. (Related: Former nurse describes hospital Covid-19 protocols as medical murder.) Government incentivizes hospitals for murdering patients Aside from this immunity, the government also incentivized hospitals for murdering patients. You get more money when we diagnose you with COVID whether you got it or not. You get more money once you get on the [ventilator]. You get more money once you die because its a COVID death. Renz said. So, we incentivized [them]. We paid them for murder and then we gave them immunity. The attorney added he was looking at this case from every angle to find loopholes and ways to deal with it. He clarified, however, that they havent filed any lawsuits regarding the hospital murders as they have to make it right. This, Renz continued, wasnt an easy thing to do. Ruby known for her multiple roles as medical economist, healthcare researcher and pharmaceutical development expert said the truth will set a lot of people free even though it is heartbreaking. The evidence presented by Renzs client will reveal the criminals in white coats at the hospitals and pave the way for justice, she added. The Dr. Jane Ruby STAT! host concluded by citing a Spanish proverb that she translated into English: Justice walks with a limp, but it always arrives. Visit HospitalHomicide.com for more stories about the COVID-19 murders in U.S. hospitals. Watch the May 16 episode of Dr. Jane Ruby STAT! below. Dr. Jane Ruby STAT! airs every weekday at 8:30-9 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Hospitals became DEATH and MURDER facilities during covid, facts show. Dr. Jane Ruby: Nurses that stayed in hospitals allowed COVID death protocol to remain Brighteon.TV The Sheriff Mack Show: Nurse Erin Olszewski talks about hospital murders during the pandemic Brighteon.TV. Under covid tyranny, US hospitals have become MURDER FACTORIES where ivermectin is forbidden because it saves lives. Tom Renz calls for investigation of HOSPITAL MURDERS during COVID-19 pandemic Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com DrJaneRuby.com Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Marcela Maldonado peeks through the window of the apartment that she says she is afraid to leave, at a migrant shelter in Anapra. Photo by Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM CIUDAD JUAREZ The sun beats down on the houses of Pan De Vida, a shelter for migrants in Rancho Anapra, a barrio of Ciudad Juarez. In between white houses trimmed with blue, kids whizz by on bikes, shouts ringing out over the dust settling across the courtyard. Dogs recline in the shade, tongues lolling. At the house on the corner, overlooking the yard, is the temporary home of 11 Hondurans, who fled some just children towards the United States. After months of travel, thousands of miles, they landed here. Several recent changes are adding to peoples confusion over seeking asylum. The first is an asylum transit ban, effective May 11. The rule put forward by the Biden administration narrows who can seek asylum at the southern border. It allows immigration officials to turn people away unless they applied for asylum in countries they passed through to reach the U.S. such as Mexico. A similar provision put forward in the Trump administration was overturned by a federal judge. This dovetails with measures to fast-track deportations, under expedited removal. There are a few exceptions for the transit ban, including securing a CBP One appointment. The CBP One app allows people to get parole authorization for asylum. Inside, the walls are painted a light pink, the cabinets and trim a bright seafoam green, the air thick with heat. Although the restrictions to immediately expel people seeking asylum at the border nicknamed Title 42 ended on May 11, uncertainty remains in its wake. Gathered around the teal table, the 11 Hondurans shared their story, one of hope and faith intertwined with pain and fear. All of us who are here have been waiting, constantly for them to take Title 42 away, said Keily Dubon Hernandez. I believe that all of us still hold on to that hope. But the logistics feel overwhelming. Olga Maldonado, 40, is staying now with her nieces Yulisa and Marcela, their four children, and Marcelas partner, Kevin. Theyre joined by three other women who traveled alone, also from Honduras: Kimberlee Guadalupe Paz. Gladis Mejia Moreno, and Keily. Olga is concerned the family of eight will not receive a CBP One appointment, which she has been trying daily to schedule for the past two months. Between glitches and app crashes, she said the daily 1,000 slots fill up so fast she cant get a spot. Since the update, Olga and others reported the app will fail to input information. Very frustrating, Olga called her experience with the app. You go on and sometimes its blocked, the appointments are full. Olga and the others said they expect a harder time seeking asylum since the end of Title 42, and are concerned that if CBP One continues to fail, theyll have to consider seeking asylum in one of the countries they passed through. Just imagine having to go back through all of those places and ask for asylum, Keily said. All of us do not have the resources to be able to go back, and then return here again. The uncertainty kills people Jeremy Slack, a professor in geography at the University of Texas at El Paso, has been researching the border and migration for two decades, and spent the past nine years in El Paso. He said the CBP One app could be an opportunity to build a real system that could be orderly, and work at the ports of entry and make sense to people trying to seek asylum. However, that could break down if the bugs continue or if it seems like a lottery system. Asylum is a legal form of immigration. When applying for asylum in the U.S. immigration system, people go between two simultaneous cases. The first is a removal order for entering the country without inspection, which is illegal under Title 8. The other one is an asylum claim, which gives people legal status while their case is pending. If youre here and youre just sort of desperate, you have no appointment, the pages crashing all the time. You might be waiting a week, you might be waiting a year. That uncertainty kills people. In a very literal way, he said. Uncertainty is what drives people to take risks, hire traffickers or try and rush across the border, he said, which is a boon to the black market and puts peoples lives at stake. The more you go after the immigrants, the more you help organized crime, Slack said. In post-deportation surveys, he has seen what happens when people are removed including the higher rates of violence from extortion, to sexual assault, kidnapping and murder. Theres a real problem with making people wait in Mexico, its dangerous, super dangerous, he said. Closing the border to asylum seekers without appointments raises Slacks concern for people in Mexico fleeing persecution. He said hes concerned about a creeping rollback to protect people from imminent violence. That is the heart and soul of asylum, so if you take that away, I dont know what were left with, he said. Theyll kill you if you dont flee The Hondurans described feeling daunted by the process of potentially asking for asylum in Mexico, after describing kidnapping, extortion and other violence. Yulisa Maldonado, 25, fled San Pedro Sula about a year ago. She lived in La Colonia Rivera Hernandez, selling food to try and pay for her sons medical operation. Gangs issued death threats and extorted money from the stand. The gangs knocked down the business, warning her she had 24 hours to get the money. She described fleeing at midnight, I left that day, by five in the morning, I was getting on a bus at the terminal to come (here). Yulisa said she was kidnapped in Southern Mexico, along with her 5- and 6-year-old children. They took (the kids) to a separate room. They were crying because they couldnt see me. But I had to do other things so that the (kidnappers) would not do anything to them or hurt them, she recounted. When she made it to Ciudad Juarez, she was able, with the help of the shelter, to see a psychologist for herself and the children, who were too scared to eat or go outside of the house after they first arrived. I am afraid to be in Mexico, because throughout the country, we as migrants are like merchandise, she said. We cannot go out, not even out of this compound because we are afraid. But, even if Yulisa had stayed, I wouldnt be alive anymore and neither would my kids. Thank God whatever we had to go through, we are alive, she said. Her sister Marcela, 21, followed with Kevin, two children, aunt Olga and her 10-year old daughter, citing the death threats. Marcela and Yulisa left behind their mother, who has a leg condition and would not be able to survive the trip. If you try to move they already have your information and everything. If possible, they chase you down, she said. Theyll kill you if you dont flee. There, you pay or you pay (with your life). Kevin, 22, described the little clothes stand that they used to support the family, but tears slipped down his cheeks and he began to cry as he said: We survived, but the gang came and extorted us. In Hidalgo, Mexico, the state to the north of Mexico City, immigration officials caught them, riding on a bus. Olga said they were held in detention without water for hours. Police extorted them for 1,200 pesos to release the family. We paid them and they left us in the middle of the forest, so we wouldnt know where we were, she said. They made us walk, and sometimes they would terrorize us by shouting, Here comes immigration! and we would hide. Marcela and Olga described finding some peace at the shelter. Pastor Ismael Martinez gets cake for the childrens birthdays, or puts on Easter celebrations. Marcela said it was good to see her kids smile again, to play, since the journey has been so hard on them. It is hard to watch your children suffer. They have to bear hunger, the sun, fear more than anything, she said. But you have that hope that you are going to take this risk in order to gain something, rather than staying behind where they can take them from you or take their lives. In 2019, Kimberlee and her young daughter entered the U.S., but were deported. After immigration officials returned her to Honduras, her 14-year old cousin was murdered in October 2022, followed by her aunt in January. I saw them kill (my cousin) so I reported them, and they found out and threatened me. I had to leave my country, she said, adding her mother and siblings also received death threats. Her cousin and aunts murders were a part of a pervasive pattern of violence against women and girls. Honduras has one of the highest rates of femicide in Latin America, even as the government has taken recent strides to raise awareness. I know that they wanted my cousin to be the wife of one of them, and she didnt want to, Kimberlee said. They killed her mother the same way. With her deportation, Kimberlee will not be able to seek asylum for 10 years from the date of the order. There are a few other avenues to stay removal orders, but they require much higher burdens of proof from the people seeking them, and can mean sending people outside of the U.S. Another, often more expensive option, is to retain an immigration lawyer to reopen the deportation case. When asked why she will try to go to the U.S., even with the high stakes around her deportation, Kimberlee responded: Because I have faith, that for God, nothing is impossible. Corrie Boudreaux contributed to the reporting of this article. Additional Resources The U.S. Department of Justice has a list of free immigration law service providers for every state. Heres more information for Arizona (Natural News) Failed presidential candidate and political fossil John Kerry, a Democrat, is back in the news for ominous comments he recently made about how the only way for leftists to achieve their net zero climate goals is for farmers all around the world to stop growing food. The illegitimate Joe Biden regimes Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Kerry told an audience at the Department of Agricultures (USDA) AIM for Climate Summit the other day that we cant get to net zero, we wont get this job done, unless agriculture is front and center as part of the solution. According to Kerry, he and other world leaders lives depend on farmers ceasing their operations. This will lower agriculture emissions, Kerry added, noting that he does not even call it climate change anymore its not change; its a crisis. Mitigating methane is the fastest way to reduce warming in the short term, Kerry declared to the audience, referring to the flatulence produced by cattle as they munch on grasses or in the case of chemical agriculture, the gas these animals pass after eating genetically modified (GMO) corn and other industrial feed. Food and agriculture can contribute to a low-methane future by improving farmer productivity and resilience, he further stated. We welcome agriculture ministers participating in the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge. (Related: John Kerry should have been arrested and charged years ago for crimes against humanity, but he is still a free man due to leftist privilege.) Unless a LOT more people stop eating, the planet will warm another half-degree by 2050, Kerry contends The only people who should be allowed to eat meat are rich elitists like himself, was the overall message delivered by Kerry. Everyone else needs to stop eating, in essence, for the climate change plan to work. Food systems themselves contribute a significant amount of emissions just in the way in which we do the things weve been doing, Kerry proclaimed. With a growing population on the planet we just crossed the threshold of eight billion fellow citizens around the world emissions from the food system alone are projected to cause another half a degree of warming by mid-century. Kerry called on world leaders from all around the world to massively scale back their citizens farming operations in order to keep the planet cooler and less warm as we move into the future. This sector needs innovation now more than ever, Kerry said. Were facing record malnutrition at a time when agriculture, more than any other sector, is suffering from the impacts of the climate crisis. We need economic, social and policy innovation in order to scale adaptation of these technical solutions and get them into the hands of folks in the fields of small farmers on a worldwide basis. This is the promise of AIM for Climate Summit. Fake president Biden recently pledged that the U.S. will, in fact, reach net zero emissions by the year 2050. How this happens depends entirely upon how many farms the globalist overlords can force out of business, resulting in much less food and far fewer mouths to feed. Co-led by both the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), AIM for Climate is devoted to slashing farming emissions through investments in innovation, which more than likely means corporate bug-producing factories to replace meat for the general public. Food and agriculture can contribute to a low-methane future by improving farmer productivity and resilience, Kerry said. We welcome agriculture ministers participating in the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge. The fight against climate change is left-wing code for a global genocide against the useless eaters. To learn more, visit GreenTyranny.news. Sources for this article include: ClimateDepot.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The latest multinational corporation to embrace the bizarre trend of woke transgenderism is The North Face, an outdoor gear company that just released a poorly made advertisement featuring a loud-mouthed drag queen telling children to just come out! already. In eager anticipation of the upcoming LGBTQIA2s+ Pride Month festivities, which every year takes over the month of June, The North Face released the following ad (WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised): Hi, its me, Pattie Gonia, a real-life homosexual, the drag queen in the ad mockingly states, calling herself a play on words for Patagonia, a popular outdoor gear brand. We are here to invite you to come out in nature with us, Pattie Gonia screams while standing in a wooded area. We like to call this little tour the Summer of Pride. This tour has everything: hiking, community, art, lesbians, lesbians making art. (Related: Remember back in late 2020 when The North Face refused to fulfill a large corporate order because the company that placed it works with earth-based fossil fuels?) The North Face says LGBT pride gear is how the company honors and worships Mother Nature The rest of the ad goes on to feature Pattie Gonia revealing that last year, The North Face gay sashayed across the nation and celebrated pride with hundreds of you. This year were back, back, back again with two new stops: Atlanta, GA y? Because youre there. And Salt Lake City, were coming for you. The other locations The North Face plans to hit up in its quest to compel as many children as possible to come out include Portland, Denver, Columbus, OH, and San Francisco. The drag queen in last years Summer of Pride ad yes, this has happened before was wearing a dress shaped like an open tent with a man lying down underneath it. That drag queen said: We roar. We heal. We become. Mother Nature guides us to where we need to be and we dress up to honor her. In other words, all that hideous, multi-colored pride gear being pushed on children is a ritualistic form of worship for Mother Nature or at least that is what it means to the people at The North Face, which are embracing pride without shame. Customers who attend these North Face Summer of Pride events are encouraged to purchase multi-colored shoes and other company apparel for upwards of hundreds of dollars. Why companies feel the need to go woke is uncanny, one commenter wrote in utter shock at The North Faces unabashed support for LGBT perversion and child grooming. Alienating half of their potential customers is a bold business strategy, wrote another about this disgusting agenda. Others could not help but notice that The North Face is pulling another Bud Light hat trick, which is not exactly going so well for Anheuser-Busch. The question is: will The North Face survive the backlash? Its as though all of these corporations are floating very slowly down a river towards a waterfall with jagged rocks at the bottom, another person wrote. Each watching the one before fall very slowly to their demise yet they all have plenty of time to simply paddle to the side. And finally, there were numerous comments from former North Face customers who indicated that they will no longer be purchasing the companys overpriced outdoor wear or gear, which is easily substituted for much better and less expensive items from its competitors. The trans-ification of America is clearly being propelled in large part by big corporations such as North Face. To learn more, visit Transhumanism.news. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Department of Defense (DoD)s Chief Information Office (CIO) has announced that it would take over all 5G-related activities in the U.S. military and any expansion of 5G pilot programs. John Sherman, DoD chief information officer and former deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), made the announcement. He added that the CIO under him will assume this capacity on Oct. 1, 2023. According to Sherman, he has already been working on this area with the office of the DoDs under secretary of defense for research and engineering (USDRE). Prior to Shermans office assuming oversight of 5G, it was under the responsibility of Thomas Rondeau, the principal director of the FutureG and 5G Office within the Defense Departments USDRE office. In line with the announcement, Rondeau assured in a May 15 statement that his office that the USDRE will work alongside Sherman. As the research and engineering arm of the DoDs efforts in telecommunications, the inclusion of [the] CIO in the expansion of the pilots reflects the Departments commitment to being on the cutting edge of this technology, Rondeau said. We are excited to expand upon the established partnership with [the] CIO in experimentation and innovation and move into this next phase towards implementation. In 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD) invested $600 million to initiate 5G pilot programs in military bases located in Utah, Washington, Georgia, California and Nevada. These pilots utilize 5G wireless technology to optimize logistics and improve distributed command and control. Sherman also expressed interest in implementing these pilot programs for open radio access networks to ensure the U.S. maintains its dominance in the 5G radio frequency-electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) arena. He aims to involve and promote the U.S. industry on top of other foreign adversaries like China by adopting an open-network and open-software approach. Pentagon could use 5G for surveillance purposes, experts warn However, several critics voiced out their opposition to the DoD CIOs takeover of 5G programs. They pointed out that the Defense Department could use the technology to surveil American citizens. W. Scott McCollough, lead litigator for Childrens Health Defense, warned that officials like Sherman who came from the CIA could use 5G to track and control Americans. (Related: U.S. and U.K. partner up to ban Huawei from 5G surveillance and data collection.) The military is a Trojan horse for the intelligence community in terms of domestic surveillance and societal control, he told the Defender. These efforts are geared toward sustaining domination in the RF-EMF domain at home, not just abroad. Those in charge are concerned about their own citizens as much as they are perceived foreign hostile actors. Sadly, in many respects, those in power have come to view large portions of the U.S. population as actual or potential adversaries or mere subjects that must be monitored, manipulated and controlled. 5G is an essential component in how that is and will be accomplished. Nonlinear warfare expert Dr. Crisanna Shackelford also expressed her concerns. She told the Defender: DoDs involvement in 5G could lead to the militarization of the technology, blurring the lines between civilian and military applications. Potential military control over 5G networks could potentially infringe on privacy and civil liberties. The consolidation and integration of civil-military 5G advancements raise concerns about the emergence of global surveillance networks as various international entities collaborate to establish pervasive surveillance, particularly in the realm of biomedical surveillance. While Shackelford acknowledged the importance of advancements in communication and connectivity, she reminded the Defense Department to proceed with caution to safeguard our society, privacy and civil liberties. Failing to do so, she added, could result in mass data collection, tracking and monitoring of individuals, leading to a loss of privacy. Watch this video about how 5G Surveillance marks the beginning of slavery. This video is from the AYA Awaken Your Awareness channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Human hackability: Microplastics in humans could harbor nanoparticles for tracking, data collection. France fines Monsanto for illegal data collection. Class action lawsuit filed against Apple over illicit data collection. Its time to disconnect: Researchers warn about personal data collection by smart products. Prepare for zero privacy: NSA spying is nothing compared to upcoming Obamacare data collection efforts. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org BreakingDefense.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The Federal Court of Australia just received its first-ever class action lawsuit filed by recipients of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines and their families who are now injured or worse, dead because of the toxic shots. Anyone who was misled by the constant false reassurances that covid jabs are safe and effective is encouraged to join the class action and seek compensation from the responsible parties for their injuries. Respondents of the suit include the Commonwealth of Australia; Greg Hunt, the former Federal Health Minister of Australia; John Skerritt of the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA); Paul Kelly, Australias Chief Medical Officer; and Brendan Murphy, the secretary of the Department of Health. NR Barbi Solicitor Pty Ltd has filed a class action against (at least) the Australian Government, the Department of Health and Aged Care Secretary Dr. Brendan Murphy and the Deputy Secretary of Health Products Regulation Group, Adjunct Professor John Skerrit (the Respondents) in the Federal Court of Australia on behalf of the Lead Applicant (the Applicant) and other COVID-19 vaccination injured parties (Group Members) to recover compensation for injuries obtained as a result of taking one or more COVID-19 vaccines, reads an announcement about the class action. The Applicant alleges that the Respondents actions to advance the acceptance and use of the various approved COVID-19 vaccines constitute negligence and/or misfeasance. They further allege that such negligence/misfeasance caused class members to suffer loss or damage, including but not limited to: personal injury; health care expenses; additional out-of-pocket expenses; economic loss; the need for gratuitous care and, additionally or alternatively, commercial care; and/or non-economic loss. (Related: Thanks to COVID injections, Australia is currently seeing its highest number of excess deaths in 80 years.) Those who wish to be included in the class action suit will need to have been injected with: 1. The COMIRNATY product, also known as the Pfizer Vaccine, sponsored by Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd at any time on or after Jan. 25, 2021. 2. The Pfizer Vaccine product formulated for pediatric use in children aged five to 11 at any time on or after Dec. 3, 2021. 3. The VAXZEVRIA product, also known as the AstraZeneca Vaccine, sponsored by AstraZeneca Pty Ltd at any time on or after Feb. 15, 2021. 4. The SPIKEVAX product, also known as the Moderna Vaccine, sponsored by Moderna Australia Pty Ltd at any time on or after Aug. 9, 2021. 5. The Moderna Vaccine product formulated for pediatric use in children of various ages on or after certain dates, further details of which are available on the COVID Vax Class Action website. There needs to be a lawsuit for the banning of ivermectin for use against COVID, and the misinformation they released on it, one respondent wrote on Twitter about the class-action suit. The government really made us mistrust ivermectin to the core by calling it horse tranquilizer. Im hoping the creator of ivermectin sues for defamation. Another asked when a class action will be filed on behalf of people who were terminated from their jobs for refusing the poison jabs. We will be watching and cheering them on from the U.S., wrote another. Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this to light. What an important achievement in filing. Godspeed. The latest news about the mounting litigation against governments, drug companies, and the media including social media for their role in promulgating lies about the safety and effectiveness of COVID injections can be found at Resist.news. Sources include: Twitter.com CovidVaxClassAction.com.au NaturalNews.com Abdul Latif Jameel and Toyota Motor Company recently announced the latest venture in their longstanding relationship regarding access to pivotal automotive parts and vehicles in the Middle East. Already a landmark brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the surrounding region, Toyota is ramping up its efforts to supply dealers and car owners alike with genuine accessories to upgrade their vehicles with style and safety. The announcement, which marked the launch of Toyota Accessories and Development ME India Pvt. Ltd. (TADME), officially represents ALJ's commitment to providing Middle East consumers with options to customize their vehicles to taste and budget. The partnership is unique in that it is the first time Toyota has worked with a private distributor in a formalized joint venture to provide Toyota-brand accessories to personalize vehicles on a consumer level. The potential market in the region is promising, with over one million vehicles accounted for in the Middle East that could take advantage of the new accessory offerings. Toyota will remain actively involved in the initiative as a majority shareholder throughout the process. Product development for TADME will be based in Bengaluru, India, a region known for a rich offering of design and development talent. Production experts from the Middle East will also be tied to the project to ensure customization and alignment with regional needs and specifications. ALJ leadership spoke positively of the enhanced bond between the two companies and the opportunity the joint venture holds for car owners and drivers in the region. "As customer needs evolve and diversify, we are pleased to offer drivers in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region even more choice when it comes to personalizing their experience with genuine Toyota accessories. We are honored to join Toyota Motor Corporation, in unlocking new value for our customers and paving the way for greater vehicle personalization in the region," said Hassan Jameel, Deputy President and Vice Chairman of ALJ. Not only will access to Toyota and Lexus brand accessories be expanded in the region, but the joint venture will also encompass the establishment of an official equipment and accessory development facility. This will allow for new innovations from engineers and designers tasked with addressing market demand to create and integrate from a research and development perspective. The facility expects to service hundreds of thousands of vehicles each year. "Our joint venture with Abdul Latif Jameel underlines Toyota's commitment to understanding and meeting the rapidly evolving needs of our customers ensuring drivers can easily customize and personalize their vehicles by developing a wide range of genuine accessories, while continuing to deliver the exceptional quality, durability, and reliability for which Toyota is globally recognized," said Akitoshi Takemura, Regional CEO for Toyota Motor Corporation. The relationship between ALJ and Toyota has been a fruitful work in progress over ALJ's 75-year legacy. The company started out as a Toyota distributor in Saudi Arabia at a time when access to foreign vehicles was limited for both consumer and commercial clients. Founder Abdul Latif Jameel, the company's namesake, helped grow the business from a small order of just four Toyota vehicles into a global automotive business, now overseen by family members including his son and grandsons. Through their paths into the family business, all three followed in their patriarch's footsteps, learning the transportation industry and working to improve access and infrastructure throughout their country and the region. Prior to taking on his duties in the family business, Hassen Jameel worked at the Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan after attending college at Sophia University in Tokyo. The relationship with Toyota extends far beyond the sale of its automobiles for ALJ. One of the company's philanthropic endeavors, Community Jameel, has undertaken several initiatives to help improve infrastructure through the advancement of science with an emphasis on community service. One such example, the Jameel-Toyota Scholarship, was founded in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, of which Mohammed Jameel is an alumnus, has created opportunities for students across Asia and Africa since 1994. The scholarship has supported more than 180 students from 28 countries in pursuing their education at MIT and continues to encourage graduates through alumni programming and networking opportunities. As one of the leading independent Toyota distributors in the world, ALJ provides transportation resources to commercial and retail customers across three continents. Mobility solutions play a dominant role in the company's MENAT, Europe, and Asia operations with a focus on meeting vehicle demand with a service and customer-first mentality. ALJ already provided several services for Toyota customers and drivers, from auto body and paint to vehicle components. ALJ dealerships and service locations also provide collision repair, refurbishment, and upgrades to customize vehicles to driver tastes. The additional collaboration with TADME will only prove to strengthen these offerings, available to a network of over 55 centers and dealerships across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ALJ continues to innovate its motors and transportation division with an emphasis on the customer experience. Providing customization options for Toyota and Lexus vehicles is just one component of this progress. A dealership-wide initiative to streamline processes has notably reduced customer wait times, touchpoints, and barriers to sale. ALJ's strong local brand recognition also positions it as a leader in automotive offerings in the country with a standardized experience across its network of sales floors. Investing in the community from the ground up, the company provides training for Saudi youth to make their way in the industry and be active participants in representing the brand. This attitude has expanded to commercial and industrial divisions of the business, making it a mainstay in the mining, materials handling, and construction industries. Operations have also spread beyond borders, with operations for passenger vehicle sale and maintenance spanning seven countries. Storage facilities and receiving locations process hundreds of thousands of vehicles each year, making ALJ a market leader as well as profound logistics coordinator for the region's automotive interests. An extinct volcano off the coast of Portugal could store vast amounts of carbon dioxide, ranging from 1.2 to 8.6 gigatons of carbon storage, according to a new study led by scientists in Portugal. The authors of the new paper highlight the discovery's importance of safe and permanent carbon dioxide sequestration. Carbon is known as a climate-damaging greenhouse gas that fuels climate change. The buried volcano reportedly dates to the time of the dinosaurs, specifically during the Late Cretaceous period. Despite being hidden for millions of years, the volcano could be important in our understanding of greenhouse gases, specifically when it comes to serving as a large carbon sink. Succeeding studies could use volcanoes as an efficient storage of other gases like methane and nitrous oxide. Previous research has shown that the ocean, permafrost, and even coastal ecosystems serve as great carbon sinks. Now, the discovery of the Late Cretaceous composite volcano off the central West Iberian margin could also serve as a potential site for in situ mineral carbonation, the injection of carbon into geological formations following a reaction with rocks containing calcium and magnesium. Portugal Extinct Volcano In the study published in the journal Geology on May 16, the Portuguese research team found that the extinct volcano has a total storage capacity for hundreds of gigatons of carbon dioxide. This is based on seismic data, as well as the geochemistry and petrophysical properties of the buried volcano, which showed that permanent carbon storage was possible. Ricardo Pereira, co-author of the study and geologist at the NOVA School of Science and Technology, said the team knowns that most countries, including Portugal, are making carbon sequestration efforts to decarbonize the economy and human activities. Pereira added the discovery could be a message that it is one of the ways to address the climate-related problem, as cited by Phys.org. Also Read: Brown Algae Absorbs Carbon Dioxide and Releases It in Mucus Form [Study] What are Carbon Sinks? Carbon sinks are known for their capability to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than what they release. Some of the well-known great carbon absorbers are trees, plants, and the ocean, as mentioned earlier. In the case of offshore volcanoes, as mentioned in the Geology study, the natural site can keep its carbon sink record if it does not erupt. Global Volcanic Emissions According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), massive volcanic eruptions can affect climate change since such explosions can inject large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The USGS cited an example from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens where approximately 10 million tons of carbon dioxide went into the atmosphere in a matter of only 9 hours. In modern times, efforts to mitigate inaccuracy and improve estimates of current global volcanic carbon dioxide have continued. However, there is a small doubt among volcanic gas scientists that human-induced carbon emissions overwhelm global volcanic emissions. Related Article: The Great Dying: Methane Emissions Hold Clue on the World's Largest Mass Extinction Event 260 Million Years Ago Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Kari Lake and her lawyers repeatedly lied to the court and misrepresented evidence during her election challenge trial last week and should be sanctioned for it, attorneys for Maricopa County wrote in a Tuesday filing. The misstatements of fact from Lake and her counsel are not a series of mere accidents or zealous advocacy; they represent a determined program of misinformation, Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Tom Liddy wrote in the filing. Lake and her counsel have absolutely no excuse for offering these falsehoods in Court and should face sanctions from this Court, he added. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson ruled against Lake on May 22, saying she failed to prove during a three-day trial last week that Maricopa County ignored state law and performed no signature verification for early ballots during the 2022 general election. In his ruling, Thompson affirmed that Democrat Katie Hobbs, who beat Lake by 17,000 votes, is the governor of Arizona. Liddy pointed out in the countys request for sanctions that Lake and her lawyers, D.C. employment attorney Kurt Olsen and Scottsdale divorce lawyer Bryan Blehm, were recently sanctioned by the Arizona Supreme Court for making false statements to that court. Ethical parties would have been suitably admonished by both the Supreme Courts statement that they made unequivocally false statements to the Court and the monetary sanction that the Supreme Court consequently issued, Liddy wrote. But Lake and her counsel were not deterred. Instead, they were inexplicably emboldened. Last weeks trial was Lakes second in Thompsons courtroom. She lost the first trial in December and appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court, which sent one of her 10 initial claims back to Thompson for further examination and upheld the dismissal of the other nine. Lakes claim that Maricopa County conducted no signature verification was entirely frivolous, Liddy wrote, and her attorneys were completely aware of that, especially since two of her witnesses testified that they participated in signature verification for the county. This testimony known by Lake and her counsel before trial and offered to substantiate her signature verification claim conclusively defeated Lakes spurious assertion that signature verification did not occur, Liddy wrote. Lake and her counsel cannot now argue that they thought her claim stood any chance of success when her own fact witnesses would testify that signature verification did, in fact, occur. During the trial, Olsen and Blehm attempted to prove that, because their expert claimed election workers for the county approved 274,000 ballot signatures in 3 seconds or fewer and 70,000 signatures in 2 seconds or fewer, the required signature verification didnt actually happen. But the judge wasnt buying that argument, saying that Arizona law does not specify an amount of time a worker must spend reviewing a signature. Liddy also called out Olsen for claiming during closing arguments that the election was rigged against Lake, without providing a shred of evidence for his claim. Lake not only failed to prove that the election was rigged by a clear and convincing evidence standard, but also she did not bother attempting to prove the election was rigged at trial, Liddy wrote. She did not even ask a single witness any question that could have elicited evidence that the election was rigged. Since she lost the gubernatorial race six months ago, Lake has repeatedly claimed that she is the true governor and that the election was rigged against her, but so far none of the courts have found her supposed evidence of this assertion compelling. Lakes counsel engaged in a blatant effort to deceive the Court when he said that the election was rigged, Liddy wrote. Blatantly false statements like this should prompt a strong retributive response from the Court. Maricopa County asked that the court financially sanction Lake and her attorneys in an amount that the court determined was appropriate. They also are seeking for their attorneys fees to be paid by Lake and her attorneys in addition to the sanctions. The other defendants in the case, Hobbs and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, havent yet requested sanctions. In their response, Lake and her team suggested that all parties in the case pay their own attorneys fees and said that county and other defendants in the case were not owed reimbursement of their fees because they didnt ask for specific amounts by the courts deadline. During a Tuesday press conference during which she railed against the media and made the big announcement that she was starting a ballot chasing program, Lake said she planned to appeal her second trial loss. She didnt offer any details on that plan. Norfolk church joins campaign to take on poverty Norfolk church joins campaign to take on poverty A Mid Norfolk church has partnered with a Christian debt charity to ask people to join its urgent campaign to Take on Poverty and help those most in need. Dereham Baptist Church, which works with debt help and anti-poverty charity, Christians Against Poverty (CAP), has this week launched its new Taking on Poverty report and campaign aimed at helping people in Norfolk and across the East of England who are struggling to afford the basics and stay out of debt. CAPs latest report reveals CAP clients in the East of England on average owed over 10,500 at the peak of their debts as costs rise putting more pressure on peoples finances. CAPs Dereham Debt Centre Manager, Morgan Cockbill, said: Rising food prices are leaving mums and dads unable to afford to feed their kids. Sky high energy bills mean that pensioners and people with serious or terminal illnesses are scared to put on the heating. Single people are waking up in the night with anxiety attacks over money because their income is so low theyre falling deeper into debt. This is the reality of poverty and its devastating the lives of our friends, families, colleagues, neighbours and people in our community here in Dereham. At Christians Against Poverty and Dereham Baptist Church we are positively fighting against poverty in our area by offering free practical help, such as emergency supplies of food and energy top ups to those in crisis and free debt help and budgeting help to anyone in need. CAPs landmark report highlights the desperate struggles our clients are facing right now. As part of our Taking on Poverty campaign we are asking local people to join us in tackling poverty here in Norfolk, the East of England and across the UK. CAPs Taking on Poverty report has found in the East of England: CAP clients in the East of England on average owed over 10,500 at the peak of their debts. It would take a client on average 10 years to repay their debts without help. On average they had 13 different debts, that can mean up to 13 different organisations could be chasing them for payment, creating huge financial stress. 56% of the money owed by a typical CAP client in the East of England is due to priority debts, thats the highest percentage out of anywhere in the UK. These are often for essentials like rent arrears, mortgage, gas and electricity or Council Tax debts. JOIN THE TAKING ON POVERTY CAMPAIGN Morgan said: Behind these stats are real families and individuals in desperate need who we are meeting to support everyday. Despite the situation, CAP and Dereham Baptist Church are continuing to help people in Norfolk with our free professional services so they are able to break free from the chains of poverty and have hope and happiness restored in their lives again. Whether its helping us raise awareness on social media, volunteering, donating to CAP or maybe even taking on a fun fundraising challenge. Theres lots of ways you can play your part in tackling poverty in our area. Contact us for a chat to find out more about CAPs life changing work in Dereham and how you can help us. You can support CAPs fundraiser to help people through this cost of living crisis: capuk.org/support or sign up to become a CAP Life Changer and donate each month. Connect with Dereham CAP by emailing: catherineweatherill@capuk.org Keith Morris, 25/05/2023 Intel has announced a shift in strategy that impacts its XPU and data-center product roadmap. XPU is an effort by Intel to combine multiple pieces of silicon into one package. The plan was to combine CPU, GPU, networking, FPGA, and AI accelerator and use software to choose the best processor for the task at hand. Thats an ambitious project, and it looks like Intel is admitting that it cant do it, at least for now. Jeff McVeigh, corporate vice president and general manager of the Super Compute Group at Intel, provided an update to the data-center processor roadmap that involves taking a few steps back. Its proposed combination CPU and GPU, code-named Falcon Shores, will now be a GPU chip only. A lot has changed in the past 12 months. Generative AI is transforming everything. And from our standpoint, from Intels standpoint, we feel it is premature to be integrating the CPU and GPU for the next-generation product, McVeigh said during a press briefing at the ISC High Performance Conference in Hamburg, Germany. The former plan called for the CPU and GPU to be on the same development cycle, but the GPU could take longer to develop than the CPU, which would have meant the CPU technology would sit idle while the GPU was being developed. Intel decided that the dynamic nature of today's market dictates a need for discrete solutions. I'll admit it, I was wrong. We were moving too fast down the XPU path. We feel that this dynamic nature will be better served by having that flexibility at the platform level. And then we'll integrate when the time is right, McVeigh said. The result is a significant change in Intel's roadmap. Intel in March scrapped a supercomputer GPU codenamed Rialto Bridge, which was to be the successor to the Max Series GPU, codenamed Ponte Vecchio, which is already on the market. The new Falcon Shores chip, which is the successor to Ponte Vecchio, will now be a next-generation discrete GPU targeted at both high-performance computing and AI. It includes the AI processors, standard Ethernet switching, HBM3 memory, and I/O at scale, and it is now due in 2025. McVeigh said that Intel hasnt ruled out combining a CPU and GPU, but it's not the priority right now. We will at the right time when the window of weather is right, well do that. We just dont feel like its right in this next generation. Other Intel news McVeigh also talked up improvements to Intels OneAPI toolkit, a family of compilers, libraries, and programming tools that can execute code on the Xeon, Falcon Shores GPU, and Gaudi AI processor. Write once, and the API can pick the best chip on which to execute. The latest update delivers speed gains for HPC applications with OpenMP GPU offload, extended support for OpenMP and Fortran, and accelerated AI and deep learning. On the supercomputer front, Intel has delivered more than 10,624 compute nodes of Xeon Max Series chips with HBM for the Aurora supercomputer, which includes 21,248 CPU nodes, 63,744 GPUs, 10.9PB of DDR memory, and 230PB of storage. Aurora is being built at the Lawrence Livermore National Labs and will exceed 2 exaFLOPs of performance when complete. When operational, it's expected to dethrone Frontier as the fastest supercomputer in the world. Intel also discussed servers from Supermicro that seem to be aimed at taking on Nvidias DGX AI systems. They feature eight Ponte Vecchio Max Series GPUs, each with 128 GB of HBM memory for more than 1 TB total of HBM memory per system. Not surprisingly, the servers are targeted at AI deployments. The product is expected to be broadly available in Q3. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Beatrice Middle School was placed on a lockdown after the 2:12 p.m. dismissal on Wednesday afternoon after a student brought a fake pistol onto the campus. A statement from the district stated that a student came back onto Beatrice Middle School grounds with a fake pistol and pointed it at students. Staff immediately intervened by placing the school in lockdown, and with immediate support, Beatrice Police Department took control of the situation. The school was in lockdown for approximately 10 minutes while staff and administration worked with emergency personnel to respond to the situation. All BPS parents, staff and students were informed as soon as all the details of the occurrence were available. Beatrice Middle School will have crisis team members available as needed tomorrow for student and staff support, the statement said. By PTI NEW DELHI: The promulgation of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, has taken the assault on democratic federalism to a new level, the CPI(M) alleged on Thursday. It is a "brazen authoritarian move" which nullified the Supreme Court's landmark decision on the Delhi government's control over administrative officers under its jurisdiction, the party claimed in the latest edition of its mouthpiece People's Democracy. The Centre last Friday promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. "By this ordinance, the central government has defied the Supreme Court's verdict and challenged the court's right to interpret the constitution," the editorial alleged. It said the Supreme Court, in its verdict, had upheld the principle of democratic representative government, the accountability of the administrative officers to the elected government and adherence to the federal principle. All of this was rejected by the "authoritarian" step of promulgating the ordinance, the editorial alleged. "By this willful defiance of the court, the Modi government has declared its contempt for democracy and federalism. All through its nine-year tenure, the Modi government has been attacking the rights of elected non-BJP state governments and using the governor to violate the federal principle." "This assumed grave proportion of an assault on the constitutional set-up itself by dismantling the state of Jammu and Kashmir and converting it into two union territories. This ordinance takes the assault on democratic federalism to a new level by legitimising the disempowerment of an elected government," it said. The editorial further stated that the Supreme Court as the custodian of the Constitution will have to step in to nullify this "draconian measure". "At the political level, the entire opposition should unitedly oppose the ordinance when it is sought to be legislated through Parliament. The Congress party should stop dithering about its stand. The animosity towards Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP cannot determine its position." "This is not about any individual leader or a single party. This is an attack on democracy and federalism. How unitedly the opposition parties move to oppose the ordinance will have a bearing on the unity to be forged for the bigger battle against the BJP looming ahead," it said. NEW DELHI: The promulgation of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, has taken the assault on democratic federalism to a new level, the CPI(M) alleged on Thursday. It is a "brazen authoritarian move" which nullified the Supreme Court's landmark decision on the Delhi government's control over administrative officers under its jurisdiction, the party claimed in the latest edition of its mouthpiece People's Democracy. The Centre last Friday promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. "By this ordinance, the central government has defied the Supreme Court's verdict and challenged the court's right to interpret the constitution," the editorial alleged. It said the Supreme Court, in its verdict, had upheld the principle of democratic representative government, the accountability of the administrative officers to the elected government and adherence to the federal principle. All of this was rejected by the "authoritarian" step of promulgating the ordinance, the editorial alleged. "By this willful defiance of the court, the Modi government has declared its contempt for democracy and federalism. All through its nine-year tenure, the Modi government has been attacking the rights of elected non-BJP state governments and using the governor to violate the federal principle." "This assumed grave proportion of an assault on the constitutional set-up itself by dismantling the state of Jammu and Kashmir and converting it into two union territories. This ordinance takes the assault on democratic federalism to a new level by legitimising the disempowerment of an elected government," it said. The editorial further stated that the Supreme Court as the custodian of the Constitution will have to step in to nullify this "draconian measure". "At the political level, the entire opposition should unitedly oppose the ordinance when it is sought to be legislated through Parliament. The Congress party should stop dithering about its stand. The animosity towards Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP cannot determine its position." "This is not about any individual leader or a single party. This is an attack on democracy and federalism. How unitedly the opposition parties move to oppose the ordinance will have a bearing on the unity to be forged for the bigger battle against the BJP looming ahead," it said. By PTI JAIPUR: A Rajasthan court on Thursday sentenced four accused to seven years of imprisonment in a horrific case of mob lynching by cow vigilantes in 2018. On July 20 that year, Rakbar Khan a.k.a Akbar, a resident of Haryana, along with Aslam were taking a cow from Lalawandi village in Ramgarh at night. Suspecting cow smuggling, some vigilantes attacked them. While Aslam escaped, Rakbar was badly bruised in the assault before he was handed over to the police. He was taken to a hospital in a critical state where succumbed to his injuries. Delivering the verdict, an Alwar court imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 as well on each of the four cow vigilantes Paramjit Singh, Dharmendra Yadav, Naresh and Vijay. However, fifth accused Naval Kishore Sharma was acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence. All four accused were convicted under sections 304A (death by negligence not amounting to culpable homicide) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC. Hemraj Gupta, lawyer for the accused, said that if the charge of mob lynching was accepted, the accused ought to have been considered guilty under Section 147 (rioting). But the court cleared all under that section and convicted them only under Section 304. However, advocate Ashok Sharma, appearing for the victim, said there is no IPC section for mob lynching. The sections in which the accused have been held guilty are part of Section 302 (murder). A large number of people were present outside the court since morning for the verdict. Personnel from several police stations were deployed as a precautionary measure. After the verdict, some people raised slogans against the Gehlot government and Ramgarh MLA Safia Khan. Sadar Sher Mohammad of Meo panchayat rued that the accused were acquitted under Section 302, adding they will file an appeal against the verdict. Will study verdict, says Gehlot Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the government will study the verdict and take further action, if necessary ALSO READ: Living in shadow of fear: Life more important than cow, says Alwar's Meo family JAIPUR: A Rajasthan court on Thursday sentenced four accused to seven years of imprisonment in a horrific case of mob lynching by cow vigilantes in 2018. On July 20 that year, Rakbar Khan a.k.a Akbar, a resident of Haryana, along with Aslam were taking a cow from Lalawandi village in Ramgarh at night. Suspecting cow smuggling, some vigilantes attacked them. While Aslam escaped, Rakbar was badly bruised in the assault before he was handed over to the police. He was taken to a hospital in a critical state where succumbed to his injuries. Delivering the verdict, an Alwar court imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 as well on each of the four cow vigilantes Paramjit Singh, Dharmendra Yadav, Naresh and Vijay. However, fifth accused Naval Kishore Sharma was acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); All four accused were convicted under sections 304A (death by negligence not amounting to culpable homicide) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC. Hemraj Gupta, lawyer for the accused, said that if the charge of mob lynching was accepted, the accused ought to have been considered guilty under Section 147 (rioting). But the court cleared all under that section and convicted them only under Section 304. However, advocate Ashok Sharma, appearing for the victim, said there is no IPC section for mob lynching. The sections in which the accused have been held guilty are part of Section 302 (murder). A large number of people were present outside the court since morning for the verdict. Personnel from several police stations were deployed as a precautionary measure. After the verdict, some people raised slogans against the Gehlot government and Ramgarh MLA Safia Khan. Sadar Sher Mohammad of Meo panchayat rued that the accused were acquitted under Section 302, adding they will file an appeal against the verdict. Will study verdict, says Gehlot Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the government will study the verdict and take further action, if necessary ALSO READ: Living in shadow of fear: Life more important than cow, says Alwar's Meo family Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said he would soon visit violence-hit Manipur for three days and talk to all brothers and sisters for re-establishing peace in the state. Some clashes occurred in Manipur due to a court judgement. I want to tell my Manipur brothers that we should maintain peace. People belonging to both groups (Meiteis and Kukis) have to first decide on maintaining peace, Shah said from Guwahati. He was speaking at a programme organised to lay the foundation stone for a National Forensic Science University in Assam. He assured that everyone would get justice but warned the perpetrators of the violence, stating they would not be spared. He appealed to people to keep their faith and trust in the Narendra Modi government. ALSO READ | 'Nothing is readily available': Cylinders at Rs 2000, costly petrol singe strife-hit Manipuris We marched forward in Manipur for six years (under the BJP). There was no bandh or blockade. We will peacefully resolve the conflict. I will soon visit Manipur for three days and talk to all brothers and sisters for establishing peace, Shah said. He said the people of Manipur could bring peace. He appealed to them to remove distrust and march ahead in the process of peace. The road to peace has to be explored and I believe peace can be established through dialogue, the home minister said. Earlier in the day, the Congress criticised him for not visiting Manipur. The Union Home Minister goes all the way to Guwahati today, but does not deem it fit to visit Imphal when Manipur has been burning for 22 days. This is the same Union Home Minister who held 16 rallies and 15 road shows in Karnataka, but cannot find time for the people of Manipur who are suffering a lot due to the ideology and politics of the so-called Double Engine Sarkar, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted. At least 71 people had lost their lives, over 1,700 houses were burned down and 35,000 people displaced in the violence which broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March organised by a tribal students organisation in the states all ten hill districts to oppose the move for the inclusion of Meiteis the states largest community in the Scheduled Tribes list. The High Court of Manipur had asked the state government to consider the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribes list. GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said he would soon visit violence-hit Manipur for three days and talk to all brothers and sisters for re-establishing peace in the state. Some clashes occurred in Manipur due to a court judgement. I want to tell my Manipur brothers that we should maintain peace. People belonging to both groups (Meiteis and Kukis) have to first decide on maintaining peace, Shah said from Guwahati. He was speaking at a programme organised to lay the foundation stone for a National Forensic Science University in Assam.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He assured that everyone would get justice but warned the perpetrators of the violence, stating they would not be spared. He appealed to people to keep their faith and trust in the Narendra Modi government. ALSO READ | 'Nothing is readily available': Cylinders at Rs 2000, costly petrol singe strife-hit Manipuris We marched forward in Manipur for six years (under the BJP). There was no bandh or blockade. We will peacefully resolve the conflict. I will soon visit Manipur for three days and talk to all brothers and sisters for establishing peace, Shah said. He said the people of Manipur could bring peace. He appealed to them to remove distrust and march ahead in the process of peace. The road to peace has to be explored and I believe peace can be established through dialogue, the home minister said. Earlier in the day, the Congress criticised him for not visiting Manipur. The Union Home Minister goes all the way to Guwahati today, but does not deem it fit to visit Imphal when Manipur has been burning for 22 days. This is the same Union Home Minister who held 16 rallies and 15 road shows in Karnataka, but cannot find time for the people of Manipur who are suffering a lot due to the ideology and politics of the so-called Double Engine Sarkar, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted. At least 71 people had lost their lives, over 1,700 houses were burned down and 35,000 people displaced in the violence which broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March organised by a tribal students organisation in the states all ten hill districts to oppose the move for the inclusion of Meiteis the states largest community in the Scheduled Tribes list. The High Court of Manipur had asked the state government to consider the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribes list. Ronnie Kuriakose By Express News Service GOA : Soon, anganwadis across the country will be imparting students with invaluable lessons from the journeys of Indian circumnavigators, including Abhilash Tomy, who braved tempestuous seas, perilous weather, and immense isolation to script maritime history. The development comes in the wake of Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Iranis declaration on Tuesday that theres plenty and more on the pages of our Forces to inspire the nations children. We will ensure that the stories of circumnavigators of the Indian Navy are told at all anganwadis across the country. Young children will be inspired by these stories, where challenges have been met with much fortitude, Irani said. There are over 15,000 anganwadis in Kerala, and nearly 14 lakh across the country. The minister was speaking at the flag-in ceremony of INSV Tarini at INS Mandovi in Goa. On May 23, the Indian Navys sailing yacht completed its 17,000 nautical mile-long voyage and docked for the first Indian on Indian shores in nearly seven months. As an example to her aforementioned pages of inspiration, the minister drew attention to Cdr Abhilash Tomys (Retd) journeys, which, in a way, had been a catalyst for the Navy losing some of its drag and embracing circumnavigation projects in all earnestness exactly a decade ago. On the ministers proposal, Cdr Tomy said, Its a fantastic idea. Looking back at my childhood, such stories have inspired me to take up sailing. In a similar vein, I think we should talk about this in all school textbooks. Keralas history syllabus has some details, but elsewhere we are still reading about The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, etc., Lt Tomy told TNIE. During the event, the minister also touched upon Cdr Tomys valiant run in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, which saw the naval aviator claim a podium spot, thereby becoming the first Asian to do so. The feat assumes significance given how only five years before, taking part in the races previous edition, Cdr Tomy suffered a debilitating injury which saw him having to learn how to walk again. Captain Dilip Donde (Retd), the first Indian to circumnavigate the world, echoed similar sentiments as Cdr Tomy. It is a magnificent idea! he told TNIE, adding that anganwadis have a wide network and this will ensure that these stories travel far and wide. For Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi (Retd), the skipper of INSV Tarinis first voyage in 2017, the ministers proposal came as a wonderful delight. There are many in her home state of Uttarakhand whove not even seen the sea, yet, from a young age, Lt Cdr Joshi harboured a desire- to not only witness the majestic vastness of the sea but also master it.She wished that she had known from a young age the many avenues that existed. Children should indeed be aware of the many opportunities that exist and the dreams that they can nurture, Lt Cdr Joshi told TNIE. On May 23, when INSV Tarini returned after its long voyage from Goa to Rio de Janeiro and back, there were two on board - the only women officers of the crew - who had taken to sailing inspired by the journeys of Captain Dilip Donde and Cdr Abhilash Tomy - Lt Cdr Dilna K, who hails from Kozhikode, and Lt Cdr Roopa Alagirisamy, a Pondicherry native. During the whole voyage, I had the company of books that detail the historic voyages of Dilip Donde and Abhilash Tomy. Their and Tarinis previous journeys inspired me. It was only two years ago that I picked up sailing. I accomplished what I did because these stalwarts had created the way for me, Lt Cdr Dilna told TNIE. Lt Cdr Roopa, too, expressed similar sentiments. The Indian sailing community owes much to these men and women, she said. Inspired by their works, she too keeps a personal blog, documenting the ways of the water and how she, too, can master it. Tarinis journey will resonate with every citizen of the country, especially young women and girls who will look at the Indian Navy for an opportunity to serve, Irani said, showering praises on the Navys most recent voyage. Though Tarinis expedition had come to an end, the adventure is only beginning, said Admiral R Hari Kumar, the Chief of Naval Staff. To add another page of inspiration to the Navys proverbial story, These two women are training to undertake our most ambitious voyage yet - to see a women naval officer sail around the world, solo and unassisted, Adm Hari Kumar said.At present, India has eight on the list of sailors who have circumnavigated the world. List of Indian circumnavigators Captain Dilip Donde Cdr Abhilash Tomy Lt Commander Vartika Joshi Lt Commander Pratibha Jamwal Lt Commander Swati P Lieutenant Aishwarya Boddapati Lieutenant S Vijaya Devi Lieutenant Payal Gupta GOA : Soon, anganwadis across the country will be imparting students with invaluable lessons from the journeys of Indian circumnavigators, including Abhilash Tomy, who braved tempestuous seas, perilous weather, and immense isolation to script maritime history. The development comes in the wake of Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Iranis declaration on Tuesday that theres plenty and more on the pages of our Forces to inspire the nations children. We will ensure that the stories of circumnavigators of the Indian Navy are told at all anganwadis across the country. Young children will be inspired by these stories, where challenges have been met with much fortitude, Irani said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There are over 15,000 anganwadis in Kerala, and nearly 14 lakh across the country. The minister was speaking at the flag-in ceremony of INSV Tarini at INS Mandovi in Goa. On May 23, the Indian Navys sailing yacht completed its 17,000 nautical mile-long voyage and docked for the first Indian on Indian shores in nearly seven months. As an example to her aforementioned pages of inspiration, the minister drew attention to Cdr Abhilash Tomys (Retd) journeys, which, in a way, had been a catalyst for the Navy losing some of its drag and embracing circumnavigation projects in all earnestness exactly a decade ago. On the ministers proposal, Cdr Tomy said, Its a fantastic idea. Looking back at my childhood, such stories have inspired me to take up sailing. In a similar vein, I think we should talk about this in all school textbooks. Keralas history syllabus has some details, but elsewhere we are still reading about The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, etc., Lt Tomy told TNIE. During the event, the minister also touched upon Cdr Tomys valiant run in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, which saw the naval aviator claim a podium spot, thereby becoming the first Asian to do so. The feat assumes significance given how only five years before, taking part in the races previous edition, Cdr Tomy suffered a debilitating injury which saw him having to learn how to walk again. Captain Dilip Donde (Retd), the first Indian to circumnavigate the world, echoed similar sentiments as Cdr Tomy. It is a magnificent idea! he told TNIE, adding that anganwadis have a wide network and this will ensure that these stories travel far and wide. For Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi (Retd), the skipper of INSV Tarinis first voyage in 2017, the ministers proposal came as a wonderful delight. There are many in her home state of Uttarakhand whove not even seen the sea, yet, from a young age, Lt Cdr Joshi harboured a desire- to not only witness the majestic vastness of the sea but also master it.She wished that she had known from a young age the many avenues that existed. Children should indeed be aware of the many opportunities that exist and the dreams that they can nurture, Lt Cdr Joshi told TNIE. On May 23, when INSV Tarini returned after its long voyage from Goa to Rio de Janeiro and back, there were two on board - the only women officers of the crew - who had taken to sailing inspired by the journeys of Captain Dilip Donde and Cdr Abhilash Tomy - Lt Cdr Dilna K, who hails from Kozhikode, and Lt Cdr Roopa Alagirisamy, a Pondicherry native. During the whole voyage, I had the company of books that detail the historic voyages of Dilip Donde and Abhilash Tomy. Their and Tarinis previous journeys inspired me. It was only two years ago that I picked up sailing. I accomplished what I did because these stalwarts had created the way for me, Lt Cdr Dilna told TNIE. Lt Cdr Roopa, too, expressed similar sentiments. The Indian sailing community owes much to these men and women, she said. Inspired by their works, she too keeps a personal blog, documenting the ways of the water and how she, too, can master it. Tarinis journey will resonate with every citizen of the country, especially young women and girls who will look at the Indian Navy for an opportunity to serve, Irani said, showering praises on the Navys most recent voyage. Though Tarinis expedition had come to an end, the adventure is only beginning, said Admiral R Hari Kumar, the Chief of Naval Staff. To add another page of inspiration to the Navys proverbial story, These two women are training to undertake our most ambitious voyage yet - to see a women naval officer sail around the world, solo and unassisted, Adm Hari Kumar said.At present, India has eight on the list of sailors who have circumnavigated the world. List of Indian circumnavigators Captain Dilip Donde Cdr Abhilash Tomy Lt Commander Vartika Joshi Lt Commander Pratibha Jamwal Lt Commander Swati P Lieutenant Aishwarya Boddapati Lieutenant S Vijaya Devi Lieutenant Payal Gupta Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Five years after dropping its health insurance plans with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, the University of Nebraska plans to return to the Omaha-based insurance provider. In an email to campus on Tuesday, NU President Ted Carter said the university plans to change its health, pharmacy and dental insurance carriers in 2024 pending approval of the Board of Regents. NU will move its health insurance plans from UMR, a United Healthcare company, which it entered into a five-year contract with in 2018, back to Blue Nebraska. The university will also switch its dental insurance carrier from Ameritas to Delta Dental of Nebraska, and its pharmacy insurance carrier from CVS Health to EmpiRx Health, Carter notified employees. "We are bringing these changes forward following a robust competitive bidding process that attracted bids from multiple vendors," Carter said. A committee of 12 faculty and staff worked with an outside consulting firm, Gallagher Benefit Service, to evaluate the bids on a number of factors, including the number of providers in a network and the discounts offered by those in-network providers. The switch won't save NU any money. Five years ago, amid statewide budget challenges, the change to insurance providers netted NU nearly $12.3 million in savings between its health, dental, and life insurance plans. Nearly all 99% of health providers used by NU employees and their families within the last year were in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska network, Carter said, while 86% of dental providers were in the Delta Dental network. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska also agreed to hire 24 paid interns from NU, capitalizing on a policy change made by the university late last year to give companies added consideration if they agreed to take on student workers. Carter said the proposed switch in insurance carriers will go before the NU Board of Regents on June 22 for approval. If the bids are accepted by regents, the new plans would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. NU expects "minimal disruptions" with the transitions, and has set up customer service lines to help answer employees' questions. Photos: UNL celebrates largest-ever graduating class By Express News Service KOLKATA: With panchayat polls nearing, sporadic explosions in different parts of Bengal in the past few months have raised fears that the state is going to witness a massive bloodbath in the upcoming electoral exercise. Ten explosions at crude bomb manufacturing units have already claimed a total of 16 lives, including three minors, in the past five months. Opposition parties alleged that the polls will witness a re-run of the violence experienced by the states electorate in the 2018 panchayat elections. The explosions took place when either crude bombs were being manufactured or fire caught the stockpile of explosives accidentally. In some of the cases, many children were injured when they hit bombs thinking it was a ball, said a police officer. ALSO READ | Death toll in Bengal fire-cracker factory blast rises to 5, Mamata announces compensation The most recent major explosion took place on May 16 in which nine people, including a student of Class X, were killed. During the course of investigation, sleuths of the criminal investigation department found Krishnapada Bag alias Bhanu had set up a bomb manufacturing unit on his property where his family members used to go frequently, said a senior police officer. Sensing discontent among the people in Egra, who supported the TMC in the 2021 Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to visit the area on Saturday. The chief minister will meet the people of the area and may announce help for the families of the deceased, said an official of the state government. Opposition parties alleged that the recent incidents of explosions are clear evidence that the ruling party is gearing up for violence during the panchayat elections. They will not only unleash violence on us. There will be countless number of intra-party clashes in the TMC over the issue of getting tickets for candidature. The crude bombs being manufactured will also hurt their own comrades, said CPI(M)s central committee member Sujan Chakrabarty. In 2018, the ruling Trinamool Congress won 30 per cent of the total seats in panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads uncontested and the opposition parties alleged the TMC did not allow them to field candidates by flexing its muscle. KOLKATA: With panchayat polls nearing, sporadic explosions in different parts of Bengal in the past few months have raised fears that the state is going to witness a massive bloodbath in the upcoming electoral exercise. Ten explosions at crude bomb manufacturing units have already claimed a total of 16 lives, including three minors, in the past five months. Opposition parties alleged that the polls will witness a re-run of the violence experienced by the states electorate in the 2018 panchayat elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The explosions took place when either crude bombs were being manufactured or fire caught the stockpile of explosives accidentally. In some of the cases, many children were injured when they hit bombs thinking it was a ball, said a police officer. ALSO READ | Death toll in Bengal fire-cracker factory blast rises to 5, Mamata announces compensation The most recent major explosion took place on May 16 in which nine people, including a student of Class X, were killed. During the course of investigation, sleuths of the criminal investigation department found Krishnapada Bag alias Bhanu had set up a bomb manufacturing unit on his property where his family members used to go frequently, said a senior police officer. Sensing discontent among the people in Egra, who supported the TMC in the 2021 Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to visit the area on Saturday. The chief minister will meet the people of the area and may announce help for the families of the deceased, said an official of the state government. Opposition parties alleged that the recent incidents of explosions are clear evidence that the ruling party is gearing up for violence during the panchayat elections. They will not only unleash violence on us. There will be countless number of intra-party clashes in the TMC over the issue of getting tickets for candidature. The crude bombs being manufactured will also hurt their own comrades, said CPI(M)s central committee member Sujan Chakrabarty. In 2018, the ruling Trinamool Congress won 30 per cent of the total seats in panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads uncontested and the opposition parties alleged the TMC did not allow them to field candidates by flexing its muscle. Preetha Nair By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The much-contested question of the prime ministerial face of the Opposition in 2024 was back to the fore on Wednesday as senior Congress MP Manickam Tagore urged his party to announce Rahul Gandhi as its PM candidate. Often, most Opposition leaders evade the Modi versus who question and maintain that a PM face will emerge only after the elections. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is spearheading the efforts to stitch up an anti-BJP front, has been meeting leaders of several Opposition parties in the past few months. Citing a survey, Tagore, the whip of the Congress in the Lok Sabha said, Hope my colleagues in @INCIndia will accept that without our announcement or projection 27% of people want our leader as PM candidate. Lets announce it then see the support. Tagore is a known Rahul loyalist. The survey showed Narendra Modi as the frontrunner for the PMs post with 43% votes. Other Opposition PM aspirants like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal were way behind Rahul with 4% votes while Nitish Kumar polled just 1%. NEW DELHI: The much-contested question of the prime ministerial face of the Opposition in 2024 was back to the fore on Wednesday as senior Congress MP Manickam Tagore urged his party to announce Rahul Gandhi as its PM candidate. Often, most Opposition leaders evade the Modi versus who question and maintain that a PM face will emerge only after the elections. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is spearheading the efforts to stitch up an anti-BJP front, has been meeting leaders of several Opposition parties in the past few months. Citing a survey, Tagore, the whip of the Congress in the Lok Sabha said, Hope my colleagues in @INCIndia will accept that without our announcement or projection 27% of people want our leader as PM candidate. Lets announce it then see the support. Tagore is a known Rahul loyalist.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The survey showed Narendra Modi as the frontrunner for the PMs post with 43% votes. Other Opposition PM aspirants like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal were way behind Rahul with 4% votes while Nitish Kumar polled just 1%. Bijoy Pradhan By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday shot off a letter to CM Naveen Patnaik urging him to reconsider the decision of cash payout to beneficiaries of Madhubabu Pension Yojana (MBPY), the Odisha governments social assistance scheme. Pradhan said that the state governments decision to shift from direct benefit transfer (DBT) mechanism appears to be a step backwards in our collective pursuit of corruption-free governance and efficient public service delivery. Pradhans letter came after the states decision to pay pension in cash from June onwards citing problems faced by old-age, widow and divyang beneficiaries in withdrawing from bank accounts. The DBT scheme, he said, was introduced under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach every individual, without any pilferage. Under Jan Dhan Yojana, he said, at least 48.99 crore bank accounts have been opened across India, amassing savings of Rs 1.97 lakh crore. In Odisha, 2.01 crore bank accounts have been activated with a saving of Rs 8,751 crore for the people of our state. Moreover, 1,45,48,473 RuPay cards have been issued in Odisha, he said. He said social security schemes under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) have provided safety nets to people of Odisha, settling claims worth hundreds of crores of rupees and financially aiding numerous families through the DBT mechanism. Under NSAP, over 20.95 lakh beneficiaries of the state are being provided with benefits through the DBT mechanism. Adoption of DBT has resulted in massive savings to the exchequer, by removal of fake/ghost beneficiaries and reducing need for intermediaries/middlemen. It has immensely helped in plugging leakage and diversions and has eliminated scope of corruption, the letter said. Stating that Odisha had swiftly adopted DBT both in central and state schemes, he said the states total DBT in 2022-23 stood at Rs 8,135.18 crore and almost 1.95 crore beneficiaries have been covered. Due to elimination of ghost beneficiaries by adoption of DBT, the Odisha government has made an estimated saving of Rs 459.96 crore during 2021-22. Needless to mention, the Government of India has saved approximately Rs 2.73 lakh crore cumulative till close of 2021-22 due to adoption of DBT, he said. Pradhan allayed fear of the state government saying there is a network of 8,491 post offices, which are capable to provide the financial services in remote and rural areas of the state. BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday shot off a letter to CM Naveen Patnaik urging him to reconsider the decision of cash payout to beneficiaries of Madhubabu Pension Yojana (MBPY), the Odisha governments social assistance scheme. Pradhan said that the state governments decision to shift from direct benefit transfer (DBT) mechanism appears to be a step backwards in our collective pursuit of corruption-free governance and efficient public service delivery. Pradhans letter came after the states decision to pay pension in cash from June onwards citing problems faced by old-age, widow and divyang beneficiaries in withdrawing from bank accounts. The DBT scheme, he said, was introduced under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach every individual, without any pilferage. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Under Jan Dhan Yojana, he said, at least 48.99 crore bank accounts have been opened across India, amassing savings of Rs 1.97 lakh crore. In Odisha, 2.01 crore bank accounts have been activated with a saving of Rs 8,751 crore for the people of our state. Moreover, 1,45,48,473 RuPay cards have been issued in Odisha, he said. He said social security schemes under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) have provided safety nets to people of Odisha, settling claims worth hundreds of crores of rupees and financially aiding numerous families through the DBT mechanism. Under NSAP, over 20.95 lakh beneficiaries of the state are being provided with benefits through the DBT mechanism. Adoption of DBT has resulted in massive savings to the exchequer, by removal of fake/ghost beneficiaries and reducing need for intermediaries/middlemen. It has immensely helped in plugging leakage and diversions and has eliminated scope of corruption, the letter said. Stating that Odisha had swiftly adopted DBT both in central and state schemes, he said the states total DBT in 2022-23 stood at Rs 8,135.18 crore and almost 1.95 crore beneficiaries have been covered. Due to elimination of ghost beneficiaries by adoption of DBT, the Odisha government has made an estimated saving of Rs 459.96 crore during 2021-22. Needless to mention, the Government of India has saved approximately Rs 2.73 lakh crore cumulative till close of 2021-22 due to adoption of DBT, he said. Pradhan allayed fear of the state government saying there is a network of 8,491 post offices, which are capable to provide the financial services in remote and rural areas of the state. By PTI CHAIBASA: An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was planted in a forest by CPI(Maoist) in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district exploded killing a man and injuring his wife, a senior police officer said on Thursday. The victim has been identified as 50-year-old Kande Laguri, a resident of Luiya village, who along with his wife had on Wednesday gone to the forest to collect kendu leaves when the IED exploded, Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar said. Laguri suffered serious injuries while his wife received minor injuries in the explosion. The villagers came to know about the incident on Thursday morning and informed the police, who along with CRPF, Jharkhand Jaguar and the bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot to recover the body. The SP said security personnel have recovered the body with the help of villagers and are moving it to Sadar Hospital, Chaibasa for post-mortem examination. On May 19, a 10-year-old boy was killed when an IED planted by Maoists to target security forces exploded in Rolabrupi Jengagada forest near Rengrahatu village in West Singhbhum district. CHAIBASA: An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was planted in a forest by CPI(Maoist) in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district exploded killing a man and injuring his wife, a senior police officer said on Thursday. The victim has been identified as 50-year-old Kande Laguri, a resident of Luiya village, who along with his wife had on Wednesday gone to the forest to collect kendu leaves when the IED exploded, Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar said. Laguri suffered serious injuries while his wife received minor injuries in the explosion.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The villagers came to know about the incident on Thursday morning and informed the police, who along with CRPF, Jharkhand Jaguar and the bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot to recover the body. The SP said security personnel have recovered the body with the help of villagers and are moving it to Sadar Hospital, Chaibasa for post-mortem examination. On May 19, a 10-year-old boy was killed when an IED planted by Maoists to target security forces exploded in Rolabrupi Jengagada forest near Rengrahatu village in West Singhbhum district. Pranab Mondal By Express News Service Alumni raise funds for Jadhavpur Univ Students who graduated from Jadavpur Universitys civil engineering department in 1997 have raised funds that went into developing a smart seminar room at their alma mater. The alumni have developed seminar room C-3-10, on the third floor of Prayukti Bhawan, a cost of around Rs 16 lakh. Last year, they had bought the department 20 new computers for Rs 10 lakh. A total of 85 students from the batch, who had resolved to observe the silver jubilee of their graduation with not only a reunion but also by contributing to their alma mater, have so far raised Rs 40 lakh. One of the former students, who contributed, said a classroom has been converted into a seminar room. Crackdown on illegal firework units on anvil A recent blast in East Midnapore district claiming 12 lives prompted the state government to ask police and Special Task Force (STF) to crack down on illegal firework factories across the state and scan those functional, with permission to ensure whether the units are sources of crude bombs and explosives. The police in the districts have been preparing a database of such illegal fireworks units and will crack down on those very soon. They will also visit those legal units to check for violations, said an official. KMC to keep tab on illegal construction Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Firhad Hakim said councillors of the civic body will be given a list of buildings in their wards whose construction has been approved by the civic body so they can keep a tab on illegal construction there. Hakim said once the list was available to them, councillors cannot shrug off responsibility if an illegal construction took place in their ward. The building of the KMC will provide the list of buildings approved in a boroughcomprising many wardsto the borough person, who will distribute the list among the councilors on wards in that borough. Councillors used to receive a list of buildings that were approved for fresh construction or the addition of floors till about five years ago, however, the practice was discontinued later. Pranab mondal Our correspondent in West Bengal pranabm@newindianexpress.com Alumni raise funds for Jadhavpur Univ Students who graduated from Jadavpur Universitys civil engineering department in 1997 have raised funds that went into developing a smart seminar room at their alma mater. The alumni have developed seminar room C-3-10, on the third floor of Prayukti Bhawan, a cost of around Rs 16 lakh. Last year, they had bought the department 20 new computers for Rs 10 lakh. A total of 85 students from the batch, who had resolved to observe the silver jubilee of their graduation with not only a reunion but also by contributing to their alma mater, have so far raised Rs 40 lakh. One of the former students, who contributed, said a classroom has been converted into a seminar room. Crackdown on illegal firework units on anvil A recent blast in East Midnapore district claiming 12 lives prompted the state government to ask police and Special Task Force (STF) to crack down on illegal firework factories across the state and scan those functional, with permission to ensure whether the units are sources of crude bombs and explosives. The police in the districts have been preparing a database of such illegal fireworks units and will crack down on those very soon. They will also visit those legal units to check for violations, said an official.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); KMC to keep tab on illegal construction Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Firhad Hakim said councillors of the civic body will be given a list of buildings in their wards whose construction has been approved by the civic body so they can keep a tab on illegal construction there. Hakim said once the list was available to them, councillors cannot shrug off responsibility if an illegal construction took place in their ward. The building of the KMC will provide the list of buildings approved in a boroughcomprising many wardsto the borough person, who will distribute the list among the councilors on wards in that borough. Councillors used to receive a list of buildings that were approved for fresh construction or the addition of floors till about five years ago, however, the practice was discontinued later. Pranab mondal Our correspondent in West Bengal pranabm@newindianexpress.com Pranab Mondal By Express News Service KOLKATA: Projecting her party as the mainstay of anti-BJP parties march before the 2024 general elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip Niti Aayog meeting scheduled on May 27 in Delhi, said state secretariat officials at Nabanna. Mamatas decision came a day after her party Trinamool Congress decided to boycott the inauguration of the newly- built Parliament building. It is not the first time Mamata will be skipping a Niti Aayog meeting. She has skipped the meetings in 2018, 2019 and 2021 claiming the think-tank has no power and the meetings were fruitless. The reason behind Banerjees skipping of the Niti Aayog meeting this time is not known.On Wednesday afternoon, the chief minister said that she would not attend the Niti Aayog meeting and asked to cancel her Delhi visit on May 27, said an official of the state government. Mamata had earlier this month expressed interest in participating in the meeting and said that she will highlight the issue of the state which being allegedly deprived by the Centre. She had then said, I will be participating at the Niti Ayog meeting on May 27 in New Delhi because it is the only platform to highlight the issues of a state. Mamata had asked Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar to hold a meeting of opposition parties in Patna at the end of this month to prepare together for the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. But it does not seem to be possible at this juncture The senior TMC leadership found Mamatas decision to skip Neeti Aayog meeting was politically well-calculated. Her earlier Niti Aayog meeting boycott had made news with little political impact but her decision to skip this years event assumes significance, especially on a day when all 19 Opposition parties joined to boycott the inaugural event on May 28. Besides, she is now desperate to portray her party as the prime political force against the BJP in the backdrop of Congresss impressive performance in Karnataka derailing the saffron camp from the power, said a senior TMC leader. On the day of Karanataka election results, Mamata described it as peoples verdict against the BJP and in favour of unity in diversity, without mentioning Congresss name. Though she appreciated HD Kumaraswami for his party Janata Dal Seculars (JDS) performance in the Karnataka elections, the West Bengal chief minister did not drop names of Congress and Rahul Gandhi while congratulating the candidates who secured victory against the BJP. Mamata has been portraying the Trinamool Congress as the only political force which can defeat the saffron camp since her party came to power for straight third term in the 2021 Assembly elections. Shortly after returning to power in 2021, Mamata also held a meeting with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi eyeing Opposition parties unity against the BJP. But her relationship with the Congress turned sour and it became public before the elections in Goa as refused to accept the Congress party as the leader of the opposition unity, alleging the grand old party failed to retain its elected MLAs who defected to the BJP. She claimed TMC is the only political force that can defeat the BJP. But Congresss impressive victory in Karnataka has caused a jolt to her claim. Besides, elections are approaching in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and if the Congress manages to win in both the states, Mamatas claim of being principal anti-BJP party will be challenged and the Congress will definitely play a lead role in the oppositions alliance before the 2024 general elections, admitted a senior TMC leader. KOLKATA: Projecting her party as the mainstay of anti-BJP parties march before the 2024 general elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip Niti Aayog meeting scheduled on May 27 in Delhi, said state secretariat officials at Nabanna. Mamatas decision came a day after her party Trinamool Congress decided to boycott the inauguration of the newly- built Parliament building. It is not the first time Mamata will be skipping a Niti Aayog meeting. She has skipped the meetings in 2018, 2019 and 2021 claiming the think-tank has no power and the meetings were fruitless. The reason behind Banerjees skipping of the Niti Aayog meeting this time is not known.On Wednesday afternoon, the chief minister said that she would not attend the Niti Aayog meeting and asked to cancel her Delhi visit on May 27, said an official of the state government. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mamata had earlier this month expressed interest in participating in the meeting and said that she will highlight the issue of the state which being allegedly deprived by the Centre. She had then said, I will be participating at the Niti Ayog meeting on May 27 in New Delhi because it is the only platform to highlight the issues of a state. Mamata had asked Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar to hold a meeting of opposition parties in Patna at the end of this month to prepare together for the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. But it does not seem to be possible at this juncture The senior TMC leadership found Mamatas decision to skip Neeti Aayog meeting was politically well-calculated. Her earlier Niti Aayog meeting boycott had made news with little political impact but her decision to skip this years event assumes significance, especially on a day when all 19 Opposition parties joined to boycott the inaugural event on May 28. Besides, she is now desperate to portray her party as the prime political force against the BJP in the backdrop of Congresss impressive performance in Karnataka derailing the saffron camp from the power, said a senior TMC leader. On the day of Karanataka election results, Mamata described it as peoples verdict against the BJP and in favour of unity in diversity, without mentioning Congresss name. Though she appreciated HD Kumaraswami for his party Janata Dal Seculars (JDS) performance in the Karnataka elections, the West Bengal chief minister did not drop names of Congress and Rahul Gandhi while congratulating the candidates who secured victory against the BJP. Mamata has been portraying the Trinamool Congress as the only political force which can defeat the saffron camp since her party came to power for straight third term in the 2021 Assembly elections. Shortly after returning to power in 2021, Mamata also held a meeting with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi eyeing Opposition parties unity against the BJP. But her relationship with the Congress turned sour and it became public before the elections in Goa as refused to accept the Congress party as the leader of the opposition unity, alleging the grand old party failed to retain its elected MLAs who defected to the BJP. She claimed TMC is the only political force that can defeat the BJP. But Congresss impressive victory in Karnataka has caused a jolt to her claim. Besides, elections are approaching in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and if the Congress manages to win in both the states, Mamatas claim of being principal anti-BJP party will be challenged and the Congress will definitely play a lead role in the oppositions alliance before the 2024 general elections, admitted a senior TMC leader. Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: A year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP seems on its mark. The party has planned four rallies in Bihar with Prime Minister Modi being expected to visit the state to mark the completion of nine years of the party rule at the Centre. The proposed rallies are seen as part of the BJPs strategy to consolidate and expand its support base in the state ahead of the 2024 elections. Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats. Of them, 39 were held by the NDA when Nitish was part of it. Aware of its challenges in the backdrop of Nitish Kumars JD (U) snapping its ties with it in August last year, the party wants to take the lead in the poll preparations for an effective battle against the Grand Alliance, a conglomerate of seven parties including RJD, JD (U), Congress and Left parties. The party recently admitted a few Opposition leaders, yet it has not many dependable allies. The BJP has also planned a month-long mass contact programme in which several senior party leaders will participate. The partys top leadership has identified eight seats from where they have to focus during preparations for elections. The list of those Lok Sabha constituencies was submitted by the state unit of the party, said a party office-bearer. The party has already prepared a roadmap for its massive mass contact programme. Under it, senior BJP leaders will hold discussions with workers at the assembly constituency level on June 7 and 8. It will also hold joint meetings of the partys various cells on June 12, 13 and 14. Similarly, a Labhaarthi Sammelan (beneficiaries conferences) are proposed between June 15 and 20. The party is also expected to observe International Yoga Day in Bihar on June 21. Party leaders will also meet social media influencers at the Lok Sabha constituency level to improve the partys reach among the voters. On Tuesday, a meeting of the working committee was held in Nalanda, which was attended by former Union minister and Nitishs bete noire RCP Singh. PATNA: A year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP seems on its mark. The party has planned four rallies in Bihar with Prime Minister Modi being expected to visit the state to mark the completion of nine years of the party rule at the Centre. The proposed rallies are seen as part of the BJPs strategy to consolidate and expand its support base in the state ahead of the 2024 elections. Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats. Of them, 39 were held by the NDA when Nitish was part of it. Aware of its challenges in the backdrop of Nitish Kumars JD (U) snapping its ties with it in August last year, the party wants to take the lead in the poll preparations for an effective battle against the Grand Alliance, a conglomerate of seven parties including RJD, JD (U), Congress and Left parties. The party recently admitted a few Opposition leaders, yet it has not many dependable allies. The BJP has also planned a month-long mass contact programme in which several senior party leaders will participate. The partys top leadership has identified eight seats from where they have to focus during preparations for elections. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The list of those Lok Sabha constituencies was submitted by the state unit of the party, said a party office-bearer. The party has already prepared a roadmap for its massive mass contact programme. Under it, senior BJP leaders will hold discussions with workers at the assembly constituency level on June 7 and 8. It will also hold joint meetings of the partys various cells on June 12, 13 and 14. Similarly, a Labhaarthi Sammelan (beneficiaries conferences) are proposed between June 15 and 20. The party is also expected to observe International Yoga Day in Bihar on June 21. Party leaders will also meet social media influencers at the Lok Sabha constituency level to improve the partys reach among the voters. On Tuesday, a meeting of the working committee was held in Nalanda, which was attended by former Union minister and Nitishs bete noire RCP Singh. By ANI JAMMU: Asserting that the construction of a new Parliament building was necessary, Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that it is good that it has been constructed but the idea was mooted when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. He further refrained from commenting on the issue of which political party would be attending or boycotting the inauguration event of the new Parliament building. "This is a technical issue. Parliamentarians who want to boycott this event or want to attend it is up to them. It is their point of view on how they want to perceive this event. Those parliamentarians will have to explain the reasons why they are boycotting the event. I don't want to comment on who will be attending or boycotting the inauguration event," Azad, Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief, told to ANI. He also recalled the conversation related to the need for a new Parliament building between him and then Speaker Shivraj Patil when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. "At the time when PV Narasimha Rao was the PM, Shivraj Patil was the Speaker and I was the Parliamentary Affairs minister, Shivraj ji had said to me that a new and bigger Parliament building should be constructed before 2026. The construction of a new building was necessary, it's good that it has been constructed now," he said. In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said, "Not getting the President to inaugurate the Parliament nor invite her to the ceremony is an insult to the country's highest constitutional post. Parliament is not made of bricks of ego but of constitutional values." Congress and eighteen other opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament Building and stated that it "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". READ HERE | 19 opposition parties to boycott new Parliament building inauguration In a joint statement, the like-minded opposition parties said that Prime Minister's decision to inaugurate the building by himself is "a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response." The new Parliament building will be inaugurated on May 28. "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. We will continue to fight -- in letter, in spirit, and in substance -- against this authoritarian Prime Minister and his government, and take our message directly to the people of India," the statement said. The nineteen opposition parties who will boycott the inauguration are - Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, TMC, Janta Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), RJD, Indian Union Muslim League, National Conference, Communist Party of India, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (Mani), Vidhuthalai Chirunthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary, Socialist Party and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The statement said that the inauguration of a new Parliament building is a momentous occasion. "Despite our belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion. However, Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response," it said. The opposition parties said that Article 79 of the Constitution states that there shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People. "The President is not only the Head of State in India but also an integral part of the Parliament. She summons, prorogues, and addresses the Parliament. She must assent for an Act of Parliament to take effect. In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman Adivasi President," the statement said. The statement alleged that the ruling party at the Centre has sought to suppress the voice of opposition parties in Parliament. "Undemocratic acts are not new to the Prime Minister, who has relentlessly hollowed out the Parliament. Opposition Members of Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the people of India. MPs from the Treasury benches have disrupted Parliament. Many controversial legislations, including the three farm laws, have been passed with almost no debate, and Parliamentary Committees have been practically made defunct," the statement said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. It has been built in record time with quality construction. In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha. Keeping in view the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha chamber. JAMMU: Asserting that the construction of a new Parliament building was necessary, Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that it is good that it has been constructed but the idea was mooted when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. He further refrained from commenting on the issue of which political party would be attending or boycotting the inauguration event of the new Parliament building. "This is a technical issue. Parliamentarians who want to boycott this event or want to attend it is up to them. It is their point of view on how they want to perceive this event. Those parliamentarians will have to explain the reasons why they are boycotting the event. I don't want to comment on who will be attending or boycotting the inauguration event," Azad, Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief, told to ANI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He also recalled the conversation related to the need for a new Parliament building between him and then Speaker Shivraj Patil when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. "At the time when PV Narasimha Rao was the PM, Shivraj Patil was the Speaker and I was the Parliamentary Affairs minister, Shivraj ji had said to me that a new and bigger Parliament building should be constructed before 2026. The construction of a new building was necessary, it's good that it has been constructed now," he said. In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said, "Not getting the President to inaugurate the Parliament nor invite her to the ceremony is an insult to the country's highest constitutional post. Parliament is not made of bricks of ego but of constitutional values." Congress and eighteen other opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament Building and stated that it "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution". READ HERE | 19 opposition parties to boycott new Parliament building inauguration In a joint statement, the like-minded opposition parties said that Prime Minister's decision to inaugurate the building by himself is "a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response." The new Parliament building will be inaugurated on May 28. "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. We will continue to fight -- in letter, in spirit, and in substance -- against this authoritarian Prime Minister and his government, and take our message directly to the people of India," the statement said. The nineteen opposition parties who will boycott the inauguration are - Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, TMC, Janta Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), RJD, Indian Union Muslim League, National Conference, Communist Party of India, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (Mani), Vidhuthalai Chirunthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary, Socialist Party and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The statement said that the inauguration of a new Parliament building is a momentous occasion. "Despite our belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion. However, Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response," it said. The opposition parties said that Article 79 of the Constitution states that there shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People. "The President is not only the Head of State in India but also an integral part of the Parliament. She summons, prorogues, and addresses the Parliament. She must assent for an Act of Parliament to take effect. In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman Adivasi President," the statement said. The statement alleged that the ruling party at the Centre has sought to suppress the voice of opposition parties in Parliament. "Undemocratic acts are not new to the Prime Minister, who has relentlessly hollowed out the Parliament. Opposition Members of Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the people of India. MPs from the Treasury benches have disrupted Parliament. Many controversial legislations, including the three farm laws, have been passed with almost no debate, and Parliamentary Committees have been practically made defunct," the statement said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. It has been built in record time with quality construction. In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha. Keeping in view the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha chamber. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Lashing out at the opposition for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said it was "extremely sad and irresponsible." Launching a broadside on the opposition on Thursday, CM Yogi said that May 28 would go into the annals of history as one of the most glorious moments of independent India and the people will never accept the Opposition's stand of boycotting it. Under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, the new Parliament, the highest institution of democracy, will be dedicated to the country. It will be a proud moment for the entire country, he said while interacting with media persons. He said that instead of becoming a witness to this historic occasion, the statements being made by opposition parties would weaken democracy. The CM said the oppositions stand seemed to be an attempt to denigrate the democratic values of India. "The whole country is watching this mala fide attempt of the opposition to belittle democracy, he said. ALSO READ | New Parliament row: 'Reconsider decision to boycott', Nirmala Sitharaman tells opposition Speaking on the new Parliament building, CM Yogi said, "It is built with a 100-year vision and has a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. It ensures adequate space for each parliamentarian and access to all amenities. This Parliament will serve as a significant forum for raising the voice of the common man. However, the opposition rhetoric is extremely upsetting and unfortunate." Reacting to the Oppositions objection to the inauguration by the PM instead of the President, the UP CM said it was not new in the democratic history of India. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament Annexe and former PM Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation of the Parliament Library, he claimed. "Apart from this, there are many other examples. The country and its citizens will never accept the opposition's attempts to degrade the historical significance of witnessing this momentous event. We would appeal to people to witness and participate in this glorious moment with a call to strengthen India's democracy, added CM Yogi. LUCKNOW: Lashing out at the opposition for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said it was "extremely sad and irresponsible." Launching a broadside on the opposition on Thursday, CM Yogi said that May 28 would go into the annals of history as one of the most glorious moments of independent India and the people will never accept the Opposition's stand of boycotting it. Under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, the new Parliament, the highest institution of democracy, will be dedicated to the country. It will be a proud moment for the entire country, he said while interacting with media persons. He said that instead of becoming a witness to this historic occasion, the statements being made by opposition parties would weaken democracy. The CM said the oppositions stand seemed to be an attempt to denigrate the democratic values of India. "The whole country is watching this mala fide attempt of the opposition to belittle democracy, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | New Parliament row: 'Reconsider decision to boycott', Nirmala Sitharaman tells opposition Speaking on the new Parliament building, CM Yogi said, "It is built with a 100-year vision and has a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. It ensures adequate space for each parliamentarian and access to all amenities. This Parliament will serve as a significant forum for raising the voice of the common man. However, the opposition rhetoric is extremely upsetting and unfortunate." Reacting to the Oppositions objection to the inauguration by the PM instead of the President, the UP CM said it was not new in the democratic history of India. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament Annexe and former PM Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation of the Parliament Library, he claimed. "Apart from this, there are many other examples. The country and its citizens will never accept the opposition's attempts to degrade the historical significance of witnessing this momentous event. We would appeal to people to witness and participate in this glorious moment with a call to strengthen India's democracy, added CM Yogi. By PTI RANCHI: While addressing a conference of Women Self Help Groups at Khunti on the second day of her visit to Jharkhand, Murmu President Droupadi Murmu said that she is proud to be a woman and to have been born in a tribal family. She expressed her disappointment and said that it was sad that Jharkhand did not develop as it should have. However, she said she was happy about the last 22 years, where barring once, all the chief ministers, union minister for tribal affairs and 28 MLAs here were tribals. Being a tribal, I want to rub the sacred soil of Khunti on my head that the great freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda belonged to. I am proud to be a woman and to be born in a tribal family. There are several examples of the contribution of women in the field of politics, economy, education, social welfare and sports among others, said Murmu. There are a lot of women who are moving forward even in adverse conditions and leading in their fields, she said. It is really disappointing that #Jharkhand did not develop as it should have been, despite the fact that most of the CM's were tribal: President Droupadi Murmu.@NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard @santwana99 @Shahid_Faridi_ @rashtrapatibhvn pic.twitter.com/aPvw61LDOc Mukesh Ranjan (@Mukesh_TNIE) May 25, 2023 Murmu, while talking to the SHG women, also admitted that she is deeply connected with land of Birsa Munda. I am from Odisha, but the blood of Jharkhand runs in my body as my grandmother came from the same family in which minister Joba Manjhi has been married to, said the President further adding that, It is the power of democracy that today I am present here before you. Lauding women power, Murmu said that she has observed during convocations that girls are performing better than boys. Of late, many of the tribal women were conferred with Padma awards whose achievements got unnoticed earlier and now Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan echoes with applauses for them, she said. The President said Jharkhand is a tribal-dominated state and out of nearly one crore tribals living here, half are women and most of them are self-dependent, which is women empowerment in real sense. ALSO READ: Murmu pays obeisance at Baba Baidyanath temple, garlands Birsa Munda statue in Ranchi RANCHI: While addressing a conference of Women Self Help Groups at Khunti on the second day of her visit to Jharkhand, Murmu President Droupadi Murmu said that she is proud to be a woman and to have been born in a tribal family. She expressed her disappointment and said that it was sad that Jharkhand did not develop as it should have. However, she said she was happy about the last 22 years, where barring once, all the chief ministers, union minister for tribal affairs and 28 MLAs here were tribals. Being a tribal, I want to rub the sacred soil of Khunti on my head that the great freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda belonged to. I am proud to be a woman and to be born in a tribal family. There are several examples of the contribution of women in the field of politics, economy, education, social welfare and sports among others, said Murmu. There are a lot of women who are moving forward even in adverse conditions and leading in their fields, she said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is really disappointing that #Jharkhand did not develop as it should have been, despite the fact that most of the CM's were tribal: President Droupadi Murmu.@NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard @santwana99 @Shahid_Faridi_ @rashtrapatibhvn pic.twitter.com/aPvw61LDOc Mukesh Ranjan (@Mukesh_TNIE) May 25, 2023 Murmu, while talking to the SHG women, also admitted that she is deeply connected with land of Birsa Munda. I am from Odisha, but the blood of Jharkhand runs in my body as my grandmother came from the same family in which minister Joba Manjhi has been married to, said the President further adding that, It is the power of democracy that today I am present here before you. Lauding women power, Murmu said that she has observed during convocations that girls are performing better than boys. Of late, many of the tribal women were conferred with Padma awards whose achievements got unnoticed earlier and now Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan echoes with applauses for them, she said. The President said Jharkhand is a tribal-dominated state and out of nearly one crore tribals living here, half are women and most of them are self-dependent, which is women empowerment in real sense. ALSO READ: Murmu pays obeisance at Baba Baidyanath temple, garlands Birsa Munda statue in Ranchi According to the press service of the Parliament of Georgia, Chairman Shalva Papuashvili had a meeting with Javier Colomina, the special representative of the North Atlantic Alliance in the Caucasus and Central Asia. During the meeting, Papuashvili expressed his gratitude to the NATO representative for his personal efforts in promoting Georgia's integration into NATO.The Georgian Parliament chairman discussed the security challenges faced by Georgia and highlighted the significant importance of Georgia's progress toward NATO membership in the current geopolitical situation.Colomina expressed a positive assessment of the ongoing cooperation between Georgia and NATO. He emphasized that Georgia is a highly valued partner of NATO, and the alliance's commitment to supporting Georgia's territorial integrity remains strong. In their discussion, Shalva Papuashvili provided an update on the implementation progress of the 12 recommendations from the European Union. He expressed optimism and hoped that the European Council would grant Georgia the status of a candidate country by the end of the year.Colomina acknowledged and welcomed Georgia's advancements in implementing democratic reforms. He assured that NATO will maintain its support for Georgia's efforts.The Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze, and the Committee members met with the Chair of the Foreign Relations Affairs of the House of Commons, Alicia Kearns; the Chair of the Education Committee, Robin Walker; the Chairman of the British All-Party Parliamentary Friendship Group on Georgia, Jonathan Djanogly and the Group members.During a meeting with Mme. Kearns, the focus was on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in defense and security. Both parties emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership and discussed intensifying the parliamentary dimension of the Wardrop Strategic Dialogue. Regional security, the threat from Russia, NATO enlargement, and Great Britain's support for Georgia's EU integration path were also discussed. They agreed to schedule an official visit of the Foreign Affairs Delegation to Georgia within a year.In another meeting, Georgian MPs discussed school, vocational, and higher education with the Chair of the Education Committee. They emphasized the digitalization of education and the development of e-systems in the sector. Sharing experiences in this field was deemed important. Georgian MPs also presented projects and plans, including the adoption of the Education Code, expanding vocational education, and internationalizing the higher education system.Furthermore, a meeting took place with Mr. Djanogly, who heads the Friendship Group with Georgia, and the Group members. The key topics of discussion included bilateral agenda items, security challenges, EU membership, the regional and neighborhood context, and the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Nebraska Gov.-elect Jim Pillen sat down with the Nebraska Examiner on Dec. 21 to talk about his priorities for his first legislative session. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Gov. Jim Pillen, four months after taking office, wielded his veto pen Wednesday night, redlining more than $140 million in proposed spending over the next two years by state lawmakers. Pillen, a conservative Republican, said we must continue to fight against excessive government spending. He vetoed included more than $45 million in increases for provider rates for Medicaid providers, $40 million for construction of workforce housing in rural and urban areas, and $10 million for a study of gun violence in low-income areas of Omaha. Return funds to taxpayers Over four years, the governor said his reductions would save $94.2 million in taxpayer funds, $10 million from a Health Care Cash Fund financed by settlement of a tobacco lawsuit and $87 million from the states cash reserve or rainy day fund. He urged state lawmakers to sustain his vetoes, delivering a clear message that during a time of record-high surpluses of state funds, his proposals for tax cuts and increasing funding for public schools were higher priorities. State lawmakers last week approved an austere budget that called for average spending increases of 2.2% over the next two years. But Pillen found areas he disliked. Hard-working taxpayers are demanding that their money be returned, Pillen said in his veto message to the Legislature. Kids and the vulnerable targeted Stand up to the special interests who stand to gain from growing government spending, he wrote, and deliver the money back The immediate reaction was one of disappointment and concern. On the eve of the Legislature voting on tax cuts that will primarily benefit the wealthy and out-of-state corporations, Gov. Jim Pillen targeted kids and vulnerable Nebraskans with line-item budget vetoes, said Rebecca Firestone of an Lincoln-based think tank, the OpenSky Policy Institute. Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, said that cuts in provider rates, from increases of 3% and 2%, respectively, in the next two fiscal years, to increases of 3% and 0%, put the states health care system at risk. The Governors veto will increase costs for everyday Nebraskans and will hurt our communities by closing essential rural health care services, Nordquist, a former state senator, said. He said he hoped the State Legislature overrides the veto, adding that hospitals are ready and willing to work with Governor Pillen to address the systemic workforce shortages he highlighted in his veto message. In his veto message, the governor noted that hospitals had record profits before and during the pandemic and that increasing provider rates will not address the workforce shortages in the health care industry. It will only provide a Band-Aid to hospitals bottom lines, Pillen wrote. State Sen. Rob Clements, the chairman of the Legislatures budget-writing Appropriations Committee, declined to comment Wednesday night. But another member of the committee, Adams Sen. Myron Dorn, said he was disappointed after the panel had worked cooperatively with the governor in crafting its budget. The Appropriations Committee has scheduled a meeting for Thursday morning to discuss how to proceed, including whether veto overrides will be attempted. Among the other items vetoed by the governor were: A child welfare rate increase of $6 million, which would replace funding previously provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. Pillen said it was wrong to replace one-time federal funds with state taxpayer funds. A $7 million appropriation for a rural drinking water project in Cedar/Knox County. He said the project has already received state funds. $10 million each in fiscal year 2023-24 and 2024-25 for both rural workforce housing and for middle income housing in urban areas. It would avoid flooding the market with government-subsidized housing, the governor said, adding that $200 million has been invested in affordable housing in the past three years. Some business leaders and rural senators have called the lack of housing a major barrier to solving the states workforce shortage. Reduction of additional shovel ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act funds from $90 million to $70 million in 2023-24. Elimination of $10 million in site and building development funds to Kimball for a ground-based nuclear deterrence project. A $5 million appropriation from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund in 2023-24 and 2024-25 and related transfers in the following three years from cash reserves for a pilot program related to childhood trauma and gun violence. Pillen said that over $500 million has already been invested in areas of east Omaha. Funding for additional positions in the State Auditors Office, for 15% salary increases for state legislative employees, and additional court interpreters and public guardians. Expansion of the Court-Appointed Special Advocates program that helps children in the court system. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: The historic Sengol (sceptre), to be installed in the new Parliament building during its inauguration on May 28, was one of the prized possessions of the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum for over seven decades. The Sengol, received by the countrys first PM Jawaharlal Nehru as a symbol of the transfer of power from British rule to independent India in 1947, was shifted to Allahabad Museum in the latter half of 1950 along with a number of items gifted to Nehru at that time and was one of the highlights of the Nehru Gallery. Initially, it was received by Allahabad Museum curator SC Kala. Museum authorities said the Sengol and other items gifted to Nehru were shifted from Anand Bhawan, the ancestral residence of India's first PM, to Allahabad Museum. According to officials of the Allahabad Museum, the decision to place the Sengol in the new Parliament building was taken last November when the Union Ministry of Culture had asked the Allahabad Museum authorities to hand over the Sengol to the National Museum, Delhi. It was the last Governor General of India, C Rajagopalachari, who had suggested to Nehru to receive the sceptre as a symbol of India's freedom from British rule. ALSO READ | Modi's Nehru moment: Historic 'Sengol' accepted by first PM to be installed in new Parliament Vice-Chancellor of Prof Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) State University, Prayagraj, Prof AK Singh, said he was the officiating director of the Allahabad National Museum in November 2022 when he got a letter from the Union Ministry of Culture saying that the Sengol be shifted to the National Museum, Delhi. We had signed an MoU with the National Museum, Delhi, before handing over the Sengol which was one of our prized collections, exhibited at the Nehru Gallery of the museum, said director, Allahabad Museum, Rajesh Prasad. Prof Yogeshwar Tiwari, a prominent historian and former head of department of Medieval and Modern History, Allahabad University, said that before the Sengol was moved from Allahabad Museum to the National Museum in New Delhi, he was asked to evaluate the historic piece as the shifting could not be carried out without transit insurance. Being priceless for all Indians, I valued it at Rs 10 crores and it was then shifted to the National Museum, Delhi, said Prof Tiwari. In fact, Prayagraj has been a witness to many such historical firsts. As per Prof Tiwari, it was in Prayagraj that the first rights of tax collection were accorded to the East India Company and later the transfer of power from the East India Company to British Crown was also done in the Sangam City. LUCKNOW: The historic Sengol (sceptre), to be installed in the new Parliament building during its inauguration on May 28, was one of the prized possessions of the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum for over seven decades. The Sengol, received by the countrys first PM Jawaharlal Nehru as a symbol of the transfer of power from British rule to independent India in 1947, was shifted to Allahabad Museum in the latter half of 1950 along with a number of items gifted to Nehru at that time and was one of the highlights of the Nehru Gallery. Initially, it was received by Allahabad Museum curator SC Kala. Museum authorities said the Sengol and other items gifted to Nehru were shifted from Anand Bhawan, the ancestral residence of India's first PM, to Allahabad Museum. According to officials of the Allahabad Museum, the decision to place the Sengol in the new Parliament building was taken last November when the Union Ministry of Culture had asked the Allahabad Museum authorities to hand over the Sengol to the National Museum, Delhi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It was the last Governor General of India, C Rajagopalachari, who had suggested to Nehru to receive the sceptre as a symbol of India's freedom from British rule. ALSO READ | Modi's Nehru moment: Historic 'Sengol' accepted by first PM to be installed in new Parliament Vice-Chancellor of Prof Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) State University, Prayagraj, Prof AK Singh, said he was the officiating director of the Allahabad National Museum in November 2022 when he got a letter from the Union Ministry of Culture saying that the Sengol be shifted to the National Museum, Delhi. We had signed an MoU with the National Museum, Delhi, before handing over the Sengol which was one of our prized collections, exhibited at the Nehru Gallery of the museum, said director, Allahabad Museum, Rajesh Prasad. Prof Yogeshwar Tiwari, a prominent historian and former head of department of Medieval and Modern History, Allahabad University, said that before the Sengol was moved from Allahabad Museum to the National Museum in New Delhi, he was asked to evaluate the historic piece as the shifting could not be carried out without transit insurance. Being priceless for all Indians, I valued it at Rs 10 crores and it was then shifted to the National Museum, Delhi, said Prof Tiwari. In fact, Prayagraj has been a witness to many such historical firsts. As per Prof Tiwari, it was in Prayagraj that the first rights of tax collection were accorded to the East India Company and later the transfer of power from the East India Company to British Crown was also done in the Sangam City. By PTI BHOPAL: In a setback for the country's ambitious cheetah population revival program, two more India-born cheetah cubs have died at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, a forest official said on Thursday. It took the number of cheetah cubs who have died at the KNP to three, while three of the 20 adult cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia have also died at the park. A cub's death had been reported in the park on May 23. The KNP houses cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa as part of an ambitious project to revive their population in India after the species became extinct in the country seven decades ago. As per an official release, after the death of a cheetah cub on May 23, the forest department's monitoring team kept an eye on the movements of female cheetah Jwala and her remaining three cubs. Jwala, earlier known as Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs in the last week of March after being translocated from Namibia in September last year. The monitoring team found on May 23 that the condition of her remaining three cubs was not good and decided to rescue them for treatment. The daytime temperature then was around 46-47 degrees Celsius, the release said. The cubs were found severely dehydrated. Despite treatment, the two cubs could not be saved, it said. The condition of the fourth cub was stable, but it too was under intense treatment, it said. Earlier, Sasha, one of the translocated Namibian cheetahs, died due to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, and another cheetah, Uday, from South Africa, died on April 13. Daksha, a cheetah brought from South Africa, succumbed to the injuries following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt on May 9 this year. The four cubs of Siyaya/Jwala were the first to be born in the wild on Indian soil after the last cheetah was hunted in the Korean district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947. This fastest land animal species was declared extinct in the country in 1952. Five female and three male cheetahs brought from Namibia were released into enclosures at the KNP at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2022. Another 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa in February 2023 and housed in a quarantine enclosure. BHOPAL: In a setback for the country's ambitious cheetah population revival program, two more India-born cheetah cubs have died at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, a forest official said on Thursday. It took the number of cheetah cubs who have died at the KNP to three, while three of the 20 adult cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia have also died at the park. A cub's death had been reported in the park on May 23.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The KNP houses cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa as part of an ambitious project to revive their population in India after the species became extinct in the country seven decades ago. As per an official release, after the death of a cheetah cub on May 23, the forest department's monitoring team kept an eye on the movements of female cheetah Jwala and her remaining three cubs. Jwala, earlier known as Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs in the last week of March after being translocated from Namibia in September last year. The monitoring team found on May 23 that the condition of her remaining three cubs was not good and decided to rescue them for treatment. The daytime temperature then was around 46-47 degrees Celsius, the release said. The cubs were found severely dehydrated. Despite treatment, the two cubs could not be saved, it said. The condition of the fourth cub was stable, but it too was under intense treatment, it said. Earlier, Sasha, one of the translocated Namibian cheetahs, died due to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, and another cheetah, Uday, from South Africa, died on April 13. Daksha, a cheetah brought from South Africa, succumbed to the injuries following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt on May 9 this year. The four cubs of Siyaya/Jwala were the first to be born in the wild on Indian soil after the last cheetah was hunted in the Korean district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947. This fastest land animal species was declared extinct in the country in 1952. Five female and three male cheetahs brought from Namibia were released into enclosures at the KNP at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2022. Another 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa in February 2023 and housed in a quarantine enclosure. By PTI KOHIMA: A student leader was killed allegedly by a suspected drug peddler in Nagaland's Mon district on Thursday, official sources said. The victim has been identified as Ahoa Konyak, chairman of the Action Committee of the Tizit Area Students Union (TASU) of the district, sources said. The accused identified as Menshan Konyak has been taken into custody, while a mob put his house on fire, police said while confirming the report. A police officer in Namsa said that they received the information that around 9:30 am a team of TASU led by Konyak while conducting a surprise check for drugs in a house was attacked by the house owner with a machete killing him on the spot. Officials of the district administration said that following the killing unwarranted situation erupted but it has been brought under control. Following the incident, TASU, in a circular, asked the general public and shopkeepers of Tizit jurisdiction to shutter down for 24 hours till Friday to mourn the killing of its Action Committee chairman. TASU president Yanphong Konyak and general secretary Nokmao Konyak said that the union is compelled to impose such restrictions for the greater safety of the general public. A thorough investigation of the entire incident is in progress, police said. KOHIMA: A student leader was killed allegedly by a suspected drug peddler in Nagaland's Mon district on Thursday, official sources said. The victim has been identified as Ahoa Konyak, chairman of the Action Committee of the Tizit Area Students Union (TASU) of the district, sources said. The accused identified as Menshan Konyak has been taken into custody, while a mob put his house on fire, police said while confirming the report.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A police officer in Namsa said that they received the information that around 9:30 am a team of TASU led by Konyak while conducting a surprise check for drugs in a house was attacked by the house owner with a machete killing him on the spot. Officials of the district administration said that following the killing unwarranted situation erupted but it has been brought under control. Following the incident, TASU, in a circular, asked the general public and shopkeepers of Tizit jurisdiction to shutter down for 24 hours till Friday to mourn the killing of its Action Committee chairman. TASU president Yanphong Konyak and general secretary Nokmao Konyak said that the union is compelled to impose such restrictions for the greater safety of the general public. A thorough investigation of the entire incident is in progress, police said. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct Gujarat-based dairy giant Amul to desist from milk procurement in the southern state with immediate effect. Stalin in a letter to Shah, who is also the Union Minister for Cooperatives, stated that Amul's foray into milk procurement in the milk shed area of Aavin the TN govt-owned cooperative would result in an "unhealthy competition" between cooperatives engaged in procuring and marketing milk and milk products. The letter stated that Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Amul), utilised its multi-state cooperative license to install chilling centres and a processing plant in Krishnagiri and planned to procure milk through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) in and around Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts ALSO READ: Amul steps into Tamil Nadu to procure milk at premium "It has been a norm in India to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each others milk-shed area. Such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of Operation White Flood and will exacerbate problems for consumers given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavin's milk shed area which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades," Stalin wrote in his letter. The decision of AMUL to operate in Tamil Nadu is unfortunate, detrimental to the interest of Aavin and will create unhealthy competition between the cooperatives. Regional cooperatives have been the bedrock of dairy development in the states and are better placed to engage and pic.twitter.com/yn2pKINofO "In Tamil Nadu, like in other States with strong dairy cooperatives, a three-tier dairy cooperative system is functioning effectively since 1981 for the benefit of the rural milk producers and consumers. Aavin is our apex cooperative marketing federation," the letter said, adding that under this current arrangement, milk producers are assured of remunerative and uniform prices throughout the year by the cooperative societies. "In order to increase and sustain milk production in Tamil Nadu, Aavin also provides various inputs such as cattle feed, fodder, mineral mixture, animal health care and breeding services for animals of milk producers. In addition, it ensures the supply of quality milk and milk products to consumers at one of the lowest prices in our country. Thus, Aavin plays a vital role in improving the livelihood of rural milk producers and meeting the nutritional requirement of consumers, he said. The CM said, Regional cooperatives have been the bedrock of dairy development in the states and they are better placed to engage and nurture producers and to Cushion consumers from arbitrary price hikes. As a result, the CM requested the urgent intervention of Amit Shah to direct Amul to desist from milk procurement from the milk shed area of Aavin in Tamil Nadu with immediate effect. (With inputs from PTI) CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct Gujarat-based dairy giant Amul to desist from milk procurement in the southern state with immediate effect. Stalin in a letter to Shah, who is also the Union Minister for Cooperatives, stated that Amul's foray into milk procurement in the milk shed area of Aavin the TN govt-owned cooperative would result in an "unhealthy competition" between cooperatives engaged in procuring and marketing milk and milk products. The letter stated that Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Amul), utilised its multi-state cooperative license to install chilling centres and a processing plant in Krishnagiri and planned to procure milk through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) in and around Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districtsgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ: Amul steps into Tamil Nadu to procure milk at premium "It has been a norm in India to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each others milk-shed area. Such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of Operation White Flood and will exacerbate problems for consumers given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavin's milk shed area which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades," Stalin wrote in his letter. The decision of AMUL to operate in Tamil Nadu is unfortunate, detrimental to the interest of Aavin and will create unhealthy competition between the cooperatives. Regional cooperatives have been the bedrock of dairy development in the states and are better placed to engage and pic.twitter.com/yn2pKINofO M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 25, 2023 "In Tamil Nadu, like in other States with strong dairy cooperatives, a three-tier dairy cooperative system is functioning effectively since 1981 for the benefit of the rural milk producers and consumers. Aavin is our apex cooperative marketing federation," the letter said, adding that under this current arrangement, milk producers are assured of remunerative and uniform prices throughout the year by the cooperative societies. "In order to increase and sustain milk production in Tamil Nadu, Aavin also provides various inputs such as cattle feed, fodder, mineral mixture, animal health care and breeding services for animals of milk producers. In addition, it ensures the supply of quality milk and milk products to consumers at one of the lowest prices in our country. Thus, Aavin plays a vital role in improving the livelihood of rural milk producers and meeting the nutritional requirement of consumers, he said. The CM said, Regional cooperatives have been the bedrock of dairy development in the states and they are better placed to engage and nurture producers and to Cushion consumers from arbitrary price hikes. As a result, the CM requested the urgent intervention of Amit Shah to direct Amul to desist from milk procurement from the milk shed area of Aavin in Tamil Nadu with immediate effect. (With inputs from PTI) T Muruganandham By Express News Service CHENNAI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday appealed to the opposition parties which have decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony for the new Parliament building on May 28. The Union Minister made this appeal while addressing a press conference at the Raj Bhavan here about the ceremony scheduled to take place on May 28 to place the Sengol (sceptre) in the Lok Sabha near the Speakers podium. Asked about the decision of the opposition parties to boycott the May 28 events, the Union Minister said, "the new Parliament House is going to be there for another 100 to 200 years where the representatives of the people will be debating the issues. Are we going to boycott this House? It is a temple of democracy. I humbly request the opposition parties to reconsider their stand to boycott. When asked about the charge of the opposition parties that the ruling BJP is disrespecting the office of the president by not inviting her to inaugurate the new Parliament House, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "I am surprised by this allegation. Leaders of opposition parties today see the President as an eminent leader particularly coming from a tribal background. But they were the ones who had undertaken a very bitter campaign against her when she contested for Presidentship. Stating that she did not wish to recall the words used against her at that time by the opposition parties, Nirmala Sithraman said leaders belonging to the very same opposition parties spoke ill of her; abused her and said that she would be a rubber stamp. "They (opposition) said I am representing evil forces....obviously, they had the RSS in mind. They also chose someone to contest against me and now suddenly became morally motivated to charge that I am being disrespected," the Finance Minister said and added, "the Prime Minister gives her due respect and all of us are extremely proud of our President." Questioned what is the necessity of reenacting the Sengol presentation event now when the country is ruled by our government and since 75 years have passed since the country got Independence, the Union Finance Minister said, "the Sengol was given to Nehru as a representative of the people and that should have been kept it in Parliament from that time but it did not take place. That is what the prime minister is doing now." Asked whether the presence of Nandhi in the Sengol is seen as a religious symbol, the Union Minister said, "In many countries even now, there is the process for transfer of power. In a democracy, we speak about the power of the people. So, in 1947, it was given to Nehru and the power transfer took place only when the Sengol was given. The Sengol signifies the ruler should be righteous. We should not forget the philosophy behind the Sengol." In this connection to this, she also cited Thirukkural couplets in the Chapter Sengonmai (The Right Sceptre) and added that "it is not Thevaram hymns alone that speak about Sengol." When asked about the historical evidence for establishing that this presentation of Sengol symbolised the transfer of power, Nirmala Sithraman said, "There is as much documentary proof to establish that the presentation of Sengol actually symbolised the transfer of power. All these are derived from research sources." A total of 21 opposition parties, including the Congress have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution." Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. CHENNAI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday appealed to the opposition parties which have decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony for the new Parliament building on May 28. The Union Minister made this appeal while addressing a press conference at the Raj Bhavan here about the ceremony scheduled to take place on May 28 to place the Sengol (sceptre) in the Lok Sabha near the Speakers podium. Asked about the decision of the opposition parties to boycott the May 28 events, the Union Minister said, "the new Parliament House is going to be there for another 100 to 200 years where the representatives of the people will be debating the issues. Are we going to boycott this House? It is a temple of democracy. I humbly request the opposition parties to reconsider their stand to boycott.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When asked about the charge of the opposition parties that the ruling BJP is disrespecting the office of the president by not inviting her to inaugurate the new Parliament House, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "I am surprised by this allegation. Leaders of opposition parties today see the President as an eminent leader particularly coming from a tribal background. But they were the ones who had undertaken a very bitter campaign against her when she contested for Presidentship. Stating that she did not wish to recall the words used against her at that time by the opposition parties, Nirmala Sithraman said leaders belonging to the very same opposition parties spoke ill of her; abused her and said that she would be a rubber stamp. "They (opposition) said I am representing evil forces....obviously, they had the RSS in mind. They also chose someone to contest against me and now suddenly became morally motivated to charge that I am being disrespected," the Finance Minister said and added, "the Prime Minister gives her due respect and all of us are extremely proud of our President." Questioned what is the necessity of reenacting the Sengol presentation event now when the country is ruled by our government and since 75 years have passed since the country got Independence, the Union Finance Minister said, "the Sengol was given to Nehru as a representative of the people and that should have been kept it in Parliament from that time but it did not take place. That is what the prime minister is doing now." Asked whether the presence of Nandhi in the Sengol is seen as a religious symbol, the Union Minister said, "In many countries even now, there is the process for transfer of power. In a democracy, we speak about the power of the people. So, in 1947, it was given to Nehru and the power transfer took place only when the Sengol was given. The Sengol signifies the ruler should be righteous. We should not forget the philosophy behind the Sengol." In this connection to this, she also cited Thirukkural couplets in the Chapter Sengonmai (The Right Sceptre) and added that "it is not Thevaram hymns alone that speak about Sengol." When asked about the historical evidence for establishing that this presentation of Sengol symbolised the transfer of power, Nirmala Sithraman said, "There is as much documentary proof to establish that the presentation of Sengol actually symbolised the transfer of power. All these are derived from research sources." A total of 21 opposition parties, including the Congress have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution." Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: TPCC president A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday accused Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family of benefiting from awarding ORR maintenance to a private company and scrapping GO No: 111. Speaking to media persons, he said: We will take legal recourse to fight KCR familys irregularities. He demanded revocation of the award of the work to IRB Infra as it had failed to pay 10 per cent of the total bid amount within one month of the signing of the agreement. He alleged that the IRB Infra had sought four months time to pay even 10 per cent of the bid amount in contravention of the agreement rules for the maintenance of the 1,264-km stretch Outer Ring Road (ORR) project under the Toll Operate Transfer (TOT) model. Questioning the timing of the transfer of Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limiteds (HGCL) MD, Revanth asked what was the need. Why was IAS officer Santhosh shunted out from HGCL and replaced with a retired engineer? It was only to give permissions required by IRB Infra to pay the 10 per cent amount in installments. Accusing MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao of having an underhand deal in privatising the ORR toll collection, Revanth demanded a probe into the ministers UK tour. He dared the government to reveal whether any Singapore-based company representatives met KTR on his foreign tour. Who all accompanied the prince (read KTR) during his foreign tour? Specifically, where are Teja Raju and Rajesh Raju during KTRs UK tour, he asked. He alleged that soon after IRB infra secured the contract, it had sold 49 per cent stake to a Singapore company and expressed concern over the possible threat to national security. When IRB Infra sold its 49 per cent stake to a Singapore-based company, the latter can further resell it to any country including our enemy countries. Subsequently, the masked companies or countries would recruit their spies disguising them as employees, he said. Referring to the scrapping of GO 111, Revanth alleged that insider trading has taken place in the 84 villages which fall under the purview of the GO in question. He demanded an inquiry into the land transaction details after the BRS government came to power for the second time. He also said that they will move the NGT challenging the scrapping of GO 111. HYDERABAD: TPCC president A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday accused Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family of benefiting from awarding ORR maintenance to a private company and scrapping GO No: 111. Speaking to media persons, he said: We will take legal recourse to fight KCR familys irregularities. He demanded revocation of the award of the work to IRB Infra as it had failed to pay 10 per cent of the total bid amount within one month of the signing of the agreement. He alleged that the IRB Infra had sought four months time to pay even 10 per cent of the bid amount in contravention of the agreement rules for the maintenance of the 1,264-km stretch Outer Ring Road (ORR) project under the Toll Operate Transfer (TOT) model. Questioning the timing of the transfer of Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limiteds (HGCL) MD, Revanth asked what was the need. Why was IAS officer Santhosh shunted out from HGCL and replaced with a retired engineer? It was only to give permissions required by IRB Infra to pay the 10 per cent amount in installments.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Accusing MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao of having an underhand deal in privatising the ORR toll collection, Revanth demanded a probe into the ministers UK tour. He dared the government to reveal whether any Singapore-based company representatives met KTR on his foreign tour. Who all accompanied the prince (read KTR) during his foreign tour? Specifically, where are Teja Raju and Rajesh Raju during KTRs UK tour, he asked. He alleged that soon after IRB infra secured the contract, it had sold 49 per cent stake to a Singapore company and expressed concern over the possible threat to national security. When IRB Infra sold its 49 per cent stake to a Singapore-based company, the latter can further resell it to any country including our enemy countries. Subsequently, the masked companies or countries would recruit their spies disguising them as employees, he said. Referring to the scrapping of GO 111, Revanth alleged that insider trading has taken place in the 84 villages which fall under the purview of the GO in question. He demanded an inquiry into the land transaction details after the BRS government came to power for the second time. He also said that they will move the NGT challenging the scrapping of GO 111. By Associated Press ATHENS: Greece's opposition leader received - and summarily rejected - an invitation on Tuesday to form the country's next government, two days after a general election produced no majority in parliament and is widely expected to trigger a new vote next month. Alexis Tsipras' left-wing Syriza party suffered a major defeat at the polls on Sunday, but was next in line to receive the mandate and had already indicated he would be obliged to reject it. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' centre-right New Democracy won the election and swiftly ruled out the option of seeking a coalition. He would benefit, and likely gain outright victory, from a second vote that would introduce a change in the electoral system that favours the winning party. The 55-year-old Mitsotakis won just over 40 per cent of the vote Sunday, hammering his main opponent by 20 points. He promised to continue pro-business reforms, tough policies to combat illegal migration, and high defence spending as Greece recovers from a major financial crisis in the previous decade. Under the constitution, the first three parties are awarded up to three days each to try and form a government before parliament is dissolved and a new election is called. Tsipras, who was received Tuesday by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, now faces a challenge from the third-placed centre-left Pasok party that once dominated Greek politics but saw its popular support plummet during the financial crisis and a series of painful international bailouts. "I have no reason to hide that the election result is a painful shock for us. Unexpected and painful," Tsipras, a 48-year-old former prime minister, said after Tuesday's meeting. Tsipras said he wasn't considering stepping down, but promised to fight on to try and curb the dominance of the conservatives. "Imagine an all-powerful, unaccountable ruler-prime minister if these (current) results are repeated," he told reporters outside the president's official residence. "In its first four years in power, this government demonstrated that it has no respect for the rule of law, democracy or political pluralism ...so the big picture is the need to prevent having a murky, unaccountable, hegemonic and arrogant government." ATHENS: Greece's opposition leader received - and summarily rejected - an invitation on Tuesday to form the country's next government, two days after a general election produced no majority in parliament and is widely expected to trigger a new vote next month. Alexis Tsipras' left-wing Syriza party suffered a major defeat at the polls on Sunday, but was next in line to receive the mandate and had already indicated he would be obliged to reject it. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' centre-right New Democracy won the election and swiftly ruled out the option of seeking a coalition.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He would benefit, and likely gain outright victory, from a second vote that would introduce a change in the electoral system that favours the winning party. The 55-year-old Mitsotakis won just over 40 per cent of the vote Sunday, hammering his main opponent by 20 points. He promised to continue pro-business reforms, tough policies to combat illegal migration, and high defence spending as Greece recovers from a major financial crisis in the previous decade. Under the constitution, the first three parties are awarded up to three days each to try and form a government before parliament is dissolved and a new election is called. Tsipras, who was received Tuesday by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, now faces a challenge from the third-placed centre-left Pasok party that once dominated Greek politics but saw its popular support plummet during the financial crisis and a series of painful international bailouts. "I have no reason to hide that the election result is a painful shock for us. Unexpected and painful," Tsipras, a 48-year-old former prime minister, said after Tuesday's meeting. Tsipras said he wasn't considering stepping down, but promised to fight on to try and curb the dominance of the conservatives. "Imagine an all-powerful, unaccountable ruler-prime minister if these (current) results are repeated," he told reporters outside the president's official residence. "In its first four years in power, this government demonstrated that it has no respect for the rule of law, democracy or political pluralism ...so the big picture is the need to prevent having a murky, unaccountable, hegemonic and arrogant government." By PTI WASHINGTON: The Biden administration has decided to play the long game by inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an official state visit next month despite some existing challenges in bilateral ties, a prominent expert on India has said. Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. "It's terrific to see (the prime minister being invited on an official state visit)," Rick Rossow, senior adviser and chair in US-India policy studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told PTI on Wednesday. India has been on the hot seat a little bit in Washington, he noted. "Partially because of its reluctance to take a stronger stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for a lot of people in Washington, that's become a defining moment. But (for) the Biden administration, it hasn't. They have decided to play the long game," he said. The Biden administration realises that the strategic importance of this relationship is India's deepening commercial bonds with the US, he said. "The partnership with the US on some of the more dangerous areas amid the rise of China. So, at the top level, this is an indication that despite some challenges and some headwinds we've got on Russia and other things, we're willing to move ahead," Rossow said. "India is in the middle of G-20, you just had a QUAD summit...it's also pretty significant that the leaders are able to carve out this kind of time to pull something together when they're already seeing each other, on pull asides and such at so many other international forums," he said. The Biden administration is trying to take the relationship, which has done really well across different administrations in both governments, forward and look for ways to bring it to a new level, both in terms of commercial relations and security relations, Rossow said. He said there are two things that need to be repaired. "One of them is the long wait time for visa interviews in India, which has gotten worse in recent weeks. This is impacting people-to-people ties," he said. "But the other area, which has been really on the list for quite some time, where we've always had challenges is on the commercial front," he said. "Seems that every time that one of us is leaning a little bit more pro-trade or investor friendly, the other one's not," he said. Rossow said the last couple of years India, after many years of protectionism, has shifted to doing domestic support programmes to improve exports, but is also signing trade agreements with selective partners. The United States announced the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. "But right now we don't really know what all that's gonna become. And there's a lot of skepticism about whether that'll match up to the world-leading free trade agreements that are out there," he said. "We've got a lot of divisive issues that have come up over the years; revocation of India's generalised system preferences benefits; India imposing countervailing duties against the United States after our steel and aluminium tariffs. So, a lot of old damage on trade and commercial issues that I think the two governments should also take time to try to repair," Rossow said. He said India needs the US in critical ways and the US is fast becoming a major supplier of critical defence technology. "We're the largest investor in India. We're India's largest goods trading partner and the only major country with which India has a goods trade surplus. On the services side, obviously, India's dynamic IT services market has been largely built around servicing and partnership with the United States," he said. "So, if you think about the Indian economy and security, the United States is a critical partner for where India is today and where it'll be in the future. A lot of those, of course, the United States would echo as well. This is certainly not a one-sided relationship," he said. WASHINGTON: The Biden administration has decided to play the long game by inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an official state visit next month despite some existing challenges in bilateral ties, a prominent expert on India has said. Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. "It's terrific to see (the prime minister being invited on an official state visit)," Rick Rossow, senior adviser and chair in US-India policy studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told PTI on Wednesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); India has been on the hot seat a little bit in Washington, he noted. "Partially because of its reluctance to take a stronger stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for a lot of people in Washington, that's become a defining moment. But (for) the Biden administration, it hasn't. They have decided to play the long game," he said. The Biden administration realises that the strategic importance of this relationship is India's deepening commercial bonds with the US, he said. "The partnership with the US on some of the more dangerous areas amid the rise of China. So, at the top level, this is an indication that despite some challenges and some headwinds we've got on Russia and other things, we're willing to move ahead," Rossow said. "India is in the middle of G-20, you just had a QUAD summit...it's also pretty significant that the leaders are able to carve out this kind of time to pull something together when they're already seeing each other, on pull asides and such at so many other international forums," he said. The Biden administration is trying to take the relationship, which has done really well across different administrations in both governments, forward and look for ways to bring it to a new level, both in terms of commercial relations and security relations, Rossow said. He said there are two things that need to be repaired. "One of them is the long wait time for visa interviews in India, which has gotten worse in recent weeks. This is impacting people-to-people ties," he said. "But the other area, which has been really on the list for quite some time, where we've always had challenges is on the commercial front," he said. "Seems that every time that one of us is leaning a little bit more pro-trade or investor friendly, the other one's not," he said. Rossow said the last couple of years India, after many years of protectionism, has shifted to doing domestic support programmes to improve exports, but is also signing trade agreements with selective partners. The United States announced the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. "But right now we don't really know what all that's gonna become. And there's a lot of skepticism about whether that'll match up to the world-leading free trade agreements that are out there," he said. "We've got a lot of divisive issues that have come up over the years; revocation of India's generalised system preferences benefits; India imposing countervailing duties against the United States after our steel and aluminium tariffs. So, a lot of old damage on trade and commercial issues that I think the two governments should also take time to try to repair," Rossow said. He said India needs the US in critical ways and the US is fast becoming a major supplier of critical defence technology. "We're the largest investor in India. We're India's largest goods trading partner and the only major country with which India has a goods trade surplus. On the services side, obviously, India's dynamic IT services market has been largely built around servicing and partnership with the United States," he said. "So, if you think about the Indian economy and security, the United States is a critical partner for where India is today and where it'll be in the future. A lot of those, of course, the United States would echo as well. This is certainly not a one-sided relationship," he said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Governor Greg Gianforte signed two charter school bills into law Friday, creating two different pathways for the creation of such schools in Montana. At least one of those bills already has legal challenges. Both bills take public funding away from public schools and give it to charter schools, said Lewistown School Superintendent Thom Peck, adding public schools already struggle to make budgets work under current funding formulas. While the bills are similar in how new charter schools are funded, they differ in how such schools are created and assessed. Under HB 549, local school boards will authorize and oversee charter schools. Schools formed under this bill would be required to meet educational performance standards, and must comply with the same civil rights, health and safety requirements as public schools. Failure to meet standards could result in the local school board revoking the charter. The second bill, HB 562, allows a community choice school to be created by any group of interested individuals. Choice schools are exempt from many of the laws governing traditional schools, and their teachers need not be certified. The governing board of a choice school, made up of parents of students or school employees, sets graduation requirements. Representative Sue Vinton (R, Billings), who sponsored HB 562, introduced her bill at hearings of the House Education Committee by explaining her goal was to create educational options. My intent is to empower parents, encourage students to develop their full educational potential and provide a variety of professional opportunities for teachers... Under this bill, schools of any size can be created anywhere in the state, Vinton told her fellow legislators. Problems with HB 562 were brought up continuously throughout the session, and continue to concern traditional educators. HB 562 requires no attendance or academic standards and establishes no core curriculum, Peck said. There are no accreditation standards. Its up to the group creating the school what students study. If they want to skip English and do diesel mechanics instead, they can do that. Using taxpayer money to fund schools that dont have to respond to voters is one of the reasons the Montana Quality Education Coalition has threatened to sue the state over this bill. The way this legislation was written, local taxpayers have no right to vote on how funds are spent; they have no input. That flies in the face of the Montana Constitution, said Doug Reisig, MQEC executive director. Reisig said his organization is also concerned because choice schools are exempt from Title 20, the part of the Montana Code that governs how schools operate, including that teachers must be certified. Scarce public resources will be diverted from local public schools to unaccountable private charter schools. From my standpoint as a public school superintendent for 34 years, money was always important and there was never enough. Now the state and MQEC will have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to go to court over this bill, he said. During the legislative session, both charter school bills were promoted as a way to offer school choice, a goal the Governor endorsed as he signed them. Government should never stand between parents and their kids education, Gianforte said. Were empowering Montana parents to choose whats best for their family and their kids. Were putting students and parents first in education. Reisig said while he believes the Montana public school system is a quality system, there are ways to make the system more flexible. But HB 562 is not the way, he said. Peck echoed that thought, adding families already have choices. They marketed these bills as parental choice, but right now in Central Montana, families can choose to homeschool, go to a private school or enroll in any school district across the area, Peck said. Every year we have kids that live in one district, but go to school in another district. Creating schools where there is no accountability is not appropriate. MQECs partners in opposing HB 562 include the Montana School Board Association, Montana Federation of Public Employees, School Administrators of Montana, Montana Rural Education Association, Montana Association of School Business Officials, and 98 school districts. Last week the MQEC board voted to hire a legal counsel and file a lawsuit challenging 562. Microsoft brings Bing to ChatGPT as default search engine San Francisco, May 24: Microsoft has announced the integration of Bing Search into OpenAI's ChatGPT in order to provide more relevant and potentially new responses. Microsoft brings Bing to ChatGPT as default search engine Bing will serve as the "default search experience", allowing ChatGPT to retrieve answers from the internet and provide citations."I'm pleased to announce we are bringing Bing to ChatGPT as the default search experience," Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's head of consumer marketing, said in a blogpost on Tuesday."ChatGPT will now have a world-class search engine built-in to provide timelier and more up-to-date answers with access from the web," he added.Moreover, the company said that this new experience is now rolling out to ChatGPT Plus subscribers and will be available to free users soon by simply enabling a plugin which brings Bing to ChatGPT.ChatGPT previously relied solely on individual plugins to access any recent information.The other new Bing updates are focused on plugins, such as a single platform for developers to create and submit plugins for ChatGPT, Bing, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and others.Bing will be adding its in-chat plugin options to include Expedia (a US-based engineering firm), Zillow (a US-based real estate company), and Klarna (a Swedish fintech company) for targeted communication on topics such as travel and shopping.The common plugin platform will also be natively integrated into Microsoft Edge, which already has Bing built in.IANS24 May 2023 Shared Recently! UPSC Result: Family support was key, says third ranker Uma Harthi Hyderabad, May 23: N. Uma Harathi, who has scored all India third rank in the Civil Services Examination, 2022, said she could achieve this because of family support with the main motivation coming from her father. UPSC Result: Family support was key, says third ranker Uma Harthi Hailing from Nalgonda district of Telangana, Uma is daughter of Superintendent of Police of Narayanpet, N. Venkateshwarlu.A graduate (B Tech) in Civil Engineering from IIT, Hyderabad, she stood third in the rank with anthropology as her optional subject. She had first selected geography as the subject but later changed into anthropology."This exam process requires emotional support. Male or female, one can achieve this success with family support," she said, sharing her thoughts on the secret of her success."Information, content and books all are freely available but emotional support and family support will not be available. That is important," she said.Uma advised students who think of committing suicide over failure in exams not to get demotivated. "Take motivation from wherever you get. If my story is of any help, use it. I have been studying for the last five years. I have seen many failures in the process. My parents believed in me and I continued my studies, which is my duty and I saw the result."She said Civil Services was her target from the beginning and after graduation, she did not take up a job but stayed at home to prepare for the exam and her parents supported her.The police officer's daughter also revealed that she did not expect the third rank. "I was hoping to get some rank but did not expect the third rank," she said.IANS24 May 2023 Shared Recently! Seize the Bullrun: Why OKX, Uniswap, and Big Eyes Coin are the Best DeFi Blockchains in 2023? Teamology Newsdesk, New Delhi, May 24: As the crypto market prepares for a potential bull run in 2023, DeFi enthusiasts have been scouting for the best DeFi blockchains to invest in. Seize the Bullrun: Why OKX, Uniswap, and Big Eyes Coin are the Best DeFi Blockchains in 2023? The two strong contenders dominating the DeFi arena are OKX and Uniswap, both offering unique advantages.But a promising newcomer, , is turning heads as a possible Ethereum rival. So let's dive into why these projects, from exchanges to meme coins, stand out in the DeFi space.OKX The Dragon of the EastOKX, the second largest crypto exchange by trading volume, boasts a multifaceted platform offering an array of trading options, from spot trading to futures. Founded by Star Xu in 2013, OKX has a broad reach, supporting over 350 popular assets and catering to over 20 million users globally.The platform was recently rebranded, adding an array of new features, including a mobile app and competitive trading fees, making it an appealing investment option. OKX's high trading volume, comprehensive support for numerous fiat currencies, and high-yield staking opportunities speak volumes about its growth potential. Moreover, OKX's latest developments, including a license in Dubai and consistent app updates, suggest a bright future.Uniswap The Decentralized DynamoUniswap, a decentralized exchange operating on Ethereum's blockchain, has transformed the way cryptocurrencies are traded. The flat trading fee, permissionless design, and automated liquidity protocol have made Uniswap a popular choice among traders. Recent developments in Uniswap, such as its third version with improved liquidity, AI integration, and compatibility with multiple chains, showcase its continued innovation. Furthermore, its no-KYC policy provides a user-friendly experience, attracting investors who value privacy and control over their funds.Comparing OKX and Uniswap, while the former offers high liquidity and robust features, the latter stands out with its decentralized trading model, offering users more control and access to a broader range of tokens.Big Eyes Coin The Meme Coin Sensation Shaking Up the Crypto SceneBig Eyes Coin, one of the markets latest meme coins, has swiftly amassed a dedicated community, attributable to its distinctive visual style and groundbreaking approach. The coin's playful name, coupled with its cute character design, has charmed a plethora of potential investors, promising an enduring bond with its audience.The buzz around this coin mirrors the burgeoning passion for the cryptocurrency arena and the potential for novel and compelling ventures to be successful. New ideas draw the eyes of investors, and Big Eyes Coin is certainly no sight for sore eyes.The coin has sparked considerable interest and attained remarkable numbers. On the cusp of eclipsing USD 39 million, it's establishing a new presale performance record among meme coins.Big Eyes Coin has yet again stunned its faithful investors with a striking move. With the declaration of the presale's end on June 3rd, Big Eyes Coin HQ chose to show their gratitude to their steadfast supporters one last time. The BIG team dramatically slashed the token price from USD 0.00053 to USD 0.00017, reverting it to its third presale stage value.The Final WordThe 2023 bull run offers a golden opportunity for investors to capitalize on the Best DeFi blockchains. OKX, Uniswap, and Big Eyes Coin are frontrunners in the race, each offering distinct advantages and investment opportunities. As DeFi continues to evolve, these platforms are poised to define the future of crypto trading and investment.Big Eyes Coin (BIG)PresaleWebsiteTelegramInstagramTwitter(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by Teamology Newsdesk. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI24 May 2023 Shared Recently! IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak convenes 109th Council Meeting Dubai, May 24: Razan Al Mubarak is presiding over the 109th Council Meeting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which began yesterday and will run until May 25. IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak convenes 109th Council Meeting Al Mubarak, who has been at the forefront of important local and international environmental initiatives for years, was elected to a four-year term as President of IUCN in September 2021. She is the second woman to lead the prestigious conservation organisation and the first one from the Arab world.One of the key issues on the agenda in Gland, Switzerland, this week is incorporating nature and biodiversity conservation into the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) process. COP28 will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023."It is already a fact that species are going extinct as a direct result of climate change," said Al Mubarak, who also serves as UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the leadership team of COP28 UAE."Rising levels of greenhouse gasses and the corresponding temperature rise and other adverse effects are putting additional pressure on thousands of species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species," she said. "At the same time, natural ecosystems provide key services that can help address the climate challenge. They store carbon and protect people from the worst effects of climate hazards like sea-level rise, flooding, heatwaves and droughts.""Because of all this, exploring the convergence of agendas between biodiversity and climate change is a logical and critical step," said Al Mubarak.IUCN council meetings are typically held twice a year with the most recent one taking place in Abu Dhabi this January. As the President, Al Mubarak's role is to convene the Council, facilitate discussion, recognise alternative viewpoints, represent IUCN members and help build consensus among council members.The IUCN is one of the main proponents of the idea that nature-based solutions are a key part of the effort to keep global warming well below the threshold of 2AC above pre-industrial levels agreed through the UN framework. Besides reducing emissions, nature-based solutions - like dealing with deforestation, restoring ecosystems and improving farm management - will also reinforce adaptation measures as humanity deals with some inevitable climate change impacts. For example, the IUCN estimates that nature-based solutions could reduce the intensity of climate and weather-related hazards by almost a third.There have already been some efforts to incorporate nature-based solutions into the UN climate change negotiations. At the end of last year, during COP27 in Egypt, the host country together with Germany and the IUCN, rolled out the ENACT initiative. This voluntary coalition of state and civic actors is coordinating global efforts to apply nature-based solutions to deal with climate change, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. One outcome is the publication of an annual State of Nature-Based Solutions Report. The first issue of the report is expected to be shared at COP28 in the UAE.In the UAE, Al Mubarak, who is also the Managing Director of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, has been an active champion of the idea that restoring natural habitats is not only good for biodiversity but for climate and livelihoods, too. EAD has been a pioneer in studying and protecting mangrove habitats and seagrass beds and raising awareness about their strategic importance for the UAE.The UAE has been a strong supporter of IUCN for decades. Abu Dhabi is a former framework donor to the organisation and has hosted Specialist Group Chairs meetings of the IUCN Species Survival Commission on four occasions since 2008.UAE-based IUCN members include the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Ain Zoo, International Fund for Conservation of Houbara, as well as the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Emirates Nature - WWF, and the Emirates Environmental Group. (ANI/WAM)ANI24 May 2023 Shared Recently! Japanese court rejects call to halt restart of nuclear reactor Tokyo, May 24: A Japanese court on Wednesday rejected a call by local residents to halt the restart of a nuclear reactor in Miyagi prefecture on grounds they believed emergency evacuation plans were flawed. Japanese court rejects call to halt restart of nuclear reactor The Sendai District Court ruled that the plaintiffs' claims to halt the planned restart of the Onagawa nuclear plant's No.2 reactor in February 2024 were not relevant as a serious accident is unlikely, reports Xinhua news agency."It cannot be assumed that a specific danger of an accident exists that leads to the abnormal release of radioactive materials," Presiding Judge Mitsuhiro Saito said.He added when handing down his decision that there was no need to take into account whether the evacuation plans are effective, as there is no certainty regarding the potential danger.The suit to halt the restart of the reactor at the plant operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co. was made by residents from neighbouring Ishinomaki, who said the city and prefecture's evacuation plans in the case of a severe emergency were "flawed and impractical".The restarting of the idled reactor would mark the first in the northeastern area that was struck by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986 following multiple meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.The lawsuit filed by the 17 residents, insisting the evacuation plans were flawed and insufficient, was in part based on their belief that in the case of another nuclear disaster, local residents would be unable to evacuate for an extended period of time, beyond a 30-km radius of the plant, due to traffic congestion.As such, they argued, residents would be at high risk of being exposed to radiation in the event of a disaster.Following the ruling, however, Tohoku Electric said it will continue with plans to restart the reactor in February."The court acknowledged our claim. We will continue to cooperate as much as possible to improve the effectiveness of the evacuation plans," the utility said in a statement.But concerns remain rife among residents in the area, in the wake of the Fukushima disaster."At the time of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident, there were fears that nobody would be able to live in the whole of the Tohoku region. I don't want nuclear reactors in the devastated areas to resume operations," one plaintiff was quoted by local media as saying.The spokesperson for the plaintiffs following the ruling said that he would likely seek to file an appeal after consulting with lawyers.IANS24 May 2023 Shared Recently! A.K Glass & Aluminium Works Receives the Most Prestigious Global Excellence Award 2023 for the Most Trusted Interior Solution Provider in Telangana SRV Media, New Delhi, May 24 founded in the year 2005, has been recognized and honored with the Brand Empower's most prestigious Global Excellence Awards 2023 for being the "Most Trusted Interior Solution Provider in Telangana". A.K Glass & Aluminium Works Receives the Most Prestigious Global Excellence Award 2023 for the Most Trusted Interior Solution Provider in Telangana Since its inception, A.K Glass and Aluminium Works has been committed to delivering outstanding interior solutions to its clients. With a strong emphasis on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, the company has established itself as a leading player in the interior design industry. The award was presented to the Founder and CEO of the company, Abdul Khader Patan Wala, by the most stunning Bollywood actress, Madhuri Dixit Nene.A.K Glass and Aluminium Works has consistently met the demands of an industry that requires innovation and creativity by providing exceptional interior solutions to its clients. Their expertise has transformed spaces into functional and visually appealing environments. Abdul Khader Patan Wala expressed his gratitude and appreciation upon receiving the award. He conveyed his immense delight and honor in receiving this prestigious recognition, presented to him by the renowned Bollywood personality, Madhuri Dixit Nene. He also expressed his gratitude to Brand Empower and its CEO, Rahul Ranjan Singh, for providing him with such a remarkable platform. He attributed the award to the dedication and hard work of the entire team at A.K Glass and Aluminium Works, emphasizing their commitment to delivering excellence and their role in establishing the company as the most trusted provider of interior solutions.The company's ultimate goal is to provide high-end, custom-designed solutions that cater to the diverse needs and preferences of their esteemed customers. By constantly staying updated with the latest trends and advancements in the field of interior design, A.K Glass and Aluminium Works ensures that their offerings are at the forefront of style and functionality. Their team of experienced professionals possesses a deep understanding of the industry and works closely with clients to create unique and personalized interior solutions. From conceptualization to execution, every project undertaken by A.K Glass and Aluminium Works is handled with meticulous attention to detail and a focus on surpassing client expectations.The Global Excellence Awards 2023 were conducted by the leading market research, PR, and branding company . under the supervision of Mr. Rahul Ranjan Singh, the CEO of the company. These awards provide a platform to recognize and honor exceptional achievements across different sectors. The GEA2023 event was an impressive triumph, drawing a distinguished crowd of dignitaries and luminaries from various industries and provided an exceptional platform for businesses and organizations to showcase their accomplishments and contributions in their respective fields.A.K Glass and Aluminium Works takes pride in its unwavering commitment to excellence, which has earned them a reputation for delivering exceptional craftsmanship and reliable service. With the commitment to providing exceptional products and transforming spaces, they continue to set new benchmarks for excellence in Telangana and beyond. Their client-centric approach, combined with a dedication to using premium materials and cutting-edge techniques, sets them apart as a reliable and trusted partner for interior design projects.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI24 May 2023 Shared Recently! By Investing in Methane Capture Mining Cos Can up Revenues by 30 percent: Experts NewsVoir, Mumbai, May 24: Climate scientists today suggested to the state government to incentivise and urge coal mining companies on methane handling, considering that methane's potential to warm the environment is 84 times more than that of Carbon-di-oxide (CO2). By Investing in Methane Capture Mining Cos Can up Revenues by 30 percent: Experts Among other suggestions the experts also suggested that somebody should be made accountable to capture methane from abandoned coal mines that continue to emit methane in the environment, which has not been addressed as yet.A White Paper shall be drafted through the day-long workshop 'Sustainable Mining and Methane Management, CBM and CMM' that was jointly organised by International Centre for Climate and Sustainability Action Foundation (ICCSA), Society for Clean Environment (SOCLEEN) and the Government of Maharashtra. The White Paper will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Maharashtra, and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).In his special address at the workshop Vijay S. Nahata, Chairman SEIAA said, "I request the organisers to suggest key points that we as government can implement to have a better and cleaner environment for our future generations." He suggested using modern tools in mining to reduce environmental and climate impact. India is committed to Net Zero by 2070, and we will continue to co-operate and work with industries and other stakeholders for the betterment of our environment, said Shri Nahata.Citing successful examples of Majhi Vasudha campaign, Shri Pravin Darade, Principal Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Maharashtra, also holding additional charge of Member Secretary Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, said, "Clearly people are now becoming aware of the issues with the environment. When we launched the Majhi Vasudha campaign three years ago, about 600 representatives from urban local bodies attended the conference, which increased to 11,000 and 17,000 in subsequent years." The government will be happy to work together with experts on this important issue of climate change and especially methane emissions from various sources.Dr Rakesh Kumar, Officer on Special Duty at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) suggested that mining companies should also be made aware of the revenue potential that Methane capture can have. "By increasing their operational spending by 10 percent towards methane capturing, the mining industries can create a separate revenue stream that can give them three times the returns on the investment." Considering the fact that industries are more focussed on increasing revenues, we must help them in optimal methane capture so that they can increase revenues."While mining companies shall be able to increase their revenues in the short term, allied benefits relating to the environment and health of people residing in areas closer to mining, will take some time to show. Growth in coal production is directly proportional to the release of methane from mining activities. While India relies majorly on coal production from open cast mines, increasing production may require adoption of deeper mining of coal seams. If that is the case, utilisation of CMM could be one of the potential energy sources and also has climate mitigation co-benefit," said Dr Kumar.Professor A D Sawant, President SOCLEEN in his opening speech suggested that having government policy towards climate change is definitely the first and a step in the right direction, but the know how should also be shared with the mining officials who are there at the site. While we invite executives involved in operations to attend such meetings, we must also have such workshops closer to mining areas.Prof Varshney, Distinguished Professor and Advisor ICCSA said that Utilisation of coal mine methane has the potential to benefit India by reducing emissions and increasing domestic energy security. Methane is the primary component of natural gas, which is responsible for the Earth's warming. Methane (CH4) concentrations in the atmosphere have more than doubled since pre-industrial times. CH4 is the second-leading cause of climate change after carbon dioxide, rising to 1.5 degrees Celsius or likely 2 degrees Celsius."India is sitting on a huge opportunity to convert waste into energy. As per our calculation, 15 large states in the country are generating over 1.38 lakh tonnes of waste every day, and if we can deploy globally available advanced technologies to generate energy through the trash, we can set up a 5600 MW capacity waste-to-energy plant. Even at 50 percent utilisation, India will have about 2800 MW of electricity generated through garbage," Professor Bhaskar Kura, Founder of i2Care, said during the 'Sustainable Mining and Methane Management.'The workshop was attended by experts including Prof C K Varshney, former Dean at Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Dr Sarala Balachandran, Chief Scientist at CSIR, Shri Ajit Kumar Saxena Chairman cum Managing Director MOIL, Dr R K Vij Professor PDEU, Gandhinagar, Dr Kaushik Chakraborty, former ED at Western Coalfield Ltd, and Shri Priyank Singhvi co-founder ICCSA.ICCSA is a not-for-profit organisation that is committed to contributing to a better world for people and the planet. It was established with focus to plug the gaps in environmental management to provide an institutional platform for coordination, facilitation, advocacy, and regional and international collaboration; with an aim of development of targeted solutions.Headquartered at Greater Noida, ICCSA believes to restore ecosystem health, regenerate nature on Earth by providing targeted solutions to drive sustainable development for a future which is bright, positive and resilient.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI24 May 2023 Shared Recently! Cristiano Ronaldo scores winning goal for Al-Nassr against Al Shabab Riyadh, May 24: Cristiano Ronaldo who is now playing for Al-Nassr, scored a stunning winning goal against Al-Shabab on Tuesday in the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo scores winning goal for Al-Nassr against Al Shabab Ronaldo scored his 14th goal in the Saudi Pro League, which proved to be the match-winner for Dinko Jelicic's side, beating Al-Shabab 3-2 in an enthralling five-goal thriller at the Mrsool Park.Al-Shabab scored the first goal of the match in the 25th minute. The goalscorer, Cristian Guanca scored from a penalty awarded to Al-Shabad in the 25th minute. Later in the 40th minute of the match, he scored his second goal.Al-Nassr player Talisca scored a goal just before half-time. He scored the goal in the 44th minute.At the end of half-time Al-Shabab was leading 2-1.In the 51st minute, Al-Nassr player Abdulrahman Ghareeb scored the second goal for his team.Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal for Al-Nassr in the 59th minute. Ronaldo completed the comeback win with a curling shot from just outside the box in the 59th minute.The score at the end of the match was 3-2."The team played a fantastic game. Being behind 2-0 is very difficult but we believed till the end and we scored three goals," Ronaldo told Sky Sports.ANI24 May 2023 Shared Recently! Florence Pugh says Indie film community people were pissed when she joined MCU Los Angeles, May 24: Although many would look at joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as a huge career achievement, Florence Pugh said that not everyone thought the same when she landed her role. Florence Pugh says Indie film community people were 'pissed' when she joined MCU During an interview with Time magazine, published online Tuesday, the actress, who joined the MCU as Yelena Belova with 2021's 'Black Widow', said that some people in the independent film community were "really pissed off," reports hollywoodreporter.com."They were like, 'Great, now she's gone forever,'" she said."And I'm like, 'No, I'm working as hard as I used to work. I've always done back-to-back movies. It's just that people are watching them now. You just have to be a bit more organised with your schedule.'"Pugh also made an appearance in the Disney+ show Hawkeye. But before Marvel, she made her name in Hollywood with several indie films, including Midsommar and Lady Macbeth, and continues to work on them, like her more recent projects 'The Wonder' and 'A Good Person.'During a previous interview in March, she also recalled people in the industry telling her "I was never going to go back to small movies again." But Pugh said that she believes "there's beauty in all types of those films."After nearly a decade in the industry, Pugh continues to find balance with the projects she takes on. But no matter what it is, the actress told Time that she can also get a sense of a film's success while working on set. She didn't share the project's name but noted that she has "definitely" seen a movie fall apart before.As for what's next, Pugh said that she hopes her future includes some time singing on stage, especially after writing and performing music in 'A Good Person.'IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson get in heated exchange with man at Cannes Film Fest Los Angeles, May 24: Hollywood star Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were involved in a tense exchange with a man at the Cannes Film Festival. Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson get in heated exchange with man at Cannes Film Fest The actor and his wife seemingly scolded an employee as they attended the premiere of his new movie 'Asteroid City', reports aceshowbiz.com.On Tuesday, May 23, the pair walked the red carpet together to support the special screening of Wes Anderson's film. In photos which have circulated online, the Oscar winner was seen furiously pointing his finger at the younger man and making a stern face while his wife was also holding her hand up in front of her as she spoke to the man.It's not clear what they were discussing, but the man was also seen gesturing at Hanks as he posed with his 'Asteroid City' co-stars on the red carpet.Despite the apparent misunderstanding, Hanks and Wilson continued to trek down the red carpet and were all smiles as they posed together on the stairs before heading inside the venue. The two were also seen dancing together as they reunited on the red carpet after posing for the cameras separately.Hanks cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo and matching bow tie teamed with a smart white shirt for the premiere. He completed his look with shiny black shoes.As for Wilson, she looked glamorous in a chic black dress with a long black cloak which trailed the ground behind her. The dress was adorned with silver gems which shimmered under the spotlights. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo.'Asteroid City' is a sci-fi romantic comedy-drama film which is set in the 1950s in a fictional American desert town that has an eerie feel to it. It follows the transformative events that occur at an annual Junior Stargazer convention in 1955.Anderson penned the script based on a story he developed with Roman Coppola. It will be released in select U.S. theaters on June 16 before expanding to a wide release on June 23.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! School of Lies trailer: A missing school boy sets chain of events in motion unravelling dark secrets Mumbai, May 24: The trailer of the upcoming streaming show 'School of Lies' was unveiled on Wednesday. It presents the story of a missing school boy and how the entire machinery by the school and cops is put in action to find the missing boy. 'School of Lies' trailer: A missing school boy sets chain of events in motion unravelling dark secrets The trailer follows the RISE - the boarding school, as a 12-year-old Shakti goes missing, things start to spiral out of control, revealing the hidden skeletons in the closet of the boarding school. It shows Nimrat Kaur in the role of a school counsellor who talks to the students to uncover the mystery behind the boy's disappearance.Talking about the series, Nimrat Kaur said, "With the shoot of 'School of Lies', I learnt about the layered complexities of children and how they can reveal a new side to them every step of the way. This unique series, inspired by real life events, brings forth mind boggling unpredictable occurrences behind the closed gates of a fictional boarding school."She further mentioned, "Playing the highly complex role of a guidance counsellor in this establishment with the dilemma of having to choose between the right and the necessary path of action in unprecedented life situations was not only tremendously rewarding but an experience that'll forever be close to my heart."The series also stars Aamir Bashir, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Sonali Kulkarni and Jitendra Joshi, and is inspired by true events. Created by Ishani Banerjee and Avinash Arun Dhaware, it has been directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware and produced by BBC Studios.Creator and director Avinash Arun Bhaware said, "'School of Lies' is the story of a child's loneliness, disconnect and repression. Also the story of a child's freedom, magic and more. Every child, in a boarding school or otherwise, will go through these phases at some point or the other. In today's world, children are much more sensitive and exposed. 'School of Lies' is a story of the times we live in, and an attempt to look with empathy at all the forces within us that may liberate or destroy us."The eight part series will be available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar from June 2.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Pinarayi Vijayan turns 78 Thiruvananthapuram, May 24: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan turned 78 on Wednesday. Pinarayi Vijayan turns 78 Though the official record shows his date of birth as March 21, 1945, a day before being sworn as Chief Minister in May 2016, Vijayan had shared the actual date.As per schedule, the chief minister will chair the weekly cabinet meeting, but whether he will meet the media or not is not certain.Incidentally, after taking over the top post in 2016, Vijayan announced to discontinue the weekly cabinet media briefing.Vijayan has been keeping away from the media since long leading to attacks from the Congress-led Opposition, which alleged that he is avoiding media as he is under probe agencies' scanner over numerous scams.Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan often accuses the media of being scared of Vijayan. He recollected how the media used to haunt the two-time former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and even A.K.Antony for television bytes over some issues, every time they stepped out in public.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Googles Product Studio to help merchants create product imagery using AI San Francisco, May 24: Google has introduced a new tool called 'Product Studio', which will help merchants easily create unique product imagery using generative AI. Google's 'Product Studio' to help merchants create product imagery using AI The merchants will be able to create product imagery within Merchant Center Next, the company's simplified platform for businesses to manage how their products show up on Google."Our new Product Studio, designed with Google's AI Principles top of mind, brings the benefits of generative AI to businesses of all sizes, helping them easily create unique and tailored product imagery for free and get more value from the images they already have," Google said in a blogpost on Tuesday.Moreover, the company said that Product Studio allows merchants to create free product imagery and get more value from the images they already have.Users can create new imagery without having to pay for new photoshoots.With Photo Studio, businesses will also be able to quickly remove a complex background, plus, the tool can also be used to improve the quality of small or low-resolution images without having to reshoot a product.Currently, merchants in the US can access Product Studio from Merchant Center Next, starting in the next few months. These features will also be available to merchants using Google iamp; YouTube apps on Shopify, the company mentioned.Google is also making it easier for merchants to access and understand their performance by bringing all insights reports into the Performance tab.Merchants will now have a single location to review their best-selling products, what businesses appear next to theirs, and even how shoppers interact with their local businesses on Search and Maps.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Corporates, govt collaboration to further empower Indian startups: Chandrasekhar New Delhi, May 24: Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Wednesday that there is an urgent need to enhance co-operation between corporates, government, academia, and startups so that the talent pool in the country can further innovate and build solutions to solve real-life problems. Corporates, govt collaboration to further empower Indian startups: Chandrasekhar In his address at the CII Startups Summit during a session titled "Unlocking Innovation Through Corporate Startups Engagement," the minister emphasised on empowering startups via corporate and government collaboration."These are great times to increase the ties between corporates, government, academia and startups to help grow the innovation capabilities of our country and the innovation ecosystem capabilities in our country," Chandrasekhar told the gathering.He said that in the past nine years, the country has come a long distance on empowering startups.India currently has the third largest startup ecosystem, behind the US and China."These are exciting time for young entrepreneurs in India as they have so many opportunities around them," the minister added.On Tuesday, the minister said that the upcoming Digital India Act (DIA) will be an enabler for startup innovations in the country."Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very clear that anything the government does should not cause difficulties for innovation in the startup space," Chandrasekhar said at a Mumbai event."We will be extremely sensitive to this. It is not in our intention at all to make things difficult for startups. DIA will be an enabler for startup innovations," the minister added.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Jagan finds fault with Oppn for boycott of new Parliament inauguration Amaravati, May 24: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has found fault with the decision of the opposition parties to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jagan finds fault with Oppn for boycott of new Parliament inauguration The leader of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has stated that boycotting such an auspicious event is not in the true spirit of democracy.In a tweet on Wednesday, he appealed to all political parties to attend the event and announced that his party would attend."Setting aside all political differences, I request that all political parties attend this glorious event. In the true spirit of democracy, my party will attend this historic event," he wrote.He congratulated the Prime Minister for dedicating the grand, majestic and spacious Parliament building to the nation. "Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nation's soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties," he said.Jagan Mohan Reddy's tweet came hours after 19 opposition parties including Congress announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28.The opposition parties said that Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate it himself and completely sidelining President Droupadi insults the high office of the President and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! IIFA 2023: Abhishek Bachchan, Farah Khan, RajKummar Rao arrive in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, May 25: And the wait is finally over. IIFA Awards 2023 are about to commence at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and our beloved Bollywood celebrities have already started arriving at the glamorous sea-side location. IIFA 2023: Abhishek Bachchan, Farah Khan, RajKummar Rao arrive in Abu Dhabi Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who will host the award show, reached Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.He received a warm welcome from the team of IIFA at the airport. A glimpse of him arriving at the Abu Dhabi airport was shared on IIFA's Instagram page.Excited for his hosting stint at IIFA 2023, Abhishek had earlier said, "I'm ecstatic to be hosting the 23rd edition of IIFA at YAS Island, Abu Dhabi. IIFA is like family to me. I am looking forward to entertaining, meeting fans, and connecting with them globally."Abhishek attended IIFA last year as well. He delivered an energetic performance at the gala in 2022, evoking the loudest cheer from his wife Aishwarya and daughter Aaradhya.Filmmaker Farah Khan and actor RajKummar Rao have also reached Abu Dhabi. The duo will host IIFA Rocks together.Held prior to the main awards ceremony, IIFA Rocks highlights the music and fashion of Indian cinema. Renowned musicians of the Hindi film industry are expected to create magic with their songs at the gala this year. It will be held on May 26, while the main awards night will be conducted on May 27.Badshah, Nora Fatehi, and Rakul Preet Singh have also reached Abu Dhabi. They will light up the venue with their performances.Norwegian dance group Quick Style will also attend IIFA 2023. The boys have already reached the venue.This year veteran actor Kamal Haasan will be felicitated with the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award at the gala.Apart from him, actors and couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza will be awarded for 'Outstanding Achievement in Regional Cinema' and Designer Manish Malhotra will also be honoured for 'Outstanding Achievement in Fashion in Cinema".ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Tibetans, foreign followers offer long-life prayers for the Dalai Lama Lhasa [Tibet], May 24: Tibetan spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama attended a Long Life Prayer offered to him by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) in the morning at the Main Tibetan Temple here in the north Indian hill town Dharamshala on Wednesday morning. Tibetans, foreign followers offer long-life prayers for the Dalai Lama Thousands of Tibetans including monks and nuns and foreign followers from different parts of the world thronged to the monastery to pray for the long life of their beloved spiritual leader.Nico Balthazae, a Buddhist follower said, "I am here to participate in this long-life prayer ceremony for his holiness the Dalai Lama. People have come here from all over the world. It was actually requested by Lama Zopa Rinpocher as it was his wish but unfortunately, he passed away. It is very important for us for his holiness to live long and to continue the Buddhist dharma practice and we are very happy to be here."Roger Kunsang, CEO of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) said, "We requested his holiness to accept this long life pooja and his holiness very kindly accepted and that's what we offer here this morning."Earlier, in May, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad met spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on their arrival in Dharamshala to play against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League.RR's Twitter handle shared a post where Rajasthan players were seen meeting Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. English player Jos Buttler, Joe Root and a few other Rajasthan players visited the spiritual leader.ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Russia to respond promptly, harshly to future incursions: Defence Minister Moscow, May 25: Russia will respond quickly and extremely harshly to future incursions, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with senior defence officials. Russia to respond promptly, harshly to future incursions: Defence Minister The Minister on Wednesday mentioned that "a Ukrainian nationalist formation" that broke into Russia's Belgorod region on Monday was defeated."Russia will keep responding to such actions of Ukrainian militants promptly and harshly," Shoigu said.The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that "more than 70 Ukrainian nationalists were killed during a counter-terrorist operation," and Russian forces were able to push the "remaining nationalists" back into Ukraine, where they were further eliminated.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia was "deeply concerned" about the incursion, Xinhua news agency reported.Ukraine has said that the incursion was carried out by two anti-government paramilitary groups in Russia, adding that it was not responsible for the incident.Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday that there had been a large number of drone attacks on the region overnight, adding that most of them were repelled.In a Telegram post, Gladkov added that the attacks damaged residential and administrative buildings, and that no casualties were reported.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Jordi Alba to leave Barcelona after 11 seasons Madrid, May 24: Spain international left-back Jordi Alba will leave FC Barcelona at the end of the current season, Spanish media reported on Wednesday. Jordi Alba to leave Barcelona after 11 seasons The 34-year-old leaves Barca after 11 seasons at the Camp Nou Stadium, during which time he has won multiple La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup titles, as well as lifting the 2015 UEFA Champions League, a Xinhua report said.The defender has decided to leave despite having another year remaining on his contract after a season in which he has appeared less than previously, making just 13 starts from 23 appearances in La Liga, as youngster Alejandro Balde has stepped up to become first choice in his position.So far, Alba has made 458 appearances for Barca, scoring 27 goals, and during their time together, his understanding with Lionel Messi formed a key part of the club's attacking armory.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Thursday limiting federal regulators' authority over wetlands was cheered by leaders in North Dakota, which has sued twice in recent years over the issue. Justices ruled in a case out of Idaho that wetlands can be regulated under the Clean Water Act only if they have a "continuous surface connection" to larger, regulated bodies of water. The Sackett case involved a couple who wanted to build a home near a lake, but the federal Environmental Protection Agency stopped their work in 2007, finding wetlands on their property were federally regulated. Thursday's ruling will impact ongoing court battles over new regulations that the Biden administration put in place in December defining which Waters of the United States -- commonly referred to as WOTUS -- are protected by the Clean Water Act. Two federal judges earlier blocked those rules from being enforced in 26 states. One of those rulings came in a multistate lawsuit led by North Dakota and West Virginia. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland in Bismarck in his April ruling stated, "There is little that is intelligible about the 2023 rule and the broad scope of its jurisdiction." Hovland at the time also said that he hoped the Supreme Court would "provide some clarity" through the pending ruling in the Idaho case. There were no immediate filings in the North Dakota lawsuit on Thursday. West Virginia Republican Congresswoman Carol Miller in a statement said EPA "continues to fight a losing battle" and should withdraw its WOTUS rule. There are more than 1 million wetland and lake basins in North Dakota, with densities of more than 150 wetlands per square mile in some areas, according to the state Game and Fish Department. North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley praised the Supreme Court's ruling Thursday, saying Biden administration efforts to expand federal water protections is "overreach" and that the justices' decision is good for "new federalism." The state's all-Republican congressional delegation also cheered the ruling, with U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven and Rep. Kelly Armstrong all saying it will "rein in" the EPA. "Today's Supreme Court decision finally makes clear what we've known all along, that the Clean Water Act was never intended to regulate puddles," Cramer said. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said the decision "finally brings clarity and a clear definition to what comprises wetlands." Gov. Doug Burgum called the ruling "a major victory for farmers and ranchers, the energy industry, housing developers and other landowners who need clarity and a commonsense interpretation of which wetlands should be covered by the Clean Water Act." "We wholeheartedly agree with the Supreme Courts opinion that States can and will continue to exercise their primary authority to combat water pollution by regulating land and water use, because no one cares more about North Dakotas land and water than the people who live here, the governor said. Earthjustice represents several American Indian tribes who have intervened in North Dakota's lawsuit. Earthjustice Vice President of Programs Sam Sankar denounced the ruling, saying it "will hurt everyone living in the United States." "The Sackett decision undoes a half century of progress generated by the Clean Water Act. Almost 90 million acres of formerly protected wetlands now face an existential threat from polluters and developers," he said. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the agency is disappointed and will "carefully review the Supreme Court decision and consider next steps." "Over the past 50 years, we have made transformational progress -- rivers that were once on fire have been restored and now sustain vibrant communities in every corner of the country," he said. "A commonsense and science-based definition of Waters of the United States is essential to building on that progress and fulfilling our responsibility to preserve our nations waters -- now and for future generations. North Dakota and other states also sued in 2015 when President Barack Obama sought to expand federal WOTUS protections, and court injunctions prevented his administration's rule from taking effect. Federal courts later threw out a Trump-era rule that North Dakota leaders backed but environmentalists had argued left waterways vulnerable to pollution. North Dakota Farm Bureau has been involved in the WOTUS battle since the Obama days, and has intervened in North Dakota's current lawsuit. President Daryl Lies called the Supreme Court decision "a huge victory for agriculture across the country." (Tribune reporter Joseph Harris contributed to this story.) Army choppers make emergency landing in Bikaner due to inclement weather Jaipur, May 24: Two army helicopters had to make emergency landing on a 'kutcha' road at Khara village in Bikaner due to inclement weather caused by Western disturbance. Army choppers make emergency landing in Bikaner due to inclement weather Both the helicopters, which landed safely, had departed from Lohawat in Jodhpur before the weather turned bad. They lost contact with the control room near Khara in Bikaner.The pilots of both the choppers are safe. A large number of people gathered at the spot after seeing the choppers landing near their village. A team from the Army also reached the spot.The villagers praised the presence of mind of both the pilots as the helicopters landed safely amid heavy dust storm and rain in Bikaner.IANS25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Kartik Aaryan shares glimpse of day-night shoot of Satyaprem Ki Katha Mumbai, May 25: Actor Kartik Aaryan, who is gearing up for his upcoming romantic drama 'Satyaprem Ki Katha', treated fans with a glimpse of the day-to-night shoot schedule. Kartik Aaryan shares glimpse of day-night shoot of 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' The 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' actor took to Instagram story and dropped a picture from the film sets.Sharing the picture, he wrote, "Day to Night to Day. #SatyapremKiKatha."In the picture, Kartik showed the camera against the backdrop of garland and bells decoration.After releasing the teaser of the film, the makers recently dropped the debut poster.The poster features actors Kiara and Kartik in a romantic pose.The official Twitter handle of the film production house Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment shared the poster.The recently released teaser of the movie was also well-received by the audience. The teaser begins with Kartik's voice-over, expressing his love for Kiara's character Katha. The video includes romantic moments of Kartik and Kiara set against beautiful backdrops of locations like Kashmir.Helmed by Sameer Vidhwans, and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film is all set to hit the theatres on June 29, 2023. The film marks Kartik's second collaboration after the blockbuster 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', released in 2022.'Satyaprem Ki Katha' also marks a massive collaboration between NGE and Namah Pictures. Interestingly, Sajid Nadiadwala and Shareen Mantri Kedia with Kishor Arora and director Sameer Vidwans won a National Award for their respective feature films 'Chhichhore' and 'Anandi Gopal'.The film also stars Supriya Pathak Kapur, Gajraj Rao, Siddharth Randheria, Anooradha Patel, Rajpal Yadav, Nirrmite Saawaant, and Shikha Talsania.Apart from this, Kartik will be seen in Hansal Mehta's next 'Captain India' and in director Kabir Khan's next untitled film.ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Pocket Insurance on Bajaj Markets: Stay Financially Covered in Summers BusinessWire India, Pune, May 24 a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, offers multiple pocket insurance products to provide need-based coverage at affordable premiums. Pocket Insurance on Bajaj Markets: Stay Financially Covered in Summers Spanning different categories, these plans cater to specific needs, by offering customised solutions. Amid rising temperatures in summer, heat-related illnesses are becoming increasingly common during summers and these may result in severe health issues. For those looking to stay financially covered against the harmful effects of heat during summers, taking an insurance plan can be a great choice. One can take the following insurance policies to ensure financial protection against the harmful effects of summers, on Bajaj Markets- Stroke Cover It covers the hospitalisation and treatment expenses, doctors' fees, and medication costs in case one suffers from a stroke.* Premium Rs. 271* Coverage Up to Rs. 3 Lakhs- Migraine Care Plan It covers the lab test packages, OPD/doctor's consultation expenses, and offers network discounts of up to 10% in case one gets diagnosed with migraine.* Premium Rs. 499* Coverage It covers 4 different laboratory tests such as CBC, CT Scan, Glucose-Fasting (F), and MRIThe financial burden that may result from a stroke or a migraine can burn a hole in one's pockets. Thus, it is important to stay prepared in the event of unexpected medical emergencies arising due to a stroke or a migraine. The and Migraine Care Plan have been designed to provide financial protection to individuals and their families.On Bajaj Markets, one can reap the benefits of a quick 3-step application process, hassle free claims' process, 24/7 dedicated team of experts, and plethora of financial solutions.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Private industrial parks to be set up in Aligarh, Saharanpur and Kanpur Dehat under Pledge Scheme: UP CM Yogi Adityanath Lucknow, May 24: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that private industrial parks will be set up in Aligarh, Saharanpur and Kanpur Dehat districts under the Pledge (Promoting Leadership and Enterprises for Development of Growth Engine) scheme. Private industrial parks to be set up in Aligarh, Saharanpur and Kanpur Dehat under Pledge Scheme: UP CM Yogi Adityanath While speaking at the check distribution ceremony for the development of a private industrial park under the Pledge Scheme, CM Yogi said," Six years ago nothing could happen in UP but today the same state is presenting its potential in front of the country and the world through its innovative schemes. The 'Pledge Scheme' is a part of the same series."On the occasion, UP CM issued the first instalment of Rs 1,689.98 lakh to developers under the Pledge (Promoting Leadership and Enterprises for Development of Growth Engine) scheme for the development of private industrial parks in Aligarh, Saharanpur and Kanpur Dehat, an official statement said.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also said that in order to promote Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) a new authority will be set up to frame policies to make waterways accessible and cheaper for transportation of goods."We have inherited hundreds of years of heritage. There are 96 lakh MSME units in the state but they are dying due to lack of encouragement, design, technology, packaging and promotion. Due to this the artisans kept on migrating for a long time. I remember the good work done by the MSME sector during the Covid period, when 40 lakh labour migrants came back, who were absorbed by the MSMEs. UP has now become an export hub worth Rs.2.5 lakh crore".," he said."We launched the most popular ODOP scheme in the country. After this, we started the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana which became part of the Union Budget and is being implemented across the country. Similarly, the UP government is running many other schemes," he added.He further mentioned that a private industrial park in Kanpur Dehat will be a good initiative as the city is already involved in various policies of the defence sector."Kanpur being a defence node, a private industrial park in Kanpur Dehat is a good initiative. I have full faith that all the entrepreneurs will take maximum advantage of the schemes of the UP government. Apart from this, I also appeal to all other MSME entrepreneurs to come forward to make private parks in their respective areas. Today the world is looking towards India with a positive attitude, similarly, the whole of India is seeing UP as a state of possibilities," he said.UP CM Yogi also pointed out that the encouragement of private investment and traditional enterprise is required to meet the needs of the large population of UP.CM Yogi also said that the country's first National Waterway from Varanasi to Haldia is functional."The new authority will work for the development of waterways in UP. A policy will be made to promote water transport in UP and how to make freight easy and cheap," he said.As per the official statement, CM Yogi also emphasized the progress in infrastructure work, interstate connectivity by four lanes, the exodus of Purvanchal and Bundelkhand used to worry the whole country, western UP was at a dangerous juncture of bad law and order and insecurity but today change is visible in all these places."He further informed that the work of Ganga Expressway, Gorakhpur Link and Ballia Link Expressway, Lucknow and Kanpur Greenfield is underway. This will give further impetus to the industrial possibilities in UP," an official statement said."The CM said that all the big entrepreneurs of the country and the world came to Lucknow with investment proposals of Rs 35 lakh crore in the UP Global Investor Summit held this year. This investment will become the biggest medium to provide employment to one crore youth. MSMEs will become the base of these big industries," it added.ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! J-K Chief Secretary launches e-Unnat dashboard with auto-appeal system Srinagar, May 24: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Wednesday launched the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) auto-appeal system for 103 services offered by different government departments through eUnnat dashboard. J-K Chief Secretary launches e-Unnat dashboard with auto-appeal system "Dr Arun Kumar Mehta today launched the PSGA auto-appeal system for 103 services offered by different government departments through the eUnnat dashboard in the presence of Commissioner Secretary GAD, Sanjeev Verma; Commissioner Secretary IT, Prerna Puri and Secretary Revenue, Piyush Singla," an official statement said.According to the officials, the system shall trigger an appeal to appellate authorities once the timelines specified under the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) for availing these services are breached of them."Dr Mehta complimented the IT Department for integrating the feature in the vital digital services offered by these Departments to the citizens. He observed that this feature is going to act as a turning point in maintaining transparency and accountability in the delivery of services to the public and eradicating corruption," the official statement said."It would ensure the prevalence of discipline on the part of both public servants and applicants themselves. He made out that any sort of indiscipline or breach of timelines in providing the services would attract a penalty as per the PSGA," J-K Chief Secretary Mehta said.On the occasion, it was brought out that the delivery of services through online mode has greatly reduced the waiting period for the processing of applications."It was revealed that the bulk of applications in the Revenue, Social Welfare and Housing Departments pertain to such applications and it is going to benefit a large number of people on a daily basis," the statement said.Officials said that the majority of services belong to Departments providing important day-to-day services to the public and constitute the bulk of G2C services provided here.Some of the significant services brought under the Auto-appeal system are the Issuance of Category Certificates by the Tehsildar. It also includes Income, Property, Character, and Legal Heir Certificates as well. Moreover attestation of Mutations, and acquiring of Fard and Revenue Extracts from the Tehsil Offices across J and K too had been brought under this appellate system, the statement mentioned.In addition the services like Issuance of a Job Card under MGNREGA, obtaining Water Connection from Jal Shakti, obtaining marriage assistance, financial assistance under LadliBeti or Pensions from the Social Welfare Department, obtaining Birth Certificate, Death certificate, Street Vending (Rehri) Licence from H and UDD, obtaining of Credit Cards by Artisans, Weavers from the Industries and Commerce Department too form part of the Auto-appeal system launched today by the Chief Secretary here, it added.ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Sithi Nakha: The traditional water day of Nepals Newar community Bhaktapur, May 25: Newa; also called Newars are the natives of Kathmandu Valley on Thursday, are celebrating the annual festival of Sithi Nakha to mark the beginning of the monsoon season by cleaning water sources such as ponds, wells, and stone spouts. Sithi Nakha: The traditional water day of Nepal's Newar community One of the important festivals in the Newar community in Nepal is observed on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Jestha (May/June). According to Hindu mythology, it is said that the day is dedicated to Lord Kumar Kartikeya, the first son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.The act of cleaning the water sources, community ponds, wells and water spouts on the day of Sithi Nakha has special significance in the Newar. It is celebrated at the onset of the rainy season.People believe that the rulers of water Nagas (Snake) leave the wells for other destinations, as the water reduces because of the driest period of the year.People also prepare traditional pancakes such as Bara and Chatamari as a tribute to their ancestral god."Sithi Nakha is one of the important festivals of the Newar community. On this day, all the households cook Bara (a Newari dish made of lentils) and Chatamari (a Newari dish made of rice flour). Also, this day is observed as Kumar Khasti- the birthday of Kumar (Kartikeya)," said Krishna Jyatha, a resident of Bhaktapur told ANI.As per the folklore, the food items are not just for taste. Two delicacies consumed on this day are high in carbohydrates, protein, and iron. As the monsoon approaches, bodies are exposed to different types of bacteria and these types of food increase the immunity of one's body.Apart from it the religious side of the 'Sithi Nakha' festival also highlights the importance of water source conservation and the need for clean water. It is customary to worship around wells, boreholes, and ponds and clean up before worship.It is believed that the water resource should be closed for a few days after cleaning in Sithi Nakha to stabilize the water level.The cleaning is done by entering inside the dug wells, ponds, and boreholes, and by doing so, the underneath wastes like mud, silt, and sediment come up to the surface of the water.Before the monsoon, Kathmandu valley becomes increasingly dry and the water level falls to the lowest level so it is the best time to clean water resources.'Nagas', the serpent deities who are believed to be the rulers of water resources are also worshipped on this day. As a part of the festival, the Newar community works together to clean public water resources. On this day, the farmers avoid working in the fields. Also, it is said that whoever takes bathes on this day and worships Lord Kartikeya, won't fall sick during the monsoon.Another tradition is that all construction should be completed by the Sithi Nakha Day lest a calamity befalls the project-usually coming in the form of monsoon rains which quickly undermine unfinished mud-brick buildings.Sithi Nakha also marks the end of the one-month Dewali period, when Newars of related ancestry gather for great feasts and complicated rituals to honour their family gods and goddesses.This day is chosen for the cleaning of water bodies because the serpent deities themselves are away performing their ancestral Dewali worship. Thus the wells can be cleaned with lime without disturbing the Snake Gods.ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! G20 in Srinagar: Step towards projecting J-K as international film shooting destination Srinagar, May 25: The G20 summit in Srinagar is a step towards projecting Jammu and Kashmir as an international film shooting destination. G20 in Srinagar: Step towards projecting J-K as international film shooting destination The three-day Tourism Working Group Meeting of G20 delegates in Srinagar on May 22, 2023, commenced with the side event on "Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural Preservation."Participants deliberated upon the importance of film tourism and its impact on the economy and culture. They unanimously agreed upon the fact that J-K is the best place to shoot the films.They exuded hope that the scenic locations of Union Territory would be explored by the filmmakers in times to come and the G20 meeting would give a fillip to film tourism in the region.It may be recalled that till 1990, Kashmir was the second home for Bollywood. Way back in 1949 late Raj Kapoor shot some sequences of his film Barsaat in Kashmir, taking its serene beauty to the audience. After that Kashmir became the focus area of many film producers.In the 1960s and 1970s, several Bollywood films, including 'Kashmir Ki Kali' (1964), 'Jab Jab Phool Khile' (1965) and 'Bobby' (1973), among many others, were shot in Kashmir. The songs of these films remained favourites for generations to come.However, after insurgency broke out in J-K in the early nineties the filmmakers were compelled to snap ties with the region due to uncertainty and chaos that prevailed due to the violence orchestrated by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and the separatists.Due to the insurgency cinema halls were burnt, artists and others who were associated with the film industry were threatened.Bollywood made a comeback to J-K post-2000 when films like 'Mission Kashmir' and 'Haider' were shot in Kashmir. But the return was incomplete as the sporadic violent incidents like grenade throwing, cross-firing and stone-pelting continued.On August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government took a historic decision to abrogate Article 370, a temporary provision in the Constitution, and merged J-K completely with the Union of India.The move marked the beginning of peace returning to J-K, especially Kashmir. It ended the hegemony of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and separatists.The breaking out of a new dawn in the Himalayan region led to J-K embarking on the journey of peace, prosperity and development.J-K Film Policy 2021In August 2021, the government launched a new 'J-K Film Policy' with an aim to develop the Union Territory as the first choice of film shooting destination for filmmakers and to bring back the golden era of filmmaking to the strife-torn region.The new film policy led to the creation of a vibrant film ecosystem. Filmmakers from across the world were invited to visit J-K and explore the pristine beauty of the region.At the same time, they were also offered a host of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, besides world-class facilities.The government set up a 'single window clearance mechanism; prepared equipment, location and talent directories, besides offering a host of incentives for filmmakers coming to J-K.The new policy also maximized the potential of promising local talent and created livelihood opportunities for many others.The 'J-K Film Policy 2021' was drafted after consultations with the experts and an in-depth study of progressive film policies of other states, UTs and abroad.Suggestions from renowned people in the Indian film industry were also incorporated while formulating it.At present J-K is offering all the facilities to filmmakers that are available at locations in Europe, America and other countries.Film shooting returnsAfter 2019 J-K regained its proud legacy of association with the world of cinema, and the long and cherished tradition of film shooting.Unexplored places in J-K that were left unattended have been developed as potential destinations for film shoots with the requisite facilities.The new film policy has also given a fillip to the film tourism sector, thus opening up more employment avenues for the locals.Around 1.88 million tourists visiting J-K in 2022 are ample proof that the security concerns have been addressed and the terrorism has been wiped from Jammu and Kashmir.The Union Territory is fast emerging as the most profitable, cost-effective and economically viable destination for filmmakers.Film production can have a major impact on travel destinations as the cinematic exposure to a destination transforms the place into a tourist destination.J-K's culture and heritage provide an enabling environment for the world to shoot the best films in the region.The government has also set up Jammu and Kashmir Film Development Council; providing hands-on access to a website for the talent pool and all shooting destinations; development of shooting locales, and infrastructure for the film screening.Silver screen shines after 3 decadesIn September 2022 J-K Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha inaugurated the first-of-its-kind multiplex in Kashmir after cinemas were shut down in the region in the 1990s, in the Shivpora locality of Srinagar district.The multiplex, which has a capacity of 520 people, is designed by INOX with the latest technology.With the opening of the multiplex, in Srinagar, silver screen returned to Kashmir after more than three decades.Just a few days before throwing open a multiplex in Srinagar, LG Sinha inaugurated two cinema halls in Shopian and Pulwama in South Kashmir.Both districts in 2019 were considered to be the hotbeds of terrorism and stone-pelting.The work is on to open up cinema halls in all the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir so that people of the erstwhile princely state don't remain deprived of any facility that is enjoyed by the denizens of other states and UTs across the country.Gates reopen for Bollywood, HollywoodPrime Minister Narendra Modi-led regime has opened up the gates of J-K for Bollywood and Hollywood.In 2022, more than 300 films and serials were shot in J-K. Hundreds of new tourist destinations have been added to J-K's tourist map of which many are already on the global map.New hotels and resorts have been built across J-K and tourists are also being provided with the option of homestays in various beautiful villages.The suggestions that have come to the fore in the G20 meetings that entail green and eco-tourism have already been started by the J-K administration.The film industry reviving its connection with Jammu and Kashmir is yet another achievement of the PM Modi-led regime. By revoking the so-called special status of J-K incumbent dispensation at the Centre addressed the root cause of violence, terrorism and separatism and opened up J-K to the world.ANI25 May 2023 Shared Recently! Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The city of Bismarck has awarded two organizations a total of $25,000 through its Better Bismarck Campaign to combat homelessness. The City Commission on Tuesday unanimously voted to award $17,000 to Ministry on the Margins and $8,000 to the Heartview Foundation, out of a pool of eight applicants. The Better Bismarck Campaign launched last November. It raises funds from people and groups to address root causes of crisis homelessness. The city matched donations dollar-for-dollar with funds it received through a multidistrict lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The application consisted of four questions weighted at 10%, 50%, 15% and 25%. The questions asked about the organization and how the funds would be used to fight the opioid epidemic. Each application was scored by a nine-person review panel composed of Finance Director Dmitriy Chernyak, City Planner Ben Ehreth, Downtowners Chief Operating Officer Kate Herzog, City Administrator Keith Hunke, Communications Strategist Kalen Ost, Mayor Mike Schmitz, Assistant City Administrator Jason Tomanek, Investcore Inc. CEO Chad Wachter and Deputy Police Chief Randy Ziegler. Ministry on the Margins and the Heartview Foundation scored the highest, according to Schmitz. Organizations that applied but did not receive an award were the Abused Adult Resource Center, Bismarck-Mandan Young Life, Mosaic Community Triage Center, Missouri Slope Areawide United Way, Sacred Pipe Resource Center and Youthworks. "This funding is to streamline and improve services for individuals in crises experiencing chronic homelessness, addiction and behavioral health issues in the city of Bismarck, and the applicants who will receive funds will do just that," Schmitz said. Ministry on the Margins will use its award to assist with operating its low-barrier coffee house. The coffee house launched in early 2022 and provides a safe place for people to rest and get out of the elements. The original estimated need was for 10-15 people per night, but the number served has grown to 50-75 people per night. Operating hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The funding will enable the nonprofit ministry to offer case management. Ministry on the Margins Executive Director Sister Kathleen Atkinson told the commission that having social workers doing case management will "help people move out of this crisis situation." The Ministry will offer case management once a week at 10 p.m. and at 6 a.m. The coffee house works in collaboration with area law enforcement, West Central Human Service Centers Crisis Unit, local medical centers and addiction treatment centers to provide a place of safety for people experiencing homelessness, addiction and behavioral health issues. The Heartview Foundation, a nonprofit alcohol and drug treatment center, will use its award to purchase a methadone pump -- which is used to treat opioid addiction and dependence. Heartview opened its opioid treatment facility in 2017 and currently serves 207 patients. Roughly 100 patients are served daily, according to Executive Director Kurt Snyder. "As the opioid crisis continues to grow, the program is growing exponentially, and this funding will allow us to better serve the community," Snyder said. The Missouri Slope Areawide United Way in April opened its Center For Opportunity -- which features an upgraded homeless shelter and space for onsite services that address some of the root causes of homelessness. "Im happy for the (Better Bismarck) recipients. Its important that we support one another, especially when we all want the same thing to get people the right help they need when they need it," United Way Executive Director Jena Gullo told the Tribune. "At United Way, we are open 24/7 and will continue to seek funding to streamline and improve services for all people experiencing homelessness, including those who are experiencing addiction and behavioral health issues." Donations for the Better Bismarck campaign can still be made. More information is at: https://www.bismarcknd.gov/2091/Better-Bismarck. To donate, text BetterBis to 801801 or go to https://donorbox.org/better-bismarck. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Texas-based cattle company and its owner have been ordered to stop selling unregistered securities in North Dakota. Joshua Link and Agridime LLC allegedly sold contracts represented to be investments in cattle. North Dakota Securities Commissioner Karen Tyler ordered them to cease and desist from selling unregistered securities; from acting as an unregistered broker-dealer, issuer-dealer or agent; and from engaging in fraudulent practices in connection with the offer and sale of securities. The Fort Worth-based company did not immediately respond to a Tribune request for comment. The company and Link, who lives in Arizona, also are the subjects of a cease-and-desist order issued by the Arizona Corporation Commission in April, according to Tyler. Agridime solicited investors through its website and Facebook from at least October 2021 until earlier this month, asking them to purchase cattle at $2,000 per head and make money raising cattle without having to do all the work, according to Tyler. Investors were promised at least a guaranteed 15-20% annual return on their one-year investment, and also were promised a higher rate of return if they renewed their investment instead of liquidating at the end of their original contract, she said. The Securities Department said there are numerous "red flags of investment fraud" in the solicitation. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High 82F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 57F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. During a recent live interview, Matt Hostacky, Channel Partner Success Manager at Wildix, shared some exciting news about the companys growth and new collaborations. Hostacky proudly announced that Wildix has been recognized in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for the second consecutive year. This achievement is a significant marker of the companys commitment to providing quality unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) solutions he explained. Matt Hostacky Hostacky also shed light on the impressive financial growth of the Estonia-based company. Wildix has seen a surge in its average revenue per partner by an impressive 42%, even as other UC companies are restructuring their operations. Wildix, deeply invested in a 100% channel-only philosophy, owes its success to the robust community of Managed Service Providers (MSPs). According to Hostacky, the average annual revenue per MSP has escalated from 31,964 in January 2021 to 45,768, showcasing strong growth. Additionally, the average projected lifespan of MSPs has reached 14.7 years. Wildixs increasing monthly recurring revenue, substantial revenue from CAPEX expenditure, and robust product offerings such as Collaboration, x-hoppers, and x-bees, all illustrate the companys ability to enhance communication and increase efficiencies. Highlighting Wildixs commitment to technological innovation, Hostacky revealed a global integration partnership with Veesion, an AI camera software provider. The five-year exclusive partnership aims to introduce unique AI camera capabilities to the x-hoppers retail solution. Veesions AI software helps detect theft without human input by analyzing images and triggering alerts when theft probabilities cross a certain threshold. When paired with x-hoppers, the software can provide audio alerts or public announcements, significantly reducing shoplifting incidents. This is said to reduce theft by up to 60 percent an impressive number. Further illustrating the versatility of x-hoppers, Hostacky explained how it integrates a phone system and external communications, making use of DECT technology for superior connectivity capabilities. The open API allows easy integration with point-of-sale systems, websites, and efficient call routing. The DECT headsets with push-to-talk technology mimic the capabilities of the phone system, including UC features, video conferencing, faxing, SMS, and chat functionality. Hostacky reiterated that all these features are secure, underscoring Wildixs dedication to providing secure and innovative UC&C solutions. Aside from his role as CEO of TMC and chairman of ITEXPO, Rich Tehrani is CEO of RT Advisors and a Registered Representative with and offering securities through Four Points Capital Partners LLC (Four Points) (Member FINRA/SIPC). RT Advisors is not owned by Four Points. RT-Advisors continues its mission of assisting tech companies in M&A and capital raising using our unique tech media background and relationships to aid companies to optimally position themselves. In addition, as of late we have been increasingly assisting fast-growing tech companies in obtaining non-dilutive capital. Please let us know if we can be of assistance. The above is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy/sell any security or sector mentioned. No companies mentioned above are current or past clients of RT Advisors. A recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) addresses the impact of housing instability among high school students using nationally representative data. This report, which is highly beneficial for policymakers and public health professionals, advocates analyzing how varied demographic characteristics increase risky behaviors among the youth. Furthermore, this study identifies the need for public health bodies to care for the youth with unstable housing. Study: Experiences of Unstable Housing Among High School Students Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021. Image Credit: Sabphoto / Shutterstock.com Background The National Center for Homeless Education reported that during the 2020-2021 school year, about 2.2% of all students in the U.S. experienced unstable housing. Unstable housing refers to a lack of fixed, regular, and appropriate nighttime residences. Youth from unstable housing are at a higher risk of developing adverse behaviors, such as high-risk sexual behaviors, which may involve not using protection during sexual intercourse and experiencing domestic abuse as compared to stably housed youth. Furthermore, youth with unstable housing exhibit higher levels of psychiatric disorders, substance use, and suicide ideation and attempts. The majority of youth with unstable housing in the U.S. are students of color, except for Asian students. As compared to heterosexual youth, a higher prevalence of unstable housing prevailed in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning or other (LGBQ+) youth. Youth belonging to the LGBQ+ community experience family rejection and mistreatment significantly more than their peers due to their sexual identity. About the study The current study considered the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data from 2021, which included a total of 17,232 individuals. YRBS is a cross-sectional school-based survey that has typically been conducted biennially since 1991. The U.S. CDC collects survey data from fifty U.S. states and the District of Columbia. All students were asked, During the past 30 days, where did you usually sleep? Their responses were coded into a binary variable of experiencing unstable housing. Students who informed that they stayed in their parents or guardians homes constituted the stably housed youth group. Those who responded with having stayed in a shelter or emergency housing, the home of a friend, because their parents or guardian could not afford housing, in a motel, hotel, car, park, or other public place were categorized as unstably housed youth. The demographic characteristics, such as sex, grade, race, and sexual identity of all students, were obtained. In addition, information related to health risk behaviors, including substance use, violence victimization, sexual health, mental health, and suicide risk, were obtained. Study findings About 2.7% of high school students were unstably housed in the 30 days before participating in YRBS. As compared to their peers, unstably housed youth were more likely to engage in risky sexual health behaviors, experience violence, have suicidal ideas and attempt suicide, and use illegal substances. The current YRBS estimates are consistent with another national survey estimating that 2.2% of school-aged youth were homeless in the U.S. Another study reported that 3.0% of youth between 13 and 17 years of age experience unstable housing. The prevalence of unstable housing rose with increasing grade levels. Moreover, unstable housing was mostly associated with Black, LGBQ+, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN), and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (NH/PI) students as compared to their white and heterosexual peers. Most of the unstably housed youth were not only sexually active but used alcohol or other substances before their last sexual encounter. This group was also more likely to have tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the past year. Previous studies have associated youth homelessness with family instability, being subjected to foster care, and events of abuse and neglect. These adverse experiences were robustly connected with poorer health status. Conclusions Since YRBS data are cross-sectional, causality was not determined between housing instability and health risk behaviors. In addition, all considered variables did not share a common time reference point. Since the current study focused on unstable housing in the preceding 30 days, the true rates of unstable housing among youth could have been underestimated throughout 2021. Another limitation of this study is that it only considered youth who attended schools. In most cases, adolescents experiencing unstable housing are more likely to disengage from school. Despite these limitations, this report is the first to estimate housing instability among high school students in the U.S. YRBS data indicated a higher frequency of risky behaviors among youth residing in unstable housing. In most cases, students with unstable housing are male, LGBQ+, and non-Hispanic Black. Schools play a crucial role in providing service and care to youth from unstable housing. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MVA) provides training to support students in temporary housing. Thought Leaders Dr. Sinead Knight Principal Scientist and Section Head Sygnature Discovery In this behind-the-scenes interview, we speak to Dr. Sinead Knight, chair of SLAS Europe 2023, about this year's program, highlighting the key topics and incredible speakers presenting at the show. Please can you introduce yourself and tell us what inspired your career within the life sciences? I'm Sinead Knight, originally from Tipperary in Ireland, but I have been living in the UK since 2010. My career in the life sciences started when I moved to Dublin at just 17 to study Biotechnology at Dublin City University. I was always interested in Biology and enjoyed the subject in secondary school. After I graduated, I got my first job in a QC laboratory at Baxter Healthcare. There I found that I had missed research and soon returned to Dublin to do my Ph.D. at Trinity College Dublin. I have always enjoyed the research aspect of the life sciences, and I find the clinical nature of drug discovery most inspiring. Currently, you are a principal scientist at Sygnature Discovery, a leading independent provider of integrated drug discovery resources and expertise. Can you tell us more about your role and some of your day-to-day responsibilities? My role at Sygnature Discovery is very dynamic, and I work with many clients at different drug discovery phases and across various therapeutic areas. At Sygnature, we are surrounded by experts from both the biotech and pharmaceutical industries and part of my role is to leverage this to help our clients implement effective drug discovery strategies. I will work with computational chemists, bioscientists, biophysicists, medicinal chemists, and in vivo pharmacologists on any given day. It is a fun and dynamic environment, and there is always something new to learn each day. I enjoy the array of different targets and therapeutic areas. Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com As someone with over 15 years of experience working in pharmaceutical drug discovery projects, how do you feel the drug discovery sector has evolved over the last ten years? How important is the sector in enabling a better future for human health? I think Drug Discovery turned a corner after the COVID-19 pandemic, and I think it has given scientists added confidence that drugs can be discovered and delivered to save lives and have a social impact with the right funding and collaborations. Collaborations are so important now for drug discovery; we have seen this more and more; targets get validated quicker, and drugs get discovered more effectively when teams come together. I also think scientists today have the added challenge of climate change and reducing our carbon footprint in the laboratory. I feel inspired by the younger scientists joining the lab and coming up with new ideas to reduce plastics and waste in the laboratory. Like so many other industries, the life sciences need to change. It's getting harder and harder to ignore the waste generated in life science laboratories. With so many breakthroughs being made, technology has to continuously evolve to keep up. What role does technology play in the field of drug discovery, and how are new fields such as AI and machine learning impacting this? Technology is everything. It goes hand in hand with drug discovery, and it allows the life sciences to evolve and open doors that have previously been shut, allowing us to do things faster, smarter and cheaper, At Sygnature, we have to stay on top of technological advances to stay competitive and attract clients. We work with many startups who want to get answers quickly and efficiently, and technology allows us to do this. I think AI and machine learning are having a hugely positive impact on the life sciences, especially in mining clinical data to identify footprints of disease and identifying biomarkers. Watch out for the OMICS, Big Data, and AI session in the Frontiers in Technology Track. As well as your role at Sygnature Discovery, you are also involved in SLAS as one of their program committee members for SLAS EU 2023. Why did you get involved with SLAS, and what does your role entail? Working with SLAS is a really important part of my career, it enables me to network with colleagues across all the major pharmaceutical industries, such as GSK, AZ, and Roche, as well as academia and biotech. It helps me stay on top of new developments and technologies, which is a huge part of my career. My role as conference chair is to ensure we bring relevant and cutting-edge to the conference. Attendees come to the conference hoping to learn about new developments in their area and create new collaborations. A big part of my role is ensuring that we represent a diverse community at SLAS, from biotech, pharmaceutical and academic institutions. I have worked in academia, biotech, CRO, and pharmaceuticals, so it helps build a diverse set of contacts and gives a perspective on the different content the different scientific communities will benefit from. I am also an associate editor for SLAS Discovery, one of two open-access journals published by SLAS. We've recently added several article types to our journals. It offers another platform to showcase research, protocols, analyses, or other scientific and technical advances. SLAS Europe 2022 - Dublin, Ireland Play SLAS EU 2023 is an international exhibition that brings together life sciences professionals from academia to industry. What makes SLAS special, and how does the collaboration between academia and industry help to accelerate new discoveries in the life sciences? For me, SLAS is special because it reaches out across such a diverse scientific community internationally, representing biotech, big pharma, and academia. Each community offers something unique in drug discovery, whether it's infrastructure, biological insight, or drug discovery know-how, and SLAS is a perfect platform to bring these together. Collaborations between academia and industry are hugely beneficial to the life sciences. In academia, we often have experts in a particular therapeutic area, often with close links to University hospitals and clinical samples/data, which can offer invaluable insights into biological processes and therapeutic targets. On the other hand, the industry has decades of drug discovery know-how and can help bring drugs from hit ID through to lead optimization and clinical studies. Both communities can learn and develop faster, making it more fun. Working with different communities makes our job more challenging, interesting, and colorful. At Europe 2023, we have a rich palette of speakers/chairs from academic institutes such as the University of Oxford, University College Dublin, The Sanger, and the University of Edinburgh. This year's conference and exhibition will focus on four important educational tracks; Biology Unveiled, Frontiers in Technology, Shaping the Future of Therapeutics, and Bio-Entrepreneurship in Europe'. Can you tell us more about these tracks and the importance of focusing on these areas specifically? We hope with the broad-reaching tracks that, there will be something for everyone that has an interest in drug discovery, Frontiers in technology will showcase new developments in technology, but the Biology Unveiled track will demonstrate how these technologies impact and help drive and improve the drug discovery process. I am really looking forward to the Shaping the Future of Therapeutics, and I think this will be a very popular track. We have seen many developments in this area over the last decade, and the track includes sessions on Cell Therapy, Gene Therapy, Targeted Protein Degradation, and RNA Therapeutics. Bio-entrepreneurship is an exciting new track, offering valuable insights to those interested in securing investment or developing their research into a startup. At SLAS EU, there will also be numerous incredible speakers discussing some of the biggest challenges in the life sciences as well as new research and technologies. Can you talk us through some of the speakers people can expect from SLAS this year? Well, there will be so many great talks; it is not an easy task to highlight a few. The speakers will cover a huge range of topics and will represent academia, biotech, and pharmaceuticals. The Frontiers in Technology track has speakers lined up to talk through topics on sample management, high content screening and protein science and OMICS, big data, and AI. Louise Weiss from the AI hub will speak about "Machine learning to uncover digital fingerprints in translational omics data". We also have talks on sample management from AstraZeneca, Evotech, and Grenova. In the biology unveiled track, we have some exciting talks lined up in the Target Validation track from AstraZeneca, The Sanger Institute, and Benevolent AI. We have expert speakers in future therapeutic areas such as cell therapy, gene therapy, RNA therapeutics, and protein-targeted degradation. Bio-entrepreneurship is an exciting new track, offering valuable insights from Venture Capitalist Investment to Innovation and IP management. Image Credit: AZoNetwork SLAS is also unique as they offer 'Innovation AveNEW', an area on the exhibition floor dedicated to startups. What role do startups have in the life sciences ecosystem, and why is showcasing these new companies invaluable? Startups are a huge part of the life sciences ecosystem; they bring a dynamic to drug discovery that often bridges the strengths of academia with industry. As well as publishing research, startups translate research into work that has an impact on drug discovery. Showcasing these new companies at SLAS2023 can help raise the profile of new startups and what they offer across the drug discovery community, foster collaboration, and generate business opportunities. With over 100 exhibiting companies and numerous international speakers, why should individuals attend SLAS EU 2023? Where can people go to register? SLAS Europe only comes around once a year. For us here in Europe, it's easier to get to than SLAS in the US, but it offers the same array of dynamic content from international speakers. It's a fantastic opportunity to network with the life sciences community and get up to speed on new developments and technologies. It's a chance to catch up with vendors, talk through their latest developments, and then head back to your institute packed with ideas for innovation. You can register online at https://www.slas.org/events-calendar/slas-europe-2023-conference-and-exhibition/attend/register/ What is next for you and your career? Are you involved in any exciting upcoming projects? As well as chairing SLAS Europe this year, I have also been involved in designing the course content for an SLAS High Content Biology workshop, and I am looking forward to seeing that being rolled out this year. After serving on the SLAS European Scientific Program Committee (ESPC) for two years, I have recently been elected as vice-chair, and I look forward to the new challenges it brings. I am also an associate editor for SLAS Discovery, one of two open-access journals published by SLAS. We've recently added several article types to our journals, including protocols, and I look forward to promoting this amongst the life sciences community. At Sygnature Discovery, I am involved in many different drug discovery projects from early Hit ID, target validation, and lead optimization across a variety of therapeutic areas such as Oncology and Neuroscience, and I am looking forward to working together with our experts in Cell Biology, Biophysics, Med Chemistry, and Computational Chemistry to seeing these projects progress over the next year. About Dr. Sinead Knight Sinead received her PhD in Genetics from Trinity college Dublin, Ireland before moving quickly to the biotech industry. With almost twenty years of industrial experience in biotech and biopharmaceuticals, Sinead is an expert in the field of #drug discovery, #target identification and target validation. Sinead is currently Principal Scientist and Section Head at Sygnature Discovery working closely with SMEs and biotech companies to develop and progress drug discovery projects. Previous roles such as Associate Principal Scientist with the Functional Genomics group in #AstraZeneca instilled a love of using cutting-edge technology and informatics to uncover and translate biology and novel targets across a range of therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, metabolism and oncology. Sineads experience in drug discovery ranges from early hit identification in high-throughput screening through to lead optimisation and candidate selection. Sinead has been involved with SLAS since 2019 and is a member of ESPC (SLAS European Scientific Programming Committee) and SLASDiscovery editorial board. A team of researchers at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy is reporting that by manipulating TAK1, a signaling protein that plays an important role in development of the immune system, they can slow down disease progression and improve muscle function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD, caused by mutations in dystrophin gene, is an inheritable neuromuscular disorder that occurs in one out of 3,600 male births. DMD patients undergo severe muscle wasting, inability to walk and eventually death in their early thirties due to respiratory failure. The disease is marked by an inflammatory response and death of muscle fibers. Eventually, the muscle fibers are replaced with fat and fibrotic tissue that causes severe muscle weakness. "Our results suggest that TAK1 (transforming growth factor -activated kinase1) is a regulator of skeletal muscle mass. By specifically targeting this protein, we can suppress the death of muscle fibers, known as myonecrosis, and slow down disease progression in DMD," said Ashok Kumar, Else and Philip Hargrove Endowed Professor and chair, Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, whose results were published in JCI Insight. "Our research shows that activating TAK1 can stimulate myofiber growth in a model of DMD, with no negative impact on muscle health." In a previous breakthrough, Kumar's team uncovered a surprising fact: TAK1 is essential for maintaining skeletal muscle mass and that activating TAK1 beyond normal levels can enhance skeletal muscle growth. For this research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, the team designed experiments to reduce or augment the levels of TAK1 protein in skeletal muscle at different stages of disease progression. Our experiments demonstrate that depletion of TAK1 activity during peak necrotic phase followed by re-introduction of TAK1 at post-necrotic phase leads to substantial improvement in muscle pathology." Anirban Roy, research assistant professor The current standard of care for DMD is focused on reducing inflammation with corticosteroids, which modestly reduces disease progression, but has serious side effects. "Accumulating evidence suggests that regulation of immune response, autophagy, and metabolism along with gene correction therapy can be promising approaches to slow down disease progression in DMD patients," said Roy. Scientists at Klick Labs have developed a new way to catch the earliest signs the human body is failing to control blood glucose levels, before it reaches prediabetic levels in patients. In findings published today in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health, researchers outlined a new method of analysis that flags a precursor to prediabetes called impaired glucose homeostasis (IGH). When they applied their patented mathematical method to data obtained from continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), scientists found about one in five study participants, considered healthy by medical standards, actually had glucose metabolism similar to those with prediabetes. For people with diabetes, blood glucose levels can rise and fall like a wild roller-coaster ride with steep drops and peaks. We found a similar pattern in patients with IGH, albeit those patterns were more like gentle waves than dramatic peaks, but intervention on this population could limit the likelihood of progression to full diabetes." Jaycee Kaufman, study lead author and research scientist at Klick Labs A total of 384 people were equipped with a CGM for the study and assessed by a physician over a two-week time period. Participants were diagnosed diabetic, pre-diabetic, or healthy, according to guidelines outlined by the American Diabetes Association. After applying the mathematical model, patients were then re-classified into two groups based on their glucose homeostasis parameters: effective or impaired. "What was most surprising is that 20 percent of participants, who were assessed using the standard screening tools for diabetes and cleared as healthy by a physician, were then found to have impaired glucose homeostasisreinforcing it is now possible to provide an earlier, more accurate and sensitive assessment of people's diabetic status," said Yan Fossat, Vice President of Klick Labs About 34 million people have diabetes in the U.S. and one in three Americans have prediabetes or diabetes. North of the border, there are 11.7 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes in the U.S., more than 80 percent don't know they have it. With research suggesting it is possible to reverse diabetes, or at least slow its progression, there is growing demand for screening tools that can flag at-risk individuals. Screening and monitoring involve reviewing risk factors such as age, BMI, and family history; and diagnosis relies primarily on the blood tests like glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). "This new method of analysis is a major step forward in the prevention and management of diabetes," Fossat said. "Early detection and intervention is critical in the management of Type 2 diabetes, so our method has the potential to have a significant impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide." These findings are the latest in Klick's ongoing work in the diabetes space. Their "Homeostasis as a proportionalintegral control system" study, published in Nature Digital Medicine in 2020, was also based on mathematical modeling to determine some of the underlying changes in how glucose is regulated. This work was performed in ongoing collaboration with Ontario Tech University, Lennaert van Veen, Professor of Mathematics in the Faculty of Science, and funded in part by a Mitacs grant. A University of Queensland study has found a child's repeated exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) puts them at higher risk of behavioral problems. IPV is a pattern of behavior between adults that includes physical, sexual, psychological violence and threats of violence which can have negative impacts on children who witness it. Dr Katrina Moss from UQ's School of Public Health said researchers examined the IPV experiences of 2,163 mothers born between 1973-1978 using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). We looked at three time points, pre-conception, when their child turned one, and again when the child was 4. We then linked reports of child behavioral problems to 3,697 eight-year-olds which showed 32 per cent had been exposed to IPV, and of these, 45% were repeatedly exposed." Dr Katrina Moss from UQ's School of Public Health The study found the number of exposures was more important than when it occurred in a child's life, with the risk of behavior problems increasing on each occasion. "It's clear that IPV exposure is bad for a child at any time, but it's worse the more times it happens," Dr Moss said. "We also found middle childhood, between 3-6 years, was a critical time for internalizing problems in boys who were particularly vulnerable to IPV exposure during that time." Between 30 - 50 per cent of women and 25 per cent of children in Australia will experience IPV. Dr Moss said up to two-thirds of children exposed to it will have poorer outcomes than their peers. "It can cause behavioral problems in children, which may be internalized through anxiety, fear, depression, and withdrawal, or externalized with aggression, hyperactivity, impulsivity, drug use, and attention problems," Dr Moss said. "Problem behaviors in early childhood can establish poor developmental pathways which lead to aggression in middle childhood and crime in adolescence. "The sooner we detect IPV and intervene, the better it is for children and parents. "A reduction in the length of time a child is exposed to IPV will lessen the negative impacts on their behavior." This study is published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Today, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon Generals Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. While social media may offer some benefits, there are ample indicators that social media can also pose a risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Social media use by young people is nearly universal, with up to 95% of young people ages 13-17 reporting using a social media platform and more than a third saying they use social media almost constantly. With adolescence and childhood representing a critical stage in brain development that can make young people more vulnerable to harms from social media, the Surgeon General is issuing a call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people alike to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use, maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of social media platforms, and create safer, healthier online environments to protect children. The Surgeon Generals Advisory is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ongoing efforts to support President Joe Bidens whole-of-government strategy to transform mental health care for all Americans. The most common question parents ask me is, is social media safe for my kids. The answer is that we don't have enough evidence to say it's safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young peoples mental health. Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment. And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis one that we must urgently address. Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General.. Usage of social media can become harmful depending on the amount of time children spend on the platforms, the type of content they consume or are otherwise exposed to, and the degree to which it disrupts activities that are essential for health like sleep and physical activity. Importantly, different children are affected by social media in different ways, including based on cultural, historical, and socio-economic factors. Among the benefits, adolescents report that social media helps them feel more accepted (58%), like they have people who can support them through tough times (67%), like they have a place to show their creative side (71%), and more connected to whats going on in their friends lives (80%). However, social media use can be excessive and problematic for some children. Recent research shows that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety; yet one 2021 survey of teenagers found that, on average, they spend 3.5 hours a day on social media. Social media may also perpetuate body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, social comparison, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls. One-third or more of girls aged 11-15 say they feel addicted to certain social media platforms and over half of teenagers report that it would be hard to give up social media. When asked about the impact of social media on their body image, 46% of adolescents aged 13-17 said social media makes them feel worse, 40% said it makes them feel neither better nor worse, and only 14% said it makes them feel better. Additionally, 64% of adolescents are often or sometimes exposed to hate-based content through social media. Studies have also shown a relationship between social media use and poor sleep quality, reduced sleep duration, sleep difficulties, and depression among youth. While more research is needed to determine the full impact social media use has on nearly every teenager across the country, children and adolescents dont have the luxury of waiting years until we know the full extent of social medias effects. The Surgeon Generals Advisory offers recommendations stakeholders can take to help ensure children and their families have the information and tools necessary to make social media safer for children: Policymakers can take steps to strengthen safety standards and limit access in ways that make social media safer for children of all ages, better protect childrens privacy, support digital and media literacy, and fund additional research. take steps to strengthen safety standards and limit access in ways that make social media safer for children of all ages, better protect childrens privacy, support digital and media literacy, and fund additional research. Technology companies can better and more transparently assess the impact of their products on children, share data with independent researchers to increase our collective understanding of the impacts, make design and development decisions that prioritize safety and health including protecting childrens privacy and better adhering to age minimums and improve systems to provide effective and timely responses to complaints. better and more transparently assess the impact of their products on children, share data with independent researchers to increase our collective understanding of the impacts, make design and development decisions that prioritize safety and health including protecting childrens privacy and better adhering to age minimums and improve systems to provide effective and timely responses to complaints. Parents and caregivers can make plans in their households such as establishing tech-free zones that better foster in-person relationships, teach kids about responsible online behavior and model that behavior, and report problematic content and activity. make plans in their households such as establishing tech-free zones that better foster in-person relationships, teach kids about responsible online behavior and model that behavior, and report problematic content and activity. Children and adolescents can adopt healthy practices like limiting time on platforms, blocking unwanted content, being careful about sharing personal information, and reaching out if they or a friend need help or see harassment or abuse on the platforms. adopt healthy practices like limiting time on platforms, blocking unwanted content, being careful about sharing personal information, and reaching out if they or a friend need help or see harassment or abuse on the platforms. Researchers can further prioritize social media and youth mental health research that can support the establishment of standards and evaluation of best practices to support childrens health. In concert with the Surgeon Generals Advisory, leaders at six of the nations medical organizations and the National Parent Teacher Association have expressed their concern on social medias effects on youth mental health: Social media can be a powerful tool for connection, but it can also lead to increased feelings of depression and anxiety particularly among adolescents. Family physicians are often the first stop for parents and families concerned about the physical and emotional health of young people in their lives, and we confront the mental health crisis among youth every day. The American Academy of Family Physicians commends the Surgeon General for identifying this risk for America's youth and joins our colleagues across the health care community in equipping young people and their families with the resources necessary to live healthy, balanced lives. Tochi Iroku-Malize, M.D., MPH, MBA, FAAFP, President, American Academy of Family Physicians Todays children and teens do not know a world without digital technology, but the digital world wasnt built with childrens healthy mental development in mind. We need an approach to help children both on and offline that meets each child where they are while also working to make the digital spaces they inhabit safer and healthier. The Surgeon Generals Advisory calls for just that approach. The American Academy of Pediatrics looks forward to working with the Surgeon General and other federal leaders on Youth Mental Health and Social Media on this important work. Sandy Chung, M.D., FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics With near universal social media use by Americas young people, these apps and sites introduce profound risk and mental health harms in ways we are only now beginning to fully understand. As physicians, we see firsthand the impact of social media, particularly during adolescence a critical period of brain development. As we grapple with the growing, but still insufficient, research and evidence in this area, we applaud the Surgeon General for issuing this important Advisory to highlight this issue and enumerate concrete steps stakeholders can take to address concerns and protect the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. We continue to believe in the positive benefits of social media, but we also urge safeguards and additional study of the positive and negative biological, psychological, and social effects of social media. Jack Resneck Jr., M.D., President, American Medical Association The first principle of health care is to do no harm thats the same standard we need to start holding social media platforms to. As the Surgeon General has pointed out throughout his tenure, we all have a role to play in addressing the youth mental health crisis that we now face as a nation. We have the responsibility to ensure social media keeps young people safe. And as this Surgeon Generals Advisory makes clear, we as physicians and healers have a responsibility to be part of the effort to do so. Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., CEO and Medical Director, American Psychiatric Association The American Psychological Association applauds the Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, affirming the use of psychological science to reach clear-eyed recommendations that will help keep our youth safe online. Psychological research shows that young people mature at different rates, with some more vulnerable than others to the content and features on many social media platforms. We support the advisory's recommendations and pledge to work with the Surgeon General's Office to help build the healthy digital environment that our kids need and deserve. Arthur Evans, Jr., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President, American Psychological Association. Social media use by young people is pervasive. It can help them, and all of us, live more connected lives if, and only if, the appropriate oversight, regulation and guardrails are applied. Now is the moment for policymakers, companies and experts to come together and ensure social media is set up safety-first, to help young users grow and thrive. The Surgeon Generals Advisory about the effects of social media on youth mental health issued today lays out a roadmap for us to do so, and its critical that we undertake this collective effort with care and urgency to help todays youth. Susan L. Polan, Ph.D., Associate Executive Director, Public Affairs and Advocacy, American Public Health Association Every parents top priority for their child is for them to be happy, healthy and safe. We have heard from families who say they need and want information about using social media and devices. This Advisory from the Surgeon General confirms that family engagement on this topic is vital and continues to be one of the core solutions to keeping children safe online and supporting their mental health and well-being. Anna King, President, National Parent Teacher Association. In December 2021, Dr. Murthy issued a Surgeon Generals Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health calling attention to our national crisis of youth mental health and well-being. Earlier this month, he released a Surgeon Generals Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, where he outlined the profound health consequences of social disconnection and laid out six pillars to increase connection across the country, one of which being the need to reform our digital environments. The new Surgeon Generals Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health is a continuation of his work to enhance the mental health and well-being of young people across the country. The full Surgeon Generals Advisory can be read here. In a major development, the Government of Kazakhstan has waived visa fees for Indian tourists for a two-week period, paving the way for an incredible vacation in this picturesque nation. Adding to the excitement, FlyArystan, the renowned low-cost carrier of Kazakhstan and a part of the Air Astana Group, has launched direct flights from Delhi to Shymkent, offering a seamless travel experience for eager travelers. FlyArystan marked a historic moment by operating its maiden flight between India and Kazakhstan on Monday, May 22. The Delhi-Shymkent route witnessed the inaugural flight, setting the stage for an extraordinary journey. With the Government of Kazakhstans decision to waive visa fees for Indian tourists for a 14-day visit, FlyArystan is optimistic about attracting a significant influx of travelers seeking a memorable vacation in this breathtaking destination. Building upon Air Astanas existing flights to and from India, FlyArystan has introduced an exciting new route connecting Delhi and Shymkent. Departures from Indira Gandhi International Airport are scheduled between 12 pm and 3:35 pm, while return flights from Shymkent International Airport operate from 8:20 am to 10:55 am. Reports indicate that the one-way journey can be as affordable as USD 55 (approximately Rs 4,500). Our investigation revealed that fares in June vary between USD 137 (approximately Rs 11,300) and USD 167 (approximately Rs 13,800), with the lowest fares reaching an enticing USD 53 (approximately Rs 4,384). Also Read: Air India Launches New Customer Support Portal, Heres How it Will Work top videos Since its inception in May 2019, FlyArystan has emerged as Kazakhstans first low-cost carrier, making air travel more accessible and affordable for passengers. With a fleet comprising 14 Airbus A320 aircraft, averaging just 7 years in age, FlyArystan has set a high standard for service and efficiency. It is worth mentioning that four of these aircraft were acquired directly from the manufacturers factory. With ambitious plans to expand its fleet to 19 aircraft, including new additions, by the end of 2023, FlyArystan aims to establish Kazakhstan as a gateway to the European market for Indian travelers, unlocking a realm of possibilities. Exciting times lie ahead as FlyArystan spreads its wings, enabling Indian tourists to explore the enchanting landscapes and cultural riches of Kazakhstan. With visa-free travel and pocket-friendly fares, now is the perfect time to seize this opportunity and embark on an unforgettable journey to this remarkable nation. FlyArystan is ready to make your travel dreams come true, connecting India to the wonders of Kazakhstan with unmatched convenience and affordability. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNQDp3v-VGE Elon Musks Incredible Speech on the Education System | Eye Opening Video on Education My Idol Elon 1.27K subscribers Subscribe 2.8K Share 93,671 views May 21, 2021 #ElonMusk #Elon #Musk Here's an incredible speech that Elon Musk give on the Education system, Schools, Colleges and Universities. Theres a reason why all the successful people and billionaires don't like our education system. In this video Elon Musk talks about everything there is to know about his views on the education system, schools, colleges and universities. Check out the video and let us know your opinion in the comments section below. See Elon Musks book recommendations: https://onlinebookrecommendations.com... Connect with us: https://www.facebook.com/MyIdolElon https://twitter.com/MyIdolElon For Business Inquiries: Email provided in the About page. If you like this video, Please consider subscribing to the channel to get more Elon Musk videos every week. #ElonMusk #Education #Schools #Colleges #EducationSystem #Universities #Elon #Musk [Professor] Professor 1 year ago After 25 years of teaching I can tell you first hand, he is 100% correct. Those running our education system (not the teachers by the way) are doing a horrible job. It is being run exactly the way they want it, the problem is the goals they have do not aline with what is best for the students or society. 143 Reply 9 replies [Carl Lelandt] Carl Lelandt 10 months ago You're a teacher? -"aline" 3 Reply [javascript shorts] javascript shorts 9 months ago exactly 1 Reply [Non-Humanitarian Anti-Feminism] Non-Humanitarian Anti-Feminism 9 months ago @Carl Lelandt I R Professor 1 Reply [Raul Romani] Raul Romani 8 months ago Conflict of interest is a common people problem. Reply [John Foley] John Foley 8 months ago @Carl Lelandt Google voice typing maybe? Reply [XI PHENOM] XI PHENOM 7 months ago @Professor I thought if teachers r good then education syterm become bestest in their own way I thought you r not good ... Reply [McFlash] McFlash 4 months ago Ironic a professor is saying that, youre part of the education system. Reply [The King of Debates] The King of Debates 1 month ago it existed for 150 years,and nothing has been charged! that alone tells a lot Reply [Iva Valkounova] Iva Valkounova 2 weeks ago (edited) I teach as well and I couldn? agree more. Not teaching and explaining the relevance is core problem of education. Reply [Pat S] Pat S 1 month ago I mean he is right. I am just month away from finishing high school. I loved learning new things since very young age. But then I started hating school, because you had to know this and this. So only things I was enjoying (languages and history), I learnt it myself from other sources much better. 17 Reply 1 reply [Jannenisa Jitchana] Jannenisa Jitchana 1 year ago Who agrees what Elon musk says about Education? 58 Reply 2 replies [Chris long] Chris long 11 months ago I did think school was little more than a 13 year prison sentence. I did learn some but, I probably learned about 5 years of knowledge in 13 years. We home schooled our daughters and by 6th grade they were already testing beyond 12 grade. 24 Reply 4 replies [Amy Jaye] Amy Jaye 1 year ago When my daughter took my grandson out of school he went from being a first grader to a 4th grader year. School was holding him back. For some kids they're constantly waiting for the others to catch up. I can't believe he reads me books at Six years old. We can't even be sneaky and spell things Because he know how to spell everything. 31 Reply [BabyGirl1] BabyGirl1 4 weeks ago I Love You Elon; your insight; your words. You touched so many hearts [] ? [] [] ? 2 Reply [Genius & His Friends] Genius & His Friends 2 days ago I totally agree with what you have said in this video. I am also endeavouring to change the education system today. Reply [Austine kenny Akunne] Austine kenny Akunne 1 month ago I PERSONALLY WENT TO SCHOOL AND COLLAGE NOT FOR EDUCATION BUT TO LEARNED HOW TO THINK ABOUT LIFE IN THE WORLD. QUOTES AKUNNE [] [] [] [] [] [] 2 Reply [Jerry Batholo] Jerry Batholo 11 months ago That's what we were taught and your uniqueness is exceptional. [] 11 Reply [chips Ko] chips Ko 1 year ago Wht I can say, every school starts with these ideas until we don't care about the knowledge but grades only, then it starts to be worst place for the students and teachers. 44 Reply 6 replies [Hej med Dig] Hej med Dig 1 year ago i was in tears a minute ago over my future and my university's last semester..and then idkkkk how i found this....LOVEEE 39 Reply [Kimfake Kardashianfake] Kimfake Kardashianfake 1 year ago Ive seen some amazing exceptional young kids its the educational system that has no future 12 Reply 2 replies [william palacio] william palacio 1 year ago WHEN HE SAID,, AT HIGH SCHOOL , KIDS , DONT LEARN ANYTHING,, ALL THEY , DO .IS HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH FRIENDS AND,,, SO,100% RIGHT 26 Reply [Paul Moogk] Paul Moogk 8 months ago Students are taught as though on an assembly line so that the end products are all the same. Theyre easier to manage that way. I let my children choose their own direction and support them in their interest in order to build passions fir what they do. 8 Reply 2 replies [IBEZIM JAMES] IBEZIM JAMES 2 months ago I wish all dads were like you. 1 Reply [Elon Musk] Elon Musk 12 days ago I really appreciate your comment where are you streaming from and how long have you been my fan? [] [] ? Reply [Kitten Cat] Kitten Cat 1 year ago Holy shit how my school teacher cant answer my question why I need to do this stuff? 29 Reply 2 replies [TheOutlasted] TheOutlasted 1 year ago So true. Teachers just order you to do stuff all the time, and they want you to not question yourself why you need to do it. But, still, why? 6 Reply [mathesh mathesh] mathesh mathesh 4 months ago [] I want learn different way like Elon Musk but this society ask our exam marks every time. So I try to explain them but they can't understanding. It's really boring education system that we have. It's the sad reality [] [Carl Lelandt] Carl Lelandt 10 months ago (edited) How to address "nature deficit disorder," which in my opinion, is a very legitimate growing concern. Kids take to nature automatically, no problem. Usually the problem stems from the adults (job situation etc). Can schools find a way to work this into the learning/life-experience process?. Maybe Kimbal has ideas on that, since he's the green jeans. Maybe they could thinktank that. My idea is to just buy small farms or mountain-lake lodges to operate as "schools." Let them feed the chickens, paddle canoes, etc. along with some kind of academics. Show less 1 Reply [Brenda Hopkins] Brenda Hopkins 1 year ago My youngest went to montessori school and this sounds very similar [] 8 Reply [star west] star west 8 months ago i guess education has good side and bad side , many years ago study it s so hard and boring but now so many things change Reply [Ellen Max] Ellen Max 8 days ago A degree might be unnecessary or schooling might unnecessary ( yet social engagement or communication between youth are necessary via school or other form ) but for youth to storage a core amount of knowledge is necessary as it gives them wing for their future passion when they discover it- we call it a foundation. The matter is HOW to insert this core amount of knowledge with a fully engaged mind - suppose this is a task for educators and software designers, etc. college degree might not apply to ones careers directly, but the fact that a person goes through a higher education process which indicates that a certain foundational knowledge is acquired but a genies is an exception - some dropped out of school, some went through many subjects learning via school. Show less Reply [Muhilkumar A] Muhilkumar A 1 year ago I'm going to start a school like Elon Musk [] 16 Reply [Nongbri Pynshngain] Nongbri Pynshngain 2 months ago Education never teach us to be successful in life .... 3 Reply [Menal Kha] Menal Kha 7 months ago Education is something and being a businessman is something else. 3 Reply 1 reply [atlanticgamer94] atlanticgamer94 1 day ago (edited) I agree i hate school because you just learn useless stuff when you can learn useful stuff from the internet Reply [Inmobiliariasun Gaelle Van Binst] Inmobiliariasun Gaelle Van Binst 1 month ago if we could make online university, but a public one, of course doing presential exams, it would be great, I could enroll to university if I wanted to, going to classe takes too much time, most students are able to understand the concepts, just need a teacher for explaining things we don't understand, of course, the salary would be the same, because you would have the option to go to online class or not and that is it. Show less Reply [D Junaid] D Junaid 7 hours ago I also hated going to school, one thing is common between us. Reply [Santiago Granados] Santiago Granados 7 months ago I believe that school was made for workers, good grades ? Good get a stable high paying job. Theyre hiring you cause youre a good worker, worker not thinker. Depending on your job of course but other wise youd be underpayed. If you want another career path and have a plan or know where to find the info(internet/networking/experience) then people will say you dont go to college you dont become successful they kill your creativity. Show less 5 Reply [Shoaib Khan] Shoaib Khan 2 weeks ago Schools are great learning platforms. All these guys Gates, Larry, and Musk went to expensive Schools and learned a great deal and dropped out at a very later stage in College due to a mismatch of fields and changed fields but that doesn't mean they didn't learn anything from schools! Show me One Man in this era who never ever went to school and was a farmer and invented tech. Show less 3 Reply 4 replies [Elon Musk] Elon Musk 12 days ago I really appreciate your comment where are you streaming from and how long have you been my fan? [] [] ? 1 Reply [Shoaib Khan] Shoaib Khan 12 days ago @Elon Musk beaming from Islamabad Pakistan [] 1 Reply [Elon Musk] Elon Musk 12 days ago @Shoaib Khan wow you are so enthusiastic and I am so happy to come across a positive and COurageous woman like yourself Reply [Elon Musk] Elon Musk 12 days ago @Shoaib Khan I will send you my private Google chat email where we can communicate from time to time Reply [10passtrader] 10passtrader 9 months ago Elone is never wrong 1 Reply [Tricia Hamel] Tricia Hamel 21 hours ago This is a must see. I agree 100 percent with elon. I got nothing out of school in high school and college Reply [A Believer, ever rising] A Believer, ever rising 10 months ago I hope that I can start my own school one day 1 Reply [JustRaiderJohn] JustRaiderJohn 1 day ago As an employer what a college graduation tells me is that the holder can complete a long term project and not their intelligence. Reply [Carl Lelandt] Carl Lelandt 1 year ago (edited) "..No need..." I agree, for perhaps the super brainiacs, which, in my opinion (and unfortunately) are rare!! However, for the "rank and file" young person, having college curricula helps a great deal, and the completion and proof of that, is a good thing. 5 Reply [Don't be happy in your weakness!] Don't be happy in your weakness! 9 months ago the system can be improved so the people from college will be more useful 2 Reply [Learn in Time] Learn in Time 2 days ago That is not the case on this. Having a degree along with your personal skill is very good. That's excellent but you don't need to worry if you don't have any college degree. You can do whatever in your life to achieve success except for a degree. Degrees don't stop you from achieve what you want from life . That's the point Show less Reply [stan occ] stan occ 2 weeks ago you can't 100% focus and learn if you have the stupid grade and point systems, shouldn't be any tests, or exams at all. No pressure in the first place, that is how people become more relaxed, happy, engaging, and creative. 1 Reply [Cartest Group OY] Cartest Group OY 10 months ago Well done Reply [W Ghost] W Ghost 1 month ago As long as you're not into medicine , healthcare , architecture and vehicle engineering you do not need an academic degree Reply [MountainKoi91] MountainKoi91 6 hours ago I just finished getting a college degree and what a waste of time. Ive never seen an area so concentrated with a population of fools who cant think. Im definitely homeschooling my kids. Ive met two families where the kids were homeschooled and those kids were ahead of everyone else. Reply [Austine kenny Akunne] Austine kenny Akunne 1 month ago I PERSONALLY WILL TEACH MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS EDUCATION, HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE. QUOTES AKUNNE [] [] [] [] [] [] [] Reply [Cristopher Ortez] Cristopher Ortez 13 days ago I think at this point it is not really needed cause we have the internet which provides all the education that we need, worse does not teach financial education which we so desperately need Reply [Durga Sarbhoy] Durga Sarbhoy 1 month ago Good [] Reply [Raul Romani] Raul Romani 8 months ago To learn something completely new, you need interest? The problem is that children interests are shallow (short term application and emotional based). Adult's responsibility is to teach fundamental problem solving skills (Eg read, write, critical and creative thinking: maybe gamification thinking), in a way that they see the short term reward. The thing is learning requires effort. The 'problem' is that there's multiple alternatives that offers 'greater' quick reward/dopamine like video games for example. Strategy, gamify the process of learning (Elon musk). Make the relevance of the tools become apparent (Eg decompose a product). Make them know why (purpose) they are learning that. They get cognitive dissonance if they do not know why. It seems relevant, I've told to remember or I'll be punished. Problem solving is far more engaging than teaching the tools. Understanding is enjoyable? Just thinking and making quotes. I know, it is not well written. Show less 1 Reply [Martin] Martin 10 months ago and what they dont teach in school os that the purpose of life is to live and enjoy it and to love!! 7 Reply 3 replies [Don't be happy in your weakness!] Don't be happy in your weakness! 9 months ago they just want to worry us with rubbish grades only ....... 4 Reply [Judy Taata] Judy Taata 3 months ago If we have brains like Elon we don't need college degree then.... 1 Reply [Azadeh S.Fayli] Azadeh S.Fayli 3 weeks ago What about our physicians, shouldnt we expect from our Dr to have a college degree? [] . 1 Reply 3 replies [avithcosmas. com] avithcosmas. com 6 months ago Infact college Is hell we always hangout n follow the timetable as scheduled and we are happy when the day ends.. and expect jobs it's HELL Six and a half years after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, the Reserve Bank of India has once again announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes. However, contrary to last time when people hardly had a few hours to get their notes exchanged, this time the deadline is until September 30, which is also likely to be extended. Reports suggest that this time people are taking undue advantage of RBI relaxing certain rules. According to Supreme Court Legal expert on cyber matters and lawyer Virag Gupta, no record is being made while depositing and exchanging Rs 2,000 currency notes and neither is any investigation being carried out to get to the source of the money. This is in sharp contrast to 2016 when depositors had to reveal their source of money while having to produce ID proof. However, this time no ID proof is needed as well. Virag Gupta said that a public interest litigation has even been filed in the court regarding these relaxations of rules. According to him, illegally earned black money is also being deposited in the bank without any scanning. top videos According to Voice of Banking founder and banking expert Ashwani Rana, this time people are readily legalising money that has been gained unlawfully by taking advantage of the RBIs lenient policies. People are now earning white money through the system by depositing their unlawfully obtained money in their accounts or by converting it to other currencies when no identity or verification is required at the banks. Both Virag Gupta and Ashwani Rana said that the absence of strict regulations and the use of a flexible strategy is to blame for the entry of black money in the form of Rs 2,000 this time. However, the RBIs present objective is to remove this currency from the system. Perhaps for this reason, instead of imposing stricter regulations, it has allowed customers to deposit money with ease. Ola Electric is planning an initial public offering (IPO) by the end of 2023 and has appointed investment bank Goldman Sachs and domestic bank Kotak to manage the share sale, according to a Moneycontrol report quoting people familiar with the matter. More investment banks are also likely to be added closer to the deal. Ola Electric, which is backed by investors such as SoftBank Group Corp and Tiger Global Management, was valued at $5 billion in its last fundraise in 2022. According to the report, the electric mobility startup aims to go public before the government subsidies for electric vehicles are discontinued. This makes Ola Electric one of the few venture capital-backed companies to enter IPO discussions within a six-month timeframe. It added that the electric mobility startup aims to go public before the government subsidies for electric vehicles are discontinued. This makes Ola Electric one of the few venture capital-backed companies to enter IPO discussions within a six-month timeframe. Ola Electric, founded by Bhavish Aggarwal, sold around 30,000 scooters in April, its highest so far, and is the market leader in the EV scooter space, according to a Reuters report. The EV scooter company has not finalised how much it plans to raise in the initial public offering (IPO) or what valuation it will seek, but it will aim for a valuation higher than $5 billion, Reuters reported. top videos If it sells 10 per cent in the IPO - the minimum legally required to list - at that price, this could be Indias biggest IPO this year amid tepid market conditions. Filing its draft documents, marketing to investors and listing by the end of the year will be difficult," the source said, but added that Chief Executive Aggarwal was insistent on the timeline. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has instructed banks to identify accounts that have not had any customer-initiated transactions for a duration exceeding ten years. In accordance with regulations, banks are obligated to transfer the credit balances from these accounts to the Depositors Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF). At the 27th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC), earlier this month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged regulators to initiate a targeted initiative aimed at facilitating the resolution of unclaimed deposits and claims in various sectors of the financial industry. This includes areas such as banking deposits, shares and dividends, mutual funds, insurance, and more. According to RBI, Balances in savings / current accounts which are not operated for 10 years, or term deposits not claimed within 10 years from the date of maturity are classified as Unclaimed Deposits. In an effort to address the issue of unclaimed deposits and ensure their rightful return, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated a campaign named 100 Days 100 Pays." This campaign aims to encourage banks to locate and pay out the top 100 unclaimed deposits from each bank in every district across the nation within a hundred-day timeframe. By implementing this initiative, the RBI seeks to effectively reduce the number of unclaimed deposits within the banking system and facilitate their rightful return to the respective owners or claimants. How To Get Your Unclaimed Deposits In Banks? To claim money from an unclaimed deposit held by the Depositors Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF), account holders need to personally visit the branch where their account is maintained. They are required to complete and sign Annexure-B, commonly referred to as the Claim Form." top videos Additionally, they must provide relevant information regarding the account, such as passbook or account statements, receipts or advice for term deposits or special term deposits. Recent photographs, along with valid proof of identity and address documents (KYC documents) issued after verifying their name and address on the List of Unclaimed Deposits displayed on the official website, should also be submitted. In the case of nominees claiming unclaimed deposits, they are required to visit the bank where the deposit is held and provide necessary documentation including the deposit receipts, identity proof, and a copy of the account holders death certificate. Once the claim is verified by the bank, the funds will be released to the nominee. The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) has announced class 10th result. Students who have appeared for the examination can check their result from the official website, gseb.org. Candidates can check their results by using their seat number. Gujarat SSC examinations 2023 was held from March 14 to March 28, 2023. Those students who score a minimum of 33 per cent in each subject will be declared pass in the GSEB 10th results 2023. In case the official website is down students can check their results via SMS. One can type an SMS in the format: SSC Read More The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) successfully conducted the GSEB Class 10 Exams from March 14 to March 28 this year. The results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam hold significant importance in the academic journey of students. With over 1 lakh candidates eagerly waiting, the GSEB Class 10 results 2023 will be announced today at 8 AM. Once released, the Gujarat Board 10th result will be available online on gseb.org and gsebeservice.com. To check the GSEB Class 10 Result 2023, students will need to enter their roll number or seat number, so it is advised to keep the exam admit card handy. The SSC result will include subject-wise marks, percentiles, grades, and other important details, providing a comprehensive overview of the students performance. GSHSEB Class 10 result 2023: How to check result online Step 1: Visit Gujarat Boards official website - www.gseb.org. Step 2: On the main page, click on the GSEB SSC/Class 10 Result 2023 link. Step 3: A new page will appear on the screen wherein; students will have to enter their seat number in the space given. Step 4: Press the Submit button. Step 5: The Gujarat Board 10th Result 2023 will appear on your screen. Step 6: Download the Gujarat SSC result and keep a printout of it. Students will have no trouble accessing the GSEB Class 10 Result 2023 online. It is crucial for them to save the downloaded result for future reference. Moreover, it is important to note that the original GSEB 10th certificate and mark sheet will be distributed to students through their respective schools. The Gujarat Class 10 mark sheet will provide comprehensive information, including the candidates name, seat number, subject-wise grades, subject-wise marks, total marks obtained, qualifying status, percentile rank, and overall grade. These details play a vital role in assessing the students performance and academic accomplishments. GSEB 10th Result 2023: Steps To Check Through SMS -Go to the SMS application or the inbox on your mobile phone. -Compose a new SMS in the format required: SSC Seat Number. top videos -Send the SMS to the number 56263. -Within a few seconds of sending the SMS, the GSEB 10th Result 2023 will be sent to your phone as an SMS. The regulations allowing foreign universities to set up campuses in India are in the final stage and will be released before June-end, a top official has said. The set of guidelines, which are being framed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), are being given final touches and the portal where these universities will apply and submit their documents for the same is ready. The portal will be operationalised at the same time when the finalised guidelines are released before the end of next month, the official said. The higher education regulator had in January this year released draft regulations allowing foreign universities to open campuses in India. The draft rules sought to provide autonomy to these universities in deciding the admission process and tuition fees. The regulations were put out to seek public feedback and comments from stakeholders on January 5, the duration for which was extended twice to February 3 and then to February 20. We have already received comments from foreign embassies and international universities. Then we also had meetings with the various key ministries to take their suggestions, including Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Home, Ministry of Commerce and the Reserve Bank of India, which will be involved directly in facilitating the process. All these inputs have been incorporated and the rules are being finalised, said UGC chairperson Prof M Jagadesh Kumar. Several universities from North America, the United Kingdom (UK), Europe and Australia, among others have shown their interest in setting up campuses in India while many universities from New Zealand have shown interest in offering joint and dual degree programmes, said Prof Kumar. We have received enquiries and interests from across the globe. Many of these universities have already joined the Utsah portal. We are on-boarding these universities on this portal where many of them are already working on offering joint and dual degree programmes, he said. The Utsah portal, short for Undertaking Transformative Strategies and Actions in Higher Education, was launched by the UGC earlier this month to track the progress of initiatives and reforms taken under the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The data collected through the Utsah portal will focus on 10 key areas outlined in NEP, including digitalisation, international education, industry-academia collaboration, research, and the promotion of Indian languages and knowledge systems. top videos The draft regulations titled UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions In India) Regulations, 2023 were framed in line with the NEP, which envisaged internationalisation of higher education while advocating a legislative framework for facilitating the entry of foreign universities into India. Such universities will be given special dispensation regarding regulatory, governance, and content norms on par with other autonomous institutions in the country. Recently, two Australian universities Wollongong University and Deakin University confirmed that they were working on setting up their campuses in Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT)-City in Ahmedabad. However, these universities will be opening campuses under GIFT City guidelines, which does not fall under the purview of the UGC. The Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) has finally released the results for the Madhya Pradesh Board class 10 exams 2023 after a long wait. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the MP Board Office in Bhopal. A total of 8,20,014 students had registered for the MP board Class 10 exams, out of which 8,15,364 students appeared for the exam and 5,15,955 successfully passed it. This years overall pass percentage for class 10 is reported to be 63.29 per cent, which is higher than last years percentage. The MP Board Class 10 pass percentage in 2022 was 59.54 per cent, and the results were announced on April 29, 2022. MP Board 10th Result 2023 Live Updates Mridul Pal secured the highest score of 494 marks and ranked first. The second rank has been shared by Prachi Garhwal from Indore, Kriti Prabha from Soni and Sneha Lodhi from Narsinghpur with 493 marks This years gender pass percentage demonstrates that the girls outperformed the boys who appeared for the exam. While boys had a pass rate of 60.26 per cent, girls had a better pass rate of 66.47 per cent. The MPBSE conducted the Class 10 exams from March 1 to March 27 this year. To check their results, students need to enter their roll number and date of birth on the result portal once the result links are activated on the official websites mpresults.nic.in and mpbse.nic.in. top videos According to MPBSEs marking system, students are evaluated out of 100 marks in each subject. 80 are based on the theory paper, while the remaining 20 marks are given for performance in project work or practicals conducted during the academic year. Students must score a minimum of 33 per cent overall, as well as separately in theory and practical exams, to pass. The passing mark for the theory paper is 25 marks, and for practical, it is eight marks. The subject-wise marks for the MP Board exams will be available online, while the original mark sheet will be provided to the schools. The MP Board had previously invited proposals from online portals until May 11 to publish the results on the official website. Read more topper. Tanu Chauhan tops Uttarakhand Board 12th with 97.60 per cent or 488/500 marks. If students residing in remote locations or experiencing technical issues while accessing their results online face any difficulties, they have the option to obtain their UK board results for the 10th and 12th grades offline via SMS. In addition to utilising websites and SMS to verify their results, students have the option to check their results via a mobile application, Digilocker. The Class 10th examinations of the Uttarakhand Board of School Education, under the Government of Uttarakhand, India, were conducted from March 17 to April 6, whereas, the Class 12th examinations were held from March 16 to April 6. To pass the Uttarakhand Board exam 2023, students of both classes must obtain a minimum of 33 per cent marks in each subject. In subjects with practical aspects, students will have to pass the theory and practical papers separately. Following the announcement of the Uttarakhand Board Result 2023 for Class 10 and 12, students who are dissatisfied with their marks can opt for the revaluation process. Typically, the application process for re-evaluation commences in June with results being announced in the last week of July 2023. Additionally, students who have failed in one or more subjects can participate in compartment exams to prevent any academic setbacks. This year, the media reports indicate that the number of students who appeared for the Uttarakhand Board 2023 class 10 exams is 1,32,115, while the total number of students who took the Uttarakhand Board class 12 exams in 2023 is 1,27,236. The early reviews for the much-awaited sequel film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are here and critics are hailing it as one of the best-animated films ever made. The plot of the film picks up right after the events of the 2018-released film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with Hailee Steinfeld, Shameik Moore, and Jason Schwartzman voicing the lead animated characters. Just like the last film, the sequel is also set against the backdrop of a shared multiverse, with a brand new adventurous mission. The first reactions indicate that people havent only fallen in love with the enigmatic animated graphics but also the emotional touch the plot brings in. Check out the early reviews of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse below: For Seon O Connel, the Managing Editor at CinemaBlend, it was one step above any masterpiece with its artwork deserving to be hung in a museum. OK. #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse lives one step above Masterpiece. It's an actual work of art. Every frame deserves to be hung in a museum. The jokes and nods to Spidey lore are perfect. It's OUTSTANDING. The best #SpiderMan movie. Might be my favorite movie ever. Cherish it. pic.twitter.com/mQxSnfKF0N Sean O'Connell (@Sean_OConnell) May 25, 2023 Daniel Baptista, the creator, producer, and host of The Movie Podcast, called it a revolutionary creation in the world of animation while also hailing it as one of the best Spider-Man movies ever made. #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse is AMAZING and a REVOLUTIONARY achievement in animation. It does the impossible of surpassing the original and delivers one of THE BEST Spider-Man stories EVER. Its more mature and a WEB-SLINGING WONDER beginning to end.#SpiderVerse @SpiderVerse pic.twitter.com/8zuklJH8EI Daniel Baptista The Movie Podcast (@dbapz) May 25, 2023 Shahbaz, also the host of The Movie Podcast, hinted that the movies groundbreaking plot has multiple jaw-dropping surprises in store for fans. #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse is THE BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR! GROUNDBREAKING animation takes you on a wild, darker journey, interweaving countless Spider-Man characters & JAW-DROPPING SURPRISES. I found myself repeatedly saying "Oh My God" in disbelief! #Spiderverse @SpiderVerse pic.twitter.com/5gikQcgrjJ Shahbaz The Movie Podcast (@shayhbaz) May 25, 2023 A critic called it a cultural experience that is sure to leave people teary-eyed. #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse is not only an incredible achievement in story & animation. It's a cultural experience that will make every Puerto Rican teary eyed & filled with pride! I shed tears every time I saw that PR flag pop up on the big screen! #SpiderVerse @SpiderVerse pic.twitter.com/Z2rUcIg98e Vanessa D. (@BriteandBubbly) May 25, 2023 For another one it was, insanely epic and the music is fire. Youll be on the edge of your seat because this ride is wild. #AcrossTheSpiderVerse is EVERYTHING! The animation is next level, every spidey is perfect, the surprises are insanely epic, & the music is fire. You'll be on the edge of your seat bc this ride is wild. It feels so good 2 back in the Spider-Verse!#SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse pic.twitter.com/LTT76F2d0n Ashley Saunders she/her (@ThatAshleyErin) May 25, 2023 Meanwhile, many appreciated the performances of the lead characters. Hailee Steinfeld really comes into her own as Gwen Stacy and her scenes with Shea Whighams Captain Stacy are truly special. Its darker and sadder than I expected, but necessary, said Brain Davids, a writer at The Hollywood Reporter. #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse is yet another resounding win for the Lord Miller-produced universe. Hailee Steinfeld really comes into her own as Gwen Stacy, and her scenes with Shea Whigham's Captain Stacy are truly special. It's darker and sadder than I expected, but necessary. pic.twitter.com/BekW4nVAyv Brian Davids (@PickYourBrian) May 25, 2023 Drew Taylor, a reporter at The Wrap called it a visual treat while revealing the movies real superpower lies in its, emotional depth and its beautiful melancholic tone. #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse is a stunning achievement. Yes, its visually dazzling, with expansive, expressive new realms (Gwens world is my favorite). But the movies real superpower is its emotional depth and its beautiful, melancholic tone. I love this movie so, so much pic.twitter.com/ofHvWCrNqy Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored) May 25, 2023 The movie is helmed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson. Shameik Moore voices Miles Morales aka Spider-Man, while Hailee Steinfeld is the Spider-Woman. Jason Schwartzmans voice takes the place of the supervillain spot. The movie is set to release on June 2. Sheezan Khan took to his Instagram handle on Thursday and recalled the day when he bagged Ali Baba along with Tunisha Sharma. Khan dropped a series of throwback pictures from the sets of Ali Baba, one of which also featured his late co-star. In the caption, the actor revealed that he had just Rs 500 left in his bank account when he signed the show. He also called his Ali Baba journey memorable and thanked his family, friends and fans for being a part of it. So One Year is Done! I still remember this day when i sign this show!! I had only 500 rupees left in my bank account I didnt wanted to go home empty handed so I bought some sweets on my way back home!! I told amma that i have got the show!! We all cried our heart out!! Then we took this selfie!! And i told her were gonna remember this moment for the rest of our lives! Little did i know !! The whole journey gonna be Memorable!! Thank You Each And Everyone Of you!! Jeb Khali Aankho Me Sapne Bade Bade! Yehi tha Ali! Yehi Tha Sheezan!" Khan wrote. One of the pictures that Sheezan dropped also featured his mother and sister Falaq Naaz. Reacting to the same, Falaq commented, Of course I remember this selfie m crying ". Sheezans Khatron Ke Khiladi 13 co-contestant also wrote, You are going to be a very big starmark my words. I have never been wrong." This comes just a few days after Sheezan shared a picture of himself from Cape Town in which he was seen dressed as his character from Ali Baba. Fear Doesnt Exist anywhere except in the mind Styling @stylebysaachivj Team @sanzimehta777 @colorstv #KhatronKeKhiladi13," he had written. Sheezan Khans life took a drastic turn on December 24 last year when his Ali Baba co-star Tunisha Sharma was found hanging in her makeup room. Sheezan was arrested on December 25, 2022, after Tunishas mother accused him of abetment to suicide and claimed that the actor used her daughter. Reportedly, Khan and Sharma broke up just 15 days before the latters death. However, Sheezan was granted bail in March this year. A 64-year-old Kentucky man is accused of grabbing his gun and shooting his roommate in the ass over a Hot Pocket sandwich or lack of said sangie, as it were. Apparently, the roommate had dared to eat the last "four cheese pizza" snack, which angered gun-owner Clifton Williams immensely. Upon finding the empty frozen-food box, Williams allegedly fell into a rage, at first throwing tiles at his roomie. But when that only caused the roommate to fight back and then walk away, the hungry gentleman reportedly took matters (as in his gun) into his own hand. From NBC News: The roommate, who has not been named, sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the weekend shooting, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department. Clifton Williams, 64, was arrested early Sunday and charged with second-degree assault, police said. On Monday, he pleaded not guilty, according to NBC News affiliate WAVE of Louisville. According to a police citation, the two roommates had a physical fight over the frozen sandwich. Williams got a gun and followed the roommate outside, where he shot him in the buttocks, the police document said. Williams is scheduled to be back in court May 30 for a preliminary hearing. Williams could face 510 years in jail if convicted of second-degree assault in Kentucky, according to NBC. The Congress is spearheading an Opposition boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, saying not letting President Droupadi Murmu do the inauguration and not inviting her to the ceremony is an insult" to the countrys highest constitutional post. The grand old partys position is in contrast to some of its actions, one of which dates back to 1927. Back then, Pandit Motilal Nehru had attended the inauguration of the Parliament building along with other Congress leaders. The building was inaugurated by Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy. Neither did Congress leaders boycott the colonial spectacle nor did they ask for the British King, the real constitutional head of the parliamentary system, to do the inauguration instead of the Viceroy. The May 28 inauguration would be the second such significant event in Parliament to be missed by the Congress after it skipped the historic joint midnight session on rollout of the Goods and Services Tax on July 1, 2017. The latest boycott call has led to criticism that the party is prioritising political opposition to PM Narendra Modi over respect for Parliament. Questions have also been raised as to why Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone for the new Chhattisgarh Assembly in 2020 since, as per the partys latest stand, it should have been done by the Governor. As many as 19 parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, have announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying they find no value in a new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out". PM Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The ceremonial sceptre Sengol that was given to first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power in August 1947 was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum and has been moved to Delhi for its installation in the new building of Parliament. Made of silver with a coat of gold, the historical sceptre will be installed near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Sengol symbolises the transfer of power from British to India, just as it was originally used to mark the handing over power from one king to another during the Chola dynasty in Tamil Nadu. Our government is of the opinion that keeping this sacred Sengol in a museum is inappropriate. For installation of the Sengol, no other place can be more suitable, sacred and appropriate than the building of Parliament," he told reporters. On Thursday, BJP leader Amit Malviya said instead of being given the pride of its place, it (Sengol) was tucked away in Anand Bhavan, and called the golden stick gifted to Nehru. He also shared a photo of the Sengol in the museum with the label identifying it as golden walking stick gifted to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. The vesting of the sacred Sengol with Jawaharlal Nehru, on the eve of Indias Independence, was the exact moment of transfer of power from the British to India.But instead of being given the pride of its place, it was tucked away in Anand Bhavan, and called the golden stick pic.twitter.com/TSLqPYn5Ft Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 25, 2023 top videos On May 28, PM Modi will accept the Sengol from an Adheenum from Tamil Nadu. The Adheenams a non-brahmin Saivite order date back over five hundred years. The transfer of power during Chola times was sanctified by Saivite high priests. C Rajagopalachari had then requested the leader of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam in Tamil Nadu (then Madras Presidency) to do the same, for power to pass on to Indian hands from the British. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the importance of an absolute majority government in the country as the one he runs, a point which the BJP is expected to strongly make ahead of the 2024 elections. This is amidst the opposition parties speaking of an alliance against the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections and the Modi-led BJP rubbishing the chances of such a coalition. The BJP is projecting that such a loosely aligned opposition group can only aim for a Khichdi Sarkar, which will be a far cry from the strong full-majority government run by Modi since 2014. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is leading these efforts along with the Congress to ensure there is only a common opposition candidate against the BJP in the majority of the Lok Sabha seats. The BJP got a majority mandate on its own from the people in both the 2014 and 2019 elections. PM Modi on Thursday stressed why this is important. When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. I glorify my nation before the world not in any hesitation, but with confidence. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. When I talk, the world doesnt only believe in me, but also believes all 140 crore Indians whom I represent. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi, the Prime Minister said upon his return to India from his multi-nation tour to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. The PM also seemed to take a swipe at the opposition parties when he cited how MPs from the opposition as well as the ruling party had participated in the programme he had for the Indian community in Sydney. Friends, you will be happy to know that it is a matter of pride for all of us that there was presence of the Prime Minister of Australia in the programme of the Indian community, but not only this, the former Prime Minister was also present in that function. There were MPs from the opposition and the ruling party. All of them together participated in this programme of the Indian community. This fame is not of Modi; it is of the effort of India It is of the spirit of 140 crore Indians, the PM said. top videos Nearly 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the new Parliament building function on May 28, objecting to the PM inaugurating it. The NDA in a statement has said the oppositions move is against democratic ethos and principles. Not allowing sexual intercourse to spouse for a long time without sufficient reason amounts to mental cruelty, the Allahabad High Court recently observed while allowing an appeal by a man against the dismissal of his divorce petition by the family court. The couple had got married in 1979. As per the traditions of the community, his wifes gauna, or the ceremony when the bride leaves her maternal home for her marital one, was performed after seven years. The husband alleged that a few days after the gauna, his wifes attitude towards him changes and she refused to live with him as a wife. He claimed that he tried to convince her many times, but she did not establish any physical relationship with him. He further alleged that they lived under the same roof only for a short while after which his wife began living separately at her parents house. The man was serving in the police department and had to reside at the place of his posting. He claimed that within six months of the gauna, when he returned home and asked his wife to return from her parents house, she refused and proposed divorce by consent. In 1994, the couple arrived at an agreement of divorce and the man thereafter remarried. The man sought a decree of divorce on the basis of mental cruelty, long desertion and the divorce agreement of 1994, but, despite sufficient service of notices, the wife did not turn up before the family court and the case was directed to proceed ex-parte. However, after examining the evidence, the family court did not find his case proved and dismissed it. In the appeal, the High Court noted that there was nothing on record to disbelieve the mans case as well as his uncontroverted evidence. The court pointed out that the lower court had observed that the papers filed by the man were only photocopies which were not admissible in evidence and there was nothing on record to show that the wife of the man had remarried. top videos The high court, however, stressed that it was evident from the record that since long, the parties to the marriage had been living separately, and the wife had denied discharging the obligation of marital liability. The high court opined that the family court had adopted a hyper-technical approach and passed the order of dismissal of the mans case. Therefore, observing that there is no acceptable view in which a spouse can be compelled to resume life with the consort, the court set aside the order of the lower court and granted a divorce decree to the man. In line with the Budget announcement, the finance ministry on Thursday hiked the tax exemption limit for leave encashment upon retirement for private sector salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh. So far, the tax exemption on leave encashment for non-government employees was Rs 3 lakh which was fixed in 2002, when the highest basic pay in the government was Rs 30,000 per month. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in a statement, said the aggregate amount exempt from income tax under section 10(10AA)(ii) shall not exceed the limit of Rs 25 lakh, where any such payments are received by a non-government employee from more than one employer. Also Read: Retirement Planning In India: Heres How To Create The Best Corpus The increased limit for tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement or otherwise of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh with effect from April 1, 2023. top videos In pursuance to the proposal in the Budget speech, 2023, the central government has notified the increased limit for tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement or otherwise of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh w.e.f. 01.04.2023, the CBDT said. In 2023-24 Budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had increased the tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh, from Rs 3 lakh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to groups involved in Manipur violence to maintain peace and said justice will be done with everyone. Shah said that those who are involved in violence will not be spared. He said he will visit Manipur for three days and will talk to people for establishing peace. There were clashes in Manipur after verdict of a court. I would appeal to both groups they should maintain peace, and justice will be done with everyone. I will myself go to Manipur after few days and will stay there for three days and will talk to people of Manipur for establishing peace," said Shah while laying the foundation stone of the tenth national campus of the National Forensic Sciences University to be set Changsari area of Kamrup district. #WATCH | Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks on Manipur violence, says, There were clashes in Manipur after verdict of a court. I would appeal to both groups they should maintain peace, justice will be done with everyone. I will myself go to Manipur after few days and pic.twitter.com/7IlOPesZo1 ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 The Centre will ensure that justice is given to all who suffered in the clashes which broke out in the state, but people must hold a dialogue to ensure peace in the state", Shah said. A fresh bout of violence was reported in Manipur involving suspected militants and the organized mob that left one person dead and two others injured. Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Govindas Konthoujams house was ransacked in the Bishnupur district of the state. Following the fresh incidents of violence, an indefinite curfew was imposed in the Bishnupur district and the relaxation window was shortened by four hours in Imphal West as a precaution. Ex-CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, who was appointed as CM Biren Singhs Security Advisor after violence first broke out in the state on May 3, said militants fired at a group of people in the Tronglaobi area of Bishnupur on Wednesday morning at around 9:30 am. A person wounded in the firing died on the way to the hospital," Singh was quoted as saying by TOI. top videos Manipur was rocked by violent clashes between the tribals and the majority Meiei community after Naga and Kuki tribals organised a Tribal Solidarity March to protest moves to give scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Metei community on May 3. The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives in the state since May 3 and some 10,000 army and para-military personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. Twenty-year-old Sneha Chaurasia, who was shot dead by a fellow student inside Greater Noidas Shiv Nadar University on May 18, had reportedly written to senior members of the administration two months before the incident. Sneha had detailed the alleged abuse by the accused, Anuj Kumar. According to a report by Indian Express, Sneha had written an email to two senior members of the administration on March 14 and had alleged that Anuj had tried to strangle her and threatened to kill her. She had sought their intervention so that she could feel safe and happy on campus. The report, mentioning Snehas written allegation, stated that she was assaulted by Anuj for the fourth time in a span of two months and she had scars on her body. Once he had held my throat so hard that it choked me to unconscious state, she was quoted. On May 18, Anuj had allegedly shot dead Sneha outside the dining hall, following which he returned to his room and killed himself. Sneha also apparently met two staff members to register her complaint. The IE report stated that she addressed the staff members in her email and wrote: As per our conversation today, I am writing this mail to bring your attention the recent violent incident which I faced. In her email, Sneha also informed the administration about her association with Anuj that lasted for over a period of two years, following which she had fallen out. After their alleged break-up, Anuj had tried to strangle Sneha. I am suffering from seriously bad mental health, I have started getting panic attacks due to all this. I genuinely want to get out of this, she wrote. top videos The report stated that Sneha, however, wrote that she did not want to file an official complaint against Anuj. I dont want to file an official complaint against him, but I want to make sure that, in any manner, he is not reachable to me or to my family. He knows my family and has their contact details, if he wants he can contact them and if he does so, my family will not understand the situation. In fact, they will take serious and unwanted steps against me, she was quoted. The report further stated that earlier, in a 23-minute video purportedly sent to the college authorities before shooting Sneha, Anuj had mentioned that she had filed complaints against him with the administration, stating that he was harassing her. The ministry of road transport and highways will now have officers who will be dealing with public grievances and track news reports at the same time. An order was issued last week asking for the appointment of nodal officers in each region, who can act on complaints and provide updates to make the system more effective and create a good image of the ministry. In its order, the ministry said this was in continuation of an earlier order where regional offices of MoRTH (ministry of road transport and highways), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) were asked to set up social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Koo. The newly appointed nodal officers will be tracking grievances, complaints and news reports, and then share their response and action-taken reports. To make the response system more effective, the ROs/EDs are directed to depute a nodal officer for their respective region, who will coordinate with the media team at (the) ministry, check the grievances/complaints/news reports being sent and then share the approved response/action taken with them which may subsequently also be amplified through MoRTHs social media handles, the order stated. The order further stated that the entire exercise is aimed at creating a good image of the ministry, of being responsive and sensitive towards peoples concerns and difficulties. The order was necessitated as the ministers office had earlier directed regional offices to suitably address public grievances on social media. But the regional officers were not responding quickly to such grievances/news reports. As a result, the factual status is not getting propagated to the public at large. top videos A ministry official told News18 that these steps were crucial as people were raising complaints on social media but despite the ministry resolving these issues, they kept reflecting over and over again showing as unresolved. But if we respond to the social media post about the action we have taken, it will be there as long as the complaint exists. So, others will know that the required action has been taken by the ministry, the official said on condition of anonymity. The inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be held in two phases and will include puja, installation of the Sengol, screening of two short films and release of a commemorative coin and stamp, reports said on Thursday. Full Schedule of the Inauguration Ceremony of New Parliament House The program will commence at 7:30 am with a havan (a ritualistic fire ceremony) and puja (worship) near the Mahatma Gandhi statue. Dignitaries present during this time will include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, among others. Following the puja, the installation of Sengol inside the Lok Sabha will take place between 8:30 am and 9:00 am. At 9:30 am, a prayer meeting will be held, attended by Shankaracharya, scholars, pundits, and saints. Adi Shiva and Adi Shankara may also be worshipped during this prayer meeting. The second phase of the program will begin at 12 pm with the national anthem. Two short films will be screened on this occasion. The messages from the Vice President and the President will be read out by the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Additionally, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha will address the gathering. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will also deliver a speech, and a commemorative coin and stamp will be released during the event. The program will conclude with an address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled for approximately 2:30 pm. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that 20 aadeenams from Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvavaduthurai, Perur, and Madurai, have been invited for the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. The Sengol, a sceptre that was used to symbolise the transfer of power from the British to the people of India in 1947, will also be installed in the new Parliament building. In Tamil, the term Aadeenam refers to both a Shaivite monastery and the head of such math. The aadeenams were invited in recognition of Tamil Nadus role in the independence movement, Sitharaman said. Tamil Nadu has a big proud part" when the Sengol (sceptre) was handed over to the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, symbolising the transfer of power from the British to the people of India, she said. The decision to install the Sengol in the new Parliament was made based on the advice of the Tiruvavduthurai adheenam, following consultations between the late CR Rajagopalachary and the Shaivite pontiff, following consultations with Nehru regarding the matter. The pontiffs will attend the event, there will be Oduvars (scholars in Shaivite scriptures and hymns) who will recite the Thevaram. In 1947 also the Sengol was handed over to Nehru when othuvargal recited Kolaru Pathigam," she said. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil, Congress President, and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, along with leaders from various opposition parties, have received invitations for the inauguration event. The Opposition has strongly objected to the decision of having Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the building, alleging that it undermines the esteemed constitutional role of the President of India, terming it an act of disrespect. At least 21 opposition parties have declared their boycott of the function, while 25 parties, including 18 constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and seven non-NDA parties, will be present at the event on Sunday. A plea was also filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat for the inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu. The plea argued that the President is the only person who can inaugurate the new Parliament building and that the Lok Sabha secretariat and the secretary general, Lok Sabha, do not have the authority to do so. The National Democratic Alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, has described the oppositions stance as a direct disrespect to the democratic principles and constitutional values of our esteemed nation." All About New Parliament Building The new Parliament building, shaped like a triangle and spanning four floors, encompasses a built-up area of 64,500 square meters. It features three main gates known as Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar. The existing Parliament building, which was completed in 1927 and is now 96 years old, has been deemed insufficient to meet the requirements of modern times. Constructed by Tata Projects Ltd, the new Parliament building includes a magnificent Constitution Hall to showcase Indias democratic heritage, a lounge for Members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas, and ample parking space. The present building served as Indias first Parliament after independence and witnessed the adoption of the Constitution. Initially known as the Council House, it housed the Imperial Legislative Council. In 1956, two additional floors were added to address the need for more space. In 2006, the Parliament Museum was established to exhibit Indias rich democratic heritage spanning over 2,500 years. Officials have highlighted that the current building was never designed to accommodate a bicameral legislature, resulting in cramped and inconvenient seating arrangements, with only the first two rows having desks. top videos The Central Hall, with a seating capacity of only 440 individuals, often faced space constraints during joint sittings of both Houses, necessitating the need for more expansive facilities. (With inputs from PTI) In response to criticism over the shocking death of Sunil Balyan, alias Tillu Tajpuria, inside the high-security Tihar Jail premises in New Delhi, allegedly by members of a rival gang, authorities have announced procurement of tasers, pepper spray for safety against unruly inmates, report said on Thursday. In the initial phase, three jail complexes will be equipped with 80 electric shock batons (tasers), 160 full-body protectors, 80 pepper sprays, and 160 T batons, according to a Times of India article. While concerns regarding excessive use have been raised, these non-lethal tools are known for their effectiveness in subduing offenders without causing fatal harm globally, it said. The move aims to enhance the safety and security of prison personnel while ensuring the well-being of inmates. We moved the proposal 15 days ago to the authority concerned," an officer was quoted as saying, adding they have so far procured 160 (each) polycarbonate lathis, shields and helmets. The procurement will be done soon, and as per the capacity of jail complexes, it will be given to staff and QRT members," he said. Prison officials told the publication that tasers would be a transformative tool in maintaining law and order within correctional facilities and curbing the activities of rogue criminals. As altercations involving multiple inmates pose significant challenges, officials emphasise that tasers would provide a vital means to control such situations without resorting to firearms, they said. Meanwhile, in a bid to enhance security measures within jails, the Union Home Ministry has instructed central jails to develop a biometric system for inmate monitoring, replacing traditional physical headcounts, a CNN-News18 report said earlier in the day. Additionally, the ministry has urged the exploration of a hybrid model to separate jail management and security responsibilities. As per CNN-News18 reports, the majority of central jails in various states are in the process of implementing biometric systems to ensure accurate attendance and monitoring of prisoners, complementing physical counts. The proposed separation of management and security tasks, with jail staff overseeing management while external security forces handle prison security on a rotational basis, is being considered by jail authorities across states. These directives have been shared with state police chiefs and prison director generals, prompted by concerns over incidents of violence and security breaches reported from jails nationwide. In recent incidents that shocked the nation, Tihar Jail, one of Asias largest prison complexes, witnessed the horrifying stabbing deaths of alleged gangsters. In a highly disturbing crime caught on camera, Sunil Balyan alias Tillu Tajpuriya was ruthlessly stabbed to death by rival gang members. Shockingly, several jail officials were accused of silently observing the brutal act, leading to the suspension of nine personnel after a departmental inquiry. Another alleged gangster, Prince Tewatia, met a similar fate earlier in April within the highly fortified prison. top videos The deaths in Tihar follows the 2021 incident in Uttar Pradeshs Chitrakoot Jail, in which two individuals fell victim to gun violence, believed to be connected to ongoing gang rivalries. One of the victims was a close associate of incarcerated gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. The National Crime Records Bureau data on prisons highlights a concerning trend. Inmate deaths in Indian jails rose by 12.1%, with a total of 2,116 deaths reported in 2021 compared to 1,887 in 2020. Among these, 185 deaths were classified as unnatural, including suicides, murders by fellow inmates, accidents, assaults by external elements, and cases of negligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi early on Thursday after completing his visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Upon his arrival, he was greeted with garlands by BJP National President JP Nadda and other party members. BJP President JP Nadda had come to the airport to extend a warm welcome to PM Modi as he returned after concluding his three-nation visit. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1661523593904398336 Upon landing, PM spoke about his tour to the supporters who had gathered there. In a veiled jibe against the Opposition, PM Modi said that even the Opposition MPs in Australia attended the programme by the Indian community. The Indian diaspora event in Sydney was not only attended by the Australian PM but also by former PM, MPs from opposition parties, and the ruling party. This is the strength of democracy. All of them together participated in this program of the Indian community." Modi comment comes a day after 19 Opposition parties decided to boycott the opening of new the Parliament. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1661544368183054336 When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi," added the Prime Minister. He added: I glorify my nation before the world not in any hesitation, but with confidence and pride. The reason behind this is the government you all have chosen with an absolute majority. When I talk, the world doesnt only believe in me, but also believes all 140 crore Indians, whom I represent. World wants to listen to you. Message of peace was given from Japans Hiroshima through Mahatma Gandhi." Expressing his thoughts, the Prime Minister emphasized, When I speak about the culture of my country, I am speaking to the entire world. This confidence stems from the fact that you, the people, have elected a government with an overwhelming majority. Those present here are individuals who hold a deep affection for India, rather than just for PM Modi. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1661540335099736066 top videos The Prime Minister also stressed that he travels across the globe taking about the talent of the young generation and how the youth shows bravery" when given the opportunity. I want to tell you that While speaking about the culture and great tradition of India, never get immersed in slavery mentality, speak with courage. The world is eager to listen. The world agrees with me when I say that attack on our pilgrimage sites is not acceptable," said the Prime Minister. A Kansas woman says she was ordered to leave the restroom at Wichita Public Libary's central branch after taking her nonverbal and disabled adult son into it with her, reports The Topeka Capital-Journal. Kansas recently banned people from using bathrooms and other spaces not designated for their assigned birth sex, a law plainly targeted at trans and intersex women but also useful for keeping disabled people and their opposite-sex carers at bay. Karen Wild said she makes a trip to the central branch of the Wichita Public Library every week and has done so for years, a way of meeting up with Wild's mother, who lives 45 minutes away and helps take care of her son, Ellis Dunville, who is on the autism spectrum, has a seizure disorder and is nonverbal. Never once in that time, she said, have any library staff or patrons objected to her bring her son into the women's restroom. But shortly after entering with her son on Saturday, Wild said, a male security guard approached the restroom and informed her that Dunville couldn't be there. He walked away, she said, once it became clear another patron was using the restroom but that person also objected to her son's presence. Ahead of G20 events in the national capital, the police have enforced section 144 in north-east Delhi, restricting large gatherings or any unlawful activity. The order, dated April 10, issued by the deputy commissioner of police, north-east district, says measures have been taken amid apprehensions of breach of peace during G20 events. North-east Delhi witnessed one of the capitals worst communal violence incidents in 2020 in which 53 lives were lost while more than 500 people were injured. Delhi police had registered 758 cases and arrested 2,615 people. Over 100 policemen were also injured in the riots. The order reads, There is apprehension of breach of peace due to sudden large gathering/Dharna/Protest which will ragging to march towards North-East District and tranquillity during various events/meetings are to be held in connection with G-20 Summit-2023 or there is danger of riot or an affray." A senior police officer told CNN-News18 that the order is for two months and that it will be promulgated on the expiry of the duration, if need be. During the 2020 riots, police had found that some of the residents from violence-struck areas like Jaffrabad, Maujpur, and Bhajanpura, had stashed bottles and inflammable liquids to be used as Molotov cocktails, sticks and rods, as well as bricks and stones to throw at mobs during the violence. The order further states that brickbats, boulders, acid, or any other dangerous fluids, any explosive substance, soda water bottles, etc, can be used as weapons and their unrestricted movement shall be monitored. top videos The police will also be closely monitoring any speeches made, any gesture likely to create criminal hatred between communities or hurt their religious feeling, raising of slogans, displaying posters, placards, or banners in all public places, the order said. Any person contravening this order shall be punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code-1860," it says. Once the results are released, the next step for the students is to check if there is any errors in it. In case of an error, students need to get in touch with authorities at the earliest. Spellings: Spelling of the name of the student. It should be the same as class 10, unless changed. Surname should also be added or not added as per requirement Marking: Students need to get their marks checked not only for total and % calculation but also for subject-wise marks. Pass, Fail Status Grades: Students will also get grades along with marks. They need to ensure that the grades given to them are corresponding to the marks obtained by them AAP leader and former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has been put on oxygen support and shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the LNJP hospital after his condition worsened on Thursday, according to party sources. The former Delhi minister was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhaya Hospital earlier today after he fell in the bathroom of his Tihar Jail cell. Jain is lodged in the Tihar Jail in connection with a money-laundering case. Sources told News18 that Jain, who is lodged in jail number 7 of Tihar, slipped and fell in the washroom at around 6 am on Thursday. Jain will undergo all necessary tests at Deen Dayal Upadhaya Hospital as a precautionary measure. The former Delhi minister is already suffering a spine injury and wears a belt on his waist. He is also scheduled to undergo surgery soon. Today on May 25, 2023, in the morning at around 6 am, Under Trial Prisoner Satyendar Jain slipped/fell down in the bathroom of MI Room of the hospital of CJ-7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness. His vitals were found normal during the examination by the doctors. He was further referred to DDU Hospital as he complained about pain in his back, left leg and shoulder," said a statement released by the prison officials. Today on 25/05/2023 in the morning at around 6 am, Under Trial Prisoner Satyendar Jain slipped/fell down in the bathroom of MI Room of the hospital of CJ-7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness. Then, he was examined by the doctors. Vitals were normal. He was https://t.co/dSDpWiJkpA ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 The former minister was taken to the Safdurjung hospital earlier this week after his health deteriorated in the jail on Monday. This came days after Satyendar Jains lawyer filed a bail plea before the Supreme Court claiming that his client is facing extreme health conditions and has become a skeleton." Representing Jain, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi said the former minister has lost 35 kg and virtually became a skeleton. He is also suffering from various ailments. ALSO READ: Satyendar Jain Taken to Safdarjung Hospital Days After Filing Bail Plea on Health Grounds top videos On April 6, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the bail plea of Jain in connection with the money laundering case noting the witnesses claim that he was the conceptualiser, initiator and fund provider in the alleged crime. The high court said the AAP leader was an influential person having the potential to tamper with evidence. Satyendar Jain was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case based on a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Among the special invitees for the inauguration of Indias new Parliament building will be the family of jewellers who crafted and made the sengol, which will have a pride of place inside. The sengol was built by one of the oldest jeweller families in Chennai, Vummidi Bangaru. The gold-plated sceptre, representing a Chola dynasty tradition, was given to Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a ceremony in 1947 when the British handed over power. The sengol was crafted in 1947, a couple of months before Independence, under the guidance of the seer of Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam mutt in Tamil Nadu. It has carvings of Nandi and goddess Lakshmi. News18 spoke to the great-grandson of the jeweller who made it. Amarendra Vummudi said, This was a proud yet unbelievable moment for us when we were told about it." He said he had personally never seen it. But once we heard about it, we sent a team to check at the Allahabad museum whether it was the genuine one. It has some scriptures in Tamil which we inspected and we knew it was right. Its made of gold and has Nandi and Lakshmi carved on it. In fact, there are three Nandi symbols on it. Its a tradition which signifies both continuity and change and that power is being passed on. Its a proud moment for us Indians and our family that it will occupy a pride of place," he said. top videos There have been many queries about the sengol after home minister Amit Shah announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will install it in the new Parliament building at an event on May 28. But no replicas will be made for sale. Its a decision which we as a family have made that no replicas will be made for commercial purposes. We may at most make a small sample so that people can come and see it," said Amarendra. In the Chola kingdom, the transfer of power from one king to another was marked by the handing over of a sengol. This time, it signifies the transition from the old Parliament building to the new. The historical sceptre Sengol, that will be installed in the new Parliament building in the national capital, was the pride of Tamil Kings even more than their crown, a Tamil Nadu historian said. The Sengol harks back to Tamil history from the Sangam age over 2,000 years ago and it is made of silver with a coat of gold. Speaking to News18, M.D. Ajaikumar from Regional Historical Research Centre Kanchipuram said that, for Tamil kings the Sengol is a pride its more than the crown. Holding a Sengol means the king has to stay unbiased for his people. " Whenever the king sat in his darbar, the Sengol was placed," he said adding that it represented that the king will be just as erect as the Sengol for giving. According to the Tamil classic literature Silapathikaram says a Pandya king sacrificed his life to make his Sengol erect again when it bent for giving injustice to a common man and killing him." Legendary Tamil Poet Ovaiyar also said in one of her poems that when people are happy it meant then the Sengol is erect and justice prevails." The Sengol shows the way how the Tamil kings ruled the country. In fact, Pandya kings used to get the sceptre blessed by Goddess Meenakshi before swearing in as the King. Nayaks also practised the habit of holding a Sengol on their coronation day. Apart from them, Chola kings who ruled many parts of South Asia for three centuries have also had a tradition of holding the ancient spectre on their coronations. According to a legend, a Pandya King who lost his country to Cholas took his crown and the Sengol and hid it from the Cholas. He kept it safely in Sri lanka with the help of the Ceylon rulers. The Chola kings got to know this, and conquered Sri Lanka and took the spectre from them, and celebrated their victory over Pandyas. Sengol in new Parliament The Sengol was received by first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, symbolising the transfer of power from the British to India in 1947, and set to be installed in the new Parliament House on May 28 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. top videos The ceremonial sceptre was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum and has been moved to Delhi for its installation in the new Parliament building. The historical sceptre will be installed near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker. Jamai Sasthi is a cherished festival celebrated primarily in West Bengal. The day is marked on the sixth day of the waxing moon in the Bengali month of Jyeshtha which falls on May 25 this year. The strong bond between a mother-in-law and son-in-law is beautifully highlighted and celebrated on this day. Festivals are synonymous with food, and this day is ideal to prepare a delightful Bengali meal and savour its authentic flavors. An authentic spread is an intrinsic part of Jamai Sasthi, here we present to you a four-course meal. Bengali Fish Fry: Ingredients: 4-6 fish fillets, 2 tbsp ginger paste, 2 tbsp garlic paste, 3 tbsp (4 green chilies + 2 cups coriander leaves chopped) paste, 3 tbsp coriander leaves chopped, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp salt, 4 cups bread crumbs, 2 tbsp lemon juice (Patilebu), 1 tbsp black pepper powder, 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, Cooking oil for frying, 1 tbsp salt + 2 tbsp Gandhoraj lemon juice (for marinating fish fillets). Instructions: Marinate the bhetki fillet with 1 tbsp salt and 2 tbsp gandhoraj lemon juice. Make a paste with 4 green chilies and 2 cups chopped coriander. Mix ginger paste, garlic paste, green chili coriander paste, coriander leaves, black pepper, all-purpose flour, lemon juice, kasundi, eggs, and salt. Marinate fillets for 2-3 hours. Coat with breadcrumbs and shape. Fry in medium-hot oil until golden. Serve hot with kasundi. Vegetable Pulao: Ingredients: 1 cup basmati rice, 1 tbsp ghee or oil, 1 small sliced onion, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2-3 whole cloves, 2-3 green cardamom pods, 1-inch cinnamon stick, 1 bay leaf, 1 small carrot, diced 1/2 cup peas (fresh or frozen), Salt to taste, 2 cups water, Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish (optional). Instructions: Rinse and soak basmati rice for 15 minutes. Heat ghee or oil in a pan, saute onions until golden. Add spices and mix until fragrant. Add carrot and peas, cook briefly. Add drained rice and mix with vegetables and spices. Pour 2 cups water, add salt, and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes until rice is cooked. Let it sit covered for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork, and serve hot. Garnish with coriander leaves if desired. Chicken Curry Ingredients: 1 kg chicken, cut into pieces, 2 tbsp oil or ghee, 1 large onion, finely chopped, 2 tsp ginger paste, 2 tsp garlic paste, 2 tomatoes, pureed 2 tsp curry powder, 1 tsp each of turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, Salt to taste. Instructions: In a pan, heat ghee or oil over medium heat. Saute onions until golden brown. Add ginger and garlic paste, saute until fragrant. Cook chicken until browned. Add tomato puree and cook until softened. Mix in spices and salt to coat the chicken. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes until chicken is tender. Sprinkle with garam masala, garnish with cilantro, and serve hot with rice, naan, or roti. Mishti Doi: Ingredients: 1-liter full-fat milk, 1/2 cup condensed milk, 1/4 cup sugar (modify to your preference), 1/4 tsp cardamom powder, A pinch of saffron strands (optional), 1 tbsp warm milk, 1 tsp yogurt. Instructions: About My Father Movie Review: The first time I watched the trailer of About My Father, I could notice a few traits of my own father in Robert De Niro quirky, protective and disapproved of anything that wasnt listed in his playbook. Little did I know that I would get a full blown version of him on the screen with the film and it would make me want to immediately hug my dad. Released by Lionsgate, About My Father revolves around a father, Salvo (Robert De Niro) and his son Sebastian, played by Sebastian Maniscalco. The film, said to be loosely based on Sebastian Maniscalcos relationship with his father, puts the spotlight on an Italian father-son duo. While Salvo, an immigrant hairsylist living in Chicago and set in his own ways, his son Sebastian is trying to make it big in the hotel space. Sebastian is dating a rich American, played by Leslie Bibb, and intends on proposing to her during the 4th of July weekend. However, Salvo insists he will pass down the familys traditional ring only if he feels that the family is fit for his son. What follows is a series of unfortunate, hilarious events which not only pokes fun at fancy Americans but also Salvos eccentric behaviour, and tests his relationship with Sebastian. The crisp one and a half film keeps you engaged from the start to end. Sebastian Maniscalco, who wrote the story, and director Laura Terruso pack in just the right amount of laughs and slip in doses of emotions, allowing you to connect with the relationship. It comes as no surprise that Robert De Niro is the heart and soul of the film. He owns the character like he has been Salvo for decades now. He outshines everyone in the movie, making Sebastian also weak in a few scenes. Sebastian ensures his comic presence doesnt get lost in the storytelling but also doesnt overdo it. Kim Cattrall perfectly blends with De Niro in intense scenes, their on-screen love-hate chemistry shines, making me want to see a little more of their banter. The Sex in the City star also has a strong screen presence, taking your attention away from David Rasche and Anders Holm with absolute ease. Brett Dier might be playing a role in the background but his scenes with De Niro leave you in splits. The climax did feel a little weak, as though Sebastian wasnt sure how to draw an end to the well set movie so he decided to resort to cliches and wrap things up. You could notice the graph take a dip but it doesnt take away the wholesome experience that the film offers so far. Bottom Line: About My Father makes for a relatable family watch. The makers hit the mark on the comedy front, sprinkling just enough emotions to tie things up. Subhash Chandra Tiwari, a Bhojpuri film director, was found dead at a hotel in Uttar Pradeshs Sonbhadra on Wednesday. The filmmaker, originally from Maharashtra, was reportedly in Sonbhadra for a film shoot. According to news agency ANI, Tiwari was found dead in his room at the hotel. As per Sonbhadras Superintendent of Police (SP), Yashveer Singh, there were no visible marks of wounds discovered on the body. Police have sent the body for post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death. The course of the police investigation will be further determined after procuring the final medical reports. There is no visible wound on his body. The body has been sent for a post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death. Further investigation will be done after getting the post-mortem report, said Yashveer Singh. The incident comes at a time when the film fraternity is already reeling from the loss of several well-known faces. On early Wednesday, actor Nitesh Pandey was found dead in his hotel room in Igatpuri, Nashik, after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was staying at the hotel reportedly for a shooting commitment. It was the Anupamaa actors brother-in-law Siddharth who confirmed his death to ETimes. We have gone absolutely numb, I have not been able to even talk to Arpita (Niteshs wife) after the tragedy," said Siddharth. Nitesh was much younger than me. He was a very lively person and I dont think he had a history of any heart ailment, he added. In another shocking incident, Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai fame Vaibhavi Upadhayay died on Tuesday morning at the age of 32. She was killed in a car accident in Himachal Pradesh. The TV actress last rites were performed in Mumbai a day later. Vaibhavi Upadhayay was also known for her notable roles in Kya Qasoor Hai Amla Ka and the movie Chhapaak. TV actor Aditya Singh Rajputs body was discovered in the bathroom of his Mumbai house under mysterious circumstances. While the actual cause of death is yet to be ascertained, several media reports hinted at an alleged drug overdose by the actor. Adityas mother, however, lashed out at media outlets for publishing unverified claims" and maligning her sons image. Mumbai Police suspects that a serious internal head injury" may have been the cause of the actors death. Actress Karishma Tanna has been holding everyones attention, especially in the recent years, with her choice of projects. Breaking away from the tag of a television actress, Karishma has been taking on versatile roles, especially in the OTT space. Her recent being Scoop, directed by Hansal Mehta. While Karishma has finally moved out of the shadows of her small screen work, speaking with News18, the actress confessed that she has lost out on roles because she was typecast as a TV actress. The Hush Hush star pointed out that very few directors and producers are ready to risk putting an actress with an experience in the television space as the face of their projects. I have faced that throughout my life. TV actors ka ek typecast ho jaata hai (TV actors do get typecast). Even if I have not done fictional and typical saas-bahu roles, I am still typecast as a TV actor. Kya kiya hai, wo toh dekho (At least see my work in these television shows). But TV actor hai matlab you are typecast," Karishma said. They dont want to take any risk because it is a title role I had auditioned for a lot of good shows but to break that norm and to come Only a few directors and producers can take that risk, I know it is my vision, I know shell fit into this, only then you can break through, I feel," the actress added. Karishma expressed her gratitude towards Hansal Mehta for trusting her with Scoop and giving her a platform to showcase her skills. Every single day on the sets I would say that I really cant thank you (Hansal) enough and I still say it, I cant thank him enough, because of him, people can see me in a different light. Otherwise, how will a TV actor break that (image)? Thats going on for years now. I am not bitter about it but I am definitely upset about it," she said. Opening up about bagging the role of Jagruti Pathak, a crime journalist who lands in jail after a colleague is killed, in the Netflix series, Karishma revealed that she gave it her all in the audition. I just got a call from Mukesh Chabras team and as usual I was giving auditions for that agency and I gave an audition. The moment they said, Hansal Mehta is directing it, all my excitement levels were up. They gave me a two-three-pager script and I understood in that that this is the character Gujarati role, shes impatient, shes very ambitious and shes very restless and very hungry for scoop. In real life, I was also very hungry for people to notice me as an actor that enough of me being a TV artist or a glamourous doll. I wanted to be noticed as an actor, maybe I didnt get the platform, maybe I didnt get the stage to perform, so I thought, through my audition, I wanted to show (Hansal sir) that I can also act, I can also prove myself as an actor, if given a chance," Karishma said, confessing that she was in tears and shivering when she was informed that she has been selected for Scoop. Based on the book, Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison by Jigna Vora, Scoop boasts of a stellar starcast. Besides Karishma and Harman, Scoop also stars Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub, Harman Baweja, Deven Bhojani, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Tejasvini Kolhapure, Shikha Talsania, Tanmay Dhanania, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Inayat Sood, Swaroopa Ghosh, Malhar Thakar, Ira Dubey, Ishita Arun and Sanat Vyas. The series is slated to stream on Netflix starting June 2. Kiara Advanis adorable display of affection for her husband Sidharth Malhotra always wins the internet. They surely dish out major couple goals and their public appearances and photos, speak volumes about their love for each other. Away from the frenetic pace and chaos of everyday life, the couple had recently gone on a trip to Japan. Upon their return, Kiara took a trip down the memory lane and shared an unseen photo with Sidharth from their vacation. Sharing the photo on her Instagram story, she wrote, Take Me Back. In the photo, Sidharth and Kiara were seen holding hands as they passed through a street. While Kiara was donning an all-beige ensemble, Sidharth wore a dark blue hoodie. Their happy moment, is truly dishing out major couple goals. Earlier, another photo of Sidharth and Kiara also went viral on social media from their Japan vacation. Sidharth was seen wearing a black t-shirt paired with a blue jacket and matching joggers. He was seen holding a few shopping bags as Kiara stood next to him. Kiara and Sidharth fell in love with each other while shooting for their hit film Shershaah. The lovebirds tied the knot on February 7 this year at the Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer. Their wedding was an intimate ceremony with only family members and close friends in attendance. However, the couple hosted a mega star-studded reception later in Mumbai. Later, in an interview with News18 Showsha, Kiara opened up on life post her wedding and how it has made her appreciate her mother more than ever. For the first time, Im running a home. I used to live in my parents home. My mum did it all and weve so much respect and value for her right now. But its lovely and a beautiful phase. Im very, very happy, she said. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kiara will soon be seen in Satyaprem Ki Katha with Kartik Aaryan. She has already wrapped up shooting for the same. On the other hand, Sidharth has Dharma Productions Yodha and Rohit Shettys Indian Police Force in his pipeline. CCTV: According to reports, the China-Laos Railway has served 16 million passengers as of May 23. Some say while the railway has boosted trade and tourism links between China and Laos and the wider region, it remains to be seen whether it delivers tangible benefits to the local people. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: The China-Laos Railway has seen booming passenger and freight services since it became open to traffic over a year ago. Last month, cross-border passenger trains started running in opposite directions departing from Kunming of China and Vientiane of Laos respectively. A one-way journey takes less than half a day. This has made people-to-people exchange much easier and given a strong boost to the development of tourism and trade cooperation. You asked whether the China-Laos Railway delivers benefits to the local people. I can share with you the following: The China-Laos Railway has been a boon in terms of employment. Since its operation started, the railway has employed more than 3,500 Laotian staff and created over 100,000 jobs indirectly by catalyzing progress in logistics, transportation, trade and commerce, tourism and other sectors. Thanks to the railway, more and more young people in Laos have the opportunity to travel beyond the mountains where they have always lived. The China-Laos Railway has given a strong boost to trade. The railway has sent 3.26 million tonnes of exported cargo from Laos and Thailand to China. Transportation of goods from many ASEAN countries have also benefited from this golden transportation route. Today, it only takes three days for glutinous rice from Laos and durian from Thailand to reach the tables of Chinese consumers. Ecological conservation has been a top priority during the construction and operation of the China-Laos Railway. The railway avoided going through six natural and cultural protection areas and protected forests at the national level. The total greening area along the railway is over 3 million square meters. All these efforts are aimed to ensure that the beautiful natural landscape will not be affected. The China-Laos Railway is an epitome of Chinas Belt and Road cooperation with the world. We aim to share more opportunities generated by connectivity with regional countries to achieve development and prosperity for all. Reuters: Some Western countries and the analytics team of the US-based Microsoft said on Wednesday that a Chinese hacking group recently launched attacks against US key infrastructure, including in Guam. Whats the foreign ministrys comment? Mao Ning: We noted this extremely unprofessional report a patchwork with a broken chain of evidence. We also noted that the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the cybersecurity agencies of the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, almost simultaneously issued similar reports. Apparently, this has been a collective disinformation campaign launched by the US through the Five Eyes to serve its geopolitical agenda. Its widely known that the Five Eyes is the worlds biggest intelligence association and the NSA the worlds biggest hacking group. It is ironic that the Five Eyes jointly released a report filled with disinformation. The involvement of certain company in the report you mentioned indicates that the US is using additional channels to spread disinformation other than through government agencies. This is not the first time and certainly not the last time for them to do so. Whatever their subterfuge, it will not change the fact that the US is the champion of hacking. I remember that last September, details were revealed about NSAs attacks on Chinas Northwestern Polytechnical University in a report issued by Chinese institutions. The US should explain immediately about its cyber attacks and should not spread disinformation and detract attention from what it had done. TASS: Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui said yesterday at a meeting with the German side on the Ukraine crisis in Berlin that China encourages European countries to start looking at the root causes of the crisis to find a way to sort out high and low priorities, and supports their efforts to ensure long-term stability on the European continent. Could you share more with us on that? What do you think is the root causes of the Ukraine crisis? Mao Ning: The Ukraine crisis is a tragedy that could have been avoided. But it has come to where it stands today. There are painful lessons that all parties should truly reflect upon. The Ukraine crisis is essentially an eruption of the problems built up in the security governance of Europe. China always makes its own judgment independently based on the merits of the issue. We stand firmly on the side of peace and dialogue and the right side of history. We have been and will remain committed to promoting talks for peace. We stand ready to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in seeking a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. AFP: The outgoing president of Paraguay said yesterday that the country is open to trading with China, but would not switch diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan. Do you have any response to the statement? Mao Ning: There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus among the international community. The fact that 182 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle demonstrates that standing up for the one-China principle is the right thing to do. It has the overwhelming support of the international community and represents the trend of the world. Relevant countries need to see the prevailing trend of the world, choose the right side of history together with the overwhelming majority of countries and make the right decision soon that serves their fundamental and long-term interests. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, the Jan. 6 insurrectionist convicted of sedition last December, was sentenced to 18 years in prison today. The 57-year-old instigator had helped plan the Capitol riots and was the first person involved with the insurrection to be "sentenced for seditious conspiracy," according to ABCNews10. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta told Rhodes that he was a threat to the U.S. who "wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence." "The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government," The judge said, via ABC. After his conviction last year, his wife had she was "beyond happy," and explained, "He has absolutely never had to face a consequence in his entire life. This will be the very first time He's spent his life making others pay. This was past due for him." She must be rejoicing at today's good news. From ABC: The founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after the 2020 election. It was one of the most consequential cases brought by the Justice Department, which has sought to prove that the riot by right-wing extremists like the Oath Keepers was not a spur-of-the-moment protest but the culmination of weeks of plotting to overturn Biden's election victory. Prosecutors had sought 25 years for Rhodes, who they say was the architect of a plot to forcibly disrupt the transfer of presidential power that included "quick reaction force" teams at a Virginia hotel to ferry weapons into D.C. if they were needed. The weapons were never deployed. In remarks shortly before the judge handed down the sentence, Rhodes slammed the prosecution as politically motivated, noted that he never went inside the Capitol and insisted he never told anyone else to do so. In a first for a Jan. 6 case, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta agreed with prosecutors to apply enhanced penalties for "terrorism," under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through "intimidation or coercion." Judges in previous sentencings had shot down the Justice Department's request for the so-called "terrorism enhancement" which can lead to a longer prison term but Mehta said it fits in Rhodes' case. Image: Stewart Rhodes / mugshot A photograph of veteran Hindi film actress Mala Sinha made the headlines recently. It shows a little boy sitting on her lap. The black-and-white photograph shows Mala holding the baby with a lot of affection and while you may wonder who the toddler is, he is one of the most celebrated stars in the industry today. Can you recognise him? Children of superstars have been visiting film sets for a long time and this kid is also one. He took inspiration from his father and joined the film industry as an actor to follow in his footsteps. He isnt the only one from the family to do so, his mother and siblings are also successful stars in the industry and the family is responsible for giving some of the most iconic films to Indian film fans. If you still havent been able to guess who the star is, the answer is Bobby Deol. This photograph was clicked when Bobby was on his father Dharmendras film short with Mala. The Deol family has given a lot to Indian cinema, but the actor couldnt deliver many hits in his career. Bobby has given a couple of superhits like Soldier, Humraaz, Ajnabee, Barsaat and Dillagi but most of his movies did not create a long-lasting magic on the silver screen. However, the actor did not give up despite having a sharp decline in the performance of his films. He turned to OTT with the hope that it would help revive his stardom and it certainly did. The 2020 show Aashram, streaming on MX Player, marked the rebirth of the actor. While the storyline and direction of the film were tight, his performance further elevated the show and today Bobby is receiving offers from projects that are bigger than ever. Bobby Deol will next be seen in Animal as the antagonist. People are excited to see him brawl against Ranbir Kapoor as the pairing is fresh. Moreover, he has a couple of more big projects lined up. One of them is Housefull 5 and the other one is named Shlok The Desi Sherlock. Famous Urdu poet and writer Munawwar Rana was admitted to the hospital on May 25, after his health deteriorated late at night. It was reported that he is currently receiving treatment at the Apollo Hospital in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. His daughter, Sumaiya Rana has revealed that her fathers health has been deteriorating and is in a critical condition right now. Sumaiya released a video where she talked about her fathers health. She mentioned that his health has worsened and he has been put on the ventilator. She added that his health was getting worse in the last three days. He got a severe stomach ache during the dialysis. She added that the doctors have conducted a test and they had found a problem in his gall bladder as well. She said that her father is being treated under the supervision of many doctors so that his infection can be reduced. She further added that the doctors have told her that the next 72 hours are extremely critical for him. Munawwar Rana is an acclaimed poet, who has composed various ghazals. Apart from Urdu, he has also written poetry in Hindi and Awadhi. He has been involved in various controversies over the years. In 2021, an FIR was filed against the poet in Madhya Pradesh as he was accused of comparing Valmiki with the Taliban. While talking to the channel, he said, Valmiki became a God after he wrote the Ramayana, before that he was a dacoit. A persons character can change. Similarly, the Taliban, for now, are terrorists, but people and characters change. Reportedly, his comments had hurt the religious sentiments of some people and they decided to file a complaint against him. He found himself in another controversy after he supported the murder of Samuel Paty, who was killed over a controversy about Prophet Muhammad in Paris in 2020. In 2014, he won the Sahitya Akademi Prize for Urdu literature. However, he declined the award as he had vowed that he would not accept any government honour due to rising intolerance in the country. His daughter, Sumaiya Rana is a member of the Samajwadi Party. It has been nearly seven days since the Supreme Court stayed the Bengal governments decision to ban the film The Kerala Story, yet none of the halls or multiplexes in Bengal are showing the film. Despite no official ban, The Kerala Story remains unavailable for viewing anywhere in the state. When asked, hall owners cite pre-existing slot bookings for other films as the reason, while multiplex owners have not provided any specific explanation. Satadeep Saha, the distributor of The Kerala Story movie in Bengal, has been tirelessly trying to secure a release for the film, but all efforts have been in vain. In an interview with News18, Shatadip expressed his belief that theatre owners feel threatened. Here are excerpts from his interview: Q: It has been seven days since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on The Kerala Story. Is the film being screened in any halls? A: Sadly, even after the Supreme Courts stay, not a single hall or multiplex is showing the film. Q: Why do you think they are not screening it? A: I believe the theatre owners are apprehensive about potential harm to their property, which is why they are refraining from showing the film. They are not providing a direct reason, but they are not taking any action. Hall owners are silent, although they want to screen the film but cannot comment on this issue. Q: Have you spoken to the authorities? A: No, my father, who is the chairman of the exhibitor section, has sent a letter requesting the Chief Ministers intervention, but nothing has happened so far. The director and producer have also made a plea to the Chief Minister through the media. Q: What is your next step? A: I have no idea. It is very unfortunate I will have to wait, there is nothing else I can do. It is sad and shocking, but we really dont know what to do. Last week, the films producer stated to the media that they would once again approach the court since the film has not been shown anywhere. Salman Khan reminds everyone that he loves children with his latest video. The actor was spotted late Wednesday night making his way to Abu Dhabi for IIFA 2023. The superstar was seen at the Mumbai airport with his team of security, headed to board his flight. However, when Salman noticed a young boy trying to reach out to the actor, he stopped and gave the little one a memory of a lifetime. In the video, shared by a paparazzo on Instagram, Salman was seen bringing his team to a standstill and allowing a young boy to reach out to him. The boy was seen running and hugging him, leaving Salman Khan with a big smile. The actor hugged back and greeted him. Watch the adorable video below: Besides the sweet gesture, what also caught our attention in the video was Salmans new look. The actor was seen debuting his goatee look at the airport, bringing back memories of Kick. The look does spark speculation that the actor has begun work on Kick 2. Many took to the comments section and showered Salman with love. Most misunderstood superstar. Just love this man," a comment read. What a gorgeous man inside out," added another. Bhais new look is just " a third comment read. Superb Salman Khan what a man yr awesome hes style and heart are so good god bless him to grow up more and more," a fourth comment read. Kitna handsome lag raha hai," a fifth comment read. Salman recently opened up about wanting kids. During his appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, Salman said he almost went the Karan Johar way but it has not been easy. Thats what I was trying to do. But, perhaps that law has now changed, so well see. I love kids. But kids come with mothers. Mothers are very good for them, but back in my house, there are too many mothers. One could say we have a whole district, a whole village! But my kids mother will be my wife," he said. SUNIL DUTT DEATH ANNIVERSARY: Sunil Dutt, the legendary star, left an indelible mark on the industry. Renowned for his exceptional performances in cult classics like Mother India, Sadhna, and Padosan, he captivated audiences with his charm. Starting his cinematic journey with Railway Platform in 1955, Sunil Dutts final film role was in the iconic Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2006), where he portrayed the father of his real-life son, Sanjay Dutt. Throughout his illustrious career spanning five decades, Sunil Dutt held a special place in the hearts of cinemagoers. His contributions to the industry were recognised with the prestigious Padma Shri award. His legacy continues to inspire. On his death anniversary, lets take a look at 10 interesting trivia from his life and films: The Kerala Story producer Vipul Shah has reacted to his film finally playing in West Bengal theatres after the Supreme Court lifted the states ban on the movie last week. On May 8, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had declared a ban on The Kerala Story in the state to avoid any incident of hatred and violence." The film, starring Adah Sharma, hit theatres on May 5 amid major controversy and multiple petitions challenging its release. It revolves around a Hindu woman from Kerala who is converted to Islam and trafficked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Now, in an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, producer Vipul Shah has claimed that his film is still not getting screens in West Bengal. He alleged that the police officials and authorities are threatening theatre owners and warning them that their licenses will not be renewed if they screen The Kerala Story. The problem is that in spite of the Supreme Court order, the theatre owners in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are not able to run the film. They are getting threat calls from cops and authorities that if they showcase this film, their licenses will not be renewed, the goons will attack theatres and they will not get protection. So the film is not running in theatres yet. This is happening in two states who claim to be the champions of democracy. They have disregarded Supreme Courts order," he told us. We cant do anything more. We have done everything under the law, whatever was possible. Supreme Court gave a very strong order protecting the film and stopping the ban, now it is up to the audience of these two states to raise their voice and compel the government to show them the film," the producer added. Vipul Shah further claimed that theres hardly one or two theatres screening The Kerala Story in West Bengal and argued that even they dont know when they will be forced to shut it." Shah revealed that he has himself spoken to several theatre owners in West Bengal, who informed him that people in the state are eager to watch the Adah Sharma starrer. What an individual can do is very limited when you are threatened that your license will not be renewed. For one film, he (theatre owners) is not going to risk his entire business. They succumb under the pressure," Shah said. We can only request Supreme Court to take a Suo-moto cognizance against the state government and tell them to leave this ego and let the film be released," the producer concluded. The Hiroshima G7 summit communique exposes the gap between principle and practice and between rhetoric and reality. Choosing Hiroshima as the venue of the summit sent a confusing message. Hiroshima was the victim (along with Nagasaki) of the only time a nuclear weapon was used in war, and that too against a civilian population. Hiroshima should then have been the platform to explore peace everywhere and, in particular, prevent the escalation of any conflict with a nuclear dimension. If holding the summit at Hiroshima was to send a message of peace, that goal was not served by inviting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the summit to demonstrate G7 support for him by way of supply of arms and finance to continue boosting his capacity to fight militarily with the ambition to wrest back the regions annexed by Russia. No peace initiative surfaced from the summit. On the contrary, the G7 communique offers support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. This open-ended support is intended to achieve what? A partial or total military defeat of Russia? Is that realistic? Will that come without terrible cost for the Ukrainian people (and loss of lives in Russia), however determined they are to defend their country and however righteous they may feel about their cause? Ukraine rejects any negotiation with Russia, except on its own seemingly unrealistic terms, but which have the Wests support for the time being. Ukraines peace formula envisages Russias military defeat, reparations by Russia for war damage and war crimes trials of Russians. Even so, negotiation with President Vladimir Putins Russia does not seem permissible any more under a decree passed by President Zelenskyy. Yet, the Ukrainian president is seeking support for his peace formula internationally. At the end of the summit, instead of any move towards dialogue and diplomacy, unwavering G7 support and an additional $375 package of arms aid was announced by the US. There are other ironies associated with Hiroshima as the summit venue. Hiroshima represents the only time that nuclear weapons were used in history. The leader of the country that used those weapons was the honoured guest at Hiroshima. President Barack Obama no doubt had visited Hiroshima in 2016 when Japan hosted the G7 meeting at a very different venue, in Ise-Shima. His guest book entry at Hiroshima said: We have known the agony of war. Let us now find the courage, together, to spread peace and pursue a world without nuclear weapons.. Cryptic words that admit no guilt, suggest that the US too was a victim of war equally with Japan, and end with a meaningless homily on a nuclear-weapon-free world. In 2016 President Obama actually authorised a nuclear modernisation programme costing $1 trillion over 30 years. President Joe Biden laid a wreath at the bombing site but did not apologise for the use of nuclear weapons. Ironically again, Japan wholeheartedly accepts nuclear protection from the same country that used nuclear weapons against it. Normally, this should have put Japan in a moral quandary, but Japan evidently prioritises security over moral sensitivities. This may be understandable at one level in view of Japans decision to forego the nuclear option and the nuclear threat it faces, especially from North Korea, but Japans activism on the nuclear issue has a moralistic dimension that strikes a discordant note with its own reality. Sections of our press thought that Indias presence at Hiroshima as a country that had not signed the NPT had an element of awkwardness. This was raising a non-issue as in July 2017 India and Japan signed an Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. Japan, of course, continues to ritualistically call for early entry into force of the CTBT and early conclusion of negotiations on a non-discriminatory and verifiable FMCT, even as the US, the prime mover of these treaties, has lost interest in them some years ago. These calls have figured in the joint statement issued during the India-Japan summit in March 2023, not as a joint view, but as Japans view. The G7 Leaders Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament contains a lot of posturing on the nuclear issue, with lip service to the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with such caveats as to make this goal indeterminate as the approach will be realistic, pragmatic and responsible. Many aspects of the G7 statement do not bear scrutiny. It says that its work is rooted in international partnership, whereas in key areas it does not appear to be so. The G7 intends to continue supporting Ukraine without let irrespective of the consequences of this European conflict for the interests of developing countries. Does the decision to intensify military support to Ukraine to increase costs for Russia promote either the claimed wider partnership objectives or multilateralism, when most countries are opposed to sanctions on Russia because of serious secondary consequences for them? If Russias brutal war represents a threat to the whole world, the answer should be to search for a global consensus on finding a route to dialogue and peace rather than put all the emphasis on condemnation of Russia and a military solution. The stated G7 disarmament goals are not being strengthened with the US decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty and uncertainty around the Start II Treaty stemming from the Ukraine conflict. Working for the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all can hardly be achieved if it has not been possible to implement even the concept of indivisibility of security in Europe (included in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and reiterated in the CSCE Helsinki Document of 1992 and Lisbon Summit of 1996) where a dangerous nuclear fault line has been opened. The G7 joint statement speaks of economic resilience and economic security, diversifying and de-risking of supply chains instead of decoupling, which is an acknowledgement of the impracticality of decoupling their economies from China. The drawing back from the decoupling rhetoric gives space not only to US interests but those of Europe and Japan to maintain their vital economic ties with China. The usual references to free and open Indo-Pacific and opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion is directed at Chinas threats to Taiwan in particular. The G7 intends to strengthen coordination with regional partners such as the ASEAN, recognising ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The partnership with Pacific Island countries stems from China-related concerns. So is the reference to a rules-based multilateral trading system and trustworthy AI in line with democratic values. There are references to the transition to clean energy, resilient global food security, allocating $60 billion for financing quality infrastructure through PGII [Partnership for Global Infrastructure Initiative (prodded by Chinas BRI)], Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening partnerships with Africa and African representation in multilateral fora (spurred also by Chinas penetration of Africa), de-carbonisation of the G7 energy sector, deepening cooperation on Just Energy Transition Partnerships. A Pandemic Fund for supporting vaccine manufacturing capacity worldwide figures in the joint statement even though the Indian and South African efforts at the WTO to obtain a TRIPS waiver for manufacturing anti-Covid vaccines and treatments in developing countries have not succeeded, with opposition, particularly from the EU. The short point is that the G7, however powerful it still is in the global system, is no longer in the same dominant position as before, recognised years ago with the decision to form the G20 where other major world economies are also represented. The G20, which includes both China and Russia, is, unfortunately, not any longer in a position to develop the required consensus on vital global economic and financial matters. The agendas of the G7 and the G20 are no longer shared in vital respects, given the deep divide that has arisen between the US and Europe on one side and China and Russia on the other on political, economic, financial and security issues, with countries of the Global South, too, having their own priorities. Some headline agenda items may be shared by the G7 and the G20 but cooperation to achieve the broad objectives is not feasible when the two sides treat each other as adversaries, the political atmosphere has become fraught, global supply chains have been disrupted, globalisation is being reversed, finance has been weaponised, diluting the hegemony of the US dollar has become an objective, the re-militarisation of key countries is afoot, alliances are being strengthened or formed, and all such negative developments. Kanwal Sibal is a former Indian Foreign Secretary. He was Indias Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. At one place in his 2022 book, The Commissioner For Lost Causes, Arun Shourie reminisces about one of his interactions with Ramnath Goenka, the founder of The Indian Express, soon after his meeting with RSS leader Bhaurao Deoras at Delhis Jhandewalan complex. When I returned, I went to see RNG (Goenka). I told him how impressed I was by Bhauraoji: Such austere living, a sharp mind, clear thinking Arey chhodo, Ramnathji cut me short: Yeh sab naa milee ke sadhu hain chokree naheen milee to sadhu baney phirtey hain. Sattaa milegee, tab dekhnaa kaisey us ke peechey bhaagengey, kyaa uskaa prayog karengey, ke kaheen voh panjey sey nikal naa jaaye uskey liye kyaa kyaa karengey Satta mili to tumhein pataa lagegaa ki yeh kitney sadhu hain. In short, Goenka questioned the notion of austerity among the RSS people, saying they were austere largely because they didnt have power. Their real test would come when they found themselves in power, he added. Shourie didnt contest Goenkas assessment because Ramnathji was an early supporter of the Gita Press, and from this one could infer his attitude towards Hinduism in general, to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in particular as the aspiring standard-bearer of Hinduism. Decades after Goenkas death in 1991, Shourie still seemed to be under his influence when he invoked a bhikhari (beggar) allegory, in an interview with this writer in 2017, on the question of a controversial appointment of the then ICSSR chairperson. To paraphrase his statement, Shourie had said that the RSS made such appointments to give its bhikhari karyakartas cars, drivers, and accommodations in Delhi. How close his assessment was to that of Ramachandra Guha, who had publicly called the then ICSSR chief a half-literate Sanghi! Interestingly, the person had nothing to do with RSS all his life. He had authored/edited more than 100 books, was awarded by the Vice-President of India in 1991 (when the Congress was in power) in recognition of his work for the promotion of Hindi, and was recommended for a Padma award by the state of Nagaland in the early 1980s. Guha, to his credit, apologised personally to his son. Shourie couldnt. For, he didnt know the journalist interviewing him was the son of the ICSSR chief and it wasnt reported! At Lutyens, Shourie and Guha can think alike, though ideologically they are so far apart (Guha will surely protest, saying he belongs to Bengaluru, but then here one is talking about the Lutyens mindscape, and not landscape!) And from the high of the Raisina Hill, the rest of India looks dirty, dingy and poverty-stricken. Marx wasnt entirely wrong, after all. Coming back to the RSS, this writers traditional home in Bihar has the opportunity to host several Sangh leaders. Their simplicity, rootedness, commitment for cause, selfless love towards the nation, and admiration for Sanatana ethos were readily discernible. They would come, meet, talk, sometimes eat, but what impressed the most was their simplicity and a profound sense of purpose. Last time, however, maybe six-eight months back, when a Sangh leader, a regional one at best, visited the home, he seemed different: He had the air of being an important person, who should be treated differently. He wanted some of the respectable locals to be invited to listen to him, to kind of celebrate his presence among the lesser beings. But when nothing of the sort happened and the courtesies remained confined to providing him with an airy guestroom and a homely lunch, he became restless. He left the place in a hurry. This was the last that was heard from him. To, however, treat the entire RSS leadership with Goenka-like reproach would be unfair. The Sangh has succeeded despite extreme politico-ideological hostilities, especially from the ruling-intellectual classes, for most parts of independent India. It was, in fact, banned at the very dawn of Independence on 4 February 1948, to be precise after fabricating its links with Mahatma Gandhis assassination. As Ratan Sharda writes in his book, RSS: Evolution From An Organisation To A Movement, this was done without a shred of evidence and enforced with mala fide urgency because Nehru saw RSS and Hindu Sabha men as traitors and publicly vowed to crush them. Still, the RSS has thrived. This not just shows the innate strength of its organisation and ideas, but also brings out the dedication and commitment of its cadres that work in most adverse circumstances with bare minimum resources and facilities. Though some of the Sangh leaders may be getting used to good life, given that the BJP is in power at the Centre and in several states, the cadre remain the same old committed lot. However, given the nature of the Sangh Parivar where hierarchy and discipline are of paramount importance, the rot, if not identified in time and surgically removed from the body system, can spread dangerously fast and wide. One RSS leader told this writer, during the Karnataka Assembly poll campaigning, that the ground level karyakartas in the state were utterly dissatisfied and angry with their leaders. He confided that the Sangh, which had been the real strength of the BJP, thanks to its dedicated and selfless cadre, was full of people who were only interested in power and money. Currently, there are several videos in circulation where the RSS-BJP volunteers of Karnataka can be seen to be accusing their leaders of being corrupt and unmindful of peoples welfare. The RSS and the BJP can ill-afford to ignore such sentiments, even if some videos are fake and mischievously distributed by their politico-ideological opponents and disgruntled elements. The above problem is largely physical/external in nature. But more perilous can be the psychological/internal dilemma facing the Sangh and the BJP: To cast itself in the image of its opponents by obsessively trying to look and act secular, and fixatedly seek sabka saath and sabka vishwas. The irony is that not long ago, the RSS and the BJP would accuse their politico-ideological opponents of doing exactly the same by pursuing crass minorityism in the name of secularism. They would target the previous Congress governments of indulging in Haj politics, but today BJP spokespersons proudly inform how the Modi government has hiked the Haj subsidy. Even the Central ministers can be seen queuing up at airports to see these pilgrims off for Mecca and Medina. Its understandable for the BJP to look for ways to extend its electoral base. After all, the primary object of a political party is to win elections. But can the same be said about the RSS? What will be left of the Sangh if it is not what it was originally formed to work for? The RSS was established by Dr KB Hedgewar in 1925 with the express objective of Hindu revitalisation. In this endeavour to strengthen Hindu society, it has done several milestone works through hundreds of its associated wings working with tribals, Dalits, among others, bringing them to Hindu mainstream. All this has strengthened Hindu society an avowed objective of the RSS. But how does the Sangh involving itself in giving pension to divorced Muslim women forwarding its cause? Its a noble work, no doubt, but why just confine to Muslim women? Let all poor women be the beneficiaries of Sangh welfarism. Even more confusing is the endeavour of one of its subsidiaries, Muslim Rashtriya Manch formed in 2002 with the blessings of then RSS chief KS Sudarshan and is currently guided by senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar. One of its pet projects is Imam-e-Hind Ram. The Manch leadership thinks that by merely calling Bhagwan Ram Imam-e-Hind, Indias communal problem can be resolved, little realising that Allama Iqbal the ideological father of Pakistan too saw Ram as Imam-e-Hind (spiritual leader of India). In Islam, it doesnt matter where the story began. What matters is where it ends and the finality rests with Prophet Mohammed. Nothing changes or can be changed after Him. How skewed is the Manchs understanding of Islam and Islamism can be gauged from the fact that its leaders in 2020 had taken to streets to protest against the Emmanuel Macron government on the issue of Islamophobia in France. Then, there was a Sangh-inspired organisation that took pride in placing a rare 16th century copy of the Quran, written in gold ink, at the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Nagpur. Nothing can be a greater scientific validation for the Islamic holy book than having its copy put at a science meet. Despite the overwhelming temptation, the RSS should avoid leaving the Hindu shore to placate other religions. The BJP, being a political party, may have its compulsions to look secular in the Nehruvian mould, but the RSS has no such obligations. Its ideological purity is paramount. For, the muddied waters of a downstream tributary can be ignored, but the source has to remain sparkling clean at all cost. The minority-first secularism in India is the worst form of Nehruvian perversion of what has actually been a Christian notion, based as it is on the specific theological framework that was conceptually conceived of during the Protestant Reformation, as J Sai Deepak explains in his book, India That Is Bharat. In India, the term secularism is thus an oxymoron. No wonder, the Constituent Assembly after a detailed discussion had refused to accommodate the word in the Constitution of India. In this backdrop, it was heartening to see RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat strongly tying the Sangh to its Hindu core in January this year. While assuring Muslims that there was nothing to fear in India, he urged them to abandon their boisterous rhetoric of supremacy. But more needs to be done on that front. Being the ideological fountainhead of its Parivar, the RSS has no option but to speak truth even if it sounds unpleasant, especially in todays politically-correct world. If its ideology gets muddied, then it would have cascading impact on its fringe outfits. In that scenario, a section of Sanghis standing up with Islamists wont be a one-off phenomenon. Then, taking a stern action against PFI-like jihadi forces, even when they target, maim and kill Hindutva karyakartas, would become difficult, as was the case in BJP-ruled Karnataka. And, the traditional hostility towards corrupt people and practices would get tampered with. The crux of the problem in BJP-ruled Karnataka was in the ideological fluidity of those in power. This not just made the government susceptible to corruption and stemmed any efforts to provide good governance, but also innately enfeebled the state to take on anti-India jihadi forces operating within its boundaries. Ramnath Goenka wasnt right on RSS in the 1980s. He may be partially right now. But this can be checked. All that the RSS and the BJP need to do is to rediscover their ideological moorings. This would be good for the nation. And it would be an electoral masterstroke too. (This is the second part of the two-part series) The author is Opinion Editor, Firstpost and News18. He tweets from @Utpal_Kumar1. Views expressed are personal. The third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting concluded in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on Wednesday, capturing global attention as it showcased Indias rich cultural identity and vast tourism potential. This three-day event focused on promoting sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, with the aim of driving economic growth, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering sustainable development in the region. Amidst the captivating sights of unprecedented development and the delightful interaction between the people of J&K and G20 delegates, certain entities and individuals persist in propagating an unfounded belief that J&K is engulfed in perpetual suffering. However, the reality on the ground reveals a different story. J&K hosted its first international event since 2019, following the granting of Union Territory (UT) status through the amendment of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. This amendment empowered the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Ladakh, with the same rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and the benefits of central laws enjoyed by citizens across the country. The hosting of this historic international event by J&K stands as a testament to the regions progress and newfound stability. It showcases the regions intrinsic, inclusive, and vibrant nature, highlighting its rich cultural heritage, tourism potential, and commitment to sustainable development. International delegates participating in this event witnessed firsthand the positive impact of the constitutional amendment, dispelling any lingering misconceptions and emphasising the regions journey towards a more prosperous and harmonious future. Furthermore, this event goes beyond mere tourism promotion. It also placed emphasis on creating employment opportunities, developing infrastructure, fostering interdepartmental coordination, and ensuring government accountability to the people of Kashmir. Through targeted initiatives and collaborations, the event aimed to spur growth, thereby contributing to the overall socio-economic progress of the region. The event placed a strong emphasis on infrastructure development, recognising its significance in facilitating seamless travel experiences, enhancing connectivity, and providing essential amenities for both tourists and residents. The focus was on building robust and sustainable infrastructure that supports the growth of the tourism industry while also benefiting the local communities. Additionally, the event sought to foster interdepartmental coordination, recognising that effective collaboration among various government departments is essential for the successful implementation of policies and initiatives. By promoting synergy and communication between different entities, the event aimed to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and ensure the optimal utilisation of resources for the development of the tourism sector and related industries. Furthermore, the event aimed to create a transparent and responsive governance framework, where the needs and aspirations of the local population are prioritised. Through open dialogue and consultations, the event sought to ensure that the government remains accountable to its citizens, fostering trust and strengthening the bond between the authorities and the people they serve. Most importantly, this event goes above and beyond conventional tourism promotion by encompassing a multifaceted approach that reflects a holistic vision for the sustainable and inclusive development of Jammu and Kashmir. It aims to ensure that its people and communities thrive in a conducive environment, where their well-being and aspirations are at the forefront of the regions growth and progress. The G20 event in Kashmir, aptly named Naya Kashmir (New Kashmir), stands as a powerful symbol that uplifts the spirits of the local population and sheds light on the remarkable progress achieved in the region. It serves as a testament to the unwavering resilience and determination of the people of J&K, who have embraced progress and growth as a means to overcome the challenges posed by terrorism and pave the way for a more prosperous and harmonious future. The success of the G20 event in Kashmir extends beyond its ability to showcase the true essence of Jammu and Kashmir; it also lies in its capacity to dispel the unfounded beliefs and narratives perpetuated by a few. This event uplifts the spirits of the local population, instilling within them a profound sense of pride and optimism. Despite the persistence of challenges and the dissemination of misinformation by certain individuals, the G20 event in Kashmir stood as a shining example of the transformative power inherent in positive change. Ultimately, the G20 event in Kashmir serves not only as a celebration of Indias rich cultural identity and the immense tourism potential of the region, but also as a platform to showcase the indomitable spirit, resilience, and unwavering determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It has sent a resounding message that J&K is not a region condemned to perpetual suffering, but rather a land brimming with opportunities and possibilities waiting to be realised. The author is an international criminal lawyer and director of research at New Delhi based think tank Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies (CIHS). Feedback on rp@cihs.org.in. Views expressed are personal. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will meet Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Thursday. Kejriwal and his party comrade and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday evening. The two CMs on Wednesday met Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray at the latters residence in Mumbai to seek support for the AAPs fight against the Union governments ordinance for the control of services in Delhi. After meeting Thackeray, Kejriwal claimed the ordinance means the Narendra Modi government does not believe in the Supreme Court. He also said state governments were being toppled by using the CBI and the ED. The Centre last Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. top videos The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Backing Kejriwal, Thackeray said the Supreme Courts order was important for democracy. We have come together to defeat those against democracy. If we miss the train this time, then there will be no democracy in the country. We have come together to save the country and the Constitution, Thackeray said. On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Mann met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAPs fight against the Centres ordinance. The AP reports that child labor is on the cards across the U.S., with state lawmakersmostly Republicanscalling for youngsters to be put to work to fill "labor shortages", even in bars, even on schoolnights. Lawmakers proposed loosening child labor laws in at least 10 states over the past two years, according to a report published last month by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. Some bills became law, while others were withdrawn or vetoed. Legislators in Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa are actively considering relaxing child labor laws to address worker shortages. Employers have struggled to fill open positions after a spike in retirements, deaths and illnesses from COVID-19, decreases in legal immigration and other factors. Wisconsin lawmakers back a proposal to allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants. If passed, Wisconsin would have the lowest such limit nationwide, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It's alarming to watch them turning up the dial, realizing they can get away with almost anything because most media will both-sides it on an increasingly-imaginary spectrum while resistance is muted by gerrymandering, gerontocracy and general indifference. Republicans dropped provisions from a version of the bill allowing children aged 14 and 15 to work in dangerous fields including mining, logging and meatpacking. That the plain physical impossibility of "children, logging" was under consideration at all should be more controversial! It's "public life has become an unhinged media simulation" bonkers. A day after the Punjab unit urged the Congress High Command to consult state units before deciding on support for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the Delhi ordinance issue, the senior leadership has sought a report from the state unit on the cases registered against the local leaders by the Bhagwant Mann government stressing that it would stand for them against what it alleged was political witch-hunting. The AAP leadership including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been travelling across the country seeking support for the party over the issue. Kejriwal met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar on Thursday. The Congress is yet to make its stand clear on the issue but the Punjab unit has been asking its senior leadership to consult them before taking a decision. ALSO READ: Kejriwal Gets Pawars Backing Against Centres Delhi Ordinance, NCP Chief to Help Get Other Parties On Board Following the request, the Congress high command has sought a report from the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) on the cases registered against party leaders by the state government. AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has sought a report from PCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, said party sources. The Punjab Congress has been alleging political vendetta against its leaders by the AAP government in the state. Apart from the arrest of former ministers Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the report, to be submitted to the high command, also mentioned the arrest of its former MLA Kikki Dhillon and ongoing inquiries against former CM Charanjit Channi, former minister Brahm Mohindra, MLAs Barinder Meet Pahra and Sukhpal Kahira. Whatever politically motivated cases have been filed against Congress leaders by the Punjab government will be brought to the notice of the high command, said Warring. top videos Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said the AAP deserved no solidarity from the Congress because it had unleashed a ruthless witch-hunt against Congress MLAs, leaders and workers in the state. He has already urged the partys high command to take this point into consideration before reaching a decision on extending support to the AAP on the ordinance issue. Punjab Congress leaders have urged the partys high command to consult the leadership of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Karnataka before even considering helping the AAP. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday backed Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal who is garnering support for the AAPs fight against the Centres ordinance, saying that the issue is not limited to the national capital. There is a crisis in the country and its not an issue limited to Delhi. NCP and the people of Maharashtra will support Kejriwal. We will also talk to other leaders to support Kejriwal. We must focus on bringing all non-BJP parties together, Pawar said after meeting Kejriwal at Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai. Kejriwal also said he will seek time from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to meet them on this issue. Tomorrow, I will seek time from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to meet them on this issue, he said. The AAP national convenor on Wednesday met former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latters Bandra home to seek support for AAPs fight against the BJP-ruled Centres ordinance on control of services in Delhi. On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Mann met their West Bengal peer Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAPs fight against the Centres ordinance. The Centre last Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. top videos The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court. (With inputs from ANI, PTI) A group of educationists and school associations has asked the new Karnataka government to drop the changes made to the state syllabus textbooks by the previous BJP regime amid the Congress making its intent clear about changing some of the controversial legislations of its predecessor. Professor VP Niranjan Aradhya, head of Universalisation of Education at the National Law School of India (NLSI) university in Bengaluru, met chief minister Siddaramaiah and said: Nearly 98 per cent of the newly printed textbooks have already been distributed for the academic year 2023-24, important chapters that have been changed can be dropped from teaching and evaluation. The state witnessed a massive row last year after the BJP government modified the textbooks and added a speech of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar for the curriculum of Class X. The revised textbooks had also dropped works by literary figures like P Lankeshs Mruga Mattu Sundari, AN Murthi Raos Vyaghrageethe and Sara Aboobackers Yuddha. The revision committee headed by Rohith Chakrathirtha also deleted the works of Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy and HS Shivaprakash. The Congress had protested the move, calling it saffronisation of education. Decision after cabinet is formed Responding to the demand, minister G Parameshwara said a decision can only be made after a full-fledged cabinet is formed and portfolios are allocated. A decision cannot be made based on statements. A cabinet has to be formed and the minister concerned has to study the matter before it comes to the cabinet for approval, said the former deputy CM. Meanwhile, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge said the Congress would review all the orders and bills passed by the earlier government. Whether it is revision of textbooks, anti-conversion or cow slaughtering, all the bills and orders will be reviewed, especially those which dont contribute to the development of Karnataka, said the minister. The Govt stands firm on reviewing any bill passed by the previous BJP Govt that:-affects the image of state-deters investment-does not create employment-is unconstitutional-violates rights of an individualWe want to build an economically & socially equal Karnataka Priyank Kharge / (@PriyankKharge) May 24, 2023 The schools association, too, has echoed similar demands. President of the Recognized Unaided Private Schools Association (RUPSA), H Lokesh Talikatte, also requested Siddaramaiah not to include the modifications in the textbooks anymore, stating that these would create a negative impact on the minds of the students. top videos This government shouldnt consider all the content added by the previous government. It shouldnt be part of evaluation process. Only the syllabus which was present before should be considered and taught. This is demand of RUPSA because targeting one particular community has a negative effect on the minds of young children, he said. With the previous textbook revision committee being disbanded, the new government will have to form a committee and give it sufficient time to review the syllabus, a task which cannot be fulfilled before the academic year starts shortly. It will be interesting to see if the Congress government in the state wants to come up with an interim measure to undo the changes implemented by the previous government. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is on a two-day visit to Maharashtra, meeting Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar. Both the parties have a regional stronghold and are being wooed by the AAP convener in his tirade against the BJP to seek an opposition consensus against the central governments ordinance for the control of services in Delhi. Pawar extended complete support to Kejriwal, adding that he will help bring other parties on board. I have been in parliament for 56 years. The biggest benefit is that I have friends across states and parties, who I have worked with," he said. But while both Thackeray and Pawar are nationally recognised leaders, their support might mean precious little in the numbers battle. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has three MPs in Rajya Sabha Anil Desai, Priyanka Chaturvedi and Sanjay Raut. The NCP has four MPs in the upper house Sharad Pawar, Fouzia Khan, Vandana Chavan and Praful Patel. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, TMC chief who has come out in support of Kejriwal, has 13 MPs. Given the numbers that Kejriwal will have to gather, other regional parties will have to jump on board to make the opposition a substantial one. Kejriwal has pitted this battle as a semi-final to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. If the BJP loses this in the Rajya Sabha, then Modi wont come to power in India next year, Kejriwal said in Mumbai. top videos His party leaders agree that in terms of numbers, the visit may not mean much. But each number counts. We are at that stage. Moreover, the bond between Kejriwal ji and Uddhav ji is only strengthening. So this can be seen as the beginning of a growing relationship between the two parties, an AAP leader said. After his meeting with Thackeray, Kejriwal said he had become part of the Sena leaders family and that he would like to strengthen the bond. Sharad Pawar ji is a leader of great national stature. He has access to so many other national leaders who listen to him. Having him on board will mean a lot for the opposition unity, the AAP leader said. Amidst the row over the inauguration of the new parliament building, two parties, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and YSRCP on Wednesday announced their decision to attend the inaugural ceremony. This comes after 19 Opposition parties decided to boycott the opening of new the Parliament. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty released a letter announcing the participation of the party MPs in the inaugural function of the new parliament. In the letter, the party said it believes that the parliament as a symbol of democracy was above politics, and its stature should be safeguarded. BJD believes that these constitutional institutions should be above any issue that may affect their sanctity and honour. Such issues can always be discussed in the August house," the party stated in the letter. Currently, BJD has 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha and eight in the Rajya Sabha. The president of India is the head of the Indian State. The parliament represents 1.4 billion people in India. Both the institutions are symbols of Indian democracy and draw their authority from the constitution of India," the letter by the BJD spokesperson added. Meanwhile, according to an ANI report, YSRCP MP Vijaysai Reddy also confirmed that their party will attend the inauguration of the new parliament building. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated PM Modi on the new parliament building on Wednesday and said boycotting the inauguration is not in the true spirit of democracy. I congratulate @narendramodi ji for dedicating the grand, majestic and spacious Parliament building to the nation. Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nations soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties. Boycotting such an auspicious event is not in the true spirit of democracy," the YSRCP leader wrote in a tweet. Setting aside all political differences, I request that all political parties attend this glorious event. In the true spirit of democracy, my party will attend this historic event," he added. I congratulate @narendramodi ji for dedicating the grand, majestic and spacious Parliament building to the nation. Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nations soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties. Boycotting such an YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) May 24, 2023 The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday also said it will attend the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building in New Delhi. Quoting a party statement, a PTI report stated that TDP MPs will be in attendance at the event. The inauguration of the new parliament building is scheduled for Sunday, May 28. All opposition parties have decided to boycott the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building, said Sanjay Raut on Wednesday, announcing that Shiv Sena (UBT) too will not attend the event. Parties that will boycott the event include MK Stalins Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United), Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. top videos Quoting sources, news agency ANI reported that the Congress party is also likely to boycott the inauguration program. ALSO READ:Almost All Oppn Parties to Boycott New Parliament Building Inauguration; BRS Yet to Decide Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday sought Union Home Minister Amit Shahs intervention in directing Gujarat-based dairy giant Amul to desist from milk procurement with immediate effect citing unhealthy competition with the states co-operative milk producer Aavin. In a letter to Shah, Stalin urged the Centre to address the issues arising out of milk procurement by the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Amul) in the Tamil Nadu milk shed area. Recently, it has come to the state governments notice that Amul has utilised its multi-state cooperative license to install chilling centres and a processing plant in Krishnagiri district," Stalin said. In addition, Amul plans to procure milk from Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) in and around Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts in Tamil Nadu. It has been a norm in India to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each others milk-shed area. Such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of Operation White Flood and will exacerbate problems for the consumers given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavins (TN Co-operative Milk Producers Federation) milk shed area which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades." Amuls move will lead to unhealthy competition among cooperatives engaged in procuring and marketing milk and milk products, he said. Regional cooperatives have been the bedrock of dairy development in the states and they are better placed to engage and nurture producers and to cushion consumers from arbitrary price hikes. Therefore, I request your urgent intervention to direct Amul to desist from milk procurement from the milk shed area of Aavin in Tamil Nadu with immediate effect," the Chief Minister said. Until now, Amul has only sold its products in Tamil Nadu through its own outlets, Stalin said. However, the state has a three-tier dairy cooperative system that has been in place since 1981 and benefits both rural milk producers and consumers, he added. Aavin is our apex cooperative marketing federation. Under the ambit of Aavin co-operative, 9,673 Milk Producers Co-operative Societies are functioning in rural areas. They procure 35 LLPD of milk from about 4.5 lakh pouring members. Under this current arrangement, milk producers are assured of remunerative and uniform prices throughout the year by the cooperative societies." In addition to procuring and marketing milk and milk products, Aavin also provides various inputs to milk producers, such as cattle feed, fodder, mineral mixture, animal health care, and breeding services to increase and sustain milk production in Tamil Nadu. Aavin also ensures the supply of quality milk and milk products to consumers at one of the lowest prices in the country. Thus, Aavin plays a vital role in improving the livelihood of rural milk producers and the meeting the nutritional requirement of consumers," he said. DMK Spokeswoman TKS Elangovan said there were issues with Aavin, but the state government is working to fix them. Elangovan said the problems started during the AIADMK rule, and now they were trying to resolve them. He accused the BJP and AIADMK of talking nonsense" and said that this was not a political move. Speaking to reporters, he defended the governments move stating they want to promote its state product, and asked why Amul could not procure milk in UP or Maharashtra instead of coming to Tamil Nadu. top videos The row comes after the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to strangulate" Nandini, Karnatakas milk cooperative, in the run-up to the state assembly elections. This was after BJP leader Amit Shah, who is also the cooperation minister and hails from Gujarat, spoke about a collaboration between the two milk cooperatives. The Congress won the Karnataka elections this month. (With inputs from PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said there were some persons in the government service who have a doctorate in corruption and that the problem can be addressed only by a collective effort, including by those working with such individuals. Vijayan said that the LDF governments stand was that there would be no compromise where corrupt activities are concerned and those engaged in it would not be protected. Therefore, while stringent measures are being taken by the government and the vigilance, even the concerned departments and those working with such persons who are engaged in corrupt practices should also intervene. The CM was referring to the recent arrest of a field assistant at Palakkayam village in Palakkad district of the state for allegedly accepting a bribe. Cash and bank deposits documents worth over Rs 1 crore were allegedly recovered during a search from his rented accommodation. Vijayan said that the official in question was allegedly using the bribe amounts for his needs and his salary was lying untouched. The CM also said that while in big offices and departments, it may be difficult to know if someone is engaged in corrupt practices. However, in smaller offices, like the one in the recent incident, it was difficult to believe that everyone there was oblivious to what was happening. In such incidents, the others there should intervene and prevent such practices. The majority of those in the government sector are honest. But there are some who have taken a doctorate in committing corruption. They have acquired a taste for it and do not want to give it up, Vijayan said after inaugurating here a state-level conference of the Kerala Municipal and Corporation Staff Union. top videos The matter requires serious consideration as such practices ruin the distinction that Kerala has earned of being the state in India with the least corruption, he said. He said that those in government service should have a people-friendly attitude and help them out wherever it was legally possible. What cannot be done legally, should not be done. He said digitisation of government services and providing them online would be a step towards transparency and swift delivery of services to the people. Nothing succeeds like success. And when it comes after a while, it makes it even better. Buoyant after its Karnataka win, the Congress has now decided to replicate the victory formula of the southern state in upcoming state polls especially in Madhya Pradesh where the party calculates it can win big. At a meeting held by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the party worked on a strategy for the state with focus on women, youth and Priyanka Vadra. Another round of meetings will be held on the 26th of this month to iron out the plan. The focus on Priyanka Vadra seems well-planned. Both in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, she held more than 15 rallies and roadshows. Since the woman card is working for most parties, including BJP, Congress has decided that giving money directly into accounts of women, subsidy or free gas cylinders could be a winning formula. It has hence been planned that Priyanka Vadra will be the main campaigner along with Rahul Gandhi for these state polls. In fact, just after the Raipur session, Priyanka Vadra went back to the state as part of this strategy to involve her. She will focus on tribal and backward areas as well as constituencies that are considered weak spots of the Congress. A list of 20 constituencies has been chalked out for her to visit. This apart, the focus of the party will be on women. Former chief minister Kamal Nath has already announced special measures for women which his government will implement should they come to power. This includes depositing Rs 1,500 into the bank accounts of women. As per statistics, in 11 districts which fall under both Chambal and Bundelkhand region, women voters outnumber men. Interestingly, in the panchayat polls last year, women came out in hordes to vote, especially in areas such as Shivpuri, Bhind, Morena, and Shahdol that are known for their patriarchal mind-set. top videos Finally, going by precedence, given the large number of first-time voters, Congress will focus on employment and announce several measures to ensure jobs are generated. With this, the party hopes to win and set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Ransomware incidents have increased in the country while 73 percent Indian organisations said they had been victim to such attacks in 2022. A new survey by a UK-based company showed that Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata faced the maximum number of ransomware attacks followed by Delhi and Mumbai. Cybersecurity company Sophos released the latest report after conducting a survey between January and March, involving 14 countries including India. The team received responses from 3,000 IT or cybersecurity leaders in midsized organisations, including 300 respondents in India. With almost three-quarters of Indian organisations reporting that they have been victim to ransomware criminals, a lot of work needs to be done. The key to lowering this number is to work to aggressively lower time taken to detect as well as to respond, said Chester Wisniewski, field CTO of Sophos. While presenting the report on Wednesday, Sunil Sharma the managing director of sales (India and SAARC) at Sophos said according to the findings, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata are facing the maximum number of ransomware attacks followed by Delhi and Mumbai. Sharma said there was no particular reason why Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata were at the top of the list. In a majority of ransomware cases in India, cybercriminals exploited existing vulnerabilities to fulfil their agenda. In 35 percent of such cases, hackers invaded the system by exploiting vulnerabilities; and in 33 percent cases, compromised credentials were found to be the root cause. If an attacker finds some vulnerabilities in an infrastructure, they try to go through those holes to enter the organisation, Sharma said. He added: In another survey, it was found that people were using the same password they received during registration and deployment. They didnt even bother to change that. The Sophos report also highlighted that hackers used other methods like malicious emails, phishing and brute-force attacks to get access. Additionally, it also showed that among the companies that were attacked, in 77 percent of them, the hackers encrypted the data while in 38 percent cases, they stole data. While 44 percent of those that had data encrypted in India paid the ransom, less than 50 percent of respondents, whose organisation paid the ransom, shared the exact amount. But in terms of data recovery, backups remain the most common method and 73 percent of respondents used this method. But 85 percent of private sector companies in India said the attack caused them to lose business or revenue. top videos Laws always enforce governance, which in my opinion is always positive. So laws like the Digital India Act and Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, which are going to be tabled, are going to impact organisations in the right way, Sharma said, talking about the effect of these laws on the Indian ecosystem. The official further spoke about the awareness in India about such digital threats. Lot of people are aware of cybersecurity issues and what type of protection they should use for their devices. But considering the huge population of the country, I believe that there is still a long way to go, he added. Google is ready to battle it out in the generative AI segment and its plans were detailed at the I/O 2023 earlier this month. And the company seems already intent on monetising its AI-centric platforms and a new report from Reuters suggest Google has started testing ads on the AI search results. Ads have been a core part of Googles digital revenues over the years and bringing ads to the AI search results feels like an evolving business model for tech companies. Google has already given us a teaser of how ads in the AI world would transform search. Microsoft is already banking on ChatGPT for AI-centric revenue. OpenAI has a ChatGPT Plus version that helps the company make some of the money back. Industry reports say AI will play a different role in making money from advertising for companies like Google. Search with AI means you can get results, get the products listed and even watch their reviews on the same page. Thats a million-dollar industry waiting to be explored and Google is ready to give advertisers the platform to grow in this direction. Using AI also means the results will be more accurate with the help of the right keywords and other attributes needed for better search results. There have been question marks raised about where AI Search will take publishers, considering their dependence for content and specialised ranking will be put in place. top videos But ads in AI search surely has to be the only play for Google, only if and when the search results provided by AI are fair, accurate and controversial to spread further fears about AI taking over the internet in all forms. Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google and even Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI have sounded out about the concerns with AI and why it needs to be regulated but a business model is being put up behind the scenes so that these first-mover AI giants have their processes in place to take advantage of the evolving industry trends where AI is at the forefront of major applications. Last weekend Capcom allowed fans to access the upcoming Street Fighter 6 via an open beta. Even though every Street Fighter entry is a moment of celebration for the niche fighting game community, Street Fighter 6's open beta became a cultural event for video game fans across the board. Which, to the uninitiated, inevitably prompts the question, "What's so interesting about Street Fighter 6?" Unlike previous entries into the series, which solely revolved around competitive play, Street Fighter 6 has decided to branch out and experiment with a fresh approach to single-player content. In the brand new World Tour mode, fans can explore an immersive and intricately detailed online open world that allows them to interact with other players and some of the series' most iconic characters. In the video linked above, you can check out some behind-the-scenes footage from developers that takes you into Street Fighter 6's hotly anticipated and delightfully innovative World Tour mode. The wait for a graduation degree lasted over 8 decades for a World War II veteran. But when the moment finally arrived, it was just an overflow of emotions for 101-year-old Fred Taylor. Taylor, a former US Army Air Corps Reserve member, missed his original graduation ceremony in 1943 owing to his duty during the war. It took over 80 years for his dream of completing his education to come true as he stood among 200 members of the Cornell College Class of 2023, US, who embraced him with warmth as one of their own. Every able-bodied man and lots of women were involved in World War II, said Fred Taylor, reminiscing about his time in the service. I have no regrets about going into the service. I really enjoyed flying. My only regret is missing my graduation ceremony, as you normally would end your senior year. The impact of Taylors presence during the graduation ceremony was immense. Whenever his name was mentioned, the entire audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation, acknowledging his sacrifice and dedication. It was heartwarming. It was emotional, expressed Jonathan Brand, President of Cornell College. He is everything that one could ever hope a Cornellian would be, Brand added. Taylor had completed all the prerequisites for a music degree from Cornell College even though he had missed his graduation ceremony years ago. But World War II changed everything, and like many other young men in his generation, he volunteered to serve his country. Instead of serving as foot soldiers, Taylor and his friends decided to join the Army Air Corps Reserve because they were passionate about flying. They were forced to leave college for basic training in February 1943 after their deployment, leaving them with a sense of incompleteness. Graduation degree was a closed chapter for Taylor until a few months ago when his daughter, Linda, an emeritus professor at the University of Miami contacted Cornell College to inquire about the prospect of her father attending the graduation ceremony. Knowing the gravity of the situation, Cornell College was committed to paying tribute to Taylors sacrifice and bringing his unfinished academic career to a successful conclusion. top videos With a gleam in his eye, Taylor expressed his thoughts on finally receiving his diploma. I was thinking finally. It was exhilarating and sparked a lot of memories. I was also thinking of my 75-and-a-half-year marriage, he chuckled. The Cornell College graduation ceremony evolved into a poignant tribute to Fred Taylors steadfast devotion to his country and his pursuit of education. There is an old saying, every dog has its day. The saying, however, came true for two Varanasi-based dogs Moti and Jaya belonging to the Indie breed, who are in the limelight these days. Both the dogs, who were rescued and later adopted almost five months ago by two foreign tourists are all set to fly to their new homes in Italy and the Netherlands respectively. Passport of both the dogs that belong to the Indie breed are ready. As per the relocation norms of Italy and Netherlands, a digital number has also been generated from the microchip that has been installed on the dogs so that it can be identified at the airport. The chip contains a 15-digit number through which all the details about the dogs can be extracted. The blood samples of Moti have been tested in a lab in Portugal, the vaccination is done and the dogs are in quarantine. Moti will fly to Italy on July 13 whereas Jaya will leave for Netherlands in August. All the official processes have been completed," said Dr Indraneel Basu, MD in medicine, a practicing diabetologist and a die-hard pet lover who runs a Varanasi based NGO Animotel, who has facilitated the adoption of indie dogs. It all began almost five months back when an Italian woman Vera Lazzaretti, who was on the spiritual tour to Varanasi spotted Moti on the Ghats of Varanasi. Moti, who then was a pup, was thrown on the Ghat inside a jute sack. She luckily spotted Moti and unwrapped the sack, which saved Motis life. She brought Moti to us seeking help, also she adopted Moti and expressed her willingness to take Moti along. Since, until then we were unaware of the relocation norms for the dog, we told her to complete the procedure during her next visit to India that is scheduled next month, said Dr Basu while showing Motis passport. Other than Moti, Jaya too is ready to move to the Netherlands to her new house. He said that almost a month back, another tourist named Merel Bontelbal and her friend from the Netherlands rescued Jaya from Munshi Ghat of Varanasi. They too expressed their willingness to adopt Jaya and asked us to complete the formalities on their behalf. We have completed all the formalities and Jaya too is all set to be adopted by her new parents who would take her along. Their trip to India is scheduled for August, he added. Basu and his wife and co-founder of Animotel NGO Sudheshna Basu have been working for the welfare of stray dogs for the last three years. It was three years ago my wife rescued an Indie pup and brought her to hope. Initially I was not fond of Indies but gradually I became their big fan, Indies are way more intelligent than dogs belonging to another breeds. During lockdown we fed more than 750 street dogs a day. Also we opened a shelter home for street dogs at the basement of our house. Presently we have 26 dogs at our shelter home. We also have a dedicated Operation Theater for the dogs in order to tackle any emergency situation, also we have vets to look after the dogs," said Sudheshna Basu. She however made it clear that all the facilities are free of cost and they are doing it on their own expense. top videos The couple said that its their small attempt to change the mentality of the people towards the street dogs. Iam sure our small effort will make big difference in the mentality of the towards the street dogs. We want to tell people that they too are as sensitive ans precious ad humans, the too need love and care", Basu added. An Arizona man barely survived a deadly attack by a swarm of at least 1,000 killer bees. The incident took place on Saturday, May 21, when he had stepped out of his home in his wheelchair exercise bike. The 60-year-old man, John Fischer, was riding his exercise bike in the Florence neighbourhood alongside his dog Pippin when he was attacked by an overwhelming number of bees, reported Arizonas Family. The man, who lost one of his legs to an infection about eight years ago, was spotted crawling his way out in surveillance footage of the incident assessed by the publication. The disabled man used his T-shirt as a shield but was stung over a torturous 250 times during the vicious attack. With stings all over his arms, face, and back, John also sustained a few scrapes on his knees after his wheelchair overturned, causing him to fall helpless on the ground. During an interaction with the portal, the 60-year-old explained trying his best to crawl out of the place but the bees kept following him. When first responders arrived, they had to retreat for a while before rescuing John as the bees extended their attack on them. The man was later rushed to a hospital in critical condition with a bruised body. I have never experienced anything like this before. I had been stung many times before but nothing where it was more than 10 or 15 stings, he said. While recalling the incident, John explained how he almost lost control of the situation when he began feeling panic-ridden. There was a part of me that wanted to freak out, and there was a part of me that wanted to panic. And I knew, from past experience, thats where youll lose it. And youre no longer in control. Thats where you run into more danger, he added. The man remembers pedaling the chair when he swatted away what he initially guessed to be a fly. Next thing I know, there were bees all over me and all over the dog, he continued. top videos John made an attempt to cross the street but it was too late as the bees soon blocked his vision. The man quickly released Pippin who ran away toward a neighbouring house after suffering several injuries. Hes sick. Were trying to get him to drink. He is very sore, and what I can see is hes pretty lethargic. Were also giving him Benadryl, so thats going to knock him out, John revealed of his dogs condition. The 60-year-old was discharged from the hospital on Monday and is now recuperating. If you think you know your fingers well, prepare to delve into the fascinating world of creases on them. In a peculiar study conducted by The Department of Urology, Kyoto University, Japan, back in 1978, researchers examined the fingers of 551 individuals, consisting of 283 males and 268 females. Their goal? To investigate the presence of an extra transverse crease on the little finger, that elusive additional fold that only a few lucky individuals possess. To their surprise, the researchers discovered that out of the 1102 little fingers studied, only four individuals displayed this mysterious extra crease. Two males and two females were the fortunate bearers of this unique trait, which appeared between the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal creases. Of the 1102 little fingers of 551 individuals studied, six little fingers were noted to show an extra transverse crease, bilateral in 2 females and unilateral in 2 males, the study published in Nature Journal revealed. Curiously, none of these little fingers with the extra crease exhibited any abnormalities in the bones or joints, nor did they show signs of dyskinesia. It seems that this extraordinary crease was purely a cosmetic phenomenon, adding a touch of peculiarity to the little finger without any significant medical implications. Typically, the little finger is adorned with three digital flexion creases: the metacarpophalangeal crease, and the proximal and distal interphalangeal creases. However, this study shed light on the rare occurrence of an extra transverse crease on this diminutive digit, a trait rarely seen and often overlooked. We report the incidence of extra transverse creases on the little finger of males is two out of 566 fingers or 0.35 per cent. Considering the extra creases occurring on the right little fingers alone, the frequency of male individuals with this aberration was two out of 283 subjects or 0.71 per cent, of 268 females, two women had extra creases on both little fingers, with the frequency of occurrence in these individuals of 0.75 per cent, the study read. top videos Interestingly, the presence of a single interphalangeal crease on the little finger is commonly associated with certain genetic conditions like Downs syndrome and de Lange syndrome. However, the extra transverse crease observed in this study is distinct from these conditions, posing a new mystery for investigators to ponder. While the origins and significance of this enigmatic extra crease remain shrouded in mystery, this peculiar study serves as a reminder of the curious quirks and idiosyncrasies that make each of us unique. So, the next time you glance at your little finger, take a closer lookperhaps you possess the secret mark of the elusive extra crease. In another blow to ousted Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, his close aide and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday resigned from his party which is under pressure from the government over the May 9 violence. Chaudhrys resignation came a day after former minister for human rights Shireen Mazari quit 70-year-old Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: party and condemned the actions of the former prime ministers supporters who attacked and torched sensitive defence installations across Pakistan on May 9. My earlier statement where I unequivocally condemned 9th May incidents, I have decided to take a break from politics, therefore, I have resigned from party position and parting ways from Imran Khan, he tweeted. Chaudhary served as the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the minister for science and technology during his government. He was the PTIs senior vice president and the party spokesman. Mazari, 72, announced her resignation and retirement from active politics after she was released following her arrest for the fourth time since May 12 when she was picked from her residence by police and sent to jail in connection with the violence on May 9. She served as the minister for human rights from 2018 to 2022, under Khans regime. On May 9, violent protests erupted after paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commanders House, the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad in response to Khans arrest. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also stormed by the mob for the first time. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khans party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel. Thousands of Khans supporters were arrested following the violence that the powerful Army described as a dark day in the history of the country. Several top PTI leaders, including Chaudary and Mazari, were arrested in the wake of the unrest. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that those involved in attacks on military installations would be tried in the military courts while those charged with attacks on civilian targets would be prosecuted under civilian laws. top videos Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday the government was mulling a possible ban on Khans PTI party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime ministers arrest. 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. A man sparked a major security alert Thursday after a car crashed into the gates of the UK prime ministers Downing Street complex in London, but police said they were not currently treating it as terror-related". Armed officers arrested the man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, shortly after the vehicle collided with the gates of Downing Street" at around 16:20 pm (1520 GMT), London police said. No injuries were reported. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was reported by British media to have been in the building which hosts both his office and residence when the incident occurred and left soon after. Video footage showed a silver car driving at low speed across Whitehall, where many government ministries are located, having emerged from a gated area next to the Ministry of Defence, opposite Downing Street. It appeared to then mount the footpath and came to a halt after hitting the large metal gates that guard the entrance to Downing Street. Other footage showed a police cordon surrounding the car, which appeared to be a Kia, with its boot open. Around two hours after the incident, Londons Metropolitan police said in an update that a small cordon remained in place outside Downing Street, with the car still within it. The incident is being dealt with by local officers in Westminster and isnt currently being treated as terror-related," the force added. - Slow impact - Simon Parry, 44, was nearby when the drama unfolded. I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with taser guns shouting at the man. A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area." He added: There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad." Dean Parker, 36, told AFP the driver didnt look distressed. He looked like he must have had some sort of episode or something." Parker, part of a protest encampment on the opposite side of the street, said the car was not driving fast. It doesnt look like he tried to ram the gates off It was a pretty slow impact. The police dealt with it pretty professionally and promptly." Downing Street is a short walk from the Houses of Parliament and the area has a high security presence, with barriers on the footpath and in front of government buildings following previous incidents. A man drove a car into pedestrians on the pavement close to parliament in 2017, killing four people. He then crashed the car into the fence surrounding parliament and ran into the grounds, where he fatally stabbed a police officer. He was shot dead by an armed police officer. Large gates were put up at the entrance to Downing Street in 1989 as a result of IRA bomb attacks in London, and the group launched three homemade mortar shells at the prime ministers residence in 1991. top videos The gates are the first line of security, with armed police stationed at the entrance. Official cars entering the street normally have to be checked before strengthened bollards are lowered to allow them through. Bangladesh minister Shahriar Alam said the new visa policy that US secretary of state Antony Blinken announced does not bother the Bangladesh government because the authorities are committed to holding a free and fair election. Its not a sanction. BNP should be worried as violence before or during election is another criterion that will trigger visa restrictions, Alam was quoted as saying by news agency Daily Star. "Under this policy, we can impose visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members if they are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh, Blinken said. This new visa policy proves once again that the international community is certain that a free and fair election is not possible under this government," said a senior BNP leader, Zahir Uddin Swapon, according to Reuters. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Khaleda Zia has accused the Bangladesh government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of silencing critics and attacking the opposition. It also claims that Hasina won the 2014 and the 2018 elections through vote-rigging - a claim that Hasina and her Awami League deny. The accusations of human rights violations, obliteration of press freedom, suppression of dissent and the jailing of critics, including many supporters of the main opposition party has grown in the past months. However, the BNP also stands accused of threatening Bangladeshs secular nature - a vision that was forwarded by the founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Bangladesh will go to polls in January 2024 and the anti-incumbency factor could hurt Hasinas chances. However, earlier this year, Bangladesh journalist Syed Badrul Ahsan, while speaking to IndiaNarrative pointed out that the BNP has failed to bring reforms within the party organisation. It is an ally of Jamaat-e-Islami, a hardline Islamist group which has attacked minority religious communities since its inception, and when it came to power in 2001, it accommodated members who were against the very idea of Bangladesh and bemoaned the demise of the Yahya Khan-Tikka Khan regime. top videos He also points out that Bangladesh is trying to fend off American pressure in its internal politics. It should also be noted that the US was initially opposed to the idea of creation of Bangladesh and even let its relations with India sour when India under the leadership of Indira Gandhi helped Bangladeshs nationalist earn its freedom. Pakistans Ministry of Interior on Thursday barred former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi among 80 members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from leaving the country by putting them on the no-fly list. According to CNN-News18 sources, the names in no-fly list include prominent PTI figures such as Qasim Suri, Asad Umar, Asad Qaiser, Aslam Iqbal, Yasmin Rashid, Murad Saeed, Malika Bukhari, Fawad Chaudhary, and Hammad Azhar. The ministry of interior has taken swift action to ensure that the names of these individuals are provided to all airports and exit points across the country, sources said. The concerned authorities have been directed to strictly enforce the ban and prevent any of the listed individuals from traveling abroad with immediate effect, sources added. The embattled PM is on bail till June 2 in three terrorism cases filed against Pakistans former prime minister in the wake of violence that erupted after his arrest on May 9. On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan in a corruption case by paramilitary Rangers from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. The crisis unfolded in Pakistan after Imran Khan was arrested by the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers at the Islamabad High Court premises on May 9, which triggered unrest across the country. top videos For the first time in Pakistans history, protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched a corps commanders house in Lahore. The Pakistan Army on Thursday sought custody of 16 suspects, allegedly responsible for the May 9 attacks on military establishments, for trial under the Army Act. The countrys anti-terrorism court ordered that the 16 miscreants, including former MPA Mian Akram Usman, should be handed over to the commanding officer in the case of arson and vandalism at the Corps Commander House in Lahore. A house-to-house search order was issued in Islamabad for Afghans allegedly involved in the incidents on May 9 and 10. The ATC (anti-terrorism court) accepted the commanding officers plea to hand over custody of 16 suspects in the case under the Army Act. On May 23, the joint investigation teams (JIT) formed to probe the May 9 attacks launched their investigation. According to the authorities, the teams have arrested 688 suspects so far, while 1,634 people involved in the attacks are still wanted. The JIT officials said 422 people involved in extremist activities were referred to the counterterrorism department (CTD) for investigation, while 571 people were sent to jail. The decision regarding search orders for Afghans was taken by the Islamabad police after the vandals could not be arrested. A police spokesperson said photographs of all those involved had been obtained and the administration had failed to get more data from National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). A total of six teams comprising CTD officials will conduct search operations in Islamabads G8 Sector and Mirabadi Golra as well as its surroundings. Earlier in the day, former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, along with over 600 leaders and former assembly members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, were barred from leaving the country. Khan and several top leaders of his party are facing cases following the violence after he was arrested on May 9 in a corruption case. Citing sources within the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), Geo News reported that the names of the PTI leaders and its party chief have been added for their involvement in the May 9 violence and desecration of martyrs monuments. However, there was no official confirmation on the development from Khans party. The names have been added to the FIAs Provincial National Identification List (PNIL) to prevent them from going abroad, the sources said. Some of the PTI leaders and office-bearers tried leaving the country in the last three days, but were stopped at the airports, sources added. The list includes Murad Saeed, Maleeka Bokhari, Fawad Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar, Qasim Suri, Asad Qaiser, Yasmin Rashid and Mian Aslam Iqbal. Fawad Chaudhry has already quit the party but his name has been listed among those who cannot fly out of Pakistan. Earlier, Samaa News channel reported that the federal government has decided to add the names of 80 people, including Khan and his wife, to the no-fly list. The names of all the PTI leaders were put in the list on the recommendation of the institutions concerned, the news channel reported. top videos It said the police department, National Accountability Bureau and the anti-corruption department had requested the ministry of interior to include these names to the no-fly list. The no-fly list is maintained by the ministry of interior and officials deployed at airports or other land exit routes are provided the names of individuals who cannot go out. (With PTI inputs) Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski has been transferred to a notoriously brutal prison in Belarus and hasnt been heard from in a month, his wife said Wednesday. Natalia Pinchuk told The Associated Press that Bialiatski, who is serving a 10-year sentence, has been kept in an information blackout since his transfer to the N9 colony for repeat offenders in the city of Gorki, where inmates are beaten and subject to hard labor. The authorities create unbearable conditions for Ales and keep him in strict informational isolation. There is not a single letter from him for a month, nor does he receive my letters, Pinchuk said by telephone. In March, a court convicted 60-year-old Bialiatski Belarus top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize and three of his colleagues on charges of financing actions violating public order and smuggling. It was the latest move in a years-long crackdown on dissent that has engulfed the country since 2020. Bialiatski has spent 20 months behind bars since his arrest in 2021, and Pinchuk is concerned his health is deteriorating. In the most recent letters I see how his penmanship has changed and I see how the situation is worsening for him, both in terms of his health and his eyesight, and I am very, very worried about it, she said. She urged the United Nations to intervene. The harsh punishment of Bialiatski and three of his colleagues was a response to massive protests over a 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a further term in office. Lukashenko, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who backed Russias invasion of Ukraine, has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994. During the protests in 2020, the largest ever in Belarus, more than 35,000 people were arrested, and thousands were beaten by police. All four activists have maintained their innocence, according to the Human Rights Center Viasna, which was founded by Bialiatski. He shared the 2022 peace prize with Memorial, a prominent Russian human rights group, and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties. top videos Viasna has counted 1,516 political prisoners in Belarus to date. Human rights advocates say authorities deliberately create unbearable conditions for many of them. For 28 days, there has been no information about the fate of the imprisoned former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka, who was reportedly beaten up in his cell and transferred to a hospital. No one has heard from Nikolai Statkevich, a prominent opposition figure serving a 14-year sentence, for 100 days. In an effort to reduce carbon emission, France just banned short-haul domestic flights where there's a train that does the same route in under two-and-a-half hours. This ban pretty much wipes out air travel between Paris and a few cities like Nantes, Lyon, and Bordeaux. It won't affect connecting flights. However, critics are calling it a "symbolic ban" and suggest it won't make much of a dent in the CO2 output. (Kottke) BBC: Laurent Donceel, interim head of industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E), told the AFP news agency that "banning these trips will only have minimal effects" on CO2 output. He added that governments should instead support "real and significant solutions" to the issue. The ban was originally proposed for flights four hours and shorter. A man was arrested after a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street in London on Thursday, police said. One of the worlds famous addresses, the government district is where the British prime minister Rishi Sunaks home and offices are located. The gates of Downing Street, which are constantly monitored by armed and unarmed police officers, were affected by the crash. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries," the Westminster Police said. The Westminster Police in a tweet said one individual has been arrested following the incident, which occurred at approximately 4:30 pm. #UPDATE | At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing. MPS Westminster (@MPSWestminster) May 25, 2023 The police have stated that they are actively investigating the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding it. Social media footage captured a white car slowly approaching the gates on Whitehall, the primary thoroughfare. Subsequent videos depicted the vehicle parked against the imposing tall metal gates, with its trunk open, while police officers conducted inspections of the scene. Footage of the car ramming into the Downing Street gate. Seems like it happened at a slow pace #DowningStreet pic.twitter.com/BV6FrxS2vJ Paul Golding (@GoldingBF) May 25, 2023 A photograph shared by the BBC displayed officers escorting a man with handcuffed hands behind his back. Following the crash, police cordoned off Whitehall as a precautionary measure. However, within thirty minutes, the barriers were gradually lifted, permitting people to return to the bustling Whitehall area, which is typically frequented by civil servants and tourists eager to explore the nearby Houses of Parliament and other significant historical landmarks. It remains unclear at this time whether the crash was intentional or accidental. Although the prime minister was present at Downing Street during the incident, they have since departed for a planned visit, the BBC reported. Notably, the incident coincides with a significant number of civil servants vacating their government office buildings. Strategic Location, High Security Downing Street is located in close proximity to the Houses of Parliament, and the vicinity maintains a strong security presence with barriers strategically placed on footpaths and in front of government structures as a precautionary measure following previous incidents. In response to IRA bomb attacks in London, substantial gates were installed at the entrance of Downing Street in 1989. The group further targeted the then Prime Minister John Major at the official residence at No 10, in 1991 by launching three improvised mortar shells. Three police officers and a civil servant suffered minor injuries in the incident. top videos The gates act as the primary security measure, and armed police officers are stationed at the entrance. Official vehicles seeking entry to the street typically undergo thorough inspections before sturdy bollards are lowered to grant access. (With inputs from agencies) For months, Sam Altman, CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI has urged lawmakers around the world to draw up new rules governing the technology. On Wednesday, he threatened the ChatGPT maker may leave the EU if the bloc overregulated". Altman has spent the past week crisscrossing Europe, meeting top politicians in France, Spain, Poland, Germany and the UK to discuss the future of AI, and progress of ChatGPT. More than six months after OpenAI unveiled its AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT to the world, fears around its potential have provoked excitement and alarm and brought it into conflict with regulators. One place Altman didnt get to this week was Brussels, where EU regulators are working on the long-awaited EU AI Act, which could be the first set of rules globally to govern AI. Altman cancelled a scheduled visit to Brussels, two sources familiar with the matter said. OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment. The current draft of the EU AI Act would be over-regulating, but we have heard its going to get pulled back," Altman said in London on Wednesday. EU lawmakers responsible for shaping the AI Act disputed Altmans claims. I dont see any dilution happening anytime soon," Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament who is leading the drafting of EU proposals, told Reuters. We are nevertheless happy to invite Mr. Altman to Parliament so he can voice his concerns and hear European lawmakers thoughts on these issues," he said. EU industry chief Thierry Breton also criticised the threat, saying the draft rules are not for negotiation. On Thursday, OpenAI is expected to discuss in more detail how AI should be regulated, amid Altmans busy schedule of meetings with world leaders such as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron. LAWMAKERS WONT BE BLACKMAILED Dutch MEP Kim van Sparrentak, who has also worked on the draft EU law, said she and her colleagues shouldnt let ourselves be blackmailed by American companies. If OpenAI cant comply with basic data governance, transparency, safety and security requirements, then their systems arent fit for the European market, she said. By February, ChatGPT set a record for the fastest growing user base of any consumer application app in history. OpenAI first clashed with regulators in March, when Italian data regulator Garante shut the app down domestically, accusing OpenAI of flouting European privacy rules. ChatGPT came back online after the company instituted new privacy measures for users. Meanwhile, EU lawmakers added new proposals to the blocs AI Act, forcing any company using generative tools, like ChatGPT, to disclose any copyrighted material used to train its systems. EU parliamentarians agreed on the draft of the act earlier this month. Member states, the European Commission and Parliament will thrash out the final details of the bill. Through the Council of Europe, individual member states like France or Poland can also seek amendments before the bill is passed potentially later this year. PLANS IN FULL SWING While the legislation has been in the works for several years, new provisions specifically targeting generative tools were drawn up only weeks ahead of a crunch vote on the proposals. Reuters earlier reported some lawmakers had initially proposed banning copyrighted material being used to train generative AI models altogether, but this was abandoned in favour of stronger transparency requirements. These provisions relate mainly to transparency, which ensures the AI and the company building it are trustworthy. I dont see a reason why any company would shy away from transparency," Tudorache said. Nils Rauer, a technology partner at law firm Pinsent Masons, said it was no surprise" Altman had made his comments as lawmakers worked through their proposals. It is unlikely OpenAI will turn its back on Europe. The EU is economically too important," he said. You cannot carve out the single market, with close to 500 million people and a 15-trillion-euro ($16.51 trillion) economy." Altman was in Munich, Germany, on Thursday where he said he had met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. top videos Sergey Lagodinsky, a German MEP who also worked on the legislation, said that while Altman may be trying to push his agenda among individual countries, Brussels plans to regulate the technology were in full swing." There may be some amendments, of course, he said. But I doubt they will change the overall trajectory. The granddaughter of Pakistans former Army Chief Asif Nawaz Jangua was arrested as a key instigator in the attack on the Corps Commander House here following former prime minister Imran Khans arrest on May 9, police said on Wednesday. Khadija Shah, a fashion designer by profession, is among the several women arrested for their alleged involvement in attacks on military installations on May 9 that erupted in the wake of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: party chiefs arrest in a corruption case. Khan, 70, was later freed on bail. Lahore police said in a statement that Shah, the daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah, was one of the key instigators of the May 9 attack on the Lahore Corps Commander House, also known as Jinnah House. She has been arrested under terrorism charges and might be tried under the Army Act, police said. Shah, an active PTI supporter, had gone into hiding since police started carrying out raids for her arrest. Ms Shah was produced before the anti-terrorism court Lahore which was sent to jail for an identification parade, police said. The government declared that the identification of more than 500 women, wanted for the May 9 incidents, has been completed and 138 cases have been registered against them. Law enforcement agencies arrested around 8,000 people across the country, mostly party leaders and workers of the PTI for their alleged involvement in the violence that erupted in the wake of Khans arrest by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. top videos Khans party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commanders house, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has placed the names of 700 PTI leaders and activists on a no-fly list. Russias Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has claimed that the country could see a new revolution if the poor war effort continues in Ukraine. Prigozhins comments come as the Wagner chief has recently been critical of Russian military ranks amid battle in Bakhmut and has accused the senior Moscow officials of not supplying arms and aid to soldiers on the frontline. Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an interview with a pro-Russian blogger said that Moscows troops are unprepared to resist forces loyal to Kyiv even when they enter Russian territory. He also praised the capabilities of the Ukrainian army and urged Moscow to escalate its war effort if it wants to avoid a long and costly conflict. I believe Ukrainians today are one of the strongest armies in the world, Prigozhin said. Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose influence has risen hugely during the more than year-long offensive, has scathingly criticised Russias top brass, accusing them of being responsible for huge losses. He also has questioned their tactics, commitment and leadership capabilities, and complained they havent sufficiently credited his forces for battlefield successes. He called Ukrainian forces highly organized, highly trained and their intelligence is on the highest level, they can operate any military system with equal success, a Soviet or a NATO one. In recent days Moscow has suffered embarrassment when a group of anti-Putin Russians entered the Belgorod region in an incursion that caused anger and confusion among Russias influential military analysts. Asked about the incident, The Wanger chief said Russian defense forces are absolutely not ready to resist them in any shape or form. Prigozhin, a businessman close to President Vladimir Putin, has slammed the Russian elites, saying their children live comfortably while men from impoverished regions die in Ukraine. Prigozhin said his fighters will pull out of the destroyed city by June 1 and transfer control to the Russian army. In the recent months, Prigozhin has frequently criticized Russias military hierarchy as he sought to win a power struggle against military commanders to lead Putins ground effort in eastern Ukraine. Earlier this month, he blamed Russian defense chiefs for tens of thousands of Wagner casualties because they didnt have enough ammunition. After winning Bakhmut, he claimed that hes lost more than 20,000 men in the battle and added that about half of those who died in the eastern Ukrainian city were Russian convicts recruited for the 15-month-old war. Russian forces, primarily made up of private Wagner mercenary forces, have labored for months over the capture of Bakhmut, where Russia suffered heavy losses. top videos The White House estimated this month that Russian forces had suffered 100,000 casualties, including 20,000 killed in fighting, since December. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said then that about half of those killed were Wagner forces. (With inputs from agencies) Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that Russia had begun moving nuclear weapons to its territory, which borders the European Union, ratcheting up tensions with the West over the Ukraine conflict. On the diplomatic front, Russias foreign ministry announced a visit to Moscow by Chinas special envoy for Ukraine, Li Hui Beijings latest effort to broker an end to the fighting. Lis visit to the Russian capital, where he is expected to meet foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, comes after he met with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. The transfer of nuclear munitions has begun," Lukashenko told reporters during a visit to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin. In Washington, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Russias move yet another example of making irresponsible and provocative choices". She added, however, that we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture nor any indication that Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons from Belarus". There was no immediate confirmation by Russia of the nuclear weapon transfer. Lukashenko has allowed his territory, which borders Ukraine as well as EU and NATO members Poland and Lithuania, to serve as a staging ground for Russias Ukraine offensive. In March, Putin said he would station tactical" nuclear weapons in effect short-range atomic missiles in Belarus, drawing condemnation from the West. US bombers intercepted - Adding to the global worries, Russia said Thursday that it had sent fighter jets to stop two US bomber planes from violating the state border" over the Baltic Sea, the second such incident this week. The Russian defence ministry said it had scrambled Su-27 and Su-35 fighter jets, saying it identified the air targets as two US Air Force B-1B strategic bombers". After the manoeuvre, the Russian fighters returned safely to their air base", it said. In Japan, Tokyos military also said it deployed fighter jets against Russian planes travelling along parts of its coastline. Ahead of the visit by Chinas envoy Li to Moscow, the European Union told him on Thursday that it expected Beijing to help pressure Russia to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine and withdraw its troops from the country. Senior EU foreign policy official Enrique Mora met Li in Brussels on the latest leg of a European tour by Beijings special representative for Eurasian affairs. Russia and China have close relations, with Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting Moscow in March and saying their bilateral ties were entering a new era". While China says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, it has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscow for its offensive. Battle for Bakhmut Top US officer General Mark Milley said Thursday that Russia would not achieve a military victory in Ukraine, while also cautioning that Kyiv was unlikely to force out all of Moscows troops anytime soon. His comments underscored forecasts that the war in Ukraine is set to drag on, with neither side positioned to win a clear-cut victory and no negotiations currently taking place. This war, militarily, is not going to be won by Russia. Its just not," Milley told journalists after a video meeting of dozens of countries that support Ukraine. On the ground, the head of Russias Wagner mercenary group said Thursday that his troops had started handing over their positions in the flashpoint eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut to the Russian military. Wagner said it began pulling out its fighters after claiming to have fully captured the destroyed city at the weekend. Ukraine, which denies that Bakhmut has fallen to Russia, insisted it still controlled a micro district" of the city and said it was still advancing on its flanks. The battle for Bakhmut has raged for nearly a year, levelling the city and decimating waves of Wagner recruits who have led Russias assault on the industrial hub. We are withdrawing units from Bakhmut today. We are handing over positions to the military, ammunition and everything," Wagners boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video. Earlier this week, he conceded that around 10,000 prisoners that Wagner had recruited to fight in Ukraine had been killed on the battlefield. - Drone barrage - In Kyiv, Zelensky accused Russia of terrorising Ukrainians by launching another wave of Iranian-made attack drones at targets across his country. The enemy continued to terrorise Ukraine by launching 36 Shaheds. None reached their target," Zelensky said on social media. Im grateful to our air defence forces for the 100 percent result." top videos Kyiv has become increasingly adept at taking down Russian cruise missiles and drones after appealing to Western allies for greater air-defence capabilities. In Moscow, Russias FSB security service said it had arrested two Ukrainians who had allegedly planned to target nuclear power plants in the country. UK minister Suella Braverman said the visa reforms which now restrict postgraduate students from bringing dependents or using their academic status to gain employment will close immigration loopholes and also prevent them from gaining a backdoor to employment opportunities. The significant rise in students bringing family members is putting untenable pressure on public services.Tightening the student route will help to cut migration by restricting post-graduate students from bringing dependents or using the route as a backdoor to work. 1/2 Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) May 24, 2023 In her statement to the House of Commons, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Tuesday outlined the revised policy allowing only international students pursuing postgraduate research programs to bring their family members as dependents, including children and elderly parents. The significant rise in students bringing family members is putting untenable pressure on public services. Tightening the student route will help to cut migration by restricting post-graduate students from bringing dependents or using the route as a backdoor to work, Braverman said in a tweet. Braverman told the UK parliament that after finding a significant rise in the number of visas granted to dependants of sponsored students, reaching 136,000 in 2022 compared to 16,000 in 2019, her ministry felt that the new measures were needed. This package includes: removing the right for international students to bring dependents unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes, Braverman explained further. Braverman said that steps will be taken against education agents involved in facilitating inappropriate applications. The government will also prevent international students from switching to work visas before completing their studies and reviewing the financial requirements for students and their dependents. She highlighted that the terms of the graduate route where students are allowed to stay in the UK to gain work experience after their studies, remain unchanged. Braverman said the UK remains committed to attracting the brightest and the best and the Sunak-led government wants to work with universities over the course of the next year to design an alternative approach that ensures that the best and the brightest students can bring dependents to our world-leading universities while continuing to reduce net migration. Once the new regulations kick in, starting January 24, the number of postgraduate students who can bring their spouses or children to the UK is expected to reduce drastically. top videos In terms of study visas granted to the UK, Indians have surpassed the Chinese and now hold the leading nationality. The majority of Indian students obtained visas through the visa program introduced in July 2021. Meanwhile, Nigerian students rank highest in bringing dependents, followed by Indians. (with inputs from PTI) A sword belonging to Tipu Sultan, the 18th century ruler of Mysuru, was sold for $17.4 million at an auction in London, auction house Bonhams said in a press release. Bonhams also facilitated the sale and earlier this week said that the price was seven times the estimate. It further added that the sword was one of the most important items in its collection due to its proven personal association with the former ruler of Mysuru. Tipu Sultan fought many battles against the local rulers, Marathas and the Britishers. His loss in the Anglo-Mysore war led to Britishers gaining control over swathes of southwestern India. He was known as the Tiger of Mysore because of the ferocity with which he defended his kingdom. He is also considered a fine swordsman, a fine maker of artillery rockets and also a gun enthusiast and was known to sleep in a hammock with a sword and two pistols on his side, to remain alert against attackers. The Bedchamber Sword of Tipu Sultan, according to the description shared by the Bonham auction house, is a fine gold-koftgari-hilted steel sword which was manufactured by Mughal swordsmiths following the model of German blades introduced to India in the 16th century. The sword, adorned with meticulously crafted gold calligraphy, features symbols representing five divine qualities and two invocations to God. It was given to Major General David Baird in recognition of his bravery and leadership during the assault on Seringapatam, where Tipu Sultan was killed, Bonhams said in their release. The words the Sword of the Ruler is inscribed on the blade. top videos The sword has an extraordinary history, an astonishing provenance and unrivalled craftsmanship. It was no surprise it was so hotly contested between two phone bidders and a bidder in the room. We are delighted with the result, the group head of Islamic and Indian Art at Bonhams said. This is one of the most astonishing objects Bonhams has had the privilege of bringing to auction. It is a stupendous price for a stupendous piece. I am so thrilled for our teams that worked so hard to deliver this result, Bruno Vinciguerra, CEO, Bonhams, said. American officials told the US-based news agency the New York Times that the May 3 drone attack on the Kremlin may have been carried out by one of Ukraines special military or intelligence units. Two drones were flown on May 3 toward the Kremlin, but they were not able to cause much damage. The New York Times report pointed out that the Biden administration has been unnerved by these attacks. The officials also said that it remains unclear whether Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky or his top officials were aware of the operation. The New York Times said that some officials believe that Zelensky was not aware. The officials mentioned in the report pointed out that they came to the preliminary conclusions based on what they intercepted when they overheard Russian officials blaming Ukraine and then also overheard some Ukrainian officials who believed that Kyiv may have been responsible for the attack. The US, Ukraine and their allies blamed Kremlin initially for staging a false-flag operation but Dara Massicot, a military analyst at RAND, referring to the drone attack, told the New York Times that Kremlins response stemmed from a sense of embarrassment regarding its own air-defence systems and the security of Kremlin. The report also pointed out that there could be loose grouping of Ukrainian units working together to carry out small-scale operations in and outside Russia, citing American spy agencies. These units may operate independently or with partners under their command, potentially without much supervision from Zelensky. The report also said that the US officials believe that their level of that the Ukrainian government directly authorised the Kremlin drone attack is low. American spy agencies are still unsure because of lack of specific evidence which identifies which Ukrainian government officials or unit may have been involved in the attack. American officials believe that the Ukrainians were responsible for the assassination of Daria Dugina, the daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist, the killing of a pro-Russian blogger, Vladlen Tatarsky, and the number of attacks on towns near Russia-Ukraine border like Belgorod. The Biden administration is concerned because of the possibility of the Kremlin accusing the US of these attacks and then expanding the war to beyond Ukraines borders. top videos US officials believe that the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines was likely carried out by individuals or groups supporting Ukraine. However, their connection to the Ukrainian government is still under investigation. Renowned journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh in February revealed that the US President Joe Biden gave the go-ahead to blast the Nord Stream pipelines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Iranians on Wednesday to reconsider the supply of deadly drones to Russia in order to stop their slide into the dark side of history." Iranian-made Shahed drones supplied to Moscow have played a major role in Russias attacks on cities and infrastructure, though Zelenskiy said Kyivs air defences were now skilled at downing them - about 900 of 1,160 aimed at Ukrainian targets. The simple question is this: what is your interest in being an accomplice to Russian terror?" Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. What is the benefit to Iran of such cynical killing? By Russian hands, but with your weapons, your weaponsYour Shaheds, which terrorise Ukraine every night, mean only that the people of Iran are being driven deeper and deeper into the dark side of history." top videos Russia has boosted its military cooperation with Iran since it launched its invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Iran initially denied supplying Shahed drones to Russia but later said it had provided a small number before the conflict began. Concerned by a shortage of shovel-ready development sites and fearful of losing future business prospects, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency this week agreed to acquire 149 acres just off the Thruway in the Town of Ripley. The plan is to install the needed roads and sewers and utility lines on the site so that it can be quickly developed if a business comes along looking for a location for a larger-scale venture. The CCIDA approved a two-phase proposal to buy a sprawling collection of properties behind the Regal Transportation Services trucking facilities, just off Exit 61 and 2.5 miles from the Pennsylvania border. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. In the first phase of the deal, the CCIDA would buy 64.3 acres from four different property owners for $2 million, and then put in the infrastructure to make the land easily accessible and usable by future business owners or tenants. That would be followed by the second portion of another 85 acres, for another $2.2 million, with the infrastructure extended throughout the site. The goal is to have the land readily available as an economic development tool should prospects come calling for large sites in the county, and to market it to potential businesses who may be looking to expand or relocate. "Ive been talking to the board for several years about the need for shovel-ready sites," CCIDA CEO Mark Geise told his agency's board. "Its a need thats prevalent throughout the state, especially in Chautauqua County." Geise noted that a study by commercial real estate brokerage Newmark Frank, commissioned by Invest Buffalo Niagara, had previously cited the county as being "deplete of suitable development sites." The county's Mason Industrial Park in the Town of Ellicott has 66 acres available, but only about 40 are developable. General George Stoneman Industrial Park, in the Town of Busti, is full. Chadwick Bay Industrial Park in the Town of Sheridan has three parcels totaling 40 acres, but none of them are big. Airport Hill Industrial Park near the Jamestown Airport has about 45 acres available. "But that's a lot of steep slopes and wetlands," Geise added. "We can't respond to the many, many site requests that we get that are looking for larger sites," Geise said. "If someone comes along like an Amazon and needs a 100-acre site or a 50-acre site, we just don't have them." The Ripley property's proximity to the highway makes it attractive for warehouse, distribution, or light-industrial uses, which are part of the county's targeted economic development strategy. The land was certified as shovel-ready almost a decade ago, and it was rezoned from agricultural to commercial less than two years ago, so general manufacturing, industrial parks and business parks are permitted there. "It really checks most of the boxes," Geise added. Besides the $4.2 million purchase price, plans call for spending $6.5 million to install a road that would run through the south end of the site, along with upgrading the electric, gas, water and sewer lines. In all, it's an $11.3 million project for CCIDA. Funding will include $4.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act money, $830,000 in capital projects funding and $600,000 from CCIDA's own coffers, along with county funds. The agency is also seeking a $5 million state grant from the FAST-NY program, specifically designed to assist with preparing shovel-ready sites, and $2 million in congressionally directed funds. Additionally, it plans to ask for $1 million from the Southern Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board and $852,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission, through a POWER grant. Plans call for closing the purchase in the first or second quarter of next year, completing infrastructure improvements by mid- to late 2024 or early 2025, and then starting to market the property. UPDATE May 25, 2023 5:00 PM CDT Prosecutors in Georgia said Thursday they will not retry a man whose murder conviction in the death of his 22-month-old son left in a hot car was overturned. The state Supreme Court's decision revolved around evidence that it said should not have been admitted in the trial. Because of that ruling, officials in the Cobb County district attorney's office said "crucial motive evidence that was admitted at the first trial in 2016 is no longer available to the State," per WSBTV. So Justin Ross Harris, who's serving his sentence in a state prison, will not face a new trial in the death of his son, Cooper. Jun 22, 2022 2:02 PM CDT Georgia's highest court on Wednesday overturned the murder and child cruelty convictions against a man whose toddler son died after he left him in a hot car for hours, saying the jury saw evidence that was "extremely and unfairly prejudicial." Justin Ross Harris, 41, was convicted in November 2016 on eight counts in the death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. A judge sentenced him to life without parole as well as 32 more years in prison for other crimes. All of the Georgia Supreme Court justices agreed that there was sufficient evidence to support Harris' convictions, but the majority opinion written by Chief Justice David Nahmias says that much of the evidence having to do with Harris' sexual activities shouldn't have been admitted and may have improperly influenced the jury, the AP reports. The ruling means that Harris is entitled to a new trial on the murder and child cruelty charges against him. The high court upheld Harris convictions on three sex crimes committed against a 16-year-old girl. He received a total of 12 years in prison for those crimes. Prosecutors argued that Harris was unhappy in his marriage and intentionally killed his son to free himself. To support this theory, they presented extensive evidence of extramarital sexual activities that he engaged in, including exchanging sexually explicit messages and graphic photos with women and girls and meeting some of them for sex. Defense attorneys described him as a doting father and said the boys death was a tragic accident. Cooper was left for about seven hours in the back seat of a Hyundai Tucson SUV outside his fathers office in suburban Atlanta on June 18, 2014. Temperatures that day reached at least into the high 80s. No one disputes that Harris left his son in the SUV rather than dropping him off at day care and that the heat in the vehicle caused the boy's death. The only disputed issue was whether Harris "intentionally and maliciously left his child to suffer that painful death," Nahmias wrote. While some of the evidence was appropriate to establish the prosecutions theory of Harris motive, the trial court should have excluded much of it, Nahmias wrote. (Read more Justin Ross Harris stories.) UPDATE May 24, 2023 6:40 PM CDT A retired firefighter from Arkansas who carried a stun gun during the Capitol riot and put his feet up on then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk has been sentenced to 4.5 years in federal prison. Richard "Bigo" Barnett was found guilty earlier this year on eight counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, and prosecutors had sought a sentence of more than 7 years, CBS reports. "While you may regret having gone there that day, you have so far not shown any acceptance of responsibility," Judge Christopher Cooper told the 63-year-old on Wednesday. He added: "You're too old for this nonsense." Jan 23, 2023 12:38 PM CST An Arkansas man who propped his feet up on a desk in Nancy Pelosis office during the Capitol riot was convicted on Monday of joining a mob's attack on the building two years ago. After deliberating for around two hours, a jury unanimously convicted Richard "Bigo" Barnett on all eight counts in his indictment, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, the AP reports. Barnett lounging at a desk in Pelosi's office made him one of the most memorable figures from the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. He's scheduled to be sentenced in May, and he faces up to 20 years on the obstruction charge, the most serious one, per CNN. Barnett, 62, testified last Thursday that he was looking for a bathroom inside the Capitol when he unwittingly entered Pelosis office and encountered two news photographers. He said one of the photographers told him to "act natural," so he leaned back in a chair and flung his legs onto the desk. "Did it dawn on you that what you were doing could cause some trouble?" defense attorney Joseph McBride asked Barnett. "I was just in the moment," Barnett replied. Prosecutors said Barnett had a stun gun tucked into his pants when he stormed the Capitol and invaded Pelosis office. He took a piece of her mail and left behind a note that said, "Nancy, Bigo was here," punctuating the message with a sexist expletive. A grand jury indicted Barnett on eight charges, including a charge of entering and remaining in restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapona stun gun with spikes concealed within a collapsible walking stick. A prosecutor told jurors during the trial's opening statements that Barnett planned the trip for weeks and came prepared for violence. McBride told jurors that Barnett was just a "crazy guy from Arkansas" who didnt hurt anybody on Jan. 6 and couldnt have harmed anybody with the stun gun device because it was broken that day. Prosecutors said Barnett had a history of arming himself at political demonstrations. (Read more Capitol riot stories.) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officially joined the race for president on Wednesday evening, though Twitter Spaces' technical problems got in the way of his message to Republicans that he's a winning alternative to Donald Trump. The appearance, hosted by Twitter owner Elon Musk, was 26 minutes old before DeSantis was able to say, "I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback." By then, much of his audience had given up, the New York Times reports. Before DeSantis was able to make his announcement, he was being mocked by his opponents. "This link works," President Biden's campaign tweeted to a solicitation for donations. A DeSantis campaign official tried to cast the glitches as a positive, saying "Governor DeSantis broke the internetthat should tell you everything you need to know about the strength of his candidacy," per CNBC. Although DeSantis couldn't be heard for a while, Twitter employees were audibly complaining about the situation. "That was insane, sorry," Musk said after having to borrow another account because his crashed. Musk had told the audience Twitter's servers were straining under the demand. Glitches or not, DeSantis' audio announcement lacked the usual trappings of a presidential campaign announcementno soaring music, uplifting rhetoric, or cheering crowds. "I don't care about fanfare," he said. DeSantis promised his audience that come January 2025, "I will be taking the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States." Trump answered DeSantis with a couple of videos mocking the governor on Truth Social, as well as the gibe, "His collar is too big!" (Read more Ron DeSantis stories.) Scientists say a small group of killer whales could be putting humans and themselves in danger by repeatedly ramming, and occasionally sinking, sailboats. Orcas interacting with boats is nothing new. But scientists say there is something different about the behavior of this group of about 15 orcas off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula near the Strait of Gibraltar, an area they visit each spring, per the New York Times. Since 2020, the groupmade up mostly of youngsters, with only two adults in towis believed to have been involved in the majority of 200 annual boat-orca interactions ranging from the North African coast to France, according to Alfredo Lopez Fernandez, a biologist at Portugal's University of Aveiro who has studied the interactions. Damage results in about 20% of incidents, per the Times, noting the critically endangered Iberian orca subpopulation has sunk three boats and "disrupted the trips of dozens of others" since July. They often target the boats' rudders. No one knows for certain why they're doing this. But Lopez Fernandez says it has "nothing to do with aggression." There's no indication that the whales want to hurt humans and usually there's no physical contact. But some believe one particular female orca may have been struck by a boat and began targeting them in what is essentially "defensive behavior based on trauma," Lopez Fernandez tells Live Science. As the biologist tells the Times, "orcas share their culture with their young and with their peers" and learn from imitation. Some researchers believe the young whales might simply be playing with sailboats, which are quiet and therefore more attractive to orcas than other boats. But whatever the motivation, it's a behavior that puts humansincluding four people who had to be rescued from a boat that sank off the coast of Spain this monthand the endangered whales at risk, as sailors become increasingly frustrated by the trend. "Every week there is an incident," researcher Bruno Diaz Lopez tells the Times. Two adults and four juveniles struck a 26-foot boat off the coast of Cape Spartel on Monday, as ABC News points out. Still, "we estimate that killer whales only touch one ship out of every hundred that sail through a location," Lopez Fernandez tells Live Science. (Read more killer whales stories.) US officials believe Ukraine's security services were behind the drone attack on the Kremlin early this month, despite a denial from Ukraine's president. US intelligence officials don't know exactly which special military or intelligence unit carried out the May 3 attack or whether President Volodymyr Zelensky or other top officials had knowledge of it, the New York Times reports. Some officials believe Zelensky did not know. But the consensus, following a preliminary assessment, is that Ukrainians did as Russia claimed, sending two drones to the Kremlin's Senate Palace, though without much damage occurring. The consensus is based on intercepted communications from both Russia and Ukraine. In them, Russian officials blamed Ukraine for what they spoke of as a surprise attack, sowing doubt in a "false flag" operation theory, while Ukrainian officials said they believed their country was ultimately responsible, the Times reports. The Ukrainian officials did not have direct knowledge of the attack, including who had carried it out. But the Times describes "an emerging picture of a loose confederation of Ukrainian units able to conduct limited operations inside and outside Russia, either by using their own personnel or partners working under their direction," with or without Zelensky's oversight. However, given that the droneslikely launched from in or around Moscowwere carrying a limited explosive payload, it's not clear that the attack was meant to do anything more than shock the Russians. "US officials do not believe it was an attempt to assassinate Putin," who wasn't at the Kremlin at the time, CNN notes. According to the Times, US officials also believe Ukrainians were responsible for several attacks on Russian towns near the border with Ukraine and the fatal car bombing of Darya Dugina, daughter of Putin ally Alexander Dugin. US intelligence says Ukrainian officials have blamed each other for Dugina's assassination, per CNN. (Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.) The head of the Russian private army Wagner has again broken with the Kremlin's line on Ukraine, saying its goal of demilitarizing the country has backfired, acknowledging Russian troops have killed civilians, and agreeing with Western estimates that he's lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prigozhin said about half of those who died in the eastern Ukrainian city were Russian convicts recruited for the 15-month-old war. His figures stood in stark contrast to Moscow's widely disputed claims that just over 6,000 of its troops were killed throughout the war as of January, the AP reports. By comparison, official Soviet troop losses in the 1979-89 Afghanistan war were 15,000. White House officials said Wednesday that Prigozhins comments were in line with their own estimates that Russian losses have accelerated. The White House estimated this month that Russian forces had suffered 100,000 casualties, including 20,000 killed in fighting, since December. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said then that about half of those killed were Wagner forces. Analysts believe many of those killed in the nine-month fight for Bakhmut were Russian convicts with little military training. Prigozhinhimself a former convicthas frequently criticized Russian military officials for not supplying his troops with enough ammunition. In an interview published late Tuesday with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Kremlin political strategist, Prigozhin went even further in his criticismquestioning some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rationale for the war. Prigozhin said Russias goal of "demilitarizing" Ukraine has backfired because Kyivs military has become stronger with Western weapons and training. Prigozhin also challenged Moscow's vehement denials that Russian forces had killed civilians. In Washington, Kirby speculated Wednesday on Prigozhin's motives. "And its possible that this could be a sort of morbid way of him ... claiming credit for whatever theyve been able to achieve in Bakhmut, but also trying to publicly embarrass the Ministry of Defense further that the cost was borne in blood and treasure by Wagner, and not by the Russian military," he said. (Read more Yevgeny Prigozhin stories.) LAKEWOOD Cummins Inc.'s sprawling engine plant near Jamestown has demonstrated its staying power over the decades. The plant Chautauqua County's largest private employer just celebrated making the 2.5 millionth engine in its history. But the Cummins site is focused on the future, and keeping pace with tighter emissions standards in the industry its products serve. While demand remains robust for Cummins' diesel-powered engines, the plant is preparing for a $452 million investment that will pave the way for greater production of natural gas-powered engines, and, eventually, manufacturing of hydrogen-powered engines. Really, what it does is, it sets the plant up for the future," said Anna Dibble, the plant manager. "It builds on what were already doing, and sets us up for many years of continued ability to meet the demands of the heavy-duty Cummins market." Manufacturing plants are constantly trying to secure new product lines, to maintain their viability and their workforce as older product lines are phased out. That approach is especially true for products such as engines, which tie into emissions targets for combating climate change. Indiana-based Cummins has laid out company-wide decarbonization goals in its "Destination Zero" strategy. Those goals are shaping the massive investment planned for the Jamestown engine plant over the next few years. "We make diesel engines, but the world is changing," said Srikanth Padmanabhan, president of Cummins' engine business. "We've said publicly that we will be net zero on carbon by 2050." Another key company target: by 2030, lowering emissions from its newly sold products by 25% from 2018 levels. The Jamestown plant, which employs 1,480 people, makes engines for transportation and industrial applications, including heavy-duty trucks, buses and fire trucks, as well as a host of components. Its workforce is nonunion. With some of the new investment, Cummins' Jamestown plant will produce what are known as "fuel agnostic" 15-liter engines. "Below the head gasket, everything remains the same," Padmanabhan said. "Above the head gasket, you can use different kinds of fuels not just diesel, but natural gas, even hydrogen." The Jamestown plant already produces some natural gas-powered engines. The new investments at the site will provide more natural gas engine options for heavy-duty transportation fleets. Companies such as Amazon, UPS and FedEx are in the midst of their own "sustainability journeys" with their truck fleets as they aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Padmanabhan said. "They are saying, 'How am I going to get to these reductions goals we have set for ourselves?' which is why there is a resurgence in natural gas. That didn't happen, say, 10 years ago," he said. "Before, it was just a comparison with diesel," Padmanabhan added. "Now, they're comparing it with their sustainability journey, and they're comparing it with battery electric." While automakers are steadily adding more electric vehicles to their lineups for consumers, Padmanabhan said the long-haul trucking industry's requirements are different. Electric, so far, has proven more popular for school buses, delivery trucks, and transit buses, where vehicles can return to a depot and recharge overnight. "Those are the places where it is often easy for battery electric to come together," he said. Two factors would help natural gas gain greater traction in the long-haul trucking industry, Padmanabhan said: "Infrastructure (such as refueling stations) is one, and the other is the overall cost." Longer range, Cummins has its eye on building hydrogen-powered engines at the Jamestown plant. Padmanabhan said hydrogen would be an "extension" of natural gas-powered engines, relying on the same storage tanks and mechanisms. A Chautauqua County mainstay The Jamestown plant is an economic powerhouse, located less than two hours from Buffalo. The site consists of nearly 1 million square feet, where workers produce about 500 engines a day. The plant will celebrate its 50th anniversary as a Cummins operation next summer. Cummins estimates the plant contributes $1 million a year to the community in the form of charitable donations and employee volunteer hours served. "Cummins engine is Chautauqua County," said P.J. Wendel, the county executive. The $452 million investment will also support expansion of Cummins' current production, and upgrades to the facility itself. Plans call for Cummins to add 90 jobs at the site. Empire State Development will provide $10 million in Excelsior Jobs tax credits in exchange for Cummins achieving its job commitments. "This investment will have a significant impact on the region's economy, growth and stability," said Hope Knight, Empire State Development's president, CEO and commissioner. Padmanabhan called the Jamestown site "one of the most flexible and cooperative workforces that we have anywhere." Eye on the future Dibble said the investment coming to the Jamestown site ideally will have a long lifespan, capable of meeting engine technology needs for years to come. "Part of the importance is to add equipment thats flexible for the future," Dibble said. She noted that the plant just last year removed an 11-liter block line dating to the late 1970s. The new investment secures the Jamestown plant's place within Cummins, while playing a pivotal role in the company's pursuit of its zero-emission goals. "We aren't exactly sure what the roadmap is going to look like to get there," Dibble said. "We think there's going to be some messiness in the middle. But certainly understanding that there's a pathway forward and that we have products that will meet any customers' challenges when they are ready is really exciting for us." A Mississippi family is calling for charges against a police officer who they say shot an 11-year-old boy "for no reason." Aderrien Murry's mother asked him to call police around 4am Saturday when a man with whom she's connected showed up at the family's Indianola home "irate," CNN reports. A responding police officer "had his gun drawn at the front door and asked those inside the home to come outside," says Aderrien's mother, Nakala Murry. She says the officeridentified as Greg Capers, who was named the police department's "best officer," per Mississippi Todayshot her son in the chest as he rounded a corner, entering the living room. "I cannot grasp why," she adds, per CNN. "[Aderrien] kept asking, 'Why did he shoot me? What did I do wrong?'" Murry tells Newsweek that her son didn't pose a threat and had "nothing in his hands." He "came within an inch of losing his life" for simply having "walked out of his room as directed," family attorney Carlos Moore tells CNN. The boy suffered a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and fractured ribs and was placed on a ventilator. He was released from the hospital on Wednesday. Caperswho, like Aderrien, is Black, per Newsweekremains with the Indianola Police Department. The Indianola Board of Aldermen voted Monday to place him on paid administrative leave, but the family says he should be fired, along with Police Chief Ronald Sampson. They also want Capers charged with attempted murder. "It's not OK for a cop to do this and get away with this," Moore tells CNN. The lawyer claims Capers wasn't disciplined after using a stun gun on a handcuffed man in December. "If he's your best, Indianola, you need a clean house from top to bottom," Moore says, per Mississippi Today. Murry feels further violated by police, as the man who showed up at her home was taken into custody later Saturday but then released because she hadn't filed a police report against him. "When was I going to have time to do that? I was in the hospital with my son," she tells CNN. Police have denied the family's request to release body camera footage of the shooting, citing "an ongoing investigation," says Moore. Over the weekend, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said it is "gathering evidence" and will hand its report to the state attorney general's office once complete. (Read more police shooting stories.) With a potential debt default now less than a week away, Fitch Ratings has put America's AAA credit rating on negative watch, meaning a downgrade is possible. Fitch made the same move during a previous debt-limit standoff a decade ago under then-President Obama's administration. The ratings agency said the negative watch "reflects increased political partisanship that is hindering reaching a solution to raise or suspend the debt limit despite the fast-approaching X-date," CNBC reports. The X-date, when the government could start to run out of money if no deal to raise its borrowing limit is reached, could be as soon as June 1. "Fitch still expects a resolution to the debt limit before the X-date," the credit agency said in a report. "However, we believe risks have risen that the debt limit will not be raised or suspended before the X-date and consequently that the government could begin to miss payments on some of its obligations." The agency, one of the three biggest credit rating firms, said failure to reach a deal would be a "negative signal of the broader governance and willingness of the US to honor its obligations in a timely fashion," Reuters reports. World markets took a hit after the announcement, which came as negotiations between the White House and House Republicans continued. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed Republicans, who are pressing for deep spending cuts, for risking a potentially devastating debt default in a "manufactured crisis," the AP reports. As lawmakers prepared to leave town for the long weekend, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the standoff was not his fault. With the deadline looming next Thursday, McCarthy said he would abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting. (Read more debt limit stories.) An auto theft case in Maryland took a wild turn after the guardian of four detained juveniles who came to the police station to pick them up was arrested as well. KOMO reports that on May 16, cops ran a check on two occupied Hyundais parked in a business lot in Waldorf, and realized those cars were stolen. When police tried to initiate contact, they say the vehicles bolted and landed at a nearby park and ride. Authorities say the suspects exited the cars and tried to hide but were found and detained. Two adults18-year-old Deshaun Deamonte Whitaker and 21-year-old Vincent Lee Alstonand four juveniles were hauled down to the police station. Whitaker and Alston were charged with theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle, among other charges. Whitaker was released on a $2,000 bond, while Alston remains detained without bond. The juveniles were hit with similar charges, but when a guardian and two other females came to the station to pick them up that things got weirder. After that trio left the station with the juveniles on foot, cops discovered that the car that had dropped them off was also stolen. Carlisa Monnae Blakeney and Mahkiyh McQuinn-Woodly, both 18, and a juvenile female were later arrested and charged with theft, providing a false name, and unauthorized use of a vehicle, among other charges. It's not clear which woman was the juveniles' guardian. Blakeney and Woodly have also since been released. All four adults are due back in court July 7, per Southern Maryland News. As for the third stolen car, also a Hyundai, that drove away from the police station, KOMO notes it was recovered after nearly hitting a police officer. Cops say inside that vehicle was 19-year-old Anthony Matthew Stewart, who was arrested after trying to flee on foot, per KOA. Stewart was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and providing a false name. He remains detainedeither on no bond, per Southern Maryland News, or $25,000 bond, per a releaseand is set to next appear in court June 16. Also inside that car were three juveniles who are now facing their own charges, including theft and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Among those younger arrestees: a 16-year-old with active arrest warrants in his name, and a 13-year-old girl who'd been reported missing in another county. (Hyundais are apparently easy to steal these days.) News organizations have already determined that an investigation at the center of an IRS whistleblower's allegations involves President Biden's son. Now, we know the name of that whistleblower. In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Gary Shapley, a supervisory special agent with the IRS' criminal investigations arm, tells CBS' Jim Axelrod on Tuesday that right from the start, when he took over an investigation in January 2020 into Hunter Biden's taxes and a potential false statement about a gun buy, he felt something was offto Biden's benefit. "It was way outside the norm of what I've experienced in the past," Shapley said, calling what he witnessed "deviations from normal process." He added: "There [were] multiple steps that were slow-walked at the direction of the Department of Justice." Shapley, who's been with the IRS for 14 years, told Axelrod he hasn't been paid anything to come forward with his accusations, and that even though he's a registered Republican, he's not really politically active. "I'm just simply not a political person," he said. "This is a job, and my oath of office is to treat everybody fairly that we investigate." And what didn't seem fair, Shapley said, is that everything that went down pertaining to the investigation seemed to benefit Biden (whom he didn't name in the CBS interview), which is why Shapley started voicing his concerns about six months after he took over the probe. In a letter to the Office of the Special Counsel sent last week, Shapley's attorneys say their client's team had a "charged" meeting with DOJ prosecutors in October, after which they say his team was removed from overseeing the probe. "It was my red-line meeting," Shapley told Axelrod. "It just got to that point where that switch was turned on, and I just couldn't silence my conscience anymore." Shapley will be testifying in front of the House Ways and Means Committee on Friday, though his appearance won't be open to the public. Per CNN, an aide for the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday said Shapley's team backed out of a meeting next week with that panel; a source tells the outlet that Shapley's legal team had never agreed to a date. No criminal charges have been brought against Biden, though last October, a leak out of the IRS claimed that federal agents had gathered enough evidence to do so. The DOJ and US attorney's office in Delaware declined to comment, as did the IRS, which simply noted: "Under federal law, the IRS can't comment on specific taxpayer matters," adding that the agency remains "deeply committed to protecting the role of whistleblowers." (Read more whistleblower stories.) It was Ron DeSantis' big night, but that wasn't as obvious as it should've been. Yes, the Florida governor announced he was running for president Wednesday, but only after more than 20 minutes of Twitter glitches. Given the rare opportunity to take center stage and outline a vision for the country, DeSantis "wound up almost as a panelist at his own event, sharing the stage with Elon Musk and his malfunctioning social media site," as the New York Times reports. More: A 'De-Saster': "DeSantis' announcement had become the worst thing a presidential announcement can become: a joke," writes CNN's Oliver Darcy. "The Daily Mail called it a 'De-Saster,' Fox News a 'disaster,' Breitbart News a 'DeBacle,' per the NY Times. "DeSantis' announcement had become the worst thing a presidential announcement can become: a joke," writes CNN's Oliver Darcy. "The Daily Mail called it a 'De-Saster,' Fox News a 'disaster,' Breitbart News a 'DeBacle,' per the NY Times. Musk: "The Twitter owner humiliated himself on the public stage in grand fashion, unable to host Ron DeSantis and a small audience for a glitch-free audio-only event," writes CNN's Darcy, who questions how Twitter will be able to support Tucker Carlson's show, with millions of viewers likely to tune in. The audience: DeSantis could've had an audience of millions. But only about 500,000 users joined the Twitter Spaces event initially, per CNN. By the time DeSantis finally spoke, just 250,000 were tuned in. DeSantis could've had an audience of millions. But only about 500,000 users joined the Twitter Spaces event initially, per CNN. By the time DeSantis finally spoke, just 250,000 were tuned in. The irony: The event, which had to be relaunched, "centered on attacking legacy media while simultaneously failing horribly at replicating what legacy media outlets do on a daily basis," per CNN's Darcy. The event, which had to be relaunched, "centered on attacking legacy media while simultaneously failing horribly at replicating what legacy media outlets do on a daily basis," per CNN's Darcy. Fox News: DeSantis underscored the irony in a later appearance on Fox News, where he spoke with former congressional colleague Trey Gowdy and for the first time outlined what a DeSantis presidency would look like, per the NY Times. DeSantis underscored the irony in a later appearance on Fox News, where he spoke with former congressional colleague Trey Gowdy and for the first time outlined what a DeSantis presidency would look like, per the NY Times. The message: In the view of the NY Times, it was "wonky." The Twitter Spaces discussion ranged from university accreditation to cryptocurrency regulations. Those talking points may have appealed to conservative social media users, but "most Americans aren't on Twitter" or concerned by a "cryptocurrency named for a rare dog breed," per the Los Angeles Times. He wasn't speaking to the masses: Showing why he polls better with college-educated Republicans than those without college degrees, DeSantis attacked ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and CRT (critical race theory), without explaining what the acronyms meant, per the LA Times. Showing why he polls better with college-educated Republicans than those without college degrees, DeSantis attacked ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and CRT (critical race theory), without explaining what the acronyms meant, per the LA Times. He only alluded to Trump: DeSantis didn't mention Trump by name but he jabbed at the former president indirectly, promising to build a "full" border wall and targeting Trump appointees including FBI Director Christopher Wray, per the NY Times. DeSantis didn't mention Trump by name but he jabbed at the former president indirectly, promising to build a "full" border wall and targeting Trump appointees including FBI Director Christopher Wray, per the NY Times. The big jab: DeSantis' most direct attack on the Republican frontrunner came in his Fox interview, when he spoke of candidates, like Trump, who might not want to debate, per the NY Times. "Nobody's entitled to anything in this world, Trey, you've got to earn it," he said. "That's exactly what I intend to do." DeSantis' most direct attack on the Republican frontrunner came in his Fox interview, when he spoke of candidates, like Trump, who might not want to debate, per the NY Times. "Nobody's entitled to anything in this world, Trey, you've got to earn it," he said. "That's exactly what I intend to do." Donations: Aides said DeSantis raised $1 million in an hour. That's "a sizable amount but far from the record for a presidential kickoff," the NY Times reports, concluding "it was a night his team will be eager to put behind them." (Read more Ron DeSantis stories.) From a recent "concerning" exchange with a journalist, to the odd revelation that Nancy Pelosi's daughter is serving as her aide, Sen. Dianne Feinstein continues to spur questions on whether she should step down after a debilitating bout of shingles and related conditions. One person on the side of "stay" is former Senate colleague Hillary Clinton, who says the 89-year-old Democrat shouldn't resignnot necessarily because Clinton thinks Feinstein is in the best of health, but because she's afraid the GOP would exploit her absence. "Here's the dilemma: The Republicans will not agree to add someone else to the Judiciary Committee if she retires," Clinton told Time on Monday. "I want you to think about how crummy that is." So, in terms of retirement, per Clinton, "right now, she can't. Because if we're going to get judges confirmed, which is one of the most important continuing obligations that we have, then we cannot afford to have her seat vacant." More: 2 big "nopes" on Clinton's take: They come via two opinion pieces, by Jim Newell (who was the reporter who had the "concerning" exchange with Feinstein) for Slate and Gail Collins for the New York Times. "No, Hillary Clinton, Dianne Feinstein is allowed to resign," Newell insists, especially if the senator is in "constant pain" and "sharp mental decline." He's also "skeptical" about "preemptively [surrendering] to a move of Republican procedural extremism that Republicans themselves are saying they wouldn't pursue." Collins, for her part, says Feinstein "is giving old age a bad name" and cites other examples of individuals who ended up "sticking around for too long," including the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sen. Strom Thurmond, who was still in DC at age 100. They come via two opinion pieces, by Jim Newell (who was the reporter who had the "concerning" exchange with Feinstein) for Slate and Gail Collins for the New York Times. "No, Hillary Clinton, Dianne Feinstein is allowed to resign," Newell insists, especially if the senator is in "constant pain" and "sharp mental decline." He's also "skeptical" about "preemptively [surrendering] to a move of Republican procedural extremism that Republicans themselves are saying they wouldn't pursue." Collins, for her part, says Feinstein "is giving old age a bad name" and cites other examples of individuals who ended up "sticking around for too long," including the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sen. Strom Thurmond, who was still in DC at age 100. From Feinstein's own party: Newsweek notes that fellow Democrats have also climbed aboard the Feinstein-should-retire train, including Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips. The congressman writes for the Daily Beast that Feinstein "risks tarnishing her remarkable legacy and the sacred oath she took as a United States senator," but also that "this is about more than one individualit's about an institution that too often fails to place the people we serve over the politics of parties." Phillips cites the ongoing George Santos drama as just one example. Newsweek notes that fellow Democrats have also climbed aboard the Feinstein-should-retire train, including Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips. The congressman writes for the Daily Beast that Feinstein "risks tarnishing her remarkable legacy and the sacred oath she took as a United States senator," but also that "this is about more than one individualit's about an institution that too often fails to place the people we serve over the politics of parties." Phillips cites the ongoing George Santos drama as just one example. Public's take: A new poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and Los Angeles Times finds that most Californians across the ideological spectrumnearly two-thirdsthink it's time Feinstein steps down, per Politico. That includes 52% of surveyed Democrats. A "familiar horror": Writing for the Boston Globe, Renee Graham notes that what Feinstein is going through is a "painful dilemma" all too recognizable to families across Americaand it's one that should prompt compassion for Feinstein's situation. "Yes, she should resign, but speak with empathy about her decline," Graham writes. "Someday you may be the one tasked with taking a loved one's keys awayor someone will suddenly realize that it's time to take the keys away from you." Writing for the Boston Globe, Renee Graham notes that what Feinstein is going through is a "painful dilemma" all too recognizable to families across Americaand it's one that should prompt compassion for Feinstein's situation. "Yes, she should resign, but speak with empathy about her decline," Graham writes. "Someday you may be the one tasked with taking a loved one's keys awayor someone will suddenly realize that it's time to take the keys away from you." Photographer's "game of cat and mouse": That's how LA Times political journalist Kent Nishimura describes his recent attempts to capture photos of Feinstein, whom he says is perpetually shielded by aides and others. He notes that some of their maneuverstrying to keep the media from documenting Feinstein's daily arrival on Capitol Hill and "using the Capitol police to chase journalists out of hallways and public spaces"amounts to an "unprecedented act of restricting press freedom." That's how LA Times political journalist Kent Nishimura describes his recent attempts to capture photos of Feinstein, whom he says is perpetually shielded by aides and others. He notes that some of their maneuverstrying to keep the media from documenting Feinstein's daily arrival on Capitol Hill and "using the Capitol police to chase journalists out of hallways and public spaces"amounts to an "unprecedented act of restricting press freedom." If not Feinstein, who? The AP dives into the tough question now facing California Gov. Gavin Newsom: Who would replace Feinstein, who turns 90 next month, if her seat becomes vacant? One name that's has "been floated in California circles": Oprah Winfrey. It's not clear if Newsom is seriously considering the media mogul, though the AP notes that in 2021, Newsom promised he would appoint a Black woman if Feinstein's seat opened up during his tenure. (Read more Dianne Feinstein stories.) There's gold in them thar Emiratesand there's a lot more of it now that Western sanctions have blocked exports from Russia to London and other major gold trading hubs. Reuters reports that, according to Russian export records, some 75.7 metric tons of Russian gold worth $4.3 billion arrived in the United Arab Emirates in the year after Russia invaded Ukraine, up from 1.3 tons in 2021. During the same period, China and Turkey imported around 20 tons of Russian gold each, with the two countries plus the UAE accounting for 99.8% of gold exports listed in Russian records. The UAE, long a major exporter of gold bullion and jewelry, insists it is "in compliance with all current international norms," though gold sourcing expert Louis Marechal tells Reuters that the Russian gold could end up being sold to Western markets with its origin disguised. "If the Russian gold comes in, is recast by a local refiner, sourced by a local bank or trader, and then sold on into the market, there you have a risk," he says. "This is why carrying out due diligence is instrumental to end buyers wishing to ensure they respect" sanctions against regimes. After the invasion, Russia was sanctioned by the European Union and countries including the US, Japan, and even Switzerland, a major gold hub that generally remains neutral. The Financial Times, however, reported last month that a loophole in Swiss law allowed foreign subsidiaries of the country's businesses to continue trading in Russian gold and other sanctioned goods as long as they were classed as "legally independent." A "non-circumvention" clause in EU sanctions bars subsidiaries of EU companies from trading in banned Russian goods. (Read more Russia sanctions stories.) The Missouri resident who allegedly crashed a U-Haul into barriers near the White House Monday night and said he wanted to overthrow the government isn't an American citizen, a prosecutor disclosed during an initial court appearance Wednesday. The prosecutor also said 19-year-old Sai Varshith Kandula isn't a lawful US resident, though a DOJ official later said that he actually is a lawful permanent resident, NBC News reports. A former classmate at Marquette High School in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield says Kandula is a member of the Indian American community. An immigration lawyer says if Kandula is convicted, he'll likely be deported. Investigators say Kandula, who's being held without bond, rented the truck after flying to the capital from St. Louis on a one -way ticket. He allegedly pulled a swastika flag out of his backpack after crashing the truck into barriers in Lafayette Square. According to court documents, Kandula told authorities he admired the Nazis' "authoritarian nature, eugenics, and their one-world order," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Charging documents state that he told Secret Service agents that he'd been planning the attempt to "seize power" for months and would "kill the president, if that's what I have to do," the AP reports. No weapons or explosives were found in the truck. US Park Police had said Kandula faced a slew of charges, including threatening to kill the president, but the only charged listed in Wednesday's court appearance was one related to destroying property, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, the Washington Post reports. Former classmate Errion Barfield tells the Post that he's shocked by the allegations, because Kandula never expressed support for Nazis, was "very, very kind," and "wouldn't hurt a fly." He says he's surprised by the alleged threat to kill the president because during the pandemic, Kandula often wore a mask with Biden's name on it. (Read more White House stories.) It may not be typical for a residence boasting garishly orange Formica kitchen counters, avocado-green appliances, and dated wood paneling to be considered a "luxury" home, but the house at 11222 Dilling St. in Studio City, California, now on the market for $5.5 million, isn't any ordinary house. Per its Redfin listing, the home is "one of the most iconic single family residences in the world"the place used for exterior shots on The Brady Bunch. The Hollywood Reporter notes the house is for sale again by HGTV, which scooped up the house in 2018 for $3.5 million. One of the reasons for the price jump: The network spruced up the outside, and then did a total gut to re-create the set used in the '70s sitcom. That means there's now a very Brady kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and yard, all of which had, until the renovation, only ever existed on Paramount Studios' Stage Five. HGTV even threw on a second story, reachable by the "iconic floating staircase" where the Bradys often posed. All in all, HGTV sunk $1.9 million into the place, adding 2,000 square feet onto it, a process that was documented in 2019's A Very Brady Renovation. TV hosts joined with past cast members to give the home its makeover. The Redfin listing brags that the home is said to be the second most-photographed residence in the United States, behind the White House. So what do you get for paying a $37,000-per-month mortgage (that's with 20%, or $1.1 million, down)? A "spacious 5,000+ square foot home" with "soaring ceilings, big windows, and sliding glass doors," situated on an immense 12,000-square-foot lot "with citrus trees lining the yard," per Redfin. The home comes complete with five bedrooms, five baths, a "groovy attic," and "curated furnishings and accessories," including a 3D-printed copy of the horse structure that adorned the fictional brood's living room. (Read more Brady Bunch stories.) The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed Thursday that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner's millionaire owner with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in a video published on Telegram that the handover would be completed by June 1, the AP reports. There was no immediate comment from the Russian defense ministry. It was not possible to independently verify whether Wagner's pullout from the bombed-out city has begun after a nine-month battle that killed tens of thousands of people. Ukraine's deputy defense minister said Thursday that Wagner units have been replaced with regular troops in the suburbs but that Wagner fighters remain inside the city. Ukrainian forces still have a foothold in the southwestern outskirts, the official said. Prigozhin's Bakhmut triumph delivered a badly needed victory for Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine now faces the possibility of a counteroffensive using advanced weapons supplied by Kyiv's Western allies. Top Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Thursday that the counteroffensive was underway, cautioning that it should not be anticipated as a "single event" starting "at a specific hour of a specific day." Writing on Twitter, Podolyak said "dozens of different actions to destroy Russian occupation forces" were taking place. Prigozhin has a long-running feud with the Russian military leadership, dating back to Wagner's creation. He has a reputation for inflammatoryand often unverifiableheadline-grabbing statements that he later backtracks on. During the 15-month war in Ukraine, he has repeatedly and publicly chastised Russia's military leaders, accusing them of incompetence and failure to properly provision his troops as they spearheaded the battle for Bakhmut. Wagner's involvement in the capture of Bakhmut has added to Prigozhin's standing, which he has used to express his personal views about the war. "Prigozhin is using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine," said the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank. (Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.) When co-anchor Ashley Rowe left WKBW-TV (Channel 7) almost a year ago, she said she didnt feel leaving local TV news was a forever move, but rather a for right now move. Now, she has moved right back into the business. Starting today, Rowe will co-anchor at 7 and 11 p.m. weekdays and also report at WRAL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Raleigh-Durham, N.C. The job became available after Debra Morgan, who has anchored at WRAL for 30 years, essentially did what WIVB-TVs (Channel 4) Jacquie Walker did recently. Morgan decided to drop the two evening newscasts that Rowe is now working to co-anchor at 5 and 6 p.m. Raleigh-Durham is a Top 25 TV market, while Buffalo is outside of the Top 50. When Rowe left Channel 7 after more than six years there, she said she wanted to spend more time with her young daughter Phoebe. Rowe, who spent five years as an anchor-reporter in Toronto before coming to Buffalo and has dual American and Canadian citizenship, decided to leave Channel 7 in June, several months after dropping the 11 p.m. newscast to have a better work-life balance. WKBW's Ashley Rowe looks forward to writing her next chapter I am acutely aware of how lucky I am to be in a position that I can take time off, whether it is two months or two years or whatever, Rowe said. She and her husband, Dan Greene, a lawyer who specializes in cybersecurity, and Phoebe have spent the winter in Miami. Her reasons for returning to television news were simple. I still love the business, Rowe said in a telephone interview. It's the industry that I've been in for almost 15 years, and I love it and I love to tell stories and share the news of the day and the stories that matter with viewers with people who care about what's going on in their community. Her husband can work anywhere remotely, so it was easier for the family to relocate to North Carolina. She is excited about living in the Raleigh-Durham area, where Duke University and North Carolina State are located and where Wake Forest University is about 100 miles away. I think that Raleigh is a fascinating city, Rowe said. There is immense growth there. Major companies are putting headquarters there, there's the research triangle. There is just an incredible amount of academia coming out of that area. Medical research coming out of there. I think it's just a really cool place. I went down and visited and I was like, this is neat and interesting. I remember calling my husband and saying there are a lot of similarities that I feel to Buffalo. So I feel like it'll be a nice transition for me. And, you know, I can't complain about the weather, either. How are the two areas similar? Specifically, the friendliness of the people and impressive investments to the region, Rowe said. I was walking down one of their main streets there and, I just sort of got the same kind of feel that I get from walking down Main Street after a show at Sheas or walking down Elmwood Avenue. Just people who are really excited to be there, to commit themselves there. Just a very friendly vibe similar to the way that you have that friendly vibe in Buffalo. She and her husband, a Buffalo native, plan to maintain their home in Buffalo. We obviously have a lot of very close ties to Buffalo and family still there and great friends and I'm still very much involved with Feed More Western New York and will continue to be as involved as I can from a distance. So we're keeping our house and look forward to being back (for) the holidays. It's that rarest of crimes: a Hot Pockets shooting. Police in Louisville, Kentucky, say a 64-year-old man shot his roommate in the derriere for eating the last one, reports WLKY. Clifton Williams allegedly got torqued and started "throwing tiles" at his male roommate when he discovered all the Hot Pockets were gone, according to the police report, per WAVE3. The roommate says he fought back and was trying to leave when Williams retrieved a gun from the house and shot him in the buttocks, say police. Williams has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree assault. His presumably former roommate managed to walk a few blocks for help before being to taken to a local hospital for treatment. Williams appears to be wearing a slight smile in his booking mug shot, though he faces 5 to 10 years in prison if convicted, notes NBC News. He is due back in court next week. (Read more weird crimes stories.) Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right Oath Keepers group, received an 18-year sentence Thursday for his role in the Capitol riot. As the AP reports, it's the longest sentence to date over the unrest on Jan. 6, 2021. The 58-year-old, who was convicted in January of seditious conspiracy, described himself as a "political prisoner" as he addressed the court before his sentencing. His only crime, he added, was opposing those bent on "destroying" the country. Prosecutors, who had sought a prison term of 25 years, say Rhodes was one of the leading organizers of the day's violence. You, sir," said Judge Amit P. Mehta, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the Republic and the very fabric of our democracy," per the New York Times. The sentence suggests what several other members of the Oath Keepers and another far-right group, the Proud Boys, also convicted of seditious conspiracy, can expect. That group includes former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio. Lead prosecutor Kathryn Rakoczy pointed out that Rhodes gave a jailhouse interview just days ago in which he continued to claim the 2020 election was stolen and called for "regime change." In his own remarks, Rhodes, who has a law degree from Yale, compared himself to Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and to the main character in the Franz Kafka novel The Trial, notes the Times. I am a political prisoner, he said. The judge saw it differently. What we absolutely cannot have is a group of citizens whobecause they did not like the outcome of an election, who did not believe the law was followed as it should befoment revolution, said Amit, per CNN. That is what you did. (Read more Stewart Rhodes stories.) Ron DeSantis launched his 2024 campaign Wednesday night and, as you may have heard, it did not go exceedingly well. "DeSaster" was trending as a hashtag after the glitchy announcement event on Twitter. Calling attention to the many, many headlines describing it "horrendous" or words to that effect, Elon Musk himself put a different spin on things: "I call it 'massive attention,'" he tweeted. "Top story on Earth today." So which is it: An embarrassing failure, or did Twitter essentially crash because of legit interest in the Florida governor's campaign? "As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle," writes Jim Geraghty at the National Review. Geraghty finds the sentiment that this was an unprecedented political gaffe to be "spectacularly inaccurate," one that "reflects an ignorance of recent American political history that is best explained by severe amnesia." He argues that the rollout will be remembered as a minor blip as DeSantis' campaign advances. "I still believe that the key moment in the 2024 GOP presidential primary will be the first time DeSantis and Donald Trump are on the same debate stage, and the first time DeSantis challenges Trump to his face, and how that exchange plays for the two men." Until then, nobody should get too worked up. (Read the full op-ed.) In the New York Times, Rich Lowry also pushes back against the DeSantis-is-done narrative in an essay that came out Wednesday. One bit of Lowry advice: He suggests DeSantis follow the model of Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia when fending off Donald Trump. Kemp has maintained that "Trump had a beef with him, not the other way around" and has responded to Trump's digs "dispassionately and factually." It's proven to be effective. Republican voters may ultimately decide they want Trump's unique "show" one more time, but it's premature to make that call now. DeSantis, he writes, is "not dead yet." (Read the full piece.) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Clay tile roofs are supposed to last a century or more. But the one installed on SUNY Erie Community College's historic downtown building just 10 years ago has become such a hazard that it is now going to cost taxpayers $4 million to fix. The county installed the curved clay tiles over part of the roof on the historic Old Post Office building in 2012 and 2013. In 2015, one or two tiles fell off, the first warnings that the titles weren't properly installed, county officials said. In July 2018, and again in February and March of 2019, high winds exceeding 50 and 60 miles per hour led to more clay tiles breaking. "We immediately got the scaffold up," said Kristopher Straus, senior construction project manager for the county. Although the tiles themselves were warrantied for 75 years, it is the roof design process that failed, not the tiles, Public Works Commissioner William Geary said. The ECC building has had more than its share of problems of late. During the December 2022 blizzard, it was plagued by water damage associated with a break in a frozen sprinkler system on the fifth floor. Damage was so extensive that the building was closed for the semester. Erie County is not responsible for the water damage repairs, but it is responsible for the roof. Aside from erecting emergency scaffolding and netting to protect pedestrians from falling tiles, the county also hired New York City-based Hoffman Architects, which conducted a forensic analysis of the roof. ECC's big move: College scrambles to relocate after blizzard damage to City Campus ECC's main City Campus building, the historic former post office on Ellicott Street, will be closed for the entire semester due to blizzard damage. Pinpointing the problem Using specialized equipment to mimic wind forces on multiple roof sections in the summer of 2020, the consulting firm determined the amount of wind pressure needed to loosen a clay tile. Their final report issued that December showed that the clay tiles on the south- and west-facing sides of the four-story building were loosest and likely to pose the greatest county liability. The report further indicated that because of the height of the building, and its location, the architectural design firm the county hired for the project should not have relied on typical tile installation instructions, but instead employed a structural engineer to determine how best to fasten the tiles to the building. Given the extraordinary wind pressures on the Old Post Office building at that height, roofers should not have been instructed to fasten the tiles with regular, smooth-shank copper nails, the report said. They should have used textured, ring-shank copper nails. Ring-shank nails more closely resemble screws, with raised, circular ridges that travel all the way down the long part of the nail. Buffalo-based Flynn Battaglia Architects was awarded the original design contract for the building. Peter Flynn, the design principal and co-founder of the firm, said the company installed the tiles according to manufacturer and supplier specifications and that the roofing company and inspectors signed off on the installation process. Flynn also said that roofs need maintenance, and that the company has been involved in many other restoration projects involving slate and tile roofs without issue. "I think it's an exceptional situation," he said. It is also an expensive one. Sticker shock After consulting with the County Attorney's Office, the county decided in 2019 that the seven-year statute of limitations made it unfeasible to try to hold Flynn Battaglia legally responsible for any of the roof reinstallation costs, Geary said. The roof project had been approved in 2009, with design work done in 2010. Geary added that none of the county employees who have dealt with the roof issue recently were around when the roof was originally designed. For ECC City Campus, a return to glory of bygone days; Copper finials, absent for 30 years, are returned to roofaof Old Buffalo Post Office as part of $10 million project She is aging and worn, and her elegance is often overshadowed by the other beauties in a city stockpiled with them. But now, a face-lift has her turning heads again and reminding anyone who passes by just how striking and magnificent she still is after all these years. She, of course, is the City Campus of Erie Community College It took months to hire a new design firm and have the firm issue new plans and estimate costs associated with reinstalling the roof. That firm, Bell and Spina Architects, estimated the cost to reinstall the clay tiles at $2.4 million. So the county budgeted that amount and bid out the project in the fall of last year. "To our surprise, the bids came back at three times what we had expected," Straus said. They came in at $6 million, which the county didn't have. On regular asphalt roofs, used shingles can be scraped off and thrown away. But the expensive clay tiles have to be painstakingly removed so that the tiles which are fragile, despite their weight aren't damaged, and neither is the wood base to which the tiles had to be refastened. That complexity was missed when the pre-bid estimates were created. So it was back to the drawing board. $10 million project under way on historic ECC City Campus Coated in scaffolding, building will be part of tours during National Preservation Conference here in October Scaffold surrounds the historic Erie Community College City Campus as crews work on an extensive restoration project at the Ellicott Street building. The $10 million project is expected to be completed early next year, which will leave one of the citys most significant architectural structures under construction during the National Preservation Conference in Buffalo in October. But scaffolds on Final costs The county rebid the project in February, limiting the project scope to just the most trouble-prone sections of the roof, on the south and west sides of the building where protective scaffolding stands. After the bids came back and a construction contingency fund was added, the total cost was reduced to $4 million. To cover that cost, the county scoured its old accounts for leftover money tied to community college work, dating back to 2000, and came up with $2 million. The county had also set aside nearly $2 million for the new roof in 2021, thanks to federal stimulus aid. In addition, the state will reimburse the county for half of the costs associated with ECC work. Rehabilitative roof work is expected to begin in August, but may extend over the next two years, since work can't be done over the winter, said Natalie Tan, the county's assistant architect. While existing tile will be reused for much of the project, the soaring tower that extends far above the main entrance to the building will be clad in a new tile that is more wind resistant, she said. Public Works officials said they haven't encountered such a costly failure during their time in the Department of Public Works. Strauss, who has held his project manager job for a decade, said the county has had other projects that required remediation, but rarely for a roof that is only 10 years old. "I haven't experienced anything to this magnitude," he said. Buffalo police are seeking the public's help in locating Destiny Keller, 13, who was last seen in the Schiller Park neighborhood. She was described as 5-foot-5-inches tall and weighing about 135 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie with the words "Chobani" on the front, with a short-sleeve navy polo shirt underneath, khaki pants and purple, silver and orange Nike sneakers. She has hair extensions that make her hair shoulder-length, but if she removes them, her hair is short, police said. LONDON, ON, May 24, 2023 /CNW/ - There are more than 1,000 brain diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and brain cancer, to name a few. Together, brain conditions represent one of the most pressing health challenges in Canada and across the world. The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of supporting the neuroscience community and its role in improving Canadians' brain health. Today, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament for London North Centre, announced four grants being awarded to Dr. Emma G. Duerden of Western University, Dr. Lisa Saksida of Western University, Dr. Sylvia Villeneuve of the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, and Dr. Signe Bray of the University of Calgary. This funding is made possible through Health Canada's Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF) Program, which has to date committed an overall federal investment of $200 million to Brain Canada Foundation (Brain Canada) in support of brain health discoveries. Awarded through Brain Canada's 2021 Platform Support Grants Program, these projects are supported by Health Canada and matched by funding from Brain Canada's sponsors, donors and partners. The projects will improve health outcomes for Canadians by using new approaches to develop treatments for neurological illnesses, and by establishing datasets to better understand how brain disruptions such as injury, exposures and genetics put children and youth at risk for behavioural and mental health challenges. Quotes "Supporting the neuroscience community and brain research plays a critical role in increasing our understanding of brain health conditions. By investing in projects like these, we are supporting innovation in neurotechnology leading to tangible advancements supporting brain health in Canada to improve health outcomes for patients." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos Minister of Health "Better research means better brain health for all. The work of Dr. Duerden, Dr. Saksida, Dr. Villeneuve and Dr. Bray will play an important role in advancing our knowledge of the brain and, ultimately, enhancing Canada's capacity in neuroscience research." Peter Fragiskatos Member of Parliament for London North Centre "Platform funding programs play a crucial role in enabling innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in Canada and on an international level. This is part of what makes Brain Canada an essential component of the brain research ecosystem in this country, we enable transformative platforms, which are essential to addressing the evolving needs of research." Dr. Viviane Poupon Brain Canada President and Chief Executive Officer Quick Facts Through Budgets 2011, 2016, 2019 and a subsequent funding renewal in 2021, the Government of Canada has committed a total of $200 million for Brain Canada through the CBRF Program, to support Canadian neuroscience research with the greatest potential to lead to scientific discoveries that advance therapies and approaches to better understand the brain and brain health. Brain Canada , the sole recipient of this contribution program, works in partnership with a range of donors from across the private, public and charitable sectors to provide competitively awarded funding for research across Canada. for through the CBRF Program, to support Canadian neuroscience research with the greatest potential to lead to scientific discoveries that advance therapies and approaches to better understand the brain and brain health. , the sole recipient of this contribution program, works in partnership with a range of donors from across the private, public and charitable sectors to provide competitively awarded funding for research across Canada. Brain Canada shapes its research priorities by engaging with the neuroscience community and bringing research stakeholders together to discuss and advance key brain health issues and opportunities in the health sector. Its signature programs, which include team, platform and capacity building awards, are designed to fill gaps identified by stakeholders for increasing research capacity and strategically advancing the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases, disorders, and other conditions. Related Products Associated Links SOURCE Health Canada For further information: Guillaume Bertrand, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected] Here is a global with national fertility rates. The fertility rate information is outdated as it shows China with 1.43 when it is actually 1.18. All of the national fertility rates have been falling and are about 20-40% lower than in this map. The current fertility rate for Africa in 2023 is 4.155 births per woman, a 1.35% decline from 2022. The fertility rate for Africa in 2022 was 4.212 births per woman, a 1.31% decline from 2021. Nigerias fertility rate has declined every year since 1979 yet the country has assumed a fixed growth rate for its now over 200 million population based on a controversial headcount done nearly two decades ago. From an average of 6.763 births per woman in 1978, fertility rate in Nigeria has fallen to 5.076 in 2023, according to data by research platform. Nigeria does not perform any census because the leaders do not want to have counts because of politics. Nigerias population size has always been subject to debate with many doubting the accuracy of not only the last count in 2006 but even previous ones dating back to the colonial era. Politicians have an incentive to inflate the numbers because seats at the National Assembly and cash from the federal government are handed out to states based on population. This is a big problem in estimating current and future Africa population and future global population. IF the world goes from 8 billion people today to 10 billion or 11 billion people by 2100, then all of the increase will be from Africa. Almost half of Africa is not even trying to count how many people they have. Comparing administrative and survey data across 46 surveys in 21 African countries, researchers found a bias toward overreporting school enrollment growth in administrative data. The average change in enrollment is roughly one-third higher (3.1 percentage points) in administrative than survey data. There have been reports that China overcounted its population by as many as 100 million people. Japanese companies have invested $80 million in British startup Core Power to develop a floating nuclear power plant. About 13 companies, including Onomichi Dockyard and Imabari Shipbuilding, have invested. Core Power has raised about $100 million. CORE POWER is part of the team that develops an MSR (molten salt reactor) that does not need a fuel assembly (which makes it simpler, cheaper and more efficient), operates at ambient pressure (which makes it safer and cheaper) and runs at a very high temperature (which produces heat more efficiently). A Molten salt reactor was built and tested by the USA in the 1960s and China has recently built a 2 megawatt MSR test reactor. Because the fuel-salt is liquid, it is both the fuel which produces the heat and the coolant which transports the heat to the power conversion system that makes electric power. Since the fuel and coolant is combined into one and the fuel is always locked into the coolant, the reactor cannot melt-down. MSRs can be mass manufactured as small modular machines. A multinational team including Core Power, Southern Company, TerraPower and Orano USA are part of the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment which aims to see the worlds first fast-spectrum salt reactor achieve criticality, to be built at Idaho National Laboratory, backed by US Department of Energy (DOE) funding. Last year Core Power, MIT Energy Initiative and Idaho National Laboratory were granted research funding by the US DOEs Nuclear Energy University Program, a three-year study into the development of offshore floating nuclear power generation in the USA. Core Power has stressed the safety benefits of molten salt reactors noting that the fuel and the coolant are mixed in a fuel-salt which is liquid at high temperatures and using a liquid fuel where the fuel and coolant are the same, has immense implications on the safety of the reactor system, as a loss of coolant accident is impossible. An MSR cannot melt-down, because the fuel is already liquid and since the fuel is locked into the coolant, toxic radioisotopes which are formed in the fission process cannot escape into the environment in the event of an accident. As Core Power Chairman and CEO Mikal Be put it in a World Nuclear News interview in 2021: A ship may be lost at sea and may sink to 8000 metres on the ocean floor, but even then, it would not pollute the environment with the MSR fuel cooling until its a solid rock and that solid rock should be entombed inside the reactor vessel. Floating nuclear power plants are seen as having future growth potential because they provide flexible location options, being placed at sea from where they can provide electricity or hydrogen or water desalination for onshore use and Core Power says its aim is also to produce a competitive true-zero emission power system for the future of maritime by 2030. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MADISON, Wis. (AP) Lawmakers in several states are embracing legislation to let children work in more hazardous occupations, for more hours on school nights and in expanded roles, including serving alcohol in bars and restaurants as young as 14. The efforts to significantly roll back labor rules are largely led by Republican lawmakers to address worker shortages and, in some cases, run afoul of federal regulations. Child welfare advocates worry the measures represent a coordinated push to scale back hard-won protections for minors. The consequences are potentially disastrous, said Reid Maki, director of the Child Labor Coalition, which advocates against exploitative labor policies. You can't balance a perceived labor shortage on the backs of teen workers. Lawmakers proposed loosening child labor laws in at least 10 states over the past two years, according to a report published last month by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. Some bills became law, while others were withdrawn or vetoed. Legislators in Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa are actively considering relaxing child labor laws to address worker shortages, which are driving up wages and contributing to inflation. Employers have struggled to fill open positions after a spike in retirements, deaths and illnesses from COVID-19, decreases in legal immigration and other factors. The job market is one of the tightest since World War II, with the unemployment rate at 3.4% the lowest in 54 years. Bringing more children into the labor market is, of course, not the only way to solve the problem. Economists point to several other strategies the country can employ to alleviate the labor crunch without asking kids to work more hours or in dangerous settings. The most obvious is allowing more legal immigration, which is politically divisive but has been a cornerstone of the countrys ability to grow for years in the face of an aging population. Other strategies could include incentivizing older workers to delay retirement, expanding opportunities for formerly incarcerated people and making child-care more affordable, so that parents have greater flexibility to work. In Wisconsin, lawmakers are backing a proposal to allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants. If it passed, Wisconsin would have the lowest such limit nationwide, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The Ohio Legislature is on track to pass a bill allowing students ages 14 and 15 to work until 9 p.m. during the school year with their parents permission. That's later than federal law allows, so a companion measure asks the U.S. Congress to amend its own laws. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, students that age can only work until 7 p.m. during the school year. Congress passed the law in 1938 to stop children from being exposed to dangerous conditions and abusive practices in mines, factories, farms and street trades. Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law in March eliminating permits that required employers to verify a childs age and a parent's consent. Without work permit requirements, companies caught violating child labor laws can more easily claim ignorance. Sanders later signed separate legislation raising civil penalties and creating criminal penalties for violating child labor laws, but advocates worry that eliminating the permit requirement makes it significantly more difficult to investigate violations. Other measures to loosen child labor laws have been passed into law in New Jersey, New Hampshire and Iowa. Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law last year allowing teens aged 16 and 17 to work unsupervised in child care centers. The state Legislature approved a bill this month to allow teens of that age to serve alcohol in restaurants. It would also expand the hours minors can work. Reynolds, who said in April she supports more youth employment, has until June 3 to sign or veto the measure. Republicans dropped provisions from a version of the bill allowing children aged 14 and 15 to work in dangerous fields including mining, logging and meatpacking. But it kept some provisions that the Labor Department says violate federal law, including allowing children as young as 14 to briefly work in freezers and meat coolers, and extending work hours in industrial laundries and assembly lines. Teen workers are more likely to accept low pay and less likely to unionize or push for better working conditions, said Maki, of the Child Labor Coalition, a Washington-based advocacy network. There are employers that benefit from having kind of docile teen workers, Maki said, adding that teens are easy targets for industries that rely on vulnerable populations such as immigrants and the formerly incarcerated to fill dangerous jobs. The Department of Labor reported in February that child labor violations had increased by nearly 70% since 2018. The agency is increasing enforcement and asking Congress to allow larger fines against violators. It fined one of the nation's largest meatpacking sanitation contractors $1.5 million in February after investigators found the company illegally employed more than 100 children at locations in eight states. The child workers cleaned bone saws and other dangerous equipment in meatpacking plants, often using hazardous chemicals. National business lobbyists, chambers of commerce and well-funded conservative groups are backing the state bills to increase teen participation in the workforce, including Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political network and the National Federation of Independent Business, which typically aligns with Republicans. The conservative Opportunity Solutions Project and its parent organization, Florida-based think tank Foundation for Government Accountability, helped lawmakers in Arkansas and Missouri draft bills to roll back child labor protections, The Washington Post reported. The groups, and allied lawmakers, often say their efforts are about expanding parental rights and giving teenagers more work experience. Theres no reason why anyone should have to get the governments permission to get a job, Republican Arkansas Rep. Rebecca Burkes, who sponsored the bill to eliminate child work permits, said on the House floor. This is simply about eliminating the bureaucracy that is required and taking away the parents decision about whether their child can work. Margaret Wurth, a children's rights researcher with Human Rights Watch, a member of the Child Labor Coalition, described bills like the one passed in Arkansas as attempts to undermine safe and important workplace protections and to reduce workers power. Current laws fail to protect many child workers, Wurth said. She wants lawmakers to end exceptions for child labor in agriculture. Federal law allows children 12 and older to work on farms for any amount of time outside of school hours, with parental permission. Farm workers over 16 can work at dangerous heights or operate heavy machinery, hazardous tasks reserved for adult workers in other industries. Twenty-four children died from work injuries in in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Around half of deadly work incidents happened on farms, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office covering child deaths between 2003 and 2016. More children die working in agriculture than in any other sector, Wurth said. Enforcement isnt going to help much for child farm workers unless the standards improve. ___ Harm Venhuizen is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Venhuizen on Twitter. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KUESNACHT, Switzerland (AP) In her adoptive country, Tina Turner was more than just a swivel-hipped rock, R&B and pop superstar. She unapologetically moved to Switzerland for its discretion and calm, carrying her very public persona into a very private country. She relished her life as a Swiss citizen and the feeling was mutual. It seems loves got to do with it, too: In her 2018 memoir, My Love Story, Turner shared her emotion for longtime boyfriend-turned-husband Erwin Bach a German record producer who had set up in Switzerland. She moved to join him in the mid-1990s, nearly a decade after they first met. Mourners laid flowers and candles Thursday outside the gate of the couple's lakeside villa rental, Chateau Algonquin, in the upscale town of Kuesnacht, southeast of Zurich, where they settled, got married in 2013, and lived for decades until her death on Wednesday at age 83. It was an understated tribute reflective of the Swiss discretion that had drawn her to the rich Alpine country in the first place. Neighbors didnt gawk, hound her for autographs or snap photos. Many Swiss felt a sense of pride that she could retreat here from the pressures of the media spotlight. It afforded her the semblance of a normal life after a turbulent one in her native United States, including at the hands of her late former husband Ike who discovered her, married her and according to her memoirs violently beat her. Celebrities of the past including Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury, as well as living stars like Sophia Loren and Shania Twain, have been drawn to Switzerland often for its reputed respect for private lives. Roman Polanski holed up in an Alpine chalet briefly to skirt U.S. justice, and some of the world's financial magnates and business gurus have been attracted by the country's relatively low taxes and secrecy about money matters. Turner, who moved in the mid-1990s and took Swiss citizenship in 2013 dispensing with her U.S passport was arguably the most famous resident in recent years. Swiss President Alain Berset tweeted a tribute to Turner, calling her an icon and saying his "thoughts are with the relatives of this impressive woman, who found a second homeland in Switzerland. Markus Ernst, the mayor of Kuesnacht, a bucolic town on the shores of Lake Zurich, said Turner was engaged in the community regularly lighting the annual Christmas tree and once inaugurating a municipal rescue boat that has been christened Tina but locals went out of their way to help an overwhelmingly public figure enjoy a private life, too. One of the reasons she came to Switzerland was to have a completely normal life, he said by phone. She could go to restaurants without being photographed all the time in the street, people didnt stare at her or ask for her autograph. Dropping by to pay her respects, art dealer Renate Fetscherin, who has lived in the town for decades, said people in Switzerland would never bother anybody, you know? and the couple could rest easy: They don't worry about paparazzi because we don't have them! Kuesnacht was very proud of having such a famous person here, Fetscherin said. She recalled how Turner and Bach clearly ensconced in Switzerland for good had reportedly bought a villa last year just down the lake from the town. At his upscale eatery just a couple hundred meters from the villa, restaurateur Rico Zandonella recalled Turner as very dear friend and a frequent guest who once celebrated a birthday there with colleagues who sang for her: It was a really great celebration. Tina Turner is a very big personality when she enters a room. She has a really great aura a personality that explodes like a bomb, like she is on stage. A statement from her longtime manager, Bernard Doherty, said a private funeral ceremony among close family and friends was planned, adding: Please respect the privacy of her. Years ago, Turner narrated milestones of her life and her affection and affinity for Switzerland in a glitzy TV ad for communications company Swisscom, featuring young actors who portrayed her in both early life and in highlight moments of her career. It alluded to stereotypes about Switzerland such as the home of William Tell or a hub of ice-skating prowess; she sat in a rocking rowboat in a lake ringed by majestic mountains, mobile phone in hand. Turner recounted how her friends had to adapt to her Swiss tastes, as one actor portraying her carried out a pot of cheese fondue to quizzical looks from fictionalized guests. Another actor waved off fans as flash bulbs popped while she clambered into the backseat of a limousine next to the real Turner, and the superstar quipped: As time went by, I learned more and more about Switzerland, like that security and discretion are peoples top priority just like they are for me. And when I finally moved to Switzerland, it felt like home right away, she mused. People respect each other's privacy here, take care of each other. ___ Jamey Keaten contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Standing in a Tennessee museum, near exhibits of shimmering dresses worn by Tina Turner, Lisa Lyons wiped tears from her cheeks as she remembered the impact the singer and actor had on her life. Lyons recalled watching Turner's performance in the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome as Auntie Entity, the tyrannical leader of a post-apocalyptic civilization. She was fierce, and she was strong, and she was powerful, and that has stayed with me, said Lyons, who, like Turner, is Black. As a little girl of color who didn't have that type of role model in real life, it has stuck with me all these years. Turner, 83, died Wednesday, after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, according to her manager. Her Grammy-winning singing career includes the hit songs Nutbush City Limits, "Proud Mary, Whats Love Got To Do With It" and We Don't Need Another Hero, from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome." Her film credits also include Tommy and Last Action Hero. Lyons, 56, said she heard about Turner's death on Wednesday and drove to the museum in Brownsville, west of Jackson, where Lyons lives. When it comes to her musical legacy in a region known for its blues, rock and roll, R&B and soul music, Turner was the cream of the crop, Lyons said. She is the standard. She is the goal to aspire for, Lyons said. She did it and she did it well, and she did it on her own terms. The museum opened in 2014 inside the renovated Flagg Grove School at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Memphis. Turner attended school in the one-room building as a child growing up in nearby Nutbush, one of the small, rural towns that dot the farms and fields of West Tennessee. The building was on farmland owned by Benjamin Flagg, who saw a need for a school for the areas black children and began building it in 1889. The school is representative of the schoolhouses for African-American children that sprang up in the rural South after the Civil War. The school closed in the 1960s and was used as a barn before the dilapidated building was moved by tractor-trailer from Nutbush to Brownsville. The museum contains a setup of the classroom, including the original blackboard and wooden desks used by Turner and her fellow students. It also contains photos of Turner, and the Armani, Versace and Bob Mackie dresses Turner wore on stage during the energetic performances for which she was known. On Wednesday, Turner fans went to the museum to pay their respects. Some of them had already planned to visit before news of Turner's death broke, while others made a special trip after they found out. Sherry Raggett and her husband, Tom, had already planned to visit the center as the final stop of a museum tour that took them from their home in the Memphis suburb of Collierville to a few places in Kentucky and Nashville, then back to west Tennessee. Sherry Raggett called Turner a wonderful person and praised her for her strong influence on women and how they can overcome so many things. I grew up listening to her, and she was a fantastic entertainer," Tom Raggett said. "I loved every minute watching her. The heritage center's director, Sonia Outlaw-Clark, said she met Turner in 2019 in New York during the opening of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. It was such an honor to be in her presence, but it was also such a feeling of ease, Outlaw-Clark said. Even though she was an international icon, a superstar, I still felt that she was a hometown girl. It was like meeting a neighbor. Outlaw-Clark said the center was hoping to honor Turner this weekend during its annual Exit 56 Blues Fest and during another event in September that takes place on the anniversary of the museum's opening. The United States grew older, faster, last decade. The share of residents 65 or older grew by more than a third from 2010 to 2020 and at the fastest rate of any decade in 130 years, while the share of children declined, according to new figures from the most recent census. The declining percentage of children under age 5 was particularly noteworthy in the figures from the 2020 head count released Thursday. Combined, the trends mean the median age in the U.S. jumped from 37.2 to 38.8 over the decade. America's two largest age groups propelled the changes: more baby boomers turning 65 or older and millennials who became adults or pushed further into their 20s and early 30s. Also, fewer children were born between 2010 and 2020, according to numbers from the once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident. The decline stems from women delaying having babies until later in life, in many cases to focus on education and careers, according to experts, who noted that birth rates never recovered following the Great Recession of 2007-2009. In the short run, the crisis of work-family balance, the lack of affordable child care, stresses associated with health care, housing, and employment stability, all put a damper on birth rates by increasing uncertainty and making it harder to decide to have and raise children," said Philip Cohen, a sociologist at the University of Maryland. There are important social and economic consequences to an aging population, including the ability of working-age adults to support older people through Social Security and Medicare contributions. The Census Bureau calculates a dependency ratio, defined as the number of children plus the number of seniors per 100 working-age people. While the dependency ratio decreased for children from 2010 to 2020, it increased for seniors by 6.8 people. At the top end of the age spectrum, the number of people over 100 increased by half, from more than 53,000 people to more than 80,000. The share of men living into old age also jumped. Buddy Lebman, a 98-year-old in the St. Louis area, said the key to longevity is good genes and staying active. He plays bridge twice a week, leads a discussion on current events at his retirement community, and is still involved with his synagogue and a school he helped found. Up until five years ago, he went on regular bicycle rides. I just recently had my pacemaker checked out, and the doctor told me its good for 4 1/2 more years, Lebman said. So I have to live at least that amount. People reaching age 100 benefited from a century of vaccines and antibiotic developments, improvements in surgery and better treatment of diseases, said Thomas Perls, a professor of medicine at Boston University. Many more people who have the genetic makeup and environmental exposures that increase ones chances of getting to 100, but who would have otherwise died of what are now readily reversible problems, are able to fulfill their survival destiny, Perls said. The Census Bureau released two earlier data sets from the 2020 census in 2021: state population figures used to decide how many congressional seats each state gets and redistricting numbers used to draw political districts. Thursday's data release was delayed by almost two years because of pandemic-related difficulties gathering the information and efforts by the Census Bureau to implement a new, controversial privacy protection method that uses algorithms to add intentional errors to obscure the identity of any given respondent. This was the first census since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. The tally showed that more than half of U.S. households contained coupled partners or spouses who lived together, and same-sex households made up 1.7% of those households. Since the census didnt ask about sexual orientation, it didnt capture LGBTQ+ people who are single or dont live with a partner or spouse. The median age varied widely by race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic whites were the oldest cohort, with a median age of 44.5. Hispanics were the youngest, with a median age of 30; and a quarter of all children in the U.S. were Hispanic. Black Americans who weren't Hispanic had a median age of 35.5. The number was for 37.2 for Asians. Utah, home to the largest Mormon population in the U.S., was the youngest state, with a median age of 31.3, a function of having one of the nation's highest birthrates. The District of Columbia's median age of 33.9 was a close second due to the large number of young, working-age adults commonly found in urban areas. North Dakota was the only state where the median age declined, from 37 to 35.8, as an influx of young workers arrived to work in a booming energy sector. Maine was the oldest state in the U.S., with a median age of 45.1, as more baby boomers aged out of the workforce. Puerto Rico had a median age in the same range, at 45.2, as an exodus of working-age adults left the island after a series of hurricanes and government mismanagement. Older adults in four states Florida, Maine, Vermont and West Virginia made up more than a fifth of those states' populations. Sumter County, Florida, home of the booming retirement community The Villages, had the highest median age among U.S. counties, at 68.5; while Utah County, home to Provo, Utah, and Brigham Young University, had the lowest at 25.9. As one of the youngest baby boomers, Chris Stanley, 59, already lives in The Villages. She said her mission in later life is to let younger generations know they can change things despite perhaps not having the same economic opportunities she did. I want to impart the urgency that I feel," she said. "They can make it better. While people 65 and older made up 16.8% of the 331 million residents in the U.S. in 2020, the share was still significantly lower than it was in countries like Japan, Italy and Greece, where the age cohort makes up between more than a fifth and more than a quarter of the population. However, their share of the U.S. population will continue to grow as baby boomers age. In the long run, immigration is the only way the United States is going to avoid population decline, Cohen said. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Exit signs on nearly a dozen major highways in Connecticut are being renumbered as the state Department of Transportation continues replacement of old signs to meet Federal Highway Administration standards. By the end of the decade, Connecticut's busiest roads will have exit numbers that correspond with CT DOT's mile marker system, basing exit numbers on how far they are from the beginning of the route within the states border. The system is the same exit numbering system used on most highways in the country. For example, if your exit is at mile marker 23 of the highway, it will be Exit 23. If the exit is in between mile markers, the number is rounded down to the nearest whole mile. If a new exit is added, the mile is simply marked or a letter is added if its close to an old exit. Under the previous, sequential system, adding new exit numbers meant renumbering the entire highway unless the new exit happened to be at the end of the roadway. The CT DOT said this was not a new project. The federal rule revisions were published in 2009 with no hard deadline for states. We timed it with other work that we know is going to be taking place, said Joshua Morgan, spokesperson for CT DOT. He explained that the exit number changes were attached to major highway maintenance projects to save time, money and logistical headaches. That way when we know a sign is at the end of its useful life, we can tie it to an additional project thats already taking place. The old highway exits will be noted with Old Exit signs under the new numbers for at least two years to help ease people through the transition. Several exits on CT-6 will get exit numbers for the first time in the road's history. The new signs will also be larger, the same color scheme and more wind-resistant than previous signs. People call Connecticut the land of steady habits because we turn on a very slow pace when it comes to change, said Morgan. But I think people will get used to it. CT DOT has been telling technology companies that provide GPS navigation, like Apple and Google, the dates they expect the exit numbers to change. I actually commute on I-691 up to the Newington headquarters every day, said Morgan. I saw the numbers change on a Monday or Tuesday. But it was only like a day or two later that my Google Maps was showing the new numbers. Morton stressed that the change was because of longstanding federal requirements. We really appreciate the public hanging in with us on this, said Morgan. Definitely call or email if you have questions or concerns. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate INDIANAPOLIS (AP) An Indiana board decided Thursday night to reprimand an Indianapolis doctor after finding that she violated patient privacy laws by talking publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from neighboring Ohio. The state Medical Licensing Board voted that Dr. Caitlin Bernard didnt abide by privacy laws when she told a newspaper reporter about the girls treatment in a case that became a flashpoint in the national abortion debate days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. The board, however, rejected accusations from Indianas Republican attorney general that Bernard violated state law by not reporting the child abuse to Indiana authorities. Board members chose to fine Bernard $3,000 for the violations, turning down a request from the attorney generals office to suspend Bernards license. The board issued no restrictions on her practice of medicine. Bernard has consistently defended her actions, and she told the board on Thursday that she followed Indianas reporting requirements and hospital policy by notifying hospital social workers about the child abuse and that the girls rape was already being investigated by Ohio authorities. Bernard's lawyers also said that she didnt release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws. The Indianapolis Star cited the girls case in a July 1 article that sparked a national political uproar in the weeks after last summer's Roe v. Wade decision put into effect an Ohio law that prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Some news outlets and Republican politicians falsely suggested Bernard fabricated the story, until a 27-year-old man was charged with the rape in Columbus, Ohio. During an event at the White House, President Joe Biden nearly shouted his outrage over the case. Medical board President Dr. John Strobel said he believed Bernard went too far in telling a reporter about the girl's pending abortion and that physicians need to be careful about observing patient privacy. I dont think she expected this to go viral," Strobel said of Bernard. "I dont think she expected this attention to be brought to this patient. It did. It happened. Bernard's lawyer Alice Morical told the board Thursday that the doctor reported child abuse of patients many times a year and that a hospital social worker had confirmed with Ohio child protection staffers that it was safe for the girl to leave with her mother. Dr. Bernard could not have anticipated the atypical and intense scrutiny that this story received, Morical said. She did not expect that politicians would say that she made the story up. Amid the wave of attention to the girls case last summer, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who is stridently anti-abortion, told Fox News he would investigate Bernards actions and called her an abortion activist acting as a doctor. Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight argued Thursday that the board needed to address what he called an egregious violation of patient privacy and Bernards failure to notify Indianas Department of Child Services and police about the rape. Theres been no case like this before the board, Voight said. "No physician has been as brazen in pursuit of their own agenda. Voight asked Bernard why she discussed the Ohio girls case with the newspaper reporter and later in other news media interviews rather than using a hypothetical situation. I think that its incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country about abortion, Bernard said. I think its important for people to know what patients will have to go through because of legislation that is being passed, and a hypothetical does not make that impact." Board member Dr. Bharat Barai opposed finding that Bernard violated privacy laws, saying that she released no direct protected identifying information such as the girls name or address. He disagreed with the board majoritys view that the combination of information about the rare instance of a pregnant 10-year-old girl could have exposed her identity. We are trying to suppose that yeah this could have been done and maybe somebody could have discovered it, Barai said. During Thursday's hearing lasting some 13 hours, Rokitas office kept up a running commentary on its official Twitter account, with one post saying: When Bernard talked about the high priority she puts on legislation and speaking to the public, she did so at the expense of her own patient. This shows where her priorities are as an activist rather than a doctor. Bernard objected to Voight saying her choice to publicly discuss the case led to the misconduct allegations. I think if the attorney general, Todd Rokita, had not chosen to make this his political stunt we wouldnt be here today, Bernard said. Lawyers for the attorney generals office repeatedly raised questions about whether the policy of Bernards employer, Indiana University Health, to report suspected child abuse to authorities in the state where the abuse occurred complied with Indiana law. Officials of IU Health, which is the states largest hospital system, testified that the Indiana Department of Child Services has never objected to the hospital policy. The Indiana board with five doctors and one attorney present who were appointed or reappointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb had wide latitude under state law allowing it to issue reprimand letters or suspend, revoke or place on probation a doctors license. Ohios law imposing a near-ban on abortion was in effect for about two months, before being put on hold as a lawsuit against it plays out. Indianas Republican-dominated Legislature approved a statewide abortion ban weeks after the Ohio girls case drew attention, but abortions have continued to be permitted in the state while awaiting an Indiana Supreme Court decision on the bans constitutionality. Bernard unsuccessfully tried to block Rokitas investigation last fall, although an Indianapolis judge wrote that Rokita made clearly unlawful breaches of state confidentiality laws with his public comments about investigating the doctor before filing the medical licensing complaint against her. BRIDGEPORT A New York City man caught dealing narcotics in the city in 2021 was sentenced Wednesday to more than 14 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. Leonardo Hector Rosado, 52, of the Bronx, was previously convicted of two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, the U.S. attorneys office said. In spring 2021, prosecutors said, FBI agents and Bridgeport police officers arranged two narcotics transactions involving Rosado, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Years earlier, the U.S. attorney's office said, Rosado had been convicted of intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. In 2010, he was sentenced in the Middle District of North Carolina to 121 months, or roughly a decade, in prison for that offense. His sentence was later reduced to 97 months, or roughly eight years, in prison, the office said. During the first 2021 transaction, the U.S. attorney's office said, Rosado delivered two bags containing narcotics to a cooperating witness on April 21, 2021, after driving from the Bronx to a meeting point in Bridgeport. One of the bags held a substance containing fentanyl, heroin and cocaine that weighed nearly a kilogram, according to the U.S. attorneys office. The other bag held more than 4 grams of fentanyl, the office said. Rosado had previously supplied a kilogram of fentany to the witness in 2019, the U.S. attorney's office said. During the second transaction, Rosado transported nearly 3 kilograms of a substance containing fentanyl, heroin and cocaine and another 983 grams of cocaine to Bridgeport on May 16, 2021, according to the U.S. attorneys office. He was arrested by investigators at that time and has been detained since, the U.S. attorneys office said. Rosado was found guilty by a jury on Feb. 23, according to the U.S. attorneys office. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 170 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, the office said. Rena Murshud Pakistan is one of the countries that has recognized Azerbaijan as an independent country since December 12, 1991. Azerbaijan observed majority of this 30-year-cooperation and friendship between the two countries during the Second Karabakh war. Like Turkiye, they also gave their military support to Azerbaijan and showed perseverance in liberating our lands that were under occupation for 30 years. The people of Pakistan also do not forget the good. If we look at history, we can say that Azerbaijan-Pakistan friendship started at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century while a deadly disease began to spread in Pakistan at that time. At such a moment, Azerbaijani philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev supported the country. Despite the passage of years, the people of Pakistan always remember this history the history of friendship and brotherhood. Nevertheless, this friendship existing between the two countries was further strengthened in January 2021 with the signing of an agreement by the foreign ministers of the country in a trilateral (Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Pakistan) format. Currently, high-ranking officers of both countries are in the capital Islamabad for the purpose of strengthening and developing those relations. It should be noted that the Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan - Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who visited Pakistan these days, met with his counterpart General Syed Asim Munir in Pakistan and held talks on the expansion of military exercises. Commenting on the following issue to Azernews, Pakistani political analyst Dr. Mehmud ul Hassan Khan spoke about the importance of the meeting of the heads of the Pakistani army with Azerbaijan and emphasized that there are wide opportunities in the meeting between the Defense Chiefs of the General Staff of the two countries. It seems that prospects are very high and opportunities are very huge and diversified in bilateral as well as trilateral military cooperation between brotherly country Azerbaijan and Pakistan and of course Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkiye. There has been momentum in bilateral high official meetings, bilateral visits and participation in defense expos and holding of joint and trilateral military exercises between and among the three strategic countries in the past which vividly reflects importance of increasing military ties because of rapidly changing geopolitical and geostrategic dimensions of South Caucasus and South Asia. Moreover, constant and continued military aggression of Armenia and increasing military ties between Armenia and India has further urged that military cooperation must be sustainable and progressive between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. In this regard, for the further strengthening of bilateral military relations with Pakistan and exploring mutual prospects of mutual manufacturing of military products a delegation led by First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev visited the headquarters of the Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS) organization of Pakistan, the expert emphasized. Touching on the wide-range of opportunities in Pakistan Armys military arsenal, the expert also introduced some new weapons and know-how technologies constituting backbone of the Islamic army in the east. It is indeed a vast field and keeping in view the rapidly changing global military sector, the armed forces of Pakistan is vigilant to take all possible measures to upgrade its forces. The following modern arms may be included and upgraded in the armed forces of Pakistan. (a) Latest compatible Air-Defense System (b) Anti-Ballistic Missile System (c) Modern Rader System (d) Modern unmanned system (e) Induction of 5th generation fighter jet with the help of Turkiye (f) Mini nuclear submarine technology (g) stealth technology (h) Laser technology (i) Latest missile technology and manufacturing These are and may also be included and operationalized in armed forces of Pakistan, standard heavy machine gun, Automatic grenade launcher, Rocket grenade launcher, Anti-tank rocket launcher, Command-detonated anti-personnel mine, Modernized and Upgraded version of Al Khalid & Al Zarrar, Multirole armoured personnel carrier and infantry fighting vehicle, Light tactical vehicle, Tank destroyers 550, KRL Fatah-1, 300mm MLR, the system can launch CALT built rocket having maximum range of 120 km locally produced by SUPARCO, 155mm truck mounted howitzer, Anti-tank guided missiles, NESCOM Barq, HQ-9P variant, Man-portable air-defense systems, Air defence anti-aircraft gun systems (Type 85), IBIS-150 Air surveillance radar, JY-27A 3-D long-range air surveillance & guidance radar, YLC-18A, Long-range, ground-based L-band 3D AESA low-level gap filler air search radar, Unmanned aerial vehicles, NESCOM Burraq, GIDS Shahpar, GIDS Uqab, JF-17 Thunder bloc III, airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems aircraft etc, Khan said. Furthermore, the political analyst also discussed prospects of Azerbaijan-Pakistan military cooperation and its mutual benefits in future defense strategies of bothe countries. Pakistan and Azerbaijan are strategic allies and share common historic, cultural and religious values. The relationship between the two countries has covered economic, defence, political and diplomatic cooperation since Azerbaijans independence. Given the recent meeting of the Defense Chiefs, I can say that Pakistan is ready to help Azerbaijan in terms of training, joint manufacturing, JF-17 Thunder Bloc-III fighter jet, missile technology, unmanned vehicles, tank manufacturing, joint exercises, radar, laser technologies etc. According to reliable defense sources, military cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan has been further strengthened and diversified. It is suggested that a joint cooperation in the production of armed Bayraktar TB2 drones, 5th generation fighter jet, joint production of cutting-edge military equipment, developing and manufacturing cutting-edge aerial devices should be initiated as soon as possible which would be mutually beneficial for all the countries in the days to come. Doctor Mehmood ul Hassan Khan also stressed some important reasons making Azerbaijan and Pakistan so brotherly, as well as pointed support of his country to Azerbaijan during the Patriotic War. Pakistan has special historic, cultural, social, political and diplomatic relationships with Azerbaijan which may not be confined only to bilateral diplomatic domain. For centuries, the people of both countries have been visiting, interacting and carrying caravans of human values, ethnic diversity, education, commerce and above all mutual respect and trust. Moreover, because of its love, respect and compassion the government has not yet recognized Armenia because of its fascist history, present aggression and past illegal occupation of Karabakh and other regions of Azerbaijan. During the glorious Patriotic War of Azerbaijan, the government of Pakistan, armed forces, media, intellectuals and common people showed unwavering support to government and people of Azerbaijan. We remained supportive to armed forces of Azerbaijan in its peaceful persuasions against Armenia. The statements of the chairman of Pakistan Senate, armed forces and government all showed love and respect for the just cause of Azerbaijan. Because we both share spirits of resilience, courage, bravery and of course military preparedness for good cause which would be further strengthened in terms of countering Armenia and India military cooperation in South Caucasus region. Pakistani professor added that the cooperation between the two brotherly countries will not suffice in the field of military but in many spheres. I strongly believe that there are vast opportunities in the diverse field of economy, investment, joint ventures, special economic free zones, CPEC, oil & gas energy cooperation, agriculture cooperation (duties on rice has been removed by Azerbaijan government and therefore exports of rice from Pakistan is constantly on the rise), infrastructure development especially in the newly liberated areas of Karabakh, dairy cooperation, hybrid seeds, climate change cooperation, energy generation, health, education, tourism, banking and finance especially Islamic banking, formation of sustainable supply chains, Software, ICT, fertilizer, textile, pharmaceutical, sugar and surgical plants, SMEs, micro-financing, women empowerment and entrepreneurship, insurance companies and last but not least, science & technology between two brotherly countries, the expert concluded. Dr Mehmood ul Hassan Khan is the Executive Director of the Center of South Asia & International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad He is a Regional expert on Azerbaijan & South Caucasus Authorities in South Carolina have captured Michael C. Burham, the man being sought in connection with the May 11 homicide of a Jamestown woman, according to the FBI field office in Columbia. Burham, 34, was taken into custody in Huger, a community in Berkeley County, S.C., at 5:17 p.m. Wednesday after a resident called in a tip less than two hours earlier and reported that Burham was hiding in a shed behind a residence, police said. Burham was confronted by the resident as he hid behind tarps near the familys woodshed and fled. Police, with the help of a K9 team and air units, located and arrested an unarmed, disheveled Burham. Multistate manhunt underway for Jamestown man Authorities have said Michael Burham should be considered armed and dangerous and that members of the public should not attempt to make contact with him. "This has been a long operation," Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said during a Wednesday evening press conference. "The people out here ... they can rest easy tonight." Neighbors in the area standing outside their houses applauded as it became clear that Burham was in custody. Burham remained in custody in Berkeley County, where he was being interviewed by FBI agents. Lewis said Burham was not in good shape when they caught him and looked like he had been on the run for a long time. Burham immediately asked police for something to drink, he added. "You could tell from his clothing he had been in the woods for a long time," Lewis said. They had been searching Tuesday for Burham in a forested area north of Charleston. The search moved Wednesday to Awendaw, a small town in Charleston County, where Burham was spotted Tuesday night. Police in Berkeley County received a 911 call about a suspicious man at about 11 a.m. Tuesday. Sheriff's deputies encountered the man, who gave them a false name and ran, the sheriff's office said in a news release. Deputies chased the man, who dropped a bookbag, inside of which there were "articles that confirmed Burham's identity," the sheriff's office said. Federal, state and local police agencies were involved in the search, according to the sheriff's office. About 120 police and law enforcement officials assisted. Jamestown police seek man for questioning after woman's death, two fires Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson described Michael C. Burnham as armed and dangerous, and warned members of the public to avoid approaching him. The FBI announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture. The FBI's wanted poster had indicated that Burham may be hitchhiking or using a beach cruiser bicycle for transportation. "We are utilizing every available resource to find this fugitive. We have all hands on deck and we will not stop the search," Lewis said before Burham's capture. He credited the community for calling police with many tips. Police had been searching for Burham since the body of Kala M. Hodgkin, 34, was found on William Street in Jamestown on May 11. Jamestown police identified her as a homicide victim. Jamestown police also said there were two fires set in the city around the time Hodgkin's body was found. On May 12, police said a pickup truck Burham was believed to have been driving was found in Warren, Pa. North Charleston, S.C., police on Sunday said a Pennsylvania couple reported being kidnapped and driven to South Carolina by Burham. The agency identified Burham as a suspect in a homicide who also was wanted on a rape charge. Pennsylvania State Police said an 89-year-old man and 68-year-old woman from Sheffield, Pa., reported being kidnapped at gunpoint by Burham, according to Erie News Now. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN Police are investigating a bomb threat at a New Haven high school, according to Yale police. In a Yale alert at 11 a.m. Thursday, Yale police said law enforcement are looking into a bomb threat at ACES Educational Center for the Arts on Audubon Street. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BALTIMORE (AP) During a surprise commencement address to graduates of Johns Hopkins University on Thursday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told them to take advantage of the time and resources they have to pursue their passions and uphold the democratic values at stake in his countrys war against Russia. He spoke via livestream from Ukraine, where the ongoing conflict has impacted the futures of countless young Ukrainians, robbing them of opportunities and loved ones, Zelenskyy said. He told Hopkins graduates to make the most of every moment. Time is the most valuable resource on the planet, he said. Some people realize this sooner, and these are the lucky ones. Others realize it too late, when they lose someone or something. He also thanked U.S. leaders for their support since the Russian invasion, including significant investments in humanitarian and military aid. President Joe Biden announced last week an agreement between the United States and European nations to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, finally fulfilling a longstanding request from Ukrainian leaders. Zelenskyy spent months pressing the West to provide his forces with American-made jets as his troops continue trying to repel Russian forces, with the conflict now in its second year. During his remarks Thursday, Zelenskyy described a recent visit with Ukrainian troops on the front lines, saying many have dreams and aspirations similar to those of the American graduating students. The difference is young Ukrainians are forced to endure the collective tragedy of war before chasing their dreams, he said. You have to know exactly what you need today and what you want your tomorrows to look like. The commencement ceremony took place at the schools Homewood Field on the universitys Baltimore campus. The university announced Zelenskyys address with the ceremony already underway, just minutes before his remarks were set to begin. His appearance will be a complete surprise for those in attendance, a news release said. Zelenskyy, whose response to the Russian invasion has made him an international symbol of democracy, said hes confident future generations of American leaders will continue championing democratic values around the world. University President Ron Daniels awarded Zelenskyy an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree after his speech. Daniels had sent a letter to Zelenskyy asking him to speak at the ceremony, according to university spokesperson Jill Rosen. In the letter, Daniels expressed his hope that one of our eras great democratic leaders would speak to the next generation of leaders, reinforcing in them the importance of holding fast to ones principles and meeting with fortitude and humility the challenging moments of history that they will surely face in the years ahead. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media WEST HAVEN At least 15 people are being assisted by the American Red Cross after a fire broke out Wednesday at a condo building, authorities said. West Haven Fire Chief James OBrien said crews were called to the scene in the 80 block of Coleman Street around 10:16 p.m., finding a "high volume" of fire at the building. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the fervent protests that erupted around the world, looked to many observers like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. For more than nine minutes, a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of Floyd, a Black man, who gasped, I cant breathe, echoing Eric Garner's last words in 2014. Video footage of Floyd's May 25, 2020, murder was so agonizing to watch that demands for change came from across the country. But in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, economic uncertainty and a divisive U.S. presidential election, 2020 ended without the kind of major police reforms that many hoped, and others feared, would come. Then, 2021 and 2022 also failed to yield much progress. Now, three years since Floyds murder, proponents of federal actions such as banning chokeholds and changing the so-called qualified immunity protections for law enforcement still await meaningful signs of change. The beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long it could take. Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, said during a recent press conference convened by a Black Lives Matter collective that she sees no evidence of a racial reckoning. I dont play with words like reckoning, Pressley said. That needs to be something of epic proportion. And we certainly have not seen a response to the lynching, the choking, the brutality, (and) the murder of Black lives. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS? Soon after Floyds murder, Minneapolis adopted a number of changes, including bans on chokeholds and neck restraints, and requirements that police try to stop fellow officers from using improper force. Minnesota lawmakers approved statewide police accountability packages in 2020 and in 2021, as well as tight restrictions on no-knock warrants this month. The city is still awaiting the results of a federal investigation into whether its police engaged in a "pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. A similar investigation by the state Department of Human Rights led to what it called a court-enforceable settlement agreement in March to revamp policing in the city. The federal investigation could lead to a similar but separate agreement with the city. Police in several other cities already operate under such oversight for civil rights violations. We are shifting the culture of our police department to ensure that our officers strengthen and hold the trust of our entire community, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement Thursday. There were immediate cries after Floyd's murder to defund the police and instead fund public housing and other services. But a ballot measure that had roots in that movement failed, even in some heavily Black neighborhoods. An AP review of police funding found that some municipalities elsewhere made modest cuts that fell far short of activists calls. WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNEAPOLIS THIS WEEK? More than 100 people gathered Thursday night at George Floyd Square, the corner where Floyd died. The event to remember Floyd included music and dancing, and a candlelight vigil was planned. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara stopped by and talked with people in the crowd at one point, raising his fist in solidarity. Earlier in the day, hundreds of flowers and signs swayed in the wind between towering statues of fists at the square. Kendrick White and Georgio Wright, two Black men, said they visit the site every day and lead pilgrimage guides or tours to spread awareness about what happened. About 20 high school students and teachers from California were in their group Thursday. Lee Fertig, head of school at The Nueva School in the Bay area community of San Mateo, said they wanted to see how the community is rebuilding. Gov. Tim Walz declared Thursday George Floyd Remembrance Day in Minnesota, proclaiming, "True justice for George Floyd will come only through real, systemic change to prevent acts like this from happening again." WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OFFICERS? Derek Chauvin, the white officer who killed Floyd, and the three other officers who failed to stop him, are all in prison. Chauvin was sentenced in state court to 22 1/2 years for second-degree murder. Two of the three other officers pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter and received shorter terms, while the third was convicted of that count by a judge and awaits sentencing. All four of the officers were also convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER PROTESTS? Around the world, protests against racial violence and police brutality erupted after Floyd's murder, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement. Videos circulated on social media of U.S. police using tear gas and less-lethal munitions like rubber bullets, fueling calls for accountability, which so far has largely come in the form of civil settlements. New York City found 146 officers had committed misconduct at protests, including one officer who drove a car into protesters. Independent reviews in Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Los Angeles also found those departments had mishandled their responses. In some cities, a handful of officers were fired. Some faced criminal charges: In Austin, Texas, 19 officers were indicted. Few have been convicted. Minneapolis has agreed to millions of dollars in settlements with people who alleged they were victims of excessive police force during unrest that followed Floyds killing, which included the burning of a police station. Few officers were disciplined. WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL? In 2020, federal legislation called the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act showed signs of promise. It would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, like the one that enabled Louisville police to kill Breonna Taylor. It would also create a database listing officers who were disciplined for gross misconduct, among other measures. The House passed it in 2021. But the Senate failed to reach a consensus. Last year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that applied key elements of the bill to federal law officers. On Thursday, Biden renewed his call for Congress to act to bring real and lasting change at the state and local levels. I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it, he said in a statement, adding that he will fight for police accountability and work with both parties to reach solutions. Meanwhile, Pressley, the Massachusetts congresswoman, has been promoting the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, a measure she has reintroduced every year since 2020. WHAT ABOUT THE FLOYD FAMILY? Over the last three years, George Floyd's family members have appeared at rallies and spoken out against police violence. Within days of his brother's death, Philonise Floyd testified at a congressional hearing about police reform. While relatives and reform advocates called for legislation changes, George Floyds youngest daughter, Gianna Floyd, met Biden at the White House in 2021. A photo of a Marine holding the door for the 7-year-old went viral. New York City-based Terrence Floyd, who became an activist after his brother's murder, planned to hold the third-annual memorial event at a Harlem church on Thursday evening. He has supported get-out-the-vote efforts and promoted music paying tribute to his brother. You have to have the faith that it will happen, because it didnt happen overnight for Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. It didnt happen overnight for Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson," he said about meaningful social change. You can't expect it to happen overnight for us, but it will happen. ___ Morrison reported from New York. Associated Press writers Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia, Colleen Long in Washington and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis contributed to this report. AP photographer Abbie Parr also contributed from Minneapolis. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A hard-right Pennsylvania state lawmaker said Thursday night that he will not challenge Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, leaving the GOP field wide open as Republican Party officials try to recruit a strong candidate in the moderate battleground state to help capture a Senate majority in 2024. Doug Mastriano, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump in last years race for governor but lost in a landslide, said in a livestreamed appearance with his wife that he will not run for Senate at this moment the way things currently are. Former hedge fund CEO David McCormick is the favorite of party leaders and has drawn pledges of financial support from top Republican officials should he decide to run. McCormick, however, is facing a complicated decision, with Trump seeking the party's nomination for president. A Mastriano candidacy could have further complicated McCormick's path, and his announcement allowed Republican Party officials, for a night, to breathe a sigh of relief or, as one quipped, pop Champagne. A year ago, the party weathered a bruising, seven-way primary for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat. It cost upwards of $85 million, launched months of TV attack ads and inflicted lasting damage on the eventual nominee, heart surgeon-turned-TV celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz. A three-week recount in the primary contest left McCormick behind Oz by fewer than 1,000 votes. Mastriano's decision gives the Pennsylvania GOP hope of avoiding another divisive and expensive primary like the one in 2022, which led to a rough general election that featured losses in races for governor and Senate. It gives us as a party the chance to coalesce behind a candidate, said Sam DeMarco, a McCormick ally and chair of the Allegheny County GOP. Hopefully that would be Dave McCormick. It also could give an eventual GOP nominee the opportunity to define yourself on your own terms instead of entering a general campaign with attacks against you and your character playing across the television screens in Pennsylvania statewide," DeMarco said. Mastriano, a state senator, did not voice explicit support for McCormick or any other candidate, but said he expected that an eventual GOP nominee would live up to their campaign pledges. For Republicans, Pennsylvania is a top target in their quest to recapture the Senate majority, while Democrats face a difficult Senate map in 2024. Of 34 seats up for election, Democrats must defend incumbents in red states Montana, Ohio and West Virginia and multiple swing states, including Pennsylvania, if they are to hold their 51-seat majority. The prospect of a Mastriano victory in a primary had prompted handwringing among some Republicans. Mastriano had spent the last few months saying he could win a Senate primary hands down and blaming the party establishment for his 15-point loss in November's election for governor. But many Republican officials say Mastriano's subpar political skills, inability to raise money and extreme positions on abortion among other issues would guarantee a Casey victory in a state that has long embraced more moderate voices. Republican hopes for victory may rest on McCormick. McCormick has promises of support from party brass, including a super PAC linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. McCormick also has deep pockets and connections across spheres of politics, business and government from which to draw endorsements and campaign contributions none of which were enough to prevail against Oz, the Trump-backed candidate who went on to lose the general election to Democrat John Fetterman. If he runs, McCormick may have to share a ticket with Trump, who castigated McCormick in last year's primary and continues to tell the lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. In a book he published in March, McCormick told of an exchange with Trump in which the former president told him that, to win last year's Senate primary, McCormick would need to say the 2020 election was stolen. "I made it clear to him that I couldn't do that. Three days later, Trump endorsed Mehmet Oz," McCormick wrote. Trump went on to campaign against McCormick, deriding him at one point as the candidate of special interests and globalists and the Washington establishment. McCormick lost to Oz by fewer than 1,000 votes. ___ Follow Marc Levy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/timelywriter ATHENS, Greece (AP) Senior judge Ioannis Sarmas was sworn in Thursday as Greece's caretaker Prime Minister who will head the country until new national elections are held in about a month. Sarmas, 66, took over from center-right Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections on May 21 but was unable to form a government. Although his New Democracy party beat the leftwing main opposition Syriza by 20 points the biggest margin in 50 years the one-off electoral system left it five seats short of a majority in the 300-seat Parliament. HONS/AP BRUSSELS (AP) The key suspect at the heart of the corruption scandal that rocked the European Unions assembly last year no longer has to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, the Belgian federal prosecutors office said Thursday. Former parliament vice president Eva Kaili was under electronic surveillance and house arrest since her release from jail last month while the investigation into the money-for-political favors case continued. The office said in a statement that the probe no longer requires her detention. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) For the fifth time in six years, Louisiana lawmakers have blocked attempts to abolish the states death penalty. Despite a new push by Democratic Gov. John Bel and testimony of proponents from all walks of life exonerated death row inmates, religious leaders, a judge, family members of murder victims and other members of the public a GOP-controlled legislative committee voted 11-4 Wednesday against a bill to repeal the states longstanding death penalty. Louisiana has held 28 executions since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. The last lethal injection was in January 2010, when the state executed Gerald Bordelon, a convicted sex offender who confessed to strangling his 12-year-old stepdaughter and waived an appeal. Sixty people sit on Louisianas death row, with no execution dates set, according to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. Death penalty opponents argue that it should be eliminated due to the cost of executions, racial disparities and religious beliefs. Critics also note that Louisiana has had frequent exonerations. Between 2010 and 2020, 22 inmates sentenced to death had those sentences reduced or were exonerated, according to the corrections department. Among those exonerated is Shareef Cousin, who was convicted of murder in New Orleans in 1996 at 16 years old. He became one of the youngest people in the nation condemned to death row at the time. Cousin served several years on death row at Angola, Louisianas notorious state penitentiary. His conviction was later reversed after the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled prosecutors mishandled Cousins case. Ask yourselves, if any one of your children was put in a position where they were accused of something they did not commit, what would your position be? Cousin told the legislative committee. Ross Foote, a retired district judge, said he fears that there may have been cases in which an innocent person has wrongfully been sentenced to death and executed. You can have miscarriages of justice and the finality of the execution makes me shudder, he told lawmakers. Abolishing the death penalty in Louisiana was a newfound priority this legislative session for Edwards, who is unable to run for reelection this year due to term limits. Edwards recently said that the penalty is inconsistent with Louisianas pro-life values, as it quite literally promotes a culture of death, referring to the fact that the state has a near-total abortion ban. Those against the bill advocated for justice for the families of victims who believe it is the appropriate punishment for certain crimes. Critics of the stalled executions described prosecutors frustrated by lengthy legal battles that surround the pursuit of a successful death sentence. Twenty-seven states have the death penalty, and 18 inmates were executed last year across the country, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Oath Keepers extremist group founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after winning the 2020 election. Rhodes, 58, is the first person convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack to receive his punishment, and his sentence is the longest handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases. Its another milestone for the Justice Departments sprawling Jan. 6 investigation, which has led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups authorities say came to Washington prepared to fight to keep President Donald Trump in power at all costs. The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6th attack on our democracy, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. In a first for a Jan. 6 case, the judge agreed with the Justice Department that Rhodes' actions should be punished as terrorism, which increases the recommended sentence under federal guidelines. That decision could foreshadow lengthy sentences down the road for other far-right extremists, including former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who have also been convicted of the rarely used charge. Before announcing Rhodes' sentence, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta described a defiant Rhodes as a continued threat to the United States and democracy. The judge expressed fear that what happened on Jan. 6 could be repeated, saying Americans will now hold our collective breaths every time an election is approaching. You are smart, you are charismatic and compelling and frankly thats what makes you dangerous, the judge told Rhodes. The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government. Rhodes did not use his chance to address the judge to express remorse or appeal for leniency, but instead claimed to be a political prisoner, criticized prosecutors and the Biden administration and tried to play down his actions on Jan. 6. Im a political prisoner and like President Trump my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country, said Rhodes, who appeared in Washington's federal court wearing orange jail clothes. Mehta fired back that Rhodes was not prosecuted for his political beliefs but for actions the judge described as an "offense against the people of the country. You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes," the judge said. Another Oath Keeper convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside Rhodes Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs was sentenced later Thursday to 12 years behind bars. Meggs said he was sorry he was involved in the riot that left a black eye on the country," but maintained that he never planned to go into the Capitol. The judge found Meggs doesnt present an ongoing threat to the country the way Rhodes does, but told him violence cannot be resorted to just because you disagree with who got elected." Other Oath Keepers are expected to be sentenced Friday and next week. A Washington, D.C., jury found Rhodes guilty of leading a plot to forcibly disrupt the transfer of presidential power. Prosecutors alleged Rhodes and his followers recruited members, amassed weapons and set up quick reaction force teams at a Virginia hotel that could ferry guns into the nation's capital if they were needed to support their plot. The weapons were never deployed. It was one of the most consequential Capitol riot cases brought by the government, which has sought to prove that the attack by right-wing extremists such as the Oath Keepers was not a spur-of-the-moment protest but the culmination of weeks of plotting to overturn Bidens victory. Rhodes' January 2022 arrest was the culmination of a decades-long path of extremism that included armed standoffs with federal authorities at Nevadas Bundy Ranch. After founding the Oath Keepers in 2009, the Yale Law School graduate built it into one of the largest far-right antigovernment militia groups in the U.S., though it appears to have weakened in the wake of the Oath Keepers' arrests. The judge agreed to prosecutors' request for a so-called terrorism enhancement which can lead to a longer prison term under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through intimidation or coercion." Judges in less serious Jan. 6 cases had previously rejected such requests. Prosecutors had sought 25 years for Rhodes, arguing that a lengthy sentence was necessary to deter future political violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeating the lie that the 2020 election was stolen and saying it would be again in 2024. In remarks just days ago, Rhodes called for regime change, the prosecutor said. Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, plans to appeal his conviction. Defense lawyer Phillip Linder told the judge that prosecutors were unfairly trying to make Rhodes the face of Jan. 6, adding that Rhodes could have had many more Oath Keepers come to the Capitol if he really wanted to disrupt Congress certification of the Electoral College vote. If you want to put a face on J6 (Jan. 6), you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians, all the people who spun that narrative, Linder said. Rhodes sentence may signal the punishment prosecutors will seek for Tarrio and other Proud Boys leaders convicted of seditious conspiracy. They will be sentenced in August and September. The Oath Keepers said there was never any plan to attack the Capitol or stop Congress from certifying Bidens victory. The defense tried to seize on the fact that none of the Oath Keepers messages laid out an explicit plan to storm the Capitol. But prosecutors said the Oath Keepers saw an opportunity to further their goal to stop the transfer of power and sprang into action when the mob began storming the building. Messages, recordings and other evidence presented at trial show Rhodes and his followers growing increasingly enraged after the 2020 election at the prospect of a Biden presidency, which they viewed as a threat to the country and their way of life. In an encrypted chat two days after the election, Rhodes told his followers to prepare their mind, body, spirit for civil war. Before Thursday, the longest sentence in the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases was 14 years for a man with a long criminal record who attacked police officers with pepper spray and a chair as he stormed the Capitol. Just over 500 of the defendants have been sentenced, with more than half receiving prison time and the remainder getting sentences such as probation or home detention. ___ Richer reported from Boston. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Ron DeSantis entry into the 2024 White House race against former President Donald Trump sets up a clash of the Republican Partys two leading figures as the Florida governor attempts to topple a man who has dominated the GOP for the last seven years. Trump, who has established himself as the clear front-runner for the Republican nomination, has spent the months since he launched his own campaign working to hobble the once-ascendant DeSantis, whom he and his team have long viewed as his most serious challenger. DeSantis so far has tried to remain above the fray, ignoring Trump's escalating attacks on everything from his record to his personality. The campaign is about to get a lot more intense. He can't just lay low in Tallahassee signing bills," said GOP strategist Alex Conant of DeSantis' strategy. Now he has to hit the campaign trail, take media questions and punch back at his opponents. But DeSantis, during a series of events Wednesday night launching his campaign, took only veiled swipes at his chief rival without mentioning him by name. It is a strategy reminiscent of 2016, when Trumps army of Republican rivals failed to go after the candidate directly for fear of alienating his supporters and assumed wrongly that he would flame out on his own. There is no substitute for victory. We must end the culture of losing that has infected the Republican Party in recent years," DeSantis said on a Twitter Spaces debut that was plagued by technical difficulties. "We must look forward, not backwards, he added. In an interview later with Fox News, he said he believed all candidates should participate in the planned GOP primary debates, which Trump has threatened to boycott. Nobodys entitled to anything in this world," he said. The rollout made clear that, at least for the time being, DeSantis intends to leave the dirty work of attacking Trump to his allies, who see openings that they plan to exploit, particularly on policy. Now that hes officially in the race, DeSantis' well-funded super PAC is poised to intensify its attacks against the former president. His team plans to focus on policy differences between the two Republicans, making the case that Trump has lurched left on some issues most notably, abortion. Were going to amplify him and his voice, and when necessary, contrast with the former president. But right now that contrast is really one is lurching left and one is fighting, said David Polyansky, senior adviser to the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down. DeSantis team believes Trump is particularly vulnerable with Republican primary voters on abortion. Although the former president appointed the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, he has drawn the ire of anti-abortion activists by refusing to say whether he supports a federal ban on the procedure. While Trump has openly suggested that Republican candidates hard-line stances led to GOP losses in last falls midterms, DeSantis has leaned in even further on the issue, signing a six-week abortion ban in Florida before most women know they are pregnant. DeSantis and his backers must tread carefully: In order to win the nomination, he will need to assemble a coalition that includes both Trump critics and supporters. DeSantis risks alienating a large swath of the party if he goes after Trump too forcefully. Acknowledging the challenge, DeSantis' super PAC plans to steer clear of criticism directly related to Trumps many legal entanglements. The Florida governor himself was stung earlier in the spring when he took a swipe at Trump, instead of defending him, following his New York indictment. Trump, meanwhile, has spent months relentlessly attacking DeSantis, nicknaming him Ron DeSanctimonious and subjecting him to a daily onslaught of criticism on his Truth Social app and in ads. Trump has repeatedly called out the Florida governor's votes to cut Social Security and Medicare when he served in Congress, arguing his record will make him unelectable in a general election. He has tried to undermine DeSantis' success as governor of Florida, claiming the state was doing GREAT long before Ron DeSanctus got there." And he has pointed to the crime rate in some of the state's large cities and criticized DeSantis' handling of the COVID-19 pandemic the issue that made DeSantis a conservative star. Beyond policy, Trump has attacked DeSantis' character accusing him of being disloyal after Trump helped DeSantis win his 2018 gubernatorial primary and saying he "desperately needs a personality transplant and, to the best of my knowledge, they are not medically available yet. Trump has also veered into deeply personal attacks, suggesting that DeSantis "might face allegations from a woman, even classmates that are underage (or possibly a man!) Trump's allied super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., has already spent millions on anti-DeSantis ads, and the group has no plans to change its strategy, given the fact that it has been treating DeSantis like a candidate for months already. "Ron DeSantis failed campaign launch is just another example that hes not ready for this critical moment," said spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer. Voters dont yet know Ron DeSantis, but theyll find out he has a record of targeting Social Security, trying to raise taxes, and voting against border wall funding. So far the effort appears to have paid off. Polls suggest Trump's support has only grown since earlier this year, while the appetite for DeSantis as an alternative has faded. DeSantis team largely dismisses Trump's early polling advantage given that the Florida governor only just became an official candidate. DeSantis said Wednesday he was prepared for the onslaught he faces. You can call me whatever you want. Just call me a winner, DeSantis said on Fox News. There will be slings and arrows. Im a big boy. I can take it. Republican donor Dan Eberhart, who donated millions to Trump but is now supporting DeSantis, argued that Trump's continued attacks make clear the former president still sees DeSantis as a threat. Trumps fixation with DeSantis is proof that the Florida governor is a serious contender, he wrote in an email. "The former president spent more money attacking Gov. DeSantis before he was even a candidate than Trump did helping Republicans last cycle. Trumps biggest fear just came true." Some voters, meanwhile, continue to have trouble reconciling the feud between two men who were once allies. Wina Fernandez, who lives in Miami, said she'd prefer DeSantis and Trump run together on the same ticket, with DeSantis serving four years as vice president and then running for president in 2028. I would just love them as president and vice president. That would be an amazing thing. I would go out to the street and dance," she said. But if she had to choose, she said, she would choose Trump. Theres a lot of drama involving Trump. However, he started this movement. He started it all," she said. DeSantis is young, and he still has time to work on things. ___ Associated Press writers Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix and Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami contributed to this report. Youre reading this correctly: Rep. Claudia Tenney seems entirely serious about easing the economic hardship of Delphis nonunion retirees. Given that and the divisive times in which we live her critics have a moment to acknowledge that people can surprise you. At a moment when her party colleagues are holding the nations creditworthiness hostage as a way to force budget cuts, this conservative Republican wants Washington to add an expense by restoring the lost pensions of nonunoin workers at Lockports Delphi automotive plant. In that, she joins with Democrats including Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Who she doesnt have and who shell need are other Republicans. The party controls the House and can block legislations in the Senate. Her advocacy is going to be essential. Tenneys interest is, at least in part, political. As a result of last years redistricting, her 24th Congressional District now includes Lockport, home to many of the Delphi retirees who lost their pensions in the economic calamity of the Great Recession. Even granting that her heart is in the right place, her position offers a political opportunity to show that Republicans arent congenitally oblivious to suffering. The Obama administrations bailout legislation rescued the American auto industry from the threat of dissolution, but while the ensuing legislation preserved the pensions of Delphis affiliated members, nonunion workers were cast aside. Their health care policy, life insurance and most of their pensions were all just taken away from us in a flash of an eye, said Thomas Patterson of Cheektowaga, who spent 44 years working for General Motors and Delphi. Heres where it gets interesting. Patterson made the observation not to a reporter, but to Tenneys deputy chief of staff, Spencer Carr, who shot a remarkable, 19-minute documentary on the plight of these retirees. The project described a burden that can be relieved with about $750 million in federal spending over five years. Thats not even a rounding error in the context of federal spending of more than $6 trillion annually. Tenney supports it. What would that accomplish? Listen to Patterson: We need to get some hearing aids? Well, if we take money to get the hearing aids, we dont have money to do some of the other things. So were balancing those things, those challenges we have. Or hear what the widow of a Delphi retiree has to say: We were financially crippled, said Judy Fooks. I made my own laundry soap. I bought Christmas presents at garage sales just to try and make it. Her husband, Dennis, lost much of the pension he earned over 33 years as an engineer at General Motors Harrison Radiator Division and Delphi Corp. He died at age 67, his widow says, after falling into a deep depression and then into failing health. Government can fix this. The Susan Muffley Act, named for the late wife of a Delphi retiree from Ohio, would do the job. Going forward, it would restore the benefits that the companys salaried retirees lost and also compensate them for all the years that they didnt get them. Its a worthy effort and if its surprising that so conservative a Republican as Tenney is making this a priority and doing so at this moment its disappointing that so many of her political allies remain so willing to turn their backs. Surely, this is part of what government is for. No, Washington cant do everything. Yes, the defense budget and entitlement programs and debt service are important. But, while government didnt cause the recession of the early 2000s, its failures of oversight helped clear the way for it. What is more, as Americans learned during the Great Depression of the 1930s and periodically since then there is national value in a government act of humanity. We hope this is part of some greater awakening on Tenneys part. Its unlikely shell ever go as far as former Rep. Chris Jacobs, the Erie County Republican who sacrificed his career with a courageous vote for gun control, but the entire Republican Party desperately needs to move away from a rigid ideology that wants little more than to scratch an increasingly conservative itch, regardless of what else the public wants or needs. Thats true around the country, but is especially urgent in New York, where the partys status is eroding. A recent report from the state Board of Elections documented the partys decline. While it has long trailed Democrats in registrations, it has how fallen behind the blanks voters who dont want to belong to any party. Thats a wake-up call. Maybe Tenney heard it. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Two years ago, signing a bill intended to punish Twitter and other major social media companies, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted the platforms as "suppressing ideas during the COVID-19 pandemic and silencing conservative voices. What a turnaround. The new Elon Musk-owned version of Twitter helped DeSantis launch his bid for the Republican presidential nomination Wednesday. Though it was marred by technical glitches and skewered by the candidate's critics, the forum nevertheless underscored Twitter's unmistakable shift to the right under Musk, who bought it for $44 billion and took over in October. The truth was censored repeatedly, and now that Twitter is in the hands of a free speech advocate, that would not be able to happen again on this Twitter platform, DeSantis said during the Twitter Spaces event. Musk, co-hosting the event, responded to the praise by saying, Twitter was indeed expensive, but free speech is priceless. While Musk has promoted his platform as a haven for free expression, the site has been flooded with extremist views and hate speech since he bought it and fired or laid off roughly 80% of its staff. That is raising alarms that Twitter heavily used by candidates and government agencies, including those providing voting information will become an open forum for conspiracy theories, fake content and election misinformation as a bitterly divided country heads into the 2024 presidential election. Many Republicans have hailed Musk's takeover of Twitter as creating one of the last mainstream online spaces where they can share their views without fear of removal. Prominent figures in conservative media, like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and the podcasts hosts of The Daily Wire, say they plan to start streaming content on the site. Democrats and anti-hate watchdogs, meanwhile, say Musk's partisan comments and policy changes have effectively given a megaphone to far-right extremists. Since Musk bought Twitter, he has overhauled the sites verification system, removing safeguards against impersonation for some government accounts and political candidates. He also has personally indulged in far-right conspiracy theories on the site, reinstated accounts with a history of extremist rhetoric and gutted the team that had been responsible for moderating the content flowing across the platform. That has coincided with a deluge of conspiracy theory rhetoric, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which reported that QAnon hashtags surged 91% on Twitter between May 2022 and May 2023, with about three-fourths of those messages posted after Musk's takeover. Several believers of the baseless QAnon theory, centered on the idea that former President Donald Trump is waging a secret war against deep state enemies and pedophiles, have committed acts of violence, including the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Musks decision to reinstate influential Twitter accounts with a history of spreading extremist views also has created spaces in their tweet reply threads where users are sharing antisemitic tropes, conspiracy theories and other types of hate, the ADL reported Wednesday. The group's vice president Yael Eisenstat, who leads its Center for Technology and Society, said Musks content moderation choices have served to silence marginalized voices by giving harassers and internet trolls free reign. It is one thing to say we want free speech on the platform, she said. Its another thing to say we are going to allow extremists conspiracy theorists to contribute to normalizing this kind of rhetoric and antisemitism and racism. Twitter didnt provide comment after repeated requests. It sent automated replies instead, as it does to most media inquiries. Musk's free speech rhetoric also has attracted conservatives who have been knocked off other platforms or fired, in the case of Carlson. Shortly after his ouster, Carlson went on Twitter May 9 to announce that he would be doing some version of his show on that platform. Its still not clear what that would entail, or when he would start. There arent many platforms left that allow free speech, Carlson said in a two-minute message viewed more than 132 million times. The last big one remaining in the world, the only one, is Twitter, where we are now." Free speech and truth arent the same thing, however, and Carlson had been accused of spreading misinformation on his Fox show, most recently about the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. DeSantis has been a frequent guest on Fox News, and on the night of his presidential campaign announcement he appeared on the network for an interview after the Twitter event. Though DeSantis' Twitter launch was severely delayed with site crashes and strained servers, his choice to debut his campaign on the platform illustrates that Fox will have more competition as a Republican kingmaker. His campaign said it had taken in $1 million online in the first hour after the announcement. Fox's ratings have declined dramatically during its 8 p.m. Eastern hour, which Carlson used to fill. The Daily Wire, whose podcast hosts include popular conservative influencers such as Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens, said Tuesday that it would bring its shows to stream on Twitter starting next week. At the same time, Wednesday's botched live event with DeSantis calls into question whether Musks ambitions to turn Twitter into a destination for politicians, businesses and others to make big announcements is realistic. For one, only about half a million people listened to the DeSantis webcast. A similar announcement on television would attract millions of people. The other snag: Twitters audience size. Less than a quarter of U.S. adults use Twitter, according to Pew Research Center, and most of them rarely tweet, if at all. The sites most active users are power players, politicians, public figures and journalists, which raises doubts about whether Musks desire to reach voters directly, without traditional media as a go-between, can succeed. Doug Heye, a Republican strategist and former Republican National Committee communications director, said Twitter is certainly going to be an increasing part of GOP campaign strategies for the 2024 presidential primary. And thats all because of what Elon Musk has said over the past few months as hes taken Twitter over and sought to make it a space more friendly to conservatives, he said. Musk has leaned into Republican politics, tweeting in 2022 that Democrats have become the party of division & hate. While he has tweeted support for both DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who also entered the GOP field this week, he said Tuesday he was not yet endorsing any particular presidential candidate. Even as Democrats wince at the direction Musk has taken Twitter, most are staying put at least for now. A recent Pew survey found that when looking to the future, just slightly more Democratic users than Republicans said it's unlikely they will be on Twitter in a year. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said he has been experimenting with the Twitter alternative BlueSky as a more casual, fun and positive environment than Twitter. But he also has continued to use Twitter to communicate with his constituents. Jimmy Williams, a longtime Democratic political consultant, said he would advise Democrats not to cede the space. Indeed, Musk said Wednesday that his forum would be available to any politician. Twitter's a two-way street," Williams said. ____ Associated Press technology writer Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco and media writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this report. ____ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran unveiled on Thursday what it called the latest iteration of its liquid-fueled Khorramshahr ballistic missile amid wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program. Authorities showed off the Khorramshahr-4 to journalists at an event in Tehran, with the missile on a truck-mounted launcher. Defense Minister Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said the missile could be prepared for launch in a short period. One of the prominent characteristics of this missile is its ability to evade radar detection and penetrate enemy air defense systems, thanks to its low radar signature," the general told journalists. This missile has the capability to utilize various warheads for different missions. Iranian officials described the missile as having a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range with a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead. They also released undated video footage purportedly showing a successful launch of the missile. The Khorramshahr has the heaviest payload of Iran's ballistic missile fleet, which analysts say may be designed to keep the weapon under a 2,000-kilometer range limit imposed by the country's supreme leader. That puts most of the Mideast in range, but falls short of Western Europe. The Khorramshahr-4 is named after an Iranian city that was the scene of heavy fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Iraq seized the city in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan at the start of the war, but Iran retook it over a year later. During the event, loudspeakers blared the Symphony of the Epic of Khorramshahr, an orchestral composition marking Iranian soldiers ending the Iraqi siege of the city during the war. Tehran created its ballistic missile program after suffering through Iraqi Scud missile attacks in the conflict and as a hedge against its Western-armed neighbors as embargoes have kept it from accessing modern attack aircraft. The missile also is called Kheibar, after a Jewish fortress conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century in what is now Saudi Arabia. Regional tensions likely played a role in Iran's missile display Thursday. A miniature example of Jerusalem's golden Dome of the Rock on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a holy site in both Islam and Judaism that Jews call the Temple Mount, stood next to the mobile launcher. Iran views Israel as its archenemy and arming anti-Israeli militant groups in the Palestinian territories and surrounding countries. Tensions between the two nations are high, particularly as Iran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. The Khorramshahr would be able to reach Israel. Iran made a point, however, to keep the truck that transports the missile covered up during the event. Its missile program has been targeted for sabotage in the past and Iran has previously used foreign-sourced vehicles to tow such massive missile systems. It remains unclear, however, why the missile has been called Khorramshahr-4 as only two other variants of the missile are publicly known. It is modeled after North Korea's Musudan ballistic missile, which is believed to have up to a 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) range with a 500-kilogram (1,100 pound) payload. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington was aware of the missile report and reiterated that Irans development and proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOSCOW (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that strictly technical issues remain in resolving one of the main disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, neighbors that fought a war over a contested territory. Putin met in Moscow with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, discussing a dispute over a winding road called the Lachin Corridor. That's the only authorized connection between Armenia and the contested territory, Nagorno-Karabakh, and it's a lifeline for supplies to the regions approximately 120,000 people. Aliyev and Pashinyan, in a broader regional summit meeting Putin hosted in Moscow, lashed out at each other for their positions regarding the land corridor. But Putin said that on the principal issues, there is an agreement, and later said all that remained were surmountable obstacles, calling them differences in terminology and strictly technical. He said representatives of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan would meet in a week to try to resolve the differences. According to the Russian state news agency Tass, Pashinyan said last Wednesday that Armenia and Azerbaijan recognize each others territorial integrity within Soviet administrative borders. It added that on Monday, Pashinyan said the territory of Azerbaijan that his government is ready to recognize includes Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan said Thursday: I want to confirm that Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on mutual recognition of each others territorial integrity, and on this basis we can say that we are moving quite well towards settlement of our relations. For his part, Aliyev said Thursday that the Armenian leader's statements ensure that "the issue of agreeing on other points of the peace treaty will go much easier, because it was the main factor on which we could not come to an agreement." Putin told the leaders a key sign of progress is an agreement on the fundamental issue of territorial integrity. He added: And this is in fact the basis for agreeing on other issues of a secondary nature." Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 that killed more than 6,000 people. The war ended in a Russia-brokered armistice under which Armenia relinquished territories surrounding the region. Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan, but ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia had controlled the region and surrounding territories since 1994. The agreement to end the war left the Lachin Corridor as the only authorized connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. Russia sent a peacekeeping force of 2,000 troops to maintain order, including ensuring that the Lachin Corridor road remains open. However last December, Azeris claiming to be environmental activists began blocking the road, saying they were protesting illegitimate mining by Armenians. Armenia contends Azerbaijan orchestrated the protests. Azerbaijan has repeatedly alleged that Armenians have used the Lachin Corridor to bring weapons and ammunition into Nagorno-Karabakh in violation of the armistice terms. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TALLINN, Estonia (AP) Russia and Belarus signed a deal Thursday formalizing the deployment of Moscows tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally, although control of the weapons remains in the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of the shorter-range weapons in Belarus earlier this year in a move widely seen as a warning to the West as it stepped up military support for Ukraine. When the weapons would be deployed wasn't announced, but Putin has said the construction of storage facilities in Belarus for them would be completed by July 1. Also unclear is how many nuclear weapons would be kept in Belarus. The U.S. government believes Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, which include bombs that can be carried by aircraft, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery rounds. Tactical nuclear weapons are intended to destroy enemy troops and weapons on the battlefield. They have a relatively short range and a much lower yield than nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles that are capable of obliterating whole cities. Speaking in Moscow, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said the movement of the nuclear weapons has begun, but was not clear whether any actually had arrived in his country. Lukashenko, who sparked rumors of being seriously ill when he cut short a Victory Day appearance in Red Square on May 9 before resurfacing in public May 15, was attending a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council with Putin and leaders of Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The signing of the deal came as Russia prepared for a counteroffensive by Ukraine. Both Russian and Belarusian officials also framed the step as driven by hostilities from the West. Deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said in Minsk at a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere, Shoigu added. Putin has argued that by deploying its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russia was following the lead of the United States, noting that the U.S. has nuclear weapons based in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the move. We must do everything to prevent Putins plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will ensure Russias control over Belarus for years to come, Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. This will further jeopardize the security of Ukraine and all of Europe. Independent Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said about two-thirds of Russias arsenal of medium-range nuclear-tipped missiles were held in Belarus during the Cold War, adding that there are dozens of Soviet-era storage facilities that could still be used. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia in a U.S.-brokered deal after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Documents in Minsk on the return of nuclear weapons were defiantly signed just at the moment when Ukraine declared a counteroffensive and Western countries are handing over weapons to Kyiv, Alesin told the AP. This Belarusian nuclear balcony should spoil the mood for politicians in the West, since nuclear missiles are capable of covering Ukraine, all of Poland, the Baltic states and parts of Germany. Khrenin also announced plans to build up the combat potential of the regional grouping of Russia and Belarusian troops, including the transfer to Minsk of the Iskander-M missile system, capable of carrying a nuclear charge, and the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading neighboring Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there. ___ Follow AP coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEOUL, South Korea (AP) The South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted large live-fire drills near the border with North Korea on Thursday, despite the Norths warning that it wont tolerate what it calls an invasion rehearsal on its doorstep. The drills, the first of five rounds of live-fire exercises through mid-June, mark 70 years since the establishment of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea typically reacts to such major South Korean-U.S. exercises with missile and other weapons tests. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles, but none since it fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. It says the tests are a response to expanded military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, but observers say North Korea aims to advance its weapons development and then wrest greater concessions from its rivals in eventual diplomacy. The U.S.-South Korean firing exercises, called Combined annihilation firepower drills, are the biggest of their kind. The drills have been held 11 times since they began in 1977, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The drills involved 2,500 troops and 610 weapons systems such as fighter jets, attack helicopters, drones, tanks and artillery from South Korea and the United States, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The most recent exercises in 2017 drew about 2,000 soldiers and 250 weapons assets from both countries. The drills simulated artillery and aerial strikes on front-line North Korean military facilities in response to an attack. The troops later practiced precision-guided attacks on simulated targets in the rear areas to completely annihilate North Korean military threats, according to a ministry statement. It said South Korea will seek to establish peace through overwhelming strengthen to counter North Korean threats. North Korea didn't immediately respond to the start of the drills. Last Friday, its state media called the drills a typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal," saying it cannot but take a more serious note of the fact" that the exercises are held a few kilometers (miles) from its frontier. The North's Korean Central News Agency said the U.S. and South Korea would face unspecified consequences over their madcap nuclear war racket. Earlier this year, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in five years. The U.S. also sent the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bombers for joint exercises with South Korea. Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said North Korea could use the South Korea-U.S. drills as a pretext to resume testing activities. He said domestic issues such as North Koreas push to increase agricultural production during the rice-planting season could still affect its decision on weapons tests. North Korea cant help feeling some burdens over the South Korea-U.S. joint firepower drills being held for the first time in six years and in the strongest manner, Moon said. In a meeting last month, U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced steps to reinforce their deterrence capabilities such as the periodic docking of U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea, strengthened joint training exercises and establishment of a new nuclear consultative group. Biden also issued a blunt warning that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the Biden-Yoon agreement revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further strengthen her countrys nuclear doctrine, saying, The pipe dream of the U.S. and South Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength. Worries about North Koreas nuclear program grew after the North last year passed a law authorizing preemptive use of nuclear weapons. Many foreign experts say North Korea does not yet possess functioning nuclear-armed missiles. ___ Find more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Two opposing visions for Turkey's future are on the ballot when voters return to the polls Sunday for a runoff presidential election that will decide between an increasingly authoritarian incumbent and a challenger who has pledged to restore democracy. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a populist and polarizing leader who has ruled Turkey for 20 years, is well positioned to win after falling just short of victory in the first round of balloting on May 14. He was the top finisher even as the country reels from sky-high inflation and the effects of a devastating earthquake in February. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey's pro-secular main opposition party and a six-party alliance, has campaigned on a promise to undo Erdogan's authoritarian tilt. The 74-year-old former bureaucrat has described the runoff as a referendum on the direction of the strategically located NATO country, which is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and has a key say over the alliance's expansion. This is an existential struggle. Turkey will either be dragged into darkness or light, Kilicdaroglu said. This is more than an election. It has turned into a referendum. In a bid to sway nationalist voters ahead of Sunday's runoff, the normally soft-mannered Kilicdaroglu (pronounced KEH-lich-DAHR-OH-loo) shifted gear and hardened his stance, vowing to send back millions of refugees if he is elected and rejecting any possibility of peace negotiations with Kurdish militants. The social democrat had previously said he planned to repatriate Syrians within two years, after establishing economic and safety conditions conducive to their return. He has also repeatedly called on 8 million people who stayed away from the polls in the first round to cast votes in the make-or-break runoff. Erdogan scored 49.5% of the vote in the first round. Kilicdaroglu received 44.9%. At 69, Erdogan is already Turkey's longest-serving leader, having ruled over the country as prime minister since 2003 and as president since 2014. He could remain in power until 2028 if reelected. Under Erdogan, Turkey has proven to be an indispensable and sometimes troublesome NATO ally. It vetoed Swedens bid to join the alliance and purchased Russian missile-defense systems, which prompted the United States to oust Turkey from a U.S.-led fighter-jet project. Yet together with the U.N., Turkey also brokered a vital deal that allowed Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger. This week, Erdogan received the endorsement of the nationalist third-place candidate, Sinan Ogan, who garnered 5.2% of the vote. The move was seen as a boost for Erdogan even though Ogans supporters are not a monolithic bloc and not all of his votes are expected to go to Erdogan. Erdogans nationalist-Islamist alliance also retained its hold on parliament in legislative elections two weeks ago, further increasing his chances for reelection as many voters are likely to want to avoid a split government. On Wednesday, the leader of a hard-line anti-migrant party that had backed Ogan threw its weight behind Kilicdaroglu after the two signed a protocol pledging to send back millions of migrants and refugees within the year. Kilicdaroglus chances of turning the vote around in his favor appear to be slim but could hinge on the oppositions ability to mobilize voters who did not cast ballots in the first round. Its not possible to say that the odds are favoring him, but nevertheless, technically, he stands a chance, said professor Serhat Guvenc of Istanbuls Kadir Has University. If the opposition can reach the voters who previously stayed home, "it may be a different story. In Istanbul, 45-year-old Serra Ural accused Erdogan of mishandling the economy and said she would vote for Kilicdaroglu. She also expressed concerns over the rights of women after Erdogan extended his alliance to include Huda-Par, a hard-line Kurdish Islamist political party with alleged links to a group that was responsible for a series of gruesome killings in the 1990s. The party wants to abolish mixed-gender education, advocates for the criminalization of adultery and says women should prioritize their homes over work. We dont know what will happen to women tomorrow or the next day, what condition theyll be in, she said. To be honest Huda-Par scares us, especially women. Mehmet Nergis, 29, said he would vote for Erdogan for stability. Erdogan "is the guarantee for a more stable future, Nergis said. Everyone around the world has already seen how far he has brought Turkey. He dismissed the countrys economic woes and expressed confidence that Erdogan would make improvements. Erdogans campaign has focused on rebuilding areas that were devastated by the earthquake, which leveled cities and left more 50,000 dead in Turkey. He has promised to build 319,000 homes within the year. In the parliamentary election, Erdogans alliance won 10 out 11 provinces in the region affected by the quake despite criticism that his governments initial disaster response was slow. Yes, there was a delay, but the roads were blocked, said Yasar Sunulu, an Erdogan supporter in Kahramanmaras, the quakes epicenter. We cannot complain about the state ... It gave us food, bread and whatever else needed." He and his family members are staying in a tent after their house was destroyed. Nursel Karci, a mother of four living in the same camp, said she too would vote for Erdogan. Erdogan "did all that I couldnt, she said. He clothed my children where I couldnt clothe them. He fed them where I couldnt ... Not a penny left my pocket. Erdogan has repeatedly portrayed Kilicdaroglu as colluding with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, after the opposition party leader received the backing of the countrys pro-Kurdish party. During a rally in Istanbul, Erdogan broadcast a faked video purporting to show a PKK commander singing the oppositions campaign song to hundreds of thousands of his supporters. On Monday, Erdogan doubled down on the narrative, insisting that the PKK has thrown its support to Kilicdaroglu whether the video is faked or not. Most analysts failed to gauge the impact of Erdogans campaign against Kilicdaroglu, Guvenc said. This obviously did strike a chord with the average nationalist-religious electorate in Turkey. Politics today is about building and sustaining a narrative which shadows the reality," he added. "Erdogan and his people are very successful in building narratives that eclipse realities. LONDON (AP) The number of people moving to Britain reached a record high of more than 600,000 in 2022, government figures showed Thursday, sparking renewed debate about the scale of immigration and its impact on the U.K. Net migration the difference between the number of people arriving and those leaving was 606,000 for the year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Almost 1.2 million people moved to the U.K. in 2022, while 557,000 left. The net figure is up from just under 500,000 in 2021. The total U.K. population is about 67 million. The statistics office said the record level was due to a series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic. It said the number of arrivals appeared to have leveled off in recent months. As well as people coming to Britain to work, the figure includes tens of thousands of international students and more than 160,000 people who have arrived under special programs for people fleeing war in Ukraine and Chinas clampdown in Hong Kong. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the immigration figure was too high, but he did not say what an ideal number would be. His administration has dropped a pledge, first made by the Conservatives in 2010, to reduce net migration to below 100,000 a year. "Weve got to be sensitive to the needs of the (health service), the economy, but fundamentally the numbers are too high Im bringing them down," he told broadcaster ITV. In an attempt to cut the numbers, the government announced this week that most overseas graduate students will no longer be allowed to bring dependents with them when they come to study in Britain. The high figure revived debate about Britains departure from the European Union, which was motivated in part by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people from across Europe in the years before the 2016 Brexit referendum. Supporters of Brexit said leaving the EU which gives citizens of any member country the right to live and work in all the others would allow the U.K. to control its borders. Many who voted for Brexit thought immigration would fall, but the opposite has been true. The U.K. still issues tens of thousands of work visas a year to fill jobs in hospitals, nursing homes and other sectors. While the number of people moving to Britain from EU countries fell to 151,000 in 2022, the number from outside the bloc was 925,000, and India has overtaken European nations as the top source of workers. Immigration has long been a complex issue in the U.K., where about one in six residents was born in another country. Most economists say immigration is an economic boon to Britain, and essential to fill gaps in the workforce. But some residents say new arrivals are putting more pressure on overstretched public services and worsening a national housing shortage. The subject of immigration also gets conflated with the emotive issue of asylum-seekers who arrive in Britain in small boats across the English Channel. The U.K. government has taken controversial steps to try to halt the journeys, including a contentious and legally contested plan to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda. Some lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party demanded tough new measures to curb immigration. But Conservative legislator Alicia Kearns, who chairs Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, warned against knee-jerk reactions. She said net migration numbers shouldn't include students, adding that the U.K.'s position as an academic superpower is very beneficial. She added that the country needs to fill jobs wealth creators have made," and that the U.K. has been proud to offer refuge to Ukrainians and residents of Hong Kong. Madeleine Sumption, director of Oxford Universitys Migration Observatory, said there was no reason to think net migration would "remain this high indefinitely. These unusually high net migration levels do not have a single cause but result from several things happening at once: the war in Ukraine, a boom in international student recruitment and high demand for health and care workers," she said. With Memorial Day weekend approaching, plenty of options exist for fishing. The Catt. Creek Catfish Tourney is Saturday, and the National Lake Trout Derby is all weekend on Seneca Lake. This is National Safe Boating Week. Lake Erie and tributaries Big smallmouth action has been great so far this year, Capt. Hans Mann of Buffalo Harbor Outfitters said. He is still catching lots of pre-spawn fish, but many have moved up and are spawning. They are fishing for pre-spawn only, leaving the shallower fish alone. The post-spawn walleye are hanging out at the deeper edges of the bass drifts. The best baits have been tubes and paddletails in 20-30 feet of water off Buffalo to get a great mixed bag. Cattaraugus Creek is loaded with fish, reports Shub Stevens with Catt. Creek Bait and Tackle in Irving. Smallmouth bass are being caught in good numbers using spinners and plastic jigs. Steelhead are still being caught using night crawlers. The catfish have been more active the past few days, just in time for the 4th Annual Catt. Creek Catfish Tournament on Saturday. Sign up at Catt. Creek Bait and Tackle by 10 p.m. Friday. Bottom rigs and cut baits are working best for catfish. Walleye are being caught in the shallows on plastic jigs and stickbaits in the main lake. Perch are hanging around 30-50 feet of water, but you have to work for them. Emeralds and golden shiners are working if you can find them. Mark Dzimian of Lake View, fishing with Greg Blundy, hit the lake Tuesday in search of perch. They found some nice fish in 55-57 feet of water, but without emerald shiners, making catching them tougher. The best area they found was east of Foxes Point, and a slow retrieve seems to trigger strikes on the post-spawn fish. Capt. Jim Rores of Big Greek Charters reports catching a 10-pound brown trout in the South gap on a minnow with Jerry Hickson of Amherst. The night walleye bite is still strong. Trolling stickbaits inshore is going well. Bass fishing has been good on the shoals and the outer harbor walls, Rores said. Tube jigs, Ned rigs or shiners are the best baits. Steve Haak of South Wales says the daytime walleye bite is picking up, and he has done well off the windmills, bottom-bouncing with harnesses. Niagara River In the lower Niagara River, boaters are producing a mixed bag of fish, Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston said. Steelhead, lake trout and bass, as well as some walleye, are all being caught from Devils Hole to the mouth of the river. Mag Lips, minnows, jigs and jerk baits are all catching fish. From shore in the lower, Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls did well over the weekend, catching more than 30 fish, casting No. 4 spinners and darter jigs in the gorge. The visibility was 5-7 feet. He caught lake trout on gold and chartreuse mixed and blue No. 4 spinners. All the bass and drum hit white darter jigs. There has been a good smallmouth bass bite at the NYPA Fishing Platform, Tommy Holycross of Wheatfield said. He also caught a few white bass. All were taken on flukes under a float. In the upper Niagara River, Matt Wilson of Lewiston spent Saturday in rain on the west side of Grand Island from Beaver Island to Big Six, anywhere you see land transition from cattails/grassy areas to rocky shoreline. Plastics wouldnt work. Every fish that day was caught on a Lucky Craft white and silver lipless crank bait, casting into 3 feet of water and reeling into 11 feet. When fishing in the west river, beware of fast-approaching shallow areas with old wooden pilings. Sunday was spent with wife, Katie. She did well on bass with a tube presentation, just dragging and hopping across the bottom on the east side of the island. Bass are a little picky now, which is a telltale sign that theyre on beds. At the head of the river on the Bird Island Pier, Chris Trzaska of Buffalo continues to do well on smallmouth bass, using Chuck Booker spinners, catching fish up to 5 pounds. Lake Ontario and tributaries Kings are stretched from the Niagara Bar to 30-mile Point from 150-300 feet of water, said Capt. Pete Alex of Vision Quest Sportfishing. He is coming off a Day One win in the Wilson Harbor Invitational Tournament with a score of 140 points based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound. He has fished from the Canadian border to Thirty Mile this past week. There are very few coho around this year, and many seemed to have migrated east already. However, if past performance is any indication, we traditionally get some that show up around the end of month into June. Day Two winner in the WHI was Capt. Russell Gahagan with Rockin and Reelin Goose out of Wisconsin, with 141 points. The overall winner for both days combined was Nemesis, led by Joe Nemet of Erie, Pa., with 256 points. In the Trout and Salmon Slam, held during the week leading up to the tournament, Capt. Casey Prisco of Dirty Goose Sportfishing won total weight for his best five salmon and two trout for the week with with just less than 120 pounds. Meat and spoons have been best with flashers, and flies a close third. Riggers are working 50-80 feet down with spoons and meat below that. Kings have been caught as deep as 200 feet, with 120 feet being normal right now. Not many adult kings are around, but there are a lot of 3-10-pound kings. Chautauqua Lake The Crappie have moved off the beds now, said Capt. Mike Sperry of Chautauqua Reel Outdoors. You can catch a bunch of short black crappies shallow, but the adults are out in the pondweed and open water. The pondweed has grown to full height in many areas in the South Basin. Walleye are being caught slow-trolling worm harnesses near the weed edges. A bottom bouncer setup works well, as does a bullet head slip sinker and harness pulled through the weeds. Smaller Colorado blades are the ticket. Vertical jigging in the pondweed is good this time of year using Vibes, bucktail jigs, and jig/twister tails in the weed pockets. Black is a go-to color. With good water clarity, the best bite is early morning and the evening. Capt. Frank Schoenacker of Infinity Charters reports the walleye bite is picking up. Fish are coming on harnesses (butterfly blades) in 10 feet of water in the South Basin. He had to move around to avoid the spawning white perch. Finger Lakes Capt. John Gaulke with the Finger Lakes Angling Zone reports surface temperatures on the larger Finger Lakes are in the mid-50s, but cold water isnt far below. Cayuga Lake produces lake trout with occasional salmon/browns/rainbows from the nearshore area out to around 80 feet of water. Large baitfish schools are moving in depending on the day and time. Skaneateles Lake is fishing well, but the water remains cold. Some perch havent spawned yet, but most are post-spawn. Smallmouth bass numbers are increasing by the week in the shallows. Most fish are 12 to 15 inches long. Lake trout also are roaming the shallows and being taken by boat and shore anglers. Expect widely scattered lake trout during the Memorial Day weekend derby on Seneca Lake, with fish being caught from 10-200 feet of water. A retired Hamilton steelworker has contemplated suicide after being left financially ruined after being swindled by Havana Group Supplies head Steve Sardinha. In his victim impact statement read into the record Wednesday by his daughter Joanne Bastead, 65-year-old Lou Larochelle told the court his mental health declined steadily, and he needed medication and counselling after Sardinha defrauded him of $215,000. This has left me with self-doubt and the inability to trust anyone, Larochelle said in the statement. Our family has been torn apart. We do not find joy in life anymore, just stress and worry since meeting Steve Sardinha. My wife no longer trusts me to make decisions, which has taken a huge toll on our relationship. This has also affected our grandchildren, as they have seen and lived these events and lost trust in police, courts and people in general. Assistant Crown attorney Tim Hill asked Judge Andrew Brown for a three-and-a-half-year penitentiary sentence and restitution of the $215,000. Hill also asked Ontario Court of Justice Judge Andrew Brown to sentence Sardinha, 50, of Ancaster, to two more years in jail if he hasnt paid up within three years of completing his prison time. Brown convicted Sardinha in a St. Catharines courtroom in March of defrauding Larochelle in a scheme with another man, Grant Norton. Larochelle met Sardinha in the fall of 2017 following a chance meeting and soon after was given the opportunity to become a shareholder in a soil-removal company. Sardinha later incorporated the company as Havana Group, with Larochelle as president, paying the bills for construction equipment, repair, fuel and other expenses. Larochelle also paid Sardinha a salary of $1,000 a week with the promise of multimillion-dollar contracts from Casino Niagara, Fort Erie Race Track and Metrolinx. Sardinha later incorporated a new company with a similar name, Havana Group Supplies Inc., and cut Larochelle out of any dealings. In his statement, Larochelle said his family has been stressed and worried because the Mafia watched and threatened them. Our truck has been blown up in our driveway, and our daughter followed, intimidated and threatened by Steve and his associate, he said. Sardinha sat in the prisoners box, looking down with a scowl as the victim impact statement was read into the record. Larochelle said in his statement that the events have also impacted his physical health. He has suffered through heart pains, high cholesterol and fluctuating sugars affecting his diabetes, which have been challenging to control. In addition, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2022. We are supposed to be enjoying our retirement but have not been able to enjoy any of it because of the position Steve Sardinha left us, Larochelle said in his statement. Larochelle added his credit cards are maxed out, he and his wife have had to cash in their RRSPs and spent more than $80,000 in lawyers fees trying to recover some of the money in a civil trial. We were awarded Maria Sardinhas home upon her passing but still havent seen a dime in four years as the Ontario Court is holding the money in trust, he said of his late mothers estate. Wednesday began with Sardinhas new lawyer, Salematou Camara of Toronto, asking Brown for an adjournment because she hadnt had a chance to read the pre-sentencing report. Sardinha represented himself at trial. Hill vehemently objected, saying Sardinha had orchestrated delays since the judicial pretrial phase. Sardinhas trial began in October 2022. These poor people behind me (the victim and his family) have already participated in a fully contested trial, Hill said. They dont live next door to the courthouse. Brown ended up splitting the difference. He had Hill deliver his sentencing submissions. Camara will present her side of the case on Aug. 11, the next date when the judge, the Crown and the defence attorney are all available. SHARE: Ontarios Special Investigations Unit has been called in to investigate the death of a 35-year-old St. Catharines man after police responded to a domestic dispute call. The SIU said Niagara Regional Police received a report about the domestic dispute at about 12:40 a.m. Wednesday and went to a residence in the area of Cushman Road and Welland Avenue. When officers arrived, the SIU said, they found a 35-year-old man on the front lawn in medical distress. Paramedics were called and took the man to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:55 a.m. The SIU is a civilian agency thats provincially mandated to investigate all incidents of death, serious injury or sexual assault involving police. The unit assigned three investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of the St. Catharines mans death. Investigators are asking anyone who has information about the case, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php or by calling at 1-800-787-8529. Read more about: SHARE: Hamilton rockers Arkells are coming to Norfolk County in July for a show billed as an intimate and stripped back campfire singalong. By intimate, we mean a cosy 2,500, said Claire Senko, artistic producer at Burning Kiln Winery, who is bringing the band to the winery near St. Williams the night of July 29. Arkells 2022 show at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, known as the Rally, attracted 25,000 fans. The bands campfire night under the stars is going to be very different from what they typically do in larger venues, Senko said. The laid-back, all-ages show will feature the whole band and include an audience singalong amid the grapevines and Carolinian forest, Senko told The Spectator. This is a huge departure for them, and it is being curated and designed by them, she said. Tickets for Arkells at Burning Kiln are $100 and go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Friday through BurningKilnWinery.ca. Presales are available as of Thursday at 10 a.m. for fans who have signed up for the Arkells newsletter. Arkells is the latest marquee name to play Burning Kiln, whose outdoor concert series has welcomed the likes of Jann Arden, Jim Cuddy, Sarah McLachlan and Burton Cummings. Dave Chidley The most exciting moments as a band are when we venture into the unknown, frontman Max Kerman said in a media release. Campfire Nights will be unlike any Arkells show youve seen so far, so we gotta make it one for the books. Cant wait to spend a summer night with you out in the county. Arkells is the latest marquee name to play Burning Kiln, whose outdoor concert series has welcomed the likes of Jann Arden, Jim Cuddy, Sarah McLachlan and Burton Cummings. Upcoming shows include Diana Krall on July 2 and Barenaked Ladies on Sept. 14, with Senko teasing the return of a popular past headliner on Aug. 27. Claire Senko, artistic producer at Burning Kiln Winery, says the "laid-back," all-ages Arkells show at the vineyard will feature the whole band and include an audience singalong. Claire Senko I call it an upscale festival vibe, Senko said by way of explaining the rural venues popularity with artists. Its a relaxing environment, its open air. You can grab a glass of wine and wander the grounds, and even spend the night glamping or renting one of the pods across the way at Long Point Eco-Adventures. Its an experience. J.P. Antonacci s reporting on Haldimand and Norfolk is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. jpantonacci@thespec.com SHARE: The Ontario government would like you to turn down your A/C. In fact, theyll do it for you. And theyll give a $75 prepaid credit card to anyone who signs up. The Peak Perks energy conservation program, announced Thursday, will take advantage of the estimated 600,000 smart thermostats installed in homes across the province to automatically turn down participants air conditioning a few degrees when the electrical grid is straining under peak demand. Because the grid is built to meet demand for those few peak hours per year, reducing that peak means less new generation will need to be built, said Energy Minister Todd Smith. The cheapest generation is the one you dont have to build, he said. This will save electricity customers money because theyre the ones who end up funding construction of new generation through rate hikes. And along with three other energy conservation programs for businesses and greenhouses it will reduce emissions from the grid because natural gas plants, which currently fire up to meet peak demand, wont have to be used for as long or as often. Its clear these programs are going to be a win for customers, a win for the climate and a win for the province, said Smith. The programs are projected to shave off 725 megawatts of demand during peak days, the equivalent of all the electricity used by the city of London, said Chuck Farmer, Vice President of Planning, Conservation and Resource Adequacy at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). These programs will have a significant impact on affordability, he said. By participating, customers are contributing to the reliability of the grid. In order to qualify, residential electricity users must have an eligible smart thermostat and either central air conditioning or a heat pump. Their A/C will then be turned down by a few degrees, Smith said, for up to three hours on as many as ten days between June and September. The remote thermostat adjustments will only occur on weekdays. Weekends and holidays are exempted. To be clear: participants are always in control and can opt-out by adjusting their thermostat without losing incentives, Smith said. The $75 prepaid electronic Mastercard will be sent to participants to sign up at www.SaveOnEnergy.ca. In 2024 and 2025, they will receive $20 prepaid cards. Green Party leader Mike Schreiner wasnt impressed with the program, which he said was grossly out of touch with the scale of the challenge. Its a feeble attempt to slap a bandaid on a crumbling energy system that has worsened thanks to this governments total mismanagement, he said in a statement. Other provinces and countries are moving full-speed ahead with investments in renewable energy, building retrofits and heat pumps that strengthen their economies, lower their emissions and create better jobs. Shortly after being elected in 2018, the Ford government cancelled more than 700 renewable energy projects and several energy conservation programs after years in which industry fled the province and electricity demand stagnated. Now, energy demand is once again on the rise, thanks to population growth and a cascade of new manufacturing plant announcements, mostly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Combined with the looming shutdown of the Pickering Nuclear Power plant, which provides 14 per cent of Ontarios electricity generation, the province is facing an energy supply crunch. To ensure theres enough electricity to go around, the Ford government has opted for a three-pronged plan: batteries, natural gas and nuclear. The IESO is in the process of commissioning up to 2,500 megawatts of battery storage, which can capture surplus renewable energy when its not needed (like wind at night) and store it until demand peaks (typically on a hot summer afternoon.) But, controversially, the Progressive Conservatives are also expanding generation at four existing gas plants including three in the GTA and building two new ones. By relying on gas, the province risks scuttling the federal governments plan to ensure all electricity in the country has net-zero emissions by 2035. Without a commitment to reach net zero by that time, Ontario also risks missing out on billions in business tax credits contingent on clean energy grids. Smith said that despite the energy crunch, he is not concerned about blackouts this summer because the gas plants provide an insurance policy, since they can be fired up at a moments notice when the grid begins to strain. The Ford government is also building one of the worlds first small nuclear reactors at Darlington, saying the next-generation nuclear technology will be cheaper and quicker to build, and pledging it will be operational by 2028. Over the nearly 70 year history of nuclear power, however, no reactor has ever been built on time or on budget. The construction of the original nuclear plant at Darlington went so over budget, it caused Ontario Hydro to become insolvent. While there are no current plans to build new renewable generation the cheapest source of electricity in the world Smith said we know were going to have to build a lot, of new generation, and were not ruling anything out at this point. Read more about: SHARE: Anh Chiem, who ran over and killed Toronto lawyer Scott Rosen in a rented U-Haul pickup truck, received a mandatory life sentence Wednesday two weeks after a jury found her guilty of first-degree murder. During a six-week trial, jurors heard Chiem grew to hate Rosen while he represented her former son-in-law in antagonist civil proceedings against her, costing her thousands of dollars and potentially her mothers house. Chiem testified she didnt kill Rosen but offered no cogent explanation why she sat for days in the pickup near his office, before striking and driving over him in an indoor parking lot of his office at 234 Eglinton Avenue East. An eyewitness saw her driving the badly damaged truck minutes later on Bathurst Street. Wednesdays sentencing hearing was delayed for hours because the 64-year-old refused to leave Miltons Vanier Centre for Women, leaving the victims family, friends and jurors invited by the judge to return waiting in the downtown courthouse. After declining a defence request to adjourn the proceedings, Justice Peter Bawden issued an extraction order authorizing correctional officers to use whatever reasonable force was necessary to bring her to court. By mid-afternoon, Chiem appeared placid in the prisoners box as Rosens loved ones shared how their lives were ripped apart Dec. 18, 2020. His mother, Frima Rosen, described her son as a brilliant lawyer who sought justice for the little guy. He loved the law, adored his family, and had so much to live for, she said tearfully. Even though he was 52, he was still my baby. Ian Rosen called his brother an excellent athlete who loved to play guitar. His (two) sons must now move forward with their lives without the guidance and mentorship of their father. He thanked prosecutors Bev Richards and Corie Langdon for their unwavering effort during this trial, and praised Toronto homicide Det.-Sgt. Amanda Thornton and her team for their fantastic work and professionalism. Rosens wife, Elise Middlestadt, said the couple felt they had lucked out meeting mid-life in July 2011. They merged their lives, and confronted serious health challenges, but did so as a team. After his death, she was forced to sell their dream house, along with his boat and motorcycle, while struggling to maintain the will to go on. Not an hour goes by that I dont miss Scott he was the person I couldnt wait to spend the rest of my life with, she told court. Cameron Smith, Rosens law clerk for a decade, said his mentor exposed him to how the legal system is a framework of solving intense disagreements and problems without the need for violence. What happened to Rosen is inconceivable, Smith said, because he didnt send people to jail he didnt free violent, convicted criminals, he didnt break families apart or incite vicious fights over inheritances. Nothing we did was a matter of life or death, nothing we did was worth killing over. On the night Chiem ran Rosen over, Smith and other co-workers still in the office heard a heavy metallic thud of that first impact, the building literally shook. When it came to pass the obligatory life sentence, the judge hailed prosecutors for mounting an unbending, unassailable wall of evidence, and credited the eyewitness who saw her driving the pickup. Bawden said whatever a pathological liar is, Chiem fits the bill. Before being led out of court, Chiem, between sobs, and through a Vietnamese interpreter, repeated what she testified to: that she had no reason to kill Rosen. Betsy Powell is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and courts for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @powellbetsy SHARE: News / National by Staff reporter FIREBRAND leader of South African opposition party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Mr Julius Malema has said Russia was at war with imperialism, in the war against Ukraine and declared that he could supply Russians with weapons to push back the imperialists' agenda.A few days after calling for the expulsion of United States Ambassador to South Africa, Mr Reuben Brigety, whom he accused of having breached diplomatic protocols when he went public with his allegations that Pretoria supplied arms of war to Moscow instead of raising it with the Government, Mr Malema told BBC anchor Stephen Sackur during BBC's Hardtalk programme that South Africa is an ally of Russia and its non-alignment position only applied to the war in Ukraine.Mr Brigety alleged that weapons and ammunition were loaded onto a Russian vessel that docked in South Africa last December but Pretoria has denied approving any arms shipments to Russia.During the interview in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Mr Malema said: "In the context of the war, South Africa is an ally of Russia, now the second question is where does South Africa stand on the war? It says I am non-aligned in relation to war but Russia remains South Africa's friend, so we cannot create confusion around there, don't create an impression that it is Malema who is going to come and create an alliance with Russia."Actually, I would go beyond that, I would go beyond the friendship with Russia. In the war I would align with Russia and I would even supply the weapons to Russia because Russia is in a war with imperialism and any agenda that seeks to push back the imperialist agenda is well within the policies of the EFF.".The EFF leader also wants South Africa to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes but Mr Malema has pledged to prevent any attempt to arrest the Russian president if he attends next month's BRICS summit in Cape Town. UNITED NATIONS (AP) On the 75th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping, the United Nations chief said Thursday that peacekeepers are increasingly working in places where there is no peace and praised the more than 4,200 who have given their lives to the cause of peace since the U.N. authorized its first military deployment in 1948. It was a day to look back at the successes of peacekeeping from Liberia to Cambodia and its major failures in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, but also to the challenges ahead, including dealing with more violent environments, fake news campaigns, and a divided world that is preventing peacekeepings ultimate goal: successfully restoring stable governments. And it was a day to honor the more than 2 million peacekeepers from 125 countries who have served in 71 operations since the U.N. Security Council sent those first military observers to supervise implementation of Israeli-Arab armistice agreements following their war. At a ceremony honoring the fallen peacekeepers, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the hundreds of uniformed military officers and diplomats to stand for a moment of silence in their memory and then presented medals for the 103 peacekeepers killed in 2022 to ambassadors from their 39 home countries. And at the start of a U.N. Security Council meeting on peace in Africa shortly after, all those in the chamber stood in tribute to peacekeepers who paid the ultimate price. The secretary-general told the ceremony, after laying a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial on the lawn at U.N. headquarters, that what began 75 years ago as a bold experiment in the Mideast is now a flagship enterprise of our organization. For civilians caught in conflict, he said, peacekeepers are a beacon of hope and protection. But peacekeepers trying to help countries move away from conflict are now on the front lines in some of the worlds most dangerous places, he said. Guterres stressed the need for a new generation of regional operations to end conflicts and combat terrorism that are mandated and financed by the U.N.s 193 member nations. That has been a major goal of the African Union for years, and the continents nations are urging quick action to make this happen. At the Security Council meeting, there was widespread support for Guterres view but differences on how the U.N. should do this. U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the council that putting AU peace operations on solid footing is increasingly pressing and the case for adequate financing is beyond solid. The U.N. therefore hopes the council will provide financing from U.N. member states for AU-led peace operations, she said. Adeoye Bankole, the African Union commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, welcomed the very constructive and positive thrust of the secretary-generals comments. We cannot continue to use traditional peacekeeping methods in the face of the complex nature and scope of conflicts that traverse our beloved continent, particularly violent extremism, ideology of hate, terrorism, rebellion and insurgency, he said. U.N. peacekeeping operations have grown dramatically. At the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, there were 11,000 U.N. peacekeepers. By 2014, there were 130,000 in 16 far-flung peacekeeping operations. Today, 87,000 men and women serve in 12 conflict areas in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. There have been two kinds of successes, U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. Those are the long list of countries that have returned to a reasonable degree of stability with the support of U.N. peacekeeping, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Angola and Cambodia, and the countries where peacekeepers are not only monitoring but preserving cease-fires like in southern Lebanon and Cyprus. As for failures, he pointed to the failure of U.N. peacekeepers to prevent the 1994 Rwanda genocide, which killed at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutus, and the 1995 massacre of at least 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica during the war in Bosnia, Europes only acknowledged genocide since the Holocaust during World War II. The U.N.s reputation has also been tarnished by numerous allegations that peacekeepers charged with protecting civilians sexually abused women and children, including in Central African Republic and Congo. Another high-profile blunder was the cholera epidemic in Haiti that began in 2010 after U.N. peacekeepers introduced the bacteria into the countrys largest river by sewage runoff from their base. Despite that, Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Groups U.N. director, said U.N. peacekeeping has a surprisingly decent track record and has done a good job of tamping down crises, protecting civilians and rebuilding broken states in cases from the Suez crisis in the 1950s to Liberia in the 2000s. Looking ahead, the U.N.s Lacroix said the major challenge peacekeeping is facing is the divided international community and especially divisions in the U.N. Security Council, which must approve its missions. The result of that is that were not able to achieve what I call the ultimate goal of peacekeeping to be deployed, support a political process that moves forward, and then gradually roll down when that political process is completed, he said. Lacroix said peace processes arent moving or arent going fast enough so the U.N. has to be content with what I call the intermediate goal of peacekeeping preserving cease-fires, protecting civilians, we protect hundreds of thousands of them and doing our best, of course, to support political efforts wherever we can. Lacroix pointed to other challenges peacekeepers are facing: more violent and dangerous operating environments and more sophisticated attacks and fake news and disinformation which are a massive threat to the population and the peacekeepers. And old and new drivers of conflict including transnational criminal activities, trafficking, drugs, weapons, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the impact of climate change exacerbating competition between herders and farmers are also having an absolutely massive influence. The Crisis Groups Gowan told AP its pretty clear that the U.N. is trapped in some countries like Mali and Congo where there arent enough peacekeepers to halt recurring cycles of violence. Some African governments, including Malis, are turning to private security providers like Russias Wagner Group to fight insurgents, he said. I think we should be wary of dumping U.N. operations outright, Gowan said. We have learned the hard way in cases like Afghanistan that even heavily armed Western forces cannot impose peace. The U.N.s track record may not be perfect, but nobody else is much better at building stability in turbulent states. SHARE: ROME (AP) The archbishop of Chicago urged the Illinois attorney general on Thursday to provide information about newly uncovered cases of clergy sexual abuse that were included in a statewide investigative report, saying he would gladly add the names on his list of credibly accused priests if the claims were substantiated. In his first interview since the report was released Tuesday, Cardinal Blase Cupich expressed surprise that the 125 new cases involved some priests he had never heard of. He voiced dismay that the attorney generals office hadnt forwarded the new claims to the archdiocese to look into, as it had done during the five-year investigation. We thought we had that kind of relationship with the attorney general and so are disappointed that were hearing these for the first time, Cupich said. He spoke to The Associated Press during one of his periodic visits to the Vatican, where he sits on church committees and serves as a close adviser to Pope Francis. In the report, investigators found that more than 450 Catholic clergy in Illinois six dioceses had sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950, making clear the problem was far worse than the hierarchy had acknowledged in 2018 at the start of the states review. The archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, had reported 68 abusive clergy in 2018. Over the course of the investigation, it added more names and went into Tuesday with 150 names on its list of credibly accused clergy. Attorney General Kwame Raouls report found 125 additional abusers in the archdiocese, many of them religious order priests whose cases wouldnt necessarily have been handled by the archdiocese but their religious orders. There was also the likelihood that victims went directly to the attorney generals investigators, bypassing the church entirely to report claims. Cupich said he would gladly add the names onto his list but needed information on how Raouls investigators substantiated the claims. Asked why it wasnt sufficient for the church to accept cases that the attorney generals office had substantiated, Cupich said the archdiocese just needed to understand the process. I can assure the public this: If these cases are substantiated and were given the information of how it was (done), we will put them on our website, he said, speaking in the courtyard of the Pontifical North American College, the American seminary in Rome where Cupich stays when in town on Vatican business. Cupich acknowledged the report laid bare a constant, structural problem in the way the Catholic Church handles abuse cases, with religious orders such as the Jesuits, Franciscans, Oblates and Marists often escaping scrutiny and accountability since they, and not the diocesan leadership, keep personnel files. Cupich concurred there was more the Holy See could and should do to bring religious orders into line. Should, in fact, there be more direction from the central office of the church to speak to religious orders? I would be in favor of that, he said. I want to make sure that we put everything out there, because I can tell you this: When we do that and a victim survivor sees it, it brings healing. Thats why I do it. Cupich said he would be willing to refuse to let priests of noncompliant orders work in his archdiocese, as recommended by the report, though he said hed rather use the carrot than the stick, because we do need these religious orders. On another recommendation from the report, however, Cupich was more defensive. Raouls investigators called for an independent mediation and compensation process for victims similar to what the archdioceses of Los Angeles and New York have established. The report argues that third-party process gives victims a confidential non-adversarial place outside of the control of the diocese to be heard and to be financially compensated for the trauma inflicted on them. Cupich said he didnt want to outsource the compensation process because that would deprive the church of the chance to provide pastoral care to victims. He said he would continue with the process he has had in place for years. My concern about contracting this out to a separate third party is that we turn ourselves into a business, not a church, he said. ___ Teresa Crawford contributed from Chicago. SHARE: KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed Thursday that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a convicted criminal and Wagners millionaire owner with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in a video published on Telegram that the handover would be completed by June 1. Russias Defense Ministry didnt confirm this and it wasnt possible independently to verify whether Wagners pullout from the bombed-out city has begun after a nine-month battle that killed tens of thousands of people. Prigozhin said his troops would now rest in camps, repair equipment and await further orders. Ukraines deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, said Thursday that regular Russian troops had replaced Wagner units in the suburbs but that Wagner fighters remained inside the city. Ukrainian forces maintain a foothold in the southwestern outskirts, she said. Prigozhins Bakhmut triumph delivered a badly needed victory for Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has lost momentum and now faces a Ukrainian counteroffensive using advanced weapons that Kyivs Western allies have provided. According to top Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, that counteroffensive is already underway. He said Thursday that it should not be anticipated as a single event starting at a specific hour of a specific day. Writing on Twitter, Podolyak said that dozens of different actions to destroy Russian occupation forces had already been taking place yesterday, are taking place today and will continue tomorrow. Prigozhin has long feuded with the Russian military leadership, dating back to Wagners creation in 2014. He has also built a reputation for inflammatory and often unverifiable headline-grabbing statements from which he later backtracks. During the 15-month war in Ukraine, he has repeatedly and publicly accused the Russian military leadership of incompetence, failure to properly provision his troops as they spearheaded the battle for Bakhmut, and failure to credit his troops for their successes and sacrifices. Wagners involvement in the capture of Bakhmut has added to Prigozhins standing, which he has used to set forth his personal views about the wars conduct. Prigozhin is using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said. His frequent critical commentary about Russias military performance is uncommon in Russias tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin can usually air such criticism. Seth Jones, director of international security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Prigozhin appears to be pressuring the Russian Defense Ministry to take a more active role and responsibility in Bakhmut but he questioned whether regular troops are capable of taking over from Wagner. If you pull those forces out of Bakhmut, you lose your entire sort of first line of offensive and then defensive operations, because the Russians arent going to use havent used -- their seasoned military forces for major advances, he said. You dont want to waste well trained capable forces in areas where theyre likely to get killed. So removing them would almost certainly allow the Ukrainians to retake territory. With Russian forces suffering high casualties and their inability to integrate their, forces, he added, they just they look miserable. Nikolai Petrov, senior Russia and Eurasia research fellow at Chatham House, was skeptical about Prigozhins claim the Russian military will take over. Nobody knows if that will happen, Petrov said, adding that Prigozhin is a populist and hes playing the cards of hatred against ineffective Russian military commanders. Earlier this week, Prigozhin again broke with the Kremlin line on Ukraine, saying its goal of demilitarizing the country had backfired, acknowledging Russian troops had killed civilians and agreeing with Western estimates that he lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed 36 drones against Kyiv in its 12th nighttime air assault on the Ukrainian capital this month but the citys air defenses shot them all down, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. The Kremlins forces also launched 30 airstrikes and 39 attacks from multiple rocket launchers, as well as artillery and mortar attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said. At least one civilian was killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine on Wednesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said Thursday. In other developments Thursday: Russia attacked a dam on the Vovcha River in Karlivka, 40 kilometres (24 miles) west of Donetsk, destroying it and raising a flooding risk for three villages, Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said. The villages might be evacuated, he said on Telegram. Russia and Belarus signed a deal formalizing deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. Putin had announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. A U.K.-based technology firm says pro-Russia hackers faked the location data to form a giant letter Z a symbol of Russias war in Ukraine in the Black Sea. Geollect says location data for commercial ships has been remotely spoofed so vessels near Crimea appear to form a 65-mile (105-kilometer) long Z on open-source maritime tracking sites. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. The false location data increased the risk of collisions, the firm warned. A total of 106 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released in another major exchange with Russia, chief Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said. The eight officers and 98 soldiers released fought in the battle for Bakhmut. The bodies of two foreigners and a Ukrainian were also returned to Ukraine. Prigozhin posted a video of himself standing next to two wooden coffins, one draped with an American flag and another with a Turkish flag. Prigozhin said the bodies were being handed over to Ukrainian forces and provided the Americans name but the State Department couldnt confirm it, pending an investigation and due to privacy concerns. Russian officials confirmed the swap, without providing any details on how many Russians were returned. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that five Swedish diplomats are to be expelled from the country. A statement said the decision is a response to Stockholms openly hostile step to declare five employees of Russian foreign missions in Sweden personae non grata in April. Moscow additionally announced its decision to close its consulate in Goteborg in September, as well as its withdrawal of consent to the activities of the Swedish consulate in St. Petersburg. Russia and Western countries have often expelled each others diplomats since the war began. ___ Morton reported from London. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWAWhen Toronto MP Michael Coteau became the co-chair of the federal Parliamentary Black Caucus one year ago, one of his top goals was to establish, for the first time, ties between Black Canadian politicians and their counterparts around the globe. This week, Coteau was part of a delegation of eight MPs and senators that marked one of those firsts: a historic meeting in Washington between Canadas Parliamentary Black Caucus and the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus. In the Americas, theres 200 million Black people and we dont know each other politically. The fact that its taken this long for Black politicians from Canada and the United States to connect for the first time is pretty astonishing, the Liberal MP told the Star. The groups other co-chair, Independent Sen. Rosemary Moodie, said the long-anticipated trip finally offered a chance to deepen the social and economic ties between our two countries. It really has been about an opportunity for us to build relationships with the Congressional Black Caucus, which is a very well-developed, older institution that has sorted out how best to operate and how to organize themselves around issues, the Ontario senator said. Were a younger organization. We could benefit from some of that knowledge. The group of American lawmakers boasts 58 members the largest number in its 52-year history. While the group is meant to be non-partisan, its membership is currently made up solely of Democrats. Canadas group is also presently home to its highest number of members, but at 14 MPs and senators, the eight-year-old caucus is much smaller and wields far less influence. The decision to embark on the trip was years in the making, Coteau said, and ultimately came from the Canadian side. Over the past three days, Canadas delegation met with the U.S. caucus to discuss shared issues facing Black communities, including the rise of far-right ideology, the collection of race-based data, disparities in health care, education and economic development. On Thursday, they also met with the leaders of five legacy Black civil rights organizations on the grounds of Washingtons Howard University, a historically Black research institution. It was there that Canadian parliamentarians discussed the role Black politicians could play in strengthening civic engagement between the two nations and took a moment to honour the third anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. That event left an indelible mark on the American consciousness, said Independent Sen. Bernadette Clement, but it also had strong reverberations on Canadian soil. That was a time for us as well to consciously decide to take up more space in the places that we occupy, and thats whats been happening here: a deliberate organizing around making sure that Black people are running for office, that theyre accessing networks, that theyre speaking to people that will support and encourage them, Clement said. Moodie said that because of the Congressional Black Caucuss storied history, the group has had more success than Black politicians in Canada in making headway on issues of systemic racism experienced in both countries. But she isolated police brutality as one issue the U.S. has failed to eradicate. We want to understand that more, because we are also trying to address that in Canada, she said. There was one area of progress the Canadians were able to share with their U.S. counterparts during the visit: the depiction of Black civil rights activist Viola Desmond on Canadas $10 banknote. The U.S. has sought to put abolitionist Harriet Tubman on its $20 bill, but that process could take years to complete. Moodie recalled how Quebec MP Greg Fergus pulled out one of Canadas bills during a session with American lawmakers. It became for them a focus, because they wanted to take pictures so they could take it to their government about getting that done. They wanted close-up pictures and they kept the bill, she said. But NDP MP Matthew Green said there is much for the Canadian government to learn from the Congressional Black Caucus, particularly about improving the resources allocated to the Canadian group. The Parliamentary Black Caucus is not a formal parliamentary association, which means it does not receive similar levels of funding or support. Were on our own. Our staff have been stretched, Green said of the trip. Ill share with you that it is a problem for me that were here without full interpretation services for our francophone senators. Thats not acceptable. Green said that despite the structural differences between the two groups, members of both confront the same examples of anger and vitriol. Green was stepping off an elevator Wednesday to meet U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar for a discussion on threats to democratic institutions when he encountered a man who initially appeared friendly. As soon as he realized I was headed to her office, he called me an idiot in the hallway of a congressional building and started muttering all this stuff under his breath, Green recalled. I recognize the kind of hostility that she faces, and its the same types of hostilities that we face online and in other places as well. This weeks trip was primarily an exploratory exercise, caucus members said, to see how both groups could come together and formalize their relationship around future visits, which are now in the works. Some of the conversations were difficult. Its not great to say that we have similarities around racism or the loneliness that we feel sometimes around decision-making tables, Clement said. But theres also good stuff, too. I think we had a good blend. Read more about: SHARE: Report coming from the police and the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, has cleared the House of Representatives Majority Leader Alhassan Ado Doguwa of murder charges. The reports said there is no substantive evidence found from the police case files to charge him with culpable homicide. Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Musa A. Lawan, indicated on Thursday while briefing journalists on the findings and legal recommendations of the government on the criminal charges filed against the lawmaker that available evidence contained in the police case diary indicated no sufficient evidence to link Doguwa with the said offences despite contradictory comments of witnesses against the suspect. Based on the foregoing facts and observations, we are of the opinion that we cannot substantiate charges of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire and culpable homicide against the Doguwa. This is because we cannot find sufficient evidence to link with the said offences considering the fact that we are faced with so many inculpatory and exculpatory evidence for and against him. And the statements of those that implicated him were full of contradictions, he said. Barr. Lawan added that apart from the contradictory comments, there was no medical evidence to prove that the act or omission of Doguwa caused the death of the deceased persons. The Presidency has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari allowed the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to win the last presidential election. Buharis spokesman, Garba Shehu, said this was why Tinubu took his certificate of return first to the President in Daura, Katsina State. Featuring on Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Shehu said: He, President Muhammadu Buhari allowed Tinubu to win in a free and fair process. When Tinubu took his certificate from INEC, the first thing he did was that he flew to Daura and showed it to the president. The incoming president Bola Tinubu never gets tired of saying that the president allowed him to win. It is very significant. He allowed him to win in a free and fair process. President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked all ministers in his cabinet to continue until May 29, when president-elect Bola Tinubu will be inaugurated as his successor. This was confirmed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday. Mohammed also noted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) hasnt been dissolved. Speaking with state house correspondents, he said: I just want to make this clarification. While we were at the chambers there was a false breaking news that the federal executive council has been dissolved, which is not correct, Lai said. As a matter of fact, we have been directed by the president that we should all go back and return to our offices. So it is not true that the federal executive council has been dissolved, it is still very much alive. We have all been directed to go back to our offices and ensure that we continue to work right to the end of May 29. So please ignore the fake news. President Muhammadu Buhari says members of his cabinet have given their best in the last seven and a half years that they have been with him. In a statement on Wednesday, Femi Adesina, media aide to the president, said Buhari spoke after the valedictory federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday. Buhari directed the ministers to tidy up their work and avoid last-minute rush that could compromise the good deeds they had done over the years. I am proud to say we gave our best. In the course of our years together, ranging from our newest addition to the oldest members of the team for the past seven and half years, we have differed on many issues, Adesina quoted Buhari as saying. I urge that we understand that those positions were for the collective good, and no one should keep grievances, or carry these differences forward. For those of us that will not directly be in government, I know that I am one of such, I ask that we continue to provide our support, in whatever way we can, if called upon by our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC) that gave us the platform to stand and we must continue to support it in every way we can. I also thank God for the strength and for keeping us together. I look forward to a great many of you, disproving that Daura has not become too distant because I am no longer Mr President. I will also be happy to do the many things that I have not been able to since May 29th, 2015, one of such is my favourite pastime of taking care of my cattle. I wish all of us the best and hope to hear good news whenever any of our names are mentioned. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Buhari also met with state house staff. He lauded the workers for supporting his administration for eight years. He noted that the administration had stretched to accommodate the views of workers and to meet some of their needs within the available resources. The mysterious death of a Senior Secondary School 3 student in Akwa Ibom State has become an object of controversy. The deceased, Edima Ini Umoh was until her death a student of Full Life Academy, Uyo, Akwa Ibom. It began as a minor complaint for headache but within the next few hours, Edima was no more. Her death has now sparked allegations against the school authority. But the school management on its part believes the mother of the deceased has a lot of questions to answer. According to the Principal, Full Life Academy, Pastor Aniefonteabasi Victor- Williams, everything happened in a flash as no one had the premonition of her death. She said the deceased student complained of having a headache in the morning of that fateful day and the nurse gave her paracetamol, adding that she felt better and joined her mates for lunch at about 2:30 pm, during which she even demanded for extra food. The Principal said that, at about 4:00 pm of same day,, Edima complained of headache again, at that point the school nurse wanted to commence a malaria treatment so that the headache would not result to full blown fever; she brought out a Coartem- an antimalarial drug to administer to her but the deceased refused to take it and said instead they should inform her mother to get Amathem for her. She explained that at that point, the school matron called Edimas mother and handed the phone over to the deceased to speak with her mother. She further explained that Edima was telling the mother to pray for her about three times and asked her to come to the school immediately with Amathem and pepper soup; the mother felt that she was over-panicking and asked her to calm down. The Principal continued, The matron told us that shortly after Edima spoke with her mother, she became calm, and asked the hostel parent and hostel prefect who were on ground to allow her to rest and because of the headache, they felt it was proper to let her rest, the hostel parent assigned the school senior prefect who is her classmate to stay with her. When we asked the head girl about what happened, she said that Edima was calm and later slept off, so she left her room to also sleep upstairs, not long after she (Edima) started snoring, being that they know her to snore while sleeping, they felt that it was normal. After a while, the hostel parent said she returned to check those on Prep, if they were reading and to check on Edima who complained of headache. That was when she saw white substance mixed with blood coming out of Edimas nose, at that point, she said she raised an alarm and there was panic everywhere, by the time they carried her out of the bed, she had already messed herself up. She said they cleaned her up and the nurse tried resuscitating her while waiting for the doctors arrival. We are affiliated to Premier Clinic. Our Executive Director was called and every other school leader was called and they all ran down to the school immediately, even the owner of Premiere clinic, our ED called him and he came immediately and tried his best. I was told that when it was as if nothing was happening, they took the girl to the Premiere clinic where she was placed on oxygen. We prayed, hoping she would respond and come back to life. When nothing happened, we reached out to Jeconiah Specialist Hospital; the consultant said we should bring her, it was when we got there that she was confirmed dead by the doctor. At that point, we could not do anything else. We and the family were hoping that she would wake up before morning because her body was warm. I was even squeezing her fingers, praying that she would come back to life. She was taken home that night, we followed the uncle to the house and we got to our homes at midnight. In the morning, I went back to see if she had woken up, and the uncle told me they had taken her to the morgue. So after the school session that Friday, I and my team went back for a condolence visit to the mothers residence, that was when the family informed us that they wanted to carry out an autopsy and that they will carry us along, we accepted. Asked if the deceased had an underlying sickness or any known medical condition, the principal said there was nothing of that nature to the best of her knowledge. Everything was confusing considering the speed with which the whole thing happened, because we have had cases where parents came to carry their wards at 10pm to hospital and they survived. We also have children with serious asthmatic attacks, but they survive. We have Nebulizing machines here, we nebulize them before taking them to hospital. This girl was one of our best and we were even preparing her to be our Valedictorian this year until this incident, she lamented. However, the family appears not ready to buy into the narrative by the school management. In a letter through their lawyer, Edikan Lawrence, Esq. obtained by newsmen, tagged, Demand for full Disclosure of Events Leading to the Unnecessary and Unfortunate Death of Miss Edima Ini Umoh, the family insisted that the school authority should furnish them with a detailed account of what led to their daughters death. The letter, which was copied to the commissioner for education in the state and the commissioner of police, regretted that four days after the incident the school authority had failed to give a full and detailed account of what transpired within the school that culminated into the untimely, painful and unfortunate loss. The letter said, Predicted on the foregoing, we have our clients instruction (and indeed that of the entire Richard Essien Umoh family) to demand a full disclosure and formal statement of all events, including the minutest details, leading to the death of Miss Edima Ini Umoh, addressed to the family through our office within 48 hours of the service of this letter. Take note that where you fail or refuse to act in terms of this demand within the time stated above, we have our clients instruction to resort to other legal measures to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done in this case and this will be without further recourse to you. But the school lawyer, Barr Iniobong Udoh, in an interview, said the school was not perturbed. Udoh said the whole event was out of negligence on the mothers side, wondering how a mother would waste over three hours to visit her daughter who was sounding desperate on the phone that she had a headache. According to her, What I noticed from the whole story was that the mother was negligent. She delayed taking the drugs to the daughter for over 3 hours after she was informed. Everyone knows the history of their children, she was supposed to rush down to give her the drug or if need be, take her to her personal doctor and later go for the pepper soup. From the lawyers letter, she sent someone to go to market to buy chicken to prepare pepper soup and that was what delayed her. That is why there is provision for students to call their parents in case of sickness. Also in the child right law of Akwa Ibom state, you cant force anything on a child, as soon as the child said she doesnt want this particular drug, we dont have the right to force her to take it. The mother was supposed to rush down to see what was happening first before going for a pepper soup which can even be bought in a restaurant. She never gave the school any instruction, that since she was delaying they should do something to the child as others do, the school hoped on the mother to rush down. We are meeting with the lawyer as a team this evening before we write officially and copy all the places the letter was sent to. Since the letter was asking us to disclose the cause of the death, as we dont know, we are expecting the mother to tell us the cause, except the mother agrees to tell us if there is any family history concerning the childs health, we will not know. During admission, there was a space to write about any underlying medical condition, the mother wrote none, and the medical report of the child she gave us proved that she was a healthy child. Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, on Wednesday, said, the Vice President-elect committed no offence for purchasing Senatorial form for 2023 general election. Senator Shettima was said to have purchased expression of interest and nomination forms to contest for senate before he was nominated for presidential running mate to Ahmed Bola Tinubu. His alleged double nomination has been a subject of criticism with the critics dragging him to the Supreme Court. Reacting in a statement he issued on Wednesday and made available to newsmen in Abuja, Shehu Sani made reference to the same scenario, saying that the Senate President, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan contested for the presidential election and re-contested to represent Yobe North Senatorial, which he won. He added that Godswill Akpabio, who is a senator-elect, awaiting inauguration, also contested the presidential election, stressing that Kashim Shettima found himself in the same situation. Sani expressed optimism that the Supreme Court will not rule against Shettima. He said: What was good for Ahmed Lawan and Akpabio is good for Shettima. I dont expect the Supreme Court to rule against the double nomination. No Nigerian should be denied the right and privilege of seeking another office if he fails to get one. News / National by Staff reporter Four University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students who were arrested last week charged with malicious damage to property shall stay longer behind bars after the investigating officer (IO) who is key to their bail bid failed to show up in court Wednesday.They are Emmanuel Sitima, 24, Comfort Mpofu, 22, Tawanda Watadza, 24 and Lionel Wadamombe.Harare magistrate Learnmore Mapiye was forced to postpone hearing to Friday after prosecutors said the investigating officer was also testifying in another court during the same time he was required in the student's court case.Their lawyer, Darlington Marange challenged the application noting that it was causing an unreasonable delay.But the magistrate ruled that the state had managed to convince her to postpone the matter."It is the State's first application for postponement," Mapiye said."Another docket has indeed been opened in another court with similar circumstances. The State had no reason to lie to the court."The application for postponement on the basis of unavailability of the witness is not unreasonable. Matter is postponed to April 26."The students are facing seven counts of malicious damage to property, and are alternatively being charged with counts of criminal nuisance.Allegations are that on May 14, 2023, the four, together with others who are still at large, went around protesting for the release of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) lawmaker Job Sikhala from pre-trial custody.It is alleged that the students defaced government buildings in the CBD and spray painted the words "Free Wiwa", "Free Job Sikhala".Prosecutors allege they drew graffiti on the High Court of Zimbabwe building walls, Parliament building, the Methodist Trinity Church building and the Constitutional Court building.They allegedly did the same at the Harare Civil Court, Runhare House building and at Karigamombe building.All the mentioned structures are located within the Harare CBD.Meanwhile, another student who is believed to be part of the group, made his first appearance Wednesday.Darlington Upenyu Chigwena, 21, appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi and was also remanded in custody to this Friday for his bail application. Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has sued the chief of army staff over the killing of Monday Orukpe, a police officer, by a soldier in August 2022. On August 3, 2022, Orukpe was killed at the Trade Fair section of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway area of Lagos state, in the course of his official duties. According to the LASUTH autopsy report which was completed on October 27, 2022, and was signed by O.O. Onayemi of the department of pathology and forensics, Orukpes demise was brought on by multiple injuries and blunt force trauma. Falana filed the suit on Thursday on behalf of Favour Monday, wife of the deceased, for the enforcement of her late husbands fundamental human rights to life, the dignity of the human person, private and family life and presumption of innocence. According to Falana, a man should be allowed to thread Nigeria soil and breathe Nigeria air until the court finds him unworthy to so do. The respondents agents have no right to sniff life out of the deceased extra-judicially as they have done in this case. The brutalization and indiscriminate killing of the applicants husband is wrongful, oppressive, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void as it violates the deceaseds fundamental right to the dignity of the human person. Falana is praying the court for an order mandating the respondents to set up a special education fund of not less than N100 million in favour of Orukpes four children sufficient to cater to their educational needs from primary school to university in any educational institution they may wish to attend. He is also praying the court for an order compelling the respondents to jointly and severally pay to the applicant the sum of N200 million as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of the fundamental rights to life, the dignity of the person and presumption of innocence of inspector Monday Orukpe; their breadwinner. On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Dangote petroleum refinery, an illustrious project expected to catalyse the transformation of Nigerias energy sector. The refinery, owned by Aliko Dangote, Africas richest businessman, was initiated in September 2013 and took $19 billion to complete. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), sits on 2,635 hectares of land located in the Lekki free zone, and will employ over 100,000 persons directly. The coming onstream of the project is expected to mark Nigerias exit from the league of oil-rich nations who are heavy importers of petroleum products. It is expected that the refinery would meet 100 percent of the Nigerian requirement of all refined products and also have a surplus for export. The refinery is also said to be designed for 100 percent Nigerian crude with the flexibility to process other crudes. At the inauguration, Buhari said the facility would enable our country to achieve self-sufficiency in refined products and even have some surplus for export. On his part, Dangote promised that petroleum products from the refinery would circulate in the Nigerian market soon. Amid the fanfare and celebration at the inauguration of the refinery, it is easy to forget that the project was met with mixed reactions in its host community when the idea was first floated. There were dissenting voices in the early stages of the project, and it took the interference of Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos government, to quiet them. FASHOLA BEGGED IBEJU CHIEFS TO SUPPORT DANGOTE In February 2014, Fashola, then governor of Lagos, met with Ibeju-Lekki residents and handed over Dangote to them. In a viral clip of his speech at the event, the former governor asked the people present at the event if they want the refinery and while the majority accepted, a minority disagreed. Fashola then told those who disagreed with the project to leave the gathering. He said Dangote has begged the community and sought the support of the chiefs to build the refinery. He warned that nobody should enter the facility and spoil the equipment, adding that such action shall trigger his wrath. Do you still want the refinery or should we take it elsewhere, Fashola said. Do you know if we can take the refinery to Badagry? Crude oil is abundant there. Do you want it or not? He(Dangote) has begged you. Those of you that do not want, please stand up and go. Now, Im handing Dangote to all these area chiefs, Obas, and other residents. Hes now in your hands. It is the Lagos state government that you are dealing with, and if there is any problem, you should come to us. Do not go inside the facility and spoil the equipment if there is any grievance. You shall see my wrath then. An Ikeja special offences court has threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, for continued absence from his trial. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a 12-count charge filed before the court, accused Fani-Kayode of presenting a false medical report before a federal high court in Ikoyi. The anti-graft agency alleged that the former minister hired one Ogieva Oziegbe to produce the alleged false medical report. On December 17, 2021, when he was arraigned, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. On February 20, Wale Balogun, Fani-Kayodes counsel, informed the court that his client was absent due to ill health and issues he had with the Department of State Services (DSS) and police. Balogun prayed the court to adjourn the case, promising to make the defendant available at the next proceedings. However, when the case was called on Wednesday, Fani-Kayode was absent. Chinozo Eze, who represented the defendant said the defendant still has health issues. The absence of the defendant in court is due to health issues, Eze said. Eze further informed the court that a medical report and a letter seeking the leave of the court to vacate the adjourned date had been submitted to the court. EFCC counsel, Zinat Atiku, confirmed the receipt of the said letter. Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, the presiding judge, noted that the last time Fani-Kayode appeared for the trial was on November 4, 2022. She threatened to issue a bench warrant against him if he failed to show up at the next adjourned date. The judge also expressed displeasure at the lack of diligent prosecution of the case. Abike-Fadipe said the EFCC could withdraw the case if it could not pursue it diligently. She adjourned the case until November 7 for continuation of trial. In a rare show of courage, outgoing Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday, said the office of Minister of State was an aberration and unconstitutional. He lamented that most of his colleagues were redundant in the last eight years but many have not had the courage to speak up. Keyamo read this in his speech at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Buhari to mark the end of the administration. Keyamo, who is a key player in the ruling All Progressive Congress, seized the valedictory session to thank President Buhari for enriching his curriculum vitae through the appointment. Lamenting the situation further, he revealed that some other Ministers of State, have been grumbling but mum on the issue. According to Keyamo, it was difficult to assess the individual performances of the ministers of state since their discretion was shackled under the senior ministers. He decried that original ideas developed by a minister of state are usually subjected to clearance by another colleague in Cabinet before they can sail through for consideration by Council. The prepared text he read out reads: Mr. President, you first appointed me as Minister of State in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in August, 2019 and you later redeployed me as Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. I cannot find the words to express the depth of my gratitude to you for finding me worthy, out of over two hundred million Nigerians, to be nominated and subsequently appointed to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My curriculum vitae has been greatly enhanced forever. From my very humble beginnings in a small dusty town in Delta State where I was born and raised by my struggling parents, all the way to the Council Chambers at the Presidential Villa where I had the honour and privilege to participate weekly in decision-making for my country in the last four years, it has been like a fairy tale. I give God all the glory. What I am about to say, therefore, is not and should not be construed as an indication of ingratitude. Far from it. What I am about to say is just my own little contribution to our constitutional development as a relatively young democracy and to aid future governments to optimize the performance of those they appoint as ministers. Mr. President, the concept or designation of Minister of State is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed. Successive governments have come and gone and many who were appointed as Ministers of State have not spoken out at a forum such as this because of the risk of sounding ungrateful to the presidents who appointed them. However, like I said earlier, this is not ingratitude. As a private citizen, I am on record to have gone to court a number of times to challenge unconstitutional acts of governments for the sake of advancing our constitutional democracy, so it will be out of character for me to have gone through government and be carried away by the pomp of public office and forget my role as a member of the Inner Bar and my self-imposed role over the years as a crusader for democracy and constitutionalism. Daniel Bwala, spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Minister of State, Festus Keyamo, of trying to ambush the President-elect, Bola Tinubu for a ministerial role. Bwala was reacting to Keyamos remark that it was unconstitutional for President Muhammadu Buhari to have appointed a minister of state. He said Keyamos desperation and scheming might kill his opportunity. Recall that Keyamo had said the office of the Minister of State was an aberration and unconstitutional. He lamented that most of his colleagues were redundant in the last eight years but many have not had the courage to speak up. Keyamo read this in his speech at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Buhari to mark the end of the administration. Reacting, Bwala tweeted: He wants to ambush Tinubu to give him a substantive ministerial role, hence his argument that Buhari appointing him as minister of state is unconstitutional. Thats exactly how he wanted the role of AGF and went to the NASS confirmation hearing and was answering in this manner If I become AGF It got PMBs chief of staff mad and they gave him an inconsequential role first under Niger Delta, the substantive minister then allegedly complained and he was further re-assigned to labour as under secretary aka minister of state. Sources close to Tinubu revealed. My take is that desperation and scheming are killers of opportunity. Members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria have faulted plans by the outgoing Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to flag off operations of Nigeria Air despite restraining court orders on the controversial project. The AON, in an official letter written by its Solicitors to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on Wednesday, described the move as an attempt to circumvent the court orders on Friday being the last working day of this administration and possibly to cover up the various infractions of Nigerian laws, among others. In a letter signed by Abubakar Nuhu Ahmad of the Nureini Jimoh (SAN) Chambers addressed to the President captioned: Nigeria Air Project Last Minute Planned Disobedience to Court Order And Deliberate Plan to Rubbish the Achievement of this Administration, the AON said Sirika chose the last working day of the administration to bring in two aircraft in contravention of the court order urging the president to stop the Ministers negative action. The AON noted that bringing in two aircraft for Nigeria Air is a clever way to violate court orders. President Buhari was reminded that the suit was filed to question the shady deals, deliberate infractions of the Nigerian laws and self-enrichment/ corruption mainly by the ministry of aviation over Nigeria Air project. In the said suit, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided by Hon. Justice A.L. Allagoa, granted three separate court orders of injunctions in the terms contained in the order, restraining taking any step, in relation to the Nigeria Air project. The AON implored the president to stop this action and ensure compliance with the terms of the order and avoid needless controversies after the exit of his administration. The letter signed by Abubakar Nuhu Ahmad Esq. of Nureini Jimoh (SAN) Chambers, vowed to pursue contempt action against the minister personally whether or not he has left office. The letter which was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, The Inspector-General of Police, The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Aviation, read: We are solicitors to Airline Operators of Nigeria (Our Client). Our client filed the above suit to question the shady deal, deliberate infraction of the Nigerian laws, and self-enrichment, mainly against the Federal Ministry of Aviation over the Nigerian Air Project. In the suit, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided by Hon. Justice A.L Allagoa, in the above suit, granted Orders of interim and interlocutory injunctions, in the terms contained in the Order, restraining taking of any step in relation to the Nigeria Air project. Copy each of the Orders are enclosed as Annexures 1, 2 & 3. As your Excellency is well aware, the administration will hand over on Monday, May 29, 2023, but the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, is planning to circumvent the Court Orders on Friday 26th May 2023 being the last working day of this administration and possibly to cover up the various infractions of Nigerian laws, amongst others. This was disclosed in the interview granted yesterday by the Hon. Minister to Channels Television and the same has gone viral on social media. The Minister is planning to hurriedly bring in two (2) aircraft and pretend that NigeriaAir has commenced operation. The letter reads further, Aside moral justification for commercial operation after the Ministers last day in office, it is a clever way to violate the court orders. This action has no regard to whether or not it will stain the record of this administration, whether or not it will cover for corrupt actions raised in the suit and deliberately meant to violate Court Orders for self-serving purposes. We, therefore, employ your Excellency to STOP this action of the Minister of Aviation, ensure compliance with the terms of the Order and avoid needless controversies on the action after your Excellencys administration would have expired. Notwithstanding, our client will still pursue contempt action against the Minister personally whether or not he left office, for the promotion of the rule of law, protection of the integrity of the court and in line with international best practices. Recall that on Wednesday that the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, revealed that two Nigeria Air aircraft are scheduled to land in the country on Friday. The minister who revealed this on Channels Television promised that the aircraft will be unveiled in Nigerias colours in fulfilment of all the promises made by the administration in the aviation sector. Sirika had at an aviation stakeholders forum in Abuja in March said that Nigeria Air will commence full operations before the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Responding to a question on when exactly Nigeria Air will commence operations, the minister had said, Before the end of this administration, before May 29th, we will fly. Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, says an aircraft belonging to Nigeria Air, the proposed national carrier, will arrive in the country on Friday ahead of the commencement of operations. In an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, Sirika said the aircraft will be unveiled in Nigerias colours (green and white), in fulfilment of all the promises made by the administration in the aviation sector. He said the actualisation of the vision was due to the unwavering resolve of the current administration. On Friday, in two days, the Nigeria Air airplane will land in Nigeria, as part of the processes to commence operations, he said. We would, on that day, unveil the aircraft with delivery and everything in Nigeria colours, belonging to Nigeria Air and we will proceed to do the retrofit and bring back those airplanes. So, we have achieved a lot of whats in the roadmap. The only item that is missing on (sic) my table is the aerotropolis. Even that, the groundwork has been done. All the airports (the four of them) are free zones. They are free zones to allow you to come in there and take advantage of what a free zone is. And that of course will enhance and boost the aerotropolis, which is the airport city. Abuja is sitting on 12,000 hectares of land, courtesy of Mr. President and that is why you would see this huge aerotropolis. News of the arrival of the aircraft comes amid disagreements by stakeholders over the ownership stake of the proposed national carrier. Last year, a federal high court in Lagos prohibited the federal government from selling the shares of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines a judgment that ultimately halted the commencement of operations. But the minister, in recent months, had consistently insisted that the national carrier would fly before the end of the current administration. Sirika, in March, April, and earlier this month, announced that Nigeria Air will commence operations before May 29 and nothing would stop it. Gunmen attacked a checkpoint near Oshiri police station in Onisha LGA of Ebonyi state on Wednesday, killing three officers. Onome Onovwakpoyeya, Ebonyi police spokesperson, in a statement on Thursday, said two of the gunmen behind the attack were killed. The police spokesperson said the officers were on stop and search duty when they were attacked. She said: Today being 24/05/2023 at about 0830hrs, operatives of the command on stop and search duty at Oshiri Division were attacked by armed hoodlums. Sadly, three police men list their lives, one was injured and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. Tactical teams were immediately started to the area to go after the hoodlums. Consequently, two of the hoodlums were neutralized and others escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds. The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi state command, CP Faleye. S Olayele, appeals to the members of the public especially hospitals and clinics to report anyone with bullet wounds or suspicious character in order to apprehend those still at large. The incident comes less than 48 hours after police officers, also conducting a stop and search, were attacked in the state. One officer was killed in that attack. Tawfiq Akinwale, Oyo governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has alleged that Bola Tinubu asked Pat Utomi to relinquish the presidential ticket to Peter Obi. Speaking during a radio programme on 101.7 YES FM, in Ibadan, the Oyo capital, Akiwale said President-elect Tinubu asked Utomi to step down for Obi to become the standard bearer of the LP, adding that the objective was to reduce the chances of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections. Initially, it was Pat Utomi who had the presidential ticket of the party (Labour Party). Let me say something that many people dont know today, Akinwale said. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a legendary politician. Everyone knows that Pat Utomi is a political mentee of Tinubu. The president-elect said since Peter Obi left PDP, Pat Utomi should step down for him (referring to the LP presidential ticket) because he wanted to reduce the chances of Atiku. He knows that Atiku is also a big politician. Asked if Tinubu asked Utomi to relinquish the LP presidential ticket to Peter Obi, he responded with an emphatic yes. What Peter Obi does not know is more than what he knows, he added. On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the presidential election. Announcing the results, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored the second-highest figure with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) polled third with 6,101,533 votes. Utomi is yet to respond to TheCables request for a reaction to Akinwales claims, with calls and text messages to his mobile unanswered, as of the time of publishing this story. However, in what seemed like a response to the development, Utomi posted a cryptic tweet that reads: As I watch the desperation with which past acts sown in love for the common good is unearthed and bent into disinformation regarding the present, I am thankful that in the end truth is the only thing that prevails when lust for power is consumed by its own negativity. So I ignore. The Lagos governorship election petition tribunal has dismissed two petitions contesting the re-election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state. The three-man tribunal led by Arum Ashom, a judge, on Wednesday, struck out the petitions filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and All Peoples Party (APP). The petitions were dismissed after they were withdrawn by the parties involved. At the tribunal, Henry Bello, counsel to APM, said the motion for withdrawal was predicated on four grounds and supported by the two affidavits deposed by Yusuf Dantalle, the partys chairman. Our candidate has lost interest in the petition and has proceeded to congratulate the second respondent, he said. On his part, Francis Eze, counsel to APP, said Okey Nwosu, the chairman of the party, directed that the petition should be withdrawn against Sanwo-Olu. Ayuba Kawu, counsel to Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun Owonikoko, counsel to All Progressive Congress (APC) and John Baiyeshe, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not oppose the motions. In separate petitions, APM and APP had said Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat, his deputy, were not qualified to contest the election and that INEC failed to comply with the provisions of the electoral act and the 1999 constitution (as amended). On March 20, INEC declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the Lagos governorship election. Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to win the election for a second term of four years. The Labour Party (LP) came second with 312,329 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed in third place with 62,449 votes. News / National by Staff reporter BULAWAYO residents have expressed discontent over delays in the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and pipeline despite government undertaking to complete the project in June this year.The city has battled chronic water shortages for decades and most suburbs go for weeks without tap water, leading to fears of disease outbreaks.Bulawayo United Residents Association chairperson Winos Dube told Southern Eye that there was need for a holistic approach to solve the city's water crisis."We are banking on the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project because our dams are not able to hold enough water for the city due to its geographical location. We have experienced disease outbreaks such as cholera with a number of residents having succumbed to it. This project has to be real," Dube said."There are many efforts that have been made by certain individuals, non-governmental organisations and even churches to drill boreholes, but we cannot drill them all over the city otherwise we will end up diminishing the water tables."There are also incidents of violence at water collection points like boreholes, which is a sign that there is a serious water challenge in the city.Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association chairperson Ambrose Sibindi said the city was promised that the Gwayi-Shangani Dam would be completed about four years ago."This is yet to be fulfilled. It is either government priorities are wrong or this is due to the marginalisation of the people of Matabeleland. The project has always been used as a political gimmick. Everytime towards elections they speak loudly about this project. Some suburbs spend a week without water while others spend three days, and this is not normal because water is a right,'' Sibindi said.Bulawayo City Council future water supply committee chairperson Sikhululekile Moyo said the water challenges in the city were a national crisis, which meant that government has to intervene."We are told that all dams are now under the President's Office. The six dams in the city are not enough to provide water. We are looking for partners to drill more boreholes in places like Nketa where we think there are aquifers. We are still doing studies to authenticate that," she said.Moyo said borehole water could be used to supplement tap water for washing purposes.Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo said: "We have always said the dam will be complete by June or July, but we do not expect it to hold water by then. We will have to wait for the rainy season to harvest more water." Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, and Idris Wase, his deputy, on Wednesday, engaged in a verbal confrontation during the plenary session. A dramatic situation unfolded when Gbajabiamila before the adjournment of plenary, asked Hassan Fulata, chairperson of the house committee on rules and business, to make the order paper for Thursday not contain too many items so that the plenary would not go beyond 2 pm. Gbajabiamila had read a notice to his colleagues about the inauguration of the permanent site of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja. Chairman business and rules lets make the order paper light for tomorrow (Thursday) because we have this it is very important the permanent site of the NILDS. It is at 2:30. So it will be good if we close by 2 pm, Gbajabiamila said. Wase subsequently raised a point of order and objected to Gbajabiamilas request that the plenary would be adjourned by 2 pm because of the inauguration of the NILDS building. He argued that lawmakers who wanted to attend the commissioning should be allowed to do so, but that it was unnecessary to adjourn the house for that reason. We have lost quite a number of periods of time. Why do we have to shelve a lot of activities that we have just to go and witness the commissioning of a project of NILDS? I want to beg sir that we should do our functions, he said. Those who have the interest to go (for the inspiration), they have the right to do (so). But our main primary function in this parliament is to make law and our citizens should be our priority. Gbajabiamila responded, saying that the deputy speaker might not fully grasp the significance of NILDS. He said: Perhaps deputy speaker you dont appreciate the importance of NILDS like some of us do. I think NILDS is very important. The speaker was immediately interrupted by Wase who informed him that he has every information and idea of what NILDS is. Again, Gbajabimaila explained why he wanted the plenary to be adjourned by 2 pm. NILDS was set up by this same institution (national assembly) by statute. We are not adjourning the house to go to NILDS. What I said was lets try and make it light and leave here by 2 pm. If you want we can resume by 10 am. We will do our work but we will adjourn this house at 2 pm. I will witness NILDS (inauguration) because it is important to me. Wase, disagreed with the speaker, saying: The parliament is about us, not about I, obviously referring to Gbajabiamilas earlier statement. A fortnight ago, Wase had kicked against a motion to adjourn the house because of the induction of members-elect. YOURE CHALLENGING THE SPEAKER Visibly offended by Wases confrontation, Gbajabiamila said it was the first time in the history of the house of representatives that a deputy speaker would be challenging the speaker. Mr deputy speaker, this is the first time in history. I have been in this house for many years, perhaps even longer than anybody here. This is the first time in history that a deputy speaker will be challenging what the speaker is saying, Gbajabiamila said. He was again interjected by Wase who retorted: I dont understand what you mean by challenging, sir. That I should not make my contribution? Gbajabiamila, once again stressed to Fulata that the order paper should not be overcrowded because the plenary would be adjourned by 2 pm on Thursday. THE SPEAKERSHIP TUSSLE The All Progressives Congress (APC) had nominated Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as the preferred candidates for the positions of speaker and deputy. However, some lawmakers had accused Gbajabiamila of single-handedly imposing Abbas on them. The nominations have been met with pushback from six aspirants who have allied to ensure the speaker is elected from among them. The APC speakership hopefuls include Wase, Yusuf Gagdi, Muktar Betara, Sada Soli, Mariam Onuoha and Sani Jaji. Two men who admitted earlier this year that they robbed and shot a Bergen County man in his home four years ago were sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in state prison, officials said. Raul Torres, of North Bergen, and Carlos Burgos, of Jersey City, both 23, pleaded guilty in April to aggravated manslaughter, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and weapons offenses, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office announced Wednesday. The two said in court that they entered the Fairview apartment of Duque Soto with loaded handguns and fired at the 23-year-old man, the office said. Soto was found dead on the floor of the apartment the night of the killing. Torres and Burgos were co-conspirators and principals to a pre-planned armed robbery of Soto, but others were involved, prosecutors said. In March, a jury convicted 21-year-old North Bergen resident David Martinez of felony murder for his role in this shooting. He was accused of serving as a getaway driver during the robbery. He was sentenced to 30 years in state prison on April 28, authorities said. A fourth suspect, Lexie Burke, 24, of North Bergen, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced next month, the office said. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Wildwood has taken another step to curb rowdy behavior this summer by adding teeth to its ban on alcohol on the citys beach and boardwalk just weeks after an unsanctioned pop-up party promoted on social media was canceled through threats of legal action. While consumption of alcohol on the beach and boardwalk has long been illegal, now merely being in possession of alcohol is illegal, Mayor Pete Bryon said. The new ordinance goes into effect in mid-June. A police department in Cape May County investigating the disappearance of a boy more than 31 years ago plans to partner with a company that uses artificial intelligence to jumpstart the decades-long search. The Mark Himebaugh case has baffled investigators for years with still no indication of what happened to the 11-year-old boy who vanished 75 yards from his his house in the Del Haven section of Middle Township on Nov. 25, 1991. Middle Township police earlier this year enlisted the assistance of Tabtu Corp and its service provider Terawe to use their Vollee Artificial Intelligence. Investigations can result in the collection of large amounts of data and evidence, Middle Township police said in a statement Wednesday. AI has the potential to help find patterns and connections in this vast array of information that may not be readily apparent. The Vollee AI service can help improve the efficiency and efficacy of these investigations. The use of the Vollee Neural AI Assistant, built on Microsofts Azure cloud service, enables advanced compute and processing capabilities. The police department partnered with the company after Chief Christopher Leusner saw a presentation about AI at a police chiefs convention, according to Middle Township Lt. Tracey Super, a department spokesman. Were still in the infancy of this partnership, Super said Thursday. Were going to compile all our data from Middle Township police department, the Cape May County Prosecutors Office, the FBI and State Police. Were going to put that into one clearinghouse and be able to search that. The (AI) is also going to be able to through other resources outside of our investigation so if say, a subject comes up in an investigation, were going to se if he had any ties to the area. Super said Middle Township police are uploading the data theyve compiled from the investigation with State Police, the FBI and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children expected to follow suit. Mark Himebaugh has been missing since 1991. Middle Township police have begun to use Artificial Intelligence in their decades-long search.FBI In a statement, Vollee CEO Anil Balakrishnan said, We are delighted and honored to help... Middle Township police and their law enforcement partners. Vollees advanced AI capabilities accelerates digital evidence analysis by identifying new patterns and correlations across a wide variety of media and documents, which might otherwise remain hidden. Vollee didnt return a message from NJ Advance Media. Among the way AI helps are through facial recognition technology, authorities have said. The disappearance of the red-haired, blue-eyed boy has confounded the FBI and local authorities, who continue to look for answers to what investigators described as a non-family abduction. Himebaugh left his house a few minutes after arriving home from school that Monday afternoon to watch firefighters battle a marsh blaze. He was last seen at a nearby park by a security guard around 4 p.m on Nov. 25, 1991. There have been a handful of leads over the years, but none panned out. In 2015, authorities released a sketch of person of interest. The man in the sketch is believed to resemble convicted sex offender Thomas Butcavage. Butcavage became associated with the Himebaugh case after a male prostitute told authorities Butcavage showed him a tape where he was sexually assaulting a handcuffed boy. The prostitute said the boy looked like Himebaugh. Another clue also gave investigators hope they could finally learn what happened to Himebaugh. In 2015, authorities released a portion of a 911 call placed in 2010 by a man who described himself as the son of the witness to the crime. The man, who placed the call from a phone booth in Philadelphia provided the name Gilbert Patrick Marie, but authorities werent able to identify or locate any such person. The only trace of Himebaugh ever found was his left sneaker, which was discovered not far from where he was last seen. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A corrections officer at a state prison in Cumberland County who previously admitted that he worked with others to assault inmates there, was sentenced Wednesday to two and a half years in prison, officials said. John Makos, 42, of Millville, pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiring with others to deprive inmates of their right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office. Makos and other people at the prison, who were not identified, assaulted inmates under his supervision and those who worked in the kitchen that were not able to be seen by surveillance cameras, the office said. The assaults took place from April to December 2019. During one assault that took place on Dec. 7 that year, Makos watched and did not intervene when several inmates pinned another person to the floor and punched the person about 25 times, authorities said. He did not report the assault to his supervisors or medical personnel at the prison. Corrections officers are responsible for protecting the civil rights of the people in their custody, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said in a statement. Incarcerated persons may have broken the law, but equal treatment is one of our countrys founding principles, and civil rights do not cease to exist at a prisons gates. This defendant allowed incarcerated persons under his care to be brutalized and abused his authority as a law enforcement officer. Todays sentence is another reminder that civil rights violations by law enforcement officials will not be tolerated. In addition to the prison term, a federal judge fined him $10,000, the office said. Makos is also named in a lawsuit brought by former inmates outlining the alleged abusive environment he festered at a state prison. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. A New York City woman says she was taken off a cruise ship during a Christmas vacation with her children four years ago and wrongly jailed for six days in New Jersey on an arrest warrant that was meant for someone else, according to a lawsuit. Yarelis Rivera, 39, was removed from Royal Caribbeans Anthem of the Seas about 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2019, while having breakfast with her children, according to the suit filed Feb. 16 in Superior Court of Hudson County. After returning the children to their stateroom, the woman says she met with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who told her he was taking her off the ship and detaining her on an outstanding warrant from Cumberland County, the suit states. An indictment was handed down by a state grand jury Tuesday against a Mantua Township Police officer who fatally shot a homeowner after the man had called 911 to report intruders on his property - including one with a gun. The officer, Salvatore Oldrati, was charged with one count of manslaughter in connection with incident, which occurred on Sept. 14, 2021, according to a release from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office. A New Jersey man was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to one year and a day in prison for his role as a bag man in an elaborate scheme to steal a Massachusetts womans life savings. Gaurang Contractor, an immigrant from India, will serve a few more months in prison and then face deportation once his term expires after U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni sentenced him. Contractors attorney argued he was a patsy. A South Orange-Maplewood school teacher has resigned following allegations that she held an autistic toddler upside-down by his ankles in March. The unidentified Montrose Early Childhood Center teacher had been on suspension since March 30, three days after the alleged incident, which ignited angry protests and calls for her termination. But earlier this month, the school board allowed her to resign. On May 11, the Board accepted the resignation of the staff member alleged to have engaged in improper conduct involving the student at Montrose, South Orange-Maplewood Superintendent Ronald Taylor said in a statement. The employee was on suspension with pay... since March 30, 2023, which was the date that the building-level administration met with the family. The acceptance of the resignation concludes the employment relationship and avoids exposing the Board, staff, and students to any entanglement with efforts that could challenge a termination, the statement said. The Board has and will continue to cooperate with State and local authorities in their investigations. He said he could not comment further due to confidentiality laws. According to 4-year-old Daylan Wilkins family, the incident occurred minutes before the 2:30 p.m. dismissal on March 27 in a pre-kindergarten classroom at the South Orange school. Witnesses said other teachers and aides were present during the incident and informed Principal Bonita Samuels, who later suspended the teacher. Still, supporters marched in protest, criticizing the handling of the matter, saying the Wilkins family was not notified of the incident when they picked up Daylan from school that day, that it took the school more than 48 hours to inform his parents of what had happened, and that the school failed to update them on the teachers status, despite repeated requests for additional information. Some were displeased with the school boards decision to allow the teacher to resign. Termination should have been the minimal outcome, said Aria Wilkins, Daylans aunt. Resignation does not show accountability of wrongdoing. Felisha George, a community organizer in South Orange, agreed. The fact that the district made a decision to allow this teacher to resign rather than fire her is truly disheartening but not surprising, she said. Weve been fighting for Daylan for almost two months now, and this is as far as its gotten. The district still will not name the aggressor or the other teachers who were present for the assault, she added. A resignation allows this teacher to leave silently, while Daylan and his family have to continue to do the work to keep him safe and help him heal from this traumatic experience. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or Twitter @DeionRJohhnson Police departments across New Jersey have agreed to pay at least $87.8 million since 2019 to settle claims of misconduct against their officers, an investigation by NJ Advance Media found. Some of those payouts were for hefty figures, including 16 settlements that reached $1 million or more. From a mentally ill man shot by police, to officers who alleged they were sexually harassed by their supervisors, here were the top settlements throughout the state. Camden County Police Payment: $10 million Year: 2022 Xavier Ingram, 20, of Camden was paralyzed from the neck down during an alleged beating by Camden County Police Department officers in 2014. He charged police stomped on his neck, breaking it, after he fled from them at a public housing complex because he had an outstanding warrant for driving without a license. His attorneys have said the payout may be the biggest police brutality settlement ever in New Jersey. It came on the heels of a federal civil trial that ended in March 2022 with a hung jury, after lawyers for the county argued Ingram injured himself when he fell while trying to get away. Xavier Ingram was paralyzed from the neck down after an alleged beating by Camden County Police Department officers on June 12, 2014. He received a $10 million settlement that his attorneys believe is the largest police brutality payout ever in New Jersey. (Provided photo) Camden County denounced the agreement, saying it was forced upon it by the countys insurance carrier, which covered the payment. That claim is disturbing and demonstrates a lack of responsibility for Ingrams grievous injury, said his attorney, Beth Baldinger. That to me speaks loud and clear that they still have their head in the sand, and they dont think they did anything wrong, so theyre not trying to change their system, Baldinger said. Camden County spokesman Dan Keashen reiterated that the county believes the officers committed no wrongdoing, saying the settlement was not something we agreed with. Ingram, a father of four, is now 29. He requires round-the-clock nursing care. Warren County Sheriffs Office Payment: $7 million Year: 2022 and 2023 Edward Bullock was Warren Countys sheriff from 1982 to 1991, and he was accused of sexually abusing vulnerable boys who wound up in county custody during his tenure. Those assaults, which were allegedly an open secret within the court system, sparked at least four civil lawsuits by men who charged Bullock preyed upon them decades ago. Two of those suits have settled in the past year, and for big figures: $5 million and $2 million. The larger settlement involved a man who was 8 to 10 years old in the late 1980s when he was twice molested by Bullock at the county courthouse in Belvidere, according to his suit. He was 11 when Bullock raped him during transport to a county childrens shelter in Oxford Township, the suit said. This 2014 photo shows former Warren County Sheriff Edward Bullock at a court hearing March 12, 2014. Bullock, who died in 2015, was accused of preying upon boys in county custody in the late 1980s. (Express-Times Photo | BILL ADAMS) That lawsuit went to trial in Somerset County in June 2022, but before a jury could deliver a verdict, the settlement was reached. Warren County has said it agreed to cover $2.25 million, while insurance covered $2.75 million. In March, Warren County entered into the $2 million settlement with a second man, who alleged Bullock sexually abused him on four occasions in the late 1980s when he was 14 to 16 years old and also under county custody. Bullock died in 2015 at the age of 86, months after a criminal trial involving the first mans allegations ended with a deadlocked jury. Bullock had been forced out of office in 1991 after he propositioned a state trooper posing as a 17-year-old boy, for which he served nine months in prison. Jeffrey and Brad Russo, the attorneys for the two men and a third who also came forward, did not respond to a request for comment. Warren County spokesman Art Charlton declined comment, citing the ongoing litigation. Princeton Payment: $3.8 million Year: 2019 Seven Princeton police officers sued their department in 2013, charging their former police chief had for years subjected them to crude sexual, sexist and homophobic harassment, and threatened to ruin their careers if they ever spoke out. In 2019, Princeton agreed to pay a combined $3.8 million to six of those officers, two of whom received more than $1 million each. The seventh officer settled in 2018 for $100,000. The allegations against Police Chief David Dudeck included that he mocked an officer who had testicular cancer by asking him, Hows it hanging? He was accused of repeatedly making insulting references to the sexual orientation of the cops who worked for him, and of lewdly describing their alleged sex lives and men and womens genitalia. Former Princeton Police Chief David Dudeck was accused of subjecting officers in his department to crude sexual, sexist and homophobic harassment. He is pictured here in a 2010 Trenton Times file photo. Matthew Peluso, the attorney for the seven officers, called the toxic workplace allegations among the worst he has seen in a career spanning more than 20 years. In my experience, this case was as bad as it got, Peluso said. It was crazy, sick stuff. Dudeck, a cop for three decades, was placed on paid leave by Princeton as the accusations came to light, and he later retired with a pension worth nearly $129,000 a year. The settlement, which admitted no wrongdoing, was covered by Princetons insurer. Princeton Mayor Mark Freda and current police Chief Jon Bucchere did not respond to a request for comment. A letter sent to Dudecks home went unanswered. Camden County Sheriffs Office Payment: $3 million Year: 2021 At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, a man died after seeking medical care at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, after he was allegedly turned away by sheriffs officers and security and medical staff from the hospital, according to legal documents. On the night of June 3, 2020, Jerome White had just been discharged from the hospitals emergency department for asthma treatment when he sought to return due to ongoing respiratory problems, according to a notice-of-tort claim his estate filed with the county. The claim, a precursor to a wrongful death lawsuit, charged White was prevented from returning to the E.R. despite being in clear respiratory distress, and that he was denied emergency medical care when it was absolutely necessary. White suffered a brain injury from lack of oxygen and died 16 days later, the claim said. Neither Whites death nor the countys $3 million settlement with his estate have previously been reported. The agreement, signed in March 2021, was reached without the filing of a lawsuit, which would have brought the case into the public eye. Keashen, the Camden County spokesman, declined comment on the settlement, which contained no admission of wrongdoing. Jarad Silverstein, the lawyer who filed the tort notice, also declined comment, and a second attorney listed on settlement documents did not return a phone call. Maryam Munir, the administrator of Whites estate, said he was my, like my, foster child, but had no comment. Whites age and hometown were redacted by the county in documents it provided NJ Advance Media in response to two public records requests. The notice said that a claim was also made against Cooper hospital. It was unclear whether the health system also paid a settlement to the estate, with Cooper University Health Care spokeswoman Wendy Marano declining comment. Piscataway Payment: $2.5 million Year: 2019 Piscataway Police Officer Tracy Abode sued the township in 2014, charging she was sexually harassed by her superior officers and retaliated against when she turned down their advances. That included a supervisor, Sgt. Sean Rapach, who allegedly pressured her into a relationship as she was starting as a cop in 2010, then harassed and spread rumors about her after she ended it, according to her lawsuit. The harassment was so bad, the suit alleged, that Abode began sleeping with a gun under her pillow and changed the locks to her house. Her legal filings also said that after she sued, she was ostracized within the department and arbitrarily disciplined by police brass, culminating in her termination in 2017. The $2.5 million settlement, which has not previously been reported, was entered into in July 2019 and contained no admission of wrongdoing from the township. Piscataway said it was driven by the townships insurance pool, which covered the cost. The insurance provider made a business decision to settle the claims and issued the payments, said a statement issued by township spokesman Gene Wilk. Rapach, an officer for 24 years, remains on the police force, according to pension records. He did not respond to a request for comment. Leslie Parikh, Abodes attorney, declined comment. Mountainside Payment: $2.45 million Year: 2020 Big Blue. That was the name of the sex toy that gained infamy in 2018 after a lawsuit filed by five Mountainside police officers and a part-time dispatcher. The suit detailed rampant lewd workplace misbehavior that included pranks involving indecent exposure, homophobic barbs and a blue dildo that would be waved around the office. It sparked the departure of Police Chief Allan Attanasio, Lt. Thomas Murphy and Sgt. Andrew Huber, who retired or resigned in the wake of the embarrassing allegations. Mountainside admitted no wrongdoing in the $2.45 million settlement, which was approved in September 2020 and which was covered by the boroughs insurance pool. Mayor Paul Mirabelli said the settlement led Mountainside to improve its training and hiring practices, and that it is now a much better department. Efforts to reach Attanasio and Huber were unsuccessful. In a statement, Murphy was critical of confidentiality provisions in settlement agreements, which he said prevent the accused from telling their side of the story, leaving them labeled for life. Things arent always as they appear, attorneys use this new way of life to twist and turn false and frivolous accusations anyway they can, knowing that most insurance companies and towns will just settle, Murphy wrote. Trenton Payment: $1.9 million Year: 2023 In April 2020, 29-year-old Stephen Dolceamore died following a struggle with Trenton police officers in which they restrained him facedown in the dirt of a parking lot median. His family sued the city for wrongful death, charging police used excessive force and ignored his pleas for help as they took him into custody after responding to a call reporting he was acting erratically and walking in traffic. The $1.9 million settlement was approved by City Council in April and came four months after the Attorney Generals Office announced a grand jury had cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing, though Dolceamores death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiners office. State prosecutors noted that toxicology results showed toxic to lethal ranges of methamphetamine and Buprenorphine, a synthetic opioid, in Dolceamores system. The Springfield, Pennsylvania, man died of methamphetamine intoxication with physical restraint and chest-wall restriction, the medical examiner concluded. The familys lawsuit, filed on behalf of Dolceamores wife and two young children, alleged police ignored obvious signs that they were smothering him as they pinned his face and body into the ground in the lot of St. Francis Medical Center. Joseph Grimes, the attorney for Dolceamores estate, declined to comment when the settlement was reached. Spokespersons for the city and the police department declined to comment as well. Stephen Dolceamore, 29, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, died April 3, 2020, following a struggle with Trenton police officers in a parking lot. (Provided photo) Marlboro Township Payment: $1.5 million Year: 2021 Marlboro Police Officer Donna Gonzalez received the $1.5 million settlement after a 2016 lawsuit in which she alleged a toxic workplace that included sexist and racist comments from her superior officers, and rumormongering about her sex life. Gonzalez charged that as one of a handful of women on the police force, she faced indignities large and small: from being given uniforms four sizes too big for her to being denied tactical equipment despite responding to high-risk calls. Gonzalez, who is Hispanic and Black, said one sergeant complained that the only reason there were problems in the department was because it hired a Black female and that she was repeatedly asked by police brass whether she was sleeping with other officers. Her settlement was entered into in July 2021 and contained no admission of wrongdoing by Marlboro. In a prepared statement, Marlboro Business Administrator Jonathan Capp called the agreement a business decision by the townships insurance pool, which covered the payment. Gonzalez was promoted this year to sergeant. Her attorney, Charles Sciarra, said only that her lawsuit was amicably resolved. Middlesex County Sheriffs Office Payment: $1.28 million Year: 2019 In 2017, a civil jury awarded $885,000 to a former Middlesex County Sheriffs Office investigator who charged he was mocked for more than a decade by colleagues because he suffered from diabetes. Mr. Magoo and Stevie Wonder were some of the choice names that Joseph Iko, who had vision problems, said his managers gave him. Others called him walking dead or half dead. Ikos suit also alleged that after a pancreas transplant, he was subjected to slurs that ridiculed the race of his supposedly Black organ donor, and that over the years, he was given undesirable assignments like picking up dead rats, shredding papers and moving furniture. With the jurys decision, Middlesex County was responsible not only for the award, but also for Ikos legal fees, which exceeded $372,000. Payment remained on hold as the county unsuccessfully appealed the verdict, but after it lost in court, the funds were released in September 2019, according to court records. Middlesex County spokeswoman Min Kim did not respond to a request for comment. Ikos attorney, Paul Castronovo, also did not. Rutherford Payment: $1.25 million Year: 2020 This settlement stems from a Navy veterans efforts to become a police officer in his hometown in Bergen County, despite what he charged were nepotistic and discriminatory hiring practices. In 2014, Rutherford had six police officer openings and Wayne Kubs had applied for one of them, after scoring third on the civil service list, which gives veterans priority in the hiring process. But according to his lawsuit, Kubs was rejected in favor of lower-ranking candidates, including then-Mayor Joseph DeSalvos nephew, who ranked 13th on the list. The suit alleged the borough offered contradictory explanations for why Kubs was turned down. But ultimately, officials claimed Kubs hadnt been forthright on his application. Their reasons? They charged he failed to disclose two traffic tickets he had received, as well as a fight he was involved in when he was 14 years old, for which he never faced charges. The suit said the Rutherford had a history of nixing applicants who had served in the military, and that their reasons for turning away Kubs were a pretext. It also charged that in 2019, the borough again passed over Kubs for an opening on the force, despite an order by the Civil Service Commission mandating his hiring. The $1.25 million settlement was reached in August 2020 and contained no admission of wrongdoing by Rutherford. Under it, Kubs agreed not to seek to join the police department. DeSalvo, Police Chief John Russo, current Mayor Frank Nunziato and Borough Administrator Robert Kakoleski did not respond to requests for comment. Kubs lawyer, Catherine Elston, also did not respond to requests for comment. Orange Payment: $1.25 million Year: 2019 Orange Police Lt. Deborah Upchurch sued her employer in 2015, alleging she was sexually harassed by the citys police director, then retaliated against when she resisted his advances. Upchurchs suit claimed then-Director Hakim Sims repeatedly made inappropriate sexual comments to her, including telling her that she reminded him of a porn star. He would send her suggestive emails, the suit said, including one in which he wrote: I wont be responsible if you drag me in the house and seduce me until I am a mess. The $1.25 million settlement was approved by City Council in January 2019 and contained no admission of wrongdoing. Under it, Upchurch was also promoted to captain. The agreement came after lengthy legal proceedings in which a judge threw out the suit in 2016, only for it to be reinstated at appeal in 2018. In legal filings, Sims denied wrongdoing. The city claimed it was unaware of the alleged harassment. Upchurchs attorney, Eldridge Hawkins, declined to comment on the settlement, but said he believes problems persist in the police department. I have not gotten any sense that any real changes have taken place, Hawkins said. Orange suspended Sims after the accusations came to light, and he later retired with a $92,000-a-year pension. Mayor Dwayne Warren, Business Administrator Christopher Hartwyk and Police Director Todd Warren also did not respond to requests for comment. Sims attorney, Gina Mendola Longarzo, said her client always maintained his innocence. The township decided to settle this matter and we had no say in that, Mendola Longarzo said. We wanted to fight this to kingdom come. He wanted to clear his name. Delanco Payment: $1.1 million Year: 2019 A man with mental illness who was pepper-sprayed, beaten with a flashlight and shot three times by a Delanco Township police officer received a $1.1 million settlement after suing for civil rights violations. Eugene Taylor was 21 years old, unarmed and suffering from paranoid schizophrenia early May 14, 2013, when police were called for a report of a man running around and screaming about Jesus, according to court records. His lawsuit charged that when the delusional Taylor didnt comply with Officer Francisco Ambrifis commands, Ambrifi used patently unjustified force that culminated in him shooting Taylor in the chest and side. Taylor was hospitalized in critical condition for about a month, lost part of his lung and has bullet fragments permanently lodged in his chest, his suit said. The township argued Ambrifi acted reasonably, saying he used escalating levels of force amid a violent struggle that broke out as he tried to get Taylor under control. In the encounter, Ambrifi also suffered an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg. After the shooting, Taylor was charged with crimes that included attempted murder and aggravated assault. But all but one were dismissed, and a judge found him not guilty by reason of insanity of resisting arrest, according to court records. The Attorney Generals Office and Burlington County prosecutors concluded Ambrifis use of force was justified, and he faced no criminal charges. The settlement was reached in May 2019 and contained no admission of wrongdoing by Delanco. Township Administrator Richard Schwab, Police Chief Adam Tilger and Mayor Kate Fitzpatrick did not return requests for comment. Ambrifi was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after the shooting and left the police force under a disability pension, according to court records. He declined to comment. Trenton Payment: $1 million Year: 2023 Former Trenton Detective Damon Jefferson said he came to work one day in March 2014 to find a toy monkey hanging from a makeshift noose at his workstation. Jefferson, who is Black, sued for racial discrimination, saying the stuffed animal played upon racist symbolism that was dehumanizing and caused him mental and physical anguish. You cant get any more racially harassed than hanging a monkey in your cubicle when youre the only Black detective in your unit, said his attorney, Robin Lord. The city denied wrongdoing and cast it as a prank between two other officers that wasnt discriminatory. The lawsuit went to trial in November in Superior Court in Mercer County, but the $1 million settlement was reached before the proceedings concluded. It was approved in February by City Council and contained no admission of liability. Wall Township Payment: $1 million Year: 2021 There were jokes about pedophilia and the Ku Klux Klan. One cartoon posted in the police station showed an officer and his bride in a convertible with a Just Married sign, dragging two Black men with ropes around their necks. Another cartoon showed two cops in a police cruiser wearing white hoods a la the KKK. Those were some of the exhibits that Wall Township dispatcher Nicholas Curcio included in a hostile workplace suit in which he alleged he was labeled a rat when he complained to police brass. Former Wall Township police dispatcher Nicholas Curcio said this cartoon depicting officers as Klansmen was part of a hostile work environment he was subjected to on the job. (From legal filings) In the 2018 lawsuit, Curcio was described as an olive-skinned white man whose complexion darkened due to problems with diabetes. He charged officers called him a monkey and half-black, and put up racist and sexually-oriented cartoons to mock him. They also allegedly left sexually explicit drawings on a white board he used. The images were called absolutely disgusting and appalling by Township Administrator Jeff Bertrand after they surfaced in the lawsuit, though he and other officials defended the police department. The $1 million settlement was reached in November 2021 on the eve of a civil trial on the allegations, with the township denying wrongdoing. It involved the estate of Curcio, who had died months before at 51 following battles with heart and liver disease and diabetes. Bertrand, Police Chief Sean OHalloran and Mayor Timothy Farrell did not return requests for comment. Curcios lawyer, Ravi Sattiraju, did not return a request for comment. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com. Update: This post was updated May 26, 2023, with a comment from the attorney for former Orange police director Hakim Sims. VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - DFR Gold Inc. (TSXV: DFR) ("DFR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the first phase of a 10,000 metre drilling program (the "Drilling Program") on the Cascades Project in Burkina Faso, West Africa as announced on 13 February 2023. The completion of 5,641 metres of reverse circulation drilling represents the latest part of a longer-term programme to systematically test exploration targets within the mineralised shear corridor at the Cascades Project. Highlights of the recent drilling include: 5,641 metres of Reverse Circulation drilled in 57 drillholes at five target areas Two significant new zones confirmed with resource potential from first pass drilling at Sina Yar and Far East targets Intersections at Sina Yar included 34 metres @ 1.83 grammes per tonne (g/t) of gold in CS23-RC077 from 50-84 metres At the Far East target a wide mineralised zone with 48m@ 0.42g/t Extension of the 2022 discovery zone from step-out drilling at the TT13 target John McGloin, CEO of DFR Gold, stated: "These positive drilling results reinforce the potential scale of the gold resource at Cascades through the identification of new zones and further delineation of already identified areas. We are encouraged by the consistent mineralisation across the licence area and are undertaking further analysis to determine the optimal approach for the second phase of drilling." Background to the Drilling Programme The recently completed programme at the Cascades Project is the first part of a planned two-phase 10,000 metre programme. This first phase targeted extensions to the current resources and several new targets (Figure 1): Two newly defined targets immediately north and southwest of the Daramandougou resource pit shell western Zone extension, and Dara North respectively Step-out drilling on the TT13 target, a significant new gold zone identified during 2022 First-pass drilling on three other newly delineated targets in the Wuo Land 2 licence area at Far East, Sina Yar and TT13-West Phase two of the Drilling Programme will be a results-driven follow-on programme targeting the highest priority results from the first phase. Figure 1 Drill Target areas at the Cascades Gold Project, Burkina Faso (CNW Group/DFR Gold Inc. (formerly Diamond Fields Resources Inc.)) Drilling Progress Drilling commenced on 11 February 2023 and concluded on 18 April 2023 with 57 holes drilled for an aggregate of 5,641 metres. Table 1 shows the planned drilling programme with the proposed holes and meterage versus actual drilling completed. Fire assay results have been received while Bottle Roll analysis results are awaited. Drilling Results Sina Yar Ten drillholes were drilled for an aggregate of 903 metres. Significant mineralisation was intersected in each hole drilled. In particular, three consecutive holes testing 250m metres of strike length of the main north-south trending structure in metasediments intersected significant widths of mineralisation as follows: CS23-RC077 50-84 metres, 34 metres @ 1.83g/t and CS23-RC077 23-29 metres 6 metres @ 1.14 g/t and CS23-RC078 53-71 metres, 18 metres @ 1.13g/t and CS23-RC078 74-78 metres, 4 metres @ 1.25g/t and CS23-RC078 88-96 metres, 8 metres @ 1.64g/t and CS23-RC078 103-113 metres, 10 metres @ 1.02g/t CS23-RC079 50-78 metres, 28 metres @ 0.53g/t Target Area Target description Holes targeted Metres targeted Holes drilled Metres drilled Dara North chargeability/resistivity anomaly; artisanal workings; proximity to resource; further along strike potential to north 8 640 8 809 Western Zone Extn (incl NPG targets) chargeability/resistivity anomaly; no artisanal workings; extension of resource structure 10 1,440 13 1,398 TT13 Step-Out Tested by first pass drilling; aim to demonstrate continuity over 500 strike length; 9 720 10 872 TT13-West Newly opened artisanal zone 800 metres west of TT13 discovery; already 500 metres long but along strike potential to north; could be skinny 6 600 5 546 Sina Yar Intensive artisanal workings; broad area of shallow pits but drilling focus on line/s deeper pits into bedrock; geochemical anomaly 8 640 9 903 Far East-N artisanal workings; support from rock grab samples; geophysics ambiguous 5 400 5 501 Far East-S artisanal workings; support from rock grab samples; geophysics ambiguous 7 560 7 612 TOTAL 53 5,000 57 5,641 Table 1 Details of the recently completed drilling programme at the Cascades Gold Project The mineralisation is hosted by narrow quartz veins within a north-south trending mineralised envelope hosted by a banded greywacke and sandstone metasedimentary sequence. Sina Yar is currently the target of significant artisanal mining activity. Mineralisation appears open to the north of the drill tested area. In the more southerly holes mineralisation was weaker and patchier although artisanal activity remains intense. A highly altered felsitic intrusion has been mapped towards the southern end of the Sina Yar workings, similar in the intrusions mapped at both the Daramandougou and Wuo Ne mineral resource areas. Follow-up drilling is planned at Sina Yar, starting with stepping out to the north of CS23-RC077. Figure 2 Plan view of drilling at the Sina Yar target showing a downhole gold grade histogram (CNW Group/DFR Gold Inc. (formerly Diamond Fields Resources Inc.)) Far East The three northernmost holes at the Far East target appear to have snagged a significant zone of mineralisation albeit at so far lowish grade. Significant intersections included hole CS23-RC066 32-60 metres, 28 metres @ 0.56g/t. Although the intersections are low grade, historical drilling by High River Gold intersected a number of high grade intercepts nearby and grab samples by DFR in 2022 returned grades up to 9.3g/t in quartz veins being exploited by artisanal miners. The mineralisation appears to be open north of CS23-RC066 and the current orpaillage appears to extend at least 250 metres (and likely 450 metres) further north of CS23-RC066. TT13 target The TT-13 target was tested by DFR with a first pass drilling programme of 9 holes in July 2022. A 1,800 metre strike length of intermittent mineralisation has been delineated from field mapping and drone surveys. The zone is characterised by near continuous artisanal workings at surface. The 2022 drilling here delineated a 300 metre strike length with significant mineralisation in three holes for example CS22-RC029 27-36m, 9 metres @ 1.0g/t plus 56-66m, 10 metres @ 1.81g/t. The current campaign targeted the northerly and southerly extensions of the zone. Mineralisation is somewhat patchy but several holes intersected significant mineralisation which extends the zone. For example, hole CS23-RC098, collared 370 metres north of CS22-RC029, returned 8 metres @ 1.21g/t (30-38 metres) plus 4 metres @ 1.81g/t (63-67 metres). TT-13 West target In the first pass drilling at the newly delineated TT-13 West target five easterly inclined holes targeted a vertical shear zone in a new orpaillage area 800 metres west of the TT13 target. The artisans are targeting an array of thin, reportedly high grade, quartz veins in metasediment but mineralisation intersected was patchy. Highest grade intersected in the drilling was CS23-RC086, 61-62 metres downhole, 1 metre @11.6g/t gold. The broadest intercept was in CS23-RC088 63-78 metres, 15 metres @ 0.88g/t. Western Zone SW-Extension and Dara North targets Drilling at the Dara North and at the Southwestern Extension of the Western Zone was targeted primarily at combined resistivity/chargeability geophysics anomalies and at each target significant mineralisation was not intersected over mineable widths. At Dara North a pervasive linear zone of artisanal mining confirms the northerly extension of Western Zone mineralisation from the main Daramandougou artisanal area. However, the mineralised zone thus far appears to be quite thin and relatively patchy within the 750 metres of strike length tested. Note on the laboratory assays All assays referenced here are for Fire Assay analyses performed by SGS Laboratories in Ouagadougou. All samples reported here were either one-metre primary samples or composites of three one-metre primary samples. Splits (3kg) of one-metre primary samples from selected mineralised intersections have been prepared for "Leachwell" Bottle Roll. Experience from comparisons between fire assay and bottle roll analyses from previous drilling programmes at the Cascades Project points to a likely small percentage increase in grade for bottle rolls versus fire assays. This drilling report will be updated when all of the Bottle Roll analysis results have been received. Artisanal Miners The Company was notified of a recent accident involving unlicensed artisanal miners in which a ground collapse resulted in fatalities at a location within the 304km2 exploration licence area of the Company's Cascades Project. There has been no licenced mining activity within the Company's exploration area in recent years and none of the Company's staff were present in the area when the accident occurred. DFR has offered its support to the relevant authorities in their investigation of this tragic incident. David J Reading, M.Sc., FIMM, Fellow SEG, a director of DFR and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 has prepared or supervised the preparation of, or approved, as applicable, the technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Reading has over 40 years' experience in the mining industry covering all stages of mine development, including exploration, feasibility, financing, construction and operations. He has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and of the Society of Economic Geologists. Notes to Editors: DFR Gold is a TSX Venture Exchange listed exploration and mine development company focused on gold in West Africa. DFR Gold holds interests in a portfolio of West African gold exploration projects including the highly prospective Cascades gold project ("Cascades") in Burkina Faso. Cascades has a Mineral Resource* prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 comprising 5.41 million tonnes of indicated resources at an average grade of 1.52g/t Au for a total 264,000 ounces of gold: and 6.93 million tonnes of inferred resources at an average grade 1.67g/t Au for a total of 371,000 ounces of gold. Please see the Company's technical report titled "Amended and Re-stated Technical Report on the Labola Project Burkina Faso" dated April 2, 2022, with an effective date of April 20, 2022 for further information regarding Cascades. This report can be located at www.dfrgold.com . In Madagascar, DFR Gold has an advanced high grade hard rock zircon exploration prospect located in the west of the country, approximately 220km east of the port of Maintirano and close to a state road. DFR Gold acquired Beravina from Pala Investments and Austral Resources in 2016. Website: www.dfrgold.com The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com Neither the TSX-V 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. Additional Mineral Resource Estimate Disclosures *Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues. The Mineral Resources in this note were reported using CIM (2014) Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines and adopted by CIM Council. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define this Inferred Resource as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading the Inferred Resource to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. The Mineral Resource has been constrained by an open pit evaluation using a gold price of US$1900 per ounce, and then reported at a cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au. Contained metal and tonnes figures in totals may differ due to rounding. Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this release that address activities, events or developments that DFR Gold expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Debenture Offering and the completion thereof; and the intended use of proceeds of the Debenture Offering. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "aim", "aspire", "strive", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "believe" or similar expressions as they relate to DFR Gold. Forward- looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information. There are a number of important factors that could cause DFR Gold's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: the ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals; the ability to finance the drilling campaign; commodity prices; the gold exploration and mining industry in general; the potential impact of the announcement on relationships; including with regulatory bodies, employees; suppliers, customers and competitors; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; and compliance with extensive government regulation. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statement prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. DFR Gold cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on DFR Gold's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, shareholders should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. DFR Gold 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 release represents the expectations of DFR Gold as of the date of this release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While DFR Gold may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. SOURCE DFR Gold Inc. (formerly Diamond Fields Resources Inc.) Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/25/c2726.html Two recent incidents where a good samaritan took charge of a disruptive and potentially violent situation in a public place raise an interesting question: How come some people know how to use restraint when using restraints, and some people dont? The situations took place about 90 miles apart. Fortunately, the one that occurred in South Jersey, in the Deptford Mall, had an outcome that was not tragic. The the other incident, one that occurred on a New York City subway car two weeks earlier, concluded differently. Both involve so-called choke holds, which can be fatal, and have prompted widespread calls for police departments to ban them in attempts to subdue suspects. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." In the subway case, a 24-year-old ex-Marine has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Jordan Neely, 30, when they were passengers in the same subway car. By nearly all accounts, Neely, a street performer said to have had mental and unhoused issues, was agitated and loudly challenging the other passengers about being hungry and other personal problems. The former marine, Daniel Penny, 24, was having none of this. He compressed Neelys neck to the point that he ultimately died. Almost needless to say, some regard Penny as a vigilante hero, despite the criminal charges. Others call this use of civilian force excessive, and say that Neely was not threatening anyone with violence. Penny has said through his attorney that his actions were self-defense, and he did not intend to kill Neely. The narrative in Deptford is similar, but different in important ways. On Friday evening, May 19, in the busy mall, another bystander came upon a person in trouble. This time, the unruly person had managed to put a township police officer in a choke hold after refusing to leave when asked to do so by the cop. This time, the bystander was Robert Fitzpatrick, a teacher at Penns Grove High School. Fitzpatrick, armed with knowledge of jujutsu, turned the tables on the suspect (Michael Carberry, 43), managing to help free the officer (Anthony Gatto), then putting Carberry in a limited choke hold until more help could arrive. Carberry has since been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and other charges. I was able to apply a choke and take him to the ground and flatten him out, Fitzpatrick told 6ABC. He also helped deescalate the situation with Carberry. Loosening enough to be able to communicate with him. I talked to him, I explained to him Im a father of three, Im going home to my boys " Even the suspect, he walks away and he deals with justice and the courts. The officer goes home to his family (with minor injuries). It feels like all around the board, thats a win for everybody, added Fitzpatrick. Compare that with what occurred in the subway. Not everyone will call Fitzpatrick a hero, but hell be treated that way far more than Penny will. Aside from any racial and/or mental health factors, the difference in the two cases is proportionality. If a high school teacher knows how to practice it, why doesnt someone trained as a Marine? Why dont police officers, on a more regular basis? In addition to the subway incident, were reminded of the 2014 Staten Island death of Eric Garner, by a police officer using a choke hold, after Garner was confronted for allegedly selling loose cigarettes illegally. Its been just about two years since former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd, after preventing Floyd from breathing by keeping his knee on Floyds neck for 9 1/2 minutes. Credit Robert Fitzpatrick as an ordinary guy out shopping with his kids, but an extraordinary one because he knew what needed to be done to keep others safe, as well as how to defuse a situation. He should write training manuals for professionals. Or, at least invite him to the police academy as a guest lecturer. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. By Cybele Kotonias and Rebecca Silber Every crime drama and reality crime show from Law & Order to 48 Hours Mystery has a moment when a suspect is handcuffed and read his Miranda rights, including the right to counsel. If you cannot afford an attorney, the suspect is told, one will be appointed for you. What TV does not show is the cost of this constitutional right in states like New Jersey, where the free lawyer is not free at all. Despite documenting their indigence under penalty of perjury, the 50,000 people each year who have to utilize the services of New Jerseys public defenders are charged a minimum fee of $150. The fee grows with the seriousness of the charges and the length of time services are needed. Every three additional days add $500 to the bill. This incentivizes individuals to enter plea bargains that may be against their best interest and even affects people ultimately acquitted in a trial. In New Jersey, there is currently no limit on the amount a defendant can be billed. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." This scheme leaves low-income individuals, innocent and guilty alike, on the hook for thousands of dollars in defense fees. Thats in addition to the countless other financial costs associated with criminal charges: lost wages, court fees, and a long list of other surcharges, from jury fees to clerk fees. These bills saddle those who serve prison time with financial debt they cant afford, even after they pay their debt to society. Households affected by incarceration have 50% less wealth, on average than those unaffected by incarceration. With a 60% unemployment rate, previously incarcerated individuals struggle to earn enough to repay debts. Alex Shalom, director of Supreme Court Advocacy for the ACLU of New Jersey and a former public defender, calls the system damn irrational, and we agree. In practice, these fees have little effect other than criminalizing poverty. They fail to deter future justice system involvement. Recent research shows that such fees often have the opposite effect: leading former defendants back into court to face new warrants or debt collection proceedings. These fees dont even provide adequate support to public defenders or meaningfully fund essential courtroom services. In New Jersey, public defender fees amounted to a marginal $4 million this fiscal year. And some jurisdictions actually lose money as a result of court fees, spending more on collection costs than they can raise through revenue. New Jersey can do better. It has taken steps to remedy unfair fees before. In 2020, Arnold Ventures, where we work, supported Rutgers Law Schools Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic, along with the Juvenile Law Center and the Debt Free Justice campaign, to eliminate fines and fees for juveniles, including defense fees. Young people who have interacted with the justice system should have the opportunity to envision a future free of legal debt, and so should everyone else. We are heartened that Gov. Murphy is taking the problem of indigent defense fees seriously. In his Fiscal Year 2024 budget, he proposes eliminating these fees entirely. We urge legislators to support this change in the final budget. Doing so would turn New Jersey into a model for the rest of the nation. If funding is included in the final budget, New Jersey would join two other states Delaware and California that have repealed indigent defense fees. It would represent a crucial step toward nationwide legislative action that puts an end to all unfair fees placed on the accused. Eliminating indigent defense fees will, for a small price to the state, put an end to the cycles of debt that trap people and make it impossible for them to get back on their feet. Together, we can end the use of unfair and irrational fees and build a justice system that lives up to the name. Cybele Kotonias and Rebecca Silber are directors of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The 2024 presidential race could be the election that renders the term lunatic fringe obsolete. On the Republican side, the leader in the polls is former president Donald Trump, who is doing his best to talk his way into a padded cell. On the Democratic side, the front-runner is a conventional Beltway politician. But most Democrats tell the pollsters theyd prefer that the party nominate someone other than President Joe Biden. At the moment, the role of someone else is being played by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The son of the late senator is so far out on the left wing that hes appealing to the right wing. One such right-winger backing Kennedy is Steve Bannon, the co-founder of Breitbart News and former chief strategist for the Donald Trump administration. That may sound like an internet conspiracy theory, but the highly respected reporter Bob Costa of CBS News has confirmed it. Costa reported that Bannon urged RFK Jr. to enter the race because he would be a useful chaos agent. When it comes to chaos, the GOP already has all it can handle. Why shouldnt the Democrats share the wealth? They will if RFK Jr. gets his way. Kennedy has made a career out of promoting theories that have appeal to big chunks of the population despite their lack of veracity. The most prominent such issue is his opposition to vaccines. Most recently he targeted COVID vaccines. But long before that, he pushed the idea that autism is caused by infant vaccinations. It isnt, but that sort of issue can be popular with the back-to-nature crowd on the left as well as the anti-government crowd on the right. In that regard, RFK Jr. is already popular with Q-anon. Thats the internet cult that formed around a shadowy figure who claims to have had a high-level Q security clearance but prefers to remain anonymous, likely because he doesnt exist. That didnt stop the cult members from gathering in 2021 at the scene of John F. Kennedys assassination in Dallas in the expectation of a visit from RFK Jr.s cousin John F. Kennedy Jr. JFK Jr. was killed in a plane crash in 1999 but hundreds of Q-anon cultists showed up anyway. The Q-anon crowd likes RFK Jr. but hes smart enough not to openly endorse that particular lunacy. But like Trump, he lets the lunatics line up behind him. Also like Trump, he has a talent for promoting populist views. The left-leaning news site Media Matters for America, highlighted a couple of those views in a piece headlined Right-wing media and fringe figures are celebrating RFK Jr.s run for president. The article listed Trump ally Roger Stone and Alex Jones of Infowars as among the right-wingers who spoke favorably of Kennedys candidacy. It stated that Jones called Kennedys campaign a good thing, adding, Hes got a lot of guts, and I really support him [for] the Democratic nomination. Among the positions attributed to RFK Jr. in the article are quite a few that could gain support across party lines. One such position was a claim from Kennedy that Microsoft founder Bill Gates and the government would use satellites and 5G cell phone technology for surveillance over every square inch of the planet, 24 hours a day. Farfetched? Not really. Most of us already carry devices that track our every movement. And we pay for the privilege. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: Then theres the charge that Kennedy has also peddled claims that the government plans to use digital currency to control the population. Again, were paying for the plastic that could be used to make money obsolete. You dont have to be a right-winger to worry whether the cash economy will eventually disappear. Kennedy recently went before the editorial board of the right-leaning New York Post, which proclaimed that he is fiercely independent of many of the partys reigning pieties, and quoted him as saying I would seal the border and You cant have a country if you cant protect your border. The resulting Post editorial was titled Bidens a fool to ignore the RFK Jr. challenge. Thats also the prevailing sentiment among my Democratic friends. Former Sierra Club spokesman Jeff Tittel, who has had a long career in Democratic politics, told me Theres a yearning for someone younger than Biden, someone more dynamic. Former state senator Ray Lesniak of Union County said that Kennedy could play a spoiler role like populist Pat Buchanan did in the 1992 Republican primaries. He wounded George H.W. Bush in the primaries, Lesniak said. He made him look weak. Bush survived the primaries but went on to lose to Bill Clinton. Thanks to Kennedy, Biden might not make it out of the primaries, Lesniak said. If Kennedy has 38 percent in early primaries, that would be a message, he said. That message is: Choose a better candidate before the lunatic fringe becomes the center. ADD - INTERESTING PIECE ON A JUDGE WHO UNSUCCESSFULLY SUED THE DAILY BEAST AFTER IT REPORTED HER LINK TO Q-ANON Here it is. More: Recent Paul Mulshine columns. Paul Mulshine may be reached at pmulshine@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mulshine. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook and on Twitter By Atiya Weiss Its a natural goal of all societies for every generation to be healthier than the one before. Yet when it comes to maternal child health, our nation is failing. A mother in the United States today is more likely to die in childbirth than her mother. Our nation is the most dangerous country in the industrialized world to have a baby. And, though New Jersey is one of the wealthiest and, overall, healthiest states, the situation here lags the national average. In 2018, New Jersey was ranked 47th in the nation, or fourth highest, for maternal mortality overall, with Black women at least five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Black babies are three times more likely than white babies to die before their first birthday. These disparities threaten all Black families, regardless of income, education, and other socioeconomic factors, a recent study found. For decades, it seemed nothing could be done. Now we know better. There is greater recognition that we need a perinatal health care system built on trust, competence, belonging, and dignity for everyone, no matter their race, ethnicity, or class. That system must be free of the structural racism in policies and practices that can harm mothers and babies. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." A first step to creating a more supportive and equitable system requires rethinking where we put our money. Four of every five maternal health dollars are spent on the brief window usually 24 to 48 hours of care around the time of birth. Just a small fraction supports prenatal and postpartum care, the times when opportunities are abundant for promoting well-being by addressing mental health and social needs that can threaten lives. Some innovative pilot programs in New Jersey support women through pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum in ways shown to significantly improve mothers and babies health. We must expand these models of care. One example is CenteringPregnancy, a relationship-based health care approach where eight to 10 pregnant women, all due around the same time, come together for their care. They take their own weight and blood pressure and record their own health data and have private time with their provider. Then the group, supported by nurses, midwives, and ob-gyns, gathers to discuss anything from nutrition and stress to labor and delivery to breastfeeding. The Burke Foundation joined with the New Jersey Department of Health and other foundations to invest in a five-site CenteringPregnancy pilot in 2019. As of December 2022, birth data for 363 newborns show a 27 percent decrease in preterm births and a 20 percent reduction in low birth weight. We are scaling this relationship-based group healthcare model to 50 sites across New Jersey by 2026. Another example of where more maternal care investment is needed: growing and strengthening the states corps of doulas. These non-clinical professionals much more widely used in other countries provide emotional, physical, social, and educational support during the prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum periods. Burke funded the AMAR Community-based Doula Program in Trenton, which served over 150 families. Data from 2019-2022 documented a 79% reduction in preterm births; 49% decline in low-risk C-sections; and a 60% exclusive breastfeeding rate at three months. These results make a convincing case for expanding the use of doulas in New Jersey. Relying more on midwifery is another necessity. Midwives are highly-trained clinicians and experts in the healthy processes of labor, childbirth, and breastfeeding, and midwifery has been shown to reduce unneeded medical interventions, increase rates of breastfeeding, and contribute to greater patient satisfaction. Burke is part of a coalition of advocates expanding and supporting midwifery practice in New Jersey. To support this transformation of care, we must create a perinatal workforce that goes beyond ob-gyns one that includes greater numbers of midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, home visiting nurses, and community health workers. We need pathways for more women of color to join this workforce, and we must improve compensation so we can turn these professions into sustainable careers. Beyond improving health, these changes have strong economic benefits. We spend more on maternity and newborn healthcare than on any other area of health care. Reducing health conditions caused or worsened by pregnancy would reduce costs at the same time they give mothers and newborns their best chance to thrive. The widespread support for the NurtureNJ campaign started by New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy shows there is a will to change the status quo. Theres a way, too. We need government and private insurers to think beyond hospitals when funding maternal-child health care. We must diversify and expand the perinatal workforce and support innovative approaches. We can do more than just imagine a new system of care for mothers and babies. We can and must make New Jersey a state where no mother and no baby ever dies because they did not get the care they deserved. Atiya Weiss is executive director of the Burke Foundation in Princeton, which is committed to early childhood policies and practices that promote healthy births and strong beginnings. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Adding sudden drama to negotiations over a state budget due in weeks, Gov. Phil Murphy voiced opposition Thursday to a broad new tax cut plan for New Jersey seniors being pushed by a top state lawmaker and fellow Democrat. Two senior administration officials told NJ Advance Media that Murphy would veto the irresponsible bill if the Democratic-controlled state Legislature sends it to his desk as is and that he is even preparing for the possibility of a state government shutdown if there is a standoff. Today, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster signed a ban on abortion at six weeks gestationbefore many people know that theyre pregnant, and, given the weeks-long wait at most clinics, a near-impossible turnaroundinto law. It is set to take effect immediately. With my signature, the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act is now law and will begin saving the lives of unborn children immediately, McMaster said. This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed. The right to life must be preserved, and we will do everything we can to protect it. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Greenville Womens Clinic, and two physician-plaintiffs quickly filed a lawsuit to challenge the ban. In January, South Carolinas Supreme Court struck down a six-week ban due to a right to abortion in the states constitution. [F]ew decisions in life are more private than the decision whether to terminate a pregnancy, wrote Justice Kaye Hearn in the January decision. Our privacy right must be implicated by restrictions on that decision. It is not clear how the ban that was signed into law today could be set apart from the ban that was struck down as unconstitutional in January, though this version does include exceptions to prevent the serious risk of a substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, in cases of rape and incest and if the fetus has a fatal anomaly. Exceptions are notoriously difficult for patients to acquire. In such cases, the law makes clear that a physician must make all reasonable efforts to deliver and save the life of an unborn child during the process of separating the unborn child from the pregnant woman, to the extent that it does not adversely affect the life or physical health of the pregnant woman. Under the law, too, doctors who perform abortions past six weeks could face fines, civil suits, and felony criminal charges that could result in a two-year prison sentence. So, too, does the bill require paternal child support from the moment of conception, which is not intended to provide support for the pregnant personits a strategy to establish personhood for embryos and fetuses, which experts say is the next anti-abortion battlefront. Warren County has settled the second in a series of lawsuits over a former sheriff who allegedly was known to rape boys in county custody in the 1980s. The county agreed to pay the accuser $2 million, with the amount split between the county and its insurer. The settlement was confirmed by NJ Advance Media during research for a special report on police-related lawsuit settlements across New Jersey. After a decade of fighting in court, victims of former Sheriff Edward Bullock have now received a combined $7 million from Warren County and its insurer. Two lawsuits are still pending. MORE: 16 times N.J. cop misconduct cases were settled for $1M or more Bullock was sheriff from 1982 to 1991. He abruptly resigned after he was caught in a New Jersey State Police sting soliciting sex from an undercover trooper he thought was an underage boy. Bullock pleaded guilty to official misconduct in 1992 and served nine months in jail. The ex-sheriff died in 2015 at age 86, a few months after a jury deadlocked in a criminal trial over one of the alleged rapes. The latest settlement concludes a lawsuit filed in 2015. The victim, identified only by the initials C.C., was 14 and 15 years old and under the countys care during four alleged assaults by the sheriff, including Bullock giving the boy back rubs in his courthouse office and fondling the teen during a transport to the county youth shelter. Previously, the county reached a $5 million settlement with another accuser in 2022, just before that civil case went to trial. That lawsuit was filed in 2013. A third lawsuit was filed in 2016, just a couple months after Bullock died. It claims a young boy in custody, identified as R.M., was targeted and repeatedly abused between 1987 and 1989, including literally dozens of times while being transported between county facilities. It also says that the boy was abused at Bullocks Lopatcong Township home and at the home of Bullocks friend, identified only as R.C. A fourth civil suit was filed in 2020. In it, the accuser says he was a teenage hitchhiker on his way to New York City in 1979 when Bullock, then an undersheriff, picked him up in an official vehicle, drugged him and raped him with another man before the teen could escape. 33 1 / 33 Protest for Victims of Warren County Sheriff Edward Bullock on April 27, 2021 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. MILAN Niccolo Pasqualetti, Marcello Pipitone and Setchu are the recipients of the 2023 grants bestowed by the Camera Moda Fashion Trust, the nonprofit organization established in 2017 to support young Italian or Italy-based talents in developing their businesses with financial aid, as well as business mentoring programs and tutoring. Revealed during a gala dinner in the city on Thursday night, the winners were selected by a committee co-headed by Chiara Ferragni and Elia Maramotti, brand director and member of the Max Mara fashion group sustainability committee. More from WWD Selected among 76 applicants, the 10 finalists were Cavia, Federico Cina, Florania, Francesco Murano, Marcello Pipitone, Marco Rambaldi, Niccolo Pasqualetti, Saman Loira, Setchu and Ssheena. Some of them have been regularly showcasing their collections as part of Milan or Paris Fashion Week. Ferragni and Maramotti both praised the work done by the Fashion Trust in helping young talents achieve their dreams and contributing to shape the new-gen Made in Italy fashion. The three winning brands will receive 40,000 euros each in funding, as well as a business mentoring and one-to-one tutoring starting from June. An alum of The Row, Loewe and Alighieri, designer Niccolo Pasqualettis androgynous designs are supported by a sustainable and artisanal approach, which had already netted them a spot in last years LVMH Prize semifinals and the attention of retailers like Ssense, Machine-A, The Broken Arm and Dover Street Market Ginza. Niccolo Pasqualetti Marcello Pipitone, a IED graduate, has always imbued his upbringing and personal story in the namesake brand he founded in 2020. Filled with streetwear and sportswear inflections, he celebrates Milans suburbia. A finalist of the 2021 edition of the Who Is On Next? talent search, he has charted a sustainable journey, oftentimes handling manufacturing himself and increasingly embedding upcycled fabrics. Born in Kyoto, Japan, Setchus Satoshi Kuwata is now based in Italy after studying at Londons Central Saint Martins and working for Huntsman in Savile Row. A Gareth Pugh, Givenchy, Edun and Golden Goose alum, he introduced his unisex label in 2020. The brand name Setchu represents the fusion of Japanese and Western concepts, with items like foldable jackets in origami-like constructions. Setchus Satoshi Kuwata. A fourth recipient, Florania, will receive an amount of 15,000 euros pledged by Max&Co. under the Design for Change moniker. Flora Rabitti, the creative director of the brand, will also have a chance to collaborate with the contemporary brand part of the Max Mara Fashion Group on a special project. The genderless and seasonless brand was founded in 2021 by Rabitti, a designer and illustrator from Mantua, Italy. Directly linked to post-punk subcultures, Florania embeds a DIY, sustainable and handmade approach using upcycled and recycled fabrics and materials. Max&Co. is a supporting partner of the trust, joined by the Fidenza Village shopping center and its parent company The Bicester Collection. The latter will mentor a group of finalists in developing their business and invite them to sell their collections inside The Creative Spot, a pop-up space at the outlet to open in 2024. Flora Rabitti of Florania. This years jury panel included Manuela Brini, director of creative talent acquisition and development at the LVMH Fashion Group; Francesco Ragazzi, founder and creative director of Palm Angels; Carlo Capasa, chairman of Italys Camera Nationale and a trustee of the talent support organization; Stavros Karelis, founder and buying director of hip retailer Machine-A; Stefano Martinetto, cofounder and chief executive officer of London-based Tomorrow Group, as well as Michelle Francine Ngonmo, founder and CEO of the Afro Fashion Association and the Black Carpet Awards, among others. Marcello Pipitone Established in 2017 but officially kicking off full-fledged activities in 2019, the trust previously bestowed its grants on Act N.1, Coliac and Blaze, Vitelli and Cormio. The organization relies on private donors as well as Italian brands contributing with yearly donations. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. It is, we admit, uncommon for us to use this space to praise politicians, so we hope you will excuse us this week if we share an embarrassment of riches: not one but two Louisiana elected officials deserving applause. This years legislative session has seen a plethora of attacks on women, Black people and the LGBTQ community, often with a distressing shortage of opposition. That was not, however, the case in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on the afternoon of May 24. The committee sat through more than two hours of testimony, too much of it in support of House Bill 648, a draconian ban on gender-affirming health care for trans youth brought by Rep. Gabe Firment, R-Pollock. The bill had already cleared the House and appeared headed for passage in the Senate. Thankfully, Chairman Fred Mills, R-Parks, hadnt gotten the memo that the cruelty is the point. Mills, a popular Cajun pharmacist whose conservative bona fides are above question, courageously defended vulnerable kids and families. And he didnt do it quietly. The term-limited Mills took Firment and his fever dreams to the political woodshed publicly and repeatedly. In my years here, Ive never seen something like you, Mills told Firment before joining committee Democrats to kill the bill on a 5-4 vote. Mills cast the deciding vote knowing conservatives would howl for his political head on a platter, which they did. He showed genuine courage and true Christian values in defending at-risk kids. We applaud you, Senator Mills. Meanwhile, here at home, we saw another public display of common sense from an elected official. Several weeks ago, New Orleans District C Council Member Freddie King III proposed suspending, for one year, the Vieux Carre Commissions enforcement powers. Kings stated goal was to give the commission and stakeholders time to review and streamline the VCCs complex set of rules and give Quarter businesses and contractors a chance to clear a backlog of Hurricane Ida-related repairs. Kings proposed suspension of historic protections drew loud condemnation from preservationists, however. King is a first-term council member who has, until now, shown himself to be quietly risk averse. He could have dug in and pushed harder for his idea; or he could have run from the political heat by dropping it altogether. Instead, King did what elected leaders should do in the face of controversy. He took his lumps in a public town hall setting, listened to critics and experts, and showed that he knew how to learn and grow as a public servant. He then set his sights even higher. He announced his plan to establish a task force, which will include all stakeholders, to craft a holistic set of reforms to streamline and simplify the entire citys permitting and enforcement processes including those of the autonomous VCC without weakening historic preservation and public safety. Kings decisive response to citizens loud but understandable concerns is an encouraging sign from one of the citys youngest leaders, and we applaud him for it. Louisiana won't ban gender-affirming care for minors, in rare win for LGBTQ community The Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Committee Wednesday defeated a statewide ban on gender-affirming health care for minors, marking a rar There's only one book you really need Tweets are long enough They're secretly jealous of cool librarians Educated kids will realize the LAGOP has no real ideas Vote View Results PONCHATOULA A priest remains in critical condition after he was shot. The sheriff says it was the priest's own brother who pulled the trigger, then he shot his two other siblings before running away with a young woman believed to be his girlfriend. Mobile home number nine at the Toula Oaks Mobile Home Community is where the violence unfolded. +2 Baton Rouge priest Ryan Hallford 1 of 3 siblings injured in Ponchatoula shooting, church says A priest and staff member at St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge was one of three siblings injured in a Ponchatoula shooting that authorities say stemmed from a family argument. According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office it happened around 11 Tuesday morning. Chief Jimmy Travis says Baton Rouge Priest Ryan Hallford - who owns the mobile home - and his sister came to talk to their 31-year-old brother Casey Hallford about his non-payment of rent. He says the priest walked out, then came back in and told Casey he needed to pack his things and leave. "The younger brother, the shooter, went into a bedroom, comes out with a nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun and started shooting, struck the victim several times... the other two siblings fled into bedrooms and shut the door. The shooter fired a shot through the door, striking one of the siblings and then forced the door open where he shot the second sibling," Chief Travis told Eyewitness News. In Guatemala, police officers stop northbound buses at every turn, forcing migrants trying to make the long journey to the U.S.-Mexico border to get off and turn over all their money, sometimes strip-searching them while threatening to send them south back to Honduras. Across the border in the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, criminals riding bicycles prey on unsuspecting migrants, while gun-wielding immigration officers threaten deportation if they do not pay up. Further north near the U.S.-Mexico border, people hoping to cross into the United States live in fear of the return of an infamous Mexican gang that raided their sprawling makeshift camp last month in Matamoros and torched dozens of tents while trying to take some migrants hostage. As the Biden administration struggles to control crossings into the United States and looks to other countries in the region to control their own borders asylum-seeking migrants are easy pickings for drug-cartel-backed gangs, corrupt police and immigration officials south of the U.S. border. New U.S. immigration rules, limiting crossings at the U.S. border, will likely force hundreds of thousands of migrants to remain in Mexico and elsewhere in Central America, where they will have no means to sustain themselves or defend them from criminals preying on them, migrant advocacy groups contend. None of the governments are providing a solution and we are concerned that once these immigrants are deported and find themselves without any support network, these people will have no other choice but to become robbers to be able to eat and feed their families, said July Rodriguez, the director of Support for Venezuelan Migrants, based in Mexico City. Last week the United Nations refugee agency issued an alert about the growing pressure at migrant shelters in southern Mexico and in Mexico City, where Venezuelan citizens deported from the U.S. have begun to arrive without clarity about their own migration status in the country. A Venezuelan migrant uses an emergency blanket as cover from the rain, near the banks of the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, Saturday, May 13, 2023. Fernando Llano/AP The alert came as Mexico began shutting down shelters, relocating migrants away from its U.S. border and some Mexican states began issuing expulsion orders, giving migrants just days to leave. Things here in Mexico have become more complicated, said a Venezuelan migrant who spoke to the Miami Herald while stuck in Tapachula, and who asked to be identified only as Maria. She said she is afraid of repercussions after she and her group of fellow migrants were robbed and kidnapped shortly after arriving in the border town located on the Guatemalan-Mexican border in Mexicos southernmost state, Chiapas. U.S. border crossings down U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials say that since the pandemic-era emergency order known as Title 42 expired on May 11, they have seen a significant reduction in migrant encounters at the southwest border. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is averaging 4,000 encounters a day, compared to 10,000 before the lifting of the order, which had allowed agents to rapidly expel undocumented asylum seekers as potential health risks. DHS says it has also repatriated more than 11,000 people to more than 30 countries. This includes 1,100 nationals of Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti who have been returned to Mexico, which has agreed to accept up to 30,000 of the non-Mexicans a month after theyve been denied entry into the U.S. and expelled. Nos preocupa la presion en los albergues de la sociedad civil para personas refugiadas y migrantes en el sur del pais y en CDMX. Ademas de las personas que estan llegando desde el sur, algunos albergues ya han recibido a personas venezolanas deportadas desde EEUU... pic.twitter.com/PpghiQIGYa ACNUR Mexico (@AcnurMexico) May 17, 2023 Blas Nunez-Neto, a top DHS immigration policy official, told journalists last week that the reductions in border crossings can be credited to three factors: the tougher consequences the Biden administration has put in place for anyone who shows up without having first requested and received permission through a smartphone app called CBP One; the expansion of lawful pathways to enter the U.S., and the actions of our foreign partners. We have been working with countries very closely across the region in order to both enhance access to lawful pathways, but also to enforce their immigration laws on their borders, Nunez-Neto said. Both Guatemala and Mexico have deployed troops to enforce their borders, Nunez-Neto said, while Panama and Colombia are undertaking an unprecedented joint effort to attack smuggling networks operating in the Darien, the treacherous, swampy jungle that separates the two nations. Asked what law enforcement in those countries are doing, and if they are stopping or processing migrants hoping to travel to the United States, Nunez-Neto referred questions to the respective governments. The U.S.s refusal to shoulder responsibility for other countries actions has elicited criticism from advocates who note that many of the estimated 20 million migrants forcibly displaced in Latin America are people fleeing violence in their countries and require protection to avoid being returned to places where they are at risk. One migrants journey For tens of thousands of migrants hoping to make it to the U.S.-Mexico border, the journey is a perilous 7,000-mile trek that can begin as far away as Brazil and cuts through 11 countries. Migrants who begin their journey in South America have to cross all of Central America to get to Mexico traveling westward through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala before reaching the southern Mexican border. For Maria, who began her journey in Colombia, the trip was shorter than it is for others, but just as dangerous. It required traveling through the Darien Gap the remote, lawless mountainous jungle at the border of Colombia and Panama that separates South and Central America, and considered one of the worlds most dangerous border crossings. A native of the eastern Venezuelan city of Barcelona, Maria, 43, began her trip on Feb. 11. She and her companions arrived in Neclocli, a town on eastern shore of the Gulf of Uraba in Colombia, to continue on to Capurgana, an isolated beach town on the countrys Caribbean coast where a campsite on the outskirts caters to crossing migrants. In her group was her partner, his three sons and two of their girlfriends. Before boarding a boat in Neclocli, the organizers of the passage presumed smugglers took their photos and sent them to self-described guides at their arrival point so they could be easily identified. The guides, as they call themselves, are part of the network of smugglers and traffickers who help migrants cross one point to another. Once you land, they approach you and dont allow you to go on by yourself, Maria said. They force you into a warehouse, and they keep you there until you pay the amount they demand, so you are a hostage there. We were forced to pay $100 each, which was most of the money we had, including money we had set aside for food. Afterward, the guides escorted her and her group to a camp where they spent the night. Early the next day, one of the guides escorted them to a spot that they call Frontera in Colombia to begin the crossing into the Darien. There, several armed Colombians demanded payment before allowing them to begin the 60-mile trip inside the forbidding jungle. If you dont pay, you dont cross, Maria said. Venezuelan migrants sit along a building wall as they take cover from the rain, near the banks of the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, Saturday, May 13, 2023. Fernando Llano/AP After giving the men $85, Maria and her group were allowed to go on by themselves, without escorts. They just tell you to follow the signs, which are blue or black bags placed along the path throughout the jungle, she said. You have to keep an eye out for these markings, often placed on the trees if you dont want to lose your way. Inside the jungle, some migrants hire indigenous groups known as coyotes to help them navigate the treacherous terrain. But its a a dangerous proposition, since migrants have reported being physically and sexually assaulted inside the rain forest by members of armed criminal groups. The terrain is treacherous, and a wrong step can send people down to fast-moving rivers or tumbling down a mountain, where paths are sometimes so narrow, migrants have to move in a single file. The migrants on the Darien trail come not only from crisis-torn Venezuela and Haiti, but also from as far away as Africa. You come across other groups along the way. Some of them move very fast through the jungle, but others are much slower, Maria said. We began with one group but they were very slow and we began traveling with another group, but this one moved very fast and we found ourselves running to catch up with them. With so many different routes inside the jungle, surviving also meant avoiding getting killed while climbing muddy slopes or crossing fast-flowing rivers. They also had to be on the look-out for drug traffickers, landslides, venomous snakes and other wild animals. They warned us, dont open any closed tents you might find along the way, Maria said. They told us that normally, when you come across a tent that has been set up but its closed, it is likely that it contains a person who has died inside. A group that crossed after us told us that they were 10 when they started, but only six when they came out of the jungle, Maria said: Two of the migrants, a couple, were bitten by a poisonous snake inside their tent. Another traveler, an elderly man, suffered a heart attack. And a fourth, a boy, fell over a sharp rock. Maria said she nearly died while trying to cross one of the last rivers in the Darien. I was nearly taken away by the currents, she said. Two young men jumped into the water and pulled me out. Throughout the trail, Maria said she kept her eyes on the ground, fearing that she would see the corpses that also dot the trail. The boys traveling with me did see a dead man in the river, she said. It used to take migrants at least a week or more to cross the Darien. But now, with routes becoming more organized and more familiar due to the tens of thousands who cross every year, many migrants now do it in four or five days. It took us four-and-a-half days to cross, said Maria, who near the end of the Darien crossing had run out of food and water purification tablets. By the end, she said, the group was drinking water straight from the rivers. The U.N. agencies for refugee and migration estimate that nearly 100,000 migrants may have already crossed the Darien Gap this year, and as many as 400,000 could cross by the end of this year. The number, which would surpass last years record of 250,000, has mobilized efforts by the U.S. to dismantle smuggling rings operating along the route. But migrants and human rights groups note that while smugglers pose a danger for those seeking to get to the U.S. border, so too do corrupt police and immigration officials, especially along the 2,000 mile stretch between Panama and the southwest border of the U.S. While migrants report no issues crossing Costa Rica, many have reported problems crossing through Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico. This includes tales about being beaten by police, jailed before paying bribes and threatened with deportation. Maria says that after making it through Costa Rica and Nicaragua, she and her group were forced to spend a month in Honduras after running out of cash, doing odd jobs in order to be able to eat while waiting for relatives to send them money. Then, in Guatemala, she said, they were forced to pay multiple bribes to corrupt immigration and police officials along the route. They ran into trouble once more as they tried to cross the Guatemalan border into Mexico on rafts made from inner tubes. You run into immigration, police and other officials who demand bribes to allow you to continue on your journey, Maria said. After paying the bribes and hiding at times from immigration officials, the group finally reached Tapachula, in southern Mexico. We came across men on bicycles who told us we had to get on, Maria said. One of them told us we had to pay him because if we didnt he would call the police. He insisted and he followed us for about an hour. After paying the men and getting inside a van to get around a Mexican immigration checkpoint, the group was intercepted by two men standing on the other side of a barbed wire fence. They were wearing military uniforms and armed with rifles, she said. As the men pointed their weapons, they demanded that each person pay the equivalent of $57. Despite insisting the group had no money, they were was forced to turn over all they had $172. After we gave them the money, they told us to turn around and kneel. We heard them talking behind our backs, but after a while we did not hear them any more and we turned and did not see them, so thats when we got up and ran toward the road, said Maria. We were still afraid because they told us that if we mentioned what had happened they would find out and that something could happen to us. Sleeping on the streets With Title 42 expiring and the new U.S. immigration laws still unclear to her, Maria found herself stuck in Tapachula, where she and her group were once more doing odd jobs to raise money in order to travel to Mexico City, and then to the U.S. Mexico border. Though they had managed to acquire a 45-day pass to transit through Mexico, time was running out and things were increasingly looking look bleak. In Mexico City, migrants are sleeping in the streets after the government dismantled one particular shelter. In the state of Chiapas, where Tapachula is located, Maria said the governor last week gave migrants 20 days to leave the state or risk being deported back to Guatemala. We are already here. After all the time and money we have spent and after all the risks we have run, we are not willing to change our plans, she said. Over the weekend, she and her group made it into Mexico City, and they are now contemplating traveling on top of trains to make it to the border. Ricardos story Ricardo Javier Diaz, a Venezuelan migrant who eventually made it across the U.S.-Mexico border before Title 42 ended, said while he saw danger and desperation in the Darien, what awaited him after he emerged was just as dangerous. We went through Panama, we went through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico, running all sorts of risks, but the worst part for us was from Guatemala and Mexico to the United States border, he said. Diaz said in Guatemala, he and other migrants were forced by immigration and police agents to get off a bus, and they were searched for valuables. Those who dont really have money are threatened with being sent back to Venezuela, said Diaz. If people insist that they dont have money, they have their clothes stripped off. And if the agents find money, they take it all. The bus he traveled in was stopped three times in Guatemala before he finally reached Mexico, Diaz said. During one of the stops, immigration officials threatened him and his two other traveling companions with deportation and then took the equivalent of $51.33, which is all they money he had left. Some of his fellow passengers, which included Haitians as well as Venezuelans, had as much as $200 taken from them, Diaz said. We were all praying, asking God that the bus would not be stopped any more. There were people crying because they had already taken all of their money asking, Now what am I going to do? I dont have any more money, he said. Diaz eventually made it to Mexico. With no money left, he traveled to Monterrey on top of a train, a common but dangerous route that migrants take when they lack either cash or permission to transit by bus. From Monterrey, he went to Matamoros, the Mexican border town across from Brownsville, Texas. What awaited him, however, was worse than what he experienced in Guatemala. In Matamoros, Diaz said, he was stopped at an immigration checkpoint and asked for travel passes. He said he was detained in a room, asked for money and threatened with deportation back to Venezuela if he did not pay. Then, the camp he was staying in was attacked by the notorious Mexican gang, La Mana. They burned the camp down. They took my passport and robbed me. They were going to kidnap me, and they took many people with them and they were going to take me too. But I escaped, Diaz said. They began chasing me. They had knives and pipes. And after that, the other immigrants began to run away as well. While running, I tried to jump over a wall, but when I landed, I broke my leg. The Mana members did not see me, they were busy chasing the other immigrants. Later an ambulance got to me and I spent 20 days in the Matamoros hospital. At the hospital in Matamoros he received painkillers, Diaz said, but no treatment for his broken leg. I needed an operation, but they told me I would have to wait three months there because they did not have an operating room available, Diaz said. They kept telling me that my broken leg was not a priority, that it was not life threatening. But they did have operating room. Its just that they were being used for people who could pay them. Diaz said that hundreds of Venezuelans have attempted to force their way into the United States in the past few weeks to flee the criminal gang ruling the area. They were fleeing from La Mana, he said. After he was finally discharged from the Mexican hospital, Diaz said he had an appointment to present himself before a Customs and Border Patrol agent at the Brownsville port of entry. A CBP agent interviewed him and he was allowed to cross into the United States. With a long road ahead of him before knowing if he will be allowed to permanently reside in the U.S., Diaz is currently at a shelter in San Antonio, Texas, awaiting his next immigration appointment. His leg, he said, is still broken. Kim Mulkey's team heads to the White House, next steps in a City Hall move and new details on a Harvey shooting. Catch up on today's top stories for Wednesday, May 24. Marked bullet holes show on the passenger door side of a Honda vehicle, as Baton Rouge Police Dept. officers, investigators and crime scene and the East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office personnel work the scene of a shooting that left one dead at the intersection of Gus Young Ave. and North Acadian Thruway East, Monday, May 22, 2023. An incredibly rare albino zebra has been spotted in Kenya, with its striking blonde hair standing out next to its black and white friends. Stunning footage, captured by Abdelrahman Hassanein who was leading a tour through the Maasai Mara National Reserve, shows a herd peacefully grazing nearby, with one standout zebra. The albinos stripes appear almost washed out to a faint white, and its mane and tail appeared to be more yellow compared to the rest of the herds jet-black hair. This is an extremely rare sighting. I have been a guide in the Maasai Mara for five years and this is the first time Ive managed to capture it. It was very exciting, Mr Hassanein said. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. The First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who is on an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the Defense Chamber of the Parliament House and met with the Federal Minister for Defence of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Azernews informs with reference to the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan that the Federal Minister for Defence of Pakistan pointed out that the military relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan are at a high level. The Minister added that Pakistan recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and attaches special importance to the expansion of military relations with this country. In addition, the Minister noted that both countries provide mutual support to each other on all issues including a bilateral basis and the framework of international organizations. He pointed out that the situation and new challenges in the regions where Azerbaijan and Pakistan are located necessitate the strengthening of military cooperation between the two countries and emphasized the importance of increasing the combat capability of the armies of both countries, experience exchange in this field, as well as further developing the achieved results. The Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and conveyed the greetings of the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov to Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Chief of the General Staff emphasized that the expansion of cooperation with Pakistan in the military field is always in the spotlight of the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev. And also, Colonel General Valiyev gave detailed information to the Federal Minister for Defence of Pakistan about the engineering and reconstruction works carried out in the liberated territories, as well as the provocations committed by the Armenian armed forces on the conditional border and the measures taken to suppress these provocations. And then the sides discussed the conduct of joint exercises, and cooperation in the field of the defense industry, including a number of issues of mutual interest. The importance of further expansion of military and military-technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan was emphasized. The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Khazar Farhadov also attended the meeting. NTV News 24 is a service of Nippon Television, Japan's leading broadcasting network. This page provides a selection of today's stories in English. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Indiana Dunes National Park will host a movie screening this Memorial Day weekend. The National Park along 15 miles of Lake Michigan lakeshore also will soon lead hikes and farm animal feeding. The National Park Service will screen the documentary "Vietnam Nurses" from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at the Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center Auditorium at 1215 North State Road 49 in Porter, about a mile north of Interstate 94. "The documentary chronicles the important role that military nurses played during the Vietnam War," Indiana Dunes Park Service Supervisory Ranger Bruce Rowe said. A National Park Service ranger also will lead a morning stroll along the sandy shore at Central Avenue Beach at the intersection of Central Avenue and U.S. 12 in Pines from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday. Hikers should meet at the Central Avenue Beach parking lot and be dressed for the weather, which is invariably cooler by the lake. "Learn about the origins of the Great Lakes and the Indiana Dunes while scanning the beach to see what kind of interesting things got washed up," Rowe said. "There is a sandy slope down and up from the beach." And starting this Sunday, people can feed the farm animals from 4:30 to 5 p.m. every Sunday at the Indiana Dunes National Parks Chellberg Farm on Mineral Springs Road between U.S. 20 and U.S. 12 in Porter. They can help rangers feed the cows, hogs and chickens at the historic but working farm next to the Bailly Homestead. "The first feeding program is on May 28 and they continue throughout the summer every Sunday at 4:30 p.m.," Rowe said. It costs $25 per car for a one-day to seven-day pass for admission to the Indiana Dunes National Park, which is spread across two dozen sites stretching from Gary to Michigan City. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Michigan City Art League is expanding its ArtWalk through town. The arts organization partners with local businesses to display the work of its members in storefronts across town. Swingbelly's Restaurant on Route 12 in Michigan City has invited Michigan City Art League members to hand and sell their art for years. "This has become a very successful effort, and now more businesses are also generously reaching out to the Art League to do the same," said Kadie O'Connor with the Michigan City Art League. "Having an art gallery is not a viable option for this non-profit group, but with the support of local businesses, the ArtWalk has made possible a new type of gallery. The owners and managers of these businesses are very supportive of the art community, and they are showing this in a very real way, which is deeply appreciated by the Art League." RS Physical Therapy, 3710 Franklin Ave., and Base Camp Marina Cafe and Provisions near the Washington Park Marina have both participated for at least a year. New additions include Unsalted, No Sharks at 523 Franklin St., Old Lighthouse Museum Shop at 1 Washington St. and Lakeshore Coffee at 444 Wabash St. The downtown coffee shop across from the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets will soon be displaying and selling the artwork of both emerging and established artists. "ArtWalk is an idea developed by the oldest art group in Michigan City, the Michigan City Art League, which was established in 1932," O'Connor said. "Over the years it has provided art instruction, a place to meet and paint, and encouraged the development of beginning artists. Newer students are given the opportunity to learn from artists who have been painting for many years and are very open and encouraging. As ArtWalk grows, pamphlets will be available at participating businesses so that anyone interested in following this floating gallery' in nearby locations can easily do so." The Art League offers both fall and spring classes at the Queen of All Saints School cafeteria. "Recently, members of the Art League have been donating their time and talent at the school, teaching various art media to interested students," she said. "The Art League will be featured artists in the last quarter of the year in the Legacy Center Gallery, located at the Queen of All Saints campus. The artwork will be available to purchase." Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Rise'n Roll Bakery, an Indiana-based chain with three Calumet Region locations, has some of "America's Greatest Donuts," according to voters in a recent contest. The Underground Donut Tour, which offers guided tours of donut shops around the globe, conducted a nationwide America's Donut Tour in search of the best donuts in the country. The contest is now in its second year. More than 500 donut shops nationwide were nominated and 22,000 votes were cast over the span of two months. Rise'n Roll Bakery, which has locations in Schererville, Valparaiso and Cedar Lake, won overall fan favorite. Its cinnamon caramel donut ranked as its most popular offering. Rise'n Roll, a Middlebury, Indiana-based chain that specializes in traditional Amish donuts, also won top honors in seven other categories: Greatest Cake Donut, Greatest Cinnamon Sugar Donut, Greatest Cream Filled Donut, Greatest Jelly Filled Donut, Greatest Old Fashioned Donut, Greatest Unique Flavors and Greatest Unique Toppings "The Overall Fan Favorite with more votes than any other donut shop was again Rise'n Roll Bakery, based in Indiana," the Underground Donut Tour said in a news release. "Their Cinnamon Caramel Donut was voted far and away the most popular donut in America." D&D's Donuts in Chicago also won several categories, including Greatest Chocolate Glazed Donut, Greatest Fritter and Greatest Fruit Flavored Donut. The Underground Donut Tour began in Chicago in 2015 and has expanded to 18 cities including New York City, Boston, Miami, New Orleans, Portland, Seattle, Nashville, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, London, Dublin, Vancouver and Toronto. It leads guided tours of donut shops in those cities with unlimited donut samples. For more information, visit www.undergrounddonuttour.com. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Hobart Chamber of Commerce honored businesses, teachers, first responders and others in the community at its recent awards ceremony. Local business leaders gathered at Ginos Banquet By Ace Catering for the annual awards. The Hobart Chamber of Commerce honored Audrey Amsler as Outstanding Elementary Educator, Leo Guzman as Outstanding Middle School Educator, Melissa Higgason as Outstanding High School Educator, Detective Wendell Hite as Police Officer of the Year, Ryan Maloney as Firefighter of the Year and Sally Davis as Volunteer of the Year. Heidi Morgan with Belle Ame Boutique was named New Business of the Year. Pam Ridings with State Farm Insurance won Business Leader of the Year. The Maria Reiner Center and Aimee Schallenkamp received the Nonprofit of the Year award. Vanessa Shindle with Reflectionz Photo Booth won Executive Director's Choice St. Mary Medical Center got the Mayor's Choice Award for its 50 Year Anniversary. Outgoing Mayor Brian Snedecor won the Hobart Chamber Appreciation Award for his 16 years of service to the city and chamber. "We're celebrating members of the community that create impact and are leaders, including our police and firefighters and our school teachers, as well as our community activists and business leaders," Hobart Chamber of Commerce Board President Jason Beres said. "It's important to recognize them because they provide leadership for our youth as well as for the community at large. It helps strengthen and foster a relationship between the chamber, businesses in the chamber and our community members." For more information, visit hobartchamber.com. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A federal judge has set in motion the forced sale of a portion of the largest collection of private property in Gary to help pay off overdue property tax bills. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge James R. Ahler ruled this week two businesses owned by Andrew L. Young should be liquidated under Chapter 7 bankruptcy rules. Young has been shielding his troubled real estate holdings in bankruptcy court from a mountain of tax bills owed on hundreds of real estate parcels he owns in and around Gary. Young and his legal team had wanted the court to give him more time to reorganize his enterprises into a more profitable condition under more forgiving Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules. However, Ahler put two of Youngs businesses under more stringent Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings this week. Ronald Ostojic, an attorney for the county treasurer, said the Chapter 7 ruling affects about half of Youngs approximately 1,800 properties. Ostojic said the county is still pressing for the bankruptcy court to make the same Chapter 7 ruling on the remainder of Young properties, which are under a separate bankruptcy filing. Ostojic said the treasurers office estimates Youngs overdue taxes and penalties exceed $8 million. Young on Friday disputed the $8 million figure. He said he is still trying to calculate his true tax debts because many of the treasurers tax bills are erroneous and he is still appealing years of tax bills on multiple properties. Young added that he has been making substantial tax payments during the more than five years his bankruptcies have been pending. Ostojic confirmed Young has been making payments, but nowhere near that $8 million figure." County attorneys argue Youngs unpaid tax debt denies revenues to Gary schools and other essential government services and shifts his tax burden onto his less fortunate neighbors. Young said he has been paying more than his fair share and would prefer to be known as someone who invested in Gary when tens of thousands walked away from the Steel City. Young said the adverse ruling this week affects two of his real estate companies. The bigger story here is that tax assessment Calumet Township, which is Gary, is not uniform, some of my properties have been underassessed and some have been over assessed," he said. People said 'Andys just a cheapskate,' but this is affecting all taxpayers. Some neighborhood assessments have gone up 300%, 500% and 1,100%. Young sought shelter from his tax bills by filing for bankruptcy in 2017. He said he has active appeals in state tax court on his claims of erroneous property assessments. Attorneys for the county treasurers office said these arguments are a delaying tactic that has spun out Youngs bankruptcy proceedings well beyond the usual time. Ahler agreed, ruling that Youngs real estate income has been exceeding his expenses for years, and the economic picture is unlikely to improve. The only means by which (Youngs business) could meet his ongoing obligations would be through liquidating its real estate holdings, he wrote in a 26-page decision. Young, a resident of Chicago's far northern suburbs, began buying up tax-delinquent properties in 1999 through his businesses including Andy's Truck and Equipment Co., Surplus Management Systems LLC, Gary II LLC and D.A.Y. Investments LLC as well as in his own name. The city of Gary has long attracted land speculators like Young who buy once-valuable real estate at depressed prices in the hope of scoring a windfall profit someday. Young bought much of his real estate holdings through Lake County tax sales, the largest government-sponsored real estate auction in the state. These auctions offered Young access to thousands of abandoned houses and businesses, plus vacant and overgrown parcels blighted in the wake of permanent job losses in the areas heavy industry as well as white and black flight to the suburbs. Garys population plummeted from a peak of 178,320 in 1960 to 67,972 in July 2022, according to STATS Indiana and the U.S. Census Bureau. The downside to speculating in Garys real estate market is affording the annual toll of property tax in a city with one of the highest tax rates in the state. Young has been successful in fending off county tax collectors, unlike most landowners who are usually cowed into paying up under threat of having their homes, businesses and lands seized and sold at a tax-sale auction to the highest bidder. But Young also has had the means he has paid legal fees in the six-figure range and the moxie to defend his tax rights. Young challenged local property assessments practices through a 2009 bankruptcy, eventually settling out of court in a deal for $904,000 in back taxes between 2012 and 2013. Young said he thought he won a concession from county officials to reform their practices during a general tax reassessment. He now claims that Lake officials reneged on their end of the bargain because county reassessments since 2012 have done nothing to correct property values in Gary. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. GARY Police are investigating after two people were killed Tuesday night in the city's West side neighborhood, Gary police said. Police were called at 11:48 p.m. to the 1900 block of Hanley Street for a report of shots fired and two male subjects on the ground who weren't moving, Gary police Cmdr. Edward Gonzalez said. The men were transported to Methodist Northlake Hospital where they succumbed to their wounds. Edward Lott, 42, and Charles Roy, 33, each died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the Lake County coroner's office. This marks four people dead by homicide in Gary this week. Jason Transou, 40, was shot and killed just after 2 a.m. Monday on the 2000 block of Tennessee Street. Kurt Day, 32, was found dead around 12:20 p.m. on the 4100 block of Vermont Street. Day's body was found burned, Gonzalez said. The investigations into the homicides are ongoing and active, Gonzalez said. More information will be released when it is available. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Domynic Yerger Shanna Taylor Damon Wade Nicholas Sanchez John Smith Jr. George Stevens Aaron Rawls Ronald Robinson III Dakota Ruel Juan Salas Michael Murray Alex Marion III Crystal McLain Maria Hoyo Paris Hewlett Joseph Coleman Brandon Dubose Diana Enriquez Jessica Hermosillo Erich Boone Dwayne Smith Javante Toran Michael Williams Jr. Vandana Pagany Matthew Parker Daniel Rosario Obaid Shafiq Paul Newlin Pablito Madera II Anthony Manson Jr. Willie McGee Donna Jackson Jocelyn James Kamika Harrell Angel Bousono Jr. Kenyatta Branch Derrick Daniel Rodney Allen Jr. Cesar Torres Michael Toy Roman Martinez Lori Minyard Jeremy Lewis David Keck Samantha Hellems Darius Herron Michael Flores Nariana Williams Chad Shaw John Vann Ricardo Vela Justin Neely Trendarious Peterson Mosley Keandrea Robinson Bailey Llamas Anthony Hardesty-Berry Hope Horn James Lenoir-Williams Cristina Galka Armando Cartagena-Dhuperoyis Gregory Cormick Jr. Genito Balderas William Betts Benjamin Byers Michael Albanese Joshua Baker Roderick Atkins Mark Abel Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. PORTER A 56-year-old LaPorte woman whose vehicle was T-boned on U.S. 20 died Wednesday, Porter police said. The deceased was identified by the Porter County Coroner's Office as Shellie Games. Police say they were called out at 3:41 p.m. Wednesday to the crash site, where they learned Games had been driving a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro east on the highway. Her vehicle was struck on the driver's side by a 2007 Ford Edge that was crossing the highway southbound on Wagner Road. "Both vehicles sustained extensive damage," police said. "U.S. 20 was closed in both directions for approximately two hours while the crash scene was investigated." The 19-year-old Valparaiso woman driving the Ford refused medical treatment at the scene, and family transported her to the hospital, according to police. UPDATE: Brothers nabbed with 120 pounds of cocaine found not guilty of dealing the drug Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Hammer told jurors during opening arguments Tuesday afternoon that, "this is not a small amount by any means." Games was taken to the nearby Porter Northwest Hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries. "This crash is being investigated by Porter Police Department Crash Reconstructionist Lt. Jason Holaway," the department said. "Drugs and/or alcohol are not believed to be factors at this time." The coroner's office said autopsy and toxicology results are pending. Officials expect the investigation to take several weeks. Anyone with information or who witnessed the crash is encouraged to contact Holaway, 219-926-7611 or jholaway2@townofporter.com. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The FBI has doubled the reward offered for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the 2005 death of 13-year-old Hammond resident Alexandra "Alex" Anaya. The Chicago office of the FBI is now offering up to $20,000 for information leading to a break in the case. Alex was reported missing from her Hammond residence in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2005. "She was last seen by her mother at approximately 4:30 a.m. that day," said Robert Wheeler Jr., special agent in charge of the Chicago Division of the FBI. "Three days later, Alex's torso was found floating in the Little Calumet River by a group of boaters." Driver dies in Porter County T-bone crash "U.S. 20 was closed in both directions for approximately two hours while the crash scene was investigated." She was wearing a gold chain with a round, religious medallion at the time of her disappearance. Anyone with information regarding the death is encouraged to call 800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Domynic Yerger Shanna Taylor Damon Wade Nicholas Sanchez John Smith Jr. George Stevens Aaron Rawls Ronald Robinson III Dakota Ruel Juan Salas Michael Murray Alex Marion III Crystal McLain Maria Hoyo Paris Hewlett Joseph Coleman Brandon Dubose Diana Enriquez Jessica Hermosillo Erich Boone Dwayne Smith Javante Toran Michael Williams Jr. Vandana Pagany Matthew Parker Daniel Rosario Obaid Shafiq Paul Newlin Pablito Madera II Anthony Manson Jr. Willie McGee Donna Jackson Jocelyn James Kamika Harrell Angel Bousono Jr. Kenyatta Branch Derrick Daniel Rodney Allen Jr. Cesar Torres Michael Toy Roman Martinez Lori Minyard Jeremy Lewis David Keck Samantha Hellems Darius Herron Michael Flores Nariana Williams Chad Shaw John Vann Ricardo Vela Justin Neely Trendarious Peterson Mosley Keandrea Robinson Bailey Llamas Anthony Hardesty-Berry Hope Horn James Lenoir-Williams Cristina Galka Armando Cartagena-Dhuperoyis Gregory Cormick Jr. Genito Balderas William Betts Benjamin Byers Michael Albanese Joshua Baker Roderick Atkins Mark Abel Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. VALPARAISO Two brothers nabbed with just more than 120 pounds of cocaine were found not guilty early Wednesday evening on felony counts of dealing the illegal drug. The verdict, which came back around 4:30 p.m. after two hours of deliberations, came one day after a defense attorney told the Porter County jury his clients did not know the illegal drug was inside the semi truck they were driving. Attorney Jason Jackson said Baljinder Singh and Gurwinder Singh, both of California, don't dispute that the large amount of cocaine was found in the rear of the truck and both were cooperative during the Dec. 7, 2020 seizure and arrests. But prosecutors have no evidence showing the brothers were aware of the drug, he said. The defense was presented in the trial before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer, who was livestreaming the proceedings online. "Cameras were prohibited in Indiana courts until 2020, when the Supreme Court allowed 'virtual' appearances, Zoom hearings and livestreaming of court proceedings because of travel restrictions," Clymer had said when announcing his bid for re-election earlier this month. "I am proud to allow the public to see what happens in my court by simply watching online. Livestreaming should give the public confidence in what is happening in my court because anyone can watch as it happens." Each of the defendants were provided with a Punjabi language interpreter during the trial, the court said. Motorist on I-65 nabbed with more than 230 pounds of pot, Lake County sheriff says "To those who would commit these crimes and travel through Lake County, let me be clear: We are looking for you," the sheriff said. "We will find you and bring you to justice." Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Hammer told jurors during opening arguments Tuesday afternoon that, "this is not a small amount by any means." An Indiana State police trooper said he was called out to the eastbound I-94 truck scales in Porter County at about 1:30 p.m. on the day in question for an unknown substance in a duffel bag and suitcase found by an inspector in the rear of a semi containing a partial load of garlic. The truck had been randomly chosen at the scales when problems were discovered, Hammer said. The bags contained 47 white-colored and three brown-colored bricks that tested positive as cocaine, police said. The stash was weighed at 54,500 grams, or just more than 120 pounds. Growing number of license plate cameras keeping eye on Region; cops challenge Big Brother fears The system has also proved useful in other offenses such as auto theft and leaving the scene of a crash, and in warrant arrests. The pair reportedly told police they dropped off part of their load near Chicago, during which time they never left their vehicle. They then slept in the truck the night before and were heading to a warehouse outside of Detroit where they expected to have their truck unloaded, police said. During an initial court appearance just days after their 2020 arrests, the brothers were told they have an immigration hold on them Clymer explained when setting bond at $100,000 surety and $10,000 cash that even if the amount were posted, the accused would not be released from custody because of the hold by the federal government. Chesterton-based attorney Eric Blankenship, who represented Gurwinder, said he wanted to have a bond in place in case the immigration hold is lifted. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Gary Chamber of Commerce will hear about Methodist Hospitals' 100th anniversary this year. Methodist Hospitals CEO Matt Doyle will address the Gary Chamber of Commerce's monthly general membership meeting and luncheon at noon June 12 at the Chateau Banquet Hall at 530 W. 61st Avenue in Merrillville. Networking starts at 11:30 a.m. Doyle will give a talk entitled "Methodist Hospitals 100 Years and Counting." Methodist Hospitals' roots date back almost as far as Gary, which was founded as a U.S. Steel company town in 1906. In 1910, Nurse Margaret Pritchard, who served in the Boer War in South Africa, went from Chicago to Gary to establish a hospital in the fledgling Steel City. She initially opened Gary General Hospital in a three-story frame structure at 801 Van Buren Street in 1911. Looking to ensure its longtime viability, she established a board of directors, filed paperwork with the state and looked for a local religious affiliation to secure funding. The Methodist Board of Hospitals of Indiana started raising funds in 1918 to build a new hospital at 6th and Grant Street in downtown Gary, suffering some fundraising challenges during World War I. It opened the 86-bed Methodist Hospital in 1923, serving 2,087 patients and delivering 299 babies in the first year. Methodist Hospitals went on to open a Southlake Campus in Merrillville and a Midlake Campus closer to the Borman Expressway. The healthcare system has been responsible for a number of firsts over the years, including the first in Northwest Indiana to offer Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy, Optical Coherence Tomography and 3D breast tomosynthesis. Methodist Hospitals now employs 2,172 people and has an annual economic impact of $906 million, according to its annual report. The luncheon costs $25 per person and must be paid for in advance. It can be paid for over the phone with American Express, Master Card and Visa credit and debit cards. For more information, call 219-885-7407. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. HAMMOND A Crown Point man pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding a federal business aid program of $149,000. Victor R. Adebisi, 36, born in Nigeria, Africa, appeared this week in U.S. District Court Judge Philip P Simon's courtroom on a charge of wire fraud. Adebisi admitted to the judge that he lied on an application for a federal loan, claiming he needed the money to keep his company afloat during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago. Investigators later discovered that the business was fictitious, concocted by Adebisi only to illicitly collect federal money to which he would not otherwise have been entitled if he had stated the truth. Adebisi initially pleaded not guilty and was scheduled for a jury trial next month. He signed a plea agreement this month, giving up his right to make federal prosecutors prove the charge against him. The U.S. attorney agrees in return to recommend a more lenient sentence than the 30 years' imprisonment he faced if a jury had found him guilty. The judge accepted the guilty plea and will take the leniency agreement under advisement. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 24. Prosecutors say Adebisi became a resident of Crown Point in 2019, one year before the COVID-19 outbreak forced businesses across the nation to close temporarily to contain the infections spread. Congress approved the loan program to save businesses from having to lay off employees. Prosecutors said Adebisi applied for such a loan July 8, 2020, in the name of Nimiteck Auto and Transportation. He listed its headquarters as his home in a residential neighborhood of Crown Point. He claimed that Nimiteck was established in 2016, but prosecutors said Indiana business records indicate that Adebisi incorporated his business three months before seeking the loan. Prosecutors say Federal Bureau of Investigation agents tracked the fraudulent loan to Adebisi by viewing security camera video of his transactions at a Merrillville bank where he opened an account. Prosecutors said Adebisi used a fictitious passport from Benin, West Africa, and a phony name. The FBI, in cooperation with police in Bedford Park, Illinois, arrested Adebisi in fall 2021 once he received the federal loan, deposited in his bank account, and then attempted to cash it at a currency exchange in Dolton, Illinois. Adebisi added to his legal trouble a year ago when he jumped bond and fled Indiana to avoid prosecution. Authorities arrested him again in January in Chicago and have kept him in federal detention since. Close Participants arrive at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. The group met with members of the high schools Marine Corps JROTC. Master Sergeant Ed Bowers, right, meets with veterans at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. Bowers is an instructor with the schools Marine Corps JROTC program. Veterans gather at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. The motorcyclists stopped for a presentation by the high schools Marine Corps JROTC program. Nathan Pollard, foreground, salutes during a Marine Corps JROTC routine at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. Mya Witak, foreground, leads Marine Corps JROTC members in a routine at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. Steve Head Dog Moore of Michigan City, a Vietnam-era veteran, addresses Marine Corps JROTC students at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. PHOTOS: Portage JROTC salute Vets The National Veterans Awareness Organization stopped on their nationwide tour to talk to the Portage High School JROTC on Tuesday, May 23. Participants arrive at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. The group met with members of the high schools Marine Corps JROTC. Master Sergeant Ed Bowers, right, meets with veterans at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. Bowers is an instructor with the schools Marine Corps JROTC program. Veterans gather at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. The motorcyclists stopped for a presentation by the high schools Marine Corps JROTC program. Nathan Pollard, foreground, salutes during a Marine Corps JROTC routine at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. Mya Witak, foreground, leads Marine Corps JROTC members in a routine at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. Steve Head Dog Moore of Michigan City, a Vietnam-era veteran, addresses Marine Corps JROTC students at Portage High School Tuesday during a stop of the National Veterans Awareness Organization motorcycle ride from California to Washington, D.C. As a married father with young children, gun enthusiast and former Army paratrooper on a campus dominated by liberals, Stewart Rhodes stood out among the roughly 200 students who enrolled at Yale Law School in 2001. Still, few of his former classmates could have anticipated how sharply their paths would diverge. Jurors are expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday whether he committed seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. We used to joke about, Whos going to be president? Whos going to be a Supreme Court clerk? said Gabriel Lowenkron, a lawyer in California and member of Mr. Rhodess class. We never asked who was going to be the seditionist. Just five years after their law school graduation, Mr. Rhodes, whose full name is Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, founded the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia whose members believe that the federal government is poised to strip citizens of their rights and who vow to disobey what they consider unconstitutional orders. Seditious conspiracy is the most serious charge brought so far in any of the 900 criminal cases stemming from the vast investigation of the Capitol attack, an inquiry that could still result in scores, if not hundreds, of additional arrests. Mr. Rhodes, 57, was also found guilty of obstructing the certification of the election during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 and of destroying evidence in the case. On those three counts, he faces a maximum of 60 years in prison. Nearly two years after the assault on the Capitol by Trump supporters, the events of Jan. 6 and what led up to them remain at the center of American politics and the subject of multiple investigations, including an inquiry by the Justice Department into any criminal culpability that Mr. Trump and some of his allies might face and an exhaustive account being assembled by a House select committee. The conviction of Mr. Rhodes underscored the seriousness and intensity of the effort by pro-Trump forces to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election, and was the highest-profile legal reckoning yet from a case related to Jan. 6. But it is not clear how much effect it might have on broader public perceptions that have hardened, largely along partisan lines, over the past two years. Mr. Trump, written off as a political force in the days after the attack, is again a candidate for president, embraced by a substantial portion of his party as he continues to promote the lie that the election was stolen from him. Mr. Rhodes was convicted of sedition along with Kelly Meggs, who ran the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers at the time the Capitol was stormed. Three other defendants who played lesser roles in the planning for Jan. 6 Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell were found not guilty of sedition. If you need an emotional support animal to provide support or assistance to help treat the symptoms of a disability, tell your landlord. You may have to include a letter in support from a health care provider, although you do not need to disclose an underlying condition. Your landlord must accommodate your request unless it creates an undue hardship. Go to our website and print out that fact sheet and share that with the landlord and say, Here is what the Commission on Human Rights has to say about emotional support animals, said Jose Rios Lua, the executive director of communications and marketing for the Human Rights Commission, which enforces the law. If the landlord rejects your request, you could file a complaint with the commission, which would investigate your claim. If you have no need for an emotional support animal, then your only option is to ask your landlord for an exception to the no-pet policy, explaining that you intend to be a good owner. If youve owned a dog before, you could cite that as evidence of your responsibility. But any exception to the rule would be at your landlords discretion. If you do need an emotional support animal, could your landlord retaliate against you and not renew your lease at the end of the term? Its possible, but it would be a violation of state rental laws and the Human Rights Law, which protects against retaliation. If you challenged a nonrenewal, youd have a strong case, according to Darryl M. Vernon, a lawyer who represents people with companion animals. The landlord could even be on the hook for your legal fees. Given that risk, The landlord might really back off, Mr. Vernon said. For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. The biggest hit of Ike & Tinas early years it went to No. 2 on Billboards R&B chart and was Top 20 pop is a lighter back-and-forth routine about a couple persevering through their troubles. Again, eww. But at least this time the song was not by Ike. It was written by Rose Marie McCoy along with Joe Seneca and James Lee, and the R&B duo Mickey & Sylvia were involved in the recording. Phil Spector had seen the Ike & Tina Turner Revue their incredibly high-energy live show, featuring Tina singing and dancing with the backup Ikettes and recorded this single, written by Spector with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, for his label, Philles. It tones down Tinas howls and replaces Ikes tight band with a somewhat hazy version of Spectors signature wall of sound. The single was a flop, which caused the album of the same title to be delayed by three years in the United States. We never ever do nothin nice and easy. We always do it nice and rough. Thus Tina introduces her biggest hit with Ike, a rollicking Creedence Clearwater Revival remake that went to No. 4. After a stripped-down, nice and easy run through the first couple of verses, the full band, with horns and Ikettes, joins in to take it energetically to the finish line. Tina, as the sole credited songwriter, tells her own story for once, detailing her upbringing in rural Tennessee, where you go to the field on weekdays and have a picnic on Labor Day. Its played as acid funk, with period-appropriate electric keyboards and a Moog solo. But the song is still a reverie, never imagining a life beyond the small-town simplicities. For the film version of the Whos Tommy, Tina was cast as the Acid Queen, the Gypsy with a wild scream and quivering lips who uses sex and drugs to try to cure the boy. By this point, Tina was a world-famous sex symbol, and her name alone was shorthand for feminine power. It was also not long before she left Ike. But the world would not know her secret for years. On Wednesday, the charmless and awkward Ron DeSantis entered the presidential race. In 2024 Republican primary polling, he consistently comes in second to Donald Trump. He has built his legend on an easy re-election as Floridas governor and an easy route by which he enacted a slate of bullying and regressive anti-woke legislation, thanks to Republicans supermajorities in Floridas Legislature. He brandishes his record as evidence of his effectiveness, but all hes done is win a series of fights in which his opponents had their hands tied by being in the minority. Yet many Republican commentators and donors, whove been desperate to move on from the toxicity of Trump, landed on DeSantis when casting about for alternatives. They inflated his ego, convincing him his big-footing in Florida made him formidable. He appears to be banking on Trump fatigue, or maybe Trumps legal problems piling so high that even the former presidents most ardent supporters come to the conclusion that he is too encumbered to prevail. If he cant outpace Trump, hell lie in wait to catch him limping. MAKENI, Sierra Leone Any exasperated parent might be forgiven for wanting a daughter like Alimatu Sesay, a highly motivated 16-year-old who cant afford schoolbooks but borrows them from wealthier classmates and studies the texts outside every night with a flashlight because her tiny home is crowded and has no electricity. Alimatu is one of seven children. Her dad died years ago, her mom is illiterate, and she herself sometimes must go without eating all day when money is tight. But she is a brilliant student on a path to fulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer because of an education revolution underway here in Sierra Leone. (And when she becomes a lawyer, she says, shes going to buy her mom a house.) In 2018, the government here banned school fees, which had kept Alimatus parents and millions of others from attending any school at all. The authorities have also outlawed corporal punishment in schools and ramped up investment in education, with more than 20 percent of the national budget allocated to teacher pay, school renovation and other education expenses. The result has been a 50 percent increase in enrollment and also an apparent improvement in the quality of education, with impoverished children benefiting the most. More troubling (to me) is your implication that your Black houseguest was wrong to say he felt unsafe. He like every one of us is entitled to his feelings. And for you to dictate how he should have felt is wildly disrespectful. Apologize. You hurt someone, even if it was unintentional. (And in joking news: The one you repeated stinks! Rejecting a racial slur as sideways justification for using gay slurs is not antiracist. We can respect everyone.) Image Credit... Miguel Porlan How to Move Forward When Trust Is Gone My girlfriend and I have been dating for five years. We agreed to be monogamous, which is important to me. I just discovered for the second time that she had cheated on me. She swears tearfully it wont happen again. I love her, but I no longer trust her. And Im ashamed to be in this position. Advice? GEORGE You have nothing to be ashamed of! We do not control the behavior of others only how we respond to it. Many people in your shoes would cut their losses and end the relationship. But it may be useful to you (both) to explore your girlfriends infidelity in couples therapy. In my experience, people who cheat are often acting out their own issues, not their feelings about their partner. Understanding her psychology better may help you move beyond hurt and shame, whether you decide to stay together or break up. Mi Causa Es Su Causa? I launched a charitable appeal to help a Sri Lankan woman I met in Abu Dhabi, where I used to live. She is extremely poor and in urgent need of medical care. I posted on Facebook and also in a group chat of 18 friends half of whom are close friends. Only three people donated. I am hurt and angry! I wonder if these people are truly my friends or if they are even good people. Thoughts? Mr. DeSantiss announcement had been an opportunity for Mr. Musk, an unpredictable executive with interests in many fields, to promote his multiple agendas. Those included a political coming-out for the billionaire, who has flirted with right-wing accounts and politics for years on Twitter but has never embraced a presidential candidate the way he has the Republican governor. And it was supposed to be a way for Mr. Musk to advance his business interests by highlighting Twitter, which he is trying to turn around. Yet as the Twitter audio livestream faltered, the reaction including on Twitter itself was shock and scorn that what should have been a carefully choreographed announcement of a presidential run had stumbled so badly. The hashtag #Desaster appeared on many posts. Others took potshots at the failure, with President Bidens personal @JoeBiden account tweeting a donation link with the words, This link works. David Sacks, a tech executive who moderated the audio event with Mr. DeSantis and who is a confidant of Mr. Musks, tried downplaying the technical problems. We got so many people here that we are kind of melting the servers, which is a good sign, he said during the first livestream, which sputtered out. Mr. Musk did not respond to a request for comment. Inside Twitter, employees had been alarmed by Mr. Musks turn into politics and whether the social media site could handle the influx of traffic, three employees said. There was no planning for what are known as site reliability issues for the event with Mr. DeSantis, two of the people said, and workers were prepared to do whatever they could to keep the social network running. Less than a month after 19 children and two teachers died in the elementary school shooting last year in Uvalde, Texas, the U.S. Senate passed the most significant gun control bill since the long-expired federal ban on assault weapons. The very same day, June 23, the Supreme Court upended gun policy in jurisdictions with some of the countrys strictest laws, like New York, Washington, D.C. and California, saying for the first time that people have the right to carry guns outside their homes. In a country already raw with anger over gun policy, the new law from Congress and the sweeping decision by the Supreme Court only intensified the national fight over guns, spurring fresh legal challenges and legislative debates in courts and statehouses across the country. And in the year since Uvalde the deadliest school shooting since the 2012 massacre in Newtown, Conn. both sides of the issue have made gains and endured setbacks as they seek to define the role of guns in American life. Parents from about 100 families will be allowed to formally argue against the release of journals and writings left behind by the assailant who killed six people at a Christian school in Nashville in March, a judge said on Wednesday. After journalists, a gun-rights organization and lawmakers sued to force the release of hundreds of pages of journals and writings left by the shooter, the parents of the three 9-year-olds killed and nearly all of their surviving classmates, as well as the school and adjoining church, had asked in a hearing on Monday to join the case and argue against their publication. The judge, Chancellor IAshea L. Myles of the Chancery Court in Davidson County, acknowledged that the parents stand in a unique position stepping into the shoes of their minor children. And because those children are the victims of a crime currently under investigation by the police, the judge found that the parents had a right to intervene on their behalf. A U.S. Navy destroyer sunk in 1945 by a kamikaze aircraft during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II has been discovered by a group of civilian underwater explorers deep in the Pacific Ocean, the groups leader said on Wednesday. The U.S.S. Mannert L. Abele was the first warship hit by what was then a new Japanese weapon called an Ohka essentially a flying bomb capable of reaching speeds of 600 miles per hour. A group called the Lost 52 Project, which searches for Navy submarines and warships sunk during World War II, found the ship in December. The U.S. Navys Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington, which is responsible for tracking the 3,000 ships and submarines the service has lost at sea in both peacetime and war, confirmed the discovery in April. The discussion on Twitter Spaces between Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, will be moderated by David Sacks, a fitting bridge between them. A Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor, Mr. Sacks is a close friend of Mr. Musk, having worked with him as an executive in the early days of PayPal, the digital payments company that was the source of Mr. Musks early wealth. Mr. Sacks was among the investors who provided funding for Mr. Musks $44 billion purchase of Twitter last year, and was a trusted confidant during the ownership transition, though he denied having an official role. He is also a Republican donor who gave $50,000 to Mr. DeSantiss state political committee ahead of his re-election, campaign finance records show. He has praised the governor on several occasions, including for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Florida. Hours after filing federal paperwork declaring that he was running for president and shortly before his plan for a Twitter livestream to launch his campaign went haywire Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a Florida elections bill that cleared a potential hurdle. Floridas so-called resign-to-run statute could have compelled Mr. DeSantis to resign after he sought the presidency, even though the legal questions surrounding the rule have never been fully settled. But state lawmakers clarified the laws language late last month so that it no longer applies to elected officials running for president or vice president. Democrats accused Republicans in Tallahassee of doing a favor for the governor, though with Republican supermajorities controlling both chambers, there was little they could do to stop the measure. Republicans said the old law was vague, and legal experts were divided about whether it would have applied to Mr. DeSantis. The change to the resign-to-run statute was included in a broader elections bill. It also contains provisions restricting how third-party groups can register voters. A lot of names in politics are hard to say. Pete Buttigieg sold T-shirts to supporters of his 2020 presidential campaign that had instructions on how to pronounce his Maltese surname. This year in Wisconsins Supreme Court election, Janet Protasiewicz ran ads showing people mangling her Polish name. But its hard to recall a prominent American politician who has offered alternate pronunciations of his or her own name before Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. When he was sworn in for a second term as governor in January, he said, I, Ron Deh-Santis. This month, he began a video for the National Day of Prayer by saying, Im Gov. Ron Dee-Santis. As he rolled out his campaign on Wednesday with a glitchy Twitter appearance and an interview on Fox News, he twice invited supporters to visit Ron Deh-Santis dot com. But in his first campaign video, he introduced himself by saying, Im Ron Dee-Santis. Former President Donald J. Trump called it a disaster, President Bidens campaign took a sly shot to raise a little extra cash, and low-polling Republicans tried to use Gov. Ron DeSantiss glitchy, delayed campaign rollout to steal some attention for themselves. As technical difficulties derailed Mr. DeSantiss attempt to make a splash by appearing in a Twitter livestream with the platforms billionaire owner, Elon Musk, much of the internet couldnt resist poking fun including the two leading presidential candidates and other trailing wannabes. The mix of 26 minutes of mostly dead air, followed by an intermittent celebration of Mr. Musk, made the livestream feel a bit like an ad for Twitter, Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump administration official who has turned sharply against Mr. Trump, wrote on Twitter. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, a Trump ally, called his governor DeSedative. But perhaps nobody enjoyed the stumbling start to Mr. DeSantiss presidential bid more than his current and potentially future rivals. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida announced his presidential bid on Wednesday night in a livestream on Twitter that was delayed by technical difficulties and peppered with occasionally misleading claims. Heres a fact check of some of his claims. What WAS Said Bidens also politicized the military and caused recruiting to plummet. This lacks evidence. Military leaders have recently warned that several branches of the armed forces are struggling to meet recruiting targets, but the reasons they have cited have little to do with President Biden. Namely, many younger Americans simply fail to qualify. A 2020 Pentagon study found that just 23 percent of 17- to 24-year-olds can meet service standards, with many failing the militarys entrance exams or fitness and mental tests. That rate decreased by six percentage points from the previous study in 2017. The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that the attackers, who are members of two groups calling themselves the Free Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, had been pushed back across the border into Ukraine. But the attacks in Belgorod continued overnight, with a large number of drone strikes and damage to a gas pipeline that caused a small fire, the regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said Wednesday morning. The night was not entirely calm, Mr. Gladkov wrote on Telegram, saying that houses, cars and office buildings in the city of Belgorod and other settlements had been damaged. It was unclear how the aftermath of the raid might play out in Russia. Analysts of Russian politics said that the attack might stir discontent over incompetence in the military among pro-war groups, but that it could also offer Mr. Putin an opportunity to try to rally people around the flag. Already, the Kremlin has said that the raiders had abandoned American-made military vehicles inside Russia, and Moscow can use the far-right histories of some of the raiders to bolster its largely false claim to be fighting Nazis in Ukraine. The Kremlin, eager to discredit the renegade Russians, dismissed them on Wednesday as neo-fascists. One commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, Denis Kapustin, is a known far-right extremist. The Anti-Defamation League has said that he was involved in the Mixed Martial Arts world in Europe and that he has trained younger members of the far-right National Democratic Party of Germany. At the news conference in northern Ukraine on Wednesday, he introduced himself to reporters by his call sign, White Rex. As Russia vowed to respond extremely harshly to a rare, two-day border incursion by pro-Ukrainian fighters, the leader of Russias largest mercenary force warned that it faced further setbacks unless its ruling elite took drastic, and likely unpopular, measures to win the war. The most likely scenario for us in a special operation would not be a good one, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, said in a profanity-laced interview with a pro-Kremlin political observer published late Tuesday on the Telegram messaging platform. We are in such a condition that we could lose Russia, he continued, his speech laced with profanity. We have to prepare for a very hard war that will result in hundreds of thousands of casualties. An oligarch closely allied with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, Mr. Prigozhin has been ramping up pressure on Russias military leadership with bombastic diatribes on public internet platforms, and extending his criticism to the countrys moneyed elites. He has been further empowered by his notorious mercenary forces role in the recent conquest of Bakhmut, Russias first battlefield victory in months. However, Russian state media has kept his name out of its coverage of those events, showing how Russias propaganda machine has been hiding elite infighting and problems on the front line from the Russian people. Before Abdel R. Salaam traveled to Ghana last fall, he didnt have deep knowledge of its music and dance traditions. But the country held a special association for him dating back to when Chuck Davis celebrated it at DanceAfrica, the festival he founded. It was 1978, the festivals second year, and Daviss opening words were a call and response in the Twi language: Ago! Ame! Those words refer to the willingness to listen, to pay attention. Its a memory that stuck with Salaam, now the festivals artistic director who this week brings Ghana back to the DanceAfrica stage. After immersing himself in the countrys culture and holding auditions for 21 companies in different regions he landed on a title: Golden Ghana: Adinkra, Ananse and Abusua. Before its independence, in 1957, Ghana was known as the Gold Coast. But Salaam was thinking beyond that. He likens Golden Ghana to the idea of living my life like its golden, as Jill Scott sings. You want to reach for not just material gold, but the highest level of light, Salaam said. Its inner light. (Adinkra relates to symbols linked to the wisdom; Ananse, from folklore, is often shown as a spider and is known for qualities that include intelligence and mischievousness; Abusua refers to family.) In 1936, the writer Langston Hughes and the artist Elmer W. Brown two Black men, one famous and the other not wanted to publish a book. Hughes was already an acclaimed figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Brown was a younger painter and illustrator who met Hughes in the creative orbit of Karamu House, the renowned Black theater in Cleveland where Hughes premiered several of his plays. What Hughes and Brown shopped around was a childrens picture book called The Sweet and Sour Animal Book. Hughess spirited verses and Browns whimsical illustrations together would tell tales about a hungry parrot, mournful cow and other creatures that express in simple verse a range of feelings from unhappiness and remorse to bliss and confidence. Hughess stature opened some publishers doors, and according to letters he wrote to Brown, the feedback he heard was mostly positive. But the book was never published in their lifetimes. Some 90 years after the two men failed to find a publisher, their original collaboration gets new life in an exhibition here called The Sweet and Sour Journey of Langston Hughes and Elmer W. Brown. The show is a collaboration between the Cleveland Museum of Art and ARTneo, an organization that specializes in the art of Northeast Ohio and runs a gallery where the show runs through July 24 in an arts complex on the citys West Side. Mayhews exhibition at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art is titled Inner Terrain. When he paints, he describes himself as going into a trance. He asserts that his paintings are not landscapes but mindscapes places only imagined or remembered. While some are titled after specific places (Monterey Bay or Montauk), Mayhew said that he does that just to give them some identity. He might just as well call it Wednesday, he said then showed me a painting, on an easel in his garage-studio, titled exactly that. It is tempting to try and detect in Mayhews hazy, peaceful landscapes an occluded echo of this countrys history of slavery, and the relationship of Black and brown workers to the land. In past titles he has referred to the 40 acres and a mule that was promised in reparations to freed slaves during Reconstruction; in one interview he described visiting a former plantation in Louisiana, and pondering the dark secrets of its landscape. A judge in California on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the lead actors in the 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet against Paramount Pictures over a scene in which their characters wake up in bed together nude. The actors, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, asserted in the lawsuit filed last year that they were underage at the time of filming, and that the movies director, Franco Zeffirelli, had assured them that they would be wearing flesh-colored undergarments during the bedroom scene. But on the morning of the shoot, the lawsuit claimed, he told the teenage actors that they must act in the nude or the picture would fail. Their suit claimed that Paramount, the movies distributor, knew or should have known images of plaintiffs nude bodies were secretly and unlawfully obtained during the performance. In court papers, lawyers for the actors wrote that the scene should not be considered protected speech because it qualified as child pornography. Ms. Hussey was 16 when the scene was filmed, and Mr. Whiting was 17, Tony Marinozzi, a manager for both of the actors, said. A lawyer for Paramount disputed the actors assessment of the film, which won two Oscars, arguing in court papers that the scene is not lewd or lascivious, and adding that their claims were too old to bring in court. Our recommended books this week feature subjects from the workings of the womb to the sudden, mysterious (and fictional) appearance of a mountain that dwarfs Everest. Elizabeth Gravers novel Kantika reimagines the nomadic life that took her grandmother from Constantinople to Queens; Cassandra Jacksons memoir, The Wreck, traces the authors evolution from daughter to mother; and Henry Grabars study Paved Paradise explores the cultural impact of cars and the storage problem they pose. We also recommend two impressive debut novels, by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and Alice Winn, and two nonfiction books that offer fascinating takes on real-life murders: Alex Mars Seventy Times Seven focuses on tricky questions of forgiveness, while Jonathan Rosens harrowing memoir The Best Minds focuses on mental illness and its treatment, via the story of his closest childhood friends descent into paranoid schizophrenia: a tough subject, compassionately examined. Happy reading. Gregory Cowles This dystopian satire in which prison inmates duel on TV for a chance at freedom makes readers complicit with the bloodthirsty fans sitting ringside. The fight scenes are so well written they demonstrate how easy it might be to accept a world this sick. Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that while there were still outstanding issues, Republicans were making progress toward a deal with the White House to raise the debt ceiling while cutting federal spending. Negotiators had worked well past midnight, McCarthy said today as talks resumed, and he directed his bargainers to work 24/7 until there was a deal. President Biden appeared optimistic, saying that he and congressional leaders had agreed there will be no default. But there are still notable areas of dispute. Biden has offered to freeze discretionary spending, including for defense; but Republicans want to spend more for the military, and cut more elsewhere. Its possible that in order to reach a deal that prevents a default ahead of the projected June 1 deadline, Democrats will accept an agreement that allows military spending to grow even as nondefense spending falls or stays flat. Whatever the deal, it remains likely that it will disappoint lawmakers in both parties. I dont think everybody is going to be happy at the end of the day, McCarthy said, nodding to mounting concerns among some hard-right Republicans that their party was making too many concessions. Some Democrats, too, voiced anxiety that Biden would go too far in accepting Republican demands, including spending reductions and tougher work requirements on public benefit programs. If Ronald Reagan were to come back to life, he would probably be confused by the leftist tone that the early 2024 Republican presidential campaign has sometimes taken. After Ron DeSantis announced he was holding a fund-raiser last night at the Four Seasons hotel, an official close to Donald Trump mocked the event as uber elite and out of touch. Trump has also criticized DeSantis for supporting past Republican bills in Congress to shrink government partly by cutting Medicare and Social Security. DeSantis, for his part, has come out in favor of government action to reduce health care prices. He criticized the Biden administration for blocking cheaper prescription drugs from Canada a country that used to be a symbol of big-government inefficiency among Republicans. This month, DeSantis, Floridas governor, signed a bill that tries to lower drug costs there by cracking down on companies known as pharmacy benefit managers. Whats going on? Trumps trouncing of the Republican establishment in 2016, and his continued popularity among the partys voters, has exposed a weakness of the laissez-faire economic approach known as Reaganism. Namely, it isnt especially popular with most voters, including many Republicans. The rows of towering buildings crowding the banks of the Gan River are a testament to the real estate boom that transformed Nanchang in eastern China from a gritty manufacturing hub to a modern urban center. Now those skyscrapers are evidence of something very different: Chinas real estate market in crisis, reeling after years of overbuilding. As Chinas economy prospered the last two decades, Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province, erected sweeping apartment complexes and gleaming office towers to meet the increasing demand for homes and workplaces. It pursued urban expansion with a motto that underscored its growth-at-all-costs approach: Advance eastward, extend southward, expand westward, integrate northward, and prosper in the middle. But the countrys prolonged real estate slump has exposed cracks in cities, like Nanchang, where years of nonstop building have created too much supply. By one measure, nearly 20 percent of homes in Nanchang sit vacant the highest rate among 28 large and midsize Chinese cities. Shares in the chip maker Nvidia soared more than 24 percent on Thursday, after the company delivered a knockout quarterly sales outlook powered by demand for the processors that run artificial intelligence systems. Were seeing incredible orders to retool the worlds data centers, Jensen Huang, Nvidias chief executive, told analysts Wednesday on a conference call. Nvidias chips are used to power A.I. systems; demand for the chips jumped during the boom in cryptocurrency, whose systems also rely on their processing power. At the close of trading on Wednesday, Nvidias market capitalization hit $755 billion, the fifth-highest public valuation in the United States. On Thursday, the company closed in on the trillion-dollar club, at $939 billion. The A.I. rally has also lifted other chip stocks, including those for AMD, ASML and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Since the introduction of the ChatGPT chatbot in November, the buzz around A.I. has intensified, making companies at the forefront of the technology, like Microsoft, Google and Nvidia, a popular pick among investors. Among the items angering some customers was a one-piece, tuck-friendly swimsuit a bathing suit that has extra material for the crotch area for individuals who want to conceal their genitalia. Some critics erroneously claimed that the swimsuit was being sold to children; Target said it was available only in adult sizes. The collection also includes childrens books about transgender issues and gender fluidity. One woman recorded a TikTok video in a Target store on Monday in which she became angry at seeing a greeting card that read So Glad You Came Out and a yellow onesie that said Bien Proud! If that doesnt give you a reason to boycott Target, I dont know what does, she said. In a statement, a company spokeswoman said, Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. She added that the company, which has been selling Pride Month merchandise for a decade, remained committed to the L.G.B.T.Q. community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year. While Target said its decision had been made in the interest of employee safety, many said its actions along with a conservative backlash against Bud Light after it worked with a transgender influencer might alienate the community it was seeking to support. And those who criticized Target and Bud Light in the first place may now feel further emboldened to attack inclusive initiatives by other companies. Were in a new space here with safety and employee safety being threatened by policy and purpose, said Vanitha Swaminathan, professor of marketing at the University of Pittsburgh. I cant say that you can disregard employee safety. Thats very core to what a company has to do. At the same time, Target can still, from a policy standpoint, be supportive of their initial stance. Its sad to see that weve reached this point in our culture wars. Although the Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth, there is relatively little research on how this heating is affecting animals. This new paper, which covers more than 25 years in Northern Alaska, is one of the first long-term research projects to present strong evidence that warming is directly changing the physiological processes of Arctic species. This study is relatively unusual because it shows that warming is directly impacting a mammal, said Cory T. Williams, an assistant professor at Colorado State University and a co-author of the study. Some people might say, OK, a 10-day advance over 25 years doesnt seem that fast. But in terms of climate, thats incredibly fast. Arctic ground squirrels might look cute, but males can be very territorial. They get into a lot of fights during mating season, some deadly. They have tails, but not long, bushy ones like squirrels found farther south. And they make distinctive whistling noises that could easily be mistaken for the chirp of a small bird. Some Alaska Natives call them parka squirrels because their fur makes a nice, warm fringe for the hood of a coat. Scientists have long been interested in their hibernation patterns. During the long winter sleep, the squirrels core body temperature can drop to about 27 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly minus 3 Celsius, with their resting heart rate falling as low as three beats per minute. More knowledge about that process could lead to advances in therapeutic hypothermia, a medical treatment in which the body temperature is lowered to prevent injury. Its sometimes used after cardiac arrest. But the most pressing challenge, scientists say, is getting a grip on the changes happening in the Far North. The big gap is just understanding what is happening in the Arctic in general, Dr. Williams said. This study shows why we need long-term projects to understand the changes happening across different levels. This spring, at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, I stood again in front of The Milkmaid, returning 33 years after that day in Lagos to her humility, her solidity and the ongoingness of her domestic work. I love it I love her no less than I ever did. It was she who inspired Wisawa Szymborskas epigrammatic poem Vermeer (translated by Clare Cavanagh and Stanisaw Baranczak from the Polish): So long as that woman from the Rijksmuseum in painted quiet and concentration keeps pouring milk day after day from the pitcher to the bowl the World hasnt earned the worlds end. The curators of the Rijksmuseum have brought together, in a much-praised exhibition, the largest number of paintings by Vermeer ever assembled, 28 of the surviving 35 or so generally agreed to be by him. It is a feat of coordination by the organizers and of generosity by the lenders, a gathering unlikely to be repeated in this generation at such a scale. But I had not been keen on seeing the exhibition, and the reasons why not began to accumulate. The entire run of tickets, some 450,000 of them, sold out within a few weeks of the opening, and even if I did manage to get one, the galleries were sure to be crowded. I was also skeptical of the bluntly narrow focus of the exhibition: a painting by Vermeer, followed by another, followed by another; most successful exhibitions need more context than this. But what was really beginning to grate on me was the breathless critical acclaim. The name Vermeer is, by now, a shorthand for artistic excellence and so much of the praise for the exhibition sounded like emotional shorthand too. Greatness, perfection, sublimity: the appropriate vocabulary for a certain kind of cultural experience. Those who had seen the show were envied by those who hadnt. That it represented a once in a lifetime experience was taken as gospel. (And yet, how many of our best encounters with art have happened in a minor museum on a quiet day? What moment, fully inhabited, isnt once in a lifetime?) The idea that the images were wonderful had somehow gotten mixed up with the dogma that the images were nothing but wonderful. Amid all this rapturous consensus, critical dissent was hard to come by. But some Dutch friends arranged entry for me, weakening my resolve. Then, Martine Gosselink, director of the Mauritshuis (home of Girl With a Pearl Earring and one of the major museum lenders to the exhibition), invited me to walk through the exhibition with her after hours. Well, refusal at that point would have been absurd. Late in the afternoon on March 13, joined by a friend, we entered the exhibition. The last wave of regular visitors was ushered out, and there we were, three lucky viewers, with 28 Vermeers. He was not prolific: He is thought to have made as few as 42 paintings in all. Its reasonable to assume, as art historians did for a long time, that this slow rate of production was a consequence of a particularly meticulous technique. But X-rays and infrared imaging show that he made swift underpaintings and very few preparatory drawings. So what was he doing with all that extra time? For one thing, he had a day job as an art dealer, the profession he inherited from his father. For another, he was himself father to as many as 15 children (11 of whom outlived him). The household must have been noisy. Against the implied backdrop of that noise, the astonishing and self-possessed pictures arrive, two or three of them a year. These are pictures that seem to be doing things with light that no pictures had ever done before. The art historian Lawrence Gowing describes it as a certain heedlessness of subject, a certain faithfulness to pure appearance: Vermeer seems almost not to care, or not even to know, what it is that he is painting. What do men call this wedge of light? A nose? A finger? What do we know of its shape? To Vermeer none of this matters, the conceptual world of names and knowledge is forgotten, nothing concerns him but what is visible, the tone, the wedge of light. Everybody wants to find the undercover C.I.A. agent Tom Harris (Gerard Butler), who is marooned while on a mission in Afghanistan: the Taliban, an Iranian hound, ISIS, a Pakistani secret operative. The only people who wont be on his tail are those looking for a good action film the stupefyingly sluggish Kandahar isnt it. For his third collaboration with the director Ric Roman Waugh after Greenland (by far the best of the three, from 2021) and Angel Has Fallen (2019), Butler has picked a rather ineffective vehicle, just like when Tom and his translator, Mo, steal a car that promptly gets a flat as they rush to catch a flight out of Kandahar. The Russian director Kira Kovalenkos moody, miserablist drama Unclenching the Fists captures a turning point in the life of Ada (Milana Aguzarova), a young woman trapped under her fathers thumb. The chilly mountain region where they reside is in a mining town in North Ossetia, a Russian republic in the North Caucasus, an area still raw with the memories of civil warfare and extremist violence. Zaur (Alik Karaev) is a possessive and domineering single parent, forbidding Ada from wearing perfume should it attract male attention, and most alarmingly locking his daughter and youngest son into their shared apartment in the evenings, only allowing them to exit when he sees fit. Distrustful of institutions, Zaur refuses to allow Ada to get the treatment she needs for injuries sustained during a terrorist attack, forcing the young woman to wear adult diapers. Mr. Pennys cause has been championed by some conservatives and become a talking point for Republican contenders for the 2024 presidential nomination. Mr. Penny, they argue, was protecting his fellow passengers, and his prosecution is unjust. Progressive leaders have said the killing and Mr. Pennys delayed arrest are evidence of a racist justice system a position echoed by protests in the wake of Mr. Neelys death. And many have pointed to structural problems they said the killing brought into focus: insufficient care for people with mental illness, and New York Citys failure to fully address safety on the subways. Mr. Penny surrendered to the police 11 days after the killing. He was charged with manslaughter by the Manhattan district attorneys office, which began preparing to present evidence to the grand jury. Though Mr. Penny has been arrested and charged, prosecutors must still seek an indictment to move forward with the case. To do that, they must convince a majority of grand jurors that there is reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Penny committed a crime. The grand jury of 23 randomly selected people from Manhattan will meet behind closed doors over the next several weeks, though the exact timing of the process is unknown. For the vast majority of defendants, a grand jury indictment is all but a foregone conclusion. Under New York law, defendants have a right to answer questions under oath before the grand jury before they are indicted, but rarely do so. Defendants grand jury testimony can be admitted as evidence at an eventual trial, regardless of whether they choose to testify during the trial itself. Charles Frederick Sharp III had called the police to his home in southwest New Jersey in the middle of the night to report trespassers in his backyard. One was carrying a gun, Mr. Sharp, who spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, told a 911 dispatcher. Within five seconds of arrival, a police officer had fired multiple shots, fatally wounding Mr. Sharp as he stood outside his home in Mantua, N.J., in September 2021, according to state officials and footage from body cameras worn by police officers. Mr. Sharp, 49, was still on the phone with the police when he was struck. On Wednesday, the states attorney general announced that a grand jury voted this week to take the rare step of indicting the officer, Salvatore Oldrati, on manslaughter charges. Thomas J. Eicher, executive director of the attorney generals public integrity office, said Officer Oldrati gave Mr. Sharp no verbal commands or warnings before opening fire. A detailed replica of a .45-caliber gun was found near Mr. Sharp, according to the attorney generals office. As New York embarks on an ambitious plan to overhaul how children in the nations largest school system are taught to read, schools leaders face a significant obstacle: educators skepticism. Dozens of cities and states have sought to transform reading instruction in recent years, driven by decades of research known as the science of reading. But the success of their efforts has hinged in part on whether school leaders are willing to embrace a seismic shift in their philosophy about how children learn. Already in New York City, the rollout has frustrated principals. The schools chancellor, David C. Banks, is forcing schools to abandon strategies he says are a top reason half of students in grades three to eight are not proficient in reading. But principals will lose control over selecting reading programs at their schools, and their union has criticized the speed of change. And many educators still believe in balanced literacy, a popular approach that aims to foster a love of books through independent reading time but that experts and the chancellor say lacks enough focus on foundational skills. Our colleague Wesley Parnell also talked to several middle schoolers who said they had people attempt to hack their accounts, that they had been impersonated and that their reputations had been damaged because of rumors. For other students, being in an online world beyond social media can be tough. Some have grappled with the fact that they often see what an ideal body and figure look like in images online. They look at themselves and compare themselves. So spending time on the internet is affecting their own self-image. But thats not new. Its not. Its one of those things that teenagers have been dealing with for a long time and that is just getting more attention now politically. One of the teenagers we talked to is a high school sophomore. She said that when she was 11, in middle school, she founded an art account on Instagram. She wanted to turn it into a business and make a name for herself. But she was so focused on the views, likes, comments and shares that she really started to lose her sense of self as an artist, even at that young age. Shes been thinking about how she wants to use social media, and what her own personal guidelines will be so that she doesnt fall back into that. Didnt the surgeon generals report highlight something that was true long before social media came along many if not most parents live in different worlds from many if not most teenagers? Stephen K. Bannon, a longtime adviser to former President Donald J. Trump, is scheduled to stand trial in May of next year for what prosecutors say was his role in defrauding Americans who paid money toward the construction of a southern border wall, a judge said Thursday. The judge, Juan M. Merchan, said that while the May 27, 2024 trial was later than he had anticipated he had originally considered a November date he was satisfied with the schedule proposed by Mr. Bannons lawyers as long as prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office were satisfied. A prosecutor, Daniel Passeser, said that he was. The date means that Mr. Trump himself will stand trial two months earlier than his former adviser, if both cases proceed as planned. Prosecutors say Mr. Bannon played a key role in an organization called We Build the Wall, which brought in millions of dollars through its promise to make the oft-promised border wall a reality. Studies show that the best science is often done by international research teams, presumably because researchers can select from a broader range of potential partners. When we discourage international collaboration in the absence of clear concerns about national security, we limit the pool of possible collaborators, potentially weakening the research. This is especially true when it comes to China, which has become a scientific power. China was second only to the United States in total spending on research and development as of 2018, according to figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Chinese publishing of research papers has grown, by one measure, to 25 percent in 2020 from less than 1 percent of the global total before 1990. This work is of increasingly high quality. According to some calculations, Chinese papers are cited (an indication of a papers impact) by academics in their own work more often than those of any other country. Academics also choose their partners based on who can best help them to advance their work, and researchers at American universities have for years chosen co-authors from China more than from any other country, according to a report from the National Science Foundation. Questions have been raised about Chinese academic fraud and low-quality patents, but more work is needed to assess how widespread those problems are. Concerns over academic collaboration with China are legitimate. Under the Chinese model, civilian organizations and businesses are sometimes obliged to support the countrys military apparatus. Ive heard enough to believe that some Chinese students in America may be reporting what happens in class to agents in China and that some Chinese scholars may have undisclosed agreements to relay what they have learned back home. Chinas government has contributed to the deterioration of academic cooperation. Conducting research in China is harder than it has been in years because of an increased emphasis there on ideology and national security, an ever-widening scope of topics deemed sensitive, decreasing academic freedom and, until they were ended last December, the smothering effect of nearly three years of zero-Covid policies. Ron DeSantiss botched, awkward entry into the G.O.P. presidential primary highlights that there are two important internecine Republican conflicts unfolding at once. First, there is the obvious argument about Donald Trumps suitability for the presidency. But theres a second, less obvious question that is closely related to the first and often mistaken for it: What is the nature of contemporary conservatism? Or to put it another way, if Trump loses, what will take his place? And when viewed through that prism, DeSantis is particularly significant. More than anyone else in the race, he has the potential both to defeat Trump and to end conservatism as we have known it. But first, lets define terms. What is a conservative? Its a hard question to answer, and it gets harder each day. Since the second half of the 20th century, conservatism as an ideology has been largely synonymous with something called fusionism, an alliance between social conservatives and economic libertarians. In the Cold War era, the additional commitment to a strong national defense resulted in what was often called the three-legged stool of the Republican Party. Under this formulation, the G.O.P. perceived itself as a party united more by ideology than by identity. Thats certainly how I perceived it before Trump, and its why I mistakenly believed it would reject him as a standard-bearer. Though he pledged to be socially conservative as president, he was a thrice-married libertine who kept a framed photo of himself on the cover of Playboy in his office. His economic program was more populist than libertarian, and his foreign policy was far more isolationist than those of previous G.O.P. presidents and presidential nominees. In other words, I looked at him and thought, Hes not a real Republican. Trump, by contrast, correctly perceived that the party was not or was no longer primarily an ideological party. It was more clearly defined by what it was against than what it was for. While Trumps vision of Trumpism was primarily an extension of his personal ambition, the ideological definition of Trumpism became something else entirely: a full-spectrum political and cultural opposition to the left, however it might be defined. To the Editor: Re If You Care About Book Bans, You Should Be Following This Lawsuit, by Michelle Goldberg (column, nytimes.com, May 19): There is something deeply disturbing about whats happening to the freedom to choose what to think, what to read, whom to love, what we do with our own bodies, and even who we will decide to be. Reading Ms. Goldbergs column about the lawsuit against the Escambia County School District and Escambia County School Board in Florida over its book banning, I again felt the outrage and desperation of what can I do, how can we help to stop this? We need to support the critical fight of these parents, librarians and all people who believe that allowing yourself to be exposed to different opinions and beliefs is not toxic and will not poison minds. The deepest fear that book banners, homophobes and misogynists share is the terrifying possibility that reading and thinking might lead to questioning, or even challenging, long-held biases! In April, in a speech at the Brookings Institution, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, somewhat formally declared the death of that old Washington Consensus. For a generation, American leaders of both parties had spoken of the countrys global economic interests in terms that were as high-minded and even messianic as they were simplistic and prescriptive: What was good for markets was good for America and what was good for America was good for the world. This was always something of an alibi for the country and its self-congratulatory ruling class, as anyone looking under the hood could have told you a way of dressing up economic policy powered by financial interests as something approaching charity, or at least noblesse oblige (and, perhaps by design, overlooking the very real costs to American workers and the climate as well). But it is striking, even so, just how naked the emerging new consensus looks, with those costumes discarded and the masks off. In January, at Davos, before the assembled and entrenched global business caste, the U.S. trade representative, Katherine Tai, called it bluntly a new economic world order. In April, just after the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings, Janet Yellen declared that America could tolerate continued Chinese growth but perhaps only as long as the United States remained the worlds predominant superpower, she implied. Sullivan, too, has tried to speak softly suggesting that the United States wanted to disengage from China in only a few key areas of strategic significance (computer chips, green tech, A.I.) and that the new policy of economic rivalry was conflict over a small yard protected by a high fence. But he also has bluntly stated that his job is to serve not Goldman Sachs and its partners in China but the workers of America. This month, a longtime Biden aide, Jennifer Harris, approvingly tweeted a photo of a graduate students tattoo: Death to neoliberalism, it read. What follows is not entirely clear. The new consensus has meant enormous state investment, directed toward industrial revival all around the postindustrial world. But its not yet obvious that such a revival is truly workable Can the World Make an Electric-Car Battery Without China? a headline in The Times recently wondered which is one reason many regard that new economic world order as an expression of geopolitical rivalry more than industrial policy pursued for its own sake. Not long ago, Chinas green-tech manufacturing boom looked like a possible climate lifeline; today it is more likely to be described by American bureaucrats as a suspicious display of rivalrous statecraft. And it is somewhat disorienting, even for critics of neoliberalism, to be heading into an escalating trade war without an ideological banner flying above. Hardly anyone at any point on the American political spectrum is talking about open markets and free trade in those once-familiar absolutes. Skepticism has spread to market acolytes overseas too. Earlier in April, Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, called for a new industrial policy across the continent; this month, President Emmanuel Macron of France, long the international face of neoliberalism, echoed the call. Five years ago, sanctimonious neoliberals mocked Donald Trumps zero-sum view of the world as a kind of Dunning-Kruger geopolitics. But today, you hear few invocations among politicians or diplomats or bureaucrats of any truly universal positive-sum model of free markets or economic growth. How profound is the change, beyond the rhetorical turn? In many ways, perhaps smaller than it may sound the ships of state and business are large and hard to redirect, with small turns often hailed (or denounced) as total reversals. And the turn is motivated by some genuine and indeed progressive reckoning with the shortcomings of the old consensus, or at least its promises and presumptions, which Sullivan was careful to highlight in his speech: that markets were always efficient and productive, that all growth was good growth and that globally, more of it would mean more prosperity and inevitably a liberalization of the worlds more autocratic and repressive regimes. On the domestic front, the implication is clear: a recognition that the free-market policies of the past several decades have punished the American working and middle classes, particularly in politically sensitive areas of the Rust Belt. Or, in the language of the campaign trail: Trade deals need to benefit the people of Pennsylvania and Michigan rather than those of Shenzhen and Shanghai. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Milton man with a felony murder conviction and his toddler passenger both were injured when he crashed in Monona on Wednesday, Monona police reported. At about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, an officer witnessed a vehicle speeding 60 miles per hour heading north in the 5700 block of Monona Drive, where the speed limit is 30 mph (school zones during school hours are 20 mph), Chief Brian Chaney said in a statement. The vehicle than drove against traffic and turned onto Nichols Road, police said. According to witnesses, the cars engine could be heard before it was seen as it accelerated along Nichols Road, swerved around a stopped vehicle, went out of control and crashed into a fire hydrant, utility pole and tree before coming to rest in the front yard of an occupied home in the 700 block of Nichols Road, Chaney said. The driver, Joldany Rodriguez, 25, and a 2-year-old toddler were taken by ambulance to local hospitals with serious injuries, Chaney said, adding that there were no other injuries. Rodriguez and the toddler were not related and he was caring for the child at the time of the crash, Chaney said. Police will be referring charges against Rodriguez to the Dane County District Attorney's Office for reckless driving - causing great bodily harm, and other possible crimes, Chaney said. Rodriguez was convicted of felony murder party to a crime for a 2016 killing in Rock County. He was sentenced in 2017 to 5 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision, according to Wisconsin court records. [Editor's note: The term "fleeing police" was changed to "reckless driving" in the headline because Monona police said they had not actually started a traffic stop attempt, but were only preparing to.] When I was appointed by Michael Bloomberg as commissioner for the Department of Homeless Services in New York City in 2002, I was presented with a wish list from the court-appointed lawyers who had been governing the system for, at that point, 20 years. The wish list looked reasonable: add community intake centers to ease access for those we wanted off the streets; get kids placed to beds earlier so they could rest well for the next day of school. But the strong advice of Homeless Services staff was: Dont do it. They said that not because they were heartless, but because the legal setup of right to shelter meant that there was no such thing as iterative learning, or testing and failing and trying again. Instead, any change we made would be codified in place, never to be retooled except with the express consent of the parties and the judge. These were hard-won lessons: The right-to-shelter program had, over the years, been expanded in a series of compromises forced upon a litigation-wary city to prevent a potentially worse court-determined outcome. The size and shape of shelters, the time allowed to act on applications, the minutiae of the rules governing how shelters operate are all either fixed in settlements or subject to court supervision. The Bloomberg years at Homeless Services resulted in significant gains outside the shelter system that have been sustained here and replicated internationally citywide street counts to measure progress in moving people into accommodation, a Safe Haven model that meets clients where they are in their journey and a big expansion of supportive housing in the citys history. The right to shelter, however, has frozen the shelter system in the past. The right to shelter is not good policy. It feels humane, a fundamentally decent thing to do for so many who have suffered a bad turn of events or a lifetime of crisis. But when governed as an absolute right, the dynamics get distorted, a condition worsened when the definition of the right is in the hands of the court. Any complex service organization is a constantly shifting environment of supports, incentives and conditions. Mediated through the eyes of the advocates and their attorneys, the city has been hamstrung in its efforts to adapt the shelter system to meet emerging needs. Other cities and states faced with growing homeless populations are wondering if they, too, should institute a right to shelter. Again, I would say no. Even if all the terms of shelter were under the control of the local government, establishing a guarantee to anyone who presents a need changes the behaviors of all actors. I recall calls to our hotline coming in from family members asking for the address of a shelter intake so they could drop off their problematic family members, and from child welfare workers who would use the shelter system to achieve family reunification for a parent ready to resume caretaking but lacking housing that met regulatory standards for reunification. In other words, the policy lets people off the hook from doing what is needed to secure decent housing for people in their care. As Republican candidates enter the race for their partys 2024 presidential nomination, Times columnists, Opinion writers and others will assess their strengths and weaknesses with a scorecard. We rate the candidates on a scale of 1 to 10: 1 means the candidate will probably drop out before any caucus or primary voting; 10 means the candidate has a very strong chance of receiving the partys nomination next summer. This entry assesses Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, who announced his bid for the Republican nomination on Wednesday. How seriously should we take DeSantiss candidacy? David Brooks Ron DeSantis was overvalued before and is undervalued now. Hes still the most likely Trump alternative since he spans the Trump wing and the non-Trump wing of the G.O.P. But it would take a Trump implosion to bring that about. I doubt theres much that DeSantis can affirmatively do to control his destiny. Jane Coaston Extremely seriously, and very literally. Michelle Cottle About as seriously as a moderate to severe case of shingles. (So, pretty seriously.) Ross Douthat More seriously than any Republican not named Donald Trump. Ron DeSantiss weaknesses are obvious social awkwardness above all but even as his poll numbers have sagged, nobody else has emerged from the pack, so he enters the race as the only currently plausible vehicle for Republicans who dont want Trump again. The Supreme Court will soon issue rulings, on affirmative action, student debt relief, and the First Amendment and gay rights, that have the potential to affect the American public for generations. And yet public approval of the court is at a historic low. This was true even before the seemingly endless stream of reports over the past several weeks about the justices lax ethics. Since a conservative supermajority took control of the court in 2020, it has blown through the guardrails courts are expected to observe showing little respect for longstanding precedent, reaching out to decide bigger questions than it was asked to and relying on a secretive shadow docket to make hugely consequential rulings with no public explanation. Even Republicans who are happy with the Supreme Courts recent rulings are voicing their concerns. What I would urge the court to do is take this moment to instill more public confidence, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on ethics at the Supreme Court on May 2. I think wed all be better off if they did that. Mr. Graham is right: The nine justices unelected and employed for life are shielded from the usual mechanisms of democratic accountability, and so they depend on a high level of public trust like no other institution of American government. Their failure to take the steps necessary to restore that trust, steps that are entirely within their control, is undermining their legitimacy as one of the countrys most vital institutions. Instead the justices are behaving as though the same laws they interpret for everyone else dont apply to them. Theyre not entirely wrong. In most other government jobs, people can be fired for disregarding laws or ethical obligations, but the justices can be confident that they will face no consequences. Federal laws that explicitly apply to them involving, for example, financial disclosures and recusal standards are not enforced, leaving the justices to self-police, and the highest court is not bound by a code of ethics as the lower federal courts are. Maxi, who was busy licking an ice cube, declined to comment, but his owner, the film producer and Venetian slipper purveyor Stuart Parr, marveled at the tablescapes. This is made out of ceramic, not plastic, he said, pointing out an Air Mail-branded match striker nestled between white orchids. That tells you everything. Sting walked in a few minutes before midnight. Ms. Johansson arrived with her husband, Colin Jost, after the Cannes premiere of Asteroid City, the Wes Anderson film in which she has a key role. She chatted on the dance floor with Bryan Lourd, her agent and the co-chairman of C.A.A., and Joe Kahn, the executive editor of The New York Times. (Mr. Kahn sat with Mr. Carter and Mr. Walter at dinner.) Mr. Zaslav may have been the co-host, but some of the guests were still getting to know him. Michael Barker, a co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, said he had met Mr. Zaslav for the first time that evening and appreciated his sense of film history. Boy George said he found Mr. Zaslav very sweet. As at any industry event, some business got done. Mr. Zaslav, Mr. De Niro and Mr. DiCaprio were tossing around new titles for Wise Guys, a mob drama that Mr. Zaslav greenlighted after taking over Warner Bros. Boy George said he was open to any roles the Hollywood crowd might throw his way: Ive been talking to Rebel Wilson about playing her gay friend. By 2 a.m., after the disco and new wave music faded and the house lights went up, Mr. Zaslav was still working the room. He shook hands with the D.J. The view from the slowly emptying pool deck purple sky, dark sea, white yachts was more or less the same one that Jack Warner, the studios longtime president, once enjoyed from Villa Aujourdhui, his summer home, about 700 meters away. Vanessa Friedman contributed reporting. To those of us who grew up in the wake of second-wave feminism, Mary Tyler Moore is a powerfully evocative figure. For this group, watching the HBO documentary Being Mary Tyler Moore may prove an emotional experience, conjuring nostalgia of two distinct types: the gentle sort involved in remembering a beloved star of the past, and a more painful nostalgia provoked by recalling a time when womanhood seemed to beckon with new, liberating possibilities, and feminism seemed on a steady path forward. In her most famous role, as Mary Richards on her self-titled 1970s television show, Ms. Moore offered a dazzling new model of female adulthood: a confident, beautiful unmarried woman over 30, who supports herself, wears fabulous clothes, finds fulfillment through work and friendship, and enjoys an active love life with no apparent anxiety about finding a husband. As Rosie ODonnell comments in the film, this image of a woman making her own way in life was seared into her brain. Katie Couric concurs, noting that Ms. Moores example opened my eyes to wow, I want to do that too. Who can turn the world on with her smile? the shows memorable theme song asked a question then answered with the opening montage of Marys laughing with friends, strolling city streets and, of course, exuberantly throwing her tam into the air. The point was clear: Mary smiled at the world and it smiled back, welcoming this character into a big life extending far beyond the domestic realm. My mom doesnt have a retirement fund anymore, and thats an awareness I have to confront and suppress every time somebody doesnt want to come to the show because Its too late at night, or Its in Brooklyn, Ms. Velez said. Yet there is no sense of regret from either woman. I know that if she can find the financial footing, the rest is history, Ms. Church said. Shes worth every single ounce of energy to push her where she needs to go, so that other people can recognize what she has to offer. The problem, Ms. Velez has learned, is that recognition the buzz around awards, reviews and celebrity endorsements doesnt always yield tangible returns. If anything, she said, it contributes to the idea that things are going well when they are not. And these metrics have not been easy for her to explain to venture capitalists. How many accomplishments do I have to collect, and how many co-signs and check marks does it take before people invest in helping me keep myself afloat? Ms. Velez said, with an expletive or two. Nobodys malicious. Everyone is just busy doing their own thing and assuming that you can take care of your own business, which theoretically, you should be able to do. But we cant deny that theres a lot of money in this space, and a lot of people who are playing are playing with their own. While home in Wisconsin a few months ago, she said, she drove past an Arbys with a sign advertising a manager position for something like $20 an hour. It occurred to her that there was more stability in that job, even if her jobs perks included an invitation to sit at the Balenciaga table at the Met Gala in May. Then she realized she was unqualified for anything but fashion. Its a heavy, heavy, heavy burden for me, and a lot of the people that I love, she said. And I think that I could live a healthier, more sustainably paced life doing another thing. In 2010, Busayo Olupona was working as a corporate finance lawyer in New York City when she began making dresses from traditional African textiles, both as a creative outlet and as a way to connect with her heritage. Olupona, who was born in Boston, lived in Ile-Ife, a city in the southwest of Nigeria, until she was 11, when her family moved to Davis, Calif., for her fathers job teaching African Religion at the University of California, Davis. In 2013, she decided to turn her hobby into a business, launching Busayo, a collection of full-skirted dresses, voluminous pants and puff-sleeved tops, all produced in the country where she spent her childhood. Known for her love of bright color combinations think raspberry with tangerine, eggplant with sky blue Olupona, 43, now travels to the Nigerian cities Abeokuta, Lagos and Osogbo several times a year to work with local artisans. Over the past decade, her designs have been spotted on celebrities like Lupita Nyongo and Gwyneth Paltrow, and picked up by luxury retailers including Neiman Marcus and Moda Operandi. When shes home in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Olupona jumps at any opportunity to host a gathering. Nigerians love a good party, she says, recalling childhood memories of her parents and their friends dancing to the juju music by Shina Peters and King Sunny Ade, dressed up in Nigerian lace and head wraps. We celebrate everything. The law applies to companies with workers in New York City, but labor experts expect it to influence practices nationally. At least four states California, New Jersey, New York and Vermont and the District of Columbia are also working on laws to regulate A.I. in hiring. And Illinois and Maryland have enacted laws limiting the use of specific A.I. technologies, often for workplace surveillance and the screening of job candidates. The New York City law emerged from a clash of sharply conflicting viewpoints. The City Council passed it during the final days of the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio. Rounds of hearings and public comments, more than 100,000 words, came later overseen by the citys Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the rule-making agency. The result, some critics say, is overly sympathetic to business interests. What could have been a landmark law was watered down to lose effectiveness, said Alexandra Givens, president of the Center for Democracy & Technology, a policy and civil rights organization. Thats because the law defines an automated employment decision tool as technology used to substantially assist or replace discretionary decision making, she said. The rules adopted by the city appear to interpret that phrasing narrowly so that A.I. software will require an audit only if it is the lone or primary factor in a hiring decision or is used to overrule a human, Ms. Givens said. That leaves out the main way the automated software is used, she said, with a hiring manager invariably making the final choice. The potential for A.I.-driven discrimination, she said, typically comes in screening hundreds or thousands of candidates down to a handful or in targeted online recruiting to generate a pool of candidates. Microsoft endorsed a crop of regulations for artificial intelligence on Thursday, as the company navigates concerns from governments around the world about the risks of the rapidly evolving technology. Microsoft, which has promised to build artificial intelligence into many of its products, proposed regulations including a requirement that systems used in critical infrastructure can be fully turned off or slowed down, similar to an emergency braking system on a train. The company also called for laws to clarify when additional legal obligations apply to an A.I. system and for labels making it clear when an image or a video was produced by a computer. Companies need to step up, Brad Smith, Microsofts president, said in an interview about the push for regulations. Government needs to move faster. He laid out the proposals in front of an audience that included lawmakers at an event in downtown Washington on Thursday morning. The call for regulations punctuates a boom in A.I., with the release of the ChatGPT chatbot in November spawning a wave of interest. Companies including Microsoft and Googles parent, Alphabet, have since raced to incorporate the technology into their products. That has stoked concerns that the companies are sacrificing safety to reach the next big thing before their competitors. Reid Hoffman, billionaire entrepreneur and venture capital investor, is worried about artificial intelligence but not for the doomsday reasons making headlines. Instead, he worries the doomsday headlines are too negative. So in recent months, Mr. Hoffman has engaged in an aggressive thought-leadership regimen to extol the virtues of A.I. He has done so in blog posts, television interviews and fireside chats. He has spoken to government officials around the world. He hosts three podcasts and a YouTube channel. And in March, he published a book, Impromptu, co-written with the A.I. tool GPT-4. Its all part of the land grab for public opinion around A.I. in preparation for when the initial burst of fear and hype over the technology settles into a coherent debate. Sides will be chosen, regulation will be proposed, and tech tools will become politicized. For now, industry leaders like Mr. Hoffman are trying to nudge the terms of the discussion in their favor, even as public concerns only seem to grow. Im beating the positive drum very loudly, and Im doing so deliberately, he said. Few are as intertwined in so many facets of the fast-moving industry as Mr. Hoffman. The 55-year-old sits on the boards of 11 tech companies including Microsoft, which has gone all in on A.I., and eight nonprofits. His venture capital firm, Greylock Partners, has backed at least 37 A.I. companies. He was among the first investors in OpenAI, the most prominent A.I. start-up, and recently left its board. He also helped found Inflection AI, an A.I. chatbot start-up that has raised at least $225 million. Maybe its a happy couple, toes in the sand, on a Grecian beach vacation. Or that family who always seem to be hiking together, no one ever complaining about the hot sun and how long its going to take to get back to the car. Maybe its even that perfect meal, expertly plated on a busy weeknight. These images of contentment and positivity can easily leave some who see them on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook feeling as if everyone else is enjoying life more fully. The United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, warned this week that while social media can be beneficial to some people, evidence suggests that it may pose a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Mental health experts say there are strategies that everyone can use some practical, some more philosophical to engage with social media in a healthier way and limit harm. The lines arent just growing at the gates. Theyre also getting longer inside airport lounges, longtime havens from the masses clogging the terminals at peak times. Whether theyre taking advantage of a perk of a high-end airline ticket, a credit card or a membership program, more fliers are gravitating to the lounges and their free food, drink and Wi-Fi. As lounges popularity has grown, regular users claim they arent the respites they used to be, often with longer waits to get in and changes to beloved luxuries. One example: replacing seating at the bar with a rope line for walk-up service. The whole vibe in these clubs has changed to get passengers through, give them drinks, swipe their credit cards and sell them premium products, said Eric Goldmann of Atlanta, who works in health care sales and flies frequently. He cited top-shelf alcohol, usually not included among the free offerings, as an example. During last summers travel boom, the chief executive of Heathrow Airport in London asked airlines to stop selling tickets because of staffing shortages. Amsterdam Schiphol set a capacity cap. London Gatwick cut back on flights for July and August. Air Canada reduced its number of flights by about 15 percent. What should travelers expect for summer 2023? And where are they most likely to run into delays and cancellations? The flight tracking website FlightAware may offer some clues: Between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2022, the U.S. airports with the highest number of delays and cancellations, in order, were: Newark Liberty International Airport, La Guardia Airport and Kennedy Airport in New York; Reagan National in Washington; Miami International; Orlando International; Boston Logan International; and Charlotte Douglas International, in Charlotte, N.C. In Newark and Orlando, the worst for delays last summer, nearly 35 percent of flights departing from those airports didnt arrive at their destinations on time. Newark also held the title for most cancellations last summer, with nearly 9 percent of flights scratched entirely. The Federal Aviation Administration says that weather is the leading cause of flight delays. But last summer, most delays were man-made, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. From June to August last year, 8 percent of delays were caused by airlines and about 5 percent were attributed to issues with the national aviation system, which includes air traffic control problems. Less than 1 percent of the delays were weather-related, B.T.S. data shows. The F.A.A. has recently taken steps to pre-empt potential chaos this summer. It is allowing airlines, including Delta, United and American, to operate fewer flights and instead use larger aircraft that can accommodate more passengers. The change will help mitigate the risk of encountering delays and cancellations, said Michael McCormick, an assistant professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a former F.A.A. control tower operator. Ongoing labor actions continue to wreak havoc on major European transit hubs and may upend the plans of travelers this summer. Tens of thousands of flights and trains have been delayed or canceled in recent months as workers across European cities walked out over pay disputes and labor conditions. France and Britain have been hit particularly badly, with prolonged strikes over peak holiday periods. In part because of the labor actions, flight cancellations in Europe rose by 65 percent in March compared with the previous month, and are expected to rise further as demand increases into the summer season, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. For travelers in the process of booking their summer trips, travel experts advise checking if flights and hotel reservations coincide with planned labor actions. Heathrow Airport in London, where members of security staff have been striking for several days each month, keeps an updated calendar of planned disruptions. In Britain, the national rail service has posted planned train strike dates through June. Prosecutors have decided not to retry a Georgia father whose son died after he left him in a hot car, effectively ending the case against Justin Ross Harris nearly a year after the Georgia Supreme Court overturned his conviction on charges of malice murder and child cruelty. The Cobb County District Attorneys Office said it had conducted a thorough review of the case in the 11 months since the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the evidence of Mr. Harriss sexual activities that had been presented at his trial was extremely and unfairly prejudicial and could have affected the jurys decision to convict him in 2016. Prosecutors had presented that evidence to bolster their contention that Mr. Harris had intentionally left his son Cooper, who was 22 months old, to die so he could pursue sexual relationships with women he met online. Mr. Harriss lawyers said that he had merely forgotten that the boy was in the car. Crucial motive evidence that was admitted at the first trial in 2016 is no longer available to the state due to the majority decision of the Supreme Court, the district attorneys office said in a statement. Therefore, after much thought and deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to not retry Justin Ross Harris on the reversed counts of the indictment. There could be from 12 to 17 named tropical cyclones this hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, similar to the number of named storms last year and a near-normal amount, forecasters said. There is, however, uncertainty in the outlook unveiled on Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, because of the unknown effect of competing weather patterns. Storms are given names when their winds reach or exceed 39 miles per hour. Rick Spinrad, the NOAA administrator, said at a news conference on Thursday morning that forecasters believed that from five to nine of the named storms could become hurricanes, meaning they would reach winds of at least 74 m.p.h. Those could include from one to four major hurricanes Category 3 or higher with winds of at least 111 m.p.h. According to NOAA, there is a 40 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 30 percent chance of an above-normal season, but there is also a 30 percent chance of a below-normal season. An average Atlantic hurricane season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The idea seemed simple: Come up with a cheap way to increase shade at Los Angeles bus stops during the day and provide light at night. But the execution, a perforated metal structure with a short overhang that is called La Sombrita, has drawn backlash from critics who have mocked the design, questioning its benefit and whether it would provide enough shade. La Sombrita, which means little shadow in Spanish, was designed in partnership between the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and Kounkuey Design Initiative, a development and design nonprofit that works in under-resourced communities. The plan was to address what the city said are among the top-cited problems that residents have with city bus stops: Many dont have adequate shade or are too dark at night and feel unsafe. Only four of the structures have been installed across the city because the design is still in a pilot phase. But residents were quick to point out that the structures did little to provide shade at Los Angeless often scorching bus stops. The Biden administration released the countrys first national strategy for combating antisemitism Thursday, calling on government, law enforcement and schools to crack down on discrimination and stanch the spread of online hate. Silence is complicity, President Biden said in a videotaped announcement. An attack on any one group of us is an attack on all of us. Last year there were 3,697 reported incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism in the United States, according to an annual audit by the Anti-Defamation League. The figure, a 36 percent increase over 2021, is the largest number of incidents against Jews in the United States since the organization began its assessments in 1979. Most of the antisemitic incidents tracked by the group last year were characterized as harassment, but the tally also included 111 assaults. The numbers reflect a trend in American culture and politics of visible examples of antisemitism that has raised alarm in Jewish communities. The grant is meant to help the city devise plans for improvements along one stretch of the highway. City officials are not seeking to remove the roadway altogether, but they want to make it safer for pedestrians to get from one side to the other. Building overpasses could spare residents from the dangerous trip across the highway on foot and make it easier to get to a nearby bus route. The idea for what is now U.S. 71 can be traced to the 1950s, when it was envisioned as a way to connect downtown Kansas City with areas to the south. A legal battle in the 1970s and 1980s delayed construction for more than a decade, and a portion of the route was ultimately refashioned into more of a parkway. Thousands of people, including many Black families, were displaced to make way for the 10-mile roadway, which is also known as Bruce R. Watkins Drive. Its construction left a lasting imprint on Kansas City. The citys Country Club District, a group of historic neighborhoods west of the highway where homes commonly fetch upward of $1 million, was untouched by the roadway. The area to the east of the highway is markedly different, with lower property values and more abandoned and foreclosed homes. Kansas Citys mayor, Quinton Lucas, said it was impossible to live in his city and not know the scar that the highway left on the Black community. Churches, schools and businesses disappeared after it was built, he said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Madison Police Captain Shannon Blackamore knows the key to recruiting a diverse police force is building relationships. He thinks about a criminal justice student of his at Upper Iowa University. They were both from the same part of Chicago, and a mentorship formed. Soon, the student, who like Blackamore is Black, joined the Madison Police Department and has since been promoted to sergeant. "Having him in the class and then seeing him apply and eventually promoted, that was phenomenal," Blackamore said. Blackamore, who leads Madison police's minority recruiting efforts said at a minimum, the academy class should increase the number of diverse recruits by 10%. Ideally, he would like to have a class where the majority of recruits are diverse. While there is still work to do, Madison Police Department's demographics largely mirror the city's population. Out of an analysis of 105 police departments in the U.S. conducted by Lee Enterprises, Madison is the fourth most representative of the broader community. The city is about 7% Black. The police department is about 9% Black. People of color make up 28% of the population and 23% of the police force. Diversity underrepresentation in policing Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 from nearly 120 law enforcement agencies in 14 states shows frequent disparity in the racial and ethnic makeup of the agencies compared to the communities they are hired to protect and serve. Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 from nearly 120 law enforcement agencies in 14 states shows frequent disparity in the racial and ethnic makeup of the agencies compared to the communities they are hired to protect and serve. After George Floyd was killed in 2020 by a Minneapolis police officer and massive protests decrying racist police practices broke out nationwide, the spotlight turned to the actions and racial makeup of policing agencies. Many vowed to become more representative of the communities they served. While some Wisconsin law enforcement agencies have made progress, others still struggle. Milwaukee, Racine and Green Bay are among the least representative of the dozens of law enforcement agencies. While some activists who have been critical of police say genuine progress being made, others who were at the front line of protests in 2020 say fixing racial inequities in the criminal justice system will take more than diversifying police forces. They point to the killing of Tyre Nichols by five Black Memphis police officers in January. The officers face second-degree murder charges. Bianca Gomez of Freedom Inc., a Madison social justice group that had a pivotal role in the 2020 protests, said boosting diversity in a police force does not get to the root cause of policing's disproportionate impact on Black people. Freedom Inc. wants to see direct community control over the hiring and firing of police officers, Gomez said. The creation of Madison's Police Civilian Oversight Board, which can independently investigate the police department, is a step in the right direction but doesn't go far enough, she said. "We need to not shift the people in the institution but shift the institution itself," Gomez said. "I think the call for more Black officers is nothing more than a public relations stunt." Officers not representing or living in the neighborhoods they police continues to be one of the department's biggest problems, said Dennis Franklin of EXPO, a group that organizes people who have been previously incarcerated. "If you're not part of a community, it's really unnerving for the residents in the community to feel comfortable with you," Franklin said. A priority and a struggle As the deacon at the Divine Temple Church of God in Christ in Green Bay, Terry Cook has had a front row seat to relations between the city's police and its Black community. His church has long held regular meetings with police officials. In those forums, citizens can ask law enforcement questions and lodge complaints. In his nearly three decades living in Green Bay, Cook, 59, has heard complaints of Black people being targeted in traffic stops. But overall he feels police in the city are responsive to the community's concerns. "It's not perfect, but they've treated the small nonwhite populations in the city fairly," Cook said. Still, data from the Wisconsin Department of Justice shows that Black people in Green Bay make up a dramatic percent of those who get arrested. Between 2017 and 2021, 25% of the people arrested in Green Bay were Black, according to DOJ data. The city is 4.4% Black, according to the U.S. Census. The city's police force is overwhelmingly white: 93%. Police Chief Chris Davis said his department has had "limited success" recruiting people of color. "It's always a priority and it's a struggle I think everywhere in the profession," Davis said, in part because of the "prevailing narrative" about policing in communities of color. To uncover signs of hidden bias, the department has began administering emotional intelligence tests to officer candidates, Davis said. A mental health response program, much like the CARES program in Madison, could serve the city well, he added. Currently, only three officers are trained in behavioral health response, but they do not directly respond to incidents in the field, Davis said. In Racine, Black people made up 62% of the city's arrests between 2017 and 2021, according to DOJ. The city is about 23% Black. Its police force is about 13% Black and 79% white. To remedy gaps in the force, the city's police department is visiting historically Black colleges and universities for the first time in its history, Chief Maurice Robinson said. "We believe that a department that is representative of its population demographics is perceived as fair and impartial in its citizen contacts," Robinson said. "A department that is more racially and gender diverse is perceived as more sensitive to the needs of its citizens," he said. In Kenosha, where the police shooting of Jacob Blake grabbed national headlines and brought unrest, police officials said they have always worked to make inroads with the community. But as in nearby cities, Kenosha police do not generally reflect the community. The force is 84% white, 5% Black and 9% Latino. The city is 64% white, 11% Black and 18% Latino. Of all the suspects police arrest, 41% of them are Black. Lt. Joseph Nosalik said the department is "not naive to sometimes very distinct differences in culture, financial hardships and challenges" that parts of the community regularly face. "We are out there every day with Kenosha," Nosalik said. "Police officers are not the villain that small groups or the media, at times, try to make us be because it fits a narrative or story." One piece of the pie One of the largest law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin, the Dane County Sheriff's Office's more than 400-person agency is about 89% white, 5% Black and about 4% Latino. For comparison, Dane County is about 6% Black and 7% Latino. But like so many other Wisconsin communities, the population of the Dane County Jail reflects the disproportionate impact the criminal justice system has on Black people in Madison and the broader community. The jail's population on average hovers at about 50% Black on any given day, according to jail data. While racial disparities in the justice system are undeniable, unaddressed socio-economic conditions, which affect people of color the hardest, continue to be the root cause of crime, Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said. "The criminal justice system makes up a piece of the pie of society," Barrett said. "The community also has to focus on things such as affordable housing, affordable education, affordable mental health care, affordable medical care, transportation, entrepreneurship," Barrett said. The county's first Black sheriff, Barrett has prioritized diversifying the force he took over in mid-2021. Those ongoing efforts come amid dire staffing shortages. The Sheriff's Office has 51 vacancies. A fresh class of recruits, though a majority white, sworn in by Barrett in mid-March filled an additional 15 vacancies. To chip away at those vacancies, the Sheriff's Office has overhauled its recruiting process. For the first time, the office is offering perks to recruits that have already worked in law enforcement. Those hires get streamlined through the training process and get their sick leave from previous jobs matched. Other perks for new hires include bonuses for recruits who have earned a college degree. Other recruitment efforts in recent months focused on diversifying the force include visiting career fairs focused on women or people of color in Milwaukee, Platteville and Sun Prairie. "Diversity is something we feel we can always improve on," Barrett said. "We have to identify, qualify and attract the best that's out there that has a servant mentality, meaning they want to come to a place where they are serving their community, serving their partners as well as serving those who are incarcerated in our jail," he said. Conversations in Milwaukee To make better inroads in communities, other police departments in Wisconsin's major cities continue to emphasize the importance of community policing, though a full embrace of the practice is still underway. In Milwaukee, ongoing fact-finding sessions are attempting to help the city's police develop standard operating procedures for its community policing rules. The city's current police chief, Jeffrey Norman, has done a good job making community policing a priority, said Fred Royal, vice president of the NAACP's Milwaukee branch. But the police force needs community policing rules so that the practice doesn't slide into disuse in the years and decades to come. "Theyre at the table," Royal said of the city's police department. "I wish the political will would be more supportive. It tends to wane at times." The community's ultimate goal is to put community groups in charge of responding to mental health issues and homelessness, Royal said. That would free up the police to focus more on serious crime in the city, he added. "At the end of the day if you don't change the culture in policing, and get away from that warrior mentality and become more of a community-oriented policing were gong to have continued lawsuits and continued violations of use of force," Royal said. City residents have given the police force a road map to bettering strained relations, particularly when it comes to making the force more diverse. A 2019 report, drafted in response to a U.S. Department of Justice review of the city's police, recommended that the department needs to reflect the city's majority non-white community, engage the community in the recruitment process, incentivize hiring and bring on more recruiters. But four years later, the force remains about 64% white. The city's civilian-controlled Police and Fire Commission handles the hiring of sworn staff, noted Assistant Chief Nicole Waldner. The department collaborates with community groups during the training process, she said. The department has one full-time recruitment staffer, who collaborates with community liaison officers on recruiting at events, Waldner said. "I think the community relates better to any kind of department that looks like them," Waldner said. The city's police force has shrunk over the past five years, from 1,917 officers in 2018 to 1,575 today, Waldner said. That hasn't really altered the racial demographics of the force, she added. "If we could do better anywhere it would be outreach through social media," Waldner said. "How do we reach more people and convince them that it's as worthwhile as a factory job?" Grant-funded change In Madison, the police department will soon add six community outreach officers thanks to a U.S. Department of Justice grant. That's on top of a different DOJ grant to fund the establishment of a community policing advisory board. "I hope it instills more trust," Blackamore said. Too often, an officer will bring new ideas and strategies to his work in the community, only to have them disappear when he leaves the force or retires, he said. "What we want to do is reverse that trend and make sure that what the community is producing continues with our support," he said. Community policing efforts in the city have plenty to take on. Like other Wisconsin cities, Black people make up a disproportionate amount of those arrested, 42% in 2021, according to Madison police data. EXPO's Franklin has sat in on community policing panels with Madison police in recent months, something he called a new approach he hadn't seen before from police. But like other activists and community leaders, Franklin doesn't see diversity as the only needed change for police. The city needs more resources to take on mental health problems and substance use, the root causes of crime, Franklin said. "I want to see action," Franklin said. "We can sit around a table all day. It's great we can identify what the problems are, but the elephant in the room is how do we go about tackling some of these issues?" State Journal reporter Chris Rickert, Kenosha News reporters Daniel Gaitan and Joe States and the Racine Journal Times contributed to this report. Police protests: How Madison answered the police killing of George Floyd, in photos Protester confronts officer, May 30 Madison protest turns destructive, May 30 Police spray protesters, May 30 Effects of tear gas, May 30 Standoff with police, May 30 Protesters meet police, May 30 Madison protest turns destructive, May 30 Mayor condemns violence, May 30 Protests May 30, 2020 State Street press conference, May 31 Protests against police, May 31 Second night of protests in Madison, May 31 Cleanup after damage Downtown June 1 Cleanup after latest damage Downtown, June 1 Disrupting traffic, June 1 John Nolen Drive shut down, June 1 John Nolen Drive shut down, June 1 Outside police building, June 1 Agitators spark violence, June 2 Agitators spark violence, June 2 Businesses boarded up, June 2 Clean-up of property damage, June 2 Painting murals, June 2 Braving the rain, June 2 Lighting candles, June 3 Speaking to crowd, June 3 Registering to vote, June 4 Alter to those lost, June 5 Happy birthday to Breonna, June 5 AACC Black Lives Matter Solidarity March, June 7 AACC Black Lives Matter Solidarity March, June 7 Taking a knee, June 8 Defund police, June 8 Youths fueling nighttime protests, June 8 Closure note, June 16 Blocking traffic, June 17 Glow in the dark march, June 17 Juneteenth rally at Olin Park, June 19 Boarded-up State Street, June 22 Confronting driver, June 23 Madison protesters, June 23 Protesters block intersection, June 23 Heg statue toppled, June 23 Forward statue topped, June 23 Empty statue pedestal, June 24 Protecting the Capitol, June 24 Police supporters get opposition, July 2 BLM demonstration, July 4 More than 120 photos from Kenosha 2020 protest, from peaceful speeches to deadly end The mishap did not appear to affect the fund-raising by the campaign, which on Thursday reported a 24-hour haul totaling $8.2 million. In interviews, Mr. DeSantis also sought to turn attention back to his brewing clash with former President Donald J. Trump, whose devoted supporters are one of the biggest hurdles to the governors candidacy. As he began his media blitz, Mr. DeSantis took a series of jabs at Mr. Trump, noting how frequently the former president attacked him. I think a lot of what hes doing is showing everybody that he understands that Ive got a good chance to beat him, because he doesnt criticize anybody else now, Mr. DeSantis told a New Hampshire radio station. Its only me. Mr. Trumps team wouldnt do that if they didnt think that I had a chance, added Mr. DeSantis, who argued that he had a better chance of winning independent voters. Later in the day, he kept the pressure up, saying that Mr. Trump was running to the left and that the former president was a different guy today than when he was running in 2015 and 2016. At the same time, Mr. DeSantis suggested on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show that, if elected, he might consider pardoning Mr. Trump if he faced federal charges along with many other people, including defendants charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol. Just six months into his tenure as the House minority leader, Representative Hakeem Jeffries faces a formidable challenge: selling his fellow Democrats on the budget deal negotiated behind closed doors between President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, without much input from his end. Negotiators reached a deal on Saturday to raise the debt ceiling and avert a potential default that could come as early as June 5, but Mr. Jeffries had no idea how many votes he might ultimately have to deliver for the package because he had heard nothing from Republicans about how many defections they expected once the measure hit the floor. The situation is particularly galling to Democrats because, while it is hard-right Republicans who have pushed the nation to the brink of default by refusing to raise the debt limit without spending cuts, they are all but certain to oppose the compromise that has been hammered out. Even if Republicans meet their threshold of winning over a majority of their members for the package, it will probably still require backing from scores of Democrats to pass. I can say with a great deal of clarity that if dozens of Democratic votes in the House will be necessary, we cannot reach an extreme resolution in this instance in order to satisfy the needs of right-wing ideologues, Mr. Jeffries said in an interview. Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison for his conviction on seditious conspiracy charges for the role he played in helping to mobilize the pro-Trump attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The sentence, handed down in Federal District Court in Washington, was the most severe penalty so far in the more than 1,000 criminal cases stemming from the Capitol attack and the first to be increased for fitting the legal definition of terrorism. It was also the first to have been given to any of the 10 members of the Oath Keepers and another far-right group, the Proud Boys, who were convicted of sedition in connection with the events of Jan. 6. For Mr. Rhodes, 58, the sentence was the end of a tumultuous and unusual career that included Army service, a stint on Capitol Hill and a law degree from Yale. His role as the Oath Keepers founder and leader thrust him into the spotlight and will now send him to prison for what is likely to be the better part of his remaining days. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Thursday that states that seize and sell private property to recoup unpaid taxes violate the Constitutions takings clause if they retain more than what the taxpayer owed. The case concerned a 94-year-old woman in Minnesota who had stopped paying property taxes on her condominium after moving into an assisted-living center. By the time Hennepin County seized the property, the woman, Geraldine Tyler, owed about $2,000 in taxes and another $13,000 in penalties and interest. The county sold the condo at auction for $40,000, and it kept not only the $15,000 that all agreed it was due but also the remaining $25,000. Retaining the entire value of a confiscated property, even when the debts owed amounted to a small portion of it, is authorized by Minnesota law. The Supreme Court on Thursday curtailed the Environmental Protection Agencys authority to police millions of acres of wetlands, delivering another setback to the agencys ability to combat pollution. Writing for five justices, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said that the Clean Water Act does not allow the agency to regulate discharges into wetlands near bodies of water unless they have a continuous surface connection to those waters. The decision was a second major blow to the E.P.A.s authority and to the power of administrative agencies generally. Last year, the court limited the E.P.A.s power to address climate change under the Clean Air Act. Experts in environmental law said the decision would leave many wetlands subject to pollution without penalty, sharply undercutting the E.P.A.s authority to protect them under the Clean Water Act. The Texas House is led by Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican representing Beaumont who is seen as a traditional conservative. In contrast, Mr. Paxton has been allied with the most strident Republican legislators in Texas and with former President Donald J. Trump, in a camp that also includes the lieutenant governor and leader of the State Senate, Dan Patrick. The House investigations committee, made up of three Republicans and two Democrats, voted unanimously to go forward with impeachment proceedings during a brief public session. The chair moves that the committee adopt the articles of impeachment against Warren Kenneth Paxton, attorney general of the state of Texas, Mr. Murr said. It was not immediately clear when the House would take up the articles of impeachment and conduct a floor vote, though several members said they expected it would occur before the session ended on Monday. If not, lawmakers could call themselves back into a special session at any point to deliberate. Asked by a House member about the timing of an impeachment vote, Mr. Phelan said on Thursday night that Mr. Murr would determine when to bring up the matter for a vote. He did not provide a timetable. For much of Thursday, House members were preparing for what had already started to feel inevitable. At least one lawmaker could be found researching the impeachment process in the Capitols library. Im trying to figure out what impeachment is all about, said the lawmaker, Representative John Smithee, a Republican from the conservative Texas Panhandle. Speaking before the committees vote, he said that it was too early to cast judgment on the matter and that he believed officials might be rushing into impeachment. For more than 20 years, Fulgence Kayishema, one of the worlds most wanted fugitives of the Rwandan genocide, evaded authorities who say he orchestrated the killing of more than 2,000 Tutsis during the massacre. He remained at large, hiding among refugees in several countries, and masking himself behind various aliases. This week the police finally caught up with him in South Africa. Mr. Kayishema, 61, was arrested Wednesday on a grape farm outside Cape Town, the authorities said. It took a multinational team, including the South African police and the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, casting a wide net to catch him. Mr. Kayishema has been one of the tribunals most wanted fugitives since his indictment in 2001. Unlike the high-level politicians or generals already prosecuted as the masterminds of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Mr. Kayishema had a direct hand in the killings, according to Serge Brammertz, the tribunals chief prosecutor. According to the indictment, Mr. Kayishema was the chief police inspector in 1994, overseeing and participating in the days-long massacre of civilians. As news of the death of Tina Turner hit Australias shores, people all over the country stopped what they were doing and started to dance. School students, gym rats, TikTokers and even the staff at the United States Embassy paid tribute with a series of steps and kicks that looked like a cross between line dancing and the Macarena, set to one of Ms. Turners songs, Nutbush City Limits. She did not perform these moves with the song. But somehow and no one is quite sure how the dance, the Nutbush, has become so widespread in Australia that it is sometimes called the countrys unofficial national dance. You hear the duh-duh, duh-duh, and the feet start tapping and the moves come back to you, said Skye Clarke, a teacher in the state of Victoria who led a Nutbush dance for her students on Thursday. She added: You might not have done it for 10-plus years, but it comes back to you pretty instantly. Russia has declared victory in its devastating, nearly yearlong assault on Bakhmut, and its Wagner mercenaries have begun to withdraw. Ukraine, whose forces have made small gains on the outskirts, has signaled that it is now focused on making it difficult for Moscow to hold onto the city. Whatever comes next, Ukraines setback in Bakhmut is a significant moment in Russias invasion, its first military success since last summer. Ukraine says a small number of its soldiers are still in the eastern city, but Kyiv has all but conceded that the intense and bloody defense of the city is over. After Moscow launched its assault on Bakhmut, the city became the scene of the wars deadliest and most prolonged urban combat in Europe since World War II, with tens of thousands of casualties estimated on both sides. While military analysts say that Bakhmut holds little strategic significance, Moscow and Kyiv have remained firm in their justifications for fighting there, each viewing the battle as vital for weakening the other. A car crashed into gates near the prime ministers office on Downing Street in Central London on Thursday afternoon, and the police arrested a man on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no immediate reports of any injuries. The Metropolitan Police in London later wrote on Twitter that the episode was not being treated as terror related. The vehicle hit the gates around 4:20 p.m., and armed officers arrested the man at the site, according to the Metropolitan Police. He was not immediately identified. Photos from the scene showed the police detaining a gray-haired man. The gates are about 350 feet from the front of Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks office and residence at 10 Downing Street. He was in his office at the time of the crash, and later left the area in a motorcade via a different street, according to the BBC. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Progress is continuing on an East 29th Avenue viaduct project in Columbus, with the bid process expected to start this summer. Platte County Highway Department Administrative Assistant Jane Cromwell gave an update during the Platte County Board of Supervisors regular meeting held May 23. Eighty-five percent of the cost is covered by federal funds through the State of Nebraska, with the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) leading the project. Cromwell said the Union Pacific railroad is paying for 10% of eligible costs. NDOT's share of 85% of eligible costs that the Union Pacific is not going to share is the mechanical stabilization wall or the frontage roads, she said during the meeting. Its what's above the railroad, that's the only part that they're paying for. The majority of the right of way filings have been taken care of, except for one that is nearing completion, Cromwell said. She added she is working with Cornhusker and Loup public power districts on agreements for utility coordination. We're coming up to the point where right now they're still considering bid letting on June 15, there's a possibility that it might go until July 20, Cromwell said. We've got three weeks that we have to publish (for the bid letting), we've got the right of way, we've got the utilities and we also have to have our agreement with the state in place. Cromwell said she hopes to present that agreement at a June meeting. The board approved appointing Cromwell as the project liaison for the viaduct. This was previously filled by a supervisor who is no longer on the board. Mainelli Wagner & Associates Inc. has been selected as the construction engineer. Cromwell told the Telegram that project costs can change after the bid process is complete but the current total estimate is $27,417,054.84. Platte Countys portion is $3,725,639.21, though the county is expected to receive a credit for the amount its already spent on the project $614,709.17. The states portion, being funded with federal dollars, is $22,834,725.63. She added that a construction engineering contract will also need to be in place. In other business, supervisors OKd a number of items for the Columbus-Platte County Joint Communications Center (JCC), including the JCCs 2023/2024 budget. Communications Director Rachel Pensick said the overall budget is $2,740,637 with an expected revenue of $637,998; that leaves $2,066,639 to be covered by the tax levy. Typically, Pensick said, the county is billed monthly for exact costs, which can range from $95,000 to $200,000. Twelve equal payments throughout the year will be done going forward, so everybody knows whats expected. Any leftover funds, she added, would be applied to next years budget as carryover revenue. Supervisors also approved an agreement for Dr. Mark Howerter to serve as medical director of the JCC. Pensick said this will allow them to complete their emergency medical dispatch (EMD) program. The cost, for the first year, is $616 a month plus a reimbursement of up to $200 for the purchase of a reference book or trade journal subscription. Initially, Pensick said, Howerter would have oversight over the questions on guide cards that are used in determining a callers chief complaint. Then going forward, he would help our quality control to make sure we are completing our tasks, Pensick said. Any changes in the guide cards, he would have to approve. Any additional guide cards that would come in later, he would have to approve. An AVTEC radio console, to be used as a backup radio, had been OKd as well, at a cost of $106,290.80. Pensick said this is needed in the event that the JCC would have to evacuate its building. The most reasonable location would be to put it here at the (Platte County) Courthouse. The courthouse already has all the radio equipment available for us to be a completely separate radio solution, Pensick said. If we were to look at other sites, it would be six or seven times the cost, so this is to purchase a console to be put (there). The Platte County Board of Supervisors also: OKd a request from Platte County Sheriff Ed Wemhoff for the purchase of three Tasers at a cost of up to $4,500. Held discussion on work on a county-owned parking lot located on 26th Avenue; it was tabled for a future meeting. Heard a proposal from Colonial Life Insurance on supplemental insurance for county employees. The Portuguese authorities confirmed on Thursday evening that a search in the case of Madeleine McCann, a British girl who was 3 when she disappeared in 2007 from her familys vacation apartment in the Algarve region, has ended. The search of the Arade Dam reservoir and surrounding areas in southern Portugal resulted in the collection of some material, which will be expertly analyzed, the Portuguese police said in a statement, but there was no indication that anything conclusive had been found. The search was prompted by a request from the German authorities. Madeleines case had captivated and horrified the British public, and soon much of Europe, after she vanished 16 years ago, while vacationing with her family in the Portuguese seaside village of Praia da Luz. Soon, Madeleines face was plastered across the front pages of Britains tabloid press, her bright blue-green eyes and blonde bob haircut becoming instantly recognizable amid the endless speculation about her whereabouts and who could be responsible for her disappearance. Maryna Ivanova, a young woman living in a riverside village in southern Ukraine, had an uneasy feeling when her fiance and brother left for work one morning in early May. They were headed to a nearby island in the Dnipro River, the watery front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces, and the area was getting heavily shelled. Standing at her stove, making pork and potato soup, Ms. Ivanova heard and felt an enormous blast, much more frightening, she said, than the explosions that have become routine. It felt like something was dropped right on us, she said. A few minutes later, she heard shouting outside and ran down to the dock. A boat pulled up. Inside lay her brother, soaked in blood. Slumped next to him was her fiance with part of his face blown off. Both were dead. She fell to her knees. I couldnt believe what I was seeing, she said. The strike was not a mortar, a tank round or a projectile fired by long-range artillery, according to Ukrainian officials who investigated the incident. It was, they said, an 1,100-pound modified bomb dropped from a distant Russian warplane, the latest destructive twist in a war that is only intensifying. Around the world Tina Turner, who died on Wednesday at 83, was known for her music, her powerful stage presence and her barrier-smashing career. But in the Swiss town where she lived for nearly three decades, she was known for living a low-key life doing her own shopping, standing in line at the post office and exercising outdoors. In front of the house where the rock star lived with her husband, Erwin Bach, and where on Wednesday night neighbors gathered to light candles and tell stories, a polished bronze sign asks (in English and in German) that visitors not ring the doorbell before noon. After a lifetime in the public eye, Ms. Turner moved to the sleepy town of Kusnacht, Switzerland, with Mr. Bach, a German music executive whom she started dating in the 1980s. In 1995, Mr. Bach got a job running the Swiss offices of EMI Music in Zurich, and the two moved to the Alpine country. They married in 2013, the year she acquired Swiss citizenship and gave up her American passport. When Britain voted in 2016 to leave the European Union, Brexit campaigners promised to take back control of the countrys frontiers with stricter policies that many Britons assumed would cause immigration numbers to fall. In 2022 the figures climbed to a new high, according to official data released on Thursday, an unwelcome record for a government that is divided internally over how to manage migration policy more than two years after Brexit gave it power to control who enters the country legally. Statistics for last year show net migration at 606,000, an increase of almost 120,000 over the year before. The figures underscore the dilemma confronting Britains prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who faces growing political pressure to curb the number of immigrants even as he tries to revive a sluggish economy hampered by labor shortages. Though the figure was lower than many had expected, the upward trend has stirred tensions at the highest reaches of the government; the Conservative Party has been in power for 13 years but has failed to meet a succession of promises to reduce immigration. Violence and oppression are helping to fuel migration. From 2004 to 2017, about 600,000 people moved to Britain each year. In 2022, that figure jumped to 1.163 million, an all-time high and a figure that is unlikely to be matched soon. There were big increases last year in the number of people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine (more than 120,000 Ukrainians have moved to Britain since the war began in February 2022), the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan and the growing crackdown on civil rights in Hong Kong. Britain has humanitarian visa programs specifically for those groups. But those flows already show signs of subsiding. And some of last years surge might have been movement that would have occurred earlier but was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, when migration dropped. Until a few years ago, migration from the European Union accounted for most of the influx of people to Britain. But after Brexit took away the automatic right of E.U. citizens to settle in Britain, the numbers fell sharply, last year accounting for less than 8 percent of the total. Emigration from Britain has grown in recent years, much of it by E.U. citizens returning home. Education and economics play major roles, as well. While the current Conservative government has long voiced its opposition to the high levels of migration, Britain has major labor shortages, particularly in health care, social services and agriculture, partly because of Brexit. Days after declaring victory in Bakhmut, the Wagner private military company said Thursday that it was turning the Ukrainian city over to the Russian Army, which must now try to hold on to it without the help of the brutal mercenary force on which it has grown dependent. Wagners leader, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, suggested that Russias regular soldiers can expect no more help from the group at least, not in Bakhmut. In a three-minute video, Mr. Prigozhin is shown visiting what he says are Wagner positions in the city and telling his fighters to hand them over to Russian troops. Leave them soap, but take away your toothbrushes, he says. A Wagner withdrawal could open a new phase of the monthslong struggle for Bakhmut, testing whether the Russian Army can hold the hard-won ground against Ukrainian forces that have advanced on the citys outskirts and are preparing to launch a broader counteroffensive. Typhoon Mawar was moving west over the Pacific Ocean toward the Philippines on Sunday, days after the tropical cyclone brought damaging winds and rain to Guam. As of Sunday morning in the Philippines, Mawars center was about 500 miles east of Luzon, the countrys largest and most populous island, the Philippine meteorological agency said. Because the country gives its own names to typhoons that enter its so-called area of responsibility, a large area of the Western North Pacific, the storm is known locally as Betty. The storm was moving west at 14 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 140 m.p.h., according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, a weather agency operated by the U.S. Navy. That wind speed is equivalent to the force of a strong Category 4 hurricane in the United States. Bakhmut was not the only battle raging in Ukraine these past few months, though it may sometimes have felt that way. The images that have emerged from Bakhmut after Russia claimed victory scramble the notions of what military success should look like: The prize was a depopulated shell of what was once a thriving city of 70,000, its buildings blackened and crumbling, its ground cratered. Now, the worlds attention is turning to the fighting elsewhere in Ukraine and not only there. The war is now touching Russian soil, too. In mid-May, fighting reached into the southern part of the country that launched the war. In the Belgorod region, a Ukrainian-aligned paramilitary group of Russian nationals claimed to have seized villages in the most dramatic instance to date of bringing the war home to Russia. But it is in Ukraine where the decisive fighting is expected in coming weeks, with expectations that Kyiv, newly fortified by military aid from its Western allies, will mount a counteroffensive. In laying out the sedition charge against Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keeper militia, and 10 others, federal prosecutors have built a timeline of events as evidence of a conspiracy to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6 last year. The 11 Charged With Sedition Founder and leader of the Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes Accused of participating in the first Oath Keeper group to enter the Capitol Joseph Hackett David Moerschel Kenneth Harrelson Kelly Meggs Jessica Watkins Accused of participating in a second Oath Keeper group to enter the Capitol Accused of coordinating a weapons arsenal Joshua James Roberto Minuta Brian Ulrich Thomas Caldwell Edward Vallejo Founder and leader of the Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes Accused of participating in the first Oath Keeper group to enter the Capitol Accused of participating in a second Oath Keeper group to enter the Capitol Accused of coordinating a weapons arsenal Joshua James Roberto Minuta Brian Ulrich Thomas Caldwell Edward Vallejo Kenneth Harrelson Joseph Hackett David Moerschel Kelly Meggs Jessica Watkins Founder and leader of the Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes Accused of participating in the first Oath Keeper group to enter the Capitol Kenneth Harrelson Kelly Meggs Jessica Watkins Joseph Hackett David Moerschel Accused of participating in a second Oath Keeper group to enter the Capitol Joshua James Roberto Minuta Brian Ulrich Accused of coordinating a weapons arsenal Thomas Caldwell Edward Vallejo Note: Those charged include both Oath Keeper members and others who may not be members but are affiliated with members of the militia. Seditious conspiracy can be a difficult charge to prove, and it requires prosecutors to show that at least two people conspired to overthrow the government or delay the execution of a U.S. law. The charge is the most serious yet to be filed in connection with the riot. So far, more than 700 people have been accused of crimes related to the Jan. 6 assault. The case is ongoing, but the charging documents released last week provide a detailed look at activities of Mr. Rhodes and other Oath Keepers, beginning as early as two days after Election Day in 2020. Mr. Rhodes and 10 other Oath Keepers and affiliates are accused of recruiting participants, organizing trainings in paramilitary combat, coordinating travel, teams and logistics and bringing weapons to the Washington, D.C., area in order to carry out the conspiracy. Activities of Oath Keepers and Affiliates Detailed in the Charging Documents rhodes meggs harrelson watkins hackett moerschel james minuta ulrich caldwell vallejo 62 days before Jan. 6 recruitment Two days after the 2020 presidential election, Mr. Rhodes sent a message to an invitation-only, encrypted chat group called Leadership intel sharing secured. In his message, Mr. Rhodes urged his followers to refuse to accept the election results. The chat group included Kelly Meggs the head of the Florida chapter of Oath Keepers and others. rhodes We aren't getting through this without a civil war. Too late for that. Prepare your mind, body, spirit. 60 days before Jan. 6 recruitment On the day that President Donald J. Trump was projected to have lost the election, Mr. Rhodes outlined plans in the group chat to stop the transfer of presidential power. He later published the plan of action on the Oath Keepers website. rhodes [W]e must now do what the people of Serbia did when Milosevic stole their election. - Refuse to accept it and march en-mass on the nation's Capitol. 58 days before Jan. 6 recruitment Mr. Rhodes hosted a private online meeting in which he urged attendees to participate in a plan to stop the transfer of the presidency. He told his followers to be prepared to fight Antifa. After Mr. Rhodess speech, other members of the group discussed the types of weapons that were legal in Washington. rhodes [...] I do want some Oath Keepers to stay on the outside, and to stay fully armed and prepared to go in armed, if they have to [...] We hope [the President] will give us the orders. We want him to declare an insurrection, and to call us up as the militia. recruitment Immediately following Mr. Rhodess call to action, Mr. Meggs contacted a different group chat to pass along Mr. Rhodess message. The group chat included Kenneth Harrelson, a former Army sergeant, and others. meggs Anybody not on the call tonight. We have been issued a call to action for DC. This is the moment we signed up for [...] training Jessica Watkins, a bartender and former Army infantry soldier who deployed to Afghanistan, contacted several people she called recruits to organize their military style training in Ohio. watkins I need you fighting fit by innaugeration. coordination Thomas Caldwell, a retired Navy lieutenant commander and former F.B.I. section chief, contacted Mr. Rhodes to coordinate on an upcoming op and to provide details of a reconnaissance trip he took to Washington. 45 days before Jan. 6 training The Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers held a training on unconventional warfare. 26 days before Jan. 6 recruitment Mr. Rhodes sent a message to an invitation-only chat group and described potential violence if President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. assumed the presidency. The group chat included Joshua James, who earned a Purple Heart in the Army; Roberto Minuta, an owner of a New York tattoo parlor; and others. rhodes It will be a bloody and desperate fight. We are going to have a fight. That can't be avoided. 25 days before Jan. 6 training Unspecified members of the North Carolina Oath Keepers held a training session on skills including setting up hasty ambushes and convoy operations. Ms. Watkins had planned to but did not attend the training. 23 days before Jan. 6 Mr. Rhodes published an open letter to Mr. Trump on the Oath Keeper website calling for forceful action. rhodes [...] If you fail to act while you are still in office, we the people will have to fight a bloody civil war and revolution [...] recruitment Mr. Rhodes sent a similar message to an invitation-only chat group titled Oath Keepers of Georgia, which included Brian Ulrich, a resident of Guyton, Ga. 18 days before Jan. 6 coordination Joseph Hackett, a resident of Sarasota, Fla., sent an email to another group member, outlining efforts to secure their communication and avoid digital detection of important info like locations, identities and operations planning. 15 days before Jan. 6 recruitment In an interview with a regional Oath Keepers leader, Mr. Rhodes said that violence would be inevitable if Mr. Biden assumed the presidency. He also urged Mr. Trump to use military force. rhodes We will have to do a bloody, massively bloody revolution against them. Thats whats going to have to happen. 14 days before Jan. 6 Mr. Rhodes published another open letter to Mr. Trump on the Oath Keeper website calling for forceful action. rhodes [...] If you fail to do your duty, you will leave We the People no choice but to walk in the Founders footsteps [...] And, like the Founding generation, we will take to arms in defense of our God given liberty [...] 7 days before Jan. 6 coordination Mr. Rhodes invited several of his followers to an encrypted group chat called DC OP: Jan 6 21. Many also joined another chat group for the Florida chapter for which Mr. Meggs and Mr. Harrelson were administrators. The group members used these chat groups throughout the next days to plan for Jan. 6. rhodes There is no standard political or legal way out of this. weapons Mr. Rhodes purchased about $7,000 worth of firearm-related equipment and night-vision devices and shipped the items to Virginia. 6 days before Jan. 6 coordination Members coordinated plans to supply and store weapons in the Washington area. The plan included arranging a Quick Reaction Force of members with weapons, stationed just outside the city on standby with an arsenal. Late December coordination Mr. Caldwell identified a hotel in Arlington, Va., as the base of operations for the Quick Reaction Force weapons arsenal. Group members reserved rooms at the hotel and used the rooms to store and guard firearms. 5 days before Jan. 6 weapons In the five days leading up to the riot, members transported firearms, ammunition, and related supplies to the Washington area. weapons In the first two days of January, Mr. Rhodes purchased approximately $5,000 worth of firearm equipment, including a shotgun, scope, magazine, sights and a case of ammunition. 4 days before Jan. 6 coordination Mr. Caldwell sent a message to his contacts seeking boats to support the Quick Reaction Force in transporting weapons. caldwell [...] If we had someone standing by at a dock ramp (one near the Pentagon for sure) we could have our Quick Response Team with the heavy weapons standing by, quickly load them and ferry them across the river to our waiting arms [...] 3 days before Jan. 6 coordination Ms. Watkins exchanged messages with her team about uniforms and weapons. watkins Pack Khaki/Tan pants. Weapons are ok now as well. Sorry for the confusion. We are packing the car and heading your way shortly coordination Mr. Meggs added Mr. Harrelson to the encrypted group chat, writing that Mr. Harrelson would be the Ground Team lead. weapons Mr. Rhodes left Texas and began traveling to the Washington area. During two days of travel, he spent about $6,000 in Texas on an AR-platform rifle and firearms equipment and $4,500 in Mississippi on additional firearms equipment. 2 days before Jan. 6 coordination Mr. Caldwell emailed several maps to a member of the Quick Reaction Force. caldwell These maps walk you from the hotel into D.C. and east toward the target area on multiple roads [...] weapons In the two days before Jan. 6, as members of the group arrived in the Washington area, they coordinated with each other to drop off weapons and ammunition with the Quick Reaction Force. The members coordinating together included Edward Vallejo, who previously served in the United States Army. watkins Where can we drop off weapons to the QRF team? I'd like to have the weapons secured prior to the Op tomorrow. 1 day before Jan. 6 coordination Mr. Caldwell and others drove into Washington on a reconnaissance mission, traveling around the Capitol building and returning to their hotel in Virginia. Jan. 6 Most defendants entered the restricted Capitol grounds or the Capitol itself, actions that were later included as part of their sedition charges. Mr. Vallejo and others remained at the hotel, awaiting a call to bring the weapons. As part of their sedition charge, the documents also accuse the Oath Keepers and affiliates of bringing paramilitary equipment, such as tactical gear and chemical spray into the Capitol; assaulting police officers; and trying to take control of the Capitol building. All of the defendants are charged with several other crimes in addition to sedition. The members are also accused of continuing to plot after the Jan. 6 attack with actions like continuing to purchase firearm parts and equipment and spreading messages against the Biden presidency. Several other people associated with the Oath Keepers have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the investigation, but those charged with sedition are not among them. Lawyers for several of the defendants have said that their clients deny having planned to storm the Capitol or overthrow the government. Randa Jaafar was running on a treadmill in her Manhattan apartment one day last April when she collapsed. Up to that point, Dr. Jaafar, 42, a Cornell-trained anesthesiologist, had felt fit and healthy. She was splitting time between her two homes, in East Hampton, N.Y., and Manhattan, where she had a private practice in pain management. But within hours, she was being prepped for surgery. There was a mass on her heart, her doctors told her, and it was malignant. I always knew life was short, but I realized its even shorter than I thought, Dr. Jaafar said. It started to make me really think about what really matters in my life, and what doesnt. Among the things that started to matter less was her pain-management practice in Midtown Manhattan (she has a second in Lower Manhattan). Another was her house in East Hampton, which was often in need of repairs. She decided to sell it and got $2.8 million. Just after she did, a doctors second opinion came in: The mass that had been removed from her chest was benign. She was cancer free. I had a new lease on life, Dr. Jaafar said. [Did you recently buy a home? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com] She closed her Midtown office and opened a medical spa, FILD Studio, in SoHo, specializing in Botox and skin care. And she began to dream about a second location in the Hamptons, where she hadnt seen as many medical spas popping up, despite all the potential clients. The Hamptons isnt saturated like the city, she said. And I think it elevates the brand to be out east. But first, she needed a new Long Island home as a base. She began her search late last year, hoping to spend less than $4 million. Dr. Jaafar loves to entertain friends and her extended family from Michigan, so she wanted a place with at least four bedrooms. She enlisted the help of Peter Cook and Alba Jancou, real estate agents with Saunders & Associates. Randa has a lot of friends, and her close friends dont have homes out here, Ms. Jancou said. Her family is in Michigan, and she is very close with her niece and nephews. She wanted room to host everybody. Dr. Jaafar hoped to find a house that had a pool and didnt need repairs. And while she wasnt ready to give up her Manhattan apartment yet, she wanted a year-round house, she said. So she targeted Hamptons neighborhoods that buzzed with life in all seasons, not just summer. Her agents flagged several houses priced over her budget of $4 million, but she knew she could rent out whatever she bought for extra income when she stayed in the city. Among the homes she considered: President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Ilham Heydar oglu, On behalf of the people of Belarus, and on my own behalf, I sincerely congratulate you and the entire Azerbaijani people on the occasion of the national holiday the Independence Day. You are celebrating this holiday at a time when Azerbaijan is marking the centennial anniversary of the genius and wise politician, founder of modern Azerbaijan, National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Your countrys dynamically improving economy, its key role in the region and growing authority in the international arena are an undeniable testimony to the correctness of the constructive course to build a strong and sovereign country laid by your father and successfully continued by you. I am strongly confident that strategic partnership between Minsk and Baku based on the mutual interests and traditional trusted and friendly relations will further strengthen and enrich in new forms and directions. Dear Ilham Heydar oglu, I sincerely wish you and your family robust health, tranquility, and the friendly people of Azerbaijan peace and progress. Sincerely, Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A $20 million investment to increase base funding for Pennsylvania counties and provide mental health services is part of Gov. Josh Shapiros proposed budget request, state officials said. State representatives along with Cumberland and Perry county officials gathered Wednesday at the Dennis Marion Public Services Building at 16 W. High St. in Carlisle to discuss the funding. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services acting Secretary Val Arkoosh said the proposed funds could help with county programs like Cumberland Countys Child and Adolescent Service System Program, a system that provides care for children and teens experiencing severe emotional disturbance. She said the Shapiro administration has prioritized equitable, affordable and local access to mental health services for all Pennsylvanians, and also proposed a commitment to annual mental health service funding increases through the 2027-28 fiscal year. The governors proposed funding will invest in this life-saving system and infrastructure, Arkoosh said. These investments will bolster our behavioral health systems and can be used to support expanding capacity, addressing workforce shortages and breaking down barriers to service. Having served as a county commissioner for eight years, she said the investment is seriously overdue in Pennsylvania counties. These programs can literally save lives and give people the hope and the support and the confidence that they can and will get better, Arkoosh said. Mental health is integral to our overall health and we must ensure a robust, responsive and behavioral health system to meet Pennsylvanians needs. Cumberland and Perry counties have seen flat or decreased state funding for mental health services for the past 13 years and face a $2.5 million budget deficit, according to Cumberland County. County officials have hosted a series of town hall meetings in Cumberland and Perry counties ahead of the states June 30 budget deadline to discuss how the lack of state funding and availability of services coupled with a growing population and increased mental health service costs have affected residents. Dennis Marion Impact Award Wednesdays event included the presentation of the Dennis Marion Impact Award, a state award named after Dennis Marion, who died in 2017. During his career, Marion served in Cumberland County government for 31 years before moving on to work for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Resources. The award, which recognizes local and state government employees who have significantly improved the behavioral health service delivery system in Pennsylvania, was presented to Megan Johnston, senior human services program manager with the Cumberland-Perry Mental Health Office. Johnston also is the Child and Adolescent Service System Programs coordinator and supervisor of the Elementary Student Assistance Program supervisor, and recently helped to implement the student assistance program in all the counties school districts, state officials said in a news release. The Elementary Student Assistance Program helps remove learning barriers and provide early interventions for students to enhance their mental health and create a safe and healthy environment. Megan exemplifies exactly what this aptly named award honors, Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Gary Eichelberger said. Were so proud of her for earning this and in doing so underlining the service message that Dennis brought to us through his actions. Were so proud of her and the work that she and her staff do to help our children become better students, better children, better adults, better parents. Mihailo Toloto was a Greek monk who spent his entire 82-year life on Mount Athos without ever laying eyes on an actual woman. Born in the year 1856, Mihailo Toloto faced adversity from the moment he came into the world. His mother died just four hours after his birth, and with no father to claim him as their own, he was abandoned on the steps of a monastery located on Mount Athos, the center of Orthodox monasticism. The monk there took him in and the monastery became his permanent home. Raised and educated within the walled monastery, Mihailo became a monk and reportedly never ventured off the mountain until his death, in 1938. And since women are not permitted to set foot on Mount Athos, Miahilo Toloto died without ever seeing a woman. Obviously, Mihailo Toloto, isnt the only person to have never seen a woman in their entire lives. People born blind never see anything, but his story is a particular one in that he never ever came into contact with a woman, having spent his entire life among fellow monks and the occasional male visitors. Upon his death, Mihailos fellow monks organized a special funeral for him, believing him to be the only man in the world to have died without ever seeing, touching, or otherwise interacting with a woman. According to an old newspaper article, the Greek monk had also never seen a car or an airplane, although that isnt as strange considering the age and place he lived in. Interestingly, Mihailo Toloto may have indeed come into contact with a woman on two separate occasions, even though he didnt know it. In the 1920s, French philosopher and writer Maryse Choisy disguised herself as a sailor in order to gain access onto Mount Athos, and in the 1930s, Aliki Diplarakou, the first Greek woman to be crowned Miss Europe, also used a disguise to infiltrate the sacred Orthodox mountain forbidden to women. Mihailo may have come into contact with one or both female interlopers, although he most likely never realized it because of their disguise. Or, then again, he may have died without ever actually seeing an actual woman. Melinda Marchesi Prosper Marketplace, a peer-to-peer lending platform, hires Melinda Marchesi, who has held several senior marketing posts at JPMorgan Chase, as CMO. Marchesi most recently served as chief operating officer at Momentum Financial Services Group. At JPMorgan Chase she was CMO for both the auto finance and home lending businesses. Before that, Marchesi was global digital marketing director at Towers Watson. Melindas modern marketing mindset, her proven ability to build brands, and her experience developing winning omni-channel marketing strategies will be invaluable benefits as Prosper continues to scale existing offerings and looks for new opportunities to support investors and borrowers on their financial journey, said Prosper Marketplace CEO Davd Kimball. Chris Guenza Chase Global, a strategic communications and crisis management firm, hires Chris Guenza as a partner, based in Oakland, CA. Guenza joins the firm from Brunswick Group, where he was an account director in the San Francisco office. He previously worked at Keadjian and Dolphin Group, and has advised clients on issues including crisis management, financial communications, community relations, and corporate reputation management. His energy, experience and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to expand our global presence, said Chase Global founder and CEO Brad Chase. Dana McPherson Howard University names Dana McPherson assistant vice president in the Office of University Communications, effective June 20. McPherson joins Howard from the University of Florida, where she is currently executive director of marketing and brand management for the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing. Her extensive experience in marketing and communications, particularly in the higher education sector, will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our brand and share the incredible achievements of our institution with the world, said Howard vice president & chief communications officer Frank Tramble. The tragic case of the unidentified remains of a baby who died in Roscrea in 1999 is included in the release of a new register of data aimed at assisting in identifying the remains of people across Ireland. The partial remains of five people found in a Tipperary graveyard in August 2020 are also among the 44 human remains which are unidentified in Ireland at present and detailed in a register published by the Department of Justice. The data has been collated with statistics forwarded to the Department from each coroner relating to unidentified remains in their area. On Christmas Eve in 1999 Gardai in Tipperary issued an appeal for the mother of a new-born baby boy found dead in a field beside a Roscrea housing estate to come forward. The body of the infant, aged between 12 and 24 hours, was found just before noon on December 23rd 1999 by two boys playing in the field, which is adjacent to a local authority housing estate, Cois Carrig. The boys, Patrick Maher and Andrew Walshe, both aged nine at the time, first thought the body was a doll and alerted a neighbour, Ms Mary Downey, who notified a priest and doctor. Gardai called to the scene and arranged for the body to be removed to Nenagh General Hospital, where a post mortem was being carried out by the then assistant Chief State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy. In their appeal Gardai said they believed the mother may be in physical and emotional distress following the birth and death of her baby boy, who was later named Baby John after the case made national headlines and received attention from overseas. The mother of the baby was never known, despite appeals to her to come forward in confidence, and receive any help and support needed. Baby John was buried on January 6, 2000 and the local community in Cois Carrig, Kennedy Park and Brophy Terrace raised funds to create a moving memorial to the baby whose tragic death plunged the nation into grief. The jury in the inquest into the death in October 2001 returned the verdict that the newborn infant boy died on or around December 23, 1999, at Cois Carrig and the cause of death was unascertainable, but the likely cause was inattention at birth. Coroner, Mr J.Kelly, solr, said he knew the people of Cois Carrig and Roscrea had been very generous at the time, and very generous in having a memorial erected to Baby John. The inquest heard it was a unique and tragic case, where there was no family to whom they could extend sympathy. Superintendent Jim Mulligan, who oversaw the investigation, said there might be a family paying attention to the media coverage, and he would say to them that the mother had nothing to fear from the verdict in coming forward even at the stage of the inquest in 2001. Today anyone with relevant information is urged to come forward and assist Gardai and are reminded it is never too late to assist Gardai uncover the truth. Half of the unidentified remains in the new online register published last Tuesday are in the Munster area and include the body of an infant who was also named 'Baby John' buried in Cahirciveen after his remains were found on White Strand beach in 1984. He had been stabbed 28 times. A man and woman were recently arrested by investigating Gardai and a file is being prepared for the DPP after they were released without charge. Publishing the data, Minister of State at the Department of Justice James 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 cooperation, and hope that the release of this information may assist in the identification and location of missing family members. "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 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." An Garda Siochana are part of a working group which was established by the Department of Justice to explore the creation of an unidentified remains database with representatives from the Department of Justice, Forensic Science Ireland and the State Pathologists Office. "Operation Runabay, which was established in 2017 by the Missing Persons Unit, has 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 cooperation 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, Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan said. A former haulage firm owner from Offaly, jailed for moving drugs and dirty cash across Europe, has been ordered to pay back 630,000. Thomas Maher, aged 42, a native of Clara in Offaly and later of Wiltshire Close, Warrington, was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison in December 2020. Evidence obtained by the National Crime Agency as part of Operation Venetic the UK law enforcement response to the take down of encrypted global communications service EncroChat showed that he operated a transportation network spanning Europe, moving drugs into the UK and Ireland and the profits in the other direction. In one exchange of messages with a criminal associate he bragged that he had been involved in organised crime for more than 20 years. On May 22, a judge at Liverpool Crown Court made a confiscation order for 629,159.15, including his house in Warrington, cars, lorries, jewellery, a number of high value watches, artwork and gold ingots bought in Dubai. He has three months to pay or faces an extra six years in jail. The NCAs Head of Asset Denial, Rob Burgess, said: This significant result demonstrates the agencys ability to recover criminal assets, and prevent criminals from benefitting from their wrongdoing. Thomas Maher was a career criminal who was trusted by some of Europes biggest crime groups to move their drugs and money. "The confiscation order will ensure money he made will be returned to the public purse to fund further efforts to protect the public from organised crime. Maher came onto the NCAs radar after he was arrested as part of the investigation into the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a lorry in Purfleet in October 2019. The tractor unit involved had at one point been owned by Maher, and was still registered in his wifes name even after it was sold. Maher was released with no further action taken by Essex Police, but an NCA financial investigation revealed that despite him and his wife being on less than minimum wage for tax purposes, they lived a luxurious lifestyle. During a seven month surveillance operation NCA officers watched Maher meet with criminal associates at hotels and in public spaces in the North West to organise the trafficking of cocaine from the Netherlands to the UK and Ireland. As well as drugs, Maher also helped to facilitate the movement of large sums of cash, charging a commission for his involvement. NCA officers arrested Maher on June 13 2020 at his home in Warrington, after receiving intelligence that he planned to leave the country. He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court in December 2020 after pleading guilty to importing class A drugs and money laundering. A PERIMETER wall is to be built around the 62 modular homes for Ukrainian refugees to separate the site from Clonminch Lane. The wall will protect privacy on both sides, increase security and reduce noise levels, a spokesperson for the residents of Clonminch Lane, Frank O'Reilly told the Tribune this week. He and other residents want work on the wall to begin as soon as possible before the modular homes site is developed further. The wall will be constructed on the council's property beyond the boundaries of the homes on Clonminch Lane and existing hedgerows and trees will remain intact. The Office of Public Works has also stated it will plant semi-mature trees on the council side of the wall. Mr O'Reilly condemned the construction of the modular homes adjacent to Clonminch Lane without the residents of the area being notified in advance as an appalling invasion of privacy. I woke up on Monday, April 17 to the sound of construction equipment on the land directly behind our homes he told the Tribune this week. Mr O'Reilly likened the work to an invasion without the guns" He said that residents of the lane had no prior notification of the work which he condemned as deeply insulting and a disgrace. Mr O'Reilly stressed he and other residents of the lane are sympathetic to the plight of Ukrainian refugees and support the national efforts being made to provide assistance. But he said the sudden arrival of construction equipment on Monday, April 17 and the commencement of site development for modular homes proved to be a very rude awakening. Members of Offaly County Council were assured in a briefing by the Office of Public Works, the body charged with developing the site, that there would be engagement with local residents before work commenced on the Clonminch site. Of the 62 planned modular homes, 16 are being placed on a site directly behind four of the houses on Clonminch Lane. Mr O'Reilly, in a letter to the OPW, asked why it was necessary to plan 16 of the units behind the homes on the lane when the site was large enough for a less invasive configuration. We can only assume this was an oversight of simply a lack of consideration for the people who've lived on the lane for years, he added. The issue was also discussed at this month's meeting of Tullamore Municipal District with councillors hitting out at the lack of consultation with Clonminch residents. A GROUP of Belgian and Dutch travel agents has been visiting Co Offaly and Ireland as guests of Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland. The aim of the travel agents visit is to familiarise them with Ireland and our superb tourism offering, so that when they return home, they will be better informed and more enthusiastic than ever about Ireland, when advising their clients about planning and booking their holidays here. The groups action-packed itinerary included a visit to Clonmacnoise. The travel agents also enjoyed lunch in the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore. Karen van der Horst, Tourism Irelands Manager for Northern Europe, said: Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite these travel agents from Belgium and the Netherlands to visit Ireland, to experience at first-hand the wealth of things to see and do here for Belgian and Dutch holidaymakers. Seeing is believing and our aim is that when they return home, they will be even more enthusiastic about the destination, helping to secure a greater share of their business for Co Offaly and Ireland in 2023 and beyond. PUPILS in Gortnamona National School have become experts in the battle to save our natural world, and have been named as the Global citizenship school of the year for 2023. Ms Morrissey and the Green team in the school are very proud of their efforts, and a delegation travelled to Kilkenny last week to accept their regional award. There was great excitement however, when they were also announced as the overall National winner! The team have been focusing mainly on energy consumption, and have come up with innovative ideas to raise awareness.They have also worked on raising awareness of other social justice issues, such as fair trade, and the UN sustainable development goals. Their code: Be noble, think global! Another delegation will travel to Dublin shortly to claim another award - The 'Our world' Irish aid awards will be held in UCD in June, the school has been named as a finalist, and the team will be keeping their fingers crossed again! Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said the Oireachtas health committee is the appropriate place to examine recommendations on services for the termination of pregnancy, as he defended his motion to defer a People Before Profit bill to expand access to abortions. The debate comes on the fifth anniversary of the referendum in which Ireland voted to liberalise its laws on terminations of pregnancy in a landmark referendum in 2018. People Before Profit had tabled a bill to amend Irelands abortion legislation to provide for abortion on request prior to foetal viability, to abolish the three-day waiting period for abortion on request, and to allow for abortion on grounds of fatal foetal abnormality that are likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within a year of birth. It also called for the provision of services to allow for abortion where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman and to decriminalise the provision of abortion. It followed recommendations made by an independent review of the current legal framework, which was undertaken by barrister Marie OShea. That review recommended a series of operational and legislative changes to the system, including the removal of a mandatory three-day waiting period between a womans initial medical consultation and her being given access to abortion treatment or medication. The framework introduced after the referendum provides for unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks in term. After that point terminations are allowed in certain circumstances, such as in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities and when there is a risk to the wellbeing of the expectant mother. People did not vote to repeal the eighth in isolation The review recommended several changes to the system for determining when abortions can be granted post 12 weeks and also recommended that threat of criminal sanction is removed for medics found to have acted outside the provisions of the abortion legislation. Mr Donnelly said it was important to give the recommendations of the report due consideration and due deliberation at the Joint Committee on Health. Its important to allow the Joint Committee on Health the time and the space its members need to complete their deliberations before proceeding with any potential legislative change. He said he campaigned hard prior to the referendum but added that those who voted in support did so in the context of the proposed legislation at the time. People did not vote to repeal the eighth in isolation, they voted to repeal the eighth [amendment] in a very clear context of the heads of the bill. And I know there are people I spoke to who were voting to repeal the eighth with a very clear understanding of some of the measures in place that were discussing, and I think its important as we debate this as we must that we keep both of those things in mind, the democratic imperative which we need to respect as well as the absolute need to provide the best possible services to women. Debating the matter in the Dail, People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said: The vast majority of people voted to take us out of the dark ages in relation to abortion rights for women and girls in this country. She said the minister was doing a huge disservice to the people who need abortion care in Ireland. People voted yes to give women a choice and to stop them traveling out of this country to access basic abortion healthcare. She said the report was evidence that there are certain obstacles within the legislation that are forcing women to travel and are not delivering the full abortion care service in the country. Mr Donnelly said while his amendment would delay the People Before Profit bill by 12 months, it did not necessarily mean that Government would wait a year to legislate changes to abortion laws. Cabinet considered the independent report on the 25th of April and agreed that the HSE would set up an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations. However, it decided that the legislative recommendations be considered by the Oireachtas Committee on Health. The Government position was that while there is some overlap, the People Before Profit Bill goes further than the recommendations of the report. While politicians debated the matter in the Dail, activists gathered outside the entrance to Leinster House for a pro-choice rally in support of People Before Profits Bill. Among the speakers were National Womens Council director Orla OConnor and Womens Aid chair Ailbhe Smyth/. The Dail will vote on the matter on Wednesday. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. HARRISBURG Justices on Pennsylvanias Supreme Court indicated Wednesday that they are likely to have split opinions on whether a governor has the right to force power plant owners to pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, or whether he first needs approval from a Legislature that refuses to go along with the plan. Hanging in the balance is Pennsylvanias effort to become the first major fossil fuel-producing state to adopt carbon pricing. On Wednesday, the states highest court listened to arguments on whether a lower court was right last summer to halt Pennsylvanias participation in a multistate consortium that imposes a price and declining cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The justices repeatedly turned the conversation to the underlying legal question still being considered by the lower court: whether former Gov. Tom Wolf usurped the Legislatures constitutional authority to approve any form of taxation. In that dispute, Republican lawmakers contend the carbon-trading plan is an unconstitutional tax because it lacks legislative approval; state lawyers contend it is a fee that a state agency has the authority to impose to operate a program. Justice Christine Donohue, a Democrat, suggested it might be difficult to rule on one issue without settling the other. I dont even know how we would make that holding without tipping our hand as to whether or not its a tax or a fee and we just dont play hide the coin that way, Donohue told a lawyer for Senate Republicans. Pennsylvania would have raised more than $1 billion had it begun participating in 2022 when Wolf intended, according to calculations by the Natural Resources Defense Council, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group. Taking part in the consortium became the central plank in Wolfs plan to fight global warming. Gov. Josh Shapiro, Wolfs successor and a fellow Democrat, was endorsed by labor unions that fought the plan. The high court comprises four justices elected as Democrats, two as Republicans and one vacancy. Justice Kevin Brobson, a Republican, signaled a number of objections to the plan. At one point, he questioned whether the cost of the carbon-dioxide allowances that power plants would have to buy is too excessive to be considered a fee that pays for a regulatory process. Then he suggested the plan is a chicken and egg thing through which an agency imposes a fee before deciding how to spend it, an avenue that he said could be abused by agencies with an underfunded program. Then arent we bypassing the General Assemblys authority and the governors authority and were just basically allowing agencies to pump up their inadequate funds and just build these coffers? Brobson asked a lawyer representing Shapiros administration. The lawyer, Matthew White, said the money must be spent in accordance with the states air pollution laws and that the regulation envisions the money being used to enhance energy-efficiency programs, renewable energy usage and efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. White also said there is no evidence that the fees are adequate to address the problem of greenhouse gas pollution. Democratic justices closely questioned assertions by a lawyer for Senate Republicans that the carbon-pricing plan cannot legally be a fee, partly because it works through regional auctions that impose costs and requirements on power plants in certain states, but not others. So because it doesnt address everything, it shouldnt address anything in terms of regional impact? Donohue asked. Donohue also seemed to suggest that the aims of the carbon-pricing program could be protected by an environmental rights amendment to Pennsylvanias constitution. Shapiro has maintained that he does not support entering the consortium, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, on Wolfs terms. But he continues to fight for it in court and his top environmental protection appointee told lawmakers in March that joining the consortium is a vehicle that could help meet Shapiros strong and very aspirational goals to help the environment. Republican lawmakers, fossil fuel interests, industrial power users and trade unions oppose it, saying it will hurt the states energy industry and drive up electric bills. State officials, independent researchers and environmental advocates say the money reaped through the auction of emission allowances would stabilize electricity bills, or lower them, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and helping transition fossil fuel workers into new industries. Mussolini culture is becoming more assertive in Congress: MP home minister Narottam Mishra After 308 years, Islamnagar in Bhopal will now be called as Jagdishpur MP Board 10th, 12th Result 2023: MPBSE Results Declared; Check Details Inside Bhopal oi-Deepika S Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education has declared MP Board 10th, 12th Result 2023 today at 12.30 pm. Students who have appeared for MP Board 10 or 12 board examination can now check the results through the official site of MPBSE. The Madhya Pradesh Board Class 10 was held from March 1 to March 27, 2023. The MP class 12 board exam was conducted between March 2 to April 1 of 2023. A total of 55.28 per cent of students cleared the MP Class 12 Exams 2023. Direct link to check MP Board 10th result Direct link to check MP Board 12th result Nearly 18 lakh candidates have registered themselves for Class 10, 12 board examinations this year. Students need to secure a minimum of 33 per cent mark both in theory and practical exams to pass the MP board exams. Candidates who appeared for the exam are advised to keep their admit card and roll number handy to check MP Board 10th, 12th result today. MPBSE MP Board result 2023: Last 5 Years Pass Percentage 2022: 72.72 per cent 2021: 100 per cent 2020: 68.81 per cent 2019: 72.37 per cent 2018: 72.27 per cent MP board result 2023: Websites To Check How To Check MPBSE MP Board result 2023 Go to the official website mpbse.nic.in . . On the homepage, click on the MPBSE MP Board result link Fill in your roll number and other details Click on submit. Your MP Board 10th, and 12th Result will be displayed on the screen. Check your result and take a printout for future reference MP Board Class 12 Result 2023: How To Check Via SMS To check MP Board Class 12 Result 2023, open messaging app on your phone Type MPBSE12 and your roll number Send it to '56263' You will get MP Board Class 12 Result 2023 on your phone number With no more outages, Thiruvika Nagar residents feel 'empowered' now Chennai oi-Oneindia English Desk The Assembly segment of Thiruvika Nagar in Tamil Nadu has achieved a remarkable status of being free from power outages. This constituency has been prompted by the rapid growth of Chennai, encompassing various areas such as Pulianthoppu, Otteri, Egmore, Purasawalkam and Choolai. The locality, representing the essence of old Chennai, consists of numerous narrow streets and is characterised by several low-lying regions. Consequently, flooding during the rainy season is a common occurrence. So power cuts were also rampant during monsoons. However, for the past two years, this particular block - Thiruvika Nagar - has been free from any power outages. Amul, a resident of this locality, remarks, "Our area is home to around 300 families. Previously, we frequently experienced power interruptions, causing prolonged disruptions. It made it challenging for the children to attend school. However, all those issues have vanished now. We haven't encountered a single power cut in our area over the past two years." A youth Gautham shares a similar viewpoint. He is the proprietor of a laundry shop and affirms that the Electricity Department has undertaken numerous initiatives in these two years to make the area free of power outages. Krishna Das has been staying in Somasundaram Nagar for the last 35 years. Das recollects a time when frequent power outages and subsequent power cuts were prevalent three years ago. However, for the past two years, there have been no power cuts in his vicinity as a new transformer has been installed right in front of his house. C. Jayachandran, an Executive Engineer in the Egmore division of this constituency, states, "Our division caters to nearly 74,441 power connections. We ensure the provision of electricity to all these connections through four substations." "Considering the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding experienced in our area during the previous administration, we took preventive measures this year. Specifically, we installed at least 194 electrical junction boxes positioned over 3 feet above the ground prior to the rainy season. Consequently, these electrical boxes remained undamaged even during the floods, and we ensured an uninterrupted power supply, added Jayachandran. He said that the outdated transformers have been replaced with Ring Main Units (RMUs). During the installation process, the precautionary measure was taken into account instead of lowering the issues to the ground. As a result, even during the heavy rainfall in 2022, the corporation ensured that there were no power cuts throughout the day. "Under the current administration, we have obtained permission to establish new substations, and the work is currently underway. This development will enable us to provide uninterrupted electricity service for an additional 5 years without any issues," Jayachandran states. To mitigate the impact of high floodwater accumulation during the monsoons, 24 pillars and 59 pillar boxes were elevated. Similarly, in other areas, the height of 34 pillars were increased. Additionally, 10 new transformers were installed. Regarding the power sector's development initiatives in his constituency, local MLA Thayakam Kavi said, "Since assuming office as the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has been modernising the power sector. He appointed a dedicated Zonal Officer for each Assembly constituency, led by Minister Senthil Balaji." "These officials have issued orders to diligently monitor and promptly address all complaints related to electrical services within their constituency. Consequently, any issue that arises is immediately escalated to higher authorities, showcasing a commendable initiative," he explained. Deliberating on the topic, Kavi stated, "With the advent of this government, we have undertaken the replacement of 350 meters of underground power lines with new ones in ward number 21 of my constituency. It is worth mentioning that these wires were several years old." "I appealed to the Assembly to replace the outdated transformers in my constituency and install RMUs instead. The Chief Minister swiftly granted his approval, and the Minister facilitated the necessary logistics. As a result, we have successfully converted all transformers in my area into RMUs. It was a monumental undertaking," he remarked. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 15:48 [IST] Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WASHINGTON An Arkansas man who propped his feet on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office in a widely circulated photo from the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced Wednesday to more than four years in prison. Richard Bigo Barnett became one of the faces of the Jan. 6 riot by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, and U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said in announcing the sentence that Barnett seemed at times to enjoy the notoriety. All the folks who follow Bigo need to know the actions of Jan. 6 cannot be repeated without some serious repercussions, Cooper said, alluding to the media attention and social media following Barnett attracted after the riot. Also on Wednesday, a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of assault and other charges in the riot. Prosecutors say Robert Morss, of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, dressed in fatigues and tried to take a baton from an officer, and stole a riot shield from another, while working to organize members of the crowd to push past Capitol guards. He yelled to officers: Take a look around. We are going to take our Capitol back, prosecutors say. The 54-month sentence for Barnett, a retired firefighter from Gravette, Arkansas, comes after he was convicted at trial on eight counts, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, in this case a Jan. 6, 2021, session of Congress to certify Joe Biden's victory over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The photos of Barnett lounging at a desk in Pelosis office made him one of the most memorable figures from the riot. Barnett, 63, testified he was going with the flow and struck a pose after news photographers told him to "act natural." He told the judge that joining the riot was an enigma my life that he regretted, but said prosecutors wanted him to be remorseful for things I did not do." Jan. 6 was a traumatic dey for everyone, not just law enforcement, he said. He has vowed to appeal his conviction. He testified at trial that he was swept along with the crowd into the Capitol, and was looking for a bathroom when he unwittingly entered Pelosis office and encountered two news photographers. Cooper, though, said he did not believe Barnett played such a passive role. It was established at trial that Barnett brought into the Capitol a stun gun with spikes, concealed within a collapsible walking stick. Barnett also took a piece of Pelosi's mail and left behind a note that said, Nancy, Bigo was here, punctuating the message with a sexist expletive. Before leaving Capitol grounds, Barnett used a bullhorn to give a speech to the crowd, shouting, We took back our house, and I took Nancy Pelosis office! according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also said Barnett has since posted falsehoods on social media about Jan. 6 and downplaying his role. The defendant still believes he can say or do whatever he wants and if someone else is threatened by it, thats their problem, prosecutor Alison Prout said. Defense attorney Jonathan Gross said Barnett didn't hurt anyone or damage property, and was being singled out because the photo had made him famous. Mr. Barnett should not be punished because the government thinks he's a symbol, he said. Coopers sentence fell short of the approximately seven years prosecutors sought, though it was more than defense attorneys' request for a 12-month term. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Just over 500 of them have been sentenced. More than half have received prison terms ranging from a week to over 14 years. An attorney for Morss, 29, of Pennsylvania, declined to comment after his sentencing. His lawyer, Nick Smith, said in court documents that his client saw three tours of duty in Afghanistan as a member of the Army and has already served two years behind bars. Morss alleges he was abused by guards in jail. This case has already turned Morsss life upside down. The governments suggestion that these heavy blows are insufficient to deter the one-time, situational crimes Morss committed is nonsense, Smith wrote. OPINION: Srinagar Summit On Tourism : World With India Feature lekhaka-Jagdish N Singh The successful conclusion of the G-20 summit on tourism, held in Srinagar, indicates the world today recognises Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India. The world wants democratic India to host events in the region to promote tourism . It does not take the objections of the countries, such as China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, on the matter seriously. It is hardly surprising that China , Turkey and Saudi Arabia did not join the third G20 meeting tourism working group held in Srinagar (May 22-24, 2023) . The meet took place in India's union territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in 2019 and annulled the region's then special status as a state. Pakistan claims this region to be a disputed territory between itself and India. Islamabad has been telling around that the India-hosted G-20 meeting in Srinagar is aimed at perpetuating its "illegal occupation" of Jammu and Kashmir. It has been asserting that any meeting in the 'disputed' territory violates international law, UN Security Council resolutions and Pakistan's agreements with India. Beijing has been a close ally of Islamabad on the issue. It has been in occupation of a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In line with Islamabad's stance on the issue, Beijing stated that "China firmly opposes holding any form of G20 meetings on disputed territory. " G20 Delegates Enjoy Shikara Ride In Dal Lake Pertinently, China is standing with Pakistan on the issue also because it claims a sizeable part of the Indian territory as its own. Currently, its eastern Ladakh border standoff with India goes on. China seems to calculate that it, in coalescence with Pakistan, can fight better against India. As for the non-participation of Turkey and Saudi Arabia in the Srinagar meet, it can be attributed to their ambition to project themselves as the leaders of the Muslim world . They seem to calculate the Muslims in the Valley have not been happy with the abrogation of Article 370 and their non-participation in the Srinagar would please them. It is well known that Turkey, under its current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, aims to revive the Caliphate abolished by the treaty of Sevres way back in 1920. President Erdogan describes Turkey as "a continuation of the Ottomans" and says "the borders have changed, forms of government have changed... But the essence is the same, soul is the same, even many institutions are the same." In order to emerge as the leader of the Muslim world, President Erdogan has sought to impose a Sunni order on the country . He has appealed other Muslim countries with his communal rhetoric. As part of its strategy to attain the Muslim leadership status, the Turkish government -promoted the South Asia Strategic Research Center invites Indian Islamist leaders and uses them to spread Erdogan's influence across India. Pertinently, the Erdogan enterprise seems to have already started bearing fruition India. In a speech in 2017 , India's populist Salafist preacher Zakir Naik described Erdogan as the only Muslim ruler who has the guts to support Islam openly. Some ultra- conservative Muslims in India seem to see in Erdogan today a possible leader from the seat of the Caliphate. They celebrated his victory in the presidential elections of June 2018 . The ultra- conservative Indian Muslims admired Erdogan in the wake of the military coup attempt in Turkey. Islamic cleric Maulana Salman Hussaini Nadvi endorsed Erdogan and lambasted the alleged mastermind of the putsch, Fethullah Gulen . The Shahi Imam of Delhi Syed Ahmed Bukhari met the then Turkish ambassador to India and expressed his support for President Erdogan. India Downplays China, Saudi Absence As G20 Events Kicks Off In Srinagar Observers say it is good that the participation of over 60 delegates from most of the G-20 countries at the Srinagar summit on tourism indicates the world today recognises Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India. The world wants democratic India to host events in the region to promote tourism . It does not take the objections of the countries, such as China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, on the matter seriously . The world today is very much aware that China is an authoritarian country with expansionist ambitions. It is aware the freedom of press-the very essence of democracy -- is missing in Turkey and Saudi Arabia . The observers say the successful conclusion of the Srinagar summit is sure to promote tourism and generate additional resources for the development of the region. During their stay for the Srinagar summit, the participants of the event must have seen it for themselves the kind of development that has taken place in the region after the Modi government scrapped its special status in the country . They must have noted that the Islamist militancy in the region is disappearing very fast . There is freedom of expression in the area with more than 400 newspapers being published from the region today. (Jagdish N. Singh is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. He is also Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, New York) Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 12:18 [IST] 1 kid a week: UP traffickers' count; 10 nabbed, 3 rescued India oi-Sanjeev Nayak A gang of child traffickers used to lift one child every week on an average and sell them for anything between Rs 2 and Rs 10 lakh in other States like Bihar, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. This shocking information came to light when Uttar Pradesh Police busted the interstate gang that was active in Varanasi area. The cops arrested 10 gang members, including three women, and also rescued three toddlers, including a three-month-old infant, from their captivity. "Based on the information extracted from the gang members, our team is now trying to recover the children lifted by them in the past and the rescued children who will be handed over to their respective parents," Varanasi police commissioner Ashok Mutha Jain was quoted by News18 as saying. On a tip-off, Varanasi Police formed a team to look into the matter but it was not an easy task. The team began pursuing the child traffickers after some CCTV footage came to the fore in which one of the culprits was seen lifting a child from a pavement at Ramchandra Shukla Crossing in Ravindrapuri area of the city a week ago. "Two members of the gang were spotted in the footage. We managed to track one of them identified as Santosh," Jain added. During interrogation, what Santosh revealed left the cops astounded. He admitted that there were nine more active gang members including three women. Modus Operandi Explaining their modus operandi, Jain said the gang members used to target the footpath dwellers and lift their children, whom they would sell to needy couples in other States. "Based on the information, we arrested nine other gang members who were staying at the rented accommodation in the area under Bhelupur police station," the police commissioner said. The gang members were identified as Manish Jain from Rajasthan, Mahesh Rana from Jharkhand, Vinay Mishra from Shivdaspur, Shikha Devi from Varanasi, Sunita Devi from Jharkhand, Santosh Kumar Gupta from Shivdaspur, Yashoda Pandit from Jharkhand and Bhawarlal from Rajasthan. The commissioner said four teams had left for Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat and different districts of Uttar Pradesh for the recovery of the children trafficked by the gang. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 14:36 [IST] 20 Tamil Nadu Pontiffs To Attend New Parliament Building Inauguration India oi-PTI Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said 20 aadeenams from Tamil Nadu have been invited for the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, where the 'Sengol' will be installed, as did in 1947 to symbolise the power transformation from the British. Addressing reporters here along with the Governors of Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Nagaland, she said TN has a "big proud part" to the episode of handing over of the Sengol (sceptre) to the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, symbolising the power transfer from the British to the people of India in 1947. This was done on the advice of the Tiruvavduthurai adheenam after the late CR Rajagopalachary discussed it with the Shaivite pontiff following Nehru's consultations with him. With the Sengol to be installed in the new Parliament building on May 28 during its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 20 'aadeenams' from Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvavaduthurai, Perur and Madurai have been invited for the event, she said. In Tamil, the word 'Aadeenam' refers to both a Shaivite monastery and the head of such a math. Parliament Building Row: PIL Filed In SC seeking Inauguration By President "The pontiffs will attend the event, there will be Oduvars (scholars in Shaivite scriptures and hymns) who will recite the Thevaram. In 1947 also the Sengol was handed over to Nehru when othuvargal recited Kolaru Pathigam," she said. The same Sengol will be installed in Lok Sabha near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker with much reverence and it will symbolise "governance with justice and without any bias," she added. TN Governor RN Ravi, his Telangana and Nagaland counterparts, Tamilsai Soundararajan and La Ganesan, respectively, Union Minister L Murugan and TN Minister PK Sekar Babu were present. Tihar Jail SP Gets Notice After 2 Inmates Shifted To Satyendar Jains Cell on His Request Satyendar Jain In ICU After Fall In Tihar Jail Bathroom India oi-PTI AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain has been put on oxygen support and shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the LNJP hospital after his condition worsened on Thursday, the party said. The Aam Aadmi Party said Jain was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and later, shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems. Jain has been in prison since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May last year. He collapsed due to dizziness in bathroom of Tihar Jail. Even before this, Satyendar Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury," the Aam Aadmi Party said. Wishing speedy recovery to Jain, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances." "A dictator is adamant to punish the person who worked day and night to provide good treatment and good health to the public. God is watching and will serve justice to all. I pray for Satyendra Jain's speedy recovery. May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances," Kejriwal wrote on Twitter. Public Is With Us: Delhi CM Kejriwal As Satyendar Jain's Health Deteriorates A senior jail official said that around 6 am on Thursday, undertrial prisoner Satyendar Jain slipped in the bathroom of MI room of the hospital of central jail number-7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness. He was examined by doctors and his vitals were found normal. Jain was referred to the DDU Hospital as he complained of pain in his back, left leg and shoulder, the official said. On Monday, Jain was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital as he was feeling unwell. Jain, who has been lodged at Tihar Jail since his arrest in connection with a money laundering case last year. Recommended Video Ex-Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain collapses in Tihar Jails washroom, hospitalised | Oneindia News Last week senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, had told the Supreme Court the former minister has lost 35 kg and virtually became a skeleton. He is also suffering from various ailments, he had said. The party said in a statement on Monday his health has deteriorated during his time in jail, and he requires urgent medical attention. He was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital in the morning after he complained of extreme spinal pain, owing to his longstanding spinal condition after a fall in jail, it said. The senior leader's condition has deteriorated after a debilitating injury from a fall in the jail washroom, which resulted in a spinal injury leaving him in excruciating pain, the party said, adding he requires an immediate spinal surgery, as recommended by his attending doctors. The AAP said an MRI conducted on May 3 showed degeneration in all intervertebral discs of Jain leading the doctors to advise urgent spinal/vertebral surgery and proper post-operative care. However, he has been placed at No. 416 on a waiting list by Jail authorities, and is expected to be able to undergo the surgery only after a further five months, it said. He is also suffering from sleep apnea with his breathing frequently seizing during sleep at night. He has to sleep with the assistance of a BiPAP machine which continuously pushes air into his lungs. On account of his religious beliefs, he has pledged to not consume a single grain of food before he visits a temple. He only consumes fruits and raw vegetables inside the jail, the party said. He has lost 35 kilograms due to the effects of muscular atrophy, it said. "His spirit has been severely tested, and the weight of depression has settled upon him," the statement said. The opposition BJP has targeted AAP after purported videos of Jain getting massage inside the jail had emerged last year. Must Bring Non-BJP Parties Together: Pawar Extends Support To Kejriwal Against Centres Ordinance India oi-Deepika S Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar to seek support for AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi. Kejriwal, who is on a two-day visit to Mumbai, was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Atishi and Raghav Chadha. "It is our duty to ensure that all non-BJP parties support Arvind Kejriwal. Now is time to fight for survival of parliamentary democracy," Sharad Pawar said addressing a joint press conference with Kejriwal. "If all non-BJP parties unite, the Centre's ordinance can be defeated in the Rajya Sabha. It is not a matter of politics but that of the country and all parties who love the country should come together," Kejriwal said. The AAP chief also thanked Pawar for backing AAP's fight against Centre's ordinance. Kejriwal has met Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, West Bengal peer Mamata Banerjee as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance. Uddhav Assures Support To Kejriwal On Delhi Services Row Reportedly, Kejriwal is likely to meet Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Centre's ordinance issue. The Centre last Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court. Why Pakistan Will Continue To Boil And There Is No Solution Around The Corner Chinks In Pak Army Ranks As Kin Of Its Former Chief Arrested India oi-Sanjeev Nayak Pakistan is on the boil with its economy touching nadir and political situation worsening day by day. But the latest development of a high profile arrest has shown the sharp division within the ranks of its all-powerful Army. In a significant development, Khadija Shah, the granddaughter of former Pakistan Army Chief Asif Nawaz Jangua, has been arrested for being a "key instigator" in the attack on the Corps Commander House in Lahore following ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest on May 9. This would certainly lead to further escalate the internecine war within the Army. Reports are emanating from Pakistan that there is difference of opinion in the Army leadership over the issue of Imran Khan's arrest. It is said that several Brigadier, Colonel and Major level officers have been sacked because they refused to open fire on the protesters. Shah A PTI Supporter Professionally a fashion designer, Shah is a vocal supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which Imran Khan heads. Shah, who is also the daughter of former Finance Minister Salman Shah, is among several women who have been detained for their alleged involvement in the series of attacks on military installations. Pakistan Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Resigns From PTI Shah had been in hiding ever since the law enforcing authorities initiated raids to apprehend her. In a statement, police have confirmed the arrest and labelled her as one of the "main conspirators" behind the May 9 attack on what is known as Jinnah House. "Ms. Shah was brought before the anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where she was sent to jail for an identification parade," read the statement. Shah has been charged with terrorism-related offences and may face trial under the Army Act, according to police sources. The government has declared that the identification process of over 500 women, who are wanted in connection with the May 9 incidents, has been concluded, resulting in the registration of 138 cases against them. The law enforcement agencies have nationwide arrested approximately 8,000 individuals, primarily PTI party workers, for their alleged involvement in the violent acts that unfolded following Khan's arrest by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. OPINION: Pak In A Whirlpool Travel Ban Imposed Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has placed the names of more than 700 PTI leaders and activists on a no-fly list. A total of 746 PTI leaders and activists are on the radar of authorities over their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots. Other than Shah, the prominent names mentioned in the list are PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood, Imran Khan's nephew Hassaan Niazi, PTI supporter Sanam Javed Khan, who got famous after her protests outside Zaman Park, as per a Dawn report. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 13:27 [IST] Go First Extends Suspension Of All Flight Operations Till May 26 DGCA To Conduct Audit Of Airline's Preparedness Before Flight Resumption: Go First Tells Staff Cash-Strapped Go First Cancels All Flights Till May 28 DGCA Asks Go First To Submit Revival Plan In 30 Days India oi-Madhuri Adnal Aviation watchdog DGCA has asked crisis-hit Go First to submit a comprehensive plan for the revival of its operations, a source said on Thursday. The budget carrier, which is undergoing a voluntary insolvency resolution process, stopped flying on May 3, as reported by PTI. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) advised the airline on May 24 to submit within a period of 30 days a comprehensive restructuring plan for a sustainable revival of operations, the source at the regulator said. Go First has been asked to furnish the status of the availability of the operational aircraft fleet, pilots and other personnel, maintenance arrangements, funding and working capital, and arrangements with lessors and vendors, among other details. The revival plan, once submitted by Go First, would be reviewed by the watchdog for further appropriate action, the source said. DGCA To Conduct Audit Of Airline's Preparedness Before Flight Resumption: Go First Tells Staff The airline had submitted its response to the show cause notice issued by DGCA on May 8. In its reply, Go First requested that it may be allowed to use the moratorium period to prepare a comprehensive restructuring plan for restarting operations and present the same to DGCA for approvals before restarting operations, the source said. The regulator had issued the show cause notice under the relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, for its failure to continue the operation of the service in a safe, efficient and reliable manner. On May 2, Go First announced filing the plea for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings as well as suspension of flights, initially for two days -- May 3 and 4. At that time also, DGCA had issued a show cause notice to Go First for cancelling flights for May 3 and 4 ''without any prior intimation''. The suspension of flights has been extended. On May 22, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld the NCLT's decision to admit Go First's plea for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings. The ruling had come on petitions filed by four lessors opposing the insolvency resolution proceedings of the airline. First Look Of New Parliament Building Set To Be Inaugurated On May 28 | WATCH No 'Protest' Allowed Near New Parliament Building On May 28: Delhi Police PM Modi Shares Glimpse Of New Parliament Building, Says It Will Make Every Indian Proud Even Australias Opposition Attended: PM Modis Veiled Dig Amidst Parliament Row India oi-Vicky Nanjappa After returning from a three nation tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a veiled dig at the Opposition which has decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. During his three nation tour, the PM also visited Australia and held a bilateral with his counterpart Antony Albanese. Referring to an event held in Sydney, which was attended by thousands of Indians, the PM said, 'not just the Australian PM, but the country's former PM and Opposition leaders were present together for the sake of the nation.' On his arrival, workers of the BJP led by party president J P Nadda accorded a warm welcome to the PM. " I glorify my nation before the world without any hesitation, but with confidence and pride," the PM said. Thankful for the warm welcome at Delhi airport. https://t.co/RwsWaDsCl1 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 25, 2023 When I talk the world does not only believe in me, but also believes in the 140 crore Indians whom I represent," he also said. We Care Even For Our Enemies Says PM Modi After Returning From 3-Nation Tour "All the leaders I met and all the personalities I spoke to have been mesmerised and appreciative of India holding the G20 presidency so well. This is a matter of great pride for all Indians," PM Modi said. Taking a swipe at critics, he said that they questioned the decision to give away vaccines to other countries during COVID-19. "Remember this is the land of Buddha and Gandhi. We care even for our enemies and we are inspired by compassion," he also said. He also said that the world is listening to India's story and we should never suffer from slave mentality. Why Pakistan Will Continue To Boil And There Is No Solution Around The Corner Former Pakistan PM And PTI Chief Imran Khan Added To No-Fly List India oi-Madhuri Adnal Former Pakistan Chief Minister Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and approximately 80 other members of his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have been placed on a no-fly list, according to reports. This action comes in the wake of growing speculation surrounding a potential ban on the PTI, following recent attacks by some of its supporters on military installations. Khan and several top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party are facing cases following the violence after he was arrested on May 9 in a corruption case.'' The federal government has decided to add the names of 80 people, including PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, to the no-fly list,'' the Samaa News channel reported. However, there was no official confirmation on the development from Khan's party. In addition to Khan and Bushra, those included in the no-fly list and barred from travelling abroad include PTI leaders Murad Saeed, Maleeka Bukhari, Fawad Chaudhry and Hammad Azhar, Qasim Suri, Asad Qaiser, Yasmin Rashid and Mian Aslam, the channel said. Fawad Chaudhry has already quit the party but his name has been listed among those who cannot fly out of Pakistan. The names of all the PTI leaders were put in the list on the recommendation of the "institutions concerned", the news channel reported. It said that the police department, National Accountability Bureau and the anti-corruption department had requested the Ministry of Interior to include these names to the no-fly list. The no-fly list is maintained by the Ministry of Interior and officials deployed at airports or other land exit routes are provided the names of individuals who cannot go out. Pakistan authorities maintain different categories of people who are banned from leaving the country for various reasons, including those who face corruption cases. But these lists had been used in the past by the governments to muzzle the opposition. When Khan was the prime minister, names of several high-profile personalities, including PML-N leader and current prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, were put on the no-fly list. On Wednesday, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the government is mulling a possible ban on Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime minister's arrest. Imran Khan, who addressed the nation on Wednesday, informed the people of Pakistan about an ongoing extensive crackdown on his political party. Govt Mulling Possible Ban On Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of 70-year-old Khan by paramilitary Rangers. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander house, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10. 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. Democracy Is Our Sanskar Says PM Modi At Inaugural Of New Parliament Building From SAD To TDP, Parties Attending New Parliament Building Inauguration India oi-Deepika S The inauguration of the new Parliament building on 28 May by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stirred a political row between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition parties. The Parliament inauguration ceremony, which was supposed to be a momentous occasion as India embraces the idea of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', by shedding another symbol of British colonialism has been reduced to a mere tool for political propaganda, with the opposition boycotting the event. The opposition has demanded that President Draupadi Murmu should be inaugurating the new parliament building, the highest law-making body in the land. They have also raised objections to the government's choice of date which is also the birth anniversary of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar. However, the National Democratic Alliance has countered the opposition's decision to boycott the event saying it is a blatant affront to the democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation. Opposition Parties To Boycott New Parliament Building Inauguration By PM Modi Recommended Video New Parliament Row: BJD and YSRCP to attend the inauguration ceremony on 28th | Oneindia News "This recent boycott is just another feather in their cap of disregard for democratic processes. Such flagrant disrespect towards this institution betrays not only intellectual bankruptcy but a disturbing contempt for the very essence of democracy. Regrettably, this is not the first instance of such disdain," the BJP-led NDA said in a joint statement. Amid the row, 16 parties, mostly from the NDA, are expected to attend the inauguration on May 28. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) National People's Party (NPP) Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) Apna Dal (Soneylal) Republican Party of India (RPI) Tamil Maanila Congress All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) Mizo National Front (MNF) Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam (IMKMK) Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. PITTSBURGH A student was arrested in the Wednesday morning slaying of a schoolmate just outside a school in Pittsburgh shortly before classes were due to start, police said. Officers found Derrick Harris just before 7:30 a.m. with gunshot wounds by the front steps of Oliver Citywide Academy, police said. A gunshot detection system indicated 11 rounds had been fired. Major Crimes Commander Richard Ford said Harris was critically injured and rushed to a hospital, where he died. The other 15-year-old student, who was seen by an officer running from the school with a gun, was arrested and a weapon recovered, Ford said. The student was identified as Jaymier Perry in a court docket and Jamier Perry in a police statement. He was charged with criminal homicide, possession of a firearm by a minor and carrying a firearm without a license. Perry was taken to the county jail, according to police. Court records didnt list a defense attorney. Oliver Citywide Academy is a full-time special education center serving grades 3-12, according to the city school districts website. It wasnt immediately clear what prompted the shooting. Most students were still on their way to the school when the shooting happened, and buses were rerouted to another building, according to city spokesperson Maria Montano. Students who were already in the school were kept in the building and classes were canceled for the day. We believe, based on the information that we have and the video weve been able to see, that we have the actor in custody and theres no potential threat to the other schools, Ford said. The citys new police chief, Larry Scirotto, on the job for his first full day following confirmation Tuesday, said at the scene that such violence was unacceptable. The tragedies cannot continue unchecked, Scirotto told WTAE-TV, vowing to work to assure parents that when they send their kids to school that their kids wont become a victim of gun violence. Mayor Ed Gainey vowed to help students affected by the shooting and said his administration would connect the family with support services. No child should ever have to fear going to school, and no parent should ever worry about their child never coming home, Gainey said. We have cultivated a culture of violence and death, celebrated guns, and glorified shooting, he said in a statement. We have to cultivate a new culture, create a new path forward for our kids." The shooting came a little more than a year after another student was gunned down at the same school. Fifteen-year-old Marquis Campbell was killed in January 2022 as he sat in a school van waiting to go home. The alleged shooters two brothers who Campbell knew from another school were charged earlier this year with murder and conspiracy. The shooting also came exactly one year after 19 students and two teachers were gunned down at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Democracy Is Our Sanskar Says PM Modi At Inaugural Of New Parliament Building Help End The War: President Zelensky Reaches Out To PM Modi With Peace Plan India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a peace plan to end the war with Russia on the sidelines of the 6-7 Summit that was held in Hiroshima. PM Modi had met with President Zelensky on May 21. During the meeting, Zelensky made no demands except for asking for support for his peace proposal as he felt that many nations look up to the largest democracy in the world. The proposal is currently under consideration. PM Modi returned this morning from his three-nation tour. During his visit to Australia, there was a break-through in bilateral relations. Following his hectic tour, PM Modi on his arrival addressed party workers and said that he believes in even caring for his enemies. Later today, the PM will flag off the Vande Bharat Express for Dehradun from New Delhi. PM Modi Greets US President Biden With Tight Hug At G7 Summit In Japan PM Modi has held several rounds of talks with Australia. This time the breakthrough was relevant with Australia willing to supply lithium to India for its electric car batteries. Officials said that India and Australia were able to expand its footprint in the Indo-Pacific and also the foundation for comprehensive bilateral ties were laid. During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi was taken aback by the gesture of PM James Marape at the Jackson Airport. PM Marape had shown utmost respect to PM Modi during the visit. At the G-7 Summit, US President Joe Biden is understood to have asked the PM about the secret behind his long innings in Indian politics. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 9:34 [IST] How NIAs 'Operation Dhvast' Is Breaking The Gangster-Terror Nexus India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The National Investigation Agency is cracking down heavily on the gangster-terror nexus. Last week under an operation codenamed, 'Operation Dhvast' the NIA raided 324 locations across six states and Union Territories in collaboration with the Punjab and Haryana police. While on one hand the agency is cracking down on the gangster-terror nexus on the other it is probing pro-Khalistan elements in London. A five member team of the NIA is in London to probe the vandalism that took place in which the Indian High Commission was targeted. 'Operation Dhvast' is aimed at breaking the network of gangsters such as Arsh Dalla, Lawrence Bishnoi, Chhenu Pehalwan, Deepak Teetar, Bhupi Rana, Vikash Lagarpuriya, Ashish Choudhary, Gurpreet Sekhon, Dilpreet Baba, Harsimrat Simma and Anuradha, an official tells OneIndia. NIA Announces Rs 10 Lakh Bounty On Pro-Khalistan Leader Kashmir Singh Galwaddi Under this operation the NIA is focus on the financial operations, logistic providers and hawala operatives who are associated with these hardcore members. These gangs have also been found to be working closely with Pakistan based groups who indulge in arms and narcotics trade. Many of these operatives coordinate from Canada with their Pakistan based handlers, an official in the know of the probe details said. Further the agency has learnt that many of these gangsters are operating from the jails. Several jail officials are also under the scanner as it is suspected that they may be helping these elements with mobile phones so that they can make calls and plot attacks. The murder of Siddhu Moosewala too was planned from jail, investigations have found. Not just Canada, the NIA has also found that there are gangsters who are operating from countries like Malaysia, Pakistan and Australia. NIA Nets Jaish-e-Mohammad Operative Who Passed Sensitive Information To Pakistan These groups have been carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for nefarious activities through smuggling of drugs, weapons, hawala channels and extortion, an NIA official said. Following the recent raids, the NIA said that it had recovered one pistol, assorted live and used ammunition, 60 mobile phones, 5 DVRs, 20 SIM cards, 1 hard disk, 1 pen drive, 1 dongle, 1 Wi-Fi router, 1 digital watch, 2 memory cards, 75 documents and about Rs 39,60,000 in cash. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 8:23 [IST] India to have its fastest supercomputer Airawat by March next year India oi-Sanjeev Nayak In another remarkable feat, India is going to acquire its fastest supercomputer within a year's time. The AI-based supercomputer, christened as 'AIRAWAT', will cost around Rs 900 crore and is expected to become operational by March next year. AIRAWAT, which has been ranked 75th in the world, will be installed at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune. The ranking was declared at the 61st edition of the Top 500 Global Supercomputing List at the International Supercomputing Conference in Germany. Tweeting about this stupendous development, newly appointed Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju apprised about the weather monitoring mechanism which comes with the highest resolution of probabilistic forecast. This colossal success of India's tech journey has put India on top of the AI Supercomputing nations worldwide. The system is installed under the 'National Program on AI' of Government of India. Deliberating on the development, Rijiju explained that the supercomputer can improve forecasting from 12 to 6 km. India's fastest supercomputer at present is the Cray XC-40 supercomputer 'Mihir' with a performance of 6.8 petaFLOPS. The minister informed that the new supercomputer will have nearly thrice the capability. Praising C-DAC, Rijiju said the facilities at the world class centre in Pune will benefit all sectors and all sections of the society, pointing out that every individual is going to get the benefit directly from this institution. Meanwhile, talking about AIRAWAT, Union Electronics & IT Secretary Alkesh Sharma said that AI is the most promising technology in the digital age. He also informed about India's strong ecosystem and competitive advantage with regard to AI. This advantage is also due to India's massive data availability, strong digital economy and skilled workforce, he added. It is noteworthy here that India has been working in the Applied AI with focus on Natural Language Processing, Image Procession, Pattern Recognition, Agriculture, Medical Imaging, Education, Health Care, Audio assistance, Robotics and developing solutions for the strategic sectors. Nevertheless, India's weather forecasting capabilities are improving very fast. In recent years, the country has made significant advances in the application of science and technology. Now, India is extending weather forecasts capabilities to countries in the neighbourhood and beyond. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 16:31 [IST] ISRO to launch PSLV-C55 mission with two Singaporean satellites today: When and where to watch? ISRO To Launch NVS-01 Navigation Satellite On May 29 India oi-Sanjeev Nayak Taking another significant step towards advancing India's navigation technology and strengthening its NavIC system, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch GSLV-F12 Navigation satellite from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 10.42 am on Monday, May 29. This mission is designed to deploy the NVS-01 navigation satellite, weighing about 2,232 kg, into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Subsequent orbit-raising maneuvers will be used for taking the satellite to the intended orbit. NVS-01 is the first of the second-generation satellites envisaged for Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) services. Strengthening NavIC System This is a return to flight mission carrying the next generation NavIC satellite that will replace the IRNSS-1G satellite launched in 2016. NavIC is a constellation of seven satellites offering the standard position service for civilian users and restricted service for strategic users. ISRO launches its PSLV-C55 with 2 Singaporean satellites for Earth observation Three satellites of the constellation are placed in the geostationary orbit and four satellites in the inclined geosynchronous orbit. The ground network consists of a control centre, range and integrity monitoring stations and two-way ranging stations. NavIC signals covering 1,500 km around India are designed to provide user position accuracy better than 20 metres and timing accuracy better than 50 nanoseconds. The mission is expected to immensely augment ISRO's navigation capabilities ISRO's aim is to launch the next series of NavIC satellites, which are new generation navigation satellites with features like the L1 band (the civilian mobile band), this year, ISRO chairman S. Somanath was quoted by The Week as saying. This series incorporates L1 band signals additionally to widen the services. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock will be flown in NVS-01. To meet the positioning, navigation and timing requirements of the nation, ISRO has established two services under the NavIC system - Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic users. Gaganyaan: ISRO successfully completes human-rated engine test campaign This mission is ISRO's fourth launch this year after the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) launch in February, LVM3 M3/OneWeb India-2 mission in March and the PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 mission in April. Pride Possession India is the fourth country to have its own navigation systems - the United States, Russia and China being the only other such countries. The space agency said citizens can register at https://lvg.shar.gov.in to witness the launch from the launch view gallery in Sriharikota. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 13:47 [IST] Navy initiates sea trials of 'INS Vagsheer' submarine India oi-Sanjeev Nayak Signalling a significant step forward in enhancing India's naval strength and self-reliance, Indian Navy have commenced the sea trials of the sixth submarine of the Kalvari-class submarine INS Vagsheer. This submarine is the Navy's fifth Kalvari-class or Project 75 (Yard 11880) and its induction marks a milestone towards bolstering India's maritime capabilities, safeguard its interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and strengthen its defence industrial base. The submarine was launched last week from Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock in Mumbai. INS Vaghsheer is scheduled for delivery to Indian Navy in early 2024 after completion of these trials. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd has delivered three submarines of Project-75 in 24 months and commencement of sea trials of sixth submarine is a significant milestone. This is indicative of the boost towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The submarine will now undergo intense trials of all its systems at sea like propulsion systems, weapons and sensors. Expressing his views on INS Vagsheer's induction, defence analyst K. Venkatesh from renowned data and analytics company GlobalData said, "With an expected commissioning in early 2024, this last class submarine will significantly bolster the Indian Navy's maritime capabilities, safeguard its maritime interests, and strengthen its position in the IOR." "The successful completion of Project 75, under which the Indian Navy is building six diesel-electric submarines, demonstrates India's growing self-reliance in defence production, promoting the development of the defence manufacturing sector and strengthening the country's defence industrial base," he added. Australian PM Anthony Albanese receives guard of honour onboard INS Vikrant "According to GlobalData, India is projected to spend around $25 billion on submarines over the next 10 years to enhance its maritime capabilities. The involvement of Indian shipbuilders in these upcoming submarine projects enhances their capabilities and positions them as key players in the global submarine construction industry," Venkatesh informed. India's strides in the defence sector, particularly in indigenous production and maritime capabilities, highlight its commitment to self-reliance and determination to become a key player in the global defence landscape. As the country continues to invest in its naval forces and foster collaborations, it is expected to enhance its position as a significant regional maritime power. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 16:19 [IST] What Will Happen To The Old Parliament Building Now India oi-Vicky Nanjappa There has been an uproar over the inauguration of the new Parliament building set to take place on May 28. Questions have now arisen as to what would happen to the old Parliament building. Sources tell OneIndia that the once the new building comes up and becomes operational, work on converting the old building into a 'museum of democracy' will begin. In March 2021, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri had told the Rajya Sabha that once the new building comes up, the existing one would have to be repaired and made available for alternative use. However no comprehensive thought had been given to what use it should be put to, the minister had said back then. Why It Will Be Hard To Hurl Papers At Presiding Officers In New Parliament House When asked if the old building would be demolished, the source cited above said that there is no question of that. It would be conserved as it an archaeological asset of the nation. There are plans of using it with the new building for parliamentary events once it is renovated the source added. There are all attempts being made to conserve the building. Once converted into a museum, people will be able to visit it and actually visit the Lok Sabha chamber. While the Opposition parties have been questioning the need to have a new Parliament building the government took into consideration several factors. Here are a few of them: The current Lok Sabha and Central Hall are full to their capacity and cannot be extended any further. The old building was ad-hoc in nature and several alterations had to be made. The building is also severely damaged. The offices of the ministers and facilities such as meeting rooms were make-shift in nature. The electrical mechanism, air-conditioning, audio-visual, acoustic , public address system and security infrastructure are out-dated. The old building has not been certified as earthquake safe. The fire-safety norms are also designed according to the modern norms. In case of an emergency, the evacuation arrangements are inadequate. Not Right To Politicise, Amit Shah On Inauguration Of New Parliament Building New Parliament Inauguration Row: Congress Is Doing Politics, Says Amit Shah Amid Boycott Call India oi-Madhuri Adnal Asserting that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term after the general elections next year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that the opposition Congress will not be able to even secure its present tally in the Lok Sabha. Addressing a public meeting here after ceremoniously distributing 44,703 appointment letters to successful candidates for Assam government jobs, the senior BJP leader alleged that the Congress has a ''negative attitude'' and charged it with doing politics by boycotting the scheduled inauguration of the new Parliament building. ''Narendra Modi will become the PM again next year with over 300 seats. The Congress has lost the opposition party status and will not be able to even secure the number of seats it has presently in the Lok Sabha,'' he said. ''The Congress has a negative attitude. The PM will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 but the Congress is doing politics by boycotting it, giving an excuse that the President should inaugurate it,'' he said. He claimed that there have been instances in Congress and opposition-ruled states where foundation stone of new assembly buildings were laid by respective chief ministers and Congress leaders such as Sonia and Rahul Gandhi instead of the respective governors. ''The Congress does not allow the PM to speak inside the Parliament. Indian people have given Modi the mandate to speak. Not respecting the PM is like insulting the people's mandate,'' he said. Shah said that the BJP had promised to provide one lakh government jobs in Assam before the 2021 assembly polls and within two-and-half-years, 86,000 jobs have been given and the rest will be given within the next six months. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 19:52 [IST] NIA Court Convicts One More In Assam Hizbul Mujahideen Case India oi-Vicky Nanjappa A special court of the National Investigation Agency has convicted another accused in a conspiracy case related to the formation of a Hizbul Mujahideen module case in Guwahati. The court sentenced Mohammad Saiful Alam of Hojai district, Assam to five years in jail. He was awarded rigorous imprisonment and also slapped with a fine. "Five people were chargesheeted by the NIA on March 11, 2019, and two of them, identified as Md. Sahnawaj Alom and Md. Omar Faruque was convicted by the NIA Court on December 23, 2022," an NIA release read. NIA Announces Rs 10 Lakh Bounty On Pro-Khalistan Leader Kashmir Singh Galwaddi The case was originally registered at the P.S. Jamunamukh, District Hojai, Assam under various sections of the IPC and UA(P) Act. The NIA re-registered the case on October 5 2018. The probe by the NIA revealed that the three convicted accused had conspired with one Kamruj Zaman to establish a module of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Assam. "During 2017-2018, they organised a series of meetings in various mosques, such as Milonpur Masjid, Islampur Masjid and Solmari Masjid, in and around the Jamunamukh area. The meetings were used to spread the banned outfit's hardcore fundamentalist ideology, with speeches about alleged atrocities and Jihad. Youth attending these meetings were told about the need to raise a module of HM for committing terrorist acts in response to the alleged atrocities etc," the NIA release also read. The NIA also found that Kamruj and Shahnawaz conspired to raise funds for the procurement of arms and ammunition. NIA Team Lands In London To Probe Pro-Khalistan Elements "Omar, alongwith another accused Jaynal Uddin, provided logistic support. To keep their communications a secret, Kamruj Zaman and Saiful Alam had also installed the Blackberry messenger (BBM) App on their mobile sets. Kamruj had used this app to stay in touch with Hizbul Mujahideen cadres in Jammu and Kashmir," the NIA said. These persons had also conspired to carry out bomb blasts and armed attacks on innocent civilians in the non-Muslim areas of Lumding and Hojai on Dussehra eve, the agency also said. Tesla To Finalise Plant Location In India By Year-End India oi-Sanjeev Nayak With billionaire Elon Reeve Musk evincing keen interest in doing business in India, his automotive giant Tesla Inc is all set to enter the Indian market. When asked about it during an interview with Wall Street Journal, Musk retorted with a euphoric "Absolutely" and said India is very much part of his scheme of things. What is interesting about his latest statement is it has come almost a year after he had dropped his plans to set up any factory in India. More interestingly, his change of mind has come just a month before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States. Reports suggest that Musk is likely pick a new location for a Tesla factory in India by the end of this year. He was asked if India is an interesting choice for a new Tesla location in the wake of his selection of Mexico for the next Tesla Gigafactory in March this year. Team Visits India A team of senior Tesla executives visited India last week to explore entering the niche EV market and expand its footprint. The team was in New Delhi for two days and met government officials. It proposed to build a manufacturing facility along with a research and development (R&D) centre here, though it stopped sort of committing to it. Elon Musk sells another huge chunk of Tesla shares worth USD 3.58B, purpose unknown After the meeting, Union Minister for State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that Tesla is "serious" about its India plans. "We have signalled to them that the Government of India is working together and will certainly make whatever ambition or investment objective they have in India a success," Times Now quoted the minister as saying. Going Beyond China Tesla's warming up to India again is seen as the company's strategy to diversify and expand beyond China, which is its largest market outside the US. India could certainly be the alternative market as the government is interested more in promoting local manufacturing. World's largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla has several factories in the US, including in Fremont, California. The company also has factories near Berlin, Germany and Shanghai, China. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 12:31 [IST] Another cheetah dies at Kuno park, third death in three months None Of The Officials Have Any Cheetah Management Experience: Centre To SC Two More Cheetah Cubs Die In Kuno National Park, Only One Alive India oi-Madhuri Adnal Two cubs of Cheetah Jwala (formerly known as Siyaya) died on Thursday at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Her first cub died on May 23. According to ANI, the cubs died during monitoring while being in weak condition amid sweltering heat. The latest fatality took the death toll of cheetahs in KNP to six in the last two months, including three felines translocated from African countries. Cheetah Jwala was brought from Namibia to KNP in Sheopur district in September 2022. She gave birth to four cubs in the last week of March this year.The monitoring team found on May 23 that the condition of her remaining three cubs was not good and decided to rescue them for treatment. The daytime temperature then was around 46-47 degrees Celsius, the release said. The cubs were found severely dehydrated. Despite treatment, the two cubs could not be saved, it said. The condition of the fourth cub was stable, but it too was under intense treatment, it said. Madhya Pradesh | Second cub of Cheetah Jwala died during monitoring while being in weak condition amid sweltering heat at Kuno National Park. Cheetah Jwala had three cubs. Her first cub died on May 23. https://t.co/tvo43BIIEf pic.twitter.com/xLbfAuBj0e ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 Cheetahs were reintroduced in India, 70 years after the species was declared extinct. At present, Kuno National Park is home to 20 cheetahs, including three cubs. Six cheetahs have been released into the wild, while 14, including the three cubs, reside in a larger enclosure spanning 6 square kilometers. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, succumbed to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, while another cheetah, Uday, from South Africa, died on April 13. Cheetah Cub Dies In Kuno National Park; Officials Say Was Weak Since Birth Daksha, a cheetah brought from South Africa, died of injuries following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt on May 9. Siyaya's four cubs were born in the wild on Indian soil after the last cheetah was hunted in the Korea district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947. In light of the limited space available in Kuno National Park, discussions are underway to potentially relocate some cheetahs to Rajasthan's Mukundra Hills tiger reserve. The Madhya Pradesh government is also preparing a secondary habitat for the cheetahs at Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is expected to be ready in four months. These measures aim to ensure better cheetah survival, with the possibility of transferring some individuals to Mukundra, where a fenced enclosure is already in place. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MRV Banks recently announced it has hired Megan Cattoor as director of marketing and public relations. Megans knowledge, enthusiasm and drive are well matched for what we do here, said MRV Banks Director of Human Resources Lydia Sumner. She is a professional that knows the local markets and will continue to strengthen our connections within the bank and our communities. Cattoors role will directly oversee and develop all internal and external marketing efforts for the bank. She has more than 15 years of experience in advertising. Her previous position as a manager of client success planning and execution includes translating customer advertising objectives into data-driven ad schedules. Cattoor will use her previous experience to work with leadership to develop a strategy to help MRV Banks maximize opportunities and market share. It is an honor to be a part of a bank that serves its communities and goes above and beyond to make a real difference, said Cattoor. Joining this team of outstanding community bankers is a privilege, and I am thrilled to work alongside them in supporting our neighbors and local businesses and organizations. I look forward to helping MRV Banks continue its pattern of growth and success. Cattoor and her husband, Dustin, attend St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church with their two daughters, Kinsley and Mila. She is also an active member of the Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau, where she serves on various committees, including service and advocacy. She is passionate about advocating for women's and children's rights and enjoying free time with her family. "We are excited to add an enthusiastic person like Megan to our team, said MRV Banks Executive Vice President/Chief Lending Officer Robert Lawrence. She brings a lot of experience in marketing, and I know she will do a great job. Founded in 2007, MRV Banks is one of the fastest-growing banks in Missouri. With more than $650 million dollars in assets, it is the 49th largest bank in the state of Missouri out of 215 state-chartered banks. MRV Banks has locations in Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, Festus, and its newest location in St. Charles. We Care Even For Our Enemies Says PM Modi After Returning From 3-Nation Tour India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday returned to India after concluding a three-nation tour to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. While addressing party workers in Delhi's Palam Airport, the PM said that the world wants to know what India is thinking. "When I speak about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who come here love India, not PM Modi," he said. While speaking about India's vaccine diplomacy, PM Modi said, " the people here are asked why I gave vaccines to the world. I want to say that this is the land of Buddha, Gandhi. We even care for our enemies," the PM further added. While speaking about the release of the Tok Pisin, translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea, he said, " Tamil language is our language. It is the language of every Indian. It is the oldest language in the world. I had the opportunity to release the translated book." PM Modi Raises Issue Of Attacks On Hindu Temples In Australia On his return, the PM was welcomed by BJP president, J P Nadda and other party leaders. Nadda said that the world appreciates the PM's governance model. "US President, Joe Biden asked for your autograph and this shows how the world is seeing India under your leadership," Nadda said. The way in which the PM of Papua New Guinea touched your feet shows how much respect you have there. The people of India feel proud when they see out PM being welcomed like that," Nadda also said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 8:13 [IST] What Happens If You Fail To Deposit, Exchange Rs 2,000 Note By September 30 Will The Withdrawal Of The Rs 2,000 Notes Have An Impact On The Fake Currency Industry? India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The recent decision by the Reserve Bank of India to stop printing the Rs 2,000 note which was introduced post demonetisation has had mixed responses. The RBI made it clear that the note would continue to be legal tender until September. The big question now is what this would do to the fake currency market, which had been printing the Rs 2,000 note and circulating in many parts of India. Fake currency has been a big draw for operatives in Pakistan and Bangladesh, which overseas the racket in India. In India, the main hub has been Malda in West Bengal, where the notes are printed and then circulated to various parts of the country. An Intelligence Bureau official tells OneIndia that while this move may reduce hoarding of black money, on the fake currency front, the vigil still needs to be high. Home Ministry and NCRB data both suggest that counterfeiters had moved towards the Rs 500 note since 2020. Entire Process Of Withdrawal Of 2000 Notes To Be Non-Disruptive: RBI The Home Ministry had informed the Rajya Sabha in February 2022 that the number of seized counterfeit notes of the Rs 2,000 denomination had shot up fro 2,272 in 2016, the year of its introduction to 244,834 in 2020. The NCRB data of 2021 shows that the number of fake Rs 2,000 notes seized during the year had reduced by over 75 per cent to 60,915 in 2021 as against the 244,834 in 2020. The data also suggests that the number of fake Rs 500 notes too had decreased from 215,474 in 2020 to 132,060 in 2021. While the Rs 2,000 note has been in circulation, it was not widely used and hence the counterfeiters focused largely on the Rs 500 note. An RBI report of May 2022 said that the number of fake notes of Rs 500 denomination detected by the banking system doubled from 30,054 pieces in 2019-20 to 79,669 pieces in 2021-22. Fake currency would however continue to pose a challenge say officials. The highest amount of fake currency with the face value of Rs 92.17 crore was seized in 2020, while the lowest with the face value of Rs 15.92 crore was seized in 2016. In 2021 the value was at Rs 20.39 crore. Is Aadhaar, PAN Or Any Other ID Proof Required To Exchange Rs 2,000 Notes? Banks Clarify After declining in 2020-21, the total number of fake currency of all denominations detected in the banking sector increased to 2,30971 pieces from 2,08,625 pieces in the previous fiscal, data would show. While the number of Rs 500 fake notes remained high, the counterfeiters did not focus much on the Rs 50 and Rs 100 notes. These denominations have. Declared by 28.7 per cent and 16.7 per cent respectively. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 9:12 [IST] Not Right To Politicise, Amit Shah On Inauguration Of New Parliament Building Will Visit Violence-Hit Manipur Soon, Calls For Peace And Dialogue: Amit Shah India oi-Madhuri Adnal Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced his forthcoming visit to Manipur, where he plans to spend three days in order to engage with the local population and address the prevailing unrest in the region. This comes after fresh incidents of violence were reported in Manipur. In response to recent reports of violence in Manipur, Shah expressed his intention to personally speak with the people and work towards restoring peace. "I will myself go to Manipur after a few days and will stay there for three days and will talk to the people of Manipur for establishing peace," Shah said. Talking about the violence, Shah said,''There were clashes in Manipur after a court verdict. I would appeal to both groups that they should maintain peace, and justice will be done for everyone.'' One person was killed and another injured in a fresh violence between suspected militants and a group of people in an area bordering Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts in strife-torn Manipur, police said on Thursday. Following the violence, the authorities clamped curfew for 24 hours in the area and reduced the curfew relaxation hours in several other districts. Women Block Security Forces After Fresh Violence In Manipur Villages Meanwhile, the house of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district was vandalised on Wednesday by a group of people claiming that the government in the violence-hit state was not doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community, an official said. The minister who is a BJP leader and his family members, however, were not present at the house when the mob, comprising mostly women, attacked the house in Ningthoukhong area and damaged a portion of a gate, windows, a few furniture and electronic gadgets. This was the first time a minister's house was attacked during the ongoing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in the state that started three weeks ago. Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to control the situation in the state. 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 in Manipur 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. The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives and some 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. Car Crashes Into Downing Street Gates In London, One Arrested International oi-Madhuri Adnal A man remains under arrest on Thursday on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a car crashed into the gates of 10 Downing Street in London, the official residence of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Metropolitan Police said. Sunak was in his office at the time of the incident but left soon after from another exit for a pre-scheduled departure, sources from 10 Downing Street said. The cordons placed by police around the street have since been lifted even as armed officers remain on guard at the Prime Minister's office, as is usual. According to reports, counter-terrorism police are not involved in the ongoing police enquiries at this stage. "At around 16.20 hours [local time] a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall," the Met Police said in a statement. "Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing," the police said. Officers could soon be seen winding down the heightened security operation on Whitehall, the main political hub of London between Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square. Officials inside Downing Street were initially asked to stay indoors but could soon be seen moving out of offices, including from the Cabinet Office which is next door to 10 Downing Street. Meanwhile, images on social media showed a silver passenger car with its boot open slammed into the gates of Downing Street, which is significantly protected with barriers and a solid double-barrel black iron gate at all times. As CCTV footage emerged, a handcuffed heavy-set man with white hair could be seen being led away by armed Met Police officers. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a bang and officers shouting at the suspect as taser guns were deployed before the arrest. Officers were later pictured searching the vehicle's boot and removing a large white sheet. China Braces For New Wave Of Covid From XBB Variant, Could See 65 mn Cases Weekly CCTV footage of the incident being played on television showed the small silver hatchback coming out of a car park next to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) building, crossing Whitehall before abruptly breaking and then driving forward directly into the gates of Downing Street. The security around one of the most famous streets of the world has been heightened ever since the militant Irish Republican Army (IRA) threat in the 1990s. The main gates remain shut at all times behind additional movable barriers and are opened only briefly for any official cars entering or exiting the street. Any visitors to Downing Street are subjected to strict checks through a side gate. China Braces For New Wave Of Covid From XBB Variant, Could See 65 mn Cases Weekly International oi-Madhuri Adnal China is bracing for a formidable wave of coronavirus cases, as reported by Bloomberg, citing a senior health adviser. The anticipated surge in the pandemic is expected to reach its peak by the end of June, with the country projected to record approximately 65 million infections on a weekly basis. China has been grappling with a surge in Covid cases since April, primarily driven by the Omicron variant, XBB. Local media reports, referencing a presentation by respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan at a biotech conference in Guangzhou, suggest that the country is likely to report 40 million infections in a single week by the end of this month, before reaching a peak of 65 million weekly infections by the end of June. This new outbreak could potentially become the most significant wave of infections since China abandoned its zero-Covid policy in December 2022. During the previous wave, China had reported a staggering 37 million coronavirus cases in a single day, marking the highest single-day spike recorded in the country. The sudden surge in infections had led to widespread panic buying as citizens rushed to stock up on essential supplies. The healthcare system in China faced unprecedented strain, with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of patients and shortages of critical medicines impacting the nation. This forthcoming surge in cases is poised to present a significant challenge for China as it grapples with the ramifications of the XBB variant. The country will need to mobilize resources and implement stringent measures to curtail the spread of the virus and mitigate its impact on public health. As China braces itself for this potential wave of infections, authorities will be closely monitoring the situation and working tirelessly to protect the well-being of its citizens. Efforts to reinforce healthcare infrastructure, ensure adequate medical supplies, and implement robust containment measures will be paramount in combating the XBB variant and curbing its rapid transmission across the nation. Mumbai To Pune in 90 Minutes: Know All About India's Longest Sea Bridge MTHL MAH MBA CET Result 2023 To Be Announced Soon On mahacet.org, Here's Top 10 Maharashtra MBA Colleges List Maharashtra Class 12 Result 2023 Declared At msbshse.co.in Mumbai oi-Deepika S Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has declared MSBSHSE Class 12 exam result on May 25. Students who appeared for the Maharashtra HSC result 2023 can check their results on the official website of the board after 2 pm. Nearly 14 lakh students appeared for the Maharashtra HSC or Class 12 board exam. The Higher Secondary Certificate exam was conducted from February 21 to March 21, 2023, at various centers across the state. This year, the pass percentage in Maharashtra HSC result stood at 91.25 per cent, a slight dip from last year's 94.22 per cent. Maharashtra HSC Result 2023: Division wise pass percentage Amravati: 92.75 per cent Aurangabad: 91.85 per cent Konkan: 96.01 per cent Kolhapur: 93.28 per cent Mumbai:88.13 per cent Nagpur: 90.35 per cent Nashik:91.66 per cent Pune: 93.34 per cent Latur: 90.37 per cent Maharashtra HSC Result 2023: Websites To Check mahresult.nic.in. Mahahsscboard.in. Hscresult.mkcl.org How To Check Maharashtra HSC Results 2023 Visit the official website of the Maharashtra HSE board mahresult.nic.in . . On the homepage, click on the Maharashtra Board HSC Results 2023 link Login by entering the required credentials and click on submit. Your Maharashtra HSE result 2023 will be displayed on the screen. Check the result and keep a copy for future reference. Maharashtra HSC Results 2023: How To Check Via SMS To check the HSC result for the Maharashtra class 12 exams, go to the messaging app. Type MHHSCSEAT NO. Send it to 57766. You will receive your Maharashtra HSC Results 2023 on your mobile phone. In 2022, the overall pass percentage stood at 94.22 per cent in the HSC exam in Maharashtra, a 5.41 percent dip from 2021. Nusret Gokce, nicknamed Salt Bae, is a Turkish butcher, chef, food entertainer and restaurateur, whose technique for preparing and seasoning meat became an internet meme in January 2017. Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which ran in national syndication for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011. Dubbed the "Queen of All Media", she was the richest African-American of the 20th century and was once the world's only black billionaire. By 2007, she was often ranked as the most influential woman in the world. Tony Abbott is the first former Australian prime minister to visit Ukraine since Putins invasion and was regularly applauded amid his critique. The Russian president has a warrant out for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The groundwork for this was laid by the special tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ST. LOUIS A former Missouri prison guard pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday and admitted assaulting an inmate and possessing child pornography. Carl Hart, 37, of Farmington, was a sergeant in the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre at the time of the Oct. 28, 2021 assault. After a verbal disagreement with an inmate who is the victim in the case, Hart ordered the victim out of his office. When the victim did not immediately return to his cell, two other corrections officers pepper-sprayed him. The victim went to the showers to wash off the spray. Hart admitted striking the victim in the shower and again after the victim had left the shower and was on the ground, handcuffed and compliant. The victim suffered lacerations on his head, swelling on his face, a black eye, numb arms and rib pain that continues to this day, Harts plea says. In a separate investigation, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip about suspected child pornography in Harts Dropbox account. The Missouri Highway Patrol Digital Forensics Unit investigated and found child pornography in Dropbox and on one of his phones, Hart admitted in his plea agreement. Hart pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of possession of child pornography. The civil rights charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. Each child pornography charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Hart is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 24. He also faces child pornography charges in St. Francois County Circuit Court. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Missouri Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case. Authorities issued a warning that smoke from a burning building could affect people in the city center. It stayed in effect for a few hours before authorities gave the all-clear. Oneindia 25 May 2023 The overnight drone attacks on Kyiv by the Russian forces dont seem to stop at all. Last night too, Russian forces carried out.. An envelope containing a mysterious white powder sparked a major emergency operation and forced the evacuation of a police station. The package had arrived at German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck's constituency office. The group appeared defiant a day after police raids, launching a new website and rerouting their crowdfunding via a different organization. Labeling the group as possibly criminal also triggered a political debate. Oneindia 26 May 2023 A man has been arrested after a car crashed into the Downing Street gates in London. The Police said that he was held on suspicion.. The founder of the far-right militia was found guilty of seditious conspiracy late last year. The sentence is the most draconian to date in connection with the US congress attack in January 2021. The head of the Wagner Group says his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut and are handing over control to the Russian military. British Airways cancelled dozens of flights in and out of Heathrow Airport on Thursday evening because of a "technical issue", leaving thousands of passengers grounded. The founder of a far-right extremist group has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for inciting his followers to join the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CARTHAGE, Mo. Lane Burns would have been 32 on May 30, and his family decided they wouldn't let another year pass before they remember their fallen hero, a Bonne Terre police officer. "We wanted to give him a big celebration," said Tasha Ivey, Burns' cousin, recently after she spoke to the Carthage City Council's Public Safety Committee about the event the family is planning to honor Burns. "Last year was too raw, and this year we want to honor him and remember him." Burns' family in Carthage is planning the first Lane Burns 306 Tribute at the start of Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 27, at Carthage's Central Park. The 306 is a reference to his badge number. The event will run from noon to 9 p.m. and include live music, four food trucks, face painting and balloons for the kids, and possibly more. A family member is also planning a memorial motorcycle ride in honor of Burns to start in Bonne Terre on Saturday morning and arrive at Central Park in Carthage around the start of the event at noon Saturday. "He paid the ultimate sacrifice and we just want to remember him and honor him," Ivey said. "This is a community he loved and he grew up in, so we wanted to share that with our community. He was a big jokester with everything. He loved having a good time; he loved being outside. So I think this event speaks of who he was." Ivey said Burns loved his family, which is why they're planning a family-friendly event for the day. "He loved company, he loved people and we're just trying to get his first community together and celebrating," Ivey said. "We're going to have face-painting, hopefully a bounce house; it will all be free of charge thanks to sponsors." Musicians appearing at the event are Justin Larkin, Sherry Perry, Wesley Allen, the Modern August and James Ivie. Food trucks scheduled to stay for the day are London Calling, Churros Colima, Old School Smoking and Shaved Ice. What happened Burns was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 17, 2022, in Bonne Terre, Missouri, where he had served as a police officer for five years. Burns grew up in Carthage and graduated from Carthage High School. About a year ago, Burns and Officer Garrett Worley answered a disturbance call to the local Motel 6. When they approached the room in question, a recent resident of Ironton, James Emery, 31, emerged and began firing at them, and they returned fire. Burns and the assailant were killed, and Worley was seriously wounded, but survives and is back on the force. Bonne Terre Police Chief Doug Calvert said the Missouri State Highway Patrol took over the investigation into Burns' shooting death and determined the shooter, who opened fire on officers as they were exiting their vehicles, was likely under the influence of alcohol when the shooting happened. No clear motive could be determined. That was a tragic time in Jasper County for law enforcement officers, with Burns' death coming just nine days after the shooting death of two Joplin police officers, Cpl. Benjamin Cooper and Officer Jake Reed on March 8. Burns' funeral procession started in Bonne Terre on Sunday, March 27, 2022, and carried him 200 miles to Carthage, where he was driven through his hometown with fire trucks, law enforcement officers and crowds lining the streets, to Avilla and then to Harvey Cemetery south of La Russell. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner on how much we know about what happened in the Black Sea. Rishi Sunak will this week meet the boss of Google for further talks about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) amid a raging debate about the threats posed by the technology. The White House on Thursday condemned an agreement between Russia and Belarus to store nuclear weapons in the Russia-allied country neighboring Ukraine. Unlike bills in Florida and Tennessee that try to ban drag reading events that are sexual in nature, Montana's law does not require a sexual element. Hamburger Mary's in Orlando, which has held drag performances since 2008, is asking the court to block the implementation of the state's new law, which the governor signed last week. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is warning about evidence that Chinese hackers have been targeting critical infrastructure networks in the U.S. Rumble 26 May 2023 The former Chief Business Officer at Google, Mo Gawdat, has raised an alarm by suggesting that, in the future, AI could define.. The recent arrest of Gulzar Imam Shambay, a prominent Baloch nationalist leader, has sparked protests and violence in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and most restive province. Shambay is accused of involvement in several attacks on security forces and civilians, as well as separatist activities. He is also one of the founders of... Ukraine secured the release of 106 captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is proposing adjusting prices for most hunting, fishing, trapping, and commercial permits in an effort to keep up with rising costs of goods and services it uses to manage its more than 1,000 conservation areas along with nature centers, shooting ranges, fish hatcheries, and other facilities. MDC received initial approval on the proposed permit price adjustments from the Missouri Conservation Commission at the Commissions May 19 open meeting at City Hall in Washington, Mo. Missouri is home to more than 1 million anglers, 500,000 hunters, and several thousand trappers. MDC issues nearly 2.6 million hunting, fishing, and trapping permits each year. Most MDC permit prices have remained the same for the past 20 years while costs for goods and services have increased significantly since then. In early 2003, the price of a resident firearms deer permit was $17 and the cost of a gallon of unleaded gas was $1.42, explained MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. Jump ahead two decades to May 2023 when the cost of a resident firearms deer permit is still $17 while the cost of a gallon of gas is about $3.30. That cost increase really adds up considering MDC purchased nearly 908,000 gallons of gas in 2022 to run vehicles and equipment. Pauley added that, on average, most resident hunting and fishing permit prices would be adjusted by about $1. Compared to other states, Missouri permit prices are in the middle-to-lower end of the scale and would still be a bargain, she said. The average price of a resident firearm deer permit for surrounding states is $54 compared to Missouris proposed price of $18. Additional revenue from permit sales will help MDC maintain and improve its nationally recognized programs and services for hunters, anglers, wildlife watcher, and others. Conservation efforts supported by revenue from permit sales include: Maintaining and improving nine fish hatcheries around the state that raise and stock more than 7 million fish annually for public fishing including about 1.3 million trout at five hatcheries. Maintaining and improving more than 70 public shooting ranges around the state. Ongoing habitat work on nearly 1,000 conservation areas, including 15 intensively managed wetlands for public hunting and wildlife watching. Expansion of popular youth offerings such as the Missouri Archery in the Schools Program, which has reached more than 200,000 young archers at nearly 700 Missouri schools, and the Discover Nature Schools Program, which helps more than 87,000 Missouri students each year at more than 700 schools around the state learn about and connect with Missouri outdoors. Helping more than 24,000 landowners create and maintain habitat for wildlife. Research on health and sustainability of deer, turkey, quail, waterfowl, songbirds, fish, bears, elk, and other species. Evaluation of the effectiveness of harvest regulations for fish and wildlife game species and understanding resource-user preferences. Restoration, monitoring, and protecting imperiled and endangered species and habitats. Removal of invasive species that threaten the health of native species and habitats. Maintaining and improving 15 nature and interpretative centers around the state. Pauley added that most Missourians are generally familiar with some of the work MDC does, but there are new challenges with added costs. In addition to everything we offer and the work we are known for, we have new and expensive challenges, she said. Our staff are dealing with more and new invasive species and wildlife disease outbreaks. And the costs of many things we must buy regularly keep going up, from fuel to fish food. Some of the proposed permit price increases are: The price of a resident hunting and fishing permit would go from $19 to $20.50. The average price for surrounding states is $42.47. The price of a resident fishing permit would go from $12 to $13. The average price for surrounding states is $23. The price of a resident small game hunting permit would go from $10 to $10.50. The average price for surrounding states is $26.57. The price of a resident trapping permit would go from$10 to $11. The average price for surrounding states is $29.38. The price of a resident spring turkey permit would go from $17 to $18. The average price for surrounding states is $47.69 The price of a resident firearm deer permit would go from $17 to $18. The average price for surrounding states is $54.06. The price of a resident antlerless deer permit would go from $7 to $7.50. The average price for surrounding states is $24.21. The price of a youth resident antlerless deer permit would go from $7 to $7.50. The average price for surrounding states is $24.21. Those under 16 and over 65 years of age will still get no-cost small-game hunting permits and no-cost fishing permits. For more information on the proposed permit price adjustments, including a complete list of permits, current and proposed prices, average prices of similar permits for surrounding states, the last year the permit prices were raised, and other information, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/permits/permit-price-adjustments-2023. Permit sales account for about 17% of MDC annual revenue. Other significant revenue sources for MDC include the Conservation Sales Tax at about 62% and federal reimbursements at about 15% of total MDC revenue. Sales and rentals, interest, and other sources make up the remaining 6% of MDC revenue. MDC receives no funds through fines from tickets or citations, and no funding from the states general revenue funds. For more information, read the MDC Annual Review for Fiscal Year 2022 in the January 2023 issue of the Missouri Conservationist online at mdc.mo.gov/magazines/missouri-conservationist/2023-01/annual-review. MDC will next seek public comments about its proposed permit price adjustments. To submit a comment, visit mdc.mo.gov/permits/permit-price-adjustments-2023. MDC will then compile comments received and share them with the commission prior to the Sept. 8 commission open meeting when it will give final consideration to the proposed permit price adjustments. If approved, the changes would become effective Feb. 29, 2024. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. India's presidency of the G20 group of leading nations has become mired in controversy after China and Saudi Arabia boycotted a meeting staged in Kashmir, the first such gathering since India unilaterally brought Kashmir under direct control in August 2019, according to the Guardian. The meeting, a tourism working group attended by about 60 delegates from most G20 countries taking place from Monday to Wednesday, required a large show of security at Srinagar international airport. In 2019 the Indian government stripped the disputed Muslim-majority region of semi-autonomy and split it into two federal territories in an attempt to integrate it fully into India. China has made it clear that it will not attend any meetings in disputed Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, "China firmly opposes holding any form of G20 meetings on disputed territory." Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are also boycotting the meeting. Indian authorities hoped the meeting would show that the controversial changes have brought "peace and prosperity" to the region and that it is a safe place for tourists, the Guardian said, adding: India's elite National Security Guard, including its counter-drone unit and marine commandos, were helping police and paramilitary forces to secure the event venues. According to MSN News, ahead of the G-20 working group meeting on tourism at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), security measures have been significantly strengthened. To ensure the smooth execution of this high-profile event, elite National Security Guard (NSG) and marine commandos have been deployed alongside the police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and other paramilitary forces personnel. The city has experienced a robust deployment of security forces for area dominance and sanitization exercises. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was quoted by the Guardian as saying that India had turned the region into the equivalent of the Guanta'namo Bay prison simply to hold a meeting on tourism. She also accused the Bharatiya Janata party, the party of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, of hijacking the G20 for its promotional purposes. Last week Fernand de Varennes, the UN's special rapporteur on minority issues, issued a statement saying the G20 was "unwittingly providing a veneer of support to a facade of normalcy" when human rights violations, political persecution and illegal arrests were escalating in Kashmir. He said the meeting risked normalising what some have described as a military occupation. The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States and the European Union. The influential bloc represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. Protest by Kashmiri Americans Meanwhile Kashmiri American diaspora held a peaceful protest Monday in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York city against holding the G20 meeting in disputed territory of Kashmir. Digital trucks were also rented which displaced the messages: "G20 risks legitimizing India's illegal occupation of Kashmir", "G20 in Kashmir violates UN resolutions", "G20 in occupied Kashmir enables genocide", "Say NO to G20 in Kashmir", "Modi: face of Fascism", " "End the Occupation: Free Kashmir", "Demilitarize Kashmir", "India: Release All Political Prisoners." A memorandum was submitted to the office of UN Secretary General, demanding among other issues the unconditional release of human rights defenders and political prisoners, such as Khurram Parvez, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Masarat Aalam, Aasia Andrabi and various journalists, like Irfan Mehraj, Asif Sultan, Sajad Gul, Fahad Shah, Gowhar Gilani, etc Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). (Image by World Union of Deists) Details DMCA In 2018 in the US state of Illinois, when confronted with the repulsive crimes of pedophile priests, the Roman Catholic Church via its dioceses in Illionois estimated that between 1950 - 2018, 103 children had been sexually abused and raped by Catholic priests in Illinois. Based on an investigation conducted by the office of the Illinois attorney general, which was released today, the Roman Catholic Church is lying. The investigation found that 1,997 children had been raped and sexually abused by Catholic priests, not 103. The unnecessary horrific problem of ungodly and unnatural sex-crimes against children in the Roman Catholic Church is a long-running and ongoing catastrophe. It has probably been going on since the start of Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church. One of the highest-profile cases in the US was centered in the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts. It involved pedophile priests and the cover-up of their sex-crimes against children by the Catholic Church. In 2001 the Boston Globe released articles about their in-depth investigation into the sex-crimes and cover-ups by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. Subsequently a powerful film, Spotlight, was released, which covered the victims bringing information about what was going on to Globe reporters who investigated and who wrote the articles exposing the truth. One of the victims, while explaining to the reporters what happened to him, pointed out that he saw the priest as a representative of God and asked, "How do you say no to God?" Pedophile priests are not limited to the US. One case in point is the ongoing crisis in Bolivia. The Catholic Church prefers to investigate sex-crimes against children committed by their own clergy itself. This article makes this clear. It states, "Pope Francis has sent one of his top sex crimes investigators to Bolivia at a time when the Andean nation is being shaken by an escalating pedophilia scandal involving priests." Deism offers a way to protect children from pedophile clergy (pedophile clergy are found not only in the Roman Catholic Church, but in other religions, too). Regardless of which religion is involved, one thing they all have in common is the promotion of the false and irrational belief that the clergy are closer to God and have a better understanding of God than the rest of us. As the victim of the Catholic pedophile priest mentioned above pointed out, he looked at saying no to a Catholic priest as being the same as saying no to God. This false belief regarding the clergy being representatives of God is destroyed by reason-based Deism! Deism teaches that none of the "holy" books/"sacred" scriptures are anything more than what they really are: the writings of ancient clergymen - God had/has nothing whatsoever to do with them. This, in and of itself, destroys the leverage pedophile clergy have over children. Any child who is aware of this fact would have a much better chance of protecting themselves from pedophile clergy. In The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine pointed out the true Word of God when he wrote: I believe it is only in the CREATION that all our ideas and conceptions of a Word of God can unite. The Creation speaks a universal language, independently of human speech or human language, multiplied and various as they may be. It is an ever existing original, which every man can read. It cannot be forged; it cannot be counterfeited; it cannot be lost; it cannot be altered; it cannot be suppressed. It does not depend upon the will of man whether it shall be published or not; it publishes itself from one end of the earth to the other. It preaches to all nations and to all worlds; and this Word of God reveals to man all that is necessary for man to know of God. We owe it to the children, and to The Supreme Intelligence/God and to ourselves, to do our best to promote what is true and to expose what is false. This will truly give us a wonderful new beginning! Here's a terrible "syllogism" from a wonderful person, Ray McGovern, longtime CIA employee, then longtime peace activist, and now year-long contender that Russia had no choice but to attack Ukraine. "The Russians had other options to invading Ukraine. They attacked Ukraine in a 'war of choice'; also threaten NATO. Ergo, the West must arm Ukraine to the teeth, risking wider war." This is supposedly an explanation of the thinking of we believers that Russia had some choice other than to invade Ukraine. In reality, it illustrates a very sad and enormous distance between the thinking of people who once agreed that war was immoral, but who have now spent over a year utterly failing to persuade each other of anything. Of course the quote above is not a syllogism at all. This is a syllogism: A threat of war requires war. Russia is threatened with war. Russia requires war. (Or write the same thing substituting Ukraine for Russia.) But so is this: A threat of war does not require war. Russia is threatened with war. Russia does not require war. (Or write the same thing substituting Ukraine for Russia.) The disagreement is over the major premise. The syllogism is not actually a very useful tool for thinking; merely for a primitive sort of thinking about thinking. The world is actually complex, and someone could build a case for this one, too: "A threat of war sometimes requires war, depending." (They'd be wrong.) That the threat or war, and even actual war, in many cases has not required war in response but been defeated by other means is a matter of record. So the question is whether this time was different from all of those times. Here's another disagreement. Which of these is true? "Opposing one side of a war requires defending the other side." or "Opposing one side of a war could conceivably be part and parcel of opposing all sides of all wars." This is a factual question, too, a matter of record. Those of us who have spent all these many months denouncing every war act by both sides of the war in Ukraine can show each side all the accusations we've received of supporting both their side and the other side "" and all the evidence that they are all mistaken. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Yesterday I published Dear Russia-Had-No-Choice Friends, an attempt to correct what I see as the mistaken idea that the Russian government simply had no possible choice other than to invade Ukraine. Of course, it is equally mistaken that Ukraine had no choice but to wage this war. I say "of course" only because I and many others have been repeating ourselves ad nauseum for over a year, not because you agree. And I publish this not primarily to see whether it produces more or fewer denunciations and withdrawals of email subscriptions and donations from people who sign their nasty notes "Ex-Friend" than yesterday's did. Nor do I publish it under the delusion that it will cross the sufficient-repetition-barrier and persuade everyone. Rather, it is my hope that just possibly a small number of people will give the idea of opposing all war a bit more thought if they see a pair of articles opposing both sides of the current for-or-against, which-side-are-you-on, obey-or-the-enemy-wins madness. But what in the name of the holy flag of war could Ukraine possibly have done? As with the same question about Russia, this question is suppposed to be so powerful that no answer should even be attempted. As with every side of every war, the existence of all human history prior to some bombing is supposed to be eliminated from thought. We're supposed to travel back in our magical time machines to consider what Ukraine could possibly "" I mean, for godsake, possibly "" have done when bombs were falling, but not aim our time machine for the day or week or decade before, as that would be silly. As I consider this narrowing of the question to be dangerously misguided, I will choose to answer what Ukraine could have done in the leadup to that moment as well as in that moment. To begin, we should remember that U.S. and other Western diplomats, spies, and theorists predicted for 30 years that breaking a promise and expanding NATO would lead to war with Russia, and that President Barack Obama refused to arm Ukraine, predicting that doing so would lead toward where we are now "" as Obama still saw it in April 2022. Prior to the "Unprovoked War" there were public comments by U.S. officials arguing that the provocations would not provoke anything. ("I don't buy this argument that, you know, us supplying the Ukrainians with defensive weapons is going to provoke Putin," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) One can still read a RAND report advocating creating a war like this one through the sorts of provocations that senators claimed wouldn't provoke anything. Ukraine could have simply committed to not joining NATO. This might not have been simple. Zelensky might have had to keep some campaign promises rather than kiss up to some Nazis. The point is that if we take Ukraine as a whole and ask whether it could have done anything, the answer is obviously yes. The U.S. facilitated a coup in Ukraine in 2014. The war began years prio to February 2022. The U.S. has torn up treaties with Russia. The U.S. has put missile bases into Eastern Europe. The U.S. keeps nuclear weapons in six European nations. Kennedy took missiles out of Turkey to resolve a similar crisis rather than escalate it. Arkhipov refused to use nukes or we might not be here. The U.S. could have behaved very differently in Eastern Europe in recent years. Ukraine could have taken no part in it, could have rejected the manipulation of its government and committed to neutrality. A reasonable agreement was reached at Minsk in 2015. Ukraine could have abided by it. The current president of Ukraine was elected in 2019 promising peace negotiations. He could have kept that promise, even though the U.S. (and rightwing groups in Ukraine) pushed back against it. Russia's demands prior to its invasion of Ukraine were perfectly reasonable, and a better deal from Ukraine's perspective than anything discussed since. Ukraine could have negotiated then. The U.S. and its NATO sidekicks have been preventing the ending of the war, not just by providing the weapons for one side of it, but by blocking negotiations. I don't mean just cracking down on Congress Members who dare to utter the word "negotiate." I don't mean just producing a whirlwind of propaganda claiming the other side is monsters with whom one cannot speak, even while negotiating with them on prisoner exchanges and grain exports. And I don't mean just hiding behind Ukraine, claiming that it's Ukraine that does not want to negotiate and that therefore the U.S., as loyal servant to Ukraine, must go on escalating the risk of nuclear apocalypse. I mean also the blocking of possible ceasefires and negotiated settlements. Medea Benjamin & Nicolas J.S. Davies wrote in September: "For those who say negotiations are impossible, we have only to look at the talks that took place during the first month after the Russian invasion, when Russia and Ukraine tentatively agreed to a fifteen-point peace plan in talks mediated by Turkey. Details still had to be worked out, but the framework and the political will were there. Russia was ready to withdraw from all of Ukraine, except for Crimea and the self-declared republics in Donbas. Ukraine was ready to renounce future membership in NATO and adopt a position of neutrality between Russia and NATO. The agreed framework provided for political transitions in Crimea and Donbas that both sides would accept and recognize, based on self-determination for the people of those regions. The future security of Ukraine was to be guaranteed by a group of other countries, but Ukraine would not host foreign military bases on its territory. "On March 27, President Zelenskyy told a national TV audience, 'Our goal is obvious""peace and the restoration of normal life in our native state as soon as possible.' He laid out his 'red lines' for the negotiations on TV to reassure his people he would not concede too much, and he promised them a referendum on the neutrality agreement before it would take effect. . . . Ukrainian and Turkish sources have revealed that the U.K. and U.S. governments played decisive roles in torpedoing those early prospects for peace. During U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 'surprise visit' to Kyiv on April 9th, he reportedly told Prime Minister Zelenskyy that the U.K. was 'in it for the long run,' that it would not be party to any agreement between Russia and Ukraine, and that the 'collective West' saw a chance to 'press' Russia and was determined to make the most of it. The same message was reiterated by U.S. Defense Secretary Austin, who followed Johnson to Kyiv on April 25th and made it clear that the U.S. and NATO were no longer just trying to help Ukraine defend itself but were now committed to using the war to 'weaken' Russia. Turkish diplomats told retired British diplomat Craig Murray that these messages from the U.S. and U.K. killed their otherwise promising efforts to mediate a ceasefire and a diplomatic resolution." Russia has been proposing negotiations. Numerous nations have been proposing negotiations for months, and dozens of nations made that proposal at the United Nations. At any point, Ukraine could have negotiated. Since pretty much everybody's peace proposal has a great deal in common with everybody else's, we all know more or less what a negotiated agreement would look like. The question is whether to choose it over endless dying and destruction. The notion that negotiating peace would simply produce lies from the other side followed by more war which would somehow be worse than this war, is of course a notion playing in the minds of both sides. But there are reasons for both sides to reject it. If a negotiation is successful, it will include initial steps that can be publicly taken by each side and verified by the other. And it will lead toward ever-greater trust and cooperation. In other words, "negotiation" is not simply another word for "ceasefire." But there would be absolutely no downside to an immediate first-step of a ceasefire. Ukraine could always have invested in developing plans for a massive unarmed resistance to invasion. It still could. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. In January 2005, I began my introduction to the first piece Karen Greenberg ever wrote for TomDispatch this way: "Pick a week, any week, and you can now be guaranteed that yet more gruesome news will seep out about the global torture regime the Bush administration has set up around the world." And I described the prison President George W. Bush and crew had established at Guanta'namo Bay, Cuba, for those it captured in what was then called the Global War on Terror as "our Bermuda Triangle of injustice." I added that "the paper trail already made public on torture, abuse, and other crimes against humanity is unprecedented." The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib, a groundbreaking book by Greenberg and Joshua Dratel (who co-authored that 2005 dispatch), was, in fact, just about to be published. In that long-ago piece, Greenberg and Dratel posed 37 "" yes, 37! "" questions to then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush administration's torture policies, starting with "Does torture work?" More than 18 years later, we certainly know two things, as reflected in Greenberg's latest TD post: first, torture most distinctly does not work; and second, despite all the efforts of Greenberg (including her 2010 book, The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo's First 100 Days), Dratel, and others like them, the horrific American record of torture at CIA "black sites" across the planet and at Guanta'namo Bay has yet to be fully revealed. Today, TomDispatch regular Greenberg puts her years of devotion to uncovering the nightmare that has long inhabited the very heart of this country's disastrous war on terror in context and considers when, if ever, we'll truly know the full story of the horrific global torture regime the American government established in these years. In a world in which the Supreme Court ruled (in a split decision) in 2022 that a detainee at Guanta'namo could not obtain information from two former CIA contractors involved in torturing him at a black site in Poland for fear of revealing state secrets, all too sadly, a story still remains to be told. Tom Blindman's Buff America's Continuing Quest to Hide Torture By Karen J. Greenberg In the Blindman's Buff variation of tag, a child designated as "It" is tasked with tapping another child while wearing a blindfold. The sightless child knows the other children, all able to see, are there but is left to stumble around, using sounds and knowledge of the space they're in as guides. Finally, that child does succeed, either by bumping into someone, peeking, or thanks to sheer dumb luck. Think of us, the American public, as that blindfolded child when it comes to our government's torture program that followed the 9/11 disaster and the launching of the ill-fated war on terror. We've been left to search in the dark for what so many of us sensed was there. We've been groping for the facts surrounding the torture program created and implemented by the administration of President George W. Bush. For 20 years now, the hunt for its perpetrators, the places where they brutalized detainees, and the techniques they used has been underway. And for 20 years, attempts to keep that blindfold in place in the name of "national security" have helped sustain darkness over light. From the beginning, the torture program was enveloped in a language of darkness with its secret "black sites" where savage interrogations took place and the endless blacked-out pages of documents that might have revealed more about the horrors being committed in our name. In addition, the destruction of evidence and the squelching of internal reports only expanded that seemingly bottomless abyss that still, in part, confronts us. Meanwhile, the courts and the justice system consistently supported those who insisted on keeping that blindfold in place, claiming, for example, that were defense attorneys to be given details about the interrogations of their clients, national security would somehow be compromised. Finally, however, more than two decades after it all began, the tide may truly be turning. Despite fervid attempts to keep that blindfold in place, the search has not been in vain. On the contrary, over these last two decades, its layers have slowly worn away, thread by thread, revealing, if not the full picture of those medieval-style practices, then a damning set of facts and images relating to torture, American-style, in this century. Cumulatively, investigative journalism, government reports, and the testimony of witnesses have revealed a fuller picture of the places, people, nightmarish techniques, and results of that program. First Findings The fraying of that blindfold took endless years, starting in December 2002, when Washington Post writers Dana Priest and Barton Gellman reported on the existence of secret detention and interrogation centers in countries around the planet where cruel, unlawful techniques were being used against war-on-terror captives in American custody. Quoting from a 2001 State Department report on the treatment of captives, they wrote, "The most frequently alleged methods of torture include sleep deprivation, beatings on the soles of the feet, prolonged suspension with ropes in contorted positions and extended solitary confinement." Less than a year later, the American Civil Liberties Union, along with other groups, filed a Freedom of Information Act request (the first of many) for records pertaining to detention and interrogation in the war on terror. Their goal was to follow the trail leading to "numerous credible reports recounting the torture and rendition of detainees" and our government's efforts (or the lack thereof) to comply "with its legal obligations with respect to the infliction of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment." Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). A series of multinational joint exercises are taking place this year across the Baltic States. In particular, maneuvers are carried out almost continuously on the territory of Lithuania. Thus, annual two-week multinational military exercise Iron Wolf 2023-1 was conducted in Lithuania. The exercise involved some 3,500 troops from 12 NATO member states and 600 pieces of military equipment. However, this year exercise had some new trends. First of all, it should be noted, that mainly offensive, not defensive operations were trained during the drills. The NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group Lithuania and the Lithuanian Armed Forces Infantry Battalion conducted "force on force" training. The more so, much more attention is given to deploying units abroad to participate in international operations. On May 16 military personnel of the Military Medical Service trained at a temporary field hospital in Pravienisk--s II village (Kaisiadorys regional municipality), including medical airlift of the injured to one of the civil hospitals. The training simulated an attack that resulted in personnel injuries. Troops were administered first aid on site using the aid and life support supplies provided in the Lithuanian armed forces medical kit. Then, the injured were transported to the field hospital by a M113 armored carrier to receive further care, their condition was stabilized, and the injured were further taken to civilian healthcare establishments. The most badly injured troops were prepared for medical evacuation by Lithuanian Air Force Mi-8 helicopters for further treatment. Thus, Lithuanian civilian medical institutions are being prepared to receive a large number of wounded. It is noteworthy that Minister of Health Ar?nas Dulkys and Chief of Defense of Lithuania Lt Gen Valdemaras Rupsys observed the exercise. It is interesting that the Ministry of Defence currently is recruiting those who served in the Armed Forces and have combat experience. In addition, the Ministry of Health is actively recruiting people by sending mass e-mails to Lithuanian citizens inviting them to serve as military medics in the Lithuanian Military Medical Service. Persons with knowledge of Polish and Russian or Ukrainian are invited. It is indicated that the deployment will be abroad. Thus, all this may indicate that Lithuania, under the guise of exercise, is preparing its military personnel and medics for participation in military operations abroad. If we assume that the Lithuanian contingent is preparing to participate in an operation on the territory of Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO, then plans to use other regional formats of military cooperation are obvious. Formally, it will allow foreign troops to enter Ukraine without violating international law. Bed Bath & Beyond is liquidating all its merchandise and closing its remaining three local stores and all of its hundreds nationwide in the wake of the home goods retailers bankruptcy. The store closures in the coming weeks will leave over 150,000 square feet of retail space in the Portland metro area and nearly 300,000 square feet across Oregon, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE. All stores will be closed by the end of June. A distributor for a Mexico-based illegal drug-trafficking organization was sentenced Thursday in Portland to just over 11 years in prison. Rodrigo Lopez-Diaz , 53, was the target of a long-term wiretap investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He had three prior drug convictions in Oregon. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A fiscal conservative has entered this falls race for a seat on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. Used car company operator T.J. Fadeley declared his candidacy on Wednesday at Free Bridge Auto Sales, his family business near the top of Pantops Mountain. County spending needs to be reined in, said Fadeley. The 41-year-old political newcomer said that he was running as an independent for the Rivanna District seat currently held by Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, a Democrat. I plan to look carefully at our budget, line by line, and to reduce the spending and reduce the tax burden on our residents, said Fadeley. Its time to bring county spending under control and to prioritize what is most important to residents. Something Fadeley named as important is public safety, and a 2020 proposal to reduce staff at the Stony Point Volunteer Fire Company seemed to upset him particularly because of a simultaneous move to add three planners at annual salaries about double those of emergency personnel. Apparently planning was more important than saving lives, said Fadeley. Not since Republicans Duane Snow and Rodney Thomas took office in 2010 to join incumbent Republican Ken Boyd on the six-member board has there been such hawkish budget talk. While the late Snow and company spoke eagerly of zero-based budgeting, Fadeley calls the county budget bloated, and he demands a cost-benefit analysis for all county expenditures. Current levels of spending are unsustainable, said Fadeley. He slammed the unanimous May 3 vote to maintain the current property tax rate, a move that locked in the average property tax hike of 13.46%, the largest increase since the county began annual assessments in 2008. How did you like your recent property tax bill? he asked. Where is the taxpayers advocate on the Board of Supervisors? On hand for the announcement was Philip Andrew Hamilton, the Republican candidate who will compete this fall against state Sen. Creigh Deeds or Del. Sally Hudson, whoever wins the hotly contested Democratic primary for the District 11 Virginia Senate seat. We need someone in there whos going to cut our taxes, said Hamilton. Likewise, Albemarle homemaker Diane Weber showed up to support the candidacy for its maverick approach. This county needs input, said Weber. You reach the truth by argument, by back and forth, by facts coming in. Weber went on to slam the current board. This Board of Supervisors is one voice, said Weber. Its like theyre one person. Thats not how Albemarle Democrats Chair Karen Combs sees it. Bea has done an excellent job in representing all people in her district, Combs noted in an email to The Daily Progress. Voters know that incumbents run on their record while challengers run on promises they hope they can keep. One promise Fadeley stopped short of making Wednesday was Everybody rides. After years of television commercials aimed at would-be car-buyers, the catchphrase of the family firm was trademarked with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1996 and continues to worm its way into local ears. Fadeley did point out that as a local business operator he knows the value of fiscal prudence, and he borrowed the phrase for his campaign website: everybodyvotestj.com. Also appearing at the campaign announcement was Fadeley's wife, Cheslea Fadeley, who was pushing a stroller with the youngest member of the family, 6-month-old Truett. "The other ones are in school," she explained of Truett's older brother and sister. A graduate of Albemarle High School, Fadeley said he's actually socially liberal. "I'm politically homeless," he said after the announcement. "I think everybody should have the freedoms and resources to live the life they want to live." But whether such a forceful voice of fiscal conservatism can win in a blueing county remains to be seen. For instance, on his way to becoming the governor last year, Republican Glenn Youngkin lost Albemarle to Democrat Terry McAuliffe by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. Fadeley's candidacy appears to have changed at least one person's plans. A Keswick man named David C. Rhodes had initially expressed an interest in running but did not end up filing the paperwork for the Rivanna seat. "He did offer to step back once T.J. got serious," Albemarle County Republican Chair John Lowry told the Progress. "He was very happy to have T.J. run." Besides the contested Rivanna seat, the other contested seat pits Democratic incumbent Ann Mallek against another political newcomer, Brad Rykal, a soldier and defense contractor-turned-author and podcaster running as an independent. Then there's the Scottsville District where the Democratic incumbent, current board Chair Donna Price, is retiring with Democratic Navy veteran Mike Pruitt seemingly unopposed in the run for that seat. "We'd love to have someone running for supervisor, but we don't have anybody yet," said Lowry. The deadline day to file is same day as the Democratic primary: June 20. Phone messages left Wednesday with LaPisto-Kirtley were not returned by deadline. The supervisors were busy with a major land purchase as well as a regular afternoon meeting. The two police officers were stopped at a red light in Northeast Portland last Saturday when they noticed the gray car. It had no license plate and the Oregon DMV Trip Permit stuck to the back window didnt look quite right. The officers ran the number of the permit, which allows for the temporary use of an unregistered vehicle, and determined it was indeed fake. They began to follow the gray car, an Audi, and eventually decided to pull it over, turning on their squad cars lights and siren. The Audi took off, weaving through rush-hour traffic and accelerating to 95 miles per hour on Halsey Street, according to a probable cause affidavit. The car, later determined to be driven by 34-year-old Christopher Norwood Young, drove into oncoming traffic, ran multiple red lights, nearly collided with multiple motorists and at one point drove onto a sidewalk, the court document states. Young continued on to his residence, on Northeast Wasco Street in Gresham. Officers took him into custody there. According to the affidavit, the officers noted that the Audis VIN numbers had been altered or painted over. Inside the car, they found a suspected forged license plate and a fake ID, as well as a lock-picking kit and a bag containing handcuffs and many sets of keys. That wasnt all. The propertys backyard was littered with stolen cars, the probable cause affidavit states. Officers came to the realization that theyd uncovered a chop shop, including equipment for replacing vehicle VIN numbers, Portland police said in a statement. A recent police stolen-car operation in Portland Gresham led to 35 arrests, police say. After obtaining a search warrant, police found seven additional stolen cars at the residence and a stolen backhoe, the affidavit reports. Inside the house, officers allegedly discovered half a dozen firearms, as well as silencers. Young also had a fake Washington state ID, police said. Young, who according to court documents was convicted in 2016 of identity theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle, among other charges, was booked into Multnomah County Detention Center. He faces 51 charges, including identity theft, forgery, possession of a stolen vehicle, trafficking in stolen vehicles, reckless driving and felony elude. Police added that its investigation continues and that more charges (are) expected. -- Douglas Perry; dperry@oregonian.com Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Gov. Tina Kotek, via an executive order, set in motion an aggressive effort Thursday to raise the bar for how Oregons colleges of education must prepare future elementary teachers to help students learn to read. Her order creates a 20-member panel charged with recommending new standards for elementary teacher preparation by December in time for the Legislature to enact them early in 2024. As former Oregon secretaries of state, we have both strived to expand the voting franchise, protect voters, produce fair voting maps in redistricting and administer election laws without political considerations. As one Democrat, one Republican, we both endorse Initiative Petition 14 to create an independent citizens redistricting commission to redraw fair maps for Oregons 90 legislative districts. Rather than let legislators draw maps, we need a fairer, more transparent system to make our elected officials more accountable to voters. In a democracy, people should pick their politicians. Politicians have built-in conflicts of interest to gerrymander maps to divide communities of interest, promote partisan advantage and/or place incumbents in safe seats without accountability. Princeton Gerrymandering Project rated Oregons congressional maps an F for partisan fairness. Since politicians have an inherent self-interest in retaining power, its taken citizen ballot initiatives to create such independent commissions in Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan and other states. Unfortunately, a recent legal ruling by a Marion County judge that many legal experts believe was wrongly decided threatens to keep this important democracy reform off the ballot. This questionable ruling will severely restrict Oregonians fundamental rights to use their initiative process to advance reforms. Accordingly, we urge the Oregon Supreme Court to hear this appeal on an expedited basis, to avoid irreparable harm to voting rights and fair elections. People, not politicians, should have the chance to collect signatures to let Oregonians vote on this foundational democracy reform. Phil Keisling and Bev Clarno Keisling, a Democrat, was Oregon secretary of state from 1991 to 1999. Clarno, a Republican, was Oregon secretary of state from 2019-2021. To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler aims to ban people from pitching tents on public land anywhere in the city during daytime hours and restrict camping around-the-clock near schools and more than a dozen other locations, he announced Thursday. Homeless individuals who violate the proposed new rules more than two times or more than twice build fires, obstruct private property or fail to keep a campsite tidy would face fines or jail, according to the proposal. Shares of Nvidia, already one of the worlds most valuable companies, skyrocketed Thursday after the chipmaker forecast a huge jump in revenue, signaling how vastly the broadening use of artificial intelligence could reshape the tech sector. The company based in Santa Clara, California, is close to joining the exclusive club of $1 trillion companies like Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft, after its shares jumped more than 24%. Late Wednesday the maker of graphics chips for gaming and artificial intelligence reported a quarterly profit of more than $2 billion and revenue of $7 billion, both exceeding Wall Street expectations. Yet its projections for sales of $11 billion this quarter caught Wall Street off guard. Its a 64% jump from last year during the same period, and well above the $7.2 billion industry analysts were forecasting. It looks like the new gold rush is upon us, and NVIDIA is selling all the picks and shovels, Susquehanna Financial Groups Christopher Rolland and Matt Myers wrote Thursday. Chipmakers around the globe were pulled along. Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor rose 3%, while South Koreas SK Hynix gained 6%. ASML based in the Netherlands added 5%. Not Intel, however. Shares in the chipmaker, which has its largest engineering site in Oregon and over 22,000 employees assigned to its Washington county campuses, fell 5.5% Thursday. The company has struggled to stay technologically competitive, with the growing influence of AI on chip design a particular weakness. Nvidias gains underscored its rivals fragile position. The $184 billion it added to its value in Thursday trading exceeds Intels entire $114 billion market capitalization. Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said the worlds data centers are in need of a makeover given the transformation that will come with AI technology. The worlds $1 trillion data center is nearly populated entirely by (central processing units) today, Huang said. And $1 trillion, $250 billion a year, its growing of course but over the last four years, call it $1 trillion worth of infrastructure installed, and its all completely based on CPUs and dumb NICs. Its basically unaccelerated. AI chips are designed to perform artificial intelligence tasks faster and more efficiently. While general-purpose chips like CPUs can also be used for simpler AI tasks, theyre becoming less and less useful as AI advances, a 2020 report from Georgetown Universitys Center for Security and Emerging Technology notes. Because of their unique features, AI chips are tens or even thousands of times faster and more efficient than CPUs for training and inference of AI algorithms, the report adds, noting that AI chips can also be more cost-effective than CPUs due to their greater efficiency. Analysts say Nvidia could be an early look at how AI may reshape the tech sector. Last night Nvidia gave jaw dropping robust guidance that will be heard around the world and shows the historical demand for AI happening now in the enterprise and consumer landscape, Wedbushs Dan Ives wrote. For any investor calling this an AI bubble ... we would point them to this Nvidia quarter and especially guidance which cements our bullish thesis around AI and speaks to the 4th Industrial Revolution now on the doorstep with AI. Related coverage -- The Associated Press Portland will see temperatures move into the 80s Thursday under sunny skies that should linger at least until the afternoon. The National Weather Service says theres about a 20% chance of showers or thunderstorms moving westward from the crest of the Cascades after about 3 p.m. Thunderstorms are possible across much of the northern part of the Willamette Valley on both Thursday and Friday. Instability in the atmosphere will bring chances of thunder to about 30% over the mountains. The potential lowers as you move across the valleys and into the Coast Range. Overall, Portland should see a sunny day with light winds and a high of about 82 degrees. Friday will be much like Thursday with a sunny morning followed by possible afternoon thunderstorms. The high temperature will kick up a few degrees to about 85. Friday will be the warmest day of the week as onshore flow is expected to strengthen over the weekend bringing in more clouds and cooler temperatures. A shortwave trough will move into the region beginning on Saturday. This will allow temperatures to cool back down to average during the entire Memorial Day weekend. Some may say the forecast is looking pretty perfect for late May. Winds will shift back onshore and marine clouds will dot the skies Saturday through Monday. Portland will see partly sunny skies and highs near 74 on Saturday. Sunday will be mostly sunny, with a few clouds moving across the region. The high will warm to about 76 degrees. Memorial Day is forecast to be sunny all day, with a high of about 77 degrees. Enjoy. Thursday 25 May 2023 12:11pm Striking differences in the way high school students socialise may be one of the reasons behind a dramatic drop in youth drinking over the last 20 years, a study from the University of Otago, Wellington, has found. Dr Jude Ball. Public health researcher Dr Jude Ball has compared attitudes to drinking among high school students in 19992001 to those in 2022. Dr Ball and colleagues Dr Michaela Pettie and Loleseti Poasa interviewed 64 students aged between 14 and 17 at a co-ed school in Wellington in 2022, and compared their views to 41 Christchurch students aged 1417 who took part in a 19992001 study, the Adolescent Friendships and Lifestyles Project. Their findings are published today in the Asia Pacific journal, Drug and Alcohol Review. Dr Ball says more than half of those who were in high school 20 years ago were regularly drinking and going to parties by the time they were in Year 10. By Year 12, all had at least some experience of using alcohol with their peers. The majority had been drunk at least once or twice and many drank to intoxication on a weekly basis. By contrast, only one of the Year 10 students interviewed last year reported drinking alcohol socially. Most had never had more than a few sips of alcohol. Even among the students in Years 11 and 12, about three-quarters were abstinent or drank moderately on rare occasions, often with family, rather than with friends. She says the reasons behind the change in attitudes are complex, but it seems social media and spending time online is replacing the drinking and partying of teens 20 years ago. Parties used to enable young people to expand their social circle, meet potential romantic partners, or take an existing friendship to a romantic or sexual level. Now adolescents can expand their social circle, meet potential romantic partners and try on a more flirtatious and confident persona all without leaving the house. Dr Ball says not drinking is now far more socially acceptable among teens than it used to be. Twenty years ago, Year 10 students described a social hierarchy, with early adopters of alcohol at the top and non-drinking nerds at the bottom. By Year 12, drinking was seen as an almost compulsory aspect of teen socialising, particularly for males. In contrast, non-drinking was the norm for many contemporary adolescents. Although alcohol was part of social life for some friend groups, many teens described active social lives that did not involve the use of alcohol or other substances. Dr Ball says a greater acceptance of diversity and more respect for individuals making their own personal choices had removed peer pressure to drink alcohol among contemporary teens. One Year 11 student commented: It feels like there arent (such) strict unwritten rules for being a teenager maybe its because the internet has made liking different things much more prevalent I think people are just more understanding of the fact that everyones different. Some contemporary adolescents regarded drinking or a party lifestyle as a risk to their personal ambitions and an unproductive use of time and money. One student commented: Ive got better things to do than party Im looking out for my future here. I cant have this distraction. Dr Ball says there was also a much stronger awareness of alcohol-related risks among the new generation. Many mentioned the long-term health risks associated with alcohol, including cancer, liver damage, and the impact of substance use on brain development. They were also more likely to worry about the risk of becoming addicted. Todays youth are more likely to regard drinking as a high risk activity with few benefits, while in the past, not drinking alcohol was socially risky. Dr Ball says it is unclear whether the changes in the attitudes of 1417 year olds over the past 20 years reflects a unique generation who will remain dry throughout their lives, or just one which is delaying alcohol use and will catch up with previous generations when they reach early adulthood. New Zealand evidence suggests binge drinking remains highly prevalent in early adulthood, and despite declining alcohol use in high school students, binge drinking in older adolescents remains much higher here than in other countries like Australia and the US. Policy changes to reduce alcohol harm among young people is still an important public health priority. Publication details Understanding youth drinking decline: Similarity and change in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non-use) in adolescent cohorts 20 years apart Jude Ball, Michaela A Pettie, Loleseti Poasa, Gillian Abel Drug and Alcohol Review For more information, please contact: Dr Jude Ball Department of Public Health University of Otago, Wellington Email jude.ball@otago.ac.nz Cheryl Norrie Communications Adviser University of Otago, Wellington Mob +64 21 249 6787 Email cheryl.norrie@otago.ac.nz Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Two members of the Charlottesville School Board have announced that they will not be running for reelection, bringing the total number of open seats this election year to four out of seven. Dr. Sherry Kraft and Lashundra Bryson Morsberger both announced that they do not intend to run for re-election for the Charlottesville School Board. This means that, among the four seats that will be up for election for the November general election, none of the current board members have announced their intent to run for reelection. City Schools spokeswoman Beth Chuek said it is normal for board members to choose not to run for reelection. Its been completely random, when people feel like their service is done, they just dont want to seek reelection, Chuek told The Daily Progress on Wednesday. Four years is a long time, and its a big service. School board members serve four-year terms. Every two years, three or four positions open up, then the elected new member begins their term the following January. Jennifer McKeever, who was elected to the board in 2011, told The Daily Progress that she is not sure if she will run again. School Board Chair James Bryant, who was appointed to the board in 2018, will announce his decision about running at a later date. There are times where people have had to sit down midterm for one reason or another, thats how Mr. Bryant was appointed in the first place, Cheuk said. Every other year we have an election, and that stems from when Virginia used to do appointments. So the cycle is that, in the first election, there are four open positions and, in the second, there are three, and every year it rotates. Emily Dooley, Lisa Larson-Torres and Dom Morse hold the remaining school board seats. Those positions will go up for election in 2024. City Schools has urged those interested in running for school board positions to refer to the State Board of Elections website, call 434-970-3250 or email vote@charlottesville.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate This month, Espresso Milano has a special reason to celebrate. Thirty years ago, owner Bret Cousineau and his partners opened the first coffee shop in Midland. After graduating from Western Michigan University in the early 1990s, Cousineau traveled to California with his friend, Pat Green. Soon, they were working at Mimis Cafe in Torrance, just south of Los Angeles. At the end of the summer, Green returned to Michigan to finish college, and then went back to Torrance the following summer. During that time, the two friends frequented a local coffee house called Kafe Neo. Cousineau had his very first mocha there, which quickly became his favorite. After asking some questions and looking at the math, they realized that this could be a business venture they might enjoy. So they returned to Michigan with plans to open a coffee shop. They first opened the Red Eye in Saginaw in 1993. At the time, Midland was in the process of developing its downtown area a bit more. So, a few months later, the Downtown Development Authority approached Cousineau about the possibility of opening a store in Midland. Thats when Espresso Milano was born. When the shop opened in May 1993, Mark Anderson, Jim Kehrer and the late Keith Taylor joined Cousineau and Green as busines partners, introducing Midland to a trend that was already full swing in California. Coming up with the name for the shop was the next adventure. We wanted to go back to what we thought were the roots of espresso, i.e. Italy, so we brought out a map and started looking at Italian cities, Cousineau said. We also knew we wanted 'espresso' in the name because that translated what the product was. Ultimately, someone said Milan. 'Espresso Milan' didnt quite get it, but when someone said Milano, that stuck. These days, Rachael and Matthew Christianson of Midland visit the shop on the regular. Rachael is a nurse practitioner, working throughout the Tri-Cities. Ive been going to (Espresso Milano) for over 10 years. Once a week, I start my day with a coffee and bagel, Rachael said. It is one thing I look forward to every week! And of course, I also stop by any other time I can to meet friends, do work or to just grab a coffee and go. Rachael and Matthew now bring their two young daughters to the store when they visit, passing along the tradition. Stephanie Goff, a special education teacher at Meridian Elementary, has been visiting Milano since her early teens. I had my first date with my husband there, she said. I chose Milano because its my go-to coffee shop; its a good place to meet up. Goff also visits with her family: husband Jared Goff, daughter Elle Seals and sons Samuel and William Goff. Coffee shops are an integral part of community life. Its a safe place in the community where people can meet for a variety of reasons, Stephanie Goff said. I just love that my kids always think of Milano as the place where they can go and dance. Ever since Seals was young, she would always take a few minutes to dance with Cousineau to whatever music was playing at the time. Chris Silva, who was hired at Milano early on, was also a student at Northwood University. Originally from Salem, Massachusetts, he was familiar with coffee shops back home. I visited all kinds of coffee shops on the east coast; I liked the vibe of coffee shops, he said. I used to hang out at the Elvis Room (in Portsmouth, Massachusetts) back in the day. Silva transferred to Midland after starting out at Northwoods Florida location. He graduated in 1995 with a degree in Automotive Marketing and Management. Milano is quite the place; they were definitely ahead of their time, he said. It was a coffee shop with a good vibe and at the time, they played alternative music and grunge, like Seattle coffee house music, which I liked. Silva met his wife, Brenda, a Midland High graduate, at Espresso Milano. When Silva returned to Salem, he and Brenda started Front Street Coffeehouse with Cousineaus blessing. It was definitely modeled after Milano. It had cool drinks on the menu; we were changing out artwork and we had bands a few more nights, Silva said. The only difference was we served a full lunch. They also ordered from the same roaster as Milano did, Coffee Express in Plymouth. We ordered the same exact coffee; we loved it and we wanted to be unique on the East Coast, Silva said. Silva and his wife owned the store for 26 years until selling to the owners of Atomic Coffee Roasters and Atomic Cafe. We sold it to a friend of mine who opened six months after I did in the neighboring town, he said. Customers who have grown to love Portofino now get their beans shipped from Espresso Milano. Portofino is still Milanos house dark roast coffee, and the espresso is still made from Portofino as well. Silva, who enjoyed being in the coffee business, keeps in touch with customers and friends he met in Midland as well as Salem. Its a lot of fun; its more than just a coffee shop, he said. People make connections there. Chris and Brenda Silva have two children. Nathan Silva lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Noah Silva attends the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. While the Red Eye was sold to Arlene and the late Bob Maul a couple of years after it opened, Milano continues as a mainstay in downtown Midland. Dr. Benjamin S. Carson will keynote the inaugural President's Freedom Celebration on June 22 at Northwood University. Carson ran for president in 2016 and, more recently, served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Donald Trump. Carson founded, and chairs, the American Cornerstone Institute, a "think-tank-do-tank." "Dr. Carson is not only an innovator and pioneer in the medical field, but he is also devoted to promoting faith, liberty, community, and life through the American Cornerstone Institute," stated Northwood President Kent MacDonald. "He personifies the values outlined in The Northwood Idea, our university's guiding philosophy, and we are thrilled to invite the community to hear Dr. Carson's keynote at our inaugural President's Freedom Celebration." For nearly 30 years, Carson served as director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, a position he assumed when he was just 33 years old, becoming the youngest major division director in the hospital's history. Carson has received dozens of honors and awards for his achievements, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. In addition to Carson's keynote address, the event includes: A State of the University address by President MacDonald Recognition of this year's Wings of Freedom honorees A strolling dinner featuring selections from Executive Chef Casey Rae and other regional chefs A dessert afterglow This years Wings of Freedom honorees include former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, The Hilda E. Bretzlaff Foundation and Professor Emeritus Jeffrey A. Bennett. The President's Freedom Celebration will be immediately followed by a performance by Dave Fenley, who previously was a competitor on NBC's show "The Voice." His performance will be the first in Northwood's new Lincoln Sessions concert series celebrating America. Tickets are available for the President's Freedom Celebration at www.northwood.edu/pfc. LUDINGTON This week marks one year since a mass shooting took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The massacre is the deadliest school shooting in Texas history leaving two teachers and 19 children dead, according to Associated Press reports. For a group of Mason County residents, the Uvalde tragedy was more than a time for thoughts and prayers, it was a call to action. On Saturday, a group hosted an anonymous and voluntary assault-style weapon buyback program at the Ludington Police Department. It was the first local event of its kind sponsored by the Starfish Buyback Program. Eligible weapons brought to the police department could be exchanged for a $300 "supercenter" gift card. Karen Reader, a member of the programs task force, reported that one assault style-weapon was voluntarily exchanged during the event. In an email, Reader stated, We are looking at this from the standpoint, one less assault weapon in our community. Provided photo/Starfish Buyback Program Task Force Origin story It appears a fitting start for a program, which according to its mission, is based on the belief that no matter how small or futile this action may appear, any effort to save lives matters. The name of the program was inspired by a popular tale first made famous in an essay by Loren Eiseley. "The Star Thrower, or starfish story as most people know it, was adapted over the years but the core idea remains the same. In a phone interview, Ludington Police Department chief Christopher Jones retold the tale of a child walking along a beach after a storm. The girl started picking up starfish that had washed ashore and threw them back into the water. An adult happened by and asked how the girl could possibly make a difference when so many starfish remained on the beach. The girls response was to pick up a starfish and put it in the water and say Well, I made a difference for that one, Jones said. The police department facilitated Saturdays buyback event but Jones points out that the grassroots initiative was started by a group of ordinary residents. From talk to task force Brenda Reeber is one of those residents and chair of the Starfish Buyback Program task force. She recalls that the conversation began immediately after the Uvalde school shootings. A group of us friends were together commiserating and wringing our hands, saying Oh my God, what if it happened here? Reeber said. Not long after, the group decided to take action by creating a task force. On June 13, Reeber came forward during the public comment section at a Ludington City Council meeting to present the idea of a buyback program. The task force was referred to the public safety committee in order to organize the idea into a formal proposal. In a Sept. 12 city council meeting, the buyback proposal was submitted to a vote. The motion passed 6-1 in support of the program and to have the city act as its fiduciary agent. The buyback program is not tax-payer funded. The program relies on private donations and grants. According to Reeber, donors have largely preferred to remain anonymous and gifts have ranged from $10 to upwards of $2,500. In total, the group estimates having raised $7,600 to launch the program. Because this was considered a public safety event, the Ludington Police Department staffed the buyback event at no charge with a uniformed officer who determined the eligibility of the guns. Other weapon buyback programs have taken place in other municipalities around Michigan. However, the Starfish Buyback Program specifically is focused on assault weapons. Promotional materials from the task force describe eligible weapons for the buyback program using criteria provided by Jones. According to the document, an assault-style weapon is defined as a semi-automatic rifle(s) able to accept detachable magazines and having two or more of the following: Folding or telescoping stock; Pistol grip; Bayonet mount; Flash hider; Grenade launcher; Barrel shroud safety feature that prevents burns to the operator; and Semi-automatic version of a fully automatic firearm. When a weapon is turned in at the Ludington Police Department, the serial numbers are searched to verify that it is not stolen. After holding the weapon for 30 days, the serial numbers are run a second time. If it is not reported as stolen, the gun is turned over to the Michigan State Police for processing and destruction. Stolen weapons are turned over to the agency that took the original police report to be processed and investigated. Provided photo/Starfish Buyback Program Task Force Local conversations Gun control remains a controversial topic. Brenda Reader has talked with people who push back on the initiative. Even some of her friends have voiced concerns about gun control. Reader is quick to tell them that the Starfish Buyback Program is voluntary. I also remind people that some of the people on the task force have guns. We have guns in my household, Reader said. Jones explains that the police department does not document who is turning weapons in and that police are not going door to door to collect guns. This has nothing to do with gun control. This is you having to seek us out. You have to decide that the $300 gift card is more important to you than that weapon, Jones said. The next buyback event is at the Ludington Police Department on Sept. 16. Reeber expects that the group will discuss how to move forward after this initial attempt including ways to further promote the upcoming September buyback and whether they should expand the definition of eligible weapons. The group hopes that interest in the buyback program will grow over time, but Reeber is already proud that people around the community are talking about assault weapons and ways to keep the Ludington area safe. The conversation that took place a year ago among a small group of friends is now part of a larger conversation across the city. Reeber said, Most of all, we want to alert people as best we can to the possibility of that danger existing in your community. No community that has suffered this kind of mass killing because of the assault weapon ever thought it was going to happen to them, Reeber said. MANISTEE As the City of Manistee Housing Commission works to carry out its mission of providing safe, decent and sanitary housing conditions for low-income families, it will have to do so without a key member of the team. Lindsay McIntyre, deputy director who served as acting executive director in the absence of Clinton McKinven-Copus, stepped down from her position. Her last day in the office was Wednesday. Gini Pelton, housing commissioner, told McIntyre during the commission's May 19 meeting the board was grateful for her hard work. "I'd like to publicly acknowledge Lindsay's extraordinary assistance during this troubling time, and her patience with all our questions, our thousands of emails everything," Pelton said. "We wish you all the best as you go on." McIntyre, who joined the housing commission in January 2015, said in an email to the News Advocate she was looking forward to trying something new. "Since 2005, I have been in some kind of property management and it has come to a time, I feel, I need to explore different opportunities," she said. "I am excited for my next adventure." McIntyre was named acting executive director during the housing commission's Jan. 24 meeting when McKinven-Copus took a medical leave of absence. The commission suspended McKinven-Copus during an April 12 meeting. Mark Sochocki, executive director of the Big Rapids Housing Commission, whom the board hired to assist the commission in providing administrative and management services, said replacing McIntyre "won't be easy." "It's a big void to fill," he said. Sochocki said he knew of someone who could step in as interim director until a permanent employee is found. "This person has 35 years of experience in public housing," he said. "She was my assistant, would be the director as I retired, but she retired, too." The board took action to have attorney Jeff Klug develop a contract for the interim director position to see if an agreement could be reached. "The personnel committee made the recommendation to have Mark look into a contract with this individual he's vetted at a rate of pay of $75 (per hour) flat rate no benefits up to 30 hours a week, with a 30-day clause," said Karen Goodman, commissioner. McIntyre said in an email she was grateful to everyone she worked with in her role with the housing commission. "I have appreciated the CMHC board's patience with me while I tried to learn the new role as acting executive director," she said. "It has been a great challenge, but I have learned a lot in that small amount of time. I also want to thank my coworkers they have been very supportive during this time." The May 19 meeting marked the first for resident commissioner James Taylor, who was named to the commission by mayoral appointment during a May 3 Manistee City Council meeting. "I want to be on the commission because I'd like to see things get better," Taylor said during the May 3 meeting. "I feel the only way to do it is to get involved." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Who bought the Midland Mall? The purchaser will be announced May 31, according to Midland Mall General Manager Angela Browning. Im very excited. Im looking forward to (working with) the new owner, Browning said on Thursday stating she could not disclose the name of the new owner. The 32-year-old mall was sold on March 30 after a three-day online auction through Real Insight Marketplace. The mall has been owned since 2018 by Kohan Retail Investment Group of Great Neck, New York. Todd Szymczak, senior vice president of real estate firm NAI Farbman of Southfield, said the final bid for the mall was greater than $5 million and was made by a mid-Michigan entrepreneur. No new property deed for the Midland Mall has been filed with the Midland County Register of Deeds since the auction. At the nonprofit Cultivate Coffee, which opened in the mall in 2019, volunteer Matt Chesney said he hopes the new mall owner will be as accommodating to nonprofits as the Kohan group has been. They give us a good deal on rent. In exchange, we bring people into the mall, Chesney said. Its helped bring life back into the mall. Construction continues on a new Hobby Lobby to replace the former Younkers space in the mall, which Browning said could open as early as August. Opening some time this summer in the mall will be the office of radio stations Sunny 97.7 and 107.7 The Highway, which is currently located on Bayliss Street. It will move into a space just north of the Food Court. Browning said another new initiative for the mall this summer is a community garden that will be located near the retention pond near the south end of the building. It is being spearheaded by Target and Fantastic Finds. There was a free space there. Target wanted to help the community, Browning said. MANISTEE The Manistee Conservation District announced it is once again partnering with Michigan Worm Works for an educational workshop on the topic of vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is the process of using worms to convert organic worm waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer for farmers and growers, according to the Michigan Worm Works website. The event is set to take place from 5:30-7 p.m. on June 7 at the Michigan Worm Works facility, located at 1965 Pine Creek Road in Manistee. Pre-registration is required to ensure an adequate number of supplies are available. Elana Warsen, owner of Michigan Work Works, will demonstrate how vermicomposting can help reduce kitchen waste by turning it into worm casting fertilizers. Her presentation will highlight the benefits of vermicomposting, how it works and how to get started. Warsen, a self-described evangelist for invertebrate husbandry, founded Michigan Worm Works in 2020 to bring the wonders of worms to a wider audience, according to her companys Facebook page. Instead of throwing away nutrients in apple cores and banana peels, we can conserve them onsite and return them to the soil, where they are useful for growing food and other plants, Warsen had said in a prior interview with the News Advocate. Following the presentations, participants will have the opportunity to create their own vermicomposting bin to take home. The bins will be created using two five-gallon buckets, shredded cardboard for bedding material, water and worms. The educational portion of this workshop is free and open to anyone, and creating a bin to take home is optional. The Manistee Conservation District will provide the buckets and bedding material free of charge, but the participants are asked to purchase their own worms. The worms can be purchased prior to the workshop through Michigan Worm Works website at michiganwormworks.com/shop. A limited supply of worms will be available for purchase the day of the workshop. Those not interested in creating their own bins can still attend the workshop for the informational materials and handouts. To register for the workshop, contact the Manistee Conservation District at 231-889-9666 or manisteecd@macd.org. Registrations will be accepted through May 31 or until the space is full. More information can also be found on the Manistee Conservation Districts website at manisteecd2.org/events. President of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of the Philippines, I wish to convey my warmest felicitations to you on the occasion of the national holiday of Azerbaijan Independence Day. The Philippines and Azerbaijan have enjoyed cordial ties in the last three decades. I am optimistic that our nations will continue to enjoy friendly relations in the years ahead. The Philippines stands ready to work with Azerbaijan in addressing global challenges of common concern, such as climate change, energy security, and post-pandemic recovery. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos President of the Republic of the Philippines Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Charlottesville-based tech company WillowTree laid off roughly 12% of its workforce on Wednesday, bringing an end to years of rapid growth. The full-service app and digital product consultancy, which has laid off about 120 of its more than 1,000 employees, is reorganizing its team for success, WillowTree President Tobias Dengel told The Daily Progress. WillowTree is providing its former employees with a comprehensive separation package that includes severance pay, outplacement assistance and health insurance continuation, Dengel said on Wednesday. Today, as part of our companys commitment to continuous improvement and to better leverage emerging technologies to best serve our clients, WillowTree is restructuring its team to be optimally positioned for long-term growth and success, Dengel said in a statement. This will further enable us to sharpen our focus on marketing and creative services, digital product development and product delivery, as well as data & AI solutions and consulting. Our company is confident that this evolution will result in a stronger company, optimized for operational agility and velocity. A bartender at Jack Browns restaurant and bar on the Downtown Mall a popular hangout for WillowTree employees told The Daily Progress that she learned of the layoffs through word of mouth on Wednesday, prompting the business to throw up a sign reading, WillowTree Consultation Centercommiserate within. Founded by Michael Prichard in 2007, WillowTrees company size and revenue have grown exponentially in recent years, bring on such clients as Johnson & Johnsons BabyCare, the NBA, GE, Valpak, Harvard Business Publishing, AOL as well as Charlottesvilles own University of Virginia. What started as a three-person team grew by the hundreds over the years. The company announced in 2018 it would be adding even more employees and consolidating offices and workers spread throughout Charlottesville into one complex at the Wool Factory. In 2022, Adweek recognized WillowTree as one of the fastest growing digital agencies in the country. WillowTree fell under new ownership in January, when Telus International, a Canadian technology company whose 70,000 employees provide IT services to global clients in 28 countries, acquired the company for $1.26 billion, which included $210 million of assumed debt, of which $125 million was settled in Telus subordinate voting shares, according to a story in Virginia Business. The intention is to continue to grow their business even more quickly than they already have. And by the way, their business has been growing pretty darn fast already. But with access to our customer base, and our balance sheet, and our technology and our capabilities, we think they can grow even more quickly than they have done in the past, which means more jobs, not less jobs, Telus International CEO Jeffrey Puritt told NBC29 in January. WillowTree did not respond to requests for comment about the size of the remaining employees in Charlottesville. On Wednesday afternoon, a job posting for a principal product strategist position in Charlottesville appeared on the Greenhouse platform. WillowTree also has a job posting for a chief product delivery officer in Charlottesville. Additionally, WillowTree is hiring a product designer in Durham, North Carolina, and a vice president of program management and product architecture in Vancouver. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims. Wednesday, May 24 9:25 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township location to assist the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The deputy cleared the scene without incident. 8:50 p.m. - Police responded to the 600 block of Eastlawn Drive for a larceny complaint. 8:44 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence regarding a domestic assault between a 44-year-old man and his 46-year-old sister who lives at the same residence. The man was arrested and transported to the Midland County Jail without incident. 8:44 p.m. - Police were called to the 1600 block of E. Patrick for a report of carrying a concealed weapon and for a warrant arrest. 6:15 p.m. - A highly intoxicated 46-year-old Jerome Township woman called 911 because her highly intoxicated 44-year-old brother took her keys. The man returned the keys. Both siblings agreed to try to remain separated for the night. 5:32 p.m. - A 34-year-old Au Gres man was arrested on a warrant out of Saginaw after a traffic stop in Midland. He was issued citations and was lodged at the Midland County Jail for the warrant. 4:51 p.m. - A deputy responded to the Midland County Jail for a report of a 39-year-old Edenville Township woman who was found to have smuggled a controlled substance into the jail. A report has been forwarded to the prosecutor for review. More Information Activities of the Midland County Sheriff's Office and Midland Police Department on May 24, 2023 See More Collapse 3:36 p.m. - Police responded to a property damage crash at Gordon and W. Indian streets. 1:48 p.m. - An animal control deputy received a complaint regarding a possible dog bite at a residence in Jerome Township. It was determined that no injury occurred. 1:46 p.m. - Police responded to a hit-and-run crash at eastbound US-10 and Bay City Road. 12:39 p.m. - A 56-year-old Warren Township man reported that approximately $800 worth of miscellaneous items was taken from his front yard near the road. There are no suspects. 10:12 a.m. - Deputies responded to a Lee Township residence to check the wellbeing of a 58-year-old man. The man was not home. His 71-year-old mother-in-law said she would have him contact the person requesting the wellbeing check when he returned. 10:01 a.m. - Police were called to a malicious destruction of property complaint in the 1000 block of Eastlawn Drive. 8:54 a.m. - Deputies conducted a stop in Lee Township on a vehicle for multiple traffic offenses. The vehicle was associated with an incident that occurred in a neighboring jurisdiction. Information obtained from the 27-year-old male driver was forwarded to the investigating agency. 1:52 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township location for a report of a 59-year-old man who had walked away two days ago and had not been heard from since. Deputies checked various locations throughout the county and a be-on-the-lookout was sent out to surrounding counties. The man was deemed to be voluntarily missing. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WAYNESBORO, Ga. (AP) The first of two nuclear reactors in Georgia is generating electricity and could be days away from achieving full-power operation. But the new units at Georgia Power Co.'s Plant Vogtle are $17 billion over budget and running seven years late. Customers of multiple Georgia utilities are already paying billions, although state regulators haven't yet decided how much Georgia Power ratepayers will owe. Meanwhile, two of the same model reactors that were planned for different owners in South Carolina were abandoned partway through construction. There, federal prosecutors have pursued criminal charges against utility and construction executives, saying they illegally concealed delays and cost overruns. The projects were supposed to mark a rebirth for the U.S. nuclear industry, but construction proved difficult despite consistent federal support. Here's a timeline of the two nuclear projects: 1970: Georgia Power Co., a unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co., decides to build four nuclear reactors along the Savannah River bordering South Carolina. 1976: Construction resumes at the plant after two of four reactors are cancelled. It's named for Alvin W. Vogtle, then CEO of Southern Co. During World War II, Vogtle was a fighter pilot who was captured by German fighters and escaped from a prisoner of war camp on his fifth attempt. 1989: Unit 2 finally goes online after Unit 1 entered service in 1987. Originally projected to cost $660 million, the two reactors eventually cost $8.9 billion. 2001: Utilities including Southern Co., the parent of Georgia Power Co., meet with federal regulators to discuss ways to ease permitting for new nuclear power plants, in a push by President George W. Bush's administration. 2004: Southern Co., three other utilities and three nuclear reactor designers including Westinghouse Electric Co. jointly apply for new reactor licenses. 2005: Southern Co. announced that it's evaluating the Vogtle site for new reactors, saying it believes Georgia will need more electrical generation in the future. 2006: Southern Co. picks Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor design and applies for an early site permit days after U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman promises $2 billion in incentives for new reactors nationwide in a speech at Georgia Power headquarters. 2007: The Georgia Public Service Commission says Georgia Power can build two new reactors at Vogtle, but only if finds no cheaper options. No competing generators offer bids for long-term contracts. Westinghouse signs a contract to build AP1000 reactors in China. 2008: Southern Co. seeks a license for Vogtle from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. SCANA Corp. also asks to build two new reactors at the V.C. Summer plant near Columbia, South Carolina. Georgia Power asks public service commissioners to approve plans after co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corp., Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton join the project. The reactors are supposed to cost $14 billion and be complete by 2017. 2009: The Georgia Public Service Commission approves Georgia Powers request to begin construction. Weeks later, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue signs a law allowing Georgia Power to make customers pay financing costs during construction. Contractors begin moving dirt at Vogtle. 2010: President Barack Obama's administration announces $8.33 billion in loan guarantees for Vogtle, lowering borrowing costs for the owners. 2012: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approves licenses for Vogtle and Summer. By then, with construction underway, the projects were already running behind. 2014: Problems with modular construction slow the Vogtle and Summer projects, disproving promises that giant Lego-like modules would make building faster, cheaper and produce a higher-quality result. 2015: Georgia Power and plant construction contractors sue each other over delays that add more than $3 billion to the project and three years to the completion date. 2017: Mounting delays and losses lead Westinghouse, then a unit of Japan's Toshiba Corp., to file for bankruptcy. To walk away, Toshiba pays $3.7 billion to the Georgia owners and $2.2 billion to the South Carolina owners. The South Carolina owners abandon construction at Summer after state-owned utility Santee Cooper votes to stop. The Georgia Public Service Commission votes to let work continue at Vogtle as the price tag crosses $25 billion. 2018: The city-owned utility in Jacksonville, Florida, unsuccessfully tries to void its contract to buy Vogtle's power from the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia. Oglethorpe Power, owned by Georgia electric cooperatives, threatens to pull out and torpedo Vogtle. Oglethorpe relents after Gov. Nathan Deal intervenes and Georgia Power agrees to pay some potential overruns. 2019: The Trump administration finalizes another $3.7 billion in loan guarantees for Vogtle, bringing the total to $12 billion. 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic slows work at Vogtle. Former SCANA Corp. executives begin pleading guilty to federal criminal charges over concealing delays at Summer. 2021: Georgia Power announces a cascading series of four delays, with monitors saying contractors and Southern Co. did sloppy work while rushing to meet an unachievable schedule. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission steps up oversight. Costs to owners exceed $28 billion, double the original estimate. 2022: Georgia Power's co-owners sue, saying the utility is reneging on its contract to shoulder overruns, as costs to owners surpass $30 billion. Georgia Power settles with Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia. Unit 3 begins loading radioactive fuel. 2023: Vogtle's Unit 3 begins generating electricity, with officials saying it may reach full power output by May 27. Unit 4 reaches a key testing phase. Costs to owners reach $31 billion. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RUBY VILLAGE, Guyana (AP) A small group of Indigenous women in northern Guyana are the latest weapon in the fight against climate change in this South American country where 90% of the population lives below sea level. Armed with drones, the women are scanning mangrove forests for illegal cutting and expect to soon start collecting soil samples and mangrove litter to measure the carbon held in remote coastal ecosystems that have long been out of reach for scientists. Such data could nudge the government to create policies and programs to protect critical areas. We are merging traditional knowledge and scientific research to get all this information that we need but never had before and couldnt afford to get, said Annette Arjoon-Martins, head of Guyanas Marine Conservation Society. The womens work is considered key for Guyana, a small nation about the size of Britain that has a 285-mile-long (459 kilometers) coastline whose coastal plains lie an average of 6 feet (2 meters) below sea level. The coastline depends on a centuries-old sea defense system created by the Dutch during the colonial era. It includes a 280-mile (450-kilometer) seawall and relies on dozens of workers who set alarms night and day to manually open and close sluice gates known as kokers that prevent the Atlantic Ocean from flooding Guyana. By the mid-1990s, the Inter-American Development Bank already was advising Guyana to relocate communities inland since most of its 791,000 people live along the coast, and much of its economic activity and agriculture are based there. But people have been reluctant to leave. A World Bank report has cautioned that the impact of rising sea levels and intensified storm surges in Guyana would be among the greatest in the world, exposing 100% of the countrys coastal agriculture and 66.4% of coastal urban areas to flooding and coastal erosion. The community of Almond Beach in northern Guyana was forced to relocate several years ago after the ocean swallowed line after line of palm trees and began to lap at the school and other infrastructure, Arjoon-Martins said. Some 280 people once lived there; barely three dozen remain after a swath of land slipped underwater, she said. Environmentalists say the work of the young Amerindian women will help them understand the challenges Guyana faces and what it can do to fight climate change as it prepares to become one of the world's largest offshore oil producers. By the end of the year, the women hope to start collecting data on how much carbon the coastal ecosystems around their villages are storing. Weve never done a blue carbon baseline in Guyana before, Arjoon-Martins said. We want to quantify how much carbon this entire landscape stores, not just the trees. Knowing the baseline would help boost protection of that area and possibly lead to similar programs like the low-carbon development strategy launched in 2009 to protect Guyana's forests, which cover nearly 90% of the country. That year, Norway signed a deal to provide $250 million in funding to ensure that Guyana's 18 million hectares of forest remain intact. In December, Hess Corporation agreed to buy $750 million worth of carbon credits to protect those forests. The indigenous women are gathering data and images at a crucial moment: Guyana is in the midst of an oil boom expected to make it the worlds fourth-largest offshore oil producer, raising concerns about potential oil spills and the oils contribution to the same climate change that threatens its existence. An ExxonMobil consortium that includes Hess Corporation and Chinas CNOOC is producing some 380,000 barrels of oil a day, a number that is expected to jump to 1.2 million by 2027. Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who helped launch the 2009 low-carbon development strategy when he was president and has long led the fight to protect the country's forests and mangroves, dismissed environmental concerns tied to oil production and greenhouse gas emissions. He called the oil production a little operation and criticism from environmentalists as nonsense. But environmentalists say they are greatly concerned about potential threats including oil spills. Earlier this month, a court in Guyana ordered ExxonMobil to set aside sufficient funds in the case of such an event and threatened to suspend the country's Environmental Protection Agency if the oil company does not take out unlimited liability insurance within 30 days. In its ruling, the court accused the EPA of being derelict, pliant and submissive in its alleged omissions. The agency appealed and lost. ExxonMobil has filed its own appeal, saying the court had failed to recognize that it and its partners have the ability to meet their financial obligations and that it already has insurance in place. The concerns add to existing ones including the unlawful cutting of mangroves, fires, illegal construction and fuel pollution in rivers that the Amerindian women are scanning in the Barima-Mora Passage in northern Guyana. Every three months, they fly their drones to inspect an area of some 47,000 hectares (116,000 acres) that includes 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres) of mangroves Guyanas largest mangrove forest ecosystem. Mangroves act as a natural buffer against rising sea levels and help protect from coastal erosion. The soil they grow in also absorbs large quantities of carbon that would otherwise contribute to a warming Earth. It is me giving back to the environment, said Shakira Yipsam, 19, who leads the drone team and lives in the Amerindian village of Aruka Mouth, located near a river that drains into the Atlantic. The womens mentor is 22-year-old Sarah Singh, who majored in marine biology and now works with the conservation society. She trained the women for up to eight months as part of a program that pays them roughly $700 a month. The program targets young women in Amerindian villages because theyre usually the ones who leave school and start a family at an early age and dont really have employment opportunities, Singh said. Their work builds on previous conservation efforts that included the replanting of seven miles (11 kilometers) worth of mangroves across Guyana as part of a partnership with the European Union about a decade ago. That replanting led to another nearly 1,000 hectares (2,400 acres) of mangroves that regenerated naturally, Arjoon-Martins said. Protecting and planting natural buffers like mangroves are key since rising sea levels and coastal flooding are a big concern in Guyana, whose name means land of many waters. Sea level rise here has been in line with the global average of 4 millimeters a year over the past 30 years, according to Steve Nerem, a sea level rise expert at the University of Colorado. The narrow coastal strip where most people live and grow crops represents only 5% of Guyanas territory and is intersected by three large rivers, according to a study published by professors at the University of Western Ontario. The area has been affected by rainfall patterns that have changed and hit Guyana's rice industry particularly hard, said Ulric Trotz, former deputy director at Belizes Caribbean Community Climate Change Center. Its leading to flooding, landslides and destruction of crops, he said. Major flooding events that Trotz attributes to climate change have been reported across Guyana in recent years, including in Mahaicony, southeast of the capital of Georgetown, where saltwater inundated swaths of farmland nearly two years ago, rendering it useless. The magnitude of the floods, coupled with high tides, overwhelm the sluice gates and colonial-era seawall, but Arjune Lilmohan, 32, said he is not giving up the fight. Like dozens of other workers, he said he sets his alarm in the middle of the night to open and close the koker in his community because its his responsibility to protect Guyana from the Atlantic Ocean. If you sleep on the job, you get flood, he said. ___ 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LISBON, Portugal (AP) Police in Portugal have ended the latest search for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British child who went missing in 2007 in southern Portugal. Authorities gave no details about the results of the search Thursday. A statement by Portugals Judiciary Police said some material had been collected and would be handed over to German authorities for examination. The search around a dam some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Praia da Luz resort, where the three-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago, began Tuesday following a request by German authorities. A German man who is a suspect in the case is currently in jail in Germany for a different case. Portuguese, German and British police took part in the three-day operation during which detectives probed the banks of the Arade reservoir and also used sniffer dogs and a drone. Germany prosecutor Christian Wolters told the Associated Press Thursday authorities would gauge the success of the search after its conclusion, adding that a statement may be issued next week. Portuguese media said this was the fourth police search for McCann, following the initial one in 2007 in the southern Algarve area and further efforts in 2013 and 2014. Another search was held in Germany in 2020. The reservoir is less than half full because of a drought affecting Portugal and neighboring Spain. The search would've been below the water line under normal rainfall. In mid-2020, German officials said that a 45-year-old German citizen, identified by media as Christian Brueckner, who was in the Algarve in 2007, was a suspect in the case. Brueckner has denied any involvement. Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder in the McCann case but hasnt been charged. He spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of Madeleines disappearance. The case of Madeleine McCann stirred worldwide interest for several years, with reports of sightings of her stretching as far away as Australia, along with a slew of books and television documentaries about the case. British, Portuguese and German police are still piecing together what happened on the night when the toddler disappeared from her bed in the southern Portuguese resort on May 3, 2007. She was in the same room as her twin brother and sister, who were two years old at the time, while her parents had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant. Madeleines parents did not comment due to the active investigation, according to an email response from the website set up for the search for the child, findmadeleine.com. ____ Ciaran Giles in Madrid, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Pride flag will be displayed at Albany City Hall after all, but it wont be flying from a flagpole. On May 10, city councilors voted to hoist the progress Pride flag as a symbolic act of inclusion at City Hall in June for Pride month. But, earlier this week the effort was put in doubt after some questioned if that would be possible given the logistics of the flagpole and whether the city should implement a flag policy first. Now it seems, city leaders have reached a compromise. Staff was in the works of generating funds and installing a second flag pole for nongovernmental flags because the current pole can support just two flags without sustaining damage, City Manager Peter Troedsson said. The current pole displays the state and federal flags. Staff has learned that it's technically out of compliance with a state law that requires cities to also raise the POW/MIA flag. But a secondary flag pole won't be installed before the start of June for Pride month, Troedsson said. Although it was his recommendation to establish a flag policy before any more banners go up, the City Council could override that recommendation, Troedsson said. Establishing a code would ensure that future requests would be reviewed fairly, he said in a previous interview. If leaders decide to develop a code, the League of Oregon Cities offers a good guide, he said. Paraphrasing a passage from the League of Oregon Cities, an organization that lobbies state leaders on cities' behalf, Troedsson said that flag-raising is considered government speech. The city may choose to fly the nongovernmental flags and government flags of its choosing. Its recommended that a city develop a policy regarding the types of flags the city will fly, whether by request of a member of the public, city staff or the council itself, he said. At the Wednesday, May 24 City Council meeting, Councilor Marilyn Smith made a motion to create a flag policy, and it passed unanimously. City staff distributed a graphic for an alternative display of the flag, placing the progress Pride flag in a high window, visible from the street. Councilors voted to hang the Pride flag as pictured in the graphic. The motion passed with five yes votes. Councilor Matilda Novak left the room, and her vote was not counted. Smith acknowledged that her silence counted as a yes vote. For Councilor Steph Newton, who initially proposed the raising of the flag, the resolution felt like a compromise. Im happy about it. Its a good compromise, and Im hopeful that we will be able to fly the flag on a pole proudly next year, Newton said after the meeting. Related stories: AF&PA Promotes Julie Landry as Vice President of Government Affairs Julie Landry Julie Landry May 24, 2023 - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced Julie Landry as Vice President of Government Affairs. In this role, Landry will lead the paper and wood products industry's legislative agenda and drive advocacy efforts before Congress, the White House and state governments. She assumes the role effectively immediately. Landry joined AF&PA as Manager of Government Affairs in October of 2011 and has cultivated extensive experience on issues related to energy, environment, water and forestry. Landry previously worked for the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), where she lobbied on a variety of key issues including food safety, taxes and energy. She began her career on Capitol Hill working for U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and later served as Special Assistant to the Policy Director for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Originally from Columbus, Georgia, Landry holds a bachelor's degree in international business from Auburn University. She resides in McLean, Virginia with her husband and three children. AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock stated, "We are thrilled Julie will continue her stellar leadership at AF&PA as Vice President of Government Affairs. Julie's vast industry knowledge has been essential to achieving public policy successes, and I am confident she and our exceptional government affairs team will build on these efforts as we champion our industry's contributions to communities across the country." AF&PA today also announced the promotions of Laura Pickard to Senior Director, Government Affairs and International Trade (formerly Director, Government Affairs and International Trade) and Abby Sztein to Senior Director, Government Affairs (formerly Director, Government Affairs). About AF&PA The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance U.S. paper and wood products manufacturers through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. The forest products industry is circular by nature. AF&PA member companies make essential products from renewable and recycle resources, generate renewable bioenergy and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures about $350 billion in products annually and employs about 925,000 people. The industry meets a payroll of about $65 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 43 states. SOURCE: AF&PA Sylvamo Names Tatiana Kalman as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Latin America Tatiana Kalman Tatiana Kalman May 25, 2023 (Press Release) - Sylvamo is announcing a senior leadership change for its Latin America division. Tatiana Kalman has been elected senior vice president and general manager, Latin America, effective June 1. Kalman joins Sylvamo from BASF, most recently serving as managing director and senior vice president, Business Unit Personal Care Europe. "We welcome Tatiana to our company. She will help us continue building a better future for our employees, customers and investors," said Jean-Michel Ribieras, chairman and chief executive officer. Kalman succeeds Rodrigo Davoli, who was elected senior vice president and general manager, North America, earlier this month. Sylvamo also announced Greg Gibson, who currently leads North America, will retire March 1, 2024. Gibson has been elected senior vice president, Commercial Excellence. These senior leaders will assist each other with transitions throughout the third quarter. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM) is the world's paper company with mills in Europe, Latin America and North America. Sylvamo transforms renewable resources into papers that people depend on for education, communication and entertainment. SOURCE: Sylvamo Photo: (Photo : Amy Beth Bennett-Pool/Getty Images) An 18-year-old Nebraska woman has admitted to burning and hiding a baby she had after having a drug abortion in the last few weeks of her second trimester. According to NBC News, this case is bringing up old debates about how to regulate abortions. At the time of the event, Celeste Burgess was 17 years old and had been pregnant for about 30 weeks before giving birth to a stillborn child. Although initially a minor, Burgess was charged as an adult. On Monday, Burgess admitted to a felony charge of concealing or abandoning a dead body. In response, prosecutors decided to drop two misdemeanor charges against her. The concealed fetus was later discovered in a field north of Norfolk, in northeastern Nebraska. Mother's Involvement in the Nebraska Woman's Abortion Prosecutors are simultaneously advancing a criminal case against Burgess's mother, 42-year-old Jessica Burgess, alleging that she unlawfully assisted with the abortion. This event marks the first instance of an individual being charged for breaching Nebraska's 20-week abortion limit, enacted in 2010. The younger Burgess's plea coincided with Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signing a 12-week abortion ban into law on Monday. The stringent regulation took immediate effect, marking a significant tightening of abortion restrictions in the state. According to CNN, a portion of the prosecution's case against the mother and daughter centers on their Facebook communications, in which they discussed their intentions to get the drug that would cause an abortion and then burn the fetus. Jessica Burgess has denied the allegations and will show up in court on July 7 for a preliminary hearing. Her counsel has not yet offered any opinions on the situation. Read Also: Pussycat Dolls' Kaya Jones Reveals She Was Pressured To Get an Abortion Sentencing and Repercussions Celeste Burgess is due for sentencing on July 20 and faces up to two years in prison. The prosecution has agreed not to offer a sentencing recommendation. According to NY Times, the communications that the mother and daughter sent and received are described in court filings. Celeste exhibited a strong desire to end her pregnancy in these communications, referring to the baby as a "thing" and looking forward to getting back to her pre-pregnant figure. Jessica Burgess's messages included details about acquiring the pills necessary for the abortion and instructions for their use. This case follows another related guilty plea from last summer, when a man admitted to a misdemeanor charge for assisting the Burgess women in burying the fetus. A heated debate over the delicate balance between women's rights and the state's role in regulating abortions has erupted as this unusual and divisive case proceeds, putting Nebraska's tight abortion regulations under scrutiny. The Nebraska case has sparked intense debates over the government's involvement in individual medical choices, the moral implications of fetal rights, and the wider consequences for women's healthcare. The result might either result in the anti-abortion legislation being strengthened even further or in a thorough reevaluation of the state's existing position on this crucial topic. As Burgess' sentencing date approaches, the mounting tension and attention underscore the case's potential to influence future legislation and the broader discourse on reproductive rights. The stakes are high and extend beyond Burgess and her mother. Their story sheds light on the complicated and individual hardships that many families and women go through as a result of restrictive abortion regulations. In fact, this case marks a crucial turning point in the larger campaign for reproductive rights, in addition to being a legal disagreement. Whatever the court's judgment, it will probably have a significant impact on the conversation around abortion, perhaps changing the story in Nebraska or perhaps even nationally. Related Article: Legal Battle for Mifepristone Abortion Pill Reaches Supreme Court After Texas, Washington Judges Issue Opposing Rulings Photo: (Photo : Freepik/wirestock) Torrential rains wreaked havoc in several regions of Italy, causing twenty rivers to overflow their banks, triggering an astonishing 280 landslides and a devastating flood that put lives and property at risk. According to News 18, amidst the catastrophe in Cesena, Italy, a desperate mother's plea, "Take my daughter, help!" echoed through the chaos. This tragic incident was captured on camera and highlighted the bravery of a group of neighbors who braved the floods to save the woman and her child. Cry for Help Amidst Devastating Italian Floods According to Hindustan Times, The Good News Movement's Instagram page posted the video, which starts with a heartbreaking scene. A mother clings to her little one, shouting for help amidst the rapidly escalating floodwaters. As the footage continues, it reveals an inspiring display of human courage and solidarity. A handful of neighbors, undeterred by the increasing water level, braved the dangerous situation to reach her. A compassionate neighbor carefully takes the child into his arms while another offers support to the terrified mother. Together, they tread through the submerged streets, overcoming the perilous conditions and successfully reaching the safer ground. The video, posted merely a few hours ago, has already touched more than 1.2 million people and continues to count more views. Numerous Instagram users took to the comments section to express their reactions and thoughts on the rescue operation. According to India Today, one user shared, "Seeing that mom's look on her face when she handed her baby over... I cannot fathom the way that momma felt handing over her child in hope and horror of all the things that could happen. Good humans are all around us." Others joined in, sending their prayers and appreciation. "Praying for Italy and its people," wrote a commenter, expressing empathy for the Italian community. Another user, who had experienced a similar situation, added, "As someone who was rescued from my house with my child, husband, mother, and 3 dogs, it's not that easy to just go. Thank goodness for people out there helping." The raw emotions captured in the video resonated deeply with viewers around the globe. From the mother's desperate plea to the resilience of the rescuers to the poignant commentary from viewers, the incident served as a poignant reminder of humanity's capacity for kindness and heroism during testing times. This incident underscores the essence of community and the extraordinary acts of courage by ordinary people amidst a disaster. As Italy continues to grapple with these devastating floods, stories like these offer a beacon of hope, shining a light on the resilience and undying spirit of its people. Read Also: Kentucky Mom Saves Kids from Historic Flood by Using Vacuum Cord A Greater Look at the Flood Situation in Italy Recent storms in Italy are part of a global climate disaster that is getting worse, with extreme weather events happening more often and causing more damage. These changes are having a significant impact on Cesena and other cities and towns in Italy. The staggering figures of twenty rivers bursting their banks and a wave of 280 landslides reflect a broader trend of environmental devastation that cannot be ignored. However, in the face of this hopeless situation, the Cesena neighbors' act of bravery has come to represent resiliency. To survive a crisis, you need solid relationships, teamwork, and a strong will. This event inspires action, not just inspiration. It encourages everyone to collaborate, support each other, and create resilience to natural disasters. We must aid, raise awareness, and advocate for tougher climate action as these occurrences continue. When awful things happen, it's a constant reminder that everyone has a responsibility and that even modest acts of courage may help. Related Article: Parents Recount Worst Experience in Losing 5-Year-Old Son in California Flood Photo: (Photo : Freepik/BalashMirzabey) North Carolina State University (NCSU) has been forced to deal with a problem on its own campus while young people's mental health issues throughout the country are on the rise. According to NBC News, NCSU unfortunately documented 14 student fatalities during the 2022-2023 academic year, with seven of them being suicides. The devastating impact of these losses has deeply affected the university community, prompting urgent action and reflection. Chancellor Expresses Heartbreak as NCSU Mourns Student Deaths Chancellor Randy Woodson expressed his heartbreak and offered condolences to the families and friends of the students who passed away. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, he emphasized the shared grief felt by the university community. The remaining student deaths were attributed to two overdoses, four natural deaths, and one car accident. According to Fox News, NCSU recognizes the need for immediate support and intervention. The university has established a Student Mental Health Task Force, which was launched in November. This task force aims to strengthen the existing network of support and resources for students. NCSU provides numerous suicide prevention resources, including an online suicide prevention portal that offers links to support programs and information. Other initiatives include a crisis hotline, a counseling center, and a teletherapy service. However, according to ABC7 Chicago, experts in the field of mental health emphasize that simply making resources available is often insufficient. Robin Glenn, a licensed therapist specializing in young adults and children, suggests that schools should require attendance at programs and services. Glenn asserts that students in distress are unlikely to proactively seek out resources themselves. Instead, she proposes a proactive approach where schools bring resources directly to students, ensuring regular check-ins, webinars, and meetings to foster a sense of community and combat loneliness. Read Also: Suicide Among Teens Mostly Caused By Exam Stress, Study Finds Calls for Proactive Approach To Address College Mental Health Crisis The institution has already made some strides in this area by setting up social gatherings for students and providing mental health assistance. The supply of these resources is presently insufficient to meet the demand, however. According to NCSU resident advisor Gustavo Armas, more work has to be done to accommodate the requirements of students who are in need of assistance. NCSU is hardly the only college campus experiencing a mental health crisis. Anxiety, despair, and loneliness are becoming widespread problems among college students everywhere. The COVID-19 pandemic-exacerbated isolation, the negative effects of social media, peer harassment, discrimination, and academic pressure are all contributing factors to this crisis. Students are very concerned about the rising expense of tuition. Roy Cooper, the governor of North Carolina, has highlighted the need of giving kids' mental health first priority because he understands the severity of the matter. Funds have been set aside by Cooper's office for mental health initiatives at state colleges and universities. Among college students, suicide is presently the second most common cause of death. Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, has also expressed worry about the detrimental impact of social media on young people's mental health. According to studies, teens who use social media excessively are more likely to experience sadness and anxiety. Building resilience and participating in offline activities, according to experts, may aid in reducing these problems. The tragic events at NCSU serve as a solemn reminder of the urgent need to address mental health issues with college students. Universities, communities, and governments must work together to put comprehensive support systems in place, prioritize mental health resources, and promote a resilient and healthy culture. Related Article: Dad Pleased With Plan To Lower Risk of Suicide at Universities After Teen Son's Death This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions It's being reported today that Mainland Chinas tablet market showcased resilience with 38% year-on-year growth amid healthy promotional activity and a variety of new product launches. Emma Xu, Analyst at Canalys stated that "The penetration of tablets in the region is increasing with an array of readily available diverse and affordable devices. Vendors are now innovating to bring productivity-focused improvements, including the use of accessories like keyboards, styluses and applications to support work and study. This has bolstered the importance of tablets as a key pillar within wider device ecosystem strategies and helps ensure that vendors can tap into future demand stemming from consumers, businesses and the education sector." Apple led the tablet market in Q1 2023 as it more than doubled its shipments to 2.5 million units against a relatively weak Q1 2022 that was plagued by COVID-related disruptions. Canalys statistical chart below shows that Apple's annual growth for iPad was a whopping 106.4%. It's market share lept from 25.6% in Q1 2022 to 38.4% in Q1 2023. (Click on Chart below to Enlarge) HONOR and Xiaomi took third and fourth places, growing 66% and 13% year-on-year respectively. Lenovo took the fifth position as the only major vendor to post a year-on-year decline with its shipments down nearly 3% in Q1 2023. Lenovo also experience a decline of 24.1% for desktops and notebooks, making it a tough quarter for Lenovo. Apple has yet to crack the Chinese PC space. For more statistics, read the full report by Canalys that covers both tablets and PCs. In other statistical news, Canalys reported today on the Southeast Asia Smartphone market today. This market dipped 21% in Q1 2023. While Apple didn't make the top 5 OEMs in that market that covers five countries, they did come in second place in Vietnam and third place in Thailand as presented in the Canalys chart below. Apple has failed to make a dent in Indonesia, the Philippines or Malaysia. It's a bit of an oddity that the very countries that Apple didn't break into the top five smartphone OEMS chart are the very countries that Tim Cook highlighted as doing well for iPhone. Apple's CEO stated during their Financial Conference Call on May 4, that "We set an all-time record for Services and a March quarter record for iPhone. We were particularly pleased with the performance we saw in emerging markets and achieved all-time records in Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE, as well as a number of March quarter records, including in Brazil, Malaysia and India." So at least behind the scenes, Apple is pleased with their growing footprints in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. (Click on Chart to Greatly Enlarge) Apple is still building brand awareness in this particular market and earlier this month opened an online Apple Store in Vietnam. For more statistics on this market, review the second Canalys report. Eucharist & Sacrifice; Baptism; Salvation of Non-Christians(?); Confession; Theological Liberals (& Pope Francis); Ordination; Church Indefectibility The late Steve Hays (1959-2020) was a Calvinist (and anti-Catholic) apologist, who was very active on his blog, called Triablogue (now continued by Jason Engwer). His 695-page self-published book, Catholicism a collection of articles from his site has graciously been made available for free. On 9 September 2006, Hays was quite almost extraordinarily charitable towards me. He wrote then: I dont think Ive ever accused him of being a traitor or apostate or infidel. . . . I have nothing to say, one way or the other, regarding his state of grace. But his sincerity is unquestionable. I also dont dislike him. . . . I dont think theres anything malicious about Armstrongunlike some people who come to mind. In addition, I dont think Ive ever said he was unintelligent. For the record, its obvious that Armstrong has a quick, nimble mind. Two-and-a-half years later, starting in April 2009 and up through December 2011 (in the following quotations) his opinion radically changed, and he claimed that I have an evil character, am actually evil, ego-maniac, narcissist, idolater, self-idolater, hack who pretends to be a professional apologist, given to chicanery, one who doesnt do any real research, a stalwart enemy of the faith . . . no better than [the atheists] Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, with an intent to destroy faith in Gods word, schizophrenic, emotionally unhinged, one who doesnt trust in the merit of Christ alone for salvation, has no peace of mind, a bipolar solipsist, split-personality, and a bad man. He wasnt one to mince words! See more gory details. I feel no need whatsoever to reciprocate these silly and sinful insults. I just wanted the record to be known. Ive always maintained that Hays was a very intelligent man, but habitually a sophist in methodology; sincere and well-meaning, but tragically and systematically wrong and misguided regarding Catholicism. Thats what Im addressing, not the state of his heart and soul (let alone his eternal destiny). Its a theological discussion. This is one of many planned critiques of his book (see my reasons why I decided to do this). Rather than list them all here, interested readers are directed to the Steve Hays section of my Anti-Catholicism web page, where they will all be listed. My Bible citations are from the RSV. Steves words will be in blue. ***** [Chapter 4: Catholic Apologetics] The counsel of Trent, part 2. The NT sometimes uses sacrificial language for the eucharist because the eucharist is the new covenantal counterpart to the Passover. That doesnt imply that the eucharist is sacrificial. Rather, that draws attention to the fact that Passover prefigures the eucharist. The eucharist replaces the Passover. [p. 120] Let me try to follow this: if the NT language for the Eucharist uses sacrificial language, it proves that its not sacrificial, because it is the NT counterpart for the sacrificial Passover? Huh? If it didnt have sacrificial language, then Hays would no doubt argue, see! Its not sacrificial! But if it does use such language, Hays argues, see! Its not sacrificial! Makes perfect sense, right? See my book chapter, The Sacrifice of the Mass: A Lamb . . . Slain [3-8-92; rev. May 1996]. St. Paul is quite clear: 1 Corinthians 10:16-21 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? [17] Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. [18] Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? [19] What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? [20] No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. [21] You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 1 Corinthians 11:23-30 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. [25] In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes. [27] Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. [28] Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. [30] That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. Protestants (as with John 6) try to undermine and ignore the obvious realism of these passages, but they fail. Its too obvious. Moreover, Scripture makes metaphorical usage of sacrificial imagery. For instance, Paul uses sacrificial language in Rom 12:1, but thats figurative rather than literal. Hes not advocating that Christians commit self-immolation. [p. 120] But thats a different use of the word sacrifice altogether, and so is irrelevant to this discussion. Its similar to Hebrews 13:16: Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. W. E. Vines Expository Dictionary of NT Words defines the latter instance as doing good to others and communicating with their needs. Jn 6 foreshadows the crucifixion (Jn 19) rather than the eucharist. Jesus is forecasting his death on the cross. [p. 120] How does eating Jesus flesh and drinking His blood relate to the crucifixion? Hays is really straining at gnats here. Jesus in John 6 compares Himself to the manna in the wilderness: John 6:48-51 I am the bread of life. [49] Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. [50] This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. [51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. Jn 6 cant refer to communion because Jesus says eating-drinking/believing-coming terminates hunger and thirst (v35). But communion doesnt put an end to physical appetite. [p. 120] John 6:35 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. Jesus is obviously talking about spiritual things: whoever comes to Him (believes in Him, partakes in the Eucharist) wont have spiritual thirst and hunger any longer. Hays, in his woodenly literal, fundamentalist-type exegesis completely misses this. Compare: Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 7:37 . . . Jesus stood up and proclaimed, If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. So it must have reference to figurative consumption, which is permanently quenched and satiated. It other words: a metaphor for eternal life. [p. 120] This is closer to the truth. Yes, those who come to and believe in Jesus will have eternal life. But they also obtain it through the Holy Eucharist; not merely belief in ones head: John 6:51 . . . if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:53-54 . . . unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; [54] he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life . . . John 6:56-58 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. [57] As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. [58] This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever. For that matter, Catholics dont think one-time communion is spiritually sufficient. Rather, Catholics are supposed to attend Mass at least once a week. It doesnt put an end to spiritual hunger and thirst. [p. 121] Jesus didnt say it was a one-time thing. He was saying that this was a means to eternal life: partaking of His flesh, made present again at the Sacrifice of the Mass. Hays again employs a silly wooden literalism. Jesus and Paul talked of partaking in the Eucharist often (1 Cor 11:25-26, above). And its done in remembrance of Jesus, which also strongly implies a regular observance (1 Cor 11:24-25, see above). [M]odern Catholicism doesnt regard baptism as essential to salvation. [p. 121] Nonsense. Nothing has changed, as usual. Only in Hays head has the Catholic Church supposedly evolved into totally different belief-systems. Its a fantasy of his own making. The Church has always held to baptismal regeneration and its being essential to salvation because its clearly and repeatedly taught in the Bible. See also the Catholic Catechism on baptism. At the same time the Church has always also recognized rare exceptions to the rule, and baptism of desire, etc. Indeed, in modern Catholicism, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and atheists can be saved. [p. 121] Indeed, in the Bible, Paul alludes to the possibility of salvation for non-Christians: Romans 2:13-16 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. [14] When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. [15] They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them [16] on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. There are many other ecumenical motifs in the Bible, such as Jesus and the Roman centurion: Matthew 8:5-12 As he entered Caperna-um, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him [6] and saying, Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress. [7] And he said to him, I will come and heal him. [8] But the centurion answered him, Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go, and he goes, and to another, `Come, and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this, and he does it. [10] When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. We also have the story of Cornelius, the Roman centurion in Acts 10. He is described as a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms liberally to the people, and prayed constantly to God (10:2), and its recorded that an angel of God spoke to him (10:3, 7, 30-32), saying, Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God (10:4). The Holy Spirit Himself told Peter that He had sent Cornelius three friends to him (10:17-20), and indeed the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his friends (10:44-46). All of this was before he was baptized (10:47-48). Peter testifies: Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him (10:34-35). So none of this is new (supposedly only after Vatican II) at all. Its right in the Bible. The Church fathers (especially Augustine) wrote about it, and so did St. Thomas Aquinas (13th c.). If Hays had actually taken time to study these matters, he would have known this. But here I am correcting him, and educating those who have only learned about Catholicism from Hays or other anti-Catholics. Hays knows the truth now. There is general agreement that there is no firm evidence for infant baptism before the latter part of the second century. This fact does not mean that it did not occur, but it does mean that supporters of the practice have a considerable chronological gap to account for. Many replace the historical silence by appeal to theological or sociological considerations. [p. 121] I dont know whos agreeing to that, seeing that infant baptism is taught in the Bible (a strong deduction, but still, I contend, taught). [P]ublic confession . . . [is] hardly equivalent to confessing your sins to a priest in private. [p. 122] As so often, Hays cant see the forest for the trees. The essence of confession is declaring sins and repentance to a clergyman. Whether it is public or private is secondary and not of the essence. So public confession is a legitimate evidence for confession. For the true-blue Protestant (with some exceptions), any confession to men at all is senseless, unnecessary, and anathema; all must confess to God only. But the Bible teaches the former, so they have to grapple with it somehow. You just pick a parish with a sympathetic priest or bishop. Thats easy to find. Lots of liberal priests and bishops to choose from. [p. 123] See how Hays always has to highlight the liberal dissidents (that every group is blessed with)? Why is it he never seems to say, lots of orthodox, faithful priests and bishops to choose from? If I were recommending a Protestant denomination to someone intent to remain Protestant, I would tell him to avoid liberal denominations like the plague, and Id direct him to one that is honest and actually follows its own stated beliefs; that is, one that is serious about the Christian faith and not just playing games. But for Hays, when he thought of Catholic all he could see in his head for whatever inexplicable reason was liberals / heterodox / dissidents. Its like shopping for tomatoes at the grocery store and always picking out the squishy, blemished, half-rotten ones, and saying those represent what tomatoes are supposed to be! Theyre the real tomatoes. He [Trent Horn] tries to prooftext holy orders from 1 Tim 4:14. But that inference is complicated by alternative explanations: [p. 123] The passage talks about the gift that Timothy had, which was given to him by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon him. Sounds like it could be ordination to me. But if Hays wants to discount it, then we have And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Eph 4:11-12). Those offices are called gifts as well, and ministry and working for the Church is present in context. Did Hays wish to argue that no one is ordained; that there are no pastors, elders, etc.? One sinking shipor many lifeboats? Protestants were hellbound. And thats the position Rome used to take regarding everybody who wasnt in communion with Rome. [p. 127] Thats a lie, as already explained. But nowadays, the Magisterium is flirting with hopeful universalism. [p. 127] Thats a lie, too. There is no universalism taught in Catholicism. Universal atonement, however, is taught (the possibility of any individual to obtain salvation, given certain conditions). Another problem with his [some Catholic real or alleged apologists] tweets is bigotry. To judge by what he said, it seems highly unlikely that hes had many, if any, conversations, with evangelical philosophers, theologians, Bible scholars, and church historians. His uninformed comments are a textbook case of prejudice. In addition, hes like a man standing in front of a burning house, which happens to be his own house, while he lectures the neighbors on how their house is an eyesore. We watch him stand there, scolding us, while right behind him we see his own house in flames. [p. 127] Another problem with Steve Hays critiques of Catholicism is bigotry. To judge by what he said, it seems highly unlikely that hes had many, if any, conversations, with Catholic philosophers, theologians, Bible scholars, apologists, or church historians. His uninformed comments are a textbook case of prejudice. In addition, hes like a man standing in front of a collection of burning houses, which happens to be his own neighborhood, while he lectures the neighbors on how their house is an eyesore. We watch him stand there, scolding us, while right behind him we see his own row of houses in flames. Pope Francis is an aggressive modernist . . . [Catholicism] is on fire, and the sitting pope is the arsonist. . . . Francis is unweaving the Catholicism of Benedict XVI and John-Paul II. [pp. 127-128] Hes not a modernist at all, which is, I guess, the reason that Hays doesnt document this beyond all doubt. Its what he wishes to be the case, and so he believes it in the face of the facts. First Hays asserts that post-Vatican II Catholicism is already modernist, universalistic, etc. Now he does an about-face and makes out that Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI were orthodox and traditional, while Francis is a flaming liberal revolutionary. Whatever works! Facts be damned! Consistency: whats that? Hays cited a Catholic claiming that Protestants did not have a valid Eucharist, but that the Orthodox did, and asked, Is that the position of post-Vatican II theology? [p. 129] Yes it is. Thats why Protestants are not allowed to receive Holy Communion at a Catholic Mass, because they have a different view and dont agree with the Catholic view. By the way, why does the Eucharist require a Catholic priest to be valid, but baptism does not? Whats the principle? Or is the distinction ad hoc? [p. 129] Because the priest represents Jesus at the Last Supper (in persona Christi / alter Christus), and then presides over transubstantiation and the eucharistic sacrifice, whereby the one redeeming, sacrifice on the cross is supernatural made present. Baptism, on the other hand, was done by people other than Jesus from the beginning (Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples: Jn 4:2). Ecclesial deism [N]on-Catholics dont believe God protects his denomination [Catholicism] from heresy or apostasy. [p. 131] Non-Catholics dont believe God protects any denomination or Christian communion from heresy or apostasy. This is a big problem, because the Bible teaches that the one true Church is indefectible. We dont believe Christ founded the Roman Catholic church in the first place. [p. 131] What church did He found, then, since we know that He did so, by the words, I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it (Mt 16:18). All in one fell swoop, then, we know that there is such a thing as a church and it is Jesus own, and that it is indefectible. And we know that its first leader was Peter (the early part of the same verse).If the Catholic Church isnt the one that Jesus is, which claimant is that? Hays could hardly deny that Jesus established a Church, when the text is so clear. The problem then becomes figuring out how the powers of death cant touch the true Church, when Hays and Protestants deny that any Protestant denomination is infallible or indefectible (which is part and parcel of the definition of sola Scriptura). Quite the conundrum! Protestants like me dont believe that God withdrew his protection of his people from apostasy. To the contrary, God preserves the elect from apostasy. [p. 132] Thats a meaningless abstract notion, since we dont know for sure who the elect are, and those who think they are in the elect cant agree on all doctrines anyway. So any sense of observable non-apostasy is nonsensical apart from a claimed denomination that has it all right. And thats exactly what most Protestants will refuse to identify, because their own presuppositions disallow it. *** Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,300+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-one books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart! *** Photo credit: The Whore of Babylon (workshop of Lucas Cranach): colorized illustration from Martin Luthers 1534 translation of the Bible [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Summary: The late Steve Hays was a Calvinist and anti-Catholic writer and apologist. This is one of my many critiques of Hays Catholicism: a 695-page self-published volume. Today marks the 220th anniversary of Ralph Waldo Emersons birth. Me, I consider this a signal event in the spiritual development of North America. And, who knows, perhaps the world. He was a central founder of the Unitarian Transcendentalist movement. For most of America, Transcendentalism was a literary movement. However, in fact it was a theological and spiritual revolution within American Unitarianism and only incidentally a literary phenomenon. I often think of how Zens rise touched art and literature while actually being about something else. Connected. But ultimately with its primary focus the understanding of human hearts and the urge for meaning and direction in this mysterious world. As it is with movements of various sorts there are any number of moments that could be named the beginning of Transcendentalism. The 1836 publication of Ralph Waldo Emersons essay Nature is probably the most common. It marks a wonderful shift in focus for Western spirituality. Moving the locus of wisdom from texts to nature itself. With that book Emerson articulated the beginnings of a nondual approach to spirituality that would end up shaping the liberal religious impulse of two American protestant denominations, the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America. It would also provide a tap root for what would eventually become the New Thought movement. As I noted, today, the 25th of May, in 1803, is Ralph Waldo Emersons birthday. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His father William was a Unitarian minister. He was the second of five sons who would live into adulthood. William died before Ralph turned eight. His mother was joined by his aunt Mary Moody Emerson and other women in the family who provided the boys with a solid home. He attended Boston Latin and then, as was how it went in those days, at fourteen he entered Harvard. In his senior year he decided to use his middle name Waldo. At eighteen he graduated and began a career as a school teacher. Plagued by poor health he lived for a time in South Carolina and then in Florida. In Florida Waldo had his first experience of slavery. He also made an intellectual friend in a nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Achille Murat. The two had deep conversations about life and poetry and philosophy. In later years he would credit the prince for launching his intellectual life. In 1824 Waldo returned to Harvard for the course in divinity. Completing the program he accepted the invitation to serve as junior pastor of the Second Church in Boston. He was also chaplain to the Massachusetts legislature. He married, but his wife, Ellen died within two years. Perhaps triggered by his wifes death Emerson began to question his usefulness as a parish minister. A disagreement over presiding at communion led him to submit his resignation in 1832. Whatever the depth of his disagreements about the eucharist and its public celebration, it has been noted it was as good a reason to leave the parish as any. Emerson then toured Europe, where he met many of the leading intellectual lights of the day. He returned to the United States in 1833, living for a time in Newton with his mother before settling in Concord. From there he launched a career as an author and public lecturer. He proved wildly successful. In 1835 he married for a second time, to Lydia Jackson. Jackson was a formidable figure in her own right, An abolitionist, feminist, activist for Native American rights, and the welfare of animals. They would have four children together. In 1836, at the same time as he published Nature, in response to a letter from Frederick Henry Hedge to Emerson calling for the creation of a symposium that could allow for a free discussion of theological and moral subjects, he joined Hedge and George Putnam at Sophia and George Ripleys home. This would come to be called the Transcendental Club. They soon moved their meeting to the bookstore owned by Elizabeth Peabody. Among the members besides those already listed were Margaret Fuller, Bronson Alcott, Orestes Brownson, Ellen Sturgis Hooper, Theodore Parker, Henry David Thoreau, William Henry Channing, James Freeman Clarke, Christopher Pearse Cranch, Convers Francis, Sylvester Judd, and Jones Very. Each of these remarkable figures deserves a full biography of their own. Several have them. In addition to being heirs to the greatness of European thought and particularly the new thinking coming out of Germany, they were the first Americans to have access to translations of major religious writings from the East, including Hindu, Taoist and Buddhist texts. They made full use of this gathered wisdom in their deliberations. For Transcendentalism as an organized religious expression we can look again to Emerson. On July 15th, 1838, he was invited back to his old school to give the graduation address. He did.It is remembered as the Divinity School Address. And it proclaimed what some called the new infidelity. Within it we see what would eventually evolve into the Unitarian Universalist Association. Here the nondual impulse framed within Western culture would offer up a new, eclectic, and syncretistic alternative to Protestant Christianity. With the conventions of Unitarianism, he reasserted the humanity of the good and great teacher Jesus. The first wave of Unitarianism in the previous generation remained deeply rooted in biblical Christianity. Indeed the rejection of trinity was mainly because there was, beyond a Medieval interpolation, no explicit statement of a trinitarian doctrine in the scriptures. The first wave of American Unitarianism was deeply biblical. And they continued to assert the miracles reported within the text as an internal proof of their validity. Emerson made sure to underscore his Unitarianism was not a form of Arianism, where Jesus is lifted to a demigod status. His term. Emersons Divinity School Address dismissed the idea that the reports of miracles in the scriptures were proof of the truth of the teachings to be found within them, and with that explicitly rejecting the necessity of scripture as divine revelation. Instead he declared that the intuition of the individual was sufficient to find ones way. This created a firestorm within Unitarianism. A fire that has not yet burned itself out. Emerson gradually moved from a broadly but not particularly engaged anti-slavery feeling to active abolitionist. An early supporter of Abraham Lincoln, he had a mixed feelings about the president, eventually settling that Lincoln was perhaps the only person who could have guided the country through those horrendous times. He was for a time one of the leading public intellectuals in North America. In 1862 Henry Thoreau died. He was 44. Emerson delivered his eulogy. Two years later he served as a pallbearrer for Nathaniel Hawthorne. By 1867 his own health began to fail. By the dawn of 1872 he began to show evidence of dementia. Although he still traveled, notably a trip to England with his daughter Ellen. He withdrew from all public activity in 1879. Emerson died on the 27th of April, 1882, in Concord. His body would be interred at Authors Ridge in the Concord graveyard. While there would be a variety of views held among the Transcendentalists, personally Im much more influenced by Henry Thoreaus thing in itself than Emersons platonism, one thing was certain. In this crowd of New England Unitarians, something incredibly important was happening. And Ralph Waldo Emerson was very much at the center of it. Something emerged that would profoundly influence, for good and for ill, and I will happily assert vastly more to the good, as a rising spirituality in America. So, blessings upon you, Ralph Waldo Emerson. You did good The Ministry of Finance and Bank of Ghana (BoG), together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), are formulating a robust strategy to revive the countrys financial sector that will be unveiled by end of June this year. This represents a major component of proposed structural reforms under the US$3billion Extended Credit Facility (ECF) provided by the Fund; and the initiative seeks to strengthen Ghanas financial sector, instill market confidence, and promote increased lending to the private sector. The IMF is urging fiscal and monetary authorities to complete the necessary steps, including providing capital support to qualifying institutions and implementing measures to strengthen the financial sector exchange promptly. In a Staff Report published following the formal announcement of an Executive Board-level approval of the ECF, the IMF stressed the importance of timely action, stating: Any capital support to qualifying institutions and other steps necessary to strengthen the financial sector exchange will be completed in a timely manner. To bolster the sectors resilience, enhance market confidence and encourage lending to the private sector, we will develop a strategy by end-June 2023 for strengthening the financial sector and rebuilding financial sector buffers, to be accomplished by end of the programme. As part of the proposed reforms, each of the nations 23 commercial banks will be obligated to submit reliable and time-sensitive plans to replenish capital buffers, aligning with the specified timelines outlined in the financial sector strategy. These plans will undergo evaluation by the central bank and be finalised by banks for approval by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) before end of September 2023, signifying a crucial milestone in the structural reform process. Speaking about the expectations for financial institutions, the statement mentioned: Taking a forward-looking perspective and in line with our supervisory framework, individual banks will be expected to submit their credible time-bound plans to rebuild capital buffers on a phased basis in line with timelines set out in our financial sector strategy. These plans will be reviewed by the BoG and finalised by banks for BoG approval by end-September 2023. Apart from banks, the regulator will also require special deposit-taking institutions (SDIs), non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and other regulated financial entities like securities firms and insurance firms to submit time-bound plans for recapitalization, and ensure strict adherence to those plans. The progress of these institutions in meeting their recapitalisation targets and timelines will be closely monitored by the relevant regulatory bodies, ensuring accountability and compliance, the Bretton Woods institution noted. To further ensure stability of the banking system, the BoG will conduct additional stress-tests to closely monitor vulnerabilities and guide discussions regarding adjustments to the financial sector strategy. The Funds proposed reforms have received mixed reactions among analysts. Supporters argue that strengthening the financial sector will enhance investor confidence and stimulate economic growth. However, critics express concern about the potential burden on financial institutions and the overall economy Nevertheless, all eyes will be on additional details regarding the GH15billion Financial Stability Fund. Already, the Finance Ministry has announced its readiness to disburse a total of US$750million, equivalent to approximately GH9billion and representing 60 percent of the targetted total. This is particularly aimed at offering solvency and liquidity assistance to eligible financial sector institutions that were impacted by and actively took part in the domestic debt exchange programme (DDEP). The lenders ECF programme, coupled with these proposed structural reforms, is expected to provide a solid foundation for the nations financial sector; thus ensuring its resilience and ability to support sustainable development and economic progress. As the deadline approaches for development of the financial sector strategy, stakeholders across the country eagerly await further updates on the progress and implementation of these reforms recognising their potential to shape the countrys future financial landscape. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Chief Executive for the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, GNPC, Opoku Ahwene Danquah has been honoured as the best Chief Executive for the Upstream Petroleum sector in Ghana by the Ghana CEOs Network. Announcing the honours at the just ended 7th CEOs Summit in Accra, the Network further recognized the outstanding performance of Ahwene Danquah in the sector since assuming office as the Chief Executive for the countrys National Oil Company. This is in recognition of your sterling leadership, achievement, business excellence and professionalism over the last year in the upstream petroleum regulation sector of Ghanas Economy. The CEO network stated An award to for the CEO of the year is presented to an individual who exemplifies outstanding business practices, achievements, leadership, vision and the creation of economic growth while contributing to the community. The theme for this years summit is economic sovereignty, sustainable corporate governance and digital industrial transformation: New paths for growth and Prosperity. Opoku Ahwene Danquah has close to two decades of experience in Strategy across multiple business platforms with most of his focus in, but not limited to Oil & Gas. Prior to GNPC, Danquah worked for Vallourec a multinational tubular technology producer serving the energy, construction, automotive, and mechanical industries. At Vallourec, he managed the North American Strategy, Development and Innovation team. Before this role, Danquah held senior roles at Baker Hughes and General Electric (GE). Prior to that, he was also the Global Strategic Manager at Schlumbergers upstream consulting arm (SBC). He also held a Director role at Hart Energy where he helped consolidate their consulting and research groups. His professional tenure also includes working for Wood Mackenzie, IHS CERA, Euromoney Institutional Investor and Bank of America. Opoku Ahwenee Danquah holds a bachelors degree in Economics from Middlebury College, with a minor in French. He also holds a masters degree from The Fletcher School of Tufts University with a focus in both International Relations and International Business, with Strategy coursework for his masters degree completed at Harvard Business School. Danquah is an alumnus of Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC, Legon), where he represented the school in the National Science & Maths Quiz About Opoku Ahwene Danquah (O-A Danquah) O-A Danquah is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) where he oversees all operations. He has over 18 years of experience in Strategy across multiple businesses with most of his focus in, but not limited to Oil & Gas/Energy. Prior to GNPC, Danquah worked for Vallourec a multinational tubular technology producer serving the energy, construction, automotive, and mechanical industries. At Vallourec, he managed the North American Strategy, Development and Innovation team. Before this role, Danquah held senior roles at Baker Hughes and General Electric (GE). Prior to that, he was the Global Strategic Manager at Schlumbergers upstream consulting arm (SBC). He also held a Director role at Hart Energy where he helped consolidate their consulting and research groups. His professional tenure also includes working for Wood Mackenzie, IHS CERA, Euromoney Institutional Investor and Bank of America. Danquah holds a bachelors degree in Economics from Middlebury College, with a minor in French. He also holds a masters degree from The Fletcher School of Tufts University with a focus in both International Relations and International Business, with Strategy coursework for his masters degree completed at Harvard Business School. Danquah is an alumnus of Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC, Legon), where he represented the school in the National Science & Maths Quiz. Source: Peacefmonline com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Today Challenging Heights has launched the Global Slavery Index (GSI) 2023 on behalf of its partner, Walk Free. Walk Free is an Australia-based international human rights group working to accelerate the end of all forms of modern slavery. Walk Free is the creator of the Global Slavery Index, the world's most comprehensive data set on modern slavery. The Global Slavery Index is used to mobilize powerful forces for change against these human rights abuses. Challenging Heights, which has been a leading Ghanaian antislavery organization, has been a key Africa partner of Walk Free in the last one decade. The 2023 GSI report estimates 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any given day in 2021, throughout the 160 countries that were covered by the research. The figure represents an increase of 10million people since 2016. Of the 50million, 28million people were found in forced labor, while 22 million were in forced marriages. Children formed 12million of the total number of people found in slavery. Africa had the fourth highest prevalence among the five regions of the world at any given day, with an estimated 7 million adults and children living in modern slavery, representing 5.2 people for every thousand persons. More than 3.1 million Africans were found to be in forced marriages, while more than 3.8 million people were found to be in forced labor across Africa. The countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery in Africa are Eritrea (9% of the population), Mauritania (3.2% of the population), and South Sudan (1% of the population). The prevalence rate of slavery in Ghana is 0.3%, with Mauritius recording the least prevalence rate at 0.2%. Africa has the highest vulnerability to modern slavery of all regions and is home to the four most vulnerable countries: The report found 100% levels of vulnerability in South Sudan, and 98% in Somalia and Central African Republic. The vulnerability score in Ghana was 45%, while it was lowest in Mauritius (20%). Common to the most vulnerable countries are issues such as conflict, political instability, mass displacement, and poverty. The impacts of COVID-19 have compounded risk of modern slavery across the region. There are several products such as gold, cocoa, fish, coffee, garments, which are at risk of modern slavery, according to the report. Over US$468billion of imports are goods such as electronics ($243.6billion), garments ($147.9billion), palm oil ($19.7billion), solar panels ($14.8billion), and textiles ($12.7billion) leading the pack of products at risk of modern slavery into G20 member countries alone. African job seekers misled by traffickers with false promises are subjected to forced labor abroad, such as in the Gulf states. Children are also exploited in their pursuit of education. For example, under the confiage (trust) system in Togo, children from rural areas are sent to cities to complete their education and live with relatives, who may force them into domestic servitude. Nigerian girls seeking employment as domestic helpers to help pay for schooling are also subjected to domestic servitude. In Senegal, talibe (student, seeker) children in Quranic schools are forced to beg. In Africa, forced marriage particularly impacts women and girls. One in every 300 females in the region was in a forced marriage. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of child marriages increased in Sudan, Egypt, and parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Women and girls living in conflict zones also experience forced and child marriage, including as a negative coping mechanism by families to protect them from further violence by fighters who abduct, marry, and exploit women and girls as domestic and sexual slaves. Forced commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls is used as a weapon of war by both state and non-state groups, reportedly in the Central African Republic, the DRC, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and by both parties to the civil war in Ethiopias Tigray region. Current actions of governments are not enough. Nigeria, by far, leads with regards to its slavery response rate (54%), followed by South Africa (53%), Rwanda (50%), with Libya (10%) and Eritrea (5%) at the bottom of the government response score card. Ghana scored 45% in its response rate to modern slavery over the reporting period. Governments need to immediately move from intention to effective action, in addressing modern slavery. Governments in Africa must ensure support services are provided to all survivors of modern slavey men, women and children- and that these support services are appropriately resourced. Governments must also strengthen social protections, such as birth registration, access to education, unemployment insurance, universal health care and sick leave. The G20 countries whose over $468billion annual product imports are at risk of modern slavery must take immediate and decisive action, to address modern slavery in their supply chains. African countries must take urgent steps to pass supply chain due diligence laws, to not only protect the rights of workers, but also to protect its international business relations. Source: James Kofi Annan/Challenging Heights/President Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Economic and Organised Crime Office (BOCO) in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service have arrested forty-nine (49) Nigerian nationals in Accra on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023. The suspects were made up of forty-seven (47) males and two (2) females with their ages ranging from 18 - 34 years. The said individuals were suspected to have been involved in human trafficking and cyber-crime related activities. In all, seventy (70) laptop computers, two (2) saloon cars, fifty-one (51) mobile phones, nine (9) internet modems and other gadgets were recovered from their hideout during the operation. Following the arrest and subsequent screening of the suspects, it came to light that forty-five (45) of the individuals were victims of human trafficking whilst four (4) were the traffickers. The rescued victims have been repatriated to Nigeria to reunite with their families while the four (4) traflickers namely: Godstine Omoruyi, Junior Nosa Omoruyi, Marvelous Omorayi and Evbuomwan Idow have been arraigned before the court. Their arrest followed intelligence obtained by the Office to the effect that some young Nigerians had been trafficked into the country. The said victims were lured into the country with the promise of securing them jobs but were subsequently forced to engage in cyber-crime activities upon their arrival in the country. The traffickers also resorted to various forms of physical torture and abuse to coerce their victims into subjection. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Broadcaster and host of Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' morning show, Kwami Sefa Kayi has set the record straight on his crusade for Ghana to legalize marijuana. Kwami Sefa Kayi has been advocating that the Government of Ghana should reconsider criminalizing the growing of marijuana in the country but his assertions have been misconstrued by some section of the public. His critics have lashed out at him stating his call is aimed to stimulate people to smoke marijuana (wee). Today, May 25, marks the 60th anniversary of Africa Union (AU) and with the Kokrokoo panel discussing the significance of the day, a texter took a jab at Kwami Sefa Kayi for not condemning the use of marijuana but rather hoping for it to be legitimized. "Kwami, this assertion of yours about wee is so nauseating. Our political and cultural system is not yet matured to handle such a situation. Let's take our time," the texter said. In reply, Mr. Sefa Kayi clarified his position stating, "I haven't said we should go and smoke wee. So, with the greatest respect, this your misrepresentation and misunderstanding of what my position is is extremely nauseating. I haven't said anybody should smoke wee". He noted that his position is that marijuana should be legalized for industrial, medicinal and development purposes. Marijuana is "used to make medicines. It is used to create industries in some places. The wee is grouped into two; we have industrial hemp or industrial marijuana and recreational marijuana...Do a little research. There's something called the THC levels. The THC levels in industrial marijuana are about 0.3; that is what is used to do things. The one that is above the 0.3 is what make people high. We cannot even come together as a country to think that we can use the 0.3 to manufacture things," he explained. He added, "We will be sitting here and the Whites will use wee [0.3] to manufacture an aeroplane and that we should come and buy, and of course we will buy it. That is where my fear is and my problem is...We will be here one day and they will tell us that they have used a certain part of the wee to make baby food...So, please, I haven't said any person should go and smoke wee. That's not what I'm saying or advocating." Borrowing a phrase from the legendary Bob Marley, Kwami Sefa Kayi called on the nation to "emancipate yourself from mental slavery", if not, he stressed, "one day, we will regret it". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a lecturer at the Central University, has taken a swipe at the Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Freddy Blay over his alleged misconduct. There is a raging issue currently going on in respect of a decision by Mr. Freddy Blay to sell 50% of Ghanas stake in Jubilee Fields to a South African oil company, the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA). Following the exposure of the planned deal, a group of 29 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has petitioned the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to dismiss the GNPC Board Chairman. We demand the immediate removal of GNPCs CEO, Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah and the Board Chairman, Freddie W. Blay from their respective positions as they have become a threat to Ghanas interest in the petroleum sector, Coordinator for the Economic Governance Platform, Abdul Karim Mohammed said. Also a former Energy and Petroleum Minister and Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has asked the President to institute an immediate probe into the actions of Mr. Freddy Blay and Chief Executive of GNPC, Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah. "I have observed with great concern, the raging issue in respect of the decision by the Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and the CEO of the Corporation, to sell 50% of Ghanas 7% stake in the Jubilee Fields to the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA). This issue has undoubtedly spawned a full-blown turf war between the Minister of Energy on the one hand and the Board Chairman and CEO of GNPC on the other. But beneath their heated exchanges lies the clear and obvious impropriety of the actions of the Board Chairman of GNPC, Mr. Freddie Blay and his CEO, which must be a subject of a serious investigation. This is because, their actions smack of clear misconduct and have the potential to shortchange Ghanas interest," he said in a statement. Adding his voice to the calls on the President, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah also insists that "Hon. Freddie Blay has to resign as Board Chairman". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Harry and Meghan claimed they were involved in a near-catastrophic two-hour paparazzi chase in New York City earlier this month when they were returning from the Women of Vision Awards at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, where Meghan was honored by Gloria Steinem for her advocacy, along with Meghans mom, Doria Ragland. It started off with 12 paparazzi, then ended up with four chasing [Meghan, Harry and Doria]. Their security tried their best to lose [photographers]. their publicist said. The incident drew many comparisons to the paparazzi car chase that led to Princess Diana being killed in a crash in a Paris tunnel. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have received plenty of backlash in response to their car chase allegations, with many claiming they want sympathy and that they are liars. However, they said the criticisms will not stop them from talking about it. They insist their account of the car chase was absolutely not exaggerated, and for people to say otherwise is so hurtful and out of line, Us Weekly magazine says a source told them. As far as staying out of sight and being scared to show their faces, thats not going to happen, the source told the outlet. [This has] just strengthened their resolve to keep standing up for themselves and speaking out when they feel wronged. The couples representative also shut down reports that the crash was exaggerated for publicity. Respectfully, considering the dukes family history, one would have to think nothing of the couple or anybody associated with them to believe this was any sort of PR stunt, publicist Ashley Hansen said,, referencing Princess Dianas fatal car crash with paparazzi in 1997. Quite frankly, I think thats abhorrent. Harry, who was 12 years old when his mother died, has been vocal about his feelings toward the paparazzi, and has previously said that he mourns his mother every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Manhyia Besstel Foundation, a Medical Organisation based abroad, is organising the Manhyia Mental Health Conference, on Thursday, 25th May, 2023, to discuss the Manhyia Project in the Ashanti Region and across Ghana in future. The Foundation which was inaugurated in Accra in 2018, has started its mandate to inculcate mental health training sessions for mental health facilities in Ghana. The foundation has signed a five year MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Mental Health Authority to collaborate and do volunteering services in Ghana. The foundation, as part of its mandate, brings medical Forensic Consultants, Psychiatrists, Psychologists and care givers to Ghana on yearly basis to serve the nation. The foundation, through Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll, Asantehene and Manhyia Palace, is working on consortium level to establish the first "Well-Being Recovery Hub" in Kumasi. The long term aspirations of the foundation is to build the first 'State of Art' Well Being Recovery Hospital at Nkwantakese ,to be named after Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. A 40 acre lland has already been presented to thd the Foundation by the Chiefs and people of Nkwantakese for the proposed project. Several institutions have benefitted from the foundation over the years, and some are... *Accra Psychiatric Hospital *Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital *37 Military Hospital *Prisons Headquarters *Nsawam Medium Prisons *Ridge Hospital and a host of others. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Awuah Darko, the former Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and BOST, along with Opanyin Abraham, the leader of the Saviour Church of Ghana, are being accused by concerned members of the NDC in the Afram Plains South Constituency. These members alleged that Darko and Abraham are interfering in the parliamentary primaries of their constituency. The concerned branch members have issued a warning to Awuah Darko and Opanyin Abraham, instructing them to stay away from the upcoming constituency primaries. This warning stems from their sponsorship of Paul Yaw Asirifi, a member of the Saviour Church, to participate in the upcoming parliamentary primaries. The concerned members argue that Asirifi does not meet the requirements outlined in Article 41, Clause 8(b) of the party's constitution. According to the branch executives, Paul Yaw Asirifi's party membership in the constituency falls short of the required four-year duration specified in Article 41, Clause 8(b) of the party's constitution. They mentioned that Asirifi registered his name in the constituency at LA Primary School, Odumasua during the 2022 branch limited registration exercise adding that since his membership does not span four years, he is considered ineligible to participate in the upcoming primaries. They stated in a press statement signed by their branch Chairman, Lakoni John Kpaidon that "Awuah Darko and Opanyin Abraham of the Saviour Church are the driving forces behind Paul Yaw Asirifi's bid to contest in the Afram Plains South Constituency, despite his lack of qualifications. They are leveraging their influence to impose Asirifi on the constituency". As concerned branch members, they do not want a repeat of the incident in 2016 when the party almost suffered due to the imposition of an unqualified candidate during the general elections. They are urging Awuah Darko and Opanyin Abraham to refrain from involving themselves in the parliamentary affairs of Afram Plains South because Asirifi is a newly registered member of the constituency. They are aware of meetings conducted by Awuah Darko in the constituency, where he introduced Paul Yaw Asirifi to branch executives, urging them to vote for him in the upcoming parliamentary primaries. Additionally, they have noticed Asirifi spreading the name of Awuah Darko as his main sponsor in the upcoming primaries while Op. Abraham, using the Saviour Church, as a tool to support their preferred candidate made threats to the party if Asirifi's demands are not met. The concerned members perceive these actions as not only a potential repetition of the unfortunate incident during the 2016 Parliamentary Primaries and general elections but also an attempt to manipulate the rules to favor an unqualified candidate in the upcoming parliamentary primaries. Particularly concerning is the fact that Paul Asirifi is a newly registered member. In light of this, they are issuing a warning to Awuah Darko and Opanyin Abraham, urging them to withdraw from any involvement in the Afram Plains South Constituency. As a party, they do not tolerate unlawful acts and question why their constituency parliamentary primaries were not held. They are aware that as of April 25, 2023, when the filing of nominations for the remaining constituencies in the Eastern Region closed, Paul Yaw Asirifi had not submitted his nomination forms. Thus, it is peculiar to witness Asirifi campaigning in the constituency. Furthermore, they highlight that Awuah Darko and Opanyin Abraham are neither registered members nor voters in the constituency. They do not contribute to the financial aspects of their political activities. They implore them to cease promoting illegality by supporting an unqualified candidate in the primaries and to stay away from the Afram Plains South Constituency Parliamentary Primaries, allowing the party's constitution to function impartially. Source: Michael Akrofi/Peace FM News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former NDC Central Regional Chairman, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has asked the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to rejoice thinking they will win the 2024 elections because of the current economic situation under the Akufo-Addo administration. According to him, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) won't be easy to beat in the 2024 elections. He gave this admonition to the NDC while analyzing the by-election held at Kumawu constituency in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday. He noted that the outcome of the by-election shows the NPP is building a strong organization towards the next elections. "They shouldn't be sitting down and saying that, because of the economic situation, they will win the 2024 elections. The NPP is quietly strategizing, building its organization towards 2024," he said on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show. He commended the NPP over their victory as their candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim, was declared winner in the by-election by the Electoral Commission. Yaw Anim polled 15264 and the National Democratic Congress' candidate, Kwasi Amankwaa had 3723 votes. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The world and Africa will miss outgoing Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, according to Ghanas President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He was optimistic that posterity will be kind to the current Nigeria leader. Speaking at the launch of two biographies about Buhari, Akufo-Addo praised the president for being solicitous of Africas interests and making decisions based on principles. The two new books talk about the legacies of President Buhari. President Akufo-Addo also congratulated the authors of the biographies and urged African storytellers to tell the continents story truthfully and with praise where earned and criticism where deserved. As leaders, we all have our high and low moments, but I have no doubt that posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari. West Africa, Africa, and, indeed, the world will miss his leadership the leadership of the military ruler turned consummate democrat, who was extremely solicitous of Nigeria and Africas interest, and who sought for principle in all decisions in which he took, the President remarked. Buhari was elected as Nigerias president in 2015, the first opposition candidate to do so following years of political turmoil. He is expected to leave office in May, 2023. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Organizer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin has accused the media fraternity in Ghana of unfairness to his party. According to him, the media made it a foremost topic to discuss John Dramani Mahamas Ghc40 per delegate transportation in their just-ended primaries as an attempt to vote buy, but has refused to talk about what happened in the Kumawu by-election. Speaking on NEAT FMs morning show, Joseph Yamin said the ruling New Patriotic Party massively influenced the Kumawu by-election with money. He expressed disappointment and called on the media to speak against it. If you broaden it you are diverting attention . . . let's talk about what the NPP is doing . . .What the NPP is doing is a recipe for disaster going forward, he said in reaction to a quaestion. Watch video below Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former NDC parliamentary aspirant for Shai Osudoku constituency and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, has issued an apology for speaking ill of the Supreme Court through a tweet. Following a recent Twitter post where he referred to the Supreme Court as a Stupid Court, Dr. Kpessa-Whyte has expressed remorse for his remarks. The summons issued alleges that he posted the following; The highest Court of the Land has been turned into a Stupid Court. They have succeeded in turning a Supreme Court into a Stupid Court. Common sense is now a scarce commodity. A major element in the death of democracies is partisanship in the delivery of justice. "Our judges need lessons in political philosophy and ethics. Time will tell. Dr. Kpessa-Whytes tweets came shortly after the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to remove the name of NDC Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson from its records due to procedural breaches during his nomination and election in 2020. The Supreme Court summoned Dr. Kpessa-Whyte to explain why he should not be held in contempt for describing the nations highest judicial body in such a manner. In a statement, Dr. Kpessa-Whyte clarified that he did not intend to denigrate the Supreme Court and offered his unreserved apology. Read the full statement by Michael Kpessa-Whyte APOLOGY AND RETRACTION I sent out a tweet on May 19, 2023, at 9:59 am, that shared my reflections on insights from a book by David A. Kaplan (2018) The Most Dangerous Branch: Inside the Supreme Courts Assault on the Constitution, and recent attempts by some Democrats in the US to increase the number of Justices at the Apex Court from nine to thirteen. I have observed that Ghanaweb and other media publications sought to associate my tweet with the decision of the Supreme Court in the Assin North matter as stated on the face of the Summons to show cause, but honestly, at the time of my tweet, I had no knowledge of the Supreme Courts decision as at 9: 59am when I did the tweet. The said tweet has resulted in the invocation of the powers of the Apex Court in our country for me to appear and show cause, because the tweet has scandalized the Apex Court of our land and has brought the dignity of the court into disrepute. Sincerely, the tweet was not done with the intent to scandalize or denigrate a revered institution such as the Supreme Court of Ghana for which I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration. These are consequences I never intended, although I do accept responsibility that, I could have exercised better judgment in my choice of words. Please permit me to state unequivocally that I have no reason to slander our Supreme Court, and I hereby sincerely apologize unreservedly for any pain and discomfort my tweets may have caused the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court, and the entire judiciary. I hereby retract the tweet in question; accordingly, the tweet has been deleted completely and I pray for forgiveness. Thank you. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Lancaster County woman who assaulted a newborn baby, causing lasting medical issues, will spend up to 10 years in prison, a judge ruled this week. Kayla Tucker, 34, was sentenced Wednesday to 4 1/2 to 10 years in prison, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. She pleaded guilty in October 2022 to three counts of aggravated assault and one count of endangering the welfare of children. The 3-month-old boy was barely conscious and struggling to breathe when Lancaster police arrived Aug. 30, 2021, at Tuckers home on the 500 block of North Plum Street, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the boy was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, then transferred to a second hospital in critical condition. He has undergone intensive rehabilitation and deals with ongoing medical issues, according to the district attorneys office. Police later said Tucker shook the baby, causing a subdural hemorrhage in the brain and other injuries. The boys parents had hired Tucker to watch their son while they were at work. Justice for your son would be going back in time and making sure this never occurred, Judge Merrill Spahn said at sentencing, according to the district attorneys office. What you have lived is a parents worst nightmare. Tucker was also ordered to pay $305,812.94 in restitution and to stay away from the victims. READ MORE: Senior pranksters will have to help clean up the mess, Susquehanna Twp. superintendent says 3 businesses were robbed in less than an hour: Steelton police The Lancaster County man charged with homicide last year in connection to the 1984 disappearance of his estranged wife was released from prison on bail this week, court records show. Jere Bagenstose, 68, was released Wednesday after posting $925,000 bail, according to Lancaster County records. He had been incarcerated since Dec. 22, 2022, when he was charged with killing his wife Maryann Bagenstose. Bagenstose was denied bail at the time of his arrest. But on Tuesday Judge Merrill Spahn ruled prosecutors had not presented sufficient evidence to support it was substantially more likely than not that Bagenstose committed a non-bailable offense, as interpreted under the 2022 Supreme Court ruling Commonwealth v. Talley, LancasterOnline reported. In evaluating our appeal options, we must recognize that Bagenstose is a rather rare no body cold case and presents an uncommon factual occurrence, District Attorney Heather Adams said in a statement responding to the ruling. However, the Courts ruling in this matter potentially impacts the procedural posture of future cases, and we will be fully prepared to challenge similar rulings where appropriate. Under the terms of his bail, Bagenstose cannot contact witnesses, must wear a GPS monitor, and cannot leave Lancaster County without the courts permission, according to LancasterOnline. He also must report to bail administration each week. The Bagenstoses were estranged when Maryann Bagenstose was last seen June 5, 1984. She was 25 and supposed to attend a custody hearing regarding the couples 2-year-old son 10 days after she went missing. She did not attend and has not been seen or heard from since June 5, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. Jere Bagenstose told investigators then and for years afterward that the last time he saw Maryann was the morning of June 5, when he said he met her at the West Willow Road home in Pequea Township to take her to trade in her car. Prosecutors said Maryann was excited about the purchase and was seen cleaning out her old car before she went missing. Maryann was not ready to pick up the new car when Jere arrived at her home June 5, he said. He told investigators he took their son to a local park, and when he returned found a handwritten note from Maryann saying she was walking to a Turkey Hill convenience store and would soon return. Police found a handwritten note while executing a search warrant on June 13. It was crumpled in a wooden nail keg in the living room of the West Willow Road house. The note said, Had to run an errand, be right back, but made no mention of a trip to Turkey Hill, Adams said. Using samples of Jere Bagenstoses handwriting, a Pennsylvania State Police expert concluded he was the one who wrote the note he used in 1984 to explain his wifes disappearance. Although prosecutors said they had a variety of evidence pointing to Bagenstose as a suspect, it was the handwriting sample that culminated in his arrest. People at Turkey Hill and the park where Jere said hed taken his son the day Maryann disappeared told police they never saw Jere or Maryann Bagenstose, Adams said. Law enforcement officers sent Jere Bagenstose multiple notes and postcards, purportedly from Maryann, but he never reported receiving them. Adams said he has also made a number of inconsistent statements to investigators over the years. No further court dates have been scheduled as of Thursday. READ MORE: Pa. nurse charged with killing 2 patients by injecting unneeded medication Senior pranksters will have to help clean up the mess, Susquehanna Twp. superintendent says Homicide and other charges have been filed against a nurse in western Pennsylvania who authorities said gave unnecessary medication to at least three patients. Two of the patients died, the Pennsylvania attorney general said, and third was hospitalized after the incidents at a skilled nursing facility. Heather Pressdee, 40, of Natrona Heights, was charged this week with homicide, attempted murder, aggravated assault, neglect of a care-dependent person and reckless endangerment. The charges were announced Thursday by Attorney General Michelle Henry. Henrys office said Pressdee was a registered nurse at Quality Life Services in Chicora, Butler County, when she gave insulin to three men who arent diabetic and didnt need it. Two died, a 55-year-old and an 83-year-old, the AGs office said, while the third, a 73-year-old, survived after emergency care. The deaths happened in December 2022, one of them on Christmas. The other incident happened Aug. 31, 2022, the AGs office said. Pressdee was taken into custody at her home Wednesday and is being held at Butler County Prison without bail. Anyone with information or concerns about Pressdee may call the Pa. attorney generals tipline at 888-538-8541. More: Spike in baby injuries and deaths in Pa. hospitals alarms patient safety agency Pa. man arrested after threatening to shoot up hospital: reports Dead grandfathers hand grenade kills Indiana man, injures 2 teens A Pennsylvania State Police trooper who shot and killed a 15-year-old armed with a gun earlier this month will not face criminal charges, prosecutors announced on Thursday. A trooper in Bradford County shot the boy around 12:30 p.m. May 4 when the teen refused to drop a gun during a confrontation in a wooded area of Herrick Township, according to state police. On Thursday, the Bradford County District Attorneys Office said troopers were responding to reports of a threat of violence made on an online message board before the shooting happened. When troopers found the boy, he ran from them did not listen to commands to stop. After being offered a surrender plan, the boy continued to hold onto the gun and pointed it at one of the troopers, according to the district attorneys office. Troopers shot at the teen three times, prosecutors said. He was then airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital, where he died. The evidence showed that the trooper was justified in employing deadly force to ensure the safety of himself, the other troopers present and the public in general, the district attorneys office said in a Thursday news release. State police and the district attorneys office have not released the identity of the boy. The district attorneys office and the state police Wilkes-Barre and Laporte stations investigated the case. State police from the Towanda station were involved in the shooting. READ MORE: Vigil service held for teen who died in Harrisburg dugout collapse Man sentenced to 30 years in prison for trying to kill witness in murder case Ben & Jerrys is a widely popular ice cream brand beloved by thousands across the country. And theres one Ben & Jerrys flavor that Pennsylvanians absolutely go gaga for above all others. Sticker and Co a sticker-making company based out of upstate New York sent out a study via press release that revealed each states favorite Ben & Jerrys flavor. Theres nothing like a scoop of your favorite ice cream on a hot summers day, reads the release. As summer officially kicks off this weekend, its time for the ultimate Ben & Jerrys flavor experience mapped out, revealing the top picks in each state. Sticker and Co managed to create this study by diving deep into Google Trends using keywords related Ben & Jerrys top 10 list to guide them and parsing the data they found out by each region. After all was said and done, Pennsylvanias favorite Ben & Jerrys ice cream was found to be chocolate fudge brownie. Describes the Ben & Jerrys website: The fabulously fudge brownies is this flavor come from New Yorks Greyson Bakery, where producing great baked goods is part of their greater-good mission to provide jobs and training to low-income city residents. The flavor was also believed in other states such as New York, Florida, and Texas. By AARON MORRISON and STEVE KARNOWSKI, The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the fervent protests that erupted around the world in response, looked to many observers like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. For more than nine minutes, a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of Floyd, a Black man, who gasped, I cant breathe, echoing Eric Garners last words in 2014. Video footage of Floyds May 25, 2020, murder was so agonizing to watch that demands for change came from across the country. But in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, economic uncertainty and a divisive U.S. presidential election, 2020 ended without the kind of major police reforms that many hoped, and others feared, would come. Then, 2021 and 2022 also failed to yield much progress. Now, three years since Floyds murder, proponents of federal actions such as banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and changing the so-called qualified immunity protections for law enforcement still await signs of change. When people casually, and I think too frequently, say that there is some sort of racial reckoning that were in the midst of, I see no evidence of that, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, said during a recent press conference convened by a Black Lives Matter collective. To be clear, racial justice activists and their champions in elected office havent slowed down. But the beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long its taking to achieve meaningful change. I dont play with words like reckoning, Pressley said. That needs to be something of epic proportion. And we certainly have not seen a response to the lynching, the choking, the brutality, (and) the murder of Black lives. FILE - People gather along the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum during a Justice for George Floyd protest, May 30, 2020 in Philadelphia. (Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, File)AP SINCE 2020, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS? Soon after Floyds murder, Minneapolis adopted a number of changes, including bans on chokeholds and neck restraints, and requirements that police try to stop fellow officers from using improper force. Minnesota lawmakers approved statewide police accountability packages in 2020 and in 2021, as well as tight restrictions on no-knock warrants just this month. The city is still awaiting the results of a federal investigation into whether its police have engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. A similar investigation by the state Department of Human Rights led to what it called a court-enforceable settlement agreement in March to revamp policing in the city. The federal investigation could lead to a similar but separate agreement with the city called a consent decree. Police in several other cities already operate under such oversight for civil rights violations. Activists say that Minneapolis has started to make critical changes, but that the work necessary to transform policing must continue. There were also immediate cries to defund the police and instead fund public housing, infrastructure and mental health services. But a ballot measure that had roots in that movement failed, even in some heavily Black neighborhoods. WHATS HAPPENING IN MINNEAPOLIS THIS WEEK? Minneapolis activists plan to mark the anniversary with a candlelight vigil Thursday night at George Floyd Square, the corner where Floyd died. A festival at the square Saturday will celebrate change in Minneapolis. FILE - Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File)AP WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OFFICERS? Derek Chauvin, the white officer who killed Floyd, and the three other officers who failed to stop Chauvin at the scene, are all in prison. Chauvin was sentenced in state court to 22 1/2 years for second-degree murder. Two of the three other officers pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter and received shorter terms, while the third officer was convicted of that count by a judge and awaits sentencing. Chauvin also pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge, admitting that keeping his knee on Floyds neck resulted in his death. In that case, he received a concurrent sentence of 21 years. The three others were also convicted of violating Floyds rights and got much shorter sentences. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER PROTESTS? Around the world, protests against racial violence and police brutality erupted after Floyds murder, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement. Videos circulated on social media of U.S. police using tear gas and less-lethal munitions like rubber bullets, which fueled calls for accountability. That accountability so far has largely come in the form of civil settlements. New York City found 146 officers had committed misconduct at protests including excessive force and violence like one officer who drove a car into protesters. Independent reviews in Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Los Angeles also found those departments had mishandled their responses. In some cities, a handful of officers were fired. Some faced criminal charges: In Austin, Texas, 19 officers were indicted by a grand jury. But few have been convicted. Minneapolis has agreed to millions of dollars in settlements with people who alleged they were victims of excessive police force during unrest that followed Floyds killing, which included the burning of a police station. But few officers faced disciplinary action. WHATS HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL? In 2020, the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, a piece of federal legislation, showed some signs of promise. It would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, like the one that enabled Louisville police to kill Breonna Taylor. It would also create a database listing officers who were disciplined for gross misconduct, among other measures. The following year, the House passed it but the Senate failed to reach a consensus. Last year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that applied key elements of the bill to federal law enforcement. On Thursday, Biden he renewed his call for Congress to act in order to bring real and lasting change at the state and local levels. I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it, he said in a statement. I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for police accountability in Congress, and I remain willing to work with Republicans and Democrats alike on genuine solutions. Meanwhile Pressley, the Massachusetts congresswoman, has been promoting the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, a measure she has reintroduced every year since 2020. WHAT ABOUT THE FLOYD FAMILY? Over the last three years, George Floyds family members have appeared at rallies and spoken out against police violence. Within days of his brothers death, Philonise Floyd testified at a congressional hearing about police reform. While relatives and reform advocates urged for legislation changes, George Floyds youngest daughter, Gianna Floyd, met Biden at the White House in 2021. A photo of a Marine holding the door for the 7-year-old went viral. FILE - A guard holds the door as Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, walks out of the West Wing of the White House, May 25, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)AP New York City-based Terrence Floyd, who became an activist after his brothers murder, planned to hold the third-annual memorial event at a Harlem church on Thursday evening. He has supported get-out-the-vote efforts and promoted music paying tribute to his brother. You have to have the faith that it will happen, because it didnt happen overnight for Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. It didnt happen overnight for Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, he said about meaningful social change. You cant expect it to happen overnight for us, but it will happen. More: Race and policing generate buzz at Harrisburg forum Travis McMichael, man who killed Ahmaud Arbery, sentenced to life in prison By Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News (TNS) The man who sat and put his feet up on Nancy Pelosis desk during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was sentenced Wednesday to four and a half years in prison. Richard Barnett, 63, had been earlier this year. He faced a maximum sentence of 47 years in prison, though prosecutors only argued for a seven-year term. The longest prison sentence imposed on a Jan. 6 rioter so far is 14 years. Barnett became one of the faces of the right-wing rendezvous when he was photographed lounging in Pelosis chair. The California Democrat was the speaker of the house at the time of riot. Hey Nancy, Bigo was here you (expletive), he wrote in a note to Pelosi, using his nickname. Barnett was easily identified and arrested days after the riot. In an interview at the time, he claimed he was pushed into Pelosis office. Ill probably be telling them this is what happened all the way to the D.C. jail, he said. Richard Barnett arrives for the jury selection at federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file)AP Whether or not he was lying about being pushed in, he wasnt lying about sticking to the story. Barnett continued to push that narrative during Wednesdays sentencing hearing, but the judge didnt buy it, according to CBS News. Though Barnett was best known for kicking his feet up in Pelosis office, prosecutors focused their case on another moment: When Barnett approached a police officer with a stun gun. He then told the cop to grab his American flag, which hed left behind in Pelosis office, and threatened to call in the mob if the officer refused. Barnett was convicted of felony interfering with a police officer during a civil disorder for that incident. While you may regret having gone there that day, you have so far not shown any acceptance of responsibility, Judge Christopher Cooper said, according to CBS News. Youre too old for this nonsense. More: Penn State grad, former Army Ranger sentenced for Capitol riot role Cumberland County woman gets 3 years in prison for role in U.S. Capitol riots The Delhi High Court has rejected Vodafone Idea (Vi)s attempt to challenge a fine issued by the regulator TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) in late 2016. In September 2016, now-market leader Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) entered the mobile market and gained immediate traction by providing services effectively for free to new sign-ups during its first six months of operation. However, those who switched to Jios network reported a high failure rate for calls to different networks. Jio argued that this was because the incumbent operators had denied its network sufficient points of interconnection (PoIs), while its rivals countered that Jios decision to provide free services forced their hands, as their networks would be overloaded by both such a large volume of asymmetric calls. TRAI sided with Jio, and recommended fining the incumbents INR500 million (USD6.0 million) per circle where Jios claim was found to be true. This was prior to the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, and given that the operators were respectively fined INR10.5 billion and INR9.5 billion, the merged unit still owes a combined penalty of INR20.0 billion. Despite the severity of this punishment, TRAI initially considered the even more extreme measure of cancelling the licences of operators found guilty of blocking Jio from PoIs. The strength of the regulators reactions drew accusations of favouritism towards Jio, and indeed the newcomer managed to avoid intervention or punishment despite its disruptive techniques. The Economic Times reports that in its legal challenge against the penalty, Vi argues that TRAI does not have the authority to impose such fines under the terms of current regulations, and called for the penalties to be annulled. The Delhi High Court has now dismissed this petition. By MARK SHERMAN and JESSICA GRESKO, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Thursday made it harder for the federal government to police water pollution in a decision that strips protections from wetlands that are isolated from larger bodies of water. Its the second decision in as many years in which a conservative majority of the court narrowed the reach of environmental regulations. The justices boosted property rights over concerns about clean water in a ruling in favor of an Idaho couple who sought to build a house near Priest Lake in the states panhandle. Chantell and Michael Sackett objected when federal officials identified a soggy portion of the property as a wetlands that required them to get a permit before building. FILE - Bethsaida Sigaran, left, of Baltimore, her brother Jaime Sigaran, with American Rivers, and Thea Louis, with Clean Water Action, join supporters of the Clean Water Act as they demonstrate outside the Supreme Court, Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)AP By a 5-4 vote, the court said in an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito that wetlands can only be regulated if they have a continuous surface connection to larger, regulated bodies of water. The court jettisoned the 17-year-old opinion by their former colleague, Anthony Kennedy, allowing regulation of wetlands that have a significant nexus to the larger waterways. Kennedys opinion had been the standard for evaluating whether wetlands were covered under the Clean Water Act. Opponents had objected that the standard was vague and unworkable. Environmental advocates had predicted that narrowing the reach of that law would strip protections from more than half the wetlands in the country. A black bear that attacked two young children in Luzerne County on Monday might have died in a traffic accident on Wednesday. According to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said the dead bears body was found about a mile from where the attack happened. The animals DNA was sent for analysis to try to confirm it was the same bear. In the meantime, the commission said it is continuing to check bear traps. The children, ages 5 years and 14 months, were attacked in the driveway of their Wright Township home. They both were treated for bites and/or scratches and were released from the hospital. A former Chicago Cubs prospect is wanted in Dominican Republic in connection with a shooting death, according to multiple reports. The Chicago Tribune said police in the country say they are searching for Josefrailin Alcantara, 18, after they say he shot and killed a friend, Darwin Diaz Valerio, back on May 19. According to the newspaper, police say Alcantara shot Diaz Valerio because the man owed him $150,000. The Tribune said police say the men were in a car together when an argument broke out. Police say Alcantara was shot in the hand, and then show Diaz Valerio twice. Alcantara was reportedly treating for his injuries before slipping away before he could be arrested. The Cubs reportedly signed Alcantara in 2022 for $500,000. The Tribune said the Cubs said Alcantara was suspended for a violation of team rules and has since been released. A man who tried to kidnap and silence someone he thought flipped on a group of hitmen out of Baltimore will spend the next three decades in federal prison. Nicholas Preddy, 32, will spend 30 years in prison for his role in trying to permanently silence someone he thought was cooperating with federal authorities on the investigation into the 2016 triple-murder in Mercersburg, Franklin County. Preddy traveled with a gang hired out of Baltimore to kill, then rob, Wendy Ann Chaney, 39, Brandon Cole, 47, and Phillip Matthew Jackson, 36, in a barn on Jacksons Mercersburg property in 2016, according to Gerard Karam, a prosecutor with the United States Attorneys Office in Harrisburg. Chaney was suspected of feeding information about a drug ring to authorities when Kevin Coles orchestrated the hit on her. Cole and Jackson were eliminated to prevent them from acting as witnesses, according to prosecutors. The goal was to clear the board of anyone who would rat on the groups activities. So as the subsequent investigation into the murders narrowed down to the Black Guerilla Family from Baltimore, and Preddy and other co-conspirators began to think one of their ranks flipped and was speaking to authorities, prosecutors said they decided to silence them, too. The effort was ultimately unsuccessful Preddy and the others attempted to kidnap and kill the suspected cooperator but the intended victim escaped unharmed, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said that Preddy, aware of the gangs plan to kill Chaney and any witnesses, waited outside in a van and did not participate in the executions. That didnt stop District Judge Christopher Conner from handing down the 30-year sentence to Preddy, the latest among several that have been meted out so far. Joshua Davis, 30, also pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy to silence the person thought to be cooperating with the investigation into the triple murders and received 100 months in federal prison. Other people convicted in this case include: Torey White , 32, of Waynesboro received three life sentences for murdering three individuals. Kevin Coles , 37, of Hagerstown, Maryland, received three consecutive terms of life imprisonment for multiple crimes, including murder for hire, robbery, and drug trafficking. He also received 35 years in prison for various firearms-related offenses. Adgebesan , age 35, of Baltimore and Hagerstown, Maryland, pled guilty in June 2022 to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during a Hobbs Act robbery. Adgebesan received a life sentence plus 10 years in prison. Mark Johnson , 35, Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to obstructing the grand jurys investigation and was sentenced to 110 months imprisonment. Terrance Lawson, 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness. Tyrone Armstrong, 30, of Baltimore, received time served for attempting to intimidate a witness. Devin Dickerson, 31, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine and is awaiting sentencing. Corbett, 38, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing. Michael Buck, 30, Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing. Nicholas Preddy, 29, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a witness and is awaiting sentencing. Johnnie Jenkins-Armstrong, 22, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing. Christopher Johnson , 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to multiple counts including murder for hire and is awaiting sentencing. Llesenia Woodard, 46, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to providing false testimony to the grand jury investigating the murders and is awaiting sentencing. Yolanda Diaz, 31, Hagerstown, was indicted on multiple counts of perjury and obstruction of justice based upon her testimony at the Coles trial. Her trial is currently scheduled for May 2023. READ MORE: Woman brought loaded gun into Harrisburg airport: TSA Drunken driver hit stopped ambulance in Pa. crash: police Pa. police searching for suspects that assaulted, kidnapped man: reports WILLIAMSPORT A Commonwealth Court panel has affirmed a lower court decision that a volunteer fire company in Lycoming County is a local agency under the Right-to-Know Law (RTKL). Wednesdays ruling states in determining if a volunteer fire company is a local agency the degree of governmental control, nature of the organizations functions and financial control must be considered. The ruling, which addresses right-to-know requests to the Clinton Twp. Volunteer Fire Co., likely will have a statewide impact because the Office of Open Records will apply the three-part test, its executive director Liz Wagenseller said. The office will continue to decide whether an entity is a government agency subject to the Right-to-Know Law on a case-by-case basis, she said, adding: We are always encouraged when the court provides guidance about important legal issues impacting the Right-to-Know Law. The Commonwealth Court panel ruling affirms the June 20, 2022, decision of Lycoming County Judge Eric R. Linhardt that directed the fire company to respond to the eight right-to-know requests for financial records made in 2017 by resident Todd R. Pysher. The fire company had denied the requests claiming it was not a local agency as defined by the law. Joseph F. Orso III, who represents the fire company, said he has not had the opportunity to review the opinion with his client. The Legislature also needs to address the local agency issue because judges have taken different views on it, he said. The history of the six-year-old case reflects a difference of opinion. The Office of Open Records in 2017 concluded the fire company was a local agency and county Judge Richard Gray, who is now retired, agreed without taking any evidence. The fire company appealed and in 2019 Commonwealth Court remanded the case to Lycoming County court and Linhardt to develop a factual record. It acknowledged courts in Pennsylvania were split on whether volunteer fire companies were local agencies. Linhardt remanded the case to the Office of Open Records, which in 2020 reversed its early decision and concluded the fire company was not a local agency subject to RTKL. It found the fire company performs a government function in providing fire-fighting services but was not a local agency because, although Clinton and Brady townships provide tax dollars to cover a portion of its operating expenses, they do not exercise managerial or operational control. Pysher appealed and following an evidentiary hearing and the filing of briefs, Linhardt issued his June opinion. In it he wrote a major factor in his determination the fire company is a local agency was that the two townships provide a large portion of its funding. It is well established that providing fire and emergency services is governmental in nature, he said. He found active control of the fire company by the townships is quite limited but without their funds it likely would cease to exist. In its appeal to Commonwealth Court, the fire company compared itself to other government contractors that provide garbage disposal, office supplies or legal services. It argued townships are responsible for determining the means and extent of emergency services, but once that policy decision is made, the fire company is engaged to provide it. Besides adopting Linhardts ruling, the panel said it could not find any legal authority to support the fire companys claim it did not have to respond to RTKL requests if the records are available from another source. More: Daughter of Pa. airman killed in WWII amazed at effort used to identify his remains Owner of ex-cheerleading gym in Pa. acquitted of all charges Pa. man gets lengthy state prison sentence in attempted homicide case A fire chief in Delaware County has been charged with obstructing an investigation into child abuse. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Thomas Weber Sr., chief of the Folcroft Fire Department, has been charged with endangering the welfare of children in addition to obstruction charges. The charges against Weber come after the departments deputy fire chief, Matthew Thomas Bateman, was charged with sex crimes last year. According to investigators, Bateman sexually assaulted a 15-year-old member of the departments junior firefighter division multiple times inside the fire house in the summer of 2022. While the charges against Weber have not been confirmed to be connected to the charges against Bateman, law enforcement stated they were investigating other leaders within the Folcroft Fire Department who may have failed to report the alleged abuse. According to WPVI, Folcrofts mayor and borough concil released the following statement: As Chief Weber is entitled to a fair trial, and is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Council and the Mayor refrain from commenting at this time on the specific charges filed against Chief Weber. However, Council and the Mayor remain steadfast in their position that those individuals entrusted to serve and protect our community are under a constant duty to protect children, including the prevention, deterrence, and reporting of suspected child abuse. Silence in the face of child abuse has no place in Folcroft Borough and will not be tolerated from mandated reporters employed by the Borough. Council and the Mayor welcome justice for everyone affected and our hearts go out to anyone affected by abuse. Folcroft Borough encourages anyone who suspects child abuse to report and cooperate with authorities by calling ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. Webers bail was set at $200,000. Bateman has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial for charges against him. By Megan Guza, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) PITTSBURGH A former Army Ranger and substitute teacher will spend more than five years in federal prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. Robert Morss, of Glenshaw, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden to 66 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He also must pay $300 in fines and $2,000 in restitution. Morss was convicted in August of obstructing an official proceeding, assaulting police with a weapon, and robbery. Two other defendants, Geoffrey Sills, 31, of Virginia, and David Judd, 36, of Texas, also were convicted on various counts. All three entered the Capitol after attending a rally held by then-President Donald Trump and violently confronted police in the lower terrace tunnel. Morss joined the crowd on the West Front of the Capitol grounds about 2 p.m., authorities have said. He was wearing a vest designed to hold body armor and carrying a knife sheath and scissors. This photo is one of several included by the FBI in arrest documents charging Robert Morss with participating in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. (FBI, file) He moved to the front of the line of rioters skirmishing with police and tried to steal a police baton, authorities said. He then took part in a heave-ho motion with other rioters, rocking the mob against the police line. Morss also snatched a police riot shield and passed it to others who created their own line against the police. At one point, he yelled to fellow rioters, Take a look around. We are going to take our Capitol back. Later, he climbed through a broken window and passed a chair outside. Morss served three tours in Afghanistan and then worked briefly as a substitute teacher in the Shaler Area School District. WJAC says hes a Penn State graduate. His attorney, Nicholas Smith, pointed to Morss service record in a presentence report. Despite experiencing hard and occasionally brutal combat overseas (he still suffers from back pain on account of parachute jumps) or perhaps because of it, Morss remains almost impervious to pessimism, Smith wrote. Even today in jail he avoids dwelling on negative things and is cheerful in his outlook on life. He said Morss had no criminal record and his conduct Jan. 6, 2021, was atypical for him. Friends and family submitted letters on Morss behalf. Susquehanna Township police will allow the school district to handle consequences for a widespread senior prank that canceled high school classes on Thursday. Township police were initially involved in the investigation at the high school, but district officials have decided to address the situation internally, the townships Public Safety Director Rob Martin told PennLive. Martin said community service will be involved. Superintendent Tamara Willis said the students who were involved must help with the clean-up process. We are accustomed to senior pranks that have been confined to an isolated area of the building. However, this prank was widespread and will require several hours of clean up, Willis said in a Thursday statement. Classes at the high school were canceled on Thursday out of an abundance of caution after district officials learned of the prank. Willis said the pranks damage was surface-level and infrastructure was not affected. The school district has not provided specific details on the nature of the prank or what the clean-up process entailed. READ MORE: Central Pa. man charged with homicide in wifes 1984 disappearance has been released on bail Babys caregiver goes to prison for assault, parents worst nightmare: prosecutors An argument sparked a shooting that led to the death of a young man on a SEPTA bus in the Germantown section of Philadelphia Wednesday night, according to news sources. The incident took place shortly before 11 p.m. on the 5200 block of Germantown Avenue near Bringhurst Street, where authorities got onto a bus to find a male in his late teens or early 20s lying in the aisle, unresponsive and bleeding from his chest, according to reports from 6ABC and NBC10. Authorities rushed the victim to the hospital but he died a short time later. Authorities were unable to identify him immediately. A passenger named Theresa, who chose not to give her last name, said she witnessed the whole thing. I was on the bus listening to my music, singing...and I just seen the dude stand up and start shooting the other dude, she said to 6ABC. There were eight passengers on the Route 23 bus at the time, and the interior surveillance cameras captured the shooting. The footage showed an argument between the victim and another person just before the shooting. The gunman wore a mask while the victim sat across from him near the front of the bus, 6ABC reported. There was a fight, and two shots were fired with one of the bullets almost striking the 52-year-old bus driver, but she ducked in time. A bullet can be seen in the glass partition behind the driver, according to reports. The driver immediately ducked down and then opened the doors to the SEPTA bus after she heard the shots, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said to NBC10. And thats when our shooter -- whos described as a male wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a jacket over top and a mask covering his face -- exited the bus from the front door and was last seen on foot south on Germantown Avenue. How she wasnt struck by gunfire, its unknown, but shes extremely, extremely lucky, Small added. The shooter ran off the bus and is still on the loose. So far, no arrests have been made. Read More: Gitpan (General Internacional Telecom Panama) remained the only interested party at the close of the prequalification round of Panamas second tender for the licence vacated by Digicel Panama. A subsidiary of General International Telecom Limited, Gitpan emerged as the sole bidder for PCS licence (No.106) in March 2023. However, the following month Panamas National Public Services Authority (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Publicos, ASEP) re-launched the licensing process after Gitpan failed to provide adequate documentation of its credentials. ASEP will now evaluate Gitpans paperwork, and if it is satisfied then it can ask for cabinet approval to commence negotiations over the 20-year licence. If Gitpans application is successful then it will be granted a spectrum holding including 215MHz in the 1900MHz band and 210MHz in the 700MHz band. Questions remain regarding Gitpans experience in the telecoms industry. When ASEP announced the original tender, the regulator noted that it would favour experienced players over newcomers, going as far as to specify that bidders with less than five years of experience in another market would not be considered. TeleGeography reports that Gitpans parent General International Telecom Limited is UK-based, and was incorporated in June 2021. In October that year, it acquired a 99.3% stake in Telefonica Moviles El Salvador for US$144 million, with the deal closing in January 2022. Alaska lawmakers reached a compromise on the state budget and adjourned after a one-day special session last week, approving a $1,300 Permanent Fund dividend for this fall with the possibility of a second, smaller payment next year if oil revenues exceed projections. The amount of the PFD and the capital budget construction and maintenance projects in legislators home districts were the final items that forced legislators into a special session after the regular session ended May 17 without a budget. The governor called them back to work starting the next day. While the Republica... Petersburg's Vikings and Valkyries welcome Alaska Airlines Flight 64, featuring a new livery designed by Tlingit artist Crystal Worl, on Thursday ahead of the Little Norway Festival. This month, Alaska Airlines unveiled a new design that replaced the Salmon Thirty Salmon art known by many Alaskans. The new art still features salmon, but this time from an Indigenous perspective. Crystal Worl, Tlingit artist and business owner from Juneau, created the new design in the style of formline art. Worl said she hopes that the plane will inspire non-Indigenous people to learn about the rich cultural history between Native Alaskans and salmon - and she was excited to share that history from 30,000 feet above. "This is a really great platform that just seemed really fitting for the message and the story I want to tell about salmon and wanting to get people's attention," she said. The plane is designed in Northwest Coast formline, a style that is characteristic of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people of Southeast Alaska. Formline art stands out for its unique use of positive and negative space and dramatic colors. These colors, including indigo, pink and white, can be seen gracing the new plane, called Xaat Kwaani, which can be translated from Tlingit to mean "salmon people" in English. To come up with the title for the new plane design, Worl reached out to X'unei Lance Twitchell, a Tlingit language speaker and professor of Alaska Native languages at the University of Alaska Southeast, for advice on what the name should be. "There must be a million different ways in our language that mean 'our relationship between salmon,'" Worl said. "So he got back to me with some options, and we narrowed it down to Xaat Kwaani, 'salmon people,' because of its translation of how people are connected and relate and benefit from salmon." "The meaning felt really beautiful," she added. According to Alaska Airlines, Xaat Kwaani is the first time that the company has named a plane in a language besides English. The company said it is also the first time that a commercial aircraft in the United States has an Alaska Native title. Worl said that she felt the name and the salmon symbol bridged a cultural gap within the state of Alaska. "[It's] the symbol that I felt was connecting not just my identity and Alaska Native identity but Alaskan people. What do we all connect with? What brings us all together? And it's salmon." The design on the plane features sockeye salmon, which Worl said was an homage to her clan, Lukaax.adi clan, the salmon sockeye clan. She said that the art is imbued with meaning, from the pink line that loops around the nose of the aircraft - which Worl said she likes to think of as a lifeline - to the salmon on the tail and tip of the wings that feature salmon eggs. She included salmon eggs in the design because she said it helped show the connection between now and the future. "I thought [it] was a really wonderful way of learning from the salmon about the next generation. What are we doing to take care of our environment and our animals and the land so that the next generations can benefit from them as well?" said Worl. Greater heights Her art pieces - some of which feature salmon designs - are popping up across Alaska and the rest of the country. From painting an enormous mural in downtown Anchorage to designing a nationally circulated postage stamp, Worl has seen her art in places big and small. But the big things she's still getting used to. "Big things are new for me." She said in reference to her art on a Boeing 737. Later adding: "I was thinking, did I do that? This is incredible." She might have been overwhelmed by seeing her artwork on such a huge scale, but the piece itself, and specifically the piece on an Alaska Airlines plane, was a long time coming. Marilyn Romano, regional vice president for the state of Alaska for Alaska Airlines said that she and Worl connected after Romano saw her on the cover of Alaska Business Monthly. Romano said that she knew the plane would soon be a blank "canvas" and believed Worl could be the one to fit the bill. Little did she know that Worl was expecting her call. In 2020, Worl posted on Instagram a photo of her artwork on a plane with the caption: "Are you ready for me Alaska Air?? I'm ready for you." While Romano wasn't originally aware of Worl's dream to design an airplane exterior, the two connected and were able to make Worl's vision become a reality. "We are just honored that we will take art and fly it around the country everywhere we fly," said Romano, after highlighting the beauty of the salmon design that Worl created on the plane. The salmon symbol permeates the art that Worl makes, from the design she paints to the clothing she wears - which on Thursday was bright, salmon pink pants that she ordered specifically for the unveiling of the salmon plane. She said her art featuring the famous Alaska fish was created with the purpose to inspire others and teach and pass on valuable knowledge that was too often erased by Westernization. "All Alaska Native people, our history with salmon has been for thousands of years and we've been fishing them sustainably for a very long time and watching them for a very long time," she said. "I think there's a lot of valuable knowledge in that that everyone can learn and benefit from." Xaat Kwaani made its first passenger service flight from Anchorage on May 12. Worl and her family were on the flight to commemorate her achievement. "I'm really grateful for my family. Without them, this project wouldn't exist for me." The Alaska Beacon is an independent, donor-funded news organization. Alaskabeacon.com. Armed with a degree from Pittsburg State Universitys Wood Product Manufacturing program, Bob Holloway (BST 04) took a leap of faith in 2010 and started his own business in a small town that doesnt see many visitors, so he and his business partner, also a Pitt State graduate, were thrilled to open the door to Pitt State President Dan Shipp on Wednesday. Shipp made the company, Advantage Architectural Woodwork, a stop on his Dan Bikes Kansas tour a 12-day, 800-mile trip across the state to raise $8 million in student scholarships and connect with alumni and constituents. At press time, the initiative had raised more than $7.4 million in pledges. Im really excited to have someone from Pittsburg State here to visit, Holloway said. Tomorrow, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall is coming for a tour. Were doing big things but were a bit disadvantaged being this far out in western Kansas. We like any chance we get to show off what were doing. What hes doing, with the help of fellow Gorilla Kyle MacMillan (BST 05) and other employees, is to manufacture high performance European windows from wood. Their location? Colby, Kansas, population 5,544, in the far northwest corner of Kansas 55 miles from the Colorado line. These windows are a big deal, Holloway said. We're the only company making high performance windows from wood in this country. They supply those windows and doors to construction projects across the country and in Canada. Holloway and MacMillan met in the College of Technology at Pitt State. Theres a couple of alumni out here giving it everything weve got, and were very proud to have graduated from Pitt State, MacMillan said. It's really meaningful for us to have him [Dan] come this far out to see us. Were proud to show him what were doing out here. They could use more graduates from the Wood Product Manufacturing program, they said. The company also caught the eye of Shipp for another reason: it uses sustainable strategies like a biomass boiler that heats the shop through the floor using sawdust and wood waste, or, if thats unavailable, corn, wheat, and milo. No more carbon fumes from oil or gas heaters, Holloway explained. On Thursday, Shipp headed to Goodland for a gathering with alumni and constituents at Shiraz Restaurant. On Friday, Shipps trip will conclude at the Colorado state line, where hell be joined by his wife, Vanessa, and their three sons. Learn more: pittstate.edu/danbikesks Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Richard Barnett, the 1/6 insurrectionist who posted pictures of himself sitting at Speaker Pelosis desk has been sentenced to four and half years in prison. The details: Standby. More than two years after the Capitol siege it's time for sentencing for one of the highest-profile defendants Richard Bigo Barnett =====> pic.twitter.com/Mmw0WPF6RJ Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) May 24, 2023 FLASH: Judge sentences Richard Bigo Barnett to 54 months in prison in US Capitol riot case Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) May 24, 2023 Barnett was convicted of all of the usual 1/6 terrorist charges including entry into the Capitol, obstruction of a government proceeding, and theft of government property for stealing an item from then-Speaker Pelosis desk. Barnett also encouraged other people to enter the Capitol and claimed that they were at war with the United States government. Richard Barnett became a bit of a far-right celebrity and had even been interviewed on Russian state TV. Federal charges could soon be coming against Donald Trump, so to see some of the higher profile defendants that he inspired and incited to attack the Capitol being sent to prison carries a level of satisfaction for many Americans. Trump has his own criminal legal issues, but it is a safe bet that Richard Barnett will do more time in prison than Donald Trump. The wheels of justice do turn slowly, but they are coming for those who tried to attack the United States of America. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Republican Party is just really weird and uncomfortable now. Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis launched his campaign Wednesday night on a Twitter Space co-hosted by Elon Musk. Or rather, he tried to launch it. It failed to work during 20 minutes of almost no talking, come coughing, and repeated crashes. As the DeSantis-Musk announcement Twitter space hit 680k listeners, Musk just ended it. 20 minutes of almost no talking and repeated crashes. The app crashed for me at least 16 times while trying to listen in. What an embarrassing disaster for both Musk and DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/zHIhv2QL0F Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) May 24, 2023 The space started with 600,000 listeners (could be bots), but after all of the crashing, by the time DeSantis launch actually started, there were around 300,000 and it plunged down to 192,000 as the bros whined about the media and the elites and then laughed about various media outlets referring to them as Nazis. What campaign doesnt want laughter over Nazis in its opening? Jason Easley wrote in our substack, Gov. DeSantis thought that he was going to be a disruptor by announcing on Twitter, but the technology broke and the event sounded like a low-quality Nazi bro podcast. DeSantis attempt to hide in an audio-only format given the meme-worthy results of his video campaign type appearances didnt go well. Can't make it up, but the DeSantis Twitter announcement has crashed because of technical issues. His attempt to hide behind a platform that was audio only is now officially a punch line. pic.twitter.com/AwEUEe6gxS Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) May 24, 2023 Ben Collins reported it devolved into a bunch of people just thanking Elon Musk and complaining about Twitter. Ron DeSantis' campaign announcement has devolved into a bunch of people just thanking Elon Musk and complaining about Twitter. Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) May 24, 2023 The reactions were fun, though: Ok now @jonstewart is winner winner chicken dinner on this DeSantis debacle on Elons Twitter. Enjoy this one going through the meme stage https://t.co/bHncfbO50I pic.twitter.com/QX7Qldc1bo Kara Swisher (@karaswisher) May 24, 2023 Musk assists in another memorable launch: this time DeSantis SpaceX. pic.twitter.com/sUHCdA835z Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) May 24, 2023 BREAKING: In a stunning move, JEB BUSH has announced his candidacy for President of the United States via a Microsoft Teams call. pic.twitter.com/HvrduxEzSN U.S. Ministry of Truth (@USMiniTru) May 24, 2023 I do not know who made this one, but it is hilarious. pic.twitter.com/85G0eTh07f Stephen Vargha (@VARGHANC) May 25, 2023 Joe Bidens non-POTUS account got in on the fun, tweeting: The launch went about as well as anyone paying attention to Elon Musks poor management skills anticipated it would. Ron DeSantis might have thought he would look more human next to Elon, after all who wouldnt, but instead he got eclipsed by Elons tech bro fan club at his own campaign launch. Donald Trump reacted to this failure by mocking Ron DeSantis Red Button which is smaller than Trumps, according to Kim Jong Un (do you really want to know?). If this is really the best and brightest the Republican Party has to offer, 2023 is going to surpass 2015 in terms of the surreal depths to which we have plunged. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Republican Party sure has some super candidates. Wednesday night, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis attempted to launch his official campaign on Elon Musks right-wing Twitter spaces to much fail, which prompted the front-runner Donald Trump to brag about his red button being bigger than DeSantis, which doesnt work, according to Kim Jong Un. Former president Donald Trump reacted to Ron DeSantis rocky campaign launch by writing that his Red Button is bigger, better, stronger and is working and yours does not! per Trumps conversation with Kim Jung Un, of North Korea, soon to become my friend! On his social media company, Trump wrote: Rob, My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working (TRUTH!), yours does not! (per my conversation with Kim Jung Un, of North Korea, soon to become my friend!). We can only hope this was a phallic reference and not a nuclear reference. One cant be sure with Donald Trump, which is how he continues to get away with saying outrageous things that dont belong in normal public political discourse. This was followed just minutes ago by a video of Space X exploding as it fell to the ground, with Ron 2024 over it: DeSantis launch was a pretty abysmal failure, from not working for the first part (with Failure to launch and DeSaster trending) until finally it started working and it ended up being all about Elon and Twitter. Sure, DeSantis got in his punches and the white bros all laughed at the elites (the launch, once it finally got going, was hosted by the second richest man in the world, on a media platform he owns) and the media bubble that doesnt understand how DeSantis thinks he is for Black people (not kidding). Trumps supporters are already attacking DeSantis on Twitter, with Sorry, Ron trending. As we back away slowly from this mess, Donald Trump is bragging about his red button and saying that North Koreas Kim Jong-un knows DeSantis red button doesnt work and the dictator is soon to be Trumps friend. So that bodes well for America. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) said that House Republicans are working on legislation to defund the FBI. Video: Jordan said when asked about funding for the FBI by Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business: Heres an easy one. They want a new facility thats going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars no way no way should we sign off on that so theres one easy one right off the bat then we should say no funds in this in this appropriation can be used in any way to retaliate against whistleblowers. We should put other restrictions on the funds. If youre doing any type of encouraging of Big Tech to censor. You cant use taxpayer money for that so we should put all kinds of what we call riders, language that limits how they can spend American tax dollars that should be part of this process too we are currently working on that language we think its real important to get them in those appropriation bills. Jordans reason for defunding the FBI is to stop the investigation into Donald Trump. The fake whistleblower and all of the other excuses that he mentioned play into the conspiracy theories that there is a government plot to get former president Trump. Rep. Jordans investigations have flopped. Jordan has turned up nothing and his weaponization of government subcommittee has been a farce, so Trumps allies are going to attempt to use their power as the House majority to stop the FBI and send a message to the Department of Justice. Any riders that House Republicans put in appropriations bills to help or protect Trump will be ripped out by the Senate, but the corruption runs so deep in the House that Jim Jordan is willing to jeopardize national security to protect Trump. Adam Schenk closed out a 3-under 67 with a 16-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to match PGA Tour rookie Harry Hall for the lead at 10 under after three rounds at the Colonial. Hall had the solo lead after the first and second rounds and had to overcame consecutive double-bogeys on the front nine Saturday. His final putt in his round of 72 was a 10-foot par at No. 18 after a birdie at the 17th. Harris English was a stroke back at 9-under 201 after his bogey on 18. Schenk and Hall are both seeking their first PGA Tour victory. Read moreSchenk, Hall tied for Colonial lead after 3 rounds as both seek 1st PGA Tour win The annual economic splash created by the S.C. Aquarium and the visitors it helps draw to Charleston and the state each year has climbed to nearly $414 million, a 46 percent increase compared to a decade ago, according to new study. The "ripple effect" report by the College of Charleston's Office of Tourism Analysis was released May 24. It measured operations at the 23-year-old waterfront Concord Street attraction and spending by the estimated 500,000 guests who check out the centerpiece "Great Ocean Tank" and other exhibits each year. The total statewide economic impact has grown by more than $130 million since the previous study was conducted in 2013. Among the highlights: the aquarium drew 12 percent more out-of-town visitors last year, bringing the total to about 270,000 and increasing their spending on lodging, meals, shopping and other expenses during their stays to about $378 million. Helen Hill, CEO of Explore Charleston, the region's tourism marketing arm, said the aquarium is an integral part" the hospitality industry. "The increase in annual attendance and impressive economic impact reflect how its exhibits and programs continue to resonate with local and out-of-town guests, she said in a written statement. Not only is the aquarium a unique and renowned family attraction, it is a leader in education and conservation and a popular venue. Aquarium officials said the growth reflects its status as a statewide visitor attraction. Chief advancement officer Courtenay Lewandowski said the varied programming reaches all corners of South Carolina. For example, about 260,000 school-age children, including 113,000 from 44 of the state's 46 counties, have come to the aquarium in person through educational outreach offerings provided through corporate sponsorships. That doesn't include thousands of virtual visits from every state and 50 countries. The growth of the ... economic impact is an important indicator of our identity as a statewide institution, not simply a Charleston attraction, Lewandowski said. Opened in May 2000, the aquarium is home to more than 5,000 animals from South Carolina habitats stretching from the mountains to the coast. It also researches and rehabilitates injured sea turtles at its working onsite hospital, where more than 375 turtles have been treated for release back into the ocean. Last year, the aquarium announced plans for a $7 million renovation of the city's nearby Maritime Center into a learning lab "where students of all ages will be inspired to protect our waters, wildlife and wild places," said Kevin Mills, president. "It will be a vibrant community center where scientists can meet the public, and where area partners can convene programs and engage in dialogue," Mills said. Also, the aquarium just commissioned a 10-year plan for its flagship building. Attractions are a small but vital piece of the tourism industry's financial impact. A separate study by the College of Charleston released last week found that the visitor business generates $12.8 billion in annual economic impact, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Rain showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High around 70F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. COLUMBIA An 18-year-old woman was convicted May 23 of kidnapping and murdering a teenager who went missing in 2021 from her apartment complex in Columbia. Sanaa Amenhotep, 15, was found dead in the woods off Rish Drive in Lexington County three weeks after being reported missing. Three teenagers including 18-year-old Nicolle Sanchez-Peralta, who was convicted May 23 kidnapped, beat and shot her before burying her in a shallow grave, according to a news release from 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard. The other two teenagers, 20-year-old Treveon Nelson and 19-year-old Jaylen Wilson, pleaded guilty on charges of kidnapping, murder, criminal conspiracy and possessing a weapon during a violent crime instead of going forward with trials of their own. All three are expected to receive their sentences June 30. Until then, they will remain in the Lexington County Detention Center. Amenhotep was lured from her northeast Columbia home April 5 before being held in the car and shot, likely the same night, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said when the teenagers were convicted in 2021. Her body was found with 14 gunshot wounds by investigators acting on tips and help from the community, according to the Solicitor's Office. Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. EDISTO BEACH Pity the poor palmetto tree. Long the easily recognizable symbol of South Carolina, appearing on flags, coolers and license plates, in the Lowcountry the beloved tree is also a victim. It has nothing to do with environmental conditions but everything to do with the region's dominant utility that says it has to happen as per its safety guidelines. Since 2020, Dominion Energy has removed a combined total of 770 palmettos from Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. A current cutting project on Edisto Beach will more than double that figure: another 980 trees are being culled now. The utility company maintains the removals are for safety. Specifically, trees that reach too close to overhead power lines pose a fire hazard and an issue of employee and public safety. Additionally, trees and limbs continue to be the No. 1 reason for power outages. Dominion Energy spokesman Paul Fischer said safeguarding the overhead lines is critical to help ensure a safe, resilient and reliable electric system to keep the lights on for all of the company's customers. With that in mind, the company considers trees that grow taller than 15 feet to be unsuitable for planting near overhead lines or near their distribution rights-of-way. Dominion trims and cuts on a five-year cycle. This is the safest option for handling palmettos that have grown too close to a power line. Simply topping them would likely kill the plant. The large number of trees identified as hazardous on Edisto Beach, an hour's drive south from Charleston, has left some residents alarmed, partly due to the importance of palmettos in South Carolina. Palmetto trees are synonymous with the state and the symbol on its flag in honor of the palmetto log fort on Sullivan's Island that helped repulse cannon balls during a maritime attack by the British in 1776. Others are concerned about what the loss of green growth means. The removal of nearly 1,000 palmettos will deplete the habitat for wildlife and poses an even bigger problem for animals like raccoons, who are currently having babies, said Edisto wildlife rehabber Shirley Hrvol. She currently has a house full of rescued baby raccoons, some of which haven't opened their eyes yet. "Whenever they (Dominion Energy) start cutting, whatever is in those trees, if it doesn't get cut down it is going to get cut apart," Hrvol said. She has heard stories where people have taken down trees and all of a sudden they hear "this horrible screaming." Once the work begins, Hrvol said it can be too late for the animals. She is asking residents to be aware of what's in their trees before they are cut down. "Be sure there's no babies up in those trees they're cutting," Hrvol said, adding that after the trees get cut, look and listen for life. "We can't stop them from cutting," Hrvol said. "The only thing we can do is save the babies." In a letter written to island residents, Edisto Beach Mayor W. Crawford Moore Jr. said Dominion initially told the town it would cut 200 trees. Then the number rose to around 600 before surpassing 900. But the town's authority is limited because the contract for power is between individual property owners and Dominion Energy. And when customers agree to get power through Dominion, they are also agreeing to give the company the right of way to keep the power lines clear. Moore said he had conversations with a few people who were upset when the work to remove the trees was first announced. But that outrage simmered down some once the work began, he said, and residents saw that it was going to be spread out across the island. "I've had a couple of (people) say, 'You know, it's not as bad as I though it was going to be,' " Moore said. "We have a lot more palmetto trees on Edisto Beach than we're losing, I'm sure." People on Edisto Beach also understand that palmetto trees can create a safety issue, Moore said. During storms, the trees tend to rock back and forth, sometimes hitting power lines and sparking a fire. A palmetto tree caught fire about a month ago on Louise Street when it touched wires on a line. It burned a big part of the vacant lot the tree stood on. "There was no house on the lot, thank goodness. But it did burn the lot," Moore said. "It's a safety concern." Dominion Energy said it is working with the town of Edisto Beach and other municipalities and property owners to ensure the proper planting of appropriate trees. This helps the utility avoid trimming or removing mature trees. A list of approved species and information on planting the right tree in the right place can be found at www.dominionenergysc.com. The company says it's used to hearing complaints. "While we understand and appreciate the passion surrounding trees across the Lowcountry, safety remains our top priority," Fischer said. GREENVILLE On a recent weekday afternoon, even on a cloudy day, one of Greenville's newest restaurants is bright with natural light. Fresh plants decorate window sills, and a new white tile backsplash punctuates a back counter and bakery area in the space that most recently housed Tipsy Taco's catering kitchen. It's the light that drew Robert Hodges when he found the building at 728 Wade Hampton Boulevard six months ago. It was the perfect complement to the restaurant and bakery he wanted to create within. This Friday, May 25, Hodges will open Sunflower Breakfast, Lunch, and Bakery and usher in what he hopes will be a new neighborhood spot for fresh sandwiches, salads, bowls and baked goods. Sunflower is a second iteration, a distinct one, of Hodges first concept, Sunflower Eatery, which he opened in June 2018 in Greenville at 4 Independence Point. But the new place is an evolution of sorts, showcasing Hodges evolving ideas and skills. Both changed during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Located in a business park with suddenly no clientele, sales collapsed. It gave Hodges a chance to think hard about what he wanted for the future. It also gave him a chance to bake. And he did. He baked nearly every day for two years. My initial passion has always been hospitality, Hodges said of the draw to restaurants. I like people coming into my space and creating an experience for them. That was the driving force from the get-go, and then I learned how awesome food is and have become obsessed with baking. The perfected techniques will be on display at Sunflower. In addition to serving breakfast and lunch, the cafe will feature a bakery side as well, where patrons will find biscuits, muffins and cinnamon buns made from scratch daily. The rest of the menu will focus on sandwiches and salads, rice bowls, grits bowls and breakfast sandwiches at breakfast time. The menu is small, Hodges said, because everything is made from scratch from the mayonnaise to the sriracha for the honey sriracha aioli. And all bread. We wanted to keep the menu concise and simple, Hodges said. I think some of the best food is from restaurants that have like four things on the menu. You know they have perfected those items. Hodges found his path to restaurants not through food initially, but through a passion for hospitality. He studied business management at the University of Georgia and thought hed one day start a business, perhaps a restaurant. It was a one-year internship in Portland, Ore., working for a restaurant and learning the ins and outs of running the business and kitchen that Hodges found a passion for restaurants. He found his way to Greenville when he was heading home to the Atlanta suburbs and stopped to visit a friend. The friend convinced him to stay. Hodges moved in with his grandparents in Anderson and set out to find a restaurant job. He landed at Greenville's Table 301, working in various capacities from assistant general manager at The Lazy Goat to manager of Table 301 Catering and Sobys on the Side, to running the Highway 301 food truck. It was 2018 when Hodges decided to change, not industries, but his course within it. By then, hed met his future wife, Liz. He wanted more balance in his life. That need for balance has only grown with the addition of the Hodges sons, Findley, 4, and Caleb, 2. A baby daughter is due in September. I dont want to do night times anymore, he said. He opened Sunflower Eatery in June 2018, naming the place for Lizs favorite flower. The restaurant serves a menu of breakfast and lunch items, along with take-away family meals. But with the new place, the focus is on creative scratch cooking. Not fancy, but familiar with a touch of something a little different. While Sunflower Breakfast, Lunch, and Bakery will also feature salads, rice bowls, grit bowls and a daily soup, the idea for the restaurant began with sandwiches. Why sandwiches? Its a multitude of flavors in every bite, Hodges said. If the sandwich is made properly Im geeking out really hard if it is made properly, then every bite has an even distribution. Sunflower will offer five sandwiches, along with a burger and a feature sandwich that will change daily. The sandwich menu is a mix of familiar standards like the Italian, as well as ones that are a little bit different, like the BLAT, with bacon lettuce, tomato and avocado with garlic herb aioli and balsamic reduction. The tropical turkey sandwich is inspired by one Hodges had in Miami and combines turkey, cucumbers, pineapple and a garlic herb mayo, while the Broccolini is a burst of flavor, combining broccolini, soppressata, ricotta, shredded parmesan, spicy garlic confit spread on homemade ciabatta. Vegetarians can leave off the soppressata and the bacon in the BLAT. Plans call for featuring rotating specials as well, which will span from vegan to meatful. If you did the sandwich correctly, you have crunch, you have acidity, you have potentially a little sweetness, you have fat and salt, he said. You can have all of that all compacted in one. Looking to the future, Hodges has plans to grow his Sunflower concept, but for now he is content to focus on his two restaurants. Plans call for adding outdoor seating and adding loaves of bread in the bakery, along with catering in the future. Sunflower Breakfast, Lunch, and Bakery at 728 Wade Hampton Blvd. is open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more, visit sunflowergvl.com. Greenville County residents will face a 23 percent tax increase in the two-year budget presented for approval to county council. If passed, it would mark the first property tax increase in the county in 30 years. The proposed budget totals more than $785 million over two years $386.5 million in 2023-24 and $398.7 million in 2024-25. Thats up from the current budget of $328.5 million. Greenville County prepares and passes its budgets on a two-year cycle. The vast majority of the budget, 83 percent of costs, goes toward employees. It also funds more than $65 million in capital projects over two years and includes a three percent cost of living increase for all employees. The budget includes funding for 30 new employees for the Greenville County Sheriffs Office over two years and an additional 14 employees in other departments. It also increases county funding for affordable housing to $5 million and sets aside $9.5 million for preservation of natural resources. None of the additional revenue would go towards the countys road paving program. It would raise taxes on the county portion of property tax bills for homes, buildings, vehicles and recreational vehicles. The budget was introduced at first reading May 16 and the council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the budget June 6 followed by second reading. Final reading is scheduled for June 20 for the 2023-2024 budget. Third reading for the 2024-2025 budget will be held at the councils July 18 meeting. Council Chair Dan Tripp said the council has some challenges in front of it to pass the budget but working together we can get through it. He said the council would hold more workshop sessions to get answers to questions if needed. Obviously its a tough year. Its always tough to have a millage adjustment but I really feel strongly that leadership is not kicking the can down the road, and we have in the past, and I dont think we can keep doing that, Tripp said. Though Ive never done it before, Im going to vote for a tax increase because I think its the right thing to do for the citizens of Greenville County. County Administrator Joe Kernell, whose team prepared the budget, said it is a sound financial plan that protects the countys AAA credit rating. Kernell said administrators had studied the budget from multiple angles to try to prevent a tax increase, but hadnt been able to find a way without having a major impact on current operations. Kernell said the council has been focused for a number of years on projected growth coming to the county and how it needs to be prepared for that growth. Were playing catch up already, Kernell said. Weve done a tremendous job over the years of not raising millage, of not making adjustments there, basically saying well be creative where we could in order to keep public safety job one funded at the proper level. Keeping up with salary increases to make county jobs attractive and dealing with pandemic costs, in particular to health insurance, has caught up with the county, he said. We have talked for years that this day was coming, Kernell said of the tax increase. Some members of council have already come out opposed to the budget as presented. Councilman Stan Tzouvelekas, who said he was opposed to any tax increase, questioned why the county planned to spend less on road paving in the next budget when infrastructure was at the top of residents concerns. The budget includes $11 million each year for paving county roads, $1 million less each year than the county is currently spending. He said he couldnt support a budget that spent nearly as much on affordable housing, green space and public transit as it does on roads. Im saying use that money and put it toward the roads, he said. Tzouvelekas and Councilman Steve Shaw each said the county should look at alternatives to raise or adjust funding instead of raising taxes. Tzouvelekas suggested selling the county law enforcement building at the gateway to downtown and using those funds to cover additional costs. Councilman Benton Blount asked Kernell to consider raising taxes gradually over a period of years instead of all at once. He said he was concerned a large increase all at once would negatively impact the number of retirees on fixed income in his district. Blount voted in favor of the budget in the councils finance committee, as did council members Tripp, Ennis Fant, Chris Harrison, Butch Kirven and Liz Seman in a unanimous vote May 22. Included in the budget as presented is $2.5 million to act as a county match to state funding for construction of a new dam at Conestee Nature Preserve, where a 130-year-old dam that holds in place toxic sludge from Greenvilles industrial past has needed to be replaced for years. It would also provide additional funding for affordable housing beyond the countys previous funding level. Since 2018, the county has spent $1 million per year on affordable housing. Community groups and a consortium of organizations that formed the Affordable Housing Coalition say the county needs at least $20 million per year to provide enough affordable housing as rent and homeownership have become increasingly unaffordable throughout the county. Tina Belge, policy and advocacy director for the Greenville Housing Fund, told County Council that 80 percent of residents in Greenville can no longer afford to buy a home in the county and rental rates have increased 20 percent in the past five years. As a result, people are moving to more affordable Spartanburg and Anderson counties and putting a strain on the countys roads and services. So this will benefit not only our transportation systems, preservation of natural resources and safety of our neighborhoods, Belge said. These factors also impact our quality of life and therefore our stability and economic viability as a community. The budget also would raise the countys portion of funding for Greenville Transit Authority, or Greenlink, from $2.5 million per year to $3 million this coming year and $3.5 million in the second budget year. That amount funds the public transportation system but doesnt include enough to fund its proposed expansion of services in the coming years. The National Park Service is seeking public input during an initial planning phase to replace and rehabilitate the docks at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. The docks at each fort are essential for transporting visitors and staff to the park. Read morePublic can provide input on Fort Moultrie dock replacement HUGER A manhunt for a fugitive wanted in connection with a murder and rape in New York, and for a kidnapping in Pennsylvania, ended May 24 when the suspect was caught after a search that spread across the rural South Carolina's Lowcountry. Michael Burham, 37, was arrested in Berkeley County around 5:15 p.m. A crowd gathered at an intersection in the Huger area that had been blocked off by the officers since about 3:50 p.m. A cheer rose as hundreds of officers from local, state and federal agencies, who had joined the search, left the scene. "The people of Huger can rest easy tonight," Sheriff Duane Lewis said following Burham's capture. Dehydrated and dirty from several days on the run in the woods, Burham was cleared by medical personnel and taken to the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office to be questioned by the FBI. It's unclear if he will remain in the county jail or be taken elsewhere. Burham first appeared in the Charleston area on May 21 after he allegedly kidnapped two people and drove them to North Charleston. It was later learned that Burham was a suspect in a homicide that occurred in Jamestown, N.Y., and that warrants had been issued for his arrest on charges of rape and false imprisonment in New York. After Burham fled from Berkeley County deputies around 11 a.m. May 23, the manhunt was on. Around 3:30 p.m. May 24, a couple reported seeing Burham in a shed behind their home off Abra Way and United Drive, hours after the search had shifted from Berkeley to Charleston County. Less than an hour earlier, Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graizano told residents in the area to check their outbuildings, boats and trailers for anything suspicious or out of place. The FBI announced a $10,000 reward for Burhams capture. Shortly after a late afternoon press conference ended in Awendaw on May 24, dozens of law enforcement officials in trucks, SUVS and an armored carrier flew back into Berkeley County and down Halfway Creek Road and United Avenue. The roads fork at a rural church. The area is dotted with homes and thick with wooded areas. A helicopter whirled overheard. The search had shifted to Charleston County after Burham was reportedly seen around 11 p.m. May 23 near Broomstraw Hill Road in Awendaw, according to the FBI. Awendaw, northeast of Charleston on U.S. Highway 17, is on the heavily wooded eastern edge of the Francis Marion National Forest. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the state spent much of the past two days searching. They started in Berkeley County after deputies, called to the area after someone reported seeing a suspicious male, made contact with a man believed to be Burham. He gave them a false name and then ran, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies gave chase. The man got away but dropped a bookbag. Items inside confirmed it was Burham, the sheriff's office said. Authorities believed Burham may have hitchhiked or used a beachcruiser bicycle for transportation, according to the FBI, which led the search effort. Authorities said they don't know why Burham came to the Lowcountry. The 34-year-old is a suspect in the May 11 slaying of 34-year-old Kala Hodgin of Jamestown, N.Y., according to news reports in New York. According to the FBI wanted poster, Burham was named in a warrant issued April 27 on charges of rape and false imprisonment in New York. Another warrant has been issued in the Sheffield, Pa., kidnapping case. Jamestown is a small town near Lake Erie and just over the New York-Pennsylvania border from Sheffield. On May 21, North Charleston police officers dispatched to a car dealership on Rivers Avenue found two people who said they had been kidnapped from their Pennsylvania home by Burham and driven to South Carolina. A 68-year-old woman told police that around 11:45 a.m. the day before she was in her garage when a man armed with a revolver appeared beside her car, according to an incident report. Police redacted much of what she and her 89-year-old husband told them. The couple eventually ended up on the side of Rivers Avenue, where they flagged down a driver who called the police. Police later found the victims' vehicle parked in a Verizon parking lot the nearest Verizon store is half a mile north of where the officers found the couple. Next to a notepad, police found the car keys and the suspect's military dog tag with his name and Social Security number imprinted on it, according to the report. A pair of Jamaican citizens who netted nearly $2 million in a telemarketing scam that defrauded dozens of elderly Americans were sentenced this week in Charleston's U.S. District Court to more than six years in federal prison. From 2016 to 2021, Errol Garfield Durrant and Tyrell Harris were middlemen in what federal prosecutors billed a "sophisticated Jamaican lottery scam" that victimized 70 people living in 15 states throughout the U.S. The majority of the victims are elderly. The defendants, who were based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., collected nearly $1.8 million, which they laundered to co-conspirators in Jamaica using 26 different bank accounts. It is unclear how much of the money they kept for themselves. Durrant, 59, and Harris, 32, each pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud in July after entering into plea agreements with the federal government. They are required to make full restitution. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks on May 24 handed down a 7.5 year prison sentence to Harris. The following day, she sentenced Durrant, who suffers from cancer and HIV, to just more than 6.5 years in prison. Last year, more than 88,000 Americans over the age of 60 reported being the victims of fraud, according to data published by the FBI. In total, they suffered roughly $3 billion in losses an 84 percent increase from the previous year. "Elderly people are living in fear that they can't control their own bank accounts," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower, who prosecuted the case. Durrant, who is a dual citizen of Jamaica and America, and Harris posed as sweepstakes companies, banks and the federal government in phone calls placed to elderly Americans. They persuaded their victims that they had won millions of dollars or in other cases luxurious items, including cars and televisions, according to an indictment. To secure their purported winnings, the victims were tricked into sending the defendants checks for what prosecutors called "bogus fees and taxes." At least $182,000 in checks were mailed from Charleston to the defendants in Sunrise, Fla., according to the indictment. Charleston County jail records show the defendants provided the jail with home addresses in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Durrant and Harris were arrested in November 2021 after a grand jury in Florence indicted them on counts of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors will dismiss the remaining charges as part of their plea agreement. Durrant, a father, husband and Christian missionary, asked for mercy May 25 in a downtown Charleston courtroom. Through uncontrollable sobs, he apologized to his family, his church and his victims. "It has really torn apart my heart," Durrant told the judge. "I have realized I made a mistake." He said he took responsibility for his actions. But Durrant cast blame on his co-defendant, who is barely more than half his age, whom he claimed manipulated him into participating in the scheme. Durrant, who frequently traveled from Florida to Jamaica for work, said he met Harris in Jamaica. The judge said she did not understand Durrant's choices. "The court has compassion for the defendant and his family," she said. "(But) he also tore apart and crushed families in the course of his actions." The FBI asks that seniors slow down and ask questions should unknown individuals contact them. They are encouraged to ask a known third party to help assess the authenticity of a caller. Lastly, they should not be too ashamed to hang up or cut off communications with a suspected scammer. Victims should report incidents to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. FORT MOORE We gather here today to pay tribute to two American heroes, Lt. Gen. Harold Moore and his wife, Julia Moore who were dedicated to each other, their children, and above all, soldiers and their Families. said Maj. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Moore commanding general. Buzzard made his remarks during a redesignation ceremony that officially renamed Fort Benning as Fort Moore May 11 at historic Doughboy Memorial Stadium on post. We are the home of the Armys maneuver fighting force. Since its establishment over a century ago, this Army post has symbolized strength, courage and sacrifice. As we redesignate it today, we reaffirm our commitment to those values and the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation, said Buzzard. Together, Hal and Julie Moore embody the very best of our military and the very best of our nation, the general continued. They were dedicated to their country, committed to their family, and inspired generations of soldiers to follow in their footsteps. Buzzard praised the Moores lasting contributions to soldiers, military families, the Army and the nation. Their ties to then Fort Benning dated back to the mid-1960s when Hal commanded a battalion of 7th Cavalry Regiment Soldiers stationed at Fort Benning. The movie We Were Soldiers, based on a booked penned by Moore along with Joseph Galloway, depicts the battle of Landing Zone X-Ray in Vietnams Ia Drang Valley in which the unit faced a much larger enemy force. During the battle, Hal Moore, then a lieutenant colonel, exhibited a level of leadership that inspired his troops and won the fight. That leadership was echoed by Julia Moore as she worked to take care of Army families back home in the aftermath of the battle. We believe the redesignation of Fort Benning is unique in that, by Hal and Julie Moores example, the Army continues to recognize Army Families as essential to Army readiness and mission accomplishment, said David Moore, son of Hal and Julie and a retired Army colonel who followed closely in his fathers footsteps. Fort Moore stands alone since this rededication is not solely about a name or one persons achievements but, instead, is about personal character, represented by Army values, reinforcing the fundamental truth that soldiers fight as a team. All five of Hal and Julies children attended the ceremony honoring their parents. Julie passed away in 2004. Hal, a 1945 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, rose to the rank of lieutenant general before retiring from the Army and later passed away in 2017. Fort Moore recognizes Hal Moores life as a decorated and highly regarded commander of the Vietnam War and his wife, Julie Moore, who, as a leader of Army Family programs changed how the military cares for the widows of fallen soldiers. Fort Moore honors the fighting spirit of U.S. Army Soldiers, their families, survivors of the fallen, our nations veterans and military spouses invaluable contributions to combat readiness. The renaming of this post in Hal and Julies honor will serve as a beacon to inspire the many young men and women who follow them with honor, integrity and allegiance in service to their country, said retired Army Col. Tony Nadal in his ceremony remarks. Its leaders like Lt. Gen. Moore who set the example for the rest of us to follow. His character, competence and professionalism were evident in everything he did and every part of his life. Marking the end of one era and the beginning of another, Col. Colin Mahle, Fort Benning garrison commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Sanchez, garrison command sergeant major, cased the Fort Benning colors early in the ceremony. The two leaders then uncased the new Fort Moore colors, marking the official transition to the new post name. The home of the infantry and armor, where all maneuver Soldiers and leaders begin their careers, will now be named after two people who fully embody the values we work to instill in soldiers every day, Buzzard stated earlier. Fort Moore is a name our soldiers and our mission deserve, because when recruits sign on to be all they can be in the Army, they come here to be more. The mission of Fort Moore is to produce trained and combat-ready soldiers and leaders, develop the maneuver force, and provide first-class quality of life for soldiers, civilians and Army families. In addition to the installation name, the post plans to adjust naming of real properties, buildings, and roads as part of a multi-phased process to implement all approved recommendations of the Naming Commission, authorized by the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act and directed by the Department of Defense. Fort Moore will continue to work closely with community leaders while remaining committed to partnerships throughout the Chattahoochee Valley. COLUMBIA All eyes on South Carolina's abortion debate now shift back to state courts, which once again will have the ultimate say on whether the Legislature can ban most abortions at about six weeks. Less than an hour after Gov. Henry McMaster signed the so-called Heartbeat Bill on May 25 that bans most abortions after an embryos cardiac activity can be detected in the womb but before many women know they are pregnant the states abortion providers filed a lawsuit in state court to block it. The law is currently in effect, but at a hearing scheduled for the morning of May 26 in Richland County a state judge will decide whether to temporarily block the law while the legal challenge is resolved. In January, the state Supreme Court struck down a similar six-week ban passed in 2021. The new ban includes exceptions to protect the life of the mother or in case of fatal fetal anomalies, and allows doctors to perform abortions in cases of rape or incest, but only up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion had been legal up to 22 weeks in South Carolina, though clinics in the state only offered abortions in the first trimester. Nonetheless, the limit was among the most lenient in the Southeast, and abortions had doubled compared to last year largely due to out-of-state women coming to seek abortions, state data show. McMaster said the law will begin saving the lives of unborn children immediately in a statement released after signing the bill during a closed-door ceremony at his Statehouse office surrounded by supporters. This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over," he added. "We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed. The right to life must be preserved, and we will do everything we can to protect it. Abortion rights supporters slammed the new ban as a danger to womens health and essentially a carbon copy of the law the states high court already ruled unconstitutional. In a January 3-2 ruling, the court found that health care decisions, including abortion, are protected under the state constitutions privacy provision and that the six-week ban did not give women enough time to exercise that right. State lawmakers have once again trampled on our right to make private health care decisions, ignoring warnings from health care providers and precedent set by the states highest court just a few months ago, Jenny Black, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, which operates clinics that provide abortions in Columbia and Charleston, said in a statement. The decision of if, when and how to have a child is deeply personal, and politicians making that decision for anyone else is government overreach of the highest order, she said. For the remainder of this week, 93 patients were scheduled for procedural abortions, most of which would take place past the six-week mark, at South Carolina's three clinics that offer the procedure, according to the providers legal filings. Many more were due to be prescribed abortion medications. Patients who come in May 26 to Planned Parenthood's clinics in Columbia and Charleston can still receive an evaluation, but procedures will be rescheduled pending the courts decision, Molly Rivera, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic spokeswoman confirmed. Black urged the courts to swiftly block the law. The states 2021 six-week abortion ban went into effect in June 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization overturned a federal right to an abortion. The state Supreme Court put the law on hold in August before striking it down in January. With the passage of the new law this year, the states high court will again have the final say, and the bill itself has undergone changes that give anti-abortion advocates hope this time will be different. In February, the Legislature elected state Appeals Court Judge Gary Hill to take the place of retiring Justice Kaye Hearn, who penned the lead opinion striking down the law and was the courts sole woman. The abortion decision loomed over the acrimonious Supreme Court vote, and many anti-abortion Republican state lawmakers said they supported Hill over two other female candidates because they believe he was most likely to be deferential to the Legislature. From my conversations with him when he was running for this seat, he is a strict constructionist, Rep. John McCravy, a Greenwood Republican who is among the Legislatures most prominent anti-abortion voices, said after the May 25 bill signing. If he applies that, well be in good shape. Additionally, the authors of the new six-week ban tailored the legislation to address the concerns of Justice John Few, who in his opinion finding the 2021 ban unconstitutional took issue more with the way the bill was written than its impact. I want Justice Fews vote on this, Sen. Tom Davis, who cast the deciding vote to allow the six-week ban to advance in the Senate, said in floor speech May 23. I dont want the constitutionality of an abortion bill decided because a man replaced a woman on the state Supreme Court. I think that would be a horrible look for this state. In their motion for the law to be temporarily blocked, the abortion providers argue the changes are cosmetic and the new ban is "nearly identical" to the old one. The laws supporters only need Hill to vote to uphold the law or for Few to switch his vote for an all-male court to reverse the January decision. Several weeks ago, it looked as if no abortion ban would reach the governors desk this year with the two chambers of the Legislature deadlocked. In an April 27 vote, the state Senate showed it did not have the votes to pass the near-total abortion ban passed by the House in February, and House leadership claimed they could not pass anything other than a ban at conception with exceptions. Eventually, as abortions continued to rise and North Carolina and Florida both passed restrictive abortion measures, House Republicans passed the six-week ban after a nearly 24-hour debate. The state Senate sent it to the governor May 23. Anti-abortion advocates acknowledge that many in their movement were disappointed the Legislature did not pass a ban at conception and say the six-week ban is merely a first step. There has never been a perfect bill. There will never be a perfect law, said Holly Gatling, a long-time anti-abortion campaigner and the executive director of S.C. Citizens for Life. For now, the anti-abortion movement should celebrate a victory, Gatling said as she left the signing ceremony, adding: I cant stop smiling. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 08:00:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 976 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Pharma Services Contract WinParsortix DNA Damage Response Assays developed by ANGLE to be used for exploratory objectives in a Phase 1 clinical trialTrial expected to complete by year end 2024GUILDFORD, SURREY / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / ANGLE plc (AIM:AGL)(OTCQX:ANPCY), a world-leading liquid biopsy company, is delighted to announce that its first bespoke assay development customer, Artios Pharma (Artios), has signed a new contract to utilise two DNA Damage Response assays developed by ANGLE in a Phase 1 clinical trial expected to commence shortly.Artios is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the development of small molecule therapeutics that target the DNA Damage Response (DDR) process in order to treat patients with a broad range of cancers. Artios has an extensive DDR focused pipeline and strategic partnerships with global pharma companies.Artios selected ANGLE to develop immunofluorescence (IF) assays using its Parsortix system to detect two specific biomarkers expressed on circulating tumour cells (CTCs). The expression of the two biomarkers indicate the amount of DNA damage caused in a cell.The markers can be observed in tumour tissue, but the availability of tumour tissue biopsy material is limited and cannot be repeated, emphasising the utility of CTCs obtained via liquid biopsy as an alternative means of assessing DNA damage. Artios is utilising longitudinal monitoring of expression of these biomarkers in CTCs harvested using the Parsortix system to assess the pharmacodynamic effects and treatment response to new DDR drugs.The successful development of these DDR assays (high levels of both sensitivity and specificity were achieved) was technically challenging and a significant achievement. Artios will now utilise the two assays in a Phase 1 clinical trial scheduled to begin shortly and expected to complete around the end of 2024. ANGLE anticipates that these assays could be employed in larger, later stage clinical trials for the same compound and potentially in further trials for additional compounds in the customer's pipeline.ANGLE can offer this CTC solution to the growing number of drug developers exploring the DDR pathway in drug trials. There are an estimated 105 drugs targeting the DDR pathway in development, with 123,000 patients currently enrolled in active clinical trials ( clinicaltrials.gov) . In 2020 the global value of DDR therapeutics was US$3.5 billion and is expected to grow to US$ 24.8bn by 2030 with a CAGR of 21.3%.ANGLE Founder and Chief Executive, Andrew Newland, commented:"We are delighted to have successfully developed these high-performance assays for Artios, a leader in the fast-growing field of DDR therapeutics. This new contract for clinical trial services again represents significant repeat business from an existing customer and we believe there is potential to expand the relationship further. These new assays also provide an important addition to our pharma services menu where our unique solution has already generated a high level of interest from new potential customers." For further information:ANGLE plc+44 (0) 1483 343434Andrew Newland, Chief ExecutiveIan Griffiths, Finance DirectorAndrew Holder, Head of Investor RelationsBerenberg (NOMAD and Joint Broker)Toby Flaux, Ciaran Walsh, Milo Bonser+44 (0) 20 3207 7800Jefferies (Joint Broker)Thomas Bective, Shaam Vora+44 (0) 20 7029 8000FTI ConsultingSimon Conway, Ciara MartinMatthew Ventimiglia (US)+44 (0) 203 727 1000+1 (212) 850 5624The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the EU Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014). Upon the publication of this announcement via a regulatory information service, this information is considered to be in the public domain.For Frequently Used Terms, please see the Company's website on https://angleplc.com/investor-relations/glossary/ Notes for editorsAbout Artioswww.artios.com Artios is on a mission to kill cancer by exploiting DNA damage repair (DDR) responses that are leveraged by cancer cells to promote their survival. Our specialized DcoDeR platform integrates Artios' leadership capabilities, expertise and experience in DNA damage biology and drug discovery to systematically discover and develop medicines targeting the totality of the DDR. We have built an extensive DDR focused pipeline designed to address areas of high unmet needs across solid tumour indications including our ATR inhibitor, ART0380, and our Pol inhibitor, ART4215, as a monotherapy and with combination treatments. Together with our world-class strategic partnerships with Merck KGaA and Novartis, and research collaborations with premiere institutions like Cancer Research UK, The Institute of Cancer Research, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, and the Crick Institute we are pioneering validated approaches to DDR drug discovery.About ANGLE plc www.angleplc.com ANGLE is a world leading liquid biopsy company with sample-to-answer solutions. ANGLE's proven patent protected circulating tumor cell (CTC) harvesting technology is known as the Parsortix system.ANGLE's Parsortix system is FDA cleared for its intended use in metastatic breast cancer and is currently the first and only FDA cleared medical device to harvest intact circulating cancer cells from blood.Intended useThe Parsortix PC1 system is an in vitro diagnostic device intended to enrich circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from peripheral blood collected in K2EDTA tubes from patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The system employs a microfluidic chamber (a Parsortix cell separation cassette) to capture cells of a certain size and deformability from the population of cells present in blood. The cells retained in the cassette are harvested by the Parsortix PC1 system for use in subsequent downstream assays. The end user is responsible for the validation of any downstream assay. The standalone device, as indicated, does not identify, enumerate or characterize CTCs and cannot be used to make any diagnostic/prognostic claims for CTCs, including monitoring indications or as an aid in any disease management and/or treatment decisions.The Parsortix system enables a liquid biopsy (a simple blood test) to be used to provide the circulating metastatic breast cancer cells to the user in a format suitable for multiple types of downstream analyses. The system is based on a microfluidic device that captures cells based on a combination of their size and compressibility. The system is epitope independent and can capture all phenotypes of CTCs PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 16:00:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 511 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Arendai and AiQ robotics join forces at MODERNLOG in Poznan, Poland, from May 30 - June 2 to share expertise into the world of automation in logistics and the factory of the future.SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / The partnership will enable the companies to expand their services into the rapidly growing industry 4.0. By combining Arendai's cutting-edge solution, Harmony, with mobile robotics from AiQ robotics, the partnership will develop advanced and intelligent solutions for a diverse range of use cases, giving a significant competitive advantage in the market.iQtraveler KV800 "We are excited to announce our new partnership with leading robotics company, AiQ robotics," said Walter Buga, CEO of Arendai. "We believe that the combination of simulation, AI and robotics has the potential to revolutionize operations for many verticals, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront of this innovation." In the field of robotics solutions and automation, nearly every application is characterized by individual and unique conditions. A strength of the new partnership is the ability to provide a joint customizable, flexible, and interoperable solution to any use-case. The partnership between Arendai and AiQ robotics is expected to have a significant impact on logistics and smart manufacturing."I am convinced that AiQ robotics' products and extensive experience, completed by Arendai's Harmony software integration capabilities, gives a great and innovative boost to the autonomous intralogistics market," said Przemysaw Degorski, Founder of AiQ robotics. "Customers will be able to take advantage of a complete robotic integration solution. Our target is to deliver an easily deployed system for production and warehousing good transportation." The companies aim to leverage their expertise in artificial intelligence in the optimization of intralogistics processes and in collaboration with human intelligence.Arendai and AiQ robotics will have a joint exhibit at the MODERNLOG fair in Poznan, Poland, from May 30-June 2. The partners will demonstrate the integration of Arendai's software orchestration solution and a mobile robot from AiQ robotics with game-changing navigation capabilities, including the use of QR codes and SLAM.About ArendaiArendai Inc. is a pioneer in the delivery of innovative software management solutions for the orchestration of logistics centers and the intralogistics operations of smart factories. By applying simulation, digital twin, and AI, Arendai delivers optimal orchestration of heterogeneous AMRs and robotics solutions. Arendai has excellent, engaged ecosystem partners with a focus on solving real customer problems and producing an attractive ROI.Please visit www.arendai.com for more information and follow Arendai on LinkedIn and YouTube.About AiQ roboticsAiQ robotics company was founded on the basis of extensive experience gained in the robotics and automation market in the field of measurements, electric motors, motor accessories, controllers, control, complete solutions and commissioning. Customers can take advantage of ready-made products, as well as robotics and automation components enabling the construction of highly sophisticated and innovative projects.Please visit aiq-robotics.com for more information and follow AiQ robotics on Linkedin.Contact InformationWalter BugaCEO9162012220Jan MurlewskiCTOSOURCE: Arendai, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 21:00:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 950 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Banyan Gold Corp. (the "Company" or "Banyan") (TSXV:BYN)(OTCQB:BYAGF) is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (the "MRE" or the "Mineral Resource") prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") for the Aurex and McQuesten properties (together, the "AurMac Property")1 located in the Mayo Mining District, approximately 56 kilometres ("km") northeast from the village of Mayo, Yukon, and 356 km north of Whitehorse, Yukon. The updated MRE comprises a total Inferred Mineral Resource (as defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves incorporated by reference into NI 43101) of 6.2 million ounces of gold on the near-surface, road accessible AurMac Property.The pit constrained Mineral Resource Estimate is contained in three near/on-surface deposits: The Airstrip, Powerline and Aurex Hill. The MRE is summarized below."This Mineral Resource update is an increase of over 2 million ounces or over 50% from the 2022 MRE," stated Tara Christie, President and CEO, "This was accomplished with 50,000 metres of drilling completed in a single season. With all three deposits remaining open, Banyan continues to focus on growth and has already drilled 15,000 metres subsequent to this Mineral Resource Update in our ongoing 2023 exploration program." Table 1: Pit-Constrained Inferred Mineral Resources - AurMac PropertyDepositGold Cut-Off (g/t)Tonnage(Mt)Average Gold Grade (g/t)Contained Gold (koz)Airstrip0.2541.20.68897Powerline0.25197.40.613,840Aurex Hill0.3074.30.601,444Total Combined0.25 to 0.3312.90.616,181Notes: The effective date for the Mineral Resource is May 18, 2023.Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, changes in global gold markets or other relevant issues.The CIM Definition Standards were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Mineral Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Mineral Resources as an Indicated Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category.Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au for the Airstrip and Powerline and 0.3 g/t Au for the Aurex Hill deposits, using a US$/CAN$ exchange rate of 0.75 and constrained within an open pit shell optimized with the Lerchs-Grossman algorithm to constrain the Mineral Resources with the following estimated parameters: gold price of US$1,800/ounce, US$2.50/t mining cost, US$5.50/t processing cost, UD$2.00/t G+A, 80% heap leach recoveries, and 45 pit slope.2The number of tonnes was rounded to the nearest hundred thousand. The number of ounces was rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations as per NI 43-101.A NI 43-101 Technical Report supporting the Mineral Resource Estimate will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within 45 days of this release. The pit outline on-surface of the MRE is shown in Figure 1 below.Figure 1: Plan map showing the Resource Estimate extents, drill collar locations and extent of interpreted mineralization.Additional figures and information can be found at https://www.banyangold.com/projects/aurmac/ About the AurMac PropertyThe AurMac Property is held by the Company under earn-in/option agreements (the "Option Agreements") with StrataGold Corporation, a 100% owned subsidiary of Victoria Gold Corp. (TSE: VGCX) ("Victoria Gold"). The Company has the right to earn up to a 100% interest in the AurMac Property, subject to royalties, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Option Agreements.3 The Airstrip, Powerline and Aurex Hill deposits contained within the AurMac Property are all on and near-surface deposits and potentially open pit mineable, with low expected strip ratios. The AurMac Property is located just 40 km from Victoria Gold's open pit, heap leach mine and 10 km from Alexco's mill facility at the High-Grade silver deposits of the Keno Hills District. The AurMac Property lies on existing transportation infrastructure (Main Yukon Government Highway System) and the all-season road to Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine. The Aurex Hill, Airstrip and Powerline deposits are within 1 km of each other and within 50 metres ("m") of year-round access roads, have 3-phase powerlines and benefit from cellular communications.Airstrip DepositThe Airstrip deposit is delineated by 139 drill holes, representing an increase of eight (8) drill holes from the May 17, 2022 MRE. Topographic control was derived from a detailed LIDAR survey dataset.There are several geologic controls on gold mineralization as per the current geologic understanding of the Airstrip deposit. The Airstrip lithological model is comprised of eight (8) east-west oriented units, with six (6) of the units dipping at approximately 40 to the south. The bulk of the gold identified within the MRE are hosted within a calcareous package; a roughly 90-metre-thick east-west striking zone dipping approximately 40 to the south.The most common sampling length of the Airstrip deposit is 1.5 m accounting for approximately 45% of the sample data; all composites were constructed at this interval. Capping of high-grade outliers was based on lithological domains and varied from 3.0 g/t Au to 9.0 g/t Au.The estimation of gold grades into a block model was carried out with the Ordinary Kriging ("OK") technique on capped composites and the resultant block model comprised of a block size of 10 m (easting) x 10 m (northing) x 5 m (elevation) and sub-block size of 1 m (easting) x 1 m (northing) x 1 m (elevation). Density was calculated from a total of 418 measurements from the drill core. The average density per lithology type was assigned to the corresponding bloc PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 18:30:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 730 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Beverage Industry Environmental RoundtableProject Name: Charco BenditoFollow Charco Bendito on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedInWelcome to our series aimed at spotlighting BIER projects. As part of our Member and Stakeholder spotlight series featuring the individual leaders within BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations, our project spotlight series highlights BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations involved in the innovative Charco Bendito project.Learn how these practitioners and their companies have collaborated to develop and implement this innovative, first-of-its-kind, basin-level watershed initiative addressing three main goals: water accessibility, quality, and availability. Gain insights into key learnings and what inspires each of them to advance environmental sustainability in the beverage sector and collectively, overall.What is the Charco Bendito watershed project?Charco Bendito, meaning "Blessed Pool," is an innovative, first-of-its-kind watershed collaboration addressing shared water challenges in the Municipality of Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco Mexico, a part of the Lerma Santiago watershed in and around Guadalajara, Mexico.Who is involved in the Charco Bendito watershed project?The project, initiated in 2020, has been designed and implemented by a team of individuals from BIER member local beverage operations in the Guadalajara area with technical support from Red Bio Terra and public relations support from Bardo Communications. This team works with local stakeholders to realize the project's goals. Championing the project includes:ABInBev - locally as ModeloBacardi - locally as Tequila PatronBeam Suntory - locally as Casa SauzaBrown-Forman - locally as Casa HerraduraDiageoKeurig Dr Pepper - locally as PenafielPernod RicardGrupo Bimbo - Stakeholder - Non-BIER memberMars Stakeholder - Non-BIER memberWhat does the Charco Bendito project aim to achieve?BIER companies collaborating on Charco Bendito are keenly aware of the water crisis; as such, project partners are working meticulously and proactively to propagate a water-secure future in the watersheds they operate in.The project involves seven BIER members and two non-BIER members working collaboratively to conserve 355 hectares as a goal. To date, progress has been made with 125 restored hectares of important land to improve the quality and quantity of water in the region. Key activities include planting native vegetation to increase groundwater levels and reduce soil loss, improving water infrastructure, and increasing awareness about the importance of water to healthy communities.What is the significance of the Charco Bendito watershed project? What makes it special?There are many contributing factors that make Charco Bendito a particularly inspiring watershed project. At its core, Charco Bendito is unique because its collaboration is comprised of beverage industry competitors, the local community, and committed local partners, working collaboratively to address complex watershed challenges at the basin level.Additionally, the governance and finance of the collaboration support the project's green infrastructure restoration activities, including reforestation and conservation, and promoting equitable water access and connection for the population of San Lucas Evangelista by 2023 by investing in improving water quality through green infrastructure and water quality monitoring.Municipal President from Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Salvador Zamora Zamora, sums up the unique aspects of the project, "The local community is key to the success of this project, which is of great importance because it improves water conditions in an area of high cultural and ethnic significance. This project is unprecedented, and we acknowledge, and thank this group of companies for sharing a common vision." How to learn more about the Charco Bendito watershed project?Due to its innovative, collaborative, and results-generating nature, the Charco Bendito watershed project has been garnering much well-deserved attention. With presentations at the recent United Nations Water Conference and and an upcoming presentation at World Water Week on August 21, 2023, there are several ways to continue learning about the project, including:Read more on BIER's websiteVisit the Charco Bendito websiteFollow Charco Bendito on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedInListen to the Charco Bendito Podcast "Conversando el agua" on SpotifyView Charco Bendito on YouTubeRead: A corporate water strategy manifesto: We can and will do betterLearn how Charco Bendito aligns with BIER's principles of World Class Water StewardshipFinally, stay tuned for the upcoming Member and Stakeholder Charco Bendito-specific spotlights showcasing how these practitioners and their companies have collaborated on this innovative, first-of-its-kind, basin-level watershed initiative.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Beverage Industry Environmental RoundtableWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/beverage-industry-environmental-roundtable Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 22:30:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 633 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Green Mountain EnergyBikeHouston is celebrating the funding of 15 new bike stations and an electric cargo trike, thanks to a $50,000 grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. The new electric cargo trike will eliminate the need for gasoline-powered vehicle transport for BikeHouston, while strategically placed bike stations with racks and air pumps at local businesses and trail entry points will encourage more usage."BikeHouston is committed to filling gaps in the bike network and taking down the barriers that keep people from getting on bikes," said Joe Cutrufo, BikeHouston Executive Director. "We are grateful to Green Mountain Energy Sun Club for their generosity and look forward to Houston becoming a city where anyone can bike." BikeHouston was founded in 2004 on a mission to transform Houston into a city where anyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, can safely and easily get around by bike. The nonprofit is the only one in Houston focused on these issues and works to achieve this goal through partnerships, advocacy, education, and enhancing bike parking in the city, which is a primary factor in why people do not bike. Through BikeHouston's advocacy, the City of Houston has made incredible progress with the continual expansion of parks and trails as well as safe on-street biking to provide access to these expanding parks and trails."Sun Club recognizes the importance and benefits of sustainable practices from organizations in the community," said Mark Parsons, Green Mountain Energy vice president. "We are excited to play a role in the impact these new bike stations and electric cargo trike will have in supporting BikeHouston's mission of promoting safe and accessible bike riding in the city of Houston." Green Mountain Energy, the nation's longest-serving renewable energy retailer, founded Sun Club in 2002 to advance sustainability by partnering with nonprofit organizations engaged in meaningful work that supports the communities the company serves. BikeHouston is one of more than 150 projects to receive a sustainability grant since Sun Club's founding. The grants are awarded to nonprofits seeking to implement projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.The first bike station installation from this grant is located at the headquarters of The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. This location's installation will provide bike accessibility for riders arriving from the Brays Bayou bike path in addition to making bike transportation and parking more accessible to the art center's headquarters.To learn more about BikeHouston and the 14 remaining bike stations being set up across Houston, visit bikehouston.org ###About Green Mountain Energy Sun ClubGreen Mountain Energy is changing the way power is made and advancing sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $13 million to 156 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub About BikeHoustonBikeHouston is on a mission to transform Houston into a city where anyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, can safely and easily get around by bike.Media Contacts:Green Mountain EnergyJeanie Davey Jeanie.davey@greenmountain.com / 267-240-3047Joe Cutrufo, BikeHouston Executive Director, and Johnny Richardson, Green Mountain Energy Program Manager, smile with a $50,000 Green Mountain Energy Sun Club check for BikeHouston at the Houston Bike Summit Soiree on May 24.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Green Mountain Energy on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Green Mountain EnergyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/green-mountain-energy Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Green Mountain Energy PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 20:47:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 338 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Covia's focus on Safety First extends beyond our Team Members and sites. We take pride in involving our communities, contractors, and customers in discussions about safety, gauging what safety practices are most important our stakeholders. Therefore, when our Chardon, Ohio facility learned about an opportunity to assist their local first responders with a special training opportunity, they were eager to get started. After collaborative planning, Covia was pleased to donate a property that was scheduled to be demolished to the Munson (OH) Township Fire Department. The Fire Department was able to use it for a "live burn"-a training exercise that gives firefighters a chance to practice with a burning structure.National Fire Protection Association instructors led firefighters from all over Northeast Ohio in the live fire training. The training was staged over two full days in 2022. Leading up to the live training, Team Members worked with the Munson Township Fire Department for months preparing the building and planning for the two 12-hour days of training. In total, it took four months to ensure the structure could be used for the training safely and was in compliance with Ohio regulations.Firefighting instructors came from as far away as Tennessee and New York when they learned about the event and more than 80 firefighters from around Northeast Ohio participated. "It was the most monumental fire training our township ever had," Munson Township Assistant Fire Chief Brian Gray told township trustees. "The training was second to none." Visit https://www.coviacorp.com/esg/positive-social-impact/ to learn more about Safety & Health at Covia and how it is more than just a skill used at work - it is a habit that translates to every aspect of our Team Members' lives.Firefighters participate in the live fire training. Photo Credit: Geauga County Maple LeafView 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: 2023-05-25 13:15:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1050 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DENVER, CO and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Koios Beverage Corp. (CSE:FIT; OTC:FITS) (the "Company" or "Koios") is pleased to announce the launch of its latest flavor of Fit SodaTM "Rainbow Sherbet," which will be available at all 1,100 Food Lion LLC ("Food Lion") grocery store locations starting this May.Fit SodaFit Soda Sherbet With consumers increasingly seeking better-for-you beverage options, Fit SodaTM has become a leader in the industry by offering a range of delicious, low-calorie drinks that don't sacrifice flavor. The new Rainbow Sherbet flavor is no exception, delivering a unique blend of sweet and tangy tastes that's perfect for sipping on a hot summer day."We're thrilled to be introducing our new Rainbow Sherbet flavor to the Fit SodaTM family," said Chris Miller, CEO of the Company. "We believe this flavor will appeal to a wide range of consumers, from those looking to cut back on sugar to those who simply want to try something new and refreshing." The Company is excited to continue its longstanding partnership with Food Lion by launching its new Rainbow Sherbet flavor in all 1,100 of its grocery stores. As a trusted retailer, Food Lion has been a valuable partner for many years, and this launch is a new way to reach even more consumers and boost sales. The Company recognizes the importance of working with retailers who share its commitment to providing healthy beverage options and supporting the needs of its customers. By partnering with Food Lion, the Company is able to leverage their established customer base and reach new audiences with its innovative new flavor. The launch of the Sherbet flavor is a testament to the strong relationship between the Company and Food Lion, and their shared dedication to meeting the evolving needs of consumers.The launch of Fit Soda'sTM new Rainbow Sherbet flavor is not only an exciting addition to the brand's product line, but it's also a key component of the Company's overall sales strategy. By introducing a new flavor, Fit SodaTM can appeal to a wider range of consumers who have different taste preferences, ultimately increasing the brand's reach and creating more awareness. This new flavor also provides an opportunity to increase volume sales, as customers are more likely to purchase products they find unique and enjoyable. The Company's new flavor strategy shows its commitment to meeting the changing needs of consumers and their desire for healthier and tastier beverage options.Fit Soda'sTM Rainbow Sherbet flavor is made with natural flavors and contains just 5 calories per can. It's also gluten-free and contains no preservatives, making it a healthy choice for anyone looking to quench their thirst without compromising on taste."We're excited to partner with Food Lion to bring our new Rainbow Sherbet flavor to consumers across the country," added Miller. "We hope that everyone who tries it will love the sweet and tangy taste as much as we do." Fit Soda was originally released and launched in more than 1,100 supermarkets operated by Food Lion, a multistate grocery chain based in Salisbury, North Carolina. Since November 2020, the Company has placed its Fit Soda functional beverage product with several other regional chains across the United States to include HEB (as announced in a Nov. 4, 2020 press release), all three banners of Massachusetts-based Roche Bros. (as announced in a Feb. 24, 2021 press release), and Sprouts Farmers Market (as announced in a March 4, 2021 press release). Approximately 700,000 units of Fit Soda were sold during the product's first full calendar year of retail sales in 2020 between retail placements in grocery and foodservice outlets, as well as direct-to-consumer sales through the Koios online store. The addition of Fit Soda to all 1,100 locations of Food Lion across 10 U.S. states has provided the Company with a significant opportunity for Fit Soda to have its best year yet in 2023.KOIOS BEVERAGE CORP."Chris Miller"Chris Miller, CEO, and DirectorFor further information, please contact:Gina Burrus844-255-6467ir@ koiosbeveragecorp.com THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.About Koios Beverage Corp.The Company is an emerging functional beverage company which has an available distribution network of more than 5,000 retail locations across the United States in which to sell its products. Koios has relationships with some of the largest and most reputable distributors in the United States, including Europa Sports, Muscle Foods USA, KeHE, and Wishing-U-Well. Koios uses a proprietary blend of nootropics and natural organic compounds to enhance human productivity without using harmful chemicals or stimulants. Koios products have been shown to enhance focus, concentration, mental capacity, memory retention, cognitive function, alertness, and brain capacity, and create all-day mental clarity. Its ingredients are specifically designed to target brain function by increasing blood flow, oxygen levels, and neural connections in the brain.Koios produces one of the only drinks in the world infused with MCT oil. MCT oil is derived from coconuts and has been shown to help the body burn fat more effectively, create lasting energy from a natural food source, produce ketones in the brain, allowing for greater brain function and clarity, support healthy hormone production, and improve immunity. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.koiosbeveragecorp.com Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding: Potential outcomes from the launch of Rainbow Sherbet Fit Soda in Food Lion supermarket locations and the overall performance of the functional beverage market. The forward-looking information reflects management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and unc PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 16:00:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 423 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / The Metis ecosystem is proud to announce the official launch of the MetisDAO Foundation, which will be responsible for facilitating collaborative workspaces for the Metis Community Builders, Commons and EcoNodes.The MetisDAO Foundation will be supported by a team of dedicated Decentralization Coordinators (DCs). Future DCs will be nominated and voted in by all Metis EcoNodes once the automated Metis governance model is implemented, thus furthering the decentralized nature of the Metis ecosystem and the MetisDAO Foundation. The first team of six DCs was appointed by current EcoNode members to jumpstart the work on the Commons and EcoNodes collaboration and governance model, one of the DCs being Elena Sinelnikova, co-founder of CryptoChicks and MetisDAO."This day marks a significant milestone in our continuing journey towards building a more decentralized, efficient, and inclusive blockchain ecosystem. We have been practicing this new and novel decentralized work model over the past six months, and found efficiency and improvements in this new decentralized work structure over Metis' previous governance structure. The Foundation launch reflects our commitment to further protocol decentralization and community engagement, our readiness in terms of technical infrastructure, and the maturation of our EcoNodes. It further underpins our ongoing mission to achieve more effective decentralized governance within the Metis ecosystem," said Elena Sinelnikova, Decentralization Coordinator of the MetisDAO Foundation.Additionally, the Foundation will provide the EcoNodes support and advice in overall branding and operation strategy, coordinate global events, workshops, and continue to host flagship MetisFest for the community. As stated in our roadmap, EcoNodes will operate as independent entities and will be required to operate within a sustained business model.Elena added:"With advancements from our P2P network and Verifiers Network to the upcoming Decentralized Sequencer Pool, the ecosystem is prepared for the Foundation's introduction. Every change we make is integral to our overarching goal: the establishment of a truly decentralized and vibrant Metis ecosystem, where everyone can participate and share in the ecosystem's decision making and success." In the upcoming months, the Foundation will present the new governance model which will define the concrete steps, algorithms, and practices of how the new governance model functions in practice. This Governance Blue Paper will be accompanied with the Contribution and Reputation Power (RP) governance product which will foster an ecosystem where all participants are encouraged to contribute and are recognized individually. It will be supported by Governance Mining, a mechanism designed to incentivize active participation in the ecosystem's governance.CONTACT:Colin Landerscolin@ energentmedia.net SOURCE: Metis Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. JACKSONVILLE Suneet Sharma of Enterprise has been named to the Presidents List at Jacksonville State University for outstanding academic performance over the Spring 2023 semester. To be named to the Presidents List, students must earn a perfect 4.0 GPA for the semester while completing at least 12 hours of GPA course credit. Founded in 1883 as a state teachers college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, JSU offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate level. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 14:45:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 405 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Mona empowers businesses to leverage the full potential of generative AI through advanced, granular monitoring capabilitiesATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Mona, the leading AI monitoring company, today announces the launch of its generative AI monitoring solution, providing complete visibility for prompt engineering, large language models, GPT, and other generative AI projects.Mona's Generative AI MonitoringMona automatically detects issues such as profanity use within prompts. To ensure safe and effective use of generative AI approaches, avoid operational risks and ultimately gain the trust of business customers, it is critical to implement effective monitoring. Mona's monitoring solution offers a range of benefits helping generative AI teams ensure the optimal performance and reliability of their generative AI. Key features include:Optimize API Usage: Track generative AI functionality and performance. Find opportunities to reduce resource usage and optimize your API calls with advanced, granular tracking and automatic improvement suggestions.Mitigate Risks: Get alerted on behavior outliers, drifts and sudden changes. Avoid problems caused due to model " hallucinations." Unsure of what can go wrong? Mona knows exactly what to look for.Easy Integration: Just wrap your API calls with our client, and monitoring is set up automatically."Our platform has always focused on product-oriented AI and AI-based processes, as opposed to just monitoring the models," said Itai Bar-Sinai, Chief Product Officer and Co-founder at Mona. "Mona is perfectly tailored to accommodate the industry's shift towards using generative AI." Mona is ideal for teams that host their own LLMs or call on models built by others via API, enabling monitoring for any large language model and any image generation tool. For more information, please visit: https://www.monalabs.io/generative-ai About MonaMona is a monitoring platform for AI in production. The intelligent monitoring solution helps organizations increase trust in their AI system by giving them an analytical engine that can detect issues weeks or longer before they come to the surface, and by that to help avoid AI catastrophes. The company's highly configurable platform provides teams with tailored, real-time insights to monitor and investigate performance issues, proactively alerting them regarding model behavior anomalies and data integrity issues. Founded in 2018 by product leaders and operators from Google and McKinsey & Co., the company is backed by top VCs, with offices in Tel Aviv and Atlanta. Learn more by visiting http://www.monalabs.io Contact InformationDiane VoMarketing Leaddiane@ monalabs.io (408) 429-3549SOURCE: Mona PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 18:20:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 716 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Edison InternationalThe swearing in of elected public officials is usually a cause for a well-attended celebration. However, the city of Monterey Park held a quiet, private ceremony in late January to swear in its new mayor, Jose Sanchez, and mayor pro tem, Thomas Wong. Even family members were restricted from attending out of respect for the tragedy that occurred just one week prior: a mass shooting during the city's Lunar New Year Festival that killed 11 people and severely injured nine others at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.Wong, a policy engagement advisor for Southern California Edison for more than five years, was preparing for his new role with the city when he was called on to help coordinate police response, media inquiries and recovery resources after the shooting.Since then, the community has been eager to connect in person. Recent public events in Monterey Park have had more attendance than usual."I think there's a hunger and desire to have these community spaces so we can come together to heal, support and enjoy each other's company. It has been helpful for us as a community to support each other by simply being physically in the same space," Wong said.May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a significant occasion for many cultures to convene and celebrate the community's diversity following Lunar New Year.At SCE, Wong builds relationships with large business associations, nonprofits and community leaders to advance clean energy, climate and environmental priorities and policies . Giving back to his community is a priority, and he has been involved in public policy long before working for the company as a Monterey Park City commissioner and a San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District board member.During SCE's 17th annual AAPI Heritage Month Celebration, Wong presented the Community Impact Award to Brandon Tsay for confronting and disarming the gunman during the shooting at the nearby Lai Lai Dance Studio. Tsay has since focused on turning the tragedy into positive action and impact for the Monterey Park and AAPI community."The Brandon Tsay Hero Fund is to rebuild and heal after this tragedy, so I've partnered with the Asian Pacific Community Fund to develop a couple of projects and initiatives to draw awareness and make an impact in the AAPI community," Tsay said.The work that we do at SCE is personal to me. We're committed to enabling the state's efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality. We're leading the transformation of the electric power industry focusing on clean energy, the grid of the future and customer choice. SCE recognizes that the progress toward a clean energy future will be successful only if it is equitable and accessible for everyone, including our most vulnerable communities." Larry Chung, SCE Vice PresidentThe celebration also recognized the Asian Business Association with the Gwen Moore Diversity Award, Asian Pacific Community Fund and Asian American Professional Association with the Community Partnership Award. Larry Chung, SCE vice president of Local Public Affairs, presented GreenWealth Energy with the Clean Energy Champion award for its partnership with SCE's Charge Ready program.Chung began his career in government promoting electric vehicle charging infrastructure years ago when EVs were more of a concept than reality."The work that we do at SCE is personal to me. We're committed to enabling the state's efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality. We're leading the transformation of the electric power industry focusing on clean energy, the grid of the future and customer choice," Chung said. "SCE recognizes that the progress toward a clean energy future will be successful only if it is equitable and accessible for everyone, including our most vulnerable communities." Learn more about Edison International's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in its annual DEI Report.Click here to view a video of the AAPI Month Celebration.Thomas Wong was sworn in as Monterey Park City Council member by Betty Yee, vice chair of the California Democratic Party and former California state controller, last December, before the shooting incident.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Edison International on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Edison InternationalWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/edison-international Email: info3blmedia.com SOURCE: Edison International PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 22:50:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 836 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TIERRA VERDE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Nestled in the tranquil and scenic landscapes of Tierra Verde, Florida, lies an extraordinary property that harmoniously blends contemporary elegance and serenity. Recently featured in luxury magazine, Haute Living, Tre Sorelle is a stunning Tuscan farmhouse that offers a haven of luxurious indulgence, unparalleled beauty, and absolute privacy. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, every aspect of this remarkable home - from its awe-inspiring design to its unparalleled construction - exudes exceptional quality and craftsmanship. This is the ultimate luxury retreat, where modern sophistication meets serene seclusion.The idea of Tre Sorelle began with the purchase of lot 24 on Oceanview Drive by the current owner in 1997. It is one of the largest lots on the street and provides both privacy and protection. After much persuasion, Albert Alfonso, a brilliant architect, agreed to work on this project under one condition. He would take on the project only if the owner was committed to building an authentic Tuscan farmhouse.To make this project a reality, both the owner and architect traveled to Tuscany twice to research and take hundreds of photographs of buildings throughout the countryside. They visited scores of houses and toured many to get an idea of what they wanted. They took photos of roofs, roof lines, doors (interior, exterior, barn), windows, shutters, stone, stonework, landscaping, and fire pits to get real reference information to drive every detail of the design.On the plane ride back to Tampa, they sat together and imagined the home they now call Tre Sorelle. Without a single architectural drawing, Albert Alfonso painted the building almost exactly as it exists today. The same watercolor painting is still sitting on its tiny easel in the family room of Tre Sorelle, as it has been since the house was finished two decades ago.Constructed to withstand the tests of Mother Nature, Tre Sorelle features massive spread footings, a concrete block structure from foundation to roof line, and fortified exterior walls featuring an additional 10 to 12-inch layer of limestone quarried and shipped from Barletta-Andria-Trani, Italy. The authentic Ludowici Italian terracotta roof tiles come with a 75-year warranty, while the hurricane-impact windows and doors are supplied by the world's pre-eminent manufacturers like Tischler und Sohn and Hope's Windows.Encompassing over 12,000 square feet of luxury living, the home boasts seven bedrooms, eight full baths, three half baths, a library, two offices, an elevator, a wine cellar, a gym, and a four-plus-car garage. The interior showcases soaring ceilings, impressive Douglas Fir beam and plank work, and solid mahogany doors. A stunning, cool honey-colored pink-veined Corton limestone spiral staircase unites the three levels of the home, adding an air of French elegance from the Burgundy region.The main level offers an open floor plan with a living room, gourmet kitchen, casual and formal dining areas, two offices, and a guest suite. The upper level features six en-suite bedrooms and a sun-filled library, while the lower level houses additional storage rooms, a wine cellar, and a gym.Outside, a tranquil oasis welcomes fun and relaxation. Tre Sorelle has expansive covered lounging and dining areas, a fire pit surrounded by a moat, and a geothermal-heated pool. Ideally located close to the downtown of St. Petersburg and Gulf beaches, Tre Sorelle is less than 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport, offering the perfect balance between peace and serenity and the conveniences of modern living.In a sea of homes that simply mimic the Tuscan style, Tre Sorelle stands out as a rare gem that remains true to the architectural heritage of Tuscany. The level of authenticity and dedication invested in this property is unparalleled, and it is evident in every detail of its design and construction. With the exorbitant cost and logistical challenges involved in building a property of this caliber today, Tre Sorelle truly represents a one-of-a-kind luxury that is sure to captivate and inspire all who experience it.About Robyn Gunn:With a wealth of experience spanning four continents, Robyn Gunn is a distinguished real estate agent with a proven track record of marketing and selling luxury properties in Tampa Bay and beyond. As the top individual agent for Premier Sotheby's Tampa Bay area, her global perspective sets her apart from other real estate professionals.Originally from Australia, Robyn's professional background includes successful tenures in human resource management and co-owning two businesses. Her collaboration with The Royal Bank of Canada has allowed her to offer valuable insights as a guest speaker on Florida's real estate market and help buyers understand current conditions.Robyn's unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in her exceptional focus on anticipating client needs, fostering strong relationships, and delivering exceptional services that consistently exceed expectations. With her wealth of knowledge and responsiveness, Robyn Gunn is a true standout in the world of luxury real estate. Her unparalleled achievements in high-value sales for luxury and second homes are a testament to her expertise.Contact:Robyn GunnPremier Sotheby's International RealtySellingLuxuryHomes0@ gmail.com SOURCE: Premier Sotheby's International Realty PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-26 00:47:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 847 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Route1 Inc. (OTCQB:ROIUF) and (TSXV:ROI) (the "Company" or "Route1"), an advanced North American provider of data-centric business empowerment solutions, today reported its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2023.Statement of operationsIn 000s of CAD dollars Q12023 Q42022 Q32022 Q22022 Q12022 Revenue Subscription and services 1,086 1,103 1,326 1,854 1,911 Devices and appliances 3,486 2,279 5,519 5,251 2,781 Other 3 6 2 9 3 Total revenue 4,575 3,388 6,847 7,114 4,695 Cost of revenue 2,897 2,032 4,842 5,015 2,572 Gross profit 1,678 1,356 2,005 2,099 2,123 Operating expenses 1,805 1,859 1,802 1,972 2,012 Operating profit 1 (128) (503) 203 127 111 Total other expenses 2, 3 177 1,223 139 183 112 Net income (loss) (305) (1,726) 64 (56) (1)1 Before stock-based compensation2 Includes gain on litigation, gain or loss on asset disposal, stock-based compensation expense, interest expense, income tax recovery, foreign exchange loss or gain, other expenses and acquisition expense.3 For Q4 2022, the Company wrote down its deferred tax asset and liabilities with a net impact of ($1,141).Subscription and services revenuein 000s of CAD dollars Q12023 Q42022 Q32022 Q22022 Q12022 Application software 456 475 804 1,402 1,483 Technology as a service (TaaS) - - - Other services 630 628 522 452 428 Total 1,086 1,103 1,326 1,854 1,911Other services revenuein 000s of CAD dollars Q42022 Q42022 Q32022 Q22022 Q12022 Technology life-cycle maintenance and support 285 300 275 214 209 Professional services 345 328 246 238 219 Total 630 628 521 452 428Adjusted EBITDAin 000s of CAD dollars Q12023 Q42022 Q32022 Q22022 Q12022 Adjusted EBITDA 3 219 -142 543 459 446 Amortization 346 361 340 332 335 Operating profit (128) (503) 203 127 1113 Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, patent litigation, restructuring and other costs. Adjusted EBITDA does not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA allows Route1 to compare its operating performance over time on a consistent basis.Balance sheet extractsIn 000s of CAD dollars Mar 312023 Dec 312022 Sep 302022 Jun 302022 Mar 312022 Cash 80 79 103 299 481 Total current assets 3,691 4,901 5,445 4,593 3,618 Total current liabilities 8,001 8,825 9,629 9,012 8,147 Net working capital (4,329) (3,924) (4,184) (4,419) (4,529)Total assets 11,016 12,355 14,826 13,909 12,574 Net bank debt and seller notes 3,344 3,042 3,018 2,515 2,297 Total shareholders' equity 1,499 1,765 3,209 2,883 2,774 As of May 25, 2023, there are a total of 2,575,000 options currently outstanding under the stock option plan.Business and Operations MetricsFurther to the Company's most recent shareholder call and webcast presentation held on February 28, 2023, Route1 communicated operating metrics that it believes assists in establishing its business model direction change is successful and can be scaled. Specifically, the growth of gross profit (GP) generated from non-MobiKEY sales on a quarterly basis needs to achieve a minimum of US $1.15 million ("Benchmark A"), and recurring ALPR support contracts need to grow to in excess of US $1.0 million in annualized revenue value ("Benchmark B").Benchmark Ain US 000s Q1-23 A Q4-22 A Q3-22 A Q2-22 A Q1-22 A Quarter Value $1,001 $802 $1,080 $705 $672 Benchmark BRoute1 continued to see improved levels of recurring revenue derived from its LPR clients through improved support contracts - technology life-cycle maintenance and support revenue. Route1 started the year at a base of US $595,000 per annum.in US 000s Q1-23 A Q4-22 A Q3-22 A Q2-22 A Q1-22 A Quarter Value $212 $222 $213 $168 $165 Annualized Value $848 $888 $852 $672 $660 Since the closing of the Spyrus Solutions acquisition, Route1 has monetized the inventory acquired and realized good short-term success in selling the PocketVault P-3X technology. The Company spent approximately US $580,000 to acquire Spyrus Solutions.in US 000s Q1-23 A Q4-22 A Q3-22 A Q2-22 A Q1-22 A Spyrus Solutions GP $387 $128 $280 $109 $281 Business Update Conference Call and WebcastRoute1 will hold a shareholder conference call and web cast to provide a business update on Thursday June 1, 2023 at 10:00 am Eastern Time. Participants should dial Toll-Free 888-506-0062 or Toll/International 973-528-0011 at least 10 minutes prior to the conference call and web cast. The participant access code is 298761. For those unable to attend the call, a replay will be available at Toll-Free 877-481-4010 passcode 48498 until 4:30 pm on June 6, 2023.The webcast will be presented live at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2167/48498 About Route1 Inc.Route1 Inc. is an advanced North American technology company that empowers their clients with data-centric solutions necessary to drive greater profitability, improve operational efficiency and gain sustainable competitive advantages, while always emphasizing a strong cybersecurity and information assurance posture. Route1 delivers exceptional client outcomes through real-time secure delivery of actionable intelligence to decision makers, whether it be in a manufacturing plant, in-theater or in a university parking lot. Route1 is listed in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ROI. For more information, visit: www.route1.com For More Information, Contact:Tony BusseriPresident and Chief Executive Officer+1 480 500-7030This news release, required by applicable Canadian laws, 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.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 fo PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 22:16:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 555 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ROCK HILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / TaxBandits, an industry-leading e-file provider of payroll and employment tax forms has rolled out an integration with Zoho Books to offer clients a streamlined 1099 e-filing process. Many tax professionals and business owners use accounting software like Zoho Books, therefore the integration allows them to import necessary information to their TaxBandits account to generate and file 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms.Form 1099-NECThis 1099 form is used to report all non-employee compensation to the IRS. Non-employee compensation refers to payments that a business makes to an independent contractor, freelance worker, or vendor. Form 1099-NEC must be filed with the IRS and a copy must be distributed to the recipients of the payments.Form 1099-MISCThe Form 1099-MISC is used to report miscellaneous payments made by the business during the tax year to the IRS. Some examples of miscellaneous payments include but are not limited to rents, prizes, royalties of $10 or more, and fishing boat proceeds. In addition to reporting these payments to the IRS on 1099-MISC, the business must also furnish the recipient with a copy.Benefits of the Zoho Books IntegrationWhen the end of the tax year comes around, businesses and tax professionals must report certain types of payments made throughout the year using the Form 1099 series for IRS forms.With TaxBandits, Zoho Books clients can easily import this information for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC.This eliminates the need for tedious manual entry and increases the accuracy and efficiency of the filing process. TaxBandits also offers a built-in Audit feature that checks forms for errors using the IRS Business Rules.Visit https://www.taxbandits.com/form-1099-series/integrations/zohobooks/ to know more.Additional Solutions from TaxBanditsIn addition to simple e-filing solutions, TaxBandits has a complete solution for meeting IRS requirements. TaxBandits clients can take advantage of easy options for distributing recipient copies of the forms the file. TaxBandits handles the printing and postal mailing of recipient copies from a SOC 2 Certified printing location. Clients can also opt to give their recipients online Tax Form Access through a secure portal.When asked about the new integration with Zoho Books, Agie Sundaram, the CEO and Co-founder of SPAN Enterprises, the parent company of TaxBandits stated, "This new integration is exciting for the TaxBandits team and a great benefit for our clients. We are providing them with another excellent tool that streamlines the e-filing process. We are always focused on enhancing the TaxBandits customer experience and this integration is another way to accomplish this." Create a free account today and begin filing at www.taxbandits.com About TaxBanditsThe 1099 and W-2 experts! TaxBandits is a SOC 2 Certified, IRS-authorized e-file provider of 1099 Form, Form W2, 1095-B, 1095-C, 940, 941, and Form W-9, serving businesses, service providers, and tax professionals of every shape and size.The TaxBandits API provides a comprehensive electronic filing solution to all service providers, enabling seamless processing of Forms 1099, W-2, 941, 940, and W-9. Visit https://developer.taxbandits.com/ to know more.About SPAN EnterprisesBased in Rock Hill, South Carolina, SPAN Enterprises has been developing industry-leading software solutions for IRS e-filing and business management tools for over a decade.The SPAN Enterprises portfolio of products includes TaxBandits, Tax990, ACAwise, ExpressExtension, 123PayStubs, and TruckLogics.For any media inquiries, please reach out to Stephanie Glanville, Content Writer at stephanie@ spanenterprises.com SOURCE: TaxBandits PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 18:30:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 549 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Tulsa nano-tech firm awarded half a million dollars to demonstrate batteries that enable energy harvest system storage for the Internet of Things (IoT)TULSA, OK / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Ten-Nine Technologies ( http://ten-ninetech.com/) is pleased to announce the approval of $499,924 in funding from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) for "Novel TENIXTM-Enabled Batteries for Energy Harvesting System Storage." Project work under the Oklahoma Applied Research Support (OARS) grant began in April and will continue for two years.In trials with automotive and power tool manufacturers, Ten-Nine Technologies has demonstrated that its patented high-energy density nano-additive TENIXTM improves the performance of high-power rechargeable storage devices. Twenty-first century lifestyle, health, and well-being also depend upon reliable low-power devices such as smart thermostats, speakers, camera lights, and controllers in homes; temperature, pressure, and vibration sensors in industrial and transportation settings; and numerous biomedical and defense applications. Energy harvester systems that power devices in this Internet of Things (IoT) have unique requirements, specifically a long-lasting battery that operates at low voltage. TENIXTM has extraordinary potential to function efficiently and effectively in these systems as well.The development of TENIXTM-enabled batteries resulting from this project could provide a bridge to allow IoT energy harvester systems to flourish. Peter Bontorno, electrical engineering lead at Ten-Nine Tech, suggests that the focus of current commercial efforts on high-powered systems, such as electric vehicles, leaves a gap that TENIXTM is uniquely suited to fill. "We have the technology to harvest energy from ambient sources, and demand for low-power, low-voltage devices is growing," says Bontorno. "What remains is to integrate a highly efficient and long-lived battery between the source and the device to achieve performance goals that the world has not yet seen." In IoT devices that are hard to replace and mission critical, this could make a difference many times over in people's daily lives.Collaboration between Ten-Nine Technologies and OCAST is not new to this award. In 2021, Ten-Nine Tech received an OARS grant of similar magnitude to study applications of TENIXTM to improve performance in batteries of various chemistries. And in 2021 and 2022, Ten-Nine Tech welcomed OCAST-funded interns to its workforce portfolio. "OCAST is proud to help make groundbreaking research that is paving the way for a fresh economic field in the realm of energy storage a reality," says Jennifer McGrail, Executive Director of OCAST."At Ten-Nine Tech, we recognize the value of blooming where we are planted, right here in Tulsa," says Founder and CEO, Paige Johnson. "We're delighted to be receiving funding from OCAST for a project that could not only create jobs and build plants at home, but also have a profound impact on the energy storage infrastructure globally." Like Bontorno, Johnson sees TENEXTM, the nano-additive that makes so many batteries better, as the key to unlock the potential of energy harvesting systems that power the Internet of Things.About Ten-Nine TechnologiesTen-Nine Technologies is dedicated to developing new materials for new economies. Venture-backed and based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it is led by founder and inventor Paige Johnson. Tulsa-based production facilities for TENIXTM, the company's patented high energy-density additive, came online with tonnage capacity in late 2021.Contact:Thomas PatrickPhone: +1 918-308-9065Email: press@ ten-ninetech.com SOURCE: Ten-Nine Technologies PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 17:50:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 548 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / The Barber Shop Marketing, heralded as one of the best full-service Marketing and Advertising agencies in North Texas, announced their win of three 2023 Telly Awards for Television Excellence, the world's largest honor for video and television across all screens."The honor of these awards highlights the quality of the work performed by our small but dedicated team of creative professionals who all truly care about telling the stories of our clients," said Amy Hall Phyfer, President of The Barber Shop Marketing."The caliber of the work this season coming from creators such as The Barber Shop Marketing truly has reflected the theme of breaking out and standing out," said Telly's Executive Director Sabrina Dridje. "Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, crafting truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world's most pressing issues, and companies big and small are turning to more sustainable practices to break the cycle of past production processes." The award-winning works from The Barber Shop Marketing include:Yo Quiero Squad Goals is a Silver Telly Winner in Social Video Craft-Art Direction, credited to Senior Graphic Designer Madeleine Flint, The Barber Shop MarketingAmon Carter Museum- Speaking with Light is a Bronze Winner in Promotional Video General- Museums and Galleries, credited to Producer Taylor Loyd, and Creative Director David Adkins, The Barber Shop MarketingThe Warren Center- Sienna is a Bronze Winner in Non-Broadcast - Not-for-profit, credited to Director Taylor Loyd, The Barber Shop Marketing Receiving over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies, and publishers from around the world."We are dedicated to producing high-quality and engaging commercials and content for our clients. Recognition from prestigious awards like the Tellys keeps us reaching new levels of excellence in the work and service we provide to the business and non-profit communities we serve, year after year," said Phyfer.About The Telly AwardsThe Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council-an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multiscreen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include Green The Bid, SeriesFest, Video Consortium, Ghetto Film School, We Are Parable, Future of Film, NAB, Stash, NYWIFT, Production Hub with support from The Commercial Director's Diversity Program.About The Barber Shop MarketingThe Barber Shop Marketing is a full-service marketing and advertising agency in Dallas with category-leading clients including Uplift Education, Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric, Yo!Quiero, City of Richardson, Smith Thompson Home Security, Town of Addison, and Bill Dickason Chevrolet Buick. Their specialization includes advertising, creative, media, digital, social media, public relations, and search optimization. For more information about The Barber Shop Marketing,For more information about The Barber Shop Marketing, visit www.thebarbershopmarketing.com or phone 214-217-7177. Follow The Barber Shop Marketing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thebarbershopmarketing or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-barber-shop-marketing Contact:Amy Hallamy@ thebarbershopmarketing.com SOURCE: The Barber Shop Marketing PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 16:51:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 713 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Antea GroupAs you begin working on your RY2022 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) calculations and reports, it is important to consider the rule changes that will impact your RY2022 TRI reports due on July 1st, 2023.First and foremost, the Environmental Protection Agency has added natural gas processing facilities to the TRI-listed NAICS codes. This includes all natural gas processing facilities that receive and refine natural gas. Facilities that primarily recover sulfur from natural gas were already covered by TRI. Facilities that are primarily engaged in natural gas extraction are not covered by this rule.For RY2020, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) added 172 per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the TRI Chemical list and an additional four were added for RY2021. For RY2022, an additional four PFAS have been added per the requirements of the NDAA:Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (375-73-5),Potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate (29420-49-3),Perfluorobutanesulfonate (45187-15-3), and2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, hexadecyl ester, polymers with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, --perfluoro-C10-16-alkyl acrylate and stearyl methacrylate (203743-03-7).For those that don't know what PFAS are, they are materials that have been used to make household and commercial products that resist heat and chemical reactions, repel oil, stains, grease, and water. Since the 1960's, PFAS can be found in industrial cleaners, hydraulic fluids, nonstick cookware, plastic mold release agents, resins, stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, water-repellant clothing, paper and cardboard food packaging, and firefighting foams. Industries that may interact with PFAS include manufacturing, military, firefighting, aerospace, automotive, construction, and electronics, among numerous others.PFAS chemicals have been linked to health complications and there are still many unknown environmental exposure effects surrounding them as well. As a result, federal and state governments have begun regulating the chemicals.The majority of these 180 PFAS chemicals have a de minimis level of 1% for TRI reporting, except Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Number: 335-67-1) which actually has a de minimis level of 0.1%. The de minimis level means that if the material is present below 1% (or 0.1%), it should not be included in your total usage. The PFAS chemicals are each considered to be a separate TRI chemical and not a combined category. The reporting thresholds for each of the listed PFAS chemicals will be 100 pounds for manufacturing, processing, or other use of the chemicals at your facility.In addition to the PFAS reporting updates, EPA has updated the de minimis levels for a few chemicals. The de minimis levels for aniline (62-53-3) and acrolein (107-02-8) have changed from 1% to 0.1% since these chemicals are now classified as OSHA carcinogens.If you have a TRI-listed NAICS code, have more than 10 full-time employee equivalents, and determine that TRI chemicals are being manufactured, produced, or are otherwise being used at your facility, you should complete an evaluation to determine if you exceed the reporting threshold.The EPA has put together applicable TRI guidance documents on the new and/or emerging TRI chemicals. The EPA asks for facilities to file an accurate and complete Form R or Form A and requests that voluntary revisions be submitted based on previously unavailable information or procedures, which improves the accuracy of the data initially reported.If you need assistance with your TRI reporting this year, please contact us. Learn more about how PFAS could affect your operations with our on-demand PFAS webinar.About Antea GroupAnteaGroup is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world's most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Antea Group on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Antea GroupWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/antea-group Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Antea Group PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 17:23:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 586 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Continuing rapid expansion in the transit advertising space, Vector Media adds 5th largest US DMA to OOH platform.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Vector Media, the nation's most expansive transit media platform, has been awarded the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) advertising contract, increasing the company's portfolio of transit partnerships to include the 5th largest DMA in the country (Source: Nielsen). The addition of Dallas follows Vector's successful bid to revitalize Los Angeles' transit infrastructure, solidifying Vector as the fastest-growing and most innovative OOH company in the transit space. The DART contract will include all of DART's media assets, including their bus, light rail, paratransit and station media across its expansive fleet of over 800 transit vehicles. In addition to a full suite of traditional transit media, DART's advertising platform includes 1,100+ digitized interior screens across their fleet, with plans of adding digital screens throughout Downtown Dallas.Dallas Area Rapid Transit AdvertisingA Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus is seen driving in Downtown Dallas, Texas, with a local advertisement depicted on the side of the bus. Dallas Rapid Area Transit (DART) covers 700 square miles, servicing the metro area's 7.75M+ residents, and encompassing 12 surrounding cities in addition to Dallas itself. DART's advertising network consists of out-of-home media placements across its fleet, including bus advertising in the form of Full Wraps, Ultra Super Kings, Super Kings and Kings, Queens, as well as Headliners, Taillight Displays, Full Backs and interior placements. DART's 4 light-rail lines can also take multiple forms of outdoor media both exterior and interior, as well as unique large-format advertising opportunities at high profile stations.Home to 23 Fortune 500 companies, five of which moved to the Dallas area in the last five years, and with more than 150 corporate HQs having moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area since 2010, the Dallas Metro area has become the fastest-growing DMA in the country, and is expected to overtake Chicago as the third largest DMA (by population) in the coming years."We are thrilled to have been entrusted to bring our unique brand of OOH to the Dallas Market through a partnership with DART," said Marc Borzykowski, CEO, Vector Media. "Dallas has become one of the most exciting and forward-thinking cities in the country. DART is a recognized leader in innovation and provides advertisers and riders with unmatched reach throughout the Dallas Metro area and we are excited for all the opportunities we can create together." About Vector MediaFounded in 1998, Vector Media ( www.vectormedia.com) is one of the nation's largest private outdoor media companies, specializing in large and small format public and private media opportunities as well as the creation of interactive brand experiences. The company's current inventory is spread out over 55 US markets, including each of the top 10 US DMAs and 28 of the top 50 US DMAs and includes over 30,000 advertising faces, comprised of municipal transit, transit shelters, billboards, wallscapes, airport shuttles, and the only coast-to-coast double-decker advertising network in North America. Vector's rapidly growing experiential division integrates the company's Out-of-Home assets and other capabilities through the creation of dynamic brand experiences.About DARTDART is the public transit agency for 13 cities in the North Texas region. It operates an extensive multimodal network of DART Light Rail, Trinity Railway Express commuter rail, Dallas Streetcar, bus routes, GoLink on-demand services, and paratransit services, providing service to more than 220,000 passengers per day across our 700-square-mile service area.Media Contact:Luke Leonardluke@ vectormedia.com 212-557-9405Contact InformationLuke LeonardVP, Marketingluke@ vectormedia.com 212-557-9405SOURCE: Vector Media PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 22:05:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 845 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Revenue has grown 54% over same quarter last year, with a gross margin of 32%TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV:VOL)(OTCQB:VLTTF) ("Volatus" or "the Company"), a global leader in the drone industry, is pleased to announce its financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023").The Company generated revenue of $7,412,480 in the first three months of 2023.Revenue for Q1 2023 was $7,412,480 an increase of 54% over the same quarter last year. The revenue increase in Q1 2023 was driven by equipment sales.Gross profit for Q1 2023 was $2,366,679 an increase of $1,273,839 over the same period in 2022. The increase in gross profit was due to higher gross margins from the service segment.The Company has experienced a gross margin of 32%, representing an increase of 900 basis points (9%) over the first quarter of 2022.Volatus recorded a comprehensive loss of ($3,003,365) in Q1 2023. The losses were reduced by 7% compared to previous quarter. This was due to increased investment in human resources, expansion in the UK and Latin America, expansion in long-linear pipeline inspections, and increased office, interest, and depreciation expenses.The Adjusted EBITDA loss for Q1 2023 was ($1,602,690) compared to ($1,208,569) for the same quarter last year (Q1 2022). The incremental loss per share is 4% though the revenue has scaled by 54% and gross profit by 117%.The cash on hand as of Mar 31, 2023, was $1,456,193. In a subsequent event, the Company raised additional cash of $2,646,000 from a private placement offering on May 11, 2023.Notable Operational Accomplishments During the Quarter:Continued expansion in the US with strategic acquisition of Empire Drones based out of New York. This acquisition facilitates better gross margins and expanded market reach.The Company signed a contract for monthly recurring inspections to detect fugitive methane leaks at 14 water treatment facilities across the northwest of the United Kingdom. Under the terms of the 12-month contract, the Company will conduct remote analysis of infrastructure at water treatment facilities across the northwest UK using Optical Gas imaging cameras.In February 2023, the Company has been issued a Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) License for domestic service, all-cargo aircraft. The addition of this license allows the Company to build its drone cargo capability under the Volatus brand in preparation for the anticipated Transport Canada/FAA regulatory changes. Positioning Volatus with this license is an important step toward the long-term vision of the Company in the drone cargo operations, since the Company is scheduled to take delivery of the first 3.8 tonne Natilus Kona uncrewed regional feeder aircraft in the near future.The Company has signed a 3-year master service agreement with a leading pipeline operator to provide pipeline right-of-way asset and environmental monitoring throughout Ontario. The agreement, signed on March 2nd, is estimated to generate revenues of up to $5M over the next three years with margins within historical norms for jobs of this nature. The Company provides data gathering and analysis services to the oil and gas sector. the Company provides pipeline right-of-way surveillance services across Canada from Kitimat, British Columbia to Ottawa, Ontario. Combined with weekly patrols on an annual basis, the Volatus Group patrols over 1,600,000 kilometers of pipeline.In March 2023, the Company signed an arm's length definitive agreement to acquire Sky Scape Industries, LLC., a New Jersey based company providing airborne intelligence data services. Founded in 2014, Sky Scape Industries uses remote sensing techniques to provide comprehensive inspection services including facility, structural, line, and right of way for power utilities, emergency response for oil and gas, and facade inspection services for property management. The company utilizes crewed and uncrewed aircraft and has operated nationwide in over 24 states."In spite of a seasonal quarter, our team continued to execute. Market challenges shifted some of our revenue targets to the right, but the quarter also marked a more aggressive expansion in the US," said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus. "The acquisition of Empire Drones and Sky Scape Industries will help Volatus capture a larger market share and improve gross margins across the board." WebinarIn conjunction with this release, Volatus investor relations will host a webinar on Tuesday, May 30th at 9 AM EST at which time Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, and Abhinav Singhvi, Chief Financial Officer, will review the quarterly results and major milestones with Danielle Gagne, Head of Corporate Communications as moderator. Investors are invited to register for the webinar here.Audio Replay OptionsAn audio replay of the event will be archived on the Investor Relations page of the company's website here .SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTSQ1 2023 Q4 2022 Q3 2022 Q2 2022 Revenue 7,412,480 7,213,129 11,120,589 6,629,593 Cost of goods sold (5,045,801) (5,190,979) (7,791,145) (4,728,673) GROSS PROFIT 2,366,679 2,022,150 3,329,444 1,900,920 Gross Margin 32% 28% 30% 29%OPERATING EXPENSES Audit fees 1,866 90,000 10,000 10,015 Advertising & marketing 406,118 575,539 599,285 591,365 IT & tech 185,095 164,260 140,392 110,775 Personnel 2,156,297 1,552,913 1,393,606 1,565,456 Research & development 100,420 541,023 - - Office cost 712,481 490,740 378,474 416,589 Travel 94,285 144,372 140,622 54,456 External partner cost 272,147 512,171 393,238 158,356 Depreciation 745,136 604,849 270,081 300,511 Share based Payments 176,401 340,761 330,918 290,103 Total Operating Expense 4,850,247 5,016,629 3,656,615 3,497,626 Operating Expense Ratio 65% 70% 33% 53% (Loss) from operations (2,483,568) (2,994,479) (327,171) (1,596,707) OTHER ITEMS - INCOME/(EXPENSE) Finance cost (312,982) (249,798) (121,672) (81,239)Other income (expense) (1,558) 192,498 79,640 31,576 Unrealized loss on investment (180,058) - - - Gain (loss) on disposal of drones (10,511) 414 10,566 (1,011)Foreign exchange translation (28,590) (195,277) 6,430 20,484 Net loss (3,017,267) (3,246,645) (352,206) (1,626,896)OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Foreign operations - foreign currency translation differences 13,902 25,314 - - Comprehensive loss (3,003,365) (3,221,331) (352,206 (1,626, Russia expels five Swedish diplomats in a retaliatory move, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, Azernews reports, citing TASS. Swedens ambassador to Moscow Malena Mard was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on May 25. "The Swedish ambassador was notified that the Russian side had decided to declare as personae non gratae five Swedish diplomats, including three staffers of the defense attache's office at the Swedish embassy in Moscow as a retaliatory measure," the news release said. The Russian Foreign Ministry recalled that it had described as an openly hostile act Stockholms decision to declare five employees of Russian diplomatic missions in Sweden as personae non gratae on April 25, 2023. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Some of us are old enough to remember when Quincy, M.E. aired on television during prime time in the 1970s. The shows plots centered around Dr. Quincy, the Medical Examiner for Los Angeles County, who was called on to pronounce death, determine the cause of death, and in many cases perform autopsies. Alabama does not have medical examiners, per se. Instead, each county has a coroner, who does not have to have medical training like a physician, but who is still called on to pronounce a death, determine the cause of death, and conduct an investigation if the cause of death is uncertain or suspicious. Coroners in Alabama are also elected by the public to serve, whereas medical examiners, where they exist, are appointed by the local government. Arnold Woodham is the Coroner for Coffee County, and he spoke recently to the Enterprise Lions Club. Woodham has served the Coffee County area for many years. He is retired from the Enterprise Fire Department after more than 27 years of service, he currently works as Operations Manager for the Enterprise Rescue Squad, and he serves as Chief of the New Brockton Fire Department. Shortly after being sworn in as Coroner in January, Woodham appointed Mark Kelly as Chief Deputy Coroner and Patrick Alford as Deputy Coroner for the county. Both men have many years of service in the county and Woodham feels they are a perfect fit for the Coroners office. The coroners office also physically relocated from the county courthouse basement to the Coffee County Sheriffs Office. Woodham believes that this location is a more suitable environment for those occasions when family members of the deceased may have to come into the office. He also reported that Coffee County does have a morgue, which is located in the county courthouse basement. He hopes that in the near future, the county will be able to relocate the morgue as well. Relocating both facilities allows the coroners office and staff to operate in a more professional manner. Woodham mentioned as an example that at times a family member has to come in to identify the deceased, and that it seems inappropriate for them to have to come to the basement of the courthouse, which houses many other items, to make this identification. Woodham also said that his office is working on digitizing its files and setting up a system to track deaths in the county, building a website, and preparing a policies and procedures manual. He is also working on gaining accreditation for the office through the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. He noted that there are only about five such offices in the state. The Associations website reports, The accreditation process allows coroner and medical examiner offices to ensure they are conducting business practices and procedures in compliance with established standards. Woodham would like to become certified as a full-fledged death investigator. Presently, he is authorized to draw blood and fluids from the deceased to be sent into the state lab for toxicology analysis and, at any death scene, he is responsible for the body and anything on the body. If possible, he will determine cause of death, and he is committed to making sure that the deceased is treated with care and respect. As an investigator, he also has to ensure that the cause of death is what others have told him it was and if there is any question, he must follow through with an investigation into the death. He is allowed to subpoena medical records, and before a body can be cremated, he must give his approval. The coroner signs the death certificate, but if there are questions concerning the toxicology results, he will note pending as cause of death on the certificate. The coroner is elected to office for a four-year term, and each coroner holds a $50,000 bond for his own protection. He is called to any death that occurs in Coffee County, except for someone in hospice care, in a nursing home, or in the hospital for more than 24 hours. In those situations, a physician determines cause of death and signs the death certificate. The coroner and his deputies undergo regular training and work closely with local law enforcement. In fact, Woodham reported that in most cases when he arrives at a death scene, the law enforcement officers are already there. If there are no family members to take possession of the deceased, the remains are kept at the coroners office. These individuals are cremated and kept until some disposition can be made. Woodham urged family members to check on other family members to ensure their well-being. Woodham said that he had not yet dealt with a death from Fentanyl, but as an EMT he had dealt with drug overdoses. He said that Fentanyl is present in the local area and that drug overdoses have become too common. Since January, he has responded to fifty reports of deaths, some from auto accidents or other accidents, some by natural causes, and some by suicide. Work-related deaths are reported to OSHA for investigation. Woodham spoke highly of his working relationship with local law enforcement agencies and the District Attorneys office. Ultimately, he said, he and his deputies are committed to serving the community and helping residents through some of the most difficult times in their lives. The Enterprise Lions Club meets weekly on Wednesdays at the Enterprise Farmers Market. Lunch is served at 11:30, followed by a brief business meeting and a guest speaker. Guests are invited to visit. PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 12:00:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 953 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Voyager Metals Inc. ("Voyager") (TSXV:VONE) and Cerrado Gold Inc. ("Cerrado") (TSXV:CERT)(OTCQX:CRDOF) are pleased to announce that the shareholders and option holders of Voyager (the "Securityholders") have approved the completion of its previously announced business combination with Cerrado Gold Inc. via plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement").At the special meeting of Securityholders held yesterday (the "Meeting"), the Securityholders approved the Arrangement, pursuant to which Cerrado will, among other things, acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Voyager that it does not already own.At the Meeting, the special resolution approving the Arrangement (the "Arrangement Resolution") was overwhelmingly approved by: (i) approximately 99.98% of the shareholders of Voyager (the "Shareholders") present in person or represented by proxy; and (ii) approximately 99.99% of the Securityholders, voting as a single class, present in person or represented by proxy. The Shareholders and option holders who participated in the vote represented approximately 56.4% and 100%, respectively, of all issued and outstanding securities of Voyager entitled to vote on the Arrangement Resolution. Accordingly, all securityholder approvals required to proceed with the Arrangement have been obtained.The Arrangement is expected to become effective on or about May 31, 2023, subject to, among other things, Voyager obtaining a Final Order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) in respect of the Arrangement and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other customary closing conditions. The hearing for the final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) to approve the Arrangement is scheduled to take place on May 26, 2023. It is expected that, within two to three business days following the completion of the Arrangement, the common shares of Voyager will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange.Transaction RationaleThe combination will create a well-financed mining company with a strong pipeline of current production and growth, immediate development and a long-life, low-cost and large-scale project in a low-risk jurisdiction.Financing and cash flow synergies may reduce the dilution for project development and significantly reduce dilution for shareholders.Combined company would create a mid-tier market capitalized company once all assets are in operation based on the ability to generate significant free cashflow over the next several decades.Further details regarding the Arrangement are set out in the management information circular of Voyager dated April 19, 2023 (the "Circular"), which is available on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com) under Voyager's issuer profile.About Voyager Metals Inc.Voyager Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada.Voyager is focused on advancing its Mont Sorcier, Vanadium-rich, Magnetite Iron Ore Project, located just outside of Chibougamau, Quebec.About Cerrado Gold Inc.Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company focused on gold projects in South America. Cerrado is the 100% owner of both the producing Minera Don Nicolas mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina, and the highly prospective Monte Do Carmo development project, located in Tocantins State, Brazil.At Minera Don Nicolas, Cerrado is maximizing asset value through continued operational optimization and further production growth. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff.At Monte Do Carmo, Cerrado is rapidly advancing the Serra Alta deposit through Feasibility and into production. Serra Alta is expected to be a high-margin and high-return project with significant exploration potential on an extensive and highly prospective 82,542-hectare land package.For more information about Voyager please visit the website at: www.voyagermetals.com . For more information about Cerrado please visit the website at: www.cerradogold.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VOYAGER METALS INC.Cliff Hale-Sanders,President and CEOTel: +1-416-819-8558 Nicholas Campbell, CFADirector, Corporate DevelopmentTel: +1-905-630-0148csanders@ voyagermetals.com ncampbell@ voyagermetals.comON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CERRADO GOLD INC.Mark Brennan,CEO and ChairmanTel: +1-647-796-0023 Mike McAllisterVice President, Investor RelationsTel: +1-647-805-5662mbrennan@ cerradogold.com mmcallister@ cerradogold.comCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:This news release contains certain forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect'', ''anticipate'', ''continue'', ''estimate'', ''guidance'', ''objective'', ''ongoing'', ''may'', ''will'' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the timing and ability of Voyager and Cerrado to implement the Arrangement (if at all); the timing and ability of Voyager to obtain the Final Order (if at all); the ability of Voyager and Cerrado to satisfy the conditions precedent to complete the Arrangement (if at all); the timing to de-list the common shares of Voyager (if at all); and the potential benefits of the Arrangement described above under the heading "Transaction Rationale".Voyager and Cerrado believe the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable at this time, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with the ability of Voyager and Cerrado to implement the Arrangement on the terms described in this news release; the ability of the Voyager and Cerrado to obtain all necessary regulatory, court and stakeholder approvals, as applicable, in order to complete the Arrangement; the ability of the Voyager and Cerrado to close the transactions contemplated in the Arrangement; and the general regulatory environment in which the Voyager and Cerrado operate.The forward-looking information and statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performanc PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 16:51:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 432 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Recent bank crises in the U.S. and Europe have many Canadians worried about the fate of their deposits here at home, and the resiliency of our banking system.56% of Canadians are concerned Canada's banking system is vulnerable to collapse.28% of Canadians are somewhat worried about the security of their deposits.To protect from a potential financial crisis, 22% of Canadians have withdrawn money from their bank in the last 30 days, and 15% have transferred money to a different institution.TORONTO , ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / A new survey conducted by WealthRocket reveals more than half (56%) of Canadians are concerned our domestic banking system is vulnerable to collapse, similar to what's happened with some banks in the U.S. and Europe.WealthRocket - Banking Fears Survey ResultsPercentage of Canadians concerned our banking system is vulnerable to collapse compared to those who say no, or are unsure. The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, followed by the near-collapse of Credit Suisse, has many Canadians worried about the fate of their deposits at home, and the resiliency of our banking system.Concerns about banking system vulnerability and safety of depositsFifty-six percent of Canadians are concerned our banking system is vulnerable to collapse, with younger Canadians - particularly millennials - most concerned.Those ages 35-44 expressed the most concern (64%), followed by those 25-34 (63%), 18-24 (51%), 45-54 (51%) and 54+ (45%).More than a quarter (28%) of Canadians are somewhat worried about the safety of their money in a Canadian bank, with 20% very worried, 9% extremely worried, and 19% not worried.While many banks are insured by CDIC, only 37% of Canadians know what CDIC is and know their financial institution is a member. Slightly less (32%) don't know what CDIC is, and have no idea if their financial institution is a member.Canadians taking preventative action to protect from potential banking crisisIn an effort to shield their money from a potential financial crisis, in the last 30 days:22% of Canadians have withdrawn money from their account16% have transferred money to an investment account15% have transferred money to a different institution14% have purchased alternative assets, like cryptocurrency13% have verified whether their bank is a CDIC memberSurvey MethodologyData collected via an online Pollfish survey of 1,500 Canadians (18+) conducted between April 13 and 14, 2023. Estimated margin of error: +/- 3%.About WealthRocketWealthRocket a Canadian personal finance website focused on credit cards, banking, investing, budgeting, and more. Our mission is to empower Canadians to make informed financial decisions and get the most out of their money.For further information, contact Rebecca David, rebecca@ wealthrocket.com Contact InformationRebecca DavidMedia Relations Coordinatorrebecca@ wealthrocket.com 902-293-9342SOURCE: WealthRocket PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 08:00:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 945 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Exercise of Share OptionsJERSEY, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Yellow Cake plc (the "Company"), announces that on 24 May 2023 Carole Whittall, Chief Financial Officer and an executive director of the Company, acquired 31,686 ordinary shares in the Company ("Shares") following the exercise and net settlement of her options over 67,584 Shares on 24 May 2023 granted under the Rules of the Yellow Cake plc Share Option Plan 2019. The option exercise is being satisfied by way of a transfer of shares currently held by the Company as treasury shares.The share options were granted on 24 February 2020 as long-term incentive options with a vesting date of 24 February 2023. Further detail on the share options granted can be seen in the Company's 2021 and 2022 Annual Reports.Details of the options and the resultant shareholdings areset outbelow:PDMRPositionExercise of Options granted on 24 February 2020Shares acquired following exercise and net settlementResultant total number of Shares owned*Carole WhittallChief Financial Officer67,58431,68681,604* Includes previous direct share purchases.The following disclosures are made in accordance with Article 19 of the UK Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014 as it forms part of UK law.1Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associateda)NameCarole Whittall2Reason for the notificationa)Position/statusChief Financial Officerb)Initial notification /AmendmentInitial notification3Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitora)NameYellow Cake plcb)LEI213800CVMYUGOA9EZY954Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducteda)Description of the financial instrument, type of instrumentIdentification codeOrdinary sharesISIN Code JE00BF50RG45b)Nature of the transactionExercise of Options granted on 24 February 2020 under the Yellow Cake plc Share Option Plan 2019c)Price(s) and volume(s)Price(s)Volume(s)Exercise price - 213 pence per Share67,584d)Aggregated information- Aggregated volume- PriceAggregate PriceAggregate VolumeAggregateTotal143,95467,584143,954e)Date of the transaction2023-05-24f)Place of the transactionOutside a trading venue4Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducteda)Description of the financial instrument, type of instrumentIdentification codeOrdinary sharesISIN Code JE00BF50RG45b)Nature of the transactionAcquisition of ordinary shares following the exercise of options granted on 24 February 2020 under the Yellow Cake plc Share Option Plan 2019 and net-settledc)Price(s) and volume(s)Price(s)Volume(s)Nil31,686d)Aggregated information- Aggregated volume- PriceAggregate PriceAggregate VolumeAggregateTotalNil31,686Nile)Date of the transaction2023-05-24f)Place of the transactionOutside a trading venueENQUIRIES:Yellow Cake plc Andre Liebenberg, CEOCarole Whittall, CFOTel: +44 (0) 153 488 5200 Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker: Canaccord Genuity LimitedHenry Fitzgerald-O'ConnorJames AsensioGordon HamiltonTel: +44 (0) 207 523 8000 Joint Broker: BerenbergMatthew ArmittJennifer LeeDetlir Elezi Tel: +44 (0) 203 207 7800 Financial Adviser: Bacchus Capital Advisers Peter BacchusRichard AllanTel: +44 (0) 203 848 1640 Communications Adviser: Powerscourt Peter OgdenMolly MelvilleTel: +44 (0) 7793 858 211 ABOUT YELLOW CAKEYellow Cake is a London-quoted company, headquartered in Jersey, which offers exposure to the uranium spot price. This is achieved through its strategy of buying and holding physical triuranium octoxide ("U3O8"). It may also seek to add value through other uranium related activities. Yellow Cake seeks to generate returns for shareholders through the appreciation of the value of its holding of U3O8 and its other uranium related activities in a rising uranium price environment. The business is differentiated from its peers by its ten-year Framework Agreement for the supply of U3O8 with Kazatomprom, the world's largest uranium producer. Yellow Cake currently holds 18.81 million pounds of U3O8, all of which is held in storage in Canada and France.FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTSCertain statements contained herein are forward looking statements and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the potential returns of the Company and the industry and markets in which the Company will operate, the Directors' beliefs and assumptions made by the Directors. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "should", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "projects", "pipeline", "aims", "may", "targets", "would", "could" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or the ability to identify and consummate investments and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, qualify or quantify. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements or expectations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: uranium price volatility, difficulty in sourcing opportunities to buy or sell U3O8, foreign exchange rates, changes in political and economic conditions, competition from other energy sources, nuclear accident, loss of key personnel or termination of the services agreement with 308 Services Limited, changes in the legal or regulatory environment, insolvency of counterparties to the Company's material contracts or breach of such material contracts by such counterparties. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law or the AIM Rules.This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Cond PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-25 14:00:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 521 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ZAGENO Empowers Life Science Research with Unparalleled Efficiency and Cost SavingsCAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / ZAGENO, the leading online marketplace for life science research products, announces the completion of a $33 million funding round. General Catalyst, the largest public pension fund in the United States, Grazia Equity, OakRidge Management Group, and a German investment house led this round, joined by existing investors Capnamic Ventures and HighSage Ventures.LogoThis funding propels ZAGENO's expansion in the United States and Europe, significantly enhancing the accessibility and affordability of life science research products. ZAGENO simplifies product discovery, experiment planning, and seamless purchasing from thousands of suppliers. The marketplace revolutionizes the scientific workflow, saving time and product costs. With a wide selection of quality products and verified suppliers, scientists benefit from competitive pricing fostered by the marketplace's transparency and supplier choice."We're thrilled to welcome new investors, including one of America's most powerful shareholder bodies and global leader in the investment industry and a prominent German investment house, while enjoying continued support from General Catalyst and existing investors," said Florian Wegener, CEO of ZAGENO. "This funding empowers scientists to focus on scientific value creation." ZAGENO's online marketplace offers a vast selection of products and services, including laboratory equipment, consumables, chemicals, antibodies, and customized solutions. By providing scientists access to a network of verified suppliers, the ZAGENO platform enables informed purchasing decisions."ZAGENO is transforming the scientific research industry with its groundbreaking platform," said Larry Bohn, Managing Partner at General Catalyst. "We proudly support their journey." "With this funding, ZAGENO is positioned to deliver even greater value to scientists worldwide," emphasized Joe von Rickenbach, Chairman of the Board of ZAGENO. "Their innovative platform drives unmatched efficiency and cost savings." ZAGENO is primed for rapid growth and pioneering innovation in the scientific research industry with this new funding.To learn more about ZAGENO, please visit www.zageno.com About ZAGENOZAGENO is a marketplace for life science research products. By revolutionizing how scientists discover, procure, and manage life science research products, ZAGENO supports researchers pursuing breakthroughs that improve our lives. With an extensive catalog, advanced search functionality, transparent pricing, and dedicated customer support, ZAGENO simplifies the research workflow and enables scientists to focus on groundbreaking discoveries. ZAGENO is a global company with offices in Cambridge, San Francisco, Berlin, and Bangalore. For more information, visit www.zageno.com About General CatalystGeneral Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures - for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com Contact InformationStephanie Haroldpr@ zageno.com +1 (857) 477-8479Related FilesRelated ImagesLogoProductSOURCE: ZAGENO The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an empowerment policy for women in the country. The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who disclosed this to State House correspondents, on Wednesday in Abuja, expressed the hope that the new policy, WEE, would help bring about optimal development in the country. She said: Yesterday, the Federal Executive Council approved the WEE Policy. The WEE Policy is Women Economic Empowerment. It is a policy dialogue that weve been working on for over one year. Weve traversed all around the country to the 36 states, having dialogues with the private sector, rural dwellers, to find the best way to empower women and get them into the mainstream of nation-building. Youll agree with me that women constitute over 50 per cent of the population and the surest way to national development is to involve the total population of the country. If 50 per cent of the population is neglected, it means the country cannot develop optimally; its like a country walking with one leg. The minister, who thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving his nod for the policy to be birthed, noted that it had been a long-time dream to have such a policy in place because of the importance of women in the society. This has been a dream weve been pursuing and finally yesterday, Mr President gave the stamp, it is a legacy that Mr President is leaving behind by approving this Woman Economic Empowerment to help get women into the mainstream of financial plans to ensure that women are carried along in nation building, she added. Also addressing correspondents on the outcome of the extraordinary meeting of the council, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, revealed that the council approved the publishing of laws of the Federation of Nigeria. According to Mr Malami, a South African company will handle the publication periodically. He said: As you are aware, there was a second extraordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that was held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Three FEC memos were presented by the Office of the Attorney General for the Council and the three memos were taken, deliberated upon and approved. The first memo that was taken was a memo to the regularization of the Public Private Partnership arrangement between the Federal Ministry of Justice and Lexis of South Africa. And it has to do with the publication of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria and all materials of the law. This is about publication of the compendium of laws of the Federation. In 2003 and 2005, there was an agreement entered into between the Ministry of Justice and a company in South Africa, which contract has to do with continuous publication of the laws of Nigeria having been compiled as a book for 15 years. Now, that contract was meant to be a rollover contract, so that by way of a sustainable arrangement, we will be having a compendium of laws of the federation published periodically. According to the minister, with the councils approval, the country will have a continuous publication of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria, in the form of a book, and in a way, and manner that will conform to the quality and indeed international best practices associated with the quality. Mr Malami also disclosed that the Council approved the standardization of the use of discretion by lawyers to protect the nations interest in international cases. According to him, the new move will help check the insertion of clauses that are injurious to Nigeria in international agreements or contracts. The Second memo is a memo relating to operationalization and deployment of the governments contracts administration system. When we came into office, we inherited an award liability of around $10 billion against the Nigerian government arising from the purported breach of a contract, which is popularly known as P&ID. And then our assessment of the contract is the fact that a lot of discretion on the part of the lawyers responsible for vetting government contracts was underrated, which discretion now resulted in some level of overlooking of the major clauses that will have at the end of the day, provided some level of protection to the interest of the Nigerian government. So with that unfortunate situation in mind, the need has arisen for us to consider the best way that we can minimize the level of discretion being exercised by lawyers, and bring about standardization in line with international best practices. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a significant development for the African continent and presents a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria to increase its trade volume, encourage tourism and boost its economy, Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, has said. Mr Adebayo disclosed this while delivering his speech during the National Tourism Transportation Summit (NTTS) and Expo recently held in Abuja. The NTTS is a foremost tourism and transportation industries event anchored by the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria. Speaking at the event, the minister said the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government has declared the year 2023 as the year for the Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation. Therefore, Nigeria must seize the immense opportunities presented by the AfCFTA to drive economic growth and development. By harnessing its tourism potential, advancing aviation and transportation, promoting trade export, and fostering domestic industrialization, Nigeria can position itself as a key player in intra-African trade. Collaboration, both domestically and across the continent, will be crucial in overcoming the barriers and challenges that lie ahead, he said. Outlining Nigerias strategic approach to playing and winning in the AfCFTA, Mr Adebayo said Nigeria must invest in enhancing its tourist infrastructure, including accommodations and transportation networks, to attract both domestic and international visitors. He explained that Nigerias rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions should be showcased through targeted marketing campaigns and the creation of cultural festivals, thereby increasing tourism traffic and revenue. By promoting its unique destinations, including historical sites, national parks, and natural wonders. Nigeria should also partner with other African countries to promote cross-border tourism, promote intra-African travel and establish a single visa regime for the continent. Nigerias natural wonders, national parks, and wildlife reserves present excellent opportunities for ecotourism and adventure tourism, which can significantly boost tourism revenue and create employment opportunities, he said. Air Travel The minister added that Nigeria should prioritize the improvement of air connectivity by investing in modern airports, air traffic control systems, and airlines, which will facilitate travel within Africa and beyond. Developing and upgrading road, rail, and water transport networks will enhance connectivity within Nigeria and foster regional trade and transportation links, thereby leveraging the benefits of the AfCFTA. Streamlining customs procedures, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks, and investing in efficient logistics systems will enhance Nigerias role as a transportation hub, attracting businesses and fostering trade across the continent, he said. Mr Adebayo said Nigeria must also focus on diversifying its export products beyond oil, exploring opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and services, to tap into the growing demand within the AfCFTA market. READ ALSO: Meeting international quality standards and complying with trade regulations will enhance Nigerias competitiveness and allow its industries to thrive within the AfCFTA. Encouraging innovation and investing in research and development will drive domestic industrialization, leading to the production of higher value-added goods and services for export, he said. He added that in 2019, the African tourism market was worth an estimated $169 billion and supported 24 million jobs. He said while this is laudable, domestic, and regional contribution only accounts for 55 per cent. Covid-19 has shown that markets must develop internal resilience, and so for the African tourism sector, intra-African tourism must improve, he said. Under the AfCFTA some progress is being made, for example, since January 1st, 2023, Kenyans can now live in and enjoy South Africa without a visa for three months a year at most. However, we must note that Nigeria is somewhat leading the front, as citizens of all African countries can access Nigerias visa-on-arrival service. While this is laudable, Nigeria must move from visa on arrival to no visa for African business persons, Mr Adebayo said. In his address, Olusegun Awolowo, executive secretary of the National Action Committee on AfCFTA, said the Nigerian government is committed to leveraging the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA to attract investment, foster cross-border trade, develop tourism sector, and promote inclusive economic growth that addresses the issues of unemployment, underemployment, and multidimensional poverty in the country. He explained that the recent discovery to unlock Nigeria potentials is evident in the Nigeria DRC Trade and Investment opportunity intiative. In 2021, trade between Nigeria and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) represented less than 0.1 per cent of the total trade of each country. There are 12 major products imported to the DRC from Europe, South America and a few African countries, he said. He said DRC imports over $200 million worth of poultry meat from North America and Europe. Investing in the soybean industry in Kaduna, Nigeria. This could help in reducing the cost of accessing feed for the poultry industry in DRC. Therefore, we must work aggressively towards moving the volume of trade between Nigeria and DRC from less than 0.1 per cent to at least 10 per cent in the next ten years. By implementing these strategies, it will enable Nigeria to unlock her trade opportunities presented by the AfCFTA to increase exports with fellow African countries and reduce dependency on trading partners like China and Europe. More importantly, Nigeria will be able to create a vibrant and sustainable intra-African trading environment, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nollywood actress Adunni Ade has responded to claims that she owed late actor Murphy Afolabi N150,000 acting fees. Recently, the actress has been perceived as an outcast in the Yoruba movie industry owing to her comments during the recent general elections that saw Bola Tinubu emerge as Nigerias President-elect. During the election period, Adunni accused some of her industry colleagues working for politicians for pittances. She said, Many of you left your homes, sat in some place for two months and were paid peanuts literally. You guys fought yourselves; they paid you guys peanuts. I have a screenshot of someone who got N90,000 after wasting his damn life for two months campaigning for someone. Although she refused to mention a particular name, actress Bukky Adekogbe Raji, popularly known as Aminatu Papapa, however, took her post personally and made a video addressing her using denigrating words. Recently, at the right-day Fidau Prayer held in honour of the late Murphy, a public announcement was made urging Adunni to refund the money to the late actors burial committee. According to information, the funds were sent to Adunni by the late Murphy, who died on 13 May, as payment for a role in his upcoming movie. The movie was yet to be filmed before his untimely demise. The announcer at the prayer ceremony spoke in Yoruba, saying, Adunni Ade, please return the N250,000 that you owe the late Murphy Afolabi. However, the embattled actress, through her media team, Virgin Outdoor, has come out state with proof that she paid the actor his money before his passing. Debt repaid In a statement by Virgin Outdoor, the 46-year-old set the record straight regarding the claims that she owed the late Mr Afolabi. The actress stated emphatically that the allegation was false. This isnt the time for anyone to slander others or say things that will negatively influence the memory of a man I treated with honour and respect. Let us all respect the dead. READ ALSO: I never cheated him in his lifetime, nor would I cheat him or anyone in the afterlife. May his soul rest in peace, she wrote. She further explained that the late Mr Murphy Afolabi contacted her, requiring her services for movie production. According to her, the late actor appealed to her that it was a self-funded production and that he couldnt afford her professional fee but would need my moral support. I asked how many scenes and duration were expected of me on set. He said ten scenes and that I would spend one day. He offered to fuel my car as an honorarium, which payment was made on 02 July 2021 for N150,000. Unfortunately, on 11 July 2021 shortly before the commencement of the production, I lost my younger brother. I contacted Mr Murphy Afolabi a few days afterwards to request for his bank account details, to send him a refund, as I would be travelling to the United States for my younger brothers funeral, and to spend time with the rest of my family, she explained. Adunni, who is of Nigerian and German descent, noted that the late actor insisted she holds onto the money while he figured out whether to move the shoot forward or contact her for another one. I returned to Lagos end of September 2021 and waited for his call. Mr Murphy Afolabi contacted me on the 8th of October 2021 and said he wanted to start a new job soon and needed me for four days, playing the lead but for the same amount of N150,000 which he had paid in July. I respectfully declined, requested for his bank account details and transferred to his bank account the full refund of N150,000 on the same day 08 October 2021, she said. She posted, alongside proof of both payments on a post on her Instagram page. More controversy As an actress, Adunni has been in the news a lot lately. Also in February 2023, actress Kudi Alagbo took a jab at her for misleading people into believing that she is worth more than she looks. Alagbo claimed that Adunni did not have chairs when she was living in the Oko Oba area of Lagos before moving to the Island. The Soole actress replied Alagbo by sharing a throwback video of her former house with her furniture in plain sight. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Shortly before the 2011 presidential election, the candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), Muhammadu Buhari, flanked by associates, addressed the press at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. In the middle of the briefing, the retired general could not hold back tears as he dabbed his cheeks with a handkerchief. Was he crying about his previous two defeats at the polls or was it due to the love he has for the country? Over 800 Nigerians reportedly lost their lives in post-election violence that year; violence that many blamed the supporters of Mr Buhari for. The monkey and baboon comment the CPC candidate made before the polls was cited as an incitement to his followers in the North after he lost the election. Four years later, Mr Buhari defeated the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan. While the alliance of the major opposition parties has been credited for making the feat of Mr Buhari possible, another major factor was the reforms embarked on by the Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly the introduction of card readers. Even though Mr Buhari never personally promised electoral reforms during his campaign, his party in its manifesto stated that APC promises free and fair elections at all levels. His past as a former dictator turned reformed democrat brought elections held under his watch into close scrutiny. Early missteps The first litmus test of elections under Mr Buhari was the Kogi State off-season governorship election. The election was declared inconclusive after the leading candidate, Audu Abubakar of the ruling party, died while the results were being collated. The Imo State election had earlier been declared inconclusive in April during the general elections, hence, inconclusive crept into the political lexicon. One month later, the Bayelsa governorship election was also declared inconclusive. This series of events established doubt in the minds of many as to the direction of the electoral process under the retired general. In 2016, Mr Buhari set up a committee chaired by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani to review the electoral process. However, many believe that the president should instead have picked up the Justice Muhammad Uwais committees report of 2008 or the National Conference report of 2014 for possible electoral reforms. It is unclear what became of Mr Nnamanis committees report after it was submitted in 2017. When the 2018 Osun State governorship election was declared inconclusive, and violence marred the supplementary polls, questions were raised about the credibility of elections under Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman appointed by Mr Buhari. The attitude of Mr Buhari to the electoral amendment bill in the National Assembly did not help in terms of optics. Rejection of Electoral Bill in 8th Assembly While all these were going on, the National Assembly was making an effort to amend the 2010 Electoral Act with one major factor being the provision of legal backing for the use of technology such as card readers and other devices. Mr Buhari thrice rejected the bills passed by the lawmakers on one occasion because the bill stipulated the sequence of elections. In his rejection letters, the president stated that the election sequence clause violates section 72 of the 1999 constitution which guarantees INEC independence in managing elections. Even when the parliament removed the portions the president complained about and passed the bill again in 2018, Mr Buhari argued that implementation of the new law would be impossible because it was passed too close to the general election. And so, the 2019 general election was held without the needed legal framework for technology in the law. 2019 general election Election results management remains the weakest link in Nigerias electoral process, YIAGA Africa, an election focus organisation, stated in a post-election report on the 2019 general elections. The YIAGAs report was a damning indictment of the conduct of the electoral process. Some of the flaws highlighted had to do with the legislative framework, particularly the management of election results. However, in the build-up to the 2023 general election, Mr Buhari assented to amendments that improved Nigerias election including the use of technology, factors that experts believe led to the improvement in the conduct of subsequent elections. We have to give the outgoing administration some credit, for the fact that we have some level of fair play, Earnest Ereke, an associate professor at the University of Abuja, said while reacting to the performance of the Buharis administration on electoral reforms. Mr Ereke said Mr Buhari should be commended for not interfering in the electoral process but noted that the performance of those saddled with the responsibility leaves much to be desired. We saw some elections conducted, particularly the off-circle elections, where we even saw that the ruling party was defeated. In Osun State, the ruling party was defeated, but the president did not interfere with the process. We have also seen in Anambra State that the president did not interfere. To that extent, we can say the non-interference of the president in terms of deploying incumbency powers to influence the elections on behalf of his party is commendable, Mr Ereke said. Technology: Silver bullet by National Assembly When Mr Buhari once again rejected the electoral amendment bill in December 2021, many believed that he was at it again. The president specifically singled out section 87, which is the section on the mode of party primaries. In the letter of rejection to the National Assembly, he said the mandatory directive on primaries in the bill has financial, legal and security consequences. While members of the National Assembly favoured the direct primary mode, state governors preferred the delegate system. Following a tense period, the lawmakers conceded and passed the bill as directed by Mr Buhari even though they later blamed the political misfortunes of many of them in the primaries on the law. Although Mr Ereke commended Mr Buhari and the lawmakers, he was sceptical about the implementation of the law. To him, the outcry over the outcome of the 2023 presidential election shows that the electoral body is yet to meet the expectation of Nigeria. By and large, the lawmakers gave Mr Buhari the legacy bill providing legal backing to the use of technology in elections. Reluctant hero of restructuring Mr Buhari will exit power on 29 May. While his performance has drawn mixed reactions, he will be leaving a legacy in one area many least expected him to excel devolution of power. Under his watch, states now have power over railways, correctional facilities (prisons), and the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. What makes the feat intriguing is that Mr Buhari spent his eight years in office asking What is restructuring? As of January 2022, he was still asking proponents of restructuring what the concept means. Those that talk of restructuring, I want them to define the concept. Do they want more states, at whose expense? he said during a rare interview on Channels TV. This comment is not an isolated one, his conversation around restructuring was always more of questions and outright dismissal of the concept. In 2021, in remarks at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Mr Buhari could not conceal his disdain for the concept. Those who are discussing restructuring, my question is what are you going to restructure? Mr Buhari asked. If you ask many Nigerians what are they going to restructure, you will find out that they have nothing to talk about. Some of them have not even studied the 1999 Constitution. The 1999 Constitution is almost 70 to 80 per cent 1979 constitution. The other issue is that those who are calling for restructuring and conference on what they call ethnic nationality; if you go to Southern Kaduna, Taraba, who is to represent them? We have different combinations of ethnicities in many states. Even in Kano and Kaduna, Igbo have properties. The same goes with Yorubas, In a national broadcast in 2018, Mr Buhari said, When all the aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more to do with process than structure. Even during his first victorious presidential campaign, Mr Buhari did not consider restructuring as a major talking point, despite his party, the APC having devolution of power in its 2015 manifesto. The APC in the document promised to improve federalism. Create a more equitable distribution of national revenue to the states and local governments because this is where grass-root democracy and economic development must be established, the party stated in the manifesto. The party further promised to devolve control of policing and local prisons to states and give the right to nominate state police commissioners to the governors. In direct contradiction with his party on state police, last year Mr Buhari made it clear that state police is not an option. State police is not an option. Find out the relationship between local government and the governors. Are the third tier of government getting what they are supposed to get constitutionally? Are they getting it? Let the people in local government tell you the truth, the fight between local governments and the governors, he said during an interview. Members of the National Assembly who share his view on state police were more than glad to reject the bill. Mr Buhari and his party had boycotted the national conference organised by the Jonathan administration, so there was little hope in the president ever implementing the report. Shunning El-Rufais committee The 2014 National Conference report was definitely not an option as his party boycotted the conference. It was therefore not surprising that he ignored the report on the shelf. However, one would have expected him to consider the report of a committee of his party on the issue. While President Buhari was seeking answers on restructuring, his party already provided answers as far back as 2018 when the committee chaired by Kaduna State Governor Nasir Elrufai submitted its report on restructuring. The committee was constituted by the then APC national chairman, John Oyegun. The committee made some bold recommendations such as the merger of states, change of derivation principle, fiscal federalism and revenue allocation, devolution of powers, state police, resource control, referendum, judiciary, citizenship, and local government. Mr Buhari ignored the buffet of options presented by the committee as the report continued to gather dust at the national secretariat of the party. The needed constitutional alteration required to implement the recommendations of Mr El-Rufais committee would not have been a challenge for Mr Buhari, whose party controlled the two chambers of the National Assembly and the majority of the state Houses of Assembly the two major institutions needed for the alterations. National Assembly to the rescue In the absence of willingness on the part of Mr Buhari for radical restructuring, once again, the National Assembly presented him with legislation for the devolution of powers by removing some items from the exclusive list and adding them to the concurrent list. The lawmakers deleted airport, railway, power grid, correctional facilities, and fingerprint, identification and criminal records from the exclusive list. But they refused to remove value-added tax from the exclusive list. However, the president assented to three railway, power grid, and correctional facilities. By implication, states can now act in these three areas, a major devolution of responsibility to states. I cannot give him credit for restructuring, because restructuring is about resource control, Rolland Igbakpa, a member of the House of Representatives said during a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES. It is not enough to give powers and responsibilities to states without giving them control over their resources. You are still holding the resources of the region, give them the power over their resources, Mr Igbaka said. The lawmaker argued that the president could have achieved so much in the area of restructuring if he had given a positive body language that would have spurred lawmakers to support bills on changing the revenue-sharing formula. We made two attempts to increase derivation from 13 per cent to 50 per cent but you know that the parliament is skewed toward one region. The APC promised restructuring but nothing was done. If there is a political will on the restructuring, the lawmakers kicking would have fallen in line. The executive did not show the needed political will, Mr Igbakpa stated. On the revenue sharing arrangement, Mr Buhari still has the proposed formula by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) submitted to him in April. However, he is yet to transmit the recommendation to the National Assembly as required by law. The proposed formula reduced the federal governments share from 52.68 per cent to 45.17 per cent while it increased states share from 26.72 per cent to 29.79 per cent. Equally, local governments would get a raise from the current 20.60 per cent to 21.04 per cent. Derivation, the percentage given to states where resources are derived, was retained at 13 per cent. Already in the final days of his administration, Mr Buhari is yet to transmit the proposal to the National Assembly despite appeals from the state governors. This could be another missed opportunity in devolution. But by and large, Mr Buhari has emerged as a hero of restructuring even if a reluctant one. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The candidates of Nigerias leading political parties in the February 25 presidential election risk jail terms if probed and eventually prosecuted over the contents and directions of their campaigns in the run-up to the fiercely-fought electoral contest. A review of the campaigns of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) indicates that the candidates engaged in either ethnic, sectional or religious-motivated pitch for votes ahead of the election, in what is a clear violation of Nigerias electoral law. In April, Peter Obis secret telephone conversation with David Oyedebo, a highly influential Nigerian pastor, and founder of the Living Faith Church, was leaked. In the audio, Peter Obi was heard declaring the 25 February presidential election a religious war and Mr Oyedepo was heard replying I believe that repeatedly. Before that telephone conversation on the eve of the presidential election, Peter Obi had been serially accused of campaigning along religious lines, targeting churches with thousands of followers. He denied the charges but his political steps proved the contrary. In June 2022, for example, Mr Obi asked Nigerians to take back their country during a campaign visit to the Men of Valour conference, organised by the Revival House of International Church (RHOGIC), Abuja. At the conference themed Navigating the Corridors of Power, the Church, and the Politics, Peter Obi described Nigerias political space as an asylum, urging Nigerians not to allow the status quo to continue. But Peter Obi is not alone in the deployment of religious, sectional or ethic sentiments for political campaigns. The two other leading presidential candidates, Bola Tinubu of APC and Atiku Abubakar of PDP, also adopted similar patterns of campaigns. Like Peter Obi, like Bola Tinubu Mr Tinubus June 2022 emilokan outburst shocked many Nigerians. Ahead of the presidential primary election of the APC, the former Lagos governor addressed delegates at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. He said it was the turn of the Yoruba and therefore his turn to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. He said: If not for me that led the war front, Buhari wouldnt have emerged; he contested first, second and third times and lost. He cried on television that he wont contest again. I went to his home in Katsina, I told him you would contest and win, but you wont joke with the matters of the Yorubas. Since he has emerged, I have not been appointed a Minister; I neither get nor request a contract. This time, its Yorubas turn and in Yorubaland, its my turn. At the event, Mr Tinubu alluded to a Robert Ogundes song, titled Yoruba Ronu, a 1964 musical orchestra charging the people of the southwest not to politically betray one another. The historical allusion and Mr Tinubus outburst appealed to many Yoruba voters who then decided to rally around their tribesman rather than any other politician from another tribe. The northernisation of a political campaign by Atiku Abubakar Speaking at an interactive session of the Arewa townhall policy dialogue in Kaduna, in October 2022, a former vice-president of Nigeria and PDPs presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said northerners needed a president like him, who hails from the north. Mr Abubakar urged northerners to trust him with their votes because he is one of them and therefore the most qualified to be president. I have traversed the whole of this country, he said. I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country. He added that this is what northerners need. He (northerner) doesnt need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin. Nothing wrong with campaigning along the religious line Amid the controversy over Peter Obis telephone conversation with Mr Oyedepo, a chieftain of the Labour Party and a professor, Pat Utomi, said there was nothing wrong with campaigning along religious lines. He said elsewhere, political parties are sometimes established to appeal to the interests of the people of a certain religion. Mr Utomi said this in a short interview with the African Independent Television (AIT). He further argued that every politician appeals to religious sentiments, stating that no politician seeking power has not gone to religious leaders for endorsements. Breaching the 2022 Electoral Act, risking jail terms But contrary to Mr Utomis claims, campaigning along ethnic, sectional and religious lines is a clear contravention of Nigerias electoral law and violators can be jailed if prosecuted. According to section 92(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, places designated for religious worship, police stations, and public offices shall not be used for political campaigns, rallies, and processions; or to promote, propagate, or attack political parties, candidates, or their programmes, or ideologies. Again, Section 97 of the same law forbids campaigns based on religion or tribe, stating that any candidate, person or association that engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason to promote or oppose a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction (a) to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both; and (b) in the case of a political party, to a maximum fine of N10,000,000. READ ALSO: How Nigerias presidential candidates plan to tackle high cost of governance When campaigns were about to kick off in 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned candidates seeking offices to avoid campaigns in religious spaces or colouring their electioneering with inter-faith division. Reading out sections of the Electoral Act, Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner in charge of publicity, said offenders risked imprisonment. Mr Okoye noted that the Act already has provisions for sanctions for violators, urging parties and candidates to adhere to the law and prioritise it. It remains to be seen if INEC would be able to muscle the necessary political will to prosecute Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu, and Peter Obi for violating the Electoral Act in their campaigns. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen have again killed three police officers in Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria. The incident happened on Wednesday morning at Oshiri, a community in Onicha Local Government Area of the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, disclosed this in a statement, Wednesday evening. Ms Onovwakpoyeya, a superintendent of police, said the gunmen attacked the officers while they were on a stop and search duty at Oshiri Divisional Police Headquarters in the state. Sadly, three policemen lost their lives. One was injured and is currently receiving treatment at the hospital, Ms Onovwakpoyeya said. The police spokesperson said, shortly after the attack, tactical teams of the police in the state were drafted to the area to go after the gunmen. Consequently, two of the hoodlums were neutralised and others escaped with bullet wounds, she said. One Lexus ES-350 model, a fabricated AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine with seven rounds of ammunition, an SMG rifle and magazine with rounds of ammunition were among the items recovered from the gunmen during the operation, according to the police. Others are: a pack of hard drugs, charms, juju drums and chakra musical instruments for shrines. The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Faleye Olayele, has appealed to the residents of the state to report to the police anyone with bullet wounds or suspicious character around their neighbourhood, Ms Onovwakpoyeya said. Mr Olayele explained that reporting people with bullet wounds would help the police in the state to arrest the fleeing attackers. Increased attacks Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Ebonyi State with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The latest attack came barely two days after gunmen killed a police inspector at a checkpoint in Abakaliki, the state capital. About two months ago, gunmen killed Ogbonnaya Ugwu, the councillor representing Echara Ward 2 in Okposi Community, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state. Gunmen, in late January, attacked security operatives at a checkpoint along the Enugu/Abakaliki expressway, killing at least three police officers and injuring others. In early January, gunmen shot dead the wife of the Commander of Ebubeagu Security Outfit in Afikpo-South Local Government Area of the state. The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of the south-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MONTGOMERY United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced Thursday that Robert Skyler White, 27, of Eufaula, received a sentence of 160 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal firearms charges. According to his plea agreement and other court records, on July 9, 2021, law enforcement in Henry County stopped a vehicle for speeding. Officers identified White as the driver and discovered that he had outstanding warrants. While arresting White, law enforcement found a bag of marijuana in one of his pockets. Officers then looked inside the vehicle and discovered a scale, 50 small baggies containing marijuana, and a handgun. White is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Later, on March 18, 2022, White had an argument with his brother after they left a bar in Eufaula, then both men went to their mothers house. White went inside and retrieved a rifle, pointed it at his brothers head, and threatened to kill him. Finally, on July 31, 2022, White was stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation and was again found to be in possession of a firearm and controlled substances. White pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Feb. 16, 2023. During the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, the federal judge also ordered that White serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Abbeville Police Department, the Eufaula Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney B. Chelsea Phillips prosecuted the case. A 25-year woman (name withheld) on Wednesday told an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court how a bishop, Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, allegedly raped her while praying. The alleged rape occurred at the clerics residence in Lekki, Lagos State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bishop is standing trial on an amended three-count charge bordering on rape and sexual assault, to which he pleaded not guilty. The alleged victim/survivor testified at the resumed trial of the defendant. The witness, who was a member of a church founded by the defendant, was led in evidence by the state lead counsel, Babajide Boye. According to the alleged survivor, she was in her sisters shop in Osogbo on 2 January 2019, when her cousin was listening to the bishops sermon on the phone. I told my cousin the sermon was nice and he told me the name of the church which I searched for and followed its page on Facebook. After that, I was able to chat with Feyi on Facebook and he added me to a WhatsApp group called Spiritual Sonship Group, she testified. The alleged victim told the court that she met the defendant for the first time at a camp in 2019 when the church had a three-day retreat. He later had a programme at OAU which I attended and met Brother Isaac, one of his spiritual sons, and we exchanged numbers. From the sonship group, I took an assistant pastor / first prosecution witness (PW1) (name withheld) to be my prayer partner because, irrespective of our gender, we call ourselves sons. On the WhatsApp group, Feyi dropped a message that all sons should pick a convenient time to fast for 70 days, pray for two hours and break at 6.00 p.m. daily and come to Lagos for laying of hands after the fasting, she testified. The witness told the court that the defendant told her personally to come to Lagos for laying of hands after the fasting. On September 8 2019, I told her (PW1) that I was going to Lagos for the laying of hands but the programme started late and there was nowhere to sleep because I had no one I could stay with, in Lagos. PW1 told me to call and tell Feyi that I had no one to stay with for the night, and I did. He said there was no problem, and this made me to follow him to his house with some other members, including Bro Israel and his wife, but they later left the house that same day, she said. The witness said that a lady identified simply as Rachael took her to a room where she slept. The following morning, Feyi came out of his room and laid his hands on my head and started praying for me at the dining section, after I greeted him. I went inside the room to start preparing to go to Osogbo, and he told me there was food in the kitchen, that I should eat. I was eating at the dining when he came to meet me again and said, Are you in your period? I said, No, and he went back to his room. I did not see Rachael in the morning though we slept in the same room, she said. The alleged survivor further told the court that the defendant came to her again and told her that he had an instruction for her but would want her to hear it herself. She said: There are two portraits of one Prophet Babajide David Olulana in Feyis living room whom he told me was his spiritual father. Feyi told me to carry one of the portraits and stare at it so that I can hear the instruction myself, which I did. After a while, he came out of his room and asked if I heard anything. I told him, No. He then said that the portrait was talking to me but I could not receive it. He said his spiritual father would use another means to speak to me. I then got a text message on my phone with the sender showing Babajide. I could not call the number but the message read, Whatever your father asks you to do, do it for your own good. According to the witness, the defendant later came out and asked if she had received any sign. I told him I got a message. He said I should delete the message. Feyi told me that when I was born, my aunt did something to me which prevented my progress in life. He said the instruction he received was for him to help me so that I could be free from my aunt. I asked what the instructions was, and he said the instruction was for him to have sex with me. I was confused at this point. His eyes had already changed and he told me to go to his room. She told the court that when she got there, the two portraits of Prophet Babajide were on the bed. He (defendant) was playing a Christian song with the title, Let Praises Rise on his phone. He pushed me on the bed, I tried to move away but he pulled me back as I was already naked. While Feyi was speaking in tongue, he was having sex with me, she testified. READ ALSO: Bishop remanded for alleged rape of two church members The witness further told the court that the defendant told her she would die if she would tell anyone about the alleged rape. She said that the defendant raped her on other occasions and she got pregnant for him but lost it to an accident on Ilorin-Ibadan Road. Justice Ramon Oshodi adjourned the case until 25 May for the continuation of trial. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, performing the groundbreaking of Sailors Homes Estate Kyami Abuja on Wednesday (24/5/23) The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Awwal Gambo, has reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Navy to provide affordable housing for both serving and retired personnel of the service. Mr Gambo gave the assurance on Thursday at the groundbreaking of Sailors Homes Estate Kyami, Abuja. He said the event was another milestone amongst initiatives in the transformation plan articulated for infrastructural development towards the effective discharge of the navys constitutional mandate. The CNS said that the navy was cognisant of the significance of shelter as an essential basic need, which he said, undoubtedly had an influence on operational efficiency. According to him, the impact of affordable and decent housing on personnel cannot be quantified as it is adjudged a veritable tool for motivation and a morale booster. It is in this regard, the Nigerian Navy over the years continued to prioritise home ownership in the hierarchy of its preferences. Precisely on December 3, 2022, a similar groundbreaking ceremony for the development of 147 houses at Cluster H at Admiralty Estate Asokoro Abuja and 150 units of Post Service Housing at the Navy Estate Karshi Phase 3 were conducted. In addition, 10 hectares of land in Topo Badagry, for the development of 237 housing accommodation for Nigerian Navy personnel, serving and retired as well as members of the public was also initiated on January 26, this year in Lagos State. Today, we are here on four out of 10 hectares of land for the construction of houses for Nigerian Navy personnel. This initiative of providing affordable houses that has brought us here is through a Memorandum of Understanding between Villa Homes and Construction Limited, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Navy, he said. Mr Gambo said the Sailors Homes Estate Kyami would be made of modern and standard infrastructure with smart and functional house designs to enable subscribers to select houses of their choice. He added that the mode of payment would be through a mortgage that would be facilitated by the company once all requirements were met. The Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited, Samaila Lassa, said that the navy recognised that everyone had the right to a standard living accommodation for himself and his family, for good health and well-being. Mr Lassa said it was the understanding that housing was the second most important need of a man that the CNS had always keyed into anything that had to do with welfare. He said the partnership with Villa Homes was carried out with due diligence as regards the experience and capacity of the company and had a discussion with the Federal Mortgage Bank. He said that the Navy came into Abuja hence the reason why the personnel were inadequately accommodated. According to him, the Navy is one of the least beneficiaries despite being a major contributor to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). The Managing Director, FMBN, Madu Hamman, represented by the Executive Director, Building Development and Portfolio Management, Mr Kingsley Chukwuma, said the project was aimed at providing affordable housing, particularly to public servants. Mr Hamman said that several efforts had been made in the past for the public servants to own their personal houses but to no avail. He said that some of the factors attributed to the failure were bureaucracy, high banking rate and cumbersome process among others. This leads to the establishment of National Housing Fund scheme in 2004 with the expectation that the public servants will contribute to the fund, which will qualify them to draw from the housing loan of the Federal Mortgage Bank. However, there are still some lacunas that tend to inhibit smooth operation of the scheme. Hence, Villa Homes has come up with these innovative ideas to ameliorate the difficulty faced in the smooth operation of the NHF for the betterment of public servants. Presently individual obtain federal mortgage bank loan through the primary mortgage bank which is cumbersome and require equity contribution which for that makes it difficult for the off-takers to get the loan in contrast to the new innovative idea of Villa Homes. It simply requires prospective off-takers to subscribe by buying the subscription form and abide by the guideline on the application form without equity contribution. The overall aim of this model is to make the process of obtaining federal margin-bound law less cumbersome without necessary bureaucracy and elimination of equity contribution from public servants, he said. The Managing Director of Villas Home, Gloria Amabiwendi, said the project was a product of an MoU between VHCL, the navy and FMBN. READ ALSO: Nigerian Navy redeploys senior officers Ms Amabiwendi said the estate was designed to accommodate 138 units of two and three-bedroom flats estate sitting on 4 out of 10 hectares of land. She said the estate would be developed in phases for officers and men of the Nigerian Navy. She added that it would be an estate that would boast of world-class modern and standard infrastructures. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday destroyed 23,721.7948 kilogrammes of illicit drugs it seized between 2008 and 2022 in Enugu State. Setting the drugs ablaze, the Chairman, NDLEA, Mohammed Marwa, gave the breakdown as follow: Cocaine 21.699kg, Heroin 14.828kg, Amphetamine 0.0618kg, Methamphetamine 24.347kg, precursor chemicals 154.0kg, cannabis sativa 23,225.1kg and pharmaceutical 281.759kg. Mr Marwa, represented by the Director of General Investigation, NDLEA, Abuja, Samuel Gadzamal, commended the support from Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to the ongoing efforts to curb the abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs in the communities and society at large. He also appreciated the international counterparts such as the United States DEA, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UK board force, the German Police and others for the success story of the agency. The chairman, however, called on all Nigerians to team up with the government in fighting the war against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. He said the drugs had negative implications, especially its adverse effects on the health of the people, avoidable road accidents and drug-related criminalities. More so, I want to thank other security agencies in the state for their support to the work with NDLEA, he said. If the present tempo in fighting the scourge of drug menace is sustained with the cooperation from non-state actors and parents, there will be no more weeds and other psychotropic substances, he added. Mr Marwa promised that the agency would not rest on its oars and would continue to explore all avenues within the ambit of the law to rid the country of the menace of hard drugs. He appreciated the federal and state governments and members of the public for their support and determination towards the fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria. Cases concluded in court In his address, the State Commander of the agency, Anietie Idim, said the event was not only phenomenal to him but marked a milestone and high point in the State Command. He explained that the cases for the public destruction of the illicit drugs had been concluded at the Federal High Court, Enugu, after painstaking and diligent efforts of many officers of the agency to clean and clear the state of illicit drugs and its consequences. Mr Idim stated that 215.515 kilogrammes of illicit drugs were seized at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport. Let me affirm that we are relentless in our collective resolve to continue the battle against our public enemies, the traffickers in illicit substances across Enugu State, he said. In doing this, we thank our amiable Chairman/Chief Executive officer, Buba Marwa, under whose watch the agency has been rejigged, rebranded and repositioned for the task ahead, he said. Delivering his goodwill message, Ogbonna Onovo, former Inspector General of the Nigerian Police, lauded NDLEA for its fight against illicit drugs in the country. He noted that those drugs were catalyst for criminal activities in the country, stressing that those who engage in them becomes brutal when carrying out their criminal activities to the extent of killing children and raping women. This has destroyed the image of the nation, everyone must join hands in the fight against it, he said. He also advocated for the establishment of a hall of fame in honour of security officers who died in the process of the fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria and ensure that their families were adequately catered for. Speaking also, Governor Ugwuanyi, represented by his Special Adviser on Information, Steve Oruruo, pledged the state governments continued support to the agency to rid the state of illicit drugs. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Management of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, has denied any increase in tuition fees, describing the trending rumour of a hike in fees in the social media as fake. This is contained in a statement signed by the institutions acting Registrar, Ambrose Odiase, on Wednesday, in Benin. The statement said: It has become necessary for the management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, to set the records straight regarding the issue of tuition fees of students of the University. This follows the misinformation that has been unleashed on the social media space in the past few days by mischief makers who have been churning out staggering inconsistent figures, and claiming them to be the official school fees regime of the university. For the avoidance of doubt, and the general information, theres no tuition fee increase for the 2022/2023 session in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, for returning students of the University. All tuition fees remain the same as in the 2021/2022 academic session for our students, it said. The statement, however, advised prospective students to visit the university website to access the fees applicable to them and decide for themselves whether or not they wish to be students of the University. According to the statement, no candidate seeking admission into Ambrose Alli University is yet a student of the university until he or she has matriculated. Such potential student should note that the offer of admission will lapse after two weeks from the date of publication of the admission list and the payment of acceptance fee will determine those to be registered for matriculation. It added that The university will not be prepared to admit beyond its quota. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The management of the Laure Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre, located at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, says its struggling to cope with the number of patients needing care at the centre. The Executive Director of Fistula Foundation Nigeria (FFN), Isa Musa, said there are fewer bed spaces at the centre than the number of patients needing care. He said this as he revealed there are an estimated 332,000 women across Nigeria who are awaiting fistula repair. He urged the Kano State government to upgrade the fistula centre with additional bed spaces, wards, and provision of equipment and other supplies. Mr Musa stated this at an event commemorating the 2023 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (IDEOF), held at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano on Tuesday. The Laure fistula centre is the oldest centre in Kano which initially has 48-bed space and is now left with only 10-bed space; this is why we are calling on the government for commitments to expand the centre, create another ward, increase bed capacity this will allow more donors to come and support fistula repair in Kano. A times 20 to 30 women are turning to the centre weekly seeking fistula repair; that is why we are urging the government to put more commitments. We have an estimated 332,000 women across Nigeria awaiting treatment, compounded by an annual incidence of 13,000 new cases, Mr Musa said. READ ALSO: The coordinator of the centre, Amir Imam, said the centre established in 1987, had repaired over 15,000 fistula patents. The centre provides fistula repair, advocacy, prevention, training, documentation and research opportunities, Mr Imam said. He appealed to the government to provide drugs and rehabilitation centres for fistula survivors in the state. At the event, the Kano State Commissioner for Womens Affairs and Social Development, Zahrau Umar, said the state government provides welfare packages, feeding and shelter to fistula survivors. The United Nations General Assembly set aside 23rd May annually to create awareness globally about obstetric fistula and intensify actions toward eradicating the problem. The global community celebrates the day to appreciate the struggles of women living with the condition. This years celebration is 20 years on progress but not enough! Act now to end Fistula by 2030. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from Thursday, 25 May (today). The National Vice President of JOHESU, Obinna Ogbonna, made this known at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday. Mr Ogbonna said the union had in a letter dated 9 May, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government over an allegation of inconsistencies in the ongoing negotiations to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers. He said the ultimatum commenced on 10 May and would expire at midnight on Thursday, 25 May. Consequent upon the nonchalant, biased, and lackadaisical attitude of the Ministry of Health against JOHESU members and the resolution of the expanded National Executive Council meeting of the JOHESU held on Monday, 8 May, our members in federal health institutions nationwide are hereby directed to withdraw their services indefinitely commencing from 00:00 hour on Thursday, 25 May. About JOHESU JOHESU is the association of health workers apart from medical doctors and dentists. JOHESU covers health workers unions and associations, including the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions, and Assembly of Health Care Professional Association (AHPA). Demands The health workers are demanding the immediate approval and implementation of the technical committee report on CONHESS adjustment by the government. They are also demanding the immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of affected health workers in federal health institutions. READ ALSO: Other demands are the immediate and unconditional implementation of the pharmacist consultant cadre, unconditional payment of all withheld salaries of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, and outstanding April and May 2018 salaries of members at FMC, Azare. The union also calls for the speedy Implementation of the increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants in the health professions. The vice president, Mr Ogbonna said the union is committed to working with the government and stakeholders to improve the health system with necessary reforms in public interest. Health workers strike The health workers strike is coming barely four days after doctors under the umbrella of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) ended its five-day warning strike. The doctors, just like the health workers are demanding improved welfare and payment of all salary arrears. The association ended the strike on Monday with plans to review the governments efforts in resolving the issues in the next two weeks. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation, Americas (NIDOA), has congratulated Nigerias President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, while expressing a desire to partner with the incoming administration on diaspora matters. According to a statement signed by the groups chairman Ezekiel Macham, Mr Tinubus election is a testament to the power of powerful visioning backed up by meticulous planning and execution. According to the group, Mr Tinubu symbolises the aphorism that the road to success is often rough, long-winding, and littered with obstacles. While others cut and run, only the tough and deep have the resilience to stay the course to achieve ultimate success, Mr Macham said. The group said it trusts that Mr Tinubu has the capacity to tackle the major challenges confronting Nigeria in different areas including security, power, economy, health, education, external dependence, debts, corruption, transportation, nepotism, youth unemployment, and poverty. In line with NIDOAs mission to harness Nigerias vast human capital for the social, economic, and infrastructural development of the country and its people, it said it is ready to partner with Mr Tinubus administration to leverage its rich pool of talents and expertise for national development. Mr Tinubu emerged winner of a closely contested presidential election in February. He will be inaugurated on 29 May as Nigerias 16th president succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Two members of the cabinet of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, described the establishment of Minister of State portfolios as unconstitutional. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and Ramatu Aliyu, the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, described the designation which they have held for about four years as a constitutional aberration. Mr. President, the concept or designation of Minister of State is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed, Mr Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said in his farewell message during the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday. Minister of State as used in Nigeria is a euphemism for junior minister, an equivalent of under-secretary in some Western countries. Successive Nigerian presidents have created the positions of Minister of State to accommodate as much as possible loyalists and political interests in the cabinet. With limited number of ministries available, the Ministers of State are deployed to some key ministries in second-fiddle capacity with no clear-cut responsibilities. Mr Keyamo said section 147 of the Nigerian constitution which establishes the offices of the Minister does not create any roles for the Ministers of State. He added that the 7th Schedule to the Nigerian constitution provides for the Oath of Office to which each Minister must subscribe. There are no different Oaths for Minister and Ministers of State. They all take the same Oath of Office, he said. Mr Keyamo, who became more widely known as a spokesperson for the presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general elections than with his cabinet position, said ministers-designate were screened by the Senate, only for some of them to be re-classified as Ministers of State at the point of assignment of portfolios. He said the president lacked the discretionary power to make such reclassification as some might want to argue in support of such appointment. He said: Yes, I concede Mr. President can do that, but not by a designation different from that prescribed by the Constitution. Simply put, it is akin to the President assigning responsibilities to the office of the Vice-President and re-designating that office as Deputy President under our present Constitution. That is clearly impossible. Why then should that of the Ministers be different? Also citing section 147(3) of the Nigerian constitutionton, Mr Keyamo said ministers sit in cabinet as the eye of the President in each state of the federation. It is therefore against the intendment of the drafters of our Constitution for a representative of a State to be reclassified as against another representative of another state. Mr Keyamo, who was initially appointed as Minister of State for Niger Delta and within a short period was redeployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment also as Minister of State, said his critical comment was not a mark of ingratitude. Successive governments have come and gone and many who were appointed as Ministers of State have not spoken out at a forum such as this because of the risk of sounding ungrateful to the Presidents who appointed them. However, like I said earlier, this is not ingratitude, Mr Keyamo said. Ms Aliyu also criticised the practice of having a Minister of State who must rise or fall with the substantive Minister. If you are appointed, if you serve your state, if you underwent the same training, you attend the same FEC representing your people. Why then is your voice hinged upon another ministers voice? Why is lack of planning on another ministers part an emergency on yours? Why is the label ineptitude now the label you will carry if he should fail? She said. She noted that although, ministers were given freehand to operate, the use of Ministers of State was its minus. She said: But if one plus one becomes one, then there is an issue. Why then have a minister of state whose capacity no matter what is brought forth will be weighed and will be debated upon will be decided to go or not go to FEC by a colleague. So that does not do justice to the appointment, it doesnt do justice to the people representing, it does not even do justice to the person presenting themselves. But by and large, it was fantastic,is worth an experience, because you know what that did to me? It also built my thick skin. It built my endurance level, it built my capacity to understand what is not and what does not. Way forward Mr Keyamo called for the splitting of ministries to be manned by substantive Ministers. He said: There are enough Permanent Secretaries within the system to be assigned to each Minister, or in the least, one Permanent Secretary can serve two Ministers. Since the Schedules of Duties of both Ministers already reflect the broad Mandates of the Ministries, the Ministers can be named in line with those Schedules of Duties, instead of continuing with this unconstitutional arrangement. For instance, there is no reason why we cannot have a Minister of Labour and another Minister of Employment. In my case, whilst the Schedule of my colleague had to do more with Labour and Productivity, mine had to do more with Employment. The Directorates in my Ministry that were under my office would then be fully under the Minister of Employment, without any double loyalty to the Minister of Labour and Productivity. We can also have a Minister of Trade and another Minister of Investment. We can have a Minister of Education (Tertiary) and another Minister of Education (Primary and Secondary); we can have a Minister of Mines and another Minister of Steel; we can have a Minister of Works and another Minister of Housing and so on and so forth. In all of these, no extra infrastructure is needed to sustain this suggested arrangement. The present infrastructure and present personnel in the Ministries can very well sustain it. It will be at no extra cost to government. This is preferable than successive governments continuing with this present unconstitutional arrangement. Similarly calling for an abolition of such appointments, Ms Aliyu said, All this should be looked into by the next administration to put the country in the good part of trajectory. Read Keyamos address in full: WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2023 A HEART FULL OF UNQUANTIFIABLE GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, AND RECOMMENDATION TO ADDRESS THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONUNDRUM OF MINISTER OF STATE BEING VALEDICTORY SPEECH BY FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN AS MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2023. 1. Mr. President, you first appointed me as Minister of State in the Ministry Niger Delta Affairs in August, 2019 and you later redeployed me as Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 2. Today, I cannot find the words to express the depth of my gratitude to you for finding me worthy, out of over two hundred million Nigerians, to be nominated and subsequently appointed to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My curriculum vitae has been greatly enhanced forever. 3. From my very humble beginnings in a small dusty town in Delta State where I was born and raised by my struggling parents, all the way to the Council Chambers at the Presidential Villa where I had the honour and privilege to participate weekly in decision-making for my country in the last four years, it has been like a fairy tale. I give God all the glory. 4. What I am about to say, therefore, is not and should not be construed as an indication of ingratitude. Far from it. What I am about to say is just my own little contribution to our constitutional development as a relatively young democracy and to aid future governments to optimize the performance of those they appoint as Ministers. 5. Mr. President, the concept or designation of Minister of State is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed. Successive governments have come and gone and many who were appointed as Ministers of State have not spoken out at a forum such as this because of the risk of sounding ungrateful to the Presidents who appointed them. However, like I said earlier, this is not ingratitude. 6. As a private citizen, I am on record to have gone to court a number of times to challenge unconstitutional acts of governments for the sake of advancing our constitutional democracy, so it will be out of character for me to have gone through government and be carried away by the pomp of public office and forget my role as a member of the Inner Bar and my self-imposed role over the years as a crusader for democracy and constitutionalism. 7. Mr. President, I crave your indulgence to explain this constitutional conundrum of Minister of State. Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), deal with the appointments and responsibilities of Ministers of the Federation. The said sections state as follows: Section 147 (1) There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President. (2) Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President. (3) Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:- provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each State, who shall be an indigene of such State. Section 148 (1) The President may, in his discretion, assign to the Vice-President or any Minister of the Government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of any department of government. 8. Furthermore, the 7th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution provides for the Oath of Office to which each Minister must subscribe. There are no different Oaths for Minister and Ministers of State. They all take the same Oath of Office. 9. In addition to the above, the Ministers-designate appear before the Senate and are grilled and cleared AS MINISTERS, not as Ministers in some instances and Ministers of State in some other instances. It is at the point of assignment of portfolios that successive Presidents then reclassified some as Ministers of State. 10. Some may want to justify this by saying the President is given the discretion by the Constitution to assign whatever responsibility(ies) he likes to Ministers. Yes, I concede Mr. President can do that, but not by a designation different from that prescribed by the Constitution. Simply put, it is akin to the President assigning responsibilities to the office of the Vice-President and re-designating that office as Deputy President under our present Constitution. That is clearly impossible. Why then should that of the Ministers be different? 11. What is more, Ministers are appointed pursuant to Section 147(3) of the 1999 Constitution to represent each State of the Federation. Therefore, Ministers sit in Cabinet as the eye of Mr. President in each State of the Federation. It is therefore against the intendment of the drafters of our Constitution for a representative of a State to be reclassified as against another representative of another State. 12. The Schedules of Duties of Ministers and Ministers of State that intend to cure some of these anomalies hardly help the issues. Firstly, the Schedules of Duties are observed more in breach by the Permanent Secretaries and Directors who really cannot be expected to serve two masters. And in any case, many of the roles of both Ministers are so ambiguous that the bureaucrats would always interpret them to satisfy the ones they see as the Senior Ministers or main Ministers for fear of being persecuted by them. 13. Secondly, parts of the Schedules of Duties seem to suggest that the Ministers can delegate functions to the Ministers of State. This is a constitutional impossibility. It is only Mr. President that can delegate Presidential powers as one cannot delegate what he does not have (delegatus non potest delegare). In any case, how can someone who took the same Oath of Office with another delegate functions to that other? 14. Thirdly, the Schedules of Duties leave so many gaping holes that bring conflicts between the Ministers and Ministers of State. In addition, the provision that Ministers of State cannot present Memos in Council, except with the permission of the Minister, is another anomaly. It means the discretion of the Minister of State is subsumed in the discretion of the Minister, yet both of them represent different States in Cabinet. 15. It also follows that it would be difficult to assess the individual performances of the Ministers of State since their discretion is shackled under the discretion of the Ministers. Original ideas developed by a Minister of State are subject to clearance by another colleague in Cabinet before they can sail through for consideration by Council. The drafters of our Constitution obviously did not intend this. 16. As a result, many Ministers of State are largely redundant, with many going to the office for symbolic purpose and just to while away the time. Files are passed to them to treat only at the discretion of the other Minister and the Permanent Secretary. Yet, the Ministers of State will receive either praise or condemnation for the successes or failures of such Ministries. 17. I understand that when this practice first surfaced in the First Republic, it was used as a contraption to give a semblance of Government of National Unity, when in actual fact no real power was ceded to the opposition members co-opted into government who were mostly designated as the Ministers of State, so as to keep them in check under the leadership of the ruling Partys Ministers. But, over time the custom has come to stay and now it has been established as a norm, even regarding Ministers from the same ruling Party. In fact, one political absurdity that has emerged from this is that some Ministers of State won more votes from their States for the party in power than the main Minister. THE WAY FORWARD 18. Many Ministerial Retreats have been held to try and resolve the issues between Ministers and Ministers of State. President Obasanjo held four of such Retreats, with the last one holding at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, from 23rd to 25th February, 2001. Yet, the problems persisted. 19. Mr. President, unknown to many successive Presidents and the general public, these conflicts gravely affect the optimal performance of Governments. What is the way forward? 20. Obviously, the argument that two Ministers are cramped into some Ministries in order not to unnecessarily proliferate Ministries and therefore save Governments money is no longer tenable. This is because Government does not need any extra infrastructure or more money to maintain all Senior 36 Ministers or even a bit more appointed as is now the custom. This is because the present Ministers and Ministers of State have their separate offices, cars, security personnel and personal aides. So, what is the point? 21. There are enough Permanent Secretaries within the system to be assigned to each Minister, or in the least, one Permanent Secretary can serve two Ministers. Since the Schedules of Duties of both Ministers already reflect the broad Mandates of the Ministries, the Ministers can be named in line with those Schedules of Duties, instead of continuing with this unconstitutional arrangement. For instance, there is no reason why we cannot have a Minister of Labour and another Minister of Employment. 22. In my case, whilst the Schedule of my colleague had to do more with Labour and Productivity, mine had to do more with Employment. The Directorates in my Ministry that were under my office would then be fully under the Minister of Employment, without any double loyalty to the Minister of Labour and Productivity. 23. We can also have a Minister of Trade and another Minister of Investment. We can have a Minister of Education (Tertiary) and another Minister of Education (Primary and Secondary); we can have a Minister of Mines and another Minister of Steel; we can have a Minister of Works and another Minister of Housing and so on and so forth. 24. In all of these, no extra infrastructure is needed to sustain this suggested arrangement. The present infrastructure and present personnel in the Ministries can very well sustain it. It will be at no extra cost to government. This is preferable than successive governments continuing with this present unconstitutional arrangement. 25. Finally, I want to place it on record again that Mr. Present gave me maximum support as his Minister to function optimally. So, this treatise is not a personal complaint. This is just a respectful recommendation for record purposes and for the sake of posterity. It is also intended to correct an anomaly that has existed for ages. Thank you, Mr. President. FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb(UK) Honourable Minister of State, Labour and Employment. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The federal government says Nigerians can now request their commercial banks to issue them with a debit card which doubles as their National Identity Card at no extra cost. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, said the approval was obtained at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He explained that the approval followed a memo from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) allowing banks to print multipurpose debit cards that double as National identity cards. He said: It is going to be a form of multipurpose card where it will serve as your national identity card on one hand and also your bank card on the other hand, either Mastercard, Visa or any other kind of card. According to Mr Pantami, although the NIMC Act 2007 only mandates Nigerians to have a National Identity Number and not necessarily a printout card, demands for cards have swelled nonetheless. As in the NIMC Act 2007, section 27, what is mandatory for our citizens and legal residents is the acquiring of the National Identity Number, not the card. However, the card is optional. But many citizens, particularly those living in rural communities, always go to NIMC offices complaining that they need the card at hand, even though its optional. To make it easier, NIMC last year, we introduced a smart ID card you can download from NIMC app. It is just a smart card. You dont need to have it physically, but that is becoming difficult for our people living in rural communities. To ease the difficulty, Mr Pantami said, NIMC had partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria so that citizens who are interested in having a card at hand can easily go to the relevant banks. According to him, the bank is permitted to print the card along with either Mastercard or Visa card. It is going to be a form of multipurpose card that will serve as your national identity card on one hand and also your bank card on the other. And based on the agreement, it is without any additional costs to our citizens. So when you apply for a card at your bank, you can indicate that I want this card to be multiple-purpose where it will serve as my bank card and also my national identity card. Both of them are going to be printed on the same card and it is going to serve the same purposes without any additional costs, The minister disclosed that NIMC and the CBN signed a nondisclosure agreement to protect the privacy and confidentiality of card applicants. NIMC and the central bank signed a nondisclosure agreement where your privacy and your confidentiality must be respected in the course of providing the card for you. When you apply for the card, the bank will apply online to NIMC through their database. When they verify and confirm that your record in the database is in alignment with your record in NIMC database, it will be permitted and the card is going to be printed for you immediately, the minister added. The minister also said that FEC also approved a memo proposing the deployment of an automated system to integrate NINs with individual SIM cards. The system, he noted, would consolidate the implementation of the NIN-SIM linkage. He said As we all know that previous administrations made efforts to verify NIN and SIM starting from 2011 without success. In February 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the implementation of the policy and the revised version of the policy was also launched and unveiled by Mr President on May 6, 2021. As it stands today, the NIN and SIM policy registration is being implemented. In order to consolidate the implementation. The Nigerian Communications Commission came up with a proposal that will enhance the implementation of the policy and bring many more benefits to it. Mr Pantami said the automated system would sanitise the database and ease the process of SIM replacement for Nigerians or legal residents. FEC approves multi-million naira power projects in Daura, others The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, also disclosed that the council approved multi-billion naira contracts to boost power supply in Daura, Katsina State, Yobe as well as other parts of the country. He said: Council approved award of contract for the engineering procurement, construction and financing on the implementation of 330 KV and 132 kV line transmission lines and 33 KV, 11 KV and 400 PE distribution line project under phase 1 of the presidential power initiatives. He revealed that the project was awarded in favour of two contractors in the sum total of $581,629,355.93, inclusive of 7.5 per cent, at the prevailing exchange rate with a period of completion of 36 months as indicated. The recipient companies for lot one, from DL from Benin and Enugu DISCOS, Messes SLD electric. Then, Lot DM 3 Abuja, Jos, Kano, Kaduna DISCOS, Messrs China civil engineering construction cooperation totalling a distance of around 13,000 kilometres for the two LOT and it has been graciously approved by council, he added. The minister also disclosed that the council approved the award of a contract for the construction of a 750 kilowatt solar PV power plant at the headquarters of where TCN is also situated in the sum of N1.6 billion with a completion period of six months. He said: Council also approved routine maintenance for the Transmission Company of Nigeria. The council approved contract for the upgrading of the substation in Potiskum town in Yobe State with 132 power transformer. It is an existing substation, which has been there for a very long time with only one transformer and it serves a lot of areas around Potiskum. It is the largest town in the State with a very huge population and is the hub for commerce and transportation. So, with this upgrade, Potiskum will become a hub for electricity transmission and distribution. The other component of it is the line bringing additional line from Damaturu. Before now, the line is coming from Gombe, which is over 200 kilometres. It is a 132 single line coming into Potiskum to power the substation. So, having now 330 substation in Damaturu, that makes it easier and more prudent to take electricity from Damaturu to Potiskum over a distance of 120 kilometres. Because the longer you take the electricity on a 132 line, you get low quality of electricity. The minister also stated that the council approved the construction of two by 60 MBA and 132 line, a transmission substation at Sapade in Ogun, at the total cost of a foreign component of $10.2 million and a local component of N3.3 billion. The third one is the supply and installation of 33 KV substation equipment at Emirate Katsina state, in favour of eases Power Deal Construction limited in the sum of N4 billion, he said. Meanwhile, the outgoing Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, advocated for the abolition of the position of Minister of State in the Federal Cabinet, saying it is not part of Nigerias laws to appoint a Minister of State. Mr Keyamo made his feelings known during the FEC valedictory session presided over by President Buhari to mark the end of the Federal Executive Council, under the Buhari administration at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. The Minister of State, who commended the president for enriching his Curriculum Vitae, through the appointment, noted that some other ministers of state had been grumbling and unable to be bold and speak out. According to him, it will be difficult to assess the individual performances of the ministers of state since their discretion was shackled under the discretion of the superior ministers. He said that original ideas developed by a Minister of State were subject to clearance by another colleague in the cabinet before they could sail through for consideration by the council. He said: Mr President, you first appointed me as Minister of State in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in August 2019 and you later redeployed me as Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Today, I cannot find the words to express the depth of my gratitude to you for finding me worthy, out of over two hundred million Nigerians, to be nominated and subsequently appointed to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My curriculum vitae has been greatly enhanced forever. What I am about to say, therefore, is not and should not be construed as an indication of ingratitude. Far from it. What I am about to say is just my own little contribution to our constitutional development as a relatively young democracy and to aid future governments to optimize the performance of those they appoint as Ministers. Mr President, the concept or designation of Minister of State is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed. Successive governments have come and gone and many who were appointed as Ministers of State have not spoken out at a forum such as this because of the risk of sounding ungrateful to the presidents who appointed them. However, like I said earlier, this is not ingratitude. As a private citizen, I am on record to have gone to court a number of times to challenge unconstitutional acts of governments for the sake of advancing our constitutional democracy. So it will be out of character for me to have gone through government and be carried away by the pomp of public office and forget my role as a member of the Inner Bar and my self-imposed role over the years as a crusader for democracy and constitutionalism. (NAN) SYC/MNA Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the Structure and Accountability of Joint Venture (JV) Business and Production Sharing Contract (PSC) of NNPC has indicted several oil companies for alleged tax evasion to the tune of trillions of naira. The committee also blamed and seek the prosecution of the Chairperson of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mamman Nami, for allegedly not doing enough to recover the outstanding taxes from the oil companies, a charge the FIRS boss rejected, saying his agency is working hard to bring all tax evaders to book. Responding to the allegations levelled against his boss by the committee, the spokesperson for the FIRS chairperson, Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, described the claim as untrue, telling PREMIUM TIMES the tax agency is investigating and prosecuting several tax offenders. According to the report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), investigation by the committee span 1991 till date with alleged tax evasion running into trillions of naira. The report is expected to be laid before the lawmakers this week. The ad hoc committee investigation, chaired by Abubakar Fulata, revealed that the JVs and PSCs of NNPC sold Nigerian oil at lowest cost to their own subsidiaries in a tax haven. The committee alleged that the company subsequently sold the same oil to other buyers at full price, while inflating the cost of their Nigerian production operations and under-reporting the volume of oil they produced. This, apart from outright circumvention of the Nigerian tax laws, the committee said is abusive and contrived tax avoidance scheme to minimise their tax liability. The ad hoc committee is praying the house to adopt the recommendations with a view to bringing sanity in the oil and gas operation in Nigeria. This according to the report of the committee would be a greater benefit to the citizens. The committee report also showed that all international and national oil companies who enjoyed capital allowance in Nigeria had no Certificate of Acceptance of Fixed Asset (CAFA) as prescribed by the Industrial Inspectorate Act. The report, however, said all oil companies that benefited from capital allowance without obtaining CAFA as prescribed by the Industrial Inspectorate Act be made to refund all the monies to the government treasury. NAN reports that on 1 November, 2022 the House ad hoc committee investigating the structure and accountability of the Joint Venture (JV) Businesses and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCS) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited began probing oil companies accused of tax evasion. The probe was at the backdrop of alleged tax evasion by some oil companies operating in Nigeria, which led to the constitution of the committee by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila. Mr Fulata, at a meeting with stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, cited relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended. This committee is relying on Section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and we are asking heads of agencies who failed to forward their submissions to do so. This committee cannot fail in its mandate and we might resort to the use of Police and other security agencies to compel heads of agencies to do so. Mr Fulata decried that tax evasion by oil companies, particularly the International Oil Companies (IOCs) has negatively affected the revenue for the country. Mr Fulata has expressed disappointment that several letters of invitation sent out to some organisations were not responded to, revealing that those who responded did so shabbily. NAN reports that on 16 November, 2022, the house committee summoned the chairman of the FIRS. READ ALSO: Federal govt concessions Onitsha Port The representatives of the FIRS, a director and special assistant, were not permitted by members of the committee to make presentations as they insisted that only the chairman is expected to speak on behalf of the agency. The FIRS representatives had earlier told the committee that the service does not have access to the Stock Certificate of crude oil being lifted. The representatives said the tax agency only relied on the invoice produced and presented to it by the oil companies. The committee then described the arrangement as ridiculous. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The fourth and final season of HBOs hit series, Succession, is closing. Captivating audiences with its gripping drama and pithy one-liners, this season promises to reveal who will succeed Logan Roy and take over the Waystar Royco media conglomerate. Set against a backdrop of mansions, private jets and luxury yachts, this conniving family of billionaires couldnt feel further from the everyday Australian reality. And yet, for SMB owners operating a family business, the more pragmatic side of Succession delivers some very real takeaways. Family businesses are a big deal in Australia. In fact, they represent around two thirds (67%) of all Australian businesses. And while most family businesses dont face the same kind of shady deals and backstabbing that plagues the Roy family, all businesses no matter the size should be thinking about succession. Developing a succession plan There comes a time for every business owner to step down. Whether it be due to illness, retirement, or simply moving on to other adventures, developing a succession plan is key to ensuring a smooth transition of the business. And of course, in the case of an untimely death, immediate friends and business partners should be left without a doubt about next steps for the business. However, a recent KPMG report showed that only 15 per cent of Australian family businesses have completed a documented transition plan for their business. The report cites a number of possible reasons for this from simply not being aware of the need to prepare one, to denying an impending need to hand over the business, through to some leaders having aspirations to complete certain tasks before they hand over the reins. Regardless, having a documented plan in place ensures business leaders and family members are all on the same page. The first step in a succession plan is to choose a successor whether this be a family member, friend or colleague and clearly make this known. (Not hidden in safe with the successors name scribbled down, and then ambiguously underlined-slash-crossed out, as was the case with Logan Roys succession document.) Ensuring the business is valued and being aware of your legal rights and obligations, are also an important part of succession planning. The Australian government has a free succession plan template available to help business owners prepare. Ensuring continuity Having the right insurances in place helps to support business continuity during times of transition or unexpected events and business succession is no exception. Whilst not all eventualities can be covered, there are a range of insurance options business owners should be considering when it comes to succession planning, such as: Life Insurance: Life insurance is essential for anyone wishing for loved ones and dependants to be taken care of financially in the face of uncertainty. However, for business owners, life insurance policies are a crucial for risk mitigation. Not only does life insurance ensure financial stability for your beneficiaries, life insurance policies can also be used to fund buy-sell agreements and estate planning, providing the necessary cash to buy out the departing owners shares and ensure a smooth transition of ownership. Life insurance is essential for anyone wishing for loved ones and dependants to be taken care of financially in the face of uncertainty. However, for business owners, life insurance policies are a crucial for risk mitigation. Not only does life insurance ensure financial stability for your beneficiaries, life insurance policies can also be used to fund buy-sell agreements and estate planning, providing the necessary cash to buy out the departing owners shares and ensure a smooth transition of ownership. Estate planning: Estate planning can be complicated when it involves a business. Life insurance is also required as part of estate planning, as it can be an essential tool in mitigating the impact of estate taxes. This would mean that in event of your death, your estate will have the funds necessary to make the equitable distribution of your assets. Through establishing a life insurance trust, the proceeds of your policy would be used to cover estate tax liabilities, and thereby preserving your familys wealth Estate planning can be complicated when it involves a business. Life insurance is also required as part of estate planning, as it can be an essential tool in mitigating the impact of estate taxes. This would mean that in event of your death, your estate will have the funds necessary to make the equitable distribution of your assets. Through establishing a life insurance trust, the proceeds of your policy would be used to cover estate tax liabilities, and thereby preserving your familys wealth Key person insurance: Key person insurance is about insuring a person whose knowledge or particular services are instrumental to the running of the business. When a key person dies or becomes disabled, this can seriously impact a business ability to continue running. So making sure that key people are insured forms part of the overall succession planning strategy Key person insurance is about insuring a person whose knowledge or particular services are instrumental to the running of the business. When a key person dies or becomes disabled, this can seriously impact a business ability to continue running. So making sure that key people are insured forms part of the overall succession planning strategy Buy/sell agreements: A buy/sell agreement is a legally binding contract that stipulates how a persons share of a business would be reassigned should they pass away or decide to leave this business. This is an important aspect of the succession plan, as it helps to ensure a smooth transition of ownership to the remaining business owners. Failing to plan.. As the saying goes, a failure to plan means planning for failure. Even if youre not being ready to think about letting go of the family business just yet, it is important to develop a comprehensive succession plan and keep it up to date for when the time does come. Having a robust succession plan in place means that everyone involved with the business understands its direction. It also ensures that the business can continue to thrive even after youve moved on, ensuring the business, and your legacy, can continue for generations to come. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. An Abuja-based policy think tank, Agora Policy, has urged the incoming administration to consider re-privatising some of the nations electricity distribution companies (DisCos). The think tank provided the recommendation in a report titled Addressing Nigerias Lingering Power Challenge. The organisation noted that the centrality of adequate and reliable electricity supply to individual welfare, economic growth and overall national development cannot be overemphasized. It, therefore, urged the incoming administration to prioritise the resolution of the privatisation conundrum, particularly with a view to ensuring a sensible activation of contracts in the industry. By sensible activation of contracts, we mean allowing more bilateral negotiations, rather than an imposition, of market contracts amongst parties in the industry, under the regulatory oversight of the NERC. The in-coming administration also needs to look at re-privatising some of the DisCos that have been taken over by lenders due to default by core investors in meeting the acquisition loan repayment terms to the lenders, or under some form of administration by the NERC and the CBN, the think tank said. It argued that the failed DisCos should be broken into smaller franchise areas preferably along state boundaries, and privatised as new entities. Failed Reforms The report said various initiatives and reforms aimed at creating an optimal power sector for the country have fallen short. The think tank said the reforms initiated by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, leading to the privatisation of the power sector in 2014, are yet to yield the desired results. According to the World Bank, Nigeria has the largest energy access deficit in the world. The World Bank estimates that the lack of reliable power costs the Nigerian economy over $26.2 billion (N10.1 trillion) which is equivalent to about 2 per cent of Nigerias GDP. This is not to say that Nigeria has not made some progress in the power sector since 1999, the report said. For instance, it said in 1999, Nigeria had nine power generating stations, three hydro and six thermal stations with a total installed on-grid generation capacity of 5,906 MW, but with available generation below 1,500 MW. Today, Nigeria has up to 26 on-grid generation stations with a total installed capacity above 13,000 MW. However, available generation capacity hovers around 4,000 MW, with an average daily energy output of about 100,000 MWH. Sadly, the little progress that has been made in the power sector since 1999 is neither at par with our population growth nor adequate for the energy needs necessary to achieve our economic potential, the report said. It said Nigerias energy consumption per capita at 140kWh is relatively low and is three times lower than the average for Sub-saharan Africa. Recommending policy for the next administration, Agora Policy said there is a need for the government to stop thinking about electricity in terms of megawatts (MW) that can be generated, and start thinking in terms of incremental megawatt-hours (MWh) generated and consumed. The think tank said the government should stop thinking of installed generation capacity and start to think in terms of the amount of electricity delivered or in laymans terms, how much electricity is generated and consumed every hour by electricity consumers in Nigeria. This is an important paradigm shift with a positive impact on the government, as having such a policy mindset changes the prioritisation and allocation of public and private resources to projects, interventions and initiatives across the electricity value chain that will increase the energy output, availability, reliability and quality of electricity delivered to end-users. Under the new paradigm, we expect the incoming administration spokespersons to make statements such as we will increase the total electricity delivered to Nigerian households and businesses from xyz megawatt-hours by 100 per cent within x months, rather than the usual statement saying we will increase generation capacity to 20,000 megawatts. Increasing generation capacity to 20,000 MW without most of the 20,000 MW being consumed or a corresponding increase in electricity consumption is not only meaningless but also fiscally detrimental to the country, it said. Natural Gas Fields The report noted that an increase in megawatt-hours delivered to electricity customers can be achieved if there is a seamless conversion and flow of energy from the natural gas fields to the generation stations and from the generation stations to the high-voltage lines that transmit the energy to the national grid and ultimately to medium-voltage and low-voltage lines that distribute the energy to end users. In this regard, the think tank said the incoming administration needs to prioritise solving the interface issues and challenges across the entire power sector value chain (from natural gas-to-electricity interface, generation-to-transmission interface to transmission-to-distribution interface). The report said the incoming administration needs to continue the implementation of the power sector programmes, initiatives and interventions carried out by the Buhari administration. Agora policy said new administrations are under political pressure to either terminate, suspend, put on hold, or create parallel projects, policies and interventions in the power sector. The incoming administration should continue the implementation of these and perhaps other projects and initiatives of the Buhari administration in the electricity sector. While we advocate for the continuation of the Buhari administration interventions, the incoming administration should also review and optimise some of these programmes and initiatives to ensure value for money, it said. National Electricity Policy The report explained that with the recent constitutional alteration of section 14(b) of the concurrent legislative schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it has become imperative to develop a new national electricity policy. The report noted that decarbonisation and energy transition from fossil fuels to clean sources of energy are now very important aspects of any countrys national energy policy. Consequently, it said the incoming administration must develop a national electricity policy that reflects the electricity aspirations of both the federal government and the states in line with the new provisions of the constitution. According to the report, the lack of effective coordination of the various segments of the power sector value chain is one of the causes of the dysfunction in the sector. It said the incoming government should consider the establishment of a standing inter-ministerial energy committee to be chaired by the vice president. The inter-ministerial committee members should include the Minister of Power, Minister of Petroleum Resources (or such designate), Minister of Finance, the Permanent Secretaries of the mentioned ministries, the chief executives of NERC, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and heads of other key agencies and departments in the oil and gas sectors and the power sector. The inter-ministerial committees role will be to ensure effective coordination of agencies and operators that are part of the gas-to-power value chain, the report said. The think tank said with the constitutional amendments that grant states houses of assembly the power to make laws for electricity generation, transmission and distribution within areas covered by the national grid in their domains, states and other sub-national governments have finally become players in the electricity market. The incoming administration should work with the states to develop the electricity markets within their localities. State governments should be encouraged to take steps to begin to develop the electricity resources within their areas in collaboration with the federal government and under the framework of the new national electricity policy and amended Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA). That means the incoming state governments will also need to develop the right electricity policy framework for their states and develop the right legal and regulatory frameworks that would create efficient and competitive electricity market structures, which can help them to attract needed investments into the electricity market. Also, states should be encouraged to drive rural electrification, the report said. The report said there is an unspoken issue of the payment of the huge market debts in the sector, adding that GenCos claim that they are owed over $1 billion by the NBET. It said reversing the privatisation of the power sector should not be contemplated under any circumstance. The privatisation process has built-in contract provisions to address the failures of any core investor under their performance agreements. What is needed is for the government to activate these contract provisions, provided the government has also met its obligations too to core investors, it said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A police officer, Fauzziyah Isiak, has been detained at the Ikeja police command in Lagos for absconding from duty, the police have said. The police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyins explanation came as the female corporal accused the police of keeping her in detention for resigning. Back story Ms Isiak, who worked in the police administrative department had on Wednesday narrated how she was detained for resigning from the police force. She explained that she has been trying to resign from the Force since 2022 but her letters were not approved. I never saw this coming. I have never thought Ill be put in detention without interrogation, she said. All I did was try to resign. I have been trying to resign from the police since last year but my letters were not approved. Recounting how she was detained, the officer said that she was called by the deputy commissioner to show up on Wednesday for an interview. She had thought that the call was to finally approve her resignation but was shocked to hear that she will be detained to be tried and dismissed. Due to the shock, I couldnt say anything as the officer led me away, she narrated. Later, I heard that I should have begged and cried but my lack of reaction worsened the matter. I cried a river after it all dawned on me. I have not taken my clothes and shoes off since yesterday. I cant even change my sanitary pad. My migraine is throbbing at full speed and my head is about to explode from exhaustion. Police However, setting the record straight, the police said the detained officer did not follow the laid down procedure. It is one thing to turn in your resignation. It is another thing for the application to be processed, upon which you receive your discharge certificate, Mr Hundeyin said. Till you get the discharge certificate, you remain a serving member of the Force, bound by all extant rules and regulation of service. Absence from duty for twenty-one days without leave or permission automatically results in your being declared a deserter. Every serving member knows this. The spokesperson further said Ms Isiak, who serves in the office of the Imam of the command, without leave, permission or discharge from service, absconded from duty for over a month, in flagrant disregard for the conditions of service she willingly signed to. Starting on Thursday, the officer will face her orderly room trial, for this offence against discipline, the police said. Secondly, she has maliciously brought the name of the Force into disrepute by distorting/misrepresenting facts a discreditable conduct that amounts to another disciplinary offence, he tweeted. Nevertheless, she would have an opportunity to explain herself at the trial, after which a decision will be made. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred Nigerias highest national honour, GCFR) on President-elect Bola Tinubu. The second highest national honour, GCON, was also conferred on Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima. The award ceremony is currently being held at the Banquet Hall, State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Mr Buhari also handed the transition documents and the baton of service to the incoming president at the occasion. Speaking shortly after receiving the transition documents, Mr Tinubu paid tributes to the outgoing president, who, he calls Mr Democrat. The president-elect said that based on the details provided by the Chairman of the transition council, Boss Mustafa, the documents clearly enumerated the efforts of the past eight years. He told Mr Buhari that no one can deny his contributions to Nigerias national development. The president-elect also expressed his delight at taking over, saying I am full of pride to say that this moment is our moment. Mr Tinubu reiterated his belief in democracy and said nothing will deter the country from sticking to it. Our ways will not be smooth but we have faith in our collective abilities to confront the challenges that face us, he said. Mr Tinubu also used the occasion to specially commend Mr Buhari for correcting the injustice of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the recognition and honour he gave to the acclaimed winner of the election, Moshood Abiola. You have done your part and now a great duty will descend on me. I understand the honour given to me today and the magnitude of the task ahead. Whether you go to Daura or Niger or anywhere, you expect knocks on your doors. I shall not disappoint you, Mr Tinubu said. Mr Tinubu will be sworn in as Nigerias president on Monday, 29 May. However, his election is still being challenged in court by some of his opponents including Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has rated President Muhammadu Buhari high on tackling corruption. However, publicly-available facts and credible reports paint an unflattering side of the scorecard. Mr Bawa said the EFCC, during Mr Buharis eight-year regime, recorded more convictions than successive administrations. The Presidents anti-corruption drivehas been excellent, Mr Bawa said. Mr Bawa, a significant player in the Buhari administrations anti-corruption drive, spoke on Thursday at the graduation ceremony of 115 detective inspectors of the commission at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Akwanga, Nasarawa State. Drawing comparisons between Mr Buhari and his predecessors, the EFCC boss said, In 2015, the EFCC only recorded 103 (convictions), but in his (Mr Buhari) last year in office, 2022, we recorded 3,785 convictions and all credit goes to him. On Wednesday, inside the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mr Bawa met with Mr Buhari, whom he presented with a memento on the outgoing administrations achievements in combating corruption. Anti-corruption was one of the three major focuses of Mr Buhari while campaigning for office in 2015. In recognition of the endemic nature of corruption in the country at the time, he made the famous comment, If we dont kill corruption, corruption will kill us. But contrary to expectations, some steps taken by his government turned out to be a significant rollback of efforts to tackle corruption in the country. Some steps include arbitrary withdrawal of corruption charges or lack of diligent prosecution of high-profile corruption cases. READ ALSO: Amid the rarity of conviction of high-profile corruption suspects during the administration, the Buhari administration, last year, controversially granted pardon to two former governors whose conviction on corruption charges had been affirmed by Nigerias Supreme Court. The former governors who had yet to spend half of their jail time were put on trial by the previous administration. The 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Nigeria, which concluded that Nigerian anti-corruption agencies only targetted low and middle-level officials without making h any tangible progress in bringing high-profile persons culpable in corrupt practices to justice diminishes Mr Bawas boast about the record number of convictions secured by the EFCC in the last few years. Mr Buharis association with and insensitive appointment of personalities facing investigations for corruption has also been adjudged to be an encouragement to corruption, contributing to enflaming corruption in the country. Overall, Nigeria ranked poorly on Transparency Internationals Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in the last years of Mr Buharis administration. This year, the country struggled to move from the 154th position the previous year to the 150th position among 180 countries assessed. This means Nigeria was perceived to be more corruption-free than only 30 of the 180 countries assessed. The unflattering side of the picture is that Nigeria only scored 24 out of total 100 points, the same as its last years score. Nigerias score on the CPI, on Mr Buharis watch, spiralled down to 24 points from 26 that it was in 2019. Bawa asks cadets to shun corruption Earlier in his admonish to the new cadets of the anti-graft agency, Bawa urged them to be committed to the profession you have signed up for. It is crucial for you to know that law enforcement, especially in the field of fighting financial crimes, is a crucial national service. It is a career that takes years to build but requires only minutes to destroy, he cautioned. Giving a background to the training of the cadets, Mr Bawa explained that the exercise, which began last September, was aimed at boosting the manpower of the commission across Nigeria. He said the training centred on basic law enforcement, operational, legal, financial studies, forensics, ICT and general studies. The training also entailed foot drilling on armed combat techniques and arms training to instil discipline, endurance and patience on them, the anti-graft agency chair said. The new cadets comprised 96 males and 19 females, Mr Bawa disclosed. In his opening remarks, the Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Ayo Olowonihi, commended the cooperation between trainers of the Nigeria Police Force and the EFCC. They labour daily to deliver training to the cadets. The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of excellence awards to five deserving cadets for their outstanding performances. The EFCC was established in 2002 but became operational in April 2003 in response to criticisms Nigeria faced from the international community over advanced fee fraud. Mr Bawa boasted that the commission has made great strides in the fight against the ever-dynamic evil of economic and financial crimes and its attendant negative effects on our nation and economy. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President-elect Bola Tinubu said Thursday that he would not disappoint Nigerians who voted for him and he would not disappoint outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari who supported his candidacy. Mr Tinubu said this in Abuja at a ceremony where he was honoured with Nigerias highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR). I must run this race and must do it well. On security, the economy, agriculture, jobs, education, health and power and in all other sectors we must make headway. The people deserve no less. In this, I shall disappoint neither them nor you, Mr President, he said. Mr Tinubus vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, also received the second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The incoming government and the outgoing government are of the same party, APC, which has governed Nigeria since 2015. TEXT OF ADDRESS DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT-ELECT, ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU AT HIS INVESTITURE FOR HIGHEST NATIONAL HONOUR IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY MAY 25TH, 2023 1. Thank You, Mr. President, for bestowing the nations highest honors on my Vice President elect Shettima and me. 2. Our deep thanks also for the transition documents and the committed work performed by the transition council headed by the SGF. 3. The documents summarize the immense work of your administration. They constitute an impressive and noteworthy scorecard. READ ALSO: 4. You have made history and no one can take your contribution to our nations development. 5. Your devotion to progressive and democratic good governance is unassailable. 6. As such, I stand here renewed not only in hope but also in dedication to our national purpose and destiny. 7. I also feel full of pride but this pride I feel is not for myself. It is for what this moment represents. 8. This stately occasion is living evidence that Nigeria is a vibrant and true democracy. All of us here bear witness to this inspiring proceeding where one leader bestows personal honor on his successor. Also, that leader does his utmost to exchange the baton of government by ensuring that his successor is as well-prepared as possible for the task at hand. 9. This hall is permeated with a sense of reverence for our democracy and the confident belief that this reverence shall be enshrined for generations to come. 10. Today is more than ceremony. It confirms that our path is right and that nothing will deter us from adhering to it. 11. Our way shall not always be smooth. Yet we are imbued with faith in our purpose and a firm belief in our collective ability to overcome the challenges that confront us. 12. President Buhari, you have shown courage in taking tough decisions others avoided. 13. One such decision was to recognize the injustice of the annulment of the 1993 election, to designate June 12 as Democracy Day, and to bestow the nations highest honor on the late MKO Abiola. 14. As much as anyone could, you reached back into history to set the record straight and heal a festering wound. 15. The justice you did in this matter lends special meaning to today. 16. I am a simple man who is the beneficiary of the support and goodwill of the people of Nigeria. 17. The people have put their trust in us. You have done your part Mr. President. 18. Now, that great duty descends on me. I understand the meaning of the honor given to me today and of the task that awaits. 19. I must run this race and must do it well. On security, the economy, agriculture, jobs, education, health and power and in all other sectors we must make headway. The people deserve no less. In this, I shall disappoint neither them nor you, Mr. President. Thank You and May God Bless our beloved republic. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The inaugural flight of Nigerian pilgrims for the 2023 Hajj exercise has departed the country for Saudi Arabia. Over 500 pilgrims from Nasarawa State on Thursday departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony before the pilgrims departed, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Zikrullah Hassan, said the commission has addressed the challenges posed to the 2023 Hajj by the closure of the Sudanese Airspace. Mr Hassan said the federal government has addressed the additional cost to airline fares due to the closure of Sudan airspace by waiving airline charges. Despite the unprecedented challenge caused by the closure of the Sudan airspace, hence forcing a re-route from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we give gratitude to the Almighty for leading us to a smooth resolution of the quagmire. We appreciate the federal government for waiving numerous aviation charges, the airlines for their sacrifices, the States Pilgrims Welfare Boards and our Pilgrims who all cooperated to arrive at an amicable solution to the seeming bottleneck, he said. READ ALSO: Mr Hassan also explained that getting hotels in Mecca has been a major challenge due to the ongoing futuristic development that has led to the demolition of several hotels. He, however, assured the pilgrims that the commission has secured accommodation for them. Speaking on preparations for the 2023 Hajj, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the event by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, assured the commission and the pilgrims of the commitment of the federal government to a successful Hajj. He urged the commission to assist (pilgrims) as much as possible to enable them to discharge their religious obligations that they are there for. Some of them have never travelled outside of their communities, your role means that the entire lives of these human beings have been entrusted into your hands. The advance team of NAHCON departed on Sunday to prepare to welcome the 96,000 pilgrims from Nigeria. Saudi airports opened for the first flight carrying 2023 Hajj pilgrims on Sunday 21 May and will close for arrivals of Hajj flights on Thursday 22 June. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Kano State Government on Thursday said it cant arraign before a court of law the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, because there was no evidence to do that. The States Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, told reporters that the government is dropping the murder charge against the lawmaker. He said his office cannot substantiate charges of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire, and culpable homicide levelled against Mr Doguwa. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the police in Kano charged Mr Doguwa with murder for allegedly killing three people during the 25 February election. The lawmaker was allegedly involved in a violent confrontation between members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) that led to the killing of three people and the burning of a campaign office of the opposition party in the Tudun Wada Local Government. The police on Friday submitted a report of its investigation of the incident to the Kano State government for review and possible prosecution of Mr Doguwa and 14 others. The Kano government said it can only prosecute five suspects arrested alongside Mr Doguwa for alleged arson of the NNPPs office in the Tudun Wada Local Government Area after they confessed that they committed the offence. READ ALSO: Based on the contradicted witnesses received, those that indicted were full of contradictions while others exonerated him (Mr Doguwa) according to the police investigation report submitted to the Kano State government. After scrutiny, we cannot establish a murder charge against Alhassan Ado Doguwa and other accomplices including the police officers whose ammunition was intact after the incident. By law, if you have a contradiction in evidence against a suspect, you can pick the one that exonerates him against the ones that have contradictions, this made us to arrived that we cannot charge them in court. Only five suspects who have confessed to having burned the NNPP office will be court charged, Mr Lawan said. Mr Lawan said that apart from the contradictory comments, there was no medical evidence to prove that Mr Doguwa caused the death of the deceased persons. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday awarded a heavy fine against a former presidential candidate in the previous 2019 election cycle who filed a suit to stop the inauguration of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, on 29 May. The court awarded a whopping N40 million as fine against Ambrose Owuru, a lawyer, for pursuing a strange and frivolous suit. Mr Owuru, who contested and lost the 2019 presidential election on the platform of his now defunct Hope Democratic Party (HDP), had strangely urged the court to order that he be sworn in as president instead of Mr Tinubu. The lawyer, who did not participate in the last 2023 presidential election, anchored the prayer on the grounds that he won the 2019 presidential poll but was unjustly deprived of his victory. The former presidential candidate had contested his defeat at the presidential election court and subsequently at the Supreme Court, and lost at both fora. Dismissing the suit in October 2019, the Supreme Court described it as frivolous and an abuse of court process. After Mr Tinubu was announced the winner of the 2023 presidential election, Mr Owuru weaved another suit out of the facts of his 2019 case. He filed the fresh suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, joining President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Mr Tinubu, as the respondents. He lost the case, but defiantly went on appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. Strange, irritating A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the suit in a unanimous decision on Thursday, Reading the lead judgement of the panel, Jamil Tukur said Mr Owurus suit was a gross abuse of court process. The judge said Mr Owurus complaint against the 2019 presidential election was not only strange but uncalled for, as his grievances had been pursued up to Supreme Court and was dismissed for want of merit. Mr Tukur said Mr Owurus attempt to resuscitate his dead case could set the lower court on a collision course against the Supreme Court which had made a final pronouncement on it. The judge said it was therefore an irritating suit deliberately packaged to provoke the respondents. He went on to order him to pay N10 million fine to each of the four respondents Mr Buhari, the AGF, INEC and Mr Tinubu. The fine totals N40 million. Hearing At the hearing of the appeal last Friday, neither Mr Buhari nor the Attorney-General was represented by a lawyer in court. Despite being served with a hearing notice, Mr Buhari whose second term as president ends on 29 May, did not file any court papers. But the electoral umpires lawyer, Hassan Halilu, urged the court to dismiss the suit for being frivolous. Mr Owuru claims to be the adjourned constitutional winner of the 2019 presidential election. Mr Halilu further informed the court that Mr Owurus case is baseless and irritating. READ ALSO: Mr Tinubus lawyer, Adelani Ajibade from the law firm of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, argued that Mr Owurus suit is strange and baseless. He said the plaintiffs case is bereft of merit and should be dismissed. The lawyer informed the court that Mr Owurus claim to have won the 2019 had been dismissed by a Supreme Court judgment which nullified his petition filed challenging Mr Buharis victory. Mr Ajibade prayed for a dismissal of the case with N20 million cost to be imposed on Mr Owuru and in favour of the respondents. Owurus prayers The plaintiff urged the court to stop Mr Buhari, the AGF and INEC taking steps to facilitate Mr Tinubus swearing-in in 10 days time. Mr Owuru argued that neither Mr Tinubu nor anyone else should succeed Mr Buhari, because he has yet to serve his statutory term of four years as Nigerias president. MR Owuru accused the outgoing president of usurping his tenure since 2019. He falsely claimed that the Supreme Court had not determined his petition against Mr Buharis victory in 2019. An order of prohibitory injunction compelling Buhari, AGF and INEC, their servants, agents from any further undertaking or engaging in any act of usurpation of adjudged acquired Constitutional rights and mandate as winner of the 2019 presidential election, court filings showed Mr Owuru urging the court. In addition, he sought an order directing and placing on notice that any form of handover inauguration, organized and superintended by Mr Buhari on 29 May 2023 outside his adjudged winner of the 2019 presidential election. Meanwhile, the appellate court evicted Mr Owuru from the inner bar the front section of the court exclusively reserved for Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). Upon filing into the courtroom on Friday, the appellate court panel sighted Mr Owuru seated in the reserved seat. Mr Tukur who led the panel asked Mr Owuru to vacate the seat, wondering when he was conferred the prestigious title of a SAN. Attempts by Mr Owuru to sway the justices to allow him hold on to the seat were rebuffed. Mr Owuru was called to the Nigerian Bar 40 years ago. The lawyer, despite his scanty votes in the previous election, had challenged the outgoing President Buharis victory in the 2019 election. His case failed spectacularly as it was dismissed by the Presidential Election Petition Court. Mr Owuru pursued the case further to the Supreme Court which also dismissed the suit as a gross abuse of court processes Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Four days before he hands over to Nigerias new leader, President Muhammadu Buhari has announced new appointments. On Thursday, President Buhari approved the appointment of Garzali Abubakar as the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, a presidential spokesperson said. The president also approved the appointment of the following as Chairman and members of the Board of the organisation, Garba Shehu wrote. Those appointed include Aduke Hussain as Chairman, Hussaini Mohammed (North Central Representative), Mohammed Umar (North West Representative), Abdulsalam Ahmed (North East Representative), Stella Uzokwe (South East Representative), Stephen Ikata (South-South Representative) and Olufunlayo Oluwole Faloye (South West Representative). The latest appointments are the latest in a series of actions taken by the outgoing president a few days before his exit; actions criticised by observers. READ ALSO: They are supposed to allow the new government to make its plans. They can propose to the new government and tell them this should be the best for the state. If the new government deems it fit, it can look into it as part of its major priorities and implement it for the benefit of the state. I believe this is what the president should have done to advise the incoming government, Jamilu Abdussalam, a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science at Ummaru Musa Yaradua University, Katsina, said of the last-minute appointments and actions taken by the outgoing government. Mr Buhari will hand over to President-elect Bola Tinubu, on Monday. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Exactly one year after the white papers were submitted by 10 committees saddled with the responsibility of drafting them, the Nigerian government on Thursday presented the gazetted copies to the pro-chancellors and chairmen of the concerned universities. The government had earlier set up visitation panels to probe the activities of more than 30 federal universities between 2011 and 2020. The panels submitted their reports in 2021 but copies were not made public. However, following protests by workers unions, the Nigerian government in February 2022 set up committees to prepare white papers from the reports submitted by the panels, and the different committees had since May, 2022, submitted the white papers. But despite pressure by the workers unions, the government refused to make public the gazetted copies until Thursday, a few days to the end of the current administration. Presentation The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, presented the reports to pro-chancellors of the institutions on Thursday at the National Universities Commission (NUC). Some vice-chancellors were also present at the event. Mr Adamu called on the chief executive officers of the universities to take responsibility for the implementation of the recommendations enumerated in the reports. He said the white paper containing the recommendations for the institutions has been officially gazetted. The minister said the production of the white papers demanded significant resources and efforts from the government. He added that the recommendations in the reports serve as a compass guiding university education in achieving the objectives set forth by the government when the institutions were established. He insisted that the release of the documents was a testament of the federal governments commitment to ensuring the highest standards of education and academic excellence in the universities. The minister said: It is, therefore, incumbent upon each of you, as the esteemed chief executives of these institutions, to take responsibility for the diligent implementation of the recommendations outlined within these documents. The federal government has entrusted you with this crucial task, and failure to execute it faithfully will not be taken lightly. The well-being and success of our students, faculty, and the Nigerian populace as a whole depend on the effective execution of these recommendations. Visitation panels Every four years, the President, as a visitor to the federal universities, appoints panels to visit the universities, conduct comprehensive reviews, and report on their activities, including their internally generated revenues, expenditures, and disciplinary cases against staff and students. These panels are entrusted with the responsibility of conducting a comprehensive assessment of the universities and inter-university centres. Controversy over delay The governments refusal to make the reports public has in the past caused conflicts between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the government, as the latter repeatedly cited it as one of the reasons for embarking on industrial actions. ASUU had consistently insisted that making public the white paper from the visitation panel reports would expose the rot within the university system and enable the government to address them headlong. In February 2020, the government constituted 10 committees to draft white papers from the reports of the panels to the universities just a few days after ASUU embarked on strike. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the committee presented the drafted white papers to Mr Adamu in May 2022. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is introducing a new tool during CommBank SmallBiz Week 2023 aimed at assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in integrating sustainability into their operations. In addition to the recent introduction of Green Vehicle and Equipment Finance, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is now unveiling a new tool further to support businesses in their sustainability initiatives and productivity enhancement. The tool launch is strategically timed ahead of CommBank SmallBiz Week 2023, scheduled to take place in Melbourne from May 23 to 25. During this event, business owners, government agencies, and industry leaders will convene to address critical sectoral concerns, including the topic of sustainability. The CBA Sustainability Action Tool offers valuable insights on how businesses can reduce their environmental impact and cut costs. It is specifically designed to aid small business customers in identifying sustainable options for their processes and operations. By answering a few simple questions, users will receive a selection of resources and recommended actions. Initially, the tool will focus on energy, transport, and waste management. However, in the upcoming months, it will expand to cover additional sustainability topics such as supply chain management, product design, and well-being. The first phase of the CommBank Sustainability Action Tool will be accessible to all NetBank users starting in May. Ongoing updates and new content will be added from July onwards. New CBA research shows that the cost of becoming sustainable (61 per cent), finding sustainable suppliers (30 per cent) and a lack of time and resources (28 per cent) are the top pain points for SMEs seeking to embed sustainability into their business model. This announcement coincides with the Australian governments extension of the Instant Asset Write-Off scheme as part of Budget 2023. Under this extension, small businesses with an annual turnover below $10 million can immediately deduct the full cost of eligible assets valued at less than $20,000. CBA Executive, Kerryn Saward, said: Its clear small business owners have a strong interest in sustainability and are already implementing sustainable practices in their business. This is reinforced by our own data which shows small businesses continue to prioritise sustainability, with financing of electric vehicles for small businesses doubling year on year. However small business owners are time poor and looking for more tangible and practical sustainability solutions that can be incorporated in their businesses easily, with minimal effort and time. They also want to be empowered with information and knowledge that can lead them in the right direction to aligning themselves with the right businesses. This can include conducting an energy audit with your energy provider, switching to new and improved technology like cloud computing services, and learning about ways to reduce or dispose of hard-to-recycle waste, Ms Saward said. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The Buhari Years: What We Ordered vs What We Got civil society leaders reflect on the Buhari Administration and its achievements, shortcomings, and regressive steps. The outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buharis environmental protection footprints in the past eight years can be evaluated under two subheadings thus: 1. Policies and Legislation Within the past eight years of the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari administration, I can say some milestones were achieved in the area of legislations and policies for the protection of the Nigerian environment. The above assertion is premised on some of the practical steps taken by the outgoing administration from the beginning of their tenure. In September 2016 President Muhammadu Buhari before addressing the opening of the meeting on Taking Climate Action for Sustainable Development in New York, co-hosted by Nigeria and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of the Side Events of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71), signed the Paris Agreement, where he committed Nigeria to reducing GreenHouse Gas Emissions unconditionally by 20% and conditionally by 45% in line with Nigerias Nationally Determined Contributions. And in November 2016 while addressing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-22) in Marrakech, Morocco, he reiterated the pledge that Nigeria would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by the year 2030. In 2017, the Federal Government adopted the Economic Recovery & Growth Plan 2017-2020 which, among other things, stated the position of the government on how to raise resources from the otherwise wasted associated gas through flaring by petroleum industry players. This will further reduce the hazardous impacts of gas flaring and increase the revenue base for the nation. In 2018, the government enacted the Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Policy 2018. The policy is clear that gas flaring is prohibited. In 2021, Mr President signed into law the Nigerian Climate Change Act 2021 which provides the strategic focus of Nigeria in combating climate change and the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 whose long and unenviable history is in the public domain. Despite there being issues of concern with the Climate Change Act and the Petroleum Industry Act, as an environmentalist, I will not be afraid to say that the passage of these laws with environmental protection provisions were positive acts by Mr President in the area of environmental protection and preservation within the years under review. The enactment of the above, showed the seriousness of the outgoing administration in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change which is one of the key drivers of environmental degradation and havoc in Nigeria. The above especially the Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Policy 2018, which clearly states that gas flaring is prohibited, and the Nigerian Climate Change Act 2021 which provides the strategic focus of Nigeria in combating climate change, are in line with the judgment in the case of Jonah Gbemre V. Shell & Others a case we supported and are still supporting at the Appeal Court. 2. Practical Protection of the Nigerian Environment Whereas we can say that the outgoing administration fared well in environmental protection policies and legislations, I dare say that cannot be said of the practical protection of the Nigerian environment. The critical failure areas include: a). Implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): In almost all the rehabilitation and construction of roads and railways by the outgoing administration, there were no consultations with the local residents through whose communities these will pass through let alone presentation of EIA Reports for their scrutiny and either adoption or objection in line with the EIA Act requirements. b). New oil finds in the era of divestment from fossil fuel extraction: It is disheartening that in this era when the rest of the world is looking towards alternative, cleaner energy sources, the outgoing administration supported through legislation the search for new fossil fuels / dirty energy and celebrated the new discoveries in the northern Nigeria without a clear cut mechanism of combating the negative environmental impact associated with it. c). Environmental disaster management and handling profile: As is already known, the outgoing government at all levels showed lack of capacity to handle environmental disasters that have occurred within the period of their stewardship. From the flood disasters to the gas explosions, oil spills and pipeline explosions to ship wrecks and explosions, it was almost the same story of both lack of capacity to either contain or mitigate them d). Handling of military waste and environmental destruction in the north-east and other theatres of military activities: The Nigerian military under the environmental lens did not do well under this administration. From the harvesting of existing timber and other forest woods, dropping of military wares with associated chemicals in the name of identifying and flushing out marauding insurgents in the north-east to the Show of Force operationsunder various names in the south-east and south-west to the burning of vessels and illegal oil refinery camps in the south-south geo-political zones, it is clearly evident that the Nigerian environment was a major victim of Nigerian military operations under the outgoing administration. e). Clean up of Ogoniland and the Niger Delta: (i) The outgoing administration, showed energy towards the clean up of Ogoniland when that was flagged off in 2016 by the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo. However, looking back almost seven years down the line, not so much has been achieved especially in terms of visibly reclaimed, remediated, recovered and restored portions of the polluted sites. Despite the very slow pace of the clean up exercise, at least there was a departure from the past where nothing was done at all for some years, even after the release of the UNEP Report on the environmental situation of Ogoniland with recommendations spanning both short, middle and long term remedial and restoration actions. (ii) No mention was made by the outgoing administration on the call for a comprehensive environmental audit of the Niger Delta to determine first the level of pollution within the region and propose mechanisms and processes for the recovery and restoration of the environment, citizens livelihoods and health. The call for the establishment of environmental restoration bonds by both divesting and new investing companies in the Nigerian Petroleum Sector was not given the due attention it deserved as one of the steps towards protecting the Nigerian environment from any petroleum operational disasters. Flowing from the above, it is evidently manifest that it was not all celebrations in the Nigerian environmental protection milieu by the outgoing administrations policies and practices and we therefore call on the incoming administration to look at the lacunas and fill them up. Chima Williams is the executive director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria and the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize (Nobel Green Prize) Winner for Africa. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Dogo Gide, the notorious banditry kingpin, on Wednesday night has released the last two of the 11 students of the Federal Government College Yauri, in Birnin-Yauri, Kebbi State, who were kidnapped in 2021. The two girls who were freed are Farida Kaoje and Safiya Idris. Confirming the release of the pupils to PREMIUM TIMES, Sani Kaoje, Faridas father said the two pupils were released after a ransom of N45 million was paid to the outlaw. We sold most of our properties to pay the N80 million naira Dogo asked us to pay but he refused to release all the students. Some of the naira notes given to him were damaged, so he sent them back and we took it to the government. He also asked us for forty million naira but since we dont have the money, we ran to the government and solicited from other well meaning people to help us get the money, Mr Kaoje, a retired civil servant said. READ ALSO: Mr Kaoje said the money was taken to Mr Gide on Wednesday by a negotiator, Abubakar and two parents of the abductees. He said the released pupils were on their way to Birnin Kebbi, the state capital after which they will be taken to a hospital for medical checkups. Back story Mr Gide and his gang originally abducted more than 100 pupils and some of their teachers in 2021. While many of the girls escaped in the days that followed the abduction, others were released after ransoms were allegedly paid to Mr Gides gang and allegedly in exchange for some of Mr Gides fighters who were arrested by the authorities. However, the terrorists held on to 11 of the girls. Mr Gide released four of the abductees in April after payment of N80 million by the parents. He also released three and two more pupils separately in May. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Anambra State Government, Wednesday, sealed three hospitals for allegedly operating with fake licences and quack health workers. The officials of the State Ministry of Health led by Chukwulobelu Ugochukwu, the head of Medical Services Department in the ministry, sealed the facilities located in Alor, a community in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, Punch reported. Mr Ugochukwu, a medical doctor, warned residents against patronising such unapproved facilities, but rather visit governments general hospitals for proper medical care. The official did not disclose the name of the hospitals that were sealed. The hospitals were shut by the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Team for operating without a licence, forged licence, unqualified staff or in an unhygienic environment according to health management, he said. We also discovered some uncertified health workers, who treat patients and perform medical procedures only to leave the country when complications arise, Mr Ugochukwu stated. READ ALSO: He urged residents of various communities, particularly community and religious leaders to monitor activities of some public institutions in their neighbourhood, especially as it concerns issues of public health. They should also report to the ministry any suspected facility or shops involved in quackery to assist in saving millions of lives and contributing to the health sector of the state, he said. The official described the use of uncertified health workers in some hospitals as worrisome and wondered why people risk human lives because of monetary gains. He said the ministry would ensure continuous regulatory oversight of hospitals in the state to prevent operation of unlicensed hospitals and to also uncover health facilities working with quack health workers. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), before exiting office on 29 May. Mr Soludo made the appeal in a letter dated 20 April and addressed to the president which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday. Background Mr Kanu was first arrested in 2015, but was granted bail in April 2017. He fled the country after an invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the Nigerian military in September of that year. He was re-arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021, about four years after he fled the country. The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on 13 October, held that the IPOB leader was extra-ordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and that the action was a flagrant violation of the countrys extradition treaty and also a breach of his fundamental human rights. The court, therefore, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the custody of the State Security Service (SSS). But the government refused to release the IPOB leader insisting that he (Kanu) could be unavailable in subsequent court proceedings if released and that his release would cause insecurity in the South-east. The government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, later appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order staying execution of the court judgement at the Supreme Court. Soludos appeal Mr Soludo, in the letter, said the continued detention of the IPOB leader has continued to affect residents of the South-east who are forced to observe a sit-at-home order on Mondays out of fear. The governor expressed surprise that despite a call by the United Nations Human Rights Council for the release of Mr Kanu and various court rulings in Nigeria freeing the IPOB leader, the federal government has refused to release him. In the meantime, the continued detention of Mazi Kanu has created what, for want of a better description, can be seen as systemic insecurity in the South-east. Some supporters of Mazi Kanu have imposed the obnoxious and harmful sit-at-home order every Monday in the South-east, while all manner of criminal gangs- kidnappers, bandits, armed robbers etc.- now masquerade as freedom fighters or those fighting for the release of Mazi Kanu, he wrote. Mr Soludo told the president that Mr Kanu was reported to be gravely ill with life-threatening conditions which he listed to include serious heart condition, hypertension and low potassium levels. The governor stressed that the medical conditions require specialist medical care and interventions which are unavailable at the SSS facility where Mr Kanu is being detained. In the light of the foregoing, it is my earnest prayer that Mr President may kindly consider the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Kanu as demanded by the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Federal High Court. This will be the right thing to do as a country that should extol the principle of the rule of law in compliance with the international law and conventions that Nigeria is signatory to, Mr Soludo added. The governor told Mr Buhari to consider granting Mr Kanu an administrative bail on compassionate grounds and as part of national healing if there were persisting grounds that would make his unconditional release untenable. In this circumstance, I am prepared to take him (Kanu) on bail. My government is prepared to provide him with alternative secured accommodation at Awka where he will have access to appropriate medical care, among others, and make him available when required, he assured. He said it was necessary for Mr Buhari to release the IPOB leader given that Nigeria has gone through a very consequential election and that part of the smart steps to be taken must include an agenda for national healing and addressing lingering insecurity, especially in the South-east. Mr Soludo pointed out that the fight against insecurity in the region has not fared well because of lack of wider constructive engagement/dialogue between the Federal government, South-east leaders and other critical stakeholders on a form of coordinated political solution. He said the release of Mr Kanu was not only a legal or compassionate thing to do, but also a patriotic act to advance the cause of security, peace and development of the South-east region. As you shepherd a transition process to handover to your successor, you might as well help to smoothen his easy take-off by resolving some of the lingering issues such as Mazi Kanus detention. I therefore respectfully call on you, as statesman, to discharge a historic show of mercy and release Nnamdi Kanu before you handover on the 29th May, 2023, Mr Soludo said in the letter. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The federal government has inaugurated a State Funeral Committee for Oladipo Diya, the former Chief of General Staff in the military regime of the late Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1997. Mr Diya, who died on 26 March was a lieutenant-general in the Nigerian Army when he was disengaged after his alleged involvement in a coup plot. He was convicted by a military tribunal and was awaiting execution when Mr Abacha died in June 1998. Mr Diya and the other alleged plotters were later set free. The burial committee is expected to plan a befitting burial for the late Army general. These were contained in a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Information, Office of the SGF, Willie Bassey. The family of the late Diya had earlier said he would be buried on 29 July. Members of the funeral committee, which is chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were drawn from the Ministry of Works and Housing; Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as well as Lagos and Ogun state. Also, the Chief of Defence Staff; Inspector-General of Police; Director-General, Department of State Services; and the family of late Lt. Gen. Diya; and the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office are members of the committee. During the inauguration of the committee, the SGF who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Nnamdi Mbaeri, urged the members to ensure that the late elder statesman is given a befitting burial. According to him, five Sub-Committees were also approved by Mr. President to facilitate the seamless execution of the State funeral programme for the late Chief of General Staff. The Sub-Committees are as follows: Works and Services Sub-Committee; Funeral and Security Sub-Committee; Publicity Sub-Committee and Accommodation/ Protocol and Secretariat, the statement added. Mr Diyas son, Oyedamola, said the funeral would be held between 23 and 29 July. The family has released the funeral programme which will commence on Sunday, July 23, 2023, with the Service of Songs and Night of Tribute and climax with the final burial rites and interment on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Speaking on behalf of the governor of Ogun State, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, assured the SGF of the preparedness of the state government to partner with the federal government to give the late officer a grand state funeral. More Picture: Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has dissolved his cabinet ahead of his 29 May swearing-in for a second term. Mr Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, will be sworn in for another four years on Monday. The Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, made the announcement on Wednesday through a circular. It is hereby notified for general information that Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has directed that Political Appointees, specifically, Honourable Commissioners, Special Advisers (Cabinet and Non-Cabinet), all Assistants (Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants, Technical Assistants, Personal Aides etc. be notified of the end of term of their appointments, with effect from the close of work on Friday, 26 May, 2023, the circular reads. However, political appointees whose appointments are by legislation/tenure-based and members of statutory Commissions/Governing Councils that their tenures have not lapsed, are not affected by this directive unless otherwise informed. Therefore, all affected Political Office Holders are expected to prepare individual Handover Notes and return any Government property including Vulty/Project Vehicles in their possession to the Accounting Officer/Most Senior Director of their respective Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA). Mr Muri-Okunola said the cabinet members are required to send a copy of the handover notes to the permanent secretary, Cabinet Office no later than Friday. Furthermore, all concerned officers are to comply with the provision of paragraph 11 (1b), part one of the Fifth Schedule of Nigeria Constitution on End of Tenure Assets Declaration, the circular reads. While wishing the affected political office holders success in their future endeavours, Mr Governor appreciates the contributions and roles of the affected public officers to the development of the State, especially the significant milestones recorded under the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A spokesman for Irans judiciary announced that two jailed Iranian journalists, who covered events surrounding the death in police custody of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian Mahsa Amini, will be put on trial at the end of May. Aminis death in September, after her arrest by the morality police for improperly wearing her hijab, triggered nationwide protests against the Iranian regime. Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi have been held in two of Irans most notorious prisons since September 2022, after they helped break Aminis story. Both are facing charges including propaganda against the system, acting against national security, and collaborating with the United States. They have reportedly not received adequate legal assistance. At a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller denounced the indictments against Hamedi and Mohammadi. We reject those charges, he said. They are obviously not true. And I will note that over the course of the protests, Iranian authorities have repeatedly violated Iranians human rights, punished them for executing their essential freedoms. This includes not just members of the Iranian public who have come forward to protest, but also journalists in the country. The State Departments latest human rights report on Iran notes numerous and significant human rights abuses by Iranian authorities in 2022. Among them, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, including violence, threats of violence, and unjustified arrests and prosecutions against journalists, censorship, and enforcement of criminal libel and slander laws; [and] serious restrictions on internet freedom. The State Department also reported the deaths of more than 500 people at the hands of Iranian security forces during the demonstrations following Mahsa Aminis death, and the arrests of 19,000 protesters. In addition, the report noted that political dissidents and journalists were often charged with capital crimes, and that executions were carried out without due process. Sham trials and executions have been key components of the regimes attempt to suppress any form of dissent, said Spokesperson Miller. We once againcall on Iranian authorities to stop their arbitrary detentions, stop their sham trials, and stop denying the Iranian people the fundamental freedoms that they deserve. MARLTON, N.J., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 130,000 patients in Texasand an untold number of others nationwideare being notified that their protected health information was compromised when hackers breached the computer system of Universal Health Services of Delaware, Inc. ("UHS") earlier this year. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of current and former UHS patients and want customers who were affected by the breach to understand their legal rights. The sensitive personal data of more than 130,000 patients who received care at UHS has been compromised. Now, customers' protected health information may be in the hands of criminals looking to steal patients' identities. On May 17, 2023, UHS of Delaware filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Texas. While the Texas Attorney General notes that there were 130k victims in that state, the breach affected patients nationwide. While the UHS breach impacted patients who obtained care through UHS providers, it is possible that your information may have been compromised, even if you didn't get treated at a UHS facility or are unsure that UHS has your personal information. According to the notice, the data breach affected 130,000 people in Texas. However, as a Pennsylvania-based healthcare system with over 400 facilities nationwide, UHS treats more than 3.4 million patients per year. Thus, it is possible that more patients across the country also may have had their information exposed as a result of the UHS data breach. The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes patients' protected health information. Protected health information, also referred to as PHI, includes all private information patients provide to their healthcare providers during the court of treatment, as well as any information the provider learns about the patient. For example, the following can all be considered PHI: Names, Addresses, Social Security numbers, Medical record numbers, Fingerprints, Photographs, Test results, Prescribed medications, and Insurance billing information. Notably, UHS did not provide a specific list of the types of PHI that were impacted by the recent data security incident. If you receive a data breach notice from UHS, you are one of over 130k peoplepotentially morewho could now be at risk of identity theft and the life-interrupting financial and legal consequences that go along with it. In most data breaches, the company offers free credit monitoring to victims. If UHS offers victims of the breach with free credit monitoring and identity protection services, they should enroll in this service immediately. However, patients should also know that one year of credit monitoring is not enough to protect them from the risks of a data breach. What should you do if you receive a UHS data breach letter? Patients who receive a data breach letter from UHS should take steps to protect themselves (See our Guide for Victims of Data Breach for more details at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/consumer-privacy-data-breach-lawyers/if-your-information-has-been-compromised-in-a-data-breach/). Further, consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately. Those patients who received a data breach letter from UHS may be entitled to financial compensation. If you wish to discuss this data security incident, or if you have any questions regarding your rights in the wake of the UHS breach, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. Interested parties and potential plaintiffs can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/uhs-of-delaware-data-breach/. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are committed to protecting consumers' rights and advancing data security. Console & Associates, P.C. investigates all types of data breaches, including those stemming from malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Anyone who has received a Notice of Data Breach letter from UHS can contact the firm to learn more about their legal options. Contact: ***@consoleandassociates.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12966337 SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C. LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE:APD) today announced it has signed an investment agreement with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Uzbekneftegaz JSC ("UNG") to acquire, own and operate a natural gas-to-syngas processing facility in Qashqadaryo Province, Uzbekistan for US$1 billion. The natural gas-to-syngas industrial complex is an integral part of state-owned energy company Uzbekneftegaz JSC's multi-billion gas-to-liquid (GTL) facilityone of the most advanced energy plants in the worldproducing 1.5 million tonnes per year of high value-add synthetic fuels for domestic use and potentially export. Under the purchase agreementwhich is fully aligned with Air Products' leading on-site business modelAir Products will acquire, own and operate two large-scale air separation units, two large-scale auto-thermal reforming units, and a hydrogen production unit within the Uzbekistan GTL complex and supply oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and syngas under a long-term, take-or-pay/fixed fee contract to UNG. UNG will supply the feedstock natural gas and utilities and offtake all products. Commenting on the agreement, Air Products' Chairman, President and CEO Seifi Ghasemi said, "Air Products is proud to be deploying our knowledge, experience and technology to help nations around the world access and maximize their abundant energy sources more sustainably. With this strategic acquisition in Uzbekistan, a high-growth environment underpinned by strong government support, we will bring our best-in-class operational and supply competencies to bear. This will enable UNG to seamlessly produce low-cost, high-purity fuels that enable the Republic to meet its growing energy production and societal needs. We look forward to building on this long-term, sustainable partnership and are excited about future opportunities in Uzbekistan and the Central Asia region." "Cooperation between the Uzbekistan GTL plant and Air Products is of great importance as it represents a partnership that promises to unleash the enormous potential of the energy sector of the Republic of Uzbekistan," commented Sidikov Bakhodirjon Bakhromovich, the Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz JSC. Using a combination of Uzbekneftegaz's experience in processing natural gas into high value-added products and Air Products' leadership in the implementation of mega projects, we are starting to work together to achieve common creative goals, such as increasing production efficiency, reducing the final cost of products and reduction of harmful emissions. We are optimistic about the benefits this cooperation will bring both to the company and our Republic as a whole." For more background information about the project: https://www.airproducts.com/campaigns/uzbekistan-gtl-facility About Air Products Air Products (NYSE: APD ) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 80 years focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets. The Company has two growth pillars driven by sustainability. Air Products' base business provides essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food. The Company also develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world's largest industrial gas and carbon-capture projects, supplying world-scale clean hydrogen for global transportation, industrial markets, and the broader energy transition. Additionally, Air Products is the world leader in the supply of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment, and globally provides turbomachinery, membrane systems and cryogenic containers. The Company had fiscal 2022 sales of $12.7 billion from operations in over 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of over $60 billion. More than 21,000 passionate, talented and committed employees from diverse backgrounds are driven by Air Products' higher purpose to create innovative solutions that benefit the environment, enhance sustainability and reimagine what's possible to address the challenges facing customers, communities, and the world. For more information, visit airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. About Investment in Uzbekistan Today, Uzbekistan represents an attractive investment proposition given its vast and diverse natural resources, including its position as one of the world's top producers/exporters of natural gas, gold, copper, and more. The country has ambitious development plans and supportive government frameworks focused on advancing its energy sector and driving socio-economic development. Within the Uzbekistan GTL project, Air Products will deploy its financial capacity, core technological and operational know-how, and on-site sale of gas model to deliver high reliability and efficiency. As economic and industrial growth expands in Uzbekistan, Air Products continues to explore opportunities to support the country's sustainability and independence goals as it leverages its abundant natural resources. About Uzbekneftegaz JSC Uzbekneftegaz JSC is a company engaged in producing, storing, processing, and selling oil and gas. It is one of the largest state-owned companies in Uzbekistan. The country ranks 11th in the world in natural gas production, and Uzbekneftegaz JSC is the largest gas-producing company in Uzbekistan. In 2022, it was accountable for approximately 61% (around 32 billion cubic meters) of all of the country's gas production, which totaled about 52 billion cubic meters of gas. The activities of the oil and gas industry cover the entire chain of oil and gas operations, from geological exploration, development of oil and gas fields, drilling, and production, to processing hydrocarbons, production of oil products, oil and gas, and chemical equipment, and supplying consumers with oil products. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based. SOURCE Air Products LYSAKER, Norway, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker BP (OSE:AKRBP) (OTCQX:AKRBF) is nearing completion of drilling the st Frigg Beta/Epsilon exploration well, situated in the Yggdrasil area of the Norwegian North Sea. The well has resulted in a significant oil discovery. Preliminary estimates indicate a gross recoverable volume of 40-90 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), surpassing the previously communicated pre-drill estimate of 18-45 mmboe. The discovery enhances the resource base for the Yggdrasil development, which was previously stated at 650 mmboe (gross). The Plan for Development and Operations (PDO) was submitted to Norwegian authorities in December 2022, with production scheduled to commence in 2027. "We are extremely pleased with the results of this well. The discovery will be evaluated as a potential addition to the Yggdrasil development. We see further upside potential around Yggdrasil and, in collaboration with our partners, will continue active exploration in the area," says Per yvind Seljebotn, SVP Exploration & Reservoir Development in Aker BP. The discovery is located within production licences 873 and 442. In licence 873, the partnership consists of Aker BP (operator, 47.7 percent interest), Equinor (40 percent interest) and PGNiG Upstream Norway (12.3 percent interest). In licence 442, the partnership comprises Aker BP (operator, 87.7 percent interest) and PGNiG Upstream Norway (12.3 percent interest). The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (www.npd.no) will issue a more detailed press release when the evaluation of the discovery has been completed. Contacts: Ole-Johan Faret, Press Spokesman, tel.: +47 402 24 217 Kjetil Bakken, Head of IR, tel.: +47 918 89 889 Martin Seland Simensen, IR Officer, tel.: +47 416 92 087 Carl Christian Bachke, IR Officer, tel.: +47 909 80 848 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Aker BP ASA HONOLULU, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NYSE: ALEX) ("A&B" or "Company"), a Hawai'i-based company focused on owning, operating, and developing high-quality commercial real estate in Hawai'i, announced the appointment of Jeff Pauker to executive vice president and chief investment officer. Jeff Pauker, EVP & Chief Investment Officer Since 2018, Pauker has led A&B's investments team, responsible for core and opportunistic real estate investments, property dispositions, and asset-level financings. In addition to his current leadership role, Pauker will assume oversight of the Company's strategic asset and portfolio planning and direct its capital markets activities. Pauker joined A&B in 2012 and most recently served as its senior vice president of investments. "During Jeff's tenure with A&B, he has spearheaded some of the Company's largest and most complex investments and dispositions, many of which were critical to our successful transformation into a commercial real estate company exclusively focused on the Hawai'i market," said Lance Parker, president and chief operating officer. Prior to A&B, Pauker was an attorney with the San Francisco office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a global law firm, where he practiced transactional real estate law on behalf of developer and investment fund clients. Pauker also worked in management consulting and private equity for Monitor Group, now a division of Deloitte. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School. Pauker has served on numerous local professional and community boards, including the Hawai'i chapters of the Urban Land Institute, NAIOP, the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai'i (for which he currently serves as Vice Chair and Treasurer), and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth. "I am honored to have the opportunity to expand my role with the Company," said Pauker. "I look forward to collaborating closely with Lance and the entire A&B team to grow our thriving commercial real estate portfolio and create value for our stakeholders." ABOUT ALEXANDER & BALDWIN Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NYSE: ALEX) (A&B) is the only publicly-traded real estate investment trust to focus exclusively on Hawai'i commercial real estate and is the state's largest owner of grocery-anchored, neighborhood shopping centers. A&B owns, operates and manages approximately 3.9 million square feet of commercial space in Hawai'i, including 22 retail centers, 12 industrial assets and four office properties, as well as 141 acres of ground leases. A&B is expanding and strengthening its Hawai'i CRE portfolio and achieving its strategic focus on commercial real estate by monetizing its remaining non-core assets. Over its 153-year history, A&B has evolved with the state's economy and played a leadership role in the development of the agricultural, transportation, tourism, construction, residential and commercial real estate industries. Learn more about A&B at www.alexanderbaldwin.com. Contact: Andrea Galvin; 808-525-8404; [email protected] SOURCE Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. On May 22, Belarusian authorities pardoned Roman Pratasevich, an opposition journalist, critic of the government of Aleksandr Lukashenko and political prisoner of the Lukashenko regime. Mr. Pratasevich had earned the Belarusian governments ire by reporting on popular protests following a sham election in 2020. Belarusian authorities arrested Mr. Pratasevich and his companion, Sofiya Sapega, after the plane they were on was forced to land in Minsk. Earlier this month, Mr. Pratasevich was convicted of organizing unrest and plotting to seize power. He was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony. The release of even one political prisoner in Belarus is a positive sign, particularly when the total number of political prisoners continues to grow, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller. And while he was pardoned, Ms. Sapega, who was sentenced with him, continues to serve her six-year detention today. We reiterate our call for the regime to unconditionally release all political prisoners unjustly detained in Belarus. Indeed, Belarus is currently holding about 1500 political prisoners. Among them are 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski; Syarhey Tsikhanouski, who announced his intention to run against Aleksandr Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election but was arrested before his campaign even began; and Maria Kalesnikava, who ran the campaign of another opposition presidential candidate, Viktor Babaryka, who is also currently in prison. We condemn the Lukashenka regime in Belarus for unjustly holding over 1,500 political prisoners, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a written statement. These men and women have been arrested and incarcerated for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms in pursuit of Belarusian democracy, for protesting a fraudulent election, or for opposing Russias war against Ukraine. Many of their trials were held behind closed doors, shielded from public scrutiny or accountability, said Secretary Blinken. The United States stands with the people of Belarus as they seek a future based on the rule of law, respect for human rights, and an accountable, democratically elected government. We reiterate our strong desire to see the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners held by the Lukashenka regime, and we call on Belarus to meet its international legal obligations, as well as its commitments as a participating State of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. CENTENNIAL, Colo., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AlloSource, one of the largest nonprofit allograft providers in the U.S. creating innovative cellular and tissue products to help surgeons heal their patients, today announced the launch of AlloMend Duo Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM), a natural solution for soft tissue reconstruction. NEW AlloMend Duo Acellular Dermal Matrix, a natural solution for non-directional implantation in soft tissue reconstruct Tweet this NEW AlloMend Duo from AlloSource AlloMend Duo ADM was created to help surgeons repair and reconstruct soft tissue defects for long-term structural support. The deep reticular dermal allograft incorporates into the surrounding tissue and provides a scaffold for cell repopulation and regeneration of the natural host tissues.1 "We were very thoughtful in developing AlloMend Duo ADM to support the needs of surgeons working in many specialties," said Charlie Manuele, AlloSource Senior Director, Soft Tissue Matrices. "The dual-sided nature of the allograft allows for ease of use when implanting." There are many benefits to the features of AlloMend Duo ADM that make it suitable for use in various health procedures that require strength and biocompatibility of a human regenerative tissue matrix. The allograft is flexible and pliable to provide optimal handling characteristics and to enable precision placement. Packaged in sterile water and stored at room temperature, it is ready for immediate use. In addition, it is precisely processed through proprietary splitting and cutting technologies, resulting in a consistent thickness and size. AlloMend Duo ADM is processed with AlloSource's proprietary DermaTrue Decellularization Process to remove cellular debris (including DNA, RNA, proteins and antigens) rendering the tissue acellular. In addition, it is sterilized with e-beam technology to a sterility assurance level (SAL) of 10-6 to minimize infection risk, while avoiding damage to the allograft tissue. For more information on AlloMend Duo ADM, as well as the other shapes and sizes within the product line, visit allosource.org/products/allomend-duo/. About AlloSource AlloSource, one of the largest human tissue providers, honors tissue donors by creating innovative dermal, cartilage, tendon, fascia, bone, amniotic, and living cellular allografts to help heal patients. Since 1994, the Colorado-based nonprofit organization has continued to advance its allografts to improve patient outcomes, serving as a trusted tissue partner to the medical community. AlloSource is registered with the FDA as a tissue establishment and accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks. Learn more at allosource.org. Data on file Media Contact Cindy Mason AlloSource 720. 873. 4744 [email protected] SOURCE AlloSource HOUSTON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Paving, formerly known as American Parking Control, is excited to announce the name change of their company after experiencing industry growth that required a refocusing of their mission and core focus. "We have heard enough times that the parking in America is out of control, so we're doing something about it," said company president, William O'Connor, "and we started this new journey with a name change that better represents our services." American Parking Control Becomes American Paving Though American Paving's name may be new, the company's commitment to serving Texas and the Greater Houston area runs deep and is as strong as it was when founded in 1984. The business prides itself on their in-house concrete, asphalt, and dirt work crews led by knowledgeable and seasoned project managers. From multimillion-dollar real estate development projects to potholes, American Paving strives to be a one-stop shop civil contractor for customers. The company is especially known for commercial and industrial cornerstone and complex projects involving asphalt and concrete paving, base installation, sub grade stabilization, site work, concrete foundations, installing new storm sewer and detention systems, repairing potholes, sealcoating, striping parking lots, maintaining parking lots, and assisting with emergency drainage or sewer line repairs. Many of the company's past clients have included banks, universities, retail centers, chemical production facilities, city, state and federal governments, and grocery stores. "At American Paving, we are incredibly excited about the company's name change and our path forward. Though we do have a new name and focus for our business, customers can expect the same level of excellence in job performance and customer service as they have for almost forty years," O'Connor concluded. About American Paving: Founded in 1984, American Paving has grown into a trusted leader in the concrete and asphalt paving industry. Serving Texas and the greater Houston area, American Paving specializes in a wide range of concrete paving and asphalt services, delivering exceptional results with each project. American Paving is committed to excellence and complete customer satisfaction, whether it involves dirt work, concrete paving, asphalt installation, maintenance, or repair. Visit www.americanpavingtx.com to learn more. Contact: Beth Guide [email protected] 281-389-5117 SOURCE American Paving WASHINGTON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cigar Association of America (CAA) today published a new analysis showing the significant negative impacts the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposed ban on flavored cigars would have on public health and law enforcement activities. CAA President David M. Ozgo stated: "Making flavored cigars illegal will not eliminate the demand for flavored cigars; it will only criminalize their sale and create illicit markets. The nation has seen this with marijuana and our failed experiment in alcohol prohibition in the 1920's." Analysis: FDA Flavored Cigar Ban Will Create Unregulated And Criminal Markets Tweet this House Appropriations Subcommittee Votes to Block FDA Funding for Flavor Cigar Ban Last week, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approved language in FDA's FY 2024 appropriation that would effectively block the agency from enforcing the proposed ban, Ozgo said. "We applaud the appropriators for recognizing how damaging FDA's proposed ban on flavored cigars would be." The existing regulatory system for flavored cigars was designed to ensure that legal tobacco products are manufactured to meet established standards, undergo quality control measures, and prevent inclusion of unregulated ingredients that could pose health hazards to consumers. Criminals, however, do not care about regulatory standards or quality control, Ozgo noted. The analysis shows how illicit tobacco products sold through criminal enterprises often contain dangerous contaminants such as asbestos and rat droppings. Further, FDA claims it will only enforce the flavored cigar ban against manufacturers and retailers, not against individuals. However, the report notes that nearly all states have cigar excise taxes, and all 50 states have laws that treat unlicensed tobacco sales as a serious crime. Law Enforcement, Civil Rights Groups Oppose FDA Flavored Cigar Ban In written comments submitted to FDA, many law enforcement groups opposed the ban, including the National Association of Police Organizations, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation, National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition, National Troopers Coalition, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. The groups pointed out they don't enforce FDA law, but they do enforce state laws requiring that excise taxes be paid on cigars. Shifting resources to police a new crime sale of untaxed flavored cigars will mean reduced efforts to combat other criminal activity. The analysis also raised concerns that law enforcement efforts would fall disproportionately on minority populations. The National Black Chamber of Commerce stated in its FDA comments: "enforcement of local laws against these transactions (flavored cigars) will certainly bring African Americans, already the subject of over policing, into further confrontations with law enforcement personnel." The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) also opposed the ban in its public comments, noting that the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown at the hands of police involved tobacco enforcement. Michael Brown's initial infraction was related to cigars and Garner's to the sale of untaxed tobacco. Contact: Frank Coleman, [email protected], 202-223-8204 SOURCE Cigar Association of America Partnership with Helios will provide both paid employment and on-the-job training opportunities to recent ASU graduates TEMPE, Ariz., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona State University (ASU) today announced a new apprenticeship program designed to expand access to high-demand HR tech careers for ASU students and alumni. The initiative was developed through a collaboration with Helios Consulting , an advisory partner of Workday, the HR tech platform of choice for nearly 10,000 companies worldwide, including half of the Fortune 500. "Because they provide both job-relevant training and a paycheck, apprenticeships can play a powerful role in bridging the gap between education and the world of work," said Safali Patel, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Career Services at ASU. "Helios is pioneering an approach with the potential to build upon students' academic experiences at ASU and jump-start their career journey." Known as the Rise apprenticeship program , the initiative the first apprenticeship program in the Workday ecosystem includes training in both the technical and soft skills needed to succeed in HR technology roles. Participants in Rise become paid employees of Helios starting from day one of training, and upon completion, can access pathways to join Helios' clients. "ASU shares our commitment to creating new pathways to fulfilling jobs in the country's fastest-growing industries," said Helios President Trevor Lee. "Together, we're not just helping to close a critical talent gap; we're also ensuring that more students particularly those from communities that are historically underrepresented in the tech industry can access opportunities for resilient and high-wage careers." For more information about the Rise program, students or recent graduates of ASU can visit www.helios.consulting/rise . About ASU Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe. About Helios Helios is a certified Workday Advisory partner which helps employers with their implementation journey and expand deployment of Workday's software to improve and streamline their human capital management (HCM) and finance functions. Helios also solves Workday talent needs with Rise, the first apprenticeship program in the Workday ecosystem. Based in St. Paul, MN, Helios prides itself on taking the enterprise view on Workday module deployments to achieve desired business outcomes. Helios' credibility with clients is based on real work delivered to clients that do business around the globe. https://www.helios.consulting/ SOURCE Helios ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta (formerly the Duke City Tattoo Fiesta) is returning to Isleta Casino this year. After enduring the pandemic and returning in 2022 stronger than ever, the NM Tattoo Fiesta is poised to descend upon the Isleta Resort and Casino again on June 7th, 8th, and 9th. You can find info and tickets at: https://newmexicotattoofiesta.com/ 2023 New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta Ben Shaw That's not all though! Those who aren't attending, and those who ARE, have additional activities to consider for 2023. Ben Shaw, Owner and Co-Founder of Archetype Tattoo in Albuquerque, NM has been working with a national cohort of talented tattoo artists, to bring the Tattoo Fiesta Seminars to this year's event. From lettering, to the ins and outs of running your tattoo business, and the lineage and history of the artform that is tattoo: Big Sleeps, Lars Krutak, Russ Abbott, Ryan Roi, Jeremy Miller, Rudy Lopez, and Ben Shaw plan to bring education and engagement front and center to this year's event. Some of the seminars are FREE - some are incredibly affordable - and ALL of them are well worth your time and attention. Tattoo artists, non-tattoo artists, and tattoo culture enthusiasts are encouraged to attend and help spread the word. You can find more info on the event specific seminar dates and times here: https://newmexicotattoofiesta.com/seminars/ Shaw and team are piloting the Seminars here in Albuquerque, with plans of moving this style of presentation and engagement around the country and globe, paired with the biggest and best tattoo conventions in your area! Stay tuned! Media Contact: Ben Shaw 505-553-6226 [email protected] SOURCE Archetype Tattoo Sophisticated Timekeeping Redefined: Armitron Unveils the Enhanced Tilly Collection NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The timeless timekeepers at Armitron, ( www.armitron.com ), have debuted their expanded Tilly Collection for women. This delicate rectangular watch is pure sophistication with its traditional Roman numeral markers. The Tilly watches feature a 20mm case, traditional Roman numerals, and a woven band to exude sophistication and style. The new designs build upon this legacy, offering a fresh take on the classic Tilly design. The latest additions, priced just under $100, are exclusively available on Armitron.com and include the following: A sampling of Armitron's beautiful Tilly watches, as photographed by Paul Gordon, 2023. Sleek and sophisticated: a close-up of Armitron's Tilly watch, photographed by Paul Gordon, 2023. Black and Honey Croco Leather: These genuine leather bands feature a stylish lizard grain pattern for comfort and a pop of texture. The Tilly Croco leather bands in honey or black are perfect for a casual chic look. This slim profile, smart-looking watch is the must-have accessory for any wardrobe. The honey leather design is warm and welcoming, perfect for casual outings or special events. Meanwhile, the black leather design adds a touch of edge and attitude, making it an ideal accessory for a night out. Gold and Silver Two-Tone Metal: Tilly is an Armitron fan favorite, initially just in the Silver and Gold versions. With the reimagined collection debut, it is now available in a two-tone metal bracelet - ready to take any look to the next level. The Tilly watch can also be purchased with a smooth black or white ceramic bracelet, pairing classic style with premium, modern materials. Durable and scratch-resistant, Tilly's ceramic finish creates a comfortable, stylish timepiece that will last for decades. "We are consistently injecting new energy into the Armitron brand for 2023, and the reimagined Tilly is a small glimpse into Armitron's reimagined brand story." States Bobbie Weichselbaum, CEO of E. Gluck Corporation. "Our customers have loved the classic Tilly for its timeless design and quality craftsmanship. These new additions offer even more options for the Armitron customer to grow their timepiece collection as we continue to grow our legacy brand." Armitron connects prestige and curation with unprecedented value and convenience. The corporation manufactures watches under its flagship proprietary brand, Armitron. The company also manufactures watches for major fashion brands, including Anne Klein, Nine West, Juicy Couture, Vince Camuto, and Steve Madden. Recently, the brand has been rolling out notably unique watch collections, including but not limited to their most recent Armitron 's Johnny collection in collaboration with internationally acclaimed celebrity stylist and Emmy award-winning costume designer, and their Vintage Archive Collection, which was a nostalgic collection of the brand's past. Armitron not only captivates with their reimagined and timeless designs, but has now also established a new era of sustainability with the groundbreaking WAVE collection . Redefining sophistication while preserving our planet, Armitron sets a bold sustainability standard that transcends time and style. Proudly headquartered in New York, Armitron has continued to set the standard for fashion watches since 1975. The Tilly collection is no exception to the brand's dynamic pieces made of quality materials with a coveted affordability factor. For more information on Armitron and the reimagined Tilly collection, contact BPM-PR Firm at [email protected] or call 1.877.841.7244. ABOUT ARMITRON Since 1975, Armitron has been devoted to nurturing the spirit of individuality with high-quality, high-style watches at accessible price points, driven by the understanding that a timepiece is both a common thread and a distinguishing factor. As a brand underneath the E. Gluck Corporation umbrella, Armitron connects prestige and curation with unprecedented value and convenience. E. Gluck Corporation manufactures watches under its flagship proprietary brand, Armitron. The company also manufactures watches for major fashion brands, including Anne Klein, Nine West, Juicy Couture, Vince Camuto and Steve Madden. Proudly headquartered in New York, Armitron is an Official Timepiece of the New York Yankees. For more information, visit www.Armitron.com . Media Contact: Alexa Morales 1.877.841.7244 [email protected] SOURCE Armitron BOULDER, Colo., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For over fifty years, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), a leader in renewable energy and sustainable living advocacy, has held the longest-running solar and renewable energy conference in the United States. The ASES National Solar Conference is America's leading conference on the emerging trends, technology, and opportunities shaping the new energy economy. The American Solar Energy Society's cutting-edge conference series introduces attendees to the leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs moving the industry forward. With the solar energy and energy efficiency sectors changing at an unprecedented pace, this conference helps participants understand the changes and uncover the billion-dollar opportunities. Speakers and attendees include educators, contractors, developers, architects, engineers, installers, consultants, policymakers, researchers, manufacturers, and solar advocates. ASES is thrilled to announce that the full SOLAR 2023 speaker lineup is live on their online conference platform. This summer, ASES will hold its 52nd Annual National Solar Conference, SOLAR 2023: Transforming the Energy Landscape for All . The conference, held August 8-11, 2023, at the University of Colorado's main campus in Boulder, Colorado, will be a hybrid conference, with both online and in-person attendance options. The full speaker lineup is now online, and the hybrid platform is live for registrants. Registration is open and Early Bird rates have been extended to June 1. With fourteen technical sessions, four plenary sessions, five special dialogue events, four workshops, and numerous networking events planned throughout the four-day conference, the professional development and educational opportunities are extensive. Whether you are a student, seasoned professional, or anywhere in between, you can't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and be inspired as like-minded individuals emerge to accelerate the transition to a 100% renewable energy and sustainable future for all at SOLAR 2023! "For those who may never have been to an ASES conference before, this is the kind of friendly, mid-sized conference that we seldom see anymore," Cliburn and Associates President, Jill Cliburn said. "And CU Boulder is a great venue!" For the first time, the 2023 ASES National Solar Conference will be a net-zero emissions event. By minimizing direct conference emissions in every area possible and purchasing carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs) for the remaining emissions, ASES will exemplify the importance of placing sustainability at the forefront of event planning at a national level. To ensure attendees will reduce their personal carbon footprint as much as reasonably possible, ASES has compiled recommendations and resources on their conference sustainability page and is providing an opportunity for attendees to offset their carbon emissions for an additional $25 when they register for the conference. Further, ASES has partnered with TripZero to provide discounted group hotel deals and erase the carbon footprint created by travel to SOLAR 2023. ASES' Hotel Blocks not only allow attendees to save on accommodations but also enable TripZero to erase their travel footprint through the purchase of Certified Carbon Offsets (at no additional cost to the attendees) which in turn finances CO2 reduction projects in local communities. Conference Program Highlights Tuesday, August 8 - Mini Boulder Solar Tour showcasing solar sites around the Boulder area. area. Opening Reception & Plenary: Workforce Development featuring Martin Keller , Director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Larry Sherwood , President and CEO, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and Erika Symmonds , Vice President of Equity and Workforce Development, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Wednesday, August 9 - Spirit, Sustainability, and Reality Forum with Orlo Stitt, President, Stitt Energy Systems, Inc., and Paulette Middleton , President, Panorama Pathways. , President, Panorama Pathways. Local, National, International Outlook on Getting to 100% Renewable Energy featuring Dr. David Renne, Owner & Immediate Past President Dave Renne Renewables, Aspen Hill Films, & International Solar Energy Society (ISES), Jocelyn Durkay , Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Colorado Energy Office (CEO) Policy Unit, and Congressman Joe Neguse , Colorado's 2nd Congressional District Representative. Thursday, August 10 - Climate Ride, a fundraiser bike ride and walk around the city of Boulder . . Plenary: Innovation and Inclusion featuring Karen Soares , President & CEO, Go Eagle Energy, Solutions, LLC, Sunita Satyapal , Director, Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy, and David Poli , Program Manager, Climate & Energy, XPRIZE Foundation. Friday, August 11 - Solar Village & EV Show (Free & Open to the Public) featuring vendors from around the Boulder area, EVs, Tiny Watts , and an ASES National Solar Tour booth, live music, solar cookers and more. area, EVs, , and an ASES National Solar Tour booth, live music, solar cookers and more. Student Energy Workshop: Entering the Energy Transition Labor Market This workshop will provide context into the existing gap between what is most important to young people when looking for employment, the barriers they face in entering the Energy Transition labor market, and how energy stakeholders can address these gaps to advance youth skill development. This workshop will provide context into the existing gap between what is most important to young people when looking for employment, the barriers they face in entering the Energy Transition labor market, and how energy stakeholders can address these gaps to advance youth skill development. Plenary: From the Classroom to the Lab to the Boardroom featuring Dr. Huyen N. Dinh , Director, HydroGEN Energy Materials Network, Seth Marder , PhD, Director Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), and Evelyn Carpenter , President & CEO, Solas Energy Consulting. ASES invites you to register by June 1 to receive significant early bird discounts on conference passes, events, workshops, and tours before prices increase. The visitor's guide, sponsorship opportunities, and other conference details can be found at ases.org/conference . About the American Solar Energy Society: Established in 1954, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for sustainable living and a 100% renewable energy future via in-depth reporting, educational events, webinars, and conferences that cultivate community and power progress. ASES integrates the perspectives of science, industry, policy, and citizens via the award-winning Solar Today magazine, the e-newsletter [email protected], monthly Webinars, the ASES National Solar Conference and the National Solar Tour. Learn more at ases.org . SOURCE American Solar Energy Society TOKYO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Naoki Okamura, "Astellas") today announced that it has committed to supporting the 3rd phase of the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund), together with a cross-sector group of funding partners. The cross-sector group has committed over US$200 million to the GHIT Fund. Furthermore, we have contributed to the GHIT Fund for three consecutive terms since the inception of the GHIT Fund. The GHIT Fund launched in 2013 to leverage Japanese expertise and capability for life-saving health innovations, including drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, to combat infectious diseases including tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)*1 prevalent in the world's poorest countries. A public interest corporation registered in Japan, the GHIT Fund is the first international public-private partnership fund (PPP) between the Japanese Government: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, private sector, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome and the United Nations Development Programme. The GHIT Fund has invested about 29.1 billion yen to support approximately 115 projects over the last ten years. The GHIT Fund engages in direct and effective activities, such as the establishment of a public-private partnership mechanism and launching R&D projects utilizing Japanese drug discovery technologies, innovations and investment in diagnostics development. "Astellas is working to solve issues of Access to Health (ATH) through the GHIT Fund which Astellas has been participating in since the 1st phase of the GHIT Fund and is participating in a GHIT-funded consortium* that aims to develop a potential new pediatric treatment option for schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children." said Naoki Okamura, President and CEO of Astellas. "Astellas is contributing to this development by leveraging our formulation technologies and know-how. In addition, we have contributed to malaria research in collaboration with partners to solve issues of ATH since 2017." *1: About Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions and affect more than 1.6 billion people, costing developing economies billions of dollars every year. They mainly affect populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors and domestic animals and livestock. NTDs are a group of 20 infectious diseases Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, Dengue/Chikungunya, Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease), Echinococcosis, Foodborne trematodiases, Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), Leishmaniasis, Leprosy (Hansen's disease), Lymphatic filariasis, Mycetoma, Onchocerciasis (river blindness), Rabies, Scabies and other ectoparasitoses, Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted helminthiases, Snakebite envenoming, Taeniasis/Cysticercosis, Trachoma, Yaws (Endemic treponematoses) . *2: Schistosomiasis and consortium of pediatric formulation for praziquantel Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in tropical countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease has a particularly high incidence rate among children. The existing "gold standard" treatment for schistosomiasis is praziquantel. However, one challenge is that praziquantel tablets are difficult to administer to preschool-aged children, including infants and toddlers, mainly due to their large size and the drug's bitter taste. Together with a consortium of partners, Astellas has contributed to developing a potential new pediatric treatment option, arpraziquantel, for schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children. Derived from praziquantel, arpraziquantel is a small orally dispersible tablet, with reduction of bitterness. The new formulation was initially developed by Astellas. Arpraziquantel can be manufactured using simple production technology, while holding down production costs, and the tablets are stable even in the hot and humid environment of tropical areas. Astellas has transferred the technology and expertise needed to develop it to a consortium partner in Brazil, thereby helping to build local pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. In December 2022, EMA (European Medicines Agency) has validated the regulatory application for arpraziquantel and has started its review process. About Astellas Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+ healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en. Cautionary Notes In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas' intellectual property rights by third parties. Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice. SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc. NEW YORK, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The automatic self-cleaning cat litter box market size is set to grow by USD 465.32 million between 2022 and 2027 and register a CAGR of 6.69%, 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. Discover market potential and make informed business decisions based on qualitative and quantitative evidence highlighted in Technavio reports Download the Sample Report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automatic Self-cleaning Cat Litter Box Market 2023-2027 The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Automated Pet Care Products LLC, Catlink, ChillX Co., Cosmic Pet, Hagen Group, iKuddle, Jiaxing Le you pet products Co. Ltd., Omega Paw Inc., PETKIT Ltd., PetNovations Ltd., Petree Litter Boxes, Smarty Pear, Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc., and Radio Systems Corp. are some of the major market participants. The growing awareness of safety concerns and animal allergies, the increase in elderly cats with cognitive problems, and the increase in the working population segment 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. Automatic Self-cleaning Cat Litter Box Market 2023-2027: Segmentation Distribution Channel Offline: The market share growth by the offline segment will be significant during the forecast period. The offline segment was valued at USD 768.26 million in 2017 and continue to grow by 2021. in 2017 and continue to grow by 2021. Online Product Single Cat Multi-cat Geography North America: North America is estimated to contribute 48% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Rising online sales, increase in pet ownership, adoption of smart pet care devices, advances in technology, and easy access to automatic self-cleaning cat litter boxes are the key drivers of the market in focus in North America . . Europe APAC South America Middle East And Africa Learn more about the factors assisting the growth of the market, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43943 Automatic Self-cleaning Cat Litter Box Market 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis and Scope To help businesses improve their market position, the automatic self-cleaning cat litter box market provides a detailed analysis of around 15+ vendors operating in the market. Some of these vendors include Automated Pet Care Products LLC, Catlink, ChillX Co., Cosmic Pet, Hagen Group, iKuddle, Jiaxing Le you pet products Co. Ltd., Omega Paw Inc., PETKIT Ltd., PetNovations Ltd., Petree Litter Boxes, Smarty Pear, Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc., and Radio Systems Corp. litter-robot.com- The company offers automatic self-cleaning cat litter boxes such as litter-robot 3 connect essentials bundle, feeder-robot, and litter-robot 4 double bundle. catlinkus.com- The company offers automatic self-cleaning cat litter boxes such as Scooper Pro and Scooper. chillx.co- The company offers automatic self-cleaning cat litter boxes such as ChillX Autoegg. The report also covers the following areas: Market Drivers Growing awareness of safety concerns and animal allergies Increase in elderly cats with cognitive problems Increase in working population segment Market Trends Growing inclination toward premiumization in pet care services Launch of consumer awareness campaigns Growing online retail Market Challenges High purchase price and maintenance cost Product-adoption challenges Low product adoption in developing countries 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! Automatic Self-cleaning Cat Litter Box Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027 Detailed information on factors that will assist automatic self-cleaning cat litter box market growth during the next five years Estimation of the automatic self-cleaning cat litter box market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the automatic self-cleaning cat litter box market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automatic self-cleaning cat litter box market vendors Related Reports: Automatic and Smart Pet Feeder Market - The Automatic and Smart Pet Feeder Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.89% between 2022 and 2027 and the market is forecast to increase by USD 1,236.23 million. Pet Monitoring Camera Market- The pet monitoring camera market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 17.4% and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 541.19 million between 2022 and 2027. Automatic Self-cleaning Cat Litter Box Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.69% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 465.32 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 6.46 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 48% Key countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Automated Pet Care Products LLC, Catlink, ChillX Co., Cosmic Pet, Hagen Group, iKuddle, Jiaxing Le you pet products Co. Ltd., Omega Paw Inc., PETKIT Ltd., PetNovations Ltd., Petree Litter Boxes, Smarty Pear, Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc., and Radio Systems 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. 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 Distribution Channel 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 automatic self-cleaning cat litter box market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global automatic self-cleaning cat litter box market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 Distribution Channel Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Distribution Channel Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.3 Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel 6.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by Product 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 43: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 44: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 45: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 46: Data Table on Comparison by Product 7.3 Single cat - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 47: Chart on Single cat - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Data Table on Single cat - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 49: Chart on Single cat - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 50: Data Table on Single cat - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Multi-cat - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 51: Chart on Multi-cat - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Multi-cat - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 53: Chart on Multi-cat - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 54: Data Table on Multi-cat - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 55: Market opportunity by Product ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 56: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 57: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 59: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 60: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 61: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 62: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 64: 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 65: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 66: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 68: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 69: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 72: 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 73: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 76: 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 77: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 80: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 84: 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 85: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: 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 93: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 95: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 99: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 101: 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 102: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 103: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 104: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 105: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 106: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 107: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Automated Pet Care Products LLC Exhibit 108: Automated Pet Care Products LLC - Overview Exhibit 109: Automated Pet Care Products LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 110: Automated Pet Care Products LLC - Key offerings 12.4 Catlink Exhibit 111: Catlink - Overview Exhibit 112: Catlink - Product / Service Exhibit 113: Catlink - Key offerings 12.5 ChillX Co. Exhibit 114: ChillX Co. - Overview Exhibit 115: ChillX Co. - Product / Service Exhibit 116: ChillX Co. - Key offerings 12.6 Cosmic Pet Exhibit 117: Cosmic Pet - Overview Exhibit 118: Cosmic Pet - Product / Service Exhibit 119: Cosmic Pet - Key offerings 12.7 Hagen Group Exhibit 120: Hagen Group - Overview Exhibit 121: Hagen Group - Product / Service Exhibit 122: Hagen Group - Key offerings 12.8 iKuddle Exhibit 123: iKuddle - Overview Exhibit 124: iKuddle - Product / Service Exhibit 125: iKuddle - Key offerings 12.9 Jiaxing Le you pet products Co. Ltd. you pet products Co. Ltd. Exhibit 126: Jiaxing Le you pet products Co. Ltd. - Overview you pet products Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 127: Jiaxing Le you pet products Co. Ltd. - Product / Service you pet products Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 128: Jiaxing Le you pet products Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.10 Omega Paw Inc. Exhibit 129: Omega Paw Inc. - Overview Exhibit 130: Omega Paw Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 131: Omega Paw Inc. - Key offerings 12.11 PETKIT Ltd. Exhibit 132: PETKIT Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 133: PETKIT Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 134: PETKIT Ltd. - Key offerings 12.12 PetNovations Ltd. Exhibit 135: PetNovations Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 136: PetNovations Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 137: PetNovations Ltd. - Key offerings 12.13 Petree Litter Boxes Exhibit 138: Petree Litter Boxes - Overview Exhibit 139: Petree Litter Boxes - Product / Service Exhibit 140: Petree Litter Boxes - Key offerings 12.14 Radio Systems Corp. Exhibit 141: Radio Systems Corp. - Overview Exhibit 142: Radio Systems Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 143: Radio Systems Corp. - Key offerings 12.15 Smarty Pear Exhibit 144: Smarty Pear - Overview Exhibit 145: Smarty Pear - Product / Service Exhibit 146: Smarty Pear - Key offerings 12.16 Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. Exhibit 147: Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. - Overview Exhibit 148: Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 149: Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. - Key news Exhibit 150: Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 151: Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 152: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 153: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 154: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 155: Research methodology Exhibit 156: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 157: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 158: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio HOUSTON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Avelo Airlines the soaring champion of affordable, convenient and reliable air travel is pledging its full support for Taco Bell's courageous quest to liberate the iconic term "Taco Tuesday." As a fellow purveyor of all things Tuesday, Avelo firmly believes in the power of delicious food and daredevil deals. Taco Bell, the visionary force behind culinary creations that have left mouths watering and taste buds cheering, has encountered a slight hiccup in their quest to cancel the existing trademark of "Taco Tuesday." Avelo, which pioneered "Free Ticket Tuesday," sympathizes deeply with the hardships endured by our compadres at Taco Bell. Avelo Airlines Head of Legal and General Counsel Daniel Camejo said, "When we heard the news, we just couldn't contain our disbelief. How could someone dare try to usurp the sanctitude of Tuesdays? It's a day that brings immense joy to all taco enthusiasts and jetsetters alike. We feel a shared bond with Taco Bell because, hey, we too were inspired by the magic of 'Taco Tuesday' when we conjured up 'Free Ticket Tuesday.' Great minds do think alike, after all." Avelo Airlines Head of Marketing Travis Christ said, "To the naysayers who mock the idea to liberate the beloved 'Taco Tuesday,' we say this: tacos and airplanes make the world go 'round! There's nothing more uplifting than sinking your teeth into a succulent taco and soaring through the skies with Avelo Airlines. It's like experiencing the epitome of joy in both gastronomic and travel realms. Let it be known that Avelo Airlines stands shoulder to shoulder with Taco Bell as they fight for the freedom of 'Taco Tuesday.' Together, we will triumph and bask in all things Tuesday." Christ added, "In support of Taco Bell's noble endeavor, Avelo is delighted to announce our latest inflight menu collaboration. Prepare yourselves for the Taco Takeoff Extravaganza! Picture this: a tantalizing array of gourmet tacos curated by the culinary geniuses at Taco Bell, served at 35,000 feet, accompanied by a complimentary side of airborne salsa dancing when the seatbelt signs are turned off. Our customers will revel in the joy of tacos while gazing out at the fluffy clouds below truly a match made in taco heaven. Ok, we're not really doing that but maybe someday soon, after we officially liberate 'Taco Tuesday'." About Avelo Airlines Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 44 popular destinations across the U.S., including its five bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Orlando International Airport (MCO), the Delaware Valley's Wilmington Airport (ILG) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom . Media Contact: Avelo Airlines Courtney Goff [email protected] SOURCE Avelo Airlines U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussein outlined several key findings from this years International Religious Freedom report. First, far too many governments continue to freely target faith community members within their borders, said Ambassador Rashad. 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 Peoples Republic of China seized, imprisoned, and banished predominantly Muslim Uighurs to re-education camps. They continue the repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Christians, and Falun Gong practitioners. In Afghanistan, members of communities that do not adhere to the Talibans narrow theology must hide their religious identity or flee for their lives. In Saudi Arabia, there have been recent moves to increase interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance. But publicly practicing any faith other than Islam remains illegal. A second theme in the report is the increase of government restrictions on access to holy sites and places of worship, said Ambassador Rashad: We have all seen the sad pictures of Ukraines civilians sifting through the rubble of their beautiful and most historic churches destroyed by Russias brutal war of aggression. Uighurs 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. Third, many countries continue to legislate and enforce apostasy, blasphemy, and anticonversion laws, noted Ambassador Rashad: 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 such as education. In Afghanistan, the Taliban in the name of religion continues to rob women and girls of this fundamental right. 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, warned Ambassador Hussein. We vow to redouble our efforts to ensure greater respect for freedom of religion or belief for everyone, everywhere. SANTA MARIA, Calif., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Miller family, a multi-generational farming family who has been farming California's Central Coast for over 150 years, is proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bien Nacido Vineyards widely known as one of the most respected vineyards in the United States. Commemorating this milestone, the family is thrilled to debut a brand-new hospitality center, The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido, allowing guests to experience this historic estate and its wines like never before. The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido Situated on the land of a Spanish Land Grant from the early 1800s, formerly known as Rancho Tepusquet, Bien Nacido was planted by brothers Bob and Steve Miller in 1973, who set out to develop a vineyard that would be acknowledged as one of the highest quality vineyards in the world. They named it Bien Nacido, which means "well born" in Spanish, signifying the passion and commitment they shared in bringing this vineyard to life. Home to the first cool-climate Syrah grapes on the Central Coast, Bien Nacido has a long history of producing distinctive Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah wines from the Santa Maria Valley AVA, where its high elevation, shale and rocky soils, cooling ocean influences and meticulous farming work together to make Bien Nacido the exceptional site that it is. Today, the 650-acre vineyard named one of the Top 5 California Vineyards by the Wall Street Journal, one of 10 Vineyards Behind the World's Most Famous Wines by Wine Enthusiast, and #1 on the list of the 10 Best Vineyards in California by Food & Wine continues to be one of the most highly sought-after sources for cool-climate Burgundian and Rhone grapes by some of California's most esteemed producers. Wines designated with Bien Nacido Vineyard regularly receive exceptional 95+ scores and accolades, including most recently from the prestigious critic, Jeb Dunnuck, who gave Paul Lato's 2018 il Padrino Syrah from Bien Nacido Vineyard the highest honor of 100 points. "When my father and uncle planted the vineyard in 1973, they recognized its potential for greatness," says Nicholas Miller, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President. "During a time when many vintners focused on quantity over quality, they led with their shared belief that Santa Maria's distinctive terroir would impart unique characteristics into the wines, and put quality at the forefront of their efforts. Throughout those early years, years pointed by hard work, passion and farming with intention, they helped this vineyard become one of the strongest vineyard sites in California, and today, 50 years later, we are continually impressed by the vitality of this site. We're proud to look back on the rich history of Bien Nacido, yet we look forward to the years ahead, as we firmly believe the best is yet to come from this distinctive estate." In celebration of Bien Nacido's 50th anniversary, the Miller family is excited to reveal The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido, the new tasting room for its official estate program, Bien Nacido Estate, which features wines from both Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Vineyards. Opening Memorial Day weekend, guests are invited to experience the magic of this exclusive property through The Gatehouse's thoughtful collection of tasting experiences and tours, which allow visitors the rare opportunity to explore Bien Nacido Estate's acclaimed wines just steps from where the grapes are grown. "In celebration of our vineyard's Golden Anniversary, the opening of The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido marks a new chapter in Bien Nacidos' history of excellence," shares Nicholas Miller, "and commemorates the strength and quality of this special place for the next fifty years to come. We can't wait to welcome guests to experience it all in person very soon." The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido will open its doors on May 25, 2023, and will be open for tastings Thursday through Monday from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. Reservations are not required but are encouraged. To learn more, please visit www.biennacidoestate.com. About Bien Nacido Vineyards Bien Nacido Vineyards is owned and operated by the Miller family, a multi-generational farming family and owners of the industry-leading The Thornhill Companies. The Thornhill Companies includes the prestigious Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Estates, Miller Family Wine Company and Thornhill Ranches. Miller Family Wine Company manages national branded wine labels, including Butternut, J. Wilkes, optik, Ballard Lane, Smashberry, Barrel Burner, Volunteer, Hand on Heart and Reciprocity wines, in addition to control label brands for prominent retailers across the U.S. and the French Camp vineyard in Paso Robles. SOURCE Miller Family Wine Company The leading media company shares an exclusive interview with the award-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, BLACK ENTERPRISE , the top Black digital media brand and premier business and financial resource for African Americans, revealed its May digital cover featuring award-winning actress, writer, producer, and serial entrepreneur Issa Rae. The exclusive cover story uncovers her approach to being the boss, leading with authenticity, empowering her team, and more. Aside from her position as an esteemed writer, producer, and actress, Issa Rae shares her favorite role to date with BLACK ENTERPRISEbeing a businesswoman. Rae's impressive ventures include media production company, HOORAE, talent management company, ColorCreative, audio vertical, Raedio, a community-driven cafe, Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, and haircare line, Sienna Naturals. "I've always wanted to be in the business of us, to tell our stories. But I never knew if I could be successful at that, if that was something that I could make a living off of, if there would be longevity," said Rae. "There are traditional ways, there are ways that sometimes feel archaic, of running businesses. Even in thinking about what a CEO is, there's a specific image in my mind of what those people look like, what their interests are and it doesn't necessarily always reflect us." The May cover story titled, "CEO-Like: Issa Rae's Greatest Role," dives into how Rae reimagined the nature of how business is done to build her own enterprises, her unconventional approach to being a CEO, and letting purpose drive her success. "We are incredibly excited to have Issa Rae grace our digital cover for May. Her authenticity, innovation, and dedication to empowering others resonate deeply with our readers," said Alisa Gumbs, BLACK ENTERPRISE Vice President and Deputy Chief Content Officer. "Her insights and experiences provide invaluable inspiration for our audience as they pursue their entrepreneurial dreams." A second digital cover spotlights top executives from Rae's business: Benoni Tagoe, President of Raedio; Talitha Watkins, President of ColorCreative; and HOORAE's Kaylin Cotton, Chief of Staff; Malick Diop, Chief Financial Officer; Monique Francis, Head of Marketing, and Montrel McKay, President of Development & Production. It exemplifies BLACK ENTERPRISE's unwavering dedication to promoting diversity, representation, and economic empowerment and to showcasing how talented and influential African Americans strive for success, pursue their passions, and overcome barriers. To read the full May digital cover story, please visit https://www.blackenterprise.com/issarae/. To stay up to date on upcoming digital releases, visit blackenterprise.com and follow them on social media across Instagram , Twitter, and Facebook . About BLACK ENTERPRISE Founded in 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE is a mission-centric publication focused on providing relevant information for success-minded people at every stage of their financial journey. Designed to highlight Black leadership and entrepreneurial journeys, BLACK ENTERPRISE reaches its audience through its events, linear and digital channels. BLACK ENTERPRISE aims to be a fountain of knowledge on the how in achieving financial success. To learn more about the company, please visit blackenterprise.com and follow them on social media across Instagram , Twitter, and Facebook . SOURCE BLACK ENTERPRISE ARLINGTON, Va., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Law today announced that its Draft Analyzer workflow tool was named a 2023 Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE Award Business Technology Finalist in the Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Content Solution category. The CODiE Awards, the long-running, premier awards program for the software and information industries, are produced by SIIA. Draft Analyzer is included as a part of Bloomberg Law, which combines legal research, news, analysis, and Practical Guidance in one comprehensive solution. Draft Analyzer streamlines the workflow of transactional attorneys by leveraging unique proprietary AI models to help attorneys negotiate more efficiently. During contract analysis, the tool significantly improves a user's ability to efficiently draft and authoritatively negotiate contracts by identifying market standard contract language and surfacing on-point analysis from Bloomberg Law's Practical Guidance collection. Bloomberg Law's Draft Analyzer has transformed the process of legal drafting by utilizing advanced AI technology. Tweet this "We're incredibly proud to see Draft Analyzer recognized for its ability to transform the practice of law," said Joe Breda, President of Bloomberg Law. "Draft Analyzer's selection as a finalist in this category is a testament to the quality of our AI-enabled solutions and our commitment to supporting attorneys with innovative, intelligent tools that allow them to provide the best possible service to their clients." The SIIA CODiE Awards are the industry's only peer-recognized awards program. Finalists are determined by industry experts. CODiE Award winners will be announced June 21-22, 2023. Details about each finalist are available at https://siia.net/codie/codie-finalists/. About Bloomberg Law Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of practical guidance, comprehensive primary and secondary source material, trusted content from Bloomberg BNA, news, time-saving practice tools, market data, and business intelligence. SOURCE Bloomberg Law Colourful Pop Design Reminiscent of the 1980s TOKYO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the release of the A120WEST, a collaboration model inspired by the Netflix megahit, Stranger Things. Stranger Things is a Netflix mystery adventure series set in 1980s small-town America. In 1983, a young boy vanishes into thin air from a sleepy American midwest town. As friends, family, and local police search for answers, they are drawn into an extraordinary mystery involving top secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one very strange little girl. A love letter to the 80s classics that captivated a generation. The new watch design was inspired by Stranger Things, a show with plenty of references to 1980s culture. Based on the A120, a watch inspired by digital watches Casio released in the 1980s, the design pays homage to the 'Upside Down', an alternate dimension that exists in parallel to the human world. The watch face depicts the world of the Stranger Things characters, with pop, colorful front buttons reminiscent of the 1980s with a Demogorgon appearing at the center, as he appears in the human world. When the LED light button is pressed, the show name is revealed printed upside down, implying the presence of another world on the other side. The back of the case and translucent band are designed with eerie tentacles stretching out from the underworld, evoking the connection between the two worlds. The special packaging is illustrated with images of the show's cast of young characters. Seasons 1-4 of Stranger Things are now streaming globally on Netflix. STRANGER THINGS / Netflix. Used with permission. Website: https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/casio/standard/vintage/strangerthings/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2083979/casio_strangerthings_003.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2083978/A120WEST_7A_01__1.jpg SOURCE CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. Stock Market Symbols GIB (NYSE) GIB.A (TSX) cgi.com/newsroom The research project opens a testbed for hospitals around the world to contribute to the project and to test the algorithm platform HELSINKI, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB) has partnered with Helsinki University Hospital and Planmeca, a leading manufacturer of high-tech digital imaging devices, to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) solution that assists radiologists in interpreting brain CT scans and detecting the most common types of non-traumatic brain hemorrhages. The collaboration in this research and innovation ecosystem, called CleverHealth Network, is a part of CGIs Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. The solution, named AI Head Analysis, has recently been approved to be retrospectively tested in workflow in Helsinki University Hospital. This means that the radiologist and artificial intelligence first analyze the images independently. After the radiologist has made his diagnosis, he can compare his assessment with the results of the AI. The research project has also opened a low-threshold, easy-to-use test environment for all the interested hospitals around the world. "Each year, millions of people across the globe are diagnosed with some type of brain hemorrhagean acute condition that requires a prompt and accurate diagnosis. In Finland alone, more than 180,000 head CT scans are performed annually, most of them at emergency clinics," said Miikka Korja, Chief Innovation Officer and a docent in neurology at the Helsinki University Hospital. "This number is increasing year by year while the number of radiologists is decreasing," he noted. "Further, interpreting head CT scans requires time and experience, but most emergency clinics are very busy. To address these challenges, we partnered with CGI and Planmeca to develop a new type of AI solution that uses algorithms to detect the most common types of non-traumatic cerebral hemorrhages rapidly and accurately." The solution analyzes data from different imaging devices at hospitals to both build and clinically test algorithms in line with rigorous regulatory requirements. Using AI algorithms, the solution can assist in detecting head CT images that require urgent attention. This eases the workload of radiologists and speeds up treatment by on-call physicians. The solution's AI algorithms were jointly developed by CGI, the Helsinki University Hospital, and Planmeca. The hospital has been developing AI algorithms for many years and now has a digital archive containing more than 20 million images. CGI built the solution's underlying platform on Microsoft Azure. Independent testing and validation of the solution has so far been conducted by several hospitals, including one of the largest university hospitals in Switzerland. Neurology, one of the world's leading medical journals, recently published an article on these AI-based diagnostics. "The AI Head Analysis is a highly unique and innovative solution that may help save many lives in the future from a condition that is both challenging to detect and treat. The solution also demonstrates how CGI is committed to using its expertise and the power of technology to improve the well-being of communities and citizens," said Leena-Mari Lahteenmaa, President of CGI's operations in Finland. "Because the solution is independent of any patient data or systems managed by a particular hospital, we may offer it to other hospitals around the world. The solution, we expect, may also be used to advance the development of other AI-based healthcare solutions in the future." CGI has a large center of excellence in Finland that develops advanced healthcare technologies and solutions, such as the company's flagship patient data system OMNI360. With deep experience in developing and integrating business, clinical and IT solutions for public and private sector health organizations, CGI helps healthcare clients advance digital strategies, optimize operations, and improve patient care. About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 91,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2022 reported revenue is $12.87 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. For more information on the testbed, visit www.cgi.com/fi/fi/ai-head-analysis For more information on CGIs Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy and performance, read the latest ESG report. Images for media use: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvSUjCy7IC08nHXK3K9x4PRYSj3I?e=FI2YOJ Video presentation of the solution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E40LMudOefw More background information on the development project: https://www.cleverhealth.fi/en/head-area-imaging-analytics/ SOURCE CGI Inc. -Fast casual concept giving away free chicken salad for a year on June 7- ATLANTA, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick , the nation's only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today the opening of its newest Texas location in Tyler. This marks the brand's 27th restaurant in the state and the first for local couple Jack and Mona Gabriel, who have been serving the area with their Nothing Bundt Cakes and Marble Slab Creamery businesses over the past 10 years. Chicken Salad Chick Tyler is located at 4710 S. Broadway Ave. in the Plaza shopping center (located next to Hobby Lobby). The community is invited to celebrate the grand opening on Wednesday, June 7; the first 100 guests that morning will win free chicken salad for a year. During grand opening week, Tyler guests can expect to experience the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for, with specials and giveaways that include: Wednesday, June 7 Free Chicken Salad for a Year The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line. The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line. Thursday, June 8 - The first 100 guests receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Tumbler with the purchase of a Chick Trio.** - The first 100 guests receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Tumbler with the purchase of a Chick Trio.** Friday, June 9 The first 100 guests receive a FREE Large Chicken Salad Chick Cooler with the purchase of a Chick Trio.** The first 100 guests receive a FREE Large Chicken Salad Chick Cooler with the purchase of a Chick Trio.** Saturday, June 10 The first 100 guests receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Tote Bag with the purchase of a Chick Trio.** This is the first Chicken Salad Chick restaurant for Tyler residents Jack and Mona Gabriel, but they have been involved in the food industry for decades. Jack's passion for cooking started in childhood when he accompanied his father to work in bakeries and military mess halls. His first job as a teen was at Safeway grocery store, where he met co-worker and future wife of 48 years, Mona. Jack made his career in grocery and distribution for over 40 years, while Mona worked in management for government agencies, including the Texas Attorney General's office. After retiring, the couple decided to start a new chapter of their lives with franchising, opening their first Nothing Bundt Cakes in Tyler in 2013. They have since expanded to own 11 locations of the bakery concept and one Marble Slab Creamery, and they are thrilled to be opening a Chicken Salad Chick. These businesses are a true family affair, with their sons John and Daniel responsible for facility management and day-to-day operations, and daughter-in-law Jennifer overseeing human resources. The Gabriel's grandson, Caden will be the manager of Chicken Salad Chick Tyler. "Tyler is a traditional Southern city made up of people that appreciate made-from-scratch food," said Jack Gabriel, co-owner of Chicken Salad Chick Tyler. "One of the best parts of working in foodservice is watching our guests enjoy their first bites of our product, and we know the community is going to embrace the Chick's focus on freshness and flavor. This company is also very family-oriented, which appeals to us as three generations working together to do what we love: enrich lives and serve others. Our family can't wait to welcome our friends and neighbors into this new restaurant." The Gabriels have also enjoyed giving back to important causes through their businesses over the years. With their Chick debut, they will be supporting Children's Miracle Network as part of their pre-opening Friends & Family events. "Jack and I have appreciated the support from our customers in Tyler and surrounding areas over these past 10 years, and we are thrilled to keep giving back to our community whenever we can," added Mona Gabriel. "Service is at the heart of everything we do." Chicken Salad Chick in Tyler will be open Monday Saturday from 10:30 a.m. 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com . Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and trends. For more information on giveaways and specials, visit https://www.facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickTylerTX/. *Guests should arrive early to get checked in. The first 100 guests must remain in line and download the Craving Credits app. Wi-Fi will not be available on site. Once the restaurant opens, guests will make a purchase of "The Chick" or anything of greater value and enter a code in the Craving Credits app to officially secure your spot. If you leave the line for any reason, your spot will be awarded to the next guest in line. Guests will receive their first free Large Quick Chick electronically to your app the Monday following Grand Opening Day. **Must download the CSC App and be 16 years or older to purchase. Not valid with any other offers. Limit 1 reward per guest present. About Chicken Salad Chick Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Founded in Auburn, Alabama, by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 225 restaurants in 17 states. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in the 2023 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious for the third consecutive year, Fast Casual.com's top Movers and Shakers from 2018 to 2023, QSR's Best Franchise Deals in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises in 2020. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information. Contact: Nicole Hunnicutt Fish Consulting 404-558-4108 [email protected] SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick FORT MYERS, Fla., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's specialty retailer Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) (the "Company") will host a conference call with security analysts on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET to review the operating results for the first quarter ended April 29, 2023. The conference call is being webcast live over the Internet, which you may access in the Investors section of the Company's corporate website, www.chicosfas.com . A replay of the webcast will remain available online for one year at http://chicosfas.com/investors/events-and-presentations. The phone number for the call is 1-877-883-0383. International callers should use 1-412-902-6506. The Elite Entry number, 2200704, is required to join the conference call. Interested participants should call 10-15 minutes prior to the 8:00 a.m. start to be placed in queue. ABOUT CHICO'S FAS, INC . Chico's FAS is a Florida-based fashion company founded in 1983 on Sanibel Island, FL. The Company reinvented the fashion retail experience by creating fashion communities anchored by service, which put the customer at the center of everything we do. As one of the leading fashion retailers in North America, Chico's FAS is a company of three unique brands - Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma - each thriving in their own white space, founded by women, led by women, providing solutions that millions of women say give them confidence and joy. Our Company has a passion for fashion, and each day, we provide clothing, shoes and accessories, intimate apparel and expert styling in our brick-and-mortar boutiques, digital online boutiques and through StyleConnect, the Company's customized, branded, digital styling tool that enables customers to conveniently shop wherever, whenever and however they prefer. As of April 29, 2023, the Company operated 1,262 stores in the U.S. and sold merchandise through 58 international franchise locations in Mexico and through two domestic franchise locations in airports. The Company's merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com, www.chicosofftherack.com, www.whbm.com and www.soma.com. To learn more about Chico's FAS, please visit our corporate website at www.chicosfas.com. The information on our corporate website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this press release or incorporated into our federal securities law filings. Investor Relations Contact: Julie MacMedan Chico's FAS, Inc. (239) 346-4384 [email protected] Chico's FAS, Inc. 11215 Metro Parkway Fort Myers, Florida 33966 (239) 277-6200 SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc. BEIJING, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from CCTV+: Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang on Tuesday. "People's happiness is the ultimate human right, while development holds the key to delivering better lives to the people," Xi noted in the letter. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, people in Xizang, with the strong support of the central government and people throughout the country, have worked with fortitude and brought about a resolution to the problem of extreme poverty that had plagued the region for centuries, the letter said. Xizang has achieved a moderately prosperous society in all respects along with the rest of the country, demonstrating vibrant and thriving scenes, it added. Xi said he hopes that on the new journey of advancing Chinese modernization, Xizang can fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, step up efforts to promote high-quality development, and strive to build a prosperous, harmonious and beautiful new socialist Xizang underpinned by unity, civility and modernization so that the people of Xizang can enjoy better and more fulfilled lives. The forum, themed "New Era, New Xizang, New Journey: New Chapter in Xizang's High-quality Development and Human Rights Protection," is hosted by the State Council Information Office and the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region. SOURCE CCTV+ PORTLAND, Ore., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The growing need for remote work and the use of digital communication channels like email, messaging apps, video conferencing, and social media have increased the need for unified communication and collaboration solutions in recent years. The rising demand for remote communication services from businesses is driving the growth of the global communication software market. Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Communication Software Market by Deployment Model (Cloud and On-Premises), Enterprise Size (Large Enterprises and Small & Medium Enterprises), Industry Vertical (BFSI, Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, IT & Telecom, and Others), and Regional Analysis (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2031". According to the report, the global communication software market generated $1 Billion in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $2.6 Billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 10.3% from 2022 to 2031. Prime Determinants of Growth A rise in remote work along with the increasing need for virtual meetings and the growing adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices across the globe are the major factors predicted to boost the growth of the global communication software market during the forecast period. Besides, the technological advancements and the utilization of cutting-edge technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in communication software are expected to creative numerous growth opportunities for global communication software market by 2031. However, security concerns and high implementation costs of communication software may impede the communication software market growth in the coming years. Download Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/14991 Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $1,001.9 million Market Size in 2031 $2,550.5 million CAGR 10.3 % No. of Pages in Report 370 Segments covered Deployment Model, Enterprise Size, Industry Vertical, and Region. Drivers Growing demand for remote communication solutions that are reliable & efficient and Increasing adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices Opportunities An increase in demand for reliable & efficient cloud-based communication software from various companies continuous technological advancements Restraints High capital cost of installation and security concerns Covid-19 Scenario The COVID-19 pandemic has had a positive impact on the growth of the communication software market. Remote labor, virtual events, and online schooling have all grown as a result of social distancing policies. The pandemic has also led to increased demand for other types of communication software, such as messaging apps, team collaboration tools, and virtual event platforms. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of cloud-based communication software. With remote work becoming the new norm, companies have had to rely on cloud-based solutions to ensure that their employees can work from anywhere. These factors have significantly impacted on the growth of the global communication software market. Procure Complete Report (280 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/communication-software-market/purchase-options Cloud Sub-segment to Grow at the Highest CAGR by 2031 Based on deployment model, the cloud sub-segment held the highest market share in 2021 and is estimated to show the fastest growth during the forecast period. The significant growth of the communication software market's sub-segment is mainly owing to the increasing number of employees working remotely, resulting in the growing demand for cloud-based platforms for efficient team collaboration across companies. With the help of cloud-based solutions, remote teams are able to manage projects of all sizes and streamline their business processes. Large Enterprises Sub-segment to Maintain its Leadership Status During the Forecast Period Based on enterprise size, the large enterprises sub-segment held the highest market share in 2021 and is estimated to portray the largest CAGR during the forecast period from 2022 to 2031. The rising need for efficient and effective communication solutions from large enterprises due to their complex communication requirements is expected to drive the sub-segment's growth in the coming years. Besides, with the integration of new technologies, advanced capabilities like predictive analytics, automatic answers, and improved security are being added to communication software, which is expected to boost the growth of the large enterprises sub-segment in the communication software market by 2031. IT and Telecom Sub-segment to Maintain its Leading Position by 2031 Based on industry vertical, the IT and telecom sub-segment accounted for the largest share in the communication software market in 2021 and is expected to maintain a leading position in terms of CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing demand for communication software that can support remote work and collaboration is the major factor driving the growth of the IT and telecom sub-segment. Besides, the ability of communication software to handle various devices and offer dependable connectivity in the IT and telecom is expected to augment the communication software market sub-segment's growth by 2031. North America Region to Garner Largest Revenue by 2031 Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2021 and is likely to dominate in the global communication software market during the forecast period. The development of communication software is supported by the region's well-established technological infrastructure. The growing need for communication software in the North America region is anticipated to rise further as cloud-based technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) become more widely used as this software is crucial in fostering collaboration, which is becoming more and more vital in the workplace. Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/14991 Leading Market Players: - Nudge Rewards Inc. GuideSpark Beekeeper AG Sociabble, Inc. SocialChorus. Inc. Poppulo OurPeople Smarp theemployeeapp Workvivo Limited The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global communication software 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. Trending Reports in ICT & Media Industry: Managed Services Market Expected to Reach $594.8 Billion by 2031 Post Production Market Expected to Reach $46.5 Billion by 2031 Mobile Satellite Phone Market Expected to Reach $808.5 Million by 2031 IT Asset Disposition Market Expected to Reach $57.4 Billion by 2032 Super Apps Market Expected to Reach $722.4 Billion by 2032 AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model): AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports. Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/information-and-communication-technology-and-media Follow Us on Blog: https://www.technologyplz.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/3950895/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research LINCOLN, Neb., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Susie Keisler-Munro, chair, president, and CEO of Assurity Life Insurance Company, announced Cori S. Vokoun, Vice President of Sampson Construction, was elected to the board of directors of Assurity Group, Inc. at the May 12, 2023 annual meeting of members of the mutual holding company. Vokoun is a graduate of Princeton University and a proud lifelong Nebraskan. As a third-generation leader of a large family-owned commercial construction company, she is well versed in all aspects of managing a complex organization. "I'm pleased to welcome Cori to Assurity's board of directors," says Keisler-Munro. "She brings deep leadership experience, valuable perspective, and critical thinking skills." Vokoun's election continues Assurity's rich history of impactful leaders on its board. With professional experience in expanding operations, strategy execution, and entrepreneurship, Vokoun is well positioned to nurture Assurity's continued focus on growth and innovation. About Assurity: As a mutual organization, Assurity was founded on the simple concept of people coming together to support each other in moments of need. We help people through difficult times by providing affordable insurance protection that's easy to understand and buy. We all share in the future we create, and we believe in using our business as a force for good. SOURCE Assurity United Way of Greater Houston recently elected president and CEO of Entergy Texas Eliecer Viamontes as a new member of the organization's Board of Trustees. During his three-year term as a Trustee, Viamontes will help govern, sponsor, define, and articulate United Way's mission, vision, goals, and objectives to the community. "I'm excited to take on a leadership role with United Way of Greater Houston and help build strong and sustainable communities," said Eliecer Viamontes. "United Way shares Entergy Texas' mission of helping our communities through financial support, volunteerism, low-income customer service initiatives, advocacy and economic development." In 2022 and under Viamontes' leadership, Entergy Texas contributed a total of $1.3 million to the United Way of Greater Houston after record-breaking temperatures led to historic electricity usage and caused Southeast Texas families to see higher than usual energy bills. "United Way of Greater Houston is delighted to welcome Eli Viamontes to our Board of Trustees," said Amanda McMillian, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston. "Eli is a community-minded leader, and I am certain his leadership and expertise will bolster our work to help our neighbors land on their feet and stay there." Before assuming his current role as president and CEO in November 2021, Viamontes served as vice president, utility distribution operations for Entergy Corporation, where he was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the electric distribution infrastructure for all of Entergy's state jurisdictions. Viamontes has 19 years of experience leading and working in customer-centric initiatives and driving the development and execution of business strategies. Learn more about Viamontes by reading his full biography here. About Entergy Texas Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 499,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom. Contact The IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award recognized Destination Canada's business event sustainability advancements through the Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Destination Canada , the national tourism organization, is proud to be the recipient of the 2023 IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award , acknowledging the organization's commitment to driving sustainability and innovation through the Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan . Launched in the spring of 2022, Destination Canada's Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan is a first-of-its-kind national program aimed at improving the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability practices of business events hosted in Canada. "This is a remarkable recognition for Canada and our business events community. It signals that Destination Canada has laid down a marker for change, globally, alongside our city partners," says Marsha Walden, President and Chief Executive Officer, Destination Canada. "We're on track to building a more resilient, sustainable and regenerative future for tourism." Adds Virginie De Visscher, Senior Director, Business Events, accepting the award for Destination Canada. "We've always said that sustainability requires a collaborative approach. This reaffirms that we are all in this together as we work to reach our industry's target of net zero. We are so grateful to be recognized and look forward to continuing to drive change within our industry by showing the environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of sustainable business events." Granted annually, IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award nominations are evaluated by a global panel of judges across the business events sector based on a set criterion that measures: Innovation Collaboration Economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impact Legacy Commitment to continuous improvement Commitment to industry education "A big congratulations to Destination Canada! As the industry sets its sights on adapting to Net Zero targets, the need for innovation increases. The creativity and commitment to collaboration evident in this year's entrants has been really inspiring to see." says Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group. Events Industry Council (EIC) CEO Amy Calvert adds, "The IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award champions the organizations and leaders whose actions are creating a positive impact on the environment and communities, as well as strengthening the global business events industry as a whole. The IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award places a very deliberate focus on innovation, creative thinking, and collaboration. This plan along with a culture that supports accelerating impact through the power of the collective is one that serves as a model for our industry." To date, sixteen Canadian destinations are participating in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) as part of the Canadian Business Events Sustainability Plan. These destinations are: Banff Lake Louise, Calgary, Charlottetown, Edmonton, Halifax, Kelowna, Montreal, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, St. John's, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg. Once complete in the spring of 2024, the Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan will provide turnkey economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability programs to global clients to drive action, raise standards, and propel the entire business event industry toward being more sustainable. Quotes "A year ago, almost to the day, Destination Canada launched its Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan at IMEX Frankfurt 2022 under the leadership of Virginie De Visscher (Senior Director, Business Events, Destination Canada). A true champion for sustainability and someone whose passion and dedication toward continuous learning goes well beyond the workplace, this award is a testament to Virginie's approach. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with our industry as we continue to drive action and raise the standards for business event sustainability in Canada." Chantal Sturk-Nadeau Executive Director, Business Events, Destination Canada About Destination Canada At Destination Canada, we believe that tourism enhances the quality of life of Canadians and enriches the lives of visitors. We believe that Canada's diversity, its greatest asset, is also what touches travelers' hearts most deeply. Our mission is to influence supply, and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad. In addition, our Business Events team leverages in-depth global market analysis to target international clusters aligned with Canada's priority economic sectors. Our work in destination development ensures that we are able to sustain a premier four-season tourism economy that is regenerative in nature supporting our economy and the environment. Destination Canada's Business Events team is charged with growing Canada's share of international business events by promoting the country's unique meeting, convention, and incentive event possibilities. By driving awareness of Canada's leading economic strengths and how local knowledge capital can elevate business events, Destination Canada's Business Events team helps international organizations meet with purpose in Canada. Destination Canada is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada. SOURCE Destination Canada JACKSON, Miss., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP) (the "Company", "EastGroup") announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.25 per share payable on July 14, 2023, to shareholders of record of Common Stock on June 30, 2023. This dividend is the 174th consecutive quarterly distribution to EastGroup's shareholders and represents an annualized dividend rate of $5.00 per share. EastGroup has increased or maintained its dividend for 30 consecutive years. The Company has increased it 27 years over that period, including increases in each of the last 11 years. EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 20,000 to 100,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. EastGroup's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 57 million square feet. EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net. SOURCE EastGroup Properties Combination expands footprint offering a global one-stop shop for streamlined chemical compound procurement and management services for drug discovery chemistry researchers. SAN DIEGO and ZOETERMEER, The Netherlands, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eMolecules, Inc., an industry leading chemical compound search-and-fulfillment platform for early discovery chemistry research, today announced the acquisition of Specs Compound Handling B.V. ("Specs"). Specs offers chemical compound management services to the life sciences industry, particularly in the European pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic sectors, driving time and cost efficiencies for customers' large scale drug candidate screening programs. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Specs has over 35 years of commercial and chemical reformatting operations in Europe and US, and commercial operations in Asia. The acquisition strategically expands the geographical footprint of eMolecules' compound reformatting and management capabilities. "Welcoming the highly reputable and talented Specs team into eMolecules represents a major milestone and opportunity for our companies and customers," said Dr. Niko Gubernator, CEO and President of eMolecules. "We are thrilled by the prospect of deepening our relationships with research organizations who have expressed the need for a truly global, end-to-end partner to support efficient compound procurement and management across regionally distributed chemistry groups." Dr. Gubernator also noted, "This acquisition accelerates eMolecules vision of delivering world-class capabilities that support the rapid transformation of chemicals into knowledge. eMolecules and Specs share a goal of enabling chemists to focus on the highest value activities and reduce the inefficiencies associated with drug discovery, resulting in tangible operational returns for our customers." Dr. Johan Tijhuis, CEO of Specs said, "We are excited to join forces with eMolecules and believe that the combination of our two teams will enhance our value to the drug discovery research community. Specs' customers greatly appreciate the white-glove support that we offer, especially to those with important chemistry operations in Europe. We are delighted that they will benefit from eMolecules' expertise in global chemical procurement and expanded reformatting and inventory management services in the US through our facilities." eMolecules' existing investors, including Avista Capital Partners, supported the transaction. About eMolecules Inc. eMolecules was founded in 2005 with a vision to reduce drug discovery timelines through improved efficiencies in the compound search and acquisition process. This led to the creation of the industry's most powerful, reliable and accurate digital chemical search engine directly connecting chemists to the world's largest readily available chemical space. eMolecules specializes in unique structures with dependable delivery options coming from a trusted network of hundreds of suppliers, globally. With an extensive chemical database combined with industry-leading supply chain management, eMolecules delivers compounds quickly and reliably to chemists enabling the completion of more syntheses with more confidence and less time in the lab. eMolecules remains the primary global purchasing channel for chemical building blocks and screening compounds amongst leading pharmaceutical companies. Continued commitment to supporting drug discovery research has led to the expansion of eMolecules' services to providing compound reformatting and inventory management, chemical intelligence data, specialty reagent procurement services and offering integrated eCommerce software for chemical building blocks, screening compounds, and primary antibody supply chains. About Specs Compound Handling B.V. Specs, founded in 1987, has been in the business of handling research compounds for more than 35 years. Specs started out as a compound broker, sourcing and acquiring novel and diverse research compounds from global partners and selling these compounds to the life science industry. By the mid 1990's, Specs' experience in storing and handling compounds allowed it to transition into the outsourced services market, first in compound reformatting, and then into fully encompassed, repository services. Specs now operates two full-service compound management facilities and services many of the leading global pharma companies. The corporate headquarters and European facility is located in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands. Specs' US facility, located in Cumberland, Maryland has been operating as a compound management facility since 2001. Contacts For questions or more information about this transaction, please contact: Jeff Desroches, SVP Corporate Development, eMolecules [email protected] Related links eMolecules website: www.emolecules.com Specs website: www.specs.net Avista Capital Partners website: www.avistacap.com SOURCE eMolecules, Inc. MIAMI, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Two dozen rare Amazon parrot chicks left orphaned and homeless by a sophisticated wildlife smuggling operation are receiving round-the-clock care by FIU conservation zoologists. The birds were poached from their nests and smuggled while still eggs, though some had hatched by the time they were discovered in a Chinese national's carry-on bag (a cleverly disguised incubator) by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents on March 23 at Miami International Airport. This presented a unique challenge to the federal agencies that regulate the importation of wildlife because they lack the equipment and means to hatch and care for so many hatchlings at the airport's USDA quarantine facility. They contacted Paul Reillo, research professor and director of FIU's Tropical Conservation Institute, for assistance. The eggs and hatchlings were transported to the institute's program partner, the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF), where they have been cared for ever since. "It's clear this was part of a very sophisticated trafficking operation," said Reillo, who is also the founding director of RSCF. "It's not easy to assemble a group of this many eggs synchronized to all hatch around the same time." The smuggler, who was traveling from Nicaragua to Asia with a total of 29 eggs, was arrested and recently pled guilty to wildlife trafficking charges one of the largest parrot-smuggling busts in recent years. Twenty-six of 29 eggs hatched, with 24 parrot chicks surviving and now fully feathered. FIU researchers oversaw DNA species identification, revealing three of the parrots are red-lored Amazons and the other 21 are endangered yellow-naped Amazons. Yellow-naped Amazons are threatened with extinction and prohibited from international trade. Their beauty, temperament and mimicking ability make them among the most trafficked parrot species. More than 90 percent of wild nests are poached for the illegal pet trade. "This batch of intercepted eggs likely represents a significant fraction of offspring from a swath of forest, seriously impacting species already in trouble," Reillo said. "In high demand as pets with high price tags on their heads, parrots have become innocent victims of human greed. Aside from the sheer number of eggs, what makes this case unusual is that most of the intercepted eggs were viable, and the chicks survived. Smuggled animals often experience very high mortality." For more than 30 years, Reillo and his team have successfully bred and managed endangered parrot species to support their recovery in the wild. Incubating and caring for the smuggled hatchlings is demanding work as they require round-the-clock care. For 45 days, they remained under federally mandated quarantine. Today, they are thriving. Due to political issues and because the birds are being hand-reared, they are poor candidates for repatriation or release. Reillo and the USFWS hope the birds will find new homes among South Florida zoos and wildlife centers where they can serve as conservation ambassadors, educating the public about the consequences of wildlife trafficking. Media Contact: JoAnn Adkins 305-348-0398 [email protected] SOURCE Florida International University SYDNEY, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FranConnect, the leading franchise and multi-location management software provider, is excited to announce its expansion into the A/NZ and APAC markets. This marks an important milestone for FranConnect as it continues to grow its global footprint on the heels of its strategic acquisition of World Manager. Under the consolidated company, FranConnect offers the most comprehensive franchise and multi-location management solutions to franchisors and multi-location businesses in the market globally. Paul Sharpe, General Manager, FranConnect - A/NZ A key part of this expansion is the appointment of Paul Sharpe to its Executive Management Team as the new General Manager, A/NZ. Paul will be responsible for all go-to-market activities for FranConnect in A/NZ including strategy, sales, customer success, and the continued growth of all FranConnect product lines in the region. Under Paul's guidance, FranConnect is well-positioned to support the dynamic franchise and multi-location ecosystem in Australia and across APAC. The company's innovative technology and robust platform empower franchisors and other business owners to streamline their operations, enhance collaboration, and drive growth while providing franchisees and store managers with the tools they need to efficiently manage their businesses. "Australia has a significant franchise and multi-location sector with tremendous potential for growth," said Gabby Wong, CEO of FranConnect. "Along with our World Manager acquisition, we are thrilled to bring FranConnect's cutting-edge franchise and multi-location management solutions to Australian franchisors and businesses, enabling them to optimise their operations, increase profitability, and achieve sustainable success. "We can't think of a better person to achieve this than Paul, and we welcome him into the FranConnect global team. Paul is a seasoned professional who brings a well-rounded and dynamic background to the team. He is a creative sales and business leader with demonstrated capabilities in transforming and building high-performance teams." Prior to FranConnect, Paul held senior leadership roles at Nexon, IBM, Samsung, and NTT, with extensive experience leading sales, product, and marketing teams; general business operations; transformations; and has managed acquisition integrations at scale. Starting life as a franchise-focused software solution, FranConnect has expanded its services to include all multi-location businesses such as retail chains, restaurant & hospitality chains, automotive service centres, beauty & hair salons, healthcare clinics, and more. FranConnect's software suite includes modules for onboarding and training, operations & compliance management, lead generation & marketing, performance analytics, and more. This allows businesses to streamline their operations, improve communication, and gain valuable insights to make informed decisions. FranConnect has already secured many customers in Australia including Nike, Billabong, Domino's, Nando's, Gloria Jean's Coffees, Hungry Jacks, and Ben & Jerry's. Globally, FranConnect supports huge brands including A&W Restaurants, Snap Fitness, 9Round, Viet Thai and commands over 30% of the franchise businesses in North America. Under Paul, FranConnect is expanding its Sydney-based team who have extensive local knowledge of the Australian franchise industry. This team will provide personalised support and guidance to its growing customer base and ensure a smooth transition onto the FranConnect platform, maximising the value they receive from the software. "I'm thrilled to be joining the A/NZ team," added Paul Sharpe, FranConnect's General Manager, ANZ. "FranConnect understands the unique challenges faced by franchisors and multi-location businesses in Australia. Our goal is to empower businesses with the right tools and resources to navigate those challenges successfully. We are excited to become part of the Australian franchise ecosystem and help companies achieve their growth objectives." About FranConnect: FranConnect is the leading franchise management and multi-location management software provider. For over 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for over 1500 brands and multi-location businesses worldwide and reached over 350,000 locations and franchise unit. FranConnect has over 900 franchise brands as clients and helps franchisors and franchisees manage their operations, marketing, and communications to drive franchise growth. The company's comprehensive platform streamlines processes, enhances collaboration, and provides real-time analytics to optimise performance. Backed by private-equity investor Serent Capital, FranConnect is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with global offices in Australia, India, Colombia, and Canada. Contact: Lorena Garcia FranConnect 703-570-8638 [email protected] SOURCE FranConnect With support from the George Kaiser Family Foundation and Ascension St. John, the program will provide summer training and paid, yearlong internships to high school seniors at select Tulsa Public Schools TULSA, Okla., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing to expand its proven approach to early-career talent development, the nonprofit Genesys Works announced today the launch of its program in Tulsa. Rising high school seniors at select Tulsa Public Schools will receive eight weeks of technical and professional skills training this summer and will then participate in paid, yearlong internships at local employers, including Williams, ConsumerAffairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Helmerich & Payne. Genesys Works will provide summer training and paid internships to high school seniors at select Tulsa Public Schools. Tweet this Rising high school seniors at select Tulsa Public Schools will receive eight weeks of technical and professional skills training this summer and will then participate in paid, yearlong internships at local employers, including Williams, ConsumerAffairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Helmerich & Payne. "ConsumerAffairs is investing in the Tulsa community by providing internships and opportunities for TPS seniors through the Genesys Works program," said Zac Carman, CEO of ConsumerAffairs, which helps consumers learn more about products before making big purchases. "There is no better way to learn about professional careers than a work-based experience like this." Genesys Works participants will receive more than 60 hours of guidance, counseling and planning toward future career paths, including college selection and application assistance, certification training & placement, and financial aid support. "Through our partnership with Genesys Works, Tulsa Public Schools will be able to offer students more meaningful work-based learning opportunities while simultaneously growing a skilled, career-ready talent pool for local employers," said Dr. Deborah Gist, superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools. Dr. Gist serves on the steering committee of Genesys Works Tulsa, which also includes Mayor G. T. Bynum, Aydre Park, Talent Acquisition Manager at ONE Gas, and Stephania Grober, President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. "This program is going to provide opportunities for TPS students to explore careers that exist right here in northeast Oklahoma, while providing employers here in Tulsa with an opportunity to begin developing a talent pool before these students pursue opportunities elsewhere," said Mayor Bynum, "It's a win-win-win for students, for employers, and for Tulsa's ongoing economic development." Students accepted into the program will begin their training in June and will start their internships in August, working approximately 20 hours per week for $14 per hour. "There's been a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and support for our expansion into Tulsa from both local employers and the public school system," said Jeffrey Artis, President and CEO of Genesys Works. "For employers, investing in early-career talent is critical to ensuring they have a pool of skilled, diverse applicants to draw from now and in the years to come." Nationwide, more than 70 percent of Genesys Works alumni go on to graduate from college and report median annual earnings of $55,000 six years post-program. Three out of four participants are first generation college students, and more than 90 percent are people of color. In keeping with its goal to make Tulsa the best city for children to be born, grow and succeed, Genesys Works has received initial support from the George Kaiser Family Foundation and Ascension St. John to support its expansion into Tulsa this year. To partner with Genesys Works in Tulsa, contact Jamie Grant at [email protected]. About Genesys Works Genesys Works provides pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities. Our program consists of 8 weeks of technical and professional skills training, paid year-long corporate internships, college and career coaching, and long-term alumni support to move individuals out of economic inequality and into professional careers. Founded in 2002, Genesys Works now serves thousands of students annually in Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington's National Capital Region, New York City, and Tulsa. To learn more, visit genesysworks.org. SOURCE Genesys Works Givex provides point of sale, Kitchen Display System (KDS) and gift card programs for three of Food Love Generation's restaurant brands Jack le Coq, Jack Flat and Sergio Lino's TORONTO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Givex Corp. (TSX: GIVX) (OTCQX: GIVXF) announced today the expansion of its presence in Quebec with Food Love Generation, which uses Givex solutions for three of its brands: BBQ restaurant Jack Flat, Sergio Lino's (opening winter 2023) and fried chicken chain Jack le Coq, with five Quebec locations, including the newly opened location at the Champlain Mall, 2151 Boul. Lapiniere in Brossard. Since January 2022, the three brands have utilized Givex's point of sale system GivexPOS, Kitchen Display System (KDS) and gift card program, with an opportunity to add loyalty and other solutions as the restaurant system grows. The relationship with Food Love Generation strengthens Givex's already strong foothold in the province. "Our relationship with Food Love Generation showcases Givex's ability to scale seamlessly alongside our clients' growth and create custom solutions for their specific business needs," said Francois Simarro-Doyon, Vice President of Sales for Givex. "Food Love Generation has been an excellent client we have been working together for a little over a year but are already in conversations to expand the depth of our relationship." "Givex's support approach and full back-end functionality enables our brand to be able to scale at a faster rate," said Mike Katravas, Director Digital and Operations, Food Love Generation. "We look forward to continued growth of our relationship as our system grows." Since 1999, Givex has provided customer engagement solutions to its merchants, with a footprint of more than 122,000 locations across its 12 global offices. In addition to voucher fulfillment, Givex offers point-of-sale system GivexPOS, loyalty programs, GivexPay and more. "Givex is a powerhouse in the technology industry, and has enjoyed steady growth across our 12 global offices over the past 23+ years," said Simarro-Doyon. "We plan on continuing to build upon our presence in Quebec and expanding our footprint with restaurants and retailers across the province." About Givex Givex Corp. (TSX: GIVX; OTCQX: GIVXF) provides merchants with customer engagement, point of sale and payment solutions, all in a single platform. We are integrated with 1000+ technology partners, creating a fully end-to-end solution that delivers powerful customer insights. Our platform is used by some of the world's largest brands across the globe, comprising approximately 122,000+ active locations across more than 100 countries. Learn more at www.givex.com . About Food Love Generation Canadian company established in 2021 and created by Jacques Gaspo, co-founder of Foodtastic and the leading force behind some of the most avant-garde restaurant concepts in the country and Lino Lozza of Buonanotte fame. Together they founded the fast casual concept Jack Le Coq, the first 100% Quebec fried chicken brand. With handmade recipes and local produce, combined with their 20 years of restaurant experience, they have succeeded in creating a must-have brand for fried chicken lovers. With 5 locations across the Greater Montreal Region and several more under construction, Jack Le Coq continues its ascent and makes a healthier turn with its grilled chicken and protein bowl offerings. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking" statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance objectives or achievements of Givex, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, objectives or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect Givex's current views regarding future events and operating performance, are based on information currently available to Givex, and speak only as of the date of this press release. Although Givex believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which may cause actual performance and financial results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only at the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable securities laws, Givex does not undertake to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise." SOURCE Givex DUBLIN, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Regenerative Medicine Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The regenerative medicine market is estimated to be valued at US$19.322 billion in 2020. Companies Mentioned Novartis Amgen Bluebird Bio GSK plc. Shenzhen Sibiono Genetech Anterogen CO., LTD. Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.a. Jcr Pharmaceuticals Nipro Regenerative treatments or medicines work inside to repair damaged bodily tissues or organs. These medications fix the injured body organs that would otherwise be unable to mend naturally - a process known as rejuvenation. Regenerative medicines can also be used to replace damaged cells, tissues, or organs by using healthy cells, tissues, or organs from a deceased or healthy donor. The second method of using these medications to repair damaged tissue involves transferring healthy cells or tissues to sick or injured cells in order to maintain the body's regular functioning, a process known as regeneration. Increasing rates of hereditary disorders and chronic diseases to boost the market The demand for cell therapy in the regenerative medicine industry is rising due to the rise in disorders including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Parkinson's disease, congestive heart failure, and myocardial infarction. Additionally, the market expansion is driven by the use of heterotopic autologous grafts, such as intestine, colon, or stomach, for the reconstruction of the bladder, ureter, and urethra. Many businesses are working with other businesses or research institutions in an effort to advance cell therapy. Government funding for regenerative medicine research is expected to increase, which is one of the main factors driving market expansion. Additionally, a rising pipeline of regenerative medicine treatments and an increase in product approvals will further fuel market expansion potential in the years to come. By Geography Geographically, the Regenerative medicines market is segmented as North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The greatest market share corresponds to the North American region owing to the expansion of the healthcare sector and the rising adoption of stem cell therapy. Key Developments: June 2022 : The PERLA phase II trial fulfilled its primary endpoint of the objective response rate (ORR) using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria as evaluated by a blinded independent central review, according to the headline results released by GSK plc. In first-line patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, the trial compared dostarlimab in combination with chemotherapy to pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy (NSCLC). The PERLA phase II trial, the largest global head-to-head trial of programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors in this cohort, is a randomized, double-blind experiment involving 243 patients. Additionally, GSK is moving the COSTAR Lung trial's two arms into phase III. Given that the trial complied with the Independent Data Monitoring Committee's protocol-required expansion criteria, the decision is made in accordance with their advice. The COSTAR Lung phase III trial is a randomized, open-label, three-arm study in patients with advanced NSCLC who have progressed on prior anti-PD-(L)1 therapy and chemotherapy. It compares cobolimab, an investigational selective anti-TIM-3 monoclonal antibody, plus dostarlimab plus docetaxel to dostarlimab plus docetaxel to docetaxel alone. Product Offerings: BLENREP: For patients whose disease has advanced despite earlier treatment with an immunomodulatory drug, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 antibody, BLENREP is a first-in-class anti-BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) therapy. BLENREP is GSK's seventh significant medication to be approved in 2020. Adult patients with relapsed or resistant multiple myeloma who have had at least four prior therapies, such as an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, a proteasome inhibitor, and an immunomodulatory drug, can receive BLENREP (belantamab mafodotin-blmf) as a monotherapy. Based on the response rate, this indication is authorized under accelerated approval. The confirmation and description of clinical benefits in confirmatory trials may be a requirement for the continuation of authorization for this indication. The anti-BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) medication BLENREP is the first of its kind to receive worldwide approval. ZYNTEGLO: For patients with beta-thalassemia, commonly known as beta-thalassemia major or Cooley's anaemia, who require frequent transfusions, ZYNTEGLO is a once-only gene therapy. A mutation in the beta-globin gene, which results in the body producing little or no beta-globin, is the cause of beta-thalassemia. Each patient receives a unique formulation of ZYNTEGLO that incorporates functioning beta-globin gene copies into their own blood stem cells. The patient may be able to manufacture enough hemoglobin, as a result, to stop needing frequent transfusions. Market Segmentation: By Type Stem cell Therapy Gene Therapy Tissue Engineering Small Molecules & Biologics By Application Cardiovascular Oncology Dermatology Musculoskeletal Others By End user Hospitals Biomedical laboratories Research centers For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hay63q About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global X ETFs, the New York-based provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced the launch of the Global X Carbon Credits Strategy ETF (NTRL). This fund, which invests in a basket of carbon credit or allowance futures across geographies, is Global X's latest addition to its growing suite of thematic-based funds. As the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases, decarbonization has become a major priority for policymakers and investors alike. Carbon credits, also known as carbon allowances, are an emerging tool in the fight against climate change. These tradeable permits are issued by governments and allow the holder the right to emit one unit of emission per credit, generally one ton of carbon dioxide (CO2). Under these cap-and-trade programs, where regulators can set limits or caps on a company's carbon emissions, carbon credits can be exchanged between companies. NTRL seeks to capture this burgeoning approach to addressing climate change by providing exposure to carbon allowance futures across four geographies: Europe (through ICE EUA contracts), the United Kingdom (ICE UK Allowance contracts), California (ICE California Carbon Allowance contracts), and Northeast United States (ICE Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative contracts). "The pressure to meet Paris Agreement-aligned emissions reduction commitments is intensifying, and regulators worldwide are looking to tighten emissions caps, potentially increasing the scarcity and price of carbon allowances." said Pedro Palandrani, Director of Research at Global X ETFs. "With the launch of NTRL, Global X is leveraging its expertise in thematic investing to offer investors exposure to these potential price increases as well as possible portfolio diversification when combined with traditional asset classes." The Global X Carbon Credits Strategy ETF (NTRL) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the ICE Global Carbon Futures Index (ICERBN Index).The fund has an expense ratio of 0.39%. About Global X ETFs Global X ETFs was founded in 2008. For more than a decade, our mission has been empowering investors with unexplored and intelligent solutions. Our product lineup features over 100 ETF strategies and over $39 billion in assets under management.i While we are widely recognized for our Thematic Growth, Income, Commodity and International Access ETFs, we also offer Core, Risk Management, Digital Asset, and other solutions to suit a range of investment objectives. Explore our ETFs, research and insights, and more at www.globalxetfs.com. Global X is a member of Mirae Asset Financial Group, a global leader in financial services, with more than $520 billion in assets under management worldwide.ii Mirae Asset has an extensive global ETF platform ranging across the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam with over $80 billion in assets under management.iii Important Information This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding the fund. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against a loss. The Fund invests in carbon credit futures. The price and performance of futures may differ from the current price of carbon credits. These differences could be significant. Futures are subject to margin requirements, collateral requirements and other limits that may prevent the ETF from achieving its objective. Margin requirements for futures and costs associated with rolling (buying and selling) futures may have a negative impact on the fund's performance and its ability to achieve its investment objective. The Fund relies on the existence of cap and trade regimes. There is no assurance that cap and trade programs will continue to exist. Cap and trade may not prove to be an effective method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, or due to other factors, cap and trade programs may be terminated or may not be renewed upon their expiration. The Fund expects to gain Carbon Futures exposure by investing in a subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in the prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Fund and the Subsidiary will be considered commodity pools, thereby subjecting the Fund to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC rules. Registration as a CPO imposes additional compliance obligations on the Advisor and the Fund related to additional laws, regulations, and enforcement policies, which may increase compliance costs and may affect the operations and financial performance of the Fund. International investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from social, economic, or political instability in other nations. NTRL is non-diversified. Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's summary or full prospectuses, which may be found at globalxetfs.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Global X Management Company LLC serves as an advisor to Global X Funds. The Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO), which is not affiliated with Global X Management Company LLC or Mirae Asset Global Investments. i Global X ETFs, as of May 24th, 2023 ii Mirae Asset, as of February 25th, 2023 iii Mirae Asset, as of February 25th, 2023 Contact: Naomi Sussis Communications Manager [email protected] SOURCE Global X Management Company LLC VANCOUVER, BC, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - GoldMining Inc. (the "Company" or "GoldMining") (TSX: GOLD) (NYSE: GLDG) is pleased to announce the voting results from the Company's annual general and special meeting held on May 24, 2023 (the "Meeting") and is delighted to welcome Anna Tudela to the Company's board of directors (the "Board"). A total of 38,060,586 common shares of the Company were present in person or by proxy at the Meeting, representing a quorum of 22.62% of the Company's outstanding common shares as at the record date of March 30, 2023. Shareholders voted in favour of all matters brought before them at the Meeting, which matters are discussed in detail in the Company's management information circular dated March 31, 2023 that is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Each of the following eight nominees proposed by management was elected as a director. The results of such vote were as follows: Director Total Votes For Total Votes % of Votes For Amir Adnani 22,970,344 25,111,154 91.47 % David Garofalo 23,049,769 25,111,154 91.79 % Garnet Dawson 24,635,536 25,111,154 98.11 % David Kong 24,543,462 25,111,154 97.74 % Gloria Ballesta 24,080,848 25,111,154 95.90 % Hon. Herb Dhaliwal 24,376,853 25,111,154 97.08 % Mario Bernardo Garnero 24,559,059 25,111,154 97.80 % Anna Tudela 24,447,891 25,111,154 97.36 % In addition, at the Meeting, shareholders: (i) approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Company's auditor for the ensuing year and the authorization of the Board to fix the auditor's remuneration; and (ii) ratified the previous grant of options issuable under the Stock Option Plan. Detailed voting results for the Meeting are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. New Director Appointment The Company is pleased to announce the election of Anna Tudela as new member of the Board. Ms. Tudela has over 35 years of experience working in securities, corporate finance and corporate governance with public companies in Canada, the United States and South America. Ms. Tudela served as Vice President of Diversity, Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Secretary of Goldcorp Inc., a gold mining company from 2005 to 2019. Here, she founded Creating Choices, a training, development and mentoring program for women in the mining industry to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Ms. Tudela has served as a director of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp., an emerging gold mining company listed on the TSX, since January 2021 until its acquisition by B2Gold Corp. in April 2023, as a director of Regulus Resources Inc., a mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, since October 2020 and as a director of Gunpoint Exploration Ltd., a mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, since October 2021. Ms. Tudela is a director of the Canadian Center for Diversity and Inclusion and is an Accredited Director with the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada. About GoldMining Inc. The Company is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold assets in the Americas. Through its disciplined acquisition strategy, the Company now controls a diversified portfolio of resource-stage gold and gold-copper projects in Canada, U.S.A., Brazil, Colombia and Peru. GoldMining also owns more than 21 million shares of Gold Royalty Corp. (NYSE American: GROY) and approximately 9.8 million shares of U.S. GoldMining Inc. (NASDAQ: USGO). SOURCE GoldMining Inc. A consortium comprising Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), and Jurong Engineering Limited (JEL) has been awarded an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to develop a new 600MW hydrogen-ready combined cycle power plant (CCPP) for Sembcorp Industries' (Sembcorp) fully owned subsidiary Sembcorp Cogen Pte Ltd. The plant is expected to be operational by 2026. Located at Sembcorp's upcoming multi-utilities centre on Jurong Island, the new CCPP will contribute toward generating electricity for the grid and steam for industrial companies on Jurong Island. Under the contract, Mitsubishi Power will supply a M701JAC gas turbine, which is an air-cooled version of Mitsubishi Power's leading J Series gas turbine, as well as the steam turbine and other main accessory equipment. A long-term service agreement (LTSA) for the maintenance of the plant's major equipment was also awarded to Mitsubishi Power. JEL will provide the construction and BOP (Balance of Plant). The agreement was presented at a ceremony graced by Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Low Yen Ling. Commenting on the contract, Koh Chiap Khiong, CEO, Singapore & Southeast Asia at Sembcorp Industries, said: "Sembcorp is committed to delivering stable and reliable power supply to our customers in Singapore. The development of the new power plant will improve the performance of our power generation assets on Jurong Island and pave the way for reduction of carbon emissions through hydrogen fuel blending. We look forward to working closely with partners such as Mitsubishi Power to leverage hydrogen as a major decarbonisation pathway and progress towards a sustainable future." Takao Tsukui, Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi Power, Ltd., said: "Mitsubishi Power is proud to partner with Sembcorp as we work toward our common goal of building a sustainable energy future for Singapore. As the energy industry evolves, it is essential that we prioritize low-carbon alternatives such as hydrogen for power generation. We commend Sembcorp for their leadership in driving this change, and are committed to further supporting the region's transition from natural gas to hydrogen with our hydrogen-ready gas turbines." Mitsubishi Power remains committed to working closely with public and private power providers in Singapore to advance the country's hydrogen ready infrastructure. About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. About Mitsubishi Power Mitsubishi Power is a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI). Across more than 30 countries worldwide, Mitsubishi Power designs, manufactures and maintains equipment and systems that drive decarbonization and ensure delivery of reliable power around the world. Among its solutions are a wide range of gas turbines including hydrogen-fueled gas turbines, solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and air quality control systems (AQCS). Committed to providing exemplary service and working with customers to imagine the future of energy, Mitsubishi Power is also spearheading the development of the digital power plant through its suite of AI-enabled TOMONI solutions. For more information, please visit https://power.mhi.com. Press Contact: For Mitsubishi Power Corporate Communication Department Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Email:mediacontact_global@mhi.com Sophia Wee APAC Communications Mitsubishi Power Asia Pacific Email:sophia.wee.3z@mhi.com "GHIT 3.0," its third five-year plan announced. TOKYO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At the G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the Government of Japan's pledge to contribute US$200 million to the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund)/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This pledge supports the GHIT Fund's third phase of operations, including investments in research and development (R&D) of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, utilizing Japan's innovation and expertise to prevent and address infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which are highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. In addition to the new contribution from the Government of Japan, support from industry for GHIT's replenishment has increased compared to previous replenishments. All founding industry partners* have committed, including Astellas Pharma Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Eisai Co., Ltd., Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Additionally, founding foundation partners Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome will continue to support GHIT. Over the next five years, the GHIT Fund will strive to secure additional support with a total replenishment goal of US$400 million to support operations and investments. This replenishment supports the implementation of "GHIT 3.0," the institution's third five-year plan, as follows. 1) Galvanize Innovation: In each stage of R&D, from discovery to clinical to regulatory approval phases, the GHIT Fund will continue to invest in product development to invigorate innovation in R&D by Japanese and global stakeholders. We will actively invest with prioritization of late-stage product development programs to pave the way for faster delivery of therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics to the people who need them the most. We will promote the co-creation of products through exploration of innovative technology and promote global, cross-sectoral collaborations across academia, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, small and medium-sized enterprises and start-up companies, that span multiple disciplines such as pandemic preparedness and climate change. 2) Maximize Impact: We will accelerate product development for tuberculosis, malaria and NTDs and optimize portfolio and resources to maximize investment impact. Specifically, we will explore various funding mechanisms to continue sustainable and efficient funding for R&D using limited resources (e.g., funding, personnel, etc.). In addition, we will further enhance institutional development, for example, through reinforcement of compliance and risk management and promotion of greater transparency of decision-making processes. 3) Catalyze Partnerships: To deliver drugs, vaccines and diagnostics to the field more quickly, we will proactively collaborate with product development partners to help them develop robust launch strategies and establish strategic, product-focused partnerships to create an environment for effective access and delivery. We will strengthen strategic partnerships to expand our institutional presence in low- and middle-income countries to ensure that the medical interventions we invest in meet the needs of the neglected patients. We will leverage global networks, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to ensure seamless connectivity, and provide end-to-end support between R&D and access and delivery. Dr. Osamu Kunii, GHIT Fund CEO, states, "I would like to thank the Japanese government, our pharmaceutical industry partners, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome for their support. We will continue to work with our partners to address critical global health challenges by accelerating and optimizing innovative product development, notably by continuing to promote collaboration between Japanese and global research institutions." To date, the GHIT Fund has invested a total of approximately 29.1 billion yen in 118 projects. Currently, 53 projects are ongoing, including 26 targeted and exploratory research projects, 15 non-clinical trials and 12 clinical trials. Demonstrating the GHIT Fund's strength of partnerships, 170 partners (59 domestic and 111 global groups) have participated in product development thus far, and the number of Japanese institutions and partnering global institutions has increased dramatically over the past 10 years (as of May 25, 2023). Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the GHIT Fund will continue to promote innovative R&D from Japan, fighting neglected infectious diseases through global partnerships, with the mission of reducing the burden of neglected infectious diseases that afflict more than one billion people in order to achieve a healthy world for all. For details regarding the GHIT 3.0 Strategic Plan (FY2023-FY2027)", please click here. https://www.ghitfund.org/assets/othermedia/strategicplan/StrategicPlan_eng.pdf * As of May 25, 2023, the GHIT Fund has also received expressions of support from FUJIFILM Corporation, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Merck KGaA and Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership fund (PPP) that was formed between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests in and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at addressing neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, which afflict the world's vulnerable and underserved populations. In collaboration with global partners, the GHIT Fund mobilizes Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases. https://www.ghitfund.org/en For more information, contact: Katy Lenard at +1-301-280-5719 or [email protected] Eriko Mugitani at +81-36441-2032 or [email protected] SOURCE Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund 98% Lithium Extraction Recovery Factor Achieved CALGARY, AB, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - (TSXV: GRD) (OTCQB: GRDAF) - Grounded Lithium Corp. ("GLC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce our direct lithium extraction ("DLE") selection process, as previously communicated, reached a positive conclusion. Based on very encouraging lab results for the chemistry of the Kindersley Lithium Project brine (the "KLP Brine"), the Company selected Koch Technology Solutions ("KTS"), a Koch Engineered Solutions ("KES") company, and its proprietary Li-Pro technology as the technology of choice for implementation in our upcoming field pilot. Key KTS lab result findings: Observed lithium extraction recovery rates from KLP Brine averaged 98% over multiple passes; and Equally positive, the process technology effectively rejected other key ions found in KLP Brine deposits with observed rejection factors of 99% Next steps with KTS: The Company received a proposal from KTS to provide the Li-Pro technology under an appropriately staged evaluation program, or field pilot, lasting several months to determine more extensive extraction results over the long-term; and KTS will assist in the preparation of a detailed feasibility-level engineering solution using the Li-Pro technology in a full-scale central processing facility to evaluate overall project commerciality Assuming the proposal is agreed to by all parties, GLC would be responsible for work associated with preparations of a functional field pilot, including but not limited to, provision of sufficient feedstock, job site and associated facility requirements such as permits, civil works, buildings and storage tanks, access to utilities, manpower and brine disposal. The Company can readily provide these elements available in the Kindersley area together with utilizing our extensive experience and networks within the resource development sector. Subject to achieving certain corporate initiatives, the Company envisions that these events will take place over the balance of 2023 and into early 2024. The strength of these achieved results using the KTS technology accelerates our desire to move quickly towards field pilot testing. We believe this represents a pivotal step in the process to produce a dense lithium chloride solution ready for the final refining into a battery-grade lithium product. The selection of KTS' technology provides us with key data for use in the Company's preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") scheduled for completion by the end of Q2 2023. KTS has been active in the lithium from brine industry, having recently entered into a joint development agreement with a significant North American lithium from brine developer. "Our team continues to execute our business plan to become a leading Canadian commercial producer of battery-grade lithium. We are excited to be taking critical next steps, based on the very positive extraction results, with a world-class organization such as Koch," commented Gregg Smith, President & CEO. "Each milestone achieved provides increased conviction to advance the ensuing stages of our business plan, inclusive of the submission of our maiden PEA and the construction of a field pilot project later this year. We look forward to funding these stages and communicating results." About Koch Technology Solutions KTS is the technology licensing business of KES. KTS creates value for its customers across a growing portfolio of technologies including direct lithium extraction, the polyester value chain, refining industry and the 1,4-Butananediol plus its derivates. KTS combines its exclusive technologies, expertise, and capabilities with those of other KES companies to provide overall solutions to optimize customer's capital investments and existing manufacturing assets. About Grounded Lithium Corp. GLC is a publicly traded lithium brine exploration and development company that controls approximately 4.2 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent of inferred resource over our focused land holdings in Southwest Saskatchewan. GLC's multi-faceted business model involves the consolidation, delineation, exploitation and ultimately development of our opportunity base to fulfill our vision to build a best-in-class, environmentally responsible, Canadian lithium producer supporting the global energy transition shift. U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on https://www.otcmarkets.com/. Qualified Person Scientific and technical information contained in this press release pertaining specifically to recent lab extraction results on our brine from the KES lab were prepared under the supervision of Dale Shipman, P.Eng, VP Operations, of the Company, a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. All other scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been prepared under the supervision of Doug Ashton, P.Eng, Suryanarayana Karri, P. Geoph., Alexey Romanov, P. Geo. and Meghan Klein, P. Eng., each of whom is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The opinions, forecasts, projections and statements about future events of results, are forward looking information, forward-looking statements or financial outlooks (collectively, "forward-looking statements") under the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements are made as of the date of this press release and the fact that this press release remains available does not constitute a representation by GLC that the Company believes these forward-looking statements continue to be true as of any subsequent date. Although GLC believes that the assumptions underlying, and expectations reflected in, these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the timing of future achievements, the construction of a field pilot project, reaching an agreement with KTS regarding its proposal to provide the Li-Pro technology, the preparation of a detailed feasibility-level engineering solution using the Li-Pro technology in collaboration with KTS, the Company's ability to provide work associated with the preparation of a functional field pilot and the timing of completion thereof, the completion and timing of the PEA, and GLC's vision of becoming a best-in-class, environmentally responsible, Canadian lithium producer supporting the global energy transition. Among the important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: GLC's expectation that our operations will be in Western Canada, unexpected problems can arise due to technical difficulties and operational difficulties which impact the production, transport or sale of our products; geographic and weather conditions can impact the production; the risk that current global economic and credit conditions may impact commodity prices and consumption more than GLC currently predicts; the failure to obtain financing on reasonable terms; the risk that unexpected delays and difficulties in developing currently owned properties may occur; the failure of drilling to result in commercial projects; unexpected delays due to the limited availability of drilling equipment and personnel; and the other risk factors detailed from time to time in GLC's periodic reports. GLC's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE Grounded Lithium Corp The iconic fishing brand helps the fight against invasive lionfish with an innovative new sandal and support of the Emerald Coast Open POULSBO, Wash., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grundens, producer of the world's leading fishing apparel and footwear, today launches the all-new Lionfish sandal after debuting it at the Emerald Coast Open last weekend. At the event, Grundens introduced their Lionfish Sandal, a new flip-flop style sandal incorporating INVERSA's Invasive Leather made from Lionfish skin. The Emerald Coast Open, the world's largest Lionfish tournament, is in its fourth year of competition targeting this highly invasive species. After slipping undetected into Atlantic water in the late 1980s, the Lionfish, native to reefs of the South Pacific and Indian Ocean has taken over the Atlantic and Gulf regions, destroying native fish populations and coral reefs. Each Lionfish can eat up to 70,000 native reef fish over the course of its lifetime, with females laying over 6 million eggs per year. With their voracious appetite and exponential reproductive rates, invasive Lionfish are one of the most destructive invasive species in our oceans. At the forefront of innovation, Grundens created the Lionfish Sandal as part of its commitment to sustainable product and resource conservation. The sandal is a collaboration with INVERSA's Invasive Leather with each sandal contributing to saving 25,000 native reef fish and representing a harmonious blend of technical product, wearability, and environmental responsibility. "Our support of the Emerald Coast Open and launch of the Lionfish Sandal underpins our commitment to helping maintain healthy fisheries around the globe," said Ash Williams, VP of Marketing at Grundens. "Invasive species of fish pose an immense threat to our marine ecosystems that millions rely on for their livelihood and recreation. Designing a unique and functional product while helping to mitigate issues that impact millions of commercial and sport anglers is very much part of our company value set" This year's event saw a plethora of records broken, including the greatest number of Lionfish removed, 24,699 Lionfish which smashed the previous tournament record of 13,835. Deepwater Mafia 1 proved victorious this year, winning the most Lionfish removed award with 2,898. As for the largest, that record was broken four times throughout the tournament, with Dibs on Bottom coming out victorious with a 17.95-inch Lionfish. The Lionfish sandal features a premium, full-grain leather footbed and straps with an INVERSA Invasive Leather lateral strap panel made from Lionfish skin. Enhanced medial arch support and soft quick drying foam combine for all-day comfort while a razor-sipped, non-marking natural gum rubber outsole improves traction on wet surfaces. MSRP $125. Launching exclusively on Grundens.com, the Lionfish sandal will be available nationwide on Thursday, May 26, 2023. To learn more about the sandal and Grundens' support of the Emerald Coast Open, read Grundens' latest blog post here. For any questions pertaining to Grundens' dedication to conserving the ecosystems we all know and love, please reach out to Jack Nickens at [email protected]. ABOUT GRUNDENS: It began nearly 100 years ago on the west coast of Sweden, in the small fishing village of Grundsund when Carl A. Grunden began producing waterproof oil skins to protect North Sea fishermen from the hostile weather that often accompanied their jobs. Today, some things have changed but Grundens commitment to supplying and supporting commercial fishermen, sport fishing enthusiasts and bass anglers remains. The brand offers the most versatile lineup of fishing outerwear, sun protection, footwear, and accessories available. Guided by "We Are Fishing," the brand operates globally from Poulsbo, Washington and Boras, Sweden. Learn more at Grundens.com ABOUT INVERSA: INVERSA Leathers, a regenerative materials company, is revolutionizing fashion to heal the planet. INVERSA crafts luxurious leathers out of invasive species and capitalizes on the fashion industry's immense power to support the restoration of Earth's biodiversity. Starting with three of the most formidable invasive species, the Invasive Lionfish, Invasive Dragonfin, and Invasive Python, INVERSA introduces a boldly stylish alternative to exotic and traditional leather. To learn more about INVERSA's inspiring journey of turning fashion into a hero for the planet's sustainability, visit www.INVERSAleathers.com and follow the story on Instagram at @INVERSAleathers. SOURCE Grundens HanAll Biopharma and Daewoong Pharmaceutical will co-develop NurrOn Pharmaceuticals' novel investigational compounds, including its lead asset ATH-399A, targeting Nurr1 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), as well as other neurodegenerative disorders Phase 1 clinical trial is expected to be initiated in 2023 ROCKVILLE, Md. and SEOUL, South Korea, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HanAll Biopharma Co., Ltd. (KRX: 009420.KS) and Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (KRX: 069620.KS) announced that they have entered into a co-development agreement with NurrOn Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Boston-based preclinical-stage biopharma. NurrOn is focused on the discovering and developing novel therapies for people with neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) by targeting Nurr1, the master regulator for dopaminergic neuron development and maintenance. HanAll and Daewoong also participated in a Series A funding of NurrOn in 2021. HanAll, Daewoong, NurrOn NurrOn was founded by Kwang-Soo Kim, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the molecular neurobiology laboratory at Harvard Medical School, and Deog Joong Kim, Ph.D. and was seed-funded by George A. Lopez, M.D., former CEO of ICU Medical, Inc. Using the technology, NurrOn is advancing the development of its lead compound ATH-399A, which potentially slows the progression of the disease in PD patients by activating Nurr1, a class of proteins crucial to the development and maintenance of dopamine in the brain. Under the agreement, the companies will combine their expertise and resources in developing NurrOn's ATH-399A as well as other compounds targeting Nurr1 for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. "We are excited to move into the next phase of collaboration with NurrOn continuing to build on the partnership which was originally established in 2021. This partnership would allow us to join our resources and expertise in developing new medicines for patients with PD worldwide," said Sean Jeong, M.D., MBA, CEO of HanAll Biopharma. "NurrOn has completed the preclinical development of ATH-399A and plans to enter a Phase 1 clinical trial this year. We expect great synergy through the joint collaboration between NurrOn, HanAll Biopharma and Daewoong Pharmaceuticals, especially given their great clinical development expertise." said Deog Joong Kim, Ph.D., CEO of NurrOn Pharmaceuticals. In addition to proceeding towards a Phase 1 trial of its Parkinson's therapy candidate ATH-399A, the partners will continue to explore the potential of ATH-399A in other neurodegenerative diseases. About HanAll Biopharma Co., Ltd. HanAll Biopharma (KRX: 009420.KS) is a global biopharmaceutical company founded in 1973, with a mission of making meaningful contributions to patients' lives by introducing innovative, impactful therapies to address severe unmet medical needs. HanAll has been operating a portfolio of pharmaceutical products in areas ranging from endocrine, circulatory, and urologic diseases for more than 50 years. HanAll has also expanded its focus to oncology, immunology, neurology and ophthalmology to discover and develop innovative medicines for patients with diseases for which there are no effective treatments. Its lead pipeline asset, HL161 (INN: batoclimab), an anti-FcRn antibody, is being developed in Phase 3 and Phase 2 trials across the world for the treatment of autoimmune diseases including myasthenia gravis (MG), thyroid eye disease (TED), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and Graves' disease (GD). Another main asset, HL036 (INN: tanfanercept), a TNF-alpha inhibitor protein, is being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical trials in the US and China for the treatment of dry eye disease. For further information connect with us on linkedin . For any media inquiries, please contact HanAll PR/IR ([email protected] , [email protected] ). About Daewoong Pharmaceutical. Co., Ltd. Established in 1945, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a leading South Korean pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceuticals for both domestic and international markets. With a strong and innovative in-house R&D and advanced manufacturing facilities, Daewoong provides a total healthcare solution to customers across the globe. Continuing on their course of building a strong global healthcare company, Daewoong has broadened international operations by establishing branch offices and research centers throughout Asia and the United States. Daewoong has also expanded strategic partnerships in more than 100 countries worldwide. In 2022, Daewoong expanded its global market presence by entering into a license agreement worth USD 923 million, which granted permission for the use of Fexuclue, a medicine licensed for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, in the Philippines and Ecuador within the first year of its launch. Additionally, Daewoong successfully launched Envlo, the first-ever sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor for the treatment of diabetes to be developed in Korea, and signed an export contract worth USD 84.36 million with Brazil and Mexico. For further information on Daewoong Pharmaceutical, please visit our official website. About NurrOn Pharmaceuticals Inc. NurrOn Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel, targeted therapeutics for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other Nurr1-related incurable human disorders. Through targeting Nurr1, the master regulator for dopaminergic neuron development and maintenance, we aim to develop a paradigm changing PD treatment to improve patients' quality of life. While currently there are only symptomatic treatment options for patients with PD, there have not been any successful therapies to slow or prevent the progression of the disease. We believe that disease-modifying therapies will be achieved through targeting Nurr1, which has generated supportive data as a new druggable PD target. NurrOn was recently awarded as substantial grant from Michael J. Fox Foundation in support of the Phase 1 clinical trial of ATH-399A, scheduled to initiate in 2023. Disclaimer statement The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," or "should" and include statements HanAll (the company, we) makes concerning its 2023 business and financial outlook and related plans, the therapeutic potential of its product candidates, the intended results of its strategy and the company, and its collaboration partners', advancement of, and anticipated clinical development, data readouts and regulatory milestones and plans, including the timing of planned clinical trials and expected data readouts, the design of future clinical trials and the timing and outcome of regulatory filings and regulatory approvals. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. These may include various significant factors such as our expectations regarding the inherent uncertainties associated with competitive developments, preclinical and clinical trial and product development activities and regulatory approval requirements. In addition, performance may be affected by our reliance on collaborations with third parties, estimating the commercial potential of our product candidates, our ability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property of technologies and drugs, our limited operating history, and our ability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development and commercialization of product candidates. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in Korea Stock Exchange (KRX) filings and reports, including in our most recent annual report as well as subsequent filings and reports filed by the company with the KRX. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise the information in this press release, including any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by Korean law and regulations. SOURCE HanAll Biopharma OAKLAND, Calif., May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawkins Way Capital announces the opening of the new LED Silver Level, dual branded hotel, AC Hotel by Marriott & the Residence Inn Hotel by Marriott, Oakland Downtown, located at 1431 Jefferson Street, Oakland, California. Hotel General Manager Josh Howard, Hotel Assistant General Manager Fazeel Ali and Director of Sales Joanne Bianchi lead the opening team. Residence Inn and AC by Marriott Oakland Downtown This dual branded hotel with 18 floors of beautifully appointed guest rooms was built from the ground up making optimal use of its location in the heart of Oakland Downtown. This project offers close proximity to the City Center, Uptown, Chinatown and Lake Merritt neighborhoods. Located near the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse and the U.S. General Services Administration building, both located on Clay Street. The AC Hotel concept, created by Spanish Hotelier Antonio Catalan founded in Madrid, Spain with 155 hotel locations and located in 20 countries: known for offering comfort, free of clutter with minimal distractions. Each room will include a King or two Double Beds, 50' inch television, workspace with many options to plug-in, mini refrigerator with spectacular natural light and amazing views of the San Francisco Bay or views of urban Downtown. Breakfast served at the AC Hotel by Marriott Oakland Downtown will include local favorites such as open-faced toast with scrambled cage-free eggs, prosciutto, and arugula. In the evenings, the AC Lounge will open and serve specialty cocktails that complement the local flare along with tapas (light plates). Each guest will have access to the AC Guest Market, available 24 hours, offering snacks, beverages, and toiletries. The Residence Inn Hotel, offering Studio and One Bedroom Suites allowing guests to "travel like you live." Each suite includes a fully appointed kitchen offering enough space for guests to work, relax and unwind. Each suite includes a 55' television, fully equipped kitchen that includes a microwave, cooktop refrigerator dishes and linens with dining and workspace options. Guests will enjoy a good night's sleep with the distinct sleeping area that includes plush bedding and linens. Guests will enjoy the 24-hour food and beverage market and onsite guest laundry. This dual branded hotel is a welcome addition to Oakland's Downtown and will accommodate business travelers and leisure guests alike. The location is 9 miles from Oakland International Airport. Each guest room is tastefully decorated with workspace offering room to relax and unwind with minimal distractions while enjoying complimentary hot breakfast each morning. The hotel features an expansive fitness center, available 24 hours per day, that includes cardio and strength training equipment and complimentary WiFI provided, throughout the property. The hotel offers 981 square feet of flexible meeting space with digital monitor and smart screen capabilities. Meeting space can accommodate up to 30 attendees, ideal for small and medium-sized gatherings. With an urban location, valet parking will be offered and available 24 hours per day offering ease of coming and going from the hotel. The location is near public transportation allowing guests access to BART, AC Transit and CalTrain. As dual branded Marriott hotels, both hotels participate in Marriott Bonvoy programs and will welcome Bonvoy stays of all levels. The hotel was developed by Beverly Hills based Hawkins Way Capital and is operated by FCL Management, LLC. Press contact: FCL Management, LLC 424-320-2041 [email protected] SOURCE Hawkins Way Capital ISELIN, N.J., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware Technologies, a leading global provider of IT services and solutions, announced today the appointment of Saurabh Rana as its new Strategic Partnerships and Global Alliances Lead. This move forms part of Hexaware's ambitious plan to deepen its commitment across the Cloud and Hyperscale Ecosystem to ensure the company fully harnesses the power of its partnerships, propelling clients forward in their digital, data, and cloud transformation journeys. Hexaware Logo As a key element of his role, Saurabh will be responsible for accelerating strategic collaboration and establishing dedicated business units for top Hyperscale partnerships. His leadership is also expected to spur momentum and growth through increased co-selling of joint solutions, driving deal velocity, and bolstering Hexaware's growth objectives for 2023 and beyond. Saurabh brings over 25 years of global experience delivering business strategy, revenue, and growth across key industries. Prior to joining Hexaware, he spent over 17 years in various leadership positions at Microsoft Corporation, demonstrating extensive expertise in building strategic partnerships with technology partners and creating profitable joint cloud sales, services, and solution practices. His unwavering partner focus has led to the launch and leadership of global sales and go-to-market initiatives, driving consistent and impressive customer results. On his appointment, Saurabh Rana said, "I am thrilled to join Hexaware at this transformative time for the company and the industry as a whole. Together, we will continue to provide cutting-edge solutions that meet our customers' evolving needs and support their digital transformation journeys." Milan Bhatt, President & Global Head Modernization, Healthcare & Insurance, Hexaware, said, "We are delighted to welcome Saurabh Rana to the Hexaware family. As an industry veteran, his expertise and leadership will be instrumental in driving the next wave of growth for Hexaware. We look forward to his valuable contributions to our stakeholders." About Hexaware Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Our 29,000 Hexawarians wake up every day with a singular purpose; to create smiles through great people and technology. With 54 offices in 19 countries, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://www.hexaware.com . Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/530945/Hexaware.jpga SOURCE Hexaware Technologies Ltd NEW YORK and LONDON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HiBob, a leading provider of HR technology solutions and the company behind HCM 'Bob', is proud to announce that it has been honored with four prestigious HR Tech Awards by Lighthouse Research & Advisory, in acknowledgement of its exceptional contributions to the industry. HiBob's innovative HR platform has been recognized as the Best Global Solution for Core HR, along with accolades for Best Midsize Business-Focused Solution, Talent Analytics, and Best DEI-Enabling Solution. HiBob wins four HR Tech 2023 Awards The HR Tech Awards, presented by Lighthouse Research & Advisory, highlight companies and solutions that demonstrate unparalleled excellence in human resources technology. HiBob's achievement as Best Global Solution for Core HR underscores its commitment to helping customers tackle the complexity associated with fast-paced international or multisite growth, as well as providing comprehensive, flexible, and scalable HR solutions on a global scale. HiBob also received the award for Best Midsize Business-Focused Solution for Core HR/Workforce offering tailored and user-friendly tools that enable midsize businesses to effectively manage their HR operations and drive strategic growth. Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer, Lighthouse Research & Advisory says: "When you think about midsize organizations, you probably think about flexibility. Some of these organizations are just growing beyond the threshold for small companies while others may have a few thousand staff. In that case, it's critical to have HR technology that can adapt and support a variety of needs and stakeholders. HiBob has built that solution, and it's working for thousands of midsize employers around the world.' Accreditation for Talent Analytics highlights HiBob's advanced people data capabilities, which enable organizations to identify trends, predict future needs, and optimize their workforce for maximum productivity. Lastly, HiBob's win in the Best DEI-Enabling Solution category pays homage to its commitment for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion across all levels of the workforce. George Rogers, Chief Culture Officer, Lighthouse Research & Advisory comments: "A very unique and innovative UI creates a welcoming environment that inspires people to build great working relationships and stay connected to the company. With Hibob's DE&I dashboard, you can examine company trends in the areas of diversity, equality, and inclusion, spotting where your company excels and where improvements are necessary. Impressive work!' The HR Tech Awards serve as a testament to HiBob's ongoing commitment to innovation, client satisfaction, and the advancement of HR technology. "We are truly delighted to receive four esteemed HR Tech Awards from Lighthouse Research," said Ronni Zehavi, CEO of HiBob. "These accolades affirm our dedication to delivering innovative and impactful HR solutions that address the evolving needs of organizations worldwide. We are proud to support our clients in their digital transformation and the enhancement of their HR practices." About HiBob HiBob is on a mission to transform how organizations operate in the modern world of work with its HR platform 'Bob'. Leading the way for the future workplace, Bob offers resilient, agile technology that wraps all the complexities of HR processes into a game changing, user-friendly tool that touches every employee across the business. Today more than 3,000 global companies, including Cazoo, Extreme Reach, Fiverr, Happy Socks, Monzo, The&Partnership, and VaynerMedia, trust Bob to streamline their processes, make data-driven decisions, and create exceptional employee experiences. Organizations using Bob are able to accelerate hiring, retain the best talent, upskill and elevate employee engagement. For more information about HiBob, visit www.hibob.com . Contact: Natalie Homer [email protected] +44 7718 188 591 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2083237/HiBob.jpg SOURCE HiBob Industrial software company releases HighByte Intelligence Hub version 3.1 to expand data access, governance, and scale for global manufacturers PORTLAND, Maine, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HighByte, an industrial software company, today announced the release of HighByte Intelligence Hub version 3.1 that expands operational technology (OT) data access, governance, and scale capabilities for industrial companies. The release includes a new REST Data Server that acts as an API gateway for industrial data residing in OT systems, so any application or service with an HTTP client can securely request OT data in raw or modeled form directly from the Intelligence Hubwithout requiring domain knowledge of the underlying systems. Statement from Matthew Venter, Solutions Architect at Gousto "With its initial release in 2020, HighByte Intelligence Hub entered the market as a client-based application capable of publishing data to consuming systems. Earlier this year, we released server-based capabilities with the addition of an embedded MQTT broker, allowing systems to subscribe to industrial data sources. In a few short months, we have expanded data access yet again with the ability to request data on-demand from the Intelligence Hub through a REST API," said HighByte CEO Tony Paine. "This technical evolution reflects the maturing Industrial DataOps market and the increasingly sophisticated use cases of our customers. We are listening and committed to staying ahead of market needs." HighByte Intelligence Hub version 3.1 adds additional capabilities to support data governance and scale, including more flexible configuration management. The Intelligence Hub now allows easy export and import of full or partial project configurations, which can be configured through the user interface, configuration files, or the configuration API. Users can also import models and instances directly from third party systems like Element Unify, supporting AWS's Industrial Data Fabric architecture. In addition, users can dynamically drive template definitions from third party sources and trigger flows for individual assets, streamlining configuration across similar assets and use cases. "We are particularly excited about the new ability to import and export full or partial projects directly through the user interface. This functionality holds special significance for us as we are running HighByte Intelligence Hub in multiple Docker containers," said Matthew Venter, Solutions Architect at Gousto, an online meal-kit manufacturer and retailer and certified B Corporation. "With the ability to seamlessly import and export projects, we can effortlessly replicate and distribute our configurations across different container instances." Other features include a new Apache Kafka connector and significant improvements to existing connectors including PI System, Sparkplug, OPC UA, REST Client, AWS IoT SiteWise, Modbus, and the File connector (now with FTP support). HighByte Intelligence Hub version 3.1 is now commercially available. All new features and capabilities introduced in version 3.1 are included in standard pricing. Please contact HighByte or an authorized distributor to request a trial or purchase an annual subscription license. Additional Resources About HighByte HighByte is an industrial software company in Portland, Maine USA building solutions that address the data architecture and integration challenges created by Industry 4.0. HighByte Intelligence Hub, the company's award-winning Industrial DataOps software, provides modeled, ready-to-use data to the Cloud using a codeless interface to speed integration time and accelerate analytics. Learn more at https://www.highbyte.com. HighByte is a registered trademark of HighByte, Inc. Media Contact HighByte Torey Penrod-Cambra Chief Communications Officer +1 844.328.2677 x701 [email protected] SOURCE HighByte WASHINGTON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WeXchange, the platform of the innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, IDB Lab, which connects STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) entrepreneurs from Latin America and the Caribbean with mentors and investors, and Google announced the 15 women-led companies selected in the call for the WeXchange Women STEMpreneurs Competition 2023. The WeXchange platform seeks to make it easier for entrepreneurs to connect with other entrepreneurs and investors. Tweet this The finalists will present their solutions at WeXchange 2023, which will take place on June 13 and 14 in Bogota, Colombia, as part of IDB Lab Forum, the IDB Group's flagship innovation and technology event. The finalists will present their solutions at WeXchange 2023, which will take place on June 13 and 14 in Bogota, Colombia, as part of IDB Lab Forum, the IDB Group's flagship innovation and technology event. The competition received over 340 applications from 25 countries with solutions in edtech, healthtech, fintech, software as a service (SaaS), biotech, climatetech, agtech and ecommerce, among others. AVP Ventures, a venture capital fund, led the selection process involving 65 investors from 40 funds in Latin America and the Caribbean. The selected companies are: B2Gov (Argentina), Dinie (Brazil), Enteria (Uruguay), Flevo (Argentina), GenderLab (Peru), IncluirTech (Colombia), Kaudal (Peru), MetaBix Biotech (Uruguay), Munay (Bolivia), Nippy (Argentina), SmartTerm (Trinidad and Tobago), Suncast (Chile), Sylvarum (Argentina), Taxo (Ecuador) and Vopero (Mexico). These selected companies will participate in the Startup Academy, Google for Startups' micro-acceleration program, connecting them with technology, digital marketing, leadership, and capital-raising experts. In addition, the selected entrepreneurs will present their businesses to venture capital investors and key players in the innovation ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean. The WeXchange platform seeks to make it easier for entrepreneurs to connect with other entrepreneurs and investors and participate in training and mentoring. This year the WeXchange events are happening as part of IDB Lab Forum, and the participating entrepreneurs will be able to take part in both the regular sessions of the event, as well as exclusive activities for STEM entrepreneurs, which include talks, workshops, and sessions with experts by industry and for business. WeXchange's activities are made possible through the support of the Women Entrepreneurs Financing Initiative (WeFi). More information about the event and registration can be found here: IDB Lab Forum Press contact: Gador Manzano [email protected] SOURCE IDB Lab Andreozzi + Foote Takes Lead on Investigation HARRISBURG, Pa., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A Cherokee County doctor who is accused of sexual assault and human trafficking1 may not be the only one in hot water. In March 2023, Dr. Thomas Clayton was charged with 16 felony counts of sexual misconduct stemming from his contact with patients. At the time of the allegations Dr. Clayton's had already been reprimanded by the state medical boards in both North Carolina and Florida for past allegations of sexual abuse. As a result of Dr. Clayton prior misconduct, he was placed on probation for 5 years and only permitted to practice under the indirect supervision of a Board-approved physician, called a "monitor." Other significant restrictions were placed on his ability to practice medicine. Hospital That Employed Doctor Accused of Sexual Abuse and Trafficking May Face Lawsuits from His Victims. Tweet this Ben Andreozzi, a leading attorney representing victims of sexual abuse, believes Dr. Clayton's checkered past could be trouble for his employer. "Hospitals systems have an obligation to properly screen and vet employees to ensure that the patients they serve are safe. When they needless place patients in harm's way, those patients are able to file civil lawsuits against the hospital to recover for the damages they suffer. " In recent years physician sexual abuse cases have resulted in significant settlements. For example, in 2021, the University of Southern California announced it will pay more than $1.1 billion to former patients of a gynecologist who was accused of sexual assault.2 In 2022, UCLA announced a $700 million settlement and Columbia University Irving Medical Center3 and New York Presbyterian announced a $165 million4 in cases arising from doctor's sexually abusing their patients. Dr. Clayton's medical board records reveal a history of over prescribing pain killers and addictive medications. "If [he] used the medications as an inducement or means to groom his victims, the hospital could face considerable liability," Andreozzi added. "In my experience, jurors don't have any sympathy when powerful organizations look the other way and fail to protect sexual abuse victims." Andreozzi + Foote is a leading law firm representing victims of wrongdoing against powerful organizations. If you, or a loved one, is seeking legal counsel related to a wrongful death, contact us for a free consultation at (877) 214-3238 or visit victimscivilattorneys.com. For press access, reporters can contact Ben Andreozzi, Partner at [email protected] 1 https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2023-04-25/erlanger-doctor-charged-with-more-sexual-offenses-and-human-trafficking-crimes-involving-three-additional-victims 2 https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-25/usc-payout-gynecologist-sex-abuse-claims-to-top-1-billion 3 https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-24/heaps-settlement-312-patients-takes-cost-of-his-abuse-to-700-million 4 https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/2-nyc-hospitals-to-pay-165-million-to-victims-of-abusive-former-ob-gyn/3899088/ SOURCE Andreozzi + Foote Seventeen students at Charles Sturt University have been awarded scholarships by Transgrid as part of the transmission network's commitment to investing in the next generation of engineers and addressing Australia's infrastructure skills shortage. Executive General Manager of Major Projects Gordon Taylor said: "Transgrid is accelerating the renewable energy transition by building the nation-critical transmission infrastructure to deliver cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy to millions of Australians. "As we build the energy superhighway, our major projects including EnergyConnect, HumeLink and VNI West will require world-class engineering experience." Transgrid's $2 million Engineering Scholarship Fund is supporting 100 engineering students at the university's Bathurst campus between 2023 and 2029 to help build a bigger, skilled workforce across the industry as the clean energy transition accelerates. Seventeen first-year engineering students have each received $20,000 scholarships, with recipients hailing from NSW regional centres including Albury, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga, as well as Victoria and Queensland. "Transgrid is delighted to support the next generation of engineers through their training to help address a critical skills shortage in regional Australia and grow our industry's skilled workforce as we move into the new energy paradigm," Mr Taylor said. "Each scholarship recipient will receive $5,000 annually over four years to support them during their studies, allowing them to focus on achieving their full potential while at university." Olivia Tait, 20, of Wagga Wagga, said the scholarship would help with the cost of her studies including travel to and from the Bathurst campus and allow her to focus on becoming a professional engineer. "I believe that whether you're designing a highrise building, safety barrier improvements or installing a new power pole, all aspects of engineering contribute to positive change and make a difference in our communities," she said. "I am very passionate about inspiring other regional women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics." Jake Barnes Philpott, 18, of Cabonne Shire, said the scholarship would help both financially and academically, assisting him to meet living and study expenses and focus more on learning. "Engineers are the problem solvers of the world," he said. "From the buildings we live and learn in, the vehicles we drive, the devices we use, the medicines we rely upon, everything relates back to engineering. I would like to be a part of an industry that creates solutions for society." CEO of the Charles Sturt Foundation Trust Ms Sarah Ansell welcomed the Transgrid scholarships. "This is a valuable contribution. Not only does it support the next generation of cadet engineers, but it will also go on to have a significant impact on the engineering industry, solving workforce shortages. "The scholarship will help us meet future demand for engineers across regional Australia." "The fact the recipients come from such a broad span of regional communities demonstrates the importance of the scholarship and the impact it will have on the regional workforce of the future," she said. Transgrid will work with the university to help develop career pathways for the students through engineering cadet placements with the transmission network and other organisations in regional NSW. The awarding of the first scholarships under the program follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Transgrid and Charles Sturt University to collaborate on opportunities for research, infrastructure, training and employment. Applications for the 2024 scholarship program will open mid this year. For more information, visit www.csu.edu.au/transgrid-scholarship Transgrid media contact: Jonathon Hall 0428 413 708 HARRISONBURG, Va., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Memorial Day holiday kicks off the summer vacation season, James Madison University professor Shelley Whitmeyer is hoping beachgoers will help collect data for an important coastal science project. All that's required to participate in "SandSnap" is taking a photo of a coin in the sand with a cellphone and uploading it to a website. The information ultimately could help coastal decision-makers better manage areas prone to erosion. Tweet this With a coin and a phone beachgoers can help collect data for an important coastal science project. A computer using a machine-learning algorithm does the rest, giving scientists information on the various sizes of sand grains. Whitmeyer has been assisting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the project the past several years, promoting the project to Girl Scout troops and others. This week, a sign was placed on the boardwalk at Fire Island National Seashore, a barrier island off Long Island, New York, inviting the public to participate. The sign will be there for the next five years, but photos can be taken on any beach around the world. When Whitmeyer works with groups, she usually gives some instructions on how to take the photos. Now it's time to see how the public at Fire Island does going off instructions on the sign. "I have a tendency to butt in too much," she quipped. So how can photos of sand help scientists? Coastlines change rapidly. Normal tides, storms with high winds and people on the beach all move sand around. SandSnap is taking a look at how sand moves. The information ultimately could help coastal decision-makers better manage areas prone to erosion. Inviting the public to participate has some important benefits. Scientists can get more data faster than if they have to collect it all themselves and it promotes trust in science, Whitmeyer said. "We do know there is distrust of science in the general community and I think part of that is, people think that science is a set of facts and therefore if they're true, they should never change. That's not really what science is. Science is more about a process where we keep collecting data and we keep revising what we know because we learn new things. If people understand the process better, I think they might trust the science a bit more." More information about SandSnap can be found on the SandSnap website. SOURCE James Madison University DUBLIN, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Japan Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report covers Japan's data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide information on the colocation data centers KEY MARKET HIGHLIGHTS: Japan is witnessing the entry of a new edge data center operator, Edge Centres, that has announced its plan to build two off-grid edge data center facilities across Kanto and Kyushu. is witnessing the entry of a new edge data center operator, Edge Centres, that has announced its plan to build two off-grid edge data center facilities across Kanto and Kyushu. Tokyo and Osaka are the primary data center hubs, with around 80% of the existing third-party data centers. Other cities such as Kobe , Saitama , Matsue, Shiroi, Yokohama , and others account for the remaining 20%. and are the primary data center hubs, with around 80% of the existing third-party data centers. Other cities such as , , Matsue, Shiroi, , and others account for the remaining 20%. International data center providers usually acquire local data center companies or establish joint ventures to establish data centers in the country. For instance, the joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation & Digital Realty, Equinix & GIC. The rising adoption of cloud-based services is helping the growth of retail and wholesale colocation services in the market. The market is witnessing increased demand for colocation spaces across existing and upcoming data centers. The data points covered in the database Detailed Analysis of 103 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 22 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Akashi, Chiba , Ginoza, Hokkaido , Kitakyushu , Kobe , Matsue, Nago, Osaka , Oyama, Saitama , Sanda, Shirakawa, Shiroi, Takamatsu, Tatebayashi, Tokyo , Yokohama , Okinawa , Inzai. , Ginoza, , , , Matsue, Nago, , Oyama, , Sanda, Shirakawa, Shiroi, Takamatsu, Tatebayashi, , , , Inzai. Existing white-floor space (square feet) Upcoming white-floor space (square feet) Current IT load capacity (2022) Future capacity additions (2023-2025) Retail Colocation Pricing Quarter Rack (1/4) Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.) Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing EXISTING DATA CENTERS (103 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name i.e., (Tokyo Tama Campus or DC3.) Core & Shell Area (White-Floor Area) Core & Shell Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Rack Capacity Year of Operations Design Standards (Tier I - IV) Power/Cooling Redundancy UPCOMING DATA CENTERS (22 Facilities) Investment Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Investor Name Area (White-Floor Area) Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Investment ($ Million) Electrical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) Mechanical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) General Construction Services Investment ($ Million) Announcement Year Project Status (Opened/Under Construction/Announced & Planned) Active or Expected Year of Opening INVESTORS/OPERATORS COVERED NTT Communications AT TOKYO Equinix MC Digital Realty Fujitsu IDC Frontier Colt Data Centre Services AirTrunk ARTERIA Networks Telehouse (KDDI) SAKURA internet Internet Initiative Japan TIS INTEC Group CTC netXDC (SCSK) MIRAIT Technologies Canon IT Solutions Digital Edge AGS Qualysite Technologies Cyxtera Technologies ESR Cayman Vantage Data Centers STACK Infrastructure Princeton Digital Group NEC ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Gaw Capital OneAsia Network NEXTDC Edge Centres Google For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zexxnh 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 WEST CHESTER, Pa., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Venerable is pleased to announce that Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) has upgraded the insurance financial strength rating of its subsidiaries, Venerable Insurance and Annuity Company (VIAC) and Corporate Solutions Life Reinsurance Company (CSLR) to A and the issuer and debt rating of Venerable Holdings, Inc. to BBB. In addition, KBRA has reaffirmed its expectations that Venerable will continue to successfully execute strategic plans, with risk management and hedging programs supporting the maintenance of strong capitalization and liquidity through volatile markets. Further, KBRA expects Venerable will continue to leverage its market position to successfully onboard and manage acquired books of business. "KBRA's upgrade of our entities is a validation of our strong performance and Venerable's position as the market leader in the variable annuity risk transfer space," said David Marcinek, Chairman and CEO of Venerable. "On the eve of our fifth anniversary as a stand-alone organization, the outlook for our business remains robust as we continue our quest to provide unique solutions to the insurance industry." About Venerable Venerable is a privately held company with business operations in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Des Moines, Iowa, and New York, NY. Venerable owns and manages legacy variable annuity business acquired from other entities. Created by an investor group led by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC, Crestview Partners, Reverence Capital Partners, and Athene Holding Ltd., Venerable is a business with well-established, strategic investors, experienced in successfully building and growing insurance businesses with patient, long-term capital. For more information, please visit www.venerable.com. Contact: Allison Proud Corporate Communications 610-249-9730 SOURCE Venerable SAN DIEGO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PrecisePK welcomes Kern Medical as its latest institution to implement innovations in precision dosing for vancomycin and other antibiotics using the Bayesian AUC-based method. PrecisePK is leading health systems worldwide in transforming the way medications are dosed to fit patient-specific needs. This recent alliance with Kern Medical adds to the system-wide endeavor of accomplishing personalized and precision dosing with a modernized approach by leveraging technology. "PrecisePK has helped to standardize and improve our vancomycin dosing workflow, and is especially suited to our diverse patient population since special patient factors, renal function calculations, and other components can be customized or factored into Bayesian prior selection," says Michelle Fang, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, ID Pharmacist at Kern Medical . Conventionally, pharmacists conduct the calculations of drug dosing regimens with formula-driven parameters that likely undermine patients' unique characteristics. Prior to leveraging the benefits of Bayesian dosing software, pharmacists also spent considerable time ensuring therapeutic computations through rigid pen-and-paper or in-house Excel spreadsheets. Kern Medical's vancomycin dosing workflow is standardized and improved by PrecisePK's Bayesian precision dosing tools. Tweet this In 2020, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists developed the new vancomycin consensus guidelines for serious methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. These consensus guidelines recommend an AUC/MIC ratio of 400600 mg*hour/L (assuming a broth microdilution MIC of 1 mg/L) to achieve clinical efficacy and ensure patient safety. Since then, large and small institutions are finding the transition from trough to AUC vancomycin dosing a safer and better clinical standard. PrecisePK's robust solutions allow the traditional clinical routine to be much more streamlined, with enhanced therapeutic efficiency and efficacy. Dr. Fang's primary roles at Kern Medical include participating in daily infectious diseases rounds and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams as co-chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee to optimize both patient-specific and system-level use of antimicrobials. Dr. Fang also monitors patients on long-term IV antibiotics through the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Clinic. Her interests include improving the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing through patient and provider education, rapid diagnostics, and PK/PD optimization. "We look forward to this long-lasting relationship in joining hands to better the clinical practices and in the bigger picture, safeguard against the global antibiotic resistance crisis. Through our partnership with Kern Medical, we gain the privilege to assist in the knowledge and experience of their healthcare professionals. Their valuable expertise, combined with our collaboration with UCLA, allows us to develop solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of the California population. With Bayesian precision dosing, it's more than the right dose for the right patient at the right time. PrecisePK's state-of-the-art technology at the end of the day is human-driven, we honor clinical judgment and humbly and quickly implement feedback from pharmacists. Our latest implementation of patient case auto-save feature based on popular demands is an example." says Anjum Gupta, Ph.D., CEO of PrecisePK. About Kern Medical Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, it is an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles in California. Each year, more than 200 residents, fellows, and medical students enroll in their UCLA-affiliated training programs. They also promote the education of clinical pharmacists , nursing students, respiratory therapists, lab technicians, and allied health professionals. Kern Medical values innovation and continues to add new medical technologies, recruit outstanding physicians in new specialties, and strengthen its ties with UCLA. As a topflight regional healthcare system, Kern Medical is a leading voice for health, healing, and wellness in the Central Valley. About PrecisePK PrecisePK is a leading global provider of therapeutic drug monitoring software for Bayesian model-informed precision dosing. By leveraging real-time bedside assistance in drug dosing, therapeutic analytics, local populations model, AKI predictor, and other resources , the software is designed to streamline the work necessary to achieve individualized treatment and safeguard patient care, at the point of care. In addition to its robust vancomycin software, PrecisePK offers a wide array of drug modules that aid in the workflow of infectious diseases as well as several other therapeutic areas including neurology, oncology, cardiology, and pulmonology. Visit PrecisePK's website for a free trial . Contact Vivian Liu Business Development Specialist [email protected] SOURCE PrecisePK LOS ANGELES, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Skin Laundry, the laser facial pioneer disrupting the skin care industry, has officially opened three clinics in the Denver market: Cherry Creek 9+CO, Highlands, and Park Meadows in Lone Tree. Skin Laundry's mission is to offer broad access to leading edge treatments because skin care is health care, vital to overall well-being. Skin Laundry is thrilled to bring its innovative skin care to Denver's vibrant communities, especially to help combat the skin-damaging effects of the dry climate and air-pollution. Since its founding 10 years ago, the company has delivered over 1 million laser facials that help prevent and correct acne, skin discoloration and texture, and premature aging and is the world's leading provider of state-of-the-art skin rejuvenating treatments, backed by scientific research and world-class, board-certified dermatologists. A peek inside a Skin Laundry clinic Skin Laundry's Signature and Power facials employ an Nd:YAG laser that bypasses the skins surface to stimulate new collagen and elastin and expel bacteria and damage from the skin to treat, correct, and prevent many skin concerns Called "revolutionary" by Forbes and named one of Fast Company's "Beauty Startups to Watch," Skin Laundry coined the phrase "we made laser facials a thing." The company's treatments and custom skincare line are developed to clean and rejuvenate skin of all types and tones to achieve and maintain healthy skin, effectively addressing a variety of skin issues, including signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, dullness, dryness, acne and post-acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and conditions like melasma and rosacea. Skin Laundry's services are performed by Registered Nurses or Nurse Practitioners who are trained on proprietary protocols and guided by a team of medical professionals. Skin Laundry's unique approach tailors treatment plans to clients' individual needs and enables them to maintain a consistent routine through its membership model that facilitates regular visits, conveniently and affordably, with the flexibility to adjust or add on services as each client progresses through their skin journey, assesses results, and as needs change. This is unlike expensive or upfront commitments to package sales typically associated with advanced-technology skin treatments. A-la-carte services are also available. "The Denver market is an exciting step in our clinic expansion roadmap," says Gregg Throgmartin, Skin Laundry CEO. "We are proud to be able to provide residents of the Mile High City our quick, results-driven, medical-grade treatments that address their unique skincare needs and goals so they can ultimately obtain their healthiest skin. As a 10-year-old business, we've been fortunate enough to witness members' confidence skyrocket over the years as their skin dramatically improves with regular treatments." Skin Laundry continues to research the most advanced skincare technology in the market and introduce ever-more effective treatments and protocols that show immediate and long-term results. Its Signature and Power facials employ an Nd:YAG laser that bypasses the skin's surface to stimulate new collagen and elastin and expel bacteria and damage from the skin to treat, correct, and prevent many skin concerns particularly acne, pigmentation and texture issues and conditions, and fine lines and wrinkles. Skin Laundry's fractional resurfacing treatments use its first non-laser technology, Thermo Mechanical Action, that uniquely transfers energy directly to the top layer of skin via non-ablative, tiny titanium points to stimulate new collagen and elastin from the surface, while opening microchannels for nearly 2x absorption of medical-grade serums applied to promote further rejuvenating benefits. The brand's latest Power Series facials include three new offerings that deliver clients up to more than twice the laser energy, maximizing impact of a single treatment and accelerating results, still with little-to-no downtime. Additionally, in clinics nationwide, Skin Laundry introduced a breakthrough add-on, "The Fixer," a natural peptide-based topical wrinkle smoother that, when applied with Thermo Fractional treatments, has been shown to gently relax creasing and lines and prevent new ones from forming, as well as hydrate, plump and even out skin tone. Skin Laundry is the first to bring this non-invasive smoothing treatment mainstream. First-time clients can try the Signature Laser facial at 9+CO, Highlands or Park Meadows for $75 (normally $250), which includes a free skin consultation with an NP or RN. Memberships begin at $150. Skin Laundry's locations, treatments, and skincare line can be found by visiting skinlaundry.com . SOURCE Skin Laundry The company serves as a model for businesses that aim to support veterans, achieving a 240+% increase in veteran hires since 2020 and expanding initiatives to extend assistance in 2023 and beyond HUDSON, Ohio, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaf Home , a leading technology-enabled direct-to-consumer provider of home improvement products and solutions, today announced that the company's veteran-focused hiring initiatives have led to a 240+% increase in veteran hires since 2020. Leaf Home is reaffirming its strong commitment to U.S. veterans this Memorial Day weekend by hosting a reenlistment ceremony at the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race and raising funds for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). "Leaf Home makes recruiting and retaining veterans a top priority," said Jon Bostock, CEO & President of Leaf Home. "We bring veterans on board because giving opportunities to a group that has sacrificed so much for us is the right thing to do, and we've found the process-oriented nature of the military translates well to our organization. As we honor the fallen this weekend, we also pause to remember those currently serving as well as those who served in the past." Leaf Home Reaffirms Commitment to Veterans with Reenlistment Event at NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 and DAV Fundraiser Tweet this Leaf Home is sponsoring several initiatives to honor servicemembers at the racetrack on Memorial Day weekend. Matt Kaulig, Founder & Board Member at Leaf Home, owns Kaulig Racing, which sponsors the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Justin Haley. Leaf Home will host several U.S. Army soldiers and their commanders from nearby Ft. Bragg in the VIP area at the race and lead a reenlistment ceremony in the garage with Haley in attendance. One lucky veteran and current Leaf Home employee, Carl Nichols (United States Navy veteran), was selected to attend the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race on Sunday. To honor Carl's Nichols' service, Leaf Home is covering travel expenses to the race, a VIP pass and grandstand tickets to watch the exciting NASCAR action. Nichols will also have an opportunity to meet driver Justin Haley. Continuing the company's annual fundraising for veterans, this year, Leaf Home is working with DAV to help disabled veterans through the sale of T-shirts featuring a flag that honors American servicemembers and logos for the company's Vet Connect program, Kaulig Racing, Leaf Home, DAV, and LeafFilter. All proceeds from shirt sales will go to DAV to assist disabled veterans, and Leaf Home will match the amount raised through online sales. Leaf Home will donate $29.99 to DAV for every t-shirt sold from May 26, 2023 through June 30, 2023 and the company will match all donations up to $10,000. Through a partnership with investment firm Gridiron Capital, Leaf Home is releasing a Memorial Day video on its owned channels that honors the fallen and highlights the company's dedication to the nation's veterans. Upcoming initiatives to support veterans at Leaf Home will include the launch of a dedicated website that current and prospective veteran employees can use to connect to veteran-specific employment resources, mental healthcare and more. Existing resources include the Vet Connect program and assistance offered through Leaf Home's partnership with Department of Defense's SkillBridge Program, which provides training and development for returning veterans. "Veterans gain unique skills during service, and all private sector businesses can find a good fit for veterans if they try," said Leaf Home Military Engagement Manager Nick Busse, a U.S. Army veteran. "Many companies say they support veterans, but at Leaf Home, we walk the talk. I encourage other businesses to do the same. The simplest way to start is by reaching out to veterans who are already in your organization to make sure you're meeting their needs. We owe our heroes that much." To learn more about employment opportunities with Leaf Home and the company's veteran-focused employment initiatives, please visit https://www.leafhome.com/careers/veterans/. Tune in to Fox Sports1 on Sunday to watch the race. About Leaf Home Leaf Home is a leading technology-enabled direct-to-consumer provider of branded, innovative home solutions in North America. The company is on a mission to enhance the safety, enjoyment, and comfort of homeowners and their families by delivering seamless, transformative home solutions, including gutter protection, home safety, water purification, and other home enhancement products. With its corporate headquarters in Hudson, Ohio, and locations across the U.S. and Canada, Leaf Home has become a trusted partner to over 1.1 million homeowners. Live Comfortable. Live Safe. Live Happy. For more information, visit www.leafhome.com. About Disabled American Veterans (DAV) DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: keeping our promise to America's veterans. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America's injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at DAV.org Media Contact [email protected] SOURCE Leaf Home Premier lawsuit funding company remains a leading advocate for Catholic Church abuse victims despite the organization's efforts to limit awards through bankruptcy filings. ALBANY, N.Y., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay, The Pre Settlement Funding Company, announced that they are reopening funding on clergy sexual abuse cases across the country. Legal-Bay's sources report that the church's attempts at thwarting payouts by filing bankruptcy has only solidified plaintiffs' resolve. The issue of sexual abuse within the clergy has been a long-standing problem that has taken a significant toll on the victims. The emotional toll of clergy sexual abuse can also extend beyond the victims themselves. Family members of victims may also be impacted, as they may struggle to come to terms with the abuse that their loved one suffered. This can be especially difficult for parents, who may feel guilt or shame for not being able to protect their child from harm. For the physical as well as psychological harm victims have suffered, more plaintiffs than ever are filing suit against their abusers. While litigants await their day in court, lawsuit funding can help provide financial relief until legal justice is brought against their perpetrators. Chris Janish, CEO of Legal-Bay, commented, "Legal-Bay has always been an advocate for plaintiffs in sexual abuse cases throughout the country. It has been disappointing to see the various organizations from New York to California utilize bankruptcy to minimize damages that are due to the victims. Settlement funding on these cases can create obstacles, but our team continues to be a leader in doing all we can to help survivors in their time of need." If you have been a victim of any type of sexual assault and need an immediate cash advance, please visit Legal-Bay HERE or call toll-free at 877.571.0405. Monetary award amounts in clergy sexual abuse lawsuits vary widely depending on the specific case and the jurisdiction in which it was filed. In recent years, several high-profile cases have resulted in significant payouts to victims. In California, for example, the state legislature passed a law in 2018 that lifted the statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims for a three-year period, leading to a surge in the number of lawsuits filed. As of 2021, the Catholic Church has paid out over $1 billion in settlements to survivors of sexual abuse in California, with many more cases yet to resolve. In New York, the state legislature passed the Child Victims Act in 2019, which opened a one-year window for survivors of sexual abuse to file civil claims against their abusers, regardless of when the abuse occurred. This led to a flood of lawsuits against the Catholic Church and other organizations, with over 3,000 cases filed within the one-year window, and over $41 million awarded in 2021 alone. Overall, the monetary award amounts in clergy sexual abuse cases vary widely. While there have been several large settlements in recent years, many victims continue to seek justice and compensation for the harm they have suffered. It is essential to continue to hold religious institutions accountable for the abuse that has taken place and to provide support and resources to victims as they attempt to move on with their lives. Despite the payouts and settlements, survivors and advocates continue to push for greater accountability and transparency from religious institutions regarding sexual abuse by clergy members. The issue remains a deeply troubling and complex one that will likely continue to be a topic of discussion and legal action for years to come. Despite the challenges that clergy sexual abuse victims face, there is hope for healing and justice. Many survivors find solace in connecting with others who have experienced similar trauma, either through support groups or online communities. Additionally, therapy can be an important tool for processing trauma and finding a path forward. And of course, legal action can also be a crucial part of the healing process. Holding predators accountable can provide a sense of closure for victims and may help prevent future instances of abuse. If you have been a victim of any type of sexual assault and need an immediate cash advance, please visit Legal-Bay HERE or call toll-free at 877.571.0405. Legal-Bay advocates for victims of sexual abuse, and is well-versed in clergy abuse litigation. The loan settlement cash company is able to provide settlement loans to victims across the country, including NY, NJ, and CA. Legal-Bay provides settlement loan funding for all types of cases including personal injury, car accidents, medical malpractice, and more. Legal-Bay's loans for lawsuits have helped numerous plaintiffs by providing immediate cash in advance of a lawsuit's anticipated monetary award. The non-recourse law suit loanssometimes referred to as loans for lawsuit or loans on settlementare risk-free, as the money doesn't need to be repaid should the recipient lose their case. Therefore, the lawsuit loans aren't really a loan, but rather a cash advance. To apply now, please visit us HERE or call toll-free at: 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by. SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC The collaboration of the leading providers of Unique Device Identification (UDI) for global health authorities and RIMS compliance platform, supports global medical device companies. HORSHAM, Pa., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LexisNexis Legal & Professional today announced, that LexisNexis Reed Tech, provider of data management & analytic solutions for the life sciences industry, has expanded its collaboration with RegDesk, a provider of best-in-class Regulatory Information Management Systems Platform (RIMS). RegDesk offers a global submission management and regulatory intelligence platform powered by AI to provide an expedited way to prepare submissions and obtain insights into regulatory changes in over 120 countries. Current and prospective customers of both companies can effectively manage the increasing complexity of complying with ever-changing global regulations. " RegDesk provides RIMS software that streamlines medical device registration and intelligence tracking for health authorities around the globe. Marrying the capabilities of RegDesk with the Unique Device Identification (UDI) submission expertise of LexisNexis Reed Tech, will help companies get to market faster while remaining compliant with regional health authority requirements," said Arshad Rahman, General Manager of the LexisNexis Reed Tech Life Sciences division. LexisNexis Reed Tech teams up with RegDesk, a leading Regulatory Information Management Platform Tweet this "With their deep experience in regulatory data submissions, Reed Tech leads the industry with machine-to-machine UDI services for medical device makers around the world, large and small. As a submitter of close to 34% of the annual electronic records submitted to the FDA GUDID database, their decades of experience have positioned them as an industry leader in the MedTech community. We look forward to offering the wealth of expertise and guidance provided by the Reed Tech team of technical specialists in understanding global regulatory submission requirements, particularly for EU EUDAMED, China NMPA, and South Korea MFDS," said Priya Bhutani, Founder & CEO of RegDesk. LexisNexis Reed Tech is expanding its collective of regulatory experts delivering solutions and services who support medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and related operations. The obligations to regulators require experienced insights to get to market and stay compliant. The complementary services between LexisNexis Reed Tech and RegDesk meet the need to consolidate the regulatory approval process from the intelligence gathering phase to application building and continued requirements tracking once in market. About LexisNexis Legal & Professional LexisNexis LexisNexis Legal & Professional provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,300 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. About LexisNexis Reed Tech: LexisNexis Reed Tech brings clarity to innovation for businesses worldwide. We enable innovators to accomplish more by helping them make informed decisions, be more productive, comply with regulations, and ultimately achieve a competitive advantage for their business. Our Reed Tech suite of SingleSource for Medical Devices, SingleSource for Drug Products, and Navigator for Drug Labels enables life sciences companies to create product data management strategies and meet compliance deadlines on time. We are proud to directly support and serve these innovators in their endeavors to better humankind. For more information, please visit ReedTech.com . About RegDesk RegDesk is a leading AI powered Regulatory Information Management System (RIMS) provider. RegDesk expedites the regulatory processes for MedTech companies seeking to get their products to market globally so they can serve patients, grow their business, and eliminate risks of non-compliance. For more information, visit https://www.regdesk.co . Media Contact Angela Alexandrow Head of Marketing, Life Sciences LexisNexis Reed Tech [email protected] +1-267-961-8018 SOURCE LexisNexis Reed Tech New Research Reveals Digital Identity Fraud's Prevalence and Leaders' Use of Multi-Layered Identity Access Management to Reduce Fraud Impacts ATLANTA, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a leader in claims data and analytics for the insurance industry, has published results from a new study, "Detecting the Undetectable: What personal lines carriers are doing to tackle digital identity fraud in claims." The research addresses the increasing sophistication of identity-related fraud as digital claims channels gain popularity and explores how many of the top 50 U.S. insurers are experiencing and dealing with digital identify fraud in personal lines claims. "Virtual or self-service claims have been on the rise since the pandemic, and while this can create a streamlined, digital and user-friendly consumer experience to help fast-track claims cycles, insurers have entered a world where they have to bridge physical, digital and behavioral dimensions to authenticate identities," said Tanner Sheehan, vice president and general manager, U.S. Claims, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "Especially among younger age demographics, digital claims channels are becoming increasingly popular, but growth in self-service options among insurers absolutely must be met with investments in tools to mitigate digital identity fraud. Insurers with a multi-layered approach to mitigating digital identity fraud experience fraud costs that are 25% lower than those who do not, according to our research." The research was based off interviews with senior managers, directors, executives and C-suite leaders who are responsible for detecting and mitigating identity fraud within personal lines insurance claims. Key findings included: Identity-related fraud is a problem in personal lines insurance claims Nearly all respondents (93%) say that identity-related fraud has a negative impact on their business, and 80% report that it is occurring at least monthly. 73% of respondents report that it is hard to know how identity-related fraud occurs, and 47% say it is very difficult to detect. Only 33% agree they have an effective way to detect and mitigate identity-related fraud. Put another way, two-thirds of respondents do not agree they have an effective approach today. Yet, just 30% of all Top 50 carriers said they could be doing more. In contrast, the majority of just the top 10 carriers (60%) say they have an effective approach to detecting and mitigating identity-related fraud. In addition, the same amount (60%) say they could be doing even more indicating that they are more aware of the problem than their peers in the top 11-50 range. Insurers are concerned that digital insurance claims channels will increase the risk of identity-related fraud 52% of claims submissions are submitted via online and mobile channels as 67% of insurers provide digital self-service options and the rest plan to do so in the next 24 months. 87% of respondents are fairly or very concerned about mobile web browser and online channels, and 76% are fairly or very concerned about mobile apps, compared with 57% for the contact/call center. Insurers are applying a greater number of and more advanced identity authentication tools for online and mobile channels than for the contact center. Insurers with more robust capabilities are better able to balance customer experience with fraud mitigation A significant majority of insurance carriers (83%) are going beyond the basics in personal lines claims, incorporating tools like multi-factor authentication, risk scoring or continuous monitoring. Notably, top 10 carriers are leading the pack, with 80% of them using tools on the more sophisticated end of the spectrum. All respondents verify personally identifiable information (PII) and use one-time passwords, indicating these are table stakes for the industry. Further, almost all carriers (93%) use multi-factor authentication. Insurers with more robust capabilities can identify fraud earlier in the claims process. For example, top 20 carriers predominantly find identity-related fraud at First Notice of Loss (FNOL); in comparison, whereas top 2150 carriers find it at investigation. 40% of top 10 insurance carriers also report finding identity-related fraud similarly across FNOL, investigation and claims payment, which may be indicative of finding more fraud in generalanother benefit of adopting a proactive, rather than reactive, approach. Leaders versus laggards in the need to adopt a multi-layered approach to digital identity authentication The research identifies two types of insurers when it comes to mitigating digital identity fraud: leaders and laggards. Leaders are adopting a proactive, multi-layered approach that can include verifying PII, such as name, address and date of birth; using multi-factor or knowledge-based authentication methods, such as one-time passwords, multi-factor authentication or quizzes; using real-time digital risk signals, such as device and email intelligence, behavioral biometrics, link analysis or risk scoring; and using native device biometrics, consortium-based fraud scores or continuous monitoring. Conversely, laggards are relying on basic, single-point solutions to authenticate consumer identities, which can result in finding fraud later and less success in balancing customer experience with fraud mitigation. "Our research clearly demonstrates that digital identity fraud is on the minds of the vast majority of the top 50 carriers, but we begin to see a stark difference in the maturity of certain insurers when it comes to those who have developed a multi-layered approach versus those who have not," said Souvik Kumar, director, U.S. Claims, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "With digital channels here to stay, the carriers who emphasize digital identity fraud mitigation by capturing disparate digital, physical and behavioral data points for a dynamic view of the customer are better positioned to weather potential profitability, brand reputation, and customer retention and acquisition concerns at the point of claim." Contact us for a copy of the claims study, "Detecting the Undetectable: What personal lines carriers are doing to tackle digital identity fraud in claims," which includes questions insurers need to ask their organizations and offers advice on how to approach the challenge of identity fraud. Media Contacts: Chas Strong LexisNexis Risk Solutions Phone: +1.706.202.5813 [email protected] Donna Armstrong Brodeur Partners for LexisNexis Risk Solutions Phone: +1.202-510-3531 [email protected] SOURCE LexisNexis Risk Solutions Local Creatives to Be Chosen for Annual Honor PHILADELPHIA, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MADE IN AMERICA, the ground-breaking JAY-Z curated two-day music festival, is looking to the Philadelphia community to help curate its iconic CAUSE VILLAGE art installation which will be returning to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this Labor Day weekend. Made In America Cause Village Letters. Local artists and students are invited to submit uplifting, community-focused designs to be featured on the 20-foot-tall Cause Village letters showcased at the festival taking inspiration from a cause represented at Made In America's philanthropic footprint. With causes spanning education, voter registration, animal welfare, LGBTQIA+ rights, housing, hunger, homelessness, arts and culture, financial literacy, mental health, environmental sustainability, workforce development, social justice, and civil rights, Made In America hopes artists find a connection and feel empowered as they create their visions. "Art holds power and at Made In America we pride ourselves on being more than the typical music festival but rather a cultural moment that celebrates and brings people together," said Dania Diaz, Managing Director, Team Roc. "We are excited to welcome new Philadelphia community members as this year's Cause Village letters creators and look forward to giving their designs a stage to shine." In addition to the letters themselves, Made In America will showcase their work leading up to the festival weekend and host the artists at a designated booth within the Cause Village hub. Those interested can submit their designs and find full guidelines here . The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 23 at 11:59 p.m. EST. For the latest on the Made In America Festival visit www.madeinamericafest.com . Additional information and talent line up to be announced. Media can apply for credentials and join the press list here: https://forms.gle/4sio1iviHfQzdTYw5 . SOURCE Made In America Within the framework of the 76th session of the World Health Assembly, the delegation led by the Minister of Health of Azerbaijan, Teymur Musayev, holds bilateral meetings with the health ministers of the member countries of the organization and other business events, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijans Health Ministry. Azerbaijans Health Ministry said that in a meeting with the delegation led by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands, Ernst Kuipers, Minister Teymur Musayev noted the development of bilateral relations in many fields and emphasized that there is great potential for the exchange of experience between national health institutions. He said that the Dutch healthcare system, which includes highly qualified doctors and modern medical institutions, is recognized as an exemplary model in Europe. At the same time, it is one of the world's leading countries in the production and sale of pharmaceutical and medical equipment. The Dutch Minister noted that there are all necessary means for interaction in the field of medical education in order to increase the efficiency of the health care of the two countries. At the meeting, a wide range of ideas was exchanged regarding the expansion of cooperation in the field of healthcare and medical science, the application of academic practices in the field of transplantation, the implementation of joint projects, and other issues of interest. The Azerbaijani delegation also held a meeting with Jan-Willem Scheigrond, Vice President of Global Government and Public Affairs of Royal Philips, a world leader in the production of medical equipment. During the meeting, the application of high-tech equipment produced by the company in Azerbaijan's health care, and the application of the company's know-how achievements during the medical research of Azerbaijan were the subject of extensive discussion. The representative of Azerbaijan met with Charles Gore, executive director of Medicines Patent Pool, an UN-supported public health organization dedicated to expanding access to life-saving medicines and promoting their development. Within the framework of the meeting, the issues of organizing the production and consumption of a wider range of medicines with international patents and certification in the field of pharmaceuticals and protecting the human health factor in the future were discussed. Highlights TVA is preparing for its next Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is expected to be completed in 2024. The IRP serves as a guide to how the agency can best meet energy demand in the coming decades. The process includes public input and engagement, under the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA, preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will review the potential environmental impacts of the IRP. Public comments on the scope of that document are being accepted through Monday, July 3, 2023. The Tennessee Valley Authority is engaging the public for input on what should be considered in the agency's next Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and the potential environmental impacts of that plan. An IRP serves as a compass, guiding the federal utility on how to best meet expected energy demand in the coming decades. The current IRP was completed in 2019. This next IRP is expected to be completed in 2024. "TVA serves one of the fastest growing regions in the nation - people are moving to our seven-state service area at six times the national average for better jobs and quality of life," said Jeff Lyash, TVA President and CEO. "This growth is exciting, but it also carries with it load growth for TVA. We must continue providing our communities and customers with energy security - energy that is affordable, reliable and resilient - while also being clean. That's why it's important to take a detailed look at where we're headed through an integrated resource plan." The comprehensive study includes describing TVA's resource needs, policy goals, physical and operational constraints, risks, and proposed resource choices. Stakeholders are engaged throughout the process, reviewing the planning information and shaping the analysis and outcomes. More information can be found at tva.com/irp. "The IRP process is critical in ensuring we have input from all voices -- our customers, stakeholders, and public -- in preparing energy options to serve our region long term," added Lyash. As part of the IRP decision-making process, and in alignment with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), TVA will analyze potential environmental impacts associated with the next IRP by preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS). The Notice of Intent (NOI), published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2023, and available at tva.com/irp, is the first step in the NEPA process and the IRP. TVA is accepting public comments on the next IRP and the scope of the environmental review. Comments must be submitted no later than Monday, July 3, 2023. All comments received, including names and addresses, will be considered part of the official record and available to the public. Comments and input can be submitted online at tva.com/irp, by email to IRP@tva.gov and by mail to Kelly Baxter, NEPA Project Manager, 400 W. Summit Hill Drive, WT 11B, Knoxville, Tenn. 37902. TVA is also hosting two virtual webinars - one on Tuesday, May 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. EDT and another on Wednesday, June 7 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. EDT - to provide more information and answer questions about the EIS and the IRP process. Visit tva.com/irp for more information on the virtual public meetings. Exhibition features more than 160 works and spans Escher's entire career. COOPERSTOWN, N.Y., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown brings the imaginative design, consummate draftsmanship, and dreamy visions of the renowned M.C. Escher to Upstate New York with the exhibition M.C. Escher: Infinite Variations, on view May 27-September 4, 2023. This monumental show from the private collection of Paul and Belinda Firos of Athens, Greece features more than 160 works and spans Escher's entire career, from his early training in Italy and Spain to his final years in the Netherlands. Visitors will see nearly every iconic image he produced. Bond of Union, 1956, M.C. Escher (1898 1972). Lithograph. M.C. Escher images are copyright of The M.C. Escher Co. "This exhibition has attracted record crowds in cities across the country and Fenimore is pleased to share it with everyone in Upstate New York throughout the summer," said Dr. Paul S. D'Ambrosio, Fenimore Art Museum President and CEO. "Escher's work is complex yet easy to enjoy. Even if you are familiar with his work, you will certainly find plenty of new and inspiring details in this impressive collection." Initially inspired by nature, Escher's later works became submerged in what he referred to as "mental imagery," a host of subjects influenced by Moorish architecture, mathematical equations, alchemy, and the concept of metamorphosis. It was in 1937 that Escher stepped through what he called the "open gate of mathematics." He used his imagination and his technical expertise as a graphic artist to invent new visual constructions, challenging conventional perceptions of space, perspective, the "impossible," and the "infinite." By the 1950s, Escher had developed a following among mathematicians and scientists who were intrigued by his tessellations and "impossible buildings." In the 1960s, his work was embraced as part of the pop-art and psychedelic movements. Escher's artwork was used, often without his permission, on everything from album covers to dorm room posters. His work has since become a symbolic bridge between science and art. The exhibition displays some of Escher's most iconic works, including Day and Night, Ascending and Descending, and the fourteen-foot-long Metamorphosis. The collection also features numerous, seldom-displayed prints including the entire set of his mezzotints and one of the earliest, large format drawings done by the artist. This exhibition was provided by PAN Art Connections. M.C. Escher: Infinite Variations is sponsored in part by Robert and Esther Black Family Foundation, The Clark Foundation, Nellie and Robert Gipson, Joseph and Carol Mahon, Mr. Tom Morgan and Ms. Erna J. Morgan McReynolds, NYCM Insurance, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O. Putnam, and Richland County Foundation. Related Programming: Virtual Symposium M.C. Escher: Where Art, Math, and the Sciences Converge - STEAM-Based Virtual Symposium Tuesday, August 1 6:00-9:00 PM. Free. Pre-registration required. About M.C. Escher MAURITS CORNELIS (M.C.) ESCHER was born in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands in 1898. Mauk, as his family called him, always enjoyed a close bond with his engineer father and was drawn to art. He went to school in Arnhem and after studying architecture focused on graphic design. Professor Samuel Jessum de Mesquita, who recognized Escher's talent, was a strong influence on the young artist. Escher visited Italy and Spain 1922. These auspicious trips would influence both his artwork and his personal life. He returned to Italy and met Swiss-born Jetta Umiker. The couple married in 1924 and settled in Rome where they had three sons. The Italian landscapes and architecture figured prominently in Escher's early work, but it was his visits to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain, that profoundly influenced his use of pattern and tessellations. He was captivated by the floor and wall patterns of the Moors. Noting the predominance of abstract geometric designs to the exclusion of human and animal forms, Escher strove to create the same endless, interlocking patterns, but with recognizable figures. In objection to the rise of fascism under Mussolini, the family left Italy in 1935, eventually settling in the Netherlands in 1941. Escher is most renowned for his work after 1937, when he walked through what he called "the open door of mathematics," and began to explore his visual concepts of duality, mirror images, multiple dimensions, relativities, infinity, and impossible constructions. He read several treatises on crystallography and the works of mathematician George Polya. He left it to those who were trained in the exact sciences, however, to explain his work in mathematical terms. Even as scientists, crystallographers, and mathematicians showed a great interest in his work, Escher said, "Although I am absolutely without training or knowledge in the exact sciences, I often seem to have more in common with mathematicians than with my fellow artists." M.C. Escher worked, lectured, and published treatises on his artwork and its connection to science and mathematics into his 70s. His final work, Snakes, was created in 1969 and is on display in this exhibition. During his lifetime, Escher made 448 lithographs, woodcuts, and wood engravings, and more than 2,000 drawings and sketches. In 1970 Escher moved to an artists' retirement home, complete with its own studio. He died in 1972 at the age of 74. With the 1979 publication of Douglas Hoftsadter's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Godel, Escher, Bach, the artist's reputation as a creative thinker was firmly established for future generations. About Fenimore Art Museum Fenimore Art Museum, located on the shores of Otsego LakeJames Fenimore Cooper's "Glimmerglass"in historic Cooperstown, New York, features a wide-ranging collection of American art including folk art, important American 18th- and 19th-century landscape, genre, portrait paintings, photography, and the renowned Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art. Changing exhibitions have featured well-known artists including Keith Haring, Ansel Adams, Andrew Wyeth, and many others. Summer hours: Open daily 10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. (May 27-October 9). Museum admission is free for ages 19 and under. Visit FenimoreArt.org. About PAN Art Connections PANART is a globally active company, founded in 2010 by a team of accomplished museum professionals who are deeply passionate about art and dedicated to elevating visitor experiences through world class exhibitions. Images available by request. Social Media: Instagram: @Fenimoreartmuseum Twitter: @fenimoreart Facebook: Fenimore Art Museum #FenimoreArtMuseum #EscherAtFenimore SOURCE Fenimore Art Museum SHANGHAI, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei launched its brand new FusionSolar strategy and all-scenario Smart PV+Energy Storage System (ESS) solutions at the 16th SNEC PV Power Expo in Shanghai. These offerings demonstrate Huawei's commitment to driving global transformation towards carbon neutrality. IMAGE In his keynote speech, Hou Jinlong, President of Huawei Digital Power, emphasized the accelerated energy transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy, driven by carbon neutrality, energy independence, and business value. In collaboration with partners, Huawei Digital Power integrates digital and power electronics technologies, as well as data and energy flows, to deliver all-scenario low-carbon products and solutions for customers worldwide. The goal is to build innovative power system infrastructure that advances the PV and ESS industries. Unveiling the Next-generation FusionSolar Strategy Chen Guoguang, President of Smart PV Business at Huawei Digital Power, unveiled the brand-new FusionSolar strategy. The strategy focuses on the 4T (Watt/Bit/Heat/Battery) technology convergence, establishing high-quality industry standards with partners, and enhancing its six ecosystem partner systems. Chen also presented Huawei's future-oriented all-scenario Smart PV+ESS solutions. In utility-scale plant scenarios, Huawei has set the global trend of smart string inverters over the past decade. Moving forward, the company will develop smart grid-forming converters that integrate PV+ESS+Grid+Management System to make PV a major energy source. Huawei's partnership with China Resources Power in Qinghai, China, led to the world's first application of smart grid-forming converters, laying the foundation for future industry standards. Moreover, Huawei helped ACWA Power and Power Construction Corporation of China build the world's largest PV+ESS micro-grid project in Saudi Arabia, supplying clean electricity to a city of about 1 million residents. In commercial and industrial (C&I) scenarios, Huawei promotes technological innovation to set active safety as a standard, helping customers reduce carbon emissions. In the coming decade, Huawei's one-fits-all, "Optimizer+PV+ESS+Charger+Load+Management System" solution will empower campuses and factories to achieve 100% energy self-sufficiency. In residential scenarios, Huawei aims to optimize home energy consumption through key technologies, like off-grid power backup, intelligent home energy scheduling by AI Energy Management Assistant (EMMA), and virtual power plant (VPP) interconnection. These efforts will enable power independence and self-sufficiency for homes. Launching New FusionSolar Products for All Scenarios Zheng Yue, President of Utility Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, introduced the FusionSolar Smart PV&ESS Solution, delivering grid forming, low levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), high reliability, and comprehensive digitalization. Huawei Smart PV&ESS Solution works in both on-grid and off-grid scenarios, offering 40% higher renewable power capacity and 30% lower LCOE than a conventional solution. Its 5+4 multi-level safety design ensures comprehensive protection from PV to ESS, covering components to systems, and provides robust cybersecurity. Its comprehensive digitalization enables end-to-end sensing of each component in a power plant. Zhong Mingming, President of C&I Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, launched the C&I Optimizer+PV+ESS+Charger+Management System Solution 2.0. The solution, combining optimizers, solar string inverters, ESSs, chargers, and management services, features intelligent energy yield, intelligent power consumption, intelligent reliability assurance, intelligent O&M, and active safety. It reduces customers' power consumption costs through intelligent technologies in energy yield, power consumption, reliability assurance, and O&M. The solution also ensures active safety at device, asset, and personal levels. Zhou Tao, President of Residential Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, launched the Residential Smart PV Solution 4.0. This 1+4+X Optimizer+PV+ESS+Charger+Load+Management System offers electricity self-sufficiency, an intelligent control experience, and active safety. It improves rooftop utilization by 10%30%, rooftop energy yield by up to 35%, and energy self-consumption by 10%. Integrating Residential Smart PV Solution with Huawei All-in-One Smart Home provides real-time insights and holistic control of energy data, driving home electricity self-sufficiency. The solution also prioritizes active safety, with enhanced response speed and safeguarding performance at the component and system levels. As of March 2023, Huawei Digital Power has assisted global customers in generating 769.5 billion kWh of green electricity, curbing 350 million tons of carbon emissions equivalent to planting 480 million trees. Huawei is dedicated to collaborating with customers and partners to promote green PV as a primary energy source for every home and business, thereby fostering the healthy development of the industry and contributing to a greener future. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085371/IMAGE.jpg SOURCE Huawei NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fortune has announced that Maryam Banikarim, founder and managing partner of purpose-driven consultancy MaryamB and co-founder of the grassroots volunteer movement NYCNext, and Mallun Yen, founder and CEO of Operator Collective, a $150 million venture fund and community for top operators from diverse backgrounds, will join the Fortune Most Powerful Women community as guest co-chairs of the 2023 MPW Summit. The announcement was made last night at a dinner for Fortune MPW members at the Park Hyatt in New York, NY. Maryam Banikarim and Mallun Yen will be guest co-chairs of the 2023 Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit on Oct. 9-11. Tweet this Maryam Banikarim and Mallun Yen join the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit as Guest Co-Chairs in 2023. Presented in collaboration with confirmed partners to dateAARP, Fidelity, Heidrick & Struggles, Insigniam, Instacart, Salesforce, TPG, Walton Family Foundation, and Workdaythis year's Summit explores the theme "Rising to the Occasion." The Summit is scheduled to take place October 9-11 at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, CA. Michal Lev-Ram, Editorial Director of Fortune Live Media says, "Maryam and Mallun are fantastic additions to our MPW team. As longtime members of the community, they have experienced the impact of MPW first-hand, and they are already helping to shape this year's program with their energy, expertise, and incredibly diverse and impressive networks. We are lucky to have them with us!" Of her participation in the event, Banikarim says, "It was an incredible honor when I was first invited into the MPW community. I want to ensure that MPW continues to thrive by helping to create an inclusive and diverse community that gives us a shared purpose, provides us with a sense of belonging (and joy) and helps us solve problems big and small." "I am thrilled and honored to guest co-chair MPW this year," says Yen. "This platform has been an important part of my personal and professional journeywe even publicly launched Operator Collective on the MPW stage! There's strong alignment between our communities and I've been fortunate to meet and strengthen relationships with many exceptional leaders through MPW who are now a part of OpCo. And, as an active member and now Co-Chair, it's been rewarding to contribute to growing the MPW community with new powerful faces, and to shine a light on the important impact they're having in their fields." Banikarim and Yen will be joining Fortune Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell and Fortune MPW Summit co-chairs Lev-Ram, Fortune Senior Writer Maria Aspan, Fortune Senior Writer Emma Hinchliffe, and Fortune Editor Ruth Umoh in conversation with prominent women from across industries, including: Kim Albarella, Head of Global Security, TikTok Laura Alber, Chief Executive Officer, Williams Sonoma Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer, Netflix Joan Bottarini, Chief Financial Officer, Hyatt Hotels Corporation Nita Farahany, Neurotechnology Ethicist; Author of The Battle for your Brain Beth Ford, Chief Executive Officer, Land O'Lakes Kim Godwin, President, ABC News Mar Hershenson, Managing Partner, Pear VC Valerie Jarrett, Board Member and CEO, Barack Obama Foundation Jess Lee, Partner at Sequoia Capital; Co-Founder & CEO of Polyvore Karen Lynch, President and CEO, CVS Health Kath McLay, Chief Executive Officer, Sam's Club Donna Morris, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Walmart Inc. Marie Myers, Chief Financial Officer, HP Kara Nortman, Founder, Angel City FC; Managing Partner, Monarch Collective Ginni Rometty, Former Chairman and CEO of IBM, Co-Chair at OneTen, Author of Good Power Asha Sharma, Chief Operating Officer, Instacart Fidji Simo, Chief Executive Officer, Instacart Kathi Vidal, U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Fortune MPW began as a list in 1998, and has since evolved into an extraordinary leadership community, convening the preeminent women in businessalong with select leaders in government, philanthropy, education, and the artsfor wide-ranging conversations that inspire and deliver practical advice. For more information, visit https://fortune.com/conferences/fortune-most-powerful-women-membership-2023/, and follow Fortune MPW on Twitter and Instagram. ABOUT FORTUNE The Fortune mission is to change the world by making business better. We achieve that by providing trusted information, telling great stories, and building world-class communities. We measure performance by rigorous benchmarks. And we hold companies accountable. Our goal is to make Fortune a force for good through its second century and beyond. For more information, visit www.fortune.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Klooster Director of Communications, Fortune 646-437-6613 [email protected] SOURCE FORTUNE Media SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 25, 2023 a Midland Jury, sitting in the courtroom of Hon. Stephen Carras awarded a verdict against Mid-Michigan Medical Center in the amount of $31,600,000.00, on behalf of a brain-damaged child. Matthew Patterson of Beam Legal Team and of Counsel to Fieger Law, tried the case for three weeks. Kendall Berthiaume was born on December 20, 2018. The Fetal Monitor Strips showed the baby was in fetal distress and needed to be born by immediate C-section due to Pitocin driven excessive uterine activity. The Pitocin was not stopped, and delivery was not timely done, and Kendall suffered severe brain damage from a lack of oxygen as a result. Kendall is now 4 years old and has spastic quadriplegia, cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. The Midland County Jury, based on the evidence presented at trial, was able to find truth and do justice for this little girl in order to provide for her future healthcare needs. Matthew Patterson of Beam Legal Team stated: "The minor here, Kendall, is severely injured and will forever be permanently disabled. The verdict in this case can never bring Kendall back, but it does provide her justice for her horrible injuries. It shows that no matter where you are, even in the smallest of counties, justice can be served when the facts deserve it. The Berthiaume family wants to thank Judge Carras and the entire Midland County Court Staff for their professionalism in providing the parties a fair and just trial." The jury deliberated for over 9 hours before returning the verdict on Thursday, May 25, 2023. SOURCE Fieger Law CHICAGO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The medical display industry is poised to undergo significant transformations in the near future. With rapid advancements in technology and increasing demand for high-quality visualization in healthcare settings, medical displays are expected to become more sophisticated and efficient. Cutting-edge technologies like high-resolution screens, 3D imaging, and augmented reality are likely to be integrated into medical displays, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and improving surgical procedures. Additionally, the adoption of artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning techniques will enable real-time image analysis, assisting healthcare professionals in making accurate and timely decisions. Furthermore, the growing trend of telemedicine and remote healthcare services will drive the demand for portable and wireless medical displays that can deliver seamless and secure transmission of patient data. In conclusion, the near future of the medical display industry promises remarkable advancements that will revolutionize medical imaging, diagnostics, and patient care, ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes worldwide. Medical Display Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $ 2.3 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $2.9 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The global Medical Display market is like rising technological advancements, increasing demand for diagnostic imaging, rising awareness and adoption of minimally invasive procedures and surge in telemedicine and remote diagnostics. However, market saturation in developed countries and increasing adoption of refurbished medical displays will be challenges in the growth of this market during the forecast period. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=74058413 Browse in-depth TOC on "Medical Display Market" 250 - Tables 80 - Figures 300 - Pages Medical Display Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $2.3 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $2.9 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% Market Size Available for 20202028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Technology, By Panel size, By Resolution, By color, By Applications, and By Region Geographies Covered North America US Canada Europe Germany UK France Spain Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of LATAM Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing investments from government bodies and private players in healthcare sectors in emerging economies Key Market Drivers Growing adoption of hybrid operating rooms In this report, the Medical Display Market is segmented based on technology, panel size, resolution, display color, application and region. Color display segment is expected to witness the fastest growth in the forecast period. The Medical Display Market is categorized into five segments, including technology, panel size, resolution, display color, application. Among these categories, the color segment in display color is projected to experience the highest growth rate from 2023 to 2028. Enhanced visualization, technological advancements, increasing complexity of medical imaging, improved patient care and safety, integration with picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and advantages of color displays over grayscale displays such as enhanced contrast and differentiation, improved depth perception, enhanced communication and collaboration, multi-modality application are responsible for the large adoption of color display. OLED Displays accounted for the fastest growing of the Medical Display Market in 2022. The Medical Display Market is categorized into different technology, including LED-Backlit LCD Displays, CCFL-Backlit LCD Displays, OLED Displays. Among these, the OLED displays segment held the fastest-growing market for medical display market in 2022. This significant market share can be attributed to factors such as fast response time and high refresh rates of OLED displays enable real-time visualization of moving structures, making them valuable for procedures that require precise guidance and monitoring, such as minimally invasive surgeries and endoscopy. Europe accounted for the second largest share of the Medical Display Market in 2022. The Medical Display Market is segmented into five geographical regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2022, Europe emerged as the second dominant market for Medical Display worldwide. The increasing demand for Medical Display and the availability of advanced technologies are expected to be major driving factors for market growth in Europe. The region's substantial market share can be attributed to its well-developed healthcare infrastructure and the continuous investment in research and development of medical devices. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=74058413 Medical Display Market Dynamics: Drivers: Growing Adoption of Hybrid Operating Rooms Short Replacement Cycles of Medical Displays Increasing Preference for Minimally Invasive Treatments Rising Number of Diagnostic Imaging Centers Restraints: Market Saturation in Developed Countries Increasing Adoption of Refurbished Medical Displays Opportunities: Development of Healthcare Infrastructure in Emerging Markets Technological Advancements Challenges: Adoption of Consumer-Grade Displays Fluctuating Average Selling Prices of Display Panels Key Market Players: The prominent players in the global Medical Display Market are Barco NV (Belgium), Eizo (Japan), Sony Electronics Inc. (Japan), Lg Electronics (South Korea), Novanta (US), FSN Medical Technologies (South Korea), Advantech (Taiwan), Quest International (US), Steris (UK), Jusha Medical (China), Siemens Healthineers Ag (Germany), Double Black Imaging (US), HP Development Co. Ltd (US), Stryker (US), and Coje Display (South Korea) Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=74058413 Recent Developments: In April 2023 , LG electronics launched 32HQ713D-B, which has latest high-resolution 8MP diagnostic medical monitor. It combines 1000 nits of brightness with LG's proprietary IPS Black panel to deliver an enhanced 2,000:1 contrast ratio with deep blacks, while greatly simplifying color calibration through an automatic integrated sensor and software. , LG electronics launched 32HQ713D-B, which has latest high-resolution 8MP diagnostic medical monitor. It combines 1000 nits of brightness with LG's proprietary IPS Black panel to deliver an enhanced 2,000:1 contrast ratio with deep blacks, while greatly simplifying color calibration through an automatic integrated sensor and software. In February 2023 , Eizo launched a 21.3-inch 2-megapixel (1200 x 1600 pixels) color monitor for displaying patient charts and reviewing diagnostic imaging in hospital and clinic environments. , Eizo launched a 21.3-inch 2-megapixel (1200 x 1600 pixels) color monitor for displaying patient charts and reviewing diagnostic imaging in hospital and clinic environments. In November 2022 , Barco launched two displays. Io Gray 5.8 MP for the breast imaging and MDSC-8532 and MDSC-8527 4K UHD for surgical display. , Barco launched two displays. Io Gray 5.8 MP for the breast imaging and MDSC-8532 and MDSC-8527 UHD for surgical display. In July 2022 , Eizo launched launched four new monitors ranging from 32 to 55 inches with 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) for use in endoscopy, microsurgery, and other high-precision procedures in the operating room (OR). Medical Display Market Advantages: Enhanced image quality: Medical displays provide high-resolution and accurate visualization of medical images, enabling healthcare professionals to make precise diagnoses and treatment decisions. DICOM compliance: Medical displays adhere to the DICOM standard, ensuring consistency and compatibility in image display across different healthcare systems. This promotes seamless sharing and collaboration of medical images among healthcare providers. Ergonomic features: Medical displays are designed with features like backlight stabilization, ambient light sensors, and anti-glare coatings to optimize viewing conditions and reduce eye fatigue. This improves user comfort and productivity during long hours of image interpretation. Versatility: The medical display market offers a wide range of display sizes and configurations to suit different clinical settings. From large format displays for operating rooms to compact and portable displays for point-of-care applications, healthcare professionals have access to tailored display solutions. Integration of advanced technologies: Medical displays are incorporating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. These technologies assist in automated image analysis, abnormality detection, and generating quantitative data, leading to faster and more precise diagnoses. Workflow efficiency: With optimized image quality, standardized display, and ergonomic features, medical displays contribute to improved workflow efficiency in healthcare settings. This leads to streamlined processes, reduced errors, and enhanced patient care. Telemedicine and remote healthcare: The growing trend of telemedicine and remote healthcare services demands portable and wireless medical displays that can securely transmit patient data. Medical displays cater to these requirements, facilitating remote consultations and diagnosis. Ongoing technological advancements: The medical display market is continuously evolving, with ongoing research and development. Advancements in display technology, such as higher resolutions, 3D imaging, and augmented reality, are expected to further enhance the capabilities of medical displays. Overall, the medical display market offers advantages like enhanced image quality, DICOM compliance, ergonomic features, versatility, integration of advanced technologies, improved workflow efficiency, support for telemedicine, and ongoing technological advancements. These factors contribute to the critical role of medical displays in enabling accurate diagnoses, efficient healthcare processes, and better patient outcomes. Medical Display market - Report Highlights: Refinements in the segments of the medical display market The current edition of the report consists of an updated market overview. Additional points in the market overview have been added, keeping in mind the impact of Recession impact on the overall medical display market. The new additions in this chapter include supply chain analysis, ecosystem analysis, regulatory analysis, value chain analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, Company evaluation quadrants for start-ups/ SMEs and product portfolio analysis. Coverage of new market players in the medical display market Updated financial information/product portfolio of players The new edition of the report provides updated financial information until 2022 for each listed company in a graphical representation as a single diagram (instead of multiple tables). This will easily help analyze the present status of profiled companies in terms of their financial strength, profitability, key revenue-generating country/region, business segment focus in terms of the highest revenue-generating segment, and R&D investments. Updated market developments of profiled players recent developments are important to understand market trends and the growth strategies adopted by players. The current edition of this report provides updated developments of profiled players from January 2019 to August 2022, indicating a continuation from the previous version. Product/services launches, approvals, and upgrades, expansions, acquisitions, agreements, partnerships, and collaborations were the principal growth strategies adopted by market players in this period. Related Reports: Medical Image Analysis Software Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Diagnostic Imaging Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 Breast Imaging Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 Operating Room Management Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/medical-display-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/medical-display.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets HONG KONG, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Meituan (HKG: 3690) (the "Company"), a leading technology-driven retail company in China, today announced the unaudited consolidated results of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Company Financial Highlights During the first quarter of 2023, our revenues increased by 26.7% to RMB58.6 billion from RMB46.3 billion for the same period of 2022. Our Core local commerce segment achieved an operating profit of RMB9.4 billion for the first quarter of 2023, up by 100.7% from RMB4.7 billion for the same period of 2022. Meanwhile, the operating loss for our New initiatives segment continuously narrowed to RMB5.0 billion for the first quarter of 2023. Our profit for the period was RMB3.4 billion for the first quarter of 2023, turning from loss into profit on a year-over-year basis. Our adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net profit were RMB6.3 billion and RMB5.5 billion for this quarter respectively, reaching the highest level in our history. We also achieved operating cash inflow of RMB8.1 billion for the first quarter of 2023. We held cash and cash equivalents of RMB26.9 billion and short-term treasury investments of RMB84.5 billion as of March 31, 2023. "During the quarter, Meituan captured consumers' diverse demand for goods and services during the consumption recovery with various businesses posting healthy growth," said Meituan Founder and CEO Xing Wang. "Meituan has witnessed the resilience of the domestic economy and the gigantic potential of consumption, and we firmly believe that we will continue to benefit from new advancements and growth opportunities in retail. As a company that integrates retail and technology, we will increase our investments in technology and innovations and actively explore the implementation of cutting-edge solutions that connects people to products and services," added Mr. Wang. Meituan CFO Shaohui Chen said, "Meituan delivered strong growth during the quarter, boosted by strong local consumption recovery post reopening and our effective marketing measures. We will continue to incentivize consumption recovery and increase demand by optimizing our products, content offerings and fulfillment network. We are firmly committed to creating more value for all the participants in our ecosystem." Company Business Highlights Core local commerce For the first quarter of 2023, segment revenue increased by 25.5% year over year to RMB42.9 billion, and operating profit increased by 100.7% year over year to RMB9.4 billion, with operating margin improving to 22.0%, compared to 13.8% in the same period of 2022. Number of On-demand Delivery transactions increased by 14.9% year over year. Since the beginning of this year, the food delivery industry has continued to recover. We assisted new merchants in starting their businesses, and helped improve online operations of all merchants. Leveraging deeper consumer insights, we dynamically iterated our operational strategies and provided consumers with better products and services, which led to healthy growth in order volume. For instance, we swiftly adjusted our marketing strategies and user incentive schemes to capture the growing consumption demand. As a result, the number of Active Merchants and Transacting Users of the food delivery business experienced steady growth in the first quarter. Particularly, we expanded the high-quality merchant base on our platform, and the number of newly on-boarded KA and CKA merchants increased on a year-over-year basis. In addition, we piloted new marketing and promotional formats. In March, we launched a brand-new marketing event "Shen Qiang Shou" for merchants in Shenzhen. It is a promotional event that allows merchants to sell discounted high-quality products to consumers and integrates live streaming, short-form videos and other formats. In April, we upgraded our monthly marketing campaign "Shen Quan Jie". During these promotional events, merchants could offer deep-discounted deals and create mega-hit products through flash sales, live streaming or short-form videos, which effectively help merchants enhance their growth potential in combination with our existing shelf-based business model. Meanwhile, we were able to explore traffic growth, and stimulate non-instant demand by addressing consumers' coupon stockpiling needs through these live streaming events. Meituan Instashopping continued its high growth trajectory. For the first quarter of 2023, order volume increased by around 35% year over year, driven by increases in both number of Transacting Users and transaction frequency. As we expanded product selections and leveraged marketing events, the consumer mindshare of "Everything Now" was further reinforced. During the holiday seasons in the first quarter, such as Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and Women's Day, demand for on-demand delivery for gifts increased significantly on our platform. Annual Active Merchants increased by over 30% year over year in the first quarter of 2023, with non-food specialty stores, liquor and beverages, and flowers maintaining high growth. In addition, order mix from new supply formats increased notably, and we continued to expand its geographical coverage. We also strengthened consumer mindshare of consulting doctors and buying medicines on Meituan. During the Chinese New Year holiday, we provided more incentives as well as traffic to pharmacies that stayed open for business, and provided free online consultation services for people in certain regions. We also satisfied consumers' medicine demand related to seasonal diseases, such as flu and allergies. Thus, order volume and user base also posted strong growth for the medicine category this quarter. As offline consumption gradually recovered in the first quarter of 2023, GTV and revenue growths of our in-store business accelerated month by month. We captured the rising demand for group gatherings and holiday meals, and launched preset in-store menus, packaged deals, and more. We continued to expand our merchant selections across service categories, and enriched our marketing and content formats. In addition, we iterated our product operating strategy and optimised the service capability of our business development team. We also enhanced synergies across business lines, and provided merchants with more promotional channels. To further stimulate consumption during Labor Day, we launched a comprehensive Meituan platform live streaming program that provides consumers with deep-discounted high-quality products, and incentivized participation from high-quality merchants. We also supported small and medium-sized merchants with online operations and helped them standardize service qualities. On the consumer side, we continued to strengthen our content capabilities and iterate short-form video formats. We introduced Special Deals to offer high-quality services at deep discounts for consumers, while allowing merchants to create and promote mega-hit products. Through these marketing events and campaigns, our consumer mindshare of finding the best deals on Meituan was further strengthened. In the future, we will continue to iterate our operations and diversify our product and service offerings, by leveraging our advantages in organizational capability, consumer mindshare, and merchant service, which ultimately will help accelerate online penetration for the in-store industry. For the hotel and travel business, as consumption demand recovered, our room nights and GTV grew robustly in the first quarter of 2023. Specifically, room nights during the Chinese New Year holiday increased by over 40% compared to the same periods of 2022 and 2019. Room nights from local accommodations and short-distance travel scenarios also maintained high growth momentum after the Chinese New Year, and peaked for several consecutive weekends. Following the evolving consumption trends, we continued to enrich our product mix and leverage holiday promotions to enhance brand awareness. Moreover, we optimised our subsidy strategy and increased live streaming frequency. For high-star hotels, we enhanced our supply and pricing mechanism, improved the merchant information display on our platform, and deepened collaborations with high-star chain hotels. We also optimised our packaged deal products and broadened distribution channels. On the low-star front, we further improved our room renovation program, CRM tools and marketing solutions, to help merchants capture the industry recovery opportunity and satisfy diverse consumer needs. For alternative accommodations, we maintained industry leadership and continued to focus on user experience, supply optimisation, as well as operating efficiency improvement. We have strong confidence in the future growth of the hotel and travel industry in China, and we believe in our ability to meet demand from both consumers and merchants. New Initiatives For the first quarter of 2023, revenues from the New initiatives segment increased by 30.1% year over year to RMB15.7 billion. Operating loss for the segment decreased by 40.5% year over year to RMB5.0 billion, and operating margin improved sequentially to negative 32.0%. Meituan Select maintained an industry-leading position and continuously improved operational efficiency. During the first quarter of 2023, we optimised our pricing and product management capabilities. We provided consumers with wider selections of value-for-money products and more convenience, through our nationwide next-day logistics and self-pickup network. The accumulative number of Transacting Users had reached 450 million by March-end. We actively promoted the circulation of agricultural products and helped farmers increase income. As a result, sales contribution from agricultural products surpassed 45% in the first quarter. We also established partnerships with local governments and suppliers in the products' places of origin, and expanded our efforts in the direct procurement of high-quality agricultural products. Through these measures, we are able to bring high-quality products directly from farms to consumers' dining tables. In addition, our engagement in rural areas helped create employment opportunities locally. For example, the number of pick-up stations in lower-tier markets has exceeded 1.3 million. For Meituan Grocery, GTV increased by over 50% year over year in the first quarter of 2023. We continued to focus on cost control and efficiency improvement during the first quarter. We also accelerated our product circulation efficiency, and elevated consumer experience by providing better quality and more diverse product selections. In addition, we enhanced our cold-chain logistics and on-demand delivery service to strengthen consumer mindshare. Average order value and order frequency both increased compared to the same period of last year. We also improved our "Locally-sourced Selected Products" program, by deepening collaborations with local government and farmers, which not only diversified our platform's supply but also helped farmers increase income. Furthermore, we established in-depth collaborations with brands, and launched joint-branding programs in selected categories to drive sales growth. As the consumption market gradually recovered since the beginning of 2023, demand for local services also increased robustly. On the consumer side, we coped with consumer's growing demand across goods and service categories, by leveraging our advantages in on-demand retail and local services. On the merchant front, we continued to enhance our operating solutions and marketing tools to help merchants seize the post-pandemic recovery opportunities, grow their business and improve operating efficiency. Going forward, we will continue to optimise our marketing strategies and formats to better satisfy merchants' needs for promotions and help them increase revenue and profit. In addition, we will continue to implement the "Retail + Technology" corporate strategy, leverage technology to bring new advancements and growth opportunities, fulfill our mission that "We help people eat better, live better", and create more value for all the participants in our ecosystem. For the full announcement of Meituan for the three months ended March 31, 2023, please visit: http://media-meituan.todayir.com/202305251729431742504632_en.pdf About Meituan Meituan (HKG: 3690) (the "Company") is a leading technology-driven retail company in China. With the mission of "We help people eat better, live better," the Company uses technology to connect consumers and merchants. Service offerings on its platform address people's daily needs for food and retail goods and extend further to broad lifestyle and travel services. Meituan is the world's leading on-demand food delivery service provider and China's leading e-commerce platform for in-store dining services. Meituan helps consumers discover merchant information, make informed decisions, complete online and offline transactions and enjoy on-demand delivery. The Company currently owns several household brands in China, including Meituan, China's leading online marketplace for services, Dianping, China's leading online destination for discovering local services, Meituan Waimai for on-demand delivery services, and Meituan Bikes for bike-sharing services. The Company operates in over 2,800 cities and counties in China. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the business outlook, forecast business plans and growth strategies of the Company. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are stated herein on the basis of the outlook at the time of this press release. They are based on certain expectations, assumptions and premises, some of which are subjective or beyond our control. These forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and may not be realized in future. Underlying the forward-looking statements is a large number of risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these risks and uncertainties is included in our other public disclosure documents on our corporate website. For media inquiries, please contact: Meituan [email protected] [email protected] ICR Inc. Email: [email protected] SOURCE Meituan Metaview releases large language model (LLM)-based chat interface that gives recruiters the ability to ask questions about candidates in their pipeline and instantly receive summaries of key details, exact data points, and underlying insights based on what was discussed in interviews. The feature builds on Metaview's AI-powered interview summarization that lets recruiters focus on high-quality engagement with candidates, without being distracted by the need for thorough notes. Metaview Answers presents a new, AI-enabled model for how recruiters can extract data from unstructured, information-dense interviews to save time, make more informed decisions, and improve the candidate experience. LONDON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Metaview, the AI recruiting-tech company with backing from VVUS, Fly Ventures, Seedcamp, & Village Global, has released the first AI-powered conversational interface for interviews. The feature leverages the latest advancements in large language models (LLMs), including OpenAI's GPT-4. See how Answers works. The feature supports recruiters by giving them instant access to the most important information about candidates in their pipeline: the information they share during the interview process. Recruiters can simply type in a question they have about a candidate and Metaview's AI returns a response based on what was discussed in the interview. For example, a recruiter could ask what a candidate said their compensation expectations are, or ask for a reminder of key points that were discussed. Metaview's AI also generates underlying insights, such as a candidate's stated motivations for seeking a new role. "Metaview Answers is the latest example of how we're leveraging advancements at the bleeding edge of AI to help increase recruiters' efficiency and empower them with insights and data to be more effective at the human elements of recruiting," says co-founder Siadhal Magos. "With Answers, it's like recruiters have their own assistant ready to recall any information they need to support hiring teams in making informed decisions and building connections with candidates." Customers that use Metaview see the benefits in their productivity and efficiency: they save an average of 5-10 hours per week per recruiter, and see time to hire reduced by 20% as a result of running higher-quality interviews. Founded by Siadhal Magos and Shahriar Tajbakhsh in 2018, companies including Genentech, Quora, Robinhood, and Brex use Metaview to improve the quality and efficiency of their interview processes. For more information and to try Answers for free, visit www.metaview.ai/answers Media Contact: Stephanie Tsimis [email protected] Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2xMwor-W5Y SOURCE Metaview SAN DIEGO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MG Properties, a privately held real estate investment company, has announced the acquisition of Artesia Apartments, a premier apartment community located in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Everett, Washington, for a purchase price of $61.6 million. MG Properties Acquires Artesia Apartments in Everett, WA for $61.6 Million Artesia Apartments is a 192-unit apartment community located in the highly desirable city of Everett, which is a thriving business hub and offers easy access to Seattle and the surrounding areas. The community features spacious and modern one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments situated directly on Silver Lake, providing residents with a variety of recreational activities and excellent access to the region's largest employers. "We are thrilled to add Artesia Apartments to our growing Seattle portfolio," said Jeff Gleiberman, President of MG Properties. "This purchase aligns with our investment strategy of making long-term acquisitions in strong markets with solid growth potential." The seller, RISE Properties Trust, was represented by Philip Assouad, Giovanni Napoli, Ryan Harmon, Nicholas Ruggiero and Anthony Palladino from Institutional Property Advisors. Financing was provided by Freddie Mac and arranged by Brian Eisendrath, Cameron Chalfant, Jake Vitta, and Tyler Johnson of Institutional Property Advisors. To learn more visit: https://www.rentartesia.com. ABOUT MG PROPERTIES MG Properties is a privately owned, fully integrated real estate company specializing in the investment, redevelopment, and management of multi-family assets. MG has purchased twelve properties totaling more than $1.5 billion in the past year. Headquartered in San Diego, California, MG was founded in 1992 by Mark Gleiberman with the mission to enrich communities. MG's current portfolio is comprised of over 28,000 rental homes in California, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Oregon, including 100 communities. For additional information, visit www.mgproperties.com. SOURCE MG Properties PARIS, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Moet Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of the LVMH Group, and ChangeNOW, announce their partnership within the context of the World Living Soils Forum, an international event dedicated to soil regeneration. MOET HENNESSY AND CHANGENOW ANNOUNCE THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE WORLD LIVING SOILS FORUM (PRNewsfoto/Moet Hennessy) ChangeNow (PRNewsfoto/Moet Hennessy) The World Living Soils Forum is a unique event designed to share and promote concrete solutions and actions for sustainable viticulture and regenerative agriculture. Organized by Moet Hennessy, its first edition (Arles, June 2022) brought together a large community of researchers, experts, public institution representatives, professional associations and companies from the wine and spirits, as well as agri-food industries striving to preserve and regenerate the soil. "Soils are a resource we share, a vital element for our survival. They play a key role in climate regulation, biodiversity preservation and carbon sequestration. It is therefore essential for agriculture to go hand in hand with the conservation of these ecological functions," says Philippe Schaus, Chairman & CEO of Moet Hennessy. Driven by a common desire to accelerate widespread mobilization and initiatives taken by all stakeholders on the essential issue of living soils, Moet Hennessy and ChangeNOW announce their partnership to extend the reach of the World Living Soils Forum. The association of their expertise is an opportunity to scale up and deploy concrete solutions quickly. "This partnership reinforces our ambition to highlight the most promising initiatives and technological advances in the field of soil regeneration. By joining forces, Moet Hennessy and ChangeNOW will help accelerate solutions that have an impact on soil health," adds Sandrine Sommer, Chief Sustainability Officer of Moet Hennessy. This joint commitment also materialized at the 2023 edition of ChangeNOW, organized in Paris on May 25, 26 and 27, 2023, through the WLSF Soils Hub by Moet Hennessy: a space open to all, dedicated to awareness of the challenges related to soil preservation and regeneration. "An agricultural revolution is necessary if we are to meet the climate and ecological challenges we face. Regenerative agriculture and the science of living soils are some of the most powerful tools available to us to build a sustainable world. Coming together to find solutions and new models is our common purpose," concludes Santiago Lefebvre, Founder and President of ChangeNOW. About Moet Hennessy Moet Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of LVMH, regroups twenty-six Maisons, recognized internationally for the richness of their terroirs, the quality of their products and the craftsmanship with which they are created. For many years, Moet Hennessy has been committed to its environmental and social program, Living Soils Living Together. Ao Yun, Ardbeg, Armand de Brignac, Belvedere, Bodega Numanthia, Chandon, Chateau d'Esclans, Chateau Galoupet, Chateau Minuty, Cheval des Andes, Clos19, Cloudy Bay, Dom Perignon, Eminente, Glenmorangie, Hennessy, Krug, Mercier, Moet & Chandon, Newton, Ruinart, Terrazas de los Andes, Veuve Clicquot, Volcan de mi Tierra, Woodinville. About ChangeNOW Launched in 2017, ChangeNOW is a social enterprise that accelerates the environmental and social transition by fostering the deployment of concrete actions and solutions responding to the biggest challenges of our century. Each year, ChangeNOW organizes the largest event of solutions event for the planet. The summit brings together innovators, investors, thought leaders, policy makers and public participants from around the world in an inspiring and action-oriented format. About the World Living Soils Forum Regenerating soils is key to mitigating and adapting to climate change as well as fighting biodiversity loss. Preserving Soil Health is one of Moet Hennessy's major commitment to sustainable development. Throughout viticulture and agriculture, solutions and innovations exist worldwide to manage terroirs in a more sustainable way. By creating the World Living Soils Forum, Moet Hennessy is seeking to bring together the various players to accelerate the transition by sharing best practices and knowledge. Find more on www.worldlivingsoilsforum.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085720/WLSF.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085758/Moet_Hennessy2_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085773/ChangeNOW_Logo.jpg Contact Moet Hennessy Alain Lavital Directeur des Relations Publiques et Partenariats [email protected] ChangeNOW Claire Gaudefroy Head of Communications [email protected] SOURCE Moet Hennessy Integrated luxury retailer joins forces with its brand partners to raise over $600,000 for Parsons School of Design and The Joseph and Gail Gromek Institute for Fashion Business Bergdorf Goodman hosts Parsons students to inspire next generation of talent NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Neiman Marcus Group ("NMG") is proud to announce Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer, was honored with the Parsons Table Award at the 74th annual Parsons Benefit alongside Naomi Campbell and Olivier Rousteing, creative director at Balmain. The Parsons Table Award recognizes visionaries for significant contributions to design, retail, fashion, philanthropy and social justice. Recipients are also honored for their long-standing commitment to supporting and creating opportunities for future generations of artists, designers and creatives. Geoffroy van Raemdonck and Carolina Herrera at the 74th Annual Parsons Benefit Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, at the 74th Annual Parsons Benefit Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, Renee White, Provost of The New School, Dwight McBride, President of The New School, Olivier Rousteing, Creative Director of Balmain, at the 74th Annual Parsons Benefit "I am humbled to receive recognition from the prestigious Parsons School of Design," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer of NMG. "I believe it is not what we do that will be remembered, but how we do it. We Lead with Love in everything we do at NMG. I am grateful for the opportunity to champion values-led leadership in our industry." The Parsons Benefit is an annual celebration that convenes a highly esteemed group of industry leaders and Parsons alumni. The event highlights the impressive work of its students, and honors individuals that have made a noteworthy and inspirational impact on the industry. NMG leveraged its deep relationships with brand partners to raise more than $600,000. The donations will benefit the Joseph and Gail Gromek Institute for Fashion Business at Parsons School of Design. The Gromek Institute helps prepare and equip students and recent graduates by connecting them with industry. The aim is to prepare students to work in the business of fashion and provide equitable opportunities through various initiatives including scholarships, grants, internships, mentorships, fellowships and masterclasses by covering costs that are often excluded from academic scholarships. "We are so thrilled Neiman Marcus Group partnered with the Gromek Institute for Fashion Business at Parsons to join in our efforts to support the next generation of fashion design talent to thrive beyond the classroom. There are so many talented students that have done the work to be able to attend Parsons School of Design but struggle covering basic expenses of living in New York City that are not included in academic scholarships," said Abrima Erwiah, Professor and Director of the Gromek Institute for Fashion Business at Parsons. "Through this partnership, students will be able to access much needed financial and industry resources to help develop and apply their ideas. I am excited to see what student and recent graduate projects will emerge through this unique opportunity." The funds raised included a donation from The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. NMG also awarded two Parsons students with a $10,000 scholarship through a new, cobranded NMG x Fashion Scholarship Fund that supports studies in sustainable and ethical fashion. This week, the company hosted Parsons students at Bergdorf Goodman for a career panel with NMG leaders. "The students captivated us with creative and bold questions about the future of luxury fashion," explained Melissa Xides, Chief Retail Officer of Bergdorf Goodman and one of the panelists. "It was a privilege to welcome emerging fashion leaders for an engaging dialogue with some of our existing leaders. Images from the Parsons Benefit and student programming at Bergdorf Goodman can be downloaded here. ABOUT NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP (NMG) Neiman Marcus Group is a relationship business that leads with love in everything we do for our customers, associates, brand partners, and communities. Our legacy of innovating and our culture of Belonging guide our roadmap for Revolutionizing Luxury Experiences. As one of the largest multi-brand luxury retailers in the U.S., with the world's most desirable brand partners, we're delivering exceptional products and intelligent services, enabled by our investments in data and technology. Through the expertise of our 10,000+ associates, we deliver and scale a personalized luxury experience across our three channels of in-store, eCommerce, and remote selling. Our NMG|Way culture, powered by our people, combines individual talents into a collective strength to make life extraordinary. Our flagship brands include Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. For more information, visit neimanmarcusgroup.com. Parsons School of Design at The New School is one of the leading institutions for art and design education in the world. Based in New York but active around the world, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the full spectrum of art and design disciplines, as well as online courses, degree and certificate programs. Critical thinking and collaboration are at the heart of a Parsons education. Parsons graduates are leaders in their respective fields, with a shared commitment to creatively and critically addressing the complexities of life in the 21st century. For more information on Gromek Institute, please contact [email protected] SOURCE Neiman Marcus Group Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Recently, 420 Elko and Spring Creek students learned about agriculture in Elko County. They attended an Ag in the Classroom event at the Ruby Shadows Ranch near Jiggs. The event was spread over four days with over 100 students visiting the ranch each day. Most students were grade school age, but on Monday the entire Battle Born Academy attended. At the ranch, students cycled through eight stations, learning about animals with actual cattle, sheep, chickens, and horses. They learned why cattle are branded and all the products that come from cattle. Favorite stations seemed to be a hayride on a wagon pulled by a tractor, handling the chickens, and being led through stalls and lanes to a double-decker cattle truck, so students could see what it is like for cattle. The day also included hot dogs roasted on willow sticks. A committee of eight put on this years event, starting work in January. In March, 20 teachers went through Ag in the Classroom training to see how they could incorporate agriculture in their school lessons. The students of these teachers then came to the ranch. Other Nevada communities hold Ag in the Classroom events, but Elko is the only community where students actually visit a ranch. Rachael Buzzetti is a local rancher and chairman of the group. She told me too often the world views agriculture more negative than positive. We want to show kids the real agriculture. The main program sponsor was the Elko County Cattlewomen. Jennifer Anderson is a retired teacher and committee member. She said we want students to learn about agriculture in Elko County. Most students dont know where their food comes from. It takes a lot of work to put on these events. The people at Ruby Shadows Ranch put in a lot of work preparing for the program where stations were spread across their ranch yard. FFA students helped, staying with each group of students as they walked around the stations. Other teachers and parents also volunteered their time. Dave Voth is the ranch manager for Nevada Gold Mines. He told me the program started in the 1980s but had fallen on hard times later. In 2018, Daves daughter was in grade school and he realized she was not learning about agriculture, so he talked to Rachael and they got the program started again. He said we want kids to know where their beef and sheep come from. Agriculture is farther removed from present day people than it was during past generations. Pending legislation will remove outdated regulations and lead to lower costs for geothermal heat pump installations for New York residents. CAMBRIDGE, N.Y., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Geothermal Energy Organization NY-GEO , a not-for-profit trade association, representing the geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry in New York State, urges the New York Senate to pass S6604 , following the bipartisan approval in the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation and passage of companion legislation A6949 by the full New York Assembly. The legislation, spearheaded by New York State Senator Peter Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, removes outdated regulatory requirements which unnecessarily place geothermal boreholes under regulatory requirements designed for oil and gas drilling. These existing regulations are unnecessary, as closed-loop geothermal boreholes do not involve injection into or extraction from the ground and thus do not pose an adverse impact to the environment. Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick, as chairs of their respective Environmental Conservation committees in the Senate and the Assembly, are once again demonstrating their commitment to renewable energy deployment and climate stewardship by advancing this legislation to accelerate the deployment of emissions-free geothermal heat pumps. NY-GEO President and co-owner Buffalo Geothermal, Jens Ponikau, "To expand the drilling depth for closed loop geothermal bore holes is an important step forward to enable geothermal systems being installed in dense urban settings. We would like to thank the Legislature, the Governor and especially the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to further enable geothermal technologies to thrive in New York State to replace fossil fuels for heating and hot water needs. New York has not only become the State of Opportunity, but it has also become a leader in implementing renewable energy." "Thank you to Senator Harckham and Assembly Member Glick for championing this bill that will bring the cleanest heating and cooling technology with the lowest operating costs to more New Yorkers" Bill Nowak, NY-GEO Board Member. Dandelion CEO Michael Sachse thanked the bill's sponsors, stating "We greatly appreciate the leadership of Senator Harckham, Assemblymember Glick, and other members of the Senate and the Assembly who are working together to push this commonsense legislation forward. This will save New Yorkers money and accelerate deployment of geothermal heat pumps, creating new jobs for drillers and heat pump installers, and I sincerely hope that the Senate will pass this legislation quickly. New York has been a leader in climate action, but in this one regard, it is behind neighboring states, which allow deeper geothermal boreholes without restrictive regulations." Geothermal heat pumps are already among the lowest-cost heating and cooling systems for New York homes and businesses. The passing of S6604/A6949: Will save NYS residents with geothermal on their utility bills; because it is the most energy efficient, and therefore the most affordable, way to heat and cool a home. 1 Will decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 70-80% when replacing electric resistance, fuel oil, propane, or gas heating systems. Embraces the Climate Action Council Scoping Plan recommended updating existing regulations to remove unnecessary restrictions of geothermal boreholes deeper than 500 feet. Will have an immediate, positive impact on the growth of New York's geothermal heating and cooling industry by bringing down installation costs and making more households eligible for geothermal systems. geothermal heating and cooling industry by bringing down installation costs and making more households eligible for geothermal systems. Removes impediments to geothermal installations, while preserving installation quality and safety precautions through regulation under the Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water. By removing geothermal drilling deeper than 500' from regulations designed for oil and gas wells, the legislation makes it possible for geothermal installers to drill fewer boreholes, saving time and money during the installation process. The legislation will also improve consistency of geothermal installations and safety precautions by consolidating all geothermal regulation under the Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water, which currently regulates geothermal boreholes less than 500 feet deep. About NY-GEO NY-GEO founded in 2014, is dedicated to promoting geothermal heat pump (GHP) to heat and cool buildings throughout New York State, grow the GHP industry and develop its workforce, while educating policy makers and residents about the benefits of GHP. Our members represent HVAC Contractors, Developers, Manufactures, Drillers, ESCOs, Engineers, Organizations and Individuals supporting GHP. To learn more about NY-GEO and our 200+ members visit www.ny-geo.org 1 Geothermal heat pumps - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Press Inquiries: Christine Hoffer NY-GEO [email protected] 518-746-0407 SOURCE New York Geothermal Energy Organization Research Presented by Dr. Thomas Stricker Suggests Oncologists Should Switch to Targeted Treatment if Biomarker Testing Identifies Actionable Mutation Even After First-Line Treatment on Non-targeted treatment Has Begun Research Led by Dr. Gregory Vidal Evidences Identifies Inequities by Community Practice and Provider Levels in Accessing NGS Testing Among Black and Latinx Patients NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2023 ASCO annual meeting, investigators from OneOncology's clinical team will present Oral Abstracts using real-world data to evidence better health outcomes when advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (aNCSLC) patients receive biomarker testing, including Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) testing, to determine whether the patient has an actionable driver oncogene for a targeted therapy, even if a non-targeted therapy has begun, as well as the current inequities in receiving NGS testing between White, Black, and Latinx populations. OneOncology Presents Abstracts at ASCO Highlighting Importance of Increasing NGS Testing Tweet this OneOncology's Clinical Team Showcases NGS and Biomarket Testing Absracts At ASCO 2023 Thomas Stricker, MD, Ph.D., Medical Director of Precision Medicine for OneOncology, is the first author of Abstract 6507, Clinical Value of Timely Treatment for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients (aNSCLC) with Actionable Driver Oncogenes, which observed better health outcomes for aNSCLC patients who began therapy with a targeted treatment compared with non-targeted treatment. The research also showed comparable outcomes to Upfront targeted treatment for aNSCLC patients who switched to targeted therapy within 42 days after biomarker testing result was available, even if the patient had already begun a non-targeted treatment, such as chemotherapy. "Our research shows that oncologists should use, and act upon biomarker information, as soon as possible even if it is after a non-targeted treatment has begun," said Dr. Stricker. "While it's crucial we improve utilization of NGS testing to identify all actionable driver oncogenes upfront, so that we can deliver the right therapy to the right patient at the right time, this work shows that even if the initial result is delayed and the patient is started on a non-targeted therapy, switching to the targeted therapy that is suggested by the NGS results has benefit for the patient." Dr. Stricker's research examined the Flatiron Health de-identified electronic health record data of 5,156 NSCLC patients with an actionable cancer gene. Seventy-nine percent were treated in the community setting, and 56 percent received NGS testing. In Abstract 6508, Practice-and Provider-Level Inequities in Next-Generation Sequencing Testing by Race/Ethnicity for Patients with aNSCLC in the Community Setting, first author, Gregory Vidal, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of Breast Cancer Disease Group, OneOncology, and Director of Clinical Research, West Cancer Center & Research Institute. His team found by examining Flatiron Health de-identified electronic health record data that inequities at the provider and practice levels were meaningful contributors to the inequitable utilization of NGS among Black, Latinx, and White patients with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Dr. Vidal's research has important implications, as healthcare delivery experts move "from characterizing inequities to designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions and policies aimed at improving equitable, timely NGS testing as a quality-of-care metric" in aNSCLC patients specifically, and all cancer patients, generally. "Our findings show the racial/ethnic inequities in NGS testing were driven by within- and across-practice inequalities, as well as across-provider inequities, which could potentially reflect system barriers to access to care," Dr. Vidal said. "Our research points to the need for systematic program interventions and policies to improve timely access to NGS testing among Black and Latinx patients." The study's result of 12,045 patients diagnosed with aNSCLC (9,981 White, 1,528 Black, and 536 Latinx) showed that within and between practices inequities contributed to total inequity in NGS testing for Black patients (48 percent and 52 percent of total inequity mean percentage-point of 7.49), and Latinx patients (60 percent and 40 percent of total inequity mean percentage-point of 8.26) compared with White patients. Dr. Vidal's research builds upon earlier OneOncology research , that showed OneOncology had a higher NGS uptake with a shorter time to testing in metastatic breast cancer than non-OneOncology community cancer centers, possibly related to OneOncology's network-wide strategy recommending NGS testing at diagnosis of advanced disease. These studies highlight the importance of built-in processes that recommend NGS testing and alert physicians when additional testing may be necessaryan effort that is actively being led by OneOncology's Precision Medicine team. Both studies were conducted with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, as part of a multi-year strategic partnership to collaborate on various clinical trials, scientific research, and real-world data studies advancing personalized cancer care in community oncology centers. OneOncology partner practices that participated in Dr. Stricker's study include Mary Bird Perkins, Eastern Connecticut Hematology & Oncology Associates, West Cancer Center and Research Institute, New York Cancer and Blood Specialists, Astera Cancer Care, Los Angeles Cancer Network, and Tennessee Oncology. Drs. Stricker and Vidal will each present their Abstracts during the June 6 Health Services Research and Quality Improvement Abstract Oral Presentation Session from 8:00 AM 11:00 AM. To set up an interview at ASCO, contact Eric Hoffman, [email protected]. About OneOncology OneOncology was founded by community oncologists, for community oncologists, with the mission of improving the lives of everyone living with cancer. Our goal is to enable community oncology practices to remain independent and to improve patient access to care in their communities, all at a lower cost than in the hospital setting. OneOncology supports our platform of community oncology practices through group purchasing, operational optimization, practice growth, and clinical innovation. Our 960 cancer care providers care for approximately 548,000 patients at more than 310 sites of care nationwide. To learn more, visit oneoncology.com or LinkedIn. SOURCE OneOncology Parks Associates' white paper addresses role of false alarms in undermining consumer trust and examines new standard and solutions designed to resolve these challenges DALLAS, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates, a leading market research and consulting firm specializing in consumer technology products and services, has released a groundbreaking new white paper, in collaboration with Ubiety Technologies, that examines a significant problem facing the security industry - false alarms - including the costs and potential solutions. Parks Associates research finds 62% of security system owners experienced a false alarm in the past year, with the majority caused by user error, but the prevalence of these false alarms undermines consumer confidence and increases costs for all involved parties. Parks Associates: Cost of Fines Paid for False Alarms The white paper, "Solving False Alarms: Bringing New Context for Monitoring," also analyzes the impact of the new Alarm Validation Standard introduced by The Monitoring Association (TMA-AVS-01). The paper highlights the impact of false alarms on public safety, with emergency responders often diverted from genuine security events to respond to false alarms, and the provisions in the TMA-AVS-01 designed to reduce false alarms while still ensuring proper responses for actual emergencies. "The TMA-AVS-01 standard aims to reduce the number of false alarms by providing more context and information for a more effective response," said Jennifer Kent, VP, Research, Parks Associates. "Ultimately, the adoption and implementation of this new standard enable a standardized approach to validating and reducing false alarms." The security market has experienced rapid growth, driven by new technologies, but research shows false alarms undermine consumer confidence, increase costs for security companies and owners, and jeopardize future sales for security systems, devices, and monitoring services. "TMA-AVS-01 represents the most significant shift in the alarm industry in decades. Alarm response is transitioning from binary, blind alerts that offer very little context to homeowners and monitoring providers, to technology-enabled alerts that provide situational awareness and actionable intelligence," said Keith Puckett, Founder & CEO of Ubiety Technologies. "Ubiety joined The Monitoring Association to learn from industry experts and be part of the implementation of AVS-01." Ubiety is a research partner at this week's CONNECTIONS: The Premier Connected Home Conference, May 23-25 at the Omni Frisco Hotel in Frisco, Texas. Keith Puckett of Ubiety is participating on the session "Selling Peace of Mind: Safety and Security" on May 25 at 1:15 pm CT. "Ubiety is grateful to partner with Parks Associates to bring focus on this transformational opportunity to help improve security responses for everyone," Puckett said. "Parks Associates is the voice in the industry ushering in change, to both understand and unlock innovation and value in the market. Parks Associates uniquely understands that this shift will help everyone from security companies, to monitoring centers and homeowners." The research white paper is available for download. To request data or an interview, please contact Rosey Sera at [email protected], 972.996.0233. About Parks Associates Parks Associates, a woman-owned and woman-led internationally recognized market research and consulting company, specializes in emerging technology solutions serving the consumer and small-to-medium business (SMB) markets. http://www.parksassociates.com About Ubiety Technologies Ubiety Technologies Inc. is a sensor array and data analytics company crafting state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions that enable an elevated and intuitive understanding of people's physical presence based on the wireless devices they carry. Its patented hardware, presence detection engine, and software applications deliver a digital view of presence that solves detection and identification business challenges across industries. http://www.ubiety.io Rosimely Sera Parks Associates 972.996.0233 [email protected] SOURCE Parks Associates LEHI, Utah, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PCF Insurance Services (PCF), a top 20 U.S. insurance brokerage firm, today announced the appointment of Rocky Steele as its new Senior Vice President of Legal and Compliance. In this role, Steele oversees PCF Insurance's legal and compliance function in support of the company's continued growth. By partnering across the business, as well as with senior leadership, Steele works to strategically mitigate legal risk, ensure compliance and regulatory demands are met, scale best practices and reinforce PCF Insurance's culture of legal compliance. Rocky Steele, Senior Vice President of Legal and Compliance, PCF Insurance Services "As a successful entrepreneur and seasoned business executive, Rocky brings a unique strategic perspective to our organization," said Peter C. Foy, founder, chairman and CEO of PCF Insurance. "His incredible insight will help elevate our company to the next level." The enhancement of PCF Insurance's legal and compliance function, as well as its other shared services, aligns with the company's strategic focus of building business maturity as a cornerstone of its long-term organic growth. PCF Insurance's shared services model fosters operational efficiencies and economies of scale, freeing agencies within the PCF Partner Network from back-office administrative tasks so they can focus on growing their businesses beyond their high-watermark performance threshold. "I am excited to be part of such a dynamic and fast-growing team," said Steele. "The explosive growth PCF has experienced over the past three years is a testament to the company's commitment to leadership, fundamental services and expansion. I look forward to contributing to the onward and upward drive to success here at PCF." Steele holds a Juris Doctor from the Gonzaga University School of Law, a master's from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University. About PCF Insurance Services A top 20 U.S. broker headquartered in Lehi, Utah, PCF Insurance Services is a leading full-service consultant and insurance brokerage firm offering a broad array of commercial, life and health, employee benefits, and workers' compensation solutions. Propelled by its people, PCF Insurance's agency-centric operating model and entrepreneurial environment support its tremendous growth profile, offering partner agencies alignment through equity ownership, significant leadership incentives, and resources. Ranked #20 on Business Insurance's 2022 Top 100 Brokers and #13 on Insurance Journal's 2022 Top Property/Casualty Agencies, PCF Insurance is a notable leader in the insurance space, with 3,100 employees across the U.S. Visit pcfins.com for more information. SOURCE PCF Insurance Services National nonprofit makes this and other investments in higher education to bolster access to veterinary care PHOENIX, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PetSmart Charities will name an endowed chair at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine for $6 million. The landmark partnership marks the largest gift to date made by the top funder of animal welfare in the U.S. to bolster the commitment to improving access to veterinary care. UC Davis Three UC Davis personnel associated with the Knights Landing One Health Center provide complimentary veterinary care to a community members dogs. Through the new PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair in Accessible Veterinary Care, models for providing care where it is needed mostsuch as an onsite clinic like this in the rural, low-income, farming community of Knights Landing, Californiacan be advanced on a national level. Photo credit: UC Davis. The prestige associated with endowed faculty chairs attracts accomplished academics to the role. Establishing the PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair in Accessible Veterinary Care will leverage UC Davis' breadth of research strengths to continue to build innovative, compassionate care for all pets, ensure hands-on clinical training for veterinary students, and develop research models that can scale nationwide. Programs at UC Davis also reach historically excluded rural and urban communities. UC Davis has delivered innovative, low-cost veterinary care models for years, including Knights Landing One Health Center Veterinary Clinic's service to residents in a rural community near Davis, California, among others. According to research commissioned by PetSmart Charities, in the U.S., 50 million pets a year lack access to standard veterinary care. Demand for pet health care has never been higher, but a shortage in practitioners along with rising costs of veterinary care have created a crisis. In recent reports, the country will experience an estimated shortage of 15,000 companion animal veterinarians by 20301. Nearly 30% of pet parents report a veterinary bill of $499 would land them in debt2. In 2023, PetSmart Charities committed $100 million over the next five years to address geographic, language and financial barriers to veterinary care. The funding designated to support innovative programs across the nation's veterinary colleges signals the nonprofit's capstone priority in this portfolio. "It's one of the most pressing issues of our time building more equitable access to veterinary care," said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities. "Supporting an endowed faculty chair at this world-class veterinary school is certain to help us gain access to insight and expertise on effectively investing in this critical societal need. The chair will also lend thought leadership and representation in partnership with PetSmart Charities across the animal welfare space, and at other intersections serving pets and people. We couldn't be more excited about this promising partnership!" UC Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine was chosen to receive the gift for its sustained priority of improving access to veterinary care and integrated approach to student training. Their continued reign as the top veterinary school in the nation, experience serving communities in need, and commitment to attracting a more diverse population of students to the field also made for an ideal match in supporting PetSmart Charities' initiatives.3 The university is in the process of filling the chair through a national hiring process; a position description and call for applications is expected within weeks. Those who wish to be notified when the position posts can fill out this form. "I'm thrilled to join forces with PetSmart Charities to make a greater impact in an issue that affects many animals and their owners," said Dr. Mark Stetter, dean of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "Together, I believe that we can advance new models that can expand veterinary care to those who need it most." The gift supports UC Davis' $2 billion fundraising campaign, Expect Greater: From UC Davis, For the World, the largest philanthropic endeavor in the university's history. Together, donors and UC Davis are advancing work to prepare future leaders, sustain healthier communities and bring innovative solutions to today's most urgent challenges. University partnerships Along with the gift to establish the endowed chair at UC Davis, PetSmart Charities supports the following stand-out veterinary university programs to bolster students' capacity to deliver community-based veterinary medicine: Colorado State University (CSU) is building training programs to achieve a more efficient, effective veterinary workforce designed to operate within state-based veterinary regulations. This work is intended to help veterinarians serve critical public needs and expand access to veterinary care. PetSmart Charities also supports CSU's development and delivery of a "Spanish for Veterinarians" curriculum, which aims to ensure interested veterinary students develop skills to communicate about animal health and care while building long-lasting rapport with Spanish speaking care takers. In collaboration with CSU and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) veterinary training program, PetSmart Charities supports a program that engages future vets in situations in which they can learn to deliver quality care in under-resourced communities in the YK Delta of Alaska, while bringing preventive medicine veterinary health care to people and their pets. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine has engaged in critical research to uncover recent trends related to access to care that have helped PetSmart Charities inform and inspire animal welfare leaders. Support for University of Minnesota helps the investigation of ideal tactics to prepare students for community medicine, including making necessary adjustments within the veterinary education system to meet the needs of all pets and their owners. PetSmart Charities also awards three $50,000 scholarships annually to current veterinary students, and will continue to support other university scholarships. To learn more, visit: petsmartcharities.org/our-stories/community-impact/keeping-families-together About PetSmart Charities PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps up to 400,000 pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. PetSmart Charities grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crises with access to food, shelter and disaster response. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org. Media Contact: Regine Labossiere, Carmichael Lynch Relate [email protected], 646.265.8677 About UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine The top-ranked UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has more than 700 students pursuing the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and other professional and graduate degrees, and offers the nation's largest veterinarian residency program with more than 35 specialties. More than $89 million in annual research funding is applied to benefit animal, human and planetary health. The school's hospital treats more than 50,000 patients each year. This school is currently celebrating its 75th year of exceptional care and innovation. Sources: 1. Mars Veterinary Health 2. Forbes 3. UC Davis News SOURCE PetSmart Charities, Inc. --Winning Student Teams from Hawai'i, Kentucky and Colorado-- WASHINGTON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EarthEcho International, the global nonprofit dedicated to building a youth movement to protect and restore our ocean planet, today announced the three U.S. middle school teams selected as the Grand Prize winners of the OurEcho Challenge. The winning teams were part of an innovation competition designed to engage young problem solvers in protecting the diversity of species and ecosystems that make life on earth possible. The competition is made possible through the support of Aramco. EarthEcho International OurEcho Challenge "The 2023 OurEcho Challenge grand prize winners impressed our judges with their in-depth knowledge of local biodiversity issues and their vision in developing viable solutions tailored to their communities," said EarthEcho founder Philippe Cousteau, Jr. "We congratulate all of the finalist teams who participated in the Challenge and we know their passion and dedication will inspire others to take action for a sustainable future for all." The OurEcho Challenge supports three grand prize winners that were selected from seven finalist teams competing for $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 grants to further the work of their projects to protect and restore biodiversity in their communities. The OurEcho Challenge U.S. winning teams are as follows: $5,000 Grand Prize Winner Team Pono Popoki Project is working to save the Hawaiian coot, an endemic bird species that live in coastal wetlands. Feral cats have contributed to the downfall of more than 30 native Hawaiian bird species and now threaten the Hawaiian coot. To address this issue, the team plans to implement a humane capture, spay, and neuter program to address the immense feral cat population. Le Jardin Academy, Kailua , Hawai'i $2,500 Grand Prize Winner Team Nocturnal Natives is addressing the steady decline of native bat populations in Kentucky . By bringing more native plants to the area, this team hopes to increase the population of insects, which in turn will provide more hearty food sources to the native bat species, such as the gray bat, the northern long-eared bat, and the Indiana bat. West Jessamine High School , Nicholasville, Kentucky $1,000 Grand Prize Winner Team Fungi Frogs is working to protect the northern leopard frogs from disease in hopes of maintaining biodiversity. The Northern Leopard Frog acts as an indicator species in Colorado habitats so the recent decline in their population is alarming. The team plans to spread awareness of disease control while protecting the frogs during their reproductive cycles and beyond. Innovation Center , Longmont, Colorado Follow EarthEcho on social to learn the People's Choice Award winner later this week! Team Pono Popoki Project, Team Nocturnal Natives, and Team Fungi Frogs were selected after presenting their projects virtually to a panel of expert judges and with the public virtually on May 25th during a Facebook live stream event. A panel of judgesincluding scientific experts from Aramco and the University of Florida, an educator from Gulf Reach Institute, and youth advocates from EarthEchoreviewed presentations from the finalist teams and selected the three grand prize winners based on their projects' vision, scientific rigor, feasibility, and the teams' pitch. The public voted for their favorite team projects during this year's People's Choice Awards learning more about each project from their Finalist videos. The OurEcho Challenge equips U.S. and UK students, guided by an educator or mentor, to tackle the decline in biodiversity by identifying threats and proposing solutions to protect natural resources in their communities. For more information and updates about the OurEcho Challenge, visit www.OurEchoChallenge.org. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthecho Twitter: www.twitter.com/earthecho and Instagram: www.instagram.com/earthecho/. For more information about EarthEcho International, visit www.earthecho.org. For more information about program sponsor Aramco, visit https://www.aramco.com/ SOURCE EarthEcho International Signs on as Branded Sponsor for Katherine Legge's 2023 Indianapolis 500 Race with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing SAN DIEGO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Point Predictive, the leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) fraud solutions for the lending industry, today announced the speakers and topics for its 2023 Auto Lending Fraud Roundtable. The event will be held in person on June 6th at the Renaissance Dallas in Plano, TX. Seats are limited, so please register here at the link www.pointpredictive.com/roundtable2023, and a Point Predictive representative will contact you to confirm your attendance. The special in-person guest for the event will be Katherine Legge, a pro racing driver and 2023 Indy 500 entrant. Rahal Letterman Lanigan owner and legendary Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal will be featured in a personal video message. Point Predictive has also signed on as a branded sponsor for Katherine Legge's 2023 Indy 500 race, further solidifying its commitment to fighting fraud in automotive dealerships and lenders. "We're thrilled to have Katherine as our special guest for this year's Auto Lending Fraud Roundtable," said Tim Grace, CEO of Point Predictive. "Her experiences as a pro racing driver and her insights on perseverance are invaluable to our industry, and we're proud to be associated with her as a branded sponsor. We hope to have as big of an impact in fighting fraud in the automotive space as she has had in racing." The event will feature a diverse lineup of speakers and topics, including: David Maimon , the Director at Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Center and Principal Product Manager at Geocomply, who will present evidence of an elaborate, sophisticated, and domestic illicit supply chain of stolen and synthetic identities and how it impacts auto lenders in his session called Identity Theft and the Underground Fraud Ecosystem. the Director at Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Center and Principal Product Manager at Geocomply, who will present evidence of an elaborate, sophisticated, and domestic illicit supply chain of stolen and synthetic identities and how it impacts auto lenders in his session called Sergeant Darren Schlosser with the Houston Police Department Auto Theft Division and Dave Navarro with The Orange County Auto Theft Task Force will share their findings from the front lines of fraud in their session, Perspectives from the Front Lines of Auto Fraud . with the Police Department Auto Theft Division and with The Orange County Auto Theft Task Force will share their findings from the front lines of fraud in their session, . Eric LeFlore , Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer at Crescent Bank, will share his experience with building a fraud team and how he leverages Point Predictive's fraud analysts to help identify synthetic identities, income/employment misrepresentation, and bad actors in his session called Spotlight on the Network Effect with Crescent Bank . , Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer at Crescent Bank, will share his experience with building a fraud team and how he leverages Point Predictive's fraud analysts to help identify synthetic identities, income/employment misrepresentation, and bad actors in his session called . The event will also feature a session called Shapeshifters - The Ever-Changing Patterns of Auto Fraud in the Age of AI, where Point Predictive's Co-founder and Chief Fraud Strategist Frank McKenna will share stunning statistics on the growth in fraud and hidden fraud patterns and trends. "We're excited to bring together this group of experts to share their knowledge and insights on the latest trends and tactics used by fraudsters in the auto lending industry," said Grace. "The Auto Lending Fraud Roundtable is an opportunity for industry leaders to come together, learn from each other, and find ways to collaborate and combat fraud more effectively." For more information on the 2023 Auto Lending Fraud Roundtable or to register for the event, please visit www.pointpredictive.com/roundtable2023 About Point Predictive Headquartered in San Diego, California, Point Predictive powers a new level of lending confidence and speed through artificial intelligence, powerful data insight from our proprietary data repository, and decades of risk management expertise. The company's data and technology solutions quickly and accurately identify truthful and untruthful disclosures on loan applications. As a result, lenders can fund the majority of loans without requiring onerous documentation, such as paycheck stubs, utility bills, or bank statements, improving funding rates by 40-50% while reducing early payment default losses by more than 30-50%. Subsequently, borrowers get loans faster, and lenders realize a more profitable bottom line. For more information, please visit www.pointpredictive.com . About Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Zionsville, Ind., is co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan. In 2023, the team began its 32nd year of competition and will attempt to add to its 29 Indy car wins including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice and the 2020 Indy 500 with Takuma Sato -- their 33 poles, 109 podium finishes and 1992 series championship. The team also competed in the American Le Mans Series from 2009-2013 as BMW Team RLL where they won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category in 2010 and swept all three GT titles in 2011 - Manufacturer, Team and Driver. In 2012, the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. From 2014 to 2021, BMW Team RLL competed in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a two-car program. In 2022, BMW M Team RLL competed in the GTD PRO class in IMSA while simultaneously ramping up for a two-car program in the much-anticipated GTP class in IMSA for 2023. In total, the team has earned 22 wins including the 2019 and 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, 30 poles and 96 podium finishes prior to the start of the 2023 season. BMW M Team RLL highlights also include second place finishes in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships in 2015 and 2017 and being named the 2020 Michelin North American Endurance Champions. For more on RLL Racing, please visit www.rahal.com. SOURCE Point Predictive WASHINGTON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JI-Analytics has produced a High Value-Add Analysis (HVA) with powerful hidden insights into southern European governments financial performance. High Value-Add Analysis #577 (HVA #577) provides powerful hidden insights into the financial performance of five major southern European governments for the past ten and five years (2012-2022 and 2017-2022) by using the Citizens' Wealth framework and its 10 KPIs. The five major southern European countries are: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain (the peers). Senior decision-makers should care about government financial performance and position because government financial decisions directly affect the probability of debt, currency, and financial crises, which have a disproportionally large impact on the most disadvantaged. If you are a senior decision-maker who cares about government financial performance and position of any of the five peers, you may be eligible to receive a complimentary copy of High Value-Add Analysis #577 (HVA #577). Senior decision-makers seeking a complimentary copy should contact [email protected]. To review a one-page summary of HVA #577, visit the JI-Analytics store at: https://store.jianalytics.com/products/southern-europe About JI-Analytics JI-Analytics is a global high value-add benchmarking and best practices analytics firm. Our mission is to produce the world's best Excel-based global high value-add benchmarking and best practices analytics, for senior decision-makers facing the most important challenges at the intersection of Government, NGOs, and Business. JI-Analytics c/o The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation 1629 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 T/ +1 202 449 9600 E/ [email protected] SOURCE Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation TORONTO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Private AI , a leading provider of data privacy software solutions, and Replica Analytics Ltd. , an Aetion company, the leading Synthetic Data Generation technology provider for the healthcare industry, are pleased to announce a new partnership. The need for a privacy-preserving solution in healthcare is urgent and this strategic partnership aims to provide a comprehensive solution for healthcare's data privacy and security challenges. Replica Synthesis 3.0, Replica Analytics' pioneering software generates synthetic structured data, in the place of real data, making healthcare data safe to use in medical research and for other valuable insights. Private AI's industry-leading technology accurately detects and removes personally identifiable information from structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data - all of which are prevalent in the healthcare industry. "By joining Private AI's unique technology with Replica Analytics' solution, we are now able to tackle the challenge of unstructured text and offer a more comprehensive solution to our global clients," said Dr. Khaled El Emam , Replica Analytics' SVP and GM, who has been developing and deploying privacy enhancing technologies for two decades. "Our companies share a deep commitment to privacy and to using data for good. Working together, we will make richer datasets available, which is essential for health research and analytics, while continuing to protect privacy." "We are thrilled to partner with Replica Analytics and expand our cutting-edge data privacy solutions further into the healthcare industry through Replica Analytics and, in turn, expose their synthetic structured data generation product to other verticals," said Patricia Thaine , CEO, and Co-Founder of Private AI. "With Replica Analytics' synthetic data generation solutions, we can help our clients to create safe and secure data sets for tasks in which maintaining accurate statistical distributions of personally identifiable information are key." This partnership will enable healthcare organizations to extract valuable insights from their multi-modal data while ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations and maintaining the highest levels of privacy and data security. The two companies aim to make healthcare data available for research and development while preserving individual privacy rights. About Private AI Founded in 2019 by privacy and machine learning experts from the University of Toronto, Private AI's mission is to create a privacy layer for software and enhance compliance with current regulations such as the GDPR. Identifying, reducing and removing privacy risks using AI, Private AI allows companies to unlock the value of the data they collect - whether it's structured or unstructured data. Private AI is backed by M12, Microsoft's venture fund, and BDC, and has been named as one of the 2022 CB Insights AI 100, CIX Top 20, Regtech100, and more. Learn more at: https://www.private-ai.com/ Try PrivateGPT, the privacy layer for ChatGPT: chat.private-ai.com About Replica Analytics, an Aetion company Replica Analytics Ltd. is the premier science-based synthetic data generation technology provider to the healthcare industry. The company is a pioneer in the development of unique technologies for generating privacy-protective synthetic data that maintain the statistical properties of real-world data (RWD). The company was acquired in late 2021 by Aetion, the leading regulatory-grade real-world evidence (RWE) technology provider. Replica Synthesis software provides a full suite of synthetic data generation and evaluation capabilities that can solve multiple grand challenges facing the life sciences industry, and health research in general. For more information, visit: https://replica-analytics.com/ . About Aetion Aetion Inc. is a healthcare analytics company that delivers real-world evidence for the manufacturers, purchasers, and regulators of medical treatments and technologies. The Aetion Evidence Platform analyzes data from the real world to produce transparent, rapid, and scientifically validated answers on safety, effectiveness, and value. Founded by Harvard Medical School faculty members with decades of experience in epidemiology and health outcomes research, Aetion informs healthcare's most critical decisionswhat works best, for whom, and whento guide product development, commercialization, and payment innovation. Learn more at aetion.com and follow us at @aetioninc. SOURCE Replica Analytics Detailed Program Agendas Released for Pre-conference Courses and Scientifics Sessions for the American Society for Preventive Cardiology JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society for Preventive Cardiology announces details of a full program of events to be held at their annual Congress on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, scheduled in 2023 for July 19-23 hosted at the Live! By Loews hotel in Arlington, TX. The scientific sessions will be held Fri., July 21 through Sun., July 23. Two pre-conference courses are offered July 19 and July 20, including the in-depth Preventive Cardiology Experts Course which is returning live to the stage after only being available on demand in 2022, and the Imaging MasterClass back for a second year by popular demand! Featured in the 2023 expanded program are diverse content with many international experts joining the program. Tweet this Features of the 2023 expanded program include diverse content with many international experts joining the program for the first time, plus four honorees in the field of prevention, as well as a record number of abstracts in the poster hall. The four ASPC awardees: The Honorary Fellow Award will be presented to Dr. Emelia Benjamin from the Boston University School of Medicine . Her Honorary Fellow Award lecture is entitled "The Imperative to Focus on the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation". will be presented to from the . Her Honorary Fellow Award lecture is entitled "The Imperative to Focus on the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation". The Pioneer in Prevention Award will be presented to Dr. Larry Sperling from Emory university and the CDC's Million Hearts program. His Award lecture is entitled " My Journey in Heart Disease Prevention: Gratitude from the Heart". will be presented to from university and the CDC's Million Hearts program. His Award lecture is entitled " in Heart Disease Prevention: Gratitude from the Heart". The Nanette Wenger Award will be presented to Dr. Janet Wright , Director of the CDC's Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. will be presented to , Director of the CDC's Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. The Joseph Stokes III , MD Award will be presented to Dr. William Roberts from Baylor University and former Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Cardiology for 40 years. ASPC is looking forward to honoring these Awardees during the opening session of the Congress on Friday, July 21 from 10:00 11:35 AM. The last session of the opening day (Fri. July 21 from 4:35 5:40 PM) in Arlington, TX features a panel of global leaders discussing and defining what preventive cardiology is and what it should be. Prof. Ana Abreu (Lisbon) will be representing the European Society of Cardiology's (ESC) preventive cardiology community, known as the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC), offering the European perspective. Dr. John Mancini (British Columbia) will be representing the Canadian perspective and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS). ASPC's Treasurer, Dr. David Maron (Stanford), will be representing the United States' perspective for the ASPC. Detailed program agendas are available at www.aspconline.org/2023Congress. About the American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) The ASPC is a national organization representing a multidisciplinary group of clinicians and researchers who share an interest in and dedication to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The mission of the ASPC is to promote the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, advocate for the prevention of cardiovascular health, and disseminate high-quality, evidence-based information through education of clinicians. SOURCE The American Society for Preventive Cardiology Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. WELLS The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest welcomes Wendy Markham as the permanent Deputy District Ranger for Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge. In her new position, Markham will assist the District Ranger in overseeing staff and resources needed to manage more than 1.1 million acres of National Forest System lands in northeastern Nevada with diverse natural resources programs. Markham has worked for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest for the past seven years, said Forest Supervisor Bill Dunkelberger. We are fortunate to have such a highly qualified individual who is so familiar with our Forest, communities, and landscape to advance into this leadership role. Markham accepted her first permanent seasonal job with the USDA Forest Service in 2009 as a Recreation Technician on the Lassen National Forests Hat Creek Ranger District in Hat Creek, California. She continued to work for the Hat Creek Ranger District for the next six years as a Recreation Technician, Recreation Crew Leader, and Office Automation Clerk. In 2016, Markham accepted her first job with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest as the Santa Rosa Ranger Districts Visitor Services Information Assistant in Winnemucca. She also worked on the District as the Support Services Specialist as well as her most recent position as the Northeast and Central Zones Recreation and Lands Special Use Permit Administrator. Throughout her career, Markham has held numerous detailed positions including Acting Lead Visitor Services Information Assistant and Acting Recreation Officer for the Hat Creek Ranger District, and Acting Deputy District Ranger for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District in Elko, Nevada. I look forward to working with the district employees and the numerous partners and local communities to restore, enhance, and wisely use the National Forest System lands for present and future generations, said Markham. Markham has a college certificate in rangeland management and ecology from the University of Nevada Reno. She also has been a plans section chief for fire incident management teams for the past seven years where she managed all aspects of incident planning, situation and resource status, and demobilization of an incident. NEW YORK, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The pubs, bars, and nightclubs market size is estimated to increase by USD 31.46 billion, accelerating at a CAGR of 5.09% during the forecast. The growth of the market is driven by the increasing number of pubs and bars. Discover market potential and make informed business decisions based on qualitative and quantitative evidence highlighted in Technavio reports -Request a sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Pubs, Bars, and Nightclubs Market 2023-2027 Pubs, Bars and Nightclubs Market Market dynamics Leading drivers - The increasing number of pubs and bars is notably driving the market growth. Population growth in urban areas and a significantly large number of white-collar workers increased the number of bars and pubs. The growing concept of urban youth socializing in bars and pubs is expected to drive the market during the forecast period. The number of pubs and bars serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages has attracted the attention of consumers. Key trends - The rise in premium products is a major trend in the market. As drinking habits grow, consumers prefer to mix their own cocktails. Hence, the demand for premium beverages is increasing. This has a significant impact on the global pub, bar, and nightclub market, resulting in increasing demand for premium drinks. Major challenges - The threat from the rising popularity of home-cooked food and takeaway services is a major challenge impeding the market growth. Foods that are available in bars and pubs are unhealthy and can cause lifestyle-borne diseases like heart problems, diabetes, and obesity. Home-cooked meals are more nutritional, hygienic, and economical as compared to dining out/takeaway foods. Hence, the decreased number of pub-goers will negatively impact the global market during the forecast period. In addition to the forecast, the report also highlights the key opportunities by analyzing drivers, trends, and challenges for the market Pubs, Bars and Nightclubs Market - Customer landscape To help companies evaluate and develop growth strategies, the report outlines Key purchase criteria Adoption rates Adoption lifecycle Drivers of price sensitivity Pubs, Bars and Nightclubs Market Vendor analysis Some of the major Pubs, Bars, and Nightclubs Market vendors are: Attaboy Boadas Floreria Atlantico Four Seasons Hotels Ltd. Hakkasan Group J D Wetherspoon plc Kings Head Pub Licoreria Limantour Maybourne Hotel Group. McKs Tavern Mitchells and Butlers plc Oberoi Grou Oetker Hotel Management Company GmbH PCO The Atlas For Details on the vendor and its offerings Buy the report! The pubs, bars, and nightclubs market is fragmented, with the presence of several global as well as regional vendors. The degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Pubs, Bars and Nightclubs Market - Segmentation Assessment The pubs, bars, and nightclubs market research report extensively covers market segmentation by: Product Beverages Foods Application Men Woman Region North America The U.S. Canada Europe The U.K. Germany France Rest of Europe APAC China India Middle East & Africa & Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa & South America Chile Brazil Argentina For insights on global, regional, and country-level parameters with growth opportunities from 2017 to 2027 Download a Sample Report Pubs, Bars, and Nightclubs Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027 Detailed information on factors that will assist pubs, bars, and nightclubs market growth during the next five years Estimation of the pubs, bars, and nightclubs market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the pubs, bars, and nightclubs market across North America , APAC, Europe , South America , and the Middle East and Africa , APAC, , , and the and Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of pubs, bars, and nightclubs market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: Sauna and Spa Market- The sauna and spa market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.85% between 2022 and 2027. The sauna and spa market size is forecasted to increase by USD 1,318.7 million. Spa Market- The global Spa Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.09% between 2022 and 2027. The spa market size is forecast to increase by USD 40.42 billion. Pubs, Bars And Nightclubs Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.09% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 31.46 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 4.11 Regional analysis Europe, APAC, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 41% Key countries US, China, Japan, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Accor SA, Attaboy, Boadas, Floreria Atlantico, Four Seasons Hotels Ltd., Hakkasan Group, J D Wetherspoon plc, Kings Head Pub, Licoreria Limantour, Maybourne Hotel Group., McKs Tavern, Mitchells and Butlers plc, Oberoi Grou, Oetker Hotel Management Company GmbH, PCO, The Atlas, The Cats Eye Pub, The Clumsies, The Dove, and Trailer Happiness 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 Product Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Application 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 pubs, bars and nightclubs market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global pubs, bars and nightclubs market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 By Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size By Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 By Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size By Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Product 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Product 6.3 Beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 36: Chart on Beverages - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Beverages - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Foods - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Foods - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Foods - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 40: Chart on Foods - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Foods - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Product ($ billion) 7 Market Segmentation by Application 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 43: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 44: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 45: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 46: Data Table on Comparison by Application 7.3 Men - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 47: Chart on Men - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 48: Data Table on Men - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 49: Chart on Men - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 50: Data Table on Men - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Women - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 51: Chart on Women - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Women - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 53: Chart on Women - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 54: Data Table on Women - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 55: Market opportunity by Application ($ billion) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 56: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 57: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 59: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 60: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 61: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 62: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 63: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 64: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 65: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 66: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 67: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 68: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 69: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 70: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 71: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 72: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 74: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 75: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 76: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 78: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 79: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 80: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 82: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 83: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 84: 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 85: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 86: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 87: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 90: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 91: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 94: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 95: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 98: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 99: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 101: 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 102: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 103: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 104: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 105: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 106: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 107: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Accor SA Exhibit 108: Accor SA - Overview Exhibit 109: Accor SA - Business segments Exhibit 110: Accor SA - Key offerings Exhibit 111: Accor SA - Segment focus 12.4 Attaboy Exhibit 112: Attaboy - Overview Exhibit 113: Attaboy - Product / Service Exhibit 114: Attaboy - Key offerings 12.5 Floreria Atlantico Exhibit 115: Floreria Atlantico - Overview Exhibit 116: Floreria Atlantico - Product / Service Exhibit 117: Floreria Atlantico - Key offerings 12.6 Four Seasons Hotels Ltd. Exhibit 118: Four Seasons Hotels Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 119: Four Seasons Hotels Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 120: Four Seasons Hotels Ltd. - Key offerings 12.7 Hakkasan Group Exhibit 121: Hakkasan Group - Overview Exhibit 122: Hakkasan Group - Product / Service Exhibit 123: Hakkasan Group - Key offerings 12.8 J D Wetherspoon plc Exhibit 124: J D Wetherspoon plc - Overview Exhibit 125: J D Wetherspoon plc - Business segments Exhibit 126: J D Wetherspoon plc - Key offerings Exhibit 127: J D Wetherspoon plc - Segment focus 12.9 Kings Head Pub Exhibit 128: Kings Head Pub - Overview Exhibit 129: Kings Head Pub - Product / Service Exhibit 130: Kings Head Pub - Key offerings 12.10 Licoreria Limantour Exhibit 131: Licoreria Limantour - Overview Exhibit 132: Licoreria Limantour - Product / Service Exhibit 133: Licoreria Limantour - Key offerings 12.11 Maybourne Hotel Group. Exhibit 134: Maybourne Hotel Group. - Overview Exhibit 135: Maybourne Hotel Group. - Product / Service Exhibit 136: Maybourne Hotel Group. - Key offerings 12.12 McKs Tavern Exhibit 137: McKs Tavern - Overview Exhibit 138: McKs Tavern - Product / Service Exhibit 139: McKs Tavern - Key offerings 12.13 Mitchells and Butlers plc Exhibit 140: Mitchells and Butlers plc - Overview Exhibit 141: Mitchells and Butlers plc - Business segments Exhibit 142: Mitchells and Butlers plc - Key offerings Exhibit 143: Mitchells and Butlers plc - Segment focus 12.14 Oberoi Group Exhibit 144: Oberoi Group - Overview Exhibit 145: Oberoi Group - Product / Service Exhibit 146: Oberoi Group - Key offerings 12.15 Oetker Hotel Management Company GmbH Exhibit 147: Oetker Hotel Management Company GmbH - Overview Exhibit 148: Oetker Hotel Management Company GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 149: Oetker Hotel Management Company GmbH - Key offerings 12.16 PCO Exhibit 150: PCO - Overview Exhibit 151: PCO - Product / Service Exhibit 152: PCO - Key offerings 12.17 The Atlas Exhibit 153: The Atlas - Overview Exhibit 154: The Atlas - Product / Service Exhibit 155: The Atlas - Key offerings 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 156: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 157: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 158: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 159: Research methodology Exhibit 160: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 161: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 162: 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 SINGAPORE, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BingX , a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, celebrates a significant milestone as it commemorates its 5th anniversary. This occasion provides an opportune moment to reflect on the platform's performance, acknowledge the challenges faced, and outline the exciting future that lies ahead. Reflecting on 5th Anniversary: BingX's Milestones, Challenges, and Vision for the Future Over the past five years, BingX has firmly established itself as a trusted platform for millions of cryptocurrency enthusiasts worldwide. During its 5th year, the platform expanded its global presence, providing more than 5 million users with safe, innovative, and user-friendly cryptocurrency trading services in over 100 countries and regions. As the first crypto exchange providing social trading services, BingX has amassed 8,000 elite traders and 20,000 professional traders, and developed a well-rounded social trading ecosystem where all users and traders could connect and grow. BingX launched a variety of first-of-its-kind products and services like Copy Trade Subsidy Vouchers, Futures Grid Trading, and Infinity Grid Robot. Combining crypto and traditional finance, BingX integrates platforms like MT5 and launches Signal Trading, which improves the trading experience of Standard Futures and Perpetual Futures. Now BingX has listed 500+ currencies on the spot and supports 200+ contract targets, and witnessed 150,000 daily trading users with the highest daily trading volume exceeding 10 billion US dollars. With user trust and platform transparency as its top priority, BingX took the lead and published its verified Proof-of-Reserve report, which helped boost confidence in the industry at a critical moment. BingX has placed paramount importance on ensuring the security and protection of user assets. Robust security protocols, advanced encryption, and multi-factor authentication have been implemented to maintain a safe trading environment. To date, BingX has been awarded Best Crypto Exchange in TradingView's Broker Awards for both 2021 and 2022. While celebrating its successes, BingX acknowledges the challenges it has faced along the way. The cryptocurrency industry is dynamic and ever-changing, presenting various obstacles that demand adaptability and resilience. BingX encountered technological advancements, regulatory developments, market fluctuations, and evolving customer expectations that required proactive strategies and constant evolution. However, through strategic planning, adaptability, and continuous improvement, BingX has demonstrated resilience to overcome these obstacles and reinforced its position as a leader in the industry. Looking ahead, BingX is poised to solidify its position as a leading crypto exchange and has outlined a promising roadmap for the future. It remains committed to its vision and continues to prioritize user satisfaction, innovation, and security. As part of its future plans, BingX will focus on expanding its product offerings, enhancing its trading infrastructure, and introducing more original and cutting-edge features to meet the growing demands of its user base. The company also aims to foster strategic partnerships with industry leaders and contribute to the development and integration of technologies such as blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi), and artificial intelligence (AI) will unlock new opportunities for users and drive further innovation. Elvisco Carrington, PR and Communications Director of BingX, expressed his gratitude on this momentous occasion: "We are incredibly proud of what BingX has achieved over the past five years. BingX's fifth anniversary underscores its consistent dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of crypto. The challenges we faced have strengthened our resolve, and the support from our users has been instrumental in our success. As we move forward, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and remain committed to providing an exceptional trading experience for our global community." As the crypto industry continues to evolve, ensuring the safety of users' digital assets and transactions becomes paramount. BingX recognizes this need and has joined forces with CoolBitX , known for its expertise in developing innovative security solutions for the blockchain ecosystem. BingX will leverage CoolBitX's state-of-the-art security technology, including CoolWallet, a credit card-sized Bluetooth hardware wallet that supports various tokens like Bitcoin , Ethereum , and many more. 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. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085447/Reflecting_5th_Anniversary_BingX_s_Milestones_Challenges_Vision_Future.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1690963/BingX_Logo.jpg SOURCE BingX Reported breaches down slightly as organizations sharpen focus on cybersecurity challenges; 68% of middle market companies currently utilize a cyber insurance policy CHICAGO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybersecurity attacks remain a risk to middle market businesses as the threat environment evolves with ongoing geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI) Cybersecurity Special Report, presented by RSM US LLP ("RSM") in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The RSM MMBI survey shows that while breach risks remain elevated, the number of reported breaches has fallen slightly for the second-straight year. Twenty percent of middle market executives reported their company experienced a data breach in the last year, representing a slight decline from 22% a year ago. Despite the decline in reported breaches, the amount is still twice as high as it was seven years ago. The number of executives at smaller middle market companies ($10 million to less than $50 million in revenue) that reported a breach remained consistent with last year's data (12%), while larger organizations ($50 million to $1 billion in annual revenue) reported a decline in breaches (30% in 2022 to 28% this year). "While cybersecurity threats have been a concern for years, the biggest amount of digital transformation that you could have imagined in the middle market has taken place because of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Tauseef Ghazi, national leader of security and privacy with RSM US LLP. "The pandemic resulted in a seismic shift in the entire business environment, with aftereffects still being felt today. But with those dramatic changes, middle market companies have also made strategic process changes that show how seriously they are taking cybersecurity. In 2020, middle market companies were scrambling to find and implement solutions. In 2021, companies were working through their new environments and making necessary adjustments. Now, three years since the start of the pandemic, everything is up and running and it's a new way of managing the business." The MMBI survey results show that middle market businesses are taking proactive steps to mitigate cybersecurity threats, as indicated by the 68% of respondents who stated they currently utilize a cyber insurance policy to protect against internet-based risks. This is an increase from 61% in last year's report. A closer look at the data shows that the number of smaller middle market companies with cyber insurance increased to 67% from 65% in 2022, while larger companies that reported carrying a policy jumped significantly to 70% this year from 57% in 2022. The report details relevant middle market cybersecurity insights and data privacy trends, along with tactics organizations can use to strengthen security and privacy programs. Ransomware Attacks and Business Takeover Threats Increasing, Employee Manipulation Tactics a Key Concern Consistent with previous years, ransomware remains the primary cybersecurity threat to the middle market, with attacks resulting in several layers of harmful consequences. In this year's MMBI data, 35% of middle market executives disclosed that they experienced a ransomware attack or demand, up from 23% last year. Larger middle market companies reported a sizable increase in attacks with 54% this year compared to 29% in last year's report, while smaller organizations saw a slight decline in incidents to 13% from 16% last year. Business takeover threats are one of the most persistent and pervasive cybersecurity attacks to middle market companies. The reported frequency of business takeover attempts increased significantly in this year's data, with 58% of middle market executives indicating that outside parties attempted to manipulate employees by pretending to be trusted third parties or company executives, compared to 45% last year. Executives at smaller middle market companies reported a small increase in attacks to 53% this year from 51% in 2022, while larger companies indicated a sharp jump in incidents to 63% from 40%. Surveyed executives also reported that 48% of attempts to manipulate employees were successful over the last year, a considerable increase from 27% in 2022's data. Larger middle market organizations showed the largest increase, reporting a 68% success rate for attacks, compared to 38% just last year. Smaller middle market companies reported a small increase this year, up to 21% from 15%. Companies Taking Cyber Threats Seriously and Continuing to Respond Most middle market companies understand the value of training as a defense against business takeover attacks, with 89% of executives reporting their organization provides training to at least some employees on how to detect, identify and prevent attempts to gain unauthorized access, consistent with last year's data. Larger middle market companies appear to offer training to more employees, with 97% providing training to some or all employees, compared to 81% of smaller counterparts. Additionally, confidence in cybersecurity strategies remains very high in the middle market. For the second-straight year, 96% of respondents were confident in their current measures to safeguard data, matching last year's record high. RSM attributes some of the high confidence to the increase in cloud adoption as well as an apparent shift in strategy to invest in more cybersecurity resources. The number of executives who reported a dedicated function focused on security and privacy increased significantly to 77% this year, up from 60% in last year's survey. Many middle market companies also appear to have changed their reporting structure in the last year. In this year's survey, 40% of executives reported that the person most responsible for data security and privacy reports directly to the CEO, an increase from 25% last year. That number fell slightly at smaller middle market companies (38% in 2022 to 33% in 2023), while it rose significantly at larger organizations (16% to 43%). "According to a recent U.S. Chamber report, regulation, including cyber specific regulation, has dramatically increased over the last decade," said Vincent Voci, vice president, cyber policy and operations at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "While the pace of government regulations has increased, so too have cyber threats against the public and private sectors. Despite a flurry of regulations, we have not, in fact, regulated our way to a safer, more secure cyberspace. Midsize businesses should monitor regulations along four categories of cyber public policy risk in particular, including sector specific cybersecurity regulations, incident reporting or public disclosure, common cybersecurity standards, and state-by-state approaches to cybersecurity regulations." Only 57% percent of executives in the survey said they are familiar with the requirements of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This indicates a plateau from 58% in 2022, despite increased awareness and enforcement activity. Consistent with past years, respondents from larger organizations were more familiar with GDPR requirements than those at smaller organizations84% versus 28%. With the expansion of privacy laws and regulations across the United States, the majority of middle market businesses understand they will likely need to adhere to compliance obligations in the near future. Among RSM survey respondents familiar with GDPR requirements, 90% said their organizations would likely have to comply with privacy requirements similar to the GDPR at a federal or state-level in the United States during the next two years. Ninety-six percent of executives who are familiar with the GDPR said preparing for emerging privacy laws and regulations is a priority, identical to last year's response. The survey data that informs this index reading was gathered from 406 respondents between January 9 and January 30, 2023. About the RSM US Middle Market Business Index RSM US LLP and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have partnered to present the RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI). It is based on research of middle market firms conducted by Harris Poll, which began in the first quarter of 2015. The survey is conducted four times a year, in the first month of each quarter: January, April, July and October. The survey panel consists of approximately 1,500 middle market executives and is designed to accurately reflect conditions in the middle market. Built in collaboration with Moody's Analytics, the MMBI is borne out of the subset of questions in the survey that asks respondents to report the change in a variety of indicators. Respondents are asked a total of 20 questions patterned after those in other qualitative business surveys, such as those from the Institute of Supply Management and National Federation of Independent Businesses. The 20 questions relate to changes in various measures of their business, such as revenues, profits, capital expenditures, hiring, employee compensation, prices paid, prices received and inventories. There are also questions that pertain to the economy and outlook, as well as to credit availability and borrowing. For 10 of the questions, respondents are asked to report the change from the previous quarter; for the other 10 they are asked to state the likely direction of these same indicators six months ahead. The responses to each question are reported as diffusion indexes. The MMBI is a composite index computed as an equal weighted sum of the diffusion indexes for 10 survey questions plus 100 to keep the MMBI from becoming negative. A reading above 100 for the MMBI indicates that the middle market is generally expanding; below 100 indicates that it is generally contracting. The distance from 100 is indicative of the strength of the expansion or contraction. About The U.S. Chamber of Commerce The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations. They all share one thing: They count on the U.S. Chamber to be their voice in Washington, across the country, and around the world. For more than 100 years, we have advocated for pro-business policies that help businesses create jobs and grow our economy. About RSM US LLP RSM is the leading provider of professional services to the middle market. The clients we serve are the engine of global commerce and economic growth, and we are focused on developing leading professionals and services to meet their evolving needs in today's ever-changing business landscape. Our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. RSM US LLP is the U.S. member of RSM International, a global network of independent assurance, tax and consulting firms with 57,000 people in 120 countries. For more information, visit rsmus.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and/or connect with us on LinkedIn. SOURCE RSM US LLP Physician-scientists will present expansive new cancer research, including 33 accepted abstracts NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health today announced that data from SWOG S1826, a randomized study of nivolumab(N)-AVD versus brentuximab vedotin(BV)-AVD in advanced stage (AS) classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and two abstracts from the neoadjuvant I-SPY 2 trial evaluating oral paclitaxel, carboplatin, and dostarlimab (OPE/Cb/D) without and with trastuzumab in early-stage, high-risk breast cancer, have been selected as late-breaking presentations at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, to be held both in person in Chicago and online from June 2-6. "We are thrilled to have physician-scientists from our health system participate in two innovative clinical trials selected for three late-breaking presentations at this year's ASCO annual meeting, reinforcing our commitment to push the boundaries of science, provide patients with cutting-edge treatment options, and transform the way cancer is treated," said Steven K. Libutti, MD, FACS, Director, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Senior Vice President, Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health. "As New Jersey's only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, we strive to offer our patients comprehensive cancer care, including access to novel therapeutic advances and game-changing clinical trials that have the potential to save, extend and improve the quality of patients' lives, and reshape the future of cancer management." A total of 33 presentations and 9 publications have been accepted, highlighting research advances in several types of cancer, including lymphoma, pediatric, colorectal and breast cancer. Highlights of additional accepted abstracts include the following: Initial findings of the phase II study of biweekly TAS-102, irinotecan and bevacizumab in pre-treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), found that TAS-102 with irinotecan plus bevacizumab is an effective second-line therapy for patients with mCRC. Findings from a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis that aimed to determine the association of receipt of treatment summaries, follow-up care instructions (including where to obtain "routine cancer check-ups"), and type of doctor providing survivorship care on breast cancer screening (BCS) and cervical cancer screening (CCS) in female cancer survivors. The analysis demonstrated that follow-up instructions, which are part of the survivorship plan, have the greatest association with BCS and CCS among cancer survivors, but despite this, about 25% of BCS and CCS-eligible cancer survivors did not receive them. Results from a phase Ib/II clinical trial evaluating the preliminary safety and efficacy of tinengotinib tablets as monotherapy and combination therapy in advanced solid tumors, which demonstrated that tinengotinib monotherapy was well-tolerated and the pharmacokinetics results may support dose recommendation for subsequent trials. Additionally, researchers observed encouraging anticancer activity of tinengotinib monotherapy in patients with heavily pre-treated solid tumors, including PC, HR+/HER2- BC, TNBC and CCA. The full list of presentations at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting follows: Oral Presentations Abstract No. Title Presentation Date/Time Location Abstract 8006 LINKER-MM1 study: Linvoseltamab (REGN5458) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 3:15 p.m. CDT Hall D2 & Live Stream Abstract 9501 Significant durable response with fianlimab (anti-LAG-3) and cemiplimab (anti-PD-1) in advanced melanoma: Post adjuvant PD-1 analysis. Monday, June 5, 2023, 3:00 p.m. CDT Hall D1 & Live Stream Abstract 1004 A phase 2 study of HER3-DXd in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Monday, June 5, 2023, 12:42 p.m. CDT Hall B1 & Live Stream Abstract 10008 Phase 2 study of larotrectinib in children with newly diagnosed infantile fibrosarcoma (IFS): Children's Oncology Group (COG) ADVL1823 cohort A. Sunday, June 4, 2023, 12:09 p.m. CDT S100a & Live Stream Poster Presentations Abstract No. Title Presentation Date/Time Location Abstract LBA612 Oral paclitaxel and dostarlimab with or without trastuzumab in early- stage, high-risk breast cancer: Results from the neoadjuvant I SPY 2 TRIAL. Sunday, June 4, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract TPS3625 Phase II/III study of circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker in adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II colon cancer: NRG-GI005 (COBRA). Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract TPS5103 SWOG S1823/CCTG GCC1: Translational observational investigational study of the liquid biomarker microRNA 371a-3p in newly diagnosed germ cell tumoursReal-world trial design, rapid accrual, and robust secondary use of data opportunities. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract TPS5109 HB-300, a novel arenavirus-based cancer immunotherapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract TPS5110 A phase 1/2 study of combination olaparib and radium-223 in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastases (COMRADE): A trial in progress. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract TPS9594 A phase 2/3 trial in progress on tebentafusp as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in HLA-A*02:01+ patients with previously treated advanced non- uveal melanoma (TEBE-AM). Saturday, June 3, 2023, 1:15 4:15 p.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 532 A multicenter phase II study of vaccines to prevent recurrence in patients with HER-2positive breast cancer. Sunday, June 4, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 2561 Clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in patients with classic cold tumors identified to have a high tumor mutational burden via ctDNA. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 3085 Characterization of MCL-1 in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC): Expression, molecular profiles, and outcomes. Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 3531 Chemotherapeutic sensitivity in colorectal cancer expressing low RNA of wild type homologous recombination genes. Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 3590 Phase II study of biweekly TAS- 102, irinotecan and bevacizumab in pre-treated metastatic colorectal cancer (TABAsCO). Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 3622 Molecular profiling and characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) in appendiceal carcinoma (AC). Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 4108 Comprehensive profiling of clock genes expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 4144 Correlation of comprehensive molecular mapping of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with XPO1 mRNA expression levels to potential clinical targets. Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 4145 Clinical genomic implications of transcriptional subtypes in pancreatic cancer. Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 4150 KRAS G12C-mutated pancreatic cancer: Clinical outcomes based on chemotherapeutic regimen. Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 4151 Molecular and clinical correlates of DSCR1 expression in pancreatic cancer (PDAC). Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 4167 The five periampullary cancers: Not just different siblings but different familiesAn international multicenter cohort study. Monday, June 5, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 9548 A phase 1 study of fianlimab (anti- LAG-3) in combination with cemiplimab (anti-PD-1) in patients with advanced melanoma: Poor- prognosis subgroup analysis. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 1:15 4:15 p.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 10628 Learned lessons from a US-wide outreach program to broaden enrollment to the PROMISE Registry, a prostate cancer genetic registry. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 1:15 4:15 p.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 11018 Characterizing imposter syndrome among oncologists on social media. Sunday, June 4, 2023, 8:00 11:00 a.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Abstract 12075 Survivorship care and breast and cervical cancer screening. Monday, June 5, 2023, 1:15 4:15 p.m. CDT Hall A & On Demand Poster Discussion Session Abstract 2519 A phase I/II trial investigating safety and efficacy of autologous TAC01- HER2 in relapsed or refractory solid tumors. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 3:00 4:30 p.m. CDT S100bc & On Demand Abstract 3019 Preliminary safety and efficacy of tinengotinib tablets as monotherapy and combination therapy in advanced solid tumors: A phase Ib/II clinical trial. Saturday, June 3, 2023, 2:11 p.m. CDT S100bc & On Demand Abstract 4020 Not all treated KRAS-mutant pancreatic adenocarcinomas are equal: KRAS G12D and survival outcome. Monday, June 5, 2023, 11:30 1:00 p.m. CDT Hall D2 & Live Stream Abstract 7515 Response-adapted therapy (tx) with nivolumab plus brentuximab vedotin (nivo + BV) without autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) in children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) with low- risk relapsed/refractory (R/R) classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL): CheckMate 744. Monday, June 5, 2023, 1:49 p.m. CDT E450 & On Demand Abstract Discussion 4 Aging in Survivors of Pediatric Cancer Monday, June 5, 2023, 5:36 p.m. CDT S504 & On Demand Abstract LBA520 Oral paclitaxel, carboplatin, and dostarlimab (OPE/Cb/D) without and with trastuzumab in early-stage, high-risk breast cancer: Results from the neoadjuvant I-SPY 2 TRIAL. Sunday, June 4, 2023, 5:04 p.m. CDT Hall B1 & Live Stream Plenary Session Abstract LBA4 SWOG S1826, a randomized study of nivolumab(N)-AVD versus brentuximab vedotin (BV)-AVD in advanced stage (AS) classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Sunday, June 4, 2023, 2:53 p.m. CDT Hall B1 & Live Stream Publication Only Session title Presentation title Presentation Date/Time Location Abstract e16073 Preoperative pembrolizumab for MSI high, EBV positive or PD-L1 positive locally advanced gastric cancer followed by surgery and adjuvant chemoradiation with pembrolizumab: Interim results of a phase 2 multi-center trial. N/A N/A Abstract e18723 Assessment of how differences in efficacy and toxicity change healthcare professionals' views on presentation of treatment options. N/A N/A Abstract e15087 Safety and feasibility of the addition of a radiosensitizing methionine- restricted diet to radiation therapy. N/A N/A Abstract e17618 Comparing sentinel lymphadenectomy and complete lymphadenectomy among obese patients (BMI >30) undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for early-stage endometrial cancer: An ACS-NSQIP database study. N/A N/A Abstract e18605 Immediate inpatient toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy: Real world data from a national inpatient sample. N/A N/A Abstract e24088 Barriers to offering female fertility preservation to pediatric and young adult oncology patients: A national survey of pediatric hematology oncology providers in the United States and Canada. N/A N/A Abstract e12523 ctDNA detection before and during systemic therapy for inflammatory breast cancer. N/A N/A Abstract e16079 Outcomes of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in esophageal cancer (EC): A 5-year nationwide analysis. N/A N/A Abstract e19015 Pevonedistat plus belinostat in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome: A phase I multicenter study. N/A N/A About Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey As New Jersey's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute, together with RWJBarnabas Health, offers the most advanced cancer treatment options, including bone marrow transplantation, proton therapy, CAR T-cell therapy and complex surgical procedures. Along with clinical trials and novel therapeutics such as precision medicine and immunotherapy many of which are not widely available patients have access to these cutting-edge therapies at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey at University Hospital in Newark, as well as through RWJBarnabas Health facilities. To make a tax-deductible gift to support the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, call 848-932-8013 or visit www.cinj.org/giving. For journalists contact: Krista Didzbalis Media Relations Assistant 732-507-8307 [email protected] For patient appointments/inquiries contact: 844-CANCERNJ (844-226-2376) SOURCE Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health SANTA CRUZ, Calif., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (the "Bank" OTCQX: SCZC) announced the election by its Board of Directors of Stephen D. Pahl as Chairman, following the annual meeting of shareholders held on May 24, 2023. Stephen D. Pahl Stephen Pahl is Senior Partner and Chairman of Pahl & McCay, a professional law corporation, based in San Jose. His practice focuses on real estate transactions and litigation, employment matters and commercial litigation. During his tenure on the Board of Santa Cruz County Bank, he has chaired the Director's Loan Committee, providing him broad credit experience in this aspect of banking operations. He also has served the Bank as its Corporate Secretary since January 2021. The Board of Directors also reappointed John Burroughs as Vice Chairman. Mr. Burroughs will assume the additional responsibilities of serving as Corporate Secretary following the Annual Meeting. Chairman Stephen D. Pahl stated, "It is an honor to continue serving on the Board in the role of Chairman of one of the highest rated community banks in the nation. Our strong financial performance is consistently above that of our banking peers and has allowed the Bank to expand its geographic reach into both Monterey County and Santa Clara County with the long-term goal and focus on building shareholder returns and providing safe and sound community banking for our clients. We have been very sensitive to the problems which have plagued some of the larger banks in our area. Our management and Board have taken proactive measures to avoid these issues and protect shareholder value." ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK Santa Cruz County Bank was founded in 2004. It is a top-rated, locally-owned and operated, full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. The bank has branches in Aptos, Capitola, Cupertino, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Santa Cruz County Bank is distinguished from "big banks" by its relationship-based service, problem-solving focus and direct access to decision makers. The bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley and a top USDA lender in the state of California. As a full-service bank, Santa Cruz County Bank offers competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals; including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, asset-based lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment and treasury management. True to its community roots, Santa Cruz County Bank has supported regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local not-for-profit organizations. Santa Cruz County Bank stock is publicly traded on the OTCQX U.S. Premier marketplace under the symbol SCZC. Stock purchase orders may be placed online, through a brokerage firm, or through Market Makers listed in the Investor Relations section of the bank's website. For more information about Santa Cruz County Bank, visit www.sccountybank.com . SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank Paessler PRTG as an essential part of Siemens' Lifecycle Management Suite CHICAGO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens and Paessler announce that Paessler PRTG monitoring software will be used as the monitoring solution of the Siemens Lifecycle Management Suite (LMS). Helmut Binder of Paessler and Daniel Leese of Siemens agree on ongoing collaboration. At the Hannover Fair in Germany, Siemens and Paessler strengthened their association in the industrial space with the confirmation that Paessler PRTG is an essential part of Siemens' Lifecycle Management Suite (LMS). Daniel Leese, product manager of the Lifecycle Management Suite at Siemens explains the role of PRTG in the Lifecycle Management Suite, "With Paessler's PRTG, we will extend our Lifecycle Management Suite by a state-of-the-art IT/OT online monitoring solution. This allows our customers to automatically generate a Reactive Maintenance Work package." As a result, IT and OT monitoring data and alarms from PRTG can be easily integrated into the workflows and processes of engineers and technicians. This development builds on the partnership between Siemens and Paessler. Both companies already worked together in the past, but now they are taking their relationship to a strategic level to leverage the strengths of Siemens and PRTG in the industrial sphere. Paessler PRTG and Siemens Industrial Automation DataCenter (IADC) PRTG is already used with Siemens' Industrial Automation DataCenter (IADC), which can be maintained by LMS. It monitors the various components of the IADC, displays the collected monitoring data in dashboards, and alerts system administrators of any failures. This helps to ensure the excellent performance and uninterrupted operation of the data center. Furthermore, PRTG provides LMS with transparency across IT and OT. Helmut Binder, CEO of Paessler, highly values the ongoing trust that Siemens has shown in Paessler PRTG monitoring software. "It is an honor that a world-class company like Siemens, with its reputation for innovation and quality, has chosen our Paessler PRTG monitoring solution to complement their industrial offerings," Helmut Binder said. "This highlights not only the versatility and reliability of our monitoring software but also the value it delivers in industrial settings." In recent years, Paessler has extended its monitoring focus beyond IT and into the world of OT and IIoT and is already monitoring industrial infrastructure across the world. Paessler took another step into OT by releasing Paessler PRTG OPC UA Server, a product extension that provides supervisory and control systems (like SCADA) with monitoring and alarm data from PRTG. ABOUT SIEMENS AG Siemens is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, the company creates technology with purpose adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for billions of people. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a globally leading medical technology provider shaping the future of healthcare. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power. In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, the Siemens Group generated revenue of 72.0 billion and net income of 4.4 billion. As of September 30, 2022, the company had around 311,000 employees worldwide. ABOUT PAESSLER AG Paessler believes monitoring plays a vital part in reducing humankind's consumption of resources. Monitoring data helps its customers save resources, from optimizing their IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures to reducing energy consumption or emissions for our future and our environment. That is why Paessler offers monitoring solutions for businesses across all industries and all sizes, from SMB to large enterprises. Paessler works with renowned partners, and together they tackle the monitoring challenges of an ever-changing world. Since 1997, when Paessler first introduced PRTG Network Monitor, it has combined its in-depth monitoring knowledge with an innovative spirit. Today, more than 500,000 users in over 170 countries rely on PRTG and other Paessler solutions to monitor their complex IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures. Paessler's products empower its customers to monitor everything, and thus help them optimize their resources. Learn more about Paessler and their products at www.paessler.com SOURCE Paessler AG - The Monitoring Experts BANGALORE, India, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonata Software, a leading Modernization Engineering company, announced that it is proud to be part of the global launch of Microsoft Fabric at Microsoft Build event in Seattle, United States. Microsoft Fabric is an end-to-end unified analytics platform bringing together all the data and analytics tools that organizations need. It enables enterprises to manage their data in one place with a suite of analytical experiences that work together seamlessly to help turn data into a competitive advantage today and lay the foundation for AI innovations of tomorrow. What sets Microsoft Fabric apart is its multi-cloud data lake called OneLake, pervasive governance and security, AI powered experiences with Copilot, and deep integration to Microsoft 365 applications. The team at Sonata had an exciting journey of over 6 months working with Microsoft Fabric team. It gave the team an opportunity to learn the new paradigm of end-to-end analytics SaaS platform, to work closely with the product engineering teams at Microsoft and to share their findings and inputs about the product that was in the making. "We really appreciate Sonata Software, our global systems integration & technology partner, for their valuable contribution in Fabric's evolution and being a trusted partner to help modernization of analytics for our customers," said Arun Ulagaratchagan, CVP, Azure Data. Microsoft Fabric offers data integration, data engineering, data warehousing, data science, real-time analytics, and business intelligenceall hosted on a lake-centric SaaS solution that allows you to simplify with a single source of truth. "We are very proud and excited to partner with Microsoft for the launch of Microsoft Fabric. We strongly believe Fabric is pathbreaking in what it can do for customers who are modernizing their global data estate. We will bring a whole set of complementary capabilities in terms of IPs as well as capacities across the globe to help customers to modernize their data estate and adopt this platform faster," said Rajasekhar Datta Roy, CTO, Sonata Software About Sonata Software For more information, press only : Nandita Venkatesh, Sonata Software Limited CIN- L72200MH1994PLC082110 A.P.S. Trust Building, Bull Temple Road, N.R. Colony Bangalore 560004, India Tel:+91806778199 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/689012/3972645/Sonata_Software_Logo.jpg SOURCE Sonata Software American Foundation for Suicide Prevention-Illinois provides training to address a leading cause of death within Black community CHICAGO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With rising numbers of suicide death among Black men, the Illinois chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is offering Soul Shop for Black Churches training to equip faith leaders on ministering to those impacted by suicide. A one-day workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th Street, Chicago. To register for the free training, visit https://ilssbc23.attendease.com/. Soul Shop for Black Churches is a culturally relevant training designed for clergy, staff, lay pastors, and faith-based clinicians to help address suicide, a leading cause of death within the Black community. Given the prominence of the church within Black communities, Soul Shop for Black Churches equips these leaders who are on the front lines of the mental health crisis to minister to those impacted by all the faces of trauma and struggle with suicide. The program was co-developed by AFSP and Soul Shop Movement, an organization equipping faith community leaders and other people of faith to save lives and bring hope to those impacted by suicidal ideation. "In my experience, the Black Church has always been the gateway to the Black community, and as such, it has always been revered as a place of hope and healing," noted Victor Armstrong, Soul Shop Movement's director of Soul Shop for Black Churches and AFSP North Carolina board member. "Soul Shop is an excellent resource for giving clergy and other faith leaders effective tools, to help them talk with their congregants about the desperation that accompanies suicide and the impact it can have on those touched by suicide." Trinity United Church of Christ is a historic, predominantly African-American church with more than 8,500 members, located in the Washington Heights community on Chicago's South Side. Trinity is led by The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, who has spoken extensively about the experience of suicide loss and the role of the church in supporting mental health care within the Black community. "Suicide rips something from us in a very different way," said Pastor Moss. "Mental illness, which led to my sister's suicide, was a disease, like cancer, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell or heart disease." The 2021 suicide death data from the CDC intensifies the need for this training. The report looks at age, race and ethnicity related trends between 2018 and 2021, which point to disparities among the Black community. During 20182021, the U.S. Black population experienced a 19.2% increase in age-adjusted suicide rate, and a 36.6% increase in the rate among Black youth aged 10-24. "The crisis of rising suicide rates among Black communities demands immediate attention and action," said Angela Cummings, executive director of AFSP-IL. "We know that faith communities play a critical role in reversing this trend and saving lives. The Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is delighted to partner with Trinity United Church of Christ to bring this critically important suicide prevention training to clergy and lay clergy throughout Chicagoland." Soul Shop workshops address the primary obstacles to dealing with suicide such as societal discrimination, fear and shame; statistics/facts about suicide; and how ministries can create a supportive environment while shifting the culture around how people deal with this subject and one another. Soul Shop Movement has trained thousands nationally and internationally in suicide awareness and has facilitated the development of suicide prevention plans within numerous community teams. AFSP and its Illinois chapter are dedicated to improved research, education, and advocacy. Through its statewide network of volunteers, AFSP Illinois offers prevention education programs that emphasize the importance of research-proven self-care techniques as well as the value of engaging professional support. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call or text 988 for the Suicide Crisis Lifeline. Or text TALK to 741741 or go to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org / . About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to individuals affected by suicide. The organization creates a culture that is smart regarding mental health through educational programs, advocation for suicide prevention, and providing support for those affected by suicide. All donations go towards these efforts with the goal to greatly reduce the national suicide rate. For more: https://afsp.org/chapter/illinois Suicide Prevention Resources: https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources Suicide Warning Signs: afsp.org/signs Media: Reporting on Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/reporting-on-suicide-prevention SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention DUBLIN, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "South Africa Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This database covers the South Africa data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide information on the colocation data centers. KEY MARKET HIGHLIGHTS: As of December 2022 , the population in the country was over 60.4 million, with an internet penetration rate of over 68%. Over 46% of them are active social media users. , the population in the country was over 60.4 million, with an internet penetration rate of over 68%. Over 46% of them are active social media users. The market also witnessed several new entrants in the market, such as NTT Global Data Centers, Vantage Data Centers, and Open Access Data Centres (OADC) developing data center facilities in the country. In terms of operators, Teraco (Digital Reality) and Africa Data Centers contribute to more than 70% of the existing IT Load capacity in the South Africa Data Center Market. Regarding geography, Johannesburg accounts for more than 60% of the existing rack capacity in the South Africa Data Center Market. The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned below: Detailed Analysis of 50 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 11 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Johannesburg , Cape Town , Durban , Kempton Park , Centurion, Midrand, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Middleburg, Klerksdorp, Pinetown, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg, East London , Gqeberha, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Knysna, George, Klein Brak Rivier, Somerset West / Paarl, Mount Edgecombe, New Germany, Grabouw, Pretoria . , , , , Centurion, Midrand, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Middleburg, Klerksdorp, Pinetown, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg, , Gqeberha, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Knysna, George, Klein Brak Rivier, Somerset West / Paarl, Mount Edgecombe, New Germany, Grabouw, . Existing white-floor space (square feet) Upcoming white-floor space (square feet) Current IT load capacity (2022) Future capacity additions (2023-2025) Retail Colocation Pricing Quarter Rack (1/4) Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.) Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing EXISTING DATA CENTERS (50 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name, i.e., (JB2 or JHB1.) Core & Shell Area (White-Floor Area) Core & Shell Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Rack Capacity Year of Operations Design Standards (Tier I - IV) Power/Cooling Redundancy UPCOMING DATA CENTERS (11 Facilities) Investment Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Investor Name Area (White-Floor Area) Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Investment ($ Million) Electrical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) Mechanical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) General Construction Services Investment ($ Million) Announcement Year Project Status (Opened/Under Construction/Announced & Planned) Active or Expected Year of Opening INVESTORS/OPERATORS COVERED Teraco (Digital Realty) Africa Data Centres Vantage Data Centers Open Access Data Centres NTT & Dimesnsion Data MTN Vodacom Business Internet Solutions ZA Digital Parks Africa Business Connexion CipherWave Equinix Paratus. TARGET AUDIENCE Data center Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) Data center Construction Contractors Data center Infrastructure Providers New Entrants Consultants/Consultancies/Advisory Firms Corporate and Governments Agencies For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xtljra 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 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "South Korea Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This database (excel) product covers the South Korea data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide information on the colocation data centers. KEY MARKET HIGHLIGHTS: As of February 2023 , the total population of South Korea is around 51.8 million, and the total number of mobile connections is around 64.2 million. Social media users are around 47.6 million, around 92% of the total population. , the total population of is around 51.8 million, and the total number of mobile connections is around 64.2 million. Social media users are around 47.6 million, around 92% of the total population. Other factors leading to growth in investment opportunities in the market include global investments by firms such as Macquarie Telecom Group, G Company, E Asset Management, and others. The expected growth in demand from such businesses is expected to intensify the competition in the market for data center colocation and construction. The Top 3 Operators, LG Uplus, KT Corp, and LG CNS, contribute over 70% of the rack capacity in the South Korea Data Center Market. Regarding geography, Seoul , Anyang, and Busan account for over 85% of the existing IT Load Capacity. The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned below: Detailed Analysis of 34 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 21 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Anyang, Busan , Cheongju, Daegu, Gimhae, Gimpo, Goyang, Guro Gwangju, Incheon, Seongnam, Seoul , Pyeongchon, Chungnam, Geumcheon-gu, Yongin, Bucheon-si, Hanam, Ansan, Jeollanam-do. , Cheongju, Daegu, Gimhae, Gimpo, Goyang, Guro Gwangju, Incheon, Seongnam, , Pyeongchon, Chungnam, Geumcheon-gu, Yongin, Bucheon-si, Hanam, Ansan, Jeollanam-do. Existing white-floor space (square feet) Upcoming white-floor space (square feet) Current IT load capacity (2022) Future capacity additions (2023-2025) Retail Colocation Pricing Quarter Rack (1/4) Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.) Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing EXISTING DATA CENTERS (34 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name i.e., (Seocho 1 Data Center or Bundang Data Center.) Core & Shell Area (White-Floor Area) Core & Shell Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Rack Capacity Year of Operations Design Standards (Tier I - IV) Power/Cooling Redundancy UPCOMING DATA CENTERS (21 Facilities) Investment Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Investor Name Area (White-Floor Area) Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Investment ($ Million) Electrical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) Mechanical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) General Construction Services Investment ($ Million) Announcement Year Project Status (Opened/Under Construction/Announced & Planned) Active or Expected Year of Opening INVESTORS/OPERATORS COVERED LG Uplus KT Corp LG CNS SK broadband Hostway ID Shinsegae I&C Digital Realty Equinix Sejong Telecom (Digital Edge) Dreammark1 Corporation Telehouse Sejong Telecom KINX Actis + GS Engineering & Construction SOLIS IDC ST Telemedia Global Data Centres & Hyosung Heavy Industries Canada Pension Plan Investment Board + Pacific Asset Management (LG CNS - Operator) SC Zeus Data Centers Empyrion DC OneAsia Network IGIS Asset Management STACK Infrastructure & ESR Group Limited NHN KT Cloud Kakao Corp Bosung Group + Black & Veatch + EIP's TGK. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/guzq7m 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 Tam Coc rice field in Ninh Binh provinces Hoa Lu district (Photo: VNA) According to the rankings Ninh Binh is placed at fourth in the list. The Travel shared that the scenic nature found in Ninh Binh is one of the most attractive things about the locality, whilst it also boasts a fascinating history and an amazing culture. Both kids and adults will enjoy marveling at the stunning caves, hiking through the lush forests, going rock climbing, and enjoying a boat ride along the Tam Coc River, says the magazine. The northern province of Ninh Binh was the location of 2016 Hollywood movie "Kong: Skull Island" and is blessed by nature with plenty of fascinating natural landscapes, including Cuc Phuong National Park, Mua Cave, and Chau Son Cathedral. A corner of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (Photo: VNA) Other destinations named in the list include Antigua and the British Virgin Islands of The Caribbean, Haida Gwaii and Banff of Canada, Taveuni of Fiji, Cappadocia of Turkey, the Etruscan Coast in Tuscany of Italy, Krakow of Poland, along with Zhangjiajie and Zhangjiajie of China. Vietnamese film leaves positive impression at Cannes Film Festival Following on from its global premiere on May 24 at the Directors Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival, Vietnamese movie Ben Trong Vo Ken Vang, known as Inside The Yellow Cocoon Shell in English, received a five-minute standing ovation from audiences, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam. Directed by Pham Thien An, the movie tells the story of a journey taken by a young man named Thien who is tasked with delivering his sister-in-law's body to their countryside hometown following a tragic motorcycle accident. Taking place amid the mystical landscapes of rural Vietnam, Thien begins a search for his older brother, who vanished years ago. The film was produced by Vietnams JK Film and Singapores Protocol in co-production with Frances Deuxieme Ligne Films and Spains Fasten Films. Vietnamese movie Ben Trong Vo Ken Vang, known as Inside The Yellow Cocoon Shell in English, receives a five-minute standing ovation from audiences. (Photo: VOV) It took a total of four years to complete the movie, with three shootings taking place in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The movie will be the Vietnamese representative competing for the Camera d'Or Award. Director Pham Thien An was born in Lam Dong province in 1989. He won a number of awards, including the 48 Hours Film Project in Ho Chi Minh City and top prize at the CJ Short Film Making Project, one of the top short film contests in the nation. In 2015, he moved to the United States and continued to work as a freelance filmmaker. His latest short film, Cam Lang, known as The Mute in English, was screened as a World Premiere at the Palm Springs International Shortfest in the US in 2018. It also competed at 15 international short film festivals, including Winterthur in Switzerland, Tampere in Finland, Encounters in the UK, and Aspen in the US. Vietnam remains leading destination for foreign investment inflows: experts Vietnam has yet to lose its advantage as an attractive destination for foreign investment flows, although in the short term, investors are taking a careful consideration before making their decision, the Vietnam News Agency qouted the sayings of Lecturer Nguyen Xuan Thanh from the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management. In addition to a common trend of decrease over the globe, unnecessary procedures, tax incentives and low licensing are making investors hesitate. However, in the long term, Vietnam remains a country with various advantages in investment attraction, Thanh stressed. Sharing the same view, Michael Kokalari, chief economist at investment fund VinaCapital, said that Vietnam will continue to be a prime destination for FDI, particularly from multinationals looking to produce exports and seeking an alternative and/or additional manufacturing base to China, for the foreseeable future. Vietnam remains leading destination for foreign investment inflows (Photo: baodautu.vn) According to him, the new global corporate minimum tax (GMT) is unlikely to impede FDI inflows to Vietnam, given the fact that tax incentives are not the primary attraction for setting up a factory in the country In 2021, over 100 countries, including Vietnam, agreed to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)s proposal for the GMT that will impose a 15% minimum corporate tax rate on income for companies with consolidated incomes above circa 850 million USD starting from 2023. The implementation of this agreement was subsequently delayed to 2024. Some observers have also noted that planned FDI into Malaysia and Indonesia surged during the last two years, while Vietnams registered FDI was essentially flat. However, investments into Malaysia and Indonesia were largely channelled into the production of goods Vietnam does not make, including electric vehicle batteries. Kokalari said Vietnam had attracted far more than its fair share of FDI since the US-China trade tension emerged in 2018. The economist also mentioned Tim Cooks visit to India in April, which spawned a plethora of articles on the intentions of Apple and others to build new factories in the country. But it is important to note that most products of those factories will be sold in the Indian market. In short, new investments to India are not being motivated by the China 1 investment strategy that has driven FDI inflow into Vietnam over the last decade, particularly at an accelerated pace since the start of the US-China trade tension. We do not see India threatening Vietnams FDI inflow and continue to believe FDI is likely to remain one of Vietnams key growth drivers for years to come. The current wave of new FDI announcements in India should not be viewed as taking investment away from Vietnam, Kokalari stressed. Last month, Apple supplier Quanta Computer signed an agreement with the Peoples Committee of the northern province of Nam Dinh on developing a large-scale computer factory at My Thuan Industrial Park. In February, Nam Dinhs neighbouring province of Thai Binh also granted an investment license to a 260-million-USD factory of Compal, another partner of Apple. Meanwhile, the US multinational technology companys leading partner, Foxconn, is also planning to build a project in the central province of Nghe An, after successes of its projects in northern Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces. Local photographer wins prize at international photography awards Vietnamese photographer Phan Thi Khanh claimed a top prize at the Pink Lady Photographer of the Year, the world's leading photography competition, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam. Vietnamese photographer Phan Thi Khanh with her entry "In the Storm" wins prize at Pink Lady photo contest. (Photo: VOV) Her entry "In the Storm" was honoured in the Bring Home the Harvest category. Images entered in the category depict parts of the process of harvesting and gathering crops. The results were recently announced, with Khanh being the only Vietnamese photographer to win a prize this year. Pink Lady photo contest was first launched back in 2011 and is open to both professional and non-professional photographers worldwide. Since 2011, over 80,000 images and films have been submitted from 96 countries./. Ad Agency and Data Science software company joins in "The Internet's Highest Honor" for 27th Annual Webby Awards from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences TULSA, Okla., May 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Selected from 14,400 entries across 50 states and over 70 countries, www.TheKatyVictoryPark.com has been selected as the best real estate website by the academy, judged by content, structure, navigation, visual design, functionality, interactivity, innovation and overall experience. The Katy is the fourth honor Spherexx received from the Academy, prefaced by 3 honoree recognitions, view details at www.spherexx.com/webby. Accessing a challenging goal for an extraordinary multifamily community- By leveraging our team's expertise, we built a site with ultimate visual experience Tweet this Best Real Estate Website 2023 Webby Awards The Katy in Victory Park was meticulously envisioned and planned for two years by the developer. The goal was to develop and create something worthy of The Katy's unique experience that sets a new standard for evolving multifamily housing design. Every construction detail was adopted to increase the resident's access to beauty, light, accessibility, and community. With 30 stories and 463 units, The Katy offers every resident both a sense of privacy and society with shared convenience. The interior appointments are subtle and effective. The wraparound window glass corners are honed together thereby avoiding corner molding that diminishes one of The Katy's remarkable views. There are sound reducing concrete walls and floors, and garage doors are very fast. Appliances and fixtures are top-of-the-line. Community areas continue the theme. The developer created custom fragrances for all the common areas. There are segregated conference rooms and lounge areas especially appreciated by remote workers. The sky lounge offers party space, open-air and portico seating; the fireplace is insulated with double glass to prevent too hot a touch. Kathy dog parks offer off-leash retreats and owners can choose to relax in a covered porch rest stop. The pet wash has walk-in ceramic shower stalls where groomers are welcome. There is an auto care center equipped with auto vacuums and air pumps. There is also a yoga studio and well-equipped outdoor kitchens. Representing this unique community on the worldwide stage- Becca Wilson, Spherexx owner and CEO met the ownership on location to personally review the community and learn the developer's specific goals on how to represent his brand. He shared how he wanted a web presence that was not the multifamily industry standard, but the vibe of international resorts. "We gathered inspiration for this project from the carefully curated art selections and the community atmosphere that is unique to the Katy. Our goal was to extend that sense of community by taking visitors on a journey through life at The Katy. One of the elements we loved most is the use of individual amenity pages which provided a showcase for those unique activities, like pet portrait sessions and the coffee shop that is open to residents and public visitors along the Katy walking trail across the street from the community. By leveraging our team's expertise, we built a site with ultimate visual experience," said Wilson. Great preparation was invested in developing custom mood boards, color schemes, community amenity pages and an on-location video shoot by Spherexx's videographer. The team developed a concept for sharing "a day in the life" of an actual couple who lived in The Katy that featured many of the unique amenities. Intersecting web technology with artistic design and functionality- Spherexx enlisted its 22 years of experience in developing website tools that generate high search rankings, exceptional user experience, high lead conversion, 100% performance, ADA compliance and conformity to WCAG2.11 AA. The interactive site search allows website guests to filter individual unit availability by move-in date, price, size, configuration, and by level and story location. Results provide a photo of the residence, floor plan, pricing, and availability with an invitation to apply for residency. The Katy in Victory Park website design and development represents a departure from traditional multi-housing website presentation, and it has proven to be a hallmark for the future. About Spherexx.com Data Science | Performance | Proptech Spherexx.com is a performance-driven software developer, business intelligence data provider and advertising agency that is focused on the real estate industry serving customers across the US & Canada since 2000. Spherexx develops Software as a Service (SaaS) internet-based software, data analytics and marketing solutions. We offer solutions for multifamily, single family, affordable, senior, military, rent control and manufactured housing. The Spherexx software stack ensures new efficiencies and minimizes friction for our client's teams and the public interfacing with our client's brands. Spherexx enhances day-to-day operations by orchestrating & managing the "end-to-end" brand experience for employees and apartment shoppers plus profit optimization for ownership stakeholders. The Spherexx marketing stack begins with brand management, lead management, sales performance training, point of sale analytics, market insights, customer & employee nurturing tools and services. Spherexx offers a full suite of services and software to support clients' unique business goals and objectives. Find out more at www.spherexx.com and request a consultation at www.spherexx.com/get-started. About The Webby Awards Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile Sites; Video; Advertising, Media and PR; Apps, dApps & Software, Social; Podcasts; Games and Metaverse, Immersive & Virtual. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received nearly 14,000 entries from all 50 states and over 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include Canva, WP Engine, Verizon, Omidyar Network, YouGov, NAACP, KPMG, Wall Street Journal, All Tech Is Human, Podcast Movement and AIGA. SOURCE Spherexx NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Synapse Medicine, the leader in medication success, and CompuGroup Medical, the leader in software for providers, have announced a partnership to accelerate innovation in prescribing and allow physicians to benefit from time-saving technological advances in clinical decision support. Current prescribing technologies are becoming obsolete CompuGroup Medical Logo Physicians face a growing workload in their daily practice. Much of this workload isn't top-of-license, clinical work like diagnosing and treating. Instead, it's administrative tasks like charting or managing appointments. One area with potential for improvement is the prescription process which poses patient safety challenges due to the constantly evolving complexity of medical drug knowledge. With recent advancements in artificial intelligence, prescription support technologies as we know them today will soon be obsolete. Providing raw information and pop-up alerts is no longer enough. Instead, personalized medical recommendations are needed to facilitate clinical decision-making. In this context, it is essential that medical software evolves quickly to meet the needs of physicians. The goal is to save them time on repetitive and burdensome tasks allowing them to focus on providing the best possible patient care. Innovating for Personalized Patient Care Thanks to Synapse Medicine and CompuGroup Medical collaboration, doctors will have access to actionable medical recommendations while maintaining control of their patient's care and will benefit from an optimized user experience to minimize administrative tasks like data entry and searching for information. Physicians will also benefit from the latest advancements in natural language processing, such as Synapse Copilot tool in their practice management software which enables personalized care based on their unique clinical profile. Through this strategic partnership, Synapse Medicine and CompuGroup Medical aim to make doctors' daily lives easier by providing three elements: time savings, personalization, and patient safety. "Partnering with organizations like Synapse Medicine brings our clients and their patients even more innovation in clinical decision support. This new collaboration with Synapse Medicine fits perfectly into our roadmap for innovation and transforming practices towards a safer and more efficient healthcare system." says Franck Frayer, Senior Vice President of CompuGroup Medical. "Our partnership with CompuGroup Medical is a perfect example of successful collaboration: together we will bring tangible innovations to thousands of doctors, and thus to millions of patients. This is a new step on our mission of ensuring that everyone benefits from an optimal prescription." says Clement Goehrs, co-founder and CEO of Synapse Medicine. About Synapse Medicine At Synapse Medicine, we believe in medication success, and are dedicated to creating the technology that makes it possible for everyone. To achieve this goal, we have built an extensive global knowledge base for medication using algorithms to ensure the most reliable, up-to-date data. On the front-end, Synapse Medicine provides a SaaS platform and UI components that are used to prescribe, dispense, and manage medications across the entire patient journey. Synapse is working with world-leading hospitals and digital health companies in the United States, Europe, and Japan to transform today's medication regimens into tomorrow's medication success. About CompuGroup Medical CompuGroup Medical is one of the leading e-health companies in the world. With a revenue base of EUR 1.130 billion in 2022, its software products are designed to support all medical and organizational activities in doctors' offices, pharmacies, laboratories, hospitals, and social welfare institutions. Its information services for all parties involved in the healthcare system and its web-based personal health records contribute towards safer and more efficient healthcare. CompuGroup Medical's services are based on a unique customer base of more than 1.6 million users, including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals in inpatient and outpatient facilities. With locations in 20 countries and products in 60 countries worldwide, CompuGroup Medical is the e-health company with one of the highest coverages among healthcare professionals. More than 9,200 highly qualified employees support customers with innovative solutions for the steadily growing demands of the healthcare system. Contact: [email protected], +33 (0)5 56 35 50 87 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2084693/CGM_LOGO.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1914883/Synapse_Medicine_Logo.jpg SOURCE Synapse Medicine BOSTON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) aim to disrupt the nuclear industry, slashing the cost of nuclear energy to competitiveness with renewables + storage and making new decarbonization-enabling uses of nuclear power possible. In 2023, SMRs are operational in China and Russia, with the rest of the world looking to catch up. Elsewhere, a start-up designed SMR could be the first to enter operation. Still, the question remains: in the emerging SMR market, will the agility of new players beat the embedded positions of the nuclear industry's existing giants? Breakdown of organizations involved in SMR projects from IDTechExs database. Source: IDTechEx IDTechEx's new report, "Nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) 2023-2043," predicts that 25% of nuclear-sourced electricity will come from SMRs in 2043, compared to a negligible percentage today. The diversity of designs this rapid scaleup would breed is likely to involve a wide variety of organizations: IDTechEx surveyed 83 SMR projects from many different players. Start-ups form a high percentage of the organizations involved in SMR development - taking a startup as a firm founded with the express aim of commercializing SMR technology. Evolution or Revolution? The nuclear industry is famously conservative, with today's third-generation reactors evolutions of the earliest designs. The smaller size of SMRs and the new use cases for nuclear energy they seek to serve offer opportunities for innovative start-ups to provide differentiation, whether in developing a design evolution or working with newer fourth-generation reactor architectures. One early-stage player building on proven technology is NuScale Power, which as the first SMR company to receive Standard Design Approval from the US nuclear regulator (albeit for an earlier version of its design), is a frontrunner to build an SMR in the US. NuScale shrinks PWRs (Pressurized Water Reactors), using 6 of them with a combined electrical capacity of 462MW in its VOYGR-6 design. The small size allows the integration of all the primary steam cycle components into the reactor pressure vessel, helping to reduce on-site assembly costs. Passive circulation of coolant is possible without the need for pumps, and decay heat can be removed passively in case of reactor shutdown by a water bath surrounding the reactors. Both features help enhance the safety of the design and are made possible by the smaller reactor size. Variations on the integral PWR design are the most common approach to SMRs, given that they build on the safety of PWR technology, which forms the bulk of today's commercial nuclear reactor fleet. NuScale expects its first plant to be operational by the end of the decade. Some players are pursuing a more revolutionary approach with fourth-generation reactor types. One example is the Canadian firm Terrestrial Energy. Its ISMR400 molten salt reactor (MSR) takes advantage of the high coolant temperature of MSRs to decarbonize industrial process heat while supplying power to the grid. Due to their lower operating temperatures, the light water-cooled reactors that dominate today cannot directly supply heat to a wide range of industries (e.g., petrochemicals). This higher temperature does not imply a safety penalty: since the fuel is already molten in the coolant salt, core melts are effectively impossible, and low operating pressures reduce the risk of coolant leaks. Of course, newer entrants face significant competition from established players. Nuclear industry giants like GE-Hitachi and Westinghouse Nuclear have their own SMR designs at a high stage of readiness, with the distinct advantages of being able to build on pre-existing large nuclear reactors designs and established supply chains. While it seems assured these big names will be significant contributors to the global SMR fleet, it looks like there is significant space for new players to make their marks as well, with lower single project costs in the range of US$1 billion, as opposed to often tens of billions for a large nuclear plant, making the space more accessible for the next generation of nuclear firms. Comprehensive Insight IDTechEx's report "Nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) 2023-2043" provides comprehensive coverage of the SMR space. It provides twenty-year market forecasts, benchmarking of SMR designs, application suitability analysis, dissection of the industry landscape, and more, making it essential reading for anyone wishing to understand this emerging low-carbon energy source. To find out more about IDTechEx's technical and commercial analysis of the SMR industry, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/SMRs. About IDTechEx IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com. Images Download: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/e5tngn3rvq3bz1lgmmp8d/h?dl=0&rlkey=eevhb1mxwfsmt6yh07on3vizp Social Media Links: Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/IDTechEx Facebook: www.facebook.com/IDTechExResearch Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2084136/IDTechEx.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg Media contact: Lucy Rogers Sales and Marketing Administrator [email protected] +44 (0)1223 812300 SOURCE IDTechEx XI'AN, China, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tianlong, an innovative high-tech company specializing in molecular diagnostic products in China, has partnered with public hospitals in northern Thailand to build up detection measures for hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV), and for the early diagnosis and treatment of the viruses. Globally, more than 350 million people are living with viral hepatitis, and 9 in ten people living with hepatitis are unaware of their diagnosis. Tianlong's HCV&HBV detection solution can help reduce the transmission of the disease by enabling early diagnosis and proper treatment. Tianlong solution has been applied in Thailand hospitals Since October 2022, Tianlong's HCV&HBV detection solution has been successfully installed in public hospitals in Thailand. The company has reached a 7-year agreement with local hospitals, and its solution will be seen in more local hospitals in the future. Tianlong's HCV&HBV reagents, compatible with its nucleic acid extractor PANA9600S and PCR system Gentier 96, provide a rapid test with high sensitivity, which has received great praise from high-end users. "Tianlong can give timely responses both online and offline when we need technical support. We have great confidence in Tianlong's products, and we would welcome more cooperation in the future," said a local hospital representative in Thailand. Tianlong's STIs solutions will also be applied in Thailand soon to help prevent and control sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Tianlong is committed to expanding its presence in Thailand and working closely with local partners to provide excellent solutions and services for its customers. The company believes that its molecular diagnostic solutions for hepatitis and other diseases will become increasingly popular in the local market, helping to improve the health and well-being of local people. About Tianlong Tianlong is an innovative high-tech company specializing in molecular diagnostic products in China. Since its foundation in 1997, Tianlong has devoted itself to providing integrated PCR lab solutions for professionals worldwide. The company has a wide range of products, ranging from devices to reagents, including nucleic acid extractors, real-time PCR systems, all-in-one molecular diagnosis systems, sample processing systems, liquid handling systems, and 300 kinds of compatible reagents. For more information, please visit Tianlong and its pages on LinkedIn, Facebook , and Twitter. For product or corporate information inquiries, please reach out to [email protected] SOURCE Xi'an TianLong Science and Technology Co., Ltd TORONTO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Forest Products announced it has partnered with Logan Lumber Company Inc. to distribute its Black Label brand of premium Ipe and other tropical hardwoods graded to the highest standards. Based in Tampa, FL, Logan Lumber has served Florida's retail lumber dealers since 1929, providing excellent service and offering the building industry's best brands. Acquired by Weekes Forest Products in 2006, Logan Lumber joined one of North America's foremost wholesale lumber and building distributors. "The Black Label team is excited to partner with Logan Lumber to continue the expansion of our network of distributors to meet the rising demand in the Tampa Bay area for premium architectural grade, certified sustainable tropical hardwoods," said Kris Kanagenthran, Chief Executive Officer, Tropical Forest Products. "Black Label is proud to offer the highest quality wood products through one of Florida's most innovative wholesale lumber and building products distributors." "Logan Lumber Company is proud to partner with Tropical Forest Products as a Black Label Ipe dealer in the state of Florida," said Doug Reagan, Account Manager, Logan Lumber Co. "For example, Black Label Ipe is a high-quality premium grade that is in high demand." Black Label sets a new level of quality for the lumber industry with impeccable strength and impressive performance in every product, thanks to Black Label's kiln-dried process. With applications ranging from decking, cladding, and ceilings to timber sizes and architectural millwork, each board must be Premium Architectural Grade or superior to earn the Black Label title. Black Label selectively harvests its premium grade lumber to exceed the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Unifloresta for the brand's Ipe, Jatoba, BulletWood and Tigerwood-- all 100% legally sourced from South America. Black Label also offers thermally modified Kebony and ThermoWood with Novawood technology. Tropical Forest Products' Black Label brand has been awarded for excellence with an Architizer A+ Award and several media awards. They offer a complete marketing support program with a strong online presence, all with the dealer, contractor, architect, designer and homeowner in mind. Learn more about Black Label at https://blacklabelwood.com. Learn more about Logan Lumber Company at https://weekesforest.com/tampa-fl/. About Tropical Forest Products Tropical Forest Products, a leading hardwood distributor that operates throughout the United States and Canada, was founded with the belief that acquiring lumber of superior quality should be easy and ethical. Its team is made up of passionate people who love everything about forests and their survival. Tropical strives to meet every client's need with quality lumber, with on-time delivery, commitment to client service, and the best prices on the market. About Logan Lumber Company Logan Lumber Company is a wholesale building material distributor, serving Florida since 1929. Logan Lumber was acquired by Weekes Forest Products in early 2006, joining one of America's foremost wholesale lumber and building product distributors. It has been a great combination as Logan continues to innovate and add new products. SOURCE Tropical Forest Products DUBLIN, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Lung Adenocarcinoma in the United States, 2022-2042: Cancer Populations USA Report and Data Dashboard" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Cancer Populations USA report series provides detailed descriptive epidemiology estimates, forecast out to 20 years, and insights, to support clinical trial design and enrolment, market opportunity assessment and post-marketing authorization activities. Cancer Populations USA is unique in routinely stratifying key cancer populations by race and ethnicity, which can be used to assess the representativeness of clinical trial populations, as well as identify areas of health inequities between different race-ethnicity population groups. All estimates in this report are based on nationally representative datasets, such as population-based cancer registries, large epidemiological studies and published national population forecasts. Modelled estimates are based on the best practice industry methods to estimate recurrence events and, where required, make imputations and extrapolations. We provide estimates for the year 2022 and forecast estimates to 2032 and 2042 in the main body of this report. Annualized forecast estimates are provided in supplementary tables at the end of the report, and also in the accompanying data dashboard, if purchased. Stratification of incident cases by stage is based on the scheme specified by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition (i.e. stage groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, ). Due to small numbers, some stage groups have been aggregated in this report. Wherever possible, this has been into meaningful groupings based on recommended clinical practice (NCCN, 2023). In this report on lung adenocarcinoma (Ad-LC), forecast estimates are provided of incident cases by stage, age and gender, race-ethnicity, anatomical subsite, and PD-1/PD-L1 status. Additionally, the author forecasts those cases each year that become eligible for 1st line treatment for advanced disease, which is further stratified by oncogene driver mutations and amplifications. Our forecast model uses a proprietary algorithm taking account of historical trends, long-term evolution - at the age- and gender-specific level within each race-ethnicity group - in the size and composition of the national population at risk, and inter-generational trends in exposures to both known and unknown risk factors. In addition to national estimates, the publisher also estimates the state-specific size of key populations for the year 2022 for almost all US states, and Puerto Rico, with corresponding heat maps and tabulated results. All of the key populations included in the report are also reported for each year of the forecast period, along with interactive tables, patient journey diagrams and heat maps, in the accompanying data dashboard. Key Topics Covered: 1. Overview 2. Summary of results 3. Newly diagnosed incident cases 4. Advanced 1st line drug-treatable cases 5. Tumor genetics and biomarker expression 6. State-level epidemiology 7. 10 and 20 year epidemiological forecasts 8. Detailed methods 9. National population projections 10. Bibliography 11. Supplementary data tables 12. Additional support 13. Further information For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7v3u4x 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 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Small-Cell-Lung Cancer in the United States, 2022-2042: Cancer Populations USA Report and Data Dashboard" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Cancer Populations USA report series provides detailed descriptive epidemiology estimates, forecast out to 20 years, and insights, to support clinical trial design and enrolment, market opportunity assessment and post-marketing authorization activities. Cancer Populations USA is unique in routinely stratifying key cancer populations by race and ethnicity, which can be used to assess the representativeness of clinical trial populations, as well as identify areas of health inequities between different race-ethnicity population groups. All estimates in this report are based on nationally representative datasets, such as population-based cancer registries, large epidemiological studies and published national population forecasts. Modelled estimates are based on the best practice industry methods to estimate recurrence events and, where required, make imputations and extrapolations. We provide estimates for the year 2022 and forecast estimates to 2032 and 2042 in the main body of this report. Annualized forecast estimates are provided in supplementary tables at the end of the report, and also in the accompanying data dashboard, if purchased. Stratification of incident cases by stage is based on the scheme specified by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition. Due to small numbers, some stage groups have been aggregated in this report. Wherever possible, this has been into meaningful groupings based on recommended clinical practice (NCCN, 2023). In this report on small-cell-lung cancer (SCLC), forecast estimates are provided of incident cases by stage, age and gender, race-ethnicity, anatomical subsite, and PD-1/PD-L1 status. Additionally, the author forecasts those cases each year that become eligible for 1st line treatment for advanced disease, which is further stratified by oncogene driver mutations and amplifications. Our forecast model uses a proprietary algorithm taking account of historical trends, long-term evolution - at the age- and gender-specific level within each race-ethnicity group - in the size and composition of the national population at risk, and inter-generational trends in exposures to both known and unknown risk factors. In addition to national estimates, the publisher also estimates the state-specific size of key populations for the year 2022 for almost all US states, and Puerto Rico, with corresponding heat maps and tabulated results. All of the key populations included in the report are also reported for each year of the forecast period, along with interactive tables, patient journey diagrams and heat maps, in the accompanying data dashboard. Purchase of the report and dashboard comes with 12 months client support, with guaranteed response to client queries within 1 working day. The Cancer Populations USA report series is available for a wide range of tumors, both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Similar reports can be provided for other indications (including non-oncology indications), or for other country(s). Key Topics Covered: Overview Summary of results Newly diagnosed incident cases Advanced 1st line drug-treatable cases Tumor genetics and biomarker expression State-level epidemiology 10 and 20 year epidemiological forecasts Detailed methods National population projections Bibliography Supplementary data tables Additional support Further information For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/otpnol 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 Three New Itineraries Exploring Canada and Greenland Launching in 2025 LOS ANGELES, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking (www.viking.com) today announced three new summer season expedition voyages in the Arctic. Debuting in July 2025, the new itineraries, which range from 13 to 27 days, explore the polar north in Canada and Greenland, with two of the three voyages visiting the Canadian High Arctic. Viking today announced three new summer season expedition voyages in the Arctic. Debuting in July 2025, the new itineraries, which range from 13 to 27 days, explore the polar north in Canada and Greenland, with two of the three voyages visiting the Canadian High Arctic. For more information, visit www.viking.com. The 13-day Into the Northwest Passage itinerary sails roundtrip from Nuuk, Greenland and features destinations including the pristine waters of the Ilulissat Icefjord and the eastern entrance of the famed Northwest Passage in Pond Inlet, Canada. Guests can also discover stunning natural beauty and dramatic landscapes during the 15-day Canada & Greenland Explorer itinerary, which sails between Toronto and Nuuk. Those interested in more in-depth exploration can choose a combination of the two itineraries, the new 27-day Canada & the Northwest Passage voyage. "Our guests are curious travelers who are eager to explore new and different regions of the world, in Viking comfort," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "From the time of Leif Eriksson and the original Vikings, Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic have fascinated intrepid explorers. Today, there is no better way to experience this pristine area of the world than from the comfort of our purpose-built expedition ships." 2025 Arctic Voyages: Viking's new itineraries in the Arctic include: NEW Into the Northwest Passage (13 days; Nuuk to Nuuk) Discover the diverse landscapes and rugged shores of the world's largest island. Immerse yourself in Inuit traditions as you explore towns dotted with colorful wooden houses. Head out kayaking on the fjord or partake in a Zodiac landing and witness stunning displays of nature, from towering peaks to blue-tinged glaciers. Join Viking on a fascinating voyage exploring the Canadian High Arctic to undiscovered territories beneath the skies of the midnight sun. Sailing dates are available from July through September 2025 . Discover the diverse landscapes and rugged shores of the world's largest island. Immerse yourself in Inuit traditions as you explore towns dotted with colorful wooden houses. Head out kayaking on the fjord or partake in a Zodiac landing and witness stunning displays of nature, from towering peaks to blue-tinged glaciers. Join Viking on a fascinating voyage exploring the Canadian High Arctic to undiscovered territories beneath the skies of the midnight sun. Sailing dates are available from July through . NEW Canada & Greenland Explorer (15 days; between Toronto, Ontario and Nuuk) Explore Canada and Greenland's rugged shores on an awe-inspiring journey through one of the most fascinating corners of the world. Sail amid floating icebergs as they drift in blue-tinged waters and witness the wonders of Mother Nature as you immerse yourself in dramatic landscapes. Learn about the Inuit traditions that still thrive in remote communities and experience the stark beauty of the Arctic beneath the skies of the midnight sun. Sailing dates are available in July and September 2025 . Explore Canada and rugged shores on an awe-inspiring journey through one of the most fascinating corners of the world. Sail amid floating icebergs as they drift in blue-tinged waters and witness the wonders of Mother Nature as you immerse yourself in dramatic landscapes. Learn about the Inuit traditions that still thrive in remote communities and experience the stark beauty of the Arctic beneath the skies of the midnight sun. Sailing dates are available in July and . NEW Canada & the Northwest Passage (27 days; between Nuuk and Toronto, Ontario ) Witness the majesty of floating icebergs and rugged lands as you embark on a journey to the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland . View towering icebergs, expansive icefields and deep-blue fjords that are rich in marine life. Get a glimpse of life in Inuit communities and learn about traditions that have sustained for generations. Bask beneath the skies of the endless midnight sun as you join us on a voyage of discovery to far-flung lands. Sailing dates are available in July and September 2025 . Viking is also offering world cruises between the Great Lakes and "the end of the world." The Viking Octantis will begin her epic journey from Milwaukee to Ushuaia on the 70-day Longitudinal World Cruise III in September 2023 offering guests a variety of impressive travel milestones in a single journey from the heart of North America through engineering wonders like the Welland and Panama Canals, into the Chilean fjords and finally to Antarctica. Similarly, the Viking Polaris will embark on the 71-day Longitudinal World Cruise II from Duluth to Ushuaia in September 2023; she will also sail the 62-day Longitudinal World Cruise IV from Milwaukee to Ushuaia in October 2024. Viking also offers a similar voyage in reverse, from Buenos Aires to Milwaukee, with the 65-day Longitudinal World Cruise I, which embarks in February 2024. Viking Expedition Ships The Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris host 378 guests in 189 staterooms. The vessels are purpose-built for expeditions, at an ideal size for safety and comfort in remote destinations. With more indoor and outdoor viewing areas than other expedition vessels, guests are as close as possible to the most magnificent scenery on earth. Highlights include: The Aula: A stunning panoramic auditorium inspired by the University of Oslo's famed ceremonial hall, the former venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Used for lectures, daily briefings, documentaries and films, this spectacular venue features a 4k laser-projected screen that retracts to expose floor-to-ceiling windows and 270 views. A stunning panoramic auditorium inspired by the famed ceremonial hall, the former venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Used for lectures, daily briefings, documentaries and films, this spectacular venue features a laser-projected screen that retracts to expose floor-to-ceiling windows and 270 views. Finse Terrace: An outdoor lounge area just above sea level with recessed seating and lava rock "firepits," the Finse Terrace was designed to allow guests the comforts of the ship al fresco while enjoying the dramatic scenery. Named after the Finse Plateau in Norway , where some of the greatest polar explorers, including Nansen and Amundsen, did their expedition training in preparation for their North and South Pole expeditions. An outdoor lounge area just above sea level with recessed seating and lava rock "firepits," the Finse Terrace was designed to allow guests the comforts of the ship al fresco while enjoying the dramatic scenery. Named after the Finse Plateau in , where some of the greatest polar explorers, including Nansen and Amundsen, did their expedition training in preparation for their North and South Pole expeditions. The Hangar: A state-of-the-art, industry-first in-ship marina providing ease of embarkation and disembarkation of Special Operations Boats and other equipment while sheltered from the elements. A state-of-the-art, industry-first in-ship marina providing ease of embarkation and disembarkation of Special Operations Boats and other equipment while sheltered from the elements. The Bow: An important forward-viewing platform. And in the case of inclement weather, The Shelter is a comfortable, partially enclosed space for guests to warm up with a hot drink before going back out into the elements. An important forward-viewing platform. And in the case of inclement weather, is a comfortable, partially enclosed space for guests to warm up with a hot drink before going back out into the elements. The Science Lab: Developed in partnership with the University of Cambridge and Akvaplan-Niva, The Science Lab, at 380 sq. ft., is designed to support a broad range of research activities and is equipped with wet and dry laboratory facilities. Guests have supervised access to The Science Lab to learn from and participate with scientists in undertaking meaningful research. Developed in partnership with the and Akvaplan-Niva, The Science Lab, at 380 sq. ft., is designed to support a broad range of research activities and is equipped with wet and dry laboratory facilities. Guests have supervised access to The Science Lab to learn from and participate with scientists in undertaking meaningful research. Expedition Central: The hub for the expedition team to consult with guests on their expedition activities and share knowledge about the destinations on a one-on-one basis, with the aid of 3D printed maps, digital screens, and a state-of-the-art spatial data visualization chart table. The hub for the expedition team to consult with guests on their expedition activities and share knowledge about the destinations on a one-on-one basis, with the aid of 3D printed maps, digital screens, and a state-of-the-art spatial data visualization chart table. Dining Choices: The Restaurant offers fine dining featuring regional cuisine and always-available classics; the casual World Cafe offers an open kitchen, bakery, grill and premium seafood and sushi choices, as well as a wide range of international flavors; Mamsen's, named for the Hagen family matriarch, serves Scandinavian-inspired fare; and Manfredi's offers the best of Italian cuisine. The Restaurant offers fine dining featuring regional cuisine and always-available classics; the casual World Cafe offers an open kitchen, bakery, grill and premium seafood and sushi choices, as well as a wide range of international flavors; Mamsen's, named for the Hagen family matriarch, serves Scandinavian-inspired fare; and Manfredi's offers the best of Italian cuisine. The Nordic Spa: Following a day of exploration, The Nordic Spa offers guests opportunities to experience the ultimate healthy Nordic traditions, with an indoor heated pool set against expansive windows and a badestamp (wood-sided hot tub) that is open to the outside. Following a day of exploration, The Nordic Spa offers guests opportunities to experience the ultimate healthy Nordic traditions, with an indoor heated pool set against expansive windows and a (wood-sided hot tub) that is open to the outside. Explorers' Lounge: Located high on the ship with floor-to-ceiling windows, the Explorers' Lounge provides guests an ideal space to take in the magnificent scenery, share discoveries with fellow travelers or to enjoy a drink. Located high on the ship with floor-to-ceiling windows, the Explorers' Lounge provides guests an ideal space to take in the magnificent scenery, share discoveries with fellow travelers or to enjoy a drink. The Living Room: On Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris , The Living Room is located to maximize views of the surroundings through floor-to-ceiling windows and a library that informs even the best-read explorers. The Library is curated by acclaimed London bookshop Heywood Hill , as on all Viking vessels, as well as Cambridge University's Scott Polar Research Institute. On and , The Living Room is located to maximize views of the surroundings through floor-to-ceiling windows and a library that informs even the best-read explorers. The Library is curated by acclaimed bookshop , as on all Viking vessels, as well as Scott Polar Research Institute. Nordic Balcony: A first for polar expedition vessels, all staterooms on board Viking's expedition ships feature a Nordic Balcony, a sunroom that converts into an al fresco viewing platform with an observation shelf at elbow level to stabilize binoculars or a camera. Guests can choose from six stateroom categories that range from 222 sq. ft. to 1,223 sq. ft.all with a Nordic Balcony, as well as a king-size bed and large bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated bathroom floor and anti-fog mirror. Every stateroom is also equipped with a unique floor-to-ceiling drying closet that circulates warm air to dry and store clothing and expedition gear. A first for polar expedition vessels, all staterooms on board Viking's expedition ships feature a Nordic Balcony, a sunroom that converts into an al fresco viewing platform with an observation shelf at elbow level to stabilize binoculars or a camera. Guests can choose from six stateroom categories that range from 222 sq. ft. to 1,223 sq. ft.all with a Nordic Balcony, as well as a king-size bed and large bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated bathroom floor and anti-fog mirror. Every stateroom is also equipped with a unique floor-to-ceiling drying closet that circulates warm air to dry and store clothing and expedition gear. Expedition Ship Suites: Nordic Junior Suites (322 sq. ft.) and Explorer Suites (580 sq. ft.) on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are similar to those on Viking's fleet of ocean ships, with wood detailing and amenities that include additional storage and seating, an expanded bathroom with extended shower and double sinks, welcome champagne, a fully-stocked mini-bar replenished daily, complimentary laundry, priority restaurant reservations and more. Explorer Suites feature two separate rooms, a Nordic Balcony, and a full outdoor veranda. Additionally, each ship features one Owner's Suite (1,223 sq. ft.) that has three rooms a living room, a board/dining room and a bedroomas well as a 792 sq. ft. private deck with a traditional Norwegian badestamp open to the invigorating outdoors. Nordic Junior Suites (322 sq. ft.) and Explorer Suites (580 sq. ft.) on and are similar to those on Viking's fleet of ocean ships, with wood detailing and amenities that include additional storage and seating, an expanded bathroom with extended shower and double sinks, welcome champagne, a fully-stocked mini-bar replenished daily, complimentary laundry, priority restaurant reservations and more. Explorer Suites feature two separate rooms, a Nordic Balcony, and a full outdoor veranda. Additionally, each ship features one Owner's Suite (1,223 sq. ft.) that has three rooms a living room, a board/dining room and a bedroomas well as a 792 sq. ft. private deck with a traditional Norwegian badestamp open to the invigorating outdoors. Enrichment On Board and On Shore: Viking has created the world's leading scientific enrichment environment in an expedition setting. Exclusive partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University , The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)as well as other prestigious scientific institutions match leading researchers and educators with each expedition. Thirty-six experts accompany each journey as part of the Viking Expedition Team, including an Expedition Leader and support staff, photographer, field research scientists, general naturalists, mountain guides, kayak guides, submarine pilots and specialists (ornithology, geology, higher predator biology and history). On board, guests will enjoy daily briefings and world-class lectures about their destination. On shore, they can assist in fieldwork or interact through experiential activities during landingssuch as monitoring birds to help identify migratory patterns; accompanying scientists to collect samples; or taking their cameras ashore alongside a professional photographer to learn how best to capture scenic landscapes. Viking has created the world's leading scientific enrichment environment in an expedition setting. Exclusive partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at , The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)as well as other prestigious scientific institutions match leading researchers and educators with each expedition. Thirty-six experts accompany each journey as part of the Viking Expedition Team, including an Expedition Leader and support staff, photographer, field research scientists, general naturalists, mountain guides, kayak guides, submarine pilots and specialists (ornithology, geology, higher predator biology and history). On board, guests will enjoy daily briefings and world-class lectures about their destination. On shore, they can assist in fieldwork or interact through experiential activities during landingssuch as monitoring birds to help identify migratory patterns; accompanying scientists to collect samples; or taking their cameras ashore alongside a professional photographer to learn how best to capture scenic landscapes. Environmentally Considerate: Viking's expedition ships have set a new standard for responsible travel with an energy-efficient design that exceeds the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements by nearly 38%. In addition to an integrated bow that creates a longer waterline for the ships, engines with heat recovery systems and Azipod Electric Propulsion, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris have received one of the industry's first SILENT-E notationsthe highest-level certification for quiet ship propulsion, minimizing underwater noise pollution. Media Assets For more information about Viking, or for images and b-roll, please contact [email protected]. About Viking Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for experienced travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person. Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being the first cruise line to ever be named both the #1 Ocean Line and the #1 River Line in a single year in Travel + Leisure's 2022 "World's Best" Awards. Viking has also been rated the #1 River Line and #1 Ocean Line by Conde Nast Traveler in the publication's 2022 and 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. For Viking's award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv. MEDIA CONTACT: Edelman for Viking [email protected] SOURCE Viking Supreme Court decision limits the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to protect wetlands WASHINGTON, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Supreme Court dealt a significant blow to the Clean Water Act in a new ruling issued today. The decision narrows the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to protect America's wetlands, which are critical to healthy water. Moira Mcdonald, Environment Program Director of the Walton Family Foundation issued the following statement: "Clean water and the Clean Water Act continue to unite Americans. We all believe that water is vital to every aspect of our lives. From our health to the economy, to our ecosystems we must continue to have strong laws that protect our water. Each of us wants to trust that our drinking water is safe. This is a time for community leaders, businesses, and policymakers to innovate, and be creative. We have to find new ways to come together to protect water." The Walton Family Foundation, in collaboration with Morning Consult, released polling in September showing that: 95% of Americans say that protecting the water in our nation's lakes, streams and rivers is important . Further, 79% want to strengthen or maintain current standards, while just 8% want to relax them. . Further, 79% want to strengthen or maintain current standards, while just 8% want to relax them. 88% agree that it is important that the EPA has the authority laid out in the Clean Water Act such as restricting pollution entering our waters and limiting the destruction or physical damage to lakes, rivers, wetlands, streams and other waterways. such as restricting pollution entering our waters and limiting the destruction or physical damage to lakes, rivers, wetlands, streams and other waterways. After a brief description of Sackett v. the Environmental Protection Agency, 75% of adults support protecting more waters and wetlands under the Clean Water Act. 89% of adults would be concerned if polluters no longer had to meet water requirements before adding waste into streams or wetlands and 88% would be concerned if the permit requirement to make a permanent physical change to a water body was removed in some cases. and 88% would be concerned if the permit requirement to make a permanent physical change to a water body was removed in some cases. Adults want more safety standards for water releases from factories and industrial processes (69%), municipal drinking water (68%) and drinking water in their community (67%). About the Walton Family Foundation The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SOURCE Walton Family Foundation Count of Vacant Homes in Foreclosure Increases for Fifth Straight Quarter; Zombie Properties Comprise Largest Portion of All Homes Since Before COVID Pandemic; But Just One of Every 11,600 Residential Properties Nationwide Sits Empty in Foreclosure IRVINE, Calif., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released its second-quarter 2023 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report showing that 1.3 million (1,285,633) residential properties in the United States are vacant. That figure represents 1.3 percent, or one in 79 homes, across the nation. The report analyzes publicly recorded real estate data collected by ATTOM including foreclosure, equity, and owner-occupancy status matched against monthly updated vacancy data. (See full methodology below). Vacancy data is available for U.S. residential properties at Marketing Lists - Property & Homeowners Lists | ATTOM (attomdata.com). The report also reveals that 311,508 residential properties in the U.S. are in the process of foreclosure in the second quarter of this year, up 4.3 percent from the first quarter of 2023 and up 20.2 percent from the second quarter of 2022. A growing number of homeowners have faced possible foreclosure since a nationwide moratorium on lenders pursuing delinquent homeowners, imposed after the Coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, was lifted in the middle of 2021. Among those pre-foreclosure properties, 8,752 sit vacant as zombie foreclosures (pre-foreclosure properties abandoned by owners) in the second quarter of 2023. That figure is up 7.5 percent from the prior quarter and up 15.6 percent from a year ago. The count of zombie properties has grown in each of the last five quarters, dating back to early in 2022. Still, the number of zombie foreclosures remains historically low, with little impact on the nation's total stock of 101.3 million residential properties. "Zombie foreclosures keep inching up as lenders pursue more delinquent homeowners in courts around the country. All indications are that the number of zombie properties will keep going up slowly, given that foreclosures are up," said Rob Barber, chief executive officer for ATTOM. "But abandoned properties are still nothing more than a dot on the radar screen among the majority of neighborhoods. We are still a long way from the fallout after the Great Recession of the late 2000s, when this was a very real issue in many areas around the U.S." The lack of zombie foreclosures throughout most of the country continues to stand out as one of the most significant effects of the U.S. housing market boom that more than doubled the national median home value from 2012 to 2022. Zombie foreclosures rise again but still pose no issues in most neighborhoods A total of 8,752 residential properties facing possible foreclosure have been vacated by their owners nationwide in the second quarter of 2023, up from 8,141 in the first quarter of 2023 and from 7,569 in the second quarter of 2022. The number of zombie properties has grown quarterly in 29 states and annually in 36. While most neighborhoods around the U.S. have little or no zombie foreclosures, the biggest increases from the first quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2023 in states with at least 50 zombie properties are in Texas (zombie properties up 47 percent, from 114 to 168), Ohio (up 26 percent, from 846 to 1,070), Oklahoma (up 22 percent, from 142 to 173), Georgia (up 22 percent, from 78 to 95) and Iowa (up 21 percent, from 227 to 274). The only quarterly decreases among states with at least 50 zombie foreclosures are in Michigan (zombie properties down 20 percent, from 74 to 59), South Carolina (down 2 percent, from 154 to 151), Pennsylvania (down 1 percent, from 404 to 401) and New York (down less than 1 percent, from 2,006 to 2,000). New York continues to have the highest ratio of zombie homes to all residential properties (one of every 2,140 homes), followed by Ohio (one in 3,615), Iowa (one in 4,480), Illinois (one in 4,687) and Florida (one in 5,926). Overall vacancy rates unchanged The vacancy rate for residential properties in the U.S. has remained the same in the second quarter of 2023 after dropping in the prior three quarters. It now stands at 1.27 percent (one in 79 properties), the same as in the first quarter of 2023, but still down from 1.31 percent in the second quarter of last year (one in 76). States with the biggest annual drops in the overall vacancy rate are Tennessee (down from 1.55 percent of all homes in the second quarter of 2022 to 1.02 percent in the second quarter of this year), Michigan (down from 2.14 percent to 1.88 percent), Georgia (down from 1.61 percent to 1.39 percent), Minnesota (down from 0.95 percent to 0.73 percent) and New Jersey (down from 0.53 percent to 0.36 percent). Other high-level findings from the second quarter of 2023: Among 166 metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. with at least 100,000 residential properties and at least 100 properties facing possible foreclosure in the second quarter of 2023, the highest zombie foreclosure rates are in Wichita, KS (13.1 percent of properties in the foreclosure process are vacant); Cedar Rapids, IA (11.3 percent); Peoria, IL (9.7 percent); Toledo, OH (8.8 percent) and Youngstown, OH (7.4 percent). (13.1 percent of properties in the foreclosure process are vacant); (11.3 percent); (9.7 percent); (8.8 percent) and (7.4 percent). The highest zombie-foreclosure rates in major metro areas with at least 500,000 residential properties and at least 100 homes facing foreclosure in the second quarter of 2023 are in Cleveland, OH (7.1 percent of homes in the foreclosure process are vacant); Indianapolis, IN (6.5 percent); St. Louis, MO (5.8 percent); Baltimore, MD (5.7 percent) and Pittsburgh, PA (5.4 percent). (7.1 percent of homes in the foreclosure process are vacant); (6.5 percent); (5.8 percent); (5.7 percent) and (5.4 percent). Among the 23.6 million investor-owned homes throughout the U.S. in the second quarter of 2023, about 843,000 are vacant, or 3.6 percent. The highest levels of vacant investor-owned homes are in Indiana (6.9 percent vacant), Alabama (6.1 percent), Oklahoma (6 percent), Ohio (5.9 percent) and Illinois (5.8 percent). (6.9 percent vacant), (6.1 percent), (6 percent), (5.9 percent) and (5.8 percent). Among the roughly 14,900 foreclosed, bank-owned homes in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2023, 14.5 percent are vacant. In states with at least 50 bank-owned homes, the largest vacancy rates are in Iowa (27.8 percent vacant), Ohio (24.8 percent), New Mexico (22.9 percent), Indiana (22.8 percent) and New York (20.8 percent). (27.8 percent vacant), (24.8 percent), (22.9 percent), (22.8 percent) and (20.8 percent). The highest zombie-foreclosure rates in U.S. counties with at least 500 properties in the foreclosure process during the second quarter of 2023 are in Peoria County, IL (11.7 percent zombie foreclosures); Broome County (Binghamton), NY (11.6 percent); Baltimore County, MD (11.2 percent); Lake County, IL (outside Chicago ) (9.9 percent) and Marion County ( Indianapolis ), IN (8.5 percent). (11.7 percent zombie foreclosures); Broome County (Binghamton), NY (11.6 percent); (11.2 percent); (outside ) (9.9 percent) and ( ), IN (8.5 percent). Among zip codes with at least 1,000 residential properties, 44 of the 50 with the largest portions of overall homes in zombie status are in New York , Ohio and Illinois , as well as seven in Cleveland, OH . The biggest ratios are in zip codes 10993 in Rockland County (West Haverstraw), NY (one in 191 homes); 44112 in Cleveland, OH (one in 213); 13754 in Broome County (Deposit), NY (one in 239); 44108 in Cleveland, OH (one in 255) and 73554 in Greer County ( Mangum ), OK (one in 259). Report Methodology ATTOM analyzed county tax assessor data for about 101 million residential properties for vacancy, broken down by foreclosure status and owner-occupancy status. Only metropolitan statistical areas with at least 100,000 residential properties and counties with at least 50,000 residential properties were included in the analysis. Vacancy data is available at Marketing Lists - Property & Homeowners Lists | ATTOM (attomdata.com). About ATTOM ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency, and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property navigator and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, that offers immediate access and streamlines data management ATTOM Cloud. Media Contact: Christine Stricker 949.748.8428 [email protected] Data and Report Licensing: 949.502.8313 [email protected] SOURCE ATTOM Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen presents a gift to New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn) He made the statement on May 23 while receiving Governor of Australias New South Wales Margaret Beazley. During the reception, Mr. Nen thanked Australia for supplying a timely and valuable source of COVID-19 vaccine to help Ho Chi Minh City as well as Vietnam overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Highly appreciating Australia's investment projects in Vietnam, including 280 investment projects in Ho Chi Minh City, he also emphasized the results of cooperation in the field of training. Affirming that the potential for opportunities to promote cooperation between Vietnam and Australia is still great, he expressed his hope that New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley's working visit to Vietnam will contribute to promoting cooperation programs between the two sides. Sharing some information about Ho Chi Minh City, he said that as the city is in need of human resource training, digital transformation, digital economy development, and transportation infrastructure development, he expressed his hope that New South Wales as well as Australia will pay attention to support cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City in these fields, thus contributing to strengthening the good cooperation relationship between Ho Chi Minh City and New South Wales, as well as between Vietnam and Australia, in the coming time. Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley expressed her pleasure to visit Ho Chi Minh City. She highly appreciated Vietnam's results in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impressive rate of vaccination against COVID-19. Appreciating the results achieved in bilateral trade between Australia and Vietnam in 2022, she expressed her belief that trade cooperation between the two countries will increase in the context of the economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing Australia's information model and training model as well as New South Wales' potential for cooperation, she said that New South Wales wishes to strengthen its cooperation relationship with Ho Chi Minh City in various potential areas./. Vietnamese traditional costumes performed at the Vietnam Day 2023 in RoKs Gwangju city. (Photo: VNA) The event, held on May 21, attracted the great attention of the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in RoK, representatives from universities and businesses from Nghe An province and a lot of students studying and living in RoK. The Vietnam Day aims to popularize the traditional and unique culture of Vietnam to international friends as well as to strengthen cultural exchange between the two countries. During the 2023 Vietnam Day, visitors enjoyed traditional art performances, ao dai (traditional long dress) shows and special cuisine as well as took part in folk games of Vietnam. According to Nguyen Viet Phong, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in the RoKs Gwangju-jeonnam region, said the event creates a good opportunity for the Vietnamese community to meet and enhance solidarity and mutual support. Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju city, expressed his hope that the people-to-people diplomacy and locality-to-locality exchange between the RoK and Vietnam will be further expanded through the 2023 Vietnam Day. According to Yu Min-bong, General Secretary of the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea (GAROK), this is an opportunity for Korean people to experience Vietnamese culture and access products of Vietnamese enterprises. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tung said he will continue to support Gwangju city administration, GAROK and the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Gwangju in carrying out meaningful activities, contributing to strengthening local collaboration and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries as well as supporting the cooperation between Nghe An province and Gwangju city in the future./. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) by Xinhua writer Tan Jingjing LOS ANGELES, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, U.S. state of California, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. The Display Week 2023, hosted by the Society for Information Display (SID), is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 21 to 26. From Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), auto tech, organic light-emitting diode (OLED), micro-OLED and microdisplays to wearables, digital signage and e-Paper, the Display Week showcases the latest and greatest technology and advancements from the global electronic display and visual information technologies industries. BOE Technology Group, one of the world's largest manufacturers in the semiconductor display industry and an Internet of things (IoT) company, brought a slew of cutting-edge technologies to the exhibition, including many new launches under its technology brands of ADS Pro, f-OLED and -MLED (mini LED), as well as brand-new innovative applications such as smart in-vehicle display, glasses-free 3D and the metaverse. BOE's newly released 110-inch 16K UHD display, which adopted the company's cutting-edge oxide TFT technology and features high charge carrier mobility and an ultrahigh resolution, drew lots of visitors. Its 10-inch 8K LCD display, which is tailored to 3D printing, was selected as the "Display Application of the Year." "It was one of the many state-of-the-art technologies BOE exhibited at the event, giving a glimpse of an even smarter, more fantastic and more power-efficient future of the semiconductor display industry," BOE Chairman Yanshun Chen told Xinhua. In addition to showcasing its display technologies and smart interactive experiences, BOE hosted an innovation ecosystem forum at the Display Week, in a bid to explore new pathways to the innovation-driven development of the global industry ecosystem jointly with SID and global partners. Louis Lazar, a senior consultant at Newry Corp, an innovation and growth strategy consulting firm based in Lakewood, Ohio, showed great interest in BOE's 16K UHD display. Lazar said he expects to learn the latest technologies and trends in the display industry at the Display Week, and was amazed by a wide array of China-made innovative products. "China has been pushing innovations in the display industry, and has been leading the way, which was really impressive," he told Xinhua. Visionox, a Chinese high-tech company with OLED display technology, brought innovative display technologies and applications to the Display Week, including self-aligned pixelization technology, portable and rollable laptops, visual medical kits, and transparent car displays. Eben Yang, vice president of Visionox, told Xinhua that North America is one of Visionox's most important overseas markets. Currently the company is cooperating with many American clients to provide display solutions for VR devices, wearable devices, mobile phones and other products. "We hope to take the opportunities of participating in the Display Week to demonstrate our innovative technologies, provide customers with more competitive products, and further expand overseas markets," Yang said. TCL CSOT, a Chinese company focused on new technologies and innovations in the display industry, unveiled over 30 of its latest products and advanced technologies at the Display Week, including more than ten firsts in the world. The company offered display technology solutions across a range of sizes, categories, and forms -- spanning Mini LED, Micro LED, medical displays, vehicle-mounted displays, light field displays, as well as consumer electronics displays. "Driven not only by a commitment to building a display industry ecosystem, but also to supporting a healthy and more sustainable planet for all through low-carbon, energy-saving, and eye-friendly products, we look forward to driving progress and uncovering more innovations to further accelerate the development of high-end display technology," said Jun Zhao, CEO of TCL CSOT. People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) An exhibitor introduces a product to a visitor at the exhibition area of China's TCL during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A man visits the exhibition area of China's Visionox during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A man visits the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's Visionox during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's TCL during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Editor: WJH Pilibhit, May 25 : Two employees of a mobile shop in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district have been booked for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in their shop, police said. The victim was also employed at the shop and the incident took place when the owner was out for some work. The accused have now been booked after the victim's father lodged a complaint with the police. In the complaint, the victim's father said that his daughter, who is a student in class 11, was working at the shop for the past one-and-a-half years. After the incident, she narrated the ordeal to her family. Her father complained to the shop owner who reprimanded the two youth, who then threatened to kill him. Station House Officer, Jagat Singh, said, "The two accused have been booked under IPC sections 354A (use of criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage her modesty), 354B (use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe her), 352 (use of criminal force to any person otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation given by that person), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation) and appropriate sections of the POCSO and SC/ST Act. They are yet to be arrested." Meanwhile, the labour enforcement officer, Priyanka Verma, said that the employer of the minor girl was a defaulter of violating the labour laws prescribed in terms of employing an adolescent female worker, especially a student. "An adolescent student can be employed by a businessman only under the valid permission of the labour enforcement officer. Such permission is granted based on certain relaxations to the adolescent employee during working hours which will mandatorily exclude the employee's school hours," she added. However, the victim's mother claimed that her daughter had been made to work constantly between 10 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. every day except the weekly closure day of the market. Lucknow, May 25 : In a shocking incident, a mobile phone shop owner was allegedly shot at by a few assailants over an old enmity in the posh Hazratganj area of Uttar Pradesh's state capital Lucknow, police said. The victim was identified as Pramod Gupta, a resident of Gomti Nagar, who runs a mobile shop in Narhi. The incident took place late Wednesday evening. He was first taken to the nearby Civil Hospital, from where he was referred to the KGMU's trauma centre for treatment. The police, however, denied any loot attempt. The victim sustained bullet injuries in the lower jaw and the back of his shoulder, said A.K. Mishra, Station House Officer, Hazratganj police station. According to residents, the accused shot the victim after a confrontation and fled. As soon as the man was shot, a crowd gathered and a panic-like situation prevailed in the area. According to the police, the sister of one of the accused was said to have committed suicide a few years ago due to her relationship with Pramod, which is why the assailants planned to kill him. St. Petersburg, May 25 : The upper house of the parliament of Russia announced on social media that its senators approved a bill on the denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). On May 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a draft law on the denunciation of the CFE Treaty to the lower house of the parliament. The chamber adopted a law on the denunciation of the treaty at a session on May 16, Xinhua news agency reported. The CFE Treaty was originally signed in 1990 by the then-NATO members and former six Warsaw Treaty states and came into force later in 1992. The treaty introduced limits on major types of conventional military equipment in Europe and provided for the destruction of surplus weapons. In 1999, an updated version of the treaty was signed, but it was ratified by only four countries -- Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. In 2007, Russia suspended its participation in the CFE Treaty until NATO countries ratify its updated version. Athens, May 25 : Greece is heading for a second general election this summer, after attempts to form a government coalition failed. The ruling conservative New Democracy party won Sunday's elections in the country with 40.79 per cent of the vote, but did not secure a parliamentary majority, Xinhua news agency reported. Since subsequent attempts to form a coalition were unsuccessful, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou appointed Ioannis Sarmas, president of Greece's supreme financial court, as head of a caretaker government that will lead the country to the elections. The move follows a meeting with leaders of all parties represented in the 300-member strong new parliament. "It is my constitutional obligation to accept, and also my duty as a citizen," Sarmas told the President. Under the Greek constitution, a top judge is appointed to lead caretaker governments in such cases. The new government is expected to be sworn in later this week. Lawmakers will be sworn in Sunday, and the parliament is to be dissolved and new elections are to be declared on Monday. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called for repeat elections on June 25. A revised electoral system will be used at the next election, which provides a bonus of up to 50 extra seats for the winning party, facilitating the formation of a single-party government. Under this system, the frontrunner could gain an absolute majority in parliament with around 38 per cent of the vote, political analysts say. Washington, May 25 : Richard "Bigo" Barnett, who put his feet atop former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk during the January 6, 2021 Capitol Hill riot, has been sentenced to four and a half years in jail. Barnett, a 63-year-old retired firefighter, was convicted by a jury in January of eight charges, including civil disorder. "For better or for worse, you've become one of the faces of January 6, and I think you've enjoyed that," CNN quoted District Judge Christopher Cooper as saying during the sentencing on Wednesday. Prosecutors have argued that Barnett came to Washington D.C. in January 2021 from his home in Arkansas, prepared for violence. According to court documents, as the riot was underway Barnett spent 10 minutes in Pelosi's office and only left when he was sprayed with chemical irritant. During that time, he put his feet up on the Pelosi's desk and wrote a note to the former House Speaker, calling her a "b**ch". Court documents also revealed that Barnett was in possession of a stun gun and that he took an envelope from the office. The prosecutors said he left the Capitol showing the envelope to other rioters like it was a "trophy". "I shudder to think what would have happened if those staffers were there, or God forbid, the Speaker," Judge Cooper said. Pelosi was forced to flee the chamber floor with other lawmakers as supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building in an effort to block the certification of Joe Biden as President, reports the BBC. Barnett addressed the court during Wednesday's sentencing, saying that he will appeal his case. "They want me to be remorseful for things I did not do. I'm obviously appealing this case... I was angry that day, I'll admit I was angry, and I apologise for that," he added. The Barnett trial has been one of the most high-profile to stem from the attack on Congress. More than 1,000 people have been arrested on charges related to the breach in nearly all 50 states. Lucknow, May 25 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has extended an invitation to the public to attend the grand inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, scheduled to be held next year. Yogi is actively monitoring the progress of various ongoing projects in Ayodhya which is witnessing a flurry of infrastructure developments as it eagerly prepares for the grand opening, said a state government spokesman. According to the spokesman, the state government is fast tracking infrastructure projects in Ayodhya, including the expansion of the city's airport and railway station. Progress is also underway on the construction of the Ram Path, a 13-km road stretching from Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat. Plans are afoot for the development of the Ram Janaki Path and the Bhakti Path. The Ram Janaki Path will have a width of 30 meters, while the Bhakti Path will be 14 meters wide. These developments aim to facilitate the movement of devotees to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi and the Hanuman Garhi temple. Meanwhile, the government's compensation disbursement process for shopkeepers in Ayodhya, who willingly provided their shop premises for the development of the area around the under-construction temple, has been progressing smoothly. Those affected by the project have been allotted shops in newly developed complexes. Additionally, efforts were made to rehabilitate many shopkeepers to their original locations with the cooperation of the property owners, the spokesman said. Lucknow, May 25 : Four people have been arrested in Lucknow for the murder of a Mumbai-based woman and burying her body in a cow shelter. The arrested persons are Ram Suman Chaturvedi, mahant of the cow shelter; his daughter Sheela Mishra; her husband Baburam Mishra; and their son Udaybhan Mishra. The woman's body was exhumed from the shelter in Mahanagar on May 20. The police said Moorchana Pathak was killed over suspicions that she was having an affair with the mahant and he would transfer his property to her. The mahant has been booked for concealing the crime. Two other accused are absconding. ADCP Central Zone, Manisha Singh, said that investigations have revealed that Moorchana had been living in Mumbai for the past 15 years after separation from her family. The mahant told the police that she met him about a decade ago and since then, she used to visit him every 3-4 months as she would find mental peace in the place and became like a family member. The ADCP said that the police got a tip-off about the crime from an unknown caller and exhumed the body. The mahant then told police that the woman had died of some illness and he had buried her in the shelter as per her wishes. However, the post-mortem examination revealed ante-mortem injuries as the cause of death, and police arrested the accused. Regarding the motive for the murder, the ACDP said the accused told the police that the mahant, who is a retired government employee, had started giving his pension and a part of the money he received as donation for the shelter to the woman. The family feared that with time, the mahant will give away his property and control of the cow shelter to Moorchana as she had also started taking interest in the affairs of the shelter and temple. Babu Ram, Sheela, Udaybhan and one of the absconding accused son bludgeoned Moorchana to death with wooden canes while she was resting under a thatched roof. Based on the information given by the accused, police also recovered the canes and the victim's mobile phone. New Delhi, May 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the opposition parties for their announcement to boycott the inauguration of new Parliament House on May 28 saying that an Indian diaspora event in Australia was attended by the country's Prime Minister, former PM and MPs from the ruling and Opposition. Addressing the party workers here after his arrival from three nation tour of Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia, PM Modi said, "You all will be happy to know that Australian Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) attended the Indian Community programme which is a matter of pride for us. "Not only this, the programme was also attended by former Australian Prime Minister, MPs from the Opposition and from ruling parties were there. Everyone participated in the Indian community programme. This is not the fame of Modi but of India's effort and spirit of 140 crore Indians," Modi. "This is the strength of democracy," he said. The Prime Minister's remarks came a day after the 19 opposition parties, including Congress, decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by him on May 28. On Wednesday, the 19 like-minded parties in a joint statement said, "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building and announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building". A war of words erupted between the Congress and BJP over the inauguration of the new Parliament House by PM Modi on May 28. PM Modi also pointed out that the world agrees with him when he says that attacks on our pilgrimage sites are not acceptable to us. The Prime Minister said, "I want to tell you that while speaking about the culture and great tradition of India, never get immersed in slavery mentality and speak with courage." "The world is eager to listen. The world agrees with me when I say that attack on our pilgrimage sites is not acceptable, they support us," he said. The Prime Minister also asserted that when the bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled in Japan's Hiroshima, India was able to spread the message of Bapu. "I gave a Bodhi tree sapling to the Japanese Prime Minister during his visit to India. And he told me that he planted that sapling in Hiroshima where the disaster happened to give the message of peace," he said. The Prime Minister also took a jibe at the opposition parties for opposing his decision to export Covid vaccines at the peak of the pandemic, and said, "In the times of crisis, they asked why Modi was giving vaccines to the world. Remember, it is the land of Buddha, it's the land of (Mahatma) Gandhi. We care even for our enemies, we are the people inspired by compassion. We move further like this only," Modi said. He also said that whatever time he could avail during his three-day trip to Australia, he utilised it in the best possible way for the good of the nation, for taking the best possible decisions for the nation. Modi said that during his foreign trips he discusses the might of Indians. "During my visits, this is your effort, this is your tradition which I tell the world. I only go to the world and sing songs of your might. During meeting the great men of the world, I talk about the potential of India and discuss the talent of the young generation of India." "And how the youths of India show their might after getting opportunities," he added. The Indian diaspora programme in Australia was attended by over 20,000 people. Shimla, May 25 : The Tandi-Pangi road was blocked for traffic movement due to a massive landslide at high altitude Tholang in Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh triggered by overnight rains, officials said. No casualty was reported, an official told IANS. The local administration has informed an incident of the landslide at Tholong village due to which the road was blocked for the traffic movement, an official told IANS here. He said information regarding the blockade has been informed to the Border Road Organisation (BRO) for clearance of the route. The picturesque Buddhist-dominated Thalong village in the Lahaul Valley has contributed many personnel to the top-rung civil services in the state. Sydney, May 25 : Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Thursday commenced a critical incident investigation after a knife-wielding man was shot dead in Sydney. In a statement, NSW Police Force said that just before 11.30 a.m. (local time) on Thursday, officers from North Shore Police Area Command were called to Alexander Avenue in North Willoughby, following reports that a man was threatening residents, reports Xinhua news agency. According to the statement, two responding officers were confronted by a man, who was armed with two knives, before a constable discharged their firearm. The man died at the scene and no other injuries were reported. A team from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad will investigate the circumstances related to the man's death, including the discharge of a police firearm. An artist performs Sichuan opera "Bianlian," also known as face-changing, during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) An artist performs Sichuan opera "Bianlian," also known as face-changing, during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) An artist performs Guqin, a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument, during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Visitors learn about tea culture during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Visitors learn about tea culture during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Editor: JYZ New Delhi, May 25 : Congress on Thursday once again attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said 'it is one man's ego for self-promotion' that has denied President Droupadi Murmu her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament House on May 28. In a tweet, Congress General secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Yesterday, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the country's largest judicial campus at the Jharkhand High Court complex in Ranchi. It is one man's ego and desire for self-promotion that has denied the first Adivasi woman President her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28th. Ashoka the Great, Akbar the Great, Modi the Inaugrate." Murmu, who is on a visit to Jharkhand on Wednesday, inaugurated the new building of the High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi. The fresh potshot by the Congress comes a day after the 19 like-minded parties, including the grand old party, announced to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi on May 28. The opposition parties in a joint statement said, "When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building and announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building". A war of words has erupted between the Congress and BJP over the inauguration of New Parliament House by PM Modi on May 28. The YSRCP and the BJD on Wednesday announced their participation in the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building. The NDA in a statement slammed the opposition parties saying the decision to boycott the inauguration was a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation". Chennai, May 25 : After installing napkin vending machines in government schools of the state, the Tamil Nadu government is embarking on a project to install the machines in all government arts and science colleges in the state. The higher education department officials told IANS that there are presently only a few government colleges that have napkin vending machines and incinerators in the state. As per a study conducted by the department of higher education, there is a fall in attendance of girls in the government colleges in rural areas of the state during particular dates. The study found that many students were not reaching colleges during their menstrual cycle due to pain and ill- health. This has led to the department of higher education mulling the possibility of installing napkin vending machines and incinerators in all government colleges. The department will float tenders for installation of the machines and incinerators and will be installed before the commencement of the new academic year. According to a senior official of the department of higher education, the funds will be scouted through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. The vending machines and incinerators will be installed based on the strength of girl students and teaching and non-teaching staff in each college. Support staff in the colleges will be responsible for maintaining the machines and incinerators. Seoul, May 25 : South Korea and the US will conduct their largest-ever live-fire drills on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of countries' alliance. The Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise, the first of its kind in six years, will take place at the Seungjin Fire Training Field, also known as the Nightmare Range, in Pocheon, 52 km northeast of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency quoted officials as saying. The exercise comes as cross-border tensions remain high due to North Korea's push to develop menacing weapons systems, such as underwater nuclear attack drones and a solid-fuel rocket, which critics said was disguised as a space launch vehicle. It is expected to be a showcase of the allies' formidable firepower represented by their mainstay weapons systems, such as F-35A radar-evading fighters, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, K2 battle tanks and multiple launch rocket systems. The US could deploy A-10 attack aircraft and F-16 fighter jets. Observers said it could draw an angry reaction from North Korea. The allies plan to conduct the exercise four more times next month -- on June 2, 7, 12 and 15. The last such exercise took place in 2017 and mobilized 48 South Korean and US units, and over 2,000 troops. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., a former United States Pacific Air Forces commander, who has been selected to be the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top military job, prepares with an Indian Air Force officer for a flight in an Indian Air Force Mi Image Source: IANS News Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., a former United States Pacific Air Forces commander, who has been selected to be the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top military job, prepares with an Indian Air Force officer for a flight in an Indian Air Force Mi Image Source: IANS News New York, May 25 : US President Joe Biden has nominated General Charles Q. Brown, a former Indo-Pacific leader and advocate of close defence ties with India, to be the nation's top military officer. Biden is set to formally announce the nomination of Air Force head Brown as the next joint chiefs of staff on Thursday, according to media reports quoting senior officials. Brown, who has served as the commander of the Air Force component of the Indo-Pacific Command, will be the second African-American to be the nation's top military officer if confirmed by the Senate. For the first time, the Pentagon would be led by African-Americans, with Lloyd Austin as Defence Secretary and Brown as the highest-ranking officer. Brown will succeed General Mark Milley, who is retiring after a four-year term as the officer overseeing all the military branches. He will be taking over at a time when the world is roiled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and by growing tension with China that is raising the threat level with Taiwan. The fighter pilot with 3,000 flying hours and 150 combat hours will bring expertise on China and the Indo-Pacific, an area of prime importance to the US in the current geopolitical scenario, because of his stint in the region. Brown has repeatedly spoken of the importance of defence relations with India for the US. He participated in the Cope India 19 joint India-US exercise in 2018 in Kalaikunda and Panagarh and flew an Indian Air Force Mirage 2000. At that time, he said: "As a committed partner enhancing peace, prosperity and security across the region, we are grateful for India's support and the growing trust between our two nations. "The US-India partnership has never been stronger... Our shared values, security interests, economic ties and close links between our people present significant opportunities for cooperation bilaterally and with other close partners and allies in the region. "We look to not only strengthen the base of the partnership, but to also take it to the next level in certain areasa longer-term investments in relationships, in training and in schooling." In a meeting with reporters in New York, Brown said that the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) agreement between the US and India "opens the door to increase our information sharing particularly on some of the airplane, air aspects". He said that India's use of Russian military hardware was a barrier to Indian and US Air Forces working together because interoperability is not only about equipment but involves operational strategies. When Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhuri was appointed Indian Air Force chief, Brown congratulated him and had tweeted: "We discussed increasing our cooperation & further operationalizing India's unique status as a Major Defence Partner." In his 39-year military career, Brown has been the director of the Secretary of the Executive Action Group of the Air Force and Chief of Staff and deputy commander of the Central Command which covers Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Central Asia. He became chief of staff of the Air Force in 2020 after his Indo-Pacific stint. His confirmation by the Senate -- a requirement for senior government posts -- could run into delays because Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has used his senatorial privilege to block nominations of senior defence officials because of his opposition to the Pentagon's policies on providing abortion services to members of services and their families. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) Islamabad, May 25 : Amidst the resignations of a series of high-profile leaders, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Asad Umar announced he was no longer part of the core committee, while senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry also parted ways, dealing a major blow to former Prime Minister Imran Khan's beleaguered party. Their announcements came a day after Shireen Mazari and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan resigned from the party, The News reported. Umar announced the decision hours after he was released from the Adiala Jail on the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) order. "Given the current situation after May 9, it is not personally possible for me to continue as the party's secretary general. I am not quitting the party but would no longer remain a part of the core committee. I am resigning as the secretary general of PTI and as the core committee member," he said in a statement. "Another reason is that I want to talk openly about what needs to be done... But when you are in a leadership position, it is not (apt) that you give your individual opinion. So I am resigning from these party positions." On Wednesday, the court had directed Umar to submit an undertaking that he would not become a part of violent protests following his release. He was arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), The News reported. Umar, along with other PTI leaders, was arrested hours after violent riots erupted across the country following Khan's arrest on May 9 in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Declaring Umar's arrest null and void, IHC judge Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb told the PTI leader to "forget" his political career in case he deviated from the undertaking. The court also directed him to delete two tweets. Umar said the scenes witnessed on May 9 were not just condemnable but also a moment of reflection that why such a situation arose, The News reported. "And the message sent outside the country was also concerning," he maintained. However, prior to announcing his resignation from party positions, the PTI leader highlighted the importance of the army for the country and said the armed forces' strength was signified by not just its weapons but the nation's support for it. He said that we would have seen a similar fate to Syria's if it was not for a strong army like ours, The News reported. Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 : After it surfaced that some employees at the State Secretariat are bringing waste from their homes and dumping in the bins placed at the complex, the administration has warned them against this. The general administration department, which oversees the administrative duties of employees after coming to know about this, has been forced to issue a circular that strict action will be taken if employees continue to dump home waste in the Secretariat complex. The house-keeping department warned that from now on anyone found dumping home waste in the Secretariat bins will be dealt with seriously. Initially, when the waste in large quantities was found in the bins of the Secretariat, it was dismissed as waste generated from the Secretariat, but when the volume of waste continued to pile up, it was found out that the employees were dumping home waste. Meanwhile. this dumping of waste comes at a time when the State Minister for Local Self Government M.B. Rajesh has come out with an order asking all houses to ensure that they deposit their home waste to domestic waste collectors that are commissioned by the local body, especially in the Corporation areas of the state, at a specified fee. In the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation areas, a sum of Rs 100 every month is being charged for collecting plastic waste once a week. Lkata, May 25 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is considering approaching a court of the probe agency in Kolkata seeking fresh custody of expelled Trinamool Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh in the West Bengal school recruitment case. Ghosh is currently under judicial custody. Sources said that the decision of making a fresh appeal was taken after the CBI sleuths questioned the accused at the Presidency Special Correctional Home in Kolkata on Wednesday regarding his letter to the local police station and a judge of a lower court accusing central agencies of putting pressure on him to name Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the case. They further said that since there were several inconsistencies in the statements given by Ghosh on Wednesday and that by Banerjee on May 20, the CBI felt there was a necessity to question the two again. Since that will not be possible with Ghosh being in judicial custody, an appeal might be made by the central agency for his fresh custody. Sources said that Ghosh was questioned on whether his letters to the police station and judge were written by him voluntarily or under pressure. He was also asked about raising the same allegation just a day after Banerjee made a similar allegation at a public programme in Kolkata. Banerjee was questioned at the CBI's Nizam Palace office in Kolkata for nine hours and 20 minutes on May 20. After the interrogation, Banerjee described the "outcome" of the session as "a big zero." Meanwhile, he has made a special leave petition at the Supreme Court challenging the order of the single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court giving a go-ahead to central agencies to question him Panaji, May 25 : The Goa police have arrested as many as 73 drug peddlers in the past four months in connection with 60 cases filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. According to sources, during the raids carried out between January and April, around 67 Kg drugs were seized in several areas of the coastal state, mostly in the vicinity of beaches. "This seizure is valued at crores of rupees. We are tracking up the cases systematically and trying to clamp down the chain of drug peddlers. There is involvement of foreign nationals, people from other states and even locals," a senior police officer said on the condition of anonymity. As per official records, 168 cases in 2017, 222 cases in 2018, 219 cases in 2019, 148 cases in 2020 , 121 cases in 2021, and 154 cases in 2022 have been registered under the NDPS Act. Goa is increasingly known as a narco-tourism hotspot and many arrive in the coastal state with the intention of "trade" and "consumption". In 2020, the BJP government in the state was reportedly considering legalising the cultivation of marijuana or cannabis for medicinal purposes. However, in the wake of stiff opposition, the plan was shelved. Meanwhile, the Drug Disposal Committee of Goa Police in the last four years has disposed of 101.993 kgs of narcotics, after the final disposal of the cases by the court. Official records say that the disposed drugs include charas, ganja, LSD, cocaine, ecstasy tablets, MDMA powder, heroin, brown sugar, and opium. The Goa government had formed the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Disposal Committee for disposal of seized narcotic drugs by the police department in 2010. The methodology adopted by the Anti-Narcotics Cell, Goa is screening of consumers followed by medical examination through blood samples and urine samples. There is no specific time frame for the destruction of drugs. After the final disposal of the case by the court, the concerned court passes the order for disposal of seized narcotic drugs. Accordingly, the drugs are disposed as per the notification of Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, New Delhi and the committee after verifying the drugs, destroys in the incinerator at Goa Medical College at Bambolim and Biotic Waste Solution plant at Kundaim," the sources said. New Delhi, May 25 : A woman, who was sleeping on the fifth floor of a ward where her husband was admitted, was molested by a male nurse in Delhi's Rajiv Gandhi Superspeciality Hospital, a senior police official said on Thursday. The official said that the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday and the accused identified as Kunal Verma (25) has been apprehended. According to police, on Wednesday around 12.10 p.m., a police control room call was received at GTB Enclave police station regarding molestation of a woman in Rajiv Gandhi Superspeciality Hospital, Tahirpur by the hospital staff (Nursing Orderly). "Statement of the victim was recorded in which she said that her husband has been admitted in the hospital since May 22. She was sleeping on the fifth floor in the same ward where her husband was admitted when the accused came to her between 3 a.m. to 5 a.m., touched her inappropriately and molested her," the senior police official said. "Subsequently, a case under relevant section of the Indian Penal Code was registered and the accused was apprehended," the official added. Prague, May 25 : The Czech Republic government has approved a plan to purchase 246 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles from Sweden. The country's Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the deal worth 59.7 billion Czech crowns ($2 billion) will also include 29 workshop vehicles and spare parts, reports Xinhua news agency. Initially, the Czech Republic had planned to acquire 210 units of CV90 combat vehicles, with a possible option for an additional 36 units in the future. However, it decided to purchase all 246 units due to "rising prices of combat equipment", according to the Ministry. The deal also includes a commitment from Sweden that the Czech defence industry's contribution to the production will reach at least 40 per cent of the contract's value, it said. The Czech News Agency has called the deal "the largest army purchase in the modern history of the Czech Republic and one of the largest state orders ever". According to Defence Minister Jana Cernochova, the first vehicles could be delivered in 2026, and by 2030 all should be delivered. In another statement issued, the Ministry said the country will also start talks with Germany on the joint purchase of around 70 Leopard 2A8 tanks. Last year, the Czech government said the country's defence spending could reach 2 per cent of the gross domestic product by 2024, a year earlier than previously planned. People visit China's National Pavilion at the 2023 Venice International Architecture Biennale in Venice, northern Italy, on May 22, 2023. China's National Pavilion at the 2023 Venice International Architecture Biennale opened on Monday in Venice, focusing on the changes and improvements of China's architecture and habitat over the past 40 years. (Xinhua/Zhou Xiaotian) ROME, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China's National Pavilion at the 2023 Venice International Architecture Biennale opened on Monday in northern Italy's Venice, focusing on the changes and improvements of China's architecture and habitat over the past 40 years. The exhibition shows the artworks and concepts of Chinese designers that integrate residents and nature, tradition and modernity. Ruan Xing, curator of the pavilion, told Xinhua that the exhibition aims to tell the story of China's great achievements and wisdom in cities, architecture and residents' lives, especially in improving livability, over the past 40 years since China's reform and opening up. The China National Pavilion can be visited simultaneously online and offline and will remain open until Nov. 26, 2023. China's National Pavilion has been present at the Biennale since 2005. A man visits China's National Pavilion at the 2023 Venice International Architecture Biennale in Venice, northern Italy, on May 22, 2023. China's National Pavilion at the 2023 Venice International Architecture Biennale opened on Monday in Venice, focusing on the changes and improvements of China's architecture and habitat over the past 40 years. (Xinhua/Zhou Xiaotian) Editor: WJH New Delhi, May 25 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday expressed his concern over Satyendar Jain's health situation, and attacked the Central government for targetting AAP leaders. Satyendar Jain, the jailed former health minister, was admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital after he slipped in the washroom of Tihar jail. "The person who worked tirelessly day and night to provide excellent treatment and promote good health to the public is now being targeted by a dictator who seeks to eliminate this virtuous individual," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. "This dictator is solely focused on his own agenda, disregarding the welfare of others. His self-centered nature blinds him from seeing the bigger picture. However, it is important to remember that a higher power is overseeing everything. God, in His infinite wisdom, will ensure justice prevails for all," he said. "I offer my prayers to God for Satyendar ji's swift recovery. May God grant them the strength to confront and overcome these challenging circumstances," he further wrote on Twitter. Berlin, May 25 : German police have conducted a nationwide raid targeting members of climate activist group Last Generation on suspicion of forming or supporting a criminal organisation, the Munich State Prosecutor's Office said. Following "numerous criminal complaints" from citizens, the prosecutor's office initiated preliminary proceedings against seven suspects aged between 22 and 38, the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (BLKA) said in a statement. The investigators have searched 15 properties throughout the country, reports Xinhua news agency. Two suspects were also accused of attempting to sabotage the Trieste-Ingolstadt oil pipeline in April 2022, which is part of the critical infrastructure of the state of Bavaria, according to the statement. The authorities also seized two bank accounts and froze one asset. According to the statement, the defendants had organised a fundraising campaign, collecting at least 1.4 million euros to finance further crimes on behalf of Last Generation. "The aim of the searches is to find evidence on the membership structure of Last Generation, to further clarify its financing, and to seize assets. No arrests have been made so far," the statement said. Climate activists have repeatedly blocked traffic in German cities by gluing themselves to the asphalt in order to press for tougher action against global warming. To generate as much media coverage as possible, the activists even smeared works of art in museums with colour. Major airports in Germany were also targeted. At the end of November 2022, flight operations at the Berlin airport were brought to a standstill for around two hours by activists glued to the taxiway. Last Generation has repeatedly stated that its aim was to draw attention to the climate-damaging effects of air traffic. The activists do not appear to find much support among Germans. According to a recent YouGov survey, 60 per cent of the population strictly reject Last Generation's disruptive actions. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply criticized the group's activists. "I think it's completely crazy to somehow glue yourself to a painting or to the asphalt," Scholz said earlier this week. San Francisco, May 25 : Google-owned YouTube is reportedly testing a 'Samples' tab in its Music app, which might show music video-focused Shorts. YouTube Music's bottom bar on Android and iOS has consisted of Home, Explore, and Library for several years and now it is testing a 'Samples' tab between the main and discovery/trending feeds that shows vertical music videos, according to 9to5Google. The company is not using the YT Shorts icon in the bottom bar, rather, users will find two overlapping play buttons. The album art, song name, and artist information are displayed at the bottom, with buttons on the right edge for liking, adding (to something), "Shorts," sharing, and possibly playing. The YT Music logo is visible in the top-left corner, the report said. However, at this point, it is unclear if these are YouTube Shorts or just music videos in a vertical format, the report added. Meanwhile, YouTube has announced that it will introduce 30-second non-skip ads on connected TVs (CTVs), replacing the two 15-second consecutive ads. "We're bringing 30-second non-skips to YouTube Select on CTV," YouTube said in a blogpost. The company said that running longer-form creative on the big screen aligns with advertisers' objectives, and allows for richer storytelling. Lahore, May 25 : Imran Khan and his close aides allegedly coordinated efforts to storm the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander and other buildings following the former Pakistan Prime Minister's arrest on May 9, police in Punjab province claimed citing a geo-fencing report. Police detected over 400 calls made by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and other senior leaders to allegedly incite party workers to move towards the military officer's residence in Lahore Cantt, and other sensitive public buildings, Dawn reported. It was observed that all the rioters were in contact with the PTI top leadership, based in Zaman Park, Lahore. Inspector General of Punjab Police, Usman Anwar confirmed to Dawn news of the geo-fencing record and the alleged use of Khan's residence for planning the attack on the Corps Commander's residence. A senior officer told Dawn that many important revelations had come from the analysis of the geo-fencing record: it was detected that 154 calls were allegedly made by Khan to party leaders and rioters to provoke them to attack. He said the PTI chairman was the "prime suspect" who allegedly planned the attack on the house of the Corps Commander. The officer said records showed all phone calls were made on May 8 and 9 to prepare workers to attack the building. He said as many as a total of 225 callers were reportedly in contact with six PTI leaders; Hammad Azhar, Yasmin Rashid, Mahmoodur Rasheed, Ejaz Chaudhary, Aslam Iqbal and Murad Ras. They were issuing "particular instructions to the rioters", he claimed, adding that Yasmin Rashid received 41 calls from various activists of the party. Lilongwe, May 25 : The Malawian government has fully enforced the relocation of refugees and asylum seekers back to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp despite protests from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The Ministry of Homeland Security has extended the exercise to other districts in the central and northern regions of the country, said spokesperson Patrick Botha. "The government maintains its stand. We have rolled out the operation to the rest of the districts," Xinhua news agency quoted the spokesperson as saying As of Wednesday, the exercise had been rolled out to the lakeshore districts of Mangochi, Nkhotakota, Nkhata Bay, Mzuzu City, and Rumphi, said the spokesperson. Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng'oma said the implementation of the exercise is in line with the country's encampment policy which prohibits refugees and asylum seekers from living outside the designated camp. In a statement, the UNHCR said that it was extremely concerned about the recent arrest and detention of 377 refugees, including 117 children, on 17 May, and their subsequent forced relocation to the camp by the Malawi authorities. "The arrests and closure of all shops and businesses owned by refugees and asylum seekers in a suburb of Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, follows a directive issued by the Government on March 27 to enforce its encampment policy. "The directive orders all refugees and asylum-seekers living in urban and rural areas to return voluntarily to the camp by April 15 or face enforced relocation," it said. The camp, which was originally established to accommodate up to 12,000 refugees, is currently home to more than 50,600 refugees mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, according to the UNHCR. Of those, some 8,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are estimated to have been living in Malawi's rural and urban areas for extended periods of time, some of them since 2003, having arrived in the country as far back as 1994. New Delhi, May 25 : Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Ltd (EOGEPL), India's pioneering unconventional hydrocarbon (Coal Bed Methane) player, Thursday announced its collaboration with Sensia, a leading provider of digitalization solutions, to enhance operations through the deployment of Sensia's Avalon digital platform interface. This strategic partnership aims to unify measurement systems, optimize decision-making, and enable remote control of critical parameters across EOGEPL's wells, facilities, and customer interface. Sensia's Avalon platform offers a comprehensive interface that simplifies the capture, analysis, and digitization of well-related activities, facility-related activities, and customer end operations. The platform enables real-time data acquisition of essential parameters, such as mechanical, electrical, gas and water flow, pressure, and power backup device data, among others. With remote access and control capabilities, EOGEPL gains the ability to monitor and adjust critical well and facility parameters, facilitating efficient operations and proactive decision-making. Commenting on the development Pankaj Kalra, CEO of EOGEPL said, "We are delighted with our collaboration with Sensia and the deployment of their Avalon digital platform interface. This partnership represents a significant milestone in our digitalization journey, as it enables us to unify our measurement systems, optimize decision-making, and remotely control critical parameters across our operations. "By leveraging advanced technologies, we are confident that we will achieve increased production, reduced operating costs, and enhanced efficiency, reaffirming our commitment to sustainable and efficient energy production." EOGEPL has already invested Rs 5,000 crore in exploration in the Raniganj block in drilling 350 wells. The company is further looking at investing another Rs 2,000 crore for drilling 200 more wells in the next 18 to 24 months. The company is employing the latest technology in the existing wells to ramp up production from 0.9 mmscd to 1.3 mmscd. Under the contractual partnership with Sensia, EOGEPL has made significant progress in the real-time monitoring of the existing wells (BU-1 scope) and is currently in the process of monitoring an additional 200 wells (BU-2 scope). The automation solution integrated into the work program will contribute to the overall digitalization efforts, enabling remote operations and improving efficiency for production expansion plans in BU-2. The collaboration between EOGEPL and Sensia presents numerous benefits to the oil and gas industry. By utilizing a single interface for capturing and monitoring all essential parameters, the digitalization efforts will drive increased well performance, leading to enhanced production and reduced operating costs. Additionally, the remote control capabilities provided by the automation solution will streamline production operations and eliminate the need for on-site personnel, further optimizing efficiency and resource allocation. EOGEPL is committed to embracing cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions to fuel the growth and sustainability of its operations. Recently the company also announced its investment in Microbial eCBM technology to boost CBM production which was in line with its commitment to invest in R&D and improve operations. The partnership with Sensia marks a significant step toward achieving EOGEPL's vision of digital transformation and remote operations within the oil and gas sector. Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 : A preliminary probe has been launched by police after a final year BSc Agriculture student at the Kerala Agriculture College suffered "mysterious" burn injury on her back. As per reports, two final year female students -- both from Andhra Pradesh - were roommates at their hostel here and one of them suffered a burn injury on the back. The incident is reported to have occurred last week. Strangely, the student did not raise any complaint. It was only after her family came here on hearing about the incident that the College authorities asked the local police to look into the matter. Neither the injured student nor her family members have registered an official complaint. Hence, the police are only making a formal probe. Further details are awaited. Chennai, May 25 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Thursday said the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union or Amul is infringing on the milk-shed area of Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited or Aavin. Stalin, in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urged him to direct Amul not to procure milk from Aavin's milk-shed area. Stalin referred to Amul setting up of chilling centres and a processing plant in Krishnagiri District and its plans to procure milk in and around Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts in the state. "It has been a norm in India to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each other's milk-shed area. Such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of 'Operation White Flood' and will exacerbate problems for the consumers given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavin's milk- shed area which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades," Stalin said. Even as there are several private diaries in the state competing with Aavin, Stalin said the move by Amul will create unhealthy competition between cooperatives engaged in procuring and marketing milk and milk products. "Regional cooperatives have been the bedrock of dairy development in the states and they are better placed to engage and nurture producers and to cushion consumers from arbitrary price hikes," Stalin said. Meanwhile, former Union Minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said Amul is setting up a processing plant at SriCity in Andhra Pradesh and targets to procure about 30,000 litres of milk daily in Tamil Nadu. The PMK leader said Aavin's market share in Tamil Nadu is only 16 per cent and it will go down further if Amul enters the milk market in the state. Ramadoss said Amul is procuring milk at a price of about Rs 36 per litre whereas Aavin is paying about Rs 32-34/litre. Aavin should increase its milk procurement price. Mumbai/Pune, May 25 : In a shocker, a man posing as an official of the Chief Minister's Officer (CMO) has allegedly conned at least two major educational institutions in the name of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to secure an undisclosed number of admissions, official sources said here. A complaint to this effect has been lodged by Nitin U. Pansare of the CMO, Mumbai, with the Hinjewadi Police Station, Pune which registered an FIR on the sensational admissions fraud on Tuesday, though no arrest has been made yet. The lid from the scam blew off when a delegation of Symbiosis International University and another institution called on Shinde at a function in Pune on Sunday. A member of the delegation informed the officials that following purported 'requests' from the CMO, they had given admissions to four students to the prestigious Symbiosis Group institutions - the SIBM Pune, Lavale, Hinjewadi and even at Bengaluru. To prove the claim, the delegation member showed mobile screenshots of the person claiming to work for the CMO, and "asking for the admissions in the name of the CM". The alleged fraudster has been identified as one self-proclaimed social worker, Rrahul Rajendra Palande, 31, a resident of Darshangiri Building in Keshavnagar, Pimpri-Chinchwad (Pune district), who has posted pix with the CM on his social media profile. Rattled by the revelations, the CMO immediately launched an internal probe which confirmed that no such requests were made from the CM or the CMO or any other officials. Worse, they also discovered that the mobile numbers from which the admission requests were made did not belong to any CMO officials, nor was Palande in any way connected with the state government or the CMO. Official sources disclosed that taking the matter extremely seriously, the CM has personally directed that strict action should be taken against the perpetrator of the admissions fraud on priority. Further details proved that Palande has been masquerading as "an important official of the CMO" before the gullible people and also top officials of various prime institutions in Pune, the 'academic capital' of Maharashtra. He would collect huge sums of money from the victims under the pretext of getting the coveted admissions, mainly through the 'Management Quotas' from various educational institutions like Symbiosis Group, and others. Palande had created a fake profile on various social media networks, including True Caller, a 'CMO-Government of Maharashtra' logo on his WhatsApp DP, with an introduction as 'PRO Office of Eknathbhai Shinde.' The other gimmicks he resorted to lure and cheat the people included a fake email account acm@maharashtra.giv.in' and even a Google location of Mantralaya. In the complaint, the CMO has categorically declared that the said Palande "is not a government officer or a servant of any kind in any department of the state government". It also says that all the tricks on various social media that he has deployed were fake and intended to cheat the masses and pressurise the educational institutions to cough out admissions for which he collected money from the people. Sources in the Pune academic fraternity told IANS that not only Palande - believed to be a close aide of a Cabinet Minister of the ruling ally Shiv Sena - but there are others virtually prowling like a 'gang' in and around campuses in the city. "They have created a reign of terror among educational institutions, dropping big names of CM or party presidents or ministers or secretaries, demanding admissions for which they take amounts ranging from Rs 800,000 to Rs 25,00,000, depending on the courses, resorting to arm-twisting or threats if refused... The police must stop these nefarious activities firmly," said a head of an institution, requesting anonymity. While the CMO has confirmed the developments, despite repeated attempts by IANS, top officials of the Symbiosis Group and the police department remained incommunicado. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) Jaipur, May 25 : Notorious gangster Vikram Gurjar alias Laden fled leaving his girlfriend behind after a police team stopped his car in Jaipur's Sanganer area, said police officials on Thursday. The woman has been arrested, and police have started an investigation to find out her possible role in the gangster's crimes. Police officials said, "A patrolling vehicle of Sanganer police station on Monday also recovered the gangster's pistol which he had dropped while running away." Sources said Gurjar had come to Jaipur to meet a woman after being granted bail recently. "He along with the girl went to a secluded location behind the airport where he parked his car along the road. A PCR van's driver passing through the road, spotted the suspicious car," said an official. Gurjar, meanwhile, fled from the car leaving his girlfriend behind, he added. The 8th China Robot Summit and Intellectual Economic Talent Summit opened in Yuyao City, east China's Zhejiang Province on May 24, 2023. This summit focuses on key areas such as core robotics technology, the digital industry chain, and the application of high-end robotics technologies. The photo shows a robot providing guide services for visitors. (Hu Xuejun/Guangming Picture) The 8th China Robot Summit and Intellectual Economic Talent Summit opened in Yuyao City, east China's Zhejiang Province on May 24, 2023. This summit focuses on key areas such as core robotics technology, the digital industry chain, and the application of high-end robotics technologies. The photo shows a robot providing guide services for visitors. (Hu Xuejun/Guangming Picture) The 8th China Robot Summit and Intellectual Economic Talent Summit opened in Yuyao City, east China's Zhejiang Province on May 24, 2023. This summit focuses on key areas such as core robotics technology, the digital industry chain, and the application of high-end robotics technologies. The photo shows a robot providing guide services for visitors. (Hu Xuejun/Guangming Picture) Editor: GSY Canberra, May 25 : A 15-year-old boy was arrested after firing a gun in the parking lot of a secondary school in Two Rocks, Western Australia. Western Australia Police Force said officers were called to the school on Breakwater Drive following reports that an unknown male had discharged a firearm in the car park, reports Xinhua news agency. The police attended the scene a short time later and arrested the boy. Commissioner of Police Col Blanch told the press late Thursday that nobody was injured in the incident, and currently, there is no further threat to the community. "When I heard the report of what happened today, it really shocked me that this occurred in Western Australia," he said. The teenager is accused of firing three shots, one of which hit a school building with people inside. Two firearms, a .234 rifle and a .22 rifle, were seized from a car the teenager is thought to have arrived at the school in. Both guns were licensed to the house where the boy lived. The boy is believed to be a former student. Blanch said the boy was still in custody, and an investigation is ongoing. Ahmedabad, May 25 : The stage is set for the highly-anticipated Qualifier 2 in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 after Mumbai Indians booked the seat with a comprehensive 81-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in Eliminator at Chennai on Wednesday. Mumbai, the five-time IPL champions, will face off against defending champions Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday. The winner of the match will set up a summit clash with four-time champions Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. Former Australia skipper Aaron Finch believes the Hardik Pandya-led side is balanced due to many match-winners in their line-up. "GT are a strong team to beat because they have a world-class bowler in Rashid Khan. They have a good captain in Hardik Pandya, who's shown a lot of maturity. Thirdly, their fast bowling attack is also balanced," he was quoted as saying by Star Sports. Though Gujarat lost to Chennai in Qualifier 1, they will be arriving to play the second Qualifier in the comfort of their home ground. Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the presence of senior pacer Mohammed Shami, also the leading wicket-taker in the competition makes things tough for opponents. "Mohd Shami is a bowler every team looks to have. He's a good new-ball bowler. He nails quick yorkers in the death overs. He has a brilliant seam position and becomes an unplayable bowler when there's swing." Harbhajan went on to hail leg-spin all-rounder Rashid Khan for chipping in with both bat and ball in IPL 2023. "Rashid Khan is a player from a different league. He's picking up wickets in heaps, he's scoring runs, he's a gun fielder, and he lead GT whenever captain Hardik wasn't available. He's done everything and excelled. GT are exceptionally lucky to have a player like Rashid in their ranks." Talking about Mumbai, Harbhajan claimed having a very approachable captain like Rohit Sharma has made life easy for'the franchise's uncapped players. "Rohit Sharma is a very chilled-out captain. He is a very approachable captain even for the youngsters. He never carries that ego and youngsters can reach out to him anytime." "He loves spending time with uncapped players. He's someone who hasn't taken success to his head, he's very humble and shows a lot of respect to the senior players. This humility makes Rohit a great player." Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan hailed Rohit for marshalling his troops exceptionally well despite missing some of the key players due to injuries. "Rohit Sharma has delivered once again for Mumbai Indians. He was faced with a crisis at the start of the competition when key pacer Jasprit Bumrah was out." "Jofra Archer struggled with his form and fitness but this captain marshalled his troops well. He first guided MI to the eliminator and then took his team to the qualifiers with his astute captaincy." Latest updates on IPL 2023 Srinagar, May 25 : The Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh has complimented the public and congratulated police and security forces for the successful culmination of three-day G20 meeting here. The Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a statement on Thursday, "The historic three day G20 event has ended with delegates taking a flight back on Thursday, but leaving behind all good memories to be cherished by the people of Jammu and Kashmir for long. "The event has opened new vistas and hopes, denouncing many myths and exposing fake anti-Kashmir and anti-peace narratives based on falsehood and being propagated by the neighbouring country. "People of Kashmir deserve special compliments for seeing through the falsehood of Pak narratives and welcoming and participating in the event in every way wholeheartedly. The delegates not only enjoyed the beauty of Kashmir but also lauded the local people and their hospitality," Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a statement on Thursday. "The security arrangements made for the event were least obtrusive, ensuring full normal life and business for the people. Traffic throughout and all business activity went on throughout without any inconvenience on account of security." "People fully cooperated with police/security forces, traffic and security regulations for which DGP thanked them." This G20 event became peoples event who showcased local art/craft and traditions of hospitality to the world's guests who went around to important places of tourist attraction, including a visit to the world famous Nishat Bagh, Parimahal, shikara ride in Dal Lake and shopping in Polo View "Police/security forces' arrangement were people friendly. The DGP thanked and congratulated all ranks of Police/CAPFs and other agencies involved in the duties for the G20 for the excellent work done by them over the last three days in ensuring a smooth and secure G20 event here in Kashmir," the statement said. Cairo, May 25 : The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) in Egypt on Thursday refloated a Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier which ran aground in the world's busiest man-made waterway, according to an official statement. "Three tugboats refloated a large ship that had been stranded in the Suez Canal," Xinhua news agency quoted the SCA as saying. The SCA rescue team managed to deal with an emergency breakdown in a XIN HAI TONG 23, the 190-metre bulk carrier near the southern end of the canal from Saudi Arabia. In a tweet on Thursday morning, the Oslo-based Leth Shipping Agency said: "M/V XIN HAI TONG 23 has grounded in the Suez Canal at KM 159/0400 hrs - leaving behind 4 vessels from the early convoy in addition to the ordinary group which was planned to enter Suez Canal at about 0600 hrs. Suez Canal tugs are currently trying to re-float the vessel." In March 2021, the Panamanian-flagged and Japanese-owned ship Ever Given, one of the largest container ships in the world, ran aground in the Suez Canal and jammed global shipping traffic for nearly a week until it was refloated by a fleet of Egyptian tugboats and diggers. Linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, the Suez Canal was officially opened for international navigation in 1869, serving as a lifeline for global seaborne trade. About 12 per cent of the world's trade passes through the man-made canal. In January this year it was reported that the Suez Canal had posted a record-high annual revenue of $8 billion in 2022 from the passage and transit of 23,851 ships. According to the Suez Canal Authorit, the number of ships crossing the waterway increased by 8 per cent in the seven years following the completion of a canal development project in 2015, with 135,000 ships crossing the canal in 2016-2022 compared to 125,000 ships in 2008-2014. New Delhi, May 25 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted searches at two locations in Uttar Pradesh in the Bhopal terror funding case involving the proscribed organisation, JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh). According to an NIA official, the raids were aimed at exposing further links and conspiracies of the arrested accused and the charge-sheet filed in the matter before a special NIA court in Bhopal. "Six of the arrested accused are Bangladeshi nationals and are active JMB cadres. They had entered India illegally, without any valid documents, and acquired forged Indian identity documents with the help of their sympathisers. Wednesday's searches on the premises of various suspects led to the seizure of several digital devices (mobile phones), SIM cards, Bank Passbooks and Identity documents. The documents, currently under examination, relate to suspect transactions related to transfer of funds by the accused," said the official. The NIA investigations have revealed that all the ten arrested accused were involved in influencing, radicalising and motivating vulnerable Indian Muslim youth to take up violent Jihad against the democratic system of governance in the country. They had been circulating incriminating Jihadi literature, inflammatory videos and statements (Bayans,) and endorsing, justifying and glorifying the terrorist acts of the various banned terrorist organisations, including JMB, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. "They were conspiring to align with terrorist organisations to achieve their ultimate goal of establishing a Sharia based Islamic rule in India through pursuit of 'violent Jihad'. They had grand plans of creating a pan-India network to pursue their objective and, along with their co-accused, had successfully established bases in various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura, West Bengal and Assam," said the official. Initially, the case was lodged on March 14, 2022 at PS STF, Bhopal and later on the probe of the matter was taken over by the NIA on April 5, 2022. The local police had arrested six active cadres of JMB from their rented house in Bhopal. A cache of Jihadi literature, digital devices, printer, paper cutting machine, book binding material were also seized from the house. Kochi, May 25 : After major stakeholders of the Malayalam film industry expressed concern over influx of drugs in the industry, Kochi City Police Commissioner K. Sethuraman on Thursday said drug abuse among children of police officials is also "rampant". Speaking at annual meeting of the Kerala Police Association, Sethuraman said: "The use of drugs is prevalent among the children of police officials at all levels. Two children of a Superintendent of Police are victims of drug abuse and this affected his family life too. There has to be a serious check to prevent this rampant drug abuse, which is alarming." "Appropriate inspection should be done at the Police quarters. Across the state, the use of ganja and MDMA has gone up in recent times. Even though the percentage of use of drugs in Kerala when compared to the national average is low, things have reached a stage when it can shoot up in no time," added Sethuraman. Last month, major stakeholders in the Malayalam film industry had expressed concern over the influx of drugs in the industry after which State Culture and Films Minister Saji Cherian assured that the government will seriously look into issues and will call a conclave of all concerned in the industry for a meeting. New Delhi, May 25 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday stressed the need to focus on technological advancement in the defence sector, in the wake of a double threat along the borders. The defence minister's statement came in the backdrop of border row with China and Pakistan. He said, "For a country like India, it becomes very important because we are facing double threat on our borders. In such a situation, in order to keep pace with the whole world, it is very important for us to be advanced in our approach to technology." "Today we are one of the largest armies in the world, the bravery of our army is discussed all over the world. In such a situation, it becomes imperative that we have a technologically advanced army to safeguard the interests of the country," Singh said during the DRDO Academia Conclave. He said, "Today we also see many big challenges in front of us. When it comes to the defence of the country, then these challenges become more widespread. No organisation can deal with these challenges alone. The most important thing we can do to address these challenges is collective effort and partnership." The Defence Minister said, "Research plays an important role in the development of any country. Unless we do research, we will not be able to adopt new technology. Today, research and technology have been incorporated in all sectors like economy, politics, society, agriculture and connectivity etc." "The most important feature of R&D is that it has the ability to convert those things into resources, which we usually did not see from the point of view of resources till now. Take the example of uranium. Don't know how many thousands-millions of years it was lying in the earth. It may be that it has come into the hands of man many times, and man has left it as a normal thing," he stated. The Defence Minister said, "Today we see that a good number of IITs, IISc, NITs and other universities are available in India. In these institutions, we also get to see a large number of youth. If academia is associated with DRDO, then DRDO will get experts from many fields together and with a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach, DRDO will be able to move forward." The Defence Minister said, "The scientists in DRDO are sector specific experts. Obviously, DRDO benefits a lot from their expertise, but they do not have a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach. Academia constantly updates itself to meet the changing challenges, and the changing environment." He said that although there is no dearth of new scientists in DRDO, but due to its association with academia, this capacity will increase, and there will be a newness in the functioning of DRDO. Significantly, DRDO has a very advanced infrastructure. Today DRDO has about 50 labs, which do research in different areas of the country. The Minister said, "If there is a partnership between DRDO and Academia, then DRDO will move towards dual technology. The more this partnership grows, I think India's research sector will grow to that extent." Agartala, May 25 : In spite of the Covid-induced economic slowdown, the Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB), one of the leading banks among the 43 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) in India, registered a profit for the 12th straight year with a net gain of Rs 3.62 crore in the last fiscal (2022-23) and doing over Rs 11,271.92 crore business, a top bank official said here on Thursday. The TGB Chairman, Satyendra Singh said that as on March, 2023, his bank registered an operating profit of Rs 23.62 crore with a net profit of Rs 3.62 crore. A senior bank official told IANS that the TGB's net profit was Rs 143.14 crore and operating profit was Rs 282.40 crore in 2021-22 fiscal. "Economic recession across the world and absence of major and medium industrial and entrepreneurial projects in Tripura, the bank's profit reduced in the last financial year," the official said. "Total business of the TGB grew by 7.04 per cent, which is Rs 11,271.92 crore on March 31 (2023) against Rs 10,530.77 crore in 2021-22 fiscal," he told the media. The TGB, which has 148 branches and 15 Ultra Small Branches across Tripura, had wiped out the entire accumulated loss of Rs 139.40 crore in the financial year 2012-13 by registering net profit year-on-year basis. Singh said that compared to 2021-22 fiscal, the bank's deposit was increased by 3.94 per cent and the advance increased by 15.54 per cent in the last financial year. According to the official, the TGB's Credit Deposit Ratio was increased from 36.44 per cent to 40.50 per cent in the 2022-23 FY. The CD ratio of the nationalised banks in Tripura is 55 per cent. The TGB under the Punjab National Bank (earlier United Bank of India) disbursed a substantial amount of Rs 1,235.57 crore under different lending schemes during the 2022-23 financial year. With 50 per cent undertaking by the Government of India, 35 per cent by PNB and 15 per cent by the Tripura government, the bank also reduced its Non-Performing Asset (NPA) from 190.62 crore crore as on March 2022 to Rs 165.62 crore as on March this year. The TGB Chairman said that the bank would have made more profit and business had there been no Covid-induced situation and related economic recession. He said that the bank started its journey 47 years ago with a total deposit of Rs 2.82 lakh only and advance was Rs 1.70 lakh with the total business of Rs 4.52 lakh. He said that as the TGB has been operating mostly in the rural areas and there is no big industry in Tripura. Singh said that till March 31 (2023), the per employee business stood at Rs 12.85 crore, which is much higher than the PSU banks, adding that his bank is now well capitalised among the 43 RRBs operating in the country. The bank, which covers over 75 per cent of Tripura's population, mostly in the rural and interior areas, has 33 ATMs. The TGB has been implementing all flagship programmes of the Central government, including the PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Kisan Credit Card, Mudra Loan, etc. To support self-employment and self-help groups, the bank provides advances in dairy, piggery, poultry, fishery and many other small trades and businesses. The 43 RRBs are operating with a network of around 21,800 branches covering 685 districts in 26 states. Islamabad, May 25 : Three policemen were injured in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a polio immunisation team. The cops were deployed for the security of polio workers during a door-to-door campaign to administer vaccinate children when they were attacked, the Khyber police said in a statement. The polio team was safe and the immunisation drive has been temporarily suspended in the area. The injured policemen were shifted to a nearby hospital, whereas a search operation has been kicked off in the area to arrest the fleeing militants. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. A five-day anti-polio drive in 12 districts of the province kicked off on Monday, with an aim to vaccinate over 3.5 million children under five years of age. According to a recent report from the World Health Organization, all the new polio cases reported in Pakistan since January 2021 are from seven polio-endemic districts in the southern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistan is one of the two remaining countries in the world where polio is still categorised as an endemic viral infection,the other one being Afghanistan. In 2021, there was one documented case in the country and 84 in 2020. In 2019, there were a record 147 cases. Last year, there was 20 cases. Bengaluru, May 25 : Karnataka Congress maintains that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is facing life threat, and demanded action against former BJP minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson M. Lakshmana stated in Mysuru on Thursday that CM Siddaramaiah faced life threat from BJP even now. "In this background, we are demanding action against former minister Ashwath Narayan. His statement to finish off Siddaramaiah like erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan is still going viral on social media. There is possibility of Siddaramaiah being attacked," he explained. Lakshmana further stated "If anything happens to Siddaramaiah, BJP and Ashwath Narayan are squarely responsible. Ashwath Narayan should be immediately arrested." "We have lodged a complaint against Ashwath Narayan in Devaraja police station in Mysuru. The police have already informed the Speaker of the House in this regard," he explained. The intention behind the statement has to be ascertained, Lakshmana stated. Ashwath Narayan in turn hit out at the Congress on Thursday and maintained that the party is pursuing politics of hatred in the state. Ashwath Narayan claimed that as soon as the Congress came to power, the police are pressured and got the FIR done against him. "I had only slammed Siddaramaiah's love towards erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan. I don't have any enmity against him," he claimed. "I had also apologised in the session for my statement. The case should have ended there but it is not happening. After coming to power, Congress is pursuing politics of hatred," he maintained. The controversial statement was given during the election campaign at Sathanur village in Mandya district on February 15. The Congress leaders had lodged a police complaint in this regard on February 17. There was no action on the complaint. Lakshman had stated in the complaint that Ashwath Narayan had given public provocation by giving a call to finish off Siddaramaiah. Earlier, an attempt made on Siddaramaiah's life when he visited the rain-hit areas in the region. There are possibilities of anti-social elements harming him again. The action needs to be taken against Ashwath Narayan, he demanded in his complaint. The police have lodged FIR against Ashwath Narayan and investigating the case. Ashwath Narayan had stated, "The people of Mandya would achieve anything. It should begin from Mandya. Otherwise Tippu fan Siddaramaiah will come to the forefront. You decide on whether you want Tipu or Savarkar. What did Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda do to Tipu Sultan? They finished him off. Likewise Siddaramaiah should be finished off." Ashwath Narayan represents Malleshwaram constituency in Bengaluru and is one of the prominent Vokkaliga leaders of BJP. He was at the forefront in operation lotus which brought BJP to power in 2019 after the collapse of JD (S)-Congress coalition government. Ashwath Narayan was in-charge of Ramnagar district and he had taken on Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar family and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda family on their own turf to draw the Vokkaliga vote-bank towards BJP party in Karnataka. The delegation led by the First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who is on an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the Special Service Group (SSG) division of this country. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Special Service Group (SSG) gave the delegation detailed information about the division's assignment and training process. It was noted that the personnel of the division involves the special forces and mainly deals with counter-terrorism, detection of necessary targets, the release of hostages, information, psychological, and a number of other special operations. Then the training area of the SSG was introduced, and the weapons and equipment at the disposal of the division, as well as other military means, were shown to the delegation. In the end, Colonel General K. Valiyev signed the "Book of Honor" of the SSG division. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mr. Khazar Farhadov also participated in the meeting. Over the past day Wednesday, May 24, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) repelled 28 attacks by Russian invaders in five directions, the General Staff said. "The enemy continues to concentrate its main efforts on Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Maryinka directions. There were 28 clashes in these sectors of the front," the AFU General Staff said in a Facebook morning report on Thursday. In Volyn and Polissia directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly. Certain units of the Belarusian armed forces continue to perform tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine. In Kupiansk direction, the enemy does not stop trying to improve the tactical situation. It led unsuccessful offensive operations in Masiutivka area. The enemy did not carry out offensive operations in Lyman direction over the past day. In Bakhmut direction, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the direction of Ivanivsky. In Avdiyivka direction, the Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the direction of the settlements of Novokalynove and Avdiyivka. In Maryinka direction, units of the defense forces repelled numerous enemy attacks in the area of the town of Maryinka. In Zaporizhia and Kherson directions, the enemy continues to conduct defensive operations. San Francisco, May 25 : Sam Altman-run OpenAI has closed a $175 million investment fund focused on empowering other AI startups, with backing from Microsoft and other investors. The Information reported first about the fund-raise, citing a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. The company had earlier said it would put $100 million into the startup fund. However, the SEC filings show that the fund, called OpenAI Startup Fund I, is bigger than initially expected and is 75 per cent higher than the original plan, the report mentioned. Representatives for OpenAI did not immediately respond to the report. The fund, managed by OpenAI CEO Altman and COO Brad Lightcap, raised the money from 14 investors, according to the filing. OpenAI has already been investing in AI startups for some time. In recent months, ChatGPT and GPT-4 have become a rage worldwide. OpenAI recently closed a more than $300 million share sale at a valuation between $27-$29 billion, according to the reports. Altman has "privately suggested OpenAI may try to raise as much as $100 billion in the coming years to achieve its aim of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) that is advanced enough to improve its own capabilities". OpenAI in February this year launched the new subscription plan, ChatGPT Plus, that is available for $20 a month. Patna May 25 : Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey faced an awkward situation after a member of his party protested against him in his home constituency Buxar on Thursday. The BJP appears to be a divided house in Buxar with two groups holding separate meetings. One group belonging to Minister Choubey held a meeting in Hotel Vaishnavi Clarke and another group assembled in Bagicha Utsav hall in the city. During the meeting of Choubey, a member shouted slogans against him. Other members immediately pushed him out of the meeting hall. And, the supporters of Choubey shouted slogans in favour of him. Following the incident, district BJP president Bhola Singh said: "Such an incident is a part of conspiracy. The person, who was protesting against the minister, is not a party worker. I did not hear what he had said during the meeting." v is facing a tough time in Buxar as a large number of party leaders are running campaigns against him. They are using social media networks to campaign against Choubey. Those who were against Choubey were doing parallel meetings in the city's Bagicha Utsav hall to make their presence felt before the party's top leadership. Hyderabad, May 25 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday decided to provide Rs 105 crore for the decennial celebrations of Telangana state formation, beginning on June 2. At a meeting with district collectors at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat, the chief minister announced that the money will be released to the collectors for state-wide celebrations. KCR directed the officials to ensure that the 21-day-long celebrations are organised in a grand manner highlighting the sacrifices made by the martyrs and the state's achievements during the last 10 years. He recalled that as a result of six decades of struggle and sacrifices, the Telangana state was achieved in the democratic and parliamentary way. He said the progress made by Telangana in a short period has made the nation proud. Ministers, government advisors, Chief Minister's advisors, chief secretary, secretaries in Chief Minister's Office, district collectors, superintendents of police, Director General of Police and other top officials were participating in the day-long meeting. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure conduct of the daily programmes from village to the state level in a festive atmosphere. He gave directions to them on the programmes to be held in villages, constituencies and districts. He asked the district collectors to coordinate with ministers, MLAs and other public representatives for smooth conduct of the celebrations. KCR will inaugurate the celebrations on June 2 by paying tributes to Telangana martyrs at Gun Park in Hyderabad. Later, he will unfurl the national flag at Telangana secretariat premises and address the participants. As per the schedule already announced, daily programmes will be held to highlight the progress achieved by the state in sectors like electricity, agriculture, irrigation, healthcare and industry. The programmes will also highlight various schemes being implemented for welfare of farmers and other sections of people. Chandigarh, May 25 : Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kauhsal on Thursday said the state government is actively working to establish special Non-Resident Indian (NRI) cells to address the grievances of the diaspora and safeguard their interests. The Chief Secretary made this statement during the 'Videsh Sampark Programme', an event organised by the state's Foreign Cooperation Department in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs in Panchkula, near here. The programme aims to enhance engagement with the diaspora and foster partnerships with state governments to tackle their issues. The Chief Secretary emphasised that these NRI cells would operate independently from the Police Department. "Haryana prides itself on its diverse religious and cultural fabric, with a significant population of Sikhs, Muslims, and followers of other religions. Besides Hindi, which serves as the official language, Punjabi is recognised as the second language, and efforts have been made to recruit teachers to promote the Punjabi language as well," he added. Highlighting the state's progressiveness, the Chief Secretary said, "unlike certain milestones in neighbouring state that indicate distances to Canada and other countries in kilometres, such things don't prevail in Haryana. We are very progressive state. It is not the endeavour of our kids to go abroad only. The state also ensures that the youth are provided with ample facilities for their development and progress within Haryana." Kaushal said the Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Department has been instrumental in providing skill development training to individuals, enabling them to settle abroad if they choose to do so. Furthermore, Kaushal said the government is actively organising seminars in universities and colleges to educate the youth about higher education and employment opportunities overseas. These initiatives play a crucial role in equipping students with valuable information and insights about studying and working in foreign countries. Through participation in these seminars, students can gain knowledge about various educational institutions, scholarship programmes, admission processes, and employment prospects abroad. Such endeavours are expected to greatly benefit the students and contribute to their informed decision-making regarding international education and employment options. Jaipur, May 25 : A local court in Rajasthan's Alwar district on Thursday convicted four of the five accused in the 2018 Rakbar Khan mob lynching case. While pronouncing the four guilty, Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Sharma said, "Dharmendra Yadav, Paramjit, Vijay Kumar, and Naresh have been held guilty under IPC sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 341 (wrongful restraint). "Naval Kishore is being acquitted on account of insufficient evidence against him." The four convicts have been sent to seven years' imprisonment besides a fine of Rs 10,000 each. A large number of people had gathered outside the court ahead of the verdict. Security was beefed up with police from several police stations deployed in and around the court. Advocate Ashok Sharma of the aggrieved party said that on the night of July 20-21, 2018, near Lalawandi village of Ramgarh, Rakbar alias Akbar, 31, a resident of Kolgaon, Haryana, was transporting cows with Aslam Khan, 32, when the villagers surrounded and beat them up. While Aslam managed to escape, Rakbar was injured and succumbed to his injuries in Ramgarh CHC. The court has found the accused Paramjit, Dharmendra, Naresh and Vijay Kumar guilty under section 341 and 304 part one. All these accused were out on bail on the orders of the High Court. As the court's decision came earlier in the day, the four accused were taken into police custody. Meanwhile, some people raised slogans against the Gehlot government and Ramgarh MLA Safia Khan. Islamabad, May 25 : As Pakistan struggles to secure the critical pending loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the cash-strapped nation looks towards China to rollover more than $2 billion in debt due next month, media reports said on Thursday. Islamabad is still contemplating ways to meet other repayment deadlines as the country has about $3.7 billion in overseas debt due this month and in June against its current foreign exchange reserves of just $4.3 billion, The News reported. Beijing had committed to help the country meet two crucial debt repayments in June worth $2.3 billion by providing fresh funds immediately after Pakistan makes the payments, Financial Times reported. "The refinancing of the commercial loans worth $1.3 billion and a Chinese government loan of $1 billion would help Pakistan avert immediate default," the officials said. China had, earlier this year, already rolled over some loans to Pakistan and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang also reiterated Beijing's financial support for the country on a visit to Pakistan earlier this month. The Chinese government did not respond to a request for comment on the latest developments. Warning of a possible risk of default, analysts said that they expected the relief from China - one of Pakistan's closest allies - to come through. "There's no way that the Chinese...will walk back from Pakistan at this time," said Uzair Younus, director of the Pakistan Initiative at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think-tank, referring to the June debt deadlines. Amaravati, May 25 : After Andhra Pradesh's ruling party YSR Congress, the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has also announced that it will attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building by the Prime Minister. TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday took to Twitter to congratulate the Prime Minister over completion of the project. "As we have a new Parliament building, I join a joyous and proud nation in congratulating PM @narendramodi Ji, the Union Govt, and every hand that has contributed to building this historic structure," tweeted the former chief minister. "I wish for the New Parliament building to become the abode for transformational policy and decision-making. The dream of a poverty-free India where the gap between haves and have-nots has been bridged will be achieved by 2047, on completion of 100 years of independence," he wrote. Earlier, the TDP announced that its MPs will participate in the event scheduled to be held on May 28. Like the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), the TDP has also decided not to side with the other opposition parties who have announced that they will boycott the inauguration. Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress on Wednesday announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They said that Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate it himself and completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu insults the high office of the President and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. On Wednesday evening, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy tweeted that his party will attend the event. He found fault with the decision of the opposition parties to boycott the programme. The YSRCP leader stated that boycotting such an auspicious event is not in the true spirit of democracy. "Setting aside all political differences, I request that all political parties attend this glorious event. In the true spirit of democracy, my party will attend this historic event," he wrote. He congratulated the Prime Minister for dedicating the grand, majestic and spacious Parliament building to the nation. "Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nation's soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties," he said. YSRCP parliamentary party leader V. Vijayasai Reddy also tweeted on Thursday that as the fifth largest party in terms of MPs in India, YSRCP will keep aside politics to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament. "The new Parliament does not belong to one party or ideology. It is an institution of the people of India, for the people and by the people of India," he tweeted. Kolkata, May 25 : A vacation bench of Calcutta High Court on Thursday rejected a plea for a fast-track hearing on a petition challenging a previous order by a single- judge bench cancelling the entire panel in recruitment in forest guards by the West Bengal Forest Department. Earlier, a bench of Justice Lapita Bandopadhyay cancelled the entire panel for recruitment of 2,000 forest guards. Some of the candidates on the list approached a division bench arguing that only those getting appointments illegally should be removed from the list and also made an appeal for a fast-track hearing in the matter. However, the vacation bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee rejected the appeal for fast-track hearing in the matter. Justice Gangopadhyay directed the petitioners to appeal at a different division bench on this count. The recruitment in forest guards by the state Forest Department was done in 2020. However, a petition was filed at the high court alleging irregularities in the recruitment process. The bench of Justice Bandopadhyay also accepted the charges of irregularities in the recruitment process, and directed the Forest Department to start a fresh interview process after cancelling the panel.A Some candidates approached the division bench arguing that why the eligible ones who got recruitments through fair means should have to again appear for the fresh interview process. Lucknow, May 25 : The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed the CBI to investigate the alleged fraudulent admission scam in Ayush colleges. The high court has also ordered to take strict action if the roles of former minister Dharam Singh Saini and then additional chief secretary are found to be suspicious. While granting conditional bail to petitioner Ritu Garg, the single bench of Justice Rajeev Singh issued this direction to the CBI. The Uttar Pradesh government had already recommended CBI inquiry into the matter twice. Dharam Singh Saini was the Ayush Minister in the previous Yogi Adityanath government. He had switched over to the Samajwadi Party on the eve of Assembly elections in 2022. Later, he had quit SP too. He has been trying to get back into the BJP, but his alleged involvement in the Ayush scam has apparently become a hurdle. The alleged scam in Ayush colleges came to the fore in November 2022. The Uttar Pradesh government had twice recommended to get the entire matter investigated by the CBI, but no further action was taken in this matter. Dharam Singh Saini has been accused of taking bribe in admissions. The statement of his personal secretary Raj Kumar Diwakar against Saini can increase his difficulties. The secretary has alleged that Saini received a bribe of Rs 1 crore and 10 lakh for recognition of UG in Ayush and Rs 50 lakh for PG. This statement of the secretary has also been filed in the court. The admission scam in Ayush colleges was investigated by the UP STF, which recently filed a charge sheet. In 2021-22, a board was constituted by the Directorate of Ayurveda for counselling. Due to non-availability of IT cell, the counselling contract was given to a private agency, Soft Solution, under the supervision of the board. The private agency was responsible for everything, from counselling to verification. After admission, seat allotment was also done. However, records of 1,181 students were not found in the merit list of NEET counselling. Out of these, 22 students were such who did not appear in NEET at all. After the preliminary investigation, the Directorate of Ayurveda sent the list of suspected students along with their names and addresses to the respective ayurvedic colleges. It is alleged that the private agency tampered not only in the database of NEET, but also in the website. Manipulations have been found in the data base received from the DGME office and the records of the private agency. When the investigation started, the private agency operator also corrupted the RDBD of the hard-disk received from the DGME office. New Delhi, May 25 : Two persons were killed while four others injured after a truck hit another stationary truck in the national capital's Welcome area on Thursday, an official said. The deceased were identified as Ravi Kishan and Satish Kumar. The injured individuals -- Doje, Mahesh, Naurang and Sunil -- have been hospitalised. The police said that the accident took place at around 12.30 a.m. on the flyover near the Welcome metro station. "The complainant, Doje, a resident of Loni in Ghaziabad, said that he works as a labourer (assisting in loading and unloading) on a truck. Naurang is the driver of the truck. Other three helpers Sunil, Ravi and Satish, were also on the truck and they were carrying bricks while going towards Karol Bagh area," a senior police officer said. "When the truck was on the flyover, one of the front tires burst. Doje was opening the tyre bolts when another truck hit the stationary truck from behind, leading to the death of two persons." "A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at Welcome police station," the police officer added. Healthcare is currently a priority area of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS), Director General of the National Committee of the URCS Maksym Dotsenko has said. "Health protection is now a priority for the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. It is important for us to create mobile medical teams to help the population in the most remote corners of our country, to develop the direction of rehabilitation and psychosocial support for people affected by military operations and not only, and to expand home care direction," he said at a seminar on strategic planning in the health sector. The participants of the two-day seminar, taking place in Kyiv, discuss the possibilities of effective cooperation in the field of healthcare, psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and social integration in Ukraine. Representatives of the URCS, international specialists from the World Health Organization (WHO), and partner national Red Cross societies from European countries attended the seminar. Patna, May 25 : Bihar Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) secretary Tirupati Yadav was beaten by women inside a temple allegedly for passing lewd comments on them in Bihar's Bhagalpur district. A video of the incident which took place on Wednesday, has went viral on the social media in which Yadav can be seen passing lewd comments on them at Bhutnath temple. In the video, the women alleged that Yadav, who was sitting inside the temple premises, passed lewd comments on her. She alleged that Yadav has been doing the same with other women of the locality. Also, a woman wearing a red and white outfit can be seen holding his neck and threatening him to speak the truth, failing which she would punch him on his face. Yadav's friends tried to save him but were also slapped by the women. Following the incident, a team of Vishwavidyalaya police station reached the temple and inquired about it. No one has lodged a complaint so far. Yadav, however, claimed that whatever is being said against him is baseless, and said his political rivals could be behind the incident. New Delhi, May 25 : Vedanta-Foxconn Semiconductors Limited (VFSL), a joint venture between Foxconn and Vedanta Group, has appointed Mike Young as Senior Vice President, Project Management Office and Manufacturing Operations. In this role, Mike will oversee the seamless execution of manufacturing and operational processes as VFSL looks at setting up a state-of-the-art semiconductor fab in India. "Mike Young brings with him 34 years of extensive experience in front-end semiconductor manufacturing across multiple geographies with significant contribution to two high volume startups," said David Reed, CEO, VFSL. "We are delighted to welcome him to Vedanta-Foxconn Semiconductors Limited. He will play a critical role in establishing best-in-class semiconductor manufacturing processes and operations." "The global semiconductor industry is projected to reach a trillion dollars in the coming decade, and India is at the cusp of becoming a major semiconductor player," said Mike Young. "I am excited about this opportunity to work for a joint venture between two leading industry players, namely Vedanta and Foxconn, and look forward to creating global impact with the India semiconductor fab." Mike joins Vedanta after taking a short sabbatical from his last role as CEO of Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company (SSMC), Singapore. Prior to this, he served as CEO of X-FAB Sarawak, Malaysia. He has extensively worked in areas of operations, yield, and device engineering with global leaders like X-FAB UK, STMicroelectronics, Siemens, Atmel, and Plessey Semiconductors. Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated excellence in the governance and control of high performing facilities through a combination of effective man management, continuous improvement, cost control, and operational performance enhancement. He has a master's degree in Microelectronics Engineering from Middlesex University, UK, and a bachelor's degree in Physics from Aston University, UK. Vedanta has been on an aggressive talent acquisition drive globally to attract leaders from the semiconductor industry. VFSL appointed industry veteran David Reed as CEO in February and welcomed Lawrence (Wong Chee Yoong) as Senior Director - Human Resources in April. Most recently, the company hired IBM veteran Terry Daly as Advisor. The company continues to build a team of highly experienced personnel to be part of its semiconductor business. Chennai, May 25 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday lashed out against the political parties who were speaking highly of President Droupadi Murmu as an eminent leader from the tribal community, saying that they had run a bitter campaign against her before she was elected as the President. The minister was speaking to reporters at Raj Bhavan here. Sitharaman said that these political parties had earlier 'abused' Murmu and called her a 'rubber stamp'. She said that these parties had even said that President Murmu represented 'evil forces'. Sitharaman said that by the words 'evil forces', the opposition parties meant the RSS. Sitharaman stated that the present Central government gives high respect to the President and added that the opposition parties had not said anything to honour the President. Sitharaman said that it was Congress leader Sonia Gandhi who had inaugurated the Chhattisgarh assembly building and asked in what capacity she had done so. Going by the logic the opposition was presenting now against the inauguration of the new parliament building by the Prime Minister, it should have been the Governor who should have inaugurated the Chhattisgarh assembly building. She said that Parliament was the Temple of Democracy and reminisced about Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying his respects by touching the ground with his forehead before entering Parliament in 2004. She said that in her humble opinion it was not right for the opposition to boycott the inauguration of the new parliament building and appealed to the opposition parties to reconsider their boycott decision. Sitharaman said that it was a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu to have the sceptre presented by the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of Independence to be installed in the new Lok Sabha. Mumbai, May 25 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann on Thursday met Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar who offered his "full support" to the Aam Aadmi Party in its fight to safeguard its powers against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government. "Democracy is under attack from the BJP. We must all unitedly safeguard it. Efforts are being made to deprive the rights of governments elected by the people and create hurdles for them. We shall fully support the AAP's fight in parliament," declared Pawar after his half-hour meeting with Kejriwal-Mann and other leaders. Pawar said that this is no longer restricted to Delhi or any individual party, but a national problem concerning every state, especially the non-BJP states and he would speak with all non-BJP parties to join and unitedly fight this movement to protect democracy with the AAP. Kejriwal said that great injustice was being done by the BJP to the people of Delhi even after the 8-year long legal battle in the Supreme Court and now the Centre has brought the Ordinance to usurp the state's rights on appointments of officials. "This struggle has gone beyond Delhi. It's a fight to safeguard the federal structure of the country which the BJP is trying to undermine," he said. Referring to the BJP's machinations in non-BJP states, Kejriwal said that if the people vote against it, then the BJP buys out its MLAs to topple the government, or put Central investigating agencies to hound their leaders or harass them through the Governors who do not allow the elected governments to function. "This is the message that if the people don't vote for the BJP, then they will either bring it down or not allow it to function. This must stop and we have to unitedly save democracy and the federal structure," urged Kejriwal. "We are said to be the world's biggest democracy, but the reality is that attempts are being made to kill it through various means. The state Raj Bhavans have become like BJP headquarters and the Governors interfere in every routine work of the state government and don't allow them to work," added Mann. On Wednesday, Kejriwal and Mann met former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and secured the Shiv Sena-UBT's support in his campaign for Delhi' rights, and has earlier met other CM's and political leaders around the country. Armed with two consecutive successes in Maharashtra, a beaming Kejriwal said he will take an appointment to meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for their support in his crusade. New Delhi, May 25 : As countries like India struggle with the growing menace of drugs, crypto has emerged as a culprit as two separate reports by Blockchain research firms have revealed that Chinese chemicals companies, suspected of supplying the base substances to produce fentanyl to overseas drug cartels, have earned tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrencies. Most fentanyl trafficked into the US is manufactured using precursors imported from Chinese suppliers, according to researchers from London-based Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. Elliptic's analysis showed that the cryptocurrency wallets used by these Chinese companies have received thousands of payments, totaling just over $27 million, and that the number of transactions has increased by 450 per cent year-on-year. "About $27 million would purchase enough precursors to produce fentanyl pills with a street value of approximately $54 billion," the report warned. This amount of fentanyl would technically be sufficient to cause 8.6 billion people to suffer a fatal overdose from the drug. Cheaper to produce than heroin and 50 times more potent, this synthetic opioid has fuelled an epidemic over the past decade, as well as becoming a huge source of profits for international drug cartels. Elliptic researchers received offers from more than 90 China-based companies to supply fentanyl precursors, 90 per cent of which accepted cryptocurrency payments. Many mentioned that they have shipped the same chemicals to Mexico. "Many of these businesses were also willing to supply fentanyl itself, despite this being banned in China since 2019," the report noted. In a separate report, Blockchain research firm Chainalysis said crypto addresses associated with China-based sellers of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl received more than $37.8 million worth of cryptocurrency since 2018. For many years, China was the main source of illicit fentanyl. But in 2019, following intense diplomatic pressure from the US, the Chinese government regulated the drug - effectively banning its export. "However, far from stemming the tide, illicit fentanyl imports into the US have soared. That's because Mexican drug cartels have stepped in to fill the void and seize the market - manufacturing their own fentanyl using precursors (chemical ingredients) imported from China," the Elliptic report revealed. The US government has placed increasing emphasis on disrupting the financial activity of fentanyl traffickers and their supply networks. In a fact sheet published on April 11, the White House indicated that it intends to "expand its efforts to disrupt the illicit financial activities that fund these criminals by increasing accountability measures, including financial sanctions". On April 14, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned several individuals and businesses in China for supplying precursor chemicals to drug cartels in Mexico for the production of fentanyl intended for the US market. The sanctions also listed cryptocurrency wallets used by these businesses to receive payments. "Our researchers received offers to supply large quantities of one particular fentanyl precursor. This chemical is not used in the manufacture of any other products, and is a controlled substance in most countries. However, it remains unregulated in China," said the Elliptic team. Hyderabad, May 25 : Municipal authorities in Hyderabad on Thursday began an investigation after citizens in some areas in southern part of the city complained of strong and unusual odour since early hours of the day. People in Mangalhat, Begum Bazar, Tappa Chabutra, Jiyaguda, Darussalam, Chaderghat and Malakpet complained of strong smell like that of chemicals or gas. Panicked residents in some localities spent sleepless night. Some people even complained of symptoms like headaches, nausea and respiratory discomfort. Many people took to social media to voice their concern about the potential health hazard and tried to draw attention of the authorities. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has initiated action on the complaints by the citizens. Since residents in areas along Musi River complained of unusual odour, GHMC authorities collected water samples from the Musi and sent the same for analysis. The municipal authorities suspect that the odour could be linked to pollution in Musi. Dr Srikanth Reddy, Additional Medical Officer of Health (AMOH) visited Musi, collected water samples and sent them to Pollution Control Board for analysis. Officials said they were waiting for the results. Kolkata, May 25 : West Bengal government has barred pig rearing farms from confining mother pigs in farrowing crates to stop cruelty towards those animals. Bengal joins the league of 20 Indian states and Union Territories to have imposed similar orders against the pig rearing farms there. Following an appeal from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)- India, the director of West Bengal animal husbandry and veterinary services department has issued a circular asking the farms to strictly comply with the norms. As per the circular, section 11(1)(e) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 prohibits the confinement of any animal to a receptacle that fails to offer a reasonable opportunity for movement, such as gestation and farrowing crates. The other states that have issued similar orders include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. According to PETA-India's advocacy officer Farhat Ul Ain, pigs are intelligent animals and protective mothers who form bonds with their young piglets when unrestricted. "Their confinement to these cramped crates and the ultimate separation from their piglets cause them tremendous grief and agony. Pigs are also transported in cramped trucks to slaughterhouses, where they are stabbed in the chest, frequently after being hit on the head with a hammer," Ain added. He also said that gestation crates, which are also known as sow stalls, are metal cages, essentially the size of a pig, with concrete or slatted floors. "In them, pigs are unable to turn around or even stand up without difficulty. These devices confine pregnant sows, which are typically transferred to farrowing crates to give birth and are kept in them until their piglets are taken away. Farrowing crates are fundamentally the same as gestation crates, except that they contain small side compartments for piglets," Ain added. New Delhi, May 25 : The Congress on Thursday slammed the government for distributing fortified rice to 80 crore people of the country without any proper research and said that the policies of the current dispensation are being made by consultants. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address in 2021 had said that the government is aiming to distribute fortified rice via government schemes by 2024. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, "Who drives the policy in the Narendra Modi government? If someone investigates then one would know how many consultants are there and for whom they are lobbying." He said that a few days ago the government announced the distribution of fortified rice. Taking a potshot at the government, Khera said, "The government decided earlier to damage the forces, the farmers and now they have decided to damage science." The Congress leader said, "Crores of people are being fed fortified rice without bothering if it is safe or harmful and without consulting scientists." He said that 138 lakh tonne of fortified rice has been distributed between 2018 and 2023 and people consuming 138 lakh tonne of fortified rice without any consultation or research. Khera, who is also the chairman of the Congress media and publicity department, said, "Fortified rice is also harmful for people suffering from diseases that worsen with iron intake. People suffering from thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and in acute phase of tuberculosis are medically not given iron. These diseases are prevalent amongst the poor, which are the beneficiaries of fortified rice." He said that even the ICMR, India's premier medical research body, had serious doubts about the effectiveness of distributing fortified rice under the PDS. The FSSAI is supposed to be a regulator. Its mandate is not to promote the grand plans of private companies, he said. The Congress leader added that the 'grand plan' to rollout fortified rice and other food items (wheat, milk, oil etc) started with a conference in Cancun, Mexico in 2016, where international non-profits attended a symposium on rice fortification organised by Royal DSM and some global NGOs. "Is it a coincidence that exactly one month after this conference, FSSAI started this 'resource hub' for fortification awareness, even as there were hardly any studies supporting that claim to fight malnutrition," he said. Khera stated that now consultants decide on the policy issues and not the IAS officers. "In midday meals the same rice is used. Reporters collective came out with a report, we want to know why PM Modi decided to promote fortified rice," he asked. He said that Royal DSM, a Netherlands-based company has put up a plant in India near Hyderabad. He said that this company reached the government through consultants. "One of the associates of Royal DSM group is GAIN - Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition - has a history of championing corporate interests. In 2013, the World Health Organisation refused to recognize GAIN as an NGO over a business alliance network of food companies the group had set up. Another tech-focused public health non-profit - PATH - which was funded by Royal DSM helped FSSAI conceive its standards and even handouts for the fortification 'resource hub'", Khera alleged. Khera asked, "Why did PM Modi not ascertain the outcome of independent research studies or globally acclaimed studies on fortification and rolled out a nationwide scheme targeting 80 crore of India's poor? What was the hurry to risk the health and lives of 80 crore poor Indians? Does it not show the anti-poor mindset of the Modi government?" He also asked what is the relationship between Royal DSM and the Modi government? Why did its regional vice-president FranAois Scheffler express his sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister. "Why did the Modi government's Food and Public Distribution Department, Ministry of Women and Child Development and the regulator FSSAI not listen to their own internal warnings, which were underlined repeatedly by experts and advisors? Why did they not listen to NITI Aayog members?" Khera questioned. Jaipur, May 25 : If the statements of Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are evaluated, it seems that the party has decided to go soft on former deputy CM Sachin Pilot. Although Pilot has given an ultimatum of 15 days for the state government to meet his three demands, namely the dissolution, reorganization, and support of a new law for the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, financial compensation for "lakhs of students" who suffered financially due to paper leaks and a high-level investigation into alleged corruption cases during the previous BJP administration led by Vasundhara Raje, the party seems silent on his demands. His 15-day ultimatum ends May end, however, there is silence over the issue. Randhawa spoke about controlling the in-fighting in the Congress in an election year on Thursday. He said "in a party in which there is action, there will be a fight. What will happen in a party or a house where nothing happens?" "We will control the fight," he said while talking to the media at Jaipur Circuit House. On the question of Sachin Pilot's participation in the Congress meeting scheduled on Friday in Delhi to decide the election strategy, Randhawa said "Do you have any doubt on this? Is he not the leader of the Congress party? Tomorrow you will see the answer in the meeting." On Sachin Pilot's ultimatum, Randhawa said, "Pilot has not given any ultimatum to the Congress. Those who have been given the ultimatum will answer it. I haven't received any ultimatum yet. If Pilot had given an ultimatum to the Congress high command, I would have responded." The Congress has called a meeting of leaders of the poll-bound states in Delhi on Friday in which the assembly poll strategies for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will be discussed. Randhawa said that a meeting of four states' party leaders will be held at the AICC on Friday in which the election strategy for all four states will be discussed. Many leaders including CM Ashok Gehlot, state party president Govind Singh Dotasara, and all four co in-charges including himself will participate. Sachin Pilot will participate in this meeting, he claimed. Meanwhile, looking at Randhawa's stand on the Pilot issue, it seems that the party has decided to take a soft line instead of a hard stand in Pilot's case. There are indications of finding a middle ground for reconciliation, said party leaders. Even Ashok Gehlot is talking about fighting the elections unitedly instead of being aggressive on Pilot which is being seen as a sign of finding a way out for reconciliation, party leaders said. Speaking on Pilot's ultimatum, Gehlot said on Wednesday, "Media spreads things too much, we do not believe it. We believe that if the entire Congress fights unitedly, we will win the elections." Speaking at the meeting he said, "We have discipline here, once the high command decides, everyone accepts that decision. Earlier it was Sonia, now there is Kharge Saheb, there is Rahul Gandhi; once they take a decision, everyone accepts their decision and everyone starts doing their work." Islamabad, May 25 : The Pakistan federal government has decided to add the names of 80 people, including PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, to the no-fly list, the media reported. Those included in the no-fly list and barred from travelling abroad include Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi PTI leaders Murad Saeed, Maleeka Bukhari, Fawad Chaudhry and Hammad Azhar, Samaa TV reported. PTI's Qasim Suri, Asad Qaiser, Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Mian Aslam are also included in the no-fly list, Samaa TV reported. The names of all the PTI leaders were put in the list on the recommendation of the institutions concerned. The police department, National Accountability Bureau and the anti-corruption department had requested the Ministry of Interior to include these names to the no-fly list, Samaa TV reported. Earlier, the Lahore police sent names of over 700 PTI leaders to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to impose a restriction on their foreign travel for one month, Dawn reported. The Pakistan Punjab government has also decided to expedite legal proceedings against those involved in riots and arson. The 746 PTI leaders and activists have been on the authorities' radar for their alleged involvement in the May 9 violence following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. The FIA has been requested to place their names on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) - which temporarily bars people from travelling abroad, Dawn reported. The list sent to the FIA included the names of fashion designer Khadija Shah, PTI's senior leader Shafqat Mahmood, Imran Khan's nephew Hassaan Niazi, PTI's supporter Sanam Javed Khan, who got famous after her protests outside Zaman Park, and others. The travel restrictions were proposed by the police after PTI leaders were identified through footage obtained from Punjab Safe City cameras, video clips, Nadra's database, reports from intelligence agencies and other sources, Dawn reported. According to the police, the accused had stormed and attacked the military installations on May 9. Norway supports the fighters' coalition and the training of Ukrainian pilots on Western F-16 aircraft, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjrn Arild Gram said in an interview with NRK. "Norway will consider various ways to contribute to the education and training of Ukrainian personnel on the F-16 fighter jet," Gram said. According to him, the government positively evaluates such an initiative, and at the moment, together with its allies, it analyzes what contribution Norway can make to training. London, May 25 : OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has threatened to quit the European Union (EU) if regulators continue with its crucial artificial intelligence (AI) law in its current form. The law is undergoing revisions and may require large AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT and GPT-4 to be designated as "high risk", Time reported. Speaking on the sidelines of a panel discussion at University College London, Altman said they could "cease operating" in the EU if unable to comply with the new AI legislation. "Either we'll be able to solve those requirements or not. If we can comply, we will, and if we can't, we'll cease operating. We will try. But there are technical limits to what's possible," Altman was quoted as saying. "We're going to try to comply," he added. OpenAI's skepticism is centred on the EU law's designation of "high risk" AI systems. Altman said that he was worried about the risks stemming from AI. For example, AI-generated disinformation could have an impact on the upcoming 2024 US election, he warned. However, social media platforms were more important drivers of disinformation than AI language models. "You can generate all the disinformation you want with GPT-4, but if it's not being spread, it's not going to do much," he was quoted as saying in the report. Earlier this week, the OpenAI CEO said now is a good time to start thinking about the governance of superintelligence -- future AI systems dramatically more capable than even artificial generative intelligence (AGI). Altman stressed that the world must mitigate the risks of today's AI technology too, "but superintelligence will require special treatment and coordination". Last week, Altman admitted that if generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong, as US senators expressed their fears about AI chatbots like ChatGPT. Altman, who testified at a hearing in the US Senate in Washington, DC, said that the AI industry needs to be regulated by the government as AI becomes "increasingly powerful". Guwahati, May 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that he would soon visit strife-torn Manipur for three days and hold talks with all the stakeholders to resolve the prevailing ethnic crisis in the northeastern state that is continuing since May 3. After laying the foundation stone for the 11th campus of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Guwahati, Shah said that the violence in Manipur was triggered by an order of the Manipur High Court. Urging people of all communities in Manipur to maintain peace and ethnic harmony, the Home Minister said that talks among all the stakeholders are essential to resolve the present crisis. "No perpetrators would be spared and justice would be provided to all the victims and affected persons. During my three-day proposed visit to Manipur, I will talk to all concerned to resolve the problem at the earliest. Violence has no place in today's society. "During the past six years, there was no bandh or blockade as peace was restored in Manipur. People must maintain this trend for the all-round development and welfare of the people," Shah said. He also urged people of all communities to leave aside the mistrust and misunderstanding and restore peace and ethnic harmony through talks. Shah's comments were the first open statement by a high-profile Central minister after ethnic violence broke out in BJP-ruled Manipur more than three weeks ago. The northeastern state witnessed widespread violent clashes in more than 10 districts after the May 3 'Tribal Solidarity March' called by the All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category, claiming over 70 lives and injuring more than 300 people. Acting on a writ petition filed by the Meetei (Meitei) Trade Union, the Manipur High Court's acting Chief Justice M.V. Muralidaran had on April 19 directed the state government to submit the recommendation for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry. The high court order snowballed into a major controversy with thousands of tribals turning up for the 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3. Meanwhile, a group of MLAs from Manipur are likely to meet Shah in Guwahati to apprise him of the prevailing situation in the trouble-torn state. Chennai, May 25 : A Tamil Nadu Police team, probing the death of two people after drinking liquor from a Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) liquor outlet in Thanjavur, is studying the call details of the deceased cab driver Vivek. The team is also looking whether any Tasmac employee was involved in lacing the liquor with cyanide, the presence of which was found in the viscera of the deceased Vivek and labourer Kuppusamy. According to sources in the investigation team, someone who is an insider would have laced the liquor that Vivek bought with the deadly poison and the involvement of a goldsmith is not ruled out. A source told IANS that the team has some suspects in mind but is unable to connect the dots and is probing various angles to bring out a conclusion. The Call Data Record (CDR) of the cab driver is being scrutinised using the support of the Cyber wing of the state police. The police are suspecting the role of a woman who was his acquaintance. The CCTV camera in the Tasmac outlet at Thanjvur from where Vivek bought liquor is not functioning. The police team have almost concluded that daily wage labourer Kuppusamy, who also died along with Vivek, had consumed liquor form the leftover bottle of Vivek without knowledge of cyanide being laced in it. Tamil Nadu Director General of Police, C. Sylendra Babu is directly monitoring the case with the police officers who are in the investigation team. Vivek, a cab driver and Kuppuswamy a daily wager at a fish market died after consuming liquor purchased from a licensed outlet of Tasmac at Keela Alangam in Thanjavur on Sunday morning (May 21). New Delhi, May 25 : In a first, a MiG-29K fighter jet undertook a maiden night landing on the indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Navy termed it as a 'historic milestone'. The Indian Navy said, "A MiG-29K has successfully made a night landing on India's indigenous INS Vikrant warship. This achievement of the Navy is a big step towards the growing power of self-reliant India." The maiden night landing was made on Wednesday night when INS Vikrant was sailing in the Arabian sea, an official said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Navy for the successful maiden night landing trials of the MiG-29K on INS Vikrant. "Congratulations to the Indian Navy for successfully undertaking the maiden night landing trials of MiG-29K on #INSVikrant," the Defence Minister said on Twitter. "This remarkable achievement is a testimony to the skills, perseverance and professionalism of the Vikrant crew and Naval pilots. Kudos to them," he tweeted. Earlier, the naval version of the Tejas aircraft had successfully landed on INS Vikrant in February. However, the MiG-29K landing is believed to be more important. The major reason for this is that while the Tejas aircraft landed during the day, the MiG-29K's landing took place at night. The Indian Navy had also landed a Kamov 31 helicopter on INS Vikrant on March 28. Navy officials say that indigenous lighting accessories and shipborne systems were used during the test, which proved to be completely successful. In September 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant which made the country a part of an elite group of nations capable of manufacturing aircraft carriers above 40,000 tonnes category. Built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore, INS Vikrant has a sophisticated air defence network and anti-ship missile systems. It has the capacity to hold 30 fighter jets and helicopters. Prayagraj : , May 25 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court, hearing an appeal by a man against the dismissal of his divorce petition by a family court, on Thursday observed that denying sex to a spouse for a long time without sufficient reason amounts to mental cruelty. The high court said that it was evident from the record that, since long, the parties to the marriage had been living separately, and the wife had denied discharging the obligation of marital liability. The couple had got married in 1979. After seven years, the wife's 'gauna' ceremony was performed and they started living as a couple. According to the petitioner, his wife refused to fulfil her obligation of marital life and then she left for her parents' home. The husband claimed that he made several attempts to convince her but the woman did not establish any physical relationship with him. The man was serving in the police department and had to reside at the place of his posting. In July 1994, the couple got mutually separated before a panchayat after the man paid alimony of Rs 22,000 to his wife. She later married another man. Then the husband approached a court seeking divorce on grounds of mental cruelty and desertion. However, the trial court refused to grant divorce on the grounds of cruelty. Feeling aggrieved, he filed an appeal before the Allahabad High Court against the order of the family court which dismissed his divorce plea. A bench of Justice Suneet Kumar and Justice Rajendra Kumar-IV, while granting the husband a decree of divorce, on Thursday said: "Undoubtedly, not allowing a spouse for a long time to have sexual intercourse with his or her partner, without sufficient reason, itself amounts to mental cruelty. Since there is no acceptable view in which a spouse can be compelled to resume life with the consort, nothing is given by trying to keep the parties tied forever to a marriage." Terming the approach taken by the family court "hyper-technical", the bench said: "It is evident from the record that since long, the parties to the marriage have been living separately, according to plaintiff-appellant, defendant-respondent had no respect for marital bond, denied discharging obligation of marital liability. There has been a complete breakdown of their marriage." Paris, May 25 : Mirra Andreeva of Russia completed a 7-6(8), 6-4 victory over Colombian top seed Camila Osorio to reach the first Grand Slam main draw of her career at the French Open, here on Thursday. In her maiden Grand Slam qualifying campaign, the 16-year-old needed just under two hours to complete the win and entered the women's singles event having not dropped a set through three rounds of qualifying. Andreeva was unranked just 14 months ago, but has risen to No.143 after winning two ITF W60 titles and reaching the last 16 in Madrid in the past two months. She is the youngest player in the Top 300, and her 2023 professional record now stands at 20-2. Roland Garros will be her third tour-level main draw. On the other hand, Osorio had also been in fine clay-court form, having reached the third round in Madrid and fourth round in Rome to return to the Top 100. The Colombian has a strong chance of snagging one of the four lucky loser spots in the main draw. Hyderabad, May 25 : The Telangana High Court adjourned, to Friday, the hearing on Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy's anticipatory bail petition in former Andhra Pradesh minister Y.S. Vivekandnda Reddy's murder case. The special vacation bench of the High Court, which took the case towards the end of the working hours, decided to take it up as the first case on Friday. Justice M. Laxman, on behalf of the bench, wanted to know from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) counsel as to how long it would take for him to submit his arguments. The CBI counsel replied it would take about an hour. When the judge wanted to know from lawyers of Avinash Reddy and Vivekananda Reddy's daughter Sunitha Reddy, they submitted that it would depend on the arguments put forth by the other parties. The court then decided to adjourn the hearing to Friday. The Supreme Court had on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the delay on the part of the Telangana High Court in deciding Avinash Reddy's anticipatory bail petition. It directed a vacation bench of the high court to take up the matter on Thursday. Meanwhile, Avinash Reddy, who is a cousin of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, remained at Viswabharati Hospital where his mother was undergoing treatment for a heart ailment. He has already written to the CBI seeking exemption from appearance time till May 27 in view of his mother's condition. The MP had not appeared before the CBI on May 16 and May 19 in Hyderabad. On May 16, he cited prior fixed official engagements in Pulivendula as the reason and sought four days' time. On May 19, he conveyed to the CBI that he would not be able to appear before it as his mother took ill. The MP, who was in Hyderabad, left for his home town Pulivendula in Kadapa district and got his mother admitted to a Kurnool hospital. Since then he has been staying at the hospital. The central agency had issued a fresh notice on May 19, directing him to appear before it at its Hyderabad office on May 22. However, the MP once again expressed his inability to appear due to his mother's poor health. Vivekananda Reddy, brother of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, uncle of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on March 15, 2019, weeks before the elections. Last month, the CBI arrested Avinash Reddy's father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy, a cousin of Rajasekhara Reddy. The agency told the court during the hearing on multiple occasions that Bhaskar Reddy, Avinash Reddy and their follower Devireddy Shiva Shankar Reddy hatched a conspiracy to murder Vivekananda Reddy as he had opposed the Kadapa Lok Sabha ticket to Avinash Reddy. Avinash Reddy has denied the allegations against him and his father and alleged that the CBI ignored several key facts in the case. Bhopal, May 25 : Like a scene straight out of a Bollywood flick, the Madhya Pradesh police chased down tractor-trolleys loaded with illegally mined sand, and arrested the drivers after cordoning off the area in Morena on Thursday. A video of the chase has gone viral on social media. It all started after the sand mafias tried to run away with tractor-trolleys loaded with sand, but the alert cops cornered off the area and managed to nab them after a brief chase. When the sand mafias saw the police, they pushed their accelerator pedals and tried to flee through the narrow lanes of the town. The chase finally ended ended at Vismil Nagar, where one of the tractor-trolleys overturned in a desperate bid to escape. The police promptly cordoned off the area, and seized two tractor-trolleys loaded with illegally mined sand. With assistance from the local police station, the overturned tractor-trolley was restored to its normal position. The arrested drivers have been taken into custody and a case has been filed against them, the police said. The police had got a tip-off regarding illigal sand minding in the area, following which a team was alerted to keep a close watch on any such activity. "A joint operation was carried out to crack down on illigal sand minding in Morena. Around half-a-dozen people have been arrested so far," the police said. New Delhi, May 25 : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted 30 days to cash-strapped airline Go First to submit a restructuring or revival plan, including on fleet, pilots, and maintenance plans. The low-cost airline had stopped flying on May 3 and is undergoing voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The aviation regulator's order came after the airline had submitted their response to the show cause notice issued by the DGCA on May 8. According to the DGCA official, the airline has requested to be allowed to use the moratorium period to prepare a comprehensive restructuring plan for restarting operations. "They will present it to the DGCA for the requisite regulatory approvals before restarting operations," said the official. The DGCA will assess the revival plan after Go First submits it to determine the next best course of action. As for funds to restart operations, Go Airlines CEO Kaushik Khona had earlier told IANS that the company is yet to draw the balance Rs 208 crore of the Rs 1,500 crore sanctioned under the Emergency Line Credit Guarantee Scheme (ELCGS). According to him, the airline needs about Rs 17-18 crore per day for its operations as the trade partners may provide the needed items -- fuel and others -- on cash and carry basis. Khona had also said that the airline will be able to fly again soon with its planes to be up in the air in 7/8 days once the petition is admitted. Panaji, May 25 : The Goa police has arrested two persons who had opened fire on the police while attempting to burgle a house and were involved in gold chain snatching, an official said on Thursday. Three robbers on a motorcycle had attempted to break into a house, robbed one woman and attempted to rob a senior citizen in Goa on Monday. In this connection police teams from Goa had landed in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut and Delhi. Police on Thursday brought both the accused persons to Goa. These arrested individuals have been identified as Anas Ansary (22), and Sajjid Ansary (36), from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Superintendent of Police (South), Abhishek Dhania said: "The arrested accused persons have revealed that their gang has been targeting many places, including Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Uttar Pradesh." Dhania said that these accused persons were also involved in chain snatching incidents that happened in the jurisdiction of Verna police station and Maina Curtorim police station. Goa police based on inputs nabbed both the accused with assistance of UP Police and Delhi Police. "Two more accused persons are currently absconding and different teams are on their trail and combing operations in different states are on to apprehended them," a police officer said. South Korea may consider supplying military aid to Ukraine after monitoring situation 'on ground' presidential adviser The issue of Seoul providing military assistance to Ukraine will be considered after studying the situation "on the ground," National Security Adviser to the President of South Korea Cho Tae-yong said. "We've been providing humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine until now. (...) We plan to consider it [the possibility of providing military assistance] after monitoring the situation on the ground and in light of other situations," Yonhap said, citing Cho Tae-yong. At the same time, as the agency notes, the national security adviser made it clear that at the moment there are no plans to send ammunition to Ukraine either directly or through Poland. President Yoon Suk Yeol met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time last Sunday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, and promised additional assistance, including mine-clearing equipment and ambulances. Bhubaneswar, May 25 : Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra on Thursday strongly criticised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over BJD's decision to take part in the inauguration ceremony of new Parliament building in Delhi. Speaking to media persons, Mishra said the opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration event as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself decided to inaugurate the building to get cheap political mileage. "The new Parliament House should be inaugurated by the first citizen of India, President Droupadi Murmu, so that the prestige of the President will not be harmed, and the mandate of the people will not be ignored," he said. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had described Murmu as his sister and a tribal daughter of the soil during the Presidential election and lobbied for candidature, Mishra said. "Now where is his love for his sister, tribal daughter and Odisha," the Congress leader questioned. "With this decision, Naveen has proved that he will always abide by what Modi desires. I condemn his decision, which is against constitutional practices and Odisha," he said. Reacting to this issue, senior BJD MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy said, "Our Chief Minister's decision is very clear. All our MPs will attend the inauguration of the new Parliament House. We respect the Constitution and democracy. Our Constitution has given a special importance to Parliament. So, we should not play politics, at least on the inaugural day." Further, it is the prerogative of the Lok Sabha Speaker to invite or not. So, all should obey the decision of the Speaker, Satpathy said. The BJD leader accused the Congress of doing politics over a 'non-issue'. He also raised questions over the role of Congress during the Presidential election. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has welcomed the decision of BJD to attend the momentous event. "Not any single party but all had fought for India's Independence. We might have different ideologies and political views. But all who believe in democracy should grace the occasion. I welcome BJD's decision," Pradhan said. New Delhi, May 25 : Delhi's Rohini court on Thursday handed life imprisonment to a serial killer, Ravinder Kumar, who has allegedly killed over 30 minor kids, after he was convicted in one of the cases related to kidnap, sexual assault and killing of a minor. The judge pronounced the order on quantum of sentence in this particular case pertaining to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering a six-year-old. The judge pronounced the order on quantum of sentence after having reserved it on May 20. Targeting kids between 6 and 12 years of age, Kumar allegedly killed over 30 minor kids between 2008 and 2015. He was arrested on July 19, 2015. Ravinder Kumar, who came to the national capital to look for a job at the age of 18, turned into a substance abuser and went out in search of kids every day. While the probe was still on, Ravinder Kumar, a native of Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh, disclosed that he would walk around 40 km in search of kids, and targetted poor kids. The accused, a paedophile and a necrophile, lured kids by offering them chocolates only to kidnap, rape and kill. Begampur police, in 2015, arrested Ravinder Kumar for kidnapping, murdering and sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl. Delhi Police had arrested him from the Sukhbeer Nagar Bus stand in the Rohini area after going through CCTV footage of several cameras. Ravinder Kumar's youngest victim was a two-year-old child, while a 12-year-old was the oldest. Patna, May 25 : A serial killer, who was involved in three back-to-back murders within 10 days, were arrested by police in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, an official said. Muzaffarpur SSP Rakesh Kumar said that the accused committed the crime only for a mobile phone and a few bucks. The accused used to target labourers and night guards using iron rod, wooden hammer and other tools. The accused, identified as Shiv Chand Paswan alias Bholwa, committed the crime between April 30 and May 8 in Kolhua Paigambarpur locality under Ahiyapur police station. The modus operandi of all three murders were same as the accused used to smash wooden hammer or iron rod on the labourers. Despite that, the police were clueless about the motive of crime and identity of the accused. "Since the patterns of all three murders were the same and the person who was injured in the attack was still in hospital, it did not help our investigation. Hence, we have deployed some cops in civil dress in Kolhua Paigambarpur locality and learnt that a woman was selling mobile phones in cheap rates. A number of people purchased the mobile phones and one of them was nabbed by the local police. When we investigated the details of the mobile phone, it appeared that the phone belonged to one of the labourers who was killed a few days ago," Kumar said. "The mobile purchaser revealed the identity of the woman who sold it to him. When we quizzed the woman, she revealed that she used to purchase mobiles from a person named Bholwa. Accordingly, we arrested the accused. When interrogated, he confessed the crime," Kumar said. New Delhi, May 25 : Myntra, one of India's leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle destinations, said on Thursday that it is set to host the 18th edition of its flagship fashion extravaganza 'EORS' (End of Reason Sale) from June 1, with Early Access starting from May 31 for Myntra Insiders, members of its loyalty programme. The fashion carnival will be a mega bonanza for shoppers of fashion, beauty and lifestyle, where millions of users from across metro, tier 1/2 cities and towns and beyond can expect value offers on 2.1 million styles, from 6,000 brands at never-before-seen prices. Myntra's more than 17,000 MENSA network of Kirana Partners will play an important role in enabling the seamless delivery of orders across the country. "We are excited for our upcoming 18th edition of EORS starting June 1, an event that has garnered immense anticipation. EORS, over the years, has evolved into an extraordinary shopping spectacle with thousands of brands offering their selections at the best deals for millions of our customers," said Sharon Pais, Chief Business Officer, Myntra. "It's a great opportunity for the customers to save on fashion and take their fashion quotient a notch higher. Our brand partners are all geared up with their best value offers for our customers, who will be able to win some unparalleled rewards," she added. Moreover, grand opening offers will be valid from 00 hours to 2 a.m. on June 1. To cater demands of millions of customers, they will get delightful offers running every hour. Myntra Showstopper will have the best fashion selection across GenZ trends, global and D2C brands, sneakers, premium, ethnic wear and gadgets. Customers will also be able to enjoy selections from 30 new launches from leading international, domestic and D2C brands at the End of Reason Sale. Customers will find more exciting rewards in the sale like they will get coupons worth Rs 3,000 if they shop for Rs 3,000, plus there will be daily limited-time deals throughout the day for the best value in Deal 'O Clock, Happy hour, jackpot deals and more. Brands on Myntra are excited and have got the ball rolling for the most-awaited fashion carnival and are amping up their capabilities to offer trendy and fresh collections to millions of customers. Further, the bank offers that customers can avail during EORS 18 include -- 10 per cent discount on ICICI and Kotak Bank Offer Callout (Combined Strip). Under ICICI Bank Individual Strip -- users will get a 10 per cent instant discount on ICICI Bank credit and debit cards. Unser Kotak Bank Individual Strip -- users will get a 10 per cent instant discount on Kotak credit and debit cards. Those who use Paytm, they will get assured cashback on Paytm Wallet and Postpaid. Ahead of EORS-18, Myntra has rolled out new features on its app which will elevate the customer shopping experience. The vernacular search feature is set to enable customers to search for their choicest products in 11 different languages, including Hindi. The newly launched MyStylist and MyFashionGPT will help customers discover products easily and with styling their looks. Tools like the product finder and Skin Analyser among many others will play a pivotal role in providing a delightful shopping experience. It will be very exciting for young shoppers who will be able to shop from Myntra's FWD proposition for the first time from leading brands like hersheinbox, bostreet, Sassafrasm Street 9 and TokyoTalkies, among others. Bhopal, May 25 : Around a dozen senior leaders of the Madhya Pradesh Congress unit, including two ex-CMs Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, will attend a meeting scheduled to be held at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Friday. After the Karnataka elections, the AICC is focusing on Madhya Pradesh. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will chair a meeting with the party's senior leaders from the state. Sources in the Congress told IANS that the meeting would be held in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Sources also claimed that during the meeting the central leadership is likely to seek a consensus among the MP party leaders regarding the chief ministerial face for the upcoming assembly elections due later this year. "Obviously, Kamal Nath is an unopposed candidate for chief minister, however, a consensus is likely to be sought to avoid any disagreement within the MP unit," a senior Congress leader in Madhya Pradesh told IANS requesting not to be named. During the meeting, the leadership will review the preparations regarding the upcoming assembly polls, and a detailed discussion will be held especially on a 'vachan patra' (poll promises) prepared by the state party unit. Besides these, the top leadership is also likely to discuss the selection of candidates and how to corner the ruling BJP. "Overall a complete blueprint is likely to be prepared in the meeting. Senior leaders would be assigned specific roles to ensure the party's victory," a Congress leader added. Other senior leaders who will be attending Friday's meeting, as per the sources, are Ajay Singh, Kantilal Bhuria, Govind Singh, Jitu Patwari, Suresh Pachouri and some others. After Karnataka, the Congress central leadership is putting its complete focus on Madhya Pradesh, as the assembly poll results would be crucial for the general elections next year. The party is set to kick-off its poll campaign with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi's mega rally scheduled in Jabalpur on June 12. The MP Congress under the leadership of its president Kamal Nath had ousted the BJP from power in 2018. However, Jyotiraditya Scindia's move to the BJP along with 22 MLAs had then resulted in the end of the Congress government within 15 months. Therefore, the central leadership would also give much thought to avoid such a situation again, if the party wins the elections which are just five months away now. Islamabad, May 25 : Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will soon seek asylum in the United States, Minister of State for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Faisal Karim Kundi, said on Thursday, media reports said. Addressing a press conference, Kundi, an office-bearer of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said: "I am going to give you guys some news that I have received through my sources: Imran Khan will soon apply for political asylum in America," The News reported. Khan's party has been feeling the heat of the state's might after his party workers burnt and smashed military installations, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, following his arrest on May 9 -- a day the army has dubbed as "Black Day", the report said. Several party leaders and thousands of workers have been rounded up in connection with the violent protests and the army has insisted that people involved in the attacks on military installations be tried under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act. A close aide of Khan, Asad Umar, has relinquished his posts of secretary general and core committee member, citing the ongoing situation. Several party leaders and lawmakers - including Shireen Mazari, Aamir Mehmood Kiani, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, among others - have publicly denounced the attacks on the state installations and announced leaving the former ruling party since the May 9 vandalism, The News reported. Bengaluru, May 25 : Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda announced on Thursday that he will be attending the inauguration of newly built Parliament Bhavan in New Delhi. "It is the asset of the nation. This is not personal," he said. Speaking at the introspection meeting of the party at Bengaluru, Deve Gowda maintained, "This is not a personal programme. It is a nation's event. The towering structure has been built with the money of the people of this country." "The building is not the office of BJP or RSS. I will participate in the inauguration programme of Sansad Bhavan as a former Prime Minister and as a citizen of this country," Deve Gowda stated. "I have many reasons to oppose BJP politically. But, I don't want to bring politics in the matter of inauguration of Sansad Bhavan. I have been elected to both the Houses of the parliament. I have rendered my duties in the constitutional framework," Deve Gowda maintained. He further stated that he is a member of the parliament currently and always stood for protecting constitutional values. "I can't bring politics into the matter of the constitution," he said. Many political parties have boycotted the inauguration programme of the Sansad Bhavan. "Many have asked me whether I will be attending the programme as a former Prime Minister. Yes. I want to tell them that I am bound by the constitution. That is why I am going to attend the event," he said. Chennai, May 25 : The Noyyal river, which passes through Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, was in the news for high pollution levels due to the effluents from dyeing units of the Tiruppur garment industry but efforts by environmentalists and local people to prevent the river's death led to effluent treatment plants come up every garment unit. However Noyyal river, which is a tributary of Cauvery, is again in the news after huge quantities of medical waste were seen dumped in the river. Farmers in Tiruppur district are up in arms against the pollution of the river. Talking to IANS, farmer K. Arokyasamy said: "Noyyal river is one of the major sources of water for our farmlands and the river getting polluted by medical waste is creating difficulties for the farmers of the area. The authorities concerned must take immediate action to prevent the river from death." The Noyyal River Farmers Welfare Association is spearheading the agitation against the river's condition. Association leader K.S. Thirunana Sambadam told IANS that Noyyal river was in the news earlier for pollution from textile dying units and after strong agitations, Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CFTP) were installed thus bringing down pollution. Now the river is now facing pollution from dumping of medical waste, he said, adding that waste is being dumped at places like Samalapuram, Somanur and other isolated spots of Tiruppur. Sambadam said that water from streams flowing from the river has turned dark and green due to pollution from medical waste and large quantities of used syringes and other medical wastes were found floating in the river at many spots. The farmers allege that some private hospitals are behind this and want authorities to probe whether medical waste from Kerala is also being dumped into the river. A few months ago, farmers in Tamil Nadu's Theni had complained of medical waste from southern Kerala being dumped into vacant farmland there creating a major uproar. Syringes and other medical waste were found in Mangalam and Andipalayam ponds with expired medicines and used injection vials also found in the water. The Tirruppur district administration told IANS that strict action is being taken against dumping of medical waste in Noyyal river and the pollution control board is checking the quality of water. Kolkata, May 25 : Megastar Mithun Chakraborty will be in Kolkata on June 2 to attend a programme of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of RSS, as the chief guest. The programme will also be attended by ABVP's national General Secretary Yagyawalka Shukla. Meanwhile, political observers have expressed surprise at the sudden spurt in activities of ABVP in West Bengal, which otherwise does not have much of a reach among the student communities in the state. Questions are also being raised on making Chakraborty the chief guest instead of any RSS ideologue. Political observers are of the opinion that this is probably an attempt to exploit Chakraborty's appeal among the masses in West Bengal before the forthcoming panchayat elections scheduled this year. Taking a dig at the event, Trinamool spokesman Kunal Ghosh said, "Mithun Chakraborty will not be able to spell out the full form of ABVP. Someone probably will have to write it down on a piece of paper for him. The organisation has no base. It can never attract the masses. That is why it is trying to entertain people by inviting a film actor. I will request RSS to inquire whether Mithun Chakraborty consumes beef, and then decide if he should be allowed to address the event," . Chakraborty is a former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member. However, he distanced himself from the party after the Saradha chit fund scam surfaced, in which his name also got entangled because of his appearance on the television channels owned by the chit fund entity. He also returned an amount of Rs 1.19 crore to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which he received as appearance fee from the television channels. The popular actor joined the BJP before the 2021 Assembly polls, when he also actively campaigned for the party. London, May 25 : A car crashed into the gates outside Downing Street, which houses the London residences and offices of the UK Prime Minister (No. 10) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer (No. 11), on Thursday, and its driver has been arrested, the police said. "At around 16:20 hrs (local time), a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving," the City of Westminster Police said in a tweet. The suspect, who is yet to be identified, was driving a silver hatchback. The police said that there are no reports of any injuries, and inquiries are ongoing. As per reports, Whitehall - the main road running past Downing Street - has been closed by the police as a precautionary measure. First stage of training Ukrainian pilots for F-16 to be held in UK The UK will be the first to begin basic training for Ukrainian pilots to fly Western aircraft, in particular U.S. F-16s, Foreign Policy magazine said, citing a British government official. "This will be ground-based basic training of Ukrainian pilots who will then be ready for more specific F-16 (or other) training," he said, noting that about 20 Ukrainians will go through it. The Netherlands is ready to join the process of training Ukrainian pilots. Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said on Wednesday in a letter to parliament that the military is ready to start training Ukrainian pilots as soon as possible. Norway also announced its readiness to participate in this process, the newspaper writes. The U.S. Department of Defense Press Secretary Pat Ryder confirmed the day before that the United States would also take part in the training of Ukrainian pilots, but on the territory of European countries. He said "when this training will begin, how the aircraft will be delivered, who will provide them we continue to work with our international partners on these issues." Training could begin in the next few weeks or months, he said. London, May 25 : Canadian and US researchers have - with the help of artificial intelligence - discovered a new antibiotic that kills a deadly species of "superbug" which can infect wounds and cause pneumonia, media reports said. 'Acinetobacter baumannii' is one of the three superbugs the World Health Organisation has identified as a "critical" threat, as the bacteria can withstand multiple antibiotics and survives on surfaces and medical equipment. Infections caused by superbugs or antibiotic resistant infections kill more than a million people a year. Dr Jonathan Stokes, from Canada's McMaster University, described this bug as "public enemy number one" as it's "really common" to find cases where it is "resistant to nearly every antibiotic", the BBC reported. Scientists used AI to narrow down thousands of potential chemicals to a handful that could be tested in the laboratory and zeroed in on a potent, experimental antibiotic called abaucin. However, it will need further tests before being used, with the researchers saying that the process could take up to 2030. Researchers first had to "train" the AI, taking thousands of drugs where the precise chemical structure was known, and manually tested them on Acinetobacter baumannii to see which could slow it down or kill it. This information was fed into the AI so it could learn the chemical features of drugs that could attack the problematic bacterium, the BBC reported. The AI was then unleashed on a list of 6,680 compounds whose effectiveness was unknown. The results - published in Nature Chemical Biology - showed it took the AI an hour and a half to produce a shortlist. The researchers tested 240 in the laboratory, and found nine potential antibiotics. One of them was the incredibly potent abaucin, with laboratory experiments showed it could treat infected wounds in mice and was able to kill the bacteria samples from patients. More significantly, abaucin only killed A. baumannii and had no effect on other species of bacteria, unlike many antibiotics that kill bacteria indiscriminately. Researchers believe the precision of abaucin will make it harder for drug-resistance to emerge, and could lead to fewer side-effects. However, the drug has to be further tested in the laboratory and then in clinical trials. Researchers expects the first AI antibiotics could take until 2030 until they are available to be prescribed. In principle, AI could screen tens of millions of potential compounds - something that would be impractical to do manually, the BBC reported, The researchers tested the principles of AI-aided antibiotic discovery in E. coli in 2020, but have now used that knowledge to focus on the big superbugs. They plan to look at Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa next. "This finding further supports the premise that AI can significantly accelerate and expand our search for novel antibiotics," said Prof James Collins, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. New Delhi, May 25 : The Congress on Thursday once again targeted the BJP government at the Centre for not inviting then President Ram Nath Kovind for laying the foundation for the new Parliament House, while now his successor Droupadi Murmu has not been invited to inaugurate the new building on May 28. The party said that Adivasi Congress will stage protests across the country on Friday for not getting Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament House. Sharing the statements of the All India Adivasi Congress, the party's General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Then President Ram Nath Kovind was not invited to the foundation laying ceremony for the new Parliament in December 2020, and now the current President Droupadi Murmu is not allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament building. "The Adivasi Congress underlines in its statement issued today that under Prime Minister Modi, 'the Constitutional rights of Adivasis and Dalits are not secure even after being in the highest Constitutional position'. It also highlights how the Modi government has systematically undercut forest and environmental laws to the detriment of the tribal communities." He also shared the statement of Adivasi Congress which said that "the new Parliament building is going to be inaugurated on May 28 and the tribal communities across India are in a rage due to the autocratic decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate it himself, converting this historical moment into yet another PR stunt for his political promotion". "The Prime Minister is completely sidelining India's first woman tribal President. This is not just a direct insult to India's democracy, but also to the entire tribal community in India," Shivajirao Moghe, Chairman of All India Adivasi Congress, said. Moghe said that the Parliament is the supreme legislative authority, and the President of India is the highest Constitutional authority. He added that the President is the head of the state, who summons, prorogues, and addresses the Parliament. "But under BJP's rule, the office of the President of India has been reduced to mere tokenism. We want to remind the nation that it was the Prime Minister who, during the foundation laying ceremony in December 2020, did not invite then President Kovind. This exposes the mentality of the current BJP regime," he said. "Is this the welfare of tribals and Dalits that the Prime Minister talks about? The constitutional rights of the tribals and Dalits are not secure even after being in the highest constitutional position during the tenure of Modi as the Prime Minister," Moghe said. Hitting out at the government, he added, "Most BJP-governed states are not following the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Rules and the regulations established in 1996. The PESA Act has been diluted in various states governed by the BJP. The BJP has also weakened the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, brought by the Congress government to secure the rights of the tribals and other forest dwellers." "Hence, on behalf of the tribal communities across India, the All India Adivasi Congress will organise protests across the country on May 26 to hold the Centre accountable for its unconstitutional actions," Moghe said. Bengaluru, May 25 : Congress legislator and Karnataka cabinet minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday criticised BJP's IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya after the latter wondered if the INC President's son was the "Super CM". "Is Priyank Kharge Super CM of Karnataka? Or being Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's son gives him a bloated head to speak over CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar?" Malviya had questioned Kharge over his remarks on banning the RSS and the Bajrang Dal in Karnataka. "Instead of unleashing ministers without portfolios to make such vacuous comments, the Congress should focus on delivering on its five guarantees. People are getting restless, already defying the newly elected government and are ready to hit the streets in case they go back on their promises," Malviya said. In turn, Kharge suggested Malviya "first win a gram panchayat election" before passing any remark on him. "Bhai Amit Malviya fails history again. Super CM was introduced during the tenure of BSY. (former Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa). If you really want to speak about dynastic politics, show the courage to ask Amit Shah ji, Rajnath Singh Ji, Piyush Goyal Ji, Anurag Ji, etc and then swing by to speak to me. "Unlike you (Amit Malviya), I am an elected public representative and a minister in the government of Karnataka. I am well within my rights to speak. How many elections have you won to speak about everything under the sun? Win a gram panchayat election first and then show me this attitude," he added. Priyank Kharge reiterated on Thursday that his party is ready to impose a ban on Bajrang Dal. Earlier, he had said: "We will not hesitate to ban organisations which indulge in moral policing. It might be RSS or Bajrang Dal or any other communal organisation." Priyank Kharge had also said: "We will change the laws brought by the BJP government. If any individual or organisation threatens peace and acts against the Constitution, the government has the capacity to initiate proper action against them." Guwahati, May 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that the incidents of violence have reduced in the last nine years after the BJP came to power at the Centre. He alleged that during the previous government's rule, violence and extremism were rampant, but in the previous nine years, there has been a decrease of 67 per cent in the incidents of violence, 60 per cent in the death of security forces, and 83 per cent in the death of civilians. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam is moving forward on the path of development and peace. Earlier, there was chaos and absence of any system in Assam but now, the work of putting proper systems in place was earlier being done by Sarbananda Sonowal and now the same being continued by Himanta Biswa Sarma," Shah said at a function in Guwahati. He further said that many development work has been done in Assam. The government has made efforts to preserve and promote the language and culture of Assam, he said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself participated in the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Lachit Borphukan, recently the youth of Assam created a world record for the traditional Bihu dance," Shah said adding that the 'double-engine' government of BJP at the state and Centre is making Assam the medical capital of the northeast. He further stated that the fiscal position of Assam has improved, and the state's GSDP has increased from Rs 4 lakh crore in 2021-22 to Rs 5.50 lakh crore in 2023-24. "Industries are growing in the state, investment is coming under the industrial policy and Assam is on the path of development. The Central government is making every effort to make Assam flood free in the next 5 years," the Union Home Minister added. New Delhi, May 25 : In wake of the murder of top gangster Tillu Tajpuriya, who was stabbed over 90 times by assailants inside the Tihar Jail premises, the Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned jail authorities on lack of steps to prevent the crime in time. The incident was captured in the CCTV cameras installed inside the jail. The disturbing footage had sparked significant concerns about the level of security within the Tihar Jail and the apparent lack of action on the part of officials to curb violence. Tajpuriya, a resident of Tajpur Kalan on the outskirts of Delhi, was lodged in Tihar Jail under tight security measures on the ground floor of Jail number 8. A bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh, hearing a plea by Tajpuriya's father and brother seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the murder and also protection to them, asked Additional Standing Counsel Rahul Tyagi representing the state: "What bothers me is that it is being watched on CCTV cameras. How can the police take so much time that it can't be stopped while the incident is taking place?" As Justice Singh asked if the policemen inside the jail can be armed to ensure safety of the prisoners, Tyagi said: "The rationale is that there are about 20,000 inmates housed in the jail. It is against the jail manual to carry any arms inside jail premises. Now we are making a QRT, we are going to arm them. We have to take it. I know this is a brutal incident but our reaction should not be immediate. Let's take a cool and calculative decision... Hard cases make bad laws. It should not get into a knee jerk reaction." However, Justice Singh said: "This is not acceptable. It is not about knee jerk reaction... The reaction has to commensurate with the offence, no? Is it commensurate with the offence?" Tyagi then gave the court the assurance that all of the prisoners involved in the murder had been apprehended and that any other people present outside the jail would also face the same consequences. "The surveillance area is 600 metres away from jail. So every time the person will have to go from surveillance area to the jail which is 600 metres away," he replied as the court asked if the policemen have walkie-talkies. "Why do we have to wait for an incident to happen and then we say that hard cases make bad laws and knee-jerk reactions? How is it fair? Think about it from a rational person's point of view. You have prison which is 600 metres away from the surveillance. The idea of surveillance is to see movement of prisoners. The moment an incident is taking place, at best, the officer will run (towards the jail). He does not have a walkie talkie. It is unacceptable. Something that you've to find out," Justice Singh said. Tyagi stated that steps are being taken by the authorities to immediately alter the correctional system. At this, the court said: "We should not have to wait for an incident to evoke a response. Look at the recovery that you made from surprise checks. Does it not show the potential of such incidents?" "It shakes my judicial conscience," Justice Singh responded when Tyagi apprised the court that the inmates made the knives that were found on them using only things found inside the jail, such as fans, and nothing was from the outside. In the previous hearing on May 8, the court had said: "This is totally an unacceptable state of affairs. The security of every prisoner is on the respondent and it (court) is unable to comprehend if the entire incident was captured in CCTV installed in jail, why no steps were taken when the incident was happening." Tajpuriya was an accused in the 2021 Rohini court shootout in which rival gangster Jitender Gogi was killed. Guwahati, May 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday took a jibe at the opposition parties for their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament House by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, terming their stand on this issue as an insult to people's mandate. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to dedicate the newly-constructed Parliament building to the nation on May 28, but the opposition is playing petty politics by boycotting the event," Shah said here. He claimed that the people of the entire country wanted that a new temple of democracy is built for the creation of a 'New India', where discussions and deliberations on making democracy stronger should take place. "The petty politics by the opposition parties is an insult to the people's mandate, who made Narendra Modi the Prime Minister twice with full majority," Shah stated. The Home Minister earlier distributed appointment letters to 44,703 candidates who have secured government jobs in various departments. Shah claimed that earlier, the youth of Assam used to have weapons in their hands while there were shutdowns and curfews for months, but Narendra Modi has heralded a new era of development in the state. "There were many hurdles in making government recruitments. There were rules under which recruitment could not be done with transparency, there was no board for recruitment," he claimed, adding, "But Narendra Modi has arranged for the children of the poor to get jobs, while the earlier governments gave jobs only to their own people. Now systems have been put in place so that the talented youth from any region, caste or class can get government jobs." He added, "Providing government jobs to the youth on the basis of merit marks the end of nepotism. The Prime Minister has started a new and transparent system in which deserving people are getting jobs." In the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma had promised that if the BJP returns to power in the state, one lakh youth will be given government jobs. Shah said, "The Assam government has given government jobs to about 86,000 youth in two years, and by giving 14,000 more jobs in the next few months, it will fulfil its promise of providing one lakh government jobs." Bhopal, May 25 : The death of six cheetahs, including three newborn cubs, within a period of two and half months at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP) has prompted the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to form a high-level screening committee for the Centre's ambitious 'Project Cheetah'. The NTCA - the nodal agency of the project - on Thursday formed a screening committee comprising of 11 members, headed by Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Secretary General of Global Tiger Forum and R. N. Mehrotra, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest of Rajasthan. The other nine members in the screening committee include P.R. Sinha, former Director of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), H.S. Negi, former APCCF, Wildlife, and P.K Malik, former facility of the WII. Negi and Malik are also the members of the NTCA. G.S Rawat, former Dean of the WII, Mittal Patel, an Ahmedabad-based social worker, Qamar Qureshi, WII scientist and Inspector General of NTCA, Shubhoranjan Sen a wildlife expert and the MP's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife, and Chief Wildlife Warden are the other members. The committee, tasked to review the progress of cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa, will "be in-force for a period of two years and will hold at least one meeting every month, besides taking field visits as and when required. The committee will also take decision on opening cheetah habitat for ecotourism and will suggest regulations in this regard. The Committee will also empowered to invite wildlife experts for consultation," the NTCA said in a notification issued hours after two more cubs of Namibian cheetah Jwala died on Thursday. Four cheetah cubs were born in India to the translocated wild cats after a gap of seven decades, after the fastest moving animal on earth was officially declared extinct in the country, but three have died now while the health of remaining one has also deteriorated. According to the MP Forest Department sources, the day (May 23) the youngest and weakest among the four siblings died, was the hottest day of this summer season, when the maximum temperature was recorded in the range of 46-47 degree Celsius. A team which was continuously monitoring Namibian female Siyaya/Jwala (which was on supplement food during day time) and three surviving cubs, found that the condition of the three cubs wasn't normal. The three cubs were rescued and put under dedicated treatment of vets, but despite all efforts two of the three surviving cubs couldn't be saved. "The lone surviving cub too is stated critical and under round-the-clock intensive medical care at the park's hospital, where its condition is being stabilised. While the only surviving cub is being treated by vets at KNP hospital in consultation with Namibian and South African experts, its mother cheetah is stated to be healthy, but is under continuous monitoring," a Forest Department statement said. The cheetah cubs, which were around eight weeks old, were weak and also dehydrated (perhaps due to extreme heat wave conditions). The mother cheetah, which was a hand reared cheetah from Namibia, had conceived for the first time. The cubs had started walking with their mother since the last 8-10 days only. On March 27, adult female Namibian cheetah Sasha had succumbed to severe renal infections, on April 23, male South African cheetah Uday died due to cardiopulmonary failure, and 16 days later, South African female cheetah Daksha died reportedly due to injuries sustained during violent mating by male coalition Vayu and Agni. Eventually, the present cheetah count at the KNP now stands at 18, including one cub, which battles for life at the hospital. Out of 17 adults, seven are Namibians and 10 South African. As part of the Narendra Modi government's ambitious project of reintroducing cheetahs in Indian wilds, seven decades after they went officially extinct in the same land due to rampant hunting, the first set of 8 Namibian cheetahs were flown from Namibia to India on the PM's 72nd birthday on September 17, 2022. The same day, the PM released them at KNP in MP's Sheopur district. Five months later, on February 18, 12 South African cheetahs were released into the KNP. Bengaluru, May 25 : A Hindu youth on Thursday was thrashed in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur by a group of Muslim men after he was spotted having snacks at a food outlet with a Muslim woman who was also attacked and threatened "for visiting the eatery with a Hindu man", the police said. Police said the youth and the woman visited 'Gopika Chaats' in Chikkaballapur. The woman was clad in burka and hijab. The accused noticed them and learnt that the man accompanying her was Hindu. They then called the Hindu youth and attacked him. The Muslim woman came to his rescue, and told the attackers that she knew him "very well", and questioned their behaviour. However, the Muslim men told her that "it was wrong on her part to visit the hotel with a Hindu youth, and she should apologise for her mistake". The police have got the video of the incident, and launched a hunt to nab the accused persons. Paris, May 25 : Former top 10 star Lucas Pouille will make his return to Grand Slam main draw action after he successfully qualified for the French Open. The Frenchman, currently No. 670 in the ATP Rankings, rallied past Austrian Jurij Rodionov 1-6, 7-5, 6-0 on Thursday to earn his place in the main draw. It is the first time Pouille has won three consecutive matches at any level since September 2021. The 29-year-old thrilled his home fans with a nearly flawless third set in which he broke his opponent's serve three times and did not face a breakpoint himself. Two Next Gen ATP players also advanced to the main draw. Nineteen-year-old Hamad Medjedovic rallied past Jesper De Jong 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 to qualify for a major on his first attempt. All three of his wins in qualifying came in three sets. Eighteen-year-old Shang Juncheng defeated Renzo Olivo 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to improve to two-for-two in Grand Slam qualifying. Earlier this year, the Chinese teen earned his way into the Australian Open main draw and defeated Oscar Otte in the first round. In other action, Andrea Vavassori defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 6-4. The 28-year-old did not lose a set in qualifying. The Italian upset former World No. 1 Andy Murray in Madrid. Moldovan Radu Albot eliminated Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-1 to earn his seventh main draw appearance at Roland Garros. Pedro Martinez, who reached a career-high World No. 40 last May, battled past Facundo Bagnis 2-6, 7-5, 6-0. The Spaniard will compete in the tournament's main draw for the fifth consecutive year. Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante ousted Swiss Dominic Stricker 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 to qualify for the main draw at a major for the first time. Italian Giulio Zeppieri ousted Frederico Ferreira Silva 6-4, 6-1 to qualify for Roland Garros for the second consecutive year. SL has no security arrangements with China nor intend to enter any security deal Image Source: IANS News SL has no security arrangements with China nor intend to enter any security deal Image Source: IANS News Colombo, May 25 : Welcoming Japan's cooperative approach to have peace in the Asian region and dialogue between all nations, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said that Japan, China, India, and ASEAN, should commence an open-ended dialogue amongst themselves and thereafter with the other Asian countries as a first step in establishing a new framework for Peace and Cooperation in Asia. In his address at the "Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia" held in Tokyo, he stressed on Asia's significance as the world's largest economic zone, home to 60 per cent of the global population, and a major contributor to global growth. As per the full speech shared by the President's Media Division (PMD) in Colombo, Wickremesinghe highlighted Asia's potential for continued growth, despite setbacks on the global stage. "China's recovery, together with a healthy domestic demand in India, will be the main supports of growth for the region. Asia also has the advanced economies of Japan and South Korea contributing to the region's development, through foreign investments and technology transfers," he said. Referring to the US-China rivalry in the Asian region, Wickremsinghe emphasised that Asian countries do not wish to be forced to manage competing pressure from both parties. "... the pressure on Asian countries to choose between the US and China is being resisted by many. "We in Asia don't want to choose between US and China. Many of us cannot make that choice because we have already made our choice, and that choice is Asia. We want an Asia that can accommodate the Indo-Pacific, the BRI, as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," he contended. However, Wickremesinghe, who took over the country after political and economic turmoil in 2022, said though a member of China's BRI initiative, Sri Lanka has no security arrangements with China nor they intend to enter into any security agreement with China. "Asia has become the crux of US-China rivalry. The intensification of that rivalry in recent times has brought about the QUAD (between the USA, India, Australia, and Japan) and the Indo-Pacific on one hand and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the other." Highlighting the importance of Asia, Wickremmeinghe said that not only has Asia become the global economic powerhouse but has become the most dynamic region. "Claiming nearly 30 per cent of the Earth's land mass, Asia is home to 4.75 billion people, which is about 60 per cent of the world's population. The region is now the world's largest economy," he stated. Highlighting the impact on climate change specially on the Asian region, the Srin Lankan President advocated that Asia should agree on a common timeline for achieving carbon neutrality, based on the shorter period upheld by some of the industrialised countries in the region. "This is possible if an agreement is reached amongst China, India, Japan, Korea and Indonesia," he said. "By mid-century, rising waters will impact nearly a billion people in the Asia-Pacific region. It is regrettable that as many as eight of the fifteen countries affected by climate change are from Asia: Maldives, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam. "Ironically, the region is also a key cause of the climate change crisis. We produce about half of the world's carbon emissions and have 5 of the largest greenhouse gas emitting countries. One cannot emphasise the urgency for policies and actions to curb emissions on the part of these countries. A single Asian voice devoid of disharmony needs to be present at COP 28. The success of this conference will depend on the ability of the key Asian nations to come to an agreement," Wickremesinghe warned. The Russian Federation does not allow 28 ships to enter the port of Pivdenny (Odesa region) in violation of the obligations of the Russian side under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink has said. "After repeated threats to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia now refuses to allow any of the waiting 28 ships into Pivdenny, one of the three ports designated by the agreement for food exports a clear violation of their commitment. Russia must stop obstructing the operations of this life-saving initiative," Brink said on Twitter on Thursday. New Delhi, May 26 : At least 20 to 24 new ministers are now scheduled to be inducted in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka on Saturday, party sources said on Thursday. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had met party General Secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala to discuss the cabinet expansion on Thursday. The meeting of the four leaders lasted for over five hours in three sessions where the names of several MLAs for ministerial posts were discussed, the source said. The source said that 20 to 24 more ministers will take oath on Saturday around 11.30 a.m. However, senior leaders remained tight-lipped on the development. The party source said that names of 20 to 24 probables were discussed and sent to party chief Mallikarjuna Kharge for taking a final call. The source said that before leaving for Bengaluru, both the leaders will also meet former party chief Rahul Gandhi. Along with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who took oath on last Saturday in Bengaluru in presence of top party leaders and several prominent opposition leaders, eight more ministers -- G. Parmeshwara, K.H. Muniyappa, K.J. George, M.B. Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyanka Kharge, Ramalimga Reddy and B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan -- had taken oath. However, none of them have been allocated any portfolio yet. The slurce said that the Congress will have to bring balance in the cabinet allocation as it needs to balance of demands of different communities in the cabinet. The politically crucial Lingayat community, who voted in the favour of the party have claimed for the CM post, but in absence of a CM from the community, it is speculated that a chunk of ministerial berths will go to Lingayat MLAs. The source said that most of the ministers are to be from the Siddamaraiah camp whereas Shivakumar will get at least three to four portfolios with two prominent departments. The party source said that Krishna Byre Gowda, Laxman Savadi, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Saleem Ahmed, Santosh Lad, Dinesh Gundu Rao, HK Patil, Eshwar Khandre, Tanveer Seth, Dr H.C.Mahadevappa, BK Reddy and BK Hariprasad are among the probable ministers in the list. New Delhi, May 26 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to leave for the US on May 28, will hold a chat programme in California and a talk programme at the Stanford Graduate School of Business on May 31, a party source said. The source, while sharing the details of Gandhi's US trip, said that the Congress leader will participate in a programme titled 'AI and Human Development: A chat with Rahul Gandhi' at 10 a.m. on May 31 and another chat programme titled 'The New Global Equilibrium: Talk by Rahul Gandhi' at 5 p.m. on the same day. The 'AI and Human Development' programme is organised at Sunnyvale in California in which several technocrats and scientists will hold a freewheeling discussion with the Congress leader on future technologies. The second chat programme will be organised at the CEMEX Auditorium in Stanford Graduate School of Business. The Congress leader will also attend a 'Mohabbat Ki Dukan' programme in California on May 30. During his five-month and 3,900 km long 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, Gandhi was seen saying "Nafarat ke bazar me, Mohabbat ki dukan khol raha hu" (In the market of hatred, I am opening a shop of love) to connect with the masses. According to the source, Gandhi will also participate in an NRI meet in San Francisco. The source said that Gandhi will also address an NRI's meet in New York on June 4. Earlier this year, the Congress leader had visited the UK and participated in several programmes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the US in June. 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. Earlier on Wednesday, former Union Minister and BJP veteran Subramanian Swamy opposed Gandhi's application before a Delhi court seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in order to get a fresh "ordinary passport". Gandhi on Tuesday moved the court seeking an NOC in order to get a fresh "ordinary passport" after he surrendered his diplomatic travel document upon his disqualification as an MP. The court has posted the matter for hearing next on May 26. United Nations, May 26 : Three Indian peacekeepers who died in the service of the UN have been honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal amid calls for better protection for personnel in its missions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres handed over the awards to India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj at a ceremony in the General Assembly chamber on Thursday. Border Security Force Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Samwala Ram Vishnoi were killed in July 2022 while with the peacekeeping operation known by its French initials as MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A civilian, Shabir Tahir Ali, died while serving with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq. "We will never forget their contributions", Guterres said. "Today, for civilians caught in the hell of conflict, our Blue Helmets are a beacon of hope and protection," he said. "They represent the beating heart of the United Nations' commitment to peace," he said. Before the ceremony, Kamboj said in a video message, "The medal is the highest honour awarded to UN peacekeepers who have distinguished themselves by exceptional courage, devotion to duty and sacrifice in the cause of peace." Recalling India's role as the country that has historically sent the most number of peacekeepers to UN operations - over 275,000 to 51 missions - she said, "Sadly this has also entailed the supreme sacrifice in the finest traditions of the profession of the arms." Reflecting on the dangers peacekeepers face in Guterres said, "I commit to doing everything we can to support our peacekeepers in their mission, including improving their safety and security and the effectiveness of peacekeeping through the Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+) strategy." Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who heads the UN peacekeeping operations, said, "One area which is critically important to us is accountability for crimes committed against peacekeepers." "India took the lead in promoting progress on the issue and I believe that it's very important to make sure that there will be accountability for these crimes," he said at a news conference. In December last year, India launched the Group of Friends to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers with Bangladesh, Egypt, France, Morocco and Nepal as co-chairs. The group advocates for bringing to justice those committing crimes against peacekeepers. External Affairs Minister, who inaugurated the group, said that as a part of the initiative a database of crimes against peacekeepers will be created. After the killing of the two Indian peacekeepers in the DRC, the Security Council reiterated that attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, "Peacekeepers today are facing unprecedented threats, including direct attacks and the malicious spread of disinformation targeted to disrupt their missions." She said that the US was committed to "ensuring UN peacekeepers have what they need to be safe, secure, and successful in carrying out their missions". The two BSF personnel were stationed at a camp of the Moroccan Rapid Deployment Force in Butembo in Eastern DRC. During a protest outside the base, "violent attackers snatched weapons from Congolese police and fired upon our uniformed personnel", according to a UN spokesperson. A Moroccan peacekeeper was also killed and several were injured in the attack. Thirty-two Indian peacekeepers have been killed while serving in UN peacekeeping missions in the DRC. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) Patna, May 26 : Railway Police of Patna have busted an interstate human trafficking gang with the arrest of two persons, an official has said. The incident came to light after a woman who was holding a three-year-old child, raised the alarm after seeing a police team at platform number 4 and 5 of Patna Junction railway station on Wednesday. The police team, headed by anti-trafficking cell incharge DSP (headquarter), immediately swung into action and reached to the woman. Till that time, two persons who were standing around her tried to flee from the spot. "Our team immediately nabbed those two persons and rescued the woman. When she was quizzed, the victim revealed her ordeal before the railway police," said Amritendu Shekher, SP of Railway Police Patna zone. "In her confession, she said that she had a family dispute with her mother-in-law in Jamui. She came to Patna Junction with her three-year-old kid. She was spotted by two persons Rajesh Kumar and Dipak Kumar at the railway station. They lured her and took her to Rajgir. The accused kept her in a hotel room and called their handlers from Madhya Pradesh. Two persons of the racket Karu Lal Dhagar and Rajendra Patidar came to the hotel and the former forcibly married her inside the room. Dhagar also put vermilion on her head," the official said. "After the marriage, they brought the woman to Patna again to catch a train on Wednesday and we have arrested them," he said. During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were part of a human trafficking gang who forcibly do marriages with women or girls and sell them to other cities of the country. In this case, they have paid Rs 2.27 lakh to Dipak and Rajesh. We are making efforts to nab those two. Dhagar is already a married man," Shekher said. At Bud, we pride ourselves on our diligence and results-driven approach. We are excited to reach a broader base of customers with accessibility and ease through Google Cloud Marketplace. Bud Financial Limited (Bud) is now available in the Google Cloud partner directory. Buds presence allows companies to work with the data-intelligence fintech as part of their annual spend, unlocking the benefits of a single commitment to Google Cloud. It also enables current and future clients to launch engagements with cash flow, AI-powered lending solutions with speed, since they do not require additional budget approvals. At Bud, we pride ourselves on our diligence and results-driven approach, said Edward Maslaveckas, CEO of Bud. We are excited to reach a broader base of customers with accessibility and ease through Google Cloud Marketplace. Buds platform will provide Marketplace users with end-to-end solutions, enriching financial data to meet key financial outcomes so they can better understand their customers, optimize lending and underwriting, monitor their loan portfolios and personalize every customer touch point. Buds partnership with Google Cloud enables the company to scale secure banking technology, said Toby Brown, Managing Director, Global Banking Solutions, Google Cloud. Working with Bud means bringing innovative financial solutions to the forefront that harness the power of open banking and AI to help FSIs better understand and engage with their customers. The world is talking about the power of AI, and Bud is the fintech company to help them solve their greatest data challenges. Being live on Google Cloud Marketplace is an incredible honor, and were so very grateful to embark on this journey, says Kyle Ray, EVP of North America. Bud is one of 72 fintech companies in the Google Cloud partner directory. The directory is available in all of Buds markets: the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. About Bud Bud makes financial decisions simple by turning transactional data into rich customer insights. Our Transaction AI enables lenders to gain an accurate picture of a borrower's income, expenditure and creditworthiness in real-time. Enabling faster, more informed decisions that fuel profitability. With over 2.5 billion transactions enriched, Bud's AI is constantly optimizing to serve lenders and their customers, improving financial well-being and expanding access to credit. To date, Bud has raised over $100 million from world-class investors like HSBC, Goldman Sachs, and TransUnion. Learn more: thisisbud.com.. Consumer tastes and expectations change rapidly, so retailers need to stay at the forefront of trends. By adopting new, innovative technologies, they are able to adapt quickly and anticipate customer needs Focal Systems has been named Overall Store Management Solution Provider of the Year in the inaugural RetailTech Breakthrough 2023 awards program, which honors excellence in retail technology companies, services, and solutions around the world. The award winners highlight key disruptions in retail that are enabling consumers to make more informed choices and to shop anywhere anytime, improving segmentation and pricing, enhancing convenience, and improving customer journeys after purchase through digital transformation. Consumer tastes and expectations change rapidly, so retailers need to stay at the forefront of trends. By adopting new, innovative technologies, they are able to adapt quickly and anticipate customer needs, said Francois Chaubard, CEO and founder of Focal Systems. We are honored to be recognized for our invention of the Self-Driving Store which enables retailers to provide customers with fuller shelves of the products they actually want and retail workers to find any product in the entire store instantly, drastically improving the online ordering experience. Focals Self-Driving Store'' Operating System leverages shelf cameras and AI to digitize shelves and then automate all decision-making in the store: from merchandising, ordering, and pricing, to staffing, task and labor management, e-commerce platform management, and much more. With this optimization, the biggest retailers in the world are able to eliminate e-commerce substitutions completely, increase the availability of products, improve employee morale, and reduce food waste, leading to greater overall sales and profits. This years RetailTech Breakthrough awards program attracted more than 1,200 nominations from over 12 different countries. Winners were selected based on a variety of criteria by a panel of industry experts who represent a mix of technical, business, and investor expertise. Focal Systems was also recently named to Fast Companys Worlds Most Innovative Companies for 2023 list. To learn more about how the company is transforming retail, visit https://focal.systems/. About Focal Systems: Founded in 2015 in San Francisco out of Stanfords Computer Vision Lab, Focal Systems is the industry leader in retail automation. Our mission is to automate and optimize brick and mortar retail with state-of-the-art deep learning and AI. We have pioneered the worlds first Self-Driving Store- an OS that revolutionizes how stores are run. Focal has raised more than $40M to date and scaled solutions on three continents in hundreds of stores, with over 100,000 cameras deployed. Learn more at: https://focal.systems. About RetailTech Breakthrough Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program is the premier awards and recognition platform devoted to honoring excellence in retail technology companies, services and solutions around the world. The RetailTech Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of retail technology companies and products in categories that include store management, digital displays, checkout automation, workforce tools, smart dressing rooms and more. For more information visit https://retailtechbreakthrough.com/. Cybersecurity is a crucial aspect of the autonomous future, and I look forward to discussing how we can work together to create safer, more resilient systems. Mangan Cybersecurity, a leading provider of Industrial and Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity in the United States, announced today that its Chief Technology Officer, Luc Papillon, will be a featured presenter at the upcoming HxGN LIVE Global 2023 conference. The event, which focuses on digital reality technology and the autonomous future, will take place in Las Vegas from June 12th to June 15th and Mangan Inc will be exhibiting at booth # 200-08. Luc Papillon, a renowned expert in the field of cybersecurity, will share his insights and expertise with an international audience of industry professionals during the conference. As a key figure in the development and implementation of cybersecurity strategies for critical infrastructure and industrial control systems, Papillons presentation will focus on the five pillars that make up business-driven objectives in OT Cybersecurity. I am honored to have been invited to speak at this prestigious event and share my knowledge with the global technology leaders in attendance. Cybersecurity is a crucial aspect of the autonomous future, and I look forward to discussing how we can work together to create safer, more resilient systems, expressed Papillon for the opportunity to present at HxGN LIVE Global 2023 conference. With the rapid pace of digital transformation and the growing interaction between IT and OT systems, securing critical infrastructure from cyber threats has become more important than ever. Mangan Cybersecuritys mission-critical analysis, preparation, and mitigation services ensure that organizations can safely and effectively navigate the increasingly complex landscape of cybersecurity risks. The HxGN LIVE Global 2023 conference provides an opportunity for technology leaders from around the world to come together, share ideas, and explore the latest developments in digital reality and autonomous technologies. Attendees can expect a range of keynote presentations, workshops, and networking events designed to foster collaboration and drive innovation within the industry. About HxGN LIVE Global 2023 HxGN LIVE is a digital reality technology event series built for the future, providing access to Hexagons latest sensor, software, and autonomous technologies. Attended by future-focused automation experts from all over the world, HxGN LIVE Global offers the chance to meet face-to-face, gain expertise, and spend time hands-on with the latest innovative technology. About Mangan Incorporated Mangan Inc. is a nationally recognized Specialty Engineering, Automation, and Integration Company providing a full range of services for the Refining, Oil & Gas, Pipeline, Renewable Energy, Chemicals, and Life Sciences Industries. Offered services include Automation, Design, Engineering, Control System Integration, OT Cybersecurity, Specialty Power and Distribution, Safety Instrumented Systems, Software Solutions, SCADA, Safety Lifecycle Management, Commissioning, Compliance, SmartPlant Instrumentation, Process Analyzers/CEMS Solutions, Project and Construction Management expertise. About Mangan Cybersecurity Mangan Cybersecurity is comprised of OT cybersecurity engineers who work to support a range of businesses with OT cybersecurity posture and how their IT-OT networks are connected to protect a companys most valuable assets. Leveraging their ICSSbD Evaluation Toolkit, a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment too, evaluations can be completed in a matter of few days or weeks, allowing for quick feedback, remediation, or response if necessary. For more information about Mangan Incorporated, visit http://www.manganinc.com For more information about Mangan OT Cybersecurity and ICSSbD, visit http://www.mangancyber.com For more information about HxGN LIVE Global 2023, visit http://www.hexagon.com/resources/events/hxgn-live-global/ Ground Central Coffee Company proudly opens the doors to its 10th location, GC Grand Central, heralding a new chapter in NYC's vibrant coffee scene. "We're delighted to bring warmth to New Yorkers' daily routines and express our gratitude to our devoted patrons. We invite everyone to visit any of our locations and experience our unique atmosphere for themselves." Etienne Wiik, CEO Ground Central Coffee Company (GC), Ground Central, a distinctive, independent coffee shop catering to neighborhoods across New York City, is excited to reveal the May 2023 launch of its 10th location at GC Grand Central, situated at 441 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017. In a city filled with generic chain coffee shops, Ground Central stands out as a rare gem. CEO Etienne Wiik has deliberately cultivated a cafe atmosphere that transcends an ordinary coffee experience. Boasting a vibrant ambiance, expertly-roasted coffee, and a dedication to quality and service, GC has rapidly become a top choice for coffee aficionados citywide. The new GC Grand Central location carries on this tradition, providing patrons with an easily accessible place to enjoy their morning brew, catch up with friends, or accomplish work tasks. "Our mission has always been clearfoster a sense of community in a welcoming setting that connects enthusiasts of art, music, books, and exceptional coffee. We embarked on this journey with our initial Midtown cafe a decade ago, and now we're eager to introduce the 10th GC at Grand Central!" exclaims Wiik.Ground Central takes pride in serving La Colombe coffee, an esteemed coffee roaster and a frontrunner in the coffee industry. Alongside their premium coffee, GC offers specialty sandwiches from Alidoro, baked delights from The Hungry Gnome, and a variety of locally-sourced sweets, refreshments, specialty beverages, and more. Each GC establishment also presents a carefully curated book selection for sale through their partnership with Huemanbooks, an NYC independent bookstore. Customers are also invited to shop the extensive vinyl collections displayed at every GC." GC wholeheartedly embraces and respects each individual who enters our space, whether they're stopping by for a moment or lingering for hours," Wiik adds. "We're delighted to bring warmth to New Yorkers' daily routines and express our gratitude to our devoted patrons. We invite everyone to visit any of our locations and experience our unique atmosphere for themselves. "From a quick caffeine fix during rush hour to a leisurely gathering with friends, Ground Central caters to people from all backgrounds and lifestyles. Visit our newest location at GC Grand Central, 441 Lexington Ave, and immerse yourself in the GC experience. About Ground Central Coffee Company Ground Central Coffee Company (GC) is an unparalleled independent coffee shop with 10 locations and counting in NYC. Ground Central serves as a nexus for New Yorkers and a growing community of students, artists, book enthusiasts, and musicians. Each GC team is committed to delivering a uniquely tailored experience while capturing the essence, diversity, and personalities of our city's neighborhoods. For more information about Ground Central Coffee Company, to explore current employment opportunities, or for directions to our other locations in Midtown East, 6 Ave, UN HQ, Hells Kitchen, Murray Hill, Lynbrook, the Fashion District, Marsh & McLennan, and now GC Grand Central, please visit groundcentral.com. Connect with us and join the conversation by following @groundcentral! Fibernetics, a Cambridge-based telecommunications company, announced Nucleus, a new unified communication platform that will soon be able to translate conversations in real-time. Nucleus integrates all channels of communication, including SMS, team chat, voice, video calling, and file sharing all from one easy-to-use platform. This innovation puts team members, customers and vendors on the same page, as the app is available across devices. The founders of Fibernetics plan to make this tool free for Canadian businesses. With voice-to-voice real-time translation, we are leveraging AI to break down existing social, economic, interpersonal and geographical barriers, said John Stix, co-founder of Fibernetics. Nucleus leverages the latest technologies to help businesses: Save money on communication costs Optimize team collaboration Enhance overall communication This application will be available soon, free for Canadian businesses with paid AI upgrades. For more information on Nucleus, visit fibernetics.ca. About Fibernetics: Fibernetics is one of Canadas fastest-growing telecommunications companies whose rapid success has been leveraged by a marriage of established legacy systems with emerging Internet protocol-based technologies. Founders John Stix and Jody Schnarr brought their knowledge and experience as pioneers of VoIP communications in Canada to build Fibernetics. Their vision is to provide affordable, cost-efficient, scalable voice and data convergence solutions to the Canadian marketplace. Founded as an Internet Service Provider, Fibernetics quickly grew to develop Canadas very first commercially viable phone-to-phone communication service utilizing voice over Internet protocol. Fibernetics management team has a combined 70 years of telecom and Internet experience and is working to push the boundaries of the domestic and global telecom market. Founded in 1997, Fibernetics currently employs over 200 staff, with a head office in the heart of Canadas high-tech region, Cambridge, Ontario. Today, Fibernetics owns one of Canada's largest coast-to-coast networks and supports over 300,000 customers. The custom software development team at ISU Corp joined forces with Fibernetics to help build the application. ISU Corp is a custom software development company specializing in innovative solutions for a wide range of industries. With a focus on new technologies, ISU Corp delivers customized software solutions that drive efficiency, productivity, and growth for their clients. Their expertise includes custom software development, cloud solutions, mobile applications, AI integration, and more. Their dedication to creating a dream home that not only fit their lifestyle but also prioritized safety was truly inspiring. EverLog Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of worry-free, evolutionary concrete log siding, proudly recounts its successful partnership with the inspiring DIY duo, Jeremy & Melissa of Good Simple Living. In a stunning display of innovation and resilience, the family of six built their dream mountain home in North Idaho using EverLog's fire-resistant siding. Jeremy and Melissa, popular for their YouTube channel, Good Simple Living, were on a mission to build a homeschooling, homesteading haven for their family. Faced with the increasing threat of wildfires in their region, they recognized the need for a safer, more reliable construction material. That's where EverLog Systems stepped in. Upon discovering EverLog's concrete log siding, Jeremy and Melissa were convinced by its superior fire resistance and zero-maintenance requirement. The EverLog siding provided a worry-free solution to traditional timber construction and saved them thousands of dollars in long-term upkeep. After carefully choosing the perfect profile and color, they confirmed it was the ideal match for their dream home. "We were thrilled to partner with Jeremy and Melissa on their journey to building a safer, more sustainable home," said Stewart Hansen, President of EverLog Systems. "Their dedication to creating a dream home that not only fit their lifestyle but also prioritized safety was truly inspiring. Our concrete log siding was an excellent match for their needs, and seeing the final result was immensely rewarding." The collaboration was an exceptional opportunity for both parties. For Good Simple Living, it provided a practical, worry-free, and aesthetically pleasing solution for their dream home build. For EverLog Systems, it was a chance to showcase the versatility, durability, and beauty of their product range to a broader audience. You can relive Jeremy and Melissa's incredible journey on the Good Simple Living YouTube channel, and learn more about the EverLog family of products on the EverLog Systems website. EverLog Systems remains committed to creating innovative concrete solutions that protect against the elements while embodying the warmth and traditional beauty of wood. About EverLog Systems EverLog Systems is a leading provider of worry-free, concrete log siding. Focused on creating sustainable, fire-resistant home solutions, EverLog Systems combines the traditional beauty of timber with the durability of modern materials, ensuring a lifetime of worry-free living. Representative of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Yusov, commenting on the recent events in Belgorod region of Russia, said the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and the Freedom of Russia Legion carry out their operations independently, according to their own goals and plans. "RVC and the Freedom of Russia Legion have already made relevant statements: they are citizens of Russia, and on the territory of their homeland, which is now called the Russian Federation, they act independently, according to their ideas and goals. Ukraine, of course, is watching these events, but citizens of Russia operate independently on the Russian territory," Yusov said on the air of the national telethon on Thursday. According to him, as a result of these events, the whole world saw that "the structure of the Putin regime is rather shaky." "People who are able to fight, including with weapons in their hands, against the Putin regime have great support on the Russian territory, including among the local population. Their actions are gaining momentum, these are not the first events, not the first internal Russian conflicts, and they are becoming more and more large-scale. And the geography is expanding. I think we can expect a continuation in the near future," Yusov said. Earlier, the Freedom of Russia Legion said the operation in Grayvoronsky district of Belgorod region of Russia was successful and its goals were achieved. "We will come again. Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov, Moscow wait for us," said the fighter with the call sign "Caesar." "Together with the RVC on the territory of Russia, we used the equipment that the army of the Kremlin zombies had taken away from the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Bakhmut. We successfully 'retrofited' this equipment and returned it back," the legion's representative said. According to him, the total losses for the operation amounted to two people killed and ten wounded. In turn, the RVC said they had no casualties, but there were two wounded. Earlier, representative of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Cherniak told Interfax-Ukraine the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps were conducting an operation in Belgorod region of Russia, which "is a consequence of the aggressive policy of the Putin regime and the invasion of Russian troops to the territory of Ukraine." "We confirm that the Freedom of Russia Legion and the RVC are closely cooperating and interacting with the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine," the military intelligence official said. As reported, at about 14:00 on Monday, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the RVC said they had "liberated" Kozinka in the Belgorod region of Russia and entered the city of Grayvoron. Engel & Volkers expands luxury real estate services to Tallahassee with franchisee Carrie Cason The success we've achieved in Gainesville has shown us that there is a strong demand for high-quality luxury service in North Florida, and we are excited to fill that void in Tallahassee. Engel & Volkers Florida today announced its latest franchise expansion in the Florida Panhandle region with the addition of a new shop in Leon County called Engel & Volkers Tallahassee. Existing franchisee Carrie Cason secured the territory as part of her regional development plans in North Florida. A retail location search is underway, with an anticipated grand opening in the second quarter of 2024. In the meantime, Cason has begun talent attraction initiatives to recruit local top-producing agents. We are thrilled to bring the Engel & Volkers brand to Tallahassee and provide our signature luxury service to this dynamic city," said Cason, License Partner of Engel & Volkers Tallahassee. "The success we've achieved in Gainesville has shown us that there is a strong demand for high-quality luxury service in North Florida, and we are excited to fill that void in Tallahassee. The decision to enter the Tallahassee market stems from the exceptional success and positive reception garnered by Engel & Volkers in Gainesville, led by Cason. Recognizing the potential in Tallahassee's vibrant market, she seized the opportunity to bring her luxury real estate services to this unique city. With its distinctive blend of college and government cultures, Tallahassee perfectly aligns with Engel & Volkers' core values of delivering personalized, boutique service while leveraging its global marketing reach. When we have a great franchise owner and operator like Carrie we want to support them in growing into other markets, said Peter Giese, CEO, Engel & Volkers Florida. Carrie from the onset of joining us has demonstrated a true understanding that luxury is not a price point but a level of service and we are thrilled she is expanding from Gainesville to open up our first ever shop in Tallahassee to deliver a new level of marketing prowess and service to top performing agents and their clients in this market. Looking ahead, Engel & Volkers Tallahassee aims to replicate the success achieved in Gainesville. In their first year of operation, Engel & Volkers Gainesville ranked among the Top 10 Producing Brokerages in the local MLS, with nine agents in the top 25-percent of the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of REALTORS. Their goal is to establish a shop location in Tallahassee by 2024, further solidifying their presence in the market. "There are many home-grown, local brokerages that produce on the level of national brands, said Cason. At Engel & Volkers, we combine the benefits of both types of brokerages. We provide a big brand's access and global marketing reach without compromising the boutique, luxury service provided by a local expert. The real estate market in Tallahassee for 2023 is anticipated to be vibrant and active. With a robust local economy driven by the presence of the state government and prestigious universities, the demand for homes remains high. Limited inventory and sustained buyer interest are expected to drive appreciation in home values. Tallahassee's appealing neighborhoods, excellent school districts, and abundant outdoor recreational opportunities continue to attract both local residents and out-of-state buyers. As Engel & Volkers expands into the market, they are well-positioned to meet the growing demand for luxury properties in this bustling capital city. ### Press contact: Kaitlin Weigelt, Marketing and Brand Manager Email: Kaitlin.Weigelt(at)evrealestate.com Tel: (239) 348-9000 About Engel & Volkers: Engel & Volkers is a global luxury real estate brand. Founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 1977, Engel & Volkers draws on its rich European history to deliver a fresh approach to luxury real estate in the Americas with a focus on creating a personalized client experience at every stage of the home buying or selling process. Engel & Volkers currently operates approximately 290 shop locations with over 6,400 real estate advisors in the Americas, contributing to the brands global network of over 16,500 real estate professionals in more than 30 countries, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services, including real estate and yachting. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Volkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs, and platforms; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings, and market data. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. For more information, visit http://www.evrealestate.com. About Engel & Volkers Florida: Engel & Volkers Florida is the Master License Partner of the global luxury real estate brand Engel & Volkers in the state of Florida. Recognized for uniquely recruiting, training, and equipping some of the top professionals in the real estate industry, Engel & Volkers Floridas exclusive business model positions its franchisees at the top of the premium market to gain market share and support their bottom line. The company represents franchise locations in 41 markets: 30A Beaches, Amelia Island, Belleair, Boca Raton, Bonita-Estero, Cape Coral, Clermont, Delray Beach, Destin, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers Central, Fort Myers Downtown, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Madeira Beach, Marco Island, Melbourne Beachside, Melbourne Central, Melbourne Downtown, Miami, Miami Coconut Grove, Neptune Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Olde Naples, Orlando Dr. Philips, Palm Coast, Pompano Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Punta Gorda, San Marco, Sarasota, South Beach, South Tampa, St. Augustine, St. Pete, St. Pete Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa Downtown, Venice Downtown, Vero Beach, and Wellington. Engel & Volkers Florida is continuing to strategically strengthen and expand its presence in premium real estate markets across the state of Florida. If you would like to know more about the Engel & Volkers brand or how to join its global networkwhich is known for demonstrating competence, exclusivity, and passion, feel free to call our corporate office, located at 633 Tamiami Trl N, Suite 201, Naples, FL 34102 USA. Tel: +1 239-348-9000. For more information about Engel & Volkers Florida, please visit http://www.florida.evrealestate.com. We are proud of the value our robust partner network brings and are excited to acknowledge the organizations that play a key role in Manhattans efforts to move life and commerce forward. 4SiGHT Supply Chain Group today announced that it has been named the winner of the Services & Engagement award by Manhattan Associates. Manhattan presented these awards at Momentum 2023, the companys annual conference, held May 22-25 in Phoenix, Arizona. With the continued expansion of global trade and the evolution of omnichannel retail, supply chains have become increasingly complicated and critical. At Momentum 2023, Manhattan recognized companies that provide top-quality solutions and services to address complex business challenges and continuously drive success, value and return on investment for our joint customers. Being recognized as one of Manhattan Associates partners of the year for the fifth time is a tremendous honor for us. This accolade follows closely after our recent announcement, where we proudly unveiled our new brand, 4ACTiVE, and solidified our unified partnership with Manhattan Associates, commented Frank Camean, President and CEO. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the other winning recipients. I have a lot of respect for many of the partners that are here alongside us, working in the Manhattan MVP Partner ecosystem. These organizations represent the best our industry has to offer. I wholeheartedly believe that. Commenting on the award win, Eric Lamphier, senior director of Alliances, said, Manhattan is committed to developing, supporting and recognizing innovations that build a unified, seamless and intelligent supply chain, improving the end consumer experience. We are proud of the value our robust partner network brings and are excited to acknowledge the organizations that play a key role in Manhattans efforts to move life and commerce forward. 4SiGHT has been a Manhattan Value Partner (MVP) for 14 years. Manhattan is supported by a global network of consulting, service and technology partners and is committed to building efficient, solutions-driven and transparent partnerships that drive growth in supply chain and omnichannel commerce. Receive up-to-date product, customer and partner news directly from Manhattan Associates on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. About Manhattan Associates Manhattan Associates is a technology leader in supply chain and omnichannel commerce. We unite information across the enterprise, converging front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. Our software, platform technology and unmatched experience help drive both top-line growth and bottom-line profitability for our customers. Manhattan Associates designs, builds and delivers leading edge cloud and on-premises solutions so that across the store, through your network or from your fulfillment center, you are ready to reap the rewards of the omnichannel marketplace. For more information, please visit http://www.manh.com. About 4SiGHT Supply Chain Group 4SiGHT specializes in supply chain software implementations, with a primary focus on the Manhattan Associates product suite of applications. Our seasoned professionals average more than 19 years of experience helping companies across all industries solve their distribution, fulfillment, and transportation challenges. As a testament to the value our clients place on our expertise, experience, and integrity, 4SiGHT has received multiple industry awards. For more information, please visit 4sight.com or email us at in4mation@4sight.com. By unveiling the worlds first FAaaS offering, we are empowering security teams with cutting-edge features to effectively protect their buildings, said Tina D'Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI. Alcatraz AI, a global leader in autonomous access control solutions, today announced its updated and improved pricing, paving the way for the industrys first cloud-based facial authentication-as-a-service (FAaaS) model. This new pricing structure provides companies with the opportunity to upgrade their access control systems to the most secure and enterprise-grade solution available in the market at a more accessible price point than ever before. "By unveiling the worlds first FAaaS offering, we are empowering security teams with cutting-edge features to effectively protect their buildings, said Tina D'Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI. Our new pricing structure ensures that businesses can access this advanced technology at a price that fits within their budget and allows corporations to address the increasing need to supply touchless, non-invasive access control for all users, rather than just high-security areas. This allows us to make biometric access control a reality for everyone." Key Highlights of the Updated Pricing: Comprehensive Cloud Package: Alcatraz AI offers a complete package starting at an all-in-one price of $79 per secured opening, per month and includes hardware, software, updates, and warranty. Billed annually, this pricing ensures that businesses have access to the latest version of Alcatraz AIs technology to future proof their security posture, including a technology refresh after five years with a subscription renewal. Premium Features: By adopting Alcatraz AI's cloud-based access control solution, enterprises gain access to premium features that enhance security and convenience, such as web-based Mobile Enrollment, which allows users to be invited via email to enroll in the Alcatraz AI solution using most technology devices with a front-facing camera. This empowers users to enroll on their own device at a time convenient for them, while enabling thousands of employees to be enrolled in minutes. Additionally, the solution features tailgating detection and alerts, providing an additional layer of security against unauthorized access attempts, which are the leading cause of physical breaches and some of the most difficult to detect. Integration with the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) video standards further allows for more detailed forensics at the time of incident. Privacy Compliance: Alcatraz AIs facial authentication solution offers Privacy Consent Management with DocuSign electronic signature capabilities as an optional add-on service, which is designed to facilitate end-user transparency and compliance with biometric privacy regulations by disclosing how biometric data will be used and allowing employees the choice to opt-in prior to any collection or use of their biometric data. In addition, this commitment to privacy and data security also aids businesses in providing their employees with the confidence to embrace advanced access control technology powered by Alcatraz AI. Alcatraz AI is committed to revolutionizing access control credentialing and providing businesses with the best-in-class enterprise-grade access control solution for secure and convenient physical management. The updated pricing structure allows organizations of all sizes to upgrade their existing access control systems and unlock the benefits of advanced facial authentication technology.The company also offers an on-premise option. To learn more about Alcatraz AI's cloud-based facial authentication as a service solution and take advantage of the new pricing, visit here: https://alcatraz.ai/pricing About Alcatraz AI Founded in 2016, Alcatraz AI is the most secure, effective, comprehensive access control biometric solution on the market. With its patented technology, Alcatraz AIs facial authentication technology and intelligent tailgating detection work natively with existing access control systems to transform physical security. With a vision of simplicity and security, Alcatraz AI protects more than one million employees at Fortune 500 companies, including their assets and secure facilities. For more information, please visit http://www.alcatraz.ai and follow @alcatrazai on Twitter and Alcatraz on LinkedIn. This is definitely my new favorite sunscreen! says Aloette President, Cathy McKenna. I love how easy Daily Mineral Shield is to apply. I feel good knowing I am moisturizing and getting my daily sun protection all in one product! Aloette Cosmetics, a beauty brand that is committed to creating skincare and makeup that do good for consumers and the environment, has announced the launch of their brand new Daily Mineral Shield sunscreen to be included in their skincare lineup. This is an exciting launch for Aloette as this is their newest SPF product that joins other environmental defense products currently offered. This is definitely my new favorite sunscreen! says Aloette President, Cathy McKenna. I love how easy Daily Mineral Shield is to apply. I feel good knowing I am moisturizing and getting my daily sun protection all in one product! While Aloette has several skincare products that offer protection from environmental stressors such as blue light and pollution, both of which can accelerate signs of aging, consumers can now have a skincare- with the addition of a skincare-infused moisturizer and spf in one with Daily Mineral Shield Environmental Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 into their daily skincare routines. The Environmental Defense Moisturizer combines age-defying ingredients with Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for the ultimate moisturizing duo. Formulated with a skin-loving blend of Ectoin, Aloe Vera, and Gogi Berry Extract, Daily Mineral Shield helps hydrate the skin with essential moisture as it protects skin from potentially harmful UV rays which can lead to fine lines and wrinkles. This duo-defense SPF also includes active ingredients such as Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide to help provide sun protection to the skin. Daily Mineral Shield is rich in hydrating ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Jojoba Seed Oil, and Shea Butter to help the skin lock in moisture, says board certified, New York Based dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. The formula also includes Titanium Dioxide to offer sun protection and Niacinamide to help improve skin tone and texture. To implement the Environmental Shield Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 into a morning time skincare routine, users can begin with the City Detox Environmental Defense Powder Cleanser to help refresh the look of skin before applying BioDefense Environmental Protection Collection Cloud Cream to instantly help hydrate and plump the skin. Once skin is cleansed and moisturized, users should shake Daily Mineral Shield before use and apply a dime-sized amount onto the face and neck daily before the application of any makeup products. To find out more about Aloette beauty and skincare, including other environmental defensive skincare products, please visit us at aloette.com. About Aloette Since 1978, Aloette Cosmetics has been committed to creating high quality skincare and cosmetic products with home-based business opportunities and age-defying formulas that are fueled by our innovative aloe vera delivery system. Incorporating clean and cutting-edge cosmetic ingredients and technology, Aloette offers an array of high-performance makeup and skincare solutions designed to help deliver real results. Our mission is to define a new standard for skincare through farm to jar formulas and high performance products. For more information, visit http://www.aloette.com. Celerant Client Conference 2023 Meeting with Celerants team members and partners were the most valuable parts of the client conference. This was an excellent event, well organized and ultra-informative. Thanks for hosting the event; it's much appreciated. Book-A-Million, Inc. Celerant Technology, the #1-rated retail software provider for 2023, recently wrapped up its 19th annual client conference in Marietta, GA. With todays digital explosion, this years conference focused heavily on helping the companys brick-and-mortar retailer clients adapt a complete digital strategy to be more competitive, and expand business across all retail channels. Key Topics at Celerants 2023 Client Conference: Celerant's CEO & President, Ian Goldman, kicked off the conference with a warm Welcome Address highlighting the importance of going digital, and what it takes for retailers to win in today's retail landscape. Over the 3-day conference, Celerant offered a brand new Retailer Boot Camp, and hosted 25+ breakouts, interactive workshops and one-on-one sessions. This years conference offered sessions focused on eCommerce, search engine optimization (SEO), mobile shopping apps, digital marketing and BOPIS; Celerant also offered several sessions to help retailers improve in-store operations, including mobile inventory, vendor integrations and back office accounting, along with industry-specific sessions for sporting goods and G Goodwill Industries International retailers, and much more. It was great to see everyone in-person at our 19th annual client conference, stated Ian Goldman, President and CEO of Celerant Technology. As the industry continues to shift to online and mobile sales, its vital for our retail clients to learn how to embrace a digital strategy or risk becoming obsolete; and thats exactly what our conference provided. An impressive 75% of this years attendees are using our eCommerce platform, up from 50% last year, and we expect that number to increase. Our goal was to help our retailers go beyond eCommerce sales, and help them develop strategies to meet their customers needs everywhere they want to connect. Keynote Speakers and Partners This years conference featured energetic and insightful keynotes focused on in-store and online strategies. Bob Negen from WhizBang! Retail Training delivered an inspiring keynote about how retailers can become 'the store of choice' by getting creative, growing digitally, and giving customers what they want. Paul Erickson from Management One, delivered an insightful and entertaining keynote titled Understanding Your True Profit Potential, focused on 6 biases retailers have, including markups, large inventory selections and return policies. Amazon educated Celerants retailers on the new Amazon Today program that enables independent retailers to leverage Amazon to gain more local customers looking for in-store pick-up or same day delivery. Celerants retail clients also had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with some of Celerants partners, and learn about their software solutions, including Avalara, Shift4, Fortis, Worldpay from FIS, Star Micronics, SPS Commerce, Sezzle, Otter Waiver and more. Retailer Client Feedback: Meeting with Celerants team members and partners were the most valuable parts of the client conference. This was an excellent event, well organized and ultra-informative. Thanks for hosting the event; it's much appreciated. Book-A-Million, Inc. The Goodwill sessions were very helpful; they offered lots of take-a-ways to help us improve operations on the retail and donation sides of our business. We appreciate the opportunity to learn from everyone at the conference. Goodwill Central Oklahoma We gained valuable knowledge from the instructors in all the sessions. Having worked with Celerant for almost 10 years, we get to work with some of the sharpest team members that Celerant employs. Eco Chic Consignments The breakout sessions with the tech team were very informative and great way to meet in-person. The sessions not only covered interesting topics, they served as a how-to so we know how and where to make changes to the software relevant to our business. It was also good to see how others are using Stratus Enterprise. Treats Unleashed Watch Celerants recap video at http://www.celerant.com/clientcon23 Celerant clients can access session material via the Client Portal: https://clients.celerant.com. About Celerant Technology Celerant Technology is an innovative retail software provider enabling retailers to expand their businesses past their physical storefronts' and into the online world. Rated as the #1 retail software provider year after year by the RIS LeaderBoard, Celerant supports retailers with an all-in-one system; point of sale, inventory management, promotions and loyalty rewards, eCommerce, mobile apps, vendor integrations, marketplace integrations, integrated email marketing and more. To learn more, subscribe to our blog- http://www.celerant.com/blog. Over years of study and teaching, I began to realize that the Bible did not seem to say what many claimed it said about end of the world, the return of Jesus, and eternal destiny. This prompted more intense study and organization of thought that resulted in writing the book Author Marc Paladino shares the results of his eschatological research in The Threshold of Exile: Examining New Testament Prophecy and Eternal Destiny ($24.49, paperback, 9781662868351; $9.99, e-book, 9781662868368). While many search for predictions in end-time prophecy, Paladino believes they are missing the mark. Throughout his personal study, he has found that Jesus and the apostles referenced Old Testament prophecies and presented them to a new audience in their day and that the cross cannot be overestimated in these discussions. Over years of study and teaching, I began to realize that the Bible did not seem to say what many claimed it said about end of the world, the return of Jesus, and eternal destiny. This prompted more intense study and organization of thought that resulted in writing the book, said Paladino. Marc Paladino has been serving the Lord in a variety of settings since the age of 20 as a Bible Teacher, Associate Pastor, Elder and Administrator, as well as a Coordinator for a Detroit-area alliance of inner city and suburban churches. Now retired from the field of manufacturing quality assurance, he resides in Michigan with his wife Judy and enjoys their three adult children and six grandchildren. Paladino is also the author of After the Walls Came Down (2011). ### Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. The Threshold of Exile is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. I am excited to make Atlanta my home and looking forward to providing exceptional care to my new community and patients, says Dr. Supreet Kaur. Elegant Smiles is a modern, state-of-the-art dental practice that provides cutting-edge, quality care for patients of all ages in a comfortable, relaxing environment. Elegant Smiles is committed to delivering comprehensive dentistry at its best, providing every patient with a pathway toward achieving functional and aesthetic smiles. Dr. Supreet Kaur is a welcome addition, and her dental knowledge and expertise are a great fit for this Atlanta area practice. Dr. Kaur is an experienced and compassionate dentist that is focused on patient care. She is skilled in restorative dentistry, root canal treatments, surgical extractions and fixed/removable appliances. Dr. Supreet Kaur is also clear aligner certified. Dr. Kaur earned her dental degree at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and previously practiced in Pittsburgh, PA, before moving to the Atlanta region with her husband and two little ones. She led a previous life as a dentist in New Delhi, India, where she also earned a masters degree in public health and supported an NGO focused on the dental health of needy children. I am excited to make Atlanta my home and looking forward to providing exceptional care to my new community and patients, says Dr. Supreet Kaur. More about Elegant Smiles: With a convenient office location to serve residents of the Atlanta metro area at 1955 Cliff Valley Way in Brookhaven, Georgia, Elegant Smiles highly skilled dentists specialize in all facets of dentistry, including general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, pediatric dentistry and orthodontics (OrthoFX). They provide a wide menu of services, such as long-term solutions for sleep apnea, teeth grinding, jaw pain and crooked teeth. From tiny tots to senior citizens, they offer affordable, tailored treatments that meet expected and unexpected dental needs. Elegant Smiles offers emergency dental care, same day appointments, in-house financing plans and sedation dentistry. For more information about services offered at Elegant Smiles, please visit http://www.dentalatl.com or call (404) 634-4224. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Sunsweet Growers Inc. call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Sacramento employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Sunsweet Growers Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Sunsweet Growers Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. CVCS23-0000742, is currently pending in the Sutter County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the Complaint, Plaintiff complained multiple times to the company's human resource employees and also filed an EEOC charge relating to sexual harassment and sexual orientation discrimination at work that she was continuing to endure on a daily basis. Plaintiff also complained to these employees regarding the company's discrimination against Plaintiff as a result of Plaintiff being a female who was dating other females. Plaintiff's complaints fell on deaf ears. Plaintiff ultimately went out on stress leave in April of 2022. Additionally, the company's non-exempt employees were allegedly unable to take off-duty meal breaks due to their rigorous work schedules. California labor laws require an employer to provide an employee required to perform work for more than five (5) hours during a shift with, a thirty (30) minute uninterrupted meal break prior to the end of the employee's fifth (5th) hour of work and a second uninterrupted meal break when employees are required to work ten (10) hours. The Complaint claims that the company did not provide their employees who forfeited meal breaks additional compensation. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Sunsweet Growers Inc. call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** FHU alumni attend last year's Golden Year Reunion in this file photo. Of course, some of the best times are the unplanned activities, FHU Director of Alumni Engagement Chris Ramey said. Our alumni have the best stories to tell, and they love sharing their memories. Freed-Hardeman Universitys Office of Alumni Engagement will host the annual Golden Year Reunion June 14-16, 2023, honoring the classes of 1973, 68, 63, 58 and 53. All alumni from 73 and before are also welcome to attend. Planned activities include singing in Chapel Hall, devotionals, tours of the recently renovated Paul Gray Hall, a lecture by Dr. Jonathan Moore on biblical archaeology, and special times to share memories. Of course, some of the best times are the unplanned activities, FHU Director of Alumni Engagement Chris Ramey said. Our alumni have the best stories to tell, and they love sharing their memories. Moore is a podiatric physician and founder, owner and managing partner of Cumberland Foot and Ankle Center in Somerset, Kentucky. He and his wife Kim have made a substantial gift to the FHU College of Biblical Studies to assist Bible majors in studying biblical archaeology. This year a group is helping with excavation at Shiloh, looking for evidence of the tabernacle. Devotional lessons will be shared by members of the Class of 1973: Dr. Steven Guy, minister of the Myrtle Beach Church of Christ in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; John W. DeBerry, former Tennessee state representative and now senior advisor to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Memphis, Tennessee; and Dr. John Dodd, owner of Dodd Eye Clinic in Corinth, Mississippi. A bonus activity is planned for those who would like to participate. A day trip to Tupelo, Mississippi, is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Rich in Civil War history, Tupelo is also the birthplace of Elvis Presley. A riding tour of the city will include a stop at Tupelo Hardware where the King of Rock and Roll bought his first guitar, the museum at his birthplace and the one-room church he attended as a child. Alumna Debby Gibbs (69) will conduct the tour. FHU President David R. Shannon expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming Golden Year Reunion, stating, FHU has a rich history, and our alumni are a vital part of that story. We are thrilled to welcome home our Golden Year classes and celebrate their legacy. This event is an excellent opportunity for our alumni to reconnect with each other and with the university. Online registration and additional details are available at fhu.edu/alumni/goldenyearreunion. The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelors, masters, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu. Tori Lyon, Jericho Project CEO As a longstanding advocate for permanent supportive housing, Jericho is thrilled to be able to move unsheltered New Yorkers into stable housing and provide ongoing counseling to support them. -- Tori Lyon, CEO of Jericho Project. Jericho Project was awarded $8,906,646 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of a nationwide effort to address street homelessness among unsheltered people in cities and rural communities. Jericho is a nationally-acclaimed nonprofit that for 40 years has combatted the root causes of homelessness and improved the lives of thousands of New Yorkers annually with supportive housing and the vital services to sustain it. Jericho will serve 90 unsheltered homeless participants per year over a three-year grant period. This is part of the total $60-million that HUD distributed in funding to the New York City Continuum of Care (CoC) for the Unsheltered Homeless Initiative. Overseen by the Department of Homeless Services, the funds were applied for by the Department of Social Services. As a longstanding advocate for permanent supportive housing, Jericho is thrilled to be able to move unsheltered New Yorkers into stable housing and provide ongoing counseling to support them. We applaud HUD and our local Continuum of Care for their leadership in helping some of our most vulnerable neighbors in their time of need, said Tori Lyon, CEO of Jericho Project. Jericho will execute the program using its Rapid Rehousing Program, which helps speed individuals and families into affordable apartments through Jerichos network of landlords who are sympathetic with the plight of homelessness. In addition to helping secure the housing, Jericho provides tenants with ongoing counseling in managing finances and maintaining housing stability to ensure a good experience for both the tenants and the landlords. The program will provide Temporary Financial assistance (TFA) and HUD is providing long-term vouchers for each participant at the conclusion of the TFA period to ensure long-term housing stability. To facilitate this program, Jericho will hire 15 staff members to provide intensive case management services, clinical therapy, housing, and other supportive services. The project is slated to begin July 15th. Jericho has a positive track record in Rapid Rehousing. In 2022, it served 450 veteran families, moving 170 into permanent housing, and moved 91 other households into permanent housing, on average in less than 30 days. Overall, Jericho currently provides more than 600 units of housing in the Bronx and Harlem in eight residential buildings which are upgraded for sustainability. With 24/7 staff and onsite counselors, the residences are designed to cultivate a community of camaraderie and wellness. Jericho also enables families to achieve stable, safe housing in apartments throughout the city, including 80 studio and one-bedroom units for adults and 35 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for families. About Jericho Project: Jericho Project empowers individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity by providing housing and person-centered services to address social inequities. For 40 years, Jericho has provided supportive housing and counseling services to thousands of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse. Jericho Project employs rigorous fiscal discipline and works with valued public-private partnerships and a foundation of dedicated donors, to advance its mission. Jerichos housing and extended services cost $18,000 per person annually, compared to $50,000 for a single adult shelter, $74,000 for a room in a family shelter, $115,000 for a city jail cell and $1000+ per day for a hospital bed. For more information: jerichoproject.org | @jerichoproject1983 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Serhiy Naumiuk to the post of Deputy Head of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Relevant decree No. 298/2023 of the head of state of May 25 is published on its official website. Previously, Naumiuk headed detective units at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and took part in the competition for the position of director of NABU. In 2012-2015, he was the head of two different departments at the SBU National Academy. Mamaroneck Union Free School District Joins the Empire State Purchasing Group We invite all of our current vendors to register. Today, the Mamaroneck Union Free School District announces it has joined the Empire State Purchasing Group, a regional purchasing community accessed through Bidnet Direct. Approximately 329 participating local government agencies throughout New York utilize the purchasing group for bid and vendor management. Along with a variety of bid and vendor management solutions, the Mamaroneck Union Free School District gains access to a bid library to help with bid creation, a shared pool of vendors, and association with like-minded purchasing professionals in the area. The Mamaroneck Union Free School District invites all vendors to register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/mamaroneckunionfreeschooldistrict. Collaboration and inviting competition is important to us to ensure that the District is getting the best products and services at the best value, says Lauren Leone, Purchasing Agent for the Mamaroneck Union Free School District. We look forward to being able to improve our efficiency by using the Empire State Purchasing Group. In addition to our time savings, our valued vendors can now access not only our open bids, but those from other municipalities, counties and school districts throughout the state. We can also allow vendors to respond with bids electronically into a secure lockbox and save paper and time delivering them manually. We invite all of our current vendors to register. The Mamaroneck Union Free School District invites all potential vendors to register online with the Empire State Purchasing Group to access its upcoming solicitations by visiting http://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/mamaroneckunionfreeschooldistrict. Benefits of joining the Empire State Purchasing Group include: Centralized location for bids from over 325 participating agencies Bid alerts customized to the vendors products or services Reliable and timely delivery of notifications, addenda and documents Advanced notice of Term Contract expiration E-Bid and E-Quote Submission The Empire State Purchasing Group is one of Bidnet Directs regional purchasing groups throughout the country. It provides the Mamaroneck Union Free School District a bid and vendor management solution, document and addendum distribution, and tracking of all activity throughout the procurement process. About the Mamaroneck Union Free School District: It is the mission of the Mamaroneck Union Free School District to promote intellectual engagement and an appreciation of learning as an inherently rewarding activity, and to prepare students to function as responsible citizens in a multicultural world. It is the mission of the Mamaroneck Schools Business Office Purchasing Department to secure the best goods and services and the best price to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent in the most responsible way and to ensure the best value. 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 Empire State 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 (L-R): Sr. Helen Amos; Dr. David Maine; Linda Macken; Maritza Sanchez-Ordonez; Kya Taylor, RN; Graze Bautista; Susan Finlayson; Aarika Pakulski (photo only); Stacey Brull. Congratulations to all...Your continued support and commitment to Mercy is why we continue to be one of the top 8% of hospitals in the nation for excellent nursing care." -- Stacey Brull, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Mercy Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer As part of the annual recognition of National Nurses Week (May 1-7, 2023), Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, recently hosted The Sisters of Mercy Nursing Awards on Thursday, May 18th. This years recipients were: Aarika Pakulski, BSN, RN, Emergency Department: Nursing Visionary Award, presented in the spirit of Sister Mary Damian Faller, RSM Kya Taylor, RN, Bunting 14th floor-Specialty Surgery: Compassionate Caregiver Award, presented in the spirit of Sister Mary Thecla Lancaster, RSM Maritza Sanchez-Ordonez, RN, C-EFM, Labor & Delivery: Nursing Hospitality Award, presented in the spirit of Sister Elizabeth Anne Corcoran, RSM Linda Macken, RN, OCN, Outpatient Chemotherapy: Community Impact Award, presented in honor of Sister Helen Amos, RSM and Graze Bautista, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, Charles Crane Surgery Suite, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU): Nursing Leadership Award, presented in honor of Sister Mary Thomas Zinkand, RSM Stacey Brull, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, made both the welcoming and closing remarks at the event with further remarks by Susan Finlayson, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Senior Vice President. Congratulations to all of the nominees and recipients of the 2023 Nursing Excellence Awards. Your continued support and commitment to Mercy is why we continue to be one of the top 8% of hospitals in the nation for excellent nursing care, Brull said. Dr. David N. Maine, Mercy Health Services President and CEO, recognized the entire Mercy nursing team for delivering top-notch, empathetic care to our patients and their families. Despite the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic during the past three years, Mercy nurses have excelled, achieving a third consecutive recertification of Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In addition, Mercy has also earned many recent awards and distinctions including: Healthgrades: Mercy ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the United States for surgical care, and #1 in Maryland. American Nurse: Mercy received the 2022 All-Pro Nursing Team Award's top honor. The Maryland Bariatric Center at Mercy earned national accreditation from the American College of Surgeons. Newsweek: Mercy was named the Most Trustworthy Company in America 2023, #1 in Maryland and #3 nationally. Mercy also earned a spot among America's Greatest Workplaces for Women in 2023. These accolades and recognitions attest to the unwavering commitment and dedication of Mercy's nurses and staff. They remain devoted to providing superior, compassionate care to our patients, and these awards serve as an acknowledgment of their success, Dr. Maine added. Founded in 1874 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is located in downtown Baltimore City, about six blocks from Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor. A university-affiliated teaching facility, Mercy is a Catholic hospital with a national reputation for women's health care, orthopedics, and other specialties. Mercy is home to the renowned Weinberg Center for Women's Health & Medicine, and the $400+ million Mary Catherine Bunting Center. For more information, visit http://www.mdmercy.com, and MDMercyMedia on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy. The Minister of IT for Indias Telangana state, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, better known as KTR, received a warm welcome at alliantgroups Houston headquarters to discuss job growth and further investment in Hyderabad. KTR and alliantgroup CEO, Dhaval Jadav, hosted an exuberant conversation about expanding the consulting and management engineering firms already strong presence in the Hyderabad region, the Silicon Valley of India. alliantgroup has rapidly grown their workforce in the Indian city to 1,000 and plans to expand that to more than 5,000 workers. alliantgroup was created to support the growth and innovation of small to medium-sized businesses, providing them with the same level of consulting services available to large corporations. Providing high quality, experienced talent able to act as a seamless extension of a CPA firms or business team has been a natural and quick growing addition to alliantgroups overall services. This business line, alliantTALENT, is fortunate to have launched with the industrys most coveted experts who have created similar teams for the Big Four and their clients, including alliantTALENT CEO, Jim Brady; COO, Subrata Bagchi; and Chairman of Professional Services, Frank Tirelli. The Ministers visit highlights the significance of alliantgroups trust in Hyderabads and the greater regions talent and growing partnership with the U.S. business. Of Jadavs commitment to grow alliantTALENTs team in the area, KTR stated, This move once again exemplifies the unwavering trust and confidence that the BFSI [Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance] industry has placed in the city. It was such an honor to host the Minister during his U.S. visit. alliantgroup continues to invest heavily in automation, AI technologies and platforms to benefit U.S. businesses and CPA firms. It is so exciting to have the support of Telanganas Minster of IT, Industries and Municipal Administration in finding and training technical talent for alliantgroup and its clients and partners! And we are pleased he shares our excitement for the growth opportunities in Telangana and look forward to mutual investment for years to come, said Dhaval Jadav, alliantgroups CEO. Other notable guests included Principal Secretary of the Industries & Commerce and Information Technology, Jayesh Ranjan IAS; Amarnath Reddy Atmakuri Chief Relations Officer, IT Department, Government of Telangana; and Venkata Shekar, Industrial Promotion Officer. Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the trade association representing the region's technology community, announced a new workforce initiative, Aim High, in partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Aim High gives students real-world experience with tech-related jobs, preparing them for future careers. The initiative connects high school students with regional companies providing access to career exposure, training, mentorship and internships. Sponsored through a grant from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Aim High will launch today at an event at Capital One headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC; Dr. Anne Kress, president of NOVA; Dr. Michelle Reid, superintendent of FCPS; and Jeff McKay, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will present Aim Highs vision. FCPS teachers, students and executives from participating companies will also share first-hand experiences and positive outcomes resulting from industry and academic collaboration. The Northern Virginia region currently has over 133,000 open jobs. In April alone, 80% of the 42,000 new jobs posted were for tech jobs. Our regions economy continues to expand, and the demand for a skilled workforce is higher than ever. NVTC member companies are committed to helping prepare the next generation of talent for the jobs of tomorrow, said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC. Aim High is an incredible opportunity for students from all backgrounds to experience the amazing potential that a career in our regions tech hub can offer. Aim High will pair upwards of 500 FCPS high school students with Aim High Champions through educational sessions, panel discussions and fireside chats, hands-on workshops, tours of facilities and maker spaces, and more. Students will be matched with participating companies during the 2023-2024 academic year. To date, 18 companies and one federal agency have committed to the initiative. Learning happens best in community. I am grateful to NVTC and NOVA for supporting this work to encourage local IT industry leaders to open their doors to our students, said Dr. Michelle Reid, superintendent of FCPS. The sooner our students have opportunities for work-based learning and industry experiences, the more excited they are about developing their passions and skills. This benefits all of Fairfax County. Northern Virginia industry leaders look to NOVA to recruit a highly skilled workforce, said Anne M. Kress, president of NOVA. We work directly with employers to match our programs to their needs. This unique partnership with FCPS and NVTC will encourage our regions high school students to begin thinking about their career goals early so they can seamlessly move from high school, through NOVA, and into high-demand jobs in the regional workforce. The inaugural Aim High Champions include: 1. Amazon 2. ASRC Federal 3. Booz Allen Hamilton 4. Broadband Technical Resources 5. Capital One 6. CGI 7. Deltek 8. GDIT 9. Iridium 10. Maximus 11. Microsoft 12. Monster 13. National Science Foundation 14. Noblis 15. SAIC 16. Software AG Government Solutions 17. Splunk 18. Unanet 19. Van Metre Companies To learn more about Aim High or how your company can participate, please contact Lindsey Kearney at lkearney@nvtc.org. ### Contact Tarin Horan Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) thoran@nvtc.org 703-946-0319 About the Northern Virginia Technology Council NVTC is the trade association representing the Northern Virginia technology community. As one of the nations largest technology councils, NVTC serves companies from all sectors of the industry, from small businesses and startups to Fortune 100 technology companies, government contractors, as well as service providers, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. More than 460 members look to the organization as a resource for networking and educational opportunities, peer-to-peer communities, policy advocacy, industry promotion, fostering of strategic relationships, and branding of the region as a major global technology center. Learn more at http://www.nvtc.org. About the Northern Virginia Community College Northern Virginia Community College is the largest public institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of America's largest community colleges. NOVA enrolls nearly 80,000 students at its six campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield (Medical Education Campus), and Woodbridge, through NOVA Online, and high school dual enrollment. NOVA offers more than 100 associate degree and certificate programs to help students reach their academic and professional goals through university transfers and access to the most in-demand careers. At NOVA, we strive to ensure that every student succeeds, every program achieves, and every community prospers. For more information about NOVA and its programs or services, visit http://www.nvcc.edu. About Fairfax County Public Schools FCPS is one of the largest school divisions in the U.S. with 198 schools and centers. We serve a diverse student population of more than 181,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12, speaking more than 200 languages. More than 27% of our total student population is Economically Disadvantaged; 14.4% are reported as Students with Disabilities, and more than 20% of students are English Learners. Nearly 94.6% of FCPS students graduate on time (in four years of high school), and more than 92% plan to pursue post-secondary education. The Charming Taste of Europe continues to support its initiatives by hosting an exclusive press trip to discover the beauty of the Abruzzo region promoted by the Consorzio Vini dAbruzzo. A selected group of US and Canadian journalists will travel to Abruzzo, at the heart of Italy, from June 5th to June 8th. Abruzzo, stretches down the eastern side of the country all the way from the Apennine mountains to the Adriatic Sea. The region of Abruzzo is one of Italy's best kept secrets, offering beautiful villages, landscapes, a rich history and enchanting viticulture. As a guest of the Consorzio Vini dAbruzzo participants will meet with local producers who will present some of the region's native varietals including Montepulciano dAbruzzo DOC, which represents over 80% of the total number of DOC wines produced in Abruzzo, Trebbiano dAbruzzo DOC, a variety in that dates back to the 16th century and Abruzzo Pecorino DOC, an old variety derived from the Italian word pecora meaning sheep. The Charming Taste of Europe, a three-year campaign started in 2021 and promoted by the Vini d Abruzzo consortium, the Union of Sweet Bordeaux Wines, along with fruit producers in Greeces Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Kavala (Kavala COOP) and Agricultural Cooperative of Rachi Pieria (Agios Loukas), co-financed by the European Union, aims to enlighten participants on the significance and elegance of the Abruzzo region by highlighting the charming wines through educated wine professionals. About the Charming Taste of Europe: Europe, a place with timeless charm, is the birthplace of some of the highest-quality products in the world. The Charming Taste of Europe is a special project that introduces exquisite specialties to the United States and Canada, such as Italian and French wines, and fresh fruits from Greece, that showcase Europes charm, beauty, culture, history, art, heritage and unmistakable tastes. The mission of the Charming Taste of Europe, co-funded by the European Union, is to increase awareness of the merits and quality standards of select European wines and fresh fruits with promotional activities in the competitive markets of the U.S. and Canada. The Charming Taste of Europe is promoted by the Consortium for the Protection of Wines of Abruzzo, the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Kavala (Kavala COOP), the Agricultural Cooperative of Rachi Pieria Agios Loukas and the Union of Sweet Bordeaux Wines. These European agricultural products, famous around the world for their outstanding qualities, will continue to be promoted with initiatives and events for consumers, journalists and trade professionals. For more information visit charmingtasteofeurope.eu To Follow The Charming Taste of Europe Campaign: Website: charmingtasteofeurope.eu Facebook: @CharmingTasteofEU Instagram: @charmeu_usa YouTube:The Charming Taste of Europe Hashtags: #thecharmingtasteofeu and #charmeu The content of this promotion campaign represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission and the European Research Executive Agency (REA) do not accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the information it contains Two new employees were recently added to the staff roster at the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau. New Travel and Tourism Manager Nicole Hanacek will be responsible for coordinating digital marketing assets, assisting with the visitor bureaus Tour Operator Program and focusing on sustainability in partnership with One Planet Living. Hanacek is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and brings experience in marketing research, project management and graphic design to the bureau. Susan McLain takes on the role of communications manager and will oversee public relations with an emphasis on travel media, industry partners, resident relations, and editorial content. McLain is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and a former member of the Society of American Travel Writers, the Public Relations Society of America, the Florida Public Relations Association, and the National Association of Realtors. Haley Chenowith has been with the bureau since May 2022 and is now promoted to visitor relations manager. President and CEO Debbie Meihls has served the bureau since 2015. She has developed the office for growth domestically and internationally. Additionally, she holds posts as chairwoman of Destinations Florida, a membership association of destination management organizations statewide and secretary of Southeast Tourism Society, a regional association comprised of 14 states in the southeast. About the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau The NSBAVB is the destination management organization for the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority. The SVAA is funded by the Convention Development Tax levied on short-term rentals in southeast Volusia County, which includes the cities of Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Osteen, and Port Orange. The NSBAVB operates a Visitor Center, which is open Monday Friday at 2238 State Road 44, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The NSBAVB is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program of Destinations International. The bureau was the first in Florida to join the One Planet Living online eco-system to address sustainability efforts as a destination management organization. For more information, please visit http://www.VisitNSBfl.com or call 386-428-1600. Follow @NewSmyrnaBeach1 on Twitter, http://www.Facebook.com/VisitNewSmyrnaBeach or @visitnewsmyrnabeach on Instagram for the latest news. For visitor information when on the go, download the free New Smyrna Beach Mobile App for iPhone and Android. ### Version 9 Released for Businesses Clamoring for Change The latest version 9 release of this popular ezCheckPrinting software offers new features to business owners clamoring for change. Halfpricesoft.com developers have just updated and released version 9 of ezCheckprinting business check writer. With no recurring or hidden fees, the latest version gives business owners more bang for their buck. Get a quality and cost effective program that will print unlimited checks for unlimited accounts. The latest version 9 release of this popular ezCheckPrinting software offers new features to business owners clamoring for change, said Halfpricesoft.com Founder, Dr. Ge, With the latest ezCheckPrinting software, entrepreneurs can easily print checks to pay bills, print blank checks to fill in manually and print draft checks to receive payments more easily. customers can download the trial version at https://www.halfpricesoft.com/product_ezCheck.asp. The software is also available for MAC (sold separately). Designed for ease of use, ezCheckprinting software is straightforward and user-friendly. The unique features of this MICR & laser cheque writing and printing software include: Print checks on blank check stock or pre-printed checks in check-on-top, check-in-middle, or check-on-bottom and three per page formats Add a company logo and other customizable design features for a professional, corporate look to company checks No limit to the number of accounts that can be added Print an unlimited number of checks with no additional cost Add a second signature line for peace of mind and security Include signature image on checks to save time signing checks Customizable report features that are easy to use Save time by printing bulk checks with one click Starting at just $49 per installation, (we offer discounts for multi installations) ezCheckPrinting is affordable for any size business and is compatible with all popular brands of laser printers (most of which can print bank-accepted MICR numbers) and specialized MICR printers. Furthermore, there are never recurring fees or hidden fees associated with the program. To learn more about ezCheckPrinting business check writing software and the many easy to use features, please visit https://www.halfpricesoft.com/product_ezCheck.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. Ukraine is returning 106 more soldiers from Bakhmut direction from Russian captivity, including eight officers and 98 soldiers and sergeants, Head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak said on his Telegram channel. "We are returning home 106 of our people. These are soldiers from Bakhmut direction eight officers and 98 soldiers and sergeants. They fought for Bakhmut and accomplished a feat that did not allow the enemy to advance further deep into our East. Each of them is a hero of our state," he said. Among those who are returned from captivity, many were considered missing, the head of the President's Office said. "The relatives of these people have gone through a difficult stage. The coordinating headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war, our entire team are fulfilling the president's task to return everyone home as soon as possible. Volodymyr Zelenskyy identified this task as one of the key ones. All our people will be at home. We are working on this further. And each exchange brings us one step closer to this goal," Yermak said. Discussions regarding reported Russian losses in Bakhmut have saturated the pro-war information space and are drowning out any remaining positive informational effect resulting from the citys capture, a report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for May 24 says. The overall Russian information space response to the capture of Bakhmut has fixated on attributing responsibility for its capture and speculating on the associated costs of the operation, thus depriving the Russian MoD of the oxygen necessary to positively frame the citys capture, the message reads. It is also reported that leader of the private military company Wagner Group, which actively participated in the operation in Bakhmut, Evgeny Prigozhin, is likely using his heightened profile following the capture of Bakhmut to intensify his attacks against the Russian military establishment and elites, and warned warned that the Russian elite is fostering a situation that could end up like the revolution of 1917. Prigozhin also suggested that Russia should become a totalitarian regime akin to North Korea and close all borders for a certain number of years to achieve victory in Ukraine. Prigozhin has routinely crafted an image to resonate with a constituency interested in the ideology of Russias national superiority, Soviet brutalist strength, and Stalinist totalitarian control, the Institute says. According to the ISW, Russian sources continued to respond to the limited all-Russian pro-Ukrainian Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and the Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR) raid into Belgorod Oblast. In particular, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed at the Ministry of Defense (MoD) Collegium meeting that Western Military District Border Guards expelled all pro-Ukrainian forces from Belgorod Oblast, killing 70 personnel and destroying an unspecified number of vehicles and armored vehicles. On Wednesday, Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line. They also continued limited ground attacks on the outskirts of Bakhmut and along the Avdiyivka-Donetsk City line. Russian forces continue to target Ukrainian positions in southern Ukraine with FAB-500 aerial bombs, the ISW said. The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar) has signed agreements with global technology majors -Siemens and Emerson - to develop sustainable infrastructure projects and accelerate the expansion of automation technology and industrial software excellence in the country. IPA Qatars partnership with Siemens establishes the foundation for collaboration in the development of sustainable infrastructure projects in Qatar, leveraging Siemens' expertise in infrastructure, industry and mobility. It aims to strengthen cooperation in key sectors, such as vertical farming, smart cities, and transportation. According to the agreement, Siemens is committed to fostering local talent and plans to increase its workforce to exceed 300 full time employees. This will facilitate knowledge transfer and create new opportunities, contributing to the growth and development of Qatar's workforce. The MoU with Emerson will accelerate the expansion of automation technology and industrial software excellence in Qatar. IPA Qatar will support Emerson in its development of a Centre of Excellence in Lusail City, which will serve as a central hub for fostering innovation, sharing technology best practices, and nurturing local talent in key industry sectors, such as energy utilisation, he added. These agreements were signed today (May 24) on the sidelines of the 3rd edition of the Qatar Economic Forum. Commenting on the signing, Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO, IPA Qatar, said: "The new strategic partnerships with Siemens and Emerson are a significant step forward for IPA Qatar in achieving our mission to attract foreign direct investment and promote economic growth in Qatar." "By collaborating with global leaders in technology, finance and innovation, we can create new opportunities for our local businesses and help them compete on a global scale. We are confident that these partnerships will lead to mutually beneficial outcomes and look forward to working closely with our new partners to drive sustainable economic development in Qatar," he stated. Hakan Ozdemir, CEO of Siemens in Qatar, said: "We are happy to collaborate with IPA Qatar and embark on this partnership, as it signifies our strong commitment to collaboration and contributing to the digital transformation in Qatar." "Together, we will contribute to Qatar's position as a leading business location for the technology sector in the region, by leveraging our expertise and working closely with local partners. Our aim is to make significant advancements in digitalisation, sustainability, and alternative energy solutions, creating a brighter and more sustainable future for Qatar through this collaboration," he noted. Walid Samara, Vice President and General Manager of Emerson for the Northern Region, said: "Over the years, Emerson, as a leading automation technology and industrial software provider, has supported Qatars hydrocarbon industry and its position as a leading LNG producer and exporter in the world market." "The development of our Centre of Excellence will unlock opportunities for industry collaboration in innovation, local talent development and the sharing of technology best practices," he added. The signing ceremony was also attended by Matthias Rebellius, Siemens (Smart Infrastructure) CEO; Helmut von Struve, CEO of Siemens in the Middle East and UAE; and Mazen Ghannam, Emersons QatarEnergy Global Strategic Account Director.-TradeArabia News Service On Thursday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto made a decision to supply Ukraine with additional military assistance based on a government proposal, according to the website of the Finnish Ministry of Defense. The new aid package includes, in particular, anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition, but for operational reasons and to ensure the safe delivery of aid, no additional information about the specific content, method of delivery or schedule of assistance will be provided. The additional assistance took into account both the needs of Ukraine and the resource situation of the Finnish Defense Forces. The total amount of the tranche will be EUR 109 million. This is the sixteenth delivery of military aid from Finland to Ukraine, the ministry notes. "Finland will continue to support Ukraine together with our international partners. The recoverable value of all defense aid packages delivered by Finland to Ukraine now amounts to EUR 1.1 billion," Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said. USA, allies pledge to supply $65 bln in military aid to Ukraine - Pentagon chief The United States and other countries of the contact group to support Ukraine have pledged to provide military assistance totaling $65 billion, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday. In total, the Contact Group has committed nearly $65 billion in security assistance, Austin said at a meeting of the Contact Group. He also expressed hope that the training of Ukrainian pilots to navigate F-16 fighter jets will begin "in the coming weeks." Austin held a meeting of the members of the contact group online. Above, St. Patrick used to lay down the law to Ireland's rulers, but today it's more the other way around. May 24, 2023 By S.A. McCarthy , RealClearInvestigationsMay 24, 2023 LIMERICK, Ireland -- Ireland is on the verge of passing the most aggressive hate crime law in the European Union, which includes the first legal protections in the EU for transgender individuals. Government officials say the bill offers necessary protections at a time when immigration is on the rise and traditional ideas about sex and gender are being challenged. Leo Varadkar, Ireland's openly gay Taoiseach, with President Biden during the American's visit in April. Critics counter that the bills vague language could be used to enforce the increasingly progressive Irish governments increasingly woke agenda and forcibly muzzle critics of unpopular government policies. The legislation, the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Act, underscores a divide between Irelands leaders and many of its people. The bill is making its way through Parliament, winning approval last month in the Dail Eireann, Irelands lower chamber, by a vote of 110-14. But Irish citizens, in a 2019 consultation phase, overwhelmingly expressed a worry that the proposal was an unnecessary expansion of the countrys existing hate crimes law. Seventy-three percent of respondents took issue with the bills potential for encroachment on free speech and questioned what qualifies as hate speech, particularly asking who crafts that definition. Less than 25% of those polled approved of the legislation. Underscoring this divide, critics of the bill note that fewer than 50 cases have been brought since the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act was signed into law in 1989. A supporter of the proposed law, former Justice Minister Helen McEntee, has cited that same statistic as evidence of the existing laws ineffective nature. A critic's caution: "George Orwells 1984 is not an instruction manual. It was a warning." The ongoing controversy opens a window into how quickly Ireland, which only legalized abortion in 2018, is moving from its long religious traditions at a time when leaders in other European countries and the United States are seeking to create laws that punish not just deeds but thoughts. Over the past 30 years or so, the Irish nation has become increasingly progressive. In 2015, the Emerald Isle legalized gay marriage, just two years after the progressive vanguard of France did the same. That same year, Ireland was ranked among the top 10 most LGBT-friendly nations in the world, and the present taoiseach (Irelands word for prime minister) Leo Varadkar is openly gay. The proposed law would expand the 1989 laws purview by adding gender, sex, descent and disability to the list of protected categories, which already includes race, color, nationality, religion (including the absence of a religious conviction or belief), national or ethnic origin, descent, gender, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, or disability. The bill treats not just public presentation or dissemination of material deemed hateful, but also private preparation or even storing of material deemed hateful, such as memes on your phone or books on your shelf. Individuals convicted on such charges face fines of up to 5,000 (about $5,400) and anywhere from six months to two years in prison. Furthermore, as McEntee noted, a conviction will allow for the hate criminal label to follow an offender in court, in garda [police] vetting, and so on Paul Murphy, a member of the left-wing People Before Profit-Solidarity coalition, even warned the bill will legislate the creation of a thought crime. Conservative chairman of the Irish Freedom Party Michael Leahy told RealClearInvestigations that the bill represents the most far-reaching and invasive attack against civil and religious liberty enacted in any Western democracy since the Second World War. In order to obtain a search warrant, all thats needed is a police officers oath sworn before a judge that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that evidence of, or relating to hate speech may be in any given place. Police are empowered to confiscate any phone or laptop and demand passwords and encryption keys. Failure to hand over a phone, laptop, password, or encryption key will result in a 5,000 fine and up to one year in jail. The bill further features a section to include stiffer penalties for crimes found to be aggravated by hatred. Standard crimes will then carry increased penalties if a judge or jury determines the accused was harboring hatred for the alleged victim on account of a protected characteristic, even if that hatred was not the motivating factor behind the crime. In cases where a crime is aggravated by hatred, the court is commanded to impose a sentence that is greater than that which would have been imposed in the absence of such a factor. What Is Hate? When the Irish people were allowed to submit letters in response to the bill the bill in 2019, nearly three quarters of respondents argued that hate speech should only include credible threats or incitement to violence, according to an analysis published by Gript Media. Some respondents claimed further hate speech laws were an Orwellian response only fitting in totalitarian regimes. One respondent wrote, Why can politicians not leave well enough alone? George Orwells 1984 is not an instruction manual. It was a warning. It seems to me that this proposed legislation is being written to give free reign to certain minority groups at the expense of the majority. Despite the overwhelming majority of negative responses during the public consultation, and the low number of hate speech prosecutions needed, Irelands Justice Department cited the sheer volume of responses themselves as reason enough to proceed with the legislation. Gerard Casey: The bills circular definition of hate "manifestly fails, for no coherent attempt to define a term X can include X in the proposed definition. One of the fundamental questions surrounding the new legislation is what actually classifies as hate speech. Prominent legal scholar Gerard Casey, professor emeritus at University College Dublin, has sharply criticized the bills circular definition of hate, saying that it manifestly fails, for no coherent attempt to define a term X can include X in the proposed definition. Citing the text of the bill itself, he continued: We are told, hatred means hatred against a person or a group of persons in the State or elsewhere on account of their protected characteristics or any one of those characteristics. If this is meant as a definition, it fails utterly. But if not, where is a definition of hatred to be found in the Bill? Although the proposed law is pending, Irelands national police force introduced a diversity and integration strategy in 2019 that embraced its vague definition of hate. The programs foundational document explains a hate incident as any incident which is perceived by any person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice. That is to say, hate incidents are any incidents in which an individual feels that he or she is hated, according to the new police definition. Under this definition, reports to police of hate crimes and hate incidents skyrocketed over the past two years, going from 24 reports in 2021 to 97 in 2022. Irelands isnt the only law enforcement agency to craft its own pejorative definitions and labels independently of the legislature. In the U.K., for example, the government counter-terrorism program Prevent labelled classic British works of fiction (including J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings and John Miltons Paradise Lost) as right-wing extremist material. Prevent was originally tasked with assessing threats posed by Islamic extremist terrorist organizations and was criticized for only 22% of its focus remaining on Islamic threats. In the United States, the FBI has relied on the left-wing Southern Poverty Law Center, which classifies Christian identity and Radical Traditional Catholicism as threats on a par with the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis. That list resulted in the FBIs Richmond field office implementing a plan to spy on American Catholics who attend the pre-Vatican II form of the Mass a plan which, according to both Mass-going Catholics and the House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, was actually put into action. On the advice of the partisan SPLC, the FBI branded an entire swath of American Catholics Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists. What Is Gender? In light of the rise of transgenderism, the question of gender in hate speech legislation has become especially controversial. The text of the proposed bill defines gender as the gender of a person or the gender which a person expresses as the persons preferred gender or with which the person identifies and includes transgender and a gender other than those of male and female. Once again, Professor Casey questioned the bills terminology: We are not told what gender is; what transgender is; what a gender other than male or female might be or how many of them there might be; and how any of the three listed gender items differ from or relate to one another. Irish Sen. Michael McDowell also expressed worries over the bills definition of gender and wrote to the justice minister asking for clarification on some of the bills ambiguous or nebulous terminology. He asked, Is transgender a gender for the purposes of Irish law? He also noted that Irelands 2015 Gender Recognition Act, which allows for individuals to legally change their genders, follows a binary male/female structure, seemingly contradicting the new legislations inclusion of a gender other than those of male and female. Casey warns that the legislations vague terminology will be used to silence dissent, noting, Transphobia, as a hate speech crime, pre-empts criticism of transgenderist ideology. The government, in tandem with much of the national media, has promoted transgenderist ideology. Earlier this year, Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman promoted lessons on transgenderism in elementary school classrooms. Varadkar backed OGormans proposal, as did President Michael Higgins. In 2020, OGorman also led an effort to permit minors to undergo transgender surgeries without parental consent. Beyond that, Christians who oppose the principles of the transgender movement on religious grounds have also fallen victim to claims of hatred and bigotry. Last year, Catholic priest Fr. Sean Sheehy delivered a homily reminding his parishioners of the Catholic Churchs long-held teachings on homosexuality, transgenderism, and abortion. Although preaching Catholic theology in a Catholic church, Sheehy was labeled a hateful bigot by national media. National LGBT Federation board Director Adam Long said Sheehys homily was repugnant, adding, Shrouding those deeply offensive comments in any kind of guise, be it religious or otherwise, doesnt make it any more acceptable. Even then-Deputy Prime Minister Varadkar commented on the homily, saying he felt singled out by Sheehys comments on homosexuality. Government-managed broadcaster RTE publicly demanded Sheehy apologize for his preaching. The priest responded, My answer basically is that I'm giving the teaching of the scriptures and the Church regarding homosexual sexual relationships: that they're sinful and that's it. Why would I apologize for the truth? Also last year, schoolteacher Enoch Burke was jailed after refusing to call a student by they/them pronouns, citing his Christian faith. He was held in contempt of court and was placed in solitary confinement in Dublins Mountjoy Prison, where he was held for almost four months. Just days ago, Irelands High Court ruled that Burkes employer was right to suspend him for upholding his Christian beliefs. Brussels, 'Where Free Nations Go to Die' Thus far, none of the major religious institutions in Ireland have made an official public statement on the legislation, though both Irelands Catholic Conference of Bishops and Irelands Presbyterian Church told RealClear they are keeping the situation under review and watching this particular piece of legislation carefully. The text of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill clarifies explicitly that it is derived from a 2008 European Union directive to implement more stringent hate speech laws. That directive states, It is necessary to define a common criminal-law approach in the European Union to this phenomenon [hate speech] in order to ensure that the same behavior constitutes an offence in all Member States. Property details: land for sale in Alturas, California. 2.3 acres for Residential zoning.... Price: $ 7,500 Seller State of Residence: California Type: Recreational, Acreage Zoning: Residential City: alturas State/Province: California Location: 891**, Las Vegas, Nevada You will be redirected to eBay Nearby California Property details: Hilton Grand Vacations Club McAlpin-Ocean PlazaMiami Beach, Florida All images in this listing are general images of the resort and do not necessarily reflect the actual resort or units. Please perform your own due diligence OVERVIEW1430 OCEAN DR, MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139Miami's South Beach defines urban sophistication, with its al fresco cafes, art deco architecture, mosaic of culture and world-class attitude. With a premier Ocean Drive address in the heart of South Beach, Hilton Grand Vacation... Price: $ 2,050 Seller State of Residence: Florida Property Address: 1430 Ocean Dr Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 33139 City: MIAMI BEACH State/Province: Florida Location: 331**, Miami Beach, Florida You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Florida Elizabeth Bice / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/24/2023 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Elizabeth Bice has broken her silence on her separation from husband Jamie Thompson Jamie announced last month that he and Elizabeth were trying out a separation and he wasn't sure if their relationship would ever recover.Jamie revealed on April 22 that he and Elizabeth, whom he wed on Season 9 of , had already been living apart for a month. He claimed Elizabeth left him because their "fighting had gotten really bad" and he had said a lot of things he shouldn't have "out of anger and frustration."But Elizabeth, for her part, hasn't mentioned Jamie or their split on social media -- until now.Elizabeth conducted a Q&A session via Instagram Stories on Wednesday, May 24, and one of her followers asked, "What's going on with you and Jamie??!?"Elizabeth replied to the fan, "I'm still not in the best place to talk about this.""But I do want to let you know I see these questions," Elizabeth continued, presumably referencing her influx of questions about the status of her marriage to Jamie."I'm not ignoring them," she insisted. "[I'm] just not [quite] ready to open up. But I appreciate you supporting the journey."Elizabeth went on to explain how she's currently in the "discovery era" of her life and that Colorado "may potentially just be a stop" for her and her dog.When Jamie first announced he and Elizabeth had parted ways, he posted some of his wedding photos and wrote on Instagram, "Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a leap forward.""A lot of you have been asking and I've been avoiding the questions... So, I just wanted to share that I'm taking some time away from my wife to focus on myself and my personal growth," he added.Jamie said while time away from Beth was "not easy," he believed it was "necessary.""Taking this step may be difficult, but I know it's necessary for me to become the best version of myself," Jamie continued in his April post."I can't say what the future holds for Beth and I, but I know I will be a stronger version of myself regardless. #selfcare #mentalhealth #personaldevelopment #personalgrowth #takingtimeforme #marriedatfirstsight."Jamie then revealed in a Q&A session of his own that Elizabeth had left him after a big fight. But he wasn't willing to accept all the blame for the falling out with his wife."I also haven't felt like I've had any reciprocation back of, like, how to fix this and how to move forward. So she's been gone for four weeks. I think at this point, it's better for me to focus on myself and trying to become a better version of myself, honestly. That's all I can say," Jamie explained.In terms of what happened or what went wrong, Jamie surprisingly disclosed, "Nothing. It's basically death by a thousand paper cuts, at this point.""I think the winter was really hard on us here in Colorado and we weren't ready for all that," Jamie elaborated. "And being stuck inside with sub-freezing temperatures daily and snow on the ground for weeks at a time -- and we're both active... people.""So I think we just pushed each other's buttons, honestly. And five months of doing that straight, here we are today," he said.Jamie revealed that he knew he needed to "take a step back" from Beth at the three-week mark of their separation, when he felt Beth wasn't trying to work on things or save their marriage."I wasn't getting any sense of desire to fix this. The only thing I was really hearing, coming from her side, was blame," Jamie claimed via Instagram Stories."And I'm not perfect, I make a lot of mistakes. I say things I shouldn't say and I get more angry than I should get sometimes, but I've got to go take care of myself now... I've got to control myself. It's like Mental Health 101 -- focus on yourself, love yourself first before you try to love somebody else. So that's where I'm at today."Jamie admitted that he and Beth felt "pressure" to create "an image of happiness" on social media, even though their relationship had been struggling for months."To me, that's not real. We took a lot of heat coming off the show. We were our most authentic selves, our most raw selves on that show, and I just want to be honest... A lot of people are invested in our life, and I feel like I owe you guys an explanation," Jamie said.When asked why he couldn't work on himself while continuing his marriage -- given the couple had made a vow to each other -- Jamie said he believes a healthy marriage is when "people grow and evolve together.""I don't think being apart and growing and evolving is always the best solution. I don't know, it's just my opinion. Why would you need to be apart to work on yourself?" Jamie shared, seemingly criticizing Beth's need for some space."It almost seems like maybe you shouldn't be in the marriage at that point... If you get to a point where things aren't evolving or getting better, then that's where I'm at today. I've got to step away and take care of myself."Jamie went on to admit that he wasn't sure if Elizabeth was going to be angry at him for speaking about their separation publicly."I don't know. I'm really trying to do this in a tactful way. I don't want to say anything bad about her. I'm not here to bash Beth and drag her out behind the woodshed, so to speak, as we say in the South," Jamie noted.Jamie said prior to his April 22 announcement, he and Beth had talked about potentially going public with the news of their breakup together."If we could've worked together to address this publicly, we probably could've worked together to work on our marriage," Jamie said.While Jamie and Beth appear to be on the outs, Jamie insisted he was "absolutely not" ready to date again."I'm good on the dating streets. I think for me, right now, I just want to take some time to work on myself. Dating is not going to solve anything. Finding that perfect someone is not going to make life great all of a sudden," Jamie reasoned in his Q&A."It kind of sucks because I'm 39-years-old and I would like a family at some point, and I was hoping that was going to be possible with Beth. But I don't know after all this."He concluded, "If I'm 45 having my first kid, or 50, you know, medicine is great these days. What are you going to do?"Jamie said, for the time being, he and Elizabeth were both going to therapy and he was working on anger management.Jamie acknowledged he and Elizabeth probably "should've been going to therapy" together and they swept a lot of fights under the rug.Jamie, however, insisted on Sunday, April 23 that he still loved Beth "a lot" and cared for her "tremendously.""We just can't seem to get to the point where we can have enough healthy conversation to start discussing what this looks like going forward," Jamie said."Initially, I wanted her to be here and work on things together when she left. I thought this was going to be a three or four-day thing... It hurts. It's not what I want."But Jamie said he recognized they both probably needed a little space."And now I'm like, 'How do you keep reaching somebody who doesn't want to be reached?' She just wants her own space, and honestly, I've got to do what's best for me and take my own space too," Jamie said.Jamie admitted he definitely "lost" himself trying to please Beth in their marriage, although he wouldn't call her a "demanding" person. He said he really wanted their relationship to work."I started putting my hobbies, my goals, my own personal stuff aside trying to focus on this relationship, and that's just a piece of advice -- don't lose yourself. Be true to yourself. Know yourself," Jamie told his followers.He also said they got in "way over their heads" with moving around the country for Jamie's job -- including stops in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, North Carolina, and then Colorado."The desperation of a new life really hurt," Jamie recalled of trying to settle down in Colorado.Jamie and Beth's split came as a surprise to fans given they had just celebrated their four-year anniversary in early April."I think we were both struggling to make each other happy... Why were we relying on each other to make our own selves happy vs. just being happy on our own?" Jamie noted.Elizabeth and Jamie chose to stay together on 's ninth season, which was based in Charlotte, NC, and aired in 2019.Back in May 2021, Elizabeth and Jamie talked about having kids together on a : Countdown to Decision Day special that aired on Lifetime."Are we waiting? What are we doing, babe?" Jamie asked Beth on the show."Speaking of babies," Elizabeth began, "Jamie and I are actually thinking to start towards the end of the year now. So, like, it's in the conversation... I am going to be a cool mom!"Elizabeth and Jamie hit it off right away when they met at the altar as strangers on four years ago.Elizabeth and Jamie were crazy about each other, as well as sexually attracted to one another, but their passion and tempers often resulted in explosive and volatile arguments.Elizabeth sometimes got overly emotional over things that bothered her and memorably flipped over their living-room table, while Jamie sometimes used his words as weapons and complained about their lack of physical intimacy. He even called Elizabeth "a materialistic c-nt" at one point.However, with the help of the 's experts, Elizabeth and Jamie managed to get through every rough patch and effectively communicate, resulting in what they thought would be a happy and lasting marriage.Both spouses recognized by "Decision Day" that they didn't want to live without the other.is currently airing its sixteenth season Wednesday nights on Lifetime.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now! Rapper Fetty Wap, legal name William Junior Maxwell II, was sentenced to six years in prison Wednesday for drug trafficking. ADVERTISEMENT He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess nearly 500 grams of cocaine. Facing possible life in prison, he reached a plea deal with prosecutors in August that called for a minimum five-year prison sentence. U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced Maxwell to six years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. New Jersey corrections officer Anthony Cyntje was sentenced in March to 72 months in prison for his role in the drug distribution. According to court filings, Maxwell and four co-defendants distributed more than 100 kilos of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin from June 2019 through June 2020 across Long Island and New Jersey. The Justice Department said in a statement that search warrants executed during the investigation recovered roughly $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilos of cocaine, 2 kilos of heroin and "numerous" fentanyl pills as well as two 9mm handguns, a rifle and two other pistols and ammunition. Maxwell was arrested before taking the stage at a concert at New York City's Citi Field in October 2021. The men got the drugs on the west coast, according to the Justice Department, and transported them to New York and New Jersey using both the Postal Service and vehicles with hidden compartments. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! The other defendants are Anthony Leonardi of Long Island; Robert Leonardi of Levittown, Penn.; and Brian Sullivan and Kavaughn L. Wiggins, both of Long Island. Maxwell was free on bond after his arrest but jailed since August 2022 after his bail was revoked. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has congratulated the countries of the African Union on Africa Day and said that "Ukraine and Africa need each other more than ever." Congratulations to African countries on Africa Day. Ukraine has been and will continue to be a contributor to peace and development of the continent. Today, this is evidenced by Grain From Ukraine humanitarian program and the Peace Formula, which can restore world order and the power of the UN Charter. Ukraine and Africa need each other more than ever! Zelenskyy said on Twitter Thursday. Africa Liberation Day is celebrated annually on May 25 by the countries of the African Union by decision of the UN. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. 'We plan to add over 100,000 square kilometres every year, to reach an ambitious target of 500,000 square kilometres by 2025.' Photograph: Kind courtesy ONGC In the wake of ONGC discovering what it describes as 'notable findings' of oil and gas recently, Sushma Rawat, director (exploration) of the company spoke with Subhomoy Bhattacharjee/Business Standard on the company's strategy, tie ups with global majors and other issues. How did you get to these finds? ONGC's relentless pursuit of exploring untapped regions has yielded these finds. By diligently analysing geological data and employing advanced technologies, the company has successfully identified substantial oil and gas reserves, reaffirming the untapped potential within the OALP blocks. The discovery represents a momentous achievement, underscoring exploration and will expand domestic production to reduce India's reliance on imported oil and gas. You have signed different types of agreements with international oil majors. How will they play out in the future for ONGC? What will you offer? ONGC is keen to work with global majors as strategic partners in challenging areas and bring-in expertise in three key areas: deep water exploration, monetising the discovered fields on fast-track and enhancing production from mature fields through enhanced oil recovery and improved oil recovery techniques. What we are looking forward to in collaborations is substantial value additions by the partners. ONGC is open to giving equity stake in difficult fields to de-risk deep water/difficult ventures and bring capital in areas which are technology and capital intensive. We are willing to collaborate with any entity who has a technology and risk appetite. In some areas, we can have service providers, and in some other areas, we may have technology partners and include financial partners. We have signed Heads of Agreement with ExxonMobil for collaboration in deep-water exploration in KG-Cauvery and Kutch offshore basins. An MoU with Chevron for potential collaboration in the Tripura fold belt, Bengal offshore, KG-Cauvery. A CA signed with TotalEnergies, France, for Andaman & Mahanadi offshore and an MoU with Equinor, Norway for various scope of work including upstream, midstream, marketing, renewables (offshore wind) and CCUS. There is also an MoU signed with Shell to co-operate in CCUS studies, focusing on joint CO2 storage study and EOR screening assessment for 'key basins' in India, including depleted oil and gas fields and saline aquifers. What were the critical shortages that made you tap these companies? As I said, to harness the benefit of international expertise, risk sharing, technology and skill enhancement, as a strategic instrument. Our deep/ultra-deep water exploration is very much in the forefront and is going to intensify in the years to come. However, rig resource availability and prioritising resources will be a big challenge for exploration. As you know, ONGC has adopted Energy Strategy 2040 as its strategic blueprint for the future in 2019. The energy transition and future energy demand scenario were the fundamental drivers of the roadmap and, going along, it is clear that this transition is going to play an increasingly stronger role in charting out the future policies and strategies. Will these tie ups lead to an increase in ONGC's investments for exploration since the company has only allocated an average exploration budget of Rs 31,000 crore (Rs 310 billion) annually for the three-year period ending FY24? We already have a plan to intensify our exploration efforts and have been aggressively increasing our exploratory acreages through OALP. In the next three years we plan an increase in CAPEX by 150 per cent for exploration compared to the last three fiscals. In this respect, it is pertinent to mention that bringing reputed global E&P players in the Indian hydrocarbon industry may be a game changer and will help open a new vista. ONGC is venturing into high-risk high-gain deep/ultra-deep water exploration on the east and west coasts of India. For that, we have already acquired a few deep/ultra deep water exploration acreages under OALP in the Cauvery basin, Andaman basin and Mahanadi basin. ONGC has already explored 200,000 square kilometres of Indian sedimentary geology. We plan to add over 100,000 square kilometres every year, to reach an ambitious target of 500,000 square kilometres by 2025. So our deep-water exploration is likely to see large capex. Overall, we shall invest around $7 billion in the next 3-4 years to reverse the declining trend in oil and gas production. How many more years, how many more states, how many more campaigns, how many more candidates can he ask votes for, before he or the voters or both tire?, asks Krishna Prasad. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with Bharatiya Janata Party National Vice-President Vasundhara Raje being garlanded during a public meeting in Abu Road, May 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Every question has been asked and answered about the Karnataka election verdict. Every question, except the only one that matters: If this is what could happen to the BJP with Narendra Modi, what might happen to the BJP without Narendra Modi? There is no running away from this question given the thundering 'thappad' the BJP has received in its 'gateway to the south', where the prime mantri was the pradhan mascot, throwing all he could summon in a cringe-worthy demo of I-me-mera-mahaan. At public meetings and in road shows; in 'interactions' with plebs and celebs; on hoardings and in pamphlets; in newspaper ads and TV commercials; on Facebook and WhatsApp; and in tweets and photo-ops, it was Modi, Modi, Modi -- to the power of 2AB. For all the energy that the double-engine's head driver put on show, for all the execrable tropes he used, the BJP got 66 seats in the referendum, 38 fewer than five years ago. And this, in a state where BJP had thrice formed a government without Modi's exertions (and excesses). It is difficult to imagine a more thorough repudiation -- rejection, actually -- of everything Modi thinks he represents. Jai Bajrang Bali. The BJP's meltdown in Karnataka is not the point. It is the puncturing of the Modi persona, constructed at obnoxious cost. A trip to open an airport in Shimoga in February cost Rs 21 crore. A detour to Belgaum on the same day cost another Rs 15 crore. A 110-minute visit to Dharwar to open an IIT in March cost Rs 9.5 crore. Self-effacing Kannadigas, whose political, cultural, literary, sport, cinema and business icons are a picture of modesty, saw through the relentless preening and self-promotion for what it was, and demolished the 'Statue of Narcissism' with the kind of brutality no one suspected lay behind their quiet docility. They also showed they had a good memory. In the two years of 2020 and 2021, when Karnataka saw Covid and a deadly flood, Modi came just once. But in just the four months of 2023, he visited 11 times on official (government) and non-official (party) visits, the two indistinguishable in the BJP playbook to hoodwink the Election Commission's laughable rules. Between April 29 and May 7, he addressed 16 public meetings away from Bangalore. The BJP won in exactly two of those locations. Strike rate: 10%. This is precisely why the 'BJP after Modi' question gains salience. If the party can lose despite Modi throwing his all into the campaign, what can it expect of those who have a lot less charisma, credibility and can-do? Karnataka answered that, too. Modi and Amit Shah touched 218 of the 224 constituencies through their campaigns. The BJP won in 66 of them. Strike rate: 31%. Another aspirant, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath showed off his JCB in 10 constituencies. Not only did BJP not gain any new seats, it saw its margins shrink in three seats where 'Yogi' campaigned in the Hindutva hotspots of Coastal Karnataka -- and he could not even stop mining baron Janardhana Reddy's triumph. Strike rate: 0. IMAGE: Narendra D Modi, the Bharatiya JanaTa Party's star campaigner, at a roadshow in Bengaluru, May 6, 2023 for the Karnataka assembly elections. Photograph: ANI Photo Of the other shrill, language-challenged choral members the BJP unleashed to play 'Raga Narendra Modini' in Karnataka -- Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Himanta Biswa Sharma, Devendra Fadnavis, et al -- it can be safely said they did not trouble the scorers, or voters. It can be argued that this cascade of rejection is only to be expected when an incumbent party is engulfed by a giant wave, but what Karnataka has demonstrated is not just diminishing respect for the BJP's pradhan vote magnet but near-total contempt for those who will follow after him. By putting all its eggs in one basket, the BJP has arrived at an inflection point in its electoral journey. IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party campaigner Amit A Shah greets BJP supporters during a roadshow ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections at Byndoor in Udupi, April 29, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Karnataka may, of course, be an exception. Modi may yet find his image intact in the five other states where elections are due soon, and/or in the next general elections. At least that is the gloss being applied on the loss. But the question 'BJP after Modi' is very much on the table whether the party wins or loses. After all, Narendra Modi is 73. Realistically, how many more years, how many more states, how many more campaigns, how many more candidates can he ask votes for, before he or the voters or both tire? And what if the EC moots 'one nation, one election'? IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with Lok Sabha MP from Mandya Sumalatha Ambareesh at a roadshow for the Karnataka assembly elections in Mandya, April 26, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo It is perfectly all right for the BJP and its chamchas and cheerleaders to taunt the Opposition with the rhetorical binary, 'If not Modi, who?' But sometime soon they need to face the mirror and ask, who is the alternative to Modi within the BJP, when the going gets tough as it did in Karnataka? What happens to the BJP without Narendra Modi is relatively easy to imagine in the absence of an acceptable, coherent or cohesive second line. Less easy is a natural corollary: What happens to India after Narendra Modi, as a receding tide washes up the detritus of hype, hope and hoopla. Nagpur, you have a Modi-size problem. Krishna Prasad is former editor-in-chief, Outlook, and former member, Press Council of India. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com These are obviously not 'organic' desertions but brought about under intense military pressure, post 9/5 arrests. It seemed as if the party was being dismantled the same way it was brought into power!, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W, India's external intelligence agency. IMAGE: Imran Khan speaks to the media at his residence in Lahore, May 18, 2023. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters Defence Minister Khwaja Asif's statements to media that the Pakistan Democratic Movement government may be contemplating to ban Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf party after the May 9, 2023 violence by its cadres, have intensified speculation about its imminent implosion and possible disqualification of its members and leader before the next general elections. Dozens of PTI leaders have resigned after the May 9 protests including former ministers Shireen Mazari and Fawad Chaudry, who said they were taking a break from politics. 'Electables' earlier herded into the party at the Pakistan army's nod -- the likes of Faiz Ullah Kamoka, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, Aftab Siddiqui, Dost Muhammad Mazari, Hisham Inamullah Khan, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Usman Khan Tarakai, Mahmood Moulvi needed no second urging to desert the sinking ship. Prominent ex-military scion Asad Umar (son of the late General Umar of 1971 purges notoriety) announced he was quitting as secretary general though not leaving the party (yet). These were obviously not 'organic' desertions but brought about under intense military pressure, post 9/5 arrests. It seemed as if the party was being dismantled the same way it was brought into power! Founded in April 1996 the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Movement for Justice) sought 'a Third Way', aiming to create a welfare State, 'Riyasat e Madina', where the State would be responsible for education, health and employability of citizens. It would promote freedom of thought, abolish personal income tax and dismantle religious discrimination. It promised to crack down on police brutality, restructure the civil service, reform the electoral system, allow for a truly independent judiciary and decentralize state power. The PTI claimed to be Pakistan's only non-family party in mainstream politics. It had limited initial success, failing to win a single seat in the 1997 and 2002 general elections. Only Imran Khan himself was able to win a seat in 2002. It was only from 2011 onwards, as distaste of Pakistan's powerful military establishment and the higher judiciary intensified against the Zardaris and Sharifs, that Imran Khan and his PTI emerged as a possible option for 'engineering' a 'King's Party' into power. The PTI boycotted the 2008 election, but in the 2013 elections it received over 7.5 million votes, making it second in terms of the number of votes and third in the number of seats won (35). Its prolonged sit-ins in 2014-w015 had the blessings of ISI spy-masters, Lieutenant Generals Shuja Pasha and Zahir ul Islam. Then army chief General Raheel Sharif barely held the partiality scales in balance. The Panama taints emerged then, enabling the kudiciary to swing into action, disqualifying Nawaz Sharif. In the 2018 elections, the army's 'hybrid construct' came into full force with the declaration of results being made impervious to poll observers at the last minute. The PTI came to power with 149 seats (out of 272) in the national assembly. Of course, Imran emerged as the master of 'U-turns' on policy, expressing support at one stage for both the Afghan Taliban and the Tehrik e Taliban. He seldom hesitated to criticise the 'war on terror' or America's policy and approach on ties with Pakistan. Despite being the army's creation, Imran Khan talked guardedly about civilian control of Pakistan's military, suggesting that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) should report directly to the PM. Imran also pledged to resign should any terrorism take place from Pakistani soil. He would prevaricate from these positions whenever politically expedient. Article 17(2) of Pakistan's 1973 constitution safeguards the right to form political parties. The federal government can ban a party if it has reason to believe it is 'operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan'. Section 15 of the Political Parties Order, 2002 (PPO) further adds the 'foreign aided' accusation. The government is required to formalise this step through a gazette notification, which has to be referred to the supreme court within 15 days for a final decision. Under Section 16 of the PPO, members of the banned party would stand disqualified as legislators for the rest of their terms, and prevented from contesting elections, for four years thereafter. IMAGE: The debris of a burnt vehicle following a protest by Imran Khan's supporters against his arrest in Peshawar, May 11, 2023. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters It may be difficult to evolve consensus among allies of the Pakistan Democratic Movement government for banning the PTI. The supreme court, under Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial may not countenance such a move. Nevertheless, actions against those of its functionaries found to have direct involvement in instigating the May 9 violence are likely to continue under the Maintenance of Public Ordinance, 1960 or the Army Act, 1952. There is talk of a new faction of erstwhile PTI politicians emerging under the umbrella of Jehangir Tareen, the sugar baron cum industrialist who was instrumental in providing a bridge to Imran in 2017-2018. He fell out with Imran later and distanced himself on health grounds. He is still on a good wicket with the military establishment. This 'rump' may not enjoy mass popularity in comparison to Imran Khan, but it could serve the purpose of keeping the elections credible, whenever they are held. Describing these latest events as threats to his party men 'at the point of the gun', an increasingly isolated Imran indicated (May 24), he was ready to constitute a 10 -member committee (without naming any members) to hold dialogue with the government, 'for the sake of democracy and Pakistan'. Knowing well that his personal charisma has not ebbed, this could be part of Imran's new 'minus one' strategy, to step back and avoid future disqualification and arrest. Alas, this strategy hinges on the fast approaching September '23 deadline, if not earlier as rumours of resignations are resurgent, which will see his benefactors, President Arif Alvi and Chief Justice Bandial ride into the sunset. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'Modiji has a vision for the country, not just to fight the elections but about achieving certain goals for the country.' 'Congress does not even have a vision for 25 days.' IMAGE: United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Rahul Gandhi and others at an election meeting for the Karnataka assembly elections in Hubballi, May 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The exodus from the Congress to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is not news these days. It no longer surprises anyone when people are abandoning a sinking ship. But in Kerala, it surprised everyone when Congress veteran A K Antony's son Anil Antony left the Congress to join the BJP. A K Antony is not just any Congressman, he was a trusted lieutenant of the Gandhi family and served as defence minister in Dr Manmohan Singh's government. Soon after Anil Antony joined the BJP, his father told the media that he was pained and hurt by his son's behaviour. His younger brother urged him to come back to the Congress. But Anil stuck to his guns. Perhaps the BJP sees him as the 'minority' face to draw young Christians to its side. After Narendra D Modi's visit to Kerala last month where Antony Jr shared the dais with the prime minister along with other young achievers from Kerala, Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier spoke to Anil Antony about how he came to be in the BJP. The concluding segment of a two-part interview: Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is projected as a success because he was able to connect with people... I don't know on what basis the Congress party thinks it was a success. Yes, he walked from one end of the country to the other. But if you look at the election results after the yatra, the Congress was wiped out in the three North Eastern states and Gujarat. There was a by-election in Telangana where Mr Gandhi passed through. It was a sitting seat of the Congress, but the Congress candidate lost even the deposit. If you look at the election results, the public has not accepted the yatra or Mr Gandhi in any manner. Did you ever share your concerns with your father? I shared my ideas with my father who was in the Congress party for 65 years. He was a parliamentarian for almost 52 years. At 81, he has retired from active politics and public life. His political phase is over. I keep saying that the country has changed, and today India is an aspirational country that wants to move forward. Sadly, the problem with the Congress party is that it thinks the family's problem is the party's problem and the Congress party's problem is the country's problem. But that's not what it is. Every political party exists for a reason, but the Congress party gives no importance to the nation. Thats why people are not connected with the party in any manner. IMAGE: Anil Antony being welcomed by Bharatiya Janata Party National President Jagat Prakash Nadda alongwith Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, New Delhi, April 6, 2023. Photograph: Kind courtesy Anil Antony/Twitter You have interacted with Rahul Gandhi and now Narendra Modi. What difference do you see in them? It's about the concept of India itself. On one side, Modiji has a vision for the country, not just to fight the elections but about achieving certain goals for the country. He talks about a nation-building process for the 100th year of independence, 25 years from now. While Modiji is a 24/7 politician with a vision and direction, Rahul Gandhi though a good man doesn't have a vision or direction. I feel the party does not even have a vision for 25 days. The Congress party doesn't inspire the public or the youth as there is no direction in the party. When I was in Kerala, many people told me that you were poached by the BJP... There is nothing called poaching. When I left the Congress party in January 2023, I was not thinking of joining another party. Afterwards, there was communication between the BJP and I... Did they approach you, or did you approach them? I don't like to speak about that as it's an internal matter. We had discussions and I joined the BJP. IMAGE: A woman shows her affection for Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Thiruvananthapuram. Photograph: ANI Photo The general talk is that as a part of the minority outreach programne in Kerala, the BJP wanted you because you belong to the Christian community. Many people also say that like what has happened to Alphons Kannanthanam and Tom Vadakan, you also will be forgotten by the party after some time... I would say, this is the talk of a bunch of Kerala politicians who live like frogs in a well without any national perspective. Mr Vadakan is sitting in the national executive board of the party. Mr Kannanthanam was one of the top performing junior ministers in the government. But that was in the last ministry... They have performed their duties and they are still performing. I have certain skills, experiences and expertise which are globally recognised. And the party sees value in it. I am sure I will be able to contribute towards the prime minister's nation-building process using my expertise. Don't you think your surname Antony... It's undemocratic to say that just because your parents have certain political thoughts, you have to follow them. This is a free country where every individual has absolute liberty to pursue whatever he feels right. IMAGE: Anil Antony campaigns for BJP candidate Yashpal Suvarna in the Udupi constituency, Karnataka, May 5, 2023. Photograph: Anil Antony/Twitter It was reported that your father was pained and hurt by your decision... I have said at that time itself that we are four members in our family, and we have the deepest love, respect and affection for each other. But we are independent individuals who have the right to pursue our own path. Political life is different and family life is different. We are still family and a closely knit one. But I totally believe that the country has zero future with the Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi, or the Congress party in the current format. At the same time, I have full faith in the BJP led by Modiji. Would you have remained with the Congress if it had a different leader at the top? It's a hypothetical scenario. The Congress has tied its present and future to one family, but India has moved on. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged the non-Bharatiya Janata Party entities to unite and defeat in the Rajya Sabha the bill related to the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital. IMAGE: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal meets NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Photograph: @AamAadmiParty/Twitter The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor was addressing a press conference after meeting Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, who assured to support the former in his party's fight against the ordinance. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray have assured their support to Kejriwal in this matter. The Delhi CM said he will seek time on Friday for a meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss the issue. "If all non-BJP parties unite, the bill can be defeated in the Rajya Sabha as no party enjoys majority in the Upper House of Parliament," he said. "The ordinance has affected the federal structure of the country. Elected governments not being allowed to work by using ordinances is not good for the country," Kejriwal added. Pawar, who was present at the press conference, said the right of elected governments to govern needs to be protected and said all non-BJP parties should support the AAP in this matter. "Kejriwal should also meet all non-BJP parties to convince them. It is our responsibility to persuade everyone -- be it the Congress or the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)," he suggested. Describing national interest as a matter of priority, the former Union minister called for the need to have a dialogue between all non-BJP parties to provide a stable and progressive government when the time comes. Parliamentary democracy needs to be saved, Pawar said, adding that the NCP will support the AAP in this matter. Calling Pawar one of the tallest leaders in the country, Kejriwal thanked him for backing the AAP in its fight against the ordinance. Kejriwal slammed the BJP, and alleged that if people vote for a non-BJP government, then the party resorts to three methods (in order to topple that government) -- purchase MLAs from the ruling side, show fear of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or promulgate an ordinance to ensure the elected government is unable to function. "Defeating the Centre's ordinance is not a matter of politics but that of the country and all parties who love the country should come together," the AAP leader said. Pawar said, "I have been a parliamentarian for 56 years. This is not a matter of Delhi or AAP but of saving parliamentary democracy." "When a Parliament building already exists in the country, whether there is any need for a new one is a matter of debate. When we get an opportunity, we will speak in Parliament," Pawar said on a query regarding the opposition parties deciding to skip the inauguration of the new Parliament complex on May 28 at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Replying to a question on the PM candidate, the former Union minister said instead of projecting anyone as a PM candidate, it was important to have a dialogue between non-BJP parties to provide a stable and progressive government. "But we haven't spoken yet either with Congress or with Arvind Kejriwal. When time comes, we will talk. National interest is a priority for us," he said. On seat-sharing among the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies in Maharashtra for the upcoming elections, Pawar said it has been decided that all three partners will depute their respective leaders for talks. "The process has not started yet, but we will find a solution," he said. Kejriwal, who has been on a visit to Mumbai, was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during his meeting with Pawar at Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai. The top AAP leader on Wednesday met former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's Bandra residence to seek support over the ordinance issue. On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Mann met their West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance. The Centre last Friday promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court. He takes over the CBI in challenging times. The perception is that the agency is reduced to being an instrument of blackmail and intimidation by successive governments. IMAGE: Karnataka Director General of Police Praveen Sood, who has been appointed the next director of the Central Bureau of Investigation. Photograph: PTI Photo Amid the heat and dust of the Karnataka assembly elections, another issue has been added to the election outcome: The controversy over the appointment of the new director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Praveen Sood (59). He was expected to retire in 2024. He will now serve at least till 2025 with the possibility of extensions. Sood's appointment is being questioned both by political leaders and his peers and seniors, but the matter hit the headlines because Sood is a Karnataka cadre officer of the 1986 batch of the Indian Police Service and his appointment was announced as the Karnataka election results were declared. As part of CBI trivia, Sood is the third IPS officer from the Karnataka cadre to helm the investigative agency. His predecessors were Joginder Singh and D R Karthikeyan. He belongs to Himachal Pradesh -- Kangra, which is ecstatic that one of its boys has become chief of the country's premier investigative agencies. But Sood's education was largely in Delhi, and later in Bengaluru (he has a degree from the Indian Institute of Management) with a sabbatical at Syracuse University in the US. He joined the service at 22 after passing out from the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi and there's a special place in his heart for Mysuru, which was his first posting. These are, however, the bare bones of his career progression. The real issue is getting legitimacy and respect from the system. Retired police officer and former special director in the Intelligence Bureau Yashovardhan Azad says: "Praveen Sood, DGP Karnataka, and now CBI chief, was never in CBI nor on deputation to the Centre. "So, is the basis of empanelment by the Department of Personnel and Training experience, seniority or adjustability -- or whatever the boss says?" Azad believes the system of "selection" of the CBI chief is wrong and that a panel of five retired CBI or IB chiefs should decide who the CBI chief should be. A bigger thumbs down came from the people who will now be the political bosses in Karnataka. Describing Sood as a 'naalayak (no good)' a couple of months ago, Karnataka Congress chief (and now state Deputy Chief Minister) D K Shivakumar said all the officer did as director general of police in Karnataka was to put the political opponents of the government (the BJP at the time) in jail. 'He (DGP Sood) has been in service for the last three years. How many more days will he continue to be a BJP worker?' Shivakumar asked. 'He has registered around 25 cases against Congress leaders and not even a single case against BJP leaders in the state,' Shivakumar had said, sounding a warning: 'Let our government come. We will take action against him.' Sood has been tested time and again in Karnataka. After his first stint, he returned to Mysuru as police commissioner between 2004 and 2007. During this tenure, he and his team arrested two persons amid an exchange of fire on the night of October 26, 2006. The two, Fahad alias Mohammed Koya from Karachi and Mohammed Ali Hussain alias Jahangir (both of the Al-Badr group), were later convicted for waging war against the nation under the provisions of the Explosive Substances Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Anyone who has ever been to Bengaluru knows what a comprehensive traffic management disaster the city is. From 2008 to 2011, Sood was additional commissioner of police (traffic) for Bengaluru. He claims to be a strong supporter of technology-driven traffic management, and says he was instrumental in establishing the most advanced traffic management centre in Karnataka's capital city. Traffic in Bengaluru, however, continues to be chaotic. Sood takes over the CBI in challenging times. The perception is that the agency is reduced to being an instrument of blackmail and intimidation by successive governments -- the Supreme Court in 2013 referred to the CBI as a 'caged parrot'. The CBI's conviction rate has slipped, while its pendency in courts has risen. Its credibility has been affected after as many as nine states have withdrawn general consent to the CBI over the last four years. The agency has been riven by very public battles for leadership, the last round being between Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana. It cannot investigate anyone on its own and as a result, lower level corruption in government tends to get harsh punishment, but its hands appear tied when it comes to the big fish: To prosecute an MLA or state minister, the CBI needs sanction from the speaker of the state Assembly or governor; in the case of an MP, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Vice Chairman of Rajya Sabha must sanction an investigation. Sood has many ideas under his peaked cap. He was responsible for tying up with the Infosys Foundation to jointly establish a state-of-art Centre for Cybercrime Investigation, Training and Research, for creating capacity among police officers, prosecutors and judiciary for investigation and trials of cybercrime. As police commissioner, Bengaluru city, he launched Namma 100, an emergency response system for citizens in distress. The consensus is that this has worked well. In his new job, Sood will likely face the biggest challenge of all: Getting the CBI the public trust and endorsement it should have. That is still work in progress. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com A combination of the Kyiv Security Compact and commitments similar to those made by the United States to Israel could be a perfect form of security guarantees for Ukraine, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency. "Speaking about security guarantees, a perfect form for us today is a mix of the Kyiv Security Compact and commitments like those made by the United States to Israel. That is the best of both concepts. Secondly, the fixation in one or another form of the inevitability of the fact that we are heading for NATO membership, and [we need] security guarantees until our accession to the Alliance," he said. According to Yermak, "the Kyiv Security Compact provides for a multilateral framework agreement with a possibility of further conclusion of bilateral ones. It is big, naturally, it is important and good, because it provides for participation of various countries and so on. However, there are specific features of legislation in some states that are difficult to be streamlined." He stressed that Ukraine's expectations "should not be bigger than, for example, the Washington Treaty guarantees." "We, as adequate people, understand that Ukraine will become a full member of NATO, naturally, as soon as the security situation allows. But this is a principal moment: it is exactly about 'when', and not about 'if'," Yermak said. "Today, our request is clear. First, an invitation to become a NATO member as soon as the security situation allows. Second, security guarantees on our path towards NATO," he said. A man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a car crashed into the gates of 10 Downing Street in London, the official residence of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Metropolitan Police said. IMAGE: Police officers work at the site where a car crashed into the front gates of Downing Street in London, on May 25, 2023. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters Sunak was in his office at the time of the incident but left soon after from another exit for a pre-scheduled departure, sources from 10 Downing Street said. The cordons placed by police around the street have since been lifted even as armed officers remain on guard at the Prime Minister's office, as is usual. According to reports, counter-terrorism police are not involved in the ongoing police enquiries at this stage. At around 16.20 hours [local time] a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall, the Met Police said in a statement. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing, the police said. Officers were pictured searching the vehicle's boot and removing a large white sheet. Officers were seen winding down the heightened security operation on Whitehall, the main political hub of London between Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square. Officials inside Downing Street were initially asked to stay indoors but could soon be seen moving out of offices, including from the Cabinet Office which is next door to 10 Downing Street. Meanwhile, images on social media showed a silver Kia passenger car with its boot open slammed into the gates of Downing Street, which is significantly protected with barriers and a solid double-barrel black iron gate at all times. As CCTV footage emerged, a handcuffed heavy-set man with white hair could be seen being led away by armed Met Police officers. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a bang and officers shouting at the suspect as taser guns were deployed before the arrest. Officers were later pictured searching the vehicle's boot and removing a large white sheet. CCTV footage of the incident being played on television showed the small silver hatchback coming out of a car park next to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) building, crossing Whitehall before abruptly breaking and then driving forward directly into the gates of Downing Street. The security around one of the most famous streets of the world has been heightened ever since the militant Irish Republican Army (IRA) threat in the 1990s. The main gates remain shut at all times behind additional movable barriers and are opened only briefly for any official cars entering or exiting the street. Any visitors to Downing Street are subjected to strict checks through a side gate. The incident took place days after a 19-year-old Indian-American man crashed a truck into a security barrier near the White House. Sai Varshith Kandula, who allegedly praised Adolf Hitler, slammed a rented U-Haul box truck into barriers along Lafayette Square just steps from the White House late Monday. No one was injured in the crash and no explosives were found inside the rented vehicle. Highlighting lateral recruitment and proposed changes in civil services deputation rules, a group of 82 former civil servants on Thursday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu raising concern over 'systematic attempts' being made to change the character of civil services. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu meets with the group of IAS officers of 2020 batch, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on August 25, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo In an open letter, they appealed to her to convey their concerns to the Union government and caution them that the attempt to change the character of the civil services is fraught with extreme danger and will 'spell the death of the constitutional government in India'. A systematic attempt is being made to change the character of the civil services, particularly the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), which, in our constitutional scheme, were uniquely intended to be a protective ring around the Constitution, unaffected by political changes, having an all-India perspective rather than a regional, parochial one and being secure enough to maintain an independent, nonpartisan outlook, without fear or favour, the letter said. 'It is in this context that we seek to approach you on a matter which, of late, is causing much concern to us and which we are duty bound to bring to your notice,' it said. Service rules are sought to be amended to compel central deputations without the consent of either the officers concerned or their state governments, effectively undermining the authority and control of chief ministers over their officers, the letter said. 'This has disturbed the federal balance and left civil servants torn between conflicting loyalties, thereby weakening their ability to be impartial,' it read. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had in December 2021 proposed changes to the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, that will take away the power of states to override the Centre's request for seeking the officers on central deputation, and had sought comments from the states and Union Territories on it. The existing rules allow mutual consultation over the central deputation of IAS officers. No final decision has been taken yet in the matter. In the past, governments have permitted lateral recruitment at senior levels and many such officers have distinguished themselves, the letter said. Lately, however, there has been opacity in the recruitment process at mid-levels and concerns that candidates are being chosen based on their ideological predilections, it said. The consequences of this for the future of an independent civil service requires no comment, the letter said. The Centre has this month decided to recruit 20 private sector specialists as joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries on contract basis in its 12 departments. The former bureaucrats said measures are being taken that threaten the unique federal design of the IAS and the IPS, which underlies Sardar Patel's vision of a permanent civil service that would both bind the country together and enable it to maintain a balance between the interests of the Union and the states. 'There are noticeable attempts to pressure officers to show exclusive loyalty to the Union rather than to the parent state cadre to which they are allotted,' the letter said. On occasions, arbitrary departmental actions have been taken against those who refuse to do so, it alleged. Former foreign secretary Sujatha Singh, ex-Union Public Service Commission member Parveen Talha, former IPS officer Maxwell Pereira and ex- social justice empowerment secretary Anita Agnihotri are among the 82 signatories to the letter. 'The actions and words of some very senior functionaries of the central government increases our concern on the future of the civil service and the consequent danger to democracy in India,' the letter said. 'In this context, we would like to mention that the National Security Advisor (NSA), while addressing IPS officers at their passing out function in 2021, had emphasised that they should treat civil society as the 'fourth generation of warfare, that can be subverted, suborned, divided and manipulated to hurt the interests of the nation',' it said. Such sentiments are 'antithetical to any democratic dispensation' and aim at placing civil society in a position of conflict with the state, the letter claimed. 'At a time when politics is leaning dangerously towards a centralised, authoritarian, national security state with a leadership seemingly amenable to abandoning, without demur, the fundamental principles on which our Constitution is based, it has become critical for citizens to ensure that institutions and systems like the civil services which can check this frightening erosion of constitutional values in the manner envisaged by the great Sardar are protected and strengthened,' the letter said. By virtue of their allegiance to the Constitution and not the government of the day, the all-India services, particularly the IAS and IPS, have a critical role to play, it said. 'As the constitutional head of the republic, we appeal to you to convey our concerns to the Union government and caution them that this attempt to change the character of the civil services is fraught with extreme danger and, as Sardar Patel had warned many years ago, will spell the death of constitutional government in India,' it added. After its electoral success in Karnataka, the Congress will hold two-day deliberations starting Friday on its preparedness and poll prospects in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, two of which are held by the party currently. IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge along with party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrive at Veer Bhoomi to pay tribute to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 32nd death anniversary, at Rajghat in New Delhi on May 21, 2023. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Sources said while the Congress units of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will hold separate discussions on May 26 on their preparations and actions to be taken, the party will also hold strategy meets on Chhattisgarh on May 27. Buoyed by its poll victory in Karnataka, the Congress has started preparing for the next round of Assembly elections in the three states, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge taking the lead. Poll strategist and former associate of Prashant Kishor Sunil Kanugolu will be part of the deliberations with the state leaders to strategise the party's preparedness for the next round of Assembly elections. While Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are ruled by the Congress, where it is hoping to offset the anti-incumbency factor and factional fighting by replicating the 'Karnataka strategy', the party is also determined to make a comeback in Madhya Pradesh, where it lost power after Jyotiraditya Scindia and some of the MLAs switched loyalties to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Assembly elections in five states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram -- are due by the year-end and the Congress is leaving nothing to chance this time. The stunning victory of the party in the Karnataka polls earlier this month has helped motivate the Congress cadre at the grassroots level, who are going all out to stage another victory for the party. The sources said the strategy meetings for Telangana and Mizoram will be held later. Kharge will hold separate meetings with the party leaders from these states at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters. The chief ministers of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the state unit chiefs or in-charges and senior leaders from the respective states are expected to take part in the meetings. The success of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', which passed through Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and its effect in these states are also likely to be discussed in these meetings. The Congress faces peculiar challenges in several of these states, especially due to infighting and factionalism. In Rajasthan, it has to tackle a festering feud between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot. Upping the ante, Pilot has given an ultimatum to the party and threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if his demands are not met by May-end. Concluding his five-day 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' in Jaipur, during which he targeted the Gehlot government on the issue of corruption, Pilot recently placed three demands -- disbanding the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reorganisation, compensation to the youngsters affected by the government exam paper leak and a high-level inquiry into corruption allegations against the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the state. There is also an open fight between Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state minister T S SinghDeo, who has been staking a claim to the top post. In Madhya Pradesh too, there is factionalism between Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh while in Telangana, state Congress chief Revanth Reddy faces infighting from state leaders who consider him an outsider. In Karnataka, the party gave five guarantees to people and the politics of freebies also seems to have worked in its favour. The Congress is likely to carry this freebie policy forward in other poll-bound states after its success in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. The party is in a direct contest with the BJP in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, even though there is a triangular fight in Telangana among the Congress, the BJP and the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS). The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred 'Sengol' a "golden stick gifted" to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and tucking it away in a museum. IMAGE: 'Sengol', a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, that will be installed in the new Parliament building, to be inaugurated on May 28, in New Delhi. Photograph: @AmitShah/Twitter The ceremonial sceptre, which will be installed in the new Parliament building, was given to Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power from the British to India in August 1947. It was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now install the 'Sengol' "in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium", BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said, asserting that it has been given its rightful place. His remarks come a day after 20 Opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party, announced to boycott the inauguration of the building on May 28 by Modi. They said the prime minister's decision to inaugurate it by himself, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response". The vesting of the "sacred 'Sengol' with Nehru, on the eve of India's Independence, was the exact moment of transfer of power from the British to India, Malviya said. "But instead of being given the pride of its place, it was tucked away in Anand Bhavan, and called the golden stick gifted to Nehru," he said in a tweet, adding, "Such is the disdain for Hindu rituals in the Congress." Malviya said Prime Minister Modi will now install the 'Sengol' from 1947, "in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium". It will be displayed for the nation to see, and it will be also "taken out on special occasions," he said. "It is now Sengol vs Opposition," the BJP leader added. Made of silver with a coat of gold, the historical sceptre will be installed near the Chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker on the same day the new Parliament building is dedicated to the nation. Following the announcement of boycott by the Opposition parties, the BJP-led National Democratic alliance on Wednesday launched a sharp counterattack on the Opposition parties for their decision to boycott the new Parliament building's inauguration, slamming their stand as a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation". In a statement, leaders of 14 parties of the ruling alliance also implored the Opposition parties to reconsider their decision. Prof S Rajavelu, formerly with the department of maritime history and marine archaeology of Tamil University, said it was a traditional Chola practice for Samayacharyas (spiritual leaders) to lead the coronation of kings and sanctify the transfer of power, which is also considered a kind of recognition for the ruler. "Tamil kings had this 'Sengol' (a Tamil word for sceptre), which is a symbol of justice and good governance. The two great epics Silapathikaram and Manimekalai record the significance of a 'Sengol'," he said. Former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and more than 600 leaders and former assembly members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have been barred from leaving the country, media reports said on Thursday. IMAGE: Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, gestures as he speaks to the members of the media at his residence in Lahore, on May 18, 2023. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters Khan and several top leaders of his party are facing cases following the violence after he was arrested on May 9 in a corruption case. Citing sources within the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), the Geo News reported that the names of the PTI leaders and its party chief have been added for their involvement in the May 9 violence and desecration of martyrs' monuments. However, there was no official confirmation on the development from Khan's party. The names have been added to the FIA's Provincial National Identification List (PNIL) to prevent them from going abroad, the sources said. The sources claimed that some of the PTI leaders and office bearers tried leaving the country in the last three days, however, they were stopped at the airports. The list includes Murad Saeed, Maleeka Bokhari, Fawad Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar, Qasim Suri, Asad Qaiser, Yasmin Rashid and Mian Aslam Iqbal. Fawad Chaudhry has already quit the party but his name has been listed among those who cannot fly out of Pakistan. Earlier, Samaa News channel reported that the federal government has decided to add the names of 80 people, including Khan and his wife, to the no-fly list. The names of all the PTI leaders were put in the list on the recommendation of the institutions concerned , the news channel reported. It said that the police department, National Accountability Bureau and the anti-corruption department had requested the Ministry of Interior to include these names to the no-fly list. The no-fly list is maintained by the Ministry of Interior and officials deployed at airports or other land exit routes are provided the names of individuals who cannot go out. Pakistan authorities maintain different categories of people who are banned from leaving the country for various reasons, including those who face corruption cases. But these lists had been used in the past by the governments to muzzle the opposition. When Khan was the prime minister, names of several high-profile personalities, including PML-N leader and current prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, were put on the no-fly list. ***** 16 activists of Imran Khan's party handed over to army for trial under military laws In a first, 16 activists of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, including a former lawmaker, were handed over to the military authorities on Thursday for their trial under the stringent Army Act and the Official Secrets Act for allegedly torching the Lahore Corps Commander's House, also known as Jinnah House. On May 9, violent protests erupted after paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad high court premises. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander's House, the Mianwali airbase and the Inter-Services Intelligence building in Faisalabad in response to Khan's arrest. The mob also stormed the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time. Since the widespread violence, the government has cracked down on Khan's supporters, arresting thousands of people and threatening trials before military courts. "On the orders of the anti-terrorism court, the camp jail Lahore superintendent on Thursday handed over 16 prime suspects including former lawmaker Mian Akram Usman of attack on the Corps Commander Lahore House known as Jinnah House to a military commanding officer," a Punjab government official told PTI. He said over 2,000 people, mostly workers of Khan's party, have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Corps Commander's house, however, the role of these 16 have been established for vandalizing and torching the residence. Khan has claimed that 10,000 workers of his party have been arrested across the country for allegedly attacking military installations and state buildings on May 9. The military said only those involved in attacking the military installations will be tried under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act. "The commanding officer informed the ATC that the 16 suspects in question by committing the offences have become the subject to the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and exclusively liable to be investigated and tried by the military authorities in court martial," the official said. The Amnesty International has strongly opposed the decision of trying civilians in military courts. In a statement, the rights body said it has documented a catalogue of human rights violations stemming from trying civilians in military courts in Pakistan, including flagrant disregard for due process, a lack of transparency and coerced confessions. It has called upon authorities to immediately reverse the handing over of civilians to the military for a trial and stressed that civilians should only be prosecuted in a civilian court using ordinary criminal laws commensurate with the offence. Khan has also strongly condemned court martial of civilians and termed it illegal and against the constitution. The Biden administration has decided to play the long game by inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an official state visit next month despite some existing challenges in bilateral ties, a prominent expert on India has said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, DC. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the United States at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. It's terrific to see (the prime minister being invited on an official state visit), Rick Rossow, senior Adviser and Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told PTI on Wednesday. India has been on the hot seat a little bit in Washington, he noted. Partially because of its reluctance to take a stronger stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for a lot of people in Washington, that's become a defining moment. But (for) the Biden administration, it hasn't. They have decided to play the long game, he said. The Biden administration realises that the strategic importance of this relationship is India's deepening commercial bonds with the US, he said. "The partnership with the US on some of the more dangerous areas amid the rise of China. So, at the top level, this is an indication that despite some challenges and some headwinds we've got on Russia and other things, we're willing to move ahead, Rossow said. India is in the middle of G-20, you just had a QUAD summit.... it's also pretty significant that the leaders are able to carve out this kind of time to pull something together when they're already seeing each other, on pull asides and such at so many other international forums, he said. The Biden administration is trying to take the relationship, which has done really well across different administrations in both governments, forward and look for ways to bring it to a new level, both in terms of commercial relations and security relations, Rossow said. He said there are two things that need to be repaired. "One of them is the long wait time for visa interviews in India, which has gotten worse in recent weeks. This is impacting people-to-people ties," he said. But the other area, which has been really on the list for quite some time, where we've always had challenges is on the commercial front, he said. Seems that every time that one of us is leaning a little bit more pro-trade or investor friendly, the other one's not, he said. Rossow said the last couple of years India, after many years of protectionism, has shifted to doing domestic support programmes to improve exports, but is also signing trade agreements with selective partners. The United States announced the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. But right now we don't really know what all that's gonna become. And there's a lot of skepticism about whether that'll match up to the world-leading free trade agreements that are out there, he said. We've got a lot of divisive issues that have come up over the years; revocation of India's generalised system preferences benefits; India imposing countervailing duties against the United States after our steel and aluminium tariffs. So, a lot of old damage on trade and commercial issues that I think the two governments should also take time to try to repair, Rossow said. He said India needs the US in critical ways and the US is fast becoming a major supplier of critical defence technology. We're the largest investor in India. We're India's largest goods trading partner and the only major country with which India has a goods trade surplus. On the services side, obviously, India's dynamic IT services market has been largely built around servicing and partnership with the United States, he said. So, if you think about the Indian economy and security, the United States is a critical partner for where India is today and where it'll be in the future. A lot of those, of course, the United States would echo as well. This is certainly not a one-sided relationship, he said. As many as 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday even as 20 Opposition parties have decided to boycott the event. IMAGE: Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda will be among the opposition leaders attending the inauguration of the new Parliament. Photograph: ANI Photo Apart from the 18 members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including the Bharatiya Janata Party, seven non-National Democratic Alliance parties will attend the ceremony, going by their stated position on the issue which has snowballed into another political flashpoint between the ruling and opposition camps. The Bahujan Samaj Party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Janata Dal-Secular, the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress, the Biju Janata Dal and the Telugu Desam Party are the seven non-NDA parties expected to be present at the event. The presence of these seven parties, which together account for 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha, will be a major relief for the BJP-led NDA. Their participation will help the NDA blunt the Opposition's charge that it is all a government event. JD-S supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday said he will be attending the inauguration as the new Parliament 'is a property of the country and built from taxpayers' money'. The JD-S patriarch questioned whether it was the office of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for boycotting its inauguration. "I am attending the inauguration of the new Parliament building. It is the property of the country. It is not anyone's personal matter," Gowda said. Speaking at the JD-S introspection meeting following Karnataka Assembly poll results in Bengaluru, he said it is not anyone's personal programme, it is a country's programme. "That magnificent building was built with the tax money of the people of the country. It belongs to the country. It is not a BJP or RSS office," he said, adding he is participating in the inauguration of the new Parliament building as a former prime minister and a citizen of the country. Stating that he has many reasons to oppose BJP politically, Gowda, according to an official release said, "I do not like to bring politics in the matter of opening the Parliament building." "I have been elected to both houses of Parliament. I have performed duty there in the constitutional framework, and I still am a member (of the Rajya Sabya)," he said. "I have worked to protect the values of the Constitution. Therefore, I cannot bring politics into the matter of the Constitution," he added. Noting that many parties have boycotted the inauguration of the Parliament building and many have asked him whether he will attend it or not, being a former PM, Gowda said, "I want to tell them that I am committed to the Constitution and will go to the inauguration of the Parliament building." Besides the BJP, the 18 NDA members include the Shiv Sena, the National People's Party, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, the Jannayak Janata Party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Indhiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam, the All Jharkhand Students Union, the Republican Party of India, the Mizo National Front, the Tamil Maanila Congress, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (Tripura), the Bodo People's Party, the Pattali Makkal Kacchi, the Mharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, the Apna Dal and the Asom Gana Parishad, alliance leaders said. Nineteen parties, including the Congress, the Left, the Trinamool Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Aam Aadmi Party, have come together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the 'soul of democracy has been sucked out'. They have also protested the decision that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the building, claiming this was an insult to the highest constitutional office of the President of India. Separately, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend the event. Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Praveen Sood took over as the new Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director on Thursday and he will be in the post for two years, officials said. IMAGE: Former DGP of Karnataka Praveen Sood, left, formally took over as director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Photo On his last working day, the outgoing director, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, handed Sood the charge of the agency at its headquarters New Delhi, they said. Sood is a 1986-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre and was the state's director general of police (DGP), officials said. He is the senior-most IPS officer in the country after Jaiswal. Sood's name was cleared in a meeting of a high-powered committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Chowdhury, a Congress leader, had reportedly given a dissent note on the selection of Sood as the next director of the CBI. Born in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district in 1964, Sood joined the IPS at the age 22 years after completing his civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi. He also holds a post graduation degrees from the Indian Institute of Management -Bengaluru and the Maxwell School of Governance, Syracuse University, New York. During his 37 years of service, Sood served in various capacities in the Karnataka Police, including superintendent of police of Bellary and Raichur districts; additional commissioner of police (traffic), Bengaluru City; commissioner of police, Mysuru City and Bengaluru City; additional director general of police; principal secretary (home); DGP (Internal Security) and DGP (CID), a CBI statement said. The officer, known for his hands-on approach, had supervised investigation of high profile cases involving high net-worth individuals and matters having inter-state and international ramifications, it said. He also supervised probes in areas such as cyber crime and information technology, the statement said. The tech savvy officer had worked for strengthening of the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems) and the ICJS (Interoperable Criminal Justice System) in Karnataka along with the judiciary. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to the people of Manipur to maintain peace and promised that justice will be ensured to all sections of society. IMAGE: Paramilitary personnel arrive at the spot where abandoned houses were set ablaze by miscreants at New Lambulane, in Imphal on May 22, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Asserting that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term after the general elections next year, he claimed that the opposition Congress will not be able to even secure its present tally in the Lok Sabha. Shah, while laying the foundation stone of the tenth campus of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) at Changsari in Assam's Kamrup district, said he will travel to Manipur to help resolve disputes. "I will go to Manipur soon and stay there for three days but before that, both groups should remove mistrust and suspicion among themselves and ensure that peace is restored in the state," he said. "The Centre will ensure that justice is delivered to all those who suffered in the clashes in the state, but people must hold dialogue to ensure peace," Shah said. During the last six years, prior to the recent clashes, there was no blockade or bandhs in Manipur and 'people must ensure the return of such a situation again'. "Charcha ke saath hi shanti ho sakti hain (Peace can only be restored through dialogue)," he said. "The Centre is planning to bring changes in the law to make it compulsory for forensic experts to visit the spot for crimes that attract more than six years of imprisonment," he said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has plans to bring about changes in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Evidence Act in the spirit of the Constitution to increase the conviction rate which will help in the delivery of criminal justice," he added. Policing can be divided into three parts: law and order situation, crime investigation and ensuring justice by punishing the guilty, the home minister said. "This is not the age of using third-degree measures or force on the accused but there are scientific ways of collecting evidence through psychology, fingerprints and DNA profiling and we need experts for these," he said. The conviction rate in the country is low at 50 per cent and this is mainly due to lack of evidence or witnesses turning hostile which creates hurdles for the police in submitting chargesheets in the court, he added. "We have decided to strengthen the forensic infrastructure, upgrade and modernise the laboratories, set up regional forensic laboratories and also district-level mobile forensic laboratories," Shah said. This will require manpower and generate employment opportunities while research and development in this sector will be intensified and implemented at the grassroots level, he said. The state-of-the-art institute, which will be built over a 50-acre campus, will provide training to the police, judiciary and forensic scientists of neighbouring countries. Around 3,000 to 5,000 graduates and postgraduates from the institute will emerge in different branches of forensic science, wildlife forensics, cyber security, narcotics, digital forensics, drone forensics, forensic psychology and forensics justice and law, he said. The first phase of the NFSU campus is expected to be completed by 2026 and the second by 2030 while classes will start this year at the temporary campus on the premises of the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Shah also launched an interactive web portal, the 'Seva Setu', of the Assam Police, developed jointly with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL). It will enable people to lodge FIRs, missing persons reports and complete verification of tenants, paying guests and domestic helps without having to visit the police station. Later in the day, while addressing a public meeting here after ceremoniously distributing 44,703 appointment letters to successful candidates for Assam government jobs, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader alleged that the Congress has a 'negative attitude' and charged it with doing politics by boycotting the scheduled inauguration of the new Parliament building. "Narendra Modi will become the PM again next year with over 300 seats. The Congress has lost the opposition party status and will not be able to even secure the number of seats it has presently in the Lok Sabha," he said. "The Congress has a negative attitude. The PM will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 but the Congress is doing politics by boycotting it, giving an excuse that the President should inaugurate it," he said. He claimed that there have been instances in Congress and opposition-ruled states where foundation stones of new assembly buildings were laid by respective chief ministers and Congress leaders such as Sonia and Rahul Gandhi instead of the respective governors. "The Congress does not allow the PM to speak inside the Parliament. Indian people have given Modi the mandate to speak. Not respecting the PM is like insulting the people's mandate," he said. "I want to tell the other parties who are joining the Congress now that your condition will also be like the Congress if you continue to be with them," he added. Shah said that the BJP had promised to provide one lakh government jobs in Assam before the 2021 assembly polls and within two-and-half-years, 86,000 jobs have been given and the rest will be given within the next six months. He alleged that during the tenure of earlier governments, only the followers of the ruling party used to get jobs in the state. "The BJP has brought in a transparent system, in which even the poor people's sons and daughters are getting jobs on the basis of their merit and talent. There is no favouritism or nepotism now," he added. The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday alleged that the opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just because it has been built at his initiative. IMAGE: A view of the newly-constructed Parliament building which is set to inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the new building is a symbol of India's pride and appealed to the opposition parties to attend the 'historic day' of its inauguration on May 28 by showing a 'big heart'. "We all respect the President, I don't want to drag the post of the President into any controversy today by recalling what Congress said about her. But India's prime minister is also an important part of Parliament. The prime minister also holds constitutional responsibility," he told reporters. Prasad urged the opposition leaders not to use the boycott of the event as a platform to forge opposition unity, saying they will have more opportunities to do so. "Mughals built Lal Qila, Jama Masjid and Humayun's Tomb. Qutub-ud-din Aibak built Qutub Minar, they claim. The British built North Block, South Block, President House which was called Viceroy House, and a Sansad Bhavan," Prasad said, and asked, "What did we built in 75 years of Independence?" "After 75 years of independence, why India should not get a Parliament built by Indians," he added. Prasad said the new Parliament building is an 'exemplary model' of Indian Vaastu Kala (architecture) and it has been built according to Indian 'sanskar'. "I would say to the Congress leaders and other opposition leaders that you come and attend the programme. Sansad (Parliament) is the crown of the country's democracy," he said. "Your leader, who was the first prime minister of India, was also associated with the tradition of (handing over of) the Sengol... I ask my friends in Congress to come to witness this history, historic heritage," he added. Prasad alleged that the opposition leaders have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new parliament building as it has been built at the initiative of Prime Minister Modi. "This is the problem," he said, adding the opposition parties had boycotted the event organised for laying the foundation of the new building. "Have they gone to see Sardar Patel's statue of unity, where lakhs of tourists visit every week? Have they visited the world class war memorial built near India Gate to do pranam (offer tribute) to Paramveer Chakra awardees?" he asked, adding, "No, they haven't because it's built by Modi ji." Prasad asked the opposition parties to show 'a big heart and attend the inauguration of new Parliament building, saying Prime Minister Modi has shown respect for all of his predecessors on various occasions'. "I want to tell this country that there have been only four prime ministers in the country who were elected by the people -- first Nehru ji, second Indira Gandhi, third Atal Bihari Vajpayee and fourth Narendra Modi," he claimed. "Rest of the PMs, I don't mean to disrespect them, but people did not elect them. Morarji Desai was also not elected by people as they had voted for Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan. In Rajiv Gandhi's time, there was a sympathy wave due to Indira Gandhi's assassination. No need for us to tell how PV Narasimha Rao, Deve Gowda, I K Gujral, Chandrashekhar, V P Singh became PM," he added. Nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, the Left, the Trinamool Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Aam Aadmi Party, have jointly announced the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the 'soul of democracy has been sucked out'. Separately, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend the event. On the other hand, 25 parties have said they will participate in the inauguration and these include seven non-National Democratic Alliance parties. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also hit out at the opposition parties for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying they were making a 'disgusting' attempt to create a controversy. "I think the country will not accept such things. The new Parliament building has been made keeping a visionary approach in mind... today's need and vision for next 100 years," Yogi added. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel condemned the opposition parties, saying it was an insult to the great nation and an attack on the country's democratic values. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the current Parliament structure was actually a 'council hall' and for the first time, the country will have its own full-fledged Parliament building. "When late prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated annexe buildings of the Parliament or took part in the ground-breaking ceremony for the Parliament's library, was it against democratic norms," he asked. Nothing can force us to negotiate with Russia while their troops are on our territory Yermak Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has said that he opposes mediation in relations with Russia, and it is impossible to force Ukraine to negotiate before the withdrawal of troops from its territory. "This is what I explained to the Chinese and Brazilian envoys that there is no such force that will make the Ukrainian society and leadership to talk to the Russians today - as long as we have Russian troops. It does not exist," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. According to Yermak, "all the people who stayed in Ukraine after February 24, have made a choice for themselves. It is very important that they made a decision that we will fight to the end, we will not stop. And anyone who believes that there is something that can force us to negotiate with Russia in the current conditions is deeply mistaken." He also noted that there was a "fairly frank conversation" with representatives of the leaders of Brazil and China. "I honestly told both of them that Ukraine is very grateful for the desire to participate, for the reaction. But Ukraine has its own peace plan, and what we think is fair - since the war is going on our territory, that the Ukrainian plan should be the basis of the settlement. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has clearly indicated that Ukraine is ready to hear and listen to them, so we invited them to take part in the Peace Summit for this," Yermak said. "Our second position, which we conveyed to the representatives of China and Brazil: we are against mediation. We all remember the Normandy format. I definitely lived in it for two years. I can say that to sit and watch like this, how we discussed something there with the Russians in raised tones - well, it all doesn't work," the head of the President's Office said. "We didn't start this war. We don't need Russian land. We are fighting for our own. But we will not have territorial compromises. It was very important to say this to the special representatives. In everything else, let's talk," Yermak said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by Bharatiya Janata Party workers and supporters on Thursday as he returned from the three-nation tour. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses BJP workers in New Delhi. Photograph: @BJP4India/Twitter "All the leaders I met and all the personalities I spoke to have been so mesmerised and appreciative of India holding the G20 presidency so excellently. This is a matter of great pride for all Indians," Modi said. The prime minister had visited Japan's Hiroshima to attend the Group of Seven or G7 Summit. He then travelled to Papua New Guinea, which was his first tour, as well as the first-ever visit by any Indian prime minister to the Indo-Pacific country. Modi also travelled to Sydney at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He said that he used every available time in the best possible way for the good of the country. Taking a swipe at critics, he said they questioned the decision to give away vaccines to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Remember, it is the land of Buddha, it is the land of Gandhi. We care even for our enemies, we are the people inspired by compassion," the prime minister underlined. He also asserted that the world is keen to listen to India's story and said Indians should never suffer from "slave mentality" while speaking about their great culture and traditions and instead speak with courage. Modi added that the world agrees with him when he says any attack on the country's pilgrimage site is not acceptable. Zaaina Asra Mahvish-Jammeh,38, of Brattleboro, appears in Windham County Superior Court/Criminal Division on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, for a first-degree murder charge. Mahvish-Jammeh was charged in the death of Leah Rosin-Pritchard, the coordinator of Morningside House which is run by Groundworks Collaborative. You are the owner of this article. Ukraine is very interested in Brazil taking part in the upcoming Peace Summit and the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Plan, head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. He also noted that the President of Ukraine has a desire to meet with Brazilian leader Lula da Silva. "Moreover, the president spoke with Lula da Silva. We are very interested in Brazil also participating in the Peace Summit, in the implementation of the Peace Plan. We will continue these contacts," Yermak said. In addition, according to the head of the President's Office, the Brazilian president has already been sent an invitation to visit Kyiv. "We are waiting for Lulu in Ukraine, we have sent an invitation. And I am sure that in the appropriate situation, Volodymyr Zelenskyy would have visited Brazil," he said. Yermak also spoke about the reason why the meeting of the Ukrainian and Brazilian leaders did not take place on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Japan. In particular, this was due to the high density of the event schedule. "The schedule was very tight and therefore it just didn't coincide in time. Therefore, in principle, the presidents, in general, were physically able to see each other only at the second session," he said. Actor Chazz Palminteri got a private taste of Sallys Apizza Monday afternoon. Sallys employee Shantelle Rosso-Agosto posted a picture with Palminteri on Instagram with the caption, This afternoon @chazzpalminteri came into my restaurant @sallysapizza. I gave them a private dining experience Al Fresco! What a great guy! @bronxtalemusical #abronxtale Sally's was not immediately available to comment. Rosso-Agosto is no stranger to greeting celebrities. In November 2022, she posted a picture with actress Gwenyth Paltrow outside the pizzeria along with another employee. Television host and actor Conan OBrien visited the New Haven pizzeria in March as well. Palminteri is known for his 1993 role as Sonny in A Bronx Tale. The film is based on a play about his life growing up as an Italian-American in the Bronx and some of the hardships that he faced. In a 2015 interview with Hearst CT Media Group, Palminteri spoke about the story behind the film ahead of his one-man stage show production of "A Bronx Tale" in Ridgefield. He said he was approached by directors and producers who wanted to turn his play into a movie but wanted a big name actor to play his part. Robert De Niro later approached Palminteri and said he should be in the film. Palminteri is set to perform A Bronx Tale: One Man Show this year at the Ridgefield Playhouse on June 4. Palminteri is also known for his roles in The Usual Suspects and Bullets Over Broadway," and he hosts the Chazz Palminteri Show, a podcast posted every week talking about life lessons and ways to be successful. DENVER (AP) Colorado medical providers will need to get patients' prior consent before medical students can perform pelvic exams on them while they are unconscious for a procedure under a bill signed into law Thursday. In signing off on the law in her capacity as acting governor, Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera put Colorado with at least 20 other states that have consent laws on the books. But Colorado's goes far beyond other states' because it requires that the medical students be named ahead of time and meet the patient a step one bioethicist is concerned might impede students' chances to learn. Proponents of the law, which had bipartisan support, say every aspect protects patients from feeling violated and, in certain cases, retraumatized after surviving sexual assault. They hope it will set the standard for states that have weaker consent laws or none at all. Learning of a non-consensual intimate exam is traumatic, forcing patients to relive some of the worst moments of their life. Were putting an end to this unethical practice, Democratic state Rep. Lorena Garcia, who co-sponsored the bill, said in a statement. The goal is to ensure that a patient is fully aware of, and agrees to, having students replicate breast, pelvic, prostate or rectal exams that can involve the insertion of fingers or devices inside someone's vagina or anus. It's difficult to quantify how often students perform such exams without informed consent, in part because patients might never know that they were practiced on and students might be afraid to raise concerns to their superiors. Typically, patients fill out a number of forms giving broad consent for procedures that might be medically necessary while they are sedated, including for students to participate in their care. For such procedures to take place under Colorados new law, patients would have to sign a consent form that explains what will happen and will include the names of any students who might take part. Kayte Spector-Bagdady, a clinical ethicist who co-authored a 2019 recommendation by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, worried that determining which students can and cannot be involved prior to the procedure could limit learning opportunities. Schedules, especially in a hospital setting, can change rapidly, Spector-Bagdady argued. If the named students aren't available, the Colorado law wouldn't allow others to step in and learn. Those educational opportunities are critical for future doctors to be proficient in treating women, she said. Elizabeth Newman, public policy director at the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault who supports the law, said naming the students and having them meet the patient are integral components of complete, informed consent and ensure that students learn the rules governing the consent process. There are certain caveats, including that licensed practitioners can perform exams in emergency situations in which getting consent ahead of time isn't possible. The law includes whistleblower protections for medical students, and doctors and hospitals could face liability if they violate the consent rules. Those who have opposed the bills and laws across the U.S. say they're examples of government unnecessarily meddling in patient and provider trust, and that guidance should come from medical associations. ____ Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBUQUERQUE, N.M (AP) Virgin Galactic completed what is expected to be its final test flight Thursday before taking paying customers on brief trips to space, marking what the space tourism company described as a fantastic achievement in what has been a long road to commercial operations. Six of the company's employees, including two pilots, landed at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico after the short up-and-down flight that included a few minutes of weightlessness. It took about an hour for the mother ship to carry the spaceplane to an altitude of 44,500 feet (13,563 meters), where it was released and fired its rocket motor to make the final push. Successful boost, WE HAVE REACHED SPACE! Virgin Galactic tweeted. It reached an altitude of 54.2 miles (87 kilometers) before gliding back down to the runway, according to the company. Jamila Gilbert, who grew up in southern New Mexico and leads the company's internal communications, was among those on board who were evaluating what it will be like for paying customers. It was hard for her to put the experience into words, saying it probably will take a lifetime to process the sights and the feelings that filled those moments between the rocket igniting and the spaceship reaching its highest point. It was just this magnetic pull, she said in an interview. Once I started looking out, I could feel that I was floating. I could hear voices. But I couldnt stop looking at the planet, and I couldnt look away. Fellow crew member Christopher Huie said it seems as if everything stopped when the spaceship was released from the carrier plane. Youre just waiting for the rocket to light," said Huie, an aerospace engineer. "And I think that moment had so much anticipation, and I could have lived in that moment forever. Then came a little jostle with the firing of the rocket, and the crew were pinned to their seats as the G-forces kicked in. The flight came nearly two years after founder Richard Branson beat fellow billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and rocket company Blue Origin into space. Bezos ended up flying nine days later from West Texas, and Blue Origin has since launched several passenger trips. Federal aviation authorities banned Virgin Galactic launches after Branson's flight to investigate a mishap. Virgin Galactic has been working for more than a decade to send paying passengers on short space hops and in 2021 finally won the federal government's approval. The next step will be for Virgin Galactic to analyze data from Thursday's flight and inspect the planes and other equipment as the company prepares for commercial service, possibly as soon as late June. Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier has acknowledged the delays and missed deadlines over the years. But on Thursday, he said seeing the crew's reactions after landing gave him confidence in what the company has built so far. The initial commercial flight will include members of the Italian Air Force who will conduct experiments. Next will come customers who purchased tickets years ago for their chance at weightlessness aboard a winged spacecraft that launches from the belly of an airplane. About 800 tickets have been sold over the past decade, with the initial batch going for $200,000 each. Tickets now cost $450,000 per person. Virgin Galactic has reached space five times since 2018 and will be aiming for 400 flights per year from Spaceport America once it finishes building its next class of rocket-powered planes at a facility in neighboring Arizona. After Bransons trip, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights as it investigated a problem that caused the rocket ship to veer off course during its descent back to its runway in the New Mexico desert. Virgin Galactic insisted at the time that Branson and others were never in any danger. The company made changes to its carrier airplane and the spaceplane. The delay was nearly twice as long as expected, partly because of supply chain issues and labor shortages. Branson joined a group of customers who watched Thursday's flight from Spaceport America. Huie, a senior manager with Virgin Galactic's flight sciences engineering team, said the company is ready for commercial service and will be expanding its fleet over the coming years. Were looking to scale up in a big way," he said, "and the goal is to populate lots of spaceports with lots of spaceships and motherships and send hundreds of people every year to space. Nuland: Ukraine will win and be prosperous, that's what we're working on now in Washington U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland has said that the Ukrainian people will win the war against the Russian aggressor and Ukraine has all what is needed to move towards the EU membership. "Ukraine will win and be prosperous. That's what we're working on now in Washington. While you are planning a counteroffensive, that we have been developing together for 4-5 months, we start discussing the future of Ukraine with representatives of Ukrainian authorities, with our friends in Kyiv, with civilians and with the military," she said, addressing online Kyiv Security Forum founded by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation. Nuland also said that the United States currently assist Ukraine in building up its security and military potential so that they become a sufficient deterrent for Russia to prevent it from starting a new war in future. Ahe added that Ukraine has all what is needed to move towards the EU membership. "Speaking about Ukrainian economy, we mean not only survival, but prosperity as well. We believe that Ukraine enjoys all the necessary components to move towards its membership in the European Union and to play a significant role in gaining prosperity not only for itself, but for enhancing stability and harmony in the whole of Europe," Nuland said. She also said that the United States will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Stefanchuk at meeting with Duda: Military assistance from Poland, through Poland remains No. 1 issue for Ukraine Strengthening military assistance from Poland and through Poland remains the priority for Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk has said. "The continuation and acceleration of military assistance from Poland and through Poland remains the No. 1 issue for Ukraine," he said at a meeting with President of Poland Andrzej Duda on Thursday, according to the press service of the Ukrainian parliament. Stefanchuk also noted that Poland's agreement to train Ukrainian pilots is "the first step, which should be followed by the next one" and expressed hope for Poland to join the aircraft coalition. "The Ukrainian army is the de facto an army of NATO, because the Ukrainian defenders and defenders fight according to the standards of the Alliance, use the weapons of the Alliance and carry out the main mission to protect the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from the attack of the Russian Federation," Stefanchuk said. He stressed that Ukraine seeks to hear the Alliance's common vision of modalities for Ukraine's accession to NATO at the upcoming summit in Vilnius. The parties separately discussed the process of restoring Ukraine, which "should become a success story for the entire civilized world." The chairman of the Ukrainian parliament said that a separate memorandum on cooperation in the field of reconstruction has already been signed between Poland and Ukraine. "We will rebuild Ukraine by joint efforts and make it even stronger and more modern," Stefanchuk said. When it comes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's busy schedule, there is seldom any time for leisure. PM Modi, who was on an unprecedented visit to Japan, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, upon his return, received a gala welcome from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party workers accorded a grand welcome outside Palam Airport Technical Area. PM Modi after arrival from a three-nation visit addressed the nation saying, "The Indian diaspora event in Sydney was not only attended by the Australian PM but also by former PM, MPs from opposition parties, and the ruling party. This is the strength of democracy. All of them together participated in this program of the Indian community." #WATCH | I want to tell you that While speaking about the culture and great tradition of India, never get immersed in slavery mentality, speak with courage. The world is eager to listen. The world agrees with me when I say that attack on our pilgrimage sites is not acceptable: PM pic.twitter.com/tBHxXIuoJP ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 PMs tightly-scheduled day plan The Prime Minister attended an official meeting early morning on Thursday, within a couple of hours of his return to the capital city. PM Modi will flag off the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi via video conferencing at 11 am on Thursday, May 25. Amongst the other meetings throughout the day, the PM will declare open the Khelo India University Games 2022 at 7 pm via video conferencing on Friday, May 26. "At 11 AM today, I will be flagging off the Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun," tweets PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/oJdRL9M18r ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 PMs visit to three nations The Prime Minister's recent trip, which spanned three nations, was action-packed, to put it mildly. PM Modi met with more than 12 world leaders throughout his trip. He took part in more than 50 meetings, including three summits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived at Palam Airport, Delhi, after completing his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. At the airport, he received a rousing welcome as people chanted "Modi-Modi" upon his arrival in the national capital. BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi MP Ramesh Vidhuri, Hans Raj Hans, and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri welcomed the PM at the airport. Addressing the gathering outside the Palam Airport, PM Narendra Modi said, "I go to the countries of the world, meet the great men of the world and talk about the potential of India, discuss the talent of the young generation of India and when given the opportunity, the youth of India show the bravery... I go to the world and tell. When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country." PM Modi lauds India's vaccine-progamme He expressed deep appreciation for India's vaccination program, which has made substantial contributions to providing COVID-19 vaccines to nations across the globe. "During the Covid pandemic, when the world was fighting against the Coronavirus, people struggled to protect their lives. Who will protect from it, how it will protect, and which medicine will work? The world was in confusion. Even the rich countries of the world were unable to fight against Covid. We also lost many lives. We cannot forget the pain. But when I met the people of the Pacific islands, be it a driver, a hotel staffer or a security guard, I could see that they were thankful to India for the Covid-19 vaccine. They would point out that you (India) had given the vaccine, that's why we are alive'." PM Modi said. #LIVE | When I met with the people of Pacific Islands, I could see that they were thankful to India for Covid-19 vaccine: PM Modi #PMModi #ModiInAustralia Tune in - https://t.co/6CjsNJaatY pic.twitter.com/yyFvfH5tA2 Republic (@republic) May 25, 2023 "Several people across the world were saved by Indian medicines and vaccines. We saved the world and also looked at 140 crore people in our country," the Prime Minister said. He also cited External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Latin America and said that people there also hailed India for saving their lives by giving them Covid-19 vaccines. "In times of crises, they asked why Modi was giving vaccines to the world. Remember, it's the land of Buddha, it's the land of Gandhi. We care even for our enemies, we are the people inspired by compassion. We move further like this only," he added. One of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, the Suez Canal in Egypt, had a ship stuck in it until it was freed. Two tugs managed to swing the carrier around which now appears to be heading towards the Suez Gulf under its own steam. The Suez Canal in Egypt one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world was blocked by a ship earlier today. The vessel was the Xin Hai Tong 23, a 189m-long bulk carrier that was constructed in 2010 and was cruising under the flag of Hong Kong, claimed Leth Shipping Agency. Tugboats attempted to refloat it while at least four other ships were tethered behind it. The Suez Canal is between Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea and Suez on the Red Sea. It is only 200 metres wide at its narrowest point, an element that has previously presented challenges for ships. About 6 kilometres miles north of the southern entrance, close to the city of Suez, in 2021, the Ever Given hit the bank of a single-lane section of the canal and stayed stuck there for six days, SkyNews reported. $400 million worth of cargo was on hold due to blockage by Ever Given The ship was on its way to Rotterdam, a Dutch port, and its grounding generated pandemonium for the shipping industry, which was already under stress due to supply chain issues related to COVID-19. The shipping statistics and news business estimated the canal's westbound and eastbound traffic to be worth about $5.1 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively, per day. The canal is the passageway for around 12% of all international trade and about 30% of all shipping containers worldwide. The World Economic Forum estimates that travelling around the southern edge of Africa would add 3,315 nautical miles to a trip from Tokyo to Rotterdam, which is why the canal is such a popular route. A container ship from Ukraine carrying more than 65,000 tonnes of maize ran aground in the canal in January and had to be refloated. An oil tanker also grounded in a single-lane section of the canal in August last year, closing it for five hours. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced a new visa policy for Bangladesh by restricting travel permit of individuals whom it would assume be responsible for hindering the January 2024 elections to be held in the South Asian country. Today, I am announcing a new visa policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) (3C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to support Bangladeshs goal of holding free, fair and peaceful national elections, he said in a statement on Wednesday. Under this policy, the United States will be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh, he said. Blinken said the current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, members of law enforcement agencies, judiciary, and security services could come under the purview of the new policy. According to a US state department statement, Washington had notified the Bangladeshi government of this decision on May 3. The statement said the policy would apply for actions that undermine the democratic election process, including vote rigging and voter intimidation. It said the policy would also apply on the use of violence to prevent people from exercising their right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views. The US Secretary of State said holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone voters, political parties, the government, security forces, civil society, and the media. I am announcing this policy to lend our support to all those seeking to advance democracy in Bangladesh, he said. Blinkens announcement comes a week after a senior visiting state department official said Washington was not concerned about participation of any particular party in Bangladesh's next elections, but wanted the polls to be fair and held in a congenial environment. Meanwhile, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been waging a campaign to restore a non-party caretaker government to oversee the elections, saying no polls under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas administration would be free. The BNP has also vowed not to take part in any election under the incumbent Awami League-led government. "We (however) are not making a comment on whether or not elections are participatory, more we are focused on the electoral environment (in Bangladesh)," US Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter told the state-run BSS news agency last week. She said it was up to Bangladeshi political parties to decide if they would participate in the elections or not. The US state department official said Washington had decided to send a pre-election observer mission to Bangladesh in the coming months, but did not confirm the exact timeframe of the missions tour. The United States is going to be supporting a pre-elections observation mission (in Bangladesh) in the coming months as Prime Minister Hasina welcomed election observers, Akhter said. Blinkens statement also comes amid speculations that the US might mount pressure on Bangladesh against the backdrop of the ongoing geo-politics ahead of the countrys general elections in early January 2024. Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen had earlier this week said there was no reason for the US to impose sanctions on Bangladesh afresh, but added it depended on Washington. "We do not have any idea about new sanctions as it depends on the country (US) concerned, (but) it would be unfortunate if any new US sanction would be imposed, he had said. On December 10 last, the US Treasury Department had imposed sanctions on Bangladeshs elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as well as seven of its current and former officers over human rights violations. The country had protested the sanctions, urging the US to review its decision. Akhter said Washington was pleased to see "a substantial decrease of extra judicial killings" after its sanction on RAB, but we need to see long term systemic change for sanctions to be considered to be removed." On Wednesday, member states of the World Health Organisation voted to move the Moscow-based office of the international organisation to Copenhagen, Denmark. In the Wednesday assembly, the member state also urged Russia to stop attacks on hospitals and healthcare facilities in Ukraine, The Guardian reported. During the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, at least 80 member states requested the WHO secretariat to move the European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases to Denmark from Russia. Amid the raging Russia-Ukraine war, the member states urged the International body to take the measure before the new year. During the Wednesday meeting, the member states voted on a draft decision which was adopted by the Regional Committee for Europe on May 23. The committee was made up of 53 states from the WHO Europe region who voted on the decision earlier this month. Apart from Russia, the member state also voted on draft decisions formulated against countries like North Korea, China and Belarus. The logo and building of the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, 15 April 2020, Image: AP Far from politicising the situation, [the draft decision] focuses specifically on lingering health impacts of the war, the Ukrainian delegation asserted ahead of the voting process, The Guardian. The full-scale aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine has triggered one of the largest health and humanitarian crises. More than 1,256 health facilities have been damaged and 177 reduced to rubble leaving about 237 health workers and patients dead or injured, the delegation further added during the address. Russias participation in WHO and the United Nations has been heavily condemned by Ukraine since the commencement of the war in February last year. Ukraine Health Emergency takes centre stage The health emergency that broke out in Ukraine following the Russia-Ukraine war remained at the centre stage of the three-day assembly convened by the WHO. During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation asserted that more than 1,256 health facilities have been damaged and around 177 such facilities have been reduced to rubble. The delegation also highlighted that due to the ongoing war, supply chains of essential medicines have been disrupted severely disrupted during the war. According to Health Policy Watch, WHO has independently confirmed 974 attacks on medical facilities and the deaths of over 100 healthcare workers since the war. Ukrainian soldiers and emergency employees work outside a maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022, Image: AP The Friendship Shield 2023 war games brought 200 Chinese troops and 700 Lao soldiers together for three weeks near the Lao capital Vientiane for joint military exercises. The drills between the two Communist states gave troops from impoverished, land-locked Laos firsthand experience using modern Chinese weapons, opening the way for the Southeast Asian country to replace its Soviet-era and Russian military supplies. Neighboring Vietnam, Laos' biggest traditional ally, is believed to be watching the Sino-Lao relationship warily, while the U.S. is also concerned about China's expanding military influence. Chinese experts are warning of a mounting wave of COVID-19 cases, but face ongoing public distrust that homegrown vaccines targeting the XBB Omicron variants will do much to protect people against severe disease or death. The countrys top respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan warned this week that the number of infections will likely reach 40 million a week, rising to a peak of 65 million a week by the end of June. China recently approved two new vaccines targeting XBB variants, Zhong told the 2023 Greater Bay Area Science Forum in the southern city of Guangzhou on Monday, with three or four new jabs in the pipeline and likely to be approved soon. More than 80% of new infections in China are now caused by the XBB strain of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, state media quoted the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention as saying, and the proportion continues to rise. China's National Health Commission has warned that the XBB strains have greater transmissibility and immune escape than earlier strains of Omicron, with no significant change in its ability to cause severe initial disease. China's top respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan has warned that COVID infections in the country likely will peak at 65 million a week by the end of June. Credit: AFP file photo But Chinese Academy of Sciences expert Gao Fu said there is also the threat of long COVID and sequelae caused by the virus, especially as reports are emerging of high proportions of reinfections in Chinese hospitals, the Global Times reported. "The more times an individual is infected with COVID-19, the higher the risk of sequelae people will face," the English-language Global Times newspaper quoted Gao as telling an infectious diseases research conference on May 13. The long-term effects or sequelae of COVID-19 infection are "a basic fact" that people shouldn't shy away from, Gao told the conference. "We can't be afraid of COVID but we also can't make light of it," he said. Links to other diseases Recent studies have shown a link between COVID-19 infection and heart damage, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, cognitive deficits, as well as chronic fatigue and postural tachycardia reported by long COVID sufferers, including children. While many studies suggest there are higher risks for those who aren't vaccinated, others say organ damage has been seen even after "mild" initial illness. Mourners stand outside crematorium as white smoke pours out of chimneys used for cremation in Beijing, Dec. 31, 2022. Credit: Associated Press The World Health Organization estimated recently that one in 10 cases of COVID-19 could lead to long-term care needs. Zhong also warned in comments reported in the Global Times on May 15 that while antibodies from an earlier infection once provided protection against reinfection for up to six months, the XBB was able to escape immunity from infection, and it is now nearly six months since China's initial wave of infections. The paper cited hospital officials as saying that around 40% of recent cases at the Shenzhen No. 3 Peoples Hospital were reinfections. Experts estimate that the initial wave of Omicron that followed the lifting of three years of lockdowns, compulsory testing and mass quarantines under Chinese leader Xi Jinping's zero-COVID policy likely infected up to 1.2 billion people in China. Crematoriums overwhelmed As the first wave hit an undervaccinated population, funeral homes and crematoriums were working round the clock to deal with a massive wave of deaths, as a U.K.-based computer model estimated that as many as 36,000 people died each day during the Lunar New Year holiday period in February, with cases peaking at 4.8 million a day. Yanzhong Huang, a senior researcher on global health issues at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington DC, took the government's own figures on cases and the official projected death rate to come up with a likely death toll of at least one million during the first wave of infections, in an article in Foreign Policy magazine on Feb. 16. Huang told Radio Free Asia this week that he doesn't expect the current wave to be so deadly, although he didn't explain why, given ongoing concerns over vaccine uptake in China, partly due to mistrust of homegrown jabs. People shout slogans and hold up blank sheets of paper during a protest against COVID-19 restrictions after a vigil for the victims of a fire in Urumqi, in Beijing, Nov. 28, 2022. Credit: Reuters "I don't know yet whether this new vaccine is effective against XBB," Huang said. "I think vaccination is definitely necessary, but I don't think we should overstate how effective [these vaccines] will be." "The vaccines are mostly effective against severe disease, so regarding them as preventive [of infection] isn't very accurate." But he said of the current wave: "It'll probably be milder, with less of a socioeconomic impact." Chinese-language comments on Twitter hit out at homegrown COVID-19 vaccines, saying three jabs had done little to protect anyone during the last wave, with some saying they were "still recovering" from the last jab. Ren Ruihong, a former executive of the China Red Cross Foundation, said Chinese-made inactivated virus vaccines are generally regarded by the international scientific community as less effective than the mRNA jabs produced in Europe and the United States. "Most of my friends and relatives aren't very impressed [by the approval of new vaccines]," Ren said. "They didn't think the original vaccine did much good the first time around." "We were told at the time that it protected against severe disease, but most of them still got seriously ill anyway." Ren added: "The newly updated vaccine is still the original inactivated type, so it probably won't be much of an improvement." Huang called on the authorities to lay in more stores of antiviral medicines and encourage vaccination and mask-wearing, rather than returning to lockdowns and mass quarantine restrictions. Ren said zero-COVID measures are unlikely to return, however, given that local governments have no funds to implement them, citing the ruling Chinese Communist Party's unwillingness to provoke public protests similar to the "white paper" protests of November 2022. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Xie Feng takes up his post with scant sign of a return to the guardrails envisaged under President Joe Biden. Xie Feng, Chinas new ambassador to the U.S., gives a speech in a press conference in Hong Kong on February 7, 2020. UPDATED 0820 May 27, 2023 Chinas new ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, started his tenure by stating baldly that he is there to look after his countrys interests, first and foremost. Arriving in Washington amid unprecedented tension over Taiwan and the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon over U.S. soil, former Hong Kong foreign affairs envoy Xie Feng fills a post that has been empty for five months, the longest hiatus in the history of bilateral ties. In a brief statement at the airport on Tuesday, Xie, 59, kicked off by recognizing the serious difficulties and challenges in the U.S.-China relationship. We hope that the United States will work together with China to increase dialogue, to manage differences and also to expand our cooperation, so that our relationship will be back to the right track, Xie said in remarks delivered in English. But he also named the Taiwan question among the sensitive issues at the top of his agenda, striking a tone that is becoming known as Chinas wolf-warrior diplomatic style. I have come here to safeguard China's interest. This is my sacred responsibility, he said after landing at New York Citys John F. Kennedy International Airport. Im also the envoy of Chinese people, so Ive come here to enhance China-U.S. exchanges and cooperation, said Xie. Wolf warrior reputation Xies reputation is generally in line with the wolf warrior image of some Chinese diplomats, and he has engaged in blunt rebukes of U.S. actions on issues ranging from trade to official contact with the democratic island of Taiwan, which Beijing has threatened to annex by military force if necessary. As the foreign ministrys envoy to Hong Kong during the 2019 protest movement, Xie blamed the protests against the loss of the citys freedoms as the work of a minority of angry and disaffected youth who desecrated the national flag and waved foreign ones, begging for outside intervention. Xie also has a strong track record in delivering diplomatic retorts specifically targeting the United States, having served in Washington as a junior attache as early as 2000, where he rose to become embassy spokesman. After his transfer back to Beijing in January 2021, Xie took up the post of vice minister of foreign affairs in charge of policy planning and regional affairs for the Americas and Oceania, where he accused Washington of not doing enough to fight the pandemic, and of hypocrisy over its criticism of China's human rights record. Efforts to repair U.S.-China ties have struggled since then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022, sparking days of military saber-rattling by the Peoples Liberation Army around the island. Xie Feng addresses the media as he arrives at JFK airport in New York on May 23, 2023. Credit: Reuters In February, just hours before Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to leave Washington for a visit to Beijing, he called off the trip after an alleged Chinese spying balloon was found in U.S. airspace. Then, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens March meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a U.S. stopover prompted Beijing to launch aircraft carriers into the Western Pacific just south of Taiwan, with Beijing accusing the United States of crossing the line with the trip. And there has been scant sign of any thaw since, State Department counselor Derek Chollet told the Voice of America in a recent interview, saying there are currently no plans for a regular meeting between Blinken and Chinas most senior diplomat, Wang Yi. The two last met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 18. Theres no decision at all on a regular meeting, Chollet said. As you know very well, Secretary Blinken was just hours from departing for Beijing several months ago, until the Chinese irresponsibly and unacceptably flew a surveillance balloon over the United States. But he said U.S. Ambassador to China Nick Burns had recently returned from public service leave to Beijing where he had had several meetings to try to find a floor for the relationship. And he described national security adviser Jake Sullivans May 11 meeting with Wang Yi in Vienna as another attempt to find guardrails following recent tensions. Weve had a very difficult several months and as President Biden mentioned ... hes, of course, hoping that therell be a moment for thaw in the relationship in whats been a difficult period, Chollet said. Can set a positive tone Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said Xie Feng differs from his predecessors in that he has been dealing with the United States for a long time, appearing at a video meeting between President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping last November. Xie Feng has been dealing with the United States for quite some time, Glaser said. He is an expert who has been in the foreign ministry responsible for U.S. affairs, whereas [his predecessor] Qin Gang did not have a strong background in the U.S.-China relationship, so I think that is an important difference. According to the Wall Street Journal, Xies appointment could be an attempt to signal that Beijing is hoping for better communication with Washington despite recent tensions and the long hiatus between ambassadors. It has been over six months since the United States has had an ambassador from China, and I think that has hampered to some extent communications between the U.S. and Chinese governments, Glaser said. The ambassador can set a positive tone for the relationship, but the ambassador does not make decisions about policy. Wang Dan, who heads the Washington-based think tank Dialogue China, said Xies appointment says little about how the bilateral relationship will pan out over the next few months, however. Ever since Xi Jinping was voted in again [at the 20th party congress in October 2022], the [whole of Chinese diplomacy] has basically become the attitude of Xi Jinping alone, Wang said. I dont think [Xie's appointment] should be regarded as some kind of political signal. Wang said even Chinas more moderate diplomats will be under pressure to demonstrate their wolf warrior credentials under Xi. Weve all seen this happen in the past, and I believe Xie Feng will go the same way, he said. The Chinese embassy declined to comment on Xies appointment or its likely effect on bilateral ties, responding only: We will be releasing relevant information in due course. Please check our website and official social media platforms. Chollet said he had no announcements to make on a rescheduled visit by Blinken to Beijing. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Matt Reed. The update corrects the name of the Chinese ambassador. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the European Committee of the Regions to cooperate with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Ukraine. "We established a special institution in Ukraine the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. This is a platform that we invented to provide more opportunities for development to our regions and communities, to make better interaction between the central government and local authorities. Obviously, Congress must also play a fundamental role in the reconstruction efforts," he said on Thursday, addressing the European Committee of the Regions via a video linkup. "I invite you to join the work of the Offices of International Cooperation, which are being created with a view to greater efficiency in the work on the recovery of Ukraine. And I invite you, actually, to visit our country to visit that part of our Europe in which the fate of our Europe is being decided both with weapons and rebuilding," the president said. According to Zelenskyy, "the system of governance in Ukraine even in wartime conditions corresponds to the European system of democracy." "There may be different national approaches to a specific system of government in a certain country, but the main principle of respect for regions, respect for communities is indispensable for everyone," he said. When the decentralization reform was implemented in Ukraine, "we focused on the best European practices of governing and subsidiarity of powers between the center and communities," the head of state said. Electricity generation will be impacted across the region, the study says. An aerial view shows local resident Gu Yunfeng standing on a rock in middle the Yangtze river as it approached record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, Aug. 20, 2022. Asias 10 major river systems -- that play a vital role in the economies and energy security of 16 countries -- are facing significant disruptions due to climate change, a new report warns, calling for urgent action to safeguard regional water flow. The basins of the 10 rivers originating from the Hindu Kush-Himalayan water towers are inhabited by 1.9 billion people and contribute U.S.$4.3 trillion to annual gross domestic product, said the report No River, No Power by China Water Risk (CWR), a non-profit think tank based in Hong Kong. The climate change risk means up to one in two Asians could be affected by increasing water scarcity due to accelerated glacial melt, reduced snowfall, changing monsoon patterns and overexploitation of groundwater resources, the report released Wednesday said. Asia gets most of its water from the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Karakorum mountains, and the Tibetan Plateau. Collectively, they are often called the Third Pole or Asias Water Towers, making up 10 major river basins. These include the Amu Darya, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Indus, Ayeyarwady, Mekong, Salween, Tarim, Yangtze and Yellow rivers. They flow through 16 countries, including China and most of Central, South, and Southeast Asia before reaching the seas or ending in a desert. Known as the continents cradles of civilization, they are also responsible for almost three quarters of global rice production. Infographic showing 10 major rivers key to Asias water and economic security. Credit: China Water Risk. The report said that most of the countries are developing, which means more people will flock to more than 280 large cities along the rivers, adding pressure to already stressed systems. According to the reports projection, all rivers face escalating and compounding water risks due to climate change, with four of the 10 rivers seeing an overall decrease in river flows by 2050 if the earth heats by the 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius threshold set by Paris climate agreement. Such impacts will affect the 10 river systems power generation, currently responsible for 865 gigawatts (GW), or 46% of the total electricity capacity in the 16 countries, the report said. It is more than the combined capacity of Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan and Russia. Over 94% of this installed capacity (865GW) needs water to generate electricity, with coal and hydropower making up most of the share, while more than a third already lie in river basin areas that face High to Extremely High water stress or are in arid regions. Uncertain future flows of the 10 rivers and extreme weather mean we must curate mountains-to-oceans waternomic roadmaps and energy systems that are resilient to climate change, said Debra Tan, head of the think tank and lead author of the report. National energy and water security plans must thus dovetail. The need to do all this is ever more urgent as doing so will help us manage escalating and compounding water risks as well as meet rising demand for water. Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar highest-risk countries According to the report, landlocked Laos is the most exposed among the risk groups, along with Myanmar and Cambodia in the overall high-risk group, while China is considered a mid-high risk and Vietnam low risk. In Laos, the Mekong accounts for two-thirds of its surface water and houses over 90% of its population and gross domestic product, according to the report, with almost 100% of Laoss national installed capacity on the Mekong. Similarly, Cambodia receives 26% of its surface water from the Mekong, home to 79% of its population and 85% of its GDP. Around two-thirds of Cambodias national installed capacity as hydropower sits in the Mekong river basin. In Myanmar, the Ayeyarwady, Salween, and Mekong provide 35% of the countrys surface water and house 58% of its population and contribute 46% to its GDP. Almost two-thirds of its installed power capacity is on the Ayeyarwady and one-third on the Salween. The report also noted that a surge in just-in-case coal-fired power additions in China after the severe droughts along the Yangtze in 2022 is just one of many cascading effects of climate change impacts. Out of the 10 rivers, only Amu Darya does not flow through China. The other nine rivers provide half of Chinas surface water, support about 44% of its population, and contribute about 30% to its GDP. China has around half of its national power dispersed among seven rivers, with the lions share in the Yangtze and Yellow river basins. Water flows out from sluiceways at the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River near Yichang in central China's Hubei Province, July 17, 2020. Credit: Wang Gang/Xinhua, via AP The Asia-Pacific is home to 80% of global coal generation, while power sector emissions in the region make up 62% of the total worldwide. Asias heavy reliance on still expanding coal-fired power fleet only accelerates climate change and exacerbates water scarcity, the report said, warning that such power generation requires water for cooling and driving steam turbines, making energy security even more vulnerable during a water crisis. The transboundary nature of the river systems also adds to the risk, it said, giving an example of the Mekong that flows through five countries. This means that the transboundary management of eight out of the 10 rivers should not just be about water sharing but also energy policies and development as well, said CT Low, CWRs geospatial risk lead and coauthor of the report. Edited by Mike Firn. They were accused of supporting Peoples Defense Force members sheltering in a monastery. People outside Obo Prison, Mandalay city, Myanmar in a photograph taken on Feb.12, 2021 A court in Myanmars central Mandalay region has handed down 22-year sentences to three Buddhist monks accused of supporting anti-junta Peoples Defense forces, a local resident told RFA Thursday. Tuesdays sentences came after the monks from Taw Kyaung Gyi monastery in Patheingyi township were found guilty under Section 50 (j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, which prohibits the financing of terrorist groups. The local, who didnt want to be named for safety reasons, said the monks became involved because anti-junta militia often seek refuge in religious buildings, thinking they will be safer. A monk is not a Peoples Defense Force [member]. PDF youths set up camp in that monastery and sent drones over Mandalay city, he said. The monks probably encouraged them because locals are involved. Monks host the PDF and collect donations for them. RFA has not been able to find out the names of the monks but the local said one was the chair of Mandalays Madaya township Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, established by the government in 1980 to oversee the Buddhist clergy. Another local, who also requested anonymity, told RFA the three monks are being held in Mandalays Obo Prison following the hearing in Mandalay citys Aungmyaythazan District Court Some 18,364 people are currently in detention in Myanmar, 6,076 of them serving prison sentences, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Byu Har said life was better under the democratically elected government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi. In a video posted to Facebook on May 23, 2023, rapper Byu Har lists his complaints about Myanmars Ministry of Electricity and Energy. While addressing the government, he says, if you want to arrest me, just come. Myanmars junta on Wednesday arrested a hip-hop artist for a video published on social media in which he complained about electricity shortages and said that life was better under the democratically elected government that the military toppled. Rapper Byu Har, who is the son of prominent musician Naing Myanmar, posted the video on Facebook where he called out the minister of electricity, calling the holder of the office, which he could not name, a fool. The ministrys proper name is the Ministry of Electric Power and the minister of electric power is Thaung Han. I want to tell the minister of electricity who is wearing that elegant uniform, and the employees under the ministry of electricity that you guys are all stupid fools, he said in the video. Even under the old ladys [Aung San Suu Kyis] government, not only did we have enough electricity without any power outage, her government even lowered the rate of electricity bills. The country is currently experiencing power shortages, and residents have told RFAs Burmese Service that many areas of Yangon, where Byu Har lives, get power for only 10 hours per day five in the morning and another five in the afternoon and evening. Some areas of the city, such as the area where retired military officers live, are supplied with full power, though. You cant supply enough electricity to us. You can barely supply us every five hours. Even that is not certain, Byu Har said. In addition to the criticism of Myanmars electric power ministry, Byu Har also had choice words for the juntas leader, Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. The guy who is governing the country is also a stupid incompetent fool himself, he said. You guys have no [expletive deleted] skill at all. Even if a fool like me were to govern this country, I promise that we would have enough electricity with no power outages. I am cursing at you because I dont have the electricity. Got it? If you want to arrest me, just come. A source close to the family confirmed the arrest to RFA and said that Byu Har is being held in the North Dagon Police station in the eastern part of Yangon. His father Naing Myanmar was not available for comment. Byu Har and others like him are brave for telling the truth in a public forum like Facebook, human rights lawyer and legal analyst Kyee Myint told RFA. What they are saying is all true, but its a pain in the neck for people who dont want to hear such criticisms, said Kyee Myint. They criticize neither to gain power nor to ruin the country. They criticize it to help the country get better. He said that criticizing the junta over the electricity shortage was an example of strength and love for the country. But the junta arresting him for such criticisms indicates that the country is failing and that the rule of law is not working either, Kyee Myint said. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Eugene Whong and Matt Reed. Manila agreed to permit access amid tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. greets U.S. and Philippine soldiers participating in joint military exercises in San Antonio town in Zambales, a province facing the West Philippine Sea, April 26, 2023. The U.S. military plans to construct more than a dozen projects at four Philippine sites, including bases it will use under a newly expanded defense deal, a Filipino armed forces spokesman said Thursday. The United States will fund and build 14 projects at locations, including the Lal-lo Airport in the northern province of Cagayan, which directly faces Taiwan, and on Balabac, an island in Palawan province that faces the South China Sea. The projects will include improvements at Naval Base Camilo Osias in Cagayan and at an army camp in Isabela, another province on the main northern Philippines island of Luzon, the military said. Philippine military spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said the projects consist of the construction of a pier, rehabilitation of a runway, establishment of a command-and-control fusion system and construction of a mess hall and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response hangars. On the new sites, we have identified the projects in those areas, Aguilar told reporters as he emphasized that the projects were aligned with military goals. The projects will strengthen our capabilities because these EDCA sites will facilitate the conduct of training, Aguilar said, referring to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a bilateral pact that was broadened earlier this year. Not for staging attacks The construction will happen after Manila agreed under the EDCA to permit Washington to have access to more Philippine bases amid tensions between China and the U.S. over Taiwan and between China, Taiwan and countries that have contending territorial claims in the South China Sea. While Aguilar did not say how much would be spent for the projects, the foreign affairs department previously said that Washington had informed Manila about plans to spend at least U.S. $100 million for upgrades at a total of nine military bases, which U.S. troops can access under the agreement. The EDCA is a supplemental agreement to the Visiting Forces Agreement, a pact that specifically grants legal cover to large-scale joint maneuvers by the two longtime allies. In addition, the two nations are bound by the 1951 Mutual Defense Agreement to aid each other if one comes under attack. Earlier this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told a security forum in Washington that Philippine bases would not be used to stage attacks against a third country. Instead, he played down widespread public fears here that the Philippines would be embroiled in conflict should China attack Taiwan, a U.S. ally considered a renegade province by China. In the Philippines, U.S. troops may position assets at EDCA sites to respond to emergency situations, including natural disasters. If we will be attacked, of course we can use that. Only if we are attacked, which is remote from happening, Aguilar said. 'Common dangers' The defense treaty says each party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific region on either party would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes. The treaty notes that such an attack is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the Parties, or on the Island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific. Aguilar said projects to be implemented at the new EDCA sites were discussed at the higher level and as I have said, its aligned with the modernization program, the capability upgrade. Therefore, it is also us who identified [the sites] and it was agreed on both sides, he said. In April when the four bases were revealed, the U.S. Department of Defense said the locations would allow Washington to respond more seamlessly together to address a range of shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Jojo Rinoza in Manila contributed to this report. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. Sonam Gyatso was sent to jail for sending money for prayer offerings to the Dalai Lama. A Tibetan Buddhist monk serving a jail sentence for sending money for prayer offerings to the Dalai Lama and to the abbot of his monastery has been released from jail and has returned to the monastery, people in Tibet who are familiar with the situation said. Authorities arrested Sonam Gyatso on April 3, 2021, while he was vacationing in Chengdu. On Tuesday, he was freed from Menyang Prison near the city of Chengdu in southwest Chinas Sichuan province, after completing his two-year sentence, the sources said. On Thursday, he returned to Kirti Monastery in Sichuans Ngaba county in poor health because of torture and maltreatment in prison, they said. Chinese authorities arrested Gyatso, his sister Tsering Lhamo, and another Kirti Monastery monk, Rachung Gendun, for allegedly sending money for prayer offerings to the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhisms spiritual leader, and the head of the monastery through Lobsang Thokmey, the monasterys manager all of whom live in exile in Dharamsala, India. Chinese authorities consider it illegal for Tibetans to contact other Tibetans living in exile and are particularly sensitive about any contact with the Dalai Lama, who fled to India 74 years ago and has been living in Dharamsala ever since. Beijing considers him a separatist seeking to destroy Chinas sovereignty by pushing for independence for Tibet. The three were sentenced to different jail terms, though Lhamo was released this April. Upon release, she sought medical treatment in a Chengdu hospital because she was weak, said one of the sources who declined to be identified for safety reasons. Gendrun is still serving a 3.5-year sentence after being sentenced in July 2022. He also had strongly opposed the Chinese governments patriotic education campaign in which Chinese and trusted Tibetan officials forced Buddhist monks and nuns to accept the concept of the unity of China and Tibet, a source with knowledge of the situation previously told RFA. Gyatso became a monk at a young age and studied Buddhism at the Kirti Monastery, obtaining the Geshe degree, a higher academic degree in Buddhist philosophy. He later worked in the monastic department and became a mentor to others at Kirti Monastery, where he frequently experienced problems with local Chinese authorities. China maintains firm control of the restive Tibet Autonomous Region, restricting Tibetans political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity as Buddhists. Tibetans frequently complain of discrimination and human rights abuses by authorities as well as policies they say are aimed at wiping out their national and cultural identity. Translated by Rigdhen Dolma. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. He was convicted under a controversial 'propaganda' article of the Penal Code. Bui Tuan Lam and his beef noodle stall in front of his home in Danang, Vietnam. UPDATED AT 2:25 p.m. ET on 2023-05-25 A court in the central Vietnamese city of Danang sentenced activist Bui Tuan Lam known as Onion Bae to five years and six months in prison Thursday, along with four years of probation, one of his lawyers Le Dinh Viet told RFA. He was convicted of propaganda under Article 117 of the countrys Penal Code, which carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 12, after being found guilty of criticizing the government online. Bui, 39, who ran a beef noodle stall in Danang, achieved notoriety in 2021 after posting an online video mimicking the Turkish chef Nusret Gokce, known as Salt Bae. The video was widely seen as a mockery of Vietnams minister of public security, To Lam, who was caught on film being hand-fed one of Salt Baes gold-encrusted steaks by the chef at his London restaurant at a cost of 1,450 pounds (U.S.$1,790). The minister was in the U.K. as part of a Vietnamese government delegation which attended the COP26 climate change conference in Scotland. Critics wondered how the official could afford the extravagant meal on a monthly salary of $660. In Buis video clip, he calls himself Onion Bae and dramatically sprinkles spring onions into a bowl of soup, mimicking the signature move of the celebrity chef. Bui was later summoned by Danang police for questioning and arrested and charged in September 2022. Article 117 of the countrys Penal Code criminalizes making, storing, distributing or disseminating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It is frequently used by authorities to restrict freedom of expression and opinions deemed critical of the government. According to Danang Peoples Procuracys indictment, Bui posted 19 articles on his Facebook account and 25 videos and articles on his YouTube account from April 17, 2020, to July 26, 2022. The articles and videos included content that it claimed were distorting, defaming peoples government and fabricating and causing confusion among people. The Vietnamese authorities deem just about anything as propaganda against the state to crack down on activists and dissidents, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch ahead of the verdict. The Vietnamese government should abolish rights-abusing article 117 of the penal code and stop prosecuting Bui Tuan Lam and others for criticizing the Vietnamese Communist Party. Bui Tuan Lam with his handmade human rights products. Credit: Facebook: Le Thanh Lam Bui is a seasoned activist, spending many years speaking out against Chinas territorial claims in parts of the South China Sea claimed by Vietnam and also campaigning to protect the environment. He received threats from the Danang police after providing food to local people during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. After his Onion Bae video went viral the police ordered him to close his noodle stall, which he did for a short while ahead of his arrest. The authorities have hounded him for his posts and videos, showing the length that Vietnamese authorities can go to deny people the enjoyment of their right to freedom of expression, no matter how benign, satirical or light-hearted, said Amnesty International Interim Deputy Regional Director for Research Montse Ferrer before the verdict was handed down. Satire is not a crime, she added. Authorities prevented Bui Tuan Lams lawyers from meeting with him ahead of the trial, claiming last month that he refused representation. After his wife Le Than Lam demanded to meet with Bui to find out the truth the Peoples Procuracy of Danang issued a notice allowing lawyers to represent him. The court approved Le Dinh Viets registration to be Bui Tuan Lams lawyer for the trial. But when Viet went to Danang Polices detention facility where Bui Tuan Lam was being held, he said staff didnt allow him to see his client, claiming the judge hadnt had time to review the investigation report. Lawyers Le Dinh Viet and Ngo Anh Tuan were allowed to represent Bui in court on Thursday but the latter was removed from the court after requesting a fair debate between defense lawyers and prosecutors, Le Dinh Viet told RFA. Lawyer Ngo Anh Tuan and the Procuracys representative had some disagreements during the debate session. [Tuan] asked the Procuracy representative to provide arguments in order to clarify their viewpoint, but this request was objected by one of the judges, Judge Nguyen Anh Tuan," said Viet. "Although the lawyer said that kicking him out was unreasonable, the presiding judge still forced him to leave. The trial felt similar to other political cases Viet has been involved in. Law enforcement itself was not sufficiently exercised during the hearing of the case, he said, criticizing the so-called expert conclusions given by members of Danangs Department of Information and Communication during Thursdays trial. Those assessment conclusions have many violations, including violations of expertise authority, violations of the roles of experts, even some which violate the basic principles of the law on judicial expertise." "In my opinion, given the circumstances and developments of today's trial, the issuance of the judgment does not guarantee the objectivity nor guarantee the legal rights of defendant Bui Tuan Lam." Bui pleaded not guilty plea, saying he exercised the right to freedom of expression. His lawyers said he would appeal the verdict. Family barred Buis wife and family were not allowed to attend the trial because they did not have invitations or subpoenas from the court, Bui Tuan Lams younger brother Bui Quang Khiem said. On the morning of the trial police blocked all the roads to the area surrounding the court to prevent people from entering. During the trial, when the family were staying outside the court area, they were harassed by security guards, and physically assaulted by the police when the defense lawyers came out and talked to them after the trial finished, the younger brother said. A group of seven or eight female police officers attacked my sister-in-law Lam, saying it was because she had taken photos, he said. We tried to stop them and eventually, my brother [Bui Quang] Minh and I were beaten black and blue by a dozen security guards. He described the attack in detail, saying, They hit our heads and necks and strangled, muzzled, shoved, and rubbed us against the ground. Generally, we got cuts and scratches on the necks and, arms, and backs. Plain-clothed police officers dragged Khiem and Minh to a 16-seat van and took them to the police station in Hoa Cuong Bac ward, Hai Chau district, Danang. Ms. Le Thanh Lam, Mr. Bui Tuan Lams wife was also escorted to the station, but the three of them were sent to three different rooms. Lams two younger brothers were released at 2 p.m. Thursday but his wife remained in custody as of Thursday evening. The police sent in staff with tools to unlock her smartphone to delete the photos that showed the exterior of the court building during the trial. Khiem told RFA that he did not know when Ms. Lam would be released. Khiem said his brothers sentence was inhumane and contradicted the principles of democracy and human rights. My brother Lam was just an ordinary person who expressed his point of view. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Eugene Whong. Added quotes from Lam's brother regarding police detaining his family members. Russian forces targeted Kyiv with multiple waves of air strikes early on May 28, Ukrainian officials said, describing the air raid as the "largest" drone attack on the city since the start of the war. The strikes came on the last Sunday of May when the Ukrainian capital celebrates Kyiv Day, the anniversary of the city's official founding 1,541 years ago. The Tavberidze Interviews Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vazha Tavberidze of RFE/RL's Georgian Service has been interviewing diplomats, military experts, and academics who hold a wide spectrum of opinions about the war's course, causes, and effects. To read all of his interviews, click here. Ukrainian defense systems downed at least 40 drones, with falling debris killing one person and wounding two others, the officials said. Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, said Russia used the Iranian-made Shahed drones in the pre-dawn attacks on Kyiv, the largest Ukrainian city with a population of around 3 million. "Today, the enemy decided to 'congratulate' the people of Kyiv on Kyiv Day with the help of their deadly [unmanned aerial vehicles]," Popko wrote on Telegram. "The attack was carried out in several waves, and the air alert lasted more than five hours," he added. Falling debris set a three-story warehouse on fire in the Holosiyivskiy district in the southwestern part of Kyiv, destroying 1,000 square meters of building structures, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Falling drone debris also caused a fire in the Solomyanskiy district, a busy rail and air transport hub in the city's west. The roof of a nine-story building was set on fire by debris in the Pecherskiy district, and a shop was damaged in the Darnytskiy district, military administration officials said on Telegram early on May 28. Russia has intensified missile and drone strikes on Ukraine after a lull of nearly two months, targeting military facilities and supplies with waves of attacks several times a week. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group have reportedly begun relocating from some of their positions in and around the eastern city of Bakhmut, according to some senior Ukrainian officials and British intelligence. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the mercenary group that has spearheaded the attack on Bakhmut, on May 25 said his fighters were starting to leave the city and would be replaced by regular Russian troops. Prigozhin claimed his fighters had captured Bakhmut, an assertion rejected by Kyiv officials who said Ukrainian forces still control parts of the devastated city. At the same time, the Ukrainian side confirmed "certain rotational movements" of Russian forces in Bakhmut. "Indeed, they are replacing [forces], but how massively, how much [Prigozhin] will really withdraw the units of this criminal group -- it will take a little time to verify," Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatiy told state television on May 27. Ukraine Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a statement on Telegram that Russian forces were continuing to attack Bakhmut but that overall offensive activity had decreased in recent days. "The decrease in the enemy's offensive activity is due to the fact that troops are being replaced and regrouped," Maliar said on May 27. "The enemy is trying to strengthen its own capabilities." Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, also told the BBC in an interview published on May 27 that Wagner mercenaries were leaving Bakhmut but cautioned they were "regrouping to another three locations" and "it doesn't mean that they will stop fighting with us." With reporting by Reuters and AFP Giving birth is a life or death struggle for women in Afghanistan, where roughly one mother is believed to die every two hours from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications. Even mothers who survive face the stark reality that their newborns may not, with the Taliban's Health Ministry estimating 22 children die for every 1,000 live births. "Why would a woman need to go to the hospital?" 31-year-old Zia Gul, a resident of the northern Parwan Province, recalled her husband saying during her difficult pregnancies. "There are only men at the hospital; there are no female doctors." Gul told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that her husband's refusal to let her see a doctor contributed to the loss of two of her newborn children. Gul's experience is in line with those of many Afghan women, particularly in conservative rural areas, who are bound by the Islamic custom of mahram. The practice prohibits women from leaving their home without a male relative, bars them from being treated by male doctors, and gives them little say in their own health decisions. But the traditional customs enforced by Gul's in-laws, who allowed no discussion on the matter, are just one of the many factors that contribute to high maternal mortality in Afghanistan's deeply patriarchal society. Years of political upheaval, economic woes, the exodus of medical professionals, low literacy and public awareness on health issues, poor infrastructure, and the lack of access to medical care in remote areas all add up to astonishingly high maternal mortality rates. Among The World's Worst According to statistics compiled by the World Bank, the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), and other UN agencies, 1,450 mothers were dying for every 100,000 live births by 2000, shortly before the Taliban was ousted from power. Over the course of the next 20 years, due to increased funding and attention paid to maternal health care and awareness by the UNPFA, international aid agencies such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and the Afghan government, that number was cut by more than half to 620 deaths by 2020. The Taliban's seizure of power in August 2021 raised fears that the extremist group would reimpose the draconian policies of its first stint in power from 1996-2001, including the banning of female education and employment as it enforced mahram. Many of those fears have been realized. Girls above the sixth grade have been barred from attending school, women are banned from pursuing university education, and women are no longer allowed to work for international aid agencies. Marham is also more prevalent, with women officially required to wear the all-encompassing burqa and remain at home unless accompanied by a male relative. Once again, according to Aleksandar Sasha Bodiroza, the UNFPA's representative in Afghanistan, women's ability to freely access health facilities to seek maternal and newborn care has been restricted. No outside nationwide statistics have been made available since 2020, but the Afghan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, citing recent figures from the Taliban-led government's Health Ministry, told Radio Azadi that the maternal mortality ratio has risen only slightly under Taliban rule. While the figure, 638 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, is the same number recorded by the international community in 2017, it is still high enough to rank Afghanistan among the world's 10 worst in terms of maternal mortality. That the situation has remained relatively stable is also difficult to fathom, considering the vast numbers of doctors who fled the country as the Taliban regained power, the country's dire economic situation and multiple humanitarian crises, and the increased pressures on aid workers and on Afghan women. The state health-care system, propped up by foreign aid for two decades, has also suffered from a dramatic drop in international funding since the Taliban takeover. Health workers and outside agencies say the damage done to the health sector is undeniable. "The system has changed in our country. Naturally, it had an impact on the country's economy and the services that the government provides to the people," Hamid Jabari, an Afghan physician who was expelled from the country by the Taliban, told Radio Azadi. "The negative effects are being felt, including the lack of professionals in government, especially the health sector." Some of the losses are offset by the continued involvement of outside organizations, including private hospitals, the UNFPA, and MSF, which have been able to continue to employ women despite the Taliban's ban on women aid workers due to an exemption for health workers. But tremendous obstacles remain. Bodiroza said in written comments that "despite the exemption of the health sector from the ban on female humanitarian workers, the sector is also suffering from the ban as there are NGOs that indirectly support efficient delivery of health services -- not as frontline health workers but as back office staff, for example." Afghan women health-care workers, in turn, told Radio Azadi they are being prevented from carrying out their work or expanding their expertise, even as the contributing factors to maternal mortality become more severe. The result is that newborns or pregnant women are now at greater risk of preventable deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the first few weeks after childbirth. "Many pregnant women can't access antenatal or postnatal care, and the health system struggles to treat women who experience complications in pregnancy," Tomas Bendl, field communications manager for MSF in Afghanistan, told RFE/RL in written comments. "A shortage of qualified female health-care staff also affects access to health care, as maternity and sometimes pediatric wards are women-only spaces." Dangers At Home Hussain Sayer, a doctor from Parwan Province, told Radio Azadi that childbirth should ideally take place at a maternity hospital under the care of an obstetrician. He said it was a "bad custom" for women to be denied access to health facilities during their pregnancies and warned that the only available option for many women -- home birth -- carries great risk. In the event of births taking place at home, he said, they should be supervised by a trained midwife. But while great emphasis was made over the past two decades to increase the number of professional midwives in Afghanistan capable of providing medical assistance during pregnancies, deliveries, and postnatal care, many Afghan women who entered the profession say they are unable to help. Nadia, a midwife who spoke to Radio Azadi on condition that only her first name be used, said many of her colleagues who specialized in gynecology and obstetrics are "unemployed and stay at home" since the Taliban takeover. Another midwife, who declined to give her name due to security concerns, said fear prevents many of her colleagues from working. "Midwives don't go from place to place to assist with births -- that's why the problems have increased," she told Radio Azadi. "Every midwife is afraid for her life." Restrictions on women's mobility have had a harmful effect on efforts to educate communities on women's health in remote areas of the country, according to the UNFPA's Bodiroza. Even when male family members do allow women to visit health-care facilities, the difficulties in reaching them in rural areas limits the number of visits and can mean help is often administered too late. "I took my wife to the clinic by motorcycle," Abdul Samad, a resident of the southeastern Ghazni Province told Radio Azadi, explaining he lived far from the nearest village with maternity facilities. While Samad managed to get his wife to a doctor, shortly after he left to retrieve her mother, he received bad news. "Half an hour later, I received a call saying my wife was in agony," he said. "When I returned, I saw they were right" -- both his wife and their newborn child had died. Continuing Efforts It is difficult to assess where Afghanistan truly stands in terms of maternal mortality, but the benefits of continued outreach efforts and on-the-ground medical aid are obvious. Bendl said MSF operates two projects in Afghanistan that focus on maternal health care, among other things, and employ more than 1,700 medical professionals in Afghanistan, of whom more than half are women. Last year, MSF assisted in more than 42,700 deliveries, more than 8,000 of which were marked by obstetric complications. In Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern Helmand Province, MSF's support for a hospital resulted in an average maternal mortality rate of 0.1 percent. In the southeastern Khost Province, where MSF operates a maternity hospital, the mortality rate was 0.02 percent. Bodiroza of the UNFPA said the agency continues "to deliver a full range of maternal health services in Afghanistan" and supports facilities and delivers essential reproductive health supplies in 32 out of the country's 34 provinces. Despite the positives, those involved in providing health services in Afghanistan say much more needs to be done. Bodiroza said the UNFPA estimates that without immediate and sustained support for reproductive health services, the situation could lead to an additional 51,000 maternal deaths by 2025. Adding that "reproductive health services are therefore more critical than ever," Bodiroza said the UN agency is aiming to reach 10.6 million people -- including 6.8 million women and girls -- in remote areas with reproductive health support. Bendl said that "there is no doubt that a dysfunctional health system, widespread poverty, and increased restrictions placed on women are at the heart of the current humanitarian crisis." "If we want the situation to improve," he said, "policymakers, donors, and local authorities must urgently focus on strengthening primary medical care." And women, he said, "must be allowed to pursue further education and employment opportunities, to raise income for their families and to ensure there are sufficient female health workers in the country to meet the needs." Written and reported by Michael Scollon, with additional reporting by Radio Azadi correspondents Ahmad Hanayish and Sahar Lewal The leaders of bitter Caucasus rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan mixed words of conciliation with angry disagreement over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in a Moscow meeting on May 25 in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said there had been progress in recent days toward a settlement of their long dispute based on mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity. But they also exchanged angry words over Baku's moves to impede Armenian access to Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinian said the actions had caused a humanitarian crisis by closing the only land route from Armenia to the region -- an allegation Aliyev denied. The talks took place at a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union -- a grouping of several former Soviet republics -- in Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh for decades. Some 30,000 people were killed in a war in the early 1990s that left ethnic Armenians in control of the predominantly Armenian-populated region and seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan proper. Decades of internationally mediated talks failed to result in a diplomatic solution and the simmering conflict led to another war in 2020 in which nearly 7,000 soldiers were killed on both sides. The six-week war, in which Azerbaijan regained all the Armenian-controlled areas outside of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as chunks of territory inside the Soviet-era autonomous region, ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire under which Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to serve as peacekeepers. In mid-December 2022, Azerbaijani activists began obstructing the road known as the Lachin Corridor, which Pashinian said should be under control of Russian peacekeepers. Baku in April erected a checkpoint along the route, saying it was necessary to control the supply of arms being sent to the region and to end illegal mining operations. It said the road remained open to humanitarian aid, claims Yerevan disputed. Pashinian called Baku's blocking of access to the region a "direct violation" of the 2020 cease-fire agreement. Aliyev said that "Azerbaijan did not block any corridor.... There is no need to use this platform for unfounded accusations." Speaking Russian, Pashinian and Aliyev continued to argue over the matter until Putin ended the conversation. Earlier, both leaders had spoken more optimistically about ending their dispute, saying there had been progress in recent days toward a settlement based on based on mutual recognition of each other's territory. Putin later held a three-way session with the two leaders that ran deep into the night. According to state-run TASS news agency, Putin said that "in my view, and our view -- I mean the view of all three of us -- the prime minister of Armenia, the president of Azerbaijan -- these are the hurdles that can be overcome." Putin, although distracted by the war in Ukraine that began with his February 2022 invasion of that country, has attempted to keep involved in the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. France and the United States have also been involved in the dispute and have urged Baku to end barriers to Armenian access to Nagorno-Karabakh for humanitarian aid. With reporting by RFE/RL's Armenian and Azerbaijani services and Reuters We must assist Ukraine in this war so that Ukraine can join NATO in future - NATO Assistant Secretary General We must assist Ukraine in this war so that Ukraine is a democratic, free country that can join NATO in future, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Baiba Braze said. During an online speech at the Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation, she stressed that NATO supports Ukraine and does everything possible to win the war against the Russian aggressor. This war has completely changed the security landscape in Europe Russias actions jeopardize Euro-Atlantic security. Ukraine, as an independent democracy, plays a central role for Euro-Atlantic security, Braze noted. She stressed that NATO considers itself an Alliance "for peace" because it acts primarily according to the principles of the UN Charter. Therefore, for us, the right to self-defense, the right to protect ones choice is an inalienable right of countries, peoples and individuals, said the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy. She stressed that NATO members have been supporting Ukraine since 2014 not only by training the Ukrainian military, but also in logistics, cyber security, and support for special operations forces. The main objective is to provide Ukraine with the level of support compatible to our standards, so that we can interact most efficiently in terms of equipment as well, Braze added. Speaking about the upcoming NATO Summit, she stressed that Ukraine has every right to be a member of the Alliance, its place in the Euro-Atlantic family. And this decision was emphasized back in 2008 in Bucharest. With time, and with our assistance you will attain this goal. This is a pretty clear commitment on our part. We must assist Ukraine in this war so that Ukraine is a democratic, free country that can join NATO in future. This is our collective mission, and we want to attain it, she said. Three jailed Iranian protesters who fear their execution is imminent have appealed to the public for support in a handwritten note saying, "Don't let them kill us." The opposition activist collective 1500tasvir, known for its coverage of Iranian protest developments, released the note on May 17 after receiving it through intermediaries for the condemned men: Majid Kazemi, Saeid Yaqoubi, and Saleh Mirhashemi. "Don't let them kill us. We need your help," read the note, which was released amid reports the men were given a final meeting with their families and has heightened fears that their executions could occur at any moment. Adding to the apprehension, state-run TV aired a video of the three defendants' "confessions" -- which the families and human rights organizations say were likely made under duress -- a night earlier, a move many saw as an attempt to justify carrying out the death penalty for the three, who were implicated in an incident on November 16, 2022, during which two Basij paramilitary force members and a law enforcement officer were fatally shot in Isfahan. Amnesty International has said the three protesters have been deprived access to their chosen lawyers and were pushed into forced confessions. Some groups have said the three were tortured while in detention. The United States on May 18 urged Iran not to carry out the executions. "We join the people of Iran and the international community in calling on Iran to not carry out these executions," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said. "The execution of these men after what have widely been regarded as sham trials would be an affront to human rights and basic dignity in Iran and everywhere," Patel told reporters. Kazemi's case has caused concern in Australia, where some of his family live, with his cousin saying that he had only been involved in "peaceful protests" for change. Other family members and and supporters of the three have held nightly vigils around a prison in the central Iranian city of Isfahan where they are being held. The message of their note has gone viral on Iranian social media platforms, with the hashtag "Don't let them kill us" becoming a rallying cry for their cause. Ali Karimi, a former star of Iranian soccer, joined the campaign, posting on Instagram with the hashtag "Don't let them kill us": "No soil has buried life within itself like the soil of Iran," he wrote. Other family members and and supporters of the three have held nightly vigils around a prison in the central Iranian city of Isfahan where they are being held. The message of their note has gone viral on Iranian social media platforms, with the hashtag "Don't let them kill us" becoming a rallying cry for their cause. Ali Karimi, a former star of Iranian football, joined the campaign, posting on Instagram at the hashtag: "No soil has buried life within itself like the soil of Iran," he wrote. Iran has seen a surge in executions in recent months, a trend that has drawn widespread domestic and international condemnation. Human rights organizations have strongly objected to the wave of death sentences, saying they are being issued against protesters in Iran after "sham trials" that are often rushed through the courts. Amnesty said in an annual report on May 16 that Iran saw executions soar to 576 in 2022 from 314 the previous year. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group says that so far this year, at least 243 people have been executed in Iran. Lawmakers have pushed the judiciary to render the death penalty in trials for those arrested during unrest sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September while she was in police custody for allegedly wearing a head scarf improperly. The protests have involved tens of thousands of Iranians and are seen as one of the biggest threats to the Islamic leadership since it took power in 1979. So far at least four protesters have been executed. Human rights activists say authorities in Iran are using the executions to try to instill fear in society rather than to combat crime. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Russian mercenaries from the private Wagner Group have reportedly begun relocating from some of their positions in and around the eastern city of Bakhmut, the epicenter of the war in Ukraine's eastern region of Donetsk, according to senior Ukrainian officials and British intelligence. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the mercenary group that has spearheaded the attack on Bakhmut, on May 25 said his fighters were starting to leave the city and would be replaced by regular Russian troops. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. Prigozhin claimed his fighters had captured Bakhmut, an assertion rejected by Kyiv officials who said Ukrainian forces still control parts of the devastated city. At the same time, the Ukrainian side confirmed "certain rotational movements" of Russian forces in Bakhmut. "Indeed, they are replacing (forces), but how massively, how much he (Prigozhin) will really withdraw the units of this criminal group -- it will take a little time to verify," Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatiy told state television on May 27. Ukraine Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a statement on Telegram that Russian forces were continuing to attack Bakhmut but that overall offensive activity had decreased. "Yesterday and today there have not been any active battles -- neither in the city nor on the flanks," she said on May 27, adding that Moscow's troops were instead shelling the outskirts and approaches to Bakhmut. "The decrease in the enemy's offensive activity is due to the fact that troops are being replaced and regrouped," Maliar said. "The enemy is trying to strengthen its own capabilities." Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, also told the BBC in an interview published on May 27 that Wagner mercenaries were leaving Bakhmut, but cautioned that they were "regrouping to another three locations" and "it doesn't mean that they will stop fighting with us." British military intelligence said in its daily report on May 27 that Wagner fighters "have likely started to withdraw from some of their positions" in and around Bakhmut. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said on May 27 that fighting has continued in and around Bakhmut, as Russia pounded the devastated city and its surroundings with air strikes. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Telegram on May 27 that Russian forces have continued attacking but "overall offensive activity has decreased." WATCH: Civilians caught near the front line in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region continue to be evacuated. Serhiy Siryak and his wife, Tamara, from the town of Stepnohirsk, finally decided to leave when their house was destroyed by Russian shelling. Malyar said Ukrainian troops "firmly hold" the heights north and south of Bakhmut. Earlier, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in its daily report on May 27 that Ukrainian forces repelled 25 Russian assaults on their positions in eastern Ukraine over the past 24 hours. Two people were killed and five others were wounded by Russian shelling in Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on May 27. One person was killed in Chasiv Yar district and one in Vasyukivka, Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram. Fighting has been under way also around Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, where Russian forces are attempting to consolidate their tactical position, the Ukrainian military said. A missile strike also hit a village in the eastern Kharkiv region overnight, regional governor Oleh Synyehubov said on May 27, adding that the missile caused some material damage but no victims. Meanwhile, authorities in Russian-occupied Berdyansk, in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhya region, reported several explosions on the outskirts of the city that they blamed on Ukrainian drones. The information could not be independently verified. Russian officials also reported drone attacks on oil installations in two regions. In Pskov, not far from the border with Latvia and Belarus, at least one administrative building of an oil pipeline was damaged early on May 27 in an explosion caused by the attack of two drones, regional governor Mikhail Vedernikov said on Telegram, without saying where the drones came from. The explosion occurred near the village of Litvinovo. Vedernikov said there were no immediate reports of casualties. In the Tver region, northwest of Moscow, the local council reported that a drone attacked a station that serves the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline near Erokhino, some 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Druzhba is one of the world's longest and densest networks of oil pipelines. According to the Baza telegram channel, which is linked to Russian security services, drones also attacked the Belgorod region that borders Ukraine. In the Kursk region, the local governor said shelling from Ukraine killed a construction worker near the Ukrainian border. None of the reported attacks inside Russia could be independently verified. With reporting by AFP and Reuters The top U.S. commander, General Mark Milley, has said Russia will not achieve a military victory in Ukraine, forecasting a "hard" and "bloody" fight going forward, as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) of countries supporting Kyiv in its fight against Russia conducted an international virtual meeting. "This war, militarily, is not going to be won by Russia. It's just not," Milley told reporters on May 25 following the virtual meeting. He added that the Kremlin's original goals which included removing the current Ukrainian government -- "are not achievable militarily. They're not going to be done." Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. Still, he said, the presence of Russia's large fighting force in Ukraine will make Kyiv's attempt to recapture all of its territory, including that seized by Moscow in 2014, not likely to happen "in the near term." "That means fighting is going to continue. It's going to be bloody. It's going to be hard. And at some point, both sides will either negotiate a settlement or they'll come to a military conclusion." U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who also participated in the virtual conference, said Ukraine's Western supporters had contributed almost $65 billion in military aid since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. But high on Kyiv's agenda now is the delivery of promised F-16 fighter jets, which are more sophisticated than the Soviet-made warplanes now part of its arsenal. Milley said it would take a "considerable length of time" to deliver the planes and related infrastructure and to train pilots on the fighters. He said that had the West provided the jets earlier in the conflict, it would have taken funds away from more pressing needs at the time. Moscow overnight unleashed a fresh wave of Iranian-made attack drones on Kyiv and several Ukrainian regions overnight, but all drones were shot down, the Ukrainian air defense reported on May 25. "A total of 36 drones were launched toward Ukraine from the north and south. Presumably, the enemy aimed to attack critical infrastructure and military facilities in the western regions of the country," the air defense said. Following the attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Moscow of terrorizing Ukrainians and thanked the military for downing all the drones launched by Russia overnight. "The enemy continued to terrorize Ukraine by launching 36 Shaheds. None reached its target," Zelenskiy said on social media. "I'm grateful to our air defense forces for the 100 percent result." Earlier, officials said air raid alerts had been declared in the Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Mykolayiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Volyn, Ternopil, Vinnytsya, and Lviv regions. Fighting continued for the city of Bakhmut, which has become the epicenter of the war in Ukraine's Donetsk region, the Ukrainian military said, despite claims by Russia that it controlled the whole city. Ukrainian defenders repelled 28 Russian assaults in Bakhmut, Ukraine's military said in its daily report on the front situation on May 25. Russian shelling also killed a civilian in Chasiv Yar, a locality close to Bakhmut, Donetsk region Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on May 25. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Russia's Wagner mercenary group that has spearheaded the attack on Bakhmut, on May 25 claimed his fighters were starting to leave the city he claims to have fully captured. In a video published on Telegram, Prigozhin said his troops will hand Bakhmut over to the regular Russian armed forces by June 1. Prigozhin said that "if the military faces hardships," some Wagner fighters might stay in Bakhmut. The Defense Ministry has yet to comment on Prigozhin's latest statement. WATCH: RFE/RL's Maryan Kushnir watched Ukrainian artillery on the outskirts of Bakhmut firing BM-21 Grad missiles at Russian positions, while Current Time's Oleksiy Prodayvoda observed another Ukrainian unit to the south of the city. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said the providing of U.S.-made F-16s to Kyiv is a clear sign that Russia is destined to lose the war in Ukraine. "The very first Ukrainian F-16 will be one of the strongest signals from the world that Russia will only lose because of its aggression. It will be weaker and further isolated," Zelenskiy said. "The main thing is speed in training and in supply, meaning the time between decisions in real protection for our skies," he added. The head of Zelenskiy's office, Andriy Yermak, said on May 25 that a total of 106 prisoners of war were returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. Those released in a prisoner swap are military personnel that fought in the eastern city of Bakhmut, Yermak said. "We are bringing home 106 of our people. Soldiers from the Bakhmut front -- eight officers and 98 soldiers and sergeants.... Each of them is a hero for our country," Yermak wrote on Telegram. Meanwhile, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on May 25 was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying it had arrested two Ukrainians who it claimed were planning to attack Russian nuclear power plants. "A sabotage group from the Ukrainian foreign intelligence service...tried to blow up some 30 power lines of nuclear power plants in Leningrad and Kalinin" in early May, the FSB was quoted as saying. On May 24, the Russian Defense Ministry said three Ukrainian remote-controlled surface vessels had attempted to attack a Russian warship in the Black Sea. The ministry said in a Telegram post that the Russian craft had been protecting the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines that transport gas from Russia to Turkey but that no damage was done to it and that all attacking vessels were destroyed. Kyiv did not immediately comment on the claim, which could not independently be verified. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Saudi Arabia's National Water Company (NWC) said it has signed an agreement with the Digital Scanning Company for Information Technology (WhiteHelmet) for enabling follow-up on infrastructure of water and environmental projects, and also for monitoring their performance and the progress of fieldwork remotely to contribute to improving business outputs. The MoU was signed by Engineer Mansour bin Mohammed Abu Thnain, the NWC Vice President for Projects and Technical Services Sector and Abdullah Muhanna Abal Khil, the CEO of WhiteHelmet at the Future Projects Forum, which concluded in Riyadh yesterday (May 23). Abu Thnain said the MoU is aimed at improving the process of following up on and monitoring the projects performance remotely using 4G technology. More discussions will be held on the opportunity to cooperate with Whitehelmet, on knowledge transfer in the field of providing, qualifying and training services, and exchanging experience in regard to following up and documenting the implementation of projects, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba paid a visit to Rwanda, where he held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Vincent Biruta, the press service of the Foreign Ministry reports. "At the end of 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set a clear task for Ukrainian diplomacy: to expand its presence in Africa. After careful analysis, we planned to open new embassies in African countries, one of which we will open in Rwanda. The Rwandan side has already provided official consent to the creation of a Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Kigala," Kuleba said. Also during the meeting, the Foreign Ministers discussed the Ukrainian Peace Formula, "which will help establish a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and ensure security in the world, in particular in Africa." Kuleba invited Rwanda to join the Peace Formula. "Ukraine's victory will significantly reduce the negative influence of Russia on the African continent, which, with the help of Wagner militants, is destabilizing the internal situation in a number of African countries and is engaged in illegal mining of their minerals. It is critically important to combine our efforts to counter common challenges and threats," the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said. In addition, during the talks, food security in Africa, the export of Ukrainian grain within the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Grain From Ukraine humanitarian program were discussed. The Foreign Ministers signed a memorandum on political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Rwanda. "The first round of consultations will be held in an expanded format with the participation of representatives of various departments of Ukraine and Rwanda in order to identify specific common interests in the field of trade, digitalization of public services, aerospace, construction, education and pharmaceuticals," the message says. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister and the Foreign Minister of Rwanda agreed to hold a business forum in the near future with the participation of Ukrainian and Rwandan businesses. At the end of the negotiations, Kuleba invited Biruta to visit Ukraine. Hypermodern construction technology is being used to build a school in Lviv that organizers hope will serve as a blueprint for the massive reconstruction work that lies ahead for Ukraine. Layer by layer, Europe's first 3D-printed school is taking shape in a neighborhood of Lviv, in western Ukraine. The project was organized by the humanitarian group Team4UA and uses equipment from COBOD International, a Danish 3D-printing construction company. A team of three people is needed to operate and monitor the printing robot. The primary school is intended as a potential blueprint for erecting similar facilities across Ukraine. Kyiv says at least 277 schools have been destroyed by the Russian invasion, leaving thousands of Ukrainian children without classrooms. Lviv is now home to 250,000 internally displaced people, more than 75,000 of whom are children. The school will be a hybrid of 3D-printed spaces and sections built by hand using wood and other materials. In an interview with the BBC given in Lviv, Henrik Lund-Nielsen, the founder of COBOD, claimed 3D-printing technology is much faster and much cheaper than conventional construction methods. He later elaborated that the first project people will do, they will typically not save, but once they get the hang of it they do it faster and faster and then they save money. KYIV -- Each of the 12 Ukrainian coats of arms painted on the Humvee carrying the Stinger missile launcher represents a Russian target shot down by Oleksandr. Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the 26-year-old soldier says, he has hit and destroyed two Su-25 fighter planes, two K52 attack helicopters, six Orland drones, and two Shahed drones. "Whats left is to shoot down a cruise missile," he told RFE/RL one recent morning with a laugh. He and his comrade Oleh, who drives the Humvee, were upbeat, despite not sleeping the previous night. They were on their feet and ready to target Russian rockets and drones after an air alert went off in Ukraine's capital. This has been a regular occurrence since Russia stepped up such attacks on Ukraine in late April after a nearly two-month lull. Since then, Russia has significantly increased the frequency of its attacks on targets deep inside Ukraine -- especially in Kyiv. Ukrainian air defenses, meanwhile, appear to be strikingly efficient in shooting down Russian missiles and drones. Oleksandr said that the past month -- with Kyiv attacked 11 times -- was "tense" but "not something one cannot get used to." As it adapts to new Russian tactics, Ukrainian air defenses are getting better and better, he said, claiming that all of the shots he has fired with the U.S. man-portable air-defense system since the full-scale invasion in February 2022 had hit their targets. Small, mobile teams like Oleksandr and Oleh proved crucial in the tough first few weeks of the invasion. Oleksandr says he shot down two planes and two helicopters as Ukrainian forces prevented Russian troops from taking Kyiv. Fifteen months later, with Russia starting to use large numbers of surveillance drowns in its strikes, they continue to play an important part. But the two key air-defense systems used by Ukraine to repel Russian attacks since the start of the invasion are the Soviet-era long-range S-300 and medium-range Buk. After months of calls for more help protecting against air attacks, Ukraine began to receive new Western-made systems such as IRIS-T, NASAMS, Crotale, Gepard, and -- most recently -- U.S.-built Patriot missile batteries. Hunt For Patriots "With these weapons, Kyiv's air defense undoubtedly reached a world class," military analyst Denys Popovych told RFE/RL. New capabilities were demonstrated on May 6, when Ukrainian authorities said Kyivs air defenses shot down a Kinzhal, a hypersonic missile that Russia has boasted could penetrate such systems. "It turned out that Putin's wunderwaffe was grossly overestimated," Popovych said. When the Russians learned that Ukraine was capable of shooting down a Kinzhal, they "went on a hunt for Patriots," he asserted. Soon, on May 16, many Kyiv residents woke up to an exceptionally loud series of explosions, and several blasts lit up the night sky. The attack, which was launched from the north, south, and east, included six Kinzhal missiles fired from aircraft, nine Kalibr cruise missiles fired from ships in the Black Sea, three ground-launched S-400 and Iskander-M missiles, and nine drones, according to General Valeriy Zaluzhniy, the commander in chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. All 18 Russian missiles were intercepted and destroyed, as were all of the drones, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov claimed, calling it "another unbelievable success for the Ukrainian Air Forces, the military branch that includes air defense. As a result of the attack, a building and several vehicles caught fire from falling debris in one area of the capital and at least three people were injured, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. In the aftermath of the attack, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it had destroyed a Patriot missile system -- one of at least two that Ukraine reportedly now possesses. While Ukrainian authorities initially declined to comment on the matter, media outlets cited U.S. officials as saying that a Patriot system was damaged. The Pentagon said on May 18 that the damage had been fixed and that the Patriot system was "fully back and operational." Each time a barrage of Russian rockets or drones is shot down, civilians in targeted cities and towns breathe a sigh of relief. Everybody understands it is terrible. It was a sleepless night with the sound of an air alert. I was hiding with my kids in a corridor, a woman in Kyiv told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service on the morning after the major attack on May 16. But this is not that bad, given what could have happened in terms of the damage all this stuff aimed at Kyiv could have caused. Russia's New Aims Analysts say Russia's new strategy is most likely aimed at gradually depleting Ukraine's air-defense capabilities and slowing its long-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive -- which an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mykhaylo Podolyak, said this week is already under way in some areas. According to Popovych, the recent strikes on Kyiv and other places far from the front line -- such as the central city of Uman, where at least 25 people were killed on April 28, or the Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskiy, and Ternopil regions, indicate that Russian forces are trying to hit places where Western military aid is concentrated to create problems for the counteroffensive. They are not only trying to destroy air-defense systems but also targeting command-and-control centers, supply routes and points of concentration of ammunition and equipment, fuel storage sites, and areas of troop concentration, he said. In the wake of the latest attack on the city of Dnipro, where Ukrainain authorities said air defenses shot down four out of 20 Russian missiles and all 20 drones used in the assault, Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said that the country does not have sufficient capabilities to withstand the large number of ballistic missiles used by Russia. "We have Patriot systems on combat duty, but it is clear that this is not enough to cover all the necessary directions, all major cities, all important critical infrastructure," he said. "Ukraine is a big country, and we need more resources. Moreover, The New York Times reported in early April that according to a leaked Pentagon assessment from late February, stockpiles of missiles for the S-300 and Buk systems were expected to be "completely depleted" by early May. It is unclear if the usage rate indicated in the documents has since changed. Denmark, Netherlands in charge of European group for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin thanked Denmark and the Netherlands for the decision to lead the European coalition to train Ukrainian servicemen on F-16 fighters and expressed hope that other countries would join the initiative. Austin, at a press conference in Washington, gave special thanks to Denmark and the Netherlands, which decided to lead the European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots to use the F-16. According to him, the defense ministers of these two countries will work together with the United States and other allies in the coming weeks to develop a pilot training plan. Austin noted that Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered their assistance in training Ukrainian pilots. The Pentagon chief added that more countries are expected to join this initiative in the near future. Ukrainian defenders shot down a pair of enemy Su-25 aircraft in Zaporizhia direction, one was completely destroyed, the second was seriously damaged, the National Guard of Ukraine reports. "On May 25, the Russian occupation forces tried to defeat the positions of the Ukrainian defense forces using a pair of Su-25s from the air. At that time, the National guardsmen the Zaporizhia Avenger and his combat brother - were on combat duty. The fighters clearly identified enemy aircraft and accurately worked on MANPADS air targets," the message posted on Facebook on Thursday says. It is noted that "as a result of combat work, the first Su-25 aircraft was completely destroyed, its pilot managed to eject over the temporarily occupied territory, the second plane was shot down by the well-known Zaporizhia Avenger. After the shot, the enemy Su-25 was seriously damaged and forced to make an emergency landing." LIFE expectancy in the UK for someone born in 1836 was 40 years. William Richardson lived for more than double that and that included fighting in the Crimean War campaign which left more than 22,000 Brits dead. He was Rotherhams last veteran of that military campaign, running a barbers and newsagents shop on Wellgate after his dramatic adventure in the 1850s conflict. William was born in the peaceful town of Retford on March 17, 1836, and left for Sheffield when he needed to complete his hairdressing apprenticeship. He was living in the city when the Crimean War broke out and it was his youthful spirit of adventure and a sense of duty which attracted him to signing up to the armed forces. He heard the call for men and answered it by joining the 1st Royal Dragoons. As a recruit, William trained in York, Westminster and Canterbury, the last being the depot of the 1st Royal and the Inniskilling Dragoons. William now Trooper Richardson soon left England to join his regiment, whose ranks had been decimated in October 1854 at the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimea. He was still only 18 years old as he set sail with the 6th Carbineers on the troopship Orinoco to the scene of the hostilities. But soon after setting foot on the soil of eastern Europe, William was taken ill. He was suffering from fever and dysentery, which meant him being confined to hospital for some few weeks and what a place that was. It was described as being enough to make the most courageous soldier cower let alone a young teenager who was yet to see anything of the horrors of war. The hospital had nothing more than basic, crude arrangements for dealing with the sick and injured. William was surrounded by dying men and began to wonder whether it would be his turn very soon. The hospital food consisted solely of boiled rice. There were none of the comforts you might have enjoyed back in Britain. William was still suffering from dysentery when he left the hospital after a few weeks to help in active service with his regiment. He had a horse assigned to him, despite there being only 11 of the animals left from the original 110. Poor Old Jack as he called the horse would later be sold to the Turkish government after the war was over. William remained in Crimea until the September 1855 fall of Sevastopol, at which he was present. He left there for Scutari on the day that the docks were blown up, and it was here that the regiment was ordered to stay for the winter, owing to the stables providing decent accommodation for the horses. The soldiers themselves suffered terribly in the low temperatures, however. Each man had just one blanket, and this was quite ineffective at keeping out the cold. And the rations were nothing to write home about. The men were given mouldy biscuits as green as grass and dried salted beef, which was facetiously described as mahogany wood. They were given coffee beans or dirty chocolate from which to make something to drink. What added to the irritation of William and the other soldiers was the fact that a massive shipload of provisions and blankets were being allowed to rot in the nearby Scutari harbour. These items had been kindly donated by the generous people back in England but were stranded because of something we might consider to be a much more modern problem red tape. The supplies could not be distributed to the men without permission from some high government authority back here. That permission never came. Also at Scutari was the hospital where Florence Nightingale the founder of modern nursing was carrying out her amazing work for the soldiers. There was a song composed in her honour which the men would sing with gusto. One verse was: So forward, my lads, let your hearts never fail, Now youre cheered by the presence of a sweet Nightingale; Her heart it means good, for no bounty shell take, Shell lay down her life for a poor soldiers sake. After peace was proclaimed in 1856 the 1st Royal Dragoons or what remained of them returned home. Of the draft, which had numbered about 50, only two came back the others having been killed in the conflict or died from illness. William and a sergeant landed at Portsmouth and marched through Farnham to Aldershot, where they were reviewed by Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort and the Princess Royal. Prince Albert inspected their medals and asked both men about their travails during the Crimean War. This was not to be Williams only brush with royalty. After stays in Aldershot and Dublin, he was appointed an officers servant and had the honour of personally waiting on the Prince of Wales at dinner. And William helped fire the cannon when the Prince later King Edward VII married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863. After being stationed at Coventry, William went to Birmingham to act as valet to Captain Ewing Griffiths, with whom he went to the Duke of Beauforts estate at Badminton every winter. It was while there that he was again selected to wait at dinner on the future king. Williams 12 years of service were soon at an end and he took his discharge from the army, returning to South Yorkshire in 1866. That same year saw him establish his business in Wellgate, and it was as a newsagent just as much as a Crimea veteran that he became one of the most highly respected men in Rotherham well into the 20th century. He was a staunch supporter of the Conservative party, and a founder member of the Rotherham Unionist Club. William died while visiting his daughter in Sheffield on the evening of Wednesday, May 23, 1923 and his funeral took place at Rotherham Cemetery the following Tuesday afternoon. As Mr Richardson was a Crimean veteran, it was fitting that his remains should be laid to rest with military honours, reported the Advertiser. Crowds of people witnessed the start of the procession in Wellgate, and many more were present in the cemetery. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, on which was the helmet worn by Trooper Richardson in the Crimea, was borne, on a gun carriage supplied by the 284th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. The Rev Canon Allen, Vicar of Rotherham, conducted the ceremony, at the close of which the buglers sounded the Last Post, and the firing party fired three volleys over the grave. Just a couple of months earlier, the Advertiser had sent its hearty congratulations to William as he celebrated his birthday. The paper noted at the time: Not many men have survived the rigours of the Crimean War to attain the ripe old age of 87 years. Mr Richardsons life story is one of good citizenship, peaceful business pursuits, and thrilling war adventure. PM Modi and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese This will boost the friendship between India and Australia: PM Modi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has has shared his experience of Australia tour. He dropped some highlights of the visit after returning from the tour. He wrote, "From productive talks with Australian PM Anthony Albanese to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, its been an important visit which will boost the friendship between India and Australia." From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, its been an important visit which will boost the friendship between ?? and ??. pic.twitter.com/5OdCl7eaPS Advertisement May 24, 2023 During his visit to Australia, Prime Minister Modi discussed bilateral ties and other issues with his counterpart Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Wednesday. PM Modi shared a video on Twitter. The Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese has also shared a photo of himself with the Prime Minister on Twitter. Along with this, he wrote that Sydney is also very happy with PM Modi's visit. Revised quarterly national accounts from Germany and confidence from France are the only major economic reports due on Thursday. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's revised GDP data for the first quarter. The initial estimate showed that the largest euro area stagnated after shrinking 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter. In the meantime, the market research group Gfk is scheduled to issue Germany's consumer sentiment survey results. The forward-looking consumer confidence index is forecast to rise to -24.0 in June from -25.7 in May. Also, unemployment and loan growth figures are due from Norway. At 2.45 am ET, France's statistical office INSEE publishes business sentiment survey data. The business confidence index is expected to remain unchanged at 101 in May. At 3.00 am ET, Spain's statistical office INE releases producer prices for April. At 6.00 am ET, the Confederation of British Industry is scheduled to release Distributive Trades survey results for May. The UK retail sales balance is forecast to rise to 10 percent from 5 percent in April. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Deutsche Boerse AG (DBOEY.PK,DBOEF.PK) published the offer document pursuant to which the company makes an all-cash voluntary recommended public takeover offer to acquire all shares, excluding treasury shares, in SimCorp A/S at a price of 735.0 Danish kroner per share. The offer document contains the full terms and conditions of the offer. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the current year. The Board of SimCorp has unanimously resolved that it intends to recommend the shareholders to accept the offer. Last month, Deutsche Boerse announced the entering into of a binding agreement between the company and SimCorp. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Swedish unemployment rate decreased for the second straight month in April, figures from Statistics Sweden showed on Wednesday. The unadjusted jobless rate dropped to a 4-month low of 7.5 percent in April from 7.7 percent in the previous month. In the corresponding month last year, the unemployment rate was 8.2 percent. The number of unemployed people decreased to 423,000 in April from 434,000 in March. Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 accounted for 145,000 unemployed, or 22.4 percent of the workforce, the agency said. The employment rate edged down to 69.2 percent from 69.3 percent, representing 5.234 million employed people. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the jobless rate was 7.1 percent in April, down from 7.2 percent in the prior month. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News A mentor works with two mentees as part of the 9/10ths programme By Matimu Shivambu Twenty-seven (27) students who came through the 9/10ths programme were awarded different qualifications in the recent Rhodes University graduation ceremonies held earlier this year. The University regards this achievement as confirmation that the programme works incredibly well. The 9/10ths programme was conceptualised and launched in 2016 and is now in its eighth year. The programme was established a year after the inauguration of the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, and forms part of his vision to revitalise public education in Makhanda. In his inaugural speech, Professor Mabizela promised to robustly tackle the challenges faced by the greater Makhanda community and lead an inclusive University that will contribute immensely to community building. He committed the University to revitalise public schooling in Makhanda, and his dream of improving the standard of education from early childhood level, primary and second phases, has led to several educational initiatives, including the 9/10ths programme. The 9/10ths programme was one of the Vice-Chancellor's first initiatives to be implemented. Through this initiative, Rhodes University student volunteers mentor local grade 12 learners through nine structured sessions, including study skills, discipline, and career opportunities to enhance learners' full potential and equip them to pass at the tertiary level. Moreover, the Vice-Chancellor raised concerns about the dysfunctionality of the schooling system in Makhanda and highlighted that the Eastern Cape Province is by far the worst-performing province in public education. Therefore, his Education Initiative is intended to be a vehicle of social change, transformation, and educational development in Makhanda and the greater Eastern Cape province. Professor Mabizela asserted that Rhodes University has a transformative responsibility to play in public education in Makhanda. The 9/10ths programme is supervised and managed by the Rhodes University Community Engagement Division in partnership with local Makhanda high schools and a local non-profit organisation (NGO), Gadra Education. Moreover, each community partner has a set of responsibilities and participatory obligations. At the beginning of each academic year, Rhodes University students apply to be part of the programme, and after a rigorous selection process, student leaders and volunteers are chosen. Sessions are led by a group of these mentors, and they also serve as a source of information and liaison for the Rhodes University Community Engagement Division and partners. These mentors also provide moral support and build resourceful engagement with these learners to ensure they reach their full potential. Over the past few years, the 9/10ths programme has significantly contributed to revitalising the public schooling system in Makhanda. The impressive quality of the National Senior Certificate results in Makhanda reflects the programme's impact. Furthermore, the programme did not just impact Makhanda or the greater Eastern Cape province but has gained global recognition. In 2021, Rhodes University's 9/10ths programme won the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship. This award recognises exceptional and exemplary university student civic engagement programmes worldwide. Rhodes University is the first South African university to win first place for this prestigious prize. Such recognition and achievement prove that the Vice-Chancellor's dream and educational initiative of revitalising public schools in Makhanda has succeeded. From town to gown Two student beneficiaries of the 9/10ths programme, Sinoxolo Cossie and Sibulele Teyi, obtained their degrees this year with distinction. Cossie remembered his time in the 9/10ths programme as a great experience. "The programme was quite beneficial coming from a public school (Nombulelo Senior Secondary School) with limited resources. The mentor I was assigned was immensely helpful to me in terms of studying productively, structuring essays, accessing the soft material resources I desperately required, and developing the mental strength I needed to succeed academically. I just earned my Bachelor of Social Sciences degree and am studying for my History Honours degree. It was an important milestone for my family because I was the first graduate. May the initiative continue to support children in the community and aid them in realising their dreams," he said. The Director of Community Engagement at Rhodes University, Diana Hornby, applauded the recent graduates that were mentees of the 9/10ths programme. She said, "Graduation is more meaningful than registration. Of course, 9/10ths focuses on assisting mentees (Grade 12s) with their applications to Rhodes University. But while we celebrate the number of mentees who are accepted to register at the University, participant graduation is the ultimate indicator of the programme's success. Therefore, seeing 27 students who were 9/10ths beneficiaries graduate this year is very pleasing." This year the 9/10ths programme assists 224 grade 12 learners across Makhanda, all of which are from no-fee public schools. Hornby is convinced that the scale of the intervention is significant. The impressive quality of matric results produced by the city in the past seven years proves that the programme is indeed brightening the future of Makhanda's youth. The city has produced over 300 grade 12 Bachelor pass learners for the past two years. Said Hornby, "In 2015, Makhanda was one of the four worst-performing cities in the country. But in the 2022 national matric exams, Makhanda was the top performing city in the province for the third successive year with an 85% pass rate which is 8% higher than the provincial average and 5% higher than the national average. Undoubtedly, the Vice-Chancellor's Education Initiative continues to play a significant role in transforming public education and building the greater Makhanda community. The leadership and commitment of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela, the Rhodes University Community Engagement Division, Gadra Education, partner schools, and Rhodes University student volunteers are an exemplary global case of true community engagement success. With 9/10ths, the sky is the limit. Source: Communications President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson. "Meeting with Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson. Important, priority issues: the aviation coalition, the situation on the front line, the necessary weapons, the Peace Formula, the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, support of Sweden. We are getting stronger every day," the president said on his Telegram channel. Also, according to Zelenskyy, during a meeting with Minister of Defence of Sweden, they discussed the possibility of Sweden's participation in the aviation coalition and the launch of a separate training program for Ukrainian pilots on modern Western-type aircraft. The head of state thanked for Sweden's decision to join the international tank coalition in support of Ukraine and to donate 10 Leopard 2 tanks, as well as for its leadership in the formation of the CV-90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Coalition. According to the press service of the head of the Ukrainian state, the President of Ukraine stressed that this visit is an important sign of Sweden's solidarity with Ukraine. I am very grateful to the entire Swedish society for the great support of our country throughout this full-scale war. For the support both on the battlefield and for the very important financial and humanitarian assistance, Zelenskyy noted. We must assist Ukraine in this war so that Ukraine can join NATO in future - NATO Assistant Secretary General We must assist Ukraine in this war so that Ukraine can join NATO in future - NATO Assistant Secretary General KYIV. May 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) We must assist Ukraine in this war so that Ukraine is a democratic, free country that can join NATO in future, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Baiba Braze said. During an online speech at the Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation, she stressed that NATO supports Ukraine and does everything possible to win the war against the Russian aggressor. This war has completely changed the security landscape in Europe Russias actions jeopardize Euro-Atlantic security. Ukraine, as an independent democracy, plays a central role for Euro-Atlantic security, Braze noted. She stressed that NATO considers itself an Alliance "for peace" because it acts primarily according to the principles of the UN Charter. Therefore, for us, the right to self-defense, the right to protect ones choice is an inalienable right of countries, peoples and individuals, said the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy. She stressed that NATO members have been supporting Ukraine since 2014 not only by training the Ukrainian military, but also in logistics, cyber security, and support for special operations forces. The main objective is to provide Ukraine with the level of support compatible to our standards, so that we can interact most efficiently in terms of equipment as well, Braze added. Speaking about the upcoming NATO Summit, she stressed that Ukraine has every right to be a member of the Alliance, its place in the Euro-Atlantic family. And this decision was emphasized back in 2008 in Bucharest. With time, and with our assistance you will attain this goal. This is a pretty clear commitment on our part. We must assist Ukraine in this war so that Ukraine is a democratic, free country that can join NATO in future. This is our collective mission, and we want to attain it, she said. Weather Alert ...National Weather Service Cold Water Safety Message... ...Please check with state and local authorities regarding guidelines for allowed activities... * The warm air temperatures this weekend in the mid 80s may cause people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water temperatures which are currently only in the lower 50s across Lake Champlain, and in the regions smaller lakes and rivers. * The cold water temperatures can quickly cause hypothermia to anyone immersed in the water. When the water temperature is below 60 degrees, the average submerged person could loose dexterity within minutes and be unable to accomplish simple tasks. Anyone on small boats, canoes or kayaks should plan accordingly if recreating this weekend and use extreme caution to avoid this threat. Paddle smart from the start and always wear your life jacket! Criss Brainard has been named the new fire chief of the San Miguel Consolidated Fire District. The seven-member board of the East County district unanimously approved hiring Brainard at its June 27 meeting. The fire district has 85 employees and serves about 135,000 residents. Brainard, 62, was initially appointed interim fire chief on March 22, 2017, as part of the districts decision to return to a stand-alone fire department after ending its contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Advertisement He had been the districts consultant before then and was a board member for San Miguel for 16 years. Brainard will be paid $175,000 annually through October 2021. Brainard, a West Virginia native, lives in Rancho San Diego with his wife of nearly 38 years, Shauna. They have two adult sons, both of whom work in the firefighting/paramedic field with the San Diego Fire Department, and four grandchildren. My wife tells me, this is the happiest shes ever seen me, Brainard said. And this is a guy who loved his job before. I live in the district, I know virtually everybody coming back, all 75 in the operational positions. I put my hand on the back of every firefighter. I want them to know I can still do it and they can. Being fire chief is a career highlight, a blessing and privilege. I love my job, I love these people. To live in the district I serve is an honor. Brainard left San Diego Fire Rescue in 2014 after 33 years, retiring as a deputy fire chief. He spent 10 years with the Metro Arson Strike Team, was shift commander and managed the citys Emergency Medical Services program. Brainard has maintained his paramedic license for 39 years, teaches at paramedic colleges and presents at National EMS and Fire Conferences. Brainard has a fire technology degree from Miramar College and Master Instructor from the State of California. When Brainard was the districts consultant, he designed a testing and selection process for all ranks, reviewed and updated the policies and procedures to begin the transition back to a stand-alone Fire District. Brainard reorganized the districts fire staff, including appointing a deputy chief and three battalion chiefs, along with offering open testing to fill more than 50 percent of the districts 75 positions including firefighter/paramedics, engineers and captains. San Miguel board President Kim Raddatz said that seeing Brainards accomplishments during the course of his career, particularly as it related to San Miguel, gave the board the confidence to hire him for the long run. What became very obvious was that Criss Brainard was a highly dedicated, ethical individual that was committed to making San Miguel Fire a strong, professional fire department that was fiscally stable while providing the citizens with the highest level of customer service and community outreach, Raddatz said. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com A lieutenant stole well over $100,000 from her church. A deputy was accused of biting his wife and lying about it. Another deputy went to Starbucks instead of responding to a call for service. They and at least three other deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff lost their jobs, records show, after they were found to have lied about what they did, didnt do, or saw. That litany of misconduct is described in hundreds of pages of documents the San Diego Sheriffs Department recently released under SB 1421, a new state law that makes public previously secret records of peace officers dishonesty, use of force, shooting incidents, and sustained sexual misconduct charges. Advertisement Law enforcement unions have slowed the release of such records in some counties, arguing in court that records from before 2019 should not be released, but judges in several counties have disagreed. Recently a San Diego Superior Court judge rejected that argument but kept in place a stay barring release of pre-2019 records until March 29 to allow time for a potential appeal. The sheriffs department was not part of that lawsuit and so is not subject to the stay. Here are summaries of the most recent batch of files released by the department. San Diego sheriffs Lt. Devera Scott had been a member of the New Hope Friendship Baptist Church in Logan Heights for nearly 40 years when she started embezzling donations. Scott told investigators she was the churchs treasurer when she began taking money people gave to the church during Sunday services. Between 2008 and 2010, she stole well over $100,000, according to an internal affairs investigation. Church officials discovered the missing funds and she initially denied any wrongdoing. Later she admitted stealing the money, the investigation said. After Scott promised to repay the amount in monthly installments, name the church as a beneficiary on her life insurance policy and donate a portion of her retirement, the church chose not to pursue criminal charges. Not everyone agreed with that decision; at least one unnamed church member made an anonymous tip about it to Crime Stoppers. The pastor told investigators, while some in his congregation did not approve handling the matter internally, the church was in the business of forgiveness. When sheriffs investigators approached Scott, she gave misleading answers about what occurred, the investigation said. Ultimately, the department determined that, in addition to likely committing grand theft and embezzlement, she also exhibited unbecoming conduct. Scott retired in March 2013. When a Chula Vista police officer showed up at Deputy Joe Shermans house, he lied, sheriffs investigators said. On May 9, 2010, Sherman and his wife got into a fight, according to sheriffs department records. The argument escalated and the wife called 911 claiming Sherman had slammed her against their bed and bit her arm. But when a Chula Vista officer responded and asked if there had been any physical contact during the fight, Sherman said No. Sheriffs internal affairs investigators looked into the matter. According to their case file, Sherman later admitted the fight had gotten physical, but he alleged his wife was the aggressor. He described the bite as an instinctual response to being elbowed in the face. Although Sherman was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, he was never charged with the crime. Sheriffs investigators suggested Shermans wife may have been pressured to recant, but Sherman and his defense lawyer said she fought to get the charges dropped because she knew she had misrepresented the incident. When reached by phone Wednesday, Sherman reiterated that he was never convicted of any domestic violence charges. I have moved on, he said. Sherman was ultimately given three years probation for disturbing the peace and was added to the Brady List a list of officers who cant testify in court because theyre considered untrustworthy. Deputy Sheriffs are entrusted with a great deal of responsibility and their judgment is critical, wrote Lt. Christine Robbins in her report. Deputy Shermans gross error in judgment brought his reputation, professionalism and integrity into question and jeopardized both his credibility, as well as the credibility of the San Diego County Sheriffs Department. Sherman resigned instead of being fired in December 2011. In 2014 Deputy Felipe Guths lost his job when an investigation concluded he had taken property from a driver he stopped an unknown amount amount of marijuana wax and lost it, then he entered an inaccurate record of the stop into the departments computer dispatch system and lied to investigators. Records say Guths pulled a motorist over off Mast Boulevard in Lakeside on Sept. 13, 2014. A search of the car turned up marijuana wax a type of concentrated marijuana that at the time was illegal to possess. The deputy took the wax but made no arrest or report. He also didnt mention the marijuana wax in his patrol log report. The records say Guths said he lost the wax and did not mention it in his patrol log because he completely forgot about it. He was found to have lied to investigators by telling them he had gone back to the scene of the stop some time later to look for the wax. Records from a vehicle tracker attached to all department patrol units showed he did not return. The records show that Guths, who was with the department for two years, was terminated/retired effective Jan. 28, 2015. Guths did not return a phone call for comment. Deputy Stephen Winsor accidentally discharged a single round from a personal handgun when he was cleaning it at this home on Sept. 13, 2015, the records say. Windsor didnt tell either the department or San Diego Police, the agency which had jurisdiction over the matter. He also did not check on his neighbors in his town home complex to see if they had been hit or injured from the discharge, the records say, because he said he didnt think his neighbors were home. The bullet went through Windsors shower wall into his neighbors bedroom, struck a picture frame, ricocheted and went through a computer desk and came to rest on the floor. The homeowner noticed it three days later. When San Diego police investigated, Winsor lied to them and delayed the investigation, according to the sheriffs file on the incident. Records show Winsor retired in lieu of termination on Jan. 15, 2016. It notes he was not afforded the privilege to receive a retired badge or CCW (carrying a concealed weapon) permit. Winsor did not return a phone call for comment. Longtime Deputy Fernando Garcia appealed his firing for dishonesty to the county Civil Service Commission but it was upheld in June 2017. He was accused of dishonesty and incompetence in connection with an incident he witnessed in the Vista jail. On Dec. 16, 2015, the records say, Garcia saw another deputy strike the hand of an inmate with what was described as a large, heavy key. The inmate, described as mentally challenged, suffered a minor injury to his hand but did not make a complaint. Garcia, a 23-year-veteran, didnt report the incident but mentioned it to another deputy, who later relayed it to his lieutenant in a casual conversation. An investigation commenced some three months after the incident. After watching a video of the incident Garcia first said he did not recall it. Later, in a second interview, he admitted he saw the incident and what his partner did was wrong, the records show. He was found to have been dishonest and incompetent for not reporting the incident in the first place, according to records. The Civil Service Commission denied his appeal and upheld the decision to fire him. Garcia could not be located for comment, and the lawyer who represented him at the appeal declined to comment. In June 2010, the Sheriffs Department got a call from a San Marcos man concerned about a stranger digging through his trash. The man asked for a deputy to come check on things. Deputy Todd Biller said he would twice. He went to Starbucks instead. The concerned resident first reported the suspicious person shortly before 7 a.m. Biller informed dispatch he would stop but, about two miles from the residence, he closed the call. The same resident called again about an hour later, saying the suspicious person had returned and again asked for a deputy. Billers GPS would later reveal he was at a Starbucks when he again took the call and again said he would stop by. Before leaving the coffee shop, he wrote in his patrol log that the alleged suspect was minding his own business and not committing any crimes despite never actually responding to the call. The resident, upset a deputy never showed up, drove to the San Marcos substation to file a complaint. Investigators found Biller had violated several policies and procedures, including lying on a department report and neglecting his duty, records show. The deputy resigned to avoid being fired in January 2011. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com BRUCE KAUFFMAN Staff Writer SAN MARCOS -- The children of North County went to schoolWednesday morning with the news of Tuesdays attacks still on theirminds. Advertisement While schools tried to return to business as usual, talk of theterrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. filledclassrooms; lunch-time gab sessions about boys and rock groups werereplaced with detailed discussions about box-cutting knives andbody counts. Even in classrooms, it has been difficult for teachers tomaintain the normal composure of class, said Oceanside UnifiedSchool District spokeswoman Cindy Sabato. In effect, we are usingthis time for two things: teaching and learning about what hashappened, and letting people do some personal, sometimes emotionalventing that needs to be done. Many students said dealing with detailed news reports ofcasualties Wednesday was more difficult than hearing Tuesdays newsreports, which gave students a blow-by-blow account of theattacks. Yesterday was like that movie, War of the Worlds, . firstperiod, one of the towers was down, the next period you hear allthis stuff about the Pentagon going down, and the next class, youhear that the whole World Trade Center was going down, said ElCamino High School sophomore Ben Cox, 15. But today, there is moretime to talk and think about what this all means. Its not like amovie anymore. Its real, and thats harder. At La Costa Canyon High School, the attacks were the topic ofdiscussion in Bob Sislers sociology class. Students there said theattacks had in fact been discussed for the past two days in everyclass, except math and science. This will forever affect society, Savannah Heckel, a senior,told her fellow students. I never thought something like thiswould happen in our lifetime. Asked how America should respond, about half of the more than 30sociology students called for a military action while the otherssaid they would choose diplomatic channels. I dont think that because innocent people died that we shoulddo massive retaliation, said Whitney Leeper, a senior. That wouldjust be hypocritical. Matt McKay, a senior, disagreed. If we bomb them it sends out amessage, he said. Student Aram Jabbari opposed a military response. Instead ofshowing our power to the world, why dont we show them ourbenevolence? Aram said. We should nation-build. We should help.If were just fighting each other back and forth were not makingany progress. At Orange Glen High School in Escondido, many teachers used theterrorist attacks in government and history lessons. PrincipalDianna Carberry said the event provided a great opportunity forhigh school educators. I think because were in the business of educating people thatits a time and opportunity to answer questions and provide kidswith an environment that is safe so they know their questions canget answered, Carberry said. Its kind of like touching bases andsaying are we OK? Carberry said she distributed written guidelines to each teacherregarding how to teach kids about the attacks. The guidelinesincluded having students write in journals or talk in smallgroups. The principal at Escondidos Oak Hill Middle School said thatstudents had been so filled up with news on Tuesday they werealmost numb to it when they arrived for class Wednesdaymorning. If the kids wanted to talk about it, then the teachers did it,said Principal Jerry Gast. They got such a dose last night, theyre kind of numb to it,he said. Theyre going on with their studies. School buses filled with Fallbrook students who live at CampPendleton left earlier than usual to make it through securitychecks, said Mike Choate, Fallbrook Union Elementary SchoolDistrict superintendent. Teachers who worked on the base waited 40minutes or more to clear security before getting to schoolsthere. A lot of the parents told us they were glad their kids were inschool and not having to deal with the horror of this whole thing,Choate said. Lynne Gilstrap, the principal at Mary Faye Pendleton School,said some students were concerned that their military parents mightbe deployed away from home. She said the schools job became toprovide those children a normal environment. The best thing for our kids is to be stable and normal atschool because we are the one thing that children are able todepend on, Gilstrap said. At Fallbrook High School, Principal Marc Steffler called forunity within the school and the country in his morningannouncements. He said the campus community appeared to be movingabout in a daze. It seems quiet and rather subdued, he said. In Carlsbad, Superintendent Cheryl Ernst said the schools haveplans in place in case a student learns that a relative was hurt orkilled in the East Coast attacks. Its too early to tell if we will need those plans, Ernstsaid. But I think there may be a few students here and there whomay have a relative involved. Contact Bruce Kauffman at (760) 761-4410 orbkauffman@nctimes.com. Staff writers Michael Buchanan, Erin Walsh,Adam Kaye and Jamie Francisco contributed to this report. 9/13/01 Russian troops have deployed 300 servicemen on the island of Dzharylhach (Kherson region), the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports. "Russian occupation troops militarized the island of Dzharylhach, which on May 19 they connected to the temporarily occupied mainland of Kherson region near the settlement of Lazurne," the General Staff said in a Facebook post on Thursday. As reported, in particular, the occupiers placed about 300 Russian servicemen and 15 foreign-made boats on the island, which were stolen from the local population. Saudi Arabia is reestablishing diplomatic relations with Canada, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. The decision to proceed was made during a conversation between Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok last November. According to the ministry, mutual respect and shared interests are at the core of both the country's desire to restore relations. "The decision follows the desire of both sides to restore diplomatic relations between both countries on the basis of mutual respect and common interest." New ambassadors will be chosen by each side. While Canada selected Jean-Philippe Linteau, a longtime member of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Saudi Arabia has not yet announced its selection. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraines EU Integration, is convinced that failure to invite Ukraine to become a member of the North Atlantic Alliance at the summit in Vilnius will become yet another NATO mistake. Despite the optimism sounding today, we must understand that there is no consensus within the Alliance to invite Ukraine to the Alliance in Vilnius. In my opinion, this will become another NATOs mistake, Klympush-Tsintsadze said at the 15th Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze believes that such an error can become an even more tragic one than that made back in 2008, when at the Bucharest Summit, NATO refused to support Ukraines wish to be granted the candidate status in the Alliance. She expressed hope that it is possible to profit from the time remaining before the Summit to the purpose of setting up more favorable conditions for a positive decision taken in favor of Ukraine at the Summit. The annual Kyiv Security Forum is organized by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation. Plastic pollution is seemingly omnipresent in society, and while plastic bags, cups, and bottles may first come to mind, plastics are also increasingly used to make clothing, rugs, and other textiles. A new study from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, published May 24 in the journal PLOS One, for the first time tracked the ability of natural, synthetic, and blended fabrics to biodegrade directly in the ocean. Lead author Sarah-Jeanne Royer conducted an experiment off the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier and found that natural and wood-based cellulose fabrics degraded within a month. Synthetic textiles, including so-called compostable plastic materials like polylactic acid (PLA), and the synthetic portions of textile blends, showed no signs of degradation even after more than a year submerged in the ocean. "This study shows the need for standardizing tests to see if materials promoted as compostable or biodegradable actually do biodegrade in a natural environment," said Royer, who performed the research while a postdoctoral scholar in the Dimitri Deheyn laboratory at Scripps Oceanography. Royer currently remains affiliated with Scripps Oceanography as a visiting scholar from Hawaii Pacific University. "What might biodegrade in an industrial setting does not necessarily biodegrade in the natural environment and can end up as marine and environmental pollutants." Startling images of landfills stacked with mountains of thrown away clothing in Chile and Kenya show the global ramifications of fast fashion. An estimated 62 percent of textiles -- 68 million tons -- are now made from plastic fibers and plastic blends, which can persist in the environment for decades to centuries. Synthetic textiles also create plastic pollution from microfibers shedding during regular wearing and washing. Most washing machines are not designed to filter for microfibers, that then end up in wastewater, and ultimately the ocean. Bio-based plastics made from renewable natural resources such as cornstarch or sugar cane have been marketed as a potential solution to the plastic problem. PLA is one such polymer in the bio-based plastics market, often labeled as biodegradable and compostable. The team chose this textile for the study given its extensive use as a replacement for oil-based materials. For the experiment, ten different types of fabrics were used including wood-based cellulose (known commercially as Lyocell, Modal, and Viscose); natural cellulose (organic virgin cotton and non-organic virgin cotton); bio-based plastic (PLA); oil-based plastic (polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene), and fabric blends of Lyocell mixed with polyester and polypropylene. All these are commonly used in the textile industry. Polyethylene terephthalate is a type of polyester often marketed as a recycled textile. Polypropylene is used in textiles, carpets, geotextiles, packaging materials, and disposable medical textiles such as masks. The textile samples were placed in flow-through containers deployed both at the sea surface and at the seafloor approximately 10 meters (32 feet) deep. Samples were examined every seven days with images taken, and small pieces removed from duplicate samples for further examination in the lab. This included scanning electron microscopy to examine the fibers at high resolution, and Raman spectroscopy to gain information about the chemical composition and molecular structure of the fibers. The samples were then submerged again, in a process that lasted for 231 days at the sea surface and 196 days at the seafloor. After the conclusion of the Scripps Pier experiment, the samples were moved to the Experimental Aquarium at Scripps Oceanography, where samples were exposed to controlled conditions of flowing seawater. While the natural, cellulose-based textiles repeatedly disintegrated in 30-35 days, the oil-based and bio-based materials showed no sign of disintegration even after a total of 428 days. "The natural, cellulose-based materials would disintegrate in about one month, so we would exchange for a new sample after the old one disintegrated," said Royer. "The natural samples were replicated five times, while the plastic samples remained the same for more than a year." Examining the samples via electron microscopy allowed Scripps marine biologist Dimitri Deheyn, senior author of the study, to measure the size and structure of each fiber. The natural fibers became thinner with time, while the diameter of the plastic fibers remained the same showing no sign of biodegradation. Study co-author Francesco Greco performed the Raman spectroscopy analysis at the Department of Geology of Northwest University, China, looking at the structural-chemical degradation of the fibers. Greco, now at the Weizmann Institute of Science, found significant changes in the chemical fingerprint of the cellulose-based materials, while bio- and oil-based plastics remained unchanged. Fiber blends, which interweave natural fiber strands with bio- or oil-based plastic strands, are often promoted as a more sustainable alternative to textiles made entirely from synthetic plastics. This study showed, however, that only the natural part of the fiber degraded, with the plastic portion of the blend remaining intact. Additionally, the same type of fabrics were tested in a closed-system bioreactor by an independent company, which replicates a marine environment in an enclosed, indoor system. The bioreactor allowed measurements of the percent of carbon dioxide produced by microbial activity using the fabrics as nutrients, which was thus used as a proxy for measuring biodegradability. The cellulose-based materials showed complete biodegradation within 28 days, whereas the oil-based and bio-based fibers did not show any sign of biodegradation. Study authors note that the bio-based polylactic plastic, marketed as an ecologically promising material, and the oil-based polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene, represent an important source of human-caused pollution, and the fate of how these materials act in a natural environment should be further explored. "This comparative study highlights how crucial our language is around plastics," said Deheyn. "Indeed, a bioplastic like PLA, commonly assumed to be biodegradable in the environment because it contains the prefix 'bio,' is actually nothing like that." Given these results, Royer and the team hope consumers will become more aware of the power of their own choices "Consumers who are concerned about microfiber plastic pollution should be mindful of the materials they are buying," said Royer. "We should all aim to buy fewer garments, opt for high-quality, cellulose-based materials like cotton, merino or wool that will last longer, or look to more circular and sustainable options that repurpose items like clothing swaps and Buy Nothing groups." The study was funded by the Biomimicry for Emerging Science and Technology (BEST) Initiative from the Deheyn lab with contributions from Lenzing, The Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans, and Preserve Calavera. The Raman analysis was supported by the Young Thousand Talents Plan of China. In addition to Royer, Deheyn and Greco, Michaela Kogler from Lenzing is a co-author of the study. In computer graphics and computer-aided design (CAD), 3D objects are often represented by the contours of their outer surfaces. Computers store these shapes as "thin shells," which model the contours of the skin of an animated character but not the flesh underneath. This modeling decision makes it efficient to store and manipulate 3D shapes, but it can lead to unexpected artifacts. An animated character's hand, for example, might crumple when bending its fingers -- a motion that resembles how an empty rubber glove deforms rather than the motion of a hand filled with bones, tendons, and muscle. These differences are particularly problematic when developing mapping algorithms, which automatically find relationships between different shapes. To address these shortcomings, researchers at MIT have developed an approach that aligns 3D shapes by mapping volumes to volumes, rather than surfaces to surfaces. Their technique represents shapes as tetrahedral meshes that include the mass inside a 3D object. Their algorithm determines how to move and stretch the corners of tetrahedra in a source shape so it aligns with a target shape. Because it incorporates volumetric information, the researchers' technique is better able to model fine parts of an object, avoiding the twisting and inversion typical of surface-based mapping. "Switching from surfaces to volumes stretches the rubber glove over the whole hand. Our method brings geometric mapping closer to physical reality," says Mazdak Abulnaga, an electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) graduate student who is lead author of the paper on this mapping technique. The approach Abulnaga and his collaborators developed was able to align shapes more effectively than baseline methods, leading to high-quality shape maps with less distortion than competing alternatives. Their algorithm was especially well-suited for challenging mapping problems where the input shapes are geometrically distinct, such as mapping a smooth rabbit to LEGO-style rabbit made of cubes. The technique could be useful in a number of graphics applications. For instance, it could be used to transfer the motions of a previously animated 3D character onto a new 3D model or scan. The same algorithm can transfer textures, annotations, and physical properties from one 3D shape to another, with applications not just in visual computing but also for computational manufacturing and engineering. Joining Abulnaga on the paper are Oded Stein, a former MIT postdoc who is now on the faculty at the University of Southern California; Polina Golland, a Sunlin and Priscilla Chou Professor of EECS, a principal investigator in the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), and the leader of the Medical Vision Group; and Justin Solomon, an associate professor of EECS and the leader of the CSAIL Geometric Data Processing Group. The research will be presented at the ACM SIGGRAPH conference. Shaping an algorithm Abulnaga began this project by extending surface-based algorithms so they could map shapes volumetrically, but each attempt failed or produced implausible maps. The team quickly realized that new mathematics and algorithms were needed to tackle volume mapping. Most mapping algorithms work by trying to minimize an "energy," which quantifies how much a shape deforms when it is displaced, stretched, squashed, and sheared into another shape. These energies are often borrowed from physics, which uses similar equations to model the motion of elastic materials like gelatin. Even when Abulnaga improved the energy in his mapping algorithm to better model volume physics, the method didn't produce useful matchings. His team realized one reason for this failure is that many physical energies -- and most mapping algorithms -- lack symmetry. In the new work, a symmetric method doesn't care which order the shapes come in as input; there is no distinction between a "source" and "target" for the map. For example, mapping a horse onto a giraffe should produce the same matchings as mapping a giraffe onto a horse. But for many mapping algorithms, choosing the wrong shape to be the source or target leads to worse results. This effect is even more pronounced in the volumetric case. Abulnaga documented how most mapping algorithms don't use symmetric energies. "If you choose the right energy for your algorithm, it can give you maps that are more realizable," Abulnaga explains. The typical energies used in shape alignment are only designed to map in one direction. If a researcher tries to apply them bidirectionally to create a symmetric map, the energies no longer behave as expected. These energies also behave differently when applied to surfaces and volumes. Based on these findings, Abulnaga and his collaborators created a mathematical framework that researchers can use to see how different energies will behave and to determine which they should choose to create a symmetric map between two objects. Using this framework, they built a mapping algorithm that combines the energy functions for two objects in a way that guarantees symmetry throughout. A user feeds the algorithm two shapes that are represented as tetrahedral meshes. Then the algorithm computes two bidirectional maps, from one shape to the other and back. These maps show where each corner of each tetrahedron should move to match the shapes. "The energy is the cornerstone of this mapping process. The model tries to align the two shapes, and the energies prevent it from making unexpected alignments," he says. Achieving accurate alignments When the researchers tested their approach, it created maps that better aligned shape pairs and which were higher quality and less distorted than other approaches that work on volumes. They also showed that using volume information can yield more accurate maps even when one is only concerned with the map of the outer surface. However, there were some cases where their method fell short. For instance, the algorithm struggles when the shape alignment requires a great deal of volume changes, such as mapping a shape with a filled interior to one with a cavity inside. In addition to addressing that limitation, the researchers want to continue optimizing the algorithm to reduce the amount of time it takes. The researchers are also working on extending this method to medical applications, bringing in MRI signals in addition to shape. This can help bridge the mapping approaches used in medical computer vision and computer graphics. This research is funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Health, Wistron Corporation, the U.S. Army Research Office, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the National Science Foundation, the CSAIL Systems that Learn Program, the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, the Toyota-CSAIL Joint Research Center, Adobe Systems, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and a Mathworks Fellowship. An international collaboration that includes scientists from the University of Colorado School of Medicine has uncovered new clues about the origin of paired appendages -- a major evolutionary step that remains unresolved and highly debated. The researchers describe their study in an article published today in the journal Nature. "This has become a topic that comes with bit of controversy, but it's really a very fundamental question in evolutionary biology: Where do our limbs come from?" says co-corresponding author Christian Mosimann, PhD, associate professor and Johnson Chair in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology at CU School of Medicine. That question -- where do our limbs come from? -- has been subject of debate for more than 100 years. In 1878, German scientist Carl Gegenbaur proposed that paired fins derived from a source called the gill arch, which are bony loops present in fish to support their gills. Other scientists favor the lateral fin fold hypothesis, concluding that lateral fins on the top and bottom of the fish are the source of paired fins. "It is a highly active research topic because it's been an intellectual challenge for such a long time," Mosimann says. "Many big labs have studied the various aspects of how our limbs develop and have evolved." Among those labs are Dr. Mosimann's colleagues and co-authors, Tom Carney, PhD, and his team at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Chasing the odd cells For Mosimann, the inquiry into where limbs come from is an offshoot of other research conducted by his laboratory on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. In his laboratory, his team uses zebrafish as a model to understand the development from cells to organs. He and his team study how cells decide their fate, looking for explanations for how development can go awry leading to congenital anomalies, in particular cardiovascular and connective tissue diseases. Along the way, Mosimann and his lab team observed how a peculiar cell type with features of connective tissue cells, so-called fibroblasts that share a developmental origin with the cardiovascular system, migrated into specific developing fins of the zebrafish. It turns out that these cells may support a connection between the competing theories of paired appendage evolution. "We always knew these cells were odd," he says. "There were these fibroblast-looking cells that went into the so-called ventral fin, the fin at the belly of the developing zebrafish. Similar fibroblast cells didn't crawl into any other fin except the pectoral fin, which are the equivalent of our arms. So we kept noticing these peculiar fibroblasts, and we could never make sense of what these were for many years." The Mosimann lab has developed several techniques to track cell fates during development in pursuit of their main topic, which is an improved understanding of how the embryonic cell layer, called the lateral plate mesoderm, contributes to diverse organs. The lateral plate mesoderm is the developmental origin of the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, connective tissue, as well as major parts of limbs. The paired fins that form the equivalent of our arms and legs are seeded by cells from the lateral plate mesoderm, while other fins are not. Understanding how these particular fins became more limb-like has been at the core of a long-standing debate. Developing new theories Hannah Moran, who is pursuing her PhD in the Cell Biology, Stem Cells and Development program in the Mosimann lab, adapted a method of tracking lateral plate mesoderm cells that contribute to heart development so that researchers could track the peculiar fibroblasts related to limb development. "My primary research project focuses on the development of the heart rather than limb development," Moran says, "but there was a genetic technique that I had adapted to map early heart cells, and so we were able to implement that into mapping where the mysterious cells of the ventral fin came from. And turns out, they are also from the lateral plate mesoderm." This crucial discovery provides a new puzzle piece to the big picture of how we evolved our arms and legs. Increasing evidence supports a hypothesis of paired appendage evolution called the dual origin theory. "Our data fit nicely into this combined theory, but it can also stand on its own with the lateral fin theory," says Robert Lalonde, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Mosimann lab. "While paired appendages arise from the lateral plate mesoderm, that does not rule out an ancient connection to unpaired, lateral fins." By observing the mechanisms of embryonic development and comparing the anatomy of existing species, research groups like Mosimann's can develop theories on how embryonic structures may have evolved or have been modified over time. "The embryo has features that are still ancient remnants that they have not lost yet, which provides insight into how animals have evolved," Mosimann says. "We can use the embryo to learn more about features that just persist today, allowing us to kind of travel back in time," Mosimann says. "We see that the body has a fundamental, inherent propensity to form bilateral, two-sided structures. Our study provides a molecular and genetic puzzle piece to resolve how we came to have limbs. It adds to this 100-plus year discussion, but now we have molecular insights." International collaboration Collaborations with colleagues in laboratories across the country and around the world are another important part of the study. Those scientists bring additional specializations and contribute data from other models, including paddlefish, African clawed frogs, and a variant of split-tail goldfish called Ranchu, to study embryonic development. "There are labs on this on this paper that work on musculoskeletal diseases, toxicology, fibrosis. We work on cardiovascular, congenital anomalies, cardiopulmonary anomalies, limb development, all related to our interest on the lateral plate mesoderm," says Mosimann. "And then together, you get to make such fundamental discoveries. And that's where team science enables us to do something that is more than just the sum of the parts." For all the considerable work and significance of the study, the Mosimann team recognizes that it is a key step, but not the end of the journey in the debate about paired appendages. "I wouldn't say we've solved the question, or even disproven either existing theory," says Lalonde. "Rather, we've contributed meaningful data towards answering a major evolutionary question." Chunyu Wang, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has added to his body of research on Alzheimer's disease with significant findings in Angewandte Chemie. Together with his team, which includes first author and Rensselaer doctoral student Dylan Mah, Wang performed the most comprehensive study to date of the interactions between ApoE, or Apolipoprotein E, and heparan sulfate (HS). ApoE is a protein that combines with fats to transport cholesterol throughout the body. Heparan sulfate is a sugar molecule present on cell surfaces that plays a key role in cellular communication. A variant of ApoE, ApoE4, is the most significant genetic risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. "It's tremendously interesting to explore why ApoE4 can increase Alzheimer's risk," said Wang. Wang's team investigated not only ApoE4, but ApoE3, the most common ApoE genotype and two protective isoform ApoE2 and ApoE Christchurch, as well. They discovered that the 3-O-sulfo (3-O-S) modification of HS was important for ApoE/HS interactions. All isoforms of ApoE recognized 3-O-S, but the differences in their strength of interactions correlated with Alzheimer's disease risk. "In the initial glycan array experiment, which is basically a chip with a collection of different heparan sulfate oligosaccharide on it, we flowed ApoE over it," said Mah. "We were quite surprised to see that it had a binding pattern that looked very similar to Tau protein. It binds very well to the 3-O sulfated structures." Tau protein is implicated in many neurogenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. The team's findings point to a new potential drug target to slow the progress of the disease: the enzymes responsible for sulfation called heparan sulfate 3-O transferases. Next, the team plans to take a deeper look at ApoE/HS interaction by developing a 3D structural model of ApoE-HS interaction and examining this interaction in cell cultures and animal models. "Alzheimer's disease is very complex with so many aspects," said Wang. "The more I study it, the more interesting it gets." "Ultimately, we want to prevent or mitigate enough of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease so people can continue to live independently," added Mah. "Understanding how the disease works on a molecular basis is really critical to finding new treatments." "As our population ages, Dr. Wang's research on Alzheimer's disease is increasingly significant," said Deepak Vashishth, director of Rensselaer's Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, of which Wang is a member. "The identification of a new potential drug target to fight this progressive disease is enormously exciting for not only the six million patients in the United States, but for their families and caregivers." Wang and Mah were joined in research by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Ashely Canning, James Gibson, Fuming Zhang, and Robert J. Linhardt. Yongmei Xu, Xuehong Song, and Lianchun Wang of the University of South Florida contributed, along with Guowei Su and Jian Liu of Glycan Therapeutics; Jing Zhao of China Agricultural University; and Yongmei Xu, Eduardo Stancanelli, and Jian Liu of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Yatsenyuk: Ukraine's membership in NATO is only way to ensure Europe's security The only way to ensure the security of the European continent is Ukraine's membership in NATO, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum Arseniy Yatsenyuk said. "I support strategic certainty. It is absolutely clear that Ukraine must win this war. It is absolutely clear that Putin is a war criminal and must be brought to justice. It is absolutely clear that there is no other way to guarantee security for Ukrainian people and for the entire European continent, except for through Ukraines membership in NATO, Yatsenyuk said during the 15th annual Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Open Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation. Yatsenyuk emphasized the importance of the unity of all NATO member states at the summit in Vilnius. There should be no more vague and strange memoranda or declarations, as was the case in Bucharest back in 2008. There must be certainty and clarity, Yatsenyuk said. According to him, it's time to make concrete decisions. Yatsenyuk was Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016. As reported, the NATO summit will be held in Vilnius (Lithuania) on July 11-12. Species known as marine habitat-forming species -- gorgonians, corals, algae, seaweeds, marine phanerogams, etc. -- are organisms that help generate and structure the underwater landscapes. These are natural refuges for other species, and provide biomass and complexity to the seabeds. But these key species in marine ecosystems are currently threatened by climate change and other perturbations derived from human activity. Now, a study published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography warns that even in the marine protected areas (MPAs) the genetic diversity of structural species is not protected, although it is essential for the response and adaptation of populations to changes that alter the natural environment. The study was carried out by Laura Figuerola-Ferrando, Cristina Linares, Ignasi Montero-Serra and Marta Pages-Escola, from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona and the Biodiversity Research Institute of the UB (IRBio); Jean-Baptiste Ledoux and Aldo Barreiro, from the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) in Portugal, and Joaquim Garrabou, from the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC). Genetic diversity is also a component of biodiversity Traditionally, marine biodiversity management and conservation plans have considered factors such as species richness. Genetic diversity -- another major component of biodiversity -- reflects the genetic variation that exists among organisms of the same species and is a determining factor in the adaptive capacity of populations and their survival. Despite its importance, genetic diversity has so far been overlooked in management and conservation plans. "Genetic diversity plays a key role in enhancing the ability of species, populations and communities to adapt to rapid environmental changes resulting from climate change and thus increase their resilience," says researcher Laura Figuerola-Ferrando, first author of the study. "However, -- she continues -- so far, the vast majority of marine protected areas are implemented based on the presence of several species and habitats, without considering their genetic diversity. Another example would be the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which does not consider genetic diversity either." "In recent years, the need to focus conservation efforts on the protection of genetic diversity has been reinforced. Technological progress in the massive development of different techniques to determine genetic diversity (for example, through the use of microsatellites or small DNA fragments), as well as their affordable cost, can help to include genetic diversity in management and conservation plans," says the researcher from the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the UB. From the northwest Atlantic to the Gulf of Guinea The study applies macrogenetic techniques to identify general genetic patterns of diverse marine species at large spatial scales. The authors have analyzed data from a global database containing genetic diversity information (based on microsatellites) for more than 9,300 populations of 140 species in different marine regions around the globe. The results outline a reference scenario of genetic patterns in marine habitat-forming species (corals, macroalgae, marine phanerogams, etc.) of potential interest for improving marine life management and conservation plans. The northwest Atlantic provinces and the Bay of Bengal are the regions where the highest genetic diversity in marine landscape species has been identified. Quite high values (above the global average) have also been identified in the Mediterranean. In contrast, the marine provinces with the lowest values of genetic diversity are the Gulf of Guinea and the southwest Atlantic. The findings also indicate a positive correlation between genetic diversity and species richness of both animal and plant marine habitat-forming species. However, the paper warns of a worrying result: the Network of Marine Protected Areas (RAMP) in the large oceanic ecoregions does not preserve areas where the genetic diversity of marine habitat-forming species is highest. "What we have seen is that what is not being protected in MPAs is genetic diversity. In the study, the initial hypothesis was that within these areas there would be greater genetic diversity, but this has not been the case. In fact, we have seen, at a global level, that there are no differences in genetic diversity between inside and outside the MPAs," notes Laura Figuerola-Ferrando, who is doing her doctoral thesis under the supervision of Cristina Linares (UB) and Joaquim Garrabou (ICM-CSIC). A new pattern of equatorial biodiversity at the poles The authors have also identified a specific pattern in the distribution of genetic diversity of the marine habitat-forming species that differs from the traditional models known to date. "This is a bimodal latitudinal pattern: it is a complex biogeographic model and it implies that if we model how the genetic diversity of these species varies with latitude, we find two peaks in temperate zones and a small dip in genetic diversity at the equator," notes the ICREA Academia professor Cristina Linares (UB-IRBio), one of the coordinators of the study together with Jean-Baptiste Ledoux (CIIMAR). This scientific discovery is relevant because until a few decades ago it was considered that the distribution of biodiversity on the planet followed a unimodal pattern, that is, it had maximum values at the equator and decreased towards the poles. "This is not always the case, especially in terms of species diversity in marine ecosystems. For example, in the case of benthic species, this pattern is biomodal rather than unimodal in terms of both species richness and genetic diversity," explains Cristina Linares. "In our study, the bimodal latitudinal pattern is influenced by taxonomy: in the used model, we found statistically significant differences between animal species (more genetic diversity) and plant species (less genetic diversity). Furthermore, if we explore the latitudinal pattern separating animal and plant species, we can see that a bimodal pattern continues to be observed in animals, but the same cannot be said for plants," adds researcher Jean-Baptiste Ledoux (CIIMAR). Genetic diversity: improving conservation management plans The conclusions of the work recall the need to include the genetic diversity of populations in biodiversity management and conservation plans on the planet. "The importance of having genetic diversity in biodiversity management and conservation plans has just been reinforced with the 'Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework' within the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/COP/15/L25, 2022). In this context, we believe that the baseline on genetic diversity patterns in marine habitat-forming species defined as our work can be very relevant," notes Jean-Baptiste Ledoux. This study also reveals that the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions are among the most present in the scientific literature used in this work on macrogenetic patterns of deep-sea structural species. "On the other hand, if we look at the analyzed taxa, we see that the Mediterranean Sea is the marine province where we have studies of more different taxa (octocorals, hexacorals, sponges, marine phanerogams and algae). In the northern Atlantic there is also quite a variety of taxa (mainly algae, marine phanerogams, but also hexacorals, octocorals, bryozoans and sponges). On the other hand, in the southern Atlantic, studies are mainly focused on algae," the researchers conclude. By comparing the structures of protein complexes from different lineages of the dangerous Lassa virus, a Scripps Research team identified new antibodies and vaccine targets. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in West Africa become infected with Lassa virus, which can cause Lassa fever and lead to severe illness, long-term side effects or death. There are currently no widely approved treatments or vaccines for the disease. Now, scientists at Scripps Research have determined the structure of the critical protein complex that lets Lassa virus infect human cells. The research, published online in Cell Reports, also identified new antibodies that bind to these proteins and neutralize the virus, paving the way toward more effective vaccines and treatments for Lassa virus. "This work is a big step forward in our ability to isolate new antibodies to relevant sites of vulnerability on the virus, and it provides a basis to conduct rational vaccine design to broadly protect people against many lineages of the Lassa virus," says senior author Andrew Ward, PhD, professor of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research. "These new reagents described in the paper are already being put to good use and yielding exciting new results." Like many viruses, Lassa virus exists in a variety of lineages, each with slight variations in its genes. This diversity has made it challenging to pinpoint antibodies that recognize all versions of Lassa virus. Scientists have also struggled to isolate Lassa glycoproteins -- the spike-like proteins that surround the virus and are the target of most antibodies. In the infectious virus, these glycoproteins exist in complexes of three, called trimers. For decades, however, scientists were only able to isolate glycoproteins in the lab as single proteins and not in their trimer complexes. In 2022, Ward and colleagues discovered how to use nanoparticles to hold the glycoproteins together into trimers. In the new work, they used that technique to isolate and structurally characterize trimers of the glycoproteins from four different Lassa virus lineages. Surprisingly, the glycoprotein structures from the distinct lineages were extremely similar. "We were hoping to see more obvious differences that would explain why antibodies didn't recognize all the lineages," says Hailee Perrett, a Scripps Research graduate student and first author of the work. "Instead, we found a very high level of conservation across the peptide and sugar components of the protein." Using the same stable glycoproteins, Ward, Perrett and their colleagues next used blood samples from patients who had recovered from Lassa virus to isolate antibodies against the glycoprotein trimers. They found new antibodies and characterized previously discovered antibodies that recognize different lineages of the Lassa virus glycoprotein, which may be useful in developing a treatment or preventive vaccine against the virus. The team is already planning future experiments to pinpoint more antibodies against the Lassa virus glycoproteins, as well as further analyzing the protein structures to identify places on the glycoproteins that are ideal for targeting with drugs. "Our goals were to not only try and define some of the structural details of these different Lassa viruses, but to provide foundational protocols and resources for the field," says Perrett. "We hope our approaches and initial findings help push the science in this field forward." This work was supported by a David C. Fairchild Endowed Fellowship, the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (1F31Al172358, R01 AI165692, R01 AI171438), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the amfAR Mathilde Krim Fellowship in Biomedical Research (#110182-69-RKVA), a Vici fellowship from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the Fondation Dormeur in Vaduz, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (197785619/SFB1021), the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (INV008352/OPP1153692) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1170236). Gert-Jan Oskam, a 40-year-old man from the Netherlands, experienced paralysis after a severe bicycle accident in China in 2011. According to MailOnline, this accident resulted in the loss of his leg mobility. However, thanks to groundbreaking electronic brain implants, he has now regained the ability to control his legs. Through the use of electronic brain implants, Gert-Jan has accomplished the remarkable feat of walking again by solely directing his thoughts. This groundbreaking development has had a life-changing impact on him, representing a groundbreaking medical breakthrough in enabling paralyzed individuals to regain mobility. Like a Toddler Who Started Walking Again Heartwarming footage captures Gert-Jan's remarkable progress as he stands, walks, and climbs stairs with the aid of a mind-reading device. Developed by neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine from ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), the innovative technology is described as a "digital rebirth" of the spinal cord. Gert-Jan's thoughts are wirelessly transmitted to his legs and feet through electronic implants, with a second implant on his spine. Although the system is still in the experimental stage, the leading UK spinal charity has expressed optimism about its development. Gert-Jan told BBC News that it feels like he is learning to walk again. He expresses his joy in being able to stand up and enjoy simple pleasures like having a beer with a friend. The research, titled "Walking Naturally After Spinal Cord Injury Using a Brain-Spine Interface" led by Swiss scientists and published in the journal Nature, emphasizes that the technology is currently in the early research phase and will take many more years before it becomes available to paralyzed patients. Despite the challenges ahead, the team aims to move the technology out of the lab and into clinical settings as soon as possible, with the ultimate goal of providing access to more people with spinal cord injuries who have been told they will never regain movement. Spinal Research, a UK charity focused on spinal cord injury, views this development as a positive step toward restoring function and independence for individuals with such injuries. READ ALSO: Brain Implant Powered by Breathing May Help Improve Lives of People With Neurological Disorders How the Electronic Implants Work In the surgical procedure carried out in July 2021, Prof. Jocelyne Bloch of Lausanne University inserted two disc-shaped electronic implants into Gert-Jan's skull to transmit brain signals wirelessly. These signals, translated by an algorithm, generate instructions for muscle movement in the legs and feet through a second implant intricately attached to the nerve endings related to walking in his spinal cord. Guillaume Charvet, the project's leader, said the implants utilize "adaptive artificial intelligence" to interpret real-time movement intentions from the brain. As Sky News reported, the signals are converted into sequences of electrical stimulation that activate the leg muscles through the spinal cord, enabling the desired movements once the AI identifies them. Surprisingly, even when the digital bridge was turned off, the patient experienced sustained improvements in sensory perceptions and motor skills, enabling him to walk with crutches. Professor Gregoire Courtine suggests that this indicates the digital bridge not only restored the function of the patient's spinal cord but also facilitated the growth of new nerve connections. RELATED ARTICLE: Paralyzed Man Speaks and Asks for Beer Using His Mind Through Microchip Brain Implant Check out more news and information on Neuroscience in Science Times. On Monday, Mat 29, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a discussion on the subject: "War Impact on Relations between Society and Government." Participants: political analyst, PhD in Philosophy Valentyn Hladkykh, political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko, political observer Leonid Shvets (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. On Monday, May 29, at 10.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference by Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center: "Protected areas for rare species of flora and fauna - revolutionary breakthrough in nature preservation." The Cabinet of Ministers approved Resolution No. 499 "On Approval of the Procedure for Creating Protected Zones for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Forests and the Procedure for Creating Protected Zones for the Preservation of Objects of the Red Book of Ukraine" according to Law No. 1684-IX of July 15, 2021. Participants include Director of the Department of the Nature Reserve Fund and Biodiversity of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Eduard Arustamyan; director of the NGO Ekozahin Mykhailo Pohrebysky; Director of the Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center Volodymyr Boreiko (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Deana Spencer, co-founder of BC Pride. This trans woman dress was designed by Lila McCarthy to fit different body types. This trans man dress was designed by Lila McCarthy to fit different body types. Lila McCarthy Economic Class: A person covered with holes with dollar signs in or near them, as well as some sold signs. There are also lungs with a price tag on them. This person had to sell pieces of themselves to make do. Pumpkin King Beauty Standards: A sad, malnourished person with their dark skin melting off to reveal their flesh. There is also an x-ray that shows what the end goal will be. Gender Identity: A happy person wearing a split mask where the pieces dont fit together. There are hands trying to push the mask back together, while keeping the person in a biohazard barrel because the person is considered a hazard or strange. Interests: Four people who look the same, cutting themselves off from someone who looks different. Racial Bias: An African American with a question mark afro as well as in other places, with the question marks representing poor representation of black people. Economic Class: A person covered with holes with dollar signs in or near them, as well as some sold signs. There are also lungs with a price tag on them. This person had to sell pieces of themselves to make do. Editor's Note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's Voices of Youth Battle Creek program which is supported by the BINDA Foundation, Battle Creek Community Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.Voices of Youth Battle Creek Participant Pumpkin King, 16, chose to explore societal expectations on a variety of topics, from beauty standards and racial bias to economic pressures and gender norms. Her multi-media project features digital art with an accompanying poem, along with some reflection on the topic within the artwork captions."During this project, I noticed I spent a lot of time wanting to make everything just right," writes Pumpkin. "At the same time though, I had a lot of fun expressing my version of each societal norm. It really helped me put into perspective how I truly felt about these things, and I know myself more than I did before now. It was a fantastic project to work on and Im very happy with what I came up with."BLEACHER'S KINDont eat until its fixedNo one wants to see you wearing a shirt for the thinGood lord, cover it upNo one wants to see your disgusting, black poresDid you listen to me before?No one likes an unfair, dark shadeWhy is it so hard?We expect so little from youOnce your skin is goneThe problem will be fixedWe can bare to see the empty shell of yourselfBeautifulBeautifulBeautifulGOD MAKES NO MISTAKESI dont understandSo Ill keep you unhappyYou dont have to understandJust accept me for who I amIve known you my whole lifeHow do you expect me to change?Its because were so closeI thought you would always love meI think youre being selfishI cant just forget what I knew about youThis is just a phaseYoull go back to normal when youre olderI dont understandWhats wrong with you?THE FOOD CHAINWhat are you drawing?Cool color cool strokes cool paintHey, my friend likes youWhat are you wearing?Cute hair cute pants cute shirt cuteIll get that outfit, well matchHow are you feeling?Damn parents damn lonely damnYou dont have friends, huh?Wouldnt you want friends?Try being better, okay?Fix yourself, for usWhy dont you have friends?Its so weird, just be betterWhy wont you fix it?I dont understandDo you hate yourself that much?Good, you just waste spaceSomeone without friendsDoesnt need to be around usLeave us alone, nowGet away from usWe dont want you around, nowNo one wants you, nowYoud be better off deadAnd with no one to miss youGross, fat, ugly freakJUST A WORDI always see modelsOn the TVAnd cant help but wonderWhy don't they look like me?These advertisementsOn my screenWhite skin and straight hairWhy dont they like me?The next big thingOur newest idolWho looks the same as themAnd not as I doI want to beThe next big thingDark skin, curly hairI have something new to bringDenial from corporationsEverywhere I fleeAnd cant help but wonderWhy cant they look like me?SANITY IS SUICIDEThere are things that I wantThey surpass what I needThe people above meLoaded full of greedBut the things that I needBecome wants tooBecause of the greedThey flaunted to meWhat if I were rich?Then Id be fineMy life, in lineEverything would be perfectI wouldnt have to worryAbout surviving the next dayTo work I wouldnt hurryMoney comes to meForcing people like my current selfTo work their a** offSo I can take all their moneyWhen they complan, Id just scoffNow I realizeThe biggest problem hereThe rich and the powerfulLook at us with a sneerBasic necessitiesAre a subscription to lifeAnd if I do not complyOh God, Ill dieMy name is Pumpkin King. Im 16 and I like video games, cats, and drawing, of course RAK Properties, a leading UAE property developer , has announced the launch of Bayviews Residences, a new beachfront development offering a mix of contemporary studios and one- and two-bed apartments on Hayat Island in Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah. The exclusively designed apartments at Bayviews provide a luxurious living experience for residents while complementing the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, stated the developer. With direct access to Hayat Island beach, the amenities include an indoor gym, outdoor activities area with a yoga breakout area, landscape leisure deck, kids play area, a barbecue area, and a swimming pool. All the shared outdoor space is laced with lush greenery. Additionally, retail and F&B outlets that compliment the Hayat Island lifestyle will be housed within the ground floor of each building. A selection of apartments will be available for purchase for all nationalities during an exclusive event to be held tomorrow (May 26) at The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm, it stated. On the launch, CEO Sameh Al Muhtadi said: "Bayviews follows on from the success of sales in our latest release of Bay Residences fourth tower, indicating increased demand for luxury beachfront homes. With the introduction of Bayviews Residences, we want to tap the wider customer segment, offering buyers a unique product that emphasises island living." "We hope this distinctive offering from RAK Properties will take us to new heights in terms of growing our portfolio and product diversity. We look forward to expanding our luxury beachfront collection in in Mina Al Arab in the coming months," he stated. "Additionally, RAK Properties will also showcase selective number of Marbella villas extension at St. Regis for purchase. This includes a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom luxury villas and townhouses with direct access to the beach," he added. Al Muhtadi said properties located along the idyllic white-sand beaches that populate Ras Al Khaimahs coast are not only appealing places to live; they also offer attractive long-term investment opportunities for residents, expatriate, and international buyers. "Bayviews Residence, located in Hayat Island, offers residents and visitors a genuine holiday lifestyle experience while providing the conveniences of everyday life. This further reinforces Mina Al Arabs position as a people-centric lifestyle destination and aligns with RAK Vision 2030 offering residents, visitors, and tourists a truly unique destination of authentic natural beauty," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) helps pet owners who moved to Ternopil region due to the war. "Ternopil regional organization of URCS, in cooperation with HSI Europe has provided over 300 internally displaced persons with pets with food, litter for trays and means to maintain their health," the society said on Facebook on Thursday. Overall, almost three tonnes of pet food have been distributed to IDPs in the region. Gamma Communications announced the appointment of Martin Hellawell as chair and non-executive director of the board on Thursday, effective from 1 July. The AIM-traded firm said Hellawell would be taking over from Richard Last, who would step down from the board after serving as chair for nine years. It said the move aligned with its previous announcements over succession planning for Last Gamma said Martin Hellawell would bring a wealth of experience from his successful career in the IT industry. Currently serving as the non-executive chair of Softcat, Hellawell would step down from that position on 31 July, as previously announced by Softcat. In addition to his role at Softcat, he also serves as non-executive chair of Raspberry Pi, and the AIM-listed musicMagpie. Additionally, he holds a position as a non-executive director of the AIM-traded Team17. Prior to his current roles, Hellawell served as the chief executive officer of Softcat from 2006 to 2018. During his tenure, Softcat achieved significant growth, and successfully floated in London in 2015. Before joining Softcat, Hellawell spent more than a decade at Computacenter and its associated companies. His responsibilities included overseeing the marketing function, managing Computacenter's France subsidiary, and leading acquisitions in the UK, Belgium, and Germany. The board is delighted to have attracted a candidate with the qualities and experience of Martin, said senior independent director Henrietta Marsh. His commercial track record and industry background means he will provide outstanding direction and support for the board and management team as Gamma focuses on its next stage of growth. We are all looking forward to working with him. At 1501 BST, shares in Gamma Communications were up 0.66% at 1,171.73p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Azerbaijan occupies a unique position at the intersection of key Eurasian transport routes both from North to South and from West to East, Gulnara Khaidarshina, Deputy Head of Research Chief CIS Macroeconomist at Gazprombank, told Trend. "The transport and logistics routes connecting West and East, North and South converge on the territory where Azerbaijan is located. On the one hand, the country is in the center of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This project, connecting the west and east of the Eurasian continent, is being implemented jointly with Kazakhstan, Turkiye and Georgia," the deputy head said. Then she added that, on the other hand, the country is placed in a central position on the route of the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor, focused on the development of trade with South Asian countries. At the same time, she pointed out that Azerbaijan is provided with all the necessary transport and logistics infrastructure - aviation, railway, pipeline and sea. According to Khaidarshina, the expansion of transport and logistics infrastructure will contribute to the creation of new industries, including high-tech and located close to key transport hubs. As she said, a good example is the creation of the SOCAR Carbamide Plant in Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park in 2019. In addition, a new large enterprise for the production of aluminum products will be created in the west of the country. At the first stage, the volume of investments will reach $132 million. "We should also not forget that large oil and gas reserves, combined with proximity to transport corridors, increase the importance of Azerbaijan in ensuring Eurasian energy security," she added. The pioneer in providing the best of Graphic communications & Printing technologies, FUJIFILM India paves the way into the heart of the digital printing space of the countrys capital, Okhla region, with the installation of its cutting-edge digital printing press Revoria PC 1120 at Megha Enterprises. Megha is one of the popular digital printing enterprises in the area and now with the Revoria press is offering a broad range of sizes with excellent print quality for fine art, media versatility, while optimizing costs with its innovative toner out model. The Revoria Press PC1120 is an advanced Toner Digital Press known for its unrivalled expressive power and its boundless spectrum of color possibilities. It features a state-of-the-art 6-color print engine and maintains its fast-printing speed of 120 ppm, even when using all 6 colors, said Mr. Sri Prasad & Mrs. Anuradha Dayal Proprietors, Megha Enterprises. They also added This machine is best suited for all kinds of commercial jobs including books, photo and commercial. It also gives us the best ROI with its combination of machine life, additional colors and a toner out model. We can see that the market is growing for CMYK + Color jobs, which enables more value to be offered in the market. Some of our existing vendors are very happy with the quality. Accompanied by an impressive output resolution of 2400 x 2400 dpi, it produces prints that are exceptionally crisp and intricately defined. This printing solution is devised with strong versatility features that support a wide range of media types and finishes accommodating various paperweights, sizes, and even banner sheets. Noteworthy features include the ability to create metallic effects with Gold and Silver underlay, access to pre-installed metallic colors, high-opacity White toner for printing on colored stocks, and AI-based photo quality optimization. It is equipped with a high-performance print server, allowing it to support a wide variety of paper stocks and providing convenient feeding and finishing options to streamline the printing process. Mr. Koji Wada, Managing Director, FUJIFILM India, cited the importance of advanced technological integration in digital printing and averred, FUJIFILM India is always at the forefront of integrating innovation and latest advancements in the digital printing industry. We aim to provide printing machines that translate quality business to our customers and Revoria PC 1120 is equipped with state of art technology to aid that goal for those who want to excel in the digital printing business. Mr. Ajay Agarwal , CEO of Insight Print Communications- Distributors for FUJIFILM India Graphic Communications Products, commented Fujifilm Revoria PC 1120 is the only press that gives a very strong ROI for both the photo segment where the volumes are less and the requirement is very high quality and in the commercial printing segment where the requirement is high volumes at lower cost per print. It is also unique in its 10-color option that opens up a huge opportunity with Media, designs and Applications. Mr. Priyatosh Kumar, Head of Division, Graphic Communications Business, FUJIFILM India, Graphic Communications Division, said, There is no doubt that the way digital printing has revolutionized visual communication over the years, the transformation has been rapid with the intervention of cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence. Revoria PC 1120 is one such game-changer in the industry which is playing a pivotal role in this advancement. The Press has certainly opened new avenues for creativity, handling various materials, and delivering exceptional quality. We are excited about this new install at Megha and wish him success. FUJIFILM India Graphic Communications Division is steadfast to bring forth the best global technology, complemented with effective and prompt local assistance through its distributors Insight print Communications to provide superior technology in the constantly evolving world of graphic communications. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Hyderabad, which is emerging as the knowledge capital of the world's life sciences industry, has grabbed another big-ticket investment in the sector. US-based StemCures is slated to establish a manufacturing lab in Telangana that will focus on stem cell therapy with the vision to create the largest stem cell manufacturing plant in India. The facility will be set up with the investment potential of around $54 million and employment potential for around 150 people in a couple of phases. The announcement was made after Dr. Sairam Atluri, Founder, StemCures met state IT and Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao in Boston. The objective of the proposed plant is to capitalise on the latest technology and expertise from the US to manufacture the highest quality and affordable stem cell products for treating various serious medical conditions, according to a statement from the Minister's office in Hyderabad. "Stem cell therapy is a promising new treatment for a variety of conditions, and I am confident that StemCures will provide high-quality care to patients in India. I look forward to working with the clinic to make stem cell therapy more accessible to patients in India," said KTR, as the minister is popularly known. "It is so heartening to see Hyderabad, my hometown, transforming into a vibrant hub for medical innovations. Setting up an R&D facility was seamless and now we are looking forward to expanding with the manufacturing plant," Atluri said. Currently, StemCures is culminating R&D of the stem cell line at Aspire Bionest in University of Hyderabad and is ready to embark on a phase 1 manufacturing lab. Hyderabad already serves more than 1000 life sciences companies, including the top 10 pharma companies. Four of the top 10 global innovator companies now have a direct presence in Hyderabad through their dedicated centers. These centers drive core R&D, digital and engineering activities, thereby contributing to bringing lifesaving cost-effective therapies and devices to patients world-wide. StemCures is a medical clinic in Ohio that specialises in stem cell therapy. It is a FDA-compliant clinic that uses only the highest quality stem cells. The clinic also has a team of experienced and knowledgeable physicians who can help patients make informed decisions about stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that uses the patient's own stem cells to treat a variety of conditions. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to become any type of cell. When injected into an injured or diseased area, stem cells can help to repair tissue, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. Meanwhile, KTR also interacted with Nikki Haley, former UN Ambassador and Governor of South Carolina. He provided a comprehensive overview to Haley regarding the strategic significance of Hyderabad and Telangana in the broader framework of US-India relations. Discussions encompassed various aspects, including the economy, elections, and a broad exchange of perspectives on politics. Minister KTR conveyed his best wishes to the former Governor as she runs for the office of the President of the US. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A firefighter was injured when the FDNY fought a fire at a dry cleaning business in Great Kills early on Thursday morning. Nelson Cleaners is located at the address supplied by the FDNY. The firefighter was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, according to a spokesman for the FDNY/EMS. About 60 firefighters and 12 units responded to the fire called at 1:04 a.m. at 2 Nelson Ave. The 20-by-40-foot building was unoccupied at the time, according to a spokesman for the FDNY/EMS. The FDNY response ended more than two hours later, at 2:52 a.m., the FDNY spokesman said. The dry cleaning business is situated next to the Great Kills train station. Shattered glass and other debris were scattered in front of the metal frames that are all that remains of the broken door and windows at the front of the store. A tattered American flag still hangs inside the entrance to business that has extensive damage to the interior. A worker at the store declined to comment. Nelson Cleaners at 2 Nelson Ave. in Great Kills is badly damaged in a fire early in the morning on Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund) Nelson Cleaners at 2 Nelson Ave. in Great Kills is badly damaged in a fire early in the morning on Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund) Nelson Cleaners at 2 Nelson Ave. in Great Kills is badly damaged in a fire early in the morning on Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund) Nelson Cleaners at 2 Nelson Ave. in Great Kills is badly damaged in a fire early in the morning on Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund) Staten Island All Hands Box 3813, 2 NELSON AVE, STORE, , Under Control FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) May 25, 2023 MORE STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> An explosion that felt like a bomb: FDNY battles fire at mobile home park near Goethals Bridge >> NYPD: Military planes to fly over Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge for Fleet Week >> NYPD investigates after shots are fired on Staten Island >> FDNY: 1 person injured in fire at Stapleton Houses early on Tuesday morning; probe underway of possible arson, according to source >> Its bad: New details emerge in shooting of 13-year-old at Staten Island playground STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Celebrate the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day Weekend, with various events planned across Staten Island. The borough will kick off Pride month with the annual PrideFest Festival. And theres also the 104th Staten Island Memorial Day Parade, which is one of Staten Islands most storied traditions. Have an upcoming event youd like to share? Email the details with your contact information to community@siadvance.com. Heres a list of some of the things on tap this weekend. Friday The Great Fire of 1963 / May 26, noon to 3 p.m. The Tottenville Historical Society invites you for the opening of the exhibition that commemorates the 60th anniversary of The Great Fire of 1963, also known as Black Saturday, one of Staten Islands greatest tragedies. The compelling exhibit will present the facts through newspaper accounts, move you to relive it through collected memories and photographs, and inspire you with heartwarming stories of neighbors and strangers alike helping one another. Admission cost: Free Location: H.H. Biddle House in Conference House Park Seed Farming at Greenbelt Native Plant Center / May 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn how to farm and grow your knowledge of native plants. Join the Greenbelt Native Plant Centers Seed Increase Program (SIP) to help plant new production plots at its Staten Island plant nursery. The SIP grows native seed, sourced from local plant populations, for ecological restoration projects across the city. Activities may include spreading seed, prepping planting beds, weeding beachgrass and cutting back last years growth. Tools will be provided, and no prior knowledge is required. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, long pants and clothing that can get dirty. Space is limited and registration is required. Register Online on the NYC Parks website. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Admission cost: Free Location: Greenbelt Native Plant Center Five to Midnight Classic Rock / May 26, 9:30 p.m. Five to Midnight band-mates Elissa Montanti, Michael Mc Mahon, Nat Seeley, Bill Moser and Bert Kramer will be back at home base at Liedys Shore Inn, New Brighton. Jump start the Memorial Day Weekend with some classic rock jams at Staten Islands oldest bar. Admission cost: Free Location: Liedys Shore Inn., 748 Richmond Terrace Saturday Staten Island PrideFest: PrideFest Festival / May 27, noon to 5 p.m. The PrideFest Festival at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park in St. George -- home to the Staten Island FerryHawks -- will celebrate the rich diversity of the LGBTQ+ and allied community. The celebration will include live music, artists, craft vendors, an array of food vendors, a fun-filled youth area, performers and much more. Admission cost: Free Location: Staten Island University Hospital Community Park Family Science / May 27, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Join the Greenbelt Conservancy at the Greenbelt Nature Center for its Con Edison Family Science program. The program is a series of free monthly sessions featuring science topics and experiments designed for children and parents to accomplish as a team. A few short, self-guided activities will start families thinking together. Snag your ticket on EventBrite. Each ticket is good for a family/group of up to four people. Admission cost: Free Location: Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave. Sunday NYRR Open Run: Conference House Park / May 28, 9 a.m. to noon New York Road Runners (NYRR) Open Run is bringing a free, 5K to Conference House Park. The site features four historic buildings that trace Staten Islands 300+ year history, breathtaking views of the Raritan Bay, extensive hiking and biking trails and more. Register via the NYRR Open Run website for this Sundays 5K. Admission cost: Free Location: Hylan Boulevard Parking Lot in Conference House Park Monday 104th Staten Island Memorial Day Parade / May 29, noon Celebrate the holiday at the Staten Island Memorial Day Parade, which will step off at noon from the intersection of Forest Avenue and Hart Boulevard in Randall Manor. Admission cost: Free Location: Along Forest Avenue Fleet Week - ship tours / May 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fleet Week New York returns for the 35th year, taking place through Tuesday, May 30. The annual event includes general public ship tours, aviation demonstrations, military band performances and interactive displays throughout the Tristate area. Ship tours are scheduled for Memorial Day, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Staten Islands Homeport Pier in Stapleton. The tours are free and open to the public. Ship at the pier include the USS Oak Hill (LSD-51), USNS NewPort (T-EPF) and USCGC Legare (WMEC-912). Admission cost: Free Location: Homeport Pier While many officials are attempting to block asylum seekers from being bused in from New York City, at least one upstate New York county says it will welcome them with open arms. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said Tuesday that an unknown number of people who have been forced out of their own countries by authoritarian rulers or for other serious life-threatening reasons are expected to arrive soon in the Buffalo area. And none of them will be turned away, he said. These individuals are all legally in the country seeking asylum, have been vetted by federal authorities prior to arriving here and will be coming from New York City. While we do not yet know where they will be housed, I have been assured the costs associated with their housing, food, and other supportive services will be paid for by either New York State or New York City. The asylum seekers coming here are enduring the most difficult situation of their lives, something we should all consider, and are deserving of our respect, compassion and dignity as they work to start a new life in our country, Poloncarz said in a statement. Thats a very different approach from other counties, including Onondaga County, Broome County, Cayuga County, Dutchess County, Monroe County, Niagara County, Oneida County, Rockland County, Saratoga County and Suffolk County, that issued emergency orders or filed lawsuits to block migrants from being transported to and/or housed in their counties. (In Albany County, an emergency order doesnt ban migrants from coming, but does block any businesses, including motels, or people from bringing migrants or asylum seekers to the county without the countys permission.) An attorney for Onondaga County said Wednesday that New York City agreed to abide by a court order temporarily blocking a plan to transport up to 200 migrants to a hotel in Salina. More than 70,000 migrants have arrived in NYC from the southern border in Mexico over the past few months, including 5,800 new arrivals last week after Title 42 ended and 4,200 the week before that. Migrants were expected to start being bused to the citys suburbs and other parts of the state this week, when most counties pushed back largely due to concerns over a lack of available housing. Poloncarz, a Democrat, said Erie County has welcomed approximately 12,000 refugees over the past decade without the ridiculous fears stoked by xenophobic and ill-informed community members. Some stay here and some move on but all of these people come here seeking to build their own American dream, provide for themselves and their families, and become productive members of our society, Poloncarz said. These people are not a threat to our community and are only looking for the opportunity to pursue their dream of living in a free, democratic society. Our country is a light to the world and they have followed that light here to Erie County and beyond. Erie County has always been a welcoming community and will continue to be one for these asylum- seekers and others as they come here on their journey to a better life. Unless we are Native Americans, our relatives all came to America from somewhere else, hoping to take part in the promise of America. That promise is alive and well in Erie County today. Poloncarz isnt alone in his optimism. The Ithaca Times reports there are no plans to move migrants to Tompkins County, but leaders said they may be in a position to welcome asylum seekers. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, however, told WGRZ that hes had no communication with Poloncarz or New York City officials about where migrants will potentially be housed in Erie Countys largest city. I have no places set up at this point, Brown said. No one has said that any migrants are going to come here. So we would look for guidance from the federal government from the state government, wed want that communication. In the meantime, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams have asked the federal government to help with speeding up work permits for migrants, hoping it can reduce the need for temporary shelters and help the state of New York with a labor shortage. When I speak to the asylum seekers, they state clearly We dont want your free room and board. We want to work, Adams said Monday. Hochul also said shes considering using some SUNY campuses to house asylum seekers. Specific locations have not been named, but many college dorms are emptying as the spring semester ends. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The biggest thing Enrique Vargas, 35, learned from his father -- who immigrated to this country alone at 16 years old in 1969 from Ecuador -- is to have your goals and dont give up. His dad, Freddy Vargas, has been his greatest inspiration because he really lived the American dream. My father was the oldest of his six siblings. He came to this country alone because it seemed like this was the only way to have a better life, said Vargas, who noted his mother, Ivette Vargas, was born in Puerto Rico and came to the mainland at age 4 in 1966. My father had his own businesses and some real estate so thats what always inspired me to have something of my own, he added. Enrique Vargas opened Citi Fades & SMP on Main Street in Tottenville in February. Throughout his life, those words uttered by his father always stuck with Vargas, and they have become the driving force behind his ambition to succeed. Having always aspired to be a barber, Vargas opened his own shop in February called Citi Fades & SMP on Main Street in Tottenville, in the storefront that formerly housed DiPaolos Barbershop. But his long-held dream took some time to come to fruition. The biggest thing Enrique Vargas, (right) learned from his father -- who immigrated to this country alone at 16 years old in 1969 from Ecuador -- is to have your goals and dont give up. His dad, Freddy Vargas, (left) has been his greatest inspiration because he really lived the American dream. A DREAM PUT ON HOLD Vargas aspirations to become a barber were put on hold when he opted to serve in the U.S. Navy. I started pretty much like all barbers do -- cutting my friends hair in my house or backyard. I then joined the Navy in September 2005 after graduating Tottenville High School, said Vargas. I cut hair in the Navy while on deployments and in my time in Guantanamo Bay, which is where I learned how to cut my own hair. It wasnt until I was 25 and was fired from a construction job that I hated, that I decided I would finally pursue my dream of being a barber. At this point, Vargas was determined to fulfill his dream of one day owning his own barbershop. He graduated barber school and his first job was in an Oakwood shop called ACES. After working there for a few years, he relocated to Los Angeles, Calif. where he worked in high-end barbershops catering to a celebrity clientele. Citi Fades & SMP offers a range of barber shop services. (Courtesy of Enrique Vargas) I was able to work at one of the most popular L.A. barbershops, at the time, called Legends. This is where I really learned a lot about being a barber. I learned how to cut all different types of hair, and what it takes to stand out as a shop. And I got to meet some really cool people, he said, noting he now has three children under 5 years old, and moved back to the East Coast several years ago. Vargas worked at DiPaolos Barbershop on Main Street for five years before taking over the business, rebranding it and renovating the shop. Citi Fades offers a full range of barbershop services for men and boys. (Courtesy of Enrique Vargas) CITI FADES SPECIALTIES Citi Fades offers a full range of barbershop services for men and boys. In addition, Vargas specializes in Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP), a non-surgical tattoo process that replicates the appearance of hair, for men and women. I use a cosmetic pigment with micro-fine needles to create thousands of tiny impressions, giving the illusion of hair follicles. It is a meticulous process. [Its purpose is to] enhance your existing hair or have a buzzed look for bald people, he said. Enrique Vargas opened Citi Fades & SMP on Main Street in Tottenville in February. And Vargas said his favorite part of being a barber is his clients. Making someone feel good about themselves is an amazing feeling. I also like building relationships. I feel like life is all about relationships and the people we come in contact with, he said. I have some clients who I see more than some of my family. Vargas noted that he is currently hiring barbers. Enrique Vargas opened Citi Fades & SMP on Main Street in Tottenville in February. CITIFADES & SMP AT A GLANCE Address: 161 Main St. Website: vagaro.com/citifadesbarbershop Facebook: Citi Fades Barbershop & SMP Instagram: @citifades_barbershop New Businesses in Focus is a weekly column that relates the stories of new Staten Island business owners. If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com. More New Businesses in Focus columns: FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Millions across the New York City region will kick off their summer travels in the coming days, during whats expected to be the busiest Memorial Day Weekend in years. Heres what you need to know about Memorial Day Weekend travel in New York City. BRIDGES The MTA will suspend all daytime scheduled maintenance that requires lane closures from Friday, May 26, at noon, through Tuesday, May 30, at 6 a.m. Some scheduled roadway closures to complete critical work will be permitted during overnight hours. There will be no scheduled temporary roadway closures in any direction during the evening rush hour periods throughout the weekend. The Port Authority will suspend all ongoing repair and construction projects at agency crossings from Friday, May 26, at 5 a.m., through Tuesday, May 30, at 5 a.m. The agency is expecting roughly 3.4 million vehicles to use Port Authority bridges and tunnels during Memorial Day Weekend, similar to the levels seen prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. BUSES For those looking for an early getaway, some Staten Island express buses will provide additional service on Friday, May 26, from noon to 1:35 p.m. Commuters are advised to check the MTA website on Friday for the latest details on which buses will be providing enhanced service. On Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, all buses will operate on their normal weekend schedules. On Monday, May 29, all buses will operate on a Sunday schedule for the holiday. STATEN ISLAND RAILWAY The Staten Island Railway will operate on a normal schedule on Friday, May 26. On Saturday, May 27, the Staten Island Railway will operate on a single track to accommodate maintenance from Grant City to Great Kills. Track 1 will serve customers traveling eastbound. On Sunday, May 28, Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule. On Monday, May 29, Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule. SUBWAYS The MTA has announced the following subway service changes from Friday, May 26, through Monday, May 29, to accommodate critical track and signal upgrades. Due to switch work north of West Fourth Street, the uptown 6 Av line will be closed over the weekend. During this time, uptown D and F trains operate via the 8th Av local track. Uptown D trains return to their normal route at 125 St, while F trains operate via the 53rd St line to Queens and resume their normal route at Roosevelt Avenue. M trains will not run in either direction over the long weekend due to track work. Free shuttle buses will run between Myrtle Av/Broadway and Metropolitan Av. Due to extensive cleaning of the Clark Street Tunnel 2, 3 and 5 trains will run accordingly from Saturday at noon through 5 a.m. Tuesday morning: 2 trains will operate between Dyre Avenue in the Bronx and South Ferry in Manhattan. 3 trains will operate between 241 Street in the Bronx and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. 5 trains will operate between 148 Street and 14 St/7 Av only, and trains are extended to New Lots Avenue. Beginning at 4 a.m. Saturday, Manhattan-bound 7 trains will run express between Mets/Willets Point and 74 St-Broadway. The 7 trains will operate with increased headways to accommodate for construction materials to be put in place. Customers are advised to allow for extra travel time. Normal service will resume at 10 p.m. Sunday, May 28. No A trains will run north of 168th Street and no C trains will run north of 145 Street from 10 p.m. Friday until 4:45 a.m. Tuesday to accommodate signal work. Free shuttle buses will operate between 168 Street and 207 Street. COMMUTER RAILS The MTAs commuter rails will provide additional service throughout Memorial Day Weekend to accommodate the expected influx of travelers. On Friday, May 26, the LIRR will run five extra afternoon trains to accommodate customers heading out early for the holiday weekend. There is no scheduled track work throughout weekend. For details, check the TrainTime app before traveling or visit new.mta.info. On Saturday, May 27, the LIRR will operate on a normal Saturday/weekend schedule. On Sunday, May 28, the LIRR will operate on a Saturday/weekend schedule. The summer Sunday afternoon trains from Montauk at 1:17 p.m., 4:18 p.m., 6:22 p.m. and 8:22 p.m., and the 3:25 p.m. westbound train from Southampton will not operate on Sunday, May 28. These trains will run on Monday, May 29, instead. On Monday, May 29, LIRR trains will run on a Sunday schedule. LIRRs Montauk summer trains will operate every weekend beginning Memorial Day Weekend through the first weekend of September. On Friday, May 26, Metro-North will operate nine extra afternoon trains on its East of Hudson and West of Hudson lines to accommodate customers heading out early for the three-day weekend. Some trains between 5:25 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. will be canceled to best reallocate equipment and accommodate Memorial Day weekend travel patterns. For details, check the TrainTime app before traveling or visit new.mta.info. On Saturday, May 27, Metro-North will run on a normal Saturday schedule. On Sunday, May 28, Metro-North will operate on a normal Sunday schedule. On Monday, May 29, Metro-North will operate on a Sunday schedule. On the Port Jervis Line, there will be an extra train departing Port Jervis at 4:05 p.m., stopping at all stations between Port Jervis and Suffern, then express to Secaucus Junction and Hoboken. AIRPORTS The Port Authority has advised air travelers to allow for additional time at John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and New York Stewart International airports from Friday, May 26, through Tuesday, May 30, with the agency expecting roughly 2.1 million travelers. The agency is encouraging travelers to use mass transit, for-hire vehicles or taxis when traveling to the airport, as parking facilities may be unavailable or full for extended periods of time. ADDITIONAL TRAVEL NEWS Memorial Day 2023: Travel predictions and best times to hit the road, according to experts Google Flights launches pilot program that may help you find cheapest price on airfare What is airplane mode on a cell phone, and why is it required when flying? From getting a passport to using travel apps, experts offer tips for traveling abroad post-pandemic Spring Break 2023: Which are the most popular travel destinations? Spring Break 2023: U.S. issues Do Not Travel advisory for Mexico amid crime, kidnappings Uber unveils new features to assist spring break travelers Nearly 85% of American adults expected to travel this summer, survey finds Travelers in these states experience the most flight delays, study shows. Where does New York rank? Which U.S. airports have the most delayed flights? These are the 10 airlines most likely to delay your flight, data shows CITY HALL New York City officials had little to say Wednesday about the emergency respite shelters for migrants opened around the the five boroughs, including the site at a former school in Clifton. Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom said the city has been opening the sites on an day-to-day, as-needed basis when asked how many were currently in operation. A follow-up text to a City Hall spokesperson about how many were in operation and if the specific Staten Island location remained open went unanswered. The city set up the local respite shelter May 12 at a Department of Education (DOE) building, which previously housed the Richard H. Hungerford School on Tompkins Avenue. Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom addresses the media at a City Hall press conference Thursday. March 2, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta) Other respite sites around the city, including several in Brooklyn, had shut their doors by May 17, but the Hungerford site remained open housing 300 people. When asked about that site Monday, Mayor Eric Adams pointed out that the Hungerford site is in a vacant building, whereas the closed housing operations were at 20 DOE gyms around the city that were part of active school communities. We cannot afford to have vacant buildings on the inventory the chief of staff has put together to see if its usable, Adams said in reference to a list maintained by his chief of staff, Camille Joseph Varlack, with usable buildings around the five boroughs. When you get 900 people in one day, you have to figure out how to move them during an emergency, Adams continued. Those who have never managed a crisis , [think] its easy to analyze how to manage a crisis. Cots seen set up inside the school's gymnasium (Courtesy of Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo) Per a Wednesday media briefing, more than 70,000 migrants have made their way to New York City since April 2022, many coming from southern states bused by local governments. Of those 70,000, 44,700 remain housed using city dollars, Budget Director Jacques Jiha said. Those people are being housed at 150 emergency shelters around the five boroughs, including hotels, nine humanitarian emergency relief centers, and the unknown number of respite shelters. Williams-Isom said the city has made an effort to separate the incoming migrant populations from the citys traditional shelter population saying there had been some conflict at the beginning between the two groups. Those two groups, when added together, total more than 93,000 people being provided shelter by the city, 81,000 of whom are in the care of the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). The prior capacity record for the DHS system was 61,000 according to the city. That surge led the Adams administration to announce Tuesday night that it had taken legal action against the mandated right to shelter law as the migrant crisis grows in the five boroughs. New York Citys right to shelter for all people who are homeless stems from a 1979 lawsuit and subsequent legal action, but Adams said modern circumstances warrant change to the decades-old mandate. Adams and his administration have avoided characterizing the called-for change as an end to the right to shelter, but the city Law Departments legal action brought before the New York Supreme Court, if successful, would bring fundamental changes to the current system. Specifically, the citys right to shelter for adults would be lifted in situations when the citys shelter system has been stretched beyond its capacity, like the current crisis brought on by the influx of migrants, mostly from the southern border. Children and their families would not be impacted by the proposed change. Adams chief counsel, Brendan McGuire, offered few specifics during Wednesdays briefing about what would happen to homeless people if they prevail, but the Coalition for the Homeless, a non-profit organization that brought the original lawsuit that led to the right to shelter has vowed action. A Coalition co-founder, attorney Robert Hayes, brought the original suit 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 without homes by reason of physical, mental or social dysfunction. Women and children were added later through further legal action, according to the Coalition. For more than 40 years, Callahan has served as a lifeline for countless New Yorkers seeking shelter and critical services, the Coalition wrote in their joint statement made with the legal aid society. The administrations request to suspend the long-established state constitutional right that protects our clients from the elements is not who we are as a city. New Yorkers do not want to see anyone, including asylum seekers, relegated to the streets. We will vigorously oppose any motion from this administration that seeks to undo these fundamental protections that have long defined our city. MORE NYC NEWS NYC has no plans to shutter migrant housing at Staten Island school NYC Mayor Adams launches crackdown on retail theft in the 5 boroughs Staten Island pols: Vacant public schools not a solution for migrant housing Have a scheduling conflict with NYCs new trash takeout times? DSNY says youre on your own Two more Staten Island hotels are now sheltering migrants, local pols say Rapper Fetty Wap whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II was sentenced to six years in prison Wednesday for allegedly contributing to a narcotics ring in New York and New Jersey, authorities announced. Maxwell, along with four other individuals, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip. The famed rapper, who faces a conspiracy to distribute cocaine charge, will also be placed on five-year post-release supervision, according to a press release. Maxwell and others allegedly distributed over 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine from June 2019 through June 2020 to parts of Long Island and New Jersey, prosecutors said. Anthony Leonardi, 49; Robert Leonardi, 28; Brian Sullivan, 27, and Kavaughn Wiggins, 28, participated in the purchase and transportation of the narcotics from the West Coast -- where they were then processed, stored and ultimately resold, authorities allege. Maxwell acted as a re-distributor for the trafficking organization, authorities allege. New Jersey Correction Officer Anthony Cyntje, 25, was sentenced to six years in prison back in March. The remaining co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, prosecutors said. A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment. Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and two teachers dead. 17 others were shot or wounded. Within that time frame, advocates say little has been done to reduce the number of gun violence incidents. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 674 mass shootings since May 2022 and 50 mass murders. Of those, 50 mass shootings occurred in Texas. The Gun Violence Archive defines mass shootings as four or more victims shot or killed, not including the shooter. Mass murders involve four or more victims killed, not including the shooter. We get truckloads of thoughts and prayers and they all go to a warehouse somewhere, said Mark Bryant, the organizations executive director. Nothing has changed. In a press release, Everytown for Gun Safety praised President Joe Biden for signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a piece of legislation that makes it harder for people under 21 to acquire guns. The bill became law in June. The pain and perseverance shown by survivors of the shooting at Robb Elementary helped push Congress to pass the first major gun safety bill in 30 years and they continue inspiring our work to forge a safer future, John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said. The act also increases funding for school safety measures and mental health initiatives. Earlier this month, Biden described the bills enactment as a success while pressing Congress to pass an assault weapons ban. I have already taken more meaningful executive action to reduce gun violence than any other president, Biden wrote in a USA Today op-ed. But my power is not absolute. In Texas, legislation has stalled. Just days before the one-year anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting, lawmakers rejected House Bill 2744, legislation that wouldve raised the age to purchase certain semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21. The man who committed the attack was 18 years old. Even in the wild, wild west they had rules, Bryant said. Now we dont have rules. In fact, some states have tried to make it easier to obtain firearms or carry them on school grounds. In Tennessee, lawmakers introduced a bill that would allow teachers to carry guns on school grounds months before the Covenant School Shooting. The legislation still hasnt made it out of committee. Last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that would allow anyone to carry concealed weapons in most spaces without a permit. The law takes effect July 1. Bryant wonders if efforts to reduce gun violence can be accomplished through legislation. With the polarization that we have now? he said. I dont think so. Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who is on an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the Defense Chamber of the Parliament House and met with the Federal Minister for Defence of Pakistan, Mr. Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. Welcoming the guests, the Pakistani Federal Minister for Defence pointed out that the military relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan are at a high level. The Minister mentioned that Pakistan recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and attaches special importance to the expansion of military relations with this country.The Minister noted that both countries provide mutual support to each other in all issues including a bilateral basis and the framework of international organizations. He pointed out that the situation and new challenges in the regions where Azerbaijan and Pakistan are located necessitate the strengthening of military cooperation between the two countries. Mr. Khawaja Muhammad Asif emphasized the importance of increasing the combat capability of the armies of both countries, experience exchange in this field, as well as further developing the achieved results. The Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army expressed his gratitude for the warm reception, and conveyed the greetings of the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov to Mr. Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Colonel General K. Valiyev emphasized that the expansion of cooperation with Pakistan in the military field is always in the spotlight of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr. Ilham Aliyev. Colonel General K. Valiyev gave detailed information to the Federal Minister for Defence of Pakistan about the engineering and reconstruction works carried out in the liberated territories, as well as the provocations committed by the Armenian armed forces on the conditional border and the measures taken to suppress these provocations. The sides discussed the conduct of joint exercises, cooperation in the field of defense industry, including a number of issues of mutual interest. They importance of further expansion of military and military-technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan was emphasized. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mr. Khazar Farhadov also participated in the meeting. Optus is still feeling the ill-effects of the cyberattack it suffered late last year, with the telcos customer growth taking a hit in the six months to March. Chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin on Thursday said while the cyberattack had interrupted the companys momentum in the second half of the year, subscribers were coming back to the telco. Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin says the telco has regained its footing after last years cyberattack. Credit: Natalie Boog We really have taken accountability for what happened, apologised and worked hard to regain trust with our customers and market, and I think our efforts have been recognised and thats why you see the return to growth, she said. Had it not been for the cyberattacks, we would have expected our results to be even stronger. During the year, Optus added 425,000 subscribers to its mobile customer base, but about 304,000 of that was in the first half. Net subscriber growth was less than half that figure, at 121,000, from September to March. The latest World Happiness Index report released in March positioned Australia in 12th place. An impressive performance, but Australia consistently ranks below the Nordic countries, who stand unchallenged at the very top of the index. For Australia to become an even better place to live, improving the quality of peoples working lives is essential. This requires changes to our industrial relations system, which plays an important role in governing work arrangements. Despite political and cultural differences, the Nordic countries offer important lessons on how Australia can achieve this. More effective industrial relations in the Nordic countries contributes to better work-life balance, fairer wage distribution, less gender inequality, and generally superior macroeconomic outcomes to Australia. While Australia prides itself on being a liberal economy, government plays a much more interventionist role in the labour market than in the Nordic countries. Despite their social democratic histories, Nordic governments respect the autonomy of employers, workers, and their representatives employer associations and trade unions so long as they can ensure business competitiveness and fair wages and working conditions. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In 1946 a rich Sydney socialite with a clipped English accent, Packer family connections and a formidable reputation was appointed fashion editor of the then wildly successful 13-year-old Australian Womens Weekly newspaper. You get a sense of the legendary Mrs Mary Hordern and her cut-crystal quasi-British consonants on French Mannequins Present the New Look, a 1948 clip in the Bendigo Art Gallerys new exhibition, The Australian Womens Weekly: 90 years of an Australian Icon. She does the voiceover. Sydney has its own parade of Par-ris fa-ar-shions creations of Fr-ar-nces best known coutur-e-ay. Among the rollcall of beach suits and swishy linens by Schiaparelli, Jacques Fath and Carvin, Mrs Hordern brightly suggests any husbands mer-se-yers bored by the fashions might care to focus instead on the delectable manni-quarns modelling them. Such was the way we were. After the drab, terrifying years of World War II, a wealthy, nepotistic (Weekly co-founder Sir Frank Packer was Mrs Horderns brother-in-law), cheerily sexist socialite is appointed mentor to the housewives of Australia on matters of glamour and etiquette. Australian Womens Weekly covers, clockwise from main: October 9, 1957; February 19, 1975; October 8, 1958; June 30, 1982; November 23, 1960. Odd, now, yes, but it was Mrs Horderns time. And, lets put aside unfair assumptions, she was no ninny. In the clip, she is, in fact, narrating her own extraordinary feat of glamorous post-war gobsmackery: her flight to Paris, negotiations with top ateliers, a culminating plane-load (a Qantas constellation, no less) of Parisian haute couture originals and a full set of genuine French mannequins to model it, en route to Australia before you could say, ou est ce? The fashion show was a splash in The Weekly, hit headlines around the country, but was all in a days work for the remarkable Mrs Hordern, just one of many journalistic legends forged by The Weekly. Advertisement She was of her time, says exhibition curator Lauren Ellis. And that clip is of its time You couldnt cancel it. Nor would you want to. Revelations like Mrs Hordern and the quaint cultural tenets of her time are among myriad fascinating blips you can follow along The Weeklys 90-year timeline at Bendigo Art Gallery. Its a timeline that also mirrors the heavily nuanced history of Australian womens cultural evolution and (through the 1960s and 70s) revolution. Comparing the thens and nows will undoubtedly be a constant joy for exhibition visitors. Emily Vincent from Chadwick models, stylist Brenda Gasson, hair and makeup by Cameron Smith and Jutta Schmitz. Credit: Simon Schluter Ellis says shes made sense of The Weeklys dense history by sorting exhibits including fashions, original newspapers and magazines, recipes, sewing patterns, mannequins in exquisite gowns, cookbooks and readers memorabilia, into two editorial categories that have underpinned the magazine since 1933 and its first publication as a black and white tabloid womens newspaper. One stream is around Australian visions of style and womanhood and glamour, says Ellis, who cobbled that together with The Weeklys current style director, Mattie Cronan. Its that little slice of the big glamorous world a window into what women aspire to and daydream about in their 10 minutes alone with a cup of tea. Clockwise from main: July 14, 1940 cover; Dolly Varden cake; swimming pool cake, candy castle cake; Humpty Dumpty cake (cake images from the 1980 birthday cake book). Credit: Russell Brooks The second stream is about homemaking: recipes, parenting, crafts. And cookbooks, adds Ellis. Especially the birthday cake book; theres so much excitement around the birthday cakes! Advertisement A recent Instagram post about The Weeklys famous 1980 Childrens Birthday Cake Book (which has sold 80 million copies around the world so far) triggered a tsunami of 400 snaps and memories of home-made triumphs and disasters in a matter of a few hours. That birthday cake book, Ellis shakes her head, its a juggernaut on its own. Curating hundreds of exhibits was absorbing, and moving, and not just because of the cakes. Sewing patterns, recipes, scrappy falling-apart bits of paper from all over the country, Ellis says. It was quite moving; we actually have quite an amazing visual record of decades of emotional and caregiving domestic labor. The love and energy that goes into those nourishing and exciting and magical homes for families Cronans dive into the magazines archive for glamour also turned up gold. Manila folders full of beautiful images from the 1940s; a letter from a French milliner whose hats were printed in The Weekly, so many gorgeous illustrations of the Paris shows, Christian Dior gowns Cover from July 2, 1958. Cronan also scouted gowns from Weekly covers that marked swivel points in its history. Toni Maticevskis waved red skirt for celebrity chef Maggie Beer, for example, was a joyous salute to glamorous older women and a nose-thumbing gesture to a youth-obsessed society. An extravagant Aurelio Costarella gown, on loan from the National Gallery of Victoria, was an elegant tribute to Australias home-grown royal, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Cronan styled the gown on location in the princess palace for The Weeklys 80th birthday edition in 2013. That was a milestone, she says. For her and The Weekly. Maggie Beer dressed in Toni Maticevski for The Weeklys 2018 Christmas edition. The magazines phenomenal record as a queen maker editors, category directors, writers is also threaded through the exhibition. The women of their time creating the resource women wanted and needed at the time, as Ellis describes them. They brought their own personal style and kudos, their own media presence and personality. Advertisement In the nine decades following Packers launch appointment of journalist George Warnecke (its only male editor, 1933 until 1939) The Weeklys mix of current affairs, profiles of famous women, fashion and beauty reports and tips and domestic arts was interpreted by a succession of legendary women. Among the dozens worth Googling, because their biographies are too dense to unpack here: war correspondents Dorothy Drain (who became editor in 1972) and Adele Shelton Smith; photographer Adelie Hurley; economist and food director Pamela Clark (the author of the Birthday Cake Book became a 50-year veteran of The Weekly); style and fashion editors including Mary Hordern, Betty Keep and Maggie Tabberer; and editors such as Alice Jackson, Ita Buttrose, Nene King and Helen McCabe. Buttrose, now chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, fondly remembers two stints at The Weekly. The first, I think I was about 20 when I applied to be the social editor. In 1963 she joined the magazines terribly civilised, ladylike workforce under Esme Fenston, a modest but fearless editor who would commission groundbreaking and eye-popping for their day features on the pill and womens sexual health. Fenston was also The Weeklys longest-serving editor (22 years), mourned with tears by Sir Frank Packer. Ita Buttrose in her Australian Womens Weekly office in Sydney, 1980. Credit: Fairfax I got to know many of those players, Buttrose says of the office where a girl routinely smoothed her skirt, combed her hair and checked her nails lest her bosses lips curled. They would vet you to make sure you were dressed correctly Miss Keep, the fashion editor, Miss [Kate] Mahon, the beauty editor and I was the only one called by my first name because I was a junior. There were women like me, back in the workforce, married and [with] children I had to modernise it. Ita Buttrose For two years Buttrose was an exemplary (and immaculately groomed) social editor. She suffered just one tiny demerit which she only revealed years later, involving a certain tres-chic Melbourne Cup racegoer who posed for her social shot, oblivious to the clerk of the courses horse nibbling the violets off her hat. Advertisement It was a real dilemma, Buttrose says, laughing. I couldnt say anything. I was young; I didnt know what to do! I never told anyone until years later then I got a letter from the same woman; she said I always wondered what happened to my violets That was The Weekly. Loading Just over a decade later, in 1975, Buttrose had locked in a string of career milestones, including her against-all-odds launch of Cleo magazine, and was back at The Weekly, this time to save it. I was appointed because it hadnt moved with the 20th century, she recalls. Kerry [Packer] appointed me editor-in-chief of both publications so I could still keep my hand on Cleo at the same time. It was the first time the cash cow of the Packer familys Australian Consolidated Press stable had seriously wobbled. The marketplace was changing, Buttrose recalls. There were women like me, back in the workforce, married and [with] children. We had different interests that were reflected in everything I had to modernise it. The magazines physical appearance was wrong, too. The cost of paper was particularly high at the time, Buttrose recalls. There was a paper shortage it was still a tabloid. I had to change the size. The February 19, 1975, edition featured a wedding dress to crochet. While more women were in the workforce, crafts remained an important focus. She cut it down to the A4 full-colour Weekly we know today and filled it with content deeply plugged into the 1970s zeitgeist. The simple mechanics of womens liberated lives as working mothers and homemakers was particularly heavy in the editorial formula. We started the campaign for better trading hours, for instance, says Buttrose. At the time, all shops shut at 12 on a Saturday so it used to be hell, hurtling around the butcher, the greengrocer, the bootmaker, wherever you had to go, by midday with a child in a stroller. Advertisement BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to Italy in connection with those killed as a result of severe floods in this country, the ministry said on Twitter, Trend reports. "We extend heartfelt condolences to the families of victims and injured as a result of natural calamity in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Our prayers are with those missing and wish recovery affected people. Our hearts are with the Italian people," the publication says. Though dogged by technical lighting problems at the start, the Orchestra of the Antipodes supported with delicate transparency, Helyard regulating timing and tone with unerring musico-dramatic instinct. Once again, Pinchgut has revived a forgotten gem with fresh sophistication and a youthful blush. Reviewed by Peter McCallum MUSICAL THEATRE Driftwood the Musical Glen Street Theatre, until May 28 After an acclaimed first outing in Melbourne in 2022, Driftwood, a new musical based on an original stage play by Jane Bodie, with music and lyrics by Anthony Barnhill, has found its way to Sydney. It is a family saga spanning three generations inspired by the memoir of Eva de Jong-Duldig, who was born to Polish-Jewish parents in Vienna in 1938. Through her, we piece together the journey of her parents, Karl and Slawa, as they escape the Anschluss (the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany), are then deported from Singapore and interned as German refugees in Australia, before finally finding a home in Melbourne. Tania de Jong and Michaela Burger in Driftwood the Musical. Credit: James Terry Loading This is a heartfelt show, not least because one of the main characters is played by Tania de Jong, daughter of Eva. But, family ties aside, this shows inventive storytelling and excellent performances, along with a not-unwelcome dose of nostalgia, make it hard to resist. Anthony Barnhills impressive score, which deserves a bigger band, melds razor-sharp narrative and big showstoppers with the emotional jolt of traditional Jewish prayer song. Meanwhile, director Gary Abrahams stitches together the complicated, stop-start episodes with clarity and pace. A tight-knit, high-energy ensemble smooths out the rough edges of a work that is still evolving. Bridget Costello as the fresh-faced, bright-voiced Eva is a standout, as is Anton Berezin as Karl, particularly in his final number, where he demonstrates a wide vocal range. Tania de Jong brings a dignity and operatic tone to the role of Slawa. Nelson Gardners voice adds a delicious dark burr to the ensemble, while Michaela Burgers portrayal of Slawas sister Rella is bursting with emotion. Driftwood the Musical is about many things love, war, art, refugees and tennis but it is also about what we leave behind. Driftwood the Musical is also on at Riverside Theatres from May 31-June 4 and Darlinghurst Theatre Company from June 7-18. Reviewed by Harriet Cunningham DANCE/EXHIBITION When I Am Not There Art Gallery of NSW, until June 4 Its almost more fun watching the audience at Melbourne artist Shelley Lasicas new performance exhibition than it is watching the work itself. Spectators follow the lead of a troupe of dancers, including Lasica, who wander around two large rooms of the gallery, stopping to dance singly or together, gyrate their hips, paw the floor or pile up into an untidy tangle of limbs. Shelley Lasicas When I Am Not There can be unnerving to watch. Credit: Felicity Jenkins Yet etched onto the onlookers faces is a heady mix of confusion, fascination and, sometimes, outright alarm. A man standing idly viewing the performance visibly jumps when a dancer walks straight up to him and says, I didnt expect to see you here! Hes just composing an answer when you can see it suddenly dawn on him that this is simply part of the dancers dialogue and has nothing at all to do with him perhaps playing truant from the office. But by then, hes already blushed beetroot red. Loading And thats part of the charm of such an avant-garde display. It feels quite confronting to be so close to the performers, and on their level, watching what theyre doing with their arms, their legs and their bodies, especially when they break off and march towards you or sidle past. Staring at more traditional artwork never feels this intimate. This, however, is the tension between the ideas of to perform and to exhibit that Lasica has been highlighting over her four-decade career. Sometimes therell be eight dancers, sometimes six, occasionally two. All are dressed in mismatched outfits and dance independently with one taking off her top and using it to wipe away her underarm sweat before coming together to the sounds of an otherworldly score by Francois Tetaz. The props, including costumes from past performances pegged to a sheet of webbing, moulded plastic childrens chairs and vinyl mats, look almost incidental. Its an interesting, and slightly unnerving, concept, with the only guarantee that, at any viewing, its unlikely ever to be the same. And that were all, somehow, playing a role in this strange balletic search for meaning. Reviewed by Sue Williams Sydney Morning Herald subscribers can enjoy 2-for-1 tickets* to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW during June 2023. Click here for more details. Not that Renfield ever entirely manages to crawl out of his masters shadow. While Hoult is protagonist and voice-over narrator, the main attraction is Nicolas Cages barnstorming performance as Dracula, played mainly for laughs yet indicating careful study of his many predecessors in the role. No Dracula adaptation would be complete without an appearance from snivelling sidekick R.M. Renfield, who swallows flies for sustenance and looks after the Counts business in daylight hours. Hes had to wait a long time for his own moment in the sun but his time has come at last in Chris McKays horror-comedy Renfield, where hes played by the ever-charmless Nicholas Hoult, who may be a tad too youthful but certainly knows how to snivel. We catch up with this demonic duo in present-day New Orleans, where Drac takes refuge in the basement of an abandoned hospital. Weakened by a recent skirmish with vampire hunters, hes in urgent need of fresh blood, which the downtrodden but loyal Renfield supplies, using his own minor-league vampire powers to target local hoodlums and others who wont be missed. Dracula is off-screen for a good portion of the film, but each time he shows up hes a step closer to full power allowing Cage to give us one version of the character after another, with help from an equally dedicated make-up team. Starting out as something akin to a sentient compost heap, he morphs into a snarling, leering monster of rage and self-congratulation, showing off not just the regulation fangs but a full set of serrated teeth expressly designed for chewing scenery. Renfields transformation is mainly an inward one, stemming from the gradual realisation hes trapped in an abusive relationship though he does eventually start brushing his hair and wearing colourful sweaters in a bid to reinvent himself. By this point, he has a new potential partner in his sights, a stubbornly virtuous cop (Awkwafina) whose anger issues seem manageable by comparison. Other supporting players who survive long enough to make an impact include a geeky gang boss (Ben Schwartz) who rants like Quentin Tarantino, and his smoky-voiced mother (Shohreh Aghdashloo) who really runs the town. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Alice Diop was already an acclaimed documentary maker when she became fascinated with the 2016 trial of a Senegalese-French woman accused of the premeditated murder of her 15-month-old daughter. Fabienne Kabou had left the child on a beach in a coastal town in northern France. Amid claims of witchcraft and post-natal depression, she was eventually convicted and sentenced to 20 years jail. Diop, also a child of Senegalese immigrants and a mother herself, attended the trial in the town of Saint Omer. Though the film of the same name is her first fiction feature, it has the feel of a documentary, with long scenes played out in real time before an impassive camera, staged in an actual courtroom adjacent to the one where the 2016 trial took place. The austere yet gripping courtroom drama has travelled widely since it premiered last year (it won the Silver Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival, and was Frances entry for best international feature at this years Oscars). Saint Omer director Alice Diop became fascinated with the story of a woman who left her child to drown. Credit: Alamachere During the trial, which occupies most of the films running time, every aspect of the identity the accused woman (named Laurence Coly in the film) presents to her judges is put under scrutiny: her relationship with her childs white father, her claim to be a victim of sorcery, even her past as a philosophy student (why would she write a thesis on Wittgenstein, one of her teachers wonders, rather than someone more relevant to her cultural background?). Much of Colys dialogue has been taken verbatim from transcripts of Kabous trial, but Guslagie Malanda, who plays the accused woman, says she and Diop werent trying to create a literally accurate portrait of Kabou. We wanted to dare to show the solitude there could be around motherhood, and the fears, she says, through a French interpreter. So those things reassured me because I havent been in prison, I havent killed a child, I dont know exactly what this is like. But we can tell a story in another way without having to be exactly these people. Advertisement Among the observers at the trial is Rama (Kayije Kagame), a young Parisian novelist who shares Colys Senegalese heritage. While Rama is an imaginary character, shes also an undisguised stand-in for Diop. Kayije Kagame in Saint Omer: Alice used to say to me Dont act. So the question is, what does that mean? Credit: During the trial, Coly speaks at length while Rama observes in silence but theres no straightforward route to understanding who either of them really are, let alone what passes between them at a distance. With the films two stars now sitting in front of me, Im curious about what it meant for them to act in this context, or whether the word act is even adequate for what Diop required them to do. While neither Malanda nor Kagame are newcomers to acting or cinema, they dont have a lot of screen credits between them. Malanda starred as a young single mother in Jean-Paul Civeyracs My Friend Victoria (2014), then took a long break while working as an art curator (she doesnt address the reasons on the record, but talking to the Hollywood Reporter last year she observed that none of the leading actresses in France are Black none). From left, Kayije Kagame, Alice Diop and Guslagie Malanda at the Venice Film Festival. Credit: AP Professionally, Kagame comes from a somewhat different background. Saint Omer marks her feature debut, but shes worked extensively in theatre and directed short films of her own, besides creating installations and performance pieces. Both women choose their words with care, making clear that Saint Omer, for them, was more than just another job. Advertisement Malanda especially is at first reluctant to say too much. I still dont know what acting is. Maybe when I have a longer filmography you can come back and ask me again. She volunteers, however, that for her, it has to do with presence and absence. Its not hard to apply these words to her character, who on the stand is somehow both laid bare and out-of-reach. But what do they say about how it felt for Malanda to perform these scenes? Being totally present when youre acting, I think is impossible, she says, because the present conjugates many things at once. We are what we were, what we are now, what we will be ... You have to let certain things be absent in order to be present, if that makes sense. Guslagie Malanda in the dock in Saint Omer. Credit: AP It does, and it doesnt, which seems appropriate. Its a very interesting question in regard to this film in particular, Kagame says. Alice used to say to me: Dont act. So, the question is, what does that mean? Maybe it means live it, experience it, go through it. And maybe thats what fiction is, maybe thats what acting is. Loading Malanda and Kagame say that for them, and for Diop, the historical truth was only a starting point. Alice always told me: Rama is not me, Kagame says. Of course I listened to her stories about what she experienced, but I also took my cues from the script. Malanda never met Kabou in person. But did she, in making the film, feel a responsibility towards her? Yes, there was a responsibility. For me, it was to be as close as I could to her through her words, and that was perhaps one of the most intense encounters Ive had in my life meeting her through her words. Advertisement Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Pile into booths for antipasti, Italian wines and bowls of pasta by a former River Cafe chef when dine-in opens by spring. Mortadeli, Torquays Euro-centric sandwich bar, grocer and deli, is set to clear its next hurdle: a dine-in restaurant. Not that it will be a formal affair, according to owner Jake Cassar. He humbly describes it as a pasta bar, situated in the space thats been a deli and grocer for the past year. Once works are complete, the restaurant will share space with retail, so diners can watch the prosciutto or mortadella being sliced for their antipasti platter, for example. Nettle, buffalo ricotta and pine mushroom ravioli is the type of seasonal cooking Glenn Laurie will showcase. Joe Armao But with 40 seats and the experienced hands of chef Glenn Laurie, whos been cooking at the nearby one-hat La Cantina for the past two years, this little pasta bar will be a big deal for Torquay. With hatted Torquay restaurant Samesyn closed while it transforms into a profit-for-purpose enterprise, dining options in the seaside town are currently concentrated on cafes, steakhouses, burgers and a smattering of Japanese. Australia generally prides itself on its lack of school shootings, unlike the tragedies that occur all too often in the United States. This makes the news of an alleged school shooting in Western Australia this week particularly shocking. Fortunately, no one was killed. Police allege that a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, used two rifles to shoot three rounds at Atlantis Beach Baptist College in northern Perth at about midday on Wednesday. The alleged incident, understood to be the first of its kind in WA, forced the school into lockdown, as students and teachers hid in a storeroom. Magistrate Alana Padmanabham in the Perth Childrens Court today ordered the teenager to have a mental health assessment. The youth who appeared in court via video link could be seen on a courtroom television at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre sitting at a desk wearing a sweatshirt in an empty room. He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody to reappear in the same court on Tuesday. The magistrate ordered mental health and bail suitability assessments ahead of a potential application for release when the matter returns to court. The boy faces seven charges, including discharging a firearm to cause fear and possessing a prohibited weapon. The teen is also accused of unlawfully driving, three counts of unlicensed person possessing a firearm and ammunition and unlawful act with intent to harm. Premier Mark McGowan saying work had begun to dramatically reform the states gun laws. McGowan said it was unthinkable a US-style school shooting could have happened at a WA school, and it was lucky no one was killed. The bullets went close, he told reporters yesterday. Its a terrible, terrible thing and it could have been so much worse. With AAP The Princes Trust, one of several charitable organisations historically closely associated with King Charles III and other members of the royal family, has been caught offering an insulting and insensitive 1 per cent of the hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation promised to Australian child abuse victims. Britains high court last year determined $382,000 was a reasonable value to assign each of the approximately 340 survivors of sexual abuse at five Fairbridge Society Institutions in Australia. Now, the redress scheme administrators have slashed the payment to $3820 due to insufficient moneys being set aside for claims by the Princes Trust which took over the Fairbridge liabilities. Children dining at Fairbridge Farm in Molong, NSW. Credit: Such parsimony is obscene and incomprehensible. The failure to provide adequate funds to meet legal, and indeed moral, obligations to child abuse victims sits oddly with an organisation that helps high society dispense largesse to those it deems deserving or in need of help. Thousands of British children in need of help were shipped to colonies, or former colonies, last century. It was the idea of Kingsley Fairbridge, an African colonists son who, lamenting the unrealised potential of Rhodesian farmland for want of white settlers, advocated collecting poor children in England and distributing them around the British Empire. Anthem boycott The Fellowship of Australian Composers has boycotted the Federal Governments quest for a national anthem. The executive committee of the fellowship, whose 500 members make up almost all of Australias professional composers, has described the terms of entry as totally unacceptable. The president, Mr Eric Gross, said they contravened copyright laws. Instead of a first prize of $5,000, royalties should be paid which would amount to about $100,000. Golf, bowls for train trip Passengers on the Indian - Pacific train which runs between Sydney and Perth may soon be able to take golf and bowls lessons to help pass the time. This is part of a new program of activities planned by the Commonwealth Railways to relieve the monotony of the 65-hour, 2.461-mile trip. Passengers will also be offered wine and beer tastings, cheese samplings, concerts, singalongs and television programs from video tape. The trial starts next month. $1m for Botany Bay area Firefighters and police are working to determine the cause of a major building fire that brought Sydneys inner city to a standstill on Thursday afternoon. More than 100 firefighters worked to contain the fire, which broke out at the vacant building on 11 Randle Street near Central Station about 4pm. The fire was given a 10th alarm status, the most severe type of fire. Explosions could be heard as the blaze engulfed the site. A huge fireball could be seen just moments before a major wall section exploded outwards, showering the street in bricks, concrete and other debris. As the firefighting effort unfolded, helicopter footage showed fire crews spraying a building across the road, which appeared to be smouldering, and extinguishing patio furniture which had become engulfed in flames on another adjacent rooftop. Police will be equipped with eight more heavy-duty armoured vehicles as part of a $6.2 million investment amid what has been labelled a distressing increase in attacks on officers across Queensland. Treasurer Cameron Dick made the announcement for the budget a day after a man was charged with attempted murder over an alleged incident involving officers near Toowoomba. Two officers at Meringandan tried to stop the driver of a stolen truck and alleged that when they opened the door to the truck the driver accelerated, trapping officers between the truck and a police car before they were thrown across the bonnet and onto the road. I think its distressing were seeing those increased attacks on police, Police Minister Mark Ryan told reporters. The judgment in decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smiths defamation case will be delivered next week, following a multimillion-dollar court battle billed as a test of public interest journalism and a quasi war crimes investigation. The decision has been 10 months in the making. Justice Anthony Besanko concluded public hearings in the case against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times on July 27 last year, after 110 days, 41 witnesses and more than $25 million in legal costs. Besanko will deliver his judgment in Sydney on Thursday, June 1, at 2.15pm. Justice Anthony Besanko is set to deliver his judgment in the long-running Ben Roberts-Smith litigation. Credit: Nine James Chessell, Nines managing director of publishing, said: This story is one of the most significant weve ever covered. AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, May 25. The 2nd International Conference on humanitarian mine action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been held in Azerbaijan's Aghdam, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The conference was held at the Aghdam Conference Center with the joint organization of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the UN. The main purpose of the event, which is a continuation of the International Conference on humanitarian mine action and the SDGs, held on from March 30 through April 1, 2022, is to bring to the attention of the international community and parties interested in combating the mine threat consequences faced by the country. Moreover, taking into account the global nature of the problem, the conference is designed to present national and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on humanitarian de-mining, strengthening joint partnership and support in this direction. The conference was attended by about 160 representatives from 51 countries, including former heads of state and government, members of parliaments of several countries, the UN headquarters senior staff, representatives of reputable international organizations, institutions working in the field of mine clearance, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country. The conference participants first got acquainted with the exhibition organized at the Aghdam Conference Center. Also, a car, that was blown up by a mine on April 28, 2023 in the direction of of the village of Tapgaragoyunlu of Tartar district, was shown at the exhibition. The mentioned explosion took the lives of several people. The owner of a Hepburn Airbnb property, who pleaded guilty last year to harassing a former guest after she rated his luxury accommodation as Just OK is demanding internet giants Google and TripAdvisor identify several other guests who left allegedly defamatory reviews. David Penman, the owner of Clifftop at Hepburn, has launched Federal Court action to compel the owners of the popular review websites to hand over subscriber information for accounts associated with the defamatory posts allegedly made about him or his business. David Penman. Credit: Simon Schluter Clifftop at Hepburn claims on its website to have been crowned No.1 from 55,000 rental homes, but alleges in court documents to have been the subject of a series of defamatory reviews, often made anonymously by guests. Penmans company is also asking for Google and TripAdvisor to release the names, phone numbers, email addresses and metadata associated with the accounts, along with internet protocol addresses, according to legal documents filed in the Federal Court. A Point Cook couple has faced court accused of keeping a slave in a western suburbs home after medical staff contacted police with concerns a woman may have been a victim of human trafficking. Angie Yeh Ling Liaw, 29, and Chee Kit Chong, 44 also known as Max Chong faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with three slavery-related offences. A court sketch of the two people who faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday on slavery charges: Chee Kit Chong (left) and Angie Yeh Ling Liaw. Credit: Nine News They include allegations the married couple possessed a slave and used coercion and threats to control the female at their home in Melbournes west. Liaws lawyer Payne Wu asked magistrate Andrew McKenna to adjourn the matter to a hearing next month as his legal firm was working to determine whether it could represent both husband and wife, or whether conflicts of interest may arise. The public school teachers union has accused the Andrews government of cutting funding to state schools amid a teaching crisis that is causing havoc in classrooms. Despite an increase in overall expenditure, high inflation and student population growth have combined to deliver state schools an effective funding cut this year, according to a state budget analysis by the Australian Education Union (AEU). State school students will suffer an effective 2.7 per cent cut to funding in this weeks state budget, Australian Education Union analysis has found. Credit: Ben Symons The union argues that students in the public system are being denied a high-quality education. But the Andrews government defended its record on public education, arguing it had invested $27.1 billion since coming to power and increased recurrent expenditure by more than any other state or territory. Victorian construction union boss John Setka has been interviewed by police over an alleged sexual assault in March. He voluntarily attended Footscray police station with his lawyer Bernie Balmer on Thursday, where he was questioned by detectives and agreed to provide a DNA sample. The Victorian CFMEU boss John Setka. Credit: Chris Hopkins The Victorian secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union emphatically denied the allegations when contacted by this masthead. I categorically deny this, he said. There has been no sexual assault. Its a crock of shit, and the sad thing is that people have to stoop to this level to make allegations like that. To me, its just disgusting. Two MPs have made complaints to the Speaker of the House of Representatives about vicious attacks on first-term Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather amid a stalemate in parliament over an Albanese government policy to boost affordable housing. Independent Helen Haines and the Liberal National Partys Michelle Landry have spoken to Speaker Milton Dick to raise concerns about Labor MPs allegedly personally abusing the Greens housing and homelessness spokesman in parliament. Independent MP Helen Haines (left) and the LNPs Michelle Landry (right) have spoken to the Speaker about Labor MPs allegedly abusing the Greens Max Chandler-Mather in parliament. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen/Rhett Wyman Haines, who spoke to Dick months ago, and Landry, who made her complaint this month, did so independently and without being asked by the member for Griffith, who said Labor knew its housing policies were indefensible so they resort to personal attacks. Labor MPs should reflect on why they get so angry at a young renter for suggesting that the millions of people doing it tough deserve more than crumbs, while multinational corporations make billions in record profits, Chandler-Mather said. At the end of the day, Im not particularly bothered [by the attacks]. A budget estimates hearing over the operator of the Perth Mint has descended into chaos with the meetings chair Margaret Quirk asking opposition leader Shane Love whether he was slow. In the final five minutes of Thursdays Gold Corporation hearing Love continuously fired questions at Mining Minister Bill Johnston about the status of the ongoing AUSTRAC audit into the mints anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing compliance. Insulting words: Opposition leader Shane Love (left) and Labor MP Margaret Quirk. Credit: Holly Thompson and Supplied Johnston said he did not know where the AUSTRAC inquiry was at, and even if he did know it would be against the estimates hearing standing orders for him to answer the questions because it was a Commonwealth agency and not under his ministerial purview. Johnston blamed the Barnett government, of which Love was a part, for the issues facing the mint. The former chief executive of Google has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to harm or kill many, many people in the near future. Eric Schmidt said that he was concerned about the existential risk of the rapidly evolving technology and warned that it would be difficult to contain. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says artificial intelligence poses an existential risk to humanity. Credit: Bloomberg My concern with AI is actually existential, and existential risk is defined as many, many, many, many people harmed or killed. And there are scenarios not today but reasonably soon, where these systems will be able to find zero-day exploits, cyber issues or discover new kinds of biology, Schmidt told the Wall Street Journal CEO Council conference in London. This is fiction today but the reasoning is likely to be true. And when that happens we want to be ready to know how to make sure these things are not misused by evil people. Kuala Lumpur: Multiple raids on Swatch stores in Malaysia over their sale of Pride-themed rainbow watches has sparked a furious response from the watchmaker and raised renewed doubts about the commitment of the nations six-month old coalition government to LGBTQ rights. The Swiss-based firm blasted the move in an earlier statement after officials from the Home Affairs Ministry confiscated more than 100 watches from its Pride Collection a series of timepieces with wristbands in the colours of the rainbow at various shopping centres across the country on May 13 and 14. Numerous Swatch stores in Malaysia were raided for displaying its Pride Collection. Credit: Swatch Malaysia We strongly contest that our collection of watches using rainbow colours and having a message of peace and love could be harmful for whomever, said Swatchs chief executive officer Nick Hayek. He said the watches were nothing political and questioned how the countrys authorities will confiscate the many beautiful natural rainbows that are showing up thousand of times a year in the sky of Malaysia. Tony Abbott has criticised the Albanese government for not delivering new military aid to Ukraine and failing to reinstate Australias ambassador in Kyiv. The former prime minister was regularly applauded as he addressed the Kyiv Security Forum in Ukraine on Thursday. Former prime minister Tony Abbott in Kyiv, Ukraine, to address the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday. Credit: Indychii Oleksandr He is the first of Australias former prime ministers to visit the city since Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of the country began in February last year. The first round of applause came after he detailed the rigorous travel schedule involved to speak in Kyiv that included a 24-hour flight, a six-hour drive and a 12-hour train ride and said hed gladly do it all again and again to salute the Ukrainian heroes on the frontline of freedom. ~Treaty signing and road closures are to happen Friday~ PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Honorable Mrs. Silveria Jacobs hosted her monthly bilateral meeting on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Prime Minister Jacobs, supported by her staff from the Directorate of Foreign Relations, hosted a meeting with representatives from the Collectivite of Saint-Martin and the Republic of France. President of the Collectivite of Saint-Martin, Mr. Louis Mussington, Prefet of Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin, Mr. Vincent Berton, and the French Ambassador for Regional Cooperation, H.E. Roland Dubertrand were invited to review and coordinate topics, including cooperation on education and internal security, that will be discussed during the Quadripartite meeting which will be held between Sint Maarten, Saint-Martin, the Netherlands and France on June 15, 2023, in the Hague, the Netherlands. On the agenda of the meeting was the signing of the border delimitation treaty between both sides of the island and the upcoming Quadripartite meeting between Sint Maarten, Saint-Martin, France, and the Netherlands scheduled for June 15th in The Hague. This is the first time since 2019 that the Quadripartite meeting between the four parties will be held. These regular dialogues between Sint Maarten, Saint-Martin, and France are essential to achieve the communal goals that are desired for the people on both sides of St. Martin. The opportunity to resume the formal Quadripartite discussions has been made possible as all parties concerned have also recently finalized technical negotiations on the demarcation of the border. This agreement includes the establishment of a joint cross-border committee that will ensure the necessary follow-up is given for the agreement's execution. As stated in the press conference, chaired by Prime Minister Jacobs on May 9, 2023, this agreement will be signed on Friday, May 26, on St. Martin. The Minister of the Interior of France, Mr. Darmanin, and the Minister of Overseas of France, Mr. Carenco, will be present in St. Martin to represent the Republic of France together with President Mussington and Prefet Berton. Prime Minister Jacobs will be representing Sint Maarten and the Kingdom of the Netherlands during this historical moment which will be held at the border monument between Belvedere and Belle Plaine. Due to the signing, the road will be closed to traffic from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. Traffic will be diverted as follows: Belvedere (McDonalds) Roundabout-Bishop Hill-Oyster Pond-Coralita-French Quarter. Resolving the border dispute has reopened discussions between both sides and the respective states on cooperation and the second agenda point focused on convening of the Quadripartite meeting. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will host the 5th Quadripartite meeting, the first since the last was held in Paris in 2019. The Prime Minister thanked her French counterparts for the continued good cooperation between both sides of the island. I apologize in advance for those who would be inconvenienced and appreciate the populations understanding as we mark this historic event, said Prime Minister Jacobs. First version published at 12:40 AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, May 25. The 2nd International Conference on humanitarian mine action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has started in Azerbaijan's Aghdam, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The conference is held at the Aghdam Conference Center with the joint organization of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the UN. The main purpose of the event, which is a continuation of the International Conference on humanitarian mine action and the SDGs, held on from March 30 through April 1, 2022, is to bring to the attention of the international community and parties interested in combating the mine threat consequences faced by the country. Moreover, taking into account the global nature of the problem, the conference is designed to present national and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on humanitarian de-mining, strengthening joint partnership and support in this direction. The conference is attended by about 160 representatives from 51 countries, including former heads of state and government, members of parliaments of several countries, the UN headquarters senior staff, representatives of reputable international organizations, institutions working in the field of mine clearance, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country. The conference participants first got acquainted with the exhibition organized at the Aghdam Conference Center. Also, a car, that was blown up by a mine on April 28, 2023 in the direction of of the village of Tapgaragoyunlu of Tartar district, was shown at the exhibition. The mentioned explosion took the lives of several people. PHILIPSBURG:--- Adequate and affordable housing for the residents of St. Martin is an urgent matter requiring immediate attention to ensure the populations safety in the face of climate change. Through the Island(er)s at the Helm research program and in collaboration with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the Royal Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV-Leiden), the University of St. Martin (USM) is looking into the challenges and opportunities related to designing safe housing, especially for low-income households. Social housing is in short supply, requirements can be overwhelming, and often they do not meet the populations needs. Consequently, many people on the island are left without access to adequate housing, which is considered to be a human right. As a result, some residents had(?) no choice but to build their own homes. They built the units mostly on undesired plots, such as hillsides that were left vacant for a long time, or even in their backyards to rent them for much-needed income. Although the conditions of self-built housing are far from ideal, they are often the only housing option for those with little income and who find themselves barred from social housing. To gain a better understanding of how hurricane and climate-proof homes should be designed, USM is hosting architect and doctoral researcher Ms. Aga Kus of TU Delft, who began interviewing residents earlier this month. Working with two local bilingual research assistants, Kus is set to gather data on different types of housing construction including traditional jollification, formal contracting, and informal settlements on Pond Island, Dutch Quarter, Belvedere, Cole Bay, and Philipsburg. By documenting testimonies from before and after hurricanes Louis (1995) and Irma (2017), Kus hopes to identify practices that can inform designers and policymakers on the needs and concerns of local inhabitants. Research Assistants are Kimberly Watamalejo and USM student Marlenny Richardson. While repair and rebuilding support has been provided to some inhabitants(?), those who did receive the assistance have taken the challenge of fixing their properties upon themselves. However, concerns regarding the safety of these units are rising, especially with the upcoming hurricane season. Architects, builders, and researchers have acknowledged the urgency of the problem. Yet, despite their efforts, many inhabitants of the islands still lack access to appropriate housing. Ms. Kus research aims to enhance the safety and affordability of housing by studying conventional building traditions and self-built housing practices to enhance material circulation and collective design for future housing proposals. The challenge of providing housing on the Islands is increasing due to population growth and rising prices, and then exacerbated by natural hazards caused by climate change, Kus was quoted saying in a USM press release. However, self-built housing units offer valuable insights for housing design on the Island. These units are developed gradually, making them affordable and functional, which is lacking in many social housing projects around the world. Additionally, some low-income residents build their houses collectively through jollification, decreasing costs and strengthening community bonds. Moreover, inhabitants often circulate materials by reuse or repurposing, which reduces environmental impacts. These qualities could serve as guidelines for designing houses in the future, she stated. Adhering to USM research protocol, which promotes social research on both sides of the island, Kus took a peek at a self-built housing development in the French Quarter by interviewing senior women who actually participated in the physical construction of their homes. These recalled the days of outhouses, and the introduction of concrete blocks as a common building. material and the opening and closing of hardware stores across the border, where wood and zinc could be purchased. Additionally, Kus visited traditional wooden homes which survived hurricanes. If the gale does not stop at the border, neither does the sharing of knowledge practices, and experiences among the people of St. Martin, especially now when facing climate change challenges. The same goes for ethnic diversity. Many migrant residents are newcomers to the island, and they bring with them building strategies from all over the Caribbean, said USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Baez who accompanied Kus in some of the interviews, serving as an interpreter for Spanish speakers. We are happy with Ms. Kus presence at USM and the respect she has demonstrated to the island and its people. She is an ethical researcher who is working with the local population and local experts in developing bottom-up solutions, Carmona concluded. Tarachi Gold closes sale of Magistral Project Tarachi Gold Corp. (CSE: TRG) (OTCQB: TRGGF) (Frankfurt: 4RZ) (aTarachia or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/tarachi-gold-corp/ ) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated May 3, 2023, it has closed the transaction with CompaAia Minera de Atocha S.A. de C.V. (aAtochaa) for the sale of the Companya?s Magistral Project (the aMagistral Projecta). Pursuant to the Agreement, Tarachi expects to receive cash payments totaling US$5,700,000 (approximately C$7.6 million) from Atocha, of which US$3,050,000 has already been received by Tarachi. The outstanding balance is expected to be paid as: US$500,000 in the escrow account will be released to Tarachi when Atocha concludes negotiations with the Ejido Magistral, or after 12 months, whichever occurs first. US$500,000 will be paid to Tarachi by November 19, 2023, less any contingency costs, if any, that arise after closing that were incurred by Tarachi but not identified during due diligence. US$500,000 will be paid to Tarachi when 50% of the tailings located on the Magistral Project (the aMagistral Tailingsa) have been mined, sold and/or processed or after the first complete calendar year of operation at the Magistral Project, whichever occurs first. US$500,000 will be paid to Tarachi when 100% of the Magistral Tailings have been mined, sold and/or processed or after the second complete calendar year of operation at the Magistral Project, whichever occurs first. The amount of value-added tax currently owing as that tax benefit is realized by Atocha during operations and product sales from the Magistral Project will be paid to Tarachi, estimated to total approximately US$650,000. Tarachi anticipates the tax benefit will be realized by Atocha and paid to Tarachi within the first year of commercial operations at the Magistral Project. New CFO The Company would also like to announce that, effective May 20th, Mahesh Liyanage has resigned as Tarachia?s Chief Financial Officer but will remain an advisor to the Company. Effective immediately Thy Truong will assume the role as CFO for the Tarachi. Thy Truong, a Chartered Professional Accountant, brings more than a decade of extensive experience in accounting and tax across diverse industries. Prior to joining Tarachi Gold Corp. as CFO, Thy was the Corporate Controller for several companies in the Inventa Capital Group of companies, leading and developing teams in areas of financial reporting, corporate accounting, and financial systems. Thy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Vancouver. About Tarachi Gold Corp. Tarachi is a Canadian-listed junior gold exploration company focused on exploring and developing projects in Mexico. Contact Information: For more information and to sign-up to the mailing list, please contact: Cameron Tymstra, CEO Email: cameron@tarachigold.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain aForward?Looking Statementsa within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and aforward?looking informationa under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words aanticipatea, awilla, abelievea, aestimatea, aexpecta, ahopea, atargeta, aplana, aforecasta, amaya, awoulda, acoulda, aschedulea, apotentiala and similar words or expressions, identify forward?looking statements or information. These forward?looking statements or information relate to, among other things: completion of the Transaction; receipt by Tarachi of all amounts owed to it pursuant to the Agreement; the actual amount of tax benefits payable to Tarachi; and payment by Tarachi to Manto of amounts owed to Manto. Forward?looking statements and forward?looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, timing of completion of reports and studies, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Tarachi, future growth potential for Tarachi and its business, and future exploration plans are based on managementa?s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on managementa?s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Tarachia?s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect Tarachia?s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward?looking statements or forward-looking information and Tarachi has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company\-s dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company\-s mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company\-s management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company\-s inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine; the Company\-s interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company\-s ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption aRisk Factorsa in Tarachi\-s management discussion and analysis and other public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward?looking statements or forward-looking information. Although Tarachi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Tarachi does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward?looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Skeena Resources Closes C$73.5 Million Bought Deal Financing Skeena Resources Limited (TSX: SKE, NYSE: SKE) (aSkeenaa or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/skeena-resources-ltd/ ) today announced the closing of the previously announced bought deal offering of 10,005,000 common shares of the Company (the aCommon Sharesa) at a price of C$7.35 per Common Share (the \Offering Price\) for gross proceeds of C$73,536,750 (the \Offering\), and which includes the exercise in full by the underwriters of their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,305,000 Common Shares at the Offering Price. Randy Reichert, Skeenaa?s President & CEO commented aWe are very pleased to have successfully closed this C$73.5 million financing. These funds strongly position Skeena with the proceeds being used to complete key development milestones at the Eskay Creek Project including an on-site assay lab, earthworks and detailed engineering. We look forward to the work planned this summer as it represents a significant step in the advancement of Eskay Creek toward production.a The Common Shares are offered by way of a prospectus supplement to the Companya?s base shelf prospectus in all of the provinces of Canada, except the province of QuAbec, and by way of private placement in the United States. BMO Capital Markets acted as sole bookrunner for the Offering, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters which includes CIBC World Markets Inc., Raymond James Ltd., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., Clarus Securities Inc. and SCP Resource Finance LP (collectively, the \Underwriters\). The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for the continued advancement of the Companya?s Eskay Creek gold-silver project and for general corporate purposes. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any province, state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such province, state or jurisdiction. About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a Feasibility Study for Eskay Creek in September 2022 which highlights an after-tax NPV5% of C$1.4B, 50% IRR, and a 1-year payback at US$1,700/oz Au and US$19/oz Ag. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited, A Walter ColesA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Randy Reichert Executive ChairmanA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A President & CEO Contact Information Investor Inquiries: info@skeenaresources.com Office Phone: +1 604 684 8725 In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Qualified Persons In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration & Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated, and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting the exploration activities on its projects. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release constitute aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, aforward-looking statementsa). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as aanticipatesa, abelievesa, aproposesa, acontemplatesa, ageneratesa, atargetsa, ais projecteda, ais planneda, aconsidersa, aestimatesa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, apotentiala and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, amighta, awilla, acoulda, or awoulda be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Companya?s Annual Information Form (aAIFa) dated March 22, 2023. Such forward-looking statements represent the Companya?s management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 22, 2023, the Companya?s short form base shelf prospectus dated January 31, 2023, and in the Companya?s other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and the Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Consolidated Uranium Announces Proposed Spin-Out of Premier American Uranium Inc., Creating a New Pure-Play U.S. Uranium Company Consolidated Uranium Inc. (aCURa, the aCompanya or aConsolidated Uraniuma https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/consolidated-uranium-inc/) (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX: CURUF) is pleased to announce the creation and planned spin-out (the aSpin-Outa) of Premier American Uranium Inc. (aPURa), currently a majority-controlled subsidiary of CUR focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium projects in Wyoming and Colorado. (Figure 1). On May 24, 2023, the Company entered into an arrangement agreement with PUR (the aArrangement Agreementa), pursuant to which among other things the Company has agreed to transfer ownership of certain indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries which hold eight U.S. Department of Energy (aDOEa) leases and certain patented claims located in Colorado (the aCUR Assetsa) to PUR in exchange for 7,753,752 Class A common shares of PUR (aPUR Sharesa), a portion of which will be distributed to the Companya?s shareholders on a pro rata basis (the aArrangementa). PUR intends to apply to list the PUR Shares (the aTSXV Listinga) on the TSX Venture Exchange (the aTSXVa). The TSXV Listing will be subject to PUR fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSXV. In addition, CUR and PUR have entered into a purchase agreement (the aPremier Agreementa) with, among others, Premier Uranium Inc. (aPremiera), a privately held U.S. uranium focused project acquisition vehicle which owns a 100% interest in the Cyclone project in the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming (the aCyclone Projecta) and various mining claims in the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado (collectively, the aPremier Assetsa), pursuant to which PUR has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Premier. Separately, PUR has also staked 368 unpatented mining claims, covering approximately 6,940 acres in key areas of the Uravan Mineral Belt. To view a summary of todaya?s news delivered by Philip Williams, Chairman and CEO of CUR, and Tim Rotolo, Chief Executive Officer of Premier and planned Chief Executive Officer of PUR, click here. Transaction Highlights: a Stable, Long-term Shareholder Base Ahead of Public Market Listing a Backed by Sachem Cove Partners, CUR and with additional institutional investor support, PUR is working toward a public listing on the TSXV. a Extensive Land Holdings in Two Prominent Uranium-Producing Regions in the U.S. a PUR plans to explore and develop its large land position in the Great Divide Base of Wyoming and the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado. a Rich History of Past Production and Historic Uranium Mineral Resources with Strong Discovery Potential a o The Cyclone Project, in Wyoming is an In Situ Recovery (aISRa) project comprised of ~25,500 acres with past work supporting an exploration target with a range of 6.5 million short tons averaging 0.06% U3O8 (7.9 million lbs. U3O8) to 10.5 million short tons averaging 0.06% U3O8 (12.6 million lbs. U3O8).1 See below for additional details. o The Colorado projects include multiple past producing mines with historic uranium mineral resources and exploration potential. a Well-Timed Opportunity with Strong Market Fundamentals and Need for U.S. Domestic Supply a Uranium fundamentals are the strongest in a decade with a large supply deficit as forecasted by industry and financial analysts. Security of supply following the Russian invasion of Ukraine is driving long-term contracting, a key feature leading up to the previous uranium price rally in 2005 to 2007. PUR presents an attractive opportunity to participate in the anticipated resurgence and advancement of the U.S. uranium industry. a Unparalleled Experience in the U.S. Uranium Sector across the Team, Led by Disciplined Capital Allocators a PUR will be led by Tim Rotolo, co-founder of Sachem Cove Partners and Founder of Lloyd Harbor Capital Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Together, the PUR board of directors, management and technical team will have deep technical, operational, and permitting expertise in the U.S. with a track record of financing and advancing uranium companies and significant institutional investment experience in the uranium sector. a Initiating Work Programs to Advance Portfolio in 2023 a o Cyclone Project Exploration a Airborne radiometric survey completed in Q4 2022 in preparation for exploration and permitting activities planned for the remainder of 2023 and subsequent drilling expected in 2024. o Uravan Mineral Belt Exploration a ? Monogram Mesa a Full data review for aon trenda exploration targets with subsequent drilling. ? Atkinson Mesa a Historical data review in preparation for planned drilling program to delineate the extent of mineralization in the central and northern parts of the properties. o Additionally, PUR intends to look to further increase its land position both in Wyoming and the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado. Philip Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CUR, commented aWe are very excited to announce the spin-off of PUR, in partnership with Sachem Cove. At CUR, our focus in the U.S. has been squarely on readying our past-producing Tony M, Daneros and Rim mines in Utah for production once market conditions warrant. This inherently meant our Colorado DOE leases, with a history of production and strong exploration potential, have received little attention. At the same time, in Premier, Tim and Sachem Cove have assembled a portfolio of projects in Colorado, which complement ours, as well as a compelling land package in the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming with large-scale ISR potential. CURa?s strategy has been to realize value in our portfolio, either directly by advancing projects to production, or through spinouts/divestures where a compelling strategic rationale could be identified, similar to our Labrador Uranium transaction last year. In PUR, we are convinced that this is a case where one plus one could equal much more than two and we believe CUR shareholders will be the ultimate beneficiaries when we complete the planned TSXV listing and direct distribution of PUR Shares in the coming months.a Tim Rotolo, Chief Executive Officer of Premier and planned Chief Executive Officer of PUR commented, aThe U.S. was once the global leader in uranium production at over 40 million pounds per year, enough uranium to supply nearly its entire nuclear fleet the largest in the world and provider of 20% of U.S. electricity. Today, the U.S. produces almost none of its own domestically consumed uranium as U.S. utilities have turned to buying nearly half of their uranium needs from former Soviet states Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. We believe we are on the precipice of a resurgence in domestic production. For the first time in decades, a large supply deficit, which may push uranium prices higher, has converged with a global nuclear renaissance and newfound bi-partisan political support to safeguard our domestic nuclear fleet from geopolitical risk of a former Soviet-bloc dominated nuclear fuel cycle. In respect of this, we started Premier to capitalize on the U.S. uranium resurgence, accumulating projects and waiting for the right time to bring them to market. That time is now, and our partnership with CUR whose projects are complementary, sets up an exciting and well-timed launch for PUR.a The Arrangement Agreement Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, among other things, CUR has agreed to transfer certain indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries which hold the CUR Assets to PUR in exchange for 7,753,752 PUR Shares. Under the terms of the Arrangement, CUR intends to distribute 50% of the PUR Shares it receives to its shareholders on a pro-rata basis based on the number of CUR Shares held at the effective date of the Arrangement. There will be no change in CUR shareholdersa? proportionate ownership in CUR as a result of the Arrangement. In addition, holders of options and warrants of CUR as of the effective date of the Arrangement will have such securities adjusted in accordance with their terms as a result of the Arrangement. The Arrangement will be effected by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). The Arrangement will be subject to regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSXV for the Arrangement and the TSXV Listing, court approval, as well as approval by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at the annual general and special meeting (the aMeetinga) of the CUR shareholders, anticipated to be held in the third quarter of 2023. Full details of the Arrangement will be included in the management information circular to be sent to CUR shareholders in connection with the Meeting. It is anticipated that the Arrangement and the TSXV Listing will be completed in the third quarter of 2023. The Premier Agreement On May 24, 2023, the Company and Premier entered into the Premier Agreement with PUR, among others, pursuant to which PUR has agreed to acquire all the outstanding shares of Premier in exchange for 12,000 Class B common shares of PUR (aCompressed Sharesa). Each Compressed Share carries the right to 1,000 votes per share and is convertible into 1,000 PUR Shares, with each PUR Share carrying the right to one vote per share. Completion of the Premier Transaction is subject to certain closing conditions including, among other things, completion of the Arrangement and the conditional approval of the TSXV for the TSXV Listing. About PUR Proposed Management and Board of Directors a Tim Rotolo, Chief Executive Officer o 15+ years as an investment professional with background in fund management. o Co-founder of Sachem Cove Partners and Founder of Lloyd Harbor Capital Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. o Founder of North Shore Indices, Inc., which launched URNM, a uranium mining ETF in 2019 and raised over $1 Billion before selling to NYSE listed, Sprott Asset Management. a Greg Duras, Chief Financial Officer o 25+ years in the resource sector in corporate development, financial management and cost control. a Marty Tunney, Chairman o Mining engineer with significant technical and capital markets experience. o Current President and Chief Operating Officer of CUR. a Michael Harrison, Director o 25+ years of executive, financial and technical experience in the mining industry. o Current Managing Partner at Sprott Inc. a Daniel Nauth, Director o Lawyer with a specialty in U.S.-Canada cross-border capital markets, M&A and corporate and securities transactions and regulatory compliance. Technical Advisors a Ted Wilton o 50+ years as a Senior Geologist in the mining industry, including 25+ in the uranium sector. o Involved in discovering 8 deposits containing more than 10 million ounces gold in the U.S. and Australia. a Mike Neumann o 40+ years in environmental and regulatory affairs, specialized in uranium mine permitting in the U.S. and Kazakhstan. o Gained regulatory approval for expansion of Daneros, compliance for Tony M, and Rim Mines in Utah. a Tyler Johnson o 14+ years formerly with Denison and Energy Fuels Inc. o Geologist specializing in exploration, mine development, and resource estimation on uranium and vanadium projects. The Projects Wyoming a Great Divide Basin Wyoming is one of the leading jurisdictions for U.S. uranium production and produced approximately 230 million lbs of U3O8 since the first discovery in the 1950s.1 The State ranked 11th of 84 jurisdictions in the Public Policy Perception Index of the Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2021.2 The Great Divide Basin is also one of the least exploited of the Wyoming Basins known to contain significant deposits of uranium, including the Crooks Gap mining district, Sweetwater deposit, Lost Creek ISR mine. Nearby property owners include Uranium Energy Corp. and UR-Energy Inc.1 1 Source: Wyoming State Geological Survey; Critical Minerals in Wyoming; https;//www.wsgs.wyo.gov/minerals/critical-minerals.aspx 2 Source: www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2021.pdf Cyclone Project The Cyclone Project is located approximately 45 miles northwest of Rawlins, Wyoming and 15 miles from the Sweetwater Uranium Mill. The project covers 25,500 acres comprising: 1,061 claims totaling 21,220 acres and 7 state leases covering 4,280 acres. The uranium deposits in the basin are hosted in flat-lying sandstones of the Battle Spring Formation, with a widespread alteration of host sandstones and numerous roll-front uranium deposits associated with altered rocks. Exploration potential remains high on the project with drilling required to follow up on historic work and delineate mineralized zones. Previous exploration on the project includes ~80 holes drilled during 2007-2008, with mineralization showing typical grades and thicknesses to uranium deposits found elsewhere in the Great Divide Basin. Intersections from exploration on the Rim Target include hole UT-8 which intersected 8.0 ft. averaging 0.092% eU308 (0.02% cut-off) or 5.5 ft. @ 0.121% eU308 at 200 feet from the surface and hole UT-44 which intersected 7.5 ft. averaging 0.081% eU3O8 (0.02% cut-off grade) or 5.5 ft. averaging 0.104% eU308 at a 0.05% cut-off grade. Sufficient historical exploration data is available for the North and East claim blocks to define an exploration target, which shows a range of 6.5 million short tons averaging 0.06% U3O8 (7.9 million lbs. U3O8) to 10.5 million short tons averaging 0.06% U3O8 (12.6 million lbs. U3O8). The potential quantity and grade of this exploration target is conceptual in nature and based on the geologic interpretation that mineralization is roll-front sandstone a type mineralization, and that mineralization is present as indicated by airborne radiometric anomalies, indications of the presence of oxidation reduction interfaces with associated uranium mineralization as depicted in available historic drill data. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if a mineral resource will be delineated. For the definition of the exploration target, the following criteria based on direct knowledge and experience in the area and similar sandstone hosted uranium deposits in the Great Divide Basin and other areas of Wyoming was used: (i) a minimum cut-off grade of 0.02% U3O8 and a grade thickness product (GT) of 0.10, (ii) a radiometric disequilibrium factor of 1, and (iii) a bulk density of 16 cubic feet per ton. A detailed review of the historical drill data is planned with permitting underway in preparation for drilling in 2024. Colorado a Uravan Mineral Belt The Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado has a rich history of uranium exploration and production and produced nearly 80 million lbs of U3O8 and more than 400 million lbs of V2O5 since 1945.3 Colorado ranked 5th of 62 jurisdictions in the Investment Attractiveness Index of the Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2022.4 PURa?s projects in Colorado are in the heart of the Uravan Mineral Belt, in proximity to significant infrastructure. Mineralization is hosted in the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation.A 3 Source: Chenoweth, William L., 1981, \The Uranium-Vanadium Deposits of the Uravan Mineral Belt and Adjacent Areas, Colorado and Utah. In New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 32, Western Slope, Colorado\ and Goodnight, Craig S., William L. Chenoweth, Richard D. Davyault and Edward T. Cotter, 2005: \Geologic Road Log for Uravan Mineral Belt Field Trip, West-Central, Colorado\ Rocky Mountain Section of the Geologic Society of America. 4 Source: www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2022.pdf Monogram Mesa The Monogram Mesa project covers approximately 7,431 acres and consists of 361 mining claims. The property includes multiple historic mines on the northeast and the West (Bull Canyon) sides of Monogram Mesa. The historic mines are generally stable and dry, with numerous mineralized zones exposed. The property is strategically located within several miles of a paved highway with mine roads and power lines crossing the property. Historical drilling data indicates presence of numerous exploration targets. An exploration drilling program to confirm and potentially expand currently known mineralization is planned with the potential to acquire surrounding properties, further consolidating the area. Atkinson Mesa Project The Atkinson Mesa project covers 5,863 acres, including 128 unpatented lode mining claims, 4 DOE leases. The project also includes approximately 2,702 acres, and 18 patented (fee simple) mining claims spanning 360 acres. Several past producing mines are present on the property, including the King Solomon mine, a large-scale underground mine that was one of the most significant uranium producers in the entire Uravan Mineral Belt.5 The property is situated within one of the most substantial uranium-vanadium production areas within the entire Uravan Mineral Belt.5 5 Source: Goodnight, Craig S., William L. Chenoweth, Rochard D. Davyault and Edward T. Cotter, 2005; Geologic Road Log for Uravan Mineral Belt Field Trip, West-Central Colorado; Rocky Mountain Section of the Geological Society of America. Outlaw Mesa & Slick Rock Projects The Outlaw Mesa and Slick Rock projects are located at the northern and southern ends of the Uravan Mineral Belt, respectively. Outlaw Mesa covers 5,759 acres with 2 DOE leases and Slick Rock covers 1,226 acres with 2 DOE leases. Both projects include historic production from multiple mines, including the well-known Spud Patch mines in the Slick Rock area and the Calamity Mesa mines in the Outlaw mesa-Calamity Mesa area. All leases contain uranium and vanadium mineralization. In January 2020, a new 10-year lease was signed with the DOE, providing long-term potential for the project. Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Dean T. Wilton: PG, CPG, MAIG, a consultant of CUR who is a aQualified Persona (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical drilling results. CUR has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. CUR considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company\-s current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through drilling. About Premier American Uranium Inc. Premier American Uranium Inc., a subsidiary of Consolidated Uranium Inc. (aTSXV:CURa), is focused on the consolidation, exploration, and development of uranium projects in the United States. One of PUR\-s key strengths lies in the agreements it has to acquire extensive land holdings in two prominent uraniumproducing regions in the United States: the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming and the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado. With a rich history of past production and historic uranium mineral resources, PUR is initiating work programs to advance its portfolio in 2023. Backed by Sachem Cove Partners, CUR, additional institutional investors, and an unparalleled team with U.S. uranium experience, PUR\-s entry into the market comes at a well-timed opportunity, as uranium fundamentals are currently the strongest they have been in a decade. PUR intends to apply to list its shares on the TSXV, cementing its position as a leading U.S. uranium player. Listing will be subject to PUR fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSXV. For more information, please visit www.premierur.com. About Consolidated Uranium Inc. Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX: CURUF) was created in early 2020 to capitalize on an anticipated uranium market resurgence using the proven model of diversified project consolidation. To date, Consolidated Uranium has acquired or has the right to acquire uranium projects in Australia, Canada, Argentina, and the United States each with significant past expenditures and attractive characteristics for development. Consolidated Uranium completed a transformational strategic acquisition and alliance with Energy Fuels Inc., a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company, and acquired a portfolio of permitted, past-producing conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah and Colorado. These mines are currently on stand-by, ready for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning Consolidated Uranium as a near-term uranium producer. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in 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 aforward-looking informationa within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. aForward-looking informationa includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and outcome of the Arrangement, the Premier acquisition and the Listing, including required shareholder, regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals; the anticipated timing of the Meeting; the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement; the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement and the Premier Agreement; the exploration activities anticipated for the remainder of 2023 and 2024; the anticipated management team and board of directors of PUR; the final approval of the Arrangement and Listing by the TSXV; anticipated strategic and growth opportunities; expectations regarding the U.S. uranium industry; any expectations with respect to defining mineral resources or mineral reserves on any of the projects and any expectation with respect to any permitting, development or other work that may be required to bring any of the projects into development or production and other activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will orA may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward- looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as aplansa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, abudgeta, ascheduleda, aestimatesa, aforecastsa, aintendsa, aanticipatesa, or abelievesa or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results amaya, acoulda, awoulda, amighta or awill be takena, aoccura or abe achieveda or the negative connotation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, completion of the Arrangement, the Listing and the Premier acquisition, including the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, court and shareholder approvals; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, the Listing and the Premier acquisition; that the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement will be realized; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Companya?s 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: the failure to obtain shareholder, regulatory, court or stock exchange approvals in connection with the Arrangement, the Listing and the Premier acquisition; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement or implement the business plan for PUR; the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; expectations regarding negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, reliance on key management and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approval and the risk factors with respect to Consolidated Uranium set out in Consolidated Uraniuma?s annual information form in respect of the year ended December 31, 2022 which has been filed with the Canadian securities regulators and is available under Consolidated Uraniuma?s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. An expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council has been held in Moscow, Trend reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event in the capacity of a guest. President of Russia Vladimir Putin opened the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Mentioning that the President of Azerbaijan participates in the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council as a guest, the Russian President said: - I am pleased to note that President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev is attending todays meeting for the first time as a guest. I would like to welcome him and the delegation of Azerbaijan. Then, heads of member countries attending the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council made their speeches. President of the observer country, Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev joined the meeting by a video link to deliver his speech followed by a video message by President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel. President of Russia Vladimir Putin said: I am pleased to give the floor to our guests. I am giving the floor to Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, who, I repeat, is attending an event of this kind for the first time. Ilham Heydarovich, you have the floor. Please. The head of state addressed the meeting. Speech by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich. Dear heads of state, dear participants of the meeting. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the President of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, for the invitation to take part in the summit of the EurAsEC member states as a guest. Azerbaijan's cooperation with EurAsEC member countries, with the exception of Armenia, has been successfully developing for 30 years. There are serious opportunities for the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the basis of mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Today, on the initiative of the Russian side, a trilateral meeting of the heads of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will take place. I would like to inform my colleagues that Azerbaijan's turnover with the EurAsEC countries increased by 31 percent last year and amounted to $4.7 billion. In January-April this year, the growth of mutual trade increased by another 38 percent. Last year, the share of EurAsEC member countries in Azerbaijan's foreign trade reached about 9 percent. We are seeing great potential for further growth in trade. Azerbaijan is located at the geographical crossroads of the East-West and North-South transport routes. The transport and logistical infrastructure of our country enables transportation in any direction. Azerbaijan with more than 50 ships has the largest trade fleet in the Caspian. The seaport of Alat, designed to transport 15 million tons of cargo, will be modernized in the near future and its cargo handling capacity will reach 25 million tons. This is particularly important given the fact that a large increase in cargo transportation through Azerbaijan has been observed recently. A modern shipbuilding yard has been operating in Baku for several years now. It can manufacture any type of ships, and I am pleased to announce that today Azerbaijans shipbuilding capabilities have also been made available to our neighbors in the Caspian Sea. Negotiations and extensive work are underway to place the orders of our neighbors in the Caspian Sea at the shipbuilding plant in Baku. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway provides access to Europe, as well as to the Mediterranean ports of Turkiye. Azerbaijan is an important participant in the North-South transport corridor project. We have also initiated the creation of the Zangezur corridor, which will not only connect the main part of the country with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic but will also become a part of international railway routes. There are eight international airports in Azerbaijan, two of which, located in Fuzuli and Zangilan, on the lands liberated from occupation, were built over the past two years. The ninth international airport is under construction in the liberated Lachin and will be put into operation in 2025. Our country has one of the largest air cargo fleets in the region with a cargo turnover of more than 500,000 tons per year. The Azerbaijani economy has been demonstrating stability and growth throughout almost the entire period of independence. We have achieved complete economic independence, which is an important factor in the possibility of pursuing an independent foreign policy, and we are successfully doing that. For about four years now, Azerbaijan has been successfully chairing the Non-Aligned Movement, which has 120 member countries and is the second largest international institution after the UN. The Azerbaijani economy is self-sufficient and does not need outside support. Over the past 20 years, the gross domestic product of our country has more than tripled. The poverty rate has been reduced from almost 50 to 5 percent. Our external debt is almost at less than 9 percent of the GDP and has been declining year on year. Azerbaijan's foreign exchange reserves exceed the external debt 10 times. Today, one of the key tasks we are facing is the diversification of our exports. As for the diversification of the economy, this issue is being resolved successfully. Most of the Azerbaijani economy is already forming in the non-resource sector. As for our exports, we still need to work hard to increase the exports of the non-primary sector. Although the unemployment rate is only at 5 percent, our demographic growth over the past 30 years, the population of Azerbaijan has grown from 7 to 10 million requires active efforts to create new jobs. Of course, we look forward to strengthening our interactions with EurAsEC member countries both in a bilateral format which we are successfully doing already and in a multilateral format. As already noted, this is the first time I am participating in the EurAsEC summit, although we meet with the heads of the EurAsEC member states regularly both within the framework of the CIS summits and in a bilateral format. So, even though I am participating for the first time as a guest, I am certainly not a guest here. Today we had the opportunity to talk, and our communication will be continued. In conclusion, I would like to once again express my gratitude to you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, for the invitation, and to all colleagues for supporting this invitation. Thank you. Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. Indeed, Azerbaijan's economic relations with our member countries in a bilateral format are constantly growing and are important for all of us both for Azerbaijan and for each member country of the organization Then, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon made an address via a video link. President Vladimir Putin: As I have already said, we are actively developing bilateral relations with Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. Therefore, joining in such a multilateral format, of course, will only be beneficial. Ultimately, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan will decide how deeply they would like to participate in the work of our organization. The same fully applies to Uzbekistan. Thank you very much, colleagues, for our joint work today and for your participation in this work. I would like to give the floor to the Chairman of the Commission of the Eurasian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: I am sorry, Vladimir Vladimirovich. May I? I have a small remark. President Vladimir Putin: Please. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: In his speech, the President of Azerbaijan used an expression that has been used in recent years as a title for putting forward territorial claims against Armenia. I want to note that this is being used as part of the implementation of paragraph 9 of the Trilateral Statement dated November 9, 2020. I would like to emphasize that this Statement refers to only one corridor, and that is the Lachin corridor. It was supposed to be under the control of Russian peacekeepers, but, unfortunately, it was illegally blocked by Azerbaijan. On the other hand, I want to confirm the readiness of the Republic of Armenia to unblock all transport and economic ties in the region and communications that pass through the territory of the Republic of Armenia we call it Armenian intersection. We are ready to open regional communications within the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass. I mean the transport and economic communications that are implied under paragraph 9 of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020 and the Trilateral Statement of January 11, 2021. Thank you. President Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. But what I heard from President Aliyev's speech is that he was just talking about the fact that conditions are being created in connection with the recognition of the corresponding borders confirmed by agreements, which have existed since 1991. These conditions give us a reason to believe that appropriate agreements can be reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including those on transport communications. I am very pleased to note that the Prime Minister of Armenia said that Armenia also thinks about this attitude, considers that it is possible and thinks positively. But I think we could discuss all this at a trilateral meeting today. I do hope that it will be possible to agree on what is, quite obviously, in the sphere of economic development interests for both Azerbaijan and Armenia and for the entire region. It seems to me that we will have time to discuss all this in a trilateral format in detail. President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, I do not want to open a debate, but since there has been an accusation that we have territorial claims against Armenia, I want to say that we have no such claims. You have to try very hard or have a wild imagination to see territorial claims in my words. As for the word corridor that I used, I used the same word for the North-South corridor, just as the same word is used for the East-West corridor. The word corridor is in no way an encroachment on someone's territory. This is an international term, and I think people who are familiar with international terminology would probably not attach the meaning that the Prime Minister of Armenia attaches to it today. As Vladimir Vladimirovich has noted, I believe that there are opportunities to reach a peace agreement, especially taking into account the fact that Armenia officially recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. Thank you. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: I am sorry, Vladimir Vladimirovich. I have to emphasize that everyone who is familiar with the text of the trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020 knows that there is only one use of the word corridor in that Statement. In this context, the word has a special meaning. It is about the Lachin corridor, which, I repeat, should be under the control of the Russian Federation as per the trilateral Statement, and provide a link between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. But, unfortunately, Azerbaijan has illegally blocked this corridor in the presence of Russian peacekeepers. On the other hand, I want to confirm that Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity. And on this basis, we can say that we are making pretty good progress. Regarding the settlement of our relations, I would like to point to a very important issue in this context - the issue of the rights and security of the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and within the framework of the international mechanism. I do hope that a normal and constructive dialogue will begin between Baku and Stepanakert soon. Thank you. President Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. President Ilham Aliyev: Vladimir Vladimirovich, excuse me, of course. But there was an accusation in the words of the Prime Minister of Armenia again. If you noticed, there were no accusations in my words during the speech or during the remarks. But I can't just leave that unanswered. I do understand that we are diverting the discussion in a slightly different direction, although I think that this is of interest to many. Please allow me to answer and say that Azerbaijan has not blocked any corridor. As for the Lachin-Khankendi road, it is open. On the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which you recognize, a border checkpoint has been set up in accordance with all international standards. This border checkpoint is located 20 meters from the post of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. And today, through this border checkpoint, residents of Azerbaijan of Armenian nationality, who live in Karabakh, can freely move towards Armenia. There are no obstacles, including those for patients who are transported by the Red Cross, as well as ambulances from the city of Khankendi. Any unbiased person, of course, should be able to see this. I think that there is no need to try to use the platform for unfounded accusations. As for the corridor that I spoke about, the Zangezur corridor, if you listen carefully to my speech, it says that Azerbaijan initiated the creation of the Zangezur corridor. It is our right to initiate anything whatever we consider correct, legitimate, reasonable, and what, by the way, is supported by the Russian Federation and other parties involved in the process of settling relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Very interesting, thank you. I am very sorry, Vladimir Vladimirovich. I am very interested to know whether Russia supports the project you mentioned. To be honest, this is the first time I have heard about it. I know that Russia supports the opening of all transport and economic communications in our region. You have mentioned the Lachin road. According to our Trilateral Statement, the Lachin road does not exist, there is the Lachin corridor, which, according to the Trilateral Statement signed by the three of us, should be under the control of the Russian peacekeeping forces. So, no-one else should have any control in this corridor. And what is happening there represents a direct violation of the Tripartite Statement. And you noted that the corridor was open. We don't see it. We do not think so. Therefore, we consider it important that an international mission should be sent to both the Lachin corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh, which would assess the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. I must say that, unfortunately, we have had a humanitarian crisis there since December, because the supply of food and necessary products, the supply of gas and electricity was cut off from Azerbaijan due to the closure of the Lachin corridor. Barriers are being created and this is a very serious situation. I mean the gas and electricity that enter Nagorno-Karabakh. And Vladimir Vladimirovich, you are very well aware of this, because we have spoken about this more than once. I am sorry, but it turns out that President Vladimir Putin: I have seen your signals and I will allow myself to respond. Colleagues have expressed their position, formulated it, and it is important for them. I want to say the following at the end of this part that it seems to me that the terminology that the three of us, in any case, are very well aware of is called legal technicalities. Corridor, road, etc - this is important, and there is a certain contradiction in that. But much more important is what you have just said both the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia that there is an agreement of a principled nature on the main issue, the issue of territorial integrity. And this is really the basis for agreeing on other rather secondary matters. Although they are also important. But now we will have the opportunity, as we agreed in a trilateral format, to talk about everything calmly in a businesslike manner, and I do hope to reach some agreements that will put the situation not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also in the region as a whole on the path of constructive development. I want to assure you that everyone here is interested in that. Absolutely everyone. Alexander Grigoryevich spoke quite convincingly about this today in a closed format. Because after all, what can I say, there are former republics of the Soviet Union here. We lived in a single family of peoples, and here, unfortunately, we have many contradictions, including armed conflicts. In Russia, the same thing is happening in a well-known direction. Therefore, all this is very sensitive, all this is connected with human tragedies. We are all interested in having all these problems resolved. With regard to this situation, I repeat again, we will have the opportunity to talk in a trilateral format, and I am also grateful to the Prime Minister of Armenia for coming, to the President of Azerbaijan for coming, to the Prime Minister of Armenia for not blocking this visit, so that we could all get together and talk about these sensitive topics. Then, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich made an address.: Heads of member states signed final documents of the meeting. President of Russia Vladimir Putin summed up the results of the meeting. Laggard Italy battles EU over green car transition Milan, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2023 Italy's nationalist government is leading the revolt against EU plans to tighten vehicle emissions limits, vowing to defend the automotive industry in a country still attached to the combustion engine. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's hard-right coalition, which came into office last October, tried and failed to block EU plans to ban the sale of new cars running on fossil fuels by 2035, which her predecessor Mario Draghi had supported. But this week the government took the fight to planned "Euro 7" standards on pollutants, joining with seven other EU member states -- including France and Poland -- to demand Brussels scrap limits due to come into force in July 2025. "Italy is showing the way, our positions are more and more widely shared," said Enterprise Minister Adolfo Urso, a fervent defender of national industry in the face of what he has called an "ideological vision" of climate change. The EU plan "is clearly wrong and not even useful from an environmental point of view", added Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, which shares power with Meloni's post-fascist Brothers of Italy. Salvini led the failed charge against the ban on internal combustion engines, branding it "madness" that would "destroy thousands of jobs for Italian workers" while benefiting China, a leader in electric vehicles. Federico Spadini from Greenpeace Italy lamented that "environmental and climate questions are always relegated to second place", blaming a "strong industrial lobby in Italy" in the automobile and energy sectors. "None of the governments in recent years have been up to the environmental challenge," he told AFP. "Unfortunately, Italy is not known in Europe as climate champion. And it's clear that with Meloni's government, the situation has deteriorated," he said. - Demand is low - Jobs are a big factor. In 2022, Italy had nearly 270,000 direct or indirect employees in the automotive sector, which accounted for 5.2 percent of GDP. The European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) has warned that switching to all electric cars could lead to more than 60,000 job losses in Italy by 2035 for automobile suppliers alone. "Since Fiat was absorbed by Stellantis in 2021, Italy no longer has a large automobile industry, but it remains big in terms of components, which are all orientated towards traditional engines," noted Lorenzo Codogno, a former chief economist at the Italian Treasury. For consumers too, the electric revolution has yet to arrive. Italians are attached to their cars, ranking fourth behind Liechtenstein, Iceland and Luxembourg with 670 passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants, according to the latest Eurostat figures from 2020. But sales of electric cars fell by 26.9 percent in 2022, to just 3.7 percent of the market, against 12.1 percent for the EU average. Subsidies to boost zero emissions vehicles fell flat, while Minister Urso has admitted that on infrastructure, "we are extremely behind". - 'Risk turning into Cuba' - Italy has just 36,000 electric charging stations, compared to 90,000 for the Netherlands, a country the fraction of the size of Italy, he revealed. "There is no enthusiasm for electric cars in Italy," Felipe Munoz, an analyst with the automotive data company Jato Dynamics, told AFP. "The offer is meagre, with just one model manufactured by national carmaker Fiat." In addition, "purchasing power is not very high, people cannot afford electric vehicles, which are expensive. So the demand is low, unlike in Nordic countries." Gerrit Marx, head of the Italian truck manufacturer Iveco, agrees. "We risk turning into a big Cuba, with very old cars still driving around for years, because a part of the population will not be able to afford an electric model," he said. OpenAI chief accused of 'blackmail' in EU dispute Paris, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2023 The European Union on Thursday accused the boss of OpenAI, the firm that created the explosively popular ChatGPT bot, of "blackmail" by suggesting that new rules would force his company to leave the bloc. Sam Altman told reporters in London that OpenAI could potentially "cease operating" in Europe if the bloc pushed ahead with its long-awaited AI Act, a regulation designed to protect the public from the technology. Altman is in the middle of a global tour to charm leaders and powerbrokers from Lagos to London, but his comments appeared to anger EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton. "There is no point in attempting blackmail -- claiming that by crafting a clear framework, Europe is holding up the rollout of generative AI," tweeted Breton, referring to the artificial intelligence software that generates original content. ChatGPT burst onto the scene late last year, demonstrating an ability to generate essays, poems and conversations from the briefest of prompts. Microsoft later laid out billions of dollars to support OpenAI and has begun using the firm's technology in several of its products. AI's boosters claim the technology will improve lives by doing menial tasks better and revolutionising human interaction with machines. But critics say it will decimate entire industries, lead to a flood of misinformation and copyright infringements, and entrench race and gender biases. In comments first reported by Time magazine on Wednesday, Altman said his firm would "try to comply" with the EU's regulation, which is unlikely to be operational until the end of 2025. "If we can comply, we will, and if we can't, we'll cease operating," he said, adding that there were "technical limits to what's possible". The Financial Times newspaper carried similar quotes on Thursday, sparking the reply from Breton. He said he was helping firms to deal with the rules, pointing to his idea for a "voluntary pact" on AI that would bridge the gap while lawmakers finalised the full regulation. Microsoft's President Brad Smith said during an event in the United States on Thursday that he was optimistic "reason will prevail" and that the final AI Act would be an acceptable compromise. jxb/js BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree awarding Elmira Akhundova with the "For service to the Fatherland" Order of the second degree, Trend reports. According to the decree, for many years of fruitful activity in the socio-political and cultural life of Azerbaijan, Elmira Akhundova is awarded the "For Service to the Fatherland" Order of the second degree. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The delegation led by the First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who is on an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the Special Service Group (SSG) division of this country, Trend reports. General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Special Service Group (SSG) gave the delegation detailed information about the division's assignment and training process. It was noted that the personnel of the division involves special forces and mainly deals with counter-terrorism, detection of necessary targets, release of hostages, information, psychological and a number of other special operations. Then the training area of the SSG was introduced, the weapons and equipment at the disposal of the division, as well as other military means were shown to the delegation. Colonel General Valiyev signed the "Book of Honor" of the SSG division in the end. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Khazar Farhadov also participated in the meeting. A round 1.4 million customers of Welsh Water are to be handed a 10 rebate each after the firm admitted it failed to accurately report leaks across its network, which were much higher than it first recorded. Regulator Ofwat has launched an investigation into Welsh Waters leakage reporting for 2020 and 2021 after the admission and is looking into what further action needs to be taken over the failures. It comes just a day after the watchdog announced a probe into South West Water over the accuracy of data it provides on leakages. Welsh Water said it will credit the 10 onto the accounts of its 1.3 million household and 100,000 business customer accounts in the coming months, costing it around 14 million in total. It also pledged to spend an extra 54 million on tackling leaks over the next two years, taking total investment on this issue to 284 million over its current five-year spending plan. Pete Perry, chief executive of Welsh Water, said: We are very sorry and disappointed that this has happened. Were investing an additional 54 million over the next two years to identify and reduce leakage as quickly as possible and we have shared the findings of our investigations with our regulator. Whilst our robust assurance process ultimately identified the issue, there were failures in our governance and management oversight processes that allowed this in the first place. We have made the necessary changes to how we manage leakage reporting and closed the gaps in our reporting and governance processes. Water giants are coming under heavy criticism across England and Wales for failing to effectively tackle spills in rivers and beaches. The Liberal Democrats analysis of Environment Agency data last month revealed monster sewage dumps in Englands rivers and seas last year. Suppliers are under pressure to modernise the Victorian-era sewage networks, but also get on top of the accuracy of their leakage reporting. David Black, chief executive of Ofwat, said: We are committed to holding companies to account for performance and for sharing timely, accurate, and complete data with us and their customers. We recognise that Welsh Water came to us when it became aware of the issue with the accuracy of its performance data. Ofwats investigation will consider Welsh Waters restated performance figures, the circumstances that led to the company reporting inaccurate performance, and what steps it has taken or is taking to address these failings. Welsh Water said it had reviewing its leakage reporting over the past 15 months alongside independent experts, which showed leakage has been running at a much higher level than was previously recognised the company. The Consumer Council for Water (CWW) said Welsh Water will need to rebuild trust in the group among its customers. Emma Clancy, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: We recognise Welsh Water has moved swiftly to admit its mistake and the 10 rebate will go some way to reassuring its customers that it regrets the damage this will have caused to peoples trust in it. Customers will want the company to take the right steps to ensure this doesnt happen again. Our research shows leakage from water companies affects customers own motivation to save water so Welsh Water will need to build trust on this issue. L uxury fashion giant Chanel is set to double the size of its global headquarters in London, after agreeing a new 20-year lease in Mayfair. The fashion house has signed an agreement to move from the Time and Life building, which has been its home since 2018 when it first moved to London, to 38 Berkeley Square. From 2025, Chanel plans to move its teams to the new building, which will include 86,000 square feet of office space over 11 floors. Chanel boss Leena Nair said: London has been an important centre for Chanel for many years and todays announcement reaffirms our commitment to the UK and to our people. This new global headquarters has been designed to be at the forefront of sustainability, and an inclusive and beautiful working space, supporting Chanels future growth ambitions. Today Chanel also revealed its profits grew by 5.8% to $5.78 billion in 2022, as sales grew by 17%. The growth was mainly due to a recovery from Covid-19 in Europe, where sales were up by 29.6%. The strong performance we are announcing today reflects the strength of our brand, our client relationships, and the freedom of creation that defines everything we do, Nair said. Chief financial officer Philippe Blondiaux pointed out that the results came at a challenging time for the economic environment. Chanel has delivered another solid financial performance in 2022, with double-digit growth across all categories, he said. The fact that this has been achieved despite broader macroeconomic challenges is testament to the creativity and agility of our teams around the world, and the strength and uniqueness of our brand. In 2023, despite the market uncertainties, we remain confident in our ability to deliver sustainable and healthy growth, committed to our people, our clients and our brand. R ISHI SUNAK did not mince his words. China, said the Prime Minister, was the biggest challenge of our age. The giant power was increasingly authoritarian at home while being assertive abroad. It helped that Sunak was speaking at a meeting to which China was not invited. Whether he would be so bold if Chinese representatives were present, is a different matter. Even so, his words at the weekends G7 summit in Hiroshima were about as forthright as its possible to be in the guarded language of international diplomacy. He was not alone. Other leaders at the gathering chimed in. Make no mistake, the West regards Beijing as a real and growing danger. The fact the leaders assembled across the sea from Taiwan, so clearly under military threat from the Bully as the Taiwanese refer to their huge neighbour, helped focus minds. Sunak and his co-leaders are under no illusion: Chinese aggression has to be curbed. Another phrase was used as well, one to go alongside the vast array of weapons and troops at Chinas disposal economic coercion. Unlike the phalanxes of soldiers marching and the terrifying rockets wheeled out for displays of might on Chinas national occasions, this is not so evident, not exhibited in one place at one time anyway. It is, though, just as alarming. Its China buying up the worlds natural resources and commodities, from minerals to foodstuffs. Everyday essential items that they could, one day, deny to the rest. The hand, or rather the wallet, of China is everywhere, in real estate, finance, data, software, tech. How to counter it, how to resist its overtures, especially if it comes laden with bounty, is not easy. While the West comes up with more safeguarding measures another batch was unveiled at the G7 they can be assured their electorates are right behind them. So much so, that it would seem where dealing with aggressive states such as China, and let us not forget Russia, are concerned, Sunak and co can got further, emboldened in the knowledge they have public support. A research paper procured by Freshwater Strategy in collaboration with the Henry Jackson Society shows the British are highly risk-averse around forming close bonds with such nations and strongly support the imposition of tighter restrictions in sensitive areas. Public anxiety about ensuring there are strict protections are grounded in a real and growing trend. Whilst collaboration with Russia entities is minimal, partnerships with Chinese academics and companies have grown by 34.7% between 2018-2021 alone, said Freshwater Strategy consultant Morgan James. Freshwaters public opinion polling found that 68% of UK voters believe the likes of China should not be allowed to participate in research on cyber security software. For DNA testing, a majority, 51%, felt the same. Its an election issue, something the main parties would be foolish to ignore. Among Liberal Democrats, 44% said they would definitely consider voting elsewhere if their party was seen to be soft on high risk nations. For Labour, 52% said the same of their party. Among the Tories, 25% of voters said they would seriously consider switching their support. While lower than the other two, the Tory figure is significant. If applied, it could lose the Conservatives the next general election. Normally, foreign affairs do not feature so highly on voters lists of priorities NHS, economy, law and order, education, housing, these all usually rank higher. Not anymore. Russias invasion of Ukraine may have brought home the dangers of ignoring foreign aggression and entering partnerships with such countries. For the first time in many peoples lives, they are witnessing the horror of a war in mainland Europe. They dont wish to see their Government kowtowing to regimes that do not treat their own populations properly and appear to harbour expansionist plans abroad. This hardening of attitude will not be lost on party strategists. They know if they want to win the next election, they must be seen to be tough. The poll is in effect, the British public giving Sunak licence to follow his words on China with real action. Commercial tie-ups and proposed investments in areas potentially of benefit to China and other nations that follow similar paths, must now be in doubt. These findings could have an impact on firms like Hikvision, Huawei and BGI, already fighting human rights and data privacy concerns. We may want their money, but we value our principles and our freedom more. Chris Blackhurst is the author of Too Big To Jail: Inside HSBC, the Mexican drug cartels and the greatest banking scandal of the century (Macmillan) A row over one set of figures is likely to dominate the day. But as is all too often the case when it comes to immigration, the loudest voices will not necessarily be the most representative, or considered. Net migration into the UK hit a record 606,000 in 2022, driven by people coming to work from non-EU countries, students and those arriving for humanitarian reasons, such as Ukrainians and Hong Kongers. These are, however you slice it, significant numbers. Yet what the debate overlooks is that this is an active policy choice. The UK badly needs immigration, businesses across the country are crying out for it. Our NHS would cease to function without migrants, while foreign students largely fund our universities, and spend vast sums in their communities. What matters is a system that works for Britain. If taking back control meant anything, it was that the Government could decide which and how many people came to this country. That is largely happening now. And many of those have the skills our economy desperately needs. Clearly, there ought to be considerations when it comes to high levels of immigration. We must build more homes and invest in greater capacity in our public services. But the overall economic benefit is undeniable, as is the UKs continued ability to attract global talent. Condemn the abuse While the Evening Standard supports the extension to the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez), there are legitimate arguments against the policy. Some motorists on low incomes will be hit hard by the new charge. The car scrappage scheme could and should have been far more generous. What is wholly unjustifiable is the type of threatening, abusive and quasi-conspiracy-theorist protests aimed at the Mayor practically wherever he goes. The latest was when Sadiq Khan made an appearance at the Royal Festival Hall yesterday evening to promote his book, Breathe. A man threatened to fight one of Mr Khans brothers. Another screamed it was a lie that nine-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrahs death had been caused by air pollution, as a coroner confirmed in a landmark case. Her mother, Rosamund, was in the audience. It is incumbent on everyone on all sides of this debate to condemn this abuse and rank thuggery emanating from a small minority of people. Tina Turners courage It is impossible to imagine rock n roll without Tina Turner. That voice, her passion, the energy she brought every night on stage. Her life was far from a fairytale, from overcoming an abusive marriage to her years in the wilderness. Turner always had to show courage. And for that, as much as her music, she will be remembered and sorely missed. Loading.... After the death of the 80s music icon, the Evening Standards Robert Dex discusses the ups and downs of her life and career, her incredible 80s comeback, the moment she left him starstruck, and the legacy she leaves behind. As the likes of Joe Biden, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama paid tribute to the star who died at her home in Switzerland at the age of 83. In this episode Robert Dex explains how Tina dealt with an abusive relationship, why her 80s comeback was so special, and what her legacy will be. Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts. Review at a glance B en Affleck has just directed, and starred in, a critical hit (Air). Hes about to appear in one of the buzziest blockbusters of the year (The Flash). Yet heres an awkward reminder that as a leading man he leaves something to be desired. In Hypnotic, a would-be high-concept thriller, hes mesmerisingly dull. He plays Austin cop Danny Rourke, whose daughter was snatched while they were together at a playground. In the months that followed, his marriage fell apart. Look into Afflecks eyes. Were meant to believe Danny is in unfathomable pain. From first to last, though, he wears the aggrieved expression of a man whos just watched his Lamborghini Urus get pranged. Everything may not be as it seems which may inform some of the acting choices but you need to feel empathy for a character to follow them into a labyrinth, otherwise who cares when they get lost? Danny and his partner Nicks (J. D. Pardo) get a seemingly random tip-off from Diana (Alice Braga), a woman who claims to be a psychic, about a bank robbery. At the scene of the crime, Danny spots someone he recognises (the supremely versatile, fetchingly elfin William Fichtner, wasted here as an icy weasel). Ben Affleck with Alice Braga in Hypnotic / But then Danny is framed for murder and he and Diana have to go on the run. The action moves to Mexico, and as the fugitives are chased through a spartan landscape where shapes often shift, viewers will be the ones experiencing deja-vu. Hypnotic is a momentum-free hodge-podge of The Matrix, Memento, Inception, X-Men, Vanilla Sky and, of course, every Philip K Dick-indebted sci-fi narrative in which reality belongs in quote marks. Prolific, legendary director/co-writer Robert Rodriguez wrote the script back in 2002. Maybe, if hed shot it then, the big reveal Danny uncovers would feel less tired. As it is, even with the short running time, there are plenty of opportunities to notice the lack of spark between Affleck and Braga, the grating bombast of the soundtrack and the paltry special effects (compare what Roderiguez does with his $65m budget to the marvels conjured up by Jordan Peele, for roughly the same money, on Nope). The ending hints theres room being left for a sequel. Luckily, Hypnotic bombed in the US, so at least we dont have to worry about that. Actors are meant to be expert manipulators, but Affleck and co utterly fail to sell this nonsense. In cinemas from May 26 93mins cert 15 The UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, has called for urgent global action to tackle food insecurity and climate change. Almheiri also discussed key related topics with Alain Berset, the President of Switzerland and current President of the UN Security Council at the Security Council sessions at the United Nations headquarters in New York, US. At the UN Security Council Meeting titled Ensuring the security and dignity of civilians in conflict: addressing food insecurity and protecting essential services, Almheiri emphasised the rapidly escalating impact of climate change on food security, the need for increased international humanitarian law compliance, and the role of climate change as a threat multiplier. Key points Her key points aligned with the Secretary-Generals report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, which highlighted that in 2022, over a quarter of a billion people faced acute hunger in 58 countries, many amidst armed conflict. Almheiri said: "A significant reason that civilians continue to suffer from conflict-induced food insecurity is the gap in implementing clearly defined rules. Our collective recommitment to upholding international humanitarian law is essential." She added: "At COP28, which will be hosted in the UAE later this year, we plan to adopt a robust and solutions-led approach to climate action. Food and water systems will feature high on the agenda, reflecting their central role in the abiility of conflict-affected and fragile states to recover from disasters." Minister Almheiri then attended a lunch hosted by President Berset and discussed how nations can work together to progress values of peaceful coexistence, and human fraternity for sustaining peace and preventing conflict. Inclusive COP28 Almheiri stressed the UAE's commitment to host an inclusive COP28 later this year, focusing on food and water systems in the context of climate change. At the Group of Friends for Food Security and Nutrition briefing session at the UN, Almheiri set out the UAE's strategic vision for food systems and security. Her address underscored the importance of aligning the food and climate agendas. She also highlighted the efforts of the UAE in confronting domestic food security challenges, focusing on sustainable, technology-driven food supplies, and diversifying international food sources. Further emphasising the urgency of the matter, Almheiri said: "It is clear that food systems must transforma must if we are to align with the goal of 1.5 C warming outlined in the Paris Agreement. We must reduce emissions and build resilience to ensure food security." Sustainable technologies Given the UAE's geographical position, with limited water and arable-land resources, Almheiri outlined the steps the UAE is taking to meet its domestic food security challenges head-on. She also stressed the nation's focus on sustainable, technology-enabled food supplies, diversifying international food sources, facilitating more robust global agri-business trade, reducing food waste, improving nutritional intake, and enhancing capacity to respond to food security crises. Almheiri said: "Agtech solutions are central to our strategy for greater domestic food security. Innovations like vertical farming, hydroponics, and AI-driven irrigation systems are key to creating a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient food production system in the UAE." She also stressed the crucial role of COP28 as an opportunity to integrate food systems into climate policy and encourage states and non-state actors alike to make concrete commitments towards systemic change. She highlighted the importance of collective action. Food systems Almheiri said: "We strongly encourage countries to commit to food systems in their updated Nationally Determined Contributions by 2025 and prioritise food systems in climate policy." Minister Almheiris engagements during her visit to the US underline the UAE's commitment to climate change and food security, underscoring the importance of these themes as the country celebrates the Year of Sustainability in 2023 and prepares for its pivotal role as host of COP28 in Dubai Expo City between November and December this year.-- TradeArabia News Service BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. President of the State of Palestine, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mahmoud Abbas has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Trend reports. "Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the state and people of Palestine and on my own behalf, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and through you to the government and brotherly people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your national day - the Independence Day. I pray to Allah for your good health, happiness and success, and wish great progress and prosperity to your country and people, and further development of the relations between our countries, of which we are proud of. Please accept my best wishes," the letter said. T hrilling news for DC fans, Nicolas Cage fans and Superman fans: 59-year-old Cage is set to play Superman in the highly-anticipated superhero movie, The Flash, which is going to be released next month. In an interview with Empire Middle East, The Flashs director Andy Muschietti confirmed Cages upcoming role. Nic was absolutely wonderful. Although the role was a cameo, he dove into it, he said. I dreamt all my life to work with him. I hope I can work with him again soon. He is a massive Superman fan. A comic book fanatic, he added. Cage is indeed a longtime Superman fan. Most notably, this manifested in him naming his son Kal-El, which is Supermans Kryptonite name. According to Esquire, Cage once owned a nearly-pristine copy of Action Comics #1, the comic where Superman made his first appearance. The copy was stolen from Cages home in 2000, but then, in a twist that seems in keeping with Cages careering life, it was mysteriously found in a South California locker in 2011. Cage sold it that same year for over $2 million. Cage was originally supposed to play Superman 25 years ago in a film titled Superman Lives, which had Tim Burton attached as directer. Sadly for Cage fans and for the culture for that matter this iconic collaboration was never realised. But now, the Californian-born actor will get his time in the sun. The Flash has had a difficult road to fruition: this iteration of the film (different versions of it have been in the works since the late Eighties) changed hands between several directors, actors came and went, and then the pandemic hit. Then last year its lead star Ezra Miller faced a number of allegations and arrests, which further stalled the films release. The Flash will tell the story of what happens when Barry Allen / The Flash (Ezra Miller) goes back in time to try and save the life of his mother. But messing with time is a dangerous business, and The Flash finds himself trapped in a multiverse. There, hell work alongside a younger version of himself and a gang of superheroes (were assuming this is where Cage will crop up) including Supergirl (Sasha Calle) to battle against malevolent Kryptonian general, General Zod (Michael Shannon). Most recently Cage has starred in comedy-drama film Renfield, where he played Count Dracula. The Flash will be released in the UK on June 16 B eauty? For Lisa Rinna, the secret to beauty is simple. Find out what makes you happy, and do that, she says sagely. Were sitting by the pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel, beneath towering palm trees and clear blue LA skies. She sips her iced tea and looks at me through the yellowy tint of her oversized Tom Ford shades. Listen, she drawls, I dont care how much work you have done, if youre a f***ing miserable c**t nothings gonna help you, honey! Rinnas laugh is loud, uproarious and dirty. As fans of her brash, outspoken tenure on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills might expect, she is outrageously good company. Today shes casually chic in a figure-hugging black Eterne dress, Givenchy slides, black-and-white Valentino bucket hat and the aforementioned Tom Fords, and has never been happier. At 59, she is suddenly the talk of the fashion world. In January, not long after announcing her departure from Housewives after eight years, luxury brand Kenzo got in touch to ask whether shed like to sit front row at its Paris Fashion Week show. I guess because it was covered so tremendously, people saw I was there and started asking me to come to different things, says Rinna, who ended up popping up everywhere from Michael Kors at New York Fashion Week to Richard Quinns mind-blowing show in London. In Copenhagen, she walked the catwalk for Rotate Birger Christensen in a black bodysuit and cheetah-print fur coat. While leaving Housewives may have cleared her schedule, after so many years on the show its clearly still never too far from her mind. When I ask about the secret to her longevity in showbusiness three-plus decades, booked and busy she replies in a voice dripping with sarcasm: I guess being the biggest bully in Hollywood has helped a great deal. Shes referring, of course, to Kathy Hiltons infamous hot-tempered accusation during a Housewives reunion last year. Did that line bug her? No, I wouldnt say it bugs me, she replies with a smirk. I just think that its really ironic coming out of her mouth! She cackles. Projection is a real interesting thing on that show. We all do it. Actually, I thought it was pretty funny, to be honest with you. Charlie Denis photographs Lisa Rinna for ES Magazine / ES Magazine The decision to leave Housewives came after a difficult year during which her mother, Lois, died aged 93. Rinnas grief was caught on camera. Still, it wasnt easy to quit. Who wants to leave a job? she asks rhetorically. But I think we all knew it was time. Eight years of that kind of show What more could I have done, besides generate more memes? She was motivated, too, she says, by the darkness that increasingly characterises the interactions that fans have with the show. I think the world itself has gotten so volatile that the response doesnt match what were doing, she says. I didnt want to live like that. I dont think thats healthy. The way the fan base reacts to the show now is not how it was when I first started. I mean, we were getting death threats. Some of the most horrible things Ive ever seen in print in my life, and its a reality show! Its a stupid show! I thought: Its time to go. Im not sure how much longer that can exist in the zeitgeist, to be honest with you. We were getting death threats. Real Housewives is a reality show! A stupid show! If Rinna had any lingering doubts about her decision, she believes they were answered for her by the one person whose guidance she valued the most: her mother. She came to me, she says, leaning in. Its so wild, because half the world will believe this, half the world will say: Thats so weird. I was sleeping and I heard her say to me: Its time for you to go. I told a psychic and she said: Oh yeah, shes come to me and told me that. She wants you to be happy and follow your dream, but she says its time for you to go. Ive never told anybody that, except for the psychic. Im guided by my mom, for sure. When Rinna was growing up, in the very small town of Medford, Oregon, her mother was a dedicated fan of the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives. My mom wanted to be an actor, so I think it was always in me, remembers Rinna. Its just not that easy up there. I was trying to figure out: how do you get from Medford to LA? Her first stop was Portland, where she landed a modelling gig with Nike that saw her travel to trade shows to do aerobics in workout clothes. It was so weird, she says. But its what got me down here. She arrived in Hollywood at 24, and after years of acting classes, auditions and bit parts finally landed her first major role in 1992, playing Billie Reed on her mothers favourite show. It was playing opposite the guy that me and my mom watched, Bo Brady, she remembers. Now it wasnt the Bo Brady that we grew up watching, it was the actor that came in and replaced him, but still it was a very big deal. In the acting world its not so cool to do a soap opera, but I thought Id won the lottery. Charlie Denis photographs Lisa Rinna for ES Magazine / ES Magazine By then Rinna had already hit upon the signature look that would come to define her: plump lips and a short shag hairdo. The lips were the result of a silicone filler injection shed had done when she first got to Hollywood at 24. I liken it to getting a tattoo, she says. It was an absolutely stupid spur of the moment thing with my girlfriend. The movie Beaches had come out and Barbara Hershey had her lips done with collagen. Thats how it happened. She first got her trademark haircut a couple of years later. I was taking an acting class and I had just broken up with a boyfriend, she recalls. Someone sitting next to me had just cut their hair off and I thought: Oh my God, thats the coolest thing Ive ever seen. I asked who cut her hair and he came to my apartment. It was just one of those moments after a break-up where you change your look, and I guess I never really went back. It just worked. The year 1992 turned out to be transformative for Rinna. Shortly before landing Days of Our Lives, she met Clash of the Titans star Harry Hamlin. They married five years later and have been together and publicly besotted with each other ever since. Their secret? I think what works is were exact opposites, but were both interested in what the other does, she says after a long, contemplative pause. He also gets a kick out of me. Hes very even-keeled, quiet, serious and constantly has to read. I think super-intelligent people have to always have stuff going on in their brain, but I dont have that at all! Put me in front of a good old movie from the Forties and Im happy. Youve also gotta be really attracted to the person, because its so easy over time to devalue somebody. You have to find someone that youre crazy about. Charlie Denis photographs Lisa Rinna for ES Magazine / ES Magazine It helps that Hamlin is the sort of man who can be relied upon in a fashion emergency. When the couple attended the Oscars in 1998, Rinna was seven months pregnant with their first daughter, Delilah Belle. Gianni Versace made me this beautiful aqua-coloured dress with an amazing chain-mail top, Rinna remembers. Well, by the time they put it on me I had grown, because Im pregnant. All of a sudden, we cant get the f***ing dress on. So Harry goes down to the garage, gets pliers and figures out a way to open up the chain mail. Without Harry Im not sure we could have gotten me in the dress. Hes very handy. Hes like MacGyver, truly. The couples second daughter, Amelia Gray, followed in 2001. Theyre both now models, like their mum, although unlike Kardashian matriach Kris Jenner, Rinna doesnt take 10 per cent of her kids earnings. I should! I do it pro bono! she hoots with laughter. Kris Jenner is a little bit smarter than I am when it comes to that. Hamlin wasnt originally keen on the idea of Rinna joining Housewives. He said he would divorce me, were his exact words, she laughs. She soon talked him round by pitching it as a business opportunity. I said to him: Okay, I totally respect that, but take a look at Bethenny Frankel and what shes done with her Skinnygirl brand. Frankel, who also appeared on eight seasons of Housewives, sold her company, Skinnygirl Cocktails, in 2011 for a multi-million-dollar sum. Harry came back to me and said: Oh, well, I think maybe this could be an interesting idea for you. She smiles victoriously. Charlie Denis photographs Lisa Rinna for ES Magazine / ES Magazine Rinna launched her own line of beauty products, Rinna Beauty, in November 2020. Naturally enough, she started with lip kits. The lips have had their own career, she says, so finally we did something to make money off of them! The middle of a global pandemic may not have been the most auspicious time to launch a line of lip products. Everyone had their masks on, recalls Rinna. I thought: Were doomed! Luckily we werent. People just took to it. Of course shes a loyal customer herself. Right now shes wearing Pink Champagne. I know that sounds like, come on, youre selling it, but it does really work well for me. I said, listen, were not going to make this unless I want to wear it all the time. Late last year she launched a second brand, Rinna Wines, which was inspired by a Housewives trip to Provence. Once again, shes a consummate saleswoman. Its some of the best wine out there, she tells me sincerely. A bottle of Rinna Rose between two people and you have the best buzz. Im very pleased with my products, to be honest with you, otherwise I wouldnt want to sell them. Over the years, Rinna has gained something of a reputation for selling, as she puts it, anything! Ha ha ha! She says shes turned down some offers that dont make sense, or I dont believe in it, or theyre just tacky. But not a lot! Most famously, in 2012 she became the spokeswoman for Depend adult diapers. She doesnt regret it one bit not least because they paid her $2 million for her trouble. They paid me a f***ing fortune! she exclaims. I had never made that much money in my life. Why would I say no to that? Because people will judge it? I dont give a shit. All the trolls came around and had a heyday, and I was like: Yeah, go for it. I just made so much money and you didnt! Rinnas next job, however, isnt selling anything. I have two acting gigs coming, which is really exciting, she says. I cant tell you what they are yet because they havent been announced. In movies or television? Both. Acting is where I began, so my love is always there. When you take time off, people start to only see you one way, so this is a dream come true. Poignantly, Rinna will start work on 7 June, her mothers birthday. Shes been such a guardian angel throughout this whole process, she smiles, finishing her tea. So to start the job on her birthday is lovely. Lisa Rinna is back doing what makes her happiest. What could be more beautiful than that? (Lisa Rinna continues to build her brand Rinna Beauty and is currently launching a global expansion to make sales available worldwide) Photographer: Charlie Denis Stylist: Danyul Brown Hair Stylist: Jake Gallagher at The Only Agency using Oribe Make-Up Artist: Anthony H Nguyen The Wall Group using for KVD Beauty Manicure: Merrick Fisher at Opus Beauty using Chanel Le Vernis Beauty Director: Rose Beer Photographers Assistants: Gustavo Soriano and Carlos Quinteros, Jr. Stylists Assistant: Molly Mundy I ve lived in Edgware, near Canons Park, my whole life bar two years when I lived abroad for uni. I live with my parents, who got this house before I was born. I could never imagine living outside of London. I love the hustle and bustle of the centre but when I come home its quieter, although theres still lots of culture. Ill stay in north-west London. Im just so comfortable here. Eating and drinking Theres an award-winning Turkish grill called Melissa Restaurant on Whitchurch Lane. When it first opened, I would walk past on my way home and smell the meat and the kebabs. The food is amazing. Crystelle rates the kebabs at Whitchurch Lanes Melissa Restaurant / ES Cannons Tandoori on Station Parade does incredible biryani. Theres also a place in Edgware called B&K Salt Beef Bar. We go for brunch after church on a Sunday. They do such good salt beef but also tongue, which I love. A tiny bubble tea place called Mooboo has opened recently on Station Road. Im picky with bubble teas I think a lot of the bigger, established chains arent that great. This one is really, really good. Our go-to Chinese takeaway is a little place called Tian Hu on Kenton Lane in Belmont Circle, not far from Edgware. Tian Hu is Crystelles go-to Chinese takeaway / Matt Writtle On Wembley High Road, theres a Goan restaurant called Cross Restaurant. Its a tiny, family-run, almost hole-in-the-wall-type restaurant with plastic table coverings, tiny seats and pictures on the walls. Its all very casual, but its such good food. Everything tastes like home. Where I work out Because of my job, I need to be out and about, so I have a Class Pass. It means you can book almost any gym in London, so if I have a meeting in Shoreditch at 6pm, Ill go on the app and Ill find a class nearby. Its more convenient for me. To commune with nature Canons Park is nice its the one I go to most. When I was younger wed cycle through it; now Ill go there for a walk. There are a few hills, which is good to get my heart rate up. Green space: this corner of north-west London has plenty of places to get back to nature / Matt Writtle Stanmore Country Park is a nice, green area to go walking, too. A bit further out is Aldenham Country Park. Wed always go with my cousins when I was younger. Its a lovely country park with a proper farm. Grocery shopping I dont drive, so luckily theres a new Tesco Express on Station Parade that I use for urgent essentials, or if Im running out of ingredients. VB & Sons on Kenton Road is an Indian grocery store. They have incredible fruit and veg everything you would get in India, like chickoo, a tropical fruit from the sapote family, and jackfruit. They sell all the ingredients I use for South Asian cooking: chapati flours, spices in bulk, fresh curry leaves and coriander, every type of lentil under the sun. Ill stock up on everything around twice a month. Turkish Food Supermarket is where Crystelle stocks up on tahini and olives / Matt Writtle Turkish Food Centre on Burnt Oak Broadway sells things like tahini, olives, sumac, zaatar and interesting fruit and veg. They have a lot of Greek food, too. Theres a Morrisons on Honeypot Lane in Queensbury with a good world food aisle. I get my gochujang and soy sauce from there, because theres no Korean or Japanese supermarkets nearby. Theres also a Lidl on the high street in Edgware, which is good for staples. For a culture fix When I was young, wed always go to St Anns Shopping Centre in Harrow, where wed get Starbucks and Nandos and go to the cinema. It was an old-school place. Nowadays, I go to my church, St William of York, every Sunday in Stanmore. But Ill tend to go into London to do something cultural with friends. Getting around Canons Park is at the top end of the Jubilee Line / Matt Writtle Im blessed because Canons Park Tube station is round the corner. Because its at the top of the Jubilee Line, youre guaranteed to get a seat. Theres also Edgware, on the Northern Line, and lots of local buses. Dream street This side of Edgware Road, so I could live near my favourite food hall, Bang Bang Oriental. That way, Id get my fill whenever I wanted. That said, the street I live on is lovely theres a strong sense of community among our neighbours. Were really fortunate. Stanmore Country Park / Matt Writtle Something you only see in Canons Park Theres an interesting mix of Jewish and South Asian culture here. You have the salt beef bar, but also loads of biryani restaurants. At school, my friends were either Gujarati or Jewish, and I think you see that in the area. Its really mixed, which is whats so nice about it. B&K Salt Beef Bar / Matt Writtle Whats the catch? I wouldnt say the nightlife is popping. There are a couple of bars, but I wouldnt come here for a crazy night out. In three words Homely. Multicultural. Community. Great British Bake Off finalist Crystelle Pereira aims to make global store-cupboard ingredients accessible to all. Her debut cookbook, Flavour Kitchen, is published by Kyle Books on May 25 (@crystellepereira). Schools All primary schools in Canons Park are rated as good or outstanding, with North London Collegiate School (also a secondary) and Woodlands School, a special school, among the top choices. For secondaries, Bentley Wood High School and Claremont High School are two of nine outstanding schools, with Avanti House School and London Academy being the nearest local options, both rated good. What it costs Buying in Canons Park Average flat price: 345,520 Average house price: 662,320 Renting in Canons Park Average flat, pcm: 1,380 Average house, pcm: 2,420 Source: Hamptons & Land Registry Florals for spring? The Princess of Wales doesnt think so. Instead, as she stepped out today to visit the Foundling Museum and hear first-hand experiences of foster parents and those who have been through the care system, she doubled down on the pretty in pink look she has recently been so fond of. Catherine, Princess of Wales visits the Foundling Museum / via REUTERS The royal, who is a patron of the museum situated near Kings Cross, opted for a monochrome, baby pink suit from her go-to London designer, Alexander McQueen. The label, who designed her wedding dress in 2011, was also behind her ivory silk gown and flower crown she chose to wear to King Charles IIIs Coronation earlier this month. Catherine, Princess of Wales visits the Foundling Museum / via REUTERS She paired the Barbie-esque suit with a matching silk, button-up blouse and finished the outfit with a statement white belt with chunky, pearl buckle and white leather stilettos. Inside, she joined rapper Professor Green in meeting a number of those involved with the care system, as well as artist Grayson Perry who brought a splash of colour to the outing, wearing a lime green t-shirt and flower printed dungarees. Catherine, Princess of Wales visits the Foundling Museum / PA It comes after the Princess made another pop-pink statement as she attended the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday. The two-toned, pink shirt dress was sourced from one her favourite high street labels ME+EM, and she accessorised it with Castaner Carina Espadrille wedges and Zoraida leaf earrings, worth 165. Catherine, Princess of Wales visits the Chelsea Flower Show / PA Both looks come as US Vogue have declared 2023 the summer of Barbie. Debuting their Summer issue yesterday, the all-pink cover sees Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie in the Greta Gerwig film released on 21 July, donning a candy-coloured Versace gown with a matching backdrop. It appears, now, to have the royal approval. T he Met Police has arrested a man in connection with a series of thefts from mosques in east London. Officers arrested the male at 11.56am on May 25 in Plumstead. No further details of the suspect have been released at this stage. Commander Simon Crick of the North East Basic Command Unit, where many of the targeted mosques are located, said the thefts are believed to be linked. He added: It is good progress that an arrest has been made and we will wait to hear the outcome of this development from the detectives who are investigating. I have been liaising with our partners from the Newham Muslim Forum and I know that my colleagues in the other areas of London are also in touch with people in the community who have been affected. M embers of the public held down a man suspected of attacking a woman with a broken bottle and threatening a child in a south London market. The woman, in her 20s, was rushed to hospital after the alleged attack in The Blue Market square in Bermondsey at 6.50pm on Wednesday. The child was allegedly threatened by the bottle-wielding man but was uninjured. Footage from the scene appears to show brave bystanders holding down a suspect stopping traffic in the middle of Southwark Park Road. Some aim kicks at the man as he is pinned to the floor. He was taken to hospital and arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. A Met Police spokesperson said: Police were called after a man was alleged to have attacked a woman with a broken bottle and threatened a child. Officers responded immediately and arrested a man, aged in his 20s, who had been detained by members of the public. The woman, aged in her 20s, was taken to hospital. Her injuries are not life-threatening. The child did not sustain any physical injuries. An investigation to establish what happened is now ongoing. Anyone who can help police with their enquiries should call 101 ref CAD 6726/24 May. A detective inspector has been fired from the Met Police after allegedly buying drugs and attending parties where they were being openly taken. DI Warren Arter appeared at a tribunal hearing this week, accused of misconduct carried out while off-duty between 2016 and October 2018. The panel this week heard evidence he had attended gatherings where drugs were present and were openly being taken, and that he had failed to take action or report a man who he knew was providing a woman with drugs in exchange for sex. He was also accused of buying drugs and offering to provide them to a third party. DI Arter was on Wednesday found guilty of gross misconduct by the Met panel, and was dismissed from the force without notice. Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, BCU Commander for the Mets South East Command at which Arter worked, said: Police officers are rightly held to a higher standard and DI Arter is not representative of that level of professionalism. Being a warranted officer is a privilege, one that DI Arter has abused. Police officers are duty bound to report wrong doing and protect the vulnerable he has failed to do either. It is right that he has been held to account for his actions and will now no longer be a police officer.Arter will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services. DI Arter is the latest in a number of police officers to be dismissed from the Met Police following a crackdown on officer misconduct and corruption. It comes after a string of scandals have hit the force, including the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens, followed by the revelation the force missed earlier opportunities to investigate previous allegations against him. Scotland Yard was plunged into fresh crisis this year when PC David Carrick admitted a horrific campaign of rape and abuse against women throughout his policing career. It emerged a string of opportunities to reveal his true character were also missed by the Met. Anyone with any information about a police officer or member of staff who works for the Met and is corrupt, abusing their position and power, can call the Anti-Corruption and Abuse Hotline, run by Independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 085 0000 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-org.uk. A serving Met Police officer is due in court charged with raping a woman two years ago. PC Samuel McGregor, 29, is accused of raping a woman known to him on May 11, 2021. She reported the incident to police on June 3 that year and PC McGregor was arrested the following day while an investigation was launched, Scotland Yard confirmed on Thursday. PC McGregor, who was attached to the Central North Command Unit, is suspended from duty. He was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday charged with one count of rape. A man has been charged with murder after a construction worker was stabbed to death in a west London cul-de-sac. Sean ONeill, 30, was found with multiple stab wounds at 6.51pm on May 18 in Reynolds Road, Hayes. Despite the efforts of paramedics he died at the scene. Met officers have now charged Shakil McCrea, 26, with murder. McCrea is set to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Thursday. Previously, police arrested another man on suspicion of murder who was later released on bail. Sean ONeills family said they were completely heartbroken / Facebook In a statement, Mr ONeills family said the 30-year-old had been incredibly loved, adding: We are completely heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful son and brother, Sean. It is especially difficult given the violent and cruel way that it has happened. Friends also paid tribute to the Chelsea fan with one telling the Standard: We met him in Spain back in 2017 and he lived over here with us for a good few years. He was one of the lads and were all devastated. He always had a heart of gold and he loved a laugh. He was kind and knew how to pick you up if you were ever down. T wo retired police officers have admitted sharing thousands of indecent images of children in a paedophile ring with a serving Met Police Chief Inspector. Jack Addis, 63, and Jeremy Laxton, 62, both had access to a shared hard drive along with Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson, exchanging large numbers of illegal images over the course of at least three years. The paedophile ring was uncovered when Laxton came under investigation in Lincoln, leading to the discovery of a series of electronic devices containing indecent images. On January 12, Watkinson, a Chief Inspector for neighbourhoods policing in the Mets West Area Command Unit, was found dead as he was on the verge of being charged in the case. The Crown Prosecution Service had authorised a string of child sex and misconduct allegations to be brought against him. Addis and Lawton, who have both quit the Met, were charged and appeared at Southwark crown court on Thursday to enter guilty pleas. According to the charge, the three men conspired to distribute or show indecent images of children to each other between January 1 2018 and July 10 2021. The images, which were found on a computer hard drive, included 2,516 in Category A the worst kind 1,032 in Category B and 1,701 in Category C. Laxton, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child, possession of a prohibited image, possessing an extreme pornographic image and possession of cannabis on or before 20 September 2021. The images include 6,086 in Category A, 4,039 in Category B, 3,597 in Category C, seven prohibited images of a child and 56 extreme pornographic images which were grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an extreme character depicting a person having sex with an animal, according to the indictment. He further admitted a charge of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of the offence of misconduct in a public office between December 1 2019 and May 1 2021. Prosecutor Edward Franklin told an earlier hearing how an investigation into Laxton led to the uncovering of the paedophile ring. Police found indecent images of children on various devices, he said. A Met Police investigation discovered more devices and further material including a great number of category A images, still and moving. There was then a development where officers found a hard drive that is the content of the conspiracy charge. All three defendants were sharing material with each other. He said offences are known to have taken place between 2018 and 2021, but sharing images could have been going on for longer. More than 13,000 indecent images were found, including some which had been taken by Addis himself. Addis is already serving an 18-month prison sentence, imposed in December last year in Scotland, for sexual offences against children. In that case, he admitted photographing a naked 10-year-old boy and recording a 14-year-old boy as he showered, in offences that took place in 2014 and 2015. Addis, who has been married for more than four decades, had a laptop and SD cards in his loft containing more than 20,000 indecent images of children. It has previously been revealed that the CPS had authorised charges against Watkinson when he was found dead at an address in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. He had been suspended from duty since July 2021. Met Police Commander Jon Savell previously said: Chief Inspector Watkinson was facing extremely serious and concerning charges, as the result of a painstaking and thorough police investigation. Before this matter came to light, we had no previous information about these allegations or to indicate the officer posed any risk to the public. He had not faced any other criminal or conduct matters during his Met career. He had been suspended from duty since his arrest. At court on Thursday, Judge Tony Baumgartner adjourned sentencing to a date to be fixed and granted Laxton conditional bail ahead of the next hearing on June 23. The judge said: A lengthy custodial sentence is inevitable but I will extend bail again to allow him to put his life in order. His bail conditions include residence at his home address, to surrender his passport and not to apply for documents to travel outside of England and Wales, that he has no contact with children apart from named family members, and to inform police of any digital devices. Both defendants left their posts in the Met Police more than a decade ago. Following the guilty pleas, Commander Savell said: The content that these men had been viewing has been described by seasoned specialist investigators as some of the most serious that they had ever seen. We must never forget that in each video or picture is a real child victim who has suffered unimaginable abuse. The effects of child sexual abuse are often traumatic and life-long, and Laxton and Addis both sought sexual gratification from that suffering. As a police service we strive to protect the most vulnerable members of society, especially children, and I know officers who served with them will feel utterly betrayed by their disgusting actions. We are sickened that they are former colleagues. AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, May 25. Dutch writer Henry Van Rens told Trend he hopes for a recognition of the Khojaly genocide by the Netherlands. Rens made the remark on the sidelines of the 2nd International Humanitarian Conference on Mine Clearance in Aghdam. "Im glad to come to Karabakh for the third time, and now Im completing my book about Karabakh. Im writing this book because people in the Netherlands dont know anything about Azerbaijan, Karabakh, he said. This is a history book that will cover a 400,000-year period up to the present day. I tried to include everything that happened during the past period, it will be a big book - nearly 420 pages. Speaking about the conference, the writer noted that the whole world, including the Netherlands, needs to know about it. "The conference is attended by 200 people from 51 countries. Armenians have committed crimes not only in Khojaly but also in many other places in Karabakh," Rens added. On the night of February 25-26, 1992, Armenian military formations, with the support of the 366th motorized rifle regiment stationed in Khankendi, committed genocide against the population of the city of Khojaly. As a result of this genocide, 613 people, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 older people were killed, 8 families were completely wiped out, 25 children lost both parents, 130 children lost one of their parents, 487 people were seriously injured, 1,275 people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them is still unknown. R ipper-style double murderer David Smith tried to blame the sadistic killing of a young woman on anger from the failure of his marriage, it can be revealed. The 66-year-old former lorry driver killed and mutilated Sarah Crump in 1991, and after getting away with her murder he went on to kill a second woman, Amanda Walker, in 1999. Smith was on an escalating spiral of violence and depravity, having also raped a woman at knifepoint in front of her children and attempted to rape another woman in 1991, three weeks before he murdered Ms Crump. In evidence that can be reported for the first time today, it is revealed that Smith gave an explanation for his crimes to a prison psychologist in 2006, while confessing to Ms Walkers murder. Smith had gone to an orgy on the night of Ms Walkers murder, and met her in Paddington where she was working as a prostitute. He drove them to a wooded area near to the Royal Horticultural Societys estate in Wisley, Surrey, and he said something snapped inside of him. Sarah Crump (Metropolitan Police/PA) / PA Media He grabbed hold of her and wouldnt let go, the psychologist recorded. She started screaming and a struggle ensued during which the victim bit his finger really hard. He then made the victim undress and strangled her and buried her underneath some leaves. Smith, who claims to be impotent, told the psychologist he thinks that his very negative experiences with previous relationships may have been linked to the build-up to this offence. He described his very short marriage in 1982 where his wife had an affair with their lodger within months of marriage and then proceeded to get him in trouble - stealing money, destroying the relationship he had with his father. He states that he felt as if she was controlling him in this relationship and his lack of assertiveness allowed her to do this. He thinks that he may be treated (Ms Walker) like he did because of his feelings towards his previous wife. Smith was convicted of Ms Walkers murder at a trial in 1999 and is now serving a life sentence. He was acquitted of the murder of Ms Crump at a 1993 Old Bailey trial, to the horror of her mother who warned at the time that Smith was likely to kill again. Metropolitan Police officers kept the case under review, and an application to the Court of Appeal to put him on trial again was approved in 2021, thanks to new evidence. Amanda Walker was murdered by David Smith in 1999 / PA The Court of Appeal ruling shows judges were persuaded by the striking similarities between the murders of Ms Crump and Ms Walker, including mutilation of the bodies after death, Smiths pattern of violence towards women, and new fingerprint evidence. Smith met Ms Crump for sex at her bedsit home in Southall, using the alias Duncan to set up the meeting. Prosecutors also relied on a prison confession by Smith to a fellow inmate, in which he boasted about his acquittal in 1993 for the murder of Ms Crump. The inmate said he saw Smith daily in prison, and heard him talk about S&M clubs in London, parties he used to go to and things like that. He said he likes to see girls in a lot of pain and tie them up. He had told me that he was responsible for another murder. The inmate said Smith told him the killing was sexy and demonstrated how he had mutilated the body. He didnt tell me much about this incident other than that it was about seven years ago, that he was on remand for 18 months, that he went to the Old Bailey and that he walked. He said that they got no evidence on him and that he got away with it. Smith is due to be sentenced for Ms Crumps murder on Friday at Inner London crown court. C ampaigners have welcomed the decision to investigate a former senior Scotland Yard officer who led the disastrous VIP child abuse inquiry for gross misconduct. Ex-deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse who ran the Mets notorious Operation Midland inquiry, has been accused of breaching professional standards and making dishonest statements during his handling of the case. He is the first officer to face disciplinary proceedings from police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as a result of Midland, which saw high profile figures investigated by police over false allegations of child abuse. The decision that Mr Rodhouse has a case to answer for gross misconduct represents a victory for some of those who were falsely accused and their loved ones who have fought to have someone in the police held accountable for failings. Harvey Proctor, the former Tory MP who was one of those falsely accused, said: At last, a senior police officer of the Metropolitan Police is being held to account for misconduct within Operation Midland. Mr Proctor, who lost his home and job after the accusations but later received an apology and settlement from the Met, added: It is time to hold a full inquiry into Operation Midland. Mr Rodhouse retired from the Met in 2018 and is now head of operations and joint deputy head of the National Crime Agency. The NCA is under pressure to suspend him from his 200,000-a-year job. The IOPC found that two people, known as witnesses A and B and accused of making false allegations, were not properly investigated. This was despite the recommendation of retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, who wrote a scathing report on Midland. West Midlands Police will now probe them over claims they perverted the course of justice. Midland was launched in 2014 after fantasist Carl Beech went to police claiming he had been raped by a VIP paedophile ring in the Eighties. The Met spent 18 months investigating the claims before closing the case without having made a single arrest. In July 2019, Beech was jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice and fraud. P arents at the most strike-hit group of schools in London have called for an end to the dispute that has seen children lose more than 300,000 hours of learning. Pupils at the Prendergast schools in Lewisham will have missed more than three weeks due to a disproportionate string of strikes by teachers over plans to turn the schools into an academy trust, campaigners said. Some children at the five schools, which are part of the Leathersellers Federation, are only attending school on Mondays and Fridays. A further week of strikes is planned for after half-term, and teachers this week were balloted on whether to extend the strike into the summer. Campaigners say the strikes have resulted in 15 days of lost learning the equivalent of more than 300,000 hours across the 3,000-plus pupils affected. This is in addition to the five days of national teacher strikes over pay. Parents fear that as well as damaging their childrens education, the dispute will cause irreparable harm to the previously happy school community. Niru Ratnam, whose son is at Prendergast Ladywell School, said: This is having a profoundly negative effect on children as well as on a community that is now starting to tear itself apart. Teachers Strike | May 2023 1 / 8 Teachers Strike | May 2023 PA PA PA PA PA PA Frustrated parents have formed an action group to try to bring an end to the dispute between teachers who are members of the National Education Union and the Leathersellers Federation. The group, called Back to School Find a Way Forward, said parents feel powerless and fear for the adverse impact on their childrens education and mental health coming so soon after Covid closures. The governing board of the federation is proposing to form a multi-academy trust, but the NEU say such trusts are driving down teachers working conditions and that there is not enough evidence they improve standards. Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo has tweeted in support of the campaign against academisation, urging friends in London who dont want their schools to be run like a private enterprise to sign a petition against the plans. Mr Ratnam said that at the start of the walkouts many parents backed the strikes, but support has waned as the dispute has been going on for so long. He said: The kids are not getting an education. They are being used as cannon fodder. The creeping realisation is setting in that this could go on forever. We have had week after week of three-day strikes. He added: I know of a lot of parents who have to deal with their bosses who are baffled by these strikes they understood the national strikes but dont know why these are continuing. It must be the most strike-hit school in London. A NEU spokeswoman said: Our members want this dispute resolved as soon as possible. She said the NEUs offer to suspend strike action for nine months while a working party sought alternatives to academisation was rejected. It comes as teachers at St Augustines Priory School, an independent Catholic girls school in Ealing, this week started eight days of strike action in a dispute over pensions. E nvironmentalist Chris Packham has welcomed a High Court ruling as a full and frank vindication of my innocence after he was accused of defrauding the public. The TV naturalist sued three men for libel over nine articles which included claims he manipulated people into donating to rescue five tigers while knowing the animals had been well looked after. Dominic Wightman, editor of the online site Country Squire Magazine, defended the libel claim along with writer Nigel Bean and a third man, Paul Read. In a judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice Saini ruled in Mr Packhams favour against Mr Wightman and Mr Bean but dismissed his claim against Mr Read who had said he was a mere proofreader of some of the articles. Speaking outside of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Mr Packham described the allegations he had faced. He said: In the offending articles and tweets they accused me of defrauding the public to raise money to rescue tigers from circuses, defrauding the public by promoting a crowd-funder during the Covid epidemic, lying about the burning of peat during Cop26, writing a death threat letter to myself, and elsewhere of bullying, sexual misconduct and rape. They also accused me of faking an arson attack at my home and repeatedly called upon the BBC to sack me. In a full and frank vindication of my innocence the court has found that Mr Packham did not lie and each of his own statements was made with a genuine belief in its truth. The Springwatch presenter said that while he would like to feel relieved, he did not think the issue of abuse would vanish overnight. He told the PA news agency: The onslaught of abuse and hatred continues simply because I want reform, I want the world to be a healthier place for wildlife, wild animal welfare, domestic animal welfare, the environment, so on and so forth. And there are people who have a vested interest in preventing that reform. In his 58-page judgment, Mr Justice Saini awarded 90,000 in damages to Mr Packham, which the presenter said would be going to charity. Mr Packham continued: What weve seen here is the exposure of an agenda, of a calculated campaign, which in its own words, was set up to and I quote destroy me. On this occasion, it hasnt. But I dont expect the fight to finish here. What I expect is to retrieve the damages that I have been awarded and put them firmly in the hands of those charities that are going to be doing good work for wild animal welfare. Mr Packham later said the law needs to be reformed and that the planned Online Safety Bill must be significantly robust against online abuse. The draft legislation, currently going through the House of Lords, aims to keep people, especially youngsters, secure in the cyber world by imposing new legal duties on big tech companies and service providers. He told PA: I went into this not thinking that I was ever going to make money out of it. I went into it as a matter of principle. Because every day at this moment, people across this country and all over the world are suffering online abuse, and its ruining their lives, their livelihoods, their businesses, some people end up taking their own life, their mental health is damaged, their education is ruined it cannot continue, the law has to be reformed. And at the moment, the only recourse is to take civil action here, which is what Ive done. I hope Ive drawn a line in the sand, I hope Ive shown a degree of strength and resilience, which others will be able to draw into their lives so that they will be able to stand up against this online hatred, which really does need to be regulated. The Governments Online Safety Bill needs to be robust, significantly robust, particularly to support young people who are continually exposed to all sorts of problems online, which again, are extremely damaging at that point in their lives. H oliday plans for thousands of families have been ruined after British Airways cancelled at least 175 flights on Thursday and Friday due to the knock-on effects of a technical glitch. Most of the affected flights were on short-haul routes to and from Heathrow Airport on what was expected to be the busiest day for UK air travel since before the pandemic. Fridays chaos was caused by planes and crew being out of position after an IT problem grounded around 92 flights on Thursday. This means more than 20,000 passenger journeys were axed. Flights were not expected to be disrupted on Saturday. Some passengers due to leave on Friday received an email in the early hours of the morning notifying them of their cancelled flight. Other flights have been delayed. One customer wrote on Twitter: Flight cancelled at 1.50am, meant to fly 6.30am. Only option given is for a flight in 24 hours for a two-day weekend in Athens. Thanks for ruining half term. Another wrote: Wake up this AM to email at 2.23am saying flight cancelled. Chaos! Passengers are being urged to check their flight status before travelling to the airport. BA told the Standard: While the vast majority of our flights continue to operate today, we have cancelled some of our short-haul flights from Heathrow due to the knock-on effect of a technical issue that we experienced yesterday. Weve apologised to customers whose flights have been affected and offered them the option to rebook to an alternative flight with us or another carrier or request a refund. The airline added that where possible cancellations have been focused on routes with several daily flights, enabling passengers to rebook at alternative times. Heathrow Airport said the cancellations are not due to airport strikes. Industrial action by Heathrow Airport staff is planned from March 25 to 27. British Airways is currently working to resolve a technical issue with a number of its systems. We have additional Heathrow colleagues on-hand in the terminals to provide passengers with any additional assistance required, a spokesperson said. Customers can receive refunds, re-book or if they have to stay overnight they will be offered meals and hotel accommodation. One affected customer said on social media on Thursday: People stuck on planes for nearly an hour so far because no buses to transport them. BA systems crash again, chaos! Another added: Stranded on the taxiway at Heathrow on BA 278 from San Jose for an hour so far with no prospect of moving due to another IT failure? Dont need this after a long flight? A third said: First time going away since the before times, and currently been stuck in a stationary plane at Heathrow for an hour already because the whole of BAs IT systems have fallen over. The travel disruption comes at a busy time for family getaways, as it is half term from Saturday. The airline has previously been hit with technical glitches, most recently in December. That fault caused major disruption to the airlines schedule for two hours, predominantly on long-haul flights, because planes were unable to access the global flight plan system. It comes as the Port of Dover was busy on Friday as thousands of people embark on cross-Channel ferry trips. The Kent port said shortly after 1pm that traffic is currently processing well, with waiting times of one hour for coaches and under one hour for cars. Coach passengers at the Kent port also suffered delays of several hours ahead of the Easter school holidays. The RAC estimated that drivers across the UK will embark on 19.2 million leisure car trips between Friday and Monday as people make the most of the bank holiday weekend. A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a vehicle was driven into the gates of Downing Street. The silver Kia car crashed into the gates at around 4.20pm on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Images on social media showed the car surrounded by emergency vehicles. Police said the incident was being treated as related to terrorism. BBC television footage showed the vehicle approaching the gate at a low speed. The hatchback was filmed heading towards the gates, slowing down, and then driving into the gate but still at a low speed. The vehicle came from a car park opposite Downing Street, witnesses said. Car drives into Downing Street gates 1 / 17 Car drives into Downing Street gates PA BBC PA AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images AP PA AP AFP via Getty Images AP PA A Met police spokesperson: At approximately 16:20hrs on Thursday, 25 May a car collided with the gate of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. He has been taken into custody. There were no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances. Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks office declined to comment. Footage from the scene show a silver car with the boot open at the gates of Downing Street with police urging crowds to get back. The car was seen up against the wrought iron gates which are protected by armed officers. A handcuffed man was marched away by police who searched the car. A man was arrested at the scene following the incident on Thursday afternoon / PA Witness Simon Parry, 44, said: I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with taser guns shouting at the man. A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area. He said the driver had his face to the floor as he was being arrested. He added: There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad... We saw people that were in a panic running away and we saw people who were excited. Protests are regularly held at the gates and security is very tight. There were cordons around Whitehall with police officers blocking access to the street from outside the Ministry of Defence. A police cordon was initially put in place in the Whitehall area outside Downing Street, but was later removed. A tow truck then removed the vehicle from the area. Eyewitness, Krish Kandiah, who was delivering a petition at Downing Street when the car crashed into the gates, told Sky News that there was an almighty smash at the front gate. Police officers look at items in the boot of the car that was driven into the gates of Downing Street / AFP via Getty Images He said: Immediately we saw police scramble and armed officers responded swiftly. They shouted at the man to get out. He was wrestled out of the car and put down on the ground and handcuffed. The incident came as many civil servants were leaving their offices for the day in the area. Shortly after the incident, a video posted online showed a convoy of cars leaving the back of Number 10. Mr Sunak was working from Downing Street on Thursday afternoon as was Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The Prime Minister had been planning to leave No 10 anyway and left in the convoy. It is understood local Westminster police are investigating the incident and not counter-terror officers. Gates were put up at the entrance to Downing Street in 1989 as a result of IRA bomb attacks in London. In a statement released nearly two hours after the crash, the Metropolitan Police said: A small cordon remains in place outside Downing Street after a car collided with the gates earlier this afternoon. The incident is being dealt with by local officers in Westminster and isnt currently being treated as terror-related. T he City of London has turned down a plan to erect a replica of the cell used to hold Russian dissident Alexey Navalny amid fears it could compromise its political neutrality. The art installation, proposed by human rights campaigners Lester Partners, has previously been shown in Berlin and Paris and features a four tonne metal and cement box matching the size of the 2.9-metre-high solitary cell - known as a Shizo or punishment cell - used to hold the Russian politician. They wanted to place it near St Pauls Cathedral for a couple of weeks in mid-May but members of the City corporations Culture, Heritage and Libraries committee vetoed it earlier this week after council officers recommended they reject due to political nature of the installation and insufficient time to gain planning permissions or consult with Highways. A report prepared for the meeting said the choice of location by the historic cathedral would make the potential application more challenging and added its recommendation to refuse takes into account planning matters, CoLCs political neutrality and additionally, the practicability of the timeline in question. It also concluded due to the political nature, there may be reputational risk in relation to the Lester Partners SHIZO application. Navalny is serving 11-and-a-half years in prison on charges ranging from fraud to contempt of court which his supporters say have been trumped up in a bid to silence his criticism of the Kremlin and the Putin regime. His supporters say the regime has put him in solitary confinement in a ShIZO cell - 16 times in the last nine months spending 91 days there last year. They said: Shizo is the harshest punishment in the legal prison hierarchy. There is almost no ventilation. The bunk is fastened to the wall for the day. You can only get hot water three times a day just one glass, together with a spoon and a bowl, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visits and parcels from the outside are forbidden. You are only given pen and paper for 35 minutes a day, and you only get one book for the entire period of detention. A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said: The application was rejected because of the physical scale of the installation and as there was insufficient time to initiate and complete any required planning permissions before the proposed installation date. We have helped the applicant by advising them to approach several London boroughs who may be able to host the installation, making clear that each area handles its own planning matters. M ore than one in five London parents are worried about how they will feed their family this summer holiday amid sky-high food costs, a new survey has found. One mum told the Standard she is very, very worried that her sons, who already skip meals during term-time, will go hungry during the six-week break when free school lunches are no longer available. Of 500 London parents surveyed by credit management company Lowell, 22 per cent said they too are worried about how they will feed their families this summer. And with the capital suffering the worst childcare shortages in the country and the highest prices, nearly 30 per cent said they are worried about how they will afford childcare, while 15 per cent anticipated having to take unpaid leave from work to care for children. Im very, very worried about the summer holiday, Fiona*, a single mum to two sons aged nine and 12, told the Standard. This morning, my son went to school without breakfast, said the 29-year-old, who lives in North Kensington and relies on food banks since she is unable to work due to health issues. Hes going to come from school now, and hes going to come home hungry. I have some apples. Im going to ask him to only have one because he needs to eat another one tomorrow. Then later hes going to have dinner, and thats it. During the holidays, Fiona gets no extra support and her situation worsens. Amid soaring food costs, she found the bumper bank holidays this month a struggle. I go to to Tesco and I see the prices and its depressing, she said. Its very, very stressful. Im skipping meals. [My children] are skipping meals, because theres not enough. Fiona says the looming summer holiday will be depressing for her and her sons, as she is unable to afford day trips and activities. But my fear is the food, she added. Im an adult - Ill be OK. But I want my children to have enough food. Laurence Guinness, chief executive of London child poverty charity The Childhood Trust, said Fiona is far from alone. Parents who are already struggling with growing levels of debt are dreading the impending summer holidays and are anxious that their children wont be accepted onto a free or subsidised play scheme or summer club. He said that with demand exceeding supply, not getting access to childcare services will leave children exposed to violence, sexual exploitation, hunger and loneliness as they wander the streets or stay indoors, he said. For parents who have to take unpaid time off it means even less household income, adding further to their stress and anxiety levels, he said, adding that the summer break could affect children whose mental health is being affected by poverty. Research carried out by The Childhood Trust found that around around one in five London children aged seven to 16 were food insecure as of November, meaning they had gone hungry in the previous month because their family was short of cash. Emma Newbury, senior research manager at national food bank charity The Trussell Trust, Senior research manager Emma Newbury said: Right now [social security is] not providing enough income to cover the cost of lifes essentials, with most people at food banks in receipt of Universal Credit. Were calling on the UK government to create an Essentials Guarantee to make sure that the basic rate of Universal Credit is at least enough to afford the essentials we all need, such as food, household bills and travel costs. Responding, a Government spokesperson said: Over a third of pupils in England now receive free school meals in education settings, compared with one in six in 2010. On top of this, our Holiday Activities and Food programme, backed by 200 million per year to 2025, provides heathy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families over the holidays. We are committed to helping the most vulnerable and thats why we have provided an extra 1 billion to the Household Support Fund to help with essential costs including food, clothing and utilities. www.childhoodtrust.org.uk *name has been changed to protect her anonymity N uisance pedicab operators will continue to wreak havoc in Londons West End without new legislation to tackle them, a council has warned. The Pedicab industry in central London has been blighted by complaints of blasting out loud music , ripping off customers and swerving dangerously through packed pedestrian areas. On Saturday night, the Standard joined Westminster Councils enforcement officers and the police as they targeted the menace operators. Over the course of the operation, eight pedicab operators were caught blasting out music past 9pm contravening the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Under the current legislation, council officers can only refer pedicab operators to court for playing loud music between 9pm to 8am in the morning and all eight will now face court dates where fines will be established. Despite prior operations seeing fines of up tp 1,380, Westminster Council has warned it faces an uphill battle to eradicate the issue, which is damaging the West Ends reputation, without proper legislation which was shelved earlier this year. Enforcement officers talk to pedicab operators / Evening Standard It would be crucial in terms of finding a long lasting solution, said James Hayes from Westminsters public protection and licensing team. We did find that when we werent focusing on them as we are now that the behaviour of the riders became worse. So if there was no enforcement to take place at all, wed find that the behaviours that are causing the problems are likely to multiply. Going further, Mr Hayes warned the impact on central Londons reputation was overwhelmingly not positive adding: Without the dedicated scheme, well always be working against the riders who have got an incentive to try and push the boundaries. Across last year, the council prosecuted 68 riders and handed out 21,000 in fines. While the vehicles blast out ear-splitting music throughout the night, they can also be a fire hazard with one sparking a huge blaze under London Bridge station last year. Speaking to the Standard, Nickie Aikien, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said pedicab operators are causing major issues across the West End, adding: People getting on them are putting their lives at risk. Commenting on the rogue operators, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Public Protection and Licensing at Westminster Aicha Less said: The message from our residents and businesses could not be clearer, unlicensed pedicabs are a constant menace and source of nuisance in Westminster. Before adding: Until we have more powers, I urge visitors to Westminster to use safer forms of public transport when out late at night. Get the bus, tube, or a black cab, and get home safely. L ondon Zoo has welcomed its latest arrival, and Game of Thrones fans are sure to be impressed. Khaleesi the Komodo Dragon, named after Mother of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen, has moved to the zoo in time for May half-term visitors. Were really pleased with how well Khaleesi is settling in at the zoos Attenborough Komodo Dragon House; a temperature-controlled biome designed to recreate the hot, rocky Indonesian islands where the species are found in the wild, said London Zoos Dragon Keeper, Joe Capon, in a statement . Khaleesi is an alert, curious lizard, and has been busy exploring since her arrival in particular, by digging some pretty impressive burrows on the sandy shoreline. She joined the London Zoo from Paignton Zoo in Devon on May 11, as part of the European Breeding Programme for the Endangered Species (EEP). Komodo dragons are considered to be endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as they face threats from climate change and habitat loss. Khaleesi was affectionately named after Game of Thrones Daenerys / London Zoo It is estimated that there are no more than 1,400 Komodo dragons in the wild, as of 2021. In the Komodos native Indonesia, the animal has been under a protection status since the 1990s, and The Komodo National Park was established in 1980. However, 85 per cent of Komodo dragons habitat remains unprotected, according to the Komodo Survival Program , which means the animal faces threats like reduced prey (deer) and competition from feral dogs. Komodo dragons also face the threat of being smuggled, leading the Indonesian government to close Komodo Island in January 2020 to prevent further thefts. The government discovered a smuggling ring which was planning to sell the dragons for 26,600 each. Alongside Khaleesis arrival at London Zoo, ZSL conservationists are working to protect their native habitat, including by advising the palm oil industry on how to safely manage wildlife. ZSL also supports a conservation project in Flores, run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, which monitors dragon populations. The zoo renamed the Attenborough Komodo Dragon House after Sir David Attenborough for his 90th birthday in 2016. The exhibit honours Sir Davids history with Komodo Dragons: in 1956, he and his crew were the first to ever capture the animals on camera, after locating them in Indonesia. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The US business visit of Azerbaijans Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, has wrapped up, Trend reports. Mammadov was on the visit to the US since May 17, 2023, and held bilateral meetings there on May 22 through May 24. According to the ministry, the meetings were held with members of the US House of Representatives Chuck Edwards, Pete Sessions, Don Bacon, Madeleine Dean, Adam Smith, Paul Gosar and others. At the meetings, bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the US, the processes taking place in the region were discussed. Members of Congress have been briefed on restoration and reconstruction work carried out in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. It was noted that the problem of mines being faced by the country seriously impedes the return of former internally displaced persons to their lands. The unfounded information that radical Armenian organizations operating in the US provide to members of Congress about Azerbaijan was noted at the meeting, as well as the nomination of unilateral resolutions by members of the US Congress in this context that does not serve the national interests of Azerbaijan, harm the ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Opinions were exchanged on other issues of interest to members of Congress during the meetings. Meetings of the Azerbaijani delegation were held at the State Department and the US Department of Defense within the framework of the visit. At the State Department, the Azerbaijani delegation met with First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Military and Political Affairs Stanley Brown, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Erika Olson and Deputy Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Kara McDonald. The sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects for the development of Azerbaijani-American relations, regional security issues, de-mining of the territories of Azerbaijani liberated lands, as well as cooperation between the two countries in military-political, humanitarian and other spheres during the meetings. The delegation also met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Laura Cooper. The sides discussed issues of defense, military training, as well as prospects for the development of cooperation between the Oklahoma National Guard and the military structures of Azerbaijan, and expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US in the field of defense, including the fight against regional and global terrorism. As part of the delegation's visit to the US, a round table was held with the participation of Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov and representatives of leading US research institutes - the Atlantic Council, the Heritage Foundation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the US Institute of Peace, the US Navy Graduate School, the Institute for Middle East Studies and the Hudson Institute. The researchers were provided with detailed information about the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, regional security, foreign policy of Azerbaijan, and exchanged views on these issues. The delegation also held a meeting with the leadership of the American-Israeli Public Relations Committee (AIPAC) and gave an interview during the visit. The sides exchanged views on energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US, including the contribution of Azerbaijan to the energy security of Europe, the processes taking place in Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period, as well as negotiations on the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, various aspects of the Azerbaijani-Israeli strategic partnership. The delegation's visit to the US ended on May 24. O deon has been accused of forgetting about the needs of people with disabilities and access issues amid a string of broken lifts at cinemas across the country. At the Wimbledon cinema, residents have not been able to watch films for months because of a broken lift and escalator which means the the only access is via two flights of stairs. Locals say its disgraceful and claim accessibility is low on the agenda for the cinema chain, which has not provided a date for when the lift will be fixed - after it initially broke in November and was fixed for around a month before it broke again on Friday, Liberal Democrat councillor for Wimbledon Anthony Fairclough said. Odeon has issued an apology over the inaccessibility of the west London cinema, and for a string of broken lifts at other cinemas across England. It said refurbishment work was underway and would be completed as soon as possible. But Wimbledon resident Simon Parritt, 72, a wheelchair user, said the failures have been frustrating and accessibility tends to be put down the agenda. With no working lift, Mr Parritt hasnt been able to watch a film at his closest cinema for months. Id like to see the lift being prioritised as an access issue. I dont know why its such a low priority or whether there are problems, but its cutting out a load of people who could go [to the cinema], he told the Standard. Another resident, Nick Duffy, 30, said elderly people and parents with prams struggle on the stairs. Im a regular cinema-goer and have seen elderly people struggling to climb up the stairs which is awful to see, especially as theres no staff at the bottom to help if they fall. There are often prams and buggies abandoned at the entrance too. There is no warning on the Odeon website when booking tickets, so often people will have no idea until they arrive. Its disgraceful. But Odeons accessibility issues extend beyond London. Lifts are also currently broken at least three other Odeon cinemas - in Norwich, Birmingham and Lincoln. Wheelchair user Felix Fern told the Standard that the lift at Odeon Norwich has been broken for at least a couple of weeks. Odeon said there are broken lifts at a very small number of cinemas and that refurbishment work was being treated as a priority. The company owns 120 cinemas across the UK and Ireland. Broken lifts at theatres, cinemas and gyms are a common challenge, Disability Rights UK said. Spokesperson Anna Morell told the Standard: Businesses must make adjustments for us by law, but too often, we are made to feel like an inconvenience or afterthought. Businesses forget that as well as the negative impact of not being able to participate in activities which enrich our human experience, the purple pound [spending power of disabled households] in the UK is worth 274bn to businesses. By ignoring our needs, both disabled people, and the businesses which should be serving us, are both missing out. An Odeon spokesperson said: We are aware of accessibility issues at Odeon Wimbledon. The necessary refurbishment work is now underway and will be completed as soon as possible. We would like to apologise to any guests for the inconvenience caused. T he family of a teenager who died in London after an allergic reaction to a burger is calling for the law to be changed so restaurants must display allergens on menus. Owen Carey fell ill as he walked by the London Eye with his girlfriend on April 22, 2017, during a trip to the capital to celebrate his 18th birthday. He was given first aid by passers-by and was rushed to nearby St Thomas Hospital, but died less than an hour later. For lunch that day Owen - who suffered multiple food allergies including to spices, peanuts, milk and wheat - had ordered a grilled chicken burger at a Byron Burger restaurant in Greenwich. But despite assurances the burger would be plain grilled it had been marinated in buttermilk, to which Owen was highly allergic. Owen with his mum, brother and sister / Paul Carey A coroner at Owens inquest would later say: [Owen] made serving staff aware of his allergies. The menu was reassuring in that it made no reference to any marinade or potential allergenic ingredient in the food selected. Owen normally carried an EpiPen to be used in the case of a severe reaction but had forgotten to take it with him that day. Through his and his familys care, he had never suffered an anaphylactic reaction before. He only ate a small amount as he could tell immediately that something was wrong, his family recall. His breathing became more and more restricted and he was using his asthma inhaler constantly as he and his girlfriend journeyed to Londons South Bank for what was supposed to be the second half of Owens celebratory day. Forty-five minutes later, having arrived at the London Eye, Owen collapsed, having suffered a massive anaphylactic reaction. Paramedics and a team at St Thomas Hospital tried everything they could, but were unable to resuscitate him. Owen with his father, Paul Carey / Paul Carey The popular teen, who lived with his mother in Crowborough, Sussex, is remembered by his family as truly wonderful - Owen was a keen guitarist, cyclist, climber and skier. A much-loved pupil at The Skinners School in Tunbridge Wells, he hoped to study Computer Science at university after completing his A-levels. Paying tribute to him shortly after his death, his father Paul Carey said: Owen was full of life and full of fun and he is going to be sorely missed by many people,. He was just a wonderful, bright boy who was going to do so much with his life and now he is gone. Owens family are now campaigning for a change in the law surrounding how allergy information is displayed to customers in UK restaurants. We simply want to see the allergens in a restaurants meals stated in writing on the face of the menu, they told the Standard. We have seen examples of both small and larger restaurants already doing this, so we know it can be done; it is not rocket science. We hope that a simple change in labelling and staff training will prevent any future needless deaths of people with food allergies. Owens Law would build upon Natashas Law, which came into effect following the death of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, from Fulham, who suffered anaphylaxis after eating a baguette which contained sesame seeds. Natashas Law requires retailers to display full ingredient and allergy listings on all food made on premises and pre-packed for direct sale. Owen was a talented climber, cyclist and skier / Paul Carey Owens Law strives to widen this to all food served at restaurants. Owens family says the changes would be of little cost, but immeasurable benefit to those whose lives are blighted by allergies and anaphylaxis. At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, MP Steve Brine urged Rishi Sunak to meet with him and Owens family, to see how we can be sure something positive comes out of this tragic loss of a young life. The Prime Minister pledged to make sure Mr Brine gets a meeting with the relevant minister to discuss food labelling appropriately, so we can make sure that things like this dont happen. Natasha Smith, deputy director of food policy at the Food Standards Agency, told the Standard in a statement: The FSA has commissioned further research into the provision of allergen information, some of which has been completed, and we must review the results before any decisions on next steps are made. The body of evidence that has emerged from the FSAs research so far is complex and does not indicate one right approach that will work for all. C hildcare in London is now in such short supply that parents are resorting to nanny-poaching in school playgrounds, City Hall has been told. Concerns over the high cost and low availability of childcare in the capital were discussed at a meeting of the London Assemblys economy committee on Tuesday. Joeli Brearley, founder and CEO of the charity Pregnant Then Screwed, said: Weve found that the really key issue in London is availability, compared to the rest of the UK. London parents find it very difficult to find any childcare. Weve heard stories from London parents saying that in the playground, people are trying to poach nannies from other parents, because theyre so desperate for any form of childcare. Ms Brearley also warned of childcare deserts in some of the citys most deprived areas. All of the schemes are very complicated, theyre very difficult to access, she said. We know that there are childcare deserts in areas of deprivation, due to the underfunding of the 3-4 year-old entitlement. Areas of deprivation are more reliant on those funded schemes, which are underfunded, and so they make those providers not sustainable. Iain Mansfield, director of research at Policy Exchange - a conservative think tank - told the committee: In the last ten years, almost half of childminders have left the profession. In London, we know from a 2018 study for the GLA [Greater London Authority] that 30 per cent had quit in the previous nine years, and we know that more will have quit over the period of the pandemic. This matters. This matters because reducing supply drives up costs. Mr Mansfield, who previously served as an advisor to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, added: The best comparison here is with the housing market, in that we have regulated supply, we stop people building houses, that drives up the price - and so the response is to subsidise demand, by help-to-buy. In the same way, all the support goes into supporting with [childcare] costs, and not to increase availability. The committee is in the process of gathering evidence for a report on the issue, which will make recommendations for how the childcare system could be improved. A Government spokesman said: We are introducing the largest ever expansion of free childcare in England, worth up to an average of 6,500 per child per year for a working family. We recognise the cost pressures that childcare can create for parents, and low-income families already qualify for 15 hours free childcare for two-year-olds, a year before all children become eligible for 15 hours at ages 3 and 4. We are also increasing the childcare costs that parents on universal credit can claim back by around 50 per cent, up to 950 a month for a single child and 1,629 for two children. H undreds of mourners gathered at an historic central London church for the funeral of one of the last black RAF pilots to have fought in the Second World War. Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died alone aged 96 at his home in Maida Vale, west London, in December last year. His funeral service was being held on Thursday at St Clement Danes Church on The Strand, central church of the RAF, which can seat 600 mourners. Mr Brown had appeared destined for a low-key funeral at a 140-capacity chapel in Mortlake, south-west London, in March, until a council appeal to trace his relatives was picked up by historians, military researchers, genealogists, community groups and the media. Ahead of the service, a cousin of Mr Browns said his legacy would live on in minds and hearts forever. Peter Brown enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and became one of the so-called Pilots of the Caribbean / ES Composite Brooke Alexander, 31, flew from Jamaica to attend the send-off at the 1,000-year-old church on The Strand. She said Mr Brown dedicated himself to the protection of people, adding: Because of this we will remember him. His legacy will live on in the minds and hearts of people who have connected with this story. Other relatives were flying in from Florida. Relative Brooke Alexander had travelled more than 4,000 miles from the Jamaican capital Kingston to attend the funeral. The national response to Peter Browns story has been overwhelming Representatives from Caribbean community organisations and those who helped trace his relatives were also in attendance, as well as celebrities including Batman Begins and Outlander actor Colin McFarlane, Top Boy star Michael Ward. Trevor Michael Georges, who plays Ed Bailey in Coronation Street, said: When I heard about Peter, I thought it was a very sad situation and I had to come to pay my respects. As a youth I was actually going to join the RAF. I was in the cadet force. But at the last minute, for various reasons, I changed my mind and decided to become an actor. Around 6,000 Caribbeans joined in the war effort. In a situation where every little bit helps, he made a big contribution. Mr Brown, who was born in Jamaica in 1926, enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and became one of the so-called Pilots of the Caribbean, carrying out missions as a radio operator and gunner. The congregation at the funeral of RAF Sergeant Peter Brown / PA He is one of, if not the last, among this group to have died. After the war ended, he re-enlisted in the RAF, working as a signaller before joining civilian life. Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said: The national response to Peter Browns story has been overwhelming. The details of his life and subsequent search for relatives have truly captured the public imagination and moved people around the world. Our priority has always been to ensure Mr Brown receives a fitting, dignified send-off which allows those wishing to pay their respects the opportunity to do so. We are grateful to the RAF who have stepped in and provided a perfect venue to reflect Peters military service. We will continue to work with the RAF, community groups and well-wishers to ensure the service represents the many aspects of Mr Browns life. An RAF spokesperson said: Flight Sergeant Brown is an example of the selfless contribution of all Commonwealth personnel who have served throughout the RAFs history. We should never forget their sacrifices which have defended our freedom and kept us safe. Donald Campbell, 71, founder and director of The Forgotten Generations, a charity set up to archive information on British African and Caribbean people, said: When I joined the Royal Air Force in the 1970s, I had no idea there were African and Caribbean people like Peter Brown who served in World War Two. Mr Campbell, who served in the RAF for 36 years, added: I wish Id known about people like Peter because it would have given me the confidence to say, my forebears fought for this country, some of them died, so I have a right to be here. There are so many Peter Browns out there whose stories are of benefit to future generations. Retired major Johanna Lewin, 64, chair of the Jamaica Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, who helped track down Mr Browns family, said: Hes a Jamaican, hes a veteran and he served, yet he was almost unknown when he died. Thats unacceptable for anybody, much less somebody who served and fought and sacrificed for the freedoms that we appreciate today. Today is a celebration of Peters life and his service, and its symbolic of those African and Caribbean servicemen who to a large extent are forgotten. S adiq Khan has insisted the launch of his book was not spoiled by a small group of protesters who heckled and swore at him in front of a large audience. The mayor was promoting his book Breathe at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday night - but was interrupted by around 10 protesters, who were angry about the planned expansion of the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez). Speaking on Thursday, Mr Khan said: I had a great night last night, it was a really good experience - one of my most memorable nights over the last few years. Not just because friends and family were there - my team were there, green activists were there, some of the worlds leading experts were there, parliamentarians were there, so I had a lovely night, and it was masterfully chaired by James OBrien. A handful of protesters arent going to spoil what was a great event. Asked if he was worried about further such protests in the run-up to the next mayoral election in May 2024, he said: In a democracy, people are entitled to protest - I think thats fine. As long as you dont use offensive language or act in a violent way. I think one of the joys of living in a democracy is that people can protest. We also have, in a democracy, elections where you can choose leaders and mayors. Im looking forward to the next campaign and am hoping Londoners will lend me their trust like they did in the last two. The protesters at Wednesdays ticketed event interrupted the mayor while he read extracts from his book, including during a section about the death of nine-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah in 2013, which inspired him to clean up the capitals toxic air. When one man shouted that it was a lie that Ellas death had been caused by air pollution, he was removed by the venues security staff. At one stage, one of Mr Khans brothers, who was sat with his wife near the protesters, stood up and told them to be quiet. One man approached him, threatening a fight. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan / PA Wire A second man was evicted shortly before 9pm after shouting obscenities at Mr Khan. The rest of the group then left. Mr Khan is planning to expand the Ulez from August 29 to cover all London boroughs, although a High Court hearing which could potentially derail that timeframe is planned for July. The mayor has insisted expansion is necessary to prevent the contribution air pollution makes to the premature death of thousands of Londoners every year. However, opponents of the Ulez expansion say it will have little impact on overall pollution levels but will hit peoples pockets during a cost-of-living crisis. Drivers of vehicles that do not meet minimum emissions standards are charged a 12.50 daily fee for entering the zone. A n updated exhibition showcasing the crown jewels at the Tower of London claims to be more transparent about the complex history of the jewels as it opens on Friday. An overhaul of the Jewel House, a popular tourist attraction, aims to inform visitors about how some of the most historic jewels including the Black Princes Ruby and controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond have come into possession of the Royal family. The new exhibition is the first major facelift for more than a decade. It has been a four-year project for Historic Royal Palaces, which cares for the 900-year-old tower. The changes are a result of consultations with visitors and local community groups in Tower Hamlets. Curator Charles Farris, a public historian at Historic Royal Palaces, told the Guardian: One of the things they said was they wanted more honest, transparent, open storytelling. And so thats what weve really aimed to do here. The Koh-i-Noor diamonds controversial history will be acknowledged using a combination of objects and visual projections in the new display. Set within the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the diamond is acknowledged as a symbol of conquest with many previous owners including Mughal Emperors, Shahs of Iran, Emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh Maharajas. It was seized by the East India Company after its victory in the Second Anglo-Sikh War of 1849. It was then presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 after the maharajah of Lahore, Duleep Singh, aged 10, was forced to hand it over, according to historians. It has remained in the crown jewels ever since but the governing party of Indias prime minister has warned it brings back painful memories of the British Empire. The Queen Consort avoided wearing the contentious gem at her coronation on May 6 alongside King Charles. Its controversial history will be acknowledged using a combination of objects and visual projections in the new display. The hammer and knife used to make the first cuts to the famous Cullinan diamond will also be on display in the Jewel House for the first time. Discovered in South Africa in 1905, the diamond is the largest gem-quality uncut diamond ever found, at 3,106 carats. It was split into nine major stones and 96 smaller brilliants, with the largest two stones featuring in the Sovereigns Sceptre with Cross and the Imperial State Crown. Tower of London / Getty Images The new Jewel House exhibition will also explore how the original medieval crown jewels were destroyed during the English Civil War under the orders of Oliver Cromwell in 1649. A Commonwealth coin from the era on loan from the British Museum is now on display, demonstrating how the melted gold once worn by medieval monarchs was re-used. Regalia used in the Kings coronation procession will be explained in a new display, including the Coronation Spoon and St Edwards Crown, and the State Crown frames worn by past monarchs George I, George IV, and Queen Victoria will be showcased. The current collection has been kept at the Tower of London for nearly 400 years. The Tower attracts around three million visitors a year. The new Jewel House exhibition opens to visitors on May 26 and is included in the general admission price. T he mother of the London schoolgirl whose death was the first to be officially recorded as caused by air pollution has described protests that disrupted a Sadiq Khan event on the South Bank as unforgiveable. The mayor was interrupted throughout an appearance at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday night including when he read an extract from his book, Breathe, about the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah in 2013, which inspired him to clean up the capitals toxic air. Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who was in the audience, heard one man shout that it was a lie that air pollution had caused nine-year-old Ellas death, despite that being the coroners finding. She told the Standard that she challenged one of the protesters outside the hall as he was being spoken to by police. About 10 protesters, objecting to the Ulez expansion, took it in turn to shout at Mr Khan before being removed by security staff. The protests continued throughout the 90-minute ticketed event, with the final protester blowing a whistle repeatedly as he was led away. LBC presenter James OBrien, who was hosting the event, warned the protesters that they would be evicted unless they stopped interrupting. He told them their protests had polluted the commemoration of a grieving mother and were beyond despicable. The Royal Festival Hall had been closed for several hours in advance of the event for a security sweep, and attendees were searched on entry. But the protesters were still able to take their seats in the centre of the hall. Mr Khan, asked about the protests and scale of hostility he has faced as mayor, said to applause from the 1,200-strong audience that his approach was: Dont let the bullies win. Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah on Thursday tweeted that she had been upset by a man laughing at Ellas death. She said the heckling showed there was still much to do education-wise on the dangers of air pollution. She told the Standard that the protester was stunned to be approached by her outside the hall. She said: I told him I didnt appreciate him and his cronies laughing when Sadiq mentioned Ellas death. He apologised profusely and said he never laughed at that. I told him he was guilty by association by the company he keeps. She told him he had a right to protest about Ulez but said she would continue to campaign for the expansion to the Greater London boundary, due to happen on August 29, because every year in London between eight to 12 children under the age of 19 die from asthma. She added: Yes, they absolutely have a right to protest, as long as there is no racism or anyone gets hurt. We still live in a democratic country. As Ellas mum, however, I would like them to let her RIP (rest in peace) and remember she has siblings who are still getting used to the idea of living without their sister. N et migration to the UK has climbed to a record level, official statistics show, as the Government faces pressure to explain its inability to bring the numbers down. Around 606,000 more people are estimated to have moved to the UK than left in the 12 months to December, data from the Office for National Statistics on Thursday showed, up from 504,000 in the 12 months to June 2022. Those figures are substantially higher than the 226,000 level when the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto promised that overall numbers will come down following the introduction of post-Brexit border controls. Rishi Sunak has promised action to bring down net migration, telling reporters on a recent trip to Japan that he wanted to be crystal clear with the public that the numbers are too high and he wants to bring them down. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick was expected to face an Urgent Question in the Commons on Thursday. The record levels of net migration are down to a "series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic", the ONS said. The director of the Centre for International Migration at the ONS said numbers arriving on humanitarian routes increased over the 12-month period. Jay Lindop said: "The main drivers of the increase were people coming to the UK from non-EU countries for work, study and for humanitarian purposes, including those arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong. For the first time since using our new methods to measure migration, we have also included asylum seekers in our estimates, with around 1 in 12 non-EU migrants coming via this route. "There are some signs that the underlying drivers behind these high levels of migration are changing. As lockdown restrictions were lifted in 2021, we saw a sharp increase in students arriving. "Recent data suggests that those arriving in 2021 are now leaving the country, with the overall share of non-EU immigration for students falling in 2022. "In contrast, those arriving on humanitarian routes increased over the 12 months. Evidence also suggests immigration has slowed in recent months, potentially demonstrating the temporary nature of these events." On Tuesday, as part of attempts to attempts to curb net migration, the Government announced that overseas students will be banned from bringing dependants to the UK from January 2024. The change will not apply to those on postgraduate research programmes. Mr Sunak said it was the biggest-ever single measure to tackle legal migration, removing the right for international students to bring dependants, toughening the rules on post-study work, and reviewing maintenance requirements. Meanwhile, Labour has unveiled immigration plans under which businesses would be stopped from easing staff shortages by hiring cheaper overseas workers. During Prime Ministers Questions, Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: The Prime Minister stood on three Tory manifestos, each one promised to reduce immigration. Each promise broken. This mess on immigration reveals a Tory Party with no ambition for working people and no ambition for Britain, just the same old failed ideas low wages and high tax. Mr Sunak questioned Labours contribution, saying: There are absolutely no ideas absolutely no semblance that there would be any control. Why? Because he believes in an open-door migration policy. A Home Office minister was being dragged to the Commons on Thursday over new figures which were set to show record immigration to Britain last year. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle granted an urgent question to shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper on the data from the Office for National Statistics. It means Home Secretary Suella Braverman, immigration minister Robert Jenrick, or another minister will have to come to Parliament to answer questions about the latest figures. The Office for National Statistics will publish data on Thursday for the year ending December 2022. Analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies forecasts net migration could have hit between 700,000 and 997,000 in that period. Those figures are substantially higher than the 226,000 level when the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto promised that overall numbers will come down following the introduction of post-Brexit border controls. Rishi Sunak has promised action to bring down net migration, telling reporters on a recent trip to Japan that he wanted to be crystal clear with the public that the numbers are too high and he wants to bring them down. The latest available figures showed levels are already at a record high. Total net migration the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number leaving the country in the 12 months to June 2022 stood at an estimated 504,000. This was up sharply from 173,000 in the year to June 2021. The rise was driven by a series of unprecedented world events, according to the ONS, including the war in Ukraine, the end of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the resettlement of Afghan refugees, the new visa route for British nationals from Hong Kong and students arriving from outside the European Union. On Tuesday, as part of attempts to attempts to curb net migration, the Government announced that overseas students will be banned from bringing dependants to the UK from January 2024. The change will not apply to those on postgraduate research programmes. Mr Sunak said it was the biggest-ever single measure to tackle legal migration, removing the right for international students to bring dependants, toughening the rules on post-study work, and reviewing maintenance requirements. Meanwhile, Labour has unveiled immigration plans under which businesses would be stopped from easing staff shortages by hiring cheaper overseas workers. During Prime Ministers Questions, Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: The Prime Minister stood on three Tory manifestos, each one promised to reduce immigration. Each promise broken. This mess on immigration reveals a Tory Party with no ambition for working people and no ambition for Britain, just the same old failed ideas low wages and high tax. Mr Sunak questioned Labours contribution, saying: There are absolutely no ideas absolutely no semblance that there would be any control. Why? Because he believes in an open-door migration policy. R ishi Sunak faced a growing storm on Thursday after immigration to Britain hit a record of nearly 1.2 million last year, according to official figures. They showed that 925,000 out of the total of 1,163,000 were non-EU nationals after the UK quit the European Union. Once emigration of 557,000 is taken into account, net migration was also at a record high of 606,000 in 2022. With tens of thousands of people crossing the Channel in small boats, the promise by Brexiteers that leaving the EU would allow the country to take back control of its borders appeared to be in tatters. As his Government came under fire from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and some Tory MPs, the Prime Minister told ITVs This Morning: Numbers are too high, its as simple as that. Pressed on whether immigration was out of control, he responded: No, I think the numbers are just too high. The figures showed: Immigration in 2022 was up 221,000 compared with the previous years 942,000, and 772,000 in the year to December 2019, when the Tories won the election. The backlog of asylum cases awaiting a decision has hit a record high after rising by 50 per cent in a year. A total of 76,000 asylum seekers are being classed as long-term migrants who will stay for over a year, while only 3,000 failed applicants have been returned. Immigration from outside the EU totalled 925,000, up 287,000 on the previous year. A net exodus of 51,000 EU citizens over the year. A total of 193,000 dependants arrived with workers or students coming from outside the EU. Mr Sunak said measures put in place this week were significant, including limiting the number of dependant people those coming to study in Britain can bring with them and would reduce immigration levels over time. He stressed there had been varying factors affecting the figures such as welcoming tens of thousands of people from Ukraine and Hong Kong to Britain, and more people coming to study than in the pandemic years. The Government also has to be sensitive to the needs of the NHS and the economy over labour shortages, but fundamentally the numbers are too high, he added. He insisted that people were more concerned about illegal immigration, and passing laws to tackle it was one of his five key pledges. But he refused to set a target for reducing immigration, with the Tories having previously pledged to cut net migration to tens of thousands a year. Responding to the latest figures, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: These extraordinary figures, including doubling the number of work visas since the pandemic, show the Conservatives have no plan and no grip on immigration. Ministers have completely failed to tackle skills shortages, especially in health and social care, or to get people back into work after Covid. Labour says net migration should come down but has also refused to set a target. Alicia Kearns, Conservative chair of the foreign affairs committee, warned against knee-jerk reactions on migration, stressing the need to fill jobs that wealth creators have made. Former minister Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon, backed the need to control migration but he added: The whole point of having a system where you choose who comes in is we ensure that economic migrants benefit this countrys economic and social fabric and many of these people do. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick was being dragged to the Commons to be grilled on the latest figures after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle granted Labour an urgent question, with no sign of Home Secretary Suella Braverman by mid-morning. But with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and other Cabinet ministers seen to be resisting her attempts for a tougher crackdown on immigration, one of her closest allies Sir John Hayes MP stated that the Government as a whole has got to grasp this issue. More than a million have come, he said. On the net migration figure, he continued: You just cant grow the population at that pace. The pressure it places on public services and housing. Business chief Paul Drechsler said an imbalance between where jobs and people already in Britain lived created challenges in filling vacancies. Emphasising the levels of immigration to Britain over the years which had helped the country to thrive, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Its incredibly important that we speak about these people with respect and appreciation. Details added, first version was published at 17:51 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The US business visit of Azerbaijans Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, has wrapped up, Trend reports. Mammadov was on the visit to the US since May 17, 2023, and held bilateral meetings there on May 22 through May 24. According to the ministry, the meetings were held with members of the US House of Representatives Chuck Edwards, Pete Sessions, Don Bacon, Madeleine Dean, Adam Smith, Paul Gosar and others. At the meetings, bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the US, the processes taking place in the region were discussed. Members of Congress have been briefed on restoration and reconstruction work carried out in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. It was noted that the problem of mines being faced by the country seriously impedes the return of former internally displaced persons to their lands. The unfounded information that radical Armenian organizations operating in the US provide to members of Congress about Azerbaijan was noted at the meeting, as well as the nomination of unilateral resolutions by members of the US Congress in this context that does not serve the national interests of Azerbaijan, harm the ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Opinions were exchanged on other issues of interest to members of Congress during the meetings. Meetings of the Azerbaijani delegation were held at the State Department and the US Department of Defense within the framework of the visit. At the State Department, the Azerbaijani delegation met with First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Military and Political Affairs Stanley Brown, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Erika Olson and Deputy Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Kara McDonald. The sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects for the development of Azerbaijani-American relations, regional security issues, de-mining of the territories of Azerbaijani liberated lands, as well as cooperation between the two countries in military-political, humanitarian and other spheres during the meetings. The delegation also met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Laura Cooper. The sides discussed issues of defense, military training, as well as prospects for the development of cooperation between the Oklahoma National Guard and the military structures of Azerbaijan, and expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US in the field of defense, including the fight against regional and global terrorism. As part of the delegation's visit to the US, a round table was held with the participation of Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov and representatives of leading US research institutes - the Atlantic Council, the Heritage Foundation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the US Institute of Peace, the US Navy Graduate School, the Institute for Middle East Studies and the Hudson Institute. The researchers were provided with detailed information about the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, regional security, foreign policy of Azerbaijan, and exchanged views on these issues. The delegation also held a meeting with the leadership of the American-Israeli Public Relations Committee (AIPAC) and gave an interview during the visit. The sides exchanged views on energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US, including the contribution of Azerbaijan to the energy security of Europe, the processes taking place in Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period, as well as negotiations on the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, various aspects of the Azerbaijani-Israeli strategic partnership. The delegation's visit to the US ended on May 24. P enny Mordaunt has paid an emotional tribute in the House of Commons following the death of charismatic former Redditch MP Karen Lumley. The mother of two died on Thursday, aged 59, following a long illness, the Redditch Standard reports. She was surrounded by loved ones. Mrs Lumley was Conservative MP for Redditch from 2010 to 2017 before she stepped down. She has been remembered as a charistmatic and strong woman who was the constituencys second female MP since the seat was created in 1997. Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt was unable to hold back tears as she told MPs they had lost a larger than life character. A visibly grief-stricken Ms Mordaunt told MPs: She was a force for nature and a force for good. We will miss her, her amazing hairdos and the joy she brought us all. We will cherish the memories we have of her. The whole House I know will want to send our love to her family, especially [her husband] Richard, [and children] Lizzie and Chris and all who knew and loved her. She meant a lot to all of us. Ms Mordaunt said her colleague had sat on the Finance Committee, had been part of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee and the Transport Select Committee, and worked as a parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Health. Paying tribute to her predecessor, Redditch MP Rachel Maclean issued a statement: In her time as the Member of Parliament for Redditch, Karen demonstrated tonnes of compassion and a genuine desire to improve peoples lives. She will be much missed by many people. My thoughts and prayers are with Karens family and friends at this very difficult time. MP for Bromsgrove and former Chancellor Sajid Javid said Mrs Lumley was a fantastic colleague and friend as a neighbouring MP - and truly loved representing her constituents. Mrs Lumley unsuccessfully contested the constituency of Redditch before gaining the seat at the 2010 general election, defeating the former Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. T he asylum backlog in the UK has hit a new record high as the immigration minister appeared to suggest processing claims faster could encourage more people to come to the country through illegal routes. More than 100,000 people waited longer than six months for an initial decision on their case, the latest figures showed. More than three quarters of all small boat asylum applications since 2018 are still awaiting a decision. Charities said the human cost of such delays is staggering as they called for claims to be processed more quickly. But immigration minister Robert Jenrick appeared to suggest this would be likely to lead to an increase in asylum claims from people arriving via illegal means. In December, Rishi Sunak pledged to abolish the backlog of initial asylum decisions by the end of 2023, as he set out a raft of new measures unveiled to curb Channel crossings. But within hours of that comment, Downing Street appeared to downgrade the target, insisting the Prime Minister had only committed to clearing the backlog of claims made before June. Mr Jenrick told broadcasters on Thursday he is confident the Government will clear the legacy asylum backlog by the end of the year. Home Office figures released on Thursday showed that 172,758 people were waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application in the UK at the end of March 2023. This was up 57% from 109,735 at the end of March 2022 and the highest figure since current records began in 2010. The number of people waiting more than six months for an initial decision stood at 128,812 at the end of March, up 76% year on year from 73,207 and another record high. The rise in asylum applications waiting for an initial decision is due to more cases entering the asylum system than receiving initial decisions, the Home Office said. There were 19,706 initial decisions made on asylum applications in the UK in 2022/23, up 35% on 14,586 in 2021/22 but below the 20,766 in the pre-pandemic calendar year of 2019. The Home Office figures showed that just under half (44%) of total asylum applications in the UK last year were from people who arrived on a small boat. Some 78% of all small boat asylum applications since 2018 are still awaiting a decision, including 93% of those made in 2022/23. Christina Marriott, executive director of strategy and communications for the British Red Cross, described the 172,758 figure as striking. She said: Leaving people in limbo like this, unable to work, separated from family and uncertain about their future, is costly to peoples physical and mental health and the taxpayer. Processing claims more quickly would help people settle into communities, start work and get on with their lives. Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, said: The human cost of the failure to process asylum claims is staggering. Many people wait years for a decision in which time theyre forced to live in poverty, banned from work, segregated from communities and detained in rundown hotels. He repeated criticism of the Governments controversial Illegal Migration Bill, saying it will make things much worse as no new safe routes will be created, meaning people will still have to make the deadly Channel crossing. He added: The Government must end its addiction to hostility and deterrence, ditch its anti-refugee Bill and create a compassionate, just and accessible asylum system that benefits refugees and the taxpayer. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the record high number waiting for claims to be dealt with is unacceptable and called for real commitment and resourcing to tackle the backlog, which crucially must include making quick and good quality decisions based on the merit of each claim, so refugees can start rebuilding their lives. It is not correct, however, to suggest that if you can process illegal migrants claims faster that that will reduce the number of people coming into the country. In all likelihood itll lead to an increase Mr Jenrick was asked by Labours Clive Efford in the House of Commons on Thursday why fewer than 1% of people who arrived on small boats last year have had their asylum claims determined. The minister replied: It is not correct, however, to suggest that if you can process illegal migrants claims faster that that will reduce the number of people coming into the country. In all likelihood itll lead to an increase. Downing Street said tackling the asylum backlog is the right approach when asked about Mr Jenricks comments, and insisted measures to reduce the backlog would take time to bed in. The Government is making some progress on specific areas, the spokesman said, but acknowledged that there is more to do, adding that we are confident that things like doubling the number of caseworkers will start to have an impact. There were 75,492 asylum applications in the UK in the year to March 2023, relating to 91,047 people, the Home Office figures showed. This is the highest total for any 12-month period since the year to March 2003, when it stood at 80,736 applications relating to 99,338 people. Just under three-quarters (74%) of initial decisions on asylum applications in 2022/23 were grants of refugee status, humanitarian protection or alternative forms of leave. This is substantially higher than in pre-pandemic years, when around a third of initial decisions were grants, the Home Office said. Albania was the most common nationality applying for asylum in the UK in the year to March 2023, with 13,714 applications by Albanian nationals, 9,487 of which came from arrivals on boats crossing the English Channel. The number of Albanian small boat arrivals peaked during the summer of 2022 and by early 2023 had dropped below levels seen in 2021. Afghans were the second most common nationality applying for asylum in 2022/23, with 9,606 applications, more than double the number in the previous 12 months (4,118). The Home Office said this rise was likely due to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. By March 2023, some 11,398 people had been resettled in the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which was launched in April 2021, offering priority relocation to the UK for current or former locally employed staff who have been assessed to be under serious threat to life. A total of 54 Afghans were resettled in the UK under pathways two and three of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which was formally launched in January 2022. Pathway two which was specifically designed to help vulnerable refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) having fled Afghanistan for resettlement to the UK saw 40 people resettled. The third pathway for those at risk who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan, as well as those who are particularly vulnerable, such as women and girls at risk and members of minority groups saw 14 people resettled. Pathway one focused on eligible people who were notified by the UK Government that they had been called forward or specifically authorised for evacuation, but were not able to board flights at the time of the evacuation amid the Taliban takeover in August 2021 has seen 9,059 people resettled. Emily Graham from Safe Passage International said the schemes are utterly broken, meaning that more and more Afghans are having to make desperate crossings in the Channel in order to reach safety and family here. Some 90% of people arriving in the UK in the year to March 2023 on small boats claimed asylum or were recorded as a dependant on an asylum application. S uella Braverman was mocked by the Opposition after the Home Secretary missed questions in the Commons on the newly released immigration figures. Ms Braverman, who came under fire for asking Home Office officials to intervene with a speeding fine, was not present on Thursday as immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, faced questions over the record-high figures. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), immigration totalled 1,163,000 people in 2022 with net migration reaching a record high of 606,000. With Ms Braverman absent from facing questions in the House of Commons, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: Where is the Home Secretary who is in charge of these policies? Shes gone to ground. There are reports shes not even going to do media, shes not going to come to this house and shes in more internal meetings, presumably in more private meetings arranged by civil servants. What is the point of her? The Labour Whips Twitter account also took time to poke fun at the Home Secretary by accompanying a screenshot of Mr Jenrick in the Commons, adding: Presumably Suella is doing a speed awareness course. Despite calls for an inquiry into Ms Bravermans case, Rishi Sunak said she would not face an investigation and that she had later accepted a fine and penalty points on her driving licence. The ONS figures showed that Immigration in 2022 was up 221,000 compared with the previous years 942,000, and 772,000 in the year to December 2019. Immigration from outside the EU totalled 925,000, up 287,000 on the previous year including a net exodus of 51,000 EU citizens over the 12 months. A total of 76,000 asylum seekers are being classed as long-term migrants who will stay for over a year, while only 3,000 failed applicants have been returned. In response, Mr Jenrick pointed to the influx of Ukrainian refugees and British Overseas Nationals from Hong Kong who have caused numbers to rise. Mr Jenrick added that a package to restrict the migration of the dependants of overseas students would have a tangible impact on net migration. Taken together with the easing of temporary factors, like our exceptional humanitarian offers, we expect net migration to fall to pre-pandemic levels in the medium term. The Prime Minister himself resisted claims the immigration is out of control, saying: The numbers are too high, its as simple as that. And I want to bring them down. A round seven million people could vote tactically at the next General Election, a new poll suggested on Thursday. The Ipsos survey for The Standard found that one in three (34 per cent) say they are likely to vote for a party which is not their first choice to keep another party out. Eighteen per cent state that they are very likely to do so. But some of these people will almost certainly end up not voting in this way or at all, given turnout rates. So drilling down further into the figures, 21 per cent of adults who are deemed likely to vote (those who say they are 9/10 certain to cast a ballot at the next election, and usually vote) go on to state that they are very likely to do so tactically. This equates to 13 per cent of adults overall, and around 6.7 million people in Britain. Allowing for a margin of error, the figure could range between 5.2 million to 8.3 million. Although not directly comparable, the month before the December 2019 General Election 14 per cent of voters said they were voting tactically, suggesting that slightly more are considering the prospect now, with the next election expected in spring or autumn 2024. Tactical voting could swing a number of key marginal seats. The likelihood of tactical voting is higher among Labour supporters, at 44 per cent, and those of the Liberal Democrats/other parties, 45 per cent, but just 22 per cent for Tory backers. The Conservatives are the main targets of the practice, with two thirds saying it is likely they will vote tactically stating that it is to keep out the Tories. In contrast, 22 per cent cite to keep out Labour, six per cent the Lib-Dems, and four per cent the Scottish National Party (mainly in Scotland). Just over two thirds of supporters of parties other than the Tories and Labour who might vote tactically say they would do so to keep out Rishi Sunaks party, and 27 per cent Sir Keir Starmers. More people think there would be chaos under a Conservative government with no majority (54 per cent) than under a Labour one (41 per cent) with such a political make-up in the Commons. Overall, half of adults would prefer one party to win an overall majority at the next election, 20 per cent a coalition and seven per cent a minority government. Far more Tory and Labour supporters prefer a party to win an overall majority, 71 per cent and 62 per cent respectively, compared to just 27 per cent of those voting for the Lib-Dems or other smaller parties. Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos UK, said: After the local elections, tactical voting is becoming a key question in British politics. We arent in election mode yet so peoples decisions arent fully-formed, but at the moment it is the Conservatives who are looking most vulnerable to voters acting out of negative partisanship to keep one party out. He added: Whilst their attack that a Labour-led coalition would bring chaos does have some traction among their previous supporters, overall the public are more worried about the prospects of a Conservative-led one. Even among the Conservatives own 2019 base, half think a Conservative government with no overall majority would lead to instability. Ipsos interviewed 1,006 adults in Britain by phone between May 10 and 16. Data are weighted. More details at www.ipsos.com Q ueen Camilla has met children and community volunteers during a visit to a library in Armagh aiming to make history more accessible. The visit to Armagh Robinson Library and Museum in Co Armagh came on the second day of the royal visit to Northern Ireland. At the library, Camilla met with children from Drelincourt primary school who told the Queen she looked beautiful and told her about their work studying the reproduction Lindisfarne Gospels. The children Camilla met all speak English as a second language and the Queen spoke with them and their teachers about learning multiple languages at a young age. Representatives from Dementia NI who utilise the library space also had the opportunity to meet with the Queen. She chatted with volunteers, while she viewed books from the library and signed a commemorative photograph of her visit. Corinne Hamilton is a volunteer from Dementia NI who was seated beside the Queen. Ms Hamilton said she shared a joke with the Queen as she signed the photograph to mark her visit. She did say: Dont ask me what the date is. So I said: Well, its as well youre at the Dementia NI table, she said. Ms Hamilton added: She (Camilla) laughed about it. You know, she knew fine rightly. The Queen viewed Jonathan Swifts own, annotated, copy of his book Gullivers Travels, which is on display at the library. Carol Conlon, the assistant keeper at Armagh Robinson Library, told Camilla about the history of the book and the tourism it attracts to the area. Ms Conlon said people were pleased at the Queens visit given her interest in encouraging reading and literacy programmes. Well, we were very pleased, we knew there was going to be a royal visit, and then very close to the time we were told it would be Queen Camilla, she said. And I gather that there is a great interest in libraries and in the value of books, and so a special request had been made that we would be included in the visit to Armagh today, and were very, very pleased. The 18th century library is aiming to open its doors to the community through Dementia NI and playful museums initiative designed to make the history and artefacts more accessible to children. Ms Conlon said the groups that met with the Queen highlighted the work the library is doing. I felt there was a lovely balance because we have the library volunteers, a lovely selection of them as well and to see how they do and what they do to help in the life of the library, she said. So a lovely mixture of the supportive work of our library volunteers, the playful museums initiative, and the working to become a dementia friendly museum. Wonderful trio. Following her visit to the library the Queen met with members of the Methodist College Belfast choir alongside the King, before meeting crowds in Market Theatre Square. F amily members have paid emotional tributes to one of the last black RAF servicemen to have fought in the Second World War following his funeral at a historic central London church. Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died aged 96 at his home in Maida Vale, west London, in December last year. His funeral service was held at St Clement Danes Church on The Strand the central church of the RAF, which can seat 600 people. Mourners flocked from far and wide to pay their respects, with relatives Brooke Alexander and Myrtle Gutzmore travelling more than 4,000 miles from Jamaica. Speaking outside the church, Ms Gutzmore, 91, whose husband Isiah, 96, is the last remaining cousin of Mr Brown, said: I am really happy to know that so many people turned out. He lived his life and he served his country, and that is very important. Meanwhile, Rachel Ramsay, a distant niece of Mr Brown, described the occasion as surreal and amazing. She attended the funeral with her mother, Natalie Ramsay, 96, who shared a great grandfather with Mr Brown. Ms Ramsay, from Luton, said: My mums very big on history, so shes always told me about her uncles and her cousins that perished in the war. So now were actually seeing this in real life. Mr Brown had appeared destined for a low-key funeral at a 140-capacity chapel in Mortlake, south-west London in March, as he had no known relatives. Cards that could have helped track down his family were cleared out soon after police decided the death was not suspicious, The Sun reported. But after a council appeal to trace his relatives was picked up by historians, military researchers, genealogists, community groups and the media, there was a surge in requests to attend from well-wishers. During the military service, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston gave a reading, while music was provided by the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment the first band to play the Royal Salute at the Kings coronation. Mr Browns coffin was draped in a Union Flag, on top of which lay flowers, an RAF service dress hat and a cushion bearing his two military medals. Mr Brown, who was born in Jamaica in 1926, enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and became one of the so-called Pilots of the Caribbean carrying out missions on Lancaster Bombers as a radio operator and air gunner. He is one of, if not the last, among this group to have passed away. After the war ended, he re-enlisted in the RAF, working as a signaller before leaving the service. Family members were joined by representatives from Caribbean community organisations and those who helped trace his relatives. Reverend Michael King, son of the Windrush Foundation founder Sam King, said the service reflected Britains rich history. He said: My father Sam King came on the Windrush. Ninety-five per cent of them were ex-RAF. They were military heroes and veterans come to rebuild the mother country as volunteers, just as Peter did. Today reflects the contribution these heroes have made and helps us understand the rich history of this nation. Retired Major Johanna Lewin, 64, chair of the Jamaica Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association who helped track down Mr Browns family, said: Today is a celebration of Peters life and his service, and its symbolic of those African and Caribbean servicemen who to a large extent are forgotten. Celebrities including Top Boy actor Michael Ward, Holby City actor Colin McFarlane and Coronation Street actor Trevor Georges also came to pay their respects. Mr Georges said: As a youth I was actually going to join the RAF. I was in the cadet force. But at the last minute, for various reasons, I changed my mind and decided to become an actor. When I heard about Peter, I thought it was a very sad situation and I had to come to pay my respects. Donald Campbell, 71, founder and director of The Forgotten Generations a charity set up to archive information on British African and Caribbean people, said: When I joined the Royal Air Force in the 1970s, I had no idea there were African and Caribbean people like Peter Brown who served in World War Two. Mr Campbell, who served in the RAF for 36 years, added: I wish Id known about people like Peter because it would have given me the confidence to say, my forebears fought for this country, some of them died, so I have a right to be here. There are so many Peter Browns out there whose stories are of benefit to future generations. Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said: The national response to Peter Browns story has been overwhelming. The details of his life and subsequent search for relatives have truly captured the public imagination and moved people around the world. Sir Mike Wigston said: Flight Sergeant Peter Brown epitomised the selfless commitment of the generation who fought for our freedom in the second world war. Their courage and resilience is an inspiration to us all. We mourn his passing, but I am very proud the Royal Air Force has been able to provide a fitting tribute to one of our own. F ermanagh showed off its strong community ties as the King and Queen completed their two-day visit to Northern Ireland at Enniskillen Castle on Thursday. Charles and Camilla spent around an hour at the 16th century site meeting schoolchildren and community groups. A choir performed Rather Be by Clean Bandit as the couple entered the historic courtyard. Learning about the Kindness Postbox, which helps people who are isolated, Camilla nodded, saying thats so important. She went on to meet schoolchildren who were learning about how youngsters were evacuated from Belfast during the Second World War to Fermanagh, commenting: Youre learning a lot, but its fun isnt it? Charles and Camilla went on to meet a long table of people who had taken part in the Big Lunch initiative which brought neighbours and communities together as part of the celebrations over the coronation weekend. Charles met a number of military veterans, including George Stephens, 96, who was in the Inniskilling Fusiliers and a former curator of the castle museum. The couple enjoyed a display of dancing put on by Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers reflecting Northern Irelands two main traditions, before being presented with a specially made Belleek Pottery coronation basket by Fermanagh and Omagh council vice chairman Allan Rainey. Moving outside the castle walls to the banks of the River Erne, the King appeared taken by the busy waterway with people on canoes, kayaks and waterbikes waiting to greet him. He waved and navigated the grass slope to speak those in the closest canoe, as well as shaking the hand of a man on a waterbike, listening as he explained his route around the local waters. Charles also met with RNLI volunteers as the charity enters its 200th year, and thanked them for their work. The visit finished with an impromptu walkabout, meeting people in the crowds, including visitors from Canada and Australia. Mr Stevens smiled as he said he was so overwhelmed by meeting the King he had not quite taken in all he had said. He previously met the late Queen at Buckingham Palace when he received his MBE. Its been a great day, he said. Catholic priest Father Brian DArcy also spoke of how much he had enjoyed the day. He spoke with both Charles and Camilla during the visit. They did a great job meeting everybody today, it was lovely the way they came round and were interested in people, and it wasnt just a run-of-the-mill event for them, they were very interested in community work, what people were doing, coping with loneliness, Camilla was very keen on that and people getting out, he told the PA news agency. Charles was very interested in the environment, he felt that we had a lot of work to do, he said we have a lot of work to do to save the environment, and no time to waste. Father DArcy went on: I think it was a lovely day for Fermanagh because Fermanagh is forgotten in a lot of ways, and it was lovely to see them taking time to realise that people down here are valuable too. We showed off our county as best as we can, the water, the tourism, the friendliness, the cross-community, the co-operation between churches. All of that was on show today, and all of that is really Fermanagh. B etween July and September, the annual average energy price cap dropped to 2,074, easing some of the financial strain brought on by the unprecedently high rise in gas and electricity prices. The new cap amount contrasts to the 3,280 level established by Ofgem for March through June, which ended up resulting in a reduction of 1,206 in the cap as of July and a reduction of 426 in average annual costs. With the announcement of the price cap, the Government's Energy Price Guarantee (EPG), which set the average annual energy cost at 2,500, will also come to an end in July. The EPG rather than the Ofgem price cap currently applies to the UK. Heres everything you need to know about who sets the energy-price cap and how it works. What is the energy price cap and what is Ofgem? Ofgem, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, is the independent regulator of the British energy market and is intended to protect customers. A key part of its role is to set a limit a price cap on what energy firms charge customers on default or standard and variable tariffs. The price cap was launched in January 2019 by the regulator and, although it was originally a temporary measure, it has remained in place because of the problems in the industry. The cap applies if youre on a default energy tariff, whether youre paying via direct debit, standard credit or a prepayment meter it doesnt apply to a fixed-term tariff. Previously, variable tariffs had been more expensive than fixed-rate deals. People are often on these tariffs because they fail to switch suppliers when a fixed term has ended or their supplier has been forced to close. But at present, fixed-term tariffs are more expensive than the cap, meaning the majority of people are affected. Ofgem said: The global rises were seeing in gas prices mean this is a very challenging time. Right now, this may mean you find few better-value tariffs than being on a suppliers default rate covered by the Governments energy-price cap, if you are already on one. How is this different from the energy price guarantee? After prices soared following Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Government had announced a lower energy price guarantee would temporarily replace the cap. The EPG (different from Ofgems cap) sets a maximum price per unit for gas and electricity and pays any costs associated with a bill that is more than that amount. Long-term support for homes has been demanded by charities including Citizens Advice and National Energy Action. The EPG, which set the typical yearly energy bill at 2,500 will end in July. How much will you pay? The average energy bill for individuals paying by direct debit will decrease by 426 starting in July when the Ofgem price cap is reinstated; however, this will depend on your consumption. How does the energy price cap work? The energy price cap works by stipulating a limit on the maximum amount that can be charged for a unit of gas or electricity, based on an estimate of the average household user. From July, unit rates will be capped at 30p per kWh (standing charge 53p per day) for electricity and 8p per kWh (standing charge 29p per day) for gas. This is for a typical household, although the total depends on your usage. This means that it is not the maximum possible cost to a household as, if you burn a higher number of units, your energy bills will exceed the cap while, if you use less, youll pay less. Ofgems price cap is currently 2,054 per year for the average household. A maximum daily standing charge, which is the cost of getting the power to your home, is also included. The cap is determined by the costs faced by energy suppliers. The cap is made up of network, operating and policy costs, as well as VAT and earnings. The amount is set differently depending on if you pay by a monthly or quarterly direct debit, on the receipt of a bill or prepay for your energy. A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a vehicle was driven into the gates of Downing Street. The silver Kia car crashed into the gates at around 4.20pm on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Images on social media showed the car surrounded by emergency vehicles. The force added that no-one has been hurt. It is understood that counter-terrorism police are not involved in the investigation at this stage. Rishi Sunak was in Downing Street at the time the car crashed into the front gates, the PA news agency understands. The Prime Minister, who had been due to leave No 10 anyway, departed after the crash. Witness Simon Parry, 44, said he heard a bang and saw police pointing Taser guns at a man. I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with Taser guns shouting at the man, he said. A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area. Mr Parry said the driver had his face to the floor as he was being arrested. He said the man appeared to slow down before he reached the gates of Downing Street, having driven out from the other side of the road. There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad, he added. Asked to describe the mood in the immediate aftermath, Mr Parry said: We saw people that were in a panic running away and we saw people who were excited. In a statement released on Twitter, the Metropolitan Police said: At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Inquiries are ongoing. Footage of the incident broadcast by the BBC appears to show the car slowing down before it hits the gate. The incident came as many civil servants were leaving work. A police cordon was initially put in place in the Whitehall area outside Downing Street, but was later removed. A tow truck then removed the vehicle from the area. T he King and Queen have completed their two-day visit to Northern Ireland in the UKs most westerly town. Crowds cheered and sang God Save The King at Enniskillen Castle in Co Fermanagh as Charles and Camilla did an impromptu walkabout before departing the region. The King started the second day of the visit by attending a service at St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh, Co Armagh, attended by various religious leaders, while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were the Church of Irelands the Rev John McDowell and Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin. At the library, the Queen met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. The royals both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square in Armagh. Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met performers who gave a showcase of Ulster Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. The King added: I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. Charles said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands with Rebekah Busby and patted her golden-doodle Teddy, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. She said: Weve been here since 8.50am, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? (Camilla) said Hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' Ms Busby described the atmosphere as unreal, and said she would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. Charles and Camilla travelled by helicopter from Armagh to Enniskillen for their final engagement of the day and their trip. Crowds of well-wishers cheered as they approached the 16th century castle, Charles wearing a grey suit and Camilla in an emerald green coat dress by Fiona Clare and emerald and diamond Cartier brooch which belonged to the late Queen. They were greeted by the High Sheriff for Co Fermanagh Noelle McAlinden and Fermanagh and Omagh council vice chairman Allan Rainey while they were serenaded by the Caritas Chamber Choir. Local school children and Army cadets were lined up to welcome the King and Queen into the historic courtyard while a community choir performed Rather Be by Clean Bandit. There was also a display of dancing put on by Irish dancers and Ulster Scots dancers reflecting Northern Irelands two main traditions. Charles and Camilla appeared touched to learn about the Kindness Postbox initiative, which aims to help those who are isolated and disconnected, before meeting those involved with The Big Lunch in Fermanagh. Thanking the King and Queen for their visit, Mr Rainey presented them with a specially made coronation basket from Belleek Pottery. Large crowds had gathered outside the castle by the end of the engagements. Camilla was drawn to a family with an Australian flag and kangaroo teddy bear, and greeted them saying, All the way from Australia?, to be told by one of the ladies she was originally from Enniskillen and brought her family home for a visit. Catholic priest Father Brian DArcy said it had been a lovely day for Fermanagh, and praised the King and Queen for a great job chatting to so many people. Fermanagh is forgotten in many ways and it was lovely to see them taking time to realise that people down here are valuable too, he said. We showed off our county as best we can, the water, the tourism, the friendliness, the cross-community, co-operation between churches all of that was on show today, and all of that is really Fermanagh. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. There are serious opportunities for normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations on the basis of mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Moscow,Trend reports. "Azerbaijan's cooperation with Eurasian Economic Union member countries, with the exception of Armenia, has been successfully developing for 30 years. There are serious opportunities for the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the basis of mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Today, on the initiative of the Russian side, a trilateral meeting of the heads of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will take place," President Ilham Aliyev said. H ouseholds will be more than 400 a year better off on average from July after the cap on energy bills was slashed following steep falls in wholesale gas and electricity prices. Energy regulator Ofgem on Thursday set the cap at 2,074, down from 3,280 from April to July. That is well below the 2,500 energy price guarantee put in place by Liz Truss when she was Prime Minister last September when the energy crisis sparked by Russias invasion of Ukraine sent market prices spiralling to record levels. It means that for the average household bills will fall by 426 a year. The 2,500 guarantee was extended to the end of June by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his Spring Budget and will then rise to 3000. However it will effectively be redundant then as bills will be so much lower. Thursdays sharp fall in the cap - a mechanism put in place by Theresa Mays government to protect consumers on default standard variable tarrifs - is the biggest single easing of the financial pressure on families since the cost of living crisis began in 2021. However prices are still almost double where they were before the war started. In October 2021, the typical household paid 1,271 a year for gas and electricity. Forecasters at specialist energy analysts Cornwall Insights have warned they do not expect bills to return to pre-2020 levels before the end of the decade at the earliest. Wholesale prices have fallen dramatically over the winter and spring since they spiked to unprecedented levels last August and September. Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley said: After a difficult winter for consumers it is encouraging to see signs that the market is stabilising and prices are moving in the right direction. People should start seeing cheaper energy bills from the start of July, and that is a welcome step towards lower costs. However, we know people are still finding it hard, the cost-of-living crisis continues and these bills will still be troubling many people up and down the country. Where people are struggling, we urge them to contact their supplier who will be able to offer a range of support, such as payment plans or access to hardship funds. In the medium term, were unlikely to see prices return to the levels we saw before the energy crisis, and therefore we believe that it is imperative that government, Ofgem, consumer groups and the wider industry work together to support vulnerable groups. In particular, we will continue to work with government to look at all options. Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: The fall in the price cap provides some desperately needed respite for households but energy bills will still be nearly double what they were just 18 months ago. Thats unaffordable for millions of households. For many, life is getting worse, not better. Year on year were breaking records for the number of people struggling with energy debt. Its clear more government support will be needed in the future for struggling households. T he chief constable of Police Scotland has said the force is institutionally racist. Addressing a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on Thursday, Sir Iain Livingstone said while the term can be misinterpreted or misrepresented as unfair and personal critical assessments of police officers and police staff as individuals, it is right for him to acknowledge the issues within the force. He also said publicly acknowledging that these institutional issues exist is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service. Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory His comments put himself at odds with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who has refused to accept the term in criticism of his own forces issues with racism and misogyny, arguing the term is ambigious. Sir Iain said: It is right for me, the right thing for me to do as chief constable, to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist. Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory. Publicly acknowledging these institutional issues exist is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service. It is also critical to our determination to lead wider change in society. Prejudice and bad behaviour within policing, as highlighted by court and conduct cases, various independent reviews and by listening to our own officers and staff over recent years, is rightly of great concern and is utterly condemned. There is no place in Police Scotland for those who reject our values and standards. Our vigilance as an organisation has never been stronger, rigorous recruitment; enhanced vetting; more visible conduct outcomes; and a focus on prevention. He also put the onus on the force to rid itself of institutional racism. He told the SPA meeting: A candid, clear assessment of institutional discrimination means recognising our absolute duty to provide just and effective policing for all according to their specific needs and circumstances. It also requires identifying and removing the deep-rooted barriers to achieving this. These are necessary steps to progress the commitment that Police Scotland will be anti-racist; a personal commitment I made to my fellow citizens at the commencement of the public inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh. And, as a commitment to the people of Scotland, it is also a commitment to Sheku Bayohs family and loved ones. The onus is on us, the police service, to address gaps and challenge bias, known or unwitting, at every level, wherever bias occurs, to maintain and build confidence with all communities. Met chief Sir Mark rejected the term institutional used in a damning report published in March to describe his forces problems with racism, misogyny and homophobia. A review by Baroness Louise Casey, in the wake of a string of scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard by serving police constable Wayne Couzens, said Britains largest force was institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic and in need of a complete overhaul. In response, Sir Mark apologised and said he accepted the diagnosis of prejudice in the force. But, controversially, he has refused to use the term institutional, arguing that it has become politicised and is ambiguous. Baroness Casey hit back, saying telling the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee on Wednesday that refusing to accept the word because it was politicised was a get-out-of-jail card. A nimal rights activists say they have taken three lambs from the Kings Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Imagery released by Animal Rising shows three women, in pink Animal Rising t-shirts, walking through a field of sheep and loading the lambs into the back of a vehicle. Animal Rising said that the women took the three lambs from Appleton Farm at around 8pm on Wednesday. The group said that the lambs would have been sent for slaughter. Animal Rising said that the women handed themselves into police in Windsor, Berkshire at 8am on Thursday, with banners saying: I rescued the Kings sheep; and: This is how we love animals. Police confirmed that three women, aged in their 20s and 30s, voluntarily attended a police station in Slough and were arrested on suspicion of theft. Animal Rising said on its website that the incident marks the first of its high-profile open rescues this summer. Sarah Foy, 23, one of the women involved, said: Like anyone, animals want to live out their lives safely and without being used or exploited. Sadly that is not the case here at Sandringham, or anywhere they are used in our food system. That is exactly why we rescued three sheep today three beautiful lambs wholl now live their lives to the fullest. We urgently need a national conversation about our relationship with other animals and nature. A Norfolk Police spokesman said: Norfolk Police are investigating reports three lambs were stolen from a farm in West Newton, Norfolk. Three women aged in their 20s and 30s voluntarily attended a police station in Slough and were arrested on suspicion of theft. They remain in custody. The Sandringham Estate has been approached for comment. T he King has thanked Armagh for the warm welcome he and the Queen received during the second day of their visit to Northern Ireland. Charles attended a service at St Patricks Cathedral attended by various religious leaders while Camilla visited the Armagh Robinson Library and Museum, which is home to a number of local archaeological items. At the library Camilla met children from Drelincourt Primary School and volunteers from Dementia NI, before signing a commemorative photograph for the museum. Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were Church of Ireland leader Rev John McDowell and the leader of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin. They both met young school children, including two eight-year-olds sporting hand-made crowns called Charles and Camilla on cathedral grounds. The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The royal couple then shook hands with several artisan food producers and were given various gifts by members of the public while a cultural performance took place on a stage at Market Theatre Square. Among those lining the path to the stage were four figures with large heads, representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh: warrior goddess Queen Macha, St Patrick, High King of Ireland Brian Boru and warrior Cu Chulainn. They also met with performers who gave a showcase of Ulster-Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures through traditional music, song and dance. As the couple joined the Lord Mayor of Armagh Paul Greenfield on stage, Charles addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its hospitality. I did just want to say before we leave that its been the greatest pleasure to join you here today, he said. I realise it was 23 years ago since I was last here, and I think opened The Market Place building, which Im so pleased to see is still going strong and I hope making a huge difference to Armagh. But if I may say so its been particularly special to meet so many of you today, also a large number of school children whose exams, I suspect, we have totally disrupted. But Ive told them that if they dont pass their exams, its bound to be my fault, he joked. But thank you so much for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for showing us just what an enormously diverse, and a number of cultures and traditions there are here now in this part of Northern Ireland. He said this provides such an extra richness and contribution to the whole of society here. So I do hope you have great success in the future and we look forward to seeing you again before too long, I hope, he concluded. Charles and Camilla then met with some people gathered along the road, waving Union flags and bearing gifts. They shook hands Rebekah Busby and gave her golden-doodle Teddy a pet, who had chewed through his lead while waiting for the royals to walk by. Weve been here since 8.50pm, so its a long stretch for my doggie, but we managed didnt we Teddy? [Camilla] said hes absolutely lovely. I think the King said Oh my goodness, look at this dog!' She described the atmosphere as unreal, and that they would go for ice cream after the royals had departed for their next engagement. B oris Johnson has reportedly nominated around 50 people for peerages in his resignation honours list - but renewed calls are being made to cancel his choices. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being placed under increasing pressure to cancel the list, with critics labelling it wrong that Johnson could send his friends to the House of Lords while he is still under investigation by police over Partygate. The Cabinet Office this week handed the former PMs pandemic diaries to police amid concerns more rules had been broken during the Coronavirus pandemic. The concerning diary entries are alleged to detail around 12 events at both Chequers, and at Number 10, between June 2020 and May 2021, and were initially handed to government lawyers by Johnson himself when he was first investigated. Critics have since said plans must be abandoned for a resignation honours list, while the issue is ongoing. Labour and the Lib Dems are calling for the cancellation of the names, with it rumoured to be around 50 people. The peerages were nearing approval in the coming weeks. Some of the names put forward by the ex-PM, who left office in September 2022, have agreed to delay heading to the Lords until the end of the current Parliament. This is to spare Prime Minister Rishi Sunak by-elections. Heres everything you need to know about Mr Johnsons honours list. What is an honours list? The prime ministers resignation honours are distinctions granted by an outgoing PM. The current monarch may be asked to bestow any number of people with peerages, knighthoods, damehoods, or other honours under the British honours system. In the case of peerages, the House of Lords Appointments Commission vets the list. Who is on Boris Johnsons honours list? The Times reports that former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, Cop26 president Alok Sharma, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, and ex-minister Nigel Adams are anticipated to be on Mr Johnson's list. Mr Johnson has also reportedly nominated two of his trusted advisers to become the youngest life peers in history: Ross Kempsell, a former political director for the Conservative Party, and Charlotte Owen, a former personal assistant to the ex-prime minister. Shaun Bailey, the former London mayoral candidate who faced a backlash for attending a mid-lockdown Christmas party, is also said to be on the list. Ben Houchen, the Tory mayor for Tees Valley, Kulveer Ranger, a former adviser to Mr Johnson at City Hall and Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross, a Conservative donor, are also said to be included. What has the reaction been to the honours list? The prime minister should "refuse to do Boris Johnson's bidding," Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner has said, and reject his demands. This disgraced ex-prime ministers plot to dodge democracy by trying to reward his MP lackeys with promised jobs for life in the House of Lords yet again puts the Tory Partys interests before the publics, she said. Agreeing with Ms Rayner, Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, tweeted: This is what happens when you have a second parliamentary chamber based on parentage and patronage. The House of Lords should be abolished but the spectacle of a disgraced Prime Minister handing out peerages to his acolytes is utterly outrageous. Reacting to the news, the Womens Equality Party tweeted: Honour (noun): the quality of knowing or doing what is morally right. A Hong Kong cargo ship that was stranded for almost four hours in the Suez Canal has been refloated with the help of tugboats. The vessel, named Xin Hai Tong 23, became grounded in one of the worlds busiest waterways at 4am on Thursday after arriving from Saudi Arabia, according to Leth Agencies. It disrupted four other vessels from a convoy which planned to enter the canal around 6am. Suez Canal tug boats worked for hours to re-float the cargo ship and the ship was towed by three rescue boats, the Suez Canal Authority said. Refinitiv Eikon shipping data had showed the ship as not under command near the southern end of the canal. It was initially positioned at an angle with its stern abutting the canals eastern side but the ship appeared to have been moved towards the center and pointed south. The ship was successfully refloated at 7.40am. Xin Hai Tong 23 is heading for Egypt, the Suez Canal Authority said. The vessel, which flies the Hong Kong flag, is 190 metres long, 32 metres wide. It is owned by Xiang B12 HK International Ship Lease and managed by Tosco Keymax International Ship Management. The Suez Canal Authority said that marine rescue teams and three tug boats were immediately sent to tow the ship after the authoritys main navigation control centre received a notification of the ships failure. The failure of the ships winch and the inability to raise the hook hindered the completion of the connection procedures with the tugboats, the authority said. Lieutenant General Osama Rabie said that regular navigation in the canal from both directions could return as soon as the ships tow is completed, as a precautionary measure. Around 12 per cent of the worlds trade moves through the Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. During strong winds in 2021, a huge container ship, the Ever Given, became jammed across Suez Canal, halting traffic in both directions for six days and disrupting global trade. Last year, tug boats refloated an oil tanker that was briefly stranded in the canal after to a technical fault with its rudder, while the breakdown of a container ship in the canal caused minor delays in March. L awmakers across America and Europe are calling for the oil executive sultan presiding over this years international climate summit to stand down. In a letter from January 13, the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) announced that Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, had been appointed as COP 28 president-designate. This has sparked global controversy, with more than 100 US and EU lawmakers addressing a joint letter to the UN in complaint. In the letter, they warn EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and US president Joe Biden of the dangers of allowing fossil-fuel companies to exert undue influence over the environmental conference. "The decision to name as president of COP28 the chief executive of one of the worlds largest oil and gas companies a company that has recently announced plans to add 7.6 billion barrels of oil to its production in the coming years, representing the fifth-largest increase in the world risks undermining the negotiations, the letter states. While the leadership of COP28 is facing criticism, heres a look at what we know about COP28, being held in the UAE in a few months time. When is COP28? The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference will convene from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The multi-day conference will include talks and interactive sessions focused on the future of climate action, as well as talks from political, environmental, and scientific leaders. Who will be attending COP28? A formal attendee list has not yet been made public, but its expected that major world leaders will attend, as well as leading scientists, journalists, and a strong delegation of public stakeholders and members of the public. For example, COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, saw President Biden, King Charles, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and other European world leaders in attendance. Environmentally minded celebrities are also known to attend, with sustainable designer Stella McCartney and actor Leonardo DiCaprio making appearances at COP27, speaking with other delegates, such as King Charles. J apans defence ministry said fighter jets were scrambled after Russian planes were detected off its coastline. According to the ministry, one aircraft travelled from Japans north down the west coast on Thursday. The other plane travelled down the countrys Pacific coastline before departing, the Joint Staff office said. A statement added: In response, fighters of the Air Self-Defence Forces Northern Air Force and other units were scrambled. Last year, Japan scrambled jets after Russian and Chinese warplanes neared its airspace. Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said at the time that it was the fourth time jets had approached its airspace that year. No further information was provided regarding the latest incident but it comes days after Japan hosted the G7 Summit. As the allies met in Hiroshima, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov slammed the meeting, accusing the group of indulging in their own greatness. Chinas foreign ministry also released a statement where it claimed the G7 leaders were hindering international peace. A man who allegedly attempted to smuggle dozens of parrot eggs out of the United States faces 20 years in jail. The 24 green baby parrots, snatched from their nests in a central American rainforest, were found in a cooler amongst the baggage of a suspected smuggler as he changed flight in Miami in March. Now 9 weeks old and fully feathered, the birds began chirping and bobbing their heads the second anyone comes near their new home the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation where they five hand feedings a day in a room filled with large cages. They are hand-raised babies, Paul Reillo, a Florida International University professor said, as the chicks squawked and looked inquisitively at the visitors. Theyve never seen mom and dad; theyve been raised by us since they hatched. It was the hatchlings faint chirping inside a carry-on bag at the Miami airport that brought them to the attention of a US Customs and Border Protection officer. Paul Reillo, a Florida International University professor and director of the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, carries a pair of red-lored Amazon parrots / AP The passenger, Szu Ta Wu, had just arrived on TACA Airlines flight 392 from Managua, Nicaragua, on March 23, and was changing flights in Miami to return home to Taiwan, according to a criminal complaint filed in US District Court in Miami. Officers stopped Wu at a checkpoint. He was asked about the sound coming from his bag, which Reillo later described as a sophisticated temperature controlled cooler. Wu reached in and pulled out a smaller bag and showed the officer an egg, the complaint said. The officer then looked inside and saw more eggs and a tiny featherless bird that had just hatched. He told the officer there were 29 eggs, and that he did not have documentation to transport the birds, according to the complaint. Wu was arrested, and on May 5 pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling birds into the United States. He faces up to 20 years in prison when hes sentenced August 1. AP A lawyer who could speak on his behalf was not listed on court records, but Wu told investigators through a Mandarin interpreter that a friend had paid him to travel from Taiwan to Nicaragua to pick up the eggs. He denied knowing what kind of birds they were. A man who propped his feet up on Nancy Pelosis desk during the US Capitol riot has been sentenced to more than four years in prison. Richard Bigo Barnett became one of the faces of the January 6 2021 riot by supporters of Donald Trump. Barnett seemed at times to enjoy the notoriety, US District Judge Christopher Cooper said at his sentencing on Wednesday. All the folks who follow Bigo need to know the actions of January 6 cannot be repeated without some serious repercussions, Judge Cooper said, alluding to the media attention and social media following Barnett attracted after the riot. The photos of Barnett lounging at a desk in Mrs Pelosis office made him one of the most memorable figures from the riot. AP Barnett, 63, testified he was going with the flow and struck a pose after news photographers told him to act natural. He told the judge that joining the riot was an enigma in my life that he regretted, but said prosecutors wanted him to be remorseful for things I did not do. January 6 was a traumatic day for everyone, not just law enforcement, he said. He has vowed to appeal his conviction. He testified at trial that he was swept along with the crowd into the Capitol, and was looking for a bathroom when he unwittingly entered Mrs Pelosis office and encountered two news photographers. Cooper, though, said he did not believe Barnett played such a passive role. It was established at trial that Barnett brought into the Capitol a stun gun with spikes, concealed within a collapsible walking stick. Capitol Hill Riot: Pro-Trump supporters storm US Capitol Building 1 / 57 Capitol Hill Riot: Pro-Trump supporters storm US Capitol Building U.S. Capitol Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol AP Police officers use pepper spray on pro-Trump protesters during the clashes REUTERS U.S. Capitol Police hold protesters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol AP An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington REUTERS A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber Getty Images Smoke fills the walkway outside the Senate Chamber as supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers inside the Capitol AP A supporter of US President Donald Trump struggles with a riot policeman after the protester pushed a line of police outside the Capitol building AFP via Getty Images People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol AP Supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol AP Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier AP Supporters of President Donald Trump puts water in his eyes after U.S. Capitol Police deployed a chemical agent outside of the U.S. Capitol AP Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, AP Police keep a watch on demonstrators who tried to break through a police barrier AP Donald Trump President Donald Trump speaks at a rally AP With the Washington Monument in the background, people attend a rally in support of President Donald Trump near the White House AP Demonstrators break TV equipment outside the the U.S. Capitol AP Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, REUTERS Police confront supporters of President Donald Trump as they demonstrate on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol near the entrance to the Senate after breaching security defenses, in Washington REUTERS Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump clash with police officers in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington REUTERS Law enforcement officers push back against supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump attempting to enter U.S. Capitol during a protest against the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress REUTERS Protesters clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress REUTERS Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol AP U.S. President-elect Joe Biden clasps his hands in prayer as he speaks about the violent protests in and around the U.S. Capitol in Washington REUTERS A supporter of President Donald Trump carries a Confederate battle flag on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol near the entrance to the Senate after breaching security defences in Washington, REUTERS Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump cover their faces to protect from tear gas during a clash with police officers in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington REUTERS Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the US Capitol AFP via Getty Images A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol AFP via Getty Images Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol AFP via Getty Images Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Vice President Mike Pence talk before a joint session of the House and Senate convenes to count the Electoral College votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol in Washington AP The House Chamber is empty after a hasty evacuation as protesters tried to break into the chamber at the U.S. Capitol AP Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington AP Damage is visible in the hallways in the early morning hours after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington AP Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building REUTERS Congress staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police Swat teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump suporters in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask and holds a bust of him after he and hundreds of others stormed stormed the Capitol building AFP via Getty Images Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images A pro-Trump protester carries the lectern of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi through the Roturnda of the U.S. Capitol Building after a pro-Trump mob stormed the building Getty Images Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol Rotunda AFP via Getty Images A pro-Trump mob gathers inside the Senate chamber in the U.S. Capitol after groups stormed the building Getty Images Police with guns drawn stand near a barricaded door as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol AP Members of the Oath Keepers are seen among supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol during a protest against the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress REUTERS Getty Images Barnett also took a piece of Mrs Pelosis mail and left behind a note that said, Nancy, Bigo was here, punctuating the message with a sexist expletive. Before leaving Capitol grounds, Barnett used a bullhorn to give a speech to the crowd, shouting, We took back our house, and I took Nancy Pelosis office! according to prosecutors. Defence attorney Jonathan Gross said Barnett didnt hurt anyone or damage property, and was being singled out because the photo had made him famous. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Just over 500 of them have been sentenced. More than half have received prison terms ranging from a week to over 14 years. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Azerbaijan is an important participant in the North-South transport corridor project. We have also initiated the creation of the Zangezur corridor, which will not only connect the main part of the country with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic but will also become a part of international railway routes, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Moscow, Trend reports. "There are eight international airports in Azerbaijan, two of which, located in Fuzuli and Zangilan, on the lands liberated from occupation, were built over the past two years. The ninth international airport is under construction in the liberated Lachin and will be put into operation in 2025. Our country has one of the largest air cargo fleets in the region with a cargo turnover of more than 500,000 tons per year," President Ilham Aliyev added. T he head of a paramilitary group that said it was behind a cross-border raid into Russia from Ukraine has vowed to soon launch more incursions. Denis Kapustin, the commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), speaking to reporters on the Ukrainian side of the border said: I think you will see us again on that side. I cannot reveal those upcoming things, I cannot even reveal the direction. The ... border is pretty long. Yet again there will be a spot where things will get hot. Mr Kapustin, whose nom de guerre is White Rex, said: Were satisfied with the result [of the raid]. The militants carried out their attack in the Belgorod region using armoured vehicles on Monday. The Russian military said it had routed the forces, and pushed those who survived back into Ukraine. Moscow claimed several civilians were injured during the incursion. Mr Kapustin claimed that total losses on his side for the operation were two killed and 10 wounded. Moscow claimed it killed over 70 Ukrainian nationalists. Another group, the Liberty of Russia Legion (LSR), also claimed responsibility for the raid. Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) commander, Moscow-born Denis Kapustin, also known as Denis Nikiti / REUTERS Russia describes the RDK and LSR as Ukrainian militants - but Kyiv says they come from two anti-Kremlin paramilitaries. Both groups say they want to dismantle Russian President Vladimir Putins regime, and have in the past been described as part of an international legion involved in Ukraines territorial defence. Mr Kapustin, known as a Moscow-born Russian nationalist, was asked repeatedly about Western media reports that his militia had used US military equipment that was meant to help Ukraine defend itself against Russias invasion, but declined to answer directly. I know exactly where I got my weapons from. Unfortunately not from the Western partners, he said. He also suggested that Western military equipment had been captured by Russia in the battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and that such equipment could be bought on the black market. I think I explained that the Western military aid unfortunately goes back and forth, being raided. In Bakhmut for instance I know that a lot of armoured vehicles, American armoured vehicles, got raided by the Russian forces, he said. The US said it was sceptical that reports of US-supplied weapons being used in the incursion were true and did not encourage or enable strikes inside of Russia. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the vehicles were evidence of growing Western military involvement in Ukraine. It is no secret for us that more and more equipment is being delivered to Ukraines armed forces. It is no secret that this equipment is being used against our own military, he said. We are drawing the appropriate conclusions. T he head of Vladimir Putins Wagner Group private army said on Thursday his soldiers had started withdrawing from Ukraines eastern town of Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prigozhin made the claim about the town which was captured days ago by his troops in some of the fiercest fighting since the Second World War. The battles are believed to have left 20,000 Wagner soldiers dead or wounded, as well as many thousand regular Russian troops. Ukrainian forces are also believed to have suffered heavy casualties. Prigozhin said regular Russian troops would replace his fighters as they pull out of the town. "We are withdrawing the units from Bakhmut. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the units will rebase to camps in the rear. We are handing our positions to the military," he said. The video was posted on Telegram by his press service, and showed Prigozhin dressed in battle gear and standing beside a war-damaged residential block. Prigozhin announced the capture of Bakhmut on Saturday. In the latest video Prigozhin, who has repeatedly voiced scathing criticism of Russias military top brass, said his forces would be ready to return to Bakhmut if the regular army was unable to manage the situation. Ukrainian military chiefs ordered the defence of Bakhmut for months, even though it had no strategic importance, but they have succeeded in tying down Wagner and Russian units in the clashes ahead of a planned counter-offensive. Ukraines army is already seeking to shape the battlefield, probing Russian defences ahead of the launch of a full-scale counter-offensive, with attacks also being carried out across the border in Russia by anti-regime forces. Russian units in Ukraine are believed to be so worn down that they will struggle to counter-punch if the formidable defences which they have built up in eastern Ukraine are breached. But while Ukraine may succeed in regaining swathes of territory, the likelihood of any breakthrough that would end the war appear remote. Meanwhile, Ukraine said on Thursday it had shot down all 36 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks which it said probably targeted critical infrastructure and military facilities. President Volodymyr Zelensky said it had been an "uneasy night" but praised the work of air defences. "Continuing to terrorise Ukraine, the enemy used 36 Shahed (drones). None of them reached their target. Thanks to our air defence forces for the 100 per cent result," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Since last October, Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion in February last year, has regularly sent waves of drones to attack targets in Ukraine. Although they are slow, drones are cheaper and more expendable than advanced missiles. "The enemy likely aimed to attack critical infrastructure and military facilities in the western regions of the state," the Ukrainian air force said on Telegram. It said Iran-made Shahed 136 and Shahed 131 drones had been used. The head of Kyiv's military administration said the capital had come under attack by several waves of drones but that all had been shot down. He said it was the 12th attack on Kyiv this month. Regional and military authorities in southern and western Ukraine reported shooting down drones. I f you have enough power and wealth to get pretty much whatever wine you want, what do you buy? From $80,000 wine to Malbec morons, cheap Prosecco to biodynamic Spatburgunder, wine punctuates every meeting, incites every infidelity, and underpins every interaction of HBOs Succession. The Roys barely eat on camera the calamari cockring notwithstanding but wine is splashed absolutely everywhere. Throughout, its used to portray both the opulent and ugly sides of the Roys wealth. To the family, consuming fine wine is an ordinary, day-to-day thing; so usual that they dont notice it, like having a fully-stocked fridge of La Croix or a fleet of Cadillac Escalades. Where for the average drinker, the celebratory opening of a special bottle is designated for lifes important moments, the Roys drink fine wine so often, any sense of celebration is abstracted into something meaningless. Every meeting, deal and misguided presidential candidacy is peppered with bubbles. Everything is a celebration, which means nothing is. Then again, for people like the Roys, no matter how hard life gets for the rest of us, there will always be something to celebrate. Perhaps its no surprise that a story about the trappings of inordinate wealth features fine wine, but theres an awful lot of drinking for a show where the future of a media dynasty pirouettes on a knife edge. In short? Theyre nearly always half-cut on the job. And, just as with everything the family wears, every bottle opened and every glass swirled reveals something telling about the family. Ahead of the shows finale, here are four of the most significant liquid moments from across the series. Connors hyper-decanted Burgundy HBO One of the most recognisable wine moments from Succession is Connors misguided hyper-decanting scene. He offers Shiv a blender of liquid, which she mistakes for a smoothie. Its Burgundy, Connor says matter-of-factly, before openly mocking her: I hyper-decant. You dont hyper-decant? Youre just doing regular decanting? Its a scene that tells us everything we need to know about Connor, and the rest of the Roys too namely, that money can buy you wine, but it cant buy class. Connor Roy isnt used to waiting to get what he wants: why slog away for years as a senator when you can essentially buy a presidential campaign? And in that same vein, why wait another few years to let your Burgundy age when you can age it five years in ten seconds? (Connors words, and wrong to boot.) Kendall and Ravas 1996 Pingus HBO Succession is as much about excess and waste as it is about opulence. In the first episode of season three, just days after Kendalls shocking betrayal, he sets up a makeshift office at the home of his ex-wife. And, for the time being, the perennially goofy cousin Greg is working alongside him. Characteristically, he opens the wrong bottle of wine. It was a gift from Ravas godfather, now opened, mingling with the oxygen of the hot, nervous room. Its an incredibly tense moment, even more so when you know a little bit about the wine. The opened bottle has been identified online as a 1996 wine from Dominio de Pingus, a sainted winery located in the Spanish region of Ribera del Duero. Dominio de Pingus was only started a year earlier in 1995, but the whole of that vintage was lost at sea after a cargo accident, meaning the 1996, the second-ever vintage, is a seriously rare, even legendary wine. Rava, more than a little miffed, eventually shrugs it off. Its like when someone breaks something beautiful, she says. It reminds you that nothing lasts. It seems she may be the only one who appreciates the special, rare moments that wine affords. Which is handy, given a bottle will set you back somewhere in the region of 1,000. Shiv and Toms natural Spatburgunder HBO Its not very nice, is it, the wine, Shiv? Successions not-so-subtle dig at natural wine was a much-loved scene for the industry, whether it affirmed personally held beliefs or playfully poked fun at the sensibilities of the natty brigade. In the scene, Tom and Shiv receive the Spatburgunder (German Pinot Noir) from their vineyard, a needlessly opulent wedding gift. They sniff at the screw cap closure and wrinkle their noses at the agricultural bouquet. While the wine is a clear analogy of their rapidly spiralling marriage, it could also be an indicator of the narrow-mindedness of the uber-rich. Open-minded is probably not a word that features in Successions ludicrously capacious dictionary (see: slime puppy); rather, they want wine to signal their affluence. They want luxury for the sake of luxury, which means the inordinately expensive wines of the Old World (Marcia in particular despises Logans New World collection). A biodynamic Spatburgunder doesnt fit within this narrow expectation. The exact bottle was, unsurprisingly, not revealed. Although, lets be honest, its not the worst thing Tom has swallowed. The pre-election night party Champagne hbo Second only to Tom, Connor is perhaps the member of the Waystar Royco dynasty who loves wine the most. In fact, nearly all the scenes which involve branded Champagne involve Connor. He sips the cult-favourite Champagne Jacquart at his schadenfreude-laden bachelor party; Veuve Clicquot sits on ice as he announces his presidential candidacy to his father; and Laurent Perrier lines the walls on his wedding day. So it only makes sense that Toms pre-election night party is stocked with a luxury cuvee. His choice? Piper Heidsieck: the Champagne of choice for both the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscars. Once again, the idea of affluence and status runs deep. Wed expect nothing less, although Tom does spend some time trying palm off last seasons Spatburgunder. Theres a few decisions to make before you buy a baby backpack carrier, as this will help you to find the best one to suit your needs. Of course, first and foremost will be the safety of your child. All of the baby backpack carriers we feature in this round-up have adjustable secure harnesses and seats to make sure your little one is always safe. The next thing to think about is when youre planning to use it most. Will it be for long hikes or day-to-day wear for things like shopping and the school run? Do you intend to travel with it and how much space does it take up when stored at home? Each of these factors may affect the backpack carrier you go for. For example, if its for walks in the countryside, size probably wont be an issue, but you might not want to carry a large backpack around the supermarket. Likewise, if youre going to travel with it, you may want something more compact, which is easier to transport. Other things to consider are the weight of the backpack and who will be wearing it. Most backpack carriers are designed to be adapted to fit different sized bodies, but they do differ quite a bit in weight, so you need to ensure you feel comfortable carrying it, along with the added weight of your child. The backpacks storage is another consideration. If youre only planning to take the backpack carrier on your next hike, you need to ensure it has enough room for everything youll need during the day. Once youve decided on a style you like, have a look at what is included with it. Does it come with a sunshade, raincover and carry bag, or do they need to be bought separately? I f theres one thing thats certain in life, its that coming up with gifts for every birthday, anniversary and appreciation days for the people you love can be tricky. What can you get them that is something they will both cherish and use? With Fathers Day coming up on 18 June, its time to start thinking about what to get this parents in your life. While, for the fathers with babies and toddlers, a handcrafted gift is always a nice thought, it could be a good idea to get them something practical as well. This is why MiniMeis is the perfect Fathers Day gift. A shoulder carrier for kids aged six months to four years old, it was named one of the best inventions of the year by Time Magazine for a good reason. Its foldable like a laptop making it easy to transport, and the way it works is you strap it on over your shoulders and place the child safely on top. MiniMeis is the brainchild of Norwegian fathers Tarjei Johnson and Julius Winger who, seven years ago, were looking for the best way to bring their kids on adventures. While they decided to place their children on their shoulders like their parents had done before them, they found that this was not safe, nor was it comfortable for more than a few minutes. Thus, after five more years of development, MiniMeis was born. In the two years since its 2021 launch, MiniMeis has sold over 200,000 carriers to families in more than 150 countries even Hilary Duff is said to be a fan. So, do a favour to the dad in your lifes shoulders (or the mums! Any parent would love this) and get them one of these shoulder carriers for Fathers Day, or their birthday, or Christmas. Its a thoughtful gift for any occasion. Plus, MiniMeis are currently offering a free pouch worth 40 with any purchase of the 169.99 shoulder carrier, simply add the code HAPPY2023 at checkout. A my Dowden has broken her silence on social media following her cancer diagnosis to thank her fans for their support. The Strictly Come Dancing pro shared the devastating on Wednesday and revealed that she had been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer last week. In light of her announcement, she took to her Instagram stories on Thursday to share a shot of herself dancing on the BBC ballroom stalwart as Sam Ryder performed. The 32-year-old wrote: This feeling performing is like no other! The emotion, excitement, adrenaline and I cant wait for it again. It feeds my souls! Thank u for every single comment and message today! It means so much to me and my incredible family Im so lucky to be surrounded by! Thank you (sic). Her post comes amid reports that Strictly bosses arent casting a replacement for Dowden in the hopes she will be well enough for the 2023 instalment when it resumes in September. The dancer shared an update with her Instagram followers / Instagram/Amy Dowden Even if Dowden cant participate for the entire season, insiders have said she may return for special episodes of the competition. An insider told The Sun newspaper: They wont be recasting a replacement for Amy and even if she isnt well enough to take part in a full series, theyll strive to have her back showcasing her amazing skills in some form. That might be in the form of a performance with other pros or even this years Christmas special. Either way the door remains open for her to return at a time and manner of her choosing. The Standard has contacted a Strictly Come Dancing rep for comment. On Wednesday, the Caerphilly-born star, who joined the BBC dance competition show in 2017, shared her cancer diagnosis on Instagram, telling fans that she is determined to return to the dance floor as soon as she can. She wrote: Hey all, Ive got some news which isnt easy to share. Ive recently been diagnosed with breast cancer but Im determined to get back on that dance floor before you know it. Dowden added a pink love heart, signing off with Welsh love Amy with a kiss. She said she found a lump in her breast in April, the day before going to the Maldives on her honeymoon with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones, and hopes to raise awareness of the disease. Dowden said after realising the lump had grown after her holiday, she went to the GP before being sent for an emergency referral. She told Hello magazine: Everything happened so fast within that day. I went on my own and didnt tell anybody, but when I was there, the nurse said to me You need to have somebody here and thats when Ben found out. They told me it was looking very suspicious and to prepare for the worst, hope for the best. They did the biopsy and then we had a wait. Last week Dowden was told she had grade three breast cancer. She said: My doctor explained to me that there are three grades, and three is the most aggressive, but they feel like theyve caught mine early and to not be too alarmed because grade 3 would be expected in somebody of my age. B rian Cox says he thinks his foul-mouthed character of Logan Roy was written out too early of the hit HBO show Succession. The Scottish actor, 76, said although the shock twist had been done in a pretty brilliant way he had felt a little bit rejected by the decision. The Roy family patriarch and global media tycoon was killed off in episode three of the latest series, which also stars Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin. Speaking on BBC Twos Amol Rajan Interviews ahead of Successions series four finale, Cox said it would perhaps have been more appropriate for the character to die in the fifth or sixth episode. I was fine with it ultimately, but I did feel a little bit rejected, he said. You know, I felt a little bit, oh, all the work Ive done and finally Im going to, you know, end up as an ear on a carpet of a plane. HBO Details of Logans death were a well-kept secret, which Cox said he played a part in by appearing on set to film scenes he was not required to be in. Cox said he had gone on (his) own volition so that members of the paparazzi attending the shoot would not become suspicious. In the BBC interview, he also told Rajan that he thinks Logan might still be alive. I still believe this, maybe Logan isnt dead. This could be part of an elaborate ruse to find out, he said. PA If you think about it, from Logans point of view, he has to find out how are his children going to behave when he dies, what will then happen? The only way to do that is to fake his death and actually, at some distant point, hes observing the chaos that is following. But he added that the character would not come back from the dead, saying: Im just saying that could have been a supposition. During the interview, Cox also reflected on his childhood, his career, his thoughts on Scottish independence and why he supports the writers strike in Hollywood. The full interview, Brian Cox: Amol Rajan Interviews, is on BBC Two on Thursday May 25 at 7pm and BBC iPlayer. E nvironmentalist Chris Packham has been awarded 90,000 in damages after winning his High Court libel claim over denied allegations he misled the public into donating to a wildlife charity. The TV naturalist sued three men for libel over nine articles which included claims he manipulated people into donating to rescue five tigers while knowing the animals were well looked after. The strongly denied allegations, repeated in several tweets and videos, related to Mr Packhams involvement with the Wildheart Trust, which runs a wildlife sanctuary on the Isle of Wight. These were not the product of any acts of responsible journalism Dominic Wightman, editor of the online site Country Squire Magazine, defended the libel claim along with writer Nigel Bean and a third man, Paul Read. In a judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice Saini ruled in Mr Packhams favour against Mr Wightman and Mr Bean. The judge said: Mr Packham did not commit any acts of fraud or dishonesty. As well as being ordered to pay the five-figure sum in damages, Mr Wightman and Mr Bean were also ordered to pay 400,000 towards Mr Packhams legal fees within 28 days. However, Mr Justice Saini found that Mr Read had no editorial or equivalent responsibility for the statements complained of or the decision to publish them and dismissed the claim against him. Mr Packham will have to pay some of Mr Reads legal bill, with the amounts to be assessed at a later date. During the trial earlier this month, lawyers for Mr Wightman and Mr Bean said the articles in the claim could be defended as true or under the public interest. However, Mr Justice Saini said that Mr Wightman and Mr Bean fail to come even close to establishing the substantial truth of the allegation Mr Packham defrauded anyone. He added: The approach revealed by the evidence is that rather than approaching the task with an investigative mind, these defendants targeted Mr Packham as a person against whom they had an agenda. Mr Packham was also accused of dishonestly raising money for the charity at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic while knowing it was due to receive a 500,000 benefit from its insurance. Mr Justice Saini said the allegation was gratuitously thrown in as part of increasingly hyperbolic and vitriolic smearing of the presenter. The presenters barrister Jonathan Price who once described the allegations as tiger fraud previously told the High Court in London that some of the articles accused Mr Packham of having an obvious nastiness and playing the Aspergers victim card. The judge said that Mr Wightman and Mr Bean had used this litigation as a device to introduce offensive material to smear Mr Packham. He added: These were not the product of any acts of responsible journalism. I do go to walk my dogs in the woods and wonder: is today the day that a psychopath fuelled by all this hate turns up and kills me The judge added that the men had previously said they would allege Mr Packham was a rapist, bully and a pervert. There is not a shred of evidence in support of the offensive allegations, Mr Justice Saini said, adding: I find they were made in order to scare off Mr Packham from seeking recourse in a public hearing for the libels. Mr Packham had also previously been accused of forging a death threat he received in a handwritten letter, though this allegation was withdrawn during the trial. Mr Justice Saini noted that even a cursory examination of the handwriting showed obvious differences between the presenters writing and the death threat letter. The judge said that the defendants had instructed an expert who claimed that the threat was written by Mr Packham, after examining a sample of his writing from Companies House. He continued: The problem was that the sample from Companies House was not Mr Packhams handwriting. It was the handwriting of his accountant there is no suggestion that the accountant had authored the death threat. The judge added that while this critical error was pointed out last November, they refused to withdraw the allegation. The court also heard that Mr Packham said he fears for his and his familys security, and that in October 2021, masked attackers set fire to a car and burned down the gate to his home. In his written evidence, he said: I do go to walk my dogs in the woods and wonder: is today the day that a psychopath fuelled by all this hate turns up and kills me. Mr Justice Saini said that while the men in the claim did not themselves undertake wider acts of harassment to which he makes reference in his evidence, I accept that their unsubstantiated claims would have misled and agitated vocal and sometimes violent groups. Speaking outside of the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday, Mr Packham called the judgment a full and frank vindication of my innocence. A gony uncle Harry Styles struck again when he paused his concert to give some advice to a fan in need. Cecilia Cavalcanti, 21, went to Styles Love on Tour concert in Munich, Germany on Wednesday armed with a sign that read: He cheated. Should I forgive him? After she managed to score a spot at the front of the standing section, Styles noticed her sign while taking questions from fans and read it out to the stadium. The audience immediately began booing while shouting no. Ms Cavalcanti said her boyfriend told her he was sorry for cheating, but the 70,000 strong stadium was having none of it. Styles wanted to do a little more digging, however, and asked Cavalcanti some questions about her situation. After establishing that her boyfriends name was Floor, he asked about how long they had been together. She replied: Hes a good boyfriend, almost five years, he says hes sorry. Styles dramatically questioned: Why, Floor, why, was it worth it to throw it all away? Is he here tonight? She said the boyfriend was working and was not able to attend the concert with her. Thats unfortunate because I have some questions, Styles added. While he encounraged her to do whatever made her happy, her told her to remember that you deserve someone who treats you with respect and honesty. Still unconvinced, the crowds booing got louder. The people have spoken, Styles then joked. After sharing a clip of the exchange to her TikTok, Cavalcanti later confirmed that she had indeed dumped her boyfriend. Speaking to Deadline, she said: We still share an apartment and Im currently looking for another apartment to move out, so we still talk here and there because we still live together but we arent together anymore. A few months before the show, my boyfriend cheated on me and at the point of the video we were still together and he did not know about the sign. Cecilia went on to praise Harry for being so caring and loving to his fans. She said she felt seen and heard by the musician. T ina Turner suffered many heartaches in her 83 years, but one of the biggest came just a few months before her passing the loss of a second child. Her son Ronnie was found dead outside his home in Los Angeles in December aged 62. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroners office determined that he died as a result of complications from colon cancer, as well as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A bereft Turner paid tribute to him on social media by sharing an emotional black and white picture of her with her eyes firmly shut. Explaining the image in the caption, she penned: Ronnie, you left the world far too early. In sorrow I close my eyes and think of you, my beloved son. His death came just four years after the death of mum-of-three Turners son Craig, after he took his own life in 2018. Lamenting his loss on Twitter, she wrote: My saddest moment as a mother. On Thursday, July 19 2018, I said my final goodbye to my son, Craig Raymond Turner, when I gathered with family and friends to scatter his ashes off the coast of California. Adding: He was fifty-nine when he died so tragically, but he will always be my baby. Turner gave birth to Craig when she was 18 years old before her marriage to Ike Turner. After they wed he adopted her son, with Craig taking his surname. Craigs biological father was Kings of Rhythm saxophonist Raymond Hill, who was a member of Ikes band and enjoyed a relationship with Tina long before she caught her future husbands eye. She was married to Ike between 1962 and 1978, but it was not a happy union as he domestically abused her, which left her with a form of PTSD for the rest of her life. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. We look forward to strengthening our interactions with EurAsEC member countries, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Moscow,Trend reports. "Although the unemployment rate is only at 5 percent, our demographic growth over the past 30 years, the population of Azerbaijan has grown from 7 to 10 million requires active efforts to create new jobs. Of course, we look forward to strengthening our interactions with EurAsEC member countries both in bilateral format which we are successfully doing already and in the multilateral format," President Ilham Aliyev said. A s Netflix rolls out its plan to crack down on password sharing, analysis of Google search data has revealed that many have searched for information about how to cancel their subscriptions. Since the streaming service started emailing UK users who shared passwords outside of their homes, the number of searches has increased by more than 30 times the norm. Online interest in Cancel Netflix account increased by 2,393 per cent in the United Kingdom on May 24, according to comparison site KingCasinoBonus, while searches for Netflix password sharing soared by 1,469 per cent. According to research firm Digital-i through the Guardian, over a quarter of Netflix's 15 million UK members share their password. Ionut Catalin Marin, CEO of KingCasinoBonus said on the findings: Netflixs plan to target password-sharing users is aimed at encouraging more people to subscribe. However, users appear to have been turned off by this move. These findings show a staggering rise in Netflix users looking to cancel their accounts. As the cost of living crisis continues to hit UK households, this change may encourage users to switch off for good. Customers in 103 countries and territories, including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, and Singapore, received an email from Netflix on Tuesday, May 23 with information regarding sharing accounts. The email thats been sent to many users begins with: Your Netflix account is for you and the people you live with - your household. In an effort to increase the number of members, it has also started informing users that sharing their account with someone outside of their family will cost them 4.99 per month. However, some people are baulking at the expense in several nations where it has previously undergone testing. According to Kantar, it lost more than a million members in Spain in the first three months of the year after charging 5.99 euros (5.27) for an extra account. C hina has denied allegations made by tech giant Microsoft that Chinese state-sponsored hackers have been trying to disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the US and Asia. On Wednesday, Microsoft issued a report accusing a Chinese nation-state hacking group called Volt Typhoon of targeting critical infrastructure in the US and Guam to carry out espionage and information gathering. In a video statement released on Twitter Thursday afternoon, Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed Microsofts report, claiming that it is a patchwork with a broken chain of evidence and extremely unprofessional. She added that it was ironic that the report was released jointly with statements from cybersecurity agencies in the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand the other members besides the US of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. As we all know, the Five Eyes alliance is the worlds biggest intelligence organisation, while the NSA is the worlds biggest hacking group, said Ms Mao. The involvement of certain companies this time shows that the US is exploring new channels of spreading disinformation besides government agencies. This is not the first time for them to do so and certainly not the last time too, however, whatever subterfuge it uses, this will not change the fact that the US is the biggest hacking empire in the world. Volt Typhoons hacking campaign On Wednesday, the NSA released an advisory providing technical details on just how Volt Typhoon is spying on critical infrastructure and what organisations should do to prevent further attacks. The hacking groups espionage and information-gathering efforts reportedly affected multiple government systems, as well as networks in multiple industries like communications, IT, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction and maritime. Microsoft said that Volt Typhoon was using a type of hacking method known as living off the land, where the hackers were sneakily using network administation tools to collect credentials from local and network systems, and then use them to log in and observe the networks. The tech giant added that the hacking group were able to blend into normal network activity by routing traffic through compromised small office and home office (SOHO) network equipment, including routers, firewalls, and VPN hardware. UK organisations urged to take action On Wednesday night, the National Cyber Security Centre issued advice for UK organisations on the Volt Typhoon hacking group. It is vital that operators of critical national infrastructure take action to prevent attackers hiding on their systems, as described in this joint advisory with our international partners, said NCSC Director of Operations Paul Chichester. We strongly encourage providers of UK essential services to follow our guidance to help detect this malicious activity and prevent persistent compromise. William Hutchison, the former cybersecurity lead for the US Department of Defense (DoD) told The Standard that the UK needs to improve its cyber defences. Theres been a massive underinvestment in critical national infrastructure in the UK. Unfortunately, its not hard to compromise critical infrastructure and bring critical services to their knees, said Mr Hutchison, who is also chief executive of cybersecurity firm SimSpace. He wants companies and organisations to prepare themselves by simulating a real cyberattack situation and assessing whether their current responses are adequate. Mr Hutchison added: By utilising military-grade cybersecurity readiness solutions, such as cyber ranges, organisations can test their systems to failure in a high-fidelity, simulated environment, shifting the power away from hackers intent on exfiltrating sensitive data and damaging business-critical systems. Loading.... As its announced the UKs energy price cap is being lowered, could there be an even cheaper and cleaner way to power homes of the future by harvesting electricity out of thin air? A new invention by Massachusetts University Amherst, called Air-gen, is being compared to the replicator on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The mobile electricity generation device uses protein nanowires to turn airborne ambient humidity into contained, synthetic thunderstorms - essentially a small artificial storm cloud packed with energy. Sony has staged its biggest PlayStation gaming showcase in nearly two years. Among a big list of trailers and teasers is a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater plus Assassins Creed Mirage and a sixth instalment of the Street Fighter franchise. Scientists at CERN in Switzerland say theyre a step closer to building the most accurate clock known to humanity, thanks to the discovery of a rare flash of light. Atomic clocks already use the energy state of electrons to tell the time, but one of the nuclear variety would be the most precise - and could even help space scientists understand more about the construction of the universe itself. Plus, paralysed man walks again thanks to wireless digital bridge, Iran ballistic missile test, dementia link to young diabetes, ISS cancer experiments and summer heat warning for dog owners. Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts. N early 200 unique species have been recorded in an area attracting deep sea mining interests, the Natural History Museum has said. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the central and eastern Pacific is an area between Hawaii and Mexico and spanning up to six million km2 roughly the same size as the continental United States. There are 17 contracts for mineral exploration in the region although no company is allowed to begin mining yet. They are searching for minerals such as cobalt which are used to build renewable technology, with demand growing as the global energy transition gathers pace. Researchers said around 90% of the species in the CCZ are still unknown to science and that understanding of biodiversity there has been poor until only recently despite mineral exploration beginning in the 1960s. We have to know what lives in these regions before we can begin to understand how to protect such ecosystems A new study, published in the journal Current Biology, has drawn up the first comprehensive list of known species in this still relatively unexplored part of the ocean. Adrian Glover, of the Natural History Museum and co-author of the current study, said: Taxonomy is the most important knowledge gap we have when studying these unique habitats. We have to know what lives in these regions before we can begin to understand how to protect such ecosystems. We are on the eve of some of the largest deep sea mining operations potentially being approved. It is imperative that we work with the companies looking to mine these resources to ensure any such activity is done in a way that limits its impact upon the natural world. We would still predict there are 6000-8000 more unknown animal species meaning around 90% of species in the CCZ are not known to science Scientists have been documenting life in the CCZ through various means such as remote-controlled vehicles that traverse the ocean floor or a study box dragged along the bottom, they said. They have created 100,000 records describing 185 species with only six of them, including a sea cucumber, a nematode, and a carnivorous sponge, known to exist outside of the CCZ. The majority of species recorded were arthropods, such as shrimp, or crabs, worms and other invertebrates. Much of the data came through a DeepData platform supplied by companies searching for minerals, as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) requires they collect and share environmental data to be granted permission to explore. Muriel Rabone, of the Natural History Museum and the studys author, said: DeepData is one of the tools that has significantly increased our knowledge of the CCZ, but we would still predict there are 6,000 to 8,000 more unknown animal species meaning around 90% of species in the CCZ are not known to science. We should note that the percentage of undescribed species in this zone is similar to that recorded for the global ocean but the potential for mineral extraction in this area means we should strive for a better understanding of the life it holds. The scientists said the least-sampled sites are rocky outcrops that have been shown to contain unique and diverse communities of wildlife which would benefit from a more in-depth understanding. They hope their work will fuel further data collection and develop human knowledge so the damage of any potential mineral extraction in future can be minimised Ariana Densham, head of oceans at Greenpeace UK, said: This new evidence showing the very area at the centre of the deep sea mining debate is absolutely teeming with new and undiscovered life some of which thrives only in the fragile and undisturbed ecosystems established there has to be a dealbreaker for those governments, like the UK, still entertaining this industry. To forge ahead and consider the approval of exploitation licences as the ISA is under commercial pressure to do from this July would be criminal. Companies at the forefront of the green transition are already calling for a halt, as are governments from Europe to the Pacific. Rishi Sunak needs to get off the fence, join those calling for a moratorium and prove that when the UK government calls itself a leader on ocean protection, those words actually mean something. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. There are agreements of a principled nature on the issue of territorial integrity, President of Russia Vladimir Putin said at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in an expanded format, Trend reports. The Russian president's remark came in response to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan mentioning the "Lachin corridor". "It seems to me that the terminology that the three of us are very well aware of, is called legal technology in another word - corridor, road, this is important. And there are certain contradictions here," Vladimir Putin said. More important is what both the President of Azerbaijan and the prime minister of Armenia have said, that there are agreements of a principled nature on the fundamental issue - territorial integrity. And this is really the basis for agreeing on other issues of a secondary nature. Although they are also essential, he said. We will have an opportunity now, as we agreed in the trilateral format, to talk about everything. I hope to reach some agreements that will lead to a constructive development of the situation not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also in the region as a whole. I want to assure you that everyone here is interested in this," he said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. I believe that there are opportunities to reach a peace agreement, especially taking into account the fact that Armenia officially recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Moscow,Trend reports. "Of course, I do not want to open a debate, but since there has been an accusation that we have territorial claims against Armenia, I want to say that we have no such claims. You have to try very hard or have a wild imagination to see territorial claims in my words. As for the word corridor that I used, I used the same word for the North-South corridor, just as the same word is used for the East-West corridor. The word corridor is in no way an encroachment on someone's territory. This is an international term, and I think people who are familiar with international terminology would probably not attach the meaning that the Prime Minister of Armenia attaches to it today. As Vladimir Vladimirovich has noted, I believe that there are opportunities to reach a peace agreement, especially taking into account the fact that Armenia officially recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan," President Ilham Aliyev said. As part of the council's efforts to review Lincoln's 10-year capital plan continues, two capital projects have been officially postponed until 2024. The decision to delay the reconstruction of Lincoln Avenue and Durham Road reconstruction came at the ad hoc finance/debt review committee meeting. Councillors Adam Russell, Greg Reimer and Anna Murre, and Mayor Sandra Easton sit on the committee. On May 23, Charlotte Tunikaitis, associate director of finance and deputy treasurer and Lincoln's chief administrative officer (CAO) Michael Kirkopoulos, provided a presentation during a budget meeting for committee of the whole on recommendations for Lincoln Avenue and Durham Road reconstruction. We're not cancelling these projects. We're not coming back to you next year as part of the budget process and having deliberations. But we are delaying construction commencement, Kirkopoulos said. Coun. Tony Brunet and JD?Pachereva voted against Durham Roads reconstruction delay. For Lincoln Avenue, Brunet, Pachereva, and Dianne Rintjema voted against postponing the reconstruction. Mayor Sandra Easton said there is a public expectation of Lincoln Avenues reconstruction that cant be ignored and noted when it came to making the decision, the ad hoc committee did not take it lightly. She added the goal of the delay was to smooth things out. It means that we want to move things around; delays are not denials. So, we're moving a few things around. Timing is often our greatest asset, but we can still confirm the intentions are unchanged, Easton said. Its been confirmed with the federal government that the future of the $1,755,000 grant for Lincoln Avenue is not going to be impacted by the construction delay. The Ontario Street sewer upgrade was also discussed at the meeting. Both projects are being led by the region, which is responsible for the tendering contract and invoicing. Though the project is still set to start construction this year, invoicing wont be hitting the towns book until the project is completed in late 2024, possibly going into 2025. At the next meeting, the ad hoc finance/debt review committee will be discussing debt, user rates and reserve balance targets. An annual report will be provided to councillors on debt projections, reserve balances and trending regarding capital works. RELATED STORIES Lincoln may delay 2 road reconstruction projects amid debt concerns SHARE: A lawyer representing a former exotic dancer alleging Niagara Regional Police botched their investigation after she alleged she was sexually and physically assaulted called his clients case an example of problems that can arise when police investigate themselves. Toronto lawyer Daniel Lamberto Ambrosini represented the woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, during a judicial review Wednesday after the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) sided with the NRPs professional standards unit and cleared several police officers of misconduct allegations against them related to their investigation. Ambrosini said his client, identified as AZ during the hearing, is asking Divisional Court to order that the OIPRD directors decision be quashed and that it be returned to the OIPRD and/or another police force other than the Niagara Regional Police Service for a fulsome and thorough investigation. Justice Graeme Mew said the court will reserve its decision on the case, but provided no indication of when a decision will be reached. The alleged incident occurred Aug. 22, 2020, when Ambrosinis client said she was sexually assaulted by a customer as she was working as an exotic dancer at a Niagara Falls strip club. The woman said she was then injured while being forcibly removed from the premises by a security guard. In February 2021, seven months after the incident, Ambrosini said NRP Const. Matthew Catherwood advised his client that no charges would be laid related to the sexual assault and the investigation would be suspended. Three months later, he said, Det. Sgt. Richard Gauthier informed her no charges would be laid related to the alleged physical assault by the security guard, either. AZ was entitled to a reasonable expectation that the complaint would be dealt with in a manner that was fair independent and without bias, he said. AZ respectfully submits that is not what happened. He said his client filed a misconduct complaint against the officers with OIPRD on June 9, 2021. But rather than investigating the complaint themselves or referring it to another police service, Ambrosini said the police watchdog agency referred her complaint back to the NRP. He said the OIPRDs decision to refer the investigation to the NRP denied his client of any semblance of procedural fairness. I think its important to note here that AZ was a victim of sexual assault and she specifically requested that the investigation be referred to another police department, Ambrosini said. In my submission, this case is an example of problems that can arise when police investigate themselves. OIPRD lawyer Heather Mackay said OIPRDs senior manager of investigations believed the NRP could apply their own sexual assault investigation policies and conduct an independent investigation. The NRPs professional standards unit cleared three police officers of misconduct allegations against them related to their investigation, but determined there were reasonable grounds to believe two officers committed misconduct of a less serious nature by failing to inform the woman on how to secure forensic evidence or obtain a sexual assault evidence kit and did not refer her to victim services. Mackay said AZ was very much right to complain to the OIPRD, because neglect of duty is a very serious charge. Although the discipline imposed on the two officers charged with misconduct cannot be publicly disclosed, she said designating a matter as less serious only takes termination and demotion off the table. OIPRD then sided with the NRP after reviewing the professional standards unit decision, in a report released on March 18, 2022. Mackay said the directors review was reasonable here because he fulfilled his function by considering all of the investigative steps taken by the professional standards unit. The reasons are comprehensive and demonstrate the director understood the reasons in the complaint and the actions of the five responding officers, and thats evidenced by the directors summary of the issues, she said. Ambrosini said OIPRD did not have all the evidence before it to make a reasonable decision confirming the (police) chiefs decision. He said that evidence included a recording of a telephone call between his client and Gauthier that was not included within OIPRDs records. Ambrosini said police didnt try to get a statement from the suspect in the alleged sexual assault until March 2, 2021 a month after they told his client no charges would be laid against him. RELATED STORIES Niagara Region Former exotic dancer continues legal fight after Niagara police officers cleared of misconduct He said they also dismissed the allegations as a deal gone bad. To me, there appears to be a sense of negative stereotyping. AZ was sexually assaulted and this officer appears to be suggesting that the only reason she complained was because the patron didnt pay her, he said. She said the decision about laying charges in a sexual assault case are highly discretionary. Officers are not held to a standard of perfection, and to find that an officer committed misconduct pursuant to the code of conduct requires a serious departure from their duties, Mackay said, adding the detective investigating the case found contradictory evidence. It was not because the detective did not believe the applicant or think her less worthy because she was an exotic dancer, she said. The judge, however, said he often sees an alleged perpetrator arrested and brought in while the investigation is ongoing and in this case the alleged perpetrator was allowed to leave the premises before the investigating officers arrived. Subsequent to that, it doesnt seem that any meaningful attempt was even made to make contact with the alleged perpetrator until after the determination to not lay charges had been made, and not surprisingly when he was contacted, he declined to co-operate. SHARE: Alberta was the class clown of Confederation during the Depression and once again, Canadians elsewhere are baffled at what is unfolding in the province. Picking and choosing which federal laws and judicial decisions to enforce, interfering in the judicial process and comparing vaccinated Albertans to followers of Hitler? Are we moving back to the future? William Aberharts Social Credit government had a reputation for introducing funny money and trying to muzzle the press. It also tried to usurp federal jurisdiction and got its marching orders from abroad. During the 1935 provincial election, Aberhart promised to give every Albertan a monthly dividend of $25 a lot of money when a pound of beef cost a quarter. An attempt to issue scrip which could be used as currency, was unsuccessful and the public became restless. This was followed by a caucus revolt. On the advice of Major Douglas, founder of Social Credit, and against the counsel of the Attorney General, the government passed bills that challenged federal jurisdiction including one that would censor the press. Seven pieces of legislation were struck down by the courts, reserved by the Lt. Governor or disallowed by the federal government, to the utter delight of Douglas. From England, he wired his agents in Alberta: Magnificent Give Mounties notice. Organize provincial police. Who knew the RCMP has been in the crosshairs for almost a century! Aberharts targets were the federal government, financial institutions and the 50 Big Shots in Central Canada who pulled Ottawas strings. While much has changed since the 1930s, Ottawa remains Public Enemy #1 for Albertas premier although the wildfires have muted criticism for now. Smith employs hyperbole as did Aberhart and perhaps, her Major Douglas is Take Back Alberta. (This is a right-wing, grassroots group that has been likened to the Tea Party.) Like Aberhart, she is unacquainted with the limits of provincial powers and other building blocks of our parliamentary system, even believing she had the power to pardon lawbreakers. Aberhart confessed to Prime Minister Mackenzie King that he did not know much about politics and hoped he could call upon King for advice. Smith has made numerous provocative statements over the years, especially during the UCP leadership race. Sovereignty was central to her campaign along with a clarion call for freedom, mostly from federal initiatives which are seen as shackles. Her solution is less Ottawa, perhaps even to the point of independence. The premier has apologized repeatedly for intemperate statements in the past and has practically erased sovereignty from her vocabulary during the election campaign. She is also silent on other proposals to snip ties with the federal government: a provincial police and pension plan as well collection of Alberta income tax. William Aberhart genuinely believed his government would be able to give Albertans dividends during the Depression but he discovered that the province was bankrupt. It could not pay civil servants and reneged on its debt. As they mark their ballots May 29, voters will be mystified about the version of Danielle Smith who will take charge if elected. Will it be the fire-breathing Danielle Smith of the leadership campaign or Danielle Smith 2.0 who will gracefully accept federal assistance during wildfires and funding for health care/daycare, etc. a co-operative and cordial member of the Canadian family? Albertans will walk into the polling booth uncertain what their future holds if they vote UCP. Danielle Smiths most ardent supporters will be wondering if she has evolved beyond their comfort zone and her lukewarm voters will wonder if they should risk a re-emergence of the firebrand that lurks beneath the surface. Doreen Barrie is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary. She is the author of The Other Alberta: Decoding a Political Enigma. Read more about: SHARE: Its the foundation of Canadas health-care system. Its vital to preventative care, health education and the management of chronic conditions. Importantly, its where patients turn for care when they are sick with a non-emergent illness. Im talking about comprehensive primary care. At first glance it might seem odd for a hospital leader to discuss this topic. But our health-care system is inter-connected; when one part isnt working well its felt in other parts, from hospitals to emergency medical services to long-term care. At Niagara Health we feel it most in our emergency departments (EDs), which patients often turn to as a result of limited access to primary care. This in turn generates longer wait times for ED care and diagnostic imaging. Today in Ontario, 2.2 million people are without a family doctor, and that number continues to grow. In Niagara, we are short nearly 100 family doctors. We know there are several reasons for it. Most notably, significant challenges in access to health human resources, leading to burnout for the health-care workers we do have, and recent shifts away from comprehensive family medicine. This isnt just a Niagara problem. Significant gaps in primary care are creating pressure on already overtaxed parts of the health-care system. At Niagara Health, we are suffering with our own physician shortages, including in our EDs in St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls. Couple this with the volume of patients visiting EDs for issues better managed by a family doctor, and its no wonder we see long wait times. We need to do two things. The first is getting more clinicians into our primary care system. The second is to properly fund comprehensive, team-based models of primary care delivery that ensure same-day and next-day appointment availability to their rostered patients. Both hinge on attracting and training future doctors and health-care workers. While these future health-care heroes work their way through the education system and into our talent pipeline, Niagara Health is working beyond the walls of our hospitals to manage the urgent ripple effects of todays primary care problem and, most importantly, to meet the needs of Niagara residents. Taking on the additional responsibility for primary care stretches the role of an acute care hospital. At Niagara Health, our teams are trained to provide acute care hospital services to the 450,000 residents across the region. And we operate one of the busiest emergency medicine programs in Ontario. Our work to address the primary care problem includes launching the Seamless Care Optimizing Patient Experience model, better known as SCOPE Niagara. A strategic partnership between Niagara Health, Niagara Practitioners Healthcare Alliance and Home and Community Care, SCOPE Niagara is a locally based, virtual interprofessional care team that supports primary care providers through a single point of access. Im incredibly proud of this initiative, which has the potential to fill gaps in primary patient care today. We are also adding a chief of primary care role at Niagara Health because we understand how important our partnership with primary care is. This role will further strengthen that partnership and help to lead our efforts to increase access to primary care for Niagara residents. Were also working with our partners in health care, government and post-secondary education to build our clinical capacity in the short and long term so no patient is left behind. But unlocking access to primary care cannot be solved on a local level, and certainly not by a single hospital system. This is an issue that is provincial and national in scope, one that requires innovative thinking and collaboration. To date, the Government of Ontario has taken important steps to connect more people to care faster, including enabling pharmacists to prescribe medications for common medical ailments. This initiative makes good sense and serves as a viable alternative to visiting a local hospital for non-emergency needs. We are also optimistic about the governments commitment to introduce additional interdisciplinary primary care teams across the province. To build up patient care, we must devote attention to every pillar that makes up our health-care system. Prioritizing comprehensive primary care will go a long way towards alleviating existing pressures, shortening wait times, and ensuring every resident has access to care. Lynn Guerriero is president and chief executive officer of Niagara Health SHARE: TORONTO - A new survey shows more than one in 10 Canadians own an investment property and their ranks are expected to grow over the next five years. The online survey released by real estate firm Royal LePage on Thursday shows 11 per cent or about 4.4 million Canadians are investment property owners and at least half have a plan to add to their housing portfolio in the next five years. The report says they will be joined by an estimated 23 per cent of people in the country without an investment property who intend to purchase one before 2028. Phil Soper, Royal LePages president and chief executive, said the interest in real estate investments is coming from a confluence of factors. There is a lot of focus on rising rents, which (investors) would view as revenue, on housing shortages, which they would view as capital appreciation, and record levels of immigration, which they would view as future customers, he said. So theres currents that are flowing into the personal investment space that are checking a lot of boxes for more people. Royal LePages observations come as housing affordability has been exacerbated by rising mortgage rates that have challenged homeowners and prospective buyers. Though home prices have dipped from their pandemic highs, the rate increases have eaten into buying power and convinced many to stick with the surging rental market. The national average home price was $716,000 in April, down 3.9 per cent from a year earlier but up $103,500 from January, the Canadian Real Estate Association has said. Rentals.cas latest report show national rent averaged $2,002, in April nearly unchanged from March but up 9.6 per cent from a year prior. We were a country where our vacancy rate in rental property was very low, but now its hyper low and rents have risen faster than the underlying cost of living, which makes it more attractive, Soper said. At the same time, he sees a significant minority worried about the carrying cost of rental properties and how much higher rates may be when they renew their mortgage. Increased lending rates have caused nearly one third of investors to consider selling one or more of their properties. Investors aged 18 to 34 are the most likely to weigh the decision of selling at least one of their investment properties. Royal LePages March survey of 1,003 Canadians who own one or more investment properties found 64 per cent of existing real estate investors in the country own one property and 32 per cent have two or more properties. Single-family detached homes are the most popular type of investment property with 44 per cent of investors owning this type of home, followed by condos at 37 per cent and townhomes at 11 per cent. Sopers biggest takeaway from the report was the enthusiasm with which young adults are embracing investment in residential real estate. Although many young Canadians have yet to even purchase a home, real estate investors between the ages of 18 and 34 are the most likely cohort to have more than one residential property. Forty-four per cent of investors in this age group own two or more investment properties, significantly higher than the 29 per cent of investors between the ages of 35 and 54 who own investment properties. A quarter of investors age 55 or older own two or more investment properties. However, Royal LePage found 67 per cent of the youngest investors own their primary residence, compared to 88 per cent and 95 per cent of investors aged 35-54 and 55 or older, respectively. Young people are becoming real estate investors because of economics, Soper suggested. They realize weve got a critical housing shortage in this country and they realize that were welcoming half a million new Canadians a year and that the shortage of this asset is going to continue to put upward pressure on home prices. Royal LePages online survey was conducted by research firm Leger, which says no margin of error could be associated with a non-probability sample like the web panel it used. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. SHARE: TORONTO - Former Unifor president Jerry Dias was not charged as the result of an investigation launched last year into allegations that the longtime union leader accepted a bribe, Toronto police said Thursday. The polices financial crimes unit began investigating the former president of Canadas largest private sector union last spring after the union handed over money Dias allegedly accepted from a supplier of COVID-19 rapid test kits he promoted to members. Police said Thursday that the investigation has been concluded. Unifor at the time charged Dias with violating the code of ethics and democratic practices of the unions constitution, and said a hearing would be held before the national executive board. Unifors director of legal and constitutional matters Anthony Dale said in a statement Thursday that the unions own matters relating to Dias have been concluded to its satisfaction and he will no longer be subject to a hearing process under the unions constitution. He said Dias is no longer a Unifor member, and so the unions constitution and hearing processes no longer apply to him. Dias said in a statement that he reached a satisfactory legal settlement with Unifor. Dale characterized it as an understanding. Dale said the union was informed by police at the end of 2022 that no criminal charge would be laid, but the unions own conclusion was unrelated to the police investigation. Dias said that these developments reinforce what I have always known to be true: that over my 45-year career, I have consistently acted with integrity and in the best interests of Unifor members. Dias said the allegations against him were not true. I have never made a dime outside of my salary with Unifor, and I have always lived by the unions Code of Conduct, he said. In saying this, it is time to move on with my life. Dale said the union stands by the findings of its independent investigators report on which its allegations were based. The union had said Dias allegedly gave a Unifor employee $25,000, which he said was half of the money from the supplier, and the employee subsequently filed a complaint under the Unifor code of ethics and delivered the money to the union. Dias committed to entering a rehabilitation facility in the wake of the incident, saying his use of painkillers, sleeping pills and alcohol to deal with a sciatic nerve issue had impaired his judgment. Dias began a medical leave on Feb. 6, 2022, around a week after being notified about the unions independent investigation into the matter. He was already set to retire that year, but did so early. Dias said Thursday that he has received medical attention to deal with serious health issues including debilitating sciatica, and has also received assistance to eliminate his dependence on opioids to deal with pain. He said he regrets the distraction to members, and thanked those who reached out to him. Dias had been the president of Unifor since 2013 when it was created as a merger between two unions. He was an outspoken figure of the labour movement in Canada, playing an key role during the negotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the successful fight to reopen the General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ontario. In an election in August 2022, former national secretary-treasurer Lana Payne was elected the new president of Unifor, running against Dias former executive assistant Scott Doherty, as well as Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444. Dias said in the statement that he is proud of his work as Unifors first president. While I will no longer be leading the actions on the picket lines and at the bargaining table, I will always be Unifors number one supporter. With files from Tara Deschamps This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. SHARE: CALGARY - Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley has defended her partys proposal to increase corporate taxes, saying it would provide a stable, thoughtful economic plan for the province. Notley was responding to a question about whether the United Conservative Party was a safer economic choice for Albertans in Mondays provincial election. She says two of the most important aspects of a strong economy are stability and predictability. Notley, who was speaking to reporters in Calgary, says Danielle Smiths leadership is neither stable nor predictable. She says Smiths sovereignty act has hurt investor confidence. Notley adds that a recent report from the ethics commissioner showing Smith broke conflict-of-interest rules doesnt help matters. Thats the foundation of economic growth, she said Wednesday. I am also, however, very proud of the economic plan that we have rolled out. We have a plan to take Alberta from having the lowest corporate taxes in the country to having the lowest corporate taxes in the country. By doing that, we will have the resources necessary to invest in other things that investors are telling us they need to see. She said that includes incentives for emerging economic sectors, a cut to the small business tax and more investment in Albertas post-secondary institutions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: Next time you accidentally call 911, dont hang up until you are connected with an operator, emergency officials warn. Thats because operators need to track down the original caller to ensure everything is fine, which takes time away from real emergencies. Every second counts in an emergency, so when it takes operators a minimum of 90 seconds to call back every person who hangs up, that is time that could be better spent responding to an emergency 911 call, Toronto police told the Star in an emailed statement. Toronto police saw a 30 per cent rise in unintentional calls since last year up from 2,781 hang ups in 2022 to 3,582 in 2023. Why 911 centres are flooded with fake calls TPS Communication Services, like other 911 call centres, have been experiencing an increase in hang up calls, a spokesperson for Toronto police told the Star. Another reason 911 centres receive these fake calls are unsubscribed devices, which cannot be dialed back, say officials. Even without a SIM card, these devices can still call 911 if the SOS/Emergency feature is not deactivated. Hamilton police said more than 22,600 calls came from unsubscribed devices in 2022. This year so far, 9,200 calls came from these devices. Unintentional dials happen when a mobile device is carried in a pocket, purse, backpack, or other piece of clothing accidentally activates the keypad, causing an emergency call, Hamilton police said in a press release, adding, many calls continue to be from young children when they are given cellphones and smartphones to play with as toys. In recent years, health-care staffing shortages have left emergency services in Ontario scrambling, resulting in slower ambulance response times and more injuries on the job. Some residents have expressed concerns over calling 911 and being put on hold during life-threatening situations. Reasons people give for hanging up According to police, some of the excuses people have given for failing to remain on the line include: Over reporting and feeling like too many people have already called for help Wait time on the non-emergency line is too long and they dial 911 for faster service (dont do this as this is not the case, warn police) They think theyll get in trouble for misdialing 911 They are using 911 as a scare tactic for people around them They change their mind after dialing 911 They pocket dial or activate the SOS/Emergency feature How to prevent unintentional 911 calls If you call 911, you should wait for the call to go through, even if you change your mind about the call, say police. Hamilton police are encouraging people not to let children play with mobile phones or tablets that are capable of activating the SOS/Emergency feature. They also recommend using the keypad lock feature, turning off the 911 autodial feature and refraining from including 911 on speed dial on mobile phones. Toronto police call centres have recently started sending text messages asking callers to call them back if there is an actual emergency. Some phones cant receive text, so those will continue to be called back, Toronto police said. Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa SHARE: An international student who got into Canada thanks to a fake college admission letter cannot be absolved of his responsibility by blaming an unscrupulous consultant, a tribunal heard. The applicant is responsible for the content of an application for which they sign, Nathan Reid, lawyer for Canada Border Services Agency, told a hearing to determine whether the student can stay in this country, on Thursday. It is too easy to later claim innocence and blame a third party. Amritraj Singh Batth arrived from India in 2018. It was only years later that he was flagged by the border agency to be inadmissible because the document he had used to obtain his study permit was determined to be fraudulent. If that finding is upheld by the independent immigration tribunal, he will have to leave Canada and will be banned from re-entering this country for five years. The 25-year-old is among a group of international students from India who applied for student visas through the same agent, and are facing the same battle to stay in the country. Some have been in Canada since 2017, have completed their studies, been issued work permits and had been on the path to permanent residence. In earlier testimony, Batth maintained he was unaware the initial admission letter to Humber College provided by Brijesh Mishra, owner of EMSA, a consulting firm in Jalandhar, was fraudulent. If I would have gotten to know prior to coming to Canada, I would never have entered Canada I never intended to come to Canada illegally. I wanted to have proper legal documentation to come here, Batth had told the tribunal under cross examination. Batth, who is now a truck driver, testified he was advised upon arrival by the consultant not to attend the school and later enrolled himself at CDI College in Montreal, through the help of another consultant in Brampton. Batths lawyer, Jaswant Mangat, has argued there was nothing on the study permit that necessitated that Batth must attend Humber College. However, in the final submission, counsel for the government stated that the web design and programming diploma from CDI College and subsequent postgraduate work permit Batth received were downstream of the misrepresentation under the bogus document. The allegation being levied against Mr. Batth is not that he has failed to study at the college that he was accepted to, Reid told adjudicator Katrina Henrique. Rather the allegation is that of misrepresentation, alleging that he misrepresented on the process that led to the issuance of that study permit in the first place. Calling the tribunals task clear and straightforward, Reid said all the adjudicator must decide is whether Batth was a foreign national who directly or indirectly misrepresented or withheld the facts that led to the error of receiving a study permit. The jurisprudence on this is quite clear. The intent is not a requirement under the legislation, said Reid, urging the tribunal to issue an exclusion order against Batth. Earlier Thursday, Batths lawyer told the hearing that he was unable to serve a summon to Mishra, the education agent, despite enlisting the help of the police and a detective agency in India. Mangat had asked for more time to prepare a final submission to the tribunal but the request was denied. The hearing resumes Friday. Read more about: SHARE: BAKU,Azerbaijan, May 25. A working breakfast has been hosted on behalf President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in honor of heads of state and government of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council observer and member countries as well as invited countries, Trend reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the event. KAMLOOPS, B.C. - The British Columbia government is preparing to build a new cancer care centre in Kamloops. The new centre at the Royal Inland Hospital will include radiation therapy, meaning patients will no longer have to travel the roughly two-hour trip south to Kelowna for that treatment, Health Minister Adrian Dix said Thursday. In order to build a robust public health-care system, we are addressing a lack of health-care investments in communities across the province and, in this case, the need to distribute cancer care around the province, he said. The announcement comes more than a week after Dix announced up to 50 B.C. cancer patients will be referred to two clinics in Washington every week in an effort to reduce wait times for radiation therapy. Dix told the news conference Thursday that a concept plan for the new centre, which was promised as part of the 2020 election, has been approved and a business plan will be completed this calendar year. Dr. Kim Chi, medical director of B.C. Cancer, said the new centre is expected to offer 14,000 treatment visits, as well as 6,600 radiation consultations and follow-up appointments in its first year. Dix said he expects the building to be ready to see patients in 2027 and that cancer centres typically cost between $200 and $300 million. He has previously said nearly 83 per cent of B.C. patients start radiation within 28 days from the date theyre ready for the treatment,which doesnt meet the clinical benchmarks the province has set as a goal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023 Read more about: SHARE: BRUSSELS (AP) The key suspect at the heart of the corruption scandal that rocked the European Unions assembly last year no longer has to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, the Belgian federal prosecutors office said Thursday. Former parliament vice president Eva Kaili was under electronic surveillance and house arrest since her release from jail last month while the investigation into the money-for-political favors case continued. The office said in a statement that the probe no longer requires her detention. This release is subject to the usual conditions in such cases, the statement read. Asked about the new conditions imposed on Kaili and whether she could travel abroad, a spokesperson at the prosecutors office said he could not elaborate. The Greek lawmaker was removed as vice president after she was taken into custody late last year on charges of corruption, money laundering and membership in a criminal organization. She denies wrongdoing, her lawyers said. Belgian prosecutors suspect that Kaili was among several people who were allegedly paid by Qatar and Morocco to influence decision-making at the assembly. Both countries deny the allegations. The scandal came to public attention on Dec. 9 after police launched more than 20 raids, mostly in Belgium but also in Italy. Hundreds of thousands of euros were found at a home and in a suitcase at a hotel in Brussels. SHARE: LISBON, Portugal (AP) Police in Portugal have ended the latest search for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British child who went missing in 2007 in southern Portugal. Authorities gave no details about the results of the search Thursday. A statement by Portugals Judiciary Police said some material had been collected and would be handed over to German authorities for examination. The search around a dam some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Praia da Luz resort, where the three-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago, began Tuesday following a request by German authorities. A German man who is a suspect in the case is currently in jail in Germany for a different case. Portuguese, German and British police took part in the three-day operation during which detectives probed the banks of the Arade reservoir and also used sniffer dogs and a drone. Germany prosecutor Christian Wolters told the Associated Press Thursday authorities would gauge the success of the search after its conclusion, adding that a statement may be issued next week. Portuguese media said this was the fourth police search for McCann, following the initial one in 2007 in the southern Algarve area and further efforts in 2013 and 2014. Another search was held in Germany in 2020. The reservoir is less than half full because of a drought affecting Portugal and neighboring Spain. The search wouldve been below the water line under normal rainfall. In mid-2020, German officials said that a 45-year-old German citizen, identified by media as Christian Brueckner, who was in the Algarve in 2007, was a suspect in the case. Brueckner has denied any involvement. Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder in the McCann case but hasnt been charged. He spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of Madeleines disappearance. The case of Madeleine McCann stirred worldwide interest for several years, with reports of sightings of her stretching as far away as Australia, along with a slew of books and television documentaries about the case. British, Portuguese and German police are still piecing together what happened on the night when the toddler disappeared from her bed in the southern Portuguese resort on May 3, 2007. She was in the same room as her twin brother and sister, who were two years old at the time, while her parents had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant. Madeleines parents did not comment due to the active investigation, according to an email response from the website set up for the search for the child, findmadeleine.com. ____ Ciaran Giles in Madrid, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. SHARE: WARSAW, Poland (AP) The chairman of Ukraines parliament on Thursday offered words of reconciliation over World War II-era mass murders that have strained relations with its neighbor and strategic ally Poland for 80 years. Human life has equal value, regardless of nationality, race, sex or religion, Ruslan Stefanchuk told Polish lawmakers. With this awareness we will cooperate with you, dear Polish friends, and we will accept the truth regardless of how uncompromising it may be. Stefanchuks words sounded a new tone and were in contrast to the recent angry reaction of Ukraine's ambassador to Polish expectations of an apology. Poland this year is marking the 80th anniversary of the 1943-44 massacre of some 100,000 Poles by Ukrainian nationalists and others in Volhynia and other regions that were then in eastern Poland, under Nazi German occupation, and which are now part of Ukraine. Entire villages were burned down and all their inhabitants killed by the nationalists and their helpers seeking to establish an independent Ukraine state. Poland calls the events a genocide. An estimated 15,000 Ukrainians died in retaliation. Stefanchuk was speaking in Polands parliament during a visit to Warsaw. Poland has been offering military and humanitarian support to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Stefanchuk thanked Poland for the current support, and then offered sympathy to the families of the Poles slain in what is known as the Volhynia massacre. He also offered a joint effort to identify and honor all the victims buried in Ukraine. Poland has long been seeking Kyivs permission for exhumations, identification and commemoration of the Polish victims. However, some of the Ukrainian nationalist leaders of the time are regarded as key figures for Ukraines statehood, lending a different perspective there to the events. Stefanchuk thanked the families of the victims for cultivating a memory which does not call for revenge or hatred, but which serves as a warning that nothing like that can ever happen between our nations again. He said that identification and honoring of the victims without bans or barriers is our joint moral and Christian obligation. He said that an open, joint approach to the painful history would be an exceptionally necessary test that could pave the way for the words we forgive and ask for forgiveness. Those words, offered by Polands Catholic bishops to Germanys bishops in the 1960s, laid the foundations for Polands reconciliation with its World War II aggressor, Germany. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau described Stefanchuks speech as very good, saying that we have heard what we wanted to hear. We are on the right path and this speech shows that our positions are getting closer again. We have something to build on, Rau said. Polands leaders have insisted that bringing the full truth into the open will strengthen bilateral relations with Ukraine and neutralize vulnerabilities that could be exploited by third countries seeking to undermine these ties. Read more about: SHARE: CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) The remains of five more Native American children who died at a notorious government-run boarding school in Pennsylvania over a century ago will be disinterred from a small Army cemetery and returned to descendants, authorities said Thursday. The remains are buried on the grounds of the Carlisle Barracks, home of the U.S. Army War College. The children attended the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and forced to assimilate to white society as a matter of U.S. policy. The Carlisle school put children through harsh conditions that sometimes resulted in their deaths. Founded by an Army officer, the school cut their braids, dressed them in military-style uniforms and punished them for speaking their native languages. European names were forced upon them. The Office of Army Cemeteries said the latest disinterment of remains will take place beginning Sept. 11. It will be the sixth such disinterment operation at Carlisle since 2017 as the military transfers remains to living family members for reburial. Twenty-eight children have been returned so far, according to cemetery officials. The remains to be moved this fall include those belonging to 13-year-old Amos LaFromboise, of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe of South Dakota, who died in 1879, only 20 days after his arrival at the school. The tribe had written to the U.S. Armys cemetery office in March to urge a faster return of the boy, who has been described as a son of one of the tribes most celebrated leaders. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate want to bury him next to his father on the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota. The other students to be moved died between 1880 and 1910 while attending the Carlisle school, according to the Office of Army Cemeteries. They are Edward Upright from the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota, Beau Neal from the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, Edward Spott from the Puyallup Tribe of Washington state, and Launy Shorty from the Blackfeet Nation of Montana. More than 10,000 children from more than 140 tribes passed through the school between 1879 and 1918, including famous Olympian Jim Thorpe. Starting with the Indian Civilization Act of 1819, the U.S. enacted laws and policies to establish and support Native American boarding schools across the nation. Hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their communities and forced into boarding schools that focused on assimilation. The federal government has been investigating its past oversight of the boarding schools. SHARE: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has consistently shown poor judgment. From his blackface performances in his youth remember that was in the 1990s not the 1950s to believing that no one could object to his using the Aga Khans helicopter to take his family to a private island, to his decision to duck a public inquiry on unacceptable interference with the lives of Canadians and their democracy by the egregious Chinese Communist Party. Friends and advisers often try to warn him off his more bizarre failures of judgment but fail too often. Having gotten away with his staggering lack of responsibility so often, he thinks he will get away with it one more time. I am doubtful. There are perhaps four escalating reasons why this time may be different. David Johnston the wrong choice First, his foolish decision to choose David Johnston. Johnson is not unqualified by virtue of his character, as our hooligan of an Opposition Leader likes to bellow. No, it is because he is as pure a product of the Canadian establishment as one could imagine. A leader and defender of Canadian academic, bureaucratic and political institutions would find it impossible to propose a way out of our China mess that was certain to impugn the competence and complacency of the entire Canadian system of government. His choice was always going to be a means of saving the reputations of the people and agencies involved. Just trust us Second, Trudeaus triumphant claim that we should accept his and Johnstons word, and some minor fixes and tweaks will ensure we do even better next time. Why, exactly, would the Canadian people do that? Trust a prime minister whose behaviour has skated over ethical red lines time and again? Trust a counsellor whose loyalty to the institutions of the Canadian establishment is such that he would defy a gun to his head in their defence. Dogged by political scandal Third, his choice will mean he will be dogged by a political scandal from today until the end of his term, which he may yet have drawn to a close to sooner than he thinks. No look over here strategy will prevent the collective opposition parties harrying him day after day until he folds. Canadians may appropriately be more concerned with his failures on climate, housing and health, but the stench from this scandal will, over time, become irreparably damaging. Patriotic Canadians will not stay quiet Fourth, he has fallen for a strategic blunder that Johnston set for him. Johnston has had little experience of determined and well-armed critics shooting back. He, and his client, are now in for a serious surprise. Johnston excoriated the security establishment leakers as essentially traitors; their journalistic fellow travellers as fools and incompetents. So now the most powerful media institutions in the land will take their licking in silence and sullenly retreat? The patriotic Canadians who put their careers on the line to warn the nation that its security was being threatened by incompetent officials and complacent politicians will accept their condemnation of their courage quietly? Perhaps Johnston has forgotten Daniel Ellsberg, a similar essential traitor who helped save the United States from the consequences of similar incompetence. Or the still unknown American patriots who revealed the torture chambers and secret prisons run by the CIA? People who have crossed the personal ethical Rubicon that their loyalty to their nation must always trump the crimes of those to whom they have given their pledge of secrecy, never remain quiet. They double down. So the additional stupidity that Johnston and Trudeau have walked into is the reality that there will now be more leaks from more sources. They will contain even more galling tales of Chinese crimes on Canadian soil. Having spent many of the past 30 years on Canada/China relations, I know some of the tales that have yet to be told. They will leech public support for this prime minister and his government inexorably, until it throws in the towel and accepts the inevitable inquiry, or until it faces defeat in the House. Robin V. Sears was an NDP strategist for 20 years and later served as a communications adviser to businesses and governments on three continents. He is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. @robinvsears Read more about: SHARE: EDMONTON - The Calgary street pastor at the centre of an investigation that concluded Premier Danielle Smith interfered in Albertas justice system says she is lying about the nature of their pivotal phone conversation. Smith has said publicly her conversation with Artur Pawlowski was supposed to be about politics and not his criminal trial relating to a COVID-19 protest at Coutts, Alta., which blocked the United States border-crossing for more than two weeks. However, Pawlowski told reporters Wednesday the discussion was never supposed to be about anything but his trial and about whether Smith would follow through on her public promise to pardon those charged with offences related to violating health restrictions. Audio of the 11-minute call, which prompted an investigation by Albertas ethics commissioner, focuses on charges Pawlowski was facing and his subsequent trial. There was no discussion of him in his role as then-leader of the fringe Independence Party of Alberta. Smith is heard on the call offering to make inquiries on Pawlowskis case and report back. (The call) was always about the charges, from the very beginning. I had nothing really else to say, Pawlowski told reporters in a news conference Wednesday on the east steps of the legislature. This phone call was always about the same thing: when are you going to introduce what you promised, the amnesty bill for people like me and thousands of other Albertans. Pawlowski said he doesnt know who leaked the audio of the Jan. 6 call with Smith, adding that it was the only one he had with her in her role as premier. Smith has given different explanations for the phone call when a leaked copy of it was made public by the Opposition NDP in late March. Smith initially said she discussed the case with Pawlowski in her role as a politician listening to a constituent. But as criticism mounted that she was interfering in the justice system, she changed the story on April 8 to suggest she was sandbagged by Pawlowski on what was supposed to be a call between political leaders. Pawlowski said Wednesday Smith was not telling the truth and was getting tripped up in a mesh of false statements. Why did she flip-flop four times in the same breath with the same story? Because when you lie, you cant keep your facts straight, he said. Pawlowski is running in the election, set for Monday, as leader of the new right-wing fringe party Solidarity Movement of Alberta. With party candidates behind him waving placards, Pawlowski called the news conference to reveal other previously hidden details of his relationship with Smith. He announced unnamed members of Smiths team offered him multiple inducements to join the UCP cause: a secure legislature seat, cash, amnesty and the opportunity to head up a government investigation of the pandemic. Pawlowski said he turned down all the offers. He refused to provide any corroborating evidence or witnesses to support his allegations. No independent evidence to support such allegations has surfaced. The allegations were part of a wide-ranging speech by Pawlowski in which he criticized Smith, the UCP, the Alberta NDP and its leader, Rachel Notley, as well as the mainstream media, the LGBTQ community and drag shows. About 30 protesters and onlookers watched his news conference, fanning themselves in the early afternoon sunshine while shouting at each other or at Pawlowski. One person pounced on the pauses in Pawlowskis speech to holler Lunatic! Smith, speaking earlier in Calgary before Pawlowskis news conference, declined to comment on her interactions with him. The person in question has been found guilty and I have nothing further to say on that, Smith said. Smiths campaign responded to Pawlowskis allegations in a one-line statement: The premier is not aware of any of the conversations or alleged offers referenced by Mr. Pawlowski in his comments today and strongly questions the credibility of his claims. Notley said Smiths decision to interact with Pawlowski should remind voters what four more years of a UCP government would look like. I am deeply concerned about all we have seen today, Notley said. Extremism being shouted from the steps of the legislature. Hate and transphobia and a furthering of a division that only serves to harm Alberta. This is the fringe of the fringe, and these are the folks Danielle Smith has been giving her time to. This is who she interfered in the justice system for. She broke the law in order to get Artur Pawlowskis charges dropped. Last week, Alberta ethics commissioner Marguerite Trussler concluded in a report that Smith broke Albertas ethics rules when, after Smith called Pawlowski, she phoned Justice Minister Tyler Shandro within hours and tried but failed to convince Shandro to try to make the Pawlowski case go away. Pawlowski was found guilty earlier this month of mischief for inciting the continuation of the Coutts blockade. Trussler said Smiths actions strike at the heart of the fundamental democratic convention prohibiting politicians from interfering in the justice system and violate the principle that no one is above the law. Smith has said she made a mistake, is not a lawyer and would appreciate direction from Trussler on how to interact with the justice system. Pawlowski is a controversial figure in Alberta for his high-profile, disruptive demonstrations against the LGBTQ community and COVID-19 health rules. The Independence Party of Alberta announced it was parting ways with Pawlowski as leader in late March, saying their values no longer aligned. On the Jan. 6 call, Smith is heard telling Pawlowski, Ive been watching your public advocacy for many years so its nice to connect with you. She has since struck a different tone, saying in early April, Obviously, Mr. Pawlowski holds some very extreme views that I disagree with completely. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: EDMONTON - The governments of Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec are joining the federal privacy commissioner in investigating the company behind the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, ChatGPT. Albertas privacy authority says the joint investigation would see if OpenAI, which is the parent company of ChatGPT, obtained valid consent from Canadians to collect, use and disclose their personal information via its chatbot. ChatGPT, which was launched in November, uses already existing information on the internet and responds to questions from users in a conversational manner. The privacy authorities say they will also investigate if the U.S.-based company followed its obligation to transparency, access, accuracy and accountability. Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne has said artificial intelligence and its effects on privacy are a top priority. The federal authority launched its investigation in April. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: QUEBEC - Months after saying that accepting more than 50,000 immigrants a year would be suicidal for Quebec, the provinces premier is considering increasing the number of immigrants who arrive in the province to 60,000 a year. Premier Francois Legault said that will be possible after an immigration reformannounced Thursday, which will require the vast majority of people who come through the provinces economic immigration system to speak French before they arrive. From the moment we are able to, because theres real openness on the part of the federal government, say that the increase is only francophones, or people who have mastered French, that completely changes the situation, he told reporters Thursday in Quebec City. Legault said the potential rise in immigration would come entirely from an increase in the number of people accepted through the Quebec-controlled economic immigration stream. Sixty-five per cent of immigrants to Quebec come through the economic stream, which is controlled by the province, with the rest coming through the federally-controlled family reunification and refugee programs. Legault said that when he described increased immigration as suicidal last year, he believed that the federal government would require increases in those two categories if Quebec accepted more economic immigrants. I thought, at the time, that the federal government wouldnt permit us to increase only the percentage of economic immigrants and, so far, with the discussion weve had with the federal government, they are more than open to accept that, so its changing the picture completely, he said. He said the increase is one of two scenarios the province is considering and that the other scenario would maintain immigration at 50,000 people a year. If the increased threshold is adopted, Legault said immigration levels would rise gradually to reach 60,000 people a year by 2027. The actual number of immigrants the province accepts could be even higher, he said, because that figure doesnt include people who come through a fast-track program for graduates of Quebec universities. However, that program -- which currently requires applicants to have a higher level of French than many workers who would be accepted under the provinces new plan and is open to graduates of all Quebec post-secondary institutions -- will be restricted to students who graduate from programs taught in French, or who attended high school in French. Legault said that as premier of Quebec his primary responsibility is to protect the provinces French character. Since the last 10, 15, 20 years, we see that the percentage of people speaking French is decreasing, so we have to do something and I think its important that we request that they speak French before being accepted, he said. Christine Frechette, Quebecs immigration minister, said the reform -- which will go ahead whether the province decides to increase its immigration threshold or not -- will change the way Quebec selects immigrants, moving away from a point system that rewards, but does not require, knowledge of the French language. The point system will be replaced by a system where certain criteria, such as French-language knowledge, must be met. While graduates of English-language programs at Quebec universities will no longer be eligible for the fast track, known as the Quebec Experience Program, Frechette said graduates of those programs who do speak French can still apply as skilled workers. So its not like the door is closed, its that theres another path that will have to be taken, she said. She said that under the new plan, 96 per cent of people who apply to immigrate to Quebec through the economic stream will be required to speak French. That would increase the number of all immigrants to Quebec who speak French from 68 per cent in 2022, to 72 per cent by 2027, if the increase is adopted, or 70 per cent by 2027, if the number of immigrants remains at 50,000 people a year. Legault said hes not yet committed to the increase, adding that he wants to consult with experts first. Business groups generally welcomed the reform and the possibility that the province will raise immigration levels. The Conseil du patronat du Quebec, a large employers group, said the reform appears to find a balance between promoting the French language and helping employers find skilled workers. Opposition parties, however, criticized the reform for failing to address the issue of temporary foreign workers. There are around 346,000 temporary residents in the province, including international students, temporary workers and asylum seekers. Monsef Derraji, immigration critic for the Opposition Liberals, said the government should make French-language programs available to temporary workers. Quebec solidaire immigration critic Guillaume Cliche-Rivard said the government needs a plan to encourage immigrants to settle outside of major cities, and should do that by giving temporary workers a path to permanent residence. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. - By Jacob Serebrin in Montreal. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA - An Israeli cabinet ministers plan to visit Canada next week comes amid an already turbulent relationship between Ottawa and that countrys far-right government and its a trip that protocol experts say falls outside diplomatic norms. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli is scheduled to speak next weekat a private Christian college near Toronto run by a controversial evangelical Christian leader. He will also attenda celebration of the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel on Parliament Hill, hosted by an unofficial grouping of MPs. Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Marilyne Guevremont said in an email that the trip is a private visit, not an official one. As is customary for foreign dignitaries, limited protocol courtesies will be in place, Guevremont said. Two protocol experts warn not arranging the trip through official diplomatic channels could lead to embarrassment forboth the Canadian and Israeli governments. The potential for embarrassment is if something happens, if there was an incident, said Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat and vice-president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Chiklis planned visit came to light through an investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which reported that the federal Liberal government first learned of the visit when Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis invited all MPs in an email to an event on the Hill. Lewis runs the Canadian Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus, an unofficial grouping of mostly Christian MPs that advocates for Israels capital to be recognized as Jerusalem. Canada and several other countries reject that idea, arguing it undercuts the chance of a two-state solution with Palestinians. In a statement, Lewis said she invited Chikli to Ottawa after learning hed already be headed to Toronto. As head of the Canadian Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus, I learned of the ministers planned visit to Canada and welcomed his offer to participate in our celebration of the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel, she wrote. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who heads the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, said that Lewiss invite to all MPs for that event was the first time he had heard of Chiklis visit. Housefather runs a different, official parliamentary group that works with Global Affairs Canada to welcome foreign dignitaries and helps inform official Canadian visits abroad. Haaretz reported that Ottawa raised concerns with the Israeli ambassador about the visit. But the Israeli embassy would only say that it spoke with and conveyed all relevant information pertaining to the visit with our relevant counterparts in Parliament and government, as the information was received. The embassy added that it had been working closely with officials in Israel and community groups in Canada to facilitate a productive visit, which involves events in Montreal and Toronto that are still being planned. Roy Norton, who served as Canadas protocol chief from 2016 to 2019, said its uncommon to have a foreign government minister speak at a public event in Canadawithout going through the protocol office. It is a little bit incongruous that on a private visit, he would be here to engage in affairs related to his portfolio, said Norton. Robertson said a cabinet minister of any country would normally travel on a diplomatic passport and have their embassy make arrangements for their visit, unless they were here for a vacation. He added that its common sense that a visiting dignitary would be in touch with their embassy and Global Affairs Canada for security reasons, if nothing else. Youd want to know whos here, and is there any kind of threat, and if so, then theres some precautions put in, he said. The federal Liberals are also raising concerns about Chiklis speaking engagement at Canada Christian College. The college is run by Charles McVety, a preacher whom the Ontario legislature condemned in 2020 for extreme and hateful language, citing his comments about LGBTQ people and Muslims. The Trudeau government is accusing the Conservatives of aligning with McVety, though MP Leslyn Lewis said shes not involved with that part of Chiklis visit. A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly wrote that the visit will showcase far-right activists and elevate intolerant rhetoric. The statement criticized Conservatives, but not Chikli himself. Lewis was criticized by the Liberals in February for meeting with right-wing German politician Christine Anderson, whose party stands accused of downplaying Nazi crimes. Anderson was also visiting Canada at the time. Liberal MP Yaara Saks told Haaretz she complained to the embassy and Israeli officials about the back-channel planning and involvement with McVety. I was highly disappointed to see this from the Israeli government, she said. Canada says Israel remains one of its closest friends, but Ottawa has been increasingly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus moves to constrain the power of judges and allow more settlements on occupied Palestinian territory. Housefathers committee is meeting with Israeli government and opposition politicians to understand perspectives on the judicial reform, and sort out how Canada should respond. Norton, who is a professor at the Balsillie School of International Affairs at the University of Waterloo, said those ongoing concerns might have actually led Ottawa to advise against having Chikli visit Canada, had officials gone through the regular protocol. MPs of any stripe can request protocol services to help facilitate a visit, at which point regional experts in the department would indicate how a visit fits in with Canadas interests. Im sure that the people (at GAC) would be concerned that in the context of the visit, he might incite radical opinion or opinion that isnt consistent with (Canadian) government policy, Norton said. Norton said the Chikli visit isnt a major diplomatic incident, but it certainly makes things awkward for Ottawa. Its not the preferred way to go, but members of Parliament are independent of the government, he said. You just deal with it, and try to minimize the downsides. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: Saudi-based Jamjoom Pharmaceuticals Factory Company today (May 25) announced the successful completion of the book-building process for participating entities and also set the final offer price for its initial public offering (IPO) on the Saudi bourse Tadawul at SR60 per share, thus implying a market capitalisation of SR4.2 billion ($1.12 billion) at listing. A leading pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketer in the region, Jamjoom Pharma said it had entered into a binding agreement on May 11 with the 'cornerstone investors' - Saudi Economic and Development Holding Company (Sedco) and Al Faisaliah Group Holding Company. As per the deal, the cornerstone investors have committed to subscribe for, in aggregate, 5,166,666 shares at the offer price, representing 24.6% of the offer shares. The recorded orders during the institutional book-building stood at around SR84.6 billion ($22.6 billion), representing an oversubscription rate of 67.2 times (88.8 times excluding the shares that were allocated to cornerstone investors). The retail subscription period will last for three days, starting from May 30 and ending on June 1, said the statement from the Saudi pharma group. Jamjoom set the price range for the Saudi Exchange IPO at between SR56 and SR60 a share, implying a valuation of between SR3.9 and SR4.2 billion, it said in a statement. The company will offer 21 million shares, or 30% of its issued share capital, by selling existing shareholders' shares. Saudi Fransi Capital is lead manager and is joined by JPMorgan as financial adviser. AlRajhi Capital joins is an underwriter and bookrunner. Elaboarting on ist IPO journey, the Saudi pharma group said the process began last year with the nod from Capital Market Authority (CMA) on December 28. The go-ahead was given to the company to offer 21 million shares, representing 30% of the companys issued share capital of 70 million shares, by way of a sale of existing shares by selling shareholders. For the key Offering, Jamjoom Pharma has appointed Saudi Fransi Capital as the Lead Manager, while JPMorgan is the financial adviser and AlRajhi Capital an underwriter and bookrunner. Top Saudi banks AlRajhi, Banque Saudi Fransi and Saudi National Bank (SNB) have been appointed as receiving entities for the individual investors tranche. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issues statement on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the African Union, Trend reports citing the MFA. "Today marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the African Union as an international organization. On this occasion Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan extends its sincere congratulations to African countries and the African Union Commission. In the past 60 years African Union has played significant role in ensuring valuable contribution of the African continent to global peace, security and sustainable development. Cooperation between Azerbaijan and African countries as well as the Union traditionally develops at an ever-increasing rate, becoming more active in scale and extending to new dimensions. The level and the intensity of our contacts with African countries are constantly growing. During Azerbaijani chairmanship to the Non-Aligned Movement relationship with African countries has gained a new impetus. As the incumbent Chairmanship of the Movement, which has played invaluable role in the decolonization process of African countries, the Republic of Azerbaijan has identified the African continent as one of its priority regions to focus on during its NAM Chairmanship tenure. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic the Republic of Azerbaijan in its both national and NAM Chairmanship capacities has spared no effort to support the development of capacities of African countries in addressing the consequences of the pandemic. It has promoted global initiatives aimed at minimizing the impact of the pandemic on developing states, including African countries and contributing to their post-pandemic recovery. It is not coincidence that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the recent Summit-level Meeting of the NAM Contact Group in response to COVID-19 has announced a Global Call in support of post-pandemic recovery of the African countries and as a first contributor under this framework announced a donation in the amount of 1 million USD. The Republic of Azerbaijan gradually enlarges its diplomatic representation in the African continent. In addition to already existing diplomatic representations, the Republic of Azerbaijan established Embassy in Kenya at the end of last year. The Republic of Azerbaijan is confident that cooperation between Azerbaijan and African countries will continue to grow based on shared values and principles in both bilateral basis and within the African Union," the statement says. OTTAWA - Canadas foreign interference watchdog David Johnston was already scheduled to testify before opposition MPs demanded his appearance in a letter this week, a parliamentary committee chair said Thursday. Liberal MP Bardish Chagger said at a hearing that the House of Commons procedure committee invited Johnston to appear two months ago, and he is already scheduled to appear in less than two weeks. Opposition members of the committee wrote a letter this week demanding Johnstons testimony after his first report on alleged foreign meddling was published Tuesday. The Conservative, NDP and Bloc Quebecois MPs said they want the former governor general to explain why he decided against recommending a public inquiry on foreign interference. Liberal MPs accused Conservatives of being irresponsible by implying that there was any reluctance on Johnstons part to talk to the committee. There is no lengths the opposition will not go to tarnish an individuals reputation ... who, to me, does not deserve it in any way, said Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull. They dont like the conclusions in the report, so theyre trying to create the misconception that hes not forthcoming or willing to come to our committee, which is the opposite of the truth. Conservatives have also raised concerns that Johnston is too close to the Liberals, saying the prime minister has previously described him as a family friend and he became a member of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau foundation after stepping down as governor general. Johnston has pushed back against the conflict-of-interest allegations. Chagger said Johnston agreed to testify on June 6, including about the contents of his report. Conservative MP Michael Barrett said opposition MPs were unaware that Johnston had been scheduled to appear on that date until the chair announced it at Thursdays meeting. During a meeting on Thursday that lasted for more than three hours, Conservatives pushed to have Johnston appear on an earlier date over fears that Trudeau could prorogue Parliament to avoid further scrutiny on foreign interference. But MPs instead settled on asking him to appear for three hours, instead of two hours, and to require that he appear on any date as long as its by June 6. NDP MP Rachel Blaney told the committee that shes not content with Johnstons report, as her party continues to push for a public inquiry. For me, the focus has always been how serious this is and how important it is for Canadians to trust their institutions, Blaney said. Its disappointing that were here, and really outlines the reality that Canadians need to see a process that is transparent, clear and they can have trust in. This process is not feeling (like) that. Johnston said that a formal public inquiry would not work to investigate issues of alleged foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections because much of the classified information he has reviewed would need to remain secret. He said in his report that making that information public would run the risk of breaching the trust of Canadas security allies and endangering intelligence sources. Opposition parties have continued calling for a public inquiry in the wake of that report, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is abiding by Johnstons recommendation not to hold one. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: EconMin Spataru: Our heavy industry will be a key element in Ukraine's rebuilding, we need it. Romania has a responsibility to keep its large industry, heavy industry, because it will be a key element in the reconstruction of Ukraine, and the sustainability and resilience of the European economy cannot exist without industries, Economy Minister Florin Spataru said on Thursday, told Agerpres. "(...) in the current context, we are talking about strengthening the capacity of European Union countries and Romania in ensuring military equipment, services and ammunition for the security of European countries, but (...) ) we also had a discussion organized by us with the big players in the heavy industry and there were present those from Liberty Galati, Alro, TMK, the automotive industry, Ford, Dacia, cement producers, cardboard producers and we discussed about European competition, the manner in which the current context influences the competition of European companies and what we should do. There are a few things that came out clearly from that discussion: that Romania has a responsibility to keep its large industry, heavy industry, because it will be a key element in the reconstruction of Ukraine," Spataru said, mentioning that he recently visited two companies in the defence industry together with European Commissioner Thierry Breton (commissioner for Internal Market). According to the minister, in this entire European reconstruction model, there is a need of these raw materials coming "from a country at the border of Ukraine and which, together with the Republic of Moldova, has the longest border between Ukraine and other countries: 2,300 km," alongside Poland, which has 500 km of border. "So we have the widest access possibilities in that area. We also discussed [with Commissioner Breton] about changing a European paradigm, because until 2019 we were talking about the research/development component of services, new products, which were not made in the European Union, we were outsourcing most of the production activity to the Asian area and we later realized that this model can no longer work: long delays in supply, protectionist measures from many countries, which led us to stop producing, thousands, tens of thousands of people unemployed, because we no longer had those raw materials, those intermediate products. And we finally realized that in fact that European economic model could no longer work in the next period. One thing is very clear: the sustainability and resilience of the European economy cannot exist without industries," Florin Spataru argued. He pointed out that the industry represents a pole of competitiveness that both the European economy and the Romanian economy have. "But, apart from these discussions and how we can support these poles of competitiveness, we also discussed unfair competition, products that use raw materials from countries subject to international sanctions, delivered through intermediaries using countries with which we have free trade agreements and which, when entering the European market, lead to the closure of companies, and Romania is an example in this regard," he underscored. Romania, but Europe as well, have lost the battle with China on certain segments, such as the production of batteries, but we are trying to overcome this gap, Economy Minister Florin Spataru told the conference "Competition in the current economic context - ensuring of the markets' functioning", organized by the competition authority. "How do we manage to have a balanced approach in the relationship with China, knowing perfectly well that we, Romania, but Europe as well, have lost the battle on certain segments? And I will give you just one example: the production of batteries. All the research in battery manufacturing was done in China. We are now trying to overcome this gap. That is why we need to create an evaluation, a screening mechanism to ensure that if at a given moment, a transfer of technology or cooperation with a Chinese company is necessary, we are able to do it. Just the label of Chinese company is not enough, but for that we need the Competition Council and the Ministry of Economy to work together, for evaluation, for appropriate screening, joining also forces with strategic partners, so that we are able to make the right decisions. This is how I see the cooperation with the Competition Council," Spataru declared. The economy minister cautioned that even higher economic challenges lie ahead. "Looking at a much broader framework, taking into account the current challenges, I can tell you only one thing: the future challenges are already addressed in the future directives, in the goals and targets set for 2040, by 2050 they will be much bigger than what we see now. And I would like to give you some examples from multinational companies, which have a major impact on production chains in Romania: decarbonization, net-zero energy, the implementation of this net-zero strategy along the entire production chain in the automotive sector until 2030. This means renewable energy, hydrogen, re-engineering, green steel, aluminum produced through alternative technologies, because otherwise you will no longer be able to be a supplier to those big companies. This is the challenge that the Romanian economy has to cope with," Spataru argued. The minister also referred to the support measures granted by the government during these periods of crisis, emphasizing that a technology overhaul in Romania will be impossible without targeted aid measures. According to Spataru, the solution is for Romania to move towards the economic sectors where it can be competitive, in a sectoral and not generic approach, with directly applied schemes and prompt support to the projects of interest. "In a 5-year horizon, the Romanian industry must be prepared for the challenges of 2030 - 2040, and for this I think we have a major responsibility, because behind these decisions, behind these policies the public ministries, the Competition Council create, are the lives of millions of Romanians and their jobs; the future of our children and a framework that will bring investments both from abroad and from Romania are at stake," added Minister Florin Spataru. AGERPRES A strategy to help Romanian industry will be included in the new government programme, which will contain, among other things, industrialisation based on licences, a state aid scheme for the steel industry but also for the production of energy equipment, Economy Minister Florin Spataru told AGERPRES on Thursday. Asked if Romania is considering a strategy to support the industrial sector, Spataru replied, "It will certainly be included in the new government programme". "There are some elements included, aimed at reindustrialising Romania. And here I can tell you about some of the projects: industrialisation based on licenses, with the acquisition of licenses from abroad and production in Romania under sub-license, we are talking about a state aid scheme for the steel industry, precisely in order to succeed in making this technological change, and state aid schemes for the production of energy equipment, which can lead to the energy transition, such as heat pumps, solar panels, windmills, which could be produced in Romania," he added. The minister stressed that there are industrial economic sectors that have a much greater impact on the Gross Domestic Product than in previous years. "Romanian industry is no longer at the level of the '89s in terms of the number of companies, but if we talk about production, production for delivery, there are industrial economic sectors that deliver incomparably much more than in previous years. We are talking about the automotive industry first of all, because, in addition to the two big car manufacturers, there are also the horizontal industries. We are talking about other economic sectors, the production of equipment, wiring, which at this time have a much greater impact on GDP than they had before '89," the minister maintained. On another note, Florin Spataru said that the Romanian state has no plans to nationalise any of the privatised companies or to become a shareholder. "Romania, first of all, has legislation that has been updated in this regard. Of course, depending on a strategic interest that the state might have in critical sectors, it could become shareholder again, it is true, through the Ministry of Economy or other relevant ministries, or increase its stake in those companies. We are talking about legislation and very clear criteria that lead to such a path, such a project. So far there is no project in which we say that the state wants to become a shareholder of or take over a company that had previously been privatised," the Economy minister said. Economy Minister Florin Spataru participated on Thursday in the conference "Competition in the current economic context - ensuring the functioning of markets", organised by the competition authority. Education unions demanded a 25 percent pay rise and a regulatory act guaranteeing that a beginner's pay shall be the equivalent to the national average gross salary, president of the "Spiru Haret" Education Unions Federation Marius Nistor announced on Thursday. "Today we presented the government our resolute position: a 25 percent pay rise. They are free to do all the necessary calculations and, of course, to produce the regulatory act guaranteeing that the salary of a beginner shall the equivalent of the national average gross salary and will be taken into account in the future single pay law. We have presented our position. They are now to look into the matter and come up with an answer," Nistor said at the end of a new round of dialogue initiated by the government. The trade unionists reiterated that the general strike in education will continue. AGERPRES The Government has invited representatives of education unions to a new round of dialogue. According to the Executive, the meeting, attended by the negotiating team made up of the Secretary General of the Government, the Ministers of Education, Finance, Labour and Investment and European Projects, is scheduled for 16:00 at the Victoria Palace. Education trade unions are protesting in Bucharest on Thursday. After demonstrating in front of the Government, the trade unionists marched towards the Palace of Parliament, where the protest continues.AGERPRES INTERVIEW Siegfried Muresan: Main objective is to adopt strong EU budget by year end. The main objective is to adopt on time, by the end of the year, a solid budget of the European Union, which will ensure the payment of all the expenses from European funds planned for next year, and in the negotiations I will defend the interests of Romanians, but also those of the people of all the other member states and I will also take into account the priorities of the European Union as a whole, said Siegfried Muresan, Vice-President of the European People's Party's Group in the European Parliament, appointed on Tuesday as the European Parliament's general rapporteur (chief negotiator) for the 2024 EU budget, in an interview with AGERPRES. The Romanian MEP argued that, in a context where the EU budget resources are limited in relation to the needs, any possible cuts proposed by some member states should be avoided, as it is extremely important that the budget is sufficient for all categories of beneficiaries. Moreover, in all those areas where increases are necessary and justified, I want to obtain increases in European funds for beneficiaries in Romania and all EU member states, explained Muresan. On the other hand, the MEP believes that support for Ukraine allocated in the EU budget must be increased and that the same assistance must be offered to the Republic of Moldova, a country "as important for our security as Ukraine is." On Romania's EU funds spending, the EPP Group Vice-President noted that since its accession to the EU, Romania has received over 83.7 billion euros from the EU budget and has contributed only 27.3 billion euros to it, which means net receipts of over 56 billion euros for our country and the fact that Romania has absorbed the overwhelming majority of the funds at its disposal. He voiced the hope that Romania will speed up the absorption of European funds under the 2021 - 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. Siegfried Muresan is the only Romanian MEP to have been appointed twice as the EP's chief negotiator for the EU budget. He also negotiated the 2018 EU budget. The European Commission is due to submit a budget proposal for 2024 in early June and, on the basis of this proposal, negotiations will follow between the EP and the EU Council representatives. AGERPRES: What would be your main priorities as the European Parliament's chief negotiator for the European Union budget for 2024, the year in which European elections will take place in the member states? Siegfried Muresan: The main objective is to adopt a strong budget in time, by the end of the year, to ensure the payment of all the EU funds planned for next year. I want to make sure that, in 2024, all beneficiaries of European funds in Romania and other member states will receive their money on time, whether we are talking about farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers, local and county authorities receiving European funds for water, sewerage, gas infrastructure works in villages and municipalities or students receiving Erasmus scholarships. AGERPRES: Member states obviously have different interests which they want to be reflected to some extent in the final form of the EU budget. In this context, what challenges do you think you will face in order to structure a balanced EU budget for all member states, but at the same time meeting the needs of the European Union as a whole? Siegfried Muresan: As the European Parliament's chief negotiator for the 2024 EU budget, my role is to take into account the priorities and needs of the people of all member states. As such, in the negotiations, I will defend the interests of Romanians, but also those of the people of all other member states. I will also take into account the priorities of the European Union as a whole, such as economic development, support for farmers, digitisation, green transition, but also security and support for Ukraine and our neighbouring countries. That is why, since the European Union must do more now than ever before with the budget resources it has, I want to avoid any possible cuts that I expect some member state governments to propose. We need to make sure that the budget is sufficient for all categories of beneficiaries. And if some governments are going to propose cuts to the EU budget, my aim is to reject any cuts. Moreover, in all those areas where increases are necessary and justified, I want us to obtain increases in European funds for beneficiaries in Romania and in all EU member states. AGERPRES: Does Romania have a problem with spending European funds? What should our country do to improve absorption and how will this be reflected in the EU budget for 2024? Siegfried Muresan: Since Romania joined the European Union and until today, we have received more than 83.7 billion euros from the EU budget, while we have contributed only 27.3 billion euros to the budget. This means that we have received 3 euros for every 1 euro contributed to the budget and it means net receipts of over 56 billion euros for our country. Romania has absorbed the overwhelming majority of the funds made available to it. Romania is today much better at absorbing European funds than is the perception created especially within this anti-European narrative. In 2022, for example, Romania absorbed 11.3 billion euros in European funds, the largest amount of EU funds we have attracted so far in a calendar year, since we have been an EU member state. Of course, it is important to absorb EU funds as soon as possible because the sooner we finish a project financed by European funds, for example, a motorway, the longer we have a positive benefit from it. In order to speed up the absorption of European funds, we have simplified the rules at European level, we have reduced bureaucracy in the new budget year 2021 - 2027, and this will have a positive impact for the beneficiaries of European funds in the coming years. Regarding the 2024 EU budget, I expect Romania to speed up the absorption of European funds related to the 2021 - 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. That is why my objective is to allocate enough money in the budget to settle next year's expenditure on these investments from EU funds on time. AGERPRES: If the war in Ukraine continues into 2024, what place will this crisis near the European Union's border occupy in the EU's budget concerns? Siegfried Muresan: Ukrainian citizens are fighting with a gun in hand to defend their country. But by doing so, they also defend our peace, in the European Union. That is why we must continue and increase the support for Ukraine that we allocate from the EU budget. And whatever we give to Ukraine in terms of assistance, we must also give to the Republic of Moldova, which is as important to our security as Ukraine is. AGERPRES: How likely is a decrease in EU budget allocations to member states in the next Multiannual Financial Framework? Siegfried Muresan: My objective is to have a stronger Multiannual Financial Framework for the people and businesses of EU member states, not a weaker one. Because people expect the European Union to act more, to support more entrepreneurs, farmers, to invest more in the transition to a green economy, in digitisation, in the development of more sustainable cities, in the health system. Nonetheless, if we want the Union to do more, we must also equip it with the resources to meet our expectations. That is why we are now working at European level to create a European Union own resources package that will provide stable, predictable revenues for the EU budget, without increasing the burden on European citizens and businesses and without depending on the outcome of regular budget negotiations between member state governments. Iohannis: German companies in Romania play a pioneering role in development of dual system professional training. German companies in Romania play a pioneering role in the development of dual vocational training, President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday on the occasion of a visit to Sibiu city, together with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Iohannis also expressed his hope that German investments to Romania will continue to expand in the coming period, told Agerpres. "Sibiu was and remains a model for the harmonious coexistence of various ethnicities. Also, Sibiu is a city where many German investors have chosen to come and establish promising businesses, capable of creating jobs. The quality of German investments is highly appreciated in Romania and I hope that these investments will continue to expand in the coming period, not only here, but throughout the country. I would also like to emphasize the importance attached to cooperation for the development of the dual system professional training, a field where German companies in Romania play a pioneering role. They provide a valuable model for our entire education system and for the economy too, so that we can train top competent young people, capable of adapting to the challenges of the future economy," the head of the state said at an official lunch with his German counterpart. Iohannis pointed out that the long-standing Romanian-German friendship has now reached an unprecedented point of development. "We have a substantial bilateral and European political cooperation and, above all, we have strong interpersonal ties which are due to the people, particularly the Romanian community in Germany and the German minority in Romania. This is the foundation on which we build together a united Europe, which ensures us a prosperous future in the face of numerous global challenges," President Iohannis said. In his turn, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany highlighted the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries. "Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, we have considerably reinforced NATO's eastern flank and substantially expanded our security policy cooperation. Both within the European Union and NATO, our countries work together closely in a trust-based relationship, especially in these difficult times, and I think we are all aware of the importance of our cohesion and our joint support for Ukraine these days," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said according to the official translation. He brought to mind that the Headquarters Multinational Corps South-East in Sibiu also comprises German servicemen. Steinmeier also mentioned that at one point Sibiu was "the capital of the Transylvanian Saxons". "Even though many of you have left Romania in difficult conditions, you kept close ties to this place. This was impressively evident at the 2017 great meeting of Transylvanian Saxons that saw around 17,000 people from all over the world gather here, all with a common denominator - their Transylvanian roots," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, adding that a new such meeting is scheduled for next year. The President of Germany is paying a state visit to Romania May 24 through May 26. In Sibiu, the two heads of state met with representatives of the German community in Romania and visited the 'Samuel von Brukenthal' National College. They are also going to visit the fortified Evangelical Church in the commune of Cristian. Romania is one of the countries that contributes most generously, quickly and professionally to European civil protection and I welcome its contribution to the European civil protection system, which has been effective in many cases, not least in Ukraine, European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said on Thursday. I can only praise Romania's contribution to the European civil protection system. It is generous, it is professional. It was effective in many cases, not least in Ukraine. Thus, Romania is one of the countries that contributes most generously, quickly and professionally to European civil protection and I am very, very satisfied. This was seen when we needed logistics centres at the beginning of the Russian invasion. It was clear to us that the needs in Ukraine will be such that we will have to put into practice an unprecedented support system, including logistic centres where we collect the assistance coming from member states and channel it to Ukraine. (...) Romania can be proud of the professionalism, efficiency and generosity of its civil protection personnel, said Lenarcic in his answer to a question addressed by AGERPRES in an interview organized in Brussels by European Newsroom. Romania's election as the place to host an EU logistics center was motivated in particular by the fact that our country was very quick to provide the necessary facilities, but also for its good location (the logistics centre is located in northeastern Suceava County). For better coordination of EU assistance to Ukraine, the European Commission has created a network of logistics centres. The first such centre was opened in Poland, followed by Romania and Slovakia. Commissioner Janez Lenarcic visited Romania on February 24 this year, exactly 12 months after the start of Russia's unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. On that occasion, the EU official handed over to Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca the final report prepared by the European Commission regarding the peer review of the civil protection and disaster risk management system in Romania. The European Commissioner for Crisis Management also participated in the debate with the theme 'Understanding and communicating existing and future risks: Ensuring evidence-based communication and preventing misinformation', organized by the Department for Emergency Situations. LabMin Budai: Trade unionists' demands are legitimate, but we need to find a balance. The trade unionists' demands are legitimate, but we must find a balance, Labour Minister Marius Budai said on Wednesday, at the end of negotiations with the leaders of the three Education federations, told Agerpres. "I am a friend of the trade unionists and, certainly, everything they said, we said it too, publicly from the very beginning that their demands are legitimate, but we must find that balance that the minister spoke of, in which we also think of the children. But of course also [think of] the teachers," Budai said. Asked if the trade unionists would accept the Government's offer and put an end to the strike in education, Budai replied: "The hope is much higher than at the last meeting and we know very well that the dialogue was constructive and that is important. It is the most important." Regarding the new Unitary Wages Law, the Labour Minister stressed that the starting point was Law No.153/2017, and now he is in a position to build the annexes together with the ministries, adding that he has had around 10 meetings with the trade unions on this document. Budai also said that this Unitary Wages Law should solve the demands of the trade unionists in Education. "We have to see, to be extremely objective, realistic, to what extent they can be achieved, but determination, because this time, as I was in the parliamentary majority in the first mandate, when I had the honour to be first a MP and then a minister and I had an extraordinary determination then to have the health sector, a priority sector. We can ask a rhetorical question about what the pandemic would have meant with the continued exodus of doctors from Romania, but now, we certainly believe that it is clear that it must be education's turn," the Labour Minister stated. Union leaders announced on Wednesday evening after meeting with representatives of the Executive that the general strike in Education continues, and the messages coming so far from union members are to reject the Government's offer. The general strike in Education started on Monday, 22 May. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand has sent a letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Trend reports. "Excellency, On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the people of the Kingdom of Thailand, I have the honour to extend my sincere congratulations to the Republic of Azerbaijan and her people on the occasion of the national holiday of your country the Independence Day. Thailand and Azerbaijan have enjoyed friendly relations for over the past three decades. I am confident that our relations will be further strengthened in all areas of mutual interest for the benefit of our countries and peoples. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration," the letter said. Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili as sent a letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day. "Your Excellency, On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I extend my warm regards and heartfelt congratulations to you and the friendly people of Azerbaijan. While taking this opportunity, let me note my deep appreciation for your personal engagement and contribution to strengthening partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia. This year holds special significance as Azerbaijan commemorates the remarkable legacy of Heydar Aliyev, a visionary leader whose contributions continue to shape nation's progress and development. Dear Friend, Let us embrace the bond of friendship and look forward to further collaboration, which will undoubtedly yield even greater achievements for our nations and peoples. Wishing you a joyous celebration and a future filled with peace, progress and success. May Azerbaijan continue to prosper and thrive," the letter said. The Romanian citizen held in custody by the Libyan authorities was released on Thursday and is safe, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE). MAE states that the steps taken to solve the situation of the Romanian citizen and his release have been carried out "consistently and strongly on several levels, both bilaterally, through repeated dialogue of the Romanian Embassy to Libya (relocated to Tunis) with the Libyan authorities at various levels, and through actions taken, at the request of MAE, by the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Libya and by the EU Delegation in Tripoli. The situation of this Romanian citizen had been in the attention of the Romanian Ministry since mid-April. AGERPRES Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu will have bilateral political consultations, on Friday, with his counterpart from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, who is visiting Romania at the invitation of the head of Romanian diplomacy. This is the first visit to Romania of a Saudi Arabian minister of foreign affairs in the 28 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) said in a press release sent to AGERPRES. On this occasion, the two officials will discuss measures to develop bilateral relations between Romania and Saudi Arabia and will have an exchange of views on security developments in the Black Sea region and the Wider Middle East. Minister Aurescu will highlight "the significant development potential of Romanian-Saudi bilateral cooperation in other priority sectors, such as Energy, Transport, Education, Internal Affairs and the management of emergency situations, Defense, as well as the importance of capitalizing on existing business opportunities for Romanian companies, in the context of the extensive economic development projects underway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". On the occasion of consultations, two bilateral documents in important fields will be signed, namely the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development from Romania and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding cooperation in the field of agriculture, respectively the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Cyber Security Directorate from Romania and the National Cybersecurity Authority from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding cooperation in the field of cyber security. At the end of the bilateral consultations, the two heads of diplomacy will hold joint press statements. Official Carbunaru: Gov't is not on strike, we are ready for dialogue. The spokesman for the Government, Dan Carbunaru, on Thursday called for a dialogue with the trade union leaders in education and mentioned that the Executive "is not on strike." Carbunaru was asked what the Government will do if the education union leaders decide to continue the general strike, told Agerpres. "We once again call for dialogue with the union leaders. (...) The government is not on strike, we are here, the members of the cabinet are here, our availability for dialogue is here. We did not talk with the union leaders only at the Victoria Palace. There were cabinet ministers yesterday who went to meet the union leaders at their own headquarters. It is a dialogue that must continue. Of course, it does not prevent us from saying, perhaps it would be better if this dialogue continues while our children go to school, while their teachers are at school," Carbunaru told a press conference at the Victoria Palace. Speaking of the ongoing nationwide education strike, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca declared on Thursday in Cluj-Napoca that he will never promise something that cannot be done and called on teachers for understanding. "It depends on all of us to understand the situation and the context we are in. (...) We had an open dialogue and I was every time as available as possible for what meant a true, honest presentation of what the government can offer at this moment; I also asked them, and I am further calling on our teachers to show understanding and not pressure us into making the same mistakes we have been making in these 30 years, because through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan we undertook to devise a new salary law," Ciuca said. The prime minister mentioned that the procedures for the development of the new law have been moved forward and the bill will be completed by July 15. At the same time, the head of the government said that he will never promise something that isn't feasible and will not do something that he considers wrong. "If we haven't learned from the mistakes made in these years, it means that we are on the same path that will take us from mistake to mistake, without us being able to properly carry through. I left the ministerial team at the government premises and I think it's time for us to sit down for new discussions," Ciuca added. He went on to point out that the country needs economic and social stability in order to be able to build further, underscoring that the teachers shouldn't undermine the government's efforts to keep Romania among the EU countries with the best consolidated stability and a robust economic growth. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca participated on Thursday in Cluj-Napoca in the signing ceremony of the contract for the design and execution of the M1 metro line in Cluj-Napoca, a project financed under the NRRP. AGERPRES President Iohannis: We hope that German investments will expand in the coming period. President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday stated that, in Romania, the quality of German investments is highly appreciated and voiced hope that they will expand in the coming period, including with the support of the German minority, told Agerpres. "For many years, Germany has been the top trade partner of Romania and the second investor in our country. The quality of German investments is highly appreciated in Romania and we hope that they will expand in the coming period, including with the support of the German minority here," said the head of the state at the meeting with representatives of the German community in Romania, where he participated together with his Germany counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Romanian head of state underscored the essential role that the German minority has played for centuries in strengthening the ties between Romania and the German area. He also stated that the Romanian state particularly appreciates the contribution of the German minority to the social, economic and cultural development of Romania, as well as the loyalty it has shown over time. "We equally appreciate the constant and tireless efforts of ethnic Germans to preserve their identity and cultural heritage. Romania supports these efforts to preserve the cultural, linguistic, ethnic and religious identity of the minorities. Romania remains one of the European countries where the German language is appreciated and learned, both among the German minority and outside it. We support the teaching of German language in Romania as a mother tongue or a foreign language, and through this we appreciate the special support of our German partners," added Iohannis. He also mentioned the role of the mixed intergovernmental committee for the problems of ethnic Germans in Romania. "This committee plays an important role in ensuring and promoting the identity and cultural rights of ethnic Germans, as well as facilitating intercultural dialogue," Iohannis pointed out. The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is currently paying a state visit to Romania from Wednesday to Friday. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ST. LOUIS A runaway barge slammed into the historic Eads Bridge Wednesday morning in St. Louis, prompting MetroLink to suspend several hours of its passenger train service over the structure as a precaution, while teams checked on its safety. After enlisting the help of a drone, climbing crews and several teams to inspect the bridge, officials said it remained in fine shape, and MetroLink operations resumed late in the afternoon, following a test run. Unfortunately this happens and we have established procedures, said Taulby Roach, the CEO of Bi-State Development, the agency that oversees Metro Transit. Of course, we apologize to the public for the inconvenience. ... (But) we will always take extra precaution. The collision happened around 11 a.m., after a barge came loose upstream and hit one of the bridges support piers on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River channel. The loose barge was owned by Ingram Barge Co., and drifted about 2 miles downriver, according to a spokesman for the local division of the U.S. Coast Guard. It was eventually corralled and then safely moored on the Illinois side of the river but not before sustaining a one-foot gash in its collision with the bridge, Roach said. The barge was carrying fly ash, he added a byproduct from sources such as coal-fired power plants and a commonly shipped commodity on the Mississippi. Because the barge was laden with material, Roach said it sat low in the water and packed more of a punch. The strike was a little heavier, he said. Often times its just a glancing blow. Completed in 1874, the Eads Bridge is the oldest standing bridge on the Mississippi and was St. Louis first structure spanning the waterway. It is considered an engineering marvel, as the worlds first steel truss bridge. Vehicle traffic over the bridge is managed by the city of St. Louis and was not disrupted Wednesday, Roach said. Although the bridge passed its post-collision inspection, Roach said experts would take an additional look when the river level drops and reveals the point of impact with the barge, which happened below the waters surface. Bridge collisions in St. Louis are not unheard of. Past major floods, for instance, have ripped boats from moorings and slammed them into bridges crossing the Mississippi. And tragedy struck at the Eads Bridge in 2015, when a towboat hit scaffolding on the structure and caused a worker to fall to his death. It is not unusual for us to have at least one incident a year where we have to perform an inspection, Roach said. In this case, we took an extra step because of the severity of the impact. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. As part of her current official visit to the Republic of Serbia, Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament)Sahiba Gafarova has met with Speaker of the National Assembly Vladimir Orlic on 25 May, Trend reports citing the press service of the Azerbaijani parliament. After exchanging greetings Mr Orlic began by sharing his impressions from his trip to Azerbaijan on the 16th of this month, his participation in the meeting of Milli Mejlis celebrating the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev, a visionary politician and great statesman, the national leader, and his meeting with Sahiba Gafarova. Orlic congratulated the head of the Milli Majlis on the high level of arrangement of the jubilee event. Speaking about the progress of the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries, Orlic said that the mutual relations and reciprocal visits of the two Heads of State have made it possible to advance the relationship further and that such visits will continue. Both sides are seriously working on the implementation of the agreements reached so far, Orlic remarked. Our countries co-operate in various fields and are also in solidarity with each other when it comes to sovereignty and territorial integrity. The high-level political dialogue stimulates the economic ties and, incidentally, there are excellent opportunities for further deepening of the energy ties, environmental collaboration and investments. It was said regarding the inter-parliamentary relations prospects that Gafarova's current visit to Serbia was the first visit of the Head of the Azerbaijani Parliament to that country and was certain to ensure a continued intensification of the relations. The Memorandum of Inter-parliamentary Understanding to be signed between the Narodna Skupstina and Milli Majlis during the current visit will raise our inter-parliamentary relations to a new level. At the same time, Mr Orlic stressed the importance of friendship groups and reciprocal visits for the development of inter-parliamentary co-operation. Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova thanked the Serbian counterpart for the hospitality extended to her and once again voiced her appreciation of his participation on 16 May in the special Milli Majlis sitting on the occasion of National Leader Heydar Aliyevs centenary as well as for the interesting speech that Orlic delivered at that gathering. Gafarova remarked the satisfaction stemming from the Azerbaijani-Serbian friendship and strategic partnership. To quote President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Serbia is one of Azerbaijans closest friends in Europe. The amity between the two Heads of State ensure to a considerable extent the rapid advancement of our inter-state relations, which is crystal clear from the fact that both President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Serbia in November last year and his Serbian colleague Aleksandar Vucics trip to Azerbaijan in December were successful. Azerbaijan and Serbia have consistently supported each other on matters of principle, both bilaterally and internationally, and have always demonstrated solidarity on both planes. The friendly links between the two nations provide a solid foundation for the development of interstate relations. Installation of the monument to Azerbaijans National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Belgrade, of the bust of the outstanding Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli in Novi Sad and of the monument to the remarkable representative of the Serbian nation Nikola Tesla in Baku are the manifestations of respect our nations have for each other's values. Saying this, Mrs Gafarova also mentioned the signing of a twinning memorandum between Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan and Novi Pazar in March 2023. There have been reciprocal visits of our parliamentary delegations to date; there have also been their joint participation in international events. The friendship groups in both legislatures bridging the legislatures. The co-operation of these groups and of parliamentary committees of the two sides can be harnessed to continue strengthening the ties between our MPs. Furthermore, Madam Speaker told her colleague of the situation in our region since the closure of the 44 days Patriotic War, the large-scale restoration of the de-occupied provinces of Azerbaijan and the fact that our country had suffered from double standards prominent in todays world throughout the thirty years of the occupation of 20 per cent of the Azerbaijani territory. Resolutions of the UN Security Council regarding certain countries take a couple of years to carry out whereas international resolutions stipulating unconditional cessation of the capture of our territories had never been acted upon at all that is, they hadnt, until Azerbaijan did it herself in 2020 as she enforced the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council as well as international law principles and norms, restoring her territorial integrity and, whilst at it, also restoring the historic justice that had been trampled theretofore. Right now, Azerbaijan is busy building up the freed Garabagh and East Zangazur; modern towns and villages are under construction there; besides, Azerbaijan has geared into motion the Great Return programme envisaging putting the former IDP back in their native lands. Azerbaijan, although an occupation victim, is making efforts to ensure long-term peace and stability in its region still. Armenia has been invited to sign a peace treaty, for instance one which would lead to that regional peace and stability, said Gafarova. Other topics of shared interest were talked over as well, after which the Milli Majlis delegation were shown around the building of the Narodna Skupstina and Sahiba Gafarova left an entry in the memorable book. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Ian Froeb Ian Froeb is the restaurant critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Ian Froeb Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today When I ordered the Citrus Zest at Brew Tulum, I expected a hint of orange in my cold-brew coffee. The menu promises a spritz of freshly squeezed juice and a dash of honey, too. The menu doesnt mention the whole, hollowed-out orange in which the coffee is served. If youve sipped something beachy and Day-Glo from a pineapple or coconut, this is nothing like that. You cradle the orange in your hands as if it were a china teacup, certain your coffee will spill if you nudge, let alone squish, the fruits skin. A breeze of orange does ripple the surface of the Citrus Zest think essential oils more than juice but mostly this tastes like excellent cold-brew, rich and subtly sweet, without a hint of bitterness. The Citrus Zest makes a fitting introduction to Brew Tulum, which the married duo of Alberto AJ Juarez and Laura McNamara opened last year on Delmar Boulevard at the northern limit of the Central West End. Brew Tulum is unlike both any other coffee shop and any other Mexican restaurant in St. Louis. For McNamara, Brew Tulum is a return to the metro area after a winding, international journey. A native of St. Charles County, she studied journalism at the University of Missouri and intended to go to law school. She took a year off to travel, which turned into eight years as a digital nomad journalist, including time in Italy, where she experienced her food awakening, and in Vietnam and Guatemala, where her love of coffee bloomed. After eight years and now living out of a backpack, McNamara was ready to settle down. While on assignment elsewhere in Mexico, she visited Playa del Carmen on the countrys Riviera Maya. She planned to stay two weeks but ended up living there for 10 years. She founded a wedding-photography business, then dabbled in real estate. She met Juarez, who had been born in Mexico City but whose family had moved to Cancun during his childhood, and the couple went into real estate and vacation rentals together. Meanwhile, McNamara wondered where the good Mexican coffee was. Everywhere she went, she found Nescafe. Finally, after an extensive search, she connected with a Playa del Carmen resident named Mario, from a family of Mexican coffee growers in Veracruz, who sold Mexican specialty-grade coffee he roasted freshly in an antique roaster. This became Juarezs entrance into the world of quality coffee. It literally changed my life, he says. When Mario decided to leave the coffee business and Playa del Carmen, McNamara and Juarez bought his equipment and launched their own roastery. Unable to get their coffee into restaurants, they turned to delivery, as Mario had done, but eventually decided they needed a storefront. A friend had space to sublease in his restaurant in Tulum, south of Playa del Carmen, and the couple opened the original Brew Tulum. Brew Tulum continues to operate in Mexico. When that location temporarily shut down during the pandemic, McNamara and Juarez came to the United States. Here they saw an opportunity to meet demand for their coffee from Americans who had tried it in Tulum. They started importing green coffee from Mexico and set up a roasting and shipping operation. In October, they debuted their St. Louis storefront next to Craft Alliance in the Delmar Maker District. The airy space can look like a cafe or a restaurant, depending on your mood. The coffee-brewing equipment is arranged behind a long counter along one wall. The tables lean more toward dining than laptop-camping, though I did see a couple of people doing so across my visits. Cleverly, much of the decor sarapes, blouses, guayaberas (mens shirts) is also available for retail sale. Brew Tulums food and drink menu sprawls over two large, double-sided sheets. The house coffee is brewed in a French press for a fine, rich cup. A range of coffee and espresso drinks are available, including lattes made with cajeta (caramelized goats milk) and traditional cafe de olla, coffee spiced with cardamom, cacao and cinnamon and brushed with the earthy sweetness of piloncillo (sugarcane juice that has been boiled to a syrup and then solidified). On a warm May afternoon, the house cold-brew coffee mixed with tonic proved even more refreshing than the Citrus Zest. For food, McNamara and Juarez focus on traditional Mexican breakfast fare. Indeed, one signature dish (among many candidates) is called the Prehispanic Breakfast. Typically, this includes two tamales (your choice of chicken with salsa verde or poblano chiles and cheese) with a mug of the hot, cornmeal-based, lightly sweetened beverage called atole and a cup of coffee. The restaurant was out of tamales when I ordered this dish, but Juarez suggested sopes as a replacement, and the thick, soft masa-based tortillas artfully decorated with mashed black beans, tomato, microgreens, crema and cheese made for a hearty but bright meal. The kitchen draws variety from several staple ingredients. Chilaquiles tosses fried tortilla strips in a modestly spicy tomato salsa and decorates them with crema, queso fresco, avocado, onion and cilantro. Under all these toppings, the tortilla strips retain an appealing kernel of crispness. Crema, avocado, onion and cilantro also decorate enfrijoladas, tortillas filled with stretchy Oaxacan cheese and topped with a savory black-bean puree. At lunch, the menu expands slightly to include molletes, an open-faced sandwich of mashed black beans, Oaxacan cheese and pico di gallo on crisp, airy, house-baked bread. Tortilla strips return in the Sopa Azteca, which boasts a thick, exceptionally piquant and smoky broth shot through with the biting, herbaceous flavor of fresh epazote and softened by crema and queso fresco. It belongs on a short list of the most delicious soups in town, Mexican or otherwise. Have patience. Brew Tulum is short-staffed. (Juarez worked the front of house alone, barista duties included, on most of my visits.) I did encounter a couple of hiccups in the food. The black-bean puree on my enfrijoladas, though tasty, was slipping from hot to lukewarm before it arrived at my table. The chicken I added to my chilaquiles was more afterthought than option, overcooked and underseasoned. In general, though, the food and drink here showcases a finesse and attention to detail that larger operations rarely achieve. This includes dessert. The Platanos Coatepecanos is as appealing as any of the savory dishes, a single plantain stuffed with Oaxacan cheese and smothered in a bittersweet, dusky-spiced poblano mole, with a scoop of coconut ice cream on the side. Rating Highly recommended The Post-Dispatch evaluates restaurants on the following scale, lowest to highest: Not Recommended, Recommended, Highly Recommended, Essential. The rating reflects how the restaurant succeeds on its own terms and how it meets a diner's good-faith expectations of quality food and hospitality regardless of cuisine, location or cost. How much Sopa Azteca $12 Chilaquiles $14 Prehispanic breakfast $20 Where Brew Tulum, 5090 Delmar Boulevard More info 636-578-8321; brewtulum.com Menu Mexican breakfast and lunch fare and coffee Hours 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Saturday (closed Thursday) Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana has become the first state to specifically ban people dressed in drag from reading books to children at public schools and libraries, part of a host of legislation aimed at the rights the LGBTQ+ community in Montana and other states. Bills in Florida and Tennessee also appear to try to ban drag reading events, but both require the performances to be sexual in nature, which could be up for interpretation. Both bills also face legal challenges. Montanas law is unique because while it defines such an event as one hosted by a drag king or drag queen who reads childrens books to minor children it does not require a sexual element to be banned. That makes Montanas law the first to specifically ban drag reading events, said Sasha Buchert, an attorney with Lambda Legal, a national organization that seeks to protect the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community and those diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. Its just constitutionally suspect on all levels, Buchert said Tuesday, arguing the bill limits free speech and seeks to chill an effort that helps transgender youth know they are not alone. The bill, which was co-sponsored by more than half of the Republican-controlled legislature, took immediate effect after Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed it on Monday. Gianforte signed the bill because he believes its wildly inappropriate for little kids, especially preschoolers and kids in elementary school, to be exposed to sexualized content, spokesperson Kaitlin Price said in a statement. The bill initially sought to ban minors from attending drag performances, which were defined as shows that tended to excite lustful thoughts. The legislation was later amended to ban minors from attending sexually oriented or obscene performances on public property. The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell, said he sponsored the bill because drag shows in recent years have been specifically aimed at children," and spoke of online videos that show children at drag shows. In my humble opinion, there's no such thing as a family-friendly drag show, Mitchell said in April. Drag performers who opposed the legislation said they have separate drag performances for children compared to those intended for adults. It's not clear how often such drag reading events have been held at public schools or libraries in Montana. Drag reading events were held in 2022 at ZooMontana in Billings and at a bookstore in downtown Helena. Both events drew protests, but neither would be banned under the new law. Another event held at a Bozeman bookstore last weekend also drew protesters. A Montana drag performer with The Mister Sisters in Great Falls, whose stage name is Julie Yard, helps organize drag reading events and says she has never been asked to coordinate one in any school public or otherwise. Between 6 to 10 events are scheduled throughout the state in the coming months. Usually the requests for drag story hours happen a lot through the summer, Yard said. They typically tend to coincide with Pride celebrations. Planning such events in the current political climate also involves developing a safety plan and working with local law enforcement in case protesters show up. The drag reading events will continue despite the protests, which Yard says helps prove that they are needed. For us, it's again just doubling down and making sure that we are sending a message out there to anyone, but especially kids who are vulnerable, that there is a place for them, there is a community for them, and that there are folks out there who are interested in making sure that they are accepted and feel safe. Tennessee's bill to restrict drag performances in public spaces or in the presence of children was temporarily blocked in March by a federal judge who sided with a group that filed a lawsuit claiming the statute violates their First Amendment rights. U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker said the state failed to make a compelling argument as to why Tennessee needed the law, and agreed that it was likely vague and overly broad. A drag show restaurant has filed a challenge against Florida's ban, saying the law deprives the restaurant of its First Amendment rights to free expression. The restaurant had held family friendly drag shows on Sundays, but the law required them to ban children from the shows. Gov. Ron DeSantis also signed bills this week to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors and restrict the discussion of personal pronouns in school. Gianforte signed a bill this year to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors in Montana during a legislative session in which transgender lawmaker Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr was expelled from the House floor following a protest against Republican lawmakers who had silenced her over her opposition to the care bill. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ROME The archbishop of Chicago urged the Illinois attorney general on Thursday to provide information about newly uncovered cases of clergy sexual abuse that were included in a statewide investigative report, saying he would gladly add the names on his list of credibly accused priests if the claims were substantiated. In his first interview since the report was released Tuesday, Cardinal Blase Cupich expressed surprise that the 125 new cases involved some priests he had never heard of. He voiced dismay that the attorney generals office hadnt forwarded the new claims to the archdiocese to look into, as it had done during the five-year investigation. We thought we had that kind of relationship with the attorney general and so are disappointed that were hearing these for the first time, Cupich said. He spoke to The Associated Press during one of his periodic visits to the Vatican, where he sits on church committees and serves as a close adviser to Pope Francis. In the report, investigators found that more than 450 Catholic clergy in Illinois six dioceses had sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950, making clear the problem was far worse than the hierarchy had acknowledged in 2018 at the start of the states review. The archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, had reported 68 abusive clergy in 2018. Over the course of the investigation, it added more names and went into Tuesday with 150 names on its list of credibly accused clergy. Attorney General Kwame Raouls report found 125 additional abusers in the archdiocese, many of them religious order priests whose cases wouldnt necessarily have been handled by the archdiocese but their religious orders. There was also the likelihood that victims went directly to the attorney general's investigators, bypassing the church entirely to report claims. Cupich said he would gladly add the names onto his list but needed information on how Raouls investigators substantiated the claims. Asked why it wasnt sufficient for the church to accept cases that the attorney generals office had substantiated, Cupich said the archdiocese just needed to understand the process. I can assure the public this: If these cases are substantiated and were given the information of how it was (done), we will put them on our website, he said, speaking in the courtyard of the Pontifical North American College, the American seminary in Rome where Cupich stays when in town on Vatican business. Cupich acknowledged the report laid bare a constant, structural problem in the way the Catholic Church handles abuse cases, with religious orders such as the Jesuits, Franciscans, Oblates and Marists often escaping scrutiny and accountability since they, and not the diocesan leadership, keep personnel files. Cupich concurred there was more the Holy See could and should do to bring religious orders into line. Should, in fact, there be more direction from the central office of the church to speak to religious orders? I would be in favor of that, he said. I want to make sure that we put everything out there, because I can tell you this: When we do that and a victim survivor sees it, it brings healing. Thats why I do it. Cupich said he would be willing to refuse to let priests of noncompliant orders work in his archdiocese, as recommended by the report, though he said hed rather use the carrot than the stick, because we do need these religious orders." On another recommendation from the report, however, Cupich was more defensive. Raoul's investigators called for an independent mediation and compensation process for victims similar to what the archdioceses of Los Angeles and New York have established. The report argues that third-party process gives victims a confidential non-adversarial place outside of the control of the diocese to be heard and to be financially compensated for the trauma inflicted on them. Cupich said he didnt want to outsource the compensation process because that would deprive the church of the chance to provide pastoral care to victims. He said he would continue with the process he has had in place for years. My concern about contracting this out to a separate third party is that we turn ourselves into a business, not a church, he said. Teresa Crawford contributed from Chicago. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. THURSDAY, May 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Attachment theory sounds like a complicated concept, but when you're a parent it can sometimes boil down to a crying, clinging child who does not want to be separated from you. Put simply, attachment theory explores the lasting psychological and emotional bonds between individuals. Developed by British psychologist John Bowlby and then expanded by scientist Mary Ainsworth, think of attachment theory as a lasting feeling of connectedness between human beings. Here, experts offer insights into its core principles, stages and attachment styles. Bowlby emphasized the significance of secure infant-caregiver attachments, proposing distinct stages in attachment formation. Ainsworth's research introduced different attachment styles. Understanding attachment theory can help you navigate relationships and emotions with greater understanding and empathy. What is attachment theory? Attachment theory is explained in a video published by students from McMaster University, in Ontario, Canada. In the video, students explain that the theory of attachment was discovered by John Bowlby, a British psychologist, back in 1969. Bowlby was trying to comprehend the intense distress experienced by infants who had been separated from their parents. Bowlby believed that behaviors such as crying and searching were adaptive responses to separation from a primary attachment figure who provides support, protection and care. Bowlby attachment theory Bowlby's theory of attachment, as outlined in a recent article published by Simply Psychology, highlights the importance of secure attachments between infants and caregivers for healthy psychological development. His theory says that children come into the world pre-programmed to form attachments with others, because this will help them survive. Bowlby's attachment theory highlights the role of innate behaviors in infants and caregivers, promoting the formation of secure attachments. A secure base provided by a caregiver fosters confidence, trust and emotional stability in infants. However, Bowlby emphasizes a critical period for attachment formation, stressing that delayed mothering can have severe and lasting consequences. During those critical first 12 months, if a child experiences separation from their primary caregiver without receiving sufficient substitute emotional care, they will suffer the effects of deprivation. Delinquency Reduced intelligence Increased aggression Depression Affectionless psychopathy Ainsworth attachment theory Mary Ainsworth, an American-Canadian psychologist, is another prominent figure in the field of attachment theory, renowned for her influential study known as the Strange Situation. In an article written by R. Chris Fraley for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he discusses how the study aimed to examine different attachment styles exhibited by infants in the presence of their primary caregiver and in unfamiliar situations. Ainsworth observed the behaviors and reactions of infants when faced with brief separations from and reunions with their primary caregivers. In her work, Ainsworth identified three primary attachment styles: Secure Anxious-resistant Avoidant Approximately 60% of children in the study demonstrated the secure-attachment style. These children were upset when their parent left the room, but they were easily comforted when their parent returned. Twenty percent or less of the children were ill-at-ease at first upon their separation. When reunited with their parent, they were difficult to soothe, demonstrating conflicting behaviors about how or if they wanted to be comforted. These children seemed to want to punish their parents for leaving. This attachment style is known as anxious-resistant. The remaining children in the study didnt appear concerned or distressed when separated from their parents. They avoided seeking eye contact with their parent and tended to turn their attention to the play items available within the laboratory setting. These children were referred to as avoidant. Stages of attachment Understanding the phases of attachment development is crucial for comprehending the progression of emotional bonds between individuals. In a brief video created by the University of Washington, the stages of attachment are defined as follows: Pre-attachment phase: This phase occurs from birth to around 6 weeks. Infants are inherently social and show preference for human faces, but their interactions are not yet focused on a specific caregiver. This phase occurs from birth to around 6 weeks. Infants are inherently social and show preference for human faces, but their interactions are not yet focused on a specific caregiver. Attachment-in-the-making phase: This phase picks up around 6 weeks and lasts until the infant is 6 to 8 months of age. Here, infants begin to form a preference for a particular caregiver, seeking proximity to that person and displaying some distress when separated. This phase picks up around 6 weeks and lasts until the infant is 6 to 8 months of age. Here, infants begin to form a preference for a particular caregiver, seeking proximity to that person and displaying some distress when separated. Clear-cut attachment phase: This phase starts between 6 and 8 months and goes until sometime between 18 and 24 months. Infants actively seek proximity to their primary caregiver, show separation anxiety and rely on the caregiver as a secure base from which to explore the world. This phase starts between 6 and 8 months and goes until sometime between 18 and 24 months. Infants actively seek proximity to their primary caregiver, show separation anxiety and rely on the caregiver as a secure base from which to explore the world. Reciprocal relationship phase: This phase begins around 18 to 24 months and continues onwards. Children develop more complex relationships with their caregivers, actively seeking and maintaining closeness, engaging in shared play, and showing greater emotional understanding and communication. Attachment styles An article by the Cleveland Clinic explores the four primary attachment types identified in attachment theory, shedding light on the diverse ways in which individuals form and experience emotional bonds. The four attachment types discussed in the article are: Secure attachment: Babies became upset when their parent left and were comforted by their return. Babies became upset when their parent left and were comforted by their return. Anxious attachment: When parents leave, babies became highly distressed and exhibited difficulty in finding comfort upon their return. When parents leave, babies became highly distressed and exhibited difficulty in finding comfort upon their return. Avoidant attachment : Babies would show minimal or no reaction when their parent left or returned, exhibiting little response to these separations and reunions. : Babies would show minimal or no reaction when their parent left or returned, exhibiting little response to these separations and reunions. Disorganized attachment: This fourth attachment style was added in 1986 by child development researchers Mary Main and Judith Solomon to classify babies who displayed unpredictable or disorganized reactions to their parent's departures or arrivals, which could include behaviors like hitting their heads on the ground or experiencing a freeze response. Francyne Zeltser, director of mental health services at Manhattan Psychology Group in New York City, stated in an interview with HealthDay that secure-attachment stems from a parent who exhibits high responsiveness. These children have the space to experience the world and their parents support and availability to help them if needed. SOURCE: Francyne Zeltser, PsyD, director, mental health services, Manhattan Psychology Group, New York City Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. NEW YORK (AP) Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Now that status is tarnished after it removed some products aimed at LGBTQ+ and relocated Pride Month displays to the back of stores in certain Southern locations in response to online complaints and in-store confrontations that it says threatened employees well-being. Target faces a second backlash from customers upset by the discount retailers reaction to aggressive, anti-LGBTQ+ activism, which has also been sweeping through Republican state legislatures. Civil rights groups chided the company on Wednesday for caving to anti-LGBTQ+ customers who tipped over displays and expressed outrage over gender-fluid bathing suits. Target should put the products back on the shelves and ensure their Pride displays are visible on the floors, not pushed into the proverbial closet, Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said in a statement. Thats what the bullies want. The uproar over Targets Pride Month marketing and its response to critics is just the latest example of how companies are struggling to cater to different groups of customers at a time of extreme cultural divides, particularly around transgender rights. Bud Light is still dealing with the fallout from when it sent transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney a beer can with her face on it, which Mulvaney then displayed in an Instagram post, igniting backlash. Bud Light's parent company is tripling its U.S. marketing spending this summer as it tries to restore lost sales. In Florida, Disney has been engaged in a legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis since expressing opposition to the state's classroom limits on discussing gender identity and sexual orientation. Allen Adamson, the co-founder and managing partner of the marketing firm Metaforce, said Target should have thought through the potential for backlash and taken steps to avoid it, like varying the products it sells by region. The country is far less homogenous than it ever was," he said. For any brand, its not one size fits all anymore. Shares of Target, which is based in Minneapolis, extended their fall on Thursday, declining 2.6% in morning trading. On Wednesday, the stock closed down 3%. According to a 2021 Gallup poll, 21% of people in Generation Z identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, compared with 3% of Baby Boomers. Gallup has also found that younger consumers are most likely to want brands to promote diversity and take a stand on social issues. Pulling back is the worst thing that they could have done," said Jake Bjorseth, who runs trndsttrs, an agency helping brands understand and reach Gen Z customers. Not to expect potential backlash is to not understand what (LGBTQ+) members go through on a daily basis. Once they fold to the more extreme edges of the issue, then theyve lost their footing, Adamson added. If you can change a big brand just by knocking over a display, then they are on the defense, and you never win on the defense. Target has long been seen as a trailblazer among retailers in the way it embraced LGBTQ+ rights and customers. It was among the first to showcase themed merchandise to honor Pride Month, which takes place in June, and it has been out front in developing relationships with LGBTQ+ suppliers. It has also faced backlash. In 2016, when a national debate exploded over transgender rights, the company declared that inclusivity is a core belief at Target and said it supported transgender employees and customers using whichever restroom or fitting room corresponds with their gender identity. But even after being threatened with boycotts by some customers, Target announced months later that more stores would make available a single-toilet bathroom with a door that could be locked. As recently as last year, law enforcement agencies were brought in to monitor a social media threat from a young Arizona man who said he was leading the war against Target for its Pride Month merchandise, and he encouraged others to take action. But the company is operating in an even more politicized environment now. There are close to 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have gone before state legislatures since the start of this year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. At least 17 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, though judges have temporarily blocked their enforcement in some states. Target declined on Thursday to say which items it was pulling from its stores. But "tuck friendly womens swimsuits, which allow trans women who have not had gender-affirming operations to conceal their private parts, were among Targets Pride items that garnered the most attention. Target removed online this week designs by Abprallen, a London-based company that sells some occult- and satanic-themed LGBTQ+ clothing and accessories outside of Target. Abprallen couldn't immediately be reached for comment but its website on Thursday said it was temporarily closed, with a message that read: Thank you all for your unrelenting support and love. The positivity and beautiful vibes youve sent my way this past week has been overwhelming. The controversy at Target has been exacerbated by several misleading videos circulating online. In some, people falsely claimed the retailer was selling tuck-friendly bathing suits for kids. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior, Target said in a statement Tuesday. The company pledged its continued support for the LGBTQ+ community and noted it is standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year. Indeed, it was business as usual at many Target locations on Wednesday. At the Target in Topeka, Kansas, the Pride display remained up front, visible as shoppers passed a corral of shopping carts right after the entrance. It included Pride-themed clothing for kids, as well as T-shirts and womens bathing suits for adults. I like that our local stores here have it front and center, when you walk in, said Shay Hibler, a Topeka self-employed small business owner who was shopping with her 13-year-old daughter and supports LGBTQ+ rights. Megan Rusch, a Kansas City-area resident who is studying criminal justice at Washburn University in Topeka, was shopping at the same store and said while other locations might worry about their image, This is a pretty diverse area. She said she believes its good for the stores to have the Pride displays so that LGBTQ+ customers feel included. Her shopping companion, Blake Ferguson, a Colorado resident who is studying accounting and finance student at Ottawa University, added simply: Love is love. Durbin contributed from Detroit. AP Writer John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas contributed to this report. Follow Anne DInnocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ST. LOUIS It was called the "jewel" of the New York World's Fair. It had iron gates, ceilings of Pyrenees pine, splashy art and elegant restaurants. The design was a stylish blend of Moorish and modern. Mayor Alfonso Juan Cervantes snapped up the Spanish Pavilion for St. Louis in 1965, shortly after the fair's two-year run. He organized a fundraising drive to dismantle the building and move it. Cervantes said the pavilion would add pizzazz to downtown's comeback, already alive with construction of the Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, new highways and office towers. "There were some who thought the venture was a gamble," Cervantes proudly told a celebratory dinner in New York after the purchase. "I was counting on St. Louis' new air of civic excitement." Cervantes was proud of his Spanish heritage and of St. Louis' brief run as a colony of Spain. The pavilion was one of two trophies from the New York fair that he'd bag to promote the Spanish connection, and which would have similar fates. Reassembly of the pavilion began in 1966 at Market Street and Broadway, on a parking lot owned by the Civic Center Redevelopment Corp., builders of the new stadium. It was the former site of the Grand Theater, which ended its vaudeville days as a strip joint. A presumably learned study predicted the pavilion would draw 2 million visitors annually. Cervantes promised a 'self-supporting enterprise." The Spanish Pavilion opened with a parade and music on May 25, 1969. One of its barrooms was called the "Casa Cervantes." Crowds were big at first, then trailed off. By August there was a deficit. Patronage soon fell below 50 percent of expectations. A look back Santa Maria had a brief stay on St. Louis riverfront It was an odd scene on March 29, 1969 a harbor tug pushing a replica of Christopher Columbus' sailing ship Santa Maria alongside the S.S. Admiral. On June 15, 1970, the Spanish International Pavilion Foundation filed for bankruptcy. The foundation had raised money from 18,000 residents and businesses but couldn't make payments on a $2.5 million loan from Carondelet Savings & Loan. Costs reached $6 million, or $2 million above original estimates. There was talk of an aquarium. As the pavilion sat vacant, members of the Boys Club arrived to cut its high weeds. Hotelkeeper Donald Breckenridge had money and a plan. Carondelet Savings cleared the real-estate title for $1 in February 1973, shortly before Cervantes lost his bid for a third term. The Breckenridge Pavilion Hotel, with a tower built atop the Spanish Pavilion, opened in June 1976. Cervantes also brought to the riverfront a replica of the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus' flagship, that had been built for the New York fair. It sank during a violent thunderstorm one month after the pavilion opened. It was raised, but the revival fizzled. Cervantes died in 1983 at age 62. The hotel, later a Marriott, now is the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark. The pavilion endures as the lobby and main public area. The Spanish Pavilion Read more stories from Tim O'Neil's Look Back series. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Denise Brock remembers when she got the call from the Department of Energy. The federal government had just built a beautiful new building for the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, a museum of the countrys nuclear age and its deep connections to St. Louis. The museum is built on a hill in St. Charles County, not far from the Missouri River. It is adjacent to a massive pile of gray rock and rubble, under which are buried the byproducts of uranium processing that Mallinckrodt Chemical workers performed during the Cold War. Many of those iron workers and their family members became sick with various ailments later in life. One of them was Brocks father. For much of her adult life, she was one of the driving forces behind the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation program, which has paid out billions of dollars to the workers and families who gave so much to Americas nuclear age. Brock and others advocated for a memorial to those workers in the original interpretive center. The fancy new building didnt have room for it, a DOE employee told her in the phone call a couple of years ago. They wanted to know if she would come retrieve it. I was so devastated, she says. The fact that they were not going to include it in the new center absolutely broke me. Brock did what she does best. She rallied the troops. Tony West, a documentarian, and the Rev. Gerry Kleba, a Catholic priest, started burning up the phone lines. One of those calls came to me. Not long after I visited the interpretive center and was denied an opportunity to see the old memorial, the DOE changed its mind. Good for them. That memorial, dedicated to the men and women who lost their lives during the nuclear arms race, has been placed in the new center. On Sunday at 2 p.m., it will be rededicated. If youve never been to the interpretive center, its worth a visit this weekend. The uranium workers may not have been on the battlefield or laying in trenches, but they certainly served this nation, Brock says. And many of those workers paid a very high price for their service, developing disabling and often fatal illnesses. History can be a funny thing. Memories fade over time. When Brock and the iron workers dedicated the memorial in 2004, there was great fanfare, with two U.S. senators, congressmen and other dignitaries in attendance. But those elected officials are no longer in power. Federal bureaucrats come and go, people forget. But uranium lives forever. And the issues that come with St. Louis role in uranium enrichment, from the Manhattan Project to the Cold War, havent gone away. Witness the ongoing dispute over Jana Elementary School in Florissant. It was closed permanently last fall by the Hazelwood School District after a report by a private company showed high levels of radioactive activity at the school and its playground. The school sits in the flood plain of Coldwater Creek, which was contaminated with radioactive materials as far back as the 1940s. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican, and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a Democrat, have filed Justice for Jana legislation calling for federal testing for radioactive waste at all Hazelwood school buildings, as well as funding for new construction. This comes even as the federal government downplays the risk, saying its own testing shows Jana Elementary is safe to use. Our government created this waste to construct the most deadly nuclear weapon in history, Bush said in a news release last month. They have a responsibility to clean it up and ensure that the safety and well-being of our community is a top priority. The history is told through artifacts and other displays at the modern steel-and-glass museum sitting next to the highest point in St. Charles County. Some of that history at the Weldon Spring Interpretive Center is patriotic. Some of it tells a more complicated story of moral failure, of death and destruction, and of workers being exposed to unknown dangers. Now that Brocks memorial to workers is back, the museums story is more complete, as it should be. The reality is that St. Louis connection to the Cold War is tinged with race, secrecy and death. If youve ever been to environmentalist Kay Dreys basement, where she has a trove of documents and research on the topic, you get an understanding of the deep connections to this citys past. Heres how St. Louis author Linda C. Morice described that history in her recent book, Nuked: Echoes of the Hiroshima Bomb in St. Louis: Aside from the actual loss of my parents and brother, the most painful part of my association with Coldwater Creek is revising the warm recollections of childhood to accommodate a grim reality, Morice, who grew up in Florissant, wrote. As a former U.S. history teacher, it is also unsettling to acknowledge the likelihood that my loved ones deaths were part of the cost of World War II. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CLAYTON A Des Peres man was sentenced to five years in prison last week after pleading guilty to drunk driving in a March 2021 crash that killed a motorcyclist in Kirkwood. Grant Guirl, 52, of the 1100 block of Haversham Place, pleaded guilty last month to DWI resulting in death in the March 24, 2021, crash that killed 25-year-old Des Peres man Thomas J. Hunter. He was sentenced Friday to five years in prison. Charges alleged Guirl was driving 57 mph in a 30 mph zone at West Adams and Couch avenues when he struck the eastbound motorcycle that Hunter was driving. Guirl was heading west on West Adams when he drove into the eastbound lane. Court documents say Guirl's blood-alcohol content after the crash was .125 percent, above the legal limit of .08 percent to drive in Missouri. He had more than 20 speeding convictions on his driving record, according to court documents. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ST. LOUIS A 22-year-old man was shot and killed in an alley Thursday morning in the city's Penrose neighborhood. Erik Alford-Smith was shot in the head around 11 a.m. in the 4800 block of Margaretta Avenue. Police found Alford-Smith nearby in the alley of the 4800 block of Farlin Avenue. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information about the homicide may contact police at 314-444-5371 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477). Editor's note: This story was updated Saturday afternoon with information about the victim. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. JEFFERSON CITY A new report is not calling for a drastic overhaul of the nursing homes Missouri operates for military veterans, but it does suggest the agency raise its prices. In a review of a preliminary study conducted by outside consultants Thursday, members of the Missouri Veterans Commission discussed a possible 9% increase in monthly room rates for veterans, as well as a possible 14% hike for residents living in single rooms. Abigail Sherburne, a consultant for Public Consulting Group, said the goal is to generate additional dollars to open more beds within the states seven homes. Some commissioners, however, expressed concern about hiking prices. Many of our veterans living in our homes are on fixed incomes, said Rep. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City. I certainly have the concerns you expressed, added commission chairman Kelly McClelland. At issue are empty beds within a system designed to serve more than 1,200 veterans. Through a combination of a lack of state funding and a shortage of nursing staff, the agency is currently only filling about 62% of its beds. According to the agency, there are an estimated 413,000 veterans living in Missouri. The agency said it wants the consulting firm to provide a next generation operating model to provide a path to transformation. Although the report notes that the agency could begin investigating a pilot program to offer care through an assisted living model, the main focus of the commissions discussion were the possible price hikes and a push to bring the homes to 90% capacity by next year. According to the study, the current rate for Missouri rooms is $2,549 per month. The cost for a similar program for veterans in Oklahoma is $4,450 and $6,520 per month in Tennessee. Terressa Sherlock, director of budget and finance for the commission, said added payments from the Legislature and governor have helped keep the agency afloat, but that is not always an option during lean budget years. I think its clear we are not bringing in the revenue needed to support our operation, Sherlock said. The report also found that the homes need as much as $42.8 million in physical improvements. At the Bellefontaine Neighbors home, the cost is the highest at $8.4 million. The facility with the lowest need is in St. James, which requires more than $4 million. The other homes are located in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mt. Vernon and Warrensburg. Along with raising rates, the report suggests adding additional private rooms to the mix. In addition, another option would be to allow spouses to live at the homes. The report is expected to be finalized next week. The commission is scheduled to discuss future decisions during a meeting at the Bellefontaine Neighbors facility in July. It will give us a lot to look at and review, McClelland said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Drug smuggling from Iran to Azerbaijan has been prevented at the official territory of the Goytapa border detachment area of the Border Guard, the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan told Trend. According to the SBS, an attempt to smuggle narcotic drugs into the country was made by residents of the village of Zevin of Yardimli district Shamo Shirbekov and Ilyas Shirbekov on May 24, at 11:55 (GMT+4). As a result of the operational measures carried out, 13 kg of narcotic drugs (11 kg of marijuana, 2 kg of methamphetamine) were seized. In regard to fact, operational and investigative measures are continuing. To note, recent smuggling from Iran to Azerbaijan has been prevented in the same district on April 1, at 02:30 (GMT +4). As a result of joint activities carried out by the Goytapa border detachment area of the Border Guard and the police department of the Yardimli district, the smuggling of 13.52 kilograms of narcotic drugs and 1,500 tablets of M-40 methadone was prevented near Avash village of Yardimli district. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KANSAS CITY A Benedictine monastery in the small town of Gower, Missouri, is being inundated with calls and visitors since word has spread that the recently exhumed remains of its founder who died four years ago are remarkably preserved. A story published Monday by the Catholic News Agency said that hundreds of people have traveled to the town about 40 miles north of Kansas City after hearing the news about Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, the African American woman who founded the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles in 1995. The Benedictine sisters are well known as recording artists who produce chart-topping Gregorian chant and Catholic hymn albums. Sister Wilhelmina died on May 29, 2019, at age 95, and was buried in a wooden coffin. According to the Catholic News Agency, the abbess and sisters recently decided to relocate her body to inside their monastery chapel, a custom for founders. But instead of finding bones in the coffin, the sisters discovered what appeared to be an intact body. The body had not been embalmed, the article said, and the coffin had a crack that had allowed moisture and dirt to get inside. The abbess, Mother Cecilia, said they believe Sister Wilhelmina is the first African American woman to be found "incorrupt" or not decomposed after death. "The body was covered in a layer of mold that had grown due to the high levels of condensation within the cracked coffin," the Catholic News Agency reported. "Despite the dampness, little of her body and nothing of her habit disintegrated during the four years." The Catholic Church has more than 100 "incorruptible saints" who have been beatified or canonized, whose bodies have been entirely or partially immune to the natural decaying process years after their death, the Catholic News Agency report said. Catholic tradition holds that these saints provide witness to the truth of the resurrection of the body. The absence of decomposition also is considered a sign of holiness. The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph posted a statement from Bishop James V. Johnston on its website Monday afternoon. "The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions," Johnston said. "At the same time, it is important to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation. "I invite all the Faithful to continue praying during this time of investigation for God's will in the lives of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles; for all women religious; and all the baptized in our common vocation to holiness, with hope and trust in the Lord." The church has not yet determined whether Sister Wilhelmina's case is miraculous or ruled it an "incorruptible," the Catholic News Agency reported, and a cause for her canonization has not been sanctioned. But the sisters in her religious community and those traveling from near and far to see the body describe it as something extraordinary. Among those visiting was Rick Enna, of Kansas City. "It was miraculous to see her body in perfect condition after her body was in a grave for close to four years," Enna, 61, told the Catholic News Agency. The Benedictine nuns have put together a "fact sheet" to answer questions about the discovery. It said the body was exhumed on April 28. "Not only was her body in a remarkable preserved condition, her crown and bouquet of flowers were dried in place; the profession candle with the ribbon, her crucifix, and rosary were all intact," it said. "Even more remarkable was the complete preservation of her holy habit, made from natural fibers, for which she fought so vigorously throughout her religious life. The synthetic veil was perfectly intact, while the lining of the coffin, made of similar material, was completely deteriorated and gone." The nuns created a wax mask for Sister Wilhelmina's face and also coated her hands with wax, the story said. Her body will be displayed in the chapel until May 29, when there will be a rosary procession. After that, her body will be encased in glass in the chapel. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. According to the latest estimates, as many as 9 million children in the United States live in food insecure homes. That phrase may sound mild, but it means that those households dont have enough food for every family member to lead a healthy life. Thats one in eight children, or 12.5%. Feeding America 2021 data reports that 42,260 people are food-insecure in St. Louis city and county. In Haiti, its about 50%, or 2.5 million children, who have been pushed into crisis-levels of hunger this year, with almost half the countrys population not knowing where their next meal will come from, according to Save the Children. Around the world starvation is stealing the next generation with 60 million acutely malnourished children at imminent risk of death, illness and long-term developmental impairments. We know how to stop the scourge of hunger if we have the will. The miracle answer for starving children is ready-to-use therapeutic food. It can be used anywhere and is highly effective with simple daily dosing that can be administered at home by any caretaker. Its portable, has a long shelf life even in the tropics and doesnt require refrigeration or clean water. For more than 20 years, the St. Louis based Meds & Food for Kids has produced ready-to-use therapeutic food that can cure 92% of malnourished children in a matter of weeks. Using this miracle treatment, Meds & Food for Kids already has saved more than 700,000 children in Haiti and 17 other countries in partnership with Unicef. These results prove that there are simple solutions that work to end hunger. But decision-makers must have the will to prioritize, mobilize and invest on the same scale as the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. For the first time ever, there are more severely malnourished children in need of therapeutic food than can be produced with current infrastructure. We have the knowledge and ability to produce this life-saving treatment. Hunger is intergenerational. Unless we break this deadly cycle, the world will face lost opportunities and lost capabilities of malnourished children for decades to come. We can and must break this cycle. What we need is investment to scale-up production through the worldwide network of producers. An international network of producers and researchers are deeply engaged in solutions that work. Along with advocates from a wide range of practices medicine, agriculture, education and research these voices represent more than three decades of experience reporting on the politics and impacts of hunger, and options to help save generations of children from starvation, one child at a time. As we learned from the pandemic, what happens in one part of our world impacts all of us. A malnourished, stunted child anywhere is a stunted, malnourished child that we should collectively care about. A lost chance of greatness for any one child becomes a lost chance of greatness for us all, stated journalist Roger Thurow, who reported on the global cause of famine, hunger and starvation for more than 30 years for The Wall Street Journal. David Miliband, president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, has called for an international response for curing the global hunger crisis. He said: An act of U.S. leadership, similar to the 2003 HIV/AIDS emergency response, is needed to tackle the humanitarian crisis already causing millions of preventable deaths in severely malnourished children. The difference between that emergency and malnutrition is that we already have a solution that saves starving children. Once you hold a starving baby in your arms, your life is changed forever. We know how to save this generation of starving children. They deserve to be saved and have a chance for a life. Theres no time to waste. Join the voices calling for a presidential emergency nutrition plan that would scale-up practical, proven solutions. Americans should lead the global effort to end hunger by doing what works now. Patricia B. Wolff of St. Louis is founder of Meds & Food for Kids. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Qualcomm Last time, I wrote about why Qualcomm is the world's leader in 5G technology innovation using the metaphor of a tree. I explained how different technologies in cellular have different roles and levels of importance, similar to the different parts of a tree. Some are fundamental ideas that make cellular communications work at a basic level, holding the entire system up like the trunk of a tree. Others are like branches that help cellular technology extend into different applications and end-use cases. And others are focused improvements and optimizations that resemble a tree's leaves - small and plentiful, but individually less important than the trunk and branches. Qualcomm is the world's leader in cellular technology research and development (R&D) and invention because we focus on the trunk and branches of the tree: the most foundational ideas, concepts, and breakthrough technologies that make cellular communications work. This time, I want to take a deeper dive into a few key examples of these foundational inventions that illustrate our sustained leadership in cellular technology: one that is new and foundational to 5G, one that was born in LTE and has evolved in 5G, and one that is expanding 5G to cutting-edge new verticals. Example #1: Advanced Channel Coding - Efficiently Transmitting Data In wireless communications, you can't just send raw data over the airwaves and expect it to reach the user just as you sent it. A wireless signal can fade over distance, be blocked, or get muddled due to interference or noise - meaning some data can be lost in the transmission. To overcome this, additional information is added to the data as it gets sent over the airwaves to help it recover lost bits. This is known as "channel coding": adding extra information to a transmission to ensure that the receiver can detect and correct errors, resulting in all the data being fully received by the user. The faster data is generated and transmitted, the faster that extra information needs to be added in, and the more power is consumed for coding and decoding. With 5G's ultra-high data rates, it was clear that 4G's existing coding scheme - called "turbo coding" - wasn't going to cut it. Anticipating this fundamental need, Qualcomm started working on advanced Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC) channel coding techniques more than a decade prior to 5G. In the most general sense, LDPC codes have been around for decades since their initial invention in the 1960s. For 5G, our ground-up design marries LDPC with Hybrid ARQ ("automatic repeat query", a fundamental piece of how cellular communication works) - enabling scaling to tens of Gbps data rates while simultaneously minimizing power consumption. We promoted, demonstrated, and drove this idea in 3GPP, the collaborative global organization that defines the official 5G standard. Multiple contending options existed for a new data channel coding scheme in 5G, but in the end, our LDPC design was chosen as the best option. Every single bit of data in 5G uses Qualcomm's advanced LDPC innovations, enabling 5G's ultra-high data rates while limiting power consumption - and therefore keeping battery sizes down. Example #2: Unlicensed Spectrum -Expanding Cellular "Real Estate" Spectrum is a very scarce natural resource - the "real estate" of wireless communications. Controlled by government regulators, different spectrum bands are traditionally auctioned and licensed to individual operators to use as the basis for their different networks. In one recent US auction, a narrow slice of spectrum in the 3 GHz space raised over $80B. Some spectrum, however, is usually kept unlicensed - i.e. unassigned to any operator - to use for other applications like Wi-Fi networks. This unlicensed spectrum was traditionally considered unusable for cellular networks, but years ago Qualcomm began to explore the idea of using this unlicensed spectrum to meet the growing bandwidth demands of LTE, while still sharing the spectrum responsibly with Wi-Fi usage. Our research began more than five years before we introduced the idea in LTE in December of 2013. We led the vision, research, education, standardization, and commercial efforts, working against skeptical reactions from a number of companies in the ecosystem. But little by little, we successfully illustrated that the idea not only worked, but was a significant improvement to LTE. Thanks to Qualcomm Technologies' R&D vision and leadership, the technology was proven successful and standardized in LTE's Release 13 under the term "License-Assisted Access" (LAA). LAA is a backbone of Gigabit LTE, unlocking new capabilities in capacity, speed, and deployments. These days, LAA is used in numerous devices, including many popular Android phones and all current iPhone models. Since then, we have continued to improve and evolve the use of unlicensed spectrum in 5G, called "NR-U". Qualcomm's inventions in 5G NR-U help alleviate spectrum constraints, boost deployments and speeds, and enable unlicensed spectrum-based private 5G networks that can form the backbone of industrial Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. Example #3: Satellite Communications - Expanding 5G to New Heights Satellite communication networks have been around for decades but have traditionally used proprietary technology and specialized equipment. This resulted in limited scale and expensive offerings, keeping satellite communications out of reach for mass-market usage scenarios. Qualcomm has a long history in satellite communications, beginning in the early 1990s. In the 5G era, the satellite community was attracted by the vibrant 5G ecosystem and started some related projects in 3GPP - initially with public safety applications, fixed wireless access, and narrow-band IoT connections as early goals. At Qualcomm, we realized the potential for smartphones to fully utilize satellite communications as a core feature in 5G - well ahead of recent interest in the area. We drove a pivot of this project into smartphones: the biggest opportunity, but also the most complex due to the small form factor precluding the use of large antennas. Qualcomm Technologies has led the R&D of satellite communications capabilities in 3GPP's recent 5G Release 17 and continues to drive satellite communications technology in 5G Advanced for both end user devices and IoT. Bringing 5G satellite communications (also known as "non-terrestrial networks", or NTNs) to smartphones and IoT platforms will enable truly complete global coverage, expanding from SMS emergency texting capabilities like the recently-announced Snapdragon Satellite to delivering true mobile broadband over satellites. This extension of 5G has the potential to connect extreme geographies and remote areas, support networks of remote IoT devices, and serve as a back-up in the event of major terrestrial outages such as natural disasters. Continuous Invention Cellular technology is now a vital aspect of our lives, economies, and societies. Qualcomm's world-leading R&D, testing, innovation, standards leadership, and commercialization efforts have driven the growth of cellular technologies for over three decades, from the early days of 2G and 3G, to the expansion of mobile broadband capabilities in 4G, to the blazing speeds and connected intelligent edge of 5G, and now to 5G Advanced and beyond. Our ideas built the trunk and branches of the cellular tree that the whole system is based on, making Qualcomm the indispensable R&D leader in cellular technology. For next-gen advancements that enable worldwide connectivity, always look to Qualcomm. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Qualcomm on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Qualcomm Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/qualcomm Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Qualcomm View source version on accesswire.com: PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / The following abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds announced they each held their Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meetings") on May 25, 2023. At the Meetings, shareholders of the respective Funds voted on the proposals set forth below: abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. ("FAX") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, FAX had outstanding 247,695,769 shares of common stock and 2,000,000 or private preferred stock. 70.00% of outstanding common stock and 90% of the outstanding private preferred stock were voted representing a quorum. To elect one Class II Director to the Board of Directors: Votes For Votes Against/Withheld Votes Abstained P. Gerald Malone 149,991,861 21,010,187 3,779,378 To approve the continuation of the term of one Director under the Corporate Governance Policies: Votes For Votes Against/Withheld Votes Abstained William J. Potter 1,800,000 - - abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. ("FCO") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, FCO had outstanding 12,540,892 shares of common stock. 64% of outstanding common stock were voted representing a quorum. To elect two Class I Directors to the Board of Directors: Votes For Votes Withheld Votes Abstained P. Gerald Malone 7,692,327 202,639 154,442 Moritz Sell 7,687,033 207,839 154,536 To approve the continuation of the term for one Director under the Corporate Governance Policies: Votes For Votes Against/Withheld Votes Abstained William J. Potter 7,684,894 211,437 153,077 abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. ("IAF") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, IAF had outstanding 25,469,348 shares of common stock. 72.82% of outstanding common stock were voted representing a quorum. To elect two Class II Directors to the Board of Directors: Votes For Votes Against/Withheld Votes Abstained Radhika Ajmera 13,806,779 4,741,419 - P. Gerald Malone 13,808,161 4,740,038 - To approve the continuation of the terms for two Directors under the Corporate Governance Policies: Votes For Votes Against/Withheld Votes Abstained William J. Potter 13,858,888 4,689,310 - Moritz Sell 14,824,905 3,723,293 - abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund ("ACP") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, ACP had outstanding 52,075,560 shares of common stock and 1,600,000 shares of outstanding preferred stock. 81.73% of outstanding common stock and 64.92% of outstanding preferred stock were voted representing a quorum. To elect one Class III Trustee to the Board of Trustees: Votes For Votes Withheld P. Gerald Malone 39,197,933 4,670,785 For Preferred Stock Only: To elect one Preferred Share Trustee to the Board of Directors: Votes For Votes Against/Withheld Randolph Takian 928,143 110,589 abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund ("AGD") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, AGD had outstanding 24,865,080 shares of common stock. 76.23% of the outstanding shares were voted at the Meeting representing a quorum. To elect two Class III Trustee to the Board of Trustees: Votes For Votes Withheld Nancy Yao Maasbach 16,990,343 1,963,612 Stephen Bird 17,208,832 1,745,123 Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund ("AOD") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, AOD had outstanding 105,430,998 shares of common stock. 82.63% of the outstanding shares were voted at the Meeting representing a quorum. To elect two Class III Trustee to the Board of Trustees: Votes For Votes Withheld Nancy Yao Maasbach 75,140,466 11,978,073 Stephen Bird 80,745,035 6,373,505 abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund ("AWP") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, AWP had outstanding 85,407,951 shares of common stock. 73.09% of the outstanding shares were voted at the Annual Meeting representing a quorum. To elect two Class III Trustee to the Board of Trustees: Votes For Votes Withheld Nancy Yao Maasbach 57,896,728 4,523,612 Stephen Bird 60,084,637 2,335,703 The India Fund, Inc. ("IFN") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, IFN had outstanding 29,704,016 shares of common stock. 68% of outstanding common stock were voted representing a quorum. To elect two Class II Directors to the Board of Directors: Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstained Luis F. Rubio 19,209,091 751,368 359,438 Nisha Kumar 19,264,023 706,537 349,337 To approve the continuation of the term for one Director under the Corporate Governance Policies: Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstained Jeswald W. Salacuse 19,178,293 768,369 373,235 abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI") As of the record date, April 10, 2023, ASGI had outstanding 25,206,605 shares of common stock. 86.75% of the outstanding shares were voted at the Meeting representing a quorum. To elect one Class I Trustee to the Board of Trustees: Votes For Votes Withheld Gordon A. Baird 20,070,026 1,795,899 To elect one Class II Trustee to the Board of Trustees: Votes For Votes Withheld Chris LaVictoire Mahai 20,043,344 1,822,581 To elect three Class III Trustees to the Board of Trustees: Votes For Votes Withheld Thomas W. Hunersen 20,046,049 1,819,876 Nancy Yao Maasbach 18,897,400 2,968,525 Stephen Bird 19,443,203 2,422,722 In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited., abrdn Australia Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC and abrdn Alternative Funds Limited. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter# For More Information Contact: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds Investor Relations 800-522-5465 [email protected] SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Student teams working together to tackle technical challenges and find innovative solutions are the future of the electronics industry. That's why the Cadence Academic Network is committed to providing the tools and training needed to accelerate these teams to the finish line. We are passionate about innovation and the push towards a greener more sustainable world, which is a common trend among student design teams. We support teams developing vehicles that compete across a variety of terrains from water, to land, to air. Let's take a look at the amazing work being done using a multitude of Cadence tools. University of Michigan's Electric Boat (UM-EB) racing team is tackling the technical challenge of redesigning their traditional catamaran vehicle to a hydrofoil vessel. To ensure stability and seamless design, it is critical that the team model and simulate their foils before launching their boat, which they are doing using Cadence CFD Software. University of Pennsylvania's Formula SAE team, Penn Electric, is focused on validation and making sure that their circuits are all optimized to be the best that they can be, using Celsius and AWR technologies. Ensuring the electrical components are getting adequate cooling is not only necessary to meet the requirements for the competition, but more importantly, to guarantee the safety of the team members. The Formula SAE team at Politecnico di Milano, Dynami PRC, is another team pushing the limits of what's possible, competing internationally with their electric vehicle. Major electrical components were designed with Cadence. Solar cars are another area for eco-innovation. The solar vehicle team at NC State, SolarPack, and Virginia Tech, Solar Car at VT, are working hard towards a more sustainable future for transportation. AeroDelft the Delft University of Technology student team, is developing a liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft, revolutionizing the air transport industry to be cleaner for the climate. In order to minimize energy consumption, it was critical for them to optimize their aerodynamic design. This was made possible by Fidelity CFD technology, allowing them to analyze the impact of their design changes. Adding to their mission of moving towards a more sustainable world, they accessed tools with OnCloud, reducing compute and server resources. Good luck to all the teams this summer at the various competitions! If you are a member of or know a student organization interested in improving their design using the same commercial PCB, CFD, or other system tools our customers use, contact us so we can partner with the next generation of innovators! To learn more about the ways Cadence is supporting a push towards a greener world, check out the Sustainable by Design - 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cadence Design Systems on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cadence Design Systems Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cadence-design-systems Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Cadence Design Systems View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Comcast Corporation Comcast NBCUniversal's Voices of the Civil Rights Movement platform won both The Webby Award and The Webby People's Voice Award for Video in the Public Service & Activism category at the 27th Annual Webby Awards. Presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, The Webby Awards honor excellence on the Internet. In 2023, The Webbys received nearly 14,000 entries from more than 70 countries, and more than 600,000 people cast more than 2.5 million votes for The Webby People's Voice Awards. At Comcast NBCUniversal, we are privileged to elevate diverse voices and stories by creating platforms like 'Voices of the Civil Rights Movement' for global audiences. We are thrilled that the 'Voices' platform, and the profiles of remarkable civil rights heroes we have been entrusted to produce, have been recognized by The Webby Awards. EBONNE L. RUFFINS, Vice President, Local Media Development, Comcast Voices of the Civil Rights Movement is Comcast NBCUniversal's signature multimedia initiative honoring the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Since its launch in 2013, the Voices platform has created opportunities for learning and inspiration through the power of Comcast NBCUniversal's reach, technology, and platforms - connecting audiences of all ages to compelling programming that educates, informs, and advances our commitment to social justice, digital equity, and digital access. This year, Comcast NBCUniversal celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Voices of the Civil Rights Movement platform. To mark this milestone, 10 new video interviews and a collection of new articles will be released - expanding the collection to nearly 20 hours of content and 200 firsthand accounts from America's civil rights champions. Content is available for free on Xfinity platforms, at select museums, and to the general public at CivRightsVoices.com and @CivRightsVoices on social media. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Comcast Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Comcast Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/comcast-corporation Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Comcast Corporation View source version on accesswire.com: CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSXV:FLY) (OTCQX:FLYLF) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") today announced two new commercial agreements with Sichuan Airlines, the largest airline in Western China, and Bahamasair, the national airline of the Bahamas, for satcom hardware and recurring software services. The combined value of the two contracts is approximately $1.2 million in revenue over the next five years. Sichuan Airlines, a long-standing FLYHT customer, has agreed to purchase 10 additional AFIRS 228 units for installation on its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft that it is converting from passenger to cargo in order to service the growing demand for freight services in China. FLYHT was awarded the contract after a competitive bidding process that included the incumbent satcom provider. Bahamasair has re-engaged with FLYHT after pausing during the pandemic, re-activating three ATR aircraft with the full suite of SaaS services including voice, aircraft situational display (ASD) and health monitoring. The multi-year contract anticipates the installation of AFIRS 228 hardware units and related software services for additional ATR aircraft over the term of the contract. "The two agreements signal the ongoing recovery of global aviation and the significant value of FLYHT's hardware and software solutions to airlines of all shapes and sizes," commented Kent Jacobs, President and Interim CEO. "Whether it's Sichuan Airlines in Asian freight or Bahamasair providing an essential service in the Caribbean, both airlines see the benefits of real-time, actionable information in terms of safety, operational and fuel efficiency, and improved customer satisfaction. Importantly, FLYHT's solutions are proving to be highly competitive from a price, service, and technological perspective, helping us win and maintain long term customers. We're looking forward to the installation and the AFIRS 228 units and reactivation of software services for these valued customers over the coming months." About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. FLYHT provides airlines with Actionable Intelligence to transform operational insight into immediate, quantifiable action, and delivers industry leading solutions to improve aviation safety, efficiency, and profitability. This unique capability is driven by a suite of patented aircraft certified hardware products. These include AFIRS", an aircraft satcom/interface device that enables cockpit voice communications, real-time aircraft state analysis, and the transmission of aircraft data while inflight. The AFIRS Edge is a state-of-the-art 5G Wireless Quick Access Recorder (WQAR), Aircraft Interface Device (AID), and Aircraft Condition and Monitoring System (ACMS). The Edge can be interfaced with FLYHT's TAMDAR probe or the FLYHT-WVSS-II relative humidity sensor to deliver airborne weather and humidity data in real-time. CrossConsense, FLYHT's wholly owned subsidiary, offers highly skilled services to the commercial aviation industry and provides preventative maintenance solutions. These include Aircraft Fleet View, a native application that gives a real-time view of airline fleet status; AviationDW, a managed data warehouse for enhanced business intelligence; and ACSIS, a visualization and predictive maintenance alerting tool. FLYHT is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, and is an AS9100 Quality registered company. CrossConsense, located in Frankfurt, Germany, is an ISO9001 certified operation. For more information, visit www.flyht.com. Contact Information: FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. FNK IR LLC Satichi Consulting Inc. Alana Forbes Matt Chesler, CFA Daniel Kim Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations Corporate Development 403.291.7437 646.809.2183 416.728.5630 [email protected] [email protected] [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. SOURCE: FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / VMware In-person attendees pose for a group photo during VMware's inaugural Sustainable Software Development Workshop. (Photo courtesy of Pranay Pareek) VMware solutions have offered intrinsic sustainability since the company's inception. Virtualization is known for reducing the infrastructure needed to run workloads along with the energy and carbon footprint of the data center. Today, sustainability is a long-term commitment at VMware and a top priority for our customers. While we're proud of the progress we've made, we need to do more, especially to meet the growing demand for compute-intensive technologies like machine learning. At the end of Earth Month and just before the annual R&D Innovation Offsite (RADIO), 300 individuals from across VMware came together for the company's first-ever Sustainable Software Development Workshop (SSDW). The Sustainable Software Development Workshop (SSDW) was created to bring together individuals from different areas of the company to explore how VMware can further integrate sustainability into its products and services. This is a rapidly growing space, and together, we not only explored the challenges and opportunities that exist today but laid the foundation for impactful and innovative progress toward future sustainable software development. First, defining sustainable software To VMware, sustainable software is about building, managing, and running any workloads (on-prem, multi-cloud, telco cloud, or edge cloud) in a way that minimizes the environmental impact. Examples include: Core solutions that can help customers advance their decarbonization goals by reducing per workload power consumption. This can be achieved by implementing vSphere host power management, enabling migration to a more energy-efficient data center, reducing the number of physical servers, and reclaiming unused virtual machines (VMs) with Aria Operations . . The Green Score , a metric introduced last year in Aria Operations, was introduced to assess the environmental impact of VMware infrastructure in a data center. The Green Score considers various factors such as workload efficiency, resource utilization, virtualization rate, power source, and hardware efficiency, delivering a score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greener supply, learner operations, and cleaner demand . This allows data center administrators to identify areas for improvement and optimize their infrastructure for sustainability. , a metric introduced last year in Aria Operations, was introduced to assess the environmental impact of VMware infrastructure in a data center. The Green Score considers various factors such as workload efficiency, resource utilization, virtualization rate, power source, and hardware efficiency, delivering a score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating . This allows data center administrators to identify areas for improvement and optimize their infrastructure for sustainability. Deep Cooling is a software solution that uses AI and big data to optimize cooling in data centers. By analyzing operation metrics, data from the dynamic environment, and energy usage, Deep Cooling dynamically adjusts cooling parameters to reduce energy consumption and costs, saving 18% - 25% of electricity for cooling. In addition, the system requires minimal changes to data center hardware and does not negatively impact normal production during the implementation process. "It's not just enlightening to hear the collective voices and ideas from this event, but inspiring to know that sustainability innovation is so important, to so many at VMware" Nicola Acutt, Chief Sustainability Officer, VMware Workshop structure and highlights The Sustainable Software Development Workshop featured 32 speakers across our Cloud Management, Cloud Infrastructure, Customer Experience, Platform Services, Research & Innovation, and Sales groups. The workshop began with an opening address from Kit Colbert, VMware's CTO, and closed with reflections from Nicola Acutt, VMware's Chief Sustainability Officer who said, "It's not just enlightening to hear the collective voices and ideas from this event, but inspiring to know that sustainability innovation is so important, to so many at VMware." Throughout the day, there were 21 lightning talks covering four themes: Product-led growth & productization: One of the core focuses of the workshop was product-led growth. Speakers emphasized the importance of developing sustainable software products that meet customers' needs and minimize their environmental impact. They discussed strategies for creating energy-efficient applications, optimizing resource consumption, and designing software focusing on longevity and scalability. By aligning business objectives with sustainability principles, organizations can drive growth while minimizing their carbon footprint. Platform thinking: The workshop delved into the concept of platform thinking, which promotes the development of open, extensible software platforms. Speakers explored how building modular, interoperable systems enables collaboration, innovation, and long-term sustainability. They shared best practices for creating developer-friendly platforms, leveraging open-source technologies, and fostering ecosystems that encourage the reuse and sharing of software components. Platform thinking encourages a collective approach to software development, enabling organizations to build on each other's work and reduce redundancy. Advanced Technology: The event showcased cutting-edge technologies that can revolutionize software development and contribute to sustainability. Discussions revolved around emerging trends such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and edge computing. Experts highlighted how these technologies are harnessed to optimize energy consumption, enhance resource allocation, automate processes, and mitigate environmental impact. By leveraging advanced technology responsibly, we can drive sustainable digital innovation and positively impact the world. From the Field: Real-world experiences shared by industry experts were a vital component of the workshop. Speakers from VMware's Cloud Management, Cloud Infrastructure, Customer Experience, Platform Services, Research & Innovation, and Sales Business units shared their insights, success stories, and challenges in implementing sustainable software development practices. These firsthand experiences provided valuable insights and inspiration on the need for evolution around sustainability development. The event was hybrid, with presenters online and in the room. After each session, we facilitated individual reflections and group discussions to share takeaways from the topics covered. What's next VMware's inaugural Sustainable Software Development Workshop was a resounding success, bringing together VMware's global community of software developers, thought leaders, and industry experts. This event served as a catalyst for VMware, galvanizing its commitment to sustainability at every layer in the stack. By fostering a culture of sustainability, VMware aims to empower the future of digital innovation, enabling organizations to create software solutions that not only drive growth but also contribute to a greener and more sustainable world. As we reflect on the valuable learnings from the event, we are energized to take the next steps and continue driving positive change across VMware and our ecosystem. Here are a few key areas we will focus on to build on the momentum: By cultivating partnerships, harnessing feedback, scaling initiatives, and fostering continuous learning and innovation, we are poised to make a lasting impact in the field of software development. Together, we will drive positive change, lead by example, and shape a more sustainable future for the industry. Click here to view the original content View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from VMware on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: VMware Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/vmware Email: [email protected] SOURCE: VMware View source version on accesswire.com: Pixieset was recently certified as a Great Place to Work and recognized as one of the Best Workplaces" in Canada. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Pixieset Media Inc. ("Pixieset" or the "Company"), a leading software solutions provider for photographers and creative professionals, has been named one of the 2023 Best Workplaces in Canada by the Great Place to Work Institute. This is the second year in a row that Pixieset has been recognized in this category, having previously ranked as the 7th Best Workplaces in Canada in 2022 for employers with 50-99 employees. Best Workplaces in Canada The Best Workplaces" in Canada list is compiled by the Great Place to Work Institute, a global research and consulting firm with a mission to build a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces. The Best Workplaces" list is based on entirely feedback from employees, who are surveyed about their workplace experience and perceptions of the company culture. This year's recognition is particularly meaningful given that Pixieset has nearly doubled its workforce over the past year, highlighting its consistent commitment to the care and support of its employees. "We are thrilled to once again be recognized as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada," said Co-founder and CEO Simon Wong. Pixieset has implemented a number of initiatives to foster a positive work environment, including flexible work arrangements, and comprehensive benefits and wellness programs that include professional development opportunities. In addition, the company has invested considerably into regular team building events, creating a strong sense of community and providing opportunities for team members to connect both in person and virtually. "This certification is a testament not only to Pixieset's commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture at Pixieset," Co-founder and COO Phoebe Jiang commented, "but more importantly, to the team's hard work in building, supporting and being apart of that culture. We are grateful for their contributions and look forward to continuing to grow the company alongside our team." About Pixieset: Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Pixieset is an all-in-one SaaS platform that offers a range of solutions including website, gallery, and business management tools to help photographers and other creatives manage their workflow. The company serves over 800,000+ users around the world and is a market leader in the industry. Pixieset is currently hiring for a range of roles in Canada-learn more about these job opportunities at pixieset.com/careers and stay in touch by following Pixieset on LinkedIn, and Instagram. For more information, visit pixieset.com. About Great Place to Work: Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. It is a global research and consulting firm that provides benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In Canada, Great Place to Work produces both industry and demographic-specific Best Workplace" lists. This is part of the world's largest annual workplace study, which culminates in a series of national lists in over 50 countries, including the study's flagship list of 100 Best Companies published annually in Fortune magazine. The 2023 Best Workplaces in Canada list is compiled by Great Place to Work based on direct feedback from employees of participating organizations. For more information about the list and the methodology used to select the winners, visit www.greatplacetowork.ca. Contact Information Rianna Tan HR Specialist [email protected] 6043187779 SOURCE: Pixieset Media Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Regions Bank By Candace Higginbotham and Jeremy King Regions Bank unveiled its Shared Value Report, further illustrating how the bank, as well as the Regions Foundation, made meaningful differences for people, businesses, nonprofits and communities throughout 2022. The Regions Foundation is an Alabama-based nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank. The report is more than a collection of data and figures. It reflects how Regions Bank, its associates and the Regions Foundation leveraged time, talents and resources to create more inclusive prosperity. From supporting more affordable housing to building financial wellness and creating new education opportunities, each example in the report shows the genuine commitment of Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation to invest in areas where they are best qualified to make a difference. "Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation are supporting real solutions to real issues impacting people in our communities. The Shared Value Report is a reflection of how we're turning our community engagement strategy into action," said Leroy Abrahams, head of Community Affairs for Regions Bank and president of the Regions Foundation. "Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation have a clear track record of helping empower more people and more communities to succeed. This report highlights key accomplishments and important milestones - and it reflects a commitment to building on this progress throughout 2023 and beyond." Highlights of the Shared Value Report include a three-year look at significant investments from Regions Bank and its associates, as well as the Regions Foundation. Those highlights include: (see figure above) Specific 2022 investments were also noted, including the following: (see figure above) The 2022 Shared Value Report, which is published on Regions.com, also includes performance metrics around community development lending, small-business support, financial education, workforce development and affordable housing. Examples illustrated in the report include sharing how the Regions Foundation helped place families in affordable single-family homes in tree-lined neighborhoods, how Regions Bank associates delivered free financial education seminars to more than 300 people with disabilities - which was in addition to other, year-round financial wellness opportunities for people across Regions Bank's footprint, and how the bank also provided minority-owned small businesses much-needed access to capital. The report also notes Regions Bank's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). At Regions, DEI is focused on ensuring everyone has a seat at the table and an opportunity to be heard. This results in a stronger bank that is better positioned to meet the financial needs of the diverse customers and communities where Regions operates. Through internal DEI Networks, associates help strengthen the Regions Bank brand in their markets through their collaboration with local community organizations, they provide programming that fosters the bank's internal culture of inclusion and belonging and support efforts to attract and retain diverse talent. Further, Regions Bank continues to be recognized as a corporate DEI leader by third parties. In 2022, the bank was named a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion, a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality and was recognized as a Military Friendly Employer. "This report tells a story we can all be proud of," Abrahams concluded. "Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation saw many successes in 2022, but there is much more work to be done. These efforts to advance economic and community development, support education and workforce readiness, and increase financial wellness never let up, and the teams look forward to making even more progress in the years ahead." About Regions Financial Corporation Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF), with $154 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com. About Regions Foundation The Alabama-based Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Regions Bank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Regions Bank View source version on accesswire.com: First version published at 11:37 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Drug smuggling from Iran to Azerbaijan has been prevented at the official territory of the Goytapa border detachment area of the Border Guard, the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan told Trend. According to the SBS, an attempt to smuggle narcotic drugs into the country was made by residents of the village of Zevin of Yardimli district Shamo Shirbekov and Ilyas Shirbekov on May 24, at 11:55 (GMT+4). As a result of the operational measures carried out, 13 kg of narcotic drugs (11 kg of marijuana, 2 kg of methamphetamine) were seized. In regard to fact, operational and investigative measures are continuing. To note, recent smuggling from Iran to Azerbaijan has been prevented in the same district on April 1, at 02:30 (GMT +4). As a result of joint activities carried out by the Goytapa border detachment area of the Border Guard and the police department of the Yardimli district, the smuggling of 13.52 kilograms of narcotic drugs and 1,500 tablets of M-40 methadone was prevented near Avash village of Yardimli district. Revenue has grown 54% over same quarter last year, with a gross margin of 32% TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2023 / Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV:VOL)(OTCQB: VLTTF) ("Volatus" or "the Company"), a global leader in the drone industry, is pleased to announce its financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023"). The Company generated revenue of $7,412,480 in the first three months of 2023. Revenue for Q1 2023 was $7,412,480 an increase of 54% over the same quarter last year. The revenue increase in Q1 2023 was driven by equipment sales. Gross profit for Q1 2023 was $2,366,679 an increase of $1,273,839 over the same period in 2022. The increase in gross profit was due to higher gross margins from the service segment. The Company has experienced a gross margin of 32%, representing an increase of 900 basis points (9%) over the first quarter of 2022. Volatus recorded a comprehensive loss of ($3,003,365) in Q1 2023. The losses were reduced by 7% compared to previous quarter. This was due to increased investment in human resources, expansion in the UK and Latin America, expansion in long-linear pipeline inspections, and increased office, interest, and depreciation expenses. The Adjusted EBITDA loss for Q1 2023 was ($1,602,690) compared to ($1,208,569) for the same quarter last year (Q1 2022). The incremental loss per share is 4% though the revenue has scaled by 54% and gross profit by 117%. The cash on hand as of Mar 31, 2023, was $1,456,193. In a subsequent event, the Company raised additional cash of $2,646,000 from a private placement offering on May 11, 2023. Notable Operational Accomplishments During the Quarter: Continued expansion in the US with strategic acquisition of Empire Drones based out of New York. This acquisition facilitates better gross margins and expanded market reach. The Company signed a contract for monthly recurring inspections to detect fugitive methane leaks at 14 water treatment facilities across the northwest of the United Kingdom. Under the terms of the 12-month contract, the Company will conduct remote analysis of infrastructure at water treatment facilities across the northwest UK using Optical Gas imaging cameras. In February 2023, the Company has been issued a Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) License for domestic service, all-cargo aircraft. The addition of this license allows the Company to build its drone cargo capability under the Volatus brand in preparation for the anticipated Transport Canada/FAA regulatory changes. Positioning Volatus with this license is an important step toward the long-term vision of the Company in the drone cargo operations, since the Company is scheduled to take delivery of the first 3.8 tonne Natilus Kona uncrewed regional feeder aircraft in the near future. The Company has signed a 3-year master service agreement with a leading pipeline operator to provide pipeline right-of-way asset and environmental monitoring throughout Ontario. The agreement, signed on March 2nd, is estimated to generate revenues of up to $5M over the next three years with margins within historical norms for jobs of this nature. The Company provides data gathering and analysis services to the oil and gas sector. the Company provides pipeline right-of-way surveillance services across Canada from Kitimat, British Columbia to Ottawa, Ontario. Combined with weekly patrols on an annual basis, the Volatus Group patrols over 1,600,000 kilometers of pipeline. In March 2023, the Company signed an arm's length definitive agreement to acquire Sky Scape Industries, LLC., a New Jersey based company providing airborne intelligence data services. Founded in 2014, Sky Scape Industries uses remote sensing techniques to provide comprehensive inspection services including facility, structural, line, and right of way for power utilities, emergency response for oil and gas, and faade inspection services for property management. The company utilizes crewed and uncrewed aircraft and has operated nationwide in over 24 states. "In spite of a seasonal quarter, our team continued to execute. Market challenges shifted some of our revenue targets to the right, but the quarter also marked a more aggressive expansion in the US," said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus. "The acquisition of Empire Drones and Sky Scape Industries will help Volatus capture a larger market share and improve gross margins across the board." Webinar In conjunction with this release, Volatus investor relations will host a webinar on Tuesday, May 30th at 9 AM EST at which time Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, and Abhinav Singhvi, Chief Financial Officer, will review the quarterly results and major milestones with Danielle Gagne, Head of Corporate Communications as moderator. Investors are invited to register for the webinar here. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nEMt0lq0R76Ymaf2W942PQ Audio Replay Options An audio replay of the event will be archived on the Investor Relations page of the company's website here . SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q3 2022 Q2 2022 Revenue 7,412,480 7,213,129 11,120,589 6,629,593 Cost of goods sold (5,045,801 ) (5,190,979 ) (7,791,145 ) (4,728,673 ) GROSS PROFIT 2,366,679 2,022,150 3,329,444 1,900,920 Gross Margin 32% 28% 30% 29% OPERATING EXPENSES Audit fees 1,866 90,000 10,000 10,015 Advertising & marketing 406,118 575,539 599,285 591,365 IT & tech 185,095 164,260 140,392 110,775 Personnel 2,156,297 1,552,913 1,393,606 1,565,456 Research & development 100,420 541,023 - - Office cost 712,481 490,740 378,474 416,589 Travel 94,285 144,372 140,622 54,456 External partner cost 272,147 512,171 393,238 158,356 Depreciation 745,136 604,849 270,081 300,511 Share based Payments 176,401 340,761 330,918 290,103 Total Operating Expense 4,850,247 5,016,629 3,656,615 3,497,626 Operating Expense Ratio 65% 70% 33% 53% (Loss) from operations (2,483,568 ) (2,994,479 ) (327,171 ) (1,596,707 ) OTHER ITEMS - INCOME/(EXPENSE) Finance cost (312,982 ) (249,798 ) (121,672 ) (81,239 ) Other income (expense) (1,558 ) 192,498 79,640 31,576 Unrealized loss on investment (180,058 ) - - - Gain (loss) on disposal of drones (10,511 ) 414 10,566 (1,011 ) Foreign exchange translation (28,590 ) (195,277 ) 6,430 20,484 Net loss (3,017,267 ) (3,246,645 ) (352,206 ) (1,626,896 ) OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Foreign operations - foreign currency translation differences 13,902 25,314 - - Comprehensive loss (3,003,365 ) (3,221,331 ) (352,206 (1,626,896 ) Comprehensive (Loss) per share Basic (0.023 ) (0.030 ) (0.013 ) (0.019 ) Diluted (0.023 ) (0.030 ) (0.013 ) (0.019 ) RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBIDTA TO NET LOSS Three months ended March 31 2023 2022 Adjusted EBITDA (loss) (1,602,690 ) (1,208,569 ) Interest 312,982 73,528 Depreciation 745,136 209,224 Share-based payments 176,401 283,076 Unrealized loss on Investment 180,058 - Net loss (3,017,267 ) (1,774,397 ) About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout North America and growing into Latin America and globally. Volatus serves civil, public safety, and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, as well as R&D, design, and manufacturing. Through our subsidiary, Volatus Aviation, we are introducing green and innovative drone solutions to supplement and replace traditional aircraft and helicopters for long-linear inspections such as pipeline, energy, rail, and cargo services. Volatus is committed to carbon neutrality; the fostering of a safe, equitable and inclusive workplace; and responsible governance. Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the business plans and expectations of the Company; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; and meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. TSXV:VOL OTCQB:VLTTF CONTACT DETAILS: Abhinav Singhvi +1 833-865-2887 [email protected] COMPANY WEBSITE https://volatusaerospace.com SOURCE: Volatus Aerospace Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: LURE, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: The Combined General Meeting of Vetoquinol (Paris: VETO) shareholders was held on Thursday 25 May 2023 at the laboratory's head office in Lure (Franche-Comte), chaired by Mr. Etienne Frechin. All the resolutions proposed by the Board of Directors were adopted, including: The statutory and consolidated financial statements for the year 2022 were approved. The dividend per share was set at 0.80 euro. It will be paid as of 6 June 2023. The reappointment of Mr. Philippe Arnold as an independent director and the appointment of Mrs. Anne-Marie Graffin as a new independent director. The detailed results of the votes will be available on Vetoquinol's website from 26 May 2023 in the "General Meetings" section. At the Combined General Meeting it was also announced that Mr. Etienne Frechin will resign as Chairman of the Board of Vetoquinol, effective 1st July 2023. Mr. Etienne Frechin will remain a Director of the company, hence continuing to share his broad experience. On 25 May 2023, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Matthieu Frechin, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vetoquinol effective 1st July 2023. The Board of Directors unanimously acknowledged Mr. Etienne Frechin's substantial contribution to the success and international development of the company over the sixty years he has been in office. Etienne Frechin, son of Joseph Frechin, founder of Vetoquinol, has spent his entire professional career at the company, where he has successively held the positions of Production Director, General Manager, Chairman and CEO and, since 1980, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Throughout his career, he has accompanied the very strong growth of the laboratory and led multiple development operations in France and abroad in order to create one of the top 10 international players in animal health. In 2006, he also successfully completed the company IPO, increasing the laboratory's reputation and sharing his vision of the animal health business. Next update: Half-Yearly Results, September 7, 2023 ABOUT VETOQUINOL Vetoquinol is a leading global animal health company that supplies drugs and non-medicinal products for the farm animals (cattle and pigs) and pet (dogs and cats) markets. As an independent pure player, Vetoquinol designs, develops and sells veterinary drugs and non-medicinal products in Europe, the Americas and the Asia Pacific region. Since its foundation in 1933, Vetoquinol has pursued a strategy combining innovation with geographical diversification. The Groups hybrid growth is driven by the reinforcement of its product portfolio coupled with acquisitions in high potential growth markets. Vetoquinol employed 2,521 people as of December 31st, 2022. Vetoquinol has been listed on Euronext Paris since 2006 (symbol: VETO). The Vetoquinol share is eligible for the French PEA and PEA-PME personal equity plans. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005574/en/ FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: VETOQUINOL Investor Relations Fanny Toillon Tel.: +33 (0)3 84 62 59 88 [email protected] KEIMA COMMUNICATION Investor & Media Relations Emmanuel Dovergne Tel.: +33 (0)1 56 43 44 63 [email protected] Source: Vetoquinol LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of Qatar Islamic Insurance Group Q.P.S.C. (QIIG) (Qatar). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect QIIGs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. QIIG employs a hybrid takaful model, whereby the shareholders fund charges the policyholders fund (PHF) a Wakala fee based on gross written contributions (GWC) and a Mudarabah fee based on investment income. QIIGs ability to accumulate surpluses within the PHF, whilst regularly distributing surplus back to policyholders, supports the sustainability of its takaful model. QIIGs balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which was at the strongest level at year-end 2022, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and is expected to remain comfortably at this level over the medium term. Supporting the balance sheet strength assessment is QIIGs consistent demonstration of internal capital generation. In 2022, the company reported capital and surplus of QAR 456.3 million (USD 126.1 million), growing 8.3% compared with 2021 (5.7% growth when including the PHF to QAR 701.2 million [USD 193.8 million]). While maintaining sufficient liquidity to support its insurance operations, QIIGs investments portfolio continues to carry exposure to higher risk real estate assets and investments in associates, which accounted for 40% of its total investments as at year-end 2022, albeit reducing in recent years. QIIG is moderately dependent on reinsurance, as the group cedes a high proportion of its large commercial risks. QIIGs ability to generate strong operating returns is demonstrated by its five-year weighted average return-on-equity ratio of 13.8% (2018-2022). Profitability is driven mainly by QIIGs strong and stable technical results, which have generated positive returns in each of the last 10 years. The companys earnings have been moderately supported by investment income; however, investment yields have experienced some volatility in recent years driven by fair value losses arising on real estate and the impairment of investments in associates. QIIG holds a niche position within its domestic insurance market, as an established provider of Sharia-compliant products. In 2022, QIIG reported a 9% increase in contributions compared with 2021, writing GWC of QAR 467.3 million (USD 129.1 million). Whilst the group looks to expand its geographical presence, operations remain concentrated in Qatar, where it maintains a strong reputation benefiting from its track record of distributing surpluses back to its policyholders. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005682/en/ Emily Thompson Senior Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 0291 [email protected] Kanika Thukral Associate Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0327 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 [email protected] Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098 [email protected] Source: AM Best MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of Seguros El Roble, S.A. (El Roble) (Guatemala). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect El Robles balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The stable outlooks reflect AM Bests expectation that El Roble will continue to perform in a profitable manner while it continues to strengthen its capital base. In addition, the stable outlooks recognize the companys strategy to prioritize profitability over market share in a competitive marketplace. El Roble, which was established in 1972, is the largest insurer in Guatemala, with a market share of 22.4%. Its portfolio is composed mainly of non-life products (83%), as of December 2022, with the remainder (17%) tailored for the life insurance market. On a net basis, the accidents and health line of business represents 46% of the companys premium portfolio, with 29% in property/casualty lines and the remaining 25% in life insurance business. Bicapital Corporation, a Panama-based private financial group that has financial services operations, including banking, insurance, and asset management, in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the Bahamas, Panama and the United States, owns El Roble. El Roble ranks No. 1 in accidents and health and auto in Guatemala. AM Best views the companys business profile as neutral, based on El Robles market leadership and its capacity to adjust the terms of its offerings through 2021, while aiming at higher diversification in lines and distribution channels in 2022 and 2023. In addition, El Robles market-leading position has allowed it to outperform market growth rates continuously for the past 10 years while sustaining diversification in products and distribution channels. AM Bests stable market segment outlook on Guatemalas insurance industry recognizes the good growth prospects for the countrys economy given its macroeconomic stability; as of December 2022, Guatemalas USD 1.3 billion insurance market ranked as the third largest in Central America. El Robles balance sheet strength is assessed at the strongest level, as the availability and quality of its capital are well-positioned for the companys risk profile. In 2022, risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), remained stable as the company continued to post positive net results and making dividend payments. Historically, El Robles reinsurance program and ERM capabilities have been effective in protecting its balance sheet. AM Best assesses El Robles operating performance as strong due to its capacity to maintain constant growth in its net income backed by solid underwriting. Strategic adjustments have allowed El Roble to navigate different cycles of the market. AM Best acknowledges that 2023 will be a challenging year with regard to competition, but the company has full capacity to undertake these challenges. Positive rating actions could take place if El Robles balance sheet strength continues to benefit from the consistency in its risk-adjusted capital derived from the companys prudent capital management. Negative rating actions could take place if El Robles operating performance renders negative results, either from deterioration in underwriting quality or market conditions. Negative rating actions also could take place if AM Bests assessment of El Robles balance sheet strength is impacted unfavorably by macroeconomic conditions that affect the company, its parent or Guatemala. 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 specializing 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005747/en/ Eli Sanchez Director, Analytics +52 55 1102 2720, ext. 122 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 [email protected] Alfonso Novelo Senior Director, Analytics +52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107 [email protected] Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098 [email protected] Source: AM Best TAGRISSO (osimertinib) plenary presentation will demonstrate significantly improved overall survival for patients with early-stage resectable EGFR-mutated lung cancer ENHERTU (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) will show potential across a broad range of advanced HER2-expressing advanced cancers LYNPARZA (olaparib) and IMFINZI (durvalumab) combination will demonstrate delay in progression in newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer without a tumor BRCA mutation WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AstraZeneca advances its ambition to revolutionize cancer care with new data across its industry-leading portfolio of cancer medicines at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, June 2 to 6, 2023. More than 130 abstracts will feature 22 approved and potential new medicines across the Companys diverse oncology portfolio and pipeline, including 11 oral presentations and a late-breaking plenary presentation of overall survival (OS) results from the ADAURA Phase III trial of TAGRISSO (osimertinib) in the adjuvant treatment of patients with early-stage epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFRm) lung cancer. Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit, AstraZeneca, said: Our unwavering commitment to continually raising the standard of cancer care for patients with high unmet needs is evident in our data at ASCO this year. With our leading portfolio of medicines in lung cancer, our ambition is to have the right AstraZeneca medicine for more than half of all patients with this disease by 2030. We will showcase significant steps toward that goal with overall survival data from ADAURA that reinforce TAGRISSO as the backbone therapy in EGFR-mutated lung cancer. Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: We are extending the benefits of our practice-changing cancer medicines, including TAGRISSO, IMFINZI and LYNPARZA, while also investing in new scientific platforms such as T-cell engagers and cell therapy to attack cancer from multiple angles and advance the next wave of options for patients. At ASCO, the extraordinary momentum for our antibody drug conjugate collaboration portfolio continues with data for ENHERTU underscoring its potential across many HER2-expressing tumor types beyond breast, lung and gastric, and updated results for datopotamab deruxtecan that reinforce our confidence in this TROP2-directed treatment. Improving outcomes across lung cancer settings A late-breaking plenary presentation will showcase OS results from the ADAURA Phase III trial evaluating TAGRISSO in early-stage (IB, II and IIIA) EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several posters will describe trials-in-progress of IMFINZI (durvalumab) that further reinforce the Companys progress toward moving lung cancer treatment to earlier stages of disease. These include NeoCOAST-2 evaluating IMFINZI in multiple novel immunotherapy combinations in resectable, early-stage NSCLC; PACIFIC-4 in combination with standard of care stereotactic body radiation therapy in medically unresectable Stage I/II NSCLC; PACIFIC-8 in combination with anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody domvanalimab in unresectable Stage III NSCLC; and PACIFIC-9 in combination with novel immunotherapies oleclumab or monalizumab in patients with unresectable Stage III NSCLC. Additionally, several presentations and posters will highlight the Companys commitment to improving outcomes in advanced lung cancer with next-wave treatments and novel combinations. These include: An oral presentation of updated results from the TROPION-Lung02 Phase Ib dose escalation and expansion trial of datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) in combination with pembrolizumab with or without platinum chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated or pretreated, advanced or metastatic NSCLC without actionable genomic alterations. TROPION-Lung02 is the first trial to show results for an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) plus an immune checkpoint inhibitor combination with or without chemotherapy in this setting. Interim results from the ARTEMIDE-01 Phase I trial assessing rilvegostomig (AZD2936), a PD-1/TIGIT bispecific antibody, in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC. The Company is advancing rilvegostomig into Phase III development this year. A trial-in-progress poster describing the EGRET Phase I trial, a first-in-human study evaluating AZD9592, an EGFR/cMET bispecific ADC, in patients with advanced solid tumors including in combination with TAGRISSO in metastatic EGFRm NSCLC. This is the Companys first bispecific ADC to enter the clinic and has shown a promising efficacy and safety profile in preclinical models. A trial-in-progress poster describing the LATIFY Phase III trial of ceralasertib, an ataxia telangiectasia and rad3-related (ATR) kinase inhibitor, plus IMFINZI in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who progressed on or after anti-PD-(L)1 and platinum-based therapy. This combination has previously demonstrated promising efficacy in this setting in the ongoing HUDSON Phase II trial. A trial-in-progress poster detailing the TROPION-Lung04 Phase Ib dose escalation and expansion study of datopotamab deruxtecan in various immunotherapy combinations with or without carboplatin in patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic NSCLC, including recently initiated cohorts with bispecific immunotherapies rilvegostomig and volrustomig. Showcasing the potential of ENHERTU (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) across multiple HER2-expressing tumors Several presentations will reinforce the potential of ENHERTU in a broad range of HER2-expressing tumors with significant unmet need, including gynecological, genitourinary, gastrointestinal and breast cancers. A late-breaking oral presentation of interim results from the DESTINY-PanTumor02 Phase II trial will highlight the efficacy and safety of ENHERTU in heavily pretreated patients across multiple HER2-expressing advanced solid tumors including biliary tract, bladder, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, pancreatic, and rare cancers. In March, ENHERTU met the prespecified target for objective response rate and demonstrated durable responses across multiple HER2-expressing tumor types in this trial. Additionally, an oral presentation of primary results from the DESTINY-CRC02 Phase II trial will be presented, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of ENHERTU in patients with HER2-positive advanced colorectal cancer with progression following standard-of-care treatment. This trial was initiated based on positive data for ENHERTU in the DESTINY-CRC01 Phase II trial. Another oral presentation will feature a pooled benefit-risk analysis from the DESTINY-Breast01, 02 and 03 trials of ENHERTU in patients with breast cancer aged 65 and older compared to those younger than 65. Potential to transform outcomes across tumors by attacking cancer from multiple angles A late-breaking oral presentation will feature interim progression-free survival (PFS) results from the DUO-O Phase III trial evaluating a combination of LYNPARZA (olaparib), IMFINZI, chemotherapy and bevacizumab in newly diagnosed patients with advanced high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer without tumor BRCA mutations. In April, it was announced that DUO-O demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS for this LYNPARZA and IMFINZI combination versus chemotherapy plus bevacizumab alone. Data will be also shared from a post-hoc exploratory analysis of the SERENA-2 Phase II trial in patients with advanced ER-positive breast cancer who have disease recurrence or progression after endocrine therapy. The analysis will show PFS data for patients treated with next-generation selective estrogen receptor degrader (ngSERD) camizestrant versus fulvestrant based on the type of ESR1 mutation at baseline, detected via circulating tumor DNA. Previously presented primary results from SERENA-2 demonstrated PFS benefit with camizestrant irrespective of ESR1 mutation status or prior treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Data will also be shared from a matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) of the efficacy and safety of CALQUENCE (acalabrutinib) versus zanubrutinib in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, based on data from the ASCEND and ALPINE Phase III trials. In addition, interim Phase I results evaluating AZD0486 (TNB-486), a CD19/CD3 next-generation T-cell engager, will show the potential of targeting CD19 in heavily pretreated patients with follicular lymphoma. Results from a Phase Ib/II dose escalation and expansion trial of the novel immunotherapy oleclumab in combination with IMFINZI and chemotherapy will also be presented in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, including those with high levels of CD73 expression. A poster discussion will feature health-related quality-of-life results from the PROpel Phase III trial of LYNPARZA plus abiraterone in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Two presentations will focus on immune-mediated adverse events (imAEs) in the HIMALAYA Phase III trial of IMFINZI plus IMJUDO (tremelimumab-actl) in 1st-line unresectable liver cancer, including an oral presentation on outcomes by imAE occurrence and a poster on temporal patterns of imAE occurrence. Collaboration in the scientific community is critical to improving outcomes for patients. AstraZeneca is collaborating with Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited to develop and commercialize ENHERTU and datopotamab deruxtecan; with Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside of the US and Canada, to develop and commercialize LYNPARZA. AstraZeneca obtained full oncology rights to monalizumab from Innate Pharma in October 2018 through a co-development and commercialization agreement initiated in 2015. Key AstraZeneca presentations during ASCO 2023 Lead Author Abstract Title Presentation details (CDT) Tumor drivers and resistance Herbst, R Overall survival analysis from the ADAURA trial of adjuvant osimertinib in patients with resected EGFR mutated (EGFRm) stage IBIIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Abstract #LBA3 Plenary Session June 4, 2023 2:17pm Oliveira, M Clinical activity of camizestrant, a next-generation SERD, versus fulvestrant in patients with a detectable ESR1 mutation: Exploratory analysis of the SERENA-2 Phase 2 trial. Abstract #1066 Poster Session Breast CancerMetastatic June 4, 2023 8:00am Antibody drug conjugates Meric-Bernstam, F Efficacy and safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in patients (pts) with HER2-expressing solid tumors: DESTINY-PanTumor02 (DP-02) interim results. Abstract #LBA3000 Oral Abstract Session Developmental TherapeuticsMolecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology June 5, 2023 8:00am Raghav, K Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in patients (pts) with HER2-overexpressing/amplified (HER2+) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Primary results from the multicenter, randomized, Phase 2 DESTINY-CRC02 study. Abstract #3501 Oral Abstract Session Gastrointestinal CancerColorectal and Anal June 4, 2023 8:12am Krop, I An age-specific pooled analysis of trastuzumab deruxtecan (TDXd) in patients (pts) with HER2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) from DESTINY-Breast01, -02, and -03. Abstract #1006 Oral Abstract Session Breast CancerMetastatic June 5, 2023 1:30pm Goto, Y TROPION-Lung02: Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) plus pembrolizumab (pembro) with or without platinum chemotherapy (Pt-CT) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). Abstract #9004 Oral Abstract Session Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Metastatic June 6, 2023 10:57am Aggarwal, C EGRET: A first-in-human study of the novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) AZD9592 as monotherapy or combined with other anticancer agents in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors. Abstract #TPS3156 Poster Session Developmental TherapeuticsMolecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology June 3, 2023 8:00am Borghaei, H TROPION-Lung04: Phase 1b, multicenter study of datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) in combination with immunotherapy carboplatin in advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). Abstract#TPS3158 Poster Session Developmental TherapeuticsMolecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology June 3, 2023 8:00am DNA damage response Harter, P Durvalumab with paclitaxel/carboplatin (PC) and bevacizumab (bev), followed by maintenance durvalumab, bev, and olaparib in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) without a tumor BRCA1/2 mutation (non-tBRCAm): Results from the randomized, placebo (pbo)-controlled Phase III DUO-O trial. Abstract #LBA5506 Oral Abstract Session Gynecologic Cancer June 3, 2023 5:12pm Armstrong, A Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and pain outcomes for patients (pts) with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who received abiraterone (abi) and olaparib (ola) versus (vs) abi and placebo (pbo) in the Phase III PROpel trial. Abstract #5012 Poster Discussion Genitourinary CancerProstate, Testicular, and Penile Session June 3, 2023 1:27pm Immuno-Oncology Hubner, H RNA expression levels from peripheral immune cells, a minimally invasive liquid biopsy source to predict response to therapy, survival and immune-related adverse events in patients with triple negative breast cancer enrolled in the GeparNuevo trial. Abstract #1011 Oral Abstract Session Clinical Science Symposium: Harnessing the Breast Cancer Immune Response June 3, 2023 1:51pm Lau, G Outcomes by occurrence of immune-mediated adverse events (imAEs) with tremelimumab (T) plus durvalumab (D) in the Phase 3 HIMALAYA study in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Abstract #4004 Oral Abstract Session Gastrointestinal CancerGastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary June 2, 2023 3:57pm Besse, B LATIFY: Phase 3 study of ceralasertib + durvalumab vs docetaxel in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer that progressed on or after anti-PD-(L)1 and platinum-based therapy. Abstract #TPS9161 Poster Session Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Metastatic June 4, 2023 8:00am (CDT) Rohrberg, K Safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and preliminary efficacy of AZD2936, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and TIGIT, in checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)-experienced advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): First report of ARTEMIDE-01. Abstract #9050 Poster Session Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Metastatic June 4, 2023 8:00am Guisier, F NeoCOAST-2: A Phase 2 study of neoadjuvant durvalumab plus novel immunotherapies (IO) and chemotherapy (CT) or MEDI5752 (volrustomig) plus CT, followed by surgery and adjuvant durvalumab plus novel IO or volrustomig alone in patients with resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Abstract #TPS8604 Poster Session Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Local Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers June 4, 2023 8:00am Robinson, C Phase 3 study of durvalumab with SBRT for unresected stage I/II, lymph-node negative NSCLC (PACIFIC-4/RTOG3515). Abstract #TPS8607 Poster Session Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers June 4, 2023 8:00am Ozguroglu, M Phase 3 trial of durvalumab combined with domvanalimab following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC (PACIFIC-8). Abstract #TPS8609 Poster Session Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers June 4, 2023 8:00am Barlesi, F Phase 3 study of durvalumab combined with oleclumab or monalizumab in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC (PACIFIC-9). Abstract #TPS8610 Poster Session Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers June 4, 2023 8:00am Ganti, A The prognostic value of patient reported outcomes (PROs) and clinical/demographic variables in the CASPIAN study. Abstract #8516 Poster Discussion Session Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers June 4, 2023 11:45am Lau, G Temporal patterns of immune-mediated adverse events (imAEs) with tremelimumab (T) plus durvalumab (D) in the Phase 3 HIMALAYA study in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Abstract #4073 Poster Session Gastrointestinal CancerGastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary June 5, 2023 8:00am Coveler, A Safety and clinical activity of oleclumab (O) durvalumab (D) + chemotherapy (CT) in patients (pts) with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC): A Phase 1b/2 randomized study. Abstract #4136 Poster Session Gastrointestinal CancerGastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary June 5, 2023 8:00am Hematology Kittai, A A matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) of the efficacy and safety of acalabrutinib (acala) versus zanubrutinib (zanu) in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (RR CLL). Abstract #7540 Poster Session Hematologic MalignanciesLymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia June 5, 2023 8:00am Nair, R High complete response rate with TNB-486 in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma: Interim results an ongoing Phase 1 study. Abstract #7524 Poster Session Hematologic MalignanciesLymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia June 5, 2023 8:00am SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR TAGRISSO (osimertinib) There are no contraindications for TAGRISSO TAGRISSO is associated with several serious and sometimes fatal adverse reactions, including interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis, QTc interval prolongation, cardiomyopathy, keratitis, erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, cutaneous vasculitis, aplastic anemia, and embryo-fetal toxicity The most common (20%) adverse reactions, including lab abnormalities, were leukopenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, anemia, rash, musculoskeletal pain, nail toxicity, neutropenia, dry skin, stomatitis, fatigue, and cough INDICATIONS TAGRISSO is indicated as adjuvant therapy after tumor resection in adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test TAGRISSO is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test TAGRISSO is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC, as detected by an FDA-approved test, whose disease has progressed on or after EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy Please see the complete Important Safety Information on tagrisso.com and complete Prescribing Information, including Patient Information for TAGRISSO. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR ENHERTU (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) Indications ENHERTU is a HER2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate indicated for the treatment of adult patients with: Unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received a prior anti-HER2-based regimen either: In the metastatic setting, or In the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting and have developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing therapy Unresectable or metastatic HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have received a prior chemotherapy in the metastatic setting or developed disease recurrence during or within 6 months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy Unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on objective response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen WARNING: INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE and EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pneumonitis, including fatal cases, have been reported with ENHERTU. Monitor for and promptly investigate signs and symptoms including cough, dyspnea, fever, and other new or worsening respiratory symptoms. Permanently discontinue ENHERTU in all patients with Grade 2 or higher ILD/pneumonitis. Advise patients of the risk and to immediately report symptoms. Exposure to ENHERTU during pregnancy can cause embryo-fetal harm. Advise patients of these risks and the need for effective contraception. Contraindications None. Warnings and Precautions Interstitial Lung Disease / Pneumonitis Severe, life-threatening, or fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD), including pneumonitis, can occur in patients treated with ENHERTU. A higher incidence of Grade 1 and 2 ILD/pneumonitis has been observed in patients with moderate renal impairment. Advise patients to immediately report cough, dyspnea, fever, and/or any new or worsening respiratory symptoms. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of ILD. Promptly investigate evidence of ILD. Evaluate patients with suspected ILD by radiographic imaging. Consider consultation with a pulmonologist. For asymptomatic ILD/pneumonitis (Grade 1), interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 0, then if resolved in 28 days from date of onset, maintain dose. If resolved in >28 days from date of onset, reduce dose one level. Consider corticosteroid treatment as soon as ILD/pneumonitis is suspected (e.g., 0.5 mg/kg/day prednisolone or equivalent). For symptomatic ILD/pneumonitis (Grade 2 or greater), permanently discontinue ENHERTU. Promptly initiate systemic corticosteroid treatment as soon as ILD/pneumonitis is suspected (e.g., 1 mg/kg/day prednisolone or equivalent) and continue for at least 14 days followed by gradual taper for at least 4 weeks. Metastatic Breast Cancer and HER2-Mutant NSCLC (5.4 mg/kg) In patients with metastatic breast cancer and HER2-mutant NSCLC treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, ILD occurred in 12% of patients. Fatal outcomes due to ILD and/or pneumonitis occurred in 1.0% of patients treated with ENHERTU. Median time to first onset was 5 months (range: 0.9 to 23). Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer (6.4 mg/kg) In patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg, ILD occurred in 10% of patients. Median time to first onset was 2.8 months (range: 1.2 to 21). Neutropenia Severe neutropenia, including febrile neutropenia, can occur in patients treated with ENHERTU. Monitor complete blood counts prior to initiation of ENHERTU and prior to each dose, and as clinically indicated. For Grade 3 neutropenia (Absolute Neutrophil Count [ANC] 38.3 C or a sustained temperature of 38 C for more than 1 hour), interrupt ENHERTU until resolved, then reduce dose by one level. Metastatic Breast Cancer and HER2-Mutant NSCLC (5.4 mg/kg) In patients with metastatic breast cancer and HER2-mutant NSCLC treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, a decrease in neutrophil count was reported in 65% of patients. Sixteen percent had Grade 3 or 4 decreased neutrophil count. Median time to first onset of decreased neutrophil count was 22 days (range: 2 to 664). Febrile neutropenia was reported in 1.1% of patients. Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer (6.4 mg/kg) In patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg, a decrease in neutrophil count was reported in 72% of patients. Fifty-one percent had Grade 3 or 4 decreased neutrophil count. Median time to first onset of decreased neutrophil count was 16 days (range: 4 to 187). Febrile neutropenia was reported in 4.8% of patients. Left Ventricular Dysfunction Patients treated with ENHERTU may be at increased risk of developing left ventricular dysfunction. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decrease has been observed with anti-HER2 therapies, including ENHERTU. Assess LVEF prior to initiation of ENHERTU and at regular intervals during treatment as clinically indicated. Manage LVEF decrease through treatment interruption. When LVEF is >45% and absolute decrease from baseline is 10-20%, continue treatment with ENHERTU. When LVEF is 40-45% and absolute decrease from baseline is 20%, interrupt ENHERTU and repeat LVEF assessment within 3 weeks. If LVEF of 20% is confirmed, permanently discontinue ENHERTU. Permanently discontinue ENHERTU in patients with symptomatic congestive heart failure. Treatment with ENHERTU has not been studied in patients with a history of clinically significant cardiac disease or LVEF Metastatic Breast Cancer and HER2-Mutant NSCLC (5.4 mg/kg) In patients with metastatic breast cancer and HER2-mutant NSCLC treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, LVEF decrease was reported in 3.6% of patients, of which 0.4% were Grade 3. Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer (6.4 mg/kg) In patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg, no clinical adverse events of heart failure were reported; however, on echocardiography, 8% were found to have asymptomatic Grade 2 decrease in LVEF. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risks to a fetus. Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to the initiation of ENHERTU. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 7 months after the last dose of ENHERTU. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for 4 months after the last dose of ENHERTU. Additional Dose Modifications Thrombocytopenia For Grade 3 thrombocytopenia (platelets Adverse Reactions Metastatic Breast Cancer and HER2-Mutant NSCLC (5.4 mg/kg) The pooled safety population reflects exposure to ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks in 984 patients in Study DS8201-A-J101 (NCT02564900), DESTINY-Breast01, DESTINY-Breast03, DESTINY-Breast04, and DESTINY-Lung02. Among these patients 65% were exposed for >6 months and 39% were exposed for >1 year. In this pooled safety population, the most common (20%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were nausea (76%), decreased white blood cell count (71%), decreased hemoglobin (66%), decreased neutrophil count (65%), decreased lymphocyte count (55%), fatigue (54%), decreased platelet count (47%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (48%), vomiting (44%), increased alanine aminotransferase (42%), alopecia (39%), increased blood alkaline phosphatase (39%), constipation (34%), musculoskeletal pain (32%), decreased appetite (32%), hypokalemia (28%), diarrhea (28%), and respiratory infection (24%). HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer DESTINY-Breast03 The safety of ENHERTU was evaluated in 257 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who received at least one dose of ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg intravenously every three weeks in DESTINY-Breast03. The median duration of treatment was 14 months (range: 0.7 to 30). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 19% of patients receiving ENHERTU. Serious adverse reactions in >1% of patients who received ENHERTU were vomiting, interstitial lung disease, pneumonia, pyrexia, and urinary tract infection. Fatalities due to adverse reactions occurred in 0.8% of patients including COVID-19 and sudden death (one patient each). ENHERTU was permanently discontinued in 14% of patients, of which ILD/pneumonitis accounted for 8%. Dose interruptions due to adverse reactions occurred in 44% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose interruption were neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, pneumonia, nausea, fatigue, and ILD/pneumonitis. Dose reductions occurred in 21% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose reduction were nausea, neutropenia, and fatigue. The most common (20%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were nausea (76%), decreased white blood cell count (74%), decreased neutrophil count (70%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (67%), decreased hemoglobin (64%), decreased lymphocyte count (55%), increased alanine aminotransferase (53%), decreased platelet count (52%), fatigue (49%), vomiting (49%), increased blood alkaline phosphatase (49%), alopecia (37%), hypokalemia (35%), constipation (34%), musculoskeletal pain (31%), diarrhea (29%), decreased appetite (29%), respiratory infection (22%), headache (22%), abdominal pain (21%), increased blood bilirubin (20%), and stomatitis (20%). HER2-Low Metastatic Breast Cancer DESTINY-Breast04 The safety of ENHERTU was evaluated in 371 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer who received ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks in DESTINY-Breast04. The median duration of treatment was 8 months (range: 0.2 to 33) for patients who received ENHERTU. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 28% of patients receiving ENHERTU. Serious adverse reactions in >1% of patients who received ENHERTU were ILD/pneumonitis, pneumonia, dyspnea, musculoskeletal pain, sepsis, anemia, febrile neutropenia, hypercalcemia, nausea, pyrexia, and vomiting. Fatalities due to adverse reactions occurred in 4% of patients including ILD/pneumonitis (3 patients); sepsis (2 patients); and ischemic colitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, dyspnea, febrile neutropenia, general physical health deterioration, pleural effusion, and respiratory failure (1 patient each). ENHERTU was permanently discontinued in 16% of patients, of which ILD/pneumonitis accounted for 8%. Dose interruptions due to adverse reactions occurred in 39% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose interruption were neutropenia, fatigue, anemia, leukopenia, COVID-19, ILD/pneumonitis, increased transaminases, and hyperbilirubinemia. Dose reductions occurred in 23% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose reduction were fatigue, nausea, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. The most common (20%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were nausea (76%), decreased white blood cell count (70%), decreased hemoglobin (64%), decreased neutrophil count (64%), decreased lymphocyte count (55%), fatigue (54%), decreased platelet count (44%), alopecia (40%), vomiting (40%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (38%), increased alanine aminotransferase (36%), constipation (34%), increased blood alkaline phosphatase (34%), decreased appetite (32%), musculoskeletal pain (32%), diarrhea (27%), and hypokalemia (25%). Unresectable or Metastatic HER2-Mutant NSCLC (5.4 mg/kg) DESTINY-Lung02 evaluated two dose levels (5.4 mg/kg [n=101] and 6.4 mg/kg [n=50]); however, only the results for the recommended dose of 5.4 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks are described below due to increased toxicity observed with the higher dose in patients with NSCLC, including ILD/pneumonitis. The safety of ENHERTU was evaluated in 101 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-mutant NSCLC who received ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg intravenously every three weeks in DESTINYLung02. Nineteen percent of patients were exposed for >6 months. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 30% of patients receiving ENHERTU. Serious adverse reactions in >1% of patients who received ENHERTU were ILD/pneumonitis, thrombocytopenia, dyspnea, nausea, pleural effusion, and increased troponin I. Fatality occurred in 1 patient with suspected ILD/pneumonitis (1%). ENHERTU was permanently discontinued in 8% of patients. Adverse reactions which resulted in permanent discontinuation of ENHERTU were ILD/pneumonitis, diarrhea, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, myocarditis, and vomiting. Dose interruptions of ENHERTU due to adverse reactions occurred in 23% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dose interruption (>2%) included neutropenia and ILD/pneumonitis. Dose reductions due to an adverse reaction occurred in 11% of patients. The most common (20%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were nausea (61%), decreased white blood cell count (60%), decreased hemoglobin (58%), decreased neutrophil count (52%), decreased lymphocyte count (43%), decreased platelet count (40%), decreased albumin (39%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (35%), increased alanine aminotransferase (34%), fatigue (32%), constipation (31%), decreased appetite (30%), vomiting (26%), increased alkaline phosphatase (22%), and alopecia (21%). Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer (6.4 mg/kg) The safety of ENHERTU was evaluated in 187 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma in DESTINY-Gastric01. Patients intravenously received at least one dose of either ENHERTU (N=125) 6.4 mg/kg every 3 weeks or either irinotecan (N=55) 150 mg/m2 biweekly or paclitaxel (N=7) 80 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks. The median duration of treatment was 4.6 months (range: 0.7 to 22.3) for patients who received ENHERTU. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 44% of patients receiving ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg. Serious adverse reactions in >2% of patients who received ENHERTU were decreased appetite, ILD, anemia, dehydration, pneumonia, cholestatic jaundice, pyrexia, and tumor hemorrhage. Fatalities due to adverse reactions occurred in 2.4% of patients: disseminated intravascular coagulation, large intestine perforation, and pneumonia occurred in one patient each (0.8%). ENHERTU was permanently discontinued in 15% of patients, of which ILD accounted for 6%. Dose interruptions due to adverse reactions occurred in 62% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose interruption were neutropenia, anemia, decreased appetite, leukopenia, fatigue, thrombocytopenia, ILD, pneumonia, lymphopenia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and hypokalemia. Dose reductions occurred in 32% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose reduction were neutropenia, decreased appetite, fatigue, nausea, and febrile neutropenia. The most common (20%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were decreased hemoglobin (75%), decreased white blood cell count (74%), decreased neutrophil count (72%), decreased lymphocyte count (70%), decreased platelet count (68%), nausea (63%), decreased appetite (60%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (58%), fatigue (55%), increased blood alkaline phosphatase (54%), increased alanine aminotransferase (47%), diarrhea (32%), hypokalemia (30%), vomiting (26%), constipation (24%), increased blood bilirubin (24%), pyrexia (24%), and alopecia (22%). Use in Specific Populations Pregnancy: ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risks to a fetus. There are clinical considerations if ENHERTU is used in pregnant women, or if a patient becomes pregnant within 7 months after the last dose of ENHERTU. ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risks to a fetus. There are clinical considerations if ENHERTU is used in pregnant women, or if a patient becomes pregnant within 7 months after the last dose of ENHERTU. Lactation: There are no data regarding the presence of ENHERTU in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with ENHERTU and for 7 months after the last dose. There are no data regarding the presence of ENHERTU in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with ENHERTU and for 7 months after the last dose. Females and Males of Reproductive Potential: Pregnancy testing : Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of ENHERTU. Contraception : Females : ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for 7 months after the last dose. Males : Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for 4 months after the last dose. Infertility : ENHERTU may impair male reproductive function and fertility. : Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of ENHERTU. : : ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for 7 months after the last dose. : Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for 4 months after the last dose. : ENHERTU may impair male reproductive function and fertility. Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness of ENHERTU have not been established in pediatric patients. Safety and effectiveness of ENHERTU have not been established in pediatric patients. Geriatric Use: Of the 883 patients with breast cancer treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, 22% were 65 years and 3.6% were 75 years. No overall differences in efficacy within clinical studies were observed between patients 65 years of age compared to younger patients. There was a higher incidence of Grade 3-4 adverse reactions observed in patients aged 65 years (60%) as compared to younger patients (48%). Of the 101 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-mutant NSCLC treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, 40% were 65 years and 8% were 75 years. No overall differences in efficacy or safety were observed between patients 65 years of age compared to younger patients. Of the 125 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg in DESTINY-Gastric01, 56% were 65 years and 14% were 75 years. No overall differences in efficacy or safety were observed between patients 65 years of age compared to younger patients. Of the 883 patients with breast cancer treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, 22% were 65 years and 3.6% were 75 years. No overall differences in efficacy within clinical studies were observed between patients 65 years of age compared to younger patients. There was a higher incidence of Grade 3-4 adverse reactions observed in patients aged 65 years (60%) as compared to younger patients (48%). Of the 101 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-mutant NSCLC treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, 40% were 65 years and 8% were 75 years. No overall differences in efficacy or safety were observed between patients 65 years of age compared to younger patients. Of the 125 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg in DESTINY-Gastric01, 56% were 65 years and 14% were 75 years. No overall differences in efficacy or safety were observed between patients 65 years of age compared to younger patients. Renal Impairment: A higher incidence of Grade 1 and 2 ILD/pneumonitis has been observed in patients with moderate renal impairment. Monitor patients with moderate renal impairment more frequently. The recommended dosage of ENHERTU has not been established for patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr A higher incidence of Grade 1 and 2 ILD/pneumonitis has been observed in patients with moderate renal impairment. Monitor patients with moderate renal impairment more frequently. The recommended dosage of ENHERTU has not been established for patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr Hepatic Impairment: In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, due to potentially increased exposure, closely monitor for increased toxicities related to the topoisomerase inhibitor. The recommended dosage of ENHERTU has not been established for patients with severe hepatic impairment (total bilirubin >3 times ULN and any AST). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. at 1-877-437-7763 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or fda.gov/medwatch. Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, and Medication Guide. SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR LYNPARZA (olaparib) LYNPARZA is indicated: - as maintenance therapy for women with BRCAm* advanced ovarian cancer after response to platinum-based chemotherapy - in combination with bevacizumab as maintenance therapy for women with HRD+* advanced ovarian cancer after response to platinum-based chemotherapy - as maintenance treatment of women with recurrent ovarian cancer after response to platinum-based chemotherapy - for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm,* HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer who have been treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy - for the treatment of patients with gBRCAm,* HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer after receiving chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic setting and endocrine therapy, if appropriate - as maintenance therapy for gBRCAm* metastatic pancreatic cancer that has not progressed cancer after 16 weeks of platinum-based chemotherapy - for the treatment of patients with HRR gene-mutated* metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have progressed following prior treatment with enzalutamide or abiraterone *Select patients for this indication based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic. Select Safety Information Serious and potentially fatal adverse events included: Myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML): Monitor patients for hematological toxicity at baseline and monthly thereafter. Discontinue if MDS/AML is confirmed Pneumonitis: Interrupt treatment if pneumonitis is suspected. Discontinue if pneumonitis is confirmed Venous Thromboembolic Events: Including severe or fatal pulmonary embolism (PE). Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of venous thrombosis and PE, and treat as medically appropriate Advise patients of the potential risk of embryo-fetal toxicity and to use effective contraception Most common adverse reactions (10%) in clinical trials: as a single agent were nausea, fatigue (including asthenia), anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, headache, dysgeusia, cough, neutropenia, dyspnea, dizziness, dyspepsia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in combination with bevacizumab were nausea, fatigue (including asthenia), anemia, lymphopenia, vomiting, diarrhea, neutropenia, leukopenia, urinary tract infection, and headache Please see the complete Important Safety Information on lynparza.com and complete Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR IMFINZI (durvalumab) and IMJUDO (tremelimumab-actl) There are no contraindications for IMFINZI (durvalumab) or IMJUDO (tremelimumab-actl). Severe and Fatal Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions Important immune-mediated adverse reactions listed under Warnings and Precautions may not include all possible severe and fatal immune-mediated reactions. Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, can occur in any organ system or tissue. Immune-mediated adverse reactions can occur at any time after starting treatment or after discontinuation. Monitor patients closely for symptoms and signs that may be clinical manifestations of underlying immune-mediated adverse reactions. Evaluate clinical chemistries including liver enzymes, creatinine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level, and thyroid function at baseline and before each dose. In cases of suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, initiate appropriate workup to exclude alternative etiologies, including infection. Institute medical management promptly, including specialty consultation as appropriate. Withhold or permanently discontinue IMFINZI and IMJUDO depending on severity. See USPI Dosing and Administration for specific details. In general, if IMFINZI and IMJUDO requires interruption or discontinuation, administer systemic corticosteroid therapy (1 mg to 2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent) until improvement to Grade 1 or less. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Consider administration of other systemic immunosuppressants in patients whose immune-mediated adverse reactions are not controlled with corticosteroid therapy. Immune-Mediated Pneumonitis IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis, which may be fatal. The incidence of pneumonitis is higher in patients who have received prior thoracic radiation. IMFINZI as a Single Agent In patients who did not receive recent prior radiation, the incidence of immune-mediated pneumonitis was 2.4% (34/1414), including fatal ( The frequency and severity of immune-mediated pneumonitis in patients who did not receive definitive chemoradiation prior to IMFINZI were similar in patients who received IMFINZI as a single agent or with ES-SCLC or BTC when in combination with chemotherapy. IMFINZI with IMJUDO Immunemediated pneumonitis occurred in 1.3% (5/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including fatal (0.3%) and Grade 3 (0.2%) adverse reactions. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 3.5% (21/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, including fatal (0.5%), and Grade 3 (1%) adverse reactions. Immune-Mediated Colitis IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated colitis that is frequently associated with diarrhea. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/reactivation has been reported in patients with corticosteroid-refractory immune-mediated colitis. In cases of corticosteroid-refractory colitis, consider repeating infectious workup to exclude alternative etiologies. IMFINZI as a Single Agent Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 2% (37/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 4 ( IMFINZI with IMJUDO Immunemediated colitis or diarrhea occurred in 6% (23/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including Grade 3 (3.6%) adverse reactions. Intestinal perforation has been observed in other studies of IMFINZI and IMJUDO. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 6.5% (39/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy including fatal (0.2%) and Grade 3 (2.5%) adverse reactions. Intestinal perforation and large intestine perforation were reported in 0.1% of patients. Immune-Mediated Hepatitis IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated hepatitis, which may be fatal. IMFINZI as a Single Agent Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 2.8% (52/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including fatal (0.2%), Grade 4 (0.3%) and Grade 3 (1.4%) adverse reactions. IMFINZI with IMJUDO Immunemediated hepatitis occurred in 7.5% (29/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including fatal (0.8%), Grade 4 (0.3%) and Grade 3 (4.1%) adverse reactions. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 3.9% (23/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, including fatal (0.3%), Grade 4 (0.5%), and Grade 3 (2%) adverse reactions. Immune-Mediated Endocrinopathies Adrenal Insufficiency : IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency. For Grade 2 or higher adrenal insufficiency, initiate symptomatic treatment, including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. IMFINZI as a Single Agent Immune-mediated adrenal insufficiency occurred in 0.5% (9/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 ( IMFINZI with IMJUDO Immune-mediated adrenal insufficiency occurred in 1.5% (6/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including Grade 3 (0.3%) adverse reactions. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated adrenal insufficiency occurred in 2.2% (13/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, including Grade 3 (0.8%) adverse reactions. : IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency. For Grade 2 or higher adrenal insufficiency, initiate symptomatic treatment, including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Hypophysitis : IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated hypophysitis. Hypophysitis can present with acute symptoms associated with mass effect such as headache, photophobia, or visual field cuts. Hypophysitis can cause hypopituitarism. Initiate symptomatic treatment including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. IMFINZI as a Single Agent Grade 3 hypophysitis/hypopituitarism occurred in IMFINZI with IMJUDO Immune-mediated hypophysitis/hypopituitarism occurred in 1% (4/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated hypophysitis occurred in 1.3% (8/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, including Grade 3 (0.5%) adverse reactions. : IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated hypophysitis. Hypophysitis can present with acute symptoms associated with mass effect such as headache, photophobia, or visual field cuts. Hypophysitis can cause hypopituitarism. Initiate symptomatic treatment including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Thyroid Disorders (Thyroiditis, Hyperthyroidism, and Hypothyroidism) : IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated thyroid disorders. Thyroiditis can present with or without endocrinopathy. Hypothyroidism can follow hyperthyroidism. Initiate hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroidism or institute medical management of hyperthyroidism as clinically indicated. IMFINZI as a Single Agent : IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated thyroid disorders. Thyroiditis can present with or without endocrinopathy. Hypothyroidism can follow hyperthyroidism. Initiate hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroidism or institute medical management of hyperthyroidism as clinically indicated. Immune-mediated thyroiditis occurred in 0.5% (9/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 ( Immune-mediated hyperthyroidism occurred in 2.1% (39/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI. Immune-mediated hypothyroidism occurred in 8.3% (156/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 ( IMFINZI with IMJUDO Immune-mediated thyroiditis occurred in 1.5% (6/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO. Immune-mediated hyperthyroidism occurred in 4.6% (18/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including Grade 3 (0.3%) adverse reactions. Immune-mediated hypothyroidism occurred in 11% (42/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated thyroiditis occurred in 1.2% (7/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy. Immune-mediated hyperthyroidism occurred in 5% (30/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, including Grade 3 (0.2%) adverse reactions. Immune-mediated hypothyroidism occurred in 8.6% (51/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, including Grade 3 (0.5%) adverse reactions. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, which can present with diabetic ketoacidosis : Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Initiate treatment with insulin as clinically indicated. IMFINZI as a Single Agent Grade 3 immune-mediated Type 1 diabetes mellitus occurred in IMFINZI with IMJUDO Two patients (0.5%, 2/388) had events of hyperglycemia requiring insulin therapy that had not resolved at last follow-up. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated Type 1 diabetes mellitus occurred in 0.5% (3/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy including Grade 3 (0.3%) adverse reactions. : Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Initiate treatment with insulin as clinically indicated. Immune-Mediated Nephritis with Renal Dysfunction IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated nephritis. IMFINZI as a Single Agent Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in 0.5% (10/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 ( IMFINZI with IMJUDO Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in 1% (4/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including Grade 3 (0.5%) adverse reactions. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in 0.7% (4/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, including Grade 3 (0.2%) adverse reactions. Immune-Mediated Dermatology Reactions IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated rash or dermatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have occurred with PD-1/L-1 and CTLA-4 blocking antibodies. Topical emollients and/or topical corticosteroids may be adequate to treat mild to moderate non-exfoliative rashes. IMFINZI as a Single Agent Immune-mediated rash or dermatitis occurred in 1.8% (34/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (0.4%) adverse reactions. IMFINZI with IMJUDO Immune-mediated rash or dermatitis occurred in 4.9% (19/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including Grade 4 (0.3%) and Grade 3 (1.5%) adverse reactions. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Immune-mediated rash or dermatitis occurred in 7.2% (43/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, including Grade 3 (0.3%) adverse reactions. Immune-Mediated Pancreatitis IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO can cause immune-mediated pancreatitis. Immune-mediated pancreatitis occurred in 2.3% (9/388) of patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including Grade 4 (0.3%) and Grade 3 (1.5%) adverse reactions. Other Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions The following clinically significant, immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred at an incidence of less than 1% each in patients who received IMFINZI and IMJUDO or were reported with the use of other immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Cardiac/vascular : Myocarditis, pericarditis, vasculitis. : Myocarditis, pericarditis, vasculitis. Nervous system : Meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis and demyelination, myasthenic syndrome/myasthenia gravis (including exacerbation), Guillain-Barre syndrome, nerve paresis, autoimmune neuropathy. : Meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis and demyelination, myasthenic syndrome/myasthenia gravis (including exacerbation), Guillain-Barre syndrome, nerve paresis, autoimmune neuropathy. Ocular : Uveitis, iritis, and other ocular inflammatory toxicities can occur. Some cases can be associated with retinal detachment. Various grades of visual impairment to include blindness can occur. If uveitis occurs in combination with other immune-mediated adverse reactions, consider a Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome, as this may require treatment with systemic steroids to reduce the risk of permanent vision loss. : Uveitis, iritis, and other ocular inflammatory toxicities can occur. Some cases can be associated with retinal detachment. Various grades of visual impairment to include blindness can occur. If uveitis occurs in combination with other immune-mediated adverse reactions, consider a Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome, as this may require treatment with systemic steroids to reduce the risk of permanent vision loss. Gastrointestinal : Pancreatitis including increases in serum amylase and lipase levels, gastritis, duodenitis. : Pancreatitis including increases in serum amylase and lipase levels, gastritis, duodenitis. Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders : Myositis/polymyositis, rhabdomyolysis and associated sequelae including renal failure, arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatic. : Myositis/polymyositis, rhabdomyolysis and associated sequelae including renal failure, arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatic. Endocrine : Hypoparathyroidism. : Hypoparathyroidism. Other (hematologic/immune): Hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi lymphadenitis), sarcoidosis, immune thrombocytopenia, solid organ transplant rejection. Infusion-Related Reactions IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause severe or life-threatening infusion-related reactions. Monitor for signs and symptoms of infusion-related reactions. Interrupt, slow the rate of, or permanently discontinue IMFINZI and IMJUDO based on the severity. See USPI Dosing and Administration for specific details. For Grade 1 or 2 infusion-related reactions, consider using pre-medications with subsequent doses. IMFINZI as a Single Agent Infusion-related reactions occurred in 2.2% (42/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (0.3%) adverse reactions. IMFINZI with IMJUDO Infusion-related reactions occurred in 10 (2.6%) patients receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO. IMFINZI with IMJUDO and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Infusion-related reactions occurred in 2.9% (17/596) of patients receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, including Grade 3 (0.3%) adverse reactions. Complications of Allogeneic HSCT after IMFINZI Fatal and other serious complications can occur in patients who receive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) before or after being treated with a PD-1/L-1 blocking antibody. Transplant-related complications include hyperacute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after reduced intensity conditioning, and steroid-requiring febrile syndrome (without an identified infectious cause). These complications may occur despite intervening therapy between PD-1/L-1 blockade and allogeneic HSCT. Follow patients closely for evidence of transplant-related complications and intervene promptly. Consider the benefit versus risks of treatment with a PD-1/L-1 blocking antibody prior to or after an allogeneic HSCT. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on their mechanism of action and data from animal studies, IMFINZI and IMJUDO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. In females of reproductive potential, verify pregnancy status prior to initiating IMFINZI and IMJUDO and advise them to use effective contraception during treatment with IMFINZI and IMJUDO and for 3 months after the last dose of IMFINZI and IMJUDO. Lactation There is no information regarding the presence of IMFINZI and IMJUDO in human milk; however, because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from IMFINZI and IMJUDO, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose. Adverse Reactions In patients with Stage III NSCLC in the PACIFIC study receiving IMFINZI (n=475), the most common adverse reactions (20%) were cough (40%), fatigue (34%), pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis (34%), upper respiratory tract infections (26%), dyspnea (25%), and rash (23%). The most common Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions (3%) were pneumonia (7%) and pneumonitis/radiation pneumonitis (3.4%) In patients with Stage III NSCLC in the PACIFIC study receiving IMFINZI (n=475), discontinuation due to adverse reactions occurred in 15% of patients in the IMFINZI arm. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 29% of patients receiving IMFINZI. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (2%) were pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis (7%) and pneumonia (6%). Fatal pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis and fatal pneumonia occurred in In patients with mNSCLC in the POSEIDON study receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO plus platinum-based chemotherapy (n=330), the most common adverse reactions (occurring in 20% of patients) were nausea (42%), fatigue (36%), musculoskeletal pain (29%), decreased appetite (28%), rash (27%), and diarrhea (22%). In patients with mNSCLC in the POSEIDON study receiving IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy (n=330), permanent discontinuation of IMFINZI or IMJUDO due to an adverse reaction occurred in 17% of patients. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 44% of patients, with the most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of patients being pneumonia (11%), anemia (5%), diarrhea (2.4%), thrombocytopenia (2.4%), pyrexia (2.4%), and febrile neutropenia (2.1%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in a total of 4.2% of patients. In patients with extensive-stage SCLC in the CASPIAN study receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy (n=265), the most common adverse reactions (20%) were nausea (34%), fatigue/asthenia (32%), and alopecia (31%). The most common Grade 3 or 4 adverse reaction (3%) was fatigue/asthenia (3.4%) In patients with extensive-stage SCLC in the CASPIAN study receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy (n=265), IMFINZI was discontinued due to adverse reactions in 7% of the patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 31% of patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 1% of patients were febrile neutropenia (4.5%), pneumonia (2.3%), anemia (1.9%), pancytopenia (1.5%), pneumonitis (1.1%), and COPD (1.1%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4.9% of patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy In patients with locally advanced or metastatic BTC in the TOPAZ-1 study receiving IMFINZI (n=338), the most common adverse reactions (occurring in 20% of patients) were fatigue, nausea, constipation, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, rash, and pyrexia In patients with locally advanced or metastatic BTC in the TOPAZ-1 study receiving IMFINZI (n=338), discontinuation due to adverse reactions occurred in 6% of the patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 47% of patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of patients were cholangitis (7%), pyrexia (3.8%), anemia (3.6%), sepsis (3.3%) and acute kidney injury (2.4%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3.6% of patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy. These include ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (4 patients), sepsis (2 patients), and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (2 patients) In patients with unresectable HCC in the HIMALAYA study receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, the most common adverse reactions (occurring in 20% of patients) were rash, diarrhea, fatigue, pruritus, musculoskeletal pain, and abdominal pain In patients with unresectable HCC in the HIMALAYA study receiving IMFINZI and IMJUDO, serious adverse reactions occurred in 41% of patients. Serious adverse reactions in >1% of patients included hemorrhage (6%), diarrhea (4%), sepsis (2.1%), pneumonia (2.1%), rash (1.5%), vomiting (1.3%), acute kidney injury (1.3%), and anemia (1.3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 8% of patients who received IMJUDO in combination with durvalumab, including death (1%), hemorrhage intracranial (0.5%), cardiac arrest (0.5%), pneumonitis (0.5%), hepatic failure (0.5%), and immune-mediated hepatitis (0.5%). Permanent discontinuation of treatment regimen due to an adverse reaction occurred in 14% of patients The safety and effectiveness of IMFINZI and IMJUDO have not been established in pediatric patients. Indications: IMFINZI is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy. IMFINZI, in combination with IMJUDO and platinum-based chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic NSCLC with no sensitizing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genomic tumor aberrations. IMFINZI, in combination with etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). IMFINZI, in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC). IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Please see Full Prescribing Information for IMFINZI and IMJUDO, including Medication Guide. SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR CALQUENCE (acalabrutinib) INDICATION AND USAGE CALQUENCE is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION Serious adverse events, including fatal events, have occurred with CALQUENCE, including serious and opportunistic infections, hemorrhage, cytopenias, second primary malignancies, and atrial fibrillation and flutter. The most common adverse reactions ( 30%) of any grade in patients with CLL were anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, and diarrhea. Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information. Notes AstraZeneca in oncology AstraZeneca is leading a revolution in oncology with the ambition to provide cures for cancer in every form, following the science to understand cancer and all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing medicines to patients. The Companys focus is on some of the most challenging cancers. It is through persistent innovation that AstraZeneca has built one of the most diverse portfolios and pipelines in the industry, with the potential to catalyze changes in the practice of medicine and transform the patient experience. AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer care and, one day, eliminate cancer as a cause of death. About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005312/en/ Media Inquiries Brendan McEvoy, +1 302 885 2677 Chelsea Ford, +1 302 885 2677 US Media Mailbox: [email protected] Source: AstraZeneca Sue Quense, currently AVEVAs Senior Vice President of Americas, takes on the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer Marco Mueller, long-time technology industry leader, joins AVEVA as Chief Marketing Officer Rob McGreevy, Chief Product Officer, expands his responsibilities to include overseeing research & development (R&D) and Project Delivery Services. And Iju Raj, who will head up R&D, to drive industrial software innovation LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, has further strengthened its leadership team announcing four new senior executive roles as the company drives forward its new business model. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005082/en/ Iju Raj, Executive Vice President of R&D, AVEVA (Photo: Business Wire) The news follows the announcement in March of the companys new Chief Executive Officer Caspar Herzberg, who took over the top job at AVEVA from Peter Herweck, now its chairperson. Herweck officially started as CEO of parent company Schneider Electric on May 4. Sue Quense, currently AVEVAs Senior Vice President of Americas, takes on the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer. Quense, based in Philadelphia, USA, has spent more than three decades in software sales leadership roles. She was a driving force at OSIsoft, which merged with AVEVA in 2021 to meet the expanding industrial intelligence of global enterprises and accelerate the evolution of the connected industrial economy. Marco Mueller, a long-time technology industry leader, joins AVEVA as Chief Marketing Officer and will be based in London, UK. He was formerly Senior Vice President Global Demand Marketing at ServiceNow, a leading cloud computing platform company headquartered in Californias Silicon Valley, for two and half years. Before that, Marco spent more than a decade in marketing executive roles with SAP, a market leader in enterprise application software where he led marketing teams across the globe. He began his career as a management consultant at Accenture in the high tech and consumer products industries. With AVEVAs goal to support end-to-end product innovation, the research & development (R&D) function and project delivery services will come together with the Business Units and Portfolio Management teams under the leadership of Rob McGreevy, Chief Product Officer. Iju Raj, who has spent the last five years heading up AVEVAs cloud platform, takes on the role of Executive Vice President for R&D and will report to McGreevy. Based in India, Raj will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership and operations of R&D, driving efficient development processes, programs, and software innovation. Caspar Herzberg, CEO of AVEVA, said: This is a pivotal moment in AVEVAs 55-year heritage as a leading innovator of software and industrial sustainability. We are undergoing a portfolio-wide transition to a subscription-based business model, and Im delighted to be adding such expertise and experience to the top table to further strengthen our growth plans. To accelerate access to modern solutions and meet dynamic business needs, customers can trade-in their existing perpetual licenses for subscriptions spanning any mix of cloud, hybrid, and on-premises solutions across the design-operate-optimize industrial lifecycle. Sue, Marco, Rob and Iju will be instrumental in further enhancing our leadership team and driving growth. - ENDS Notes to Editor About AVEVA AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software, sparking ingenuity to drive responsible use of the worlds resources. The companys secure industrial cloud platform and applications enable businesses to harness the power of their information and improve collaboration with customers, suppliers, and partners. Over 20,000 enterprises in over 100 countries rely on AVEVA to help them deliver lifes essentials: safe and reliable energy, food, medicines, infrastructure and more. By connecting people with trusted information and AI-enriched insights, AVEVA enables teams to engineer efficiently and optimize operations, driving growth and sustainability. Named as one of the worlds most innovative companies, AVEVA supports customers with open solutions and the expertise of more than 6,400 employees, 5,000 partners and 5,700 certified developers. The company, which has operations around the globe, is headquartered in Cambridge, UK. Learn more at www.aveva.com. Copyright 2023 AVEVA Solutions Limited. All rights reserved. AVEVA Solutions Limited is owned by AVEVA Group. AVEVA, the AVEVA logos and AVEVA product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of AVEVA Group or its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and other countries. Other brands and product- names are the trademarks of their respective companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005082/en/ Catherine Singh [email protected] Source: AVEVA NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Beard Energy Transition Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: BRD) (BRD or SPAC), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, today announced that its stockholders voted to approve all proposals presented at BRDs special meeting of stockholders (the Special Meeting) held on May 25, 2023 in connection with extending the date by which BRD may consummate a business combination and the other matters described in BRDs definitive proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on May 1, 2023 (the Proxy Statement). Approximately 98.92% of the votes cast and 84.50% of the outstanding shares of common stock of BRD were in favor of approving the Extension Amendment Proposal (as defined in the Proxy Statement), and approximately 98.92% of the votes cast and 84.50% of the outstanding shares of common stock of BRD were in favor of approving the Trust Amendment Proposal (as defined in the Proxy Statement). BRD plans to file the results of the Special Meeting, as tabulated by an independent inspector of elections, on a Form 8-K with the SEC within four business days (the Special Meeting Results 8-K). Stockholders holding 15,872,896 shares of Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in BRDs trust account (the Trust Account). BRD will provide an estimate of the per-share redemption price for the public shares in the Special Meeting Results 8-K. As disclosed in the Proxy Statement, $160,000 will be deposited into the Trust Account on the thirtieth day of each month (or if such thirtieth day is not a business day, on the business day immediately preceding such thirtieth day, but except in the case of December 2023, when payment shall be paid by the twenty-ninth day of the month) beginning on June 30, 2023, until the earlier of (a) the consummation of a business combination, (b) 25 months from the closing of BRDs initial public offering, or (c) the voluntarily dissolution and liquidation of BRD as determined by the board of directors of BRD. About Beard Energy Transition Acquisition Corp. BRD is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or assets. As previously announced, on May 18, 2023, BRD entered into a definitive agreement in connection with a proposed business combination with Suntuity Renewables LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (Suntuity), Suntuity Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of BRD (New PubCo), and the other parties thereto. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intends, may, might, plan, possible, potential, predict, project, should, would and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about Suntuitys or SPACs ability to effectuate the proposed business combination; the benefits of the proposed business combination; the future financial performance of New PubCo, which will be the go-forward public company following the completion of the business combination, following the proposed business combination; changes in Suntuitys strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing New PubCos, Suntuitys or SPACs views as of any subsequent date, and none of New PubCo, Suntuity or SPAC undertakes any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Neither New PubCo nor SPAC gives any assurance that either New PubCo or SPAC will achieve its expectations. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, New PubCos actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: (i) the timing to complete the proposed business combination by SPACs business combination deadline; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreements relating to the proposed business combination; (iii) the outcome of any legal, regulatory or governmental proceedings that may be instituted against New PubCo, SPAC, Suntuity or any investigation or inquiry following announcement of the proposed business combination, including in connection with the proposed business combination; (iv) the inability to complete the proposed business combination due to the failure to obtain approval of SPACs stockholders; (v) Suntuitys and New PubCos success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees or directors following the proposed business combination; (vi) the ability of the parties to obtain the listing of New PubCos common stock and warrants on a national exchange upon the closing of the proposed business combination; (vii) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations of Suntuity; (viii) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination; (ix) unexpected costs related to the proposed business combination; (x) the amount of redemptions by SPACs public stockholders being greater than expected; (xi) the management and board composition of New PubCo following completion of the proposed business combination; (xii) limited liquidity and trading of New PubCos securities; (xiii) geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; (xiv) the possibility that Suntuity or SPAC may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (xv) operational risks; (xvi) the possibility that natural disasters, raw material, component and labor shortages, global and regional shipping and logistics constraints, work stoppages, epidemics or pandemics, or the physical effects of climate change disrupt Suntuitys business; (xvii) litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of management time and attention and the additional costs and demands on Suntuitys resources; (xix) the risks that the consummation of the proposed business combination is substantially delayed or does not occur; and (xx) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combination, including those under Risk Factors therein, and in SPACs other filings with the SEC. No Offer or Solicitation This communication is related to the proposed business combination between SPAC, Suntuity and New PubCo and shall not constitute a solicitation as defined in Section 14 of the Exchange Act, as amended. This communication is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination and does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to sell or buy any securities of SPAC, New PubCo or Suntuity, nor shall there be any sale of any such 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 such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. Additional Information about the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed business combination, New PubCo, which will be the going-forward public company, will file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the Registration Statement) with the SEC, which will include a preliminary prospectus of New PubCo and a preliminary proxy statement of the SPAC. Information in the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus will not be complete and may be changed. The Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, will contain important information about the proposed business combination and the other matters to be voted upon at SPACs stockholder meeting in connection with the proposed business combination. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, SPAC will mail the definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combination to SPACs stockholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and other matters and is not intended to provide the basis for any investment decision or any other decision in respect of such matters. Stockholders of SPAC and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus as well as other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC because these documents will contain important information about SPAC, New PubCo, Suntuity and the proposed business combination. Once available, investors and security holders may also obtain a copy of the Registration Statement, including the preliminary or definitive proxy statement/prospectus, and other documents filed with the SEC by SPAC or New PubCo without charge at the SECs website (www.sec.gov). Participants in the Solicitation SPAC, New PubCo and Suntuity and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of SPACs stockholders with respect to the proposed business combination. Information about the directors and executive officers of SPAC and their ownership is set forth in SPACs filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2023, and its other filings with the SEC. Additional information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the SPAC stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination will be set forth in the Registration Statement containing the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, when available. Stockholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the Registration Statement and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. These documents are available free of charge at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005900/en/ Investor or Media Contact: Beard Energy Transition Acquisition Corp. 595 Madison Avenue 28th Floor New York, NY 10022 [email protected] Gateway Group 949-574-3860 [email protected] Source: Beard Energy Transition Acquisition Corp. ASCEND by BenchSci harnesses proprietary text and image-based machine learning models, empowering scientists to dramatically improve the speed and success of research at any stage of pre-clinical drug development TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BenchSci, a world leader in AI solutions for preclinical life sciences research and development (R&D), today announced a $95 million (US $70 million) Series D funding round led by Generation Investment Management, with participation from existing investors iNovia Capital, TCV, Golden Ventures and F-Prime Capital. The most recent funding brings BenchScis total funds raised to $218 million (US $170 million). The funds will be used to expand the companys revolutionary AI drug discovery platform, ASCEND by BenchSci, which enables scientists to discover biological connections, dramatically reduce trial-and-error experimentation and uncover risks early. ASCEND users from BenchScis top 10 customers were able to uncover novel targets and disease indications in 22% of key projects and reduced unnecessary experimentation by 40%, contributing to a new era of more efficient, AI-driven drug discovery. Our focus will always be on what will drive the greatest impact for our customers, said Liran Belenzon, CEO and Co-Founder of the Canadian-based BenchSci. Thousands of scientists use our platform every day to move their most promising drug discovery projects forward faster. This investment is validation of the incredible work of our team and the traction we have in the market with the largest pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the world. With the industry 98% failure rate advancing medicines to patients in need, were grateful to partner with Generation who shares our thesis that purpose built, innovative AI must be deployed at scale within pharmaceutical R&D to solve the productivity crisis and bring novel medicines to patients years faster. BenchScis ASCEND platform empowers scientists at every stage of preclinical research, regardless of therapeutic area by turning inaccessible, unstructured, and unstandardized experimental evidence from external and internal data sources into actionable insights. Using a proprietary text and image-based machine learning approach, ASCEND decodes and connects the entire available history of biomedical research, combined with customer experimentation and procurement data, to create an unbiased and objective map of the underlying biology of disease. This approach not only helps scientists understand the feasibility of new or existing pursuits but also provides insights on how they can effectively test them and improve translation to clinical trials. This ultimately saves scientists weeks and months of investigation and failed experiment time, expediting the critical scientific conclusions that produce more promising pursuits from the onset. Today, BenchScis software is used by 16 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and by over 50,000 scientists working at more than 4,500 leading research centers worldwide. We believe more effective preclinical research is critical to a sustainable healthcare system - drug development is expensive and this cost is only increasing. BenchSci is an example of how AI can support existing drug development by helping scientists focus their research on the most promising areas of science, said Anthony Woolf, Growth Equity Partner at Generation Investment Management. Previously, a scientist typically had to spend hundreds of hours to understand existing experiments and conclusions. With BenchScis models, scientists can find the same answer in minutes, accelerating drug discovery and reducing the time and cost to develop potentially life-saving drugs. Founded in 2015, BenchSci has grown to over 400 employees and was recently ranked among the fastest-growing tech companies in North America by Deloitte. For more information about ASCEND and BenchSci, visit BenchSci.com. About BenchSci BenchSci is a world leader in AI solutions for drug discovery. We help pharma organizations transform their R&D portfolio by surfacing the underlying biology of all diseases to revolutionize research and exponentially advance the speed and success of better medicine to patients. Backed by top-tier investors including Generation Investment Management, iNovia Capital, TCV, F-Prime, Gradient Ventures (Googles AI fund), and Golden Ventures, our platform accelerates science at 16 top-20 pharmaceutical companies and over 4,500 leading research centers worldwide. Were a Deloitte Technology Fast 50 and Fast 500 winner, a certified Great Place to Work, and a top-ranked company on Glassdoor. About Generation Investment Management Generation Investment Management LLP is dedicated to long-term investing, integrated sustainability research, and client alignment. It is an independent, private, owner-managed partnership established in 2004 and headquartered in London, with a US presence in San Francisco, with more than $32 billion of assets under management (as of 31 March 2023). Generation Investment Management LLP is authorized and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the U.S., Generation operates via Generation Investment Management US LLP, a Registered Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For further information, please visit www.generationim.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005591/en/ Diane Hepps [email protected] Source: BenchSci AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Brigade-M3 European Acquisition Corp. (the "Company"), a special purpose acquisition company that was incorporated on 21 April 2021 under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam, the regulated market operated by Euronext Amsterdam N.V. ("Euronext Amsterdam"), today announces that it will not conclude a business combination before its business combination deadline on 14 June 2023 (the "Business Combination Deadline"). Therefore, the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") resolved to initiate the redemption of all listed unit shares and ordinary shares in the share capital of Company (the "Units" and "Ordinary Shares", respectively) following the Business Combination Deadline in accordance with the terms and conditions for the redemption of the Units and Ordinary Shares in the Company's articles of association and as disclosed in the Company's IPO prospectus dated 8 December 2021 (the "Prospectus"). Since the Company became listed on Euronext Amsterdam on 14 December 2021, the Company has been searching for a target to consummate a business combination. During this period, the Company has investigated various potential targets and held explorative talks with a selection of them, but despite extensive efforts to date, the Company has not been able to find a suitable target for a business combination. As the Business Combination Deadline is forthcoming, the Board deems it highly unlikely that the Company will be able to complete a business combination before the Business Combination Deadline and, therefore, the Board has decided to initiate the redemption of the Units and Ordinary Shares following the Business Combination Deadline. In accordance with the disclosure in the Prospectus, the Company will procure that the amount held in the Escrow Account will be returned to the holders of Units and Ordinary Shares as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten trading days after the Business Combination Deadline. Holders of Units and Ordinary Shares will receive redemption proceeds from the Escrow Account through payment by the Company's Listing Agent, at an expected price per Unit or Ordinary Share of $10.20 plus accrued interest (this amount comprises of (i) $10.00 initial subscription price; (ii) $0.20 escrow overfunding by the Company's sponsor; and (iii) the pro rata part of the accrued interest on the Escrow Account). Holders of Units and Ordinary Shares will receive this payment in exchange for the delivery of the Units or Ordinary Shares via the shareholders intermediary to the Listing Agent. As a result of the Company not completing a business combination before the Business Combination Deadline, the public warrants and the sponsor warrants will automatically expire without value on the Business Combination Deadline in line with the terms and conditions of the warrants and the disclosure in the Prospectus. There will be no distribution of proceeds or otherwise from the Escrow Account with respect to the public warrants or the sponsor warrants. Indicative timetable The timetable below sets forth certain expected key dates for the redemption of the Units and Ordinary Shares. Event Date Business Combination Deadline 14 June 2023 Last trading day 14 June 2023 Expiration of sponsor warrants and public warrants 15 June 2023 Record date for the redemption of Units and Ordinary Shares 16 June 2023 Payment of redemption proceeds 20 June 2023 Redemption of Units and Ordinary Shares 21 June 2023 Post-Redemption Following the Business Combination Deadline and the redemption of the Units and Ordinary Shares (and the expiration of the public warrants and the sponsor warrants), the only outstanding securities of the Company will be the sponsor shares. The Board intends to seek sponsor shareholder approval to adopt amended and restated memorandum and articles of association in order to facilitate the re-purposing and continuation of the Company, subject to additional capital being committed by the sponsor for such purpose. The redeemed Units and Ordinary Shares will be held in treasury by the Company for the purpose of re-allocating such Units and Ordinary Shares in the future. IMPORTANT INFORMATION This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. DISCLAIMER This announcement is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, and should not be distributed in or sent into, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the Cayman Islands or South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution or release would be unlawful or would require registration or other measures. This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of securities for sale or an invitation or offer to the public for securities in any jurisdiction. In the EEA, this announcement is only directed at persons who are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (EU 2017/1129) as amended. In the United Kingdom, this announcement is directed only at qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) No 2017/1129 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005640/en/ ENQUIRIES Brigade-M3 European Acquisition Corp. c/o Brigade Capital Management, LP 399 Park Avenue, 16th Floor New York, NY 10022 Email: [email protected] Source: Brigade-M3 European Acquisition Corp. Oral presentation in Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy session on Sunday, June 4 at 9:45 AM CDT MUNICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CatalYm today announced that the first results from its ongoing Phase 2a trial GDFATHER-2 (GDF-15 Antibody-mediaTed Human Effector Cell Relocation Phase 2) will be featured in an oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2023 in Chicago. The trial is evaluating CatalYms lead GDF-15 neutralizing antibody visugromab in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in last-line, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 relapsed/refractory patients. Growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is recognized as a negative regulator of antitumoral T cell activity preventing T cell recruitment to the tumor microenvironment as well as potently suppressing an adaptive immune response by additional mechanisms recently identified. The ASCO Annual Meeting will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 2 to 6, 2023. Oral presentation details: Presentation Title: Initial results from the phase 2a trial of visugromab (CTL-002) + nivolumab in advanced/metastatic anti-PD1/-L1 relapsed/refractory solid tumors (The GDFATHER-TRIAL) Presenter: Dr. Ignacio Melero Bermejo, MD | Clinica Universidad de Navarra Session: Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy Session Date and Time: Sunday, June 4, 2023, from 9:45 AM 12:45 PM CDT Location: In-Person | Arie Crown Theater | McCormick Place | Live Stream Presentation Number: 2501 The full abstract details can be accessed via https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218293. The company will provide further information and a summary of the data following the oral presentation at ASCO. About the GDFATHER-2 Trials The GDFATHER-2 trials (GDF-15 Antibody-mediaTed Human Effector cell Relocation Phase 2) (NCT04725474) are ongoing first-in-human Phase 2a cohorts investigating the effect of visugromab (CTL-002) as monotherapy and/or in combination with a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor in patients with various advanced-stage, relapse/refractory solid tumors and the new biomarker-selected cohort. The study consists of two main segments (one tumor-specific, one biomarker-selected) with a total of five cohorts, enrolling > 200 patients in total to confirm a certain response rate within each tumor type/setting. About Visugromab (CTL-002) Visugromab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the tumor-derived Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15). GDF-15 is an essential player in feto-maternal tolerance, a powerful mechanism that cancer cells hijack to create an immunosuppressive environment to evade destruction. By neutralizing GDF-15, visugromab reverses the immunosuppressive effects that block an efficient anti-tumor immune response in the tumor microenvironment and the draining lymph nodes. Visugromab drives an activated and differentiated immune cell infiltration into the solid tumor as well as enables priming of T cells and enhances the tumor killing effects of T cells and NK cells. GDF-15 is currently investigated in an ongoing Phase 2 program that includes confirmatory studies in multiple sold tumor indications and the analysis of a predictive response biomarker to better identify the patients benefiting from this new class of immunotherapy. About CatalYm CatalYm is pioneering a novel immuno-oncology therapy, that safely overcomes GDF-15-mediated immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Our lead product visugromab, a first-in-class GDF-15 neutralizing antibody, has demonstrated potent and durable anti-tumor efficacy with multiple, long-lasting objective responses in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment in phase 1/2 studies in advanced cancer patients. CatalYm is focused on maximizing visugromabs potential as a new class of cancer immunotherapy with a clinically distinct profile in a range of solid tumor indications. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005026/en/ Contact CatalYm GmbH Dr. Phil LHuilier, CEO [email protected] Media Inquiries Trophic Communications Dr. Stephanie May Phone: +49 171 185 56 82 [email protected] Source: CatalYm BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The relevant authorities have entered data on 245,000 people into the Azerbaijani "Zafar" (Victory) subsystem over the past period, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population told Trend. According to the ministry, the subsystem includes participants of the First and Second Karabakh wars, martyrs and members of martyrs' families, persons who were disabled due to the war, National Heroes, Heroes of the Second Karabakh War, as well as persons who were disabled during military service and members of their families. The "Victory" subsystem, established by the Decree signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on October 27, 2021, allows institutions to exchange information when implementing social support measures related to the families of martyrs and war participants, to carry out this work more quickly and effectively. CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF) issued a statement today regarding the Minnesota Executive Councils approval of state mineral leases for more than 2,600 acres of iron ore at the Nashwauk mine site in Itasca County, Minnesota. Todays approval is a final action and Cleveland-Cliffs has now assumed these leases. Cleveland-Cliffs Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lourenco Goncalves, stated, Todays approval of these leases by the Minnesota Executive Council resolves years of uncertainty regarding Hibbing Taconites mine life. Cleveland-Cliffs will immediately begin the work necessary to develop this quality ore body as an extension of Hibbing Taconite. The states mineral leases, combined with our own private mineral holdings at Nashwauk acquired by Cleveland-Cliffs in 2017, will provide more than two decades of additional ore reserves for Hibbing Taconite, preserving hundreds of good paying union jobs, and ensuring continued supply of iron ore pellets for Cleveland-Cliffs steel mills. Mr. Goncalves continued: Cleveland-Cliffs appreciates the leadership of Governor Tim Walz and the great work of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, as well as the support of Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Secretary of State Steve Simon, Attorney General Keith Ellison and State Auditor Julie Blaha. This win-win outcome would not have been possible without the strong partnership of the United Steelworkers, particularly the USW Local 2705 at Hibbing Taconite, in addition to a new generation of dedicated Iron Range elected officials who are truly working for the betterment of the region, such as State Representative David Lislegard, State Senator Grant Hauschild and State Senator Rob Farnsworth. Mr. Goncalves concluded: Today we celebrate the resilience of Hibbing Taconite, its workforce and the tremendous potential of these Nashwauk leases. Then, we immediately begin the hard work of securing the next generation of union jobs and economic opportunity for the Iron Range. About Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America. Founded in 1847 as a mine operator, Cliffs also is the largest manufacturer of iron ore pellets in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest supplier of steel to the automotive industry in North America and serves a diverse range of other markets due to its comprehensive offering of flat-rolled steel products. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs employs approximately 27,000 people across its operations in the United States and Canada. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005545/en/ MEDIA CONTACT: Patricia Persico Senior Director, Corporate Communications (216) 694-5316 INVESTOR CONTACT: James Kerr Manager, Investor Relations (216) 694-7719 Source: Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- It is with great pleasure digital workplace analytics provider SWOOP Analytics welcomes Gemma Saint as the companys Director of Customer Success and Growth in North America. Gemma comes to SWOOP Analytics after being a customer for the past five years, working at some of Europes best-known companies. Gemma knows SWOOPs digital workplace products inside and out and is passionate about enabling customers to collaborate, communicate and build connections. Gemma brings more than 20 years experience in internal communication channel management, internal digital transformation and content creation. She has managed global intranet projects and has had great success rolling out Viva Engage, Workplace from Meta and SharePoint intranet at companies including B&Q, Virgin Media O2 & Carnival. I am passionate about internal communications channels and how they can transform the way colleagues work and collaborate internally, Gemma said. "Working with SWOOP means I can provide easy-to-understand analytics to people who arent analysts, so our customers fall in love with data. SWOOP Analytics CEO Cai Kjaer said he was thrilled to welcome Gemma to the SWOOP Analytics team. Gemma brings real-life experience to the role, having been a SWOOP customer for years, Cai said. She will provide expert support to our SWOOP customers in North America and we look forward to Gemma helping to grow our business in the US and Canada. SWOOP Analytics offers analytics for Microsoft M365, Microsoft Teams, Viva Engage, SharePoint intranet and Workplace from Meta, focusing on digital behaviors and relationships to help customers get the most from their digital tools. Gemma joins SWOOP Analytics North American Director Coco Molina in the US market. Gemma and Coco will be presenting at the IABC World Conference in Toronto early June. If you're in North America and searching for an analytics solutions to your internal communications and digital workplace, please reach out to Gemma at [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005294/en/ For more information, or to arrange a media interview, please contact: SWOOP Director, Customer Success & Growth, North America, Gemma Saint on +1 917 905 9219. Source: SWOOP Analytics 2023 Awards Mark ExaGrids 5th Consecutive Win at the Annual Awards Ceremony MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ExaGrid, the industrys only Tiered Backup Storage solution, today announced that the company was honored with three industry awards, including Bench Tested Product of the Year Hardware Category, Company of the Year, and Storage Product of the Year, during the Network Computing Awards ceremony, held in London on May 18, 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005188/en/ Photo courtesy of Network Computing. This years awards mark the fifth year of wins for ExaGrid at the Network Computing Awardsthe third consecutive year that ExaGrid has won the Storage Product of the Year award, and the fourth consecutive year that ExaGrid has won the Company of Year award. The Company of the Year and Storage Product of the Year awards are determined by public vote. The Bench Tested Product of the Year Hardware Category award was chosen by the editorial team at Network Computing Magazine based on an independent product review of ExaGrids advanced integration with Veeam and support of Veeams features, including Veeam Fast Clone (as of Veeam V12, released in 2023). We are very honored to win these three awards. Congratulations to all of the winners of the Network Computing Awards 2023, and many thanks to everyone who voted for us and to the editorial team at Network Computing, said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid. ExaGrid continues to innovate its product, offering a next-generation approach to backup storage that provides organizations with the best in data protection: the fastest backup and restore performance, the only scale-out architecture to accommodate data growth, comprehensive security and ransomware recovery, and industry-leading customer support, all at the lowest cost up front and over time. We are proud of our Tiered Backup Storage and grateful for the continued recognition that we have received over the years. About ExaGrid ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, and scale-out architecture. ExaGrids Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrids scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier, delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks. ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iberia, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions. Visit us at exagrid.com and connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score! ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005188/en/ Media: Mary Domenichelli ExaGrid [email protected] Source: ExaGrid Funds Increased to $42 Million and Access Extended to Year-Round Availability CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) is pleased to announce expanded funding of its Downpayment Plus (DPP) grant program bringing the total 2023 program budget to $42 million. The addition represents a 133% increase over 2022 grant assistance program funding for qualified home buyers. Down payment assistance is a critical resource facilitating access to homeownership for low- and moderate-income households, said Katie Naftzger, Senior Vice President, Community Investment Officer, FHLBank Chicago. Current market challenges have made financing a home more difficult, heightening demand for resources to support affordable homeownership. In response we have increased our financial commitment to this program. DPP provides down payment assistance and home ownership counseling to support families and individuals earning 80% or less of the area median income who are purchasing a home. Eligible households may access grants of up to $10,000 through participating members of FHLBank Chicago that are providing their first mortgage financing. Program users confirm the important role that down payment assistance plays in putting homeownership in reach for low- and moderate- income households. Being able to purchase my first home is not only exciting, it is putting me on a path for healthy financial stability for my family, said Kristian Catalan, a recent Downpayment Plus grant recipient through member, CIBC Bank USA. Im grateful for the FHLBank Chicagos Downpayment Plus program as it was able to bridge the gap in my financing. Learn more about the DPP grant program, and other Community Investment products and programs offered, by visiting the FHLBank Chicago website. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago The mission of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago is to partner with our members in Illinois and Wisconsin to provide them competitively priced funding, a reasonable return on their investment in the Bank, and support for community investment activities. FHLBank Chicago is one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932 to promote homeownership. Our members include banks, thrifts, credit unions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions throughout our District. To learn more about FHLBank Chicago, please visit fhlbc.com. Downpayment Plus and DPP are federally registered trademarks of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005285/en/ Casey Reidy 312.565.5291 [email protected] Source: The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago XpertHR also set to unveil new Gapsquare pay equity capabilities at conference NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gapsquare, part of XpertHR, the leading pay analytics tool, today announces its attendance at this years WorldatWork Total Rewards23 conference in San Diego, CA from June 12th 14th. Alongside attending and exhibiting at the event, Gapsquare will be moderating the interactive panel, It's About More Than Pay: Achieving Equity Across the Employee Value Proposition on June 12th. Beth Grammer, XpertHRs Head of Global Growth and Partnerships, will be moderating the panel. Kai Walker, Head of Inclusion, Transformation Retirement & Personal Wealth Solutions, at Bank of America and Kyle Holm, VP Total Rewards Advisory, at Sequoia will join the discussion with Sabina Mehmood, Pay Equity Leader at Gapsquare, part of XpertHR. The panel will provide a hands-on, practical application and support leaders to: Understand the individualized needs and opportunity gaps that must be addressed in prioritizing an employee first value proposition Know how to advance equitable employee programs using data and analytics Learn how to hold your organization accountable through holistic financial and economic inclusion well beyond base salary With recent research from XpertHR and Executive Networks finding that more than a third (35%) of senior HR leaders do not have enough data on pay, and nearly half (45%) struggle to access the relevant data needed for correcting pay equity gaps, the session will cover how to overcome opportunity gaps across the employee value proposition. Alongside this panel discussion, Gapsquare will be exhibiting at booth 117. Attendees will be able to learn more about its range of pay analytics products and services, including further information on upcoming product developments. Part of XpertHR, Gapsquare provides always on software to analyze and track pay disparity, pay equity, and pay gaps to help sustain broader workplace equality. Through this leveraging of technology, employers are empowered to build the fairer workplaces of the future. Sabina Mehmood, Pay Equity Leader, Gapsquare, part of XpertHR, comments: Total Rewards23 is set to bring together a fantastic and diverse range of speakers and insights for HR leaders. Were looking forward to joining other attendees in learning more and furthering discussions on reward. Globally, were at a pivotal point in time. The needs of employees are rapidly evolving and ranging dramatically across five generations of workers. Fair, equitable, and inclusive reward strategies must address the individual needs of the workforce and ensure were providing everyone with the tools they need to succeed. Leading our efforts with data-driven insights, tools, and technologies is critical in driving progress here, building a stronger, more inclusive employee value proposition. I look forward to delving further into these discussions and sharing more about how Gapsquare can help organizations build the foundation for a leading rewards strategy that doesnt put pay equity on the back burner. TotalRewards23 is a three-day program including debates, interactive panels, interviews, presentations, and express learning sessions to support reward professionals with actionable insights and new knowledge. For further information on the It's About More Than Pay: Achieving Equity Across the Employee Value Proposition panel, click here. ENDS About Gapsquare Gapsquare, from XpertHR, is a pay equity analytics solution that empowers HR and compensation professionals to establish fair pay organization-wide, improve employee engagement, and mitigate risk. Gapsquare allows users to maintain a continuous, targeted, and personalized view of the pay gaps at their organization so they can quickly build data-led strategies to achieve their pay equity, talent, and diversity goals. Our clients include Accenture, Conde Nast, and The London Metropolitan Police. About XpertHR Global leader XpertHR empowers organizations to shape HR strategy, manage employee risk, and embrace diverse talent ecosystems to create equitable, high-performing, and purposeful workplaces. Since 2002, the data analytics and intelligent solutions provider has earned a reputation for providing expert insights, trusted resources, and practical tools to help customers achieve greater efficiency, improve compliance, and increase employee engagement. XpertHR is proud to be part of the LexisNexis Risk Solutions portfolio within RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. To learn more, visit xperthr.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005576/en/ Megan Linehan [email protected] +44 2034047740 Source: XpertHR Natures DPJ Digital Medicine publishes global health study results that demonstrate the enormous promise of Biospectals OptiBP mobile app to help patients and pregnant women worldwide in low-resource and rural settings monitor and manage high blood pressure; Cuffless, optical smartphone blood pressure solution Biospectal OptiBP furthers Biospectals mission to democratize access to hypertension management to people worldwide LAUSANNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Biospectal SA, the remote patient monitoring and biosensing software company, today announced the publication of global health study results published in Natures NPJ Digital Medicine of the first independent research and validation study to use Biospectals mobile blood pressure monitoring app, OptiBP in low-resource urban and rural settings. Collected from hundreds of general population and pregnant population participants, the results reinforce Biospectal OptiBPs enormous promise as an easy-to-use, accessible, connected, clinical-grade blood pressure monitoring platform with the potential to transform the global network of smartphones into a connected, clinical-grade blood pressure monitoring platform democratizing access and helping people worldwide of all income levels to better monitor and manage their blood pressure. View a short video of how OptiBP works. The Biospectal OptiBP app calculates pressure using pulse wave analysis through a smartphones camera lens. All users need to do to obtain a reading is place their index finger on the lens of the smartphone camera for approximately 20 seconds. Biospectals OptiBP app was identified in the WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies along with Grand Challenges Canada as an innovative solution for low-resource health systems. Hypertension is the number one risk factor for death globally and affects an estimated 1.4 billion people. High blood pressure is especially prevalent in underserved countries, with two-thirds of those affected residing in these regions. Additionally, hypertension disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. To ensure positive pregnancy outcomes, the World Health Organization's Digital Antenatal Care module strongly advocates for blood pressure monitoring as an essential component of antenatal care. Hypertension is a growing global epidemic, and there has long been a need for a digital tool that can help people around the world manage this condition, said Biospectal CEO and co-founder Eliott Jones. This research shows that OptiBP has the potential to transform lives and improve global health by offering people a simple yet painstakingly reliable way to track their blood pressure. Democratizing access to accurate blood pressure reading will ultimately enable early diagnosis and treatment, which will not only save and improve lives but also lessen the strain on the global healthcare system. The study was completed in 2021 across three sites in South Africa, Tanzania, and Bangladesh among general populations, and in South Africa among a pregnant population. Researchers collected and verified accuracy of all blood pressure measurements. The inclusion of pregnant populations was meant to assess innovations to improve management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The study was done in collaboration with HRP, Johns Hopkins University-JiVita Bangladesh, Ifakara Health Institute, South African Medical Research Council for pregnancy populations, and Digital Health and Innovations at WHOs Science Division across Asia and Africa. Biospectal provides a powerful screening tool to get hypertensives into the medical system globally, said Dr. Fred St. Goar, M.D., Vice Chairman of Fogarty Innovation and adjunct professor at the University of Global Health Equity. Validating the effectiveness of paradigm shifting technologies like OptiBP requires ensuring that they are designed for ease-of-use, tested in context and used in an equitable way. This maximizes their impact and potential to leverage technology in democratizing health care access. The observational validation study compared blood pressure measurements taken by two independently trained nurses on a standard auscultatory cuff with blood pressure measurements taken by a smartphone application. The research team used a software version that blinds research nurses and assistants to the blood pressure values generated by the application. About Biospectal Biospectal SA is a remote monitoring and biosensing software company focused on the worldwide democratization of clinical monitoring. We make it easy for hypertension patients and health-conscious consumers to take on hypertension, the silent killer and #1 chronic health condition worldwide. Biospectals OptiBP smartphone application and data platform remove the traditional blood pressure cuff barrier and enables frequent and intelligent blood pressure tracking via a fingertip applied to a smartphone camera lens. By optically measuring blood flow through the skin, our proprietary algorithm turns light information into blood pressure values. Now, anyone with a smartphone can have the convenience of a connected blood pressure monitor with them anytime, anywhere. Founded July 2017, Biospectal is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, with an additional office in Silicon Valley. Biospectals clinically validated, patented technology was developed in collaboration with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology and represents 10+ years of non-invasive optical biosensing R&D. Learn more at https://biospectal.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005374/en/ Mindy M. Hull Mercury Global Partners for Biospectal +1 415 889 9977 (USA) or +31 6 25 04 76 80 (EU) [email protected] Source: Biospectal SA May 25-31, 2023 International Thyroid Awareness Week On the occasion of the International Thyroid Awareness Week (May 25-31, 2023), IBSA promotes several initiatives to inform and raise awareness of thyroid diseases among patients and the general public. Together with Thyroid Federation International (TFI) the reference Patient Organisation at global level IBSA endorses the webinar Patient-centered approach to hypothyroidism, to give voice to some issues that often trouble hypothyroid patients. International Thyroid Awareness Week Thyroid Federation International Patient-centered approach to hypothyroidism, IBSA launches the international campaign Feel Thyroid www.feelthyroid.com aimed at promoting a greater knowledge of hypothyroidism and its symptoms, raising awareness of the importance of an early diagnosis and improving the dialogue between patients and doctors, in order to identify the most appropriate therapeutic path. It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people worldwide are at risk of thyroid disorders, and that hypothyroidism alone affects 5% of the global population, mostly women. Yet, thyroid diseases are difficult to recognise, because they present non-specific symptoms, with a consequent delay in the diagnosis and the definition of the most appropriate treatment. LUGANO, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The patient satisfaction and quality of life of people being treated for hypothyroidism are of considerable interest, and are very often associated with a lack of confidence and trust and with negative experiences with health care professionals. It is precisely on this aspect that IBSA would like to focus the general attention on the occasion of the International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW), celebrated each year from May 25th to 31st, that aims at raising awareness of the prevention of thyroid diseases and awareness of early recognition and adequate treatment of thyroid disorders to prevent further complications. Thyroid dysfunctions are quite common: it is estimated that over 1.5 billion people worldwide are at risk of thyroid disorders, and that hypothyroidism alone affects 5% of the worlds population1, with a greater incidence among women. Early diagnosis is essential in the treatment of these conditions, but since symptoms are almost always nonspecific (weight gain, decreased energy and malaise, sensitivity to cold, mood swings, to name but a few) a timely and correct identification of the disease is difficult, compromising the quality of life of the people affected. To shed some light on the matter, on May 25 at 2:00 pm (CEST), IBSA in collaboration with Thyroid Federation International (TFI), the international organisation of patients with thyroid diseases promotes the webinar Patient-centered approach to hypothyroidism (registrations at this link), a meeting aimed at giving voice to some of the issues that often trouble hypothyroid patients, impacting their satisfaction with the management of the disease, as well as their quality of life. These aspects have been evaluated in particular by the survey E-MPATHY (E-Mode Patient self-Assessment of THYroid therapy) carried out by TFI with the contribution of IBSA which electronically enrolled a total of 3,915 hypothyroid patients from 68 countries2. The survey investigated the impact of hypothyroidism on the patients satisfaction with the quality of daily life and their experiences with doctors and healthcare professionals: it emerged that about 50% of the interviewees are dissatisfied with the management and treatment of the disease, mostly due to negative experiences with their doctor, characterised by a severe lack of trust; and that for the majority (nearly 70%) hypothyroidism had negatively affected their daily life2. Some aspects of hypothyroidism management continue to pose a challenge. Because symptoms are often non-specific, many people living with a thyroid disorder are currently undiagnosed and they can spend many years struggling with a poor quality of life before getting a diagnosis. However, another consequence of the non-specific symptomatology is unfortunately that up to 10-15% of those with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism do not fulfil the biochemical requirements for such a diagnosis. Importantly, at least 5-10% of those treated with thyroid hormones report a poor QoL, due to persistence of symptoms of hypothyroidism, commented Laszlo Hegedus, Emeritus Professor at the Department of Endocrinology in Odense (Denmark) and former president of the European Thyroid Association (ETA). Increasing the awareness of thyroid disorders could stimulate patients to talk with their doctors, because only in the hands of a healthcare professional thyroid disorders can be well managed, which includes avoiding under- as well as over-substitution with thyroid hormone. Faced with a condition such as hypothyroidism and the difficulty in recognising it patients need even more to be listened to and accompanied along their diagnosis and treatment path, pointed out Ashok Bhaseen, Presidente of Thyroid Federation International. As a Patient Organisation, we become the spokespersons for these still unsatisfied needs; our task is to echo them among doctors, institutions and the whole community, in order to improve the quality of life of the people living with thyroid dysfunction. To raise awareness of these conditions and support patients in their daily management, IBSA launches Feel Thyroid, the international campaign aimed at raise awareness on hypothyroidism in particular. Learning to recognise the symptoms of the disease and discussing it with the doctor as soon as possible are critical steps in order to obtain an early diagnosis or to improve the management of the disease, defined on the basis of ones specific needs. All the contents of the Feel Thyroid campaign are accessible on the dedicated platform www.feelthyroid.com, which offers useful information on the condition and, above all, interactive tools which allow to stimulate the patients in their daily management and to draw ideas for a proactive discussion with their doctor. The goal is to improve peoples quality of life favouring a greater collaboration and synergy between patient and specialist, in order to address hypothyroidism, promote dialogue and identify the most appropriate treatment. IBSA has always been attentive to the Person: helping improve the treatment path and the quality of life of the many patients who have to live with a thyroid disease every day is part of our commitment, explained Marialuisa Fino, Therapeutic Area Manager Endocrinology at IBSA. We are pleased to announce the international launch of Feel Thyroid, a campaign born from listening to peoples real needs and designed to support them in their daily struggle with hypothyroidism. We want the campaign to be a real empowerment tool, aimed at increasing the knowledge and awareness of hypothyroidism, at stimulating doctor-patient interaction and, above all, at disseminating an important message: the disease is not a limit, and must not preclude the possibility of leading an active and quality life. And precisely in order to spread this message and make accessible all the information contained in the platform, IBSA created the contents of Feel Thyroid not only in English, but also in the original languages of several European geographical areas, including Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Poland. IBSA Institut Biochimique SA IBSA (Institut Biochimique SA) is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical Company, founded in 1945 in Lugano. Today, its products are present in over 90 Countries on 5 continents, through the Companys 17 subsidiaries located in Europe, China, and the United States. The company has a consolidated turnover of 800 million CHF, and employs over 2,000 people between headquarters, subsidiaries and production sites. IBSA holds 90 families of approved patents, plus others under development, as well as a vast portfolio of products, covering 10 therapeutic areas: reproductive medicine, endocrinology, pain and inflammation, osteoarticular, aesthetic medicine, dermatology, uro-gynaecology, cardiometabolic, respiratory, consumer health. It is also one of the largest operators worldwide in the area of reproductive medicine, and one of the worlds leaders in hyaluronic acid-based products. IBSA has based its philosophy on four pillars: Person, Innovation, Quality and Responsibility. 1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6822815/#:~:text=Hypothyroidism%20affects%20up%20to%205,patients%20suffer%20from%20primary%20hypothyroidism. 2 P. Perros, L. Hegedus, E. Vezekenyi Nagy, E. Papini, H.A. Hay, J. Abad-Madronero, A.J. Tallett, M. Bilas, P. Lakwijk, A.J. Poots, The Impact of Hypothyroidism on Satisfaction with Care and Treatment and Everyday Living: Results from E-Mode Patient Self-Assessment of Thyroid Therapy, a Cross-Sectional, International Online Patient Survey, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37134204/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230524005491/en/ IBSA Press Office Noesis PR Valeria Riccobono [email protected] mob: +39 392 9625892 Ornella Reccia [email protected] mob. +39 329 3931922 Source: IBSA Signature of an Agreement With Adoro SIA for the Sale of ORPEA Activities in Latvia PUTEAUX, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: ORPEA (Paris: ORP) announces that it has signed an agreement with Adoro SIA for the sale of a retirement home in Riga, its entire scope of activities in Latvia. With this transaction, ORPEA continues to implement its Refoundation Plan announced on November 15, 2022, by beginning to review its geographic footprint. ORPEA wishes to focus on all geographies where the Group can achieve a sustainable and committed leadership position, always with the objective of satisfying the expectations of the residents, patients and their families. Adoro SIA is a Baltic actor present in the elderly care sector in Latvia. Their experience of the market and their reputation make it possible to envisage the takeover of our Latvian activities under good conditions, particularly for the residents and employees of the retirement home. The completion of this transaction remains subject to usual conditions precedent and is expected to take place during the third quarter of 2023. Laurent Guillot, ORPEA's Chief Executive Officer, said: "The evolution of the ORPEA group towards a more transparent and efficient development model is well underway, in full accordance with the objectives announced at the presentation of the ORPEA Change! With you and for you plan on 15 November 2022. It is in this spirit that we, together with the management team, are determined to review the scope of our activities by focusing on markets in which the group has a leading position among private operators, while satisfying the expectations of our residents, patients and their families. This sale in Latvia is being carried out with a partner that has proven local experience and shares our goal of achieving a quality of care and support that meets the requirements of residents and their families. Finally, I would like to thank our Latvian colleagues for their commitment and professionalism. About ORPEA ORPEA is a leading global player, expert in providing care for all types of frailty. The Group operates in 21 countries and covers three core businesses: care for the elderly (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homecare and services), post-acute and rehabilitation care and mental health care (specialized clinics). It has more than 76,000 employees and welcomes more than 267,000 patients and residents each year. https://www.orpea-group.com/en ORPEA is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000184798) and is a member of the SBF 120, MSCI Small Cap Europe and CAC Mid 60 indices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005609/en/ Investor Relations ORPEA Benoit Lesieur Investor Relations Director [email protected] Toll-free number for shareholders : 0 805 480 480 Investor Relations NewCap Dusan Oresansky Tel: 01 44 71 94 94 [email protected] Press Relations ORPEA Isabelle Herrier-Naufle Press Relations Director Tel: 07 70 29 53 74 [email protected] Image7 Charlotte Le Barbier // Laurence Heilbronn 06 78 37 27 60 - 06 89 87 61 37 [email protected] [email protected] Source: ORPEA inDrive to broaden freight and courier delivery offering for SMEs, enter the enterprise segment Master Delivery team to join inDrive, bringing proprietary tech solutions and expertise MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, is strengthening its B2B segment offering by introducing new solutions in inDrive.Freight and inDrive.Couriers delivery verticals. inDrive will broaden its offering through expanding the team and the acquisition of new tech solutions. The company completed a transaction with Master Delivery (MD), a SaaS platform for last-mile delivery. MDs team in charge of global expansion is joining inDrive to strengthen its capacity for segment development, and inDrive is acquiring MDs technology, which will be integrated to the existing B2B offering. The team joining inDrive brings expertise and patent-protected innovations, including solutions for delivery management, order batching, dispatch algorithms, and demand prediction. As part of the transaction, inDrive will obtain MD's proprietary technology code, enabling the company to leverage it at its discretion. inDrive is expanding its B2B offering to better meet the specific needs of business customers. As part of the effort, the company will introduce a number of features, including a single business account, service level agreement (SLA) with an on-time guarantee, courier management system, consolidated analytics, and more. With a range of business-focused tools, inDrive will better support SMEs and expand opportunities in the enterprise-grade delivery market, where speed, reliability, and quality are critical. Daniil Petin, VP of Mobility at inDrive: At inDrive, we have successfully served B2B customers with our mobility offering, and there is high demand from SMEs for inDrive.Couriers to provide last-mile courier delivery, with more than 160,000 businesses served in 39 countries. InDrive.Freight offers freight services with a range of vehicles, from minivans for small shipments to semi-trailers and refrigerator trucks to deliver heavy or temperature-sensitive goods between cities, to over 162,000 B2B clients worldwide. We recognize the great potential of merging the inDrive and MD teams' knowledge and skills. Our expansive global scope and experience in scaling services to new markets, combined with technology allowing for the swift delivery of enterprise-grade services in as little as 30-40 minutes, with an impressive 95% on-time orders, will enable us to rapidly and significantly enhance our business offering. The transaction opens a new era of active investments and acquisitions, and inDrive is looking to work with talented founders of emerging startups, especially those from underrepresented regions, to scale their businesses. About inDrive inDrive is a global mobility and urban services platform headquartered in Mountain View, California, USA. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 175 million times, and was the second most downloaded mobility app in 2022. inDrive operates in 614 cities across 47 countries. It supports local communities via its peer-to-peer payment model and community empowerment programs. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005211/en/ Media Contacts [email protected] Source: inDrive EVERETT, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), announced the sale and financing of Artesia, a 192-unit apartment property in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Everett, Washington. The asset traded for $61.6 million, or $320,833 per unit. Located across the street from Silver Lake, Artesia is a fully renovated lakeside community providing residents with sweeping views and resort-style amenities, including an expansive outdoor deck that overlooks the lake and an indoor pool and sauna, said Giovanni Napoli, IPA executive director. The acquisition provides the new owner with a fully stabilized asset in the desirable submarket of Silver Lake with strong market fundamentals. Napoli and IPAs Philip Assouad, Ryan Harmon, Nicholas Ruggiero and Anthony Palladino represented the seller, RISE Properties Trust and procured the buyer, MG Properties. IPA Capital Markets team Brian Eisendrath, Cameron Chalfant, Jake Vitta and Tyler Johnson arranged the acquisition financing. Artesia is within walking distance of 35-acre Thornton A. Sullivan Park and numerous restaurants. Costco, Trader Joes, WinCo Foods, and Mariner Park and Ride are within a mile of the property. Seattles downtown core, Eastsides technology hub, and Boeings main production facility in Everett are within a short commute via nearby Interstate 5. Constructed in 1990, Artesias unit interiors were updated between 2018 and 2022, including new cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile fireplace surrounds and reclaimed wood mantles. The average unit size is 914 square feet. Common areas were extensively renovated and offer residents generous indoor and outdoor amenities. About Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) is a division of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a leading commercial real estate services firm in North America. IPAs combination of real estate investment and capital markets expertise, industry-leading technology, and acclaimed research offer customized solutions for the acquisition, disposition and financing of institutional properties and portfolios. For more information, please visit www.institutionalpropertyadvisors.com. About Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) Marcus & Millichap, Inc. is a leading brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services with offices throughout the United States and Canada. As of December 31, 2022, the company had 1,904 investment sales and financing professionals in 81 offices who provide investment brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. The company also offers market research, consulting and advisory services to clients. Marcus & Millichap closed 12,272 transactions in 2022, with a sales volume of approximately $86.3 billion. For additional information, please visit www.MarcusMillichap.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230524005970/en/ Gina Relva, VP of Public Relations [email protected] 510-999-1284 Source: Marcus & Millichap, Inc. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Within the framework of the 76th session of the World Health Assembly, the 5th meeting of the Ministers of Health of the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held under the chairmanship of Minister of Health of Azerbaijan Teymur Musayev, Trend reports. "In 2010, Baku hosted the first meeting of health ministers of the ECO member countries. This year, our country, using its mandate of chairmanship in the ECO, invites the member countries of the Organization to discuss the realities of post-pandemic recovery, exchange experience in this direction and to closer cooperation," he said. Musayev noted that over the past 15 years, constructive work has been done to strengthen the potential of domestic healthcare and medical science, more than 700 medical institutions have been built and overhauled. In addition, emphasis is placed on the formation of continuous professional education of medical personnel. The minister also spoke about the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and, at the same time, about the experience gained. It was noted that shortly after the start of the pandemic, the Azerbaijani Government created a working group to coordinate the activities of state bodies in the fight against COVID-19. At the same time, strict quarantine measures were introduced, the number of laboratories for quarantine examination was increased several times, modular-type hospitals were put into operation, and other necessary steps were taken. At the same time, to support the fight against coronavirus, Azerbaijan made a voluntary financial contribution to the WHO in the amount of $10 million, of which $5 million were allocated directly to Iran, and also donated 150,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines to the Non-Aligned Movement member countries. "It is time to think about post-pandemic recovery. The general revival is directly related to the gradual recovery of the economies of our countries. From this point of view, it is very important to expand cooperation between the ECO member countries," the minister added. As a result of the meeting, the "Updated action plan for cooperation in the field of healthcare for 2016-2025" was approved. SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly growing national provider of benefits, personal, and commercial lines insurance, announced today that it has acquired Citizens General Insurance Brokers, Inc, located in Auburn, CA. Citizens General Insurance Brokers, Inc., founded in 2011 by Philip McClendon, has created a niche for itself in the industry by providing value-based insurance solutions specifically tailored to small businesses and construction industries. Their focus on quality and swift customer care has propelled them to the forefront of the industry in a short span of time. With the acquisition of Citizens General Insurance Brokers, Inc, Inszone has further solidified its position as a leader in the commercial insurance industry. Inszones capabilities and resources will enable them to provide an even better service experience to customers of Citizens General Insurance Brokers, Inc and help them manage their risks more effectively. At Inszone, we share Citizens Generals passion for serving customers and providing them with the best possible solutions, said Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services. We are thrilled to integrate them into the Inszone family and look forward to collaboratively reaching out to a wider demographic across various industries. Philip McClendon, the previous owner of Citizens General Insurance Brokers, Inc, said, The process of the merger with Inszone has been an absolute pleasure. From the highest levels of leadership to the entire team, everyone at Inszone has been professional, supportive, and aligned with our values. Despite their rapid growth and size, Inszone maintains a warm and personable culture that resonates with our own, and it does not feel like a typical corporate environment. Inszone Insurance is confident that their shared vision of providing value-based insurance and quality customer care will enable them to achieve even greater success in the future. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage firm that provides a broad array of property & casualty insurance, along with employee benefits solutions. With a strong, experienced management team, Inszone continues to grow organically, as well as through acquisitions. With 42 locations across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, and Illinois, the company is looking to further expand throughout the United States. For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005007/en/ Inszone Insurance Chris Walters CEO 714-619-5620 [email protected] Source: Inszone Insurance Services NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBRA affirms the senior unsecured debt rating of BBB, the subordinated debt rating of BBB-, and the short-term debt rating of K3 for Terrell, Texas-based The ANB Corporation (the company or ANB). Additionally, KBRA affirms the deposit and senior unsecured debt ratings of BBB+, the subordinated debt rating of BBB, and the short-term deposit and debt ratings of K2 for the lead subsidiary, The American National Bank of Texas ("the bank"). The Outlook for all long-term ratings was revised to Negative from Stable. Key Credit Considerations The Negative Outlook is largely predicated on the companys weakened earnings profile due to a concentration of longer term, low-yielding investment securities (~40% of earning assets) and rising funding costs experienced in 1Q23. Also, earnings are expected to be lower throughout the remainder of 2023. In addition, ANB is deploying the cash flow from the investment securities into higher yielding loans over the shorter term which has broadly impacted their overall capital positioning (9.7% CET1 and 0.8% TCE including AOCI adjustments at 1Q23), further increasing the disparity between similarly rated peers. However, the ratings are supported by the companys tenured senior management, highlighted by the durability of an exceptionally low-cost deposit franchise and a lower risk profile on the earning asset base. Total deposit costs have historically run well below peers (cost of total deposits were ~25 bps through 1Q23) supported by over 40% of total deposits in NIB at 1Q23. The historically strong funding profile was adversely impacted by ANBs recent advances on wholesale funding sources accounting for nearly 15% of total funding at 1Q23. However, the company has not experienced material deposit outflows since 1Q23. KBRA further notes the relatively manageable level of uninsured deposits (excluding collateralized deposits) which totaled ~$1.4 billion, or near 30% of total deposits at 1Q23. The company had sufficient coverage of these deposits with primary and secondary sources of liquidity comprising 150% of uninsured/uncollateralized deposits. KBRA evaluates ANBs capital position as adequate for the rating category (TCE of ~8% excluding adjustments within AOCI), taken in the context of its overall risk profile, and has comfortably supported growth. Additionally, the company has historically been able to generate sufficient levels of capital and reflects significant cash levels at the holding company. Liquidity management has been conservative with a loan-to-deposit ratio consistently below 70% since 2018 (63% at 1Q23). The proportionally lower percentage of loans to earnings assets leads to a noticeably lower risk profile for the bank (risk-weighted density ~68% in 1Q23). NPA and NCO ratios have also tracked better than peers both historically and in recent periods. Although partially attributable to the benign credit environment, the companys favorable loss history is reflective of disciplined underwriting practices, solid borrower credit profiles, and robust economies of operation within the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX MSA. Rating Sensitivities A rating upgrade is unlikely over the short to medium term. The rebuild of capital metrics to reflect a more peer-like profile, which are integral to the ratings (specifically a CET1 ratio above 10%), sustained over several periods combined with the continued maintenance of stable asset quality metrics and a durable low-cost deposit franchise could result in a return to a Stable Outlook. A lack of capital rebuild over the medium term, with risk-based measurements below peer averages, or material deterioration in asset quality metrics, including elevated charge-off activity, could result in a rating downgrade. To access rating and relevant documents, click here. Methodologies Financial Institutions: Bank & Bank Holding Company Global Rating Methodology ESG Global Rating Methodology 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/20230525005764/en/ Analytical Contacts Ben Rodriguez, Director (Lead Analyst) +1 301-969-3186 [email protected] Ashley Phillips, Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair) +1 301-969-3185 [email protected] Brian Ropp, Managing Director +1 301-969-3244 [email protected] Business Development Contact Justin Fuller, Senior Director +1 646-731-1250 [email protected] Source: Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Macias Counsel, representing Faith Bautista, former CEO and Founder of the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), denies all allegations made against her in a lawsuit filed by NAAC on May 9, 2023 in Los Angeles Superior Court (NAAC vs. Faith Bautista, et. al., Case No. 23 STCV 10387). In response to accusations in the complaint, attorney Sean Macias of Macias Counsel, Inc. says his client asserts she has always acted with integrity and in full compliance with all laws and regulations. Ms. Bautista is deeply committed to serving the Asian American, Hispanic, African American as well as low and moderate-income individuals and has dedicated her career to advocating for their rights and needs, says Macias. Macias says Bautista intends to vigorously defend herself against the complaints allegations and to clear her name. She is confident that the truth will come to light through the judicial process, and she will be fully vindicated from these baseless allegations, says Macias. Ms. Bautista appreciates the outpouring of backing and encouragement she has received from supporters and colleagues during this challenging time, says Macias. She is grateful for their trust and confidence in her, and she will continue to work tirelessly to advance their interests and to support their needs. Bautista will not be providing any future comments on this matter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005767/en/ Sean E. Macias, Esq. Macias Counsel, Inc. 818-240-7707 [email protected] Source: Macias Counsel, Inc. PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Medable Inc., the leading technology platform for clinical trials, today announced that Steve Jones, Medables vice president of data analytics, achieved the silver award in the Decentralized Solutions Individual of the Year category at PharmaTimes International Clinical Researcher of the Year awards gala in London on May 18, 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005347/en/ Medable's Steve Jones Wins Decentralized Solutions Individual of the Year (Graphic: Business Wire) Steve is one of the most innovative and experienced data scientists in the life sciences industry, said Michelle Longmire, CEO and co-founder at Medable. We're honored to have him at Medable and thrilled that this award recognizes the impact he has had on the industry and patients who participate in clinical research. To apply for these awards, Jones entered a rigorous, 3-stage process that included a Good Clinical Practice review, submission of a 1000-word essay outlining how best to decentralize an oncology trial, and an interview. Jones was one of the four finalists in the decentralized solutions'' category notably, the first year for this category. He presented a fictional protocol design to drive trial efficiency, saving time and cost through a decentralized approach, including electronic consent and patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) assessment technologies. Joness essay focused on basket trials and designing iterative protocols that test a theory with a small group of enrolled patients, analyze the results, and build the trial from the results by expanding or adjusting the hypothesis. This iterative approach enables a seamless transition from Phase I through Phases II and III and, allows for data required to perform statistical power calculations to be collected holistically across phases from the outset of the study recently identified by the FDA as a future requirement. As a professional statistician, it means a lot to win a non-statistical award for my work in clinical research, said Jones. Medable has afforded me an amazing opportunity to go beyond the data and apply it to help advance clinical research and mankind. Behind every data point is a patient. Its important to have that kind of respect and not waste data as you design and analyze data to ensure a successful NDA in the fastest possible time. Steve Jones is a statistician and data scientist who joined the Pharmaceutical Industry 35 years ago, starting his career at Boots Pharmaceuticals, before joining a small Contract Research Organization (CRO) and spending 24 years working at Covance (now Fortrea) as a Director of Biostatistics and Statistical Programming. Jones eventually led the team and applied statistical skill sets to critical research functions, such as patient recruitment. Launched in 1999, the PharmTimes International Clinical Researcher of the Year awards competition is a real-world competition that attracts entrants from all over the globe. It offers a unique opportunity for research professionals to benchmark their skills against their peers in a friendly learning environment and then be judged by an independent steering group of high-level industry leaders. Visit the website for a complete list of 2023 winners. Medable has deployed its software-as-a-service platform via more than 300 decentralized and hybrid clinical trials in 70 countries, serving more than one million patients and research participants globally. Medables customers have achieved impressive results with decentralized and hybrid trials including 200 percent faster enrollment and 50 percent cost reductions. A recent 2022 financial modeling of DCTs using industry benchmark and Medable data conducted by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development shows that, on average, decentralized trials can achieve net financial benefits ranging from five to 13 times for Phase II and Phase III trials, due to reduced trial timelines and other factors. About Medable Medable is on a mission to get effective therapies to patients faster by transforming clinical drug development with disruptive technologies. The companys digital platform streamlines design, recruitment, retention and data quality for decentralized trials, replacing siloed systems with integrated digital tools, data and interfaces to accelerate trial execution. Medable connects patients, sites and clinical trial teams to improve patient access, experience and outcomes. Medables software has been named a Leader in the industry by both Everest Group and IDC. Medable is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005347/en/ Lisa Barbadora, Barbadora INK for Medable +1 (610) 420-3413 [email protected] / [email protected] Source: Medable SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Andersen welcomes Mike Kenehan as a Managing Director in the State and Local Tax (SALT) practice, bringing more than 19 years of combined experience in abandoned and unclaimed property (AUP) tax related matters. We look forward to Mike joining the Andersen team, commented Wayne Trumbull, Managing Director and State and Local Tax practice leader. Mikes extensive knowledge of the rules and regulations associated with AUP, his vast industry specific experience, and proven ability to build a strong and successful team, will help Andersen become a leading firm in the AUP practice area. Prior to joining Andersen, Mike was a Managing Director and Northeast Practice Leader at BDO USA. Before BDO, he worked with Kelmar Associates, LLC as a Senior Audit Manager in charge of unclaimed property audits contracted on behalf of various states. The addition of Mike to the firm further enhances our commitment to providing best-in-class service to our clients. Mikes extensive background in AUP will be vital to our SALT practice and the clients we serve, stated Dan DePaoli, U.S. Country Managing Director. Mike received his BS in accounting from the University of Pittsburgh and his MBA in finance from Villanova University. Mike is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Pennsylvania. Andersen is the founding member of Andersen Global, an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 13,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 390 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. In the U.S., Andersen has more than 1,700 personnel located in 23 cities across the country. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005180/en/ Megan Tsuei Andersen 415-764-2700 Source: Andersen Conditions of availability or consultation of the preparatory documents PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: NHOA S.A. (NHOA or the Company) (Paris: NHOA), global player in energy storage and e-mobility, active in the construction of the largest fast and ultra-fast charging infrastructure in Southern Europe, whose securities are admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (NHOA.PA), informs its shareholders of the organizational arrangements of its annual mixed general meeting (the "AGM"). The AGM will be held, with the shareholders and other persons entitled to attend being physically present, on Thursday 15 June 2023 at 25 rue de Marignan 75008 Paris, France, at 10:30 a.m. Every shareholder has the right to participate to the AGM. Shareholders may exercise their right to vote remotely: - voting by correspondence using a voting form available on the Company's website nhoa.energy under Investors / Annual General Meeting 2023; - by giving a proxy to a person of your choice or to the Company. The preliminary notice of meeting (avis de reunion) has been published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires BALO on 10 May 2023, bulletin n56, and the addendum on 17 May 2023, bulletin n 59. They include the agenda, the draft resolutions as well as details on attendance and voting modalities for this AGM. The preliminary notice of meeting, together with the Board of Directors' report on the draft resolutions and legal information, are now available on the Companys website nhoa.energy, under the section Investors / Annual General Meeting 2023, in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements. According to Article R. 22-10-23 of the Commercial Code, the preparatory documents of this AGM are made available to the shareholders and will be retrievable from 25 May 2023 on the Companys website nhoa.energy under the section Investors / Annual General Meeting 2023. The 2022 Universal Registration Document has been filed with the French Autorite des marches financiers on 27 April 2023 under registration number nD.23-0366. It is available to the public, in compliance with legal and regulatory provisions, and may be consulted on the Companys website nhoa.energy, in the section Investors / Regulatory Information. The 2022 Universal Registration Document includes in particular the Corporate Governance Report, the Management Report, the statutory accounts of the Company, the consolidated financial statements of NHOA Group, the statutory auditors reports and their fees as well as the Annual Financial Report. * * * NHOA NHOA S.A. (formerly Engie EPS), global player in energy storage, e-mobility and EV fast and ultra-fast charging infrastructure, develops technologies enabling the transition towards clean energy and sustainable mobility, shaping the future of a next generation living in harmony with our planet. Listed on Euronext Paris regulated market (NHOA.PA), NHOA forms part of the CAC Mid & Small and CAC All-Tradable financial indices. NHOA, with offices in France, Spain, United States and Australia, maintains entirely in Italy research, development and production of its technologies. For further information, go to www.nhoa.energy follow us on LinkedIn follow us on Instagram View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005712/en/ Press Office: Claudia Caracausi and Davide Bruzzese, Image Building, +39 02 89011300, [email protected] Financial Communication and Institutional Relations: Chiara Cerri, +39 337 1484534, [email protected] Source: NHOA SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NSF, the leading testing and certification organization in the water industry, is pleased to announce that Hanwha Solutions Corporation (Hanwha), a South Korea-based petrochemical company, has earned certification to NSF Guideline 533 for its HC-17 and HC-77 CPVC resins products. Hanwha is NSFs first client in the world to receive this certification, which demonstrates that their resins have been evaluated for health effects and are safe for use in drinking water products. Founded in 1965, Hanwha has been at the forefront of the South Korean petrochemical industry and produces a full array of basic petrochemical products. Hanwha is committed to providing high-quality and safe products while meeting the requirement of the relevant industry. The NSF mark is highly valued by the industry and adds credibility to our products, said Dooyoung Jung, Head of PVC Business Division, Hanwha. We are proud to have earned this certification, which helps us to be more competitive in the global market. NSF Guideline 533 is a new guideline that NSF launched in January 2023. The guideline covers ingredients such as resins, stabilizers, carbon black, lubricants, solvents, and colorants used in CPVC, PE, Nylon, and other materials. It expands NSFs certification offerings to include ingredients used in drinking water products to further strengthen its commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water products. Certified ingredient manufacturers can use the dedicated NSF mark to prove that their product is safe as reviewed by a third party. We launched NSF Guideline 533 this year and are proud to certify the first company, Hanwha Solutions, said Nasrin Kashefi, Senior Manager of Residential Water at NSF. We offer a simple process that saves ingredient manufacturers time and cost. With NSF Guideline 533, ingredient manufacturers have the opportunity to promote their ingredients to drinking water product manufacturers around the world on NSFs official website. For product manufacturers, using NSF-listed ingredients can help them get to market quickly. Additionally, the NSF Guideline 533 certification program provides a listing that allows ingredient manufacturers to market their ingredients as NSF certified, which can help facilitate the listing of their customer's products under NSF/ANSI 14 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 61. For more information on obtaining NSF Guideline 533 certification for your ingredients, please visit the NSF website. About NSF NSF is an independent, global services organization dedicated to improving human and planet health by facilitating standards development and providing world-class testing, inspection, certification, advisory services, and digital solutions to the food, water, health sciences, and consumer goods industries. NSF operates in 180 countries and is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality, and Medical Device Safety. NSFs Water Division provides risk assessments, testing, inspection, and certification services for the water industry from source to tap. NSF facilitated the development of the American National Standards for all materials and products that treat or come in contact with drinking water to help protect public health and the environment and minimize adverse health effects. In 1990, the U.S. EPA replaced its own drinking water product advisory program with these NSF standards. About Hanwha Solutions Since our establishment in 1965, Hanwha Solutions Chemical Division has been at the forefront of Koreas advancements in the chemical industry. Starting with Koreas first production of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), we began producing a full array of basic petrochemical products including LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene), CA (Chlor-Alkali), ASR (Alkali Water Soluble Resin), and TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate), all of which has since served as base products across a wide range of industries. Our products exist in peoples daily lives in various forms and contribute to improving the overall quality of life. As both a leader and a chemical company in the petrochemical market, we are able to pursue sustainable growth creatively and competitively. Were expanding our assets to include CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride), hydrogenated resins and XDI (Xylylene diisocyanate). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230524005403/en/ Stina Liang [email protected] Source: NSF MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Association for Black Economic Power (ABEP) is raising funds to open Minnesotas historic first Black-led credit union, Arise Community Credit Union. Arise will offer robust banking services in North Minneapolis, serving those who live, work, learn, worship and volunteer in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. Arises services will serve a critical function in the North Minneapolis community, currently a banking desert plagued by predatory high-interest loan and check-cashing businesses. To date, nearly 1.1 million dollars have been raised towards our goal of 3 million dollars needed for operating capital. Its our hope that this campaign will bring us even closer to making Arise Community Credit Union a reality, shared ABEP Executive Director Debra Hurston. ABEP partnered with Minneapolis-based creativity agency Superhuman in the creation of this fundraising initiative. With the Credit Union Charter application process nearing conclusion, ABEP and Superhuman aligned to create a bold fundraising campaign focused on generating support for the new credit union. Support Arise Community Credit Union here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/association-for-black-economic-power/empower-minnesota-s-first-black-led-credit-union Learn more about Arise here: https://www.learnaboutariseccu.org/ About Association for Black Economic Power (ABEP) As a community-based organization, ABEP was created to establish a Black-led financial institution that will address systemic financial challenges impacting Minneapolis residents, particularly people of color. This vision was birthed from North Minneapolis community members who strongly believe that institutional economic power is the critical ingredient to addressing the inequities that African Americans experience in the region. For more information, please visit https://www.abepmpls.org/. About Superhuman Superhuman is a Minneapolis-based creativity agency founded by Van Horgen in 2011. With expertise in branding and storytelling, Superhuman is a group of collaborative thinkers and makers that believes creativity connects us. For more information, please visit https://superhuman.agency/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005895/en/ Debra Hurston, 651-278-1926 Source: Association for Black Economic Power (ABEP) OSLO, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily data and insights about Earth, today announced its partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency, to build a regional satellite data-driven loss and damage atlas for climate change resilience. The initiative aims to provide data to a select country facing high degrees of climate risk to help build resilience, make informed policy decisions, and stimulate financial programs for climate adaptation and mitigation. The data facility plans to initially focus on compiling data for a select climate-vulnerable country for purposes of quantifying damages caused by extreme weather events, such as floods and drought and helping to establish early-warning systems. With access to high-frequency, high-resolution satellite data and analytical tools, the goal is to make these foundational datasets available to governments, NGOs, and related parties so that they can develop insights on climate-related topics like population distribution, wildfire and flood risks, agricultural productivity and food security, and physical assets. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we as a planet have ever faced, and its critical that vulnerable countries are able to have real, tangible insights to build resilience, said Will Marshall, Planet co-founder and CEO. Satellite data can help to capture those insights and to help build early warning systems for climate risks, but we cant do it alone. We are proud of our partnership with the UAE Space Agency to get this data into the hands of important participants. Planet is set to provide key data assets and capabilities for this atlas, including: Access to PlanetScope satellite data for the exemplary country, to leverage a near-daily country-level imagery scan, at 3 meter resolution, and see gradual change happening, such as coastal erosion. SkySat Tasking capabilities, to identify specific areas of interest and capture fine details, at 50 centimeter resolution, of swiftly changing events, such as the immediate impacts of flooding damage. Use of the Roads and Building Change Detection analytics feed, to receive AI-enhanced insights on rapid urban growth in regions facing climate risk. Access to the Soil Moisture Content Planetary Variables data feed, to monitor near-daily changes in soil moisture, at 100 meters per pixel, in regions such as agricultural lands threatened by drought. Insights from the Land Surface Temperature Planetary Variables data feed, to illuminate temperature fluctuations over time, such as climate change-induced rising urban and rural heat. With partners, provide technical training and engagement with end-user organizations, through webinars, on-site training, and engagement with local universities and academic partners to ensure the data is used effectively. This project is an act of data diplomacy from the UAE to a country facing disproportionate risks from climate change, and its vital to help it access the digital tools and resources to manage for a sustainable and secure future. The UAE government has made sustainability and preserving the environment top priorities, reflected by launching the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative nationally. In line with this direction, the UAE Space Agency has launched several initiatives and projects to ensure that we are doing our part and further driving the global journey towards sustainability, and support of the Climate Change initiatives, said H.E. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency. This project was conceived in response to several COP27 (the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference) initiatives, including the decision to accelerate the implementation of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage where developed nations have been urged to extend financial aid, technology, and expertise to developing countries to tackle the loss and damage resulting from climate change. Additionally, the atlass objectives align with the World Meteorological Organizations Early Warning Systems for All initiative, aiming to enhance the availability and accessibility of early warning systems for hazards such as extreme weather, water, and climate-related events in climate-vulnerable countries. Forward-looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the Companys ability to capture market opportunity and realize any of the potential benefits from current or future product enhancements, new products, or strategic partnerships and customer collaborations. Forward-looking statements are based on the Companys managements beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future events and results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to the risk factors and other disclosures about the Company and its business included in the Company's periodic reports, proxy statements, and other disclosure materials filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which are available online at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.planet.com. All forward-looking statements reflect the Companys beliefs and assumptions only as of the date such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005379/en/ Lauren Neville Planet Labs PBC [email protected] Source: Planet British bed retailer, Bensons for Beds humanizes the digital shopping experience with the implementation of one-to-one live shopping technology, boosting online Average Order Value by 20% NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Emplifi, the leading unified customer engagement platform, today announced that Bensons for Beds, a British bed retailer; specializing in beds, mattresses, and bedroom furniture is using Emplifi Live Advisor to deliver live shopping and support to customers on demand. Through Emplifis leading Live Advisor solution, Bensons for Beds customers can connect to in-store experts for real-time tours, product demonstrations, and purchases. By visiting the stores website customers can activate a live one-to-one video call in a couple of clicks. One of the most notable characteristics of our customer base is their need to experience our products in a physical environment - or at least as close to a physical environment as possible. Trying to recreate that experience on a two-dimensional website is impossible, said Graham Wilson, Director of Omnichannel and Digital at Bensons for Beds. By partnering with Emplifi were able to close that gap and bring our in-store experience inside the homes of our customers. Our newly introduced, live shopping experience allows us to add that human element customers crave which helps drive confidence and ultimately conversions. Within 6 months of employing Emplifi Live Advisor, Bensons for Beds has already seen tangible results. Within the first hour of launching the new service, the bed's retailer achieved their first sale and increased their online Average Order Value (AOV) by 20%. Furthermore, Bensons for Beds has also garnered an impressive average Customer Satisfaction score of 4.7/5. Bensons for Beds continues to make advancements in their digital offering, adding more Emplifi solutions such as Ratings and Reviews and UGC (User-generated content). By connecting Emplifis Live Advisor, Ratings, and Reviews, as well as UGC, were able to create a more seamless experience for our customers as they move through the buying process. A lot of work goes into choosing the right technology partner, said Graham Wilson, Director of Omnichannel and Digital at Bensons for Beds. Partnering with Emplifi has been a win for us as a business. Theres an enormous benefit of not having any heavy lifting as we have access to a suite of solutions all within one platform. "Theres nothing that excites us more than seeing one of our clients maximize return on their digital investments. We are proud to partner with a beloved UK brand like Bensons for Beds, as they pave the way, implementing modern solutions to age-old customer challenges, said Mark Zablan, CEO, Emplifi. Modern consumers value easy access to support and Bensons for Beds focus on providing live support is a testament to their commitment to customer satisfaction. We look forward to supporting their continued success as our partnership expands across other areas of the customer experience." Emplifis one-to-one video technology has been adopted by notable global retailers, such as HP, Marks & Spencer, and Currys. In 2021, the company served over 2.7 million unique users and generated over $240 million in sales for its customers. For more information, visit here. About Emplifi Emplifi is a leading unified customer engagement platform that empowers businesses to reach and grow communities through digital- and social-first strategies. More than 20,000 brands like McDonalds, Ford Motor Company, and Delta Air Lines rely on Emplifi to enable connected, empathetic experiences for the modern consumer across marketing, commerce, and care. Headquartered in New York, Emplifi partners with major social media networks and digital platforms, including Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, and Snapchat. For more information, visit www.emplifi.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005006/en/ Jordan Lukes Director of Corporate Communications, Emplifi [email protected] Source: Emplifi MONTPELLIER, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: Sensorion (FR0012596468 ALSEN) a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company which specializes in gene therapies in the inner ear, announces today the results of resolutions presented at its Combined General Meeting (CGM), held on May 24, 2023, and made them available on the dedicated section of its website. All resolutions recommended by the Board and submitted to the Combined General Meeting were adopted. 65.4% of the capital was present and represented. The results of the votes on all proposed resolutions can be found on Sensorion's website (https://www.sensorion.com) in the Investors section under the General Meeting tab. About Sensorion Sensorion is a pioneering clinical-stage biotech company, which specializes in the development of gene therapies to restore hearing loss disorders, a significant global unmet medical need. Sensorion has built a unique R&D technology platform to expand its understanding of the pathophysiology and etiology of inner ear related diseases, enabling it to select the best targets and mechanisms of action for drug candidates. It has two gene therapy programs aimed at correcting hereditary monogenic forms of deafness, developed in the framework of its broad strategic collaboration focused on the genetics of hearing with the Institut Pasteur. OTOF-GT targets deafness caused by mutations of the gene encoding for otoferlin and GJB2-GT targets hearing loss related to mutations in GJB2 gene to potentially address important hearing loss segments in adults and children. The Company is also working on the identification of biomarkers to improve diagnosis of these underserved illnesses. Sensorions portfolio also comprises clinical-stage small molecule programs for the treatment and prevention of hearing loss disorders. Sensorions clinical-stage portfolio includes one Phase 2 product: SENS-401 (Arazasetron) progressing in a planned Phase 2 proof of concept clinical study of SENS-401 in Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity (CIO) and, with partner Cochlear Limited, in a study of SENS-401 in patients scheduled for cochlear implantation. A Phase 2 study of SENS-401 was also completed in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) in January 2022. www.sensorion.com Label: SENSORION ISIN: FR0012596468 Mnemonic: ALSEN Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Sensorion and its business. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Sensorion considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will be verified, which statements are subject to numerous risks, including the risks set forth in the 2022 full year financial report published on March 30, 2023, and available on our website and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Sensorion operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Sensorion or not currently considered material by Sensorion. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Sensorion to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information that it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, Sensorion shares in any country. The communication of this press release in certain countries may constitute a violation of local laws and regulations. Any recipient of this press release must inform oneself of any such local restrictions and comply therewith. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230524005786/en/ Investor Relations David Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer (US/UK) Noemie Djokovic, Investor Relations and Communications (Europe/France) [email protected] International Media Relations Consilium Strategic Communications Jessica Hodgson / Sue Stuart +44 7921 917422 +44 7561 424788 [email protected] Source: Sensorion TELUS International launches new generative AI solutions to mitigate bias and hallucinations, complementing the companys existing competencies in natural language processing (NLP), AI data solutions, computational linguistics and content development VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A recent survey from TELUS International, a leading digital customer experience (CX) innovator with nearly two decades of artificial intelligence (AI) experience, reveals customer concerns regarding bias in AI algorithms and perceived lack of transparency in the utilization of generative AI. Missed Opportunities and Irrelevant Content?: Consumers Say Bias is Preventing AI From Making Smart Recommendations & Connecting Them to New Opportunities More than two in five (43%) believe bias within an AI algorithm caused them to be served the wrong content, such as music or TV programs they didnt like and irrelevant job opportunities Almost one-third (32%) believe bias within an AI algorithm caused them to miss out on an opportunity, such as a financial application approval or job opportunity Generative AI brings forth a new realm of possibilities for brands to enhance the experiences they deliver to their customers, but to ensure its success, it has to respond accurately and be free of harmful content. However, generative AIs propensity to occasionally deliver inaccurate or nonsensical information - a phenomenon known as a hallucination - could potentially impact hard-won customer loyalty. Consumers Want Brands to Use AI -- Only If Brands Are Honest About How Theyre Using It According to the survey, 40% of American consumers dont believe companies who are using generative AI technology in their platforms are doing enough to protect users from bias and false information. Additionally, more than three-quarters (77%) believe that before brands integrate generative AI into their platforms, they should be required to audit their algorithms to mitigate bias and prejudice. With the rise of generative AI, the need for good and fair data has become more important than ever. Unlike traditional AI, generative AI creates new outputs based on the data it has been trained on, magnifying the impact of data quality on its overall performance, said Siobhan Hanna, managing director, AI Data Solutions, TELUS International. It is crucial that companies proactively address biased data and reckless algorithms from the start to avoid severe consequences and inaccurate outcomes. Model validation and tuning are essential for improving the performance and reliability of AI models as they help identify and address potential errors, improve accuracy and ensure that the model can effectively adapt to and make accurate predictions on new, previously unseen data. Additionally, by implementing appropriate policy guardrails, companies can protect customer data and promote a safer user experience while mitigating hallucinations and bias. Humans in the loop Respondents also emphasized the importance of human involvement, with 49% noting that an AI algorithm cant operate successfully without human input. Surprisingly, nearly one in five (19%) admitted they didnt know that humans reviewed AI algorithms. Harnessing human intelligence in a manner that reduces bias is key to successful machine learning, continued Hanna. Unlike AI, humans have the ability to understand context and tone, which is crucial to ensuring bias is responsibly mitigated. To effectively reduce bias in AI, companies must source trusted and diverse training data sets that incorporate a wide range of views and perspectives. By adopting a human in the loop approach, companies can ensure increased accuracy and reduced bias in its AI datasets. Power your generative AI initiatives with TELUS International Regardless of where you're at in your generative AI journey, TELUS Internationals end-to-end solutions can help quickly advance your AI initiatives. TELUS Internationals comprehensive range of AI solutions include: dataset engineering, the creation of training and test datasets, content generation and enhancement, model testing and prompt generation and enhancement. The company also provides software engineering services to implementers of generative AI technologies, with extensive capabilities for application development through the consultancy, design, build, deployment and maintenance phases. To learn more about how TELUS International can help you build inclusive, high-quality datasets for training your generative AI models, visit telusinternational.com/solutions/ai-data-solutions/generative-ai. Survey Methodology: The survey findings are based on a Pollfish survey that was conducted on May 1, 2023, and includes responses from 1,000 Americans familiar with generative AI. About TELUS International TELUS International (NYSE & TSX: TIXT) designs, builds and delivers next-generation digital solutions to enhance the customer experience (CX) for global and disruptive brands. The companys services support the full lifecycle of its clients digital transformation journeys, enabling them to more quickly embrace next-generation digital technologies to deliver better business outcomes. TELUS Internationals integrated solutions span digital strategy, innovation, consulting and design, IT lifecycle including managed solutions, intelligent automation and end-to-end AI data solutions including computer vision capabilities, as well as omnichannel CX and trust and safety solutions including content moderation. Fueling all stages of company growth, TELUS International partners with brands across strategic industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, and others. TELUS Internationals unique caring culture promotes diversity and inclusivity through its policies, team member resource groups and workshops, and equal employment opportunity hiring practices across the regions where it operates. Since 2007, the company has positively impacted the lives of more than 1.2 million citizens around the world, building stronger communities and helping those in need through large-scale volunteer events and charitable giving. Five TELUS International Community Boards have provided $5.2 million in funding to grassroots charitable organizations since 2011. Learn more at: telusinternational.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005236/en/ For more information: TELUS International Media Relations: Ali Wilson (604) 328-7093 [email protected] TELUS International Investor Relations: Jason Mayr (604) 695-3455 [email protected] Source: TELUS International IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vizient, Inc. released its latest edition of Tech Watch, examining trends in diagnostic imaging (DI), advances in computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) exams and a service line strategy for the use of theranostics to treat cancer. Access Diagnostic Imaging Tech Watch. As technology evolves, its important to keep up with the latest iterations of diagnostic imaging to strategize patient care and capital asset management, said Adam Fairbourn, director, contract services, Vizient. This issue of Tech Watch assesses recent technological advancements, theranostics as a cancer treatment option in the DI space and a look at 10 considerations when thinking about the patient care strategies for diagnostic imaging service lines. Featured articles include: Top 10 trends in diagnostic imaging Sg2, a Vizient company, forecasts double-digit growth in diagnostic imaging services over the next decade driven by increased demand and technological advances. With an expected 15% growth in CT and PET exams, an already strained workforce can leverage artificial intelligence and automation to improve workflow. From enterprise imaging partnerships to cybersecurity, as this article lays out, providers who plan well will be positioned to further advance their imaging offerings. Computed tomography advancements can reduce patient radiation and increase scan effectiveness Since first introduced in the 1970s, innovation in CT technology continues to grow with scientists and engineers developing new and more efficient methods to improve image quality, reduce scan times and lessen radiation exposure. Advancements such as spectral imaging and photon-counting detectors (PCD) have improved the capabilities of CT systems and expanded post-processing capabilities. This article assesses an array of current CT technologies, including those that use PCDs; spectral CT, which offers accentuated image enhancement; and CT fractional flow reserve, which has been shown to reduce invasive coronary angiography and overall treatment costs in coronary artery disease. Considerations for theranostics: Service line strategy, requirements and external constraints With the advancement of theranostics and other radioactive tracers for the detection and treatment of cancer, some providers view theranostics as a potential new service line adjacent to oncology and imaging services. Theranostics drugs dont replace other oncology services such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, but rather, serve as an additional treatment option for patients who dont respond to those therapies. This article lays out the most important considerations for a service line strategy, including technology and staff requirements, external constraints and most importantly, regulatory requirements for a radioactive material license. View past editions of Diagnostic Imaging Tech Watch. About Vizient, Inc. Vizient, Inc., the nations largest member-driven healthcare performance improvement company, serves more than 60% of the nations acute care providers, which includes 97% of the nations academic medical centers, and more than 25% of the non-acute care market. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $130 billion in annual purchasing volume. Vizients solutions and services improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005283/en/ Donna Ledbetter (972) 830-6321 [email protected] Source: Vizient, Inc. Consortium Principles Agreement Outlines Roadmap to Project Completion WARSAW, Poland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Westinghouse Electric Company, Bechtel and Polish utility Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe today signed an agreement defining the principles of the parties' cooperation in the design and construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant. The agreement sets out a plan for the delivery of the project and confirms the implementation of the next major stage of Poland's flagship nuclear energy initiative. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005692/en/ Seated (from left): Patrick Fragman, CEO, Westinghouse; ukasz Mynarkiewicz, Acting President of Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe; Craig Albert, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bechtel Standing (from left): Mark Brzezinski, U.S. Ambassador to Poland; Anna Moskwa, Poland Minister of Climate and Environment; Mateusz Berger, Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure (Photo: Business Wire) Todays agreement is a demonstration of the bond that brings these three great U.S. and Polish companies together as one team committed to one goal. That goal is to use the worlds best technology to help Poland build a nuclear power plant which will provide safe, affordable and clean power for generations to come, said Mark Brzezinski, United States Ambassador to Poland. An American consortium of highly experienced companies in the nuclear industry is being formed today in front of us, with the goal of designing and building the first nuclear power plant in Poland. As an investor, we will actively cooperate with this consortium to consistently achieve successive milestones in the project until the power plant in Pomerania is commissioned, said ukasz Mynarkiewicz, acting president of Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe. The Westinghouse-Bechtel team is a proven one, as demonstrated by successfully powering up the first AP1000 reactor in the U.S. and nearing completion of the second, as well as four AP1000 units already in successful commercial operation globally, said Patrick Fragman, CEO of Westinghouse. We will use this experience to help Poland efficiently create a new, cleaner, more secure energy mix. This is an exciting moment for Poland, and we are honored to support their nuclear ambitions, said Craig Albert, President and Chief Operating Officer at Bechtel. Bechtel brings over 70 years of experience in the nuclear industry to this partnership. Together with Westinghouse, we look forward to working with PEJ, and Polish construction companies and suppliers to deliver the clean, reliable energy Poland needs. The Polish government selected the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for its first-ever nuclear energy program in November. Significant licensing and engineering work is already underway on the project that will deliver reliable, clean and safe power to Poland. The action today lays the foundation for the design activity to start later this year and the construction contract in 2025. The AP1000 is the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and has the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. In the United States at the Vogtle site, one AP1000 unit recently began producing power for the grid while a second unit prepares for initial fuel load. Four AP1000 reactors are currently setting operational performance and availability records in China with six additional reactors under construction. Westinghouse AP1000 technology also has been selected for nine units in Ukraine, and is under consideration at multiple other sites in Central and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom and in the United States. Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear and other clean power technologies and services globally. Westinghouse supplied the worlds first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the companys technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants. Over 135 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place. Bechtel serves the Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Energy; and Mining & Metals markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.Bechtel.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005692/en/ [email protected] [email protected] Source: Westinghouse Electric Company FILE PHOTO: A pump is seen at a gas station in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., August 11, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo By Laura Sanicola (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower on Thursday after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak played down the prospect of further OPEC+ production cuts at its meeting next week. Brent crude futures settled down $2.10, or 2.7%, to $76.25 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled down $2.51, or 3.4%, to $71.83. At their session low, both benchmarks were down by more than $3. Oil prices began falling after Novak was quoted saying he did not think additional OPEC+ cuts were likely. "I don't think that there will be any new steps, because just a month ago certain decisions were made regarding the voluntary reduction of oil production by some countries..." Novak was quoted as saying by Izvestia newspaper. In recent days, top OPEC+ producers have given a raft of conflicting messages about next oil policy moves, making it difficult to predict the outcome of the next meeting. On Tuesday, oil prices were supported when Saudi Arabia's energy minister warned that short-sellers betting oil prices will fall should "watch out" for pain. Some investors took that as a signal that OPEC+, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, could consider further output cuts at a meeting on June 4. "It's now OPEC+ producers experiencing the 'ouch'," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. Just a week before Prince Abdulaziz's comment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that oil production cuts were required to maintain a certain price level. Losses were curbed later in the session by optimism that U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy appeared near a deal to cut spending and raise the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, with little time to spare to head off the risk of default. The deal would specify the total amount the government could spend on discretionary programs like housing and education, according to a person familiar with the talks, but not break that down into individual categories. The two sides are just $70 billion apart on a total figure that would be well over $1 trillion, according to another source. (Additional reporting by Alex Lawler in London and Jeslyn Lerh in Singapore; Editing by Mark Potter, Kirsten Donovan and David Gregorio) Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced it has signed an investment agreement with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Uzbekneftegaz JSC ("UNG") to acquire, own and operate a natural gas-to-syngas processing facility in Qashqadaryo Province , Uzbekistan for US$1 billion . The natural gas-to-syngas industrial complex is an integral part of state-owned energy company Uzbekneftegaz JSC's multi-billion gas-to-liquid (GTL) facilityone of the most advanced energy plants in the worldproducing 1.5 million tonnes per year of high value-add synthetic fuels for domestic use and potentially export. Under the purchase agreementwhich is fully aligned with Air Products' leading on-site business modelAir Products will acquire, own and operate two large-scale air separation units, two large-scale auto-thermal reforming units, and a hydrogen production unit within the Uzbekistan GTL complex and supply oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and syngas under a long-term, take-or-pay/fixed fee contract to UNG. UNG will supply the feedstock natural gas and utilities and offtake all products. Commenting on the agreement, Air Products' Chairman, President and CEO Seifi Ghasemi said, "Air Products is proud to be deploying our knowledge, experience and technology to help nations around the world access and maximize their abundant energy sources more sustainably. With this strategic acquisition in Uzbekistan , a high-growth environment underpinned by strong government support, we will bring our best-in-class operational and supply competencies to bear. This will enable UNG to seamlessly produce low-cost, high-purity fuels that enable the Republic to meet its growing energy production and societal needs. We look forward to building on this long-term, sustainable partnership and are excited about future opportunities in Uzbekistan and the Central Asia region." "Cooperation between the Uzbekistan GTL plant and Air Products is of great importance as it represents a partnership that promises to unleash the enormous potential of the energy sector of the Republic of Uzbekistan ," commented Sidikov Bakhodirjon Bakhromovich, the Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz JSC. Using a combination of Uzbekneftegaz's experience in processing natural gas into high value-added products and Air Products' leadership in the implementation of mega projects, we are starting to work together to achieve common creative goals, such as increasing production efficiency, reducing the final cost of products and reduction of harmful emissions. We are optimistic about the benefits this cooperation will bring both to the company and our Republic as a whole." For more background information about the project: https://www.airproducts.com/campaigns/uzbekistan-gtl-facility KKR (NYSE: KKR) today announced that KKRs European real estate platform has agreed to acquire a high-quality portfolio of thirty residential properties in Finland from Kruunuasunnot. The Portfolio comprises over 1,200 residential units with two thirds of the portfolio located in the countrys three largest cities of Helsinki, Turku and Tampere. This transaction is KKRs first in the Nordic region through its European Core Plus Real Estate strategy, which invests in high-quality, substantially stabilised assets with medium-term value growth potential. Residential is a key sub-sector of KKRs overall European real estate strategy, given its strong structural growth drivers, including population growth and urbanization to support greater demand for rental housing. Commenting on the acquisition, Ian Williamson, Managing Director and Head of Core Plus Real Estate in Europe at KKR, said: Were delighted to enter the Finnish residential real estate market with this acquisition. This is our first residential investment in our recently launched European Core Plus strategy and builds on our broader European track record in the residential market. We believe the Finnish residential market has compelling fundamentals, underpinned by a stable economy and strong demand for urban rental housing. The entry basis and business plan align well with our strategy. Alexander Thams, Director and Head of Nordics Real Estate for KKR, added: This transaction marks an important step in the growth of our Nordics real estate platform as we continue to accelerate our regional investment strategy. We are pleased to acquire a portfolio of high-quality assets with great potential that are meeting the needs of local tenants and the growing demand for rental housing. Avant Capital Partners, a Finnish boutique real estate investor and asset manager, will manage the portfolio providing local market expertise and asset management capabilities. Commenting on the acquisition, Jussi Thusberg, Partner and co-founder of Avant Capital Partners, said: Were very keen to return to the Finnish residential space and to start working with KKR on this interesting transaction, which forms an excellent platform that were intending to grow further. The share of rental housing in relation to owner-occupier has increased in the past years which, supported by urbanization, we see as a trend that will continue to grow going forward as well. KKR has an established track record in the Nordic region, having invested over 6bn in equity since 2007 and strengthening its presence and growth ambitions in the region with the opening of a new office in Stockholm, Sweden in June 2021. Recent investments in the region include Soderberg & Partners, Sector Alarm, Wolt, Nordic Bioscience, Caruna, Avida and a residential real estate joint venture in Denmark. Krogerus is acting as legal advisor to KKR. Following the first-ever public hearing held by the New York City Banking Commission today, all three members voted to freeze deposits at Capital One (NYSE: COF) and KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) after the banks failed to submit required plans demonstrating their efforts to root out discrimination. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, one of three members of the Commission, also voted against designating three other banks to hold public funds: International Finance Bank, PNC Bank, and Wells Fargo. Banks seeking to do business with New York City must demonstrate that they will be responsible managers of public funds and responsible actors in our communities, said Comptroller Brad Lander. Unfortunately, despite several opportunities to do so, five banks failed to comply with the New York City Banking Commissions designation process leaving us to conclude that they are not taking meaningful actions to combat discrimination in their operations and are not responsible stewards of public dollars. Im grateful to the Mayor, Finance Commissioner Niblack, Treasurer Jackman, Banking Commission Member Jenerette, and our partners at the Department of Finance for working with us to strengthen oversight over the banks that profit from public funds. This year marked the first of the NYC Banking Commissions biennial votes on depository banks since Comptroller Lander and Mayor Adams took office. At the urging of the Comptrollers Office, the Banking Commission instituted additional soundness criteria to evaluate bank financials, including assessing unrealized losses, uninsured deposits, and capitalization ratios of banks seeking to hold funds on behalf of city agencies. All of the applicants passed the soundness review. Under the Charter and the Rules of the NYC Banking Commission, to comply with designation requirements a bank must file certificates concerning its policies of non-discrimination in hiring, promotion, and delivery of banking services, and for bank closings. In February, the Commission announced banks must submit to demonstrate a meaningful commitment to combat discrimination in employment, services, and lending. This year, the Commission thoroughly reviewed those materials, bringing questions and concerns about any deficiencies to the attention of the banks with requests for follow up information. Five banks failed to comply with the designation process and the Comptroller voted against allowing them to receive additional deposits this cycle. Capital One, which held $7.2 million in City deposits at the end of April across 108 accounts, and KeyBank, which held $10 million in City deposits at the end of April across three accounts, outright refused to submit required policies. Representatives for Mayor Adams and Department of Finance Commissioner Preston Niblack joined the Comptroller in voting to freeze new deposits in Capital One and KeyBank for up to two years. Comptroller Lander also voted against designating three banks that do not currently hold any City deposits, International Finance Bank, PNC Bank, and Wells Fargo, after they failed to demonstrate they were taking action to prevent discrimination in branch openings and closings, lending decisions, hiring, and other operations. At the public hearing, the Banking Commission heard testimony from Muslim New Yorkers who have experienced discrimination in the process of opening or closing accounts. Tenants expressed concerns about predatory lending practices by banks that jeopardize their rights and safe living conditions. Climate advocates condemned banks that have continued to lend billions of dollars for fossil-fuel expansion, despite having made net-zero commitments. Members of the public also spoke in favor of creating a public bank that could provide banking services for City deposits and deploy that capital to better serve New York communities. Deputy Comptroller for Policy Annie Levers, who represents the Comptroller on the Banking Commission, spoke to the concerns raised by New Yorkers before casting votes against the banks that did not meet the documentary requirements to demonstrate their efforts to combat discrimination. The perspectives we heard today from New Yorkers who experienced discrimination in the process of opening or closing accounts, and frontline bank staff who faced illegal and abusive practices, should give all of us pause. We heard from many residents concerned that taxpayer dollars are going to banks that provide financing for predatory lending, fossil fuel extraction, and gun manufacturing and support for the idea of a public bank that would instead put those dollars to work for our communities. The Banking Commission can and should assume a stronger role in assuring that the city only conducts business with banks who demonstrate their commitment to community reinvestment and fair credit practices, said Deputy Comptroller for Policy Annie Levers. Twenty-six banks were certified to receive deposits from New York City agencies for the next two years, 23 unanimously. Capital One and KeyBank will be able to service existing contracts for one year. Deposits at Signature Bank, now owned by Flagstar, will be conditionally extended for an additional year under the new ownership. The full list of banks is available here. A coalition of 27 Senate Republicans spoke out Thursday, calling on the Biden administration to abandon its proposal to significantly reduce vehicle emissions by 2032 and accelerating the adoption of electric vehicle sales. In a letter led by West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito, lawmakers said the administration plan will "effectively mandate a costly transition to electric cars and trucks in the absence of congressional direction." The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal issued in April estimates sharp emissions cuts would result in 67% of new light duty vehicle sales as electric by 2032. The EPA has proposed a substantial 56% reduction in projected emissions from the average light-duty vehicle fleet, surpassing the requirements set for 2026. In addition, the EPA has recommended more stringent emissions standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks that would be effective until 2032. Environmental groups say the administration should go farther in tightening emissions limits. However, Republicans in congress have protested the push for EV adoption and have sought to cut incentives for the new energy vehicles. Earlier this week, a group of 151 House Republicans, spearheaded by Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, demanded that the EPA withdraw its proposed emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles as well as heavy-duty trucks. Republicans called the rules the "latest attempt to carry out President Bidens radical rush-to-green agenda, which will take away Americans choice when it comes to the kind of vehicle they driveand arm-twist people into buying vehicles they cant afford." By Michael Elkins | [email protected] Vista Gold Corp. (NYSE: VGZ) today announced that the term of its agreement with the Northern Territory Government of Australia pertaining to the Mt Todd gold project has been extended to December 31, 2029. The Company holds the exclusive right to develop Mt Todd. On May 25, 2023, the Company signed an amendment to its agreement (the Agreement) with the Northern Territory Government of Australia (the NT Government) providing for the extension of the term of the Agreement to December 31, 2029 and including the option for an additional three-year extension. Pursuant to the Agreement, Vista continues to manage the Mt Todd site and fulfill its environmental, cultural and social stewardship commitments. The Company also continues to have no present liability for the condition of the site prior to its involvement in 2006. Vista, at its sole option, may elect to proceed with the development of the Project by giving notice to the NT Government, which then results in the transfer of the NT Government-owned assets at Mt Todd and all pre-existing historical rehabilitation liabilities for the Project from the NT Government to the Company. Frederick H. Earnest, President and CEO of Vista Gold, stated, This extension of our Agreement with the NT Government is a reflection of the strong relationship that has developed over years of working together with the NT Government, the Jawoyn people, and other Project stakeholders. We remain committed to responsible environmental management, protecting sacred and culturally significant sites, and developing Mt Todd in a way and at the time that maximizes the benefit for our shareholders and stakeholders in the Northern Territory. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Iran's non-oil exports to Tajikistan increased by 2.7 times in value and 2.6 times in volume, during the first month of the current Iranian year (March 21 through April 20, 2023), compared to the same month last Iranian year, Trend reports via the statistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). Within the 1st month, Iran exported 19,800 tons of non-oil products worth $13.4 million to Tajikistan. Meanwhile, Iran's export of non-oil products to Tajikistan stood at 7,470 tons worth $4.93 million in the first month of last Iranian year (March 21 through April 20, 2022). Iran mainly exported petrochemical products, steel products, agricultural and food products and, etc. to Tajikistan in the first month. In total, Iran exported about 279,000 tons of non-oil products worth approximately $79.6 million to Tajikistan in the last Iranian year (March 21, 2022 through March 20, 2023), which is an increase of 86.2 percent in value and 87.6 percent in volume compared to the preceding year (March 21, 2021 through March 20, 2022). Overall, Iran exported about 10.5 million tons of non-oil products worth approximately $3.65 billion for the first month of the current Iranian year (March 21 through April 20, 2023). This is a decrease of 12.9 percent in value, while an increase of 17.7 percent in volume compared to the same month in the last year. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. (NYSE American: WTT) (the Company or WTT), a leading test & measurement solutions provider, today announced that it entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by Maury Microwave, Inc. (Maury) in an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the merger agreement, which was unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company, Maury will acquire all the outstanding shares of the Company for an estimated total cash consideration of $2.13 per share. The consideration per share represents a premium of 34% to the Companys closing share price as of May 24th and a premium of 50% since the date of the announcement of the Strategic Alternatives process in July 2022. The Company will file a proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction with the Security and Exchange Commission (the SEC) as described below and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023. Tim Whelan, the Companys CEO stated, Todays announcement represents the successful result of a comprehensive strategic alternatives review process, and a significant milestone in the Companys transformation. Once approved by shareholders, this transaction will achieve our goals of maximizing shareholder value by realizing the sum-of-the-parts value of our Company, and efficiently returning capital to our shareholders. We believe this outcome is in the best interest of our shareholders, the Company, our employees, and our customers. Mr. Whelan added, The Company has a highly skilled employee base, specialized, differentiated solutions, and a deep commitment to customers. We believe that given the scale of our Company, private ownership offers benefits over public ownership, including lower operating costs, and continued capital investment to accelerate its growth strategy, enhance its customer delivery, and evolve the organization for the future. The Company will continue to focus on our specialized test and measurement solutions to address customers differentiated requirements in the semiconductor, satellite, aerospace and defense sectors. Michael Howo, Maurys CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the deal We have long appreciated the leadership position of the Boonton, Holzworth and Noisecom brands high-performance solutions and long-term customer relationships and we have always been interested in finding market opportunities where we could partner. We look forward to contributing additional engineering and sales resources and technical value to the Companys core capabilities and help drive the next phase of growth. Bill Pezza, Maurys Executive Chairman, stated The Wireless Telecom Group test and measurement business provides mission-critical solutions to companies in aerospace, defense, semiconductor, and quantum computing applications that we believe are poised for long-term investment and growth. Consistent with our successful history transforming and adding value to businesses, we look forward to supporting the management teams driving investment in the Company to underscore their market leadership and deliver solutions across the globe. WTTs current CEO, Tim Whelan will step aside at the close of the transaction and the Company will continue to be managed by its remaining leadership team led by Daniel Monopoli, WTTs Chief Technology Officer and General Manager of the Test & Measurement segment and Mike Kandell, WTTs Chief Financial Officer. The business will continue to operate from its headquarters in New Jersey as a division of Maury. Approvals and Timing Completion of the transaction is expected in the third quarter of 2023, subject to the approval of Wireless Telecom Group shareholders and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Wireless Telecom Group Board of Directors unanimously approved the merger agreement and recommended that Wireless Telecom Group shareholders vote in favor of it at a Special Meeting of Stockholders, to be scheduled as soon as practicable. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. Upon completion of the transaction, Wireless Telecom Group will become a private company and shares of Wireless Telecom Groups common stock will no longer trade on the NYSE. The Company expects to maintain its headquarters in Parsippany, NJ. CDX Advisors is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP is serving as legal counsel to Wireless Telecom Group. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is serving as legal counsel to Maury Microwave. SINGAPORE CITY, SINGAPORE, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aeterna, an all-in-one blockchain ecosystem designed to provide safety and security for all users, has its token presale hosted on the Pinksale Launchpad platform.With a Certik audited smart contract, Full Core Team KYC by Assure DeFi, and four built-in utilities already developed and ready to go live at launch, Aeterna promises to be the go-to platform for both newcomers and experienced users.Focused on innovation and transparency, Aeterna is proud to have partnered with Certik for its smart contract audit and Assure DeFi for KYC, ensuring that the project is secure and transparent for all investors. Through these partnerships, Aeterna aims to provide an unparalleled level of security for their users by implementing best practices for security and transparency.Certik is a recognized leader in blockchain security auditing, while Assure DeFi specializes in providing KYC solutions for blockchain projects. These firms will ensure that the Aeterna ecosystem is secured from potential hacks and scams, and that all parties involved in the transactions are legitimate.The four utilities that will launch alongside Aeterna are an Escrow System, a BNB Lottery, a Decentralized Coin Exchange (DCE), and Token Staking. Each of these utilities is designed to provide maximum safety and security for users while making transactions fast, easy, and hassle-free.Aeterna's Escrow System ensures that buyers and sellers are protected at all times. The system uses a smart contract to hold funds in escrow until the buyer confirms they have received their goods or services. This eliminates the risk of scams and fraud and provides peace of mind for all parties involved.The BNB Lottery is a fun and exciting way for users to earn tokens. Simply purchase a ticket using Binance Coin (BNB), and you'll be entered into a lottery where the winner takes home a TBA number of tokens. This provides a fun and engaging way for users to get involved with the Aeterna community.The Decentralized Coin Exchange (DCE) is a revolutionary new way to trade coins. Unlike traditional exchanges, which are centralized and therefore vulnerable to hacks and manipulation, the DCE is decentralized, meaning that it cannot be hacked or manipulated. This provides maximum security for users and allows for fast, easy, and hassle-free trading.Staking provides an additional layer of security as it helps to ensure that the network remains stable and secure.The vision behind Aeterna is to create a safe and welcoming ecosystem that welcomes both newcomers and experienced users alike. By providing these utilities that are easy to use and provide maximum security, Aeterna aims to revolutionize the blockchain industry and become the go-to platform for anyone looking to conduct fast, secure transactions.Aeterna's team of developers and advisors have a wealth of experience in the blockchain industry and are dedicated to providing a platform that is safe, reliable, and easy to use. The team is constantly working to improve the platform and add new features that will further enhance the Aeterna experience.Furthermore, Aeterna has also partnered with Astronaut Lounge as part of their AMA tour alongside presenting to several other large communities. During the AMA tour, the team behind Aeterna has shared information about the utilities, project vision and presale, which is currently live. The presale is hosted on the Pinsksale Launchpad platform, providing investors with a seamless and secure way to invest in the project while utilizing the top auditing and KYC firms to ensure its security.During the token presale, investors will be able to purchase Aeterna tokens at a discounted rate. These tokens can be used to take advantage of the built-in utilities, as well as to participate in future offerings on the platform."We are thrilled to have partnered with Certik and Assure DeFi to ensure that our blockchain project is as secure and transparent for our users as possible," said the Aeterna Team. "We believe that through these partnerships, we can provide our users with the confidence and trust they need to invest in Aeterna. We are also excited to be partnered with the renowned investor group, Astronaut Lounge, and to have shared our vision in our AMA tour which included many other investor groups in the space, where we have been able to discuss our project's plans for the future. We have a lot more ahead, with several more AMAs planned past launch. We hope you can all tune in"In conclusion, Aeterna is an exciting new platform that promises to revolutionize the blockchain industry. With built-in utilities designed to provide maximum security and ease of use, Aeterna is poised to become the go-to platform for anyone looking to conduct fast, secure transactions. The upcoming token presale represents a unique opportunity for investors to get in on the ground floor of this revolutionary new platform. Aeterna presale is currently live on Pinksale: https://www.pinksale.finance/launchpad/0x22Ef2B118c5A7E9b97706704D61F772a628E8781?chain=BSC-------------------Aeternas Partners: About Certik: Certik is a leading blockchain security provider that offers auditing, smart contract verification, and penetration testing services to ensure the safety and reliability of decentralized systems.For more info, visit: https://www.certik.com/About Assure DeFi: Assure DeFi is a decentralized insurance platform that enables users to insure their crypto assets against risks such as smart contract vulnerabilities and market volatility, bringing peace of mind to DeFi investors.For more info, visit: https://assuredefi.com/About Astronaut Lounge: Astronaut Lounge is the premier crypto-focused investor group on Telegram with a strong community of investors and traders who share insights, news, and strategies related to the futures trading, cryptocurrency, and other tips to help investors navigate the volatile world of cryptocurrencies.For more info, visit: https://t.me/AstronautLoungeFor more information about Aeterna, please visit the telegram group at https://t.me/aeternamain or follow the project on Twitter @Project_Aeterna. Aeterna Ecosystem:Aesir King[email protected]https://aeterna.eco/Certik: Michael mullaney[email protected]https://www.certik.com/Assure DeFi:John Myers[email protected]https://assuredefi.com/Astronaut Lounge:https://t.me/AstronautLoungeThis press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Aesir King Aeterna Ecosystem contact at aeterna.eco Source: Aeterna Atlas Global Brands signs definitive agreement to acquire control of three Pharmacies in Israel licensed to sell cannabis products The medical cannabis pharmacies are located in three new cities, expanding Atlas geographical coverage across the country of Israel Inclusive of the previously announced definitive agreements, upon closing of these transactions, Atlas will own a majority interest in nine pharmacies along with a trading house distribution centre in Israel CHATHAM, ONTARIO and TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL, May 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlas Global Brands Inc. (Atlas Global, Atlas or the Company) (CSE: ATL), a cannabis company with expertise across the value chain, announces that on May 23, 2023 it entered into a definitive agreement (Proposed Transaction) for the acquisition of 51% of the outstanding securities of three Israeli private limited liability companies operating medical cannabis pharmacies (the Pharmacies). The addition of these three pharmacies will further expand our geographical coverage with modern designed pharmacies, a patient focused education platform and dispensaries tailored to consistent product assortment, said Bernie Yeung, CEO of Atlas Global. We believe that this acquisition will be beneficial to both patients and our shareholders, while continuing to expand our geographical coverage in Israel. Terms of the Proposed Acquisitions Under the Proposed Transaction, Atlas will acquire a 51% interest in the three Pharmacies for 1,925,300 common shares of Atlas Global (the Consideration Shares) and NIS 4,000,000 (the Cash Consideration), equivalent to approximately CAD $1,459,144 payable at closing. Up to an additional 288,795 shares may be issued at each of the six-, twelve-, and eighteen-month anniversaries of the closing date of the Proposed Transaction (the Closing Date) in the event the closing share price of the Atlas common shares for the 10 preceding trading days is less than $1 for total additional share consideration of up to 866,385 Atlas common shares. The Consideration Shares will be subject to a lock-up period of 36 months during which 15% shall be released every six months, commencing on the six-month anniversary of the Closing, and 25% will be released on the 36-month anniversary. Approximately NIS 1.2M in existing shareholder loans, and any additional shareholder loans advanced by the Sellers until Closing, is expected to remain with the pharmacies, repayable from up to 25% of distributable profits from the pharmacies, cash flow permitting. The final structure of the Proposed Transaction shall be determined by the parties subsequent to the receipt of tax, corporate, and securities law advice. The Proposed Transaction is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and other customary conditions precedent, and external funding by Atlas of NIS 3,000,000. The Proposed Transaction was negotiated at an arms length and will not constitute a fundamental change or result in a change of control of the Company within the meaning of the policies of the CSE. No finders fees are payable in connection with the Proposed Transaction. The Proposed Transaction is expected to close in calendar Q4 2023. About Atlas Global Atlas Global is a global cannabis company operating in Canada and Israel with expertise across the cannabis value chain, including cultivation, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and pharmacy. Atlas currently distributes to eight countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In addition to a differentiated product mix, Atlas operates three licensed cannabis facilities one with EU-GMP, with three medical pharmacies in Israel and has entered into binding agreements for the acquisition of a majority interest in a trading house and three additional medical cannabis pharmacies in Israel. Learn more by visiting: www.atlasglobalbrands.com. Contacts Bernie YeungChief Executive Officer 1-844-415-6961[email protected] Alyssa Barry Media and Investor Relations 1-833-947-5227[email protected] 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", "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. The forward-looking information reflects management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, including that the conditions to completion of the transaction contemplated by the Proposed Transaction will not be satisfied or that the Proposed Transaction s will be terminated. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forwardlooking statements set forth herein concerning the Company reflect management's expectations as at the date of this news release and are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Source: Atlas Global Brands Inc. WASHINGTON, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and Administrator Robin Carnahan, head of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), announced a joint effort, known as the 8(a) MAS Pool Initiative, to help small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) participating in the 8(a) Business Development Program gain access to more federal contracts in GSAs Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program and advance President Bidens goal to increase contracts to SDBs. This agreement will establish a pool of 8(a) firms to make it easier for procurement officials to locate and contract with small, disadvantaged businesses across industries. Once participants are accepted into the newly established 8(a) MAS Pool, they will receive a designation that indicates to agency buyers that a business is eligible for 8(a) sole source awards and competitive set-asides. Federal agencies will be able to leverage the size and scale of the MAS marketplace to achieve their SDB contracting goals while they make smart purchasing decisions. This joint initiative between the SBA and GSA will increase federal contracting opportunities for thousands of minority-owned and other small, disadvantaged businesses, highlighting the Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to equity in procurement and delivering against President Bidens ambitious goal, said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. Our 8(a) small businesses are agile, innovative, and positioned for growth, and can further help federal agencies procure the products and services needed to achieve their missions. We look forward to continuing to work with GSA and our federal agency partners to implement the 8(a) MAS Pool Initiative and help ensure this valuable small business talent doesnt sit on the sidelines. We know that Americas diverse small business communities provide tremendous value to our government and to taxpayers, said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. Were excited about this new pool that will make it easier for federal acquisition professionals to find them, buy from them, help them create jobs, and advance agency missions across government. This agreement is a collaboration between the SBA and GSA to implement improvements in federal contracting guided by Executive Order (EO) 13985 Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. Following through on President Bidens Day One commitment to advancing equity, the new 8(a) MAS Pool in the GSA Multiple Award Schedule will continue to build on this Administrations historic efforts to provide greater access to federal contracting for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, creating new avenues for more minority-owned small businesses to compete in the federal marketplace. Customer agencies will be able to place 8(a) directed awards once the MAS Solicitation is refreshed and the MAS 8(a) companies are in the pool, beginning later this year. This initiative will result in increased ordering flexibility under the GSA Schedule program and streamline the acquisition process, further incentivizing agencies to contract with 8(a) firms. It will also provide government buyers with greater access to a large number of 8(a) contractors that will help agencies meet their small and socioeconomic business contracting goals. I am very excited about what this joint initiative with the GSA will mean for small businesses and the contracting opportunities it will provide to the smallest of the small, said Larry Stubblefield, Acting Associate Administrator for SBAs Office of Government Contracting and Business Development (GCBD). Under the leadership of President Biden and Administrator Guzman, our goal is to try to reach the largest number of small businesses especially those in underserved communities, so they too can reap the rewards of federal contracting opportunities. The new 8(a) pool represents SBAs long-term commitment to support the development of 8(a) firms and provide federal agencies a way to deliver mission-critical services working with our Nations small, disadvantaged businesses. SBA is pleased about this new opportunity to maximize utilization of our 8(a) Program Participants, said Dr. Donna Peebles, SBAs Associate Administrator of 8(a) Business Development. Were pleased to be taking this smart step in partnership with SBA to help ensure that the worlds largest buyer the U.S. government has better access to the valuable products offered by small, disadvantaged businesses, said Exodie Roe III, Associate Administrator of GSAs Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization. By streamlining the acquisition process, we hope to make it easier than ever for agencies to do more business with 8(a) firms. The SBA certifies small businesses considered to be socially and economically disadvantaged under its nine-year 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program. The 8(a) BD Program provides significant opportunities for participants to develop and grow their businesses, generate wealth, and create jobs in historically underserved communities through powerful contracting tools, such as sole source contract award opportunities. The program also involves regular business development training with SBAs district teams, providing one-on-one counseling, business workshops, and management and technical guidance programs. GSAs MAS program consists of long-term, government-wide contracts that provide government buyers access to products, services, and solutions at pre-negotiated prices. MAS is organized into 12 major categories and further subdivided into Special Item Numbers (SINs) that represent the products and services sold and bought on the schedule. ### About the U.S. Small Business AdministrationThe U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. About the U.S. General Services AdministrationGSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSAs mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA. Press Office U.S. Small Business Administration [email protected] Source: U.S. Small Business Administration TORONTO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brain Cancer Canada, a leading charity in the fight against brain cancer, is delighted to announce a $50,000 research grant to Dr. Amit Singnurkar at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The grant will support a ground-breaking study to improve the treatment of high-grade gliomas, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Dr. Singnurkars pioneering research aims to revolutionize the detection and treatment of residual tumour cells after surgery, which is currently a significant challenge. The research uses advanced FET-PET/MRI imaging to provide clinicians with more accurate information. We are hopeful that this research will make a significant difference in the treatment of high-grade gliomas, Dr. Singnurkar said. If successful, this new imaging technique will enable us to provide more precise and personalized treatment plans, sparing healthy brain tissue and minimizing patient side effects. The research will be conducted at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, a renowned institution that has a long history with Brain Cancer Canada. Our relationship with Sunnybrook has been pivotal in the progress we see in the management of glioblastomas, said Marc Peeters, Director of the Board of Partnerships and Stakeholders at Brain Cancer Canada. Their innovative focus on personalized treatment aligns with our belief in the critical need for precision in cancer management. Angela Scalisi, Chair of Brain Cancer Canada, highlighted the significance of the study. This research has the potential to be a game-changer in the treatment of high-grade gliomas, such as glioblastoma, she said. With more precise imaging and targeted treatment, we could drastically improve the prognosis for patients affected by this aggressive form of brain cancer. Brain Cancer Canada is dedicated to funding new research and technology in neuro-oncology, tracking the progress of funded projects, and sharing results in their annual impact reports. The charity extends its deepest gratitude to generous donors who make funding such critical research possible. For more information, please visit https://braincancercanada.ca/ About Brain Cancer Canada Brain Cancer Canada is a charity committed to supporting innovative research that improves the lives of people affected by brain cancer. The organization believes in fostering partnerships and driving advancements in technology and treatment to change the course of brain cancer management. For more information, visit https://braincancercanada.ca/ For inquiries, please contact: Marc PeetersDirector, Partnerships and Stakeholders at Brain Cancer Canada416-918-6678 Source: Brain Cancer Canada LARKSPUR, Calif., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- By the Bay Health has announced the appointment of Skelly Wingard, RN, MSN as Chief Executive Officer for the organization. The appointment, which will be effective June 19, follows a nationwide search for a new leader to fill the role currently held by Kitty Whitaker, who announced her retirement in February of 2022. Wingard joins By the Bay Health with over ten years of progressive leadership experience, including her most recent role as Vice President of Continuum of Care for Kaiser Permanente, Mid-Atlantic States, where she led strategy and operations for hospital and post-acute services, emergency care management, health plan utilization, transportation, regional care management, and more. Were incredibly excited to have Skelly join us at By the Bay Health, said Bob Simon, Chair of the Board of By the Bay Health. Her dynamic experience in both patient care and executive leadership is reflective of our historic commitment to continue investing in a model of care that is patient-centered, accessible, and serves those in need of high-quality, compassionate care. Wingard, who holds a Masters Degree in Nursing from the University of San Francisco, began her career in healthcare as a bedside nurse before joining North American Health Care in 2008, where she held both clinical and administrative leadership roles. In 2012, she joined Ensign Services as Director of Nursing, and was promoted to Vice President of Care Continuum in 2014. In 2017, she joined Kaiser Permanente Health Plan, where she held Continuum of Care leadership roles across Northern California. In 2020, she progressed within the organization as the executive leader, overseeing Continuum health plan operations in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to join an organization with such a strong commitment to patients and community, says Wingard. This organizations legacy of leadership and innovation is something I have always admired, and I look forward to building on that critical work alongside our many valued employees, volunteers, and supporters. Wingard currently lives in Petaluma, is an avid trail runner, and enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends. About By the Bay Health: For over 48 years By the Bay Health, a not-for-profit affiliate of UCSF Health has been a progressive and innovative leader in providing hospice, skilled home health care, palliative care, and pediatric care in the counties of Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sonoma, Alameda, and the cities of American Canyon, Napa, and Vallejo. Grief support and education on end-of-life care are offered to the community at large. For more information about our service call (415) 927.2273 or visit www.bythebayhealth.org Media Contact:Kathie Graham415.713.3502 or [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/10181c7a-f22b-4e5a-8e10-294261a78221 Skelly Wingard, RN, MSN, new CEO of By the Bay Health Skelly Wingard, RN, MSN, new CEO of By the Bay Health Source: By the Bay Health ATHENS, Greece, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), (the "Company"), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels, today announced that the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") was duly held on May 23, 2023, in a virtual format only via the Internet. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. acted as inspector of the Meeting. At the Meeting, each of the following proposals, which are set forth in more detail in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Company's Proxy Statement sent to shareholders on or around April 12, 2023, was approved and adopted: (1) The election of three Class III Directors of the Company, to serve until the Company's 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; (2) The approval of the following amendments to the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation: (a) increase the authorized share capital of the Company from 200 million shares to 1 billion registered shares of a par value of one cent and to authorize the issuance of 50 million registered preferred shares with a par value of one cent; (b) to provide for the election of directors to be by a plurality, rather than a majority, of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders, by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election; (c) provide the Board with the sole authority to amend the Companys Amended and Restated By-laws and to eliminate the right of shareholders to make such amendments; (d) provide the Board with the sole authority to call special meetings of shareholders of the Company and to eliminate the right of holders of not less than 20% of all outstanding shares of common stock of the Company to call such meetings; and (3) The appointment of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. About the Company Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels. The Companys vessels are employed primarily on short to medium-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes. 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, intends, estimate, forecast, project, plan, potential, 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, Company managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Companys 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, including risks associated with the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Corporate Contact: Ioannis Zafirakis Director, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Treasurer and Secretary Telephone: + 30-210-9470-100 Email: [email protected] Website: www.dianashippinginc.com Twitter: @Dianaship Investor and Media Relations: Edward Nebb Comm-Counsellors, LLC Telephone: + 1-203-972-8350 Email: [email protected] Source: Diana Shipping Inc. c/o Diana Shipping Services S.A. Program Also Rated No. 1 in U.S. for Female Participation Boca Raton, Fla., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Florida Atlantic University College of Business Executive Education program earned a prestigious global endorsement in the 2023 Financial Times rankings for open enrollment professional education programs. FAU ranked No. 2 in the United States and was the only university in Florida and one of only seven in the U.S. to be honored. The rankings are considered the gold standard for executive education coursework across the globe. Its clear that we are making a difference in the professional advancement of all our students, said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of FAUs College of Business. I am very proud of our students, faculty and staff for making this possible. FAU also ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the world for female participation and No. 17 globally for overall satisfaction. Financial Times establishes the rankings using student feedback, course design, faculty, teaching methods and facilities. FAUs high-quality offerings include the most diversified selection of more than 60 national and international certification and professional development programs, said Vegar Wiik, executive director of FAU Executive Education. He added that a new state-of-the-art building, the Schmidt Family Complex for We are thrilled to be ranked among the best executive education providers in the world, Wiik said. The continued improvement in ranking confirms that we are providing exceptional programs that facilitate South Florida working professionals in furthering their careers. Programs cater to students who want to sharpen their skills on a specific topic of interest, whether to gain a further understanding of the subject matter, better their performance at work or diversify their expertise. Offered in convenient online, evening, weekend or boot camp formats, these programs are designed by subject matter experts and deliver immediate, relevant knowledge that will make participants more marketable in any industry. FAUs Executive Education also offers executive degree programs that are designed for professionals who want to increase their skills without career interruption. Last year, FAU expanded offerings with three new masters programs: information technology management, supply chain management and business analytics. All degree programs encourage long-lasting personal and professional relationships. In 2019, FAUs College of Business launched its executive Ph.D. in business administration, becoming one of the few AACSB-accredited business schools in the U.S. and the first in Florida to offer a Ph.D. in business in the executive format. In addition, FAUs Edu-Vantage Partner Program, which works with businesses, corporations and organizations to provide a high-quality educational strategy for fulfilling their employee education packages, established partnerships with JM Family Enterprises and NextEra Energy, parent company of Florida Power & Light, to offer full-time associates full tuition for both undergraduate and graduate degrees and certifications. SALISBURY, N.C., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Food Lion Feeds honored a select group of food banks, volunteers, community leaders and associates at the eighth annual Food Lion Feeds Feedys Awards. The event celebrates and recognizes individuals and partners who exemplify commitment and dedication to help nourish neighbors facing food insecurity. Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves. We at Food Lion Feeds envision a world where no one goes hungry, where families do not have to choose between dinner and rent or gas and groceries and where everyone works together to nourish families and set them up for success, said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. Despite each individual and organizations challenges, they persevere and embrace uncertainty to nourish our neighbors. As a result of their tireless work and leadership, we recognize and honor their exceptional partnership and compassionate efforts. The following individuals and organizations were recognized for their contributions: The Food King Feeding Partner Award Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries (Augusta, GA)This award honors a food bank that demonstrates outstanding commitment through financial support, innovation, encouragement and motivation for others to take leadership roles in hunger-relief programming and community involvement. A vital part of the community since 1978, Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries partners with 12 churches to address food insecurity. In 2022, DCCM distributed nearly 200,000 pounds of food to more than 5,700 individuals. The pantry creates an inclusive environment and welcomes volunteers who support the distribution events and lead discussions for innovative ways to end food insecurity in their community. Watch a video highlighting the work of Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries. The Lion Heart Volunteer Award V.O. Dobbins Jr., Volunteer Leader, Central Baptist Church Food Ministry (Kingsport, TN) This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating groups of donors and volunteers for hunger-relief projects for the benefit of Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks. A humble, servant leader of the Central Baptist Church Food Ministry, V.O. Dobbins Jr. has been a volunteer leader for more than 30 years. He served as the purchasing agent and food coordinator in his earlier years. Dobbins ability to lead, motivate, manage and inspire others allows the ministry to serve approximately 350 individuals every month through a mobile food distribution model he initiated during the pandemic. View a video about Dobbins role in supporting hunger relief in his community. The Grand Lion for Good Vendor Award Robinson Fresh, Produce Supplier (Duplin County, NC)This award, presented to a Food Lion supplier, recognizes outstanding commitment to partnering with and participating in Food Lion Feeds hunger-relief projects. Since Food Lion Feeds launched in 2014, Robinson Fresh has been the sole vendor of the Food Lion Feeds Apple Bag campaign. In 2022, Food Lion Feeds partnered with customers to provide 4.5 million meals through this annual campaign. In addition to the product and financial support Robinson Fresh provides, they participate in volunteer events with Food Lion associates, helping pack boxes to distribute to individuals and families in need. Watch a video about Robinson Fresh and its impact as a Food Lion supplier. The Store that Roars Motivational Award Food Lion at 613 Frost Ave., Warrenton, VA 20186With a standout team of associates to help combat food insecurity, this Food Lion store is a longtime supporter of Fauquier Food Bank in Warrenton, VA. Through Food Lions pioneering food rescue program, the store distributes unsold, edible food that might otherwise go to waste, providing nutritious food to individuals and families in need. In addition to food donations, store associates regularly volunteer their time and resources to help increase the reach and impact of the food bank, allowing it to serve even more neighbors in need. View a video about Food Lion associates combating food insecurity. The Lions Pride Store Associate Award honors a Food Lion associate who demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating store associates and volunteers for hunger-relief projects for the benefit of Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks. In 2023, Food Lion Feeds honors two associates for the impact they have made to combat hunger in their community: Brenda Howell, Direct Store Delivery Receiver (Spring Hope, NC)Volunteering to make an impact in the towns and cities she serves, Howell champions hunger-relief efforts at her Food Lion store located at 603 E. Nash St., Spring Hope, NC. In her role, Howell interacts with partner food banks such as the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, which benefits from the food rescue program. With food insecurity at 14% in Spring Hope, Howell takes the time to talk to and learn about the partner agencies to understand their needs. Check out this video about Howells efforts to lead regional hunger relief to benefit partner food banks. Demetrius Dee Morrison, Store Manager (Jonesville, NC)Instrumental to making a positive difference in her community, Morrison, a Store Manager at the Food Lion located at 101 Valley Drive, Jonesville, NC, volunteers at food rescue events and coordinates efforts across the 11 counties the Statesville region she serves. For example, she supported a partnership with a local shelter to serve meals at Fifth Street Ministries in Iredell County. Morrison also worked with the local nursing homes to show care and provide nourishment to seniors. In addition, she coordinated a regional event for associates from 23 stores to prepare 1,500 backpacks for local schools. View a video about Morrisons heartfelt impact on nourishing her neighbors. Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion has helped to provide more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. For more information on Food Lion Feeds commitment to ending hunger, visit foodlion.com/feeds. About Food LionFood Lion is an omnichannel retailer committed to nourishing its neighbors during the moments that matter most. More than 82,000 associates across 1,100+ stores deliver an easy, fresh and affordable shopping experience throughout 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Through its Count on me culture, Food Lion fosters a sense of belonging for all associates, promoting a diverse and inclusive environment that has supported LGBTQ+ equality for nearly two decades. Food Lion is the only company in the country to be named an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 22 consecutive years. It also pioneered a food rescue program to support food-insecure neighbors. Through Food Lion Feeds, the retailer has donated more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Founded and based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit foodlion.com. CONTACT: Food Lion Media Relations704-245-3317 [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d7539fa-2d28-48ed-a63e-b3b6e56bd355 Food Lion Feeds Feedys Award recipients L-R: Greg Robinson of Robinson Fresh; Cindy Coomes of Store #378 in Warrenton, VA; Demetrius Dee Morrison of Store #613 in Jonesville, NC; Brenda Howell at Store #1461 in Spring Hope, NC; Amy Breitman of Golden Harvest Food Bank on behalf of Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries in Augusta, GA; Zach Raab of Robinson Fresh, V.O. Dobbins Jr. of Central Baptist Church Food Ministry in Kingsport, TN; and Meg Ham of Food Lion. Source: Food Lion LONDON, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Halcyon Gallery, a leading British commercial gallery representing artists such as living legend Bob Dylan and internationally renowned sculptor Lorenzo Quinn, is launching a new flagship space in Mayfair, Londons historic art district this Thursday, 25 May. Coinciding with their 40th anniversary, Halcyon Gallery will move into one of Londons oldest commercial gallery spaces at 148 Bond Street. Built in 1881 and formerly occupied by the Fine Arts Society for over 200 years, this historic address has been subject to a comprehensive redesign and refurbishment in order to transform it into a cutting-edge 21st century artspace in order to optimally showcase Halcyons community of contemporary artists and its catalog of masterworks from artists spanning Impressionism to Pop Art. Paul Green, President and founder of Halcyon Gallery, said, When I first came to London and visited the galleries in Mayfair, I was struck by the Fine Arts Society building - it has a wonderfully rich artistic history and I am delighted we now have the opportunity to carry on that legacy. The newly renovated gallery will launch with an exhibition of new works by British digital artist Dominic Harris, who has previously exhibited at Londons Victoria & Albert Museum and the Dublin Science Museum. Entitled Feeding Consciousness, the exhibition presents 18 powerful new artworks that upgrade the role of the visitor from viewer to participant. By interacting with the works, visitors are empowered to shape landscapes, communicate with ancient gods, manipulate kaleidoscopes of butterflies, and even step into worlds that are thousands of miles removed from the hustle and bustle of New Bond Street. Harris uses the latest technology to consider eternal subjects. He said: The artworks I create are about interactive storytelling. By using technology in ways that were previously impossible, I draw the viewer in to become immersed in the artwork. The ultimate objective is to stimulate the viewer to feel more deeply, and in doing so to reveal something about themselves. By employing AI, machine-learning, and other cutting-edge technologies to pursue his practice, Harris enchanting and immersive works provoke fresh considerations of subjects including nature, national identities, capitalism, deification, and discourse. Employing screens and projections as the platform for pigments of fashioned code, Harris works combine moving visual imagery with sound and other stimuli to create a pioneering and proprietarily unique form of art. The exhibitions namesake work, Feeding Consciousness, is a 10-foot sculpture composed of 180 screens constructed in a spiraling array. Taking inspiration from the story of the Tower of Babel, Harris reflects on the impact of social media and global discourse in today's society. His sculpture is fed with constant updates on the latest trending and most-searched content from Google. The result is an ever-shifting physical manifestation of humanitys mass hive mind, and a visual reflection on our collective conscience. Another piece, Limitless, is an epic screen visualisation of the ceaseless ebb and flow of the FTSE share index. An ever-shifting, ever-growing golden tower is constantly added to with new blocks, each of which is stamped with the logo of companies whose shares are being traded on the markets to which the artwork is digitally connected. When the viewer touches the artwork, the faces of the CEOs of the companies are revealed, reminding us that the market is not an impersonal force, but rather a product of human action and decision-making. Multifariously readable as a monument to hubris or a cipher of capitalist creation - depending on the onlookers outlook Limitless uses real-time data to stimulate our notions of value and progress. Five works are presented in an entirely immersive space, specially cocooned within Halcyons new home, that allows Harris worlds and characters to completely envelop the viewer. Endurance is a 360 degree immersion into a hyperreal Antarctic landscape imagining the terrain traversed by renowned explorer Ernest Shackleton. While conventional VR environments requires the viewer to don headsets and other sensory proxies to transport the human subject into its digital space, Endurance needs no hardware. Harris places the human as the master of that environment: upon his or her actions, which are registered and interpreted by sensors and code, the viewer is witness to their own influence on changes in climate and wildlife, consequently exposing the fragility of these pristine environments. In his immersive multi-sensory installation, Elements, Harris focuses on his beloved butterflies, which for the first time have taken on unique identities representing the five fundamental components of the universe: Elements of Wood, Earth, Water, Fire and Metal. As the butterflies move and interact, they remind us of the interconnectedness of all things and the need for harmony in our relationship with the natural world. The viewers sense of total immersion within the artwork is completed with a spatialized interactive soundtrack in which each of the 5 elements are sonified, and the collective shifting of butterflies translated into a dynamic audio landscape. Dominic Harris said: Im proud that Feeding Consciousness will be the first ever exhibition at Halcyon Gallerys new flagship gallery in London. Alongside my tireless and brilliant team in the studio, Ive dedicated the last few years working to upend our increasingly banal and transactional human relationship with the digital space by presenting its possibilities afresh. We work to pioneer a form of digital art that lives in the physical world, and which helps enlighten and enrich our consideration of true reality. Feeding Consciousness by Dominic Harris: 25 May 13 August at the Halcyon Gallery, New Bond Street For further information please contact: Irene Ruiz Garrido [email protected] +44 (0)203 470 0092 Saskia Brown [email protected] +44 (0)203 470 0092 NOTES TO EDITORS About Dominic Harris Dominic Harris is an artist who uses technology to construct highly personal interpretations of the natural phenomena which surround us. His reverence for nature, coupled with his fascination for code, offers a surreal and whimsical take on reality, which ultimately challenges our own perceptions of the world about us. His responses, aesthetic yet playful, conceal a carefully-observed commentary on the digitisation of our daily experiences, which plays both upon our emotions, and our relationship with the technology-fueled 21st century Pop Culture. As these technologies, unstoppable and fascinating, invade our lives, and intrude upon us in ever more intimate ways, Dominic captures the sometimes-menacing march of the information age, and turns it to our advantage, in an insightful and seamless blending of nature with code. He is part of a small, and important, coterie of artists who are pushing the envelope of feasibility, and redefining what is acceptable, within the art world. Dominic graduated from Cranbrook Kingswood School in Michigan, and returned to England to read Architecture at the Bartlett School, University College, London. He graduated with top distinctions, qualifying as an architect in 2003, and going on to work for the avant-garde architectural practice Future Systems. In 2007 Dominic founded his own studio in Notting Hill, London, where he and his team design, engineer, code and fabricate his artworks and installations. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/854511c4-3887-48cf-8dc6-7fe5dec4863a https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a82da15-4e6e-429d-8e8c-0cfcef764279 The photos are also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. Halcyon Gallery celebrates 40th anniversary and launches new flagship space in historic Mayfair building Halcyon Gallery, a leading British commercial gallery representing artists such as living legend Bob Dylan and internationally renowned sculptor Lorenzo Quinn, is launching a new flagship space in Mayfair, Londons historic art district this Thursday 25 May. Halcyon Gallery celebrates 40th anniversary and launches new flagship space in historic Mayfair building Halcyon Gallery, a leading British commercial gallery representing artists such as living legend Bob Dylan and internationally renowned sculptor Lorenzo Quinn, is launching a new flagship space in Mayfair, Londons historic art district this Thursday 25 May. Source: Halcyon Gallery BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. World oil prices on Thursday morning are generally stable after three days of growth according to the auction data, Trend reports. In turn, markets continue to assess the prospects for supply and demand. The price of July futures for Brent crude oil remains at the level of the last close at $78.36 per barrel, July futures for WTI (West Texas Intermediate) decrease by 0.15 percent, to $74.23. A day earlier, quotes rose by 2 percent, and over the previous three trading sessions - by an average of 3.8 percent. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, oil prices were supported by statistics from the US. According to the report of the US Department of Energy, commercial oil reserves for the week to May 19 showed the highest rate of decline since November 2022 - by 12.5 million barrels at once, or by 2.7 percent, to 455.2 million barrels. At the same time, analysts, on the contrary, expected an increase in stocks - by 0.8 million barrels. Traders continue to evaluate the words of Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud at the Qatar Economic Forum. The minister on the eve of the OPEC+ meeting advised speculators in the oil market to be careful. Moreover, representatives of OPEC+ member countries will meet on June 4 in Vienna. The attention of traders remains on the situation with the US debt limit. The current limit of the US national debt is $31.4 trillion, which was reached back in January. According to the results of the negotiations, so far no decision has been made to raise the debt limit. The situation increases economic uncertainty, which affects the prospects for oil demand. The annual general meeting of Hexagon Purus ASA was held today, 25 May 2023 in Oslo, Norway. All proposals on the agenda were adopted as proposed. Complete minutes of the annual general meeting are attached to this release and are also available on www.hexagonpurus.com. For more information: Mathias Meidell, IR Director, Hexagon Purus ASA Telephone: +47 909 82 242 | [email protected] About Hexagon Purus Hexagon Purus, a Hexagon Composites company, enables zero emission mobility for a cleaner energy future. The company is a world leading provider of hydrogen Type 4 high-pressure cylinders and systems, battery systems and vehicle integration solutions for fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicles. Hexagon Purus' products are used in a variety of applications including light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, buses, ground storage, distribution, refueling, maritime, rail and aerospace. Learn more at www.hexagonpurus.com and follow @HexagonPurus on Twitter and LinkedIn. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Metals Corporation (Imperial or the Company) (TSX: III) reports, in accordance with the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange, that the nominees listed in the management information circular dated March 30, 2023, were elected as directors of the Company at the Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting"). Results of the vote for the election of directors held at the Meeting on May 24, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia are: Name Votes For % Votes Withheld % Carolyn D. Anglin 99,913,855 96.25 3,894,273 3.75 J. Brian Kynoch 103,763,225 99.96 44,903 0.04 Pierre Lebel 99,417,392 95.77 4,390,736 4.23 Larry G. Moeller 103,763,183 99.96 44,945 0.04 Janine North 103,762,932 99.96 45,196 0.04 James P. Veitch 103,763,345 99.96 44,783 0.04 Edward A. Yurkowski 99,769,000 96.11 4,039,128 3.89 A total of 104,210,273 common shares were voted in connection with the Meeting, representing approximately 67.29% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. The results of other matters considered at the Meeting are reported in the Report of Voting Results, filed on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. About Imperial Imperial is a Vancouver based exploration, mine development and operating company with holdings that include the Mount Polley mine (100%), the Huckleberry mine (100%), the Red Chris mine (30%). Imperial also holds a portfolio of 23 greenfield exploration properties in British Columbia. Company Contacts Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959Darb S. Dhillon | Chief Financial Officer | 604.488.2658 Source: Imperial Metals Corporation WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kane Biotech Inc. (TSX-V:KNE OTCQB: KNBIF) (the Company or Kane Biotech) announces that on May 24, 2023 it received 510(k) clearance of its coactiv+ Antimicrobial Wound Gel from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of ulcers (including diabetic foot and leg ulcers and pressure ulcers), 1st and 2nd degree burns, partial & full thickness wounds, large surface area wounds and surgical incisions for adult populations. FDA clearance of our coactiv+ Antimicrobial Wound Gel, is a major milestone for Kane, said Marc Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer. Were bringing an effective, differentiated, and accessible product to the annual USD $200 million1 U.S. antimicrobial wound hydrogel market. This clearance also opens the door for a large number of global markets. Building on our previously announced agreements with ProgenaCare Global LLP (ProgenaCare) (United States) and Salud Pharma S.A. (Panama, Columbia and Costa Rica), we anticipate future global distribution agreements. This clearance triggers a USD $500,000 initial payment from ProgenaCare which it anticipates receiving later this month. We recently introduced our coactiv+ gel to potential distribution and licensing partners at both the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) in Washington in late April 2023 and the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) in Milan, Italy in May 2023 and it was very well received, said Mr. Edwards. coactiv+ is a triple threat combination of: (1) EFFICACY thanks to Kane Biotechs patented coactiv+ technology; (2) EASE OF USE due to its thermo-gelling properties thats easy to apply, stays on the wound and is easy to remove; (3) ACCESSIBILITY as Kane intends to offer its gel at a price point that fits within Medicare and private payer allowables. It should be very well received by practitioners as it checks all the boxes, said Dr Greg Schultz, Kanes Chief Scientific Officer. More information about Kanes coactiv+ Antimicrobial Wound Gel can be found at www.coactivplus.com. Chronic wounds present a significant financial burden to the U.S. healthcare system. Studies of Medicare data estimate the cost to treat these wounds at between $28 billion and $96 billion2. The treatment of chronic wounds is a major challenge for health care providers, with a high failure rate leading to amputation, sepsis, and death. One of the major reasons for this failure is the formation of bacterial biofilms, which are present in over 80% of chronic wounds3. Biofilm formation can make bacteria up to 1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics, antimicrobial agents, disinfectants, and the host immune system. coactiv+ Antimicrobial Hydrogel will significantly increase the ability of healthcare clinicians to effectively treat chronic wounds and burns. About coactiv+ coactiv+ Antimicrobial Wound Gel is indicated for management of ulcers (including diabetic foot and leg ulcers and pressure ulcers), 1st and 2nd degree burns, partial & full thickness wounds, large surface area wounds and surgical incisions for adult populations. It is also indicated for management of minor skin scrapes, minor cuts, minor lacerations, minor burns (1st degree burns) and abrasions for adult populations. coactiv+ Antimicrobial Wound Gel is a white, odorless hydrogel that provides a moist wound environment conducive to wound healing. coactiv+ Antimicrobial Wound Gel can facilitate debridement through a moist wound environment. About Kane Biotech Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of technologies and products that prevent and remove microbial biofilms. The Company has a portfolio of biotechnologies, intellectual property (80 patents and patents pending, trade secrets and trademarks) and products developed by the Company's own biofilm research expertise and acquired from leading research institutions. StrixNB, DispersinB, Aledex, bluestem, bluestem, silkstem, goldstem, coactiv+, coactiv+, DermaKB and DermaKB Biofilm are trademarks of Kane Biotech Inc. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "KNE" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol KNBIF. For more information: Marc Edwards Ray Dupuis Nicole Sendey Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations/PR Kane Biotech Inc Kane Biotech Inc Kane Biotech Inc [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Notes to Editor/References: 1. Based on market research conducted on Kanes behalf. 2. Sen, C. K. (2021, March 31). Human wound and its burden: Updated 2020 compendium of estimates. Human Wound and Its Burden: Updated 2020 Compendium of Estimates from https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/wound.2021.0026 3. Kresser, C. (2019, October 10). Biofilm: What it is and how to treat it. Kresser Institute. https://kresserinstitute.com/biofilm-what-it-is-and-how-to-treat-it/ 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. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains certain statements regarding Kane Biotech Inc. that constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities law. These statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the Companys: (a) financial condition, including lack of significant revenues to date and reliance on equity and other financing; (b) business, including its early stage of development, government regulation, market acceptance for its products, rapid technological change and dependence on key personnel; (c) intellectual property including the ability of the Company to protect its intellectual property and dependence on its strategic partners; and (d) capital structure, including its lack of dividends on its common shares, volatility of the market price of its common shares and public company costs. Further information about these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in the disclosure documents filed by the Company with applicable securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9966d5cc-a82c-4f40-90f5-3852b293f060 coactiv+ Antimicrobial Wound Gel Receives FDA Clearance coactiv+ Antimicrobial Wound Gel is a premium hydrogel that provides scientifically-proven efficacy for wound healing in an easy-to-use thermo-reversible gel, all within Medicare and private payor allowable. Source: Kane Biotech Inc. MONTREAL, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Foundation of Greater Montreal (FGM) held its Annual General Meeting today and renewed its Board of Directors, notably with the election of a new Chair. The Foundations members also examined its financial results and were given an overview of its activity in 2022. You can find out more by consulting FGMs annual report. With more than $381M in assets under management, distributed over 761 philanthropic funds, the Foundation of Greater Montreal remains the largest community foundation in Quebec. In 2022, it granted more than $34M to 458 community organizations in Greater Montreal that were active in all sectors, from culture to health, and from ecological transition to social equity and education. That total represents an increase of 40% over 2021, which means that an additional $10M was distributed in the community; as well, this amount is a new record for FGM. "More than ever, the Foundation is providing ambitious leadership that breaks new ground, most notably by developing new methods. In order to bring about the changes our world truly needs, philanthropy itself must renew its practices and better align them with the needs of the people it aims to serve. That is why FGM, through every aspect of its work, aspires to become a living laboratory for philanthropy in Montreal, Quebec and Canada. And I am very proud of the work we have done in that spirit over the last few years," stated Kathy Fazel, outgoing Chair of the Board of Directors. "FGM aspires to create a community that will be free from poverty and discrimination, where all can realize their potential and live in a healthy environment, today and in the future. In addition to our commitment to advancing the ecological transition and social equity, we have rethought our ways of working, so as to better embody the values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion that are at the core of our action. In doing so, one of our goals is to democratize and promote FGMs services with a view to serving new populations," noted FGMs President and CEO, Karel Mayrand. FGMs strategic plan offers further details on these initiatives. In 2022, donations and other contributions to the Foundation amounted to more than $36M. Thanks to this support from the community, and rigourous management, the Foundation maintained its excellent financial health, notwithstanding a gross rate of return on investment of -9.93%, attributable to the plummeting stock market. Over a 10-year period, its annualized gross return on investment now stands at 6.23%. At the Annual General Meeting, the Foundations members also elected new Board members, while other members assumed new duties. Karen Macdonald, who had been serving as Vice-Chair since 2021 and has been a Board member since 2018, succeeds Kathy Fazel as Chair of the Board. Ms. Macdonald is News Director and Station Manager at Global Television in Montreal. "It is with great enthusiasm that I take on the role of Chair of the Foundation of Greater Montreals Board of Directors, at a crucial time for our community. FGM is now established as a leader in Montreals philanthropic sector. Its impact in the community is greater than the number of philanthropic funds or the total value of the assets it manages. In developing innovative partnerships, FGM has found new ways of supporting the actors working for Greater Montreals development and for the well-being of its population. I take this role to heart and I am eager to pursue the initiatives that have been launched, Karen Macdonald stated. Frederic Lavoie, a partner with PwC who has been a Board member for four years and chairs its Philanthropic Development Committee, will assume the post of Vice-Chair. Mariama Dupuis, Chief of Staff for the Chair and CEO at Sagard, Sophie Labrecque, CEO and founder of the MAGNET philanthropic agency and Jason Taylor, an expert in sustainable finance, are the other new Board members. Have a look at FGMs website to view a complete listing of the Board of Directors as well as the Foundations committees for 2023-2024. For more information:Simon Delorme, Communications Advisor[email protected](514) 866-0808 ext. 107 About the Foundation of Greater MontrealThe Foundation of Greater Montreal (FGM) serves, and listens to, its community. In collaboration with its partners, it mobilizes philanthropic resources, disseminates knowledge, sparks new initiatives, and supports the community, with a view to furthering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Greater Montreal. FGM aspires to the development of a community that will be free from poverty and discrimination, where all can realize their potential and live in a healthy environment, both today and in the future. Website: fgmtl.org Source: Foundation of Greater Montreal TORONTO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Continuing to showcase its commitment to electrification through its Plan S strategy, Kia Canada has unveiled its second Electric Vehicle Inspiration Centre (EVIC) in the country. Designed to inspire and educate the public on Kias electrified vehicles, the Electric Vehicle Inspiration Centres are a place to educate and engage the public on making the switch to an electric vehicle with the help of specialized EV advisors, and test drive vehicles. The brands first EVIC opened its doors to the public in Vancouver in 2021. This newest facility, owned by La Force Kia Group in Quebec City hosted local media and dignitaries to mark its official grand opening last evening. Kia understands the importance of educating the public when it comes to electric vehicles, says Elias El-Achhab, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kia Canada. These centres are designed to be a place where the public can test our different types of electric vehicles, while learning about charging infrastructure, government incentives and the savings associated with EV ownership. It truly is a place where the public can learn about the EV lifestyle in a relaxed environment. Inspiring Canadians to go electric The Quebec EVIC is a collaboration between Kia Canada and La Force Kia Group, a dealer group which includes Kia Quebec, Kia Ste-Foy and Kia Val-Belair dealerships. At both locations (BC or Quebec), visitors can book an interactive tour and will be guided through the facilities by an eVisor - an experienced EV educator. Guests will learn about: The benefits of electric vehicles The different types of electric vehicles An orientation on EV chargers and the charging speed offered by each level How to navigate public charging networks The history and future of mobility technology Associated savings of owning an EV, including available government incentives The tours conclude with an opportunity to test drive a Kia EV. The future is electricCurrently the brand offers five electrified models including the EV6, Niro EV/PHEV, Soul EV as well as the Sportage and Sorento PHEV. The EV9, Kias all-new fully electric three-row SUV is expected to be available later this year. Kia Canada is introducing seven all-new plug-in hybrid or dedicated electric models by 2025, and with greater choice comes greater opportunity for learning, continues El-Achhab. Kia is committed to an electric future and that includes inspiring consumers to make the shift. Book an EV tour Quebecs brand-new Electric Inspiration Centre is located at 1540 Rue Cyrille-Duquet, Quebec, QC G1N 2E5. Visitors are welcomed at the centre Monday through to Saturday. More information can be found here. Vancouvers Electric Inspiration Centre is located at 1778 W 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 4T3 and tours with eVisors are available seven days a week. More information can be found here. About Kia CanadaKia Canada Inc., founded in 1999, is a subsidiary of Kia Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. The company employs 190 people at its headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, as well as in locations across Canada and at its regional office in Montreal, Quebec. Kia offers award winning products that are dynamic, stylish and innovative and services that are meaningful and convenient through a network of 198 dealers across the country. The company's brand slogan Movement that inspires reflects Kias desire to create the space for you to get inspired and more time to bring your ideas to life. To learn more, visit kia.ca or Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. For media inquiries only, please contact [email protected]. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f7ac73b-b9b7-4395-99da-3c69515b8a13 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a05d0e40-6d3e-4e2e-9cdc-24d7b0a6cf06 L to R: Elias El-Achhab, VP and COO of Kia Canada, Sungwon Kwon, President and CEO of Kia Canada, Serge Beaudoin, President of La Force Kia, Steeve Michel, Vice-President of La Force Kia Photo Credit: Ludovic Gauthier Grand Opening of Electric Vehicle Inspiration Centre in Quebec Photo Credit: Ludovic Gauthier Source: Kia Canada Inc. Letter to Shareholders and Corporate Update Access to EUR15 million under amended deal Donesta U.S. marketing deal is a key near term priority CDMO strategic options are being explored Donesta filing rescheduled for H2 2023 - still expecting U.S. approval in H1 2024 filing rescheduled for H2 2023 - still expecting U.S. approval in H1 2024 Financial update and guidance provided Liege, Belgium, 25 May 2023 7:30 CEST Mithra (Euronext Brussels: MITRA), a company dedicated to Womens Health, (the "Company" or "Mithra"), today published a Corporate Update and Letter to Shareholders from recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, Dr. David Horn Solomon. Dear Fellow Shareholders, I am pleased to have joined Mithra as CEO on April 11th. I was made fully aware of the Companys recent challenges and the many justified concerns of our shareholders. I accepted the role because my analysis revealed strong fundamentals and tremendous potential to create significant value for Mithra shareholders. Because of our current situation, I want to be transparent with regards to our strategy in this critical period and address the most important questions of our shareholders. I will lay out in this letter our most important priorities for the coming year as we work to build solid new foundations for Mithras future growth. Three key positive points stood out in my assessment of Mithra: first, our research and development organizations accomplishments show that it is one of the best in the industry; second, Estelle and Donesta are not yet fairly valued as highly differentiated innovative therapeutics for womens health; and, third, our underexploited contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), holds value that can be unlocked. Given the disappointments the Company has had, and the outsized impact these events have had on our valuation, I am working intensively with Mithra leadership to effect change expeditiously so that the Company can once again be recognized for its achievements and fundamental value. In order to do this we have three short-term corporate priorities: first, we must provide the financial resources that the Company needs; second, we are in advanced discussions to close a licensing deal for U.S. marketing rights for Donesta; third, we are actively exploring potential options that would allow us to maximize the value of our CDMO facility and regain sharper focus on the core business. While our generics business also holds value and could serve to diversify our portfolio of products in the long-run, it is a low margin business that can act as a brake on growth while also taking our focus from our core strength - development of best-in-class innovative novel therapeutics. We will look to re-focus on the areas where we can compete most effectively, and this may mean that we could sell or explore other strategic options for our generic products business. I am eager to leverage my 30 years of experience in strategic, operational, and innovation-focused leadership to catalyse the exceptional team at Mithra as we work in lockstep to generate shareholder value. In addition, we aim at adding experienced executives with complementary competencies to our senior management and our board of directors over the course of the coming year. My track record has been built on successful product development delivery and high value strategic partnerships, best exemplified by the achievements of Zealand Pharma and Silence Therapeutics. In each of these cases, we have established U.S. operations to pursue our interests in the most important commercial market, and I intend to do the same for Mithra. As a top priority, I have been working closely with our CFO to secure Mithras finances in order to empower the Company to pursue our new strategy. I am pleased that after only one month in my role, we are announcing today that we have taken a critical first step by obtaining commitments for EUR 2.5 million in new equity and access to EUR 12.5 million in new funds from drawing under Tranche C while simultaneously improving some of the financial terms of our convertible loan facility from funds managed by Highbridge Capital Management LLC ("Highbridge") and funds managed by Whitebox Advisors LLC ("Whitebox"), who have indicated to me their strong support for Mithra and our new strategy. While it is an important positive step that enables us to pursue other pressing corporate activities with greater confidence, further step-wise improvements to our financial health are key. We are therefore working to affect a full refinancing of our debt obligations during the second half of this year. In addition to acquiring the requisite financial resources, we want to align shareholder interests such that future increases in our product revenues will benefit all shareholders and motivate new ones to join us, so as to deliver on value creation for patients as well as shareholders. Collectively, the Mithra leadership understands that our ability to create value for our shareholders is a primary directive that goes hand in hand with developing medicines for women. While most of our attention is focused on immediate priorities, such as the companys finances, negotiating favorable terms for Donesta with a U.S. marketing partner, and exploring strategic options for our CDMO, I am also looking forward and planning for Mithras growth. In the medium term, we will look to maximize sales of Estelle and Donesta by continuing to develop them in new indications and also conducting studies to produce data (in support of our partners marketing efforts) demonstrating their unique points of differentiation compared to other products on the market. Longer term, we will look to continue to source and develop new products for womens health, potentially through in-licensing or acquisitions. Our ambition is to become a global leader in womens health. Therefore, Mithra will work to replenish its pipeline through organic growth as well as partnering. We will work with international investors and stakeholders to introduce our ambition and rebuild our business and are establishing a US representation office. Financial Update Today we announced that we have successfully reached an agreement to update the terms of our loan facility agreement with Highbridge and Whitebox, a first step to put Mithra back on secure financial footing. Following successful negotiation with key debt providers, Highbridge and Whitebox, Mithra will receive access to EUR 12.5 million of Tranche C. Furthermore, existing convertible loans that had a floating conversion price have been successfully renegotiated to new fix conversion price of EUR 2.75 (a premium of 25% over the price for the new equity round to be subscribed for by Highbridge and Whitebox, subject to customary anti-dilution and takeover protections). The loan interest coupon will be adjusted in line with current market conditions from 7.5% to 8.0% for Tranche A and B, and 9% for newly drawn Tranche C. Access to EUR 12.5 million of Tranche C and the other amendments to the convertible loan facility with Highbridge and Whitebox are subject to conditions and subject to finalizing additional contractual agreements. In an effort to further minimize equity dilution going forward, the Company intends no longer to make drawings under the GSI facility. As an evidence of strong support for Mithras long-term growth, Highbridge and Whitebox have elected to subscribe for EUR 2.5 million of new shares to be issued by the Company at an issue price of EUR 2.20, a 14% discount to the arithmetic mean of the five trailing daily VWAPs, a favourable market rate. The capital increase is expected to be completed later today. At the end of April, Mithras unaudited cash position was about EUR 26 million on a proforma basis. At the same time, our projected 2023 research and development spend is approximately EUR 60 million. It goes without saying that the cash level must be taken into account during negotiations; now, thanks to this new capital, as well as access to additional cash via the amended loan facility, I believe we can leverage our improved financial strength with confidence to negotiate U.S. marketing rights to Donestaas well consider options for our CDMO facility. Furthermore, we can also work in good faith to achieve another mutually acceptable amendment: one that will align the Uteron Sellers with Mithras long-term growth and success. Considering our current financial status, the amendment demonstrates Highbridge and Whitebox are strongly supportive of our strategy and committed to support Mithras long-term growth. Estelle Our first marketed product Estelle composed of 15 mg Estetrol (E4) and 3 mg Drospirenone (DRSP), is the first and only contraceptive pill containing Estetrol, a native estrogen. Estetrol shows a specific mode of action compared to other estrogens. Estetrol has also a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular system, brain, bone and endometrium; unlike other estrogens, it has a limited impact on the liver and breast tissue. This unique mode of action results in an improved benefit/risk profile compared to other estrogens. Because of its unique mode of action and safety profile, we believe Estetrol represents a major breakthrough in womens health starting with contraception and potentially for menopause. While it is only just beginning to generate significant value for shareholders, we believe that our marketing partners in U.S. and Europe (Mayne Pharma and Gedeon Richter, respectively), will be able to further optimize commercial exploitation of these assets. Estellewas recently commercialized in the US, Canada and Europe. It is the first new estrogen introduced in the US in more than 50 years. Donesta A US licensing deal for Donesta (estetrol-based hormone therapy), should provide a significant short-term upfront cash payment and long-term revenues from milestones and royalties on sales for Mithra. I believe this is the most important short and medium-term source of revenue for the Company and am working, together with our team, to establish a deal that properly reflects the potential value generated by Mithras exceptional research and development team. The symptoms of menopause represent a significant unmet need that is increasingly recognized as requiring treatment by the medical profession and incidence of menopause is growing with our aging population. While symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, sleep disturbances, joint aches and cognitive difficulties damage the quality of life for millions of women, the adverse effect on women has recently had an estimated societal cost assigned to it, further justifying therapeutic intervention. A newly published Mayo Clinic study estimated $1.8 billion in lost work time per year and $26.6 billion annually when medical expenses are added, in the US alone. Furthermore, data suggest that proper management during pre-menopause and menopause can reduce incidence of dementia and other long-term causes of mortality. Donesta can play an important role in improving not only womens quality and quantity of life but also reduce medical costs and improve productivity. We have a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA in the near term to support the filing of our new drug application (NDA) for Donesta, which has been slightly delayed; we now plan to file it in H2 2023 instead of H1 2023 due to regulatory enquiries, as previously communicated. The expected timing of the marketing authorization for the US remains unchanged at the moment. In Europe, where Donesta was recently licensed (in key territories) to Gedeon, we are reiterating our guidance on filing and working closely with our partner to support the marketing authorization (MAA) filing, planned for 2024. CDMO Executing on a strategy to unlock the value of our world-class CDMO facility in Flemalle, is critical to returning the Company to financial health. This state-of-art building holds tremendous capacity and untold potential. In light of the new Company strategies, an in-house manufacturing and development facility is not a strategic asset for the Company, and therefore is currently underutilized, offering untapped potential. Considering strategic options is helping us to realize the full value of the CDMO and leveraging the teams expertise and versatile capabilities. Europe, and much of the rest of the developed world, is struggling to maintain secure, sustainable drug supplies, with ongoing and varied challenges in supply chains. As such, we are exploring potential strategic solutions for the CDMO that may ultimately benefit multiple parties, including the Flemalle region, Mithra employees and shareholders. Revenue projection Our product sales are still ramping up but I can share that we are currently projecting total product revenues for Estelle of about EUR 12 million in 2023 to more than double in 2024 and again in 2025 as they grow to up to approximately EUR 130 million by 2029. Mithra could be cash flow positive in 2026 or, counting possible milestone revenues, potentially even 2025. We currently expect Mithras combined revenues from global sales of Estelle, Donesta and MyRing to grow to approximately EUR 300 million by 2029. Conclusion In conclusion, I believe my priorities as CEO are clear: secure the Companys finances; secure a U.S. marketing partner for Donesta; find the best solution for our CDMO; maximize product revenues and, finally, empower our accomplished R&D organization to identify and bring to market new and exciting products for womens health. To achieve these goals, we must restore Mithras financial health, execute on impactful partnerships and focus our internal teams efforts on delivering the best value from our existing and future pipeline of innovative products, especially Donesta. Simply put, Mithra can and will navigate through the current situation and ultimately deliver on its promise of becoming a global leader in womens health. I wish to thank you, our shareholders, for your support during this difficult transition period in the Companys history, especially in light of the troubling geopolitical and volatile market conditions. I believe communication is an essential part of any successful relationship, especially during difficult periods. I look forward to continuing with increased transparency and regular communications to providing updates on our progress to you, our shareholders. With best regards, David Horn SolomonChief Executive Officer For more information, please contact: Mithra Pharmaceuticals SADavid Horn SolomonChief Executive Officer [email protected] Investor & media relationsChris MaggosCohesion Bureau [email protected] +41 79 367 6254 For analysts, please contact: Alexandra Deschner ([email protected]) or ([email protected]) About Mithra Mithra (Euronext: MITRA) is a Belgian biotech company dedicated to transforming Womens Health by offering new choices through innovation, with a particular focus on contraception and menopause. Mithras goal is to develop products offering better efficacy, safety and convenience, meeting womens needs throughout their life span. Mithra explores the potential of the unique native estrogen estetrol in a wide range of applications in women health and beyond. After having successfully launched the first estetrol-based product in 2021, the contraceptive pill Estelle, Mithra is now focusing on its second product Donesta, the next-generation hormone therapy. Mithra also offers partners a complete spectrum of solutions from early drug development, clinical batches and commercial manufacturing of complex polymeric products (vaginal ring, implants) and complex liquid injectables and biologicals (vials, pre-filled syringes or cartridges) at its technological platform Mithra CDMO. Active in more than 100 countries around the world, Mithra is headquartered in Liege, Belgium. www.mithra.com ESTELLEDONESTA, LYDISILKA are registered trademarks of Mithra Pharmaceuticals or one of its affiliate. Important information The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Subscribe to our mailing list on investors.mithra.com to receive our press releases by email or follow us on our social media :Linkedin Twitter Facebook Source: Mithra Pharmaceuticals Ecully, May 25th, 2023 PCAS to sell its Canadian subsidiary, PCAS Canada Inc., to DIC Corporation PCAS (Euronext Paris: PCA), specialized in the development of processes and production of complex molecules for Life Sciences and Specialty Chemicals Markets, has made the decision to sell PCAS Canada Inc., the Canadian subsidiary of PCAS Group, to DIC Corporation, a Japanese chemicals group with a presence in more than 60 countries. An enterprise value of 88.2 million euros has been agreed for PCAS Canada Inc. This decision has been made following the receipt of an offer from DIC Corporation for the acquisition of the Canadian subsidiary announced on May 2nd, 2023 (https://www.pcas.com/). This offer has been accepted by PCAS following the authorization of its Board of Directors. The competent workers council has been previously informed and consulted in accordance with applicable regulations. The sale is not subject to any condition precedents. Therefore, the execution of the related agreements by PCAS and DIC Corporation as well as the closing of the transaction will be completed within the coming days. ABOUT PCAS PCAS specializes in the development and production of complex molecules for life sciences and innovative technologies. With about 11% of its net sales earmarked for R&D and a large international footprint, PCAS is the preferred industrial partner for market-leading major global groups. Boasting especially high standards, the company offers a growing range of proprietary products and solutions in leading-edge segments. PCAS generated net sales of 226.4 million in 2022 and employs nearly 1200 people in six countries. To find out more about PCAS: www.pcas.com PCAS NewCap Jean-Louis Martin / Eric Moissenot Emmanuel Huynh / Louis-Victor Delouvrier NewCap Financial communication and investor relation Tel.: +33 1 69 79 60 00 www.pcas.com Tel.: +33 1 44 71 98 53 [email protected] Attachment SAN DIEGO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Salona Global Medical Device Corporation (Salona Global, SGMD or the Company) (TSXV: SGMD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Lana Newishy to its Board of Directors as Executive Vice Chair, effective May 24, 2023. Ms. Newishy is the former CFO of American Express Corporate Card Canada and most recently served as a senior executive in the Chief of Staff Office for the Global Supply Chain Strategy & Transformation group of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. We are pleased to be adding talent and diversity to our Board, said Les Cross, Non-Executive Chairman. Lana will work well with Luke in executing our business plan going forward. We are focused on restructuring our debt, increasing profitability and getting back to our stepped-up pace for acquisitions. Now that we are a larger organization, we are fortunate to have Lana to expand our capacity to improve and grow our business, said Luke Faulstick, CEO. As Les said, clearly our first priority is restructuring our debt. As we complete that task, we are focused on our five engines of growth and getting back to the momentum we had in 2022. In connection with her appointment as a director, the Companys Board of Directors has granted Ms. Newishy options under its Stock Option Plan to purchase up to 1,000,000 common shares, vesting equally over a three year period, with a term of five years and an exercise price of CAD $0.29. The options and underlying common shares are subject to a four month and one day hold period pursuant to the TSX Venture Exchange. Consulting Arrangement with Ms. Newishy The Company has also engaged Ms. Newishy as a financial consultant to assess and provide her analyses and advice to our financial organization on enhancing the Companys cash flow and improving the Companys cost structure. Pursuant to the terms of a consulting engagement entered into with her limited liability company, compensation for Ms. Newishys services will consist of a fixed payment of USD $16,667 per month and a bonus plan which provides for the payment of a quarterly bonus payment not to exceed USD $25,000 per quarter, which covers the next four quarters, as follows: 1) for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023, if Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) exceeds CAD $900,000 for such quarter, Ms. Newishy will be paid a bonus equal to 2.5% of Adjusted EBITDA for such quarter; 2) for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, a bonus equal to 0.166% of the difference between the annualized revenue for Q1 2024 compared to the annualized revenue for Q4 2023, and 3) for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, a bonus equal to 0.166% of the difference between the annualized revenue for Q2 2024 compared to the annualized revenue for Q4 2023. For quarters after Q2 2024, the Board of Directors will determine the bonus structure based on the goals of the Company and the services to be rendered by Consultant. Issuance of Common Shares to Former Employee Pursuant to a severance agreement, the Company also intends, subject to TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) approval, to issue a former employee 337,524 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of CAD$0.61. The common shares will be issued in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), and applicable state securities laws, and will be issued as restricted securities (as defined in Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act). For more information please contact: Luke Faulstick Chief Executive Officer Tel: 1 (800) 760-6826 Email: [email protected] Additional Information For purposes of the Consulting Agreement, Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss excluding interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of right-of-use asset, amortization of intangible assets, stock based compensation, and all other non-cash expenses. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects believes, estimates, "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", and "anticipate", and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including: the execution of our business plans; the expected restructuring of our debt; the goal of increasing profitability; the increase in the pace of acquisitions; and our expansion of capacity to improve and grow our business. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: our ability to execute our business plans; our ability to reach agreement with our creditors to restructure our debt; our ability to increase our profitability, which is dependent on our ability to increase our revenues, improve our gross margins, and reduce our expenses; and the Company successfully identifying, negotiating and completing additional acquisitions. Salona cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. Such factors include but are not limited to the general business and economic conditions in the regions in which Salona operates; the ability of Salona to execute on key priorities, including the successful completion of acquisitions, business retention, and strategic plans and to attract, develop and retain key executives; difficulty integrating newly acquired businesses; ongoing or new disruptions in the supply chain, the extent and scope of such supply chain disruptions, and the timing or extent of the resolution or improvement of such disruptions; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; disruptions in or attacks (including cyber-attacks) on Salona s information technology, internet, network access or other voice or data communications systems or services; the evolution of various types of fraud or other criminal behavior to which Salona is exposed; the failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to Salona or its affiliates; the impact of new and changes to, or application of, current laws and regulations; granting of permits and licenses in a highly regulated business; the overall difficult litigation environment, including in the United States; increased competition; changes in foreign currency rates; increased funding costs and market volatility due to market illiquidity and competition for funding; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; critical accounting estimates and changes to accounting standards, policies, and methods used by Salona; the occurrence of natural and unnatural catastrophic events and claims resulting from such events; www.sec.gov, and with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect Salona in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, Salona does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. Source: Salona Global Medical Device Corporation 20232025 Financial Targets to be Unveiled at Investor Day Deliver sales of over $3.6 billion by 2025 Expand EBITDA margin ( 1 ) to 16% through 2025 Return over $500 million of capital to shareholders in the 20232025 period Maintain net debt-to-EBITDA ratio (1) between 2.0x-2.5x MONTREAL, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX : SJ) (Stella-Jones or the Company) today updated its three-year objectives, reflecting the years 20232025. The Company will be featuring its new financial targets at its Investor Day, being held this morning in Toronto, Ontario. Following a record year in 2022, coupled with our outstanding start to 2023, we are excited to share updated financial objectives that reflect Stella-Jones performance and growth potential, said Eric Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stella-Jones. In light of our favourable position to meet or exceed our original financial targets, we are raising our 2025 sales target to almost 20% above 2022 sales and the 20232025 EBITDA margin goal to 16%, primarily driven by the accelerating demand for our higher margin utility poles business. Over its 30-year history, Stella-Jones has cultivated industry-shaping success through customer partnerships, premium product offerings and an unwavering focus on our network. This has culminated in a unique leadership position for our businessone that allows us to leverage the significant capital generated by our strong performance to fuel investments and seize opportunities for growth, while creating continued value for our shareholders. Our inaugural investor day today sets the stage for us to share our new targets and build on what we believe is a defining time for us and for the essential infrastructure businesses we serve. UPDATED FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES The Companys record financial performance over the last year has provided Stella-Jones with the ability to update its three-year financial targets, which now extend to 2025. Excluding future acquisitions, the Companys financial objectives are as follows: (in millions of dollars, except percentages and ratios) Initial 20222024 Objectives (2) Updated 20232025 Objectives (3) Sales $2,700-$3,000 >$3,600 EBITDA margin (1) 15% 16% Return to Shareholders $500-$600 >$500 Net Debt-to-EBITDA (1) 2.0x-2.5x 2.0x-2.5x GROWING SALES AND EBITDA MARGIN After achieving the high-end of its sales target in the first year of the Companys 20222024 financial objectives, Stella-Jones expects sales to increase organically at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 6% to over $3.6 billion by 2025. This growth is expected to be driven by a 9% compound annual sales increase of the Companys infrastructure-related businesses. Led by an improvement in its product mix, Stella-Jones has also increased its target EBITDA margin to 16% for the 20232025 period, up from its previous target of approximately 15%. LEVERAGING STRONG CASH GENERATING PROFILE Stella-Jones has an established track record of generating consistent and strong cashflows which provides flexibility to deliver significant value to shareholders. The Company is pursuing growth investments to enhance its utility poles capacity for the growing demand, while reaffirming its commitment to return capital to shareholders in excess of $500 million through dividends and share repurchases, in the 20232025 period. The Company continues to maintain its net leverage target range of 2.0x to 2.5x. Given its strong cashflow generating profile, the Company may temporarily exceed its target leverage ratio to finance strategic growth opportunities related to its infrastructure-related businesses. INVESTOR DAY Stella-Jones will elaborate on its 20232025 financial objectives at the Companys investor day for institutional investors and research analysts, which is taking place today in Toronto, Ontario. The event will begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). After the presentation, the leadership team will be available to answer questions. The live webcast can be accessed at the following link: https://web.lumiagm.com/411173957. An investor presentation will also be made available on the Investor Relations, Events and Presentations page of the Companys website. A replay will be available at the same link as the webcast, and on the Investor Relations section of the Companys website following the event. (1) Refer to the section entitled Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures of the first quarter 2023 Managements Discussion & Analysis for an explanation of the non-GAAP and other financial measures used and presented by the Company. (2) Refer to the 2021 Annual Managements Discussion & Analysis for further details and assumptions used in preparing the 20222024 financial objectives. (3) Foreign Exchange: Assumes Canadian dollar will trade, on average, at approximately C$1.30 per U.S. dollar, with sales in the U.S. representing approximately 70% of total sales. ABOUT STELLA-JONES Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX : SJ) is North Americas leading producer of pressure-treated wood products. It supplies the continents major electrical utilities and telecommunication companies with wood utility poles and North Americas Class 1, short line and commercial railroad operators with railway ties and timbers. Stella-Jones also provides industrial products, which include wood for railway bridges and crossings, marine and foundation pilings, construction timbers and coal tar-based products. Additionally, the Company manufactures and distributes premium treated residential lumber and accessories to Canadian and American retailers for outdoor applications, with a significant portion of the business devoted to servicing the Canadian market through its national manufacturing and distribution network. The Companys common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Except for historical information provided herein, this press release may contain information and statements of a forward-looking nature concerning the future performance of the Company. These statements are based on suppositions and uncertainties as well as on managements best possible evaluation of future events. Such items include, among others: general political, economic and business conditions, evolution in customer demand for the Companys products and services, product selling prices, availability and cost of raw materials, climate change, failure to recruit and retain qualified workforce, information security breaches or other cyber-security threats, changes in foreign currency rates, the ability of the Company to raise capital and factors and assumptions referenced herein and in the Companys continuous disclosure filings. As a result, readers are advised that actual results may differ from expected results. Unless required to do so under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or other changes after the date hereof. Head Office 3100 de la Cote-Vertu Blvd., Suite 300 Saint-Laurent, Quebec H4R 2J8 Tel. : (514) 934-8666 Fax : (514) 934-5327 Exchange Listings The Toronto Stock Exchange Stock Symbol: SJ Transfer Agent and Registrar Computershare Investor Services Inc. Investor Relations Silvana Travaglini Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Tel.: (514) 934-8660 Fax: (514) 934-5327 [email protected] Menlo Park, CA, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Format, the leading portfolio website provider for artists, designers, photographers, and creative professionals, is expanding its Educational Outreach initiatives with OCADU, the largest university for arts and design in Canada. In collaboration with OCADUs RBC Center for Emerging Artists and Designers, two students were awarded the first ever Format Career Launcher Prize. Olivia Aguiar, a painter in the OCADU Department of Fine Arts, and Rand Al-Rubaye, an environmental designer in the Department of Design were each awarded a monetary Format Career Launcher Prize, along with a free Format Pro Plus lifetime subscription, and a one-on-one consultation with the Format Expert Site Building Team. Two runner-ups receiving a free one-year Format plan subscription were multi-disciplinary artist Rashvena Khosa and UX/UI designer Trinity Leon. The selection of the Format Career Launcher prize winners is the culmination of a creative opportunity offered only to OCADU students who are graduating in 2023. The call for submissions started in January 2023 and required that each applicant present their creative work with a Format portfolio website. Submissions were judged by OCADU staff on the quality of their creative work and how well they related the narrative of their practice using their Format website. John Loughlin, CEO of Formats parent company, said the awards reflect a continuing commitment to creative arts education. The Format and OCADU partnership began in 2012 and we are pleased to advance our support of arts and design students, giving them the best opportunity to start a successful career immediately after graduation. The Format Career Launcher program furthers our commitment to students and educators and aligns with our pledge announced in 2022 to provide $1 million of free student website subscriptions. he stated. Throughout the academic year, Format provides free webinars and workshops for OCADU students to teach them the foundations of building a portfolio and other professional practice principles. Format also provides all registered OCADU students with a free Format account while they are enrolled and for six months after graduation. Additionally, all OCADU alumni receive a 25% ongoing discount on Format annual plans to help support and build their professional careers. Zev Farber, OCADU Director of the RBC Center for Emerging Artists & Designers, acknowledged the impact of the Format Career Launcher Prize. Format provides OCAD University students with access to an easy-to-use, professional-grade platform which not only enhances the online profile of an individuals creative practice, but also measurably improves employment outcomes and other important markers of career success. The new Format Prize for graduating students further demonstrates their exceptional commitment to, and support for, the OCADU community. About FormatFormat is a website builder and content management system designed for creative professionals to showcase their work, collaborate with clients, and manage their business in a broadly accessible and secure online platform. The Format Prints Marketplace (PrintsMarketplace.com), is an online gallery that sells museum grade prints from artists and photographers around the world. Format was acquired by Zenfolio in 2021. Attachment Source: Zenfolio The Ministry of Economy has received 700 applications from startups and SMEs wishing to participate in phase II of The Entrepreneurial Nation programmes, between October 2022 and April 2023. The Ministry is currently in the process of shortlisting these applications in accordance with the programmes eligibility criteria. The Ministry explained that 44 of the applications received under phase II of the project pertain to the development of franchise operations of SMEs in the country and supporting their capacities by providing them with expertise and knowledge to take advantage of global franchise systems. It will also help them drive expansion and investment plans in local, regional, and global markets. Another 120 applications pertain to the expansion of startups in Saudi Arabia in partnership with Astrolabs, which offers many advantages and incentives to entrepreneurs in the Saudi market. 117 applications from startups A total of 117 applications were received from startups from across many countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Bangladesh, Algeria, Pakistan, Morocco, India, Brazil, the US, the UK, and Azerbaijan, seeking to set up and expand their businesses in the UAE. In addition, 40 applications were received for participation in the Smart Framing Innovation Challenge, which was recently organised by the Ministry in collaboration with Elite Agro Projects. The implementation of phase II of The Entrepreneurial Nation will support the UAEs efforts to further develop entrepreneurship and SMEs in accordance with international best practices. The Ministry is keen to strengthen public-private cooperation and partnerships at the local, regional, and global levels in order to develop an integrated and leading ecosystem for entrepreneurs. It will ensure a prosperous future for them and encourage them to grow their businesses and leadership locally and globally, in line with the goals for the next 50 years. Through Phase I of The Entrepreneurial Nation, the Ministry of Economy was able to support more than 240 startups and more than 700 businesses out of the 5,000 SMEs registered through The Entrepreneurial Nation portal. Key sectors The Ministry identified a number of key sectors for the development of SMEs, including health care, agricultural technology, education, e-commerce, financial technology, and logistics, based on the vital role SMEs play in supporting the national economy and promoting its sustainable growth. Moreover, the Ministry succeeded in establishing and developing over 35 partnerships during the first and second phases of The Entrepreneurial Nation. These partnerships are the largest public-private sector partnerships of their kind, with notable global entrepreneurship institutions. These include Google, Amazon Web Services, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Astrolabs, Elite Agro Projects, Emtiyz, Flat6Labs, Foodics, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Pure Harvest, Cisco, Huawei, and other leading entrepreneurship and SME development companies and platforms, which provide participants with direct funding solutions and indirect funding support. Through these partnerships, the Ministry has also been able to launch 17 programmes and 15 offers and discounts, contributing to a qualitative shift in the national entrepreneurship environment, making it more competitive. New partnerships Furthermore, the Ministry is currently working on a set of new partnerships for the next phase to introduce programmes and initiatives aimed at supporting digital transformation and expanding the import/export activities of startups and SMEs. These partnerships will also provide participants with world-class services and encourage them to expand regionally and globally from within the UAE. The Ministry said that its efforts to support and empower the entrepreneurship sector will continue, providing all enablers and tools for its growth and prosperity. The development of robust legislation and the launch of innovative programmes and initiatives complement these efforts, which in turn will help maximise the sectors contribution to the UAEs gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, these measures will help foster an environment of innovation and creativity, thus positioning the UAE as a top destination for entrepreneurs and startups from around the world.-- TradeArabia News Service TORONTO, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunwing customers can look forward to the seven hottest days of summer as the tour operator brings back Sun Week, a weeklong extravaganza of big deals, big contests and an even bigger grand prize. Kicking off May 29, 2023 until June 4, 2023, Canadians can book their hard-earned summer getaways with Sunwing to the southern destinations they love, from Cancun to Cayo Largo, Punta Cana, Montego Bay and more, and enjoy additional savings up to 50% per person* on applicable all inclusive vacation packages. Following Sun Weeks inaugural success, Sunwing has doubled down to make an even bigger splash this summer. Whether toying with the idea of a last-minute getaway or planning ahead for that end-of-summer escape, customers who purchase a vacation package or flight only during Sun Week will also be entered to win one of 33 exclusive prizes expertly designed to help them find their feelgood in paradise with Sunwing. Customers will have the chance to win gift cards from Sunwing, Vanilla Visa, Indigo, Walmart and SkipTheDishes, each worth $250 in value, in addition to five pre-paid vouchers for an exhilarating NexusTours excursion and two complimentary vacation packages for two to Punta Cana and Cayo Largo. With every contest comes an epic grand prize and this Sun Week, the tour operator is upping the ante with the giveaway of three free all inclusive vacations to one lucky winner. Were thrilled to be back this summer with Sun Week, our biggest event of the year with limited-time savings and incredible giveaways our customers definitely wont want to miss, says Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer at Sunwing. In addition to exclusive Sunwing vacation package perks, like the first checked bag free, were excited to gear up for the feel-good contest of the summer and help our customers experience more resorts that wont break their budget, have more fun right on site and find more adventure in the destinations they love, like Cancun, all while having the chance to win and get the most out of their summer with Sunwing. Canadians are encouraged to look beyond their local watering holes this season and consider a summer getaway to the tropics instead with a wide selection of sought-after hotels and destinations suitable for every price point. Budget-friendly travellers with a focus on mindfulness will adore the picturesque location and serene atmosphere of Cayo Largo, with vacation packages available at the family-friendly Memories Cayo Largo and Starfish Cayo Largo. Those in search of day-to-night excitement, both on and off property, will love Cancuns variety of hotels with tons of on-site programming and easy access to local attractions and adventure nearby, like Iberostar Paraiso Beach or Sandos Caracol Eco Resort. Sunwings second annual Sun Week is live from May 29, 2023 until June 4, 2023 and open to legal residents of Canada. Savings apply to bookings made on applicable packages during this time period, for travel between May 29, 2023 and December 17, 2023. Every customer who books a vacation package or flight only within these dates will automatically receive ten contest entries while non-purchasing customers, also eligible to enter for Sunwings Sun Week, are limited to one entry per day and must complete a contest form found on Sunwing.ca*. Contest winners will be announced on June 22, 2023. Beyond Sunwings epic seven-day summer giveaway event, the tour operator helps make customers vacation dreams come true year-round with added perks they can feel good about, including their first checked bag free at a value of $100+ roundtrip, roundtrip transportation in destination* and unbeatable rates on change and cancellation protection. *Terms and conditions apply. About Sunwing The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid. For more information: Melanie Anne FilippSenior Director, Corporate Communications & Media RelationsSunwing Travel Group1-800-387-5602 | [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a38029b9-96fd-4475-a3ad-4572dc197ff4 Sunwings Sun Week returns! More savings, more contests and more giveaways than before Source: Sunwing Vacations Inc. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Teck Resources Limited (Teck) and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation are partnering to study how antimicrobial copper can be used to prevent infections and improve health outcomes in three long-term care homes across the VCH region. Funded by Teck, it will be the first study of its size in Canada. Teck has provided $750,000 in funding through its Copper & Health program for the research study that includes the installation of more than 600 antimicrobial copper products on high-touch surfaces including door handles, cabinet pulls, faucet handles, flush levers, fridge handles and grab bars in shared spaces at Minoru Residence in Richmond, Berkley Care Centre in North Vancouver and Purdy Pavilion in Vancouver. The study will incorporate a number of measures, including microbial load and durability of the copper installations, resident health care acquired illness rates as well as perceptions of staff, residents and their families. It will build on previous research conducted by VCH in multiple hospital settings as well as on transit vehicles which showed that antimicrobial copper alloy surfaces eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria in less than two hours of contact. This study will be using Health Canada-registered antimicrobial copper fixtures and surfaces. Vancouver Coastal Health continues to innovate and find ways to enhance the safety and wellbeing of our residents, their families as well as our staff, says Jo-Ann Tait, Executive Director, Long-Term Care and Assisted Living. The communal environments of long-term care homes provide a research opportunity to understand how new tools like antimicrobial copper can reduce the risk of infection transmission as part of our commitment to quality improvement and providing leading-edge care. We are grateful for our project partners in supporting this work and are excited to further our understanding of copper as an infection prevention and control tool in the long-term care setting, says Dr. Titus Wong, Medical Director, Provincial Infection Control Network, Provincial Health Services Authority. We are proud to be participating in this leading research project to demonstrate how antimicrobial copper can reduce the risk of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) and help protect some of the most vulnerable individuals in our health care system, Jonathan Price, CEO, Teck. HAIs continue to have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of many Canadians, resulting in increased illness and costs for our health care system. Antimicrobial copper kills infection-causing bacteria. When combined with other infection prevention and control methods, like cleaning surfaces and other engineered solutions, antimicrobial copper can decrease the spread of infectious disease, reduce hospitalization, decrease readmission rates and lower residents illnesses and deaths. Copper installations can reduce risk of disease transmission and contribute to a healthier space for everyone. Philanthropy is a key component of funding new research and innovative ideas to improve patient care, says Angela Chapman, President & CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. We are so grateful to partner with Teck and Vancouver Coastal Health to better protect some of our most vulnerable populations and our health care workers by supporting innovative new ideas like this copper installation. This announcement builds on the groundbreaking study announced on May 18, 2023 led by VCH and financially supported by Teck that studied the use of antimicrobial copper in public transit settings in Vancouver and Toronto as well as the effectiveness of copper in killing viruses in a laboratory setting. Study results showed that select copper products eliminated 99.9% of bacteria on public transit and 99.9% of viruses in a laboratory setting within two hours of contact. Media downloads: Click here About Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is committed to delivering exceptional care to 1.25 million people, including the First Nations, Metis and Inuit in our region, within the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai'xais, Lil'wat, Musqueam, N'Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shishalh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla'amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv, and Xa'xtsa. VCH is British Columbias hub of health-care innovation, research and academic excellence, providing specialized care to patients throughout the province. Learn more at www.vch.ca. About TeckAs one of Canadas leading mining companies, Teck is committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, zinc, and steelmaking coal. Copper, zinc and high-quality steelmaking coal are required for the transition to a low-carbon world. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Tecks shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK. Learn more about Teck at www.teck.com or follow @TeckResources. About VGH & UBC Hospital FoundationVGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Healths primary philanthropic partner, raising funds for specialized adult health services and research for all British Columbians. We partner with donors to drive innovation and sustainable health care at VGH, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Vancouver Community Health Services. About Tecks Copper & Health ProgramThrough its Copper & Health program, Teck has funded numerous initiatives across a range of industries and public facilities to help improve health and safety in high-traffic, high-touch areas through the installation of antimicrobial copper. Tecks Copper & Health program has installed copper surfaces in a number of healthcare facilities, including Vancouver General Hospital and St. Pauls Hospital, on public transit in partnership with TransLink and Toronto Transit Commission, throughout the terminal at Vancouver International Airport, in major attractions including Royal Ontario Museum and Science World, and in schools through partnerships with BCIT, SFU and UBC. Teck is a proud member of CHAIR Canada, the Coalition for Community and Healthcare Acquired Infection Reduction (chaircanada.org). MORE INFORMATION: Copperstopsthespread.ca Teck Media Contact Chris StannellPublic Relations Manager604.699.4368[email protected] Vancouver Coastal Health Media Contact April Penney604.290.7482[email protected] Source: Teck Resources Ltd; Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) WOOSTER, Ohio, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 25, 2023, Wayne Savings Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: WAYN) (the Company) held its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting). The inspector of elections delivered its final report of voting results for each of the matters submitted to a vote. Proposal 1: To elect three (3) directors to serve until the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. The three nominees who received a plurality of FOR votes are elected as directors. The final report of the inspector of elections tabulation of voting results is set forth below: Board of Directors Nominees: Nominee For Withheld Broker Non-Votes Brian Hopkins 1,220,675 51,936 432,376 Debra A. Marthey 1,215,057 57,553 432,376 James R. VanSickle II 1,222,358 50,253 432,376 Proposal 2: To ratify the appointment of FORVIS, LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023. According to the final report of the inspector of election tabulation of voting results, stockholders ratified the appointment of FORVIS, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023, by the votes indicated below: For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes 1,605,156 73,613 26,218 - President and CEO James VanSickle commented on the results, 2022 was the sixth consecutive year of record earnings for the Company and it would not have been possible without the support of our customers, shareholders, and wonderful team of community bankers. I am thankful for your support of Wayne Savings and giving us an opportunity to make a difference in our communities. Executive Chair Mark R. Witmer echoed VanSickles appreciation for the shareholder support, and added, We are optimistic about the future and look forward to maintaining our momentum in 2023 and beyond. Wayne Savings leadership team remains committed to support our local customers and businesses meet their financial goals and pursue their dreams. I would like to thank our shareholders for their continued involvement and confidence in Wayne Savings Bancshares, Inc. Forward-Looking-StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that reflect managements current assumptions and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results. A variety of factors could cause the Companys actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results, including, but not limited to the factors noted in this letter and in the Managements Discussion and Analysis in our most recent Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2021. The forward-looking statements in this letter speak only as to the date of this release. Wayne Savings Bancshares, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to such statements to reflect any change in its expectations upon which such statements are based. Contact Information: James R. VanSickle President and Chief Executive Officer(330) 264-5767 Source: Wayne Savings Bancshares Inc. By Tatiana Bautzer, Saeed Azhar and Isabel Woodford NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc scrapped a $7-billion sale of its Mexican consumer unit and will list it instead, in a surprise move that delays the bank's overhaul and will likely feed into investor anxiety about the country's leftist president. Citi said it plans to list the business, called Banamex, in 2025 and resume a "modest level of share buybacks" this quarter. The bank is considering a dual stock listing, possibly in Mexico City and New York, for the unit, two sources familiar with the matter said. New York-based Citi had been in talks to sell Banamex to Mexican billionaire German Larrea's conglomerate Grupo Mexico, with sources saying in recent months the sides were close to a deal. But tensions between the conglomerate and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, which had been rising, flared up after the latter moved on Friday to expropriate part of one of the company's rail lines. The spat between Grupo Mexico and Citi as well as other government demands on Banamex - including that it remained in Mexican hands and that any new owner not be allowed to cut costs through layoffs - led the two sides to abandon the deal, according to two sources familiar with the matter. A spokesperson for the president did not respond to requests for comment. Lopez Obrador has previously said there "was no problem" with Grupo Mexico buying the business. After Citi's announcement, he said the Mexican state could participate in a deal, adding the government could have up to $3 billion at its disposal. Citi shares sank more than 3% on Wednesday and are down about 1.7% this year. Shares in Grupo Mexico, some of whose investors had been mystified about the synergies a mining group could obtain buying a bank, were up more than 8%. Citi first bought Banamex in 2001 for $12.5 billion. The lender announced in January 2022 that it would exit Mexico, ending its 20-year retail presence in the country. The sale was part of a broader overhaul at the U.S. No.3 bank, which has struggled for years to gain scale and profitability from a myriad of businesses worldwide. Chief Executive Jane Fraser decided to exit consumer businesses in 14 markets, while focusing on multinational companies and wealthy clients to boost profitability. Fraser, who had met Lopez Obrador in February, said in a statement on Wednesday that the bank had decided an IPO would be the best path to "advancing our goal to simplify our firm." It remains unclear what investor appetite would be for such a deal, however, especially given the Mexican government's opposition to layoffs that could be needed to make the unit more competitive. "The good news is that Mexico's stock market may have another listed bank, although Citi's ability to pull off an IPO of its Mexican consumer banking operations at a decent price remains to be seen," said Damian Fraser, CEO of communication agency Miranda Partners, who previously ran UBS's operations in Mexico and is not related to the Citi CEO. "The bad news is that in the end no one wanted to buy Banamex." (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer and Saeed Azhar in New York and Isabel Woodford in London; Additional Reporting by Yasmin Mehnaz and Niket Nishant in Bangalore, Valentine Hilaire, Dave Graham and Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Nick Zieminski, Christian Plumb and Lananh Nguyen) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Angold Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AAU) (FSE: 13L) ("Angold" or the "Company") announces that the Company will undertake a consolidation ("Consolidation") of it's outstanding common shares on the basis of one (1) post-Consolidation for every ten (10) pre-Consolidation shares. The Consolidation has been approved by the directors of the Company, in accordance with the Articles of the Company. As of the date of this news release, the Company has 144,705,502 common shares issued and outstanding. Following completion of the Consolidation, the Company is expected to have approximately 14,470,550 common shares issued and outstanding. The exercise price and number of common shares issuable upon the exercise of the Company's outstanding options and warrants will also be proportionally adjusted upon completion of the Consolidation. Completion of the Consolidation remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company will issue a further news release once such approval has been obtained and effective date for the Consolidation determined. About Angold Resources Ltd. Angold is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven gold districts in Chile and Ontario. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Galen McNamara" Galen McNamara, Chairman and Interim CEO Further information on Angold can be found on the Company's website at www.angoldresources.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting the Company by email at [email protected]. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include expectations regarding completion of the Consolidation. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. 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 or information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167579 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 24, 2023) - Coho Collective Kitchens Inc. (TSXV: COHO) ("Coho" or the "Company"), a commercial real estate and food technology company that provides private and shared kitchen and food production space to a variety of businesses, is excited to announce the opening of two new facilities in Vancouver, British Columbia. Located at 1623 Pandora Street and 901 East Hastings Street, the new locations will operate as "Coho Pandora" and "Coho Hastings", respectively. Coho Pandora, a 19,932 square foot facility, offers space for over 20 businesses to operate from, including ghost kitchens, caterers, and consumer packaged goods ("CPG") companies. It will also act as a research and development hub for restaurants. Located in East Vancouver's high-demand manufacturing district, it gives Coho members and businesses a central location to operate from, with access to a diverse selection of potential customers. Coho is proud to announce that this location was 100% pre-sold and at opening is operating at full capacity. Coho Hastings, a 3,896 square foot facility, offers space for specialized CPG manufacturers to scale and grow their businesses, while also allowing Coho to solidify its place as a leading shared kitchen space provider in Canada. Andrew Barnes, CEO of Coho said, "I am proud and excited to announce the opening of two new Coho locations. It shows the continued growth and expansion of our company, and reaffirms our commitment to providing exceptional products and services to our valued members. This expansion will allow us to empower more entrepreneurs and food businesses throughout Western Canada, while driving additional value for shareholders." Closing of Previously Announced Private Placement Coho is also pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated May 9, 2023, the Company has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of CAD$1,650,000 (the "Offering"). The Offering was a non-brokered private placement of 1,650 convertible debentures of the Company (the "Convertible Debentures"), at a price of CAD$1,000 per Convertible Debenture, for gross proceeds of CAD$1,650,000. There were no finder, broker, or agent fees payable by the Company in connection with the Offering. The Convertible Debentures bear interest at a rate of 8% per annum, calculated and payable semi-annually in arrears, with the first payment beginning on June 30, 2023. The Convertible Debentures will mature on March 31, 2026 (the "Maturity Date"). The principal amount of each Convertible Debenture will be convertible into common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of CAD$0.15 per Common Share (the "Conversion Price") at the option of the holder thereof (at any time prior to the close of business on the Maturity Date). At the election of the Company, all interest accrued on the Convertible Debentures may be payable in cash or, subject to approval by the TSXV, Common Shares issued at the Market Price (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) of the Common Shares at the time of any such settlement. The proceeds received by the Company from the Offering are intended to be used for advancement of the Company's facilities, M&A, and general corporate activities. In accordance with applicable Canadian Securities laws and the policies of the TSXV, the Convertible Debentures, and any Common Shares issued in connection therewith, may not be sold, transferred, hypothecated or otherwise traded through the facilities of the TSXV (or otherwise) until four months and one day from the date hereof. Acquisition of Convertible Debentures by Wevers Holdings Wevers Holdings Ltd. ("Wevers Holdings"), a holding company controlled by Bryan Wevers, was the sole participant in the Offering. Prior to the acquisition of Convertible Debentures, Wevers Holdings and Bryan Wevers, (together, the "Acquirors") held a total of 5,766,500 Common Shares of the Company. Of these Common Shares, 5,100,000 Common Shares are held by Wevers Holdings (a company which Mr. Wevers owns and controls). 666,500 Common Shares are also held directly by Mr. Wevers and Mr. Wevers also holds 25,000 Common share purchase options personally. Prior to the acquisition of the Convertible Debentures, the non-dilutive shareholdings of the Acquirors represented approximately 6.84% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company and 6.87% on a partially diluted basis (i.e., assuming full exercise of the 25,000 stock options held by Mr. Wevers and no other issuances of Common Shares by the Company). Following the acquisition of 1650 Convertible Debentures on May 24, 2023, the Acquirors now hold approximately 17.62% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company on a partially diluted basis (i.e., assuming full exercise of Mr. Wevers' stock options and the Convertible Debentures into 11,000,000 Common Shares and no other issuances of Common Shares by the Company), triggering the requirement to file an Early Warning Report. The Company has been advised that Wevers Holdings acquired these Convertible Debentures for investment purposes (as disclosed in an Early Warning Report to be filed on SEDAR). These investments will be reviewed on a continuing basis by the Acquirors and such holdings may be increased or decreased in the future. The Acquirors may in the future acquire or dispose of securities of the Company through the market, privately or otherwise as circumstances or market conditions warrant, and in compliance with applicable securities regulatory requirements. Coho's head office is located at 1370 E. Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 2A8. For inquiries or to obtain a copy of the related early warning report required under applicable Canadian securities legislation, a copy of which will also been filed on Coho's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, please contact: Andrew Barnes, Chief Executive Officer at [email protected] or (778) 877-6513. About Coho Coho is a growth stage, community-driven, commercial real estate, and food technology company that provides private and shared kitchen and production space to food companies from start-ups to restaurant groups seeking turnkey solutions and business services. Each of the Company's customers, called "Members", are revenue generating companies that have signed a membership agreement with Coho for an agreed upon term. The concept falls in line with a rapidly growing trend in the food-delivery industry creating a market for delivery-only and/or virtual restaurant concepts. For more information about how Coho is growing and innovating in the commissary space, visit https://www.cohocommissary.com. Contacts Andrew Barnes, Chief Executive Officer [email protected] (778) 877-6513 Investor Relations [email protected] (604) 243-7355 NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflect management's current expectations regarding future events. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the intended use of proceeds from the Offering. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance and that such forward-looking information is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release including, without limitation, that there will be sufficient demand for the Company's newest locations; that the Company will be able to operate its newest locations profitably in the future; that the Company will be able to utilize the net proceeds of the Offering in the manner intended; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; and assumptions regarding political and regulatory stability and stability in financial and capital markets. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others: the risk that the Company may not be able to use the proceeds of the Offering as intended; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; recent market volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167411 Glen Ellyn, Ilinois--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Be one of the first to take advantage of College of DuPage's new Aviation Management program launching this fall. COD's Associate in Applied Science degree in Aviation Management offers students two academic tracks to follow: a flight track to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certifications to prepare students for a career flying airplanes, and an aviation management track that introduces students to a variety of ground-based jobs in aviation. Aviation Program To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9467/167390_college_of_dupage_-multimedia-avitation-program-article.jpg During the 64/65-credit degree program, students will receive hands-on training both in and outside of the classroom from seasoned FAA flight instructors and learn about aircraft operations, flight instruction, federal aviation regulations, aviation safety principles, aviation meteorology and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Market Statistics, the expected job outlook for airline and commercial pilots is on track to grow 13 percent in the next decade. And with that growth comes a need for more aviation support personnel, said COD Aviation Management Instructor Tim Genc. "Nationally, the need for pilots and aviation management professionals is at a historic high," Genc said. "With the launch of COD's Aviation Management program, it allows us to provide the skilled talent that the aviation industry needs, and it gives students another pathway toward a fulfilling, high-wage career." For students following the flight track, the first semester is spent receiving hands-on training inside a Redbird Flight Simulator, a fully enclosed, wrap around visual system that allows students to train in a realistic cockpit environment. "Using the simulator, we can replicate different types of aircraft and many different weather scenarios," Genc said. "The whole purpose of the simulator is to teach students procedures before actually getting in an airplane." After the first semester, in partnership with the Illinois Aviation Academy, students are exposed to an extensive amount of flight training out of the DuPage Airport in West Chicago. Through the program, students can earn their professional pilot certificates and rating in just two years. "Training out of a busy airport like the DuPage Airport does a really good job of preparing students for what they will encounter once they get to the professional pilot's stage of their training," Genc said. Students on the Aviation Management track complete an aviation internship and learn from seasoned aviation industry experts about protocols, procedures and more. For those interested in learning more about the Aviation Management program, attend the Aviation program Open House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at the DuPage Airport, 2700 International Dr., West Chicago. Learn more and register. ### Contact: Angela Mennecke [email protected] (630) 942-3134 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167390 Businesses that have worked with banks before know the difficult, tedious, and fundamentally-broken process of securing financing. Finovance is transforming access to on-demand growth capital, a new vital source of financing after the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank. If the advance release of Finovance AI and ML solutions is any sign of this unmet demand, entrepreneurs and small business owners alike know something special has been built at Finovance. San Francisco, California and London United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - May 24, 2023) - Finovance, a leading artificial intelligence "AI'' and machine learning "ML" revenue-based financing "RBF" and payments fintech capital provider to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), raised an undisclosed amount in initial seed funding. Finovance will use the funds to expand operations and add additional financing offerings to empower SMBs to better manage their working capital needs as well as visualize their own financial data. Finovance has spent over two years developing its innovative and proprietary technology stack and recently emerged from stealth mode to debut www.Finovance.com. Finovance is positioned as an alternative financing solution to traditional banks, private equity, and/or venture capital financing. By providing SMB businesses with non-dilutive, revenue-based financing for working capital or growth financing based on the company's future revenue generation with clear pricing and terms and conditions, Finovance has materially simplified the process with a highly automated experience, ensuring rapid underwriting and access to capital. Finovance state-of-the-art, decision algorithms, allow business owners to raise capital when they need it on a "just-in-time" basis between $50k and $5.0 million, at low monthly flat fees. Businesses can select their repayment periods ranging from 3 months to 60 months, subject to business profile. Terms and conditions are all written in plain language, ensuring transparency and fairness. "We have created a really powerful AI-based platform, offering an efficient banking alternative experience. We want to go beyond existing fintech's or bank offerings today, and introduce a nearly 100% automated AI-based onboarding process of securing growth and working capital financing for growing companies," said co-CEO Craig Schmeizer, who with co founders Gavin Conway and Manuel Henriquez was inspired to start Finovance after encountering a challenging path to securing growth capital for a prior e-commerce startup. "There is no reason SMBs need to be subjected to a long tedious, manual, stressful, and frustrating loan request process that can take 45-120 days. We do not want any SMB to have to experience that ever again," added Schmeizer. "SMBs and innovative high growth SAAS companies are adopting innovative technologies, innovating, and evolving faster more rapidly than ever before, but their legacy banks are not keeping up and still take months for credit approvals in nearly all paper-based processes. We launched Finovance, to help transform how SMBs are able to access capital with quicker innovative decisioning and funding process," Manuel Henriquez, co-founder of Finovance, added. The Company has offices in New York, London, San Francisco, Dubai, and Orlando. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ About Finovance Finovance, founded in 2020, with offices in New York, London, San Francisco, Dubai, and Orlando. Finovance is pioneering the use of human-assisted artificial intelligence "AI'' and machine learning "ML" technologies with its proprietary technology and suite of integrated APIs technology, Finovance enables businesses to instantly secure funding with initial pre-approvals nearly in real-time allowing entrepreneurs access to capital in a fast and efficient way. Companies that work with Finovance are able to secure funding that is fast, flexible, and non-dilutive. Coming soon - Finovance Payments, and Finovance Treasury, empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and the next generation of SAAS businesses with integrated corporate cards, spend-management software, visualization solutions, and FDIC-insured accounts in excess of current limits of $250,000, to better manage their businesses. Finovance is a financial technology company, not a bank. To find out more, visit: www.Finovance.com. Note: Pre-approved financing is subject qualifying data received; to final verification of received data and satisfactory terms and conditions. Media Contact Shawn Carrano - PR Account Manager Victorious PR Email: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167076 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp.(TSXV: KLDC) (formerly Warrior Gold Inc., "Kirkland Lake Discoveries" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that the Company has completed its acquisition of the Lucky Strike property (the "Lucky Strike Property") and related private placement offering of Subscription Receipts (as defined below). Acquisition of Lucky Strike Property As previously announced in its news release dated February 22, 2023, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with New Found Gold Corp. ("NFG") dated February 16, 2023, as amended May 8, 2023 (the "Purchase Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company has now acquired from NFG all of the properties comprising the Lucky Strike Property located in the Kirkland Lake gold camp in Ontario, Canada (the "Transaction"). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired the Lucky Strike Property by issuing to NFG 28,612,500 common shares in the capital of the Company, and granting to NFG a 1.0% net smelter return royalty on the Lucky Strike Property pursuant to a royalty agreement. The common shares issued pursuant to Purchase Agreement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. In addition, under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, NFG agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to distribute all the common shares of the Company that it holds to its shareholders, pro rata, within one year following the completion of the Transaction. The Company's board of directors was reconstituted in conjunction with the completion of the Transaction and now consists of four directors: Denis Laviolette, Danile Spethmann, Gary Nassif, and Stephen Burleton. Two additional directors may be nominated by NFG later. Consolidated Land Package The Lucky Strike Property, located immediately east of the Company's neighboring land package in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, consists of 653 unpatented mining claims covering approximately 11,367 hectares (114 km2). The consolidated properties of the Company now form the largest land package in the Kirkland Lake Gold Camp with an area of approximately 38,000 hectares (380 km2). The consolidated land package is 53 kilometres in length and up to 20 kilometres wide and hosts past-producing gold and copper operations, several with underground workings, numerous pits and many mineral showings of gold, copper, silver, critical and other precious metals. The property lies within the Blake River mafic volcanic formation, the same host rocks as Agnico Eagle's Upper Beaver deposit and roughly eight kilometres north of the "Mile of Seven Mines", which includes the Macassa Mine. The consolidation of the properties represents property acquisitions over nine years from more than 18 prospectors and owners of patented claims. Daniele Spethmann, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Discoveries, stated: "The completion of this transaction and the consolidation of this highly prospective land package in a renowned mining district is a rare and very exciting opportunity. The addition of Denis Laviolette as a director of the Company strengthens the Company's board and helps position the Company to realize its goal of achieving exploration success within the combined properties." Private Placement Financing In connection with the Transaction, the Company has closed its best-efforts brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") through the issuance of 18,690,000 subscription receipts of the Company (each, a "Non-FT Subscription Receipt") at a price of $0.25 per Non-FT Subscription Receipt (the "Non-FT Offering Price"), and 11,547,299 "flow-through" subscription receipts of the Company (each, an "FT Subscription Receipt", and together with the Non-FT Subscription Receipts, the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.275 per FT Subscription Receipt (the "FT Offering Price", and together with the Non-FT Offering Price, the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of $7,848,007. Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the "Agent") acted as agent in connection with the Offering. The Company entered into a subscription receipt agreement dated May 25, 2023 (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") with the Agent and Olympia Trust Company, as subscription receipt agent (the "Escrow Agent"). Following satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions in accordance with the Subscription Receipt Agreement, each Non-FT Subscription Receipt entitles the holder thereof to receive one unit of the Company (each, a "Non-FT Unit"), subject to adjustments. Each Non-FT Unit will consist of one Common Share and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Non-FT Warrant"). Upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, each FT Subscription Receipt entitles the holder thereof to receive one unit of the Company (each, a "FT Unit", and together with the Non-FT Units, the "Units"), subject to adjustments. Each FT Unit will consist of one Common Share (a "FT Unit Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (a "FT Warrant", and together with the Non-FT Warrants, the "Warrants"). Each FT Unit Share and FT Warrant will qualify as a "flow-through share" as defined in subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985 c. 1 (5th Supp.), as amended (the "Tax Act"). Each Warrant will be exercisable by the holder thereof into one Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") for a period of two (2) years following the date of the Escrow Release (as defined below) at an exercise price of $0.40 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustments. The Company satisfied the Escrow Release Conditions on May 25, 2023. The conversion of the Subscription Receipts and the release of the escrowed proceeds of the Offering is expected to occur on or about May 30, 2023 (the "Escrow Release"). Following Escrow Release, the net proceeds from the Offering are intended to primarily be used to fund the Company's initial planned exploration program at the combined Kirkland Lake/Lucky Strike Property and for general working capital purposes. In consideration of the services rendered in connection with the Offering the Company paid cash commissions in the aggregate amount of $467,880 and issued an aggregate of 1,802,238 broker warrants of the Company (the "Broker Warrants"), exercisable into the same number of common shares of the Company (the "Broker Warrant Shares") at a price per Broker Warrant Share equal to the Non-FT Offering Price for a period from the date of the Escrow Release until 24 months following the date of the Escrow Release. The Company anticipates the common shares will resume trading on or about May 31, 2023. The Offering was conducted in all provinces of Canada pursuant to private placement exemptions and in such other jurisdictions as were agreed to by the Company and the Agent. The Offering remains subject to the final approval of the TSXV. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp. Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp (KLDC) is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed company that has consolidated a district-scale and prospective land package in the Kirkland Lake gold camp in Ontario, Canada. The properties are hosted in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the world's best-endowed greenstone belts, with +200 million ounces of gold produced to date. The properties are host to regional and property-scale mineralized structures that are considered second-order structures off the Larder Lake Cadillac Deformation Zone LLCDZ the regional structure in the belt known to be spatially associated with the gold mines hosted in the camp. The properties assembled include the 100%-owned Lucky Strike Property, Goodfish-Kirana, the Arnold property, the optioned KL West (KLW) and KL Central (KLC). The Company's land position comprises approximately 38,000 ha, over 1,338 claims and 29 patented claims in the Kirkland Lake region. For additional information, please contact: Daniele Spethmann, P.Geo. President & CEO kirklandlakediscoveries.com +1 416 414 7011 [email protected] The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the expected conversion of the Subscription Receipts, the use of proceeds from the Offering, and the final approval of the TSXV. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, availability of necessary financing, potential mineralization on the Company's mineral projects, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to them, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, title and environmental risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167568 Thunder Bay Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Metals Creek Resources Corp.(TSXV: MEK) (FSE: M1C1)(the "Company" or Metals Creek)is pleased to announce assay results from the initial round of prospecting on its recently acquired Shabaqua Corners property. The property is located within the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt, approximately 54 km west of Thunder Bay, Ontario near Shabaqua Corners and on trend to Delta Resources Delta 1 project. The property has seen very little exploration work. Initial field activities on the Shabaqua Corners Gold Property concentrated on evaluating the previously reported (See news release: March 28, 2023) historic gold mineralization that is hosted within an east-west trending zone of mineralization. 24 samples were collected (See table 1 and figure 1 below) with assays ranging from d0.005 to 42.8 grammes per tonne (g/t) Gold (Au) within strongly altered mafic volcanics. Alteration consists of pervasive iron carbonate with associated quartz carbonate veining and stockwork ranging from 2-30% of the host rock as well as local fuchsite within more sheared areas. Mineralization consists of trace to 10% disseminated to stringer pyrite with local arsenopyrite up to 1%. Very fine visible gold (VG) was noted within samples MAM23-001 and 020. Preliminary interpretation indicates gold mineralization occurs at the contact with mafic volcanics and sediments with associated shearing and iron carbonate alteration. (Note: The surface grab samples described in this news release are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades of the property.) Prospecting and geological mapping is ongoing with the aim of further delineating known gold mineralization along strike as well as continuing to evaluate other portions of the property for prospective gold bearing parallel structures as demonstrated within other projects within the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt. The project is underlain by mafic volcanics with interbedded sediments. Gold mineralization is hosted within an east-west trending zone of pervasive carbonate alteration with associated quartz carbonate veins and pyrite/arsenopyrite. Alexander (Sandy) Stares states, "This initial phase of prospecting confirms the high-grade nature of gold mineralization on the Shabaqua Corners Property. We are especially encouraged that 4 of the 24 samples collected ran over 30g/t Au." Sample Number Gold Parts Per Billion (ppb) Remarks MAM23-001 31800 Visible Gold MAM23-002 955 MAM23-003 274 MAM23-004 37 MAM23-005 2620 MAM23-006 42800 MAM23-007 2630 MAM23-008 39 MAM23-009 78 MAM23-010 22 MAM23-011 13 MAM23-012 MAM23-013 MAM23-014 10100 MAM23-015 42000 MAM23-016 10800 MAM23-017 2510 MAM23-018 2270 MAM23-019 6060 MAM23-020 9640 Visible Gold MAM23-021 453 MAM23-022 505 MAM23-023 32100 MAM23-024 18100 Table 1 Assay Results Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/943/167406_09e974a0a47919cb_002full.jpg The eastern boundary of the property is located 1.57 kilometers(km) west of Delta Resources (DLTA) drill hole DL-22-18 which returned an intercept of 5.92 g/t Au over 31m (Source: Delta New Release October 31, 2022). Trenching conducted on Delta's ground 390m east of the property boundary, returned an interval of 2.22 g/t Au over 8m (Source: Delta Resources Website). All samples were sent to Activation Laboratories. The precious metals were analyzed utilizing a standard fire assay with an atomic absorption finish. Michael MacIsaac, P.Geo and VP Exploration for the Corporation and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for this release, and supervised the preparation of the information forming the basis for this release. About Metals Creek Resources Corp. Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont Corporation, including the former Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). Metals Creek also has multiple quality projects available for option which can be viewed on the Company's website. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact the Company at the number below. Additional information concerning the Company is contained in documents filed by the Company with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO Metals Creek Resources Corp telephone: (709)-256-6060 fax: (709)-256-6061 MetalsCreek.com Twitter.com/MetalsCreekRes Facebook.com/MetalsCreek To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167406 BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Azerbaijan are working on the creation of a new telecom connection, Deputy Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union Tomas Lamanauskas told Trend. According to him, the creation of a new telecom connection is important from the point of view of the formation of a new infrastructure: conventional telephone communication, the Internet and other telecommunication services. "ITU and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan are negotiating this project. They were also conducted on the eve of the GSMA M360 Eurasia 2023 conference, which was held on May 16-17 in Baku. Our projects are mainly aimed at creating a favorable environment, however, regulation will be required for the development of the market," he said. Lamanauskas said that the two structures are also working on strengthening cybersecurity capabilities, considering options for using 5G. "These are complex works. It is gratifying that here, in Azerbaijan, there is a desire to participate in these projects, as well as a very strong vision on the part of the ministry. We are really convinced that we have not just an infrastructure, but a useful infrastructure. Operators and government agencies know what the user needs, what useful applications are. Together we can offer the best products for the local consumer," he added. Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Micromem Technologies Inc.(CSE: MRM) (OTCQB: MMTIF)("Micromem" or the "Company") announces its intention to raise gross proceeds of C$21,000 through a non-brokered private placement by issuing 200,000 common shares at C$0.105 per share (the "Private Placement"). It is expected that closing will occur on or about the date that is five business days after the date of this news release. The Company anticipates that it will use the proceeds for general working capital, including payment of outstanding debt. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month holding period. The Private Placement remains subject to final regulatory approvals. About Micromem. Micromem Technologies Inc. and its subsidiaries, a publicly traded (OTCQB: MMTIF) (CSE: MRM), company analyzes specific industry sectors to create intelligent game-changing applications that address unmet market needs. By leveraging its expertise and experience with sophisticated sensor applications, the Company successfully powers the development and implementation of innovative solutions for oil & gas, utilities, automotive, healthcare, government, information technology, manufacturing and other industries. Visit www.micromeminc.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. In particular, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: our inability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms; risk that our products and services will not gain widespread market acceptance; continued consumer adoption of digital technology; inability to compete with others who provide comparable products; the failure of our technology; the infringement of our technology with proprietary rights of third parties; inability to respond to consumer and technological demands; inability to replace significant customers; seasonal nature of our business; and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," "should," "intend," "may," "will," "would," "potential," and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. The CSE or any other securities regulatory authority has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release that has been prepared by management. ### Listing: NASD OTC-QB - Symbol: MMTIF CSE - Symbol: MRM Shares issued: 503,526,137 SEC File No: 0-26005 Investor Contact: Joseph Fuda, President and CEO; [email protected]; Tel. 416-364-2023 Subscribe to receive News Releases by Email on our website's home page. www.micromeminc.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167526 Colorado Springs, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Criminal defense law firm Murphy & Price, LLP (719-247-3089) has been featured on a podcast on military and criminal defense in Denver, Vail and Colorado Springs.The new podcast, which is hosted by The Attorney Post, features Warren Price, a junior partner at Murphy & Price, LLP. Price discusses legal rights, the current state of the legal system, common misconceptions regarding rules of evidence, and many other topics on federal and military criminal defense in Colorado Springs. More information is available at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/protecting-your-rights-military-and-criminal-defense/id1562180400?i=1000610657987 Murphy & Price In New Podcast On Colorado Springs Federal Criminal Defense To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/167093_dac3e09834dd8b40_001full.jpg The release of The Attorney Post's podcast comes in the wake of the pandemic, where numerous legal practices were impacted by severe service disruptions. In the new episode, Price aims to draw attention to the intricacies of federal and military criminal defense in Colorado Springs. Price uncovers the complex factors at play and highlights the role of the key players involved in the post-pandemic legal process, with the goal of helping listeners become better informed. Price and his team specialize in representing service members in civilian or court-martial cases, and their experienced attorneys can defend their clients against both state and federal charges. The firm's legal services cover areas including criminal defense, traffic offenses, DUI, and legal assistance for tourists and immigrants in Colorado. With over 20 years of experience, Murphy & Price, LLP is a local law firm that represents its clients with the goal of achieving a desirable outcome without sacrificing affordability. Price recently won the 2022 Top Attorney Award. Additional details can be found at https://youtu.be/KAJ00sMFC84 "Each member of our team brings a high level of experience and a unique perspective to the firm. This gives us the resources to solve even the most complex legal problems," says Price. "We understand that legal issues can be overwhelming, but our team is dedicated to providing compassionate guidance and personalized solutions for each client." Interested parties can learn more by visiting https://www.cosprings.lawyer/ Contact Info: Name: Warren Price Email: [email protected] Organization: Murphy & Price LLP Address: 10 Boulder Cres St # 301, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, United States Website: https://COSprings.lawyer To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167093 Maskwacis, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 24, 2023) - Tansi, The Ermineskin Cree Nation of Treaty 6 Territory, in collaboration with the Western Treaty Nations, is thrilled to announce we are hosting the next National Summit on the Natural Resource Transfer Agreements (NRTA) of 1930. This important event is scheduled to take place from May 29th - June 1, 2023, at the Ermineskin Cree Nation's Maskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada. The NRTA's of 1930 (one each for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) were created to shift federal administrative duties of natural resources to the Prairie Provinces. The governments assumed control over lands and resources created a conflict with the inherent rights and jurisdiction of the First Nations treaty rights holders that are located within these provinces. Consequently, the lack of consultation and exclusion of First Nations as inherent and Treaty rights holders has long hindered the self-determination of First Nation's and their ability to benefit and develop sustainable, community-led economies from the lands and resources. Through this event, we hope to contribute in raising awareness, strengthening Treaty relations and establishing a clear mandate moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation. The Western Treaty Nations is a non-incorporated First Nations Organization delegated by FN's Chiefs. Rene McCarthy-Summit Coordinator ERMINESKIN CREE NATION Cc. Ermineskin Council For more information please contact: Ermineskin External Affairs (780) 585-3741 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167391 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: PEX) (OTCQB: PEXZF) ("Pacific Ridge" or the "Company")is pleased to announce the Company's 2023 exploration plans for its 100% owned Kliyul copper-gold porphyry project ("Kliyul"), located in the prolific Quesnel Trough in northcentral British Columbia (see Figure 1). The exploration program will have two main objectives, 1) to expand the size of the Kliyul Main Zone ("KMZ") mineralized body to the southeast and into neighbouring fault blocks (see Figure 2), and, 2) testing several high priority targets that occur along the Divide Lake Fault Trend, a highly-prospective 6-km-long alteration and mineralization corridor (see Figure 3). "I have high expectations for this year's drill program at Kliyul," said Blaine Monaghan, President & CEO of Pacific Ridge. "Our technical team, Executive Chairman Dr. Gerry Carlson, Vice President of Exploration Danette Schwab, and Chief Geologist Paul Jago, have done a fantastic job further developing our knowledge and understanding of Kliyul, which will be the key to unlocking its tremendous potential. I believe that the results from this year's drill program will be an inflection point for the Company." Pacific Ridge will utilize two diamond drill rigs and plans to drill a minimum of 7,000 m expanding the size of the KMZ mineralized body and testing other targets. The program is fully funded, budgeted at $4.6 million, and the Company expects drilling to be underway by the end of June. Figure 1:Location of Kliyul To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/167413_d9e9b4ef840c7af7_001full.jpg Figure 2:Plan View of KMZ, Kliyul West, Kliyul North and East Wedge with magnetic vector inversion (MVI) amplitude magnetics To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/167413_6a345223c4ca58e0_002full.jpg Figure 3:Other targets at Kliyul: Ginger, Parish Hill, Bap Ridge, and M39 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/167413_d9e9b4ef840c7af7_003full.jpg Recap of the 2022 Exploration Program at Kliyul Pacific Ridge's 2022 exploration program consisted of diamond drilling (7,014.7 m in 12 drill holes), Induced Polarization (IP) survey (27 line-km), high-resolution heli-borne magnetic and radiometric survey (423 line-km), MVI modelling of aeromagnetic survey results, LiDAR survey (257.5 line-km), porphyry footprints geochemical modelling, geological mapping and surface sampling (rock), and continued baseline water sampling. Key accomplishments of the 2022 exploration program include the following: The 2022 drilling campaign materially increased the size of the KMZ mineralized body to approximately 600 m (E-W) x 350 m (N-S) x 600 m vertical depth from approximately 350 m (E-W) x 150 m (N-S) x 500 m vertical depth; Drilling confirmed that the KMZ is not bounded by faults on any side and mineralization remains open in every direction and at depth; Drilling confirmed the existence of the modelled NW-striking Lui Fault which separates KMZ block from Kliyul West block and confirmed that the WSW-striking Valley Fault zone has a Late Triassic phase related to mineralization and veining; Broad step-outs to the west and east along the Valley Fault corridor confirmed the system centred at KMZ extends for over 1.2 km along this trend before reaching the system edge, and that mineralization is structurally controlled within the Valley Fault zone; Drilling confirmed that neighbouring fault blocks (Kliyul West, Kliyul North, East Wedge) to the KMZ block have chlorite-sericite alteration and associated mineralization suggesting these blocks are downthrown several 100 m relative to the central KMZ block, and that these blocks have good preservation potential for different segments of a larger porphyry deposit; Drilling in the Kliyul North zone is providing new information on deposit scale geology and attitude of geological features, including dyke and vein orientations, providing key marker units in geological modelling which will aid in resolving if the porphyry system has been tilted post-mineral; and Drilling in Kliyul West has provided a vector to distinctively higher Cu:Au ratio in mineralization which increases to 1.5 in Kliyul West versus 0.25-0.50 in the KMZ, and porphyry footprints modelling has suggested a porphyry core to the west or southwest of KMZ. See Table 1 for 2021 and 2022 drilling highlights. 2023 Drill Hole Planning The planned 2023 drilling program at Kliyul will total 7,000 m in at least 12 drill holes. KMZ Drill Holes A minimum of seven drill holes (over 4,000 m) are planned to expand the size of the KMZ mineralized body into neighbouring fault blocks Kliyul West, Kliyul North, and East Wedge (Figure 2). At least three drill holes will be collared within KMZ, considered to be a high-standing block, and drilled into neighbouring downthrown fault blocks at depth, allowing for continued infill and expansion of KMZ block mineralization (currently about 400 m x 200 m and 450 m depth at 0.40% CuEq), which remains open to the east and southeast within the KMZ block. In Kliyul North, drilling will test a deep MVI (Induced) magnetic high anomaly below 400 m depth, with similar signature as KMZ, and with coincident high resistivity and chargeability to 400 m depth. Drilling will be in areas without any historical drilling below 150 m vertical depth. Additionally, drilling will test for a northern extension of mineralization intersected in KLI-22-046 following a moderately south-dipping coincident magnetic-resistivity-chargeability high geophysical feature north of Valley Fault that is roughly 600 m x 300 m and 150 m in thickness. In Kliyul West, drilling will test for continuation of high Cu:Au ratio mineralization intersected in KLI-22-043 to the southeast and below 400 m vertical depth within the deep magnetic high (MVI Induced) anomaly. Drilling will step out 100 m to 350 m southeast of KLI-22-043 and KLI-22-050 along the Lui Fault corridor. In East Wedge/Kliyul East, drilling will test for an extension of mineralization intersected in KLI-22-049 within a coincident magnetic-resistivity-chargeability high geophysical signature below 400 m depth. Other targets A minimum of four drill holes (over 2,300 m) is planned to test four satellite target areas of interest along the prospective 6-km-long Divide Lake Fault trend from the Ginger target in the northwest to the M-39 target in the southeast (Figure 4). This northwest trending corridor includes KMZ where it intersects the ENE-trending Valley Fault zone. At the Ginger target area, drilling will test a coincident MVI Induced magnetic high and chargeability high feature to over 500 m vertical depth. The 2022 IP survey chargeability results suggest there may be a NE-tilted porphyry system underlying the western side of Ginger cirque where magnetite, biotite and sericite altered volcaniclastic rocks were mapped on surface in 2022, and where historical rock sampling returned >500 ppm copper. A new target area called Ginger South lies 800 m south of Ginger and along the ENE-trending Valley Fault corridor, 1.3 km west of KMZ, where it intersects the NW-trending Parish Hill fault. Drilling will test a coincident RMI aeromagnetic high (150 m x 160 m), chargeability high, Cu-in-soil (>500 ppm) anomaly near a potentially important lithological contact in the volcaniclastic stratigraphy. Resistivity data suggests the target is at the inflection point of a syncline-anticline fold pair. The Parish Hill skarn target is located where a Cu-sulfide-mineralized magnetite garnet skarn outcrop was mapped in 2021 proximal to the Lui Fault and the above-mentioned lithological contact. MVI (Induced) modelling suggests there is a moderately west-dipping 200 m x 150 m pipe shaped magnetic high feature that comes to surface in this area and expands into a large magnetic anomaly starting at 300 m depth with coincident resistivity high signature. Chargeability intensifies with depth. The target area is about 650 m southeast of planned Kliyul West drilling along the Lui Fault corridor. The M-39 target area underlies a 450 m x 400 m RMI aeromagnetic high anomaly. Results from the 2022 IP survey indicate there is a large chargeability high feature (600 m x 500 m x 250 m) starting at about 400-500 m depth that has a steeply dipping pipe-shaped arm (150 m x 200 m) that approaches surface on its western side at the contact with the Kliyul Creek intrusive complex. A flat-lying resistivity high feature at 200 m depth may represent a lithocap above the main chargeability feature. Drilling will test the chargeability arm and continue to depth into the larger anomaly. Figure 4:Target Zone Locations at Kliyul with RMI Aeromagnetics To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5460/167413_d9e9b4ef840c7af7_004full.jpg About Kliyul Owned 100% by Pacific Ridge, Kliyul is over 60 km2 in size and is located in the prolific Quesnel Trough close to existing infrastructure. Kliyul comprises nine porphyry copper-gold targets along two main trends: the 1.5 km-long east-northeast Valley Fault Trend, which includes its five fault-defined target areas (Kliyul West, KMZ, Kliyul North, East Wedge, and Kliyul East); and the 6-km-long northwest-trending Divide Lake Fault Trend which includes Ginger, Parish Hill, Bap Ridge, and M-39 target areas. Since 2020, Pacific Ridge has spent over $7.5M advancing Kliyul, including 8,557 m of drilling in 15 holes as well as geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys. Based on the exploration results to date, the Company believes that there is excellent potential to define a significant porphyry copper-gold system with multiple centres. Drilling at KMZ to date has defined a mineralized body measuring approximately 600 m by 350 m, and to a depth of 600 m; and geophysical data, including recent magnetic and IP surveys, suggest that this body can be expanded significantly. Table 1:2021 and 2022 Kliyul Drill Highlights Hole From(m) To(m) Width(m) Cu(%) Au(g/t) Ag(g/t) CuEq(%)* AuEq(g/t)** KLI-21-036 12.0 449.0 437.0 0.22 0.60 1.62 0.68 0.93 Includes 12.0 65.0 53.0 0.22 0.83 1.52 0.84 1.15 And 12.0 33.0 21.0 0.34 1.30 2.48 1.31 1.80 And 47.0 65.0 18.0 0.22 0.89 1.24 0.88 1.21 Includes 143.3 435.0 291.7 0.28 0.74 2.04 0.84 1.15 And 294.0 435.0 141.0 0.36 1.11 2.76 1.19 1.64 KLI21-037 12.3 579.0 566.7 0.20 0.44 1.39 0.53 0.73 Includes 12.3 329.0 316.7 0.30 0.70 2.17 0.83 1.14 And 62.0 73.0 11.0 0.42 1.22 4.48 1.35 1.85 And 90.0 122.0 32.0 0.52 0.88 2.48 1.18 1.62 And 146.0 161.0 15.0 0.39 1.19 2.86 1.29 1.77 Includes 238.8 288.1 49.4 0.66 1.50 4.83 1.79 2.46 And 243.9 268.0 24.1 1.09 2.21 7.92 2.77 3.80 KLI21-038 9.0 516.0 507.0 0.15 0.39 1.51 0.45 0.62 Includes 9.0 351.0 342.0 0.17 0.50 2.00 0.56 0.77 And 9.0 43.0 34.0 0.27 0.72 2.84 0.82 1.13 And 9.0 63.0 54.0 0.21 0.56 2.27 0.64 0.88 And 108.0 136.0 28.0 0.21 0.60 9.01 0.72 0.99 And 153.1 186.0 32.9 0.24 0.78 1.68 0.82 1.12 And 226.0 351.0 125.0 0.23 0.69 1.57 0.74 1.02 And 261.0 349.0 88.0 0.26 0.84 1.82 0.89 1.22 KLI-22-039 9.3 252.0 242.7 0.15 0.17 1.05 0.29 0.39 Includes 22.0 43.4 21.4 0.38 0.48 3.96 0.76 1.04 And 192.0 229.0 37.0 0.20 0.27 0.67 0.40 0.55 KLI-22-040 23.0 550.8 527.8 0.19 0.30 1.35 0.42 0.58 Includes 89.0 355.5 266.5 0.23 0.48 1.94 0.60 0.82 And 170.0 268.0 98.0 0.33 0.90 3.42 1.01 1.39 And 210.0 253.0 43.0 0.50 1.11 2.72 1.33 1.83 And 306.6 340.0 33.4 0.09 0.56 0.77 0.50 0.69 KLI-22-041 12.0 600.0 588.0 0.12 0.39 0.90 0.41 0.56 Includes 106.0 442.0 336.0 0.15 0.62 1.04 0.61 0.84 And 164.0 442.0 278.0 0.14 0.72 0.95 0.67 0.92 And 164.0 200.0 36.0 0.30 0.70 1.61 0.82 1.13 And 280.0 323.0 43.0 0.09 1.59 1.34 1.26 1.73 And 337.0 398.0 61.0 0.25 1.15 1.12 1.09 1.50 And 420.0 442.0 22.0 0.10 0.63 1.01 0.56 0.77 KLI-22-042 9.0 702.0 693.0 0.11 0.20 0.81 0.26 0.36 Includes 136.0 474.4 338.4 0.12 0.30 0.98 0.35 0.48 And 136.0 306.0 170.0 0.18 0.35 1.34 0.44 0.61 And 438.0 474.4 36.4 0.14 0.62 0.99 0.60 0.82 KLI-22-043 9.0 516.0 507.0 0.17 0.19 0.82 0.32 0.44 Includes 147.0 261.0 114.0 0.28 0.36 1.52 0.55 0.76 And 165.0 229.0 64.0 0.31 0.47 1.82 0.67 0.92 Includes 463.0 501.0 38.0 0.45 0.26 0.83 0.65 0.89 KLI-22-044 11.6 651.0 639.4 0.11 0.23 0.84 0.29 0.39 Includes 81.5 432.2 350.7 0.13 0.32 0.98 0.38 0.52 And 134.0 352.0 218.0 0.15 0.37 1.15 0.43 0.59 And 136.0 194.0 58.0 0.25 0.38 1.73 0.54 0.74 And 237.3 336.7 99.4 0.13 0.47 1.01 0.48 0.66 KLI-22-045 112.0 184.0 72.0 0.21 0.59 1.96 0.66 0.91 Includes 141.0 184.0 43.0 0.17 0.57 2.39 0.61 0.83 And 330.0 367.0 37.0 0.15 0.34 0.89 0.40 0.55 KLI-22-046 273.0 442.0 169.0 0.20 0.46 1.65 0.55 0.75 Includes 313.0 336.2 23.2 0.15 0.49 1.36 0.51 0.71 And 371.0 430.0 59.0 0.24 0.87 2.29 0.89 1.22 KLI-22-047 332.0 385.0 53.0 0.10 0.11 0.72 0.18 0.25 KLI-22-048a 352.0 362.0 10.0 0.01 0.59 1.81 0.46 0.63 KLI-22-049 144.0 484.0 340.0 0.15 0.20 0.80 0.30 0.41 Includes 250.0 316.0 66.0 0.23 0.24 0.90 0.41 0.57 And 456.0 484.0 28.0 0.27 0.44 2.87 0.61 0.84 KLI-22-050 58.0 584.0 526.0 0.20 0.43 1.03 0.52 0.71 Includes 115.0 443.0 328.0 0.25 0.57 1.25 0.67 0.92 And 254.0 308.0 54.0 0.40 1.03 2.42 1.17 1.60 And 354.0 443.0 89.0 0.28 1.05 1.20 1.06 1.45 And 514.0 562.0 48.0 0.19 0.41 1.15 0.49 0.68 *CuEq = ((Cu%) x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Au(g/t) x $Au x 0.032151) + (Ag(g/t) x $Ag X 0.032151)) / ($Cu x 22.0462) **AuEq = ((Cu%) x $Cu x 22.0462) + (Au(g/t) x $Au x 0.032151)) + (Ag(g/t) x $Ag X 0.032151)) / ($Au x 0.032151) Commodity prices: $Cu = US$3.50/lb, $Au = US$1,750/oz., and Ag = US$20.00/oz. Factors: 22.0462 = Cu% to lbs per tonne, 0.032151 = Au g/t to troy oz per tonne, and 0.032151 = Ag g/t to troy oz per tonne. Recovery is assumed to be 100% - there has been no metallurgical testing on Kliyul mineralization About Pacific Ridge Our goal is to become British Columbia's leading copper-gold exploration company. Pacific Ridge's flagship project is its 100% owned Kliyul copper-gold project, located in the Quesnel Trough close to existing infrastructure. In addition to Kliyul, the Company's project portfolio includes the RDP copper-gold project (optioned to Antofagasta Minerals S.A.), the Chuchi copper-gold project, the Onjo copper-gold project, and the Redton copper-gold project, all located in British Columbia. Pacific Ridge would like to acknowledge that its B.C. projects are located in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Gitxsan Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Nak'azdli Whut'en, Takla Nation, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Blaine Monaghan" Blaine Monaghan President & CEO Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. Corporate Contact: Blaine Monaghan President & CEO Tel: (604) 687-4951 www.pacificridgeexploration.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-ridge-exploration-ltd-pex- https://twitter.com/PacRidge_PEX Investor Contact: G2 Consultants Corp. Telephone: +1 778-678-9050 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. The technical information contained within this News Release has been reviewed and approved by Gerald G. Carlson, Ph.D., P.Eng., Executive Chairman of Pacific Ridge and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 policy. 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, which address exploration drilling and other activities and events or developments that Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. ("Pacific Ridge") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include the planned 7,000 m drill program at Kliyul budgeted at $4.6M, the potential for the KMZ mineralized body to continue growing, and the potential to define a significant porphyry copper-gold system with multiple centres. Although Pacific Ridge believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, 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, that one of the options will be exercised, the ability of Pacific Ridge and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Pacific Ridge's proposed programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. 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. Pacific Ridge 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167413 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Scorpio Gold Corporation(TSXV: SGN) ("Scorpio Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding letter of intent dated May 18, 2023 (the "LOI") setting out the terms of a proposed arm's length acquisition (the "Transaction") by the Company of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Altus Gold Corp. ("Altus Gold"), a private mining issuer with two mineral exploration projects in Esmeralda County, Nevada referred to as the Northstar property (the "Northstar Project") and the historic Vanderbilt exploration project ("Vanderbilt Project"), both adjacent to Scorpio Gold's Mineral Ridge Mine ("Mineral Ridge"). If completed, the Transaction would consolidate the entire 12-mile ridge, resulting in total land package of 10,652 ha of mineral rights, and 931 ha of surface rights in the prolific Walker Lane mineral district. "We are very excited to become involved in an advanced gold mining and exploration company in the world's number one mining jurisdiction for mining, as recently surveyed by the Fraser Institute1. Scorpio's two strategic projects, both of which are past producing mines, have near-term production potential with robust economics in the context of the current gold price, alongside their considerable exploration upside," said Michael Townsend, CEO of Altus Gold. "This acquisition will provide Scorpio the vehicle to consolidate the known Mineral Ridge exploration potential with the addition of the Northstar and Vanderbilt areas which could ultimately add additional resources to the Mineral Ridge portfolio. The acquisition will also provide the Company the opportunity to realign its management structure to best utilize its officers' talents for the future growth of the Company. I welcome Michael Townsend and the Altus team to Scorpio and look forward to working with them to provide additional growth opportunities for Scorpio Gold in the future," said Chris Zerga, CEO of Scorpio Gold. Terms of Acquisition Under the terms of the LOI, Scorpio Gold proposes to acquire all the outstanding shares of Altus Gold in exchange for issuing to the shareholders of Altus Gold 16,900,000 post-consolidated Scorpio Gold common shares, having an aggregate deemed value of $3,802,500, based on a deemed value of $0.225 per post-consolidated Scorpio Gold share. Immediately prior to the completion of the Transaction, Scorpio Gold will complete a 5:1 share consolidation, resulting in a total of 59,082,800 Scorpio common shares outstanding following the Transaction, but prior to the Concurrent Financing (as defined herein). The LOI also contemplates that, upon completion of the Transaction, the board of Scorpio Gold will be restructured to include up to three Altus Gold nominees and Michael Townsend, current CEO of Altus Gold, will be appointed Interim CEO of the combined entity, while Chris Zerga will become the Company's COO. The Definitive Agreement (defined herein) may contemplate payment of finder's fees to be paid in connection with the Transaction. Concurrent Financing, Bridge Loan and Financial Information Pursuant to the LOI, as a condition of closing of the Transaction, the Company will complete a concurrent financing of a minimum of CDN$5,000,000 (the "Concurrent Financing"). Altus Gold has agreed to provide a non-interest bearing, secured bridge loan of $500,000 to Scorpio Gold (the "Bridge Loan"), which will be forgiven upon closing of the Transaction. If the Transaction does not complete for any reason other than a breach by Altus Gold of an enforceable provision of the LOI or the Definitive Agreement, the Loan will be repayable on demand in accordance with its terms. The following chart sets out selected financial information for Altus Gold: As at and for the year ended August 31, 2022 (unaudited) As at and for the three months ended November 30, 2022 (unaudited) Assets $53,578 $77,299 Liabilities $26,203 $26,254 Revenues nil nil Net Profits ($2,013) ($1,330) The LOI provides that it will, prior to closing of the transaction, be superseded, and replaced with a binding definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") to be agreed to between the Company and Altus Gold. The Transaction is expected to constitute a reviewable acquisition, as defined under Policy 5.3 Acquisitions and Dispositions of Non-Cash Assets of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and, accordingly, completion of the Transaction is subject to the approval of the Exchange. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION Chris Zerga, President Scorpio Website Scorpio Investor Deck Altus Gold Investor Deck Scorpio Gold Contact Chris Zerga, President Tel: (819) 825-7618 Email: [email protected] Altus Gold Contact Zayn Kalyan, Director Tel: (778) 938-3367 Email: [email protected] 1https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/05/04/2661158/0/en/Fraser-Institute-News-Release-Nevada-tops-global-mining-survey-rankings-Zimbabwe-again-ranks-last.html 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. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Transaction and the Concurrent Financing, including the definitive terms and anticipated completion thereof; and the impact of the Transaction on the Company's portfolio and management structure. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements, including the anticipated changes in senior management of the Company and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. 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, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167558 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) (OTCQX: SLVDF) (FSE: 4YW) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of April 11, 2023, it has completed the exercise of its option and now owns a 100% interest in its La Joya silver-copper-gold property (the "Property"). Figure 1: Location of the La Joya Project along with past-producing and operating mines in the area. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://silverdollarresources.com/images/LaJoya/LaJoya-2a.jpg The Property, located in the south-eastern portion of the State of Durango in the Mexican Silver Belt, consists of 15 mineral concessions totaling 4,646 hectares and hosts the Main Mineralized Trend (MMT), Santo Nino and Coloradito deposits. Pursuant to an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") dated August 7, 2020 (the "Effective Date"), as amended by an amending agreement dated March 28, 2023 (the "Amending Agreement"), between the Company and First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic"), First Majestic granted the Company an exclusive option to acquire an initial 80% interest (the "First Option") and if exercised, a second option to acquire the remaining 20% interest (the "Second Option") in a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Majestic that holds the Property through its wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary by making certain payments, incurring certain expenditures, and issuing securities, as detailed below. In order to exercise the First Option, the Company was required to: pay First Majestic a total of $700,000 plus annual holding costs for the Property, of which: $300,000 was paid upon execution of the Option Agreement; $200,000 plus annual holding costs was paid before the first anniversary of the Effective Date; and $200,000 plus annual holding costs was paid before the second anniversary of the Effective Date; incur exploration expenditures on the Property of $1,000,000 on or before the 60-month anniversary of the Effective Date. The Company fulfilled this obligation in May 2022; and no later than 45 days following the Effective Date, issue to First Majestic, such number of common shares of the Company ("Shares") as is equal to 19.9% of the then issued and outstanding Shares of the Company post-issuance. The Company fulfilled this obligation by issuing to First Majestic an aggregate of 5,146,401 Shares on August 14, 2020. In accordance with the Option Agreement, since the Company incurred $1,000,000 of exploration expenditures on the Property within three years of the Effective Date, First Majestic waived additional cash payments totalling $600,000 that were otherwise required to be paid by the Company on the third and fourth anniversaries of the Effective Date. In order to exercise the Second Option, the Company was required to: provide notice to First Majestic within 30 days of exercising the First Option and on or before the 60-month anniversary of the Effective Date; and within 10 business days of exercising the Second Option, issue to First Majestic, such number of Shares as is equal to 5% of the then issued and outstanding Shares of the Company post-issuance. The Company fulfilled this obligation by issuing to First Majestic an aggregate of 2,205,118 Shares on May 24, 2023. In addition, pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Property is subject to a 2% net smelter returns royalty interest in all minerals produced from the Property. A copy of the Option Agreement, the Amending Agreement and the Company's news release dated August 10, 2020, which contains additional information regarding the Property, are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Early Warning Disclosure First Majestic is providing this disclosure pursuant to the early warning reporting provisions of Canadian securities legislation. First Majestic has acquired ownership and control of 2,205,118 Shares of Silver Dollar and now holds 8,051,519 Shares representing approximately 18.2% of the outstanding Shares. Prior to the issuance of the 2,205,118 Shares, First Majestic held 5,846,401 Shares of Silver Dollar or approximately 13.9% of the outstanding Shares. Accordingly, First Majestic's ownership interest has increased by approximately 4.3%. The Shares were acquired in exchange for the sale of the La Joya Property. Depending on market conditions, general economic and industry conditions and subject to certain contractual resale restrictions, Silver Dollar's business and financial condition and/or other relevant factors, First Majestic may increase or decrease its beneficial ownership of securities of Silver Dollar through market transactions, private agreements or otherwise, in the future. Silver Dollar is located at 179 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416, Victoria, British Columbia V9B 6J9. First Majestic is located at 1800 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L2. An Early Warning Report will be filed on Silver Dollar's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and may also be obtained by contacting Sophie Hsia, First Majestic's General Counsel, at 1.866.529.2807. About the La Joya Project The La Joya Property is situated approximately 75 kilometres (km) directly southeast of the state capital city of Durango in a prolific mineralized region with past-producing and operating mines including Grupo Mexico's San Martin Mine, Industrias Penoles's Sabinas Mine, Pan American Silver's La Colorada Mine, and First Majestic's La Parrilla and Del Toro Silver Mines. Figure 2: Planview of the Brazo area; and the Coloradito, MMT, and Santo Nino deposits. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://silverdollarresources.com/images/LaJoya/LaJoya-5b.jpg The Company previously reported analytical results for its Phase I drill program, which consisted of 2,424 metres completed over 11 holes (See news releases of March 24, 2022 and May 4, 2022); and for its Phase II program, which consisted of 3,428 metres of drilling completed over 17 holes (See news releases of June 13, 2022, August 17, 2022, and October 25, 2022). Highlights from the Company's exploration drilling include the discovery of the Brazo area approximately 1 km west of the MMT and some of the best assay results ever reported on the Noria-Coloradito portion of the Property. The Company has also identified three new target areas that have never been drill tested. For additional information on the Property, click on the following link to see a short video: https://vimeo.com/497779460. About Silver Dollar Resources Inc. Silver Dollar is a mineral exploration company that completed its initial public offering in May 2020 and is fully funded for its 2023 exploration plans with approximately $5 million in the treasury. The Company's primary projects lie within the prolific Durango-Zacatecas silver-gold belt and include the advanced exploration stage La Joya Silver Property and the recently discovered Nora Silver-Gold Property, both located in the state of Durango, Mexico. The Company has an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions. For additional information, visit the Silver Dollar website , or you can download our investor presentation. You can also follow us on Twitter. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Michael Romanik" Michael Romanik, President, CEO & Director Direct line: (204) 724-0613 Email: [email protected] Silver Dollar Resources Inc. 179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416 Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9 Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: the Company's expectation to complete the Acquisition, the timing of the closing of the Acquisition and the provision of the closing deliverables in respect of the Acquisition. The forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements including: the Company may never complete the Acquisition in the time frame expected or at all; First Majestic may not provide the closing deliverables required to complete the Acquisition; and the risk that adverse market conditions and/or other factors beyond the control of the parties prevent the completion of the Acquisition. Additionally, forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this news release, including that the Company will be able to complete the requirements necessary to close the Acquisition; that the Acquisition will close in the short time expected; that First Majestic will complete its obligations required to complete the Acquisition; and that there will be no events or circumstances outside the control of the Company or First Majestic that will prevent the completion of the Acquisition. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include general market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167369 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - The Macallan is unveiling The Reach, an incomparable single malt that reflects an extraordinary moment in time and exemplifies the enduring spirit that has been at the heart of the brand for almost 200 years. To view the full announcement, including downloadable images, bios, and more, click here. Key Takeaways: The Macallan is unveiling The Reach, an incomparable single malt Scotch whisky valued at $228,000 CAD. The Reach is 81 years old, the oldest whisky ever released by The Macallan. There is only one bottle of The Reach in Canada and it will be sold through a lottery with BC Liquor Stores on May 25, 2023. Click image above to view full announcement. About The Macallan Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies. Their outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since it was established by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland. In 2018, The Macallan opened a new chapter in its history with the launch of its award-winning Speyside distillery. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects to promote sustainability, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which is The Macallan's spiritual home and remains the heartbeat of The Macallan's beautiful 485-acre Estate. Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly. About Edrington Edrington owns some of the leading Scotch whisky and rum brands in the world. The Macallan is their central focus, supported by Highland Park and The Glenrothes in the fast-growing Single Malt category and Naked in the Blended Malt category. Edrington is headquartered in Scotland and employs around 3,000 people in its companies and joint venture operations worldwide, with over 70% employed overseas. The company owns its route to market in 13 countries and operates the remainder through joint venture and third-party agreements. About Beam Suntory As the world's third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker's Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher's, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka and Midori liqueur. Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, 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 Contacts: Jacklyn Gilmor [email protected] Nat Abayof [email protected] Source: Macallan To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167456 Damen IT deploys Turnium to aggregate and bond multiple Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite links from Starlink with multiple LTE connections to deliver faster communications and operational continuity for businesses, field operations, and organizations operating in off-net, remote areas Vancouver, Canada--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - Turnium Technology Group Inc. (TSXV: TTGI) ("Turnium" or "the Company"), an industry leader in cloud-native software-defined wide area networking solutions (SD-WAN), announces an innovative new Point-to-Point Starlink Communications Solution in partnership with Damen IT. This new connectivity solution is available through Damen IT, a Turnium channel partner headquartered in Arnhem, Netherlands. Turnium's market-leading SD-WAN platform enables its partner, Damen IT, to combine multiple Starlink connections with LTE services and deliver a faster, more reliable, end-user experience anywhere. This innovative solution combines the availability and bandwidth of Starlink services with LTE services from established telecommunications provider into a single, easily managed connection that can be delivered at highly attractive price points. Tom Damen, Principal at Damen IT said, "The combination of Turnium, Starlink, and LTE is a very good and reliable system. We've found it to be a very disruptive offer that delivers the performance that end-users require at a price-point that business owners need. This solution delivers great performance for connectivity. It's interesting to note that the overall latency of LEO satellite can be comparable to that of LTE - making this an ideal option." Turnium's wholesale or OEM software offer makes it easy for service providers like Damen IT to aggregate multiple connections of different types from diverse carriers into a single "virtual" connection. Turnium's no-code networking platform automates all the programming that is required to deliver this service and to connect each end-customer's locations or vehicles into a private, dedicated, secure network. Turnium's multi-tenanted white-label solution enables partners to deliver service at scale while using their own branding to differentiate in their markets. Derek Spratt, Chief Executive officer at Turnium said, "Innovation has always been at the heart of Turnium, and it is especially rewarding to couple our innovative solutions with those of our trusted partners. Together we can ensure our business customers can run their operations efficiently without the risk of service interruption, while managing and improving internet connectivity. Damen IT has been a great partner for Turnium, and we are very excited to work with Tom and his trusted team to deliver new and innovative real-world solutions and benefits to their customers." Turnium is an independent software developer and vendor that has been building software-defined wide-area networking software since 2012. Turnium software can be branded and bundled into integrated solutions by its channel partners to enhance the value and experience of their managed services. About Damen IT Groep Damen IT Groep, based in Arnhem, Netherlands, offers a wide range of solutions, with specialization in colocation, connectivity, and network infrastructure. The Damen IT Groep consists of professionals with a heart for technology and is the ideal partner in the field of connectivity, networks and infrastructure. Damen IT's strength lies in designing, advising, implementing IT solutions. With a down-to-earth hands-on mentality and a solution-oriented team, Tom Damen and his team set their sights on the future, offering lightning-fast reliable internet, multifunctional network and infrastructure solutions, always with professional management and monitoring. Damen IT Groep is at your service. For more information, visit www.damenitgroep.nl. About Turnium Technology Group Inc. Turnium Technology Group Inc. delivers its SD-WAN solution as a white label, containerized, disaggregated software platform that OEM channel partners host, manage, brand, and price. Turnium is also available to Resellers as a Turnium-branded managed service. Turnium SD-WAN solutions is sold through a channel partner program designed for Communications Service Providers, Internet and Managed Service Providers, System Integrators, and Value-Added Resellers. For more information, contact [email protected], visit www.turnium.com, or follow us on Twitter @turnium. About SD-WAN SD-WAN is revolutionizing the networking and telecommunications industry by abstracting secure, high-speed networking and network control from underlying physical circuits. SD-WAN frees enterprises, small and medium businesses, cloud and managed services providers from the business and cost constraints imposed by traditional telecommunications companies. # # # Turnium Contact: Investor Relations: Bill Mitoulas, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +1 416-479-9547 Media inquiries: please email [email protected]. Sales inquiries: please email [email protected]. www.ttgi.io, www.turnium.com CAUTIONARY NOTES 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 Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain acts, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. 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. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Company may terminate and not proceed with the Agreement, or that the Agreement and associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including failure to obtain the required acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange). The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167450 ESM is one of the world's top leading Software Providers when it comes to Strategy and Performance Management or Cyber Risks. (Larger companies can also be integrated on the platform on a case-by-case basis). Zurich / Pfaffikon SZ, Switzerland; and Lincoln, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - WebAccountPlus, inventor and pioneer of the ground-breaking digital business advisor and developer and provider of the world's first ecosystem for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), banks, fiduciaries, insurance companies, accounting firms, and corporate and wealth advisors, is pleased to integrate and offer ESM Software's flagship application, ESM+STRATEGY, to its clients (fiduciaries, banks, SMEs, insurances). WebAccountPlus / ESM Software To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9276/167387_59f3a58ec47e7a7a_001full.jpg For the first time ever, small companies will be able to work with their client advisor to create a Balanced Scorecard tailored to their company size and industry. Small businesses will be equipped to track progress, automatically monitor performance and generate alerts, dashboards, and reports empowering them to successfully execute their strategy. Normally, such solutions are reserved exclusively for larger companies due to limited budgets, resource availability, and effort to configure. The creation of a company strategy or the existence of such a strategy is unique in this form for small companies - SMEs - but offers both the customer and the company consultant huge advantages, across product consulting, growth strategies, and succession planning. Drs. Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton are the creators of the Balanced Scorecard concept and founders of ESM. For over 23 years and 1,000+ client implementations in more than 60 countries, ESM+STRATEGY takes organizations step-by-step through both the construction of, and reporting on, Balanced Scorecards and strategy maps so they can achieve breakthrough results. The ESM application can substantially improve the effectiveness of an organization's strategy management program, helping to: Clarify and deploy a business strategy that is "execution ready" Focus team members around one strategy to drive alignment Acquire the performance measurements and data to make faster and better decisions Create a permanent and robust process for disciplined strategy execution Provide a scalable technology solution that can be applied to both small and large companies "We are very pleased to be able to use the original Balanced Scorecard software from the inventors of the Balanced Scorecard methodology. There are probably few management schools in the world where Drs. Kaplan and Norton's strategy frameworks are not taught. The fact that we were able to partner with a globally active and renowned company of a novel business model makes us proud," says Roland Staehli, CEO and founder of WebAccountPlus. "The integration of this strategy tool forms an important component in the 360 view of a company including real-time data - it seamlessly complements our cloud based software suite (Financials, Expense Management, Marketing and Sales Data Evaluations, Analytics, Strategies, HR, Securities and Portfolio Analyzer, Multi-Banking). The Business Banker of the Future will cooperate and directly assist and advise the SME in his Business Strategy - more than that - whenever a target is missed or some other factors have changed the Bank advisor will get a notification and could guide with his economic background the SME in many different ways to still achieve the defined goals." According to Kent Smack, CEO of ESM Software, "Our new partnership with WebAccountPlus has the promise to bring the proven Balanced Scorecard framework to thousands of small businesses around the world and uniquely position these organizations with line-of-sight visibility into their strategy execution. Ultimately, ESM as part of the WebAccountPlus platform will give these organizations and their advisors the data and insights to make critical business decisions that drive performance. We are very excited to partner with such proven banking and software experts, and to be working together to open up new market segments around the world in the near future." About ESM Software ESM Software, LLC, formerly Palladium Group, Inc. is the global leader in strategy execution software and services. Since ESM's initial launch in 2000, we have dedicated ourselves to helping organizations understand and manage business strategy. Our suite of software products support Balanced Scorecard, employee performance management, cyber security, risk, compliance, and OKR. For more information, visit www.esmgrp.com. About WebAccountPlus WebAccountPlus stands for the world's first digital business advisor and as a provider of a globally scalable ecosystem for SMEs, banks, fiduciaries, insurance companies, trustees and corporate and wealth advisors, among others. WebAccountPlus offers a revolutionary cloud-based collaboration platform and is on a mission to digitize and permanently transform the banking advisory and fiduciary business. The Future of Business Banking has started. Please visit www.webaccountplus.com. Contact Details WebAccountPlus (Holding) AG yRoland Staehli +41 55 210 32 22 y[email protected] yCompany Website yhttps://webaccountplus.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167387 HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 25, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - - Mazda Motor Corporation announced that the Le Mans winning Mazda 787B will be conducting a demonstration run at the Centenary Anniversary of 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The 91st race is due to be held at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France from June 7 to 11, 2023.(1) The Mazda 787B, powered by a four-rotor rotary engine, became the first Japanese car to win the 59th 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991. The ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest), the event organizer, invited us to conduct this demonstration run. Taking place on June 9 and 10, the car will be driven by Yojiro Terada, who holds a record of 29 appearances at Le Mans. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of 24 Hours of Le Mans, the winning race cars from previous years will be displayed at the Le Mans Museum, located close to the Circuit de la Sarthe, from June 1 until to July 2. The Mazda 787B will also take part in a demonstration run on the short course on the evenings of June 9 and June 10 before the 24 Hours race commences, where it will conduct a full-circuit demonstration run with other iconic Japanese Le Mans winning cars from Toyota Motor Corporation/TOYOTA Gazoo Racing. The Mazda 787B is also scheduled to demonstrate at the Le Mans Classic from June 30 to July 2. During the Le Mans Centennial race week, there will also be a themed exhibition "Japan Endless Discovery," a collaboration by the JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization), Toyota and Mazda. In addition to promoting inbound tourism to Japan for spectators of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Japan's carbon neutrality initiatives will be exhibited, and Mazda will present the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV (European specification) equipped with the latest rotary engine technology that functions as an electric generator. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Mazda will continue research based on the company's human-centered philosophy, create more moving experiences for people to enjoy as they move about in their daily lives, and deliver greater enjoyment to everyday life, uplifting and energizing people. (1) In case of rain or other poor weather conditions, the demonstration laps by Mazda 787B may be cancelled. For Mazda 787B, visit the website commemorating the 30th anniversary of Mazda's victory at Le Mans. www.mazda.com/en/innovation/lemans30th/ For information on the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, please visit the ACO website. www.24h-lemans.com/en/centenary Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Kazakhstan proposes to hold the next, anniversary meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in 2024 in Astana, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the councils meeting in Moscow, Trend reports. "Next year, our Union will mark its 10th anniversary. Well gather for the anniversary summit of the EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union]. I believe that this landmark event should be a good occasion for a detailed analysis of the path traveled and determining the future strategic prospects of the Union," he noted. Tokayev proposed to instruct the commission to prepare a report on the first stage of Eurasian integration by the next meeting of the Supreme Council, presenting the main results and achievements, as well as specific recommendations for further integration development. BALTIMORE (PRWEB) May 25, 2023 As part of the annual recognition of National Nurses Week (May 1-7, 2023), Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, recently hosted The Sisters of Mercy Nursing Awards on Thursday, May 18th. This year's recipients were: Aarika Pakulski, BSN, RN, Emergency Department: Nursing Visionary Award, presented in the spirit of Sister Mary Damian Faller, RSM Kya Taylor, RN, Bunting 14th floor-Specialty Surgery: Compassionate Caregiver Award, presented in the spirit of Sister Mary Thecla Lancaster, RSM Maritza Sanchez-Ordonez, RN, C-EFM, Labor & Delivery: Nursing Hospitality Award, presented in the spirit of Sister Elizabeth Anne Corcoran, RSM Linda Macken, RN, OCN, Outpatient Chemotherapy: Community Impact Award, presented in honor of Sister Helen Amos, RSM and Graze Bautista, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, Charles Crane Surgery Suite, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU): Nursing Leadership Award, presented in honor of Sister Mary Thomas Zinkand, RSM Stacey Brull, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, made both the welcoming and closing remarks at the event with further remarks by Susan Finlayson, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Senior Vice President. "Congratulations to all of the nominees and recipients of the 2023 Nursing Excellence Awards. Your continued support and commitment to Mercy is why we continue to be one of the top 8% of hospitals in the nation for excellent nursing care," Brull said. Dr. David N. Maine, Mercy Health Services President and CEO, recognized the entire Mercy nursing team for "delivering top-notch, empathetic care to our patients and their families." Despite the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic during the past three years, Mercy nurses have excelled, achieving a third consecutive recertification of Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In addition, Mercy has also earned many recent awards and distinctions including: Healthgrades: Mercy ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the United States for surgical care, and #1 in Maryland. American Nurse: Mercy received the 2022 All-Pro Nursing Team Award's top honor. The Maryland Bariatric Center at Mercy earned national accreditation from the American College of Surgeons. Newsweek: Mercy was named the Most Trustworthy Company in America 2023, #1 in Maryland and #3 nationally. Mercy also earned a spot among America's Greatest Workplaces for Women in 2023. "These accolades and recognitions attest to the unwavering commitment and dedication of Mercy's nurses and staff. They remain devoted to providing superior, compassionate care to our patients, and these awards serve as an acknowledgment of their success," Dr. Maine added. Founded in 1874 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is located in downtown Baltimore City, about six blocks from Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor. A university-affiliated teaching facility, Mercy is a Catholic hospital with a national reputation for women's health care, orthopedics, and other specialties. Mercy is home to the renowned Weinberg Center for Women's Health & Medicine, and the $400+ million Mary Catherine Bunting Center. For more information, visit http://www.mdmercy.com, and MDMercyMedia on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy. Read the full story at https://www.prweb.com/releases/mercy_nurses_recognized_with_2023_sisters_of_mercy_nursing_awards/prweb19360356.htm MARLTON, N.J. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 130,000 patients in Texasand an untold number of others nationwideare being notified that their protected health information was compromised when hackers breached the computer system of Universal Health Services of Delaware, Inc. ("UHS") earlier this year. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of current and former UHS patients and want customers who were affected by the breach to understand their legal rights. The sensitive personal data of more than 130,000 patients who received care at UHS has been compromised. Now, customers' protected health information may be in the hands of criminals looking to steal patients' identities. On May 17, 2023 , UHS of Delaware filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Texas . While the Texas Attorney General notes that there were 130k victims in that state, the breach affected patients nationwide. While the UHS breach impacted patients who obtained care through UHS providers, it is possible that your information may have been compromised, even if you didn't get treated at a UHS facility or are unsure that UHS has your personal information. According to the notice, the data breach affected 130,000 people in Texas . However, as a Pennsylvania -based healthcare system with over 400 facilities nationwide, UHS treats more than 3.4 million patients per year. Thus, it is possible that more patients across the country also may have had their information exposed as a result of the UHS data breach. The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes patients' protected health information. Protected health information, also referred to as PHI, includes all private information patients provide to their healthcare providers during the court of treatment, as well as any information the provider learns about the patient. For example, the following can all be considered PHI: Names, Addresses, Social Security numbers, numbers, Medical record numbers, Fingerprints, Photographs, Test results, Prescribed medications, and Insurance billing information. Notably, UHS did not provide a specific list of the types of PHI that were impacted by the recent data security incident. If you receive a data breach notice from UHS, you are one of over 130k peoplepotentially morewho could now be at risk of identity theft and the life-interrupting financial and legal consequences that go along with it. In most data breaches, the company offers free credit monitoring to victims. If UHS offers victims of the breach with free credit monitoring and identity protection services, they should enroll in this service immediately. However, patients should also know that one year of credit monitoring is not enough to protect them from the risks of a data breach. What should you do if you receive a UHS data breach letter? Patients who receive a data breach letter from UHS should take steps to protect themselves (See our Guide for Victims of Data Breach for more details at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/consumer-privacy-data-breach-lawyers/if-your-information-has-been-compromised-in-a-data-breach/). Further, consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately. Those patients who received a data breach letter from UHS may be entitled to financial compensation. If you wish to discuss this data security incident, or if you have any questions regarding your rights in the wake of the UHS breach, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. Interested parties and potential plaintiffs can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/uhs-of-delaware-data-breach/. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are committed to protecting consumers' rights and advancing data security. Console & Associates, P.C. investigates all types of data breaches, including those stemming from malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Anyone who has received a Notice of Data Breach letter from UHS can contact the firm to learn more about their legal options. Contact: ***@consoleandassociates.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12966337 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/130k-patients-social-security-numbers-leaked-in-uhs-of-delaware-data-breach-301835138.html SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C. Watch how 360ofme is transforming the paradigm of personal data ownership by rebuilding trust between ethical businesses and consumers as showcased on PBS Viewpoint. DETROIT , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 360ofme Inc., the trusted personal data exchange platform provider, announced today the relaunch of its new capabilities and goals to revolutionize securely storing, sharing, providing insights, and monetizing data between businesses and consumers. The relaunch was announced in a TV segment on PBS' Viewpoint Project, hosted by Dennis Quaid . Data is a valuable commodity in the economic landscape today and companies are under increasing regulatory pressure to ensure data privacy and security. Additionally, consumer skepticism and the emerging need to protect their digital footprint are urging businesses to take unprecedented action to secure and protect personal information. According to Accenture, 80% of consumers do not trust the use of their personal data, and 87% do not believe there are adequate safeguards in place to protect their personal information. 360ofme aims to shift the paradigm around personal data from a commodity held and harnessed by enterprises into a product that unlocks the value that a user's data creates for them. 360ofme's first-in-kind platform enables users to curate, protect, analyze, share, and monetize their personal data on their terms and for their benefit while enabling businesses to provide insights and revenue through an anonymized data exchange. Imagine a world where users could continuously monitor their risk for heart disease with real-time data, take proactive measures to plan for their retirement, or stay up to date on necessary maintenance for their vehicles without having to leave their homes. For the first time, users can take control of their digital footprint and unlock its potential by capturing insights that increase their overall well-being. Originally launched in 2016, 360ofme was ahead of its time in terms of its priority on consumer data privacy and understanding the power of personal data to make a meaningful impact in people's lives. The shift in focus on data privacy seen today from a regulatory, consumer, and business standpoint was the gateway that opened a great opportunity and the right timing for 360ofme to relaunch in 2023. In addition to perspective shifts, the foundational technology for 360ofme is now made possible through its partnership with Skyflow, which has built the world's first commercially available, easy to implement data privacy vault. Skyflow Data Privacy Vault comprises the foundational infrastructure that enables 360ofme's vision to come to life, an unprecedented technological leap. 360ofme not only has ambitions to create a world where a user's data can drive insights that fundamentally benefit their life, but the company is committed to being a catalyst for social good in everything they do. Founder and CEO Cindy Warner says "The way we set up the company was as a social enterprise... We will give 1% of our profits to help people in need, we will give 1% of our people's time to people in need, and we will give 1% of our product to people in need so they can use it to exchange their data, create trust, and create consumer data privacy. For us, this is the foundation of the company and the reason we exist." Cindy has spent the last 15 years of her career as a thought leader in the development of strategies to leverage cloud computing to drive change, leading organizations at Amazon Web Services, NetApp, IBM, PwC, Salesforce, and EY/Cap Gemini. To learn more about 360ofme's mission and the innovative technology behind the platform, visit www.360ofme.com today. About 360ofme Inc. As a trusted personal data exchange platform, 360ofme is committed to transforming the paradigm of personal data ownership by rebuilding trust between ethical businesses and consumers. Based on low-code, secure and compliant technology, the platform allows for personal data to be protected, curated, and monetized while end consumers retain full control of their information. At the core, 360ofme's goal is to solve for increased privacy regulations while adding value to both businesses and consumers. For more information, please visit www.360ofme.com or follow on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Skyflow Skyflow is a data privacy vault company built to radically simplify how companies isolate, protect and govern their customers' most sensitive data. With its global network of data privacy vaults, Skyflow helps companies meet complex data localization requirements. Skyflow customers span verticals like fintech, retail, travel, and healthcare. Skyflow is headquartered in Palo Alto, California and was founded in 2019. For more information, visit www.skyflow.com or follow on Twitter and LinkedIn . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/360ofme-announces-relaunch-of-ethical-data-exchange-platform-with-new-capabilities-ensuring-data-privacy-and-security-301835233.html SOURCE 360ofme Inc. SCRANTON, Pa. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania joined Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich in Scranton , Lackawanna County , today as the Governor signed an Executive Order empowering his Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich to take the steps necessary to establish a Master Plan for Older Adults. A Master Plan is a blueprint developed to guide the restructuring of state and local policy, programs, and funding toward aging well in the community. In Pennsylvania , the Master Plan is committed to building and maintaining an age- and disability-friendly Commonwealth so that every resident can live and thrive at every age and life stage. Representing AARP Pennsylvania at today's signing was State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh and Director of State Advocacy Teresa Osborne . "We thank Governor Shapiro and his administration for embracing the need to launch a Pennsylvania Master Plan initiative at the onset of their tenure," said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh . "We are proud to see that Pennsylvania , under our new Governor's leadership, is rethinking how we approach aging and affirm that every resident is valued, respected, and deserves to live in healthy, safe communities that meet their needs, across their lifespan. Today marks a watershed moment for what it means to live and age in Pennsylvania ." With an older adult population of 3.4 million, Pennsylvania is ranked fifth among the fifty states by size and seventh by percentage (17.8%) of the total population. The state's older adult population grew from 15.4 percent in 2010 to 17.8 percent (2.27 million persons) in 2020. Estimates suggest that 25 percent of the commonwealth's residents will be over 65 by 2030. Additionally, Pennsylvanians with disabilities represent 11% of the population in terms of mobility and cognitive challenges. These realities prompted Governor Shapiro and his administration under the leadership of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to commit to creating a Pennsylvania Master Plan, a step that other states, such as California , Colorado , and Massachusetts , have taken to develop a clearly articulated Master Plan. "We are thankful for Governor Shapiro signing the Executive Order. It is a clear demonstration of how the health, well-being, and quality of life for older adults are priorities for the administration and for the commonwealth," said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich . "This master plan for aging and disabilities will be crafted by Pennsylvanians, for Pennsylvanians. The voices of older adults and people living with disabilities must resonate in every component of this plan. As the Department, Pennsylvania Association for Area Agencies on Aging, and AARP work with the local Area Agencies on Aging and Centers for Independent Living, we will go into all communities we serve to make sure those Pennsylvanians who want to be heard know their opinions, thoughts, and priorities are reflected in this living strategic initiative." Several states with a Master Plan have also joined AARP's Age-Friendly Network a designation recognizing their interest in improving the quality of life for people of all ages through the adoption of policies and programs that address walkable neighborhoods, transportation options, access to key services, support for community engagement, and housing that is affordable and adaptable. In advance of the signing of today's Executive Order, Secretary Kavulich and his Special Assistant and Long-Term Care Council Executive Director Kevin Hancock joined Johnston-Walsh on AARP's PCN: Focus on Aging Adults to discuss the issues older Pennsylvanians currently face and to describe the state's pursuit of a Master Plan. About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol, @AARPadvocates and @AliadosAdelante on social media. Contact: Randy LoBasso , [email protected], 267-964-8001 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarp-pennsylvania-joins-governor-shapiro-to-launch-master-plan-for-older-adults-301835172.html SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania SANTA MARIA, Calif. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Miller family, a multi-generational farming family who has been farming California's Central Coast for over 150 years, is proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bien Nacido Vineyards widely known as one of the most respected vineyards in the United States . Commemorating this milestone, the family is thrilled to debut a brand-new hospitality center, The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido, allowing guests to experience this historic estate and its wines like never before. Situated on the land of a Spanish Land Grant from the early 1800s, formerly known as Rancho Tepusquet , Bien Nacido was planted by brothers Bob and Steve Miller in 1973, who set out to develop a vineyard that would be acknowledged as one of the highest quality vineyards in the world. They named it Bien Nacido, which means "well born" in Spanish, signifying the passion and commitment they shared in bringing this vineyard to life. Home to the first cool-climate Syrah grapes on the Central Coast , Bien Nacido has a long history of producing distinctive Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah wines from the Santa Maria Valley AVA, where its high elevation, shale and rocky soils, cooling ocean influences and meticulous farming work together to make Bien Nacido the exceptional site that it is. Today, the 650-acre vineyard named one of the Top 5 California Vineyards by the Wall Street Journal, one of 10 Vineyards Behind the World's Most Famous Wines by Wine Enthusiast, and #1 on the list of the 10 Best Vineyards in California by Food & Wine continues to be one of the most highly sought-after sources for cool-climate Burgundian and Rhone grapes by some of California's most esteemed producers. Wines designated with Bien Nacido Vineyard regularly receive exceptional 95+ scores and accolades, including most recently from the prestigious critic, Jeb Dunnuck , who gave Paul Lato's 2018 il Padrino Syrah from Bien Nacido Vineyard the highest honor of 100 points. "When my father and uncle planted the vineyard in 1973, they recognized its potential for greatness," says Nicholas Miller , Chief Sales & Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President. "During a time when many vintners focused on quantity over quality, they led with their shared belief that Santa Maria's distinctive terroir would impart unique characteristics into the wines, and put quality at the forefront of their efforts. Throughout those early years, years pointed by hard work, passion and farming with intention, they helped this vineyard become one of the strongest vineyard sites in California , and today, 50 years later, we are continually impressed by the vitality of this site. We're proud to look back on the rich history of Bien Nacido, yet we look forward to the years ahead, as we firmly believe the best is yet to come from this distinctive estate." In celebration of Bien Nacido's 50th anniversary, the Miller family is excited to reveal The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido, the new tasting room for its official estate program, Bien Nacido Estate , which features wines from both Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Vineyards . Opening Memorial Day weekend, guests are invited to experience the magic of this exclusive property through The Gatehouse's thoughtful collection of tasting experiences and tours, which allow visitors the rare opportunity to explore Bien Nacido Estate's acclaimed wines just steps from where the grapes are grown. "In celebration of our vineyard's Golden Anniversary, the opening of The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido marks a new chapter in Bien Nacidos' history of excellence," shares Nicholas Miller , "and commemorates the strength and quality of this special place for the next fifty years to come. We can't wait to welcome guests to experience it all in person very soon." The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido will open its doors on May 25, 2023 , and will be open for tastings Thursday through Monday from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm . Reservations are not required but are encouraged. To learn more, please visit www.biennacidoestate.com. About Bien Nacido Vineyards Bien Nacido Vineyards is owned and operated by the Miller family, a multi-generational farming family and owners of the industry-leading The Thornhill Companies. The Thornhill Companies includes the prestigious Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Estates, Miller Family Wine Company and Thornhill Ranches. Miller Family Wine Company manages national branded wine labels, including Butternut, J. Wilkes , optik, Ballard Lane , Smashberry, Barrel Burner, Volunteer, Hand on Heart and Reciprocity wines, in addition to control label brands for prominent retailers across the U.S. and the French Camp vineyard in Paso Robles . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bien-nacido-vineyards-marks-50th-anniversary-with-opening-of-estate-tasting-room-301834273.html SOURCE Miller Family Wine Company VANCOUVER, BC and TORONTO , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - BZAM Ltd. (the "Company" or "BZAM") (CSE: BZAM) (OTC: BZAMF), a leading Canadian cannabis producer, will release its Q1 2023 consolidated financial results after market close on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 and hold a conference call with analysts on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 , beginning at 10:30 a.m. (ET) . An audiocast of the conference call will be available on a listen-only basis at: https://app.webinar.net/agplXkwX8Ao Scheduled speakers are Matt Milich , Chief Executive Officer, and Sean Bovingdon , Chief Financial Officer. The discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer period with analysts. Participant dial-in information is summarized below. CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION: Date: May 31, 2023 ; Time: 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time To instantly join the conference call, please use the following URL to easily register yourself and have your phone connected into the conference call automatically: https://emportal.ink/42u0bYn You can also dial direct to be entered to the call by an Operator: Local Toronto : 1-416-764-8688 Toll Free North America : 1-888-390-0546 Conference ID 24157341 A replay of the call will also be available through June 7, 2023 , by dialing 1-416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 (Passcode: 157341#). About BZAM Ltd BZAM Ltd. (CSE: BZAM) (USOTC: BZAMF) is a leading Canadian cannabis producer with a focus on branded consumer goods, innovation, quality, consistency, integrity and transparency. The BZAM family includes core brands BZAM, TGOD, ness, Highly Dutch Organic, TABLE TOP, and partner brands Dunn Cannabis, FRESH and Wyld. BZAM operates facilities in BC, Alberta , Ontario and Quebec , as well as retail stores in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan . BZAM's Shares and certain warrants issued under the indentures dated June 12, 2020 , October 23, 2020 and December 10, 2020 currently trade on the CSE under the symbol "BZAM", "BZAM.WR", "BZAM.WA", and "BZAM.WB" respectively. BZAM's Shares trade in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "BZAMF". For more information on BZAM Ltd., please visit www.bzam.com. Neither the CSE nor the CSE's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bzam-ltd-to-release-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-on-may-30-2023-301835139.html SOURCE BZAM LTD. FORT MYERS, Fla. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's specialty retailer Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) (the "Company") will host a conference call with security analysts on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 , beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET to review the operating results for the first quarter ended April 29, 2023 . The conference call is being webcast live over the Internet, which you may access in the Investors section of the Company's corporate website, www.chicosfas.com . A replay of the webcast will remain available online for one year at http://chicosfas.com/investors/events-and-presentations. The phone number for the call is 1-877-883-0383. International callers should use 1-412-902-6506. The Elite Entry number, 2200704, is required to join the conference call. Interested participants should call 10-15 minutes prior to the 8:00 a.m. start to be placed in queue. ABOUT CHICO'S FAS, INC . Chico's FAS is a Florida -based fashion company founded in 1983 on Sanibel Island , FL. The Company reinvented the fashion retail experience by creating fashion communities anchored by service, which put the customer at the center of everything we do. As one of the leading fashion retailers in North America , Chico's FAS is a company of three unique brands - Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma - each thriving in their own white space, founded by women, led by women, providing solutions that millions of women say give them confidence and joy. Our Company has a passion for fashion, and each day, we provide clothing, shoes and accessories, intimate apparel and expert styling in our brick-and-mortar boutiques, digital online boutiques and through StyleConnect, the Company's customized, branded, digital styling tool that enables customers to conveniently shop wherever, whenever and however they prefer. As of April 29, 2023 , the Company operated 1,262 stores in the U.S. and sold merchandise through 58 international franchise locations in Mexico and through two domestic franchise locations in airports. The Company's merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com, www.chicosofftherack.com, www.whbm.com and www.soma.com. To learn more about Chico's FAS, please visit our corporate website at www.chicosfas.com. The information on our corporate website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this press release or incorporated into our federal securities law filings. Investor Relations Contact: Julie MacMedan Chico's FAS, Inc. (239) 346-4384 [email protected] Chico's FAS, Inc. 11215 Metro Parkway Fort Myers, Florida 33966 (239) 277-6200 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chicos-fas-inc-announces-first-quarter-sales-and-earnings-conference-call-301834082.html SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc. 16th Annual Power 100 List Includes More New Names Than Ever Before of Power Players Representing The Breadth of Commercial Real Estate Industry NEW YORK , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company that informs and connects leaders in the commercial real estate industry, has announced its 2023 Power 100 list, ranking the most influential executives in commercial real estate nationally. TOP 100 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET-MAKERS The commercial real estate industry has tackled one market crisis after another since 2020, and this year was predetermined to start with economic challenges. The diverse honorees on the 2023 Power 100 list represent an elite class of industry leaders from across the country who did more than just adjust to the times, they defined them. The Commercial Observer Power Lists are among the most coveted and sought after recognitions in the commercial real estate industry. The 2023 list captures the widest possible snapshot of the industry, featuring honorees whose power originates and extends beyond real estate. Topping the Power 100 list this year is JP Morgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon . Thanks to his efforts scooping up Silicon Valley Bank's fleeing depositors during their collapse, and acquiring First Republic for $10.6 billion after also leading a $30 billion banking syndicate in an attempt to stabilize the lender, Dimon earned the top spot on the list for playing a critical role during the current market crisis. The number two spot on the list went to Chairman at the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell , who has significantly impacted capital markets and CRE transactions over the past 12 months. "One of the things we're really proud of at Commercial Observer is that our Power 100 list has served as the barometer of where the real estate industry is at any given moment, and that the publication has access to the top players on the list. It's no wonder that in an 'uncertain market environment' -- as JP Morgan Chase's Jamie Dimon put it to CO -- that after helping stabilize the financial markets in March and April with Chase's purchases of SVB and First Republic, Dimon should take the top position this year." stated Observer Media CEO, James R. Freiman . Commercial Observer's editorial team approached the 2023 list by recognizing the leaders who stepped out of their comfort zones, diversified their deal portfolios and kept their partners and customers front-of-mind in the process. "In curating this list, we made it a point to select people who aren't just based in New York , but truly make this list a national one that is spread across all of commercial real estate. This Power 100 list includes more new names of major players than any previous list, and we look forward to seeing what's accomplished in the future by those we selected," stated Editor in Chief, Max Gross . HONOREES CREATED MARKET CHANGE AND DEMONSTRATED ELITE DEAL SAVVINESS The top honorees, detailed below, have been especially unflappable amidst what has felt like unrelenting market woes, and have stayed the course to push some of the largest deals and transactions in real estate over the finish line. Jamie Dimon : Chairman and CEO at JP Morgan Chase Jerome Powell : Chairman at the Federal Reserve Kathleen McCarthy and Ken Caplan : Global co-heads of real estate at Blackstone Barry Sternlicht : Chairman, CEO and co-founder at Starwood Capital Group and Starwood Scott Rechler : Chairman and CEO at RXR Hamid Moghadam : Co-founder, chairman and CEO at Prologis Stephen Ross , Jeff Blau , and Bruce Beal : Chairman and founder; CEO; president at Related Companies Ben Brown : Managing partner at Brookfield's Real Estate Group Marc Holliday and Andrew Mathias : Chairman and CEO; President at SL Green Realty Bob Faith : Founder, Chairman and CEO at Greystar Real Estate Partners The full 2023 Commercial Observer Power 100 rankings can be found at: https://commercialobserver.com/power-series/power-100-2023/#member-list About Commercial Observer: Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy. Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company which informs and connects leaders in industries undergoing disruption to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions. More information can be found at www.commercialobserver.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/commercial-observer-releases-highly-anticipated-2023-ranking-of-the-100-most-powerful-people-in-commercial-real-estate-301835156.html SOURCE Commercial Observer Elucidated molecular mechanism behind safety and efficacy of Bersiporocin Bersiporocin is currently in Phase II clinical trial for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis SEOUL, South Korea , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Daewoong Pharmaceutical (CEO Lee Chang-jae and Jeon Sengho) announced on the 25th that the molecular mechanism behind safety and efficacy of Bersiporocin as an antifibrotic for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was published in EMBO Molecular Medicine on the 21st. The title of the publication is 'Control of Fibrosis via Asymmetric Inhibition of Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase', and the study was in collaboration with research teams of Prof. Sunghoon Kim from Yonsei University and Prof. Kwang Yeon Hwang from Korea University. EMBO Molecular Medicine is a SCIE (Science Citation Index Expanded) journal. EMBO is a world-renowned journal with an impact factor 14.005, has a ranking of top 5%. The journal has an international reputation for quality and originality. Bersiporocin inhibits catalytic activity of PARS1(Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase1 or PRS) which is involved in collagen synthesis. There have been studies to inhibit PARS1 catalytic activity as an antifibrotic, yet the challenge was modulating the potency of PARS1 enzymatic inhibition as it is a critical enzyme for protein production. Daewoong has been trying to overcome the hurdle by inhibiting PARS1 just enough to bring therapeutic benefits without compromising safety. Through this publication, it has been shown that Bersiporocin asymmetrically binds to a pair of PARS1 enzymes preventing from excessive inhibition of catalytic activity, thereby eliminates safety concerns while exerting its therapeutic benefits. PARS1 exists as a homodimer and the catalytic activity of PARS1 is directly involved with collagen synthesis and other pro-fibrotic markers. Bersiporocin can strongly bind to only one of the PARS1 homodimer, which can lead to inhibition of enzymatic activity and subsequent collagen production. Upon Bersiporocin binding, its tertiary structure of homodimer becomes altered, preventing Bersiporocin binding to the other side of homodimer. This allows PARS1 to be able to maintain viable function while its enzymatic activity is reduced. Therefore, Bersiporocin can bring antifibrotic effect through reduced enzymatic activity while still maintaining its critical function in homeostasis. Prof. Sunghoon Kim (Yonsei University, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine), the corresponding author of the publication, commented that "investigating novel target, novel mechanism is crucial in precision medicine and global drug discovery. This study sets an important milestone that essential enzymes like PARS1 can be targeted for drug discovery". Joon Seok Park , Chief of Drug Discovery Center, commented that "this study will support the unique mode of action behind Bersiporocin as a first-in-class antifibrotic, and encourage the ongoing IPF Phase II clinical studies. We believe Bersiporocin will become the next therapeutic option to patients who are still suffering for this devastating disease." Bersiporocin has been granted with FDA Orphan Drug Designation as well as Fast Track Designation for IPF. Daewoong's Bersiporocin program has been selected as a national drug development project and has received funding support for Phase II clinical trial by Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF, CEO: Muk, Hyunsang). All of these milestones represent the great potential of Bersiporocin as the next, innovative therapeutic agent for fibrosis. About Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating rare disease, characterized by progressive loss of lung function by excessive collagen deposition in the lung. The estimated prevalence of the disease is about 13 per 100,000 people worldwide. The 5-year survival rate of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is less than 40%, yet the current standard of care still has limitations in efficacy and safety. Therefore, there are tremendous unmet medical needs to develop and provide better therapeutic options to patients. About Daewoong Pharmaceutical. Co., Ltd. Established in 1945, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a leading South Korean pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceuticals for both domestic and international markets. With a strong and innovative in-house R&D and advanced manufacturing facilities, Daewoong provides a total healthcare solution to customers across the globe. Continuing on their course of building a strong global healthcare company, Daewoong has broadened international operations by establishing branch offices and research centers throughout Asia and the United States . Daewoong has also expanded strategic partnerships in more than 100 countries worldwide. For further information on Daewoong Pharmaceutical, please visit our official website. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current beliefs and expectations of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's management. These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) Regulatory and governmental approvals: The approval process for pharmaceutical products is subject to extensive regulations and may involve uncertainties and delays. Any failure to obtain necessary approvals or the occurrence of delays in the approval process could adversely affect Daewoong Pharmaceutical's business and results of operations; and (2) Clinical trials: The success of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's products depends on the results of clinical trials. The results of early clinical trials may not be indicative of the results of later-stage or larger-scale clinical trials. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/daewoong-pharmaceutical-publishes-molecular-mechanism-of-bersiporocin-as-an-antifibrotic-in-embo-molecular-medicine-301834515.html SOURCE Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award recognized Destination Canada's business event sustainability advancements through the Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan VANCOUVER, BC , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Destination Canada , the national tourism organization, is proud to be the recipient of the 2023 IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award , acknowledging the organization's commitment to driving sustainability and innovation through the Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan . Launched in the spring of 2022, Destination Canada's Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan is a first-of-its-kind national program aimed at improving the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability practices of business events hosted in Canada . "This is a remarkable recognition for Canada and our business events community. It signals that Destination Canada has laid down a marker for change, globally, alongside our city partners," says Marsha Walden , President and Chief Executive Officer, Destination Canada. "We're on track to building a more resilient, sustainable and regenerative future for tourism." Adds Virginie De Visscher , Senior Director, Business Events, accepting the award for Destination Canada. "We've always said that sustainability requires a collaborative approach. This reaffirms that we are all in this together as we work to reach our industry's target of net zero. We are so grateful to be recognized and look forward to continuing to drive change within our industry by showing the environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of sustainable business events." Granted annually, IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award nominations are evaluated by a global panel of judges across the business events sector based on a set criterion that measures: Innovation Collaboration Economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impact Legacy Commitment to continuous improvement Commitment to industry education "A big congratulations to Destination Canada! As the industry sets its sights on adapting to Net Zero targets, the need for innovation increases. The creativity and commitment to collaboration evident in this year's entrants has been really inspiring to see." says Carina Bauer , CEO, IMEX Group. Events Industry Council (EIC) CEO Amy Calvert adds, "The IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award champions the organizations and leaders whose actions are creating a positive impact on the environment and communities, as well as strengthening the global business events industry as a whole. The IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award places a very deliberate focus on innovation, creative thinking, and collaboration. This plan along with a culture that supports accelerating impact through the power of the collective is one that serves as a model for our industry." To date, sixteen Canadian destinations are participating in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) as part of the Canadian Business Events Sustainability Plan. These destinations are: Banff Lake Louise , Calgary , Charlottetown , Edmonton , Halifax , Kelowna , Montreal , Niagara Falls , Ottawa , Quebec City , Saskatoon , St. John's , Toronto , Vancouver , Victoria , and Winnipeg . Once complete in the spring of 2024, the Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan will provide turnkey economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability programs to global clients to drive action, raise standards, and propel the entire business event industry toward being more sustainable. Quotes "A year ago, almost to the day, Destination Canada launched its Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan at IMEX Frankfurt 2022 under the leadership of Virginie De Visscher (Senior Director, Business Events, Destination Canada). A true champion for sustainability and someone whose passion and dedication toward continuous learning goes well beyond the workplace, this award is a testament to Virginie's approach. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with our industry as we continue to drive action and raise the standards for business event sustainability in Canada ." Chantal Sturk-Nadeau Executive Director, Business Events, Destination Canada About Destination Canada At Destination Canada, we believe that tourism enhances the quality of life of Canadians and enriches the lives of visitors. We believe that Canada 's diversity, its greatest asset, is also what touches travelers' hearts most deeply. Our mission is to influence supply, and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad. In addition, our Business Events team leverages in-depth global market analysis to target international clusters aligned with Canada 's priority economic sectors. Our work in destination development ensures that we are able to sustain a premier four-season tourism economy that is regenerative in nature supporting our economy and the environment. Destination Canada's Business Events team is charged with growing Canada 's share of international business events by promoting the country's unique meeting, convention, and incentive event possibilities. By driving awareness of Canada 's leading economic strengths and how local knowledge capital can elevate business events, Destination Canada's Business Events team helps international organizations meet with purpose in Canada . Destination Canada is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/destination-canada-receives-global-recognition-for-business-event-sustainability-301834255.html SOURCE Destination Canada BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Kazakhstan, taking into account its geography and capabilities, is ready to act as a center for the development of Eurasian industrial cooperation, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow, Trend reports. The president noted that joint ventures for the production of electric vehicles, mainline locomotives, wagons, agricultural and passenger vehicles, construction materials and chemical products can be part of this cooperation. "We are also ready to implement joint projects on the development of ferrous and non-ferrous metal deposits with further processing and production of finished products," Tokayev said. In addition, Tokayev said that together with other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, significant joint projects in the field of infrastructure have already been successfully implemented. According to him, industrial cooperation is also actively developing and a common market for services is being formed, and the share of national currencies in settlements between countries is increasing. SHANGHAI , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dizal (688192.SH) today announced that data from its oncology portfolio will be presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, June 2-6, 2023 in Chicago . The data which include updated analyses of Dizal's two leading assets sunvozertinib (a selective EGFR TKI targeting a wide spectrum of EGFR mutations) and golidocitinib (a highly selective JAK1 inhibitor), underscore Dizal's dedication to developing and delivering innovative medicines that will make a meaningful difference to people living with cancer. Presentation Highlights Sunvozertinib Dizal will present updated results of WU-KONG6, the pivotal study of sunvozertinib in platinum-based chemotherapy pretreated NSCLC with EGFR Exon20ins mutations in an oral session. Patients treated with sunvozertinib (n = 97) achieved a confirmed objective response rate (cORR) of 60.8% assessed by independent review committee (IRC). Anti-tumor efficacy was observed across a broad range of EGFR Exon20ins subtypes, and tumor response was also observed in patients with pretreated and stable brain metastasis. Sunvozertinib showed significant anti-tumor efficacy and well tolerated safety profiles. These data suggest that sunvozertinib could be an effective and safe treatment option for this unmet medical need. Golidocitinib The clinical data of JACKPOT8 Part B, a multinational pivotal study of golidocitinib in relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (r/r PTCL) will make its debut at the meeting. PTCL is a group of heterogenous and rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma originating from mature T cells. There is no consensus on the standard treatment for r/r PTCL. Golidocitinib demonstrated promising and durable anti-tumor efficacy, making it a superior treatment option to fight against this devastating disease. This data was also accepted as an encore presentation at the 17thInternational Conference on Malignant Lymphoma Lugano (ICML) and will be presented orally. In addition, two abstracts about sunvozertinib in the first line setting and heavily pretreated EGFR mutant NSCLC, respectively, were selected as poster presentations in ASCO 2023 annual meeting, including: The "best-in-class" potential of sunvozertinib as a first line treatment for NSCLC patients with EGFR Exon20ins mutations. Promising anti-tumor efficacy of sunvozertinib with median PFS of close to 6 months in heavily pretreated NSCLC patients with EGFR sensitizing mutations who failed standard EGFR TKI treatment (median 5 lines of prior therapies). The updated data will be presented at the meeting. "We are thrilled to have a robust presence at this year's ASCO meeting, showcasing our strong portfolio and rapid acceleration of our pipeline in oncology and hematological malignancies." said Xiaolin Zhang , Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Dizal, "Sunvozertinib has further reinforced its best-in-class position with an even higher ORR, while golidocitinib will debut its global pivotal study results, demonstrating its superior efficacy. These presentations reflect the high quality of our science and our unwavering commitment to advance cancer research and improve patient outcomes." Select studies, along with the dates, times and locations of their data sessions, are highlighted below. Lead Author Abstract Title Presentation Details Prof. Mengzhao Wang Sunvozertinib for the treatment of NSCLC with EGFR Exon20 insertion mutations: The first pivotal study results Abstract #9002 Session Type: Oral Oral Abstract Session Lung Cancer Non-Small Cell Metastatic Session Date and Time: June 6, 2023 , 10:09 AM-10:21AM CDT Venue: Hall D1 Prof. Qingqing Cai Golidocitinib in treating refractory or relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphoma: Primary analysis of the multinational pivotal study results (JACKPOT8) Abstract #7503 Session Type: Oral Oral Abstract Session Hematologic Malignancies Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Session Date and Time: June 6, 2023 , 10:45 AM-10:57 AM CDT Venue: S100a Prof. Yan Xu Efficacy and safety of sunvozertinib in treatment naive NSCLC patients with EGFR exon20 insertion mutations Abstract #9073 Poster Session Lung Cancer Non-Small Cell Metastatic Session Date and Time: June 4, 2023 , 08:00 AM-11:00 AM CDT Venue: Hall A Prof. James Chih-Hsin Yang Anti-tumor activity of sunvozertinib in NSCLC with EGFR sensitizing mutations after failure of EGFR TKI treatment Abstract #9103 Poster Session Lung Cancer Non-Small Cell Metastatic Session Date and Time: June 4, 2023 , 08:00 AM-11:00 AM CDT Venue: Hall A About sunvozertinib ( DZD9008 ) Sunvozertinib was designed with the goal to address the limitations of existing NSCLC therapies. It is a rationally designed, irreversible EGFR inhibitor targeting various EGFR mutations with wild-type EGFR selectivity. The first pivotal study WU-KONG6 of sunvozertinib has achieved its primary objective, demonstrating superior anti-tumor efficacy in pretreated NSCLC patients with EGFR Exon20ins. The confirmed objective response rate (cORR) at 300 mg was 60.8% assessed by IRC (Data cut-off date: October 17, 2022 ). Anti-tumor efficacy was observed across a broad range of EGFR Exon20ins subtypes, and in patients with pretreated and stable brain metastasis. In addition, sunvozertinib also demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor activity in NSCLC patients with EGFR sensitizing, T790M and uncommon mutations (such as G719X, L861Q, etc.), as well as HER2 exon20ins mutations. Sunvozertinib showed a well-tolerated and manageable safety profile in the clinic. Two multinational pivotal studies are ongoing in 2nd line (WU-KONG1) and 1st line settings (WU-KONG28), respectively, in NSCLC patients with EGFR Exon20ins mutations. Pre-clinical and Phase 1 clinical results of sunvozertinib were published in peer-reviewed journal Cancer Discovery (IF:39.397) in April 2022 . The China NMPA has accepted NDA filing and granted priority review for sunvozertinib for the treatment of advanced NSCLC with EGFR Exon20ins mutations after platinum-based chemotherapy. About Golidocitinib ( DZD4205 ) Golidocitinib ( DZD4205 ) is an oral, potent, JAK1 selective inhibitor. It is the first JAK inhibitor which has moved into the stage of pivotal clinical development. In phase 1 study (Data cut-off date: May 31, 2021 ), golidocitinib showed encouraging anti-tumor activity in patients with r/r PTCL, with an ORR of 42.9%, and among those responders, more than 50% achieved complete response. The longest duration of response was longer than 14 months. Golidocitinib was granted Fast Track Designation by US FDA in February 2022 . About Dizal Dizal is a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company, dedicated to the discovery and development of differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. Deep-rooted in translational science and molecular design, it has established an internationally competitive portfolio of five clinical-stage assets with two leading assets in global pivotal studies. To learn more about Dizal, please visit dizalpharma.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", and "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Dizal, are intended to identify certain forward-looking statements. Dizal does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly. These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections, and understandings of the management of Dizal with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond Dizal's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Dizal's competitive environment, and political, economic, legal, and social conditions. Dizal, the Directors, and the employees of Dizal assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained on this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect. Contacts Investor Relations: [email protected] Business Development: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dizals-oncology-pipeline-continues-to-impress-with-two-oral-presentations-at-2023-asco-annual-meeting-301833261.html SOURCE Dizal Pharmaceutical LONDON and SOFIA, Bulgaria , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dronamics, the world's first cargo drone airline, announced today the successful completion of the first flight of its flagship aircraft, the Black Swan, at Balchik airport in Bulgaria ; demonstrating the potential for the logistics industry to enhance efficiency in the transportation of products. Born out of two brothers' desire to find a quicker, greener and more affordable way to deliver goods, Dronamics is on a mission to enable same day delivery for everyone, everywhere. This significant milestone is the culmination of months of ground testing and subscale flights. The Black Swan aircraft was remotely piloted by two commercial airline pilots from the Dronamics ground control station. The successful flight test validates the company's licensed cargo drone technology for commercial flights in Europe , set to begin later this year, serving a variety of industries, with a fast and cost-effective solution to meet evolving consumer needs. "Since the day we first imagined what the Black Swan aircraft could look like, we've worked towards this flight. Today we've made history and are proud to have demonstrated the validity of our drone technology," said Konstantin Rangelov , Co-Founder and CTO of Dronamics. "It's taken an enormous amount of hard work, belief and drive to prove that what we envisioned works. We can now focus on the next step, the roll-out of our commercial operations, and we couldn't be more excited," said Svilen Rangelov , Co-Founder and CEO of Dronamics. About Dronamics is a leading developer and operator of large, long-range drones built specifically for cargo. Its flagship Black Swan is able to carry 350 kg (770 lb) at a distance of up to 2,500 km (1,550 mi) up to 80% faster, 50% cheaper and with up to 60% lower emissions than alternative modes of transport, including airfreight. This enables same-day shipping over long distances for a variety of industries: from pharma to food, from e-commerce to spare parts. Dronamics is Europe's first licensed cargo drone airline and IATA's first Strategic Partner for drones worldwide. Dronamics has raised a total of $40 million in pre-Series A funding from early-stage funds and angel investors from 12 countries and is co-funded by the European Union under the prestigious European Innovation Council, Europe's flagship innovation program. Visit our Media Area Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085333/Dronamics_Black_Swan.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2075828/4033285/Dronamics_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dronamics-cargo-drone-takes-first-flight-paving-the-way-for-the-future-of-deliveries-301834416.html SOURCE Dronamics Global Ltd. Plus: Director of Portfolio Operations joins the team and new CFP credentials added to team accomplishments FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Chip Partners ("Blue Chip"), an award-winning, independent Registered Investment Advisor and comprehensive wealth management firm located just outside of Detroit , recently had two executives named to Forbes' 2023 list of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors. In the 2023 rankings, CEO Robert Steinberg , JD, CPA, CFP and Managing Partner Dan Seder , CFA, CMT, CFP were both listed, ranking #17 and #18 respectively in the state of Michigan . "We couldn't have earned this honor without all of our amazing team members who work so hard to serve our clients." "Dan and I are both very proud to be named top wealth advisors in Michigan by Forbes," said Robert Steinberg , Founder and CEO of Blue Chip Partners. "However, we couldn't have earned this honor without all of our amazing team members who work so hard to serve our clients and make Blue Chip an award-winning firm." Forbes' rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, are one of the only advisor rankings with a focus on quality, including surveying and interviewing advisors in-person and virtually. Rankings are based on an algorithm of qualitative data collected through these surveys and interviews to evaluate best practices, level of service, investing models, and compliance records, as well as quantitative data such as revenue produced and assets under management. SHOOK Research prides itself on recognizing the most outstanding financial advisors in the business and creating rankings of role models advisors that are leading the way in offering best practices and providing a high-quality experience for clients. Unlike other advisor rankings, SHOOK is not a "robo-ranker" and is completely independent and objective they do not receive compensation from financial advisors, their firms, or the media in exchange for rankings. They believe that production and asset numbers don't tell the whole story and that a focus on both qualitative and quantitative factors is imperative. To see the full list of Forbes' 2023 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors rankings, click here. BLUE CHIP ADDS NEW DIRECTOR OF PORTFOLIO OPERATIONS TO TEAM This Spring, Blue Chip Partners welcomed a new Director of Portfolio Operations to their team: Andrea Cloutier . As Director of Portfolio Operations, Cloutier has oversight of and significant responsibilities within Blue Chip's portfolio accounting, trading, and reporting systems used to manage client relationships. She is an analytical, tech-savvy, process-oriented personality and the firm will be looking to her to improve firm efficiency and enhance the consistency of the client experience. Prior to joining Blue Chip in 2023, Cloutier spent over six years at Plante Moran Financial Advisors, one of the nation's largest Registered Investment Advisors, where she worked as a Senior Data Operations Analyst. In addition to Plante Moran, Cloutier spent nine years at Comerica Bank where she worked in Trust Operations as a Fund Accounting Manager. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.A. in Business Administration, majoring in Finance. FINANCIAL ADVISOR CODY VANDERHAGEN EARNS CFP MARKS In addition, Blue Chip announced that financial advisor Cody VanderHagen , CFP has earned the Certified Financial Planner marks of distinction and can now use the CFP marks after his name. With this accomplishment came a promotion for VanderHagen, who moved from Associate Advisor to Financial Advisor within the firm. "We're so proud of Cody and the hard work he put in to achieve this success," said Erin Goss , Chief Operating Officer at Blue Chip Partners. "Since joining our firm in 2020, Cody has been an invaluable part of our team, and we're excited to witness his continued growth." In addition to two Associate Financial Advisors, there are now nine Financial Advisors on staff. Eight of them are Certified Financial Planner professionals. Click to learn more about the Blue Chip team. ABOUT BLUE CHIP PARTNERS Blue Chip Partners, LLC (Blue Chip) is a privately-owned, independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan (a suburban area near Detroit ). Blue Chip provides personalized wealth management and asset management services, serving as a fiduciary to over 750 client relationships with over $1.1 Billion in assets under management. The advisors at Blue Chip have extensive experience and credentials that provide the foundation for providing comprehensive wealth management and holistic advice to a select clientele. Blue Chip has eight Certified Financial Planner licensees (CFPs), four Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs), three Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), three Chartered Market Technicians (CMTs), and two licensed attorneys ( Michigan ). To learn more, visit www.BlueChipPartners.com. Media Contact: Jonny Swift Impact Communications, Inc. 913-649-5009 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/executives-at-blue-chip-partners-named-to-forbes-2023-list-of-best-in-state-wealth-advisors-301834297.html SOURCE Blue Chip Partners WASHINGTON , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) priced Connecticut Avenue Securities (CAS) Series 2023-R04, an approximately $765 million note offering that represents Fannie Mae's fourth CAS REMIC transaction of the year. CAS is Fannie Mae's benchmark issuance program designed to share credit risk on its single-family conventional guaranty book of business. The reference pool for CAS Series 2023-R04 consists of approximately 67,000 single-family mortgage loans with an outstanding unpaid principal balance of approximately $20.9 billion . The reference pool includes collateral with loan-to-value ratios of 60.01 percent to 80.00 percent, which were acquired between March 2022 and April 2022 . The loans included in this transaction are fixed-rate, generally 30-year term, fully amortizing mortgages and were underwritten using rigorous credit standards and enhanced risk controls. Fannie Mae will retain a portion of the 1M-1, 1M-2, 1B-1, and 1B-2 tranches, and initially will retain the full 1B-3H first-loss tranche. Class Offered Amount ($MM) Pricing Level Expected Ratings (S&P/KBRA) 1M-1 $377.100 30-day Average SOFR plus 230 bps BBB+ (sf) / A- (sf) 1M-2 $188.550 30-day Average SOFR plus 355 bps BBB (sf) / BBB (sf) 1B-1 $131.618 30-day Average SOFR plus 535 bps BB- (sf) / BB+ (sf) 1B-2 $67.898 30-day Average SOFR plus 825 bps B- (sf) / B+ (sf) BofA Securities, Inc. ("BofA") is the lead structuring manager and joint bookrunner. StoneX Financial Inc. ("StoneX") is the co-lead manager and joint bookrunner. Co-managers are Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("Citigroup"), Morgan Stanley & Co, LLC ("Morgan Stanley"), Santander US Capital Markets LLC ("Santander"), and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC ("Wells Fargo"). Selling group members are Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Drexel Hamilton, LLC and African-American & women-owned Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC. With the completion of this transaction, Fannie Mae will have brought 57 CAS deals to market, issued nearly $62 billion in notes, and transferred a portion of the credit risk to private investors on over $2 trillion in single-family mortgage loans, measured at the time of the transaction. To promote transparency and to help credit investors evaluate our securities and the CAS program, Fannie Mae provides ongoing, robust disclosure data, as well as access to news, resources, and analytics through its credit risk transfer webpages. This includes our innovative Data Dynamics tool that enables market participants to interact with and analyze CAS deals that are currently outstanding in the market and Fannie Mae's historical loan dataset. Beginning today, Fannie Mae now provides monthly loan-level and deal-level data in European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) Annex 2 and Annex 12 template formats directly in Data Dynamics. This data will be provided on a go-forward basis for all benchmark CAS deals beginning with CAS 2019-R01. Our EU Resources and UK Resources webpages are designed to help European Union and UK institutional investors, as well as those managing funds subject to EU/ UK regulations. In addition to our flagship CAS program, Fannie Mae continues to transfer mortgage credit risk through its Credit Insurance Risk Transfer (CIRT) reinsurance program. About Connecticut Avenue Securities CAS REMIC notes are issued by a bankruptcy-remote trust. The amount of periodic principal and ultimate principal paid by Fannie Mae is determined by the performance of a large and diverse reference pool. For more information on individual CAS transactions, visit our credit risk transfer webpage. About Fannie Mae Fannie Mae advances equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality, affordable rental housing for millions of people across America. We enable the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and drive responsible innovation to make homebuying and renting easier, fairer, and more accessible. To learn more, visit: fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog Fannie Mae Newsroom https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom Photo of Fannie Mae https://www.fanniemae.com/resources/img/about-fm/fm-building.tif Fannie Mae Resource Center 1-800-2FANNIE Statements in this release regarding the company's future CAS transactions are forward-looking. Actual results may be materially different as a result of market conditions or other factors listed in "Risk Factors" or "Forward-Looking Statements" in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 . This release does not constitute an offer or sale of any security. Before investing in any Fannie Mae issued security, potential investors should review the disclosure for such security and consult their own investment advisors. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fannie-mae-prices-765-million-connecticut-avenue-securities-cas-remic-deal-301835004.html SOURCE Fannie Mae Overall sensitivity of early cancer detection for novel blood-based assay was 82% at 95% specificity; specific cancer detection rates include colorectal (96%), lung (85%), prostate (82%) and breast (73%) Results, which demonstrate the potential of Harbinger's biology-informed, AI-driven approach, currently being validated in 10,000-subject CORE-HH clinical trial with the Sarah Cannon Research Institute Findings published in the 2023 ASCO Annua Meeting Proceedings, a Journal of Clinical Oncology supplement CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Harbinger Health, a biotechnology company pioneering the detection of early cancer, announced today data demonstrating the company's biology-informed, AI-driven platform, HarbingerHx, has the potential for highly sensitive multi-cancer diagnostic accuracy and specifically those with early stage cancer. The abstract, "Novel blood-based assay for detection of early stage multi-cancer," was published in the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Proceedings, a Journal of Clinical Oncology supplement, as part of the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting held virtually and in Chicago, Illinois from June 2-6, 2023 . "At Harbinger, we know that early detection is the first line of defense against cancer," said Stephen M. Hahn , M.D., CEO of Harbinger Health. "These data gave us the conviction in our platform to form the company and go after the big unsolved problem of accurate, informative early-stage cancer screening. We believe we can advance the universally shared goal of reducing cancer mortality with our blood-based test that combines recent genomic and epigenomic discoveries of early cancer with biology-informed artificial intelligence. This is the next step in advanced cancer care." Abstract Details and Findings Harbinger generated data from 1,046 subjects, 621 with newly diagnosed, treatment-naive cancer across 15 different types, and 425 individuals with no history, diagnosis, or cancer symptoms. Using this sample cohort, the Company developed and applied a rigorous framework for predicting the likelihood of cancer using a multi-layered logistic regression-based machine learning algorithm, generating final outputs of binary classification (cancer yes/no). Overall sensitivity of cancer detection was 82% (95% confidence interval (CI): 72.7-91.0%) at 95% specificity. Notably, the sensitivity was 74% (95% CI: 54.8-92.7%) for stage 1 and 84% (95% CI: 65.3-100%) for stage 2. Furthermore, the Company was able to correctly predict cancer in 95% of patient samples with at least 0.037% tumor fraction. Overall sensitivity for high incident cancers were breast (73%), prostate (82%), lung (85%), and colorectal (96%) at 95% specificity and the overall accuracy of tissue of origin prediction was 86% when the tumor fraction was greater than 0.1% in the top 3 most prevalent cancer types (breast, colorectal and lung). Importantly, technical variability was introduced when performing assay optimization strategies, yet comparable performance was observed when assessing subsets of stably processed samples, indicating robust performance. "Unlike statistical approaches to identify informative biomarkers, Harbinger's approach is informed by insights into specific biological events early during tumorigenesis, allowing cancer detection in patients with very low levels of circulating tumor DNA," said Professor Franziska Michor , Ph.D., abstract author, scientific advisor and co-founder of Harbinger Health, and Professor of Computational Biology in the Department of Data Science at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in the Department of Biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. "We are pleased to share this data and look forward to sharing further updates as we progress our CORE-HH clinical trial." Harbinger's platform is now being validated in a 10,000-subject clinical trial, Cancer Origin Epigenetics Harbinger Health (CORE-HH, NCT05435066), in conjunction with the Sarah Cannon Research Institute. Currently on target to complete enrollment by year end, the CORE-HH study is designed to enroll a diverse and representative population with and without cancer at up to 40 U.S. sites. About Harbinger Health Harbinger Health is pioneering the detection of early cancer and enabling foundationally new approaches to cancer screening, diagnosis and management. The company combines advances in artificial intelligence with proprietary insights into the biology of the beginnings of cancer to identify cancer before it is visible or symptomatic with the aim of developing a low-cost, multi-cancer blood test. Harbinger envisions a future where, instead of keeping cancer from spreading, it could be kept from forming, making a cancer diagnosis a routine health problem to be addressed rather than a life-altering event to be feared with profound implications for people, healthcare systems and societies. Harbinger was founded by Flagship Pioneering after three years of foundational research in its Labs unit and launched in 2020. Learn more about Harbinger by visiting Harbinger-Health.com or following us on Twitter (@harbingerhlth) and LinkedIn. Media Contact [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/harbinger-health-announces-results-demonstrating-high-sensitivity-of-early-stage-multi-cancer-detection-platform-at-asco-annual-meeting-2023-301835194.html SOURCE Harbinger Health SLOUGH, England and RICHMOND, Va. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Indivior PLC (LSE: INDV) today announced that it will participate in the following investor events: Jefferies Healthcare Conference New York City , June 7 th Mark Crossley , Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Ryan Preblick , Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will host 1x1/group meetings on Wednesday, June 7 th and host a presentation Wednesday June 7 th at 3:00 p.m. US EST. Investors can contact their Jefferies representative to schedule a meeting. The presentation will be available at www.indivior.com and can also be viewed using the following webcast link: https://wsw.com/webcast/jeff281/indv.l/2074930 Stifel European Healthcare Summit Bordeaux, France , June 29 th and 30th Mark Crossley , CEO, will participate in the Stifel European Healthcare Conference in Bordeaux , France. Mr. Crossley will host 1x1/group meetings on Thursday, June 29 th and Friday, June 30 th. Investors can contact their Stifel representative to schedule a meeting. About Indivior Indivior is a global pharmaceutical company working to help change patients' lives by developing medicines to treat substance use disorders (SUD) and serious mental illnesses. Our vision is that all patients around the world will have access to evidence-based treatment for the chronic conditions and co-occurring disorders of SUD. Indivior is dedicated to transforming SUD from a global human crisis to a recognized and treated chronic disease. Building on its global portfolio of OUD treatments, Indivior has a pipeline of product candidates designed to both expand on its heritage in this category and potentially address other chronic conditions and co-occurring disorders of SUD, including alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder. Headquartered in the United States in Richmond, VA , Indivior employs more than 1,000 individuals globally and its portfolio of products is available in 39 countries worldwide. Visit www.indivior.com to learn more. Connect with Indivior on LinkedIn by visiting www.linkedin.com/company/indivior. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indivior-to-participate-in-upcoming-investor-conferences-301834688.html SOURCE Indivior PLC MILAN , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- InSilicoTrials - a leading provider of artificial intelligence and simulation tools for drug and medical device development, and IBSA Group - one of the major players worldwide in the fields of Reproductive Medicine and hyaluronic acid-based products, have partnered to revolutionize drug development processes using in silico medicine. At the heart of the collaboration between the two companies lies the in silico approach, which involves the use of various computational tools, such as computer simulations and mathematical models, to study biological systems at different levels, from the molecular to the cellular level and even at the organism level. In silico techniques can provide predictions about toxicity, efficacy, optimal dosing strategies and study design, and are currently employed by pharmaceutical companies to guide the different stages of the drug development process, from discovery through the nonclinical and clinical phases, drug registration as well as to leverage post-market real-world data. Regulatory bodies such as the FDA have encouraged the adoption of in silico techniques, with the Modernization Act - FDAMA- 2.0 bill aiming to streamline drug regulation and bring safe medical products to market faster. The bill allows the use of alternatives methods to animal testing, such in silico testing, before or during the clinical trial phase. In silico studies have emerged as a new model of clinical trials, using algorithms to create computer models and provide clinical data without resorting to trials on living beings or in test tubes. IBSA, which has made innovation one of its pillars, partnered with InSilicoTrials with the objective of evaluating the application of in silico medicine in specific therapeutic areas such as pain and inflammation, osteoarticular, and reproductive medicine. The collaboration between the two companies has the aim of reducing working times, lowering research costs, and implementing effective therapeutic solutions in less time, positively impacting healthcare expenditures. InSilicoTrials' advanced computer simulations offer an innovative and cost-effective approach to drug development, generating valuable evidence for internal decision-making and regulatory submissions and reducing the need for costly and time-consuming clinical trials. This cutting-edge technology can increase the quality of life of millions of patients bringing innovative drugs to the market in a shorter time, together with personalized cures and new solutions for rare diseases. For further news and updates, please visit: https://insilicotrials.com/ournews/ About InSilicoTrials InSilicoTrials is a company that specializes in using artificial intelligence (AI) and simulations to improve drugs and medical device development. The company built an ecosystem of more than 70 scientific collaborations, where computational models are developed with internationally recognized universities and research centers, offering access to the highest level of data security. InSilicoTrials' goal is to help Pharmaceutical, MedTech companies and researchers develop new drugs & medical devices more efficiently and at a lower cost by reducing the need for traditional, time-consuming, and expensive clinical trials. With its cloud-based platform offering advanced M&S tools to perform in silico trials analyses, InSilicoTrials supports companies to integrate AI and simulation technology into their development workflows. InSilicoTrials is currently working on four projects funded by the European Commission: In Silico World, SimCardioTest, Brainteaser & Disc4All. About IBSA IBSA (Institut Biochimique SA) is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical Company, founded in 1945 in Lugano. Today, its products are present in over 90 Countries on 5 continents, through the Company's 17 subsidiaries located in Europe , China , and the United States . The company has a consolidated turnover of 800 million CHF , and employs over 2,000 people between headquarters, subsidiaries and production sites. IBSA holds 90 families of approved patents, plus others under development, as well as a vast portfolio of products, covering 10 therapeutic areas: reproductive medicine, endocrinology, pain and inflammation, osteoarticular, aesthetic medicine, dermatology, uro-gynaecology, cardiometabolic, respiratory, consumer health. It is also one of the largest operators worldwide in the area of reproductive medicine, and one of the world's leaders in hyaluronic acid-based products. IBSA has based its philosophy on four pillars: Person, Innovation, Quality and Responsibility. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085427/InSilicoTrials.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insilicotrials-and-ibsa-join-forces-to-innovate-clinical-trials-with-advanced-computer-modeling-301834500.html SOURCE InSilicoTrials The company serves as a model for businesses that aim to support veterans, achieving a 240+% increase in veteran hires since 2020 and expanding initiatives to extend assistance in 2023 and beyond HUDSON, Ohio , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaf Home , a leading technology-enabled direct-to-consumer provider of home improvement products and solutions, today announced that the company's veteran-focused hiring initiatives have led to a 240+% increase in veteran hires since 2020. Leaf Home is reaffirming its strong commitment to U.S. veterans this Memorial Day weekend by hosting a reenlistment ceremony at the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race and raising funds for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Leaf Home Reaffirms Commitment to Veterans with Reenlistment Event at NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 and DAV Fundraiser " Leaf Home makes recruiting and retaining veterans a top priority," said Jon Bostock , CEO & President of Leaf Home . "We bring veterans on board because giving opportunities to a group that has sacrificed so much for us is the right thing to do, and we've found the process-oriented nature of the military translates well to our organization. As we honor the fallen this weekend, we also pause to remember those currently serving as well as those who served in the past." Leaf Home is sponsoring several initiatives to honor servicemembers at the racetrack on Memorial Day weekend. Matt Kaulig , Founder & Board Member at Leaf Home, owns Kaulig Racing, which sponsors the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Justin Haley . Leaf Home will host several U.S. Army soldiers and their commanders from nearby Ft. Bragg in the VIP area at the race and lead a reenlistment ceremony in the garage with Haley in attendance. One lucky veteran and current Leaf Home employee, Carl Nichols (United States Navy veteran), was selected to attend the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race on Sunday. To honor Carl's Nichols' service, Leaf Home is covering travel expenses to the race, a VIP pass and grandstand tickets to watch the exciting NASCAR action. Nichols will also have an opportunity to meet driver Justin Haley . Continuing the company's annual fundraising for veterans, this year, Leaf Home is working with DAV to help disabled veterans through the sale of T-shirts featuring a flag that honors American servicemembers and logos for the company's Vet Connect program, Kaulig Racing, Leaf Home , DAV, and LeafFilter. All proceeds from shirt sales will go to DAV to assist disabled veterans, and Leaf Home will match the amount raised through online sales. Leaf Home will donate $29.99 to DAV for every t-shirt sold from May 26, 2023 through June 30, 2023 and the company will match all donations up to $10,000 . Through a partnership with investment firm Gridiron Capital, Leaf Home is releasing a Memorial Day video on its owned channels that honors the fallen and highlights the company's dedication to the nation's veterans. Upcoming initiatives to support veterans at Leaf Home will include the launch of a dedicated website that current and prospective veteran employees can use to connect to veteran-specific employment resources, mental healthcare and more. Existing resources include the Vet Connect program and assistance offered through Leaf Home's partnership with Department of Defense's SkillBridge Program, which provides training and development for returning veterans. "Veterans gain unique skills during service, and all private sector businesses can find a good fit for veterans if they try," said Leaf Home Military Engagement Manager Nick Busse , a U.S. Army veteran. "Many companies say they support veterans, but at Leaf Home, we walk the talk. I encourage other businesses to do the same. The simplest way to start is by reaching out to veterans who are already in your organization to make sure you're meeting their needs. We owe our heroes that much." To learn more about employment opportunities with Leaf Home and the company's veteran-focused employment initiatives, please visit https://www.leafhome.com/careers/veterans/. Tune in to Fox Sports1 on Sunday to watch the race. About Leaf Home Leaf Home is a leading technology-enabled direct-to-consumer provider of branded, innovative home solutions in North America . The company is on a mission to enhance the safety, enjoyment, and comfort of homeowners and their families by delivering seamless, transformative home solutions, including gutter protection, home safety, water purification, and other home enhancement products. With its corporate headquarters in Hudson, Ohio , and locations across the U.S. and Canada , Leaf Home has become a trusted partner to over 1.1 million homeowners. Live Comfortable. Live Safe. Live Happy. For more information, visit www.leafhome.com. About Disabled American Veterans (DAV) DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: keeping our promise to America's veterans. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America's injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at DAV.org Media Contact [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leaf-home-reaffirms-commitment-to-veterans-with-reenlistment-event-at-nascar-coca-cola-600-and-dav-fundraiser-301835180.html CHICAGO , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, McDonald's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.52 per share of common stock payable on June 20, 2023 , to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 5, 2023 . Upcoming Communications For important news and information regarding McDonald's, including the timing of future investor conferences and earnings calls, visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's Internet home page at www.investor.mcdonalds.com. McDonald's uses this website as a primary channel for disclosing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. About McDonald's McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with over 40,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 . The Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, except as may otherwise be required by law. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-announces-quarterly-cash-dividend-301835152.html SOURCE McDonald's Corporation HONG KONG , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Meituan (HKG: 3690) (the "Company"), a leading technology-driven retail company in China , today announced the unaudited consolidated results of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2023 . Company Financial Highlights During the first quarter of 2023, our revenues increased by 26.7% to RMB58.6 billion from RMB46.3 billion for the same period of 2022. Our Core local commerce segment achieved an operating profit of RMB9.4 billion for the first quarter of 2023, up by 100.7% from RMB4.7 billion for the same period of 2022. Meanwhile, the operating loss for our New initiatives segment continuously narrowed to RMB5.0 billion for the first quarter of 2023. Our profit for the period was RMB3.4 billion for the first quarter of 2023, turning from loss into profit on a year-over-year basis. Our adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net profit were RMB6.3 billion and RMB5.5 billion for this quarter respectively, reaching the highest level in our history. We also achieved operating cash inflow of RMB8.1 billion for the first quarter of 2023. We held cash and cash equivalents of RMB26.9 billion and short-term treasury investments of RMB84.5 billion as of March 31, 2023 . "During the quarter, Meituan captured consumers' diverse demand for goods and services during the consumption recovery with various businesses posting healthy growth," said Meituan Founder and CEO Xing Wang . "Meituan has witnessed the resilience of the domestic economy and the gigantic potential of consumption, and we firmly believe that we will continue to benefit from new advancements and growth opportunities in retail. As a company that integrates retail and technology, we will increase our investments in technology and innovations and actively explore the implementation of cutting-edge solutions that connects people to products and services," added Mr. Wang . Meituan CFO Shaohui Chen said, "Meituan delivered strong growth during the quarter, boosted by strong local consumption recovery post reopening and our effective marketing measures. We will continue to incentivize consumption recovery and increase demand by optimizing our products, content offerings and fulfillment network. We are firmly committed to creating more value for all the participants in our ecosystem." Company Business Highlights Core local commerce For the first quarter of 2023, segment revenue increased by 25.5% year over year to RMB42.9 billion , and operating profit increased by 100.7% year over year to RMB9.4 billion , with operating margin improving to 22.0%, compared to 13.8% in the same period of 2022. Number of On-demand Delivery transactions increased by 14.9% year over year. Since the beginning of this year, the food delivery industry has continued to recover. We assisted new merchants in starting their businesses, and helped improve online operations of all merchants. Leveraging deeper consumer insights, we dynamically iterated our operational strategies and provided consumers with better products and services, which led to healthy growth in order volume. For instance, we swiftly adjusted our marketing strategies and user incentive schemes to capture the growing consumption demand. As a result, the number of Active Merchants and Transacting Users of the food delivery business experienced steady growth in the first quarter. Particularly, we expanded the high-quality merchant base on our platform, and the number of newly on-boarded KA and CKA merchants increased on a year-over-year basis. In addition, we piloted new marketing and promotional formats. In March, we launched a brand-new marketing event " Shen Qiang Shou " for merchants in Shenzhen . It is a promotional event that allows merchants to sell discounted high-quality products to consumers and integrates live streaming, short-form videos and other formats. In April, we upgraded our monthly marketing campaign " Shen Quan Jie ". During these promotional events, merchants could offer deep-discounted deals and create mega-hit products through flash sales, live streaming or short-form videos, which effectively help merchants enhance their growth potential in combination with our existing shelf-based business model. Meanwhile, we were able to explore traffic growth, and stimulate non-instant demand by addressing consumers' coupon stockpiling needs through these live streaming events. Meituan Instashopping continued its high growth trajectory. For the first quarter of 2023, order volume increased by around 35% year over year, driven by increases in both number of Transacting Users and transaction frequency. As we expanded product selections and leveraged marketing events, the consumer mindshare of "Everything Now" was further reinforced. During the holiday seasons in the first quarter, such as Chinese New Year , Valentine's Day and Women's Day, demand for on-demand delivery for gifts increased significantly on our platform. Annual Active Merchants increased by over 30% year over year in the first quarter of 2023, with non-food specialty stores, liquor and beverages, and flowers maintaining high growth. In addition, order mix from new supply formats increased notably, and we continued to expand its geographical coverage. We also strengthened consumer mindshare of consulting doctors and buying medicines on Meituan. During the Chinese New Year holiday, we provided more incentives as well as traffic to pharmacies that stayed open for business, and provided free online consultation services for people in certain regions. We also satisfied consumers' medicine demand related to seasonal diseases, such as flu and allergies. Thus, order volume and user base also posted strong growth for the medicine category this quarter. As offline consumption gradually recovered in the first quarter of 2023, GTV and revenue growths of our in-store business accelerated month by month. We captured the rising demand for group gatherings and holiday meals, and launched preset in-store menus, packaged deals, and more. We continued to expand our merchant selections across service categories, and enriched our marketing and content formats. In addition, we iterated our product operating strategy and optimised the service capability of our business development team. We also enhanced synergies across business lines, and provided merchants with more promotional channels. To further stimulate consumption during Labor Day , we launched a comprehensive Meituan platform live streaming program that provides consumers with deep-discounted high-quality products, and incentivized participation from high-quality merchants. We also supported small and medium-sized merchants with online operations and helped them standardize service qualities. On the consumer side, we continued to strengthen our content capabilities and iterate short-form video formats. We introduced Special Deals to offer high-quality services at deep discounts for consumers, while allowing merchants to create and promote mega-hit products. Through these marketing events and campaigns, our consumer mindshare of finding the best deals on Meituan was further strengthened. In the future, we will continue to iterate our operations and diversify our product and service offerings, by leveraging our advantages in organizational capability, consumer mindshare, and merchant service, which ultimately will help accelerate online penetration for the in-store industry. For the hotel and travel business, as consumption demand recovered, our room nights and GTV grew robustly in the first quarter of 2023. Specifically, room nights during the Chinese New Year holiday increased by over 40% compared to the same periods of 2022 and 2019. Room nights from local accommodations and short-distance travel scenarios also maintained high growth momentum after the Chinese New Year , and peaked for several consecutive weekends. Following the evolving consumption trends, we continued to enrich our product mix and leverage holiday promotions to enhance brand awareness. Moreover, we optimised our subsidy strategy and increased live streaming frequency. For high-star hotels, we enhanced our supply and pricing mechanism, improved the merchant information display on our platform, and deepened collaborations with high-star chain hotels. We also optimised our packaged deal products and broadened distribution channels. On the low-star front, we further improved our room renovation program, CRM tools and marketing solutions, to help merchants capture the industry recovery opportunity and satisfy diverse consumer needs. For alternative accommodations, we maintained industry leadership and continued to focus on user experience, supply optimisation, as well as operating efficiency improvement. We have strong confidence in the future growth of the hotel and travel industry in China , and we believe in our ability to meet demand from both consumers and merchants. New Initiatives For the first quarter of 2023, revenues from the New initiatives segment increased by 30.1% year over year to RMB15.7 billion . Operating loss for the segment decreased by 40.5% year over year to RMB5.0 billion , and operating margin improved sequentially to negative 32.0%. Meituan Select maintained an industry-leading position and continuously improved operational efficiency. During the first quarter of 2023, we optimised our pricing and product management capabilities. We provided consumers with wider selections of value-for-money products and more convenience, through our nationwide next-day logistics and self-pickup network. The accumulative number of Transacting Users had reached 450 million by March-end. We actively promoted the circulation of agricultural products and helped farmers increase income. As a result, sales contribution from agricultural products surpassed 45% in the first quarter. We also established partnerships with local governments and suppliers in the products' places of origin, and expanded our efforts in the direct procurement of high-quality agricultural products. Through these measures, we are able to bring high-quality products directly from farms to consumers' dining tables. In addition, our engagement in rural areas helped create employment opportunities locally. For example, the number of pick-up stations in lower-tier markets has exceeded 1.3 million. For Meituan Grocery, GTV increased by over 50% year over year in the first quarter of 2023. We continued to focus on cost control and efficiency improvement during the first quarter. We also accelerated our product circulation efficiency, and elevated consumer experience by providing better quality and more diverse product selections. In addition, we enhanced our cold-chain logistics and on-demand delivery service to strengthen consumer mindshare. Average order value and order frequency both increased compared to the same period of last year. We also improved our "Locally-sourced Selected Products" program, by deepening collaborations with local government and farmers, which not only diversified our platform's supply but also helped farmers increase income. Furthermore, we established in-depth collaborations with brands, and launched joint-branding programs in selected categories to drive sales growth. As the consumption market gradually recovered since the beginning of 2023, demand for local services also increased robustly. On the consumer side, we coped with consumer's growing demand across goods and service categories, by leveraging our advantages in on-demand retail and local services. On the merchant front, we continued to enhance our operating solutions and marketing tools to help merchants seize the post-pandemic recovery opportunities, grow their business and improve operating efficiency. Going forward, we will continue to optimise our marketing strategies and formats to better satisfy merchants' needs for promotions and help them increase revenue and profit. In addition, we will continue to implement the "Retail + Technology" corporate strategy, leverage technology to bring new advancements and growth opportunities, fulfill our mission that "We help people eat better, live better", and create more value for all the participants in our ecosystem. For the full announcement of Meituan for the three months ended March 31, 2023 , please visit: http://media-meituan.todayir.com/202305251729431742504632_en.pdf About Meituan Meituan (HKG: 3690) (the "Company") is a leading technology-driven retail company in China . With the mission of "We help people eat better, live better," the Company uses technology to connect consumers and merchants. Service offerings on its platform address people's daily needs for food and retail goods and extend further to broad lifestyle and travel services. Meituan is the world's leading on-demand food delivery service provider and China's leading e-commerce platform for in-store dining services. Meituan helps consumers discover merchant information, make informed decisions, complete online and offline transactions and enjoy on-demand delivery. The Company currently owns several household brands in China , including Meituan, China's leading online marketplace for services, Dianping, China's leading online destination for discovering local services, Meituan Waimai for on-demand delivery services, and Meituan Bikes for bike-sharing services. The Company operates in over 2,800 cities and counties in China . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the business outlook, forecast business plans and growth strategies of the Company. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are stated herein on the basis of the outlook at the time of this press release. They are based on certain expectations, assumptions and premises, some of which are subjective or beyond our control. These forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and may not be realized in future. Underlying the forward-looking statements is a large number of risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these risks and uncertainties is included in our other public disclosure documents on our corporate website. For media inquiries, please contact: Meituan [email protected] [email protected] ICR Inc. Email: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meituan-announces-financial-results-for-the-three-months-ended-march-31-2023-301834527.html SOURCE Meituan BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries should bring foreign experience in its agricultural sector for further development, Olga Hunger Area Director Eastern Europe of the DLG (German Agricultural Society) told Trend. "The goal of the summit, which will be held by DLG in Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan this summer, is to identify effective models of international, national integration in agribusiness that can elevate the agricultural sector of the region to a higher level," Hunger said. According to DLG representative, agriculture in Central Asian countries, particularly in Kyrgyzstan, is highly fragmented. "Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan had about 530 large agricultural enterprises, but now there are approximately 340,000 small agricultural enterprises operating on only 1.2 million hectares of land. Under these conditions, small farms face challenges in development in acquiring new equipment, for example," she said. "We came up with the idea of organizing an event where we can present the experience of Central Asia, along with the experience of Europe and other countries, to explore the most effective integration models for Kyrgyzstan. Integration opportunities can vary, including scaling up production at individual enterprises, cooperation, or, as in Uzbekistan, forming agricultural clusters," Hunger said. The Issyk-Kul summit will host representatives of the agricultural sectors of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, as well as participants from Europe and other countries. The event aims to provide an impetus for the development of agricultural enterprises in Central Asia. The German Agricultural Society hosts two of the world's largest industry exhibitions, including EuroTier, dedicated to livestock and poultry farming, which attracts over 2,000 exhibitors from 60 countries. The second exhibition, AGRITECHNICA, will take place from November 12-18, 2023, in Hanover, Germany, with the participation of around 2,600 exhibitors from over 50 countries, and is expected to attract 450,000 visitors from 140 countries. DHAKA, Bangladesh , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanvir A Mishuk, founder and managing director of Nagad Limited, a disruptive mobile financial service in Bangladesh , has been conferred the Kotler Iconic Achiever of the Year-2023 Award in recognition of his innovative approaches to business management and exceptional performance in marketing systems. Kotler Awards, which are named after Dr Philip Kotler , a celebrated marketing and management guru, have formally been introduced in Bangladesh from this year to recognise outstanding marketing campaigns, initiatives, and professionals who have contributed excellently to advance the marketing landscape in the country. Planning minister of the country MA Mannan handed over the prestigious Kotler Award to Tanvir A Mishuk at a gala event during the Modern Marketing Summit 2023 in Dhaka , recently. Honorable Prime Minister's economic adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman also accompanied the planning minister at the event as a distinguished guest. The event was organised by Kotler Impact Inc., a leading marketing consultancy firm with partnership with a local organisation Northern Education Group. After receiving the prestigious award Tanvir A Mishuk said, "Receiving recognition from any organisation related with Kotler is very special to me." "Not 160 million people of Bangladesh alone, there is now no expatriate Bangladeshi anywhere in the world who does not know the name of Nagad. From the beginning, I have done only one thing that I have spoken the language that people can pick up easily. I worked in such a way that a farmer, a laborer could easily understand what we offered them. In that case, I did not follow brand guidelines, colours or any old rules," he noted. Tanvir, a changemaker of the country's digital financial service, has become an icon among young entrepreneurs in Bangladesh by establishing several other digital companies including Nagad. Only in four years of its journey, Tanvir made Nagad the fastest-growing financial service in the globe by acquiring 77 million users. The average transactions reached $1 million a day. He previously received numerous international accolades, including the "Fintech Personality of the Year 2022" award by the UK -based Global Brands Magazine. Earlier, the cover of the Bangladesh edition of the book titled "Essentials of Modern Marketing", written by Professor Philip Kotler was unveiled at the programme. Nagad has been featured as a case study in the book, while Tanvir A Mishuk, played his role as a case co-author. Dr Fahim Kibria , chief marketing officer of Kotlar Impact Inc, and Prof Dr Anwar Hossain , vice-chancellor of Northern University, were also present at the event. About Nagad Ltd (https://www.nagad.com.bd/) Nagad Limited, a leading MFS in the payment industry of Bangladesh , has more than 72 million registered customers with an average daily transaction amounting to about USD 80 million . Inaugurated in 2019 by Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina , the digital payment platform is known as a successful public-private partnership between the Bangladesh Postal Department and the private sector. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nagad-md-wins-kotler-iconic-achiever-award-2023-301833450.html SOURCE Nagad Limited Findings Provide a Greater Understanding of Disease and Future Treatments NEW YORK , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A study led by the National Institutes of Health's RECOVER Initiative and supported by NYU Langone Health, home to the effort's Clinical Science Core (CSC), provides an expanded working definition of long COVID. "This study is an important step toward defining long COVID beyond any one individual symptom," said study author Leora Horwitz , MD, director of the Center for Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Science, and co-principal investigator for the RECOVER CSC at NYU Langone Health. "This definitionwhich may evolve over timewill serve as a critical foundation for scientific discovery and treatment design." The study, which involved RECOVER researchers from across the country, establishes a scoring system based on symptoms that most clearly set apart patients that had been previously infected from those not reporting a prior infection. Researchers used those symptoms to identify patients with long COVID. The results are based on a survey of 9,764 patients' self-reported symptoms and, according to the authors, will be undergoing validation. Survey results will next be compared against lab tests and imaging. As of May 2023, more than 100 million Americans have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, with experts estimating that approximately 6 percent of those infected with the virus continue to experience the many symptoms termed together as long COVID. More than 200 symptoms affecting all of the body's organ systems are associated with post-COVID conditions. Published online May 25 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study examined 37 symptoms across multiple body areas and organs. Researchers applied statistical analyses that identified 12 symptoms that most set apart those with and without long COVID: post exertional malaise, fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, heart palpitations, issues with sexual desire or capacity, loss of smell or taste, thirst, chronic cough, chest pain, and abnormal movements. By assigning points to each of the 12 symptoms, the team gave each participant a score based on symptom combinations, and found that 23 percent of participants with a prior COVID infection crossed the study threshold for long COVID. With these scores in hand, researchers found that certain symptoms occurred at higher rates in certain patient groups, and defined four clusters based on these symptom patterns. "Now that we're able to identify people with long COVID, we can begin doing more in-depth studies to understand the mechanisms at play," said corresponding author, Andrea Foulkes , ScD, Principal Investigator of the RECOVER Data Resource Core (DRC), Professor at Harvard Medical School, and Director of Biostatistics at Massachusetts General Hospital. "These findings set the stage for identifying effective treatment strategies for people with long COVIDunderstanding the biological underpinnings is going to be critical to that endeavor." RECOVERResearching COVID to Enhance Recoveryis a nationwide initiative dedicated to understanding why some people develop long-term symptoms following a COVID-19 infection, and how to detect, treat, and prevent long COVID. As the CSC, NYU Langone Health is charged with integrating research activities of nearly 200 clinical sites around the country. Complicated Disease This study also found that long COVID was more common and severe in study participants infected before the Omicron strain emerged in late 2021, and in participants who were unvaccinated. Further, re-infections were also linked to higher long COVID frequency and severity. With the 12-symptom scoring system in place, researchers were able to identify four subgroups of patients with different symptom "clusters." Several of these clusters span multiple body systems, suggesting that a body-wide reaction to the virus may be present in some people with long COVID. The ongoing research being conducted by RECOVER serves as the foundation for planned clinical trials, whose interventions are rooted in many of the symptoms outlined in this study, including brain fog and nerve damage (autonomic dysfunction). RECOVER clinical trials are expected to begin enrolling patients in 2023. Along with Horwitz and Foulkes, the writing committee for the study included first author Tanayott Thaweethai, PhD of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and additional authors Caitlin Selvaggi , MS, Daniel Shinnick , MS, and Carolin Schulte , PhD, of Massachusetts General Hospital; Elizabeth Karlson , MD, MS, Bruce Levy , MD, and Rachel Atchley , PhD, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Sairam Parthasarathy , MD, of the University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson; Upinder Singh , MD, of Stanford University School of Medicine; Sarah Jolley , MD, MS, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus ; Tiffany Walker , MD, of Emory University; Emily Levitan , ScD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham; Lisa McCorkell , MPP, of the Patient-Led Research Collaborative; Grace McComsey , MD, of Case Western Reserve University; and Girish Nadkarni , MD, of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. This research was funded by NIH agreements OT2HL161841, OT2HL161847, and OT2HL156812. For more information on RECOVER, visit https://recovercovid.org. In addition to Dr. Horwitz , the CSC at NYU Langone Health is co-led by RECOVER co-principal investigators Stuart D. Katz , MD, founding director of NYU Langone's heart failure program, and professor in the Department of Medicine, Andrea B. Troxel , ScD, director of the Division of Biostatistics and professor in the Department of Population Health, and Rachel S. Gross , MD, director of pediatric research for RECOVER CSC and assistant professor of pediatrics and population health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center. CONTACT: Gregory Williams [email protected] Domonique Chaplin [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/recover-study-offers-expanded-working-definition-of-long-covid-301834976.html SOURCE NYU Langone Health Embracing Seattle's Spirit, Catalyzing Transformative Solutions SEATTLE , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Evolution, Inc. (SEI), a leading employee-owned business and technology management consulting firm, opened a new location to serve clients in the Seattle area on May 25, 2023 . The Seattle office will be led by Rick Podwojski as Managing Director, with Bonnie Cote serving as Managing Principal. Both Rick and Bonnie have ample experience leading early-stage growth for new offices and are ready to bring that expertise to SEI Seattle. Bonnie has been with SEI for the last five years and was an early member of the Washington, D.C. office. As a consultant, she established the company's Human-Centered Design practice and was instrumental in leading product innovation initiatives for her clients across the commercial and public sectors. In 2022, she stepped into the Managing Principal role where she was responsible for account growth across SEI's D.C.-based clients. Bonnie's 10 years of experience leading diverse teams inspired her focus on advancing women in business through mentorship, advocacy, equity, and community within SEI. Rick shared his excitement about the decision to open the Seattle office, saying, "My son attended the University of Washington and settled down here, which led to us visiting the Pacific Northwest for a decade. Each time, we asked ourselves, 'Why are we going back East?' We fell in love with the sense of community in this region, and ultimately decided there was no place we'd rather be. To be establishing an office in the place I chose to call home is a privilege." Rick Podwojski brings a wealth of experience to his role, having spent over 30 years with SEI as a consultant, founding the Data and Analytics (D&A) practice, and accumulating over 25 years of D&A experience. The Seattle office is the third startup he has led and the fifth office he has managed. Rick is also a member of the SEI Board of Directors. Rick and Bonnie describe the SEI Seattle office as boasting a startup feel, with a strong focus on its people and an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Working with a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits, SEI Seattle is the company's first true West Coast location. This new location provides access to a vibrant talent market, characterized by its innovative, entrepreneurial, groundbreaking, and collaborative nature. The region's culture encourages individual expression and creativity, making it an ideal fit for SEI's approach to consulting. About SEI: SEI is a management consulting firm that partners with clients to deliver transformative solutions across industries. With a personalized approach, SEI's experienced consultants collaborate with clients to identify and address their unique challenges and opportunities. The company's commitment to innovation, flexibility, and fostering strong relationships has been the driving force behind its success. With the launch of the Seattle office, SEI continues to expand its reach and impact on organizations throughout the United States . SEI Seattle's office is located at Skyline Tower , 10900 N.E. 4th Street , Suite 2300, Bellevue, WA 98004. For more information, please visit https://www.sei.com/locations/seattle/ or contact the SEI Seattle office at (206) 388-3135. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sei-announces-new-office-location-in-seattle-washington-301835086.html SOURCE Systems Evolution, Inc. (SEI) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stellantis North America today announced that Aamir Ahmed will lead the Fiat brand in North America , effective immediately. In this position, Ahmed is responsible for leading the Fiat brand team in North America , providing cool mobility solutions for all. He has achieved progressive responsibilities in his career, with extensive experience and a deep understanding of the customer and their technology needs, benefiting the eco-friendly and stylish Fiat brand, pioneering a unique consumer experience for EV buyers. "Aamir is back where he belongs and at the right time, leading Fiat on its electrification path here in North America ," said Stellantis North America COO Mark Stewart . "We're excited for him to hit the ground running." Ahmed first joined the company in 2011 and held positions in Uconnect/Connected Services and SRT Product/Brand Marketing. He rejoins Stellantis after six years working for both Amazon and Harman International. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Wayne State University. In a related move, Larry Dominique will concentrate on leading the Alfa Romeo brand in North America . Stellantis North America Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world's leading automakers and a mobility provider. In North America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic and award-winning brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Powered by its diversity, Stellantis leads the way the region and the world move aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com. Follow company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Company website: www.stellantis.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Stellantis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StellantisNA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stellantisna Twitter: @StellantisNA YouTube: http://youtube.com/StellantisNA View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stellantis-announces-new-executive-to-lead-fiat-brand-in-north-america-301835016.html SOURCE Stellantis June 21, 2023 , at The Yale Club, New York City The Company will showcase its urologic pipeline, development of novel therapeutics, imaging agents and technologies that aim to harness the power of targeted radiation at every step of the patient journey MELBOURNE, Australia and INDIANAPOLIS , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces it will host an education session for investors on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 , at The Yale Club in New York City , from 8.30am 12.30pm EDT . Institutional investors, analysts and company guests are cordially invited to attend the session, which will feature an overview of the Company's growth strategy and product pipeline for the detection and treatment of urological cancers. Speakers will include members of the Telix leadership team, including Managing Director and Group CEO Dr Christian Behrenbruch and U.S. -based executives, Chief Medical Officer Dr Colin Hayward and Telix Americas CEO, Kevin Richardson . The program will focus on Telix's vision for the field of urology building from its first commercial product Illuccix for prostate cancer imaging, its follow-on imaging agent for the urology market, TLX250-CDx and the Company's investigational prostate (prostate specific-membrane antigen, or PSMA-targeting) and renal (carbonic anhydrase IX, or CAIX-targeting) therapy programs. The event will also feature key opinion leaders in urology and nuclear medicine to discuss the clinical utility and opportunity for Telix's investigational products. Advance registration is required for this event. Please RSVP through this link to attend. Note: This event is for qualified institutional investors and analysts. About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in the United States , Europe ( Belgium and Switzerland ), and Japan . Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX). Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, announcements made to the ASX, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on Twitter (@TelixPharma) and LinkedIn. Telix's lead product, gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11) injection, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),[1] and by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA),[2] and by Health Canada.[3]Telix is also progressing a marketing authorisation application for this investigational candidate in the United Kingdom and the European Union.[4] Telix Investor Relations Ms. Kyahn Williamson Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited SVP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Lisa Wilson In-Site Communications, Inc. +1-917-543-9932 Email: [email protected] Legal Notices This announcement is not intended as promotion or advertising directed to any healthcare professional or other audience in any country worldwide (including Australia , United States and the United Kingdom ). This announcement may include forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Telix does not undertake to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. Readers should read this announcement together with our material risks, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the ASX and on our website. 2023 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. The Telix Pharmaceuticals and Illuccix name and logo are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates (all rights reserved). [1] Telix ASX disclosure 20 December 2021 . [2] Telix ASX disclosure 2 November 2021 . [3] Telix ASX disclosure 14 October 2022 . [4] Telix ASX disclosure 3 April 2023 . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telix-to-host-briefing-with-us-leadership-team-and-key-opinion-leaders-to-highlight-innovation-in-urology-301834311.html SOURCE Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited TORONTO , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Forest Products announced it has partnered with Logan Lumber Company Inc. to distribute its Black Label brand of premium Ipe and other tropical hardwoods graded to the highest standards. Based in Tampa, FL , Logan Lumber has served Florida's retail lumber dealers since 1929, providing excellent service and offering the building industry's best brands. Acquired by Weekes Forest Products in 2006, Logan Lumber joined one of North America's foremost wholesale lumber and building distributors. "The Black Label team is excited to partner with Logan Lumber to continue the expansion of our network of distributors to meet the rising demand in the Tampa Bay area for premium architectural grade, certified sustainable tropical hardwoods," said Kris Kanagenthran, Chief Executive Officer, Tropical Forest Products. "Black Label is proud to offer the highest quality wood products through one of Florida's most innovative wholesale lumber and building products distributors." "Logan Lumber Company is proud to partner with Tropical Forest Products as a Black Label Ipe dealer in the state of Florida ," said Doug Reagan , Account Manager, Logan Lumber Co. "For example, Black Label Ipe is a high-quality premium grade that is in high demand." Black Label sets a new level of quality for the lumber industry with impeccable strength and impressive performance in every product, thanks to Black Label's kiln-dried process. With applications ranging from decking, cladding, and ceilings to timber sizes and architectural millwork, each board must be Premium Architectural Grade or superior to earn the Black Label title. Black Label selectively harvests its premium grade lumber to exceed the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Unifloresta for the brand's Ipe, Jatoba, BulletWood and Tigerwood-- all 100% legally sourced from South America . Black Label also offers thermally modified Kebony and ThermoWood with Novawood technology. Tropical Forest Products' Black Label brand has been awarded for excellence with an Architizer A+ Award and several media awards. They offer a complete marketing support program with a strong online presence, all with the dealer, contractor, architect, designer and homeowner in mind. Learn more about Black Label at https://blacklabelwood.com. Learn more about Logan Lumber Company at https://weekesforest.com/tampa-fl/. About Tropical Forest Products Tropical Forest Products, a leading hardwood distributor that operates throughout the United States and Canada , was founded with the belief that acquiring lumber of superior quality should be easy and ethical. Its team is made up of passionate people who love everything about forests and their survival. Tropical strives to meet every client's need with quality lumber, with on-time delivery, commitment to client service, and the best prices on the market. About Logan Lumber Company Logan Lumber Company is a wholesale building material distributor, serving Florida since 1929. Logan Lumber was acquired by Weekes Forest Products in early 2006, joining one of America's foremost wholesale lumber and building product distributors. It has been a great combination as Logan continues to innovate and add new products. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tropical-forest-products-partners-with-logan-lumber-company-to-distribute-black-label-ipe-in-florida-301835085.html SOURCE Tropical Forest Products OMAHA, Neb. , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lance Fritz , chairman, president and chief executive officer, of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) will address Bernstein's 39th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 1, 2023 . A live webcast of the presentation will be available in the investor relations section of Union Pacific's website at www.up.com/investor. A replay of the audio webcast will be available shortly thereafter. ABOUT UNION PACIFIC Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com. www.up.com www.facebook.com/unionpacific www.twitter.com/unionpacific View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/union-pacific-corporation-ceo-lance-fritz-to-address-bernsteins-39th-annual-strategic-decisions-conference-301833297.html SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation SAN FRANCISCO , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vial , a global tech-first CRO providing next-generation clinical trial management services, announced it will be a sponsor and exhibitor at the 2023 BIO International Convention in Boston, MA , June 5-8, 2023 . The conference will offer a range of valuable opportunities, including one-on-one partnering for business growth, networking events to connect with industry professionals, and expert-led programming dedicated to addressing critical topics in the field. These topics encompass pressing issues such as COVID-19, infectious diseases, oncology, business development, financing, cell and gene therapy, digital health, and many others. Throughout the four-day event, attendees can expect an engaging lineup of panels and presentations covering a diverse array of subjects. BIO 2023 will be taking place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center ( 415 Summer St , Boston, MA 02210) in the Seaport District of Boston, MA. Vial will not only be exhibiting at booth #1338, but will also be sponsoring the convention and hosting two private networking events, including a Happy Hour and a private workout class. Vial Team Attending Bio 2023: Simon Burns , CEO & Co-Founder , CEO & Co-Founder Rich McCormick , EVP of Clinical Strategy , EVP of Clinical Strategy Dan Gallagher , VP of Business Development , VP of Business Development Wade Berry , Director of Business Development , Director of Business Development Carlos Naranjo , Director of Sales , Director of Sales Catie Neel , Sr. Event Manager , Sr. Event Manager Owen Allen , Event Coordinator "We are thrilled to be attending the BIO International Convention 2023 in Boston, MA ," said Simon Burns , CEO & Co-Founder of Vial. "This conference presents an incredible opportunity for us to connect with industry professionals, explore valuable partnerships, and stay at the forefront of critical industry topics. We are looking forward to showcasing our innovative clinical trial management services and engaging in meaningful discussions throughout the event." How to connect with Vial at Bio 2023 Connect with Vial at exhibitor booth #1338 or request a meeting using the exclusive BIO One-on-One Partnering platform , meeting suite B253 (located in the Business Forum). Interested in attending one of our private networking events? Reach out to Catie Neel at [email protected] for more information. To learn more about Vial, visit our website . About Vial: Vial is a tech-enabled, next-generation CRO that promises faster and higher-quality execution of trials for less cost. The Vial Contract Research Organization (CRO) delivers on the promise of more efficient trials through its innovative technology platform that powers trials end-to-end from site startup to database lock. Vial's technology platform combines modern, intuitive eSource , EDC , and ePRO into one connected system, streamlining site processes and enabling considerable efficiencies. Vial operates across multiple Therapeutic Areas ( Dermatology CRO , Ophthalmology CRO , Oncology CRO , Gastroenterology CRO , Neurology CRO , Cardiology CRO , Medical Device CRO , Rare Disease CRO , and Digital Therapeutics CRO ). Vial is a San Francisco, California -based company with over 100+ employees. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vial-to-sponsor-and-exhibit-at-bio-international-convention-2023-showcasing-next-generation-cro-services-301834212.html SOURCE Vial HOUSTON , May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeta Energy, a Texas -based company that has developed a safe, low-cost, high performance and sustainable lithium-sulfur battery, announced today the development of a sulfurized carbon material compatible with dry-electrode processing. Dry-processed cathodes incorporated into pouch cells had equivalent performance to cells made with wet-processed cathodes. Electrodes are commonly produced using wet processes in which electrode materials are combined with a solvent and deposited as a slurry, which is then treated and dried. If organic solvents are used, the process can be potentially hazardous to the environment and human health, and thus require expensive recovery systems with attendant area, power, and regulatory overhead. Zeta has long moved away from organic solvents, using instead aqueous processing with its water-compatible sulfurized carbon cathode material. Now, using Zeta's material with dry processing not only avoids the use of solvents but also eliminates the need for drying, saving time, space, and power. As noted by Zeta's Chief Commercial Officer Michael Liedtke , "The industry is moving towards a dry process because it saves so much energy and floorspace and doesn't use solvents." Zeta has developed a class of patented sulfurized-carbon cathodes that suppress the formation of soluble polysulfides resulting in sulfur-based batteries that offer unprecedented stability and performance. Zeta Energy's cathode can be combined with a patented 3D-structured, metallic-lithium anode technology, also developed by Zeta, resulting in battery that offers significantly higher energy density than other major anode chemistries and addresses dendrite issues common to lithium metal. About Zeta Energy Zeta Energy is a US-based privately held company focused on developing and commercializing high-performance, safe, rechargeable batteries that are lower cost and sustainably manufactured. Zeta has an extensive patent portfolio, over thirty patents and applications, including an exclusive license to patents and patent applications for inventions developed in collaboration with the esteemed Smalley-Curl Institute, NanoCarbon Center and Welch Institute for Advanced Materials at Rice University. Zeta has won prestigious awards for its proprietary carbon nanotube anode and sulfur cathode technology, including awards from ARPA-E and the World Materials Forum. The Company may from time to time disclose public material events via its website at http://www.ZetaEnergy.com or its social media accounts at the following locations: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zetaenergy https://twitter.com/ZetaEnergy View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zeta-energy-demonstrates-production-of-lithium-sulfur-batteries-using-dry-process-301835040.html SOURCE Zeta Energy FILE PHOTO: A Volocopter 2X drone taxi performs an integrated flight in conventional air traffic at Pontoise airfield in Cormeilles-en-Vexin, near Paris, France, November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier By Joanna Plucinska GENEVA (Reuters) - A drop in tech stock valuations, economic pressures, and a risk-averse investment environment in Europe are some of the hurdles air taxi firms like Germany's Lilium NV and Volocopter are facing, according to CEOs from the industry. Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) have been touted as the future of urban air mobility and have drawn global interest, with several eVTOL companies going public. Germany's Volocopter is working to fly its air taxis commercially at the Paris Olympics in 2024, in close collaboration with Europe's main aviation safety regulator EASA and Paris airports. But securing enough investment to propel the new technology forward, especially before companies have received certification from regulators, is an ongoing concern. "Going into financing right now in such an environment is the challenge," said Volocopter CEO Dirk Hoke at EBACE, Europe's flagship business jet event held in Geneva this week. "You're in the famous valley of death. You're not early stage anymore, you're pre-revenue ... and this in combination with these uncertainties that people don't understand the certification pathway is the stress factor to the industry," he said. Convincing investors the technology is sound, and the business model scalable, is also part of the concern, especially in more risk-averse investment environments like Europe. "Everybody is your best friend when you have made it, when it's already successful," Lilium NV CEO Klaus Roewe said, adding Lilium had found more willing investors in China. Earlier this month, the company said it would raise up to $250 million, including from its largest shareholder Tencent Holdings. Roewe urged investors not to lose faith, especially as more cities express interest in building infrastructure for an air taxi system. "If nobody takes the risk, the universe is never evolving." (Reporting by Joanna Plucinska; Editing by Mark Potter) FILE PHOTO: Smoke rises from areas on the southeast side of wildfire EWF-035, part of the Deep Creek Wildfire Complex which is being tackled by helicopters near Shining Bank, Alberta, Canada May 19, 2023. Alberta Wildfire/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo By Nia Williams and Scott DiSavino (Reuters) -Firefighters have made "significant progress" in tackling wildfires in Alberta thanks to rain and cooler temperatures, provincial government officials said on Wednesday, as Canadian natural gas exports to the U.S. rebounded after nearly three weeks of lower flows. Many oil and gas companies that shut in production as a precaution have restarted operations or are preparing to do so. At their height the fires shuttered at least 319,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 3.7% of national production, and forced around 30,000 Albertans to evacuate their homes. Around 7,000 people remain under evacuation orders and 65 wildfires are still burning, but the cooler weather conditions are helping firefighting efforts, said Christie Tucker, information unit manager with Alberta Wildfire. "The extreme rate of growth we saw in these wildfires earlier this month has now slowed," Tucker said. Canada's main oil- and gas-producing province is experiencing what officials called an "unprecedented" start to wildfire season, which runs until October. So far this year there have been 521 wildfires and more than 1 million hectares burned, roughly five times the average burned in a typical season. The easing wildfires mean producers are preparing to restart any oil and gas facilities that are still shuttered, said Tristan Goodman, CEO of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada. "It's not yet back to normal, but now people are getting ready because the fires are under control," Goodman said. Canadian natural gas exports to the U.S. this week returned to levels seen before the wildfires, causing U.S. gas futures to plunge about 10%. Canada supplies about 8% of the gas consumed in, or exported from, the U.S. [NGA/] Last week, U.S. gas prices jumped about 14% due in part to the reduction in supplies from Canada. Data provider Refinitiv said the amount of gas exported from Canada to the United States was on track to hold near a three-week high of 8.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) for a second day in a row on Wednesday. On May 17, the wildfires forced Canadian producers to cut exports to a 25-month low of just 6.4 bcfd. Over the past few weeks, gas flows from Canada to the U.S. averaged just 7.2 bcfd, well below the 8.3-bcfd average amount of gas Canada exported to the U.S. since the start of the year. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York and Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Leslie Adler) FILE PHOTO: The logo of Price Waterhouse Coopers is seen at its Berlin office in Berlin, Germany, September 20, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo By Lewis Jackson and Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) -PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has agreed to remove staff with links to the leak and use of confidential Australian tax plans from government work, a senior government official told an inquiry on Thursday. The accounting firm is embroiled in a national scandal over its use of confidential information about proposed tax laws to drum up business. The Australian Treasury referred the matter to police for a criminal investigation on Wednesday. Finance Department Secretary Jenny Wilkinson told a Senate committee that PwC had agreed to remove staff "directly involved and with knowledge" of the breach from current and future contracts until it wraps up an internal review in September. A PwC spokesperson declined to comment. The firm has earlier said it was "committed to learning from our mistakes" and it would continue to cooperate fully with any investigations into the matter. Wilkinson said she considered "PwC's abuse of confidence and trust with the Treasury and PwC's subsequent handling of this breach to be a very serious issue". She also proposed adjusting future contracts to give the government more power to scrap contracts, amid mounting calls for the cancellation of PwC Australia's existing government contracts and a ban on more work in the wake of the scandal. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said earlier in the day the government cannot cancel existing contracts with the auditor due to legal constraints. "We face legal constraints around existing contracts, but I can tell you there is some furious work going on within government to understand what the legal constraints are on us here," Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said on ABC Radio. The Australian federal government has committed to contracts worth A$255.2 million ($173 million) with PwC in this financial year as of May 16, a finance committee official told the Senate committee. TAX DOCUMENT LEAK An Australian government body in January said a former tax partner at PwC shared with colleagues confidential information gained from his advisory role with the government. His work centred on new tax rules being developed to stop multinational companies from avoiding tax by shifting profits from Australia to tax and secrecy havens. Hundreds of partially redacted emails between tens of PwC partners tabled in parliament this month showed the information was discussed across the firm and used to pitch for work. "I ask that you don't circulate it beyond us or discuss it outside PwC - it would really put PwC Australia and me in a real bind," said one partially redacted email. PwC's Australia CEO stepped down this month after revealing he had also received the sensitive information. The scandal is not the first to claim a senior scalp at one of the Big Four accounting firms, which also include EY, Deloitte and KPMG. EY Germany head stepped down in 2021 over the firm's auditing of technology firm Wirecard, which collapsed in a fraud scandal. ($1 = 1.4743 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Lewis Jackson and Renju Jose; additional reporting by Stella Qiu in Sydney; Editing by Himani Sarkar) FILE PHOTO: Vessels are seen as they wait for inspection under United Nation's Black Sea Grain Initiative in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey December 11, 2022. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik By Jonathan Saul LONDON (Reuters) - Dozens of ships are unable to reach Ukraine, days after a Black Sea grain deal was extended and the pace of shipments is unlikely to pick up because of slow inspections and other uncertainties, according to data and three sources. The United Nations-backed deal, which allows the safe passage of grains through three Ukrainian ports, was extended on May 17 for two months - a shorter time than expected. Nearly 40 dry bulk vessels were stationary around Istanbul in areas that have been used for inspections by a joint inspection team representing Russia, Ukraine and Turkey as well as the UN, analysis from global trade analytics platform Kpler showed. Around three quarters of those ships have previously made calls through the corridor, Kpler added. "It is likely that there are further vessels waiting outside of these zones or currently en route to the inspection areas," Alexis Ellender, Kpler lead major dry bulks analyst, said. "Pivdennyi has accounted for 35% of shipments through the corridor and, until it restarts loadings, trade will struggle to return to previous levels." Earlier this week Ukraine accused Russia of effectively cutting its port of Pivdennyi out of the grain deal. Russia has not responded to the comments from Kyiv. Ukraine said last week that 62 ships were waiting for inspection. "I expect to see Russia continue to slow-walk inspections. It currently only allows a limited number of ships to move to two of the three approved ports," Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist with financial services group StoneX. Inspections are required for every ship before it can enter one of the three ports covered by the deal, which also include Odesa and Chornomorsk. The duration of an average voyage was estimated at just over 28 days, according to space-based data analytics provider Spire. The number of cargo orders global requests for available ships to transport grains from Ukraine reached 376 in May versus 370 orders for April, according to separate analysis from maritime and commodities data platform Shipfix. Shipfix data showed that the shipment size had dropped from around 15,000 tonnes in April to just over 10,000 in May as the uncertain situation led traders to be cautious in bookings. Forward cargo orders for June onwards were seen at 50 at present, Shipfix said. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul; editing by Barbara Lewis) FILE PHOTO: A Bank of America logo is pictured in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 30, 2019. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri By Jody Godoy (Reuters) - Bank of America must face cardholder allegations that it bungled its response to unauthorized transactions on unemployment and disability benefits cards in California during the pandemic, a San Diego judge ruled on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns said benefits recipients can move forward with a proposed class action lawsuit claiming the bank violated state law by issuing cards to millions of Californians that lacked standard security measures. The cardholders also claim Bank of America broke federal law by failing to investigate fraud claims or summarily freezing tens of thousands of accounts. A Bank of America spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. The bank previously agreed to cease using automated fraud detection software to freeze accounts. Michael Rubin, an attorney representing the cardholders, called the ruling a "huge victory." The cardholders claim Bank of America failed to follow the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which sets rules for banks to resolve account errors. They also say the bank violated California's consumer privacy law by issuing cards with outdated magnetic stripes, rather than chip technology, leaving them subject to fraud. Burns said they can move forward with those claims and others, including that the bank was a state actor that violated cardholders' constitutional right to due process by freezing accounts without notice. The judge dismissed claims that the bank violated California's Unfair Competition Law and that it breached its contract with the state. Last year, Bank of America paid $225 million to two U.S. regulators to settle claims that its fraud detection program improperly froze thousands of benefits accounts in 2020 and 2021. California estimated in 2021 that it had paid more than $111 billion in unemployment insurance benefits during the pandemic, with more than $10.4 billion in claims suspected to be fraudulent. The case is In re Bank of America California Unemployment Benefits Litigation, No. 21-02992, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in California; Editing by Richard Chang) GABORONE (Reuters) - Botswana will not back down on demands for a bigger share of rough diamonds from its joint venture with De Beers, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said on Thursday, upping the stakes as talks for a new sales deal appear to be stalling. Botswana and De Beers mine the precious stones through their equally owned, 54-year-old mining venture, Debswana Diamond Co. The current diamond sales deal, in place since 2011, has been extended three times since 2020 but is set to expire next month. De Beers, a unit of Anglo American Plc, gets 75% of Debswanas production, which was 24 million carats in 2022. The balance is sold to state-owned Okavango Diamond Company, a vehicle established in 2011 as Botswana began moves to independently sell some gems outside of the De Beers system. Masisi, who has been Botswana's president since 2018 and will seek re-election in next year's elections, now wants Botswana to sell more of its diamonds outside the De Beers channel. Our agreement with De Beers is very restrictive to us. We signed it at a time when we didnt know much, but now our eyes are open," Masisi said at a community meeting in Mmadinare, 400 kilometres (248.55 miles) north-east of the capital, Gaborone. Masisi hinted at a possible stalemate and litigation over the sales agreement. "Even if we lose the litigation, our diamonds will remain ours and we will never give in. If I am going to lose votes because of this issue, then so be it," said Masisi, speaking in Setswana. Masisi has previously threatened to walk away from the talks if Botswana does not get a bigger share of Debswanas output for marketing outside the De Beers system. The government has not publicly stated what share it seeks, but it is believed to be as high as 50%, double the current allocation. De Beers was not immediately available to comment. The diamond giant says Botswana receives more than 80% of returns from Debswana, after taxes and royalties are factored in. De Beers has previously expressed confidence that its five-decade partnership with Botswana will continue, on terms "that make economic and strategic sense for both parties." (Reporting by Brian Benza; Editing by Nelson Banya and David Gregorio) FILE PHOTO: Voters look at a voters list during the general election in Phnom Penh, Cambodia July 29, 2018. REUTERS/Samrang Pring By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH (Reuters) -Cambodia's Constitutional Council on Thursday rejected an appeal by the sole opposition party against its election disqualification, a decision that means the ruling party will run virtually unopposed in July. The Candlelight Party, a weakened reincarnation of a popular opposition party that was dissolved in 2017, was disqualified from the July 23 election over its registration paperwork, a ban activists dismissed as part of a years-long effort to crush opposition to long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen. The nine-member council said the National Election Commission's (NEC) disqualification of the party was constitutional, and the tribunal's decision was final. "On a legal basis, we looked at the facts," the tribunal's deputy secretary-general, Prom Vicheth Akara, told a press conference. "The NEC decision has complied with the constitution," he said, adding there were 18 parties that had successfully registered. Hun Sen, 70, one of the world's longest-serving leaders after nearly four decades in charge, has previously said his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) would dominate politics for up to a century. The U.S. State Department said it was "deeply troubled" by Candelight being prevented from participating in the election. "The United States does not plan to send official observers to the July elections, part of an electoral process that many independent Cambodian and international experts assess is neither free nor fair," said spokesperson Matthew Miller. Just over a year old, Candlelight was the only party that was running directly against the CPP, which has monopolised all levels of politics since the 2017 dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Scores of former CNRP members have been detained or convicted of serious crimes, many in absentia having fled into exile from Hun Sen's crackdowns on critics and political opponents. "We're very disappointed," Son Chhay, Candlelight's deputy president, said in a text message after the tribunal's decision. He did not elaborate. The Candlelight Party was disqualified on May 15 for submitting an election registration document that was a photocopy rather than an original. Human Rights Watch said at the time the government was going to "ludicrous" lengths to ensure it was unopposed in the vote, "showing it has no interest in holding a truly democratic election". Sam Rainsy, the CNRP's self-exiled co-founder and Hun Sen's oldest rival, last week dismissed what he said would be a "fake and sham" election. Though the self-styled strongman Hun Sen has been widely credited with maintaining stability in post-war Cambodia and attracting development aid and foreign investment, his critics accuse him of increasing authoritarianism and of undermining democratic institutions. The government has repeatedly denied that it has a campaign to decimate its opposition and says all action taken has been within the law. The CPP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the tribunal's decision. (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Alistair Bell) Police officers stand guard neat the site where a car crashed into the front gates of Downing Street in London, Britain, May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls LONDON (Reuters) -A man was arrested on Thursday after a car collided with the front gates of Downing Street, site of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office and residence, in an incident London police said was not currently being treated as "terror-related". BBC television footage showed the vehicle crossing the road towards Downing Street and approaching the gate at a low speed. The main gate appeared to be undamaged. A witness who did not provide their name said the driver was a white man estimated to be in his 50s. "A small cordon remains in place outside Downing Street after a car collided with the gates earlier this afternoon," London police said in a statement. "The incident is being dealt with by local officers in Westminster and isn't currently being treated as terror-related." Police had said earlier armed officers had arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. Enquiries were ongoing and there were no reports of injuries. A Reuters witness said there was a small vehicle outside the gate, with its doors and trunk open. Sunak's office declined to comment. Police were examining the car as workers milled around a short distance away. The current terrorism threat level in Britain is "substantial", meaning an attack is considered likely. "Lots of children ran away and the police began pointing their guns at the person inside," said Simon Parry, 44, who was protesting opposite Downing Street and saw the incident. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Sachin Ravikumar and Kylie MacLellan, writing by William James; editing by Kate Holton, Nick Macfie, Alexandra |Hudson) Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attends a press conference after talks at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Nadja Wohlleben ATHENS (Reuters) -Cyprus wants more direct involvement of the European Union in attempts to end the decades-old division of the island, its President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday. Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief coup engineered by the military junta then ruling Greece, and its enduring partition is a source of friction between NATO allies Greece and Turkey. The Turkish side has always wanted to keep EU involvement in peace talks at arms' length, seeing the bloc as possibly biased because both Cyprus and Greece are member states, unlike the breakaway Turkish-backed north of the island. "The Republic of Cyprus is a European Union member state, the Cyprus problem is a European problem, and its resolution directly affects the European Union," Christodoulides said after meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. "In the current geopolitical environment, following the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the European Union can - and must - contribute decisively in the restart of talks, always within the United Nations framework," he said. A Greek Cypriot government represents the whole island in the EU, though its authority in practice ends at the 1974 truce line splitting the two sides. The breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in Cyprus's north is recognised only by Ankara. The last round of peace talks between the two sides collapsed in 2017. Christodoulides, who represents the Greek Cypriot side in peace talks held under the auspices of the U.N., said the EU had the "tools and the incentives that could lead to a mutually-agreed solution for the Cypriot people, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, for Turkey, for the European Union". He further said Cyprus was committed to upholding EU sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and urged the bloc to support sectors, such as shipping, that have felt the impact of such measures. "Where there is a cost for European industries due to the decisions that we take ..., the EU should intervene to support those sectors," Christodoulides said. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou, Angeliki Koutantou, Karolina Tagaris; writing by Michele Kambas; editing by Alex Richardson and Mark Heinrich) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Negotiators' continuing failure to reach an agreement to lift the U.S. debt ceiling forced the House of Representatives' new China committee to postpone a planned trip to Taiwan, the committee's chairman, Republican Representative Mike Gallagher, told reporters on Thursday. The House adjourned on Thursday and was not due to return until June 5, four days after June 1, the day the Treasury Department has warned the government could run short of funds to cover all its expenses. Several members of the House's Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party were to have left on the Taiwan trip this weekend. As talks between the leaders of the Republican-majority House and White House continued, House members were told to be prepared to return to the Capitol to vote on potential legislation to raise the debt limit with 24 hours' notice. High-profile visits to Taiwan by U.S. officials can elicit forceful reactions from Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory. China's military conducted large-scale exercises, fired missiles over Taiwan and cut military contacts with Washington after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governed island in August 2022. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: Ericsson logo is seen at its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden June 14, 2018. REUTERS/Olof Swahnberg//File Photo (Reuters) - Swedish telecoms company Ericsson beat a lawsuit by U.S. shareholders on Wednesday, when a federal judge ruled it did not mislead investors about its compliance with U.S. anti-bribery laws. The lawsuit filed by a Boston-based pension fund claimed that Ericsson had overstated the extent to which it had eliminated the use of bribes after it settled corruption allegations made by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). U.S. District Judge William Kuntz in Brooklyn, New York, wrote that Ericsson had issued "ubiquitous warnings" to investors raising "the possibility of future compliance failures" after the agreement. Commenting on the court decision, Ericsson said in a statement on Thursday, "The motion to dismiss decision is subject to appeal from the plaintiff. Ericsson will continue to vigorously defend this matter if appealed." The lawsuit was filed in March 2022, after the company's stock dropped sharply following allegations by the DOJ that Ericsson was in breach of a 2019 deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) for failing to fully disclose details of its operations in Iraq. The lawsuit sought damages for investors who bought Ericsson American Depositary Shares between April 27, 2017 and March 1, 2022. Ericsson agreed to pay $206 million and plead guilty in March for violating the DPA agreement. Under the conditions of the 2019 DPA, Ericsson paid more than $1 billion to resolve a series of corruption probes, involving bribery allegations in China, Vietnam and Djibouti, and agreed to cooperate with the department for ongoing investigations. The case is In re: Telefonaktiebolaget Ericsson Securities , No. 22-1167, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. (Reporting by Jody Godoy; additional reporting by Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm, editing by Diane Craft and Sohini Goswami) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. It is necessary to expand the list of priority transport projects of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov said during the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow, Trend reports. "A list of priority infrastructure projects in the field of transport was approved last year. It is necessary to intensify work on expanding this list taking into account long-term prospects, as well as create conditions for their successful implementation, including in terms of their financing," he said. He suggested paying special attention to access to the transport corridors of the EAEU countries that have no access to the sea. Japarov also proposed to create an ecosystem of multimodal transportation with digitization of all accompanying documents to increase the speed of transportation and delivery of goods. Moreover, the President of Kyrgyzstan noted the importance of minimizing control measures and increasing the transparency of regulation at the internal borders of the EAEU to increase trade volumes. FILE PHOTO: A load of corn is poured into a truck, at a grain storage facility in the village of Bilohiria, Khmelnytskyi region, Ukraine April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union agreed on Thursday to suspend restrictions on imports from Ukraine for a further year after warding off an import ban imposed by some EU nations amid farmer protests over low prices. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the EU for the extension and pledged to work towards meeting the union's standards required to secure membership of the 27-nation bloc. The Council of the EU, the grouping of EU governments, said in a tweet that EU ministers responsible for trade had agreed to the extension at a meeting on Thursday. The European Union lifted tariffs and other restrictions for an initial 12 months in June 2022. "In the process of our movement into the European Union, we have to make this liberalisation, so far temporary, into a permanent one, without any exceptions or restrictions," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. The suspension of all duties has led to complaints from farming groups, culminating in Poland and Hungary banning some Ukraine grain imports in April. The countries became transit routes for Ukrainian grain that could not be exported through its Black Sea ports. Even before Russia's invasion, Ukraine had been benefiting from the elimination of the vast majority of EU tariffs, in some cases with transition periods, under the EU-Ukraine free trade agreement applied since 2016. But up until 2022, the EU had retained minimum prices for fruit and vegetables and tariffs and quotas on other sensitive farm products, such as meat, dairy, sugar and some cereals. Five neighbouring countries - Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia - will bar domestic sales of certain grains from Ukraine, while allowing their transit for export elsewhere. Zelenskiy warned that once the procedures became permanent, "there is still a risk that some restrictions may be in place". Kyiv, he said, would work on finding solutions "in particular for farmers in Ukraine and some neighbouring countries that will meet our common European interests and standards". The European Parliament has already backed the tariff suspension proposal. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Ron Popeski; Editing by David Ljunggren and Christopher Cushing) EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell talks with Cuban businessmen during an official visit to Cuba, in Havana, May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Yander Zamora By Nelson Acosta HAVANA (Reuters) - The European Unions top diplomat said in Havana on Thursday that the 27-member bloc remains Cubas top trade partner, and one committed to "mutual respect" despite U.S. sanctions and the communist-run islands increasing overtures towards Russia. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, during his first public appearance on a four-day trip to Cuba, told a group of local entrepreneurs the European Union was also the second-largest source of tourists to Cuba, behind Canada. "Despite all the limitations [and] the restrictive measures of the [U.S.] blockade, which does not make things easy, we are [Cubas] principal trade partner," Borrell said. The United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba shortly after Fidel Castros 1959 revolution, a relic of the Cold War which continues to complicate financial and banking transactions with the Caribbean island nation. Such sanctions, Cuba says, have contributed to its recent drive to increase commercial and trade ties with Russia, which has also faced sanctions from both the United States and the European Union following its invasion of Ukraine. Cuba has said Russia is not responsible for the Ukraine conflict, blaming the United States instead. The EUs Borrell, who spoke with entrepreneurs and fellow European diplomats Thursday, said "it is clear that we are much more important [in terms of trade] than other partners such as Russia and China." He said the EU accounted for about one-third of foreign trade on the island, "versus 8% by China or 8% by Russia." Borrell announced during his talk with entrepreneurs a 14 million euro fund to help promote small business in Cuba, a sign of the EUs "desire to accompany Cuba in its process of ... economic and social reforms in a relationship of mutual respect," he said. The European Union, a long-time trade partner with Cuba, has previously expressed concern over human rights on the island following anti-government protests in July of 2021, the largest such demonstrations in decades. Borrell said on Thursday that he hoped to meet with Cuban officials to discuss human rights before the end of 2023. (Reporting by Nelson Acosta; Editing by Dave Sherwood and Andrea Ricci) A giant screen shows news footage of Chinese national flags and European Union flags during an EU-China virtual summit, in Beijing, China, April 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission repeated calls on Thursday for China to play a constructive role in establishing peace in Ukraine, after a top EU diplomat met Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia. "The EU expects China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to play a constructive role (...) and to recall the necessity to respect the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity (...) by unconditionally withdrawing all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders," the EU said in a statement. Last week, Li Hui visited Ukraine and met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a European tour that Beijing billed as its effort to promote peace talks and a political settlement. He is set to visit Russia on Friday. (Reporting by Marine Strauss, Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon sits during his appearance at the New York Supreme Court in New York City, U.S., February 28, 2023. Curtis Means/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Steve Bannon, a one-time advisor to Donald Trump, is set to go on trial on May 27, 2024, on criminal charges over a push to fund the former U.S. president's signature wall along the U.S. southern border, a New York judge said in a court hearing on Thursday. New York state prosecutors in Manhattan accuse Bannon of defrauding donors who contributed more than $15 million to the "We Build the Wall" fundraising drive. According to the indictment, Bannon concealed his role in diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars to the drive's chief executive. Bannon, 69, has pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering, conspiracy and scheming to defraud. Justice Juan Merchan at the brief hearing gave Bannon's lawyers until Oct. 6 to file a possible motion to dismiss the charges. Merchan said he would rule on any such motion at a hearing on April 29. Bannon was initially charged over the fundraising push by federal prosecutors in Manhattan but received a presidential pardon from Trump during the final hours of his term. That pardon covered federal but not state charges. Brian Kolfage, a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran who led the funding push, was sentenced last month to 4-1/4 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges of misappropriating funds for the campaign. An associate, Andrew Badolato, was sentenced to three years in prison. Another defendant in the case, Timothy Shea, is set to be sentenced on June 13 after his conviction at trial last October. Construction of a border wall was a key element of Trump's hardline immigration policies during his presidency, supported by his fellow Republicans but opposed by Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Porter) FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, U.S., April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court has issued several important rulings during its current term that began last October and is due to decide its remaining cases by the end of June including disputes involving race-conscious college admissions practices, President Joe Biden's student debt forgiveness plan and voting rights. Here is a look at some of the rulings issued by the court this term. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION The court on Thursday further limited the regulatory reach of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, embracing a stringent new test for declaring wetlands protected under a landmark federal anti-pollution law in a ruling favoring an Idaho couple who challenged the EPA. PROTECTIONS FOR INTERNET COMPANIES The court on May 18 left legal protections for internet and social media companies unscathed and refused to clear a path for victims of attacks by militant groups to sue these businesses under an anti-terrorism law. In both cases, families of people killed by Islamist gunmen overseas had sued to try to hold internet companies liable because of the presence of militant groups on their platforms or for recommending their content. FEDERAL AGENCY POWER The court on April 14 made it easier to challenge the regulatory power of federal agencies in rulings backing Axon Enterprise Inc's bid to sue the Federal Trade Commission and a Texas accountant's gripe with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CORRUPTION PROSECUTIONS The court on May 11 further restricted the ability of federal prosecutors to pursue corruption cases, overturning the bribery conviction of Joseph Percoco, an ex-aide to Democratic former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and former construction company executive Louis Ciminelli. ANDY WARHOL ARTWORK Andy Warhol's estate lost its copyright fight with celebrity photographer Lynn Goldsmith when the court on May 18 faulted the famed pop artist's use of her photo of Prince in a silkscreen series depicting the charismatic rock star. INTERSTATE COMMERCE The court preserved a California law banning the sale of pork in America's most-populous state from pigs kept in tightly confined spaces in a May 11 ruling that rejected an industry challenge. PROPERTY TAXES The court on May 25 curbed state and local governments from seizing and selling the homes of people with unpaid property taxes and keeping the proceeds beyond the amount owed, deeming the practice unconstitutional in a ruling in favor of a 94-year-old woman who battled tax authorities in Minnesota. (Reporting by Andrew Chung and John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham) People hold a banner which reads "Your borders, our dead" during a tribute to the 27 migrants who died in a shipwreck while trying to cross the English Channel last year, in Dunkirk, France, November 24, 2022. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo By Marine Strauss PARIS (Reuters) -French judges charged five soldiers on Thursday for not assisting people in danger over the deaths of 27 migrants trying to cross the Channel in a small boat in November 2021. The sinking was the worst disaster on record involving migrants in the narrow seaway separating Britain from mainland Europe. Nine people were placed in custody in the probe into the tragedy, but only five were formally charged, a judicial source said. AFP news agency reported that those charged included three women and two men on duty at the Channel rescue centre at the time. In the wake of the accident, France and Britain traded blame. A French migrant charity filed a complaint shortly after the tragedy, saying the migrants called both French and British authorities but were only sent help when a French fisherman raised the alert, more than 10 hours later. AFP reported that among those in custody, some are soldiers from the French rescue service Cross Gris Nez, in charge of rescues in the Channel. Cross Gris Nez declined to comment. The Manche prefecture did not respond to calls for comment. The Paris court in charge of the investigation was not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Marine Strauss, Sudip Kar-Gupta, Editing by Paul Simao and Richard Chang) FILE PHOTO: A Tesla logo on a Model S is photographed inside of a Tesla dealership in New York, U.S., April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo By Riham Alkousaa and Toby Sterling BERLIN/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The data protection watchdog for the Netherlands said on Friday it was aware of possible Tesla data protection breaches, but it was too early for further comment. Germany's Handelsblatt reported on Thursday that Elon Musk's Tesla had allegedly failed to adequately protect data from customers, employees and business partners, citing 100 gigabytes of confidential data leaked by a whistleblower. "We are aware of the Handelsblatt story and we are looking into it," said a spokesperson for the AP data watchdog in the Netherlands, where Tesla's European headquarters is located. They declined all comment on whether the agency might launch or have launched an investigation, citing policy. The Dutch agency was informed by its counterpart in the German state of Brandenberg. Handelsblatt said Tesla notified the Dutch authorities about the breach, but the AP spokesperson said they were not aware if the company had made any representations to the agency. Tesla was not immediately available for comment on Friday on the Handelsblatt report, which said customer data could be found "in abundance" in a data set labelled "Tesla Files". The data protection office in Brandenburg, which is home to Tesla's European gigafactory, described the data leak as "massive". "I can't remember such a scale," Brandenburg data protection officer Dagmar Hartge said, adding that the case had been handed to the Dutch authorities who would be responsible if the allegations led to an enforcement action. The Dutch authorities has several weeks to decide whether to deal with the case as part of a European procedure, she added. The files include tables containing more than 100,000 names of former and current employees, including the social security number of Tesla CEO Musk, along with private email addresses, phone numbers, salaries of employees, bank details of customers and secret details from production, Handelsblatt reported. The breach would violate the GDPR, it said. If such a violation was proved, Tesla could be fined up to 4% of its annual sales, which could be 3.26 billion euros. 'DISTURBING' German union IG Metall said the revelations were "disturbing" and called on Tesla to inform employees about all data protection violations and promote a culture in which staff could raise problems and grievances openly and without fear. "These revelations ... fit with the picture that we have gained in just under two years," said Dirk Schulze, IG Metall incoming district manager for Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony. Handelsblatt quoted a lawyer for Tesla as saying a "disgruntled former employee" had abused their access as a service technician, adding that the company would take legal action against the individual it suspected of the leak. Citing the leaked files, the newspaper reported about thousands of customer complaints regarding the carmaker's driver assistance systems with around 4,000 complaints on sudden acceleration or phantom braking. Last month, a Reuters report showed that groups of Tesla employees privately shared via an internal messaging system sometimes highly invasive videos and images recorded by customers' car cameras between 2019 and 2022. This week, Facebook parent Meta was hit with a record 1.2 billion euro ($1.3 billion) fine by its lead European Union privacy regulator over its handling of user information and given five months to stop transferring user data to the U.S. (Reporting by Riham Alkousaa and Christina Amann in Berlin, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Hyun Joo Jin in San Francisco; Editing by Susan Fenton, David Gregorio and Alexander Smith) FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen on the MetLife Inc building in Manhattan, New York, U.S., December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly (Reuters) - MetLife Inc said on Thursday it had signed a $19.20 billion reinsurance deal with retirement and life insurance firm Global Atlantic, and boosted its stock buyback programme to $4 billion. Shares of the insurer rose 1.7% in premarket trade as it increased its repurchase programme by $1 billion after saying earlier this month that it would buyback shares worth $3 billion. MetLife first-quarter profit missed Wall street estimates on May 3, as growing economic uncertainty impacted the insurer's investment income. The company expects the Global Atlantic transaction, likely to close in the second half of 2023, to positively impact several of its key financial metrics. (Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi) FILE PHOTO: Pirelli logo is seen during Munich Auto Show, IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2021. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay By Giuseppe Fonte and Giulio Piovaccari MILAN (Reuters) - The Italian government, which is assessing tyre maker Pirelli's new shareholder agreement, is concerned about plans to allow top shareholder China's Sinochem to appoint more board members and potentially choose future CEOs, two sources said. Italy's right-wing government has to approve the scheme under "Golden Power" rules aimed at protecting assets deemed strategic for the country, at a time when relations between China and Western countries have entered a tenser phase. Rome is expected to make its decision by late June, the sources told Reuters. Sinochem, Pirelli's largest shareholder with a 37% stake, notified the Italian government in March of plans to renew and update an existing shareholder pact with fellow investor Camfin, the vehicle of Pirelli's CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera. Based on the new shareholders' agreement, which came into force last week and lasts three years, Sinochem would pick nine members of Pirelli's 15-strong board, leaving three to Camfin. Under the previous pact, Camfin could choose four board members. Sinochem's voting rights in Pirelli are currently frozen pending Italy's assessment of the new governance agreement. Pirelli will appoint a new board at a shareholders meeting, expected on July 31, with current deputy CEO Luca Bruno becoming the new CEO following his designation by Tronchetti Provera. The government, however, is also looking into future CEO appointment procedures as the new shareholders' agreement no longer gives designation powers to Tronchetti Provera, leaving the choice to the Chinese-controlled board, the sources said. Also, were the Sinochem-Camfin agreement not renewed in three years, Sinochem would theoretically be free to establish an even stronger majority of board members and increase the Chinese element in top ranks, the people added. Italy and other Western governments are increasingly concerned about growing Chinese influence. Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft on Wednesday said a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group has been spying on a wide range of U.S. critical infrastructure organizations. A source close to Sinochem told Reuters the Chinese group was determined to protect Pirelli's Italian character, which it considers an indispensable asset for the company's future. The source reiterated that Pirelli represented a strategic and long-term holding for Sinochem, and that its sale was not an option. Italy's use of golden powers in most cases results in deals being approved with binding prescriptions issued to preserve the national interest. These may include limiting information sharing on sensitive and strategic technology or voting rights on specific matters. (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari in Milan and Giuseppe Fonte in Rome, editing by Susan Fenton) FILE PHOTO: Eita Sato, 15, and Aoi Hoshi, 15, the only two students at Yumoto Junior High School, have their last school lunch with their teachers before their graduation and the institution's closing ceremony, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, March 9, 2023. By Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) - More than nine out of 10 Japanese firms feel a sense of crisis about the country's accelerating birthrate decline, with few hopeful that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government can arrest the fall, according to a Reuters monthly poll. Kishida unveiled a plan in March to reverse the birthrate trend, a problem that has worsened under successive Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) administrations, threatening to further shrink the country's workforce and sap consumer demand. Those measures, which include expanding child allowance provisions, increasing paid parental leave and providing subsidies for fertility treatments came after the government revealed that annual births last year had dipped below 800,000 for the first time, eight years earlier than expected. Of nearly 500 major companies surveyed by Reuters, 94% said they felt a sense of crisis when asked about the fall in annual births in 2022. Only 14% of firms said they were hopeful that Kishida's measures would work, with 34% saying they would not. The remaining companies that responded, did not express a view. "The LDP response is about securing votes, it is not seriously tackling the problem," a representative from a transport machinery company said, on condition the company wasn't identified. Like other major industrial economies, Japan is raising the retirement age and encouraging more women to work as its population ages. Unlike some countries, however, it has not sought out large numbers of foreign workers to fill its job vacancies. "We need to develop overseas markets and also have to make use of foreign workers," a representative from a food maker said. At 49, Japan's median age is second only to the city state of Monaco and it is one of the most expensive places in the world to raise a child. Kishida's administration has said it will release the details next month of how it will fund a birthrate initiative that is expected to double government spending on childcare. In the Reuters poll, 54% of companies said they wanted the government to increase taxes to pay for the increased spending, of which just under a half said they wanted a hike in the sales tax paid by consumers. Only 18% of firms urged an increase in government borrowing. The Reuters Corporate Survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research between May 10 and May 19, canvassed 493 big non-financial Japanese firms, including 246 manufacturers and 247 non-manufacturers. They were polled on condition of anonymity, allowing respondents to speak more freely. Click here for a more detailed breakdown of the poll results. (Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The point for the construction and reconstruction of the Kulma-Karosu border crossing point between Tajikistan and China was included in a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Transport of China signed on May 18, Trend reports. According to the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan, the renovation work on the border point will boost international transportation capacity. The memorandum highlights the commitment of the transport authorities of both countries to further collaboration within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Central Asia-China dialogue. Besides work on the Kulma-Karosu border crossing point, the memorandum outlines cooperation in the construction and reconstruction of the international highway along the Dushanbe-Kulob-Darvaz-Murghab-Kulma route. And activation and enhancement of the transport and logistics center in the territory of the Kulob City of Tajikistan. It is anticipated that the multimodal transport corridor China-Tajikistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkiye will initially transport goods by road from China to the city of Kulob, where one of the five free economic zones established in Tajikistan is in operation. From there, the goods will be transported through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkiye, and further into European countries. International road transportation between Tajikistan and China is carried out based on the agreement signed on August 27, 2008, between the Government of Tajikistan and the Government of China. FILE PHOTO: Nishimura Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), talks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan, April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou/File Photo TOKYO (Reuters) -The United States and Japan will deepen cooperation in the research and development of advanced chips and other technologies, they said on Friday, the latest sign of the two allies strengthening ties in semiconductors. The move, which also includes collaboration on quantum computing and discussions on artificial intelligence, comes as both Washington and Tokyo reduce exposure to China and work together to expand chip manufacturing and secure advanced components essential for economic growth. The United States, Japan and other members of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced nations last week agreed to "de-risk" but not decouple from China, underscoring the deep concern among advanced democracies about China's rising technological might and its lockhold on technology supply chains. In a joint statement, the two countries agreed to increase cooperation between their research and development hubs, as they map out future technology collaboration. The statement came after Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura met in Detroit with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The two countries agreed to work together "to identify and resolve geographic concentrations of production undermining semiconductor supply chain resilience". They also committed to strengthening supply chains by collaborating with emerging and developing countries. Japan has established a new chip maker, Rapidus, that is working with International Business Machines Corp (IBM) to develop advanced logic semiconductors, and is offering subsidies to U.S. memory maker Micron Technology Inc so it can expand production there. Japan, along with the Netherlands, has also agreed to match U.S. export controls that will limit the sale of some chipmaking tools to China. Raimondo on Thursday met China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Washington where the pair exchanged views on trade, investment and export policies. (Reporting by Tim Kelly, Satoshi Sugiyama, David Dolan; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Christopher Cushing, Conor Humphries and Kim Coghill) FILE PHOTO: JPMorgan Chase Bank is seen in New York City, U.S., March 21, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co on Thursday unveiled new accusations that the U.S. Virgin Islands was complicit in Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes, including that a former first lady for the territory sought student visas for some of the disgraced financier's victims. The largest U.S. bank also singled out Governor Albert Bryan as being among government officials who maintained "close ties" with Epstein, saying that in 2018 he arranged donations from Epstein to schools and little leagues. JPMorgan made the accusations in a filing in Manhattan federal court, where the U.S. Virgin Islands wants the bank held liable in a civil lawsuit for keeping Epstein as a client from 1998 to 2013, the last five years after he pleaded guilty to prostitution. The New York-based bank has countered that the territory had "unclean hands" for protecting Epstein, who died in 2019, and awarding him millions of dollars in tax breaks in exchange for his "money, advice, influence, and favors." A spokesperson for the U.S. Virgin Islands' attorney general's office called the new accusations "an obvious attempt to shift blame," repeating an earlier statement. Bryan's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Thursday's filing was partially redacted, but had fewer redactions than a version filed on Tuesday. JPMorgan also faces a proposed class action by women who say Epstein sexually abused them, and that the bank should have cut ties with him sooner. Epstein, 66, died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. The city's medical examiner called Epstein's death a suicide. Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell is appealing her conviction and 20-year prison sentence for aiding in his sexual abuses. 'WILL IT WORK FOR YOU?' Many of JPMorgan's new accusations concern Cecile de Jongh, whose husband, John de Jongh, was governor from 2007 to 2015. The bank called the former first lady Epstein's "primary conduit for spreading money and influence throughout the USVI government," and "a ready partner" in his desire to exploit young women. Email requests for comment from Cecile and John de Jongh were not immediately acknowledged. Neither is a party to the litigation. The bank said de Jongh once arranged for Epstein to meet a local immigration lawyer to help one woman obtain a visa, and asked a local university whether three women could enroll there to obtain student visas. JPMorgan also said de Jongh managed Epstein's local companies throughout her husband's governorship, with Epstein paying their children's tuition, and worked with Epstein in 2011 when the U.S. Virgin Islands was drafting new sex offender laws. "This is the suggested language; will it work for you?" de Jongh asked Epstein in a May 2011 email, according to JPMorgan. The bank's chief executive, Jamie Dimon, who is not a defendant, is expected to testify under oath in a deposition on Friday. Bryan faces a June 6 deposition. JPMorgan is separately suing Jes Staley, a former Epstein friend who once led its asset management business, to have him cover losses it may incur in the other two lawsuits. The case is Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-10904. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Chicago; Editing by Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: A man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration NAIROBI (Reuters) - A senior Kenyan security official on Thursday dismissed as "propaganda" a Reuters report which detailed a years-long series of hacks by Chinese cyber spies against the East African country's government. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Chinese hackers carried out a series of digital intrusions against key Kenyan ministries and state institutions, according to three sources, cybersecurity research reports and Reuters' own analysis of technical data related to the hacks. Two of the sources assessed the hacks to be aimed, at least in part, at gaining information on debt Kenya owed to Beijing. "The article should be viewed as sponsored propaganda," Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said in a written statement that did not provide evidence to support his claims. "The wide circulation and the alacrity for its attribution by other foreign media with well-known inclinations further hint at a choreographed and concerted attack against Kenya's sovereignty," he added. A Reuters spokesperson said, We stand by our story. China provided Kenya with its government network infrastructure, and Omollo said that: "It is reasonable, therefore, to contemplate that if the country of origin desired to infiltrate the same systems it has helped install, it would unlikely engage third-party hackers." (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Anna Driver; Writing by James Pearson) FILE PHOTO: Pro-Kurdish Green Left Party supporters attend a rally ahead of the May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections, in Diyarbakir, Turkey May 13, 2023. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar/File Photo By Burcu Karakas and Umit Ozdal ISTANBUL/DIYARBAKIR (Reuters) -Kurds opposed to President Tayyip Erdogan fear victory for him in Turkey's presidential election could reinforce a crackdown the state has been waging against them for years, alarmed by a surge in nationalist rhetoric ahead of Sunday's vote. Kurds, who make up around a fifth of Turkey's population, have been seen as potentially crucial to the opposition's hopes of ending Erdogan's 20 years in power - a reign in which he first courted but then cracked down hard on Kurdish groups. But the momentum is with Erdogan going into Sunday's vote after the first round gave him a lead over the opposition's Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who trailed despite the backing of six parties and the endorsement of the pro-Kurdish HDP party. For some Kurdish voters, the stakes couldn't be higher as Erdogan dials up his nationalist tone in a bid to win more votes ahead of the runoff. "Voting is a matter of life and death now. Erdogan hardened his stance on Kurds during the election campaign," said Ardelan Mese, 26, a cafe owner in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir in the southeast who is urging his friends to vote. "I can't imagine what he will be capable of after declaring victory." The HDP won 61% support in Diyarbakir in the May 14 parliamentary election, while Erdogan's AKP got 23%. Nationwide, HDP support was 8.9%. The issue of HDP support for Kilicdaroglu has this week been complicated by his deal with an anti-immigrant party that HDP said was "against universal democratic principles". But the HDP reaffirmed its support on Thursday without naming him. In his early years in power, Erdogan expanded political and cultural rights for Kurds, a stateless group scattered between Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq. He removed restrictions on using the Kurdish language and oversaw a peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which took up arms against the state in 1984 and is viewed as a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies. But after a ceasefire collapsed in 2015, he changed course, with the authorities waging a crackdown that led to the arrest of thousands of HDP members, typically on charges of militancy, with many of its lawmakers and mayors unseated and jailed. Seizing on the HDP's support for Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan has repeatedly accused the opposition of siding with terrorism. The HDP denies accusations of militant ties. Erdogan also repeatedly drew attention to a doctored video to accuse Kilicdaroglu of ties to the PKK, which has been waging an insurgency in which more than 40,000 people have been killed. Kilicdaroglu called the accusation slanderous. But Erdogan's stance has won the endorsement of Sinan Ogan, a hardline nationalist who came third in the first round. Ogan has said the endorsement was based on a principle of "non-stop struggle (against) terrorism", referring to pro-Kurdish groups. 'BLACK PROPAGANDA' The sloganeering marks an effort to tap deep-running nationalist sentiment - a powerful force in Turkish politics which has been hardened by factors including years of hostilities with Kurdish militants and the influx of millions of refugees from Syria since war began there in 2011. Critics say Kilicdaroglu has also struck a more nationalist tone since a disappointing first round, vowing to repatriate all refugees. Turkey hosts some 5 million migrants, of whom 3.4 million are Syrians, according to Interior Ministry data. He has also noted Erdogan "sat at the table with terrorist organisations" - a reference to the failed peace process. Tayip Temel, a senior HDP official, expressed fear that Erdogan had achieved his desired goal through "black propaganda" alleging links between Kilicdaroglu and terrorists. "Erdogan's victory will consolidate one-man rule and pave the way for horrible practices, bringing completely dark days for all parts of society," Temel, HDP deputy co-chair, said. He also noted Kilicdaroglu's switch to "a more nationalistic discourse" which he said could cost him some Kurdish support. Reha Ruhavioglu, director of the Diyarbakir-based Kurdish Studies Center, believes many Kurdish voters have lost the will to vote ahead of the runoff, blaming the shift in the tone adopted by Kilicdaroglu. "Demotivation stems from the CHP's political discourse which shifted from reconciliation to security politics. The HDP should motivate its base by saying, 'If Kilicdaroglu loses, we lose too'," he said. The HDP contested the elections under another party's banner due to a court case threatening to ban it for alleged links to Kurdish militants, which it denies. Critics fear a statement by Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu on Sunday accusing a group of Kurdish lawyers of PKK links could be a sign of a new crackdown ahead. Nahit Eren, head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, told Reuters the statements could prompt the authorities to open a new "terrorism investigation". (Reporting by Burcu Karakas; Editing by Tom Perry, Daren Butler and Nick Macfie) CEO of Lufthansa AG Carsten Spohr speaks during the annual results news conference of Germanys flagship airline in Frankfurt, Germany, March 3, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach By Angelo Amante and Ilona Wissenbach ROME (Reuters) -Lufthansa will take a 41% stake in ITA Airways by way of a 325 million euro ($358 million) capital increase that will flow directly to the Italian carrier, the German group said on Thursday. The deal comes as Europe's airlines struggle to repair their balance sheets after the COVID-19 pandemic and as legacy carriers have looked to consolidation to help them compete with low-cost airlines. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr met Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti in Rome on Thursday to finalise talks, which started in January but were extended beyond an initial deadline of April 24. "Today's agreement will lead to a win-win situation for Italy, ITA Airways and Lufthansa Group ... a stronger ITA will invigorate competition in the Italian market," Spohr said. The Lufthansa Group said in its statement that it will also jointly manage ITA, including naming a chief executive for the airline once the deal is closed. The 325 million euros it will inject into ITA will be raised from Lufthansa Group's existing liquidity, it said. The Italian Treasury will contribute a further 250 million euros to ITA. "The closing of the transaction after the contractual finalization remains subject in particular to regulatory approvals, especially by the European competition authority," it said in the statement. ITA, the successor to Italy's loss-making flagship airline Alitalia, took to the air in 2021 as a state-owned company and posted a loss of around 486 million euros last year due to the lingering effects of the pandemic and rising fuel costs. Efforts to save Alitalia and subsequently sell a major stake in ITA Airways have proved a headache for successive Italian governments, with some politicians reluctant to sell the company as they considered it a national icon. ITA's business plan forecasts revenue growth of 2.5 billion euros in 2023 and of 4.1 billion in 2027, a statement from the Economy Ministry and Lufthansa showed. ITA sees its fleet increasing to 94 aircraft compared with the current 71 by the end of 2027, and it expects its workforce to grow to over 5,500 people from 4,300 seen this year. ($1 = 0.9084 euros) (Reporting by Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte in Rome; Ilona Wissenbach reported from Frankfurt; additional reporting by Joanna Plucinska in London; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Sharon Singleton) FILE PHOTO: Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during a news conference at the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection in Mexico City, Mexico March 9, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday urged Latino voters not to back Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the next U.S. presidential election, accusing the Republican politician of trying to win votes at the expense of migrants. DeSantis said Wednesday he would seek the 2024 Republican nomination for president and vowed to build a wall on the Mexico border, the latest in a series of hardline comments on immigration that he says resonate with Latino voters who want strong enforcement. Lopez Obrador dismissed those comments. "All of his playing politics with migrants was because he wanted to be the Republican party candidate," Lopez Obrador told a government press conference. "I hope the Hispanics of Florida wake up and don't give him a single vote." DeSantis, who has championed border security and derided so-called "sanctuary cities" where migrants can shelter, said he would impose strong controls on illegal immigration and limit asylum. "Day one, it's a national emergency. We will mobilize all resources to construct the border wall, shut the border down," the Florida governor told Fox News. As well as building a wall, he said he would seek programs similar to former U.S. President Donald Trump's "Remain in Mexico," a contentious policy that forced asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico while awaiting U.S. hearings on their claims. Lopez Obrador, who has previously warned Republicans not to target migrants for political gain, also attacked Trump at the start of the former U.S. president's administration for his immigration policies. At the time, Lopez Obrador was in opposition. After Lopez Obrador took power in 2018 he acceded to pressure from Trump to tighten up Mexico's borders. Lopez Obrador's time in office is due to end before the next U.S. election, and he is now seeking to muster support for a successor due to be elected in June 2024. (Reporting by Valentine Hilaire in Mexico City; Additional reporting by James Oliphant in Washington D.C., editing by Deepa Babington) SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean media criticised on Thursday plans by South Korea, the United States and Japan to share real-time data on Pyongyang's missile launches, describing the trio as discussing "sinister measures" for tightening military cooperation. The information sharing pact is a result of American efforts to incite confrontation and boost its military edge in the region by "cooking up the 'Asian-version NATO'," said a commentary under the name Kang Jin Song, an international affairs analyst, carried in state media KCNA. "This is heightening the vigilance of regional countries including the DPRK to the maximum," it said, using the initials of the country's official name. The comments come after the leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan met at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, at the weekend and agreed to deepen trilateral cooperation on security. The discussions included new coordination in the face of North Korea's illicit nuclear and missile threats, as well as on economic security, and on their respective Indo-Pacific Strategies, according to the White House. North Korea has undertaken a series of missile and weapons tests in recent months, most recently a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The North's missile and nuclear weapons programmes are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions. The pact to share real-time missile warning data was first announced at a trilateral summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November, and described as an effort to improve each countrys ability to detect and assess the threat posed by incoming missiles, a major step for deterrence, peace and stability. The KCNA commentary also criticized other U.S.-led military alliances including the AUKUS pact with Britain and Australia, the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance and the Quad group of nations, which also includes India, Australia and Japan, as exclusionary and confrontational. South Korean and U.S. forces this week are holding their largest-ever live-fire exercises in a show of force that North Korea has criticised as "warmongers' madness." (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Ed Davies) FILE PHOTO: Demonstrators stand outside the Mexican embassy after Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that Mexico has granted asylum to the family of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, in Lima, Peru December 20, 2022. REUTERS/Liz Tasa By Marco Aquino LIMA (Reuters) - Lawmakers in Peru voted on Thursday to declare Mexico's leftist president unwelcome in the South American country, citing what they described as his meddling in Peru's internal affairs and marking a deepening diplomatic split in the region. The declaration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as "persona non grata" in Peru makes him the second Latin American leader to be slapped with this status. Peru's right-wing dominated Congress approved the largely symbolic declaration by a vote of 65 in favor and 40 against, after Lopez Obrador derided Peru's President Dina Boluarte as an illegitimate "usurper" after her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was ousted late last year. Boluarte has also refusal to hand over to the Mexican leader the rotating presidency of the Pacific Alliance trade bloc. In February, lawmakers took the same action against Lopez Obrador's fellow leftist in Colombia, President Gustavo Petro, for similar criticisms of Boluarte taking office and the handling of the country's political crisis and subsequent social unrest. Bolivia's leftist former President Evo Morales has likewise joined in on the criticism, and has also been deemed persona non grata by Peru's Congress. Boluarte was sworn in hours after Castillo was removed from office and swiftly arrested, following his attempt to dissolve Congress and rule by decree. Raucous protests broke out and dozens were killed. Rights groups have accused police and soldiers of using excessive force, and earlier on Thursday Amnesty International suggested that the indigenous backgrounds of most of those killed in protests suggested a racial bias. Boluarte has defended security forces while accusing some protesters of acting violently, but she is also under investigation by prosecutors for her role in the killings. Lopez Obrador, who often rails against those he sees meddling in Mexico's internal affairs, said earlier this week he would be "proud" if Peruvian lawmakers took such action against him. (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Alistair Bell) Journalists work as the police search the Arade reservoir near the area where British girl Madeleine McCann went missing in the Portuguese Algarve in May 2007, in Silves, Portugal, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Luis Ferreira/File Photo SILVES, Portugal (Reuters) -Police on Thursday wrapped up the latest search effort in the 16-year-old hunt for missing British girl Madeleine McCann after collecting unspecified samples by a reservoir in Portugal, as a German prosecutor played down hopes of an imminent breakthrough. Portuguese police said in a statement the three-day operation requested by Germany was now over and that the collected material would be handed over to German authorities after "safeguarding the interests of the investigation still ongoing in Portugal". Police would not say whether any useful clues were found during the search that involved sniffer dogs, use of a tractor-based tree-cutter and investigators raking the cleared ground in a few small areas. A source close to the investigation told Reuters there was nothing tangible to report. German authorities, who have named a suspect in the case, have been helping Portuguese crews comb the remote area inland from the Algarve coastal resort where McCann - then aged three - went missing during a family holiday in 2007. "Of course there is a certain expectation, but it is not high," prosecutor Christian Wolters told Reuters before the end of the search. It was important to show that authorities were investigating the case, he said. He added that the investigators were looking for the body, but also for anything that could help the investigation, such as clothing: "A lot is conceivable." He did not expect the results of the studies of the collected samples to be announced any time soon. German prosecutors last year named Christian Brueckner an official suspect in McCann's disappearance. The convicted child abuser and drug dealer is behind bars in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in the same part of the Algarve. Brueckner has denied any involvement in the disappearance. No body has been found. British police who assisted their Portuguese and German counterparts at the Arade reservoir had left by early Thursday afternoon, followed by German investigators who packed up their tents at a camp on a hill. (Reporting by Jan Schwartz and Marco Trujillo, additional reporting by Catarina Demony, Writing by Rachel More and Andrei Khalip, Editing by Andrew Heavens, Nick Macfie and Deepa Babington) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's internal spy agency said on Thursday it had detained two Ukrainian saboteurs plotting to blow up the power lines of two nuclear power stations to shut down the reactors and embarrass Russia on the eve of this month's Victory Day holiday. The Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said that the saboteurs working for Ukrainian foreign intelligence had laid explosives on a total of 11 pylons of the Leningrad and Kalinin nuclear power stations. "The plan of the Ukrainian special services was to prompt the shutdown of the nuclear reactors, disrupt the operation of the nuclear power plants and cause serious economic and reputation damage to the Russian Federation," the FSB said in a statement. The attacks were due to take place on the eve of the May 9 anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, the FSB said. It did not say when the men had been arrested. The Leningrad station is Russia's biggest atomic power plant. It is located on Gulf of Finland close to St Petersburg. The Kalinin nuclear power station is 350 km north of Moscow. The FSB said the saboteurs were recruited in 2022 by Ukraine's foreign intelligence service (FISU) and received special training at camps in Kyiv and the Mykolaiv region. They entered Russia via Poland and Belarus, the FSB said. Two Russian accomplices were also detained, the FSB said. The explosives - including 36.6 kg of C-4 plastic explosives, 61 detonators and 38 timers - came via Poland, Lithuania and Belarus, the FSB said. "The defendants have confessed to cooperating with the foreign intelligence service of Ukraine in order to prepare and commit sabotage on the territory of Russia," the FSB said. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Peter Graff) FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a tractor sowing corn seeds in a field near the village of Chaltyr in the Rostov region, Russia, May 5, 2023. REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov By Michelle Nichols and David Ljunggren UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia signaled on Thursday that if demands to improve its grain and fertilizer exports are not met then it will not extend beyond July 17 a deal allowing the safe wartime export of the same products from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports. It made the same threat and demands in March. Moscow then agreed last week to renew for 60 days the Black Sea export pact - initially brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July with Russia and Ukraine to try to ease a global good crisis aggravated by Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Since March Russia appears to have prioritized two specific demands: restarting a pipeline to transport Russian ammonia to the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Pivdennyi for export to global markets; and reconnecting Russia's agricultural bank, known as Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT international payment network. "If Rosselkhozbank is not connected to SWIFT and there is no progress on the implementation of other 'systemic' problems that are blocking our agricultural exports, then the 'Black Sea initiative' will also have to look for alternatives," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. It suggested land exports through Europe as an alternative, saying that avenue was more costly for Ukraine. Rosselkhozbank was cut off from SWIFT by the European Union in June over Russia's invasion. An EU spokesperson has said the bloc is not considering the reinstatement of Russian banks. AMMONIA PIPELINE To help convince Russia to allow Ukraine to resume Black Sea grain exports, a three-year pact was also struck last July in which the U.N. agreed to help Moscow carry out its food and fertilizer shipments. Under the pact - and as an alternative to returning Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT - U.S. bank JPMorgan Chase & Co has processed some Russian grain export payments, sources told Reuters last month, and could process dozens more. But Russia has dismissed this as unsuitable in the longer term. The United Nations is working with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to create a platform to help process transactions for Russian exports of grain and fertilizer to Africa, the top U.N. trade official told Reuters on Wednesday. The Black Sea grain deal also allows for the safe export of ammonia. But the pipeline used by Russia to pump up to 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia annually for export to Ukraine's Pivdennyi port from Togliati has not been restarted. A Ukrainian government source told Reuters last Friday that Kyiv would consider allowing Russian ammonia to transit its territory for export if the Black Sea grain deal was expanded to include more Ukrainian ports and a wider range of commodities. The source said the language of the Black Sea export deal does not cover the transit of Russian ammonia across Ukraine. "The transit of ammonia, as well as the delivery of new portions of grain, although not spelled out literally, is implied by the logic of the agreement," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "Why does Ukrainian food continue to be successfully exported, and Russian ammonia does not move from the port of Yuzhny (Pivdennyi port)?" it asked. The Russian Foreign Ministry also complained that "no progress" had been made on its other long-held demands - allowing the supply to Russia of agricultural machinery and spare parts, lifting restrictions on insurance and access to ports for Russian ships and cargo, and unblocking accounts and financial activities of Russian fertilizer companies. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols and David Ljunggren; editing by Grant McCool) Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin talks to Wagner fighters in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Bakhmut, Ukraine, in this still image taken from video released May 25, 2023. Press service of "Concord"/Handout via REUTERS By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) -Russia's Wagner private army started handing over its positions in Bakhmut to regular Russian troops on Thursday, five days after declaring full control of the devastated eastern Ukrainian city following the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. Moscow says capturing Bakhmut opens the way to advances in the eastern industrial region known as the Donbas. Kyiv says the battle drew Russian forces into the city, inflicting high casualties and weakening Moscow's defensive line elsewhere. Wagner founder Yevgeny Prighozin, who has repeatedly accused Russia's regular military of abandoning ground captured earlier by his men, said Wagner would be ready to return to the city if needed. "From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the (Wagner) units will rebase to camps in the rear," Prighozin said in a video, wearing battle gear and standing beside a war-damaged residential block. He says 20,000 of his fighters died taking Bakhmut. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said in a message on the Telegram app that Wagner had handed over positions on the city's outskirts but "inside the city itself Wagner fighters remain". Russia moved ahead on Thursday with a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in its neighbour and close ally Belarus, signing a deal about the storage of the warheads. It would be the Kremlin's first deployment of such bombs outside Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. "The movement of the nuclear weapons has already begun," Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told reporters in Moscow, where he was attending talks with other leaders of ex-Soviet states. The U.S. State Department denounced the deployment plan, but said Washington had no intention of altering its position on strategic nuclear weapons nor had it seen any signs Russia was preparing to use a nuclear weapon. "It's the latest example of irresponsible behaviour that we have seen from Russia," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. RUSSIA PUSHES ITS DEMANDS IN GRAIN DEAL Also on Thursday, Russia signalled that if demands to improve its grain and fertilizer exports are not met then it will not extend beyond July 17 a deal allowing the safe wartime export of the same products from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports. It made the same threat and demands in March. Moscow then agreed last week to renew for 60 days the Black Sea export pact - initially brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July with Russia and Ukraine to try to ease a global good crisis aggravated by Moscow's February 2022 invasion. Some peace initiatives have been proposed, including by Russia's ally China, the Vatican and a group of countries in Africa but there are no signs of actual talks to end the war. "There is no force that can oblige Ukrainian society and its leaders to talk with the Russians. Not while Russian troops remain here. That just doesn't exist," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, was quoted as saying on Thursday in an interview with Interfax Ukraine news agency. Russian forces have taken over parts of Ukrainian territory since the war began and Ukraine is planning a major counteroffensive to retake land, using modern weapons supplied by Western allies and troops freshly trained across Europe, but details are scant. Russia has built sprawling fortifications in eastern and southern Ukraine in readiness for the counteroffensive. Military analysts said small offensives carried out by Ukrainian forces may be aimed at spreading Russia's troops thinly, creating gaps elsewhere that can be exploited. In a prisoner swap with Russia, Ukraine received 106 soldiers who had been captured in Bakhmut. Russia confirmed the swap, saying Wagner took part in the exchange, but did not say how many Russians were released. US IMPOSES SANCTIONS ON WAGNER FIGURE The United States plans to announce up to $300 million worth of military aid for Ukraine comprised mainly of ammunition, said two official sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The U.S. has pledged more than $35 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine since the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the United States and its allies are fighting an expanding proxy war. Western allies say they want Ukraine to defeat Russian forces on the battlefield but deny Putin's claims that they want to destroy Russia, which they accuse of an unprovoked, imperial land grab in Ukraine. The U.S. Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on Wagner's chief in Mali. The group's employees may have been attempting to work through the west African country to acquire equipment such as mines, drones, radar for use in Ukraine, it said. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel and Grant McCool; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Lincoln Feast.) FILE PHOTO: Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves a cemetery before the funeral of Russian military blogger Maxim Fomin widely known by the name of Vladlen Tatarsky, killed in a bomb attack in a St Petersburg cafe, in Moscow, MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's Wagner mercenary group has started withdrawing its forces from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and transferring its positions there to regular Russian troops, its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video published on Thursday. "We are withdrawing the units from Bakhmut. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the units will rebase to camps in the rear. We are handing our positions to the military," he said. The video was posted on Telegram by his press service, and showed Prigozhin dressed in battle gear and standing beside a war-damaged residential block. Prigozhin announced the capture of Bakhmut on Saturday after the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. In the latest video Prigozhin, who has repeatedly voiced public criticism of senior Russian defence officials, said his forces would be ready to return to Bakhmut if the regular army was unable to manage the situation. (Writing by Felix Light, editing by Mark Trevelyan) An electric car charging station is seen in the parking garage of Union Station in Washington, U.S., September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A group of 27 Senate Republicans on Thursday called on the Biden administration to drop its plan to drastically cut vehicle emissions through 2032 and ramp up electric vehicle sales. In a letter led by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, lawmakers said the administration plan will "effectively mandate a costly transition to electric cars and trucks in the absence of congressional direction." The Environmental Protection Agency proposal issued in April estimates sharp emissions cuts would result in 67% of new light duty vehicle sales as electric by 2032. The EPA, which did not immediately comment Thursday, proposed a 56% reduction in projected light duty fleet average emissions over 2026 requirements. The EPA also proposed new stricter emissions standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks through 2032. The Biden administration's push to ramp up electric vehicle sales is facing significant protests from Republicans in Congress. Environmental groups say the administration should go farther in tightening emissions limits. Republicans have also sought to cut incentives for electric vehicles. Earlier this week, a group of 151 House Republicans, led by Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers also asked the EPA rescind the agencys proposed emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles and heavy-duty trucks. The House Republicans called the rules the "latest attempt to carry out President Bidens radical rush-to-green agenda, which will take away Americans choice when it comes to the kind of vehicle they driveand arm-twist people into buying vehicles they cant afford." Earlier this week, California asked the Biden administration to approve its plan to require all new vehicles sold in the state by 2035 to be either electric or plug-in electric hybrids, a landmark move that could speed the end of gasoline-powered vehicles. The Biden administration has not endorsed setting a date to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles. A parallel proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to boost fuel economy standards beyond 2026 was submitted to the White House for review last week. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) FILE PHOTO: Tourists and locals walk at at Placa de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Nacho Doce By Joan Faus BARCELONA (Reuters) - Scrawled across Barcelona's opera house, along the city's renowned La Rambla boulevard, is expletive-laden graffiti urging tourists to "go home". In another district, the messaging is more emphatic still: "Tourism kills neighbourhoods". The signs, which appeared in recent days, underline how anti-tourism sentiment is bubbling up in the Spanish city most-visited by foreigners, as arrival numbers return to near pre-pandemic levels following the lull during lockdowns. Mass tourism regulation has surfaced as a political hot-button topic across Spain ahead of local and regional elections on Sunday. Several candidates, the most prominent being Barcelona's far-left mayor who is seeking a third term, have vowed to curtail tourism activity, by reducing cruise ship arrivals or reconverting hotels into social housing. "We like tourism, to have visitors, but tourist overcrowding triggers problems of mobility, speculation and gentrification that put our local way of life at risk. Therefore, we have to regulate it," Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau told Reuters. Spain was the world's second most-visited country in 2019, after France, according to data from the United Nations, with tourism accounting for 12% of the economy. Barcelona, Spain's second-largest city of 1.6 million people, received around 30 million visitors, including day trippers, the same year. When the pandemic hit, many residents breathed a sigh of relief at the suddenly empty streets and beaches. Its authorities also took the opportunity to focus on higher value tourism, marketing the city as a high-end gastronomic destination for example. This year, tourist numbers are within a whisker of pre-pandemic levels once more, with first-quarter international tourist arrivals to Spain up 41% from the same period of 2022. Tourists arriving earlier to avoid increasingly sweltering summer temperatures due in part to climate change and water restrictions imposed amid an intense drought affecting Catalonia, could also be factors increasing frustration over mass tourism, said Gemma Canoves, geography professor at Barcelona's Autonomous University. Colau believes residents want a different model now. "We welcome tourism but we need to grow other strategic sectors," she said, arguing that restrictions imposed since taking office in 2015 have strengthened and diversified Barcelona's economy towards new sectors such as tech startups. Seeking to protect rents and local identity, Barcelona was among the first cities in Europe to ban new hotels in the centre and restrict short-term room rentals. It also shut around 8,000 unlicensed tourist apartments. In her re-election campaign, Colau proposes halving the numbers of passengers arriving at Barcelona's cruiseship port, and stripping licenses from tourist apartments and shops. She also opposes expanding its airport, maintaining Barcelona cannot absorb 20 million more tourists. Her rival Xavier Trias, from the separatist, business-friendly Junts party now tied with Colau and the Socialists in opinion polls, accuses her of scaring investors. "Tourism is a competitive asset for a city," Trias, who was mayor before Colau, told Reuters, arguing her opposition to economic activity is ideological. "It makes no sense to be against tourism". He wants to promote family and business-driven tourism, and to modify the cap on hotel openings to win back five-star projects that were cancelled, while conceding restrictions make sense in some areas. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY Tourism is a central electoral theme in the Balearic islands too, where a left-wing coalition government capped cruises and accommodation in recent years. "Our priority is not quantity but quality. We propose zero growth in accommodation and holiday rental units," regional president and Socialist candidate Francina Armengol told Expansion newspaper this week. She also proposes acquiring "obsolete" one and two-star hotels to shut or reconvert them into social housing. While Barcelona's Colau envisions less cruise ships, Malaga in the southern region of Andalucia hit a record this month for arrivals by boat. Malaga's conservative mayor is weighing a "solidarity" tax on tourist apartments, while the far-left candidate wants to tax cruise ship passengers. "The problems we are seeing in Barcelona will appear in every Spanish province soon," warned Jorge Marichal, chairman of Spanish hotels business association CEHAT. He referred to an unregulated proliferation of tourist apartments in the past decade, which he said has triggered a rise in housing costs and "loss of identity in city centres". But even Barcelona's approach of diversifying tourism away from landmark areas can backfire. This month, a park that had become a popular attraction for tourists in a less affluent neighbourhood was fenced off and closed at night following protests over overcrowding and rubbish. "Neighbours feel the place has been stolen from them," said protester Fran Bernal. "Tourism does not bring wealth but a negative impact to the area ... It's a scourge". (Reporting by Joan Faus, editing by Aislinn Laing and Alexandra Hudson) By Hyunjoo Jin, David Shepardson and Abhirup Roy (Reuters) -Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it has agreed with Tesla Inc to allow its electric vehicle owners to gain access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in North America in early 2024. The tie-up between the rivals makes Ford the first major automaker to embrace Tesla's proprietary charging standard, giving the automaker access to the biggest network of high-speed Superchargers in the United States. Access to charging stations is considered one of the main hurdles so far to broader acceptance of electric vehicles, analysts have said. Tesla said last November it would open its proprietary charging design to other automakers and charging network operators. A Tesla-developed adapter will provide Ford EVs fitted with the Combined Charging System (CCS) port access to Teslas V3 Superchargers. Ford will equip future EVs with Tesla's own charging standard, removing the need for an adapter for direct access to Tesla Superchargers, starting in 2025. "The idea is that we don't want the Tesla supercharger network to be like a walled garden. We want it to be something that is supportive of electrification and sustainable transport in general," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said during an online Twitter Spaces conversation with Ford CEO Jim Farley. "We love the locations, we love the reliability, your routing software, the ease of use of the connector, the reliability of it," Farley said. "Tesla storms through the train station like 300 kilometers per hour Shinkansen," Farley said, referring to Japanese bullet trains. "We're learning a lot." Tesla had 17,711 Superchargers, accounting for about 60% of total U.S. fast chargers, which can add hundreds of miles of driving range in an hour or less. Farley on Thursday announced the partnership during the Twitter Spaces conversation. Twitter is owned by Musk. The event comes just a day after Twitter crashed repeatedly during a highly anticipated live audio chat between Musk and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, setting back Musk's efforts to promote the social media firm he bought for $44 billion last year. The Musk-Farley Twitter Spaces conversation lasted about a half hour and came off without technical glitches. Farley said earlier on Thursday at a Morgan Stanley forum that "on the infrastructure side, I think it's room for some collaboration between the auto companies, which is totally unnatural for us." Farley added, "I think we need to start I mean, I think the first step is to work together in a way we haven't, probably with the new EV brands and the traditional old companies." For example, he called it "totally ridiculous" that the industry has multiple plugs for its charging networks and "we can't even agree on what plug to use." Musk earlier this month tweeted: "I think Fords overall strategy with EVs is smart. The electric F-150 (Lightning) has high demand." He also defended Ford over its losses on its electric vehicle business. "Always tough with margins for new vehicle lines, especially when there are major technology shifts." Farley said on Thursday that Ford should take the lead to reach out to a new company like a Tesla or a Nio Inc or BYD "to kind of work together in a non-natural way as competitors. I think you'll see Ford do that just because that's what kind of company we are." This year, Tesla has started to expand beyond its proprietary connectors and incorporate the rival CCS standard at some of its charging stations in the United States, as the Biden administration seeks to provide billions in subsidies to expand charging networks. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington, Hyun Joo Jin and Abhirup Roy in San FranciscoEditing by Ben Klayman and Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with a displayed TikTok logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By Josh Ye HONG KONG (Reuters) -Social media platform TikTok said on Thursday it is in the early stages of exploring a chatbot called "Tako" that can converse with users about short videos and help them discover content, and is conducting tests with select users in the Philippines. OpenAI, backed by Microsoft Corp, last year launched chatbot ChatGPT, offering arguably the most natural interaction to date. That triggered a race to develop features based on game-changing generative artificial intelligence (AI), including TikTok rival Snap Inc whose "My AI" is powered by ChatGPT technology. TikTok said Tako is designed to help users discover "entertaining and inspiring content" on the app. Earlier on Thursday, an Israeli-based app intelligence firm Watchful Technologies said it had found Tako on some versions of the TikTok app on Apple Inc mobile devices. Screenshots and video Watchful shared with Reuters showed the chatbot featuring prominently on TikTok's interface as a ghost-shaped icon, which users can tap while watching videos to have text-based conversations and get help finding content. In April, U.S. media outlets reported that TikTok was experimenting with a generative AI tool to allow users to create avatars. China-based parent ByteDance is working on a large AI model, Chinese media reported, but it does not currently offer AI chatbot features on its Chinese equivalent of TikTok, Douyin. Disclosure filed with the U.S. patent and trademark office last month showed TikTok had submitted a trademark application for "TikTok Tako" in categories including "computer software for the artificial production of human speech and text". Asked about Tako, a TikTok spokesperson said the social media platform was always exploring new technology. "In select markets, we're testing new ways to power search and discovery on TikTok, and we look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity, and drives culture," the spokesperson said. The company did not say why the Philippines was selected. VIDEO RECOMMENDATIONS Watchful researcher Daniel Buchuk said his team started to find references to Tako on some versions of the TikTok app earlier this month, including on a test version on an iOS device in the United States. Watchful uses computer vision as well as data analysis to identify and emulate app changes. It monitors devices in different countries but was unable to establish in which markets TikTok was conducting its tests. Unlike ChatGPT, which is positioned as an all-purpose chatbot, Tako feels more like a navigation assistant with a focus on encouraging users to watch more videos, Buchuk said. "So if you're asking 'When was King Charles' coronation?' Tako will tell you the answer, but then you'll also see relevant TikTok videos," he said. Another demonstration by Watchful showed that when a user asks Tako a question, such as "How can we teach respect to children", the chatbot replies by summarising tips from TikTok users while also recommending related videos. TikTok has set a disclaimer saying Tako is an experimental chatbot and that responses could be inaccurate. It said it will review conversations with Tako for safety purposes and warned users not to share private information with it. (Reporting by Josh Ye in Hong Kong and Yana Gaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Brenda Goh, Christopher Cushing and Nick Macfie) MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Two U.S. citizens died after contracting meningitis while getting treatment in a hospital in the northern Mexican border city of Matamoros, authorities said on Thursday, as they investigated some 400 suspected cases. "A contamination caused these deaths," Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in a regular press conference when asked about reports of 10 deaths and 300-400 people being possibly affected by a contamination in hospitals at Matamoros, a city across the border from Brownsville, Texas. Medication used for anesthesia in plastic surgeries got contaminated and was used at two private hospitals, said Lopez Obrador, who acknowledged deaths occurred without specifying how many. A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Mexico confirmed two American citizens died in Matamoros, without specifying when or where. Tamaulipas state's Health Minister Vicente Joel Hernandez said later in an interview there were five confirmed cases of meningitis in Matamoros and noted the fungus transmitting it somehow contaminated the anesthesia used in hospitals. Hernandez said earlier in May his administration had been investigating 400 possible cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued on May 17 a health travel notice after some U.S. residents returning from Matamoros were diagnosed with suspected fungal meningitis infections, which have led to severe illness and death, according to a statement published on the embassy's web page. (Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Richard Chang) FILE PHOTO: Pfizer logo is seen in this illustration taken, May 1, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday granted full approval to Pfizer's oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid, clearing the way for the drugmaker to sell it at market rates once U.S. government supplies dwindle. Paxlovid initially received emergency use authorization from the FDA in late 2021, when there was a desperate need for effective COVID treatments. The agency on Thursday approved the two-drug therapy to treat adults at high risk of progression to severe disease. Paxlovid, taken for five days beginning shortly after onset of symptoms, was one of the few treatments launched by drugmakers during the pandemic to show a significant reduction in hospitalizations and deaths from COVID, although the benefit was mostly observed in unvaccinated and other higher-risk people. U.S. officials have said they plan to work through much of the Paxlovid inventory purchased from Pfizer, which is available for free at pharmacies around the country, before moving to a normal commercial market. As of May 21, around 14 million treatment courses had been distributed of which over 9 million had been administered, according to federal data. A Pfizer spokesperson said the company does not plan to provide a new price for Paxlovid. The U.S. drugmaker said in a statement that at this time, the government will continue to oversee distribution and eligible residents will continue to receive it at no charge. Full approval allows Pfizer to expand its Paxlovid marketing campaign. Pfizer has sold the U.S. government nearly 24 million courses of Paxlovid at around $530 a course. The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), an influential drug pricing research group, said in December the U.S. price for Paxlovid - based on the benefits and value to patients - should be in the range of $563 to $906 per treatment course. Pfizer received a once-in-a-lifetime cash windfall from sales of its COVID vaccine and treatment. It sold around $18.9 billion of Paxlovid last year and has forecast sales of about $8 billion for 2023. The full approval comes two weeks after the U.S. ended the public health emergency status for COVID-19, which has caused about 1.1 million deaths nationwide, according to government estimates. Data presented by both the FDA and Pfizer during an advisory meeting of outside experts helped ease safety concerns around a potential rebound in COVID symptoms after a five-day Paxlovid course. The concerns emerged after numerous reports about a return of symptoms following treatment with Paxlovid, including in high-profile patients such as President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci. (Reporting by Khushi Mandowara and Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Bill Berkrot) Ihor Medunov paddles on a flooded island, which locals and officials say is caused by Russia's chaotic control of the Kakhovka dam downstream, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, May 20, 2023. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo By Max Hunder LYSOHIRKA, Ukraine (Reuters) - As the water lapped against ruined appliances in Ihor Medunov's kitchen, he recalled the dozens of birthdays he has marked in his Ukrainian riverside village, most of which is under several feet of water. Officials and residents of the island community say the village in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region blame the flooding on Russia's occupation of the Nova Kakhovka dam that lies 100 miles (160 km) downstream on the River Dnipro. "We would have 50 people sat round a big table here sometimes," said Medunov, the hunting gamekeeper in the village of Lysohirka who turns 69 this week. He told Reuters that the water level started rising sharply over a month ago, sometimes by up to 30 centimetres (one foot) a day, and had remained elevated since. Several buildings on his plot were submerged and he said the water had never been this high in 25 years on the river island. Just six people now resided in the village compared with 50 who usually live there during the warm months, he said. The village lies around 15 miles (25 km) from the front lines with invading Russian forces and residents can no longer take shelter from shelling because their basements are water-logged. Medunov's neighbour, 74-year-old retired factory worker Mykola, showed off part of a rocket that was found three kilometres away and gifted to him by neighbours. "Sometimes the explosions shake the houses," he said as artillery rumbled faintly in the distance. HIGH WATER LEVELS The Kakhovka dam, one of six dams on the Dnipro that carves through central and southern Ukraine, was captured at the start of Moscow's February 2022 invasion. "The rise of the Dnipro's water level, as a result of which settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region were flooded, is linked to the Russian occupation of the Kakhovka dam," state company Ukrhydroenergo, which owns the dams, said in a statement. It said the 17-metre (56-foot) level in the pool held back by the dam was a metre higher than normal for this time of year. But it said it was unable to say what exactly Russian forces were doing at the dam because it did not have access itself. The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment about the Ukrainian allegation. A Russian energy official warned earlier this month that the dam risked being overwhelmed by record-high water levels. Inna Rybalko, an official from Ukraine's state waterways agency, said this spring had seen an unusually high amount of rain, with 3.5 times the regular amount of monthly rainfall recorded nationwide in April. Puffing on a cigarette in his inundated kitchen, Medunov said he believed Russian forces were deliberately flooding the area to get at Ukrainian military positions. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each of plotting to breach the dam using explosives. Such a move would flood much of the area downstream and likely cause major destruction. Russia accused Ukraine of firing a rocket at the dam last November. Medunov's son, 39-year-old Dmytro, said the cost of repairs would devastate his family: "Inside it's all rotten, all covered in mould... Wood, insulation. The costs will be very painful." Dmytro lives in the regional capital Zaporizhzhia, and visited the river island every weekend until the invasion. His visits have become rarer due to a wartime ban on civilian craft on this stretch of the Dnipro. He now has to catch lifts from police or military boats, which are currently the island's only lifeline for food and supplies. Medunov and his wife Natalia, who have five dogs, plan to stay on the island rather than move to Zaporizhzhia with their son. If the water level rises further, they may move to another building, he said. "There's a house which has a second floor," he said. (Reporting by Max Hunder; editing by Tom Balmforth and Mark Heinrich) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) supports Turkmenistan through Trade Facilitation indicators, Head of Central Asia unit in the Eurasia Division, OECD Directorate for Global Relations and Cooperation, Gregory Lecomte told Trend. According to him, this work is carried out within the framework of the project to improve trade facilitation in Central Asia. "The OECD will hold an online meeting of the working group with the Government of Turkmenistan in June this year to discuss the results and areas of possible reforms. At the same time, the OECD is also considering progress in implementation and new challenges in the legal environment for business in Turkmenistan as part of monitoring of the Improving the Legal Environment for Business in Central Asia project," Lecomte said. He noted that at the moment, the OECD is actively cooperating with the Government of Turkmenistan, as well as with representatives of the private sector in the areas of private sector development, trade and transport connectivity. "Turkmenistans engagement with the OECD has increased in recent years. In particular, the country participates in the Central Asia Initiative of the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme (ECP), the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the GREEN Action Task Force," Lecomte said. In order to help governments optimize border procedures, reduce trade costs, increase trade flows and gain more benefits from international trade, the OECD has developed a number of Trade Facilitation indicators that allow to identify points of application of efforts and assess the possible consequences of trade facilitation reforms. FILE PHOTO: A bronze seal for the Department of the Treasury is shown at the U.S. Treasury building in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque By John McCrank, Laura Matthews and Michelle Price WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Clearing houses and their members are working out how to treat certain U.S. Treasury bills and bonds commonly used as collateral, as the United States nears a deadline that could see it default on its debt, according to four industry sources. U.S. President Joe Biden and top Republican lawmaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday edged closer to an agreement to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, Reuters reported. The Treasury Department has warned the government could run short of funds to cover all of its expenses as soon as June 1, meaning it could potentially miss payments on Treasury bills and other obligations. That risk has raised doubts over whether clearing houses, which process and guarantee trades, could continue to accept certain Treasury bills and bonds commonly pledged by dealers and investors as collateral to secure their deals, the people said. While clearing houses generally do not accept Treasury bills due to mature within days as collateral - the instruments that would be immediately affected by a potential June 1 default - there is also a question mark over whether they could continue to accept bills that expire in coming weeks, two people said. As of Thursday, it was uncertain if clearing houses, also known as "CCPs," would eliminate such instruments from their collateral pool or subject them to big haircuts, the people said. Six clearing houses, including CME Group, Intercontinental Exchange Inc, and London Stock Exchange Group-owned LCH, contacted by Reuters declined to comment in detail on the discussions. "We are all waiting for the CCPs to make the first move if they will haircut at a % or even at 100% as we get closer to a no resolution date," one executive at a major bank told Reuters, adding most clearing houses still believe a default is unlikely. Clearing mandates for derivatives were a key part of post 2009 crisis reforms, reducing counterparty risks in financial markets. Hundreds of trillions of dollars worth of transactions were cleared in the United States in 2021, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If clearing houses narrow the eligible collateral pool, investors will have to stump up more margin to secure their positions, or dial back their risk, potentially causing ripples across the plumbing of the financial markets. Last week CME CEO Terry Duffy played down the potential impact of a U.S. default on the company's $250 billion clearing house collateral pool, telling Bloomberg that it would only "worry about" bills that expire August through October. "That's a very small portion of the margin we're holding," he said. A CME spokesperson said the company was monitoring the situation. "Should the risks increase, CME Clearing could consider adjusting haircuts, margins and other risk mitigation tools available," they said in a statement. The Options Clearing Corporation said it was in dialogue with members and still implementing its standard risk management practices. The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation said it had modeled scenarios relating to a delay in Treasury payments and would "take appropriate action, as needed." ICE, LCH, and Deutsche Boerse-owned Eurex also said they were monitoring the situation. Eurex added there are "currently no plans" to exclude any U.S. government bonds from its list of eligible collateral. Spokespeople for the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversee clearing houses, did not provide comment. One regulatory source, however, said regulators had been working with clearers to ensure they were well-positioned for any potential default or major volatility, including with respect to margin. (This story has been refiled to change 'sparks' to 'spark' in the headline) (Reporting by Michelle Price, John McCrank and Laura Matthews; additional reporting by Huw Jones in London and Pete Schroeder in Washington; Editing by Anna Driver) A Vietnamese pupil holds Vietnamese and Chinese flags before the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Hoang Dinh Nam/Pool/File Photo HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam on Thursday accused a Chinese survey vessel and its escorts of violating its sovereignty, and demanded that Beijing remove the ships from its waters. Vietnam and China have long been embroiled in a territorial dispute over a potentially energy-rich stretch in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which more than $3 trillion of commerce passes annually. "Vietnam demands that China immediately remove the survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10, Chinese coast guard ships and fishing vessels out of Vietnam's waters," foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said in a government statement. "Vietnam has made contact with China several times and implemented measures in accordance with international law and Vietnamese law to ensure lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam," the statement added. The Chinese embassy in Hanoi did not immediately respond to a request for a comment. Last week Vietnam criticised recent conduct by a Chinese research ship in the same area of the Southeast Asian country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). China has said that scientific research is a normal activity in areas under Chinese jurisdiction. China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, based on what it says are old maps, including waters that lie within Vietnam's EEZ and four other Southeast Asian countries. Hang also said Vietnam called on the international community to join its efforts in maintaining order, peace and security in the South China Sea and contributing to the development of the two countries' mutual interests. (Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor) false 0000810509 0000810509 2023-05-22 2023-05-22 0000810509 navb:CommonStockCustomMember 2023-05-22 2023-05-22 0000810509 navb:PreferredStockPurchaseRightsCustomMember 2023-05-22 2023-05-22 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): NAVIDEA BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-35076 31-1080091 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 4995 Bradenton Avenue, Suite 240 , Dublin , Ohio 43017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code ( 614 ) 793-7500 (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 (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)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of exchange on which registered Common Stock NAVB NYSE American Preferred Stock Purchase Rights N/A NYSE American Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. On May 22, 2023, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), entered into Stock Purchase Agreements (each, a Purchase Agreement) with two accredited investor (the Investors), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Investors in a private placement a total of 11,000 shares of Series J convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (Series J Preferred Stock), for an aggregate purchase price of $1,100,000. Under each Purchase Agreement, the Company also agreed to provide the Investors with certain registration rights related to the resale of the shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.001 per share (Common Stock) issuable upon conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock. The Company filed a certificate of designation (the Certificate of Designation) with the Secretary of State of Delaware designating the rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock on May 22, 2022. The Certificate of Designation authorizes 150,000 shares of Series J Preferred Stock. The Series J Preferred Stock will be convertible into a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the original issuance price divided by $0.104, subject to adjustment as provided in the Certificate of Designation. However, the holder may not convert shares of the Series J Preferred Stock if, as a result of such conversion, the holder would beneficially own more than 4.99% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time unless the holder of Series J Preferred Stock obtains the prior written consent of the Company (which consent the Company may withhold in its sole absolute discretion). Except with respect to transactions which may adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series J Preferred Stock, the Series J Preferred Stock has no voting rights. If dividends are declared on the Common Stock, the holder of Series J Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive an amount equal to the dividend declared on one share of Common Stock multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Series J Preferred Stock could be converted on the record date, without regard to any conversion limitations. Upon any liquidation, the holder of Series J Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, before any assets may be distributed to the holders of Common Stock, an amount per share of Series J Preferred Stock calculated by taking the total amount available for distribution to holders of all of the Companys outstanding Common Stock divided by the total of (x) all of the then outstanding shares of the Companys Common Stock plus (y) all of the shares of the Companys Common Stock into which all of the outstanding shares of the Series J Preferred Stock can be converted, and then (z) multiplying the sum so obtained by the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of Series J Preferred Stock could then be converted. The above descriptions of the Purchase Agreements and the Series J Preferred Stock do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreements and the Certificate of Designation, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 3.1, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and which are incorporated herein by reference. Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities The information contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Share Exchange Agreement is incorporated herein by reference. The shares of Series J Preferred Stock and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Series J Preferred Stock were offered and sold in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder relating to sales by an issuer not involving any public offering and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws. Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. The disclosure required by this Item and included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference. 2 Item 8.01 Other Events On May 22, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the sale of the Series J Preferred Stock. A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. On May 10, 2023, we entered into a letter agreement with Keystone Capital Partners, LLC (Keystone) confirming and agreeing that the Company would not issue, and Keystone would not purchase, any shares under the Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated April 26, 2023 between the Company and Keystone (Purchase Agreement) in excess of 6,567,409 shares of Common Stock, which represents 19.99% of the shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the Purchase Agreement, unless (i) the Company obtains stockholder approval to do so or (ii) the price per share paid equals or exceeds the greater of book value or market value of the Companys Common Stock. Item. 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits (d) Exhibits. 3 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. Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Date: May 25, 2023 By: /s/Joseph W. Meyer Joseph W. Meyer Director, Finance and Accounting (Principal Financial Officer) 4 ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS EXHIBIT 3.1 EXHIBIT 10.1 EXHIBIT 10.2 EXHIBIT 99.1 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE IDEA: R1.htm IDEA: navb20230525_8k_htm.xml IDEA: Financial_Report.xlsx IDEA: FilingSummary.xml IDEA: MetaLinks.json SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Check the appropriate box: Preliminary Information Statement Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2)) Definitive Information Statement MMEX RESOURCES CORPORATION (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): No fee required Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing is calculated and state how it was determined.): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total Fee Paid: Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Dated Filed: MMEX Resources Corporation 3600 Dickinson Fort Stockton, TX 79735 NOTICE OF ACTION TAKEN WITHOUT A SHAREHOLDER MEETING ************* WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY. No action is required by you. This Information Statement is furnished only to inform our shareholders of the actions described herein in accordance with Rule 14c-2 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1934. THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF A MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND NO SHAREHOLDERS MEETING WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER ANY MATTER DESCRIBED HEREIN. ************* To the Shareholders of MMEX Resources Corporation: The attached Information Statement is being delivered by MMEX Resources Corporation (the Company or MMEX) in connection with the approval by our shareholders of an amendment to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock from 10,001,000,000 to 25,001,000,000 shares (the Share Increase). The text of the proposed amendment is set forth as Annex A to this Information Statement. This Information Statement is being mailed to the shareholders of record as of May 24, 2023, and is being mailed to shareholders on May 25, 2023. We anticipate that the amendment to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation will become effective on or after June 14, 2023. Each of these actions was approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting power of the shareholders of MMEX by a written consent to action taken without a meeting, dated May 25, 2023. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING THE INFORMATION STATEMENT What is the purpose of the Information Statement? Section 78.320 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) provides that the written consent of the holders of outstanding shares of voting capital stock having not less than the minimum number of votes which would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted can approve an action in lieu of conducting a special shareholders' meeting convened for the specific purpose of such action. This Information Statement is being furnished to you pursuant to Section 14C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) to notify our shareholders of certain corporate actions taken by the holders of shares of voting securities representing approximately 51.004% of the voting power of the total issued and outstanding shares of voting common stock of the Company (the Majority Holders) pursuant to action by written consent. In order to eliminate the costs and management time involved in obtaining proxies and in order to effect the Share Increase as early as possible to accomplish the purposes hereafter described, our board of directors elected to seek the written consent of the Majority Holders to reduce the costs and implement the Share Increase in a timely manner. 2 What capital stock is authorized and outstanding? We are currently authorized to issue 10,001,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.0001 per share. As of May 1, 2023, there were 975,233,467 shares of our common stock, 1,000 Series A shares of preferred stock and 1,125 Series B shares of preferred stock outstanding. The Series A Preferred Stock has no redemption, conversion or dividend rights; however, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, has the right to vote on all shareholder matters equal to 51% of the total vote. The Series B Preferred Stock have a stated value equal to $1,000, have no redemption or voting rights, and are entitled to receive dividends on preferred stock equal, on an as-of-converted-to-common-stock basis, to and in the same form as the dividends paid on shares of the common stock. The Series B preferred stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into the number of shares of common stock determined by dividing the stated value of such share of Series B Preferred Stock by the initial Conversion Price of $0.10, which has subsequently been adjusted to $.0000580 per share. What is the purpose of the Share Increase? We are proposing to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 10 billion to 25 billion shares. We have outstanding various notes, warrants and shares of Series B Preferred Stock which are convertible into a significant number of shares of our common stock and which require us to reserve for issuance a substantial number of shares of our common stock. These issuances upon conversion result in substantial dilution of the percentage equity ownership of our current investors. The result of this has continued to reduce the value of current investors stock, which in turn results in further anti-dilution adjustments to the conversion prices of our outstanding notes, warrants and shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Although we have already increased our authorized common stock from 200 million to 10 billion shares during 2023, the low trading prices in our common stock have resulted in anti-dilution adjustments far greater than we had anticipated and which are currently at $.0000580 per share. This necessitates our seeking a substantial increase in our authorized stock to meet the requirements of our outstanding securities. We believe that the consequences of an event of default under our outstanding securities would be more harmful to the Company and our current investors than the consequences of the substantial dilution in percentage ownership. Having an increased number of authorized but unissued shares of our capital stock would allow us to take prompt action with respect to corporate opportunities that may develop in the future, without the delay and expense of convening a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of approving an increase in our capitalization. Such opportunities might include, without limitation, issuance in public or private sales for cash as a means of obtaining additional capital for use in our business and operations, and issuance as part or all of the consideration required to be paid by us for acquisitions of other businesses or assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we have no obligation to issue such shares and there are no plans, proposals or arrangements currently contemplated by us that would involve the issuance of such additional shares. The additional capital stock can provide flexibility in structuring the terms of any future agreements, as well as any future financing and recapitalization efforts. Although the increased proportion of unissued authorized shares to issued shares could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover effect (for example, by permitting issuances that would dilute the stock ownership of a person seeking to effect a change in the composition of our board or contemplating a tender offer or other transaction for the combination of our company with another company), the Share Increase was not proposed in response to any effort of which we are aware to accumulate shares of common stock or obtain control of us, nor is it part of a plan by management to recommend a series of similar actions having an anti-takeover effect to the board and our stockholders. On the contrary, these issuances have dramatically increased the percentage of our common stock that is held in the public float. 3 When will the Share Increase Become Effective? The Majority Holders consist of affiliates of Jack W. Hanks and Bruce N. Lemons, our two directors. The Majority Holders own 100% of our Series A Preferred Stock and approximately .008% of our outstanding common stock, which results in their ownership of approximately 51.004% of the voting power of our voting securities. The Majority Holders have voted in favor of the Share Increase thereby satisfying the requirement under the NRS that at least a majority of the voting equity vote in favor of a corporate action by written consent. Therefore, no other shareholder consents will be obtained in connection with this Information Statement. Upon the effectiveness and on the date that is 20 days following the mailing of this Information Statement, the board of directors shall have the Companys Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation filed with the State of Nevada in order to effect the Share Increase. Who is entitled to notice? Each outstanding share of common stock as of record on May 24, 2023 is entitled to notice of the action taken pursuant to the written consent of the Majority Holders. We will deliver, or cause to be delivered, only one copy of this Information Statement to multiple stockholders sharing an address, unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. We undertake to promptly deliver, or cause to be promptly delivered, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of this Information Statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of this Information Statement is delivered. A stockholder can notify us that the stockholder wishes to receive a separate copy of this Information Statement by contacting us at the address set forth above. Conversely, if multiple stockholders sharing an address receive multiple Information Statements and wish to receive only one, such stockholders can notify us at the address set forth above. Are there dissenters rights in connection with the Share Increase? MMEX shareholders have no right under Nevada corporate law, the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation consistent with above, or Bylaws to dissent from any of the provisions of the Share Increase. Are there federal income tax consequences arising from the Share Increase? We believe that the Share Increase will have no federal income tax effects. We will not recognize gain or loss as a result of the Share Increase. However, we have not sought and will not seek an opinion of counsel or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the federal income tax consequences of the Share Increase. 4 The following table sets forth as of May 1, 2023, the name and number of shares of the Companys common stock beneficially owned by (i) each of the directors and named executive officers of the Company, (ii) beneficial owners of 5% or more of our common stock; and (iii) all the officers and directors as a group. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, shares of common stock that an individual or group has a right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants are deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table. SEC rules provide that, for purposes hereof, a person is considered the beneficial owner of shares with respect to which the person, directly or indirectly, has or shares the voting or investment power, irrespective of his/her/its economic interest in the shares. Unless otherwise noted, each person identified possesses sole voting and investment power over the shares listed, subject to community property laws. Holders of certain of our convertible notes, Series B Preferred Stock and warrants beneficially own a substantial majority of our common stock on a fully diluted basis. However, blocker provisions set forth in those convertible notes provide that the holders will not convert or exercise their securities if as a result thereof the holders would own more than 5% (or in some cases 10%) of our common stock. Accordingly, such holders are not included in the table below. The percentages in the table below are based on 975,233,467 shares of common stock outstanding as of May 1, 2023. Shares of common stock subject to convertible securities that are exercisable within 60 days of May 1, 2023 are deemed beneficially owned by the person holding such convertible securities for the purposes of calculating the percentage of ownership of such person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of any other person. Name and Address of Beneficial Owners (1) Shares Percentage Ownership of Class Voting Power (4) Jack W. Hanks (2)(4) 3,592,336 .004 % 51.002 % Bruce N. Lemons (3) 4,147,681 .004 % .002 % All directors and officers as a group (two persons) 7,740,017 .008 % 51.004 % _______________ (1) Unless otherwise noted, the business address for each of the individuals set forth in the table is c/o MMEX Resources Corporation, 3600 Dickinson, Fort Stockton, Texas 79735. (2) Common shares for Mr. Hanks include: (i) 43 shares held by The Maple Gas Corporation, (ii) 136 shares held by Maple Structure Holdings, LLC, (iii) 592,157 shares held by Maple Resources Corporation and (iv) 3,000,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants. This number excludes 1,161,746 shares owned by Leslie Doheny Hanks, the wife of Mr. Hanks, as to which Mr. Hanks disclaims any beneficial ownership. (3) Common shares for Mr. Lemons include: (i) 1,147,645 shares held by BNL Family Trust (ii) 36 shares held by AAM Investments, LLC, and (iii) 3,000,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants. Mr. Lemons and his family are the beneficiaries of BNL Family Trust. AAM Investments, LLC is indirectly owned by BNL Family Trust, a trust established for the benefit of Mr. Lemons and his family. (4) The holders of Series A Preferred Stock have 51% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company. 5 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MMEX is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information including annual and quarterly reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Commission maintains a web site on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR). PROPOSALS BY SECURITY HOLDERS No security holder has asked the Company to include any proposal in this Information Statement. EXPENSE OF THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT The expenses of this Information Statement will be borne by us, including expenses in connection with the preparation and sending of this Information Statement and all related materials. It is contemplated that brokerage houses, custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries will be requested to forward this Information Statement to the beneficial owners of our common stock held of record by such person and that we will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Information Statement contains forward-looking statements regarding our intentions to effectuate the Share Increase. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement in the event it later turns out to be inaccurate, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. By Order of the Board of Directors Jack W. Hanks, President and CEO Fort Stockton, Texas May 25, 2023 6 Annex A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION ARTICLE IV CAPITAL STOCK The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Twenty Five Billion One Million (25,001,000,000) shares, which shall consist of (i) Twenty Five Billion (25,000,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and (ii) One Million (1,000,000) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Preferred Stock"). The voting powers, designations, preferences, privileges and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, shall be as provided in this Article IV. A. PREFERRED STOCK. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time by the Board of Directors as shares of one or more classes or series. The designations, powers, preferences and relative, optional, conversion and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of Preferred Stock of each class or series shall be such as are stated and expressed herein and, to the extent not stated and expressed herein, shall be such as may be fixed by the Board of Directors (authority so to do being hereby expressly granted) and stated and expressed in a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of Preferred Stock of such class or series. Such resolution or resolutions shall (a) specify the class or series to which such Preferred Stock shall belong, (b) fix the dividend rate therefor, (c) fix the amount which the holders of Preferred Stock of such class or series shall be entitled to be paid in the event of a voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, (d) state whether or not Preferred Stock of such class or series shall be redeemable and at what times and under what conditions and the amount or amounts payable thereon in the event of redemption, (e) fix the voting powers of the holders of Preferred Stock of such class or series, whether full or limited, or without voting powers, but in no event shall the holders of Preferred Stock of such class or series be entitled to more than one vote for each share held at all meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation; and may, in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article 4, (i) limit the number of shares of such class or series which may be issued, (ii) provide for a sinking or purchase fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of such class or series and the terms and provisions governing the operation of any such fund and the status as to reissuance of shares of Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise reacquired or redeemed or retired through the operation thereof, (iii) impose conditions or restrictions upon the creation of indebtedness of the Corporation or upon the issue of additional Preferred Stock or other capital stock ranking equally therewith or prior thereto as to dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation, and (iv) grant such other special rights to the holders of Preferred Stock of such class or series as the Board of Directors may determine and which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article 4. The term "fix for such class or series" and similar terms shall mean stated and expressed in a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of Preferred Stock of the class or series referred to therein. No further action or vote of the stockholders shall be required for any action taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Article 4. 7 The Board of Directors has previously designated (i) the Series A Preferred Stock, consisting of 1,000 shares and having the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designations of the Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) the Series B Preferred Stock, consisting of 1,500 shares and having the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designations of the Series B Preferred Stock B. COMMON STOCK. All previously authorized shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company having been duly converted into shares of Class A Common Stock, all of the shares of Common Stock previously designated as Class A Common Stock are now referred to as Common Stock. The holder of each share of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share as determined on the record date for the vote or consent of stockholders and shall vote together with the holders of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company as a single class upon any items submitted to a vote of stockholders, except with respect to matters requiring a separate series or class vote. 8 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Amendment No. 9 Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Gyrodyne, LLC (Name of Issuer) LLC Shares (Title of Class of Securities) 403829104 (CUSIP Number) March 31, 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: 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 disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 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). Page 1 of 5 Pages CUSIP No. 403829104 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only) TowerView LLC 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 155,152 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 155,152 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 155,152 10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 10.5% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) CO Page 2 of 5 Pages Item 1(a) Name of Issuer: Gyrodyne, LLC (the Issuer) Item 1(b) Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices: One Flowerfield, Suite 24 St. James, NY 11780 Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing: TowerView LLC Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: 460 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 Item 2(c) Citizenship: Delaware Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities: LLC Shares Item 2(e) CUSIP Number: 403829104 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: N/A (a) Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) A parent holding company or control person in accordance with 240.13d1(b)(1)(ii)(G); Page 3 of 5 Pages (h) A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (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 (15 U.S.C. 80a3); (j) A group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership. As of March 31, 2023, TowerView had sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to 155,152 LLC Shares, or 10.5% of the 1,482,680 shares that were outstanding of the Issuer as of May 12, 2023. Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ]. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. N/A Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person. N/A Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. N/A Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. N/A Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. Page 4 of 5 Pages SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I hereby certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. (Tribune News Service) The Air Force Museum Foundation honored 475 new names on its Legacy Data Plate Wall of Honor Thursday, not only recalling veterans and their families as Memorial Day nears, but setting the stage for the long-term growth of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Anyone can be honored with a plate of honor, purchased for $500. While the Legacy Wall of Honor has plenty of Air Force veterans, plates also honor museum volunteers, Air Force spouses, artists, attorneys, educators, aerospace industry executives and members of other military services. David Tillotson III, the museum director, said funds raised from the wall will support the museum and they will help make real long-range plans to protect rare museum artifacts. Krista Overman, a curator for the museum, recently told the Dayton Daily News that only about 7,000 of the museums nearly 140,000 artifacts are on exhibit in a manner accessible to the public. The rest can be found in secure storage on Area B of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and at field museums across the nation. Ultimately, the need to protect those artifacts may require a new museum building, although Tillotson said it was too soon to attach a price tag or timeline to such a project. A new building is on our to-do list, and part of that new building is in fact some of this storage capacity, he said Thursday. So it wont be just the vision we have for it. It wouldnt be just an exhibit facility. It would also have a conservation component at least thats what we have in our thought process. Traditionally, all military aircraft have a data plate, which identifies that crafts builder, model designation, serial number and other information. Thursdays ceremony was the Air Force Museum Foundations first in-person recognition for new Legacy Wall of Honor names since 2019. The new names are found on five panels installed since that last ceremony. There are nearly 1,500 plates total, and each are custom-etched aviation-grade stainless steel, displayed near the entrance to the museum. Among the new names saluted Thursday: Lt. Col. Alton Yates who volunteered to go to New Mexico to help test space equipment, reaching some 80,000 feet in altitude in early days of the U.S. space program. Tillotson also remembered the Jacksonville, Fla. native for his courage in the fight for civil rights. Rorie Cartier, foundation chief executive, called the ceremony a testament to the resilience and unwavering spirit of the brave men and women who have served in the Armed Forces throughout our history as well as brave and indomitable spirit, and continued generosity, of the supporters of the museum. We celebrate the achievements and sacrifices of veterans, volunteers and families alike, he added. (c)2023 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) Visit the Dayton Daily News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. An Air Force officer stationed in Kuwait died Wednesday in a non-combat related incident, the Department of Defense announced Thursday. Air Force Maj. Stephen Khou, 36, of Philadelphia died at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The incident is under investigation. He was assigned to the 32nd Weapons Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and was in Kuwait as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. Khou served as a Cyberspace Operations Expert, according to an academic biography . Khou is the second service member to die in a non-combat incident in Kuwait this week. U.S. Army Central announced that a soldier was killed Thursday in a vehicle accident at Udairi Range. The identification of the soldier is being withheld until next of kin are notified. An under-the-radar Army missile defense mission in southern Turkey got a boost this month when a new operational headquarters that was seven years in the making finally came to fruition. The so-called Ready Building, where soldiers are responsible for surveillance and early warning of tactical ballistic missile threats, also is expected to make day-to-day life easier for troops operating at one of the Armys more austere and secretive locations. The original building that the command team was working out of made it difficult to complete tasks and coordinate with the military police and orderly room, 2nd Lt. Nicholas Solis, the 11th Missile Defense Batterys executive officer, said Thursday in a statement. Now, everything is condensed into one and we can get work done more efficiently, he said. A ribbon cutting for the new building was held May 18. The statement, issued by the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, did not specify the exact location of the facility, noting only its based in Turkey. However, U.S. and Turkish officials in the past have spoken publicly about the mission, which is carried out in the small mountain town of Kurecik. U.S. soldiers began arriving at the site around 2012 in connection with NATO missile defense efforts that primarily are focused on threats emanating from Iran. Referred to by the military as Site K, it has a high-powered radar that is key to NATOs missile defense architecture, which also involves U.S. Navy missile defense missions based out of Romania and Spain. The critical role of the radar site has been used on occasion as diplomatic leverage by Turkey, which has made threats in recent years about cutting off American access to the location in connection with disputes on matters such as Ankaras military role in Syria and its acquisition of Russian air defense systems. But despite the periodic rifts, it has remained business as usual for the Armys Turkey mission. The Ready Building, which officially opened on May 18, will be used as the new headquarters for Army air defenders, who previously were dispersed across the barbed wire protected site, the command said. Turkish contractors involved in the project persisted through the aftermath of two major earthquakes in February to bring it to its conclusion, officials added. In the wake of the disaster, living facilities were set up on site for contractors, according to the Army statement. The former worksite used by air defenders will be replaced with a year-round recreation facility allowing for an array of indoor sporting activities. That will help soldiers get through the areas harsh winters more easily, the Army said. TOKYO Aviation fuel spilled from storage tanks on a U.S. Navy base near Japans capital city Wednesday and flowed into a local river, according to U.S. and Japanese officials. An undisclosed amount of JP-5 aviation fuel spilled from Naval Air Facility Atsugi into the Tate River, which runs through the base, according to statements from neighboring Ayase city and a base spokesman. The base fire department responded to the spill around 3:10 a.m. Wednesday, base spokesman Greg Mitchell told Stars and Stripes by phone on Thursday. The fuel leak has been stopped, his office said in a statement emailed later that day. Current efforts are focused on a thorough clean-up. The Navy values the health and safety of the community, and the importance of the environment. City officials found fuel in the river near the Tachikawa Bridge on Wednesday, according to a statement on the Ayase city website. The city placed a mat at the site to collect the fuel and closed part of a local park that afternoon. Local officials visited the naval base that day, according to the citys statement. Ayase Mayor Masayoshi Koshio spoke by phone with NAF Atsugis commander, Capt. Manning Montagnet, and asked that U.S. personnel quickly collect and treat the spill, according to the statement. Koshio asked that U.S. officials determine the spills cause, take preventative measures, mitigate environmental impact and continue to provide information swiftly, the statement said. A full investigation will be carried out, Mitchell said. The air station until 2018 was home to Carrier Air Wing 5, which deploys aboard the Yokosuka-based USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. Those aircraft are now based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hundreds of miles to the south in Yamaguchi prefecture. NAF Atsugi is still home to several Navy helicopter squadrons and 10,000 personnel made up of U.S. and Japanese service members, civilian employees and family members, according to its website. Sushi in the somewhat rural parts of southwest Germany is unlikely to inspire a life-changing culinary experience. But the sushi at Yedo in Homburg is good enough, with plenty of variety to merit return visits. The Vietnamese-owned family restaurant has two other locations, in Saarbruecken and Heilbronn. It focuses on sushi variations and Vietnamese cuisine, while inviting guests to eat like the emperor in old Tokyo. Yedo, often spelled Edo in English, is the former name of Japans capital city, Tokyo. Yedo carries eight sections of mainly Westernized sushi. Besides nigiri, theres maki, futomaki, inside-out rolls, sashimi, crunchy rolls and special rolls. I counted 50 varieties on the menu. There are a few nods to what you would find in Japan, such as the thick slices of raw tuna sashimi. But if Japanese authenticity (and the prices to match) is your primary concern, youre best off driving to Saarbruecken and going to Hashimoto. If you prefer to stick with Homburg or enjoy the creative rolls that have become popular in America and the West generally, Yedo has plenty of that. One roll included egg made with breaded butterfish, avocado and salmon wrapped in mayonnaise and a thin pancake. When I ate there for lunch recently, the food passed the most basic yet important test: the fish tasted fresh and the rice was firm and sticky. I admit I was leery about trying anything uncooked in a region where sushi still seems like more of a novelty. Were inland, so dont expect a wide variety of raw fish. But tuna and salmon freeze well enough to negate the regions distance from the ocean. And so, my friend ordered an appetizer of salmon nigiri. The bright orange, glistening slice of fish over the bed of vinegared rice reminded me of my favorite sushi in Japan. She dipped the fish in a small bowl of soy sauce mixed with wasabi, took a bite and closed her eyes in pure delight. I couldnt resist and let me say, I had no regrets: The nigiri melted in my mouth like butter. After tasting the salmon nigiri, I opted for one of the lunch specials that included more of the same. It also came with avocado and seasoned sticky rice wrapped in dried seaweed, or maki, and a crunchy breaded roll with salmon and rice on the inside. The rolls were drizzled with a sweet, brownish-yellow sauce that tasted like honey and soy sauce. You could either choose miso soup or more sushi with the plate. I chose more sushi and opted for tom kha gai, a Thai soup made with coconut milk, pieces of chicken, vegetables and lemongrass. My friend ordered a fried shrimp appetizer to go along with a cavernous bowl of pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup. Another friend ordered a different special, a Korean-style dish with shrimp, glass noodles and vegetables, including sweet potato, mushrooms, carrots, cucumber and leeks in oyster sauce. We all agreed the sushi was the best part of the meal, though the Korean noodle dish also received high marks. The pho needed a bit more kick, said my friend, though its traditionally made without heat. When asking for oyster sauce, she received a small bowl of chili sauce that looked more like ketchup. My tom kha gai was neither spicy nor sour, as it should be, and had a nice flavor. But we all enjoyed the nigiri and maki, and would visit Yedo again to dive deeper into the vast sushi menu. Online: yedo-sushi.de Engie Solutions, an international leader in sustainable energy solutions has announced that work has begun on its 10MW Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) project at Holcim UAEs LEC cement plant located in Fujairah. It is expected to generate its first Kilowatt-hour commissioned by year-end 2023. Last year, LEC, a part of leading Swiss industrial company Holcim Group, had signed a 10-year BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer) contract with Engie Solutions, under which it will design, finance, construct and manage operations of a 10MW WHR system on LECs Fujairah site. Based on a closed-loop thermodynamic cycle, the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system will help LEC avoid 29 kilotonnes per year of CO2 emissions from the grid representing a reduction of 28% in power-related emissions. For the project, Engie will be implementing the ORC technology in an energy as-a-service model in the cement industry for the first time in the region. "Engies energy-as-a-service model means guaranteed energy savings, higher reliability, and resiliency, with no capital outlay and no need for additional staff," said Olivier Milhaud, the General Manager at LEC. "We've made a commitment to building a net zero future for our people and planet, and this is one of the major milestones in our journey towards sustainability. We are fully committed to the UAEs sustainability goals, including the 2050 Net Zero vision," stated Milhaud. "In partnership with Engie Solutions, we are implementing a digital solution that converts waste heat into energy. This brings cost savings, greater efficiency, and closer alignment with our double commitment to sustainability goals," he added. Alexander Alzamora, Head of Energy Efficiency, Engie Solutions, said: "We are investing in the technology, the future of LECs business, and the UAEs decarbonization strategy, all in one project. The scheme will certainly be a regional flagship and benchmark in how to support decarbonization of the cement industry." "Traditionally, the cement industry involves heating raw materials to 1,500 degrees Celsius the temperature of molten lava to make cement. Fossil fuels often provide the energy, giving the cement industry a bad reputation in sustainability circles. Engie Solutions waste heat recovery system based on the ORC technology, will capture low-temperature waste heat and can be operated without water," he added. According to Alzamora, this project will become a regional flagship for Engie in support of decarbonizing the cement industry, which is considered a hard to abate sector in decarbonization terms. "While ORC technology is proven and widely used in other sectors, we are excited to implement it for the first time in the regions cement production sector, and LEC should be lauded for its forward-thinking," he added.-TradeArabia News Service BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Turkmenistan and OSCE discuss coordination of common efforts to ensure stable international energy supplies and economic development, Trend reports. These issues were discussed between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) Margareta Cederfelt. During the conversation, the sides also stressed the relevance of coordinating common efforts in such areas as ecology and environmental protection, rational use of water resources. At the same time, the need was noted to continue the exchange of experience in the field of human rights protection and cooperation to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law. Cederfelt confirmed the OSCE PA's interest in continuing the established fruitful cooperation with Turkmenistan. At the end of the meeting, the sides confirmed the readiness of Turkmenistan and the OSCE to expand the long-term partnership, the intention to further strengthen constructive inter-parliamentary ties, filling them with new content. With a little bit of travel, recreational and photo opportunities await at the base of Japans iconic Mount Fuji. My family and I recently made a couple of stops out of the many worth visiting. Lakeside at the Fuji Five Lakes in Yamanashi prefecture is one. The other, just a short distance away, was recognized in 2013 by UNSECO for its cultural significance. Lake Kawaguchiko is the largest of the five lakes that include Saiko, Yamanakako, Shojiko and Motosuko. We visited the lakes north shore during a midweek trip to get one of the best views of Japans highest mountain. Fortunately we found plenty of free parking. Oishi Park, through which we accessed the lake, gives you a wide view of it and Mount Fuji. From spring to late fall, a variety of flowers bloom in the park on Flowers Road. It spans a distance of about 1,150 feet. A small monument honoring Mount Fuji stands on the way to the shoreline. Looking out from the lakes edge with Fuji in the backdrop was a sight to see and very serene. The photos youll take there could be frame-worthy. The park advertises fruit picking, including cherry, blueberry and tomato, from summer to fall. The Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center has a cafe, snack shop and gift items. I grabbed an organic coffee before heading down the road to Oshino Hakkai, part of the Mount Fuji UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, just 20 minutes away. Although not part of our stop, the lake is near Fuji-Q Highland, a popular amusement park, featuring high-speed roller coasters and other attractions. At Oshino Hakkai, you can view Wakuike, a 13-foot deep, spring-fed pond teeming with koi. Wakuike, one of eight ponds there, is so clear blue that the bottom is clearly visible. The ponds receive their fresh water from snow melting from Mount Fujis slopes, according to the Yamanashi-kantou website. The place attracts lots of local and foreign visitors. Youll find fresh fruit and vegetable vendors inside the main building. Several gift shops sell Fuji souvenirs and other local items. There is a lot of recreation to be had around Mount Fuji, and many more trips are in the works to enjoy them. On the QT Directions: Within a two-hour drive of most U.S. military bases in the Tokyo area. Times: Oishi Park and Fuji World Heritage are open all day. Costs: Free Food: Both areas offer a variety of food, snack and drink options. Information: Online: en.kawaguchiko.net/park-en/oishi-park; www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/recover/oshino-hakkai.html Government leaders of the influential Group of Seven met in Japan during May 19-21. Last June, they gathered at the elegant Schloss Elmau, in picturesque Bavaria, Germany. Two major nations known in the past for aggressive militarism are now influential leaders in international cooperation. The 2023 G7 meeting was held in Hiroshima, along with Nagasaki devastated by the atomic bombs that ended World War II in the Pacific. These cities testify to the absolute horror of modern war, and also the human capacities for positive regeneration. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was a featured G7 guest. He and Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida jointly laid a wreath for the atomic bomb victims at the Cenotaph in Hiroshima. The public purpose of the Group of Seven is fostering economic stability. The other related purpose, however, is to diminish the likelihood of war. Vladimir Putin, in using Russias military to invade Ukraine, has provided a bloody lesson in reality. For the first time since the cataclysm of World War II, a major military power has launched a war on the continent of Europe. For a time, Russias membership turned the G7 into the G8. Putins 2014 annexation of Crimea resulted in suspension from the organization. Last June 23-24, China President Xi Jinping hosted a virtual summit of his counterparts in Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa. These sizable nations are not equal to the G7, nor are they united. During May 18-19 this year, Xi hosted a Central Asia summit involving Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan along with China. The meeting was held in Xian, Shaanxi province, not exactly a global crossroads. Russias brutal, so far disastrous, invasion of Ukraine has ended once-close cooperation with China. This recent meeting is an effort to increase influence in what was once Russias sphere. The G7 operates in the context of the larger G20, begun in 1999. That incentive was the Asia financial crisis of 1997, sparked by collapse of Thailands currency. Xi holding his mini-summits outside this context is revealing. This G7 summit is the second for Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, successor to long-serving Angela Merkel, a challenging act to follow. Additionally, Germany hosted a summit in 2015, also in the Schloss Elmau. The organization evolved from an informal meeting of finance ministers of Britain, France, West Germany and the United States. U.S. Treasury Secretary George Shultz began the initiative, spurred by the 1973 oil embargo launched by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Other members are Canada, Italy and Japan, with the European Union also engaged. Emphasis on nonmilitary problems after the frightening Cold War years is understandable. Hopefulness, however, has not avoided realities. Britain sponsored the G7 summit in 2021. That meeting assembled in the immediate wake of Belarus forcing a traversing civilian international airliner to land. Roman Protasevich, a passenger and prominent critic of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, was then arrested. The world has progressed since the invasion of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939. Persecution of journalists and others is disturbing, indeed tragic. However, market economies and representative government are spreading. Throughout the Cold War, the United States and our allies were generally on the defensive. Today, dictators no longer conquer entire nations, and their foundations are fragile. Developments in Asia in important ways are especially promising and positive. Japan and South Korea are reconciling, and doing so publicly. Wide regional cooperation, partly in response to Chinas moves, is growing. APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation), begun during the administration of President George H.W. Bush, is an important cornerstone of this development. The dictatorships are on the defensive. Global momentum is with us. Learn More: Ban Ki-moon, Resolved Arthur I. Cyr is the author of After the Cold War: American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia. Each Memorial Day, Im especially mindful of the brave men and women Ive seen make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. Over the course of a medical career thats taken me from the streets of Baghdad to the Helmand desert in Afghanistan to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Ive laid eyes on some of the very worst battlefield injuries imaginable. Far too many front-line fighters have had their lives cut short, or forever damaged, as a result of the devastating wounds they suffered defending their country. Its never easy. It goes without saying that battlefield wounds are devastating; the human body is not designed to withstand the impact of high-powered ammunition. Combined with the fact that these wounds are highly prone to infection due mainly to the dirt and fragments that can contaminate wounds the physicians who treat these injuries are often presented with the most challenging cases of their lives. As a surgeon, its critical that you know what youre doing, and are capable of doing it quickly enough to save the patient whos on your operating table. The same kinds of injuries that we treated in Iraq and Afghanistan blasts, gunshot wounds, and crush and burn injuries are now flooding emergency rooms in Ukraine. Battlefield medicine often drives innovation anesthesia was first put into wide use during the Civil War, X-rays in World War I, blood banks in World War II, and one-handed tourniquets in Afghanistan. We may stand at a similar moment now for the treatment of damaged blood vessels that is necessary to save life and limb on the battlefield. In these cases, the gold standard for repairing blood vessels and restoring circulation to mangled limbs is whats known as a saphenous vein a blood vessel found in your legs that can be removed by a trained surgeon and implanted into another injured limb in order to support the continued supply of blood and oxygen and prevent the need for amputation. A successful operation can make the difference between a patient dying on the operating table or returning home with all of their arms and legs intact. The reality, however, is that harvesting a saphenous vein is challenging. It takes time and skill. Many surgeons on the front lines of a war zone are confronted with dirty wounds prone to infection and very little time to salvage a limb that has been deprived of its blood supply. This must be accomplished in less than 4-to-6 hours. When a bypass fails, it can be devastating for the patient, leading to a sudden onset of problems that threaten the patients well-being. This is more common when the saphenous veins cannot be used to treat injuries caused by improvised explosive devices, as has been the experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, where harvesting a vein from the patient is often difficult or impossible. While our ability to treat traumatic injuries has improved greatly over the years, there has long been a need for an off-the-shelf product that surgeons can use quickly when the saphenous vein is not available in order to save limbs and return our service members to productive lives after being injured in combat. Thats why its so exciting that a breakthrough product Humacyte Human Acellular Vessel is now being used to treat the wounded in Ukraine. The HAV, which is a bioengineered tissue that regrows with a patients own cells to create a living artery, represents an incredible step forward for the future of regenerative medicine both in foreign combat theaters and for treating traumatic injuries here at home. Because it regrows with a patients own cells to become living tissue, the HAV is more resistant to infection than the other treatment options we have today. Being a universally implantable product that is ready off-the-shelf and can be stored for up to 18 months, the Human Acellular Vessel may be a good option when using saphenous vein is not possible. Humacyte began a humanitarian effort in Ukraine shortly after the Russian invasion to provide HAVs to front-line hospitals to treat war-wounded patients. Beginning 11 months ago, when the first shipments arrived, the HAV has been put into use at five hospitals throughout Ukraine where injured soldiers are being treated. This is an exciting new bioengineering technology for the treatment of vascular injuries that, in previous wars, may have resulted in amputation or worse. With over a decade of clinical research experience, the HAV has established a promising record of dependability. If proven, this could even mean offering new options for patients who suffer from other conditions like end-stage renal disease and peripheral artery disease. This Memorial Day there is reason to hope that we are on the verge of a major breakthrough in the treatment of battlefield wounds. The HAV has offered a new option to Ukraines war-wounded, and there is no telling what this technology could mean for the future of vascular regenerative medicine. Dr. Charles J. Fox is an associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, and the former program director for vascular surgery training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. He is not paid by or affiliated with the company that manufactures the HAV. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea The U.S. and South Korean armed forces kicked off their largest joint live-fire drills in eight years Thursday near the border with North Korea to mark the 70th anniversary of their alliance. At least 2,500 troops from 70 units are taking part in the exercise, South Korean Ministry of National Defense spokesman Jeon Ha Gyu told reporters during a news briefing on Thursday. The training will end on June 15, a ministry official said by phone. South Korean officials regularly speak to the media on a customary condition of anonymity. The drills aim to improve joint military operations between the countries while commemorating the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korean alliance after the 1950-53 Korean War, Jeon said. The training is the embodiment of peace through strength, he said, referring to a phrase U.S. and South Korean officials use frequently to describe their combat capabilities to deter North Korea. North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday referred to the allied exercises as war drills for aggression. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol last month made a state visit to the White House, where he and President Joe Biden signed a statement commemorating the 70th anniversary and pledged to continue their military partnership. The joint training advances the alliance and develops leaders for whom readiness and lethality are a critical area of responsibility, U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Wesley Hayes said in an email to Stars and Stripes on Thursday. During the past seven decades, the relationship between the U.S. and [South Korea] continues to grow stronger while training side-by-side to increase combat readiness and support the ironclad commitment to defend [South Koreas] sovereignty from any threat or adversary, he said. Hayes, citing security concerns, declined to provide information on troop numbers and assets involved in the live-fire drills. Thursdays training took place in Pocheon city, roughly 16 miles from the Demilitarized Zone, where 800 U.S. and 400 South Korean troops conducted Warrior Shield, a large-scale exercise, two months earlier. Warrior Shield included a host of military equipment, including South Koreas K1A2 main battle tanks and K-9A1 howitzers, and the U.S.s Stryker vehicles, M777 howitzers, AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs. North Korea has launched 12 ballistic missiles in nine separate days of testing so far this year. The regimes most recent missile on April 13 flew about 620 miles before landing in the East Sea, or Sea of Japan, according to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan A Marine who refused the COVID-19 vaccine in Japan is awaiting trial in California on charges of insubordination and other allegations after spending more than 110 days in three brigs, according to the Marine Corps. Lance Cpl. Catherine Arnett, of Fort Worth, Texas, was freed May 15 from the brig at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., a spokesman for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing told Stars and Stripes by email May 17. Arnett was not charged with refusing the COVID-19 vaccine but with refusing to leave Japan aboard military flights. Arnett, a self-described Catholic, has said she objected to the vaccine on religious grounds and considered the vaccine mandate an unlawful order. She is being backed in California by the Pipe Hitter Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Eddie Gallagher, a former Navy chief petty officer and SEAL acquitted in 2019 of murdering a wounded ISIS prisoner in Iraq a year earlier. He was convicted on a single count of posing with the fighters corpse. On May 17, Gallagher said in a video posted on Pipe Hitters Facebook page that the foundation has taken up Arnetts case and is raising money to support her. His wife, Andrea Gallagher, posted a similar, 8-minute-long video on the page the next day. The Gallaghers say the Marine Corps is retaliating against Arnett for refusing the vaccine. In his 2 -minute-long video, Eddie Gallagher said Arnett was thrown in solitary confinement in the Miramar brig for standing up for her beliefs, her religious beliefs, her rights The foundation, based in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., did not respond to requests Wednesday from Stars and Stripes by email for further comment. Pipe Hitter support Pipe Hitter had raised $48,500 as of Wednesday through Donorbox.org to pay Arnetts legal fees and other costs, including clothing, a cellphone and laptop computer, Giorgio Kirylo, a retired Marine Corps staff sergeant who said he represents the foundation, said by phone May 18. We are a platform that provides legal protection to service members and law enforcement who are being legally persecuted, he said. We are grassroots people who care about service members who are being persecuted and we want to get the best legal protection in the world. In July, Arnett was interviewed for a video posted online by the Childrens Health Defense, a nonprofit founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., that encouraged its supporters to reject COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy in August interviewed Arnett for his podcast. Arnett while still in Japan was charged after refusing to board military flights from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni for California, where the Marines planned to discharge her. She refused to board at least three flights between May 2022 and January, according to Arnett and the Marine Corps, although the Navy criminal docket does not specify the incident for which she is charged. Arnett could not be reached for comment by phone last week; her family on May 18 referred Stars and Stripes to Kirylo, who said Arnett is not speaking to the media. I'm here to take care of her, he said. I am managing a woman who has been under such mental stress for the past two years that she needs some time off to get away from the media. Arnett was an aviation supply specialist stationed at MCAS Iwakuni from May 2019 until January, when she was moved from the brig there to another at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. She was moved to Miramar on April 19, a spokesman for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Maj. Rob Martins, told Stars and Stripes by email May 17. The convening authority determined that California was more appropriate than Japan to proceed with her special court-martial, he said. The Marine Corps stopped paying Arnett in January, an administrative oversight that will be rectified, Martins said. Arnett will receive the back pay due to her since January, he added. Lance Cpl. Arnetts pay was inadvertently turned off due to an administrative oversight caused by her being processed for administrative separation, he said. Hunger strike Kirylo said the Marines kicked her out on the curb from the Miramar brig, where Arnett was held in solitary confinement, with just the clothes on her back. Martins said Arnett arrived at Miramar while undertaking a hunger and drinking strike which automatically raised medical concerns. She also refused to communicate either verbally or in writing, he said. The medical staff would not clear Arnett to move into the brigs general population, so she was placed in solitary to ensure the health and safety of all prisoners and brig staff, Martins said. Arnett is represented by attorney Jeremiah Sullivan III, of San Diego, Kirylo said. Sullivan is a former Navy judge advocate but as a civilian defended Navy Lt. Jake Portier, Gallaghers former commander on SEAL Team 7. The chief of naval operations at the time, Adm. John Richardson, ordered prosecutors to dismiss the charges against Portier of failing to report Gallaghers alleged offenses. President Donald Trump in 2019 restored Gallaghers rank, pay and benefits and his SEAL Trident pin after he was demoted by the Navy. Kirylo was a defense witness in Gallaghers case. Arnett is due back in court July 21 for a special court-martial, Martins said. She is charged under UCMJ articles 86, failure to go to an appointed place of duty; 87, missing an official flight or ship movement; 87b, breach of restriction; 90, willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer; and 91, insubordinate conduct, Martins said. The Marine Corps is committed to remaining fair and impartial throughout the due process, he said. Ukraine faces a long wait before it can deploy F-16s against Russia, as U.S. and European allies begin to thrash out who might be able to supply the fighter jets. The countries pledging support for Ukraine are prioritizing pilot training and will have to weigh the costs and any possible security gaps before deciding whether to actually send the aircraft. Four nations have so far committed to a coalition to help train the Ukrainian pilots the U.K., Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium. But only Denmark and the Netherlands may end up actually sending the jets to help counter Russia's invasion. The U.K. has no F-16s. Belgium has signaled that many of its 53 planes are reaching the end of their life spans, while any others would be needed for national and international missions. Defense ministers from the U.S., Europe and other Ukraine supporters were expected to discuss F-16 training at a virtual meeting later Thursday. "In the near future, consideration can be given to the possible delivery of F-16s to Ukraine," a spokeswoman for the Dutch Defense Ministry said, adding it was "not an immediate issue." The priority is hammering out details of the training plan, which should be finalized in coming weeks, she added. Whether Denmark will send Ukraine its jets is still an open question, according to a spokesman for the Danish Defense Ministry. The question of whether the country could afford or spare the planes would need to be discussed, he added. While the U.K. doesn't have jets of its own, one option could involve buying other countries' planes to have them transferred to Ukraine, according to a British official. The U.K. is discussing a range of methods with other countries to get F-16s to Ukraine and is happy to help in any way it can with logistics, training and funding, the official said. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said over the weekend the U.S. would work with allies in coming months to determine when the planes will be delivered, and who will do so. The likeliest scenario for now is that the U.S. won't send F-16s to Ukraine but instead rely on other countries to supply them. U.S. President Joe Biden last week dropped his reluctance to F-16s seeing combat in Ukraine after months of pressure from Kyiv and allied governments, announcing that the U.S. would support efforts to train Ukrainian pilots to use the fighter jet. While the training will take place in Europe, it requires U.S. permission because the jet is American-made. No country has yet formally committed to supplying F-16s to Ukraine. The move comes after allied officials have sought for months to downplay the need for Ukraine to receive F-16s, instead highlighting the urgent requirement for ammunition and air defense equipment in beating back Russian forces. While it could take many months before pilots are trained let alone before jets are transferred the push to start training fits into a broader effort to help Ukraine's military withstand future attacks by Russia even after the war ends. The U.K. will begin training pilots in about two months, the British official said, adding pilots would receive introductory training on how to operate a fighter jet more generally, taking a couple of months. They would then need further training by other countries on the actual F-16s, taking another few months. Once the pilot training plan is finalized and if allies can get a further U.S. sign-off for any transfers, the countries will then have to determine whether they can part with the costly machines as donations to Ukraine. Colin Kahl, the Pentagon's policy chief, told a House committee in February that the 50-80 fighter jets the U.S. deems Ukraine would likely need to replace its existing air force could cost as much as $11 billion if they were brand new. Donating nations will also need to ensure Ukraine can maintain the aircraft once it receives them. The jets require intense care, including an in-depth inspection roughly every 300 hours, putting an aircraft out of commission for at least 35 days, according to Belgium military air base Kleine-Brogel. One major factor in any decision will be tied to incoming F-35 orders designed to replace F-16s, as allies seek to avoid any gaps in their air forces. The Netherlands is further along in its F-35 program compared with a country like Belgium, which will only receive its first two F-35s this year but will be first stationed in the U.S. for training. Denmark's first F-35s arrive this year. Meanwhile, Norway is also further along in transitioning to F-35s, with the new fleet officially taking over from F-16s last year. Asked whether Norway would consider sending F-16s, Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said in emailed comments his government is "constantly considering new donations" to Ukraine, but declined to comment on future contributions. Dutch and Danish ministers said in Brussels earlier this week that they expected other countries to soon join the coalition to train pilots. Portugal is open to helping with pilot training, but providing F-16s isn't on the table as the country only has a limited number. Turkey and Greece have more than 400 F-16s between them, but they are unlikely to send Ukraine the fighters. Greece needs the planes given its constant rivalry with Turkey, while the latter relies on the jets to fight separatist Kurdish militants at home and beyond its borders in Syria and Iraq. Moreover, Turkey is playing a self-appointed mediator role in the conflict between the warring parties and would not even consider deploying its warplanes in Ukraine and take the risk of a direct confrontation with Russia, according to two senior Turkish officials familiar with the matter. Bloomberg's Thomas Hall, Tony Capaccio, Joao Lima, Natalia Ojewska, Andra Timu, Ott Ummelas, Selcan Hacaoglu, Sotiris Nikas and Lyubov Pronina contributed to this report. TALLINN, Estonia Russia and Belarus signed a deal Thursday formalizing the deployment of Moscow's tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally, although control of the weapons remains in the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of the shorter-range weapons in Belarus earlier this year in a move widely seen as a warning to the West as it stepped up military support for Ukraine. When the weapons would be deployed wasn't announced, but Putin has said the construction of storage facilities in Belarus for them would be completed by July 1. Also unclear is how many nuclear weapons would be kept in Belarus. The U.S. government believes Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, which include bombs that can be carried by aircraft, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery rounds. Tactical nuclear weapons are intended to destroy enemy troops and weapons on the battlefield. They have a relatively short range and a much lower yield than nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles that are capable of obliterating whole cities. Speaking in Moscow, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said "the movement of the nuclear weapons has begun," but was not clear whether any actually had arrived in his country. Lukashenko, who sparked rumors of being seriously ill when he cut short a Victory Day appearance in Red Square on May 9 before resurfacing in public May 15, was attending a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council with Putin and leaders of Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The signing of the deal came as Russia prepared for a counteroffensive by Ukraine. Both Russian and Belarusian officials also framed the step as driven by hostilities from the West. "Deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us," Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said in Minsk at a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. "In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere," Shoigu added. Putin has argued that by deploying its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russia was following the lead of the United States, noting that the U.S. has nuclear weapons based in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the move. "We must do everything to prevent Putin's plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will ensure Russia's control over Belarus for years to come," Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. "This will further jeopardize the security of Ukraine and all of Europe." Independent Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said about two-thirds of Russia's arsenal of medium-range nuclear-tipped missiles were held in Belarus during the Cold War, adding that there are dozens of Soviet-era storage facilities that could still be used. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia in a U.S.-brokered deal after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. "Documents in Minsk on the return of nuclear weapons were defiantly signed just at the moment when Ukraine declared a counteroffensive and Western countries are handing over weapons to Kyiv," Alesin told the AP. "This Belarusian nuclear balcony should spoil the mood for politicians in the West, since nuclear missiles are capable of covering Ukraine, all of Poland, the Baltic states and parts of Germany." Khrenin also announced plans to "build up the combat potential of the regional grouping of Russia and Belarusian troops," including the transfer to Minsk of the Iskander-M missile system, capable of carrying a nuclear charge, and the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading neighboring Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there. Follow AP coverage of the war in Ukraine KYIV, Ukraine The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed Thursday that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a convicted criminal and Wagner's millionaire owner with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in a video published on Telegram that the handover would be completed by June 1. Russia's Defense Ministry didn't confirm this and it wasn't possible independently to verify whether Wagner's pullout from the bombed-out city has begun after a nine-month battle that killed tens of thousands of people. Prigozhin said his troops would now rest in camps, repair equipment and await further orders. Ukraine's deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, said Thursday that regular Russian troops had replaced Wagner units in the suburbs but that Wagner fighters remained inside the city. Ukrainian forces maintain a foothold in the southwestern outskirts, she said. Prigozhin's Bakhmut triumph delivered a badly needed victory for Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has lost momentum and now faces a Ukrainian counteroffensive using advanced weapons that Kyiv's Western allies have provided. According to top Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, that counteroffensive is already underway. He said Thursday that it should not be anticipated as a "single event" starting "at a specific hour of a specific day." Writing on Twitter, Podolyak said that "dozens of different actions to destroy Russian occupation forces" had "already been taking place yesterday, are taking place today and will continue tomorrow." Prigozhin has long feuded with the Russian military leadership, dating back to Wagner's creation in 2014. He has also built a reputation for inflammatory and often unverifiable headline-grabbing statements from which he later backtracks. During the 15-month war in Ukraine, he has repeatedly and publicly accused the Russian military leadership of incompetence, failure to properly provision his troops as they spearheaded the battle for Bakhmut, and failure to credit his troops for their successes and sacrifices. Wagner's involvement in the capture of Bakhmut has added to Prigozhin's standing, which he has used to set forth his personal views about the war's conduct. "Prigozhin is using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine," the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said. His frequent critical commentary about Russia's military performance is uncommon in Russia's tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin can usually air such criticism. Seth Jones, director of international security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Prigozhin appears to be pressuring the Russian Defense Ministry to take a more active role and responsibility in Bakhmut but he questioned whether regular troops are capable of taking over from Wagner. "If you pull those forces out of Bakhmut, you lose your entire sort of first line of offensive and then defensive operations, because the Russians aren't going to use haven't used -- their seasoned military forces" for major advances, he said. "You don't want to waste well trained capable forces in areas where they're likely to get killed. So removing them would almost certainly allow the Ukrainians to retake territory." With Russian forces suffering high casualties and their inability to integrate their, forces, he added, they "just they look miserable." Nikolai Petrov, senior Russia and Eurasia research fellow at Chatham House, was skeptical about Prigozhin's claim the Russian military will take over. "Nobody knows if that will happen," Petrov said, adding that Prigozhin is a "populist and he's playing the cards of hatred" against ineffective Russian military commanders. Earlier this week, Prigozhin again broke with the Kremlin line on Ukraine, saying its goal of demilitarizing the country had backfired, acknowledging Russian troops had killed civilians and agreeing with Western estimates that he lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed 36 drones against Kyiv in its 12th nighttime air assault on the Ukrainian capital this month but the city's air defenses shot them all down, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. The Kremlin's forces also launched 30 airstrikes and 39 attacks from multiple rocket launchers, as well as artillery and mortar attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said. At least one civilian was killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine on Wednesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said Thursday. In other developments Thursday: Russia attacked a dam on the Vovcha River in Karlivka, 24 miles west of Donetsk, destroying it and raising a flooding risk for three villages, Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said. The villages might be evacuated, he said on Telegram. Russia and Belarus signed a deal formalizing deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. Putin had announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. A U.K.-based technology firm says pro-Russia hackers faked the location data to form a giant letter "Z" a symbol of Russia's war in Ukraine in the Black Sea. Geollect says location data for commercial ships has been remotely spoofed so vessels near Crimea appear to form a 65-mile long "Z" on open-source maritime tracking sites. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. The false location data increased the risk of collisions, the firm warned. A total of 106 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released in another major exchange with Russia, chief Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said. The eight officers and 98 soldiers released fought in the battle for Bakhmut. The bodies of two foreigners and a Ukrainian were also returned to Ukraine. Prigozhin posted a video of himself standing next to two wooden coffins, one draped with an American flag and another with a Turkish flag. Prigozhin said the bodies were being handed over to Ukrainian forces and provided the American's name but the State Department couldn't confirm it, pending an investigation and due to privacy concerns. Russian officials confirmed the swap, without providing any details on how many Russians were returned. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that five Swedish diplomats are to be expelled from the country. A statement said the decision is a response to Stockholm's "openly hostile step" to declare five employees of Russian foreign missions in Sweden "personae non grata" in April. Moscow additionally announced its decision to close its consulate in Goteborg in September, as well as its "withdrawal of consent" to the activities of the Swedish consulate in St. Petersburg. Russia and Western countries have often expelled each other's diplomats since the war began. Morton reported from London. BELGRADE, Serbia A U.S. senator on Thursday said he hopes Serbia would adopt Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, telling the Balkan country that "there is no future" in an alliance with Moscow. "Russia's invasion has been an absolute disaster and my belief is that Russia is ultimately going to lose this conflict," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, told reporters in the Serbian capital Belgrade. Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed any sanctions on Russia. "The future for Serbia is with the European Union and with the United States not with Russia," Murphy said. "There is no future with Russia. They (Russia) are going to be devastated, a permanent pariah internationally after this invasion." Though Serbia is formally seeking EU membership and has condemned the invasion at the United Nations, Belgrade has maintained its historically friendly relations with Moscow. Murphy's visit to Belgrade came as Serbia's staunchly pro-Russian intelligence chief Aleksandar Vulin travelled to Moscow for a security conference. Serbia is also one of few countries with direct air links to Russian cities and is almost completely reliant on Russia for energy supplies. Asked about Vulin's visit to Russia, Murphy replied that "obviously Russia is searching for friends these days," but that it is not "constructive" for any nation to stand by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "What Russia has done in Ukraine is unacceptable," said Murphy. "I really hope that Serbia's future is with the European Union, it is connected to the United States and the quicker that we can have better, more close alignment on Russia policy the better." Murphy, along with senator Gary Peters. met in Belgrade with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. The meetings also focused on Western efforts to push forward normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. The senators' week-long visit to the region also featured visits to Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. In Belgrade, the senators paid respects to the victims of Serbia's first-ever school shooting in early May when a teenager took his father's gun to open fire on fellow students and a school guard, killing ten people. Another mass shooting took place a day later in a rural area south of the capital, stunning the nation and triggering a gun crackdown. "I hope that Serbia respond differently than the United States, as the United States has become numb to these mass atrocities," said Murphy. "Serbia has an opportunity to show the world that indifference is not an option." STUTTGART, Germany He was dubbed the Trump whisperer by many NATO observers for his ability to hold the alliance together during a time when angst over the security pacts future was riding high. Now, as Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg nears the end of his nine-year tenure as the alliances top official, the former Norwegian prime minister said the Netflix series The Crown gave him the perspective to get through those tense Trump years. I learned a lot and I used it, Stoltenberg said Thursday during a discussion at an event hosted in Brussels by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Stoltenberg singled out lessons from The Crown when asked what advice he would give to his successor should former President Donald Trump succeed in his bid for a return to the White House. Stoltenberg said he drew inspiration from episodes that dealt with the Suez Crisis of 1956, which caused political upheaval among the U.S., France and the United Kingdom. At the time, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was furious with the British and French for their intervention in the crisis, which revolved around a conflict between Israel and Egypt that saw French and British forces join the fray on the side of Israel. Eisenhower threatened sanctions on the allies over the matter. A decade later, other disputes between Washington and Paris led Frances withdrawal from NATOs command structure, resulting in the alliances headquarters relocating from Paris to Brussels. Stoltenberg said his takeaway from The Crown was allies had been through tough times before, stretching from the Suez Crisis to the U.S. war in Iraq decades later, which was opposed fiercely by many members. But NATO survived. So I'm saying this just because it has happened before, it will certainly happen again, that there are disagreements in NATO, he said. Stoltenbergs advice to his replacement: Make sure that we stay together, that the main task, the most important thing is to keep this family together. And of course, that's not (always) easy. During his presidency, Trump made NATO a focal point for delivering attacks on various allies, whom he accused of failing to invest sufficiently in their own defense. Past presidents had similar complaints, but Trumps caustic remarks and viewpoint set him apart. Rather than seeing NATO as a linchpin alliance focused on the collective territorial defense of its members the conventional view voiced by his predecessors Trump frequently questioned whether NATOs existence was still a necessity. At the time, speculation swirled that Trumps aim was to pull the U.S. out of NATO, a sentiment his critics likely will worry about again should he return for a second term. Public opinion of NATO in most member countries, including the U.S., has since grown more positive in light of Russias attack on Ukraine. Regarding Trump, Stoltenberg had this to say: My message to President Trump, as it has been to all other allies who disagree or have different views, is that OK, (this is) serious stuff, be it climate change or the Iran nuclear deal or the Suez Crisis. Whatever it has been or will be, just make sure that you understand that even for the United States, it is very good to have friends and allies. WARSAW, Poland The chairman of Ukraine's parliament on Thursday offered words of reconciliation over World War II-era mass murders that have strained relations with its neighbor and strategic ally Poland for 80 years. "Human life has equal value, regardless of nationality, race, sex or religion," Ruslan Stefanchuk told Polish lawmakers. "With this awareness we will cooperate with you, dear Polish friends, and we will accept the truth regardless of how uncompromising it may be." Stefanchuk's words sounded a new tone and were in contrast to the recent angry reaction of Ukraine's ambassador to Polish expectations of an apology. Poland this year is marking the 80th anniversary of the 1943-44 massacre of some 100,000 Poles by Ukrainian nationalists and others in Volhynia and other regions that were then in eastern Poland, under Nazi German occupation, and which are now part of Ukraine. Entire villages were burned down and all their inhabitants killed by the nationalists and their helpers seeking to establish an independent Ukraine state. Poland calls the events a genocide. An estimated 15,000 Ukrainians died in retaliation. Stefanchuk was speaking in Poland's parliament during a visit to Warsaw. Poland has been offering military and humanitarian support to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Stefanchuk thanked Poland for the current support, and then offered sympathy to the families of the Poles slain in what is known as the Volhynia massacre. He also offered a joint effort to identify and honor all the victims buried in Ukraine. Poland has long been seeking Kyiv's permission for exhumations, identification and commemoration of the Polish victims. However, some of the Ukrainian nationalist leaders of the time are regarded as key figures for Ukraine's statehood, lending a different perspective there to the events. Stefanchuk thanked the families of the victims for cultivating a memory which "does not call for revenge or hatred, but which serves as a warning that nothing like that can ever happen between our nations again." He said that identification and honoring of the victims "without bans or barriers" is "our joint moral and Christian obligation." He said that an open, joint approach to the painful history would be an "exceptionally necessary test" that could pave the way for the words "we forgive and ask for forgiveness." Those words, offered by Poland's Catholic bishops to Germany's bishops in the 1960s, laid the foundations for Poland's reconciliation with its World War II aggressor, Germany. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau described Stefanchuk's speech as "very good," saying that "we have heard what we wanted to hear." "We are on the right path and this speech shows that our positions are getting closer again. We have something to build on," Rau said. Poland's leaders have insisted that bringing the full truth into the open will strengthen bilateral relations with Ukraine and neutralize vulnerabilities that could be exploited by third countries seeking to undermine these ties. SAN FRANCISCO A Chinese government espionage group has hacked into critical infrastructure in multiple locations, including the island territory of Guam, a key U.S. outpost in any conflict involving Taiwan, officials warned Tuesday. Though there has been no destruction of electronic data or equipment, the intruders could be laying the groundwork to disrupt communications between North America and Asia in the event of a military confrontation, according to researchers at Microsoft, which detected the infiltration. U.S. agencies and those of Americas closest allies issued a rare joint report advising organizations on how to hunt for signs of intrusion by the same group and how to shore up defenses. The Five Eyes intelligence alliance said that facilities in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand could be targeted, as well. The hacking activity by the group was first detected two years ago, Microsoft and others said. The newest campaign uses compromised devices protected by the cybersecurity firm Fortinet, probably taking advantage of an unpublicized flaw in that companys software. Microsoft said it has notified those targeted. Fortinet did not respond to an email seeking comment. The same hacking group has used undisclosed flaws in other gear for previous campaigns, according to Secureworks, including a monitoring service and access software from Citrix Systems. More broadly, devices at the edges of networks have been targeted more heavily as more employees work remotely and more use the cloud, security experts said. Edge devices are often less well monitored and are more difficult to examine after a breach. We recognize the actor from a series of intrusions that have targeted air, maritime and land transportation targets, as well as other organizations, said John Hultquist, chief analyst at Googles Mandiant Intelligence. There are a variety of reasons actors target critical infrastructure, but a persistent focus on these sectors may indicate preparation for disruptive or destructive cyberattack. Russia and the United States also penetrate networks in other nations and try to establish a persistent, undetected presence. In recent years, the Americans also have moved to disclose more about the intrusions on its shores to make adversaries work harder and use new techniques. In this case, attributed to a Chinese group dubbed Volt Typhoon, detection is harder because the hackers use legitimate credentials and software commands to move around the networks, a technique known as living off the land, according to officials from the National Security Agency, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The intruders hide their initial access, as well, using small-office routers before reaching the Fortinet gear. Home and small-office routers have been popular with government-backed hackers in recent years, in part because they can make it look like the connection is coming from the immediate physical area instead of another country. In addition, even after security flaws are revealed, the owners of the infected gear are less likely to install protective software updates to them than they are for web browsers, laptop operating systems or phones, all of which require more interaction. Todays advisory highlights Chinas continued use of sophisticated means to target our nations critical infrastructure, and it gives network defenders important insights into how to detect and mitigate this malicious activity, CISA director Jen Easterly said in a joint news statement. A CISA spokesman declined to answer questions about the significance of Guam as a target. WASHINGTON Oath Keepers extremist group founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after winning the 2020 election. Rhodes, 58, is the first person convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack to receive his punishment, and his sentence is the longest handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases. It's another milestone for the Justice Department's sprawling Jan. 6 investigation, which has led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups authorities say came to Washington prepared to fight to keep President Donald Trump in power at all costs. "The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6th attack on our democracy," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. In a first for a Jan. 6 case, the judge agreed with the Justice Department that Rhodes' actions should be punished as "terrorism," which increases the recommended sentence under federal guidelines. That decision could foreshadow lengthy sentences down the road for other far-right extremists, including former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who have also been convicted of the rarely used charge. Before announcing Rhodes' sentence, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta described a defiant Rhodes as a continued threat to the United States and democracy. The judge expressed fear that what happened on Jan. 6 could be repeated, saying Americans will "now hold our collective breaths every time an election is approaching." "You are smart, you are charismatic and compelling and frankly that's what makes you dangerous," the judge told Rhodes. "The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government." Rhodes did not use his chance to address the judge to express remorse or appeal for leniency, but instead claimed to be a "political prisoner," criticized prosecutors and the Biden administration and tried to play down his actions on Jan. 6. "I'm a political prisoner and like President Trump my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country," said Rhodes, who appeared in Washington's federal court wearing orange jail clothes. Mehta fired back that Rhodes was not prosecuted for his political beliefs but for actions the judge described as an "offense against the people of the country." "You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes," the judge said. Another Oath Keeper convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside Rhodes Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs was sentenced later Thursday to 12 years behind bars. Meggs said he was sorry he was involved in the riot that left a "black eye on the country," but maintained that he never planned to go into the Capitol. The judge found Meggs doesn't present an ongoing threat to the country the way Rhodes does, but told him "violence cannot be resorted to just because you disagree with who got elected." Other Oath Keepers are expected to be sentenced Friday and next week. A Washington, D.C., jury found Rhodes guilty of leading a plot to forcibly disrupt the transfer of presidential power. Prosecutors alleged Rhodes and his followers recruited members, amassed weapons and set up "quick reaction force" teams at a Virginia hotel that could ferry guns into the nation's capital if they were needed to support their plot. The weapons were never deployed. It was one of the most consequential Capitol riot cases brought by the government, which has sought to prove that the attack by right-wing extremists such as the Oath Keepers was not a spur-of-the-moment protest but the culmination of weeks of plotting to overturn Biden's victory. Rhodes' January 2022 arrest was the culmination of a decades-long path of extremism that included armed standoffs with federal authorities at Nevada's Bundy Ranch. After founding the Oath Keepers in 2009, the Yale Law School graduate built it into one of the largest far-right antigovernment militia groups in the U.S., though it appears to have weakened in the wake of the Oath Keepers' arrests. The judge agreed to prosecutors' request for a so-called "terrorism enhancement" which can lead to a longer prison term under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through "intimidation or coercion." Judges in less serious Jan. 6 cases had previously rejected such requests. Prosecutors had sought 25 years for Rhodes, arguing that a lengthy sentence was necessary to deter future political violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeating the lie that the 2020 election was stolen and saying it would be again in 2024. In remarks just days ago, Rhodes called for "regime change," the prosecutor said. Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, plans to appeal his conviction. Defense lawyer Phillip Linder told the judge that prosecutors were unfairly trying to make Rhodes "the face" of Jan. 6, adding that Rhodes could have had many more Oath Keepers come to the Capitol "if he really wanted to" disrupt Congress' certification of the Electoral College vote. "If you want to put a face on J6 (Jan. 6), you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians, all the people who spun that narrative," Linder said. Rhodes' sentence may signal the punishment prosecutors will seek for Tarrio and other Proud Boys leaders convicted of seditious conspiracy. They will be sentenced in August and September. The Oath Keepers said there was never any plan to attack the Capitol or stop Congress from certifying Biden's victory. The defense tried to seize on the fact that none of the Oath Keepers' messages laid out an explicit plan to storm the Capitol. But prosecutors said the Oath Keepers saw an opportunity to further their goal to stop the transfer of power and sprang into action when the mob began storming the building. Messages, recordings and other evidence presented at trial show Rhodes and his followers growing increasingly enraged after the 2020 election at the prospect of a Biden presidency, which they viewed as a threat to the country and their way of life. In an encrypted chat two days after the election, Rhodes told his followers to prepare their "mind, body, spirit" for "civil war." Before Thursday, the longest sentence in the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases was 14 years for a man with a long criminal record who attacked police officers with pepper spray and a chair as he stormed the Capitol. Just over 500 of the defendants have been sentenced, with more than half receiving prison time and the remainder getting sentences such as probation or home detention. Richer reported from Boston. Millions of Americans are taking to the roads, rails and skies for Memorial Day weekend, the start of what is shaping up to be one of the busiest summer travel seasons and further proof that despite economic concerns, consumers are still willing to spend on travel. AAA is projecting 42.3 million people will travel more than 50 miles from home, up 7 percent from 2022, but slightly below the 42.8 million who ventured out in 2019 before the pandemic. Of those, 37.1 million are expected to drive, a small drop compared to 2019. At the same time, more people are expected to fly than four years ago, while buses and rail services also expect a rise in passenger counts. "We always tell people, get up and get there early," said Nicholas E. Calio, chief executive of airline trade group Airlines for America (A4A) this week at a summer travel summit co-sponsored by CQ/Roll Call. "I would say right now, get there even earlier than you're expecting, because there are a lot of people at the airports." The holiday weekend will be an early test for U.S. carriers and the Federal Aviation Administration, which have put new measures in place to avoid the chaos that has marred pandemic-era air travel. The disruptions have drawn the ire of passengers, regulators and lawmakers, leading to finger-pointing about the root cause of problems, which many attribute to the industry's lack of preparedness for a faster-than-expected travel rebound. While most people will drive to their destinations, Greyhound and Flixbus say Memorial Day weekend bookings are up 70 percent over last year. According to AAA, the number of people traveling by other modes, such as via cruise, bus or train, is expected to rise more than 20 percent compared to last year. Ragina Cooper Ali, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said the auto club expects this to be the fourth-busiest Memorial Day weekend in the Washington region since 2000, when AAA began tracking holiday travel. Nationally, it's expected to be the third-busiest Memorial Day. "Americans, including those in our region, are ready to kick off the Memorial Day weekend with a trip," she said. Continuing the recent resurgence in air travel, AAA expects an 11 percent increase in the number of people who plan to fly compared to last year, and a 5.4 percent increase over 2019 levels. Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation created dashboards spelling out what passengers can expect from airlines when flights are canceled or significantly delayed. Congressional committees have held hearings on the industry's problems as pressure has mounted on regulators to take more action. "Travelers definitely have concerns," said Henry Harteveldt, an aviation analyst and president of Atmosphere Research. "These days when they go to airports, they are thinking 'what's going to go wrong with my trip?' instead of feeling confident that their flight is going to leave on time." After Southwest Airlines' high-profile December meltdown, there are signs that airline operations are improving. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said this week that preliminary numbers from the FAA show that fewer than 2 percent of flights were canceled to start the year the lowest rate in years. "The progress is real," he said. "But that does not mean we are out of the woods. We see an even higher level of demand this year and that's going to put enormous pressure on the system." Among the industry's most significant changes, airlines last year hired 50,000 new employees and airline employment is at its highest level since October 2001, said John Heimlich, chief economist for A4A. Carriers also have adjusted schedules to better manage potential disruptions. "We have gone above and beyond to make sure we are ready for the summer and for the increased demand," said Sharon Pinkerton, senior vice president of legislative and regulatory policy at A4A. In contrast to last year, when airlines and the FAA sparred over which bore responsibility for flight disruptions, the two sides are working together more closely to identify solutions. The FAA recently asked airlines to reduce flights while using larger aircraft to minimize changes to capacity in the Northeast because of a shortage of air traffic controllers in a key New York-area facility. The agency also added 169 routes along the East Coast, which it hopes will ease congestion and give controllers more options if weather poses a threat. United Airlines projects the Memorial Day holiday will be its busiest in more than a decade. The Chicago-based carrier said it expects to transport 2.9 million passengers between Thursday and Tuesday. Delta Air Lines said it expects to carry 2.8 million passengers over that period, a 17 percent increase over last year. American Airlines, which will operate 26,000 flights over the holiday, said it expects to carry more than 2.9 million customers. Smaller carriers also are seeing passenger gains as leisure travelers continue to be the backbone of the industry's recovery. Daniel Shurz, senior vice president, commercial, at Frontier Airlines, said the ultralow cost carrier is also growing 35% in seats compared to 2019. Still, he acknowledged pandemic-era growth has introduced problems with reliability. Frontier has been able to reduce cancellations, he said, but delays remain a problem. "We've got work to do," he said. "We're working on our on-time performance and it's trending in the right direction." David Pekoske, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, said the agency already is seeing a significant number of people moving through airport checkpoints. On Sunday, officers screened more than 2.6 million people, the most in a day since the pandemic began. He said the TSA is fully staffed ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. The agency expects Friday to be its busiest day, when it projects screening 2.6 million people. The agency also announced a change this week that could help families move more quickly through security. Travelers between the ages of 13 and 17 who are with parents or guardians enrolled in TSA PreCheck will be able to use PreCheck lanes if they are traveling on the same reservation. Children 12 and under already can accompany a parent or guardian enrolled in PreCheck. For those who are driving this holiday weekend, INRIX, a traffic data firm, predicts roads will be more crowded than last year. Friday will be the worst day for traffic, but leaving Saturday or Sunday could save time, according to INRIX. Those who plan to leave Friday should try to begin driving before noon, the data firm said. Still, there is some good news for motorists. John LaForge, head of real asset strategy for Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said a gallon of gas which averaged $3.53 on Wednesday, according to Wells Fargo is about 21 percent cheaper than last summer's $4.49 cent average. AUSTIN, Texas Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee authorized 100 troops from the states National Guard to deploy along the Texas border with Mexico following a briefing of the situation with other Republican governors, Lees office said Wednesday. The troops will deploy to Texas at the end of the month amid an ongoing national security crisis and surging drug crisis being fueled by an open border, according to Lees announcement. Lee was among a group of nine governors who participated Monday in a presentation from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in Austin about his border security mission known as Operation Lone Star and the impact this months lifting of pandemic-era policies has had on it. The public health policy, known as Title 42, allowed federal border agents to quickly expel migrants over concern that they would spread the coronavirus. That policy ended May 11 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, a surge has not yet been reported. Abbott penned a letter May 16 to governors across the country to support his security mission that focuses on illegal activity between legal ports of entry. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is now a Republican candidate for president, responded immediately by sending 800 National Guard troops to support Texas for 30 days, among other assets from his state. Idaho Gov. Brad Little also announced last week that he would send resources to Texas that includes law enforcement personnel but not National Guard troops. Little also attended Abbotts briefing Monday. The federal government owes Americans a plan to secure our country, and in the meantime, states continue to answer this important call to service. I am again authorizing the Tennessee National Guard to help secure the southern border, and I commend these troops for providing critical support, Lee said in a statement. Tennessees troops will patrol and provide additional security presence along the border, assist with road and route clearance, barrier placement and debris removal, and staff outposts, Lees office said. Roughly 5,500 Texas National Guard members are deployed to Operation Lone Star, which began about two years ago. At its peak in late 2021, Abbott said about 10,000 Guard members were deployed by him. This work is separate from a federal National Guard mission at the border. The Defense Department has deployed about 2,500 National Guard troops working along the entire southwest border with Mexico 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 any increased migration since Title 42 expired. WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that more than 30 American-made M1 Abrams tanks for training Ukrainians have arrived in Europe, so they are prepared for when the battle-ready versions arrive later in the year. Earlier this month, 31 M1 Abrams training tanks from the United States arrived at Grafenwohr in Germany, Austin said at the start of a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a collection of about 50 nations that convenes regularly to decide what equipment Ukrainian forces need to fend off invading Russian forces. The United States is still working on sending nearly three dozen battle-ready M1 Abrams tanks in the coming months, which are being refurbished with defense contractors. We have been focused from the very beginning on providing Ukraine the capabilities it needs to be successful on the battlefield, Austin said after the Ukraine group met during a news conference with Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Today marks the 456th day since Russia began its illegal and unprovoked invasion, said Milley, who also attended the meeting. Ukrainian forces continue to fight, and theyre making the Russians pay severely for every inch of Ukrainian ground. Earlier this year, the Pentagon committed 31 battle-ready Abrams tanks to Ukraine after contending for weeks that they were too sophisticated and too difficult to maintain to be used in its war with Russia. The tanks require regular field maintenance and typically run on jet fuel. When Austin and Biden chose to send the M1A2 version of the tank, the most sophisticated version, it was decided to build them through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative a program that procures from industry rather than pulling them from Pentagon stocks. By going through that program, it takes equipment months longer to reach Ukraine. Defense officials originally said the final battle-ready tanks would arrive in Ukraine in late 2023 or early 2024, but the Pentagon later shaved a few months off that estimate by changing the plan and going instead with the slightly older M1A1 Abrams. Roughly 250 Ukrainian troops will arrive in Germany this week to begin training on the tanks, according to a report by Voice of America. The meeting of the defense contact group covered some new issues, such as the recent international agreement to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets, including the U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcon. Last week, President Joe Biden announced the United States will support a joint effort with allies to train the Ukrainian pilots. Austin said Thursday that the Pentagon hopes that training will begin in the coming weeks. The U.S. has not yet announced any specific plans, however, to send any fighter jets for use in Ukraine. As Russias invasion has evolved, so has our security assistance, Austin said during the news conference. That is a very lethal airspace, and so we want to focus on the things Ukraine needs to defend itself, protect its infrastructure, protect its people. Milley said Russia has hundreds of fighter jets on par with the F-16, and Ukraine basically has none. That is the most effective way to deny air superiority to the Russians, the general said. If you are going to contest Russia in the air, youre going to need a substantial amount of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. Meanwhile, the State Department announced Wednesday that it has approved a possible sale of weapons and equipment including a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, to Ukraine for $285 million. Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and aircraft, the State Department said late Wednesday in a statement. Acquiring and effectively deploying this capability will enhance Ukraines ability to defend its people and protect critical national infrastructure. The sale of the missile system to Ukraine includes one 3D radar system, canister launchers, GPS receivers, code launchers and other elements of logistics and program support. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense and Congress has been informed of the sale by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The U.S. has given nearly $37 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The aid packages have included various weapons, air defenses, millions of munitions and ammunition rounds, armored vehicles, drone systems and field equipment. TAMPA, Fla. (Tribune News Service) Hector Vila was proud of his nation and family: seven brothers, including him, had served in the U.S. military. In 2005, he successfully lobbied the city of Tampa to change the name of West Pines Park to Vila Brothers Park. He had a vision for how it should look, his wife, Martha Vila, said. Hector Vila wanted the four acres at 700 N. Armenia Ave. to be a patriotic corner of West Tampa. In 2007, the city installed a granite marker citing the brothers service time spanning World War II through Operation Desert Storm. Each returned home. Nothing new was added to the land before Hector Vila died in 2018. I promised him that I would get the park done, Martha Vila, 89, said. She has been true to her word. At 10 a.m. on Monday, Memorial Day, Vila Brothers Park will be rededicated with new landscaping, a new entrance and a red, white and blue playground. He would be so proud, Martha Vila said. He thought there was not enough red, white and blue in the country. He didnt think we had enough patriotism. The additions are due to $1.7 million in city funds. The city has given so much, and I am thankful, Martha Vila said. I cant ask for anything more from them. But her husband wanted more. She hopes others step up to complete his vision, which included speakers piping in patriotic songs and educational monuments. He wanted this to be a teaching park, Martha Vila said. But no war. He didnt want anything about war. He didnt want guns or knives. He wanted it to be about peacetime America, the beauty of peacetime. She said the Vila brothers all fought for peace. Seven brothers. This is an unbelievable story. After the oldest three brothers left home to fight the Nazis, their mother prayed and made a deal that she would never eat Cuban bread again if they returned. They came home, and she honored her promise, Martha Vila said. According to Tampa Bay Times archives: Joe Vila served with the Marine Corps during World War II. He was involved in battles in Guadalcanal and received a Purple Heart due to back, leg and shoulder injuries due to a bomb exploding next to him. Willie Vila served with the Marines during World War II and was deployed to Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Peleliu Island, New Caledonia and Okinawa. He received a Purple Heart after being hit by a mortar shell and suffering a chest wound and temporarily losing sight. Wilfred Vila served with the Army during World War II and parachuted for the 82nd Airborne. He was later assigned to retrieve prisoners of war. Hector Vila served in the Marines during the Korean War and fought on the front lines as a machine gunner. Robert Vila served in the Navy during the Korean War. He was on a battleship that fired against enemy railroads, harbors and positions. Denio Vila served in the Army from 1960-62 and in the reserves from 1962-66. He was a medical specialist. Tony Vila served in the Navy from 1962-66 and was in active reserves from 1975-95. His ship was sent to Cuba as part of the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis in November 1962. He later served as a hospital corpsman and Spanish translator. In 1965, he was sent to Vietnam, and in 1991 he served in Operation Desert Storm. Denio Vila, 85, and Tony Vila, 79, are the last surviving brothers. 2023 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com . (Tribune News Service) On May 21, Princess Cruises welcomed one of the few surviving Tuskegee Airmen onboard Discovery Princess in Seattle to celebrate his 100th birthday. Retired United States Army Air Corps and Air Force officer (USAF) Lt. Col. James H. Harvey III was greeted with a patriotic salute and USAF traditional display of presenting colors by the McChord Field Honor Guard as he boarded the ship. There was even cake and a rousing rendition of happy birthday. John Padgett, Princess Cruises president, opened up about how much of a sincere honor it was for his crew to celebrate the man he considered a trailblazer, hero, and real Top Gun. His life and legacy should remind everyone of the power of courage, determination, resilience and the American spirit, Padgett remarked. From all of us at Princess Cruises, we salute Lt. Col. Harvey and wish him a very happy 100th birthday! Lieutenant Colonel Harvey IIIs legacy includes shattering racial barriers in the military as part of a group of African American pilots who served their country with legendary distinction during World War II. Born in Montclair, N.J., on July 13, 1923, Harvey is a former fighter pilot with the renowned 332nd Fighter Group 99th Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, Red Tails. The esteemed pilot was one of 1,007 documented pilots trained for aerial combat during World War II. Lieutenant Colonel Harvey III holds the honor of being the first African American USAF jet fighter combat pilot to fight in the Korean War and flew 140 missions from 1949 to 1950. The skilled airman went on to win the USAFs inaugural Top Gun competition in 1949, when he and his team led a grueling 10-day event consisting of aerial gunnery at 20,000 and 12,000 feet, dive bombing, skip bombing, rocketing firing and panel strafing. Harvey and every member of the illustrious Tuskegee Airmen were honored for heroic feats during the war with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006. After dedicating a combined 22 years of service to the United States Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force, Harvey retired in 1965. He joined Oscar Mayer as a corporate salesman and settled his family of four girls in Denver, where he still resides. During the special voyage, Harvey captivated the crew and other guests with insight from his storied service and remarkable life experiences. 2023 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com . The order will prevent anyone from selling or transferring ownership of the land while the investigation continues The National Crime Agency (NCA) has seized a plot of land in Co Armagh that they suspect was purchased with money obtained from fraud and money laundering offences. Agency officers have obtained a Property Freezing Order for the site, in Blackwatertown, as part of an ongoing civil recovery investigation involving the gardai, PSNI, the Revenue Commissioners, HM Revenue and Customs and Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). The order was granted to the NCA at Belfast High Court on Monday as it is suspected the land was purchased for 100,000 in criminal cash. The order will prevent anyone from selling or transferring ownership of the land while the investigation continues into the source of the funds used to make the purchase. If unlawful conduct is found, the NCA may seek the recovery of the land. NCA regional head of asset denial Rob Burgess said: The NCA works to tackle organised crime gangs at all levels in order to frustrate, disrupt and ultimately dismantle them. Our civil recovery powers play an integral role and we are committed to working closely alongside partners in the Joint Agency Task Force to prevent those engaged in criminal activity from benefitting financially from their illegal actions. We will continue to use these powers to pursue the assets of criminals, no matter how carefully they have been hidden. Detective Superintendent Emma Neil, from the Police Service of Northern Irelands Organised Crime Branch, added: Working with our partner agencies, we are committed to tackling and disrupting the activities of organised crime groups. These groups use whatever means possible from drug dealing to money laundering to line their own pockets and, sadly, its often at the expense of the most vulnerable members of our society. This is an excellent example of working in partnership. Were also grateful for the support of local people, and would appeal to anyone with information, or concerns, to contact us on 101. The Joint Agency Task Force is led by police and revenue services and brings together the relevant law enforcement agencies to better co-ordinate strategic and operational actions against cross-border organised crime. It involves senior officers from An Garda Siochana, PSNI, the Revenue Commissioners and HM Revenue and Customs. It also includes the Criminal Assets Bureau and the National Crime Agency (who have the primary roles in criminal assets recovery), as well as other law enforcement partners such as environmental protection agencies and immigration services. Busola Onasanwo (36) is accused of assaulting and injuring the man in Dublin city centre. A casino-goer struck a man on the head with a bicycle chain after chasing him with a bottle of Prosecco wrapped in a sock, it is alleged. Busola Onasanwo (36) is accused of assaulting and injuring the man after producing the bottle as a weapon during a row outside a casino in Dublin city centre. The case was adjourned at Dublin District Court for the accused to decide how he intends to plead. Mr Onasanwo, of Basin Street Flats, Dublin 8, is charged with assault and producing a bottle in the course of a dispute. Garda Sergeant Maire McDevitt said the DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the district court. Outlining the prosecutions case, she said both the accused and the alleged victim were at Dr Quirkeys casino on OConnell Street on December 16 last year. They had a verbal dispute and decided to leave. While outside, it was alleged Mr Onasanwo took out a bottle of Prosecco wrapped in a sock and chased after the man. They both returned to the casino and the accused decided to leave on his bike, she said. He had a metal bicycle chain on his shoulder and it was alleged the man grabbed it but Mr Onasanwo got hold of it and smacked the man on the head with it. There was visible blood on the alleged victims head but he made a full recovery, the court heard. Judge Smyth accepted jurisdiction for the case to remain in the district court and adjourned it to a date next month. Five family members have been convicted of dozens of offences related to the sexual abuse of four child relatives Five family members have been convicted of dozens of offences related to the sexual abuse of four child relatives following a Central Criminal Court trial. The jury in the trial of four men accused of sexual abuse and one woman accused of assisting one of them returned the verdicts today after seven-and-a-half hours of deliberations. A 66-year-old man and his three sons, aged 38, 40 and 41, were all charged with numerous counts of sexually abusing four family members, who were all children at the time. The 63-year-old wife of the oldest man was also on trial charged with assisting one of her sons who allegedly anally raped her granddaughter and assaulting the same child. The three-week trial heard that the alleged offences occurred between 1999 and 2005 in various locations around the country. The complainants and the accused are all part of an extended Traveller family. The four complainants were the oldest couple's daughter, their granddaughter and their two nephews. The jury found the 66-year-old man guilty of 24 charges including two charges of anally raping his granddaughter and 22 charges against his nephew - 12 charges of anal rape and ten charges of oral rape. The man had pleaded not guilty to 25 charges. One charge of assaulting his nephew was withdrawn by the trial judge. The jury found the 41-year-old man guilty of 19 counts of raping his sister, four counts of sexually assaulting her and three counts of orally raping her. He was also found guilty of two charges of anally raping his niece and one count of raping her. He was acquitted of two counts of raping his sister on unknown dates in 2004 and 2005. The jury found the 38-year-old man guilty on 20 counts of raping his sister, four counts of sexually assaulting her and six counts of oral rape. It acquitted him of two counts of raping his sister. He was also found guilty to two counts of anally raping his niece and two counts of anally raping his male cousin. The jury found the 40-year-old man guilty of 20 counts of rape, five counts of sexual assault and three counts of oral rape. It acquitted him of three charges of raping his sister on dates between 2004 and 2005. They found the 63-year-old woman guilty to assisting one of her sons the 38-year-old man who allegedly anally raped her granddaughter - and one count of assaulting her granddaughter. Another count of assaulting her nephew was withdrawn by the trial judge. She had pleaded not guilty to the three charges. The five defendants made no reaction as the verdicts were handed down in court. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring thanked the jurors for their service and excused them from jury duty for 10 years as a mark of the court's appreciation for their work. She noted this was a difficult case and the evidence heard was not pleasant. She told jurors the 66-year-old man is currently serving a 16-year sentence for sexually abusing his daughter, who became pregnant with his child when she was just 17. The judge said the work done by jurors is important and encouraged jurors to make sure people you know answer their jury service summons, however inconvenient. Ms Justice Ring directed the preparation of victim impact statements and a number of reports in relation to some of the defendants. She remanded the 66-year-old man and the 41-year-old man in custody for sentencing. Ms Justice Ring remanded the remaining three defendants on continuing bail. She directed the 38-year-old man and 40-year-old man to sign on at their local garda station four days a week. Justice Ring directed these three defendants to have no contact directly or indirectly with the complainants. She adjourned the matter to July 17 for mention, when a date for sentence hearing will be confirmed. Trial Summary Over the course of three weeks, a Central Criminal Court trial heard harrowing evidence of gratuitous sexual violence against four child members of an extended family. Opening the trial earlier this month (MAY) prosecuting barrister Shane Costelloe SC warned the jury it would hear evidence that was both unsettling and unsavoury. Closing the trial three weeks later, he said the jury must decide if the trial had been unsettling and unsavoury because four complainants had come to court and told a pack of lies about their childhood, or whether it was - as the prosecution maintained - unsettling and unsavoury that four children were sexually abused in the manner in which they have alleged. The jury decided it was the latter, vindicating the accounts of the now adult victims. There were 126 counts on the indictment later reduced to 124 - and nine members of an extended family involved in the case. The abuse was alleged to have occurred on dates between 1999 and 2005 in various locations around the country, with the jury being told the family was part of the Traveller community. The jury returned guilty verdicts on 117 out of the 124 counts after seven hours and 33 minutes of deliberation. The accused persons Five family members stood trial in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The 66-year-old patriarch of the family was accused of a range of child sexual abuse charges alongside three of his sons aged 38, 40 and 41. This man faced 24 charges, while his two older sons faced 31 charges each and his 38-year-old son was charged with 36 offences. His 63-year-old wife was also on trial accused of assaulting one of her granddaughters and of assisting one of her sons after he allegedly anally raped the same girl. The prosecution alleged she assisted her son by providing the girl with an adult diaper in the wake of the assault and prevented her from going home and telling her parents what had happened. Each of the accused, who can't be named to protect the identity of the complainants, denied all of the charges against them. The 66-year-old man is currently serving a 16-year sentence for sexually abusing his daughter who became pregnant with his child when she was just 17. This baby was brought up by her grandparents as their own. The man's wife told gardai she didn't know her husband was the father of her daughter's child until she was given DNA results. The complainants The jury was made aware of the sexual abuse of the father against his daughter, now aged 36, who was also a complainant in this case. In this trial, it was alleged she had also been sexually assaulted and raped by her three brothers over a prolonged period of time. The second female complainant (30) was a granddaughter of the husband and wife not the same child who was conceived as a result of the patriarch's abuse. She alleged she had been sexually abused on two to three occasions by her grandfather, her 41-year-old uncle and her 38-year-old uncle. It was also alleged her grandmother physically assaulted her once. The two male complainants in the case were nephews of the husband and wife. The court heard these two brothers were fostered by their aunt and uncle when they were children. The 33-year-old nephew alleged he was repeatedly sexually abused by his uncle the 66-year-old man. An assault charge against his aunt the 63-year-old woman was withdrawn by direction of the trial judge. His 30-year-old brother alleged he was anally raped on two occasions by his cousin the 38-year-old man. Aside from the alleged sexual abuse, the complainants described difficult childhoods, involving crowded and cold living conditions in caravans, begging for food, living on the sides of roads and moving around the country often at the behest of local councils or gardai. It was, one defence barrister said, an insight into life in the Traveller community in Ireland in the mid-2000s. The prosecution case In his closing speech to the jury, Mr Costelloe said the children were treated like dogs - as one of the complainants expressed it - and had grown up in an environment where they were sexually abused by their family members. He said the case boiled down to whether the jury was satisfied with the veracity of the complainants and the evidence they gave. He urged them to recall the demeanour of each complainant as they described the alleged events while in the witness box. He asked the jury to recall the little details that the complainants described the hard gravel under the knees of one of the girls as she was abused, the bloodied shorts of one of the little boys. It's hard to find a more harrowing account, he said. Mr Costelloe described how the complainants described being beaten as children with a chimney cleaning stick referred to during the trial as a machine stick. It was a feature of the control, dominance and abuse physical abuse that was going on at the time, he said. The defence was critical of the lack of detail in the case, but Mr Costelloe submitted that these were adults trying to recall what happened to them when they were children. He said one of the complainants had put it eloquently when she said: When you're a child growing up on the side of the road, you can't be expected to take everything in. Mr Costelloe urged the jury to bear in mind that the complainants had been children in the Travelling community, who moved around from place to place during their childhood and, as a result, it would be unfair to hold them to the standard of an adult from the settled community. These were children, Traveller children, moving around the country, living down country lanes and on the side of roads, he said. They did the absolute level best they could. In relation to suggestions the complainants were making up the allegations because they were seeking compensation, Mr Costelloe said there was no evidence three of the complainants had made a claim. The court heard the woman who was abused by her father has received compensation. He said there was zero evidence to suggest any of the complainants were colluding with each other to stitch up these people. They came here and told you the truth, he said. They have nothing to gain from it...You should be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt the prosecution has proven the acts took place and you should be satisfied you can convict the accused on each of the relevant counts. The defence case In their closing speeches to the jury, the five defence barristers were critical of what they said was a lack of detail in the prosecution case and in particular the timeline of the case, which in many incidents they said simply didn't add up, was not understandable and mismatched. The jury was told it could not fill in the gaps in the prosecution case and that, even if it felt the allegations had a ring of truth to them, this was not enough upon which to build a conviction. Michael Bowman SC, defending the 66-year-old patriarch, said the case involved allegations of gratuitous sexual violence. But he said the prosecution had abandoned its search for detail in the case, in particular in relation to the 33-year-old nephew, and that the defence had instead had to establish a timeline of events relating to this complainant. Using old care records, the defence asserted this nephew was not living with the uncle and aunt at the time he said the first incidence of abuse occurred and, as a result, could not have been further abused two to three times a week by his uncle, as alleged. The timeline was entirely inconsistent and the nephew's evidence was given in general, vague and non-specific terms, the jury was told. John McGowan SC, representing the 41-year-old man, said there were a number of inconsistencies in the case and the complainants contradicted themselves and each other. In relation to the 36-year-old woman's allegations against her brother, he said there was evidence the accused man was not living with the family at the relevant time. Mr McGowan said he was not criticising the prosecution nor the investigating gardai, whom he said carried out an extensive investigation. It's a criticism of the evidence given by the complainants, he said. It can't be explained away by saying they were children on the side of the road. They are not children now. Ciaran O'Loughlin SC, defending the 40-year-old man, said the evidence of his client's sister was fundamentally contradictory and that the man was no longer living with her family during the relevant period. He said he did not believe the sister had deliberately lied or misled the jury. He said it was possible she was looking back on childish horseplay with her siblings, which had then morphed in her mind into this gross abuse over a number of years. Dominic McGinn SC, defending the 38-year-old man, said it was a difficult case involving a traumatic upbringing, according to the complainants. But he said the allegations were vague and none of the complainants were able to give accurate details about the incidences of abuse. In relation to the sister, he noted she had placed the allegations against her brother as occurring from between the ages of 14 or 15 to when she was about 16. But Mr McGinn submitted a number of counts on the indictment against this man fell outside of this date range. He noted that three witnesses a neighbour, a local garda and a social worker had placed the family as only coming to live in one particular site in about 2005 or 2006, but a number of allegations were alleged to have taken place at this location a number of years earlier. What is in the charge sheet is not the same as the evidence, and you're obliged to return verdicts in accordance with the evidence, Mr McGinn said. Paul Murray SC, defending the 63-year-old woman, said the prosecution had tried to paint a bad picture of his client, but a social worker who worked with the family had not given any evidence of witnessing alcohol abuse, physical abuse or neglect. Mr Murray said his client had no history of previous convictions, had raised a large family and had been entrusted with rearing foster children. Ultimately, it's a matter for you to determine whether my client has committed any offence and whether at this stage in her life, entering her 64th year and having regard to her history...she deserves a verdict of guilty, he said. Chang Teng Wang (57) of Melville Rise, Finglas, Dublin 11, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today A man is to be sentenced next month for the manslaughter of his infant grandson at their Dublin home almost four years ago. Chang Teng Wang (57) of Melville Rise, Finglas, Dublin 11, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, where he was arraigned. Speaking through a Mandarin interpreter, Wang pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Sean Wang at Melville Rise, Finglas, Dublin 11, on August 15, 2019. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for sentencing on June 7. She remanded Wang on continuing bail to that date. At a previous hearing at Dublin District Court Detective Garda Siobhan Tolan said the baby boy was in the care of his grandfather at his home in Finglas. The babys parents were out with friends at the time. It was alleged that shortly after midnight on August 13, 2019, the child arrived at Temple Street Childrens Hospital in cardiac arrest and accompanied by his parents. Medical staff performed CPR 40 times after which a heartbeat was detected. He was transferred to the intensive care unit where he lost his fight for life two days later, the court heard. Both men had particular problems that rendered them vulnerable to temptations put in front of them, Judge Nolan said Two men have been jailed for their role in transporting over almost 1.2 million worth of cannabis resin last year. Anthony Larkin (46) of Killarney Park, Bray, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply of just over 92kg of the drugs, worth an estimated 556,800 just outside Brittas, Co Dublin on April 1, 2022. Gerard Windrum (38) of Oliver Bond House, Dublin pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of 105 kg of the same drug, worth just over 630,000, at a storage unit in Mount Seskin, Tallaght on the same date. Larkin has no previous convictions. Windrum has 103 previous convictions, the majority of which are for road traffic offences, but include a conviction for the sale or supply of 1kg of heroin. Judge Martin Nolan said there was no doubt that both men were couriers and getting little or nothing but possible alleviation for a debt. But they were mature men and unfortunately for everyone they entered into this, the judge said. He acknowledged that they were both well liked by their family and their community and they have a good work history. Both have particular problems that rendered them vulnerable to temptations put in front of them, Judge Nolan said. He sentenced Windrum to eight years in prison, having taken into account his earlier conviction for a similar offence. He sentenced Larkin to five years in prison. Detective Garda Val Russell told Katherine McGillicuddy BL prosecuting, that gardai had a storage unit in Mount Seskin under surveillance following a tip off when they saw Windrum arrive in a van. He removed four bags from the unit and loaded them into the van. Gardai then followed the van until Windrum parked up in a carpark on the Blessington Road in Brittas. Larkin then arrived into the carpark. Windrum and Larkin spoke for a few minutes before they drove off in tandem, Windrum leading the way. Det Gda Russell said the two vehicles pulled up into a second location in Brittas where Windrum transferred the four bags, with Larkins assistance, into Larkins vehicle. The two vehicles drove off in different direction but were followed by gardai and stopped a short time later. The keys for the storage unit were found on Windrum and a follow up search of the unit revealed 105kg of cannabis resin, while the four bags found in Larkins van were found to contain just over 92kg of the same drug. Both men were arrested and taken in for questioning during which Larkin said his life was in danger because of a drug debt. He said he had been approached and given instructions about what to do. He said he was very sorry. Det Gda Russell agreed with Fiona Murphy SC, defending, that Windrums baby died due to cot death in October 2000 which led to an escalation in his drug use. He accepted that Windrum was a vulnerable person. He agreed with Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending, that there is a second case pending against Larkin relating to him collecting 37,000 on behalf of third parties in January this year. He is facing a charge of money laundering. Ms Murphy told Judge Nolan that her client had experienced a very difficult time and slipped back into cocaine use as a coping mechanism following the death of his child. She said his addiction spiralled and he found himself in serious debt with no reality of being able to pay it off. She said he was put in fear of his life and felt he was not in a position to say no. Ms Murphy submitted that her client was vulnerable and exploited by more sinister people. Mr O Lideadha handed in testimonials on behalf of his client which described him as very reliable and said he helped in the local community. He was described as a hard working and trusting person who lives for his kids. Local man John Byrne (39), who had Down's Syndrome was flipped into the air. He was brought to hospital but died A young woman who drove through a red light and fatally knocked down a pedestrian has had her driving ban reduced by two years, after the Court of Appeal found that a since overturned interpretation of the law for first time careless driving offenders "must have worked its way into the reasoning" of the sentencing judge. Letitia Barry (23) of Rivermeade Park, St Margaret's, Dublin, pleaded guilty to driving a car without due care and attention, causing the death of John Byrne at a pedestrian crossing at Whitestown Road, in Rush, Co Dublin on June 7, 2019. Barry was prosecuted under Section 52(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, which was fully suspended. Judge Melanie Greally also imposed a six-year driving ban at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on February 23, 2022. Letitia Barry The court heard that local man John Byrne (39), who had Down's Syndrome, had used the road crossing many times before and always waited for the green light before crossing. An analysis of the lights sequencing indicated that there was a gap of six seconds between the vehicular lights going red and the pedestrian light going green. Mr Byrne was flipped into the air and his head hit the kerb. He was brought to hospital but died as a result of the head injuries he sustained. Barry stayed at the scene after the collision and she and other members of the public tried to provide some comfort to Mr Byrne with blankets. At the sentencing hearing, the judge was informed that the consequential disqualification order from holding a driving licence for a conviction for such an offence was a mandatory four years. However, following a decision in the Court of Appeal in a separate case last October it was held that unless a person has two or more previous convictions for careless driving, the sentencing judge was not required to treat a first conviction for careless driving causing death or serious injury as being a 'consequential disqualification' which would mandate a four-year ban. At the Court of Appeal today, David Staunton BL for the appellant, said that Barry, who pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions for careless driving and was a young mother who worked in childcare. The barrister said Barry had excellent employment and character references. A garda report noted that the location of street furniture, such as lamp standards and the traffic lights, had a tendency to obscure pedestrians from drivers at the point at which Mr Byrne had been standing. The report stated the layout was not in accordance with the relative manual for the ideal placement of street furniture. Mr Staunton said there had been no explanation by the trial judge on the reason for the six-year suspension. Mr Staunton asked the court to consider, if the sentencing judge was operating on a "baseline" of four years, would the ban still be six if that mandatory assumption was removed? Counsel described the matter as a "sad and tragic case". The barrister said that there was no allegation regarding speed and that Barry had a full and clean licence at the time. "Everyone was extremely upset about what occurred. Mr Byrne was well-known in the locality," he said. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said that the death of Mr Byrne had a "terrible impact" on his family and the wider community. Eoghan Cole BL, for the State, said the trial judge had considered the minimum period and still considered the offence as meriting a six-year ban for what he described as "grossly incompetent" driving. Mr Cole said the trial judge said Mr Byrne was "in no way" responsible for the accident and that the light had been red for six seconds before the "tragic" collision. Mr Cole said that there had been "no appeal to say it wasn't the proper charge", relating to the "fitness and quality of driving against Barry". "It's not a case where there could be no ban. It's a death case. It's sad and tragic and utterly avoidable," said Mr Cole. Mr Justice George Birmingham said that it had been previously understood that there was a mandatory disqualification as a consequence of the offence when the case reached the circuit court. "The decision of this court comes to a different conclusion. Whether there should or not be a ban or the duration of the ban was a matter for discretion for the court dealing with it," he said. "The offence of careless driving causing harm or serious death is very serious and significant and has very grave consequences for the victim and the family of that victim, and for all of those who feature in each case. "The impacts are real, and it is not to be understood that we are not conscious of that," said Mr Justice Birmingham, adding that the case was "particularly harrowing". Mr Justice Birmingham said the layout of the junction had been "certainly sub-optimal" and said Barry had been of "impeccable previous character". However, the judge said: "The driver drove through a crossing without realising there were lights there and that falls at the very serious end of careless driving. "Six years of disqualification was fifty per cent in excess of the statutory ban. The question is whether that figure would be arrived at even without the understanding of the ban," he said. Mr Justice Birmingham said that the "statutory ban must have worked its way into the reasoning" of the sentencing judge and therefore the court would quash the six-year ban and substitute one of four years in the "particularly tragic circumstances". The 42-year-old was escorted through Johannesburg Airport by two Interpol officers and members of the gardai This is the moment a Dublin woman who is a suspect in a double murder was brought through an airport in South Africa by police before being extradited home. Ruth Lawrence, who is originally from north Dublin, was due to arrive back in Ireland this morning and is expected to appear in court later today charged over the gruesome murders of Eoin OConnor, (32), and Anthony Keegan, (33) in 2014. The 42-year-old was escorted through Johannesburg Airport by two Interpol officers and members of the gardai before embarking on a British Airways flight to Heathrow Airport. It was understood she was then flown to Dublin on an early morning flight. Fugitive Ruth had been lying low since the bodies of two close friends Eoin OConnor and Anthony Keegan were found with gunshot wounds to the head and buried in a shallow grave. She and fellow murder suspect and lover Neville van der Westhuizen, 40, fled to his native South Africa shortly after the killings and both worked as tattoo artists travelling the Rainbow Nation for work. They split in 2015 but Lawrence's luck ran out in October last year when South African police acting on an Interpol warrant got a tip off and arrested her at a bungalow in Bloemfontein, Free State province. Ruth Lawrence and Neville Van der Westhuizen The families of both murdered men have been informed by the Irish police that Lawrence is now in their custody and was being brought on the 6000-mile overnight journey to face justice. Lawrence has already spent 7 months behind bars locked up in a hell hole holding cell at a Bloemfontein police station and even volunteered to be flown home ignoring the chance to fight extradition. A visitor to her at a grim holding cell in Bloemfontein said: Shes bearing up well all things considered but the food and conditions are atrocious and she said she just wants to get back and face whatever is coming. To speed things up she even offered to pay for her own flight back to Dublin. She has offered no resistance and signed all the paperwork and said she is fed up with running and looking over her shoulder" she said. Lawrence and lover Neville van der Westhuizen left Ireland in April 2014 after two men known to them were shot in the head either in their rented cottage or in a field just outside. A butcher fishing in a channel of water between the house and a small island on a nearby lake called the police who searched the island and found a shallow grave. The bodies of the two friends were found buried and shortly afterwards an Interpol arrest warrant was issued for Lawrence and van der Westhuizen as an all ports and airports alert was put out for them. Extradition began when Lawrence was arrested in a dawn raid on October 4 last year by the elite South African police squad The Hawks at a suburban bungalow she was renting behind security gates in Bloemfontein. A spokesman for the South African Department of Justice Mr Chrispin Phiri confirmed: The Minister Mr Ronald Lamola approved her extradition and approved the Irish police to travel to South Africa to collect her. Her co-accused Neville van der Westhuizen is currently serving 15 years in South Africa for an offence of culpable homicide which is not linked in any way to the Irish allegations but will serve his sentence first. When he has completed his sentence in a Durban jail then the Interpol extradition case against him can be heard" he said. It has been alleged that Lawrence and van der Westhuizen owed debts running into five figures to a Dublin drug gang and when two men went to collect it they were both shot dead and the lovers fled Ireland. The two professional tattooists travelled round South Africa together initially but are thought to have parted ways in 2015 with Lawrence known to have worked in Johannesburg, Pretoria and finally Bloemfontein. South African Police already had Van der Westhuizen under lock and key after he was arrested in 2017 and then convicted in 2020 for the culpable homicide of a teenager after a beating at his Durban tattoo parlour. He was sentenced to 15 years at Durban High Court for the crime as well as kidnapping him and inflicting GBH in which his 19-year-old victim died. Lawrence from Clontarf, N Dublin, will be formally charged in Ireland with murdering OConnor and Keegan in April, 2014, after she lands and is expected to be brought before magistrates within 48 hours. A National Prosecuting Authority spokesman said: "As Ruth Lawrence did not object to extradition it was relatively easy to do the paperwork and although she could have fought extradition she chose not to do so. South African Police are thought to have driven Lawrence in handcuffs and leg shackles 250 miles from the Bansvlei holding cells in Bloemfontein to Johannesburg where she was handed over to waiting Irish detectives. It is believed the man was arrested on foot of video evidence captured by a hidden camera at the scene A camera placed to capture wildlife took this footage of a man claimed to be an ex-cop attaching wire to trees along the popular cycling route in Binevanagh Forest, Co Derry A camera placed to capture wildlife took this footage of a man claimed to be an ex-cop attaching wire to trees along the popular cycling route in Binevanagh Forest, Co Derry A camera placed to capture wildlife took this footage of a man claimed to be an ex-cop attaching wire to trees along the popular cycling route in Binevanagh Forest, Co Derry An ex-cop has been questioned about an alleged attack which could have seriously injured or even killed mountain bikers. The former police officer, who is in his 50s, was arrested after the PSNI received a report about wire tied between trees in Binevenagh Forest in Co Derry last week. It is believed the man was arrested on foot of video evidence captured by a hidden camera at the scene. The man, who is understood to have retired from the police, was this week quizzed about the incident before being released on police bail pending further enquiries. The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information which could help their ongoing investigation to come forward. They have also warned mountain bikers and other people using wooded areas in the region to be vigilant in case wire has been put up at other locations. Binevenagh Forest is one of the most popular locations for mountain biking in Northern Ireland and offers a number of challenging routes through stunning scenery. A camera placed to capture wildlife took this footage of a man claimed to be an ex-cop attaching wire to trees along the popular cycling route in Binevanagh Forest, Co Derry Details of the recent alleged attack against mountain bikers first emerged on Monday when police released a statement appealing for witnesses. Chief Inspector, Sinead McIldowney said police had received a report earlier that day that wire had been tied between trees in the Binevenagh Forest area the previous Friday. It is believed that this occurred sometime between 3pm and 4pm, said Chief Inspector McIldowney. Our enquiries are progressing but we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1443 of 15/5/23. We are aware of video footage which is circulating online and this is currently being reviewed. The video footage, which has been seen by the Sunday World, shows a man appearing to connect a piece of wire to a tree before stretching and attaching the wire at chest height to a nearby tree. It is understood the footage was taken from a camera placed in the forest to monitor wildlife in the area. The video has been shared online among mountain biking enthusiasts in Northern Ireland. Writing on social media, several people described their horror at the placing of wire across a known mountain bike track. One mountain biker wrote: Thing is this isnt like dragging a log across a trail or blocking with a few rocks. This is stringing a wire between two trees with no other purpose but to cause injury. Chief Inspector McIldowney said enquiries into the incident are continuing and urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity to police. We are conducting robust enquiries, but I would encourage members of the public making use of any wooded areas in the Causeway Coast and Glens area to be vigilant. Take care if you are using these areas for recreational purposes and please report anything suspicious to police. A camera placed to capture wildlife took this footage of a man claimed to be an ex-cop attaching wire to trees along the popular cycling route in Binevanagh Forest, Co Derry In a follow-up statement on Thursday, a PSNI spokesperson said the man arrested had been released on police bail pending further enquiries. It is not the first time wire has been placed across trails used by bikers in Northern Ireland. In 2016, wire was found at head height along a mountain bike course at Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor, Co Down. The wires were found in advance of a competition in a forest area of the park. Organisers said the wires were placed along downhill sections where riders could reach speeds of up to 40mph. At the time, a PSNI spokesperson said: This was an unbelievably dangerous thing to do. Whoever is responsible could have caused great injury to those participating. In 2018, wire was found stretched tightly between trees at chest height at Cave Hill Country Park in Belfast. A few months earlier trees were placed on the route and a hole dug in a bid to throw cyclists off their bikes. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. We have always said that we maintain the ability to communicate with Iran and deliver messages to them when it is in the US best interest to do so, Matthew Miller, Spokesperson for the US Department of State, said at a briefing, while answering a question on whether there is any progress on the oint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Trend reports. "We do continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to verifiably and durably ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon <...> diplomacy is the best way, as I just said, to verifiably and durably ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, and it is a priority of this administration to ensure that," he said. The JCPOA, initiated in January 2016, is an agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group (comprising the US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany) regarding Iran's nuclear program. However, in May 2018, the US withdrew from the agreement and imposed sanctions on Iran, followed by additional sanctions in November of the same year. To uphold the JCPOA's provisions, the European signatories established a financial mechanism called INSTEX in January 2019 to facilitate trade with Iran. On May 8, 2019, Iran declared its discontinuation of commitments related to the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stipulated in the JCPOA, citing the non-compliance of other signatories with their obligations. Subsequently, on July 7, Iran announced its decision to disregard commitments regarding uranium enrichment at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility, as outlined in the agreement. On September 5, Iran made an announcement stating its intention to enrich uranium using advanced centrifuges and abstain from mixing it with enriched uranium residues, constituting the third phase of reducing its commitments within the JCPOA. Later, on November 5, 2019, Iran declared the implementation of the fourth phase in reducing its obligations under the nuclear agreement, specifically by injecting uranium gas into centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. In January 2020, Iran proceeded with the final fifth step of reducing its commitments within the JCPOA. Gardai uncovered the drugs haul and arrested the man after stopping a car and searching a house A man in his 20s has been arrested after 105,000 worth of suspected cannabis was seized today in Co Clare. Gardai uncovered the drugs haul and arrested the man after stopping a car in the early hours of this morning, Thursday, May 25, in Ennis. A statement from gardai today said: The searches were conducted as part of Operation Tara targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Clare division. At approximately 12:20am, gardai from the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit stopped a vehicle in the Tobarteascain area. Approximately 100,000 of suspected cannabis was seized and an occupant of the vehicle, a man in his late 20s, was arrested. During the course of a follow-up search of a residence in the area, a further 5,000 of suspected cannabis was seized, along with a weighing scales and other drug paraphernalia. The seized drugs (totalling 105,000) will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. The arrested male is being detained at a garda station in Clare under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. Investigations are ongoing. This seizure forms part of Operation Tara; an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on 2nd July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs. Investigators believe the 45-year-old killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. German police search the Arade reservoir near the area where British girl Madeleine McCann went missing in May 2007. Photo: REUTERS/Luis Ferreira. Madeleine McCann was three years old when she went missing in 2007 (Family handout/PA) The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann search, Christian Brueckner, is said to have visited the Portugal reservoir some days after her disappearance, a source close to the investigation has revealed. It comes as divers searching for Madeleine prepare to enter the reservoir in the Algarve for the third day. German detectives were informed by a very credible source who knew the suspect, The Telegraph reported. The Barragem do Arade is around 31 miles from the Praia da Luz resort where Madeleine disappeared. Investigators believe the 45-year-old killed Madeleine, then aged three, after abducting her from a holiday apartment. On Tuesday, officers acting on credible information were said to be seeking any fragments of clothing and old rags that could be related to her disappearance, as reported by the Daily Mail. Fresh searches in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann enter a second day The development comes just 10 days after Madeleines parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, issued a tribute on their Leicestershire-born daughters 20th birthday, telling her: We love you and were waiting for you. Were never going to give up. Yesterday Police deployed heavy equipment and sniffer dogs, the second day of a search at a remote reservoir in Portugal for evidence linking a German suspect to the disappearance of the British toddler. Emergency services brought in a remote-controlled tractor-mounted tree cutter to clear what appeared to be a new search area, a few hundred metres away from a temporary camp set up on Tuesday on the shores of the Arade reservoir by Portuguese police, assisted by German and British counterparts. McCann was three years old in May 2007 when she vanished from her bedroom in the apartment her family were staying at in the Praia da Luz resort on the Algarve coast. The reservoir is about 50 km inland. HOPES FOR CLOSURE "I hope they will find something, so the parents can have peace," said Gert, 49-year-old Dane who lives in the same building from which McCann disappeared. Other Praia da Luz residents and holidaymakers shared the hope Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, will have closure at last. Citing a source close to the investigation, Portugal's Expresso newspaper said the German Federal Criminal Police Office acted on a tip-off from an informer, "whom German police consider very credible" and who provided them with details that the investigators "are taking very seriously". Prosecutor Christian Wolters in Braunschweig, Germany, told broadcaster NDR the information did not come from the suspect and there was "no confession or anything similar", and police were not necessarily looking for McCann's remains at the Arade. "We never said that the girl disappeared where we are now searching," he said. CNN Portugal said the operation would continue at least for one more day on Thursday. Ms Lee has now been barred for life from the police service after being found guilty of gross misconduct. A sex loving ex-cop has been found guilty of missing a chance to arrest Wayne Couzens on the day he murdered tragic Londoner Sarah Everard. Samantha Lee investigated Wayne Couzens over two indecent exposure incidents hours before he kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard in Kent. Ms Lee has now been barred for life from the police service after being found guilty of gross misconduct. She currently makes a living making sex videos on Onlyfans. "I made a choice to leave and start my own business as an adult content creator for many reasons which some may or may not have heard about, Ms Lee wrote on her Officer Naughty adult site. Ms Lee carried out a sloppy and unprofessional investigation after Couzens, 50, exposed himself to female staff at a drive-through McDonalds in Kent on 14 and 27 February 2021, a police disciplinary hearing found. Samantha Lee She failed to secure CCTV footage when she visited the restaurant on 3 March, hours before Couzens abducted Everard, 33, in Clapham, south-west London. Ms Lee reportedly told investigators that she thought the footage was deleted automatically so it was pointless to attempt to find any images of Couzens offending. However, at a police disciplinary hearing, the restaurant manager involved revealed 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 told her Couzens' registration plate could be seen in the CCTV footage of the second incident. Panel chairman Darren Snow found Ms Lee's dishonesty over this matter amounted to gross misconduct, and that had she still been a serving officer, she would have been dismissed from the force. Wayne Couzens It has been revealed that at 10 am on the day of Lees hearing sentencing for the serious offence of gross misconduct, she shared a graphic post on Onlyfans. I was gonna wait till June! Ms Lee wrote. As you've all been so patient this week! Here is one of my very first girl on girl videos!! The other G/G video will be being release in June as originally planned but is still available for early purchase, let's just say June is gonna be a hell of a spicy month!! the bad cop wrote. On her Officer Naughty website, Lee says she is a "29-year-old, curvy ex-Metropolitan Police Officer who is now a spicy online content creator. "I served in the Metropolitan Police Service for nearly seven years! I made plenty of memories some good, some bad and some really sad. "I made a choice to leave and start my own business as an adult content creator for many reasons which some may or may not have heard about. "It's been the best decision I've made for my mental health and my happiness. Life's too short and we all deserve to know happiness!" Today, there are nearly 500 Irish police and military personnel serving under the UN flag The Irish soldier, Private Sean Rooney, who was killed in the Lebanon last December, is to be honoured at the 75th anniversary of the United Nations at their headquarters in New York The Irish Ambassador to the UN, Fergal Mythen, will receive the Dag Hammarskjold medal, named after the second Secretary-General of the UN, on behalf of Private Rooney's family Donegal peacekeeper Rooney joined the Irish Defence Forces in March 2019. His home unit was the 27 Infantry Battalion, Aiken Barracks, Dundalk. He was killed while serving in the Lebanon on December 14, 2022. The presentation of the medal in the UN General Assembly Hall coincides with a series of events planned to mark the 75th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, will lay a wreath at the Peacekeeper's Memorial in the grounds of the UN compound to commemorate the 4,200 peacekeepers, including 91 Irish personnel, who have died. Ahead of the anniversary, Mr Guterres said UN peacekeepers were "the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world." Swedish diplomat Dag Hammarskjold died in a plane crash in what is now Zambia in September 1961. The posthumous award is given by the UN to military personnel, police, or civilians who lose their lives while serving in a United Nations peacekeeping operation. Ireland has contributed peacekeepers to UN missions on a continuous basis since 1958. Today, there are nearly 500 Irish police and military personnel serving under the UN flag. Private Rooney's funeral Speaking at his Months Mind in January, the parish priest of Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, Fr Philip Kemmy, told how the impact of the short life of the tragic soldier will be felt for generations to come. Hundreds of locals joined Sean's family and friends as they remembered the life of the young soldier in All Saints Church. Included amongst the congregation was Sean's loving mum Natasha, her partner Paul McCloskey as well as Sean's fiancee Holly McConnellogue whom he was due to marry in August. Fr Kemmy said it was not the length of days which made a life honourable but rather how that life was lived. He added that Sean's death was not the end but the beginning of something new but accepted that it will be difficult and that their grief will be "raw and hard." He told mourners "We are all living from the benefits of their lives. Quite short lives, but their life has a ripple effect that goes on." "And Sean's life, far too short, has a ripple effect way beyond the years that we might have expected for him because that ripple effect of his life, so well lived and so lived full of love that will go on in your lives and even into other generations." Pte Rooney was shot dead when the vehicle he was driving came under fire in the village of Al-Aqbiya, south of Beirut. The 24-year-old was a specialist driver in the United National Interim Forces in Lebanon (Unifil). The street is currently closed off to traffic with local diversions put in place. A full image of the scenes shows the damaged roof above Senator John McGahon's office on Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk The incident took lace on Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk A man has been rushed to hospital after a roof collapsed outside the offices of Dundalk Senator John McGahon earlier today. Shocking images from the scene show bricks and rubble blocking the footpath below on Clanbrassil Street in the town centre shortly after midday. A full image of the scenes shows the damaged roof above Senator John McGahon's office on Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk One man was injured in the incident after being hit by the falling debris and was rushed to hospital a short time later. The street is currently closed off to traffic with local diversions put in place. "Gardai and emergency services are currently at the scene of an incident in Clanbrassil Street in Dundalk, County Louth, a garda spokesperson confirmed. "One person has been taken to hospital for treatment of their injuries. Clanbrassil Street is currently closed to traffic. Local diversions are in place." I think communication from government about housing refugees/ migrants needs to be MUCH better, and this would help assuage fears. - I dont live in a mansion in an rich part of Dublin! Wish I did! Leo Varadkar has admitted that Ireland is struggling with the number of refugees entering Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) Broadcaster Maia Dunphy has slammed the hateful messages which have appeared on her Twitter feed after she posed in a white t-shirt with the words Refugees welcome emblazoned on the front. Ms Dunphy decided to show support for displaced people whilst wearing a grey cap in a selfie which she posted online. Christ, the T-shirt has turned my timeline into a bin fire. People really are so full of hate and a lot of misinformation, she said afterwards. Ms Dunphy went on to describe a new approach which may be required by the authorities in order to quell the fears of people protesting refugees arrival in their communities. And a few points: - I think communication from government about housing refugees/ migrants needs to be MUCH better, and this would help assuage fears. - I dont live in a mansion in an rich part of Dublin! Wish I did! And Ive never said it should be up to citizens to house refugees. Many I know have, and its working out well. Genuine questions and fears should never be belittled. Homeless man, gardai and marchers (Niall Carson/PA) Listening to and answering questions can only ever help (in any context). But so many people are spreading outright lies and its desperately unhelpful, Ms Dunphy said. According to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Ireland is currently struggling with the scale of the refugee crisis sweeping across Europe, following Vladimir Putins decision to invade his Ukranian neighbours as well as countless other conflicts which are being fought across the globe. The Taoiseach said while issues have arisen with accommodation shortages and some protests, the vast majority of the near 100,000 people who have arrived in Ireland in the last year have been welcomed. There is always a place in a democracy for peaceful protest and people have a right to have their voices heard, said Mr Varadkar. But engaging in violence, engaging in intimidation, engaging in racism, and restricting the freedom of others in a public place is not a legitimate form of protest. I think when it comes to this matter, we should never lose sight of the bigger picture. Were facing a major refugee crisis not just here in Ireland but all across Europe. Leo Varadkar has admitted that Ireland is struggling with the number of refugees entering Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) We would have seen in most years (that) 3,000 to 4,000 people come to Ireland each year looking for protection, in the past year its been closer to 100,000, most fleeing the war in Ukraine, but a very large number of people seeking international protection from other parts of Europe and outside of Europe, as well, and were struggling to deal with it. But I think weve done a lot. Almost all of those 100,000 people who have come to our country in the past year have been provided with food, shelter, accommodation, access to health care, access to housing, access to education and, in many cases, theyve been provided with employment as well. And I want to particularly thank the gardai for the work that theyve done in managing these protests, a very difficult job in a difficult situation and also to recognise the communities that have accepted newcomers into their communities, Mr Varadkar said. The GB News host was reacting after Schofield stepped down from the ITV talk show with immediate effect on Saturday after more than 20 years in the role. Eamonn Holmes has claimed his former colleague Phillip Schofield was sacked from This Morning. The GB News host was reacting after Schofield stepped down from the ITV talk show with immediate effect on Saturday after more than 20 years in the role. His shock departure came amid reports that his relationship with co-host Holly Willoughby had turned sour. Holly and Phillip In an official statement, he said: ITV has decided the current situation cant go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love. Afterwards, Willoughby issued her own statement on her Instagram stories, writing: It's been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Phil and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour. The sofa wont feel the same without him. The former duo was criticised by Eamonn Holmes, who co-hosted This Morning with his wife Ruth Langsford every Friday for 15 years before they were replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot OLeary. The Northern Irish broadcaster, who has previously spoken about his dislike for Schofield, ranted that the presenters exit was nonsense and claimed he was fired by ITV. Lets just stop this. He was sacked. All this nonsense about giving him Ive decided to step down. Im sure you did, Im sure you did. Heres your P45, now step down, he joked. He also took aim at Willoughby for moaning about Schofields departure when there were rumours of a rift between the two. Why do we propagate this language use? Ive decided to step down and she (Holly) says Oh, the couch will not feel the same without him being there. Well, she wanted him not there (sic) so whats she moaning about the couch not feeling the same for. They deserve each other, I suppose. However, a spokesperson for ITV maintained that Schofield leaving the show was a joint decision. Phillip Schofields decision to step down from This Morning was (as his statement made clear) a decision agreed between Phillip and ITV, they said in a statement. The Dubliner joined Alison Hammond in the studio on Wednesday and Thursday to stand in for her co-host Dermot OLeary, who had received some time off to celebrate his 50th birthday. ITV viewers are calling for Irish presenter Craig Doyle to be a full-time host on This Morning after he stepped in for a guest stint this week. The Dubliner joined Alison Hammond in the studio on Wednesday and Thursday to stand in for her co-host Dermot OLeary, who had received some time off to celebrate his 50th birthday. Alison and Dermot have been presenting the morning talk show since news of Phillip Schofields departure broke over the weekend, while Holly Willoughby is also taking a break from TV in the wake of her former partner in crimes exit. Craig proved to be a hit with viewers, who took to social media to sing his praises after the show. Many even begged ITV bosses to let the 52-year-old, who has previously worked for BT Sport and RTE, to join the show permanently. Loving Craig Doyle on #ThisMorning. Can he be a permanent presenter, please? He asks the questions without being loud and overbearing. It's refreshing to watch, one person wrote. Another fan said: #ThisMorning need to keep Craig Doyle on full time lovely bloke and not bad to look at either folks. While a third chimed in: Great to see #craigdoyle on @ITV #thismorning. He has a natural, easy way of presenting which seems genuine. Maybe it's an Irish thing. He has great humour, but is serious when necessary & respectful to guests. A great addition to the team. And a fourth added: I think Craig Doyle should take Schoffes place presenting #ThisMorning with Holly, and Alison + Dermot continue on Fridays. Craig is easy on the eye, likeable and has a gorgeous Irish accent. HUGE improvement from Phillip. Please @thismorning, hire Craig permanently! However, while dozens of viewers have been sharing the love for Craig, the Irishman isn't tipped by many bookies to take over hosting duties. Several punters believe the job will go to another stand-in such former The Saturdays star Rochelle Humes. A spokesperson for UK betting company Coral said: Following support in our betting, Dermot O'Leary has jumped to the top of the betting to replace Phillip Schofield permanently on This Morning. Alison Hammond and Rochelle Humes are very familiar with This Morning and are strong contenders for the job according to our odds." It comes after Eamonn Holmes has claimed Schofield, his former colleague, was sacked from This Morning rather than stepping down. The Northern Irish broadcaster, who has previously spoken about his dislike for Schofield, ranted that the presenters exit was nonsense and claimed he was fired by ITV. Lets just stop this. He was sacked. All this nonsense about giving him Ive decided to step down. Im sure you did, Im sure you did. Heres your P45, now step down, he jibed. He also took aim at Willoughby for moaning about Schofields departure when there were rumours of a rift between the two. Why do we propagate this language use? Ive decided to step down and she (Holly) says Oh, the couch will not feel the same without him being there. Well, she wanted him not there (sic) so whats she moaning about the couch not feeling the same for. They deserve each other, I suppose. However, a spokesperson for ITV maintained that Schofield leaving the show was a joint decision. Phillip Schofields decision to step down from This Morning was (as his statement made clear) a decision agreed between Phillip and ITV, they said in a statement. I still have so many dreams. I have fulfilled coming to America. Creating a career for myself was a big dream and a gamble, and it paid off. Pierce Brosnan has launched his first ever solo art exhibition, entitled So Many Dreams, this week in Los Angeles. The county Meath actor revealed he has been painting for over 30 years and that the display of the deeply personal works was a dream come true for the star. "And thats a wrap! Thank you to all who helped me launch So Many Dreams and to those who came out in support of the exhibition. It was a dream come true on so many levels. A wonderful way to celebrate my birthday! Pierce wrote on Instagram on Monday. The Hollywood star turned 70 last week when he was snapped celebrating with wife Keely Shaye Brosnan and his mother-in-law Sharon Rose at the famous Japanese restaurant Nobu in Malibu, California. Brosnan's exhibition Now Brosnan's first art show is being hosted on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles and features paintings and drawings that were created between the late 1980s and today. The 007 man revealed that he believes it is only through painting he can fully express himself. The artwork is biographical," Brosnan said. "Ive tried to write the memoirs, and its so boring. Its just having to dig into the head and the heart and the memory of life. And so these paintings definitely have a history of who I was, where I was, when I was." Brosnan first began painting as a youngster in Ireland, then found himself working as a commercial artist in London. After he headed Stateside and landed the lead role on NBC's "Remington Steele," Brosnans career took flight and he became too busy to follow his passion for the canvas. I found myself living here, and I was strongly influenced by the LA artists of the early 80s. I had a certain desire and wish and a want to paint. I had the money to afford the art supplies, the canvas, the brushes. I bought all these wonderful, wonderful art supplies, and they just ended up in a cupboard. One night, I got up, and I just started painting. I started painting with my fingers, Pierce said. Mr Brosnans late wife Cassandra Harris was recovering from cancer at the time. Now the veteran heart throb has a chance to reflect on his life so far. Its my own birthday gift to myself to have the courage to say, come and see my artwork, he said. Couple at exhibition launch I still have so many dreams. I have fulfilled coming to America. Creating a career for myself was a big dream and a gamble, and it paid off. "So Many Dreams is a love story. Its a love story of women who have influenced my life and my children and the art form that I make as an actor." Keely Shaye also took to Instagram to celebrate her husband's recent big day, in which she wished him "a blessed, bountiful and adventurous new trip around the sun. "Happy Birthday my darling @piercebrosnanofficial ," she wrote in a caption that accompanied a photo she snapped of Pierce standing against a backdrop of yellow flowers and a mountain-side view. Hate brings money. Hate brings likes, brings views - it doesnt matter. TikTok prankster 'Mizzy' has been branded a complete moron by Piers Morgan after the teenage social media star bragged about not being afraid of the weak laws in the UK. In a heated TV debate, 'Mizzy' whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O'Garro (18) said he was able to get away with pranks such as stealing a woman's dog, ripping up library books and jumping into strangers' cars as he has no fear of the law. Even though he was issued with a criminal behaviour order last week, he told Morgan during a heated TV debate that UK laws are weak, simple as when explaining how he gets off so lightly with his extreme pranks. Among his antics, he is said to have put a family at risk by walking into their home pretending he was trying to find a study group, in a video called, Walking into random houses, let's go. Mizzy doesn't care about laws Speaking to Piers Morgan on Talk TV the prankster was asked: What has been motivating you to terrorise the people around where you live? He replied: I wouldnt really call it terrorising, Ill just call it more having fun. As O'Garro continued to interrupt, Morgan listed the numerous extreme pranks he carried out during a feisty interview. You go up and take a dog from an elderly woman, you leapfrog over the top of an orthodox Jewish man standing at the side of the road minding his business. You go up to women in the street and say do you want to die? A lot of the stuff that you do could have consequences far more serious but you dont care do you, as long as you get a laugh?' O'Garro replied: Of course I care I have remorse, before adding he is his own person and I am legally an adult now so I can do what I want. Morgan ended the interview by saying: You're just a complete moron. The 18-year-old was fined 200 and will have to pay an 80 surcharge with 85 in prosecution costs after he appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and admitted failing to comply with a community protection notice. O'Garro, from Hackney, was also issued with a criminal behaviour order, which means he can never upload a video again without the permission of all those appearing in it. But in a new video posted just minutes after leaving court he declared: Hello world, Im back and Im taking over this, yeah... The feds thought they can have me, but where am I? We outside every time. At 7pm he then posted another TikTok, saying: Hello world. You guys have all fallen to my plan. Right now Im on the way to Piers Morgan. Hes gonna try and catch me out but Ive got plans for him. Ive got something for him, yeah. O'Garro appeared in court wearing a black hoodie and a face mask. He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, and to admit to one count of failing to comply with a community protection notice. Varinder Hayre, prosecuting, told the court that O'Garro was issued with a community protection notice on May 11 last year, and that two of its conditions were that he not trespass on to private property. Ms Hayre said that he then breached that notice by entering a home on May 15 this year. He went to the home address of the victim, she said. The woman was cleaning the patio when he entered her home. Mr O'Garro walked into the property and walked down the stairs. He was stopped by the homeowner. Mr O'Garro went to the living room and sat on the sofa. He was asked to leave multiple times by both the victim and her husband. He ignored their request and carried on walking in their home address. The following day it turned out that he had filmed the whole incident. "It had been circulated on social media. The victim was unaware that Mr O'Garro was recording the incident. He captured the faces of her husband and children. She strongly feels he put her family at risk. Lee Sergent, defending, said: The first thing to say on Mr O'Garro's behalf is that he is sorry. He never intended to cause any distress or upset by his actions. It is fair to say that he believed what he was doing was a harmless prank. Mr Sergent added: The problem with social media is that content is celebrated not based on its quality or social value but on the quantity of likes and followers. He was egged on to a certain degree to do ever more content to gain more likes and followers. District Judge Charlotte Crangle said: I have seen the footage and I can see exactly why the people who lived in that house were so upset and distressed on that day. I am reassured by the fact that you have expressed remorse, and have gone back and apologised to them. I hope that time in custody has given you time to reflect on your behaviour. Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway of the Central East Command Unit added: I do not underestimate the widespread upset, distress and concern that these videos caused. Some people have referred to these as 'prank' videos, but I hope that this significant development demonstrates just how seriously we have been taking this investigation since this footage began circulating online. Discussing the prank where he walked into a random woman's house, O'Garro said: You see this situation that blew up on the internet walking into random houses, the next day I apologised to the woman because I felt bad. That was more of a spur of the moment thing, I got spurred on and my ego got a hold of me. I realised that at that moment and thats why I went to apologise the next day. O'Garro then later claimed: Hate brings money. Hate brings likes, brings views - it doesnt matter. Social media commentator Adam Brooks said on Twitter: Mizzy has been fined 365. That will teach him. What a pathetic country this is sometimes. The justice system is ridiculous. He then added: Mizzy is on Piers Morgans programme tonight, meaning that hes already better off than the 365 hes been fined by the courts today. The kid is going to coin it in for terrorising innocent people. Messed up world. Break the law and terrorise people...become famous and get paid gigs on TV. What a great message to send to the youngsters of today. Earlier this week the Met Police said in a statement: "The arrest follows an investigation into social media footage which featured a number of incidents, including apparently unsolicited approaches made towards members of the public in the street or on transport, and entering addresses without the apparent permission of the owners. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The change of the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council may cause the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Iran to be archived soon, a former member of Iranian parliament Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said, Trend reports. Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani resigned and was replaced by Ali Akbar Ahmadian by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. According to Falahatpisheh, this change means that many issues related to the country's foreign policy have been transferred from the Supreme National Security Council to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This also means that main programs such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action have been sent to the archive. Falahatpisheh stressed that the JCPOA was one of the issues worked on in close coordination between the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme National Security Council. The former MP expressed hope that a group of professional experts on Iran's nuclear program will be organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran. In January 2016, JCPOA was launched between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany) in connection with Iran's nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions on Iran in November of the same year. To preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal started in January 2019 that a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed. On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it had ceased fulfilling its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories that have not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal. Iran announced that it will enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and will not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA on Sept.5. On Nov. 5, 2019, Iran announced that it took the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. On Jan.2020, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within JCPOA. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur The Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series is looking to crown its final champion of the season when it visits Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park in North Waikato this weekend. Chris White Junior of Prebbleton in Canterbury has already taken the South Island title while Wellington driver Simon Baker was crowned the series National Champion at Hampton Downs earlier this month. This weekend is the showdown to find the North Island Champion with Tauranga driver Rex Edwards coming to the final round of the series with a 52-point lead over Baker. That is a margin that could still be overhauled and with the nature of motorsport it is all on to find the champion this weekend. The championship would be even tighter if it were not for a DNF (non-finish) for Baker at the second round of the championship. The battle for the final championship podium position will also be eagerly contested. Aucklander, Leo Bult, currently sits third with 490 points but will be overseas this weekend as this round had to be rescheduled from its original date. That means Matt Horne of Masterton with 441 points is poised to snare third place in the championship. Fifth equal in the points behind Horne are Auckland drivers Karl Gaines and Flynn Mullany followed by Sam Dashfield and Warren Crowther, all possibilities to move past Bult should they have a strong weekend. Of the fifteen races to date, Edwards with 6 wins and Baker with 4 have won two thirds of the races between them. Other race winners have been Horne, Mullany, White Junior, Bult and Crowther with one apiece. Baker led the championship after the opening round at Circuit Chris Amon Manfeild in October. Since then, Edwards has gone on to win every other round (Hampton Downs, Taupo, Pukekohe and Hampton Downs). It is Hampton Downs where the North Island Champion will be decided this weekend and it looks set to be a battle between Edwards and Baker. There are other titles to be decided this weekend also. Baker leads the Masters Championship with Bult second and Karl Gaines of Auckland currently third over 100 points behind Baker. Flynn Mullany leads the Rookie Championship with 412 points with Warren Crowther, who was in superb form last time out at Hampton Downs, second on 397 points, just 15 points behind. Crowther has the distinction of going into the final round fourth in the Masters Championship and second in the Rookie Championship. Qualifying for the Premier Insulation Pole Award takes place on Saturday morning followed by the first race of the round on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, a reverse top ten grid race will be held in the morning, followed by the final race of the championship that afternoon. POINTS TABLE BELOW (TOP 6): NORTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP (Top 6 After 5 Rounds) 1: Rex Edwards (Tauranga) 585 2: Simon Baker (Wellington) 533 3: Leo Bult (Auckland) 490 4: Matt Horne (Masterton) 441 5=: Karl Gaines (Auckland) 412 5=: Flynn Mullany (Auckland) 412 Biosecurity New Zealand and mana whenua for the Waikato River are urging people who work and play in and around the river to keep a lookout for a new-to-New Zealand clam species that has been found at Bobs Landing near Lake Karapiro. The freshwater gold clam (also known as the Asian clam, or by its scientific name Corbicula fluminea) is native to eastern Asia but is also widely established in North America, South America and Europe. Overseas, these shellfish are a pest species because they reproduce rapidly and can clog up water infrastructure such as hydro-electricity plants, municipal water supply and irrigation systems. They are also potentially a threat to native species, as in large populations they consume a lot of plankton. Biosecurity New Zealand Deputy Director General Stuart Anderson says it is not known how the freshwater gold clam will behave in New Zealand conditions, but overseas it has proved difficult to control and there has been no documented successful eradication. "We are partnering with Waikato-Tainui, the Waikato River Authority, the Waikato Regional Council, Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation and Toitu Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand to understand this incursion and how best to respond to it. "This includes setting up a panel of technical and matauranga experts to provide us with management advice. Initial checks have found the freshwater gold clam present over a 45-kilometre stretch of the Waikato River, from 1.5km upstream of Bobs Landing, just upstream of Lake Karapiro, and downriver to Hamilton. Stuart says the plan now is to search further, both within the Waikato River and in other rivers and lakes that are linked through human activity. "This wider surveillance will include using targeted eDNA testing. "To support this science, were asking people who work around the river, or boat, fish or swim there, to keep a lookout and report any sightings of this new-to-New Zealand freshwater clam. "They are a dirty white to yellow or tan and adult ones are 2-3 cm across. They can be found within the water, sitting on top of sandy or muddy surfaces, or buried shallowly within them. Theyre quite distinctive there are no New Zealand species that look like this in the river." Freshwater gold clams are not safe to eat from the Waikato River which is known to have high concentrations of toxins in the river. They filter-feed from the water and accumulate toxins in their gut. Full information, which includes clear images of the clam, is on the Biosecurity New Zealand website at: Suspected sightings can be reported to Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 80 99 66 or by completing the online reporting form at report.mpi.govt.nz. It is helpful to note the precise location and provide a close-up photo of the clam as well as one that shows the surroundings. Please do not disturb the organism. Stuart says this situation is a reminder of the need to prevent the spread of invasive species like this clam between rivers and lakes and following Check Clean Dry guidance is the best approach. Before moving boats or any watercraft, trailers and gear to another river or lake, or another part of a river or lake: remove any visible matter, including any clams or weed you can see and washdown gear and craft with tap water onto grass. Full information is here Fans across Tauranga are paying tribute to the late music icon Tina Turner, who passed away today aged 83. One SunLive reader says he worked on the setup for the final concert of her world tour, located in Christchurch in the late 90s, where Turner put on a special show for the concert crew after a challenging setup process. There had been a lot of rain and due to the structural weakness of a new triangular scaffolding they were trailing the entire stage collapsed in the early hours of the morning when all the light gear went up. Luckily everyone was on a break so nobody was hurt but it was a very close call. Anyway everybody came back and disassembled the stage and rebuilt a new one flown over from Australia, and the show went on at 6pm that evening. Tina was absolutely amazing and gracious, she ended up playing the set seated with an acoustic and playing her new and personal songs. She even put on a doo afterwards for the crew who had just worked over 48 hours straight to make [the concert] happen. My job was to feed the crew and it was one of the longest shifts Ive ever done, but somehow she made us all feel appreciated. Such a courageous woman, so gifted, humble and charming. She will be remembered with fondness by the many who met with her and enjoyed her life. Another SunLive reader says she went to a Tina Turner concert many years ago in Palmerston North. She was so amazing! She knew how to move those legs! An amazing performer. On the SunLive Facebook page, another user says they watched Turner perform in Auckland. She says it was a bloody good concert. She was quite tiny, had to move right up front to see her or watch the screens. Another reader says Turners performing with Mick Jagger was phenomenal. She will always be simply the best. Another reader says they have seen the Warriors light up Mt Smart Stadium on occasions, but there was nothing like Tina Turner on "that balmy Auckland Saturday night, on April 12, 1997". "We were in shorts and T-shirts and on the grassy embankment. We drank wine, the air was thick with dope and 'The Queen' belted her distinctive unforgettable brand of high energy rock and roll for a couple of hours loud and raunchy. As a 50-year-old non-dancer at the time, I was even moved to get up and do a few moves. "She was inexhaustible, extraordinary athleticism for a women of 60 then . And I just remember the extraordinary mood as a crowd of 20, 30, 40 thousand people left the stadium with smiles and earworms. We dont need another hero." The first manufacturing facility for solar thermal collectors in Egypt and the Middle East has come to life after a German grant, reports Mai Samih After the UN COP27 Climate Change Conference held in Sharm El-Sheikh last November and following the plans set out in Egypts 2030 Vision to introduce more green energy projects as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, a new project to build solar thermal collectors was granted 2.7 million euros in December under the German facility for Investing for Employment (IFE). The IFE signed an agreement with Creative Power Solutions AG (CPS), the first under its Green Economy proposals. Under the agreement, the IFE provides CPS with a grant of 2.7 million, representing 50 per cent of the total investment, a press release issued by the IFE said. Solar thermal collectors are an important way of generating renewable energy. They are mostly manufactured in countries like China at the moment and then exported to Egypt. However, as a result of the new agreement they will be produced in Egypt, allowing Egyptian firms to use more green energy after being dependent on non-renewable energy like fossil fuels which are a major source of pollution. According to a 2021 survey by IQAir, a Swiss pollution technology company that monitors air quality, Egypt was the 27th most-polluted country in the world out of the 117 countries surveyed, with its annual reading of small and hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 standing at 29.1. The World Health Organisation (WTO) recommends that average annual PM2.5 readings should not exceed five micrograms per cubic metre (g/m). The CPS was selected after an evaluation of its project proposal, which targets achieving decarbonisation goals and energy independence in both the industrial and power-generation sectors in line with Egypts 2030 Vision goals. The project is the first manufacturing facility for solar thermal collectors in Egypt and the Middle East. It aims to introduce and localise this cutting-edge green technology through mass production. It also plans to facilitate the spread of solar thermal technology across Egypt and boost the economy via the creation of sustainable jobs across various sectors. In November 2021, the IFE launched a call for proposals focusing on the Green Economy and providing co-financing grants ranging from one to 10 million Euros per project. The selection of the projects is based on a competitive application process and gives priority to high-quality proposals that are mature and ready for execution. The IFE aims to support the creation of employment opportunities in Africa by offering co-financing grants for new investment projects with high job-creation impacts. During the signing ceremony, IFE Managing Director Raouf Khalaf highlighted the goals behind the facility. Through the Green Economy call, the IFE is keen not only to create job opportunities, but also to support the immense efforts towards achieving the countrys energy supply objectives. As more than 50 per cent of the worlds demand comes from thermal energy, which results in 40 per cent of CO2 emissions, we are committed to join forces to advance climate technologies innovation in order to facilitate a path towards clean and green energy, he said. After a thorough evaluation of the submitted proposal, CPS demonstrated its ability to deliver a promising climate-friendly technology that relies on renewable energy sources, bringing one of the most promising solutions to achieve decarbonisation. According to Khalaf, this is also just the beginning, and the IFE intends to continue giving grants to other projects in different sectors. The more projects they receive, the more contributions this means for the Egyptian economy, he said. This is the first grantee signing ceremony that we have contracted for the Green Economy call that closed its door for applications on 24 November, said Karim Gad, country focal point for the IFE in Egypt. This is not the only applicant that has now been transformed into a grantee. It is the first of many yet to come, whether regarding the Green Economy call or the ongoing call for Women in Business. Gad said that CPS will be able to provide Egypt and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with a creative solution that will help in the transition to green and clean energy. APPLICATIONS: The IFE seeks applications for four types of investment projects. The first is not-for-profit projects with job-creation impact (not generating revenues). In this case, the IFE covers up to 90 per cent of the investment costs. The second category is not-for-profit projects with job-creation impact (generating revenues), in which the IFE covers up to 75 per cent of costs. The third category is for-profit projects with broader job-creation impact in which the IFE covers up to 35 per cent of costs. The fourth category is for-profit projects with job-creation impact, in which the IFE covers up to 25 per cent of costs. The CPS is a category three grantee, meaning that the project will not only create jobs, but will also do so beyond its immediate operations and accordingly was eligible for up to 50 per cent of the investment cost. The grant amount for this grantee was 2.7 million euros, and this constitutes 50 per cent of the total investment cost of 5.4 million euros, Gad said. For the Green Economy call, we had around 100 applications, and the total investment cost of all the projects submitted was about LE25 billion. We went through a short-listing process in which we identified all the eligible applicants and those that were not eligible. They were about 20 per cent, with an overall investment cost which supports the economy towards the green transition. As for why this project was chosen out of the many others, Gad said it was due to its readiness for implementation and its being the most responsive to queries. The applicant submitted clearly readable documents and was very responsive to our demands. We scrutinise the projects submitted to make sure that they really create sustainable jobs, he said. The call only started in February, and during this time we saw economic turbulence in the country. The only thing that we could do was to study the feasibility of projects in terms of financial feasibility. Gad said that the shortlisted companies worked in sectors like vocational training, food and beverages, and agriculture. The majority of the applicants had a strong green component in their projects, but really there are also other sectors. There is no rule of thumb here, he said. CEO of CPS Maged Toqan expressed his excitement about signing the grant agreement. We are thrilled to be the first grantee of the Green Economy call, allocated to set up the first manufacturing facility for solar thermal collectors in the MENA region. With the total investment cost of 5.4 million Euros, local production at the manufacturing facility will enable knowledge transfer while boosting renewable energy deployment and creating jobs across various industry sectors, Toqan said. Through this innovative technology, we are committed to global endeavours in mitigating climate change and supporting Egypts Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035. He said that parts of the solar collectors will be manufactured in Egypt under the supervision of Swedish partners and would be exported in the near future after catering for local needs. So, they not only intend to cover needs locally, but also work on covering them regionally and internationally. We studied market needs and decided to build a solar power plant with our Swedish partners to manufacture solar thermal collectors to meet these needs. If we are to transform Egypt from a developing country to a developed country, we have to invest in such technology, and this is our objective, he said. Future customers will be in sectors that need such energy generating technology. We have a wide range of customers. First, there is the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company as it will need power to heat its power plants. We are also looking at the industrial sector like food and beverage companies and pharmaceutical and petrochemical manufacturing companies. There are so many clients that need heating applications, and they are the ones that we will be targeting. THE IFE: The Investing for Employment initiative is an investment mechanism created by KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) as an integral part of the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation. Operating under the brand Invest for Jobs, it aims to remove investment barriers and to create good jobs and training opportunities in partner countries in Africa, among them Egypt, Cote dIvoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia. The IFE was launched in 2020 to promote and fund projects in African countries and create more jobs in the private sector. In November last year, the IFE also launched a call for proposals for projects in Egypt with a focus on women. Despite the fact that businesses owned or managed by women play an increasingly important role in Egypt, they still have a long way to go. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2022, only one in 50 firms in Egypt has female-majority ownership and only six per cent of firms have top female managers. Women account for less than a quarter of the labour force in Egypt, said a press release issued by the IFE. The IFE is also intended to support women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses and to make financing available to projects that promote the employment of women. Applications are open to private companies as well as public entities, universities, chambers of commerce, associations, and NGOs. In a previous interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Gad said that in 2018 the G20 group of countries had launched its own Invest for Jobs initiative to support job creation within partner African countries, including Egypt. The IFE is looking for mature projects, he said. The projects have to be in a very developed state in terms of feasibility studies or market research, but they do not need to have started owing to obstacles that are beyond the entrepreneur or the applicant concerned, he added. Among the selection criteria are projects that do not currently have access to funds. This means that IFE money will make a difference in seeing the project come to life, he said, adding that it is also prepared to support projects that the banks may consider to be high risk or require collateral funding that the entrepreneur cannot provide. Most importantly, the project has to create jobs that are sustainable with the prospect to grow. Funds are usually on a co-financing basis, varying from 25 per cent of the total investment cost to up to 90 per cent of the total. The IFE aims at lifting the barrier of investment as well as encouraging foreign investment in the Egyptian market, Gad said. Some of these barriers include the absence or deficiency of infrastructure, like the need to enhance energy supplies or roadway systems. Other financial institutions may only grant loans in the local currency or ask applicants for large interest payments or guarantees that could be more than the cost of the whole project. Last year, we had two calls running in parallel, the Women in Business Call and the Regional Call, in which Egypt is one of the seven countries contributing. We are looking very positively towards the Egyptian market, and we will have a very positive outlook on continuing strongly in the Egyptian market in terms of launching future calls and having more and more projects that we can have signing ceremonies for and potentially successful grantees who can help enrich the labour force, Gad said. * A version of this article appears in print in the 12 January, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: New Hartford, N.Y. - A person driving a tractor-trailer Wednesday lost control and drove into a creek in Oneida County, police said. Around 12:05 p.m., the driver was traveling east on Red Hill Road in New Hartford when the person lost control at the intersection, according to a New Hartford Police Department Facebook post. The truck went off the shoulder of Oneida Street, down a driveway and over an embankment, police said. The truck landed in Sauquoit Creek, they said. Police said the driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The state Department of Environmental Conservation came to the scene to assess the impact to the Sauquoit Creek, police said. Police said why the driver lost control of the truck is still being investigated. Officers asked drivers to avoid the Oneida Street and Red Hill Road area. A driver of a tractor trailer lost control and drove into a Sauquoit Creek Wednesday in New Hartford, police said. May 24, 2023. (Photos provided by New Hartford Police) Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com Syracuse, NY New York is discontinuing its controversial Covid-19 vaccination requirement for workers at hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities. The state Health Department announced it has begun the process of repealing the vaccination mandate which must be approved by the state Public Health and Health Planning Council. In the meantime, the department said it has stopped enforcing the mandate. Throughout the public health emergency, this vaccine requirement served as a critical public health tool, helping to protect both health care workers and the patients under their care, the department said in a news release. About 10,555 healthcare workers statewide, including some in Syracuse, were fired for refusing to get Covid shots, according to data previously released by Hochuls office. The state refused to allow religious exemptions to the vaccination mandate. On May 1 the federal government announced it would start ending Covid vaccination requirements for healthcare facilities certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The state said facilities can implement their own internal policies regarding COVID-19 vaccination. The states Covid vaccine mandate for health workers was struck down in a June 13 decision by state Supreme Court Judge Gerard Neri of Syracuse. He said in his decision Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Health department overstepped their authority by making permanent the mandate meant to limit transmission of Covid in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The state Health Department appealed Neris decision and the state Supreme Court Appellate Division granted a temporary stay. Neris Jan. 13 decision came in a case brought by a group of medical professionals who lost or were at risk of losing their jobs because of the vaccine mandate. The mandate was enacted in August 2021 on an emergency basis by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. James T. Mulder covers health. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com Saudi Arabias utility developer ACWA Power signed a $123 million financing agreement for the development of a 200 MW solar power plant in Aswan governorate, according to a press release on Tuesday. The financing package includes loans of up to $36 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), $14.6 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development and $14.4 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB). The Green Climate Fund (GCF), Arab Bank and AfDBs Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) are offering loans of $34 million, $14.8 million and $10 million, respectively. Thew new plant will be located in the village of Kom Ombo, less than 20 kilometres from Africas largest solar park at Benban. The plant is scheduled to be commercially operational in January 2024, when it will supply power to 130,000 households. The project's financing package was originally signed in April 2021. However, the execution period was extended due to the global economic crisis in 2022. The Kom Ombo plant will contribute to the Egyptian governments target to generate 42 percent of the countrys electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035 while delivering power to consumers at among the lowest prices in Africa. The new financing package is a result of the confidence that major institutions have in our proven track record of developing large-scale projects. With this funding, we are fully committed to working collaboratively with our partners in the public and private sectors to ensure that this project delivers a strong and sustainable outcome for all involved, CEO of ACWA Power Marco Arcelli commented. "The Kom Ombo project is the first tendered utility-scale solar project in Egypt, and one of the first to be delivered under the Energy Pillar of the Nexus Water-Food-Energy (NWFE) initiative, whereby the Egyptian authorities are committed to developing 10 GW of new renewable energy projects and decommissioning five GW of thermal capacity," Managing Director for Sustainable Finance Group at EBRD Nandita Parshad said. Launched by Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation in July 2022, Egypts Country Platform for the Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy (NWFE) aims to mobilise climate finance and private investments from multiple international financing institutions to accelerate the national climate agenda and support the country's green transition. Search Keywords: Short link: NY Cannabis Insider is hosting an industry meetup at The Distillery at Beak & Skiff (home of ayrloom) on June 8 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Details and tickets available here. This limited-ticket event will bring together current and hopeful licensees, entrepreneurs, attorneys, politicians and more for an intimate discussion about the history, heritage, and evolution of their brand, followed by an opportunity to network and receive business planning advice. Were always impressed with the sponsors and speakers at NY Cannabis Insider events. Just a great group of people from across the industry, said recent event participant Colin B. from Grand Street Cannabis Co. The event will feature a brief panel discussion with industry experts from the ayrloom/1911/Beak & Skiff brands along with one of their retailers to add an additional perspective on the industry from another part of the supply chain. The conversation will focus on learnings from a brand that has evolved from a 110-year-old family farm to a well-known market leader in the hemp and cannabis industry. There will be a chance for attendees to interact directly with the panelists during and after Q&A, along with open networking time to meet others in the industry. Details for the event: Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023 Time: 4:00 7:00 p.m. Location: The Distillery at Beak & Skiff, 4473 Cherry Valley Turnpike (NY Rt. 20), Lafayette, NY 13084 Price: $65 general admission; option to add on a production facility & UTV campus tour General admission includes all-access to the speakers, networking with attendees, mini consultations for business planning provided by sponsors and vendors, and a complimentary beverage provided by 1911 Established. The event will also feature the Via Napoli food truck serving wood-fired pizzas for guests available for purchase on site. Also available is a unique add-on to our general admission tour that includes both a production facility tour and a UTV ride through the 1,000-acre apple orchard and campus. Click here for more details and to purchase tickets. Sponsors and vendors are the businesses shaping the industry locally and regionally. Look for them at the event for advice and help with your cannabis business: Chimera Integrations offers scalable, future-proof security & IoT solutions that are customized to meet the unique needs of each level of the cannabis supply chain, from cultivation, to processing, to distribution, and retail. Lets work together to make your facility safer and smarter. Cannabis Workforce Initiative is a collaboration between the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University and the Workforce Development Institute. Its mission is to promote and support social equity in the adult-use cannabis market by providing quality workforce development and legal education. Stillmotion/UP\ creates visual branding images and video that define your business identity so you can market confidently, build trust with customers, and improve your bottom line. 1911 Established offers from tree to bottle' hard ciders, spirits and wines while Ayrloom is a vertically integrated cannabis company rooted in over 100 years of agricultural passion and expertise in New York State. Sciex delivers cannabis and hemp testing and analytical solutions and technologies to help deliver safe and quality products to consumers. Space is limited at each event and sponsorships are available. Contact Lindsay Wickham at lwickham@advancemediany.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities to reach this audience. NY Cannabis Insider events are attended by industry professionals, lobbyists and entrepreneurs looking to start their own cannabis business, as well as those from cannabis-adjacent businesses such as legal, security, retail, banking, finance, construction, engineering, business consultation and medical expertise. Read a recap about the first-ever problems and solutions industry summit and conference hosted in Albany earlier this month. Our next industry insight meetup will be held in August in New York Citydetails to be announced soon. There will also be two full-day educational conferences happening in Buffalo (Sept. 21) and Greater NYC (Nov. 15). Follow us on LinkedIn for event announcements. Rochester, N.Y. Clarice Starling herself appeared in Upstate New York this week for a screening of Silence of the Lambs. Jodie Foster, the acclaimed actor behind the iconic role, introduced the movie to a sold-out crowd at the George Eastman Museum on Wednesday evening in Rochester. The filmmaker appeared in the Dryden Theatre before the special screening, speaking to curator Jared Case about the making of the classic 1991 horror film. I think we could all look at each other and say, wow, we never did anything that good again, Foster told the audience in a video shared by WHEC. You just dont get that experience that often, where all of you are on this beautiful ride that you all believe in, that youre all completely committed to, and telling the same story. Foster is the winner of this years George Eastman Award, an award that has recognized artists contributions to cinema since 1955. She is set to accept the award tonight, May 25, during a ceremony at the historic museum. Past winners of the prestigious award include Julia Roberts, Lauren Bacall, Charlie Chaplin, Michael Douglas, Audrey Hepburn, Martin Scorsese and Meryl Streep. READ MORE Jodie Foster coming to Upstate NY to accept award; tickets open to public Celebrity sighting: Actor William Fichtner visits Syracuse restaurant Ben Stiller calls Upstate NY city super photogenic, dines locally while filming Severance season 2 Susan Sarandon arrested in Upstate NY during protest over restaurant worker wages When Amy Vedder was a student at Swarthmore more than 50 years ago and went on strike to protest the Vietnam War, the refrain from the college was one of support: Go do something about it. Vedder and her husband, Bill Weber, also a Swarthmore graduate, took that lesson to heart as they pursued their careers and went on to become conservationists, she an ecologist and he a social scientist. The Upstate New York couples interdisciplinary work together, stemming back to the late 1970s, helped to save the mountain gorilla from extinction in Rwanda. The couple helped the community see the benefit in turning Rwanda Volcanoes National Park into an ecotourism site that now generates $25 million a year in revenue, with people eager to go and see the majestic beauty of the gorillas. For their efforts which are emblematic of a Swarthmore education aimed at turning out graduates passionate about making a difference in the world the couple, both 72, received honorary doctorate degrees at the colleges commencement Sunday. As for the gorillas, their population has more than doubled to nearly 700 now and still climbing, Weber told the more than 400 graduates and their family members, who applauded, so much so, he had to pause his speech for a moment. The couple, cofounders of the Mountain Gorilla Project, now known as the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, received the degrees jointly and delivered the speech in tandem, taking turns at the podium. Standing on the campus sun-splashed Parrish Lawn, not far from where they first met as undergraduates and eventually married each other, they talked about their journey. Vedder, a 1973 alumna from Palatine Bridge, N.Y., majored in biology and was enrolled in Swarthmores vigorous honors program, where she said she was taught to explore and think deeply and broadly. I learned it was OK to ask questions, to not have answers, she said. To test ideas. Weber, a psychology major from Skaneateles, N.Y., told the audience he wasnt near the student that Vedder was, though motivated by Swarthmores Quaker activist roots. Ultimately, my father lost a $100 bet to my brother that I was ever going to make it through college, the 1972 alumnus said. By the end of Vedders freshman year he was a year ahead of her they were dating and the day before his graduation practice, they got married on campus. Then they both entered the Peace Corps in Africa for two years, where they first saw gorillas and began to think about careers in conservation. They went on to get doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin Madison he in land resource management and she in zoology. Someone had heard them speak about conservation and the importance of working with the local community and suggested they go to Rwanda, Weber said. At the time, Rwanda Volcanoes National Park with the mountain gorillas was only bringing in about $5,000 a year, Weber said, and the number of gorillas, some of whom had fallen victim to poaching, had dwindled to about 270. They worked in the park at a research camp run by Dian Fossey, the primatologist whose story was featured in the 1988 movie Gorillas in the Mist, starring Sigourney Weaver. Weber said they never worked directly with Fossey and noted that her views on conservation were different. She at times aggressively fought off poachers and feared tourism would hasten the gorillas demise because they are susceptible to diseases. Fossey was murdered in Rwanda in 1985, and the case has not been solved. She saw the local people as the enemy, Weber said in an interview. We found that the large majority of people thought the gorillas should be protected, too. Hardly any of them had anything to do with the poaching. The couple learned there were plans for a cattle-ranching project that would have destroyed much of the gorillas habitat. After 2,000 hours of direct observation of the gorillas, Vedder was convinced their numbers could be restored and the animals could benefit the local community. Weber and Vedder helped to convince the Rwandan government to at least give ecotourism a try. The couple, who describe their work in their book In the Kingdom of Gorillas, said spending time with the mountain gorillas, who are vegetarians and generally gentle unless provoked, is a powerful experience, one that has moved them to tears. Theres nothing like gazing into the eyes of a wild mountain gorilla, Vedder told Swarthmore graduates. Gorillas opened my eyes and my heart to ... the wonder and awe of life on this earth. Tourism overall in Rwanda now generates more than $400 million in revenue annually, more than coffee, tea, and mineral exports combined, according to an article in Mongabay, a conservation news site. It has created thousands of jobs and helped to rebuild the country after the genocide in 1994, Weber said. The silverback, a mature male gorilla, appears on the 5,000 Franc bill in Rwanda. The couple, who currently live in the Adirondacks, estimate they have spent eight years total in Rwanda over three periods, and they still go regularly. They are lecturers at the Yale School of the Environment, and every year one of them accompanies a small group of masters and doctoral students on a nearly monthlong trip to Rwanda, where they observe the gorillas. Vedder flew in from Rwanda late last week so she could speak at the commencement, and shes heading back there on Monday. While the excitement of the day for most students was getting their degrees, Alexa Bartlett, 21, a physics major from Austin, Texas, said she was also interested in what Vedder and Weber had to say. I appreciated how they talked about their work being at the intersection of science and social science, and how the local communities were integrated into and also very important to their conservation efforts, Bartlett said. Vedder told the graduates about the gender discrimination she faced as a woman in the sciences, so much so that she hid the awe and wonder she felt from her work, fearing it would erode her scientific credibility. It took me decades to let that out, she said, to let the humanity in my work be visible. I encourage you, dont wait decades, ... let who you are into your work from the get-go. In a way, Weber said todays graduates face far more challenges, such as climate change. Great complexity, said Weber, who has been married to Vedder for 51 years, brings endless opportunities for action. Pick a field, follow your passion, engage and do so with genuine openness, openness to different perspectives ... to mutual collaborations and hopefully long-lasting partnerships. ___ 2023 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Memorial Day weekend is upon us and its the perfect chance to save on items you want and need. Shoppers can save hundreds of dollars this weekend with deals that last all weekend long with various stores. Looking for a new laptop? Lenovo is giving up to 76% off on their popular ThinkPad. If youre looking to spruce up your home, Ruggable has tons of rugs with a huge deal you cant beat. Check out this years Memorial Day deals on appliances, tech, and home happening all weekend. Electronics ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 Intel (14") ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 Intel (14) - $749 (76% off) Lenovo is offering up to 75% on select doorbusters. Plus, you can score free shipping on all orders. Popular Lenovo items: Samsung - Celebrating Memorial Day with deals you cant beat. You can save more than $1000 on must-have items for a limited time. Popular Samsung items: Amazon - 23% off Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds with Lightning Charging Case Included Casetify - From May 26-30, customers can get buy 1 get 15% off with Code MEM23 Home Ruggable Ruggable - Customers can save 15% off on the Memorial Day Sale and 20% off summer favorites with Code: MD23AFF from May 25 -31. Most popular Ruggable rugs: Frontgate - Now until May 23, shop Frontgates Memorial Day Sale and save up to 50% sitewide. Most popular Frontgate items: Fromourplace - Save up to 25% off. Jossandmain - Save up to 30% off outdoor sales. Surlatable - Save up to 50% off outdoor dining and entertaining. Wayfair - The Big outdoor sale event is going on and you can save up to 50% off. Ooni - Ooni Karu price drop, was $399.00 now $299.00 More Memorial Day savings stories The Arab League agreed on Sunday to form a ministerial contact and follow-up committee that includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and the Arab Leagues secretary-general to seek a comprehensive solution to the Syrian crisis. The Arab League's Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit said that Arab states have agreed on a gradual approach to resolving the Syrian crisis, noting that the newly-formed committee will follow up on the steps taken in that direction and liaise with the Syrian government and the international community in this regard. Abul-Gheit's remarks followed an emergency meeting at the Arab League of Arab foreign ministers to discuss the developments in Syria. During the meeting, the Arab League welcomed back Syria's government after suspending Syrias membership in November 2011 over the governments failure to end the bloodshed caused by crackdowns on protests in the country. The decision to accept Syria back into the Arab League means that Arab states will contact Damascus for the first time in years to discuss the pressing Syrian issue, Abul-Gheit stressed. He hailed the Arab League's decision as realistic as it understands that the settlement of this issue cannot be achieved any time soon and that solving this crisis will take time. The secretary-general added that the decision does not reflect a restoration of normal relations between Syria and the Arab states, since establishing relations remains the sovereign decision of individual countries. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed at the meeting that all the parties concerned with the situation in Syria must fulfil their obligations so that the Syrian people can realize their aspirations for a united, independent and stable Syria. Shoukry highlighted that there was no military solution to the Syrian crisis. "Egypt has warned of the consequences of attempting to solve the crisis in Syria through military means. However, these warnings have not been heeded, he stated. The Egyptian foreign minister stressed that the Syrian crisis can only be resolved through political means without any external intervention in the affairs of a sovereign Syria. "Our Syrian brothers and sisters have suffered year after year, and their suffering has worsened due to the failure to reach a political settlement to the crisis, the multiple external interventions in it, and the international community's preoccupation with other issues, Shoukry said. He added that this has resulted in complete stagnation that lasted for years. The Arab Leagues meeting comes a week after the foreign ministers of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq met in the Jordanian capital, Amman, to discuss Syrias long-running conflict. Last month, Egypt and eight Arab countries took part in a consultative meeting in Saudi Arabias Jeddah to discuss ending the Syrian crisis and Syria's return to the Arab League. We look forward to taking practical steps to implement the outcomes of the Amman meeting and to receive international support for them, Shoukry said. Search Keywords: Short link: DSME opts for TMCs compressors for two LNG carriers Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has chosen TMC Compressors to deliver the marine compressed air system to two LNG carriers 24 May 2023 Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has chosen Norwegian supplier TMC Compressors (TMC) to deliver the marine compressed air system to two LNG carriers that the Korean shipbuilder is constructing for Greek shipowner Maran Gas Maritime. TMC will deliver an energy-efficient marine compressed air system to the two LNG vessels, including control and service air compressors. In 2020, we were awarded a contract to deliver our marine compressed system to eight LNG vessels that DSME was building for Maran Gas Maritime. To secure more business from the same yard and shipowner is a confirmation that our systems deliver in line with their expectations to quality, energy use and operating expenditure, says Hans Petter Tanum, TMCs director of sales and business development. TMC will manufacture the equipment in Europe and ship it DSME in Korea. TMC has not disclosed the value of the contract. The two 174,000 cubic metre LNG ships will equipped with a high-pressure dual-fuel propulsion engine and smart energy saving systems. They will be built at the Okpo Shipyard and are expected to be delivered in 2026. The global maritime industrys increased focus on lowering emissions from their vessels is a development we welcome with open arms. Our marine compressed air systems are highly energy-efficient, which means that we tend to be the favoured supplier for yard and shipowners that are chasing emission and cost reductions as we do, adds Tanum. Maran Gas Maritime is a unit of Angelicoussis Shipping Group. TMC is the worlds leading supplier of compressed air systems for marine and offshore use. The company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Nihon Shipyard launch joint study Project to utilize Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's knowledge regarding design and construction of liquified gas carriers along with Nihon Shipyard's wealth of shipbuilding experience in commercial ships and marine structure and advanced technology capabilities TOKYO, May 22, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., a Tokyo-based joint venture for ship design and sales between Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Japan Marine United Corporation have started joint study for the development of an ocean-going liquified CO2 (LCO2) carrier. Nihon Shipyard is pursuing this project with the aim of completing construction of the vessel from 2027 onwards. Demand for LCO2 carriers is expected to grow in the future as a means to transport large volumes of CO2 safely for CCS (Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage) projects, in which captured CO2 is stably stored underground. Following the lead of the EU region, it is expected that CCS projects in Asia will be accelerated by the promotion of national governments, it will be essential to establish a shipbuilding framework in Japan to meet the demand for LCO2 carriers. This project will take advantage of the knowledge and advanced gas handling technology that Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has acquired in designing and constructing liquified gas carriers (liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and liquified natural gas (LNG) carriers), as well as the wealth of shipbuilding experience for various type of vessels and advanced technology capabilities that Nihon Shipyard has accumulated over the years, as strengths that can be mutually supplemented. MHI Group is pursuing strategic measures to strengthen its business for the energy transition. For its role in this initiative, in addition to conventional shipbuilding centered on manufacturing, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding aims to utilize its marine engineering technologies rooted in shipbuilding to contribute to the development of the maritime industry in Japan and around the world. This project is a part of that effort. Through collaboration with multiple Japanese shipping companies and domestic/overseas energy companies, along with the construction of demonstration ship for transport of LCO2, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding is actively pursuing the development of LCO2 carriers and commercialization of LCO2 shipping. Nihon Shipyard, in anticipation of future regulations restricting CO2 emissions, is proactively working toward the commercialization of LNG and ammonia fueled ships. As its next initiative, the company is considering the potential for LCO2 carriers, aiming to further solidify its leading position in the industry. Going forward, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Nihon Shipyard will provide the world with the LCO2 carriers necessary to establish a CCS value chain, and contribute to the realization of a carbon neutral world. THB Verhoef joins Green Award as incentive provider THB Verhoef, global market leader in the field of components and spare parts, is joining Green Award as incentive provider. The company will support the Green Award programmes for seagoing as well as inland navigation. The special Green Award plaque was presented to THB Verhoefs chief executive officer Mr. Adriaan Verhoef and director marketing & business development Mr. Jeroen Kortsmit during a ceremony at the Maritime Industry exhibition in Gorinchem, the Netherlands. As incentive provider THB Verhoef gives a four percent discount on all orders for diesel and gas engine components to all Green Award certified companies, and ships (seagoing and inland navigation). For European main Original Equipment Manufacturers THB Verhoef is the preferred destination as the global market leader in the field of components and spare parts deliveries. THB Verhoef is a premier stockist, official agent, and service provider of top-quality key components for nearly 90 different types of medium-speed diesel and gas engines. Whether you're looking for replacement, parts or upgrades, our experienced team can help you find the right solution to meet your specific needs, says Mr. Verhoef. We are proud to be the official agent and major stockholder for the best European main brands in the industry. Green Awards executive director Jan Fransen is proud to have THB Verhoef onboard as incentive provider. As Green Award we strive to the highest standards in environmental performance and safety in shipping, he says. Working together with a company like THB Verhoef is an added value as their services involve technical expertise to improve safety of shipping. THB Verhoef has a rich history of providing high-quality products and services to our customers. Founded nearly 50 years ago, the company has grown to a leader in marine engine component industry. THB Verhoef is headquartered in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, close to the port of Rotterdam, and offer world-wide delivery services. The Green Award Foundation is a world-wide recognized certification organisation for ships and their operators that exceed the applicable standards in the field of safety, quality, and environmental performance. Together with ship operators, ports, governments, suppliers and service providers, Green Award is successfully committed for almost thirty years to the recognition and stimulation of sustainable and safe shipping. Green Award facilitates this on a non-profit basis with a challenging programme of requirements, combined with a system of inspiration, audit/inspection, certification, and reward. Meanwhile, there are over 175 parties that support our certification programme by offering financial and non-financial advantages. Hafnia welcomes dual fueled LNG powered vessel, HAFNIA LOIRE In follow up to the 2022 announcement on newbuild LNG additions, On May 23rd, Hafnia welcomed HAFNIA LOIRE the second (out of four newbuilds) dual fueled LNG powered vessel. Chinas Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) hosted a naming ceremony for the second LNG-powered LR2 tanker on May 22nd, with delivery to her owner TotalEnergies taking place on May 23rd, 2023. The four LR2 newbuilds are 250 meters long with 12 cargo tanks, enabling a carrying capacity of 110,000 dwt or 133,500 cbm. The remaining two vessels will be delivered in 2023 and 2024, to Norways Equinor under long term Time Charter agreements. The first vessel HAFNIA LANGUEDOC was delivered on March 15th, 2023. HAFNIA LOIRE will set sail on the 25th of May following the completion of remaining formalities. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Courtesy photo Kit Carson Electric staff members Daniel Trujillo and Miguel Aguilar receive an award on behalf of the co-op, which recently completed level one of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Associations (NRECA) Co-op Cyber Goals Program. Courtesy Image Daniel Chavez (middle) stands between his two attorneys during his trial. Chavez was found guilty of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Industrial experts and officials at the National Dialogue discussed Tuesday formulating a clear manufacturing policy and eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy to reverse the decline in the role of industry in the economy. During the second meeting within the dialogue's economic axis, the participants discussed reviving the industrial sector. They stressed the need to achieve the localization of industry by removing obstacles facing investors. The participants also held a session to discuss the opportunities available to local and foreign investors and the challenges facing the investment climate in Egypt in light of the international indicators. Eliminating bureaucracy The cost of bureaucracy in Egypt is higher than the cost of taxes, and investors add what they incur as a result of bureaucracy to the price of the goods, Alaa El-Saqty, head of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) federation, said during the National Dialogue session. El-Saqty urged the state to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy to increase the competitiveness of industrial products. The participants in Tuesday's session discussed, too, increasing the level of industry's contribution to the economy. Bahaa Dimitri, the rapporteur of the Industry Committee in the National Dialogue, highlighted that, in Egypt, the industry contributes to only 16 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) a meagre contribution compared to several countries. Dimitri added that the industry's contribution to the GDP should be around 33-35 percent. He noted that achieving such a goal requires a sincere political and economic will to establish a sound investment environment that encourages investors to add to the national economy. During the session, the participants called for a clear policy and vision that outlines the state's industrial priorities. They also called for a quick implementation of the State Ownership Policy Document, in which the state has pledged to withdraw from many industrial sectors. There must be a clear plan for the state to focus on specific industries, El-Saqty said during the session, adding that the absence of such a plan baffles the investors. Localizing industry Localizing industry ranked highly on the agenda of the session. Hossam El-Khosht, a member of the Justice Party, affirmed that the programmes and plans set by the government to localize industries overlook the requirements to do so. Therefore, El-Khosht called for reviewing and activating several laws and decisions to promote local industries, including decision 3265/2021 on localizing industries. Several participants have also called for integrating raw materials into local industries instead of exporting them unprocessed. Mohamed Khalil, a member of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, stressed the importance of limiting the exportation of raw and intermediate materials. We should export raw materials only after they undergo a manufacturing process, and we should provide opportunities to exploit them, Khalil stated. He also affirmed that intermediate materials should be exported only after meeting the local demand. Moataz Mahmoud, head of the House of Representatives Industrial Committee, said that using the country's raw materials in manufacturing rather than exporting them should relieve the import bill. Implementing State Ownership Policy Document Ahmed Fikry Abdel-Wahab, an industry expert and member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), noted that the State Ownership Policy Document contains neither a specific timeframe nor a list of the investments that the state will withdraw from. Abdel-Wahab added that investors need to see these parts of the document. Obstacles facing investors He also stated that one of the major obstacles facing investors is the unpredictability of the exchange rate, which makes investors uncertain about the future of their investments in the Egyptian market. Moreover, Abdel-Wahab maintained that though the state has a clear policy on the automotive industry, the means of implementing such a policy still needs to be clarified. Mahmoud Essam, a Reform and Development Party representative, called for the state to quickly and efficiently provide lands for industrial investors and ensure a fair price for these lands. On the other hand, Mohamed Khalil of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party called for developing a mechanism to allocate lands for industrial sectors. For his part, El-Saqty described the issue of allocating the industrial lands as thorny. He added that the state needs around EGP 10 trillion to increase industrial lands and industrial production twofold. El-Saqty noted that Egypt currently needed more resources to achieve such an increase. Search Keywords: Short link: GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 67,619 Thanked: 273,345 Times View My Garage Re: Next-gen Jeep Wrangler will be an EV and offer even better off-road capabilities Quote: Mustang Sammy Originally Posted by A jeep is supposed to be for going to places that are off the beaten track. IMHO, making it an EV will handicap it yuuugely on this front. - The Wrangler is hugely popular in the USA, just like the Thar is in India. EVs are a customer expectation now. - 90% of Jeep Wranglers don't go offroading, just like Thars. For those using it primarily on-road, an EV option is a must. For the 10% who want to offroad, Jeep will always sell a petrol Wrangler. - When offroading, an EV can have advantages. Instant torque, no issue with water getting into your engine or alternator, software can fine-tune the exact torque & power characteristic going to each wheel, no overheating (Petrol Thars overheat under extreme offroading), better reliability & less mechanical bits that can break etc. The main problem I see is this = EVs drop range like crazy in hard-driving. Running out of charge in the middle of nowhere means you are finished. Bigger batteries & better battery technology will take care of this to an extent. Also, in offroading, you aren't always driving with the accelerator buried into the floor. But yes, the fast depletion of range under hard driving is the biggest handicap of electric offroaders. Downside of bigger batteries is weight, which is a penalty while offroading. I think an Electric Wrangler makes a lot of business sense.- The Wrangler is hugely popular in the USA, just like the Thar is in India. EVs are a customer expectation now.- 90% of Jeep Wranglers don't go offroading, just like Thars. For those using it primarily on-road, an EV option is a must. For the 10% who want to offroad, Jeep will always sell a petrol Wrangler.- When offroading, an EV can have advantages. Instant torque, no issue with water getting into your engine or alternator, software can fine-tune the exact torque & power characteristic going to each wheel, no overheating (Petrol Thars overheat under extreme offroading), better reliability & less mechanical bits that can break etc.The main problem I see is this = EVs drop range like crazy in hard-driving. Running out of charge in the middle of nowhere means you are finished. Bigger batteries & better battery technology will take care of this to an extent. Also, in offroading, you aren't always driving with the accelerator buried into the floor. But yes, the fast depletion of range under hard driving is the biggest handicap of electric offroaders. Downside of bigger batteries is weight, which is a penalty while offroading. Saudi Arabia and the US blamed warring sides in Sudan for violating the ceasefire agreement signed recently in Jeddah, urging both the Sudanese army and its paramilitary rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to adhere to their commitments. The Saudi and US facilitators noted that neither side observed its commitment not to seek military advantage during the 48-hour period after the agreement was signed and before it went into effect, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. Over the past weeks, the US and Saudi Arabia have been mediating in talks between the warring sides, held in the kingdom. A new truce was announced over the weekend the seventh attempt so far to stop the deadly violence in the east African nation. It went into effect on Monday night. All previous ceasefires were violated. While fighting in Khartoum appeared to be less intense than in recent days, the facilitators have conveyed to the parties reports indicating that both sides violated the ceasefire, including offensive operations in Khartoum and El-Obeid, airstrikes, and use of artillery, the Saudi statement added. The statement also revealed that: "Representatives of the Follow-up and Coordination Committee today in Jeddah engaged in constructive discussions about humanitarian aid and its delivery, and worked to include the leaders of the two sides to talk about allegations of violations of the ceasefire, and to work to deliver humanitarian aid to provide relief to the needy. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday warned Sudan's rivals to abide by the latest ceasefire or face possible sanctions, as residents reported sporadic fighting between the two sides in the capital Khartoum and a northern city. In a video message posted by the US embassy on social media early Tuesday, Blinken said the fighting has been tragic, senseless, and devastating. The truce, he said, is to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance and restore essential services and infrastructure destroyed in the clashes. If the ceasefire is violated, well know and we will hold violators accountable through sanctions and other means, Blinken said, adding, We facilitated the ceasefire, but its the responsibility of the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF to implement it. A remote mechanism, backed by the US, has been established to monitor the truce, Blinken added a 12-member monitoring committee consisting of three representatives from the warring sides, three from the US, and three from Saudi Arabia. Sudan descended into chaos after fighting erupted in mid-April between the country's military, led by General Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The fighting has killed at least 863 civilians, including at least 190 children, and wounded more than 3,530 others, according to the Doctors Syndicate, which tracks civilian casualties. The toll could be much higher, the medical group said. The conflict has also turned Khartoum and other urban areas into battlefields. Early on, foreign governments raced to evacuate their diplomats and nationals as thousands of foreign residents scrambled to get out of Sudan. More than a million Sudanese were forced from their homes by the fighting, including over 840,000 who have sought shelter in safer parts of the country, and another 250,000 who crossed into neighbouring countries, according to the UN figures. Search Keywords: Short link: Pulse500 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 132 Thanked: 468 Times Re: Mahindra Scorpio-N Review Background After prolonged wait after booking the Scorpio_N Z6.D.MT at introductory price, I finally got the delivery on 21st April. I wanted the delivery quickly and was not really interested in any fanfare, celebration formalities etc, so I took the delivery late evening with a temporary license plate as soon as I received the registration number from Vahan portal on my mobile and confirmation with dealer. This will be my interim car, before I move to some Electric or Hydrogen car when suitable options are available. I did not want to spend too much on IC engine vehicle considering this uncertainty, policy decisions of Govt / Municipal bodies on ICE engine vehicles and news about push by some bureaucrats to ban diesel vehicles in top cities in next 3-4 years. Booking and delivery experience When I was informed about the allocation of a ScorpioN against my booking (introductory price for first 25K customers) and that the car has reached dealer's stockyard, I initiated the sale of my old, well-maintained Mahindra XUV500 W62011. However, the dealer could not make the allotted ScorpioN available for PDI or registration even after more than a week of dispatch from stockyard to showroom, I held on to my XUV500 as long as possible after receiving different offers, but finally had to give in as I had committed deal/date with Spinny. The initially allotted ScorpioN had some defects as I understand (dealer refused to disclose), it was lying in the dealer's workshop for certain works. I finally escalated with Mahindra, and the regional manager immediately came into action, and on a joint phone call, dealer gave me a choice to accept another car of same model with VIN number showing slightly older manufacturing date of the same month. I cannot imagine living without a car for too long. I accepted the dealer's offer of older VIN, as the cheque I had given to dealer was already encashed. I signed the new forms (with a different VIN), and transport from stockyard, cleaning, polish, dealer PDI, registration etc was carried out within 4 days. Prior to registration, I had asked dealer to match the insurance premium to quotes I had procured directly from different insurance companies. Dealer did come close, but could not match the preferred quote. Still left with about 6% gap, I finally accepted it, considering the convenience of one stop shopping, promise of better and faster service on claims etc without the need to wait for overloaded set of claim inspectors. And anyways, this difference will become less painful when I submit the 50% NCB certificate from the old XUV500 I sold off. The dealer did not force upon any accessories during delivery. I wanted to get reversing assist camera, front parking sensors, LED fog lamps, H7 retrofit LED lamps (were listed on m2all.com, now everything removed from the website) and good quality mats installed, and none of these were available in stock. So I ended up buying only the mud flaps. I have been driving the vehicle for almost a month now, however, I havent spent enough time to properly test/try all key features yet, like the Hill Hold control, ESP, Android Auto, Navigation and other features/apps of the ICE system - most dont even work yet). Comparison with my XUV500 Coming from XUV500, there is no doubt Mahindra has come a long way on terms of quality of interior plastics, fit and finish, NVH levels, improved fabric seats etc, although there is still significant scope for improvement. Seating position in this Scorpio-N is excellent, provides good all-round visibility with no significant blind spots due to A/B pillars. Electrically assisted power steering is very light, and turning radius is reasonable for such a long car, this makes the vehicle easy to navigate through city. Suspension is great improvement over previous generations, and no issues driving on any kind of roads. Ride quality and handling is good and body roll is controlled on sharp turns, better than what I expected from such a tall and heavy vehicle. Observations and Niggles While there are lots of good things people have already mentioned about the vehicle by the Team-BHP reviewers and owners, I did critically look at certain things and jotting down my findings here. Please dont take this as biased or criticism. I do strongly believe feedback from car owners/drivers to the manufacturer can really make them improve the product, provided they take it constructively. And based on my past experience, I do believe Mahindra does take feedback and tries whatever best they can do, within any financial constraints. Ofcourse, every owner/driver is unique, and individuals personal preferences and expectations could be different from many others. 1. Surprised to see DPF clogged error with very annoying audio/visible notification within a week of car ownership. I had driven the vehicle on a 40-45 km highway route a day before, so was surprised, but thought the dealer may have kept vehicle idling too long in workshops before delivery/during software updates etc. However, after carrying out the REGEN that night, the car still threw me same alarm again next noon. This time I ignored and kept driving instead of falling to the REGEN demand. It went off on driving another 5-6 Km. The DPF clogged alarm came back again after a few days, and I was certain there is an issue, as I had driven vehicle on longer routes at reasonable speeds on earlier days. 2. All warnings/alarms, especially the Low-fuel warnings are extremely annoying, some could even create panic for an less experienced driver. Recently, I was on way back to Navi Mumbai from Pune. I had sufficient fuel when I started (showed ~300km range, and I had to drive ~120 on expressway). Just short of 40 km from the destination at driving at ~80 Km at night, the car raised loud audio-visual alarms, claiming that car is very low on fuel. The instrument cluster was flooded with Low Fuel alarm and warnings which refused to get suppressed. A less experienced or tired driver could have easily caused accident due to such loud audio-visual distractions at night on this expressway, where many other drivers, who just got out of long traffic jams in ghats, overtake others in a zig zag fashion and there are clusters of illegally parked invisible trucks covering the shoulder and half a lane. I am familiar of this place and know exactly where to find a pump. To my surprise, it just took ~42 Litres to get the 57+ litres tank to fill, which means car unnecessarily raised repeated panic alarms even when it had 15+ litres of fuel. Why not give milder audio-visual hints initially, and increase intensity/frequency of alarms if the fuel really gets lower and driver ignores/refuses to acknowledge. Atleast dont raise panic at higher speeds, a distracted driver at night can easily cause serious accident resulting in injuries and deaths. 3. I realized, this Mahindra car has already pulled lots of April Fool pranks on me, so I should avoid buying new cars in April - and kids are now confused between Diwali and Summer holidays. This car, at random, makes noises of firecrackers (PHUTT FUTT PHUTT), at random intensity and frequency, which I believe is through the speakers, followed by some malfunction or alarm on the screen in many cases. On one occasion, both the screens (Instrument cluster and ICE) went blank after the sounds. I carefully slowed and stopped the vehicle at a safe place to check everything. Locked the vehicle, unlocked and restarted. Everything worked fine. No warnings, nothing. As if nothing had happened. April Fool! At another instance, after a loud Phutt sound, the hill-hold warning lights came up and asked me to slowdown and stop the vehicle. I did. Checked everything but found nothing unusual, restarted engine to go back home, and the vehicle behaved as if nothing had happened. Twice, same sequence for Check Engine lamp happened, and once for battery. Sometimes no alarms/warnings come after the phut phut sound, but the random sound is making me very nervous now. It is distracting, sometimes it is so loud that it can cause panic during driving on highways, as if the engine / fluid tanks under the bonnet or AC system has blasted, or some other vehicle has hit my car, or some bomb blast happened under my car. Sometimes milder sounds are heard even when the vehicle is stopped, engine is OFF and doors are closed (that confirmed where the sounds come from, speakers, and that Mahindra did not gift me any real firecrackers). 4. Headlamp throw and visibility is very poor. Either the halogen bulbs are underpowered, they get limited electric supply (high resistance/poor gauge of wires, bad current limiter/dimmer), or may have improper mix of visible wavelengths, bad reflectors, bad alignment or combination of multiples of these. Extremely disappointed, I thought the high position of the headlamps would actually provide better road visibility. I have to look for LED replacements - hope Mahindra offers some fairly priced options, or allow me to use my spare set of 36W+36W H7 LED bulbs - exact replica of this set already lighting my wife's Nexon and my old XUV500. 5. Parking lights behave erratic way. After a drive, shutting off all lights, engine etc. and turning on the parking lights, I expect the parking (position lamps) to stay on even after locking the car (unless battery is low). However, the lamps shut off once the car is locked. I have to open the car, switch off the parking lights, turn them on again, then re-lock the vehicle. Sometimes this process works. Not always. Could have just given a audio-visual warning if the parking lights are left on by driver accidently, and kept it on. But I find the behaviour inconsistent. Software issue? 6. Even the front row reading lamps behave erratically. Even when turned on intentionally, keys in the socket, driver on seat and reading, if the engine is off, the lights automatically turn off after a minute or so. Cant Mahindra allow the driver read manuals / books inside the car, take care of kids, or check things after those errors/warnings or while waiting for someone? 7. Excessive glare on the instrument cluster, leading to poor / zero visibility during bright days. Have to keep palm above the screen on dashboard to see the instrument cluster. Could have just kept the screen brighter, and/or extended the dashboard canopy! I will have to make some jugaad! 8. Erratic behaviour of cruise control with auto start-stop feature turned on. After idle stopping at traffic lights, once the vehicle restarts on pressing clutch and attaining adequate speed (>40Kmph), the vehicle doesnt allow engaging Cruise Control. CC remains in standby mode but doesnt get active, it doesnt respond on +/- for significant duration or until it crosses 2-4 kms. After driving several Km, the cruise control starts to work again normally. 9. Unpredictable behaviour of Music system: It selects random source of music, irrespective of which source was last used when cold started and driven. It uses either any one random source first (mostly chooses internal drive, but not consistent either), and after few seconds switches to another audio source (USB/FM) automatically without any manual input. 10. Most of the pre-loaded apps on infotainment screen dont work. And there is no way to delete the unwanted bloatware too. I could never get the navigation to work. Most other apps just freeze the screen or makes it unresponsive. Have to press the physical home button (good they provided it) to get out of this tricky situation, or turn off the whole system to reboot. Infotainment UI has certainly huge scope for improvement. 11. Although original brochure at the time of booking showed 3rd row roof lamp feature to be present in Z6, the car came without it. Maybe Mahindra deleted the feature later. But why? Atleast could have provided a manually operated lamp in the boot. 12. Android Auto doesnt work with my Google Pixel phones. There was ~3 weeks of delay in activating Adrenox after car delivery. And after it was activated, I found it disappointing, and not much useful. Trips show incorrect routes, often jumping places. No way to export trip reports to excel and Kmz files. No way to filter trips (based on any criteria dates, intra city, short/long etc and neither can delete them. But I keep getting too many annoying engine start-stop alerts in a batch probably queued up and delivered together after 3-4 days. Suggestions for Improvements The car certainly needs improvements - in terms of fit & finish quality, design and features. I believe some could be done just through software updates, which could be quick, and make ownership experience better. Some examples: 1. Automatic closure of sunroof when one shuts the engine of an unoccupied car and locks the car with keys/switches. 2. After driving and shutting down engine, infotainment screen shows information about the last trip for a short time. Shows the distance covered in kms, duration of trip, milage etc. but for extremely brief time. Would have been great if this info is visible longer, for upto 30 secs or till the driver gets off the seat and locks the car. 3. Windshield mist needs to be started a bit earlier before the wiper motor starts its action, this will minimize the chances of scratches on windshields. At present, the washer fluid takes a while to travel through the rubber pipe to the nozzle / spray. If the wipers start moving too quickly on the dry windshield, it could cause early wearing out of wiper blade and leave micro scratches on windshield too. 4. When driving with Cruise Control active, it is normal that CC will get to standby mode when driver presses the clutch or brake pedal. However, I found that the engine RPM suddenly rises a bit and for a while when the clutch pedal is pressed. I assume that fuel supply is being cut a few milliseconds too late after the clutch pedal is pressed. 5. Already mentioned critically of how the warnings / alarms are presented to the user, and strongly feel, Mahindra should seriously act on that feedback. Auto makers MUST NOT create panic situations, or excessively distract drivers when there is really no need to. My earlier vehicles used to give me mild audio ting sound and lighted the fuel icon on instrument cluster when the fuel level reached the threshold (still over 100 km range). The icon would start flashing when the fuel level is very low (<50 km drive range). 6. Seat belt alarm comes up too quickly, even before the vehicle is set in motion or is reversing for taking out the car from narrow closed parking. Even Tata Nexon raises the alarm only if driver doesnt wear seat belt after traveling ~30 feet or speed reaching ~10 kmph. Since the prime purpose of seat belt is to minimize physical injuries on sudden braking or during an accident, and should be implemented in such a way that it does not irritate someone even before starting to drive Wishlist Things I sorely miss from my other car are: 1. Scorpio_N has no door ajar lamps and no reflectors on doors either. So I pasted red fluorescent / reflector tapes from the inside the door so that the vehicles coming from behind at night can get alerted when my cars door is open. 2. No puddle lamps. They are a must in Mumbai. Or anywhere for that matter. I dont want kids to step on shit and bring that inside the car. 3. The 3rd row seats and folding mechanism is badly designed. The XUV500 W6'2011 system was so much better. It would properly fold flat and provide full space in the boot. This one has ugly folded seats occupying 1/3rd of the boot when seats are folded and unusable space when 3rd row seats are in use. Even when folded, the floor is not fully available, and is not even. I think I should just remove the 3rd row seats and their locking hooks, and install a custom made plywood tray/lid. 4. No cubby holes for storing frequently required, quickly accessible items like umbrellas, a towel/paper napkins, extra sunglasses for co-driver / other occupants etc. The glovebox is so small, cant even carry car's user manuals. And it is supposed to be cooled, to allow carrying cold water bottles etc. Cant fit even regular 500 ml water bottles. Seatbelt height also cannot be adjusted, it is at an uncomfortable level for a sixfooter with a body shape like me. 5. Automatic D&N IRVM. The OEM manual D&N mirror is really bad. It has jerky movements during adjustments and it doesnt hold in the position I need. It is abnormally dark in night mode and too light in the day mode. The D&N switch is not good either - prism not properly aligned. I badly miss the Honda auto D&N IRVM I had installed in my XUV500. I plan to install similar on ScorpioN too, along with a battery voltmeter as I had done on XUV500. XUVs OEM mirror (plastics) had turned brittle within 4 years and broke, and the ScorpioN mirror is looking exactly same, inferior on D/N prism alignment and bad ball joint movement. 6. Extra USB type-A ports OR 12V socket for dashcam in front row. I used the charging port for mobile charging, and the other USB port for USB music stick. Sadly, the cars system doesnt support USB Hub to allow dashcam and USB stick to use same physical port. So had to build my own solution (Fuse-tap + QC 2.0/QC 3.0 DC DC converter board in a home-made acrylic case, stuck under the dashboard to provide 5V to the dashcam. All cables hidden. Works fine, no heat. Thanks to Maruti spares shop for selling 7.5A low-profile fuses (wish they had 2A and 5A as well). Mahindra workshops still dont have low-profile fuses in stock. End Notes I have already raised many of the issues and provided my suggestions for improvement the Dealer and Mahindra. I was asked by Mahindra to bring the vehicle to the workshop to get the software updates installed, which should solve some of the issues. However, the company also claimed that the reported issues does not make the vehicle unsafe to drive. So we all agreed that I can drive the vehicle for a few more days till the first service is due, detect/report any more issues till then, and get most issues fixed during first service. I will provide more updates after the first service. (Had listed the issues / written this review last week, but posting it now) Last edited by Axe77 : 27th May 2023 at 17:22 . Reason: Lovely post @Pulse500. Just added a few headings for improving readability. Thank you. Bottom line: Nvidia sees the race to develop generative AIs like ChatGPT and Midjourney as the iPhone moment for artificial intelligence. More importantly, the company seems well-positioned to capitalize on the surging demand for GPUs and AI accelerators, and this has sent its valuation close to $1 trillion this week. Its latest financial report paints a good forward outlook, but it's also a reminder that pleasing gamers isn't a priority for the company. And it probably won't be for as long as the tech industry is obsessed with AI. Almost every business out there is trying to jump on the AI train, and this is making Nvidia and its investors happier than ever. So happy, in fact, that the company feels confident it can soon become the first chipmaker to be valued at more than $1 trillion, thanks to the enormous demand for data center GPUs and AI accelerators. Investors have sent the share price soaring, and it's hovering around $384 (up more than 25 percent from Tuesday) as of writing this. AI is one of the main reasons Nvidia's data center business grew no less than 14 percent during the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year. For reference, Intel's Data Center and AI Group recorded a staggering 39 percent drop, and AMD's data center division delivered flat revenue compared to the same quarter in 2022. As you can see from the graph above, it's a big deal for Team Green as this is where more than half of its revenue has been coming from for almost a year now. The company recorded $4.28 billion in sales to enterprise customers, which is also above the $3.9 billion figure expected by analysts. This partly explains why Nvidia has moved some production of GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs to make more Hopper-based H100 enterprise GPUs. Companies like Microsoft, Oracle, OpenAI, Twitter, Amazon, and Google are all buying large amounts of the latter product to train and run generative AIs. To put things into perspective, the RTX 4090 sells for around $1,600, while used H100 cards sell for over $40,000 on eBay. This makes even Intel's 4th-gen Xeon Scalable Sapphire Rapids CPUs look cheap at $17,000. Some companies like Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Google are investing in custom silicon for their AI efforts, but that won't curb their appetite for Nvidia GPUs anytime soon. During an investor call Wednesday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang explained the company has put 15 years of investment into hardware and software development which placed it in the right position at the right time to capitalize on a large investment cycle from companies big and small working on AI-based services. Jensen is no doubt happy about generative AIs becoming the "primary workload of most of the world's data centers," but gamers are understandably less joyful about Nvidia's strategy with the RTX 40 series graphics cards. Between the high prices and low VRAM amounts on some of the new models, PC enthusiasts aren't exactly rushing to upgrade. That prompted Nvidia to announce an RTX 4060 Ti variant with a larger frame buffer, and we're also seeing small price drops on existing models. Nvidia's gaming revenue for the first quarter of this fiscal year was $2.24 billion a 38 percent year-over-year drop. The company blames the overall economic climate and the relatively slow rollout of RTX 40 series GPUs for the decline. However, our own Steven Walton took a look at the recently-launched RTX 4060 Ti and found it to be overpriced at $400. Higher-end models are $600 and $800, respectively, so not exactly appetizing options for gamers even though they do offer more value for the money. Also read: Is Nvidia now a software stock? The competitive advantage of CUDA One thing is for sure, the AI frenzy is transforming the tech industry and Nvidia stands to benefit the most thanks to the CUDA software stack, which is exclusive to its hardware offerings. Rivals have so far failed to create a true alternative and convince others in the industry to use it, though companies like AMD and Intel have certainly tried with toolkits like ROCm and oneAPI. As a result, Nvidia is optimistic about the future and expects to generate around $11 billion in revenue in the current fiscal quarter. This would be a 64 percent increase year-over-year and mark a new record in terms of quarterly revenue for the Jensen-powered company. We'll have to wait and see. What just happened? Microsoft and authorities from several countries have warned that a state-sponsored hacking group has been spying on critical US infrastructure across a range of industries, with the aim of disrupting communications between the United States and Asia in the event of future crises. Microsoft said that the hackers, codenamed Volt Typhoon, have been in operation since mid-2021. By exploiting vulnerabilities in internet-facing Fortinet FortiGuard devices that admins never patched, the attackers are able to extract credentials to a network's Active Directory, and use the data to infect other devices on a network. "Volt Typhoon proxies all its network traffic to its targets through compromised SOHO network edge devices (including routers)," Microsoft wrote. "Microsoft has confirmed that many of the devices, which include those manufactured by ASUS, Cisco, D-Link, NETGEAR, and Zyxel, allow the owner to expose HTTP or SSH management interfaces to the Internet." Microsoft said the affected organizations include the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. "Observed behaviour suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible," Microsoft continued. This is achieved by the campaign relying on living-off-the-land techniques, where attackers use native, legitimate tools within the victim's system to sustain and advance an attack; and hands-on-keyboard activity, which are attacks carried out manually by hand rather than programmatically and automatically. Microsoft added that Volt Typhoon had targeted critical infrastructure in Guam, the location of a crucial US military outpost in the Pacific Ocean, and a key strategic point for the United States in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Microsoft said it has notified targeted or compromised customers and provided instructions on identifying an attack. It urged those impacted to close or change their credentials for all compromised accounts. It wasn't just Microsoft that issued a warning. Authorities in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, which make up the Five Eyes intelligence network, released a statement that read: "The United States and international cybersecurity authorities are issuing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to highlight a recently discovered cluster of activity of interest associated with a People's Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber actor, also known as Volt Typhoon." The Chinese foreign ministry has criticized the allegations, saying they "lacked evidence." It reiterated the accusation it made earlier this month that the US is a "hacker empire" and said the involvement of certain companies in the warning (Microsoft) "shows that the US is expanding channels for disseminating false information." While tensions between the two countries have been ramping up in recent times, China and the US have a long history when it comes to hacking. In 2015, then-President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that they had come to an agreement that "neither country's government will conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property." But attacks on US companies by Chinese government-backed hackers were reported just a few weeks later. One of the biggest hacks the US blamed on China in recent times was the one on Microsoft Exchange in 2021. And in February last year, Federal Bureau of Investigation director Christopher Wray said that China is responsible for more cyberattacks on the US than every other country combined. What just happened? Astranis is a relatively small space company headquartered in San Francisco, California, with a mission to bring proper internet connectivity to underserved areas. The first Astranis satellite is now in space, and the technology is working as expected, so the company is planning its next launches. Astranis satellites are built upon a technology developed in-house, and they are relatively small and low-cost compared to those provided by other space enterprises like SpaceX. The company's "next-gen" design has a weight of just 400 kg, and it employs a proprietary software-defined payload for radio communication. The 1-meter by 1-meter satellite is designed to work in a geostationary orbit, meaning the spacecraft follows the direction of Earth's rotation and appears motionless to ground observers. Astranis launched Arcturus, its first satellite, earlier this month aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket. A few hours later, the payload was successfully deployed in orbit spreading its "wings" (ie solar arrays) and reflectors. Astranis was then successful in gaining control of the satellite, sending commands and updates for the flight control software (because not even space can save you from a mandatory software update), and adjusting the satellite's orbit to place it in a geostationary position over Alaska. Arcturus was able to link up with an internet gateway in Utah before communicating with user terminals in Alaska where Astranis will provide high-speed bandwidth to Pacific Dataport, a local internet service provider. Everything went smoother than expected, Astranis said, and Arcturus is now serving as a live demonstration that the company's small satellite technology can work and survive in the harsh environmental conditions of outer space. Compared to global networks of internet satellites like SpaceX's Starlink or the IRIS initiative being funded by the European Union, Astranis does business on a per-customer basis serving one area of the planet at a time. The company has already built four other low-cost satellites to serve the connectivity needs of a customer in Peru, airline Wi-Fi (with two spacecrafts) and yet another "unspecified" client. The four satellites should launch aboard a dedicated Falcon 9 mission later this summer or early fall, but Astranis is already thinking ahead with ambitious plans for the future. The company, which has raised $550 million in funding and employs a team of 300 people, wants to scale up production to assemble two satellites per month, and then launch dozens and "hundreds" of satellites in space. Climate scientists are facing a surge of climate change denialism on Twitter, prompting many of them to abandon the platform in favor of alternative social networks, according to a report by AFP. The rise in hostility and misinformation follows Elon Musk's takeover of the platform in October 2022, and experts now argue that communicating about climate science on Twitter has become increasingly challenging. Climate Scientists Flee From Tweeting Peter Gleick, a climate and water specialist with a significant following, recently announced that he would no longer post on Twitter citing the rise of racism and sexism on the platform. He highlighted the dramatic increase in offensive and threatening attacks directed at him since Musk's takeover at Twitter. After Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter, Robert Rohde, a physicist and lead scientist at Berkeley Earth, conducted an analysis of climate scientists' engagement on the platform before and after the takeover. His findings revealed a decline in the impact of their tweets, with an average decrease of 38% in likes and 40% in retweets. While Twitter has chosen not to offer explicit statements about the modifications made to the algorithms affecting platform traffic and visibility, a tweet from Musk in January alluded to a deliberate adjustment. The tweet underscored the significance of exposing individuals, irrespective of their political affiliations, to diverse viewpoints. He said: "People on the right should see more 'left-wing' stuff and people on the left should see more 'right-wing' stuff. But you can just block it if you want to stay in an echo chamber." Katharine Hayhoe, a well-known climatologist, conducted an experiment by posting a tweet on climate change before and after the platform takeover. She observed a significant increase in hostile comments and analyzed them for signs of bot activity. She found that replies from apparent trolls or bots increased 15 to 30 times compared to the previous two years. Read Also: Elon Musk: Twitter Blue Subscription Now Allows 8GB Video Uploads! Fans Share How They'll Use It Seeking for Alternatives In response to the situation, climate scientists are seeking alternative platforms for communication. Andrew Dessler, a professor of atmospheric sciences, told AFP that he is integrating most of his climate communication to Substack, a newsletter platform. Michael Mann, a well-known climate scientist, believes that the rise in misinformation is organized and orchestrated by opponents of climate reforms. The impact of these events extends beyond individual scientists, as the presence of trolls and bots generates conflict and division, hindering productive discussions on climate change. Many scientists have experienced a decline in engagement with their tweets, leading them to explore other avenues for communicating their research and insights. The challenges faced by climate scientists on Twitter may highlight the need for platforms that can foster constructive dialogue and provide accurate information about climate change. Related Article: TikTok Earth Day 2023: Climate Change Denial Videos To Be Removed; New Search Features to Arrive 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. University of Massachusetts Amherst engineers have achieved a remarkable feat by demonstrating that nearly any material can be transformed into an electricity-harvesting device that utilizes the moisture in the air. By incorporating nanopores smaller than 100 nanometers in diameter, the engineers have unlocked the potential for harvesting clean electricity from thin air. Man-made Cloud Jun Yao, the senior author of the paper and an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at UMass Amherst, explained the concept behind this breakthrough. He compared the air to a cloud composed of water droplets, each carrying a charge. "Each of those droplets contains a charge, and when conditions are right, the cloud can produce a lightning bolt-but we don't know how to reliably capture electricity from lightning. What we've done is to create a human-built, small-scale cloud that produces electricity for us predictably and continuously so that we can harvest it," Yao said in a statement. While lightning bolts can be generated from clouds, reliably capturing that electricity remains a challenge. However, Yao and his team have successfully created a human-built, small-scale cloud that consistently produces predictable electricity, allowing for efficient harvesting. The core principle of this man-made cloud relies on what the researchers refer to as the "generic Air-gen effect." Building upon their previous work in 2020, which involved harvesting electricity from the air using specialized protein nanowires grown from the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens, Yao and co-author Derek Lovley, realized that the ability to generate electricity from the air is not limited to a specific material. According to Yao, the key requirement is that the material must possess nanopores smaller than 100 nanometers in diameter. This is due to the "mean free path," which represents the distance a water molecule in the air travels before colliding with another water molecule. Water molecules suspended in the air have a mean free path of around 100 nm. By designing a thin layer of material filled with nanopores smaller than this size, the upper part of the layer is bombarded with charge-carrying water molecules, creating an electrical charge imbalance similar to that in a cloud. This charge imbalance effectively forms a battery, which continues to operate as long as there is humidity in the air. Read Also: Taiwanese Officials Blame Ships from China for Cutting Internet Cables Vast Range of Possibilities Yao emphasized the simplicity of the idea and the vast range of possibilities it presents. The harvester can be constructed from various materials, providing cost-effective and adaptable options for different environments. For instance, specific materials can be chosen for rainforest or arid regions. Moreover, unlike other renewable energy technologies that rely on specific conditions, the humidity-driven harvester operates continuously, regardless of weather conditions or time of day, according to the team. This ensures a consistent power supply. Additionally, due to the device's thin structure and the three-dimensional diffusion of air humidity, numerous harvesters can be stacked on top of each other, enabling efficient scaling of energy production without significantly increasing the device's footprint. Yao and his team envisions a future where clean electricity is readily available everywhere with the generic Air-gen effect. The study's findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials. Related Article: Australian Wood-burning Electricity Is No Longer Considered Renewable 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a recent development, the Chinese government has dismissed allegations made by the United States and its allies regarding digital espionage and penetration of Western infrastructure. The accusations emerged after Microsoft and the National Security Agency revealed that China's hacking group, Volt Typhoon, had potentially installed surveillance malware in critical systems on Guam, a strategic location in the Pacific. 'Collective Disinformation' According to a recent Reuters report, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the media, categorizing the joint warning issued by the US, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand as a "collective disinformation campaign." He further claimed that the alerts aimed to promote their intelligence alliance, known as the Five Eyes, and accused the United States of being the real culprit behind hacking activities. Read Also: TikTok Files Suit to Stop Montana from Banning the Popular App This response from China follows a series of warnings by the Five Eyes countries and Microsoft about the Volt Typhoon's activities. Why Governments Are on the Lookout for Volt Typhoon The group's focus on critical infrastructure, especially communication links connecting the United States to the Pacific, has raised concerns among analysts. Additionally, its ability to operate covertly has drawn attention, with cybersecurity company Secureworks highlighting the group's consistent efforts to cover its tracks. Secureworks, which has responded to at least three Volt Typhoon hacks, supports the Western assessments of the group's origins. Referring to the hackers as "Bronze Silhouette," Secureworks believes they are likely operating on behalf of Beijing. The company also suggests that Chinese spies are intensifying their cyber espionage activities in response to increased pressure from the country's leadership to avoid public scrutiny. Volt Typhoon's focus on critical infrastructure is a matter of grave concern. By infiltrating these systems, the group could potentially disrupt vital communication links and compromise the security and stability of the United States and its allies. The implications of such attacks on national security are significant, as they can impact crucial sectors, including defense, energy, transportation, and finance. Heating US-China Tensions This ongoing cyber conflict between China and the United States highlights the escalating tensions and constant battle for dominance in the digital realm. Both countries possess advanced capabilities and sophisticated hacking groups, making protecting critical infrastructure and sensitive data a top priority. This is not the first time the United States has accused China and Chinese organizations of espionage. The United States prohibited the telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE in 2022 due to an alleged risk of a data breach. As a response to an alleged Chinese spy balloon flying over US territory in 2023, the United States blacklisted six Chinese entities with ties to Beijing's aerospace programs. As this situation unfolds, how the allegations and responses will impact international relations, cyber defense strategies, and cooperation among nations remains to be seen. Cybersecurity experts and intelligence agencies will continue to monitor the activities of hacking groups such as the Volt Typhoon. At the same time, governments aim to ensure the security and resilience of their critical infrastructure in the face of evolving cyber threats. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Chinese Tech Giants Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu Go All-In on AI Amid Regulations, Sanctions 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new bacteria with extreme amino acid synthesizing ability was created by a team of researchers. This impossible medical feat was achieved by researchers at the University of Delaware. They published their study's findings in the Nature Chemical Biology journal on May 15. "Bacteria are potentially useful drug delivery vehicles," said UD Assistant Prof. Aditya Kunjapur via the University of Delaware Daily. He added that their tool is essential to the health industry since it can leverage the ability of bacteria to produce target antigens. New Bacteria With Extreme Amino Acid Synthesizing Ability According to Interesting Engineering's latest report, the new bacteria UD experts are capable of synthesizing an amino acid never observed in the natural world. Also Read: New Alzheimer's Disease Drugs Have Deadly Risks-With Some Patients Dying This new bacteria can synthesize pN-Phe (para-nitro-L-phenylalanine) at extreme levels. This unique amino acid is quite special since it can aid the immune system in responding to proteins it commonly ignores. The University of Delaware experts said that the bacteria is like giving the immune system binoculars so it can easily spot harmful proteins, enabling it to neutralize them. Dr. Kunjapur explained why this amino acid is important for health. "It can be attached to a protein from a mouse, reintroduced into mice, and the immune system will no longer tolerate the original version of that protein," said the UD researcher. How New Bacteria Was Created UD health experts combined two powerful techniques to create a new platform, which led to the new bacteria. These techniques are specifically metabolic engineering and genetic code expansion. Involved researchers said that they want to refine their new platform so that it can be applied to vaccines and immunotherapies. If the new health platform of the University of Delaware becomes successful, then it could help improve human's immune system. You can click this link to learn more about it. They believe that their innovation can help the world fight numerous diseases. Here are other stories we recently wrote about bacteria: Previously, a new study claimed that antibiotic-resistant bacteria are spreading in fluffy clouds. Meanwhile, the University of Georgia created a new bacteria-killing superfoam, which can help with environmental disasters. For more news updates about bacteria and other health topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Scientists Discover Special Bacteria in the Alps, Arctic That Can Digest Plastic 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Azerbaijan and Armenia are embroiled in a brutal conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh territories, and amidst the chaos, a disturbing allegation has come to light. Non-profit organization Access Now, along with its partners, has conducted an investigation titled "Hacking in a war zone: Pegasus spyware in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict," uncovering the alleged use of NSO Group's Pegasus spyware as a weapon in this international military dispute. This discovery marks the first documented cases of spyware being employed in an international war between two sovereign states. Reported Victims of Spyware The report by Access Now sheds light on the extent and severity of the assault on privacy, freedom of expression, and human rights online. It claims that at least 12 members of civil society, including journalists, human rights defenders, activists, academics, and even a United Nations official, have fallen victim to this spyware. Among the reported victims is Kristinne Grigoryan, the former Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, who spoke out about alleged atrocities committed against Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces. Karlen Aslanyan, a journalist from RFE/RL's Armenian Service and the host of a popular political show, also fell prey to this surveillance tool, as per the report. Furthermore, Anna Naghdalyan, an NGO representative and former Spokesperson of the Republic of Armenia involved in sensitive conversations and negotiations related to the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, was reportedly one of the victims as well. "Helping attack those already experiencing violence is a despicable act, even for a company like NSO Group," Natalia Krapiva, Tech-Legal Counsel at Access Now, said in a statement. "Inserting harmful spyware technology into the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict shows a complete disregard for safety and welfare and truly unmasks how depraved priorities can be. People must come before profit - it's time to disarm spyware globally. Read Also: Smart Device Security: MIT Researchers Develop a Way to Protect it from Powerful Hackers Following Apple's Warning The investigation was initiated after Apple issued a warning in November 2021, cautioning individuals about potential state-sponsored spyware targeting. Concerned civil society actors from Armenia reached out to CyberHUB-AM and Access Now's Digital Security Helpline to have their devices assessed. This analysis was provided by Access Now in collaboration with CyberHUB-AM, the Citizen Lab, Amnesty International's Security Lab, and independent mobile security researcher Ruben Muradyan. However, it must be noted that these are just allegations. The Azerbaijani government and NSO Group are yet to address these claims. Related Article: Wall Street's Closest Spyware Firm Allies 'Jefferies' Resigns from Key Loan Agent Amidst Plans of Shutting Down Pegasus 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a surprising turn of events, Finland finds itself facing an rare predicament: an abundance of clean electricity that has caused energy prices to plunge into negative territory, according to a report by Insider. While many countries across Europe are grappling with an energy crisis, Finland witnessed its spot energy prices dropping below zero earlier this week. When energy prices are negative, it means that the cost of electricity has dropped below zero. This situation occurs when there is an excess supply of electricity in the market, surpassing the demand for it. It might seem counterintuitive, but negative energy prices can have both positive and negative implications. On the positive side, it can benefit consumers by potentially leading to reduced or even zero-cost electricity, resulting in lower utility bills. However, negative energy prices can pose financial challenges for energy producers. They may struggle to cover their operational costs and generate revenue when the price of electricity falls below zero. This can have implications for their profitability and potentially impact investment in future energy projects. Slightly Below Zero The average energy price for the day was reported to be "slightly" below zero, according to Jukka Ruusunen, the CEO of Finland's grid operator, Fingrid, as he spoke to the Finnish public broadcaster Yle. This unexpected phenomenon can be attributed to two main factors: an unforeseen surplus of renewable energy and a decrease in energy consumption by the Finnish population in response to the crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This development marks a reversal for a country that, just last winter, was urging its citizens to conserve energy. Finland had been facing an energy crisis after implementing a ban on energy imports from its neighboring country, Russia, in response to the international backlash following the invasion of Ukraine. However, the situation changed significantly with the introduction of a new nuclear reactor in April this year, which provided a substantial boost to Finland's power supply for its population of approximately 5.5 million. Known as Olkiluoto 3, this nuclear reactor became the first new one to be commissioned in Europe in over 15 years. Its operation led to a remarkable 75% decrease in electricity prices in Finland, dropping from 245.98 per megawatt-hour in December to 60.55 per MWh in April, as reported by The National. Moreover, Finland, with its ambitious target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, has been actively pursuing renewable energy solutions. Read Also: Binance Reportedly Under Investigation for Violation of Russian Sanctions Finland's Unique Challenges The raging Russia-Ukraine war has largely disrupted the global supply chain, especially in the energy sector. Europe bore the heavy brunt of this war but some of them have also looked for other alternative sources to alleviate the energy crisis. Finland's current situation, with an overwhelming surplus of clean electricity driving energy prices into negative territory, presents an intriguing scenario. It highlights the interplay between renewable energy expansion, the operation of new nuclear reactors, and the unexpected consequences of geopolitical events on the energy landscape. As Finland continues on its path to a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, it will need to navigate these unique challenges and seize the opportunities they present. Related Article: Ukraine Deploys BRAVE1 Initiative to Boost Drones, War Tech 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar) has partnered with global technology majors - Siemens and Emerson - to develop sustainable infrastructure projects and accelerate the expansion of automation technology and industrial software excellence in Qatar, respectively. The new partnerships will play a role in facilitating the establishment of a centre of excellence in Lusail City, adding significant value to Qatars talent ecosystem and leadership in technological and software design. Cementing Qatar's global profile as a thriving and supportive global business hub, IPA Qatar remains committed to expanding its strategic collaborations with international companies, further enabling them to deepen their footprint in Qatar, access lucrative opportunities across diverse sectors, and drive economic diversification. Sustainable infrastructure IPA Qatars partnership with Siemens establishes the foundation for collaboration in the development of sustainable infrastructure projects in Qatar, leveraging Siemens' expertise in infrastructure, industry and mobility. The collaboration aims to strengthen cooperation in key sectors, such as vertical farming, smart cities, and transportation. As per the agreement, Siemens is committed to fostering local talent and plans to increase its workforce to exceed 300 full time employees. This will facilitate knowledge transfer and create new opportunities, contributing to the growth and development of Qatar's workforce. The MoU with Emerson will accelerate the expansion of automation technology and industrial software excellence in Qatar. IPA Qatar will support Emerson in its development of a Centre of Excellence in Lusail City, which will serve as a central hub for fostering innovation, sharing technology best practices, and nurturing local talent in key industry sectors, such as energy utilisation. The signatories included Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO of IPA Qatar; Matthias Rebellius, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and the CEO Smart Infrastructure; and Walid Samara, Vice President of Emerson for the Northern Region MEA. Other notable attendees included Helmut von Struve, CEO of Siemens in the Middle East and UAE; Hakan Ozdemir, CEO of Siemens in Qatar; and Mazen Ghannam, Emersons QatarEnergy Global Strategic Account Director. Key step Sheikh Ali said: "The new strategic partnerships with Siemens and Emerson are a significant step forward for IPA Qatar in achieving our mission to attract foreign direct investment and promote economic growth in Qatar. By collaborating with global leaders in technology, finance and innovation, we can create new opportunities for our local businesses and help them compete on a global scale. We are confident that these partnerships will lead to mutually beneficial outcomes and look forward to working closely with our new partners to drive sustainable economic development in Qatar. Ozdemir said: "We are happy to collaborate with IPA Qatar and embark on this partnership, as it signifies our strong commitment to collaboration and contributing to the digital transformation in Qatar. Together, we will contribute to Qatar's position as a leading business location for the technology sector in the region, by leveraging our expertise and working closely with local partners. Our aim is to make significant advancements in digitalisation, sustainability, and alternative energy solutions, creating a brighter and more sustainable future for Qatar through this collaboration." Samara said: "Over the years, Emerson, as a leading automation technology and industrial software provider, has supported Qatars hydrocarbon industry and its position as a leading LNG producer and exporter in the world market. The development of our Centre of Excellence will unlock opportunities for industry collaboration in innovation, local talent development and the sharing of technology best practices. Global leaders This year, the Qatar Economic Forum 2023 brought together global leaders, policymakers and investors to discuss key issues related to economic growth and sustainable development. Sheikh Ali participated in a breakout session on "Emerging Markets: An Uneven Recovery and Future Growth Story. The panel discussion delved into the latest development of emerging market strategies, opportunities for foreign investors, and the role of Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in driving innovation and economic growth across emerging markets. The discussion also highlighted the investment opportunities in Qatar and how the country has strengthened its global profile as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.-- TradeArabia News Service Fighting between Sudan's warring generals has displaced more than one million people inside the country since it erupted on April 15, the International Organization for Migration said Wednesday. A further 319,000 people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, the UN agency added. It said more than 132,000 refugees had arrived in Egypt, 80,000 in Chad and 69,000 in South Sudan. Fighting had eased but not stopped in Sudan on Wednesday, the second full day of a ceasefire that has raised cautious hopes among beleaguered civilians that aid corridors and escape routes will open soon. Sporadic air strikes and artillery fire have still echoed across the capital, residents told AFP, but the US and Saudi observers said "fighting in Khartoum appeared to be less intense" since the one-week truce entered into force late Monday. Washington and Riyadh, which brokered the ceasefire deal between the forces of two rival generals, however, pointed to reports "indicating that both sides violated the agreement". Nonetheless, they stressed that preparations were underway "to deliver lifesaving assistance" to the people of Sudan, who have endured more than five weeks of fighting that has claimed more than 1,000 lives. The war broke out on April 15, sparking frantic mass evacuations of thousands of foreigners and forcing more than 1.3 million Sudanese to flee their homes internally and across borders. The chaos has left millions hunkering down in their homes to hide from the combatants and roaming looters amid power blackouts and desperate shortages of water, food, medicines and other staples. Khartoum resident Ali Mohammed said the water supply "still hasn't been restored" on Wednesday, "but at least I was able to go out and buy water for my family". Mohammed Taher, 55, was finally able to "go to Khartoum's central market five kilometres (three miles) away to buy food and return without incident", he said. The fighting in Sudan has displaced more than a million people inside Sudan, the International Organization for Migration reported on Wednesday, with a further 319,000 people seeking refuge across borders. Those unable to flee have run low on basic supplies, and more than half the population, 25 million people, are in need of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations. "The whole country has been taken hostage", said the UN's expert on human rights in Sudan, Radhouane Nouicer. "People feel alone and abandoned." Trajectory of collapse Hopes for quick relief from the fighting and suffering were dimmed by the fact that a series of earlier ceasefires were all quickly broken, with both sides trading blame for the violations. Saudi and US mediators also voiced "concern" that the warring sides had sought to gain military advantage in the lead-up to the truce. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that "if the ceasefire is violated, we'll know" and pledged to "hold violators accountable through our sanctions and other tools at our disposal". A mass exodus of Sudanese has meanwhile continued into neighbouring countries, including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan, sparking regional fears the conflict will spread across borders because of transnational ethnic ties. Fighting has been especially deadly in the western Darfur region, where Sudan's then dictator Omar al-Bashir unleashed in the early 2000s the notorious Janjaweed militia, and some 300,000 people were killed. The latest violence in El-Geneina, West Darfur state, has left all 86 reception centres for displaced people "completely burned down" and 85,000 people there on the move yet again, UN agencies have reported. Sudan expert Alex de Waal warned that the "trajectory of state collapse" is now threatening "to turn Sudan as a whole, including Khartoum, into something that resembles the Darfur of 10-15 years ago". He pointed to Daglo's roots in the Janjaweed and said that this "is the environment within which Hemeti thrived, where money and guns determine everything -- this is the future of Sudan if this carries on". - 'Somali scenario' - Medical aid workers meanwhile voiced alarm about dire shortages as fighting has left most hospitals destroyed, ransacked and even used as fire bases, particularly in Khartoum and Darfur. "After the looting of one of our medical warehouses in Khartoum, fridges were unplugged and medicines removed," said Jean-Nicolas Armstrong Dangelser of aid group Doctors Without Borders. "The entire cold chain was ruined so the medicines are spoiled and can't be used to treat anyone." He added: "We are experiencing a violation of humanitarian principles and the space for humanitarians to work is shrinking on a scale I've rarely seen before." Like many Sudanese citizens, Yasser Abdelaziz, a civil servant in the northern town of Shendi, said he fears a war worse than other Middle East conflicts and more like the turmoil seen elsewhere in the Horn of Africa. "I'm afraid that the scenario to come will not be Syria, Libya or Yemen," he said, "but the Somali scenario, with people driven by racism and tribalism". Search Keywords: Short link: Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery in the depths of the South China Sea - a pair of 500-year-old shipwrecks brimming with valuable insights into the Silk Road trade, reported by China's National Cultural Heritage Administration. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage embarked on the first-ever underwater archaeological investigation of these sunken vessels, using the "Deep Sea Warrior" manned submersible. Ancient Shipwrecks The shipwrecks were found on the northwest land slope of the South China Sea at a depth of approximately 1,500 meters. One wreck contained a treasure trove of porcelain artifacts, estimated to number over 100,000, and is believed to date back to the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty (1506-1521). This wreck is now referred to as Shipwreck No. 1. The second wreck, predominantly consisting of logs, is believed to have carried overseas goods to China during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty (1488-1505). Recognizing the immense historical, scientific, and artistic value of the discoveries, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage swiftly mobilized resources to protect and restore the retrieved cultural relics. The Hainan Provincial People's Government assumed responsibility for safeguarding the sites, conducting inspections, and monitoring the surrounding sea areas. The subsequent archaeological investigation will be conducted in three stages over approximately one year. The initial phase, from May to early June, involves using manned submersibles to survey the shipwreck sites, collect comprehensive data, and document the artifacts and surrounding environment. The second and third phases, scheduled for August to September 2023 and March to April 2024, respectively, will focus on evaluating the preservation status of the wrecks, proposing archaeological and site protection plans, and conducting scientific assessments. Read Also: 2,000-Year-Old Cave Art May Suggest that Ice Age Hunter-Gatherers Were the First to Use a Calendar - New Study Wealth of Cultural Relics The ancient shipwrecks on the Northwest Land Slope of the South China Sea offer exceptional preservation, a wealth of cultural relics, and a clear historical context. These findings confirm the historical importance of Chinese seafaring and its engagement with the South China Sea, shedding light on the nation's maritime history, ceramic production, overseas trade, and the Maritime Silk Road. Further underwater surveys will be conducted in key areas and important routes of the South China Sea, advancing research on the Maritime Silk Road. The development of key technologies and specialized equipment for deep-sea archaeology, as well as the establishment of a skilled team of deep-sea archaeologists, are also priorities. This extraordinary discovery paves the way for greater integration of China's deep-sea technology and underwater archaeology, positioning the nation at the forefront of global deep-sea exploration. It marks a significant milestone in unraveling the mysteries of the past and showcases the promising future of China's deep-sea archaeology. Related Article: Archaeologists Find an Extremely Rare 1,300-year-old Gold and Gemstone Necklace From a Medieval Woman in England 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. DBS Bank employees are now being criticized by artists after they used AI tools to generate artwork. These AI-generated artworks were even posted on Twitter. As of writing, artworks created with the use of artificial intelligence models are not accepted by professionals. Now, the Singaporean multinational banking corporation faces criticisms from local artists. DBS Bank Employees' AI-Generated According to The Straits Times, the AI-generated artworks shared by DBS Bank employees were part of an internal event. Also Read: Italian Authorities Plan to Review Other AI Platforms, Following ChatGPT Ban The activity required staff to produce pictures using AI tools. Aside from this, the AI-generated images were also printed on tote bags. A DBS Bank spokesperson explained that the Twitter post of their employees gave the wrong impression about their previous internal event. The official added that the event was conducted to introduce the bank's staff to AI technology. He further stated that DBS Bank has been trying new tools, such as AI models and data analytics for the past few years in order to improve customer service. Local Artists Criticize DBS Bank Despite the financial firm's explanation, local artists in Singapore still criticized the company. A graphic designer, who didn't want to be identified, said that AI imaging tools affect the livelihood of artists. "It will be a problem when these tools fall into the hands of unethical artists who profit off the work of others," she said. Aside from her, Katherine Ang, a 22-year-old Singaporean creative, said that choosing AI over human artists clearly shows that people only value the output and not the means. Generative AI models concern numerous artists ever since they become popular. MakeUse provided some of the risks posed by artificial intelligence in the art industry: Copyright is among the major issues posed by AI-generated artworks. Another problem that artificial intelligence has is whether the outputs it generates are ethical. Harmful and biased stereotypes since many AI-generated images could be offensive to other people. You can click here to see more risks posed by AI models. In other stories, Apple decided to hire generative AI talents as part of its effort to integrate artificial intelligence into iOS devices. Meanwhile, the White House introduced new efforts to guide AI research. For more news updates about AI and other similar techs, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Generative AI Editing Coming to Adobe Photoshop: Here's What to Expect 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mahmoud almost never leaves his small apartment in east Khartoum. Electricity has been out for most of the past month, so he swelters in the summer heat. When he does venture out to find food, he leaves his mobile phone behind because of looters in the street. Otherwise, he hunkers down in fear, worried that an artillery shell could burst into his home. Exhausted, confused and unable to escape the conflict-ravaged Sudanese capital, the young research technician tries blocking out the reality of his surroundings. I am reading my book collection for a second time, he said. One work helping him get by: Models of the Mind, a 2021 neuroscience book about how mathematics help explain the workings of the brain. Since the conflict broke out last month, more than 900,000 people have fled their homes to escape Sudans fighting, going elsewhere in the country or across the borders. But Mahmoud and millions of others remain trapped in Khartoum and its sister cities of Bahri and Omdurman, unable to leave the central battleground between Sudans military and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary. For them, every day is a struggle to find food, get water and charge their phones when electricity is cut off. All the while, they must avoid the fighters and criminals in the streets who rob and brutalize pedestrians, loot shops and storm into homes to steal whatever of value they can find. Dollars have become hard to find and dangerous to hold, a target for looters. Amazingly, Bankak, the banking app of the Bank of Khartoum, continues to function most of the time. It has become a lifeline for many, allowing users to transfer money and make payments electronically. Mahmoud uses the app to pay the one shop owner he visits to stock up on canned goods. During weeks when electricity was out, the shop owner still gave him what he needed and let him pay later. A technology company that Mahmoud worked for before the fighting puts 30,000 Sudanese pounds around $50 on his app account every few weeks. That transfer allows him to keep eating. If I have money in my bank account and Bankak is operating, everything will be good, he said. Like others who spoke to The Associated Press, Mahmoud asked to be identified only by his first name for fear of reprisals. Since April 15, the Sudanese army, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamden Dagalo, have been locked in a violent power struggle that has turned the once sleepy Khartoum into an urban battlefield. More than 800 civilians have been killed, according to the Sudan Doctors Union. On Monday a week-long cease-fire began, the conflict's seventh, with fighting easing across parts of the city. But gunbattles and bombardments still continue despite the pledge made by both forces in Saudi Arabia. Residential areas and hospitals have been pounded by army airstrikes, while RSF troops have commandeered homes and turned them into bases. The more immediate danger is often the armed men and looters in the streets. Waleed, another resident of east Khartoum, said he has had several terrifying encounters. In one case, he saw around 30 RSF fighters, some who looked no older than 15, tormenting a passerby, waving their weapons at him and demanding he lie on the ground, then shouting at him to stand up. They were playing with him like a puppet, Waleed said. Many cant afford to leave. Mahmoud wants to get to Ethiopia, then to Portugal where he been offered a position as a research technician. But he doesnt have the $2,500 he estimates the trip will cost him. Waleed said he cant leave for medical reasons. Others say they have no choice but to stay and work. One of the many women who sell tea in the streets of Khartoum, Tana Tusafi, a single mother from Ethiopia, says her four children depend on her. I have no one to provide for me, so I have to work, she said. The dangers are unpredictable. Mahmoud said that last week RSF fighters in a neighboring building started shooting at his apartment block, believing an army sniper could be there after seeing lights inside. Mahmoud said he had to confront the troops and convince them his block was only filled with civilians. Another resident, Fatima, said her brother disappeared after having coffee with friends on May 13. That first evening when he didnt come home, I thought he might have stayed over at his friends house, Fatima said. On Monday, Khalid finally returned. For eight days, he had been detained and interrogated by the RSF, Fatima said. The Missing Person Initiative, an online tracker where people can report missing loved ones, said it has reports of at least 200 people unaccounted for in the capital region. It said it has received multiple reports of individuals being detained by the paramilitary. Darker still is the growing number of rape and sexual assault allegations. According to Hadhreen, a community-led health and crisis group, there have been at least 10 confirmed rape cases in the capital area. Seven were committed by RSF soldiers, it said, while the three others were by unknown attackers within RSF-held areas. The reports of sexual violence harken back to the Darfur conflict of the early 2000s, during which the Janjaweed militia was accused of widespread rapes and other atrocities. Many of its fighters were later folded into the RSF. They were again accused of raping dozens of women when they broke up a pro-democracy protest camp in Khartoum in 2019. In this landscape of fear, those who remain in the city find ways to get by. Some store owners operate out of their homes, hoping to hide from the looters. Waleed said only one remaining bakery serves his neighborhood and two others. Each customer registers their name beforehand If you were lucky and registered your name at 7 oclock in the morning you might get your bread at 12 noon, Waleed said. He too survives because of Bankak, on money that his family in Saudi Arabia puts into his account. During the first weeks of May, there was no electricity in his neighborhood, so Waleed relied on a nearby mosque with a generator to charge his phone. But no electricity meant no running water. We roamed around with buckets to trying to find people who have electric generators who can activate their water pumps, he said. Last week, the electric company restored power in his area. Most of the citys hospitals have also shut down, many of them damaged in bombardments or ground fighting. Since May 11 alone, there have been 11 attacks on humanitarian facilities in the capital, the World Health Organization reported. Community action groups, led in part by a grassroots pro-democracy network known as the Resistance Committees, have banded together to help treat Khartoums sick and deliver medicines. Hadeel Abdelsayed, a trainee doctor at one community clinic, said patients have died because they did not have enough oxygen. The clinic was eventually evacuated due to intense shelling. Mahmoud, the researcher, said that if he can somehow secure the funding, he will try to make his escape to Ethiopia. But time is against him. My passport will expire in 10 weeks, so I will have to leave before then. Search Keywords: Short link: "We launched humanitarian projects to support 335,000 people in the most vulnerable areas" On Wednesday, the United Nations allocated a sum of 8. 5 million U.S. dollars in order to provide assistance to the 335,000 people residing in the worst-hit areas by storms in Madagascar. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), they are working with the government to continue aiding the southeastern region of the island nation, which was severely hit by cyclonic activities in the preceding and current year. "We launched humanitarian projects to support 335,000 people in the most vulnerable areas," OCHA said, while adding, "These projects have been made possible by an 8.5 million U.S. dollar allocation from our Central Emergency Response Fund, which allows us to tackle crises outside of the global spotlight." According to the humanitarian office, the communities being benefit by the projects experienced successive emergencies. Lancement des projets conjoints repondant a la crise humanitaire aigue dans le Grand Sud-Est de Madagascar par @IssaSanogoUN et @BngrcMada , 8,5 millions $ mobilises Pour aider 335.000 personnes residant dans les regions severement affectees comme Vatovavy et Fitovinany.. pic.twitter.com/l0W0VboiJv UN Madagascar (@UNMadagascar) May 24, 2023 Launch of joint projects responding to the acute humanitarian crisis in the Greater South-East of Madagascar by @IssaSanogoUN and @BngrcMada , $8.5 million mobilized To help 335,000 people residing in severely affected regions such as Vatovavy and Fitovinany. The island of Madagascar was affected by tropical storm Cheneso during the month of January. Last year, tropical cyclones Batsirai and Emnati hit Madagascar. According to OCHA, in the areas affected by the storms, over 870,000 people require assistance. "This year, in support of the government, we have already reached 439,000 people with food, clean water, sanitation and hygiene support," the humanitarian office said. OCHA has also said that the pre-existing 215 million U.S. dollar Flash Appeal for Madagascar is only 23 percent funded. Suspicion of cheating in Abitur exams: That's why it's so difficult to convict AI cheaters The tiny workshop that drives the residents of Chamberi crazy with its more than 30 varieties of 'cheesecakes' The mother of young Eya, abducted by her father, on her way to Denmark Sweden is becoming smoke-free, dinosaurs were survivors and Charles Darwin was afraid of his pious wife: The reading recommendations of the week from the science editorial team of SPIEGEL. (Copy) Why your children will not need to speak "the language of machines" as Pedro Sanchez says La Carnaza, a new temple of the hamburger to the rhythm of rock and roll "Endometriosis is not talked about, in many cases it is kept in a dark room" Shanghai has taken many measures to further promote national defense education for the whole people After Bashar's return. Is the Arab Spring over or the counter-revolution failing? Meng Hui: What is the aesthetic connotation of the tradition of flower appreciation in Chinese culture? Alexander Karim: "As an artist, you want to save the world" Nurtingen: Man is said to have killed his brother with a knife Gangs in New Mexico: At least three dead in shooting during motorcycle rally Farewell to Antonio Gala, "a genius, one of the great poets and playwrights of our time" NBA playoffs: With the final siren Boston Celtics fight for game seven at the last second The Celtics prepare to build a miracle: they come back from 0-3 to Miami Heat with a basket with a tenth of a second left Dortmund's tears: Borussia stumbled in the last round and could not interrupt the hegemony of Bayern in the Bundesliga The meeting went against the board: E-sports federation new member of the Swedish Sports Confederation The meeting went against the board: E-sports federation new member of the Swedish Sports Confederation FC Bayern: Without Oliver Kahn in Cologne - Herbert Hainer justifies this with "emotional reaction" to the end Bets were given to young people: Guberniev said that the RBU intends to deprive several biathletes of salaries in the Russian national team S&P believes that the pension reform does not balance the accounts and warns of future damage to the Spanish 'rating' The State will pay 10,000 million euros more in interest on its debt between this year and 2024 Indra, Cellnex, Unicaja, NH... power war at the top: "We have to talk about our CEO" Artificial intelligence has made the metaverse "fall out of favor"? Industry experts have different opinions MU9191 flew to Beijing! What is the significance of the C919's first commercial success COMAC? Not only Coca-Cola, these drinks are also rising in price "Climate frustration instead of climate lust": Association of cities warns of failure of the heat transition (m+) Okoworld on the wrong track: Alfred Platow invests with his fund in liquefied natural gas suppliers and other problem companies Too few skilled workers, too little capital: Building climate plan doomed to failure, according to industry association Do a good job of "three articles" to help A-share listed companies become "excellent students" Lucky and impressed, I got on the first flight of C919! Erdogan calls on Turks to vote without complacency, and Klcdaroglu declares: Presidential elections are taking place in difficult conditions Telegraph: The Armed Forces of Ukraine are desperately trying to replenish their ranks before the counteroffensive Linda in Garpenberg sews her own sanitary napkins got tired of the mountain of rubbish Because the Google search engine will disappear soon. Here's what's going to happen over the coming years Man arrested for opening the exit door of an in-flight plane faces up to 10 years in prison Gemma Pinto: everything you need to know about Marc Marquez's new model girlfriend Everything you need to know about The King and Queen's jubilee visit to Linkoping Everything failed in Rodrigo's suicide: "When we realized it was too late" The Mawa approached the east of Luzon in the Philippines with little change in intensity or a slight increase The Infanta Sofia celebrates the confirmation with King Felipe as godfather and with the whole invited family Ukraine says it is "ready" to recover its territory and multiplies attacks on Russian logistics From scrap metal to Hudiksvall's prettiest epa with the help of dad and grandfather Former Pentagon employee Brian called the latest video with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Zaluzhny fake MU9191 flew to Beijing! What is the significance of the C919's first commercial success COMAC? Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. Shanghai Shengda, a Chinese company specializing in the production of ready-to-wear clothing and accessories, signed a letter of intent, which was handed to the Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) Walid Gamal El-Din, to establish a factory in Egypt worth $20 million. The statement added that the Chinese company plans to build the factory in the Abu Khalifa area, west of the industrial zone in SCZone. According to the statement, the project details will be presented to the next meeting of the board of directors to obtain their preliminary approval. They will also discuss the steps to implement the project in coordination with the company officials -- who will soon visit Egypt. Gamal El-Din is currently visiting China to meet with five of the largest Chinese companies -- in the fields of chemicals and textiles, among others -- to attract investments to the Suez Canal Economic Zone. On Wednesday, two Chinese companies presented an offer to the Egyptian government to launch a steel complex at the SCZone worth $300 million. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated to the United Nations special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, during a meeting in Geneva on Thursday, the importance of the Arab role in resolving the prolonged Syrian crisis. Shoukry and Pederson reviewed the gradual and step-by-step approach to resolving the Syrian crisis that was discussed during the meetings held in Jeddah, Amman, and the 32nd Arab Leaders Summit in Jeddah, and that accorded with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Shoukry also emphasized Egypt's commitment to continuing coordination between the Arab Ministerial Committee on Syria and the Special Envoy to consolidate all the efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis. The Special Envoy to Syria expressed, in turn, his keenness to work with the Arab Ministerial Committee, reiterating that he appreciated the continuous communication with Egypt about the Syrian crisis. In early May, the League of Arab States reinstated the membership of the Syrian Arab Republic after more than a decade-long suspension. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shoukry will discuss during his current visit to Geneva bilateral cooperation and regional issues, especially those of Sudan and Syria, with representatives of several international organizations. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry focused on the Sudanese crisis and its impact on neighbours during the talks he held in Geneva Thursday with officials from the United Nations (UN) agencies and organizations. Shoukry discussed with Martin Griffiths, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA), the Sudanese crisis and its impact on the humanitarian situation in Sudan and its neighbours, especially Egypt. Egypt currently hosts 120,000 displaced Sudanese, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Thursday. The foreign minister expressed Egypt's readiness to cooperate with OCHA in facilitating the transportation of humanitarian aid to Sudan, recalling the successful cooperation between the two sides in meeting humanitarian needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Egypt also hosted regional offices for OCHA, the World Food Programme, and the International Organization for Migration to facilitate the coordination of humanitarian efforts. Both sides stressed the importance of international support to meet all the needs of Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries, especially in light of the continuous influx of people from Sudan. The two officials also discussed the Syrian crisis; they agreed on enhancing cooperation and coordination to strengthen humanitarian support in crisis areas in the Middle East. Shoukry also met with the newly appointed Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope. He congratulated her for being the first woman to hold this position since the organization's establishment in 1951. Shoukry stated that Egypt, which already hosts 9 million migrants and refugees, looked forward to easing its burden by enhancing cooperation with the organization. For her part, Amy Pope acknowledged Egypt's crucial and central role in addressing migration issues. Search Keywords: Short link: Louisiana will need to spend billions of dollars on new levees and revive several thousand acres of marshland to protect the coast from whats expected to be a rough couple of decades, according to an updated 50-year master plan the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority approved Wednesday. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When Susan Cain first went to summer camp, her mother packed her a suitcase full of books and not much else. For her family, books were everything, and so the nine-year-old envisaged spending evenings at camp with girls in nightgowns cosily immersed in their own, solitary worlds. Unsurprisingly, the rowdy reality of camp life was a shock. Her books stayed under the bed. Post-camp, she valiantly tried to pass as an extrovert, but suspected quieter folk who enjoyed solitude were excellent just as they were. For years I denied this intuition, and so I became a Wall Street lawyer, of all things, instead of the writer that I had always longed to be partly because I needed to prove to myself that I could be bold and assertive, too, Cain says in a TED talk, recorded after the launch of her 2012 book, Quiet. In a world where teamwork, collaboration and exhortations to be resilient loudly crowd out the alternatives, Cains book remains revolutionary. And validating: for many artists, writers, scientists and other creative practitioners, alone time (as opposed to loneliness) is crucial for connecting with their interior worlds and producing work. The idea of collaborating can seem truly irksome and unproductive. In the wake of Quiet, there has been a firm pushback against what The Economist once termed the collaboration curse. Thats not to say all collaborative or teamwork is a torment it can have exceptional results but its not a cure-all that plays to everyones strengths. Curators Hannah Presley and Annika Aitken have collaborated on an exploration of solitude. Credit: Wayne Taylor University of Melbourne curators Hannah Presley and Annika Aitken have been contemplating such ideas while working on a new exhibition, Nightshifts, at Buxton Contemporary. Keenly aware of how the idea of collaboration has intruded on everyone in recent years, theyve also noted how pandemic lockdowns have blurred boundaries between public and private, sullying in particular the preciousness of alone-time. Advertisement While the pandemic didnt inspire the show, we were interested that our previous understanding of being at work and then going home to your own space was suddenly collapsed into a messy, single experience, Aitken says. It was quite draining for people. David Jolly, Open part of Liquid Nature (2006). Credit: Image courtesy of the artist and Michael Buxton Collection, the University of Melbourne Art Collection. Now that we have all leapt back into the bright lights of the social, face-to-face world, perhaps we are having trouble setting boundaries and hankering for some genuine solitude. Beyond pandemic situations, Presley and Aitken have been intrigued to observe that much solitary creative activity seems to manifest after daylight fades. Their exhibition, they say, looks to the shadows and after hours as metaphors for the work and thinking that happens beneath the surface, away from the public gaze: time alone in the studio, during the quiet of the night and while asleep. Under cover of darkness, ideas ferment. Peter Booth, Untitled [tower with moon] (1998). Credit: Image courtesy of the artist and the Michael Buxton Collection, the University of Melbourne Art Collection Of course, they have themselves been collaborating to curate this exhibition. But we have made sure weve had alone thinking time and space to process ideas and respond to the works on our own, Presley says. And then we have brought those reflections back to each other, to create something together. They have cast the net widely and questioned, in a lighthearted way, the cliche of the solo artist navel-gazing in the garret: the trope of the white, male, artistic genius who is self-isolated and feels misunderstood. They also note that there is a great deal of privilege involved in having access to a studio or solo workspace. Advertisement Were interested in the deep work and thinking that happens beyond these physical spaces, Aitken says. Shaun Gladwell, Maximus Swept out to Sea (Wattamolla) (2013). Credit: Image courtesy of the artist and the Michael Buxton Collection, the University of Melbourne Art Collection. Throughout history, philosophers have emphasised solitude: Friedrich Nietzsche, David Hume and Arthur Schopenhauer are just a few who advocated its importance. And while the Stoics pointed out that if a person cannot be content with their own company, they are unlikely to be happy around others, there are some creative people who have gone to extremes, holing up entirely (hashtag hermits and recluses). Others have simply set their own terms without withdrawing completely: Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman spent long periods alone on an island to produce his work; painter Georgia OKeeffe spent much of her working life deliciously alone on her New Mexico Ghost Ranch. Writers necessarily find themselves confined indoors on their ownsome (think Virginia Woolf in her room writing A Room of Ones Own). Collaborating often comes with the territory for musicians, but practising and composing are often solitary. And scientists require their space, too: according to The Smithsonian Magazine, physicist Peter Higgs (of Higgs particle fame) claimed he would not have been able to complete his Nobel-prize-winning work in the current research environment, stating that the peace and quiet he was granted in the 1960s is no longer possible. Tracey Moffatt, Invocations #5 (2000) (detail). Credit: Image courtesy of the artist and Michael Buxton Collection, the University of Melbourne Art Collection. For Nightshifts, Presley and Aitken have not forced a particular agenda but sought to raise interesting discussions, bringing in many voices and diverse works by artists such as Tracey Moffatt, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Callum Morton, Lindy Lee and Brent Harris. They have looked at a range of art movements and approaches, from the impact of 1940s open-plan office designs on architecture and culture through to reflections on the natural world (there are images of owls, spiders, the night sky). Advertisement The Dangers of Female Provocation Zoe Coyle, Ultimo Press, $34.99 Is Zoe Coyles The Dangers of Female Provocation really a feminist revenge fantasy? Well, with a protagonist named Odessa Odin, youre primed for the Valkyries to descend. Its a bit of an anticlimax to discover that Odessa is a wealthy Londoner with a loving husband, close friends and her own successful career. And the heart sinks further when she finds out that her husband is having an affair. For Odessa, her husbands infidelity triggers a mountain of long-suppressed rage and resentment at male entitlement, compromises made, promises unkept. She becomes a self-appointed feminist avenger, going after her friends husbands to catch out their bad behaviour, looking to smash the patriarchy and save the sisterhood from its exploitative ways. Odessa lands herself in trouble (joining forces with the dark web is never a great plan) and is brought to her senses through another, keener moment of loss that puts her own travails into perspective. Adultery is an unimaginative hook for fiction, and Coyles second novel seems too hastily sketched to be genuinely subversive or satisfying. The Frontier Below by Jeff Maynard. Credit: NON-FICTION PICK OF THE WEEK The Frontier Below Jeff Maynard, William Collins, $14.99 When Jacques Cousteau made the first successful test of what has become modern diving equipment the demand regulator and tanks of compressed air he later wrote: I looked into the sea with the same sense of trespass that I have felt on every dive. While trespass reflects the awe the experience provoked, it also captures the unsettling questions such as Do I belong here? that are raised by pushing a frontier. Not that it stopped the pearl divers, inventors, entrepreneurs and plunderers from antiquity to the modern day who led the charge to go deeper than any man or woman had gone before. Jeff Maynards pithy style condenses the broad sweep of history as effectively as a scuba compressor while capturing the human drama behind the technological breakthroughs and the passion that paved the way for the scientific discoveries and exploitation that inevitably followed. The Wisdom of Morrie by Morrie Schwartz. Credit: The Wisdom of Morrie Morrie Schwartz, Hachette, $32.99 There is a woman who looks like Annie Lennox hanging from the aerial silk doing some stunning moves. She stands out because she looks so at ease, in her element. As a beginner, I want to be like her. Even more so when I learn she is 70. Ageing has had such a bad rap. Confronting how we all internalise the negativity of ageism, says American sociologist and therapist Morrie Schwartz, is crucial to finding the wisdom and joy in growing older. Chock-full of useful advice, this guide to ageing gracefully is informed by Schwartzs own struggles with his declining health, the patients he has treated and the positive role that mindfulness meditation has played in his life. Much of his counsel demands that the reader confront their habitual ways of thinking and behaving, become curious about things that may have once provoked fear and be prepared to embrace change and the unknown. Hard to Bear by Isabelle Oderberg. Credit: Hard to Bear Isabelle Oderberg, Ultimo Press, $36.99 Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. A steady downturn in trade has led to the decision to close the Mediterranean-influenced restaurant. Anchor, a Mediterranean-accented neighbourhood restaurant in Melbournes south, has announced it is closing its doors. Its last service will be Saturday, June 3. Owners Rosalin and Oliver Virnik say the decision was made because of a steady downturn in trade since the start of the year. People who can afford to are travelling or staying in holiday homes, while many others have tightened their belts due to the current economic conditions, says Rosalin. Proprietors Rosalin and Oliver Virnik. Nicole Cleary The couple opened the Elwood restaurant in November 2021, following the closure of Geoff Lindsays Dandelion. Previously, the Virniks ran Curly Whiskers, a much-smaller French dining room, in Brighton. Africa must not become a 'geostrategic battleground' for global powers, as the continent grapples with several threats to its peace and security, African Union leaders warned Thursday. Related AU calls for help for civilians fleeing Sudan conflict They were speaking at an event to mark the anniversary of the creation of the AU's precursor, the Organisation of African Unity, on May 25, 1963. "In this international context of confrontation of divergent political interests, the will of each side threatens to transform Africa into a geostrategic battleground, thereby creating a new Cold War," AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat said. "In this zero-sum game, where the gains of others would translate into losses for Africa, we must resist all forms of instrumentalisation of our member states," he added in an address at AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The continent has become the stage for a battle for influence among the major powers, which has redoubled since Russia's invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago. Moscow is seeking deeper political, economic and military ties in Africa as well as Asia as Russia becomes increasingly isolated on the international stage over the conflict in Ukraine. Capacity for resilience On Wednesday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, on a visit to Addis Ababa, urged certain African nations to end their "neutrality" over the war. In February, 22 AU member states abstained or did not vote on a UN General Assembly resolution that called for Russia withdraw from Ukraine. Two of them -- Eritrea and Mali -- voted against the resolution. Faki meanwhile also hailed the successes of the 54-nation AU which succeeded the OAU in 2002: "Independence and victory against apartheid, that of significant economic and scientific progress, sports, arts, the growing international role of Africa and so on." However, he also acknowledged "negative factors such as democratic decline through unconstitutional changes of government, with their litany of oppression and gagging of freedoms, insecurity, the spread of terrorism, violent extremism, the uncontrolled circulation of arms, the harmful effects of climate change". Despite the difficulties, Faki said, Africa remains "characterised by its greater capacity for resilience", pointing for example to its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The current head of the African Union, Comoros President Azali Assoumani also denounced "the unconstitutional changes of power" which have multiplied in Africa in recent years. "Inter and intra-African conflicts but also terrorism persist and consequently the peace, security, democracy and development of our continent are threatened in several of our countries," he said. Assoumani spoke of the conflict between rival generals in Sudan which erupted in mid-April and has persisted despite several truce agreements. "We must convince our brothers in Sudan to favour dialogue so that the fratricidal war raging in this country ends," he added. Search Keywords: Short link: In June, Justice Lee will consider whether the settlement sum is fair and reasonable to the group members before it can be approved. There will be a further hearing to determine how the funds will be distributed to the community. Administration and distribution costs will be taken from the $22 million, while Shine Lawyers is also seeking to deducted $5 million in legal costs. The firms barrister told the court that sum was less than its total spend on the case, but it was willing to forgo the rest of its fees. Outside the court, Shine Lawyers joint head of class actions Craig Allsopp said it was a groundbreaking outcome for the traditional owners of the land. Its a bittersweet victory, he said. The Wreck Bay community has to grapple with the impacts of PFAS contamination for years to come. Importantly theyve lost their connection to the country by reason of the contamination and monetary compensation will never be adequate to repair that kind of loss. Allsopp said his firm was actively looking at the possibility of pursuing a lawsuit on behalf of people claiming health effects from exposure to the chemicals, although that would be more challenging than the claim for property damages. Every community Ive been in where theres been PFAS contamination, the health issues and personal injury claims have been the top priority, so its been good to get some compensation for land value claims, but I believe in the years ahead the real fight will be in relation to the personal injury claims, he said. Allsopp said he was aware of the Australian governments advice that the health effects of PFAS are minimal and it has not been shown to cause disease. Loading In Europe and the United States the chemicals are recognised as a human health hazard that may cause cancer, high cholesterol, liver damage, suppress the immune system and disrupt hormones at high levels of exposure. Our hope is the Australian advice will come up to match the advice thats in the US and European jurisdictions, Allsopp said. The chemicals, better known as forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment, were formerly the key ingredient in 3Ms firefighting foam which has contaminated dozens of sites across the country. Health authorities advise that PFAS are expected to be found at low levels in the blood of all Australians due to their use in a range of household products. Last week, the federal government agreed to pay $132.7 million to settle a class action launched by seven other communities also polluted by toxic firefighting foam used on Defence bases. They included Richmond and Wagga Wagga in NSW, Wodonga in Victoria, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Bullsbrook in Western Australia, Townsville in Queensland and Edinburgh in South Australia. After last weeks settlement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese became the first Australian leader to express concerns about the health effects of PFAS. It followed the first class action to be settled in 2020, which saw $212.5 million paid out to residents of Katherine in the Northern Territory, Williamtown in NSW and Oakey on Queenslands Darling Downs. Loading Shine Lawyers, who were representing the people of Wreck Bay, alleged the Commonwealth negligently allowed the toxins to escape from HMAS Creswell and the Jervis Bay Range Facility and leach into the community of Wreck Bay. In a landmark decision last year, the United States EPA last year ruled there was no safe level of PFAS in drinking water, based on science showing they could suppress the immune response in children. Levels at which negative health effects could occur are much lower than previously understood, the agency explained. Loading McGowan congratulated the school and police for their quick responses during the incident. He said Atlantis Beach, like all schools in the state, was prepared for the situation and conducted drills twice a year, but it was not something he wanted to see in WA. This was extraordinary stuff, the sort of thing you see occurring in the deep south of America that you dont expect to occur in Western Australia, and it shouldnt occur in Western Australia, he said. Gun reform in governments sights McGowan said the government would move as quickly as possible to reform gun laws in the state to prevent future incidents, including reducing the number of guns in the state and bolstering storage requirements. He said while he wanted to avoid commenting directly on the incident, gun owners needed to ensure their weapons were stored safely and correctly. Whether its kids or your own children or anyone else, they should not be able to get access to any firearms, he said. But in any event, were going to have a major rewrite of the gun laws of the state. The premiers pledge to get tough on guns echoed Police Minister Paul Papalia, who told a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday night there were still too many licensed firearms in WA. Papalia promised reforms to the Firearms Act after reflecting on a shooting at a school in Perths northern suburbs on Wednesday. Loading There are 360,000 or so licensed firearms in Western Australia. That is too many. They are too easily accessed, he said. Papalia said the act was being completely rewritten as the current laws did not elevate public safety. The question to ask with respect to todays incident is: why do the current laws allow it? They did. The current laws allow for the proliferation of licensed firearms, he said. In the last 13 years, there has been a 60 per cent growth in licensed firearms in Western Australia with no justification such as the demand for vermin eradication or for participation in competitive shooting. Around 60 per cent of the firearms are in the city. Students, teachers, police praised for quick action in face of terror After Wednesdays incident, Nine News Perth spoke to students who had been locked down for hours after hearing the gunshots. They had the curtains over the windows and we couldnt see, but they didnt block off the door so we could see all the police coming and the ambulance, one girl said. Another girl said she heard a big bang before her teacher told them to hide under their desks. Another student said they hid in a storage room. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch praised teachers and students at the school, revealing a 12-year-old boy was among those who called triple zero to alert police. In a statement, Atlantis Beach Baptist College board chair Mike Smith said the school would remain closed on Thursday and reopen on Friday under a modified teaching program with support staff and counselling services on site. Atlantis Beach Baptist College in Two Rocks was thrown into lockdown on Wednesday after a 15-year-old boy allegedly fired at buildings from the schools car park. Credit: Nine News Perth The college will reopen in full capacity on Monday. The College Board would like to thank the staff, administration team and the Western Australian Police for the way in which this incident was managed, Smith said. The heart of one of the worlds busiest business districts beats a few metres above the thump of a million footsteps; the clatter of a million keyboards. And yet down here theres peace. Below ground though, its basic, its elemental. You step out of the lift deep under the Earths crust, into a cave, at the back of which sit a few small rooms, each with a table and chairs, places set for diners with rough wooden boards, each with a single, creased sheet of paper balanced in the middle. Were barely below street level, though we could be several hundreds metres under the Earths surface. The walls are roughly hewn rock, the floor similarly bare, creating a sense of nature unadorned, of a world stripped bare. Thats a conscious design decision in a place where every detail has been meticulously planned. Every other level of Hoshinoya, a luxury hotel in central Tokyo, speaks of the artisans and artists who have conceptualised and executed it: the dark wooden tones, the traditional tatami-mat floors, the fine paper shutters. You have to work hard to create something different in the Tokyo culinary scene. This is a city with anything and everything: from fine-dining restaurants serving haute cuisine to worker-friendly bars slinging cheap yakitori; from friendly neighbourhood izakaya, to tacky theme pubs with costumed waitstaff. But chef Noriyuki Hamada has created something different. His restaurant is the Hoshinoya answer to the traditional ryokan eatery. These country inns usually serve lavish set-menu dinners to their guests, often because there will be nowhere else to go from their remote locations. There are places to go, however, in Otemachi, walking distance to Ginza and all of its gastronomic delights, not to mention Tokyo at large. Hamada, therefore, has had to create a reason to stay. Hes done that in this cave with what he calls Nippon Cuisine, a blend of French techniques and Japanese ingredients. Hamada is inspired by the forests of Japan, he says, by the life nurtured there, by the minerals and nutrients that flow down to the sea and create yet another bounty. Its all quite low-concept and artistic though perfectly reflective of a hotel that seeks to recreate the peace of a rural retreat in a downtown setting, one that pipes hot-spring water from 1.5 kilometres below Tokyos surface to a rooftop onsen; one that encourages guests to wear yukata Japanese robes and do dawn kenjutsu lessons and midday tea ceremonies. Saint Vincent de Paul Credit: Alamy Yes really, good old Vinnie himself. If you ever wondered what he looked like, this is your chance. His disturbingly realistic wax effigy is dressed in fetching 17th-century vestments and propped on a golden pillow, and lies in a see-through coffin with ornate baroque trimmings. The saints real bones are concealed inside the wax. The nave of the Lazarist Chapel recounts his life story. See cmission.fr I love you wall The I Love You Wall in Monmartres Square Jehan Rictus, in Montmartre. Credit: iStock Paris and romance go together like croissants and butter, and heres another place to declare eternal love. Square Jehan-Rictus Square, or Place des Abbesses, Montmartre, has a wall covered in dark-blue enamel tiles with the phrase I love you written on them in 250 languages, including Inuit, Navajo and Bambara (spoken in Mali). The walls red splashes are deliberate: they belong to a broken heart. See lesjetaime.com Catacombs The Catacombs of Paris hold the remains of more than six million people. Credit: Alamy In the late 18th century, the cemeteries of Paris were getting overcrowded, and six million inmates were moved into the limestone tunnels of former quarries 20 metres below the 14th arrondissement, creating Denfert-Rochereau Ossuary. Skulls and bones are stacked like firewood, arranged into patterns or piled in corners. The catacombs are curiously endearing rather than ghoulish. Guided tours take an hour and involve plenty of steps. See catacombes.paris.fr Vineyards Credit: Alamy Paris has several vineyards, the largest and best-known Clos Montmartre, which produces a mere 1500 bottles annually. But youll find the most picturesque in tiny district Butte Bergeyre, which is a surprisingly rustic hill with a few cobbled streets and vine terraces and a handful of arty homes. Early October is your only chance to try the wine during the vineyards miniature weekend harvest festival. See parisinfo.com A bronze crotch The tomb of Victor Noir. Credit: iStock Pere Lachaise Cemetery is notable for the tombs of Frederic Chopin, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison, but dont miss the tomb of journalist Victor Noir, shot dead in 1870. His effigy lies atop the grave and his crotch and lips get all the attention from women who believe rubbing them increases their fertility. Both parts are rubbed shiny orange against green oxidised bronze. Bizarre. See parisinfo.com Loading Dinner In The Dark This isnt exactly a sight, since Dans Le Noir (in the dark) restaurant leaves you in the pitch black and wondering what fellow diners are up to. Food is served by visually impaired waiters, and you feel and sniff through your meal. Hint: using cutlery is well-nigh impossible, so dig in with your fingers. And dont wear designer duds, since it gets a bit messy. See danslenoir.com A canal Credit: Alamy Washington: Oath Keepers extremist group founder Stewart Rhodes has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weeks-long plot that culminated in his followers attacking the US Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after he won the 2020 election. Rhodes, 58, is the first person charged in the January 6, 2021, attack to be sentenced for seditious conspiracy, and his sentence is the longest handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group known as the Oath Keepers, speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington in 2017. Credit: AP Its another milestone for the Justice Departments sprawling January 6 investigation, which has led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups authorities say came to Washington prepared to fight to keep then president Donald Trump in power at all costs. In a first for an insurrection case, the judge agreed to apply enhancement penalties for terrorism. That decision could foreshadow lengthy sentences down the road for other far-right extremists, including former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who have also been convicted of the rarely used charge. The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group said Thursday his forces had started transferring their positions in the flashpoint eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut to the Russian military. "We are withdrawing units from Bakhmut today," Yevgeny Prigozhin, shown in full combat gear, said in a video released on social media. "We are handing over positions to the military, ammunition and everything," said the 61-year-old ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was shown speaking to several members of Wagner who told him their military hardware had to be repaired. Prigozhin added that said some Wagner forces could remain if regular Russian troops encountered difficulties. Wagner's forces have been leading the all-out, months-long assault for Bakhmut. Both Wagner and the Russian army said over the weekend that Bakhmut had fallen, but Ukraine has said its troops continue to fight for the devastated city. Prigozhin said Wednesday that around 10,000 prisoners he recruited to fight in Ukraine had been killed on the battlefield in the pro-Western country. Last year, Prigozhin toured Russian prisons in a bid to convince inmates to fight with Wagner in Ukraine, in exchange for a promised amnesty upon their return if they survived. Search Keywords: Short link: Moscow said Thursday it was expelling five Swedish diplomats and closing Russia's general consulate in Gothenburg and Sweden's diplomatic mission in Saint Petersburg. The Russian foreign ministry said that the Swedish ambassador Malena Mard had been summoned and informed of Moscow's retaliatory measures over her country's "confrontational course". "A decision was made to declare five Swedish diplomats persona non grata," the Russian foreign ministry said. The move came after Sweden said in late April it was expelling five Russian diplomats for "activities not compatible" with their diplomatic status. Russia said the expulsion was an "openly hostile move", accusing authorities in the northern European country of conducting a "Russophobic campaign". Moscow's general consulate in Gothenburg will be shuttered on September 1, the Russian foreign ministry added in a statement. Sweden's general consulate in Saint Petersburg will have to stop operations by that time as well, the statement said. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom lamented the Russian decision as "very regrettable". "Russia has chosen to expel Swedish diplomats who have acted within the framework of the Vienna Convention and conducted customary diplomatic activities in Russia," Billstrom said in a statement. The foreign minister also deplored the closure of the Swedish consulate in Saint Petersburg, describing it as "a driving force in the bilateral people-to-people co-operation between Russia and Sweden". "Today's decision is therefore a further confirmation of the negative political developments in Russia and the country's international isolation," he said. Ties with Western countries have come under unprecedented pressure after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022 and the West introduced unprecedented sanctions against Moscow. Search Keywords: Short link: Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday formalizing the procedure for deploying Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. The move formalized the deal agreed on earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Putin previously announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. The inking of the deal comes as Russia braces for Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive. Both Russian and Belarusian officials framed the step as driven by hostility from the West. Deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said in Minsk during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere, Shoigu added. Belaruss Ministry of Defense said the agreement refers to a special storage facility on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. No detail was announced regarding when the weapons would be deployed in Belarus, but Putin previously said that the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would be completed by July 1. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the move. We must do everything to prevent Putins plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will ensure Russias control over Belarus for years to come, Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. This will further jeopardize the security of Ukraine and all of Europe. Independent Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said about two-thirds of Russias arsenal of medium-range nuclear-tipped missiles were held in Belarus during the Cold War, adding that there are dozens of Soviet-era storage facilities that could still be used to store such weapons. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia in a U.S.-brokered deal after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Documents in Minsk on the return of nuclear weapons were defiantly signed just at the moment when Ukraine declared a counteroffensive and Western countries are handing over weapons to Kyiv, Alesin told the AP. This Belarusian nuclear balcony should spoil the mood for politicians in the West, since nuclear missiles are capable of covering Ukraine, all of Poland, the Baltic states and parts of Germany. Khrenin also announced plans to build up the combat potential of the regional grouping of Russia and Belarusian troops, including the transfer to Minsk of the Iskander-M missile system, capable of carrying a nuclear charge, and the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading neighboring Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there. Search Keywords: Short link: Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Mostly sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High near 70F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Organization is One of Just 57 Nationwide to Receive Award National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Maria Rosario Jackson announced that Arts Cheyenne is one of this years prestigious Our Town grant recipients. Arts Cheyenne will receive $50,000 to conduct a visioning/design initiative for renovating the Old Cheyenne Airport Terminal into an arts, culture and aviation history facility. The Old Airport Terminal Building design project is in partnership with the Cheyenne Regional Airport Board. According to the NEAs Jackson, Our Town funds are awarded to and invested in culture-driven community development projects. Jackson added that Our Town projects demonstrate how fundamental art and culture are to local development, helping build stronger, more diverse communities. In announcing the Our Town award, Arts Cheyenne Executive Director Bill Lindstrom said being able to organize visions for the Old Terminal Building and to structure a development direction is important to the buildings and to Cheyennes future. People in Cheyenne/Laramie County love the Old Airport Terminal Building, said Lindstrom. It has great history, a unique architectural presence, and the structural integrity needed to continue as a community gathering place. Were looking forward to helping the Airport Board bring it back to life. Congratulations to the Arts Cheyenne team, and thanks to the National Endowment of the Arts for its investment in Cheyenne and in this historic building," said Cheyenne Regional Airport Director Tim Bradshaw. This Our Town grant will help bring focus to discussions about the Old Terminals future. The Arts Cheyenne grant was the only Wyoming-based Our Town award made this year. Thirteen Palestinians were wounded and 14 others detained during Israeli forces raid on Thursday on Aqabat Jaber camp, near the West Bank city of Jericho, the Palestinian News Agency WAFA reported. Eyewitnesses told WAFA that large forces of the occupation army stormed the camp, deployed on the rooftops of the houses in the camp, and raided more than 50 homes, including homes of the governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Jihad Abul-Assal, and his sons. They also surrounded the house of a citizen and fired missiles at him. The sources added that the occupation forces fired bullets and toxic gas bombs at Palestinian youths as well as the houses, injuring 13 young men with live bullets in the lower body parts. The director of the Palestinian Prisoners Society in Jericho, Eid Brahma, told WAFA that the occupation forces detained 14 youths during the raid into the camp. The occupation forces closed all entrances to the camp with dirt mounds, and prevented citizens from entering or leaving it, and blocked ambulances from entering, as heavy military vehicles were present at the scene, WAFA said. Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli settlers on Thursday morning broke into the compounds of aAl-Aqsa Mosque under heavy protection from the Israeli police, Islamic Waqf confirmed. The Waqf said that settlers, divided into groups, raided the holy Islamic Mosque from Al-Maghariba gate and took provocative tours in its compounds. This comes at a time Israeli forces intensify measures against Palestinians coming from Jerusalem to enter the mosque, inspecting their IDs and briefly detaining them. Search Keywords: Short link: The University of Wyoming and Central Wyoming College recently received a $1.3 million USDA grant as part of a five-year regional initiative to strengthen local food systems. The project, titled the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center, aims to support and collaborate with Wyomings farmers, ranchers and value-added food processors to develop and strengthen local food systems. The center will focus on expanding animal processing capacity, helping local food entrepreneurs scale up their operations and investing in right-sized infrastructure. The Food Business Center will assist Wyoming entrepreneurs to start and grow their food businesses, says Melissa Hemken, community food system specialist at CWC. For a resilient Wyoming food system, and economy, we need more small businesses that produce food for our communities. Hemken and Anders Van Sandt, a UW Extension specialist and assistant professor of regional economics, are state leads for the new initiative. Cody Gifford, UW assistant professor of meat science, will serve as Wyomings technical assistance specialist. This center and its activities will strengthen Wyomings values of independence and living off the land, Van Sandt comments. Specifically, we hope to improve Wyomings animal processing capacity and access, as well as build up our local food supply chains through trainings, mini-grants and infrastructure investments. Van Sandt and Hemken emphasize that community involvement is key to the Food Business Centers success. My hope, and expectation, is that there will be community engagement every step along the way, says Van Sandt. We will have to lean on our producers and food processors to guide us if we are to make meaningful and lasting improvements to Wyomings local food systems. The initiative is led by Colorado State University and Oregon State University; other regional partners are based in Idaho, Montana and Washington. Wyomings steering committee includes members of the Wyoming Business Council, Small Business Development Centers, Intertribal Agriculture Council and Wyoming small business owners. To learn more about the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center, contact Van Sandt at avansand@uwyo.edu or Hemken at mhemken@cwc.edu. To sign up for the Centers newsletter, visit https://bit.ly/food-business-newsletter. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Sunny. High near 80F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 50F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. IFZA Dubai, a leading free zone in the UAE, has announced a steep 177% increase in the number of new licensees in Q1 2023 compared to the same period last year. The free zone has witnessed more than 100% average year-on-year growth in terms of new registrations. The top categories for new company registrations in 2023 included Management Consultancies, General Trading, Investment in Commercial Enterprises & Management, and (IT) Consultants. Marketing Management and Marketing Services via social media alone contributed to 20% of new licences issued. Martin G. Pedersen, Chairman of IFZA, said: IFZAs commitment to strategic partnerships, developing world-class infrastructure and providing excellent licensee support have made it an attractive destination for businesses that want to position themselves in an ecosystem built for growth. We have further strengthened our drive to be internationally present by actively going out to form lines of trust around the world that extend from IFZA to our global network of representatives and agents, and from them to their clients whom they have established trusted relationships. Growth of FDI Collectively, we bring in investors that contribute to the growth of foreign direct investment in Dubai. Furthermore, we are working on several new initiatives that will continue to grow our offerings for licensees, ensuring they can efficiently set up their businesses with peace of mind. Additionally, IT-related business activities, including IT consultants and IT network services, saw an increase of 247% and 280% respectively, in new registrations compared to 2021. IFZA is thus working on cutting-edge advancements to further diversify its offerings and services, in response to the growing digitalisation trend. In line with Dubais ever-growing international demographic, IFZA boasts a diverse business-savvy community with professional partners across the globe, including France, Germany, India, China, and the United Kingdom (UK). For the past five years, Indian nationals represented the largest proportion of IFZA shareholders at 27%, followed by those from France at 14% and the UK at 14%. Today, over 100 nationalities are represented under IFZA licensees. IFZA Dubai continues to enhance its value-added benefits as part of its business ecosystem to support and further attract investors and entrepreneurs to the region. In 2022, the Free Zone partnered with leading banking institutions to offer licensees exclusive digital banking services and solutions. IFZA also launched a new division, IFZA Life, that offers bespoke medical insurance solutions for IFZA Free Zone Licensees, Professional Partners, and Employees with exceptional benefits at competitive premiums. -- TradeArabia News Service Florida governor Ron DeSantis's long-awaited entry into the 2024 presidential campaign descended into a fiasco on Wednesday as the opening of the live Twitter event intended to announce his candidacy was derailed by glitches. The conversation repeatedly crashed as the platform's servers were apparently overwhelmed, and many of the 400,000-plus users who were hoping to listen in missed the 44-year-old conservative throwing down the gauntlet to Republican primary frontrunner Donald Trump. DeSantis finally began speaking after almost half an hour of confusion and chaos -- although what should have been an exultant launch had been thoroughly overshadowed by the time he was able to make his case for the Republican nomination. "I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback," he told the listeners, although tens of thousands had abandoned Twitter by that point. As the website struggled to get the event back on track, its owner Elon Musk, performing hosting duties, could be heard noting the "massive number of people online" who had caused the servers to begin "straining somewhat." While organizers sought to highlight the event's popularity -- the DeSantis camp said it had raised $1 million online in one hour -- Biden's team was quick to capitalize on the glitches, tweeting a link to a fundraising page and stating: "This link works." Trump joked on his Truth Social platform that "My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working" -- an oblique reference to a war of words he once had with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. The conversation eventually went on for more than an hour, but technical gremlins persisted -- a setback mocked as encapsulating the downward turn the governor's image has taken of late. War on woke Long viewed as the most formidable challenger to twice-impeached Trump, DeSantis boasts deep midwestern roots, a large campaign fund, a list of ultra-conservative legislative wins and an unblemished record of election victories. While Trump has dominated headlines with his legal woes, DeSantis has presented himself as the tip of the spear in the struggle of ordinary Americans against progressive values he sees as authoritarian and divisive. The governor gave a more traditional interview -- minus the setbacks -- on conservative TV network Fox News after the Twitter event, and tried to reclaim his reputation for order and competence. "If you nominate me, I pledge to you that on January 20, 2025, at high noon, I'll be the guy on the west side of the Capitol with the left hand on the Bible and the right hand in the air, taking the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States," he said. "No more excuses -- we've got to get this one done." DeSantis has used his position as Florida's chief executive to stack up a litany of conservative accomplishments, signing off on some 80 state laws targeting "woke indoctrination" in schools and other public institutions. They include a ban on discussing gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, a block on funding efforts to promote diversity at public universities and one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. "The woke mind virus is basically a form of Cultural Marxism. At the end of the day, it's an attack on the truth, and because it's a war on truth, I think we have no choice but to wage a war on woke," he told Fox News. - Trump on the attack - Refraining from explicitly criticizing Trump, the governor used the event to draw a distinction between his record of getting policy initiatives into the statute books and the former president's reputation for legislative inertia and chaos in his personal and professional life. But DeSantis lacks the frontrunner's national profile and the launch comes with his ratings in decline, as a number of policy missteps have prompted disquiet about his readiness to take on Trump. He now faces the daunting task of closing an enormous polling gap, with Trump posting leads of close to 40 percentage points, despite being indicted on felony financial charges and being found liable for sexual abuse in a New York civil trial. Behind the scenes, the Trump and DeSantis camps have been jostling to secure endorsements from state lawmakers while, at the national level, Florida's congressional delegation has broken heavily for Trump. But DeSantis is seen as lacking the natural charm needed to peel away some of the 14 million voters who backed Trump in the last competitive Republican primary, in 2016. Trump has not posted on Twitter since his two-year ban over the 2021 US Capitol riot ended in November, but has been using his own social network to attack DeSantis almost daily. In a Wednesday morning post, Trump said the governor "desperately needs a personality transplant and, to the best of my knowledge, they are not medically available yet." Search Keywords: Short link: The number of people moving to Britain reached a record high of more than 600,000 in 2022, government figures showed Thursday. Net migration the difference between the number of people arriving and those leaving was 606,000 for the year, according to the Office for National Statistics. A total of 1.2 million people moved to the U.K. in 2022, while 557,000 left. The net figure is up from just under 500,000 in 2021. The statistics office said the record level was due to a series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic. As well as people coming to Britain to work, the figure includes tens of thousands of international students and almost 200,000 people who have arrived under special programs for people fleeing war in Ukraine and Chinas clampdown in Hong Kong. The high figure will renew debate about Britains departure from the European Union, which was motivated in part by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people from across Europe in the years before the 2016 Brexit referendum. Supporters of Brexit said leaving the EU which gives citizens of any member country the right to live and work in all the others would allow the U.K. to control its borders. Many who voted for Brexit thought immigration would fall, but the opposite has been true. While the number of people moving to Britain from EU countries fell to 151,000 in 2022, the number from outside the bloc was 925,000. Search Keywords: Short link: An outbreak of fungal meningitis at a popular Mexican destination for medical tourism has caused two deaths and is threatening the lives of more than 200 American patients, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday. The outbreak, according to the federal health agency, occurred among patients who traveled to Matamoros, Tamaulipaslocated just two miles directly south of the Texas border town of Brownsvilleand had surgical procedures there under epidural anesthesia, which involves the injection of an anesthetic into the area around the spinal column. Officials have identified two clinics associated with the outbreakRiver Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3. Both clinics were closed on May 13. The CDC said it has received from Mexican health authorities a list of 221 Americans who might be at risk for meningitis based on their recorded surgical procedures at either clinic from Jan. 1 to May 13. Three additional patients who were not on the list have also been identified, bringing the total number of people in the United States known to have potential exposure to 224. In the meantime, the CDC urges those who had epidural anesthesia in Matamoros at River Side Surgical Center or Clinica K-3 from Jan. 1 to May 13 to go to the nearest health center, urgent care, or emergency room as soon as possible to be evaluated for fungal meningitis, even if they dont currently have symptoms. When you arrive, tell triage and emergency room staff and healthcare providers that you need to be evaluated for possible fungal meningitis, the DCD advises. Inform them that you recently had epidural anesthesia at one of the clinics in Mexico involved in this outbreak. The CDC also said it is working with 25 state and local health departments to contact people with potential exposure and tell them to be tested for meningitis. Testing includes an MRI and a lumbar puncture (LP), also called a spinal tap. At least 224 people in 25 U.S. states who had epidural anesthesia at River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3 in Matamoros, Mexico, from Jan. 1 to May 13, 2023 might therefore be at risk for developing meningitis. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Fungal meningitis can develop after a fungal infection is accidentally introduced during a medical or surgical procedure or spreads from somewhere else in the body to the brain or spinal cord, according to the CDC. Fungal meningitis infections are not contagious and are not transmitted person to person, the agency said. Symptoms of fungal meningitis infections include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and sensitivity to light. Wednesdays announcement comes about a week after the CDC issued an alert about the outbreak. The CDC reported at that time that five patients have been hospitalized in Texas after being diagnosed with suspected fungal meningitis. One of them has died. The CDC has since confirmed a second death. Those planning to travel to Matamoros for any medical or surgical procedure involving epidural anesthesia should reconsider their plans, the agency said. Cancel any elective procedure that involves an epidural injection in Matamoros, Mexico, until there is evidence that there is no longer a risk for infection at these clinics, the travel advisory reads. Hundreds of thousands of Americans travel to Mexico every year to get elaborate dental work or cosmetic surgeries at a more favorable price. According to a 2020 study that surveyed some 427 Americans crossing the California-Mexico border for medical services, most of the respondents felt that Mexican health care services are of the same or better quality compared with those in the United States, for a lower cost. Matamoros remains one of the top destinations for medical tourism due to cheap and easy access, even though Tamaulipas is one of six states in Mexico where the U.S. Department of State warns Americans not to travel at all due to crime and kidnappings. Four American tourists were kidnapped in Matamoros on March 3 in broad daylight in what appeared to be a cartel shootout. Two were killed, as was a Mexican woman who happened to be nearby when the kidnappings took place. The group was traveling to Mexico so one of them could get cosmetic surgery, according to reports. The two survivors were brought back to the United States under armed escort by a Mexican military convoy. The FBI reported at that time that one of the surviving victims sustained serious injuries during the attack. Less than a week after the abductions, an apology letter claiming to be from the Gulf cartel said the notorious crime organization had turned over to authorities its own members who were responsible. The Gulf Cartel Grupo Escorpiones strongly condemns the events of Friday, March 3 in which unfortunately an innocent working mother died and four American citizens were kidnapped, of which two died, a translation of the letter stated. The letter was allegedly leaked to the Associated Press by a Tamaulipas state law enforcement source. For this reason, we have decided to hand over those involved and directly responsible for the events who at all times acted under their own determination and indiscipline and against the rules in which the CDG has always operated. 2 Killed, Others Hurt in Severe Storms North of Houston CONROE, TexasTwo people were killed and several others were hurt Tuesday afternoon when a home that was under construction collapsed as strong storms hit north of Houston in the Conroe area. A home under construction in the Ladera Creek area fell sometime after 3 p.m., news outlets reported. Two workers were killed and seven injured victims were taken to a hospital, according to Conroe Assistant Fire Chief Mike Legoudes. The conditions of the injured workers werent known. Conroe Fire Chief Ken Kreger stopped short of saying that the collapse was caused by the storms, but said that his department got the call just after the storms passed. The series of storms prompted warnings in the area of incoming tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Storm damage was also reported north of Conroe in Huntsville. 200 Arrested, Nearly 5,000 Pounds of Fentanyl Seized in Southern California A U.S. Customs and Border Protection canine team checks automobiles for contraband in the line to enter the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Ysidro, Calif., on Oct. 2, 2019. (Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images) SAN DIEGOMore than 200 arrests were made and over 4,700 pounds of fentanyl were seized over the past two months, in what local law enforcement officials described May 23 as an unprecedented increase in enforcement actions against alleged drug smugglers, traffickers, and dealers. The law enforcement campaign dubbed Operation Blue Lotus took place from March 13 through May 10 and was centered on the southern border in the Southern and Central districts of California, as well as the District of Arizona. We are an epicenter for fentanyl trafficking into the United States, and we know the immense responsibility that we bear to address this crisis, San Diego U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in a statement. Every milligram of fentanyl that we seize, and every smuggler, trafficker, and dealer we bring to justice, means less fatal doses on the streets of San Diego and beyond. The U.S. Attorneys Office said the surge in fentanyl-related enforcement has led to a marked increase in the amount of fentanyl seized in San Diego County. Over the same time period, 732 pounds were seized last year as compared with 2,931 pounds seized this year. More defendants are also being prosecuted than ever before for fentanyl-related crimes in the Southern District of California, which comprises San Diego and Imperial counties. During the time Operation Blue Lotus was in effect, the U.S. Attorneys Office said there was a 30 percent increase in the number of defendants prosecuted for fentanyl-related crimes locally compared to the same time period last year. A Defining Time for Monarchies How a coronation raised the urgency of the strategic need for durable identity and purpose Commentary Perhaps only King Charles III understood that his May 6 coronation in London was one of the few opportunities in a century to reposition the concept of monarchy in the global spectrum of competing social systems. Indeed, the competition between competing social systems is between systems that have come to be defined as tending toward (or predominantly) long term and spiritually or ethically based on the one hand, and predominantly short term, materialistic, and transactional on the other. It is too soon to determine to what degree King Charles succeeded in framing the debate, other than by the symbolic example of tradition in the coronation ceremony. Or whether a predominantly reactive global audience, currently traumatized by the threat of economic dislocation, is even aware of the option of debate. Absent a worldwide debate, or revival of interest, on the role of monarchical systems, the Crown the Windsor dynasty wears could rapidly become the unique remaining major exemplar of a form of governance and social organization no longer understood. That could well presage the siege and probable end for the time being of defined monarchical systems as temporal republics move to define the concept of democracy in their own images. King Farouk I, that notably unsuccessful ruler of Egypt who failed to change with his people, made the comment after his overthrow on July 26, 1952, that by the end of the 20th century, there would only be five royal houses left in business: those of Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades, and Windsor. He was wrong; some 60 states and territories remained under monarchical systems by 2023, but the overwhelming House of Windsor, which reigned lightly in various forms over many of those 60 lands, dominated the landscape and thinking about the viability of constitutional monarchical governance. King Charles, even as Prince of Wales before he acceded to the Crown with the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 6, 2022, had outlined his perceived need to modernize the British monarchy, to slim it down to avoid the appearance of waste, to focus the image of the system, and to make it more relevant to a younger age group. But there is little evidence that he took a broad and analytical approach to what his concept of the modern monarchy should entail or what it would mean outside the shores of the British Isles. In many senses, King Charles coronation was a triumph. It showed that the British public was overwhelmingly content with the peaceful transfer of the Crown after seven decades under Queen Elizabeth. All was well and good, and King Charles was at pains to ensure that the four major nations of the United KingdomEngland, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Irelandwere faithfully represented in the religious symbolism of the event. So, too, were the dominionsCanada, Australia, and New Zealandthat have the Windsor Crown represent them in a way that is legally separate from the Crown of the United Kingdom. And the other realms that recognize the sovereign of the United Kingdom as head of state were also represented. The coronation also paid tribute to the old empire now transformed into the Commonwealth, over which Queen Elizabeth II presided and ensured that, on her death, King Charles would similarly preside. Britains Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive by horse-drawn carriage in the parade ring on the third day, traditionally known as Ladies Day, of the Royal Ascot horse race meeting at Ascot, England, on June 16, 2011. (Alastair Grant/AP Photo) But was it enough? And while the religious and mystical parts of the coronation ceremonies were comfortable for most of those under the Crown, were they understood by their constituents in their symbolism? Have the 56 Commonwealth member countries (monarchies and republics), representing almost a third of the worlds population, forgotten their shared approaches to governance and values? Or have they become imbued in the shorter-term transactionalism that has become the hallmark of modern society, particularly as it is espoused by the materialism of republicanism? The fundamental of the debate is that no two republics are alike, any more than any two monarchies are alike. There is merely a tendency toward long-term spiritual or ethical values among monarchies and only a tendency toward short-term materialism and transactionalism on the part of republics. Some republics, indeed, have exhibited underlying ethical principles that have made them durable for centuries, such as the U.S. basis of reverence for its Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. That made the United States, in some senses (as clearly intended by the framers of independence of the original 13 colonies), a crowned republic, where the crown had become abstracted and symbolized by the Constitution. But that was only durable as long as the Constitution held a mystical reverence for its population. Other modern examples of electorally-based republics, such as those of Asia and Africa, which emerged from foreign domination, could not easily return to their traditional, monarchical governments. Under colonial occupation, their constituent societieseach previously governed by monarchieshad amalgamated under new geographic boundaries. They now had to take on new, multinational personae, and republicanism was essentially an easier option. Italy attempted, when it reunified, to impose one ancient monarchy on all Italians under the Risorgimento of the 19th century, bringing to prominence the House of Savoy, ending some of the other regional monarchies and, therefore, sidelining some of the societies and regions represented by their deposed crowns. Italys newly-unified monarchy did not consolidate as well as it could have because it was eclipsed by fascist rule and then saw the United States effectively preclude a return of the Savoy monarchy after World War II. As a result, Italy has had 69 governments since 1945, each with an average life of 1.11 years, hardly reflective of a mandate or social contract with the population. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds her year-end press conference in Rome on Dec. 29, 2022. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo) On the other hand, Malaysia, in February 1963, on independence after British colonial domination, structured itself as a federation of regional monarchies, each of which elected a rotating national monarch. And this system has succeeded and retained its position within the Commonwealth that King Charles leads. To an extent, these only serve as examples because the real debate is about how societies can frame social contracts between governed and governors. That is a matter separately understood in each society. But what is fundamental to all humanity is that there is a need for the short-term gratification of survival needsfood, shelter, material satisfactionand long-term needs for identity, values, and nobility that give the perpetuation of the species a sense of purpose. All societies, secular or religious, understand some variation of the phrase from the Christian Bible, which says that Man shall not live by bread alone. In other words, to make a society whole, it must have more than material satisfaction. Even the society described in the fictional novel, 1984, by George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair) required that Big Brother, the supposed leader of the republic, give a sense of purpose to the disenfranchised populace. King Charles, through his various comments before acceding to the Throne, recognized this. Still, even today recognizes also that he and the Crown are themselves prisoners of a political system that has attempted, particularly since King George III (reigned 17601820), to render the Crown mute and valueless, ceding not only all power but all prestige to politicians. Even so, by representing values (rather than just value), the Crown has come to embody deep historical identity and characteristics that have enabled the society to weather the vicissitudes of short-term storms. King Charles recognizes that the Crown has to restore a greater sense of these values to society, something that does not take away the day-to-day authority of government but adds a dimension that settles virtues (a commitment to moral goodness)and particularly the ancient virtu (courage, skill, wisdom, and confidence: sprezzatura in old Italian parlance)on society. And the tool with which it achieves this prestige centers around confidence in intrinsic identity, of a type that must transcend the visible spectrum exemplified by mere material possessions, wealth, or ethnicity and, in a sense, expressed by the nobility that cannot be tarnished by greed or selfishness. It would be easy to allow the debate to beginand endin abstract dialectics. But in the end, it is about what makes people feel satisfied over the longer term. The 20th centurys great achievements ensured that most people in the world could satisfy, at least to some degree, a craving for material possessions. But it also showed that the delivery of such material demands continued to leave societies unsatisfied; indeed, great divisions appeared by the early 21st century among those most materially sated societies. George Washingtons personally annotated copy of the Acts of Congress is displayed on the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution during an unveiling ceremony in Mount Vernon, Va., on Sept. 17, 2012. The rare volume includes Washingtons personal copy of the Constitution. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) That sense of material satiation and overall dissatisfaction can occur in monarchical or republican states. Still, the difference is that societies that have a sense of nobility and purpose tend to fare better. The United States, a crowned republic in the sense that its Constitutions popularity conveyed a sense of nobility and purpose, fared well because it did more than merely provide the bread its populace needed. Joydeep Mukherji in 2015 penned a monograph for Moodys financial rating service titled Are Monarchies More Creditworthy Than Other Types of Sovereigns? in which he looked at the issue of sovereign debt issued by governments. At that time, monarchies still accounted for some 40 percent of the sovereign debt rated by Standard & Poors Ratings Services. He noted: The average long-term foreign currency rating on the 39 monarchies that we rate is A-, which is slightly higher than the average sovereign rating for all 129 sovereigns that we rate, which is around BBB to BBB-. Among the rated monarchies, constitutional monarchies have a slightly higher average rating of A+, compared with A- for absolute monarchies. The bottom line was that monarchies delivered confidence, wealth, and economic stability more readily, on average, than republics. King Charles accession, crowning, anointing, and enthronement, by the very ceremony of its fact, brought the United Kingdom into a new strategic era and certainly added economically to it by the reality of increased prestige. The Commonwealth states, and particularly the three dominions of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, all saw a high degree of social identification with the new Carolean era, even though their respective political leaders exhibited a high degree of republicanism and a sense of rivalry with (or envy of) the prestige of a crown above politics. The reality is that King Charles appears unaware as to how he can raise or impose a sense of the new reign on these dominions with their own political frameworks. Achieving a new social contract in his separate capacity as King of Canada, King of Australia, and King of New Zealand will be the hallmark of his success or failure. But that cannot happen without debate, not just on the historic merits or faults of one particular crowns line, but on the concept of the sense of nobility and grandeur a society wishes to embrace. King Charles ensured that a sense of tradition and religious and cultural mysticism accompanied the coronation while introducing modern elements to awaken the interest of younger people. However, the debate has not begun. Populations become distracted with urgent pressures preventing importantvitalissues of longer-term survival and meaning from being considered. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A Spate of Killings Highlights Resentment, Unrest in Chinas Rural Villages Elderly villagers in front of a house in a rural area in Tai'an, China's eastern Shandong province, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) A series of violent killings in China earlier this month generated widespread attention on social media and Chinese-language news sites around the world. The brutal murders, which took place over 11 days, all involved attacks by Chinese peasants on village officials. Making the attacks more remarkable was that public reaction to the killers was generally sympathetic. The first incident took place on May 1 in Xishe, a village of about 28,000 people in northern Chinas province of Shanxi. Thirty-eight-year-old Xu Guoqiang killed the village head, his wife, and son in a brutal afternoon knife attack. Xu was apprehended three days later. Another afternoon attack took place nine days later in Xili Village, in east Chinas Shandong province. A high school English teacherreferred to in reports only by his surname, Jiastormed the home of Liu Jijie, the villages head and party boss. Jia killed Liu, his wife, who was also a local official, and their 15-year-old son before committing suicide. Local police stated in a public notice that the case is under investigation, [but] it is not convenient to disclose details. The series of crimes culminated with a grisly mass murder in the early morning hours of May 11. The attack took place in Majiagang village, in northeast Chinas Liaoning province. A 64-year-old butcherreferred to in social media only by his surname, Jinbroke into the homes of the village chief and five relatives, killing them with a butcher knife. The attack left eleven people dead and others injured. The village chief himself escaped harm because he was not home at the time of the attack. Pushed to the Limit Because all three killings targeted local village officialsa sensitive topic in Chinathere was no official statement on any of the cases. Chinese state media reports relied on details provided on social media by people familiar with the incidents. However, the cases were remarkable for the amount of public outcry they generated. Online remarks generally sympathized with the killers, excusing them as victims of excessive bullying or unjust behavior by powerful local officials. According to social media posts, Xu Guoqiang, the killer in the first case, had been framed by the village head and sentenced to two years in prison as a result of disputes over money and village land allocation. In the second case, which involved Jia, the English teacher, locals alleged that Jias daughter had been bullied and sexually assaulted by the son of the village head. As a result of the abuse Jias daughter became mentally ill. Although Jia tried to seek justice through legal channels many times, it is alleged that Liu used his position and powerful connections to obstruct it. The perpetrator of the May 11 knife rampage was a simple and obedient fellow, according to reports, and had a history of being bullied. The last straw was an incident involving a land dispute between Jin and a relative, in which the village head disregarded Jins rights. Some online commentators remarked that when peasantsoften seen as backward or powerless in Chinaare emboldened to take the lives of powerful officials and then face death themselves, they must be pushed to the limit. Public Sympathy According to state media The Beijing News, 63-year-old Liu Jijie, the village head killed by Jia, had been awarded many honors by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities, titles such as National Model Worker, and Outstanding Village Party Organization Secretary. However, online discussions did not echo the official accolades. Among other commentators, a well-known Chinese legal consultant called the killing a tragedy, but said in a blog post that according to online news, local villagers generally applauded the death of Liu Jijies family, believing that they deserved it. Liu Dejun (a pseudonym) is a Liaoning resident who lives about 125 miles (200 km) from Majiagang. Liu told The Epoch Times that the local officials who were killed had been in power in their villages for many years. Assured of backing from higher levels of the CCP, they frequently abused their power, Liu said. These people are basically the bullies in the village. With support from their supervisors, they can oppress people at lower levels at will. Under this structure, few village chiefs want to be good people. They wantonly exploit and bully local peasants, taking advantage for themselves. The Last Straw for an Elderly Farmer The recent killings renewed discussion of a similar case late last year, in which Sui Guangxi, a villager from Tongfa, in northeast Chinas Heilongjiang province, stabbed and killed Sun Dezhi, the retired deputy mayor of the village, before killing himself. On May 14, a Twitter user shared a video in which Suis daughter, sobbing, recounted the events that led to the incident in October 2022. According to Suis daughter, the village committee had allotted a plot of farmland to Sui in 1994. He had been farming the land for 29 years, paying taxes and giving a portion of the farms yield to the government as required. In 2021, the villages retired deputy mayor suddenly took Sui to court, claiming that he owned the land. He demanded that Sui return the land and compensate him for the contract fee. In court, Sui presented the land contract certificate issued to him by village officials. Fellow villagers provided testimony on his behalf, but the judge ruled against him. Although Sun had constructed a factory and a fishery next to Suis farmland, he had never claimed Suis land. When a highway-building project was announced, however, he saw the possibility of selling the land for a lucrative profit, Suis daughter alleged. The farmer was heartbroken, complaining in his sleep about the loss of his land, his daughter said. Sui took the case to court again but his appeal failed. He was detained by police several times for causing an illegal disturbance and was publicly mocked by Sun. Finally, on Oct. 14, as Sun was playing a musical instrument at a local park, Sui rushed towards him with a knife, shouting: If you dont let me live, I wont let you live. With those words, he stabbed Sun more than 20 times and then killed himself. Rampant Corruption, Violence in the Countryside Liu Dejun believes that there is widespread resentment among Chinese peasants. That resentment takes the form of support for those who violently confront corrupt officials. After the murder-suicide, Suis grave was covered by wreaths from the public, as well as a banner reading Sorrowful tribute to Sui Guangxi, the old hero, for getting rid of an evil for the people. Chinas villagesthere are some 800,000 of the small communitiesmay not at first glance seem like a hotbed of unrest. However, Shi Shan, a U.S.-based journalist, told The Epoch Times that this months killings are far from isolated events. A Chinese public security official told Shi that he was aware of hundreds of similar cases in his province alone, not to mention the whole of China, but that most of the incidents went unreported. Liu said that corruption and abuse of power are rampant in Chinas rural areas. Ruthless village cadres often embezzle poverty relief subsidies or compensation for those who have lost homes to demolition. Embezzling relief funds, making land grabs, or deliberately holding up construction permits are all examples of bullying behavior, Liu said. Moreover, there is nowhere for these victims to report their sufferings, and there is no place to appeal. As a result, for some people, the countryside is now very dangerous, Liu added. Tightening Control Over Rural China The CCP is paying attention to the unrest in its rural villages. Coincidentally, just days after the brutal May 11 attack, a headline in the South China Morning Post announced: Beijing tightens control over rural China with training campaign for thousands of village chiefs. However, a new rural law enforcement force, set up in January, has only added to the resentment. The new agents have generated widespread criticism for their questionable tactics, earning the nickname nongguanliterally, rural enforcers, a reference to the heavy-handed urban enforcers known as chengguan. An equipment procurement list for one of the rural police squads, including items such as stab-proof vests, stun batons, and interrogation equipment, has gone viral online, with one Twitter user asking Dont you think these are not something that you need for farming? The leaders of arch foes Armenia and Azerbaijan said ahead of talks in Moscow on Thursday, that they were advancing towards normalising ties, following mutual recognition of territorial integrity. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev spoke ahead of a face-to-face meeting later Thursday and subsequent talks to be hosted by Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Baku and Yerevan have been locked in a decades-long conflict for control of Azerbaijan's predominantly Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh. "There is a possibility of coming to a peace agreement, considering that Armenia has formally recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan," Aliyev told the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. "Azerbaijan has no territorial claims to Armenia," he added. Pashinyan said the two countries were "making good progress in normalising relationships, based on mutual recognition of territorial integrity." He said Yerevan was ready "to unblock all the transport links in the region that pass through Armenian territory." The Caucasus neighbours have been seeking to negotiate a peace agreement with the help of the European Union and United States. On May 14, they agreed -- at a meeting hosted in Brussels by the European Council President Charles Michel -- on mutual recognition of territorial integrity. The West's diplomatic engagement in the Caucasus has irked traditional regional power broker Russia. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought two wars -- in 2020 and in the 1990s -- for control of Nagorno-Karabakh. Six weeks of hostilities in autumn 2020 ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire that saw Armenia cede swathes of territory it had controlled for decades. Armenia, which has relied on Russia for military and economic support since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, has accused Moscow of failing to fulfil its peacekeeping role in Karabakh. With Russia bogged down in Ukraine and unwilling to strain ties with Azerbaijan's key ally Turkey, the United States and European Union have sought to repair ties between the Caucasus rivals. Search Keywords: Short link: A Total Farce: DeSantis Responds to NAACP Florida Travel Advisory During his presidential announcement forum, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) travel advisory warning minorities not to come to Florida was a total farce. The NAACP claimed that Florida was undertaking aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools. Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said. Asked about these claims during his presidential announcement on Twitter, DeSantis called the claims a total farce. Claiming that Florida is unsafe is a total farce, DeSantis said. I mean, are you kidding me? You look at cities around this country, they are awash in violent crime. By contrast, he noted that Florida is currently enjoying a 50-year low in crime. Likewise, he noted that no Florida city makes the cut for the list of the top 25 most dangerous cities in the United States. He also criticized the NAACP for being silent on falling educational outcomes for minority children in metropolitan areas. If you look at cities like Baltimore and Chicago, you got kids more likely to get shot than to receive a first-class education, he said. Yet I dont see the NAACP batting an eye about all the outrage and the carnage thats happening in those areas. By comparison, he said: Black students in Florida perform much higher than black students in most other states. We ranked number three in fourth-grade reading and number two in fourth-grade math amongst our black student population. So this is a political stunt, DeSantis ruled. These left-wing groups have been doing it for many, many years. And at the end of the day, what theyre doing is colluding with legacy media to try to manufacture a narrative. DeSantis also said that similar efforts to portray Florida as dangerous had failed in the past. Any of these travel advisoriesbecause theyve been doing this for a while, these left-wing groupshave any of them worked well? Were the number one state for net migration and have been every year since Ive been governor. We just had the highest quarter for tourism in the history of the state of Florida. DeSantis said he refused to divvy up people by race: Our view is we want everybody to succeed regardless of their skin color. He claimed that Florida also boasts more black-owned small businesses than any other U.S. state and that more black people have had leadership positions in his administration than in any other administration in Floridas history. But theyre there because of merit, not because were trying to play identity politics, he said. Oh, by the way, he added. The head of the NAACP lives in Florida, and a lot of their board members have put out on social mediaduring my governorshipFlorida vacations where they seem to be having an awful good time. Arkansas Man Who Put Feet on Desk in Pelosis Office Gets 4.5 Years in Prison Richard "Bigo" Barnett sits inside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protests at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) An Arkansas man famously photographed with his feet on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to 54 months in prison on May 24. Richard Bigo Barnett, 62, of Gravette, Arkansas, also was ordered to serve 36 months of supervised release and fined $2,000 by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington. The sentence was almost three years shy of the 87 months sought by federal prosecutors but far more than the time served sought by the defense. Barnett was found guilty after less than two hours of jury deliberation on Jan. 23 on four felony and four misdemeanor charges stemming from his time at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Barnett was convicted of civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, entering and remaining in certain rooms in the Capitol Building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, and theft of government property. Richard Bigo Barnett holds up an envelope he took from House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office on Jan. 6, 2021. He said he took the envelope because he got blood on it from a cut finger. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) The dangerous weapon charge came from Barnett carrying with him a 950,000-volt Hike n Strike walking stick that doubles as a flashlight and stun device. He said there were no batteries in the device, and thus, the stun function wasnt operable on Jan. 6, 2021. Barnett sat at a desk belonging to an assistant to Pelosi (D-Calif.). A wire service photographer asked him to pose with his feet on the desk, then snapped the photo that became one of the enduring images of Jan. 6. According to trial testimony, Barnett entered the Capitol at 2:43 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, as a crowd surged through the giant Columbus Doors on the east side of the building. Barnett testified that he had no intention of going inside the Capitol but was pushed in by crowd momentum. Both houses of Congress had stopped work by that time as members were being moved to safety. On his way out of the Capitol, Barnett realized he had left his U.S. flag in Pelosis office and got into a verbal confrontation with a Metropolitan Police Department officer when he said he wanted to retrieve it. Bluster or Threats? His language ranged from bargaining with the officer to foul-mouthed bluster. Prosecutors said Barnett was threatening the officer, while the defense said it was a short-lived temper tantrum, in which he was behaving like an idiot, like a fool. Barnett took the stand in his own defense on the final day of testimony. He was pressed repeatedly during cross-examination by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gordon, who suggested he wasnt being truthful in his answers. Barnetts retort was spirited. You want to keep pressing me and break me down, Barnett said. I aint breaking down. I stand by what I say, sir. Richard Bigo Barnett arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse for jury selection in his trial in Washington, on Jan. 10, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ive made mistakes. I have made mistakes. And I regret those mistakes. Ive gotten confused in my testimony. I went through hell up there. The officers went through hell up there. It was a horrible, horrible day. Defense attorney Joseph D. McBride criticized prosecutors for over-charging Barnett and blowing his Jan. 6 behavior out of proportion. They have literally made a federal case out of an act of stupidity that could have been dispensed with a ticket and a fine, McBride told the jury during closing arguments. McBride told the jury the prosecution of his client was over the top. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this is the government that our forefathers warned us about. Art Teacher Who Chased Reporters With Machete Surrenders to NYPD A former art professor at Hunter College in New York City turned herself in to police on Thursday after she appeared to brandish a machete at a pair of New York Post reporters on Tuesday. Shellyne Rodriguez, 45, appeared to wave a machete at a New York Post news crew who had visited her apartment building on Tuesday in an incident that was caught on camera. Footage appeared to show Rodriguez holding a bladed weapon at a New York Post reporter Reuven Fentons neck and telling him get the [expletive] away from my door. After Fenton and a photographer left Rodriguezs apartment building, she appeared to follow the pair out the front of the building where dash-camera footage showed her chasing the photographer around with the machete. A New York City Police Department (NYPD) spokesperson told NTD News that Rodriguez turned herself in at the police departments 43rd Precinct in the Bronx on Thursday morning at around 7:20 a.m. The NYPD spokesperson said Rodriguez faces charges of menacing and harassment. Fired From College Job Rodriguez had been an adjunct assistant professor in Hunter Colleges Art & Art History Department. Her departure from the university came after an altercation with students earlier this month and her armed encounter with the New York Post news crew. Last week, pro-life organization Students for Life shared a video of Rodriguez confronting the students hosting a booth sharing their views on abortion at Hunter College. Youre not educating [expletive]. This is [expletive] propaganda, Rodriguez said to the students. What are you going to do, like, anti-trans next? Is that what youre going to do next? I mean, no. Were talking about abortion, a male student at the booth replied. This is [expletive]. This is violent. Youre triggering my students, she continued. As the confrontation escalated, Rodriguez uttered more profanities as she vandalized the booth by flipping over and pushing materials off a table the students were using. Hunter College reprimanded Rodriguez after the initial incident. Hunter does not tolerate such conduct by faculty. The Provost has completed an investigation and the faculty member has been appropriately disciplined, Hunter Colleges Communications Department told Breitbart earlier this week. In addition, the faculty member has been warned that if the behavior reoccurs, there will be further consequences. The New York Post news crew tracked Rodriguez down after her initial altercation with the pro-life students. This visit led to Rodriguezs armed confrontation with the reporters. Hunter College again disavowed Rodriguezs actions, this time cutting her position at the school. Hunter College strongly condemns the unacceptable actions of Shellyne Rodriguez, and has taken immediate action. Rodriguez has been relieved of her duties at Hunter College effective immediately, and will not be returning to teach at the school, the colleges communications department said in an emailed statement to NTD News on Wednesday. Incidents Have Taken a Toll on My Mental Health: Rodriguez NTD News attempted to contact Rodriguez through attorneys who have represented her in a recent lawsuit (pdf) against the NYPD. Those attorneys did not respond by the time this article was published. Rodriguez did reach out to ARTnews on Wednesday to share her side of the story after her alterations with pro-life students. She said the May 2 incident with the students involved the use of profanity and the tossing [of] the postcards and the metal container of rubber fetuses the students had at their booth. Rodriguez did not directly address her armed encounter with the New York Post reporters but her spokesperson told ARTnews that Fenton and the cameraperson did not identify themselves, didnt use the buildings intercom system to get in, and appear to have been trespassing inside the building when they pounded on her door and started yelling at her through the door. The artist did tell the publication that recent incidents have taken a toll on my mental health, robbing me of my sense of safety, and creating reasonable fear that they would show up at my home to cause me physical harm, as has happened with so many other women who have similarly had their personal info exposed as a form of politically motivated harassment. NYPD Lawsuit In addition to her work in the arts and academia, Rodriguez is a self-described black Marxist, a community organizer, and an active member of radical grassroots collective Take Back the Bronx. Rodriguez was also involved in protests against police after George Floyd, a black man, died while being arrested by Minneapolis police on May 25, 2020. Rodriguez is currently suing the NYPD in federal court, alleging police brutality at an FTP4 protest event in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx on June 4. According to her civil complaint (pdf), FTP stands for many things, including Free the People, Feed the People, and, in the context of certain anti-police protests, [expletive] the Police. Rodriguez was arrested at the protest event and charged with violating a curfew. The curfew charges were dropped on Sept. 4, 2020. The lawsuit identified Rodriguez as an artist who teaches at Hunter College. The complaint alleges that NYPD officers shoved her into a fence, pulled her hair, squeezed the back of her neck, flipped her around such that her back was against the gate, and then repeatedly punched her in the stomach. Her complaint states that officers also applied zip tie-style flex cuffs that were too tight, causing her nerve damage. The injuries to Ms. Rodriguezs wrists continue to cause her pain, and to interfere with her ability to make art, the lawsuit states. Following the June 4 Mott Haven arrests, NYPD officials said some of the marchers were screaming and yelling at officers, throwing plastic bottles with unknown liquids, and acting in a disorderly manner, the New York Daily News reported. NYPD officials also claimed they recovered hammers, wrenches, gas masks, and additional items that could be used to cause injuries from among the protesters they arrested. In a June 2020 interview with the Mott Haven Herald, Rodriguez acknowledged protesters also brought helmets and goggles because we had seen the violence perpetrated against protesters. New York City recently settled with plaintiffs in a separate lawsuit stemming from the June 4, 2020 Mott Haven clash. Rodriguezs lawsuit is set to continue in July. From NTD News Artificial Intelligence Safety Brakes Needed: Microsoft President First lady Melania Trump, right, participates in a discussion with Microsoft president Brad Smith at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., on March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Microsoft President Brad Smith is pushing for stricter regulation of artificial intelligence, involving government-led AI safety frameworks and establishing safety brakes in AI systems. There is a need to ensure that machines remain subject to effective oversight by people, and the people who design and operate machines remain accountable to everyone else, Smith wrote in a May 25 blog post. To this end, laws and regulations are required, he argued. The first priority is to implement and build upon new government-led AI safety frameworks. Smith pointed out that the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology has already completed and launched a new AI risk management framework four months back. The Microsoft president suggested implementing and building upon this foundation. Smith advocates effective safety brakes for AI systems tasked with managing critical infrastructure like electrical grids, city traffic flows, and water systems. These fail-safe systems would be part of a comprehensive approach to system safety that would keep effective human oversight, resilience, and robustness top of mind, Smith wrote. In spirit, they would be similar to the braking systems engineers have long built into other technologies, such as elevators, school buses, and high-speed trains, to safely manage not just everyday scenarios, but emergencies as well. Laws should require AI system operators to build such safety brakes into high-risk AI systems by design and to test such measures regularly to ensure they are effective, the Microsoft chief said. Smith also asked for placing different regulatory obligations on various actors depending on their role in managing the various aspects of AI. Microsoft proposed specific regulatory responsibilities on the organizations exercising certain responsibilities at three layers of the technology stack: the applications layer, the model layer, and the infrastructure layer. OpenAI Chiefs Warning Microsofts push for regulating AI comes as Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, which is behind the creation of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, called on lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence. During a recent hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Altman warned that some regulation would be quite wise on this topic. Altman wants the government to establish a new agency licensing AI companies that would be responsible for ensuring compliance with ethical standards and addressing accuracy issues related to the technology. The OpenAI chief exec also admitted that AI could pose a threat to democracy, specifically from targeted misinformation campaigns during elections. My worst fears are that wethe field, the technology, the industrycause significant harm to the world. I think that can happen in a lot of different ways. Altman wants independent audits to be conducted on AI firms. With regard to the EU, Altman has suggested that the organization may leave Europe if it cannot reach compliance with the regions upcoming AI regulations. One of the proposed rules is to make companies that deploy generative AI tools like ChatGPT disclose the use of any copyrighted content used in developing their systems. AI Regulations Lawmakers globally are proposing regulations to rein in AI technologies. In the United States, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Digital Platform Commission Act on May 18, which seeks to create a dedicated federal agency to regulate digital platforms, specifically AI. Technology is moving quicker than Congress could ever hope to keep up with. We need an expert federal agency that can stand up for the American people and ensure AI tools and digital platforms operate in the public interest, Bennet said in a press release. In the EU, the AI Act has been proposed as rules for regulating artificial intelligence. The law categorizes AI into three groups based on risk. Firstly, applications and systems deemed to create an unacceptable risk would be banned. This would include applications similar to the social credit score system used by the Chinese communist regime. Secondly, applications deemed to be high-risk would be subject to some specific legal requirements. For instance, a tool that scans CVs to rank job applicants. Thirdly, apps that are neither listed as high risk nor explicitly banned would largely be left unregulated. Once approved, the AI Act will become the worlds first set of rules on artificial intelligence. Australia Border Enforcement Stops Using Chinese-made Drones This photo taken on October 23, 2013 shows Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) fighter jets leaving their base in Shanghai. Beijing's behaviour in its row with Tokyo over disputed islands is jeopardising peace, Japan's defence minister said on October 29, days after China warned a reported plan to shoot down its drones would constitute "an act of war". (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) Australian Border Enforcement (ABF) has decided to stop using Chinese-made drones out of an abundance of caution. In April, the federal government ordered a safety review of hundreds of drones made by a Chinese company, Da Jiang Innovations (DJI), after it was discovered that Australias Department of Defense was using them. Michael Outram, the ABF commissioner, told the Senate hearing that its operational sensitivity was much lower than that of the Department of Defense, and he felt there were adequate regulations in place to oversee the use of the drones, The Australian reported. These devices were not allowed to be connected to our network in any way. They were being used in very low-risk environments, for example, in relation to tobacco crops, he told senate estimates. I felt we had sufficient controls in place. Our operating environment is not identical to Defence. Therefore, after Outram learned of the Defenses decision to suspend DJIs drones, the border agency continued testing the Chinese-made drones for several days. The logo of Chinese company DJI is seen at a store in Beijing on Dec. 16, 2021. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images) However, the commissioner eventually decided that the agency would stop using these drones until more research was done. Once that decision was made by defence, I felt that out of abundant caution, it was prudent to cease the trial until we know more, he said. The Australian Defence Forces are conducting a six-month security audit of DJIs drones. In 2018, the Trump administration blacklisted DJI to prevent it from purchasing U.S. technology. And in 2021, the Biden administration added DJI to a list of Chinese military-industrial complex companies in which American investment is prohibited. Additionally, six months ago, the Pentagon banned the use of drones in the United States over concerns that the Chinese company had ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s military and that they might have cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Senator James Paterson, the oppositions home affairs spokesman, has previously said the United States took action against the company because it was controlled by the Peoples Liberation Army and had been sanctioned for its role in the CCPs repression of the Uyghur ethnic group in Xinjiang region. Paterson urged the ABF to follow the Defence and stop flying the drones until a review is done. If its not safe to use in our military, it should be nowhere near our highly sensitive border protection operations either, he said. The Albanese government should urgently investigate lower-risk alternatives to DJI for all Commonwealth departments and agencies. A DJI Mavic 2 Pro and DJi Mavic Mini made by the Chinese drone maker fly near each other in Miami, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) All companies based in China, such as DJI, must comply with the CCPs 2017 national security laws, which require them to hand over data at the request of Chinese intelligence agencies. The ABF confirmed it had bought 41 DJI drones since 2017, including 37 between February and June last year, many of which are being used in trials to explore how remote systems can enhance its business capabilities. In 2020, the Australian Border Force (ABF) identified a potential role for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) to enhance and complement the ABFs existing capabilities and align with other law enforcement and border control agencies utilising RPAS, a statement from Home Affairs told The Telegraph. In 2021, the ABF established an RPAS Capability Project to test, trial and implement an RPAS capability for the agency. Due to the impact of Covid-19, the project has been delayed and currently remains in the trial stage. Australia Joins 5 Eyes Alliance in Denouncing Chinas Cyber Attack on US Critical Infrastructure Australia has joined the Five Eyes Security Alliance in condemning a recent cyberattack by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that has targeted critical infrastructure networks across the United States. The joint advisory was issued after it was discovered that a recent cluster of activity was associated with the CCPs hacking group, Volt Typhoona state-sponsored actor typically focused on espionage and information gathering. The Five Eyes alliancean intelligence alliance between the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealandalso believes that the same techniques used by the CCP could be applied against other sectors worldwide. In a joint statement published by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) on May 25, Australia, along with the security alliance, said one of the primary tactics used by the cyber actor, in this case, the CCP, is living off the landwhere the actor blends in with normal Windows systems to evade detection. This tactic exploits legitimate pathways instead of malware. They can avoid endpoint detection and response (EDR) products that would provide an alert on the introduction of third-party applications to the host and limit the amount of activity that is captured in default logging configurations, the joint statement said. Many of the behavioural indicators included can also be legitimate system administration commands that appear in benign activity. Care should be taken not to assume that findings are malicious without further investigation or other indications of compromise. Microsoft Says Volt Typhoon Has Been Active Since 2021 In a May 24 statement, Microsoft said the CCPs state hacking group has been active since mid-2021 and has targeted critical infrastructure organisations in Guam and the United States. In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors, the company said. Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing the development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises. Observed behaviour suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible. Microsoft has warned that because this activity relies on valid accounts and living-off-the-land binaries (LOLBins), detecting and mitigating this attack could be challenging. Compromised accounts must be closed or changed, the company said. Ministers Condemn Cyber Attack Federal Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said the Albanese government would not compromise national security. This activity should not be occurring, there is no question about that, and we are not going to be shy when we know who is responsible for that activity, ONeil said, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). We have the evidence before us its important for the national security of our country that we are transparent and upfront about the threats that we face. Shadow Cyber Security Minister James Paterson has called on the Albanese government to exercise great sanctions on China. While public attribution is a welcome first step, we must do more to deter this malign cyber activity, Paterson said in a twitter post. Magnitsky cyber sanctions allow Australia to directly penalise those engaged in these attacks on our infrastructure. Its time the Albanese govt used them. This follows the grounding of Chinese military-linked drones, DJI drones, by the Australian Border Force this week. Australians to Face New Wave of Electricity Bill Surges A general view of the shoreline is seen in Gold Coast, Australia, on April 3, 2018. (Francois-Xavier Marit/AFP via Getty Images) Hundreds of thousands of Australian households will see their electricity bills surge by up to $600 (US$390) this July 1 in the latest wave of price increases. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has released the new default market offer, which caps the maximum rate energy retailers can charge residential and small business customers in three regions that are part of the National Electricity Market: New South Wales (NSW), South Australia and Southeast Queensland. While only nine percent of customers are charged the default market rate, it serves as a benchmark for energy companies when they advertise their prices to customers. Under the changes, the prices for residential customers with controlled load will rise between 20.8 and 23.9 percent. In comparison, those without controlled load will experience price increases of 19.6 to 24.9 percent, depending on their region. Controlled load is a special metered tariff used for appliances consuming a lot of energy, such as hot water storage systems, pool pumps or underfloor heating. The tariff rate is lower than the regular energy usage rate. However, customers have to set up a separate meter for the nominated appliance. The new default offer rates will result in an extra annual cost of around $440-$594 for NSW customers, $402 for Queensland and $512 for South Australian residents, respectively. Meanwhile, small business customers will be hit with a price surge of between 14.7 to 28.9 percent. What Drove Up Prices The AER cited high wholesale energy costs as the main driver for the rise in retail electricity prices. The agency said more expensive electricity futures contracts signed between energy companies before October 2022 had pushed up wholesale prices. The price hikes were also caused by higher costs of coal and gas used for electricity generation, reliability issues with aging coal-fired generation assets, as well as the closure of Liddell Power Stationa major power station in NSW. In handing down the latest default offer, AER chair Clare Savage said the energy authority considered living cost pressures experienced by households and businesses and the need for retailers to recover their costs. Thats why its important the (default offer) provides a safety net for those who might not have shopped around for a better power deal, she said in a statement. No one wants to see rising prices, and we recognise this is a difficult time. Thats why its important for consumers to shop around for a better deal. She also urged struggling consumers to contact their retailers as they were required to provide assistance under current energy laws. Government Says Prices Would Go Up Further Without Interventions Following the AERs announcement, the federal government clarified that its interventions in the energy market, including price caps on wholesale coal and gas, were shielding Australian consumers from the worst of global energy price crisis despite the latest wave of price increases. Specifically, it said the default offer rates would soar by an additional $492 for households and $1,310 for small businesses if the government did not take action. Citing an AERs 2022 forecast, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Australians would have faced price increases of 40-50 percent without the governments intervention. 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) These are big increases, but as the regulator made clear, without the intervention of the Albanese government, they would have been much bigger, he said in a statement. Thats why the Government acted in December to cap coal and gas prices and why we worked with states and territories to deliver up to $3 billion in direct relief for the most vulnerable households and small businesses. The minister also believed Australians would face less price pressure when more renewable energy entered the system. In the longer term, we are getting more renewables in the grid through Rewiring the Nation and the Capacity Investment Scheme because the cheapest form of energy is firmed renewable energy, he said. And this will take pressure off bills and help shield Australians from volatile international energy prices. However, Opposition energy spokesman Ted OBrien criticised the government, saying the lower-than-forecast price increase was not a win for the Labor Party as it had promised to provide people with cheaper electricity bills. When the government says it could have been worse, its the government comparing its set of dumb policies now to its really dumb policies only a few months ago, OBrien said. Beyonce, Jay-Z Pay $200 Million for Malibu Home, Most Expensive Real Estate Ever Sold in California Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z attend the European Premiere of Disney's "The Lion King" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, England, on July 14, 2019. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney) The most expensive piece of real estate ever sold in California was purchased by Beyonce and Jay-Z in Malibu last week for $200 million, according to TMZ. Per TMZ, the couples purchase was actually a deal since the home was originally listed for $295 million. The 30,000-square-foot home on 8 acres is made of concrete and has a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean on a bluff near Paradise Cove, according to TMZ. The house was designed by Japanese master architect, Tadao Ando, who is reportedly currently designing a home for Kanye West, also in Malibu. The couple previously purchased a Bel-Air mansion in Los Angeles in 2017 for $88 million. Their new home is the second most expensive piece of property sold in the United States, $38 million less than a Manhattan penthouse apartment sold to billionaire Ken Griffinan entrepreneur and investor. According to TMZ, the previous record for a California sale was for an oceanfront estate in Malibu purchased in 2021 for $177 million by fashion leader Serge Azria. Both buyers and sellers in the latest Beyonce and Jay-Z transaction were represented by celebrity realtor Kurt Rappaport, according to TMZ. Biden Administration Unveils First-Ever National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism President Joe Biden departs a celebration marking Jewish American Heritage Month in the East Room of the White House on May 16, 2023, in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) The Biden administration on May 25 released a national strategy to counter antisemitism, describing the plan as the most ambitious and comprehensive U.S. government-led effort to fight antisemitism in American history. The administration announced 100 new actions (pdf) and over 100 calls to action to combat antisemitism, including new actions on college campuses and online in their U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. President Joe Biden, in a speech unveiling the plan, opened with comments referencing the death of a young woman at a political rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, saying participants were spewing what was heard across Europe in the 1930s. The president denounced those actions, saying that antisemitism has been given too much oxygen in this country. Silence is complicity. We cannot remain silent, Biden said. I will not remain silent. You should not either. Thats why today Im releasing the first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism. Led by the White House Domestic Policy Council and National Security Council, the Interagency Policy Committee on Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Related Forms of Bias and Discrimination has been tasked with developing the nations first-ever strategy to counter antisemitism. The White House cited data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with American Jews accounting for 63 percent of reported religiously motivated hate crimes, despite comprising only 2.4 percent of the population. To rally comprehensive support, the Biden-Harris administration announced commitments from various sectors, including the private sector, civil society, religious and multi-faith communities, and higher education. Prominent organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, and Council on American-Islamic Relations have joined the cause. The administration also urged other organizations to take part in implementing impactful initiatives against antisemitism. The Department of Homeland Security will conduct workshops on countering antisemitic violence, while the Department of Justice will engage with community-based groups affected by hate crimes. The administration also plans to expand community-based prevention efforts and strengthen threat information sharing between law enforcement and online platforms, pushing tech companies to enforce their community standards not to expand their antisemitic content posted online. The Biden administration is also calling on Congress to hold social media platforms accountable for hate-fueled violence, enact legislation to enhance transparency and enable public interest research on the spread of antisemitism. The Department of Education will launch an Antisemitism Awareness Campaign to raise awareness and equip teachers, students, parents, and school communities to combat the troubling growth of antisemitism. The Orthodox Union spoke out, commending the presidents action and for the administrations commitment to rapidly implement this National Strategy by setting concrete deadlines for its proposed actions and tasking an Interagency Group to pursue implementation, according to their press release sent to The Epoch Times. Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, said We applaud President Biden for initiating this critical effort to combat antisemitism and support the right of American Jews to practice our faith free from fear. Biden Mocks DeSantis Over Glitchy Campaign Launch As technical issues delayed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis long-awaited presidential campaign announcement on May 24, President Joe Biden did not miss out on the opportunity to ridicule one of the candidates jockeying for his job. This link works, Biden posted on his Twitter account, sharing a link to a donation page for his campaign as the DeSantis team and Twitter owner Elon Musk struggled to resolve the glitches plaguing their scheduled Twitter Spaces interview. In a subsequent post, the president mocked DeSantis again with a video that also highlighted the six-week abortion ban he recently signed into law and his previous support in Congress for cuts to entitlements. No matter what happens, you can hear Ron DeSantis agenda loud and clear, Biden wrote. And Biden was not the only person to poke fun at the disappointing start to DeSantis big announcement. Following the interview, the hashtag #DeSaster began trending on Twitter, sparked by Donald Trump Jr.s response to the situation. Others posted altered movie posters for the movie Failure to Launch starring DeSantis and Musk. And former President Donald Trump oined the pile-on with a series of his own social media posts roasting DeSantis on Truth Social. In one video, Trump shared a spoof of the botched Twitter Spaces interview that suggested DeSantis was backed by George Soros, World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab, former Vice President Dick Cheney, Adolph Hitler, the devil, and the FBI. Is the DeSantis launch FATAL? Yes! Trump wrote in another post. Silver Lining Despite the ridicule, DeSantis camp latched on to the positive fact that the technical problems appeared to be caused by the number of listeners attempting to tune in to DeSantis announcement. Just got off the phone with @elonmusk + @DavidSacks heard behind the scenes details from Twitter as they handled the nearly 1 million people trying to get into the Spaces room, DeSantis campaign manager Generra Peck wrote on Twitter following the interview. They had more than 700k in the room to start with hundreds of thousands trying to get inhad to relocate the room. Bryan Griffin, DeSantis press secretary, echoed that optimism, noting: There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet. Washington is next. $1 million raised online in one hour and counting! The governors official campaign launch follows months of speculation about whether he would enter the race, and if so, when. He enters a growing field of Republican hopefuls, though according to recent polling, the clear frontrunner in the race continues to be Trump, with DeSantis placing in a distant second. Currently, the declared Republican candidates include former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, conservative talk show host Larry Elder, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Others who have hinted at potential runs include former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu. Biden, meanwhile, will face challenges from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of President John F. Kennedy, and author and spiritual advisor Marianne Williamson. Over the past 75 years, the United Nations sent more than 2 million peacekeepers to help countries move away from conflict, with successes from Liberia to Cambodia and major failures in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Today, it faces new challenges in the dozen hotspots where U.N. peacekeeping has operations, including more violent environments, fake news campaigns and a divided world that is preventing its ultimate goal: successfully restoring stable governments. The organization is marking the 75th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping and observing the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Thursday. There will be a ceremony honoring the more than 4,200 peacekeepers who have died since 1948, when a historic decision was made by the U.N. Security Council to send military observers to the Middle East to supervise implementation of Israeli-Arab armistice agreements. The current commander of that mission, which became the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, will be at a Security Council meeting. In a message, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called peacekeepers the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world, pointing to their support for communities rocked by conflict and upheavals across the globe. U.N. peacekeeping operations have grown dramatically. At the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, there were 11,000 U.N. peacekeepers. By 2014, there were 130,000 in 16 far-flung peacekeeping operations. Today, 87,000 men and women serve in 12 conflict areas in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. There have been two kinds of successes, U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. Those are the long list of countries that have returned to a reasonable degree of stability with the support of U.N. peacekeeping, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Angola and Cambodia, and the countries where peacekeepers are not only monitoring but preserving cease-fires like in southern Lebanon and Cyprus. As for failures, he pointed to the failure of U.N. peacekeepers to prevent the 1994 Rwanda genocide that killed at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutus and the 1995 massacre of at least 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica during the war in Bosnia, Europes only acknowledged genocide since the Holocaust during World War II. The U.N.s reputation has also been tarnished by numerous allegations that peacekeepers charged with protecting civilians sexually abused women and children, including in Central African Republic and Congo. Another high-profile blunder was the cholera epidemic in Haiti that began in 2010 after U.N. peacekeepers introduced the bacteria into the countrys largest river by sewage runoff from their base. Despite that, Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Groups U.N. director, said U.N. peacekeeping has a surprisingly decent track record. While many people understandably focus on the Rwanda and Srebrenica disasters, he said, the U.N. has done a good job of tamping down crises, protecting civilians and rebuilding broken states in cases from the Suez crisis in the 1950s to Liberia in the 2000s. Looking ahead, the U.N.'s Lacroix said the major challenge peacekeeping is facing is the divided international community and especially divisions in the U.N. Security Council, which must approve its missions. The result of that is that were not able to achieve what I call the ultimate goal of peacekeeping to be deployed, support a political process that moves forward, and then gradually roll down when that political process is completed, he said. We cannot do that because peace processes are not moving, or theyre not going fast enough. The result is that we have to essentially be content with what I call the intermediate goal of peacekeeping preserving cease-fires, protecting civilians, we protect hundreds of thousands of them and doing our best, of course, to support political efforts wherever we can, the undersecretary-general for peace operations said. Lacroix pointed to other challenges peacekeepers are facing: The environment in which they are operating is more violent and dangerous and attacks are more sophisticated. Fake news and disinformation is a massive threat to the population and the peacekeepers. And old and new drivers of conflict including transnational criminal activities, trafficking, drugs, weapons, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the impact of climate change exacerbating competition between herders and farmers are also having an absolutely massive influence. The U.N. needs to better address all the challenges, he said. And it needs to keep improving the impact of peacekeeping and implement its initiatives on performance, combating fake news, improving safety and security, and recruiting more women to be peacekeepers. The Crisis Groups Gowan told AP its pretty clear that the U.N. is trapped in some countries like Mali and Congo where there arent enough peacekeepers to halt recurring cycles of violence. Some African governments, including Mali, are turning to private security providers like Russia's Wagner Group to fight insurgents, he said. I think we should be wary of dumping U.N. operations outright, Gowan said. We have learned the hard way in cases like Afghanistan that even heavily armed Western forces cannot impose peace. The U.N.s track record may not be perfect, but nobody else is much better at building stability in turbulent states. Search Keywords: Short link: Biden Picks Air Force Chief Charles Q. Brown as Top US General President Joe Biden shakes hands with Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. as he announces his intent to nominate him to serve as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during an event in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 25, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) President Joe Biden has picked U.S. Air Force Chief General Charles Quinton Brown to become the top U.S. military officer, elevating a former fighter pilot with experience in the Pacific at a time of rising tensions with China. Brown will be the second black officer to become chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after Colin Powell two decades ago. Biden on Wednesday announced his intent to nominate General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The move follows Bidens appointment of Lloyd Austin as the first black U.S. Secretary of Defensethe top civilian position at the Pentagon. According to a senior Biden administration official, Austin had recommended Brown for the position, as he believed Brown has a good understanding of the strategic challenges the United States faces around the world. He helped build and lead the air campaign against ISIS. He is deeply versed in the challenges posed by the PRC (Peoples Republic of China). And he has a strong understanding of our NATO allies perspectives and capabilities, the official said. Brown, a self-described introvert, will replace outgoing Trump appointee Army General Mark Milley, who has served since 2019 as the 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown was born in 1962 into a military family in San Antonio, Texas. He began his military career in the U.S. Air Force, and quickly rose to become fighter squadron commander. He clocked more than 2,900 flying hours, including 130 combat hours, and even earned a spot as an F-16 flight instructor at the Air Force Weapons Schoolan elite aerial fighting school similar to the Navys TOPGUN. In 2013, Brown was promoted to major general. Two years later, he was appointed to the United States Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT), tasked with overseeing coalition air operations against the ISIS terrorist group in the Middle East. From 2018 to 2020, Brown served as commander of the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific, which provided him with a good perspective on Chinas rapidly strengthening militaryan issue likely to loom large over his four-year term as chair. Heather Wilson, who was secretary of the Air Force at the time, praised Browns leadership style and experience in the Pacific. Hes thoughtful, respected by his peers and subordinates, and will provide steady leadership and good advice for the country, she said. His Senate confirmation vote was 98-0. Reuters contributed to this article. From NTD News Bravermans Small Boats Bill Sparks Backlash in Lords Bill received cross-party criticism with peers warning it would cause world 'humiliation' for UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman tours a building site on the outskirts of Kigali during her visit to Rwanda on March 18, 2023. (PA Media) The Home Secretarys Illegal Migration Bill received a rocky ride through the Lords as cross-party peers almost unanimously criticised the small boat cutting plans. Several voiced concern over how the UK would be viewed on the world stage, with one peer stating that Britain faced humiliation if the legislation goes through in its current form. Others argued the bill should be amended to enforce compliance with the UKs international obligations, such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and other treaties regarding refugees, anti-trafficking and childrens rights. Even if its legal, which I dont accept, it actually violates so many principles, that you have to say, how can we not be ashamed to let a bill like this go through? Green Party peer Baroness Jones said on Wednesday. And its all very well talking about legalities, but theres also such a thing as embarrassment and humiliation, particularly on the world stage, and I think thats what this bill offers it, as other noble lords have said. The Liberal-Democrats Baroness Ludford added: Now is precisely the moment for the UK to lead on the world stage in reinforcing basic human rights norms and international law, including the ECHR. Pushing this bill through this chamber when the government cannot confirm that in their view, multiple provisions in it are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, threatens our reputation as a country that upholds international law. Ludford also claimed the Illegal Migration Bill threatens could have an impact on business. She noted the Law Society has raised concerns about the damage non-compliance with our legal commitments could do to the UKs economic competitiveness by undermining the confidence of businesses looking to invest in the UK. The peer added that it also puts the UK on a collision course with the European Court of Justice, who will likely challenge the implementation of this law. Fails to Protect Children Suella Braverman previously said that she was unable to make a statement that the bills proposed provisions are compatible with the Convention rights amid warnings from human rights organisations. The home secretary later stated she was confident the legislation complies with both domestic and international law. Former Labour shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti highlighted the contradiction in Bravermans two comments. She also highlighted what she described as one of the strongest condemnations of a democratic and rights-respecting nation by a senior United Nations figure on the Home Office plans. In the words of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, it amounts to, an asylum banextinguishing the right to seek refugee protection in the United Kingdom for those who arrive irregularly, no matter how genuine and compelling their claim may be. Chakrabarti added: At the very least, the bill violates Articles 2, 3, 4 and 14 of the European Convention in failing to protect victims of torture and trafficking and those at risk of death, and in allowing the government to pick and choose which refugees from different countries it finds palatable from time to time. The bill fails to protect stateless people and children in the context of its provisions on removal, detention, accommodation and age assessment. Independent crossbench peer Baroness Meacher said the Illegal Migration Bill flies in the face of the Refugee Convention. While former top diplomat Lord Hannay of Chiswick compared Home Office minister Lord Murray of Blidworth to the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland, because in his comments that the bill does not contravene the Refugee Convention. Hes simply saying, its so because I say its so the crossbench, life peer said. The new Lord Speaker, Lord Norman Fowler, speaks in the House of Lords chamber during his first sitting in Parliament on September 5, 2016 in, London, England. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/WPA Pool/Getty Images) Public Gaslighting Douglas Hogg, viscount of Hailsham and a former Tory MP, also expressed his concern over the bills apparent distancing from the ECHR. He said that if the amendment to the legislation which seeks to enforce the UK to stick to its international human rights obligations is put forward, he would be voting in favour of it. He added, If the purpose test is designed to override convention rights, I shall vote against it if given the chance. However unaffiliated peer Baroness Fox said she believes international agreements are being used in a particular political way on this issue. The former Brexit Party MEP said: My concern is, how do we avoid ripping up Parliaments long-standing commitment to UK democracy if international treaties become a barrier to acting at the behest of the electorate? It is true that the UKs international reputation matters, of course, but I also think the parliamentary reputation matters at home as well to UK citizens. She added: Breaching promises to the British electorate are leading to a cynicism and a bitterness in the electorate and low turnout at the elections were an indication of the fact that many people feel politically homeless. She accused the Lords of being an echo chamber out of touch with the mood outside this House, asserting that, People feel they are being gaslit on the law. A group of people onboard a Border Force vessel and thought to be illegal immigrants are brought into Ramsgate, Kent, on Aug. 1, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA Media) Life and Death Addressing peers, LGBT rights activist Lord Cashman said he looked at the Illegal Migration Bill from a very personal perspective. I stand here as someone who, for most of my life, Ive faced discrimination and illegality, Cashman said. Why? Because the views of the majority were used against people like me having the equal protection of the law and freedom from discrimination. I believe it is incumbent on anyone in public life to challenge public opinion, to lead public opinion and have the courage to do the right thing for the long-term and never follow the short-term. The Stonewall founder, who is a Labour member said he was lucky to have been born in the UK, but added, I have to stand back and say, what if I hadnt been? What would I do to value my family, my life, my liberty? I would seek refuge, he said. To leave your home is not an easy option I say to the Government, dont represent it as a rush through Waitrose with a three-wheeled shopping trolly, its about life and death. A senior church leader, who fled revolutionary Iran, also challenged the bill in the chamber. Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt. Rev. Guli Francis-Dehqani, questioned if it was plausible to make the migration system thoroughly orderly and predictable. The Bishop also criticised Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick over his use of the offensive and disparaging term asylum shopping in relation to migrants as she urged more careful use of language. Speaking in the Lords, Francis-Dehqani said: The shorthand of safe and legal, which has become all too common, is misleading and it leads to scaremongering. I believe we should be much more careful about our use of language. The bill is set to go through another four committee stages at the House of Lords. Bud Light Boycott Has Cost Anheuser-Busch $15.7 Billion: Analysis A six pack of Bud Light sits on a shelf for sale at a convenience store in New York City on July 26, 2018. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) An analysis shows that the market value of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the maker of Bud Light and Budweiser, dropped more than $15 billion since April 1or the day that transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney pitched the Bud Light brand during an NCAA tournament. Citing S&P Global Market Intelligence, Investors Business Daily said in its report that Anheuser-Busch saw its market value drop by more than $15.7 billion since April 1, while other publicly traded beer brands have seen $3.2 billion added at the same time. Jared Dinges, an analyst at JPMorgan Chase wrote in a note to clients Tuesday, that Bud Light sales were down 23 percent as of the week ending May 6. And he wrote that in the near term, a number of American consumers wont drink the beer. We believe there is a subset of American consumers who will not drink a Bud Light for the foreseeable future, Dinges wrote, according to the report. We believe a 12 percent to 13 percent volume decline on an annualized basis would be a reasonable assumption. A Bud Light beer can with Mulvaneys face was made for the transgender activist and influencer, who posted the beer on TikTok and other social media platforms, triggering a widespread backlash sparked by multiple conservative influencers and musicians. Mulvaney, a biological male, also signaled a partnership with the brand, writing #budlightpartner in one of the posts, although the CEO of Anheuser-Busch, Michel Doukeris, told investors several weeks ago that there was no partnership and only one can was made with Mulvaneys face and wasnt for sale. Since March 31, or a day before the transgender influencer posted the Bud Light can, Anheuser-Busch InBevs stock has fallen 14 percent from its 52-week closing high. As of Thursday morning, the companys shares slid another 1.06 percent. Shares (Of Anheuser-Busch) have underperformed EU Beer peers by 15 percent since the start of April, Dinges noted. We believe this is due to U.S. uncertainty, as investor focus has shifted squarely to the potential impact from the Bud Light controversy. The Epoch Times has contacted Anheuser-Busch for comment regarding the analysis. Marketing Moves It came as sales of the light beer dropped 24.6 percent for the week that ended May 13 compared to a year ago, coming after the aforementioned 23.6 percent drop a week prior, according to data released by Bump Williams Consulting and Nielson IQ research. Rival beers made by Coors and Miller saw sales increases during the same timeframe, the data revealed. Marketers for Bud Light, meanwhile, have launched a campaign to provide rebates for customers for Memorial Day. Consumers can get up to $15 back on the digital rebate under the promotion, essentially giving a 15-pack of beer away. MAKE YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EASIER TO ENJOY. GET UP TO $15 BACK VIA REBATE, it says. At the same time, some local distributors have tried to get back Bud Light customers. In Alabama, Bama Budweiser distributor released an advertisement that attempted to distance Bud Light from Mulvaney. We too at Bama Budweiser are upset about it and have made our feelings known to the top leadership at Anheuser-Busch, Steve Tatum, with Bama Budweiser, said in a radio advertisement. The voice of the consumer has been heard, and Anheuser-Busch has taken action. The ad also said that Mulvaney is not under contract with Bud Light and that videos you may have seen are Mulvaneys own social media posts that went viral, and many web-based news outlets have distorted the story. It didnt elaborate on such distortions. You deserve to know the truth, and life is too short to let a couple of individuals decide what you can eat or drink or spend your hard-earned money on. And remember, making friends is our business, not enemies, the ad said. His advertisement echoed statements made by Doukeris, the Anheuser-Busch chief executive, to the Financial Times in which he said that misinformation and confusion are what triggered the boycott and decline in sales. But he stressed to investors that AB has only seen a 1 percent drop in its overall global volume. A shopper wheels a cart through the parking lot after making a purchase at the Target store in Salem, N.H., on Feb. 27, 2023. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo) Other Boycotts In recent weeks, other than Bud Light, several other major companies have come under fire for what critics say are attempts to pander to the LGBT crowd. This week, conservative influencers called for a boycott of Target after it debuted its latest line of pro-LGBT clothing, including items made for infants and small children. On social media, some prominent commentators called for consumers to give the Bud Light treatment to Target, which has faced boycotts in previous years for its decision to implement a transgender bathroom policy. I cannot state enough how important is for people to choose not to shop at target. There has never been a company that has been more pro-transgenderism than Target, wrote Daily Wire commentator Candace Owens this week. Target on Tuesday evening confirmed that it removed some of its Pride Month items and claimed that store employees are facing undisclosed threats. Canadas TV Broadcasting Industry Operating at Net Loss, Sinking Deeper: Stats Can The net financial loss in Canadas television broadcasting industry has more than doubled in a year, according to new information released by Statistics Canada. In 2022, the private television industry had a combined net loss of about $350 million after taxes, compared to about $160 million in 2021. Last years losses are more than five times its losses in 2020. The difficulties facing broadcasters as their audiences fragment and [as a result of] cord cutting has been discussed extensively, James Nadler, an associate professor of media production at Toronto Metropolitan University, said in an email to The Epoch Times. Cord cutting refers to viewers cancelling their subscriptions to multichannel cable or satellite television services. To make up for losses, Nadler said, Canadian broadcasters like Corus, Bell and Rogers generate income from other services they provide to consumers. That includes phone internet, and free ad-supported streaming television (FAST TV). The dip in profitability does not appear to have significantly affected the industrys staffing. The money spent on salaries and other staff benefits has risen, from about $450 million in 2020 to almost $500 million in 2022. Canadas private television industry employs about 4,700 Canadians. An earlier Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) report that looks at profitability up to 2021 gives further details. It shows a rise in government grants to private television, from about $500,000 in 2018 to approximately $5 million in 2020, dipping slightly to $4.5 million in 2021. CCP Wipes Hong Kong Off Earthquake Donor List Despite 3 Billion Aid On June 1, 2008, during the "Artistes 512 Fund Raising Campaign" in Hong Kong, Hong Kong entertainers raised funds for the victims of the Wenchuan county, Sichuan Earthquake.Antony Dickson/AFP In 2008, during the Sichuan catastrophic earthquake, Hong Kong donated 22 billion yuan (US$3 billion) to China. However, a recent donation ranking from the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) media eradicates Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan from the list. The 8.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the central region of Sichuan, China, with many aftershocks, tearing down 75 percent of building structures in the affected area. It also wiped out villages, mountains, towns, and schools. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan immediately poured in support and disaster relief funds for the people of Sichuan. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan donated about 22 billion yuan, 5 billion yuan, and 1.52 billion yuan to the Sichuan disaster relief. On July 1, 2017, the Peoples Daily, CCP medias overseas edition, published an article headlined, Hong Kong and the Mainland: Heart On Sleeve, Working Together In Stormy Weather. The report praised and acknowledged the donation from Hong Kong, which tops the highest donation ranking region worldwide. However, on May 12, 2023, CCP media Sina released a video ranking which country donated the most for the earthquake. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are left out. CCP Sent Pro-Democratic Donators To Jail Hong Kong ranks the highest donation to Sichuans earthquake; however, after the anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong, some pro-democratic donators were prosecuted by CCP. In 2008, the now-dissolved Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (the Alliance) raised HK$780,000 (US$100,000) at the annual June 4 Vigil and donated all proceeds to the earthquake-affected areas. However, leaders of the Alliance have been on trial for inciting subversion of state power under the Hong Kong National Security Law. On May 21, 2008, the now-defunct Apple Daily held a one-day charity sale to raise funds for Sichuan. Apple Dailys CEO Jimmy Lai is now charged with conspiring to collude with foreign forces. They are currently in jail, awaiting trial. CCP Repay with Military Intimidation to Taiwan Taiwan donated 1.52 billion yuan (US$200 million) to the Sichuan earthquake fund. However, CCP continues its military intimidation by increasing missile deployment to Taiwan, expanding military exercises against Taiwan, and sending military planes and warships circling in Taiwans air space. Blood Thicker Than Water Former TV host and political commentator Ng Chi-sum said that Hongkongers have the heart of blood is thicker than water, they are all patriots, and they had been supporting the mainland people over the years in hard times. But the CCP eradicates Hong Kong from history because of riots and protests for Hong Kongs independence. The regime wanted to paint a picture to mainland Chinese that Hongkongers never loved, or cared about the people of China, added Ng. The same goes for Taiwan. Ng said, Why would CCP highlight in its propaganda to mainland people that the Taiwanese care for China? China-Backed Hackers Targeting Critical US Infrastructure, Microsoft and Five Eyes Warn Microsoft notes hits on strategic Pacific island of Guam A man walks past a Microsoft sign outside a Microsoft office building in Beijing on July 31, 2014. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) A Chinese cyber espionage group has been targeting a wide range of networks across U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, from telecommunications to transportation hubs, since at least mid-2021, according to Microsoft and various cybersecurity agencies under the Five Eyes alliance. Microsoft announced on May 24 that the stealthy and targeted malicious activity is carried out by Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsored actor based in China that usually spies and gathers information on targets. The American multinational technology giant added that Volt Typhoon appears to intend to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible. The China-based hacking group is believed to be pursuing capabilities to disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises, according to Microsoft. Affected U.S. critical sectors include the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. It wasnt immediately clear how many networks have been affected. Military Risk This includes various networks in Guam in the western Pacific where the United States has a major military presence, Microsoft noted. These U.S. military facilities play a major role in responding to conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region. Guam also serves as a major communications center linking Asia and Australia to the United States, via submarine cables. Bart Hoggeveen, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the submarine cables made Guam a logical target for Chinas ruling communist party to seek intelligence. There is high vulnerability when cables land on shore, he said. Warning From Five Eyes Agencies U.S. and other intelligence partners noted in a joint cybersecurity advisory that they believe that Chinas Volt Typhoon campaign could target other critical infrastructures abroad. The agencies include the U.S. National Security Agency, the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK. For years, China has conducted aggressive cyber operations to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from organizations around the globe, CISA Director Jen Easterly said in an advisory warning. In the same warning, Bryan Vorndran, FBI cyber division assistant director, referred to the hacking as having used unacceptable tactics. It is vital that operators of critical national infrastructure take action to prevent attackers hiding on their systems, Paul Chichester, director of the UKs National Cyber Security Centre, said in the warning. Living Off the Land According to Microsoft, one of the main tactics Volt Typhoon is using is living off the land, which involves using various built-in Windows network administration tools against targets. This allows the cyber espionage group to evade detection because the hacking tools blend in with normal Windows system and network activity, and it doesnt trigger security alerts. Such techniques are harder to detect as they use capabilities already built into critical infrastructure environments, NSA cybersecurity director Rob Joyce said in the advisory warning. After it infects a targets existing systems, the hacking group conducts espionage and starts extracting data, Microsoft stated. Some of the built-in tools being used are WMIC, Ntdsutil, netsh, and PowerShell. The hackers gained initial access through internet-facing FortiGuard devices, which are engineered to use machine learning to detect malware, Microsoft said. Microsoft Customers Alerted Microsoft said it proactively contacted all targeted or compromised customers and provided them with information to secure their networks. Over at least the past decade, human rights groups have been warning U.S. companies such as Microsoft of potential national security risks associated with negotiating with the Chinese Communist Party to gain access to the Chinese market. A report by the group Victims of Communism in February 2022 warned that Google, GE, Intel, and Microsoft had potentially problematic linkages that may directly or indirectly support Chinas state surveillance, military modernization, and human rights violations. Meanwhile, Microsofts Bing has become Chinas leading desktop search engine, surpassing Baidu, according to recent statistical data from StatCounter. John Hultquist, chief analyst at Googles Mandiant cybersecurity intelligence operation, called Microsofts May 24 announcement potentially a really important finding. We dont see a lot of this sort of probing from China. Its rare, Hultquist said. We know a lot about Russian and North Korean and Iranian cyber-capabilities because they have regularly done this. He added that China has generally withheld use of the kinds of tools that could be used to seed not just intelligence-gathering capabilities, but also malware for disruptive attacks in an armed conflict. The Associated Press contributed to this report. China Includes Hong Kong in the Organ Transplant Network, Leading to Nearly 6,000 Hong Kong Citizens to Cancel Organ Donations Chief Executive Calls for Police Action Hong Kong citizen's cancellation of organ donation registration soars sharply after the Secretary of Health, Lo Chung-mau, expressed his willingness to integrate Hong Kong into the "China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS)" in an interview with the party media Xinhua News Agency. (The Epoch Times) As China and Hong Kong actively explore establishing a permanent organ transplantation cooperation mechanism, nearly 6,000 Hong Kong citizens canceled organ donations from December 2022 to April 2023, much more than before. In December last year, the Secretary of Health, Lo Chung-mau, expressed his hope to integrate Hong Kong hospitals into the mainlands China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS) in an interview with the party media Xinhua News Agency. Citizens canceling organ donation registrations stems from a lack of trust and suspicion towards Beijing. The source of organ transplantation in China has always been controversial, and international calls have been made to boycott CCPs organ whitewashing. The medical community and patient groups in Hong Kong also express distrust and concern regarding this issue. In December 2022, following the completion of the first organ transplant from China for a 4-month-old baby girl in Hong Kong on a special case basis, the Secretary for Health, Mr. Lo Chung-mau, has been pushing for Hong Kong to be included in the China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS). In mid-March, Lo visited the China Organ Transplantation Development Foundation in Beijing to discuss establishing a regular organ transplant collaboration mechanism with China. On May 20, the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr. Tony Ko Pat-sing, led a delegation of organ transplantation experts from Hong Kong to Guangdong Province to engage in discussions with mainland experts on organ donation, allocation, transplantation, and related systems and mechanisms, to explore the establishment of a permanent organ transplantation assistance mechanism with the mainland. Cancellation of Organ Donations by Nearly 6,000 Hong Kong Citizens The Department of Health stated on May 22 that they had noticed an unusual situation in the recent cancellations on the main register website. From December 2022 to April 2023, there were 5,785 cancellation requests, significantly higher than previous numbers. Moreover, more than half of these cancellations (2,905) were invalid applications from individuals who had never registered but applied for withdrawal or repeated cancellations. The Chief Executive, John Lee, met with reporters before attending the Executive Council meeting on May 23. He said he noticed the recent cancellation of organ donation registrations is unusual. More than half are never registered, which he described as suspicious and behavior disrupting organ donation system, and said severe condemnation and asked the police to investigate. Historian Hans Yeung Wing Yu said the incident showed that the government has made a low-level IT mistake. The organ donation system should have an instant check function so that people know immediately when they apply for cancellation whether they have registered or been canceled. Whose fault is it that the system does not have such a function? He also thinks that the government has not condemned the drop in blood donations or flag sales in Hong Kong but has strongly condemned the significant cancellation of organ donation registration in the context of resource sharing of organ transplants between China and Hong Kong. Does the Hong Kong government imply that the Mainland needs the organs of Hong Kong people more than Hong Kong needs the organs of the Mainland? The governments condemnation didnt pay attention to the other half of the 6000they effectively canceled organ donation registrations. The number of Hong Kongers registered for organ donation in 2022 hit a record low in the past eight years. In April 2023, documents disclosed by the Legislative Council Finance Committee revealed that the number of organ donation registrations in Hong Kong in 2022 was only 12,500. The number of organ donation registrations in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2022. (The Epoch Times) Alex Lam Chi-yau, chairman of Hong Kong Patients Voices, expressed multiple concerns about the organ transplantation assistance mechanism between Hong Kong and mainland China. These concerns include the possibility of donors being unwilling to send organs to mainland China, leading them to withdraw their organ donation registrations. He also questioned how extra organs could be available and sent to Hong Kong, considering mainland Chinas significant organ transplantation demand. In an interview with Radio Free Asia, a former Hong Kong doctor, Dr. Lee, expressed his distrust of Chinas organ donation system. He said his concerns that once Hong Kong is integrated with the mainland, illicit organ trade from China may move to Hong Kong, making Hong Kong participate in an axis of evil. Furthermore, the Hong Kong government claims the COTRS has received high recognition from the World Health Organization and the World Transplantation Society. The data from COTRS has been questioned. Researchers, including Matthew Robertson, a doctoral student at the Australian National University, published a paper in the professional medical journal BMC Medical Ethics, analyzing official data on voluntary organ transplantation in China from 2010 to 2018 using statistical methods. The researchers found that the COTRS data almost fit a simple quadratic equation each year, suggesting that the data were manipulated manually. International Call to Boycott CCPs Organ Whitewashing Regarding the ongoing collaboration in organ transplantation between Hong Kong and mainland China, Dr. Jacob Lavee, former chairman of the Israeli Transplantation Society and a renowned Israeli heart transplant surgeon, expressed concerns to Epoch Times. He stated, This may drag Hong Kong into a situation where organs obtained through live organ harvesting are being used. Such actions are bound to provoke international resistance, which will undoubtedly lead to the expansion of academic boycotts, including those from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Currently, this boycott targets organ transplant doctors from mainland China but would equally apply to their colleagues from Hong Kong. He further suggested that Western countries should unite their diplomatic and economic efforts to combat these atrocities (live organ harvesting) and end Hong Kongs use of harvested human organs. Dr. Jacob Lavee is a member of the Ethics Committee of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT). In 2022, the ISHLT issued a statement prohibiting the publication of any research papers on organ transplantation from China. Former Deputy Minister of Health of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Huang Jiefu, who international organizations accused in January 2023 of involvement in live organ harvesting, proposed exporting organs to Hong Kong and Macau and promoting the so-called mainland and Taiwan organ sharing mechanism, connecting countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. Chairperson of the Universal Declaration on Combating and Preventing Forced Organ Harvesting, Teresa Chu, called on the world to resist the CCPs organ whitewashing, organ warfare, and organ diplomacy. She stated, Through this organ sharing mechanism, they want to whitewash these stolen, forcibly harvested, live-harvested organs. This is not humanitarian cooperation. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan governments should resist and reject this organ-sharing mechanism.' Overwhelming Evidence of CCPs Live Organ Harvesting Crimes Since the exposure of the CCPs organ-harvesting atrocities in 2006, numerous international investigations have confirmed the existence of these practices. Prominent human rights lawyer David Matas, in an interview with Epoch Times senior editor Jan Jekielek, stated, The problem is not a lack of evidence but rather an excess of it. Matas served as a joint investigator and co-author of the reports Revised Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China and an updated version of Bloody Harvest, The Killing of Falun Gong for their organs, released in 2006 and 2016, respectively. These reports confirmed the large-scale live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners by the CCP. On March 27, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023. The bill is awaiting approval by the U.S. Senate and the Presidents signature to become effective. China Refusing Talks With US Military at Every Level: Pentagon Official Assistant Defense Secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs Ely Ratner speaks during a hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Chinas communist regime is refusing communications with the U.S. military at every level, according to a Pentagon official. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules China as a single-party state, has refused numerous requests for meetings with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, several regional commanders, and civilian Department of Defense employees, according to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner. Weve had a lot of difficulty, Ratner said during a May 25 talk with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. We have repeatedly had those requests rejected or not answered. The CCP has stymied efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the two militaries for multiple years now, most recently refusing to even acknowledge a request by Austin to meet with his Chinese counterpart at the upcoming Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual international security summit in Singapore. That request has not been answered one way or another, Ratner said. Frankly, the ball is in their court at this point. Communication Vital to Preventing Taiwan War Ratner said that maintaining open lines of communication between the two militaries, whose forces frequently have tense encounters in the Indo-Pacific region, was paramount to ensuring peace and stability. CCP leadership, he said, should not wait for a major crisis to occur before pursuing dialogue with the United States. Despite his hope for renewed military-to-military communication with China, however, Ratner acknowledged that the regime was doubling down on its aggressive military modernization program and increasingly pushing the envelope with its effort to intimidate democratic Taiwan. To prevent a catastrophic miscommunication and, possibly, war, Ratner said the regime would need to come to the table and talk. We see [Chinese] military modernization and increasing assertiveness and coercion, Ratner said. Building and maintaining open lines of communication with [China] are an important part of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, so this is not all about just U.S. defense and its allies and partners. US and Allies Increasing Coordination on China Ratner said the United States was doing what it could to mitigate the threat posed by the CCP. The United States, he said, was working with its allies and partners throughout the region with increasing effectiveness and reaching a historic moment of strategic alignment on the issue of China. Deputy Secretary of Defense Siddharth Mohandas, who also spoke at the event, said that increasing the interoperability of U.S. forces with those of allies like Japan and Australia would help to deter China from launching a war of aggression against Taiwan even if the regime continues to stonewall calls for talks. We want to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, and we believe we can do that by modernizing these alliances, by creating more capable allies, Mohandas said. Fundamentally, we are seeking to modernize each of these alliances to improve and strengthen deterrence That involves investing in capabilities that we think are most relevant to deterrence. China to Undermine US-Marshall Islands Alliance if US Fumbles Military Deal Renewal: Indo-Pacific Expert U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L), Federated States of Micronesia President David Panuelo, and Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine (R) hold a news conference after their meetings in Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia, on Aug. 5, 2019. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) As the Marshall Islands is yet to renew its military contract with the United States, Chinas communist regime is striving to undermine the bilateral relationshipand could succeed if the U.S. fails to properly handle its alliance with the Pacific country, according to Indo-Pacific expert Cleo Paskal. Paskal, who is also an associate fellow of the Asia-Pacific program at Chatham House, pointed out that at least 67 nuclear tests were carried out by the United States on the archipelago between 1946 and 1958. According to experts in the field of radiation, the powerful tests that rocked the sparsely populated Marshall Islands were the rough equivalent of 1.7 Hiroshima-sized bombs being detonated per day for 12 years. The Marshall Islands and its inhabitants have been ravaged by the fallout from the blasts for decades. Communities have been relocated, cancer rates have soared, and some islands remain uninhabitable. At one site on Runit Island, a deteriorating concrete dome leaks nuclear waste into the groundwater, causing potential environmental damage that the U.S. government is still working to assess. The United States spends about $70 million annually in various forms on the Marshall Islands in exchange for exclusive access to lands and waterways for national security purposes, but Marshallese leaders and others say that isnt nearly enough to help islanders recover from the devastating effects of nuclear radiation and other environmental damage. They say that local negotiators who struck earlier dealsincluding a $150-million settlement in 1986 in exchange for forfeiting rights to sue the U.S. governmentdidnt realize that the aftereffects of the nuclear testing would persist for many more decades. The Marshalls have a moral case of 67 nuclear tests that were done in the Marshall Islands under U.S. administration thats never been apologized for. So the political warfare leverage that malign influence can use around that is quite high, Paskal told China in Focus on NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times. These relationships really need to be delicately, respectfully, diligently, and effectively managed, because they are being taken for granted at the moment. And theres active political warfare on the part of China to try to render them inoperable, she added. Block free movement Under the Compact of Free Association (COFA) established in the 1980s, the United States is obligated to provide economic aid to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in exchange for permission to operate defense bases there. These three Pacific nations are referred to as the Freely Associated States (FAS). The agreement allows these states access to U.S. domestic economic programs, and the United States to maintain defense bases in these nations. The citizens of the FAS are also allowed to serve in the U.S. Army. The United States has reportedly renewed its agreements with the FSM and Palau. The failure to secure a deal with the Marshall islands could block the free movement of the United States in the region, according to Paskal. And theres the potential for a real shift in the ability to rely on the Compact of Free Association to ensure U.S. freedom of movement across the region, which is what actually underpins a free and open Indo-Pacific, said Paskal. It could also impact badly on trade routes in the region, according to the analyst. Once China has control over the trade routes you cant get your goods in and out, they control who you can trade with, she said. Theres a reason why a free and open Indo-Pacific is important. Undermining Democracy Paskal referred to a report by The Sunday Guardian on how Beijing bought over the Solomon Islands members of Parliament. The Solomon Islands suspended all naval visits for U.S. ships in 2022 after distancing itself from the United States and signing a security pact with China. Members of Parliament there also voted to amend the constitution to extend the governments term and avoid an election. Beijing is alleged to have offered up to $615,000 per MP to vote for the changeover, and documents show that $200,000 embassy payments were made to 39 pro-Beijing members of parliamentthe amount required to amend the constitution. So in the case of Solomon Islands, Chinese money has been used to buy off 39 out of the 50 members of Parliament, which was enough to change the constitution to delay elections, she said. In her opinion, the ultimate goal of Chinas communist regime is to destroy democracy in the region. The goal is to create vassal states, and you dont have functioning democracies as vassal states, she said. China and its proxies are getting away with it, and so China can turn to the next country and say to that proto-authoritarian leader, Look, we got rid of the opposition on the Solomonswe can do that for you too. Just give us what we want in terms of access to your country from a security, and fishing, and other resources capacity, Paskal said. Ken Silva, Aldgra Fredly and Rebecca Zhu contributed to this report. Citizen Group Raises Concern About Johnstons Adviser Being a Liberal Party Donor David Johnston, Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference, presents his first report in Ottawa on May 23, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) A citizen group is raising concern that special rapporteur David Johnstons key advisor appears to have donated over $7,500 to the Liberal Party of Canada. Democracy Watch wrote in a press release on May 24 that while searching Elections Canadas database, it found that Johnstons advisor Sheila Block seems to have donated a total of $7,593.38 (listed under Sheila Block and Sheila R. Block) to only the Liberal Party of Canada from 2006 to 2022. A search on the website of Elections Canada shows a person named Sheila Block donated to the Liberal Party between 2006 and 2022. The group said Block did not appear to have donated to any other party. Block is a senior trial and appellate counsel with the law firm Torys LLP. Johnston said on May 23 in his first report since being appointed as special rapporteur that he retained Block after accepting the role in March to assist him in conducting interviews and obtaining, reviewing, and analyzing the materials that he expected to receive in carrying out his investigation into foreign interference in Canadas 2019 and 2021 general elections. Blocks donations to the Liberal Party appear to mostly have come in 2006, in which year she donated $3,800 to the federal party. Block appears to have made her most recent donation to the party in October 2022 in the amount of $442.20. Prior to that, Block seems to have made two donations each worth $500 in March 2021. The Epoch Times contacted Block for comment on the matter but did not hear back before press time. Conflict of Interest Complaint On May 23, Democracy Watch also announced that it would be filing a complaint with the federal ethics commissioners office, alleging that Johnston is violating the Conflict of Interest Act in carrying out his appointed special rapporteur role because of his previous connections to Prime Minister Trudeaus family. Johnston said on the same day while speaking to reporters in Ottawa that former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci told him prior to his acceptance of the position that there was no conflict of interest in the matter. I have no doubt whatsoever that I had any conflict of interest and no doubt at allspeaking myselfabout my impartiality, Johnston said. The special rapporteur and former governor general said that a public inquiry into foreign election interference shouldnt be held because the classified information informing the matter cannot be publicly revealed. All federal opposition leaders criticized Johnstons decision, while Trudeau welcomed it and said he has total confidence in Johnstons work. I committed to listening very carefully and abiding by the recommendations that the former governor general made, and he explained and justified his thought processes by it and we will be following his recommendations, Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa, on May 23. Matthew Horwood contributed to this report. The founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia was handed an 18-year prison sentence Thursday for seditious conspiracy in the 2021 attack on the US Capitol, the toughest penalty given yet over the January 6 assault. Stewart Rhodes was one of more than 1,000 people charged over the attack, which, encouraged by then-president Donald Trump, aimed to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden as the winner of the November 2020 election. "Seditious conspiracy is among the most serious crimes an American can commit," said Judge Amit Mehta in pronouncing the sentence. "You present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country," Mehta told Rhodes, who led the Oath Keepers and organized their participation, with a stockpile of arms, in the attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters. "You are smart, charismatic and compelling and that is frankly what makes you dangerous," Mehta said -- rejecting Rhodes' claim that he was a "political prisoner." The sentence fell short of the 25 years the government had sought, although Mehta accepted the argument that the Oath Keepers' plan to violently block Biden from becoming president amounted to terrorism. Just ahead of the sentence, Rhodes, wearing an eye patch and dressed in his orange prison jumpsuit, defiantly defended his group and their actions in support of Trump. "My only crime is opposing those destroying our country," he declared, comparing himself to the famed Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. - Blame Trump - But his group's stockpiling weapons just outside the city and wearing combat-style gear in an organized push into the building showed a level of planning and preparation for violence not present with many of the others in the crowd. Rhodes, 57, and Kelly Meggs, 53, leader of the Oath Keepers' Florida chapter, were convicted by a Washington jury in November of the rarely pursued charge of seditious conspiracy -- plotting to overthrow the government or unlawfully opposing its authority. In the same trial, three other Oath Keepers were convicted of obstructing an official proceeding, as the rioters shut down the Congress and sent lawmakers and vice president Mike Pence fleeing to safety. During the trial, prosecutors said the Oath Keepers "concocted a plan for an armed rebellion... plotting to oppose by force the government of the United States." Rhodes' attorneys argued that he himself never entered the Capitol building and that he did not support others doing so. But Mehta rejected that as mitigating the sentence. Rhodes was unequivocally the leader of the group and summoned them to Washington with a cache of arms for the violent assault, Mehta said. "Stewart Rodes is a Yale Law grad and a pretty smart guy," the judge said. "He was the one giving the orders... They were there because of him." Rhodes' attorney Phillip Linder however said he should not be held responsible for the Capitol attack and pointed his finger at Trump. "I think what happened on January 6 was deplorable," Linder told the court. But Rhodes did not plan the uprising, he insisted. "We need to look at what caused this... Who got the Million Maga rally started?... Who got January 6 started?" Linder said. "He's not the one that started that rhetoric that got the people ginned up." Search Keywords: Short link: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre Endorses Danielle Smith for Next Alberta Premier Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has endorsed Alberta United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith in the provincial election, which will take place May 29. On May 25, just five days ahead of the election, Poilievre said in a video, Lets cut through the noise on the choice between the NDPs Rachel Notley and Conservative Danielle Smith. Poilievre told Albertans to vote for Alberta. Vote Conservative. Conservatives will fight the carbon tax, stand up for Alberta and its energy sector and unleash the full potential of our Alberta economy in order to grow and prosper in the future. That means more money for schools and hospitals, Poilievre said. Alberta Premier and UCP Leader Danielle Smith (L) and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre. (The Canadian Press) Notley will work for Trudeau and Singh, the NDP-Liberal coalition bosses in Ottawa, he said. The message follows an April 18 video from former Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking Albertans to vote Conservative. He recorded a video message that was sent to Alberta voters by text message that said the Alberta economy was finally hitting its stride again. And employment is booming. Harper warned that this could all be derailed if the Notley NDP wins. It took years to recover from the last NDP government. We cant risk going backwards again. Vote for Alberta. Vote Conservative, said Harper. In response to Poilievres message, Smith said on March 25 that a UCP government will move Albertaand Canadaforward, while the New Democrat Party will take us backwards. On May 24, Smith announced her first act as reelected premier would be to pass an Alberta taxpayers protection act to prevent future governments from raising personal or corporate income taxes without a referendum. The UCP leader also said the party will continue to fight against Ottawas carbon tax. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a file photo. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) Other Endorsements Another high-profile Albertan endorsed Smith and the UCP on May 22. Ted Morton, former Alberta finance minister and energy minister, elected in 1998 as a senator-in-waiting, penned a column in the Western Standard stating that Smith committed to reforms that he had been advocating in favour of for 20 years. Morton said he supported Smith who had been part of the long march from the beginning. We have a new leader and a new premierDanielle Smithwho is committed to these reforms. And we need them just as badly now as we did then, wrote Morton. The NDP has also received support. Former MLAs Doug Griffiths and Thomas Lukaszuk, who sat with Progressive Conservative caucuses in the past, have come forward with endorsements for NDP candidates. A former Alberta attorney general and cabinet minister from the 1970s, Jim Foster, also said on May 23 that he was endorsing the NDP. Foster was an Alberta court judge from 1991 until 2012. The NDP did not respond to requests for comment from The Epoch Times. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Cory Morgan: Weakening Canada Day Celebrations Follows the Playbook of Oppressive Regimes A heavy police presence is seen in Ottawa, Ont., as people headed to the national capital to mark Canada Day on July 1, 2022. A massive rally was held at the Parliament Hill that day following a parade the city's downtown to pretest the federal COVID-19 mandates. (Limin Zhou/The Epoch Times) Commentary Authoritarians in Canada are embracing the tactic of banning celebrations and Canada Day is their prime target following fresh announcements from some cities saying they will cancel or modify traditional July 1 celebrations again this year. A demoralized citizenry is easier for authoritarians to control than a prideful and happy populace. Totalitarian regimes have a long history of banning celebrations and social gatherings in order to keep citizen morale low and subservience to the state high. Years of pandemic lockdowns demonstrated to authoritarians just how willing citizens could be to give up social gatherings and celebrations when dictated to by the state. Most people look back upon the introverted, fearful years of the pandemic with sadness. Graduations, weddings, and even funerals were cancelled or deferred while gatherings of more than a handful of people for events such as Christmas or Thanksgiving were literally illegalized. It was a miserable period for most people, but it was exhilarating for bureaucrats and politicians experiencing the thrill of controlling others. Many authoritarians yearn for those days and they are hard at work trying to replicate them through the cancellation of celebrations. A hallmark of oppressive regimes is the suppression of celebrations and happiness. Iran keeps its population divided, frightened, and unhappy through stringent laws against demonstrations of joy. In 2014, people identified in a video dancing to the song Happy were sentenced to up to a year in prison and 91 lashes. More recently, five Iranian girls were detained for dancing to a Selina Gomez song in a video. Demonstrations of joy or unity are literally illegalized. It isnt just that authorities despise happiness, they recognize that a happy population that socializes may start to question the regime. A fearful one that keeps to itself will not cause trouble. During the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and the 1970s, the Chinese Communist Party set out to eradicate the Four Olds: old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits. The idea was to bring Chinas culture under the full control of the Communist Party. Canada Day as the name suggests is a celebration of Canada as a country. The celebration began as Dominion Day in 1867 and was changed to Canada Day in 1982 after the patriation of the Constitution. It is traditionally a day of light, family celebrations; of living in one of the most free and prosperous nations on earth. Cities and towns host gatherings, picnics, and parties across the country and citizens spend a day simply enjoying each other and being happy. Things changed in the spring of 2021. Anomalies were found using ground penetrating radar on the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. that many believed indicated the graves of children who had attended the school. The nation and the world were shocked. Prime Minister Trudeau made the unprecedented move of lowing the Canadian flag for six months while citizens were chided for the sins of their forefathers. Between the pandemic and attitudes of national shame, Canada Day celebrations in 2021 were muted if they were held at all. No bodies have been found at the school site to date and no excavations have been performed on any of the sites. Opponents of Canadian pride and happiness saw their chance and they pounced. It isnt enough to cancel Canada Day for one year. Canada Day celebrations must be halted across the nation in perpetuity. While the holiday itself will remain, Canadas progressive left wants it to morph into a day of shameful introspection and mourning. They feel Canada is a loathsome genocidal state and citizens should use Canada Day as a time to hang their heads in collective shame as an atonement for the actions of past generations. Fireworks indicate joy and celebration and thus are a target. In Canadas major cities, fireworks have been a part of Canada Day celebrations for decades. Families gather by the thousands to observe them. Yet they have been cancelled in Vancouver, while Calgarys woke city hall came very close to cancelling them for cultural sensitivities. While citizens of indigenous and Chinese descent are ostensibly the aggrieved parties, the opposition to the fireworks isnt coming from them. Its senior bureaucrats and politicians who take issue with the celebration. When citizens pushed back against the cancellation, Calgary city councilor Kourtney Penner said to reverse the decision would be upholding colonialism and racism. New days of observation focused on guilt and negativity are being created and pushed from Red Dress Day to Orange Shirt Day to Truth and Reconciliation Day. Canadas federation is fragile. Independence movements exist in both Quebec and the West. Either could blossom into larger movements quickly and eroding national pride through canceling Canada Day erodes the thin fabric uniting the nation. Authoritarians may be fomenting revolution rather than expanding control with their efforts to cancel national pride and joy. If demonstrations of national pride are banned, what is the point of being in the nation? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Covenant School, Church Allowed to Intervene in Public Records Lawsuits Seeking Shooters Writings Police department files list of additional exemptions they argue allows them to deny record requests, which the school supports The flag atop the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville flew at half-staff on March 29, 2023, two days after six were killed at The Covenant School in a shooting. (Chase Smith/The Epoch Times) The Covenant School, and its parent organization Covenant Presbyterian Church, will be allowed to argue their interest in whether or not the school shooters writings will be released to the public, as Chancellor IAesha Myles ruled for them to become third-party interveners in the public records case on May 24. In her order on Wednesday evening, Myles said that arguments presented in the court on Monday impacted her decision. Then, the Covenant school and church argued that release of the documents could have a negative impact on the school and churchs security moving forward, as well as risking the release of private information that would cause harm. [The Church and the School] demonstrated during oral argument that the documents and materials collected by [the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department] during its purportedly ongoing criminal investigation contain materials created by the Church and the School that would normally be kept private, Myles wrote. Therefore, the Court will allow the Church and School to intervene in this matter and to provide a brief that sets forth their claims and/or defenses regarding the matters pending before the Court. Myles added, Both the Church and the School have asserted that should those documents and materials be released to the Petitioners, they would sustain a palpable and distinct injury as a result of public access to their private documents Attorneys for the petitionerswhich includes Tennessee residents, The National Police Association, the Tennessee Firearms Association, a former Tennessee sheriff, the Tennessean newspaper, and a state senator acting in his personal capacitymade various arguments against the intervention on Monday. The petitioners are suing the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) for their denial of public records requests under the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA) related to shooter Audrey Hales writings. The parties sued the department in separate cases that have been merged into one, as they all had similar interests in getting the documents under the TPRA, after all being denied under a rule cited by MNPD, which alleged that the documents were exempt from public disclosure due to an ongoing investigation. Police Provide New List of Exemptions Myles ruled that MNPD could present and argue additional exemptions not previously cited to petitioners in their denial of public records requests, and submit a list of new exemptions on Wednesday evening. Although MNPD used Rule 16 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure in their denial of public records request, including in their denial letter to an Epoch Times reporter based in Tennessee, the chancellor did not limit them to submitting additional possible exemptions at Mondays hearing. The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., in April 2019. (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) On Wednesday afternoon, Myles issued an order requiring MNPD to file a list setting forth all exemptions to the TPRA and any other legal authority it will raise at a June 8 hearing as support for limiting the public release of the records requested by petitioners. She issued the oral ruling on Monday, adding in the written order that the list is due no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 24. Attorneys for the petitioners on Monday argued that MNPD should not be allowed to claim new exemptions as reason for denying the TPRA requests, stating in their opinion that MNPD should only be allowed to argue the Rule 16 exemption cited in their denial letters. New Exemptions to be Argued MNPD plans to add additional exemptions after their original denial citing only Rule 16. They will still argue the records are exempt under Rule 16 but add five total exemptions, starting with Rule 16. Exemption two cites Tennessee Code that states, No governmental entity shall publicly disclose personally identifying information of any citizen of the state. Exemption three cites Tennessee Code stating, Information, records, and plans that are related to school security, the district-wide school safety plans or the building-level school safety plans shall not be open to public inspection. The fourth exemption concerns minor victims, and treating their information as confidential and not open for inspection by the public. The last exemption is a Tennessee law that states medical records of deceased persons, law enforcement investigative reports, photographs, video and other images of deceased people shall not be public records. The petitioners have not yet filed response to the rulings but should be expected to do so in the coming days. Mondays Hearing: Victims Rights In the hearing on Monday, attorneys argued that intervention should be granted owing to victims rights, while opposing attorneys lodged complaints of government suppression, violations of First Amendment rights, and violations of the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA). The attorney for the parents of Covenant School students, Eric Osborne, argued that victims rights under the Tennessee Constitution allow the nearly 100 families seeking his firms help to intervene. He argued that the surviving children, represented by their parents, were all victims of attempted murder. Osborne also said it was the belief of parents that Hales writings could inspire copycat attacks or even a repeat attack on the school. Robb Harvey, an attorney representing the Tennessean newspaper and state senator, said the denial and ensuing decision on whether the parties may intervene amounted to a chilling of First Amendment rights. He stated it was his belief that the parents and families of the people who were killed [are] not victims of a crime, so victims rights shouldnt come into play. He added the victims were murdered. On Wednesday morning, Lt. Brent Gibson, who is in charge of the Covenant investigation, filed a declaration letter to the court stating he believes that all those present at the school were victims. He added he believes the school and church were victimized as well, due to extensive damage, as were the officers who were fired at. Arguments to Intervene Attorneys for The Covenant School and Covenant Presbyterian Church had similar arguments in their motion to intervene, citing state law that exempts information related to school security plans from public inspection. Exempt from release for public inspection under the TPRA are information, records, and plans that are related to school security, the district-wide school safety plans or the building-level school safety plans. Nashville Police Department officers rush towards a shooter in The Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tenn., on March 27, 2023. (Nashville Police Department via The Epoch Times) In their court petition to intervene, attorneys for The Covenant School argue that release of the documents may impair or impede its ability to protect its interests and the privacy of its employees and students [and] could cause security and safety issues for the school, its employees and students. Of this, Harvey argued that the policy on exemptions for school safety only applies to public schools and not private schools. Attorney Insinuations Douglas Pierce, attorney for the National Police Association and Tennessee resident Clata Brewer, insinuated MNPD may have already made their Rule 16 argument moot because parents already seem to know whats in the writings they are trying to prevent release of. I want to point out what document were talking about here, because thats very critical, he said on Monday. The document we are talking about was not a document that ever belonged to any of these alleged interveners, it is not a document that they ever created. This is some third party document, but you do get the distinct impression from what has been filed they all know what is in that document. He added his belief is that the writings had been made available to [parents] either overtly or just told whats in it, which is not what the rest of the public has had access to. DeSantis 2024 Launch on Twitter Rocked by Tech Issues In this photo illustration, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joins Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces to formally announce his run for the Republican nomination for president, in Chicago on May 24, 2023. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Competitors of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in the 2024 presidential election reveled in the technical difficulties that tarnished his official announcement using Twitter Spaces on May 24, just after his official entry into the presidential race, while the DeSantis campaign boasted about the unprecedented scale of the launch with Twitter owner Elon Musk. DeSantis, who formally entered the GOP primary contest on Wednesday, was scheduled to speak with Musk via the audio-only Twitter Spaces chatroom feature. Following a false start, where Musk attempted to launch the space that crashed numerous times, Musk, DeSantis, and host David Sacks launched their conversation about 20 minutes later about the governors 2024 presidential campaign. Over 600,000 listeners attempted to tune in but the audio kept cutting out and technical difficulties overshadowed the launch. It seems we broke the internet with so much excitement, the Team DeSantis Twitter page posted, encouraging voters to donate while youre waiting. Musk attributed the technical problems with scaling issues related specifically to his account, on which they first attempted to host the conversation. The second space paired down significantly, with around 300,000 listeners without further serious issues. Rival campaigns were quick to mock DeSantis difficulties, including former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who weighed in on Truth Social saying, Is the DeSantis launch FATAL? Yes! This came just after Trump said in an earlier post, The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., lashed out at the candidate several times, starting off his comments with the simple hashtag #DeSaster. National Pulse Editor in Chief Raheem Kassam said in a sarcastic Twitter post, You cant look short and awkward on Twitter Spaces. Except somehow, DeSantis still managed. Republican Candidate for President Steve Laffey lashed out in a press release sent to The Epoch Times saying, Gov. DeSantiss botched campaign announcement on Twitter Spaces is a perfect metaphor for his campaign and policies. Its only fitting that the candidate thats all smoke and mirrorswho hides behind his anti-woke agendawould start with continued silence, in the form of dead air. Even the cable networks cut away from the announcement because it was so hard to watch. DeSantis filed documentation with the Federal Elections Commission for a 2024 run for president on May 24, hours before his planned Twitter Spaces launch with the sites owner, Elon Musk. DeSantis enters this contest as the probable most formidable Republican primary opponent to former President Donald Trump, who had also been relentless in his opposition to a DeSantis ticket prior to the launch. Other declared Republican contenders include South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, conservative talk show host Larry Elder, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who announced his bid on May 22. DeSantiss platform thus far is focused on being a blue-collared kid from Tampa Bay, Florida, saying that he plans to make as many changes if he wins the presidency as he has as governor of Florida. DeSantis noted that when he won his governorship that he didnt know who would succeed him in office, but, they are not going to have anything to do because Im getting all the meat off the bone. Near the end of the conversation, Sacks said that while they started with some technical issues because of the sheer scale of and unprecedented nature of what were doing, it was not how you start, its how you finish, and I think this finished really strong. DeSantis Explains Why He Chose Twitter to Announce 2024 Run Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis explained why he chose Twitter as the platform for the announcement of his presidential candidacy, saying that his approach to dealing with COVID-19 led him to make decisions based on data rather than following the crowd. His decision to use the tech platform, however, was not without hiccups. The Twitter Spaces discussion hosted by CEO Elon Musk crashed for about 20 minutes, with the platform unable to handle the more than 600,000 listeners tuning in. Musk later attributed the glitches to scaling issues tied to his account. After the event finally got up and running, the governor touted the platform as a bastion for free speech, the importance of which was made prominent during the pandemic. If we cant have an honest debate in a free country about issues that affect hundreds of millions of people, like lockdowns, then what good is the first amendment at that point? DeSantis said about the censorship of some viewpoints on social media and legacy media. Those are precisely the times when we needed to have debate be robust. DeSantis applauded Musks acquisition of Twitter, telling the CEO, I think you recognize that you cant have a free society unless we have the freedom to debate the most important issues that are affecting our civilization. The truth was censored repeatedly. And now that Twitter is in the hands of a free speech advocate, [the censorship] would not be able to happen again on this Twitter platform. Musk responded to DeSantis comments saying his platform is absolutely committed to free speech and a level playing field and just a vigorous debate. DeSantis went on to congratulate Musk on the changes on the social media platform saying, I think what Twitter is standing for is people should be exposed to different viewpoints. I think the elites in our society have tried to cluster themselves to where their assumptions are never challenged, and thats not a good way, I think, to live. Its also not a good way to be a critical thinker because no ones ever gonna question obviously wrong assumptions because everybody around you shares it. Musk echoed similar sentiments voicing some of his reasoning for buying Twitter, saying Its not just whether the media reports if an article is true or not. Even more powerful is deciding what the narrative is. Whereas with a digital town square, its possible for the public to choose the narrative and empowers the people, instead of a very tiny elite cabal. In DeSantiss campaign launch remarks, he positioned himself as the candidate who could restore sanity to the United States and end the culture of losing he said had infected the Republican Party in recent years. I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback, he told Musk. Musk ended the hourlong discussion with DeSantis by inviting other candidates to join a conversation on the platform. DeSantis Maps Out How Hell Beat Trump and Then Biden Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he can win the Republican presidential nomination over Donald Trump because hes broadly acceptable to Republicans. He says he will then beat Joe Biden in the general election because he has the proven strength to appeal to independents. I won 97 percent of Republicans in my reelection, DeSantis said in a phone-in press conference with select news organizations, including The Epoch Times, on May 24, a few hours after declaring his candidacy on Twitter. We are acceptable to the broad swath. Its not like Im taking policy positions that are alienating massive segments of Republicans. And so people are going to see somebody whos got a proven record of success, whos representing the values that the vast, vast majority of our party professes to hold. Winning independents is essential, he said. He pointed to the examples of Georgias Brian Kemp and Iowas Kim Reynolds in their gubernatorial reelections. I think that theres millions of people that want to move on from Biden. I think theyre ripe for us to be able to get, DeSantis said. But I think you have got to have a vehicle that theyre comfortable with. And I think weve shown in Florida that were able to win voters who dont always vote Republican. You know, you cant win 60-40 with only Republicans. The GOP had a 2 percent edge in voter registration over Democrats going into the election in Florida, he said. He said the party would need to be aggressive, including using ballot harvesting in states where its legal, such as Nevada, Pennsylvania, and possibly Wisconsin, which may legalize it once more. We banned all that in Florida, but I dont think you can say, Dont play the way theyre playing.' He acknowledged Trumps high poll numbers. Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally on April 27, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) I would be shocked if the former president wasnt leading. He had a hundred percent name ID, one of the most famous people in the world, and had been president of the United States, DeSantis said. But he said most Republicans havent yet focused on the race. And he noted that polls could be wrong, such as those that failed to predict his recent reelection victory by nearly 20 percentage points. Were going into the race with more local endorsements in the early states than any candidate has ever had with even being an announced candidate, he said, pointing to almost 200 endorsements hed received from state legislators in New Hampshire, Iowa, and Florida, including most of those states Republican legislative leaders. We feel really good about that. Responding to another question, DeSantis contrasted his positions with those of Trump by noting particular issues where Trump has attacked him. DeSantis said he voted against a Trump-backed bill to declare amnesty for 2 million illegal immigrants in return for a pittance in gains against illegal immigration. I oppose amnesty. That was supposed to be America First policy to oppose amnesty, and yet he endorsed and tried to ram through an amnesty. DeSantis said he voted against an omnibus spending bill that Trump signed. Absolutely, I think he should not have signed those spending bills. He added almost 8 trillion dollars to the debt in a four-year period. Im happy to be on the conservative side of that debate, because I think our debts have gone up way too much. And on one of Trumps signature issues, building a border wall, DeSantis told The Epoch Times that hed make it a day one priority. I will use all the levers available to me to push that through. He reiterated how, after Hurricane Ian, he had the state takeover repair of two damaged island bridges predicted to take six months to fix. We got one done in three days and the other done in two (more) weeks. A section of the United States border wall in Yuma, Ariz., on May 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) I can tell you that it was not anything anybody expected. And so its cutting through red tape. Its telling people not to make excuses. And just getting the job done. You just have to be disciplined. Addressing the debt ceiling impasse, the governor said the problem is outcome of poor government policy during the COVID pandemic, including lockdowns and flushing trillions of dollars down the drain. DeSantis Raises $1 Million in First Hour of Presidential Candidacy Republican gubernatorial candidate for Florida Ron DeSantis with his wife Casey DeSantis speaks during an election night watch party at the Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., on Nov. 8, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis raised $1 million within one hour of formally announcing his presidential candidacy, according to his campaign. DeSantis announced his 2024 run for president on May 24 during a Twitter Spaces interview with the social media platforms owner Elon Musk. But the interview was plagued by technical problems as Twitters web servers repeatedly crashed. There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet, DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin said in a Twitter post. Washington is next. $1 million raised online in one hour and counting! The technical issues, according to Desantis campaign manager Generra Peck, were caused by the sheer number of people trying to tune in to the interview. Just got off the phone with @elonmusk + @DavidSacks heard behind the scenes details from Twitter as they handled the nearly 1 million people trying to get into the Spaces room, she revealed on Twitter after the interview had concluded. They had more than 700k in the room to start with hundreds of thousands trying to get in had to relocate the room, she added, urging supporters to donate and help us break WinRed too. There was so much enthusiasm for Governor DeSantis vision for our Great American Comeback that he literally busted up the internet. Washington is next. $1 million raised online in one hour and counting! Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) May 24, 2023 Read More DeSantis 2024 Launch on Twitter Rocked by Tech Issues Hours before the announcement, DeSantis filed the formal notification of his campaign with the Federal Election Commission. The announcement follows months of speculation over whether he would enter the race and challenge former President Donald Trump, his ally-turned-rival, for the Republican nomination. According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Trump holds a significant lead in the Republican primary field, carrying 56 percent of the votea 37-point advantage over DeSantis, who has consistently polled in second place. The Florida governor will look to reverse a downward trend in support he has seen since late March, when Trumps controversial indictment by a New York grand jury boosted the 45th president in the polls. Other declared Republican contenders include South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, conservative talk show host Larry Elder, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who announced his bid on May 22. Trump reacted to the latest additions to the field on Truth Social, writing: Tim Scotts Presidential launch, even with the broken microphone (dont pay the contractor, Tim!), was by far the best Presidential launch of the week. Robs was a catastrophe! Rob is one of several nicknames Trump has assigned DeSantis in recent months. DeSantis, on the other hand, has largely avoided criticizing Trump, save for a few subtle digs here and there. With his candidacy now official, however, Republican voters will likely be watching closely in the coming months to see if and how that dynamic changes. DeSantis Says He Wants to Settle RussiaUkraine Conflict Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during an interview announcing his 2024 presidential bid on May 24, said that he hopes for a settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war. I want to see a settlement of this, DeSantis said. I do not want to see a wider war. While he admitted that its unknowable what the situation could look like come January 2025, DeSantis said, I do not want to see the U.S. with our troops get meshed in a war in Ukraine. In March, the Florida governor caused controversy when he referred to the conflict as a territorial dispute. In response to a question on the conflict delivered to Fox News opinion host Tucker Carlson, DeSantis said that while the U.S. has many vital national interests becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them. In his comments to Carlson, DeSantis blasted the Biden administrations funding of the war without objectives or accountability distracts from our countrys most pressing challenges. DeSantis later walked back the comments, condemning Putin as a war criminal. Nevertheless, DeSantis reiterated that he still does not think the U.S. should escalate to more involvement in Ukraine. I would not want to see American troops involved there. But the idea that I think somehow Russia was justified [in invading]thats nonsense. Speaking on Putin, DeSantis said, I think hes got grand ambitions. I think hes hostile to the United States, but I think the thing that weve seen is he doesnt have the conventional capability to realize his ambitions. DeSantis comments come as the GOP is divided on how much involvement the U.S. should have in the conflict. In the House, Republicans like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) have been skeptical of increasing U.S. involvement in the conflict, raising concerns that it could lead to U.S. troops on the ground, nuclear proliferation, or the next world war. Greene has called for an audit of all funds sent to Ukraine thus far. Meanwhile, Republicans in the upper chamber like Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and others in the Senate GOP caucus have pushed for increased U.S. involvement, aid, and financial assistance in the conflict. President Donald Trump, the frontrunner in the battle for the GOP nomination, said during his first 2024 campaign rally that he thought it likely that Russia would win the conflict. Trump said that Putins invasion of Ukraine would not have happened if he had been president and that could conflict within 24 hours if elected president. To do this, Trump said he would look into funding and other financial ties between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine to force a compromise. As I stand here tonight, I am the only candidate who can say this: I will prevent World War III, Trump said. Jackson Richman contributed to this report. DeSantis Says Hed Remove FBI Director Chris Wray If Elected President Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks at the 2023 NRB International Christian Media convention in Orlando, Fla., on May 22, 2023, in a still from video. (Courtesy of NRB/Screenshot via NTD) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during his 2024 presidential announcement that he would remove FBI Director Chris Wray if he were elected president. During his presidential announcement on Twitter Spaces, DeSantis was asked how hed address growing concerns over misconduct and misuse of resources at the FBI, which is a primary subject of the House Republicans ongoing investigation into the weaponization of the federal government. Asked if he would keep Wray, who began his tenure as FBI chief under President Donald Trump, DeSantis said he would not. No, I would not keep Chris Wray as director of the FBI, he replied quickly. Therell be a new one on day one. The DOJ [Department of Justice] and FBI have lost their way, DeSantis said. DeSantis discussed the need for a strong attorney general, the official in charge of most domestic federal law enforcement activities. In terms of an attorney general, you need someone thats got a really strong backbone, he said. You need somebody that knows youre going in there and youre taking care of business. The Washington Post is not gonna like you. New York Times is not gonna like you. Youre gonna get attacked by CNN, and you got to wear that as a badge of honor. You cant try to please polite society, because otherwise youll just get captured by the institution itself. DeSantis agreed with other Republicans that the agency had been weaponized against Americans who think like me and you. And I think theyve become very partisan. DeSantis comments come after the most recent FBI whistleblower report claimed that the agency had become enveloped in politicization, with charges that it had engaged in serious abuses of power. FBI, DOJ Are Not Independent Part of the reason for the increased politicization, DeSantis said, is that presidents have long listened to the canard that the FBI and DOJ are independent entities. Rather, DeSantis said, they are executive branch bodies ruled by the president. They are not independent agencies. They are part of the executive branch, they answer to the elected president of the United States. So as president, you have a responsibility to be involved in holding those agencies accountable, clearing out people who are not doing their job and making sure that theyre doing the peoples business and theyre not abusing their authority. DeSantis gave an example: if the FBI or DOJ tried to collude with tech companies to censor stories or information under his watch, DeSantis said, he would clean house: everybody involved with that would be fired immediately. Right now I think those agencies have been able to go without any real accountability, he said. And so guess what, when theres no accountability, the bad behavior is going to continue. Among other discoveries in their investigations into the FBI, Republicans uncovered charges that the agency has been fabricating and manipulating statistics to create the impression of an increase in the number of domestic violent extremism incidents (DVEs), labeling some cases as DVEs where the basis for the claim was tenuous. Other whistleblower allegations claim that the bureau created a threat tag to target pro-life individuals and organizations in the aftermath of the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned federal protections to abortion access. In September 2022, the FBI raided the home of Matthew Houck, a pro-life Catholic, for having obstructed access to an abortion provider. Still, other whistleblower claims backed by leaked documents reveal that the FBI has also targeted so-called radical-traditionalist Catholics, dubbing them RTCs. The leaked documents accused traditional and Latin Mass Catholic communities of being a harbor for white supremacism and indicated that the FBI intended to place informants in those churches. In 2021, a required public audit found the FBI had abused the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to carry out more than 3.3 million illegal queries of American citizens that year. DeSantis openness to remove Wray comes after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduced an impeachment resolution against the FBI chief, accusing him of using Soviet-style tactics to target normal Americans who disagreed with President Joe Bidens policies. Some Republicans, including Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) have told the Epoch Times that they would support such a measure. Wrays predecessor, James Comey, was removed by Trump from the office in 2017. DeSantis Vows to Consider Pardons for Jan. 6 Defendants, Trump On Day One of Presidency Ron DeSantis speaks during an election night watch party at the Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., on Nov. 8, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has promised that, if elected president, he would be aggressive in issuing pardons to Jan. 6 defendants, potentially including former President Donald Trump. On day one, I will have folks that will get together and look at all these cases, who people are, victims of weaponization or political targeting, and we will be aggressive at issuing pardons, DeSantis said May 25 on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. When pressed on whether those pardons might include his top rival for the Republican nomination, the governor added, I would say any example of disfavored treatment based on politics or weaponization would be included in that review, no matter how small or how big. Ongoing Injustice Trump is currently the target of four criminal investigations, including two federal probes. One of those investigations relates to his handling of classified documents, and the second revolves around his actions following the 2020 presidential election and leading up to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. Both federal investigations are being conducted by special counsel Jack Smith, who Trump believes is politically biased against him. Unlike President Biden, his son Hunter, and the Biden family, President Trump is being treated unfairly, Trumps attorneys asserted in a May 23 letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. No President of the United States has ever, in the history of our country, been baselessly investigated in such an outrageous and unlawful fashion. We request a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his prosecutors. In addition to the two federal cases, Trump is also at the center of a 2020 election interference investigation in Georgia and was recently indicted by a New York grand jury on falsification of business records charges. Trump has maintained his innocence in all four cases. Oath Keeper Sentenced DeSantis remarks, which came on the heels of his official campaign announcement on May 24, also happened to coincide with the sentencing of Oath Keepers founder and leader Stewart Rhodes, a Jan. 6 defendant who was convicted in November of seditious conspiracy, obstructing an official proceeding, and tampering with documents. Prosecutors had accused Rhodes of plotting to prevent the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden. He was sentenced to 18 years in prisonthe longest sentence yet for a Jan. 6 defendant. Following his conviction, Rhodes told The Epoch Times that he felt he was being persecuted for his political beliefs, noting that he never entered the Capitol building. And yet, here I sit, because of who I am, and because of what I saidmy political speechnot because of anything constituting an actual crime, not because of anything I actually did. Others have echoed the same concernthat the Jan. 6 defendants are being persecuted and treated inhumanely in an effort to discourage political dissent. During his May 25 interview, DeSantis said he would issue pardons on a case-by-case basis, depending on the facts of the situation. Some of these cases, some people may have a technical violation of the law, he noted. But if there are three other people who did the same thing, but just in a context like BLM and they dont get prosecuted at all, that is uneven application of justice. And so, were going to find ways where that did not happen, and then we will use the pardon power. African Banker magazine granted Chairman of the Commercial International Bank (CIB) Hisham Ezz El-Arab the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his achievements throughout his banking career, the magazine stated. The African Banker Awards committee cited Ezz El-Arabs integrity, ingenuity, and track record of accomplishments as reasons for granting him the award. The annual African Banker Awards event was held this year during the African Development Banks annual meeting, where pioneering banks and their leaders are awarded and recognized for using the best practices in the continent. This award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of everyone who has been a part of this journey. I am grateful for their unwavering support and commitment, the chairman of the private-sector bank said. The event brought together key industry players and top government officials from Africa and around the world to honour the achievements of institutions and individuals who have offered significant contributions to the continents economic growth and its banking sector. Search Keywords: Short link: Different Rights Based on Race: Former Australian PM Warns Against Indigenous Voice Sporting codes, unions not the right voice on constitutional matters, Morrison says Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken out against embedding the Indigenous Voice to Parliament into the countrys Constitution. Federal MPs are debating the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill 2023, which will lock in a referendum for Australians to decide whether to include The Voice in the countrys founding legal document. The Voice proposal will change the preamble of the Constitution but also set up a near-permanent advisory body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This body, likely to comprise 24 members, will be decided through a voting system by Indigenous people throughout the countryin addition to current voting rightsand will have the power to make representations to the Parliament, executive, and broader public service. The hope from Voice advocates is that having this extra layer of representation in government will help deal with chronic problems within Indigenous communities, including unemployment, domestic violence, alcoholism, youth crime, and welfare dependency. Different Rights, No Limits to Confusion: Morrison However, Morrison outlined several concerns around The Voice during a rare speech in Parliament, saying it would permanently give Indigenous people different rights over other Australians purely due to race. That is the opposite of what has previously occurred, especially in relation to the 1967 referendum where our Constitution was changed to give Indigenous Australians the same rights as all other Australians. What is proposed here is not the same thing, he said on May 24. Further, he warned that the impact of an extra body on the Parliament and executive bodies had not been fully explored or understood. It is ill-defined, creating significant constitutional risk, Morrison said. Ultimately, the High Court will be left to decipher the unknown and decide what this all means, long after Australians have cast their vote with no further say. This will inevitably lead to confusion and uncertainty over everything from our national defence to the operations of Centrelink, which all fall within the ambit of The Voice. There are no limits, he said. The former prime minister also said it was unnecessary to enshrine The Voice into the Constitution, saying it did not allow the government to remove the body if it outlived its purpose. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was abolished in 2005 for a number of reasons, including the lack of participation from Indigenous voters because of its limited impact on local communities. It is wrong to conflate the issues of The Voice with constitutional recognition and treat them as inseparable, Morrison added. He also said sporting codes, unions, or businesses had no business advocating for The Voice. These groups have no standing under our Constitution, but, as Australians, you do, he said. While keenly interested in the NRLs opinion on hip-drop tackles and the six-again rule, I dont think Ill be referring to them for constitutional advice in making my decisions on this matter. Labor Support Continues Meanwhile, Labor MPs continued to advocate for The Voice. Indigenous MP Marion Scrymgour spoke about colonialism claiming the concept of terra nulliusland belonging to no onewas a toxic pretence by early explorers and settlers to justify a massive land grab. The moral bankruptcy of the terra nullius pretext was demonstrated repeatedly throughout Australia over the next 150 years, as Aboriginal resistance was crushed with lethal force, she said. Giving our people a real voice now is the least that this country can do to make good the wrong that has existed at the heart of our founding document. While Ananda-Rajah sai,d Indigenous people did not have a voice, accusing media outlets of filtering their views. It speaks to a language of deficit that weve all become accustomed to with respect to our First Peoples. Thats all we ever hear. And you know why we hear that? Because thats what the media wants us to hear. Bad news sells. Im tired of it, and frankly, I dont want to hear any more about First Peoples through the filter of the media; I want to hear directly from them. Having a Voice to Parliament means the whole of this country, the Australian people, will hear directly from them, and we will turn around this language of deficit to one of positivity, abundance, and surplus, she said. A vote on The Voice will likely be held in the lower house of Parliament next week before shifting to the Senate. Dollar General Fined $3.4 Million for Unsafe Work Conditions Dollar General and Dolgencorp were fined $3.4 million by the Department of Labor for unsafe conditions after inspections in 2022 at nine locations in Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, according to a press release this week. The Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $21 million in fines since 2017 after 240 inspections at Dollar General stores nationwide. The usual violations regarding these penalties were blocked aisles that could endanger people in case of a fire and unsafely stacked merchandise that could fall to employees. The $3.4 million fine this time was no different, as inspections found blocked emergency exits and blocked aisles in nine locations. In Enfield, Maine, after a complaint, the inspection found an emergency exit blocked by containers and merchandise, carts clogging aisles, preventing quick access to fire extinguishers, and goods stacked unsafely to 6 feet high. These violations resulted in $321,000 in penalties. In North Dakota, state fire marshals alerted OSHA, and after an inspection at six stores, it found blocked exit routes, doors, fire extinguishers, and electrical panels. Also, unsafely stacked merchandise was found. At another store in Minot, North Dakota, OSHA said that six employees were exposed to toxic vapors, and three of them sought medical treatment. This was due to chemical containers rupturing, and according to the agency, employees were not given adequate protection equipment, and they were not trained properly on handling hazardous chemicals or cleaning them after a leak. OSHA found 32 violations in North Dakota stores over two months, resulting in $2.5 million in fines. Exit routes were found blocked in stores in Ohio and Wisconsin. Dollar General continues to expose its employees to unsafe conditions at its stores across the nation, said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. As one of the nations largest retailers, the company must focus its attention on resolving these issues and making corporate-wide changes to protect the safety and well-being of the people they employ. The Epoch Times reached out to Dollar General for comment. OSHA included Dollar General Corp. in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program because of its long history of repeat violations, according to the agency. Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based Dollar General and Dolgencorp operate about 19,000 stores and 28 distribution centers in 47 states and employ more than 173,000 workers. In fiscal year 2022, the company reported more than $9 billion in net sales. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Penalties on Other Supermarkets In April, Massachusetts Attorney Generals Fair Labor Division gave an $800,000 fine to a Boston-area supermarket, C-Mart, which focuses on Asian merchandise. The Attorney Generals office said that C-Mart failed to pay overtime and weekend rates to its employees. It also said the supermarket could not show accurate payroll records and did not post required workplace notices. I am proud of the offices work to ensure that the workers harmed by C-Mart will get back the wages they are rightfully owed, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in a statement. After investigations, 15 citations were given to the supermarket in 2021 by the Fair Labor Division. C-Mart said it did not agree with the way the calculation was done for the amount due. This matter arose due to bookkeeping system issues and the unavailability of timecards, not to bad faith of anyone at C-Mart, C-Mart attorney Matthew Morris said, according to WBUR. The Attorney Generals office would distribute the money to affected C-Mart employees through a claims process. The period covers 2016 to 2019. In Texas, OSHA programs have identified over 300 violations in more than 500 inspections at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores since 2017, Supermarket News reported. In March, OSHA proposed a $254,000 fine for Dollar Tree after three repeat violations in Texas. OSHA found in 2022 that the supermarket had blocked exit routes, thus exposing employees to fire hazards, and boxes were stacked unsafely. Dollar Tree operates 16,000 stores nationwide. EU Seeks Top Court Backing in $14 Billion Tax Fight Against Apple The logo of the European Court of Justice is pictured outside the main courtroom in Luxembourg on Jan. 26, 2017. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters) LUXEMBOURGEU competition regulators appealed to the blocs highest court on Tuesday to override a lower tribunal and make Apple pay a record 13 billion euros ($14.3 billion) in Irish back taxes. The case, which has far-reaching implications for corporate tax bills, is the most high-profile of EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestagers campaign against sweetheart deals between multinationals and European Union states. Its outcome will determine whether member states may continue to grant multinational substantial tax breaks in return for jobs and investments, Commission lawyer Paul-John Loewenthal told the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The European Commission in a 2016 decision said two Irish tax rulings had for more than two decades artificially reduced Apples tax burden, which was as low as 0.005 percent in 2014. The General Court in 2020 said regulators had not met the legal standard to show Apple had enjoyed an unfair advantage. But Loewenthal told judges at the Court of Justice that judgment was legally flawed and should be set aside. Apple refuted the Commissions arguments, saying it had paid its fair share of taxes in the appropriate country. The profits we are talking aboutthe profits the Commission said should be attributed to these branches in Irelandthose profits were in fact subject to the U.S. tax regime, Daniel Beard told the Court. Apple built up reserves for the payment of those U.S. taxes and is paying around 20 billion euros in tax in the U.S. on those very same profits that the Commission says should have been taxed by Ireland, he said. Apple has paid the taxes that were due under the Irish tax code. The EU competition enforcer has suffered court losses in recent months to challenges by automaker Stellantis, Amazon, and Starbucks, although it had a legal victory when the CJEU in September took its side in a Belgian tax break case against a group of multinationals. Still, Vestager has forced Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to drop controversial tax structures and contributed to the global movement for fairer corporate tax rates. CJEU Advocate General Giovanni Pitruzzella will give a non-binding opinion on Nov. 9, followed by the Courts ruling. The case heard on Tuesday is C-465/20 P Commission v Ireland and Others. ($1 = 0.9084 euros) By Foo Yun Chee Executive Behind PwC Tax Scam Referred to Police Over Release of Confidential Information Secretary to the Treasury Dr Steven Kennedy during Senate Estimates at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Nov. 10, 2020. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Peter-John Collins, the former Australian head of the international tax department at consulting firm giant PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has been referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) over the improper use of confidential government information. In a statement released on May 25, the Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. Steven Kennedy, said that the emails from the Tax Practitioners Board presented in Parliament on May 2, highlighted the significant extent to which Collins divulged confidential Commonwealth information and the wide range of people within PwC who were, directly and indirectly, privy to the confidential information. In light of these recent revelations and the seriousness of this misconduct, the Treasury has referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police to consider the commencement of a criminal investigation, Kennedy said. The referral from the secretary comes after Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephan Jones confirmed that the Australian Treasury Department is investigating whether criminal charges should be referred to the AFP. Were all appalled (with) whats gone on with PwC, he told ABCs The Business program. We want to send a very clear message to them and anyone else who is providing services to the government: that you cannot breach the trust of the government or the Australian people. So if criminal charges or other charges can be laid, were looking forward to the outcomes of that investigation from Treasury. Collins was employed by the federal government as part of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Tax Advisory Group which advised the government on legislation and policy positions intended to give effect to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development BEPS provisions, including the Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law, the Diverted Profits Tax, and Hybrid mismatch rules. During his employment, he received confidential information and documentation, which he then shared within PwC and with overseas partners, empowering the firm to create a system that enabled large companies operating in Australia to avoid paying the newly devised taxes. Following a 2022 parliamentary inquiry into the management and integrity of the government consulting services, internal emails from the PwC allegedly revealed that company executives had bragged about the system and utilised it as a selling point for its services. Parliamentarians Welcome The Move Chair of the parliamentary inquiry, which unveiled the extent of the scandal, Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, has welcomed the move. Ive called for this referral to the AFP, and I welcome it. she said. It must investigate the actions of Peter Collins and all the PwC operatives who are implicated in this astonishing chapter. Pocock also called on the Labor government to implement a ban on PwC contracts and to support a full investigation by the NACC. We need to know the identities of everybody named in the redacted emails released through the Senate and everyone who took part in the marketing of the tax avoidance schemes at PwC. Theres no way they should be allowed to continue in light of this disgraceful rip off of Australian taxpayers, she said. How can our public servants now rely on PwC to handle sensitive Government information when they have clearly broken the trust that has been placed in them and monetised privileged material despite having multiple confidentiality agreements in place. She also noted that over the past few days, senate hearings had heard more disturbing stories about inappropriate behaviour and possible misconduct by PwC in relation to government contracts. These also need to be investigated, she said. The bigger question remains, are we looking at just the tip of the iceberg; What is going on in the larger industry of big consulting? The Senate inquiry into the integrity and management of consultants has important work ahead of it. Experts Sound Alarm on Sliding National Test Scores Students follow along remotely with their regular school teacher's online live lesson from separated by plastic barriers at STAR Eco Station Tutoring & Enrichment Center on September 10, 2020 in Culver City, California. - California public school students will continue to learn at home, in private learning pods, or at specialized enrichment centers like Star Eco Station as the coronavirus pandemic continues, after a lawsuit brought by the Orange County Board of Education seeking to compel the state to reopen public schools was shot down by the California Supreme Court on September 10. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) Forty years ago, the National Commission on Excellence in Education issued a report entitled A Nation at Risk. The report warned that the countrys global influence would be diminished if improvements werent made. Attendees of the Reagan Institutes Summit on Education said the Nations Report Card for 2022 indicates the challenges still exist. Weve got some really hard issues ahead of us, not only in education but as a society, said Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state and current director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. The Nations Report Card is put out by the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have exacerbated a downward trend in test scores that was already underway. A Nation at Risk was a wake-up call. Im not sure that we didnt at some time hit the snooze button, Rice said. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks during a remote interview on Meet the Press in Crawford, Texas, on Aug. 17, 2008. (Meet the Press via Getty Images) The report card showed that American 8th Graders scored an average of 150 in civics. This is down three points from 2018 and the same level reported in 1990. The NAEP considers a score of 136 to show basic civics knowledge. Those scoring 177 are deemed proficient. In history, 8th graders scored 258, down from a high of 267 in 2014. For history, a score of 252 is basic, and 294 is proficient. The report card measured the reading and math skills of 4th and 8th graders. Those scores also decreased. Fourth-grade reading scores dropped seven points from 227 in 2019 to 220 in 2022. Fourth-grade reading scores are 208 for basic knowledge, and 238 is considered proficient. Margaret Spellings, president and CEO of Texas 2036, said a child who cannot read by the time they finish third grade faces huge challenges in the classroom. According to its website, Texas 2036 is dedicated to using non-partisan methods to meet future challenges. Need to Ensure Basic Skills We need to ensure they have those basic skills, Spellings said. The participants said pandemic-related school closings inflamed already existing problems in education. Absenteeism, apathy, and learning difficulties were made worse when schools closed. Tom Toch is the director of FutureEd at Georgetown University. He said kids that didnt show up for school when it was open werent any more motivated to do online school. And that has a direct effect on learning. You cant learn if youre not in school, he said. Toch and others pointed out that the technology that made remote schooling possible has also contributed to the challenges presented today. Students from low-income families and areas with unreliable internet service were also impacted during the pandemic as many could not attend online classes. And parents who suddenly got a window into their childs classroom are asking questions about the curriculum. Teachers and administrators unaccustomed to such parental involvement have reacted, with much of the conflict boiling over onto social media. Spellings said it all shows that teachers and students of today are not in the classrooms of 1983. We just cant do it the old way anymore, she said. Civics is Key Yuval Levin, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said that civics is key to seeing Americans continue to prosper. According to Levin, just 22 percent of 8th graders are proficient in civics, according to the report card. This indicates a problem beyond ignorance of the electoral college or how a bicameral legislature works. Our government requires a certain type of person, Levin said. That person has to be formed by the broader institutions of our society. According to Levin, studying the civics system designed by the founders requires responsible citizens. He said civics education is a formation process in which students learn to respect others views while being accountable for their own. Thats a skill you learn by watching people you respect engage in it, Levin said. Unity does not mean thinking alike; it means to act together. Eric Liu, co-founder and CEO of Citizen University, and Louise Dube, executive director of iCivics, joined Levin in discussing the importance of teaching civics. They said that the cultural battles on social media show a society heading toward destruction. They said the key to cultural survival is understanding that people who disagree can still work toward a common goal. Literally, no party has a monopoly on truth, Liu said. F-16 Jets for Ukraine Unlikely to Turn Tide of Battle, Experts Say A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet taking part in the U.S.-led Saber Strike exercise flies over Estonia on June 6, 2018. (Ints Kalnins/Reuters) Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago, the West, with the United States leading, has provided Kyiv with increasingly sophisticatedand costlyweapons. First, it was HIMARS rocket launchers, then advanced battle tanks and, most recently, U.S.-made Patriot air-defense systems. Each time, the new weapons were touted as game-changers, sure to turn the tide of battle in Ukraines favor. But that hasnt happened. Russia remains in control of most of the Donbas regionthe primary target of its invasionalong with Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Two U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in the air during a scramble takeoff at the Hualien air force base in Taiwan on Jan. 23, 2013. (Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images) Last week, Moscow declared that its forces had captured the strategic town of Bakhmuta fact that the Western media has now grudgingly recognized. The fall of Bakhmut coincided with news that Washington had finally approved plans to train Ukrainian pilots to fly U.S. F-16 fighter jets. This time around, Western officials appear more circumspect, with many acknowledging that the fighter jets alone wont be enough to alter the course of the war. Abdullah Agar, a Turkey-based political analyst and prominent commentator on military affairs, agrees. Its no secret that Russia enjoys air superiority, Agar told The Epoch Times. Ukraine cant win on the ground without achieving a degree of parity in the air. The addition of F-16s will certainly bolster the Ukrainian war effort. But theyre unlikely to change the ultimate outcome. Bidens About-Face In January, Washington, London, and Berlin agreedafter weeks of wranglingto provide Ukraine with advanced combat tanks. No sooner was the commitment announced than Kyiv started asking for Western-made fighter aircraft. The next big hurdle now [after obtaining tanks] will be fighter jets, Yuriy Sak, an aide to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, said on Jan. 25. Over the next three months, U.S. President Joe Biden appeared to hold firm, ruling outfor nowthe delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Ukrainian presidential palace in Kyiv on Feb. 20, 2023. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via Getty Images) But that abruptly changed last week when Biden, at a G-7 leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, said the United States was ready to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s. Yesterday President Biden informed his G-7 counterparts that the United States will support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a May 20 press briefing. There have been no firm commitments yet to send the advanced fighter aircraft to Ukraine. Pilot training is widely seen as a precursor to the eventual delivery of F-16s. As the training unfolds in coming months, we will work with our allies to determine when planes will be delivered, who will be delivering them, and how many, Sullivan told reporters. However, he noted that the aircraft in question would be intended solely for defensive purposesnot for attacks inside Russian territory. Zelenskyy: We Will Have the Planes NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hailed the decision, describing it as an important step that will partly enable us to deliver fighter jets at some stage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a historic decision. Speaking to reporters at the G-7 summit, Zelenskyy voiced confidence that the pilot training would soon be followed by F-16 deliveries. We will have the planes, he said. I cant say for now how many I dont know this myself. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meet outside 10 Downing Street in London on Feb. 8, 2023. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters) The efficacy of the move will ultimately depend on a range of variables that includes the total number of aircraft provided, their respective versions and capacities, and the technical skills of the pilots flying them, along with where and how theyre deployed, Agar said. There are several versions of the F-16, all of which have different capabilities, he said. The United Statesand other countriesmay not want to send the most advanced versions, which are extremely expensive. Without knowing these particulars, its impossible to predict the effect they will have. Allies Follow Suit Other allies of Kyiv have likewise stressed their readiness to help train Ukrainian pilots, including the UK, France, Denmark, Poland, and The Netherlands. The UK will work together with the USA and The Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark to get Ukraine the combat air capability it needs, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote in a May 19 tweet. While the British air force doesnt fly F-16s, Sunak has announced plans to set up a flight school to train Ukrainian combat pilots. French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly vowed to do likewise. Russian Su-27 jet fighters and MIG 29 jet fighters fly over Red Square in Moscow on May 9, 2016. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images) Following Zelenskyys visit to London last week, Sunak and his Dutch counterpart said they hoped to establish an international coalition to provide F-16s to Ukraine. On May 23, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters that the training of Ukrainian pilots has begun in several countries, including Poland. The following day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the move as another phase of escalation and destabilization of the situation on the European continent. She accused the EU of following in the footsteps of the United States without realizing where these experiments will get them. Not a Game-Changer Moscow has repeatedly said the training of Ukrainian combat pilotsand the subsequent delivery to Kyiv of F-16swould fail to alter the course of its special military operation. Supplies of various, more advanced weapon systems and armaments to Ukraine are spiraling up, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 23. Obviously, the decision has been made to send aircraft, too. But just like all other types of weapons [supplied by the West], this is unable to change the situation on the frontline. Notably, similar sentiments have also been voiced by U.S. military officials. F-16s are going to help the Ukrainians, but it is not going to fundamentally change the equation, U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has been widely cited as saying. But its not a game-changer. On the same day, Kendall told CNN that it would take several months at best before the aircraft were actually delivered to Ukraine. Agar, too, was quick to note that training will require monthsif not yearsto complete. You cant simply acquire F-16s and throw them into combat the next day, he said. Training typically requires five years, butin a pinchit can be done in 14 months. A transition to F-16s from Kyivs current fighter jet fleet, which reportedly consists mainly of Russian-built MiG-29s and Su-27s, requires a total system change, according to Agar. If the planes are put into action over Ukraine in less than 14 months, this would strongly suggest that training began much earlier than is being reported, he said. Or that the pilots flying them arent Ukrainian. Reuters contributed to this report. Facebook Owner Meta Slashes Business Operations Staff in Final Round of Mass Layoffs The logo of Meta Platforms in Davos, Switzerland, on May 22, 2022. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters) Meta Platforms Inc., owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, slashed jobs across its business and operations units on Wednesday as part of a plan announced last fall to eliminate 10,000 jobs in the course of a broader restructuring program. Dozens of Meta employees from enterprise engineering, marketing, corporate communications, site security, program management, and content strategy took to LinkedIn to announce that they had been laid off. According to the LinkedIn posts, the social media giant also cut staff working on its privacy and integrity teams. This is the third round of layoffs at Meta since last November, when CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a blog post that he would let go of more than 11,000 employeessome 13 percent of Meta personnelafter overestimating the e-commerce growth trend in the wake of some 18 years of seemingly unstoppable expansion. I got this wrong, and I take responsibility for that, Zuckerberg wrote on November 9. His announcement promptly bumped Meta shares up by 5 percent after the companys stock had taken a sharp dive on October 27, when it released a disappointing third-quarter earnings report and even lower forecasts for future revenues. In March, Zuckerberg announced a second round of mass layoffs, which were planned to take place in three main batches over several months and impact 10,000 employees. In addition, lower-priority projects and hiring plans for 5,000 openings were canceled. According to Zuckerberg, some 4,000 people were let go in April. These layoffs primarily hit tech teamsmostly staff from content design and user-experience research, while programmers were retained. This months layoffs should be the last round of redundancies at Meta, following Zuckerbergs pledge to restructure business teams substantially and return to a more optimal ratio of engineers to other roles. The companys shares gained ground slightly this week in a broadly weaker market. Shares have more than doubled in value this year and are among the top performers in the S&P 500 indexthanks to the cost-cutting drive and Metas focus on artificial intelligence. The social media company said on Wednesday that the latest cuts were likely to impact its international headquarters in Dublin the most, where around 490 employees will lose their jobsalmost 20 percent of Metas Irish workforce. The company has also been pouring billions of dollars into its Metaverse-oriented Reality Labs unit, which lost $13.7 billion in 2022, and a project to whip its infrastructure into shape to support artificial intelligence work. This last round of mass layoffs come just a few days after Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC) slapped Meta with a 1.2-billion-euro ($1.3-billion) fine for violating data transfer rules. Since the introduction of the EUs General Data Protection Regulation in 2018, the DPC has fined Meta a total of 2.5 billion euro for various violationsmore than any other company. The Irish regulator currently has as many as 10 other investigations into the company on its books. Reuters contributed to this article. From NTD News Family Member of Falun Gong Adherents Endures Persecution Since She Was 10 Months Old The once happy family: Qu Hui (L), a tally clerk at Dalian Seaport, Liu Xinying (R), a nurse at Dalian Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, and their baby daughter. (Minghui.org) An infant was forcibly separated from her mother when she was only 10 months old because the communist police arrested her parents on July 20, 1999, when the Chinese communist regime started the persecution of Falun Gong. Her mother, Liu Xinying, was a nurse at Dalian Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital; her father, Qu Hui, was a tally clerk at Dalian Seaport. The childs memory of her father was that he was always lying in bed. She used to ask her mother why other kids fathers were all standing tall but hers wasnt. The childs father was paralyzed due to police brutality on March 20, 2000. He was bed-bound for 13 years until he passed away in 2014. The persecution claimed both her parents lives one after another. The child lost her mother on April 22. Since former leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Jiang Zemin launched the persecution campaign against Falun Gong in 1999, numerous families have been torn apart, leaving too many orphans and children wondering what happened to their parents and family members. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind and body spiritual practice that follows the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Falun Gong practitioners celebrate World Falun Dafa Day in New York City on May 7, 2023. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times) Letter From Mother The childs mother once wrote to her from jail. She said that she had always wanted to give a positive answer to the question regarding why her father was always lying in bed. But that would only happen when justice is served, because I dont want to taint your pure and young heart with the darkness in society, Liu wrote. Qu was imprisoned in Dalian Labor Camp after he was abducted by the police in 1999. On the morning of March 20, 2000, he was left with cervical spine fractures, high paraplegia, and genital ulceration after nearly 12 hours of torture by police because he refused to sign an agreement to renounce Falun Gong. The hospital announced he was dying and he was removed from the labor camp. Liu, also imprisoned in the labor camp, was released on bail. Seeing her dying husband, she knew only the practice of Falun Gong would bring her peace of mind, and bring him hope of divine power. Gradually, he was able to breathe without a ventilator and urinate on his own. To take care of her paralyzed husband and raise the child, Liu relied on relatives for financial support. She told her child: Peoples help, sympathy, and understanding for us are their promotion and support of kindness and morality. In June 2004, Liu began her journey of filing a complaint, despite everyone worrying about her safety. She firmly believed that having faith and being a good person is not a crime. She wrote that it is unacceptable to allow the police to break the law and cause permanent injury to anyone. She visited the authorities at all levels with the photo of her disabled husband, the complaint, and Qus oral statement exposing his brutal persecution in the labor camp. Qu passed away with his eyes wide open on Feb. 19, 2014, after 13 years of suffering. For years, he was in bed in a 13-square-meter room; along with the monotonous and lonely life was the excruciating pain that put him in a state of madness. Liu was by his side day and night. When he passed away, Liu held his hands and burst into tears. The child comforted her, Mom, please dont cry. You have done all you can to help papa. The painting Worldly Journey by Yu Hsuan Lin won a Humanity & Culture Award. The artwork portrays a Falun Gong adherent crossing a waterlogged road while carrying on his shoulders his little son and a bicycle with informational materials exposing the Chinese regimes persecution of his faith. (NTD International Figure Painting Competition) Endless Abductions On Feb. 19, 2004, Liu was abducted and no one came to pick up her child from kindergarten. Her disabled husband was left at home without anyone caring for him, with no food or water, and his bed was wet with urine. Liu was detained by a labor camp until late that night. The camp demanded she file a release form at the camp that day, but when some visitors of the camp asked her if Falun Gong is good, she answered yes. The camp staff kept her there for the whole day. On July 6, 2012, the child went home only to find the home was a mess and her mom was nowhere to be found. Through the night, the then-13-year-old child cried and her father screamed in despair. That day, Dalian police captured more than 70 Falun Gong practitioners and raided their homes, including Liu, over a special action targeting local Falun Gong practitioners who installed a satellite dish for receiving signals from the New York-based NTD, the sister media of The Epoch Times, a case known as the Dalian SD Case. Liu was only released 24 hours later after her elderly father went about to look for her and told the relevant staff that her handicapped husband needed her care. On June 21, 2013, the child went home realizing her mother was missing again. Already a junior high student, the child called a cab and went straight to the local police station to bring her mother home at 10:30 p.m. Earlier that day, Liu helped to drive around 12 lawyers participating in defending 13 practitioners implicated in the Dalian SD case. At the police station, she was warned not to drive around the lawyers. But the next day, she gave all of them a ride. Less than a month after Qu passed away, local authorities went to arrest Liu. In the early morning of March 21, 2014, local police waited around her apartment and arrested her on her way out. But a local detention center refused to take her because of her poor health. On Sept. 23, 2014, the then 15-year-old child once again came home finding the home was in a mess, with the computer and Falun Gong books missing. She knew her mom was arrested again. In tears, she called around and found out she was detained at the Dalian 210 Hospital. That morning, local community staff called Liu with an excuse about a job opportunity, but instead, she was arrested. The detention center once again rejected her due to her health. Liu was transferred and detained again at Dalian 210 Hospital. On Sept. 29, a local court sentenced Liu to five and a half years of imprisonment and rejected the attendance of her child and grandfather at the hearing. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners line up on the street outside Zhongnanhai, the seat of power of Chinas central government in Beijing, in a peaceful protest on April 25, 1999. (Goh Chai Hin / AFP via Getty Images) Persistent Courage The child received a letter from her mother dated on Sept. 20, 2015. In the letter, Liu described how she endured hardships in life due to her faith. She felt the responsibility to carry on with the hope that therell be no more tragedies, those who hurt her would not commit more sins. She confirmed that her survival would safeguard her own daughter from becoming an orphan, her own father from losing a daughter, and her friends from losing a friend, and thats the reason why she sustained strong and came through. After this separation, Liu believed both she and her daughter will shine the purest brilliance with the rebirth of life like a phoenix rises from flame. When the child saw her mother it was more than half a year later. She arrived at Liaoning Womens Prison with her 70-year-old grandfather. Liu looked haggard, dark, and skinny, and her blood pressure was 240. The three of them burst into tears. She wanted her father to take good care of himself, and her daughter to study hard, keep up high morale, and be a good person. The time went by fastthe police told them they had only 30 minutes, and the meeting would get terminated right away if they talked about Falun Gong. The grandfather talked to the police, and asked them to release her because her blood pressure was too high. But the police said, Whats the big deal about it? We have people with blood pressure as high as 280. The clothes they brought with them were rejected, and the money they wanted to put into her account was also rejected. They were told she did not have an account. At the end of March 2020, Liu was released. The child was already working out of town. Every time Liu visited her, some strangers were always following from behind. At around 6 p.m. on April 22, Liu passed away. Li Jiesi contributed to this report. FDA Detects Serious Safety Signal for COVID-19 Vaccination Among Children The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in White Oak, Md., on July 20, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) Children of certain ages who received Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine face an elevated risk of heart inflammation, according to a new federally funded study. Vaccinated children aged 12 to 17 face a heightened risk of myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation, and a related condition called pericarditis, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) researchers found. The number of myocarditis and pericarditis events in that age group met the threshold for a safety signal, the researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association on May 22. The elevated risk was present within seven days of vaccination, according to the data. Researchers identified 89 cases among 12- to 15-year-olds and 64 cases among 16- and 17-year-olds after reviewing records from commercial databases run by CVS Health, HealthCore, and Optum. The claims were made between Dec. 11, 2020, when Pfizers vaccine was cleared by the FDA, and mid-2022. Researchers looked at data to determine whether any of the 20 health problems were experienced at higher rates by the vaccinated. The problems included myocarditis or pericarditis, Bells palsy, appendicitis, and stroke. Only myocarditis or pericarditis met the criteria for a safety signal, which may be related to vaccination. U.S. officials have already concluded that the conditions are caused by the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, although the vaccines didnt carry a warning for months after authorization. One possible mechanism is excessive immune responses triggered by lipid nanoparticles. Novavaxs vaccine, authorized in 2022, can also cause the heart conditions, authorities say. More on Study Researchers looked at health plan members who received a Pfizer vaccination, excluding those who lost their insurance during a certain window of time, which was 365 days for most outcomes. Researchers then examined the number of each outcome in a different window of time, referred to as a risk window, which varied from a single day to as long as 42 days after vaccination. The study then took the rates of problems from each database and compared them with expected rates, which are based on pre-pandemic numbers. Out of 3 million children who received at least one vaccine dose, 153 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis were identified in the 12- to 17-year-old age group. More cases were identified among children aged 5 to 11, but not enough to trigger a signal. A medical record review of the 37 cases for which records were obtainable confirmed 27 cases as true myocarditis or pericarditis. None of the other 19 outcomes examined met the signal criteria, according to researchers. These results provide additional evidence for the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines in the pediatric population, the researchers said. Dr. Peter McCullough, a cardiologist, disagreed. My concern is that these data represent a gross under-reporting of the frequency and severity of COVID-19 vaccine-induced myocarditis, McCullough, who has called for the withdrawal of the Pfizer vaccine, told The Epoch Times via email. Since the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged in mid-2021 concerns that the vaccines might cause heart inflammation, there have been [more than] 200 papers in the peer-reviewed literature and over 100 fatal documented cases largely among young men, peak ages 1824 years, some with autopsy proven COVID-19 vaccine heart inflammation resulting in death, according to McCullough. That includes five people who suddenly died in Germany and six people who perished in the Nordic countries. A request for comment sent to Steven Anderson, the FDA official listed as the studys corresponding author, sparked a response by an FDA spokesperson, who declined to provide additional citations for the safety claim. Andersons co-authors included researchers with Acumen, Optum, HealthCore, CVS, and IQVIA, with multiple members reporting connections with Pfizer. The time period included when the old Pfizer vaccine, which is no longer available in the United States, was used. Pretty Ludicrous Norman Fenton, emeritus professor of risk at the Queen Mary University of London, said the researchers safety claim doesnt hold up in light of the facts that the study shows a signal for myocarditis and pericarditis and that children are unlikely to benefit from the COVID-19 vaccines. The conclusion that these results provide additional evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are safe in children is pretty ludicrous, Fenton told The Epoch Times in an email. The researchers also failed to take into account whats known as the healthy vaccine bias; previous research has found that people who decide to get vaccinated tend to be healthier than those who dont. They are comparing a highly select group of child and adolescent insured vaccine recipients to a historical baseline population consisting of everyone in the relevant age group who were insured, Hebrew University lecturer Josh Guetzkow said. Experts also said the risk windows appeared short, as post-vaccination conditions can sometimes crop up months afterward, and noted that the signal criteria were structured so that some outcomes would need to happen at more than double the rate among the vaccinated to meet them. The shortest risk window was just one day, for anaphylaxis, or severe allergic shock. Some others were just one week. The rest were 28 days or 42 days. In their protocol (pdf) for conducting the research, FDA officials said they chose risk windows based on pre-pandemic studies, including one from 2007. Federal Court Issues Injunction in Lawsuit Over ATF Pistol Brace Rule Michael Vetter of WMD Guns in Stuart, Fla., displays some of the firearms his company offers that come equipped with pistol stabilizing braces during the 2023 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nev. (Michael Clements/The Epoch Times) Second Amendment rights advocates are cautiously optimistic after the Fifth Circuit Court granted what appears to be a limited injunction against a rule outlawing pistol stabilizing braces on May 23. The court specified its order was for the parties in Mock v. Garland, the lawsuit filed by the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), William Mock, Christopher Lewis, Maxim Defense Industries, LLC, against Attorney General Merrick Garland, U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and ATF Director Stephen Dettelbach. The plaintiffs filed a motion requesting clarification on whether the injunction covers only the plaintiffs or if it is blocking the ATF rule nationwide. The court had not ruled on that request by press time. According to the FPC website, the court will hear oral arguments on June 29. FPC did not return a call seeking comment. Gun rights advocates celebrated the development. Erich Pratt, senior vice president for Gun Owners of America, in an interview on NTDs Capitol Report on May 28, 2022. (NTD/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) This is an encouraging step from the Fifth Circuit, and we hope that the judge in our own case will see this ruling and, in turn, grant a more robust injunction to relief the millions of Americans nationwide who may soon be in legal jeopardy, said Erich Pratt, Gun Owners of America (GOA) senior vice president. GOA, the Gun Owners Foundation, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have sued the ATF, Dettelbach, and the U.S. Department of Justice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. That 152-page lawsuit takes the ATF rule apart, explaining why GOA believes the rule is unconstitutional. On May 31, the ATFs 120-day amnesty period for owners of the braces will end. Pistol brace owners who dont destroy, register, or surrender the braces to the government by the deadline will possess contraband and be subject to arrest, according to the ATF. Aidan Johnston, GOAs Director of Federal Affairs, praised the ruling but said Congress is the only entity that can truly resolve this issue. Brace Invented in 2012 This injunction is welcome news, but due to its limited nature, we still need Congress to act before the June 1st deadline, Johnston said. 189 Representatives and 47 Senators have already signed on, and we urge the Speaker to put this on the floor for a vote and force Democrats in both chambers to vote on whether to make their constituents felons overnight. The pistol-stabilizing brace was invented in 2012 to assist the disabled and others who may need help shooting large-format pistols built on the AR-15 and similar platforms. The stabilizing brace attaches to the rear of the pistol and the shooters forearm. This allows the shooter a steadier aim while holding the pistol with one hand. The ATF issued several open letters stating the braces did not change pistols into short-barreled rifles (SBR). However, the rule published last January said that changes in the braces design and videos on how to use them make clear that the items convert the large format pistols into prohibited SBRs. Estimates on how many gun owners are affected range from 3 million to 40 million. Qatar is committed to injecting $5 billion of investments into the Egyptian economy as was promised last year, Qatari Minister of Finance Ali Al-Kuwari stated on Wednesday at the Qatar Economic Forum. "We believe Egypt has great investment opportunities," Al-Kuwari said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. When asked about the state-owned assets offered by the Egyptian government, the minister said Qatar is interested in the manufacturing, tourism, and telecommunication sectors. In March 2022, Egyptian and Qatari ministers and officials agreed in an extended meeting in Cairo on a package of $5 billion in investments and partnerships in Egypt. The value of trade exchange between Egypt and Qatar increased to $80.1 million in the first 11 months of 2022, up from $45.5 million in 2021, recording an increase of 76.2 percent, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Qatar is the third largest Arab state investor in Egypt. There are currently 160 Qatari companies in Egypt that have injected investments worth nearly $2 billion, according to a previous statement by Cabinet Spokesperson Nader Saad. Search Keywords: Short link: First Russian Hypersonic Missile Scientist to Go on Trial Over Suspected Treason With China A view shows the Saint Petersburg City Court after a hearing in the case of Siberian physicist Anatoly Maslov who was arrested in 2022 on suspicion of treason, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on May 24, 2023. (Anton Vaganov/Reuters) The first of three Russian hypersonic missile scientists to be arrested on suspicion of treason will go on trial next week, the court handling the case said on Wednesday. The criminal case against Anatoly Maslov, 76, will open in St. Petersburgs city court on June 1, the court said on its website. He and two colleagues at the same Siberian institute, the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM), have all been arrested on suspicion of treason in the past year. All three are specialists in hypersonicsa field of key importance to the development of Russias next generation of missiles, capable of flying at 10 times the speed of sound. The case is marked as top secret and will be closed to the media and public, the court said. It said Maslovs custody was extended until Nov. 10 in a closed hearing on Wednesday. Read More Kyiv Rejects Russian Claims That Hypersonic Missile Destroyed US Patriot Battery Maslov was detained last June in Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia and one of Russias main science hubs. Soon afterwards he was sent to Lefortovo prison in Moscow, a former KGB interrogation site. In St. Petersburg, he has been placed in the FSB security service jail on Shalernaya Street where many Soviet dissidents were once held by the KGB, Maslovs lawyer Olga Dinze told Reuters. She declined to comment on the case, saying that the situation is extremely difficult. Details of the accusations against the three men are classified, but the news portal of the science city where they are based said Maslov was suspected of handing secrets to China. Two sources have told Reuters that Alexander Shiplyuk, the director of ITAM, is suspected of passing secrets to China at a conference there in 2017. They said he denies the charge, saying the information in question was publicly available online. ITAM has extensive international links, and says on its website that it is registered as part of Russias military-industrial complex. Colleagues of Maslov, Shiplyuk and the third arrested man, Valery Zvegintsev, last week published an open letter in their defence, warning that the prosecutions threaten to damage Russian science. The Kremlin has said the three face very serious accusations. Last month the Russian parliament voted to increase the maximum penalty for treason to life imprisonment, up from 20 years. Florida Book Store Fights Jacksonville Law Forcing Use of Customers Preferred Pronouns Lawsuit says ordinance violates right to free speech and freedom to practice religion A jar on a counter in the Queen of Angels Catholic Store in Jacksonville, Fla., collects prayer requests from patrons so staff can pray for them. (Courtesy of Alliance Defending Freedom) A Catholic bookstore owner is battling her Florida city in federal court over a local ordinance requiring the use of others preferred pronouns in her store, something she believes is a violation of her constitutional rights. Christie DeTrude owns and operates the Queen of Angels Catholic Store in Jacksonville. She wants her business to serve as both a living example and an educational resource for people interested in the Catholic faith. She uses the business to share her beliefs, not just in the store, but on its website, blog posts, and YouTube videos. Among other core values, she holds to the Catholic teaching that sex and gender are inseparable. But her adherence to that belief now is putting her in jeopardy of violating part of a local human rights ordinance in the North Florida city. People convicted of knowingly and willingly violating the ordinance can be punished with a fine of up to $500 per occurrence. The Queen of Angels Catholic Store in Jacksonville, Fla. (Courtesy of Alliance Defending Freedom) In 2020, the Jacksonville City Council passed a revised version of whats known as the citys HRO (human rights ordinance) with a vote of 154. Among other things, the new HRO wording requires businesses to provide a welcoming environment that affirms chosen gender identities of all current and prospective customers and employees. The long-established HRO has sparked controversy in Jacksonville for more than a decade, since the first suggestion it would be modified to protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Over the years, some people involved in the debate have worried that adding that language could force some in the city to affirm things that go against their deeply held moral or religious convictions, such as requiring Christian wedding vendors to participate in same-sex unions. In 2012, an attempt to address LGBT protections in the ordinance failed to pass. And that was an important issue among voters when city Councilman Al Ferraro was elected in 2015, he recalled. Many constituents didnt want specific LGBT protections added to the ordinance. But in 2017, an amendment adding protections for LGBT people was adopted. Then in May 2020, it was struck down when a court ruled that it failed to properly define the scope of the law, making it unenforceable. A month later, another amendment of the HROone that was clarified and expanded from five pages to 21was adopted by the city council. That version included language requiring businesses to follow the prescribed pronoun policy, among other things. And thats when DeTrude started to worry. Preferred Pronouns Required Being forced to use preferred pronouns of a customer, employee, or prospective employee would go against the religious beliefs and practices of workers in her store, if it would mean referring to a man as a woman, or vice versa, DeTrudes lawyers told The Epoch Times. So, she filed a lawsuit in federal court saying the HRO violates her constitutional rights. The lawsuit says that Queen of Angels Catholic Store operates as a distinctly Catholic business, and the citys ordinance threatens the stores ability to speak and operate consistent with its Catholic beliefs. Further, the lawsuit alleges, Jacksonvilles law uses aggressive enforcement mechanisms and penalties that burden Queen of Angels ability to speak and operate. Employees dont mind respectfully addressing individuals with a first or last name or speaking in another way to avoid using pronouns, according to the lawsuit. And they stand ready to answer any questions relating to the Catholic Churchs views on human sexuality and biological sex. But those strategies wont keep DeTrude from the possibility of facing fines. So with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), she filed the lawsuit in the U.S. Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, in February. The lawsuit asserts that Queen of Angels desires to formalize its pronoun policy and publish content explaining its policy and its Catholic beliefs. It goes on to say that, Jacksonvilles law threatens Queen of Angels ability to speak and operate consistent with its Catholic beliefs. Hal Frampton, senior attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom. (Courtesy of Alliance Defending Freedom) On May 15, ADF attorneys asked for a preliminary injunction. If issued by the court, it would block the city from fining the store for its position on pronouns while the case is being decided. Queen of Angels Catholic Store has a history of serving customers who identify as transgender, DeTrudes attorneys said. That creates a worry that clarifying the stores pronoun policy could draw an attack from those seeking to challenge it, they said. As we stand right now, the bookstore is in fear it cant publish the pronoun policy that it wants to publish, ADF senior attorney Hal Frampton told The Epoch Times. It cant say what it wants to say about non-biological pronouns in fear of government enforcement. And that, he said, is an infringement on freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Jacksonville City Councils position, Frampton said, seems to be that it has no position. City attorneys are asking for the case to be thrown out because the store hasnt faced any threats of enforcement, Frampton said. The citys Office of the General Counsel declined to comment. They are trying very hard not to take a position on whether the law regulates the bookstores speech or not, Frampton said. They wont quite say one way or the other, which is a position that governments take sometimes. The Jacksonville City Council likely wants to make the bookstore wait for a complaint to be filed against it before the laws constitutionality can be challenged, Frampton said. Frankly, thats just wrong because the [U.S.] Supreme Court has told us time and again that you dont have to wait for government enforcement to challenge an unconstitutional law, and that makes sense, he said. They shouldnt have to break the law to find out if its constitutional or not. Longtime Local Controversy The newest version of the HRO features more specific definitions regarding discrimination in matters of employment, training, and public accommodations. It also outlines how complaints can be filed against business owners. DeTrude worries this might mean her business could be found in violation if it doesnt seem to affirm a persons self-appointed sex or gender identity, the lawsuit asserts. And publishing a pronoun policy could be seen as a violation, if people complain they feel unwelcome, objectionable, or unacceptable in the store, because of their sex or gender identity, the lawsuit says. A LGBT activist holds pins about gender pronouns, on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie, Wyo., on Aug. 13, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Because Queen of Angels Catholic Store also offers merchandise online, the lawsuit argues that it, too, falls under the laws definition of places of public accommodation and would be exposed to the possibility of facing punishment. And complaints about the online store could trigger law enforcement action from beyond the boundaries of Jacksonville, Frampton said. Under Jacksonvilles law, nearly anyone on planet Earth can file a complaint against this bookstore, he said. Anyone who trolls their website and doesnt like what they say about gender identity and pronouns can say they feel unwelcomed and therefore are entitled to start enforcement action on the bookstore. And thats the problem. This is exactly why we have to be able to bring pre-enforcement challenges against unconstitutional laws because, left to their own devices, governments will often simply bob and weave and one day be up trying to enforce the law. The HRO offers some exceptions for religious institutions. However, Queen of Angels Catholic Store is a for-profit business and isnt affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine, the governing body of Catholic churches in the region. I Dont Think it will Stop at Pronouns Ferraro has been a councilman for eight years. He voted against the HRO updates both times they came before the council while he was in office. It went against his religious beliefs, he said. And he doesnt believe government should foist such requirements on its people. The legislation was pushed through by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, which promoted it as a way to ensure equal housing for all, he said. Though well-intentioned, the ordinance has set a precedent that forces people to go against what they believe, Ferraro said. This would be the same thing as making Jews or Muslims eat a certain kind of pork, Ferraro told The Epoch Times. I dont think it will stop at pronouns. It wont stop with the lawsuits. I dont think elected officials really understand what they are doing. They dont understand how damaging this is for our constitutional freedoms. If they do, they are derelict in what theyre doing because this kind of sets the stage on so many other things that can be pushed in a direction that goes against our liberties and freedoms. Frampton shared similar concerns. A lot of times, I dont know if these local governments really understand what it is that theyre passing, he said. They pass these ordinances under the guise of anti-discrimination. They think that all theyre doing is keeping a business from barring the doors to someone, when thats not what theyre doing, at all. They also include these speech restrictions that end up trampling peoples constitutional rights to free speech. This is making a special exception for a group of people, and that is extremely dangerous when we start going down that road. Ferraro, who leaves office at the end of June after serving two terms, calls it unfortunate and a national trend, that threatens free speech. Framptons motion in May asks the court for protection that would allow Queen of Angels Catholic Store to continue operating without fear of penalty while the law is contested. Free speech is for everyone, Frampton said. No business owner should be worried about what they can and cannot say on their businesss website, and we are hopeful that the courts will see it that way. Merchandise for sale in the Queen of Angels Catholic Store in Jacksonville, Fla. (Courtesy of Alliance Defending Freedom) Meanwhile, Ferraro said he holds faith in Jacksonvilles laws and its people. Our laws are clear. We cannot discriminate, period, anyhow. No matter what. We are a very good city that recognizes peoples rights. Just because we may not believe or agree with something, I dont think that we have the problem that they are making this out to be. He doesnt believe his citys people want to hurt others just because theyre transgender or gay, he said. I dont see that. I see when people are pushed against the wall, where they are forcing us to accept something we dont believe or agree on. I think thats when you run into the problem. Former California Corrections Officer Charged With Sexually Assaulting 13 at Womens Prison Gregory Rodriguez was booked in Madera County Jail, Calif., on May 24, 2023. (Madera County Sheriff's Office via AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif.A former correctional officer at the biggest womens prison in California has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting at least 13 inmates over the past nine years, prosecutors said Wednesday. Gregory Rodriguez, who worked at the Central California Womens Facility, faces 96 counts including rape, sodomy, sexual battery, and rape under color of authority, the Madera County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. It couldnt be determined Wednesday if Rodriguez, 54, has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. He was being held in lieu of $7.8 million bail, the DAs office said. The alleged assaults date back to 2014, but most happened within the past two years, prosecutors said. The charges involve 13 separate victims, according to the DAs office. If convicted on all charges, Rodriguez could be sentenced to more than 300 years in prison. The womens prison where Rodriquez worked for 12 years is located in Chowchilla, a small city about 120 miles (190 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco. Rodriguez retired in August after being approached about the assaults as part of an internal investigation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in December. The investigation, which found that Rodriguez may have engaged in sexual misconduct against at least 22 inmates, was handed over to the district attorneys office earlier this year. These allegations are in no way a reflection on the vast majority of correctional officers who act professionally and do their best to make sure prisoners serve their time while remaining safe, the DAs office said Wednesday. It is our hope that the removal and arrest of this defendant encourages them to continue in their honorable profession upholding the law every day. Two unidentified inmates filed lawsuits in December accusing Rodriguez of sexual assault at the prison, which holds about 2,100 inmates. A 2003 federal law known as the Prison Rape Elimination Act created a zero-tolerance policy for the sexual assault of inmates. GCHQ Issues Security Warning After Fresh Threat From Chinese Hackers The UK has joined the Five Eyes intelligence alliance to issue a cybersecurity warning after China targeted U.S. critical infrastructure sectors. The cluster of attacks, first uncovered by Microsoft, was found targeting Guam, home of a number of U.S. military bases, and elsewhere in the United States. Hackers also used compromised local home office devices such as routers to cover their tracks. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and its counterparts in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, warned that the same techniques can be used against more sectors worldwide, and issued a 24-page advisory (pdf) on how to mitigate the risks. NCSC Director of Operations Paul Chichester said in a statement that its vital for operators of critical national infrastructure to take actions to prevent such attacks. We strongly encourage providers of UK essential services to follow our guidance to help detect this malicious activity and prevent persistent compromise, he said in a statement. The attacks were associated with a Chinese state-sponsored cyber actor, named as Volt Typhoon by Microsoft. According to Microsoft, the group has been active since mid-2021, targeting sectors including communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education. The hackers collected data, including credentials, from target networks, and used these credentials to keep accessing the systems. The also tried disguise their location by routing traffic through network equipment in small offices or home offices that are in the same region with the victims. Because the attacks rely on valid accounts and local, non-malicious codes, detecting and mitigating this attack could be challenging, Microsoft said. Compromised accounts must be closed or changed. Microsoft said the group appears to be aiming at spying for as long as possible, but it also said with moderate confidence that the campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises. It means they are preparing for that possibility, said John Hultquist, who heads threat analysis at Googles Mandiant Intelligence. The Chinese activity is unique and worrying also because analysts dont yet have enough visibility on what this group might be capable of, he added. There is greater interest in this actor because of the geopolitical situation. A U.S. Air Force fire truck sprays water near plane hangars at Andersen Air Force base in Yigo, Guam, on Aug 17, 2017. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Cybersecurity agencies of the Five Eyes statesan Anglo-sphere intelligence sharing alliance made up of the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, said they believe the actor could apply the same techniques against these and other sectors worldwide. Guam, an island near the Philippines, is the westernmost point of U.S. territories. Its home to U.S. military facilities that would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia-Pacific region, such as an invasion or blockade of Taiwan. It is also a major communications hub connecting Asia and Australia to the United States by multiple submarine cables. Bart Hoggeveen, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute who specializes in state-sponsored cyber attacks in the region, said the submarine cables made Guam a logical target for the Chinese government to seek intelligence. There is high vulnerability when cables land on shore, he said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claim on Thursday that the hacking allegations were a collective disinformation campaign from the Five Eyes countries. Mao said the campaign was launched by the United States for geopolitical reasons and that the report from Microsoft analysts showed that the U.S. government was expanding its channels of disinformation beyond government agencies. But no matter what varied methods are used, none of this can change the fact that the United States is the empire of hacking, she told a regular press briefing in Beijing. Reuters contributed to this report. He Has Only Begun to Fight: DeSantis to Begin Presidential Campaign in 3 States Ron DeSantis speaks during an election night watch party at the Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 8, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images) Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis will kick off his presidential campaign next week, following his Twitter candidacy announcement. DeSantis will deliver speeches and conduct fireside chats in three statesNew Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina. The campaign will last for four days between May 30 and June 2, covering 12 cities and towns. The candidate will kick off the campaign in Iowa and end it in South Carolina. Our campaign is committed to putting in the time to win these early nominating states, said campaign manager Generra Peck, according to Reuters. No one will work harder than Gov. DeSantis to share his vision with the countryhe has only begun to fight. This will be DeSantis first series of public campaign events after announcing his candidature in the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday. In a short video posted to Twitter just minutes before his conversation with Elon Musk, DeSantis highlighted several failures of the Biden administration while promising to bring about a great American comeback. Our border is a disaster, crime infests our cities, federal government makes it harder for families to make ends meet, and the president flounders. But decline is a choice. Success is attainable, and freedom is worth fighting for We need the courage to lead and the strength to win, he said. DeSantis campaign is said to have raised $1 million within an hour of his announcement. With DeSantis formal announcement, he becomes the seventh Republican to officially enter the 2024 presidential race. In addition to Trump, the five other candidates are Sen. Tim Scott from South Carolina, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, conservative talk radio host Larry Elder, and author Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump Leads DeSantis DeSantis biggest challenge in the Republican primary would be former President Donald Trump. Multiple polls have shown Trump having a massive lead over DeSantis. A Quinnipiac University poll published on May 24 found that Trump commanded 56 percent support from Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, with DeSantis only garnering 25 percent support. Other candidates only got support in single digits. A recent poll by the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) found that even in Florida, where DeSantis is the governor, Trump has a notable lead. While 59 percent of registered Republican voters said they would choose Trump in the upcoming primary, DeSantis only received 31 percent support. Former President Trump continues to be a strong candidate for the Republican nomination and his support appears durable and consistent, said Kevin Wagner, Ph.D., professor of political science at FAU. DeSantis insists that he can defeat Trump in the primaries. I won 97 percent of Republicans in my reelection, DeSantis said in a phone-in press conference with a few news organizations, including The Epoch Times, on May 24, just a few hours after declaring his candidacy on Twitter. We are acceptable to the broad swath. Its not like Im taking policy positions that are alienating massive segments of Republicans. And so people are going to see somebody whos got a proven record of success, whos representing the values that the vast, vast majority of our party professes to hold. The Twitter Glitch DeSantis Twitter announcement botch-up was mocked by his political opponents. This link works, President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter while sharing a link to the donation page of his campaign at the time when DeSantis team and Musk were struggling to get the Twitter glitches sorted out. Donald Trump Jr. posted #DeSaster on Twitter, after which the hashtag began trending. Trump also joined in to mock the announcement. Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH, he said in a May 25 post at Truth Social. In a post on twitter, Karoline Leavitt, spokeswoman a Trump-aligned PAC, said that DeSantis announcement glitch is an example of why he is just not ready for the job. The stakes are too high, and the fight to save America is too critical to gamble on a first-timer who is clearly not ready for prime time. President Trump is the proven leader that will be ready on day one to turn the country around. Health Gets $900M Boost in Tasmanian Budget The Royal Hobart Hospital in the CBD of Tasmania's capital city, Hobart, on Tuesday, November 16, 2020. (AAP Image/Chris Crerar) Tasmanias budget will boost health spending by $900 million (US$588 million), with a forecast surplus expected to be pushed back. State Liberal Treasurer Michael Ferguson will hand down the 2023/24 budget on May 25, almost two weeks after the government was plunged into the minority when two MPs quit the party. It will reportedly include $12 billion over four years to improve an ailing health system. The figure is more than a third of the states overall spending and $900 million more than what was allocated in last years budget. We are investing in innovative programs and initiatives, Premier Jeremy Rockliff told News Corp. (That means) Tasmanians can access the healthcare they need in their communities, closer to where they live, and boost resources in our hospitals for those needing acute care. Investments will focus on providing targeted support for innovative, community-based initiatives that deliver positive results for Tasmanians. Tasmania has many grassroots health and wellbeing initiatives that are doing great work in our community, and the government is going to back these organisations in. Ferguson flagged economic headwinds earlier this week, including a write-down of $940 million in GST revenue over four years. (Despite) the GST reductions in revenue to our state that were outlined in the recent federal budget . this budget does chart a path to surplus, he said. Last Mays budget predicted a return to a slight $19 million surplus in 2023/24. Ferguson said the budget would include outlays towards plans for a contentious $715 million stadium in Hobart and the states AFL team. The state has pledged $375 million to the stadium, $12 million per year over 12 years towards a team and $60 million for a high-performance centre. Ferguson said the budget would include $347 million over four years to help lower-income people pay water, sewerage, power and local government bills. He said health and education would account for 60 percent of the budget spent, roughly $8 billion. According to last years budget, the state is set to carry almost $5.2 billion of net debt by 2025/26. It is Fergusons second budget as treasurer for the Liberals, who have been in power since 2014. The government will also spend $1.5 million on trialling an affordable rental initiative. Under the program, the government will rent properties on the private market and provide them to eligible low-income Tasmanians at a reduced rate. The government has just 11 of 25 lower-house seats after John Tucker and Lara Alexander quit the party and became independents. They cited concerns with transparency surrounding the Hobart stadium and AFL deal. However, both have promised to support the budget and vote it through parliament. In this series, we explore the contentious findings surrounding fluoridation of the U.S. public water supply and answer the question of whether water fluoridation poses a risk and what we should do about it. Previously: A confounding factor in the fluoride debate is the arsenic that contaminates the industrial sources of fluoride added to public water systems. A groundbreaking federal lawsuit could ban fluoride from drinking water, overturning a decades-long program aimed at preventing cavities that has been challenged by mounting evidence of harm. The Fluoride Action Network (FAN) sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Toxic Substances Control Act in 2017, and it appears to be nearing its conclusion. Under the act, citizens can challenge the EPA in court when the agency rejects a petition to ban or regulate a toxic substance. The FANs suit is the first in the 44-year history of the act to actually get to trial. The lawsuit has included pointed testimony from leading experts on environmental toxins and admissions from both EPA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials that fluoride could be linked to specific harms. The lawsuit has also revealed government interference in crucial scientific findings. In From the Fringes The lawsuit has brought attention to new research that links fluoride exposure to damaging neurodevelopment effects, concerns that have sometimes been deemed conspiracy theories. Opposition to fluoridation is now at least 70 years old, but for most of that time has been wrongly dismissed as a fringe and unscientific position, FANs executive director, Paul Connett, said in a statement. The rapidly emerging science on developmental neurotoxicity, especially loss of IQ from early life exposure to fluoride, is a game-changer. Many of the most important science on fluoride has come via research funded with millions of dollars by the National Institutes of Health. Some of that research has concluded that the risk to children is too great to consider water fluoridation safe, Connett said. The Background The lawsuit began after the EPA rejected a petition filed in November 2016 that called on the agency to protect the public and susceptible subpopulations from the neurotoxic risks of fluoride by banning the addition of fluoridation chemicals to water. The petition referenced more than 2,500 pages of scientific documentation detailing the risks of water fluoridation to human health, including more than 180 published studies showing fluoride is linked to reduced IQ and neurotoxic harm. In its Feb. 27, 2017 response, the EPA rejected the petition, claiming it failed to set forth a scientifically defensible basis to conclude that any persons have suffered neurotoxic harm as a result of exposure to fluoride. In response to the denial, FAN and Food & Water Watch filed the federal lawsuit against the EPA. The Toxic Substances Control Act is aimed at preventing harm from environmental chemical hazards before they occur and gives the EPA authority to regulate or ban the particular use of chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk to human health, including susceptible subpopulations. The EPA made several attempts to have the case dismissed, each of which was denied by the court. After each side made its closing remarks in the two-week trial in 2020, the court made a surprise decision to delay judgment. A 2nd Phase Rather than issue a judgment, in August 2020, the court paused all proceedings and instructed the plaintiffs to file a new petition with the EPA including the new scientific studies. They did so in November 2020, but the EPA denied it, citing insufficient scientific evidence, stating, Without the final [National Toxicology Program] monograph, reconsidering the petition denial at this time would not be prudent use of EPAs resources. That monograph is the National Toxicology Programs report on fluoride toxicity, a document the government has been reluctant to release. The EPAs rejection of the petition means a second phase of the trial will take place. In explaining his decision to extend the trial, the judge noted the issue of ongoing science on the topic. So much has changed since the petition was filed two significant series of studiesrespective cohort studieswhich everybody agrees is the best methodology. Everybody agrees that these were rigorous studies and everybody agrees that these studies would be part of the best available scientific evidence, said Judge Edward M. Chen of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Chen wants two documents in the next phase of trial. The systematic review of fluorides neurotoxicity from the National Toxicology Program. The programs report, which isnt yet finalized, has been a source of controversy in the ongoing lawsuit. The report draft was made public on March 15, 2022, as part of an agreement in the lawsuit, but internal CDC emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act revealed government interference with its release. A Benchmark Dose analysis of fluorides neurotoxicity. The analysis titled A Benchmark Dose Analysis for Maternal Pregnancy Urine-Fluoride and IQ in Children by Dr. Philippe Grandjean et al. was published on June 8, 2021, in the journal Risk Analysis. The court also expressed a concern that the EPA didnt apply the proper standard of causation under the requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act in its assessment of the health hazards of fluoride. According to FAN, the court has set aside two weeks to hear testimony and cross-examination of expert witnesses based on new published research and evidence that has come to light since the last trial dates in 2020. Revelations at Trial In the initial trial, Grandjean, Dr. Howard Hu, and Dr. Bruce Lanphear were among noteworthy expert plaintiff witnesses. Grandjean has published around 500 scientific papers, and his study on the neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal mercury exposure was used by the EPA to derive a reference dose for methylmercury. Hu and Lanphear are known for their seminal research on the impact and neurotoxicity of lead exposure, and both have worked with the EPA in expert advisory roles. Lanphears past studies were used by the EPA to set the standards on and regulations of lead. Both testified on the results of their recent multiyear NIH-funded studies on fluoride and neurodevelopment. In his testimony, Hu said his findings were comparable in magnitude to the impact of lead exposure, and in his closing statement said, It is my opinion to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, that the results of the element studies support the conclusion that fluoride is a developmental neurotoxicant at levels of internalized exposure seen in water fluoridated communities. Similarly, Lanphear closed his testimony by stating, The collective evidence from prospective cohort studies supports the conclusion that fluoride exposure during early brain development diminishes the intellectual abilities in young children, including at the purportedly optimal levels of exposure for caries prevention. Grandjean, a physician, environmental epidemiologist, and adjunct professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, testified on a weight of evidence analysis he did of all best-available research on fluoride and neurotoxicity. With a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, I therefore consider the elevated levels of fluoride exposure in the U.S. population as a serious public health concern, he said. Science for Hire? According to court documents, instead of the EPA calling in their own agencys experts on fluoride, they hired the outside consultancy firm Exponent, bringing in their employees, principal scientists Ellen Chang and Joyce Tsuji, as expert witnesses. Exponent says on its website that one of the many areas it specializes in is toxic tort and supporting its clients on regulatory frameworks such as the Toxic Substances Control Act. They also note they have testified in quite a few state and federal courts. In the past, Chang has produced systematic reviews for both Dows chemical Agent Orange, a herbicide used by the military during the Vietnam War to kill enemy crops, and Monsantos pesticide glyphosate. Both reviews concluded that there was no consistent or convincing evidence of a causal relationship between exposure to the products and health risks, although not all scientists and studies agree with these conclusions. Chang was also a key expert witness for 3M in the 2017 lawsuit filed by the state of Minnesota against the company for dumping PFC-containing waste into the Minnesota environment. In her expert report, she argued that no major health or regulatory agency has concluded that a causal effect has been established between exposure to PFOA, PFOS, or other and any adverse human health outcome. Currently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), classifies PFOA as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Per trial documents, Chang criticized the quality of the peer-reviewed NIH-funded studies linking fluoride to lowered IQ. She concluded that the strength of the observed associations does not provide persuasive evidence. According to court documents, Chang and Tsuji testified that they werent experts on fluoride prior to their retention for the lawsuit, and Chang had billed the EPA around $150,000 for her work. In a September 2022 court document, defense attorney Brandon N. Adkins notified the court that on July 2022, Chang, the defenses expert epidemiologist, was no longer available as an expert witness in the case. Federal Depositions FAN presented several sworn statements from leaders within the CDC, the EPA, the FDA, and others from prior depositions. The Epoch Times acquired video clips of several depositions and the petitioners summary of the trial record, but hasnt obtained the complete transcript of the trial. Based on these documents, Joyce Donahue, chief scientist on fluoride at the EPAs Office of Water, admitted under oath that the most recent studies on fluoride neurotoxicity, including the NIH-funded studies, are well conducted and warrant a reassessment of all existing safety standards on fluoride. During his testimony, Casey Hannon, director of the Oral Health Division at the CDC, stated that the agency, in connection with the intergovernmental work group, agreed with the National Research Council (NRC) that its apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain and the body by direct and indirect means. When asked if the CDC accepts that fluoride is an endocrine disruptor, Hannon replied, We accept the [2006] NRC report as a summary of the hazard, yes. Additionally, when asked, Hannon said that the CDC considers the American Dental Association an outside partner that the CDC partners with to promote community water fluoridation. Alleged Fraud and Corruption FAN has used the lawsuit to also draw attention to what may be systemic issues within the EPA. Court documents included a Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey conducted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In the survey, 60.4 percent of employees in the EPAs Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), responsible for enforcing the Toxic Substances Control Act, gave a negative assessment regarding the honesty and integrity of senior leaders. The documents also noted that four EPA scientists in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (which includes the OPPT) have filed complaints alleging fraud and corruption related to chemical risk assessments conducted under the act, including the removal of potential health effects without the knowledge or consent of human health assessors. The survey and documents werent specific to the fluoride issue. Next: At the heart of the ongoing trial over water fluoridation is the NTPs six-year systematic review of fluorides neurotoxicity. CDC emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveal government efforts to stop the release of the review. Read Part 1 The Renewed Scientific Opposition to Water Fluoridation Read Part 2 Uncovering the Differences: Why Natural Fluoride and Synthetic Fluoride Are Not Created Equal Read Part 3 Fluoride: A Miracle Cure for Cavities, a Poison, or Both Read Part 4 Health Effects of Fluoride: The Science Read Part 5 New Studies Link Fluoride to Reduced IQ and ADHD in Children Read Part 6 Hidden Fluoride in Our Food, Medicine, and Environment Read Part 7 Arsenic: A Known Contaminant in Fluoride Added to the US Water Supply As the number of people seeking ADHD diagnoses continues to surge, some patients may face challenges in having their official diagnosis reversed if they come to believe it was incorrect or regret it at a later stage. The number of adults seeking a diagnosis of ADHD, or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, has soared in recent years. Talking to the BBC in January, the ADHD Foundation said it had seen a 400 percent rise in adults going to them compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent BBC documentary found that people are turning to private clinics that use quick unreliable online assessments while offering powerful medication, to leapfrog long waiting listsup to seven yearson the NHS. Amid mounting concerns surrounding the rise, accessibility, and unreliability of ADHD diagnoses, some patients may want to remove a lifelong ADHD label, considering that this often leads to long-term treatment with medications such as Ritalin, methylphenidate, and lisdexamfetamine. In most cases, a diagnosis of ADHD in the UK cannot be simply removed due to a change of heart. The diagnostic process typically involves multiple assessments and evaluations, and a diagnosis is made based on clinical judgment. There are also considerations after an ADHD diagnosis. In the UK, employers cannot legally discriminate against individuals based solely on an ADHD diagnosis. However, for example, an individual with ongoing ADHD will not, by definition, be able to complete pilot training. Medication used for the disorder is normally disqualifying. Individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD are also legally required to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency if they hold or are applying for a driving license. Car insurance can also be affected if someone suffers from something that could affect an ability to drive safely. Alternatively, some employers are actively seeking neurodiverse candidates. Last year, the British spy agency GCHQ and weapons manufacturer BAE Systems issued an appeal to attract more women on the autism spectrum and women with dyslexia or ADHD for cybersecurity roles to address gaps in their workforces. Like a Millstone Andy DAlessio is a campaigner who told The Epoch Times that his life was nearly destroyed when he was wrongly prescribed class benzodiazepines for sleep and consequently is still trying to remove multiple misdiagnoses for different kinds of depression. DAlessio consequently spent two years in the hospital, being treated for the wrong condition, and had a major reaction to the drugs, adversely affecting his health. I am carrying misdiagnoses like a millstone around my neck. Not only is it incorrect, but its also having long-term effects. Its all on my record and I want it expunged, he added. Theyve left me in limbo. I am still getting gaslighted, he said. He said that he knew people that are prescribed ADHD medication. What happens when they have prescribed drugs, they fall into polypharmacy, you can guarantee down the line they will be prescribed benzodiazepines, antidepressants, etc., he said. A Diagnosis Can Halt Recovery Dr. Damian Wilde, a psychologist with many years of clinical and therapeutic experience in the NHS, told The Epoch Times that as people start to understand themselves, people may start to challenge the diagnosis. Sometimes, a diagnosis can halt recovery, he said, adding that people say I have this illness, so, therefore, Im always going to struggle to a certain extent, which can make recovery harder. Im not saying thats the case for everyone because you will get some people who have had the diagnosis, received really good treatment, and went on to do really well, he added. On an ADHD diagnosis, he said that once somethings been stamped on someones medical file, its almost like its set in stone. He said that adults who challenged psychiatric diagnosis have sent letter after letter after letter, and face a sort of arduous process, which is distressing for them. But its strange in a way because there isnt actually categorical proof that this disorder exists, he said. Wilde says that though ADHD isnt an illness in the way many people think it is, the struggles and distress are very real. While some may celebrate the label, others surrender to it. The problem with an ADHD diagnosis is that it can become part of a persons identity, which can halt recovery from otherwise resolvable issues. A formulation gives a personalised individualised understanding of a person which a diagnosis cant, said Wilde. Beginning to Lionise Traits Around Vulnerability Ben Harris, a psychotherapist in private practice in London, told The Epoch Times that the recent BBC documentary suggested that private clinical psychology practices in the UK may be willing to make an ADHD diagnosis on as little as 45 minutes spent with a patient on Zoom supported by generic questionnaires asking questions many of us could say yes to, at least some of the time. For example, how many of us could say we dont struggle to concentrate sometimes? Clearly, theres an underlying demand for diagnoses of this sort, otherwise, clinics wouldnt be offering easy access to them in exchange for the payment of a fee, he said. Harris said that we live in a culture that, over the past couple of decades, has started to provide additional resources to those who signal they are vulnerable. He said that some might say we are beginning to lionise traits around vulnerability, marking mental health diagnoses as desirable, even admirable, pointing to certain communities on TikTok. We can see some practical benefits to thismore time in exams, or accommodations at work, for example. No one is suggesting that these are bad things in themselves, but they create an incentive structure in favour of diagnosis, he said. But we might sometimes see the achievement of a diagnosis as an alternative to the hard work of personal growth and characterological development, difficult but ultimately empowering, he added. In more practical terms, because the NHS views mental health diagnoses as objective mental illnesses, an over-concretisation in my view, its very hard to remove a diagnosis once its been made, said Harris. A diagnosis, he said, can follow you for many many years, perhaps your whole life. Social attitudes can change quickly. Its not so long since having a mental health diagnosis carried much more of an unfair stigma, he said. A category you wanted to fit into at one time can become a category youd quite like to get out of at another. An underlying problem here in my view is that ADHD is a convenient catch-all. People think because there is a named disorder we know what it is. We dont. Its a set of symptoms that have as many meanings and as many ways to be experienced as there are people who have been given a diagnosis. Neurodiversity Movement Jeff Fullington, who has ADHD and has worked with that population professionally in the United States for many years told The Epoch Times that, ADHD and autism are threshold diagnoses, one could have either condition without their symptoms meeting the standards of clinical significance. He said that ADHD is not a mental health diagnosis, but many in the field can mistake it for one. You can be mildly or minimally autistic/ADHD but the traits may not be prominent enough or observable enough for an actual diagnosis, he added. Fullington said he comes from an approach of personal agency, self-determination, and internal focus of control, rather than relying on external factors to help manage or alleviate the condition. Neurodivergent, which describes an actual brain that is different from the norm is different from neurodiversity, which is associated with the neurodiversity movementa political movement that aims to dismantle the neurotypical norms and replace them with new divergent norms around autism and ADHD. Fullington said he believed the neurodiversity movement was disempowering. He said it said the movement believes theres nothing you need to do in a society thats failing to meet your needs, and you should dismantle or rearrange society to the point where you like its more normal toward your needs. Im an advocate of self-accommodation, he said. The individual person with ADHD or autism should learn more about it for themselves and what they can do to accommodate them and meet their needs around a particular condition, rather than rely on employers or other people to figure out how to accommodate them. Home Office Examining Plan to House 1,500 Refugees in Liverpool Port An undated image of the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge, a 222-bedroom, three-storey vessel, which the Home Office plans to use to house 500 asylum seekers off Portland, Dorset, England. (Bibby Marine/PA) Home Office is examining a plan to house 1,500 refugees in a ship docked in one of the UKs most deprived areas, a proposal that Labour has been described as inhumane. Labour MP Mick Whitley criticised government proposals to accommodate the large number of asylum seekers at Liverpools Birkenhead port, accusing the Immigration Minister of ignoring repeated requests to respond to serious community concerns. Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, Whitleywho represents Birkenheadsaid the areas already overstretched health and support services would struggle to cope with such an influx. He said officers at Wirral Council were first approached by Home Office officials on April 14 with proposals to house up to 1,500 vulnerable asylum seekers on a vessel berthed in Birkenhead. The ship will be located on the site of Wirral Waters, a 4.5 million regeneration development described by the MP as an active work site. Whitley said the area fails to have adequate transport links to local amenities, services, or community support networks. To all intents and purposes, it will be a floating prison ship, he told Parliament. The implications of this proposal on my constituency are indeed very serious, he added. But I want to be clear that my concerns first and foremost are for the welfare of the refugees themselves. Im not calling this debate, as I know that other members have in the past, to say not in my backyard. Instead, I quite proudly, without equivocation, say that refugees are welcome here. The Labour representative said the question Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick must answer is: How on earth can they justify a policy that treats fellow human beings with such inhumanity? Illegal immigrants who crossed the English Channel in small boats stand talking to each other at their temporary home Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, on March 7, 2023. (PA) Cramped and Overcrowded Whitley further asked that if agreement was reached to accommodate refugees on Wirral peninsula, what steps will be taken to address the health needs of refugees living in cramped and overcrowded conditions? He also asked Jenrick to outline financial support to Wirral Council for extra support services to be put in place. He added: Thirdly, what steps will the government take to ensure that refugees are able to access local amenities, services, and vital community networks rather than being left to rot on a worksite? Considering that dramatic cuts to local bus services have left the area without adequate transport links, he said. Whitley also asked if extra police support would be made available to the port to ensure both the safety of the refugees and the local community. Responding, Jenrick confirmed that the Home Office is in talks with Wirral Council over the plans, but that no deal had been done as yet. He described the housing of asylum seekers on sites such as former military bases, ships, and barges as undoubtedly in the national interest and in step with Northern European counterparts. The Immigration minister claimed that other countriesincluding Ireland and Franceare looking at similar approaches. Jenrick added: We havent made a final decision to place the vessel in Birkenhead port. However, we have identified the port as a potentially viable location and were seeking to engage the local authority, the local NHS, police, other emergency services, and other public agencies to help inform a final decision. He said a multi-agency forum is currently being established and will meet imminently in to assess risks and identify mitigating actions. Britains Housing, Communities, and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick arrives at 10 Downing Street in central London, UK, on March 17, 2020, (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images) Extra Police Funding Jenrick added: He raised the issue of whether the vessel would be, in his words. a prison ship or a non-detained facility. The Home Office has no intention of using this vessel as a detained facility. Those migrants who would be housed on it would be living in a non-detained manner, which means that they could leave the boat and they could spend time on the shore, whether that be in communities nearby in Birkenhead or further afield. The Immigration Minister said the freedom of the refugees would be carefully managed by the Home Office. Jenrick added: He also suggested that this was or implied that this was an unorthodox approach. It is one that is being used elsewhere, both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe today. The Scottish Government have used vessels to house Ukrainian refugees, for example, in Leith in Edinburgh, over the course of the last year or two. The minister described the Scottish scheme as broadly successful for both refugees and the community. Jenrick said that if the Wirral plans do go ahead, extra money will be given both to the local government and the police to deal with any extra pressures. He said a health facility, situated on or near the port, would also be included to duplicate similar plans for a purpose-built barge set to officially open in Dorset in the coming weeks. The 222-bedroom, three-story Bibby Stockholm barge arrived in UK waters earlier this month. Residents in the area have previously expressed concern over the housing of the 500 refugees in the quiet coastal area and accused the government of failing to consult local representatives ad communities. House Freedom Caucus Presses McCarthy to Add Conditions to Debt Ceiling Deal House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (R) speaks with Rep.-elect Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Rep.-elect Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) (L) in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 4, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) As negotiators are nearing an agreement to increase the nations debt ceiling, conservative House Republicans have urged House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to add to their demands on President Joe Biden rather than making concessions in order to close the deal. Negotiators from both sides have been meeting intensely for the past two weeks to forge a compromise that will forestall a first-ever default on the countrys financial obligations. Bidens starting position was that Congress has a constitutional duty to increase the debt ceiling so the government can fully meet its financial obligations. McCarthy said there would be no increase in the debt limit without some concession on spending, and that Republicans would not agree to any tax increases. Biden released his draft budget on March 9. House Republicans passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act on April 26, which offered a $1.5 trillion increase in the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts and other measures. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, speaks to reporters in Washington on Feb. 28, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Both leaders agreed that defaulting on the debt was not an option. Both acknowledged the need for give-and-take in order to reach a compromise acceptable to both sides. Negotiators could reach an agreement as early as May 26, McCarthy allowed during a May 25 television interview with Fox News. Eleventh Hour Demands Fearing that McCarthy may be too willing to make concessions, the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) wrote to the speaker on May 25, asking him to double down on the provisions of the Limit, Save, Grow Act and add two more demands in exchange for agreeing to raise the debt limit. Those two demands are that the president accept the recently passed Secure the Border Act, and that he scrap funding for a new FBI headquarters. If the debt limit is not raised, the government could lack the funds to pay all of its obligations in early June, possibly as early as June 1, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. House Freedom Caucus members questioned whether Yellens prediction was accurate. They asked McCarthy to demand that the Treasury immediately furnish a complete justification of the June 1 projection along with their plan for handling payments after that date. McCarthy has stated that he accepts Yellens forecast, as has Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and a lead Republican negotiator on the debt ceiling. To extend the default deadline through the end of June, caucus members also urged the speaker to combine two money-saving provisions of the Limit, Save, Grow Act and move them through the House immediately. Those are the clawback of unspent COVID-19 relief funds and the repeal of funding for hiring of 87,000 IRS agents over the next decade. We passed a trillion-and-a-half-dollar debt ceiling increase for a laundry list of things that we think will actually transform the country fiscally and in terms of standing up for hardworking families, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told reporters on May 25. Now what were talking about, allegedly, is a $3.5 [trillion] to $4 trillion debt ceiling increase for a whole lot less of those things, Roy added. That does not seem to me to meet what our expectations are in terms of the transformative, substantive fiscal reforms necessary to raise the debt ceiling, $4 trillion. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to the press at the White House on May 22, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) Asked what agreement on lifting the debt ceiling would be acceptable, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said, The one that the House passed. Thats acceptable to me. A majority of members say its acceptable as well. I would love to see the border package associated with it because it would actually take care of two concerns of the American people, not just one, Donalds added. A bill passing the House would also have to be approved by the Senate, where Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has threatened to delay any deal that does meet his criteria for substantive reform. I will use every procedural tool at my disposal to impede a debt-ceiling deal that doesnt contain substantial spending and budgetary reforms. I fear things are moving in that direction. If they do, that proposal will not face smooth sailing in the Senate, Lee wrote on Twitter on May 25. Deal Forthcoming Biden and McCarthy conferred by video call on the morning of May 25, and the president later said negotiations were moving forward. Speaker McCarthy and I have had several productive conversations, and our staff continue to meet, as we speak as a matter of fact, and theyre making progress, Biden said during a White House ceremony. Biden has offered a proposal to Republicans that would cut spending by more than $1 trillion and freeze spending for two years, he said. McCarthy has insisted that the country spend less in 2024 than in 2023. In an interview on the morning of May 25, McCarthy told reporters from Fox News that he was seeking an agreement worthy of the American public. The House will be in recess from May 26 through June 4, though members are prepared to return on 24-hours notice if needed. The Senate is currently in recess and scheduled to return on May 30. Jackson Richman contributed to this story. The quartz production complex is a good investment opportunity, El-Sisi said, adding that he was sending "a message to all investors that everything we do and open is available to you." He expressed his hope that investors and the private sector will not waste any more time. The complex is a great industrial addition to the states comprehensive development, Chairman of the Egyptian Company for Mining, Management and Exploitation of Quarries and Salinas Abdel-Salam Shafik said, lauding the establishment of six large industrial complexes of marble and granite. El-Sisi noted it will take $700 million to complete the remaining phases of the quartz project, pointing out that despite being a hefty sum Egypt will cover it within 3-4 years." The president urged "the government to remove all hindrances facing Egyptian and foreign investors in order to utilize opportunities that would enable boosting production and exports." Quartz crushing plant The president also witnessed the opening of Marsa Alams quartz crushing plant, the annual production capacity of which stands at 140,000 tons, factory director Hossam Anwar said at the event. Marsa Alam has one mine with a reserve of 3.5 million tons of quartz as well as five factories for quartz production, Shafik added. The state will do its utmost to complete the administrative and bureaucratic procedures required to develop the mining industry, he emphasized. The Egyptian Company for Mining -- a subsidiary of the Armed Forces National Service Projects Organization -- completed the quartz ore industrial complex under the directives of the Egyptian president. Shafik noted the company provides crude phosphate to fertilizer companies to yield 500,000 tons of production capacity per year. Quartz, commonly known as white gold, is mined from the Red Sea mountains. It is used in the manufacture of photovoltaic solar cells, electronic boards, computer chips, vehicles, microelectronic devices, iron and steel, and quartz panels. Search Keywords: Short link: House Passes Bill That Would Make Fentanyl a Schedule I Drug A Drug Enforcement Administration chemist pours 2,500 packs of confirmed fentanyl onto a counter for testing at the DEA Northeast Regional Laboratory in New York on Oct. 8, 2019. (Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images) In an effort to combat the deadly opioid crisis, the House of Representatives passed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act on May 25. Passing 289133, the bipartisan legislation would strengthen penalties for fentanyl trafficking and was supported by President Joe Biden. Fentanyl would be listed as a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act. Many House Republican members celebrated the bills passage, with Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) calling the bill critical as fentanyl continues to invade all of our communities. On May 22, Biden called on Congress to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act, urging members to pass all of these critical measures to improve public safety and save lives. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has become a leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States. The HALT Fentanyl Act will increase penalties for those involved in fentanyl trafficking and provide additional resources for law enforcement agencies to tackle this illicit trade. The bills Republican sponsor, Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), wrote on Twitter on May 22, Lives are on the line77 percent of adolescent overdose deaths in 2021 were from illicit fentanyl poisonings. However, the bill has faced opposition from a coalition of 150 civil rights groups, who penned an open letter urging members of Congress to vote against the legislation. The groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch, refer to the HALT Fentanyl Act as yet another iteration of the drug wars ineffective and punitive strategies. The emergence of fentanyl-related substances in recent years has fueled similar waves of alarmist media and law enforcement headlines that are informed by mythology rather than science, the letter reads. It points out that mandatory minimum sentences, which the bill seeks to expand, have historically contributed to mass incarceration and havent proven effective in reducing drug-related crimes. The groups also expressed concern that the proposed legislation could hinder efforts to address the root causes of drug addiction, such as lack of access to treatment and socioeconomic disparities. The signees said they prefer other proposals from House Democrats. This bill that theyre putting on the floor today, in my view, does not solve this problem, Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) told The Epoch Times. She noted that it doesnt sufficiently focus on long-term recovery because theres a demand for these drugs that we need to tackle as well. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) speaks as members of Congress share recollections of the 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2022. (Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images) Some Republicans have said that the HALT Fentanyl Act doesnt go far enough. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), in a statement released on May 23, underscored the urgent need to take action against fentanyl trafficking and said the bill is critically important in our fight to stop the flow of this deadly drug and its synthetics into the United States. Scalise said enhancing penalties for fentanyl traffickers would serve as a deterrent and disrupt the illicit supply chain that fuels the opioid crisis. He emphasized the devastating toll that fentanyl-related deaths have taken on communities across the country. He called on his colleagues to prioritize public safety and protect vulnerable Americans from this deadly scourge. Its happening every day in every community in America, and it shouldnt be happening, and were doing something about it, he said. Inquiry into Regional Bank Closure Reveals Shocking Shortfalls in Decision Making The last five years have seen regional bank branches reduce by 29 percent, or a net decline of 677 branches. (Reuters) A senate inquiry into bank closures in regional Australia has revealed shortfalls in banks decision-making leading to the branch shutdown, including the lack of consultation with the local community and the inadequacy in ground knowledge of senior decision-makers. The inquiry, which Senator Matt Canavan oversees, held public hearings on May 17 and 18 in regional Queensland, focusing on the branch closure process and its impact on local communities. Canavan chairs the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee overseeing the inquiry. More than 300 bank branches closed across Australia in the last financial year, with 95 of those in regional areas. The last five years have seen regional bank branches reduce by 29 percent, or a net decline of 677 branches, according to the banking regulator APRA. The total lack of consultation Mayor of Cloncurry Shire Council Gregory Campbell recalled the complete surprise when receiving Westpacs closure announcement via an email in February. The local staff werent aware. The major customers werent aware, he told the inquiry. The council, through its generic email, received a cut-and-paste letter addressed to the CEO advising that the branch was going to be closed on a date in, I think, April or May. Susan Curley from the Cloncurry Local Business Network, a local business owner and a long-term customer of Westpac, also shared her frustration with the completely inadequate communication. A letter turned up in our mailboxes, I think, a week after it was actually announced, she said. That was just pointless. Fortunately, the council and the local community reacted strongly, prompting a great dialogue with senior bank executives, which led to a pause on the closure and eventually the reversal of the decision. The council CEO Dr Philip Keirle raised the concern about the total lack of consultation with the local community during the process, saying that the turnaround of the outcome shows that some consultation would have been very valuable. Last year, Regional Banking Taskforce released its final report on how to improve banking services in regional Australia. The report recommends the introduction of a branch closure impact assessment. While some banks have adopted the branch closure impact assessment at the recommendation of the Regional Banking Taskforce in its final report, Senator Canavan questioned the validity of the assessment without a thorough consultation. How can a proper assessment be done if the branch doesnt speak to anyone in the community? he asked. The examples Ive seen so far seem very much a desktop sort of exercise, and they definitely dont drill down to the detail of farming or agricultural businesses that might exist in their area. Inadequate Communication within the Bank While describing the outcome as a great win for both the local community and Westpac, Campbell noted some major defects in the banks decision-making, including the gaps in the executives understanding of the situation and the inadequacy of the KPI used to justify the closure. Those senior people that we spoke with didnt understand the impact that lower-level staff decisions were having on individual communities, he recalled the conversation with the bank. He said it seems like a lot of these decisions are being made by the retail arm, and theyre not necessarily understanding the true impact of their decisions on farming. There was definitely a disconnect between streamsbetween retail and agri. There wasnt a good communication within the business. Don McDonald, the owner of a family agribusiness, said one of the issues with the major banks is that they have no idea of the operation thats going onthe size of it, the potential of it. In all the banks Ive come across, the lack of knowledge of regional Australia is quite astounding, he said. The inquiry has also found out the bank relies mainly on foot traffic, or the daily number of people walking in the branch, to assess the shutdown point. The only KPI that was used, as far as Im aware, was foot traffic through the door, Campbell said. He argued that given the move to digital banking encouraged by the bank over the last decade, foot traffic does not reflect the true picture of local businesses. One KPI was tracking down, but when you look at the bigger picture of this area, you see that business traffic is increasing exponentially. It just did not make any sense for Westpac to leave such a profitable region where it was making so much money from some of the biggest agribusinesses in the country, he said. Mandating Social Licence Regulating social licence to compel banks to keep bricks and mortar branches open for the regional community was tabled as a solution during the inquiry. What we have to think about is solutions that will make them understand that they have a social licence to operate in this country and that they need to respect these communities and the people that work and live in them, Senator Linda White said. Wendy Streets from the Financial Services Union supports mandating social license, saying changing banks behaviour require legislation changes and requirements on their licences to instil codes of conduct as banks only do what they must do. But smaller community banks caution that this would make it difficult for them to compete. The social responsibility is a difficult one for customer-owned banks, particularly because we are a member-owned institution and have to do the right thing by the broad church of our membership, Peter Lock from Heritage and Peoples Choice said. The requirement to retain branches in areas is a difficult one under a social licence because it doesnt do the right thing by all members. Campbell argues that social licence if imposed on banks, should also be applied to the government when it comes to the provision of public services. If banks are made to follow a social licence, then that mandate also needs to be applied to essential government services in the public sector, he said. When the public sector is not filling positions at hospitals, childcare services, and are actually cutting staff in those essential services, of course, private institutions like the banks are going to follow that trend. The inquiry is due to hand down its report by December 1. IRS Commissioner Denies Retaliation Against Whistleblower in Hunter Biden Investigation Daniel Werfel, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has denied directing retaliation against whistleblowers involved in the agencys investigation of President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden. I want to state unequivocally that I have not intervenedand will not intervenein any way that would impact the status of any whistleblower, Werfel stated in a May 17 letter to the House Ways and Means Committee that was obtained by Fox News. Whistleblower Claims Last month, attorney Mark D. Lytle of Nixon Peabody LLP came forward on behalf of an unnamed whistleblower. In an April 19 letter (pdf) to members of Congress, Lytle claimed this whistleblower had made protected disclosures to the IRS, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General, the Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Justice and would like to additionally disclose to Congress that the tax agency is mishandling an ongoing and sensitive investigation of a high-profile, controversial subject since early 2020. Lytle said the whistleblowers disclosures would contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee and involve failure to mitigate clear conflicts of interest and show examples of 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. Lytles letter did not identify Hunter Biden by name, but in an April 20 interview with Fox News, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) claimed the whistleblower specifically involved Hunter Biden. The whistleblower advocacy group Empower Oversight, which is supporting the whistleblower claims, has also retweeted reports indicating the whistleblower claims relate to the presidents son. This is somebody in the IRS at a high level, who apparently is willing to come forward to tell the Congress that during the investigation of Hunter Biden, there was obstruction, there was a thumb on the scale to the point that they feel they need to let the Congress know, Graham said in his April 20 Fox News interview. Graham also claimed Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) had expressed a commitment to investigate the whistleblower claims. Graham said he would hold Durbin to his word on an investigation. Retaliation Allegations Following the initial letter to Congress, Lytle and Empower Oversight President Tristan Leavitt sent another letter to Congress on May 15, alleging retaliation against their client. Lytle and Leavitt said the IRS whistleblower 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, their letter added. Lytle and Leavitt said the move was clearly retaliatory and may also constitute obstruction of a congressional inquiry. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter (pdf) to Werfel on May 16, demanding answers regarding the retaliation claims. While Werfel told Congress that he had not intervened in any way that would impact the status of any whistleblower, Werfel did admit that the particular whistleblower Smith referenced was given a change in work assignments. The IRS whistleblower you reference alleges that the change in their work assignment came at the direction of the Department of Justice. As a general matter and not in reference to any specific case, I believe it is important to emphasize that in any matter involving federal judicial proceedings, the IRS follows the direction of the Justice Department, Werfels May 17 letter states. When I first learned of the allegations of retaliation referenced in your letter and in media reports on May 16, 2023, I contacted the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Werfel added. In light of laws and policies designed to protect the integrity of pending proceedings, I am unable to provide details on this matter. From NTD News IRS Probe of Twitter Files Journalist Coincided With Bombshell Report, Jordan Says Journalist Matt Taibbi testifies at the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government hearing on the "Twitter Files" in Washington on March 9, 2023. (House Judiciary Committee/Screenshot via NTD) Twitter Files journalist Matt Taibbi became the subject of an IRS investigation mere weeks after publishing the series first report on the ties between the intelligence community and social media platforms, according to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). In March, Jordan wrote to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel to inquire as to the reason an IRS agent had paid a visit to Taibbis home on the same day he was set to testify before the committees panel on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. In a follow-up letter dated May 24, Jordan noted that documents the IRS had since provided to the committee indicated a concerning timeline of events in the agencys investigation of Taibbi over his 2018 tax return. The IRSs production shows that the IRS opened its examination of Mr. Taibbis 2018 tax return on December 24, 2022, Jordan wrote. Not only was this date Christmas Eve and a Saturday, but it also happened to be three weeks after he published the first Twitter Files detailing government abuses and the same day that Mr. Taibbi published the ninth segment of the Twitter Files, detailing how federal government agencies from the State Department to the Pentagon to the CIA coordinated to censor and coerce speech on various social media platforms. It is unclear from the documents alone why the IRS opened its examination of Mr. Taibbis tax return on such an unusual date or whether it coincided intentionally with Mr. Taibbis reporting about government censorship. The IRS opened a case on me on a Saturday, Christmas Eve 2022, which just happened to coincide with a major Twitter Files report on FBI/intelligence community ties to tech platforms. This is revealed in a new letter to the IRS Commissioner by House Judiciary Chair @Jim_Jordan: pic.twitter.com/WnbouNJMdQ Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) May 24, 2023 Extensive Investigation Taibbi published the first installment of the Twitter Files on Dec. 2, including the details of how Twitter had censored the New York Posts original expose on Hunter Bidens laptop in 2020 and how then-presidential candidate Joe Bidens campaign had coordinated with the platform to flag certain political content for removal. Just weeks after those bombshell revelations were published, the IRS opened its investigation into the journalists tax return. According to Jordan, the IRS claimed to have sent Taibbi two previous lettersone on Oct. 24, 2019, and a second on March 23, 2020asking him to verify his tax return because it met identity theft criteria and could not be processed without his confirmation. However, according to Mr. Taibbi, neither he nor his accountant received either of these letters or any other notification that there was an issue with his 2018 tax returnthat is, until the IRS conducted a field visit at Mr. Taibbis home three years later. The IRS purportedly failed to provide the Judiciary Committee with copies of those letters, offering only the explanation that the delay in contact was due to restrictions on field visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jordan, however, noted that the agency could have contacted Taibbi through less intrusive means than a visit to his home. As for the probe, the congressman said it was extensive, utilizing both publicly available search engines and commercial investigative software to collect such information as Taibbis voter registration records, his phone numbers, whether he possessed a hunting or fishing license, and whether he had a concealed weapons permit. Yet, as it turned out, Taibbi did not owe the IRS anything, Jordan wrote. Rather, the IRS owed Mr. Taibbi a substantial refund. Following the agencys unannounced house call, Taibbi resolved the issue with his tax return, and the investigation was closed on March 23. Troubling Questions Despite the resolution of Taibbis case, Jordan asserted that the circumstances surrounding the investigation raised troubling questions that demand explanation. The IRS, he noted, has a recent history of targeting conservativesa fact Werfel knows all too well, given that he served as acting IRS commissioner in 2013, after it was revealed that the agency had singled out conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status for stricter scrutiny. Given that history, Jordan requested that the IRS provide additional documents detailing the decision-making process behind the investigations launch and the field visit to Taibbis home. Additionally, the congressman requested all of the agencys communications and documents related to the Twitter Files between Oct. 1, 2022, and the present, and that the agent assigned to Taibbis case appear before the committee for a transcribed interview. The IRS will have until 5 p.m. ET on June 7 to provide the requested documents. The Epoch Times has contacted the IRS for comment. IRS Whistleblower in Hunter Biden Tax Probe Reveals Identity, Says IRS Slow-Walked Investigation An insider at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revealed himself by name for the first time after filing an anonymous whistleblower disclosure about the agencys handling of an alleged investigation into President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden. Attorney Mark D. Lytle of Nixon Peabody LLP revealed the whistleblower complaint in an April 19 letter (pdf) to members of Congress. Since then, Lytle and the whistleblower advocacy group Empower Oversight have alleged retaliation against the then-unnamed IRS agent. In an interview with CBS News that aired on Wednesday night, the IRS whistleblower revealed himself as Gary Shapley, a 14-year veteran of the agency. Shapley, who identified himself as an IRS supervisory special agent, told CBS News that he was assigned to the investigation in January of 2020. In the latest CBS interview, Shapley said he could not specifically identify the subject of the investigation due to tax secrecy laws. Neither Shapley nor his legal representatives have directly named Hunter Biden as the subject of what theyve called an ongoing and sensitive investigation of a high-profile, controversial subject. However, Empower Oversight has retweeted a CBS News report that named the presidents son as the subject of the investigation. In December of 2020, Hunter Biden did confirm that the U.S. Attorneys office in Delaware had been investigating his taxes. 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, Hunter Biden said at the time. First of all, my son has done nothing wrong, the president said in an interview earlier this month. I trust him. I have faith in him. Investigation Slow-Walked Lytle has said his clients disclosures would contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee and involve failure to mitigate clear conflicts of interest. The lawyer said the disclosures show examples of 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. In his own comments to CBS News, Shapley said, When I took control of this particular investigation, I immediately saw deviations from the normal process. It was way outside the norm of what Ive experienced in the past. In March, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the U.S. Attorney in Delaware had full discretion in pursuing the Hunter Biden tax investigation and was not restricted in his investigation in any way. Shapley, however, has claimed that, in his investigation, there were multiple steps that were slow-walkedwere just completely not doneat the direction of the Department of Justice. Shapley said he had never experienced deviations from the investigative process like those he has seen in this case. And each and every time it seemed to always benefit the subject, he said. Shapley said he ultimately decided to file a whistleblower complaint after an October 2022 meeting with federal prosecutors. It was my red-line meeting. The IRS agent has admitted he is a registered Republican and that the groups supporting his allegations have past ties to the Republican party, but he said his decision to come forward was not motivated by politics. I dont want to do any of this. I took an oath of office and when I saw the egregiousness of some of these things, it no longer became a choice for me, he told CBS News. Its not something that I want to do. Its something I feel like I have to do. Retaliation Allegations On May 15, about a month after Lytle originally notified Congress of the whistleblower allegations, the attorney raised new allegations that Shapley had been removed from the case along with the rest of his IRS investigative team. He was informed the change was at the request of the Department of Justice, Lytle and Empower Oversight President Tristan Leavitt wrote in a new letter (pdf) to Congress. Lytle and Leavitt argued that the DOJs decision to take Shapley off the case he was blowing the whistle on was clearly retaliatory and may also constitute obstruction of a congressional inquiry. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter (pdf) to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel demanding answers on the new retaliation claims. Werfel denied intervening against Shapley. The IRS whistleblower you reference alleges that the change in their work assignment came at the direction of the Department of Justice. As a general matter and not in reference to any specific case, I believe it is important to emphasize that in any matter involving federal judicial proceedings, the IRS follows the direction of the Justice Department, Werfel told Smith in a letter obtained by Fox News. From NTD News Japan Defense Paper Warns of Chinas Progress Toward World-Class Military A soldier of the People's Liberation Army stands on a tank during a parade to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Communist Party's takeover of China, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. (Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images) The Chinese regime may be accelerating the timetable for its plan to build a world-class military by the mid-21st century, Japan said in a draft of its annual defense report. The draft paper referred to Beijing as Japans greatest strategic challenge and warned that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could amass 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, Kyodo News reported on May 23. While Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed in 2017 to build a world-class military by the mid-21st century at the Partys National Congress, he has since then called for more quickly elevating the armed forces to that standard. The document also raised concerns about Chinas military cooperation with Russia. The two nations have carried out five joint bomber flights near Japan since July 2019, which Japan regarded as a show of force. Japan warned that the international community has entered a new era of crisis following Russias ongoing war in Ukraine, which it said has disrupted the international order spanning Europe and Asia. Russia appears to have suffered substantial damage to its conventional military forces, raising the possibility that its national strength may decline over the medium to long term and the military balance with neighboring countries may change, the paper says. The Defense Ministry is expected to submit the white paper to the Cabinet in July. Taiwan Issue Japan has previously raised concerns over Chinas military threat toward Taiwan. Last year, the ministry devoted 10 pages of its annual defense report (pdf) to Taiwan, double the pages of the previous years edition, giving an extensive overview of the security situation there. A Chinese warship fires at a target during a military drill near Fuzhou, Fujian Province, near the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands close to the Chinese coast, China, on April 8, 2023. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) The 2022 defense report stated that conflict between the United States and China is becoming prominent over Taiwan, with Washington increasing warship transits through the Taiwan Straits while China increases its military presence near Taiwan. Japan considers the stability surrounding Taiwan to be of paramount importance for its national security and emphasizes the need for close monitoring with a sense of urgency. The CCP aims to take control of Taiwan by any means necessary, even though Taiwan is a self-governing democracy. In April, Beijing staged a three-day military drill around Taiwan after Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California. Chinese aircraft incursions into the region continued even after the CCP proclaimed the conclusion of its military exercise. Chinas Military Threat On May 11, Japans defense ministry said that a Chinese naval flotilla was spotted circling Japan-controlled islands for days, which came as Japan deployed the PAC-3 surface-to-air missile defense system on Miyako Island, which is situated close to Taiwan. Japan has said the deployment was meant to deter North Koreas missile threat but Chinas state-owned media described the move as preparations for military intervention in the Taiwan question. During the 2022 East Asia Summit in Cambodia, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida accused Beijing of threatening Japans sovereignty in the East China Sea and escalating tensions in the South China Seawhere Beijing is pushing its claims on neighboring countries despite a Hague Tribunal ruling against its claims in 2016. There have been continued, increasing actions by China in the East China Sea that violate Japans sovereignty. China also continues to take actions that heighten regional tension in the South China Sea, Kishida said, while emphasizing the need to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait. Los Angeles County Ordered to Move Nearly 300 Youth Inmates Out of Juvenile Prisons Corrections officer looks on as inmates at Chino State Prison exercise in the yard in in Chino, Calif., on Dec. 10, 2010. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Los Angeles County has been ordered by state regulators to move nearly 300 youth inmates out of its two troubled juvenile prisons after California regulators on Tuesday determined the facilities unsuitable for the confinement of youth. LA County has two months to make the moves, which will close Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar and Central Juvenile Hall in Boyle Heights. The state board, which inspects the youth prisons, said the county has been unable over a period of two years to correct problems, including inadequate safety checks, low staffing, inappropriate use of force, and a lack of recreation and exercise. Board members rejected requests from the county for more time to address the issues. We have stayed in this process much longer than Im comfortable with, board chair Linda Penner said. Im concerned with the youth who are there right now, and we really must address that. The time has come to take this extraordinary move. An inmate at the Madera County Jail is taken to an inmate housing unit in Madera, Calif. on Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) The board decided to hold off on closing the facilities in April, given the department had been given multiple chances to fix the internal issues within the two juvenile facilities. The Los Angeles County Probation Department, which oversees the juvenile halls, said while it was disappointed by the imposed deadline, It is time for the department to discontinue using these facilities for housing pre-disposition youth. Both juvenile facilities have been struggling with a loss of officers on duty. This has caused more harm to inmates safety and well-being, as many youths arent getting adequate time out of their rooms, along with limited family visits, lack of schooling, and delayed access to therapy sessions. Young inmates have experienced a higher rate of mental issues, adding to the rise of violence and overdoses in the prisons. An 18-year-old was found dead in his room at Nidorf earlier this month of an apparent overdose. It was the first juvenile death at the facility since 2010, according to a county spokesperson. Interim Chief Probation Officer Guillermo Viera Rosa said, It is time for the department to discontinue using these facilities for housing pre-disposition youth. We are already executing a plan to transfer these youth, staff, programs, and services to Los Padrinos by the deadline, Viera Rosa said in a statement. We also want to make clear that the BSCCs decision today will not result in the release of hundreds of youth, as some have erroneously alleged. Hans Liang, president of the Deputy Probation Officers Union, described how many facility employees are scared to go to work due to the increased violence and lack of officer presence to maintain the safety and control of inmates. Officers assigned to the juvenile division are faced with daily youth-on-youth and youth-on-staff assaults and 40 percent of staff in the juvenile division are now out on injury leave, Liang said in a statement. To make up for the staffing shortfalls, staff are being compelled to work 18- to 24-hour shifts and have reached a breaking point, simply doing the best they can with limited resources and exhaustion. The young inmates will be transferred to the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, which was closed four years ago amid a dwindling population and allegations of abuse by staff. As we look forward to the methodical and smooth transition to Los Padrinos, we will also continue working on the more complicated issues of staffing and culture within the department, Viera Rosa said in a statement. We look forward to working closely with the BSCC, the California Department of Justice, and court-appointed monitors to ensure a level of long-term constitutional care for our youth. The nonprofit Youth Justice Coalition, which has advocated for the halls closure, called the boards decision a long overdue step toward accountability for the probation department. The inability of the department to meet minimum regulations and provide adequate care has caused irreparable trauma to incarcerated youth, the coalition said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Major Problem Grid Not Ready for Solar Farm Projects Until 2030s An aerial view shows the photovoltaic (PV) solar panels making up RAF Coltishall Solar Park, near Lamas, north of Norwich in Eastern England on Jan. 13, 2023. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images) Some UK solar farm developers have been told that they face a 1520 year wait to connect to local electricity grids, which the energy regulator claims is a major problem as the government wants to decarbonise its power system by 2035. Blockages in the network mean that some solar farm developers will only be connected to local electricity grids by the 2030s, with the government recognising the challenge of connection delays. In May, the trade organisation Solar Energy UK said that waiting times for large solar projects connection to the electricity grid, both on roofs and ground, can often stretch well into the 2030s. A Solar Energy UK spokesperson pointed The Epoch Times to materials that said at least two of its members have been told to expect connections in 2037. In some cases, previously agreed connection dates have been pushed back years, for example from 2025 to 2028. A view of electricity pylons behind houses in Lydd, Kent, England, on Sept. 30, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA Media) Zombie Projects The government hopes that all electricity produced in the UK will not have any carbon emissions from generation by 2035 and wants a fully decarbonised power system by 2050. Earlier this month, energy regulator Ofgem chief Jonathan Brearley said that it is unacceptable that some renewable energy projects which may never be built are able to block more viable solar farms from being connected to the grid. This is down to a system, which he called zombie projectswhich are never likely to go aheadyet they still take priority over newer but more viable plans. Ofgem believes that major reform is needed to reduce the waiting time for the increasing number of connections to the electricity network. An Ofgem spokesman told The Epoch Times by email that developers looking to connect renewable energy projects to the electricity grid are facing waits of more than 15 years. In recent years, the time it takes for developers to connect renewable energy projects to the National Grid has soared and are being seen as a major problem. The queuing system also risks urgently needed new housing and other projects being delayed, he added. The National Grid says to imagine how a high-voltage electricity system works is like the difference between a road and a motorway network. The transmission network (National Grid ESO) is the larger scale, high-speed route (the motorways) while the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are comprised of licensed companies that distribute electricity along the roads to local areas. One site, Larks Green solar farm, is the first in the country to feed electricity directly into the transmission network. It claims that this will generate over 73,000 MWh annually, enough to power the equivalent of over 17,300 homes. Apart from Larks Green, all solar projects are connected via a DNO. Not Ready for So Many Unreliable Sources of Power Ben Pile, climate researcher and co-founder of Climate Debate told The Epoch Times by email that these complaints refer to installations that offer extremely small amounts of power to the grid, yet require substantial upgrades to grid infrastructure. The operator of a potential large rooftop solar array development, call it scandalous, but the real scandal is that this idea of microgeneration powering a first-world economy, which [former Prime Minister] David Cameron championed, has not been scrapped, he said. They are not, as advocates claim, capable of reducing our bills, he said. Pile said that a similar problem occurred in the 2010s when onshore wind farm developers were sitting on twice as many planning consents as they had developed. This was because the grid was not ready for so many unreliable sources of power. New connections of the right kind need to be made too often quite remote big wind farms, its only going to produce a few dozen megawatts at most and intermittently, whereas a conventional coal, gas, or nuclear power station can produce a steady 2 gigawatts [GW], a thousand times more than a wind turbine or solar farm, for essentially just one connection to the grid, he said. He said that the public will be paying to upgrade the grid so that a factory owner and a solar firm can make extra money. But its not a great deal for the consumer, who really needs those big power stations to bring prices down, he added. Pile said that the disarray that potential suppliers claim the grid operators are experiencing is no surprise. The UKs climate and energy policies are irrational and were bound to cause chaos. There are 164 GW of new connection requests because absurdly high energy prices, caused by green policy, have created the incentive, he said. He said that if all these requests were fulfilled, there may, possibly, be 164 GW of capacity at lunchtime in July, when it is least needed. But there would be none at midnight. And even if storage was available, it would inflate the costs still further. And wed still need the capacity to provide power the 90 percent of the time that solar capacity is effectively zero GW, he added. Cut the Time A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told The Epoch Times by email: Solar is a key part of our plans to power up Britain, helping to deliver cheaper, cleaner, and more secure homegrown energy. Nearly all of the UKs solar capacity has been installed since 2010, amounting to enough to power over four million homes. We recognise the challenge of connection delays, and we want to go further and faster, aiming for 70 GW solar capacity by 2035. That is why were working to cut the time it takes to connect projects to the grid as part of our plans to power up Britain. Lawrence Slade, chief executive of the Energy Networks Association, which represents the UKs energy network operators, told The Epoch Times by email that network operators are making every effort to accelerate grid connections as we understand the size and urgency of this challenge. The industry has received 164 GW of new connection requests in the year to October 2022 alone. Thats around three times the capacity of our grid today, he said. As todays statistics show, more needs to be done and thats why we have launched our Improving and Accelerating Customer Connections plan, which will include moving to a first ready, first connected model. The clocks ticking and its essential that the policy environment and regulatory regime keep pace and fully consider the UKs net zero targets. PA Media contributed to this report. Passersby Save California Highway Officer From Headlock Three good samaritans came to the aid of a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer May 19 when he was attacked by a pedestrian in Santa Ana following a citation, authorities said. The passersby helped to free the officer from a headlock, and the suspect was arrested once the altercation ended, CHP Officer Anselmo Templado told The Epoch Times. The CHP Santa Ana Area expresses our gratitude and appreciation to the remarkable individuals who came to the aid of our motor officer in need, a statement from the highway patrol reads. The incidents started when two officers from the CHP responded to a report of a pedestrian yelling at passing motorists and attempting to remove a freeway sign around 5 p.m. at the Main Street on-ramp of the northbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway, according to Templado. Upon arrival, officers were able to detain the subject and gather the suspects identification, Templado added. Once they verbally warned him about avoiding the freeway and on-ramp, the individual was issued a citation and released. However, as one CHP officer was about to ride away on his motorcycle, the suspect walked back to the on-ramp and confronted the officer, he said. The officer was pinned down to the ground by the suspect during the altercation, which was when the good samaritans jumped in to help, according to Templado. One of them was Everardo Navarro, who was on his way to an event in Orange County, while the other two remained anonymous, Templado said. Navarro punched the suspect to free the officer but was not successful during the initial attempts, CBS Los Angeles reported. I punched the guy in the ribs but it felt like nothing, Navarro told CBS. He just continued grabbing the officer down. At that moment, my only concern was to avoid the person from grabbing the officers gun. With the other two mens help, Navarro was able to pull the suspect away from the officer. According to Templado, the situation could have ended up much worse if not for the help of the three passersby. Their selfless actions and unwavering support embody the true spirit of community and compassion, he added in an emailed statement. Their swift response and willingness to lend a helping hand undoubtedly made a significant difference, ensuring the safety and well-being of not only our officer, but also the suspect. The suspect was identified as Jaime Balderas Paniagua, 34, from Santa Ana, who was released from the jail the day before the incident, according to Templado and jail records. Paniagua was booked into the Orange County jail on assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest charges. He pleaded not guilty May 23 to the charges, according to Templado. He was scheduled for a pretrial hearing June 1 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Memorial Day in Contemporary America An American flag is seen at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on National POW/MIA Recognition Day on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Commentary Memorial Day emerged from Americas most deadly and destructive war: the Civil War. Agreed, social, political, and moral divisions are wracking and weakening contemporary America. But no external or internal challenge quite compares to the Civil Warat least not yet. Measured by soldiers and civilians killed in combat and by wars derivative killersstarvation, disease, and exposurethe Civil War has no rival. Physical, economic, and social destruction are more relative terms and comparing them in different historical eras is tricky. The Unions best generals, Grant and Sherman, targeted Confederate economic productivity. They knew the Souths ability to supply its armies prolonged the war. Shermans vow to make Georgia howl expressed the strategy succinctly. Blue and Gray armies burned farms and factories. The Confederate and border states (Kentucky, Missouri, even Maryland) suffered terrible devastation from both armies. This assertion is debatable, but I think it has merit. It took the Deep South 90 years (and the unifying effects of two world wars with international enemies) to overcome its economic backwardness, in comparison to the Yankee Northeast and Midwest. Yet the social-political Civil War lingered and lingered. The 1950s and 1960s desegregation movement was a Civil War battle, hopefully the last battle. Circa 1957 my father said that in just about those very words. (We were in an old Plymouth station wagon.) My mother, a movement civil rights activist advocating individual rights and a society disregarding creed and color, outright riled segments of 1958 Midland, Texas, society. She went public with her views on author James Baldwins instructive rage and why Dr. Martin Luther Kings nonviolent crusade was politically and spiritually healing and just totally American. Mom said she fought a just war. OK. 1959, 1960. Hundredth anniversary of the Civil War approaching; no kid could miss it. I remember thinking that if Mom fought a just war, then the Union soldiers who fought and died certainly did. Roughly 360,000 Union soldiers died. Fact: Their blood ended slavery. No matter what those young men of 1863 believed, their sacrifice should silence the race-hustling anti-American bigots of 2023. Unfortunately, theres money and media fame in hating America. Examples of contemptible self-serving disregard: 1619 Project (this outfit banks on a big lie, told often: America was founded on slavery); Black Lives Matter (a grift operation; its leaders buy mansions off their take); and despicable media jaws like Joy Behar who presume to tell Justice Clarence Thomas (who grew up in the Jim Crow South) he doesnt know what its like to be a black man in America. Since 2009 the civil rights battle has certainly changed. The Neo-Civil War is a political war in psycho-sexual drag. Basic tactic: If you disagree with me, youre violent! The armed services have recruiting problems and many of these problems have roots in these very curious internal divisions. The worst are highly neurotic and narcissistic individual demands for rights that challenge human chromosomes and common sense. On the macro level these demands undermine social cohesion: Parents are investigated for terrorism because they wish to protect their kids from mental and physical harm. In the micro level of a military unit, these demandswhich are always in flux, they change; very trans, so to speakthis self-righteous selfishness destroys the trust and discipline it takes to win in combat. This is a Memorial Day column. Decoration Day was a Union observance. Union survivors set aside a day in May for decorating the graves of dead soldiers with flowers. The website USMemorialDay.org notes that Southern states refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after WWI. Yes, a unifying effect. After WWI the day changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. Memorial Day became a national day, a healing day of remembrance to say thanks, no matter an individuals personal history. Memorial Day became a moment to reflect and to remember, to reflect and to respect the special gift of those who did their duty. Military service is the most difficult duty in a democracy. Military sacrifice protects rightsthe real rights to life and liberty. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. German airline Lufthansa on Thursday signed a deal with the Italian government for a minority share in the long-struggling ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia. Lufthansas industrial plan calls for revenues of 2.5 billion euros ($2.68 billion) this year, growing to 4.1 billion euros in 2027, the Italian Finance Ministry said in a statement. No financial terms were disclosed. The cashflow will allow ITA airlines to expand its fleet from 71 aircraft to 94 in the next four years, the statement said. The airline also foresees new hires to expand the workforce to 5,500. Under the strategy, Romes Fiumicino airport will become one of the Lufthansa Groups hubs, as ITA Airways focuses on long-range flights. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr also identified Milan, Italys business and finance hub, as having potential for growth. The deal must be approved by EU competition authorities. ITA Airways and its Alitalia predecessor have long been searching for an industrial partner as the Italian airline lost out on domestic and European routes to low-cost carriers. A string deals with potential and real partners had all fallen through over the last 15 years. ITA officially launched in October 2021 after bankrupt flag carrier Alitalia landed its final flight, ending a 74-year run which in later years was characterized by financial uncertainty and slides into bankruptcy. Lufthansa was the only airline that submitted an offer in the latest tender earlier this year. The German airline already operates Air Dolomiti in northern Italy, funneling long distance traffic from cities like Milan, Verona and Venice to connections in Munich and Frankfurt. Search Keywords: Short link: Missouri Senator Predicts Trumps 2024 GOP Nomination Is Inevitable Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said on Wednesday that he believes it is inevitable that former President Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election. Hawley, who hasnt endorsed any GOP candidate for the 2024 race yet, made the remarks at the Marriott World Center in Orlando during the 2023 National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) International Christian Media Convention, the worlds largest gathering of Christian communicators and ministry professionals. And thats not against anybody else, Hawley told Fox News Digital in an interview during the event. I just think that Trump is going to be the nominee and Bidens going to be the nominee of the other party. And I can tell you I know where I am in that matchup, the 43-year-old Missouri senator added. Hawley also said the case of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggwho charged Trump in April with 34 felony-level counts of falsifying business records related to alleged hush money paymentshas galvanized the 45th presidents support instead of hurting him. I think, you knowBragg, the Manhattan D.A., coming after him in what I think is a blatantly illegal mannerI think hes just consolidated his support, he said. Challenges Ahead The challenge for the next president, regardless of political affiliation, is to make America strong, Hawley said, noting that he believes President Joe Biden is not fit for the top job because he made the United States dependent on China, intentionally tried to divide Americans, and allowed record numbers of drugs across our borders. I mean, you look at what this president has done, Hawley said. Biden has made us dependent on China. Hes made China rich. Hes made America poor. Mandy Gunasekara, director of the Center for Energy and Conservation at the Independent Womens Forum, expressed similar concerns to Hawleys last month, telling The Epoch Times that the Biden administrations latest electric vehicle (EV) pushwhich is designed to drive mass adoption of EVs within a decadewill increase the United States dependence on China. It benefits the Chinese Communist Party because they control the critical minerals supply chain that is going to be necessary to build out the batteries for those electric vehicles, said Gunasekara, who served as chief of staff at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Trump. Hawley also said another reason he believes Biden is not fit to be president is due to the 80-year-old incumbent repeatedly trying to divide Americans by calling half of the countryor morefascists, calling them people who threaten our democracy. It used to be in America that we could have heated disagreements, but you didnt say that the other side was un-American and not fit to be citizens, he said. And this president does that on a daily basis, he added. Frankly, I think for that reason alone, he is not fit to be president. Candidate Pool Hawleys remarks came as Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his presidential campaign via Twitter Spaces alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday. The governors entry into the GOP field has been rumored for months, and he is considered the partys strongest candidate next to Trump, who is currently dominating the field. Ron DeSantis speaks during an election night watch party at the Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 8, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images) Trump, according to an average of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics, has a significant lead over any Republican challenger, including DeSantis, who trails in a distant second place. Biden, already the oldest president ever, officially announced his 2024 reelection campaign in April after months of hints and comments that he would seek a second term. The incumbent will have to convince voters he has the stamina for another four years in the White House amid poor approval ratings and voter concerns about his age. Democrats say Biden is running because he feels he is the only candidate who stands a chance against Trump. In announcing his candidacy, the Pennsylvania native declared it his job to defend freedom. The question we are facing is, whether, in the years ahead, we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer, Biden said in a video announcing his reelection bid. This is not a time to be complacent Thats why Im running for reelection, he added. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who also recently declared he will be running for president in 2024 as a Democrat, has set up a potential primary challenge to Biden, telling Fox News earlier this month that he believes he has a path to defeating Biden. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., founder of the nonprofit Childrens Health Defense, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2023. (York Du/The Epoch Times) Yes, I can win, Kennedy said when asked about his chances of ousting Biden in the primary. The public polls are showing me at 20 percent over for the Democrats, he added, and our private polling is showing that I have very strong support among independents and even Republicans. Apart from Biden, Kennedy is the second other candidate to declare a run for the Democratic nomination, joining author Marianne Williamson, who also sought the partys nomination in 2020 but dropped out of the race before any votes had been cast. In the Republican field, other major candidates besides Trump and DeSantis include entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and conservative talk show host Larry Elder. From NTD News Netherlands Wants to Give Ukrainian Pilots F-16 Training as Soon as Possible Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears on screen as he addresses the members of Dutch parliament via video link in The Hague, Netherlands, on March 31, 2022. (Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters) AMSTERDAMThe Netherlands wants to give Ukrainian pilots F-16 training as soon as possible, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said on Wednesday in a letter to parliament. The training would be coordinated with Belgium, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, and other countries could join, Ollongren added. On Tuesday, NATOs chief Jens Stoltenberg said training Ukrainian pilots on Western F-16 fighter jets would not make NATO a party to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. A day earlier, senior Russian diplomats said the transfer of F-16 jets to Ukraine would raise the question of NATOs role in the conflict. Last Friday U.S. President Joe Biden endorsed training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured Biden that the planes would not be used to cross into Russian territory. The West says it wants to help Ukraine defeat Russia but has repeatedly insisted it does not want to trigger a direct confrontation between the U.S.-backed NATO military alliance and Russia. New York, in Sudden Reversal, to Drop COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers New York officials are rescinding a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers that led to thousands being fired. Lawyers for the state announced the sudden move during a hearing on May 24 in a case brought by doctors who faced termination for not getting vaccinated. Due to the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving vaccine recommendations, the New York State Department of Health has begun the process of repealing the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for workers at regulated health care facilities, the state health department stated. This is a big win, Sujata Gibson, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the case, told The Epoch Times in an email. I cannot underscore enough how significant this is, not only for the 34,000 doctors, nurses, and other health care workers who have been unable to work in this state since 2021, but also for the millions of New Yorkers who have been impacted by the dangerous and crippling staffing crisis that resulted from their forced exodus from the field. Some 34,000 workers lost or left their jobs over the mandate, which was imposed in 2021. That reduced the health care workforce in the state by 3.5 percent. Nurses and others had warned that the mandate would contribute to staffing shortages that were already plaguing some facilities. No new punitive actions will be undertaken as the mandates repeal is being considered by the Public Health and Health Planning Council, the department stated in a letter to providers. But sanctions over previously cited violations may still be sought. Plaintiffs in the state case said officials violated the New York Constitution when they made the mandate permanent in 2022, bypassing the Legislature. Mary Bassett, the health commissioner at the time, also ignored data that showed that vaccinated people could be infected with and transmit COVID-19, the petition stated. State officials during the pandemic claimed that the mandate would help to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect staff members and patients. They also said they followed the law in promulgating the mandate. New York Supreme Court Judge Gerard Neri sided with the plaintiffs in January, ruling that the government was clearly prohibited from mandating any vaccination outside of those specifically authorized by the legislature and that the Department of Health blatantly violated the boundaries of its authority in issuing the mandate despite the fact that the vaccines do not prevent transmission. The ruling barred enforcement of the mandate but was stayed after New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls administration filed an appeal. Hearing Plaintiffs had expected state lawyers to argue in court for the January ruling to be overturned. They were surprised when lawyers first announced that the mandate would be dropped. The State Health Department has just informed me that they intend to repeal the regulation that is being challenged here, Jonathan Hitsous, one of the lawyers, told the court. Because theres no longer a regulation to enforce, we argue that this case has now gone moot, he added. Hitsous then urged the court to still overturn Neris ruling, claiming that if left in place, it would cast doubt on the regulation and other immunization requirements. Gibson objected. Its taken years of litigation to get here, and if they can keep doing this every time theres a new flu vaccine mandate they want to pass or if they want to put in another COVID vaccine mandate, or if they want to do the next pandemic, the next vaccine, this will happen again, and these people their lives have been ruined, she said. They have lost everything, and we just want to prevent that from happening again. The court adjourned without issuing a ruling. Our fight is not over. In a blatant show of gamesmanship, the state had the gall to ask the Court not only to drop the appeal, but to also vacate the decision below, without reviewing it on the merits, Gibson told The Epoch Times. Courts cannot allow defendants to get out of legal consequences of a final ruling by simply stopping the unlawful conduct mid-appeal. New Yorkers must be able to use the lower courts ruling as precedent so that this never happens again. The New York State Department of Health and Hochuls office didnt respond by press time to requests by The Epoch Times for comment. Under state rules, the Public Health and Health Planning Council must vote to repeal certain regulations. The body is composed of Dr. James McDonald, the acting commissioner of health, and a number of other doctors and health officials. It isnt clear yet when the council will take up the matter. Individual providers, meanwhile, should individually consider how to implement their own internal policies regarding COVID-19 vaccination while remaining in compliance with applicable state and federal laws, Dr. Eugene Heslin, a state health official, said in the letter to providers. News Outlets Falsely Claim Biden Inauguration Poem Banned From Florida School Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman speaks during the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, left, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Rob Carr/Getty Images) Multiple news outlets falsely reported that a poem read at President Joe Bidens inauguration was banned from a school in Florida. The Associated Press, the Guardian, and USA Today were among the outlets making the false claims. Amanda Gormans poem for Bidens inauguration banned by Florida school, the Associated Press reported. Amanda Gorman gutted after Florida school bans Biden inauguration poem, the Guardian reported. Florida school bans Amanda Gorman poem, MSNBC reported. USA Today said the book was banned and that the school had block[ed] younger students from reading it. Gormans The Hill We Climb, which gained notoriety after being read at Bidens 2021 inauguration, was subject to a parent complaint in the Miami-Dade School District, according to documents received and published by the Florida Freedom to Read Project. The parent, Daily Salinas, said that the poem is not educational and have [sic] indirectly hate messages and expressed concern it would cause confusion and indoctrinate students. School officials reviewed that complaint and four others from Salinas during a meeting in April and opted to move the poem and three booksCuban Kids, Love to Langston, and the ABCs of Black Historyfrom the elementary school section of the Bob Graham Education Center to the middle school section in the center, which houses a K-8 school. The decisions were based on the content of the materials. Officials for the poem said they found the vocabulary used was determined to be of value for middle school students. A fifth subject of a complaint, Countries in the News Cuba, was not moved. Despite the claims of the poem being banned, it is still available to all students, the school district said. The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman was never banned or removed from one of our schools. The book is available in the media center as part of the middle grades collection, the district said in a statement. In a letter to parents, the district said that the poem remains accessible to all students. And a spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that all students at the school have access to any book in the library, provided the book is deemed age-appropriate. The Associated Press, the Guardian, MSNBC, and Gannett, which owns USA Today, did not respond to requests for comment. Critics said the reports were clearly untrue. These hysterical and false claims about book bans and such are part of an insidious rhetorical misdirection to try to convince the public that any selection or scrutiny of reading materials are fascist and undemocratic. In fact, however, these reading materials being questioned does not amount to banning, because the materials remain widely available, but maybe not necessarily in a particular library collection or school curriculum, Jeffrey McCall, a communications professor at DePauw University, told The Epoch Times in an email. This kind of debate has been going on for years in America and is simply part of the democratic public sphere. Given how outlets have offered skewed reporting on other education issues such as critical race theory, its no surprise that theyll claim that people are banning books left and right, added Adam Guillette, president of Accuracy in Media. Other outlets reported that the school restricted access to the poem. Some, including the Associated Press, correctly noted the poem was still in the same building but still used the word banned. The poems section that was the focus of the complaint reads: Weve braved the belly of the beast. Weve learned that quiet isnt always peace, And the norms and notions of what just is Isnt always justice. And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow, we do it. Somehow, weve weathered and witnessed A nation that isnt broken, but simply unfinished. Gorman Responds Gorman said in a statement that they ban my book from young readers, confuse me with Oprah, fail to specify what parts of my poetry they object to, refuse to read any reviews, and offer no alternatives, referring to how Salinas listed Oprah Winfrey, as opposed to the real author, in the complaint. Winfrey wrote a foreword for the poem. Unnecessary book bans like these are on the rise, and we must fight back, Gorman said. When people noted the book had not been banned, Gorman added: The Hill We Climb is an inaugural poem for the world. Relocating it to older age group library shelves by its nature bars younger and equally deserving generations from accessing said moment in history. Some groups also used the ban language, including PEN America. The book may remain available to middle school students, but when you restrict or diminish access to a book, thats a ban, the group said in a statement. New Law A bill signed into law by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022 gave parents more power to challenge school materials. HB 1467 says that each district school board must develop a policy for parental objections and allow parents to present evidence that material does not meet criteria outlined in state law or contains pornographic or otherwise prohibited content, or is inappropriate for the grade level and 94 age group for which the material is used. If the school board reviews the complaint and finds problems, it must discontinue use of 100 the material for any grade level or age group for which such use is inappropriate or unsuitable. Some books have been banned in Florida, according to a recent lawsuit from PEN America and other groups. Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz said the Bob Graham Education Center process was the law working as intended. The process worked, Diaz told WLRN. A parent has the right to make a complaint. But the process was put into effect and it worked where they deemed the proper placement of the books. And the students still have access to it at the right level. And no books were banned. Nikki Haley Talks Trump, Ukraine, Polls at Campaign Stop in New Hampshire Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley and former U.S. Senator Scott Brown at No BS Backyard Barbecues event in Rye, N.H., May 24, 2023. (Courtesy of Scott Brown) At a town hall-type campaign stop in Rye, New Hampshire, on the evening of May 24, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley fielded a question from a town resident who wanted to know how she was going to handle the inevitable, dealing directly with the former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner and a politician who does not play nice. Im wondering, what is your game plan to punch the bully in the nose? the man asked the two-term governor of South Carolina. Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, started to respond, getting laughs, when she said, Hi how are you? She continued: Look, I think there are many things that President Trump did that I agree with. I was proud to serve in his administration. And the reason I got out of there without a tweet was because I told him the truth. When he was doing something right, I fought for him. I worked hard, and I did things that would make America proud. When he did something wrong, I showed up in his office or called him and said you cant do this, but instead, you could do XY or Z. And I always gave him options, and he would say, Well, l how do you see that playing out?' President Donald Trump shakes hands with Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Oct. 9, 2018. (Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images) Haley said that she and Trump had a great working relationship and that when she decided to run for president, she called him for two reasonsone because he gave me the job and it was the right thing to do. Two, because I wanted him to know I was in it to win it. And I told him we needed a new generational leader. We needed to leave the baggage behind. We lost the last seven out of eight popular votes for president. And we need to win this. In addressing an area of disagreement between her and Trump, Haley said, He thinks that January 6 was a beautiful day. I think that January 6 was a terrible day. Former US Senator Hosts Event Haley made the appearance, her sixth that day in the first-primary-in-the-nation state, at the event hosted by Scott Brown, the former U.S. senator from Massachusetts, who served in the Trump administration as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. The crowd overflowed the main room of the event where Haley kicked off Browns No BS Backyard Barbecues series for Republican candidates bidding to take back the White House in 2024. We had almost 400 people tonight, even with it raining heavily, said Brown in conversation with The Epoch Times. It goes to show how excited people are about participating in the process of electing a new president. This will be the first of many we hold. The informal candidate-and-voter get-togethers are a reprise of the No BS Backyard Barbecues that Brown held in 2016 in Ryewhere he and his wife, TV journalist Gail Huff livefor the large field of Republican presidential primary candidates. Sixteen of the 18 Republicans who vied for the party nomination that year participated in the barbecues. At the most recent No BS Barbecue, Brown was busy, moving through the crowd and handing the microphone to those who posed questions to Haley. A Quinnipiac 2024 Republican primary poll of announced and potential candidates posted on May 24 has Trump leading with 56 percentage points, followed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis at 25, with Haley in third place with three points, and former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, and Tim Scott, the U.S. senator from South Carolina, tied for fourth place with two points. A May 24 CNN poll looked better for Haley, with her tied for third with Pence at 6 points. The poll had Trump leading DeSantis, 53-26. Haleys Support for Ukraine Haley explained her support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, a nation she regards as an adversary to America, saying that backing Ukraine strengthens the United States in opposing and protecting itself from the bad international actors of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. She told the crowd that Americas aid to Ukraine should not involve putting Americans on the ground in the conflict or giving the country money. She said the United States should work with its allies to ensure Ukraine has the equipment and munitions to defeat Russia. This is bigger than just a war on Ukraine and Russia; this is a war for freedom, and its one that we have to win, she said. Haley related how Ukraine has surprised the world with its tenacity, effective fighting, and commitment to freedom and that Russia knows its in trouble. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event in the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, in Manchester, N.H., on Feb. 17, 2023. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Russia is getting drones from Iran; theyre getting missiles from North Korea, said Haley. Thats as bad as it gets. Theyve raised the draft age in Russia to 65. Think about that. Two weeks ago, they were pulling Russians off the streets and giving them shovels. Haley said, Russian and China are unlimited partners, and Iran is their junior partner. We need to believe tyrants when they say something. Russia said they were gonna invade Ukraine. We watched it. China said they were going to take Hong Kong. They did. Russia said Poland and the Baltics are next. We better believe them. And if that happens, were talking about World War III. Playing a Long, Strategic Game Haley referenced the polls and said it was apparent to everyone that the polls would change, that the polls of May 24 would not be the polls we see on the day of this primary. When asked to respond to Tim Scott, another South Carolinian, entering the race, Haley said, Im here; hes not, which drew light chuckles from the audience. Not only that, but I will put my record up against any candidate in this race. So Im not worried about anything, she said. In making her case at the No BS Barbecue, Haley may have intentionally and strategically positioned for her advantage the size of the crowds she will play to during the campaign, which, at least in the short term, will be much smaller than those her former boss Trump commands. You can judge how Im gonna lead by how Im campaigning, Haley said. I have been on the ground in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina over and over again. Youre not gonna see me take shortcuts. Youre not gonna watch me come into a rally and leave. Youre gonna see me touch every hand, answer every question and take every picture until I have earned your trust and I have earned your support. Haley added: No one will outwork me in this race. No one will outsmart me in this race. Oath Keepers Leader Stewart Rhodes Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Jan. 6 Crimes Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes uses a radio as he departs with volunteers from a rally held by U.S. President Donald Trump in Minneapolis on Oct. 10, 2019. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters) A U.S. judge on May 25 sentenced the founder of the Oath Keepers militia group to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach, after a defiant Rhodes stood before him and insisted that hes a political prisoner. For decades, Mr. Rhodes, it is clear you have wanted the democracy of this country to devolve into violence, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, an Obama appointee, told Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers founder. You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes. Mehta said he believes Rhodes represents an ongoing threat to the country. Rhodes was convicted in 2022 of seditious conspiracy for his part in the breach of the Capitol. Seditious conspiracy alone carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Rhodes was also convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents or proceedings. He was acquitted of two other charges. Prosecutors sought 25 years in prison for Rhodes. Lawyers for Rhodes asked for time served. Mehta handed down an 18-year sentencethe lengthiest term yet in the Jan. 6 cases. He applied sentencing enhancements based on factors including Rhodess terroristic conduct, saying the evidence showed that Rhodes was at the top of the chain and that he was culpable for the actions of the Oath Keepers. Multiple other Oath Keepers have been convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach. Rhodes told the judge that he was a political prisoner. I believe this country is incredibly divided. And this prosecutionnot just of me, but of all J6ersis making it even worse. I consider every J6er a political prisoner and all of them are being grossly overcharged, he said. Persecution Rhodes told The Epoch Times previously that he was being persecuted for being himself, describing a political persecution campaign. He didnt enter the Capitol. And yet, here I sit, because of who I am, and because of what I saidmy political speechnot because of anything constituting an actual crime, not because of anything I actually did, Rhodes said in March. Kelly Meggs, another Oath Keepers leader, went into the building with some other members. When Kelly Meggs told me his team had gone inside, I told him, That was stupid, because entering the building would make it easier for our political enemies to persecute us. And that is exactly what happened, Rhodes said. He said he viewed the verdicts as pre-ordained because in Washington, which overwhelmingly votes for Democrats, there can be no such thing as a fair trial for any Trump supporter. Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes III speaks to other Oath Keepers on the east side of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Ford Fischer/News2Share) Oath Keepers The Oath Keepers is a group composed primarily of former and current law enforcement and military members who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Theyve been present at a number of rallies and other events since being founded in 2009, including a series of rallies for former President Donald Trump. Rhodes said he went to Washington to provide security for top speakers, including one-time Trump adviser Roger Stone. Rhodes said he was concerned that Trump supporters would be attacked by members of the far-left Antifa network, which has carried out such attacks before. He said he went to the Capitol to order Oath Keepers away from the building after watching television coverage of the chaos breaking out there. Prosecutors during the trial heavily relied on communications between group members, including messages sent in encrypted chats, to support their case because most Oath Keepers didnt bring weapons into Washington. In one message after the 2020 election, Rhodes said, We are not getting through this without a civil war. He also called in an open letter for Trump to step in against President Joe Biden, whom he called an illegitimate usurper. More Sentencing Meggs, the groups former Florida chapter leader, was sentenced to 12 years later Thursday. Both Rhodes and Meggs were also sentenced to three years of supervised release following their prison sentences. Todays sentences reflect the grave threat the actions of these defendants posed to our democratic institutions, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. The United States proved at trial that the Oath Keepers plotted for months to violently disrupt the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next. The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6th attack on our democracy. Two others associated with the Oath Keepers, Jessica Watkins and Kenneth Harrelson, are due to be sentenced on May 26. They were acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted on other felony charges. Four Oath Keepers members convicted of seditious conspiracy in a second trial are due to be sentenced next week. The judge postponed a sentencing hearing that had been scheduled for May 24 for Thomas Caldwell, another co-defendant acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted of other charges. Joseph M. Hanneman and Reuters contributed to this report. The mystery of a shipwreck off the coast of Tasmania that began 50 years ago has now been solved. Marine explorers aboard Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Research Vessel (RV) Investigator first embarked on a 38-day voyage to study an underwater landslide off Tasmanias west coast. The expedition, led by the University of Tasmania, incorporated a piggyback project that would realize the finding of a lost coastal freighter that sank almost 50 years ago. On October 13, 1973, the 44-meter Motor Vessel (MV) Blythe Star set sail from Hobart bound for King Island and, reportedly due to instability, not long into the voyage suddenly took on water and capsized. All ten of MV Blythe Stars crew members made it into an inflatable lifeboat, yet, tragically, three crew members died before they could be rescued. MV Blythe Star sank beneath the waves, and for nearly half a century its location remained a mystery. CSIRO RV Investigator. (Courtesy of CSIRO) The approximate location of the shipwrecked MV Blythe Star. (Courtesy of CSIRO) CSIRO researchers explore MV Blythe Star from aboard RV Investigator. (Courtesy of CSIRO) Following reports from fishermen and underwater surveys that pinpointed an unidentified shipwreck located 10.5 kilometers (approx. 6.5 miles) southwest of South West Cape, RV Investigator set sail to inspect the finding. On April 12, 2023, the University of Tasmania researchers positively identified the sunken vessel as the MV Blythe Star, CSIRO revealed in a press release. Utilizing multibeam echosounders and two underwater camera systems, they were able to systematically map the sunken ship and discern the word STAR on the ships bow, confirming her identity beyond a shadow of a doubt. MV Blythe Star was found intact, sitting upright on the ocean floor, though she showed some signs of damage, particularly on her stern. MV Blythe Star was mapped using multibeam echo-sounding equipment. (Courtesy of CSIRO) Video footage shows the bow of the sunken MV Blythe Star, nearly 50 years after she sank. (Courtesy of CSIRO) A view of the upper boat deck of MV Blythe Star. (Courtesy of CSIRO) Various marine life was found on and around the sunken coastal freighter. The shipwreck was covered with minimal growth of algae and seaweed, while crayfish, schools of fish, and several fur seals were filmed swimming in her surrounds. After the discovery was made, it was revealed to key stakeholders, including the Blythe Star Memorial Group, who will hold an event in Hobart in October to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the maritime tragedy. In the aftermath of the MV Blythe Star tragedy, reviews of the incident would directly lead to important changes in maritime safety laws in Australia to significantly improve safety at sea for future mariners, CSIRO stated. CSIRO is pleased to be able to assist in providing closure to this 50-year mystery and confirm the final resting place of the MV Blythe Star. A view of the stern of MV Blythe Star. (Courtesy of CSIRO) The CSIRO project team who identified MV Blythe Star after she sank almost 50 years ago. (Courtesy of CSIRO) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Over 12,000 CAF Members Will Lose Canadian Military Housing Benefit Under New Policy: Federal Figures Members of the Canadian Armed Forces march at a parade in Calgary on July 8, 2016. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) Over 12,700 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will lose a military housing benefit they previously received once a modified version of the policy comes into force this July, according to recent federal figures. The Department of National Defence (DND) said in an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons on May 15 that new policies coming into force through the Canadian Forces Housing Differential (CFHD)which the CAF announced in Marchwill see a number of military members have their previous housing allowance reduced to zero. How many service members or veterans will see a reduction in their housing allowance by the full amount? asked an order paper question tabled by NDP MP Rachel Blaney on March 29. The DND responded that as a result of the CFHD over 12,700 CAF members would lose their housing allowance completely, 4,359 of whom are stationed at the Canadian Forces base near Quebec City-Valcartier and 2,810 in Edmonton. It also said that around 2,420 CAF members would see their housing allowance reduced by 75 percent because of the new policy, while just under 900 will see it cut by more than 50 percent. The DND also projects that around 11,590 CAF members who werent previously eligible to receive the PLD will be able to receive the CFHD as of July due to the policy change. CAF members have previously received housing benefits through the Post Living Differential (PLD), the purpose of which CAF says is to reduce any negative financial impacts military members and their families might experience when posted to regions with higher living costs than that of the standard city, using Ottawa and Gatineau as examples of standard cities. The CFHD will replace the PLD as of July 1. DND calls the CFHD a sophisticated approach with the goal of assisting CAF members in adjusting to housing costs in different locations within Canada. Changes CAF says the incoming policys aim is to ensure that military members who are renting or purchasing primary residences on the economy will only pay 25% of their gross monthly salary towards their housing costs. The military adds that the CFHD will focus only on housing costs, while the PLD was designed to account for many living expenses. CAF says a change was needed because the PLD model wasnt providing assistance to the military members who actually needed it. It adds that the CFHD will take into account the diverse intersectional identities of military members when determining their housing differential monthly rates. CAF says that CFHD eligibility will be based on a small handful of very specific factors, which includes a military members salary, whether they share their primary residence with other CAF members, and their location of duty rather than the location of their residence. The Canadian military has recently been experiencing increased attrition and lower retention rates compared to previous years. However, DND told The Epoch Times that it has not yet collected or seen any data suggesting the new housing differential policy is driving CAF members to file for release. We [DND] also dont necessarily centrally track the reason for CAF members wanting to release, at least not over the course of such a short period of time, a DND spokesperson said. Paraguay Is Open to Trade With China Without Cutting Taiwan Ties: President The national flags of Paraguay (L) and Taiwan wave outside the Taiwanese embassy in Asuncion on April 26, 2023. (Norberto Duarte/AFP via Getty Images) Paraguays outgoing President Mario Abdo Benitez said on May 24 that his nation is open to trade with any country, including China, but will not bow to Chinese pressure to cut off Taiwan. At the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Benitez hinted that China had refused to do business with the South American nation due to its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. We are not against doing business with anybody. But we believe that our diplomatic relations should stay firmly with Taiwan, he said. It is not that Paraguay does not want to do business with anybody. It is the other part that does not want to do business unless we change our diplomatic status, the Paraguayan leader added. Benitez hopes that the Mercosura South American trade bloc comprising Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazilwill enable Paraguay to expand its trading with other nations while keeping its relations with Taiwan. If we can use Mercosur to open our market, we do not have any kind of problem doing that, he added. Benitez said that his elected successor, Santiago Pena, who is set to take office later in August, has made a commitment to continue supporting Taiwan. Both of them are from the Colorado Party. Trade between Paraguay and Taiwan has increased by 500 percent under his five-year administration. If it continues, Benitez said this could give his party enough arguments to defend the strategic alliance with Taiwan. Pena pledged to strengthen the historic ties with Taiwan after winning the election in April, saying he would look forward to working on mutually beneficial cooperation projects. Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen congratulated Pena and expressed gratitude for his staunch position in maintaining Paraguay-Taiwan relations. In response, Pena said he hoped to visit Taiwan as soon as possible for talks with Tsai, according to Tsais office. CCP Threat The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite Taiwan being a sovereign nation with a democratically elected government. Only 13 nations, including Paraguay, have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Paraguay is the only country in South America that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign country. The CCP has, in recent years, persuaded some of Taiwans alliessuch as Nicaragua, the Solomon Islands, Panama, and El Salvadorto switch allegiance with the prospect of increased trade and investment. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March in favor of Chinas relations, which Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said resulted from Honduras demanding unreasonable aid from Taiwan. Tsai has said that her government will not compete with Beijing in meaningless dollar diplomacy. These past few years, China has persistently used any and all means to suppress Taiwans international participation, intensify its military intimidation against Taiwan, and disrupt regional peace and stability, she said on Twitter on March 26. Paraguay-Taiwan Trade According to a 2021 study published in Foreign Policy Analysis, Taiwan invested an average of $4 million a year in Paraguay from 2005 to 2014 and contributed an average of $14.8 million in aid. The study was authored by Tom Long, an associate professor at the University of Warwick, and Francisco Urdinez, an associate professor at the Institute of Political Science. Paraguay received nil from China in aid, investment, or finance, while regional annual average values for countries with diplomatic relations with China represented 1 percent of their GDP, a striking difference, it stated. Economic benefits from Taiwan do not compensate for these losses. Taiwan is a small trading partner for Paraguay, in absolute terms and relative to China. In 2018, trade with Taiwan represented 0.33 percent of Paraguays total trade, the study says. Epoch Newsroom and Reuters contributed to this report. Parents Protest Pride Event at California Elementary School NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.Some parents at Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood are calling for a boycott of a Pride event scheduled at the school next month, encouraging other parents to Keep your kids home and innocent. That is part of the message being distributed on a flyer to protest the Pride assembly, and some parents and educators say it is spreading intolerance. We respect everyone, but some things are appropriate for children [of] that age, and some things are not, George Dzhabroyan, who is among the Saticoy parents unhappy with the schools planned Pride event, told KTLA. Hopefully the message gets across and people understand that parents should be the primary contact of what their children should be exposed to and shouldnt be exposed to. The planned Pride assembly on June 2 will include a reading of a book called The Great Big Book of Families, which highlights diversity, a representative of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) said. Parents can request that their children not attend the program, according to the district. Parents who oppose the program have started an Instagram account. One of the posts invites parents who share conservative values and dont feel the material is appropriate to teach children to protest outside the school on June 2. LAUSD issued a statement saying, As part of our engagement with school communities, our schools regularly discuss the diversity of the families that we serve and the importance of inclusion. This remains an active discussion with our school communities and we remain committed to continuing to engage with families about this important topic. UN Climate change high-level champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda Mahmoud Mohieldin said on Thursday that adherence to just transition standards is necessary for de-carbonization. The high-level champion made his statement as he was participating in a session on global perspectives for achieving net zero carbon emission and ending green washing under the umbrella of the Innovation Zero Congress held in London. The Race to Zero campaign firmly supports climate action, he asserted, adding that coordination with the Race to the Resilience campaign, which aims to build climate resilience across urban, rural, and coastal areas, will contribute effectively to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. The campaign set rules for securing fair and just emission reduction, Mohieldin affirmed, clarifying that this is done through taking into account the implementation of the recommendations of the integrity report issued by independent high level expert groups-under the guidance of the Secretary General Antonio Guterres-to develop Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and prevent green-washing. Race to Zero has gained significant momentum since its launch three years ago to include around 11,000 members in some 130 countries, Mohieldin clarified, adding that the campaign drove converts toward reducing emissions in a lot of institutions, companies, cities, and regions, and set governing criteria and regulations for the transition to net zero. Race to Zero is a UN-backed global campaign rallying non-state actors including companies, cities, regions, financial, educational, and healthcare institutions to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030. The high-level champions are working with various actors to mobilize funds, utilize technology, and change behavior to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, Mohieldin affirmed. Climate champions are exerting efforts to mobilize funds from local, external, public, and private sources to bridge the gap of climate finance, he asserted. They are also working on enhancing the participation of women, youth, and indigenous people in leading discussions and finding solutions for climate issues, he continued. Hence, there is a focus on mobilizing finance to implement the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda and the Five Regional Roundtables Initiative resultant projects. Finally, Mohieldin added that establishing carbon markets such as the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative in developing countries is firmly encouraged, as well as activating debt reduction mechanisms, and debt swaps for investment in nature and climate. Search Keywords: Short link: Pennsylvania State Senators Consider Leaving ERIC Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt speaks to Pennsylvania Senators about how he would guide elections in the state in an informal hearing, on May 24, 2023. (Beth Brelje/The Epoch Times/Screen Shot) Other states have left the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) voter roll service, and now some Pennsylvania senators are thinking about leaving too. ERIC is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 that helps states clean up voter rolls. It bills itself as nonpartisan but is connected to the left-leaning Center for Election Innovation and Research, and when controversy bubbles up around ERIC, Democrats tend to support its use while Republicans tend to oppose it. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 requires states to make a reasonable effort to remove ineligible people from voter rolls. When someone moves or dies, their name should be removed from the registered voters roll, so it cant be used by someone else to vote fraudulently. For years this task has been handled by county or state election officials, but now some states, including Pennsylvania, outsource much of the work of clearing voter rolls to ERIC. To do its work, ERIC requires states to provide voter registration records. States must hand over all records of individuals who went to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and other places where people can register to vote. For example, in Pennsylvania, state offices that provide public assistance or services to people with disabilities, armed forces recruitment centers, area agencies on aging, county mental health/mental retardation offices, centers for independent living, and the county clerk of court. People seeking these state services do not suspect that a third party will be given their private information, which could be used by political parties to build a targeted list of voters. One might guess that someone connected to the military would typically lean Republican etc. This can be valuable data for election strategists. Voter Registration Requirement ERIC and CEIR are closely connected, and CEIR is creating lists of voters who should be targeted for voter registration efforts and laundering the lists back through ERIC for distribution to the states, a report last year by Verity Vote noted. ERIC recognizes voters who moved to another member state but didnt change addresses in their former state. They are put on a list to be removed from the former states voter rolls. In addition to this list, ERIC sends member states lists of eligible but unregistered (EBU) residents. States are contractually obligated to attempt to register EBUs to vote at least every 425 days. The ERIC agreement requires states to contact every person on the list and inform them how to register to vote. ERIC is set up as a membership organization managed by state election officials from around the United States. Members include Washington, D.C. and the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. And these states were members of ERIC but have exited: Ohio, Iowa, Florida, West Virginia, Missouri, Louisiana, and Alabama. And Texas voted Tuesday to leave. Membership in ERIC has not resulted in clean voter rolls in Pennsylvania, where a Judicial Watch lawsuit was settled this week. In it, Pennsylvania admitted in court filings that it removed 178,258 ineligible registrations in response to communications from Judicial Watch. Presidential Citizens Medal Accurate voter rolls and election integrity monopolized much of the conversation Wednesday during the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee hearing where Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt was questioned. Described as an opportunity for senators to get to know Schmidt before his confirmation hearing, senators spent much time asking him about ERIC. Schmidt is a Republican, nominated, for the position that oversees elections, by Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro. Schmidt helped administer elections in Philadelphia for 10 years where, as a commissioner, he was vice chairman of the board of elections, including during the controversial 2020 presidential election. In January, he received a Presidential Citizens Medal from President Joe Biden for refusing to be swayed by pressure from then-President Donald Trump regarding the election results. On November 11, 2020, Trump posted on Twitter: A guy named Al Schmidt, a Philadelphia Commissioner and so-called Republican (RINO), is being used big time by the Fake News Media to explain how honest things were with respect to the Election in Philadelphia. He refuses to look at a mountain of corruption & dishonesty. We win! Schmidt testified to the House January 6 Committee that the public threatened him because of that tweet. In Wednesdays hearing, Schmidt told state senators that Pennsylvania should use the data from ERIC if the state decides to remain a member. I would like to see the Department of State take a more active role in monitoring the activity of voter registration rolls to ensure that counties are doing with they are required by law to do, and I would welcome the ability to have a date-certain by which they have to fulfill their responsibilities, Schmidt said in the hearing. There is no deadline for when counties must cull the list, so the task is often put on the back burner, he said. Without ERIC, he said, states have no way of knowing when someone moves out of state and does not change their address. ERIC makes a comparison of names between member states. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Health sends a record to election officials whenever someone dies. Officials investigate to ensure the deceased is the same person as listed in their voter rolls. Counties make a note of it, but by law, they cannot remove that person for two presidential election cyclesthat is, seven years. Changing this rule would improve voter roll accuracy, Schmidt said. Divided Support for ERIC Support for ERIC fell along party lines during the hearing. I think it is important for public awareness if theyre unable to follow some of these things or never heard of ERIC or dont understand why states are leaving it, there is a large effort, a momentous effort, with some states leaving ERIC. Because of that, there are concerns that theres a trend happening nationally, by election integrity experts, of moving away from a nonpartisan election administration. Democratic Sen. Katie Muth said in the hearing. Im reading about the states leaving ERIC, or proposing to. They are all states who currently have a Republican governor. So I just wanted to state that for the record, in terms of the trends were seeing, as well as two Republican-controlled states that have proposed legislation that would prevent their states from becoming a member of ERIC, which is both North Carolina and Oklahoma. So as we head into the November election and the 2024 election, I think its just important for anyone who ever watches this year that they understand some of the dynamics behind what were discussing right now. Government Committee Chairman Sen. Cris Dush, a Republican, said he had serious questions he would like to have addressed by ERIC, then he turned to Schmidt. What assurances can you give the voters, and what commitments can you make to this committee, that either the problems with ERIC will be fixed or that the state will reassume its obligations to maintain voter rolls as it had done in the past and do so without sharing data with third parties while hiding these problems from the voters? Schmidt offered his support for ERIC. I am deeply committed to election integrity and see ERIC as a tool to improve election integrity, Schmidt said. Voter rolls in Pennsylvania are not as accurate as they could be because we do use all the information that we do receive from ERIC. Since 2020, over 130,000 records have been canceled, of voters, as a result of information we only receive from the Eric system. There is no other alternative, certainly at this time, to the ERIC system. Nor is there an ability for each individual state to recreate this system independently of every other. Portuguese authorities on May 25, search a reservoir near the area where British girl Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 when she was three years old. Pregnancy Centers Ask California Lawmaker to Apologize for Calling Them Fake The Santa Clarita Valley Pregnancy Center held a press conference to call for apologies from California Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, who said the states pregnancy centers were unlicensed and deceptive, in Santa Clarita, Calif., on May 24, 2023. (Courtesy of California Family Council) California pregnancy centers are speaking out against accusations made by a Democratic lawmaker who depicted the clinics as fake health care centers. The Santa Clarita Valley Pregnancy Center in Santa Clarita, California, held a press conference on May 24 to call out pro-abortion Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth), who said the states pregnancy centers were unlicensed and deceptive. Assemblymember Schiavo was wrong, said Angela Bennett, president and CEO of the pregnancy center. We are not a fake clinic. Our medical professionals are not fakes. Were proud to serve our community. Were proud to be a licensed medical clinic within our community and to meet the pregnancy diagnostic needs of women in our community who are either uninsured, have no place to go, or they just need an answer. During a presentation of Assembly Bill 710 before the Assembly Health Committee on April 25, Schiavo told members the centers intentionally mislead and lie to women about their reproductive health care options to block them from accessing abortion care. The bill failed to pass the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May. These clinics use deceptive practices targeted at vulnerable populations to draw them in by claiming they provide abortion services when they have no equipment or capacity to provide abortions, Schiavo said. To be clear, theyre not licensed medical clinics. The California Family Council, an organization advancing Gods design for life, family [and] liberty, reported there were 162 centers in the state and 87 of them were licensed. Schiavo, whose district has two pregnancy centers, called the free clinics extremely dangerous. According to a fact sheet distributed by Schiavo, her proposed legislation, AB 710, would launch a public information campaign through the California Department of Public Health to communicate facts about pregnancy care and abortion services to ensure women seeking abortion know where to get medically accurate, comprehensive, and unbiased information. The bill will most likely not be considered again this session, but some constituents are asking her to retract her statements and apologize. Jonathan Keller, president of the California Family Council, joined nurses, advocates, and patients for the press conference in Santa Clarita. The nonprofit criticized Schiavo for her statements and demanded an apology on May 1. This issue goes beyond just the issue of whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, Keller said. This is an issue of care for women. Its, sadly, an issue of what happens when this care for women gets politicized to the point that life-saving care is called misinformation, or it is called fake care. The group also heard from one of the clinics patients, Patty, who was holding her young son, Liam. Patty said she found out she was pregnant with her son in January 2022 and the boys father decided to leave her because she did not want to get an abortion. Full of self-doubt and without proper medical insurance, Patty said she went to the Santa Clarita pregnancy center for care. Through the center, I was given the guidance and tools to get my insurance set up, Patty said. I was able to openly talk about my feelings and concerns about being a single mom. And throughout the whole process, I felt genuinely cared for, and they listened to what I had to say. The Santa Clarita clinic has provided free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, and materials to women in the community for four generations according to Bennett, the centers president. Bennett reached out to Schiavo to invite her to tour the center and learn about the services they provide, but a meeting had not yet been scheduled. Once you see who we are and how we care for women, I hope you will apologize for the accusations of being a fake clinic that were leveraged against all the centers in our state, Bennett said. The California Family Council hopes the group set the record straight about pregnancy centers Wednesday, according to the councils spokesman Greg Burt. I hope this helps correct the false information thats been given out, Burt told The Epoch Times. Were hoping legislators get the message that if they misrepresent and lie about what pregnancy centers do and who they are, were going to speak up for them. Schiavos office did not return requests for comment by The Epoch Times but responded to the Signal in Santa Clarita Valley in a statement. Licensed or not, these crisis pregnancy centers are bringing women in by using misleading language about providing care when really, they only offer ultrasounds to confirm a pregnancy, which then leads to misleading conversations about abortions and the womans choices, regardless of whats best for her and her family, Schiavo told The Signal. Schiavos bill was part of a package of 17 abortion rights and reproductive justice legislation considered by the state Legislature this year. The legislation is one of numerous bills proposed by the California Legislative Womens Caucus and the California Future of Abortion Council. The abortion council was created in September 2021 by more than 40 organizations representing sexual and reproductive health care providers, and pro-abortion advocacy groups. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and NARAL Pro-Choice California are among the members of the councils steering committee. Californias Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed to include the right to abortion in the states constitution in 2022 and continues to promote a variety of abortion rights legislation in the state in response to the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade last year. Presidential Candidate DeSantis Identifies China as Americas Foremost Geopolitical Threat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks at the 2023 NRB International Christian Media convention in Orlando, Fla., on May 22, 2023, in a still from video. (Courtesy of NRB/Screenshot via NTD) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on May 24 that he would deal with China as the United States foremost geopolitical threat if he were elected as the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with Fox News not long after announcing his presidential candidacy on Twitter, DeSantis emphasized the need to recognize China as a threat to the nation and highlighted the growing interdependence between the two economies. DeSantis drew a comparison with the Cold War, pointing out that during that time, the United States had minimal economic interaction with the Soviet Union. However, he expressed concerns about the current level of reliance on critical supplies from China, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this, he emphasized the importance of restoring critical manufacturing capabilities within the United States. We have critical things that we rely on our foremost adversary for. During COVID, it was almost everything, the Florida governor said. The presidential candidate proposed the establishment of robust relationships with key allies such as Japan, Korea, India, and Australia. He believes that by working closely with these nations, the United States can effectively counter Chinese expansionism in the Pacific region. Additionally, DeSantis stressed the significance of recognizing Chinas increasing presence in the Western Hemisphere and the potential threats it poses to national security. I think we need a 21st-century version of the Monroe Doctrine, where were making sure that our own backyard is a freedom zone, DeSantis said, referring to a U.S. foreign policy position in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that viewed foreign intervention in the Americas as potentially a hostile act. The recently announced presidential candidate also voiced concern about leftist governments in Latin America inviting Chinese influence into the region, stating that it has negative implications for national security. He called for a proactive approach to counter such actions and ensure the protection of American interests in the Western Hemisphere. Expressing his dissatisfaction with the current administrations handling of China, DeSantis criticized President Joe Biden for what he perceived as a lack of firmness in dealing with the country. He suggested that Bidens approach may even be encouraging Chinas involvement in issues such as Ukraine and Russia. In Florida, the governor has taken a series of measures combatting Chinese Communist Party influence, including signing a bill earlier this month that blocks the regime from buying farmland anywhere in the state or making land purchases within 10 miles of sensitive locations such as military bases, ports, or power plants. Earlier in May, DeSantis decried the folly of prior American policies that allowed China to rise economically at the United States expense. Remember, they told us if you put China in the World Trade Organization and grant them most-favored trade status that they would end up becoming a capitalist democracy. Thats what the elites were saying would happen. In reality, China got much richer. They created a massive industrial base. And theyve used that to fuel more military and, really, to fortify [Chinese leader] Xi Jinpings ambitions. So thats just the reality of what happened. The elites in this country let us down. Ramaswamy Slams Election Interference as LinkedIn Censors GOP Candidate Over Comments on China, Climate Change The social media platform told The Epoch Times that the locking was done in error' Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is criticizing social media platform LinkedIn for allegedly interfering with a presidential election as it locked his account over comments he made about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Biden administration, and climate change. If they can do it to me, they can do it to anyone. Its remarkable that expressing fact-based views on climate policy and China-related policy, including legitimate criticism of President Biden, would result in outright censorship by a Microsoft-owned social media company, Ramaswamy, who announced his candidacy on Feb. 16, wrote in a statement to The Epoch Times on Thursday. Big Tech election interference has begun, Ramaswamy said in a Twitter post on the same day. LinkedIn last week denied Ramaswamy access to his account for comments that the social media platform says violates its User Agreement and Professional Community Policies, according to a screenshot of the companys notice sent in an email to Ramaswamy. The comments in question, according to the same screenshot, include a Feb. 5 statement by Ramaswamy: The CCP is playing the Biden administration like a Chinese mandolin. China has weaponized the woke pandemic to stay one step ahead of us. And its working. Another comment, dated Feb. 16, reads: If the climate religion was really about climate change, then theyd be worried about, say, shifting oil production from the U.S. to places like Russia and China. Yet, the climate religion and its apostles in the ESG movement have a different objective. A third comment, dated May 7, 2023, says, The climate agenda is a lie: fossil fuels are a requirement for human prosperity. Ramaswamy made all three comments in videos posted on the platform. LinkedIns action repeats a pattern of behavior shared by technological corporations that critics say amounts to censorship of alternative views. The platform wrote in an email to Ramaswamy on Thursday informing the presidential candidate that it does not tolerate misinformation, hate speech, violence, or any form of abuse on our platform. If you agree to abide by LinkedIns Terms and not to violate them again, well grant another chance to regain access to your account, reads a screenshot of another email that LinkedIn sent to Ramaswamy. In response to a press inquiry on Thursday, LinkedIn wrote to The Epoch Times that Ramaswamys account was restricted in error and its now back up. The Epoch Times contacted LinkedIn to clarify the apparent contradiction between the justification LinkedIn sent to Ramaswamy for locking his account and the explanation the platform sent to The Epoch Times for the action. We tried repealing the restrictions for more than a week, and LinkedIn doubled down on Viveks profile restriction, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy wrote to The Epoch Times. Yet, the moment media attention shined light on LinkedIns censorship they suddenly say the account was restricted in error.' Notably, Ramaswamy has been a vocal critic of what he describes as a collusion between the federal government and Big Tech; the latter, he says, censors viewpoints on behalf of the government. He proposed in his book, Woke Inc., to amend Section 230a law granting internet platforms immunity from liability based on users contentto roll back the extent of the laws protection of these online platforms. Section 230 also applies to LinkedIn. In other words, Internet Service Providers would have a choice: either they could benefit from the extraordinary privilege of legal immunity against lawsuits from users alleging censorship while abiding by the First Amendment, or they could moderate and censor user content as they wish without the special shield of Section 230. But they cant have both, reads a segment of Woke Inc. Ramaswamy repeated this message on the campaign trail. Now you have the government using tech companies to do, through the backdoor, what government could not get done through the front door, he said at a campaign event in New York on April 26. Thats not Big Tech censorship. That is government-tech censorship. Fast forward to today, Ramaswamy protested LinkedIns decision to lock his account, characterizing it as a part of a coordinated effort between the left and Big Tech. This is the embodiment of whats wrong in America: an arranged marriage between large tech companies and the left that together accomplishes what neither could alone, Ramaswamy told The Epoch Times on Thursday. Previously, LinkedIn was also under fire for agreeing to content moderation actions on behalf of state actors. LinkedIn in June 2021 censored a number of critics of the regime in Beijingincluding some staff members of The Epoch Timesby blocking their accessibility in China in connection with the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. A spokesperson from LinkedIn wrote to The Epoch Times in response to a press inquiry at the time that it respect[s] the laws that apply to us, including Chinese government regulations for our localized version of LinkedIn in China. The platform became one of a handful of Western social media platforms allowed to operate in mainland China when it launched a simplified Chinese site in 2014, after agreeing to the regimes restrictions. It shut down its China site in October 2021 after facing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China, and launched a separate professional services site in the communist country that excludes the social media element, according to its public statement in October 2021. Eva Fu contributed to this report. Rest of Australia to Help Pay for Victorian Governments Debt Disaster Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to media at the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, on May 18, 2023. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) Australians outside of Victoria will be footing some of the states ballooning debt with Premier Daniel Andrews advising property investors and business owners to use his new taxes in their tax deduction claims to the federal government. Any land tax is fully tax-deductible depending on the way in which they have their affairs arranged, he told reporters on Wednesday. Id encourage anybody who can legally make claims against that federal tax system to do so. Andrews unveiled the new $4.7 billion land tax changes on Tuesday aimed at land and business property owners, which will affect nearly 860,000 Victorians starting from July. Another new tax aimed at business payrolls is expected to raise $3.9 billion (US$2.5 billion) over the forward estimates. BDO tax expert Michelle Bennett told the Australian Financial Review that the federal tax income would suffer up to a $2.6 billion loss over four years as a result of claiming Victorias new levy as a tax deduction. An estimated $1.4 billion would be the result of Victorias new land tax, while another $1.2 billion in business claims would be from the payroll tax increase. It may not only be Victoria that is affected, she said. Increasing payroll and land taxes for Victorian businesses and property investors will increase income tax deductions, so this will ultimately be subsidised to some extent through a drop in the federal government tax take. Premier Unperturbed When asked in a press conference if he received any blowback from the prime minister or federal treasurer due to the new policies, Andrews immediately said no. The premier has faced massive criticism after the states 2023-24 budget revealed its debt will skyrocket to $171 billion by 2026-27. But Andrews has dismissed the criticism and defended his modest additional charges on Victorians affected by the new COVID debt levies. I fully acknowledge that there were some very difficult decisions that had to be made in this budget, and Im not about kicking things down the road, Andrews told the press. Im not here to be popular. He defended his COVID levies, which aim to repay the $30 billion that the government forked out during the pandemic, calling the policies the right thing. There is borrowing that you simply have no choice but to make to get through the toughest of times, and thats exactly what we did, he said. The choice that we have made is to pay off the COVID credit card with regard to peoples capacity to pay, and the alternative is to cut hospitals and schools, and we simply wont do that. Victorian Labor MP Sonja Terpstra described the budget as solid and filled with Labor values throughout. And it might encourage wealthy property Barrons to sell multiple properties, increasing supply. Is that a bad thing? Like how many properties does one need to own., she commented on Twitter. Controversial Budget Victorian Senator Jane Hume made harsh remarks that Victoria was a failed state, with its citizens being punished for the corruption of this Victorian government and this premier. Well, lets face it, Victoria is broke, she told Sky News Australia. If you were a business, why would you set up in Victoria? Why would you set up a business in Victoria if your payroll taxes were higher? If there is no incentive to employ people if your taxes are going up, if theres a mental health levy, if theres a COVID debt Levy on businesses, why would you set up there? Its going to have profound effects on employment. However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed up the premier with confidence, refusing to join the chorus of criticism at the Victorian government. The Victorian economy is growing, the Victorian economy is bouncing back after the pandemic like the Australian economy has done so, he told Sevens Sunrise breakfast program. Well always cooperate with all of the state and territory governments right around the country. But I have every confidence in Premier Andrews and the Victorian government. They have done an enormous amount to invest in infrastructure, the Victorian economy is growing again, and thats a good thing. Meanwhile, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockcliff has taken the opportunity to lure Victorian businesses into his state. Lower taxes, cheaper power, and a state that backs small business, he wrote on Twitter. If any Victorian businesses want a better deal, to provide jobs and opportunity to Tasmanians, well welcome you with open arms. San Diego Supervisors OK Aug. 15 Special Election for Fletchers Seat SAN DIEGOThe San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously May 23 in favor of a special election on Aug. 15 to fill the District 4 seat vacated by Nathan Fletcher. Should no candidate receive a majority vote in that election, the county will then hold a special general election Nov. 7. The board also approved $5.2 million for the county Registrar of Voters to cover election costs. Officials said costs could range from $2.1 million to $2.6 million per election. As of now, three people are formally seeking the District 4 seat: Janessa Goldbeck, Monica Montgomery Steppe, and Amy Reichert. In an emailed statement after the vote, Reichertwho challenged Fletcher for the District 4 seat last Novembersaid she was thrilled that the election is officially on, and we can move forward as a community. Earlier this month, supervisors voted 40 to advance a resolution for the election, which was proposed in the wake of Fletchers announced resignation. They also heard from numerous residents who wanted a special election, rather than having the board appoint a replacement. Fletcher, who sought treatment out of state for alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, resigned from his seat effective May 15. He announced his resignation March 29 after admitting to an affair with a Metropolitan Transit System employee who is suing him for alleged sexual assault and harassment. He has denied those allegations. On Tuesday, supervisors heard a presentation on how the county Registrar of Voters will spread the word about the Aug. 15 election via social media, local media outlets, flyers, direct mail, and public service announcements. Registrar Cynthia Paes also went through a timeline on how the election will be conducted, and how it will feature a minimum of 27 drop boxes and up to 14 vote centers. We will work with speed and accuracy to certify the election, she said. Paes also said that information on the election will be offered in several languages besides English, including Spanish, Filipino, and Chinese. Michael Vu, an assistant chief administrative officer, said Paes will have a narrow window to pull the election together. During a public comment period, numerous residents urged supervisors to support robust public outreach, especially for such a racially and culturally diverse district. Outreach efforts are especially important in a special election when turnout is likely to be low, said David Trujillo, an official with the American Civil Liberties Union for San Diego and Imperial counties. Trujillo cited a recent Los Angeles municipal election that had an extremely low turnout. We must do better, he said. San Francisco Board of Supervisors Convenes Outdoor Meeting to Address Drug Crisis The San Francisco Board of Supervisors walks toward an outdoor meeting in U.N. Plaza, San Francisco, on May 23, 2023. (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times) SAN FRANCISCOThe San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened a special outdoor meeting at the United Nations Plaza on May 23 to address the elephant in the room, the open-air drug crisis. President of the Board Aaron Peskin said he hoped the dialogue focuses some urgency around the crisis on our streets, and the need for an effective plan to address it. What we are doing is not working, Mayor London Breed said in the meeting. And in fact, our local resources have increased, but it has not dealt with the problem based on the magnitude of what were experiencing. We have to make the kinds of decisions that are going to allow for people to get the help and the support they need, but [also] to not allow things to continue in the way that they have for far too long, Breed added, with the latter referring to drug dealing not getting deserved punishment. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convenes an outdoor meeting on May 23 to address the open-air drug problem. (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times) Although the crowd booed when the mayor started to speak, they applauded when she asked the question, Why should someone elses rights be put before their needs and their safety and what they deserve in a place like San Francisco that claims to be so compassionate [and] liberal? While agreeing the drug problem is not new, Peskin also emphasized, It is one that has become so visible that many San Franciscans do not feel safe, even though San Francisco in most of its neighborhoods is as safe or safer than it was prior to the pandemic. I think we all acknowledge that there is a crisis and we need to treat it like a crisis. Peskin added. He had previously accused Breed of not calling the problem a crisis. The meeting was quickly recessed to the usual chamber in City Hall due to protesting. A woman who allegedly threw a brick towards the front of the crowd was arrested by police officers. A woman who allegedly threw a brick toward the front of the crowd is tackled by San Francisco police officers. (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times) San Francisco resident Tom Wolfe told The Epoch Times, I think San Francisco is at a crossroads right now; which direction [do] we want to go? While calling the outdoor meeting a circus and a media spectacle, Wolfe also admitted, The fact that they were out there in front of the public was good. We need a public health approach, and we need a target-specific law enforcement approach for the organized drugs. Wolfe said, If we can find a way to put those two things together , then we can see real change. 200 people died from drug overdoses in San Francisco in the first quarter of 2023, nearly a 41 percent increase from the 142 deaths reported for the first three months the prior year. Drug dealing and deteriorating street conditions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis on the streets of San Francisco; officials are now openly expressing concern about the issues. Peskin has called for collaboration between multiple departments and agencies to clear the open-air drug market in the Tenderloin district within 90 days. But San Franciscans are crying for more to truly stop the drug crisis. Shelter worker Charie Pittman, who held a banner saying: Fentanyl nazi war camp. Stop killing us for money., called for policy change. Its turning into a funeral home over fentanyl, said Pittman. Theyre sending people into the shelter allowing them to do fentanyl. Pittman said the funding for shelters went to pacifying the drug addicts, We will give you the aluminum foil, we will give you the straws, theyre not saying hey, you cannot bring it (fentanyl) in here. Resident Carlos Law expressed his thoughts to The Epoch Times about the citys approach during the fentanyl epidemic. We [have] a sanctuary policy, and a sanctuary policy is protecting the criminals [who are] accused of bringing the drugs over here. San Francisco Mayor London Breed Booed During Outdoor Drug Crisis Hearing The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convenes an outdoor meeting to address the open-air drug problem, in San Francisco, on May 23, 2023. (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times) San Francisco Mayor London Breed was forced to cut short an outdoor public hearing held at the United Nations Plaza in the citys downtown on May 23 after being heckled by protesters, one of whom allegedly threw a brick that hit another attendee. Breed, a Democrat, was joined by Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin at the open-air hearing to discuss the ongoing problems facing the city, including homelessness and a drug crisis, including a surge in fentanyl overdose deaths. It is really great to be here to highlight a significant problem within our city, Breed began her speech, before stating that drug dealing, drug use, poverty, crime, and violence have been issues that have long plagued the city. The people who live here, the folks who work here, and the people who experience these challenges every single day, they deserve better, she continued. We cant keep speaking out of both sides of our mouth, Breed said. On the one hand we want change and we want to hold people accountable, and on the other hand, were willing to let people get away with murder. The fact is, we got [sic] challenges in this city. And we have to make the kinds of decisions that are going to allow for people to get the help and support they need, but to not allow things to continue in the way that they have for far too long, she continued. Its time for a change. The mayor noted that efforts so far to improve the situation are simply not working despite an increase in local resources to address the problems. A woman who allegedly threw a brick toward the front of the crowd is tackled by San Francisco police officers, in San Francisco on May 23, 2023. (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times) Hearing Moved Indoors Protesters continuously heckled Breed during her lengthy speech, and she ultimately decided that the outdoor hearing would not be the right forum to continue with the address, which was subsequently moved indoors, away from the crowd. One protester was later arrested for allegedly throwing a brick into the crowd, according to police, who identified the suspect as Elysia Katet, 26, of San Francisco. The brick hit the foot of a high school student, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, before the suspect was arrested and removed from the area. Katet was booked in San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of child endangerment and assault with a deadly weapon, the San Francisco Police Department confirmed to the publication. The student suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Epoch Times has contacted the San Francisco Police Department for further comment. Breeds outdoor hearing comes as the city is planning to implement a pilot program aimed at addressing situations in which individuals are so far under the influence of drugs that they may pose a danger to themselves or others, according to the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors walks toward an outdoor meeting in U.N. Plaza, San Francisco, on May 23, 2023. (Lear Zhou/The Epoch Times) Rising Crime, Drug Overdoses Plaguing City On Twitter, SF District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston took aim at the program, writing that arresting people for drug addiction is not moderate nor commonsense. Its reactionary, cruel, and counterproductive. After Tuesdays meeting was reconvened, Breed said, I get that people have an issue with the fact that we are looking at being more aggressive with people struggling with drug addiction. I want to make sure that person doesnt die. How do we do that? Force is going to have to be a part of it, whether people like it or not Compassion is killing people, she added. Peskin, meanwhile, criticized the mayors handling of the drug problem impacting the citys streets and called on Breed to open a sustained Emergency Operations Center in coordination with local, state, and federal agencies to shut down all public drug dealing in open-air sites such as in and around this Plaza in the next 90 days, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The hearing comes as a string of major brands including Whole Foods and Nordstrom have shut down operations in San Francisco amid rising crime levels. Residents, meanwhile, are fleeing in record numbers amid fears for their safety. According to San Franciscos chief medical examiner, 200 people died of an accidental drug overdose in the first three months of the year, up from 142 deaths in the first quarter of last year. Travel Lifestyle Network (TLN), a global PR agency network specialising in travel and tourism, has appointed Isabel Tapp, Founder and CEO of AllDetails, as the representative of the GCC and Middle East regions. A boutique communications and marketing agency headquartered in Dubai, AllDetails specialises in luxury hospitality, travel and lifestyle clients in the GCC and greater Middle East region. With more than 20 years of local experience, the award-winning agency is uniquely placed to bring unparalleled GCC and Middle East expertise and perspective to TLN. Isabel Tapp said of the appointment: We are delighted that AllDetails has been invited to join the board of the Travel Lifestyle Network as the GCC and Middle East representative. TLNs spirit of collaboration, innovation and evolution is perfectly aligned with our goals and values as one of the Middle Easts leading travel and lifestyle communications agencies. In our dynamic, fast-evolving region, we relish the opportunity to share our local insights, while collaborating with and learning from our industry peers in other key global markets, Isabel said. We look forward to working hand in hand with our travel and lifestyle counterparts in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania over the coming years. The announcement was made at the annual AGM of TLN in the Cape Winelands. The AGM brought members representing 30 markets together to address the trends that are shaping the industry and affecting agencies worldwide. Talking points included the latest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and mastering communication within PR teams to navigate generational differences in the workplace, which now comprise five generations for the first time in history. Further sessions covered the business tools every PR agency needs in their toolkit, how to create a compelling response to any RFP, and taking a global approach to PR and Marketing for todays travel and tourism clients. The AGM provided a platform for TLN members to forge global partnerships in the PR space. Recognising the power of collaboration, TLN aims to foster a strong network of agencies that can share knowledge, resources, and best practices to better serve clients and drive industry innovation. "Global partnerships are the bedrock of our network's continued success," said Natalia Rosa, newly appointed Chair of TLN. "Our AGM has been a wonderful opportunity for our members to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another so that they bring that knowledge back to their respective agencies and their team and clients reap the rewards. Having led the global network for several years, outgoing Chair and Director of GroupExpression in France, Virginie Le Norgant, said it had been a great privilege to be at the helm of the Travel Lifestyle Network. A truly global network of talented PR, marketing and communications specialists in the travel space, TLN has expanded its reach with representation now in such markets as Mexico, Indonesia and even Canada. It is my sincere belief that the new Board will continue to expand the network strategically so that our mutual travel and tourism clients benefit from our global mindset and truly local approach, she said. TradeArabia News Service Peter Gran, Professor of Modern Egyptian History at Temple University, talks to Ahram Online about the impact of colonial ideas on western historians' analysis of Modern Egypt and the need to decolonize knowledge and dismantle the prevailing postcolonial thought. Despite fatigue after a long journey to Cairo, Professor Gran was keen to sit down and talk to us. In fluent Arabic, he discussed his new research projects, a recent book as well as his debates with western historians over the years on analyzing the history of Modern Egypt. Gran lived in Egypt from 1968-1973 to conduct studies for his doctoral dissertation on Sheikh Hassan Al-Attar, the grand imam of Al-Azhar from 1830-1835, who was also one the most enlightened scholars in arts, literature and the applied sciences in the 19th century. In the decades that followed, he visited Egypt several times and befriended various intellectuals and journalists. Ahram Online: Would you tell us about the purpose of your current visit to Egypt? Peter Gran: I am very interested in promoting research and research projects related to the modern history of Egypt. Perhaps I consider myself a specialist in historical sociology, which focuses on the development of societies throughout history and how social structures are formed from organizations and institutions and their impact on society. Unfortunately, this speciality is very weak and almost doesnt exist in the US, and the reason for this is that American society in general does not have a fundamental historical role, and perhaps for this reason, historical sociology is a marginal field of research, unlike sociology or history. Personally, I consider this field very important and inspiring many new ideas for researchers. AO: What research projects are you currently conducting? PG: I am currently looking for organizations to fund my research project on the late thinker Abbas Mahmoud Al-Aqqad and his relationship and influence on Egyptian society, specifically in Upper Egypt. I am also finishing a draft of my new book, which deals with the social changes of migrant workers, the group working in Upper Egypt, specifically in the Assiut governorate, and the impact of the central decisions of Cairo and the pattern of governance on this social group. I made sure that the study covers a long historical period, from the era of Khedive Ismail until the end of the era of the late President Anwar Sadat in 1981. I hope that the book will be published in the US next year, and that the Arabic translation will follow. Otherwise, the National Center for Translation has recently published the Arabic translation of my latest book, The Persistence of Orientalism: Anglo-American Historians and Modern Egypt. AO: Can you tell us about your latest book and the most important ideas it deals with? PG: This book discusses the postcolonial (colonial) ideas that were established by many Western writers and historians during the years of the British colonization of Egypt. Unfortunately, these ideas are still inherited among academics, so that some political analysts currently in the US adopt ideas about Egypt that are very similar to what Lord Earl Cromer dealt with in Modern Egypt which was published in 1908 without them having read the book, as if we were living the same culture and thought of the colonial period. Perhaps it is necessary to emphasize that Cromer's book and his view as a colonizer of Egypt had an impact on the policy of royal rule and the family of Muhammad Ali in Egypt until the era of King Fuad, which believes that the rule and administration of the Egyptian state should resemble the history of the rule of ancient Pharaonic Egypt. Despite the movements of liberation, independence and the national state that Egypt witnessed, starting with the 1919 revolution and what followed in the ensuing years and decades, the growth of the movement and the 1952 revolution, Western historians did not care to read and study that stage and talk about claims of freedom and independence. On the contrary, they focused on discussing the issue of modernity. Until now the independence and liberation movements that Egypt went through did not receive sufficient attention and study from Western historians, and the reason for this is the dominance of the colonial and postcolonial school of thought among Western researchers. AO: Can you describe for us academic discussions of postcolonial ideas? PG: As I explained, I envisage that there will be research and academic criticism of colonial ideas, especially in the research community in the US and all those who adopt the colonial approach to knowledge. By comparing the number of Western studies that discuss and analyze colonial and postcolonial ideas in African, Latin American and Indian countries, we find that they are many and varied. On the other hand, we find that such discussions and research marginal when it comes to studying the history of Egypt. On the contrary, there is almost a rejection and disregard for writing, and perhaps a hatred of Egyptian nationalism, even in Western academic circles. However, it is necessary here to refer to the efforts of the Egyptian historian Shafiq Ghorbal, Professor of Modern History, who had great contributions, perhaps the most important of which is his book on the history of the Egyptian-British negotiations for independence, in addition to his efforts to confront colonial ideas. AO: How do you see the extent of interest in historical studies by Western academic circles? PG: Indeed, there has been an onslaught over the last two decades against historical studies in Western academic circles. For example, when studying social conditions in some countries, such as Egypt, there is a strong emphasis on focusing on the current situation of some societal groups, such as women or marginalized groups, without there being a reading to understand the historical sequence and the link between the past and the present. The idea is that the past has a great impact on the present, and that is why most Western research centres that conduct such social studies are in fact succumbing to colonial and postcolonial ideas and discourse without reading and criticizing those old ideas, and this matter is very disturbing, especially in Western research centres. AO: What is your comment on the ideas that promote that French and British colonialism saved Egypt from stagnation? PG: This is colonial thought, and the response to that is that technology exists in the world, and whenever there is a desire and political will for rulers, it can be learned, transferred, or even stolen. As we learned from history books, when the Mamluks needed technology, they sought the help of Greek scholars and benefited from them to develop the army. During the reign of Muhammad Ali, he was keen to transfer knowledge and technology to the army and all sectors of the country. What I want to point out is that Egypt did not witness intellectual stagnation or slavery like other countries. During my study of the history of Sheikh Hassan Al-Attar, I found that in that period there was interest in translations, production, and circulation of ideas and knowledge. Hence the propaganda and claim that the French campaign was a turning point for Egypt is in fact part of colonial mythology. AO: What are your impressions of the changes that Egypt has witnessed over the past decades? PG: When I came to Egypt in the late 60s, Egypt was like many countries. Anyone who follows the political history of Egypt can observe the growth of the middle class since the 1919 revolution until the end of President Gamal Abdel Nassers rule. With President Sadat assuming power, a major shift occurred in the middle class as a result of privatization policies. In fact, that period witnessed the same transformations that affected the middle class in the US. Thus, the decline of the social contract of the state was a frequent scene in Egypt and many countries of the world, which led, for example, to changes in society through the adoption of existential and non-religious ideas. All these manifestations were the result of the withdrawal of states from the responsibilities and concerns of society and the erosion of the middle class to varying degrees. AO: How did these variables affect the studies of historical sociology? PG: As a university professor, I noticed that there is a growing interest by Western research centres in conducting marginal social studies without focusing on the historical aspect or linking the present and the past. In addition, Ive noticed that researchers in the US do not dare, for example, to publish studies on women's rights in the US because they will not find funding and support for such research, or even job opportunities as researchers in the field. By directing their research on women's rights in Egypt and monitoring the suffering that, in fact, represents the suffering of women in the US, who currently, for example, do not have the right to abortion and suffer from the absence of justice in obtaining a fair wage in many jobs compared to men and other matters. In short, Egypt is part of who we are as an American community and that is one of the main points I discuss in my latest book. AO: Would you explain how Egypt is part of the American and Western identity? PG: Egypt, as we believe, is where the west began, that is linked to the migration of Moses and his people from Egypt, according to what was mentioned in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament. Therefore, you find that there are religious ideas that have a profound impact on current American culture, and words such as exodus, barren lands, and wilderness, which were mentioned in the Torah, have deep roots and influence in American thought. Likewise, the migrations of the founding fathers of America and during the stages of their formation of settlements in New England in the US, we find that they resemble themselves in the arid and wild lands, as was the case for the people of Moses. Accordingly, there is concern in American thought that Egypt's orientations may change. What intellectuals want is for Egypt to be as it was mentioned in the Bible. And whenever Egypt has a nationalist orientation, as was the case during the period of the political leader like Ahmed Orabi, Saad Zaghloul, Abdel Nasser, or any rulers who had independent policies, this orientation arouses anger and resentment in the US, because what is required is that Egypt depends on the West as the leaders understand it, from the stories of Holy books, which is that Egypt is in a stage of decline and stagnation, and it can only progress when the West and colonial thought intervene. For all of the above, Western academics glorify the French occupation of Egypt and the contributions of Lord Cromer's colonial thought. If you review his book Modern Egypt, you will find him talking on the first pages about the complete failure of Khedive Ismail and how the British presence contributed to saving Egypt. And if you follow the colonial history of the UK and the US, you will find that historians always provide historical justifications for brutal acts such as slavery, murder, extermination, and unjust laws against women. For Anglo-American thought, that victorious group is the promoter of Western thought in the world, and it is the one that promotes the rise and dominance of the West. For all of the above, I see that the prevailing postcolonial thought, its claims, and its description of Egypt, as I mentioned in religious books, is a thought that impedes the presentation of new visions and readings of history, and what I do in terms of research and studies is to dismantle this postcolonial thought. Therefore, what I recommend in my book is that there be a re-reading and definition of American society. We in the US are not only a Western society, but rather a mixture of multiple cultures between Indians, Asians, Africans, and Europeans. This ethnic and cultural diversity is the reality of American society, and therefore we are not a Western society as it is. It was promoted during the colonial eras, and therefore if we redefine the identity of American society, we will, accordingly, accept the concepts of independence and the modern history of Egypt, not just the ancient history of Pharaonic Egypt. AO: What helped you reach those ideas and intellectual convictions? PG: In fact, I had the great opportunity to live in Egypt for years and to analyze the ideas and books of Western historians, as well as to get acquainted with Egyptian and Arab thought and heritage. What I concluded is that the claims of colonial and postcolonial thought did not deepen the understanding of modern Egyptian heritage and thought. Personally, there are many books I have read over the years by British historians about Egypt, which I later discovered lack the depth and true understanding of Egyptian society and even the culture of the Middle East and the Arab world. For example, the Scottish historian Hamilton A.R. Gibb. If you read his books, you will be surprised that his ideas are colonial and superficial. On the Islamic religion, where he describes it as the religion of "Mohammedanism", and when you read it, you discover that it does not understand anything about Islam, and its reading is superficial and misleading. Accordingly, it was confirmed to me that many historians and current researchers repeat what was mentioned in the old books without reviewing or even experiencing and evaluating those ideas that were written during the colonial era. All of this prompted me to produce studies to decolonize knowledge of this approach. There are a number of sociologists, anthropologists, and historians in Britain who support this approach and have studied it in some African countries and India. I believe that it is necessary to increase research in reviewing and dismantling colonial ideas associated with Egypt and the Arab world. AO: Are there historians in the US who share your view? PG: Yes, of course, there are historians who agree with my vision, such as the late Palestinian American historian Dr. Zeinab Abul-Magd, professor of modern history of the Middle East at Oberlin College, in addition to many researchers of Arab origins who have academic writings and contributions to American universities and research centres. There is also a tendency to support the new research ideas of historians and to review and dismantle colonial ideas, which we hope will receive attention in order to have better readings about the current situation of the world and the relationship of history with the problems of the present. Search Keywords: Short link: Senator Demands Probe of ATF Over $9 Million in Fraudulent Payments to Employees FBI and ATF Evidence Response Teams process the scene of the Christmas Day blast in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 28, 2020. (FBI/ATF via AP) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) employees fraudulently received at least $9.7 million in pay and benefits over five years, according to a March 29, 2022, report from the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The report indicates that the fraud may have gone on longer. The report says ATF is working with the Office of Personnel Management to correct the problems. One Republican Senator believes the problem is more significant than reported and wants to know who will be accountable. The American people deserve to know the full extent of the ATF bureaucrats dishonest dealings, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) wrote in a May 23 letter to Michael E. Horowitz, Department of Justice Inspector General. Neither Ernst nor the ATF returned telephone calls or emails seeking comment. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) speaks at a Senate Republican news conference in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on March 9, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) The OSC report says a whistleblower reported that from 2016 to 2021, at least 108 ATF employees were misclassified as law enforcement personnel. As a result, they reportedly received enhanced retirement benefits and pay. According to the report, in June 2020, two ATF whistleblowers told the OSC that ATF has a longstanding practice of systematically and intentionally misclassifying non-law enforcement jobs as law enforcement positions. The OSC sent a letter to then-Attorney General William Barr requesting an investigation. The following September, ATF investigators learned that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was also investigating. ATF turned its findings over to OPM to avoid overlapping investigations and cooperated with its investigators. Investigators identified 108 ATF misclassified employees. According to the report, the ATF ignored the law and agency regulations to set its own compensation system. It was found that ATF established several merit promotion policies that violate OPM regulations and merit system principles, the OSC report reads. Culture of Gross Mismanagement In her letter to Horowitz, Ernst writes that, while she is glad the matter is being addressed, she is skeptical that all the alleged wrongdoing had been revealed. I remain concerned about the limited scope of the remediating actions. According to the whistleblowers, OSCs report did not adequately capture the extent of ATFs illegal practices or their full impact, Ernsts letter reads. She added a scathing evaluation of the ATFs attitude toward its responsibilities to taxpayers. Despite OSCs role ending, more work remains to be done on this important issue to ensure the ATFs culture of gross mismanagement of taxpayer funds is fully examined and remediated to stamp out any willingness to abuse the public trust which may exist amongst ATF bureaucrats, the letter reads. Ernst says she wants Horowitzs office to work with whistleblowers to ensure all alleged wrongdoing is uncovered; she wants the government reimbursed for excess pay and benefits that were improperly paid, and she wants recommendations on disciplinary action up to and including termination, as well as criminal referrals where appropriate. She has requested a report by June 6, 2023. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launches the first-ever presidential campaign kickoff on social media. Former President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social even before Desantiss announcement was made. How is DeSantis polling leading up to the GOP primaries compared to Trump? Our guest joins us to discuss DeSantis position in the polls in the race for the Republican nomination. Debt ceiling negotiations are dragging on. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sent GOP negotiators to the White Housewith just eight days to go until the nation could run out of money to pay its bills. We have the latest updates and reactions from Capitol Hill. Recent court documents show that the FBI broke its own rules in scouring intelligence on certain Americans. We hear from a free speech expert on how such a revelation could affect public confidence in federal agencies. TV personality and podcast host Seth Holehouse joins us to explore what Americas real enemy is. And he argues that America is already undergoing a cultural revolution. Supreme Court Overturns Fraud Convictions Related to Cuomo Project The Supreme Court overturned the fraud convictions of four businessmen, three of whom were connected to the scandal-plagued Buffalo Billion development plan in upstate New York. The plan, led at the time by then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, envisioned the construction of a solar panel factory, among other projects, and was aimed at attracting more than $8 billion in investments for Buffalo and the rest of western New York, creating about 14,000 jobs. The court issued unsigned orders (pdf) on May 22 summarily vacating the convictions of petitioners Steven Aiello, Joseph Gerardi, and Alain Kaloyeros, who were connected to the Buffalo Billion saga, and of Michael Binday, who was not. The court did not explain why it was issuing the orders. No justices dissented. All the cases were remanded to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit for reconsideration in light of two rulings the Supreme Court handed down earlier this month limiting the application of the federal honest-services fraud statute and the right-to-control theory of fraud. The Supreme Court simultaneously granted the petitioners requests seeking review while skipping over the oral argument phase when the merits of the case would have been considered. Some lawyers call this process GVR, which stands for grant, vacate, and remand. The orders followed the Supreme Courts unanimous May 11 decision to overturn the 2018 public corruption conviction of Joe Percoco, formerly a longtime senior aide to Cuomo. Cuomo resigned in August 2021 amidst allegations of sexual improprieties and of concealing COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. In the ruling, the Supreme Court limited the reach of the federal honest-services fraud statute, which some lawyers and civil libertarians say is vague and overbroad. Federal law defines honest-services fraud as a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services. Although the law was created to combat government corruption, its application isnt limited just to government officials and can cover private citizens. The phrase honest services is not defined, which has allowed the courts to decide on the laws reach. For honest-services fraud to take place, someone must pay a bribe and someone must be harmed by it. The thinking behind the law is that the person accepting the bribe owes a duty to someone else, such as the citizenry. Percoco was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit honest-services fraud for taking money from companies that hoped to gain influence with the Cuomo administration. But at the time of the payments that the federal government characterized as bribes, Percoco had temporarily stepped down from his state office to run Cuomos reelection campaign. This meant he was not a government official at the time he accepted the funds and therefore no corruption was involved, Percoco argued. The May 22 orders also came after the Supreme Court unanimously overturned on May 11 the conviction of Louis Ciminelli in a separate case related to the Buffalo Billion project. Prosecutors claimed Ciminelli rigged bids for state contracts. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other charges by a federal court in Manhattan in 2018. Aiello, Gerardi, and Kaloyeros, a former president of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, were also convicted at the same time. Ciminelli claimed that the right-to-control theory of fraud the government argued and the 2nd Circuit upheld in the case, was invalid. The theory holds that the deprivation of complete and accurate information a person needs to make an economic decision constitutes property fraud. The Supreme Court rejected the right-to-control theory under which a defendant is guilty of wire fraud if he schemes to deprive the victim of potentially valuable economic information necessary to make discretionary economic decisions, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court. We have held, however, that the federal fraud statutes criminalize only schemes to deprive people of traditional property interests, Thomas added. Binday, an insurance broker, obtained life insurance policies for clients intending from the beginning to facilitate the resale of those policies to investors, his petition (pdf) stated. Once sold, such policies are called stranger-owned life insurance, or STOLI policies. But Binday falsely told the insurance companies that his clients did not intend to sell the policies, according to the petition. Binday was convicted of mail and wire fraud in 2013. Generally, insurers cannot prevent an insured from selling their life insurance policy to someone else, and in fact, they are required by law to permit the resale of policies, the petition stated. But insurers may refuse to sell life insurance policies to individuals who admit they plan to later sell them. So insurers will ask in an insurance application whether the proposed insured intends to sell the policies. For example, insurers require applicants to affirm that they do not intend to sell their policies to investors; they require brokers to affirm that policies are not intended for investors; and they void policies or pursue breach of contract claims against insureds or brokers who misrepresent their intentions. Bindays lawyer conceded at trial that the brokers clients falsely represented in their insurance applications that they had no intent to re-sell their policies, a move that could have led the insurance companies to sue Binday for breach of contract, terminate him as a broker of their policies, or sue to void the policies issued in violation of the insurance companies rules, the petition stated. Instead, Bindays misrepresentations were transformed into a federal criminal prosecution. Prosecutors argued that to obtain a fraud conviction under the right-to-control theory the government only had to prove that Binday deprived the insurance companies of information needed to make informed economic decisions. Bindays counsel, David W. Shapiro of the Norton Law Firm in Oakland, California, lauded the Supreme Courts decision to vacate his clients conviction. We are pleased that the Supreme Court took up the question whether a persons thought process is property under the fraud statutes and rejected the Second Circuits case law, Shapiro told The Epoch Times in an email. Mr. Binday argued that point multiple times in the lower courts and in the Supreme Court, and his position has now been vindicated. Attorneys for Aiello, Gerardi, and Kaloyeros did not respond to requests for comment by press time. The Epoch Times also reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice for comment on the May 22 orders but had not received a reply as of press time. Supreme Court Rules Against EPA in Major Wetlands Case The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, on May 12, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) The Supreme Court voted to rein in the power of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate wetlands in a complex decision issued on May 25, the second time in a year that the court has curbed federal environmental authority. All three liberal justices and one conservative justice expressed their opposition to the courts decision to adopt a new definition for wetlands. The nations high court ruled in favor of an Idaho couple who have been battling federal officials for years over the right to develop their own property. The ruling involved the controversial waters of the United States rule that critics say has led to excessive and, at times, overzealous regulation of private lands by the EPA. The couples lawyer, Damien Schiff of the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), said the ruling returns the scope of the Clean Water Act to its original and proper limits. Courts now have a clear measuring stick for fairness and consistency by federal regulators. Todays ruling is a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers, Schiff said in a statement. EPA Administrator Michael Regan promptly denounced the ruling, saying that it erodes longstanding clean water protections. As a public health agency, EPA is committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of race, the money in their pocket, or community they live in, have access to clean, safe water. We will never waver from that responsibility, he said in a statement. The case, Sackett v. EPA (court file 21-454), was argued on Oct. 3, 2022. Agencies Ordered Work to Stop Chantell and Mike Sackett had started building a new home in Priest Lake, Idaho, when the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers suddenly ordered them to stop all work. The government agencies stated that the couple needed a federal permit and threatened them with more than $30,000 in daily fines. The EPA had determined years before that their parcel of land contained wetlands. The Sacketts say their lot lacks a surface water connection to any stream, creek, lake, or other water body and that it shouldnt be subject to federal regulation and permitting. Even though water isnt usually visible on their land, the government claims that, based on aerial photography, the lot is home to a fen wetland. Fens are peat-forming wetlands that rely on groundwater input and require thousands of years to develop and cannot easily be restored once destroyed, according to a USDA Forest Service report. They are hotspots of biodiversity and figure prominently in nearly all scenarios of CO2-induced global change because they are a major sink for atmospheric carbon. The Sacketts had asked the Supreme Court to revisit its 2006 ruling in Rapanos v. United States, which was a fractured plurality decision that created uncertainty about the applicable legal standard. Led by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, four of the nine justices found that the Clean Water Act (CWA) regulates a wetland only if it has a continuous surface connection to another waterway. Then-Justice Anthony Kennedy devised his own legal test, finding that the law covers wetlands that have a significant nexus to a larger body of water. The Biden administration argued for the nexus standard. In the Supreme Courts new opinion, all nine justices agreed that the Sacketts property didnt fall under the CWA, but only five agreed on a new test to be used to determine when the statute applies to wetlands. The majority rejected the nexus standard and endorsed the Rapanos standard that previously failed to garner majority support on the court. The courts majority opinion was written by Justice Samuel Alito. That opinion was joined by four other conservative justicesClarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and John Roberts, the chief justice. In the opinion, Alito described the CWA, the principal federal law regulating water pollution in the United States, as a great success. Before its enactment in 1972, many of the nations rivers, lakes, and streams were severely polluted, and existing federal legislation had proved to be inadequate. Today, many formerly fetid bodies of water are safe for the use and enjoyment of the people of this country, he wrote. There is, however, an unfortunate footnote to this success story: the outer boundaries of the Acts geographical reach have been uncertain from the start. The Act applies to the waters of the United States, but what does that phrase mean? Does the term encompass any backyard that is soggy enough for some minimum period of time? Does it reach mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, [or] playa lakes? How about ditches, swimming pools, and puddles? Bumpy and Costly Voyage The Sacketts, Alito noted, have spent well over a decade navigating the CWA, and their voyage has been bumpy and costly. The EPA found that the so-called wetlands on their land were adjacent to an unnamed tributary on the other side of a 30-foot road. The tributary feeds into Priest Lake, a body of water that the EPA has determined is traditionally navigable. To establish a significant nexus, the EPA lumped the Sacketts lot together with the Kalispell Bay Fen, a large nearby wetland complex that the agency regarded as similarly situated. According to the EPA, these properties, taken together, significantly affect the ecology of Priest Lake. Therefore, the EPA concluded, the Sacketts had illegally dumped soil and gravel onto the waters of the United States, Alito wrote. A federal district court dismissed the Sacketts lawsuit under the Administrative Procedure Act that claimed the EPA lacked jurisdiction because any wetlands on their land were not waters of the United States, he wrote. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed finding that the CWA covers adjacent wetlands with a significant nexus to traditional navigable waters and that the Sacketts lot satisfied that standard. But the Supreme Court determined that the EPA overreached, finding that the CWA extends to only those wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are waters of the United States in their own right, so that they are indistinguishable from those waters. The wetlands on the Sacketts property are distinguishable from any possibly covered waters, Alito wrote. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the 9th Circuit for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. But the three liberal justices, along with conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, accused the majority of rewriting the Clean Water Act. Todays pop-up clear-statement rule is explicable only as a reflexive response to Congress enactment of an ambitious scheme of environmental regulation, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissenting opinion. It is an effort to cabin the anti-pollution actions Congress thought appropriate. Kagan was referencing the courts 63 ruling in June 2022 in West Virginia v. EPA. In that case, the court held that the Clean Air Act doesnt give the EPA widespread power to regulate carbon dioxide emissions that a popular theory says contribute to global warming. In the West Virginia ruling, the majoritys non-textualism barred the EPA from addressing climate change by curbing power plant emissions in the most effective way. In the current ruling, the same reasoning prevents the EPA from keeping our countrys waters clean by regulating adjacent wetlands. In both, the court appointed itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy, Kagan wrote. Her opinion was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Kavanaugh wrote in an opinion that he agreed with the majority that the nexus test shouldnt be adopted but said he disagreed with the test the majority actually adopted. In my view, the Courts continuous surface connection test departs from the statutory text, from 45 years of consistent agency practice, and from this Courts precedents, he wrote. The Courts new and overly narrow test may leave long-regulated and long-accepted-to-be-regulable wetlands suddenly beyond the scope of the agencies regulatory authority, with negative consequences for waters of the United States. Kavanaugh specifically expressed concern that the new test could weaken CWA-based protection of the Mississippi River and the Chesapeake Bay. Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson joined Kavanaughs statement. The new ruling may have an effect on ongoing litigation over wetlands regulations that the Biden administration unveiled late last year. Two federal judges have reportedly issued injunctions temporarily preventing the regulations from taking effect in 26 states. Taiwan Shunned From World Health Assembly Amid Chinas Political Pressure A sign of the World Health Organization in Geneva on April 24, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) The World Health Assembly (WHA) has denied Taiwans request to join its annual meeting as an observer amid political pressure from China, a decision that Taiwan warns could pose a serious threat to global health. The WHA is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO annual meeting on global public health priorities began May 21 and runs through May 30. The assembly decided on May 22 that it wouldnt extend an invitation to Taiwan. China and Pakistan urged members to reject Taiwans inclusion, while Eswatini, the Marshall Islands, Belize, and Nauru spoke in Taiwans favor. Taiwans foreign ministry denounced the WHAs decision, stating that Taiwans inclusion in the meeting was a matter of global health, which should not be subject to political interference from any single country. To exclude Taiwan from the WHA because of political pressure from China is not only unfair and unjust but also poses a serious threat to global health, the ministry stated. The ministry refuted Chinas assertions that Taiwans international participation is contingent on the consent of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP views Taiwan as part of its territory and seeks to take it over, by force if necessary. Chinas insistence that Taiwan isnt a country means that the island is excluded from many international organizations. But Taiwan stated that only its own democratically elected government can represent its 23 million people in WHO and other international organizations and safeguard the right to health of the Taiwanese people. Chinas heavy-handed obstruction of Taiwans participation and contributions runs counter to the estimable goal of Health for All enshrined in the WHO Constitution, the Taiwan ministry added. Chinas foreign ministry welcomed the WHAs decision, saying it showed that the one-China principle cannot be challenged in any way. Taiwanese Journalists Also Barred In a separate statement, Taiwan expressed dissatisfaction with the United Nations office in Geneva for denying Taiwanese journalists access to the WHA, which it said was a result of heavy-handed pressure from China. Taiwans foreign ministry stated that the U.N. has long denied Taiwanese journalists access to its premises to cover U.N.-related meetings and called on the organization to rectify its discriminatory treatment of the Taiwanese media. The WHA has excluded Taiwan since 2017 under diplomatic pressure from the regime in Beijing to isolate the self-ruling island. The United States had previously urged the WHO to invite Taiwan as an observer, stressing its importance to the WHOs commitment to an inclusive, health for all approach to international health cooperation. Taiwans distinct capabilities and approachesincluding its significant public health expertise, democratic governance, and advanced technologybring considerable value that would inform the WHAs deliberations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on May 9. Blinken described Taiwan as a reliable partner, a vibrant democracy, and a force for good in the world. He said that the United States will keep calling for Taiwans return as an observer at the WHA and for its meaningful and robust participation throughout the U.N. system and in international fora. Such support is in line with Washingtons one-China policy, Blinken said. Eva Fu and Reuters contributed to this report. When millions of Americans went into a Target store over the past week, they found gay pride and transgender clothing displays aimed at children. This was Targets 2023 Pride Collection, which included items such as onesies for infants with a bunch of different pro-gay and pro-trans slogans, books for children like Bye Bye, Binary and What Are Your Words?which helped to instruct children on using transgender pronounschest binders being sold for girls, and female swimsuits that had a tuck-friendly labelmeaning that the swimsuit has enough additional fabric to cover male genitals, worn by young boys who want to pretend that they dont have boy parts. Thats just a small sampling of the things that people were finding in the so-called Childrens Pride Collection. And this wasnt some small retailer in some progressive part of the nation. This was Targetthe massive chain with nearly 2,000 locations across the nation. Watch the Vaccine Injury Interview: https://ept.ms/45xoWFg Claim $5000 of free silver from American Hartford Gold: https://ept.ms/3biH9MN Episode Resources: American Hartford Gold (866-242-2352): https://ept.ms/3biH9MN EpochTV: https://ept.ms/45xoWFg Target Situation: https://ept.ms/3MyEzn9 ABPrallen Apparel: https://ept.ms/3MBvEBr https://ept.ms/424PzOK Bud Light Sales Decline: https://ept.ms/45tv0OQ Target Shares Fall Following Pride Push Customers have started reacting strongly to corporate ideological pandering Shares of Target have recently declined after the company launched LGBTQ products, including items aimed at children, triggering a backlash from Americans against the retailers transgender push. Target rolled out its Pride collection at the beginning of the month, offering over 2,000 products, including clothing, books, home furnishings, and calendars, among others. Some of the items were targeted at children. For example, books for kids aged 28 had titles like Pride 1,2,3, Bye Bye, Binary, and Im Not a Girl. Target also suggested The Pronoun Book to kids aged 03. In home decor, Target offered mugs labeled Gender Fluid. It also offered transgender swimsuits for adults with a tuck-friendly feature. The companys actions attracted a lot of negative reactions online, with the hashtag BoycottTarget trending across social media. Amid the backlash, Targets shares have declined by 11 percent as of 11:00 a.m. EST on May 25. Between May 1 and May 24, the companys market capitalization fell from $72.52 billion to $66.05 billion, a decline of $6.47 billion. In a May 24 press release, the company announced removing some of the controversial items. Since introducing this years collection, weve experienced threats impacting our team members sense of safety and well-being while at work. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. Liz Wheeler, who hosts The Liz Wheeler Show video podcast, called out Target for not apologizing for promoting pride agenda. Target executives are freaking out & moving pride displays to the back of the store. But DO NOT CAVE. Theyre not apologizing. Theyre blaming YOU, claiming conservatives who oppose a Satanist designing queer merchandise for kids are a threat, she said in a May 24 tweet. Satanist Products Some of the items in Targets Pride collection were designed by UK-based designer Abprallen, who identifies as a transgender gay man and is a proclaimed Satanist. There were two items from Abprallen in the Pride collection. However, the products are now not available in Targets online store following the backlash, according to Breitbart. An outspoken Satanist, Abprallen is known for pushing messages like Satan respects pronouns on apparel and burn down the cis-tem. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) slammed Target for its ties with a Satanist. Even by the standards of woke corporations, @Targets partnership with a satanist to push the trans agenda on children is remarkable. The next time @Target comes begging for help, Republicans should respond, best of luck, he said in a May 23 tweet. Protecting Children The Democrat governor of California, Gavin Newsom, hit out at Target for pulling out items from the Pride collection, calling the move selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists. This isnt just a couple [of] stores in the South. There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country. Wake up America. This doesnt stop here. Youre black? Youre Asian? Youre Jewish? Youre a woman? Youre next, he said in a May 24 tweet. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) countered Newsom by insisting that no one is attacking the gay community. They dont want their children forcefully exposed to the radical side of pride with tuck it and binding childrens clothes and messaging while simply shopping at Target. We dont support your California child genital mutilation industry. As a matter of fact, I want to end it, she said in a tweet. The backlash against Target is the latest in a series of customer reactions against companies pushing left-wing, progressive ideologies. Last month, Bud Light used transgender social media personality Dylan Mulvaney in a promotional campaign. The decision triggered a massive boycott call of the beer brand. In less than two weeks after the promo campaign, Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, had lost at least $6.65 billion in market capitalization. Target, Walmart, Foot Locker Say Brazen Retail Theft Getting Worse Several industry groups in the United States warned that brazen retail theft has increased despite their efforts to bolster loss prevention and increase security for employees. According to an executive with the National Retail Federation, described as the worlds largest trade organization, the loss of inventory due to retail theft reached $100 billion last year. That figure is likely to get worse, said the executive, David Johnston, in a Fox Business interview on Thursday. There have been employees and customers injured, he told the outlet. There have been employees killed while these shoplifting events are taking place, he added. In one instance last month, an employee at Home Depot in California was shot and killed while trying to stop a shoplifter from leaving, it was reported. Officials said the employee, identified as Blake Mohs, tried to stop a female shoplifter, identified as 32-year-old Benicia Knapps, who shot and killed him. She was later arrested, police said. Jan Kniffen, CEO of retail research firm J Rogers Kniffen, told Seeking Alpha that there appears to be a society-wide breakdown thats causing the rise in retail theft. I would contend that social pressure has fallen to modern day lows. There is no embarrassment when people around you find out you arent paying your bills or that you are stealing goods from a store. So, the bad news is that shrink is now normalizing across the country, especially in cities, Kniffen commented. The legal penalties for theft have the likelihood of apprehension have fallen dramatically. This is a societal problem that really accelerated during the pandemic. But, it isnt going away. Executives with Foot Locker, Kohls, Walmart, and Targeta company thats also been targeted with a boycott after it rolled out a pro-LGBT line of clothing, including for childrenrecently sounded the alarm on losses theyve suffered due to theft. I would just say that again [theft] has been a multi-year dynamic industry, we are not immune to it, its increasing. Youve heard Target talk about it and others, and so its having an increased impact on Foot Locker, Foot Locker CEO Mary Dillon said last week. Weve seen a significant increase in theft from stores and usually through this lens of an organized retail crime type of action, affecting more apparel certainly than footwear, where we only have one item out, but apparel is affected. Foot Locker at Dadeland Mall in Miami, Florida, on Aug. 28, 2009. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images) Days before that, Target CEO Brian Cornell also alluded to the widespread problem. Beyond macroeconomic challenges, we continue to contend with significant headwinds caused by inventory shrink, building on a worsening trend that emerged last year. While shrink can be driven by multiple factors, theft and organized retail crime are increasingly urgent issues, impacting the team, and our guests and other retailers, he told investors and analysts last week, according to multiple reports. He added: The problem affects all of us, limiting product availability, creating a less convenient shopping experience, and putting our team and guests in harms way. The unfortunate fact is, violent incidents are increasing at our stores and across the entire retail industry. And when products are stolen, simply put, theyre no longer available for guests who depend on them. And left unchecked, theft, and organized retail crime to grade the communities we call home. Cornell said the Minneapolis-based company is now working with lawmakers and law enforcement to come up with public policy solutions. It came after the firm reported $1 billion in losses due to shoplifting and other forms of theft. Target said last week that theft is cutting into its bottom line, and it expects related losses could be $500 million more than last year when losses from theft were estimated to be anywhere from $700 million to $800 million. So that means losses could top $1.2 billion this year. The company said its also seeing an increasing number of violent incidents at stores but does not want to close stores and is expanding security and locking up some items. Also last week, Kohls CFO Jill Timm told analysts that the firm faced inventory shrink during the first fiscal quarter and predicted that such trends will persist. We feel like we can definitely put some actions against that to at least moderate it, but we will expect that to continue, Timm said. Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner told investors that retail theft has been really challenging for his industry, adding that Walmart has to actively manage this issue, according to reports. Were going to continue to take the steps that are reasonable and required to make sure were protecting our customers, protecting our associates, and protecting our assets and inventor, he said, noting that communities and law enforcement need to also step up. It will take communities stepping up and enforcing the law to be able to bring this issue back under control, he said. Notably, some retail giants such as Whole Foods and Walgreens have shut down some locations in several major cities due to a surge in retail theft incidents in recent years. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The exhibition Hugo van der Goes: Between Bliss and Pain at Berlins Gemaldegalerie gathers most of the artists surviving paintings and drawings for the first time since Hugo van der Goess death 540 years ago. This exhibit is an outstanding feat due to the rarity of surviving works, as well as their frequently large format. Van der Goes was the most important Netherlandish painter in the latter part of the 15th centuryespecially notable for monumental altarpieces with strong colors, astounding realism, and sensitive, expressive portrayals of emotion. Little is known about Hugo van der Goess life as a burgeoning artist. His work shows a strong influence and affiliation with the oeuvre of the Brussels master Rogier van der Weyden, a highly influential painter in his time. Scholars theorize van der Goes may have trained in his workshop. An important van der Weyden work included in the exhibition, which is part of the Gemaldegaleries collection, is the triptych Middelburg Altarpiece. The notable formatting of the central group of figures around Mary and Christ was a model for a number of artists, including one of van der Goess monumental altarpieces illustrating the Nativity. Middelburg Altarpiece (Bladelin Altarpiece), circa 1450, by Rogier van der Weyden. Oil on oak panel; 36.8inches by 16.4 inches. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (State Museums of Berlin), Gemaldegalerie. (Christoph Schmidt/CC BY-SA 4.0) By 1467, van der Goes was an independent master in the city of Ghent, receiving commissions from private patrons, the Burgundian court, as well as for civic celebrations and official processions. In the mid-1470s, he left his successful secular career to enter a monastery near Brussels. There, as a lay brother, he continued to create art, and prominent patrons such as Archduke Maximilian of Austria collected his sought-after artworks. Indeed, most of his extant works date from this period. The exhibit comprises loans from numerous international collections, including autographed works, copies of lost originals, as well as works by subsequent artists influenced by van der Goes. However, the crux of the exhibition is 12 of the 14 paintings attributed to van der Goes, along with two drawings believed to be by his hand. Monforte Altar Part of the triptych The Adoration of the Kings (Monforte Altar), circa 1470/1475, by Hugo van der Goes. Oil on oak panel; 57.8 inches by 95.2 inches. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (State Museums of Berlin), Gemaldegalerie. Gemaldegalerie. (Courtesy of Gemaldegalerie) Two of his monumental works are part of the Gemaldegaleries collection and both have been extensively restored over the course of 12 years. One of these works is the Monforte Altar, an especially rare example as it dates to van der Goes pre-monastery Ghent period. Though an early work from van der Goess career (in fact, the earliest surviving work), it already shows him a master of his medium and at the height of his powers. Monforte Altar was originally made as a large triptych, though only the central panel, in a modified cut down form, survives. It offers a moving, meditative depiction of the Adoration of the Magi. This work is the most important extant van der Goes painting. Mary is seated in front of the stone ruins of what was once a monumental building. She gazes at the Christ child cradled on her lap as the three kings bearing gifts pay tribute. Christ, instead of greeting the kings, directs his attention on the viewer, drawing one into the scene. In a tour de force, van der Goes employs incredible lighting effects and portrays the kings luxurious textiles and objects with rich, subtly varying colors. The Museum explains in their publication Gemaldegalerie: 200 Masterpieces of European Painting that the solemn tranquility and uncommon monumentality of these figures go far beyond anything that had been achieved in Netherlandish art up to that point. As with so much of van der Goess life and work, the impetus for this altarpiece and its original location remain mysterious. At the end of the 16th century, it arrived at the Spanish Jesuit monastery of Monforte, where it assumed its current name. Monforte Altar served as a model for Netherlandish painters for decades, as attested by the existence of number of copies of this particular work. Another Adoration of the Magi scene by van der Goes, now lost, was also influential on successive artists. The work of the last great 15th-century painter from Bruges, Gerard David, reflects this influence. David painted two works after van der Goess lost Adoration of the Magi, and his miniature interpretation on parchment is among the exhibits works. Hugo van der Goes is an artist unparalleled in his ability to articulate precise details and depict complex characterizations with dazzlingly technical skill and colorization. Close examination of his atmospheric paintings, many of which reveal a deep spirituality, is infinitely rewarding. Hugo van der Goes: Between Bliss and Pain is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do just that in person. Hugo van der Goes: Between Bliss and Pain at Gemaldegalerie, Berlin runs until July 16. To find out more, visit www.smb.museum Hong Kong Edition of The Epoch Times in a Changing Media Environment In Hong Kong, where the social and political environment for the media industry is becoming less favorable, volunteer staff members who distribute the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times publications on the street are often faced with various interference. Yet they are persevering. Readers, fans, and supporters, even peers in the same field often expressed concerns for their safety, questioning What makes them persevere, under such pressure? Over the last month, we have reached out to several staff members of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times, including volunteers responsible for distributions at the frontline. Here is what they have to say. Visiting Local Police Station to Improve Mutual Understanding Mrs. Lau (pseudonym), a retired teacher in her 80s, is a volunteer staff member of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times. When distributing the special promotional editions of The Epoch Times on the street over the last few years, she often met police officers who told her The Epoch Times is not a legal newspaper or that she may be violating the National Security Law (NSL) and arrested for alleged incitement. Being a lady with a small physical build, Mrs. Lau has a disproportionally sonorous voice. She said: I asked them what clause of the National Security Law would I violate, when I am just telling people to do good deeds and abstain from bad ones? The police officers simply went quiet and couldnt respond. In the past months, Mrs. Lau said, she had often been surrounded by officers who demanded to register her identity card. I think they have a lot of misunderstandings. I wanted to clarify the truth to them, so I took down their badge numbers. Through the Police-Community Relations Bureau, Mrs. Lau obtained the contact numbers of those police officers and made several calls. But no one answered. Accompanied by two other volunteers, Mrs. Lau decided to pay a visit to the local police station. After a two hours wait, they were finally able to meet the senior officer in charge. Mrs. Lau stated the purpose of their visit, introduced the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times, and explained why she would volunteer her time and energy to do promotional work for the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times, all for the love of Hong Kong. The senior officer receiving them affirmed that there was nothing illegal about distributing the Epoch Times newspapers. Its just that if there were too many people around, someone might complain about you. He walked Mrs. Lau and others to the front entrance to see them off, repeatedly emphasizing, We should communicate more in the future. Since then, Mrs. Lau has not experienced further ID card requests from the local police officers. She wrote a letter of appreciation to show her gratitude to the officer in charge, who received her at the local police station. Intimidation From Pro-Communist Members in the Community Another volunteer, Annie (pseudonym), is still in college. She told us one day when she was distributing a promotional edition of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times in the street, a man with a mainland accent approached her and said No more distribution here! threatening If you dont leave [now], I will report [you] to the National Security Bureau. The man showed Annie his police identity while taking down Annies ID card number as well. On another day a woman came up and took a picture of Annie with her cell phone. The woman posted that picture on social media last month, boasting she had intimidated an Epoch Times promoter and threatened that she would send the photo to the National Security Bureau and the Immigration Department to report Annie. However, Annie, a shy young lady, was not intimidated. She recalled the above incidents with a quiet smile and said calmly, I hope she can distinguish good from evil, and only speak after she has learned the facts. Always Considering Others Ms. Cheung (pseudonym), another elderly lady, is a volunteer who has been distributing The Epoch Times (HK) on the island side of Hong Kong for more than ten years. She told us that in the areas she covered, the police also take down ID details of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times volunteers often, sometimes twice a day. Ms. Cheung said the local police officers can easily call her by name. Ms. Cheung recalls a local pro-communist group symbolized by wearing green vests (commonly understood to be CCP funded, the groups sudden emergence and disappearance coincided with the time in office of former Chief Executive C.Y. Leung), used to harass the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times volunteers from time to time. Facing this harassment, a police officer once said to Ms. Cheung: I am not taking a side, we are neutral. Ms. Cheung responded: Not so, if you dont side with the good, you are siding with the evil, so you must stand with us. The officer immediately got it, I never thought about it (this way) before. Ms. Cheung told us: We must remain kind and think for others. We should not blame the (individual) policemen just because their job is to work for the CCP. They are in a difficult position and we should be able to put ourselves in their shoes. Ms. Cheung said that kindness can also change the environment. A hostile old woman used to scold the volunteers over the last 7, 8 years, but now she has changed and stopped doing so. She also recalled explaining calmly to a person threatening to report the volunteers: The Epoch Times is a licensed newspaper in Hong Kong. You can check it out. If not so, how can we promote the paper publicly like this? Talking irresponsibly is not good for you. Chief Editor: Reporting the Truth, Albeit Under Pressure, Is to Continue Hope We also talked to Guo Jun, editor-in-chief of The Epoch Times (Chinese edition). In recent years, though the social-political environment in Hong Kong has deteriorated for the media industry, The Epoch Times Daily (in print) is still available for sale, and the weekly promotional editions continue to be distributed for free. Although distribution channels have reduced, readers and supporters of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times are still able to subscribe or purchase the newspaper from designated newsstands and obtain the e-newsletters online. According to Guo Jun, Hong Kong Epoch Times has always operated legally, with a license issued by the government. Although we have encountered certain difficulties and felt some pressure, there are many righteous people in Hong Kong, including civil servants and police officers, who recognize and support the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times. The CCP has launched various political campaigns in history, exterminating traditional Chinese culture in the process, distorting history, and often blind and deceive the Chinese people with so-called patriotism. The CCP also uses its economic might to achieve political purposes, putting pressure on foreign governments, business consortiums, and overseas media. The CCPs ultimate goal is the so-called liberating all of mankind (meaning conquer the whole world with communism), Guo continued. She said: In this unprecedented contest between good and evil, the CCP is trying its best to lower the moral standards of China and the world. However, when the moral standard of the society falls to the brink of total collapse, it is also the time when human beings will be destroyed. Guo quoted Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhis article How Humankind Came To Be, published in January this year (2023), All of the madness now unfolding in the world was planned as such, for the final phase, by divine beings. Their goal was to test the lives here and see whether they were worthy of salvation, and give them a chance to, in the process, work off their sins and karma while going through difficult things. And all of this was done so that people could be saved and gain deliverance back to heaven. She continued to explain, Though under pressure, therefore, the Epoch Times has been unremittingly reporting the truth, hoping to help people recognize the real nature of the CCP, so that they can understand the revelations from the divine at this special time (in history) and thus be saved in the final days. The very existence of The Epoch Times is the continued hope of people in todays difficult times, she added. She hopes The Epoch Times continues to operate in this spirit, adhering to its principles. We believe that we can persevere, because we want to help from the most basic, most fundamental conscience. We call on all walks of life to continue to give the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times their support. Syria may have been readmitted to the Arab League, but Syrians living in Egypt have no plans to return home. On 19 May, Nour decided to miss Friday prayers in the mosque near his house in the east Cairo district of Nasr City. Instead, he prayed at home. That way he could watch the Arab summit, broadcast on TV satellite channels from Jeddah, to see if Bashar Al-Assad, president of Syria, would actually show up. Nour has been in Egypt for seven years, during which time he has changed jobs and houses several times. Like most Syrians who fled their country to avoid getting caught up in the violence that started in 2012, Nour was taken aback when he learned from social media in May that the Arab League had decided to end the boycott imposed on the Al-Assad regime after its violent response to democracy protests in 2011 pushed the country into civil war, forcing four million civilians to flee. Nour and his wife, the families of his two brothers and of two in-laws, were among those who left. It wasnt easy. In fact, it was terrifying. We had some money, and we decided to come to Egypt where we hoped things would work for us. But its scary, to leave your home, to leave your country, with no time to prepare and not knowing how it will end. Remembering the agony, worry, and fear of the past decade, Nour found it difficult to watch as Al-Assad was received at the Jeddah airport and then seated at the Arab summit. It was, he said, as if nothing had happened over the past 10 years, as if the thousands and thousands who lost their lives or disappeared in the regimes jails or who were recruited by terror groups did not count. As if Syria had not blown up, had not been divided, as if there werent foreign forces on its soil. In his 30s, Nour is not keen to examine the past too closely. He is grateful that his parents they refused to leave Syria with him are safe, and that his life in Egypt is stable. Nor is he willing to contemplate returning to Syria. Sparing about details out of concern for his own safety, all Nour will say is that as far as he is concerned there is nothing left to go back to. His hometown has been destroyed, his family and friends are no longer there, and he is too scared to go back. Though he never had anything to do with politics, he says you never know. I could arrive at the airport and security could confuse my name with someone else. Then Id be taken to prison until God knows when. Instead, he intends to go to Jordan and meet his parents who have now decided to relocate. Nour has little faith in the ability of the Arab League, the UN, or anybody else to secure guarantees from Al-Assad that returnees will not be persecuted. What would the Arab League do if we went back and got hurt, he asks. It can do nothing. In a resolution adopted on 7 May, the Arab Leagues Foreign Ministers Council reversed the 2011 decision suspending Syria from the organisation. The decision, said the council, should allow for the beginning of a political process that enables Syria to regain stability and territorial integrity, and permits Syrians to return home safe and sound. In his speech before the Jeddah summit on Friday, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit echoed the same line. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, who had a brief but welcoming corridor encounter with Al-Assad in Jeddah, made a reference in his statement before the summit to UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (December 2015) which expressed support for UN facilitation of a peace process that includes the Syrian government and the opposition. King Abdullah of Jordan, whose country hosts over one million Syrians and shares a problematic border with Syria, also said the return of Al-Assad to the League should mark the beginning of a process. Nour points out, however, that Al-Assad has made no commitments to enter a political process, or offered any guarantees that Syrians can return safely. And like the few Syrians who agreed to speak to Al-Ahram Weekly but declined to be quoted even anonymously, he has zero faith in the Syrian opposition to manage an effective political process even if Al-Assad were to engage in one. What opposition, he asks. They are just people who travel the world and talk without being able to do anything. The reality is that Al-Assad won. It does not matter whether he won because the West let down Syrians hope for democracy, because Russia put its forces on the ground, or because terror groups took over from the opposition. He won and winners do not make concessions. And now, adds Nour, Arab countries need to be realistic and deal with him because they have their own interests to look after. Nour is worried for friends who live in Jordan and Lebanon, the two countries that received the largest number of Syrian refugees. Here in Egypt, I think we are okay. I dont think we will be asked to leave. We have work, and we are past any tensions over the presence of Syrians in Egypt. Things are quite stable. A government source speaking on condition of anonymity said Cairo has no plans to force Syrians to leave. He insisted the future of Egyptian-Syrian relations is not related to the fate of Syrians living in Egypt. We have been working during the past few years at civil society level to explore cooperation and we were hoping to move forward with trade and some other forms of cooperation, along with security consultations, said the official. He added, however, that the wish in Cairo to move forward with relations with Damascus, including a possible upgrade of diplomatic relations, will require political preparation, not least because of Washingtons dismay over Syrias return to the Arab League. According to a Washington-based diplomatic source, a bipartisan bill in US Congress is currently advocating stricter sanctions against countries that engage in economic cooperation with Syria. The text of the bill makes reference to discussions that Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon entered into with Washington over plans to export gas from Egypt to Lebanon via the Arab gas pipeline that passes through Syrian territory, and to increase electricity exports to Lebanon through the grid with Jordan. The plans were suspended a while ago because we could not get American reassurance on exemption from the Caesar Act, said the official. Though there was disagreement in the US administration over the issue, it just got shelved on our part. The Caesar Act is US legislation that sanctions the Syrian government, including President Al-Assad, for war crimes against the Syrian population. The act was signed into law by president Donald Trump in December 2019, and came into force in June 2020. According to the Washington-based source, the US State Department is currently being blamed for having failed to impose the act. In Cairo, Western diplomatic sources say the Saudis cleared Al-Assads return with Washington. According to one, the deal is that Syria will be officially allowed back to Arab League meetings in return for security and political commitments, especially on the smuggling of drugs from Syria to Arab countries, and that further economic or diplomatic steps from the Arab world will be conditioned on progress on the political process in Syria, including the release of political detainees and the security of returnees. The source added that it is not clear how many Arab capitals will resume full diplomatic relations with Damascus, or whether Cairo will be one of them. I think in principle there is an appetite to move forward on this front but not at any price, says the Egyptian official, adding that Cairo is keen on its interests with the US. We want to encourage the Syrian regime to take some serious measures on the ground to give a sense of political openness and to respond to some of the demands of the international community on the political process, and we will take it one step at a time. He argued that if Damascus exhibited some positive steps, then it would be possible for Cairo to upgrade its diplomatic representation and to have an exchange of officials. Earlier this year, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri went to Syria, the first high-level visit of an Egyptian official to Damascus since the Arab League suspended Syrias membership. A few weeks later, the Syrian foreign minister was in Cairo for talks with his Egyptian counterpart. * A version of this article appears in print in the 25 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The FBI and CIA Should Be Abolished, Not Reformed A crest of the Federal Bureau of Investigation inside the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building in Washington, DC, on Aug. 3, 2007. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary The FBI was a bad idea from its start in the days of J. Edgar Hoover. The agency began in an atmosphere of blackmail. Now resembling police forces in totalitarian countries, the FBI has become an instrument of oppression of the people it was allegedly meant to protect and serve. Reports that the bureau has been infiltrating almost all right-of-center organizations are myriad. In our elections, it hasnt just put its finger on the scale; It has placed its full arm, elbow first. Just as its said that Xi Jinpings China is Communism with Chinese characteristics, it can be said that the FBI is the STASI or KGB with American characteristics (the pretense that the Bill of Rights is being followed). Since centralized power tends to corrupt, in many ways, this was inevitable. On May 24, we got yet another viewas if we needed oneinto the culture of the agency when, as reported here, a deputy assistant FBI director of counterintelligence, Jill Murphy, admitted in congressional testimony that she hadnt read the years-in-the-making Durham Report on her organizations activities regarding supposed TrumpRussia collusion. She was too busy, she said, in a response that sounded as if she were auditioning for Saturday Night Live. All she needed was a wink at the audience. For good reason, the FBI (also the CIAmore in a moment) has come up as an important issue in the Republican presidential primary and also, via Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in the Democratic one. Outsider (is he still that?) candidate entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy shares my assessment and has said he would immediately shut down the FBI, as well as the Department of Education and other agencies. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, another GOP candidate, takes the reformist view, stating that Heads need to roll at the FBI after Durham. This same stance has been taken ad infinitum by Sean Hannity on all his Fox shows. Just punish the bad guys at the top and all will be well. But would it? The FBI has more than 37,000 employees yet the whistleblowersbrave that they areare but a handful. The overwhelming majority, afraid for their jobs, brainwashed, or just hunkered down, are in the end, much like Ms. Murphy, loyal followers of a corrupt and finally anti-democratic culture. Besides, the reformist path was already tried by one Donald J. Trump, and look what it got himChristopher Wray, the very image of the worst stonewalling bureaucrat. Trump blames his nomination of Wray as FBI director on Chris Christie. One can assume that wont happen again and the 45th president will choose considerably better should he become president again. But would that too be enough? It would be interesting to hear more details of what Trump plans to do in his executive capacity with both agencies, the FBI and CIA; perhaps, for strategic reasons, that should be left as a pleasant surprise. That shouldnt stop us, however, from envisioning what replacement organizations might be like. I am as interested here in what readers may think as much, or more, than I think, but I will throw out a few suggestions. The FBIwith a new nameshould be a seriously curtailed, domestic-only enterprise with a highly restricted budget and vastly fewer employees. Most, virtually all, crime-stopping should be in the hands of local state and city constabulary with this new FBI stepping in only in obvious interstate situationsa serial killer on the run and so forth. As an example, they shouldnt, as they do, have their nose in the Covenant School murders here in Nashville, Tennessee. The further investigations of this nature go from ground zero, the more likely they are to be misused for biased political purposes. They shouldnt have anything to do with investigation of terrorism, spying and so forth, domestic or foreign. Their recent bungling, or apparent ignorance, of the Chinese communists having their own police forces in our cities is but one illustration of extreme incompetence in this area. They were evidently too busy spying on us. The major job of this organization should be aiding states in coordination, not in solving crimes. Above all, it shouldnt be located anywhere near the Beltway. What to do about foreign and domestic spying is more complicated. The CIA that grew out of World War IIs Office of Strategic Services (OSS) exists for a reason that need not be explained here. The problem is its authority and reach has metastasized far beyond that logical explanation. Kennedywith obvious personal motivationhas had the courage to point that out. Thats made his presidential campaign among the most noteworthy of recent times. Mere reformation of the CIA, including the vaunted Church Commission of 1970, seems a prime example of that quote attributed to everybody and everything from Albert Einstein to a Chinese proverb: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Like the FBI, the CIA mustnt be reformed but canned. But how, with China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and others in the present or future out to get us? I would submit one word: smaller. Maybe two words: much smaller. Intelligence agencies by their nature become less efficient as they expand, as do most bureaucracies. We apparently have 17, and computers do most of the work now anyway. But who keeps tabs on some lean version? Congress? I hate internet acronyms, but somehow SMH comes to mind. Perhaps we need a new, second, Supreme Court of sorts (with or without lawyers) specifically tasked with keeping tabs on the new FBI and CIA to ensure they are spying on our adversaries and not us. Roger L. Simons 14th book, American Refugees, will be published by Encounter in September. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Future of Writing in a World of AI A Yemeni boy school writes as he sits outside a school that was damaged in an air strike in the southern Yemeni city of Taez, on March 16, 2017. (Ahmad Al-Basha/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary In a recently published article, Andrew Thornebrooke reports on the massive disruptions that artificial intelligence (AI) technology will likely cause. A meeting of the American Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law heard that the explosion of popularly availably AI tools like ChatGPT will profoundly affect society as early as next year. Similarly, in Australia, the Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, also warned that it will become more difficult to distinguish fact from fiction and to combat the growing threat posed by deep fakes and disinformation created and spread using generative AI tools. The increasing use of robotschatbotsin the publishing world is comparable to the revolution instigated by the invention of the printing press in the 15th century that served as a harbinger for a more empowered civilization and increased liberty throughout Europe. Sam Altman, the developer of ChatGPT, reflecting on the impact of AI on printing, also expressed his belief that AI can be a printing press moment. The comparison of AI with the invention of the printing press is germane to the current debate about the real or perceived dangers associated with the use of AI tools, especially in the world of literature and essay writing. The relevance of the comparison is reinforced by the results of a survey recently conducted by the Australian Society of Authors (ASA). It sought to ascertain the views of its members about the impact of AI on their work. ASA notes that the survey results demonstrate that while a small minority of authors are using AI tools as part of their writing and illustrating process, there is overwhelming concern about the threat generative AI poses to already precarious writing and illustrating professions. Blurring the Lines Having authored several novels and non-fiction books, I was interested to learn that it is technologically possible to write a book with the help of a well-instructed robot (or chatbot) and pretend that it has been entirely the work of a human creator. In these circumstances, it is difficult to distinguish between a real novel and a novel written by a robot. It leads to the astonishing insight that fiction itself can be fictitious. The OpenAI logo on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen displays output from ChatGPT in Boston on March 21, 2023. (Michael Dwyer/AP Photo) This technological breakthrough is, however, a frightening prospect because AI creates a world in which no achievements can be believed to emanate from the artistic imagination and skills of the authors. Would it really be possible for a robot to write a well-structured and moving novel? At this stage, it may still be too challenging for a robot to develop an evolving story over several different chapters. To author an evolving story, which incrementally increases the sophistication of its plot in every new chapter and gives an insight into the character of the books protagonists, is indeed a challenging task. At present, a seasoned and assiduous observer might be able to suspect, or even conclude, that a book has been written with the help of a robot. Observers may be able to do this by exploring chatbots predilection for using the same adjectives and adverbs, like working tirelessly, instead of using the full lexicon of different words to provide a deeper insight into the exciting world of the books protagonists. The development of the stories may also follow a predictable and robotic pattern. Yet, the publishing world is on notice that a tectonic change is coming to the writing behaviour of authors. Of equal concern is the use that might be made of AI in schools and universities. Teachers and university academics will have great difficulty ascertaining whether an essay is really a students own work. Even today, there are specialised agencies that are able to provide a student with an essay on an astonishingly wide range of topics. A pupil writes her name in a classroom at an elementary school in Paris, after the start of the new school year, on Sept. 4, 2012. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images) Fortunately, the rules on plagiarism and collusion are still standing as impregnable barriers to the use by students of these services, but this will be more difficult, even impossible if humans were able to command a chatbot to deliver an essay. It could be expected that the return to the traditional examination-type assessment might yet make a comeback, where it is possible to manage students while they are writing their work in a controlled environment. Alternatively, if independent essay writing is still to be maintained as a way to evaluate a students literary prowess and ability to communicate, essay questions will need to be drafted so specifically complicated and sophisticated that it is difficult for a robot to produce a decent-enough product. What Needs to Be Done? Whether AI benefits humanity depends on humanity itself. Any technological advance can be used to harm society or to bring unimaginable benefits to it. However, it is certain that it should be controlled to ensure that the literature scene and the nations education system are not fatally compromised and that our civilisation remains intact. Indeed, once AI infects the imaginative and creative powers of authors and students, it becomes problematic for the general population to feel certain about the origins and the contents of the communications they receive, the books they read, or even the lectures they listen to. Once uncertainly trumps, our civilisation is on a slippery slope. In such circumstances, it is easy to agree with the assessment of Alexander Voltz: While we might say that AI-generated art is, by necessity, grounded in knowledge, it is inhuman and thus not an honest representation of the human experience. Nor is it honest in generating its art, merely manipulating a pre-programmed digital library of components and ideas built by humans. The members of ASA who participated in the survey mentioned above supportnot surprisinglythe view that all AI-generated works should be identified as such. In other words, there should be transparency. Indeed, nothing less than full transparency can limit, or even eliminate, the inexorable march of AI and the damage that could be inflicted on the art of writing. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. They Died so Freedom Can Endure Commentary Although most folks look forward to barbecues and family activities during the Memorial Day weekend, this special holiday has a fascinating history. A soulful poem, which expresses the reflective and sobering mood of commemoration, was written by Herman Melville following the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee in April of 1862. Ironically, much of this horrific battle was fought around the area of a house of worship. There is a similarity between this poem and the elegy, In Flanders Field, penned by Canadian poet John McRae to honor the fallen soldiers of World War I, or Theodore OHaras Bivouac of the Dead. Shiloh (A Requiem) by Herman Melville Skimming lightly, wheeling still, The swallows fly low, Over the fields in clouded days The forest-field of Shiloh Over the field where April rain Solaced the parched ones stretched in pain Through the pause of night That followed the Sunday fight Around the church of Shiloh The church so lone, the log-built one, That echoed to many a parting groan And natural prayer Of dying foemen mingled there Foemen at morn, but friends at eve Fame or country least their care (What like a bullet can undeceive!) But now they lie low, While over them the swallows skim, And all is hushed at Shiloh. Memorial Day originally evolved out of the ravages of the Civil War, yet inspiring lines from poems such as these are often recited on Memorial Day or are inscribed at national cemeteries as a tribute to deceased warriors. After the Civil War ended, Confederate and Union veterans began to lay flowers on the graves of slain soldiers to honor them, similar to a Greek tradition practiced in ancient times. No one knows for sure who organized the first Decoration Day ceremonies. However, ceremonies and parades gained momentum after Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, who was Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, authorized Decoration Day in May of 1868. After the first official proclamation, ceremonies accelerated to honor soldiers who had died during the Civil War. Over time, the last Monday in May came to be recognized as the date to pay respect to those who fell in battle, and national monuments on hallowed ground were built. Following World War I, Decoration Day gradually was renamed Memorial Day. Eventually it included veterans of all wars who fought and died while defending the ideals of our democratic republic. On that day, services are held at cemeteries and national memorials to commemorate our military veterans and acknowledge that they did not perish in vain. Now that our brave military personnel are deployed around the globe, it is relevant to reflect on their sacrifices and service to humanity. Members of the armed forces who have lost their lives ought to be honored for their courage. Moreover, those who survive should have our full support as they endure the difficult challenges of devastating warfare and the transition back home. Memorial Day teaches us that fighting for liberty is not merely a one-time event that was earned following the Revolutionary War. If we take freedom and security for granted, it can be eroded and subverted by those who detest freedom and the rule of law. Liberty is a precious gift that we must preserve and protect for current and future generations. Thomas Jefferson is said to have remarked, The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. After the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln reminded Americans that the soldiers who perished had died to preserve and renew the noble cause of freedom. Ronald Reagan wisely noted, Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Each generation must do its part to defend our God-given liberties. Although veterans fully understand their own commitment, non-veterans can still appreciate this devotion to freedom and security. In a free society, we ought to be grateful every day that we have a professional military that functions with civilian oversight from Congress and the Executive Branch. This Memorial Day and every day, let us honor all the valiant heroes who have paid the ultimate price with their lives in past and current conflicts. Let us also remember that many highly motivated Americans continue to proudly serve their country with honor. During these challenging times, we ought to pray for their health and safety. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Trudeau Highlighted Dinners, Great Conversations With Johnston in 2010: Report Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with then governor general David Johnston after being sworn in as prime minister of Canada at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Nov. 4, 2015. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a 2010 radio interview described David Johnston as a frequent dinner companion with whom he had great conversations, despite both men having downplayed their personal relationship as insignificant in the scope of Johnstons investigation into foreign interference in his role as special rapporteur. We had great conversations around dinner tables around all sorts of things. I always respected him as a man who was very personable, very real and very, very smart, Trudeau told CBC Radio in an interview, as first reported by Blacklocks Reporter. Trudeau appointed Johnston to be the special rapporteur on March 15 following media reports suggesting widespread interference by Beijing in Canadas elections. Instead of launching a public inquiry, which opposition leaders repeatedly called for, the prime minister said he would heed the recommendations of Johnston. On May 23, Johnston announced that a public inquiry should not be held because the classified information informing his decision could not be revealed to the Canadian public. The former governor general said he had been favourable to the idea of holding an inquiry before he started the review, but conversations with senior security and elected officials and reviews of intelligence files changed his mind. When asked whether his relationship with the Trudeau family would impact the impartiality of his decision, Johnston replied that while he went on five ski trips with the family decades ago, he had no unofficial contact with the prime minister since Trudeau became the MP for Papineau, Quebec in 2008. Johnston denied having a close relationship with the Trudeaus, recalling that they parked their car in his condo lot in Quebecs Laurentian Mountains. These are the facts of the so-called friendship, said Johnston. Trudeau also told reporters on May 24 that he saw Johnston a few times as a kid. I got to know him after he was appointed governor general by Stephen Harper once I was already a parliamentarian, Trudeau said, adding that the quality and calibre of the report hes put forward leaves me in total confidence in his ability to continue to do this important work for Canadians. Opposition Parties Criticize Johnston Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called Johnstons decision not to call a public inquiry a whitewash attempt, and cover up saying that the prime minister hired his ski buddy, chalet neighbour, family friend to investigate foreign interference. We have to put this in the hands of a trusted judge rather than in the hands of Trudeaus ski buddy, Poilievre said, adding that Johnston was also a former member of the Trudeau Foundation and should have therefore recused himself from the investigation. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said Johnstons appointment was a clear conflict of interest. I am not taking the word of Mr. Johnston at all, said Blanchet. Even if before we might have said we do not know if he is neutral or not, today we do know he is not. The issue is, what happened? How can we protect ourselves against such things in the future? Johnston said. Because China wont stop. Mr. Johnston just said, Go on, enjoy, have fun. Canada is open for you. Trudeau Touts RCMPs Reconciliation, Modernization Efforts in 150th Anniversary Message Members of the RCMP march during the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary on July 6, 2018. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been in existence for 150 years as of May 23, and the occasion was marked by a message that day from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. For a century and a half, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has served and protected Canadians. Today, we thank all RCMP employees, past and present, for their dedication, relentless commitment, and significant contributions to our country, Trudeau said in a May 23 statement. He said the RCMP is one of the most respected police organizations in the world, and remains committed to becoming a more modern, inclusive, accountable, and trusted police organization for all Canadians. According to Trudeau, the RCMP launched Vision150 in 2018 as a modernization plan to put people first and improve transparency, accountability, and conduct, including through initiatives to reduce systemic racism and gender-based discrimination. As we mark this milestone anniversary, we acknowledge that while the errors of the past cannot be forgotten, they can be learned from. The RCMP will continue to support healing and reconciliation, as it continues to keep our communities safe now and into the future, he said. The RCMP has struggled with the recruitment of new officers in recent years. During a hearing before the Senate Committee on National Defence, Security, and Veterans Affairs, Nadine Huggins, the forces chief human resources officer, said the RCMP was experiencing unprecedented challenges to recruit sufficient numbers of applicants. The force has also created an independent centre for harassment resolution, after allegations in recent years about issues within the service. Huggins said the RCMP was working diligently to improve our culture. The RCMP said in a May 23 statement on the 150th Anniversary that they plan to modernize and continue reconciliation efforts. Its a significant moment that calls on us to reflect on who we are, where weve come from, and where were going based on 150 years of lessons learned. In marking this anniversary, we must acknowledge that the RCMP has played a role in some of Canadas most difficult and dark moments. Theres no questioning that weve faced our fair share of challenges, said RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme. He said work was underway to continue our modernization and reconciliation efforts, and to ensure the organization reflects the diversity of the communities we proudly serve. Canadians rely on the RCMP to stay safe, said Duheme. Its critical that we continue to foster their trust and confidence in us by acting with integrity, showing respect, and serving with excellence, he said. The commissioner also thanked the more than 30,000 RCMP employees working in Canada and abroad, and said the work can be challenging due to long hours, unknown factors when starting a shift, and moving to new communities as part of the job. The day-to-day life of policing can be hard on you and your loved ones, said the commissioner. Its important to remember, especially through the challenging times, that this job affords us the duty and the ability to help others and change lives. Its an incredible privilege that we should never take for granted, said Duheme. On March 17, then-RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki retired, stating it was a personal decision. Lucki was approaching the end of a five-year term, which began on April 16, 2018. She was the organizations 24th commissioner and the forces first permanent female commissioner. Lucki stated it was a difficult decision, but said the RCMP was well placed to shine in its 150th year. She cited various steps she said the force had taken in recent years to modernize, increase accountability, and address systemic racism. She said the RCMP had made great progress in advancing reconciliation with indigenous people. Lucki took leadership of the organization after long-standing concerns of bullying and harassment had been alleged within the force. Her statement indicated she was asked to modernize and address the RCMPs internal challenges, which she called a significant mandate. Doug Lett contributed to this report. A new report is alleging the University of CaliforniaBerkeley failed to disclose millions in undisclosed Chinese funds. Those funds are tied to a renowned university in Beijing, known as Chinas MIT. While debate continues over whether the money totaled tens or hundreds of millions, the university has a different take, while at the same time acknowledging that parts of the investigation are correct, like a high-profile visit from Chinese party officials to tour a lab in the United States. The cutting-edge facility is used for semiconductor research. Topics in this episode: UK Records 1st Death by Zombie Drug Fears xylazine is 'highly likely' to be widespread in UK A so-called zombie drug which has claimed its first British victim could be widespread and drug screenings need to be updated to look for it, according to a panel of experts who studied the death. Karl Warburton, 43, died at his home in Solihull, near Birmingham, in May 2022 and is believed to be the first recorded fatality caused by xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer which has caused devastation among addicts in the United States. Xylazinewhich should only be used to tranquilize large animalslowers the heart and breathing rate and can cause large patches of rotting flesh if it is injected. Research by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says xylazine is prevalent in 7 percent of overdoses across the United States and in some states it is blamed for up to 26 percent of all deaths. In March, U.S. Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said, Its a deadly, skin-rotting zombie drug that evil drug dealers are now mixing with fentanyl, with heroin, and with other drugs. Its already bringing a horrific wave of death and overdose to upstate New York, and its on its way to New York City and Long Island where weve already seen it begin to rear its ugly head, Schumer added. Dr. Caroline Copeland led a study into Warburtons death, which has been published in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Copeland, the director of the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths, said it was highly likely xylazine was widely available in the UK drugs market. She said regular drug screenings should be updated and users should be made aware of the risks of taking it. In the study, Copelands team said Warburton, a factory worker, was a habitual drug user who was known to take crack cocaine and heroin, which had probably been laced with fentanyl and xylazine. He was found dead in the lounge of his home, surrounded by drug paraphernalia. After an inquest, a coroner determined his cause of death as acute aspiration pneumonitis, a lung injury caused by inhaling toxins. The coroner listed xylazine as a contributing factor. Xylazine Only Discovered by Chance The study said the presence of xylazine was only discovered by chance after a strange peak was noticed in his toxicology tests. In the United States the number of overdose deaths involving xylazineknown on the street as tranq dopehas seen a 20-fold increase between 2015 and 2020. Copeland said xylazine was unlikely to have only been available in one UK drugs market. She said: If it has appeared in one place, it is highly unlikely that this was the only preparation with xylazine available. It probably is elsewhere but isnt being detected. If this is suggesting that we are now getting our heroin from similar sources to the United States, then absolutely it needs to be tested for. The most immediate thing to be done is to tell heroin users that this is around, Copeland added. The study said Warburton had probably bought a wrap of heroin, unaware it had been laced with fentanyl and xylazine. In February, the FDA announced new measures to restrict the illicit flow of xylazine into the United States after it was increasingly detected in overdose deaths. The FDA said xylazine can cause huge drops in blood pressure, body temperature and heart rate and, when injected, creates patches of dead and rotting tissue which often lead to amputation. These wounds can develop in areas of the body away from the injection site and may become life-threatening, the FDA added. Mexican Cartels Blamed for Spread of Xylazine in US According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels in Mexico are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in communities across the United States. The DEA also said these cartels are sourcing much of these chemical compounds from China. Schumer said: [Xylazine is] coming into the country through China and often through Mexico and so even these drug dealers have started peddling this drug because it mimics opioids. In April, Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, officially designated fentanyl adulterated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the United States. Gupta said: As a physician, I am deeply troubled about the devastating impact of the fentanyl-xylazine combination, and as President Bidens drug policy adviser, I am immensely concerned about what this threat means for the nation. In an email to The Epoch Times, a UK government spokesperson said: Any death due to substance misuse is a tragedy. Were investing an extra 532 million through to 2025 to create over 50,000 high-quality places in drug and alcohol treatment services with high-quality care, including another 5,000 places for young people. We continue to monitor seizures, non-fatal overdoses, and toxicology results, and issue advice and health alerts to local authorities when there are dangerous batches of specific drugs, the spokesperson added. PA Media contributed to this report. A very rare natural diamond has been unearthed in India and given the name Beating Heart for its breathtaking diamond within a diamond formation. After being recovered in the rough and named by diamond manufacturer VD Global in Surat, India, the gemstone was analyzed by De Beers Institute of Diamonds at its facilities in Maidenhead, England, in November 2022. Experts classified the 0.329-carat gem as being a type IaAB diamond of D-color, with an internal cavity encasing a smaller diamond, ostensibly trapped, but free to move within the cavity. An optical image showing the small diamond crystal nestled in the cavity of the 0.329-carat rough diamond. (Courtesy of Danny Bowler/De Beers Group) Using their own patented instruments, De Beers performed an analysis to confirm the diamonds authenticity, followed by further tests using optical and scanning electron microscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and fluorescence and phosphorescence imaging. They believe the cavity was formed when an intermediate layer of poor-quality fibrous diamond was etched away, leaving a nugget of original core, good-quality diamond growth in the center. Since a subsequent layer of diamond growth was also likely poor and fibrous, and likewise etched away at some point between the gems formation and its journey to the surface of the Earth, only the core and the outer gem-quality casing survived. Etch features are visible on both the smaller diamond and the inner cavity of the host, as shown in this electron microscope scan. (Courtesy of Ivan Nikiforov/De Beers Group) An image acquired from the De Beers Group. (Courtesy of De Beers Group) Incredible close-up photos of Beating Heart show the outer layers of the gem in jaw-dropping detail, a visual narrative of the diamonds journey from formation to discovery. Through the small, jagged entrance of the diamonds outer casing, the second diamond, the sparkling jewel in the treasure chest, can be seen. Samantha Sibley, technical educator at De Beers Group Ignite, said in a press release that she had certainly never seen anything like the Beating Heart during my last 30 years in the diamond sector. (Courtesy of De Beers Group) Added Jamie Clark, head of global operations at De Beers Institute of Diamonds, The Beating Heart is a remarkable example of what can happen on the natural diamond journey from formation to discovery. A find like this demonstrates why natural diamond formation and origin is such a fascinating area of study, and why it is important to strive for advancements in testing and analysis that can contribute to our knowledge of natural diamond growth. Beating Heart was deemed a potentially significant anomaly of diamond formation by De Beers, and will likely undergo further testing to investigate how it came to be. For now, the diamond has joined a small group of similar natural gemstones, including the priceless 800 million-year-old Matryoshka nesting diamonds unearthed in Siberia in 2019. Beating Heart will be preserved for research and educational purposes. It will be neither cut nor polished. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Upstate New York Officials Tell NYC Mayor to Stop Bussing Illegal Immigrants to Their Regions Recently arrived illegal immigrants get information on free health care in front of P.S. 188 in Coney Island, which recently began housing asylum seekers in the school gym on May 16, 2023 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The Democrat Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, is continuing to send recently arrived migrants from the City to other parts of the state, without notifying the local authorities in advance or receiving their permission. County authorities, who have been receiving illegals by the busload, have demanded that Adams immediately cease his operations. New Yorks migrant crisis has been blamed on the Biden administration by Republicans for its apparent unwillingness to secure the southern U.S. border with Mexico. Over five million illegal immigrants have crossed into the United States since Biden took office. NYC Unable to House or Feed Latest Wave of Illegal Immigrants Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, some with criminal backgrounds, have already flooded the border regions since the beginning of the year, joining the millions already here. State authorities in Texas, who have been taking in the majority of border crossers, have been sending them to sanctuary cities like New York, which has seen its social services and shelter systems overwhelmed. Adams said that the 65,000 illegal immigrants who have flooded into the City over the past year, have caused its shelters to run out of room and that the rest of the state should share the burden. We believe the entire state should participate in a decompression strategy, Adams said on CBS Face the Nation on Sunday. And its unfortunate that there have been some lawmakers in counties that are not carrying on their role of ensuring that this is a decompression strategy throughout the state. Several New York counties have already declared states of emergency in an attempt to block the mayors efforts. Rockland, Orange, and Onondaga counties have all filed in court to reverse the bussing efforts, saying that the hotels where the illegal immigrants are staying in are in violation of local ordinances. NY Governor Accused of Inaction by Local Leaders The crisis has put pressure on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has been blamed by county leaders and the Republicans, for not preventing Adams, a fellow Democrat, from carrying out his program. Hochuls management of the illegal migrant crisis and her open sympathy for the mayors actions has dismayed local leadership across the state. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, who also happens to be a Democrat, said he was totally unaware that 40 migrant families were sent by Adams to a local Ramada Inn last week, until local police informed him. Spano told Politico regarding Albanys response, that state officials have not offered much assistance in providing social services and programs to the recent arrivals. This is a crisis. We all need to share in it. I get it. Im not looking to make the refugees lives any more difficult than they already are, but to those just shipping people to places and then somehow think their mission is accomplished, its not, he complained. County leaders taking in the migrants said they are largely ill-prepared to deal with them without more aid from the governor. The City is trying to force saner suburban jurisdictions, which have made no claim to be sanctuary areas, to share the burden, instead of calling out the one person who can do anything about it: Joe Biden, said New York State GOP Chairman Ed Cox, in a press statement. Hochul Takes Criticism From Republicans Over Migrant Crisis Hochul appeared in Brooklyn with Adams and top New York Democrats from Capitol Hill earlier this week, to request that the White House issue federal work permits to illegal migrants to alleviate the financial burden on the state. The governor said that $1 billion would be allocated from the state budget to help the city address its lack of resources and that her office will also look for welcoming communities to house the migrants. There are also proposals to utilize SUNY campus buildings and federal properties as shelters. Hochul responded to her critics by then accusing parts of our country and our state who are enacting bigoted policies based on fear and intimidation, join us. Join us. Let people know the true story of what New York is. New York Republican officials immediately criticized the governors statements. Democrats at every level of government are participants in the failure to secure our border, said Cox, adding, just 60,000 of those five million have created a crisis beyond New York Citys ability to handle, as the City considers using more of its iconic landmarks to house migrants, including a potential tent city in Central Park. Kathy Hochul, Eric Adams, Chuck Schumer, and Kirsten Gillibrand could alleviate this crisis by demanding in no uncertain terms that Joe Biden close the border, Cox said. The GOP state chairman added that New Yorkers would continue to be burdened, as long as the national illegal immigration crisis continued to spiral out of control. US Nuclear Secrets at Risk From Insider Threats With Devastating Consequences: Report The U.S. Department of Energy building in Washington, on July 22, 2019. (Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images) U.S. nuclear secrets are at risk from insider attacks, owing to the Department of Energys (DOEs) lack of security, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Allison Bawden, a GAO director for nuclear security, said the insider risk is illustrated by the 1993 movie Jurassic Park, when a disgruntled computer programmer tries to steal from his employer to solve his personal financial troubles. Remember that fictional employee who stole dinosaur embryos from InGen? wrote Bawden on Twitter on Thursday, while sharing a link to the offices report and a photo of the fictional programmer. Insider threats arent just for dinosaur parkstheyre also a risk for federal agencies, she added. For example, what if insiders wanted to steal the nations nuclear weapons and information? To avoid being like InGen, DOE could better protect nuclear material & information by fully implementing its insider threat program. This includes training all employees & contractors to identify & report suspicious behavior & better monitoring networks for suspicious activity. Report According to the report, the DOE established the insider threat program in 2014 but has not yet implemented all required measures. The DOE has not implemented seven required measures for its Insider Threat Program, even after independent reviewers made nearly 50 findings and recommendations to help DOE fully implement its program, the report says. The report warned that the DOEs failure to fully implement all the measures could lead to devastating consequences. The theft of nuclear material and the compromise of information could have devastating consequences, the report says. Threats can come from external adversaries or from insiders, including employees or visitors with trusted access. Such threats could have significant consequences for national security and could include unauthorized release of classified information; workplace violence; or improper access to sensitive nuclear weapons, material, and components, the report adds. The report pointed out that DOEs employees, as as well those employed by the agencys contractors, could be compromised and become insiders. As of 2022, DOE had over 13,000 federal employees, and its management and operating contractors and other contractors employed over 120,000 people, who, because of their authorized access to DOE facilities and networks, can be considered to be insiders, the report says. Incidents There were about 250 unclassified insider threat-related security incidents in 2017, the most recent data from DOE, according to the report. The incidents included sending classified information over unclassified systems, leaving security areas unattended, and not properly protecting classified information. DOE considered about 100 of those incidents to be serious, the report says. The report pointed to a 2017 criminal case, when Grigory Trosman was sentenced to 18 months in prison for accepting at least $469,287 in bribes in exchange for official acts he performed while at the DOE. From approximately 2002 through March 2014, Trosman used his official position in various capacities to assist co-conspirators and various companies to obtain access to federal research funding and contract work in Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine, the Department of Justice said in a press release. A 2022 report by strategic intelligence firm Strider Technologies found that China has hired at least 162 researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) over the last 35 years. Many of these researchers went on to conduct military research for China, including deep-earth penetrating warheads, hypersonic missiles, and submarine programs. At least one researcher hired by China previously held Top Secret security clearance at the DOE, according to the report. In September 2020, a former LANL scientist was sentenced to probation and fined for lying about his participation in a Chinese state-sponsored recruitment program. The report offered DOE seven recommendations for its insider threat program. In a written response included in the report, the DOE said it agreed with all the recommendations and provided plans to address them. Tunisian President Kais Saied has reaffirmed his determination to reform the countrys judiciary in line with the higher interests of the state in the face of foreign criticism. The image of Tunisias judiciary has steadily declined among opposition quarters in Tunisia and in the Western media since the arrest of the Islamist Ennahda Party leader Rached Al-Ghannouchi in April. On 15 May, a Tunisian court sentenced him to a year in prison on terrorism-related charges. The EU, the US, Turkey and other countries have criticised the ruling as politicised, while the Tunisian National Salvation Front (NSF), a coalition of parties opposed to Tunisian President Kais Saied, has accused the government of using the courts to silence the opposition by launching investigations into NSF leaders. In April, the judiciary summoned Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, the head of one of the NSF member parties, for questioning. The Tunisian judiciary has come under international criticism before. In late February, the international rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) censured the Tunisian Justice Ministry for refusing to reinstate 49 judges and prosecutors despite an administrative court ruling in August 2022 ordering their reinstatement, a ruling that the authorities cannot appeal. Instead, Tunisias justice minister announced the preparation of criminal cases against the dismissed judges. Since then, anger against what HRW has described as President Saieds measures to crush judicial independence has been mounting. On 18 May, journalists and political activists staged a protest against what they said was the use of the judiciary to harass journalists and the press. Tunisias judiciary has been a source of political concern since 12 February last year when President Saied unilaterally dissolved the High Judicial Council, a constitutional body tasked with ensuring judicial autonomy, and replaced it with a temporary council whose members are appointed. Several months later, he issued a decree granting himself the power to dismiss magistrates and then dismissed dozens of judges and prosecutors on the grounds they had conspired against the higher interests of the state. According to opposition figures, the president has continued to push through amendments to laws regulating the Supreme Court and other judicial bodies, in order to bring them under the control of the executive. They also claim that he has availed himself of powers to appoint and dismiss magistrates in order to stack the courts with figures close to the authorities, thereby facilitating his clampdown against his political adversaries. They say that such measures have fired their determination to sustain the protests against what they see as the erosion of judicial autonomy and the governments refusal to live up to its commitment to uphold the separation of powers. President Saied, himself originally a professor of constitutional law, has defended his policies by arguing that they are part and parcel of his vision for judicial reform, which is vital in order to secure Tunisian democracy and safeguard the country against political ideologies whose advocates are set on steering the country in directions incompatible with the interests and welfare of the Tunisian state and society. In response to opponents determined to push back against his policies and press for the reestablishment of judicial independence as indispensable to the separation of powers, Saied has countered that it was certain quarters of the opposition that had attempted to undermine the true meaning of democracy by using the judiciary as a vehicle for their interests. It was they who had attempted to politicise the judiciary and tailor the laws regulating it to conform with their particular ideology and narrow interests, Saied has said, and he has also lashed out against the opposition forces insistence on forming a front to resist reforming the judiciary in a manner commensurate with the higher interests of the nation. He has accused them of politicising the judiciary by mounting a flagrant attack against democracy and of resorting to incitement and attempting to mar the prestige of the state. Saieds reaffirmation of his determination to reset the countrys judiciary in accordance with his vision of the higher interests of the state and his criticisms of the opposition is part of a message to domestic public opinion that he will not cave in to the pressures of opposition forces and their tactics of non-stop mobilisation. The opposition forces have denounced Saieds logic, claiming it is a cover for an attempt to bring the judicial and legislative branches of government under his control. They have also expressed concerns that his actions could lead the country into a spiral of violence and have maintained their calls for protests against his policies. There appears to be no solution in sight to the confrontation between Saied and the opponents of his judicial reforms. Both sides have dug in their heels as they continue to trade accusations of betraying democracy and jeopardising the countrys future. Since Al-Ghannouchis arrest, the government has continued to arrest opposition figures from the National Salvation Front, while the opposition itself has intensified its cries for protests and its appeals to foreign powers to up the pressure on the Saied government. The polarisation is escalating dangerously at a time when Tunisia is still mired in economic crisis, with people wanting to see an answer to problems of unemployment and declining living standards. * A version of this article appears in print in the 25 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Volcano Rumbles Near Mexico City, Coating Towns With Ash, Disrupting Flights The Popocatepetl volcano spews ash and steam, seen from Santiago Xalitzintla, Mexico, on May 24, 2023. (Marco Ugarte/AP Photo) MEXICO CITYTowering a couple of hours from one of the worlds largest cities, the Popocatepetl volcano has been coating nearby towns with ash and disrupting flights at Mexico Citys airport, the busiest in Latin America. Hundreds of explosions have spit lava from the snow-tipped peak of the 17,797-foot Popocatepetl. Approximately 25 million people live within 60 miles of the mountain. Volcanologists say that, while a massive eruption doesnt appear imminent, eruptions are likely to continue, as they have for three decades. What Is Happening With the Popocatepetl Volcano? There has been a surge of activity since 1994 at the volcano affectionately known as Popo, which is being tracked by scientists at Mexicos National Autonomous University (UNAM). It has had periods of intense activity between 2000 and 2003, and again between 2012 and 2016. In 2000, that activity triggered a red alert and evacuations before the volcano calmed down again. In past weeks, the volcano entered another one of those periods. Spewing ash, gas, and lava, authorities have increased the alert to the yellow, second level on a stoplight-style scale, but not yet to red. Previous surges in activity date back centuries. Pre-Hispanic writings speak of intense activity at Popocatepetl at the beginning of the 16th century. In Guatemala, the Volcano of Fire claimed the lives of hundreds of people in a 2018 eruption. It has recently prompted evacuations for heightened activity as well. Is a Major Eruption Imminent? Scientists and Mexican authorities say theres no sign that the current waves of small eruptions at Popocatepetl will turn into anything more destructive, said Servando de la Cruz Reyna, a senior geophysics researcher at the UNAM in Mexico City, adding that is there nothing new or surprising about recent movements. The probability that this continues as it has previously is far higher than the probability that this grows to much higher levels, he said. Popocatepetl has been active for a half-million years. Its last major eruption happened more than a thousand years ago. What Is the Government Doing? Authorities have closed schools in dozens of municipalities across three states, put troops on alert, prepared shelters, and checked evacuation routes. Other than that, they are encouraging people to remain calm. On Monday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in his morning briefing that the movements of the volcano are being monitored 24 hours a day. What Is Likely to Happen? Popocatepetls recent activity is not necessarily a bad thing, said Robin Campion, a volcanologist at the Institute of Geophysics. The scientist explained that small explosions alleviate pressure from magma inside the mountain, and likely mean that it wont lead to a buildup and larger eruption. The good thing is that its constantly releasing energy, Campion said. Hopefully, itll continue being as constant and moderate as it is, so it doesnt all erupt at once, like it did in prehistoric times. As it continues puffing, ash could eventually become a problem in surrounding areas, particularly in the 7.5 miles surrounding the volcano, but also in Mexico City. While the ash is not toxic, Carlos Valdes, head of UNAMs National Seismological Service, said it could affect breathing and air quality, and also continue to affect flights to and from Mexico Citys international airport. While the ash continues to billow toward southern Mexico, he and other scientists monitoring the volcano expect winds to shift and blow ash into the capital in June. Already on Saturday, volcanic ash carried in by shifting winds forced the citys airport to temporarily shut down. Others expressed worries that the weight of ash building up could collapse precariously constructed homes in poorer areas of Mexico. He and other scientists recommended residents wash their eyes and wear face masks. It has had important consequences. The only danger were really entertaining right now is the ash, he said. People shouldnt be scared, more than anything they should take precautions. By Megan Janetsky Where Are Woodward and Bernstein When We Need Them The Department of Justice emblem at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida in downtown Miami is pictured on Jan. 25, 2023. (D.A. Varela/Miami Herald via AP) Commentary The conspiracy between a corrupt set of bureaucracies (including the Justice Department, the IRS, and the intelligence community) and an equally corrupt and enabling elite media is astonishing. The Durham Report is just one more confirmation of the devastating level of dishonesty and manipulation which have characterized the last few years. Some analysts believe the open corruption can be traced back to Lois Lerner and the IRS scandal, in which she clearly stonewalled conservative organizations from getting tax status. When she was found to be in contempt of Congress, the Obama Justice Department spent two years ignoring the congressional contempt charge and then decided not to prosecute her. As Congressman Jim Jordan said at the time, U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen was us[ing] his power as a political weapon to undermine the rule of law. Jordan went on Mr. Machen unilaterally decided to ignore the will of the House of Representatives. He and the Justice Department have given Lois Lerner cover for her failure to account for her actions at the IRS. The signal had been sent that protecting the left would itself be protected. This lesson was reinforced in the cover up about the terrorist attack at Benghazi. The Obama administration was worried that the killing of an American ambassadordespite his consistent appeals to the State Department for more securitywould hurt the presidents reelection campaign. So, the administration adopted a strategy of simply lying to the American people. This began the week of the attack when the administration did everything it could to avoid responsibility for a terrorist killing of Ambassador Christopher Stevens. In fact, the Obama White House immediately sent former United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice on five network shows to blame an American-made anti-Muslim video for causing the supposed unrest. It was exactly what Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick had warned against in her famous Blame America First description of liberals. We now know that the entire story was a falsehood, and no one in Benghazi was motivated by a film they had never seen. When then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before Congress, she dismissed the whole question of responsibility for the failure to protect Stevens. She even failed to be honest about his murder famously saying: With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided that theyd go kill some Americans? What difference at this point does it make? The leftists in the national bureaucracies learned a big lesson from Lerner and Clinton. Whatever you need to do to defeat the right or protect the left is OK. You can get away with it. There is no responsibility for your actions if you are protecting the corrupt system. That lesson was publicly driven home in late June 2016, when former President Bill Clinton walked uninvited onto the airplane of Attorney General Loretta Lynch at the Phoenix airport. The FBI was investigating the former presidents wife (and Democratic presidential candidate) for a variety of charges including deleting more than 33,000 government emails and having staff destroy computer hard drives with a hammer. It is hard to imagine anything more inappropriate than a former president visiting an attorney general while his wife (and presidential candidate) was being actively investigated by the FBI. As then-candidate Donald Trump described in a tweet Take a look at what happened w/ Bill Clinton. The system is totally rigged. Does anybody really believe that meeting was just a coincidence? We now know from the Durham Reportand the reports from Chairman James Comer and the House Oversight Committeethat candidate and then-President Trump has been consistently smeared and defamed by corrupt elements of the Washington bureaucracy on a scale which makes Watergate look trivial. At the same time, the corrupt system was working overtime to protect Joe Biden and his family. The stunning dual nature of the corruption makes the present moment so dangerous for the future of the rule of lawand the entire constitutional process which has protected American freedom for more than 200 years. As deeply and persuasively corrupt as the bureaucracy has become, the other great decay since Watergate has been the corruption of the elite media. The New York Post, Fox News, and a few others have attempted some sense of honest coverage. Smaller conservative publications, podcasts, and social media have called out the big media systems for being active allies of the corrupt bureaucracy. Still, when needed, the elite corporate media have eagerly smeared President Trump and enthusiastically lied to protect the Bidens. There are no Bob Woodwards or Carl Bernsteins courageously working to uncover the truth and get it published. (Indeed, Woodward has reinvented himself into a chief Trump smear-monger.) There are no courageous editors like Ben Bradley backing up the reporters. There are no fearless publishers like Katharine Graham willing to risk lawsuits and withstand the anger of the government. Today, there is only a corrupt media protecting a corrupt establishment. The challenge to the American people to get at the truth is far more difficult than it was when Richard Nixon was under attack. The establishment rot threatens our survival as a free people, and it is increasingly difficult to uproot. Where are the Woodwards and Bernsteins when we need them most? From Gingrich360.com Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. White House: Biden Vetoed Effort to Block District of Columbia Police Reform Law White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington on May 25, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) A controversial District of Colombia police bill will become law after President Joe Biden vetoed a congressional effort to block the measure on May 25, according to the White House. In a White House press briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed to reporters that on the morning of May 25, Biden vetoed the measure. She made reference to the death of George Floyd exactly three years ago, which sparked months of riots, protests, and arson incidents across major U.S. cities. This morning, the president also vetoed a congressional Republican-led disapproval resolution that would have nullified crucial police reforms, many enacted in the District of Columbia on an emergency basis in 2020, after George Floyds murder, Jean-Pierre said. [These include] banning chokeholds, setting important restrictions on use of force and deadly force, improving access to body-worn camera recordings, and requiring officer training on deescalation and use of force. The districts council last year passed a measure that prohibited the use of neck restraints, increased access to police body camera footage, and revised procedures on how to discipline officers. All local legislation in Washington is subject to congressional oversight, and the Republican-led House passed a disapproval resolution in April before the Senate approved the measure and sent it to Bidens desk. The president has repeatedly said we have an obligation to make sure that all people, all Americans, are safe and that public safety depends on public trust, Jean-Pierre said. It is a core policy of this administration to provide law enforcement the resources they need for effective, accountable community policing. Washington is not a state, and it lacks the same rights that states have to make and amend laws. While Congress has allowed the citys residents some powers of home rule, it has retained the power to overturn district government actions. District residents also do not have voting members of Congress. Police clear H Street and Black Lives Matter Plaza after protesters set up an autonomous zone the previous night, just north of the White House in Washington, on June 23, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) In March, Biden did not oppose Congress when it blocked a major overhaul of the districts criminal code, which hasnt been updated substantially since it was first drafted in 1901. The Senate approved the House bill that sought to overturn the criminal code changes. Biden signed that resolution, ultimately blocking the law. The president and members of both parties expressed concern about rising violent crime rates in cities nationwide and said the revisions would likely lead to rising crime. In Washington, homicides in the city had risen for four years straight before they dropped about 10 percent in 2022. The 2021 murder count of 227 was the highest since 2003. The rise in crime was perhaps punctuated by an assault targeting Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), who was punched in the face by a male suspect in February. Kendrick Hamline, 26, was arrested in connection to the incident. I was assaulted violently, punched in the face. He grabbed my neck. He wasnt going to let me out of that elevator if I hadnt fought my way out, Craig told media outlets after the incident. He grabbed my neck. He grabbed me from behind and one point, tried to pull me away again from the buttons, from my collarbone. I had a cup of hot coffee in my hand because that is why I was in the lobby to begin with and I reached over, poured the hot coffee on him as he was attempting to pull me back away from the buttons, she said. White House Wants George Floyd Bill Passed Also on May 25, Jean-Pierre said that Congress should instead pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was passed by the Democrat-led House in 2021. It included provisions to ban police chokeholds, end certain types of profiling, eliminating qualified immunity for officers, and mandate data collection of police encounters. The revisions would have redefined some crimes, changed criminal justice policies, and reworked how sentences should be handed down after convictions. It also would have done away with mandatory minimum sentences for many crimes and would have reduced the maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking, and robbery. Critics, including some police groups, have derided the bill as a left-wing attempt to target individual police officers at the state and local level. Proponents of the measure, including the White House, said that it would increase public trust and advance transparency in law enforcement. Restricting certain restraints, ending qualified immunity, and creating national databases will only make police more vulnerable. Law enforcement will become less effective in dangerous situations for fear of prosecution or civil liability, putting the lives of officers and communities at greater risk, all the while gathering even more power into the federal government at the expense of local autonomy, wrote the American Police Officers Alliance. But Jean-Pierre said that the bill needs to be passed after the Senate failed to take it up after House Democrats passed the measure. It is up to Congress to send this bill to his desk, and once they do, he will sign the law, Jean-Pierre said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. White House Condemns China for Micron Ban But Will Keep Communications Open White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House on May 16, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) The White House has condemned the Chinese regime for its ban on purchases of memory chips from the U.S. company Micron, calling it retaliation over a recent Group of Seven (G-7) statement, but said Beijings sanction wont affect Washingtons efforts to improve communication with China. The Chinese regimes ban on purchases of Microns chips over security concerns is just baseless, John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman, stated at a May 24 press briefing. Kirby noted that Beijings ban is retaliation for a strong joint statement by G-7 leaders on May 20 to coordinate efforts against coercive and unfair economic tactics used by the Chinese communist regime. Micron Technologys solid-state drive for data center customers at a product launch event in San Francisco on Oct. 24, 2019. (Stephen Nellis/Reuters) Its clearly an attempt to undermine the strong stance that was taken by the G-7 against economic coercion, said Kirby, who noted that the ban was rolled out by Beijing just one day after the G-7 leaders issued their first-ever statement on economic resilience and security to counter the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) coercive economic practices. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced on May 21 that Microns products hadnt passed a cybersecurity review and China would ban critical infrastructure operators from purchasing products from Micron. The CAC neither detailed what risks the investigation uncovered nor specified which Micron products would be affected. However, Beijings ban will only affect some of Microns sales in China, since the ban is currently limited to critical information infrastructure. Most of Microns chips are used in electronic products such as cellphones and personal computers and wont be affected. Microchips: Focal Point of USSino Tech War The battle over microchips is one of the intensified disputes between the United States and China, as relations between the two countries have plummeted to a decades-low point. In October 2022, the Biden administration implemented full restrictions on the export of advanced chips and chip manufacturing equipment to China, aiming to prevent the Chinese regime from using advanced chips for development of its military and surveillance equipment. On the eve of the G-7 leaders summit, the Japanese government invited Micron, Intel, Samsung, TSMC, and other major semiconductor manufacturers to expand investment in Japan and organize a chip supply chain that doesnt rely on China. (L-R) U.S. President Joe Biden, Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a Quad meeting on the sidelines of the G-7 Leaders Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) On May 23, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chair of the U.S. Houses select committee on China, urged the Biden administration to take a tough stance on China regarding the Micron ban and asked the Department of Commerce to impose trade sanctions on Chinas Changxin Memory in return. Shen Rongqin, an associate professor at York University in Canada, told The Epoch Times that tensions between the United States and China in the technology sector will continue. As the U.S. imposed a comprehensive semiconductors blockade on China, from IC design to advanced packaging and testing, Micron may have seen this (Beijings Ban) coming and prepared, Shen said. Communications Remain Open Kirby also stated that the White House will continue to attempt to improve communications with Beijing despite the Micron ban. The discussions and the lines of communication that were trying to keep open, remain open, he said. He noted that U.S. President Joe Biden said in Japan during the G-7 summit last week that the Chinese spy balloon incident changed everything, but I think youre going to see that begin to thaw very shortly. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with top Chinese official Wang Yi in Vienna earlier this month. Kirby said the White House has also been planning potential visits to China by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to talk about economic issues. Lin Cenxin contributed to this report. Biden Admin Releases Plan for AI Investments, Advocates Equity Agenda U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an event celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month at the White House in Washington on May 16, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) The Biden administration has released a plan for federal investments in artificial intelligence (AI) that outlines several strategies the government needs to focus on; one of the objectives is to advance equity and counter inequity in society. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a National AI R&D Strategic Plan which outlines key priorities and goals for federal investments in AI R&D, according to a May 23 Fact Sheet from the White House. The plan (pdf) lays out nine strategic strategies, including making long-term investments in fundamental and responsible AI research; developing effective methods of human-AI collaboration; understanding and addressing the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI; and ensuring the safety and security of AI systems. Focus will also be on developing shared public datasets for AI development, evaluating AI systems through benchmarks, better understanding the needs of the national AI R&D workforce, expanding public-private partnerships to accelerate AI advancements, and establishing a coordinated and principled approach to international collaboration in AI research. This plan defines the major research challenges in AI to coordinate and focus federal R&D investments. It will ensure continued U.S. leadership in the development and use of trustworthy AI systems, prepare the current and future U.S. workforce for the integration of AI systems across all sectors, and coordinate ongoing AI activities across all federal agencies, said the White House. One of the plan objectives is to ensure that AI systems promote equity. The National AI R&D Strategic Plan insists that AI capabilities need to advance equity rather than exacerbating inequity. For example, if only wealthy hospitals can take advantage of AI systems, the benefits of these technologies will not be equitably distributed. Research to make beneficial AI accessible in historically underrepresented communities will help ensure that those in greatest need of these capabilities can use them, the plan states. The OSTP plan envisions the creation of a national technical AI workforce. It says that illuminating the demographic disparities and gaps in the AI workforce will allow HR professionals and policymakers to address these perceived disparities and increase equity and diversity. Derived from Marxist teachings, equity is different from the concept of equality. In equality, everyone in a society is treated on an equal footing, and given the same level of treatment regardless of differences in race, religion, and other factors. Equity, on the other hand, focuses on the forced redistribution of resources. In a socialist equitable scenario, privileges are distributed based on perceived imbalances. Public Opinion of AI, Use of AI in Education In addition to the National AI plan, the White House announced an OSTP attempt to collect public input on AI as well as a report by the U.S. Department of Education on using AI in education, both of which also push the equity narrative. With regard to public input, OSTP is asking people questions related to advancing equity and strengthening civil rights. What are the opportunities for AI to enhance equity and how can these be fostered? one question asks. Another question seeks input on additional considerations needed to assure that AI mitigates algorithmic discrimination, advances equal opportunity, and promotes positive outcomes for all, especially when used in health and human services, in hiring and employment practices, and in transportation. OSTP is also seeking public opinion about working with low and middle-income countries to make sure that AIs potential harms do not disproportionately fall on global populations who have been historically underserved. The Education Department report (pdf) insists that policies are urgently needed to safeguard and advance equity, including providing for human checks and balances and limiting any AI systems and tools that undermine equity. Whether an AI model exhibits algorithmic bias or is judged to be fair and trustworthy is critical as local school leaders make adoption decisions about using AI to achieve their equity goals, the report states. In a section titled Questions worth asking about AI for teaching, the report asked, To what extent are teachers able to exercise voice and decision-making to improve equity, reduce bias, and increase cultural responsiveness in the use of AI-enabled tools and systems. AI Use Within Government Back in February, Biden approved an executive order directing federal agencies to use AI to achieve equity objectives, a decision that attracted criticism. In a Feb. 21 post on Twitter, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute Christopher Rufo said that Bidens order to create a DEI bureaucracy contains a special mandate for woke AI. DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Biden is not a moderate. This is a legal sprint to inject as much radical ideology as broadly and as deeply as possible in our government. This cannot be allowed. If Republicans take office, they must fully root out all of this ideological and social cancer, evolutionary biologist Colin Wright, a founding editor of pro-free speech publication Realitys Last Stand, said in a Feb. 21 Twitter post. Multiple federal agencies are already using AI for various tasks. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is using artificial intelligence to collect information from social media activity. The AI tool allows CBP to screen travelers, including American citizens, people who are seeking asylum, and refugees. In April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that it intends to form a task force exploring the use of AI to advance critical homeland security missions. CMs of Assam, Meghalaya meet to discuss border dispute GUWAHATI, ASSAM Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, and held discussions for resolving the disputes between the two Northeastern neighbours in the remaining six of the 12 locations. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Sarma announced that he along with Sangma will visit the disputed areas in Assams Karbi Anglong and Meghalayas West Jaintia Hills, where the problem is little bit complicated, next month. We will jointly visit Karbi Anglong and West Jaintia Hills districts in June-end as there is some unrest. It will be a confidence-building measure so that people on both sides are assured that we are resolving the differences, Sarma said. I believe that through discussions, mutual trust and confidence, we will be able to resolve the other six areas of disputes much earlier than expected, he said. Sangma said that though the differences in these six areas are complicated, these too can be resolved with a spirit of trust and friendship. Things are complicated but we believe that when there is a will, there is a way, he said. Sangma said survey and other allied work in the six areas for which an agreement was signed between the two states in the first phase last year is underway. We have asked different departments and the Survey of India to continue working in the first six areas, he said. Khader is new Speaker of Karnataka Assembly BENGALURU, FORMER Minister and five-time Congress MLA U T Khader on Wednesday was unanimously elected as the new Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Khader (53) will be the first Muslim leader to serve as Speaker of Karnataka Assembly. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed Khaders name for the post of Speaker and it was seconded by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. As there was no other contender for the post, Protem Speaker R V Deshpande put the proposal made by the Chief Minister to vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the House. As per convention, the ruling partys nominee is generally elected unanimously as the Speaker. Khader had served as Deputy Leader of Opposition in the previous Karnataka Assembly and also as a minister in the past. Maharashtra PradeshCong Committee expelsDr Ashish Deshmukh Staff Reporter The Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has expelled Dr Ashish Deshmukh, Member of Parliamentary Board, MPCC, from the primary membership of the party for next six years. In a letter, Prithviraj Chavan, President of DAC, stated, The Committee has gone through the reply sent by Dr Ashish Deshmukh. But members of committee did not find the reply satisfactory. So, under the rules of Constitution of Congress, Committee has decided to expel Dr Deshmukh for six years from the partys primary membership. The DAC termed the activities by Dr Ashish Deshmukh as anti-party. Dr Ashish Deshmukh had been making statements against Congress, its top leadership, its policies since last few months. Ashish Deshmukh had openly supported the allegations leveled by Bharatiya Janata Party against Rahul Gandhi. He went ahead and asked Gandhi to apologise to the OBC Community. Deshmukh continued to make scathing attack on MPCC President. He accused that MPCC President receives money from the current Maharashtra Chief Minister. Major tragedy averted as petrol machine nozzle catches fire after man lights lighter! Staff Reporter Petrol pump employees averted a major untoward incident with timely action after a bike-borne man allegedly set ablaze the petrol pump machine nozzle with a cigarette lighter while refilling petrol in bike in Katara Hills past midnight on Monday. Petrol pump staff shutdown the power supply and doused the fire using sand and fire extinguishers. The whole incident was caught on CCTV cameras installed at the petrol pump. SHO of Katara Hills B S Prajapati said that the complainant Kripashankar Dwivedi, 33, a resident of Jharneshwar Colony in Misrod, works as manager in a petrol pump located in Spring Valley Colony in Katara Hills. He stated in his complaint that on Monday at around 10 pm, three accused approached the petrol pump to refill petrol worth Rs 100 in their bike. Meanwhile, one of the three accused took out a cigarette lighter and set ablaze the petrol pump nozzle. Fire spread into the nozzle and the tank of the bike. The petrol pump staff immediately shut down the power supply and doused the fire with sand and fire extinguishers. One of the bikers sustained burn injuries on his leg while controlling the fire while his two accomplices fled the spot. Prajapati said that the petrol pump employees nabbed the accused, who sustained burn injuries, and handed him over to Katara Hills police. The accused was identified as Vijay Singh (30) while his accomplices were identified as Bharat Gatkhane and Akash Goud. Prajapati said that the accused Bharat is a habitual offender of Bag Sewania area. He works as a mason while Akash works as a mechanic. The arrested accused Vijay works in a private job. It was suspected that the accused were in inebriated state and may have lighted the lighter to see petrol in the bikes tank and the incident took place. The actual circumstances in which the incident took place and the intention of the accused would be clear after arresting the absconding accused. Search was on to nab them. NIA Court sends 10 members of HuT to jail till June 2 Staff Reporter Ten members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) were produced in the NIA Court of Bhopal on Wednesday as their remand was completed on May 24. The court sent them to jail till June 2. All were taken to the court amid tight security and were presented in the court of Raghuveer Prasad Patel of NIA. The ATS produced 16 members of HuT arrested from Bhopal, Chhindwara and Telangana in the court on May 19 as well. Then the court sent 6 to jail. The remand of the remaining 10 members was given till May 24. On May 19, the ATS sought remand of the HUT members seeking their interrogation. Opposing this, the defense side had said that the ATS has not been able to extract anything special from them in the remand taken so far. The court had approved the remand of 10 members till May 24. On May 24, all the 16 suspects were brought to the court in a mini bus for appearance. During this, tight security was placed in the court. Members of police and intelligence agencies were also present. The media was stopped at a distance. The road to the NIA Court was blocked. No one was allowed to go except the lawyers of the accused. Their family members also came to meet them, who were kept separately and allowed to meet after the hearing. Evidence found of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) links: ATS had detained 10 people from Bhopal, 1 from Chhindwara and 5 from Telangana on May 9. They were presented in the NIA Court of Bhopal. All were sent on remand for questioning till May 19. After this, till May 24, 10 members were sent to police remand and 6 to jail. Evidence was found that the accused were linked to Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT). The expats who started the procedures to transfer the deposits required for the duty-free car import initiative before 14 May will be eligible for the tax and customs duty exemptions, Maait announced. "The authentication of bank transfers typically takes time, but don't worry," the minister commented. Maait confirmed that the Egyptian government is committed to repaying the deposits of the car import initiative on due dates. He added that citizens can opt out of the initiative and withdraw their money after a year of receiving approval on the import transaction by submitting an application on the online platform. The head of the Egyptian Customs Authority Shahat Ghaturi revealed that around 40,000 import transactions have been approved while 37,000 are still under inspection. He added that the import approvals and the customs duty cuts are valid for five years. On 8 May, Maait announced that the initiative has brought in $713 million in transfers since its launch in 2022, which account for nearly 30 percent of its original target. Egypt launched the car import initiative in October 2022 to attract foreign currency, with a revenue target of $2.5 billion. Egyptians over 16 with valid residence permits and foreign bank accounts can import one private passenger car for personal use within five years of enrolling in the initiative. Participants were required to invest the saved customs duties and taxes in foreign currency in an interest-free five-year certificate of deposit, which can be recovered in Egyptian pounds at the end of the period according to the exchange rate at that time. Seven killed as vehicle falls down several hundred feet in J&K People gather around a crashed vehicle after an accident that killed 7 people in Kishtwar district on Wednesday. (PTI) JAMMU : SEVEN persons including two from Jharkhand were killed and three others critically injured after a vehicle ferrying workers of a power project rolled down a hill in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, and leaders from almost all political parties expressed their grief over the accident which occurred near Dangduru power project site in remote Dacchan area around 8.35 am. Since the accident, the officials said, hundreds of workers have been staging a protest at the work site demanding the company to compensate the families of the victims and pay for the treatment of the injured. Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Devansh Yadav said the accident took place amid heavy rains in the area. Seven persons are confirmed dead and three others critically injured in the accident, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Khalil Ahmad Poswal told PTI. He said the injured were rushed to a hospital by the rescuers who were helped in the operation by locals. The driver of the vehicle lost control while negotiating a blind curve and drove down the hill. The vehicle turned into an iron mangle after falling down several hundred feet before coming to halt, they said, adding six persons were found dead on-the-spot, while one more succumbed while on way to hospital. Victims were identified as Itwa Singh and Rahul Kumar of Jharkhand, Sudesh Singh of Kastigarh, Akhter Hussain of Dangduru, Abdul Rashid of Banjwar, Mubashir Ahmad of Doda, and Karan Kumar of Karur. The injured - Ravi Giri of Bihar, Mohd Gareeb of Ramban, and Varun Sharma of Kishtwar were admitted in Kishtwar district hospital, the officials said. Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the tragic accident, the Lt Governor said, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families and wish those injured a speedy recovery. I have instructed the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the affected persons, Sinha said. Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh termed the accident unfortunate as he assured all possible help to the affected families. Just now spoke to DC #Kishtwar Dr Devansh Yadav about unfortunate road accident at Dangduru Dam siteInjured being shifted to district hospital Kishtwar or GMC #Doda as per requirement. All possible help, as required, will be provided, Singh wrote on twitter. Former Chief Ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and Mehbooba Mufti of Peoples Democratic Party, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari, J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, the National Conference and the Peoples Conference also expressed grief over the accident. Senior DPAP leader and former minister G M Saroori visited the injured in the hospital and demanded sterner road safety measures. Sydney Bridge, Opera House light up in Tiranga colours for PM Modis visit SYDNEY, THE Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House here were illuminated with the Indian tricolour to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi who visited the iconic landmarks on Wednesday. Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during his visit. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is famous for being the worlds largest steel arch bridge. The Opera House is Sydneys best-known landmark. It is a multipurpose performing arts facility. The building also houses restaurants and a professional recording studio. In 2007 the Opera House was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Modi invites Australian businesses: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Australian businesses to take advantage of investment opportunities in India in sectors like digital infrastructure, telecom, and semiconductors. Australia to establish Consulate in Bengaluru: PM Albanese: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday announced that Australia will open a Consulate-General in Bengaluru this month, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will establish a similar mission in Brisbane as part of the efforts of the two countries to enhance bilateral ties. In his media statement after holding talks with Prime Minister Modi here, Prime Minister Albanese said the opening of the new diplomatic mission in Bengaluru will help in connecting the countrys businesses to Indias booming digital and innovation ecosystem. THE DIASPORA PRIME Minister Mr. Anthony Albanese of Australia likened the reception Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi got at the Sydney stadium to a reception a rock star would get. That was possible obviously because of the strong emotional connect Mr. Narendra Modi has been able to establish with the vast Indian diaspora spread all over the world. The connect is personal in a way, and also patriotic. That Mr. Modi has been able to arouse the sentiment of the Indian diaspora to such an extent, is the tribute not just to him or millions of members of the Indian diaspora, but also to the ancient Indian culture whose memory the Prime Minister has been able to bring up in popular mind. By any standard, this is a rare phenomenon not seen elsewhere in the world. Of course, the Indian diaspora has been making significant contribution to socio-economic and political life of host countries. Most Indian leaders often advised the Indians settled abroad to identify themselves with the local community and culture completely. But it was Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi who first took the step to establish a closer connect with the Indian people in different countries. He described the diaspora as an India away from India. He also created many facilities to help the Indians abroad, thereby drawing the Indians abroad closer to the idea of a larger, socially unified India. The Indian diaspora was quick to grasp the idea and went many steps forward to meet the Prime Ministers idea half-way through. From that point on, the relation ship between the diaspora and the Prime Minister kept getting stronger, thicker, closer -- which explains how and why Mr. Narendra Modi gets a rock-star-like reception wherever he goes all over the world. For the Indians in every country, Mr. Modis visit is like a festivity nobody would like to miss. There have been Indian Prime Ministers who never bothered to establish such a connect between them and the Indian diaspora in different countries in the world. There were Prime Ministers who would visit a country, complete the official programme, and return to India or proceed to other countries -- with no place or space for connecting with the Indian community in the particular country. Mr. Modi changed all that almost in a flash. Not only did he change Indias approach to the diaspora but also changed the way the Government looks at the Indians settled abroad. He asked them to come forward to help India grow stronger and richer in every which the way. He appreciated the conditions that may have forced them to leave the country in the first place, no matter the specifics. And most important, Mr. Modi refused to be judgmental about those reasons. He accepted and respected the reasons why those crores of Indians left the homeland in the first place and made other countries their home. This was the most critical of points that drew the diaspora closer to the Prime Minister. The most important of the facets of the Indian diaspora is its efforts to keep the cultural connect alive with India. In socially difficult conditions, the Indian people settled abroad often follow basic tenets of Indian culture and history. That was a tough task. Yet, the Indian people in different countries tried to keep their connect with their roots alive. Mr. Narendra Modi was quick enough to notice that and extend his hand of assurance that India would always be with them in whatever condition. The diaspora responded equally warmly -- which is reflected in each of the public meetings the Prime Minister has wherever he goes in the world. The Indian diaspora, thus, deserves every possible accolade for having evolved into another India in different parts of the world and making great contribution to the host countries growth. Threat call to Gadkari: NIAs special team to reach city today Staff Reporter A special team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) will arrive in Nagpur on Thursday for investigation into the threatening phone calls made to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. The investigation team will be led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank official. The calls were made by a murder convict Jayesh Pujari alias Kantha, who was arrested by Nagpur Police from a jail in Belgavi, Karnataka. The NIA has registered a case at Bengaluru in Karnataka and the Mumbai team of the agency was directed to conduct investigation. Sources claimed, the team with a battery of experts will be led by a DIG rank officer. The special teams investigation will be crucial in uncovering the full extent of this terror network and bringing the culprits to justice. Exploring the role of Lashkar-e-Taiba and the underworld are the main focus of the investigation. Sources also claimed that the NIA team would interact with the city police officials who investigated the case. After examining the case papers of two offences registered at Dhantoli Police Station, the NIA officials would decide whether to arrest Kantha immediately or not. On January 14, Pujari made a threatening call to Gadkaris public relations office, demanding Rs 100 crore and claiming to be a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang. He made another call on March 21, threatening to harm Gadkari if Rs 10 crore were not paid. Pujari was brought to Nagpur on March 28 from a jail in Belagavi city of Karnataka State, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was invoked against him. After receiving green signal from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the NIA officials launched an investigation on terror angle as Pujari had relations with dreaded terrorists including Lashkar-e-Taibas South Division chief Captain Naseer. Pujari had also taken training in arms in the North-East parts of the country. Tough Task For Congress By Kalyani Shankar DAME Luck smiles at every Party at a particular moment. The 137-year Grand Old Congress Party, which has seen many ups and downs, is no exception. Winning a prosperous and significant Karnataka recently gave Congress that golden moment. If Congress wants to revive itself, it cant sit on the laurels of recent triumph. Congress faces elections to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizorum later this year, and the Grand finale is in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Will the Congress build on the Karnataka victory, drawing on the history of how late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used her Chikmagaluru moment? She always took advantage of every opportunity. Old-timers recall how Indira, after the Emergency used her Chickmagaluru by-election win in 1978 to return to bring her party to power in 1980 Lok Sabha elections. They also recall how Indira used her Belchi moment to her advantage. In July 1977, 11 persons, including eight Dalits, were ruthlessly murdered by a gang in Bihar. She visited the victims in Belchi by riding an elephant and a tractor. Karnataka was lucky for Indiras daughter-in-law, Sonia Gandhi too. She won her first elections in 1999 from the Bellary constituency, a Congress citadel. She built a viable coalition, brought the party to power in 2004, and ruled for ten years. The present victory has given Congress to seize two immediate initiatives. One is to revive the organisation, which is out of shape. The second is to take the lead in uniting the Opposition with its newfound boost. The Congress played its card well in Karnataka by raising the bread and butter and local issues. It also gave the local leaders a free hand. The high command only assisted in the campaign. It paid dividends On the contrary, the BJP played a wrong poll strategy to the advantage of the Congress. Depending on the Modi magic and the high-voltage campaign by top BJP leaders gave limited success for the BJP. The weak Chief Minister Bommai and allegations of enormous corruption added to its woes. The Hindutva or Ram Mandir have no takers. Hindutva worked only within Coastal districts. There were only a few local issues the BJP could raise. The election also showed that to succeed in the South, it needs s different poll narrative. More importantly, the loss of Karnataka means the BJP has no presence in South India. The South has 129 seats, of which the BJP won only 29 in 2019. Congress must learn from the Karnataka polls. Had the Partys top brass left the newly-elected legislators to choose their Chief Minister, it would have been more democratic. Instead, the legislature Party passed the usual one-line resolution leaving the choice to high command. The two aspirants - former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and PCC chief D K Shivakumar - were cooling their heels in Delhi for four days. Sonia Gandhi finally resolved the issue. She mollified Shiv Kumar to agree to a power-sharing formula with Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister and Shiv Kumar as his Deputy. Secondly, the real test will be how Congress handles its newly-acquired clout for uniting the Opposition coalition for the 2024 election. In this regard, Congress used the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday to exhibit its newfound vigour. A united Opposition must grab the opportunity to perform well in the upcoming elections. Some 209 Lok Sabha seats are spread across 19 States, where the Congress and the BJP are in direct contest. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been talking of a one-to-one fight. Thirdly, Congress regained its lost vote bank of Muslims, Dalits and Backward classes in Karnataka. It should not only be preserved but also replicated in the upcoming elections. Fourthly, Siddaramaiah began well and implemented five poll promises in his first Cabinet meeting as promised. His challenge is to take everybody along and protect his flock from poaching by the BJP. The welfare measures include supplying 200 units of free power to all households, Rs 2000 per month to the head of the family, and 10 kgs of free rice to every member of a BPL household. Congress has other headaches. It must resolve the Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh power struggles before the upcoming polls. It needs delicate handling. The former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot wants to replace Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, but Gehlot is unwilling to go. Both can cause trouble if the other gets the prize. A similar situation prevails in Chhattisgarh; there has been a power struggle between Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Cabinet Minister T S Singh Deo. Rahul Gandhi promised a rotational Chief Minister after two and a half years in 2018. Deo has been demanding the change. The recent win in Himachal Pradesh and now Karnataka have shown Congress that unity in the party and the Opposition, a robust organisation and a compelling narrative should be the new mantra in the coming months. BOSTON (AP) State-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises, Microsoft said Wednesday. The targets include sites in Guam, where the U.S. has a major military presence, the company said. Hostile activity in cyberspace from espionage to the advanced positioning of malware for potential future attacks has become a hallmark of modern geopolitical rivalry. Microsoft said in a blog post that the state-sponsored group of hackers, which it calls Volt Typhoon, has been active since mid-2021. It said organizations affected by the hacking which seeks persistent access are in the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, information technology and education sectors. Separately, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain published a joint advisory sharing technical details on the recently discovered cluster of activity. A Microsoft spokesman would not say why the software giant was making the announcement now or whether it had recently seen an uptick in targeting of critical infrastructure in Guam or at adjacent U.S. military facilities there, which include a major air base. John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google's Mandiant cybersecurity intelligence operation, called Microsoft's announcement potentially a really important finding." We dont see a lot of this sort of probing from China. Its rare, Hultquist said. We know a lot about Russian and North Korean and Iranian cyber-capabilities because they have regularly done this. China has generally withheld use of the kinds of tools that could be used to seed, not just intelligence-gathering capabilities, but also malware for disruptive attacks in an armed conflict, he added. Microsoft said the intrusion campaign placed a strong emphasis on stealth and sought to blend into normal network activity by hacking small-office network equipment, including routers. It said the intruders gained initial access through internet-facing Fortiguard devices, which are engineered to use machine-learning to detect malware. The maker of Fortiguard devuces, Fortinet, did not immediately respond to an email seeking further details. For years, China has conducted aggressive cyber operations to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from organizations around the globe, said CISA Director Jen Easterly, urging mitigation of affected networks to prevent possible disruption. Bryan Vorndran, the FBI cyber division assistant director, called the intrusions unacceptable tactics in the same statement. Tensions between Washington and Beijing which the U.S. national security establishment considers its main military, economic and strategic rival have been on the rise in recent months. Those tensions spiked last year after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to democratically governed Taiwan, leading China, which claims the island as its territory, to launch military exercises around Taiwan. U.S.-China relations became further strained earlier this year after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed the United States. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) As friends and family looked on, rapper Fetty Wap on Wednesday apologized for his actions and said he was exactly where I'm supposed to be, before a judge sentenced him to six years in federal prison for his role in a New York-based drug-trafficking scheme. The Trap Queen rapper, whose legal name is Willie Maxwell, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to a conspiracy drug charge that carried a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. The sentence was handed down in federal court on Long Island. Maxwell told U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert, Me being selfish in my pride put me in this position today. His lawyers had suggested he turned to selling drugs because of financial hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maxwell was arrested in October 2021 on charges of participating in a conspiracy to smuggle large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and other drugs into the New York City area. The New Jersey-born rapper and five co-defendants were accused of conspiring to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine between June 2019 and June 2020. Prosecutors said the scheme involved using the U.S. Postal Service and cars with hidden compartments to move drugs from the West Coast to Long Island, where they were stored for distribution to dealers on Long Island and in New Jersey. Maxwell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances, the top charge in an indictment against him, admitting that he participated in a massive drug trafficking racket. The plea, which pertained only to cocaine, spared him from a potential life sentence if he had been convicted on all the charges he faced. Maxwell's lawyers had hoped for the minimum five-year prison term, while prosecutors sought a longer sentence. This is a sad day,' defense attorney Elizabeth Macedonio said. This is a kid from Paterson, New Jersey who made it out. She said Maxwell accepts responsibility for his conduct. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Caffarone said the prosecution was not about Maxwell's fame as a performer. The defendant did actually sell drugs, Caffarone said. The defendant did actually sell cocaine. Seybert told Maxwell, You've got a lot going for you. See if you can put it together. Maxwell rose to prominence after his debut single, the melodic but grungy Trap Queen, reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2015. The song talks about a lover having your back even if that means helping you cook and sell drugs. He was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2016. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK The city has increased parking fees for non-residents at the beaches, among several changes visitors will see this season. Norwalk residents can enter Calf Pasture Beach and Shady Beach free of charge if their vehicle is registered in the city and their license plate is on the citys grand list. But Monday through Friday, non-residents will pay $42 per vehicle, a $2 increase from last year. After 5 p.m. on weekdays, rates are $30, a $10 increase from last year. On weekends and holidays, the per-vehicle rate is $72 (up $7). The increased fees come amid a review of park fees and after the city has added parking and other amenities at Calf Pasture Beach. Residents of the landlocked towns of New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston and Wilton may purchase a $325 season pass for summer access to Calf Pasture and Shady beaches. Ken Hughes, superintendent of parks and public property, said the city has contracted MGT Consulting to conduct a fee study to determine how Norwalks park fees compare to other municipalities in Connecticut. He said results are expected in four to six months. [Its] basically a study of all the fees that the rec and park department charges, Hughes said. So, thatll let us know where we fall in terms of other municipalities our size and what theyre charging for services. Norwalk residents may take advantage of the free parking if their license plate is registered with the municipality. Hughes said the license plate identification system operates on a valid/invalid basis. CLICK HERE for a comprehensive guide to Connecticut's beaches. Parking updates Recent parking lot construction to the Calf Pasture Beach leaves 379 resident and 150 non-resident spaces a net gain of 25 spaces in addition to a new pedestrian walkway. The biggest impact would be the new pedestrian walkway area, which would allow beachgoers to drop off their children and strollers without having to worry about weaving in and out through traffic, Hughes said. He said the construction also included green infrastructure. The new Calf Pasture parking lot now has 21 trees, 59 shrubs and hundreds of perennials and grasses to catch rainwater from the parking lot before it can runoff into the Long Island Sound, Hughes said in an email. For both the Calf Pasture and Shady beaches, if the parking lots reach capacity, visitors can park their vehicles at the Taylor Farm Dog Park on Canfield Avenue. Hughes estimates the open field on Canfield Avenue can accommodate 500 to 600 vehicles. New amenities Beyond parking expansion, the pedestrian walkway and hundreds of new plant installations, the beaches now share 40 new trees and three new bocce courts (in addition to three pre-existing courts). Hughes said construction on a new skate park next to the bocce courts will finish by the end of the year. There are 60 new kayak racks at Shady Beach; Calf Pasture Beach also features a new cow-shaped bicycle rack. Hughes said that this summer, there is no lifeguard shortage. The city has a full staff of 20 lifeguards with six to seven on each beach at any given time. NORWALK This years Memorial Day parade will be led by Korean War veteran and DJ Leo Motyka. During the conflict, Motyka entertained troops on the Korean Peninsula over the airwaves. Following his homecoming, he worked at radio stations across southern Connecticut as DJ Lee Moore, the Duke of Doo-Wop. The Norwalk native was a senior vice commander in the United States Army and will serve as the grand marshal for the parade Monday, May 29. The Norwalk parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Veterans Park on Seaview Avenue. For a second year, the 103rd Airlift Wing/118 Airlift Squadron of the CT Air National Guard will fly a C-130 airplane over the parade at 10:30 a.m. In attendance will be Mayor Harry Rilling, the Norwalk Police Department, the citys Military and Veterans Liaison Committee, the fire department pipe band, and state and local leaders. Students from the Norwalk High School Marching Bears, the Brien McMahon High School Marching Senators, and bands from Nathan Hale, Ponus Ridge, Roton and West Rocks middle schools will also march in the parade. The parade will end at the Town Green on East Avenue. Because of the parade, Veterans Park will be unavailable for docking until 11 a.m. on Monday. The following streets will be closed from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. due to the parade: Van Zant Street from Veterans Memorial Park to East Avenue East Avenue from Van Zant Street to the Norwalk Green (Park Street and East Avenue) I-95 Exit 16, North and South bound (All other exits remain unaffected) The Rowayton Memorial Day Parade will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m Sunday. The following streets will be closed during this time: Highland Avenue from Wilson Avenue to McKinley Street McKinley Street from Highland Avenue to Rowayton Avenue Rowayton Avenue from McKinley Street to Witch Lane Route 136 will be detoured from Rowayton Avenue onto Witch Lane to Crest Road to Wilson Avenue. This will be the same route, in reverse, for motorists travelling from Wilson Avenue. Motorists are encouraged to avoid these areas during the parade. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UPDATE: State officials visited Seaside Park Wednesday and are looking into "potential violations pertaining to prohibited beach raking with motorized equipment." New story here. Original story continues below. BRIDGEPORT Horseshoe crabs are survivors, predating the dinosaurs by over 200 million years, according to state data. But when these seemingly armored creatures meet modern-day heavy duty equipment, it is no contest. That was the case last weekend. Municipal parks staff using a tractor to clean and rake a section of Seaside Park beach for the summer ran over several of the creatures with the large rounded shells and long tails that mate/reproduce from now through June. "I think I saw at least nine or ten crushed, total, which is a lot," kHyal, a Bridgeport resident, designer, artist and writer who has made a daily habit of walking Seaside to monitor the crabs, recalled in an interview Tuesday. "And they feel pain. To crush anything is terrible. They're animals, right?" She said she found and photographed the carcasses by the jetty around 6 a.m. Friday and also early Sunday morning. "I care about them, so it was terrible," kHyal said. She is hardly alone. As word spread, the incident alarmed other environmental advocates because of the already steep decline in Long Island Sound's horseshoe crab population. Paul Copleman, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said that agency will probe what happened at Seaside Park. "Horseshoe crabs are an ecologically-important species of conservation concern due to the depleted state of regional populations," Copleman told Hearst Connecticut Media in an email Tuesday evening. "DEEP is concerned with any negative impacts on horseshoe crabs in Long Island Sound and will fully investigate the reported mortality events at Seaside Park." State Rep. Joseph Gresko, D-Stratford, has been trying for the last few years, including the current legislative session, to pass a bill banning the harvesting of horseshoe crabs because of the loss of the population. Some fishermen use them as bait. Gresko also works part time for Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim focusing on environmental issues. When he learned about the incident at Seaside, Gresko said he got in touch with Chadwick Schroeder, whom the mayor hired last year as his full-time sustainability coordinator. kHyal and Madeline Dennis Raleigh, another local environmental activist, had also reached out to Schroeder and parks department staff. "Look, these 'living fossils' have been around for millions of years," Gresko said Tuesday. "It makes no sense to devastate a population to the point of extinction." He said it is a matter of educating parks crews on the need to safeguard the horseshoe crabs. Tiadora Josef, Ganim's communications director, in a statement Tuesday evening, wrote, "We conducted a thorough review and engaged in discussion with our park staff to understand the circumstances and take appropriate action." Josef did not provide additional details of what happened Friday and Sunday mornings, but continued, "We recognize the importance of training our staff in wildlife protection strategies to ensure the well-being of not only mating horseshoe crabs but also other vulnerable species that inhabit our beaches and surrounding ecosystems." "In the coming weeks and for the remainder of the horseshoe crab mating season, we will work diligently to implement these initiatives and enhance our commitment to protecting threatened animals," Josef concluded. Bridgeport Parks Commission Chairman Banjed Labrador on Tuesday said that, as far as he is aware, this is the first time people have made an issue about horseshoe crabs at Bridgeport's main beach. He said given the early morning hours that parks personnel rake the sand, it may be difficult for them to even spot the creatures in order to avoid them. "How do you see a horseshoe crab in the sand and coming off the water?" Labrador said. Bill Lucey is the Long Island Soundkeeper with the New Haven-based Save the Sound nonprofit. He praised kHyal for drawing attention to the issue and both the city and DEEP for their respective responses to the killing of the crabs at Seaside Park. "It's good to see people caring," Lucey said. But, he added, it is not only crucial to protect the mating crabs, but the eggs and hatchlings, by cordoning off the mating areas along the shoreline, similar to what is done to keep the public away from nesting birds. According to the state, of the potential 90,000 eggs a female horseshoe crab may produce each season, only about 10 will ever reach adulthood. "I think people have forgotten that we have to share the coastline with a lot of other creatures," Lucey said. "We should look at areas where the crabs are coming up to spawn and mark those. Don't rake them, don't walk on them. Leave them alone as crab nurseries and that will be a great way to rebuilt the population." kHyal suggested the city at least install signs at Seaside Park to raise public awareness during this time of the year. "I cannot save animals that are dead. What is the most practical and useful thing I can do as a next step? Prevention and education," she said. "I don't want to point fingers at people or harm people in their jobs. I just want to help resolve a problem I feel is quite serious." China's new ambassador to Washington, Xie Feng, said on Tuesday that he will seek to enhance China-U.S. cooperation, but that relations face serious challenges. "I have come here to safeguard China's interest. This is my sacred responsibility," Xie told reporters after landing at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport. "I'm also the envoy of Chinese people, so I've come here to enhance China-U.S. exchanges and cooperation," said Xie, who has garnered a reputation for often blunt rebukes of U.S. actions as ties between the strategic rivals have deteriorated over issues ranging from Taiwan to trade. Xie, 59, who most recently served as a vice foreign minister charged with overseeing policy toward the U.S., fills the post as, many analysts say, relations between the world's two largest economies are in the worst state since they were formally established in 1979. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DARIEN When Vietnam veteran Bruce Kinloch was approached to be Dariens Memorial Day Parade grand marshal last year, he turned down the offer because he didnt think he deserved it. There's plenty of other guys that deserve it as much or more than me," he said. "Why me?" Kinloch's service record would beg to disagree. Between 1965 and 1966, Kinloch flew more than 200 combat missions as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, including medical evacuation and transporting soldiers to and from reconnaissance missions. (Flying) 200 combat missions to me says everything," said parade organizer Terry Gaffney. "I mean how do you get up and do that 200 times? Thats pretty remarkable. When the towns Monuments and Ceremonies commission voted for this years grand marshal, Kinloch was unanimously chosen, something Gaffney called a testament to his service. Kinloch eventually agreed to do it not for himself, but on behalf of those who couldnt. Im doing it for the other guys I served with, he said. "Im doing it for the guys who didnt come back. Ill be happy to stand up and represent them. When Kinloch joined the United States Marine Corps in 1964, shortly after graduating from Colgate University, he had not planned on becoming a helicopter pilot. However, a spur-of-the-moment choice between a flight exam and a grueling 25-mile hike eventually landed him in flight school in Pensacola, Fla. At 24 years old, he said, he was excited when he learned he was going into a 13-month service in Vietnam. "I was single, I was carefree and I was looking for adventure," he said. "I knew what I was doing, and the whole key is training, training, training." The job often meant piloting into firefights and other tight spots, and pulling wounded soldiers from the thick of battle. It sometimes left him scared his leg would shake uncontrollably in particularly dangerous situations but he said it was a very gratifying position to be in. I think the infantry guys always appreciated (it), he said. I mean, if I was on the ground getting shot at or wounded and that chopper came to pick me up and save my butt that meant a lot. Instead of letters home, he used to send tapes, sometimes capturing the sounds of battle in the background. He said even the mail carrier would sometimes come in and listen to the tapes with his family. Kinloch finished his tour as a captain and was the recipient of nine air medals, including the combat V medal for heroism in combat. Following his service, Kinloch went into the investing market industry, work that brought him back to Vietnam decades later. He and his wife Michele settled in Darien, where they raised their two children Hillary and Gibson. He is now a proud grandparent. Kinloch unfortunately no longer has his medals. Those, the tapes and almost every physical trace of his time in Vietnam were lost in a house fire. The loss is not a big deal, he said. Hed rather look forward than back, part of his personal mantra of PMA positive mental attitude. As you get older, you realize more and more that were all mortal and we only have one life, Kinloch said. Take advantage of what you have and what youre given and be happy. Kinloch will lead the Memorial Day Parade May 29 beginning at Goodwives Shopping Center at 10 a.m. Following the parade, there will be a commemoration ceremony at 11:15 a.m. at Spring Grove Cemetery to honor those who lost their lives. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday the third anniversary of George Floyd's murder vetoed an effort led by congressional Republicans to overturn a new District of Columbia law on improving police accountability. The law was part of a push to reform policing nationwide and passed in the wake of the police killing of Floyd in 2020 in Minneapolis. Biden has said he supported many parts of the law, including the banning of chokeholds, limiting use of deadly force, improving access to body cameras and requiring training for officers to de-escalate tense situations. I believe we have an obligation to make sure that all our people are safe and that public safety depends on public trust, Biden said in a statement to Congress vetoing the effort. It is a core policy of my administration to provide law enforcement with the resources they need for effective, accountable community policing." The veto comes as Democrats in Congress have twice this year joined with Republicans to try to block a crime and policing law in the district. The first effort Biden supported overturning changes to the district's criminal code. Washington is not a state; and it lacks the same rights that states have to make and amend laws. While Congress has allowed the citys residents some powers of home rule, it has retained the power to overturn district government actions. District residents also do not have voting members of Congress. Still, Congress has not regularly used its power to repeal until this year. Bidens signature two months ago marked the first time in more than three decades that Congress 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. The earlier bill was an overhaul to the District of Columbia's criminal code. It hasnt been updated substantially since it was first drafted in 1901 though Black people have been disproportionately affected by the criminal laws, similar to many other cities. The revisions would have redefined some crimes, changed criminal justice policies and reworked how sentences should be handed down after convictions. It also would have done away with mandatory minimum sentences for many crimes and would have reduced the maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking and robbery. The Senate approved the House bill that sought to overturn the criminal code changes. Biden signed that resolution, ultimately blocking the D.C. law. The president and members of both parties expressed concern about rising violent crime rates in cities nationwide and said the revisions could lead to rising crime. 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. The Senate also voted to overturn the District of Columbia law enacted last year to improve police accountability, after six Democrats voted for the GOP-led resolution. But this time, Biden wasn't on board. The Congress should respect the District of Columbias right to pass measures that improve public safety and public trust. I continue to call on the Congress to pass commonsense police reform legislation, Biden said. And the president, in a separate missive, also offered condolences to the family of George Floyd, whose death sparked anew protests over police killings of Black people, and calls to reform law enforcement nationwide. George Floyds murder exposed for many what Black and brown communities have long known and experienced that we must make a whole of society commitment to ensure that our nation lives up to its founding promise of fair and impartial justice for all under the law," he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SALEM, Ore. (AP) Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has begun meeting with Democratic and Republican leaders in the statehouse to try to end a three-week-old boycott by GOP senators. Her office said Wednesday this year's troubled legislative session has reached a crucial point. No progress was announced, however, with only one month remaining in the session that began Jan. 17. Because of the walkout, over 100 bills that have emerged from committees remain in limbo. Both the Senate and House must also approve state budgets for the next two years before the session closes by a June 25 deadline. Republican Senate Minority Leader Sen. Tim Knopp said on Tuesday the boycotters are not returning until the session's last day, when they intend to pass bipartisan budgets and bills. The walkout, which began on May 3 ostensibly because bill summaries werent written at an eighth grade level as required by a long-forgotten law, has focused on a sweeping measure on abortion rights and gender-affirming care that the conservatives particularly object to, and a gun safety measure that would raise the minimum purchasing age of AR-15-style rifles and some other firearms from 18 to 21. The walkout hit the three-week mark on Wednesday and is reportedly the longest in Oregon history. Republicans carried out boycotts in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and Democrats did so in 2001 to prevent a quorum of two-thirds of members. The governor recognizes that we are at a crucial point in session. She has been listening to all concerns and gathering all perspectives ... She will continue meeting with legislative leaders in the coming days in hopes of finding a resolution, said Anca Matica, the Democratic governors spokesperson. Kotek met separately with Democratic and Republican caucus leaders on Monday, with most Republicans dialing in instead of appearing in person. She has not ruled out ordering the Oregon State Police to bring the boycotters to the Senate floor to reach a quorum in the 30-member chamber. Then-Gov. Kate Brown in 2019 instructed state police to track down and round up boycotting senators, but most had fled to neighboring states out of the officers' jurisdiction. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Tim Knopp told reporters on May 3 that legal action would be taken if the state police try to forcibly bring boycotters to the Senate floor. Knopp recalled that in the 2019 boycott, he got a call from then state police Superintendent Travis Hampton while hiding out in Spokane, Washington. Knopp suspected that Hampton was trying to triangulate Knopp's location with the call, but the superintendent replied that he already knew Knopp's whereabouts. And he said, Youre out of our reach, Knopp said. Knopp said if the governor deploys the state police this time, they would probably make calls. They would probably visit homes. "We dont believe they have a legal authority to detain or put hands on anyone. Should that happen, legal action will be taken immediately, Knopp said. Under a ballot measure passed by Oregonians last November, Knopp is among nine Republican senators and the Senates lone Independent who have become disqualified from being seated in the Legislature after their terms expire because they have 10 or more unexcused absences this year. That limit was set by a ballot measure that almost 70% of Oregonians voted for last November and is now part of the state Constitution. Some of those senators who want to seek reelection in 2024 are expected to file court challenges to the ballot measure once they can begin filing as candidates in September. PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Cambodias top opposition party was barred Thursday from participating in elections set for July after the Constitutional Council refused to overturn a decision not to register the party over a paperwork issue. The Candlelight Party, the sole credible challenger to the governing Cambodian Peoples Party in the upcoming polls, lost its appeal because its complaint was deemed unlawful, the council said in a brief statement. The decision is final and cannot be appealed. Cambodian courts are widely considered to be under the influence of Prime Minister Hun Sens government and his Cambodian Peoples Party. The National Election Committee on May 16 had refused to register the Candlelight Party, saying it failed to provide necessary documents. A few days later the party officially filed an appeal with the Constitutional Council asking it to overturn the election commissions ruling. Kimsour Phirith, a spokesperson for the Candlelight Party, said he regretted Thursday's decision since it denies the party's supporters nationwide from being able to vote for their preferred candidates. The absence of the (Candlelight Party) from the election means the voices of the people are dismissed. Such a move would never occur in a real democratic country, Kimsour Phirith said. The U.S. State Department said it would not send official observers to witness the elections and is deeply troubled by the decision barring the Candlelight Party from participating. Contrived legal actions, threats, harassment, and politically motivated criminal charges targeting opposition parties, independent media, and civil society undermine Cambodias international commitments to develop as a multiparty democracy spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. It urged Cambodia authorities to reverse course to ensure its citizens can participate in a fair, multiparty democracy. About 9.7 million Cambodians are registered to vote in the July 23 elections for the 125 members of the National Assembly. Eighteen political parties are registered and recognized by the election committee, but the absence of the Candlelight Party leaves only Hun Sens party, its allies and small parties that lack a national presence to contest the polls. The Cambodian Peoples Party has held an iron grip on power for decades and controls almost every level of government. Hun Sen, 70, an authoritarian ruler in a nominally democratic state, has held his position for 38 years. He and his party hold all the advantages of incumbency ahead of the election, with dominance in political organizing, personnel, finances and media influence. Hun Sen's eldest son, army chief Hun Manet, is widely expected to replace his father as prime minister after the polls. The Candlelight Party is the unofficial successor to the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which had posed a serious challenge to Hun Sens party before the 2018 elections. It was dissolved just months ahead of the polls by a controversial court ruling that alleged it had plotted the illegal overthrow of the government. The partys disbanding enabled the governing party to win all the seats in the National Assembly. Western nations declared the election was neither free nor fair, and imposed mild economic sanctions in response. Most prominent opposition members are now in self-imposed exile to avoid being jailed on various charges they say are trumped up and unfair. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UNITED NATIONS (AP) A high-level U.N. conference on Wednesday raised less than $1 billion of the more than $5 billion organizers were hoping for to help over 30 million people in the Horn of Africa cope with a major climate crisis and mass displacement after years of conflict, a major disappointment to aid agencies. The U.N. appealed for $7 billion this year to provide food and other humanitarian assistance for the three Horn of Africa countries Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, and had only received $1.6 billion. After pledges were tallied, the U.N. humanitarian office said the total funding for 2023 now stands at $2.4 billion. That means only $800 million in new funding was announced Wednesday over 60% from the United States which made an additional donation of $524 million . That brought its total to more than $1.4 billion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged would-be donors at the start of the pledging conference to make an immediate and major injection of funding to prevent the crisis caused by the longest drought on record, massive displacement and skyrocketing food prices from turning into catastrophe. People in the Horn of Africa are paying an unconscionable price for a climate crisis they did nothing to cause, he said. Without an immediate and major injection of funding, emergency operations will grind to a halt, and people will die. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who visited the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in September, said humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa are now greater than ever, with over 23.5 million persons facing acute food insecurity which is why the U.S. has pledged additional funds. Right now, the global community is simply not meeting the moment, she told the conference, warning that the threat of famine looms. In a world abundant with food, entire communities should never, never starve to death, Thomas-Greenfield stressed. But the results of the pledging conference co-hosted by the U.S., UK, Italy and Qatar were anything but bold. According to the U.N. humanitarian office, there were 25 countries that made announcements along with the European Commission, Islamic Relief and the U.N.s emergency humanitarian fund. But it said some pledges included funds for 2024 and beyond. Germanys U.N. Ambassador Antje Leendertse told the conference the 210 million euros ($226 million) in humanitarian aid for the three countries in 2023 and 2024 doesnt include substantial funding for development and stabilization in the Horn of Africa. UK Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said the country pledged $119 million for the three Horn of Africa countries. In addition, he said, the UK pledged $27 million for Sudan, $23 million for South Sudan and $9 million for Uganda, taking its total new funding up to $178 million. Alison Huggins, deputy director for Africa for the relief organization Mercy Corps which has worked in the Horn of Africa since 2004, said it takes the results of the conference with a grain of salt because many of these pledges were just confirmations of existing financing commitments and remain insufficient in light of the regions urgent and expanding needs and the many lives still hanging in the balance. She said people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya contribute less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, but they are suffering the consequences of human-induced climate change. The humanitarian agency CARE said the region is facing the worst food crisis in 40 years, pointing to drought, two locust invasions, conflict and rising commodity prices in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Over 31 million people need emergency aid, more than 2.5 million have left their homes, and on, due to the extreme weather more than 13.2 million livestock a key money earner have perished. According to the U.N. humanitarian office known as OCHA, the Horn of Africa is the epicenter of one of the worlds worst climate emergencies. Last year, an estimated 43,000 people died in Somalia, most likely due to drought and half of the victims may have been children under the age of five, OCHA said. While improved rains are starting to ease the impact of drought, they are also causing flooding and damage which has affected at least 900,000 people and more flooding is expected later this year, OCHA said. And regardless of the rains, it will take years to recover from the historic drought. In Somalia, where more than 6 million people are going hungry, a famine has yet to be declared, but some humanitarian and climate officials have warned that current trends are worse than in the 2011 famine, in which 250,000 people died. Somalia is also grappling with insecurity due to the al-Shabab extremist group, which has ties to al-Qaida and has fought the Somali federal government in Mogadishu for years. The group intensified attacks on military bases in recent months after losing territory in rural areas to government forces. In Ethiopias northern Tigray region, nearly all the 6 million people rely on food aid after two years of civil war. Government-imposed restrictions on humanitarian relief had pushed parts of the region to the brink of famine until aid deliveries resumed after the war stopped with a cease-fire in November. But the U.N. and USAID, the U.S. aid agency, announced earlier this month that they were suspending all food assistance to investigate the theft of humanitarian supplies. ___ Associated Press writer Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report. Courtesy of the City of Edwardsville EDWARDSVILLE City public works crews were on the scene of Tuesday's water main break through about 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to Cathy Hensley, the city's communications coordinator. As of early Thursday, a boil order was still in effect for a portion of downtown, according to the city's website. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GLEN CARBON Village leaders again have rejected a proposal for a large senior living apartment complex after complaints from the homeowner's association and residents of a neighboring subdivision. Clover Development returned to the Glen Carbon building and development committee Tuesday with its revised plan for a senior apartment site off of Troy Road/Illinois Route 159 at the Glen Carbon-Maryville border. Trustees heard conflicting accounts of whether the company consulted with a nearby homeowners' association, so the project did not receive trustees' blessing and they rejected it. Russell Caplin with Clover Development presented a revamped concept for a 119-unit, three-story senior living complex to be built just south of the Fields Crossing Subdivision. The almost 20-acre site is currently zoned agricultural and is unincorporated. It would need to be annexed and then rezoned were it to become part of Glen Carbon. Latest changes Last month, trustees on the panel tabled Caplin's initial proposal, noting that he had not consulted with the Fields Crossing Homeowners' Association or the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) before coming to village leaders. Committee members strongly encouraged Caplin to contact both groups. Committee member Ben Maliszewski also said the exteriors of the complex needed to be reworked with a higher percentage of brick instead of using the vinyl cladding originally presented. That would give the apartment complex exterior a look more like the medical buildings on the other side of subdivision Caplin said he added more brick to the building's design and he contacted IDOT about what they would require in the way of ingress and egress to and from Illinois Route 159. He said IDOT officials confirmed the existing entranceway would be subject to modifications based on a future traffic study but the entrance's location was acceptable and not in conflict with anything. Friction with HOA While Caplin said he and his company met with the subdivision HOA and provided them with requested materials about the project, and a letter also was sent, at least one member of the HOA on Tuesday refuted that assertion, stating there was not enough time for them to coordinate things on their end. Caplin proposed meeting on a Thursday a week or two ago, according to Fields Crossing resident Stacey Towell. She said the HOA board only learned of Tuesday's meeting the previous Friday. She said the HOA board met as a group first and it declined to support the project by Clover Development, then sent a letter to the mayor and village hall, describing their opposition. However, Towell said the board never met with Caplin or anyone from Clover Development about the project. Maliszewski said he received phone calls from Fields Crossing residents telling him there was no meeting at all with the developer or even just with the HOA board. As he had previously, Caplin pointed out that the village's current comprehensive plan, which dates to 2015, suggests that 76 to 79 single-family homes are one possible use for the site. Those homes would produce more than double the number of vehicle trips that his project would create daily, creating more traffic, he said. Clover Group has senior living complexes in at least five states. The busiest times at any of the current Clover developments are between 2 and 3 p.m. and run about 33 vehicles on average, according to Caplin. "Also, we pay a full property tax bill; we don't use the schools at all," he said. "As a result, we actually subsidize the schools, where as the 79 homes would have increased impact on that. "Last, but not least, we don't have loud parties; we're low-noise. We don't stay up late at night," Caplin added. He said Clover Development officials would be happy to further work with the HOA on topics such as screening or some kind of barriers between the proposed complex and Fields Crossing. He said they are trying hard to be a good neighbor. Nearby homeowners speak up Other Fields Crossing residents then had their say about the project and its potential impacts. Shane Self said he worries about the reverse problem from what Caplin described: Senior residents calling the police on him and his family for an event such as a noisy graduation party. "Is this going to cause issues down the road where we are impacted by this? Is there going to be a change in the noise ordinance?" he asked. Village Administrator Jamie Bowden said that such a scenario was not a given in this context, saying there has to be some kind of buffer for noise between adjoining developments. Other residents asked how the units would be placed on the site. According a preliminary concept drawing from April, the structures, driveways, garages and other infrastructure would fill the entire landscaped area where a farmhouse and barn are now. Denise Daniels, whose home abuts the site, is not in favor of how this project is situated on the lot, relative to her home. "I have a grave concern for that because that is just infringing, I believe, where we are. I don't want to look at garages. I don't wanna look at asphalt parking spaces. "It's gonna decrease the value of my home, which I hope to sell at some point," Daniels said. Maliszewski said there are boundary agreements, some dating back to the early to mid-1990s, with Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy and Pontoon Beach. In this case, the boundary agreement on this property would allow it to be annexed into Glen Carbon if it ever is developed. The next step may be for Clover to bring the project before the village's planning and zoning commission in June. Visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has praised his country's ties with China, saying relations "are at an unprecedented high level." Mishustin made the comment during a meeting Wednesday in Bejiing with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Mishustin also met with President Xi Jinping, and reports say Xi offered Beijing's support on Moscow's "core interests." Mishustin said the bilateral relationship is "characterized by mutual respect of each other's interests, the desire to jointly respond to challenges, which is associated with increased turbulence in the international arena and the pattern of sensational pressure from the collective West." According to the Associated Press, Mishustin did not mention Russia's war in Ukraine. Mishustin and Li signed several agreements involving cooperation on trade services, Russian exports of agricultural products to China, and sports. GLEN CARBON Residents who live behind a proposed surgery center along Troy Road at Edwards Drive will have an opportunity to voice their opinions about the project next month after trustees agreed Tuesday to set a public hearing. The date will be June 20 and the hearing will start at 7 p.m. in village hall, 151 N. Main St. Dr. Ryan Diederich and Mid-America Plastic Surgery Center, currently in Maryville, approached the village to annex and re-zone the property at the northwest corner of Troy and Edwards. The land in question bears addresses of 4287 and 4297 South State Route 159. Currently, the site is four individual parcels where two homes stand. Diederich has the four parcels under contract and the site plan development process is under way. At least two parcels will need to be annexed and rezoning all four lots will be combined to general commercial. Justin Venvertloh, a project manager with Thouvenot, Wade and Moerchen (TWM), said in March that the site would comprise 40,000 square feet, including a 16,000-square-foot basement, a matching size first floor with an 8,000-square-foot second floor. There would be a covered patient drop-off/pick-up area in the back. Village Administrator Jamie Bowden said Edwards Drive will need to be upgraded to accommodate traffic and water runoff. Site runoff will be handled by an underground control and drainage system. The village owns 40 to 50 feet of right-of-way on Edwards. There should be at least one entrance for the new center off of Edwards. Glen Carbon public works Director Scott Slemer asked Venvertloh if the Illinois Department of Transportation would place a traffic light at this location if the property across Illinois Route 159 to the east were to develop. The answer is yes, Venvertloh said, as it was first planned several years ago. Matt Kamp/Intelligencer EDWARDSVILLE Community members can visit with and hear from the new editor of the Edwardsville Intelligencer this evening (Thursday, May 25, 2023) at the Edwardsville Public Library. Penny Weaver, who started Feb. 6 as the editor of the Intelligencer, will be on hand at the library to discuss the status of local media in the 21st century and her enthusiasm for this community. Michel Spingler/AP PARIS (AP) French magistrates on Thursday filed preliminary charges against five French maritime rescue personnel in a probe of the deadly sinking of a flimsy migrant craft in the English Channel in 2021 that killed 27 people. The five, all military personnel, were handed a preliminary charge of not assisting people in danger, judicial authorities said. MILAN (AP) German airline Lufthansa on Thursday signed a deal with the Italian government for a 41-percent minority share in the long-struggling ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia. The deal calls for investments of 575 million euros in capital increases, 325 million euros from Lufthansa and the rest from the Italian Finance Ministry, providing capital for growth. Lufthansa will also have the option of buying the remaining shares at a later date. Lufthansa's industrial plan for the Italian carrier calls for revenues of 2.5 billion euros ($2.68 billion) this year, growing to 4.1 billion euros in 2027, the Italian Finance Ministry said in a statement. During that period, Lufthansa plans to expand the ITA fleet from 71 aircraft to 94 and bring the workforce to 5,500 employees, from the current 4,000. Once the deal is completed, ITA Airways would be Lufthansa Groups fifth carrier. Under the strategy, Romes Fiumicino airport will become one of the Lufthansa Groups hubs, as ITA Airways focuses on long-range flights. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr also said Milan, Italys business and finance hub, has potential for growth. The deal must be approved by EU competition authorities. ITA Airways and its Alitalia predecessor have long been searching for an industrial partner as the Italian airline lost out on domestic and European routes to low-cost carriers. A string deals with potential and real partners had all fallen through over the last 15 years. ITA officially launched in October 2021 after bankrupt flag carrier Alitalia landed its final flight, ending a 74-year run which in later years was characterized by financial uncertainty and slides into bankruptcy. Lufthansa was the only airline that submitted an offer in the latest tender earlier this year. The German airline has identified Italy as its third most important market, after Germany and the United States, citing its business ties and strong export economy as well as its appeal as a tourist destination The German airline already operates Air Dolomiti in northern Italy, funneling long-distance traffic from cities like Milan, Verona and Venice to connections in Munich and Frankfurt. MEXICO CITY (AP) The owner of a northern Mexico coal mine where 10 miners died last year has been arrested, the Attorney Generals Office said Thursday. Prosecutors identified the man only as Luis G in a statement. But a federal official familiar with the case confirmed it was Luis Garcia, majority owner of El Pinabete mine in the border state of Coahuila. The official, who wasn't authorized to talk about the case publicly, agreed to reveal the information only if not quoted by name. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yohana Belinda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 25, 2023 09:02 3 8c59b90329e48fb699327dfce9905079 1 Lifestyle Scam,scammers,human-trafficking,job-searching Free Enticing promises ultimately lead to many workers falling victim to human trafficking "It was all my fault, my stupidity in accepting the job as a scammer since I needed to run away from my life after dealing with some personal issues," says Santoso, an English literature graduate. He had intended to pursue a higher education degree by applying for a master's in film or a working holiday visa to Melbourne and to pay for it he accepted an "administrative job" offering a monthly salary of Rp 17 million in the Golden Triangle area of Laos. From April 2022 to November 2022, he operated in Bokeo province, which he described as a "mafia aquarium. He worked as a fraudster conning people in the United States into investing in a fake crypto scheme. After a few months he was sickened by his job but was forced to pay a ransom amounting to Rp 80 million (US$5,374) to his employers to escape. If not they threatened to toss him into the Mekong River. All of his savings went toward the ransom demanded by his company. The number of victims of such illegal job postings increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Yusuf Ardabili, a legal aid staffer at Migrant Care, an NGO that supports Indonesian migrant workers. He mentioned several sorts of occupations that are traps for Indonesians, ranging from administrative positions in the online gambling industry to employment as domestic servants. Yusuf confirms that most people are unaware they are likely to work for a bogus company or become con artists but they are often desperate to find a job. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Indonesia's unemployment rate stood at 5.86 percent in August 2022, leaving at least 8.42 million unemployed across Indonesia. As a result, many people, especially the unemployed and underemployed, turn to social media for opportunities but the advent of social networking has brought nightmares rather than rewards. Pandemic impact Yusuf says that last year Migrant Care received reports of 189 cases of individuals being lured into fraudulent jobs. According to the research, the majority of victims who were trafficked in countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines were male (91.8 percent). "Many recent graduates and those who lost their jobs during the pandemic, may have been tempted by a job postings offering between Rp 8 million and Rp 30 million," Yusuf says during a Zoom interview on May 6. Healing turns to nightmare: Santoso planned to escape his personal problems by applying for a job located in Laos, but it turned out to be a scam (JP/Yohana Belinda). (JP/Yohana Belinda) The salaries posted by the fraudulent companies are almost double or triple regional minimum wages (UMR). Citing Kompas, the highest UMR in the country is in Karawang regency at Rp 5.17 million followed by Bekasi city at Rp 5.15 million. Santoso is not the only one to fall victim to fraudulent or illicit companies. Previously, The Jakarta Post interviewed Jaya, who chose not to divulge his real name, a former ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver trafficked to Myanmar after accepting an online post for a "sales marketing" role in a Thailand investment firm. The business was a "love scamming" company, the job being to steal money from people by pretending to be in love with them. The scam is also known as "pig-butchering", whereby con artists win their victims' faith by making grand promises of love and financial prosperity. Yusuf warns that the current social media job postings can trap the unwary, especially since many fraudulent businesses are carbon copies of legitimate ones. He says that the fraudulent firms' recruitment practices are identical to legitimate enterprises. They have got everything covered, from HR to PR to social media. The interviews, however, are unnecessary formalities for both the prospective employees and the victims. Candidates are typically told to apply for a tourist visa and added to a Telegram group chat after their interviews. Most of these businesses, according to Yusuf, also promise them lodging and transportation. Furthermore, the victims are not informed of the nature of their employment until they arrive at the bogus organizations. Long road ahead Identifying and avoiding social media job scams has a long way to go. At least 20 Indonesian migrant workers were recently rescued from a fake organization in Myanmar, and according to Santoso, this is simply the "tip of the iceberg." "Do not apply for the job if they tell you to apply under a tourist visa. You need to check the company on the internet, whether it is real or not," Santoso says. Devi Ariyani, executive director of the Indonesia Services Dialogue (ISD), warns that the government and society cannot focus solely on one aspect while combating cybercrime. She states that cybercrime has evolved to several platforms, such as job postings on social media, phishing emails, and phone calls. Thus, she asserts that agencies such as the Communications and Information Ministry, the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) and the police must collaborate with other stakeholders, including social media platforms and telecommunications companies. "We can't just look at the problem through social media platforms," Devi says. According to Devi, to combat cybercrime, the collaboration and support of the general public are essential for keeping tabs on cybercrimes like fraudulent job postings. She says few people know about social media job fraud, thus, efforts to educate the public about cybercrime must be improved. "The education that is required cannot be one-sided. To eradicate cybercrime, a comprehensive effort involving numerous stakeholders is necessary. We can't only rely on social media companies deactivating an account suspected of scamming; law enforcement agencies must be proactive in tracking the accounts," Devi says. Indonesia could learn from neighboring countries in the fight against human trafficking. Malaysia passed the Anti-Fake News Law in 2018, with 500,000 ringgit ($110,530) fines for those who create or spread false news and imprisonment of up to six years. Meanwhile, Singapore adopted the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) in 2019, with fines of S$50,000 ($37,238) or five years imprisonment for those who disseminate false information online. According to Devi adequate training for law enforcement agencies is critical, especially given the ever-changing nature of criminal activities. Criminals continuously evolve and develop their methods of operation. As a representative of Migrant Care, Yusuf urges careful scrutiny of job postings on social media. "It is your right to work abroad, but other options exist." People who have returned are also given a debriefing. Because working abroad is safe if they attend a government to government [G2G] job fair event, such as in South Korea or Japan," Yusuf explains. "Lastly, just be careful," he says. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 25, 2023 Chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Yahya Cholil Staquf urged politicians on Thursday not to abuse the organization for short-term political gain, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Yahya also warned members of NU against using the organization to serve as a springboard for their political ambitions. "Whoever they are, including members of the organization, they are not allowed to use their identity as NU member as political capital," Yahya was quoted by Antara on Thursday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 25, 2023 Interim Telecommunication and Information Technology minister Mahfud MD rejected speculation that money siphoned off from the 4G base transceiver station (BTS) graft has flowed to three major political parties in the country. Speaking during his inaugural press briefing earlier this week, Mahfud said he would only stick to facts and evidence gathered from the Attorney General's Office (AGO), which is currently investigating the case. "I also got the information, complete with names. But I consider it political gossip," Mahfud said. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kirsty Needham (The Jakarta Post) Reuters/Sydney, Australia Thu, May 25 2023 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Narendra Modi, his Indian counterpart, in Sydney on Wednesday to discuss regional security and economic ties and signed a migration deal to boost Indian student and business travel to Australia. The two leaders also discussed the impact of Russia's conflict with Ukraine on developing countries, particularly food and fuel security, Indian officials said. Modi is visiting Australia for the first time since 2014, and two months after Albanese traveled to India. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login The government and ruling People Power Party on Wednesday agreed to look into banning demonstrations at night or during rush hour. The move was prompted by complaints about an illegal overnight sit-in by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Seoul earlier this month that brought rush-hour traffic to a halt. But the main opposition Minjoo Party, which has a super-majority in the National Assembly, accused the government and PPP of violating the Constitutional freedom of assembly. The government wants to ban protests from midnight until 6 a.m. and from groups that have previously violated the law, while preventing illegal demonstrations in advance by applying more stringent screening methods. According to law, the government has the right to ban protests if there is a clear reason to believe there is a threat to public order or smooth traffic flow. But banning protests at night would require the agreement of the main opposition party. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nina A. Loasana and Yerica Lai (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 25 2023 The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has launched an investigation into the Social Affairs Ministry, which is currently led by Tri Risma Rismaharini of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), in connection to an alleged corruption related to the distribution of the government-funded rice assistance. Investigators came to the ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday without prior notice and raided the office of social empowerment director general for eight hours to seize documents and electronic devices, ministry spokesperson Don Rozano Sigit said. We welcomed them and we cooperatively complied with requests made by the KPK team of investigators," Don said on Wednesday, adding that, as instructed by Risma, the ministry would continue to fully cooperate with the KPK. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agence France-Presse (The Jakarta Post) Washington Fri, May 26 2023 State-sponsored Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical United States infrastructure networks, the US, its Western allies and Microsoft said on Wednesday while warning that similar espionage attacks could be occurring globally. Microsoft highlighted Guam, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean with a vital military outpost, as one of the targets, but said "malicious" activity had also been detected elsewhere in the US. The stealthy attack, carried out by a China-sponsored actor dubbed "Volt Typhoon" since mid-2021, enabled long-term espionage and was likely aimed at hampering the US if there was conflict in the region, it said. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nur Janti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 26 2023 Former two-star police general Ferdy Sambo, his wife Putri Chandrawati and their former driver Kuat Makruf have filed cassation appeals to the Supreme Court, in hopes of lessening their sentences for the roles they played in the murder of Ferdys former aide-de-camp Brig. Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat. South Jakarta District Court spokesperson Djumyanto said that Ferdy had filed a cassation appeal on May 12, while Putri and Kuat filed on May 9 and 15, respectively. The cassation appeals were filed by each lawyer to the criminal registry office at the South Jakarta District Court, Djumyanto said on Wednesday, adding that the three had filed their memorandum of appeal before 14 days, in accordance with the law. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fitriani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 26 2023 The Chairmans Statement of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo recently noted good progress on the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda. It however left some questions, such as where is the locus of the progress, what should we expect from ASEAN next in this space and how can it coexist with other efforts to address the needs of the region? The WPS agenda is a global effort to acknowledge womens leadership and meaningful participation in creating and maintaining peace. It is implemented through the four pillars of participation, protection, prevention, as well as relief and recovery. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Korean cryptocurrency fraudster Do Kwon is to remain behind bars while he awaits trial for traveling on a false passport after a court in Montenegro canceled his release on bail. According to Montenegrin daily La Poveda on Wednesday, a high court in the capital of Podgorica accepted an appeal by prosecutors and canceled Kwon's bail. Kwon and an associate surnamed Han were granted bail of 400,000 euros in a lower court last week. Kwon (32) told the court that he owns an apartment in Korea worth US$3 million and the court judged the money to be adequate protection against flight. GW&K Investment Management LLC cut its position in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Rating) by 0.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 480,551 shares of the companys stock after selling 418 shares during the quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $48,637,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of PM. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 22.7% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 35,468,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,944,500,000 after acquiring an additional 6,558,762 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 132,480,611 shares of the companys stock worth $10,997,216,000 after buying an additional 1,451,582 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 122.0% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,632,467 shares of the companys stock worth $247,294,000 after buying an additional 1,446,567 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 646.7% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 1,174,660 shares of the companys stock worth $97,509,000 after buying an additional 1,017,353 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 100,951,462 shares of the companys stock worth $8,379,979,000 after buying an additional 962,801 shares during the period. 75.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total value of $786,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 87,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,588,020.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Philip Morris International Price Performance PM stock opened at $91.65 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $142.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.68. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.85 and a 1 year high of $109.67. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $96.30 and its 200-day moving average price is $98.79. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $8.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.03 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 128.55% and a net margin of 10.80%. Philip Morris Internationals quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.56 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.2 earnings per share for the current year. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd were given a $1.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 22nd. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.54%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 90.88%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. UBS Group raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $106.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Philip Morris International from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $114.00 target price for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $95.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $110.60. Philip Morris International Company Profile (Get Rating) Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jackson Wealth Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Get Rating) (TSE:CP) by 18.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,825 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 1,118 shares during the period. Jackson Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $360,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CP. SYSTM Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the 4th quarter valued at $857,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the 4th quarter valued at $219,000. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 163.2% in the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 14,282 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,065,000 after acquiring an additional 8,856 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 104.7% in the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 10,304 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $769,000 after acquiring an additional 5,271 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PCJ Investment Counsel Ltd. increased its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 10.4% in the 4th quarter. PCJ Investment Counsel Ltd. now owns 80,680 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $6,016,000 after acquiring an additional 7,610 shares during the last quarter. 72.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $90.00 to $89.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Argus raised shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $92.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $78.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. CIBC dropped their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$128.00 to C$125.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $89.40. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Trading Down 0.2 % Canadian Pacific Kansas City Cuts Dividend CP traded down $0.19 on Thursday, reaching $76.59. 752,544 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,950,547. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a one year low of $65.17 and a one year high of $83.44. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $78.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $77.98. The company has a market cap of $71.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.141 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.74%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is 18.54%. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Company Profile (Get Rating) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. provides rail freight transportation services. It offers rail services linking Canada, the United States and Mexico. The company was founded on June 22, 2001 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The U.S. has raised fresh objections to Korean Air's takeover of Asiana Airlines, which together with resistance from the EU threatens to derail the whole deal. Korean Air chairman Cho Won-tae on May 12 met with the U.S. deputy secretary of justice, accompanied by Kang Seog-hoon, the chairman of Asiana's main creditor Korea Development Bank, and Asiana CEO Won Yu-seok. A source said, "The U.S. Justice Department voiced concerns that the merger could exacerbate monopolistic control and called on Korean Air to come up with a solution." Korean Air was told that a final decision had not been made and that discussions will continue, but a failure to resolve monopoly concerns could scupper the deal. The U.S. government says Korean Air will end up with a quasi-monopoly on five of 13 routes connecting the two countries -- Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle -- once it takes over Asiana. United Airlines flies between Incheon and San Francisco, while Hawaiian Airlines covers the Incheon-Honolulu route, but they only account for 20 percent of those routes. Korean Air, Asiana and Delta Air Lines operate the other routes, but Korean Air and Delta are both in the SkyTeam alliance and the U.S. government views them as the same carrier. Korean Air argued that most of the passengers on the routes are Koreans anyway so the takeover will have little impact on American consumers, while other carriers do not fly those routes because there is not enough demand from anyone else. It also pointed out that budget carrier Air Premia is expanding flights to the U.S. Last November, Air Premia became the third airline in Korea to fly to Los Angeles five times a week, and it plans to fly to New York and San Francisco as well. Shares of loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE:LDI Get Rating) have been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eight brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have assigned a hold rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $1.70. LDI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. William Blair lowered shares of loanDepot from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Bank of America reiterated a market perform rating on shares of loanDepot in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Get loanDepot alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CAO Nicole Carrillo sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.03, for a total value of $40,600.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 219,149 shares in the company, valued at approximately $444,872.47. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Nicole Carrillo sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.03, for a total transaction of $40,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 219,149 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $444,872.47. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Patrick J. Flanagan sold 48,914 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.73, for a total transaction of $84,621.22. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 544,379 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $941,775.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 954,264 shares of company stock worth $1,670,458. 88.65% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On loanDepot loanDepot Price Performance A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of LDI. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of loanDepot during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. HRT Financial LP bought a new stake in shares of loanDepot during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in loanDepot in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in loanDepot in the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Boulder Hill Capital Management LP bought a new position in loanDepot in the 1st quarter worth about $39,000. Institutional investors own 3.50% of the companys stock. Shares of loanDepot stock opened at $2.07 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $1.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.84. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.54. loanDepot has a twelve month low of $1.25 and a twelve month high of $3.02. loanDepot (NYSE:LDI Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 8th. The company reported ($0.46) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.26) by ($0.20). loanDepot had a negative return on equity of 44.95% and a negative net margin of 29.28%. The business had revenue of $169.66 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $199.15 million. Equities analysts expect that loanDepot will post -0.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. About loanDepot (Get Rating) loanDepot, Inc engages in originating, financing, selling, and servicing residential mortgage loans in the United States. It offers conventional agency-conforming and prime jumbo, federal assistance residential mortgage, and home equity loans. The company also provides settlement services, which include captive title and escrow business; real estate services that cover captive real estate referral business; and insurance services, including services to homeowners, as well as other consumer insurance policies. Read More Receive News & Ratings for loanDepot Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for loanDepot and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Moon River Studios, Inc (OTCMKTS:MDNT Get Rating) crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.00. Moon River Studios shares last traded at $0.00, with a volume of 2,549,800 shares traded. Moon River Studios Stock Performance Moon River Studios Company Profile (Get Rating) Moon River Studios, Inc, formerly Medient Studios Inc, operates a film production facility. FONU2, Inc operates under the name Moon River Studios. Moon River Studios is a film studio, production and social commerce company. Moon River Studios is engaged in the development of an approximately 1,560 acre film studio complex in Effingham County, Georgia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Moon River Studios Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Moon River Studios and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating) by 21.8% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,887 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,362 shares during the period. Hall Capital Management Co. Inc.s holdings in Novartis were worth $443,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 193.0% during the 4th quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 293 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the period. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 2,018.8% during the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 339 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 323 shares during the period. Penserra Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Novartis during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. CoreCap Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Novartis during the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Front Row Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 38.3% during the 3rd quarter. Front Row Advisors LLC now owns 498 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the period. 8.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Novartis alerts: Novartis Stock Down 2.5 % NYSE:NVS traded down $2.48 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $97.55. The stock had a trading volume of 2,153,554 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,108,365. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Novartis AG has a 1-year low of $74.09 and a 1-year high of $105.56. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $96.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $91.13. The company has a market cap of $206.77 billion, a PE ratio of 30.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.54. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.16. Novartis had a net margin of 13.78% and a return on equity of 23.29%. The company had revenue of $12.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.60 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. Novartiss revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Novartis AG will post 6.67 EPS for the current year. Several research analysts recently commented on NVS shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Novartis in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Citigroup lowered shares of Novartis from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Novartis from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, BTIG Research raised their price target on shares of Novartis from $75.00 to $85.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $82.25. Novartis Company Profile (Get Rating) Novartis AG is a holding company, which engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Innovative Medicines, Sandoz, and Corporate. The Innovative Medicines segment researches, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells patented pharmaceuticals, and is composed of two business units: Novartis Oncology and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pennon Group Plc (LON:PNN Get Rating) insider Paul Boote acquired 18 shares of Pennon Group stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 824 ($10.25) per share, with a total value of 148.32 ($184.48). Paul Boote also recently made the following trade(s): Get Pennon Group alerts: On Wednesday, April 19th, Paul Boote bought 18 shares of Pennon Group stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 854 ($10.62) per share, for a total transaction of 153.72 ($191.19). Pennon Group Price Performance Shares of LON PNN opened at GBX 786.50 ($9.78) on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of 2.06 billion, a PE ratio of 4,369.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.24 and a beta of 0.31. Pennon Group Plc has a fifty-two week low of GBX 735 ($9.14) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 1,105 ($13.74). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 263.07, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a current ratio of 1.82. The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 857.64 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 891.22. Pennon Group Cuts Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 26th were given a dividend of GBX 12.96 ($0.16) per share. This represents a yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 26th. Pennon Groups payout ratio is 22,222.22%. A number of analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating and set a GBX 1,200 ($14.93) price target on shares of Pennon Group in a report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada lowered Pennon Group to a sector perform rating and set a GBX 975 ($12.13) target price on the stock. in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and issued a GBX 900 ($11.19) target price on shares of Pennon Group in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pennon Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 1,069.17 ($13.30). Pennon Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Pennon Group Plc provides clean water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It provides water and wastewater services for customers in Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Dorset and Somerset; water-only services in the areas of Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire; and water and wastewater retail services to non-household customers in Great Britain. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Pennon Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pennon Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund (NYSEARCA:ASHR Get Rating) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $29.21 and traded as low as $28.16. X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund shares last traded at $28.18, with a volume of 1,526,449 shares trading hands. X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund Trading Down 1.6 % The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $29.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $29.12. The stock has a market cap of $2.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.98 and a beta of 0.46. Get X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Tudor Investment Corp Et Al acquired a new position in X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $314,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its position in X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 128,024 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,468,000 after purchasing an additional 64,012 shares during the period. OLD Mission Capital LLC acquired a new position in X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $9,164,000. Credit Suisse AG boosted its position in X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 737,988 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $19,992,000 after purchasing an additional 10,619 shares during the period. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its position in X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund by 157.3% during the 1st quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 80,955 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,679,000 after purchasing an additional 49,496 shares during the period. X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund Company Profile The Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF (ASHR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the China Shenzhen SE \u002F CSI 300 index. The fund tracks an index of the 300 largest and most liquid Chinese shares traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges. The fund holds physical China A-shares. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Korea's total fertility rate stood at 0.81 during the first quarter this year, the lowest for the first quarter since records began. The total fertility rate is the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime. The rate rebounded slightly to 1.34 in the first quarter of 2015 but has been falling since 2016. If the trend continues, the number of babies born this year will probably shrink to about 230,000. According to Statistics Korea, the rate in this year's first quarter was down 0.06 on-year, which makes it likely that the rate for the entire year will be even smaller than last year's all-time low of 0.78. Some 64,256 babies were born in the first three months, down six percent on-year. In March, the number also hit an all-time low for the month at just 21,138. The Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide joins the numerous admirers both at home and in the diaspora to felicitate a moral edifice, fearless justice crusader, astute politician, philanthropist, pathfinder and one of the most upright icons of our time, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the National Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) as he clocks 96 on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Chief E K Clark, the author of the Boarding Pass Theory: At 70 and above, one is already at a departure hall with a boarding pass waiting to board an airplane. That the airplane designated for Clark has not arrived since 26 years ago is because it has pleased the Almighty to reward him for the invaluable services he has rendered to the good people of Nigeria at the various stages of his eventful life. Sir, in your track record of accomplishments, you have displayed empathy, selflessness, benevolence and milk of human kindness. You have cared for the poor, the widows, the dispossessed, oppressed and the downtrodden. The E K Clark Foundation has birthed the E K Clark University. You have demonstrated consistency, charismatic inter-ethnic relations, sacrifice, heroism and candour. Your character comeliness, intellectual prowess, visionary and prophetic uncompromising stand on national issues are exceptional; and of course, the above virtues have cast your name in gold for generations yet unborn. The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Dr. Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR (Ahaejiagamba) describes Chief Clark as one of the most detribalized Nigerian patriots with surpassing credentials. Iwuanyanwu pointed out that Chief Clark was one of the first persons that envisioned that for Nigeria to have peace and sustainable national development, the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be zoned to the South East. The Igbo leader commended the courage, unwavering supports and steadfastness demonstrated by Chief E K Clark in particular and the SMBLF in general for the achievements recorded by the Obi-Datti movement in the 2023 presidential election. Ahaejiagamba extols the intellectual wizardry, mental alertness, zeal and indomitable spirit in Chief Clark to have completed a voluminous Autobiography, the Brutal Truth, at 96. Iwuanyanwu remarked further that Chief E K Clark (96) and Chief Ayo Adebanjo (95), the Leader of Afenifere, inspired him to accept the challenge to lead the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; explaining that if Clark and Adebanjo at above Ninety can render selfless services in pursuit of equity and justice for the Igbo nation, it will be inexcusable for him, Iwuanyanwu, to abandon his people when they needed him most at 81. It is recalled that Chief Clark has in more than several ways demonstrated an intense passion for the Igbo. It was Chief Clark who facilitated the renovation and equipment of the Queens School, Enugu with state of the art facilities shortly after the Nigerian civil war. Eminent Igbo women that passed through the school, such as Justice Rose Ukeje (rtd), Justice Victoria Nebo, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Prof. Ifeoma Enemuo, Prof. Ifeoma Egbuonu, Mrs. Justina Offia (SAN), Prof. Gloria Chukwukere, etc, are some of the testaments of Edwin Clark magnanimity. On behalf of all the organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and indeed all the men and women of the Igbo nation, it is our prayers that you will remain as fit as a fiddle for many more years to come to harvest the fruit of your lofty dreams for a united, stable and prosperous Nigeria. E-Signed: Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia (National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide) The Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB] has berated the naming of the second Niger Bridge after President Muhammadu Buhari. The group also frowned at the South-East political elites, especially from the ruling All Progressives Congress for allowing the bridge to be named after the President. As contained in a statement signed by the group's spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB however noted that the bridge should have been named after Dr. Alex Ekweueme, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dr. Sam Mbakwe, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Col. Achuzie, or many other Igbos that are well-deserving Igbo indigene. According to them: Naming of Second Niger Bridge after Buhari is unacceptable. The attention of the global Family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu KANU has been drawn to the shameful naming of the second Niger Bridge after President Muhammadu Buhari by the shameless Igbo polititcians. The man that the second Niger bridge is named after did not even show up for the opening ceremony. Buharis government went to Kenya and captured an illustrious son of Igboland and a crown prince, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi KANU and renditioned him to Nigeria. Buhari has refused to release him even after competent courts have ordered for his unconditional release. An elder statesman, Late Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, begged him to release Mazi Nnamdi KANU as his last wish, yet he denied the honorable statesmans last wish till he died. On what rational was the second Niger bridge named after Muhammadu Buhari? He didnt initiate nor release any funding for the second Niger bridge project? The Eastern Governors and political leaders should know that they are holding their position in trust for the people and shouldnt see themselves as demy gods. Others were there before them, and one day, they would also vacate the position. Whatever good or bad they do as Governors will await them after office. The days of public deceptions are over. IPOB has woken the consciousness of our people. Either the masses hold you accountable or IPOB (as the representative of our people) holds you to account in due time. Therefore, we call on the Eastern Governors and politicians to rename the second Niger Bridge. The bridge should be named after Dr. Alex Ekweueme, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dr. Sam Mbakwe, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Col. Achuzie, or many others that are well-deserving Igbo indigene that anyone can suggest. If these treacherous political leaders refuse to heed to our suggestion of renaming the second Niger bridge, we shall declare them enemies of the people. IPOB doesnt want any infrastructure anywhere in Biafra Land to be named after Muhammadu Buhari. Those already named after him must be renamed. IPOB maintains that second Niger Bridge must be renamed. If no Biafran is found worthy by the Eastern politicians, to name the second Niger bridge, the existing name of Onitsha head Bridge should be maintained. Qatar Airways has announced resumption of its services to Bahrain starting today (May 25) with a daily flight. A second and third daily service will commence on June 15. The resumption of services will enable passengers flying to and from Bahrain to benefit from the airline's extensive international network across Asia, Africa and Europe, the airline said. Qatar Airways flight QR1108 will depart from Hamad International Airport at 20:00, with a scheduled time of arrival at 20:50 at Bahrain International Airport. Qatar Airways flight QR1109 will depart from Bahrain International Airport at 22:20, and arrive at Hamad International Airport at 23:15. Meanwhile, Gulf Air, Bahrain's official carrier, was also scheduled to resume its flights to Doha, Qatar from today. The airline plans to operate three daily flights to Doha. Qatar Airways currently flies to more than 160 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, voted by Skytrax as the Best Airport in the Middle East. Qatar Airways recently announced that Privilege Club has officially adopted Avios as its rewards currency, opening up a world of new opportunities for members travelling across the airlines global network. This partnership offers a combination of benefits, including a wide range of greater guaranteed award seats and competitive prices on Qatar Airways flights, in addition to experiencing the Worlds Best Airline and enjoying the Worlds Best Airport Shopping, Hamad International Airport (HIA), it said. TradeArabia News Service An opinion piece that you describe, praises or criticizes, on the whole or partly, to cultural or entertainment work. It must be written by an expert on the matter In the last leg of the Cannes Film Festival, the Italian language appears to be taking over. Three generations of Italian filmmakers, Marco Bellocchio, Nanni Moretti and Alice Rohrwacher, are competing with films that examine Italian life and the countrys history. So far two have been screened, Kidnapped, by Bellocchio, and The Sun of the Future, by Moretti. The third, perhaps the most eagerly awaited due to the youth and talent of its director, is Rohrwachers The Chimera, which will be screened on the last day of the festival, May 26. At 83, Bellocchio has given us a master class in historical-political cinema. His film Kidnapped revolves around the Catholic Churchs abuse of power. In the mid-19th century, Pope Pius IX, a radical anti-Semite, enforced a law that said that if a Jewish child was baptized behind his familys back, the child would then legally be considered a Christian and could no longer be raised by Jewish parents. Exploiting this legislation, the Vatican kidnapped Edgardo Mortara Levi, a six-year-old Jewish boy who, along with other Hebrew minors, was forcibly converted to Catholicism. For decades, Edgardos family tried to recover their lost son. With a narrative pulse that offers little respite, Bellocchio portrays the struggle of the Mortara family in the face of a tyrannical Church that destroyed everything they held dear in the name of God. It is a terrifying episode in Italys history in which the monsters wear cassocks. The veteran director is so wise, his work so profound and thrilling, that no matter how tired visitors to the festival might feel after so much screentime, his film keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. Steven Spielberg has long wanted to bring the life of Edgardo Mortara to audiences, but it would be hard to better Bellocchios efforts. 01:31 Official trailer for 'The Sun of the Future' Nanni Moretti in 'The Sun of the Future' Meanwhile, The Sun of the Future by Nanni Moretti, 69, stars Moretti reflecting on contemporary cinema, the Italian Communist Party (PCI) and a loss of hope. The filmmaker returns to themes thrown up in Caro Diario, as he plays a filmmaker who increasingly fails to understand his craft while shooting a film about the communist leader, Palmiro Togliatti, and the impact of the Soviet invasion of Hungary on his party. With some hilarious sequences especially one regarding Netflix Moretti sprinkles his film with homages to other films, including Woody Allens Annie Hall. If Allen ventured into the realms of the bizarre in Annie Hall by handing Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan a walk-on role, Moretti does likewise by giving architect Renzo Piano a cameo. Proposing an alternative history of the PCI at the turning point of the so-called Hungarian autumn, The Sun of the Future is musical and funny and flags up the old Trotskyism with thrilling political vigor in a country currently controlled by the ultra-right. Alice Rohrwacher, 42, is the youngest of the three Italians screening their work, but the director of the wonderful Happy as Lazzaro is one of the most relevant women on the international film scene. Her movie The Chimera stars British actor Josh OConnor, Isabella Rossellini and her sister Alba Rohrwacher, a regular on her sets. The film takes place in the 1980s and revolves around a group of looters of archaeological treasures. Little else has been revealed, but The Chimera has one of the best posters in Cannes, to rival that of Strange Way of Life, Pedro Almodovars short. The promo for Rohrwachers film has an esoteric feel, consisting as it does of a drawing of a man dressed in a light suit, hanging upside down from a tree while gold coins fall from his pockets to form a mound under his head. Men, gold and nature, a clue to Rohrwachers latest work. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 5,000 jobs to be available at Job Expo Phuket PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Department of Employment will hold a major job fair next month to provide opportunities to job seekers and people looking for a career change. By The Phuket News Thursday 25 May 2023, 11:03AM Photo: PR Phuket The Job Expo Phuket 2023 will be held at the Lan Lom area of the Central Floresta shopping mall on the bypass road from 10am to 6pm on June 23-24. Phuket Vice Governor Arnupap Rodkwan Yodrabam announced the fair on Tuesday (May 23), joined by Pichit Singthongkam, Chief of the Phuket Employment Office. Job Expo Phuket 2023 is a great opportunity to allow the unemployed to apply for a job. There are more than 80 leading establishments, over 5,000 job vacancies, and with some positions people are able to know the results of the job interview immediately, Vice Governor Anupap said. Mr Pichit explained that the theme of the event is Creating People, Creating Jobs, Creating Careers, Pearl of the Andaman City. The job expo is to support government policies that want to stimulate the domestic economy and the needs of people who want to have a job and want to have a career to make money for themselves, he said. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the aim is to securely and sustainably improve the quality of life of all target groups of people, including the general public, new graduates, people with disabilities, the elderly, among others, he added. It is also a form of preparation for human resources [practitioners] to support the hosting of Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand, which will create a large number of jobs, Mr Pichit said. Job fairs work well by directly connecting employers with job seekers, Mr Pichit noted. They reduce costs for both parties. Employers get to learn the needs of the labour market and they see increased numbers of job applications. Job expos also highlight skills and practices required in the workplace, and job seekers can seek career guidance. This develops the knowledge and skills of workers so they have higher employment potential and are ready to effectively enter the labour market, he added. This [the expo] will help promote employment, reduce unemployment and reduce the shortage of certain types of labour as well as promote independent careers that are in the interests and needs of the new generation, Mr Phichit said. Job Expo Phuket will feature job interviews on site, an exhibition of world careers in the tourism and service sectors, as well as a host of activities on the center stage and games and quizzes with prizes to be won. An English testing service and a professional aptitudes service will be available, as well as job registration to work abroad and career guidance and counselling. Also to be featured at the expo are occupational talks, freelance occupation demonstrations for 20 occupations each day, franchise business shows highlighting five occupations each day and OTOP product exhibitions for 10 occupations each day. Among the displays will be product exhibitions from Phuket prison and massage career services from the disabled club in Phuket, among others. All people are welcome to visit the Job Expo Phuket, Mr Pichit added. Job seekers can pre-register at https://jobit.doe.go.th//jobexpophuket2023 Patong alcohol ban for local election confirmed PHUKET: Patong Municipality has confirmed there will be a 24-hour ban on the sale of alcohol in key areas of Patong as local residents go to the polls to elect a new councillor on June 11. politicsalcoholtourism By The Phuket News Thursday 25 May 2023, 10:00AM The ban on the sale of alcohol will be in effect all throughout Constituency 3, shaded yellow in the map above. Image: Patong Municipality The ban on the sale of alcohol will be in effect all throughout Constituency 3, shaded yellow in the map above. Image: Patong Municipality Patong Municipality Election Director Wipa Chanthong confirmed to The Phuket News yesterday (May 24) that the ban was explained in the official notice that she issued announcing the election. The ban is invoked under Section 123 of the Election of Local Council Members or Local Administrators Act 2019, Ms Wipa explained in the notice. Under Section 123, those who sell, give away or host events for the consumption of any type of alcoholic beverage within the election boundaries from 6pm the day before the election until 6pm on the election day face a fine of up to B10,000 or up to six months imprisonment, or both. As such, the ban will be in effect throughout Patong Municipality Constituency 3 from 6pm Saturday, June 10 to 6pm Sunday, June 11. Constituency 3 is home to 6,914 residents. From west to east, Constituency 3 covers from the Patong beach road (Thaweewong Rd) to Nanai Rd and beyond. North to south, Constituency 3 covers from Phra Baramee Rd at the northern end of the town all the way to include the headland south of the main Patong town area, including Tri Trang Beach. (See map above, or click here for a full written description of the Constituency 3 boundaries.) Popular nightlife district Bangla Rd and the surrounding area are fully within Constituency 3, and will be affected by the ban on the sale of alcohol. The Phuket office of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT Phuket), has confirmed only two candidates approved to contest the council seat: Siripong Kijdamnern, 47, a resident of Nanai Rd, Patong; and Chokchai Sanguanwong, 48, a resident of Phet Kut Rd, Patong. Phuket MP-elect pushes to allow taxi app drivers at airport PHUKET: Move Forward Phuket MP-elect Somchart Techathavorncharoen has submitted a formal request to allow private taxi drivers using taxi apps to serve tourists at the airport. If approved, the move would break a decades-long taxi cartel stranglehold on serving tourists arriving via Phukets critical tourism portal. tourismtransport By The Phuket News Thursday 25 May 2023, 04:22PM The formal request to allow taxi app drivers to pick up tourists at Phuket airport. Image: Somchart Techathavorncharoen / Facebook Mr Somchart posted the formal request on his official Facebook post today (May 25), with a message explaining, I have sent complaints and suggestions from people in Phuket about tourists dragging their luggage in the rain to get a taxi through an electronic system outside Phuket Airport. The formal request is addressed to Suthipong Kongpool, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), with a copy addressed to the Minister of Transport. The letter was also copied to Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and Monchai Tanode, General Manager of Phuket International Airport (AoT Phuket), which is operated by Airports of Thailand (AoT). Mr Somchart explained in the letter that had received complaints of tourists dragging their luggage through the rain to reach the main road in front of the airport just so they could use a taxi ordered by an app. Not expressly noted in the letter, but commonly understood, is that such tourists would rather choose the inconvenience in plain refusal to use the taxi cooperative cartel drivers operating at the airport. Airports in Thailand should provide convenience and safety for tourists to access their legally hired cars by providing a parking for pickup point with signs for tourists inside the airport, as is done in foreign countries such as Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, India, etc, Mr Somchart wrote. In my opinion, inconvenience to tourists is one of the obstacles in the Phuket tourism industry. Please be informed accordingly to consider the complaint, he added, The letter was signed off marking Mr Somchart as Acting Member of the House of Representatives, Phuket Province, Region 1. Mr Somchart is the MP-elect for Phuket Constituency 1, which comprises Phuket Town (Talad Yai and Talad Neua subdistricts), Koh Kaew and Ratsada. Mr Somchart noted in his message on Facebook, If I receive a reply letter, I will inform people about any progress. Although they have yet to be officially sworn into his office, following their strong wins in the May 14 national election Mr Somchart and his Move Forward Phuket MP-elect counterparts have already started tackling some of the critical issues affecting tourists and residents on the island. Mr Somchart on Tuesday (May 23) visited Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong and Phuket City Police Chief Col Pratuang Ponmana to discuss ongoing violent and aberrant behaviour by taxi drivers against taxi app drivers in Phuket. The most recent incident reported was a Grab taxi driver having a tyre punctured in Patong last night. Also discussed on Tuesday was the problem of corrupt police, or people impersonating police officers, extorting monthly payments from local people. Phuket readies for royal birthday visit PHUKET: Officials across the island have been asked to make preparations for a royal visit by His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty the Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana on Her Majestys birthday, June 3. By The Phuket News Thursday 25 May 2023, 09:00AM Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan annoucned the royal visit yesterday (May 24). Photo: PR Phuket Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan, acting on behalf of Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew, announced the royal visit at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (May 24). Relevant agencies were asked to prepare for activities in honour of the royal visit, noted an official report of the meeting. With Friday, June 3, 2023, the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, Phuket Province [the provincial government] has scheduled activities to honour His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen to show loyalty and appreciation for His Majestys benevolence, said the report. Provincial officials are to organise activities to honour His Majesty the King with simplicity and honour with three ceremonies scheduled to be held, the report continued. An alms offering ceremony to offer alms to His Majesty the King will be held at the multi-purpose yard at Phuket Provincial Hall at 7:30am. A ceremony to pay homage to His Majesty the King and the laying the Phan Phum () in front of his image will be held at 6pm. A candle lighting ceremony to honour the auspicious occasion will be at the Phuket Government Center Auditorium at 7:19pm. In this regard, the public is invited to attend activities in unison in honour of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her birthday on June 3, 2023, the report concluded. In her latest film, Marion Cotillard resurrects a dead woman. It was very difficult. The truth is that I went a little crazy, she admitted Tuesday at the Cannes Film Festival, in a suite overlooking the red carpet on the Croisette, where the sun was finally shining after a week of rain. The death certificate that appears on the screen in the opening moments of the film makes it clear: the cause of death of the 63-year-old woman, who died in 2016, was suicide by hanging, which took place next to the library in her home. The film begins with a question that her daughter, the director of the project, found in an old file on her computer: Why is there always this hope of being understood after my death? Cotillards new work, Little Girl Blue, presented out of competition at Cannes, attempts to make that final wish come true. The womans name was Carole Achache, a writer with an irregular career and a photographer on the sets of Joseph Losey and Bertrand Tavernier. She was a chronic depressive always on the edge of the cliff, and mother of director Mona Achache, who gained plaudits at the age of 28 with The Hedgehog, her 2009 film adaptation of the bestselling book The Elegance of the Hedgehog. After her mothers death, the filmmaker found 125 boxes full of photos, letters, objects, and audio recordings, allowing her to decipher the enigma of her disappearance, or to at least try to. I had no choice but to face this story that I couldnt shake off. I had to bring my mother back to life, says Achache, sitting next to Cotillard. Her intention was to lift a supposed curse that weighed on the women in her family, although she ended up discovering that there was no evil spell, but another act of wickedness called sexual violence. Marion Cotillard, playing Carole Achache, the mother of the film's director, in 'Little Girl Blue.' However, she did not believe she was capable of doing it alone so she decided to call Cotillard, whom she had met while on vacation at the home of some mutual friends. They didnt know each other well, but Achache suspected that they shared a similar sensibility and, perhaps, similar experiences. It wasnt my story, but it felt close to me. In my family there are also women who have suffered aggression, who have had difficult and violent relationships with men, says Cotillard, referring to her grandmother and her mother. That taboo has been broken. More and more people now feel the need to tell their stories. Its important that we listen to them. In Achaches psychodrama, which carried hints of a hybrid documentary or even somewhat vintage experimental theater, the director establishes a healing dialogue with her actress and urges her to embody the character in front of the camera, wearing her clothes and jewelry, using her perfume, imitating her voice and the way she speaks. Little Girl Blue is connected to abuse in intellectual circles uncovered in recent years in France, following the publication of the testimonies of Vanessa Springora (Consent) or Camille Kouchner (The Familia Grande). Achaches case is not far removed: her grandmother was the writer Monique Lange, a great figure of the Parisian salons and friend of Marguerite Duras, William Faulkner and Jean Genet. The latter would play an important role in Carole Achaches descent into hell, as would Juan Goytisolo, to whom Lange was married for decades despite the writers homosexuality. In her film, Achache accuses him of covering up a case of sexual abuse in his Tangier home. It wasnt my story, but it felt close to me. In my family there are also women who have suffered aggression Marion Cotillard For Cotillard, an actress accustomed to all manner of metamorphoses, the challenge was a huge one. I didnt gauge the technical difficulty of the role, to which the emotional one was added, she admits. Cotillard spends half the movie trying to imitate the inimitable. I spent two months preparing, but I would have needed six to make it perfect. The films success lies in holding a mirror up to that process, something the viewer does not usually have access to. In some scenes, the actress performs a devilish playback from the recordings left by Carole. She imitates her impossible breaths, the frenetic speed of her speech, her recurring mid-sentence stumbles. I had already done it in La Vie en Rose [in which Cotillard plays Edith Piaf], but with music its easier because there is a tempo, an almost mathematical rhythm. Imitating a person is much more complex. At the beginning I suffered a lot, because I had the feeling that I was wrecking the film. Unlike some stars who seem full of themselves, Cotillard doesnt usually like herself on-screen, and she doesnt appear to say so out of any sense of false modesty. When I see my movies for the first time, I always hate them. They dont start to convince me until I see them a second time, she admits. An example? With Annette, by Leos Carax, I felt a complete rejection. Today I think it is one of the most beautiful films Ive ever made. Im not embarrassed to say that that first time, I focus only on my performance. And in the case of Little Girl Blue the comparison was cruel, because we see the real character on-screen all the time. Its easy to end up losing. Achaches film also works as a kind of documentary about an obsessive and insecure actress as all perfectionists are who we watch as she tries to caress a little bit of truth, falling down but getting up again. Failing again, failing better. Cotillard on the red carpet at Cannes for the premiere of 'Little Girl Blue.' PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (AFP) Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Amy Wells, clinic co-ordinator, stands in the Cambridge North Dumfries HealthTeam mental health and addictions clinic waiting room. The space includes a privacy corner where individuals can have a quiet, separate conversations with peer workers. The Cambridge North Dumfries Ontario Health Team's Community Mental Health and Addictions Clinic was set up early in March 2023 to address increasing demand for mental health services in Cambridge. Over its brief eight-week pilot operating from Cambridge Memorial Hospital, the clinic helped a patient every two hours: more than 450 patient appointments were undertaken from March 7 to April 28. Of the 123 patients seen, 19 per cent were diverted from Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) emergency services, and 50 per cent of those who filled out patient satisfaction surveys noted they would have gone to the ER if the clinic was not available. Craig Albrecht, a family physician based in Cambridge, and the lead physician and co-founder of the Community Mental Health and Addictions Clinic (CMAC), noted the data gave valuable information as to the behaviour of patients seeking mental health services. Someone in a mental health crisis or seeking help for addiction may find it very difficult to navigate the health-care system, Albrecht summarized, adding that those folks will want immediate help, thus resorting to emergency services. The difficulty in accessing health-care programs is also evident by CMAC data showing patient location demographics; whereas the majority of patients that accessed CMAC services were from Cambridge, 30 per cent were from Kitchener, Waterloo and neighbouring areas. created in Canva by Maria Rosales Gerpe. Map graphic sourced from the CMAC Location Demographics Info-Map created in Canva by Maria Rosales Gerpe. Map graphic sourced from the Region of Waterloo We dont have enough resources to treat people from Cambridge and outside areas too, expressed Albrecht. The data has helped the The Cambridge North Dumfries Ontario Health Team (CND OHT) understand why CMAC was needed in Cambridge, and why similar pilot programs may be needed elsewhere in Ontario, added Kristina Eliashevsky, director of the CND OHT Support Staff. With in-house peer workers, counsellors, addiction workers, physicians, nurse practitioners and other health-care providers at the ready, patients can immediately talk to someone at the time they need it and be referred to the right resources and supports. Amy Wells, clinic co-ordinator at CMAC, stated that follow-ups were an important part of CMAC. "Our teams followed up with patients after they left the clinic to ensure that a plan was in place that was working for them," said Wells. "Ensuring patients had a followup plan in place sometimes included linking patients to primary care in Cambridge," noted Eliashevsky, citing that "nine per cent of patients who sought services at CMAC were connected to a long-term primary care provider." According to data supplied by the CND OHT's CMAC, 11 per cent of patients that used CMAC services reported not having a family doctor, and another 14 per cent indicated challenges accessing primary care. Recently, a call for urgent action was issued by the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) in response to the increasing paucity and burnout in family doctors across the Waterloo Region, a trend paralleling that of the province. "Family doctors are the foundation of the health-care system, making up 66 per cent of all daily health-care visits," said Mekalai Kumanan, a Cambridge family physician and president of the OCFP. "Because we foster trusting relationships with our patients over many years, I have found that patients often feel most comfortable sharing their mental health concerns with us." Both the OCFP and the Ontario Medical Association have continued to advocate for solutions to the doctor shortage that include better integration of the health-care system. Programs like CMAC are one of the ways that health care is being integrated and simplified. CMAC is currently looking for a permanent site accessible by public transportation in Cambridge and seeking short-term grants to carry the service while working to secure sustainable funding, according to Eliashevsky. For more information, visit www.cndoht.com. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Reporter Maria Rosales Gerpe wanted to understand more how mental health services are changing in the province by investigating the impact of the recent Community Mental Health and Addiction Clinic pilot project in Cambridge. SHARE: UPDATE (Friday, May 26) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Friday, May 26: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 156.9 cents/litre at Esso, 885 King St. N., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) to 166.9 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, 650 Erb St. W., Petro-Canada, 151 Columbia St. W., 245 Weber St. N., Shell, 360 Phillip St., 7-Eleven, 425 University Ave. E. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 153.7 cents/litre at Husky, 720 Victoria St. S., Esso, 540 Westforest Tr., (These havent been updated since yesterday) to 166.9 cents/litre at Esso, 1025 Ottawa St. N., Petro-Canada, 1241 Weber St. E. In Cambridge, gas prices range from 149.9 cents/litre at Diva Petroleum, 368 Queen St. W., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) to 166.9 cents/litre at Shell, 209 Pinebush Rd., 800 Franklin Blvd. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 157.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., (These havent been updated since yesterday) to 163.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Thursday, May 25) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Thursday, May 25: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 148.9 cents/litre at Ultramar, 136 Weber St. S., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) to 163.9 cents/litre at 7-Eleven, 425 University Ave. E., Canadian Tire, 650 Erb St. W., Petro-Canada, 151 Columbia St. W., 730 Glen Forrest Blvd. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 148.6 cents/litre at Pioneer, 1105 King St E., to 163.9 cents/litre at Esso, 200 Glasgow St. In Cambridge, gas prices range from 149.9 cents/litre at Diva Petroleum, 368 Queen St. W., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) to 158.9 cents/litre at Shell, 209 Pinebush Rd., 800 Franklin Blvd., Petro-Canada, 200 Water St. S. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 155.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., (These havent been updated since yesterday) to 159.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Wednesday, May 24) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Wednesday, May 24: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 148.9 cents/litre at Ultramar, 136 Weber St. S., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) to 159.9 cents/litre at Shell, 373 Bridge St. W. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 148.9 cents/litre at Esso, 655 Strasburg Rd., to 158.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 1178 Fischer-Hallman Rd., 4319 King St. E. (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) In Cambridge, gas prices range from 149.5 cents/litre at A&S Petroleum, 450 Franklin Blvd., to 158.9 cents/litre at Shell, 800 Franklin Blvd., Esso 277 Hespeler Rd. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 149.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 159.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Tuesday, May 23) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Tuesday, May 23: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 145.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 158.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 440 Columbia St. W., 151 Columbia St. W., 245 Weber St. N., Shell, 70 Westmount Rd., Canadian Tire, 650 Erb St. W. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 148.6 cents/litre at Pioneer, 1205 Fischer-Hallman Rd., to 158.9 cents/litre at Esso, 300 Bleams Rd., 585 Doon Village Rd., 40 Pioneer Dr. In Cambridge, gas prices range from 147.9 cents/litre at Diva Petroleum, 22 Concession St., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) to 158.9 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, 11 Dundas St., Esso, 31 Dundas St. S., 277 Hespeler Rd. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 149.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 159.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Thursday, May 11) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Thursday, May 11: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 146.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 154.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 151 Columbia St. W., Shell, 70 Westmount Rd., Canadian Tire, 650 Erb St. W., Esso, 415 King St. N. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 139.7 cents/litre at Mobil, 340 Kingswood Dr., to 154.6 cents/litre at Mobil, 1166 Victoria St. N. In Cambridge, gas prices range from 142.9 cents/litre at Elgin Gas & Wash, 265 Elgin St. N., Diva Petroleum, 22 Concession St., (These haven't been updated since yesterday) to 159.4 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, Hwy 401 E. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 148.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., (These haven't been updated since yesterday) to 153.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Thursday, May 11) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Thursday, May 11: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 146.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 154.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 151 Columbia St. W., Shell, 70 Westmount, Canadian Tire, 650 Erb St. W., Esso, 415 King St. N. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 139.7 cents/litre at Mobil 340 Kingswood Dr., to 154.6 cents/litre at Mobil, 1166 Victoria St. N. In Cambridge, gas prices range from 142.9 cents/litre at Elgin Gas & Wash, 265 Elgin St. N., Diva Petroleum, 22 Concession St., (These haven't been updated since yesterday) to 159.4 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, Hwy 401 E. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 148.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., (These haven't been updated since yesterday) to 153.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Wednesday, May 10) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Wednesday, May 10: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 139.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 148.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 565 King St. N., 245 Weber St. N., Shell, 70 Westmount Rd. N., 360 Phillip St., Esso, 415 King St. N., 7-Eleven, 425 University Ave. E. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 139.9 cents/litre at Esso, 540 Westforest Tr., 775 Highland Rd. W., Husky, 3011 King St. E., to 153.9 cents/litre at Shell, 504 Lancaster St. W., Canadian Tire, 1080 Victoria St. N., Petro-Canada, 426 Highland Rd. W. In Cambridge, gas prices range from 139.9 cents/litre at Diva Petroleum, 22 Concession St., A&S Petroleum, 450 Franklin Blvd., to 159.4 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, Hwy 401 E., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 142.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 149.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Tuesday, May 9) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Tuesday, May 9: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 144.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 148.9 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, 650 Erb St. W., Petro-Canada, 440 Columbia St. W., 151 Columbia St. W., 730 Glen Forrest Blvd., 245 Weber St. N., Shell, 70 Westmount Rd. N., 360 Phillip St., Esso, 415 King St. N. In Kitchener, gas prices range from 138.9 cents/litre at Esso, 540 Westforest Tr., to 149.9 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, Darshan Gas Bar, 280 Victoria St. N. In Cambridge, gas prices range from 139.9 cents/litre at Diva Petroleum, 22 Concession St., A&S Petroleum, 450 Franklin Blvd., to 159.4 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, Hwy 401 E., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 142.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 149.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Friday, May 5) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Friday, May 5: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 147.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 152.9 cents/litre at Shell, 55 Northfield Dr E., 373 Bridge St. W., (These havent been updated since yesterday) In Cambridge, gas prices range from 146.6 cents/litre at Pioneer, 145 Hespeler Rd., to 161.9 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, Hwy 401 E., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 145.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 149.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Thursday, May 4) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Thursday, May 4: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 148.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 157.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 440 Columbia St. W., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) In Cambridge, gas prices range from 145.9 cents/litre at Diva Petroleum, 22 Concession St., to 161.9 cents/litre at Canadian Tire, Hwy 401 E., (This hasnt been updated since yesterday) In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 149.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 155.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. UPDATE (Wednesday, May 3) Here's a list of where you can find the cheapest gas in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg. According to GasBuddy.com on Wednesday, May 3: In Waterloo, gas prices range from 149.9 cents/litre at Costco, 930 Erb St. W., to 157.9 cents/litre at Petro-Canada, 245 Weber St. N., 565 King St. N., 151 Columbia St. W. In Cambridge, gas prices range from 149.5 cents/litre at A&S Petroleum, 450 Franklin Blvd., to 157.9 cents/litre at UPI Energy, 345 Franklin Blvd., Petro-Canada, 900 Jamieson Pkwy., Esso, 31 Dundas St. S. In New Hamburg, gas prices range from 150.9 cents/litre at GOCO, 195 Waterloo St., Petro-Canada, 200 Waterloo St., to 159.9 cents/litre at Esso, 3589 Bleams Rd. Did you find a cheaper or different price in Waterloo, Cambridge and New Hamburg today? Let reporter, Seyitan Moritiwon know at smoritiwon@metroland.com. SHARE: Its about trust. Our relationship with our readers is built on transparency, honesty and integrity. As such, we have launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. This column is part of that project. Its a recurring theme in the newsroom. Reporters are finding it increasing difficult to get answers to questions. Journalists regularly reflect about how much harder it is becoming to get answers they need to wrap up stories while waiting to be in put in contact with people for interviews. If theyre lucky, they'll get an in-person or phone interview. From cities and municipalities and organizations to average folks, connecting with real people is becoming more challenging. In many cases, inquiries to speak with heads of departments at publicly funded institutions are rerouted through communication departments, where responses are carefully vetted, messaging is controlled and statements are provided. Not all cities and municipalities operate in this way, but generally, answers will be carefully filtered through the communications department and provided via email. In some cases, as a fellow managing editor and colleague shared, journalists are being asked to quote a spokesperson and not the person who liaised answers. We need to be very clear in our reporting of how information is communicated and obtained. If that information was provided over email when a reporter had requested an interview, it will be noted in the article. Times have certainly changed when a journalist could simply call a person directly to ask questions and have a conversation. Now, some are waiting days and even weeks to simply receive a response to a list of emailed questions. Journalists in the beginning of their careers may know nothing other than a communications department as a first line of contact while many veteran reporters lament about the days they weren't carefully steered away at every turn from the person they seek to interview. Is this a sign of the new norms after living through the COVID-19 pandemic where virtual communication was the key to doing business? Control of the message through corporate communications isnt new, but the reins have been tightening. Just how tight they become at publicly funded institutions is a trend journalists and the public need to be wary of. Robyn Wilkinson is the managing editor of Metroland Community Brands in Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and New Hamburg. Reach her at rwilkinson@metroland.com. We welcome your questions and value your comments. Email our trust committee at trust@metroland.com. RELATED STORIES Metroland Media journalists honoured at Ontario Community Newspaper Association awards ceremony SHARE: WATERLOO A man is facing several charges after police say they found him trespassing near Lester Street and Columbia Street West. An officer on patrol spotted the man at around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Police determined the man was wanted on three warrants in connection to break-ins and he was arrested. A 34-year-old Kitchener man has been charged with seven counts of break and enter, four counts of possession of break-in instruments, and four counts of failing to comply with an undertaking. These charges are connected to the arrest warrants. During his arrest, police seized several break-in tools, and a replica firearm. The man was further charged with possession of break-in instruments, failure to comply with undertaking and failure to comply with a judicial order. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION The regions Catholic school board will decide at its board meeting on Monday how it will fill the position of former trustee Wendy Ashby. The Waterloo Catholic District School Board held a special meeting on Wednesday where it first accepted Ashbys resignation, and then discussed possible next steps outlined in the Education Act. On Monday, the board will either decide to hold a byelection or fill the position by appointment. If it chooses to appoint, the position will need to be filled within 90 days of Ashbys official resignation on Wednesday. The board said a byelection would be held in the same manner as an election of the board, in a statement is sent out late Wednesday night. It also announced it wont proceed with a previous decision to hire an outside consultant to investigate an alleged breach of the code of conduct. The board never officially said the investigation was focused on Ashby, who resigned earlier this month after facing pushback from parents and other trustees over several now-deleted Twitter comments. The most dangerous creature on the planet is the White Christian male. Theyre a Threat to anyone who is not them, one of the tweets read. Hush money. Buying silence about being underpaid. White women make obedient soldiers for the christofacist patriarchy, a second deleted tweet read. The board denounced the tweets, saying in a public statement earlier this month it does not support statements made by Trustee Wendy Ashby in social media posts. Parents and fellow trustees also criticized the two online posts. The posts led to calls for her resignation, with more than 3,500 signatures on the Parents as First Educators website, and more than 3,100 on Campaign Life Coalition. After apologizing for the tweets, Ashby announced on May 15 she was stepping down. I have decided to vacate my seat at this time, so that we can all return our focus back on the important work that we have dedicated ourselves to doing, she wrote in a statement sent to The Record. Ahead of Wednesdays special board meeting, a second petition was posted on the Campaign Life Coalition website, demanding a byelection to fill Ashbys seat. It said it did not want to see an undemocratic appointment for the position. Key to regaining the trust of the electorate is that the selection of Ms. Ashbys replacement must be done by voters, democratically, in a byelection, and not by the same trustees and Administration who were perceived as being soft on Ashbys reprehensible statements and failed to treat her hate speech with the necessary gravity, the petition reads. It has received over 600 signatures. The petition includes the location of all those who have signed; many of the participants live outside the region, with dozens of signatories from outside the province. In her resignation statement, Ashby addressed the fact that many critics were from outside the region, claiming the backlash was an outrageous rage baiting campaign that mostly came from outside interest groups who have their own agenda. However, the petition does have a significant portion of signatories who live in the region, specifically within Kitchener and Wilmot, the area Ashby represented. Mondays meeting to decide on how to fill Ashbys position will begin at 6 p.m. at the Catholic Education Centre in Kitchener. Read more about: SHARE: KITCHENER Ager Hasan has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of his ex-girlfriend, Melinda Vasilije. The jury delivered the verdict just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday after deliberating for less than six hours. Family and friends of Vasilije were in the courtroom for the verdict. Hasan was in the prisoners box. He was put in handcuffs following the guilty verdict. Hasan, now 30, stabbed Vasilije 47 times on April 28, 2017, in her apartment on Country Hill Drive near Block Line Road in Kitchener less than a month after she ended the relationship. Vasilije was 22 when the Hamilton man murdered her. Second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence. Justice Gerry Taylor will set the number of years Hasan must wait before applying for parole. The minimum is 10, the maximum is 25. The time he must wait is from the day he was arrested. The Crown had rejected Hasans guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Ager Hasan was an obsessed, jealous ex-boyfriend who refused to accept the end of the relationship, Crown prosecutor Ashley Warne told the jury in a closing statement. He suspected that Melinda had moved on with someone else and for that reason she was disloyal. This is what caused Ager Hasan to kill Melinda Vasilije. Vasilije was described by her sister, Christina, as a selfless, giving person. After killing Vasilije, Hasan sent her a text: Nice seeing you tonight. Glad we worked things out. See you soon. He then fled to the United States. Hasan was obsessed with the notion that Vasilije had cheated on him. While he was on the run, Hasan wrote an email to a Waterloo Regional Police detective. My first question is, Did Melinda ever sleep with anyone else in the course of our relationship (cheat) or not? Hasan wrote on June 18, 2017. After we broke up on April 3, did Melinda ever go on a date between then and April 28? Also, did she ever sleep with anyone during the course of that time? Hasan said in the email he would turn himself in if police answered the questions. The U.S. Secret Service arrested him on July 11, 2017 more than two months after the killing in San Antonio, Texas, on a tip that he might be involved in counterfeit money. It took more than five months to extradite Hasan back to Canada. He was denied bail. The location of many of the stab wounds on Vasilije 27 in the neck, six in the chest suggests Hasan intended to kill her and did not lose control, said Warne, the prosecutor. He should be found guilty of second-degree murder, she told the jury. Hasan and Vasilije began dating in early 2016 She agreed to meet him on the night of April 27, 2017, so he could get closure, Crown prosecutor Brendan Thomas said in an opening statement to the jury. Hasan testified they reconciled that night. But he said that when he told Vasilije he cheated on her when they were dating, she attacked him with a knife. He said he then grabbed a knife. Hasan testified he recalls stabbing her only twice in the face and shoulder before blacking out. He said he did not intend to kill her. I swear to God I had no control over it, Hasan testified. I swear to God I blacked out. The whole thing I did is (expletive) up but dont ever try and say I did this in the right mindset because I swear to God I blacked out. I didnt do this out of anger. Hasan also bit Vasilije on the hand, defence lawyer Scott Reid told jurors. That is a man out of control in a frenzy, he said. Reid said Hasan was provoked and should be found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Provocation is not a licence to kill with impunity, Reid said. Provocation is about loss of control. The prosecutor said the end of the relationship filled him with rage. The Crown may say 47 stab wounds sounds like rage, Reid said. Thats not rage. Thats loss of control. Hasan lost control and acted in the heat of the moment, Reid said. Warne read several texts Vasilije sent Hasan in the weeks before the killing. Ive made up my mind and I cant turn back now, she wrote 25 days before she was killed. She later wrote, You honestly need to let me go. Warne said the jury should reject Hasans version of how the killing transpired. Ager Hasan was not stabbed, Warne said. Ager Hasan was the only aggressor that night. When the blade of one knife got bent, Hasan used another knife to continue the attack, Warne said. She said he wasnt provoked. Hasan recalls details of the night of the killing except the most important part the other 45 stab wounds, Warne said. You should not believe him when he says he blacked out. Hasan often lied to Vasilije and never disclosed his cheating before, she said. So ask yourself: Why would he do it now? It defies common sense because it did not happen. Reid asked jurors to put themselves in Hasans shoes. Hasan came to Canada from war-torn Iraq, Reid said. He was attacked by a group when he was 14. One of the assailants had a metal pipe. He had nightmares and worried he would be attacked again. Hasan said he was good friends with Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian Army reserve soldier shot to death in 2014 while on ceremonial sentry duty at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. He said another friend killed himself by jumping off a ferry into Lake Ontario. Hasan had mental health issues while dating Vasilije, Reid said. He spent a lot of time in his room alone. Just before she ended the relationship, Reid said, Hasan texted her to say he had a dream about her trying to hurt me. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION About half of the people living in Waterloo Regions three large encampments moved to the House of Friendships new shelter or the regions managed outdoor shelter on Erbs Road, regional councillors heard Wednesday. But people are still living at encampments, including 100 Victoria St. at Weber Street in Kitchener and 150 Main St. in Cambridge, Peter Sweeney, commissioner of community services told councillors at regional council. You just have to drive down the road to know that those encampments are still here. They are smaller and they are still persistent, he said. As of March 1, 53 people were living rough at the three high-risk encampments, a report to council said. By May 11, those numbers had dropped to 24 people. In March, 17 people were at 100 Victoria St., eight were living in tents at Roos Island in Victoria Park in Kitchener and 28 were at 150 Main St., in Cambridge. The City of Kitchener fenced off both island bridges at the Victoria Park camp with gates last month. Of the 17 people at 100 Victoria St., two went to the House of Friendship and six to Erbs Road. From Roos Island, one went to House of Friendship and four to Erbs Road, while from 150 Main St., four went to the House of Friendship and nine to Erbs Road. In total, 19 people from the three large encampments took offers of housing at the regions managed shelter. The housing offers in the report were tracked up until May 11, councillors were told. Twenty-four people were still at the large encampments: nine at the Victoria and Weber encampment, two at Roos Island and 13 at Main Street, Sweeney said. We still believe that our focus needs to be on providing those supports that people need and most importantly doing the work that is necessary to actually end chronic homelessness in this community, he said. The Erbs Road 50-cabin outdoor shelter opened last month. About 40 people are living at the managed shelter, said Kelly-Anne Salerno, regional assistant director of housing operations and administration. Regional outreach workers, along with staff from other agencies, reach out to people living in encampments to ask them about living in sheltered locations, Salerno said. At an encampment protocol table that meets weekly, agency workers talk about approaching individuals about housing to ensure that people arent falling through the cracks, she said. Were going on the premise of the service-first approach for both 100 Victoria and 150 Main, to make sure people have the offers that they need and they can get to what they need, Salerno said in an interview. The Ebs Road outdoor shelter, next to the Waterloo Region Emergency Services Training and Research Centre, is part of the Region of Waterloos interim housing plan to address chronic homelessness. Last December, the region announced it was opening a managed outdoor shelter on Erbs Road. The Working Centre manages and runs the site 24-7. The region approved a 2023 homelessness operating budget of $8.2 million, which includes the outdoor shelter and other measures such as temporary emergency beds, rent assistance for 100 units and expanding transitional housing, specifically housing that is Indigenous-centred and Indigenous-led. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION The federal government is buying two new fire trucks for the Region of Waterloo International Airport at a cost of almost $3 million. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra visited Thursday to announce the funding. It follows $4 million the federal government gave last year to buy a plow and to repair taxiways. It is part of our governments plan to make the travel experience as efficient and as safe as possible, Alghabra said. New fire trucks are expected to arrive next year to replace one truck from 2010 that may be converted to training, and another truck from 1986 that may be scrapped. The airport has 19 employees who provide firefighting and rescue and other maintenance. While at the airport, Alghabra told reporters he wont eliminate the lesser compensation owed to Flair Airlines passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled, even as he proposes new legislation to better protect passengers. Flair passengers are compensated less than Air Canada or WestJet passengers for flight delays and are not rebooked as quickly when the budget airline cancels flights. This has frustrated some passengers flying Flair to or from the airport who have been told to wait up to two weeks to be rebooked. Air Canada and WestJet must rebook passengers within two days, even if this means seating them on a competing airline. Depending on how long it delays a flight or for a cancellation within its control, Flair owes passengers $125 to $500 in compensation. Air Canada and WestJet owe passengers $400 to $1,000 in compensation. When you book a flight with a smaller airline, just know that the size of the compensation is different, Alghabra said. He said the government wants to differentiate between larger and smaller airlines. What were trying to do is strike a balance. It is reasonable to understand that smaller airlines dont have as many planes available as larger airlines in order for them to immediately provide alternative travel for their passengers, he said. Its also important to ensure that we create an environment that nurtures smaller airlines so they can grow and become larger airlines so they are able to be held to the larger-airline standard. Flair carries the vast majority of passengers using the regional airport. The airline suffered a setback in March when it failed to pay leases on four jetliners which were repossessed. More than 600 passengers had flights cancelled at the regional airport. Its a commercial dispute. Its not regulated under the federal government, Alghabra said. I am concerned whenever an airline is unable to deliver services that they sold to customers. He said this is why the government has regulations to protect passengers. Alghabra would not commit the Liberal government to funding the planned expansion of rail transit into Cambridge, after a previous Conservative government contributed $265 million for Ion rail transit in Kitchener and Waterloo. As a principle, were a government that is committed to building more local rail public transit, he said. The estimated cost to extend Ion rail transit into Cambridge has soared to $4.5 billion. Matching the last funding arrangement would mean a federal contribution of $1.5 billion, with the rest provided by the province and local taxpayers. Our government will wait to see what the application is from the province, Alghabra said. Read more about: SHARE: KITCHENER Jury deliberations in murder trials can drag on for days, a week, or more. Not this time. Jurors in the six-week Ager Hasan murder trial began deliberations Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. They had lunch and later left the courthouse for dinner. As 8 p.m. approached, it seemed jurors might call it a night and return on Thursday. Then came word they had reached a verdict after about six hours of deliberations: Hasan guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of his ex-girlfriend, 22-year-old Melinda Vasilije, six years ago. Family and friends of Vasilije attended the trial every day and were in the courtroom for the verdict. Hasan, now 30, has been in jail since his arrest, but at the trial he was not handcuffed. He sat beside his defence lawyer Scott Reid. He wore a suit and tie. He looked respectable. But when the verdict was about to be revealed, the killer was placed in the prisoners box. And after the guilty verdict was announced, he was put in handcuffs. Hasan faces an automatic sentence of life in prison. He stabbed Vasilije 47 times including 27 times in the neck and six times in the chest in her Kitchener apartment on April 28, 2017, less than a month after she ended the relationship. When the blade of one knife got bent, Hasan grabbed another knife and continued the attack, the Crown told court. After murdering Vasilije, Hasan sent her a text: Nice seeing you tonight. Glad we worked things out. See you soon. Hasan and Vasilije began dating in early 2016. Testimony revealed he was a jealous man obsessed with the false notion that she cheated on him. And Hasan refused to accept that the relationship was over. It was definitely eating me alive, the Hamilton man said of the end of the relationship. It was torture. The Crown read aloud a slew of texts he sent Vasilije after she ended the relationship. I know deep down you still love me, Hasan texted Vasilije 19 days before he murdered her. This isnt over, Melinda, he later wrote. Hasan continued: I miss you like no tomorrow. I know you miss me too. We had something real. You werent just my gf (girlfriend). You were my life. On April 20, eight days before she was killed, Vasilije texted Hasan: You honestly need to let me go. Hasan testified he cheated on her. He gave Vasilije a sexually transmitted infection and tried to blame it on her, court was told. Vasilije agreed to meet him on the night of April 27, 2017, so he could get closure, Crown prosecutor Brendan Thomas said in an opening statement to the jury. Ager Hasan was an obsessed, jealous ex-boyfriend who refused to accept the end of the relationship, Crown prosecutor Ashley Warne told the jury in a closing statement. He suspected that Melinda had moved on with someone else and for that reason she was disloyal. This is what caused Ager Hasan to kill Melinda Vasilije. She was pronounced dead on April 28 at 3:05 a.m. Even after murdering Vasilije, Hasan remained obsessed with the idea that she had cheated on him. My first question is, Did Melinda ever sleep with anyone else in the course of our relationship (cheat) or not? Hasan wrote in an email to a Waterloo Regional Police detective on June 18, 2017, about three weeks before he was arrested. After we broke up on April 3, did Melinda ever go on a date between then and April 28? Also, did she ever sleep with anyone during the course of that time? Hasan admitted he killed Vasilije but claimed he blacked out and recalls stabbing her only twice. He claimed he stabbed her after she attacked him with a knife. The Crown rejected his offer to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. At a court hearing in September, Hasan will be sentenced to life in prison. Justice Gerry Taylor will set the number of years Hasan must wait before applying for parole. The minimum is 10, the maximum is 25. The time he must wait is from the day he was arrested in July 2017. The judge asked jurors if they had recommendations for the number of years of parole ineligibility. One said 10 years, four said 15, one said 17, one said 20 and two said 25. Three had no recommendation. Fled to U.S. Although jury deliberations were quick, justice for Vasilijes family and friends took six years. After murdering Vasilije, Hasan fled to the United States. The U.S. Secret Service arrested him on July 11, 2017 more than two months after the killing in San Antonio, Texas, on a tip that he might be involved in counterfeit money. It took more than five months to extradite Hasan back to Canada. He was denied bail. The trial had been set to begin in 2019, but was adjourned at the request of the defence. It was then rescheduled for 2020, but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was delayed again when Hasan discharged his original defence lawyer. Family and friends of Vasilije seemed relieved by the verdict. One was too overwhelmed by emotion to speak to a reporter. Melinda was really sweet, her roommate, Anna Manda, testified. She was always the one person who would be there for you, even if you called her at 2 in the morning. She had a very outgoing personality. She loved her family and her friends and she was just an amazing person overall. Vasilije had been working on a hairstyling apprenticeship, Manda said. Christina Vasilije described her sister as a selfless, giving person. Over the course of the trial, a Facebook page called Justice for Melinda, created for family and friends, provided updates with links to news stories. On Wednesday night, after the verdict, the page posted Hasans wanted poster with the word GUILTY splashed across his face. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION The University of Waterloo is waiving tuition fees for all qualifying students from First Nations communities on whose traditional territory the university is located. The initiative covers current and incoming students who are members of the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Waterloo will also offer Ontario domestic tuition rates for all Indigenous students across Canada and the United States, and will continue to waive the application fee for First Nations, Metis and Inuit applicants. We hope that by reducing financial barriers for these students we will encourage them to participate in our innovative academic, entrepreneurship and co-op programs, which increases their future opportunities while strengthening communities and economies, Waterloo president Vivek Goel said on Thursday. Students will need to meet admission requirements for a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at Waterloo to qualify for the waiver. Its been one of the great misconceptions in post-secondary institutions that tuition is free for Indigenous students, said Jean Becker, Waterloos associate vice-president of Indigenous Relations. It is not free, and it has never been free, she said. There are scholarships and bursaries available, but spots are limited and there is never enough money to go around. I come across this daily, she said of the free tuition myth. It just simply is not, and has never been, true. Every year, on Six Nations, there are hundreds of people who are denied post-secondary education because they dont have the funding. All of the studies cite financial constraints as the No. 1 barrier for Indigenous students to obtain a post-secondary education. Its a bleak contradiction to the narrative of free education, she said. First of all, I just want to say how grateful I am that the university accepted this proposal and actually undertook to implement it, she said. We do land acknowledgments, and we do territory acknowledgments, and we say that we want to welcome Indigenous students, so I feel like this is really a step toward reconciliation. She said it wont be up to the university to establishment membership, and they will work directly with both communities to ensure all their students are covered. The initiative is based on a similar program for Haudenosaunee students at Syracuse University in New York state, said Becker. She said it is the first full tuition coverage plan of its kind in Canada. RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region University of Waterloo commits to reconciliation through traditional ceremonies The announcement builds on a promise Goel made last fall at a commitment ceremony, where he said the school would take responsibility for its role in the reconciliation process and develop a better understanding on campus of Indigenous history. The Indigenous leaders in our community will be formally asking me, on behalf of the institution, to make a commitment to truth and reconciliation, and I will make that commitment, Goel said at the ceremony. We will be committing to continue to learn, because thats how truth starts, and working together with our Indigenous community and the communities around in addressing reconciliation. The tuition waiver will be in effect at Waterloo in September and is open to students in any faculty. SHARE: Manipur turmoil - Dynamics and misgivings | Ngangom Junior Luwang (Advocate Supreme Court of India & Corporate Lawyer) The current communal imbroglio in Manipur presents a few intriguing aspects Who initiated the violence ? Was it Tribals Vs. non-Tribals or Christians Vs. Hindus ? Whether it is justified for the Kukis to oppose ST tag for the Meities ? Whether it breaks Constitutional propriety for the Chief Minister of Mizoram to demand unification of Zo tribe settlement areas (impliedly Greater Mizoram) ? Whether proposed NRC regime, war against drugs or drive against deforestation are targeted against a particular community ? What about demand for a separate administration for the Kukis ? What is the best possible win-win situation for all the communities for the way forward ? It would be politically incorrect for me to address these issues only from a Meitei perspective just because I am a Meitei. The idea is to give a fair and subjective assessment. As to who started the violence, the best and usual way to determine such a factual issue is to constitute a Special Investigation Teamjudicial or otherwise, members of which belonging to none of the two communities involved. The issue has been already raised in Writ Petition No.540/ 2023 filed by the Manipur Tribal Forum, Delhi and in Writ Petition (c) No.574 of 2023 filed by the Manipur High Court Bar Association of Manipur and All Manipur Bar Association before the Honble Supreme Court of India, though in different forms. If the Honble Supreme Court feels that it is beyond the judicial domain to order such an investigation or refuses to do so for other reasons, either the Central Government or the State Government should constitute a Special Investigation Team for impartial determination of the facts involved, accountability fixation and better mutual understanding in the future. As on today, it is one version against the other. The above having said, history is a testimony to the fact that Meiteis do not usually indulge in violence unless provoked. The Anglo-Manipur War happened because some Britishers with their Gorkha soldiers deemed it prudent to attack the palace one fine Spring morning ie March 24, 1891 and even during the No Territorial Limit civil unrest, more specifically after the June 18, 2001 incident when 18 Meities were killed by security forces, no Naga tribe member was touched nor was any of their houses or Churches in any part of Manipur burnt, howsoever upset the Meities were with the Government of India-NSCN (IM) ceasefire extension agreement. Of course, there were some sporadic protests by the Meitei community reportedly with inflammatory slogans against the Naga community (howsoever unwanted) in some Naga settlement areas in Imphal, but there was no violence against the Naga community nor did the Nagas did. Truth be told, even the Meitei Pangal-Meitei communal flare-up during May 3-5, 1993 was not arguably started by the Meiteis, the same having been traced to incidents of violence at Lilong (communality of which is being unresolved till date), but what matters in such wildfire situation is public perception and speed of communication/miscommunication. Nonetheless, coming to the point, one aspect of inquiry ought to be whether the violence on May 3, 2023 was ignited at the Indo-Kuki war memorial gate, Churchandpur or was it the burning of Meitei houses at Torbung or any other such incident on the same day. Only a Special Investigation Team (judicial or otherwise) can find out and such an investigation should also certainly finger point the community and political leaders, who had given inflammatory statements and incited violencepre and during the violence. Violence on the basis of guess work or social media uploads would serve no purpose. Nonetheless, Kukis ought to ask themselves-whether the burning of two tyres at the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial gate on May 3, 2023 was serious enough for some Kuki members to come all the way to burn houses (even presuming for the sake of argument that the burning was initiated by some members of the Meitei community)! Even the Meities ought to ask themselveswhether the Meiteis ought to have indulged in the violence that followed and painted all Kukis with the same brush. But everything was presumably in the spurt of the moment and as they sayeverything is fair in love and war (howsoever one hates the term)! Convenience of narratives has led many to project the violence as Tribals Vs. Non-Tribals and/or Christians Vs. Hindus. Both, to my understanding, are wrong since it is between the Kukis (other tribe members being arguably neutral, though Tribal Solidarity Rally of May 3, 2023 was called by ATSUM) and the Meities and Meitei places of worship and Kuki Churches were targeted not out of hatred for the Meitei religion or Christianity. It would be safe to presume that such places of worship were targeted since such places of worship are usually identified with the Meities or the Kukis and it was only for optimum retribution that such places of worship were attacked, but certainly not out of religious animosity. Coming to the issue of ST tag demand by the Meiteis, it would be prudent to leave the issue to the executive discretion of the Central Government. Many Meiteis are demanding what they believe they deserve for themselves, not to deprive our tribal brothers of their ST status. This is without prejudice to the possible outcome of the ongoing litigation before the Honble High Court of Manipur [MC (Writ Appeal) No.88/2023]. It is understandable for any group to demand what it desires for itself, but opposing any other groups demand goes little beyond logic and fair play. Of course, such a demand seems to have created some flutters and insecurity amongst our Tribal brothers, but the same could be resolved by having different reservation systemsseparately for the Hill Tribes and plain Tribes. One thing is sure the Central Government will certainly consider the possible long time law and order inferno, should the decision be for or against ST tag for the Meiteis, but this is something we better leave to the wisdom of our elected representatives. On the land front, one MLA from Churchandpur (Paoleinlal Haokip) has gone on record in his The Wire interview with Karan Thapar that Kukis could consider divesting their right to own land in the valley, since the Meiteis are not allowed to own land in the tribal areas and this is certainly one step forward, though it may arguably fail to satisfy the 15 lakh strong Metei community, who have been boxed in only around 8-10% of the total land area under the Manipur Land Revenue & and Land Reforms Act, 1960, to give up their ST tag demand as a concession. The Honble Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, has certainly ruffled feathers and has committed Constitutional impropriety, when he called for unification of Zo tribe settlement areas (impliedly Greater Mizoram) and this certainly amounts to incitement to the present inferno and seeking to alter the existing Constitutional boundary of Manipur. Its time to explore possible legal action against the Honble Chief Minister of Mizoram before a Court of law for his blatant act of interference in the affairs of another State and stirring the hornets nest and that too in a riot situation, when he should have minded his own business. Just as the demand for Greater Mizoram is unjustified, the demand for separate administration for the Kukis by 10 Kuki MLAs also calls for equal condemnation, its impracticability apart. Though short of demanding a separate Kukiland, the same is the narrative for Kukiland by some militant Kuki groups including the proscribed Kuki National Front. Creating mountains out of molehills at this point of time and demanding a separate administration by the 10 BJP Kuki MLAs smack of a possible hidden agenda, already hijacked by some Kuki militant groups and now, the mischievous attempt at validation by these 10 Kuki politicians ! Coming to the issue of the present Governments ongoing war on drugs, possible NRC in Manipur and drive against deforestation, Meiteis should concede that unwittingly, a wrong message has seemingly gone to the Kuki community that such campaigns are Kuki targeted, thanks to some irresponsible reporting and banter of a few loud-mouthed and equally irresponsible intellectuals. When it comes to NRC, it is community neutral since an illegal immigrant is an illegal immigrant and he/she has to be deported and there is nothing Kuki or Meitei or Naga about it. The issue is the base year and my opinion is that we have to have a common base year for migrants across all communities and one can emulate the Court-sanctioned NCR prepared for the State of Assam, which has adopted March 24, 1971 as the base year, a date reflected in the Assam Accord of August 15, 1985 and in the otherwise quashed Illegal Migrants Determination (by Tribunals) Act, 1983. Howsoever the desire of many to go for a lower denominated base year for illegal migrants (1951 or 1961), the safest bet would be to adopt the judicially-sanctioned NRC policy adopted in Assam, though we can be much more organized in coming up with a foolproof NRC for the State of Manipur and avoid the infirmities the Assams NRC data published on August 31, 2019 is associated with. Since NRC is for purposes of identification of illegal immigrants by setting up a base year across all communities, one fails to see any good for any community to be alarmed and misconceptions to this effect should be dispelled to the extent possible. Same should be the case for clearing reserved forest areas of unlawful settlements without any discrimination whatsoever and such an exercise should be done after all required formalities including due written notice to the settlers. On recent demolition of some Churches in Imphal, the same have been somehow perceived as community-specific demolition and authorities ought to have worked little harder to clarify that such demolitions were in terms of judicial Orders of Honble Supreme Court of India in Union of India Vs. State of Gujarat and Ors. [SLP (C) No.8519/2006). The Honble Supreme Court has clearly directed for demolition of places of work built on authorized public or Government land. For instance, in terms of an Order dated April 4, 2023 of the Manipur High Court in MC (WP) Nos. 88 and 89 of 2023, two Churches had to be demolished by the Government of Manipur. Such places were demolished since the same were found constructed on Government/public land, not because such places of worship were Churches or belong to any specific community. The way forward would be certainly more challenging, but when Nagas and Kukis can live peacefully and if Meities and Meitei Pangals can co-exist, despite what happened in 1993, why not the Meiteis and Kukis can reconcile and live peacefully. Community leaders and Civil Society members can lead from the front to restore mutual trust. Time will be a great healer. It was on May 17, 2023 that a group of Meitei friends including me had a day-out at Khan Market, New Delhi and when we were looking for a good place to dine, I was speaking to one of the receptionists in English and finding out whether that restaurant had enough empty dining space for around 15 people. In between, some of my friends started speaking to me in Meiteilon, inviting a very innocent query from the receptionist in Meiteilon (with a warm sense of camaraderie and sense of belongingness) Meiteira, eisu Churachandpur dagini?. My heart sank and I told her that whatever was happening in Manipur was very sad and she coyly nodded her head. Today Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Tonight A few clouds. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 75F. Winds light and variable. Officials announced $133 million in federal funding for housing in Hamilton's east end that helped to develop the Roxborough Park mixed-used development at 8 Roxanne. From left: Ward 4 Coun. Tammy Hwang, Nick Carnicelli of Carriage Gate, Sergio Manchia, president of Urbancore, Hamilton Liberal MPs Chad Collins, Filomenia Tassi and Lisa Hepfner and CityHousing Hamilton CEO Adam Sweedland. One of the goals of former Ward 4 Coun. Sam Merullas 22-year council career was to revitalize a downtrodden community with a legacy-inspired mixed-use development in Hamiltons east end. That dream has become reality as the first phase of what is a game changing affordable housing development at 8 Roxanne Dr. on the former Roxborough Park School site, has been constructed, with a 103-unit affordable and accessible building now open to former residents. This is the most significant and largest residential infill redevelopment project in the history of Hamilton, said Sergio Manchia, president of Urbancore and Roxborough Park Developments, who along with Nick Carnicelli of Carriage Gate Homes and Legacy Constructors and David Horwood of Effort Real Estate Corporate partnered with CityHousing Hamilton to create the vast development near Queenston Street and the Red Hill Parkway. This was not in our eyes a regentrification but revitalization and here today, we are creating a thriving mixed income community of municipal housing, new rentals, (homes) for first home buyers and market units at affordable pricing, said Manchia. Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Liberal MP Chad Collins, and former Ward 5 councillor, who lived in a CityHousing Hamilton unit on nearby Oriole Crescent when growing up, praised Merulla, a friend and council colleague for being the driving force on this project. Merulla was not at the grand opening. It was his idea, to create affordable housing on this site, said Collins. But he also congratulated the private sector for its hard work and vision for investing in an idea as well as the Hamilton community. The public private partnership was forged in 2016 by Merulla as he prepared nearby residents for what would be the biggest catalyst for the revitalization and diversification in their McQuesten neighbourhood. It took about four years to navigate the bureaucracy, including remediating the property, and receiving the necessary approvals from the city and other levels of government. The area was once the site of the Hamilton Municipal Airport built in 1929 and had small homes for pilots. The facility closed when the Mount Hope airport opened in 1940. CityHousing Hamilton took over the 104 units that had been around for about 60 years on the 13 acre-site. The development prompted new separated storm water and sanitary sewers, upgraded park features, including revitalizing the spray pad, playground equipment and playing fields. We need to work collectively with the private sector, said Collins. All three governments will not be able to do this alone. The 103-unit, 10-storey CityHousing Hamilton Roxanne apartment has one, two, three and four bedroom units that is 20 per cent accessible, said Chief Executive Officer Adam Sweedland. The building is beautifully designed to passive housing standards an international standard of energy efficiency and building performance that will see reduced energy costs. When the entire $400-million development is completed by 2026-2027, it will include a various mix of housing units including The Roxton, two attached rental apartments with 352 units currently being constructed behind the CityHousing Hamilton building and is projected to be completed by June 2024; 126 market townhouses that are nearly completed that were sold in 2020; 164 back-to-back townhome units that will be constructed in 2024 and even condominiums in an affordable range. Carnicelli said the original idea to build stacked townhouses ended up being too expensive. So weve got all the spectrum here, said Carnicelli. Manchia said The Roxton is the result of a federal housing program and Hamilton councils decision to extend a Community Improvement Plan to the neighbourhood allowing for the development of the rental units. We utilized every tool in the tool box and we are now using them to build these units, said Manchia. The new affordable housing units will help reduce the 6,000 people on the waiting list for affordable housing, said Collins. FEDERAL GRANTS Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas Liberal MP Filomena Tassi announced $133 million in federal grants and loans to the development with a majority of the money already used during construction. It is all new money that hasnt been announced, said Tassi, acknowledging the complicated partnership the city and private sector created to redevelop the site. The announcement included $7.1 million in federal funding for 103 affordable units, along with $10.8 million in Rapid Housing Initiative funding that will be used to construct 42 affordable units in transition housing for women and children at 1620 Main St. at the Queenston traffic circle. And another $115 million in a low-interest repayable loan for The Roxton building at 16 and 20 Roxanne. The City of Hamilton provided a $15-million loan and $6.7 million was contributed by CityHousing Hamilton. For the Roxton rental units, Hamilton contributed $8.3 million, $7 million in cash equity from Roxboro flats and $10.6 million in land equity from the developers Roxborough Park Inc. Hamilton is really taking a major step forward, said Tassi. SHARE: A $1-million donation from Branthaven Homes is helping Mohawk College launch a five-year initiative to bring tuition-free training for residential construction trades to low-income neighbourhoods in Hamilton beginning this September. My real motivation for this thing was the social benefit, Branthaven president Steve Stipsits said following a May 18 ceremony at Mohawks Stoney Creek campus to honour his firms contribution, which will pay for half of the $2-million effort. Its not for me to fund and get a pipeline for employees, he said, noting Branthaven doesnt directly hire trades people, leaving that role to subcontractors. The fact theyre training skilled trades helps everyone. The donation expands Mohawks City School program, which includes two mobile classrooms that mostly go into north-end neighbourhoods where people are unable or cant afford to go to the colleges campuses. Stipsits said there is a massive shortage of skilled tradespeople and Ontario will never solve its housing affordability problem unless it fills that gap because there arent the workers to meet the provinces housing targets. The amazing City School program will not only help address the shortage by training up to 1,200 students for free but help lift them and their families out of the cycle of poverty, benefiting all of society, he said. Every carpenter I know who has been working has a home, they have a truck, they can put their kids in sports, said Stipsits, who served as a Mohawk College governor from 2017 to 2022. You can go from being on Ontario Works one year, getting seven, eight hundred dollars a month, to graduating in welding and having a career making close to $100,000 a year, he said. So now youre a contributing member of the community paying taxes and everything just goes around and around. Mohawk president Ron McKerlie said the City School program has trained more than 4,000 students since its 2015 inception, with some going directly into employment and others continuing in college. We provide wraparound supports because sometimes people cant even afford bus fare to get to one of our mobile (classrooms) or they cant afford the tools for the program, or they might need child care, he said. We realized all those supports had to be available. Some of the students are very complex, in terms of their needs. Others have just had so much discouragement in their life that we had to make sure that if they took the step with us, that they would be successful. The City School program has two fixed locations the top floor of the main library downtown and Eva Rothwell Centre on Wentworth Street North and the two mobile classrooms, which were funded by Ottawa and the province. McKerlie said the residential construction program may bring some students to the Stoney Creek Campus for Skilled Trades, where one of the building now bears the Branthaven name to recognize its donation. Weve got so much equipment here and so many services available here. It might mean (providing) busing and things like that, he said. Were exploring all those possibilities. SHARE: Three weeks after students returned to the new St. Patrick elementary school in central Hamilton, families are still waiting for the city to hire crossing guards for nearby intersections, including one on busy Main Street East. The Catholic elementary school had been closed for roughly two school years while it was demolished and rebuilt to accommodate students from St. Brigids Catholic Elementary School. It reopened May 2. The school, located at the corner of East Avenue North and King William Street, should have two crossing guards at East and Main Street East, and East and King Street East. But both require staffing at this time, the city says. The board is always concerned about student safety, especially in areas which experience a high concentration of vehicular traffic, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board chair Pat Daly said in an email. If the past is any indication, it could take some time to find people for these hard-to-fill positions. As of May 18 about a month before the end of the school year the city was almost 50 crossing guards short. In an email to The Spec, city staff said 30 of the 232 locations across Hamilton that need a crossing guard dont have one. The city is also short 18 spare guards, who fill in when regulars are absent. The city is experiencing staffing shortages, said James Buffet, city manager of parking enforcement and school safety, in an email. For years, the city has had a tough time recruiting and retaining crossing guards and not without reason. The jobs pay $17.20 an hour (just above the provincial minimum), involves fewer than three hours of work a day (typically a split shift) and requires working outdoors in the heat, cold, rain and snow. In winter of 2022, 15 to 20 locations a day were without crossing guards. Back then, the city had more guards on its payroll 212 regulars and 22 spares. In September 2021, the city was short more than 30 guards. Daly said the board understands there is an ongoing shortage, but hopes priority will be given to St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School, where students and parents are not only becoming acquainted with their new neighbourhood but are learning to navigate its busy streets. Four of the 10 worst intersections for crashes that result in injury or death are found on Main Street West or East including where it crosses Victoria Avenue South, a block away from the St. Patrick crossing guard location according to city collision statistics. Also on the list is King and Victoria, a block away. Buffet said the city is actively recruiting to fill vacant positions through public job postings, school board communications and social-media channels. In September, the hourly rate will increase to $19.05. SHARE: Provincial inspectors have been finding failures for years with how Blackadar Continuing Care Centre looks after wounds that can cause significant medical issues without proper treatment. Six Ministry of Long-Term Care inspections since May 2019 have identified problems with skin and wound care at the Dundas long-term care home, leading to four compliance orders and one voluntary plan of correction. The orders require action while the voluntary correction requests the home come up with a plan to comply with legislation meant to protect vulnerable seniors. The lack of compliance around wound care was called a widespread issue at the home at 101 Creighton Rd. in an inspection report on June 1, 2021. Its an ongoing problem as Blackadar was handed a $5,500 administrative monetary penalty by the province in March 2023 after the latest compliance order around wound care was issued. Its hard to put a dollar value on peoples suffering or their actual life, which is at stake here, said Dr. Amit Arya, director-at-large of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians and an assistant clinical professor at McMaster University. I think that the government should be doing a lot more to address some of the underlying problems in our long-term care system whether its staffing shortages, whether its the lack of skill and training in providing wound management and also whether its prioritizing for-profit delivery of long-term care. Blackadars last three comprehensive inspections in 2018, 2016 and 2015 all found issues with skin and wound care. The more thorough reports known as a resident quality inspection (RQI) resulted in a voluntary plan of correction each time. It is really important for a setting like long-term care to have a proper protocol to prevent and treat wounds, said Arya. People who live in long-term care are often spending most of their day between a bed and a wheelchair and theyre also seniors who have thinner skin. Theyre much more likely to develop bedsores and pressure injuries. One of Canadas largest long-term care providers has managed Blackadar since 2012. Extendicare manages or owns more than 80 Canadian long-term care homes. In response to the recent ministry inspection report, the home has implemented improvements to its skin and wound care practices, Extendicare said in a statement. The home will continue to learn from the recent inspections and is focused on delivering the quality care all residents deserve. We continue to work closely with ministry assistance to improve in every way possible. Extendicare says the administrator at Blackadar has resigned and new leadership has been hired. It appears to be the fourth administrator Blackadar has had in the last two years. The chain did not answer questions about how many administrators have come and gone during that time. However, four different people have been listed under that job title in various records since August 2021. Nationwide, the long-term care sector continues to contend with a shortage of health care professionals, Extendicare said in a statement. These challenges have been exacerbated by the pandemic and recruitment remains a challenge. The for-profit home has been owned by H & S Holdings and Elite Developments since 2020. It currently has 60 beds in operation, but is in the early planning stages to build a new 192-bed home. We have received and reviewed the recent inspection report ... and will be working with Extendicare to ensure that all necessary actions are taken to address the report and concerns raised therein, Haidar Sakhi, CEO of H & S Holdings, said in a statement. A widespread issue Hamilton wound-care specialist Dr. Perry Mayer said Blackadar is not the only Ontario long-term care home with issues around compliance, particularly when it comes to managing pressure ulcers. Also known as bed sores, these wounds are injuries resulting from prolonged pressure on the skin. It happens more often than you think, said Mayer, medical director of the Mayer Institute. This is a pervasive problem. Its such a widespread issue across the health-care system that the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario teamed up with Wounds Canada in October 2022 to launch a program to educate front-line workers funded by the provincial government. The two organizations said at the time that one in four people in Ontario health-care settings experienced a pressure injury on any given day, despite up to 70 per cent of these wounds being preventable. Health providers in Ontario have reported a rapid rise in acute and hard-to-heal wounds in people across all health settings since the COVID-19 pandemic began, stated the programs announcement. The Canadian Armed Forces report on long-term care (LTC) homes in Ontario reported multiple instances of severe pressure injuries, with residents experiencing excruciating wounds. These wounds also contributed to preventable deaths in LTC. Its important to catch these wounds early and act swiftly, said Mayer. The provincial standard is to assess wounds weekly, although Mayer said its better to check them daily. But inspections have repeatedly found Blackadar fails to properly monitor these wounds. What was particularly disturbing to me when I read these reports is that weeks had gone by and, wounds were not looked at and inspected, said Arya. As a wound increases, it increases the chance of life-threatening complications. The latest inspection report for Blackadar dated March 30 concluded the home failed to do weekly assessments of five residents with skin breakdown, pressure ulcers, tears or other wounds. One resident went 13 consecutive weeks with no checks on a wound, while another was never assessed again after a wound was initially discovered. The three other residents also missed multiple checks, including a gap of 31 days for one. That falls well, well below standard of care, said Mayer. When the cases were identified they failed to address it in an urgent manner. Alarm bells have got to go off and you have to really tackle this. Its all hands on deck because if you dont, it goes on to fester. He said within 13 weeks, a bed sore can extend into the bone. If its not assessed over a 13-week period that wound just exponentially worsens, said Mayer. These are treatable. But if you leave them so long ... youve done some real damage there and that becomes very, very challenging to heal. The effect on seniors from inadequate wound care can be profound, including infection, sepsis and cellulitis, said Arya. In addition, he said the skin around the pressure sore can die, resulting in tissue necrosis and gangrene. You can die from a wound, said Jane Meadus, a lawyer at Ontario-based Advocacy Centre for the Elderly. Its extremely important to be watching that ... It doesnt take very long for those things to go very deep. Arya has seen the terrible toll wounds take on quality of life. It can result in worsening pain, said Arya. Sometimes when we see wounds that are infected and theres some discharge or odour that can result in social isolation ... That has a major impact on peoples quality of life in long-term care. Despite the high stakes, failing to properly monitor wounds has been a long-standing problem at Blackadar. The issue has been noted in six inspections since 2019 as well as the RQI in 2018. The other two RQIs involved different issues with skin and wound care. All four compliance orders around wound care since 2019 involved failures to keep close watch over the fragile skin of vulnerable seniors. The first compliance order was issued on May 14, 2019, after inspectors concluded that three residents with wounds were not checked weekly and at least one registered practical nurse on staff didnt know it was a requirement. The home was given until June 21, 2019, to address the issue. Next, inspectors questioned whether the weekly assessments were being done in a report Jan. 8, 2020, after finding discrepancies in the records over where wounds were located for two residents. One assessment listed the wound as being in one spot on the body, while the next check listed it as being in a different place. The wound care nurse at the time told the inspector the assessments were being done but the records were wrong. It resulted in a voluntary plan of correction. The second compliance order stemmed from an inspection report from June 1, 2021, that found a resident with altered skin integrity went five weeks without an assessment. Another resident with a wound went up to 21 days without a check, while a third resident with a wound missed six assessments over four months. This was a widespread issue, stated the order, setting a deadline of July 2, 2021, for it to be fixed. But less than five months later, the same issue was back in the inspection report again, resulting in another compliance order on Oct. 27, 2021, with a deadline of Nov. 17, 2021. One year later, the home was still failing to do regular assessments, with the inspector finding a resident missed nine out of 15 weekly checks in a report dated Nov. 14, 2022. Blackadar was given the $5,500 financial penalty just over four months later on March 30, 2023, after inspectors issued a compliance order similar to the one handed out in October 2021. The penalties are a new tool the province put in place just over one month ago that inspectors can use when issues are ongoing. The cash cant come from ministry funding. Arya called the penalty performative, but he cautions bigger dollar amounts could lead to less care. I worry that if you fine, some of the money will be coming away from important resources, infrastructure upgrades or actually front-line care that is provided for the residents, he said. The bigger issue is we have to think about why we need the fines in the first place. We have to take that big step back and address the system issues. Why do we have a system that is so understaffed and underfunded year after year even after the earlier devastation of COVID. How is this still going on? A spokesperson for Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra says the province has invested $20 million in beefing up inspections. The inspection and enforcement branch ensures that residents receive the level of care they deserve, Jake Roseman said in a statement. But Mayer says the focus needs to be on improving how wounds are treated in long-term care and prioritizing this devastating issue. This is an opportunity for us to learn from our mistakes and thats what they (long-term care homes) all should be doing and coming together, said Mayer. They should be developing protocols and sharing them around to try to deal with such a pervasive and debilitating problem. SHARE: Volunteer hours that take paid work from employees shouldnt be counted toward high school graduation, says the local labour council. In a May 19 letter to the citys public school board, the Hamilton and District Labour Council (HDLC) urged the board not to reward kids by basically teaching them the basic premise of scab labour, which is to replace paid workers, president Anthony Marco told The Spectator. In Ontario, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service to obtain a diploma. Student volunteer hours from Tim Hortons annual Smile Cookie campaign, during which proceeds from the happy-looking treats are donated to charities across Canada, prompted the labour council response. On its Facebook page, the organization posted a photo of a Tim Hortons flyer advertising volunteer hours. Help decorate smile cookies at your local Tim Hortons from May 1 to 7 for volunteer hours, it reads. If there were no volunteers to paint blue and pink faces on cookies, the task would go to paid workers, Marco said. Some of those staff are other students or parents who are trying to help pay rent and feed their families, the letter reads. The Smile Cookie campaign is just an example, Marco says, but it presented an opportunity to raise questions about ethics, in the same way unpaid internships previously accepted as a rite of passage have been challenged in recent years. Whether for profit or charity, required community involvement opportunities shouldnt exploit a child workforce ... selling it to them as being part of volunteer hours, Marco said. Other concerns include exposure to workplace risks for students as young as 13 and the fact that students are working for free for a multinational corporation. In the letter, the labour council urges the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to bar students from volunteering whenever activities replace a paid worker, the job typically requires health and safety training, or benefits a for-profit corporation (whether through direct profits or tax benefits). HDLC has requested to delegate at an upcoming meeting. But the Smile Cookie a charitable initiative by a corporation presents an ethical grey area. The public board supports the campaign, which, in Hamilton, directs 100 per cent of proceeds to Food4Kids and Hamilton Food Share, said board spokesperson Shawn McKillop. This is an acceptable activity in this business setting from (the boards) perspective, he said. The board will honour Smile Cookie volunteer hours completed by 18 students at eight locations across the city, McKillop said, but will commit to reviewing it with Tim Hortons to be sure that its not replacing workers usual work. He also said the board has not received any formal correspondence from the labour council. Marco said this isnt unique to the local public board, the first theyve contacted. Catholic school board chair Pat Daly said the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School board has a long tradition of Christian service, predating the provincial requirement. It flows from our teaching with regard to preferential option for the poor and the common good, he said in an email. Daly shared guidelines regarding volunteer hours that specify the activities should not normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace and work for any profit-making business dont count toward the volunteer-hour quota. The Catholic chair wasnt aware of any students volunteering with the Tim Hortons campaign. Read more about: SHARE: On what would have been George Floyds 49th birthday, his partner Courtney Ross, bottom left, his aunt Angela Harrelson, in the black blazer, and other family members gather in remembrance. Tim Evans On what would have been George Floyds 49th birthday, his partner Courtney Ross, centre photo, his aunt Angela Harrelson, in the black blazer, and other family members gather to remember Floyd. Tim Evans I cant help but just say, my man, hes so cute, jokes Courteney Ross, Floyds girlfriend, placing an enlarged print of the same photo near the cake. Her white hoodie bears the same image, and a message: Rest in Power. Tonights celebration has brought together Floyds family from South Carolina and the tight-knit community thats formed in George Floyd Square, the zone where Floyd died thats been transformed into a memorial for people killed by police. Activists and neighbours still meet at Peoples Way, the old gas station across from CUP foods that was abandoned during the uprising, discussing developments in the case at a fire pit between the dried-up pumps. The sign that once advertised fuel prices will soon read: 3 DOWN! 1 TO GO! Tou Thao, the last of the four officers charged in Floyds death, is still before the courts on aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter, after pleading not guilty. The others are in jail. The tone at the party is joyful. One by one, those who knew Floyd tell stories of a man who had grown deep roots in his adopted city, threw his arm around the people he loved, was goofy. There was so much more he wanted to accomplish, said his aunt, Angela Harrelson, including being a mentor to young men through sports, something hed done in Houston, Texas. There truly wasnt enough time for him, she said. In everyones remarks is a call to action, too: to say the names of each person killed by police, to push for accountability, to refuse to let the world move on without fixing the system that enabled Floyds murder. In this room as across the city and beyond is a sense that work is only beginning in the global movement birthed at the intersection just outside the doors. Later, Ross, a friendly woman with a curly bob, offers her unshakable belief, one she shares with anyone discouraged at the pace of change. She knows history will show that Floyds death brought on another civil rights movement. Its just hard to see when youre still in it. There has been a major change, not so much as in the systems, but in the mindsets of people, Ross said. And thats whats going to change the systems. Made possible by The R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship The Greater Toronto Area could see a significant oversupply of office space for another two decades thanks to slumping demand in the wake of the pandemic combined with new construction already in the pipeline, according to an economists report. Peter Norman, who prepared the report for the Toronto chapter of the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks, warned vacancy rates in the GTA could spike as high as 46 per cent in the years ahead. He said the problem is too much office space, more being built, and a slump in demand as workers spend more time doing their jobs from home. Weve had a paradigm shift in how much space is required to accommodate jobs, said Norman, chief economist at Altus Group, a real estate data consultancy. Even if a company hasnt downsized, he said its space needs have shrunk considerably from traditional assumptions. If Im a new company setting up, am I going to set up four chairs for every ten people I plan to employ? Or am I going to set up six chairs or eight chairs?, said Norman. Even if youre in one of the sectors thats being really hard-nosed in terms of bringing people into the office all the time, almost nobody whos setting up a new space for their company right now is going to set up ten chairs for the ten people they expect to employ. With 40 million square feet of new office space already being built, that means theres likely going to be an excess until at least 2041, Norman added. In his study, he looked at three hybrid work scenarios: People coming into the office two, three or four days a week. In even the most optimistic scenario, only 15 million square feet of new space is required, Norman said. That means our pipeline is more than twice as big as it needs to be. While some of the excess space could theoretically be converted to residential use, there are technical, zoning and even commercial obstacles, said Leona Savoie, head of government relations at NAIOP Toronto. Knocking down office buildings cheaper Its not as easy as people think it is. And there are only a handful of existing properties that would even be a candidate for it, said Savoie, who is also a senior vice-president at Dorsay Development Corp. In some cases, knocking the office buildings down and putting up something new makes more sense, said Savoie. In a few cases, retrofitting it to convert it into a condo building is more tempting, she added. Sometimes it would be cheaper just to take it down and start from scratch. But sometimes it has great structure and great bones and you have a lot to work with, said Savoie. Still, she added, most municipalities have strict rules about converting commercial buildings into housing, or even tearing one down and replacing it with a condo tower. Many municipalities also require an office or employment component in any new mixed-use development. That means, Savoie argued, that developers are being asked to build office space for which theres no demand and that governments need to re-examine zoning policies. We all know we have an office vacancy and absorption problem, said Savoie. And we dont see it getting any better. The last thing we need is old policies in place. We need some flexibility built into the system. Veteran real estate analyst John Andrew said encouraging a pipeline of new office construction may have made sense in a pre-COVID world, but agreed that governments now need to shift their thinking. Anything, he said, is better than offices sitting empty. If a developer wants to build condos, for gods sake, let them build condos because at least its going to put more people downtown, said Andrew, a retired real estate professor from the Smith School of Business at Queens University. Most excess office space cant be converted into residential buildings for engineering reasons, Andrew added. That means, if zoning rules are eventually loosened, Toronto could see wrecking balls coming out in a big way. Were going to start to see a tremendous wave of demolition happening. Companies are going to say you know what? Its worth the cost and the delay to completely level this building to the ground and start new, said Andrew. I think were going to start to see 50-storey office buildings being demolished. SHARE: Few Spanish guitarists have had the international exposure of Javier Vargas, who has played at the biggest blues festivals in the world and shared the stage with musicians like Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Glen Hughes and Johnny Winter. His career includes more than twenty records made with the Vargas Blues Band, whose most recent work consists of two albums: Stoner Night and Stoner Night Vol. II, the former with a blues rock feeling, the latter more inclined towards psychedelia, but both with the electric guitar as the protagonist. We asked Vargas to choose his 15 favorite songs within his specialty, blues rock. When the Fender Telecaster [guitar] came out, the blues became electrified, and with Jim Marshall and his amplifiers blues rock was born in the 1960s at the hands of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. The following is his selection, accompanied by his own commentaries. The songs are listed in chronological order. The Rolling Stones, Little Red Rooster (1964). When Keith Richards straps on his Gibson Les Paul Junior guitar at a Rolling Stones concert, it quite possibly is to play Little Red Rooster. They got Chicago blues perfectly figured out: the harmonica, the guitar John Mayall & the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, Hideaway (1966). This whole album, which was called The Beano Album, is a thing of wonder. Eric Claptons guitar distortion was stunning. That was the first record where a blues guitarist turned the volume up that high. In those years the ear was not used to someone saturating an amplifier at those levels. The technician would freak out and tell Clapton that the sound was in the red. Clapton would reply: Its better, its better this way. Jimi Hendrix, Red House (1967). I heard it for the first time on the radio when I was in Argentina; it was a live version. I was very surprised because it sounded so intense and mystical. I learned to play the guitar by listening to these songs on the radio. I was trying to imitate those notes. Cream, Crossroads (1968). I discovered British blues thanks to this song. When I was about 12 years old and living in Argentina [Vargas lived in several Latin American countries due to his fathers job], one day a neighbor played this song for me at his house. It was an electric version of a Robert Johnson song. There I discovered a series of sounds and it opened my senses so much that it influenced me to be a guitarist. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker achieved a sound that was something new. When Jimi Hendrix went to England and heard it, he immediately wanted to meet Clapton. The Jeff Beck Group, Blues Deluxe (1968). As a guitar player, Jeff Beck has never been particularly drawn to the blues, even though he played very well. Maybe the simplicity of the blues put him off. But both the version he did with The Jeff Beck Group and the one he played with Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert from Blues Deluxe were extraordinary. Jeff Beck made the guitar talk, he grabbed the blues and took it a step further. Fleetwood Mac, Black Magic Woman (1968). In their early days, Fleetwood Mac, with Peter Green, were blues purists. They recorded at the Chess Studios in Chicago and collaborated with black blues legends like Willie Dixon and Buddy Guy. Then Green disappeared due to the influence of LSD, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham arrived, and they became something else. The first time I heard Black Magic Woman it was the original Peter Green version. Then Santana included it in Abraxas and it became more popular than the original. Johnny Winter, Mean Town Blues (1969). Johnny Winter is one of the great blues guitarists. They say that an albino is the closest there is to a black guy. And black people are the best at playing the blues, its a fact, they have something special when it comes to hitting the notes, its in their genes. And when it comes to singing and playing, Johnny Winter is very close to an African-American. There are mind blowing 10-minute versions of Mean Town Blues. I was lucky enough to play with Johnny three times. He was a prodigy. Led Zeppelin, Since Ive Been Loving You (1970). Its not your typical 12-bar blues. It has a structure and arpeggios that take it to an epic level. Jimmy Page was inspired by Jeff Beck with this blues. Led Zeppelin was neither a blues nor a hard rock band. They had a very open concept: they could play jazz-rock, folk, Celtic music I loved that variety. The Allman Brothers Band, Statesboro Blues (1971). I first heard the Allman Brothers when I arrived in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1971. This song belongs to the album At Fillmore East, which a friend who played the drums in a band we put together there played for me. To me, this is the best southern rock album in history. With this album, Duane Allman got me into the slide guitar sound. Vargas performing at a festival in Hamburg, Germany. ZZ Top, Waitin for the Bus (1973). In the mid-1970s I lived in the United States and saw a lot of cover bands that played Waitin for the Bus. I didnt know whose song it was. Then in 1975 I went to Memphis with a friend to see the Rolling Stones. The opening act was ZZ Top, which I didnt know. And to my surprise they started the concert with Waitin for the Bus. They brought down the stadium. It was an amazing sound. Thats when I found out it was their song. The next day I went to a store and bought the Tres Hombres vinyl record, which is where this song is included. Since then it became one of my favorite bands of all time. Billy Gibbons greasy Texas riffs are amazing, and those deep vocals Rory Gallagher, Whos That Coming? (1973). I discovered this song in Spain, on the radio. I didnt know Rory Gallagher and I immediately noticed that he played slide guitar very well, which I had discovered with Duane Allman. I became a Rory fan. Then I toured with the bass player and the drummer from Taste, Rorys first band. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Texas Flood (1982). Stevie Ray Vaughans name should be inscribed in gold letters in the history of blues rock. In the mid-1970s there was a very important punk movement, with the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash I liked it, but it seemed very weird to me because, until then, if you wanted to be in music you had to play very well and practice. I was in London and I lived that new wave and punk very intensely. I went to rooms where up to 10 bands played. I noticed that they were groups that didnt know how to play. They were out of tune. I just thought, Yikes, where is music headed? Then I accepted that movement and I really liked The Clash, The Police, The Jam... Then came the 1980s, with the new romantics and synthesizers... It all seemed very strange to me, coming from the blues, the Allman Brothers, the Rolling Stones... Until suddenly a friend gave me a Stevie Ray Vaughan tape. Id never heard him, but I had seen pictures of him in magazines like Guitar Player. But now the photos had sound. Texas Flood was on that tape, and it blew my mind. I thought that that album was going to change the concept of music in the 1980s, and indeed, it did. Even David Bowie invited him to play in Lets Dance. Stevie came to remind us where all the music came from. Such a shame that he died so young. Gary Moore, Still Got the Blues (For You) (1990). Gary Moore came from playing hard rock with Thin Lizzy and some solo albums. The first time I saw him was in 1978 with Colosseum, in Madrid, in the auditorium. We were 50 people. Garys fingers were incredible. In the 1990s he returned to the sound of British blues. Its an album with influences from John Mayal and the Blues Breakers and Peter Green, but with a sound from the time he released it, the 1990s. Blues purists gave Gary Moore and Stevie Ray Vaughan hell because they said it was more rock than blues, but they later had to admit that they brought blues out of oblivion and made it fashionable again. Buddy Guy, Damn Right, Ive Got the Blues (1991). Buddy Guy is one of the most amazing Chicago guitar players. The first time I saw him was at the end of the 1980s in Barcelona, together with the harmonica player Junior Wells. Later they hired me to play for 15 days at their Chicago venue, the Buddy Guy Legend. And I talked a lot with him. He is a wise guy. He still lives: he is 86 years old. Buddy Guy and Albert Collins are probably my favorite black guitarists. Joe Bonamassa, Sloe Gin (2007). Joe Bonamassa is the greatest current blues musician in the United States. He started playing for 200 people and now fills concert halls. This song represents his style. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition On a recent dreary Saturday morning the downpour did not stop the two dozen or so people lined up outside Pow Wow Cafe for an Indigenous-style brunch. Those who showed up early enough were lucky to get a seat. Others were put on a wait list and told to expect a call in an hour. All were greeted with the aromatic smells of freshly made frybread. These diners wanted one more chance to eat here before the Kensington Market location closed. Customers were chatting with one another and pointing to the menu items written on the blackboards in chalk on the walls. Some were admiring the Pow Wow Cafe shirts, along with Indigenous-made products like beadwork earrings hanging on the walls, available for purchase behind the tables. All the while, owner Shawn Adler and his team including his daughter were focused on prepping fresh fruit, greens and meat. He has been serving Indigenous cuisine at 213 Augusta Ave. since 2016; however, with the lease ending at the end of May, Pow Wow Cafe closes on Sunday. When reflecting on the community he has fostered for the past seven years, loyal was one of the first words that came to mind for Adler. Ive made a lot of restaurants, he said, but Pow Wow Cafe seems to attract the absolute best people. Customer and beadwork artist Alicia Cadotte agreed, adding that its always a warm and welcoming place to be. Having a space in the city that you can go and eat Indigenous cuisine without having to travel far and wide for a pow wow is really dope, she said. (Also) having all the kin gather in one food spot for food is special because food is like literally medicine to us. While the menu at Pow Wow Cafe switches up every once in a while, diners could always count on the Ojibway tacos. Starting with a savoury frybread, beef and bison chili is added and topped with tomatoes, lettuce, shredded cheese, cilantro, sprouts and flowers. Another menu highlight is the McPowWow: fried egg, bologna, smoked duck bacon, sumac aioli and brie on frybread. In addition to food, customers have also raved about the pumpkin cornbread pancakes and cedar sodas. Despite living in midtown, customer Gisele Thomas said they always made the effort to come downtown and that wont change, despite the Kensington location closing. I will follow them up in the neck of the woods and where (Adler) has his restaurant, said Thomas. Before Pow Wow Cafe, Adler successfully operated other food spots, including his first, Aasmaabiks Bakery and Bistro in Peterborough, and his current flagship, Flying Chestnut Kitchen in Eugenia, Ont. While he did not doubt Pow Wow Cafes potential for similar success, Adler was stunned by the attention the cafe quickly got, from media interviews to people willing to travel to Kensington Market from all over the city to try his food. What was even more special about opening in 2016, Adler said, was that within the year Pow Wow Cafe and other Indigenous-owned food spots NishDish and Ku-Kum Kitchen were all operating in the city at once, with the collective drive to share Indigenous cuisine with downtown Toronto communities. All three of us (Adler, Johl Whiteduck Ringuette of NishDish and Joseph Shawana of Ku-Kum Kitchen) are the first generation not to attend residential school. My mom and my uncle were all residential school kids, and they didnt have the opportunities that I had and those other chefs had, said Adler, adding that now Indigenous folks can take pride in the knowledge, language and culture that had been lost through residential schooling. When Adler signed a seven-year lease for Pow Wow Cafe, initially he anticipated staying for only about four years. The plan, he said, was to eventually give someone else the chance to run it, something he has done with past businesses. However, his landlord wanted to sell the property. At the moment, its unclear what will happen to the space, but customers can still find Adler and the team as they hit the road catering this summer. Were going to be at Curve Lake Pow Wow, Rama Pow Wow, as well as Indigenous Games in Halifax for a week. So Pow Wow Cafe will continue, people will still be able to get our food but just not in our brick and mortar, he said, adding the best way to find out where the team will be is through Pow Wow Cafes Instagram page. While Adler didnt anticipate how important Pow Wow Cafe would be to Toronto, he says it has been heartening to see how both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people have responded to the cuisine. Community efforts and events have also been part of the cafes vision, success and growth, especially throughout the pandemic, when Pow Wow Cafe was invited to cater for local Toronto organizations like the Bike Brigade. A lot of our events were for people who are less privileged and it was pretty gratifying to see that those people could get great food, Adler said. At these events, we have extra food and (being able) to donate it to the organizations that can use it has been really rewarding. Looking to his next chapter, Adler emphasized that being a part of the ongoing, influential wave of Indigenous chefs and cuisine in Canada has been surreal. His message to other Indigenous folks is that its our time. I really hope the next generation of people spread their wings, open restaurants and make sure that Indigenous food is represented. SHARE: Whether its lining up at Kom Jug Yuen for a box of char siu on rice, popping into St. Andrew Poultry for whole raw chickens, heading up the stairs at Bright Pearl Restaurant, wondering if it really is haunted, Torontonians have fond memories of the many places in Kensington Market and downtown Chinatown that have shuttered over the years. In the just-released book Denison Avenue ($33, ECW Press), Toronto-based author Christina Wong and illustrator Daniel Innes tell the story of these two neighbourhoods through the eyes of Cho Sum, a fictional elderly Chinese immigrant who started to collect cans after the sudden death of her husband, trying to survive in a city she no longer recognizes. The book is split into two parts: Wongs novella, which takes readers back a decade ago when Honest Eds was nearing its end and the mayors drug problem was making international headlines. The other half contains more than 100 illustrations by Innes depicting current and bygone storefronts and houses in Kensington Market and Chinatown. The Star spoke with Wong and Innes about the language of Chinatown, the dizzying speed of development and walking the line between preservation and change. Tell me about your relationships with downtown Chinatown. Innes: I moved to Toronto in around 2000 and lived mostly in Chinatown for more than 20 years. During my time Im seeing it slowly disappear. I just wanted to pay tribute to what I miss. The first (pandemic) lockdown happened when I was working on the book. I couldnt walk around to take photos or go to the Toronto Archives. Id notice the things I started to draw were starting to close. Its crazy how quickly that happens. Wong: My family lived in the area and has been going to Chinatown since the late 80s and 90s, and we wanted to pay homage to that. For the main character, one of my late grandmas friends collects bottles. One day she asked how my grandma and dad were doing. I told her they passed, and she said that it was a road that we all must follow. That stuck with me, and I always wondered about what her life was like. I know a few of the can collectors in the neighbourhood, so I was influenced by them and the elders in my family association. Is that why you decided to tell the story from that viewpoint? Wong: I find that anyone over 50 or 60 is rendered invisible at some point, whether its in film, literature, planning policies. You dont exist or arent relevant. Cho Sum is a fictional character, but the story is rooted in actual streets, restaurants, businesses and moments in Toronto history. It did feel quite real as I was reading. Wong: The book has the real citizenship letter (my grandmother received) thats written on a typewriter, and you can see the pen marks and office address. It was important to me to add it into the book to pay homage to my familys history. I didnt know much of their immigration story at the time, and this helped me place their story within the city. The things in (Cho Sums) kitchen are things I grew up seeing or what I found in cookie-tin boxes on my dads desk. The mention of David Wong Photography is actually inspired by Wongs Photography on Chestnut Street, where my dad and grandparents got their portraits taken. I guess adding these elements were my way of making sense of how they lived, or imagined how they lived, or what life they had before. Almost all the dialogue is written phonetically in the Toisan dialect, with English in parentheses. Even the names of businesses are referred to by their Chinese names, rather than the more widely known English names. What was behind that decision? Wong: Our family called (Honest Eds) Sam Chaan Lau, or three floors, because thats how big it was. We called a lot of places after what they looked like, rather than the actual names: 310 Spadina (where Oriental Harvest supermarket used to be), we called Dai Cheung (big windows), because the building had big windows. I wanted to incorporate Toisan because you rarely see or hear it in media, film and literature, and its often considered lowbrow or village talk. My grandparents and dad spoke Toisan, which is what a lot of the early Chinese immigrants spoke and was the language of Chinatowns. Speaking of Honest Eds, the book takes place about 10 years ago when news came out that the site was being redeveloped. Why that time? Wong: Honest Eds really set something off because it meant a lot to people, whether they liked that store or not. I would always see a lot of seniors go in for their door-crashers. With that gone, where did they go? Then more development in Kensington Market happened. It had a domino effect in the city. Innes: There was talk of a Walmart going just outside Kensington Market at that time. It didnt happen, but I think it made everyone more aware of these changes around the city. Even with historical designation, a lot of places arent on that protected list. Gentrification is the big theme of the book, but is there a way to balance preservation and the inevitability of change, whether its landmarks or long-standing restaurants? Innes: I think there can be, but whats happening now isnt. A lot of proposed affordable housing isnt affordable when the market rent is still more than $2,000 a month for a one bedroom. Wong: I do struggle with that because there are so many mom-and-pop places that are gone, but I dont want to resist new and interesting places coming in, and people with new takes on cuisines. I think the intent is important. Who are they catering to? Can the people who are already there afford it? Its what you intend to do when you move into a neighbourhood. SHARE: TORONTO - Several police forces in Ontario say they will be working together to crack down on street racing, which they say has been on the rise. Police across the Greater Toronto Area, as well as Ontario Provincial Police and forces in Waterloo and Barrie are part of the operation dubbed Project Erase that will use enforcement and education to combat the issue. Toronto police acting Supt. Matt Moyer says that since January, Toronto has seen 521 charges related to stunt driving and a 31 per cent increase in stunt driving calls over last year. Police in Peel Region and Durham Region say theyve laid a combined 600 charges against those accused of street racing this year. Durham Regions deputy police chief says his force has started using automatic licence plate readers as part of efforts to combat street racing and York Region police say the use of unmarked cruisers will be part of their enforcement efforts. Anyone who sees aggressive driving or street racing is asked to report it to police or Crime Stoppers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship. SHARE: For the past 15 years, Maayan Ziv has used Wheel-Trans to get to work meetings, medical appointments, and anywhere not within wheeling distance or a direct streetcar ride. As a full-time power wheelchair user, shes long made use of the TTCs paratransit service, which provides door-to-door taxi service at the cost of a subway ride. Thats why Ziv was gutted when she received an email from the transit agency a few weeks ago, after being told she had to reregister for Wheel-Trans, informing her she had been assessed and was no longer eligible for door-to-door rides outside of rush hour. Its just such a backwards model to have the disabled person jumping through hoops in order to reduce the burden that it costs the TTC to run Wheel-Trans, said Ziv, who has muscular dystrophy. The TTC is asking Wheel-Trans users who signed up before 2017 to reregister so their eligibility can be assessed, requiring users to seek a doctors opinion and fill out forms about their accessibility challenges. The TTC said the changes are based on Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) guidelines, and help ensure equity. But Wheel-Trans users say the changes require disabled people to undergo extra hurdles to prove their disabilities to the TTC, and in cases like Zivs, leave paratransit users worse off, without the door-to-door service they need to get around safely and reliably. Wheel-Trans serves Toronto transit users with physical, cognitive, sensory and mental health disabilities that make it difficult or impossible for them to use conventional transit, which was built with able-bodied people in mind. In 2019, it had more than 44,000 registered customers, and is budgeted to cost the TTC $142.8 million to operate this year. Wheel-Trans has long offered customers door-to-door transportation. But in recent years, as the system has become more accessible, the transit agency has begun offering trips called Family of Services, where Wheel-Trans users take conventional transit for part of their journeys. In 2017, the TTC began sorting Wheel-Trans users into different categories of eligibility unconditional, conditional and temporary to conform with AODA guidelines. The AODA is a law that was passed in 2005 that sets out a process for making Ontario fully accessible by 2025. But users who signed up to Wheel-Trans before 2017 were never assigned to a category, so since that year, the transit agency has been asking legacy users to reapply. So far, more than 8,000 customers have reregistered, with roughly 11,000 to go, said TTC spokesperson Stuart Green, adding the agency hopes to complete the process in the next two years. According to the TTC, users in the unconditional category have a disability that means they can never use conventional transit, while users in the conditional category cant consistently use the TTC. That means they may sometimes qualify for door-to-door service, but other times are eligible for a Family of Services trip, where a Wheel-Trans vehicle might drop them off at an accessible subway station and theyd continue on from there. Fifty-six of the TTCs 75 subway stations are currently accessible, the agency said, with a further 15 currently under construction. All buses and streetcars are also accessible with ramps. Upon hearing she was granted conditional eligibility, Ziv said she was angry that she was subjected to this process and forced to reprove her disability only for the TTC to question it. Why? Why this decision? she said. It just seems like an unnecessary burden to have disabled people go through all of this work, only to find out that they risk not filling out the paperwork the way that it needs to match (Wheel-Trans) criteria, and then being told that theyve had a reduction in their care. Ziv is currently undergoing an appeal process, where she has to be assessed by an occupational therapist. Green said the TTC is not changing anyones eligibility per se, we are assigning legacy customers an eligibility category, which the TTC did not have prior to 2017. To make assessments, Green said, the TTC (looks) at each customer and their needs individually based on their particular circumstance, based on feedback from the individual and their health care provider. In the application, we are not asking them to prove their disability but rather we are ensuring that we (are) compliant with AODA legislation by confirming their barriers to using the conventional transit system, Green said. The TTC has not yet started enforcing the new eligibility criteria, Green said, and there is no set date for it to start. The TTC estimates about half the Wheel-Trans users made to reregister will fall into the conditional category, meaning that eventually they will have to use the conventional system for at least some trips. Even the accessible TTC stations can be challenging to navigate, Wheel-Trans users say. Elevators break down; there can be long walks between the platform and the entrance or exit; some stations lack bathrooms, or adequate seating. David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA alliance, a disability consumer advocacy group, sees the recent TTC changes as a misuse of the AODA, which was meant to break down barriers for disabled people. Wheel-Trans is a second-class service, he said. Users have to book a ride the day before, occasionally waiting half an hour for the driver to pick them up, and users cant stop along the way or spontaneously change their route. Its not preferable to conventional transit, he said but the idea of forcing people out of it or creating more bureaucratic hurdles that they have to overcome to maintain what they already have is completely unjustified. Its a bureaucrat solution to a human being problem, he added. Jane Rowan was granted conditional eligibility when she first applied for Wheel-Trans, shortly after the TTC began sorting people into categories. But shes struggled to use conventional transit. Rowan, who is 79, travels from her home at Eglinton Avenue and Don Mills Road to visit her mother in Etobicoke once a week. When she makes the trip using Family of Services, it sometimes means roundabout routes with five or six changes, and long walks and periods standing up, which are difficult for her. If youve got a cane and you have trouble walking or standing, its really tough, she said. Rowans knees start hurting after five minutes of standing, and she can only walk about 700 steps per day, she said. She loses her balance easily. Rowan tried to get her eligibility changed to unconditional but was denied again after a test. Once the TTC enforces eligibility requirements, Rowan said shell give up on the TTC. Green said even with conditional eligibility, no one will be refused a dedicated (Wheel-Trans) trip if thats what they need. Once Family of Services becomes mandatory, these customers will only be given a Family of Services trip solution when NONE of their conditions are present (i.e. their barriers to using the accessible conventional system). If one or more of their conditions are present, they will always receive a door to door trip. Ziv said she understands why the TTC wants to protect Wheel-Trans from abuse, but feels the onus is being put on disabled people to fight for their right to public transit. Until all aspects of transportation and navigation are truly and reliably accessible to people with disabilities, I think its absurd to claw back services and support from people who have been relying on Wheel-Trans for decades. Even more, Ziv said, what the TTC is doing, in requiring disabled people to justify themselves, reflects how disabled people are treated more broadly in society. I never feel like Im being protected. I feel like I have to fight all of the time just to be seen. SHARE: Every election campaign has a colour scheme, but only one of this crop of mayoral candidates has a conversation-starter. Thats former councillor Ana Bailaos Green? Or is it Yellow? Her own team cant decide and that, says her campaign manager Tom Allison, is exactly the point. I said this makes me feel really good about this colour. And people looked at me like I was nuts, he said when the debate over the colour name happened. I said, I want that tension. I want people to argue about whether its yellow or green because you get people talking. It starts a conversation. And thats what politics, particularly municipal politics is about. The colour scheme for a candidate in any election is part of a branding exercise, but perhaps nowhere is there more opportunity for a deep dive into the Pantone catalogue than in municipal elections. At least ones, like in Toronto, where there are no party affiliations and thus no adherence to the traditional Liberal Red, Conservative Blue and NDP Orange. You want to distinguish yourself in the field and not just target a particular party, says Jonathan Rose, head of the political studies department at Queens University. I think its a conscious effort to telegraph they are not just beholden to a particular political interest. Among the six candidates leading the mayoral polls from a whopping 102 names, there is no orange or red to be seen notable for Bailao, who is a Liberal and has used red in the past, and former Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter, as well as former NDP MP Olivia Chow. There is, however, a lot of blue and not just from right-leaning candidates. That may in part be because blue isnt just a Conservative shade, its also the colour of the city of Toronto, and other government institutions, says Carolyn Kane, an associate professor of professional communications at Toronto Metropolitan University, who specializes in aesthetics and colour studies. Some of the candidates including current councillors Josh Matlow, Brad Bradford and Hunter have variations on what she sees as a sober and rational government blue a primary blue that is a little washed out and toned down with grey or black, Kane says. Josh Matlow. Per his campaign: Matlow Blue and turquoise. Per this reporter: Navy blue, aqua. Per a free colour matching app: Dark midnight blue, Robins egg blue We wanted to make sure we represented Josh as someone sure of himself, that reflects who he is approachable, bold, strong and engaging, says Katherine Janson, Matlows head of communications. In addition to the turquoise accent on the dark blue, their campaign materials also use bright yellow and coral to emphasize the TO link to the citys branding that became ubiquitous under former mayor John Tory. Mitzie Hunter. Per her campaign: Two shades of blue. Per this reporter. Royal blue and azure. Per a free colour matching app: Rich electric blue and Dark Cerulean There has been a conscious effort to avoid red for Hunter, who is instead embracing non-partisan and friendly shades of blue. We wanted colours that were warm, that were inviting its very much Mitzie Hunter, said Charmain Emerson, Hunters head of communications. When you are talking about being the CEO of the largest city in the country, you want to be able to demonstrate inclusiveness. Mark Saunders. Per his campaign: Police crest blue and gold. Per this reporter: Ultramarine blue and muted saffron. Per a free colour matching app: Saint Patrick Blue and Gamboge Kane is a fan of the blue to gold gradient employed by former police chief Mark Saunders, a creative tweak on government blue. The gold reminds her of the yellow lines marking a safe distance on subway platforms, evoking a sense of safety and community, she said. The Saunders campaigns idea was simpler: take the blue and gold from the Toronto police logo. Blue, they felt, is the colour of public safety, of stability and yes, a nod to Saunders running for the provincial Conservatives in the past. As for why the gradient? On the website it directs the eye to the all-important donate button. Olivia Chow. Per her campaign: Pantone 2613C and Pantone 3272C. Per this reporter: Violet and teal. Per a free colour matching app: Byzantium and dark cyan. Olivia Chows purple is intense and warm, Kane says. It shows more of a people person, while also celebrating diversity and femininity. Chows team sees purple as a progressive colour in Toronto, illustrated by the campaign of recently-elected councillor Ausma Malik. Chow used a regal purple in her 2014 mayoral campaign too, but this shade is less blue and theyve swapped the yellow for a bright and optimistic teal accent to show this is a new campaign one more authentic to Chow. Brad Bradford. Per his campaign: Vibrant shades of blue, green and teal. Per this reporter: Pthalo blue, lime, teal. Per a free colour matching app: Dark Cerulean, June bud, Verdigris For Brad its about showcasing his energy. And so you think about the colours, the movement, all the different sort of pieces coming together, said Dennis Matthews, a friend and adviser to Bradford and a go-to for Conservative political advertising. The colours are bright and the angle of the words signal taking action and the generational change that would come with electing a man almost half the age of his predecessor (Bradfords pitch has been Tory but faster). Bradford has used a teal blue before in his councillor campaigns for the Beaches-East York riding, and Matthews wanted to avoid traditional party colours because the next mayor will have to win votes beyond any one political partys supporters. Bradfords lime green accent is crisp and fresh green is symbolic of renewal, said colour expert Kane. Ana Bailao. Per her campaign: Safety Green or Zesty Yellow. Per this reporter: Chartreuse, at least in person. Per a free colour matching app: Electric Lime So is the Bailao signature colour green or yellow? The answer is both. Allison calls it zesty yellow (a nod to his Mini Cooper, a car that comes in that shade) but others call it safety green, like a high-visibility vest worn on a construction site. So its both a signal of safety but also the least safe colour choice among the more traditional blues. An unforeseen challenge, he admits, is that it isnt easy to find clothing or accessories in this colour for the candidate to wear. When a Star reporter revealed that she has a dress in this very shade, Allison jokingly or not so jokingly asked if it might be available to borrow. Alyshah Hasham is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Reach her via email: ahasham@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @alysanmati SHARE: Florida governor Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign was off to an inauspicious start on Wednesday after the initial Twitter space where he was to make his announcement became riddled with technical issues. The first Twitter space, hosted by DeSantis, tech mogul Elon Musk and entrepreneur David Sacks, regularly cut out and kicked out attendees, with multiple Twitter users reporting the livecast had crashed their whole phones. We have got so many people here that I think we are melting the servers, which is a good sign, Sacks could be heard saying. At one point, the space had attracted over half a million listeners. Musk added the servers are straining somewhat. When Sacks spoke, he was repeatedly interrupted by his audio cutting out or echoing. After 20 minutes of mostly silence, the space abruptly ended without DeSantis announcing his presidential campaign. Eventually, Musk launched another Twitter space from Sackss account, explaining that hosting it from his own account broke the Twitter system. This space, despite drawing in a fraction of the listeners, ran far smoother and allowed DeSantis to announce his bid half an hour late. The Biden campaign soon took aim at the incident, tweeting from the presidents official account: This link works with an attached link to donate to his own presidential bid. Donald Trump, anticipated to be DeSantiss main opponent in the Republican primaries, also launched his own video attacking DeSantiss technical difficulties on his official Instagram. Meanwhile, the keyword DeSantis almost immediately began trending on Twitter, with scores of users complaining about the glitches and crashes. Is this contender for worst campaign launch event in modern American history? one user asked. Its gotta be up there. Read more about: SHARE: TOKYO (AP) Police said they arrested a man Friday who had holed up in his fathers house armed with a rifle and a knife after allegedly killing four people, including two police officers, in central Japan. TV Asahi showed the man with his hands on his head walk out of the house and be ushered toward a police vehicle. Masanori Aoki, 31, a farmer, was arrested by police under a court warrant on suspicion of murder in Nakano, a city in Nagano prefecture. Nagano prefectural police chief Iwao Koyama offered condolences to the victims and said the loss of two police officials is extremely regrettable. He noted that the suspect allegedly shot to death a police officer in the left chest with a hunting rifle. National Public Safety Commission Chairperson Koichi Tani told a regular news conference Friday that the suspect had licenses for multiple hunting and air guns authorized by the prefectural public safety commission and his license renewals have been properly made. Tani said police are investigating his gun usage records and that they plan to take necessary safety measures based on investigation results. Police said the house was owned by his father, a local politician. Koyama said two women who escaped while the suspect was holed up are the suspects mother and aunt and that they were uninjured. NHK said that the mother told police that the attacker was her son and that his father was chairman of the city assembly. Japanese media quoted neighbors described the suspect as a quiet person and that they were not aware of any family feud. Police said earlier that two police officers were shot by the suspect when they arrived at the scene after receiving an emergency call saying a woman was stabbed. The officers were apparently without bulletproof vests. On Friday, Nagano police chief said the suspect allegedly stabbed to death the 66-year-old woman with a survival knife. A witness told NHK on Thursday that a woman fell while being chased by the suspect, who then stabbed her with a knife and shot at two police officers as they arrived at the scene in a patrol car. The woman and the two police officers were pronounced dead at a hospital. An older woman, who was injured but could not be rescued because she was near the suspect, was found dead early Friday, police said. During the standoff, TV footage showed police wearing bulletproof vests and carrying shields, with an ambulance nearby. Police sealed off a 300-meter (330-yard) radius around the house, and city officials urged people in the quiet farming neighborhood to stay home or stay at an evacuation center, where about 80 people reportedly took shelter. Violent crimes are rare in Japan. It has strict gun control laws and only a handful of gun-related crimes annually. But in recent years, there have been some high-profile cases involving random knifings on subways and arson attacks, and there is growing concern about homemade guns and explosives. ___ This story has been corrected to correct attribution in the 2nd paragraph to TV Asahi. Read more about: SHARE: KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) One of the greatest mountain guides said Thursday hes not ready to retire after climbing Mount Everest for a record 28th time. Nepalese Sherpa Kami Rita reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit of the worlds highest mountain on Tuesday, beating his own record less than a week after setting it. I will continue to climb as long as my body allows, the 53-year-old guide told reporters after arriving from the mountain at Kathmandus airport, where he was given a heros welcome by supporters and family members. He said his goal is not to compete for any records but to help his foreign clients scale the mountain. This years climbing season is almost over, and his next climb will have to wait until next spring. Kami Rita reached the summit a day after fellow Sherpa guide Pasang Dawa matched his previous record of 27 climbs. A race for the title began with Pasang Dawa climbing the peak for a 26th time on May 14, equaling Kami Ritas earlier record. Kami Rita reached the peak three days later for the 27th time. Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has done so nearly every year since then. He is one of many Sherpa guides whose expertise and skills are vital to the safety and success of foreign climbers who seek to reach the top of the mountain. His father was among the first Sherpa guides. Kami Rita has scaled several of the worlds highest peaks in addition to Everest, including K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu and Lhotse. Thousands of people have climbed Mount Everest since it was first conquered by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay in 1953. This year is the 70th anniversary of the first climb. Read more about: SHARE: SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea successfully launched a commercial-grade satellite for the first time Thursday as part of its growing space development program, as rival North Korea is pushing to place its first military spy satellite into orbit. The two Koreas, technically in a state of war, have no military reconnaissance satellites of their own and both are eager to possess them. The South Korean launch Thursday will likely assist its efforts to develop a space-based surveillance system. The domestically built three-stage Nuri rocket lifted off from a launch facility on a southern island with a payload of eight satellites, including a main commercial-grade satellite whose mission is to verify radar imaging technology and observe cosmic radiation in a near-Earth orbit. Science Minister Lee Jong Ho later told a televised news conference that the launch was successful, saying it proved the rockets reliability and South Koreas potential to operate various satellites and explore space. Lee said seven of the eight satellites including the main one were successfully released from the rocket. He said more time is required to confirm the release of the eighth satellite. Today, we confirmed that dreams can come true, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol wrote on Facebook. I hope our future generations have a great dream and challenge while looking at the Nuri rocket soaring into space. The launch boosted South Koreas hopes of catching up with Asian neighbors such as China, Japan and India in a regional space race. Lee, the science minister, said South Korea plans to conduct three more Nuri rocket launches by 2027 and will seek to develop more advanced launch vehicles. The launch was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed at the last minute due to a technical problem. Last year, South Korea used a Nuri rocket to place a performance verification satellite in orbit, becoming the worlds 10th nation to send a satellite into space with its own technology. But that launch was primarily designed to test the rocket. Many experts say Thursdays launch will also help South Korea accumulate technologies and knowhow to operate military spy satellites and build long-range missiles. South Korea is expected to launch its first spy satellite later this year. It currently relies on U.S. spy satellites to monitor North Korean facilities. Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, noted that the satellite launched Thursday is designed to be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit, which is typically used for reconnaissance satellites. South Korea already has missiles capable of reaching all of North Korea. But experts say it needs longer-range missiles to prepare for future security threats from potential adversaries China and Russia. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following North Koreas barrage of missiles tests since the beginning of last year. Some of the tests demonstrated its potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on the mainland U.S. and South Korea and Japan. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seeking to develop more sophisticated weapons systems, including a spy satellite, to cope with what he calls intensifying U.S. and South Korean hostilities. Analysts say Kim wants to use an expanded weapons arsenal to win greater concessions from Washington in future dealings. North Korea must be so concerned about the South Korean satellite launch Thursday because much of Kim Jong Uns interest now is in possessing a spy satellite, said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. He has a strong desire to launch a spy satellite before South Korea does. Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Koreas main launch center in the northwest shows activities that suggest a new level of urgency in making the site ready to accommodate satellite launches, 38 North, a North Korea-focused website, said Wednesday. It said the images indicate progress on a new launch pad is moving forward at a remarkable pace. Last week, Kim examined a finished spy satellite and approved a plan for its launch during a visit to the countrys aerospace agency. The spy satellite disclosed in North Korean state media doesnt appear sophisticated enough to produce high-resolution imagery. But Lee, the expert at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, said it is likely to be capable of monitoring deployment of U.S. strategic assets such as an aircraft carrier and the movements of South Korean warships and fighter jets. SHARE: Tina Turner, who died on Wednesday, was essentially a survivor. Born Anna Mae Bullock in 1939, she left behind a life in rural South Tennessee when she settled with her mother in St. Louis, Missouri. She began singing in church and started frequenting the citys nightclubs. It was there that she met Ike Turner, the leader of the Kings of Rhythm, in 1957, and they began to sing together. Ike was a veteran who made a living in a tough business, always bordering on illegality; he realized the potential in Tinas ferocity on a stage, and he made her his wife in 1962. As Ike & Tina Turner, they racked up hits on the rhythm and blues charts, that is to say, in the African-American market. But the strategy followed by Ike, who preferred to jump from one record company to the next, did not help to establish them as leading figures. However, in 1966 they accepted a proposal to record with producer Phil Spector, who really only wanted to work with Tina. The result was an orgasmic song, River Deep, Mountain High, which flopped in the United States but made quite an impact in Europe. In the UK, Tina became a cult artist. The fascination felt by the likes of Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and David Bowie helped put them in the mainstream. Husband-and-wife R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner pose for a portrait in circa 1961. Michael Ochs Archives (Getty) The Rolling Stones hired Ike & Tina Turner for their 1969 American tour: White audiences gasped at the turbo-charged sexuality of Tina and her dancers, the Ikettes. Ike, who rarely thought beyond the short term, understood that it was time to establish himself in the rock market. They did it with steamy versions of hits like Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and Come together (The Beatles), as well as resounding originals like Nutbush City Limits, a Tina creation that celebrated her origins. What Tina kept quiet about was that life with Ike, a cocaine addict, was hell. In 1976 she left him in Dallas and filed for divorce. That would be the central point of her embellished autobiography, later reflected in the corresponding biopic where she was played by Angela Bassett and in the musical Tina. She was forced to start over and had to accept all kinds of jobs to pay the rent: she flirted with disco music and reappeared on the nightclub circuit; to her eternal shame, she also performed in South Africa under Apartheid. Tina Turner performs on stage at Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands, on November 4, 1990. Rob Verhorst (Redferns / getty) In 1979 she connected with Roger Davies, an Australian manager who developed a clever plan to boost her career. She signed with the multinational Capital Records and focused on making albums with songs that highlighted her image as a sensual and empowered woman; it had different producers that covered everything from techno pop to rock. Her 1984 album Private Dancer would sell millions and become the prototype of a new way of understanding broad-spectrum pop, later imitated by Whitney Houston and other divas. Tina dominated the airwaves and the stages during the 1980s and 1990s. The truth is that she never stopped: she signed up for duets with her British fans and appeared in a movie from the Mad Max saga. And she rebuilt her life with a record executive, Erwin Bach, with whom she shared Buddhist beliefs. She retired in 2000, although she embarked on a farewell tour in 2008. By then she was already residing in Switzerland, a country that was good to her. In gratitude, in 2013 she became a naturalized Swiss citizen and renounced her US citizenship. PARIS (AP) French magistrates on Thursday filed preliminary charges against five French maritime rescue personnel in a probe of the deadly sinking of a flimsy migrant craft in the English Channel in 2021 that killed 27 people. The five, all military personnel, were handed a preliminary charge of not assisting people in danger, judicial authorities said. Preliminary charges allow magistrates further time to investigate. Magistrates have previously filed preliminary charges against 10 other people suspected of manslaughter and assisting the illegal entry of migrants. Three magistrates are handling the investigation. The five military personnel now also handed charges serve at a French maritime surveillance and rescue center for the English Channel, judicial authorities said. They are not being held in detention. The centers missions include coordinating search and rescue operations. The November 2021 sinking was the deadliest migration accident on the dangerous stretch of sea that separates France and Britain. It shone a spotlight on smuggling networks that prey on migrants. It also sent tensions soaring between France and Britain over how to tackle the problem. Follow AP migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration Read more about: SHARE: ATHENS, Greece (AP) A prominent humanitarian group on Thursday blasted Greece over its treatment of asylum-seekers on the island of Lesbos, repeating allegations of illegal deportations back to Turkey and claiming authorities are using hunger as a weapon against some migrants. Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said in a statement that the situation for asylum-seekers on the eastern Aegean Sea island is continuously deteriorating. Many people there have been exposed to violence and have alleged abductions by unidentified masked people, pushbacks that forced them out of Greece, arbitrary detentions, and deprivation of food and shelter, it said. The Greek government has ordered an investigation into claims that a group of migrants was illegally deported from Lesbos back to Turkey. Last weeks New York Times report claimed that the migrants were taken onto a Greek coast guard boat that left them in a raft at sea to be picked up by the Turkish coast guard, which returned them to Turkey. Athens has repeatedly denied persistent allegations that it engages in such deportations, known as pushbacks. Lesbos is a major landing point for thousands of people seeking a better life in Europe, who cross illegally from Turkey in small boats provided by smuggling gangs. MSF said Thursday that fear of pushbacks was preventing many newly-arrived migrants from accessing its health services, while others who could not be found may have been secretly deported. When we are alerted of newly arrived people in urgent need of medical assistance, we spend hours sometimes days looking for them as they are often hiding in forests, Nihal Osman, MSFs Lesbos coordinator, said. Osman added that since June 2022, MSF had been unable to find 940 people at their reported locations. The group also claimed that Greek authorities stopped giving food on May 17 to people who had completed the registration process in a Lesbos center for asylum seekers to stay pending examination of their bids. The government is using food as leverage to force people to leave the facility, Osman said. He also described as dire conditions at another center where newly arrived asylum seekers are sent for days, saying its overcrowded and too remotely located. There was no immediate comment from the Greek government. Nearly a million people reached Greece from Turkey in 2015, most landing on Lesbos. Numbers later dropped, and since 2019 Athens has stepped up patrols at sea to further reduce arrivals. ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration Read more about: SHARE: STOCKHOLM (AP) Swedens highest court on Thursday upheld the life sentence for the eldest of two Iranian-born Swedish brothers for spying for Russia and its military intelligence service GRU for a decade. Peyman Kia, a naturalized Swede, was sentenced to life in January in one of the Scandinavian countrys biggest espionage case in decades. His brother, Payam Kia, was given nine years and 10 months. They were found guilty for having worked jointly to pass information to Russia between Sept. 28, 2011, and Sept. 20, 2021. At first, both brothers appealed the Jan. 19 sentences by the Stockholm District Court. But Payam Kia retracted his appeal last week, hours before the appeals verdict was scheduled to be announced. His lawyer, Bjorn Sandin, explained to Swedish broadcaster SVT that his client feared getting a higher sentence. Thursdays verdict by the Supreme Court was postponed a week because of that. As before, proceedings were held behind closed doors most of the time because of the sensitivity of the information. The Supreme Court said it has been proven that the older brother procured, promoted and disclosed (information) to the Russian intelligence service GRU. Between 2014 and 2015, Peyman Kia worked for Swedens domestic intelligence agency as well as for the countrys armed forces. Swedish prosecutors alleged that the data the brothers gave the Russians originated from several authorities within the Swedish security and intelligence service, known by its acronym SAPO. Peyman Kia, who was arrested in September 2021, reportedly also worked for the armed forces defense intelligence agency. He was involved with a top secret unit within the agency that dealt with Swedish spies abroad, according to media in Sweden. His brother was arrested in November 2021. The case has been compared to one of Swedens largest spy scandals which took place during the Cold War when Stig Bergling, a Swedish security officer who worked for both SAPO and the armed forces, sold secrets to the Soviet Union. He was sentenced in 1979 to life imprisonment on similar charges and later escaped while serving his time and returned voluntarily to Sweden in 1994. He died in his native country in January 2015. SHARE: TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran unveiled on Thursday what it called the latest iteration of its liquid-fueled Khorramshahr ballistic missile amid wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program. Authorities showed off the Khorramshahr-4 to journalists at an event in Tehran, with the missile on a truck-mounted launcher. Defense Minister Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said the missile could be prepared for launch in a short period. One of the prominent characteristics of this missile is its ability to evade radar detection and penetrate enemy air defense systems, thanks to its low radar signature, the general told journalists. This missile has the capability to utilize various warheads for different missions. Iranian officials described the missile as having a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range with a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) warhead. They also released undated video footage purportedly showing a successful launch of the missile. The Khorramshahr has the heaviest payload of Irans ballistic missile fleet, which analysts say may be designed to keep the weapon under a 2,000-kilometer range limit imposed by the country's supreme leader. That puts most of the Mideast in range, but falls short of Western Europe. The Khorramshahr-4 is named after an Iranian city that was the scene of heavy fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Iraq seized the city in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan at the start of the war, but Iran retook it over a year later. During the event, loudspeakers blared the Symphony of the Epic of Khorramshahr, an orchestral composition marking Iranian soldiers ending the Iraqi siege of the city during the war. Tehran created its ballistic missile program after suffering through Iraqi Scud missile attacks in the conflict and as a hedge against its Western-armed neighbors as embargoes have kept it from accessing modern attack aircraft. The missile also is called Kheibar, after a Jewish fortress conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century in what is now Saudi Arabia. Regional tensions likely played a role in Irans missile display Thursday. A miniature example of Jerusalems golden Dome of the Rock on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a holy site in both Islam and Judaism that Jews call the Temple Mount, stood next to the mobile launcher. Iran views Israel as its archenemy and arming anti-Israeli militant groups in the Palestinian territories and surrounding countries. Tensions between the two nations are high, particularly as Iran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. The Khorramshahr would be able to reach Israel. Iran made a point, however, to keep the truck that transports the missile covered up during the event. Its missile program has been targeted for sabotage in the past and Iran has previously used foreign-sourced vehicles to tow such massive missile systems. It remains unclear, however, why the missile has been called Khorramshahr-4 as only two other variants of the missile are publicly known. It is modeled after North Koreas Musudan ballistic missile, which is believed to have up to a 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) range with a 500-kilogram (1,100 pound) payload. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington was aware of the missile report and reiterated that Irans development and proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. Read more about: SHARE: NASH, Texas (AP) Authorities in east Texas have jailed an 18-year-old man on capital murder charges in the shootings of his parents, sister and brother. Police in the small town of Nash say officers responding to a report that a man had harmed his family and was threatening to kill himself on Tuesday found Cesar Olalde barricaded inside a home. They were told that multiple people were dead inside. Olalde later called police, saying he had pulled the trigger, and shot his family, according to a probable cause affidavit by Nash Police Officer Craig Buster. The officers persuaded Olalde to surrender and then found the bodies of his parents, Reuben Olalde and Aida Garcia, older sister Lisbet Olalde and younger brother Oliver Olalde in a bathroom. It appeared as if the victims had been shot at various places in the residence and drug to the bathroom, according to the affidavit. Multiple spent cartridge casings were found on the floor of the home, and there was blood spatter on multiple surfaces, it said. The affidavit said a co-worker of Lisbet Olalde had gone to the home because the woman had failed to arrive at work and, with a family member, forced his way inside where he was confronted by Cesar Olalde, who pointed a firearm at him. The co-worker told police that Olalde said he had killed his family because they were cannibals, and they were going to eat him, the affidavit states. Bowie County court records show Olalde was ordered held on $10 million bond. His listed defense attorney did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday. Nash is a town of about 3,800 on the western edge of Texarkana near the Arkansas state line. As of May 24, there have been at least 25 mass killing incidents in the U.S. so far in 2023, leaving at least 127 people dead, not including perpetrators who died, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. That puts the country on a faster pace for mass killing incidents than in any other year since at least 2006, according to the database, which defines a mass killing as an incident in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period. There have been at least 556 incidents in all since 2006 in the U.S., according to the database, leaving at least 2,892 people dead. Family mass killings in which four or more people were killed, not including the perpetrator have also been an all-too-common tragedy across the country. Theyve happened nearly every 3 1/2 weeks for the last two decades on average, according to the database. SHARE: MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the fervent protests that erupted around the world, looked to many observers like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. For more than nine minutes, a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of Floyd, a Black man, who gasped, I cant breathe, echoing Eric Garners last words in 2014. Video footage of Floyds May 25, 2020, murder was so agonizing to watch that demands for change came from across the country. But in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, economic uncertainty and a divisive U.S. presidential election, 2020 ended without the kind of major police reforms that many hoped, and others feared, would come. Then, 2021 and 2022 also failed to yield much progress. Now, three years since Floyds murder, proponents of federal actions such as banning chokeholds and changing the so-called qualified immunity protections for law enforcement still await meaningful signs of change. The beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long it could take. Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, said during a recent press conference convened by a Black Lives Matter collective that she sees no evidence of a racial reckoning. I dont play with words like reckoning, Pressley said. That needs to be something of epic proportion. And we certainly have not seen a response to the lynching, the choking, the brutality, (and) the murder of Black lives. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS? Soon after Floyds murder, Minneapolis adopted a number of changes, including bans on chokeholds and neck restraints, and requirements that police try to stop fellow officers from using improper force. Minnesota lawmakers approved statewide police accountability packages in 2020 and in 2021, as well as tight restrictions on no-knock warrants this month. The city is still awaiting the results of a federal investigation into whether its police engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. A similar investigation by the state Department of Human Rights led to what it called a court-enforceable settlement agreement in March to revamp policing in the city. The federal investigation could lead to a similar but separate agreement with the city. Police in several other cities already operate under such oversight for civil rights violations. We are shifting the culture of our police department to ensure that our officers strengthen and hold the trust of our entire community, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement Thursday. There were immediate cries after Floyds murder to defund the police and instead fund public housing and other services. But a ballot measure that had roots in that movement failed, even in some heavily Black neighborhoods. An AP review of police funding found that some municipalities elsewhere made modest cuts that fell far short of activists calls. WHATS HAPPENING IN MINNEAPOLIS THIS WEEK? More than 100 people gathered Thursday night at George Floyd Square, the corner where Floyd died. The event to remember Floyd included music and dancing, and a candlelight vigil was planned. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara stopped by and talked with people in the crowd at one point, raising his fist in solidarity. Earlier in the day, hundreds of flowers and signs swayed in the wind between towering statues of fists at the square. Kendrick White and Georgio Wright, two Black men, said they visit the site every day and lead pilgrimage guides or tours to spread awareness about what happened. About 20 high school students and teachers from California were in their group Thursday. Lee Fertig, head of school at The Nueva School in the Bay area community of San Mateo, said they wanted to see how the community is rebuilding. Gov. Tim Walz declared Thursday George Floyd Remembrance Day in Minnesota, proclaiming, True justice for George Floyd will come only through real, systemic change to prevent acts like this from happening again. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OFFICERS? Derek Chauvin, the white officer who killed Floyd, and the three other officers who failed to stop him, are all in prison. Chauvin was sentenced in state court to 22 1/2 years for second-degree murder. Two of the three other officers pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter and received shorter terms, while the third was convicted of that count by a judge and awaits sentencing. All four of the officers were also convicted of violating Floyds civil rights. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER PROTESTS? Around the world, protests against racial violence and police brutality erupted after Floyds murder, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement. Videos circulated on social media of U.S. police using tear gas and less-lethal munitions like rubber bullets, fueling calls for accountability, which so far has largely come in the form of civil settlements. New York City found 146 officers had committed misconduct at protests, including one officer who drove a car into protesters. Independent reviews in Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Los Angeles also found those departments had mishandled their responses. In some cities, a handful of officers were fired. Some faced criminal charges: In Austin, Texas, 19 officers were indicted. Few have been convicted. Minneapolis has agreed to millions of dollars in settlements with people who alleged they were victims of excessive police force during unrest that followed Floyds killing, which included the burning of a police station. Few officers were disciplined. WHATS HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL? In 2020, federal legislation called the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act showed signs of promise. It would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, like the one that enabled Louisville police to kill Breonna Taylor. It would also create a database listing officers who were disciplined for gross misconduct, among other measures. The House passed it in 2021. But the Senate failed to reach a consensus. Last year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that applied key elements of the bill to federal law officers. On Thursday, Biden renewed his call for Congress to act to bring real and lasting change at the state and local levels. RELATED STORIES Beyond the Badge After George Floyd I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it, he said in a statement, adding that he will fight for police accountability and work with both parties to reach solutions. Meanwhile, Pressley, the Massachusetts congresswoman, has been promoting the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, a measure she has reintroduced every year since 2020. WHAT ABOUT THE FLOYD FAMILY? Over the last three years, George Floyds family members have appeared at rallies and spoken out against police violence. Within days of his brothers death, Philonise Floyd testified at a congressional hearing about police reform. While relatives and reform advocates called for legislation changes, George Floyds youngest daughter, Gianna Floyd, met Biden at the White House in 2021. A photo of a Marine holding the door for the 7-year-old went viral. New York City-based Terrence Floyd, who became an activist after his brothers murder, planned to hold the third-annual memorial event at a Harlem church on Thursday evening. He has supported get-out-the-vote efforts and promoted music paying tribute to his brother. You have to have the faith that it will happen, because it didnt happen overnight for Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. It didnt happen overnight for Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, he said about meaningful social change. You cant expect it to happen overnight for us, but it will happen. ___ Morrison reported from New York. Associated Press writers Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia, Colleen Long in Washington and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis contributed to this report. AP photographer Abbie Parr also contributed from Minneapolis. SHARE: WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. on Thursday sanctioned the leader of Russias paramilitary Wagner Group in Mali, citing what it said were indications that the Kremlin was trying to use the West African nation as a way-station for arms shipments to Russian forces in Ukraine. The Treasury Department sanctions target Wagner Group local official Ivan Maslov and refer to unspecified signs that his staffers were working to buy mines, drones and other weapons systems from foreign suppliers for delivery to Russian fighters in Ukraine. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller addressed those U.S. suspicions earlier in the week. We have not seen, as of yet, any indications that these acquisitions have been finalized or executed, but we are monitoring the situation closely, Miller said. Led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Wagner Group is a private military contractor whose paramilitary forces are fighting for Russia in Ukraine and are also expanding Russias influence in developing nations of the southern hemisphere. In Africa, the Wagner Group has brokered deals in Mali, the Central African Republic, Libya and elsewhere, providing security for what are often autocratic national leaders, frequently in exchange for a share of local mining of gold and other resources. Regional experts and others accuse the Kremlin of using its operations in Mali and elsewhere in Africa as a funding source and logistics hub for its 15-month-old invasion of Ukraine. Russia denies wrongdoing. The U.S. has sanctioned the Wagner Group and its leaders over Russias attack on Ukraine and rights abuses at least since 2017. The United States also imposed visa restrictions Thursday on two Malian military commanders. The penalties came in connection with a 2022 massacre in which the U.N. says Malian forces backed by foreign fighters killed at least 500 people in a village in central Mali. France and other countries have said the foreign fighters were Wagner mercenaries. SHARE: Democracy is built on trust. Its the opening line in David Johnstons first report on foreign interference in our electoral process and it was repeated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his response to that report. But that trust is built on public confidence that can only come from transparency. On that count, Canadians had no reason to be more confident in the governments vigilance and response to Chinese interference after hearing from Johnston. Johnston has provided assurances to Canadians without showing us his homework, asking for our trust without the transparency needed for Canadians to judge the validity of his assurances. The former governor general says he believed, as he began his work as Trudeaus special rapporteur, that a public inquiry would be needed but his view evolved until he concluded that such an inquiry would be the easy call, but not the proper call. The reality is any credible public inquiry would not be public at all, he says. Viewed through the narrowest, most technical lens, Johnston was probably correct in his assessment that given the nature of the classified information, a public inquiry could not be truly public. But how much could be public could be determined through a focused judicial inquiry headed by a judge, a much preferable option to Johnstons plan to lead public hearings on foreign interference during the summer and fall before issuing a second report in October. Cult of secrecy An inquiry could determine what could be properly declassified without endangering sources or compromising the work of intelligence agencies. Canada already has a more rigid classification culture than most of our Five Eyes allies. By ignoring calls for a public inquiry Johnston and Trudeau have again defaulted to the cult of secrecy which is choking Canadians right to know. What we are left with is Johnstons assurances that federal elections in 2019 and 2021 were well protected by sophisticated mechanisms, that neither Trudeau nor his ministers knowingly ignored intelligence, advice or recommendations on foreign interference, that the media reports that forced Trudeau to appoint him to this thankless task were misconstrued. In fairness, he did find significant problems on how security concerns are communicated to the political class. How does he know all this? Well, he cant tell us, well just have to trust him. Everything he cannot talk about it is right there in an secret annex that he and Trudeau invited opposition political leaders to see. Except, if they dont like what they see, they will not be allowed to talk about specifics. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, whose continued attacks on Johnston as Trudeaus ski buddy did much to undermine this entire process, has already declined that invitation. He may be making a cynically political calculation, but accepting the security clearance offered by the prime minister and his rapporteur would largely silence a man who has gained much mileage from his continued attacks on the Liberals on this issue. By rejecting a public inquiry, Johnston has done the Liberals no favours. If the government has, in fact, performed well on this file, a public inquiry would presumably confirm that. Without an inquiry, questions are going to dog the Liberals all the way to the next election. Parliament has called for an inquiry Public inquiries have delved into secret intelligence matters while probing the Air India bombing and the treatment of Maher Arar and, most recently, the Rouleau commission on the convoy protests, which proved that once-secret details can be disclosed if there is an overriding public interest. There are few issues more deserving of this transparency than foreign meddling in our elections. Parliament has endorsed the call for an inquiry in a non-binding vote. We join them in that endorsement. Its a sad truth of this hyper partisan era, that Poilievre and others were able to chip away at Johnstons integrity. Perception is paramount and many Canadians would now question his impartiality. We dont share those concerns over his integrity, but nevertheless, given the current political climate, Johnston should be thanked for his service and Trudeau should call an inquiry under the leadership of someone else. At the time of his appointment, we wrote that the challenge for Johnston was to find a way to pull back the curtain that has shielded Canadians from the details they need to judge the extent of election interference. If Canadians were to be assured that our elections are free and fair, they would need to see this evidence for themselves. Unfortunately, Johnston did not meet that challenge. SHARE: Church leaders need to step up and make politicians angry, May 15 I think church leaders are reluctant to criticize politicians lest it jeopardize their tax status; to bite the hand that feeds could cost them. The same could be said of business leaders reluctant to critique our economy despite its theft of food and housing from those who need it most. Out of the fear of what it might cost us, we wont bite the hand that feeds us, despite longer food bank lineups and growing encampments to house those with no home of their own. Governments are long past introducing policies that harm the poor, the homeless and the marginalized which exclusively support the wealthy, the powerful and the complacent. These anti-poor policies have been in place for some time now and are only getting worse. Which ups the ante for those of us who are either religious or business leaders to defy our fears and speak up for those for whom life is only getting worse. Even if it means biting the hand that feeds us. John Deacon, Thornhill SHARE: David Johnston says whoever leaked information about Chinese interference in Canadian politics is guilty of a breach of duty. The clear implication is they should be tracked down and punished. I have a better idea lets give them a medal. We dont need a public inquiry (or even public hearings) to reach at least one important conclusion: if it wasnt for the media reports that came out of those leaks, the hot mess on fire that is the way the Canadian government handles national security information would still be smouldering away in the background, with no change in sight. The most shocking part of Johnstons report follows an extremely understated heading: The Dissemination of Intelligence Within the Government a Problem that Needs Attention. Johnston describes how our intelligence agencies produce reports, distribute them to various agencies and departments and then no one has any idea if they actually get read. Apparently, according to what Johnston found out, theyre collected in a large binder thats kept in a secure room. Theres no system for flagging an important report to key people, or for making sure someone reads it and decides whether anything should be done. So it seems quite possible that intelligence on, say, attempts by foreign agents to influence an election, might well disappear into that big binder and never be seen again. Hard to believe, but it gets worse. Johnston found intelligence suggesting Beijing was targeting Conservative MP Michael Chong, another MP, and their extended families in China. In May 2021, CSIS sent an issues management note about this threat to then-public safety minister Bill Blair and his chief of staff. But neither of them received that note. It turns out it was sent through a Top Secret Network email and neither the minister nor his most senior aide had access to that. Johnston calls all this serious shortcomings in the way the government handles intelligence. Thats one way of putting it. Hot mess on fire is how a couple of former security officials who used to work in that system described it to CBC News. Its been like that for years, they said, and no one did a thing about it. Thats the absurd, dysfunctional system that Canadas security officials have been struggling with, and the government has allowed to persist for years. Who knows what other information has disappeared in this maze? Who knows what other crises are ticking away in the background and what other intelligence ministers simply dont know about? Only a government and a country that doesnt take national security seriously would tolerate such a situation for so long. No, it took someone (the leaker or leakers) to force action by sticking a hot poker up the collective backside of the government and the security establishment. Of course, it would be hugely preferable for change to come without someone getting to the point where they feel they have no choice but to go rogue, but apparently it doesnt work like that. Now many of the same security experts who condemn the leaker, as well as Johnston and a string of ministers up to the PM himself, are lining up to criticize the current system and agree it must be changed. Johnson promises public hearings on this very subject and recommendations by October. But even Johnston readily acknowledges none of this would be happening without the leaks. In fact, the government did its level best to ignore reports by Global News last fall and was forced to act only when a stream of confidential material began appearing in the Globe and Mail in February. I dont think every leaker or whistleblower (they arent necessarily the same) is a hero. It depends on the reasons for breaking secrecy, on the nature of the information released, on the impact of a leak. If the leaker in this case is eventually identified, he or she will no doubt face severe consequences firing at the very least, and the possibility of criminal charges on top of that. Personally, I think theyve done a public service. Id happily pin a medal on them. SHARE: A police search team walk on the shore of the Arade dam near Silves, Portugal, on May 24, 2023. Police searching for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British child who went missing in 2007 in Portugal, were concentrating operations Wednesday in several areas around a dam, including one where media reports say a lead suspect in the case often stayed. The latest search for clues regarding the disappearance started Tuesday following a request by German authorities. Some 30 Portuguese, German and British police are taking part in the operation at the Arade dam, which is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the resort of Praia da Luz, where the 3-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago. In Germany, Braunschweig prosecutor Christian Wolters told German public broadcaster NDR, We have indications that we could find evidence there. I dont want to say what that is exactly, and I also dont want to say where these indications come from. The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesnt come from the suspect so we dont have a confession or anything similar now, or an indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search, Wolters said, adding that it was other indications that prompted us to conduct this search. But Wolters appeared to calm expectations of what might be found, saying, We never said that the girl disappeared where we are now searching. Police on Tuesday were studying an area where Portuguese and Spanish media say the suspect stayed around the time that Madeleine went missing. Officers could be heard using a motor saw to clear trees and bushes in the zone, which is located on the far side of the reservoir from the base camp that police set up Monday. Police have given no details on the progress of the searches so far, but leading Portuguese daily Expresso said Wednesday that the first day ended with no significant results, adding that police had collected some objects including fabrics and garments. It said that in places where the sniffer dogs signaled, the soil was dug up, possibly indicating that biological traces were also being sought. The search is expected to end Wednesday or Thursday. Detectives from the three countries are still trying to figure out what happened on the night when the toddler disappeared from her bed in the southern Portuguese resort on May 3, 2007. She was in the same room as her twin brother and sister, who were 2 at the time, while her parents had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant. Portuguese media say this is the fourth search for McCann, following the initial one in 2007 in the Algarve area and further efforts in 2013 and 2014. Another search was held in Germany in 2020. In mid-2020, German officials said that a 45-year-old German citizen, identified by media as Christian Brueckner, who was in the Algarve in 2007, was a suspect in the case. Brueckner has denied any involvement. Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. He is under investigation in the McCann case, but hasnt been charged. He spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of Madeleines disappearance. The reservoir is currently less than half full owing to a drought affecting Portugal and neighboring Spain. Much of the area being searched would be below water level in years of normal rainfall. Madeleines parents arent commenting because of the active investigation, according to an email response from the website set up for the search for the child, findmadeleine.com. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Aproposal by a lawmaker in the Philippines to ban homework for school students on weekends should find resonance in India. The lawmaker, Sam Versoza, a member of the countrys House of Representatives has moved a Bill to stop schools from giving weekend homework to elementary and high school students. Arguing that students are being overworked and yet trail behind those from other countries, Mr. Versoza wants the Philippines to follow the example of countries such as Finland, China, South Korea and Japan. He says one hour of homework on weekdays should be sufficient for students; anything more is a source of stress to both parents and students. Correlating the burden placed on students with the high levels of dropouts, he says this is because school is not fun anymore. Soon after coming to power in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party had announced steps to reduce the workload of students up to class 8 by 25 per cent and of those in higher classes by 20 per cent. Announcing the decision, the government had argued that the future of children could not be burdened by their heavy school bags, and that obsolete syllabi had to be replaced by skill development, theatre, art, music and sports. The writ of the government, though, extended only to schools under its control; private schools in the capital, and elsewhere, blithely continued to burden their students with more assignments and homework, on the ground that secondary and senior secondary examinations played a pivotal role in determining their future. The role of parents in pushing their children to the brink, in aspirational societies such as the Philippines and India, cannot be underestimated; often it is found that they find it necessary to inflict private tuitions on children already carrying a heavy burden. Many private schools use results of the Class X examination to offer ~ or withhold ~ admission to their own students in Class XI, adding to the academic stress. The effect of student workloads on their well-being is well established. Research conducted by the Lewis and Clark College in America in 2018 had found that chronic stress caused by excessive homework induced negative physical, mental and behaviour outcomes. These included physical problems such as headaches, sweating, exhaustion, sleeping and breathing problems, and psychological ailments such as a feeling that they were leading unbalanced lives. Studies have also established that more work hours for students do not always lead to better learning outcomes, and that the stresses of school often carry over to college and can lead to serious mental ailments. Education planners in India would do well to study the legislation proposed by the Philippine lawmaker. There are many lessons to be learnt if we want our children to be happy and well-rounded individuals. All human beings ~ men and women, young and old, rich and poor, well and unwell, want to be happy, so much so that happiness has been equated with the meaning and essence of life, reason of our existence, our ultimate destiny. The purpose of our lives is to be happy, as the Dalai Lama has said. The idea of power and wealth, fame and recognition, position and status, all become meaningless before that supreme state of being called happiness, even though these very things often bring happiness to the minds of ordinary mortals. But many also believe, like Marcus Aurelius that, Remember this, that very little is needed to make a happy life. If you are happy, that is an end in itself and nothing else is needed in life. But what is happiness, that impossible and unreachable El Dorado we all seek and strive to reach at every turn of our lives? To be able to analyse anything, we need first to define it, and here we find that it is impossible to define happiness. There are many definitions available though, and most of these are cliched, like the oft-quoted definition given by 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon: It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness. Philosophers and spiritual leaders have told us that ones happiness is derived not from material possessions, neither from sensual pleasures and nor from anything outside of oneself, but relates to ones state of mind. William James, regarded as the founder of American psychology, wrote in 1902: If you can change your mind, you can change your life. But the problem is that the mind cannot be permanent in an equilibrium state ~ it is ever changing. Hence happiness cannot be a constant state of euphoria, but rather a balance of emotions that somehow brings a sense of meaning, purpose and fulfilment. It is not an end or a goal, but only a state of being. Happiness is often equated or confused with well-being which is produced by interplay of a number of extraneous factors like income, health, education, basic liberties, choices available, relationships, physical and social security, etc. But even then, it is a subjective sense of well-being, which is neither measurable nor quantifiable. Yet some Western international agencies bring out annual indices of happiness to rank different countries according to parameters devised by them. These rankings only reflect their own cultural, racial or civilisational bias without bearing an iota of truth, and are intended to generally demonstrate the socalled superiority of the West ~ which is now slowly decaying politically, morally and also economically ~ over the rest of the world. A New York-based agency called Sustainable Development Solutions Network brings out an annual World Happiness Report, whose 2023 version has ranked India at 126th position out of 136 countries, much below strife-torn countries like Palestine (ranked 99), Iran (101), Sri Lanka (112), Myanmar (117) or Ethiopia (124), many of which ruthlessly suppress the civil liberties of their people. Their rankings depend on six parameters: per capita income, social support, life expectancy at birth, freedom to make life choices, charity, and perceptions of corruption. It does not require superlative intelligence to divine that all these parameters are derivatives of a single parameter, i.e., wealth of a nation, and hence will always favour rich nations over poor ones. So, the richer you are, the happier you are; in other words, income is synonymous with happiness, an assumption not validated by facts, just as happiness cannot be equated with success in material terms. Happiness research is primarily based on peoples perception which can be assessed through surveys. The mind is influenced by social and cultural factors; hence how we perceive happiness also depends on these factors. In collectivist societies like Japan, people reckon happiness more as a shared experience rather than individual satisfaction with life, whereas in individualistic societies, people perceive happiness more in terms of individual satisfaction, and also in comparison to others. Happy people increase the happiness of others around them; hence bonding within social groups and families contributes positively to happiness. But is happiness a choice in the sense that we can exercise control over it? Buddhists believe mediation gives one control over ones mind and hence over happiness. There are infinite websites that tell us how to be happy through mindfulness, feeling of gratitude towards universe, focusing on the inner self, replacing negative thoughts, etc., none of which sounds practically very convincing. Sociologists, scientists and economists bring another paradigm ~ they believe happiness is more the outcome of institutional and economic forces shaped by power differences between groups rather than a matter individual choice. Thus, black people in America are less likely than whites to feel happy, a fact corroborated by studies. Groups with lesser power, income, wealth or influence are generally less happy than those who have more of these. Studies have found that income inequality is one major cause of unhappiness of people at the lower end of distribution. A 2011 US study found that as income inequality grew, people in the lower half of the income range felt less happy. In recent times a movement called positive psychology, which treats happiness as subjective well-being, is gaining ground by focussing on the positive events and influences in life, rather than the negative and dysfunctional ones. It lays emphasis on positive experiences like joy, inspiration or love, positive traits like gratitude or compassion, and positive institutions that apply and encourage these principles. But positivity has its own negativity too, as Edgar Cabanas and Eva Illouz explored in their book Manufacturing Happy Citizens: How the Science and Industry of Happiness Control our Lives. They showed how happiness has been woven into the very fabric of power by a neoliberal alliance of psychologists, economists and self-help gurus. Propped by influential institutions and multinational corporations, these experts often force governments to use oppressive policies and interventions to change peoples behaviour for what they believe are more successful, meaningful and healthier lives. In her 2007 book The How of Happiness, the positive psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky describes happiness as the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that ones life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile. Each of the terms here lends itself to varying interpretations. To avoid such possible confusion, Aristotle had said much earlier, Happiness depends upon ourselves. Without trying to define, the British-American anthropologist Ashley-Montagu had said, The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us. It is perhaps a functional definition, because we all experience such surprise moments that bring happiness. Thomas Hardy has said, Happiness is only an occasional episode in the general drama of pain surrounding us, like tiny islands of hope in a vast, dark and desolate ocean. There are many who think that happiness consists in having a stream of small joys and pleasures to fill our days, and that happiness can be understood only on a daily basis, because there is no enduring, permanent, everlasting happiness. And they lived happily ever afterwards is only a cliche, much too overused and meaningless. Most of us have everything we need to live happily ~ a nice family, successful kids, a good home, maybe a car too, a reasonable income, a reasonably good professional career ~ yet we are very unhappy at times. Events outside our control, like natural calamities, disruptive technologies, global financial crises, mental health issues etc. can completely overtake us, ejecting us out of our orbit of happiness. There is no linear pathway to happiness that can insure against all insecurities, and, in fact, it has ceased to be an individual choice. Happiness is today measured by society, not by the individual. Society measures happiness by ones ability to achieve more, accumulate more, hoard more, consume more, display more. In this unknown and enchanting land of ever mores, there is no rulebook, no ethics, no morality, no bounds whatsoever. The brave new world equates happiness with success and success with happiness, and success is equated with limitless more, to keep pace with a restless world that is changing too fast ~ indeed, much faster than our ability to adapt and find peace in its swirl of uncertainty. Penny Locaso, an Australian entrepreneur and author of the book Hacking Happiness: How to Intentionally Adapt and Shape the Future You Want said, Happiness is not a destination. Its a state of mind, and you dont need to be in it every moment of every day. Not only is that impossible, but its also unhealthy. Life is complex and uncertain. Ups and downs are normal. How do you experience happiness if you dont know sadness and pain? Is sadness and pain, then, integral to happiness? It would be the ultimate incongruity if to understand happiness, first you have to go through pain and suffering, despair and frustration. But the reality is that many people who have suffered devastating financial or emotional catharsis, have overcome their losses and their fears of uncertainty, and learnt to live simpler, balanced and fulfilling lives. Psychologists refer to this as emodiversity ~ the ability to experience a diverse range of emotions in equal measures. But it is always the human connections that play a definitive role in human happiness (The writer is a commentator, author and academic. Opinions expressed are personal) Two girls, Mousumi Tudu and Saraswati Baskey, students of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira Eklavya Model Residential School, Jhargram stood joint first in Santhali first language in Higher Secondary Examination 2023, whose results were announced this afternoon. The school is meant for only Scheduled Tribe students. Both Tudu and Baskey have secured the same number, 472 marks out of 500, which is 94.4 per cent. The students of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira Eklavya Model Residential School have done spectacularly in the examination conducted by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. All the 35 boys who had appeared for the examination have secured first division while out of 31 girls who sat for the exam, 30 girls got first division while one girl got second division. It may be mentioned that the students of the school did well in the Madhyamik examination this year. Swami Vedpurushanandaji, secretary of the centre said most of the students are first generation learners. It may be mentioned that chief minister Mamata Banerjee had requested Swami Suhitanandaji, the then general secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 2016 to take over the school to provide best education to the students. The school is doing well in the Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinations With the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) decision to withdraw Rs 2,000 notes from circulation, petrol pumps in Punjab are facing a cash crunch as the majority of customers are using the currency notes to buy small quantities of petrol or diesel. The sudden surge in cash payments of Rs 2000 note has forced the Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association, which represents about 4,000 pumps in the state, to request the RBI to give guidelines to banks to provide enough notes of small denominations to petrol pumps in lieu of Rs 2000 notes so that they could serve their customers with ease. Before the RBI decision to withdraw the Rs 2,000 note, we used to receive about 95 per cent of payments at the pumps through digital mode while cash payments accounted for only about 5 per cent of the total payments. But now, cash payments consist of about 70 to 80 per cent of the total sale, Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association presidents Sandeep Sehgal told The Statesman. The main problem we are facing is that we dont have much change as we give the cash back to customers from the cash received at the pumps and all our cash gets deposited in the banks on a daily basis. Now, we are getting customers, who buy fuel just for Rs 100 and tender Rs 2000 note for the payment. The problem is we dont have that much cash to give change for every Rs 2000 note, he added. Sehgal further said that last time during the demonetisation in 2016 when Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were rendered invalid, petrol pumps were allowed to accept the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes but later most dealers received Income Tax notices or raids without any fault of theirs as they received more cash payments during that period due to increased sales and outstanding payment from credit customers. We fear that the same may happen again as customers are using Rs 2,000 notes for payments at the pumps but we just cant keep a record of the customers buying Rs 100 or Rs 200 fuel. We may again be questioned over the sudden surge in cash payments at the pumps, he said, adding that even shopkeepers are using petrol pumps as an easy way out to change their Rs 2000 notes instead of going to the banks. Sehgal said since its a legal tender, pumps cant say no to Rs 2,000 notes given by any customer. But we just cant give the change back to every customer who buys Rs 100 fuel and makes payment by giving a Rs 2000 note. The problem is customers dont want to wait for getting the change, he said. The RBI on Friday announced the decision to withdraw Rs 2,000 banknotes which can be deposited and exchanged at the banks till 30 September. Jailed former Delhi health minister Satyender Jain is currently on oxygen support at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital after being shifted from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hosptial here. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader had collapsed in the bathroom of Tihar Jail due to dizziness, the party said. The AAP said the former Delhi health minister was rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital this morning, following an unfortunate fall in the jail bathroom. Recognising the severity of his condition, he was immediately moved to LNJP Hospital for intensive care after his health took a turn for the worse at DDU. The AAP leader is currently on oxygen support and remains critical. He had earlier been admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital on May 22, after he complained of extreme spinal pain, owing to his long-standing deteriorating spinal condition resulting from a fall in Jail, the AAP said. Party sources said, Even before this, Satyendar Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury. On Monday, Jain was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital from Tihar Jail after deterioration of his health. Around 6 am on Thursday, the undertrial prisoner slipped/fell down in the bathroom of the hospital at central jail No. 7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness, the prison officials said. Then he (Jain) was examined by the doctors. Vitals were normal. He was further referred to the DDU Hospital as he complained about pain in back, left leg and shoulder, the prison officials said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal prayed for Jains speedy recovery and attacked the Central government for targetting AAP leaders. The person who worked tirelessly day and night to provide excellent treatment and promote good health to the public is now being targeted by a dictator who seeks to eliminate this virtuous individual, Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. This dictator is solely focused on his own agenda, disregarding the welfare of others. His self-centered nature blinds him from seeing the bigger picture. However, it is important to remember that a higher power is overseeing everything. God, in His infinite wisdom, will ensure justice prevails for all, he said. I offer my prayers to God for Satyendar jis swift recovery. May God grant them the strength to confront and overcome these challenging circumstances, he further wrote on Twitter. On May 15, Jain had moved a plea in the Supreme Court, seeking bail in the alleged money laundering case against him. He has challenged the Delhi High Courts order dismissing his bail plea in the alleged case. Jain was arrested on May 30, 2022, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate and is presently in Judicial Custody in the case. The ED case is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint registered on the allegation that Satyender Jain had acquired movable properties in the name of various persons from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, which he could not satisfactorily account for. The World Food Program (WFP) has appealed for $810 million over the next six months to scale up humanitarian assistance for millions of people in the Horn of Africa who are trapped in a hunger emergency. WFP Regional Director for Eastern Africa Michael Dunford said on Wednesday that the funds will help the WFP keep life-saving assistance going and invest in long-term resilience in the Horn of Africa. Conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks: the Horn of Africa region is facing multiple crises simultaneously. After five consecutive failed rainy seasons, flooding has replaced drought, killing livestock, damaging farmland, and further shattering livelihoods, he added in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The WFP warned that the Horn of Africa is lurching from crisis to crisis, adding that the longest drought in recorded history has given way to rains and flash flooding, Xinhua news agency reported. And now the outbreak of conflict in Sudan is forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, Dunford said. The WFP said that by the end of 2022, it was distributing food assistance to a record 4.7 million people in Somalia but in April, funding shortfalls forced it to reduce this to three million people. It warned that without additional funds, further cuts will have to be made in emergency food assistance caseload in Somalia to just 1.8 million by July. This, it said, means that almost three million people will not receive support despite their continuing needs. According to the WFP, when the regions long-awaited rains arrived in March, they should have brought some relief, but instead, flash flooding inundated homes and farmland, washed away livestock, and closed schools and health facilities, forcing more than 2,19,000 people from their homes in southern Somalia, where 22 people were also killed. The WFP said the drought of the last three years has left more than 23 million people across parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia facing severe hunger, with mortality and malnutrition rates remaining unacceptably high and consecutive failed harvests and high transport costs pushing food prices far beyond the reach of millions in the region. Dunford said the WFPs rapid expansion of life-saving assistance helped prevent famine in Somalia in 2022. But despite the emergency being far from over, funding shortfalls are already forcing us to reduce assistance to those who still desperately need it, he added. Without sustainable funding for both emergency and climate adaptation solutions, the next climate crisis could bring the region back to the brink of famine. The UN agency said it will take years for the region to recover, and humanitarian assistance is a lifeline yet limited humanitarian resources are being stretched further still by the conflict in Sudan, which has sent more than 2,50,000 people fleeing into neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and South Sudan, where food insecurity is already desperately high. The police in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh have registered an FIR against 10 unidentified persons for allegedly distributing pamphlets containing objectionable material against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal. Police officials said a case has been registered under section 153-A of the IPC pertaining to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion. According to Raoji Bazar police station in-charge Pritam Singh Thakur, the FIR was registered based on a complaint lodged by a 45-year-old Hindu woman. The police official said they were checking CCTV footage to ascertain the identity of those who distributed such pamphlets. Sources said the pamphlets, some of which were distributed outside a mosque, were addressed to young unmarried Muslim girls, cautioning them to be aware of the RSS and Bajrang Dals attempts to convert them to Hinduism through Bhagwa love trap. The girls have been addressed as Sisters in the pamphlets while the senders name below the letter is mentioned as, Your Faithful Brother. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has invited Rajasthans prominent Congress leaders including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, PCC President Govind Singh Dotasara and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot to attend an important meeting on the preparedness for the upcoming state assembly polls due in December this year, and likely to take up the Pilot factions ultimatum to Gehlot government over its three main demands. Chief Minister Gehlot and his team of leaders is expected to reach Delhi by a special plane from Kota tomorrow at 1:45 pm after attending a mass marriage function at Baran. Pilot is also likely to attend the meeting, his close source told SNS when contacted. Dr C P Joshi, Harish Choudhary, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Raghu Sharma and Raghveer Meena are among those who are likely to attend the meeting. Actually, the AICC has decided to hold the election strategy meeting with top leaders of the four states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana in coming days. However, senior leaders in Rajasthan PCC are tightlipped on whether the ongoing tussle between Gehlot and Pilot would crop up during the Delhi meeting for discussion. However, PCC President Dotasara has sent his report on Pilots Jan Sangharsh Pad Yatra (held on May 11-15) to the party Incharge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa as it was sought by him. A PCC source said the meeting would also finalise the extension of Pradesh Congress Committees office bearers and functionaries in most of the districts in the state as the district president posts are lying vacant for the last four years. The party will also hold separate meetings with the leaders of the three other states of MP, Telangana, and Chattisgarh as the assembly elections are due later this year in December, Randhawa has said earlier. A few days ago, Randhawa told the media in Delhi, Ye purana ho gaya hai, nayi baat karo (This has become an old issue, talk of new subject). Recently, at the Jaipur airport he commented that Pilots Jan Sangharsh Yatra call before the Karnataka poll (before voting) was inappropriate. In politics there is no permanent friend or foe, he said, adding if Pilot had given an ultimatum then the CM Gehlot shall answer to it. Randhawa also opined that Pilot should take up a scam of Sanjivani Cooperative Society in which Jal Shakti Minister GS Shekhawat figured in the FIR lodged by the SOG. Diana and Yuliana were awakened at 5 a.m. on February 24, 2022 by the sound of loud explosions. Diana was 15 years old and knew instantly that the war had started, that Russia was invading Ukraine. Her sister Yuliana was eight and didnt understand what was happening. I just got really scared, she recalls more than a year later. Their life as children changed completely. They stopped going to school. Again. They went almost directly from the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic to those imposed by war, to connecting to an online class amid the noise of missiles, mortars, howitzers, machine guns, sirens, anti-aircraft defenses and tanks roaming the streets of their city. The sisters live in Kostiantynivka, 10 kilometers (six miles) from the hell of the Bakhmut front. There are many days when they arent even able to leave the house. The nights and days have turned into almost identical time sequences over the weeks and months. Waking up. Logging on to Zoom for classes. Studying. Eating. In the afternoon, Yuliana plays a little and, if there are no explosions, heads out down the street for a while with her mother and a friend. Diana chats with her friends online, scans Telegram, Instagram, TikTok and does some exercise indoors. They eat dinner. They go to bed. They pray the night will be a quiet one. And then its back to square one. Yuliana (8) and Diana (15) in a photo provided by their mother. Days without leaving the house Kostiantynivka, which had a pre-war population of around 70,000 inhabitants, is fewer than 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Donetsk and has suffered constant bombardment since the beginning of the invasion. This is the not the first time the city has been under attack: German troops left it in ruins after their retreat at the end of World War II. And in 2014, when Moscow launched its assault on the Donbas region, it was briefly under the occupation of pro-Russian separatists before Ukrainian forces retook the city. Now it is once again the target of heavy shelling. Many days can go by without me leaving the house, says Diana, a quiet, thoughtful teenager with long blonde hair. The explosions are getting closer and louder. There was a time when we got used to hearing them in the background, but now they happen all the time and they are very bad. Yuliana thought that everything would last two or three months at the most, but the war shows no sign of ending and over the last month the attacks on Kostiantynivka have intensified. Children and adults have become experts in detecting whether a shell is outgoing or incoming, and whether an explosion has come from a missile, a drone, artillery, or gunfire. Sandbags line the wall of a school in Kostiantynivka. LUIS DE VEGA Dianas Zoom class is usually attended by only around half of her schoolmates. Some dont log in because they have been kept up all night by artillery or missile attacks and use the morning to sleep. Others have no light, or have decided not to attend classes and only do their homework. The school building itself is bombed out and abandoned. Many teachers are continuing to teach their students from Kyiv, Lviv or even from another country. They left out of fear, for themselves and for their families, but they remain committed to their work and helping their students as much as they can. Language teacher Anna Korotkiya from the devastated village of Kamianka, but who now lives in the Poltava region and teaches online classes to students in Izium tells the same story as Diana. There are some children I dont even know where they are, others dont have internet, and there are those who tell you straight away that they need a psychologist, that they need help, because they cant take it anymore. And then there are the kids who were my students until recently and who I know are now fighting in the war. Its all very difficult to take on board. Diana and Yuliana left the country for a few months with their mother. From April to November 2022, they lived in a city near Krakow in Poland, but attended their Ukrainian classes online. Then they returned to Kostiantynivka. My husband had stayed here and I also felt that I had to return to my town and contribute to the continuation of life in the community, says the girls mother, 37-year-old Yulia Krivosheyeva. We needed to be all together again. There are the kids who were my students until recently and who I know are now fighting in the war Anna Korotkiya, teacher Yulia works in a pastry shop in the center of Kostiantynivka. She delivers apple pies, traditional Kharkiv and Donetsk cakes, banana cream-filled buns, cookies, pies, pizzas and 12 different types of bread. Bakers and pastry chefs work in shifts, 24 hours a day. As there is always someone inside the shop, even if it is closed, soldiers returning from the Bakhmut front often come by in the evening for a bite to eat. Kostiantynivka serves as a base for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The city is in a strategic position between the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts, the two most active battlefields of the war. When soldiers on the front line rotate for a few days, they do so in Kostiantynivka. Supplies for troops coming from the west, from Kramatorsk, inevitably pass through the town, making it a clear target for Russian forces. Every building in Kostiantynivka is within range of their artillery. The pastry shop where Yulia works, in the center of Kostiantynivka. Carlos Martinez Normality amid the devastation Next door to Yulias cozy pastry shop, as a further contrast between normality and the devastation of war, is an imposing building that has been bombed out, a cultural center built in 1976, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. A year and a half ago it staged plays and concerts and offered art and dance classes to children. It was hit on Valentines Day, February 14, and now there is nothing left beyond rubble piled in front of its door and shattered windows covered with metal and wood. As is the case throughout Ukraine, the streets of Kostiantynivka are lined with giant posters encouraging enlistment: Lets defend Ukraine together, reads the slogan. The citys hospital has gone from treating sick civilians to patching up wounded soldiers and residents. The hardest thing about the war has been seeing wounded children, says chief surgeon Yurii Mishastii, 63. We treated a one-year-old baby. We stabilized him and took him to Dnipro. The family was driving out of Bakhmut when the mother, father and son were shot. There are also teenagers with serious injuries. It is difficult. Children, teenagers, young people I think at the moment they dont fully understand what we are living through. Awareness will come in the future Yuri Mishati, chief surgeon at Kostiantynivka Hospital Children and teenagers in Kostiantynivka and other municipalities near the front lines have been living permanently for over a year among death, wounds, missiles, fear, and anxiety, often without gas, electricity or running water for months on end. The war is a great challenge for this generation, says Mishastii. Children, teenagers, young people I think at the moment they dont fully understand what we are living through. Awareness will come in the future. The situation is very complicated, Yulia says. We are more and more afraid. And the children cant stay here. Her husband will remain in Kostiantynivka, but she has decided to move to Kyiv with Diana and Yuliana. She hopes, like everyone else, that the Ukrainian counteroffensive will be successful, that the Russians will withdraw, that the war will end, that she will be able to return at some point to her home, her shop, and the reassuring routines of life in peace. Credits Coordination and formatting: Guiomar del Ser and Brenda Valverde Art direction and design: Fernando Hernandez Layout and programming: Alejandro Gallardo STAGES: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Follow all the international news on Facebook and Twitter, or on our weekly newsletter. The Additional District Session Court at Alwar on Thursday convicted four accused in the infamous Ramgarh murder (allegedly lynching) case of Rakbar alias Akbar-2018 and sentenced them to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each. In a 92-page judgment, the ADJ Court No.1 Judge, sentenced Parmajeet, Dharmendra, Naresh and Vijay to seven-year imprisonment under section 304, 323 and 341 of IPC, while acquitting a fifth accused, Naval Kishor, giving him benefit of doubt, a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Nasir Ali Naqvi told The Statesman when contacted. The convicts, cow vigilantes or cow protectors, who were on bail, were arrested immediately after the verdict and sent to jail. Altogether 67 witnesses statements were recorded and a set of 129 documents were placed before the court during the trials, the SPP disclosed. It is pertinent to mention here that on July 20/21, 2018 Rakbar and his friend Aslam were taking cows to their villages in Haryana through a forest area in Ramgarh area of Alwar, where a group of people allegedly accosted them. While Aslam managed to flee, Rakbar was allegedly beaten brutally by the group on the suspicion of cow smuggling. The Rajasthan State Human Right Commission (RSHRC) and the State Commission for Minorities (RSCM) have separately asked the state government and the Police Department to file a status report and action taken report against the culprits allegedly involved in beating and thrashing Akbar Khan alias Rakbar on the suspicion of cow smuggling at Lalaawandi village in the Ramgarh area. We are not satisfied with todays judgement, and will approach the Rajasthan government to file a case in the high court, the SPP said. As per the judgement, the case was decided on various sections 304 Part-I of IPC meant for Punishment for culpable homicide not amount to murder, and the section 302 of IPC for murder was not applied, according to SSP. The Rajasthan Protection from Lynching Bill, 2019 passed by the Gehlot Government is pending in Raj Bhawan for clearance, and hence it does not exist now on the ground, the SSP clarified. Bhopal has become the first city in India to initiate city-level Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) to track the local governments capacity and commitments towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mandated by the United Nations. At the local level, the step would prove pivotal towards the citys commitment to environmental conservation through sustainable development by adopting the localisation of SDGs. Globally, it would ensure Bhopals contribution towards a cleaner, greener and healthier planet. Bhopals VLR is the result of collaboration between the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), UN-Habitat and a collective of over 23 local stakeholders to measurably demonstrate the citys aspirations for a sustainable and inclusive urban transformation. It incorporated a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches to the review of SDGs, with qualitative mapping of 56 developmental projects in the city. The localisation of the SDGs is a method through which the UN agenda, Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) is adopted to plan and implement strategies and actions customised to meet the unique challenges and requirements of each locality. SDGs localization would translate Agenda 2030 into local actions and impacts, which contribute to the global achievement of the SDGs. According to BMC officials, Bhopals VLR would serve as an important means for decision makers to not only plan and monitor the progress of the city towards achieving the SDGs but also to identify and rectify gaps in the process. Bhopals VLR will enable us to understand where we stand and what we need to do further to meet the SDGs target, BMC Commissioner K V S Choudhary told The Statesman today. He said that a report, An Agenda for Action: Sustainable Urban Transformation in Bhopal was recently launched by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Choudhary pointed out that the VLR would also provide an opportunity for local stakeholders contribution in achieving SDGs and knowledge-sharing opportunities with other cities and regions. In 2015, all the 193 member states of the UN adopted Agenda 2030, comprising 17 SDGs and 169 targets as a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity. The member states report their progress towards achieving the goals through a voluntary national review (VNR) to the UNs high-level political forum (HLPF). However, local and regional governments are increasingly engaging in their own subnational reviews, VLRs, which have proven useful for cities and regions. According to the UN, the adoption of localization of SDGs is a significant step towards achieving Agenda 2030. Local and regional governments have a pivotal role in the implementation of the SDGs. Being the closest level of government to the people, local and regional governments are best placed to understand the local context, and design solutions that are tailored to the local needs and priorities. In 2018, New York City in the US became the first city to present its VLR to the HLPF, followed by Bristol city in the United Kingdom later the same year while Los Angeles in the US did so in 2019. Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh Thakur in a joint statement stated that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu ensured timely compensation to those displaced by central road projects. The Chief Minister has ensured that adequate compensation was disbursed and distributed to the displaced of approximately Rs 1200 crore to that too within 15 days after reviewing the pendency, they added. In a statement issued here on Thursday, they took a jibe at the former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, saying that he during his tenure never conducted the inspection of any of the National Highway projects. He also never pursued early completion and completely ignored the compensation cases to be paid to the displaced, and was now conducting inspections of Kiratpur-Nerchowk four-lane, which seems to be quite surprising, they said. The Central Government had announced 68 National Highways for the state amounting to Rs 67,000 crore and since the last five years Jai Ram Thakur could not pursue the cases of compensation and land acquisition with his central leadership, they said. Jai Ram Thakur never even bothered to visit any of the central road project sites during his tenure and also BJP cheated the farmers and those whose land was acquired by the NHAI and kept befooling them for five years, that they will give four times compensation, they charged, they said. When the BJP was in power, it failed to implement the factor formula to pay compensation for the land being acquired for the construction of four lanes and national highways in the state during the 2017 assembly election, they alleged. During the elections to the State Assembly, even the Union Home Minister had assured the people of Mandi that four times compensation will be provided to them, but all in vain, they charged. Claiming credit, they said that it was the then Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Kamal Nath who had agreed in principle for the four laning of Kirat-Pur Manali four-lane project and he got the feasibility study conducted as well besides making provision for funds. Vikramaditya Singh and Sunder Singh said Sukhu had personally met the Prime Minister of India and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highway, Nitin Gadkari a number of times to get the works expedited on the ongoing central road projects in the state. Now when the Kiratpur- Nerchowk four-lane is complete Jai Ram Thakur reached for its inspection for the first time to be in the news, they claimed. Sukhu pursued completion of DPRs in time and the NHAI has agreed in principle for the construction of four-lane road project from Shimla to Matour with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore and Rs. 12,000 crore four-laning of Pathankot to Mandi road, they asserted. The State BJP leaders along with Jai Ram Thakur were trying to take the credit of four lanes projects keeping in view the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and were trying to be a true benefactor of the people. However, the people of the state are very well aware of their modus operandi and cheap tactics of BJP so as to gain popularity, they asserted. The National Conference (NC) has dismissed the governments claim that the tourism industry in Jammu & Kashmir had broken all records last year with more than 1.60 crore tourists visiting the Union territory as propaganda. The NC was apparently reacting to the claim made by government functionaries during the G20s Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar. Taking to its Twitter handle, the party said, It takes a little bit of analysis to make sense of these numbers. The party noted that the government has suddenly come up with this figure of 1.60 crores with a claim that for the first time since Independence, those many tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. We have been in the government and never been able to get more than 14-15, maybe 16 lakh at the most, tourists in a year. What the hell did we do wrong, the NC said. The NC further said, Also, where do these tourists stay as we havent seen any new hotels, new accommodations. Yes, some people have converted their houses into guest houses and homestays. So, where did these 1.60 crore tourists stay? But then, when we start looking at the numbers, we realise that actually all that the government has done is reverse a previous decision, which is that the previous governments didnt count yatris (pilgrims) as tourists. Hardly any yatri actually performs the activity of a tourist. Now, the government has started counting yatris as tourists, hence the inflated number! Easy to juggle with the numbers when you change the entire methodology, the NC added. It is worth mentioning here that while addressing the participants of the G20 meeting, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha said a record number of 18 million tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir and, last year, the tourism sector made 7 per cent contribution to Jammu and Kashmirs GDP. A massive fire broke out at a furniture warehouse in the Bhawani Peth area of Pune city in Maharashtra, in the early hours of Thursday, officials said. The fire broke out at 4 am on Thursday. No casualties or injuries were reported so far, they said. Massive fire breaks out at a furniture warehouse in Bhawani Peth area of Pune City at around 4 am today, an official of the pune fire department said. Upon receiving the information, eighteen fire tenders were deployed to bring the blaze under control. Efforts are taken to douse the fire, the official said. The immediate cause of the fire could not be ascertained till the filling of this report. More details are awaited. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday offered his support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against the Centres ordinance giving control of services back to the Delhi lieutenant governor. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann met Pawar in Mumbai to seek NCPs support against the Centres ordinance on control of administrative services in the National Capital. Addressing a joint press conference with Kejriwal, Pawar assured his partys support to AAP on the matter and said that talks will be held with other leaders to support the Delhi chief minister in his effort. There is a crisis in the country and its not an issue limited to Delhi. The NCP and the people of Maharashtra will support Kejriwal. We will also talk to other leaders to support Kejriwal. We must focus on bringing all non-BJP parties together, the NCP chief said. Addressing the press conference, Kejriwal said if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fails to pass the Bill in Rajya Sabha, it will imply that the Narendra Modi Government will not be able to return to power at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Sharad Pawar ji has assured us that NCP will support us in defeating the Bill in Rajya Sabha. We are trying to gather support from all non-BJP parties against the Centres ordinance on control of administrative services in the national capital, Kejriwal said. The Delhi chief minister thanked Pawar for his assurance to support the AAP in the Upper House and said that it is a fight for the federal structure of the country. I thank Sharad Pawar that he has assured his support that when the Bill comes to Rajya Sabha, they will not let the Bill pass in the House. If all non-BJP parties come together in Rajya Sabha, this Bill can be failed. This is not a fight for Delhi, it is a fight for the federal structure, he said. If the BJP is not able to pass the Bill in Rajya Sabha, then one should consider it a semi-final of 2024. The message will be that the Modi government is not returning in 2024, the Delhi Chief Minister added. When asked if he will meet Congress leadership in connection with the matter to seek their support, Kejriwal said he will seek time from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to meet them on the issue. Yesterday, Kejriwal and Mann had met former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and secured the Shiv Sena-UBTs support in his campaign for Delhi rights, and has earlier met other CMs and political leaders around the country. The Central government has brought an ordinance to set up a permanent authority known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority whose chairperson will be the Delhi chief minister along with chief secretary, Delhi; Principal Secretary (Home), Delhi to make recommendations to the Delhi L-G regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters. However, in case of difference of opinion, the decision of the L-G shall be final. On May 11, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected Delhi government should have control over its officers and the L-G is bound by the advice of the elected government in everything other than public order, police, and land. The top court stressed that if the government is not able to control and hold to account the officers posted in its service, then its responsibility towards the legislature as well as the public is diluted. The ordinance came after the apex court gave the Delhi government control in services matters, including transfer and posting of officers. NITI Aayog will be organising its 8th Governing Council meeting on the theme of Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role of Team India on 27 May at the new Convention Centre in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Eight key themes will be discussed during the day-long meeting including Viksit [email protected], Thrust on MSMEs, Infrastructure and Investments, Minimising Compliances, Women Empowerment, Health and Nutrition, Skill Development, and Gati Shakti for area development and social infrastructure. The meeting will see the participation of Chief Ministers and Lt Governors of all States and Union Territories, Union Ministers as ex-officio Members, and the Vice Chairman and Members of NITI Aayog. As Chairman of NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the meeting. As a preparatory prelude to the meeting, the 2nd chief secretaries conference was held in January where these themes were extensively discussed. Wide-ranging stakeholder consultations and brainstorming sessions with subject experts, academia and practitioners were held prior to the Conference in order to gain well-rounded grassroot-level perspectives. The 2nd Chief Secretaries conference, attended by the Prime Minister, brought together select Secretaries from the Government of India and Chief Secretaries from all States/UTs who proactively participated by sharing thematic best practices and policy insights. As the worlds fifth-largest economy and the most populous nation, India is at a stage in its economic development trajectory where it can achieve accelerated growth over the next 25 years. In this context, the 8th Governing Council meeting provides an opportunity to create a roadmap for Viksit Bharat by 2047 in which the Centre and the states can work together as Team India. This will play an important role in the international context as Indias socioeconomic growth and transformation can have a positive and multiplier effect on the world at large. This meeting is also being held in the backdrop of Indias G20 Presidency. Indias G20 motto One Earth, One Family, One Future conveys its civilisational values and its vision of the role of each country in creating the future of our planet. The emerging world has immense hopes for Indias ability to provide values-based leadership and its capacity to deliver development at scale. The Centre and the states have played a significant role in achieving this distinctive development trajectory. Prime Minister Narendra on Thursday will flag off the indigenously built Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi via video conferencing, equipped with advanced safety features including the Kavach technology, stated an official release. This will be the first Vande Bharat to be introduced in Uttarakhand. With world-class amenities, it will herald a new era of comfortable travel experiences, especially for tourists travelling to the state, read Prime Ministers Office press release. Uttarakhands connectivity is all set to get a big boost. At 11 AM today, I will be flagging off the Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun. Making the occasion even more special is the feat of 100 per cent electrification of Uttarakhands rail tracks. Do join the programme, tweeted Narendra Modi. Guided by the vision of PM Modi of providing cleaner means of public transport, Indian Railways is on a quest to completely electrify rail routes in the country. Moving ahead in this direction, he will dedicate the newly electrified rail line sections in Uttarakhand. With this, the state will have its entire rail route 100 per cent electrified. Trains run by electric traction on the electrified sections will result in an increase in the speed of trains and enhance haulage capacity. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Moradabad Railway Division, Sudhir Singh said that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will also be present at the Dehradun railway station during the inaugural event of the states first Vande Bharat Express train. In a veiled dig at the Opposition parties for their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by him on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday pointed out how Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and members of the ruling party, as well as the Opposition, attended the Indian community event addressed by the Indian leader during his visit Down Under. The (Indian Diaspora) event in Sydney was not only attended by the Australian Prime Minister but also by the countrys former PM, MPs from Opposition parties, and the ruling party. This is the strength of democracy. All of them together participated in this programme of the Indian community, he said while addressing the people who gathered at the airport to greet him on his return from a three-nation foreign tour this morning. This is being interpreted as an attack on the nearly 20 Opposition parties which have decided not to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi on Sunday, alleging the government has completely sidelined President Droupadi Murmu which was an assault on democracy. Modi went on to say; The people here asked me why I gave the vaccines to the world. I want to say that this is the land of Buddha, Gandhi. We care even for our enemies Today the world wants to know what India is thinking. When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi. Modi further talked about the release of the Tok Pisin translation of the book Thirukkural in Papua New Guinea and said, The Tamil language is our language. It is the language of every Indian. It is the oldest language in the world. I had the opportunity to release the Tok Pisin translation of the book Thirukkural in Papua New Guinea. The PM was received at the airport, among others, by BJP National President J P Nadda and other senior party leaders. Praising the PM, Nadda said the world appreciated his governance model. US President Joe Biden asked for your autograph, this shows how the world is seeing India under your leadership, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off the Vande Bharat Express train from Dehradun to Delhi, hours after his return from a three-nation tour, and said the whole world is looking at India with great expectation, and the manner it has strengthened its economy despite poverty. Addressing the Vande Bharat inaugural ceremony via video conferencing, Prime Minister Modi said India has gained the confidence of the world. The nation showed its determination to fight the Corona pandemic, which gave a difficult time to many nations. India ran the worlds largest vaccination drive, he said. Modi said there is much discussion about India around the world and people want to come here to understand it and see its performance. He said India had the opportunity to improve its infrastructure and develop fast in the 21st century, but the Governments which were in office for long periods never appreciated this requirement of the country. The parties that ruled then were more interested in scams and corruption. These ruling parties were under the influence of a family, and getting free from this bondage was beyond their capabilities, he said. The previous Governments made announcements on high-speed trains but even after years, they could achieve nothing, and not even removal of unmanned railway crossings, Modi said. The electrification of the railway network was in a worse condition, he said. Till 2014, only one-third of the network was electrified and it was difficult to imagine running high-speed trains in such a situation, the Prime Minister said. The all-around work to transform the railways began after 2014, he said. The work to realise the dream of the countrys first high-speed train began in full swing and to prepare the whole network for semi-high-speed trains. The Prime Minister said that 600 km of rail lines were electrified every year on an average before 2014, and this has now reached 6,000 kms of railway lines electrified every year. Today, more than 90 per cent of the countrys railway network has been electrified. In Uttarakhand, 100 per cent electrification of the entire rail network has been achieved, he said. The Prime Minister credited this to right intention, policy and dedication to work. Underlining that the boost in the railway budget in comparison to 2014 has directly benefited Uttarakhand, the Prime Minister said five years before 2014, the average rail budget for the state was less than Rs 200 crore, and it is Rs 5,000 crore now, a 25-fold increase. The Prime Minister said connectivity was important in a hilly state where people were migrating due to a lack of connectivity. The Government wants to prevent that suffering for the coming generations. He said the improved connectivity will be of great use on the borders and benefit soldiers defending the nation. The Prime Minister remarked that with the assistance of the Central Government, Uttarakhand is emerging as a hub of tourism, adventure tourism, film shooting destination and wedding destination. He said that the tourist spots of the state are attracting visitors from all across the globe and the Vande Bharat Express will be greatly helpful to them. The Prime Minister observed that traveling by train remains the first choice for those who are accompanied by their family members and the Vande Bharat is gradually becoming the go-to means of transportation. The Prime Minister said that the governments emphasis is on the Navratna, the nine gems of development. The first Ratna, he said, is Rs 1300 crore rejuvenation work at Kedarnath-Badrinath Dham. Second, Rs 2500 crore Ropeway project at Gaurikund-Kedarnath and Gobind Ghat- Hemkunt Sahib. The third was the renovation of ancient temples of Kumaon under Manas Khand Mandir Mala programme, the fourth was the promotion of Homestay in the entire state where more than 4000 homestays have been registered in the state, the fifth, the development of 16 ecotourism destinations, and the sixth, expansion of health services in Uttarakhand. The AIIMS satellite centre is coming up in Udham Singh Nagar, the seventh is Rs 2000 cr. Tehri Lake Development Project, the eighth, the development of Haridwar Rishikesh as the capital of Yoga and adventure tourism and finally, the ninth is Tanakpur Bageshwar Rail Line. He said these Navratnas are being consolidated with a new push to infrastructure development in the state. Work is going on at a rapid pace on the Rs 12,000 crore Char Dham Mahapariyojana, he said. An international team of scientists announced on Wednesday a new era in the treatment of neurological diseases. Researchers have installed a digital bridge between the brain and spinal cord of Gert-Jan Oskam, a 40-year-old Dutch citizen who became quadriplegic after a bicycle accident in 2011 while returning home from work. Two implants in his brain can now read his thoughts and send them wirelessly to a third implant, which electrically stimulates his spinal cord. The patient is now able to walk long distances on crutches and even climb stairs with their help. Oskam had previously tested out a more rudimentary device in another clinical trial. But this past Tuesday, he enthusiastically proclaimed the difference at a press conference: Before, electrical stimulation controlled me. Now, Im the one who controls the stimulation. Oskams bicycle accident caused an incomplete spinal cord injury, which allowed him to make some minor movements. Thanks to years of difficult rehabilitation, he managed to regain significant mobility in his arms. And, in 2014, another ray of hope arrived: a new scientific technique involving electrical stimulation in the spinal cord by means of an implant had been successful in rats in an experiment at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. The rodents with their marrow cut in two were capable of taking more than a thousand steps. In 2016, the strategy was also successful in monkeys. Sequence of Gert-Jan Oskam. WEBER GILLES Oskam was one of the first humans to test this experimental device in 2017. It emitted electrical pulses in his spinal cord, synchronizing them with his clumsy, voluntary movements. With a few buttons, the patient could manually control the stimulation of his legs. However, the new technology goes much further, according to Spanish neural engineer Eduardo Martin Moraud, who participated in the animal experiments. This study is a big step towards the dream of restoring voluntary motor control in patients suffering from neurological diseases, such as spinal cord injuries, strokes, Parkinsons and tremors, he said. Colombian neural engineer Andrea Galvez, 32, is one of the main authors of the new study. Gert-Jan already had an implant in his spinal cord, which allowed electrical stimulation and reactivated his leg muscles. In this clinical trial, weve placed two implants in the motor part of the brain one in each hemisphere which allows us to read the intention of movement, decode it and build a digital bridge, so that the stimulation in the legs is deliberate, Galvez explained. The studys results have just been published in the journal Nature, the academic standard of the best science in the world. Neural engineer Andrea Galvez, from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, in Lausanne, Switzerland. EPFL The leaders of the investigation are the neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine and the neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch, from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. Their team has spent more than a decade perfecting the device, with the use of adaptive artificial intelligence. At the press conference announcing the results, Courtine acknowledged that this technology is still in its infancy and announced that the next step is to shrink the size of the devices and test them on more patients. So far, only Gert-Jan Oskam has tested them. The system requires replacing about two square inches of skull with a titanium-containing material and carrying a small backpack with a processing unit. Bloch does not hide his enthusiasm about it: To me, at first, this seemed like science fiction. And now, its a reality. The company Onward founded by Courtine and Bloch is attempting to develop a commercial version of this digital bridge. Neurologist Antonio Oliviero, from the National Hospital for Paraplegics, in Toledo, Spain, applauded the new work, but remained cautious. Its an important step, but at the moment, [Oskam] is the only patient. We dont know to what extent [these results] can be normalized, he stressed. Oliviero pointed out that Oskam demonstrates a small clinical improvement even when the system is turned off, which suggests that his neural circuits have reorganized themselves. [Perhaps this technology] can be a rehabilitation tool, he added. Gert-Jan Oskam during the trial. Beatrice Stouvenel Digital bridges are not the only promising alternative for people with spinal cord injuries. Oliviero mentioned the Puerta de Hierro public hospital in Madrid, which is testing a treatment with a patients own stem cells, injecting them into the exact place of his injury. Meanwhile, at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chilean neuroscientist Monica Perez is experimenting with non-invasive electrical stimulation at multiple points in the brain, with encouraging results. And Antonio Olivieros own group is testing a drug that bolsters the excitability of motor neurons. Martin Moraud a 39-year-old neural engineer from Madrid who runs his own laboratory at the Lausanne University Hospital believes that the level of precision achieved by his colleagues Courtine and Bloch is unprecedented. Its something that has been dreamed of for decades, he said. Moraud is now trying to transfer the idea of a digital bridge to help patients suffering from Parkinsons disease. The concept is similar: having neural measures of motor intention or of motor deficits that can be used to stimulate the spinal cord, he explained. The Swiss institutions involved in this research have shared an emotional video of Gert-Jan Oskam, in which he is seen leaning on a counter with a beer and some fries, talking to two other people. Ive spent over 10 years without being able to stand up and have a beer with friends. These are things that people dont normally value, the patient says in the recording, with a smile. Neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine, patient Gert-Jan Oskam and neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch, at a press conference. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Opponents of Indias candidacy for the permanent seat on the UN Security Council ask how India can become one of top six or seven nations in the world when it cannot even set its own house, i.e. South Asia, in order. India has given billions of dollars of loans to Sri Lanka and facilitated roughly $3 billion in loans for Sri Lanka from the IMF. Justifying Indias help to Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has said that blood is thicker than water. But how is Sri Lankan blood and Indian blood any thicker than Pakistani blood and Indian blood? Sri Lankan Sinhalas and Sri Lankan Tamils may have a common genetic origin, but they are at odds with each other. Further, the Sinhalas are Buddhist while the Tamils are Hindu. They fought a gruesome civil war for decades. Pakistanis and Indians share the same DNA. Pakistanis are Muslim and Indians are largely Hindu. There has been tension between the two groups for centuries. But blood between Pakistanis and Indians is common, and by what Jaishankar said, India should help Pakistan the same way that it is helping Sri Lanka. Such is not the case. Devastating floods ravaged Pakistan recently and India was missing in action in providing aid. Pakistans economy is in the same situation as Sri Lankas, yet India is not providing a paisa of aid to Pakistan. India should consider facilitating an IMF loan for Pakistan, as well as provide loans and grants to the benighted country. A section of opinion feels that if Pakistan recovers, it will want to take India on. Such might not be the case. Manmohan Singh is warmly remembered in Pakistan for the $25 million he provided in flood relief to the country in 2010. When the Pakistanis wouldnt accept the money directly, he routed it through the UN. India doesnt have a strong lobby in Pakistan batting for peace. It must create such a lobby. Right now Indias foreign exchange reserves are more than $600 billion while Pakistans are a measly $3 billion. Such is the time to help our listless neighbour. Jaishankar said during the SCO foreign affairs meet that Pakistans credibility is eroding faster than its foreign exchange reserves. That was a churlish barb, but India and Pakistan are used to exchanging barb after barb. Many people feel that trade holds the key to peace between the two countries. That is not necessarily the case. Just as Chinese goods have flooded India, so too will Indian goods flood Pakistan. A huge trade imbalance, one in favour of India, might develop. Yes, its true prices of produce will lower in Pakistan. And that Pakistan can use cheap Indian raw material to export finished goods. But Pakistan needs more tangible help than just trade to survive. India is the 800-lb gorilla of South Asia. The fight with Pakistan has made it virtually impossible for it to realize its true global potential. Indo-Pak relations are amongst the most nettlesome in the world. Whichever Indian prime minister makes a real breakthrough in relations is deserving of the Nobel peace prize. Pakistan fosters the impression around the world that were India to win a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, it will twist its new advantage to favour itself in Kashmir. Thats one of the reasons people who matter are reluctant to give India the seat. Today, age-old enemies Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as Japan and South Korea, are making peace. In disaster often lies opportunity. India should show its large heart by offering aid to Pakistan, and Pakistan should drop its churlishness to accept Indian aid. Of course Pakistan would benefit immeasurably, but the benefits to India could be far greater. (The writer, an expert on energy, contributes to journals in India and overseas. The views are personal.) Microsoft, along with AI4Bharat at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, has created a new generative AI-driven chatbot that is helping Indian farmers access government assistance on their mobile devices. Called Jugalbandi, the chatbot can understand questions in multiple languages, whether spoken or typewritten. It retrieves information on relevant programmes usually written in English and relays it back in local language. While the Jugalbandi chatbot is still new, it could one day offer all Indians easy access to information in the local language through a mobile phone, instead of having to head to the local community service centre and stand in line just to get basic information. We saw this Jugalbandi as a kind of chatbot plus plus because its like a personalised agent, said Abhigyan Raman, a project officer at AI4Bharat, an open-source language AI centre based at IIT Madras. It understands your exact problem in your language and then tries to deliver the right information reliably and cheaply, even if that exists in some other language in a database somewhere, Raman added. Jugalbandi was introduced to villagers in Biwan, Haryana, in early April. It has expanded to cover 10 of Indias 22 official languages and 171 of a total of approximately 20,000 government programmes, according to Smita Gupta, a lawyer who works for OpenNyAI, a collaborative whose mission is to bring greater access to law and justice through AI. It is one of several groups working on the chatbot. The Jugalbandi AI assistant is powered by language models from AI4Bharat and reasoning models from Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. It is accessed through the mobile messaging system WhatsApp, which is widely used in India, and the duet in this case is the conversation between the user and the chatbot. This is how it works. A villager sends a text or audio message to a WhatsApp number, which initiates the Jugalbandi bot. That is transcribed to text using the AI4Bharat speech recognition model. That, in turn, is translated to English by the Bhashini translation model trained by AI4Bharat. Based on the prompt, Azure OpenAI Services model retrieves information on the relevant government scheme. The answer is translated to Hindi. That is then synthesised with the AI4Bharat text-to-speech model and sent back to WhatsApp and the villagers ear. In July 2022, the Central government launched Bhashini to provide language solutions as digital public goods. Research groups like the Indian Institutes of Technology, the International Institute of Information Technology and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing are all experimenting to augment the Bhashini platform. AI4Bharat is one such research group. It has received funding from Nilekani Philanthropies, started by the co-founder of software giant Infosys Nandan Nilekani and his wife Rohini, as well as from Microsoft. Pratyush Kumar, co-principal investigator at AI4Bharat and a principal researcher at Microsoft Research India, said the team initially explored how to translate legal judgments, working with the Supreme Court of India. They also worked with schools and colleges to transcribe videos and add subtitles, which can help children learn more effectively. At the same time, organisations like OpenNyAI were thinking of applications on the ground. We brainstormed a bit, said Kumar. One of the results was Jugalbandi. Jugalbandi can really scale a lot of our work, said Aaditeshwar Seth, co-founder of Gram Vaani. A Burger King kiosk is seen at Paveletskaya Plaza shopping mall in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. When Russia invaded Ukraine, companies were quick to respond, some announcing they would get out of Russia immediately, others vowed to curtail sales and new investment. More than a year later, its clear: Leaving Russia isn't as easy as the first announcements might have made it seem. Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com. The GOP is leading on us on a road to ruin This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Thursday sharply limited the federal government's authority to police water pollution into certain wetlands, the second decision in as many years in which a conservative majority narrowed the reach of environmental regulations. The outcome could threaten efforts to control flooding on the Mississippi River and protect the Chesapeake Bay, among many projects, wrote Justice Brett Kavanaugh, breaking with the other five conservatives. Environmental advocates said the decision would strip protections from tens of millions of acres of wetlands. The justices boosted property rights over concerns about clean water in a ruling in favor of an Idaho couple who sought to build a house near Priest Lake in the states panhandle. Chantell and Michael Sackett objected when federal officials identified a soggy portion of the property as a wetlands that required them to get a permit before filling it with rocks and soil. By a 5-4 vote, the court said in an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito that wetlands can only be regulated under the Clean Water Act if they have a continuous surface connection to larger, regulated bodies of water. There is no such connection on the Sacketts property. President Joe Biden said the court's decision defies science and undermines a law that has been used for a half-century to make American waters cleaner. The Supreme Courts disappointing decision in Sackett v. EPA will take our country backwards. It puts our Nations wetlands and the rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds connected to them at risk of pollution and destruction, jeopardizing the sources of clean water that millions of American families, farmers, and businesses rely on, Biden said in a statement. The court jettisoned the 17-year-old opinion by their former colleague, Anthony Kennedy, allowing regulation of what can be discharged into wetlands that could affect the health of the larger waterways. Kennedy's opinion covering wetlands that have a significant nexus to larger bodies of water had been the standard for evaluating whether permits were required for discharges under the 1972 landmark environmental law. Opponents had objected that the standard was vague and unworkable. Reacting to the decision, Manish Bapna, the chief executive of the Natural Resources Defense Council, called on Congress to amend the Clean Water Act to restore wetlands protections and on states to strengthen their own laws. The Supreme Court ripped the heart out of the law we depend on to protect American waters and wetlands. The majority chose to protect polluters at the expense of healthy wetlands and waterways. This decision will cause incalculable harm. Communities across the country will pay the price, Bapna said in a statement. The outcome almost certainly will affect ongoing court battles over new water regulations, including for wetlands, that the Biden administration put in place in December. Two federal judges have temporarily blocked those rules from being enforced in 26 states. Congress voted in March to overturn the administration's new water rule and, even though President Joe Biden vetoed the measure, the prospect of legislative action to restore wetlands protections anytime soon is remote. The head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Michael S. Regan, credited the Clean Water Act with leading to transformational progress in cleaning up the nation's waterways. I am disappointed by todays Supreme Court decision that erodes longstanding clean water protections, Regan said in a statement. Damien Schiff, who represented the Sacketts at the Supreme Court, said the decision appropriately narrowed the reach of the law. Courts now have a clear measuring stick for fairness and consistency by federal regulators. Todays ruling is a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers, Schiff said in a statement issued by the property rights-focused Pacific Legal Foundation. In Thursday's ruling, all nine justices agreed that the wetlands on the Sacketts property are not covered by the act. But only five justices joined in the opinion that imposed a new test for evaluating when wetlands are covered by the Clean Water Act. Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas and Alito would have adopted the narrower standard in 2006, in the last big wetlands case at the Supreme Court. They were joined Thursday by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. Kavanaugh and the courts three liberal justices charged that their colleagues had rewritten that law. Kavanaugh wrote that the courts new and overly narrow test may leave long-regulated and long-accepted-to-be regulable wetlands suddenly beyond the scope of the agencies regulatory authority. Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majoritys rewriting of the act was an effort to cabin the anti-pollution actions Congress thought appropriate. Kagan referenced last year's decision limiting the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. In both cases, she noted, the court had appointed itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy. Kagan was joined in what she wrote by her liberal colleagues Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. The Sacketts paid $23,000 for a 0.63-acre lot near Priest Lake in 2005 and started building a three-bedroom home two years later. They had filled part of the property, described in an appellate ruling as a soggy residential lot, with rocks and soil in preparation for construction, when officials with the EPA showed up and ordered a halt in the work. They also won an earlier round in their legal fight at the Supreme Court. The federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld the EPAs determination in 2021, finding that part of the property, 300 feet from the lake and 30 feet from an unnamed waterway that flows into the lake, was wetlands. The Sacketts own consultant had similarly advised them years ago that their property contained wetlands. The back began to complain a long time ago. According to some scientists, the lament has been heard since the beginning of industrialization, which took us closer to modern life, but also brought some lifestyle changes such as a decrease in physical activity, poor postures and the use of furniture, a mix that led to a wedging in the bones of the lower back, which in turn brought the ache. Low back pain is one of the most frequent discomforts that make people seek out a doctor, and its evolution is on the rise: a study published in the journal The Lancet Rheumatology on the prevalence of this pathology states that more than 600 million people worldwide suffered from it in 2020, and estimates that, in 30 years, there will be more than 800 million affected. The authors point to smoking, awkward postures at work and obesity as key risk factors for this disease, which is already and everything indicates that it will continue to be the leading cause of disability. Low back pain (also known as lumbago) is a somewhat intense discomfort in the lower back, between the 12th ribs and the gluteal folds, that lasts a day or more, as the studys authors define. Marcos Paulino, president-elect of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, who did not participate in the study, celebrates that what they are used to seeing in consultation is now presented with data in a scientific journal. It is an epidemic, something very frequent. And it is a pathology that is difficult to prevent because, even if you recommend physical exercise, having a healthy weight and avoiding bad postures, 60% of all low back pain has no explanation. Only 40% is preventable. The doctor, who is also the head of the rheumatology service at the General University Hospital of Ciudad Real, Spain, says that the lower back is the Achilles heel of the human being; an area that is very sensitive and which suffers more frequently. He also points out that 80% of the population will have low back pain at some point in their lives. The good thing about this study is that it quantifies it and can bring awareness to the magnitude of the problem, he reflects. In the systematic review published recently in The Lancet Rheumatology, the authors used data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study, a large, worldwide observational epidemiologic investigation on different pathologies, to estimate the prevalence of low back pain between 1990 and 2020 in more than 200 countries. The data shows that low back pain affected 619 million people in 2020; in 2050, there will be about 843 million. The highest age-standardized rates of prevalence were found in Central Europe, specifically in the Czech Republic and Hungary; the lowest were found in the Maldives and Myanmar. According to Garland Culbreth, a researcher at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation of the University of Washington and author of the study, the increase they foresee is due to trends in population growth and aging. Population growth means more people, and population aging means more people in the most prevalent age groups; hence a rise in low back pain cases, he notes. Since this condition already was, according to the authors, the first cause of disability, the researchers also measured the years lived with disability (YLDs). This indicator reflects the impact of a disease on quality of life and estimates that one YLD is one full year of healthy life lost due to disability or poor health. In 2020, the authors note, there were 69 million YLDs due to low back pain, and although there is a slight decrease from 1990 in the percentage of all-cause YLDs worldwide [...], low back pain was still the main contributor to YLDs globally, they point out. Scientists have confirmed that the global prevalence is higher in women than in men in all age groups, although the years weigh on the pathology: the prevalence of low back pain and the years lived with disability increase with age, being the age group of 80-84 years the one with the highest rate. In fact, one fifth of all older adults with low back pain report difficulties caring for themselves at home or participating in social and family activities. Smoking, obesity and work The authors point to smoking, obesity and occupational ergonomic factors as the main risk factors (although not the only ones) that cause low back pain. The risk of low back pain attributed to tobacco use was highest among middle-aged men and lowest among women ages 15-49, while the influence of work postures was strongest among young adult males (ages 15-49) and lowest in women over 70. The risk of low back pain from having a high body mass index (BMI) was highest in women ages 50-69. Manuela Ferreira, a member of the Sydney Musculoskeletal Health group at the University of Sydney and author of the study, explains the role of tobacco: Smoking has been associated with impaired circulation in spinal structures, such as the disc and joints, as well as with the weakening of the bones. But we also know that smoking is often associated with other lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity, obesity, lack of sleep, all of which have been linked to an increased risk of developing low back pain. The researcher also notes that a high BMI could be linked to other unhealthy lifestyle factors that may increase the risk of low back pain, but it is also possible that a high BMI increases the load on the structures of the spine, predisposing them to injury. Regarding occupational factors, Ferreira explains: Occupational factors that can contribute to the risk of developing low back pain include lifting heavy objects, sitting or standing for a long time, bending and rotating the trunk repeatedly, as well as stress and fatigue. The researchers warn that the high prevalence of this disease throughout the world could have some important social and economic consequences, especially considering the substantial cost of care for this condition. They give an example: from 2012 to 2014, the direct costs for all individuals with a spine condition in the U.S. were $315 billion. Moreover, added to the economic weight of medical care for this pathology is the labor impact, as its high prevalence in the active population causes absences from work and even premature retirement. In the U.S., 15.4% of the workforce reports an average of 10.5 lost workdays per year due to chronic low back pain, states the study. Ineffective drugs The authors are wary of the potential effectiveness of some drugs, noting that paradoxically, the use of treatments of no or little efficacy can delay recovery and potentially increase the risk of long-term back-related disability, and consequently increase the burden of this condition globally. In that respect, Ferreira laments that many treatments that are currently offered to manage low back pain have little, no, or unknown efficacy. They include simple pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, as well as strong ones such as opioids, physical therapies (traction, ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and many surgical procedures such as surgical fusion. When these options are given to replace treatments that improve the symptoms of low back pain, such as exercise, psychological interventions and structured advice, they can delay recovery. Opioids for pain management, particularly, are in the spotlight: in Australia, for example, this type of drugs is the most prescribed medicine for low back pain. With the context of the very serious opioid epidemic sweeping the United States, researchers bring attention to the fact that opioids are responsible for important adverse health events, and warn against their use. This strategy is harmful not only because opioids are associated with serious adverse effects, including death from overdose, but also, the benefits of opioids in improving pain and function in patients with low back pain are, at best, modest, adds Ferreira. Paulino admits that time and resources are needed to improve the response to this pathology. In order to properly address the problem, to know the disease well, to exercise or to learn relaxation techniques to deal with the pain, time is needed. And we live in such a fast-paced society that the patient wants something quick, a pill, because they have to work or return to their activities. The approach would be better if we had more time and resources, he reflects. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A poem written for President Joe Biden's inauguration has been placed on a restricted list at a South Florida elementary school after one parent's complaint. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, poet Amanda Gorman vowed to fight back. Her poem, The Hill We Climb was challenged by the parent of two students at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, along with several books. I'm gutted, she wrote. Robbing children of the chance to find their voices in literature is a violation of their right to free thought and free speech." Gorman, who at 17 became the countrys National Youth Poet Laureate, said she wrote the poem The Hill We Climb, so all young people could see themselves in a historical moment, and that shes received countless letters and videos from children who were inspired to write their own poems. She became an international sensation at Bidens inauguration, where she was the youngest poet to read at the ceremony since Robert Frost was invited to John F. Kennedys in 1961. In The Hill We Climb, Gorman references everything from Biblical scripture to Hamilton, and at times echoes the oratory of Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. With urgency and assertion she begins by asking, Where can we find light/In this never-ending shade? and used her own poetry and life story as an answer. She said she planned to share a message of hope for Bidens inauguration without ignoring the evidence of discord and division. She had completed a little more than half of the poem before Jan. 6 and the siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. The poem and books are still available in the media center for middle school-aged children, Ana Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade school district, said in a statement. While book bans are not new, they are happening much more frequently, especially in Florida where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has championed policies that allow the censorship of books some have deemed inappropriate for children in schools, causing national uproar. DeSantis, who entered the 2024 presidential race Wednesday, has leaned heavily into cultural divides on race, sexual orientation and gender as he gains support from conservative voters who decide Republican primary elections. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the decision to ban Gormans poem, saying Biden and his administration stands with her. The President was proud to have Ms. Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet, speak at his inauguration, she said. Banning books is censorship, period, she added. "It limits American freedom Americans freedom and we should all stand against that type of act. Yecenia Martinez, principal of the K-8 school, which is part of the Miami-Dade public school system, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about the poem's ban. The school is named after Bob Graham, a former Democratic governor and U.S. senator from Florida. Daily Salinas, the parent who objected to the poem and books, told the Miami Herald she's not for eliminating or censoring any books. Salinas said she wants materials to be appropriate. It was not immediately clear what she objected to in Gorman's poem. After her complaint, a materials review committee made up of three teachers, a library media specialist, a guidance counselor and the principal, determined one of the books in question was balanced and age appropriate, and would remain available for all students, the newspaper reported. The other four were deemed better suited or more appropriate for middle school students. The books were to remain in the middle school section of the media center, the review concluded. And lets be clear: most of the forbidden works are by authors who have struggled for generations to get on the bookshelves," Gorman's post said. "The majority of these censored works are by queer and non-white voices." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ST. LOUIS More than two dozen projects representing almost $3.7 billion in investment were announced Wednesday as 2024 Priority Projects by St. Louis Regional Freightway as part of the weeklong FreightWeekSTL sponsored by the group. The list included recently-completed projects such as the $222 million reconstruction of the Merchants Bridge and replacement of the Union Pacifics Lenox Tower in Mitchell as well as ongoing projects that include $1.3 billion in improvements slated for Interstate 270 from Illinois 143 to I-70 in Missouri. New projects include improvements to the MacArthur Bridge, the other major rail bridge spanning the Mississippi in St. Louis, and a major expansion of railyard operations in the Metro East. Illinois projects figure prominently in the list, with 15 of 26 at least partially in Illinois. Mary Lamie, executive vice president-multi modal enterprises at Bi-State Development and head of St. Louis Regional Freightway, said cooperation between transportation officials in both Illinois and Missouri have made a major impact on the regions ability to obtain funding for projects. This environment of collaboration is critical to the regions success in funding and advancing some of our highest priority projects, said Lamie. One of the highest priority projects are improvements to I-270 between Illinois 157 and I-70 in Missouri. Most of the project, including the replacement of the I-270 Chain of Rocks Bridge and a new interchange at I-270 and Illinois 111 are funded. Work on the I-270 bridge is currently under way. The other high priority Illinois project is improving Illinois 3 south of the Poplar Street Bridge complex. The estimated cost is $220 million, with about $86 million of that unfunded. Funded Illinois projects include the $81.5 million Illinois 3 Connector between Illinois 3 and Illinois 203, now under construction; $42 million for the I-255/Davis Street Ferry Road interchange; $36 million for improvements to I-64 from Green Mount Road to Illinois 158 and $17.5 million for the relocation of Illinois 158 from Illinois 161 to 177 near Scott Air Force Base. Other Illinois projects either partially funded or waiting for funding include $371 million in improvements at Americas Central Port, $29 million for improvements with Kaskaskia Regional Port District; $81 million in improvements and expansion of the Terminal Railroad Associations Madison Yard (also referred to as the Venice Yards); $48 million in improvements at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport; $27 million for a new interchange at I-255 and Ramsey Road in Dupo; $34 million in improvements to the MacArthur Bridge; and $456 million for I-55/70 lane additions from I-255 to I-270. Also speaking were representatives of the Illinois and Missouri departments of transportation. Transportation, quite simply, benefits everyone, said Kirk Brown, Region 5 engineer for IDOT. He said the states Rebuild Illinois program has provided funding for a number of needed projects in the Metro East. In the states multi-year program, there is $24.6 billion that Illinois has slated for highway improvements and, out of that, District 8 gets roughly 10 percent, or $2.3 billion just within the next six years for approved projects that are funded, said Brown. That should tell you just how serious the department and the state are about bringing transportation improvements to this vital part of the state. He said they have to take a regional approach, which means close cooperation with MoDOT. Its the same traffic, the same commuters, that are traveling on both sides, he said. Our residents, our motorists, even our own staff, work and live on both sides of the river. Michelle Forneris, assistant district engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation talked some the most significant Missouri projects moving forward, including the Interstate 270 North improvements that will wrap up later this year and the Interstate 70 bottleneck improvements from Wentzville Parkway to Route Z. She also shared the agencys excitement over the very real potential for more funding for Interstate 70. We are very humbled right now that the Missouri General Assembly, for fiscal year 2024, has slated $2.8 billion dollars for I-70 improvements from Wentzville to Blue Springs - more than 200 miles. So theres more to come on overall I-70 projects as we are hopeful the governor will sign that legislation. It was noted that the completion of the Merchants Bridge project, which had been the highest priority for several years, allowed the inclusion of the MacArthur Bridge project to the list. Joe Torp, Industrial Development Manager for Norfolk Southern, said the new Merchants Bridge is delivering tremendous benefits for the rail industry and for shippers, eliminating bottlenecks caused when two trains couldnt pass on the old bridge at the same time due to load and speed restrictions. The Merchants Bridge is one of those few locations in the St. Louis area where rail can cross from one side of the Mississippi River to the other, so any delay in that vital link had a follow-on effect up and down the network, Torp said. We are very excited about the completion of the Merchants Bridge, especially from the operations side. With that project complete, TRRA is turning its attention to the MacArthur Bridge, located just south of the Poplar Street Bridge. The bridge was built in 1912, and has served both rail and vehicle traffic. It now is owned by TRRA and is used exclusively for rail. Significant work is required to keep the MacArthur Bridge functioning effectively as part of the St. Louis Regions freight network, according to information provided by Freightway. The $34 million project calls for the replacement of the truss over the Union Pacific Railroad, steel repair, and replacement of the existing rail track, except for the main spans and west approach. The MacArthur and Merchants Bridges together represent the highest-volume rail crossing on the Mississippi River, said Lamie. These projects are essential to strengthen our regions role in the global freight network and support our position as a reliever during supply chain disruption. We will continue to follow the regions model of public-private collaboration for multimodal investment to advance important projects. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALTON The RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) on Wednesday hosted its 2023 Chamber Choice awards at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. Dan St. Peters, owner of St. Peters Hardware and Rental in Alton, took the stage to present the awards. He first presented the Pioneer awards to Margarette Trushel, one of the founding members of the Oasis Women's Center in Alton. Trushel volunteered there for three years before becoming the center's executive director. She has held the position for 40 years. She has been a member of many organizations through those years. Trushel has received many awards, including the Jefferson National Award for Public Service, the Human Dignity Award from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Peacemaking Award from the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy and the Liberty Bell Award from the Madison County Bar Association. Marcy Jacobs, Client Services Coordinator for Oasis Women's Center, accepted the award on Trushel's behalf. The Perseverance Award was presented to the Beverly Farm Foundation in Godfrey. Beverly Farm was founded in 1897 by Dr. William H.C. Smith and his wife, Elizabeth, to care for people who live with developmental disabilities. Beverly Farm Foundation CEO Crystal Officer accepted the award. "We have continued to keep our hands to the good work, as we create loving and caring homes for adults," Officer said. Captain Awards were given to the City of Wood River and Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton. Lauren Pattan and James Rogalsky created The Old Bakery Beer Company in 2015 after they were introduced to the old Colonial Bakery building in downtown Alton. "At the basis of our business is our sustainability," Pattan said. "I appreciate you all for supporting that." Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup accepted the award on the city's behalf, giving thanks and credit to Wood River city employees. "They've pushed our city forward in the last two years more than I could have ever expected," Stalcup said. He also announced that the Wood River Rec Center now under construction plans to open in October. An official name has not yet been decided. The 35,000-square-foot center is being built on the site of the former Wood River Aquatic Center. The facility will include showers and dressing rooms, a jogging track, a gymnastics space, a kitchen area, a playgound and a splash pad. Therese Kuddes, a former member of the RBGA Promotions Committee, took home the Chamber Champion Award. "It is an honor to serve this community," Kuddos said. Legacy Awards were presented to Dick Propes and Karen Baker-Brncic Propes, who retired as an Alton School District Administrator and Alton Memorial Hospital volunteer, said that he always thought it is better to "work away than to rust away". "I'm just hoping that, in some ways, I was able to touch the lives and improve the lives of some young person," Propes said. Baker-Brncic announced in August 2022 that she was retiring after nearly 50 years in the marina business. The city's contract with her company, Parrot Pointe Marine, Inc., expired on April 1 15 years to the day of when she signed the contract with the city. "I've got to work in all the things I've ever wanted to do," she said. John Barnerd presented 10 RBGA scholarship awards. The top scholarship of $3,000 went to Josh Gilbert of Roxana High School. The $2,000 scholarship went to Emily Schrumpf of Alton High School (AHS), and a $1,000 scholarship to Mary Nguyen of East Alton-Wood River (EAWR) High School. Seven students also received $500 scholarships: Blake Schaper and Alyssa Abernathy of Civic Memorial High School, Jacob Schaper and Mia Seibert of EAWR, Sammy Hentrich of Marquette Catholic High School, and Khas Spitz of AHS. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE The upcoming trial of an Alton man accused of decapitating a pregnant woman in Alton last year could be affected by how the Illinois Supreme Court rules on fetal homicide laws. Deundrea S. Holloway of Alton, is accused of killing 22-year-old Liese Dodd and her unborn child in June 2022. Initially deemed mentally unfit to stand trial, he was transferred to an Illinois Department of Human Services facility for treatment and, on Feb. 10, was declared fit to stand trial for the charge. He was transferred back to the Madison County Jail and, on May 15, Associate Judge Neil Schroeder set a hearing in Holloways case for 1 p.m. July 17. How the state's highest rules in People v Lane could have a major impact on the prosecution of Holloway, according to Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine. It depends on the ruling issued by the Supreme Court, Haine said in a written response to questions about the case. But if the statute in question (allowing unborn children to be victims of murder in certain circumstances) is wholly struck down as inconsistent with the states abortion protections, then it could threaten our ability to prosecute this defendant for both the murder of Liese Dodd and her unborn child in this case. I hope the Supreme Court does not take such a step, he added. It is appropriate that Illinois law recognizes that unborn children can be the victims of murder and so gives them this basic legal protection. Such a law also protects pregnant women from violence and attacks which also could threaten the children these women carry. Holloway has been indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child, all Class M felonies; dismembering a human body, a Class X felony; offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony; and concealment of a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony. Dodds body was found June 9 by her mother in a Bolivar Street residence in Alton. Then-Alton Police Chief Marcos Pulido, now chief deputy for the Madison County Sheriffs Department, revealed details of the crime in a video he released. "The sufferings of the victim are horrible, Pulido said in the video. Nobody should have had to endure what Liese and her unborn child went through. Dodd and Holloway had been in an on-and-off dating relationship for about two years, according to officials. Dodd had moved to Alton a short time before her death. Holloway was later apprehended by Gillespie Police during a theft investigation. People v Lane revolves around the 2007 murder of a pregnant woman. Reginald Lane was sentenced to life in prison, based on a state statute for someone found guilty of killing more than one victim. Last month the high court heard arguments centered on whether Lane was given an appropriate sentence. His appeal hinges, in part, on whether the woman's unborn child can be considered a victim of a murder and, more broadly, whether it can be considered an individual under the law. Both the Illinois General Assembly and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have generally championed abortion rights, leading to a potential conflict with fetal homicide also known as feticide laws. As it stands now, the unified code of corrections defines a victim as any natural person who suffered direct harm, Talon Nouri, an attorney representing Lane told justices. And again, the statute on statutes notes that whenever the word person or individual is used, that person must have first been born alive. Nouri also cited the states 2019 Reproductive Health Act that, among other things, stipulates fetuses do not have independent rights in Illinois. Nouri also argued Lanes sentence was inappropriately applied because the lower courts had sentenced Lane in alignment with the sentence for a double murder. Lane was convicted of both first-degree murder and feticide, two distinct crimes. While the penalty section of the intentional homicide of an unborn child statute states that the sentence shall be the same as for first degree murder, the relevant statutes and definitions unambiguously exclude intentional homicide of an unborn child from this double murder sentencing statute, Nouri told the court. Assistant Attorney General Josh Schneider, who argued the case on behalf of the state, relied on the statutes language identifying the sentence for feticide as being the same as murder. When a person is convicted of intentional homicide of an unborn child, the sentence they receive for that offense is the same sentence they would receive if they had been convicted of first-degree murder under those same circumstances, Schneider said. Several justices interrogated that line of reasoning. So we really dont even need to go to these definitions in the other statutes because the legislature has directed us to apply the same sentence as in murder? Justice Lisa Holder White asked of Schneider. Thats exactly right, Schneider replied. The justices took the matter under consideration with a ruling to come at a later, unspecified date. Capital News Illinois provided information for this article. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece's outgoing prime minister says he has ordered a probe into a report that authorities illegally deported a group of migrants who had reached an eastern Aegean island from Turkey, allegedly leaving them on a raft at sea for Turkish authorities to pick up. Kyriakos Mitsotakis who will be replaced Thursday by caretaker Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas, a senior judge, ahead of elections on June 25 strongly denied that Greece has an official policy of returning newly arrived migrants to Turkey. Such illegal deportations are known as pushbacks. In an interview with CNN late Tuesday, Mitsotakis said that he takes the alleged incident reported by the New York Times very seriously. It is already being investigated (by) my government, he said. I have made numerous times the distinction between (the reported pushback), which is a completely unacceptable practice, and between our obligation, which is ... intercepting (migrants) on our sea border with Turkey and then asking for the Turkish coast guard to come and pick these people up. Greece is a major entry point for migrants seeking a better life in the European Union most entering illegally from Turkey in unseaworthy boats provided by smuggling gangs. Mitsotakis' government has tightened patrols, significantly reducing arrivals, but has been repeatedly accused by human rights groups and Turkish officials of pushbacks. Athens steadily denies these claims. Mitsotakis on Tuesday accused the Turkish coast guard of push-forwards, claiming that they aggressively push desperate people on inflatable boats ... to sea and (push) them into out territorial waters. The New York Times report was based on a video provided by an activist and made public two days before Greece's parliamentary election on Sunday which Mitsotakis' center-right party won with a huge margin. But he will have to seek a new election in just over a month, because the electoral law didn't give him a governing majority. The report alleged that in early April migrants were brought by van to a Lesbos beach and taken by speedboat to a coast guard vessel. The coast guard allegedly left the migrants on a raft at sea from which they were picked up by the Turkish coast guard and taken back to Turkey. Ylva Johansson, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, on Tuesday said the EU has formally asked Athens to be fully and independently investigate the incident. It is necessary that proper follow-up is taken by Greek authorities, she said, adding that the EU's executive branch stands ready to take formal steps, as appropriate. Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said Monday that the EU border agency, Frontex, which helps Greece patrol its eastern sea borders, has rights officers who can help support an independent investigation. So far, we understand that they have not been able to identify this specific incident, but of course they can follow up on any serious incidents reported that have been filed, she said. Greece's coast guard has not responded to an AP request for comment on the new pushback allegations. ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TOKYO (AP) Police said they arrested a man Friday who had holed up in his father's house armed with a rifle and a knife after allegedly killing four people, including two police officers, in central Japan. TV Asahi showed the man with his hands on his head walk out of the house and be ushered toward a police vehicle. Masanori Aoki, 31, a farmer, was arrested by police under a court warrant on suspicion of murder in Nakano, a city in Nagano prefecture. Nagano prefectural police chief Iwao Koyama offered condolences to the victims and said the loss of two police officials is extremely regrettable. He noted that the suspect allegedly shot to death a police officer in the left chest with a hunting rifle. National Public Safety Commission Chairperson Koichi Tani told a regular news conference Friday that the suspect had licenses for multiple hunting and air guns authorized by the prefectural public safety commission and his license renewals have been properly made. Tani said police are investigating his gun usage records and that they plan to take necessary safety measures based on investigation results. Police said the house was owned by his father, a local politician. Koyama said two women who escaped while the suspect was holed up are the suspect's mother and aunt and that they were uninjured. NHK said that the mother told police that the attacker was her son and that his father was chairman of the city assembly. Japanese media quoted neighbors described the suspect as a quiet person and that they were not aware of any family feud. Police said earlier that two police officers were shot by the suspect when they arrived at the scene after receiving an emergency call saying a woman was stabbed. The officers were apparently without bulletproof vests. On Friday, Nagano police chief said the suspect allegedly stabbed to death the 66-year-old woman with a survival knife. A witness told NHK on Thursday that a woman fell while being chased by the suspect, who then stabbed her with a knife and shot at two police officers as they arrived at the scene in a patrol car. The woman and the two police officers were pronounced dead at a hospital. An older woman, who was injured but could not be rescued because she was near the suspect, was found dead early Friday, police said. During the standoff, TV footage showed police wearing bulletproof vests and carrying shields, with an ambulance nearby. Police sealed off a 300-meter (330-yard) radius around the house, and city officials urged people in the quiet farming neighborhood to stay home or stay at an evacuation center, where about 80 people reportedly took shelter. Violent crimes are rare in Japan. It has strict gun control laws and only a handful of gun-related crimes annually. But in recent years, there have been some high-profile cases involving random knifings on subways and arson attacks, and there is growing concern about homemade guns and explosives. ___ This story has been corrected to correct attribution in the 2nd paragraph to TV Asahi. TORONTO (AP) Canada and Saudi Arabia agreed Wednesday to restore full diplomatic relations and appoint new ambassadors, five years after a dispute over womens rights activists damaged relations and trade between the two countries. In 2018, Saudi Arabia expelled Canadas ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canadas foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, tweeted support for womens right activists who had been arrested, but who have since been released. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave. BEIRUT (AP) Lebanese authorities Wednesday briefly detained a prominent Egyptian blogger and human rights activist, his lawyer and sister said, but the reason for his arrest was not immediately clear. The first word about the arrest of Abdul-Rahman Tarek, also known by his nickname Moka, came from his sister, Sara Tarek. She posted on her Facebook page that her brother was detained by plainclothes policemen Wednesday afternoon from his apartment. She called for his release saying he had spent seven years in jail in Egypt until his release last year. My dog died yesterday. The pain is so deep that it scares me, because it covers everything. It is so deep that all I can do is sit and cry and think about loss, love for others or death. Thus began a letter that a reader sent last week to EL PAIS. More than 30,000 people liked the Instagram post that shared it; more than 400 comments expressed solidarity with the senders pain. The support and words of sympathy that these kinds of farewells receive are proof of the deep bond that animals and those who live with them share. Including celebrities: this past Tuesday, Paris Hilton also mourned the death of her 23-year-old dog, Harajuku Bitch, with an Instagram post that read Rest easy, my sweet darling. Thank you for gracing my life with unconditional love. In a study carried out by the Spanish website Wamiz, which is specialized in companion animals, 90% of all cat and dog owners said that the pain they felt when they lost their pets was similar to losing someone close. Animals are also our loved ones, and their death moves us accordingly. In recent times, the perception of animals, especially pets, has undergone a distinct evolution; Enrique, a 45-year-old forestry technician, has witnessed it firsthand. Ten years ago I told my boss that I couldnt go to work because my dog was sick, and I didnt want to leave him alone. He chuckled, thinking I was joking. When he passed away a few months ago I perceived a different response around me. Not having to make excuses to cover up something so important is a great relief. Hiding our feelings is, according to psychologist Beatriz Cuervo, the most harmful thing to do in a situation like that. Downplaying what we feel doesnt bring positive consequences. The pain of a loss is normal, she explains. Maybe in certain family, social or work contexts we are ashamed to admit that we are sad or that we feel that emptiness that comes with the absence of a companion animal. In that case, the appropriate thing would be to try to talk to someone who has been through a similar situation, even if they are not our best friend, but perhaps someone we meet when we take our dogs to the park. Lit candles next to a dogs grave in Hanoi, Vietnam. NHAC NGUYEN (AFP via Getty Images) Stuffed toys on a dogs grave in the Casa Rosa pet cemetery, in Rome, Italy. TIZIANA FABI (AFP via Getty Images) Laura Alberdi, the manager of a pet shop in Oviedo, Spain, has often been the recipient of those laments that some people cannot express in their own environment. There is a woman in her seventies who still gets emotional when she tells us about the canary that her grandchildren gave her when she became a widow. At first Platanin felt like a nuisance, but then it became her most beloved company. People are surprised by the affection that animals give, no matter how small they are, but they easily recognize those who are good or mean to them. Its passing devastated her. She says that she misses it more than her husband. She says this quietly, as if she feared being heard. This is not an isolated case. Here, we dont know the names of most of the people, but we do know the names of every animal that comes through the door, continues Alberdi. That makes people feel understood when they tell us their stories. And it is not just the customers: One day a delivery man who was bringing some merchandise began to cry when he saw his cats favorite toy, because he had died the previous day. He took out his phone, showed us photos and spent a while there, telling us about his shenanigans. Saying goodbye Marcelinos end was very painful. It came after months of hospital admissions, ineffective medications, stress and a significant, but unavoidable, financial expense. After his death, Alba, a 42-year-old music teacher, decided that she would not go through it again, because saying goodbye is too painful. For eight years he shared her home. She had adopted him after someone left him at the door of a veterinary clinic, and he changed her life. Contrary to what people think, cats are very affectionate. He met me at the door, was sociable with everyone who came to the house and knew my emotions better than I did. Statistically speaking, I lived alone, but I never felt that way: a cat turns four walls into a home. More than a year has passed since he died, but she still has no intention of having any more pets. She cannot even look at his photos without breaking down. Cats grieve when they lose a companion or when their elderly caretaker enters a nursing home and they have to find a new place to live. RyanJLane (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Framed portraits of a Labrador. Many people who live with animals that get sick or die do not find support at work when they request days off to deal with the illness or grief. Tsuneo Yamashita (Getty Images) Sometimes the end is quick and unexpected. Marga, a 51-year-old civil servant, took her dog to the veterinary hospital thinking that she was only suffering from a persistent cold; it turned out to be a tumor mass. For a month they did all they could, but in the end a decision had to be made. Euthanasia is a daily reality for animals, a moment that can be very traumatic and in which the sensitivity of the professional plays a determining role. Her vet made such a terrible moment somehow comforting, we said goodbye for an hour, I kissed her and she fell asleep peacefully in my arms. For two days I was in a sort of limbo; then I fell apart. Rita, who had been abandoned twice, came into her life at a key moment. She helped me pull myself together. They were barely able to be together for a couple of years, but despite the unfathomable pain, she admits that it was worth every day. Of course it is like the death of an immediate family member, or worse, she says. You dont share as much of your life with anyone as you do with them; their little face is the first thing you see when you wake up, they follow you to the bathroom, they snuggle up next to you on the sofa, they welcome you with the same joy no matter if you are returning from a week of vacation or if you just went to take out the garbage. They never judge you, they love you unconditionally, they dont care if you are a millionaire or a homeless person. This kind of love does not exist in humans. When Rita passed away, Marga decided to take some time. She felt that bringing another dog home was like betraying her memory. However, one month later Frida was already there, because life without a dog is incomplete. The case of Frida, a ten-year-old mixed-breed dog, is an example of what might be called mourning in life: her owner had to say goodbye when entering a nursing home. Its a common case, says Eva Rodriguez from the Adoptastur animal welfare association. Sometimes it is unavoidable, because an older person is alone and animals arent allowed in nursing homes, but other times there are family members who take all the material things but get rid of the one that was that persons only companion, as if it were a useless piece of junk. A portrait of Lilla adorns her tomb at the Casa Rosa pet cemetery in Rome, Italy. TIZIANA FABI (AFP via Getty Images) The effect is often devastating, both for the elderly people and for their animals. Especially in the case of cats, explains Rodriguez, they are animals whose grief even leads them to let themselves die. Animals, in their own way, also know what mourning is and suffer it both for their humans and for other animals with which they live. Rodriguez herself knows that pain well: hundreds of animals have passed through her house, but only one has been her dogpanion. When Dana, a bull terrier that came into her life after years of mistreatment, died, she felt a pain that she had never imagined possible. We went through a lot together; we went through five houses, several partners and even a pandemic. She was my companion no matter what. Danas favorite spot, where she felt safe during her last few months, now has a large photograph of her. Sometimes, to close wounds, in addition to talking about it, it can be useful to contemplate some kind of farewell ritual, a small tribute, says Cuervo. When we lose a loved one, we need those symbols that, beyond any beliefs, help us start a new stage and gradually get used to the idea of that absence. These farewells can be particularly painful for children, says Cuervo. They may not understand what happened, or even blame themselves. It is important to give them explanations that are appropriate for their age, but without lying to them: forget about gone to a better place, went to heaven or went to a farm. Children have the capacity to accept things, and the more accompanied and understood they feel, the better they will do it. When bringing a new pet home after the death of another, it is important to be aware that it is no substitute for the one that is gone, adds Rodriguez. There are people who call the association to adopt an animal, and what they are looking for is a replica of the one that is no longer there. That is impossible and causes a lot of frustration, because no animal, no matter if its the same breed or even from the same litter, is the same as another. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) The South African government was under more pressure Wednesday for declining to release cargo documents relating to the visit by a Russian ship that the United States alleges collected a consignment of weapons for Moscow. Separately, a top official in South Africa's ruling party added to the scrutiny of the country's relationship with Russia by saying the party would welcome a visit by President Vladimir Putin, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. The comments by African National Congress Secretary General Fikile Mbalula regarding Putin were made in an interview with the BBC and in the context of the Russian leader attending a summit of the BRICS economic bloc in South Africa in August. The bloc is made up of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa. "If it was according to the ANC, we would want President Putin to be here, even tomorrow, to come to our country," Mbalula said in the interview, excerpts of which were posted on the ANC's social media channels on Tuesday. We will welcome him to come here as part and parcel of BRICS. As a signatory to the International Criminal Court treaty, South Africa is obliged to arrest Putin if he enters the country. The South African government has indicated it will not carry out the arrest warrant if Putin does travel for the summit, although it hasn't said that explicitly. Do you think that a head of state can just be arrested anywhere? Mbalula, a former Cabinet minister who is now the ANC's top administrative official, said in the BBC interview. He told the BBC interviewer there was hypocrisy on the part of the West related to the arrest warrant for Putin because, he said, Britain and other Western nations committed crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and no heads of state were arrested. Mbalula last month referred to the United States as one of the countries messing up the world." There has been increasing anti-U.S. and anti-West rhetoric in the ANC and sometimes in parts of South Africa's government since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, despite South Africa maintaining it has a neutral stance on the war. The trend is troubling for the U.S. and other Western partners of South Africa because of its status as an influential democracy in the developing world, and Africa's most developed economy. South Africa has a historical relationship with Russia connected to the old Soviet Unions military and political support for the ANC when it was a liberation movement fighting to end the racist apartheid regime that oppressed the countrys Black majority. The West appears concerned that the ANCs old ideological ties to Russia are now pulling South Africa into Moscows political orbit amid burgeoning global tensions. There are also growing economic ties between Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, and China. The concerns were laid bare by the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa earlier this month when he accused it of providing weapons to Russia via a cargo ship that docked at a naval base near the city of Cape Town in December. Ambassador Reuben Brigety said I would bet my life that weapons were loaded onto the Russian-flagged Lady R, which is under U.S. sanctions for alleged ties to a company that has transported arms for the Russian government. The South African government has denied it made any arms transaction with Russia, although it hasn't categorically ruled out the possibility that another entity did so secretly. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an inquiry. On Wednesday, South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, challenged the government to come clean if it had nothing to hide and release a cargo manifest for the Lady R's visit to the Simon's Town naval base. A DA lawmaker also asked Defense Minister Thandi Modise to release the documents during a debate in Parliament on Tuesday. Modise refused to do so while also using an expletive to repeat the government's denial that any weapons were loaded onto the ship. Modise has said that the Russian ship was visiting to deliver an ammunition shipment to South Africa that was ordered in 2018 but delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Modise's refusal to make public the cargo manifest was supported by fellow ANC lawmakers, who said the documents were "classified." Modise said they would be handed over to the inquiry into the incident. ___ More AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa STOCKHOLM (AP) Swedens highest court on Thursday upheld the life sentence for the eldest of two Iranian-born Swedish brothers for spying for Russia and its military intelligence service GRU for a decade. Peyman Kia, a naturalized Swede, was sentenced to life in January in one of the Scandinavian countrys biggest espionage case in decades. His brother, Payam Kia, was given nine years and 10 months. They were found guilty for having worked jointly to pass information to Russia between Sept. 28, 2011, and Sept. 20, 2021. At first, both brothers appealed the Jan. 19 sentences by the Stockholm District Court. But Payam Kia retracted his appeal last week, hours before the appeals verdict was scheduled to be announced. His lawyer, Bjorn Sandin, explained to Swedish broadcaster SVT that his client feared getting a higher sentence. Thursdays verdict by the Supreme Court was postponed a week because of that. As before, proceedings were held behind closed doors most of the time because of the sensitivity of the information. The Supreme Court said it has been proven that the older brother procured, promoted and disclosed (information) to the Russian intelligence service GRU. Between 2014 and 2015, Peyman Kia worked for Swedens domestic intelligence agency as well as for the countrys armed forces. Swedish prosecutors alleged that the data the brothers gave the Russians originated from several authorities within the Swedish security and intelligence service, known by its acronym SAPO. Peyman Kia, who was arrested in September 2021, reportedly also worked for the armed forces defense intelligence agency. He was involved with a top secret unit within the agency that dealt with Swedish spies abroad, according to media in Sweden. His brother was arrested in November 2021. The case has been compared to one of Swedens largest spy scandals which took place during the Cold War when Stig Bergling, a Swedish security officer who worked for both SAPO and the armed forces, sold secrets to the Soviet Union. He was sentenced in 1979 to life imprisonment on similar charges and later escaped while serving his time and returned voluntarily to Sweden in 1994. He died in his native country in January 2015. Major fiasco to start the campaign. Florida Governor Ron de Santis had rallied via a Twitter Space, the plaforms audio function, to introduce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election hand in hand with tycoon Elon Musk. But it started off with a skid. Due to technical problems, with hundreds of thousands of people connected, the connection was choppy and little could be heard after 25 minutes the conversation was scheduled to start. While the experiment floundered, Joe Biden trolled him with a tweet: This link works which, when clicked, led to his campaign. Former President Donald Trump has also joined the mockery from his own network, Truth Social. DeSantis himself resigned himself to joking too: It seems that we have broken the Internet, he said. At first, Musk launched the Twitter Space from his account, but it never worked properly. After just over 21 minutes, the broadcast was cut off. Those who stayed tuned to that link would not have been able to hear the candidate. David Sacks, who was acting as moderator, opened another broadcast and after another three minutes, for those who found out that the initial link was not valid and went to the new one, the rebroadcast was available. The Republican politician presented his candidacy in parallel through a video that was released for the first time by the conservative Fox News channel, which also broadcast it on the Internet. DeSantis also tweeted the video, which in this case did work. In that first video of his campaign, DeSantis presents himself as the resurgence candidate after an apocalyptic opening message in which he avoids talking about Donald Trump: DeSantis was then able to begin to deliver his message. Although in theory the program was presented as a dialogue, he started with what seemed to be a long speech read with arguments similar to those in the video. He again refrained from mentioning Trump in his opening remarks, in which he spoke of the invasion of immigrants, crime, drugs and insecurity. He has sought to hold up Florida as an example of a place where things work better. Neither Elon Musk nor moderator David Sacks, a Republican donor, friend of Musk and supporter of DeSantis, asked him about Donald Trump. Other guests have participated and praised him, but none really put him on the spot. The launching of the candidacy through Twitter was a novel experiment, but it has failed because of that technically faulty beginning; although both DeSantis and Musk, as well as the various other guest speakers, were quick to praise the stunt despite the issues. For a politician who boasts of efficiency in management, such a stumble is a setback that adds to the disadvantage he starts with in the polls. But he presents himself as the candidate of the comeback. Now it is his turn to do just that. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Job Title: Non-staff Refugee and Migrant Health Officer (UN Jobs) Organization: United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Salary: UGX 226,180,000 /= About US: The World Health Organisation (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. WHO is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. Job Summary: The Non-staff Refugee and Migrant Health Officer will support the work of the WHO Country Office in Uganda to plan, coordinate, and implement activities aimed at improving immunization coverage in refugee-hosting districts. Priority work will include ensuring that zero-dose and under-vaccinated refugees and migrants are reached with the recommended vaccines as well as implementing interventions aimed at preparing for and responding to vaccine-preventable diseases outbreaks. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Support the establishment of a national multi-stakeholder working group with UN agencies, NGOs, and other partners who will be engaged in the different phases of a research study. This will include mapping potential working group members, coordinating regular meetings, and following up on agreed next steps. Liaise with the national and district counterparts and stakeholders including technical working group members in the review/development of the Expanded Programme on Immunization plan for refugee-hosting districts and assist to strengthen the evaluation and monitoring of immunization activities. Monitor the implementation of planned activities and ensure the availability of potent vaccines as well as the required equipment and injection materials. Coordinate planning, development of protocol and implementation of a research study to identify and analyse barriers and drivers to vaccine uptake among refugees and migrants in Uganda. Compile and share the study findings with all relevant stakeholders within the district and submit project proposals for strengthening the existing systems as informed by the research findings. Map and engage partners on the ground who will be involved in the task team leading the development of a preparedness and response plan with a focus on vaccine-preventable diseases among refugees and migrants. This will include the coordination of regular task team meetings and compiling and addressing feedback from partners. Support the design and roll out of a data collection exercise (e.g., through a survey) focused on gathering health data on refugees and migrants in the country, including information relevant to tailor and strengthen immunization programmes. Liaise with the Ministry of Health counterparts or other health related interlocutors in the refugee-hosting district planning and organization of vaccination campaigns. Participate in training and capacity building of refugee-hosting districts vaccinators in the area of Immunization and Vaccines, including outbreak preparedness and response. Work with the emergency preparedness and response team and health information teams from MOH to strengthen vaccine preventable disease surveillance in the refugee-hosting districts. Perform all other related duties as assigned. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Non-staff Refugee and Migrant Health Officer job should hold a University degree (bachelors degree or equivalent) in medicine, epidemiology, public health, health sciences, or a related discipline. An advanced university degree, masters level or above in health (medicine or public health) is desired A minimum of five years of relevant experience in the field of immunization, disease surveillance, or prevention and detection of vaccine-preventable diseases. Previous experience in conducting research and translating research findings to policy Desirable Relevant experience working with WHO or with the UN system. Relevant experience working on refugee and migrant health and/or cross-border health interventions. Competencies: Communicating in a credible and effective way Producing results Fosters integration and teamwork Functional Knowledge and Skills:- Knowledge in public health, as well as an understanding of migration dynamics in Uganda. Knowledge and understanding of the national health system, service delivery models, immunization programmes and strategies. Knowledge of how to conduct scientific research. Demonstrated excellent writing and communication skills. Ability to synthesize information in a clear and concise manner. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, draw conclusions and make recommendations. Knowledge or understanding of WHO mandate and goals. Knowledge and understanding of national health system, service delivery models, and immunization service delivery. Remuneration: WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at UGX 226,180,000 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave. How to Apply: All candidates are encouraged to apply online through the World Health Organization career portal at the link below. Click Here Deadline: 15th June 2023 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2023 - 18:59 | All, Japan Shareholders of Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings Co. on Thursday approved the reappointment of Ryuichi Isaka as president, rejecting a demand by a U.S. activist fund for the removal of the top executive in a high-profile proxy fight. ValueAct Capital Management LP claims the management needs to do more restructuring for a greater focus on the retailer's mainstay 7-Eleven convenience store business and sought at an annual shareholders' meeting to replace four board members, including Isaka, with candidates it selected. But the proposal was rejected, with the majority of the shareholders participating in the meeting approving the company's plans to tap Isaka and 14 others as board members, a company spokesman said. "We will aim to make big strides to join the world's top group" under his management team, Isaka told shareholders at the meeting. Still, the approval rate for the president fell reflecting shareholder frustration, with 76.36 percent supporting his reappointment at this year's meeting, down about 18 points from last year, according to Seven & i. "ValueAct makes a good point listing management challenges and is making an argument in the right way, but their proposal is too demanding," a shareholder in his 60s said. "But on the other hand, Mr. Isaka's management is not quick enough in making decisions." Seven & i has seen a substantial recovery of its overall earnings from pandemic levels, becoming the first Japanese retailer to book more than 10 trillion yen ($72 billion) in the last fiscal year ended Feb. 28, with a record net profit of 280.98 billion yen. Still, the pressure on company management grew after proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis recommended that shareholders support ValueAct's proposal. ISS said the company's performance is not on par with investor expectations. The U.S. fund, which has a 4.4 percent stake in Seven & i, has demanded the retailer spin off the convenience store business and sell its loss-making Ito-Yokado supermarket unit in a bid to increase its corporate value. Seven & i has said the proposal was only about raising shareholder value in the short-term, arguing its know-how in supermarket operations is essential for food product development in its convenience store unit. In the face of increasing pressure from shareholders, Seven & i began restructuring its businesses in recent years. Last November, the retailer said it will sell its struggling department store unit, Sogo & Seibu Co., to U.S.-based investment fund Fortress Investment Group LLC. The Japanese company also outlined a plan in March to cut the number of stores at its Ito-Yokado supermarket unit by a quarter and quit its apparel business to focus more on the convenience store operations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he will visit strife-torn Manipur even as one person was killed in fresh violence between suspected militants and a group of people in an area bordering Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts. Shah, who arrived in Assam's Guwahati in the afternoon, appealed all people to maintain peace and resolve all disputes through dialogues. "I will go to Manipur soon and stay there for three days but before that, both groups should remove mistrust and suspicion among themselves and ensure that peace is restored in the state," he said while laying the foundation stone of the tenth national campus of the National Forensic Sciences University to be set Changsari area of Kamrup district in Assam. The home minister said the Centre will ensure that justice is given to all who suffered in the clashes which broke out in Manipur, but "people must hold a dialogue to ensure peace. According to reports, suspected militants opened fire at a group of people, mostly comprising those who were displaced during the recent ethnic clashes in Churachandpur, on Wednesday, killing one person. The deceased was identified as Toijam Chandramoni, 30, while another person, Leichombam Abungnao, 22, has been injured in the firing. The militants have also torched the houses a few villagers in Bishnupur district. Following the violence, the authorities have clamped curfew for 24 hours in the area and reduced the curfew relaxation by hours in several other districts. Meanwhile, a group of people on Wednesday vandalised the house of PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district alleging that the state government was not doing enough to protect locals from militants. Manipur has been on the boil ever since clashed broke out 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 state was already witnessing a series a smaller agitations over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land. The ethnic clashes have so far claimed over 70 lives and some 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. In a move aimed at tackling increasing concerns over visa fraud, Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales have instructed education agents to cease recruiting students from some Indian states. The ban includes Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on the universities' decision, highlighting the surge in rejection rates for Indian applicants and the need for tighter regulation of education agents. According to the Department of Home Affairs, rejection rates for Indian applicants across all Australian universities have reached their highest level in a decade. Approximately one in four applications is now classified as either "fraudulent" or "non-genuine." This increase in rejections has coincided with a significant rise in the number of applications, prompting calls for stricter oversight of education agents responsible for arranging visas for international students. Federation University, which currently enrolls around 5,500 international students out of its total student population, sent a letter to education agents outlining the ban on student recruitment from the above mentioned states of India. The university stated that it had witnessed a substantial increase in the proportion of visa applications being rejected by the Department of Home Affairs, indicating a concerning trend. Similarly, Western Sydney University also informed education agents that they should no longer recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat due to a high attrition rate among Indian students who had recently enrolled in courses. The university noted that the ban would be effective immediately for at least two months. Additionally, Western Sydney University plans to implement stricter admissions conditions, changes to application screening, and increased commencement fees to address the issue of non-genuine students from these regions. While these measures are aimed at protecting the integrity of the institutions' international student programs, they reflect a broader concern within the Australian education sector. Several other universities, including Victoria, Edith Cowan, Torrens, and Southern Cross, had previously paused recruitment from specific Indian states earlier this year. However, Wollongong and Flinders Universities modified their entry processes for overseas students from "high-risk" countries but did not restrict enrollments from specific Indian states. The surge in applications from Indian students, coupled with the rise in visa fraud concerns, has prompted the federal Department of Education to acknowledge the existence of unscrupulous behaviour in the international education sector. The Department is particularly concerned about inducements offered to students to move from universities to more affordable vocational education providers. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare emphasised the importance of treating all students fairly and appropriately during the application process, regardless of their nationality. The Department of Home Affairs revealed that Australian universities are currently rejecting 20.1% of applications, up from 12.5% in 2019. The rejection rate for applications from India stands at 24.3%, the highest since 2012. Education agents play a crucial role in facilitating applications to Australian universities from international students, with universities and colleges paying them commissions for each enrollment arranged. The issue of fraudulent agents and providers exploiting students has prompted calls for better regulation. Critics argue that the current system lacks the means to effectively remove bad agents from the system, allowing them to continue their practices unchecked. Efforts are underway to address these concerns, as various reviews of the immigration system have recommended improvements to prevent misuse. The ban on student recruitment from specific Indian states comes at a time when Australia is on track to receive its largest annual intake of Indian students across universities and vocational courses, surpassing the previous record set in 2019. Security has been tightened in Manipur after firing incidents were reported from Manipur's Imphal West and Bishnupur districts. In Imphal West, the firings happened in the Kadangband region. Manipur security advisor Kuldeep Singh told ANI that the firing happened around 1.30 am from the upper hill of Singda Kadangband. "One person received bullet injury on his right little finger and right thigh. He has been evacuated to RIMS Hospital for treatment. BSF and one Section of MR rushed to the spot and conducted an operation and dominated the area," he added. Fresh violence also rocked the Tronglaobi area of Bishnupur, resulting in the death of one person. "Militants fired at a group of people in the Tronglaobi area of Bishnupur around 9.30 am. A person wounded in the firing died on the way to the hospital." This comes after a violent mob vandalised the house of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in the Bishnupur district on Wednesday. The attackers, mostly women, claimed that the government wasn't doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community. The minister who is a BJP leader and his family members, however, were not present at the house when the mob attacked the house in the Ningthoukhong area and damaged a portion of a gate, windows, a few furniture and electronic gadgets. Meanwhile, a delegation of state BJP MLAs will travel to Guwahati to meet Union home minister Amit Shah, who is on a visit to Assam, on Thursday. The delegation, led by Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker T Satyabrata Singh, will have representatives from the ruling BJP, NPF and NPP. The team has reached Guwahati and will also submit a memorandum to Shah. Meanwhile, the Congress has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi call a meeting of community leaders of Manipur to bring peace to the ethnic violence-hit state. Congress leader Ajoy Kumar said India is in "danger" if things are not set right in the northeastern state as it shares the international border with Myanmar. "The Congress party demands that the prime minister and Home Minister should immediately start a dialogue with leaders of both the communities in Manipur," he told reporters. He said a peace initiative has to come from the central government, as he expressed concern over extremist sections in both communities controlling the narrative in Manipur. (With inputs from PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Thursday as part of his efforts to garner support of opposition parties against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital. Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Kejriwal said Pawar has assured him support to defeat the bill which the Centre is likely to bring in to ratify the ordinance during the monsoon session of parliament. Aam Aadmi Party leader and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann was also present at the meeting. Kejriwal said if the BJP fails to get the bill passed in Rajya Sabha, it will be a testimony of the opposition unity and will also imply that the Narendra Modi government will not be able to return to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "Sharad Pawar ji has assured us that NCP will support us in defeating the Bill in Rajya Sabha. We are trying to gather support from all non-BJP parties against the Centre's ordinance on control of administrative services in the national capital," Kejriwal said. Pawar said the NCP will support Kejriwal on the matter and that they will also talk to other leaders to support the Delhi CM. "There is a crisis in the country and it's not an issue limited to Delhi. NCP and the people of Maharashtra will support Kejriwal. We will also talk to other leaders to support Kejriwal. We must focus on bringing all non-BJP parties together," Pawar said. Kejriwal thanked the NCP chief for his support and said if all non-BJP parties come together, the bill can be defeated in Rajya Sabha. This is not a fight for Delhi, it is a fight for the federal structure," he said. The AAP chief said he will seek time from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi to meet them over the issue. On Wednesday, the Delhi chief minister had met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray. Prior to that he met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Tuesday. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had met Kejriwal in Delhi on Sunday and extended support in his power tussle with the Centre. Nitish had also said that he would ask other opposition parties to support the AAP over the issue. The Centre on Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the "arrogance" of the Modi government has "destroyed" the parliamentary system. "Mr Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. "140 crore Indians want to know what do you want to show by taking away the right of the President of India to inaugurate the Parliament House?" the Congress chief said. The All India Adivasi Congress too accused the Modi government of "insulting" tribals by not getting Droupadi Murmu, the country's first tribal president, to inaugurate the new Parliament building. It also announced a nationwide protest against the move on May 26. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Yesterday, President Draupadi (sic) Murmu inaugurated the country's largest judicial campus at the Jharkhand High Court complex in Ranchi. It is one man's ego and desire for self-promotion that has denied the first Adivasi woman President her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28th." "Ashoka the Great, Akbar the Great, Modi the Inaugurate," Ramesh said. The Congress' attack comes a day after 20 opposition parties announced their boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi. All the same, not everyone joined the dissenting chorus. BSP president Mayawati called the opposition parties' boycott inappropriate and welcomed the forthcoming opening. The Dalit politician also said Congress should have thought about "tribal honour" when it fielded a candidate against Murmu and denied her an unopposed election. Asked the party's view of her remarks, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said fighting an election is a matter of ideology and the party has a right to field a candidate even in a lost cause. "Fighting polls also does not mean that we are fighting a personal battle with that person. Once she has become the President, she is everyone's president. It is our responsibility to respect her. "If the government is not respecting her, then to remind it of that responsibility is also our responsibility. It is our responsibility to remind the PM of 'raj dharm.' If Mayawati thinks that there is no need to remind the prime minister of 'raj dharm' that may be her personal opinion," Khera said. About 20-21 political parties believe that Prime Minister Modi is "not following raj dharm," he said. Asked about BJP's allegation that the Congress disregarded 'Sengol', Khera said, "Politics can depend on symbols, governments depend on the Constitutional order. You cannot hide behind symbols and justify the lack of governance in this country and justify the fact that you are not adhering to the Constitution of India." Addressing another press conference at the AICC headquarters here, All India Adivasi Congress chief Shivajirao Moghe said Prime Minister Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building rather than the president is an "insult" to democracy. "For the first time a tribal is the president, we have a woman president. This (inauguration by the PM) is an insult to tribals and women. The President is an important part of Parliament as it is the president that addresses the joint session of Parliament. It is the President who should inaugurate Parliament," Moghe said. "I don't know whether this is happening because we are tribals," said the chief of All India Adivasi Congress department under the Indian National Congress. Nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, came together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend. After the Opposition's boycott call, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance also launched a sharp counterattack, calling the opposition's stand a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation." The 19 opposition parties in their joint statement said Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself was a "grave insult" to democracy and a "direct assault" against it. The Opposition on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, with the Congress saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex. As the political row over the opening of the building here on Sunday escalated, the BJP hit back alleging that the opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration just because it has been built at the initiative of Prime Minister Modi. The BJP also appealed to the opposition parties to attend the "historic day" of its inauguration by showing "big heart". As many as 20 opposition parties including the Congress have announced their boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi. On the other hand, 25 parties have said they will participate in the inauguration and these include seven non-NDA parties. The BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, BJD and TDP are the seven non-NDA parties. The presence of these seven parties, which together account for 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha, will be a major relief for the BJP-led NDA. Their participation will also help the NDA blunt the Opposition's charge that it is all a government event. BSP president Mayawati called the opposition boycott inappropriate and welcomed the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Modi. She also said the opposition should have thought about "tribal honour" when it fielded a candidate against Murmu and denied her an unopposed election. Nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, Samajwadi Party(SP) and AAP, have jointly announced the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend the event. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday said it will take part in the inauguration of the new Parliament building with party chief N Chandrababu Naidu instructing Rajya Sabha MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar to represent the party. The JD(S) supremo and former prime minister Deve Gowda also said he would attend the inauguration. Attacking the prime minister, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the "arrogance" of the Modi government has "destroyed" the parliamentary system. "Mr Modi, Parliament is the temple of democracy established by the people. The office of the President is the first part of Parliament. The arrogance of your government has destroyed the parliamentary system," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. The All India Adivasi Congress accused the Modi government of "insulting" tribals by not getting Droupadi Murmu, the country's first tribal president, to inaugurate the new Parliament building. It also announced a nationwide protest against the move on May 26. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Yesterday, President Draupadi (sic) Murmu inaugurated the country's largest judicial campus at the Jharkhand High Court complex in Ranchi. It is one man's ego and desire for self-promotion that has denied the first Adivasi woman President her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28th." "Ashoka the Great, Akbar the Great, Modi the Inaugurate," Ramesh said. Hitting out at Opposition parties, the BJP alleged that the opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration just because it has been built at the PM's initiative. Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the new building is a symbol of India's pride and appealed to the opposition parties to attend the "historic day" of its inauguration by showing a "big heart". "We all respect the President, I don't want to drag the post of the President into any controversy today by recalling what Congress said about her. But India's prime minister is also an important part of Parliament. The prime minister also holds constitutional responsibility," he told reporters. Prasad urged the opposition leaders not to use the boycott of the event as a platform to forge opposition unity, saying they will have more opportunities to do so. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also hit out at the opposition parties, saying they were making a "disgusting" attempt to create a controversy. Some opposition leaders also accused the Modi government of being "authoritarian". "Boycott of Parliament Building opening by 20 parties representing the diversity and pluralism of India is a response to boycott of parliamentary traditions by an authoritarian government. The 'NDA statement' pulled out by BJP is telling. A once large coalition now virtually extinct!" said TMC MP Derek O' Brien. CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury underlined that the president and not the prime minister should inaugurate the new building. "Modi to inaugurate new Parliament building! The President of India is not only the head of the Republic but also the head of the Parliament. PM is head of the govt- Executive- & not of the Legislature," he said. TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale referred to the prime minister inaugurating every Vande Bharat train and his photo on Covid-19 vaccinations and said it was a "hallmark of authoritarians". CPI MP Binoy Viswam said issues raised by the opposition have remained unanswered and questioned how the government has asked the opposition to reconsider their decision to boycott the opening ceremony. The opposition parties contend that President Murmu should do the honours as she was not only the Head of State, but also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it. AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain was on Thursday rushed to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital after he collapsed inside the Tihar Jail. "Satyendar Jain has been admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. He collapsed due to dizziness in the bathroom of Tihar Jail. Even before this, Satyendar Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury," the Aam Aadmi Party said. Jain's hospitalisation comes just days after he was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital after he complained about feeling unwell. Images from the hospital shown Jain looking "frail and weak", prompting the AAP to accuse BJP of "wanting to kill" him. Jain, who has been lodged at Tihar Jail since his arrest in connection with a money laundering case last year, taken to the Safdarjung Hospital for a neuro consultation for his spinal injuries. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had shared a photo on Twitter showing an emaciated and frail-looking Jain sitting in a chair at the hospital and two police personnel standing there. "I pray to god for his better health. The people of Delhi are watching the arrogance and atrocities of the BJP. Even god will not forgive these oppressors. In this struggle, the people are with us and god is by our side. We are followers of Bhagat Singh and our fight against oppression, injustice and dictatorship will continue," he tweeted in Hindi. AAP also issued a statement which called the images "heartbreaking." "He appears as nothing more than a living skeleton, frail and weak, struggling to even walk," it said. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also targeted the BJP and accused them of "wanting to kill" Jain. "Clap and celebrate BJP! But remember he (Jain) is the same man who tested Covid positive, lost his father, yet didn't hold back in serving the people of Delhi. The BJP wants to kill Satyendar Jain. This level of cruelty is not acceptable, Modi ji!" he said in a tweet in Hindi. Last week senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, had told the Supreme Court the former minister has lost 35 kg and virtually became a skeleton. He is also suffering from various ailments, he had said. Jain had complained of feeling lonely and depressed in his cell, following which the Tihar prison administration provided a psychologist inside the jail clinic. Prior to this, the jail administration issued a show cause notice to the superintendent of jail number 7 for transferring two inmates to the cell where Jain is lodged. Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed back in Delhi on Thursday morning after a three-nation tour, which saw him take part in three summits and 50 engagements. The Prime Minister was accorded a warm welcome by BJP workers and supporters at Delhi's Palam airport. The three-nation tour involved a visit to Japan's Hiroshima to attend the Group of Seven or G7 Summit. Modi then headed to Papua New Guinea, the first-ever visit by any Indian prime minister to the Indo-Pacific country. Next was Australia at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Speaking to BJP workers on arrival, the Prime Minister took a dig at critics, stating many questioned why India decided to give away vaccines to other countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. "The people here asked me why I gave the vaccines to the world. I want to say that this is the land of Buddha, Gandhi. We care even for our enemies... Today the world wants to know what India is thinking," Modi said. #WATCH | When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/CoiDVxaSjA ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 He took a veiled swipe at the opposition parties when he said not only the Prime Minister of Australia but also the country's former PM and the entirety of the Opposition attended his community event in Sydney for the sake of their nation. "The former Prime Minister was also present in that function. There were MPs from the Opposition and the ruling party. All of them took part in the community event," the PM said. This comes as 19 Opposition parties decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building demanding that it should be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu instead of the prime minister. He said the world was keen to listen to India's story and said Indians should never suffer from "slave mentality" while speaking about their great culture and traditions and instead speak with courage. "When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi," he said. The Prime Minister said he had the opportunity to release the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukural' in Papua New Guinea. "Tamil language is our language. It is the language of every Indian," the Prime Minister added. Modi added that the world agrees with him when he says any attack on the country's pilgrimage site is not acceptable. Vande Bharat flag off Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will flag off the inaugural run of Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi via video conferencing on Thursday. The PM will also declare open Khelo India University Games 2022 at 7 pm via video conferencing on Friday evening. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said the government is mulling a possible ban on Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime minister's arrest. On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of 70-year-old Khan by paramilitary Rangers. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander house, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10. Talking to the media here, Asif said that Khan was still reluctant to condemn the attacks by his supporters on military and civilian installations. "A decision (to ban PTI) has not been taken yet, but a review is surely underway, he told reporters. He, however, said that the matter will be referred to the Parliament for approval if the government finally decides to ban the former ruling party. The minister said that the former premier considered the army as his adversary. "His (Khan's) entire politics was done in the lap of the army and today he has suddenly decided to stand against it," Asif said. The minister said that Khan's own leaders who had quit the party were saying the same thing. "Whatever I am saying is being said by all the people leaving PTI," he said. They have said that everything happened with planning. In fact, they were facilitated. He also criticized Khan for not condemning the attacks on the military facilities. "Till now, he (Imran) has not condemned [the violence] in clear words. He says that he did not know, he was [in custody]. He had his phone [] he repeated that this reaction was expected and will happen again if he is arrested, said Asif. Asif claimed that the vandalism of military installations across the country on May 9 was coordinated attacks" planned by Khan. "There is a lot of evidence and their people are telling themselves that they were briefed about this beforehand, he said. "I feel that his struggle of a year all his plans failed and this was his last move against the armed forces. The minister said that Khan's party challenged the foundation of the state by challenging the defence installations on May 9. "Is there any crime that was not committed on May 9? The ISI office was attacked, they tried to enter the Cantonment in Sialkot but that attack was repulsed they also set fire to the Lahore Corps Commander's house, he claimed. However, PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar said that the party would challenge the ban in the court as a political party cannot be banned. He told the media that when a ban was imposed on the Jamaat-i-Islami in the 1960s, it was set aside by then-chief justice Alvin Robert Cornelius. "Efforts were made to put a ban on Jamaat-i-Islami long ago. The SC had said that you cannot ban a political party and it is everyone's right to form a political party, Zafar said. He further said that vandalism was an individual act and a political party cannot be banned. The defence minister also said that the coalition government would take every such step to prevent others from targeting the armed forces in the future. He also said that May 25 will be celebrated to pay tribute to the country's slain soldiers. Khan's party said that he will address the nation at 7 pm tonight. 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. KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2023 - 07:51 | All, World Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he will seek the Republican Party nomination for next year's U.S. presidential election, with many recent polls showing the prominent conservative trailing former President Donald Trump. DeSantis, 44, is regarded as a top alternative to the scandal-tainted Trump, but the second-term governor has struggled to rally support in the run-up to his campaign launch. "I'm running for president to lead our great American comeback," DeSantis said in the announcement made via a video posted to Twitter. As he builds a national profile, the governor's moves in his state have sparked controversy. His authorization of a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and restrictions on school instruction about the diversity of sexual orientation have drawn concern from other Republicans as well as Walt Disney Co., a major employer in Florida. DeSantis also came under fire in March after he described the continued conflict in Ukraine triggered by Russia's invasion last year as "territorial disputes." According to major poll tracking website Real Clear Politics, the former House of Representatives member holds second place in the party's nomination race in the latest-available data, outpacing Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and former Vice President Mike Pence, among others. But Trump, 76, rates as an approximately 55 percent front-runner, the website shows, and holds around a 34 percentage point lead over DeSantis. DeSantis was once a vocal supporter of Trump, and the then U.S. president's endorsement helped him become governor of Florida in 2019. But he and Trump are now increasingly at odds. Trump, who was charged in April with 34 felony counts linked to his alleged role in a hush money payment to a porn star before the 2016 presidential election, has sharpened his attacks on the governor. The head of the Russian private army Wagner has again broken with the Kremlin line on Ukraine, saying its goal of demilitarising the country has backfired, acknowledging Russian troops have killed civilians and agreeing with Western estimates that he's lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prigozhin said about half of those who died in the eastern Ukrainian city were Russian convicts recruited for the 15-month-old war. His figures stood in stark contrast to Moscow's widely disputed claims from that just over 6,000 of its troops were killed throughout the war as of January. By comparison, official Soviet troop losses in the 1979-89 Afghanistan war were 15,000. Ukraine hasn't said how many of its soldiers have died since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. White House officials said Wednesday that Prigozhin's comments were in line with their estimates that Russian losses have accelerated. The White House estimated this month that Russian forces had suffered 100,000 casualties, including 20,000 killed in fighting, since December. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said then that about half of those killed were Wagner forces. Analysts believe many of those killed in the nine-month fight for Bakhmut were Russian convicts with little military training. Prigozhin himself a former convict has frequently criticized Russian military officials for not supplying his troops with enough ammunition. He also has questioned their tactics, commitment and leadership capabilities, and complained they haven't sufficiently credited his forces for battlefield successes. He's highlighted his forces' sacrifices and on Saturday touted what he claims is the capture of the city of Bakhmut. In an interview published late Tuesday with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Kremlin political strategist, he went even further in his criticism questioning some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rationale for the war. Prigozhin said Russia's goal of demilitarizing Ukraine has backfired because Kyiv's military has become stronger with Western weapons and training. In invading Ukraine, Putin also cited the need to increase Russia's security and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Since the war began, Ukraine has applied to join NATO, and cross-border attacks into Russia itself have increased. In the interview, Prigozhin also challenged Moscow's vehement denials that Russian forces had killed civilians. Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman with longtime links to Putin, is known for his bluster often spiced with obscenities and has previously made unverifiable claims from which he later backtracked. Earlier this month, his media team published a video of him shouting, swearing and pointing at about 30 uniformed bodies on the ground, saying they were Wagner fighters who died in a single day. He claimed the Russian Defense Ministry had starved his men of ammunition, and he threatened to give up the fight for Bakhmut. Prigozhin has frequently warned of a counteroffensive that Ukrainian officials have said they're planning, and in Tuesday's interview, he said that, given continued Western support, Kyiv's forces might succeed in pushing Russian troops out of all territory they occupy in southern and eastern Ukraine, as well as annexed Crimea. A pessimistic scenario: the Ukrainians are given missiles, they prepare troops, of course they will continue their offensive, try to counterattack," he said. "They will attack Crimea, they will try to blow up the Crimean bridge (to the Russian mainland), cut off (our) supply lines. Therefore we need to prepare for a hard war. Prigozhin's admission of heavy losses appears to show the impact of Ukraine's strategy. Ukrainian officials have said their goal in Bakhmut was to exhaust and deplete Russian forces, distract them from protecting territory they occupy elsewhere, and buy time for more Western weapons and ammunition supplies to arrive, and training to be completed. Russia's largest state-run and pro-Kremlin media did not report Prigozhin's interview, posted in a Telegram channel with only 50,000 followers, making it unlikely to be widely seen in Russia. Nor did Russian military bloggers, whose popular Telegram pages are important sources of information about the war to many Russians, mention it. On the battlefield, the Ukrainian General Staff said Wednesday that heavy fighting was continuing inside Bakhmut, days after Russia claimed it had completely captured the devastated city. Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four Russia illegally annexed last fall and only partially controls. The head of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Kyiv's forces are continuing their defensive operation in Bakhmut, with unspecified successes on its outskirts. He didn't elaborate. A Ukrainian commander in Bakhmut told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Ukrainians planned to trap the Russians. Now we don't need to fight in Bakhmut. We need to surround it from flanks and block it, Yevhen Mezhevikin said. "Then we should sweep' it. This is more appropriate, and that's what we are doing now. Elsewhere, more attacks continued in a border region that Russian officials had claimed had calmed down after one of the most serious incursions since the war began. Russian forces shot down a large number of drones in Russia's southern Belgorod region, a local official said Wednesday, a day after Moscow announced that its forces crushed a cross-border raid from Ukraine. The drones were intercepted overnight, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, and another was shot down Wednesday just outside the regional capital, also called Belgorod. He said no one had been hurt, but property had been damaged. Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. In Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu vowed to respond promptly and extremely harshly to such attacks. Details of the incident in the rural region, about 80 kilometers (45 miles) north of the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine and far from the war's front lines, are unclear. Moscow blamed the incursion on Ukrainian military saboteurs. Kyiv described it as an uprising against the Kremlin by Russian partisans. It was impossible to reconcile the two versions, to say with certainty who was behind the attack or to ascertain its aims. The region is a Russian military hub holding fuel and ammunition depots. The Belgorod region, like the neighbouring Bryansk region and other border areas, has seen sporadic spillover from the war. Imran Khan is batting for his political career. As the crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf intensifies, Khans team is getting bowled out of the party. The latest on Wednesday was Fawad Chaudhary, who quit to take a break from politics. The question remains whether Khan will be the last man standing. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that banning the party was under consideration. Vice Chairman (of) PTI Shah Mehmood Qureshi rearrested after getting bail just like PTI workers and supporters. We are now being governed by law of the jungle, might is right and the only thing standing in its way is our judiciary. The constitution is being brazenly violated along with SC rulings. Police being used to crush PTI, our leaders forced to quit the party. Fundamental rights openly trampled upon, media totally muzzled, SM activists threatened. Imran Riaz is not being produced in court despite court orders. Also, our workers are cramped into small cells in this blistering heat while others have faced custodial torture. Giving in to this Yazeediat means the death of our nation and hence will resist till my last breath, tweeted Khan. The strategy adopted by the establishedwith the governments, to reign in Khan, seems to have desired results. The violence of May 9, largely carried out by PTI supporters, showed that Khan commanded the street. A large number of PTI workers stormed into the Corps Commander's Lahore residence. Emergency was imposed in Punjab province and cell phone services were affected. With harsh punishment for those involved in the violence, it is clear that the bogey of the fauj may have been smashed but the army is determined to win. With the threat of jail term hanging above their headand rearreststhe top brass of the party are caving in. This is not the first time that such strong-armed tactics have been employed. Chaudhary was arrestedin a dramatic fashionin connection with the May 9 violence. This resignation came on the heels of Shireen Mazari quitting from the party. Mazari, who was a close aide of Khan was released for the fourth time after May 11. In a statement, she said: Not only the May 9 and 10 violence, but Ive always condemned every kind of violence especially against state institutions and symbols like the General Headquarters, Supreme Court and Parliament. Mazari too has chosen to quit active politics. She is 72. From today, Im not part of PTI or any active party because first [for me are] my family, my mother and kids, she said. Khan is in the cornerand all he has left, as one commentator said, was his batbut he is still determined not to be out. And nor is he losing the popular support he has. Yes, Pakistani political parties have been dismantled before, but PTI is no MQM. It has national reach and mass appeal. Those are facts that cant be denied or shrugged off as inconsequential, said Micheal Kugelman, South Asia Institute Director at The Wilson Center. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. According to reports, Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday formalising the deployment of Moscow's tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally, although control of the weapons remains in the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of shorter-range weapons in Belarus earlier this year in a move widely seen as a warning to the West as it stepped up military support for Ukraine. When the weapons would be deployed wasn't announced, but Putin has said the construction of storage facilities in Belarus for them would be completed by July 1. Also unclear is how many nuclear weapons would be kept in Belarus. The US government believes Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, which include bombs that can be carried by aircraft, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery rounds. TASS reported Russia has already handed over Iskander-M tactical missile systems capable of using missiles with both conventional and nuclear warheads to the Belarusian armed forces. Moscow also rendered assistance in re-equipping Belarusian combat planes for carrying special munitions. Tactical nuclear weapons are intended to destroy enemy troops and weapons on the battlefield. They have a relatively short range and a much lower yield than nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles that are capable of obliterating whole cities. The signing of the deal came as Russia braces for Ukraine's much-anticipated counteroffensive. Both Russian and Belarusian officials also framed the step as driven by hostility from the West. Deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said in Minsk at a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere, Shoigu added. Putin has argued that by deploying its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russia was following the lead of the United States, noting that the US has nuclear weapons based in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the move. We must do everything to prevent Putin's plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will ensure Russia's control over Belarus for years to come, Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. This will further jeopardise the security of Ukraine and all of Europe. Independent Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said about two-thirds of Russia's arsenal of medium-range nuclear-tipped missiles were held in Belarus during the Cold War, adding that there are dozens of Soviet-era storage facilities that could still be used. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia in a US-brokered deal after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Documents in Minsk on the return of nuclear weapons were defiantly signed just at the moment when Ukraine declared a counteroffensive and Western countries are handing over weapons to Kyiv, Alesin told the AP. This Belarusian nuclear balcony should spoil the mood for politicians in the West, since nuclear missiles are capable of covering Ukraine, all of Poland, the Baltic states and parts of Germany. Khrenin also announced plans to build up the combat potential of the regional grouping of Russian and Belarusian troops, including the transfer to Minsk of the Iskander-M missile system, capable of carrying a nuclear charge, and the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading neighbouring Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as official data from Office for National Statistics revealed on Thursday as immigration has reached a record high in the country in 2022. According to reports, A total of 1.2 million people moved to the UK in 2022, while 5,57,000 left. Total long-term immigration was estimated at around 1.2 million in 2022, and emigration was 5,57,000, which means migration continues to add to the population with net migration ( the difference between the number of people arriving and those leaving) at 6,06,000, the report said. According to the report, most people were arriving from non-EU countries; 9,25,000 were from non-EU countries, 1,51,000 from the EU and 88,000 were British. The data found that people were travelling to the UK for work, study and on humanitarian purposes like seeking asylum. Unique events such as those arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong, have contributed towards relatively high levels of immigration over the past 18 months; however, growth has slowed over recent quarters, potentially demonstrating the temporary nature of these impacts, the report said. The net figure is up from just under 5,00,000 in 2021. The total UK population is about 67 million. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the immigration figure was too high, but he did not say what an ideal number would be. "We've got to be sensitive to the needs of the (health service), the economy, but fundamentally the numbers are too high I'm bringing them down," he told broadcaster ITV. The high figure revived debate about Britain's departure from the European Union, which was motivated in part by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people from across Europe in the years before the 2016 Brexit referendum. Supporters of Brexit said leaving the EU, which gives citizens of any member country the right to live and work in all the others, would allow the UK to control its borders. Many who voted for Brexit thought immigration would fall, but the opposite has been true. The UK still issues tens of thousands of work visas a year to fill jobs in hospitals, nursing homes and other sectors. While the number of people moving to Britain from EU countries fell to 1,51,000 in 2022, the number from outside the bloc was 9,25,000, and India has overtaken European nations as the top source of workers. While most economists say immigration is an economic boon to Britain, some residents say new arrivals are putting more pressure on overstretched public services and worsening a national housing shortage. The subject of immigration also gets conflated with the emotive issue of asylum-seekers who arrive in Britain in small boats across the English Channel. The UK government has taken controversial steps to try to halt the journeys, including a contentious and legally contested plan to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda. Some lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party demanded tough new measures to curb immigration. But Conservative legislator Alicia Kearns, who chairs Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, warned against knee-jerk reactions. She said net migration numbers shouldn't include students, adding that the UK's position as an academic superpower is very beneficial. She added that the country needs to fill jobs wealth creators have made, and that the UK has been proud to offer refuge to Ukrainians and residents of Hong Kong. (With PTI inputs.) BENGALURU, India, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivers are the life force of the planet. As for India, the country depends on them as one of the major sources of agricultural practices. The remarkable efforts of the women of Tamil Nadu have brought back one such river from the brink of extinction. It is the Naganadhi River in Vellore District of Tamil Nadu. Naganadhi, a seasonal river in Tamil Nadu, had completely dried up in the last 20 years. That is when The Art of Living, under the vision of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar launched the River Rejuvenation Project to revive the river basins across the country. It started in 2014 with a team of technical experts including scientists, geologists, and volunteers who surveyed the rural areas of the Vellore district to implement the Naganadhi River Rejuvenation Work as a part of water scarcity management in the country. Constructing recharge wells and boulder check dams was essential to rejuvenate the river. Initially, around 20,000 women took up the challenge to revive dried-up rivers through the project. As the word spread, the tally rose to 44,000, with volunteers enrolled under MGNREGA getting involved in the scheme of things. These women volunteers worked tirelessly under the guidance of The Art of Living to dig wells and build and place cement rings. As a result, groundwater levels rose from one meter to eight meters, bringing the river back to life. It was a moment of pride for these women volunteers in Tamil Nadu when the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, praised their efforts and teamwork for the third time in his recent 100th episode of 'Mann ki Baat'. Shri. Chandrashekhar Kuppan, Director of The Art of Living River Rejuvenation Projects, has been awarded and honoured with the Ponnadai (Golden Shawl) for the efforts of reviving the Naganadhi and other rivers. It was truly a moment of appreciation and gratitude. All the volunteers' efforts have earlier been recognized and appreciated by everyone in the country, including Shri S.A. Raman, the District Collector and Chairman of the District Rural Development Agency of Vellore, who praised the successful implementation of the project in a letter dated January 18, 2018 Moreover, several measures were taken to instil hope and faith regarding the project among the locals, starting with capacity building of rural youth and women. Locals were trained in various yoga practices. They inculcated these practices in their routine, which helped build a sense of community and made it easier for everyone to come together and work to revive the river basin. To this date, 366 square kilometres of the catchment area for the Naganadhi River basin successfully revived with 40% of it lying in the Tiruvannamalai district, while 60% of it lies in the Vellore district. Originating in Amirthi, Vellore, and the river flows downstream through around 20 Gram-panchayats to join the Kamandala River before it finally unites with Cheyyar River, approximately 48 kilometres from the starting point. Once a seasonal river, now has been flowing perennially for more than 600 days after the intervention of the rejuvenation project. It is an example of sheer determination, faith, and dedication by the women volunteers under the Art of Living, who have worked sincerely to turn this vision into a reality. About The Art of Living- Social Projects The Art of Living organization, founded by the world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has revived 23 rivers and inspired 44,000 women to participate in the noble initiative. For more updates: Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/artofliving.sp/ Like us at: https://www.facebook.com/artoflivingsocialprojects Tweet us at: https://twitter.com/artoflivingsp Message us at: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/artofliving-sp Contact: Name: Shamika Gandhi Contact No.: +919986557389 Mail ID: shamika.gandhi@projects.artofliving.org Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1979631/AOLSPlogo_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR HYDERABAD, India, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grow Indigo and Dvara E-Registry (DER) are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership to promote climate-smart agricultural practices and create income opportunities for farmers. This innovative collaboration will connect smallholder farmers to the carbon market through the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices, thereby creating a win-win situation for both the environment and the farming community. Grow Indigo, known for its efforts in assisting farmers adopt regenerative practices, and Dvara E-Registry, a frontrunner in leveraging technology to improve farm profitability and decrease cultivation costs, are set to spearhead a joint project. The shared goal is to mitigate Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHGs) and generate Carbon Credits in the Madhya Pradesh region to begin with. Dvara E-Registry and Grow Indigo are already engaged in providing farmers with alternative inputs in the form of biological products to reduce the use of synthetic inputs and improve productivity. Farmers participating in this initiative are encouraged to shift from conventional farming methods to Regenerative Agricultural Practices. These include direct seeding of rice, reduced field flooding, no or reduced tillage, and integrated nutrient management. Not only do these practices significantly cut down GHGs, but they also foster improved soil health, increased crop yields, and long-term cost reduction. "This partnership aims to promote regenerative agricultural practices by incentivizing farmers with additional income. This is the first-of-its kind effort in Madhya Pradesh, of linking farmer to voluntary carbon markets." says Umang Agrawal, Head, Carbon and Sustainable Produce from Grow Indigo. "By incentivizing regenerative farming, we aim to bring about significant change in the agriculture sector, aligning the needs of our planet with the needs of our farmers." "Combining our digital capabilities with Grow Indigo's expertise in sustainable agriculture and carbon monitoring presents a remarkable opportunity for transformative change," said Tarun Katoch, Co-Founder, Dvara E-Registry. "This initiative is not only about driving down Greenhouse Gases but also about empowering our farmers to play an active role in climate solutions, while improving their livelihoods. The fusion of technology and regenerative farming will redefine agriculture in a climate-conscious world." This pioneering initiative will drive a paradigm shift in agricultural practices, leading to a more prosperous and sustainable future for farmers and the planet. About Dvara E-Registry: Dvara E-Registry is an agfintech startup building a digital platform, Doordrishti, to improve access to agricultural services, both financial and advisory, for all stakeholders in the agri value chain. Doordrishti is a mobile and web-based platform developed by Dvara E-Registry that brings together farmers, FPOs, and all other agricultural stakeholders. The platform allows farmers, FPOs, and partner institutions to leverage traditional and alternative data to digitise farmer and FPO lands, as well as business activity, and provide farmers of FPOs with farm and crop-specific products and services via a digital mode of information sharing. Dvara E-Registry was named one of the winners of Inclusive Fintech 50 for 2021 for its work towards financial inclusion of smallholder farmers, awarded the 'Most Innovative AgTech' in the 'Emerging Start-Ups' category at the 4th edition of the FICCI Agri Start-up summit and awards and winner of the Inclusive Finance India Awards 2021 under the category Technology for Financial Inclusion. The startup is a portfolio company of Dvara Holdings (formerly Dvara Trust) and part of the Dvara Venture Studio cohort that supports entrepreneurs working towards large-scale systemic change in financial inclusion. For further information, please visit: www.dvaraeregistry.com About Grow Indigo: Grow Indigo is founded by Mahyco (www.mahyco.com) and Indigo Ag (www.indigoag.com), working in sustainable agriculture, with an aim to improve farmer profitability, environmental sustainability and consumer health through the natural microbiology and digital technologies. Utilizing beneficial plant microbes and agronomic insights, we work with various stakeholders to sustainably produce high quality harvests. The company then connects farmers and buyers directly to bring these harvests to market through our Grow Mandi platform. Working across the supply chain, Grow Indigo is furthering its mission of harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet. Grow Indigo has created a digital value chain addressing the input and output of the marketplace. In 2021, Grow Indigo listed the first-of-its-kind carbon program for agriculture on a global carbon registry. The carbon program has a potential to create a parallel stream of income for the farmer while positively impacting the environment. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) In line with the Budget announcement, the finance ministry on Thursday hiked the tax exemption limit for leave encashment upon retirement for private sector salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh. So far, the tax exemption on leave encashment for non-government employees was Rs 3 lakh which was fixed in 2002, when the highest basic pay in the government was Rs 30,000 per month. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in a statement, said the aggregate amount exempt from income tax under section 10(10AA)(ii) shall not exceed the limit of Rs 25 lakh, where any such payments are received by a non-government employee from more than one employer. The increased limit for tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement or otherwise of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh with effect from April 1, 2023. "In pursuance to the proposal in the Budget speech, 2023,... the central government has notified the increased limit for tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement or otherwise of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh w.e.f. 01.04.2023," the CBDT said. In 2023-24 Budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had increased the tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh, from Rs 3 lakh. Mumbai, May 25 (PTI) Air India has derostered two pilots who operated the Delhi-Sydney flight that had encountered severe turbulence, leaving at least seven passengers with a minor sprain earlier this month. They have been taken off flying duty till the completion of the internal investigations. The B787-800 aircraft VT-ANY operating flight AI-302, which had taken off from the national capital on May 16, encountered severe turbulence mid-air. There were around 224 passengers onboard the plane. "Pilots operating AI 302 from Delhi to Sydney of 16th May 2023 have been taken off from flying duties until internal investigations are complete. "As per findings of the preliminary inquiry, all the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) laid down for such events were adhered to in this case," Air India said on Thursday in response to a query from PTI. The plane landed safely in Sydney on May 17. Earlier in the day, sources at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the regulator had recommended grounding of the pilots who operated the Delhi-Sydney flight for corrective training. The sources also said the flight crew did not apply certain limitations during the flight. On May 17, a senior DGCA official said that no hospitalisation of passengers was required due to the turbulence. "During flight seven passengers reported minor sprain. Cabin crew provided the first aid with the assistance of a doctor and a nurse travelling as passengers, using an onboard first aid kit," the official had said. London, May 25 (PTI) Indian nationals top the tally of skilled worker and student visas issued by the UK over the past year, according to official immigration statistics released in London on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data collated by the UK Home Office shows that Indian nationals were the top nationality for cross-sector skilled work, including specifically targeted healthcare visas aimed at filling staff shortages in the National Health Service (NHS). They also made up the largest group of students granted visas under the new Graduate post-study work route, representing 41 per cent of grants. Indian nationals were the top nationality for visas in the Worker category, representing one third (33 per cent) of grants, and were by far the top nationality for both the Skilled Worker and Skilled Worker - Health and Care visas, the Home Office analysis notes. A total of 92,951 Graduate route extensions were granted to previous students in the year ending March 2023. Indian nationals represented the largest group of students granted leave to remain on the Graduate route, representing 41 per cent of grants, it said. According to the latest statistics, skilled worker visas granted to Indians rose 63 per cent, from 13,390 in 2021-22 to 21,837 in 2022-23. In the healthcare visa category, Indians registered an even higher 105 per cent hike from 14,485 to 29,726. There were 138,532 sponsored study visa grants to Indian nationals in year ending March 2023, an increase of 53,429 (+63 per cent) compared to year ending March 2022 and the largest number of study visas granted to any nationality. Grants to study for Indian nationals have risen markedly since year ending March 2019 and are now around seven times higher, the analysis notes. Nigeria had the highest number of dependants (66,796) of sponsored study visa holders in the year ending March 2023, increasing from 27,137 in the year ending March 2022. Indian nationals had the second highest number of dependants, increasing from 22,598 to 42,381, it notes. The latest data comes days after UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced a clampdown on the right of student visa holders to bring dependent family members, limiting it only to PhD level students. This package includes: removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes, Braverman said in a statement to the House of Commons announcing a new package of measures to curb migration. It was widely seen as pre-emptive action ahead of the latest ONS figures revealing on Thursday that net migration to the UK hit a record 606,000 in 2022-23, up from 504,000 in the previous year and driven by a sharp rise in workers and students from outside the European Union (EU). It will intensify calls for a tougher crackdown on immigration norms from within the governing Conservative Party, which has had an election target to bring down overall numbers especially in the wake of Brexit. However, experts warn that including overseas students within overall net migration statistics is in itself a flawed approach. We have a situation where migration figures are scaring people and I feel very strongly about this, said Lord Karan Bilimoria, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on International Students, who has raised the issue in Parliament. We must exclude international students from the net migration figures. America and Australia treat international students as temporary migrants. We are unnecessarily creating a fear of immigration by including them because international students, on the whole, go back to their countries where they come from, he said. Islamabad, May 25 (PTI) Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has hinted that the IMF loan programme to Pakistan may expire on June 30 due to the restricted time for its revival but asserted that the cash-strapped country would not default, a media report said on Thursday. Pakistan is in acute need of the USD 6.5 billion loan facility by the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilise its economy. While speaking to a delegation of a regional business body on Wednesday, Dar said, Our efforts are aimed at completing the second IMF programme in the countrys history, although time has been restricted and the programme is ending on June 30, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. He stressed that the delay was unfortunate and the review should have been completed earlier. Since 1958, Pakistan has signed 22 IMF programmes but failed to complete all, barring the 2013-16 facility, thanks to nearly 18 waivers from the global lender. Islamabad signed the current 36-month USD 6 billion Extended Fund Facility in July 2019, which, on request of the then-finance minister, Miftah Ismail, was extended by the IMF by nine months to June 30, 2023, and its size increased to USD 6.5 billion. Over the past almost four years, the programme has been derailed at least four times, including on two occasions during the tenure of the current coalition government, and the failure to complete it will further widen the trust deficit between the country and the financial world, the report said. The government has not yet come up with a credible alternative plan, which has created panic in markets as the Pakistani Rupee is trading in the range of PKR 308 to PKR 313 to a dollar in the open market. However, Dar asserted that the country was not on the verge of a financial crisis and will absolutely not default. He stated that Pakistan completed all technical formalities of the ninth review. It is unfortunate that the beginning of this review has been delayed by three months, but we have completed all prior actions, Dar said. Amidst the political turmoil, Pakistan's coalition government failed to complete the programme reviews timely, and USD 2.6 billion remains undisbursed because of disagreements on the ninth review, which also delayed the completion of the 10th and 11th reviews, the report said. The IMF said earlier this month that there was a significant financing gap that Pakistan was required to bridge before reaching a staff-level agreement. Dar boasted that he surprised those pundits who predicted Pakistans default and the government achieved a current account surplus for two consecutive months. He pointed out that the country recorded a current account surplus in March and April at USD 750 million and USD 18 million, respectively. Markets and businessmen have, however, been openly critical of the governments approach to suffocate the economy and the industry by curbing imports, which they feel, is only delaying the looming default. Dar apologised to the business community for the hardships and inconvenience they face due to the present economic situation but clarified that the current economic team was not responsible for those hardships. The minister said that the country had repaid USD 5.5 billion of commercial loans, of which China rolled over USD 2 billion once it understood that Pakistan had completed its requirements for the release of funds by the IMF. Regarding the remaining USD 3.5 billion in loans from non-Chinese commercial banks, Dar said, We are expecting that a substantial part of this will be returned once the staff-level agreement is reached because it is always renewed and they (banks) are always there to do business. So far, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and China have given Pakistan assurances of assistance in March and April that will cover some of the funding deficit. According to sources, owing to an estimated USD 25 billion external debt repayment, including the interest on loans, and the need to finance the current account deficit, the Ministry of Finance has advised the government to negotiate a new deal with the IMF. KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2023 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan ---------- City assembly head's son arrested over deadly attack in central Japan NAGANO, Japan - The son of a city assembly chief in central Japan was arrested Friday on suspicion of killing a policeman in a stabbing and shooting attack that left a total of four people dead, according to local police. The police identified the suspect as Masanori Aoki, 31, the eldest son of Masamichi Aoki, speaker of the city assembly in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture. He has admitted to the allegations. ---------- 14 Indo-Pacific nations to strengthen supply chain for critical items DETROIT - Ministers from the United States, Japan and 12 other Indo-Pacific nations will agree at their meeting Saturday in Detroit to bolster supply chains for chips, medicine and other critical items in the event of an emergency under a U.S.-led economic initiative, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. The enhanced supply chain resiliency will be the first agreement among 14 member countries of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, representing 40 percent of global gross domestic product, and could help counter China's economic influence in the region. ---------- Japan's MSDF ship to fly rising sun flag at naval drill in South Korea TOKYO - A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer will fly the rising sun flag when taking part in a naval drill in South Korea next week, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Friday, amid improving ties between the two Asian neighbors. Tokyo's decision regarding the exercise, slated to be held off Jeju Island next Wednesday, indicates that Seoul views the act of hoisting the controversial flag, perceived as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism, as less problematic. Japan colonized the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945. ---------- M6.2 quake rocks eastern Japan, no tsunami threat TOKYO - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 rocked Tokyo and surrounding areas of eastern Japan on Friday, but there was no threat of a tsunami, the weather agency said. The quake occurred at 7:03 p.m., registering a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. ---------- Over 97% of Japan's new univ. graduates employed amid labor shortage TOKYO - Over 97 percent of new university graduates in Japan found jobs this spring, up 1.5 points from the previous year for the first rise in three years, reflecting a labor shortage as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, the government said Friday. A total of 97.3 percent of graduates who sought jobs were employed as of April 1, the third highest figure on record since 1997, when the government started collecting data, according to the labor and education ministries. ---------- Cambodia judicial body rejects opposition party's election ban appeal PHNOM PENH - Cambodia's top judicial body has dismissed an appeal by the main opposition party against an election committee's decision to disqualify it from taking part in a general election in July, in a move that virtually secures the victory of Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party. The Candlelight Party filed the appeal on May 19 against the National Election Committee's decision earlier this month. The election committee said the opposition party failed to submit proper registration documents. ---------- ChatGPT iOS app made available in Japan Apple store TOKYO - Artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT, which has garnered international headlines for its ability to hold human-like conversations, has become available for download at Apple Inc.'s Japanese app store. After its initial release at Apple's U.S. app store on May 18, the AI language model has become available in dozens of countries, including Canada, India and Brazil, as its developer OpenAI seeks to expand user numbers. ---------- Sydney shines in Southern Hemisphere's largest light festival SYDNEY - Sydney came to life Friday with a dazzling display of colors and light as the harbor city kicked off its annual Vivid Sydney festival of light, art and culture, the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Just after sunset, the sails of the Sydney Opera House lit up with the vibrant and colorful works of the late Australian artist John Olsen, renowned for his abstract depictions of Australian landscapes. ---------- Video: U.S.-S. Korea joint firepower military drill Kolkata, May 25 (PTI) 'The Kerala Story' movie is being screened in only one theatre in West Bengal but it is evoking a good response from the audience, an official of the Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA) said on Thursday. The Supreme Court on May 18 set aside the West Bengal governments ban on screening of the controversial movie in the state. The Mamata Banerjee administration, while imposing the ban on May 8, had cited fears that the movie, if screened in theatres, could fan communal passions. While theatre owners in other halls have not shown the willingness to show the movie, a cinema hall in Bongaon town in North 24 Parganas district near the India-Bangladesh border is screening the movie since May 20, with a disclaimer that the "narratives are based on fictional accounts". "Sreema Cinema Hall on Ramnagar Road in Bongaon, around 75 km from Kolkata, is screening the movie but we do not have knowledge whether any other theatre in the state is showing the film," the office-bearer of EIMPA, the apex body of cinema hall owners and distributors of the eastern region, told PTI. After the state government imposed the ban on the film's screening, around 60 halls showing it started allotting its slots to other Bengali, Hindi and English movies and now, barring one, all cite the inability to resume screening, he said. "We offered them several time slots but they did not show any inclination to screen the film," he said. Satadip Saha, on behalf of the film's distributors SSR Cinema, said, "The movie is being screened in only one theatre despite us assuring the hall owners that they would not face any legal hurdle if they screen the movie after May 18." Ratan Saha, chairman of the exhibition section of EIMPA, in an earlier letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, wrote, "Currently cinema halls are struggling as audiences are not coming to theatres in large numbers. However, 'The Kerala Story' had a successful three-day run giving some relief to the hall owners. So, I request you to make arrangements to facilitate the screening of the film in the state for the interest of cinema." Ratan Saha, who is also a co-owner of Ajanta Cinema in South Kolkata, said, "It is up to the respective hall owner to take the decision (to screen the movie), the EIPMA cannot ask them to. As far as I know, the distributors are ready if any other hall owner shows interest." The movie's director Sudipto Sen, in a press conference in Kolkata on May 19, had claimed that many hall owners have informed him that they were threatened and asked not to screen the film. He had said that the movie will certainly be released on OTT platforms later but it was "meant for viewing on the large screen". Srinagar, May 25 (PTI) Braving threats and extremist elements, Inox Cinema here is ready to host the premiere of "Welcome to Kashmir" on Friday, a first of its kind film on Kashmiri people and starring people from the Valley, and that makes theatre owner Vikas Dhar a happy man. Dhar, who fulfilled the dream of his father and prominent educationist Vijay Dhar by setting up a cinema hall in Srinagar 32 years after terror groups had banned or burnt majority of these theatres in the city, said Kashmiris want to watch films on the big screen. He too wanted the Kashmiri people to watch movies in cinemas and that's how his family ended up opening a theatre in Srinagar, which became operational last September. "The fact that people of Kashmir have accepted the return of the big screen... People are coming to cinemas and watching movies here. It is something that was in my system for a long time. I don't know how good it is as a business decision, but it feels like that dream has come true," Dhar, 56, told PTI TV in an interview. The theatre owner also spoke about the film industry's long-standing relationship with Kashmir. He said cinema icon "Shammi Kapoor's ashes were immersed in Dal Lake". Kapoor famously shot for songs "Diwana hua badal" and "Tareef karun kya uski" from 1964 Hindi film "Kashmir Ki Kali" at the famous Dal Lake. He also shot the 1961 film "Junglee" in the Valley. "Welcome to Kashmir", set to be released on Friday, is directed by first-time filmmaker Tariq Bhat. Starring newcomers Mateena Rajput and Ahmad Shahab, the film revolves around a girl who dreams to work for women empowerment and women safety in Kashmir. "Film has a Kashmiri director, actors, producers and the first world premiere in Kashmir. Now, this is a very amazing thing. The first show is completely booked and I hope that the momentum shall continue," said Dhar, who left his lucrative job in the national capital, to run the cinema hall. Dhar said people of Kashmir have their favourite movies and stars. "They critically dissect movies... They are knowledgeable about the films. I can also appreciate that they (people of Kashmir) now don't have to go outside Kashmir to watch movies. It's been a wholly positive response and feedback," he added. Director Bhat hails from a village in Sopore of North Kashmir, called 'Chota Pakistan' during the peak of militancy. Eager to find out the public response, the filmmaker said through "Welcome To Kashmir", he has attempted to highlight issues such as drug abuse, women safety and tiring conditions under which the Jammu and Kashmir Police works. "I believe the movie will act as a bridge to connect to Kashmir youths and help me in building a film industry in Jammu and Kashmir. This will provide an opportunity to the youths and wean them away from illegal activities," he added. Actor Rajput, who hails from a village in Handwara, once considered as a gateway for terrorists to enter the Valley, acknowledged the difficulties while shooting the movie. "It is really difficult for a Kashmiri girl to get into this kind of profession (acting) because of the mindset of some extremists around... One has to be mentally strong enough to take a decision and follow her dreams. I feel lucky that perhaps I am the one who can bring about a change in society for our women," she said. Shahab said "Welcome to Kashmir" shines a light on the daily problems faced by the Kashmiri people. It showcases a positive side of Kashmir and the people of the region, which makes this movie a distinctive one, the actor said. Peshawar, May 25 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the immediate start of work for the restoration of the historic building of state-run Radio Pakistan here which was set ablaze during May 9 violence following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan. Sharif visited the building of the national public broadcaster in Pakistan and lamented the way in which it was burned down. On May 9, there were violent protests following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Khan that led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by his supporters. For the first time in Pakistans history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and also torched the Corps Commanders House in Lahore. Radio Pakistan's headquarters was also set on fire in Peshawar. Radio Pakistan is the oldest existing broadcasting network in Pakistan. Sharif, also the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, expressed his dismay over the loss of a precious and historic archival record that was completely destroyed and torched by the violent mob. The way the archives were burned down... nations protect their identity with their lives so that the coming generations can benefit from it. But here the archives were burned down, he said. Director General Radio Pakistan Tahir Hassan briefed the Prime Minister in detail about damages caused to the structure by the angry mob for two days. Sharif praised the bravery and national spirit of Radio Pakistan employees. He also distributed cheques of financial assistance for the two staff members who bravely countered the violent mob that attacked the building of the national broadcaster, media reports said. He said the ransacking and arson of the Radio Pakistan Peshawar building severely hurt the twenty-two million people of Pakistan. "Torching the national broadcaster and its archival record that was preserved since the independence of Pakistan by arsonists is not patriotism, but enmity with the nation," he said. Sharif said those who were involved in, ransacking, torching and miscreants activities would be dealt with iron hands according to the law and the Constitution. "There is no difference between the miscreants of May 9 episode and the terrorists and they will be punished accordingly law of the land," he said. During the visit, Prime Minister Sharif also announced payment of the pending two months' salaries to Radio Pakistan employees. On Wednesday, he said only those people who are behind the May 9 incident will be arrested. Chairing the Federal Cabinet meeting in Islamabad, he said the culprits will be brought to justice as per the Constitution and the law. Washington, May 25 (PTI) The Biden administration has decided to play the long game by inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an official state visit next month despite some existing challenges in bilateral ties, a prominent expert on India has said. Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. It's terrific to see (the prime minister being invited on an official state visit), Rick Rossow, senior Adviser and Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told PTI on Wednesday. India has been on the hot seat a little bit in Washington, he noted. Partially because of its reluctance to take a stronger stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for a lot of people in Washington, that's become a defining moment. But (for) the Biden administration, it hasn't. They have decided to play the long game, he said. The Biden administration realises that the strategic importance of this relationship is India's deepening commercial bonds with the US, he said. "The partnership with the US on some of the more dangerous areas amid the rise of China. So, at the top level, this is an indication that despite some challenges and some headwinds we've got on Russia and other things, we're willing to move ahead, Rossow said. India is in the middle of G-20, you just had a QUAD summit.... it's also pretty significant that the leaders are able to carve out this kind of time to pull something together when they're already seeing each other, on pull asides and such at so many other international forums, he said. The Biden administration is trying to take the relationship, which has done really well across different administrations in both governments, forward and look for ways to bring it to a new level, both in terms of commercial relations and security relations, Rossow said. He said there are two things that need to be repaired. "One of them is the long wait time for visa interviews in India, which has gotten worse in recent weeks. This is impacting people-to-people ties," he said. But the other area, which has been really on the list for quite some time, where we've always had challenges is on the commercial front, he said. Seems that every time that one of us is leaning a little bit more pro-trade or investor friendly, the other one's not, he said. Rossow said the last couple of years India, after many years of protectionism, has shifted to doing domestic support programmes to improve exports, but is also signing trade agreements with selective partners. The United States announced the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. But right now we don't really know what all that's gonna become. And there's a lot of skepticism about whether that'll match up to the world-leading free trade agreements that are out there, he said. We've got a lot of divisive issues that have come up over the years; revocation of India's generalised system preferences benefits; India imposing countervailing duties against the United States after our steel and aluminium tariffs. So, a lot of old damage on trade and commercial issues that I think the two governments should also take time to try to repair, Rossow said. He said India needs the US in critical ways and the US is fast becoming a major supplier of critical defence technology. We're the largest investor in India. We're India's largest goods trading partner and the only major country with which India has a goods trade surplus. On the services side, obviously, India's dynamic IT services market has been largely built around servicing and partnership with the United States, he said. So, if you think about the Indian economy and security, the United States is a critical partner for where India is today and where it'll be in the future. A lot of those, of course, the United States would echo as well. This is certainly not a one-sided relationship, he said. Islamabad, May 25 (PTI) Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the government invoking Article 245 in several provinces, terming it undeclared martial law. Under Article 245 of Pakistan's Constitution, the army can be called in to aid the civil administration to defend the country. Khan has filed a plea in the Supreme Court, challenging the invoking of Article 245 in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad and calling it undeclared martial law. In his petition, the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief said the arrests, investigations and trial of citizens under the Army Act 1952 were unconstitutional and void and of no legal effect and amounts to negation of the Constitution, the rule of law and independence of the judiciary." He said that the dismantling of PTI through forcible quitting of party membership and office are unconstitutional and void being against Article 17 of the Constitution, the Dawn newspaper reported. Khan also urged the apex court to order the formation of a judicial commission to probe the violence that erupted on May 9. The plea named Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other as respondents, the report said. Prime Minister Sharif has said the attackers of May 9 attacked the "idea and identity of Pakistan and gave the enemies of the country reasons to celebrate. I dont see the tragic incidents of May 9 as merely a protest that became violent. The designs of those who planned them were actually very sinister," he tweeted on Thursday. "There was a clear build-up to the shameful incidents, as the whole nation witnessed in utter disbelief and a state of shock how the lust of some people for power made them do what was never done before, he said. Sharif said the tragic and heart-rending events of May 9 were a wake-up call. We have to identify and expose all such people who want to destroy the foundations of Pakistan. May 9 has drawn up a dividing line between the protectors and builders of Pakistan and those who wish to weaken it, he said. On May 9, violent protests erupted after paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander's House, the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad in response to Khan's arrest. The mob also stormed the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time. 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. Thousands of Khans supporters were arrested following the violence that the powerful Army described as a dark day in the history of the country. Several top PTI leaders were also arrested in the wake of the unrest. Prime Minister Sharif said on Sunday that those involved in attacks on military installations would be tried in the military courts while those charged with attacks on civilian targets would be prosecuted under civilian laws. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday the government was mulling a possible ban on Khan's PTI party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime minister's arrest. 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. Tokyo, May 25 (AP) A masked man carrying a rifle and a knife was holed up in a building Thursday in Nagano in central Japan after four people were injured, one of whom later died, police said. The injured included two police officers but it was not immediately known if their injuries were gun wounds, police said. Officers had rushed to the scene after a pedestrian reported a commotion in Nakano city in the central Japanese prefecture of Nagano. A witness told NHK public television that a woman fell while being chased by the suspect, who then stabbed her with a knife and shot at two police officers as they arrived at the scene. The police officers were unconscious, and a fourth person who was injured could not be rescued because he was near where the suspect was holed up. The three were taken to a nearby hospital, where the woman was later pronounced dead, police said. Police described the suspect as a man wearing a camouflage outfit, a hat, a mask and sunglasses, Kyodo News agency said. City officials have urged those in the area to stay home. No other details, including about the suspect and his motives, were immediately known. (AP) GRS Cape Town, May 25 (AP) One of the most wanted suspects in Rwanda's genocide, a man suspected of orchestrating the killing of more than 2,000 people, has been arrested in South Africa after 22 years on the run, a special tribunal set up by the United Nations said Thursday. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) said Fulgence Kayishema was arrested Wednesday in Paarl, a small town in a wine-making region about 30 miles east of Cape Town. He was captured in a joint operation by the tribunal's fugitive tracking team and South African authorities, the tribunal said. More than 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda's genocide, which took place over the course of three months in 1994 when ethnic Hutus turned on the minority Tutsis, slaughtering them and moderate Hutus who tried to protect them. Kayishema was indicted by the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2001 and charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes. He had been at large since 2001, the tribunal said. The tribunal said he is alleged to have organized the killings of more than 2,000 ethnic Tutsi refugees men, women and children at a Catholic church during the genocide. Fulgence Kayishema was a fugitive for more than 20 years. His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes," IRMCT chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement. (AP) GRS Beijing, May 25 (AP) China's commerce minister will hold talks with officials in the US this week amid sharpening disputes over tariffs and technology, his ministry said on Thursday. Wang Wentao will meet with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Trade Representative Katherine Tai while in the US to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum trade minister meetings on Thursday and Friday in Detroit, Michigan. In announcing Wang's visit, Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting denounced a decision by Japan, a fellow APEC member, to join the US and Holland in barring Chinese access to leading-edge computer chip technology. This is the abuse of export measures and the departure from free trade and international economic and trade rules, Shu said. This will severely damage the interests of Chinese and Japanese enterprises and the trade cooperation between China and Japan. China has long been reliant on Japanese technology, but now needs machines available only from a single Dutch company, ASML Holding NV, that etch microscopic circuits on next-generation chips. Without that, the ruling Communist Party's efforts to develop advanced chips for smartphones, artificial intelligence and other applications are stalled. In what was seen as retaliation, China's cybersecurity watchdog on Sunday announced a ban on products from US memory chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. in some computer systems. The Cyberspace Administration of China said Micron products have unspecified security risks but gave no details. The trade disputes have brought supply disruptions and caused billions of dollars in lost sales but are seen as necessary by the West to prevent Beijing from accessing technology with military applications. China has stepped up its threats to invade self-governing Taiwan, increased its military presence in the South China Sea to back its claims to the strategic waterway, and provided diplomatic and economic backing to Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Despite their political differences, trade between China and the US topped USD 690 billion last year, while an estimated 295,000 Chinese students are enrolled in American colleges and universities. (AP) FZH Washington, May 25 (PTI) Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be invited by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to address a joint meeting of the US Congress. Modi has been invited by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for an Official State Visit on June 22. Khanna in his capacity as Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus wrote to McCarthy on Tuesday urging him to invite Modi to address a joint session of the US Congress. Following a meeting with McCarthy on Wednesday, Khanna told PTI that he is very confident that the Speaker would extend an invitation to Modi to address the joint session. The dates of the address have not been finalised yet. The purpose of a Joint Meeting has usually been for Congress to hear an address from an important figure generally a visiting foreign leader. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who visited the US last month to commemorate 70 years of the US-South Korea bilateral defence treaty, addressed a Joint Meeting of the Congress on April 27, 2023. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. Washington, May 25 (PTI) The United States works with India on its most vital priorities, a State Department spokesperson said ahead of the official state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US. I will say generally that our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We work with India closely on our most vital priorities, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference on Wednesday. He said he expects US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti to be able to deepen the relationship between the two countries and work on matters of shared concern. Responding to questions on Modis trip, Miller said without giving too much of a preview of that trip, certainly, the war in Ukraine will be one of the topics that is under discussion. It has been one of the topics under discussion in previous meetings with Prime Minister Modi, as it is in just about any conversation we have with a world leader at this time, or has been the case for the past year, Miller said. He noted that the US obviously recognises visa delays as an area of concern, and the consular teams have been making a huge push to process as many visa applications as possible in India, including those in visa categories that are a key to the bilateral relationship. It is a top priority for our government, and I know it is a top priority for our embassy in the country, the official added. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States of America, which will include a state dinner on June 22, 2023, following an invitation from President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2023 - 19:45 | All, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's son has been given a strong warning over inappropriate photographs taken at the prime minister's residence during a family function last year, the top government spokesman said Thursday. The caution given to Shotaro Kishida, who works as an executive secretary to his father, was disclosed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno after a weekly magazine reported that he posed for photographs with relatives at a staircase and other symbolically important parts of the residence in a manner seen as disrespectful. Speaking at a regular press conference Thursday, Matsuno said the government is aware that the actions of the prime minister's eldest son "lacked appropriateness." "We will ensure proper use and management (of the facility) to ensure such an incident does not occur again," he added. According to reporting by the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun, Shotaro Kishida and around 10 others, including relatives, posed for a photo last December on the red-carpeted staircase, where Japanese prime ministers traditionally debut their new Cabinet lineup with a photo call. The prime minister last did so in August following a reshuffle. One of the photographs in question features his son and others dressed casually while posing as ministers do. Among the other photos released by the magazine are two of a man and woman, who appear to be relatives of the Kishida family, posing at the prime minister's lectern, which is typically used for press conferences. Matsuno said the photos were taken during a year-end party for relatives, in which the prime minister made an appearance. While the prime minister's residence accommodates the leader and his family, it is a public building for carrying out official business and hosting functions on behalf of the state, Matsuno said. Regarding Shotaro Kishida's conduct, Matsuno said he hopes he will "carry himself with a greater sense of care when carrying out his duties." Later Thursday, the premier told reporters that he has no intention of sacking Shotaro Kishida as an executive secretary, although he said he "deeply regrets" his son's behavior as it lacked "appropriateness." Kishida's eldest son has proved a repeated source of trouble for the prime minister since he was tapped for the executive secretary role in October last year. The prime minister has been criticized by opposition politicians for nepotism over the appointment. Matsuno rejected the accusations at the time, saying that the prime minister's eldest son was offered the job based on his "personality and insight." In January, the younger Kishida found himself under fire from opposition politicians, who said he inappropriately mixed public and private interests by going sightseeing while accompanying his father on visits to other Group of Seven advanced nations ahead of a Hiroshima summit, held in May. News of the incident initially came from another weekly magazine. As part of what the prime minister later called "official duties," the younger Kishida was reported to have used a government car to visit major tourist spots and go shopping in London, Paris and Ottawa. The government said there was no problem with his use of the vehicle because he took photos for his father's social media and purchased gifts on the senior Kishida's behalf. London, May 25 (PTI) A man remains under arrest on Thursday on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a car crashed into the gates of 10 Downing Street in London, the official residence of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Metropolitan Police said. Sunak was in his office at the time of the incident but left soon after from another exit for a pre-scheduled departure, sources from 10 Downing Street said. The cordons placed by police around the street have since been lifted even as armed officers remain on guard at the Prime Ministers office, as is usual. According to reports, counter-terrorism police are not involved in the ongoing police enquiries at this stage. At around 16.20 hours [local time] a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall, the Met Police said in a statement. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing, the police said. Officers could soon be seen winding down the heightened security operation on Whitehall, the main political hub of London between Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square. Officials inside Downing Street were initially asked to stay indoors but could soon be seen moving out of offices, including from the Cabinet Office which is next door to 10 Downing Street. Meanwhile, images on social media showed a silver passenger car with its boot open slammed into the gates of Downing Street, which is significantly protected with barriers and a solid double-barrel black iron gate at all times. As CCTV footage emerged, a handcuffed heavy-set man with white hair could be seen being led away by armed Met Police officers. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a bang and officers shouting at the suspect as taser guns were deployed before the arrest. Officers were later pictured searching the vehicle's boot and removing a large white sheet. CCTV footage of the incident being played on television showed the small silver hatchback coming out of a car park next to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) building, crossing Whitehall before abruptly breaking and then driving forward directly into the gates of Downing Street. The security around one of the most famous streets of the world has been heightened ever since the militant Irish Republican Army (IRA) threat in the 1990s. The main gates remain shut at all times behind additional movable barriers and are opened only briefly for any official cars entering or exiting the street. Any visitors to Downing Street are subjected to strict checks through a side gate. Mumbai, May 25 (PTI) Girls trumped boys in the Maharashtra board's Higher Secondary Certificate (Class 12) examination, while 91.25 per cent of the total students passed the exam, the results of which were announced on Thursday. Of the nine regions in the state, Konkan region recorded the highest 96.01 per cent result, according to the Maharashtra State Board of Senior and Higher Education. A total of 14,28,194 students registered for the exams and 14,16,371 appeared, and of them 12,92,468 passed, which is about 91.25 per cent, the board said in a release. In the exams held in March-April 2022, 94.22 per cent students had passed. This year, it is 2.97 per cent lower than last year. The pass percentage of girls this year is 93.73 and of boys 89.14, the board said. It also said 96.09 per cent students from the science stream passed the exams, followed by 90.42 per cent from commerce and 84.05 per cent from the arts stream. Ranchi, May 25 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to Jharkhand, will on Thursday interact with women members of Self Help Groups in Khunti, the birthplace of tribal icon Birsa Munda, an official said. Over 25,000 tribal women are expected to participate in the programme, he said. Later in the day, the President will attend the second convocation of the IIIT in Ranchi. "More than 25,000 tribal women members are expected to connect with the President at the Birsa Munda College stadium in Khunti," the official said. Murmu will interact with tribal women members of self-help groups at the 'Mahila SHGs Sammelan' organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation under the aegis of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The objective of the programme is to encourage and inspire women SHGs for entrepreneurship, the official said. On the second day of her Jharkhand visit, Murmu will also visit stalls showcasing diverse tribal crafts, and live demonstrations of tribal art will be done there, he said. Various tribal products will be displayed in 20 stalls for which several suppliers and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras of Jharkhand and Bihar have been invited to participate in the exhibition. Murmu on Wednesday paid obeisance at the Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar district. She also inaugurated the new building of the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi, built at a cost of around Rs 550 crore. Itanagar, May 25 (PTI) Researchers have discovered a new species of tree in Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery of the new tree species in Arunachal Pradesh was published in the May 19 edition of the Edinburgh Journal of Botany. Meiogyne Arunachalensis was discovered by researchers during a biodiversity expedition to the "Adi hills of Arunachal Pradesh," the report published in the journal said, adding that the expedition was supported by the Hem Chand Mahindra Foundation, the Wildlife Institute of India, and Forest department of Arunachal Pradesh. Researcher Navendu Page, one of the members of the group, mentioned in the report that this is the third species from India and the first from eastern Himalayan and Northeast India. "The genus Meiogyne is distributed throughout South and Southeast Asia and includes approximately 33 described taxa," Page said. The species shows morphological similarity with Meiogyne maxiflora, a species distributed in Thailand, but it differs in a number of vegetative and reproductive characteristics, Page said in the report. Meiogyne arunachalensis is the largest species of the genus described so far in terms of tree height and girth of the tree trunk. The discovery of the tree species in Arunachal Pradesh is the first record of the genus from Northeast India and the eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. "It is also likely to be found in the intervening districts of Lower Dibang Valley and Lohit, and also in northern parts of Myanmar in areas neighbouring the Namdapha National Park, the report published in the journal added. Khunti (Jharkhand), May 25 (pti) Two ultras belonging to the proscribed extremist outfit People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) were arrested by police near Rania in Jharkhand's Khunti district, and a large cache of arms, ammunitions and explosives recovered from them, officials said Thursday. The arrest was made a day before when they were planning to shift the arms, ammunitions and explosives, besides unfinished firearms and arms making materials, from a forested area. Interestingly, President Droupadi Murmu was attending a function in the district of Khunti earlier on Thursday. On Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar formed a raid team headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Ramesh Kumar after getting intelligence that two PLFI ultras identified as Lalit Kherwar (45) and Shivnarayan Singh alias Master (48) were about to shift the arms and ammunitions and explosives which were hidden in the forest. The PLFI group led by self-styled Supremo Dinesh Gope, who was recently arrested from Delhi, had secreted the cache earlier, a police statement said. Gope alias "Kuldeep Yadav" alias "Badku", who had more than 100 criminal cases against him, was carrying a reward of Rs 30 lakh. The raid team arrested the two PLFI activists- Kotagair resident Kherwar and Singh of Goharom village under Rania police station on Wednesday. Based on the lead provided by them, Police recovered 35 pieces Gelatine sticks, 35 pieces of Detonators attached with wire, 4 country-made pistol (rusted), 4420 numbers of live cartridges of 5.56 mm bore, 300 pieces of live ammunitions of 7.62x39mm bore (AK47) and 6 pieces of unfinished pistol magzine. New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by BJP workers and supporters on Thursday as he returned from the three-nation tour. "All the leaders I met and all the personalities I spoke to have been so mesmerised and appreciative of India holding the G20 presidency so excellently. This is a matter of great pride for all Indians, Modi said. The prime minister had visited Japan's Hiroshima to attend the Group of Seven or G7 Summit. He then travelled to Papua New Guinea, which was his first tour, as well as the first-ever visit by any Indian prime minister to the Indo-Pacific country. Modi also travelled to Sydney at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He said that he used every available time in the best possible way for the good of the country. Taking a swipe at critics, he said they questioned the decision to give away vaccines to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Remember, it is the land of Buddha, it is the land of Gandhi. We care even for our enemies, we are the people inspired by compassion," the prime minister underlined. He also asserted that the world is keen to listen to India's story and said Indians should never suffer from "slave mentality" while speaking about their great culture and traditions and instead speak with courage. Modi added that the world agrees with him when he says any attack on the countrys pilgrimage site is not acceptable. New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) The All India Adivasi Congress on Thursday accused the Modi government of "insulting" tribals by not getting the country's first tribal president Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building, as it announced a nationwide protest against the move on May 26. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, All India Adivasi Congress chief Shivajirao Moghe said Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building rather than the president is an "insult" to democracy. "For the first time a tribal is the president, we have a woman president. This (inauguration by the PM) is an insult to tribals and women. The President is an important part of Parliament as it is the president that addresses the joint session of Parliament. It is the President who should inaugurate Parliament," Moghe said. "I don't know whether this is happening because we are tribals," said the chief of All India Adivasi Congress department under the Indian National Congress. Moghe's attack on the government came a day after 20 opposition parties announced their boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Modi. Nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, came together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out." Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend the event. Moghe said even when the 'bhumi poojan' of the new Parliament complex was done, the then President, Ram Nath Kovind, was relegated to back seat. "Both the times, Modi ji came forward to carry out inauguration." He alleged that the move was intended by the Modi government to insult backward classes as it is "against tribals." "Tomorrow, we will carry out a nationwide agitation at block, village, district level, against this attempt to insult tribals and women of the country We want the president to inaugurate the new Parliament and not the prime minister. There is still time, the PM should change his mind and let the president inaugurate the new parliament building," he said. "We will also protest against the government policies targeting the tribals. We will peacefully protest in a democratic manner. They are using tribals for politics, we will protest against it," Moghe said. Earlier in the day, the Congress attacked Modi saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex. After the Opposition's boycott call, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance also launched a sharp counterattack, calling its stand a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation." The 19 opposition parties in their joint statement said Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response." Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation by the Lok Sabha Speaker. New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) The Congress Thursday targeted the Narendra Modi government over rolling out fortified rice under PDS and accused it of going ahead with the decision without ascertaining the outcome of independent research and the ill effects of such rice on the health of 80 crore poor people. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera asked what was the tearing hurry to implement the scheme of providing fortified rice containing prescribed micronutrients and "what relation does the government have with the foreign conglomerate Royal DSM" which has bagged a major contract to distribute the rice in the country He also sought to know whether any quid pro quo was involved. A couple of days ago, the government said fortified rice was being distributed through ration shops in 439 districts and other welfare schemes so far while asserting that there is enough global evidence of its health benefits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address in 2021 said the government aims to distribute fortified rice via government schemes by 2024. Thereafter, a scheme for the distribution of fortified rice, containing prescribed micronutrients -- iron, folic acid, Vitamin B12 -- was launched on October 2021 in a phased manner to address the problem of anaemia among women and children. Congress spokesperson Khera alleged the Modi government rolled out fortified rice under the Food Security Act despite "failed" pilot projects and multiple warnings by experts, government officials, FSSAI and Niti Aayog advisors. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Independence Day in 2021 made the rather "unusual and unconventional" announcement about implementing the fortified rice scheme despite warnings. Three days later, NITI Aayog officials began drawing up a plan to universalize rice fortification. But on November 29 that year, Niti Aayog's member on Agriculture Ramesh Chand raised the concerns expressed by some medical experts about the adverse effect of iron-fortified rice on the health of children, Khera claimed. This was also mentioned by the director general of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) who called for the need for consultation with a wide range of experts on the effect of fortification of rice on human health before pushing it further, he said. "This meant that even the ICMR -- India's premier medical research body -- had serious doubts about the effectiveness of fortified rice. Member of NITI Aayog's National Technical Board on Nutrition Anura Kurpad found an increase in serum levels linked to diabetes in children who were given iron-fortified rice," he said. He claimed that fortified rice, which the government was pushing into the nationwide public distribution system under the Food Security Act, has 20 mg of iron. "Will 80 crore people pay the price of the ill-conceived imposition of PM Modi's fortified rice? Did the Modi government get enamoured by a foreign conglomerate or were there vested interests involved," the Congress spokesperson asked. "Why did PM Modi not ascertain the outcome of independent research studies or globally acclaimed studies on fortification and rolled out a nationwide scheme targeting 80 crore of India's poor? What was the tearing hurry to risk the health and lives of 80 crore poor Indians? Does it not show the anti-poor mindset of the Modi government," he said. "Why did the Modi government's Food and Public Distribution Department, Ministry of Women and Child Development and the regulator FSSAI not listen to their internal warnings which were underlined repeatedly by experts and advisors? "Why did they not listen to NITI Aayog members? Why did they not listen to the Department of Expenditure under their own Finance Ministry? What prevented them from first ascertaining the facts with a scientific mechanism and then taking such a big decision," Khera asked. He also asked what is the "relationship between Royal DSM and the Modi Govt". "Why did its Regional Vice-President Francois Scheffler express his sincere gratitude to PM Modi? Was the entire conceptualization of FSSAI's fortification resource hub and multiple ad campaigns spending crores, a deal or a quid pro quo between the Modi Government and an MNC conglomerate," Khera asked. He said that to test whether fortified rice really cures anaemia and other micronutrient deficiencies that lead to stunting and wasting, the government launched tests under a pilot scheme in February 2019 which were to go on till March 2022. But instead of waiting for the results of all the tests, PM Modi announced a full-blown scheme in 2021, affecting over half of the country's population, he claimed. Taking a swipe at the prime minister, the Congress leader said "masterstroke" is the word associated with the prime minister's decisions and is especially used by a section of the media. "We know what happened when such masterstrokes are announced. We know what happened when demonetisation happened suddenly in 2016 and what disaster it spelt on the poor. "We know what happened when a Covid lockdown was suddenly announced and how the poor migrants suffered. We know what is happening with the Rs 2,000 note under DeMO 2.0 which was announced a few days ago. India suffers," he alleged. Asked if the Congress would raise the issue in Parliament, he said the party would raise the issue on all platforms and help reach out to the people. "The Modi government brazenly lied on the floor of Parliament. The Ministry of Women and Child Development, when asked about the 'success' of the so-called 'pilots' on August 5, 2022, said 'The pilot was successful in ensuring the ecosystem for fortified rice throughout the country', and deceptively kept silent on the impact of fortified rice in nutrient deficiency despite it being one of the key objectives of the pilot," Khera said. The Congress spokesperson also claimed that none of the pilot projects that Niti Aayog reviewed had carried out the basic surveys to map the existing levels of micronutrient deficiency in the district population before forcing them to consume fortified rice for a year. New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) Senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday lashed out at the leadership of Congress' Delhi unit alleging them of doing "politics of convenience" on the issue of the Centres ordinance on the Delhi services matter. Addressing a press conference here, Bharadwaj said that while the Delhi Congress is refusing to extend any support to AAP on the Delhi services issue, former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had passed a resolution in the Delhi Assembly in 2002 against the central government ruled by the BJP. "Sheila Dikshit had condemned the central government orders earlier and said that it is violation of all democratic traditions. She had passed a similar resolution in the Delhi Assembly in 2002 against the Centre that had said they don't recognise Government of NCT of Delhi and that there can be only one government in Delhi, the Delhi minister said. "What the Delhi Congress is doing is politics of convenience and is working for the BJP. The statements are coming from such leaders who have been sidelined by the party," Bharadwaj said. Earlier, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit had said that AAP's allegations that it is not being allowed to work in Delhi is merely "an excuse" and a reflection of its "uselessness". Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken had also strongly opposed extending any support to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the issue saying the Congress should not oppose the proposed legislation to be brought in Parliament on the Delhi services issue, replacing the ordinance promulgated by the Centre last week. Kejriwal has sought the support of various political parties on the issue of the Centres ordinance on the administration of services in the national capital and on Tuesday, he met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He also sought Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's support during their meeting earlier this week. He is appealing to other parties too for support on the issue. The AAP has said that rejecting the proposed legislation to replace the ordinance will be a litmus test for the opposition unity. The ordinance for setting up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of IAS and DANICS cadre officers and disciplinary proceedings against them virtually negated the May 11 Supreme Court order that ruled in favour of the AAP government. New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) A 55-year-old man allegedly set himself on fire over a property dispute with his kin in northeast Delhi's Harsh Vihar area on Thursday, police said. The man, who sustained minor burn injuries, was immediately rushed to a hospital and is now stable, they said. Police said a PCR call was received at 12.42 pm regarding the incident. Pratap Singh (55) had purchased a 33-square-yard plot and built a three-story building. One of Pratap's four sons, Krishan Pal (30), had contributed Rs 7.5 lakh for the construction of the house, the police said. According to police, Krishan and his wife Bharti wanted either their money back or a half share of the property. They had been arguing over the matter for the past six months, they said. On Thursday, Pratap and Krishan's kin met and decided to resolve the issue. They reached an agreement but Bharti, who was unhappy with the settlement, allegedly threatened to implicate Pratap, his wife and other sons in a false molestation case, police said. Pratap got frightened and poured kerosene oil and tried to set himself on fire, police said. Pratap's family members doused the fire immediately and he was taken to the GTB Hospital, they said. Police said Pratap has sustained minor burn injuries and is stable. Inquiry in the matter is in progress, they added. KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2023 - 22:31 | All, Japan, World A South Korean delegation of experts will continue their analysis back home on Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive water into the sea from the disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant, the group said Thursday after inspecting it. The delegation of 21 experts from agencies and affiliated organizations of the South Korean government with expertise in radiation and nuclear reactors, among other fields, held a meeting with Japanese officials to summarize their observations following the 2-day inspection, telling the Japanese side they still needed to confirm several things before releasing their conclusion on the plan's safety. They requested additional materials, such as protocols for a power outage and a long-term management plan for an advanced liquid processing system capable of removing radionuclides other than tritium in water. Officials of the Foreign Ministry, industry ministry, Nuclear Regulation Authority and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., represented Japan in the meeting. At the Fukushima Daiichi power complex, which suffered core meltdowns triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, the delegation observed the ALPS water treatment system and confirmed the location and function of emergency isolation valves, among other equipment, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The valves are installed to immediately halt the discharge of ALPS-treated water into the sea in the event of an abnormality, a mandatory function of the discharge facilities, according to Tokyo Electric. "We confirmed things such as how to control facilities and those valves function when the power is out during an emergency," delegation chief Yoo Guk Hee, chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, told reporters after the meeting. "We provided thorough explanations and showed them as many facilities as possible," an official of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry told reporters. Separately, the International Atomic Energy Agency is reviewing the process of the water release, which is planned to begin in the summer and continue for decades, as well as its possible The experts have not collected any sample of ALPS-treated water during the inspection, but a South Korean institute already received one from the IAEA, as the agency has provided samples to selected third-party laboratories in France, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States that have been involved in interlaboratory comparison for ALPS treated water. Yoo suggested that the group will release the outcome of its inspection after the IAEA issues a comprehensive report about its findings, which is expected by the end of June. Japan plans to eject the treated water after diluting it with seawater to below one-40th of the concentration permitted under Japanese safety standards. The water will be released 1 kilometer off the plant via an underwater pipeline. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed on Seoul's dispatch of the delegation at their summit earlier in May, amid worries among the South Korean public about how the discharged water could affect health and the ocean environment. Related coverage: Court rejects case opposing restart of Miyagi Pref. nuclear plant South Korean experts begin 2-day inspection of Fukushima nuclear plant South Korea delegation arrives in Japan for Fukushima water inspection Lucknow, May 24 (PTI) A motorcycle-borne assailant allegedly shot at a businessman in the Narahi area within the Hazratganj police station limits on Wednesday, police said. "Mobile phone shop owner Pramod Gupta was closing his store when an unknown assailant shot at him. The assailant fled the spot after the attack," Assistant Commissioner of Police Arvind Kumar Verma said. Gupta, believed to be in his early 40s, suffered two bullet injuries in his jaw and waist and was rushed to a hospital. His condition remains critical, the police said. "The incident occurred around 10 pm. We are investigating the matter and are not in position to divulge much. Several teams have been formed to identify and track the assailants," Verma said. Attacking the government, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the "government of fake encounters" should tell the source of the pistols' supply. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister added that these pistols have now reached near the chief minister's residence in the form of shootouts. Hazratganj is located in the heart of Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh capital. It includes posh markets and important buildings, including the legislative assembly, Lok Bhawan and several important government offices. It is close to the official residence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Balasore (Odisha) May 25 (PTI) A court in Odisha's Balasore district on Thursday sentenced a woman and her second husband to life imprisonment for the murder of her 13-year-old daughter. Additional Sessions Judge, Balasore, Biswajit Das also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convicts, and failure to pay it will attract an additional jail sentence of six months, Special Public Prosecutor Pranab Kumar Panda said. The convicts, identified as Baby Biwi and Sk Abdul Rahim, residents of Khwajabag in Balasore town, were arrested by the police after the deceased's father Sheikh Qutbuddin lodged an FIR on June 25 last year alleging that his daughter was killed by her mother. The complainant said that the deceased was living with her mother and step-father and that she died under suspicious circumstances on June 22 last year. During the investigation, it was found that Biwi and Rahim had strangled the girl to death as Biwi's second husband was not ready to accept her in their new lives. New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) Two motorcycle-borne men allegedly snatched a mobile phone from a Maldivian national in north Delhi's Kashmere Gate area, police said on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi said a case was registered in connection with the incident based on a complaint filed by the woman, Hawwa Sinma, who is a student of St. Stephen's College here. According to the complainant, she was in an auto-rickshaw near Hanuman Mandir Kashmere Gate around 10.45 pm on Tuesday when two people on a motorcycle came from behind, snatched her phone and sped away, the DCP said. A case was registered under IPC sections 356 (assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person), 379 (punishment for theft) and 34 (common intention) and investigation is in progress, police added. JAMES MAIN, Wheeler, Baseball, Sophomore; Main doubled and drove in three wins in a victory against Putnam. Main was 2 for 3 and earned the win in relief. He allowed two hits and struck out three over the final three innings. EMMA LOGEL, Stonington, Girls Lacrosse, Sophomore; Logel scored 11 goals in a pair of Stonington games. She finished with eight in a win against Ledyard and had three in a loss to East Lyme. CHRISTIAN DEJOUR, Westerly, Track, Junior; Dejour finished first in two sprints at the Class C championship. Dejour won the 100 in a time of 11.07 and was first in the 200 in 22.34. IAN DUNHAM, Chariho, Golf, Junior; Dunham shot two sub-40 rounds for the Chargers. He was the medalist in a pair of wins against Westerly and Narragansett with a 38. He shot 37 in wins against South Kingstown and Middlebridge. Vote View Results Following the airing of a segment comparing his poll numbers to those of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former President Trump criticized Fox News host Laura Ingraham, accusing her of running a hit piece against him. Ingraham invited Chris Bedford, a conservative author and pundit who serves as the executive editor of Common Sense Society, to join her during the segment. Together, they delved into a discussion about the comparison of Trumps poll numbers with those of President Biden and Ron DeSantis in states where Trump experienced narrow losses during the 2020 election. Joe Biden is running pretty badly behind a generic Republican figure like a Ron DeSantis or Tim Scott, Bedford said. But hes consistently beating Donald Trump. Shortly after the segment was broadcasted on Monday evening, Trump expressed his anger with the longtime conservative commentator on his Truth Social website. Ingraham, who had been predominantly supportive of Trump in recent years, faced his public wrath. Laura Ingraham on FoxNews just did a hit piece on me (there go her ratings!) showing some polls which indicate that Ron DeSanctimonious may do better against Biden than I would, when actually polls show that I do MUCH better against Biden than Rob, Trump wrote. The poll your looking at now, which has me doing far better against Crooked Joe, was just put out by FOX, I am sure unhappily, Trump continued. Im also leading DeSanctus by over 40 points in Primary Voting. Watch Greg Kelly on Newsmax at 10:00 P.M. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A prominent critic of Germanys pandemic restrictions who repeatedly spread false information about the coronavirus has been acquitted of incitement to hatred for comments about Jews and Israel. A regional court in the northern town of Ploen ruled Tuesday that Thai-German microbiologist Sucharit Bhakdi didnt break the law when he described Israel as worse than Nazi Germany. In a video published online in 2021, Bhakdi also said that the terrible thing about Jews is: they learn well and described the country of Israel as a living hell. The court concluded that it couldnt be determined without reasonable doubt that Bhakdi had been spreading antisemitic hatred toward Jews rather than criticizing the Israeli government and its policies, German news agency dpa reported. Prosecutors had argued that such comments could lead to Jews in Germany becoming the targets of hatred. Judges also said that Bhakdis claims about the COVID vaccine being part of a second Holocaust didnt constitute a downplaying of the Nazi genocide which killed 6 million Jews, public broadcaster NDR reported. Bhakdi, who was greeted by dozens of supporters as he arrived at the court, could have faced a fine if convicted. The ruling can be appealed. (AP & YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) A major Republican donor who previously threw his financial weight behind Donald Trump now says that the former president should drop out of the race. Number one, Donald Trump can only serve one term, mega-donor Hal Lambert told Fox News. Hell effectively be a lame duck almost on day one if he were to win. But I dont think he can win the general. Thats the number two reason. I dont think he can win the general. Theres states that matter and we all know what those are. Its gonna be things like Nevada and Arizona and Virginia, Wisconsin. I dont see Trump winning any of those states. And we cant win if we dont win those states. Saying its time to move on from Trump, Lambert said he is now supporting Ron DeSantis. What do you think when the president refers to Ron DeSantis among a number of names [as] Ron DeSanctimonious and things like that? host Neil Cavuto asked. Look, its not going over well, Lambert responded. The audience doesnt cheer for it. In fact, sometimes they boo. So, I dont think people want to see that We want to unite the country. And we cant have name-calling. Weve got to move to an adult conversation on real issues and I think Desantis brings that to the table. I think Donald Trump should drop out the race, quite frankly, for the better of the country, he said. I think he should drop out of the race. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2023 - 21:09 | All, Japan, World One of the three surviving Korean plaintiffs who won lawsuits over wartime forced labor during Japan's colonial rule agreed to accept compensation by a South Korean government-backed foundation, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday. Survivors have been seeking an apology and compensation from the Japanese government but until now, none had accepted payment from the foundation. Announced in March by Seoul to settle the wartime labor dispute and help improve ties with Japan, the foundation has seen backlash from the South Korean public. Two Japanese firms -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Nippon Steel Corp. -- were ordered in separate rulings by South Korea's Supreme Court in 2018 to pay damages to former Korean laborers and their relatives over forced labor during World War II. Japan has maintained that all issues stemming from the 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula were settled "completely and finally" under a bilateral agreement in 1965. The survivor will receive the damages on Friday, the ministry said. The individual decided to accept the payment after consulting with family members, a source familiar with the matter said. Besides the one survivor, 10 family members of wartime laborers out of the 15 plaintiffs who won lawsuits have agreed and received compensation from the foundation, which is supported by donations from South Korean companies. The ministry is seeking to persuade those who are refusing or have not yet accepted, including the two other survivors, to do similarly. The two countries' relationship reached one of their lowest points after the 2018 top court ruling. But Seoul and Tokyo have been actively improving their ties under South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, including through the resumption of reciprocal visits by their leaders. Kishida who visited Seoul in May referred to the wartime labor issue at a joint press conference with Yoon, saying that his heart "aches" as many people have not forgotten the painful memories of the past. Related coverage: Most Korean plaintiffs in wartime labor case accept damages from fund South Korea wartime laborers file suit to collect money from Japan firm The state of Texas is suing the Biden administration in an attempt to have a newly-introduced asylum rule thrown out, saying a phone app used by migrants to set up appointments at the border to seek entry into the United States is encouraging illegal immigration. The lawsuit filed Tuesday is the latest legal salvo attacking various aspects of the administrations plan to manage migration in the aftermath of the end of a key pandemic-era immigration regulation called Title 42. In the lawsuit, Texas argues that the asylum rule encourages the use of a cellphone app called CBP One for migrants who dont have proper documentation to make an appointment to come to a port of entry and seek entry into the United States. Texas argues the Biden administration is essentially encouraging people to come to the U.S. even though they dont have legal basis to stay. The Biden Administration deliberately conceived of this phone app with the goal of illegally pre-approving more foreign aliens to enter the country and go where they please once they arrive, said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a news release. The complaint was filed in the Western District of Texas. In a statement Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said Texas lawsuit would actually create disorder, not alleviate it and that the app was part of measures that have helped reduce unlawful immigration by more than 70% since Title 42 ended. Lawful pathways like making an appointment to appear at a port of entry using the CBP One app allow us to process migrants in a safe, orderly, and humane way and reduce unlawful immigration. This is particularly critical at a time when Congress has failed to reform our broken immigration system, the department said. While the lawsuit focuses on the phone app, it seeks to throw out the entire asylum rule, called the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways. The rule went into effect when Title 42 expired May 11. The rule makes it extremely difficult for migrants who travel to the southern border to get asylum if they dont first seek protection in a country they passed through before reaching the U.S. or if they dont apply online through the app. Use of the app is a core part of the administrations plans to create a more orderly system at the border where migrants set up appointments ahead of time, but when the app was rolled out in January it was criticized for technological problems and because demand has far outstripped available spaces. Migrants can make appointments for specific ports of entry five of which are in Texas. Texas argues that according to federal law, people entering the country illegally with rare exceptions should be expelled but that the app doesnt verify whether the migrants seeking appointments would qualify for exceptions. Therefore, the state argues, the Biden administrations use of the app essentially encourages people to come to the U.S. even if they dont qualify. Texas also argues that it has to pay the financial burden of migrants coming to the U.S. through things like health care or education. The new asylum rule has also been attacked by rights groups who argue the U.S. has an obligation to offer asylum to those in desperate need. Theyre suing to have the rule thrown out as well. Texas is also part of another lawsuit accusing the administration of overstepping its authority by allowing as many as 360,000 people a year from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. under its humanitarian parole authority. (AP) Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Wednesday pledged to sign a federal ban on abortion but noted that passing one would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress. Although Haley didnt say how many weeks a federal ban should encompass, her commitment to signing one is the most specific she has been on the issue during her presidential campaign. The former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said no one has been honest about how difficult a ban could be to achieve, in a closely divided federal government. It would take a majority of the House, 60 senators and a president to sign it, Haley said at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, suggesting that even a few GOP pickups in the 2024 elections wouldnt make the difference in passage. She was referring specifically to the supermajority required for major legislation to clear the 100-member Senate. We havent had 60 Republican senators in 100 years, Haley said. The comments come amid a continuing debate over abortion restrictions among the Republicans seeking their partys presidential nomination. Sen. Tim Scott, Haleys fellow South Carolinian who launched his bid this week, has said he would sign a 15-week ban. Other candidates, like former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, have said the issue should stay in the states without a Republican supermajority in Congress. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to launch his campaign later Wednesday, recently signed a six-week ban in Florida, which former President Donald Trump subsequently implied was too harsh. Former Vice President Mike Pence, preparing his own campaign, has said he supported Floridas bill and would sign such a measure as president. The six-week threshold comes before many women realize they are pregnant. Asked by an attendee how she would square her own opposition to abortion to overwhelmingly pro-choice states like New Hampshire, Haley said she would not personally compromise. I cant suddenly change my pro-life position because Im campaigning in New Hampshire, Haley said. Its incredibly personal, and Im going to treat it with the respect it deserves. New Hampshire was among the least restrictive states on abortion until 2021, when it enacted a ban on the procedure after 24 weeks of pregnancy. This year, lawmakers have considered more than half a dozen bills on both sides of the issue. With a closely divided Legislature, none have passed. In South Carolina, Haley signed an abortion ban after around 20 weeks. On Tuesday, South Carolinas Senate passed a ban on the procedure after around six weeks, which the current Republican governor has said he would sign. Abortion rights groups have already pledged to file legal challenges. Now its back in the states where it belongs, Haley said Wednesday, referencing last years U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Haley referenced national consensus in her speech last month at the headquarters of a major anti-abortion group, which has said it wouldnt back any White House candidate who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban. During those remarks at the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America headquarters, Haley said she saw a federal role on the issue but stopped short of endorsing a federal ban. Introducing Haley at a Women for Nikki event later Wednesday, the co-chair her womens coalition in New Hampshire sought to shift the focus away from abortion. Its time to put a woman in the White House to lead the charge on some important issues other than our reproductive rights, said Sharon Bolduc, whose husband unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire last year. We as women voters have so much more to offer the American people than just talking about our uteruses, she said in an interview afterward. Lets get over that already. Haley on Wednesday again referenced her call in 2015 for the removal of a Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina Statehouse as evidence of her consensus-building ability. She had previously dismissed a Democratic challengers call for removal of the flag, calling it a stunt. But Haley later sought its removal after the racist killings of nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, by a white supremacist. It starts at the top, when you go and you govern or lead, without judgment of your people, Haley said. But with getting them to see the best of themselves to go to a better place, thats the key. (AP) A Republican-led investigation on Wednesday accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of committing multiple crimes in office including felonies during an extraordinary public airing of scandal and alleged lawbreaking that plunged one of the GOPs conservative stars into new political and legal risk. For more than three hours, investigators presented findings alleging Paxton sought to hide an affair, misused his office to help a donor, skirted protocols grossly outside norms and built a culture of fear and retaliation in his office. Investigators told the GOP-led House General Investigating Committee that there was evidence that Paxton repeatedly broke the law over the years, including by misusing official information, abusing his official capacity and retaliation. The dramatic turn of events in the Texas Capitol unleashed a new test of Paxtons durability in a way the conservative firebrand has not previously confronted despite a felony indictment in 2015 and an ongoing FBI investigation. The House committees investigation has been quietly going on for months and did not come to light until Tuesday. The committee ended Wednesdays hearing without acting on the findings. The panel is led by Republican state Rep. Andrew Murr, who afterward declined to discuss next steps or whether a recommendation to impeach or censure Paxton was possible. The hearing began as Paxton sought legislative approval for more than $3 million in taxpayer dollars to a settle a whistleblower lawsuit with top aides who accused him of corruption. Republican House leaders have signaled unease with approving the payout. The legislative session ends Monday and any action against Paxton would have to be taken by then, unless GOP Gov. Greg Abbott calls a special session. In Texas, unlike in the U.S. government, an official whos impeached by the House is suspended from office pending the outcome of a Senate trial. The governor can appoint an interim to fill the vacant post. Wednesdays hearing amounted to a remarkable rebuke from Republicans in a building where Paxton has long maintained defenders and allies, including Abbott, who lauded Paxton while swearing him in to a third term in January. Paxton called the hours of testimony by investigators false, accused the committee of misleading the public and attacked Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan as a liberal. Paxton also has claimed repeatedly since Tuesday that Phelan has been drunk on the job, something Phelans office has brushed off as an attempt by Paxton to save face. It is not surprising that a committee appointed by liberal Speaker Dade Phelan would seek to disenfranchise Texas voters and sabotage my work as Attorney General, Paxton said in a written statement. Accusations laid out by investigators surround actions by Paxton that previously have been uncovered by reporters or disclosed in court records. Despite the cloud that has hung over Paxton, he has remained popular with GOP voters in Texas and elevated his profile nationally through lawsuits against President Joe Bidens administration and through his defense of former President Donald Trump. Paxtons former staff members reported him to the FBI in 2020 on accusations of breaking the law to help a campaign contributor. The donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, employed a woman with whom Paxton acknowledged having had an extramarital affair. In February, the Justice Departments Washington-based Public Integrity Section took over the federal criminal investigation of Paxton. Since April, the House committee has issued at least 12 subpoenas for testimony and information to people and entities as part of its probe, according to meeting minutes that note the parties were left anonymous to prevent reprisal and retaliation. During Wednesdays hearing, state Rep. Ann Johnson, a Houston Democrat and vice chair of the committee, asked whether it was fair to say that the attorney generals office was effectively hijacked for an investigation by Nate Paul through the attorney general. That would be my opinion, replied attorney Erin Epley, one of the investigators. Lawyers for Paul did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Each of Paxtons accusers later quit or was fired. In the years since, his agency has come unmoored by disarray behind the scenes, with seasoned lawyers quitting over practices they say aim to slant legal work, reward loyalists and drum out dissent. But until now, GOP lawmakers had shown little appetite for looking into Paxton. Among the new revelations Wednesday were details of Paxtons high-end home renovation, which previously came under FBI scrutiny, and that his affair continued longer than previously known. It ended briefly in 2019 when Paxtons wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, found out, but then it resumed and was underway again by 2020, said Epley, a former state and federal prosecutor. That year, Paxton renovated his million-dollar Austin home. Epley said an attorney generals employee overheard Paxton telling a contractor that his wife wanted granite countertops. According to Epley, the contractor replied that the counters would cost $20,000 and said, Ill have to check with Nate. (AP) The DeSantis presidential campaign got off to quite the rocky start on Wednesday night as he encountered major technical difficulties on Twitter during his planned presidential campaign announcement. During the scheduled conversation between DeSantis and Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, technical issues such as crashes, feedback glitches, and audio failures occurred. Musk acknowledged the strain on the servers during the live audio stream on Twitters Spaces feature. The conversation was delayed for at least 25 minutes after its intended 6 p.m. ET start time. Musk and David Sacks, an investor and ally of both individuals, initiated a new Twitter Spaces webcast after the initial one failed. Capitalizing on DeSantiss troubles, Joe Biden tweeted, This link works, with a link to donate to his campaign. Earlier in the day, DeSantis had officially filed federal paperwork, officially entering the race for the Republican presidential nomination. His campaign had also released a video in which DeSantis stated, Im running for President to lead our great American comeback. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Im not generally a very opinionated person, but the developments coming out of Toms River have me scratching my head. After campaign flyers deemed anti-Semitic in support of incumbent Mayor Mo Hill were sent to homes, a slew of officials and organizations condemned Hill, including Agudath Israel. But what struck me as bizarre and hypocritical was the condemnations that came from two people: Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore and Toms River Councilman Justin Lamb. Back in 2021, blatantly anti-Semitic flyers were distributed on behalf of Dan Rodrick, who is also now running for mayor. Who was Rodricks running mate then? Justin Lamb. Did he say a word about the flyers, which unflatteringly depicted an Orthodox Jew? Not that I know of. In fact, if you look at those flyers, it shows that they were sent out by Lambs own campaign! So two years ago Lamb was okay with Rodricks (or really his own) anti-Semitism, but now Mo Hills anti-Semitism is bad and should be condemned? What a joke. What about Geri Ambrosio? She was the president of the club that Lamb and Rodrick were both members of. So now shes the angel because someone else also was aware of and didnt stop anti-Semitic flyers??? To be clear, this isnt a defense of Hills campaign mailers. But to watch Lamb now wring his hands about antisemitism smacks of hypocrisy. But Gilmore is even worse than Lamb and Ambrosio. In 2021, it was the Ocean County chairman who was funding the Rodrick and Lamb campaigns. Gilmore gave the campaigns the money needed to pay for those blatantly anti-Semitic flyers! Now George has the chutzpah to condemn someone else about anti-Semitic flyers? Now hes the hero stepping in and saving us? He is responsible for the most reprehensible anti-Semitic campaign mailers in Toms River history! Dont believe me? Look at these financial disclosures (see them here and here). If Gilmore wants to condemn Hill, thats fine, but he first should come clean about his connection to Rodricks 2021 anti-Semitic flyers. And of course, theres a political angle to what Gilmore is doing. Hes a funder of Geri Ambrosio, who is running against Mo Hill for the Republican nomination. So now that it suits him to condemn anti-Semitism, hes doing so. Youre two years late, George. And, by the way, its not just Toms River where Gilmore is responsible for moves against Orthodox Jews. You know all those lawsuits in Jackson alleging discrimination by the township against Orthodox Jews? Gilmores law firm, Gilmore & Monahan, was the architect behind the discriminatory ordinances and policies that got Jackson sued in the first place! Look, if Gilmore wants to condemn anti-Semitism, I applaud that. But spare me the heroic tale of how he is standing up for Orthodox Jews. Hes not; he just sees a political opportunity. Spare me the crocodile tears, George. Signed, A Baffled Resident NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Yeshiva World News. DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE POSTED ON YWN? SEND IT TO US FOR REVIEW. The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed Thursday that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagners millionaire owner with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in a video published on Telegram that the handover would be completed by June 1. There was no immediate comment from the Russian defense ministry. It was not possible to independently verify whether Wagners pullout from the bombed-out city has begun after a nine-month battle that killed tens of thousands of people. Ukraines deputy defense minister said Thursday that Wagner units have been replaced with regular troops in the suburbs but Wagner fighters remain inside the city. Ukrainian forces still have a foothold in the southwestern outskirts, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar said. Prigozhins Bakhmut triumph delivered a badly needed victory for Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has lost momentum and now faces the possibility of a Ukrainian counteroffensive using advanced weapons supplied by Kyivs Western allies. Top Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Thursday that Ukraines counteroffensive was already underway, cautioning that it should not be anticipated as a single event starting at a specific hour of a specific day. Writing on Twitter, Podolyak said that dozens of different actions to destroy Russian occupation forces had already been taking place yesterday, are taking place today and will continue tomorrow. Prigozhin has a long-running feud with the Russian military leadership, dating back to Wagners creation. He has also built a reputation for inflammatory and often unverifiable headline-grabbing statements that he later backtracked on. During the 15-month war in Ukraine, he has repeatedly and publicly chastised Russias military leadership, accusing them of incompetence and failure to properly provision his troops as they spearheaded the battle for Bakhmut. Wagners involvement in the capture of Bakhmut has added to Prigozhins standing, which he has used to set forth his personal views about the conduct of the war. Prigozhin is using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said. His frequent critical commentary about Russias military performance is uncommon in Russias tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin can usually air such criticism. His flat statement of what he would do over the next week in Bakhmut came a day after he again broke with the Kremlin line on Ukraine. He said its goal of demilitarizing the country has backfired, acknowledged Russian troops have killed civilians and agreed with Western estimates that he lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russian unleashed a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed 36 drones against Kyiv in its 12th nighttime air assault on the Ukrainian capital this month but the citys air defenses shot down all of them, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. The Kremlins forces also launched 30 airstrikes and 39 attacks from multiple rocket launchers as well as artillery and mortar attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said. At least one civilian was killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine on Wednesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said Thursday. In Russia, meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that five Swedish diplomats are to be expelled from the country. According to the statement, the decision is a response to Stockholms openly hostile step to declare five employees of Russian foreign missions in Sweden personae non grata in April. Moscow additionally announced its decision to close its consulate in Goteborg in September, as well as its withdrawal of consent to the activities of the Swedish consulate in St. Petersburg. (AP) More than 500 companies have suspended their business in Russia, and a similar number have withdrawn completely. An additional 151 are scaling back, 175 are buying time and 230 are digging in, according to database kept by Yale University. Chinese companies figure prominently in the last category. Heres a look at some of the Western companies that have chosen to stay or exit Russia: LEAVE Volkswagen on Friday closed a deal to sell its Russian business, including its plant in the western city of Kaluga with 4,000 employees, to an entity supported by Russian dealer Avilon. The agreement had been delayed for months by a lawsuit from Russian automaker GAZ. It made cars under contract for VW until the partnership was ended by what the Germany company calls a mutual agreement in May 2022. Though VW has disposed of its Russia business, it still must contend with the lawsuits. KFC owner Yum! Brands withdrew from Russia in March 2022 and some of the restaurants have rebranded as Rostics, a former post-Soviet brand. The workers are welcoming, just as before, 33-year-old teacher Timofey Sosnovsky said at a newly reopened Moscow location, where people dug into familiar red- and white-striped buckets of chicken and boxes of nuggets. I actually didnt feel any difference between KFC and Rostics. Austrian forest products company Mondi is still waiting for approval after reaching a deal in August to sell its assets, including a large mill in the northern city of Syktyvkar, for 95 billion rubles ($1.5 billion) to billionaire Viktor Kharitonins Augment Investments Group. It also still hasnt gotten approval after Gotek Group agreed in December to buy three smaller Mondi packaging operations. Another forest products company, Stora Enso, divested its packaging plants to local management but is still waiting for approval to shed two smaller Russian logging companies. Italian power generating company Enel agreed to sell its power plant holdings partly to Russian oil company Lukoil, which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2014, when Russia seized Ukraines Crimea peninsula. STAY Burger King, owned by Restaurant Brands International, and Carls Jr., which belongs to CKE Restaurents, are both still open in Moscow. Neither company responded to emailed questions. Last year, RBI International President David Shear said in a letter to employees that franchise agreements made it impossible to force the local operator to shut down while the company tries to sell its 15% share in the joint Russia venture. Its partners included the investment arm of state-owned VTB Bank. There are no legal clauses that allow us to unilaterally change the contract, he said. This is also why you may see other brands in Russia with similar structures continue to operate in the market. Any profits are being donated to the U.N.s refugee agency. Products from Italian drinks company Campari Group, which makes the popular Aperol liquor, are still available in Russia. The company has said it would halt advertising and reduce business to just enough to pay its 118 workers in Russia. It didnt respond to an emailed request for comment. Quincy, Illinois-based Titan International, maker of tires for farm tractors, has kept its majority stake in its factory in the southwestern city of Volgograd. The Russia plant serves a critical need of the global supply chain of food and agriculture, CEO Paul Reitz said in a conference call with analysts. We do continue to operate and follow all sanctions that are in place and there is no cash going in, no cash going out. The company doesnt supply the Russian government or the military, he said. Turkeys Anadolu Efes has launched new products in Russia, including an energy drink and an alcohol-free beer, according to its first-quarter earnings report. (AP) Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday formalizing the procedure for deploying Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. The move formalized the deal agreed on earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Putin previously announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. The inking of the deal comes as Russia braces for Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive. Both Russian and Belarusian officials framed the step as driven by hostility from the West. Deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said in Minsk during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere, Shoigu added. Belaruss Ministry of Defense said the agreement refers to a special storage facility on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. No detail was announced regarding when the weapons would be deployed in Belarus, but Putin previously said that the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would be completed by July 1. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the move. We must do everything to prevent Putins plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will ensure Russias control over Belarus for years to come, Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. This will further jeopardize the security of Ukraine and all of Europe. Independent Belarusian military analyst Aliaksandr Alesin said about two-thirds of Russias arsenal of medium-range nuclear-tipped missiles were held in Belarus during the Cold War, adding that there are dozens of Soviet-era storage facilities that could still be used to store such weapons. Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan were moved to Russia in a U.S.-brokered deal after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Documents in Minsk on the return of nuclear weapons were defiantly signed just at the moment when Ukraine declared a counteroffensive and Western countries are handing over weapons to Kyiv, Alesin told the AP. This Belarusian nuclear balcony should spoil the mood for politicians in the West, since nuclear missiles are capable of covering Ukraine, all of Poland, the Baltic states and parts of Germany. Khrenin also announced plans to build up the combat potential of the regional grouping of Russia and Belarusian troops, including the transfer to Minsk of the Iskander-M missile system, capable of carrying a nuclear charge, and the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading neighboring Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there. (AP) A photographer working for the Los Angeles Times shared an incident where he encountered resistance while attempting to capture a photograph of Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat representing California. He mentioned being subjected to verbal shouting as Senator Feinsteins staff attempted to conceal her wheelchair by positioning it behind a pillar. I photographed the senator as a staff member tried to hide her wheelchair behind a pillar at a low-profile exit last week. A Capitol Police officer shouted at me to move back despite already being 30 feet away from the senator. Feinstein waved as she was escorted to a waiting vehicle, photographer Kent Nishimura wrote in a Wednesday article. For two days in a row last week, the Senate sergeant-at-arms office has said her arrival at the Capitol is closed press, shutting doors and using the Capitol police to chase journalists out of hallways and public spaces. This unprecedented act of restricting press freedom only raises more questions, he said. At 89 years old, Senator Dianne Feinstein holds the distinction of being the oldest serving senator, surpassing President Joe Biden, who holds the record for being the oldest president in history at 80 years old. Recently, Senator Feinstein made national headlines when she experienced a bout of shingles, resulting in her absence from the Senate for a duration of three months. However, she returned to the Capitol on May 10th, though she appears not to remember being missing in the first place. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Agudath Israel of America congratulates the Biden Administration in the wake of the release of its National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism. It is a historic, comprehensive, all-of-government, initiative that seeks to fight Jew-hatred and its various ugly manifestations. Equally important, it sends a clear message that the United States in its fundamental values, laws, and policies finds antisemitism an unmitigated evil that is repugnant and intolerable and must be rooted out of the mindset and actions of American society. As we approach the Jewish holiday of Shavuos, there is little time to review in detail all the pillars of the strategy, and we will have to delay that analysis until after the festival. We are pleased to note, however, that in it many Agudath Israel priorities are addressed boosting the security of our people and institutions; the teaching of the Holocaust and its hate-filled horrors; combatting antisemitic discrimination and violence, so much of which is directed toward the Orthodox Jewish community; accommodating Jewish and other religious needs in federal programs run by the USDA, HHS, ED and other agencies; and many other areas in which we have worked for decades. Finally, Agudath Israel expresses its deep personal appreciation to President Joe Biden, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Ambassador Susan Rice, Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, among so many, for their vision, commitment, and extraordinarily hard work in undertaking and completing this initiative. We are proud to have been a contributing partner in this endeavor, invited to participate in several sessions at the White House and federal agencies with these and other officials to offer our thoughts and perspectives, and to engage in in-depth discussions, regarding the nature of the dangers facing the Jewish community in general and the unique threats to our Orthodox constituency in particular. We remain committed to this outstanding initiative and to working with the Biden Administration in helping it live up to its great promise. KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2023 - 06:34 | All, Japan A son of the chief of a city assembly in central Japan was taken into custody early Friday in connection with the deaths of four people, including two policemen, after holing up in his father's house for hours, police said. An investigation source said the suspect is believed to be the eldest son of Masamichi Aoki, speaker of the city assembly in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture. He stayed inside the residence after allegedly stabbing a woman to death and fatally shooting two policemen with a hunting rifle nearby, the police said. The motive for the rampage and other details remain unknown. The police also said an elderly woman was found injured and unconscious outside the house, and later pronounced dead. Local authorities had said earlier there was an injured man left unattended near the residence. Two other women, including the suspect's mother, escaped the house and the 57-year-old assembly chief was confirmed safe. The police initially received an emergency call at around 4:25 p.m. Thursday about a man stabbing a woman in the city, which lies to the northeast of the prefectural capital of Nagano. An eyewitness working in a field at about 4 p.m. said he first spotted the attacker chasing a woman who was shouting for help. The suspect, wearing camouflage clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a mask, then grabbed the woman by the arm before stabbing her in the back with a blade that appeared to be around 30 centimeters long. He stabbed her again in the chest while she lay facing upward, according to the eyewitness. "I killed her because I wanted to," the suspect was quoted as saying when the eyewitness asked why he had done such a thing. The woman was later pronounced dead and identified as Yukie Murakami, 66, who lived near the spot, according to the police. As the man left on foot, the 72-year-old local rushed to his home about 150 meters away, called the police and took the officers to a parking area where the stabbing took place. The attacker then reemerged as the police car was parking and immediately fired into the driver's side. The witness, terrified by the sound, ran away. He said he heard more gunshots but was too afraid to look back. The suspect then entered the house of the assembly speaker, the police said. Blaring police sirens disrupted the usually quiet area, dotted with homes and rice fields. Residents within a 300-meter radius of the crime scene were asked to evacuate. The scene of the incident is about 2 kilometers west of Shinshunakano Station on the Nagano Electric Railway. The two male police officers who died were identified as Yoshiki Tamai, a 46-year-old inspector, and Takuo Ikeuchi, a 61-year-old sergeant. A Chareidi tzedaka organization recently received a surprising message from a man who said he will no longer attend anti-Chareidi protests due to the assistance his needy relative in Tel Aviv received from the organization. My name is S., the message, sent to Chasdei Yosef, a well-known tzedaka organization in Jerusalem, began. In recent months, I participated several times in protests against the Chareidi sector, including in Bnei Brak. On Thursday, I visited a relative whose financial situation has deteriorated in recent years. While I was there, I saw gift vouchers for Shavuot. He told me that he appealed to several organizations but the only one that helped him was yours. I asked him if he knows you personally and he said no. I realized that you assist people without checking their tzitziot and without asking about their political opinions. I was astounded. I realized that the hatred against you is not necessarily justified and its forbidden to generalize. It suddenly dawned on me that all the stories about the chessed of the Chareidim are true. I still have differences of opinion with you but not everything is black and white and hating others is a terrible thing. I regret it and promise not to go to protests against you anymore and I would be happy to meet you personally and hear your opinions on the current issues. We were very happy to receive the moving message, a source at Chasdei Yosef said. Its a bonus for helping a Jew in need. According to Chasdei Yosef, the Tel Avivian is far from the only one who received vouchers for Shavuos. Unfortunately, since our Kimcha DPischa distribution, many new requests have been added for Shavuos. Based on this, we decided to distribute vouchers in 13 cities throughout the country, in accordance with requests and in contact with welfare departments. The demand is very high not only here but among all organizations, and without a doubt, the economic situation is making itself felt. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Often there is a Plan A. But sometimes, one has to go with a Plan B. And, since everything is mishamayim, it soon becomes clear that perhaps Plan B was Hashems Plan A all along. The origins of Beis Medrash Elyon began not with Beis Medrash Elyon. Rather, it began with an idea from the fertile mind of Reb Shraga Mendlowitz obm. His idea was to create a program for mechanchim to train those who would go out into Chinuch. His goal was to recruit students from all of the Yeshivos in America. He called it the Aish Dos program. It was 1943, and Reb Shraga Feivel found a property in Monsey, New York. The property had two buildings atop 16 acres of land and one of the properties was a large mansion with a steeple. A gentile gvir had built it more than a century earlier. It had two floors. It was perfect and only $13,000. He took out a personal loan from someone of $3000. Then he obtained a bank loan for the other $10,000 providing a down payment of 23%. The Aish Dos program lasted one year, and then morphed into a different program called Beis Medrash lMechanchim which lasted an additional 18 months. But it did make a remarkable impact. Mechanchim of great import emerged. TAGs Rav Moshe Weitman obm had studied there, as did so many other successful mechanchim. In 1944, Reb Shraga Feivel retooled. Another idea that he had toyed with was to create an elite program, but he had rejected it earlier on. The holocaust, however, had kind of changed his mind. The vast majority of European talmidei chachomim had been eliminated, and now there was shortage. In the fall of 1944, Reb Shraga Feivel opened up Beis Medrash Elyon and changed history. He gathered eighteen of Torah VDaaths top talmidim. Rav Reuvain Grozovsky ztl, YTVs Rosh Yeshiva also became BMEs Rosh Yeshiva. He spent the second half of the week and Shabbos in Beis Medrash Elyon. Rav Yisroel Chaim Kaplan ztl, the son-in-law of Rav the famed Mir Mashgiach, Rav Yerucham Levovitz ztl and a former Maggid Shiur in the Brisker Ravs Yeshiva, was the Mashgiach of BME. And very soon, BME became the premier Yeshiva and Kollel in America. Rav Simcha Schustal headed the Kollel Reb Shraga Feivel, however, passed away only four years after BME was established, in 1948. Indeed, Rav Moshe Bick once said of this Yeshiva, No other yeshiva has produced lomdim the way Bais Medrash Elyon has. The Yeshiva built bungalow housing for the Rebbeim and the Kollel Yungeleit. They called these bungalows Batei Elyon. The Yeshiva bochurim lived in the dormitory housing. Meals were delivered to everyone three times a day. The cook, Mr. Appledorfer, who worked in Yeshiva was a remarkable tzaddik. He once related that he would wake up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for the bochurim, and find Rav Reuven absorbed in learning. It was not that the Rosh Yeshiva was up early. It was that he was up all night. Such was his example of hasmada for the bochurim. Once Rav Aharon Kotler ztl had given a shiur in Beis Medrash Elyon. Rav Aharon had left his pen there and Mr. Appledorfer chased after Rav Aharon to give him back the pen. Rav Aharon to him to hold onto it. Years later, when Rav Dovid Schustal, a talmid of Beis medrash Elyon, married Rav Shneur Kotlers daughter, Mr. Appledorfer gave him a gift-wrapped box. In it was a ball-point pen. Rav Dovid Schustal asked him later, Mai Hai? Mr. Appledorfer answered, It was Rav Aharons pen. Now that you are marrying into the family, I figured I should give it to you. In 1951, Rav Reuvain Grozovsky suffered a serious stroke, and Rav Kaplan the Mashgiach took over as Rosh Yeshiva. Originally, Rav Gedaliah Schorr did not have so much to do with Beis Medrash Elyon. Rav Reuven Grozovsky was the rosh yeshiva, and the day-to-day running of the yeshiva was done by Rav Yisroel Chaim Kaplan. After Rav Reuvens petirah in the late 1955, Rav Schorr began coming to Monsey every week, where he gave shiur on the masechta. He also gave maamarim that were based on the Sefas Emes, or Rav Tzadok or others. His power of chiddush and his genius in these areas were perhaps unparalleled. Rav Gedaliah had asked his mechuten, Rav Margolis from London for a loan and housing was built for the Kollel Yungeleit. Eventually, Rav Gedaliah Schorr became the Rosh Yeshiva. Some of the early talmidim under Rav Reuvain were: Rav Yehoshua Yoseph Preil Rav Don Ungarisher Rav Hillel Zaks Rav Gershon Zaks Rav Hershel Zaks Rav Yitzchok Scheiner Rav Moshe Feigelstock Rav Shraga Moshe Kalmanowitz Rav Chaim Grozovsky Rav Sheah Schiff Rav Shmuel Mendlowitz Rav Yehoshua Gelddzahler Rav Yaakov Moshe Kulevsky Rav Simcha Schustal Rav Yisroel Chaim Kaplan The Mashgiach A Talmid later recalled: Search through the Mesilas Yeshorim and Chovos Halevovos and glean from there all the glowing poetic phrases descriptive of human perfection; seek out the component ingredients of pure ethical man. Blend these harmoniously and then add a touch of humanity and warmth and sweetness beyond words. There you may come into existence again; or at least inspire a new generation of imitations. The Mashgiach personified eternity. In his company, the commonplace and ordinary had no room to exist. His was the world of the scholar-philosopher; where angels could feel at ease and where puny humans lost touch with their crushing pettiness, to be carried aloft on the soaring wings of wisdom to the dizzying heights of the ethereal plane. The presence of the Shechina shone forth from his kindly countenance, and he imparted its glow to the entire assemblage. With quiet step he trod the floors of the Yeshiva, making his way among the endless rows of student benches, often hardly noticed by the men by dint of their deep concentration. His personal erudition was eclipsed by his heavy focus on ethical development, but many a time even the most brilliant students would marvel at his ability to resolve their Talmudic difficulties. Some have claimed that this was more a result of his calming influence on the students than of his own profundity of learning; and therein lay a remarkable observation . Even after all these years, the very memory of the Mashgiach has a soothing effect on my nerves and often brings a calm to troubled waters. Thus passed in idyllic tranquility my earliest period in Beis Medrash Elyon. Rav Reuvain Grozovsky ztl The Rosh Yeshiva Rav Reuvain Grozovsky ztl, was one of the Gedolei HaDor, who almost single-handedly changed the face of the Torah world as we know it. He was the person responsible for bringing Rav Aharon Kotler ztl and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky ztl to the Slabodka Yeshiva and literally saving them from grave spiritual dangers. He married the daughter of Rav Boruch Ber, was a member of the Vaad Hatzolah, Moetzes Gedolei Torah and Torah uMesorah. He was a Rosh Yeshiva in Torah VDaas, Beis Medrash Elyon and Kamenetz. Imagine. No Rav Aharon Kotler ztl. No Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky ztl. No Lakewood Yeshiva. Also, all of the Yeshiva Bochurim that were saved by Rav Reuvain and Rav Aharon. One shudders to think of what would have been without him. In beis Medrash Elyon, Rav Reuvain would give the same shiur that he delivered at Yeshiva Torah VDaas, but on a far deeper level. He delivered the shiur every Shabbos. Some of the thoughts and sayings of Rav Grozovsky ztl were: The Holiness of Shabbos pre-existed creation and is the culmination of the worlds completion. The verse states that G-d completed His work on the seventh day. Before the Holiness of Shabbos existed the world was incomplete. This can only be understood by those who perceive that Holiness. The seventy two sages who translated the Septuagint for Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Greek king of Egypt in 72 different rooms thus all translated that G-d completed His work on Friday (Bretton translation on Genesis 2:2). This is because they knew that only Jews would understand why the worlds real completion was on Shabbos. (Sichos Rav Reuvain, Moadim, Maamar 1). If a person is cruel and shows no concern about embarrassing another and does not care about the other being mortified this is not of the lighter sins at all rather it is of the gravest of sins (Maamarei Rav Reuvain p. 13) Sometimes a person will use Torah to chas veshalom cause pain or tzaar to another human being. He makes the Torah into a sword to stab another human being. This is the very opposite of Torah which is a Torah of chessed and gives Everlasting life. (Maamarei Rav Reuvain p. 8) The trait of humility is what strengthens the trait of fear of Heaven (Maamarei Rav Reuvain p.32) The purpose of Vidui is so that a person will be filled with a fear and dread of his aveiros, (Lev Reuvain p.410) Just like we count our money in gashmius, we should also be counting our Mitzvos (See Rav Broan Brachos 9b) this way he will understand, appreciate and value the mitzvah. He will also take pride and joy in it and seek to work harder in the performance of Mitzvos. (Maamarei Rav Reuvain p.3) Torah is life itself. Since Torah is so precious and valuable, a person should be in a state of great joy for every insight in Torah that he creates for every question he has, and for every answer. As a result he will endeavor to sharpen it, clarify it, write it and spread it. He should do this also for his friends insights too (Maamarei Rav Reuvain p.22) If one does not feel the simcha in the learning of Torah it is because he never truly tasted Torah in the correct and proper manner. (Lev Reuvain p.416) When explaining a lomdisha shiur to Talmidim it is important to leave out everything that does not directly pertain to understanding the concepts being conveyed no matter how interesting that extraneous idea is. (Heard from a talmid). A person is obligated to honor his limbs and his body. It is part of the Mitzvah of Zeh Kaili vanveihu since man was created bTzelem Elokim. (Maamrei Rav Reuvain p.45) A talmid later recalled: Rav Reuvain Grozovsky was wisdom incarnate. His fine, sharp, and powerful mind was a repository for the knowledge of the ages. The Tannairn, Amoraim, Rishonim, and Achronim were all alive and vibrant in the recesses of his magnificent brain: the Gaon personified, shades of the old Reb Chaim of Volozhin and Rabbi Akiva Eiger. Beneath the ancient eyebrows, his piercing eyes danced and sparkled with subtlety; each carefully chosen phrase of his was permeated with depth and an analytic insight. He inspired awe in the mightiest of scholars, and spurred them on to greater heights of achievement. The Rosh Hayeshivas personal sanctity and purity were proverbial. His very presence endowed the Yeshiva with a majestic and holy atmosphere, Yorn Kippur-like in its awe, focusing ones mind on higher realms. For the few who had dabbled in secular studies, his presence was a unique revelation. His pure, potent wisdom and pristine personality were certainly a welcome relief from the stuffy sophists and scientists who claimed for themselves the exclusive right to scholarship. Compared to him, these were mere schoolboys who flaunted their meager knowledge in search of recognition. Some of the Rosh Yeshivas students were already giants in their own right, and many were eagerly sought by established institutions to be deans and lecturers to fill important positions. In many a case, though, their thirst for the wisdom of their teacher kept them in the Yeshiva for additional years until they emerged in magnificent form. Rav Gedaliah Schorr ztl Rav Gedalia Schorr, was called Americas first Gadol, by Rav Aharon Kotler ztl. Although his parents were Sadigora Chassidim, he was a student of Rav Dovid Leibowitz ztl in Yeshiva Torah VaDaas. When Rav Shlomo Heiman took ill, he was asked to give shiur in his stead. Rav Gedaliah went to learn in Kletzk under Rav Aharon Kotler and later became the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah VaDaas in 1958 after the passing of Rav Reuvain Grozovsky ztla. He loved and knew every talmid like a father to a son. Rav Schorr interacted more and more with the Talmidim in BME. Each week, he would go to the Port Authority in Manhattan and took a bus to Monsey. After he arrived at Beis Medrash Elyon each Thursday, he would speak in learning with every bochur. Lets recall that each of these talmidim were future Roshei Yeshiva and brilliant Talmidei Chachomim in their own right. The next week he would go around the Beis Medrash and answer questions that the bochurim had asked that previous week. The following are eleven thoughts and sayings of his. The Midrash (BR 8:10) tells us that the Malachim erroneously thought that Adam Harishon was HaKadosh Boruch Hu and wished to say Shira and Kadosh before him. How could this be? The answer is that Adam was created btzelem elokim and his neshama is a chailek elokah mimaal. This is our potential! The concepts of mere resolve and stick-to-it-ism contain tremendous powers of growth. Rav Gedaliah Schorr once said: Yaakov Avinu, even while he was in Galus arose from one madreigah to another. The galus did not affect him negatively at all. His growth was such that the parsha concludes vayifgeu bo malachei hasharais the angels themselves met with him. The term pagah refers to the notion of chidush containing an element of shock. The malachim were shocked both of this tremendous growth as well as to the fact that it happened in the house of Lavan. How did it happen? Because he did not deviate one iota from his Avodas Hashem this resolve was what caused his growth such growth that even the Malachim himself were in awe. Ohr Gedalyahu Parshas Vayetzai p.98 Part of the Mitzvah of being mesamayach a chosson and kallah is bringing them gifts as the Rambam explains in hilchos Avel 14:1. In the sheva brachos we say about Hashem, mesamayach chosson vekallah. So what is the gift that Hashem brings the chosson and Kallah? It appears that it is the mechilah on all aveiros and the ability to start over which is the greatest gift of all! (at a sheva brachos) The entire concept of a Korban being effective to remove aveirah comes from Avrohom Avinu at the Akeidah. He davened to hashem that in the merit of his willingness to listen to hashem in the Akeida that his descendents houls have the ability to receive mechilah by offering something. From Rav Gedalias words we see the kochos of dedication to the ratzon Hashem. When the Simon Weisenthal Holocaust Museum was opened in California even bringing in stones from Auschwitz to show visitors, he responded emotionally, They must certainly think that that they are building it so that anti-semites will see how far evil can take them and that they will do teshuvah. The truth is that it will not help at all. These types of places are only school houses of terrorism. It will instruct them as to how far they can strike Jews, may the Merciful One protect us. Meged Givaos Olam Vol. II That which they say the Shabbos after Shavuos we still retain the sparks and light of Yom Tov that Shabbos [when combined with its kedusha and that of the sparks and lights from Shavuos] is a very special time for hisorerus. The Maharsham had a proof to this from a teshuvah of the Radbaz Vol. Vi #2178. The Gemorah in Chagigah 26b states that after [every] yom tov the Kohanim would show the people the nissim that the lechem hapanim would still be fresh and warm and how much Hashem loved Klal Yisroel. This happened on Shabbos. Now why were the people there Shavuos? It was because they stayed. This si why it is called Shabbos noch Shavuos and it has special Kedusha. The Midrash Bereishis Rabbah 60:2 tells us Eved maskil zeh eliezer. Now each person has a particular mission or task in life whether he admits to it or not. He must fulfill this task to his best ability. He should not try to rid himself of that task. What was the wisdom of Eliezer? The main aspect of his wisdom is that he knew his task and place. His place was the be the servant of Avrohom and through that he can achieve the apogee of what he was meant to do. He did not try to releive himself of this task or his responsibilities. This must be true of all people. We must recognize our task, and the particular strengths that shamayim has given us. We must serve Hashem with these kochos and not search for other aspects and heights that were not meant for us. Eliezer performed his task with all his abilities. Rav Menachem Zeimba ztl wrote remarkable chiddushim on the entire Torah. The gzeirah that was the Churban was not only on him but also on his Torah chiddushim which could have enlightened all of Klal Yisroel. Only two seforim were saved: Totzaos Chaim and responsa Zera Avrohom. It is remarkable that these two seforim were printed as a chessed to commemorate the memory of two Talmidei Chachomim. This was Torah of chessed and that is why his Torah was saved from the Churban. When someone does an action there are not only different levels of intent, but different types of intent as well. Rav Schorr ztl would quote Rashi (Bereishis 9:23) on the pasuk of how it says, And he took, Shaim and Yafes, the clothing and draped it on Noach. WRashi explains that Shaim exerted himself more in the Mitzvah than Yafes did. He therefore received the Mitzvah of Tzitzis for his decendents, while Yafes merited burial for his descendents as it says in Sfer Yechezkel 39:11 And I shall give Gog a burial place. Now the action that they each did was the same. The difference between them pertains to the type of intent that they each had. Shaims intent reflected inner depth, true understanding and for the sake of a Mitzvah. This is why he merited to a Mitzvah that reflects the inner nature of clothing. Yafes intent was external and aesthetic so that things should look nice. This is the essence of Yavan to focus only on the out aesthetics and ignoring the inner depth and value. And Mordechai knew all that had transpired (Esther 4:1). Rashi explains that he was told this information in a But how does Rashi know this? How do we know that it wasnt through Ruach haKodesh or through Eliyahu HaNavi as is indicated in the Midrash (Esther Rabbah)? Rav Schorr explained based on the Gemorah in Chagigah 5b, And I shall surely hide My Face on that day Even though I shall hide My Face from them I shall speak to him in a dream (BaMidbar 12:6). Even in a period of Hester Panim Klal Yisroel will still merit communication through a dream. There are two types of yirah. There is one that is calculated and developed intellectually. But there is a more fundamental yirah one that exists naturally, like that which is found in the Beis HaMikdash as in the tefillah vesham naavadcha byirah. The main yirah is when there is a divine revelation and based upon the understanding of the person he is filled with true Yirah. (Ohr Gedalyahu parshas beshalach) A Talmid later recalled: The hierarchy of Beis Medrash Elyon boasted yet another wondrous individual. The Wise One, as he was known, punctuated the regular study program with his intermittent appearances. Each of these was occasion for a generous dose of his sparkling Talmudic insight or a brilliant dissertation on mystical aspects of Midrash and Talmud, and the pleasure of his scintillating conversation. A multifaceted luminary was he, with exceptional expertise in even many an exotic area of scholarly interest. He was a rare and unforgettable individual: charming and captivating, empathetically relating to many an individual student. The profundity of his thinking, though, often required inordinate exertion for fullest comprehension for he was of the type that was somewhat removed from the mundane tediousness of pragmatic concerns. Nonetheless, his impact upon the thinking of the student body was considerable. Rav Gedaliah Schorr zatzals ideas and phraseology inevitably found their way into the vocabulary of all true Beis Medrash Elyoners, gently and irresistibly expanding their mental horizons. He was often beleaguered by an admiring following, eager to cull tidbits of wisdom from his repartee, delicately dissecting his shmuessim in search of the vast scholarly treasure they harbored. He never acted with condescension and was equally at ease with the great and the humble. Rav Gedaliah Schorrs fame spread far and wide, attracting to the Yeshiva a broader element of talmidim than had been customary in previous times. His role in the leadership of the Yeshiva expanded with the passage of time, ultimately assuming the foremost position, upon the demise of the Rosh Hayeshiva. Rav Don Ungarischer ztl Rav Don Ungarischer zatzal, the son-in-law of Rav Reuven Grozovsky ztl, gave the top shiur in BME after his father-in-laws stroke and compiled and edited his shiurim in what is known as Chiddushei Rav Reuven. This sefer has become a venerable classic in the yeshiva world today. It is used by talmidim and Roshei yeshiva alike. Rav Ungarischer devoted his life to harbotzas haTorah, and led both the yeshiva in Monsey as well as the Bais Medrosh Elyon branch in Bnei Brak, which is headed by Rav Dons son, Rav Yerachmiel Ungarischer. This authors personal interaction with Rav Don Ungarischer zatzal showed his remarkable tzidkus aside from his incredible lomdus. He spent hours and hours in an attempt to help an Agunah receive a get. He gave her much chizuk and also gave chizuk to all those who were helping her. His son is now Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Elyon. The Talmidim A Talmid later recalled: The mannerisms of the talmidim even with regard to dress, ranged from the dapper to the ascetic. National origin also varied widely, giving the Yeshiva its well-deserved reputation of being a supra-national cosmopolitan institution. The range of secondary interests of the students was equally vast in its extent, varying from the music of tefillah, to history, dikduk, mysticism, philosophy, and oratory. In the Beis Hamedrash, the introspective baal mussar rubbed shoulders with the fiery emotional divine, very often as chavrusos debating with equal intensity the pilpul of the most recent Talmudic discourse as well as contrasting views on Torah Weltanschauung. The most striking and memorable element in the composition of the Yeshiva was the aura of kedusha that permeated every facet of its activity. Even after the passage of years, with the blurring of images and the fading of memories dismayingly taking their toll, this noble characteristic stands out remarkably sharp and clear. It remains to this day the hallmark of the true Beis Medrash Elyoner. This spirit of kedusha, as it were, having once been ingested by the student during his tenure at the Yeshiva, continued to radiate from within his soul for all his days, indelibly marking him with grace and distinguishing him among his fellow men. As a genuine institution of higher learning and research, Beis Medrash Elyon harbored a generous dose of scholarly cynicism, but its intensity was limited to serve as a constructive stimulant for discipline in self-expression. It was, nonetheless, caustic enough to discourage most second-raters from choosing Beis Medrash Elyon as their place of study. This reinforced the Yeshivas well earned reputation as the abode of genius, on a plane of its own, well beyond the normal academic level. The exceptional scholar who made his way to Beis Medrash Elyon after capping off a career as the outstanding student of his local yeshiva found himself subdued by the Yeshivas community of scholars. Yet despite the varying natures and wide ranging personalities of the students, they throbbed as one great soul in their relentless yearning for truth and in their steadfast devotion to the high ideals of Torah. The genius of Beis Medrash Elyon was manifest even in its gentile help, one of whom held several patents for inventions. I particularly remember his keen wit and powers of observation. (Once, when he noticed a student lying in bed during study hours, apparently fatigued from an entire night of vigorous learning, he remarked, There lies one of our students, in deep meditation.) Mention should be made of the dynamic community of Monsey that the Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Elyon left in its wake. Originally located in an isolated, semi-rural setting, the Yeshiva had steadily drawn clusters of Torah-seeking families from without, who desired to bask in its light and cling to its holiness. A mini-community soon formed under the shadow of the yeshiva, nurtured by its vitality, fed by its outflux of maturing scholars, and crowned by its dominating presence. In time, however, this community flourished, and fast assumed an independent character, distinguished by great piety and serenity. The town ultimately survived the great academy that spawned it, and even superseded the Yeshiva in its significance. A family member is bezras Hashem purchasing a home in Monsey, an ever-growing metropolis with new neighborhoods arising every few months. People must realize, however, what the moving force behind the growth of this Torah shtot actually was. It was the Torah and gadlus of these remarkable individuals that created it all. Even the anti-Semitic New York Times informs us that it was Beis Medrash Elyon which metamorphosed into Monsey. The author can be reached at [email protected] A major update in the future of the world's second biggest cinema group, Cineworld, has been revealed after it filed for bankruptcy. The firm has said it expects to come out of its bankruptcy protection in July after it received backing from lenders. And cinemagoers will be relieved to learn it has said it will continue to run its venues 'without interruption' and 'as usual'. The second-largest cinema chain in the world employs 28,000 workers across the globe, where it operates in 10 countries How big is Cineworld? Cineworld is the world's second largest cinema chain, having expanded rapidly before the Covid pandemic hit. The group has more than 9,000 screens at 751 sites in 10 different countries. Cineworld's main brands are Cineworld and Picturehouse in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Cinema City in Eastern and Central Europe, Yes Planet in Israel, and Regal Cinemas in the United States. What is happening to Cineworld? Cineworld released a major update on its future today, confirming it expects to exit bankruptcy. In a statement today, it said: 'The group continues to honour the terms of all existing customer membership programmes, including Regal Unlimited and Regal Crown Club in the United States and Cineworld Unlimited in the UK.' Cineworld said it was moving forward with a plan to restructure its pile of debt, which currently stands at approximately 4billion. That comes after the world's second-largest cinema chain filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US last year due to giant debts, the after effects of the pandemic and low footfall to its venues. A chapter 11 bankruptcy case refers to when the debtor remains in possession of the business and may continue to operate as normal while it reorganises its debts and assets. It can even, with court approval, borrow more money. Initially Cineworld, which has 129 cinemas in the UK and Ireland, looked to be at risk after it filed for the bankruptcy in the US. However, since then it has announced it would raise 1.8billion in new funding to remain in operation. And it has even revealed plans to expand, with the firm saying it plans to open three more of its Picturehouse venues in Chester, Ealing and Epsom. Cineworld shares tanked after soaring in the years before the pandemic Why has Cineworld been in trouble? Over the past five years, Cineworld's share price has tumbled by 99.6 per cent, after it was hammered by the pandemic and forced to close cinema doors just after an aggressive expansion. The increase in people using subscription streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ has also hindered its business. Cineworld employs 28,000 workers across the globe, where it operates in 10 countries. A US drugs giant has paused its plans to build a new base in London, warning that the UK is stifling innovation due to its punishing taxes and regulation. The move by Eli Lilly comes amid growing concerns from corporate leaders that Britains competitiveness is being undermined by onerous rules and the high cost of doing business. Based in Indianapolis, Eli Lilly is one of the worlds biggest pharmaceutical companies and appointed property agent CBRE to scope out potential sites for a 65,000 square-foot hub in London designed to support start-up companies in bringing new medical products to market. But yesterday it said it could look elsewhere in Europe if the environment did not improve. On hold: US drugs giant Eli Lilly had been scoping out potential sites for a hub in London designed to support start-up firms in bringing new products to market It said: While we believe in the potential of the UKs biotech talent, and share the countrys ambition to be a life sciences superpower, the stifling commercial environment does not invite inward investment at this time. The UK needs to do more to reward scientific discovery through access to innovative medicines to speed up clinical research and regulatory processes. The comments followed those from Eli Lilly associate vice-president Stephen Van Soelen, who said the UKs treatment of businesses made companies like ours really question investing in the innovation there, and there were other places in Europe to go. When you actually bring a product to market, youre not getting rewarded for your innovation. 'As the old saying goes, unless something changes, nothing will. The environment has to change, added Van Soelen. Eli Lilly has a UK headquarters in Basingstoke in Hampshire and a research centre in Bracknell, Berkshire. But pausing its plans in London is a blow to the Government, which is aiming to make the UK a science superpower. But AJ Bell backs London The boss of the investment platform AJ Bell said it was staying in London and that firms did not need to shift their listing to New York to attract American investment. Michael Summersgill, who took over the top job from founder Andy Bell in October, said a London listing made massive sense for the company and it managed to lure US backers without needing to decamp to Wall Street. Around 20pc of AJ Bells institutional investors are from the US. Being listed in London doesnt stop you going there to appeal to investors if you have the right investment case, he said. Go and do a roadshow in America. Go and get US investment. Do you really need to be listed in America to access those pools of capital? Its criticism comes after statements in February by Pascal Soriot, boss of pharma firm AstraZeneca, who said a discouraging tax system was behind a decision to build a 330million factory in Ireland rather than the UK. It had planned a factory in north-west England but had switched to Dublin. Astra employs about 83,100 staff globally, more than 8,000 of whom are in the UK. Other senior figures in the City have sounded the alarm. Legal & General boss Sir Nigel Wilson said while entrepreneurship at UK universities was off the scale, the country was no longer competing in backing businesses and risked falling behind rivals. The oil and gas sector has also come out against Government tax plans, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of Britains richest men and the founder of chemicals group Ineos, warning the UKs windfall levy, which imposes an effective tax rate of 75 per cent on profits made from the North Sea, risked squeezing the sector to death. And in the tech industry, Cambridge computer chipmaker Arm snubbed a listing on the London Stock Exchange in favour of a float in New York. The chorus has left the Government scrambling to improve the countrys prospects, with plans being drawn up to loosen rules on stock market listings. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is also thought to be considering plans to force pension funds to invest part of their vast reserves in UK projects and start-ups. Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE Get Rating) had its target price lowered by investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $58.00 to $53.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Stifel Nicolaus price target indicates a potential upside of 58.64% from the companys current price. Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Callon Petroleum in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Callon Petroleum from $55.00 to $71.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Callon Petroleum from $40.00 to $36.00 in a research note on Sunday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Callon Petroleum in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Callon Petroleum from $45.00 to $43.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $55.50. Get Callon Petroleum alerts: Callon Petroleum Stock Performance NYSE CPE opened at $33.41 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The firms fifty day moving average price is $33.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $37.12. Callon Petroleum has a 1 year low of $28.91 and a 1 year high of $64.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 2.73. Insider Buying and Selling Callon Petroleum ( NYSE:CPE Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The oil and natural gas company reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.96 by ($0.02). Callon Petroleum had a return on equity of 27.29% and a net margin of 46.15%. The business had revenue of $560.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $535.29 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.43 earnings per share. Callon Petroleums revenue was down 27.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Callon Petroleum will post 9.33 EPS for the current year. In related news, Director Steven A. Webster acquired 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $30.24 per share, with a total value of $302,400.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 592,824 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,926,997.76. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Callon Petroleum news, Director Steven A. Webster bought 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of $30.24 per share, for a total transaction of $302,400.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 592,824 shares in the company, valued at $17,926,997.76. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Steven A. Webster acquired 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $31.63 per share, with a total value of $632,600.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 562,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,802,123.12. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have purchased 30,250 shares of company stock worth $944,795. Insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Callon Petroleum A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL grew its stake in shares of Callon Petroleum by 87.5% during the 3rd quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 89,680 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $3,140,000 after purchasing an additional 41,840 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Callon Petroleum by 66.9% during the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 11,573 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $429,000 after buying an additional 4,639 shares in the last quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald L. P. bought a new stake in Callon Petroleum during the third quarter valued at about $1,014,000. Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its position in Callon Petroleum by 22.0% during the third quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 61,000 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $2,136,000 after purchasing an additional 11,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ellis Investment Partners LLC raised its stake in Callon Petroleum by 21.7% in the third quarter. Ellis Investment Partners LLC now owns 41,023 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $1,436,000 after buying an additional 7,303 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.60% of the companys stock. About Callon Petroleum (Get Rating) Callon Petroleum Co engages in the exploration, development, acquisition, and production of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It focuses on unconventional oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin. The company was founded by Sim C. Callon and John S. Callon in 1950 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Callon Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Callon Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Africa Oil (OTCMKTS:AOIFF Get Rating) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Barclays from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Separately, Scotiabank raised Africa Oil from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Get Africa Oil alerts: Africa Oil Stock Down 0.5 % OTCMKTS AOIFF opened at $2.08 on Tuesday. Africa Oil has a fifty-two week low of $1.47 and a fifty-two week high of $2.65. The stock has a market cap of $959.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.92 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a fifty day moving average of $2.07 and a 200-day moving average of $2.05. Africa Oil Company Profile Africa Oil ( OTCMKTS:AOIFF Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The energy company reported ($0.39) earnings per share for the quarter. (Get Rating) Africa Oil Corp. is an oil and gas company, which engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production associated with oil and gas assets. It focuses on producing and development assets in deep-water offshore Nigeria, and development assets in Kenya. Its portfolio of exploration assets includes Guyana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and in the Senegal Guinea Bissau Joint Development Zone (AGC). See Also Receive News & Ratings for Africa Oil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Africa Oil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF Get Rating) had its target price upped by investment analysts at Citigroup from $24.00 to $33.00 in a report issued on Thursday, The Fly reports. Citigroups price target would suggest a potential upside of 9.42% from the companys previous close. ANF has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Argus cut Abercrombie & Fitch from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com began coverage on Abercrombie & Fitch in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Abercrombie & Fitch from $31.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Abercrombie & Fitch from $35.00 to $30.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on Abercrombie & Fitch from $28.00 to $32.00 in a report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $28.75. Get Abercrombie & Fitch alerts: Abercrombie & Fitch Trading Up 31.1 % NYSE ANF opened at $30.16 on Thursday. Abercrombie & Fitch has a 12 month low of $14.02 and a 12 month high of $31.69. The company has a 50-day moving average of $24.85 and a 200-day moving average of $25.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $1.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 502.75 and a beta of 1.45. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch ( NYSE:ANF Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 1st. The apparel retailer reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by ($0.05). Abercrombie & Fitch had a net margin of 0.08% and a return on equity of 1.90%. The company had revenue of $1.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.18 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.14 EPS. The companys revenue was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Abercrombie & Fitch will post 1.43 earnings per share for the current year. A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ANF. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 1,051.9% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,221 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,115 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Advisory Services Network LLC raised its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 985.0% in the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 1,085 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 985 shares in the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY raised its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 19.9% in the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY now owns 3,078 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 511 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY raised its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 19.9% during the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 3,078 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 511 shares in the last quarter. About Abercrombie & Fitch (Get Rating) Abercrombie & Fitch Co engages in the retail of apparel, personal care products, and accessories. It offers apparel products, including knit tops, woven shirts, graphic t-shirts, fleece, sweaters, jeans, woven pants, shorts, outerwear, dresses, intimates and swimwear, and personal care products and accessories for men, women, and kids under the Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Abercrombie & Fitch Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abercrombie & Fitch and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2023 - 12:10 | All, Japan A pair of premium melons in Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido fetched 3.5 million yen ($25,000) at the year's first auction on Thursday, securing the event's second highest bid on record. The bid for the melons grown in the city of Yubari exceeded the previous year's by 500,000 yen but failed to top the record bid of 5 million yen in 2019. This year's successful bidder was Hokuyupack Co., a Yubari-based company that packs fruit and vegetables. At the May 2020 auction, when COVID-19 was spreading, a pair of Yubari melons fetched just 120,000 yen, but bids rose to 2.7 million yen in 2021 and 3 million yen in 2022. According to the local cooperative, nine farms on Thursday auctioned off 262 of the melons, which are known for their orange flesh and sweetness, with the peak harvesting period in late June through July. A total 3,258 tons of the melons, worth around 1.93 billion yen, are expected to be shipped this year. Premium fruit often fetch very high prices at first auctions in Japan, with buyers using successful bids for promotional purposes. Hokuyupack said it will offer pieces of the purchased melons for free at a local farmers market on June 3 and 4. KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2023 - 16:44 | All, Japan, World Japanese and Sri Lankan leaders on Thursday confirmed the importance of "transparent and fair" debt restructuring, apparently warning against China's alleged debt-trap diplomacy, which uses loans as leverage to gain concessions from borrower nations. The agreement came during a meeting in Tokyo between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who expressed appreciation for the Asian country's role in restructuring his nation's debt. Sri Lanka defaulted on its debt in April 2022 amid the worst economic crisis since the South Asian country, with a population of 22 million, gained independence from Britain in 1948, with China emerging as the biggest bilateral creditor to the nation in recent years. Against a backdrop of Beijing's so-called debt trap diplomacy, many developing countries receiving massive loans from China, including Sri Lanka, have given up control of key infrastructure after the debt liabilities become untenable. During the three-day Group of Seven summit through Sunday in the western Japan city of Hiroshima, the leaders urged all nations to refrain from using "economic coercion" as a tool to pursue political objectives with China in mind. Wickremesinghe, meanwhile, told Kishida at the outset of their meeting, which was open to the media, that the debt-strapped country's efforts to improve its fiscal health have made "remarkable headway" on the back of support by Japan and other major democracies. Japan, France and India have launched an initiative to coordinate the restructuring of Sri Lanka's hefty loans among its creditors. The first meeting of the nation's lenders was held earlier this month, which Beijing attended as an observer. Sri Lanka will be able to conclude the debt restructuring talks "by September or November at the latest," Wickremesinghe told Kishida, adding, "That would mean the end of the phase of Sri Lanka's economic crisis." As of September 2022, Sri Lanka had $35.1 billion in foreign debt. By country, 19 percent of it was owed to China, 7 percent to Japan and 5 percent to India, according to Japan's Finance Ministry. SYDNEY, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Thursday commenced a critical incident investigation after a knife-wielding man was shot dead in Sydney. NSW Police Force said in a statement that just before 11:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, officers from North Shore Police Area Command were called to Alexander Avenue in North Willoughby, following reports that a man was threatening residents. According to the statement, two responding officers were confronted by a man, who was armed with two knives, before a constable discharged their firearm. The man died at the scene and no other injuries were reported. A team from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad will investigate the circumstances related to the man's death, including the discharge of a police firearm. Firefighters work at the site after a major fire broke out at a building in Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2023. A major fire has broken out at a building in the suburb of Surry Hills in central Sydney on Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua) SYDNEY, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A major fire has broken out at a building in the suburb of Surry Hills in central Sydney on Thursday afternoon. Fire and Rescue New South Wales (NSW) said emergency calls were received when flames started engulfing the building just after 4:00 p.m. local time. More than 100 firefighters and over 30 fire trucks are working on the scene to contain and extinguish the blaze. The building partially collapsed, while the inferno spread to several neighboring buildings, including residential apartments. At least one vehicle in the vicinity has been destroyed by fire. The fire and rescue service also urged the public to avoid the area as firefighting operations continue. "When we first got over there, there was a couple of small flames coming out of windows from like the bottom of the building, and then it escalates just two minutes later. You can literally feel the heat out of the fire," said Cassie da Silva, who was hanging out with two friends in a park nearby. She told Xinhua that when the building collapsed, there were firefighters underneath and you could see them running away while screaming "get away." Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the fire began on level three of the building, according to a report by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News. "We got the fire on the third level of what we believe is a seven-level block. We have people evacuating and firefighters entering this building to fight this fire," he said. Acting commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW Jeremy Fewtrell told Xinhua the fire has been contained, but there's still a significant amount of material within those two buildings are still burning. "It'll take us several hours. I expect we'll have crews working on the scene throughout the night, probably into the morning tomorrow," he said. "Thankfully, all the surrounding residents and members of the community passing by have not reported any injuries that we're aware of." A firefighter suffered a small minor burn on the arm and received treatment from the ambulance paramedics. The fire also caused peak hour gridlock as major roads around Randle Street have been closed, and buses are being diverted. The light rail was halted and some entrances to Central Station are only for entrance and not exiting. Fewtrell said the cause of the fire is still unknown at the stage and the fire investigators are already working on the scene, gathering early witness reports of what people saw at the first stage of the fire. A firefighter works at the site after a major fire broke out at a building in Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2023. A major fire has broken out at a building in the suburb of Surry Hills in central Sydney on Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua) Firefighters work at the site after a major fire broke out at a building in Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2023. A major fire has broken out at a building in the suburb of Surry Hills in central Sydney on Thursday afternoon. (Xinhua/Wang Qi) Fire trucks are seen at the site after a major fire broke out at a building in Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2023. A major fire has broken out at a building in the suburb of Surry Hills in central Sydney on Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua) Firefighters work at the site after a major fire broke out at a building in Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2023. A major fire has broken out at a building in the suburb of Surry Hills in central Sydney on Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua) This photo shows the building where a major fire broke out in Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2023. A major fire has broken out at a building in the suburb of Surry Hills in central Sydney on Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua) The Russian commander of a militia that conducted a raid on a Russian border region this week said on Wednesday his group would soon launch more incursions into Russian territory. Denis Kapustin, who described himself as the commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), spoke to reporters on the Ukrainian side of the border with Russia a day after Moscow said it had repelled the raid on the Belgorod region. Kyiv has said the attack was carried out by Russian citizens, casting it as homegrown, internal Russian strife. Two groups operating in Ukraine the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and Freedom of Russia Legion have claimed responsibility. The Russian military said it had routed the militants, who carried out their attack using armoured vehicles, and pushed those who survived back into Ukraine. Kapustin said two of his fighters had been lightly wounded, and that total losses on his side for the operation were two killed and 10 wounded. Moscow claimed it killed over 70 Ukrainian nationalists. Kapustin also said the fighters had taken a Russian armoured vehicle and anti-drone gun as trophies. I think you will see us again on that side, said Kapustin, who introduced himself by his call-sign White Rex. I cannot reveal those upcoming things, I cannot even reveal the direction. The border is pretty long. Yet again there will be a spot where things will get hot. He was asked repeatedly about Western media reports that his militia had used U.S. military equipment that was meant to help Ukraine defend itself against Russias invasion, but declined to answer directly. I know exactly where I got my weapons from. Unfortunately not from the Western partners, he said. He also suggested that Western military equipment had been captured by Russia in the battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and that such equipment could be bought on the black market. I think I explained that the Western military aid unfortunately goes back and forth, being raided. In Bakhmut for instance I know that a lot of armoured vehicles, American armoured vehicles, got raided by the Russian forces, he said. Kapustin said Ukraine only supported the RVC with information, petrol, food and medicine. And, of course, the Ukrainian military took our wounded. But anything more than this would make things difficult. Every decision we make beyond the state border is our own decision. Obviously we can ask our (Ukrainian) comrades, friends for their assistance in planning, he said. The RVC says it is made up of Russians fighting for Ukraine, and against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Our future plans are new territories of the Russian Federation, which we will definitely enter You should be a just a little bit patient, and wait just a couple of days, Kapustin said. The U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League has described Kapustin as a Russian neo-Nazi who lived in Germany for many years. Kapustin said his group was right-wing, and when asked if he was minded being labelled a Nazi, he said he didnt think its an insult. But he added: I have my set of views, its a patriotic set of views, its a traditionalist set of views, its a right-wing set of views. You know, youll never find me waving a flag with a swastika, youll never find me raising my hand in a Hitler sign. So why would you call me that? Source: Reuters Fianna Fail Minister for State Dara Calleary said Fine Gael junior ministers were not dictating to the Minister for Finance when they made policy suggestions for the budget. This week, three Fine Gael junior ministers including a junior finance minister called for a full-time worker on a wage of 52,000 euro to get 1,000 euro back in tax relief in the next budget. Ministers of state Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Martin Heydon and Peter Burke argued that this cohort deserve a break. Budget 2024 will be Fianna Fails Michael McGrath first as finance minister, having served as public expenditure minister for the past three fiscal packages, alongside Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe. When asked on Wednesday whether he would be bullied over the budget by his coalition colleagues, Mr McGrath replied certainly not. He added: I think its inevitable in a three-party coalition government that there will be times when parties want to assert, as they see it, their identity, and will seek to carve out space on a particular issue. That position was echoed by Mr Calleary on RTEs Drivetime on Thursday when asked about the Fine Gael policy position. We have three distinct parties in government that work well together. Were working well under the framework of a programme for government. But every budget season, there is good debate and good discourse within Government. Asked if the ministers were dictating to his party colleague Minister McGrath, he replied: Theyre not dictating, theyre making policy suggestions theres a difference. The policy suggestions will go into the mix. Michael McGrath will present the budget and Paschal Donohoe who on budget day, and there will be a lot of suggestions between now and budget day, from within Fianna Fail, from our other government partners and indeed outside the political system. Minister for Justice Simon Harris, a Fine Gael TD, said the opinion piece was not a solo run and was long-standing party policy. Speaking to Virgin Media Television, he said: Its a clear articulation of Fine Gael policy. In a way, Im a little taken aback that its actually generated as much of a discussion as it has, because its certainly not news to me. He said there will be lots of different ideas and suggestions from all parties ahead of the budget. He added: And at the end of the day, the three government parties will come together just like we did last year and the year before and put a decent budget package in place to try and help people and tax cuts will be part of that. Mr Harris said it was perfectly appropriate for politicians to give their views. You cant be silent on these issues either, he added. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin reportedly described the Fine Gael junior ministers comments as unhelpful. Asked about this characterisation, Mr Harris said he had huge respect for Mr Martin. He added: I can cite lots of different examples of different politicians and different government parties coming forward with ideas, floating ideas, putting forward views in a very public fashion and I think thats actually fine and acceptable. Earlier, Fine Gael Minister Simon Coveney said he did not think the junior ministers had an intention to upset anyone. Speaking to RTEs Morning Ireland, he said they were outlining party policy in an opinion piece. Three junior ministers, I think reflected the view in Fine Gael, in an opinion piece. and I mean, thats what this was. And they were outlining Fine Gael policy which I support, which is that when the economy is growing, that we should give what many people call the squeezed middle, in other words, people who are middle income in Ireland, that we should try to give them a break. Mr Coveney said the Fine Gael junior ministers were not bullying the Minister for Finance. Lets be clear, nobody is bullying anybody. He said it was a a good coalition government in which the parties worked well together. That doesnt mean that the parties have the same views all the time when it comes to policy. [May 25, 2023] 50 Scholarships Empowering STEM and Sustainability Education for UK Youth NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AFS Intercultural Programs, a global non-profit educational exchange organisation, is proud to expand a special edition of its award-winning scholarship suite, the Global STEM Innovators , to the United Kingdom aimed at equipping youth with access to STEM, sustainability and global competence education. The AFS Global STEM Innovators is a five-week, full-scholarship program for 50 youth, ages 14 to 16, that fosters the understanding and skills needed to help the world transition to a more sustainable future. The program combines an interactive virtual curriculum on global competence and a 1-week, in-person workshop focused on sustainable development and local impact. Scholarship winners will explore sustainable development and social impact through diverse perspectives, innovations, and real-world case studies, including opportunities to meet industry leaders and learn how different organisations rely on critical and emerging STEM skills in key roles. AFS will welcome diverse scholars from around the UK to come together in person in August and participate in a full week of interactive, hands-on activities and cultural visits including workshops on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a solar energy site tour in Wales/span>, museum visits in Bristol, an Oxford campus tour, collaborative team challenges, and opportunities to network with and learn from STEM industry leaders around the UK. Upon program completion, scholars earn the AFS Global Competence Certificate (including a digital credential badge), and are invited to join the AFS Global STEM alumni community, which offers mentorship, networking, and academic and professional development opportunities. Applications are open now for diverse students (ages 14 to 16) from the United Kingdom with a keen interest in STEM and sustainability. AFS has partnered with Celtic English Academy in Wales to administer the program, set to begin in July 2023. Full scholarship funding is provided by bp, which supports AFS Global STEM programs to help build the STEM talent that the world needs to create sustainable solutions and improve the diversity of talent in STEM. The program will also operate cohorts in Australia and Indonesia in 2023. AFS brings decades of expertise in impact-driven educational exchange and the power of a global network. "We know that young people are eager to innovate and bring a positive change to their communities and the world. That's why AFS is proud to partner with bp to offer scholarships for programs that empower young people with critical global skills and knowledge, like cross-cultural communication, empathy, and conflict resolution. Educating more young people to become global citizens is crucial if we want to create a more sustainable future," says Daniel Obst, President and CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs. To learn more or apply, please visit https://afs.org/global-stem/innovators/. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2083505/AFS_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2083509/AFS_Global_Stem_innovators_press_release_photo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/50-scholarships-empowering-stem-and-sustainability-education-for-uk-youth-301834918.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] AION Labs, In Continued Partnership with BioMed X, Launches New Global Call for Applications: Identification of Active Small Molecules for Drug Discovery Israel-based alliance of AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, Teva, Israel Biotech Fund and Amazon Web Services (AWS) seeks global research and technology talent for new startup focused on: "AI-Powered Drug Discovery of New High-Affinity Small Molecules." REHOVOT, Israel and HEIDELBERG, Germany, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AION Labs, a first-of-its-kind innovation lab spearheading the adoption of AI technologies and computational science to solve therapeutic challenges, and German independent research institute BioMed X, announced today the launch of its latest global call for applications to identify AI and machine learning professionals and biomedical scientists and inventors to form a new startup at AION Labs' headquarters in Rehovot, Israel. AION Labs' sixth startup will focus on the development of an AI platform capable of rapidly and accurately identifying active molecules for potential drug candidates even in cases where the structure of the target protein and existing binding molecules are unknown by screening for hits from a pre-defined library of small molecules and generating a short list of hits ranked by their potential binding affinity. The technology will enable accurate modeling of targets for small molecule design, accelerating the small molecule drug discovery process. "Computational drug design software has traditionally focused on improving existing molecules with known binding structure. Recent technological advancements now offer the potential to expand the scope by enabling scenarios with limited initial data," said Dr. Yair Benita, CTO of AION Labs. "We look forward to collaborating with top talent in developing an advanced computational solution to build on this potential and to expand the possibilities for novel drug discovery." Traditionally, computational drug design methods have relied on accurate models of the drug targets and active site, as well as knowledge of existing binding molecules as a starting point. However, in nearly half of the drug discovery cases, the target structure is unavailable, the active site is not well-defined, and no known binding molecules exist. This has led to time-consumingtrial and error cycles in experimental screens to identify active molecules. AION Labs is inviting startups, computational biologists, bioinformatics and proteomics scientists, molecular biologists, data scientists, and AI and machine learning professionals to propose the development of a next-generation computational platform for virtual screening of a predefined compound library, identification of multiple high-affinity hits, and a ranking of these results based on their binding affinity when the input is a target protein sequence. Original ideas that go far beyond the current state-of-the-art are being encouraged. As part of the online application procedure, interested candidates are requested to submit an initial project proposal via the BioMed X Career Space at https://career.bio.mx/call/2023-AIL-C06 before July 16, 2023. Further details about this call for application can be found on the AION Labs website: www.aionlabs.com. About AION Labs AION Labs is a first-of-its-kind alliance of Astrazeneca, Merck, Pfizer, Teva, the Israel Biotech Fund and Amazon Web Services (AWS), powered by BioMed X with the support of the Israeli Government via the Israel Innovation Authority and Digital Israel Initiative, that have come together with one clear mission: to create and adopt groundbreaking new AI technologies that will transform the process of drug discovery and development in order to contribute to the health and well-being of all people world-wide. AION Labs is a unique venture hub where brilliant innovators and scientist-founders convene from around the world to solve the biggest R&D challenges guided by years of accumulated know-how, data and experience in pharma. The lab leverages its partners' wealth of knowledge and a new multidisciplinary mindset with the ingenuity, agility and innovative power of Israel's start-up ecosystem, to develop strong companies with clear long-term strategies, that will pave the way to the future of healthcare. AION Labs cultivates innovation from within; its unique venture creation process bridges the gap between outstanding academic research in the field of AI and the biggest R&D needs in the discovery and development of new medicines for the benefit of patients. For more information, visit aionlabs.com About BioMed X BioMed X is an independent research institute located on the campus of the University of Heidelberg in Germany, with a world-wide network of partner locations. Together with our partners, we identify big biomedical research challenges and provide creative solutions by combining global crowdsourcing with local incubation of the world's brightest early-career research talents. Each of the highly diverse research teams at BioMed X has access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and is continuously guided by experienced mentors from academia and industry. At BioMed X, we combine the best of two worlds academia and industry and enable breakthrough innovation by making biomedical research more efficient, more agile, and more fun. For more information, visit bio.mx Media Contact: Raoul Wootliff FINN Partners for AION Labs [email protected] +972 54 692 1720 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708278/AION_Labs_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aion-labs-in-continued-partnership-with-biomed-x-launches-new-global-call-for-applications-identification-of-active-small-molecules-for-drug-discovery-301834549.html SOURCE AION Labs [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An artist performs Sichuan opera "Bianlian," also known as face-changing, during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) An artist performs Sichuan opera "Bianlian," also known as face-changing, during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) An artist performs Guqin, a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument, during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Visitors learn about tea culture during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Visitors learn about tea culture during a cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" in Amman, Jordan, on May 24, 2023. The cultural salon was held here on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) [May 25, 2023] Auto-Jobs & Autosphere Appoint New National Sales Manager MONTREAL, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Groupe Velan Media, owner of Auto-Jobs.ca and new owner of Autosphere magazine, is strengthening its position as Canada's leader in automotive-sector employment, recruitment and content by announcing the appointment of Stephanie Masse as National Sales Manager for both organizations. Stephanie Masse has been active in the automotive industry for over 20 years. She joined Auto Journal as an intern in 2003 and quickly made her mark by coordinating the marketing and sales department. Since 2010, she has focused exclusively on sales as Key Account Manager for Autosphere magazine, Canada's leading automotive B2B publication. She oversees a substantial portfolio of major clients including Fix Network, NAPA, TotalEnergies, Subaru Canada and Point S, in addition to being on the organizing committee of the Quebec chapter of the NAFA Fleet Management Association. As National Sales Manager for Autosphere and Auto-Jobs, Masse intends to build on both sister brands' reputations. As National Sales Manager for Autosphere and Auto-Jobs, Masse intends to build on both sister brands' reputation and expertise with a view to driving Groupe Velan Media's development. "Auto-Jobs and Autosphere are complementary leading brands in the automotive market that have great synergy together. I will therefore work to be an effective intermediary between them, and am proud to represent, along with my sales team, the most complete offer on the Canadian automotive market," says Masse. Rene Lewandowski, CEO of Groupe Velan Media, also welcomes the arrival of Stephanie Masse as head of National Sales for its automotive division: "Stephanie's vast experience combined with Autosphere and Auto-Jobs inherent strengths will consolidate our position across Canada. I am delighted to welcome her to our management team." About Groupe Velan Media Groupe Velan Media is the parent company of legal publication Droit-inc and now Autosphere, as well as employment websites: Auto-Jobs, Espresso-Jobs, Secretaire-inc and Genie-inc. It also offers web marketing and talent acquisition services via Uman recrutement, which caters to various group platform businesses. Auto-Jobs: https://www.auto-jobs.ca/ Autosphere: https://autosphere.ca Stephanie Masse's LinkedIn profile SOURCE Groupe Velan Media Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] GoNetspeed and City of Easthampton Announce Partnership to Bring 100% Fiber Internet to Easthampton Residents and Businesses GoNetspeed and the City of Easthampton today announced that residents and businesses throughout Easthampton will soon have the opportunity to experience fiber internet directly from their home or businesses. Through GoNetspeed's fully funded $3.6 million investment, all Easthampton residents and businesses will have access to GoNetspeed's fast, reliable internet and voice service. Construction is expected to begin this fall with the first customers eligible for service installation as early as the start of 2024. Once completed, more than 9,000 homes and businesses will have the opportunity to experience GoNetspeed's symmetrical fiber internet speeds, allowing customers to upload just as fast as they can download. Residents and businesses interested may visit gonetspeed.com to sign up for priority installation once service is available in their area. "Easthampton is grateful for the investment that GoNetspeed is making in our community and our future. Through this partnership, we are able to ensure that internet connectivity is broadly available in a time when it is a necessity for our daily lives," said Nicole LaChapelle, Mayor of the City of Easthampton. "We are pleased to soon have access to GoNetspeed's reliable, affordable, and high-speed fiber internet." "In recent years, we have seen and experienced the increased need for broader access to more broadband options,"said Karin Moyano Camihort, Easthampton IT Director. "Residents throughout Easthampton deserve access to internet service that will provide an improved quality of life. Without choice and more competition, communities like ours will be left behind from a technological standpoint. We are thrilled to see the impact of GoNetspeed's service as they prepare to provide our community with another choice and more provider competition." "Many communities throughout Central and Western Massachusetts do not have access to high-speed fiber internet, just like Easthampton. In order for communities to thrive, they must have access to more service options that will improve each individual's online experience," said Richard Clark, GoNetspeed President and CEO. "We look forward to ensuring that Easthampton and its residents are equipped with an infrastructure that will support their continued growth and economic development." GoNetspeed is working to ensure that more communities throughout Massachusetts will have access to a high-speed 100% fiber internet infrastructure. In the coming months, more communities throughout the state will join Easthampton in having access to GoNetspeed's fiber internet. With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to customer service, GoNetspeed is excited to accelerate the expansion of fiber networks throughout nine states, including Massachusetts. GoNetspeed continues to deliver more fiber, more access, more speed, and better reliability to residents and businesses throughout our footprint. With access to 100% fiber internet, customers have access to symmetrical upload and download speeds, ranging from 250 Mbps to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps). Learn more about GoNetspeed at gonetspeed.com. About GoNetspeed: GoNetspeed, a high-speed 100% fiber internet provider serving residential and business customers in Maine, Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia, formed a partnership with Oak Hill Capital ("Oak Hill") in January 2021, allowing GoNetspeed to accelerate the expansion of its fiber network throughout the Northeastern U.S. Adding thousands of new service areas every year, GoNetspeed is one of the largest independent internet providers in the east. For more information about GoNetspeed, or to inquire about service in your residence, business or community, visit gonetspeed.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005144/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 24, 2023] Institutional Property Advisors Closes $61.6 Million Sale and Arranges Financing for Suburban Seattle Multifamily Asset Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE:MMI), announced the sale and financing of Artesia, a 192-unit apartment property in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Everett, Washington. The asset traded for $61.6 million, or $320,833 per unit. "Located across the street from Silver Lake, Artesia is a fully renovated lakeside community providing residents with sweeping views and resort-style amenities, including an expansive outdoor deck that overlooks the lake and an indoor pool and sauna," said Giovanni Napoli, IPA executive director. "The acquisition provides the new owner with a fully stabilized asset in the desirable submarket of Silver Lake with strong market fundamentals." Napoli and IPA's Philip Assouad, Ryan Harmon, Nicholas Ruggiero and Anthony Palladino represented the seller, RISE Properties Trust and procured the buyer, MG Properties. IPA Capital Markets team Brian Eisendrath, Cameron Chalfant, Jae Vitta and Tyler Johnson arranged the acquisition financing. Artesia is within walking distance of 35-acre Thornton A. Sullivan Park and numerous restaurants. Costco, Trader Joe's, WinCo Foods, and Mariner Park and Ride are within a mile of the property. Seattle's downtown core, Eastside's technology hub, and Boeing's main production facility in Everett are within a short commute via nearby Interstate 5. Constructed in 1990, Artesia's unit interiors were updated between 2018 and 2022, including new cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile fireplace surrounds and reclaimed wood mantles. The average unit size is 914 square feet. Common areas were extensively renovated and offer residents generous indoor and outdoor amenities. About Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) is a division of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a leading commercial real estate services firm in North America. IPA's combination of real estate investment and capital markets expertise, industry-leading technology, and acclaimed research offer customized solutions for the acquisition, disposition and financing of institutional properties and portfolios. For more information, please visit www.institutionalpropertyadvisors.com. About Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) Marcus & Millichap, Inc. is a leading brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services with offices throughout the United States and Canada. As of December 31, 2022, the company had 1,904 investment sales and financing professionals in 81 offices who provide investment brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. The company also offers market research, consulting and advisory services to clients. Marcus & Millichap closed 12,272 transactions in 2022, with a sales volume of approximately $86.3 billion. For additional information, please visit www.MarcusMillichap.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230524005970/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 24, 2023] Asia Tech x Singapore, the region's flagship technology event will convene more than 17,000 global leaders and decision makers to shape an inclusive global digital future. The 3rd Edition of ATxSG will explore themes such as Generative AI, Web 3.0 and Digital x Sustainability. SINGAPORE, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hosted in Singapore, Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG), the region's flagship technology event will bring together more than 17,000 global leaders and industry decision-makers across the global technology ecosystem. Held from 6 to 9 June, the third edition of ATxSG will address opportunities and challenges in the digital domain and explore the critical intersections of tech, economy, and society. ATxSG is headlined by the exclusive, by invitation-only ATxSummit (6 - 7 June) at Capella Singapore and is graced by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong, as the Guest-of-Honour, with an esteemed line-up of over 50 speakers and 2,000 guests globally. "This dynamic change in the digital domain disrupted by emerging technologies such as Generative AI, Web 3.0, digital sustainability will continue to change the way we live, work and play. As Asia continues to be an area for growth amidst global economic uncertainties, we must find that deliberate balance between the critical intersections of technology, economy, and society to ensure that tech is harnessed in a trusted and sustainable manner. We look forward to host global leaders, industry captains and innovators to discuss some of the most pressing issues today, here in Singapore," said Mr Kiren Kumar, Deputy Chief Executive, Singapore's Infocom Media Development Authority. ATxAI and SG Women in Tech Conferences (7 June) The future of AI technologies, trust in AI, and how AI can be leveraged for social good will be explored in this conference with Mrs Josephine Teo, Singapore's Minister for Communications, and Information, as Guest-of-Honour. ATxEnterprise (7-9 June) ATxEnterprise, organised by Informa Tech, spans four halls of more than 600 exhibitors from 94 countries at Singapore EXPO. Guests across government, business, and industry sectors will also hear from more than 300 speakers during 11 conference tracks. ATxEnterprise includes BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia, SatelliteAsia (in conjunction with Euroconsult), and TechXLR8Asia, led by strategic partners NUS and Invest in Canada. Singapore's Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Health, Dr Janil Puthucheary, will deliver the opening address at the conference. This edition features over 40 group pavilions including Canada, China, France, Israel, Spain, South Korea, Poland, and US. "We are excited to host ATxSG in partnership with the IMDA. With a strong line-up of speakers and even more exhibitors than in previous editions, we are looking forward to reuniting global tech communities in Singapore to foster partnerships, discover innovative solutions and spark new connections, through B2B networking opportunities and an elevated in-person experience for all attendees. We look forward to forging connections between international sellers with regional Asian buyers via our matchmaking capabilities," said Mr Tom Cuthell, Vice President, Global Festivals, Informa Tech. For more information, please visit: asiatechxsg.com. For media queries: Email: [email protected] Hill+Knowlton Strategies Email: [email protected] Appendix View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/asia-tech-x-singapore-the-regions-flagship-technology-event-will-convene-more-than-17-000-global-leaders-and-decision-makers-to-shape-an-inclusive-global-digital-future-301833251.html SOURCE Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore and Informa Tech [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 24, 2023] Study Finds AI and Emerging Technologies Increasing Tension as Journalists Face Growing Challenges to Maintain Accuracy and Truth Cision's 2023 State of the Media Report spotlights challenges and opportunities in rapidly changing media landscape HONG KONG, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "Accuracy" and "maintaining credibility as a trusted news source" are leading concerns for journalists, as they predict the meteoric rise of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence-driven applications are going to make authentic journalism even more challenging for the future. Cision , a comprehensive consumer and media intelligence and communications platform enabling public relations, marketing and communications professionals around the world to understand, influence and amplify their stories, released these findings as part of its 14th annual State of the Media Report. The report, featuring responses from more than 3,100 journalists from 17 global markets, brings forward journalists' concerns about news and content accuracy, and their daily challenge to battle misinformation. "Ensuring content is accurate" was named the top priority by journalists (58%) and was what they perceive as the top priority for their organization (43%). More than a quarter of journalists (27%) responded that their biggest challenge was maintaining credibility as a trusted news source. Further, when asked about future generations of journalists, many responses focused on reducing "bias" and separating "fact from opinion." These findings reinforce the opportunity for journalists and communications professionals to build authentic, trust-based partnerships, advancing a mutual objective of honest, accurate storytelling amidst the changing media landscape. What do you believe was the biggest challenge for JOURNALISM in the last 12 months? "Now more than ever, journalists are seeking credible data and trustworthy, unbiased sources. Communications professionals can and should come to their aid. Working together, at this critical moment of disruption, journalists and communicators can protect and even elevate journalism," said Putney Cloos, Cision Chief Marketing Officer. The Future of State of the Media In a first fo the State of the Media Report, respondents were asked to share forward-looking perspectives on the discipline of journalism. Key themes include maintaining accuracy, reducing bias, and adapting to an increasingly tech and data-reliant industry. Many journalists also spoke about the opportunities and pitfalls of AI: "Innovations like ChatGPT won't stop, but the journalists who hide from them are at a disadvantage." "As AI does more of the actual writing, the journalists who succeed will be the ones who can do the human kinds of things like telling personal stories and finding original conclusions in data sets and data trends well." " Able to use Generative AI to enhance their work and remain relevant." Data and Social Media Evolution Data is becoming a key driver in journalism, as 40% of journalists say they are relying more on data this year and 66% say providing data and expert sources is one way communicators can make their job easier. Social media platforms provide places for journalists and communications professionals to gather data, as well as connect and promote their own work. Journalists aim to increase their audience on LinkedIn and Instagram in the next year, while reducing their reliance on Twitter citing changes to the platform made by new leadership. Their expectation of increased usage of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube is due to increased popularity and going where their audiences are. "Communications are, and will continue to be, a critical driver of progress for brands, companies, organizations, and communities. The stories we tell and how we tell them matter. Working together, journalists and PR and Comms professionals can navigate the future, preserve the art of journalism, and maintain the trust of the audiences we serve." said Cloos. Download the 2023 State of the Media Report Methodology Cision conducted its 2023 State of the Media survey in February and March 2023. Surveys were emailed to Cision Media Database members, who are vetted by the company's media research team to verify their positions as media professionals, influencers and bloggers. We also surveyed members of our HARO (Help a Reporter Out) database, and made the survey available to media professionals in the PR Newswire for Journalists database. This year's survey collected responses from 3,132 respondents in 17 markets across the globe: U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Portugal, China, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The survey language was translated and localized for each market and the results were tallied together to form this global report. About Cision Cision is a comprehensive consumer and media intelligence and communications platform enabling public relations, marketing and communications professionals around the world to understand, influence and amplify their stories. As the market leader, Cision enables the next generation of leaders to strategically operate in the modern media landscape where company success is directly impacted by public opinion. Cision has offices in 24 countries through the Americas, EMEA and APAC, and offers a suite of best-in-class solutions, including PR Newswire, Brandwatch, Cision Communications Cloud and Cision Insights. To learn more, visit www.cision.asia and follow PR Newswire APAC on LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/study-finds-ai-and-emerging-technologies-increasing-tension-as-journalists-face-growing-challenges-to-maintain-accuracy-and-truth-301832959.html SOURCE PR Newswire [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 24, 2023] Colombia Data Center Portfolio Report 2023: Detailed Analysis of 19 Existing Data Centers and 9 Upcoming Data Centers Featuring Key Investors/Operators DUBLIN, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Colombia Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report covers Colombia's data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide information on the colocation data centers KEY MARKET HIGHLIGHTS: The growing adoption of cloud-based services is helping the growth of retail and wholesale colocation services in the market. The market is witnessing increased demand for colocation spaces across existing and upcoming data centers. The major demand driver for colocation services in Colombia is the increased adoption of cloud services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several organizations started working on the cloud platform. followed by 5G deployment and AI adoption. is the increased adoption of cloud services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several organizations started working on the cloud platform. followed by 5G deployment and AI adoption. In terms of geography, Bogota accounts for more than 90% of the existing installed IT Load capacity in the market. accounts for more than 90% of the existing installed IT Load capacity in the market. In the Colombia Data Center Market, the top 2 operators, Odata and Grupo ZFB represent more than 50% of the existing rack capacity in the market. The data points covered in the database across each facility are mentioned elow: Detailed Analysis of 19 existing data centers Detailed Analysis of 9 upcoming data centers Locations covered: Barranquilla, Bogota , Cali and Medellin . , and . Existing white-floor space (square feet) Upcoming white-floor space (square feet) Current IT load capacity (2022) Future capacity additions (2023-2025) Retail Colocation Pricing Quarter Rack (1/4) Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.) EXISTING DATA CENTERS (19 Facilities) Market Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Facility Address Operator/Owner Name Data Center Name i.e., (DC L38 I or Titanium Data Center) Core & Shell Area (White-Floor Area) Core & Shell Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Rack Capacity Year of Operations Design Standards (Tier I - IV) Power/Cooling Redundancy UPCOMING DATA CENTERS (9 Facilities) Investment Snapshot Location (Region/Country/City) Investor Name Area (White-Floor Area) Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity) Investment ($ Million) Electrical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) Mechanical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million) General Construction Services Investment ($ Million) Announcement Year Project Status (Opened/Under Construction/Announced & Planned) Active or Expected Year of Opening INVESTORS/OPERATORS COVERED Odata Hostdime Grupo ZFB (Zetta Data Center) Claro Equinix Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink) Tigo Grupo Gtd Etix Everywhere Edgeuno IPXON GlobeNet Telecom DHAmericas Scala Data Centers Ascenty GlobeNet For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/igc43t 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: Laura Wood | +353-1-481-1716 | [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/colombia-data-center-portfolio-report-2023-detailed-analysis-of-19-existing-data-centers-and-9-upcoming-data-centers-featuring-key-investorsoperators-301834078.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] ZhongAn Insurance Releases China First Insurance AIGC Application White Paper BEIJING, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China's ZhongAn Insurance and ZhongAn Technology have made a groundbreaking move in the insurance industry, releasing the first-ever white paper on generative artificial intelligence technology. The "AIGC/ChatGPT Insurance Industry Application White Paper" provides an in-depth analysis of more than 30 specific areas where AIGC technology could be implemented in the insurance field, along with ZhongAn's own exploration of the technology's potential. This development marks a significant step forward in the integration of AI into the Chinese insurance sector, with ZhongAn leading the charge in pioneering this cutting-edge technology. According to Jiang Xing, the CEO of ZhongAn Insurance, the inflection point in the evolution of artificial intelligence technology has arrived, and we firmly believe that its potential and speed of evolution in the future will far exceed our imagination.As stated in the report, the Transformer structure resolves the issue of parallel computing, enabling the model to train on a vast corpus within a reasonable timeframe. Consequently, AIGC has superior abilities to comprehend and interpret complex sentence structures, semantic relationships, and logical reasoning. It can also grasp long-term dependencies in text, comprehend context and meaning, and generate more accurate, coherent, and semantically enriched text. AIGC Propels Industry Advancement In recent years, major global economies such as the United States, the European Union, and China have advocated for the development of artificial intelligence technology from a national policy level. The white paper offers a comprehensive analysis of AIGC's 33 distinct applications within the insurance industry. These applications can significantly boost technological capabilities across all aspects of insurance product design, actuarial science, marketing, operations, and customer service. Additionally, they have the potential to optimize daily operations and improve research and development efficiency for insurance companies. According to the white paper, insurance institutions must promptly tackle the challenges of LLM model selection and research and development in the short term. They should also encourage the extensive utilization of AIGC technology in areas such as multimodal marketing content and strategy recommendations, smart customer service, and code intelligence generation. In the medium and long term, personalized marketing will become the focal point of competition for insurance institutions, and every inurance company should strive towards this direction. According to feasibility studies, in the product marketing process, AIGC technology can be used daily to quickly generate and produce various marketing materials such as content generation and visual design. The time taken to produce marketing materials which was originally three days can now be shortened to just three hours. Moreover, several sets of visual materials in varying styles can be created to enhance the promotional effect, and provide sales and marketing with an edge. AIGC can be utilized to establish an intelligent customer service system during the customer service process. This will enable customers to communicate with the insurance company through natural language, and AIGC can respond intelligently to their queries based on their requirements or steer them towards the appropriate service process. Additionally, AIGC has the ability to recognize the emotional state of customers, such as contentment or discontentment, thereby providing superior customer service. The white paper also pointed out that in the future, AIGC technology may be applied to the claims process. Based on the claim application materials and policy information provided by customers, AIGC can automatically or assist customers in completing the claim application, claiming, claims assessment, review, settlement, and other processes, thereby improving claims efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction. ZhongAn's Application Mode for AIGC ZhongAn Insurance has been focusing on a "insurance + technology" strategy for the past decade, aiming to smoothly blend technology and insurance across its entire process. Its subsidiary, ZhongAn Technology, is dedicated to incorporating AIGC technology and other large-scale model capabilities into its product lineup. This will help the company investigate an AIGC model application mode that is reliable, repeatable, and manageable, and which can enable digital transformation in insurance institutions. Niu Chenghao, Co-CEO of ZhongAn Technology, has disclosed that the company is actively examining the possibility of integrating AIGC into all of its products. Through practical applications and AIGC technology usage, the firm hopes to integrate the technology into its tech products, making them more user-friendly, intelligent, and operationally efficient. The implementation of AIGC technology in ZhongAn's product lines offers two-fold advantages. Firstly, it can improve the quality and efficiency of various operations, including insurance product development, marketing, and technological advancements. By leveraging machine learning and big data analytics, AIGC technology can help insurers make better-informed decisions, enhance underwriting accuracy, and mitigate fraud risks. Secondly, AIGC technology can address challenges in the technology SaaS industry, such as limited initial data, complex operational systems, and intricate systems, resulting in more efficient and faster product deployment. AIGC+Insurance: A Bright Future Ahead Despite encountering numerous challenges in its implementation in the insurance sector, AIGC technology is predicted to emerge as a essential strategic asset for insurance companies to achieve success in the future, according to The White Paper. The document highlights obstacles faced by the industry in utilizing AIGC generative artificial intelligence technology, such as copyright hurdles during marketing, difficulties in adapting insurance data for model training, and potential risks concerning the confidentiality of customer data. In the operational realm, compliance issues surrounding the proper use of core insurance data and the accuracy of output results may come to the forefront. In practical application, enterprises must take a comprehensive approach to consider data quality, semantic comprehension, security risks, and user demands to ensure the model's precision and usability. In conjunction, developers and users must possess the necessary skills and experience to blend artificial intelligence with human judgment to achieve optimal collaborative efficiency. Opportunities and challenges go hand-in-hand. AIGC technology showcases natural language comprehension, vast data handling, multi-domain applicability, model scalability, and customization, affording it extensive potential and prospects in the subsectors of finance industry. Therefore, insurance companies should embrace this technology early on and closely follow the evolution of business development trends. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zhongan-insurance-releases-china-first-insurance-aigc-application-white-paper-301834313.html SOURCE ZhongAn Online [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] DSM-Firmenich AG announces the successful placement of c. 6.7 million existing DSM-Firmenich ordinary shares through an accelerated bookbuild offering for a total amount of 733 million NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED UPON IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY OFFER OR COMMITMENT WHATSOEVER IN ANY JURISDICTION KAISERAUGST, Switzerland and HEERLEN, Netherlands, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As announced on May 24, 2023, DSM-Firmenich AG (the "Company" or DSM-Firmenich) launched the sale of up to 6,696,477 existing DSM-Firmenich ordinary shares through an accelerated bookbuild offering of shares (the "Share Placement"). The Company hereby announces that it has raised total proceeds of 733 million following the sale of 6,696,477 existing DSM-Firmenich ordinary shares to institutional investors, representing approximately 2.5% of DSM-Firmenich's share capital, at a price of 109.50 per share. The book was multiple times oversubscribed. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Share Placement to fund the cash consideration payable by the Company in relation to the buy-out procedure in accordance with Dutch law that the Company commenced in order to acquire the DSM ordinary shares that have not been tendered in the voluntary public exchange offer launched by the Company for all the issued and outstanding DSM ordinary shares. The results of this exchange offer were announced by the Company on May 1, 2023. Closing and settlement of the Share Placement is expected to occur on May 29, 2023. Joint Global Coordinators Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (in cooperation with ODDO BHF SCA), and J.P. Morgan Securities plc are acting as joint global coordinators in connection with the Share Placement (the "Joint Global Coordinators"). For more information, please contact: Media: Investors: [email protected] [email protected] About DSM-Firmenich As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, DSM-Firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world's growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. DSM-Firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than 12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life every day, everywhere, for billions of people. For further information, please see http://www.dsm-firmenich.com/ This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (Regulation 596/2014). Important Information "These written materials, and any copy thereof, may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or to persons resident in the United States (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia), Canada, Australia, Japan, the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction where such distribution could constitute a breach of the applicable laws of such jurisdiction. These written materials are for information purposes only and are not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or subscribe for, or the announcement of a forthcoming offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, or the announcement of a forthcoming solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, existing or new shares of the Company in the European Economic Area (the "EEA") (except in the context of a private placement with Qualified Investors, as defined below), the United States, Australia (except in the context of a private placement to sophisticated or professional investors who are wholesale clients pursuant to Australian laws), Canada (except in the context of a private placement with investors qualifying as "accredited investors" and "permitted clients", as defined below), Japan, the Republic of South Africa (except in the context of a private placement to institutional investors pursuant to South African laws), Switzerland (except in the context of a private placement with Professional Clients, as defined below) or the United Kingdom (except in the context of a private placement with Relevant Persons, as defined below). No offer to sell or subscribe for shares, or announcement of a forthcoming offer to sell or subscribe for shares, will be made in the EEA (except in the context of a private placement with Qualified Investors, as defined below), the United States, Australia (except in the context of a private placement to sophisticated or professional investors who are wholesale clients pursuant to Australian laws), Canada (except in the context of a private placement with investors qualifying as "accredited investors" and "permitted clients", as defined below), Japan, the Republic of South Africa (except in the context of a private placement to institutional investors pursuant to South African laws), Switzerland (except in the context of a private placement with Professional Clients, as defined below), the United Kingdom (except in the context of a private placement with Relevant Persons, as defined below) or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction, and the distribution of this communication in such jurisdictions may be similarly restricted. Persons into whose possession this communication comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the security laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement contains statements which are "forward-looking statements" or could be considered as such. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words 'believe', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'possible', 'predict', 'plans', 'target', 'seek', 'would' or 'should', and contain statements made by the Company regarding the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are warned that none of these forward-looking statements offers any guarantee of future performance. The company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company makes no undertaking whatsoever to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, unless required to do so by law. This communication does not constitute or form part of an offer of securities in the United States, or a solicitation to purchase securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or under the securities law of any state or jurisdiction in the United States and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly within the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or jurisdiction of the United States. The issuer of the securities has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the transaction in the United States. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. In relation to each Member State of the EEA (each a "Relevant Member State") an offer of securities to which this communication relates is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Relevant Member State within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market (the "Prospectus Regulation") in accordance with the prospectus exemption provided for in article 1(4)(a)and article 1(5)(a) of the Prospectus Regulation ("Qualified Investors"). In the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, "qualified investors", as defined in article 2 (e) of the Prospectus Regulation as amended and transposed into the laws of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"), who are also (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (ii) "high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc." in the sense of article 49(2) (a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) persons to whom such information may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Persons who are not Relevant Persons should not take any action on the basis of this announcement and should not act or rely on it. In Canada, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at investors qualifying as (i) "accredited investors" (as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario)) and (ii) "permitted clients" (as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations). In Switzerland, an offer of securities to which this communication relates is only addressed to and is only directed at "professional clients" within the meaning of Article 4 para. 3 of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("Finanzdienstleistungsgesetz") of 15 June 2018 ("FINSA") (such persons being referred to as "Professional Clients"). The offer is therefore exempted from the obligation to prepare and publish a prospectus under FINSA and the securities will not be admitted to trading on any Swiss trading platform. This communication does not constitute a prospectus in accordance with FINSA and the Company will not prepare such prospectus in light of the offer of securities are referred to herein. Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE ("GSBE"), which is authorised and supervised by the European Central Bank and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Die Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) in Germany, is acting as a Joint Global Coordinator for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Share Placement. Neither GSBE nor its affiliates, nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of GSBE or for providing advice in connection with the Share Placement or for any other matters referred to herein. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. ("ABN AMRO") is a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootshap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) and is subject to the supervision by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the Dutch Central Bank. ABN AMRO is acting as a Joint Global Coordinator for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Share Placement. Neither ABN AMRO nor its affiliates (which includes ODDO BHF SCA), nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of ABN AMRO or for providing advice in connection with the Share Placement or for any other matters referred to herein. J.P. Morgan Securities plc ("J.P. Morgan") is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority and is acting as a Joint Global Coordinator for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Share Placement. Neither J.P. Morgan nor its affiliates, nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan or for providing advice in connection with the Share Placement or for any other matters referred to herein." Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2071772/dsm_firmenich_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dsm-firmenich-ag-announces-the-successful-placement-of-c-6-7-million-existing-dsm-firmenich-ordinary-shares-through-an-accelerated-bookbuild-offering-for-a-total-amount-of-733-million-301834317.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] UAE's Technology Innovation Institute Launches Open-Source "Falcon 40B" Large Language Model for Research & Commercial Utilization The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a leading global scientific research center and the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), today strengthened its growing international influence in the field of artificial intelligence by announcing that "Falcon 40B," the UAE's first large-scale AI model, is now open source for research and commercial use. This pioneering move demonstrates Abu Dhabi's commitment to fostering collaboration across sectors and driving advancements in generative AI. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005043/en/ "Falcon 40B," the UAE's first large-scale AI model, is now open source for research and commercial use. (Photo: AETOSWire) Falcon, a foundational large language model (LLM) with 40 billion parameters, trained on one trillion tokens, grants unprecedented access to researchers and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) innovators alike. TII is providing access to the model's weights as a more comprehensive open-source package, with the aim of enabling access to powerful LLM capabilities, promoting transparency and accountability, and supporting innovation and research in the field. In the current AI ecosystem, developers are finding LLMs that provide access to model weights more appealing due to the enhanced capabilities they offer for fine-tuning compared to those without. While the majority of LLMs have granted exclusive licenses solely to non-commercial users, TII has taken a key stride in offering researchers and commercial users access to the Falcon 40B LLM. In conjunction with the release of Falcon 40B as an open-source model, TII has launched a call for proposals, inviting scientists, esearchers, and visionaries who are enthusiastic about harnessing the potential of the foundation model. They are encouraged to contribute their innovative ideas and leverage the model to build inspiring use cases or explore further possibilities for its application to cover areas like engineering, healthcare, sustainability, coding, and much more. As an incentive for exceptional research proposals, selected projects will receive "training compute power" in the form of investment, enabling innovators to leverage robust computational resources for accelerated data analysis, complex modeling, and new discoveries. This support will nurture and accelerate the development of novel ideas, providing the necessary resources to turn them into impactful AI solutions with commercial viability and societal benefits. VentureOne, the commercialization arm of ATRC, will facilitate computation power to productize the most innovative solutions. "Making Falcon 40B open source represents a critical milestone in our commitment to fostering AI innovation," said H.E.Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). "We are disrupting LLM access and enabling researchers and entrepreneurs to come up with the most innovative use cases. We will further support these submissions with computation power as funding through VentureOne, helping to advance a thriving research ecosystem." Falcon, first unveiled in March 2023, showcased exceptional performance and underscored the UAE's commitment to technological progress. Based on Stanford University's HELM LLM benchmarking tool, Falcon 40B outperformed its renowned counterparts in utilizing significantly less training compute power. With only 75 percent of the training compute of OpenAI's GPT-3, 40 percent of DeepMind's Chinchilla AI, and 80 percent of the training compute of Google's PaLM-62B, the tool substantiated TII's commitment to advancing developments in generative AI. Dr. Ray O. Johnson, CEO of TII, said: "Computing power plays a pivotal role in expediting AI system training and enabling faster implementation of use cases. As the new fuel that drives technological innovation, the move to offer such support will be game-changing in enhancing the capabilities of innovators, and enabling them to push the boundaries of their projects to achieve remarkable advancements." Falcon 40B is a breakthrough led by TII's AI and Digital Science Research Center (AIDRC). The same team also launched NOOR, the world's largest Arabic NLP model last year, and is on track to develop and announce Falcon 180B soon. Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei Director, AI Cross-Center Unit, TII, said: "The open-source release of Falcon 40B, 7.5B, and 1.3B parameter AI models and our high-quality REFINEDWEB dataset, exemplifies the profound scientific contributions of the UAE. With each breakthrough, we defy limitations, reshape the realm of possibilities, and pave the way for collaborative efforts with transformative impact." The UAE recently moved up five places to rank as the top Arab country and the 37th out of 166 countries in the UN Frontier Technologies Readiness Index 2023. Complementing a long list of progressive technology milestones, the open-source generative AI model is set to boost the UAE's credentials as a mainstream AI player. If you are interested in accessing the Falcon AI models or submitting for the use case call for proposal, we invite you to visit FalconLLM.TII.ae. Falcon LLMs open sourced to date, will be made available under a license built upon the principles of open-source Apache 2.0 software, which allows for a wide range of free use. *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005043/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Zighra Secures Canadian Coast Guard Contract to Pilot Explainable AI Solution for Enhanced Cybersecurity OTTAWA, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zighra has been awarded a pilot contract with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) to test its Explainable AI cybersecurity solution, Zighra DeepSense. The testing will take place at ports across the Canadian coast, where enhancing Canadas cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly vital component of its maritime security initiatives. This initiative is part of the Innovative Solutions Canada Testing Stream project. Government departments, including the Coast Guard, face challenges that demand more intelligent and autonomous systems that can perceive, learn, and make decisions, both independently and in collaboration with humans. To do this, users must be able to understand and trust how the AI makes decisions. In contrast to the opaque nature of black box AI networks and deep learning systems, explainable AI systems are designed for auditable traceability, verification, and validation, ensuring transparency and accountability in AI-driven processes. Zighras Explainable AI solution works intelligently and transparently with analysts and leaders to help in early identification, assessment, response to threats, and better understand adversaries. Thereby significantly improving tactical ecision making and maritime security. The Canadian Coast Guards maritime cybersecurity operations require explainable systems to better safeguard its processes, personnel, and assets against rapidly evolving and ever-increasing threats. Piloting Zighra DeepSense is a significant step forward in the Coast Guard's commitment to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence while maintaining the highest levels of trust and accountability. Zighras CEO, Deepak Dutt, shared his excitement about the collaboration, remarking, We are delighted to join forces with the Canadian Coast Guard to harness the potential of Zighra DeepSense in enhancing maritime safety and security. Our primary goal has always been to propel innovation in AI and cybersecurity, and this collaboration highlights our dedication to delivering groundbreaking, transparent solutions that cultivate trust and synergy between humans and AI systems. It is essential for human operators to comprehend, build appropriate trust in, and adeptly manage the upcoming generation of AI-driven machines. The Coast Guards pilot project with Zighra DeepSense will deliver: Automated processing, analysis, and optimization of collected threat data and to improve operational cyber decision-making both tactically and strategically. Analyze large sets of historical data to finetune AI engines while deriving actionable analytics and insights. Provide interpretability by breaking down complex AI algorithms into easily understandable components. This enables users to comprehend the factors driving AI decisions, fostering confidence in the system and its recommendations. Customizable reports, visualizations, and insights tailored to the needed level of detail and explanation. For more information, visit https://zighra.com or follow us @zighra on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Zighra: Zighra is a leading provider of artificial intelligence, behavioural analytics, and cybersecurity solutions, dedicated to helping organizations protect their digital assets and enhance their operational capabilities. With Zighra, users, devices, and assets are continuously verified and protected. Press Contact: Vipin Menon Zighra Inc. +1 613-663-9090 https://zighra.com/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d5c08f47-ee40-4497-8b35-8595a8e281c7 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SEOUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday denounced the establishment of a trilateral information-sharing mechanism among the United States, Japan and South Korea on the margins of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Japan's Hiroshima. Leaders of the three countries recently reaffirmed the real-time sharing of a (DPRK) missile alert information, a mechanism they were committed to setting up last November, proving that "the project of establishing a tripartite information sharing system is being pushed forward at the final stage," the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said in a commentary. The article noted that the United States is keen on forming the trilateral military alliance, an "Asian version of NATO," in Northeast Asia, as the region witnesses an ever more frequent deployment of U.S. strategic assets and the more publicized occurrence of U.S.-Japan-South Korea joint military exercises. It also stressed that in April, the establishment of the U.S.-South Korea "Nuclear Consultative Group," which Japan plans to join, proved that "the triangular military cooperation between the three countries will soon be shaped into a NATO-style nuclear cooperation alliance." And the addition of real-time tripartite information sharing means "the emergence of the actual U.S.-Japan-South Korea military alliance with the single nerve center in Northeast Asia." The commentary lashed out at Washington for cooking up the "Asian-version NATO" to secure its military edge in the Asia-Pacific region, saying that "the U.S. vicious scenario for confrontation is the most serious threat to global peace and security." [May 25, 2023] Overall US Mortgage Delinquency Rate Drops to All-Time Low in March, CoreLogic Reports CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released its monthly Loan Performance Insights Report for March 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005221/en/ Figure 1: National Overview of Loan Performance (Graphic: Business Wire) For the month of March, 2.6% of all mortgages in the U.S. were in some stage of delinquency (30 days or more past due, including those in foreclosure), representing a 0.3 percentage point decrease compared with 2.9% in March 2022 and a 0.4 percentage point decrease compared with 3% in February 2023. To gain a complete view of the mortgage market and loan performance health, CoreLogic examines all stages of delinquency. In March 2023, the U.S. delinquency and transition rates and their year-over-year changes were as follows: Early-Stage Delinquencies (30 to 59 days past due): 1.1%, unchanged from March 2022 (30 to 59 days past due): 1.1%, unchanged from March 2022 Adverse Delinquency (60 to 89 days past due): 0.3%, unchanged from March 2022. (60 to 89 days past due): 0.3%, unchanged from March 2022. Serious Delinquency (90 days or more past due, including loans in foreclosure): 1.1%, down from 1.5% in March 2022 and a high of 4.3% in August 2020. (90 days or more past due, including loans in foreclosure): 1.1%, down from 1.5% in March 2022 and a high of 4.3% in August 2020. Foreclosure Inventory Rate (the share of mortgages in some stage of the foreclosure process): 0.3%, unchanged from March 2022. (the share of mortgages in some stage of the foreclosure process): 0.3%, unchanged from March 2022. Transition Rate (the share of mortgages that transitioned from current to 30 days past due): 0.5%, unchanged from March 2022. The overall U.S. mortgage delinquency rate declined to a new low in March, buoyed by an exceptionally strong job market. Despite regular news of major layoffs - particularly in the tech sector - April's 3.4% unemployment rate remains near an all-time low, indicating that many workers who recently lost jobs were able to quickly find new positions, enabling them to stay current on their mortgage payments. Nationwide, serious delinquencies also dropped to the lowest level in more than two decades in March, while foreclosures also remained near a historic low. As in previous months, several metro areas on Florida's Gulf Coast continue to see elevated serious delinquency rates as a result of the lingering effects of last fall's Hurricane Ian. "The U.S. mortgage delinquency rate fell to a historic low in March, reflecting the lowest U.S. unemployment rate in more than 50 years," said Molly Boesel, principal economist for CoreLogic. "While a slowing economy could cause increases in job losses and mortgage delinquencies, years of home equity gains will provide borrowers who fall behind on their payments with a cushion." "This equity should protect many homeowners from foreclosures," Boesel continued. "There is no current projection that the U.S. foreclosure rate will reach the same level as it did during the housing crisis more than a decade ago." State and Metro Takeaways: No state posted an annual increase in overall delinquency rates in March. The states with the largest declines were Alaska (down by 0.9 percentage points) and New York (down by 0.8 percentage points). The other states' annual delinquency rates dropped between 0.7 and 0.1 percentage points. In March, 20 U.S. metro areas posted an increase in overall delinquency rates. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida (up by 1.3 percentage points) led, followed by Punta Gorda, Florida (up by 1.1 percentage points) and Bloomsburg-Berwick, Pennsylvania (up by 0.7 percentage points). All but three U.S. metro areas posted at least a small annual decrease in serious delinquency rates (defined as 90 days or more late on a mortgage payment) in February. The metros that saw serious delinquencies increase were Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida (up by 1.1 percentage points), Punta Gorda, Florida (up by 1 percentage point) and Bloomsburg-Berwick, Pennsylvania (up by 0.1 percentage point). The next CoreLogic Loan Performance Insights Report will be released on June 29, 2023, featuring data for April 2023. For ongoing housing trends and data, visit the CoreLogic Intelligence Blog: www.corelogic.com/intelligence. Methodology The data in The CoreLogic LPI report represents foreclosure and delinquency activity reported through March 2023. The data in this report accounts for only first liens against a property and does not include secondary liens. The delinquency, transition and foreclosure rates are measured only against homes that have an outstanding mortgage. Homes without mortgage liens are not subject to foreclosure and are, therefore, excluded from the analysis. CoreLogic has approximately 75% coverage of U.S. foreclosure data. Source: CoreLogic The data provided is for use only by the primary recipient or the primary recipient's publication or broadcast. This data may not be re-sold, republished or licensed to any other source, including publications and sources owned by the primary recipient's parent company without prior written permission from CoreLogic. Any CoreLogic data used for publication or broadcast, in whole or in part, must be sourced as coming from CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. For use with broadcast or web content, the citation must directly accompany first reference of the data. If the data is illustrated with maps, charts, graphs or other visual elements, the CoreLogic logo must be included on screen or website. For questions, analysis or interpretation of the data, contact Robin Wachner at [email protected]. For sales inquiries, please visit https://www.corelogic.com/support/sales-contact/. Data provided may not be modified without the prior written permission of CoreLogic. Do not use the data in any unlawful manner. This data is compiled from public records, contributory databases and proprietary analytics, and its accuracy is dependent upon these sources. About CoreLogic CoreLogic is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company's combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com. CORELOGIC and the CoreLogic logo are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005221/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Fidelity Investments Canada Launches 4 New Actively Managed ETFs, Now Trading on Cboe Canada Cboe is excited to announce that Fidelity Investments Canada ULC ("Fidelity") has returned to Cboe Canada with the launch of the Fidelity Active ETFs. The launch includes one new ETF and three ETF series of existing mutual funds, available for trading today under the symbols FINN, FCGC, FCLC, and FCGS, respectively. "Fidelity is excited to expand our offering in the ETF space, to support advisors and investors looking for products that combine the flexibility of an ETF structure with the strong long-term performance potential of active management," said Kelly Creelman, Senior Vice President, Products and Marketing, Fidelity. "We're proud to partner with Cboe Canada, a leader in the ETF market, in our shared efforts to expand access to innovative investment products for Canadians." The Fidelity Active ETF/ETF series now trading on Cboe Canada include: Fidelity Global Innovators ETF (FINN) - seeks to identify and invest in companies across the globe that are positioned for growth through the application of innovative and disruptive technologies, or inventive new business models. It invests in equity securities directly, or indirectly by investing in Fidelity Global Innovators Investment Trust. Fidelity Greater Canada Fund (FCGC) - seeks to offer investors long term capital growth by identifying value in out of favour stocks, and investing in equity securities of Canadian companies, with the flexibility to invest up to 49% in foreign markets. Fidelity Canadian Large Cap Fund (FCLC) - focusing primarily on equity securities of large capitalization Canadian companies, this fund aims to deliver investors long term captal appreciation through a value-oriented strategy, investing in companies the manager considers to be undervalued, with a focus on weathering market volatility. Fidelity Global Small Cap Opportunities Fund (FCGS) - Through investment in small capitalization companies across global markets, this fund intends to provide investors with long term capital growth through selection of equity securities that the portfolio manager believes are mispriced due to the market's under reaction to positive change or over reaction to negative change. The four new funds join six Fidelity ETFs already listed on Cboe Canada. Investors can trade units of Fidelity ETFs through their usual investment channels, including discount brokerage platforms and full-service dealers. Click here for a complete view of all Cboe-listed securities. "It is always an exciting occasion to welcome an issuer back for additional ETF launches," noted Jos Schmitt, President & CEO of Cboe Canada. "Today, Fidelity now has 10 ETFs listed on Cboe Canada. It is a testament to our exceptional service, and Fidelity's return also aligns with Cboe's commitment to supporting innovative asset managers and investment solutions. We are proud to have partnered with such a reputable fund issuer for years now and look forward to championing Fidelity's continued innovation over the years to come." Cboe Canada is home to over 250 unique listings, including ETFs from Canada's largest ETF issuers, Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs), and some of the most innovative Canadian and international growth companies. Cboe Canada consistently facilitates close to 20% of all volume traded in Canadian ETFs and close to 15% of all volume traded in Canadian-listed companies. About Cboe Canada Cboe Canada, the new business name of the NEO Exchange, is Canada's Tier 1 stock exchange for the purpose-driven Innovation Economy, providing a best-in-class listing experience for issuers that are shaping the economies of tomorrow. Fully operational since 2015, Cboe Canada lists investment products and companies seeking an internationally recognized stock exchange that enables investor trust, quality liquidity, and broad awareness including unfettered access to market data. Cboe Canada is part of the Cboe Global Markets network, leveraging deep international expertise, industry-leading market intelligence and technology, and unparalleled service to deliver what stakeholders and the world need now, and for the future. Cboe Canada is an affiliate of Cboe MatchNow. Cboe powers ETF Market Canada, a user-friendly platform providing investors and advisors with one-stop access to ETF research and analysis. Real-time, institutional-grade data allows users to compare, contrast, and explore the entire universe of 1,200+ Canadian ETFs, free of charge. Connect with Cboe Canada: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook About Fidelity Investments Canada ULC Fidelity's mission is to build a better future for Canadian investors and help them stay ahead. The company offers investors and institutions a range of innovative and trusted investment portfolios to help them reach their financial and life goals. As a privately-owned company, Fidelity's people and world class resources are committed to doing what is right for investors and their long-term success. Fidelity's clients have entrusted them with $202 billion in assets under management (as at May 12, 2023) and they include individuals, financial advisors, pension plans, endowments, foundations and more. Fidelity is proud to provide investors a full range of domestic, international and global equity and income-oriented mutual funds, ETFs, asset allocation strategies, managed portfolios, sustainable investing products, alternative mutual funds and a high net worth program. Fidelity Funds are available through a number of advice-based distribution channels including financial planners, investment dealers, banks and insurance companies. Connect with Fidelity: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Reddit View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005352/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Tasker Payment Gateways LLC Celebrates 8 Years of BBB Accreditation and an A+ Rating SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For 20 years, Tasker Payment Gateways LLC has been a reliable partner for high-risk e-commerce businesses, offering payment gateway integrations and merchant account recommendations to USA-based tactical, premium cigar, vape, pipes and glass, indie video game makers, and other websites that struggle to find reliable credit cards processing. Despite the challenges faced in the high-risk payment processing industry, the company has maintained a flawless A+ rating with the BBB for the past 8 years, along with zero customer complaints and a top rating on TrustPilot. Matt Tasker, president of Tasker Payment Gateways, attributes this success to the company's focus on building solid relationships: "We recognize that high-risk payment processing can be intricate and involve many moving parts. From assisting vape merchants with in-person delivery payments to helping businesses accept credit cards for Farm-Bill-compliant cannabis seeds online, our dedicated independent agents invest time in understanding each client's unique needs and providing personalized support throughout the process. Our commitment is to make payment processing seamless and stress-free for our clients." Tasker Payment Gateways LLC's impeccable track record includes zero customer complaints, zero negative reviews, a 100 percent customer loyalty score with the BBB, and all positive reviews on TrustPilot.com. The company's success is rooted in its dedication to understanding high-risk websites' priorities and finding innovative solutions to overcome payment processing challenges. A key concern for many merchants is the ability to use their preferred site builder. Tasker Payment Gateways LLC caters to high-risk merchants using popular site builders like Shopify and WooCommerce, offering compatible payment processing solutions. They have also developed high-risk payment gateway guides for other site builders and shopping carts, such as Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, and GoDaddy, enabling merchants to maintain their current website builder and still accept credit cards. E-commerce businesses value the technical assistance with payment processing setup and the prompt, personalized service received from Tasker Payment Gateways LLC's dedicated independent agents. In a BBB review, a pipe and bong website owner expressed gratitude for the swift and hassle-free credit card processing, stating, "Tasker Payment Gateways LLC pulled my online small business out of the fire within 2-3 Days! He {my rep} offered me unparalleled effort, honesty, and kindness while also solving all of the payment gateway issues for my functional glass business." A TrustPilot review states, "As a new small business owner 4 years ago, I wasn't fully aware of gateways and processors. Our business was even more complex as tobacco accessories are regulated as a high-risk vendor. I was so fortunate to find {our new account rep at TaskerPaymentGateways}. He took time to educate me and got our business up and running." High-risk online merchants often struggle to find payment processors willing to work with them. Legal yet high-risk products are often restricted by major payment gateway brands like Stripe and PayPal, which power many shopping carts under different names. As a result, websites selling items like CBD, pipes and glass, alcohol, premium cigars, tactical items, or FFL transfers online are at risk of having their payment processing shut down if they use the built-in payment gateway that comes with their shopping cart. Tasker Payment Gateways offers payment gateway integrations and, crucially, recommends a compatible merchant account tailored to the specific products being sold, ensuring merchants won't face shutdowns due to their product type. Matt Tasker states, "Over the past two decades, we have been fortunate to build many trusted relationships within the e-commerce industry. Our goal is to continue operating with integrity, transparency and a customer-first approach, regardless of whether or not a partnership results. We strive to offer tailored guidance and support for business owners seeking solutions for accepting credit card payments for higher-risk products. One terrific thing about us is that our recommendations come at no direct cost because we are compensated through our network of trusted partners and providers." To learn more, visit TaskerPaymentGateways.com and connect with Tasker Payment Gateways LLC via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Contact: Matthew Tasker 12077728737 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tasker-payment-gateways-llc-celebrates-8-years-of-bbb-accreditation-and-an-a-rating-301833894.html SOURCE Tasker Payment Gateways LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Zahid F Sarder Saddi Releases Statement Thanking US State Department for Support of Bangladeshis Washington, D.C., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Earlier this month, Zahid F Sarder Saddi praised United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for sending a clear message to Bangladesh about its foreign policy and commitment to protecting human rights, free and fair elections, freedom of religion, and the rule of law; providing resources for victims of Rohingya issues; and promoting security by helping the people of Bangladesh and other countries in the region. Now, with supportive statements also issued by Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, Zahid F Sarder Saddi is thanking them for upholding US policy for a better Bangladesh and its people. Photo: Bangladeshi Community Leader and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F Sarder Saddi with United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken Bangladesh, which will be holding general elections in January 2024, is beset with humanitarian issues that include climate change, human rights, and democratic governance. Secretary Blinken has long worked to promote inclusive growth, free and fair elections, human and labor rights, and freedom of expression in Bangladesh. He recently met with Zahid F Sarder Saddi, who is the Foreign Advisor to the Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon Begum Khaleda Zia, after giving an address to the US Congress. Secretary Blinken is reported to have said that the world is looking to Bangladesh to set a strong example of free and fair elections for the region and beyond. Secretary Blinken also met on April 10, 2023 in Washington DC with Bangladesh Foreign Minister A. K. Abdul Momen, sending a clear message to Bangladesh. Secretary Blinken thanked Bangladesh for hosting Rohingya refugees, praising the nearly $2.1B in U.S. humanitarian assistance since 2017. However, Secretary Blinken emphasized that the United States is closely monitoring the developments of the January 2024 elections in Bangladesh. According to a press release from the State Department , Secretary Blinken expressed concerns about violence against and intimidation of the media and civil society, including under the Digital Security Act. He underscored that free and fair elections and respect for human rights in Bangladesh are critical as we seek to deepen our bilateral relationship. The US was critical of the last two national elections in Bangladesh for alleged irregularities. As the 2024 national elections approach, Washington has reiterated the importance of free and fair elections , and Dhaka has informed a bilateral dialogue about various measures taken by the Election Commission to this end. Additionally, top US officials are calling for the next polls to be held late this year or early next year. Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet tweeted : US relationship with Bangladesh is guided by their shared commitment to democracy, and we work together to find durable solutions for Rohingya. He also emphasized the need for free, fair and participatory elections as well as respect for human rights and democracy in Bangladesh. US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland , who co-chaired the US-Bangladesh 9th Partnership Dialogue with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, has tweeted her own strong message of solidarity with Bangladesh: Reiterated the U.S. commitment to promoting human rights and democratic values, including free and fair elections. Zahid F Sarder Saddi , the Bangladeshi Activist and former Foreign Advisor, took to Twitter to praise both Counselor Derek Chollet and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland for continuing to rally the message. On behalf of all Bangladeshis, I want to thank the entire US State Department for its tireless commitment to promoting fair elections, human rights, and democracy in Bangladesh, said Zahid F Sarder Saddi. Their efforts have deepened the friendship between our nations, and I have no doubt that they will help us to Take Back Bangladesh for its people. About Zahid F Sarder Saddi Zahid F Sarder Saddi is a prominent Bangladeshi politician, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He served as a Foreign Advisor to the three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon Begum Khaleda Zia. He was also appointed as a Special Envoy to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP and was nominated as a member of the Bangladesh Parliament Pirojpur-1 constituency. Zahid F Sarder Saddi works with several organizations and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world. He has been involved in the Bangladeshi American Society for over 25 years and works to carry the voice of Bangladeshi Americans to lawmakers. Zahid F Sarder Saddi is also a Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Bangla Times , a leading Bangladeshi English and Bangla language newspaper. Zahid F Sarder Saddi has received numerous accolades, including a humanitarian award for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic in helping to promote vaccine distribution to the Bangladeshi population. To learn more about Zahid F Sarder Saddi, please visit www.ZahidFSarderSaddi.com or reach out to Zahid F Sarder Saddi at [email protected] Digital Workplace Analytics Provider SWOOP Analytics Welcomes New North American Director It is with great pleasure digital workplace analytics provider SWOOP Analytics welcomes Gemma Saint as the company's Director of Customer Success and Growth in North America. Gemma comes to SWOOP Analytics after being a customer for the past five years, working at some of Europe's best-known companies. Gemma knows SWOOP's digital workplace products inside and out and is passionate about enabling customers to collaborate, communicate and build connections. Gemma brings more than 20 years' experience in internal communication channel management, internal digital transformation and content creation. She has managed global intranet projects and has had great success rolling out Viva Engage, Workplace from Meta and SharePoint intranet at companies including B&Q, Virgin Media O2 & Carnival. "I am passionate about internal communications channels and how they can transform the way colleagues work and collaborate internally," Gemma said. "Working with SWOOP means I can provide easy-to-understand analytics to people who aren't analysts, so our customers fall in love with data." SWOOP Analytics CEO Cai Kjaer said he was thrilled to welcome Gemma to the SWOOP Analytics team. "Gemma brings real-life experience to the role, having been a SWOOP customer for years," Cai said. "She will provide expert support to our SWOOP customes in North America and we look forward to Gemma helping to grow our business in the US and Canada." SWOOP Analytics offers analytics for Microsoft M365, Microsoft Teams, Viva Engage, SharePoint intranet and Workplace from Meta, focusing on digital behaviors and relationships to help customers get the most from their digital tools. Gemma joins SWOOP Analytics' North American Director Coco Molina in the US market. Gemma and Coco will be presenting at the IABC World Conference in Toronto early June. If you're in North America and searching for an analytics solutions to your internal communications and digital workplace, please reach out to Gemma at [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005294/en/ [May 25, 2023] Pacific Office Automation Announced Revenue Increase of 15 Percent in Konica Minolta Products for 2022 Pacific Office Automation (POA), the largest independent office equipment dealer in the U.S., announced a 15 percent increase in revenue for Konica Minolta products in 2022. POA has been Konica Minolta's largest North American dealer since 2005. The company first partnered with Konica Minolta Business Solutions, a Japanese company in 49 countries, in 1992. "I am thrilled at the continued growth we see with Pacific Office Automation. Double digit organic growth from such a large dealer is truly an outstanding accomplishment and we are so appreciative of the focus and energy of the entire POA team," said Laura Blackmer, president of dealer sales at Konica Minolta. Konica Minolta's production print market grew by 20 percent between 2021 and 2022 while the solutions market grew by 42 percent with their partnership with Mobotix, a global cybersecurity leader and security camera manufacturer. Even without Mobotix, their year-over-year growth for the solutions market reached 19 percent. About Konica Minolta: Konica Minolta Business Solutions is a Japanese multinational technology company headquartered in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with offices in 49 countries worldwide. The company guides and supports its customers' digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services, ECM, Managed Print Services, and comprehensive industrial and commercial printing and packaging solutions. For more information, go to https://www.konicaminolta.us/. About Pacific Office Automation: Founded in 1976, Pacific Office Automation (POA) is a privately held office technology company headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. POA has more than 1,300 employees across eight states. It has grown to be the largest authorized dealer of high-quality printer manufacturers, and it commits to offering custom office solutions, state-of-the-art technology, and award-winning customer service to customers and the community. POA provides managed print services, enterprise level IT services, software, office equipment, and unified communications all over the United States. Learn more at www.pacificoffice.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005274/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] RS Adds Three New Suppliers With Solutions for the Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy, and Transportation Markets French startup Niryo adds affordable, easily deployable, and user-friendly cobots engineered for Industry 4.0 prototyping applications, while HELUKABEL cable, wire, and accessories and MGM Transformer Company expand access to essential electrical solutions for industrial and infrastructure applications. FORT WORTH, Texas, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RS, a trading brand of RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a global omni-channel provider of industrial product and service solutions, is proud to announce three new suppliers: Niryo, HELUKABEL, and MGM Transformer Company. RS is proud to announce three new suppliers: Niryo, HELUKABEL, and MGM Transformer Company. Niryo is a French startup company that specializes in affordable, easily deployable, and user-friendly desktop collaborative robotics (cobots) designed to democratize access to these essential Industry 4.0 technologies. Since launching in 2017, the passionate, roughly 40-person team at Niryo has developed the Ned2 cobot, a six-axis robotic arm based on open-source technologies and engineered for education, research, and prototyping applications, and a line of corresponding add-ons and accessories, including a machine vision set, an autonomous conveyor, an electromagnet, an adaptive gripper, a large gripper, and a vacuum pump. The Ned2 features a robust aluminum form factor with molded plastic covers, a range of motion that meets the needs of Industry 4.0 applications, and a user-friendly graphical human-machine interface (HMI) that makes it easy for users to set up, control, program, and manage cobot parameters, motion, add-ons, and accessories. It also exhibits high precision and repeatability and enables agility. The full line of Niryo solutions will soon be in stock at RS. HELUKABEL is a trusted supplier of innovative, high-quality, and reliable cable, wire, and accessories engineered for industrial, infrastructure, renewable energy, transportation, traffic, media, building, and event applications. This medium-sized family company has 45 years of in-depth knowledge and expertise in the safe, reliable, and effective transmission of power and data, more than 2,200 employees, and 10 global manufacturing and assembly sites and has earned more than $883 million in total revenue. Products range from control and data cables to highly flexible and robust cables designe for drag chain applications in harsh manufacturing environments and include temperature-resistant, oil-resistant, and halogen-free solutions, as well as a wide range of cable accessories. RS currently offers solutions, including PROFIBUS, TRAYCONTROL, FIVENORM, HELUKAT, HELUTHERM, TOPFLEX, TOPSERV, and HO1N2-D arc welding cables. MGM Transformer Company is the largest independent transformer manufacturer west of the Mississippi. The company started developing dry-type transformers in 1975 and added liquid transformers in 1982. In recent years, MGM Transformer Company assembled an engineering team to develop energy-efficient transformers for sophisticated electrical infrastructure, drive isolation, traction duty, grounding, mining, and high-rise building applications. The company has more than 300 employees, two manufacturing facilities one in Tijuana, Mexico, dedicated to low-voltage transformers and another in Los Angeles dedicated to more complicated medium-voltage transformers more than 15 stocked inventory warehouses, and more than $1 billion worth of transformer solutions in use at companies including Amazon, Eaton, Exxon, GE, Microsoft, Rockwell Automation, Square D by Schneider Electric, Siemens, Tesla, and Toyota. To learn more about these suppliers and their products, please contact your local RS representative at 1.866.433.5722 or reach out to our technical support team. About RS in the Americas In the Americas region, RS stocks more than 230,000 industrial and electronic products from more than 700 trusted suppliers . These solutions cover categories extending from automation and control equipment to interconnect, passive, active , and electromechanical components and include more than 80,000 high-quality, competitively priced RS PRO products. For more information, please visit https://us.rs-online.com or connect with us via social media on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , and YouTube . About RS Group RS Group plc is a leading global omni-channel industrial product and service solutions provider to customers who are involved in designing, building, and maintaining industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. We stock more than 700,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to over 1.2 million customers. With operations in 32 countries, we trade through multiple channels and ship over 60,000 parcels a day. We support customers across the product life cycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimizing inventory in the maintenance phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money. RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1, and in the year ended 31 March 2022, reported revenue of 2,554 million. For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com/ or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter . Image Download: https://bit.ly/3KHdQ6J Editorial Contact & Media Inquiries: Karen Gavenda RS Director of Marketing Americas [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rs-adds-three-new-suppliers-with-solutions-for-the-industrial-infrastructure-energy-and-transportation-markets-301831195.html SOURCE RS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] Bloomberg Law Named 2023 SIIA CODiE Award Finalist in Best Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Content Solution ARLINGTON, Va., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Law today announced that its Draft Analyzer workflow tool was named a 2023 Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE Award Business Technology Finalist in the Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Content Solution category. The CODiE Awards, the long-running, premier awards program for the software and information industries, are produced by SIIA. Bloomberg Law's Draft Analyzer has transformed the process of legal drafting by utilizing advanced AI technology. Draft Analyzer is included as a part of Bloomberg Law, which combines legal research, news, analysis, and Practical Guidance in one omprehensive solution. Draft Analyzer streamlines the workflow of transactional attorneys by leveraging unique proprietary AI models to help attorneys negotiate more efficiently. During contract analysis, the tool significantly improves a user's ability to efficiently draft and authoritatively negotiate contracts by identifying market standard contract language and surfacing on-point analysis from Bloomberg Law's Practical Guidance collection. "We're incredibly proud to see Draft Analyzer recognized for its ability to transform the practice of law," said Joe Breda, President of Bloomberg Law. "Draft Analyzer's selection as a finalist in this category is a testament to the quality of our AI-enabled solutions and our commitment to supporting attorneys with innovative, intelligent tools that allow them to provide the best possible service to their clients." The SIIA CODiE Awards are the industry's only peer-recognized awards program. Finalists are determined by industry experts. CODiE Award winners will be announced June 21-22, 2023. Details about each finalist are available at https://siia.net/codie/codie-finalists/. About Bloomberg Law Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of practical guidance, comprehensive primary and secondary source material, trusted content from Bloomberg BNA, news, time-saving practice tools, market data, and business intelligence. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bloomberg-law-named-2023-siia-codie-award-finalist-in-best-artificial-intelligence-enabled-content-solution-301834864.html SOURCE Bloomberg Law [May 25, 2023] Canada and Manitoba accelerate the move to renewable energy through $38.2 million investment WINNIPEG, MB, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Canada and Manitoba are working together to reduce pollution and help Canadians access clean solutions that save money and energy, create jobs, and build strong resilient communities. Today, Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Kevin Klein, Minister of Environment and Climate for Manitoba, announced up to $38.2 million in funding to support the Efficient Trucking Program and Manitoba's merit-based program. Building on a 2019 investment, the Efficient Trucking Program is receiving an additional $3.6 million from the Government of Canada to support a new intake for applications. The Manitoba Government will also contribute up to $3.3 million and Manitoba's trucking sector will provide $6.6 million. The Efficient Trucking Program rebates up to 50 percent of the cost of installed fuel-saving devices or technologies for heavy-duty vehicles or trailers. Re-opening this program will continue to help Manitoba's transportation sector reduce carbon pollution. Overall, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 120,000 tonnes by the year 2030, which is equivalent to saving about 51 million litres of gasoline consumed in a year. The program is delivered by Red River College Polytechnic's Vehicle Technology and Energy Centre. Interested applicants can apply today to the new intake by visiting efficienttrucking.ca. A second intake for applications will start on October 1, 2023. The Government of Canada is also investing $25 million in Manitoba's merit-based program, while the province is contributing $6.25 million to this program delivered by the Manitoba Climate and Green Plan Implementation Office. Eligible recipients include municipalities, government entities, industry, Indigenous communities, and not-for-profit organizations. Projects funded through the merit-based program will help Manitoba: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including transition from the combustion of fossil fuels to renewable energy. Promote clean growth and green job creation. Support industry competitiveness. Improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. The federal funding for both programs comes from the Low Carbon Economy Fund. Investments in climate action initiatives, such as the ones announed today, are necessary for Canada to achieve its climate goals and build a strong, clean economy for everyone. Quotes "As we aim for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadians across the country in building a cleaner, more prosperous future for our kids and our grandkids. Programs like the ones announced today will help enable different recipients in Manitoba, like the trucking industry, municipalities, not-for-profits, and Indigenous communities, to reduce carbon emissions. I applaud the leadership shown by Manitoba for helping us transition to a low-carbon economy future." The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change "Reducing the carbon footprint of the trucking sector is crucial to successfully attaining Manitoba's carbon reduction goals. By partnering with the federal government, we can transition more vehicles and industries from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Manitoba will continue to lead the way in the development of a cleaner, greener economy." The Honourable Kevin Klein, Minister of Environment and Climate for Manitoba "Canada's ongoing transition to a sustainable economy presents us with a substantial opportunity to invest in clean, renewable energy. The Low Carbon Economy Fund is one way that we're making progress. By partnering with provinces and territories across the country, we are creating jobs, growing the economy, and building more resilient communities, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions." Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North Quick facts The Low Carbon Economy Fund is an important part of Canada's climate action plans, helping to put Canada on a path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. climate action plans, helping to put on a path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This funding is part of an agreement between Canada and Manitoba under the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. and under the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. The trucking industry directly and indirectly contributes more than $2 billion to Manitoba's gross domestic product, and directly and indirectly employs approximately 4.6 percent of the Manitoba labour force. to gross domestic product, and directly and indirectly employs approximately 4.6 percent of the labour force. The merit-based program provides a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while making Manitoba businesses, organizations, and communities more competitive in the low-carbon economy. businesses, organizations, and communities more competitive in the low-carbon economy. The Government of Canada has committed up to $2 billion in additional funding to the Low Carbon Economy Fund in Budget 2022, as previously announced in Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. has committed up to in additional funding to the Low Carbon Economy Fund in Budget 2022, as previously announced in 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. The enhanced Low Carbon Economy Fund will also support climate action by Indigenous peoples with a new $180 million Indigenous Leadership Fund by investing in clean energy and energy efficiency projects led by First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities and organizations. Associated links Low Carbon Economy Fund 2030 Emissions Reduction PlanCanada's Next Steps for Clean Air and a Strong Economy Budget 2022A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Qatar Islamic Insurance Group Q.P.S.C. AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of Qatar Islamic Insurance Group Q.P.S.C. (QIIG) (Qatar). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect QIIG's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. QIIG employs a hybrid takaful model, whereby the shareholders' fund charges the policyholders' fund (PHF) a Wakala fee based on gross written contributions (GWC) and a Mudarabah fee based on investment income. QIIG's ability to accumulate surpluses within the PHF, whilst regularly distributing surplus back to policyholders, supports the sustainability of its takaful model. QIIG's balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which was at the strongest level at year-end 2022, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and is expected to remain comfortably at this level over the medium term. Supporting the balance sheet strength assessment is QIIG's consistent demonstration of internal capital generation. In 2022, the company reported capital and surplus of QAR 456.3 million (USD 126.1 million), growing 8.3% compared with 2021 (5.7% growth when including the PHF to QAR 701.2 million [USD 193.8 million]). While maintaining sufficient liquidity to support its insurance operations, QIIG's investments portfolio continues to carry exposure to higher risk real estate assets and investments in associates, which accounted for 40% of its total investments as at year-end 2022, albeit reducing in recent years. QIIG is moderately dependent on reinsurance, as the group cedes a high proportion of its large commercial risks. QIIG's ability to generate strong operating returns is demonstrated by its five-year weighted averae return-on-equity ratio of 13.8% (2018-2022). Profitability is driven mainly by QIIG's strong and stable technical results, which have generated positive returns in each of the last 10 years. The company's earnings have been moderately supported by investment income; however, investment yields have experienced some volatility in recent years driven by fair value losses arising on real estate and the impairment of investments in associates. QIIG holds a niche position within its domestic insurance market, as an established provider of Sharia-compliant products. In 2022, QIIG reported a 9% increase in contributions compared with 2021, writing GWC of QAR 467.3 million (USD 129.1 million). Whilst the group looks to expand its geographical presence, operations remain concentrated in Qatar, where it maintains a strong reputation benefiting from its track record of distributing surpluses back to its policyholders. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's 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 Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005682/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A Chinese engineer works with Bangladeshi workers at the new factory of Transsion Holdings in the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone, Narayanganj, Bangladesh, May 24, 2023. Transsion Holdings, a China-based smartphone manufacturer, inaugurated its ISMARTU factory on Wednesday to meet the growing demand for smart devices in Bangladesh. (Xinhua) DHAKA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Transsion Holdings, a China-based smartphone manufacturer, inaugurated its ISMARTU factory on Wednesday to meet the growing demand for smart devices in Bangladesh. ISMARTU Technology BD Limited, a subsidiary of Transsion Holdings, represents popular smart brands such as TECNO, Itel, Infinix, oraimo and Syinix. The new factory, located in the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone, Narayanganj, has a total investment of about 22 million U.S. dollars in the first phase of its construction and covers an area of over 22,000 square meters. It is equipped with the latest technology and adheres to high international standards for quality and safety. Regarding a large population and increasing consumer demand for affordable, high-end feature smartphones in Bangladesh, Zhu Zhaojiang, Transsion Holdings Chairman, called the South Asian country a strategic market for the company's business expansion. Zhu expressed optimism that the investment in Bangladesh through ISMARTU would not only accelerate the company's local development but also contribute to Bangladesh's digitization and modernization process. According to Transsion, from design to construction, the new factory introduces more advanced production standards, with a more scientific layout to better meet the needs of modernized mobile phone production. Focusing on streamlining the production process, the Chinese company tries to deliver top-quality smart mobile devices to meet Bangladesh's growing demand for products. Speaking via video link at the inauguration ceremony, Bangladeshi Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar applauded Transsion for offering affordable devices in line with the government's commitment to bridging the digital gap among the people. Besides, the factory is expected to generate employment opportunities for over 2,000 local individuals, contributing to the local economy and supporting career growth within the region. This is the second Bangladeshi factory of this Chinese brand. In September 2018, the first local factory was officially put into operation, producing and assembling Transsion's mobile phone products. Bangladeshi Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar speaks via video link at the inauguration ceremony of the new factory of Transsion Holdings in the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone, Narayanganj, Bangladesh, May 24, 2023. Transsion Holdings, a China-based smartphone manufacturer, inaugurated its ISMARTU factory on Wednesday to meet the growing demand for smart devices in Bangladesh. (Xinhua) Workers work at the new factory of Transsion Holdings in the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone, Narayanganj, Bangladesh, May 24, 2023. Transsion Holdings, a China-based smartphone manufacturer, inaugurated its ISMARTU factory on Wednesday to meet the growing demand for smart devices in Bangladesh. (Xinhua) [May 25, 2023] Establishing Montreal as a Global Climatetech Capital: Five Innovation Projects Take Home $300,000 at the First Climate Solutions Festival - Quebec MONTREAL, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - The Climate Solutions FestivalQuebec, which welcomed more than 800 participants and brought together leading innovators, investors, researchers, startups, clean tech entrepreneurs, and media culminated with the awarding of the Climate Solutions Prize Breakthrough Research Track Prize-Quebec, Start-Up Track Prize, Student Entrepreneur Innovation Prize, and Audience Choice Award. The five winning projects were announced following a rigorous judging process which reviewed 200 submissions and were drawn from 25 finalists. A total of $300,000 in prizes were awarded to ideas with demonstrable potential for real-world impact when it comes to climate and which can be developed and put to use quickly. Breakthrough Research Prize Winners: Powered by JNF Canada, two winners shared a total purse worth $100,000. Winners were selected from submissions prepared by Quebec research institutions including universities, non-profit organizations such as hospitals and R&D centers, environmental charities, and non-profit incubators. Projects were scored by an independent panel of judges based on criteria including impact, innovation, development potential, and cost-effectiveness. First Prize: ($60,000) Name: Philip Raphals and Charles Kiyanda (NovoPower International) Project: Power from waste heat: brining data centres and green hydrogen electrolyzers into the circular economy Runner Up Prize: ($40,000) Name: Soodeh Abedini (Concordia University) Project: An affordable electrochemical system for simultaneous converting CO2 and CH4 to green storable energy Quebec Start-Up Track Winner: One winner of the $100,000 Start-Up prize, managed by Cycle Momentum, was selected from among ten finalists whose ideas all harnessed innovative approaches using Cleantech to tackle existing or emerging climate change issues. Winner: ($100,000) Name: Jennifer Cote (Opalia) Project: Real milk producting without cows using innovative technology which reproduces the functionality, taste, and nutritional aspect of traditional dairy without the methane production and intensive animal use. Quebec Student Entrepreneur Innovation Prize Winner: In partnership with Mitacs, the $90,000 prize called on student entrepreneurs from across Quebec to use creativity and innovative thinking to build solutions to the climate crisis. The prize will be awarded in installments over two years to support the winner's ongoing work on this theme. Winner: ($90,000) Name: Yee Wei Foong (McGill University/Quantus) Project: Decarburizing batteries with metal-free electrodes for a sustainable alternative to lithium batteries The Audience Choice Award: This prize of $10,000 was granted to one winner who was selected by festival participants following pitches by finalists from the Startup Track . Winner: ($10,000) Name: Samson Bowen-Bronet (Altiro Energy) Project: Large-scale energy storage that introduces more renewables into the grid and eliminates power curtailment using an iron-based clean fuel. Climate Solutions Festival More than three-dozen panelists and keynote speakers offered over 800 festival attendees and participants thought-provoking insights and pathways to using technology to combat climate change, beginning at home. The two day event brought together hundreds of innovators, investors, academics, entrepreneurs and national and international thought leaders in a unique mash-up of ideas meant to spur greater activity and action in clean tech development. "The success of this year's festival a first in Quebec and Canada demonstrates the broad engagement that exists to address the climate crisis within the entrepreneurial, research, and startup communities," said Galith Levy, Chief Climate Solutions Prize Officer. "Our organization looks forward to bringing these communities together again next year as we unite our talents and resources towards tackling the biggest issue of our times." Organizers of the festival are grateful for the support of partners who made the event possible, including JNF Canada, le Gouvernement du Quebec, National Bank of Canada, Cycle Momentum, Esplanade Quebec, 2 degres, Mitacs, Innovobot, and many others. Special thanks goes to this year's media partner La Presse. "We strongly believe the first Climate Solutions Festival in Quebec has been a catalyzing force to inspire innovative ideas that translate into workable solutions," said Patrick Gagne, CEO of Cycle Momentum. "With the success of this gathering, we support the Climate Solutions Prize Organization and its ambition to establish Montreal as a global Climatetech capital." About the Climate Solutions Prize Seeking to inspire breakthrough solutions to solve the climate crisis, over $2 million in prizes were awarded internationally in 2022. The inaugural Climate Solutions Prize Quebec granted $300,000 in prizes and investments to Quebec innovators. More than just a prize, the organization aims to provide a platform where key players in the ecosystem are brought together to propel innovations with high impact potential. SOURCE Climate Solutions Prize [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] INTERNATIONAL GAMING STANDARDS ASSOCIATION PUBLISHES VIDEO CONGRATULATIONS FROM MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD LAS VEGAS, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) is celebrating 25 years of its role in support of gaming industry standards. IGSA President Peter DeRaedt said, "In addition to the many champions and pioneers of our technical standards, we're also proud and honored to have featured a keynote video by Trevor Croker, CEO of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, a founding IGSA member, and this week, to feature a keynote video address by Rich Schneider, Chief Product Officer of Light & Wonder and another 25-year IGSA member." "It has been great to see the congratulations and well wishes come in from all over the world from our current and former members, friends and colleagues," said Mark Pace, Vice-President, IGSA. "These companies have joined in celebrating IGSA's 25-year anniversary through video messages that we have posted on our social media channels and website." We invite all our current and past members to join us at our Annual Meeting celebration and get-together at Canaletto in the Palazzo - Oct 10 - whilst you're at G2E. RSVP here. ABOUT IGSA The International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) is the largest technical standards development organization dedicated to the creation and evolution of standards to the betterment of the global gaming industry. Through the creation and evolution of intellectual property, exclusively available to its distinguished membership, and with the input of regulators, operators and suppliers all over the world, the IGSA ensures its members enjoy a unique strategic advantage. IGSA is the industry's most recognized catalyst between the jurisdictional regulatory bodies and the online and land-based operators. This ensures its members a cross sectorial visibility and reach and a facility to access commercialization channels through the IGSA standardized protocols and standards. For more information, visit: www.igsa.org. For Press inquiries, contact Peter DeRaedt, IGSA President [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-gaming-standards-association-publishes-video-congratulations-from-members-around-the-world-301834985.html SOURCE International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] American Carbon Registry's New Methodology Is Giant Step Forward to Halt Methane Emissions From Orphan Wells: Rebellion Energy Solutions Standards Are the First to Specifically Address Plugging Orphan Oil and Gas Wells a Substantial Source of Methane Emissions Key Leaders From Rebellion Energy Contributed Technical Expertise to ACR in Its Development of the Framework ACR Methodology Underpins the Value of Carbon-Offset Credits, a Vital Tool to Incentivize and Accelerate Incremental Activity to Permanently Halt Methane Emissions From Orphan Wells Scale of Opportunity to Curb This Source of Methane Emissions Is Vast Extending Far Beyond the Capacity of Designated Federal Funding to Address TULSA, Okla., May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rebellion Energy Solutions today commented on the significance of the American Carbon Registry's (ACR) newly published methodology for quantifying and validating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from plugging orphan oil and gas wells. "This framework serves as an economic catalyst for accelerating and scaling up activity to plug orphan oil and gas wells immediately and permanently halting decades of future methane emissions," says Staci Taruscio, Rebellion Energy Solutions chief executive officer. "The capital to fund plugging these wells relies on emissions-offset credits that meet the highest standards of carbon accounting. The American Carbon Registry methodology the first to specifically address orphan oil and gas wells is designed to meet that need." The American Carbon Registry on May 24th published its methodology for quantifying, monitoring, reporting and verification of GHG emissions reductions from plugging orphan oil and gas wells. The methodology provides science-based mitigation strategies necessary to drastically cut emissions from orphan wells using carbon credits as one source of funding, ACR reports. The atmospheric concentration of methane which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes is about 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide on a 20-year time scale has more than doubled in the last two centuries, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. "It is imperative to take immediate acton to see benefits of mitigating this short-lived climate pollutant to slow down the rate of warming in the near term," ACR reports. "This methodology is intended to be used as an incentive to drastically cut emissions by creating carbon credits as a source of funding for the plugging of leaking sometimes for decades orphan oil and gas wells, and to help operators and jurisdictions prioritize leaking methane as an environmental risk." The scale of the methane-leaking, orphan-well problem is enormous with the U.S. EPA conservatively estimating the volume at 6.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMT CO 2 e) escaping each year from millions of defunct oil and gas wells that need to be plugged. "We have seen first-hand America's outdated orphan-well system and understand that regulators alone are critically under-resourced to identify or quell the environmental hazards of methane leaks from millions of abandoned wells that have essentially become wards of the state in the absence of any responsible entity," says Taruscio, of the Oklahoma-based company. "Getting to zero emissions on these wells requires a fully engaged marketplace, not just governments," she says. "It also requires carbon credits that meet the highest standards of credibility and veracity. ACR's framework represents a giant step forward in efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions." Carbon credits can help get wells plugged and permanently halt decades of methane emissions. The credits provide an incentive to target the worst offenders the highest-volume methane wells. The greater the volume of methane that plugging can halt, the greater number of carbon credits are available for verification and monetization. Key leaders from Rebellion Energy, Taruscio and project-executive Brooke Swain each with prior experience in the exploration-and-production sector of the oil-and-gas industry contributed technical expertise to ACR in its development of the orphan oil-and-gas well framework. ACR's methodology process also included a public-comment period and final scientific peer review. Rebellion Energy's mission is focused on bringing energy, environment and markets together to drive responsible completion confirmed zero methane emissions and restored, sustainable landscape of the oil-and-gas well lifecycle. In its role, Rebellion Energy: Identifies high-environmental-impact orphan wells that, without plugging, are expected to produce specific, quantifiable decades-long methane emissions; Collaborates with landowners whose property is compromised by these wells; Takes multiple methane measurements from the wells to establish accurate baselines; Acquires ownership of and rights to access those wells, assuming the role of responsible party; Completes the wells' lifecycle by permanently plugging it and restoring a sustainable landscape; Takes final measurements to confirm zero methane emissions; Engages a third-party to validate the results; Obtains carbon-offset credits issued in a quantity that reflects the quantified avoided methane emissions; and Monetizes the carbon-offset credits in direct or exchange transactions providing the capital necessary to fund plugging the orphan wells. About Rebellion Energy Solutions https://rebellionenergy.com Rebellion Energy Solutions is a privately held company with headquarters in Tulsa, Okla. It is a woman-led business with a multi-disciplinary team of experts committed to creating sustainable solutions through oilfield cleanup and environmental justice in a comprehensive effort to restore the land, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and create taxable revenue streams for communities. Rebellion Energy's solutions combine its principals' background in the energy industry and a shared passion to solve America's broken orphan-well system to form an innovative business model that helps ESG investors make meaningful strides toward a net-zero carbon-emission goal and shift industry cultures along the way. As a company, Rebellion Energy aims to contribute to the global Sustainable Development Goals as adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. The company's work directly tackles climate change, and each one of its projects is linked to quantifiable U.N. SDGs. For more information: Kerry Malone, [email protected], 918-625-4958 Rachely Hernandez-Salazar, [email protected], 918-600-5647 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-carbon-registrys-new-methodology-is-giant-step-forward-to-halt-methane-emissions-from-orphan-wells-rebellion-energy-solutions-301835015.html SOURCE Rebellion Energy Solutions [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 25, 2023] AMF institutes proceedings against three entities and an individual related to the CoinEx crypto trading platform MONTREAL, May 25, 2023 /CNW/ - On May 24, 2023, the Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF") filed an originating pleading (in French only) with the Financial Markets Administrative Tribunal (the "Tribunal") against CoinEx Global Limited (CoinEx), CoinEx Global Limited (CoinEx Canada), CoinEx Global Limited (CoinEx Estonia), Vino Global Limited and Haipo Yang. An AMF investigation found evidence that the aforementioned entities are facilitating transactions relating to cryptoassets via the website www.coinex.com, which is accessible from Quebec. These entities are subject to securities legislation, as they are using the website to offer a number of financial products and services that qualify as securities or derivatives. However, they are not registered with or recognized by the AMF in any capacity whatsoever, have not prepared a prospectus subject to a receipt issued by the AMF and are not benefitting from a discretionary exemption. Moreover, these entities are not pursuing an application for registration with the AMF or any other member of the Canadian Securities Administrators (the "CSA") in order to comply with securities legislation. This pleading is in addition to, among other things, the proceedings instituted by the AMF in March 2023 against entities related to the crypto trading platform XT.com and is a further example of the commitment and ongoing, coordinated efforts of the CSA to ensure that crypto asset trading platforms comply with securities legislation in Canada. The Tribnal will be required to rule on the evidence adduced before it. Steps taken by the AMF and the CSA to protect investors Over the past few years, the AMF has issued several notices in concert with the CSA with a view to implementing a regulatory framework that promotes the protection of Quebec consumers who invest through crypto trading platforms. After launching a consultation on a proposed regulatory framework for crypto trading platforms in 2019 and providing guidance on the application of securities legislation to them in 2020, the CSA outlined the regulatory framework for their activities in greater detail in 2021. That same year, the CSA also provided guidance to crypto trading platforms on requirements relating to advertising, marketing and social media use. On August 15, 2022, CSA members stated that they expected crypto trading platforms that operate in Canada while pursuing an application for registration to provide them with a pre-registration undertaking. On December 12, 2022, the CSA published an update announcing that it would be strengthening this approach. On February 22, 2023, the CSA announced that crypto trading platforms that operate in Canada while pursuing their applications for registration with CSA members are expected to provide an enhanced pre-registration undertaking to their principal regulator. The Autorite des marches financiers is the regulatory and oversight body for Quebec's financial sector. Information: Media only: Sylvain Theberge: 514-940-2176 Information Centre: Quebec City: 418-525-0337 Montreal: 514-395-0337 Toll-free: 1-877-525-0337 Website: www.lautorite.qc.ca Twitter: @lautorite LinkedIn: Autorite des marches financiers (Quebec) SOURCE Autorite des marches financiers [May 25, 2023] Lunit Demonstrates Predictive Value of AI-Biomarker Platform at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting - New studies reveal Lunit SCOPE's impact on predicting clinical outcomes, analyzing tumor microenvironment, and enhancing personalized cancer treatment SEOUL, South Korea, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit (KRX:328130.KQ), a global leader of AI-powered cancer diagnostics and therapeutics solutions, is set to make a significant impact at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. This year, Lunit will present 16 abstracts at the conference, showcasing the groundbreaking capabilities of its AI-biomarker platform, Lunit SCOPE. This comprehensive collection of studies includes 10 poster presentations and 6 online publications, covering a wide spectrum of topics. From predicting clinical outcomes to exploring the complex dynamics of tumor microenvironments, these advancements highlight Lunit's unwavering commitment to advancing AI pathology research and personalized cancer care. A breakthrough joint study conducted with the Japan National Cancer Center East (NCCE), investigated microsatellite stable (MSS) locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), using Lunit SCOPE IO, an AI-powered tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) analyzer. The study measured TIL density in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of MSS LARC samples during chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and found a strong correlation between the change in TIL density and the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. This finding indicates the potential of AI-powered spatial TIL analysis in predicting favorable clinical outcomes. Another study using Lunit SCOPE IO in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients undergoing immunotherapy demonstrated a shift towards an inflamed immune phenotype, leading to improved outcomes in patients treated with neoadjuvant durvalumab, with or without tremelimumab. Another clinical trial, evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy in HPV-positive HNSCC patients, revealed treatment-induced immune changes are strongly associated with treatment outcomes. Both studies observed a shift from non-inflamed to inflamed immune phenotype with immunotherapy, which was correlated with treatment effectiveness. Notably, patients treated with neoadjuvant durvalumab, with or without tremelimumab achieved a remarkable 93.1% 12-month disease-free survival rate. These results underscore Lunit SCOPE IO's potential in guiding personalized cancer care by revealing immune changes induced by treatment and their impact on clinical outcomes. A comprehensive analysis of cancer images from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) using Lunit SCOPE IO unveiled the close correlation between fibroblast density and Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF) signaling, a factor associated with resistance to cancer immunotherapy. The finding emphasized that analyzing various cells within the tumor can be applied to the development of personalized therapies targeting specific tumor microenvironments. This study was proved by more than 1,800 real-world dataset consisting of multiple cancer types, treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Another TCGA pan-cancer-based analysis with Lunit SCOPE IO investigated the association between spatial residue of macrophage and anti-tumor activity in the tumor microenvironment, revealing that intra-tumoral macrophage density was strongly correlated with immune phenotypes and genomic signatures. Another study showcased the utility of Lunit SCOPE uIHC (Universal Immunohistochemistry) model in analyzing the expression of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) in various tumors. By accurately predicting responses to novel TAA-targeted agents, this AI-powered analyzer has the potential to guide personalized treatment decisions and facilitate the exploration of target cancer types. The last study validated the Lunit SCOPE genotype analyzer's capability to enhance the accuracy and robustness of MET pathogenic mutation prediction model in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), offering a cost-effective screening method for MET alterations in lung cancer. Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the predictive model recorded a significantly high level at 0.837. "I am excited to present the groundbreaking results from our studies at ASCO, showcasing the immense impact of the Lunit SCOPE suite," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Through our AI-biomarker platform, we are paving the way to provide valuable insights into cancer progression, immune responses, and treatment efficacy. These findings exemplify our dedication to transforming cancer diagnostics and treatment, empowering healthcare professionals to make informed decisions and ultimately improve patient outcomes." Visit team Lunit at Booth IH21. Reach out to schedule a meeting at ( [email protected] ). ### Lunit's Abstracts at ASCO 2023 About Lunit With AI, Lunit aims to 'conquer cancer,' one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Lunit is an AI software company devoted to developing AI solutions for precision diagnostics and therapeutics, to find the right diagnosis at the right cost, and the right treatment for the right patients. Lunit, a portmanteau of 'learning unit,' is a deep learning-based medical AI company devoted to developing advanced medical image analytics and data-driven imaging biomarkers via cutting-edge technology. Founded in 2013, Lunit has been acknowledged around the world for its advanced, state-of-the-art technology and its application in medical images. Its technology has been recognized at international AI competitions surpassing top companies like Google, IBM, and Microsoft. As a medical AI company with a focus on clinical evidence, the company's findings are presented in major peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JAMA Network Open, and global conferences including ASCO and AACR. After receiving FDA clearance and the CE Mark, Lunit INSIGHT CXR and MMG are clinically used in approximately 2,000 hospitals and medical institutions across more than 40 countries. Lunit SCOPE PD-L1 is CE marked in Europe and has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is intended for Research Use Only. Lunit is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea with offices and representatives around the world. About Lunit SCOPE Lunit SCOPE is a suite of AI-powered software that analyzes tissue slide images for digital pathology and AI biomarker development, with the aim of optimizing workflow and facilitating more accurate and predictive clinical data for clinicians and researchers. Lunit SCOPE platform offers multiple tissue analysis AI software products and assays that can streamline digital pathology workflow and diagnostics, as well as enhance the drug development process. Lunit SCOPE IO analyzes the tumor microenvironment (TME) based on H&E analysis and provides AI-based predictive clinical outcome information. In addition, AI-driven Immunohistochemistry (IHC) slide analysis services are offered, through products such as Lunit SCOPE PD-L1, Lunit SCOPE HER2, Lunit SCOPE ER/PR, and others. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lunit-demonstrates-predictive-value-of-ai-biomarker-platform-at-the-2023-asco-annual-meeting-301835011.html SOURCE Lunit Sorry to contradict Tip O'Neill but times have changed and the drunken Irish politico's greatest quote has now been reversed. It turns out . . . All politics is national. And so . . . We notice that quite a few denizens of the discourse get more worked up about stuff they see on TKC rather than what's happening in their own back yard. Accordingly . . . Recent endorsements by "Pro-Choice Missouri" serve to offer culture war perspective to upcoming local contests . . . Here's the word . . . Kansas Citians deserve pro-abortion champions who are committed to working towards a future of liberated abortion access and reproductive freedom. While anti-abortion politicians in Missouri's statewide leadership continue to attack the basic rights and bodily autonomy of communities across the state, pro-abortion champions in Kansas City are prepared to use their local power to demand the sexual and reproductive freedom all Kansas Citians deserve. With so much at stake in this election, it is critical that we advance a pro-abortion majority in Kansas City who will continue to fight for the future Missouri deserves. Kansas City deserves more." Take a peek via www.TonysKansasCity.com embed of this progressive content . . . A recent newspaper editorial wasn't very well-written and took far too long to get to the point. We wanted to feature the story and make it easier to understand for readers. Moreover . . . Like it don't but the essential truth of this story reminds us that WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY and this exchange proves that professionalism and courtesy still go a long way in a public setting. When somebody asks you to leave . . . You leave. If you're late for a public speaking engagement . . . You patiently wait your turn for another chance. Yes, outrage sells but playing the fool for camera phones isn't something that most people find rewarding. It seems that people are getting far to comfortable imagining Herculean social media struggles that demand rudeness and urgency when, in fact, the work of local government should be slow and boring. Here's the sitch: "Last week, Jason Vollmecke, of Independence, was found guilty of trespassing. He plans to appeal the misdemeanor conviction handed down by Municipal Judge Garry Helm. He should. Speaking forcefully or out of turn at a school board meeting shouldnt result in a criminal record. "After speaking at the podium during a school board meeting Jan. 10, Vollmecke was removed by law enforcement and cited. Independence School District Superintendent Dale Herl also banned Vollmecke from district property for a year, according to a letter the superintendent sent. "Vollmecke wanted to address the board about how its four-day school week starting next school year would impact curriculum. He was three minutes late to the open comment portion of the meeting, but waited to address the board before it moved into closed session. He had informed the secretary he was going to be late. Dennis Green, then the districts director of public safety, asked Vollmecke to leave but he refused, according to district officials. "In a statement, district officials told us Vollmecke was cited for refusing to leave school district premises once the school board meeting had concluded." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . None of these stories are REALLY news but they deserve at least a quick peek given that constant political flexing is a beloved part of our discourse . . . Check-it . . . Show-Me Games For Money & Power Kansas City fights the state of Missouri for control of its police department Many cities argue over "defunding the police." In Kansas City, Mo., they are debating whether the city - or the state - should manage the law enforcement budget. Legal Money Moves Kobach, Bailey threaten legal action if Biden uses 14th Amendment to avoid default Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach are pushing back against President Joe Biden's suggestion that he could ignore the federal debt ceiling and keep paying the country's bills to avoid an unprecedented default. Show-Me Political Life Lessons Missouri education bills reach governor's desk, potential changes ahead It may become easier for retired teachers to return to the classroom for longer, for public schools to offer elective courses on the Bible, and for certain medical professionals to get help paying for education if Gov. Mike Parson signs the related bills into law. Pricey Crackdown Postscript Missouri ex-House speaker fined $47K for alleged campaign finance violations COLUMBIA, Mo. - A disgraced former Missouri House speaker has been fined $47,000 for allegedly breaking campaign finance laws, according to records released Tuesday. The Missouri Ethics Commission, which handles ethics violations by politicians, said it uncovered the alleged misconduct during an audit of Republican John Diehl's campaign last year. Kansas Gun Debate Rages Kansas NRA affiliate skewers local officials aiding anti-violence work of Moms Demand Action - Kansas Reflector TOPEKA - Kansas supporters of Moms Demand Action rejected Tuesday claims by the Kansas State Rifle Association that a series of local government proclamations recognizing a national gun violence awareness day was evidence of a campaign to promote unconstitutional seizure of firearms. The Kansas State Rifle Association, the state lobbying affiliate of the National Rifle Association, said proclamations issued by officials in Parsons and Roeland Park served interests of an organization bent on limiting "rights of Kansans while doing nothing effective to reduce violence." Politely Ignoring Performance Districts continue to ignore the school needs assessment law - The Sentinel For the third consecutive year, a review of 25 school districts' adherence to the school needs assessment law underscores why Kansas has a deepening achievement crisis - the public education system thumbs its nose at every accountability effort. NYT Against Autos In KC Highways Have Sliced Through City After City. Can the U.S. Undo the Damage? The Biden administration is funding projects around the country aimed at reconnecting communities that have been divided by transportation infrastructure. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Bi-Partisan Study Uncovers Institution In Decline Postal service audit exposes Kansas City mail problems KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The mail arrives late at night or it's dumped on your porch, instead of in your mail slot just inches away. Or worse yet, your mail doesn't arrive at all . It's the sad state of mail delivery across the nation, and particularly in Kansas City. Developing . . . Jay Gutteridge (he/him) is the online editor for YorkRegion.com. He is a happily married father of two who loves to travel and is a passionate environmentalist and sports fan. Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. A staff member inspects the operating status of the micro module room in Guian Data Center of China Unicom in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on May 23, 2023. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the construction site of the data center of the State Power Investment Corporation Limited in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the "Huawei Cloud" data center in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the construction site of the Midea Cloud data center in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the construction site of the global command center project of the "Huawei Cloud" data center in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the Guian data center of China Unicom in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) A staff member inspects the micro module room in Guian Data Center of China Unicom in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on May 23, 2023. In February 2022, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Guizhou is one of the eight hubs and construction of many data center projects are in full swing. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Wish list for the next mayor of Toronto A mayor is needed who will not squander our money on politically correct projects, says letter writer GENEVA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) approved a draft decision on Wednesday calling on Israel to ensure adequate health care for those residing in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan. The 76th World Health Assembly delegates passed the resolution with 76 votes in favor, 13 against and 35 abstaining. According to the draft decision, COVID-19 was the primary cause of death in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 2021, followed by cardiovascular disease and cancer. It said the probability of dying between the ages of 30 and 70 from select noncommunicable diseases was 26.7 percent compared to 8.8 percent in Israel. Meanwhile, the multiple indicator cluster survey for the occupied Palestinian territory in 2019 and 2020 revealed inequities in the infant mortality rate, it said. In the occupied Palestinian territory, the infant mortality rate for Palestinians was 12 per 1,000, with a higher rate of 17 per 1,000 for children born in refugee camps. In comparison, Israel had an infant mortality rate of 3 per 1,000. WHO Director-General has advised Israel to end the arbitrary delay and denial of access for Palestinian patients and their companions and promote unhindered movement for Palestinians throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where patients with chronic conditions such as cancer have been required to obtain permits. The permits should be issued for more extended periods of at least six months. The report also called upon Israel to ensure that parents are not prevented from accompanying their children and emphasized the timely issuance of permits based on medical necessity and urgency, taking into account the hospital appointment dates. The WHO recommended prioritizing health care spending to ensure the continuity of essential services across the occupied Palestinian territory. People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) by Xinhua writer Tan Jingjing LOS ANGELES, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, U.S. state of California, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. The Display Week 2023, hosted by the Society for Information Display (SID), is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 21 to 26. From Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), auto tech, organic light-emitting diode (OLED), micro-OLED and microdisplays to wearables, digital signage and e-Paper, the Display Week showcases the latest and greatest technology and advancements from the global electronic display and visual information technologies industries. BOE Technology Group, one of the world's largest manufacturers in the semiconductor display industry and an Internet of things (IoT) company, brought a slew of cutting-edge technologies to the exhibition, including many new launches under its technology brands of ADS Pro, f-OLED and -MLED (mini LED), as well as brand-new innovative applications such as smart in-vehicle display, glasses-free 3D and the metaverse. BOE's newly released 110-inch 16K UHD display, which adopted the company's cutting-edge oxide TFT technology and features high charge carrier mobility and an ultrahigh resolution, drew lots of visitors. Its 10-inch 8K LCD display, which is tailored to 3D printing, was selected as the "Display Application of the Year." "It was one of the many state-of-the-art technologies BOE exhibited at the event, giving a glimpse of an even smarter, more fantastic and more power-efficient future of the semiconductor display industry," BOE Chairman Yanshun Chen told Xinhua. In addition to showcasing its display technologies and smart interactive experiences, BOE hosted an innovation ecosystem forum at the Display Week, in a bid to explore new pathways to the innovation-driven development of the global industry ecosystem jointly with SID and global partners. Louis Lazar, a senior consultant at Newry Corp, an innovation and growth strategy consulting firm based in Lakewood, Ohio, showed great interest in BOE's 16K UHD display. Lazar said he expects to learn the latest technologies and trends in the display industry at the Display Week, and was amazed by a wide array of China-made innovative products. "China has been pushing innovations in the display industry, and has been leading the way, which was really impressive," he told Xinhua. Visionox, a Chinese high-tech company with OLED display technology, brought innovative display technologies and applications to the Display Week, including self-aligned pixelization technology, portable and rollable laptops, visual medical kits, and transparent car displays. Eben Yang, vice president of Visionox, told Xinhua that North America is one of Visionox's most important overseas markets. Currently the company is cooperating with many American clients to provide display solutions for VR devices, wearable devices, mobile phones and other products. "We hope to take the opportunities of participating in the Display Week to demonstrate our innovative technologies, provide customers with more competitive products, and further expand overseas markets," Yang said. TCL CSOT, a Chinese company focused on new technologies and innovations in the display industry, unveiled over 30 of its latest products and advanced technologies at the Display Week, including more than ten firsts in the world. The company offered display technology solutions across a range of sizes, categories, and forms -- spanning Mini LED, Micro LED, medical displays, vehicle-mounted displays, light field displays, as well as consumer electronics displays. "Driven not only by a commitment to building a display industry ecosystem, but also to supporting a healthy and more sustainable planet for all through low-carbon, energy-saving, and eye-friendly products, we look forward to driving progress and uncovering more innovations to further accelerate the development of high-end display technology," said Jun Zhao, CEO of TCL CSOT. People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) An exhibitor introduces a product to a visitor at the exhibition area of China's TCL during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A man visits the exhibition area of China's Visionox during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A man visits the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's Visionox during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's BOE Technology Group during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of China's TCL during the Display Week 2023 in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 23, 2023. Chinese brands gained a strong foothold at the Display Week 2023, a world's leading show of the display industry held this week in Los Angeles, attracting lots of attention and winning recognition for their innovative technologies and products. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Sudanese couple just had their newborn twins on the 13th of May, named their babies after the Ruler of Dubai and his wife as a tribute to the tremendous support they received after they were not able to return to their homes in Sudan; due to conflicts and unstable circumstances. The couple Aasim Omer and his wife Duaa Mustafa named the babies, Mohammed and Hind, in honor of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and his wife. The couple came to Dubai on the 12th of March from Sudan with their 2-year-old son as they were planning to stay for 2 weeks in the emirate while Ms Mustafa, a dentist, was prepared to take the professional practice exam administered by the Dubai Health Authority. Ms Mustafa passed her exam but the couple changed their plans to return home after she was not feeling well and was advised to postpone their return by Dubai doctors. When the couple was about to leave right after her recovery, the conflict in Sudan started, so they had to stay in Dubai. Accordingly, the authorities in the emirate granted them free accommodation. On May 3, Sheikh Mohammed ordered that all Sudanese individuals in the UAE who faced difficulties in returning to their home country would receive assistance, which included accommodation and healthcare. A special working group in Dubai arranged a hospital check-up for Ms. Mustafa, who was advised of an early delivery. She underwent a Caesarean section, and the couple expressed gratitude by naming their twins Mohammed and Hind. The support provided by the group included covering all medical costs. This is a drop in the ocean compared to the generosity that UAE has showered all Sudanese on its soil with following the conflict, said Mr Omer. By Jeff Murphy, May 25, 2023 Kelly Waldram Cramer, left, associate vice president of Integrated Marketing and Communications at the University of Central Missouri, honors John Kennedy, video and multimedia producer in IMC, with the Carl B. Foster/John M. Inglish Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Service in Public Relations. WARRENSBURG, MO Known for his creativity and skill in strategic video communication, John Kennedy, a member of the Integrated Marketing and Communications (IMC) staff at the University of Central Missouri, has been recognized as the 2023 recipient of the Carl B. Foster/John M. Inglish Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Service in Public Relations. The award is presented annually in recognition of a staff member within IMC. It was made possible by John Inglish, who, upon retiring in 2000 as university director emeritus of public relations, established an endowment through the UCM Alumni Foundation to honor his longtime friend and mentor, Carl Foster. A pioneer in university communications, Foster retired as director emeritus of public relations in 1986 after 19 years of service to the university. Inglish, a UCM alumnus and longtime Warrensburg resident, devoted more than 27 years to UCMs Office of Public Relations (now IMC) before he retired. Kelly Waldram Cramer, associate vice president of IMC, made the 21st presentation of the award, noting that it honors Kennedys work over many years. A UCM alumnus who earned a bachelors degree in Broadcasting and Film in 1992 and a masters in Communication in 2013, Kennedy has served IMC since Feb. 2011 as Video and Multimedia Producer. His experience as a public relations professional at UCM, however, dates back to 2002 when he joined the public relations office as News Bureau Manager, followed by service as Web Managing Editor in the office, and time spent at KMOS-TV as a Multimedia Producer. In his current role, Kennedy is a creative storyteller who is responsible for multimedia productions that demonstrate the UCM brand and support the universitys strategic communications. His work includes video production, script writing, editing and voice-over for university campaigns, and can be viewed on many different university platforms. This includes social media, websites, as well as television and radio. Waldram Cramer announced Kennedys selection for the Foster-Inglish Prize during a recent staff meeting. She noted that when she thinks about this years award recipient, words such as collaborative, student-focused, eager to help, volunteerism, kind hearted, talented, integrity, positive spirit, cheerleader for others, and love for UCM come to mind. She described Kennedy as someone with a strong sense of humor, often making impromptu dad jokes which have endeared him to his colleagues. This is in addition to other helpful contributions he makes to office discussions and staff meetings, and his frequent displays of thoughtfulness and kindness not only to other office members but to everyone who engages with him. He is very popular on campus because he is a delight to work with, Waldram Cramer said about Kennedy. He is extremely dedicated to his craft. I love to watch him work. She pointed out that Kennedys passion for his job shines through in his projects. Part of a two-person video operation, he is also a great supporter of his colleague, Eric Boedeker, and often seizes opportunities to praise his co-workers contributions by sharing video clips with others to ensure his colleagues efforts are noticed. While Kennedy serves IMC, he epitomizes the universitys Education for Service motto by using all of his communication skills to do his job effectively and to perform other tasks that arent part of his job description. These opportunities incorporate his strong public speaking abilities and a passion for music. Kennedy is never one to shy away from an audience, no matter how large. He has been recruited to emcee large-scale events such as commencement on many occasions, and has sung the Alma Mater and the National Anthem at public events. This has taken him to venues ranging from Crane Stadium at UCM to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. He also performs in a band and does solo events throughout the region, including the Lake of the Ozarks. While concurring with Waldram Cramer on all of her excellence points about Kennedy, Susan Smedley, UCMs vice president for integrated marketing and communications, emphasized the word kind when she spoke about this years recipient of the Foster-Inglish Prize winner. She simply notes, We need more kind people in the world. We need more John Kennedys. Kennedy commented on the award by noting, "It's a special and humbling experience to be recognized as the Foster-Inglish Prize recipient. The Integrated Marketing and Communications office is filled with outstanding employees, so being selected from this group of amazing colleagues makes this particularly meaningful." Kennedy said he is also grateful to receive an award named for Inglish. He met him shortly after Inglish retired but continued to serve the university by assisting with the alumni magazine. He stressed the goal of writing a compelling story, but doing so with an economy of words. It was great advice that I still strive to follow today, said Kennedy, who remembers sharing his work with Inglish to review. Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Oleksii Makeiev has announced the receiving of 110 Leopard 1A5 tanks. The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian diplomat on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "110 Leopard 1A5 tanks. Soon," Makeiev said. The Ukrainian ambassador added a photo of one of the tanks and a video with it. As reported, in February, during a visit to Kyiv, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius promised that Ukraine would receive more than 100 battle tanks of the older version of Leopard 1A5 from a group of European countries. Ukrainian pilots will be able to undergo training on the Swedish-made Jas 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson has said. That's according to Sweden Postsen, Ukrinform reports. "This gives Ukraine a basis for future decisions to equip its defense. They invest in strengthening their ability in the long term," Jonson told TV4. According to him, several experienced Ukrainian pilots will be able to undergo training on simulators and make test flights on the Jas 39 Gripen. Read also: Stefanchuk calls on Swedish lawmakers to facilitate arms supplies to Ukraine The place and time of the training and other details will remain confidential, the report said. At the same time, Jonson said that the use of the Jas 39 Gripen in the war in Ukraine is not relevant, and the jets are needed for Sweden's own defense needs. "Sweden needs the planes for our own national defense. At the moment, it is not relevant to lend any planes to Ukraine," he said. Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, in his speech in the Swedish parliament called on MPs to assist in the transfer of weapons to Ukraine, particularly the Gripen aircraft. On Thursday, May 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson. Next month, Denmark and the Netherlands, in cooperation with the United States, will start developing a framework for comprehensive training of Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation aircraft, in addition, Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have offered to contribute to the training. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated this at a press conference following the Ramstein 12 meeting on Thursday, Ukrinform's own correspondent reports. During todays meeting several allies and partners also discussed plans for training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including the F-16, he said. He stressed that planning and executing this training will be a significant undertaking, and the coordination of this contact group will help make that possible. And I especially want to thank Denmark and the Netherlands which have decided to lead a European coalition in providing F-16 training for Ukrainian forces. In the coming weeks, my Dutch and Danish counterparts will work with the United States and other allies to develop a framework, the Pentagon chief said. He also confirmed that Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to the training of Ukrainian pilots. And we expect more countries to join this important initiative soon, he said. He also stressed that starting work on the F-16 training now is an important example of a long-term commitment to Ukraines security. As reported by Ukrinform, members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group agreed to find more opportunities to provide Ukrainians with additional air defense systems. Photo: US Air Force BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with a delegation of senior cadres of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) on Thursday. The delegation was led by Agni Prasad Sapkota, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) and former speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal. The two sides agreed to strengthen strategic communication and exchanges of governance experience, and promote friendship, mutual trust, and practical cooperation. The Lithuanian government has announced a new military aid package for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thats according to the press service of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, Ukrinform reports. On May 25, Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anusauskas took part in an online meeting in Ramstein format, where he noted the importance of providing Ukraine with a Euro-Atlantic perspective and announced a new military aid package from Lithuania. "Ukraine's victory is the only thing that can restore peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area," the minister said, stressing that Lithuania continues to be a consistent friend of Ukraine. Read also: South Korea proceeding with transfer of hundreds of thousands of artillery shells for Ukraine According to Anusauskas, the new military aid package to Ukraine from Lithuania will include anti-drone equipment, ammunition, dry rations and other assistance. He noted that Lithuania's military aid to Ukraine will soon reach EUR 465 million. The government official also emphasized the importance of training the Ukrainian military, noting that Lithuania has significantly increased the volume of training and the number of instructors designated for it. In addition to training, Lithuania's military aid this year includes the transfer of military equipment and arms, medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as contributions to international funds to support Ukraine. As reported by Ukrinform, on May 25, Finland said it would provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth more than EUR 100 million. Hungary remains the only neighboring country of Ukraine that still maintains unilateral restrictions against Ukrainian agricultural imports. The spokesperson for the European Commission (EC) on Trade and Agriculture, Miriam Garcia Ferrer, stated this today in Brussels, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The EC spokesperson noted that Hungary is still the only country that has not lifted its unilateral measures against agricultural exports from Ukraine. A package of assistance has been offered to EU countries on the condition that the unilateral measures are withdrawn, she added. She recalled that on April 28, the EC agreed with four of Ukraine's neighboring countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) on a package of measures to be implemented after the countries lifted their unilateral actions against agricultural imports from Ukraine. The package included direct assistance to affected farmers in five countries, including Romania. Ferrer added that these measures were presented on May 3. They discussed EUR 100 million aid package and the conditions for its disbursement. At this point, it is expected that certain unilateral measures that have been introduced will be eliminated, and then the next steps will be taken, Miriam Garcia Ferrer said. She noted that this money is allocated from the EU's so-called agricultural reserve of EUR 450 million per year. The EC spokesperson noted that part of this amount for the first aid package (EUR 56 million) has already been used. Now another EUR 100 million have been proposed for the second package and smaller amounts for countries affected by other market situations and crises. There is still more than half of this amount and it will be used if another crisis or situation arises. Ferrer also confirmed that the EC had received an appeal from several member states protesting the allocation of aid from the agricultural reserve to countries that resort to blackmail around the transit of grain from Ukraine. The spokesperson said that the EC would soon respond to these countries appeal. As reported, on May 2, the EC announced temporary measures on imports from Ukraine. They limit the supply of Ukrainian agricultural products to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. The restrictions will apply to four agricultural products (wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds) originating in Ukraine and will remain in force until June 5, 2023. Ukraine's Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development and South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have signed a memorandum on strengthening cooperation in the field of reconstruction of Ukraine. According to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian ministry's press service reported this on Facebook. According to the report, the five-year memorandum is aimed at strengthening cooperation with representatives of the public and private sectors of the Republic of Korea on comprehensive territorial planning, urban planning, development of transport (railways, highways and airports) and social infrastructure, decentralized energy, cooperation of enterprises related to reconstruction, creation of new jobs, etc. "The memorandum [...] initiates systematic bilateral cooperation in the field of reconstruction. Ukraine is interested both in the exchange of experience and expertise and in the direct participation of the Government and private companies of the Republic of Korea in reconstruction projects as early as 2023. For our part, we offer transparent procedures, global standards of management and digital tools, as well as comprehensive support from the state,' said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development. During a meeting with high-ranking officials and business representatives of the Republic of Korea, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandra Azarkhina presented the key priorities of recovery for 2023. The concession projects of the Chornomorsk port, the development of the Danube cluster and support for the Black Sea Grain Initiative were discussed at the meeting. Representatives of the Republic of Korea were interested in the DREAM digital ecosystem for reconstruction management being implemented by the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development. In particular, the participants in the meeting were interested in the procedures for uploading data and creating projects, prioritization methodology, transparency tools and anti-corruption safeguards. "Transparency and accountability of reconstruction and modernization processes are extremely important to our international partners, and the DREAM ecosystem ensures compliance with these requirements. Built on the principle of 'everyone sees everything,' DREAM allows you to monitor reconstruction projects at all stages and monitor the effectiveness of spending every penny. And the prioritization methodology, which we are developing together with the World Bank, will provide transparent and clear rules for the selection of projects," Azarkhina said. In addition, during the meeting, the parties discussed the possibilities of cooperation both at the intergovernmental level and at the community level, as well as joint training of specialists for Ukraine's reconstruction. Photo: Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Let's get to the bottom of it together with Oleg Kudrin's "Guide to Rashism-Putinism" In Ukraine, in the post-2014 world, and especially after February 24, 2022, there is a lot of talk about Russia's imperial ambitions, the Russian Empire and its heritage. Ultimately, about Russia as an empire. In the rally, journalistic version, and dimension, everything is clear. However, if you get acquainted with the humanitarian views on this topic, everything is more complicated. Because you need to understand what the "empire" is and what "Russia" is. But after such an analysis, it becomes clearer why it is more difficult to apply the usual imperial framework to today's Russia. And it becomes clearer how the Kremlin parasitizes on this in its foreign policy and propaganda. EMPIRES IN THE WORLD ARE VERY DIFFERENT, UP TO AND INCLUDING FICTITIOUS ONES The word "empire" has many meanings. First of all, it is simply a large, strong state ruled by a monarch - an emperor. Such empires include diverse but adjacent lands and peoples. However, there is also the concept of a colonial empire, which, by the way, is not necessarily monarchical. The most obvious example: France, after the fall of the Second Empire of Napoleon III, was a republic with a democratically elected president. But at the same time, it was a large colonial empire for a long time. So, we already have two options: continental and maritime empires. The Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires were continental. The British and French empires were maritime. The Japanese Empire was a colonial one during its expansion. But after the defeat, it remained a compact island country, an empire only nominally, with the emperor as a symbol of the state. People, rulers in general, love political games and symbols. In general, any state can be declared an empire. This was the case with the Mexican Empire (1821-1823, 1863-1867). Or a more recent example is the tragicomic Central African Empire (1976-1979). In connection with the existence of empires, the term "imperialism" is also often used as a practice of conquest policy, and colonialism in the sense of the presence and maintenance of colonies by the center of the empire, the metropolis. In addition, just as the term "chauvinism" began to be used not only in a political sense, but also in a social and even sexual sense ("male chauvinism"), so the concept of "imperialism" has expanded. Sometimes it is said (no longer in the context of conquests and border movements) that imperialism is cultural, economic, and political. Another semantic pair should also be noted. Often, an opposition between "empire" and "nation-state" is made. Moreover, in the nineteenth century, the nation-state, the formation of nations, and nationalism were considered purely progressive phenomena, as they contributed to overcoming the remnants of feudalism, monarchical rule, and imperial domination; and to the establishment of the democratic process. But in the twentieth century, after the outbursts of right-wing extremism and the excesses of the fascist-Nazi states, the word "nationalism" became a common and often abusive term. At the same time, certain, very selective principles of the former empires, such as a common law for different countries and peoples, and their coexistence, have become a positive example. Accordingly, the attitude to this opposition between "empire" and "nation-state" has become more complicated. DID 4 EMPIRES REALLY COLLAPSE AFTER THE WORLD WAR I ? And now let's turn to Russia and its comparison with other continental empires. It is often said that four empires collapsed as a result of the First World War: Austro-Hungarian, German, Ottoman, and Russian. But how correct is this statement? Let's take a closer look at each example. It is safe to say that the patchwork, as it was called, of the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. The two previous metropolises became simply Austria and Hungary. The Ottoman Empire finally collapsed, losing its last colonies. The metropolis became simply the Republic of Turkey. Germany lost its status as a colonial empire, as the victors Britain and France took away all its overseas colonies. But if we talk about the German Empire as a continental empire, then it also ceased to exist. The territories with mixed ethnicity went to its neighbors-France, Denmark, and the reconstituted Poland and Lithuania. And now we come to the Russian Empire. Yes, the emperor was overthrown and even shot along with his entire family. So, in this sense, it was not an empire. And in other senses? And what about the territory? Only Finland, Poland, and the three Baltic states were able to defend their independence. But the rest remained under the control of the center, Moscow. This can hardly be considered a full-fledged disintegration, but rather a reformatting, or the first stage of the collapse of the Russian Empire. At the same time, while Austria, Hungary, Turkey, and Germany took a difficult, uncertain step, interrupted by the Second World War, but nevertheless a step to become more or less national states, the situation with Russia is different. It is so different that we need to take a closer look at how accurate and reasonable it is to call what has been called Russia since 1917. AGAIN ABOUT STALIN'S "AUTONOMY" AND LENIN'S "EQUALITY" In the early fall of 1917, against the backdrop of falling popularity, the Provisional Government proclaimed the state in which the monarchy had been abolished six months earlier a Russian Republic. The Bolsheviks, who seized power in October-November, retained this name, arbitrarily adding the definitions "Federal" or "Soviet" to it. It was only in 1918 that the name that had a longer life was fixed - the RSFSR, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. At the same time, the Bolshevik rulers of the RSFSR had a "creative" or rather pragmatic approach to the treaties signed with the former colonies of the Empire that had declared their independence (including Ukraine). They believed that if they managed to conquer these countries anew, "revolutionarily," it would not be difficult to write new treaties. The second half of 1922 was key, when a great state was being molded out of the already conquered and controlled territories. Stalin proposed the project of "autonomization," that is, the inclusion of Ukraine, Belarus, and the three South Caucasian republics as autonomous states in the RSFSR. But Lenin was against it, believing that it would be politically and propagandistically more convenient to create a superstate out of these "equal" republics, a prototype of a world communist union. Accordingly, the name of this state did not contain the word "Russia" at all - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In other words, it is supposedly the complete antithesis of what used to be on this site before-not "Russian" and not "empire." A really clever political trick. STALIN HIMSELF CONTINUED LENIN'S GAME OF THE UNION STATE But on the other hand, this very decision, years later, in 1991, made it easier for the "union republics" to secede from the USSR. And it is for this reason that the current dictator Putin hates the former dictator Lenin and respects the dictator Stalin more. By the way, it was in vain, because in 1930-1950, General Secretary Stalin had such power that he could do whatever he wanted with the state in his hands, reformatting it as he wished, including abolishing the formal, as it was then considered, "right to secede." But no, Stalin was also comfortable with this kind of domestic and foreign policy game of "union" of free republics, as proposed by Lenin. Moreover, if Putin were more consistent, he would have criticized Stalin no less harshly than Lenin. And here's why... As a result of the so-called "national-territorial delimitation" in the Bolshevik-controlled territories of Central Asia, "independent states" were created in 1924: The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (which included the Tajik ASSR) and the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1925, they "voluntarily joined" the USSR. (By the way, does this remind you of anything? Well, of course - a similar scheme is used by Putin in the "legalization" of the occupation and annexation of Ukrainian territories). At the same time, the territories of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan at that time were just completely "Stalinist" autonomies within the RSFSR. But here's what happened next, and without Lenin at all. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were granted the status of "full-fledged" union republics in 1936 (when Stalin was already an absolute one-man ruler). That is, if we use the same Putin's logic, then without such (already Stalin's solely) decisions, these republics-countries would not have been able to gain independence in 1991? Yes. But Putin is still silent about this. Probably because the seizure of these territories is not a priority for him at the moment. And the latter is also an afterthought. The Bukhara Emirate and the Khiva Khanate (Khorezm) were not previously part of the Russian Empire at all. Since 1873, they were only its protectorate. However, as a result of local "revolutions", fervently supported by the Red Army, they were captured and completely absorbed. This is to say that while Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states were initially able to "leave" as a result of Bolshevik rule, Bukhara and Khorezm, on the other hand, were soon completely captured. (The Uzbek SSR and Turkmen SSR were created in 1924 from a significant part of their territories). So - once again. Can this be called/considered the collapse of an empire? THE PARADOXES OF DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE USSR, SOVIET RUSSIA, AND THE RFSR So, to repeat, the name "USSR", unlike "RSFSR", did not contain the word "Russia". This, however, did not prevent this four-letter state (i.e., the USSR, not the RSFSR) with its center in Moscow and the Russian language as the main ("language of interethnic communication") of Soviet Russia. First of all, abroad, but often within the USSR as well. The result was a peculiar phenomenon of public consciousness. When a significant and even overwhelming part of the population of the Ukrainian, Belarusian, Moldavian, Georgian, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, and other SSRs took the name and realities of their republic seriously. They considered it "Soviet," but Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, etc. But not Russia! Which is logical, since the RSFSR was something completely different. But at the same time, in the RSFSR itself, as well as across the borders between the republics, all Moscow-centered, Russia-centered citizens of the Union had the feeling that they lived in Russia, even if it was Soviet. This perception was postulated in the USSR anthem ("The unbreakable union of free republics / Great Russia has united forever"), as well as in the anthems of the union republics, which sang of love and gratitude to the Russian people. This was then consolidated in the cultural and artistic life of the entire Union. This perception, which has been cultivated for decades, has led to the prevalence of imperial complexes in the current Russian Federation (as well as among its agents of influence in post-Soviet countries). This is especially evident when comparing Russia and Belarus. Belarus has many (post)Soviet complexes, which are also supported by the Lukashenko regime. But not the imperial ones that are widespread in Russia. That is why the two dictators are afraid to send the Belarusian army to the Ukrainian front. This contradiction in the public consciousness of the "RSFSR" - "other republics of the USSR" has led to the fact that for the Kremlin and most Russians, the independence of post-Soviet countries is, in the words of Bulgakov's character, "a stupid and vulgar operetta." So, there is nothing wrong or wrong with the return of the "historical lands of Russia." But for the citizens of these countries, the sovereignty is quite real, with a strong foundation in their identity, cultural heritage, and originality. RUSSIA IS STILL AN EMPIRE THAT MAY BE IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE Yes, we can say that 1991 marked the second stage of the collapse of the Russian Empire. But can what is left be considered an imperial metropolis in its own right, or can we compare Russia to the core remnants of empires that have truly collapsed-Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey? It is enough to look at the map, at the territorial-administrative division of Erephia, to answer quite firmly - no! Russia, which, through Putin's efforts, is seeking to expand, to return to its former imperial borders, remains an empire within its current borders. And it's not just Putin. Suffice it to recall how the RSFSR was transformed into the Russian Federation in December 1991. The country was initially proposed to be called simply Russia. It was only after a demarche by representatives of the national republics who left the meeting room that another name was adopted, the Russian Federation (Russia). Back then, in 1991-1993, Yeltsin made his promises to "take as much sovereignty as you can" not just for the sake of it, but to calm public opinion of numerous national liberation movements within the country. In fact, it was a repetition of the Bolshevik/Leninist promises of the unlimited right of nations to self-determination. The main thing is to calm the masses. And then, when the center becomes stronger, it will be possible to conquer everyone. In the early 1990s, Chechnya and Tatarstan were the leaders in the quest for independence and sovereignty. By launching a full-scale war against Ichkeria and intimidating Kazan (and others), Moscow managed to stabilize the situation and suppress national movements. To then return to its previous consistently imperial policy. To the processes of assimilation, digestion of previously conquered peoples, which intensified in the 2010s. At the same time, however, the Kremlin launched an adventurous full-scale war with Ukraine. Putin dreamed of returning Russian Federation-Russia to the borders of the empire, but he risks undermining the situation inside the country and leading to another third stage of the collapse of the Russian Empire. Voices about the possibility and even the necessity of this are becoming louder and louder. It is no coincidence that the Forum of Free Peoples of Russia, which was organized in 2022, after several meetings changed the word "Russia" in its name to "Postrussia". If we are talking about the de-imperialization and decolonization of this space, the new term does sound more logical. Next time, we will continue our discussion of the peculiarity of imperial Russia, how correct it is to say that its principle of existence and development is "internal colonization," and why it is so difficult to adapt the popular concepts of "postcolonialism" and "orientalism" to the Russian Empire. Oleg Kudrin, Riga Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba met with Chairman of the African Union, President of the Comoros Union Azali Assoumani, and Chairman of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahama in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Thats according to the Ukrainian MFA, Ukrinform reports. As noted, the meetings took place on the eve of Africa Day, which is celebrated on May 25. Kuleba told Azali Assoumani and Moussa Faki Mahama about Ukraine's course to enhance relations with African countries, which will create new mutually beneficial opportunities for the states, businesses and citizens. "President Zelensky's active dialogue with African leaders and my first-ever tour of the African continent last autumn launched the renaissance of Ukrainian-African relations," he said. The minister stressed that Ukraine has already significantly intensified interaction with African countries within international organizations, and is increasing cooperation in the field of food security, and is actively sharing the experience of Ukrainian military diplomacy and countering information threats. In this regard, the parties agreed to transfer contacts and consultations at all levels between the Government of Ukraine and the African Union Commission to a systematic basis. At the meetings, the Ukrainian foreign minister drew attention to the negative consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine on the situation in Africa: an increase in food prices, the intensification of Wagner Group activities, and a decline in social and economic indicators. Kuleba stressed that any peace initiatives should comply with President Zelensky's Peace Formula, which was, in particular, envisaged in the provisions of the relevant UN General Assembly resolution. A separate topic of the meetings was food security in Africa. The Ukrainian foreign minister emphasized that due to the functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, as of early May, 123 ships with 3.3 million tonnes of agricultural products were exported to African countries. In particular, this made it possible to stabilize the food situation in a number of African countries. The minister called on the African Union to demand from Russia that it stop interrupting the work of the grain corridor in the Black Sea and finally end the blockade of Ukrainian ports. As reported, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba is visiting African countries to promote the Peace Formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky and to open new perspectives for the country. Photo: MFA Germany provided shelter to more than a million war refugees from Ukraine and record sums were allocated for their support. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke of this at the general assembly of the German Association of Cities on Wednesday, reports an Ukrinform correspondent. "Everyone who is involved, who has contributed, deserves our utmost respect and support," Scholz said. This year alone, according to Scholz, the federal government has allocated more than EUR 15 billion to the federal lands and municipalities for refugee-related issues, which is significantly more than in 2015 and 2016, when "waves" of refugees were recorded. But, the chancellor noted, all issues with migration and refugees should not be reduced to financial ones. He emphasized the need to regulate migration, in particular, the digitalization of immigration authorities in federal lands and municipalities, as well as ensuring the deportation of those who have no chance of obtaining legal rights to stay in Germany. Read also: Germany sends another military aid package to Ukraine "Everyone who does not have the right to stay here must leave Germany," Chancellor Scholz emphasized. At the same time, legal migrants are welcomed in Germany because the country needs workers. "We are a developing country and we want more innovation, more renewable energy and more infrastructure," Scholz said. To achieve these goals, he noted, more skilled workers are necessary. "With the law on qualified immigration, we are creating one of the most progressive norms in the world and will attract talented, motivated, and qualified women and men," the federal chancellor is confident. In his speech, he focused on various challenges facing the country, one of the biggest of which is the consequences of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. There are 12,000 cities and communities in Germany. The German Association of Cities, which includes 3,200 cities and municipalities, meets every two years. Photo: bundeskanzler.de Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has held a meeting with Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson. The head of state reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. "A meeting with Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson. Important, priority issues: jets coalition, situation on the front lines, necessary weapons, peace formula, Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, support for Sweden. We are getting stronger every day," Zelensky said. Earlier reports said that Sweden would continue to coordinate the efforts of EU countries to provide military aid to Ukraine, which remains a key priority of the Swedish Presidency of the EU, and would also contribute to taking into account the lessons learned from the Russian aggression against Ukraine in order to strengthen the European security and defense system. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published May 24, 2023 CAPTION:ULM Professor of History Dr. Roger Carpenter (left) and co-owner of Layton Castle Pam Parsons Dupuy MONROE, LA While many people have heard of and even visited Layton Castle, one of Monroe's most important historical sites, relatively few know that it houses its own archive of documents, some of which are more than two centuries old. Moreover, they are not simply of local interest, but are connected to national trends and events. On May 2, 2023, in a talk presented by the ULM History program and the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, ULM graduate student Anna Bounds, ULM Professor of History Dr. Roger Carpenter, and co-owner of Layton Castle Pam Parsons Dupuy discussed the research and preservation taking part in connection with the home. Anna Bounds opened the event by discussing her work of the last several months organizing, transcribing, and digitizing some of Layton Castle's invaluable historical sources. Dr. Roger Carpenter followed, sharing about his study of a journal written by Robert Layton when he participated in the California Gold Rush of 1848-1849. Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, Professor in ULMs School of Humanities and one of the organizers of the event, said "When we think about the California Gold Rush of 1848-9, we probably do not consider Monroe, Louisiana, but we should. Robert Layton, one of whose descendants would construct Layton Castle, was among the '49ers, travelling overland across northern Mexico, up the Gila River Valley, and down the Colorado River to seek a fortune in California." Pam Parsons Dupuy closed the evening by emphasizing the importance of Monroe's history and her desire to make its documentary record available to the public. "It can be easy to overlook the history that surrounds us, said Anderson. When we stroll around the campus of ULM, we see names like Strauss, Stubbs, and Bry on the buildings. Many do not realize that these families gave us figures of not just local fame but national significance." Chinese Ambassador to Iran Chang Hua (R) and President of Iran's Allameh Tabataba'i University (ATU) Abdollah Motamedi pose with documents of a memorandum of understanding on establishing a China Pavilion at the university library in Tehran, Iran, May 24, 2023. Under the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides, a China Pavilion covering about 400 square meters will be built in ATU's central library, offering students with Chinese books and cultural products. (Xinhua/Shadati) TEHRAN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Iran and Iran's Allameh Tabataba'i University (ATU) on Wednesday agreed to establish a China Pavilion at the university library. Under a memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides, a China Pavilion covering about 400 square meters will be built in ATU's central library, offering students with Chinese books and cultural products. In an address to the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Iran Chang Hua said Chinese and Iranian peoples have had friendly ties since a long time ago. "Ever since the establishment of their diplomatic relations over half a century ago, China and Iran have withstood the test of the vicissitudes of the international situation, and the friendship between the two peoples has grown stronger over time," he noted. The Chinese envoy added in recent years, the China-Iran cooperation has constantly progressed in all areas, stressing that the two countries' cultural and social exchanges have led to significant achievements. "I believe that the future of the China-Iran friendship is in the hands of the two countries' youths," said Chang, expressing hope that the students would become envoys of the China-Iran friendship and make their own contribution to enhancing the traditional friendship between the two countries. For his part, the ATU's president told Xinhua the China Pavilion will definitely help the researchers, Chinese culture fans, and Chinese language learners to get access to more Chinese resources at the university. He added Iran is also ready to provide students studying the Persian language at China's universities with access to Iranian books. ATU is an Iranian public university specializing in the areas of humanities and social sciences, with a Center for Chinese Research established in 2019. Participants pose for a group photo at a reception celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Oman in Muscat, Oman, on May 25, 2023. A reception celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Oman took place on Wednesday evening in Muscat, the capital of Oman. (Xinhua/Wang Qiang) MUSCAT, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A reception celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Oman took place on Wednesday evening in Muscat, the capital of Oman. In her address, Chinese Ambassador to Oman, Li Lingbing, emphasized the enduring bond between the two nations over the past 45 years, saying the two countries have respected, trusted, and supported each other regardless of the ever-changing international landscape. Together, China and Oman have crafted an indelible chapter of peaceful coexistence, serving as an exemplar of cooperation between countries with divergent political systems, said the Chinese ambassador. According to Li, the two nations have demonstrated how countries with distinct economic models and cultural backgrounds can work together for mutual benefits through cooperation and the exchange of knowledge. "The extraordinary journey of China-Oman relations and the remarkable achievements we have accumulated have not only benefited our respective populations and socio-economic development but have also made contributions to global peace and development," the Chinese diplomat stated. As part of the event, a Yunnan specialty food promotion and a captivating cultural performance titled "Colorful Yunnan" were showcased. Yunnan, the enchanting southwestern province of China, boasts abundant tourism resources, including breathtaking landscapes, vibrant ethnic traditions, and a delightful climate. Approximately 700 people attended the event organized by the embassy. Among them were Muscat governor Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Yunnan Wang Yubo, as well as other Omani officials and Chinese representatives. China and Oman established their diplomatic ties on May 25, 1978. (@FahadShabbir) Saudi Arabia's state oil and gas giant Aramco will invest in the development of the Akkas gas field in the Anbar province in western Iraq to boost production to 400 million cubic feet of gas per day, Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani said on Thursday DOHA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th May, 2023) Saudi Arabia's state oil and gas giant Aramco will invest in the development of the Akkas gas field in the Anbar province in western Iraq to boost production to 400 million cubic feet of gas per day, Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani said on Thursday. "It has been agreed with the Saudi Arabia that Aramco will invest in and develop the Akkas gas field in the Anbar province. The aim of the investment in the development of this gas field is to reach a production capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day," the minister said at a meeting of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council. He also announced the signing of a preliminary agreement with the Kingdom to invest in the Nebras project, describing it as one of the most promising strategic projects in the petrochemical industry in Iraq and the region. More than 200 businessmen and state officials attended the fifth meeting of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council which was held in Jeddah. Saudi Trade Minister Majid Al Qasabi said that delegations from the two countries discussed many opportunities for cooperation, namely connection to a common electricity grid, the logistics system and investment in general. He was quoted by the Iraqi news Agency as saying that the volume of trade between Iraq and Saudi Arabia reached $1.5 billion in 2022. TAIYUAN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A freight train carrying auto parts and manufacturing machinery left Houma City in north China's Shanxi Province on Wednesday, en route to Central Asia. The train will complete a journey of approximately 8,000 kilometers, leaving China via the Horgos Port in Xinjiang, passing through Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and finally reaching its destination nearly 15 days after its departure. The train is loaded with 1,669 tonnes of cargo consisting of automobile windscreens, hydraulic hoses and building materials, among other goods. Since 2017, Shanxi has launched 10 China-Europe freight train routes and handled 683 China-Europe and China-Central Asia trains, linking 33 cities from 13 countries along the Belt and Road. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 25th May, 2023) A delegation from the United Arab Emirates, including representatives from the Supreme Audit Institution UAE (SAI) and the Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority (ADAA), recently visited Indias Central Vigilance Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. This strategic visit aims at building strong relationships in the audit and anti-corruption fields in addition to the mutual benefits from other initiatives and best practices. The UAE delegates discussed strategic topics such as the upcoming participation of the Supreme Audit Institution in the SAI20 Summit, which will take place in Goa, India, next June, in addition to discussing ways of cooperation in various areas of interest. Commenting on this strategic visit, the SAI UAE spokesperson said, The SAI UAE is continuously working to build strategic relationships with various authorities around the world. This visit is an embodiment of our aspirations to build strategic partnerships and benefit from the best practices to improve and unify efforts aimed at combating corruption in line with the highest international standards, which is a goal we share with ADAA to ensure optimal use of public funds and resources to ensure its sustainability for the future generations. For his part, the ADAA Spokesperson said, "We were pleased to participate in this visit and work with all parties inside and outside the UAE to achieve common goals by spreading the culture of integrity, accountability and transparency as well as building partnerships to benefit from the best international practices in audit and combating corruption to be pioneers in this field." An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday ordered to hand over 16 accused, involved in two cases of damaging public and private properties, including Jinnah House (corps commander's house in Lahore), during May-9 riots, to the army authorities for their trial by the military courts LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2023 ) :An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday ordered to hand over 16 accused, involved in two cases of damaging public and private properties, including Jinnah House (corps commander's house in Lahore), during May-9 riots, to the army authorities for their trial by the military courts. The court ordered Superintendent Camp Jail Lahore to hand over the custody of the accused to the commanding officer for further proceedings in accordance with the law. ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan passed the orders while allowing an application, filed by the commanding officer for custody of 16 accused. The commanding officer submitted that Sarwar Road police and Race Course police had registered two cases against the accused, Amar Zohaib, Ali Iftikhar, Ali Raza, Muhammad Arsalan, Muhammad Umair, Muhammad Raheem, Ziaur Rehman, Waqas Ali, Raees Ahmad, Faisal Irshad, Muhammad Bilal Hassan, Faheem Haider, Arzam Junaid, Mian Muhammad Akram Usman, Muhammad Hashir Khan and Hassan Shakir, and they had been sent to jail on judicial remand by the court. He submitted that the accused were guilty of offences under Sections 3, 7 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 2(1)(d) and 59 (4) of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952. He submitted that the accused were exclusively triable by the military courts, and pleaded with the court to hand him over the accused for further proceedings, in accordance with the law. As per the court verdict, the prosecution had not raised any objection to the commanding officer's request. (@FahadShabbir) Russia will not achieve a military victory in Ukraine, top US officer General Mark Milley said on Thursday, while also cautioning that Kyiv is unlikely to force out all of Moscow's troops anytime soon Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2023 ) :Russia will not achieve a military victory in Ukraine, top US officer General Mark Milley said on Thursday, while also cautioning that Kyiv is unlikely to force out all of Moscow's troops anytime soon. His comments underlined forecasts that the war in Ukraine is set to drag on, with neither side positioned to win a clear-cut victory and no negotiations currently taking place. "This war, militarily, is not going to be won by Russia. It's just not," Milley told journalists after the conclusion of a virtual meeting of dozens of countries that support Ukraine. Russia's original strategic objectives, including overthrowing the government in Kyiv, "are not achievable militarily, they're not going to be done," Milley said. At the same time, there are hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers in Ukraine, making Kyiv's objective of recapturing all of its territory unlikely "in the near term," he said. "That means fighting is going to continue, it's going to be bloody, it's going to be hard. And at some point, both sides will either negotiate a settlement or they'll come to a military conclusion."The United States has spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging a coalition to back Kyiv after Russia invaded in February 2022 and coordinating aid from dozens of countries. In total, Ukraine's supporters have provided nearly $65 billion in security assistance to the country, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said ahead of the Thursday meeting. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th May, 2023) The US House of Representatives failed to override President Joe Biden's veto of legislation that would repeal a Commerce Department rule allowing for the suspension of duties on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian countries using parts from China. House lawmakers failed to override the veto, which requires two-thirds of the chamber's support, in a vote of 214-205 on Wednesday evening. The initial resolution passed by the House last month nullified a Commerce Department rule allowing for suspension of duties on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules that are completed in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam using parts from China. Last year, the Commerce Department found that solar panel manufacturers were avoiding US tariffs on Chinese goods by routing their products through the Southeast Asian countries. However, Biden waived tariffs on their solar products in an attempt to meet climate goals. In a veto statement issued earlier this month, Biden said that the United States cannot afford to create "new uncertainty" for businesses and workers in the solar industry. University Libraries Special Collections Processes Mary Ann Wells Collection Thu, 05/25/2023 - 03:59pm | By: Dawn Smith University Libraries Special Collections at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) continues to increase access to its collections with the recent processing of the Mary Ann Wells collection. Wells, a freelance photographer who lived in Hattiesburg, traveled the world capturing stories of people and nature through her photographs. From 1977 to 1981, she was a photojournalist for the Hattiesburg American, publishing a weekly column, Americans, that focused on the everyday life of an American citizen and their story. While working for the Hattiesburg American, her work won more than 60 state, regional, and national awards from professional journalism and press organizations. The collection, processed by Emma Anderson, a Library and Information Science and History undergraduate from Madison, Mississippi, includes articles, photographs, slides, negatives, and notes from Wells expansive career in photojournalism. Other stories in her collection include her travels around the United States., her travel column about living in Gaeta, Italy, and her Native American heritage. Wells was deeply involved in the Mississippi Choctaw tribes and documented historical moments of the tribes, including council meetings and holidays. Wells' freelance journalistic work has appeared in more than 100 publications including the New York Daily News, The Miami Herald, The Chicago Tribune, and Travel & Leisure magazine. Her travel writing assignments have taken her from the Amazon to Ireland. The Mary Ann Wells collection was selected to be processed with support through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). The NHPRC is a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) whose mission is promotion of the preservation and use of the countrys documentary heritage essential to understand the nations democracy, history, and culture. Lorraine Stuart, head of USM Special Collections and Curator of Historical Manuscripts and Archives, is leading the two-year grant project. The purpose of the grant is to increase access to collections and will support processing, digitization, and development of finding aids for existing collections significant to the history and culture of Mississippi. The grant also provides multiple opportunities for hands-on materials preservation and presentation experiences for the Universitys Library and Information Sciences and Humanities graduate students. Anderson began working in Special Collections as a practicum student for the 2022 summer semester. In the fall of 2022, she transitioned to the NHPRC grant and began her work with the Wells collection. While working with the collection, Anderson sorted and preserved Wells notes, organized media into subjects, and researched pieces in the collection that werent easily identifiable. About her experience and passion for Special Collections, Anderson said, I enjoy working with Special Collections because of my love of preservation and history. Collections like the Mary Ann Wells collection show the smaller, more focused, history of a place. Communities are built by the people, and their stories should be told. Preserving history shows future generations that we are all human and will have lifetimes of stories that shapes their lives and their future. For information about Special Collections in USM University Libraries, visit the libraries website. Four Wyoming Students Compete in National Science Competitions Four high school students recently advanced and competed in a pair of national science competitions after placing high in this springs Wyoming State Science Fair hosted by the University of Wyoming. Laramie High School junior Grace Zhou recently placed second in the high school division of the virtual Student Research Showcase, hosted by Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society. Zhous microbiology and molecular biology project was titled Non-Invasive microRNA-based Diagnostic for the Detection of Multiple Cancers. Two other Wyoming State Science Fair students also competed: Padmalakshmi Ramesh, of Laramie, and Greybulls Tyler Searfoss. Theirs were among 212 student presentations across 12 disciplinary categories in the competition. Monetary awards were given for first- and second-place winners in the high school, undergraduate and graduate divisions. The Student Research Showcase is an annual virtual competition that builds students science communication skills so they can convey the value of their research to technical and nontechnical audiences. Zhou and Riley Thomas, a Greybull High School senior, represented the Cowboy State at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, Texas, earlier this month. The Regeneron ISEF is the worlds largest international precollege science competition, with more than 1,500 high school students from 75 countries, regions and territories competing for approximately $5 million in prizes. Both students competed well at the Wyoming State Science Fair at UW in March and did excellent science research, says Erin Stoesz, the State Science Fair director at UW. At the ISEF competition, Thomas entered Reducing Potential Groundwater Contamination From Coal Fly Ash: Developing a Unique Bentonite/Zeolite Matrix Barrier, while Zhous project was titled Non-Invasive microRNA-based Diagnostics for the Detection of Multiple Cancers. Riley received some generous help from both Janet Dewey in the UW Department of Geology and Geophysics, and Jessica Kern in the UW Biogeochemistry Laboratory, Stoesz says. I thank both Janet and Jessica for their wonderful mentoring. To read about Thomass and Zhous projects at the virtual showcase, visit www.projectboard.world/isef/. Now is a great time for Wyoming students to start research projects for the 2024 State Science Fair competitions, Stoesz says. For more information, interested students or teachers should email Stoesz at wyostatefair@gmail.com to schedule a short getting started Zoom workshop or to learn more about regional and state competitions. UW American Heritage Center Announces 2023 Fellowship Recipients American journalist Grace Robinson received her first foreign correspondent assignment in 1930 from the New York Daily News when she accompanied the pilgrimage of Gold Star mothers and widows to France following World War I. The pilgrimage is a topic of study for a UW American Heritage Center fellowship. (Box 35, Grace Robinson papers, Collection 6941, UW American Heritage Center) The American Heritage Center (AHC) at the University of Wyoming has selected the 2023 recipients of its annual fellowships. Each fellowship supports a 20-day research stay at the AHC. Academic scholars at any level, from graduate students to senior tenured faculty, are encouraged to apply. Outstanding scholars receiving fellowships this year are Edward Landa, an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland; independent researcher Ian Strahn; and Ph.D. candidates Warren Dennis, of Boston University; Jessica Simmons, of Oklahoma State University; and Constantin Berlin, of Germanys Goethe University. The research topics represented by these fellowships and grants show, once again, how the collections held by the American Heritage Center are known nationally and internationally as important primary sources for writing cultural, scientific and economic history, AHC Director Paul Flesher says. The topics for these awards range from energy policy concerning fossil fuels and about the USAs uranium supply to German cultural identification with the American West, to the two world wars of the 20th century and even the comic book industry. Here are more details on the fellowships and their recipients: Alan K. Simpson Fellowship in Western Political History Dennis is researching the political and cultural shift in American energy policy from the 1960s to early 1990s, and the role of conservatism in emphasizing fossil fuels that characterized this period of increased energy use. His work explores the debates and implementation of energy policies -- both locally and at the federal level -- with an eye on exploring the cultural division over consumer protection. Peter K. Simpson Fellowship on the American West Berlin and Strahn are creating a journalistic research collective titled From William F. Cody to Winnetou: American Frontier Representation in the German Cultural Imagination, which explores how the American West and its protagonists of the 19th and 20th centuries came to be seen as a mirror for German dreams and ambitions -- and an idealized escape from industrialized, and socially static Europe. This is a train ticket used by the traveling ensemble of Buffalo Bills Wild West Show during a 1906 tour of Germany. German cultural identification with the American West is a topic of study for a UW American Heritage Center fellowship. (Box 1, Buffalo Bill Collection, Collection 264, UW American Heritage Center) Bernard L. Majewski Research Fellowship Landa, in the University of Marylands Department of Environmental Science and Technology, is studying the intersection of economic geology and the history of science and technology. Drawing upon his 40-year career at the U.S. Geological Survey, where Landa was a research project chief in the aquatic geochemistry group, his research focuses on the history of geologists and mining engineers responsible for the uranium supply chain, the history of which has remained mostly unexplored. Women in Public Life Fellowship Simmons, a Ph.D. candidate in history, is exploring the history of women in journalism and their reporting during World War I and the Inter-War Era. Specifically, she is interested in women who interviewed the families of Indigenous soldiers who followed Gold Star mothers in their journeys to locate the bodies of their fallen sons, and who traveled to Europe themselves as reporters, nurses or YMCA volunteers. In addition to the four fellowships, the AHC also awarded 10 travel grants of $750 each to assist with expenses for scholars traveling from locations throughout the U.S. and internationally to research a wide variety of topics. These include the history of the American wildlife conservation movement; a sensory history of race and antebellum scientific expeditions; Jewish identity in the comic book industry; journalist John Franklin Carters work with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services; anti-queer politics in rural America; the history of the World Bank; U.S. involvement in Japans Ryukyu Islands; the impact of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo in U.S. politics; the history of labor management beginning in the 17th century; and the politics and projects of leftist American architects in the 1930s and 1940s. The AHC awards travel grants and fellowships annually. For more information about the AHCs travel grant and fellowship program, go to www.uwyo.edu/ahc/grants/. For questions, call (307) 766-2557 or email Leslie Waggener, AHC Simpson archivist, at lwaggen2@uwyo.edu. BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) jointly issued a judicial interpretation on Thursday, pledging severe punishment for crimes such as rape, sexual molestation, and indecency targeting minors. On the same day, the SPC, the SPP, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), and the Ministry of Justice issued another document on handling cases involving sexual assaults against minor victims. The judicial interpretation vows strengthened efforts to ensure special and preferential protection for minors, including outlawing indecency conducted via the Internet. It further specifies detailed rules regarding circumstances for which the convicts should receive heavier punishments, such as crimes by those responsible for the care of minor victims. Also, the interpretation stresses the immature state of the minors' physical and mental condition must be considered during the cases. He Li, a senior justice of the SPC's criminal tribunal, said rape and other sexual violations against minors seriously infringe upon the victims' physical and mental well-being and are condemned by the public, noting that the courts will enhance their work in the relevant fields to ensure healthy growth of the minors. According to the document by the four authorities, these cases should be handled by special departments or special personnel. Moreover, it covers the rules for the investigation and evidence-collection processes in relevant cases. It further requires legal-aid agencies to assign lawyers familiar with juveniles' physical and mental characteristics to provide legal aid services. Chen Shiqu, deputy head of the MPS criminal investigation department, said the police authorities would maintain a heavy-handed approach in cracking down on relevant crimes and carry out special campaigns to ensure juvenile safety in schools. QUITO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso named Cesar Rohon as his new minister of transport and public works -- the first nomination after the legislature was dissolved, the country's General Secretariat of Communication of the Presidency said Wednesday. "The new minister has an outstanding political and business career," the presidential office said in a statement. Rohon will "promote the most urgent public and road works for the benefit of the people," it added. The nomination was announced following the president's dissolution of the National Assembly on May 17. After taking office in 2021, Lasso faced consistent pressure from the opposition-controlled legislature. He seized on a constitutional measure that allows the president to dissolve the legislature when it was holding an impeachment trial on corruption allegations against him. Lasso will govern for a period of six months under the supervision of the Constitutional Court after the dissolution and called for early presidential and legislative elections. Presidential and legislative elections are now scheduled for Aug. 20. An Introduction to Vietnams Import and Export Industries As Vietnam transforms into a global manufacturing hub, it has emerged as an effective relocation destination also known as the China+1 strategy. Upbeat growth projections are set for the countrys import-export business as the global economy resumes. Vietnam Briefing highlights gives an overview of the industries primed for import and export activities. With its rising costs, China is no longer the go-to destination for many businesses, and Vietnam has arisen as a serious competitor. Recent trends show that the number of orders shifting from China to Vietnam has seen a significant increase. For example, Chinas Pearl River Delta, long known as one of the key factory centers for the worlds manufacturers (particularly those from Hong Kong) has now become too costly for many companies to stay in the region. In the past few years, a growing number of businesses have relocated their operations from China to Vietnam in an attempt to escape rising costs and an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Given the recent trade war between China and the US, alongside Vietnams recent free trade agreements such as the RCEP, the EVFTA, and the UKVFTA the country is steadily becoming more open to international trade and investment. Located in a strategic position for foreign companies with operations throughout Southeast Asia, Vietnam is an ideal export hub to reach other ASEAN markets. Compared with other developing markets in the region, Vietnam is emerging as the clear leader in low-cost manufacturing and sourcing, with the countrys manufacturing sector accounting for 25 percent of the countrys total GDP in 2021. Currently, labor costs in Vietnam are approximately 50 percent of those in China at US$2.99 per hour compared to US$6.50 per hour respectively, and around 40 percent of those reported in Thailand and the Philippines. With the countrys workforce growing annually, Vietnamese workers are comparatively inexpensive, young, and, increasingly, highly skilled. Another driving force behind Vietnams growing popularity is the countrys collection of free trade agreements. The RCEP, which came into force on January 1, 2022, has also fostered the entry of goods exported in and out of Vietnam as it reduces cost, improves market access as well as offers streamlined customs procedures. In terms of regulatory and financial incentives, Vietnam has become increasingly investor-friendly in recent years the government has taken such actions as reforming its financial sector, streamlining business regulations, and improving the quality of its workforce. Since the mid-2000s, the Vietnamese government has offered extremely competitive financial incentives to businesses seeking to set up operations in the country, in addition to a zero percent withholding tax on dividends remitted overseas and a low corporate income tax (CIT) rate of 20 percent. These advantages have enabled Vietnam to become a premier sourcing economy in the eyes of many companies. See also: Vietnam Import Export Tracker Webinar Exploring Southeast Asias 2023 Outlook Opportunities and Trends Date/Time: February 28, 2023 | 9:00am PST / 12pm EST After seeing 5.5% growth in 2022, ASEAN is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world and is expected to outpace global growth this year as well. Join us to explore ASEANs 2023 outlook, including potential opportunities and noteworthy trends in this free webinar. Join us in this free webinar! Current state of Vietnams economy Vietnam is seeing strong growth on multiple fronts. Of particular interest to investors has been the continuing growth of Vietnams domestic consumer market, which has been developing by leaps and bounds. This growth is expected to continue for some time to come domestic consumption is predicted to increase at a rate of 20 percent per year. With a population of over 97 million and Southeast Asias fastest-growing middle class, Vietnam clearly represents an important market for foreign goods. Compared to 2017, the US has overtaken China for being the largest export market for Vietnam. Export Markets Export Value (2021) US US$96.3 billion China US$56 billion South Korea US$22 billion Japan US$20.1 billion Hong Kong US$12 billion Import Markets Import Value (2021) China US$109.9 billion South Korea US$56.2 billion Japan US$22.7 billion Taiwan US$20.8 billion US US$15.3 billion Source: General Statistics Office Industry Snapshots While Vietnam is widely known for being a prime location for investors operating in the textile industry, there are many other business areas that are seeing significant growth in the country. Interestingly, Vietnam is well on its way to becoming a key location for high-technology manufacturing, with companies like Samsung, LG Electronics, Nokia, and Intel making multi-billion dollar investments into the country. Other business areas include information and communications technology, automotive, and medical devices. Bilateral trade between Vietnam and the US hit a new record high in 2021, with a total of US$111.56 billion, up nearly US$21 billion year-on-year as per the General Department of Customs. The US also had the second-highest import-export turnover with Vietnam at US$100 billion, followed by China. Top Exports Export Value (2021) Phones US$57.5 billion Electronic goods/Computers US$50.8 billion Machinery US$38.3 billion Textiles US$32.8 billion Footwear US$17.8 billion Top Imports Import Value (2021) Electronic goods/Computers US$75.4 billion Machinery US$46.3 billion Phones US$21.4 billion Fabrics US$14.3 billion Plastics (in primary form) US$11.7 billion Textiles and Garments Textiles consistently rank among Vietnams leading export industries, with over 6000 textiles and garments manufacturing companies, employing upwards of 2.5 million workers. The growth of the garment industry has been impressive and plays an important role in the economic growth of the country. In 2020, Vietnam surpassed Bangladesh to become the worlds second largest exporter of ready made garments (RMG). Further, the industry had an export market share of 7.05 percent in 2020, an increase from 5.54 percent of 2016. China is the only nation that surpasses Vietnam in terms of net garment exports to the US. However, manufacturers and investors are pivoting towards Vietnam; the conditions for setting up shop are more economically convenient than doing so in China. Within ASEAN, Vietnam is the strongest competitor for inheriting low value-added textiles and apparel manufacturing from China. In contrast to other leading textile exporters in the region (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia), the share of Vietnams textile exports against its total exports has grown in recent years. Electronics Vietnam has emerged as an important electronics exporter, with electrical and electronic products overtaking coffee, textiles, and rice to become the countrys top export item. Samsung is Vietnams largest exporter and has helped the country achieve a trade surplus for the first time in many years. Exports of smartphones and computer parts now account for more in export earnings than oil and garments. Samsung has turned Vietnam into a global manufacturing base for its products, producing almost a third of the firms output. Samsung has invested over US$17.5 billion into the country as of 2021. Samsung has also agreed to cooperate with the Vietnamese government in order to help develop the countrys domestic support industries. This represents a key business opportunity for foreign technology companies to set up operations in Vietnam and sell their components to companies like Samsung. Pharmaceuticals The future looks to be very interesting for the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam. Vietnams pharmaceutical market is projected to increase to US$7.7 billion in 2021 and US$16.1 billion in 2026. Driving this market growth is the Vietnamese governments goal of achieving universal health coverage, combined with a growing market of consumers who want accessible healthcare. As per IQVIA (2021), as of 2020, the volume size for the industry was US$6.4 billion. Across the country, there are around 250 manufacturing factories, 200 import-export units, 4,300 wholesalers, and another 62,000 retailers catering to the pharmaceutical industry. Automotive Vietnam is becoming an important market for auto sales: the Vietnamese automobile market is expected to sell 1.7-1.85 million units by 2035. In the foreseeable future, an estimated 750,000-800,000 units are expected to be sold by 2025. Although the nations rate of car ownership per capita is still much lower than other markets in Asia (only around 5.7 percent of Vietnamese households owned a car in 2020), Vietnam is still one of the countries with the fastest-growing purchasing power for personal cars over the past ten years. 9 percent of Vietnamese households are expected to own a car by 2025 equivalent to the current level of India and the Philippines. By 2030, car ownership will reach 30 percent. Tax reductions on imported cars and increased income are attributed to the growth. Despite an increasingly competitive auto market throughout the ASEAN region, Vietnam has stated that it intends to work aggressively to build up its own domestic auto industry. Among the key reasons for this goal is that the auto industry has the potential to create thousands of jobs for locals and create a strong system of supporting industries. Additionally, Vietnamese automakers, such as VinFast have also started launching some first automobile models to the foreign market, signaling a promising future of cars exported from Vietnam. Coffee Vietnam is currently, the worlds second-largest coffee exporter, behind only Brazil. In 2021, the export value for Vietnams coffee reached US$3.1 billion. The industry plays an important role in Vietnams agriculture economy and is an export oriented industry with more than 90 percent of production volume exported. To increase its value, the government has been promoting the shift from exporting beans to processed coffee. Many experts believe that Vietnam has the potential to overtake Brazil due to its favorable climate conditions and lower-cost production. E-commerce Vietnam is quickly becoming a prime market for foreign investment in e-commerce activities. The countrys rapidly growing economy and middle class are, in turn, spawning a strong consumer culture and increasing levels of disposable income. The pandemic has accentuated the demand for electronic retail as delivery, ride-sharing, and e-wallets gradually become a norm for the Vietnamese, especially among the youth. Vietnams e-commerce business increased by 18 percent to US$11.8 billion in 2020, making it the only country in Southeast Asia to observe double-digit growth during the pandemic. This opens a booming outlook for the countrys e-commerce growth. Being a signatory to 13 FTAs, Vietnam also provides favorable conditions for investors to start a business in e-commerce with reduced or zero customs tariffs on commodities imported or exported from other countries. Managing Labor Shortages in Hai Duong: Insights for Foreign Firms Foreign firms in Hai Duong, a key industrial province in north Vietnam, are reporting that labor shortages have become common. We discuss how foreign firms can optimize hiring decisions and lower their attrition rates. Foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnams Hai Duong province are struggling to find workers for the myriad garment factories located in the city. This is despite a 300,000-strong workforce in the province, Vietnams Business Forum magazine reported earlier this week. Its not just workers to sew shirts and glue the soles to shoes either. Information technology (IT) workers, foreign language experts, and workers skilled in automation are becoming increasingly hard to come by, Mr Kurihara, Director of Sumidenso Vietnam Company, told the magazine. Such shortages are to be expected alongside rapid economic development. As the number of factories and manufacturing plants around Vietnam has multiplied, it has given rise to fierce competition among firms for good quality labor. Luring and retaining workers, however, can be better managed through the right strategy. There are a number of incentives and benefits when applied correctly, can give foreign firms an edge over competitors during the hiring process. Wages It goes without saying that wages are probably the most important factor Vietnamese workers look at when applying for a job. Whereas the comparatively low wages in Vietnam have been an attractive incentive for foreign firms looking to reduce their manufacturing costs, the domestically relatively high wages paid to factory workers have proven attractive to workers. Most notably, since Vietnams ascension to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), when the country really started to seriously open up to foreign investment, wages have climbed considerably. In its most recent report on labor and employment, Vietnams General Office of Statistics (GSO) found that manufacturing workers earned an average wage of 7.9 million VND (US$336) a month. In contrast, in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, the GSO found the average wage to be barely half that of a factory worker at 4.1 million VND (US$174.65). These higher-than-average wages have led to a shift of workers from rural farming communities to manufacturing hubs that have sprung up around the country. Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh in the north, for example, Binh Duong and Dong Nai in the south. But financial benefits are about more than just wages. The option and structure of overtime pay is also increasingly important. See also: Salary and Wages in Vietnam Overtime work The payment of overtime wages is a key motivator for Vietnamese workers. It can help them earn substantial financial gains during peak seasons and is why the manufacturing sector is able to stay competitive. This is particularly true of employees that work away from home. These workers often send money back to their parents or spouses in rural areas that offer few opportunities to make additional income. In this sense, overtime for a Vietnamese worker can mean a significant boost in the quality of life for the people that depend on them; it is an essential component of their financial planning. That said, Vietnam has codified limits to the amount of overtime one person can work. Thus, overtime hours cannot exceed 40 hours per month and cannot exceed 300 hours per year. Firms should note that these hours were temporarily expanded in 2022 to help clear the backlog of orders from during the pandemic. Following the economy stabilizing, this overtime extension has now ended, and overtime limits have returned to those outlined in the Labour Code, 2019. See also: Overtime Regulations and Compensation in Vietnam Benefits Beyond the standard health and unemployment insurance, workers seek additional benefits, such as flexible shifts and the ability to work from home. Notably, this is difficult for factory line workers, but when it comes to back office staff and administrators, they may be easier to implement. Any flexibility in employment conditions will be an incentive that can attract and help retain high-quality talents. Furthermore, most Vietnamese value family above all else. Workers with young families may be enticed to work for and stay with an enterprise through additional benefits like childcare or healthcare benefits that extend to their family. Its also quite common for employers to provide their staff with free meals. Not only does this mean that employees can use what would ordinarily be spent on lunch for other purposes, but it also ensures they have at least one balanced, nutritious meal each day a healthy employee is a happy employee. Location During the pandemic, the manufacturing labor force underwent considerable change. When COVID-19 was at its worst in Vietnam, many workers left key manufacturing hubs for the relative safety of their hometowns. Though many have since returned, many have not. In light of this, firms can overcome some human resourcing challenges by establishing themselves in areas where there are fewer transient populations yet high demand for jobs. This could mean looking beyond the traditional manufacturing centers of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Central Vietnam, for example, is becoming increasingly popular. It has an abundance of low-cost labor, its infrastructure is developing (a new US$137 million port is being built in Danang), and the local government is investing heavily in skills training. Overcoming labor shortages: Tricky but it can be done As Vietnams economy continues to expand rapidly, provinces improve their investment incentives and remove investment barriers, labor shortages may occur more frequently in some locations. But this can be overcome by understanding what it is that employees want. That means establishing an optimized strategy that offers flexibility, overtime, and a good work-life balance. In doing so, workers should be easier to find, and may want to stay with firms for longer. For more information, the Vietnam-Briefings Vietnam HR Landscape, Compliance, & Recruitment Magazine is available for free from the Asia Briefing Publication Store. A Cambodian court on Thursday jailed a woman union leader for two years for leading a strike against the country's biggest casino to demand the reinstatement of workers laid off during the pandemic. Chhim Sithar had long campaigned for the return of hundreds of workers laid off from the NagaWorld casino in Phnom Penh. She was first arrested in January last year at a protest site near the casino and was charged with incitement, a common tactic authorities use against activists, before being re-arrested in November. Several dozen former casino workers demonstrated outside the court after her sentencing on Thursday, shouting "injustice" as Chhim Sithar was taken away in a prison van. "I cannot accept this," former casino worker and protester Sok Ratana told AFP outside the court. "She just protects the rights of workers, she helps workers, why was she accused of incitement?" Sok Ratana, who was laid off two years ago, said they were shocked at the verdict and emphasised they only wanted fair treatment. "Why are we accused of causing chaos?" Protester Raksmey, who gave only one name, called the verdict unjust and asked: "How can they say the court is independent?" "As long as there is not a solution, we will continue our strike for a solution because this is about the rice pot, it is not about politics," she said, referencing their daily meal. "We will keep protesting for our labour rights despite everything (that has) happened." Five other union members from Chhim Sithar's group were given 18-month court monitoring orders and three more received one-year suspended jail sentences. Rights groups have said the charges are baseless. 'Blatant attack' Nagacorp, a Hong Kong-listed firm that operates NagaWorld, has an exclusive casino licence to operate in Phnom Penh. Cambodia has a complex relationship with gambling: while it has casinos, its own citizens are officially barred from playing in them. International monitoring groups condemned the decision, with Human Rights Watch saying Phnom Penh had sided with Nagacorp from the beginning. "Instead of respecting workers' rights to freedom of association, bargain collectively, and strike, the government has used every repressive trick in the book to intimidate their union," said Phil Robertson, the Asia deputy director for Human Rights Watch. Amnesty International labelled the convictions "a blatant attack on unions and workers fighting for their fundamental rights". "This verdict is a reminder that the Cambodian government would rather side with corporations than protect the rights of its people," said Amnesty's Montse Ferrer. Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 38 years, has been accused by rights groups of using the courts to stifle dissent as he prepares for the July election. A handful of the more than 2,000 political prisoners recently freed by Myanmars post-coup junta have told VOA they remain under military surveillance and are afraid of being rearrested. The junta released 2,153 prisoners May 3, who had been sentenced under Section 505 (A) of the Penal Code, which criminalizes causing fear, spreading false news, or agitating directly or indirectly criminal offences against government employee." The prisoners were released on the condition that each "serve the new punishment in addition to the remaining punishment to which he was sentenced this time if further offenses are committed." VOA contacted a dozen released prisoners for this article, but many refused to talk out of security concerns. The released prisoners had to sign a document pledging not to commit any acts of violence against the country. "I hesitated to sign the document, but I did so in order to be released from an inhumane prison." said a 27-year-old released prisoner using the pseudonym Hay Mar, who was released from Tharyarwaddy prison in Bago region. "If you wrote about why I was arrested in your article, it would be easy to find me and arrest me again. The junta is keeping an eye on me. Because of this, I don't talk to any of my friends and only go outside when I have to," she added. Another ex-political prisoner, Shwe Zin, a 26-year-old university student, said she feels in danger. She said she noticed some men watching her when she met with some friends at a restaurant after her release. When I moved to another restaurant, they followed by the car. Im afraid of talking to media. However, I want other people to know whats happening in prisons and interrogation camps, she said. When she participated in a June 2021 protest against the coup, she was trapped by the junta in Yangon, which used a friend of hers as a lure. My friend asked to meet. I didnt know he had been arrested. When I arrived at the meeting place, I was arrested, Shwe Zin told VOA. She was then blindfolded and taken to a building and was kicked constantly by three men. They bruised her hip so painfully she could not sit for days. She was then sent to the military interrogation center in Yangons Mingalardon township. They did not provide food or water for four days. Later, they asked me for the contact information of other dissidents. When I refused, they started beating me, Shwe Zin said. She was then blindfolded again and forced to kneel and was beaten with a baton for about three weeks. One day when it rained, I was told to sit in the mud and was beaten. When I lost consciousness, a man threw water on my face to wake me up. Some soldiers were drunk, she added. She hit her head against the wall when the pain became too much to bear. "When I became too aggressive, they chained me to a chair. They did not, however, cease asking the same questions and continued to beat me at night, Shwe Zin said. She was sent to Yangons Insein prison and, in March 2022, given three years imprisonment under Section 505(A). Because of being tortured, I still have a serious migraine, she added. Freed prisoners said females arrested for having ties to the revolution were often subjected to psychological and physical harm during interrogation. "They dont hesitate to do anything to get the information they wanted. They threatened us: we can rape you. It was very devastating, Hay Mar, arrested in January 2022 in Yangon, said. Dissidents were tortured in various ways to force them to disclose activities of their comrades. Finally, they were forced to sign blank papers and were charged under articles providing for long term imprisonment, freed prisoners said. Among those released in May, Aung Tun, one of the leaders of the flash-mob protest, was also subjected to torture and interrogation. He was arrested while protesting in Yangon in April 2021. He was held in two interrogation camps and survived various tortures he said he was beaten with a baton while being interrogated about his groups activities and the locations of his comrades, and had a gun put in his mouth, In addition, he said a group of soldiers urinated on him and threatened to kill him. In addition, he said, they cut off his food and water for days, and he was kept awake all night with electric shocks and forced to clean toilets. "Nearly 100 people were detained in a room at the interrogation center in Shwepyithar Township. There was no restroom available; only a toilet was provided. We were required to take a shower and clean our faces with toilet water. We didn't have enough drinkable water, and we just had a handful of rice,"Aung Tun said. After being captured and tortured by the army for interrogation, dissidents had to survive various hardships in prisons. A lot of prisoners are locked in a small cell block. Besides being tortured by prison authorities and criminal prisoners, prisoners live with unhealthy food and poor health services. According to freed prisoners, they were beaten and shot at by the prison authorities when they complained, so many prisoners suffer from severe mental problems. "Three death row women in the Thayarwaddy prison told me they wanted to commit suicide as they were so devastated by the prison conditions," said Hay Mar. Prisoners who were released said they were locked up in prison without seeing their families until they were released. While the former prisoners said they did not regret their political activities or their arrests, they said they plan to leave military-controlled areas because of fear of rearrest.. Since I do not feel secure in the country, I plan to leave. I will speak openly about the atrocities committed by the army once I am in a safe place to do so, said Hay Mar. Our comrades are still behind the bars and living in darkness. I don't know when these people will be free. We need to speak out about these people. I made promises to my comrades. I still have many duties to keep my promises, said Aung Tun, who plans to join the anti-junta forces. The Chinese diplomatic envoy continues talks in Europe as Ukraine sends the Foreign Minister to Ethiopia. A conversation about the events and the significance of Belgorod, a look at the destruction in Dnipro and companies trying to leave Russia. Plus, Ukrainian fashion, on display in Seattle. Show more Show less A defense deal with Papua New Guinea shows just how much Washington needs military cooperation in the Pacific Islands. Welcome to VOA Asia Weekly. I'm Jessica Stone in Washington. That story is just ahead, but first, making headlines. South Korean nuclear experts toured the shuttered Fukushima nuclear power plant this week. The 21 member team was sent to inspect the process the Japanese utility TEPCO says its going to clean the wastewater stored after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami damaged the plant in 2011. The Korean public has been protesting TEPCOs plan to release one million tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. China ordered its infrastructure companies to stop using chips made by the US company Micron Technology. The directive came hours after the G7 in Hiroshima Japan released a statement criticizing Chinas coercive economic policies, pledging to counter its efforts to distort the global economy and calling on Beijing to avoid unilateral attempts to take territory by force. Chinas Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is set to meet with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in the US in the coming days. The World Health Organization holds its annual assembly this week in Switzerland without Taiwan. China and Pakistan had urged members to reject Taipeis inclusion. The Marshall Islands spoke in favor of allowing Taiwan to join. Beijing welcomed the WHO decision on the self-governing island that China considers its own territory. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi getting a red-carpet welcome in Sydney Australia. Modi met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce a new center for Australia-India relations and increased cooperation on defense and commerce. Australia is eager to increase trade with India as a means of diversifying from China its largest trading partner. A progressive political coalition in Thailand signed an agreement to draft a new constitution that would recognize same-sex marriage and end military conscription except in emergencies. The Move Forward Party leading that alliance which has yet to mention revisions to a law that punishes perceived insults of the monarchy with up to 15 years in jail. The party pledged to amend that measure during its election campaign. The United States and Papua New Guinea have agreed to sign a security pact, part of which is expected to give the US vital access to the pacific island nations waters. VOAs Ahadian Utama reports from Port Morseby. U.S. President Joe Biden has shifted attention to the Pacific over concerns about Chinas increasing influence in the region, as Beijing has been giving diplomatic and financial assistance to some Pacific nations. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says agreements with Washington that focus on defense cooperation and maritime matters will be formally signed after parliamentary approval. Now were elevating to a specific defense cooperation agreement, something that is falling short of treaty. And so this has been an ongoing work for some time. The conversation has been running for the last five, six, seven years. Weve now looked into the importance of USA-PNG stepping up in our relationship. The defense and maritime agreements will allow the U.S. access to waters near the sea routes to Australia and Japan. In return, Papua New Guinea will gain access to U.S. satellite surveillance. The Shiprider agreement, for instance, allows for us to have a working partnership with U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. With the U.S. Coast Guard, it now give us an opportune time to access not just maritime access but satellite access to illegal fishing, drug traffickers, illegal loggers and all those illegal transportations and activities that happen on the high seas. Elias Wohengu, Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs secretary, led the negotiations and says the pact will not prevent Papua New Guinea from engaging with other nations. We are within the ambit of the foreign policy expected of Papua New Guinea: friends to all, enemies to none. This agreement does not in any preclude PNG from engaging with another nation in a future defense cooperation agreement. Analysts say this pact will raise concerns over U.S.-China rivalry in the region and potentially put Pacific Island nations in the middle of U.S.-China tension. In 2022, the Solomon Islands agreed to sign a security pact with China. Obviously, there comes a point where one has to be careful if those different external players reach heightened levels of tension and PNG and its neighbors can be caught in the midst of it. Ahadian Utama, VOA News, Papua New Guinea. And finally, Nothing is impossible! Thats the mantra for the first double amputee to summit Mount Everest. Nepalese war veteran Hari Budha Magar has made history by becoming the first ever double-above-the-knee amputee to reach the top of the world's tallest mountain. He lost both of his legs while serving Afghanistan. Budha Magar reached the top of Mount Everest on a pair of prosthetic legs. He grew up in Nepal dreaming of climbing the 88-hundred meter high mountain, and says quote nothing can stop us from achieving our dream. Visit voanews.com for the most up-to-date stories. Thanks for watching VOA Asia Weekly. Im Jessica Stone. Until next week. Delegates from across the African continent gathered in Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, Thursday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Organization of African Unity, the alliance that later became the African Union. In a statement, the AU said the ceremony held at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa commemorates May 25, 1963, when the heads of state from 32 independent African states gathered in the city to sign the charter that created the OAU, which the AU said was the first post-independence continental institution. In its charter, the OAU said its main objectives included ridding the continent of the remaining vestiges of colonization and apartheid; promoting unity and solidarity among African states; coordinating cooperation for development; safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states; and promoting international cooperation. In 1999, OAU leaders meeting in Libya decided the organization needed to refocus its goals to focus more intensely on cooperation and integration of African states to drive the continents growth and economic development. They issued a declaration calling for the establishment of the African Union, which was officially launched in 2002. In opening remarks to the delegates Thursday, AU Commission Chairman H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat called it an important day in the history of Africa, as it honors the organizations founders, who laid the groundwork for the African renaissance and its socioeconomic and political development. In his comments, Mahamat, the former Chadian prime minister, warned against interference by world powers in the continents affairs in what he called a "hegemonic struggle between the great powers" playing out internationally. Mahamat said this threatens to make Africa the battleground of a new version of the Cold War. He called it a zero-sum game where the gains of others would translate into losses for Africa. He did not elaborate. Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse. Bangladesh will take steps to tackle and prevent unlawful practices or interference in its elections, authorities said on Thursday, a day after the United States threatened curbs on citizens of the South Asian nation who undermine them. Concern flared after accusations of vote-rigging and the targeting of the political opposition marred national elections in 2014 and 2018, charges denied by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the United States is adopting a new policy to restrict visas for Bangladeshis who undermine the democratic election process at home. "The government apparatus will take necessary measures to prevent and address any unlawful practices or interference to compromise the smooth and participatory conduct of the elections," the Bangladesh foreign ministry said in response. "The electoral process will remain under strict vigilance, including by international observers as accredited by the Election Commission," it added in a statement. The commission retains the ability to perform its functions in full independence, credibility and efficiency, the ministry said. Political analyst Badiul Alam Majumder welcomed the U.S. curbs. "I see this restriction as a preventive measure," he added. "This could avert efforts by individuals to rig elections in their favor." Hasina, who has kept tight control of the South Asian nation since coming to power in 2009, has been accused of human rights violations, obliteration of press freedom, suppression of dissent and the jailing of critics, including many supporters of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The BNP has been calling for Hasina to step down and for the next election, due in January 2024, to be held under a neutral caretaker government, a demand her government has rejected. "This new visa policy proves once again that the international community is certain that a free and fair election is not possible under this government," said a senior BNP leader, Zahir Uddin Swapon. Since December 2021, Washington has maintained sanctions on an elite police unit targeting crime and terrorism, which has been accused of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. A year after the brutal killing of 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, President Joe Biden is calling for common-sense gun laws that will limit access to military-style assault weapons. His political opponents have consistently resisted the move, and a year later, not much has changed. VOAs Anita Powell reports from Washington. UNITED NATIONS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Donors at a United Nations-backed event on Wednesday announced 2.4 billion U.S. dollars to provide life-saving and life-sustaining assistance for nearly 32 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Famine has been averted, thanks in part to the tremendous efforts of local communities, humanitarian organizations and authorities, as well as the support of donors. In the face of five consecutive poor rainy seasons, more than 30 million people received assistance in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, according to a press release. But the emergency is far from over, and additional resources are urgently required to prevent a return to the worst-case scenario. The humanitarian community requires 7 billion dollars for humanitarian response and protection for drought- and conflict-affected people in the region in 2023. The funds announced on Wednesday will allow humanitarian agencies to sustain aid pipelines of food, water, health care, nutrition and protection services. "We welcome the announcements of support for the people of the Horn of Africa, who need our sustained commitment to recover from a crisis of catastrophic proportions," said Joyce Msuya, assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and deputy emergency relief coordinator. "We must persist in pushing for stepped-up investments, especially to bolster the resilience of people already bearing the brunt of climate change." The Horn of Africa is the epicenter of one of the world's worst climate emergencies. An estimated 43,000 people died in 2022 in Somalia, most likely due to the drought, half of whom may have been children under age five. Millions remain displaced because of drought as well as conflict, the release said. Wednesday's event was held as improved rains are starting to ease the impacts of the drought, but they also bring new risks and challenges. Floods have already caused widespread damage and affected at least 900,000 people. More flooding is expected later this year, partly due to the forecasted El Nino phenomenon, potentially leading to further displacement, death and disease. Despite the relief brought by the rains, it will take years to recover from the historic drought. Representatives from non-governmental organizations, member states and experts debated solutions, ranging from long-term investment in people and infrastructure to alternative ways for people to earn a living and adapt to climate change, according to the release. The bodies of 18 Afghan migrants who died while being smuggled into Bulgaria were returned to Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Taliban government's Foreign Ministry said. Bulgarian authorities discovered the bodies in a secret compartment below a load of lumber in the back of a truck left on a highway not far from the capital, Sofia, in February. They confirmed all 18 had died of suffocation. Bulgarian authorities detained seven people in connection with the deaths. The director of Bulgaria's National Investigation Service described the case as the country's deadliest involving migrants. Borislav Sarafov, the director, said the migrants were "pressed against each other like in a tin can," which had caused their slow and painful deaths. He described it as "an extraordinary human tragedy." The ministry's deputy spokesman in Kabul, Zia Ahmad Takal, said his government paid for the repatriation of the bodies. He blamed the Bulgarian legal process for their delayed return and the "cruel banking restrictions" imposed on Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from the country. Takal said the bodies were handed back to the families and urged Afghans not to risk their lives on illegal smuggling routes. Another 34 Afghan migrants on the same truck survived the ordeal, but they were dehydrated and suffered frostbite. They had entered Bulgaria from Turkey, hoping to reach Western Europe. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, they have imposed measures in line with their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia. They have barred women from public spaces and banned girls' education beyond the sixth grade. The international community has decried the Taliban's actions, leading to the country's further isolation as it faces an economic crisis and drought threat. A court sentenced four Hong Kong students for their role in a prevented bomb plot. The four previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause an explosion after police thwarted their plot and arrested them in July 2021. The alleged targets included court buildings. Judge Alex Lee said the oldest defendant in the group, 21-year-old Alexander Au, was more culpable in the plot, given his involvement in renting a hotel room and carrying out reconnaissance of targeted buildings. Au was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison. The other defendants, who are between 17 and 20 years old, played lesser roles, the judge said, and were ordered to be sent to juvenile rehabilitation facilities. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. The fighting in Sudan has destroyed hospitals and medical care in the country, and patients who fled the conflict are desperate for treatment. In the absence of medical aid, a Sudanese pharmacist who fled Sudan in recent weeks is doing what he can to help other refugees at a camp in neighboring Chad. Henry Wilkins reports from Koufrone, Chad. Sporadic clashes between the Sudanese army and a powerful paramilitary force spilled over into Thursday, puncturing the relative calm in the capital of Khartoum and raising the risk that a week-long internationally-brokered truce would crumble. The cease-fire, which is being monitored by Saudi Arabia and the United States as well as the warring parties, was reached after five weeks of warfare in Khartoum and outbursts of violence in other parts of Sudan, including the western region of Darfur. The fighting pits Sudan's army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and has worsened a humanitarian crisis, forced over 1.3 million people to flee their homes and threatened to destabilize the wider region. The army, led by career officer General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, relies on airpower while the RSF, commanded by former militia leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, has spread out and taken cover in Khartoum's streets. It is unclear whether either side has gained an edge in a conflict that threatens to create a large-scale humanitarian crisis and destabilize regional countries. Clashes between rival military factions broke out on Wednesday in Khartoum and other cities, residents said. The city of Zalingei, capital of Central Darfur State, has been under siege by armed militia for the past few days, and the U.N. refugee agency's Darfur coordinator Toby Harward called on authorities to regain control of the city. Telecommunications have been cut off, and gangs roaming the city on motorcycles have attacked hospitals, government and aid offices, banks, and homes. A similar situation has been reported in the West Darfur State capital El Geneina, which has also been subject to a telecommunication blackout for several days after hundreds were killed in militia attacks. Failed cease-fire The cease-fire was agreed to on Saturday following talks in Jeddah mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States. Previous cease-fire announcements have failed to stop the fighting. In statements late on Wednesday, the army and RSF accused each other of violating the agreement. The RSF said it was forced to defend itself against land, artillery and air strikes by the army. The army in turn accused the RSF of attacks on the country's mint, army airbases and several cities west of the capital. Sudan's armed forces issued a statement accusing the RSF of breaching the cease-fire. They claimed to have repelled the attacks and destroyed six enemy vehicles. The conflict erupted in mid-April as plans for an internationally backed political transition toward elections under a civilian government were set to be finalized. U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA said agencies were ready to deliver aid to more than 4 million people, but that bureaucratic blockages as well as security issues were hampering distribution. Out of the 168 trucks ready to deliver assistance, just a small number were on the move from Port Sudan to Gadaref, Kassala and Al Gezira, an aid official told Reuters. Many residents are struggling to survive as they face prolonged water and power cuts, a collapse of health services and widespread lawlessness and looting. Sudan was facing severe humanitarian pressures even before the conflict broke out. More than 1 million people have been displaced within Sudan and 319,000 have fled to neighboring countries, some of which are similarly impoverished and have a history of internal conflict, according to the International Organization for Migration. SEE ALSO: A related video by Henry Wilkins Many have crossed into Chad and Egypt in the last few days, said Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency. Iran on Thursday unveiled a new liquid-fueled ballistic missile. State media said the missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers with a 1,500-kilogram warhead. State television showed what it said was a successful test launch of the missile. Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said the missile could be readied for launch in a short period of time. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Among a small number of ambassadors who remain in Kabul, Wang Yu, Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, appears the busiest. This week, Wang met with three Taliban ministers, two of whom are particularly shunned by Western diplomats Sirajuddin Haqqani, the interior minister who has a $10 million terrorism bounty over his head from the United States, and Nida Mohammad Nadem, the higher education minister who has closed universities for Afghan girls. Like his counterpart in Kabul, Sayed Muhayuddin Sadaat, the Talibans ambassador in Beijing, maintains a busy schedule meeting nationwide with Chinese government and corporate officials. China is among a small number of countries that host a Taliban charge daffaires. Short of a formal recognition, Beijing has practically treated the Taliban regime as not only Afghanistans legitimate government but also a trade, investment and security partner. A crucial driving factor behind China's shift lies in its preference for political systems that guarantee longer-term predictability in bilateral relationships, even if led by Islamist groups like the Taliban, Javid Ahmad, a former Afghan ambassador, told VOA. The Chinese leaders operate under the assumption that their success in the competition with the West hinges on their leverage over smaller intermediary states like Afghanistan. 3-3 policy Even while sharing a rugged and always closed 92-kilometer-long border with Afghanistan, China has traditionally treated the country distantly, saying it follows a policy of 3 Respects and 3 Nevers. China respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, respects the independent choices made by the Afghan people, and respects the religious beliefs and national customs of Afghanistan, reads a policy statement issued by Chinas foreign ministry on April 12. Perhaps it is out of that respect that China has failed to take any punitive action against the Taliban, which, according to the United Nations and other independent human rights groups, has imposed a nationwide gender-apartheid regime denying women the most basic human rights. China never interferes in Afghanistans internal affairs, never seeks selfish interests in Afghanistan, and never pursues so-called sphere of influence, the policy statement continues. Lithium deposits Around the world, Beijing has been accused of maintaining a highly exploitative policy toward low-income countries in Asia and Africa, where Chinese companies have invested in mine extraction and large construction projects. After signing an oil extraction contract with a Chinese firm earlier this year, Taliban officials now say China is interested in investing in lithium mining in Afghanistan. Landlocked Afghanistan reportedly has more than $1 trillion worth of precious minerals, including the highly sought-after lithium deposits used in rechargeable batteries. Part and parcel of the way they [China] approach a bilateral relationship is extractive, literally and figuratively extractive, looking for advantages that they can take from a bilateral relationship, including the potential for critical minerals, John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, told reporters Wednesday in response to a VOA question about recent rapprochements in China-Taliban relations. Chinese interests in Afghanistans natural resources are not new, as it signed a multibillion-dollar copper mining contract with the former Afghan government in 2007, though the project never started. The recent oil deal signed with the Taliban is the same one CNPC [China National Petroleum Corporation] reached back in 2011. The regime asked the Chinese to sign a new deal, or the project would not be allowed to continue, Yun Sun, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center, told VOA. China is still concerned about instability in Afghanistan and is unlikely to invest in mining there in the near future, she said. Targeting Uyghurs Accused of torturing minority Muslim Uyghurs in indoctrination camps, Chinese communist leaders have voiced concerns about allowing safe havens for Uyghur militants in neighboring Afghanistan. Chinas main concern is possible arms sale to Uyghurs and the group reorganizing to establish tactical partnerships with other militants, said Ahmad, the former Afghan ambassador. The Taliban say no terrorist group will be allowed to use the Afghan territory against other countries, including the Uyghur dissident group, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement. Within the Taliban, the Haqqani faction manages Uyghur affairs, and they have traded certain concessions to the Chinese in exchange for surveillance systems and cash, Ahmad said. Under an agreement made with the United States in 2020, the Taliban pledged they would not permit safe havens for al-Qaida and its affiliates in areas under the groups control a commitment U.S. officials say the Taliban broke by hosting former al-Qaida leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri in downtown Kabul. [The] Talibans religious conviction determines it cannot abandon its Muslim brothers, Sun said. Condemned and sanctioned by the Western countries, the Taliban regime appears desperate for approval from regional countries in exchange for mining deals and security assurances. New developments: Russias Federal Security Service said two Ukrainians were arrested for a plot to blow up power lines and two nuclear plants in Russia, according to Russian news agencies. The United States is hosting a virtual meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group with the Pentagon saying it expects the talks Thursday to focus on ground-based air defenses, ammunition and training Ukrainian forces on F-16 fighters. Ukraine said Thursday its forces shot down 36 Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia used to attack areas in western Ukraine. Ukraines Defense Ministry said Russian forces presumably aimed to attack critical infrastructure and military facilities. Russia has repeatedly used aerial attacks, including attacks involving crashing drones into targets to damage infrastructure sites in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on Telegram that it had been an uneasy night. Continuing to terrorize Ukraine, the enemy used 36 Shaheds. None of them reached their target. Thanks to our air defense forces for the 100% result," Zelenskyy said. In Crimea, the Russian-appointed governor said Thursday that air defenses shot down six drones overnight. Sergei Aksyonov said on Telegram no one was killed or injured. Bakhmut fight The head of Russias Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said in a video published Thursday that his forces had begun withdrawing from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Prigozhin said the Russian military was coming in to replace the Wagner forces and that his units would complete their withdrawal by June 1. The announcement came a day after Prigozhin said the lengthy battle for Bakhmut left 20,000 of his fighters dead. Prigozhin said about half of those killed were Russian convicts who were promised their freedom from sentences for criminal offenses if they fought in Ukraine for six months. But the mercenaries were often sent to the battle front with scant training and often were killed soon after in fierce combat with better-trained Ukrainian troops. White House officials said Prigozhins casualty estimate was in line with their own that Russian losses have accelerated. Russia claimed in recent days it has captured Bakhmut, while Ukrainian officials say they have not given up the fight for the city and are trying to surround it. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. A Lebanese judge has banned the country's central bank governor Riad Salameh from travelling, days after Beirut received an Interpol Red Notice following a French arrest warrant, a judicial official said Wednesday. Salameh has been the target of a series of judicial investigations both at home and abroad on allegations including embezzlement, money laundering, fraud and illicit enrichment, which he denies. French investigators suspect that during his three decades as central bank chief, Salameh misused public funds to accumulate real estate and banking assets concealed through a complex and fraudulent financial network. On Wednesday, judge Imad Qabalan questioned Salameh and "decided to release him pending investigation, ban him from travelling, and confiscate his Lebanese and French passports," the official told AFP, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. Activists say the travel ban on the central bank chief helps shield him from being brought to justice abroad and from potentially bringing down others in Lebanon's entrenched political class. "The Lebanese judiciary, with the exception of a few judges, has shown that it is not independent. It is biased for politicians who steer it the way they want," charged lawyer and activist Karim Daher. "The corrupt Lebanese regime... has no interest in Salameh being tried abroad and spilling the beans" about the political class's financial activities, he told AFP. Interpol circulated a Red Notice last week after a French magistrate issued a warrant for Salameh, who failed to appear for questioning in Paris before investigators probing his sizeable assets across Europe. An Interpol Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant but asks authorities worldwide to provisionally detain people pending possible extradition or other legal actions. Lebanon does not extradite its nationals, but Salameh could go on trial in Lebanon if local judicial authorities decide the accusations against him are founded, an official previously told AFP. Qabalan asked the French judiciary to refer Salameh's file to Beirut in order to "determine whether the Lebanese judiciary will prosecute him for the crimes he is accused of in France or not," the official added. Salameh "asked the judge to try him in Lebanon and not to extradite him to France," the official said. Also Wednesday, Germany notified Lebanon's general prosecutor that it too had issued an arrest warrant for Salameh, the judicial official said, adding that Munich's public prosecutor would submit the warrant to Interpol shortly. Salameh has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and continues to serve as central bank governor. His mandate ends in July. In March 2022, France, Germany and Luxembourg seized assets worth $130 million in a move linked to a probe into Salameh's wealth. In February, Lebanon charged Salameh with embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion as part of its own investigations. The domestic probe was opened following a request for assistance from Switzerland's public prosecutor looking into more than $300 million in fund movements by Salameh and his brother. This year, European investigators have questioned Salameh in Beirut, also hearing from his assistant Marianne Hoayek, his brother Raja, a Lebanese minister and central bank audit firms. The judicial official said Wednesday that a judge had notified Raja Salameh and Hoayek that they were due to appear before the French judiciary respectively on May 31 and June 13. Since 2019, Lebanon has plunged into an economic crisis deemed by the World Bank as one of the planet's worst since the mid-19th century. Swiss watchmaker Swatch said Tuesday that Malaysian authorities raided its stores and confiscated 164 watches from its Pride Collection. It said Ministry of Home Affairs officials raided its outlets in various malls across Malaysia on May 13 and 14 and seized the watches because they "bore LGBT connotations." The watches come in a choice of six colors, matching those on the gay pride flag, and have two rainbow loops on their straps. "We strongly contest that our collection of watches using rainbow colors and having a message of peace and love could be harmful for whomever," Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek Jr. said in a statement. "On the contrary, Swatch always promotes a positive message of joy in life. This is nothing political. We wonder how the Regulatory and Enforcement Division of the Home Ministry will confiscate the many beautiful natural rainbows that are showing up a thousand times a year in the sky of Malaysia," he said. Predominantly Muslim Malaysia criminalizes same-sex relationships, with punishments ranging from caning under Islamic laws to 20 years in prison for sodomy under colonial-era civil laws. The opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party recently criticized a scheduled concert in November by British band Coldplay because of its support of the LGBT movement. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution told the AP that he is waiting for a full report on the matter before issuing a statement. Swatch said it has resumed selling the Pride Collection watches and that its legal department is looking into the seizure. Gay rights group Jejaka slammed the confiscation of the watches, saying it showed "a deeply unsettling level of intolerance." "It is more than a matter of colorful watches. It's about respect for diversity, freedom of expression, and, most importantly, love," it said in a statement. It urged the government to promote a culture of acceptance and understanding rather than repression and discrimination. A car crashed Thursday into the gates of Downing Street in central London, where the British prime minister's home and offices are located, setting off a rapid, intense security response at one of London's most-fortified sites. No one was injured, and police said they were not treating the incident as terror related. Police arrested a man on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, and local officers, rather than counterterrorism detectives, were handling the investigation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in his office at the time of the crash. It was not immediately clear whether the crash was deliberate. Video footage posted on social media showed a silver hatchback car heading straight for the gates at low speed across Whitehall, the main thoroughfare in London's government district. "I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with Taser guns shouting at the man," said witness Simon Parry, 44. "A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area." The BBC showed a photo of officers leading away a man with handcuffed hands behind his back. Footage shot soon after showed a car with its trunk open up against the tall metal gates. Several police officers minutely inspected the vehicle, removing items from the trunk and inside the car and placing them in evidence bags. About two hours after the crash, a car transporter arrived to take the vehicle away. Officers cordoned off a wide area of London's government district, but lifted the barriers less than two hours after the incident took place, allowing people back into Whitehall. The street normally teems with civil servants and tourists keen to see the nearby Houses of Parliament and other historical buildings. "A small cordon remains in place outside Downing Street after a car collided with the gates earlier this afternoon," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. "The incident is being dealt with by local officers in Westminster and isn't currently being treated as terror-related." Downing Street is a narrow street with a row of Georgian houses that includes the prime minister's official residence at No. 10. Public access to the street is restricted and the heavy steel gates are protected at all times by armed police officers. Bollards and metal crowd barriers also help keep threats at bay. Seats of power around the world are often magnets for protest and sometimes violent attack. The incident came three days after a man crashed a rented truck into a security barrier outside the White House in Washington, got out and began waving around a Nazi flag. Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, has been charged with damaging U.S. property. Youth representatives of 2023 "Global Young Leaders Dialogue" traveled to Nanjing, the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, where they witnessed a vibrant city with ancient civilization and innovative vitality. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, is to be sentenced Thursday for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors have asked Judge Amit Mehta to impose a 25-year prison sentence on Rhodes for plotting to block Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election victory. A Washington jury in November convicted Rhodes, 57, and Kelly Meggs, 53, leader of the Oath Keepers' Florida chapter, of the rarely pursued charge of seditious conspiracy. The 12-person jury acquitted three other members of the Oath Keepers of the sedition charge but convicted them of lesser offenses such as obstructing an official proceeding. Rhodes, a former soldier and Yale Law School graduate, and the four other group members were accused of plotting to keep Trump in power and overturn the results of the presidential election won by Biden. During a nearly two-week trial, prosecutors said the Oath Keepers "concocted a plan for an armed rebellion ... plotting to oppose by force the government of the United States." More than 1,000 Trump supporters have been arrested for their roles in the assault on Congress, but most of them have faced less serious charges than those lodged against Rhodes and the other Oath Keepers. The stiffest sentence handed out to a January 6 rioter so far was 14 years to a man who had an extensive criminal history. Rhodes' lawyers have asked Mehta to sentence the Oath Keepers founder to 16 months behind bars - the time he has already spent in detention. Six members of the Oath Keepers and four members of another right-wing extremist group, the Proud Boys, have been convicted of seditious conspiracy in three separate trials. During Rhodes' trial, prosecutors accused the Oath Keepers of stocking weapons at a hotel near Washington and joining the crowd that stormed the Capitol. Prosecutors showed videos of the attack by dozens of group members dressed in military-style combat gear. Prosecutors also showed the jury text messages between Rhodes and his followers that called for action if Trump himself failed to act to prevent certification of Biden as the next president. Rhodes did not personally enter the Capitol but directed his followers like a battlefield general, prosecutors said. Rhodes took the witness stand during the trial and denied his group planned to assault the congressional complex, saying they were in Washington only to provide security at rallies. Speaking in military terminology, he admitted that a number of Oath Keepers went "off-mission" and entered the building. "I think it was stupid to go into the Capitol. It opened the door for the political persecution of us. And that's where we are," Rhodes said. A Nepali climber who scaled Mount Everest for a record 28th time this week, the most by any mountaineer, said on Thursday he had no immediate plans to hang up his climbing boots. Kami Rita Sherpa, 53, who reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit of the world's highest mountain on Tuesday, returned to the Nepali capital of Kathmandu to a hero's welcome. He was surrounded by friends and family after flying by helicopter from Lukla, gateway to Everest climbs. "If my health permits I'll continue [climbing] next year," he told reporters in Nepali. His latest climb was the second time he had scaled the mountain to the summit within a week. A British climber, Kenton Cool, climbed the peak last week for the 17th time, the most ascents by a foreigner. Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has climbed every year since then except in 2014, 2015 and 2020 when authorities closed the mountain for various reasons. Sherpas come mainly from the Solukhumbu district, home to Mount Everest and several other peaks, and are known for their climbing skills. They earn a living mainly by guiding foreign clients to Everest and other Himalayan peaks. Nepal issued a record of 478 permits to Everest for the current climbing season that ends this month as the monsoon rains are expected to lash the Himalayas and lowlands. Hundreds of climbers have made it to the top this season while 11 mountaineers have died and three climbers have gone missing on the slopes of the mountain. Mountain climbing is a key source of employment and income for the cash-strapped nation, home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, including Mount Everest. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, made up of military leaders from about 50 nations, met Thursday to discuss what Kyiv needs to counter Russian invaders, along with plans for Ukrainians to train on and acquire F-16 fighter jets. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb has details. Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the anti-government Oath Keepers militia, and a former top lieutenant were sentenced on Thursday to 18 and 12 years in prison respectively for their roles in the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Rhodes' sentence is the longest imposed so far on any defendant in the attack by supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Prosecutors wanted 25 years for Rhodes and 21 years for Kelly Meggs, the leader of the militia's Florida chapter. The previous longest sentence had been 14 years. Rhodes and Meggs were convicted in November of seditious conspiracy against the U.S. government for leading the bloody assault while Congress was preparing to confirm current U.S. President Joe Biden's electoral victory over Trump. "You, sir, represent an ongoing threat and peril to this country and to the republic and to the very fabric of this democracy," U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta told Rhodes before handing down the lengthy sentence. 'Grave threat' In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, "Today's sentences reflect the grave threat the actions of these defendants posed to our democratic institutions." FBI Director Christopher Wray said the sentences reflect the bureau's commitment "to hold accountable individuals who committed criminal acts on January 6, 2021, as well as those who plotted to interfere with the lawful transfer of power." Rhodes, who founded Oath Keepers in 2009, stood outside the Capitol on January 6 acting like a "general surveying his troops on the battlefield," according to prosecutors, while Meggs led "a military-style stack" of 14 Oath Keepers up the steps, into the building, and into the rotunda. The deadly rampage, joined by nearly 2,000 rioters, led to the deaths of five people, injured more than 100 police officers, and sparked one of the largest criminal investigations in U.S. history. More than 1,000 people have been arrested on charges related to the attack, and the FBI says it's looking for hundreds more. A defiant Rhodes took the stand before his sentencing to declare that he is a "political prisoner" an "American Solzhenitsyn" and that his "only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country." Claiming that the Oath Keepers, unlike the far-right Proud Boys, is a nonviolent group, Rhodes said he did not want his followers to enter the Capitol and admonished them when he learned they had breached the grounds. But prosecutors portrayed Rhodes, a Yale-educated former Army paratrooper, as the mastermind of the plot and said he used his influence as the militia chief to get his men to use "force, intimidation and violence" to overturn the election. While dozens of Oath Keepers stormed the Capitol at Rhodes' direction, according to prosecutors, armed "quick reaction force" teams were on standby outside Washington, ready to deploy into the city in support of the assault on the Capitol. Defendant expresses regret Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler said in court on Thursday that except for Rhodes, Meggs, a former car dealership manager, was the "intellectual and moral leader" of the January 6 conspiracy. "It was Meggs telling the Oath Keepers: do this or die," Nestler said. Pleading for leniency, an emotional Meggs expressed regret for being involved in "an event that put such a black eye for our country" but insisted that "I was not there to cause or instigate violence." Echoing a defense claim throughout the Oath Keepers trial, Meggs said there was no plan to breach the Capitol and that the Oath Keepers were in Washington to provide security for Trump supporters. Mehta was not convinced. He cited an encrypted message recovered by prosecutors in which Meggs declared to his followers in Florida that "this is the moment we signed up for" and that "the real question is who is willing to DIE." Then Meggs headed to Washington with a cache of weapons "many of them in your truck" and hid them at a hotel outside the city for "emergency purposes," Mehta said. "Why do you need that for a security detail?" he asked. Mehta said he imposed a shorter sentence on Meggs than on Rhodes in part because he did not pose the same threat as the Oath Keepers leader. Meggs's 12-year sentence is the third-longest imposed on a January 6 defendant. Earlier this month, another January defendant, Pennsylvania welder Peter Schwartz, was sentenced to a little more than 14 years. Rhodes and Meggs were tried along with three other Oath Keepers last year Jessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson and Thomas Caldwell. The trio were acquitted of seditious conspiracy but found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting. Watkins and Harrelson are scheduled to be sentenced on Friday. The Oath Keepers is one of two far-right groups whose leaders have been convicted of seditious conspiracy for the January 6 assault. Earlier this month, Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio and three associates were also found guilty of the charge. 14 convicted In all, 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves noted that more people have been convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the January 6 attack than any other criminal event since the statute was enacted during the Civil War. "Today's sentencing affirms the rule of law and imposes substantial consequences on Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs who, together, conspired to violently attack our government and our democracy," Graves said in a statement. Composed primarily of military veterans and former law enforcement officers, Oath Keepers see themselves as part of a broader patriot movement that believes that the government is infringing on their rights. In recent years, they have used anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Although they disavow violence, several members have been convicted of serious crimes over the past decade. (Editor's note: This update corrects Kelly Meggs' sentence to 12 years from more than 15 years) Seated on his mothers lap, one-year old Jeon Tyler Ancheta gets vaccinated for measles and rubella. Jeon Tyler lets out a short cry after the needle is pulled out of his arm, but hes comforted by his mother while a doctor enthusiastically says good. Theres a line of parents who brought their kids to get vaccinated at this local health clinic. Its a positive sign in a country that has a large number of unvaccinated children. The Philippines has about one-million children who have not received a single routine vaccination according to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF). The country is ranked in the top five globally for the highest number of zero-dose children. In addition, there are many kids who are only partially vaccinated for diseases that require multiple shots including measles. So, health departments across the country have teamed up with UNICEF and the World Health Organization for a nationwide vaccine campaign. Robert Pascual Jr. came to this clinic with his two-year old daughter Zafeerah. When she grows up, I want her to be protected and safe, Pascual said although he acknowledged having some vaccine hesitancy until recently. The reasons behind the high number of unvaccinated children in the Philippines include strict lockdowns during the pandemic that kept families from routine medical appointments. Many Filipinos also have lingering mistrust of vaccines after more than 800,000 Filipino children received a dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, which was later shown to increase the risk of a severe form of the disease in some people. Several studies show the Dengvaxia debacle caused a drop in Filipino parents trust of vaccines, even with vaccines that have been routine for children for decades. Health officials in the Philippines say this led to measles outbreaks. There are myths that these particular vaccines give you the disease itself. So, theres a lot of controversies, says Dr. Jennifer Lou Lorico-De Guzman, medical coordinator for the national immunization program for the city of Taguig. We are trying to educate the public about the importance of vaccines, she adds. Health advocates such as Ma. Nieves Bulalacao are hitting the streets to talk to parents. On a recent morning, Bulalacao walked through Taguigs side streets and alleyways alongside nurse Gigi Quintero who carried a cooler stocked with ice packs and vaccines for measles as well as rubella. Were trying to find parents with children who need to be vaccinated, Bulalacao said. Together they went door to door telling parents how contagious diseases like measles are and that vaccines are the best way to protect their children. They came across Stephanie Opider whose three children need to be vaccinated. Its dangerous because measles can spread quickly, Bulalacao told Opider. The childrens father, Joeson Dalanon, is afraid vaccinations could harm their kids. I hear there are lots of kids who die so I didnt want them to get vaccinated, Dalanon said. These parents are especially concerned about their middle child, three-year-old King Andrei, who they say gets convulsions whenever he gets a fever. Eventually the parents agree, seemingly reluctantly, to let Quintero vaccinate all three of their children. Bulalacao acknowledges that more work needs to be done so that parents can feel confident that vaccination is the right decision. We have to keep reassuring them that these routine vaccines will not harm their kids, she said. At a clinic in Taguigs Maharlika neighborhood, Suhaira Bago lines up with her two-year-old daughter Alicia for a measles and rubella vaccination. Theyre part of this neighborhoods Muslim community and Bago says some families refuse to let their children get inoculated. Many of the [grandparents] have a lot of influence over these decisions in their family, Bago says. They say they didnt get the vaccine so their [grandchildren] dont need it either. The issue with the [Dengvaxia] vaccine only added to this feeling for many. Cristina Rakim, a city health worker in this neighborhood whos also Muslim, says outreach teams are investing significant time in this community. Were trying to convince parents and grandparents how much safer their children and grandchildren will be if theyre vaccinated, Rakim said. Two-year-old Alicia didnt even flinch when the needle went in and out of her arm. Her mother smiled when she later said, I know this measles and rubella vaccine will protect my child. Iranian authorities on Thursday executed a man in public in front of large crowds, a rights group said, denouncing a "medieval" practice as the Islamic republic presses on with a surge in hangings. The man, who had been convicted of the capital crime of "corruption on earth," was executed in the city of Maragheh in the northern province of East Azerbaijan, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights said. "The international community cannot endorse such medieval practices," said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, adding the execution shows the "true face of a government that tries to prolong its life with cruelty, humiliation and intimidation of society." The images posted on Iranian news websites showed what appeared to be hundreds of people gathered to watch the execution, kept at a distance behind a security tape, as prosecutors addressed reporters. The man was shown blindfolded next to his two executioners in balaclavas. Another image showed him standing on a chair ahead of the execution with the noose round his neck, the rope attached to a crane. The convict, who was first arrested about five years ago and not named, had been found guilty of charges related to his relations with women although the specific nature of the alleged crimes was not immediately clear. Iran executes more people annually than any nation other than China, according to rights groups including Amnesty International, but public executions are relatively rare with almost all hangings carried out inside prisons. There were no public executions in 2021, according to IHR. In July 2022, the city of Shiraz publicly hanged a man convicted of murdering a policeman, and in December in the city of Mashhad executed Mohsen Rahnavard, who had taken part in the recent wave of anti-government protests and had been convicted of murdering militia agents. But the latest execution is especially unusual in that it took place during the day in front of large crowds with a large media presence. Both the executions in public in 2022 appeared to have taken place before dawn with almost no onlookers. Iran is in a surge in executions, which rights groups say is aimed at intimidating the public after the wave of protests that erupted in September 2022 after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini following her arrest for allegedly flouting the country's strict dress rules. Seven men have been hanged so far in protest-related cases, while Amnesty International warned this week another seven men are at risk of being executed in connection with the protests. According to IHR, 278 people have been executed so far this year. Russia and Belarus signed a pact Thursday allowing Moscow to relocate an undisclosed number of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus as Russias invasion of neighboring Ukraine enters its 16th month. The Kremlin says it will maintain control of the shorter-range warheads to be transferred to its ally. It was not announced when the weapons would be sent there but Russian President Vladimir Putin has said storage facilities in Belarus would be completed by July 1. The U.S. and Western allies have often warned Russia against the use of tactical nuclear warheads in the Ukraine conflict but also said at times they do not believe Moscow was on the verge of doing so. Tactical nuclear weapons are intended for use in killing enemy troops and destroying armaments on the battlefield. They can be deployed for relatively short-range attacks and have a much lower yield than nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles that can wipe out whole cities. Both Belarusian and Russian officials characterized the transfer of the tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus as a response to Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive to try to retake Russian-controlled territory in eastern and southern Ukraine. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, in Minsk at a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, said, "Deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons is an effective response to the aggressive policy of countries unfriendly to us." Shoigu said, "In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere." Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya blasted the new agreement. "We must do everything to prevent Putin's plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will ensure Russia's control over Belarus for years to come," Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. "This will further jeopardize the security of Ukraine and all of Europe." Some material in this report came from The Associated Press. A move by Vietnam to make all social media users verify their identity is a way to curb one of the few remaining spaces for criticism and independent journalism, analysts say. Vietnam's Ministry of Information earlier in May announced an amendment to the Telecommunications Law that will require foreign and local social media networks to confirm the identities of their users. Those who refuse or fail to comply could find their accounts blocked. The ministry said the change which if approved would go into effect later in 2023 is necessary to combat cybercrime. But digital rights and press freedom experts say it will make it harder for people to criticize the government in a country where those who do so publicly are often persecuted. "To force internet users to give up their actual identity and to sacrifice their anonymity is going to shut down freedom of expression on the internet, which is something that is much more damaging than some digital crimes committed by some very few people," said Trinh Huu Long. The founder of the journalism and research group Legal Initiatives for Vietnam grew up in Vietnam but now lives in Taiwan. "We are in a difficult time for digital freedom, as well as human rights in Vietnam in general," Long told VOA. Vietnam's Washington embassy did not reply to VOA's email requesting comment. If approved, the legal measure will enable authorities to track down those suspected of breaking laws, the state-run Voice of Vietnam newspaper reported. Sometimes authorities can identify a social media account linked to someone suspected of breaking a law, but they are unable to track down the individual, the deputy minister of information, Nguyen Thanh Lam, was cited as saying. "Unverified accounts, no matter on local or foreign platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, will be dealt with," he said. Vietnam has one of highest rates of online fraud in Asia, but digital rights and press freedom experts maintain that the measure has less to do with criminal activity and is designed more to limit criticism of the government. In a country with limited space for critical voices "online anonymity has been extremely effective in promoting freedom of expressions," said Michael Caster, who covers Asia for the digital rights group Article 19. But "real name registration schemes can be easily abused by the authorities and can become a tool of repression." While online anonymity may not fall under freedom of expression, it is part of the right to privacy, and both are protected by international human rights law, Caster told VOA. "Identity verification requirements generally curtail the right to privacy online," Caster said, adding, "Online circumvention and tools for anonymity are also crucial for journalists, human rights defenders, political opposition figures, and marginalized communities." Vietnam already has one of the world's worst press freedom environments, ranking alongside North Korea and China for dire media rights. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, ranked Vietnam 178 out of 180 countries, where 1 shows the best environment. With few independent news outlets able to operate inside Vietnam, bloggers and citizen journalists offer a rare critical voice. But those voices are often targeted. At least 42 journalists are currently detained in Vietnam, according to RSF. The rights group Freedom House has classified Vietnam's internet landscape as "not free." And the proposed regulation is the latest in a series of moves designed to curb internet freedoms and quell criticism in Vietnam, according to Dhevy Sivaprakasam, who focuses on Asia for the digital rights group Access Now. "This is another tool they're going to use against activists and critics and people who dissent against the regime," Sivaprakasam told VOA from Singapore. "It's just one in a series of other online and cyber-related regulations that could be abused." Sivaprakasam pointed to Vietnam's criminal code, which prohibits speech that is critical of the government, as another example. In 2018, Vietnam passed a sweeping cybersecurity law that gave authorities the power to censor users' posts and force tech companies to turn over user data. "It was very effective in spreading fear among the public," Long said about the cybersecurity law. That law left people feeling too scared to talk about political issues that the government might deem sensitive, Sivaprakasam said. He believes a mandatory identity verification regulation will only exacerbate that climate. "This is going to create some kind of even bigger fear than we are having right now," he said. "And that fear is going to be much more damaging." As far as internet and press freedom issues go, Vietnam is not an outlier in Southeast Asia. U.N. experts have said Myanmar's military is trying to use internet shutdowns to establish a "digital dictatorship" following its 2021 coup, and last summer the Indonesian government introduced legislation requiring tech companies to remove content that it deems unlawful or that "disturbs public order." On the RSF World Press Freedom Index, 9 of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are ranked in the bottom half. Malaysia, the exception, ranks 73 out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom. Taiwan's order of 66 advanced new F-16V fighter jets from the United States will not be completed until 2026 because of software problems, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said Thursday, marking the latest delay in U.S. weapons deliveries since manufacturers turned their attention to Ukraine after Russia invaded last year. Earlier this month, the self-ruling island's defense minister said the delay was a result of supply chain disruptions, but on Thursday he added that the holdup was due to flight control software issues. "In principle by 2026 the 66 aircraft will all arrive. There is absolutely no problem with this," Chiu told reporters at parliament. The United States approved the $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan in 2019. Once complete, the deal will take the island's F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, the most in Asia, according to Reuters. The defense buildup is important to Taiwan because of rising concerns that China will try to take the island which Beijing claims as its own by force. Since last year, Taiwan has complained about delays of U.S. weapons deliveries, including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. Manufacturers have turned supplies to Ukraine after Russia invaded last year. But to the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, delivering weapons to Taiwan is an urgent priority. On Wednesday, the committee adopted 10 policy recommendations for Congress, including that the United States should deliver the "backlogged" military equipment Taiwan had ordered. Several other recommendations also related to bolstering Taiwan's defense capabilities. The first two F-16s in the order were supposed to have been delivered between October and December of this year, but that has been pushed back to between July and September of 2024, Taiwanese officials said this month. Lockheed spokesperson Liz Lutz told Bloomberg that the company is working "closely with the U.S. government to address challenges in support of U.S. security objectives." While visiting Taiwan last month, Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was trying to speed up the arms deliveries. "On the weapons issue, I sign off on those deliveries, and we are doing everything in our power to expedite this," he said. Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, told VOA Mandarin that foreign military support for Taiwan is "just one piece of the puzzle." Xiaoshan Xue contributed to this report. Some information in this report came from Reuters. South Korean and U.S. forces began live-fire exercises simulating a "full-scale attack" from North Korea on Thursday in what they said were the biggest such drills to demonstrate their "overwhelming" military capability against the North's threats. Howitzers pounded into a mountainside in Pocheon near the fortified border with North Korea, while battle tanks maneuvered and fired their guns at targets, sending smoke, dust and shockwaves across the valley. Some 2,500 troops from the South and the United States took part in the exercises, which will be held four more times from now until mid-June, South Korea's defense ministry said. "The exercise demonstrated our military's capability and readiness to strongly respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and to a full-scale attack," the ministry said in a news release, vowing to maintain "peace through overwhelming strength." Last week, North Korea's state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un had approved final preparations for the launch of the North's first military spy satellite. Kim has said it is necessary to counter threats from the U.S. and South Korea. Analysts say the satellite will improve North Korea's surveillance capability, enabling it to strike targets more accurately in the event of war. Recent commercial satellite imagery showed progress on a new launch pad in the North's satellite launching station, with activity at a "new level of urgency," most likely in preparation for the launch, the U.S.-based monitoring group 38 North said. U.S. and South Korean forces have been carrying out various training exercises in recent months, including air and sea drills involving U.S. B-1B bombers, after many drills were scaled back amid hopes for diplomatic efforts and COVID-19 restrictions. North Korea has reacted angrily to the drills, which it characterizes as preparation by U.S. and South Korean forces for an invasion. People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) HOUSTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. No city-sanctioned events are planned to mark the anniversary in Uvalde this week, citing privacy and security concerns. Even a scheduled city council meeting was canceled on Tuesday. Though authorities urged outsiders to stay away, the city community reportedly plans a memorial march through the town as well as a vigil on Wednesday. The Robb Elementary School, where an 18-year-old gunman committed the massacre one year ago, has been abandoned since then and is still awaiting demolition. Nearby there are 21 white crosses decorated with sunflowers and the names of the dead, serving as a memorial site. "May 24 is going to be a difficult day," Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said at a news briefing earlier this week, suggesting local residents need "space and privacy to reflect on the last year without the fear of intrusion." Throughout the past year, the families of the victims tried hard to advance a state law aimed to raise the minimum age to buy semi-automatic weapons, such as the AR-15 used in the shooting, from 18 to 21 years in Texas. But their efforts have been stalled by Republicans who dominate the state legislature. "Almost a year now, and honestly nothing has changed," Jesse Rizo, a relative of Jacklyn Cazares, one of the children killed in the shooting, told a Uvalde school board meeting held earlier this month. "We're just a number (to politicians)," Rizo said. "Common sense tells you that you can't have kids and innocent people dying at the mall, at schools, at Walmart. It's just not normal for that to happen, right?" Anger and disappointment are eating away at the families of the victims, media outlet El Pais USA observed. Furthermore, the Uvalde massacre, one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, is far from the last tragedy the country has suffered, it noted. According to Everytown For Gun Safety, an American nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control and against gun violence, in 2023 there have been at least 39 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, with 17 deaths and 30 injuries nationally. U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on Wednesday to remember those who lost their lives in Uvalde and reiterate his call for Republicans in Congress to act and help stop the epidemic of gun violence, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who noted that gun violence has become the number one killer of children in the country. Biden, a Democrat, has repeatedly urged the U.S. Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, saying that we "need to do more to protect our schools." However, it is unlikely that the divided Congress would approve the legislative proposal as the Republicans control the House of Representatives. "Gun reform" only means making it easier to buy and carry guns in some U.S. red states, led by Republicans, as mass shootings are on the rise in the country so far this year, a survey has found. At least 17 states, most of them led by Republicans, introduced bills this year trying to make it easier to buy, own and carry weapons, providing guns to teachers and declaring themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis issued last week. The United States is the country with the most civilian-held firearms in the world. With less than 5 percent of the world's population, it accounts for 46 percent of global civilian gun ownership. A child mourns for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at the former Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) This photo taken on May 24, 2023 shows flowers and toys placed to mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at the former Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the United States. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) This photo taken on May 24, 2023 shows pictures of victims of a school mass shooting placed at the former Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the United States. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) A man holds a placard to protest against gun violence at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) This photo taken on May 24, 2023 shows a wall painting mourning for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People attend a candlelight vigil for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People attend a candlelight vigil for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People attend a candlelight vigil for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) Children mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) A woman mourns for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People attend a candlelight vigil for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) A woman mourns for victims of a school mass shooting at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) A man attends a candlelight vigil for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) People attend a candlelight vigil for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States on May 24, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) This photo taken on May 24, 2023 shows items mourning for victims of a school mass shooting placed at a square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States. The one-year anniversary of the school shooting killing 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde in the U.S. state of Texas arrives on Wednesday, marked by deep frustration as gun violence appears more rampant across the country. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) Police in Japans central Nagano prefecture said Thursday that three people, including two police officers, were killed and a fourth person was injured in a knife and gun attack, with the suspected attacker holed up in a building in the city of Nakano. Japanese media report police responded to calls about a stabbing at about 4:25 p.m. local time in Nakano city, some 240 kilometers northwest of Tokyo. A witness told Japanese broadcaster NHK he saw a woman fleeing a man dressed in camouflage clothing. He said the woman fell and the man stabbed her. When they arrived at the scene, police said the assailant opened fire, striking two officers. The woman and both officers later died of their injuries at a local hospital. Witnesses said the suspect, who was also wearing a cap and sunglasses, fled the scene and holed up in a nearby building. Shots were later reported in the vicinity of the building. Investigators said a fourth person was injured but their condition is unknown. Residents have been advised not to leave home for non-urgent reasons, and children still at local schools were sheltering in place. Video shot by NHK as well as pictures from the scene show police with riot shields patrolling the area. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press and Reuters The top Chinese and U.S. business and trade officials are set to meet Thursday in Washington, Beijing announced, in what is an infrequent direct conversation between leaders of the world's two biggest economies. Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao is set to meet with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Wang's ministry confirmed, although Washington has not commented on the talks. While U.S. President Joe Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Bali last November, Thursday's trade talks in Washington would make it the first cabinet-level meeting in the U.S. capital between American and Chinese officials during the Biden administration. Wang is in the United States for the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, in Detroit, on Thursday and Friday. In the Washington talks, "The Chinese side will exchange views on China-U.S. relations and issues of common concern," Shu Jueting, the Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson, told a regular briefing in Beijing. On Monday, Wang met with representatives of U.S. firms in Shanghai, including Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Dow, Merck, and Honeywell, according to the Ministry of Commerce, telling them that "China will continue to welcome U.S.-funded enterprises to develop in China and achieve win-win results." But China on Sunday declared U.S. chip manufacturer Micron a national security risk and banned the firm from selling its memory chips to key domestic industries. The ban followed a series of raids on American consultancies operating in China. Wang's trip to the U.S. follows a recent summit in Hiroshima of the leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized countries, at which Biden and other G-7 leaders took aim at China over "economic coercion" and said they would "de-risk" without "decoupling" from the world's second-largest economy on an array of products. "China hopes the G-7 will not abuse trade and investment restrictions while saying that they will not seek to decouple from the country," Shu said. Wang met earlier in May with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns in Beijing, amid speculation about a visit from top U.S. officials. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a trip in February after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that flew over sensitive military sites. Raimondo and Blinken, as well as U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, have all expressed interest in visiting China. Some information in this report came from Reuters. State-sponsored Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical U.S. infrastructure networks, the United States, its Western allies and Microsoft said Wednesday while warning that similar espionage attacks could be occurring globally. Microsoft highlighted Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean with a vital military outpost, as one of the targets, but said "malicious" activity had also been detected elsewhere in the United States. The stealthy attack carried out by a China-sponsored actor dubbed "Volt Typhoon" since mid-2021 enabled long-term espionage and was likely aimed at hampering the United States if there was conflict in the region, it said. "Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises," the statement said. "In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors." Microsoft's statement coincided with an advisory released by U.S., Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and British authorities warning that the hacking was likely occurring globally. "This activity affects networks across US critical infrastructure sectors, and the authoring agencies believe the actor could apply the same techniques against these and other sectors worldwide," they said. 'Living off the land' The United States and its allies said the activities involved "living off the land" tactics, which take advantage of built-in network tools to blend in with normal Windows systems. It warned that the hacking could then incorporate legitimate system administration commands that appear "benign". Microsoft said the Volt Typhoon attack tried to blend into normal network activity by routing traffic through compromised small office and home office network equipment, including routers, firewalls and VPN hardware. "They have also been observed using custom versions of open-source tools," Microsoft said. Microsoft and the security agencies released guidelines for organizations to try to detect and counter the hacking. "It's what I would term a low and slow cyber activity," said Alastair MacGibbon, chief strategy officer at Australia's CyberCX and a former head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre. "This is someone wearing a camouflage vest and carrying a sniper rifle. You don't see them, they're not there," he told AFP. "When you think about something that can really cause catastrophic harm, it is someone with intent who takes time to get into systems." Once inside, the cyber attackers can steal information, he said. "But it also gives you the ability to carry out destructive acts at a later stage." 'Highly sophisticated' A number of other governments had found similar activity since the Volt Typhoon alert was issued, said Robert Potter, co-founder of Australian cybersecurity firm Internet 2.0. "I am not sure how communications infrastructure would be at risk from these attacks because those networks are highly resilient and difficult to bring down for more than small intervals," Potter told AFP. "However, the ongoing threat from China-based APT (advanced persistent threat) groups is real." The director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, said China had been stealing intellectual property and data worldwide for years. "Today's advisory, put out in conjunction with our U.S. and international partners, reflects how China is using highly sophisticated means to target our nation's critical infrastructure," Easterly said. China offered no immediate response to the allegations. But it routinely denies carrying out state-sponsored cyber-attacks. China in turn regularly accuses the United States of cyber espionage. Ukraines foreign minister has urged African nations to support his country and end their neutral stance on Russias invasion of Ukraine. In February, 22 of the African Union's 54 member states abstained or did not vote on a U.N. General Assembly resolution marking the one-year anniversary of the war that called for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. Two of them Eritrea and Mali voted against the resolution. At a news conference at AU headquarters in Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukrainian officials got very upset when the African countries voted to abstain in the vote. He said, You are abstaining from support of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity. Kuleba has been in Africa this week on a tour that also included Morocco and Rwanda. It is his second visit to Africa in less than a year, demonstrating, he said, Ukraines commitment to establishing a new era of relations with Africa, which, he admitted, has not received the proper attention in recent years. He told reporters he is trying to explain to African leaders that remaining neutral against Russia is not the answer. He said, By being neutral towards the Russian aggression against Ukraine you project your neutrality to the violation of borders and mass crimes that may occur very close to you if not, happen with you." In a pre-recorded message to African leaders gathering Thursday for an African Union anniversary celebration in Addis Ababa, Kuleba said supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia is not about being pro-Western or anti-Western, it is about respecting the U.N. charter, international law and order, as well as the right of every nation to choose its own peaceful path of development. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press, Reuters and the French news agency, AFP. Simmering grievances, political divides, a steady proliferation of online neo-Nazi propaganda, and the approach of the 2024 presidential election are keeping the United States stuck in a heightened threat environment, according to the latest warning from U.S. homeland security officials. The Department of Homeland Security reissued a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin Wednesday, saying a combination of anger, ideologies and opportunities pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland. This is the eighth time DHS has issued the bulletin since 2021, with this advisory replacing the previous warning, issued last November. It comes just days after a 19-year-old man from the state of Missouri crashed a rented truck into a White House security barrier before waving a Nazi flag, and as the nation marks the first anniversary of a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Recent tragic events highlight the continued heightened threat environment our nation faces, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. These threats are driven by violent extremists who seek to further their ideological beliefs and personal grievances, he said. We are working with partners across every level of government, within the private sector, and in local communities to keep Americans safe. As with previous advisories, the latest bulletin warns the biggest threat comes from individuals and small groups prepared to act either on personal grievances or a range of ideological beliefs. We continue to hear and see calls from domestic violent extremists based on ideological views, calls for violence, according to one senior official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by DHS. The tempo and the seriousness of those kinds of calls is still high and happening on a regular basis. For example, the DHS bulletin points to the May 6 shooting in Allen, Texas, noting the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, espoused both white supremacist and involuntary celibate, or incel, beliefs. It also highlighted a series of criminal acts in Georgia dating back to 2022, with the suspects allegedly citing a range of views from anarchism to animal rights for plotting an attack on a planned public safety training center. And government facilities are just part of a long list of potential targets, which includes the countrys critical infrastructure, faith-based groups, those associated with LGBTQIA+ community, racial and ethnic minorities, and schools. Senior homeland security officials said Wednesday that part of what makes the threat environment so dangerous is that the targets, like in some recent school shootings, may have little or nothing to do with an attackers motivation. It's not even clear that the school itself was actually tied in any way to the person's ideological narrative or grievance, said a second senior homeland security official, who like the first briefed on the condition of anonymity. It just serves as an opportunistic target. The official said that despite the serious concerns, there is no intelligence at this time to suggest specific groups or individuals are preparing for attacks. But some of the trends are worrisome. There does seem to be an increase in the calls for violence based on the neo-Nazi, white nationalist kind of theme, said the first official. That [neo-Nazi] theme is being propounded more effectively now than it was several years ago, the official added, saying that several prominent white supremacists texts have been gaining traction in online forums after being converted into audiobooks. Homeland security officials said they are also tracking the impact of calls, both publicly and online, for violence against migrants coming to the U.S. southern border. And they see a potential for danger as candidates start announcing their intentions to run for president and the 2024 election cycle gets underway. We expect that questions or concerns that individuals may have about that election cycle and the election process could, in fact, become a source of motivation for an individual to go that extra step toward a violent extremist act, the second official said. The danger will grow, he said, if the terminology surrounding the election starts to talk about it in existential or apocalyptic terms. Additionally, DHS officials said they continue to worry about threats from nation-state actors like Iran, as well as the potential threat from terror groups like Islamic State and al-Qaida, though some officials in recent months have downplayed the likelihood of a foreign terror attack on U.S. soil. The United States has targeted mid-level al-Shabab commanders and multiple junior finance officers with new sanctions. The U.S. State Department designated five commanders of the Somali militant group as global terrorists, while the U.S. Treasury designated 26 individuals and entities, including charcoal smugglers. Four of the five sanctioned are accused of involvement in collecting taxes for al-Shabab and attacks on civilians and Somali forces. The U.S. reported that al-Shabab generates an estimated $100 million annually that is collected through illicit taxations, mandatory donations and extortions. Among the operatives newly sanctioned is Mohamed Siidow, who is described as a finance emir and a commander in the group's armed wing, the Jabha. He is accused of overseeing illicit taxation operations in Aliyow Barrow village in the Lower Shabelle region. "He has also led al-Shabaab fighters in attacks and participated in attack planning operations utilizing improvised explosive devices [IEDs]," according to a statement Wednesday from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Also designated were Ali Yare, Mohamed Dauud Gaabane, and Suleiman Abdi Daoud, all finance emirs in separate towns and villages in Lower Shabelle possibly al-Shabab's most lucrative region, through which many vehicles carrying commercial goods from Mogadishu pass. Yare is also accused of directing a deadly explosion on Nov. 14, 2018, that targeted Somali army forces in the same region. Gaabane is also accused of serving as the head of the group's intelligence wing, the Amniyat, in Wanlaweyn, the district where he works as finance operator. Wanlaweyn is close to Baledogle airfield where U.S. troops train elite Somali units. "Gaabane operates an extensive early warning and informant network that regularly collects information on coalition forces and Somalis who work at the Baledogle Military Airfield," the statement said. The fifth commander designated by the State Department, Mohamed Omar Mohamed, is said to be the al-Shabab commissioner in the Dinsor district. The U.S. accuses him of being responsible for a series of attacks targeting civilians. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury designated 15 al-Shabab financial facilitators and operatives, four charcoal smugglers, and seven associated companies. The most notable three among this group are al-Shabab's shadow governor of the Juba region, Mohamed Abdullahi Hirey, also known as Abu Abdalla; the region's militant commander Ahmed Kabadhe; and Mohamed Ali, a company commander the U.S. says oversees 100 fighters. Others targeted include junior officers accused of operating as mandatory donation collectors and coordinating attacks against Somali and African Union forces. "As a result of these actions, all property and interests in property of those designated today that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and all U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them," Blinken said in the statement. Last year, Somalia's government launched a renewed effort to strangle al-Shabab financially, combined with combating the group's ideology and military operations. Earlier this year, Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said the government had shut down 250 bank and mobile money accounts suspected of being used by al-Shabab. The government says al-Shabab's financial health has been hurt as result of the measures. Ibrahim Aden Nadara, a former al-Shabab regional official who now advises Barre on awareness campaigns against al-Shabab, says U.S. sanctions are effective. "This is impactful and timely," he told VOA Somali. He says the sanctions will prevent designated individuals from moving any money abroad. "If they were to deposit it in foreign bank accounts or buy houses abroad and invest in business this will be an obstacle to them," he said. The Supreme Court on Thursday sharply limited the federal government's authority to police water pollution into certain wetlands, the second decision in as many years in which a conservative majority narrowed the reach of environmental regulations. The outcome could threaten efforts to control flooding on the Mississippi River and protect the Chesapeake Bay, among many projects, wrote Justice Brett Kavanaugh, breaking with the other five conservatives. The justices boosted property rights over concerns about clean water in a ruling in favor of an Idaho couple who sought to build a house near Priest Lake in the state's panhandle. Chantell and Michael Sackett objected when federal officials identified a soggy portion of the property as a wetlands that required them to get a permit before filling it with rocks and soil. By a 5-4 vote, the court said in an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito that wetlands can only be regulated under the Clean Water Act if they have a "continuous surface connection" to larger, regulated bodies of water. There is no such connection on the Sacketts' property. The court jettisoned the 17-year-old opinion by their former colleague, Anthony Kennedy, allowing regulation of what can be discharged into wetlands that could affect the health of the larger waterways. Kennedy's opinion covering wetlands that have a "significant nexus" to larger bodies of water had been the standard for evaluating whether permits were required for discharges under the 1972 landmark environmental law. Opponents had objected that the standard was vague and unworkable. Environmental advocates said the new standard would strip protections from millions of acres of wetlands across the country. Reacting to the decision, Manish Bapna, the chief executive of the Natural Resources Defense Council, called on Congress to amend the Clean Water Act to restore wetlands protections and on states to strengthen their own laws. "The Supreme Court ripped the heart out of the law we depend on to protect American waters and wetlands. The majority chose to protect polluters at the expense of healthy wetlands and waterways. This decision will cause incalculable harm. Communities across the country will pay the price," Bapna said in a statement. The outcome almost certainly will affect ongoing court battles over new wetlands regulations that the Biden administration put in place in December. Two federal judges have temporarily blocked those rules from being enforced in 26 states. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said the Clean Water Act has been responsible for "transformational progress" in cleaning up the nation's waterways. "I am disappointed by today's Supreme Court decision that erodes longstanding clean water protections," he said in a statement. Damien Schiff, who represented the Sacketts at the Supreme Court, said the decision appropriately narrowed the reach of the law. "Courts now have a clear measuring stick for fairness and consistency by federal regulators. Today's ruling is a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers," Schiff said in a statement issued by the property rights-focused Pacific Legal Foundation. In Thursday's ruling, all nine justices agreed that the wetlands on the Sacketts' property are not covered by the act. But only five justices joined in the opinion that imposed a new test for evaluating when wetlands are covered by the Clean Water Act. Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas and Alito would have adopted the narrower standard in 2006, in the last big wetlands case at the Supreme Court. They were joined Thursday by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. Kavanaugh and the court's three liberal justices charged that their colleagues had rewritten that law. Kavanaugh wrote that the court's "new and overly narrow test may leave long-regulated and long-accepted-to-be regulable wetlands suddenly beyond the scope of the agencies' regulatory authority." Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majority's rewriting of the act was "an effort to cabin the anti-pollution actions Congress thought appropriate." Kagan referenced last year's decision limiting the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. In both cases, she noted, the court had appointed "itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy." Kagan was joined in what she wrote by her liberal colleagues Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. The Sacketts paid $23,000 for a 0.63-acre lot near Priest Lake in 2005 and started building a three-bedroom home two years later. They had filled part of the property, described in an appellate ruling as a "soggy residential lot," with rocks and soil in preparation for construction, when officials with the Environmental Protection Agency showed up and ordered a halt in the work. They also won an earlier round in their legal fight at the Supreme Court. The federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld the EPA's determination in 2021, finding that part of the property, 300 feet from the lake and 30 feet from an unnamed waterway that flows into the lake, was wetlands. The Sacketts' own consultant had similarly advised them years ago that their property contained wetlands. An Arkansas man photographed with his feet on a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office after joining the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021 was sentenced on Wednesday to four and a half years in prison. Richard Barnett, 63, was leaning back in a chair with his boots propped up on a desk in the office of the Democratic politician when he had his picture taken by an AFP photographer. The photo became one of the iconic images of the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Barnett had joined supporters of then-President Donald Trump who stormed Congress to shut down the legislature as it convened to certify Democrat Joe Biden as the next U.S. president. A Washington jury convicted Barnett in January on eight counts, including obstructing Congress's certification of the election, illegally entering the Capitol and disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon an electric stun device disguised as a walking stick. Prosecutors had asked Judge Christopher Cooper for a sentence of seven years in prison. In their sentencing memo, prosecutors said Barnett did not show any remorse and had "sought to profit from his notoriety and criminal conduct" by selling "autographed photos of himself in the Speaker's office suite." Barnett's defense attorney had asked the judge to impose a sentence of 12 months. Barnett, described in court filings as a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory alleging a global liberal plot to kidnap children, had defended his actions as an exercise of his constitutional right to protest. But while in Pelosi's office he wrote a crude message to her. More than 1,000 people have been arrested for taking part in what prosecutors have called an insurrection to keep Trump in the White House after his election loss. Most of them face charges of illegally entering the Capitol or causing property damage, but some 350 have been charged with assaulting law enforcement officers or resisting arrest and more than 50 with serious conspiracy crimes. As Zimbabwe prepares for general elections, journalists are hoping to avoid a repeat of the harassment and attacks theyve faced while trying to cover past elections. Borrowing a strategy successfully tried in Lesotho, Zimbabwean journalists met with top officials of the ruling Zanu-PF party this week to try to reach mutual understandings before campaigning starts. The journalists are also scheduled to meet with the political opposition and government entities like the army and police. Years or even weeks ago, an outreach by journalists to Zanu-PF officials would have been unheard of. Just entering the party offices was unusual and highly difficult, especially for private and foreign media journalists. Leopold Kudakwashe Mudhende, from privately owned NewZimbabwe.com, was one of the journalists who earlier this year was chased away from a Zanu-PF event. It was important to highlight the challenges and fears we have as journalists going into election," he said of the session with Zanu-PF officials. "That way we can find solutions together with political parties. The most important thing about these political parties is that they ensure the safety and professional handling of journalists. Also, political parties get a chance to air their grievances with what we are doing as journalists and we can find amicable solution. Victoria Ruzvidzo, editor of The Sunday Mail, a government-controlled weekly newspaper, also attended the meeting. He said he thought the session "was very important because what we need are facts and factual information, and you can only get that through open lines of communication. It gives us a platform to air our concerns as media and for Zanu-PF to tell us where it thinks we are going wrong." Ruzvidzo said there were "perceptions and misperceptions about a lot of things. But if you sit down at such platforms, you get to understand each other and build a stronger relationship, which is better for the media in that when you need certain information, like what the SG [party secretary-general Obert Mpofu] said. We have access to him. We can get him any minute. We can get information. Mpofu said Zanu-PF was worried about journalists who he said were bent on tarnishing his party. He also said he wanted to see more stories that put Zimbabwe in a good light. He assured journalists they would not be targeted by violence. We want a peaceful Zimbabwe," Mpofu said at the session. "Lets act according to your expectations. But I want to thank you all, comrades, for coming to this round-table meeting and reiterate our assurances that Zanu-PF will always cooperate with you." Zanu-PF "is headed by this great man," Mpofu said, pointing to President Emmerson Mnangagwas portrait on the wall. "He abhors violence. In the presidential election, Mnangagwa is expected to lock horns with Zimbabwes main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, among other candidates. Perfect Hlongwane, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, said his organization was setting up meetings with political parties and some government agencies "because of the operating environment. What we saw is that our journalists are being violated, mostly at political rallies." Political parties, he said, must be engaged with "so that they understand the way we operate as the media and to ensure the media is given or allowed space to operate without any hindrance. The next stops for the journalists will be the political opposition and then the army, in an effort to ensure that media members can be safe when elections take place, most likely in July or August. MOSCOW, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, attended the 11th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues and delivered a speech on Wednesday. Representatives from 109 countries and international organizations attended the meeting. Chen stressed that the core ideas of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping are unity and cooperation. China will always keep in mind the interests of the world, promote common international security while persisting in safeguarding its own security, actively participate in improving global security governance, and make unremitting efforts to build a universally safe and better world, he said. Chen also attended the meeting of the heads of delegations of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the meeting of the heads of the delegations of the BRICS countries. He held bilateral meetings with Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergei Naryshkin, and heads of delegations from some participating countries. The parties reached consensus on strengthening solidarity and cooperation and promoting the building of a new type of international relations. On Monday, Chen and Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev co-chaired the 8th meeting of the China-Russia law-enforcement and security cooperation mechanism. Xi paid a successful state visit to Russia in March and reached an important consensus with Russian President Vladimir Putin on continuing the mutual trust dialogue under the framework of the law-enforcement and security cooperation mechanism between the two countries, Chen said. He pointed out that China is willing to work with Russia to formulate cooperation measures, practice the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, jointly implement the Global Security Initiative and better safeguard the security interests of the two countries and the international community. It is Russia's unswerving policy to deepen the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, Patrushev said, adding that comprehensively promoting law-enforcement and security cooperation between the two countries under the guidance of the consensus of the heads of state will provide strong support for Russia and China to cope with security risks and challenges. The University of Minnesota is backtracking on a graduate studies program that banned white students. A Cornell University law professor who took legal action against the university last week, said the elimination of racially exclusionary language is "a good first step." (Photo courtesy: University of Minnesota) Fetty Wap. Photo: Manny Hernandez/Getty Images A Long Island federal judge sentenced Fetty Wap to six years in federal prison on May 24 for trafficking narcotics across the country. Fetty Wap has been incarcerated since last August, when his pretrial release was revoked following an alleged FaceTime call where he possessed a gun and threatened to kill someone, according to prosecutors. The Trap Queen rapper pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine following his bail getting revoked. Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced him with one year over the minimum jail time for the conspiracy drug charge. Fetty Waps lawyers argued that the rapper turned to selling drugs due to the financial struggles he experienced as a result of the pandemic. I only ever wanted to help my family, the rapper told the judge, per the New York Times. I never asked myself if it was all-the-way right. He was first taken into custody in October 2021 over his participation in a scheme to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of narcotics into the New York City area that involved five other co-defendants. Prosecutors said they planned to use the U.S. Postal Service and vehicles with hidden compartments to transport the drugs, arguing for a longer sentence. This is a sad day, Fetty Waps defense attorney Elizabeth Macedonio said, according to the AP, adding that he accepted responsibility for his actions. This is a kid from Paterson, New Jersey, who made it out. RAMALLAH, May 25 (Xinhua) -- At least eight Palestinians were injured and 14 were arrested on Thursday during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jericho, Palestinian medics and eyewitnesses said. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a press statement that eight Palestinians were shot and injured by Israeli soldiers during clashes that broke out during an Israeli army military operation in the refugee camp of Aqabat Jabr, south of Jericho. Eyewitness accounts indicate that fierce clashes erupted in the area, with Palestinian youth resorting to the burning of tires, stone-throwing, and hurling Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, who responded by employing gunfire to disperse the demonstrators. Palestinian militants also traded fire with the soldiers, said the witnesses, adding that the soldiers fired anti-tank missiles at the militants. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoner Club Association said in a press statement that the Israeli soldiers arrested 14 Palestinian men from their homes in the refugee camp. The statement called on international human rights groups to intervene to stop "the aggressive Israeli policy that is practiced during Israeli army forces' raids on Palestinian towns and refugee camps. Israeli Radio reported that the Israeli army carried out a military operation in the refugee camp which aimed at arresting militants involved in carrying out attacks against Israel. Tension between Israel and the Palestinians has been mounting in the West Bank since early January, leaving more than 100 Palestinians and 20 Israelis killed. That final shot and the end-credits stinger might be more closely connected than they appear. Photo: Murray Close/Lionsgate This piece was originally published in March. We are recirculating it now that John Wick: Chapter 4 is available to own digitally. So is John Wick dead or what? Yes. Well, probably. Maybe. We do, in fact, see Wick, seriously wounded and bleeding after his literal pistols-at-dawn duel with Donnie Yens blind assassin, Caine (not to mention an entire night of getting shot, punched, kicked, and run over by seemingly everyone in Paris), keel over, lifeless, on the steps of the Sacre-Cur basilica. After that, we cut to New York, with Winston (Ian McShane) and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), along with Johns dog, standing over his grave, where hes been buried next to his late wife, Helen. Loving Husband, the gravestone reads, just as John himself had requested earlier in the film. I never thought Id see the day, the King says, before asking Winston if he thinks John is in Heaven or hell. Who knows, says Winston. The King chuckles to himself as he walks away. Winston stays behind, touches Johns grave, and mutters, Farewell, my son, in Russian. Then he too walks away, as the camera cranes up. Of course, scenes of people standing over the graves of heroes who didnt actually die is a common motif in modern action cinema, so we keep waiting for that inevitable reveal. And theres a hint of it as we see the dog turning off-screen. Whats next? A shadow in the distance watching them? A telltale mop-top quietly moving into frame? The dirt on the grave levitating mysteriously? No. We see none of these things, and the credits finally start to roll. Surely theres an end-credits stinger showing us that John Wick is still alive? Maybe lunching with his new family in a cafe on the banks of the Arno, Bruce Wayne style? In fact, there is an end-credits scene, but its not what we expect. We see Caine, now re-retired and supposedly free of all his obligations as a hired assassin, walking to listen to his violin-virtuoso daughter as she plays in a crowded outdoor plaza. He holds a bouquet of flowers, which suggests that he will finally be able to let her know hes there. But then a hooded figure approaches him. Its Akira (Rina Sawayama), whose father Caine killed earlier in the film. Revenge in her eyes, she pulls a knife. Fade to black. No John Wick. But perhaps a set-up for a sequel or spinoff of some sort. One could argue that dying (or dying) was the only way John could win, so maybe this was all part of his plan. There are indeed spinoffs in the works for the John Wick franchise, including Ballerina, featuring Ana de Armas, and a prequel series showing the New York Continental Hotels early days. Theres no way Lionsgate is giving this property up, especially as its about to make a boatload of money. And director Chad Stahelski, while noting that he and Keanu Reeves are done with Wick for the moment, has said they might return. The truth is that there will be many more entries in the John Wick universe, and Reeves could easily come back as a flashback, or a Force Ghost of some kind, so his potential return doesnt mean Wick would still be alive. Wouldnt it feel a little blah, however, for the John Wick movies to simply turn into another cinematic universe populated with a bunch of other random characters, given the extent to which these films have relied on Reevess unique cinematic persona? Do we really want John Wick to get Bourne Legacy-ed? As my colleague Angelica Jade Bastien says in her review, the films ending feels like its fighting the gravitational force of Reeves rather than submitting to it Its final moments cant help but put into harsh relief the fact that this ridiculous world of glory and gut punches is evolving to exist without its namesake, yet it still needs him to feel alive. One suspects that the filmmakers are not entirely unaware of this, and it isnt hard to see how John Wick could return as a flesh-and-blood character if Reeves and Stahelski (and, more importantly, the audience) wanted him to. After all, doesnt the Bowery Kings chuckle there at the end suggest theres something more going on? Remember, he was the one who rescued John Wick at the end of John Wick: Chapter 3, after our hero took what must be one of the most spectacular falls off a building in movie history and everyone thought he was dead. And what about the tattoo we glimpse on Winstons hand at the very end? Its the mark of the Ruska Roma, Johns clan. Do his words, Farewell, my son take on greater meaning? Could Winston be John Wicks father? Even if he isnt, thats a hell of an idea to introduce right at the end, relating to a character who is presumably dead and gone forever. No, theres clearly more to this story. At the same time, John Wick: Chapter 4 had to end this way. Throughout this whole series, John Wick has been trying to gain his freedom from the High Table, the mysterious, all-powerful network of assassins to which he had once sworn undying fealty. A final duel fought according to the High Tables ancient codes has, over the course of Chapter 4, been built up as the one thing that could liberate John for good. His opponent is technically the Marquis Vincent de Gramon (Bill Skarsgard), who has been given total power by the Table to destroy John (who was excommunicated in John Wick 2 because he killed someone in the supposed sanctuary of the Continental Hotel). The Marquis, utilizing another arcane rule, has nominated/sponsored Caine to fight in his place. But Caine, who has been trying to kill John Wick throughout the film, also happens to be Johns friend. Both retired from the business to be with their families, and both have been pulled back John because the dumbest Russian gangster princeling in human history killed his dog and stole his car in the first John Wick, Caine because hes one of the few people in the world who can actually get to him. Both men need to win this duel, in other words, to gain back their freedom. The way the duel unfolds seems to indicate that John and Caine have reached a prior understanding. The standoff (filmed like Barry Lyndon and scored like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, two movies with iconic duels) begins with each of them walking 30 paces; then, theyll step ten paces closer each round if neither falls. Sure enough, thats what happens. In the first salvo, each man gets the other in the arm. In the next salvo, at 20 paces apart, one is hit in the shoulder, another in the side. At ten paces, Caine fires before John and gets him in the side of the belly. John falls. The Marquis, seeing his chance, takes over from Caine: As your sponsor, I claim the coup de grace. The Marquis prepares to shoot John at virtually point-blank range, and mutters, Rules. The end-credits stinger showing Caine being hunted by Akira gains renewed meaning: this is precisely the fate John wants to avoid. But wait John Wick hasnt fired his gun yet. (You arrogant asshole, Winston yells. He didnt shoot!) John then points his gun, mutters consequences through his teeth, and puts a bullet in the Marquiss head. John has played by the Tables rules, the very rules hes been accused of breaking for several films now, and prevailed. Hes beaten the villains at their own game. So John has won his freedom, but hes also seemingly mortally wounded. It takes him a while to get up, and he does so only to walk down a few steps and sit back down, looking out at Paris in the dawn light. He asks Winston to take him home. It feels, honestly, like the first time our hero has been able to draw a quiet breath in the entire series. As he sits there, bleeding, he recalls a long-ago happy moment with his wife, Helen. Is this John Wick being beckoned to the beyond? On the question of God and an afterlife, John has remained noncommittal in the past. In an earlier film, he said he wanted to keep on living in order to keep his wifes memory alive. Hes been a death-adjacent figure since the very beginning, but he has never actually had a death wish. One could argue that dying (or dying) was the only way John could win, so maybe this was all part of his plan. Even if the Table declared him free, the whole series has been proof that he wouldnt still be targeted. In that light, the end-credits stinger showing Caine being hunted by Akira gains renewed meaning: Caine, too, has supposedly been freed, but as long as hes alive, those hes hurt will come after him. This is precisely the fate that John wants to avoid. This is why he pretty much has to disappear off the face of the Earth. And maybe even we have to believe that John Wick is dead. Because if we believe hes gone, we wont immediately clamor for sequels from poor Keanu Reeves (who will be 60 years old in two years) and Chad Stahelski (who has a bazillion films in preproduction or development but has never gotten to direct a nonJohn Wick movie and would probably love to branch out a bit). By ending the film on this note, theyve not only given John Wick his freedom, theyve also claimed their own. At least for a while. Victor Erice skipped the Cannes premiere of his first film in 31 years a stirring tale about memory, identity, and friendship and for good reason. Photo: Manolo Pavon Before this years Cannes, the Spanish director Victor Erice had made only three features in a 50-plus-year career. These happen to be three of the greatest films ever made. The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) is one of Spanish cinemas most beloved treasures. El Sur (1983) had its production cut short and thus is considered something of a film maudit, but to my eyes, its even better than Spirit of the Beehive. And his 1992 documentary, Dream of Light, which won the Jury Prize at Cannes that year, is one of the most mesmerizing meditations on the elusive nature of art that anyone has ever made, anywhere. That was 31 years ago, and the premiere of a new feature by the now-82-year-old Erice, a three-hour drama called Cerrar los Ojos (Close Your Eyes), was one of the most notable news items in this years Cannes lineup. The director was not present, however, for the Tuesday premiere of his film at the festival. Some suggested it was because he was too ill to make the trip, while others speculated that after so many years out of the limelight, he had taken on a Terrence Malickstyle reticence. (Its worth noting, however, that Erice has continued to make shorts and produce other work over the years; he also served on the Cannes jury in 2010.) Two days ago, Erice published an op-ed in the Spanish paper El Pais explaining his absence. Turns out, he was just pissed. The directors first feature in 31 years was playing out of competition, a fact Erice apparently learned only at the press conference announcing this years lineup. At Cannes, its generally understood that the main competition is where the best films are screened, though in truth the negotiations over who does and doesnt get to compete are often filled with petty politics and starfuckery. (For example, youre clearly guaranteed a competition slot if your film either stars or was directed by Sean Penn.) Its in others gazes that we know ourselves. Thats something a filmmaker understands. To be clear, Erice wasnt annoyed because he wasnt in competition. He felt disrespected by the way the festival had communicated with him, keeping him in the dark about its intentions. This matters because other festivals including Venice and Canness own parallel fest, Directors Fortnight, which has in the past premiered many major movies from major directors had offered Erice choice slots. These other venues all effectively got screwed over by Canness inability to communicate properly with the filmmaker. The good news is that one day all this nonsense will be forgotten but Close Your Eyes will remain. Erices fourth feature is a stirring tale about memory, identity, and friendship, and it feels deeply, almost alarmingly personal. It opens with tantalizing images from what turns out to be an abandoned project called The Farewell Gaze. That picture, we learn, was left unfinished when its star, Julio Arenas (Jose Coronado), disappeared under mysterious circumstances, seemingly walking away from the movie and from his whole life, never to be heard from again. The director, Miguel Garay (Manolo Solo), never shot another roll of film. Indeed, he now lives off the grid, in a trailer by a beach, growing his own tomatoes and catching fish. A TV investigation into Julios disappearance lures Miguel (who sometimes likes to be called Mike) back into the world, and he begins to make inquiries into what might have happened back then. Theres enough of a mystery in Close Your Eyes that it makes sense to keep the rest of the story secret for now. The film proceeds in stylistically distinct movements. That opening scene, with its lush images of footage allegedly shot long ago, even looks like it could have been a part of a real movie called The Shanghai Spell that Erice spent three years preparing back in the late 1990s, only to have it fall apart. Some have speculated that this actually is footage Erice shot for that project, but that production appears to have stopped well before cameras started rolling. Erice, however, remains heartbroken over the experience, and its clear that he sees a lot of himself in Miguel, an artist whos withdrawn from the world. At one point, Miguel visits his old projectionist friend Max (Mario Pardo), who has a large, dusty archive full of film reels. Max talks about the fact that 90 percent of cinema history still exists only in celluloid form, even though almost nobody screens 35-mm. anymore. There is a sense throughout Close Your Eyes that everything Miguel knows is being taken away from him. The almost idyllically austere seaside abode where he lives is on the verge of being sold, meaning hell have to leave. Julio might have withdrawn from the world years ago either by dying or walking away but now, with his own world slipping away, Miguel understands something about vanishing. This is a film made by a man who has been unable to direct the films hes wanted to for decades. You feel his frustration and regret in every frame. Close Your Eyes soon settles into a very deliberate, matter-of-fact cadence, at first built around two-person dialogue scenes. The director even seems to be toying with the viewers patience here, with each scene ending on an almost excruciatingly long fade to black. (I definitely heard some gripes.) But the almost bland textures of this section feel relevant to the whole project, as Erice sets up a stark contrast between the magic world of cinematic make-believe and the humdrum nature of base reality. Close Your Eyes is about cinema, too, though not in the way that weve become used to in recent years; its not a love letter or a poison-pen missive, but rather an exploration of cinema as memory and of the relative value of that memory. This is a film made by a man who has been unable to direct the films hes wanted to for decades. You feel his frustration and regret in every frame, but you also sense a sort of acceptance. At one point, Miguel types out on a keyboard a statement about an artist who had decided that his masterpiece would not be his work, but his life. Is that an aspirational thought or a desperate one? The final section of the picture asks, in mesmerizing and unbearably touching fashion, what really makes a life. Is it memory and identity, the cumulative power of all our experiences, the knowledge of our friends and family? Or is it simply the ability to be happy and present? Those opening scenes of that film abandoned long ago feature a man who talks about how often his name has changed over the years, and he laments the fact that his estranged daughter, who is half-Chinese, has been given a different name by her mother. Everybodys name seems to undergo multiple changes in this movie. Whats in a name? Why does who we are even matter in the grand scheme of things? As Miguels search goes on, we might begin to wonder if hes really looking for Julio or for himself. The man in the unfinished movie longs for one last glance from his daughter that farewell gaze of the title before he dies. Miguel needs Julios memory more than Julio needs his own. Its in others gazes that we know ourselves. Thats something a filmmaker understands. And its something that a filmmaker who hasnt been able to make a film really understands. Photo: Max An ominous voiceover in the new MAX documentary Bama Rush makes a lofty, revolutionary declaration: This documentary could be the end of Greek life as we know it. Its clipped from a TikTok video about the mere rumor of director Rachel Fleits project, which inevitably overtakes the University of Alabama during its 2022 production, causing one of Fleits subjects to ghost her and forcing the director to wear a disguise around campus for her own safety. These hysterics surrounding the buzzy TikTok-inspired documentary arent surprising, but anyone who can let go of the hype and actually watch the film is likely to realize theyre completely unnecessary. Far from being a juicy expose on sorority culture at the university, the film explores what it means to be a part of American society as a young woman particularly when that society is itching to watch your world get torn down by a documentary on a streaming service. While Fleit did not gain access to a highly coveted sorority house, or any Greek house at all, she did enter the inner lives of the young women who fill them. One of Fleits subjects is Isabelle, whom we meet in California during her senior year of high school. Shes seemingly unafraid, even eager, to submit to the rush process, firm in the belief that she will find herself through her new sorority. When I reached her by phone ahead of the documentarys release, she hadnt yet seen the film, but shed certainly seen the comments on the trailer. I was 17 years old at the time we started filming, she said. And when I see these videos or comments from women that are in their 30s, or even 20s, just trying to pick apart every little piece that we say, and trying to find something hateful about it, its hurtful. But she considers the film a record of her personal growth from a high schooler searching for a sense of self to a sorority woman who feels empowered, and inspired, by the women who surround her. She includes Fleit in that list of women. I see my future self in her, in a way, she said. I want to go into film. I want to be able to be independent. And I never saw that in a woman, in a real person, like her. She really did change my life. Fleit creates an intimacy with her subjects thats only possible because of her own vulnerability; early on in the film, she turns the camera on herself and begins sharing her story of growing up completely bald due to alopecia. She posits that her ritual of hiding her condition with wigs around the clock, fueled by her fear of being outed as a bald girl, is akin to the fear each potential new member and truly everyone on earth has of being seen as someone who doesnt belong. The subject is first broached when a girl named Katie, an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha a top tier house at UA asks Fleit if she wears sunscreen on her head. In lesser, more sensationalist hands, this moment could have been presented as a pretty sorority girl prodding at someones insecurity. But its not that. And the filmmaker takes care to present the interaction as one of real bonding: a beautiful young woman who has just confessed shed kill to look like any of her friends feels safe enough to ask Fleit an honest question about her own relationship to her appearance. Becoming a subject of the film wasnt something Fleit had planned, but the suggestion by her editor was a revelation. It became so clear to me that in order to create the maximum amount of empathy that I could create for these young women, I had to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, she said. Fleit was interested not in criticizing but in understanding. She succeeds not only in creating a heartfelt portrait of how young women experience the world but in reframing how I viewed my own past life as a sorority member. Rush is something I did at a university almost obsessed with Greek life, but its not something I look back on fondly: Getting dropped, as I did by almost every house I sought to join, is a traumatic thing. Its way more dramatic than youre thinking it is, one sorority woman tells Fleit of not being called back to a house as a potential new member, or a PNM. And its just as destabilizing as it feels, even putting aside the fact that top-tier houses at Alabama are part of an underground campus organization called the Machine, which apparently rigs every school-related election and sometimes exerts its influence violently. (John Archibald, who has reported on this, is featured in the film as well.) At any school, the letters you end up wearing mean much more than just what color T-shirt you get. After all, every house on campus has a reputation, and the act of being sorted into one is like being told to your face what everyone really thinks of you. It really is like a Harry Potter sorting ritual, but instead of being determined by a talking hat, your fate is decided by your fellow students privately voting on whether they want to include you. One of the more revealing moments of Fleits film happens when both an active sorority member and a professional rush consultant admit what makes a sorority a top-tier house: the opinion of frat boys. Rush, then, serves as a ritual to magnify every insecurity, a grand heightening of the lunch-table politics of high school, a formalizing of the racist, ableist, misogynist scale by which the young women of our country are measured. In a way, its a little like if someone made Instagram a competitive sport (something that isnt lost on two of Fleits subjects: Hailey Holliday and Shelby Rose, both former beauty-pageant participants who relish the competitive aspect of it all). Some, including me, might tell you its not worth what comes after. However, Fleit isnt interested in whether people should rush, but whether they could avoid it even if they wanted to. Sororities were originally built as defensive measures. The University of Alabama did not admit women until 1893, and it did not admit a Black woman until 1956. The school expelled her due to backlash and did not accept or graduate another until the 60s. Upon arrival, both of these groups sought the bonds of sisterhood for camaraderie in the face of hostility to their very presence. Kappa Delta, a historically white sorority, opened its doors on campus in 1904, and Delta Sigma Theta the schools first Black sorority arrived in 1974. In a sense, sororities still serve this protective function, as Fleit discovered when she was turned down for interviews by 500 people and her access to any sorority house on campus was firmly denied. I think a lot of the fear was that their words would be misconstrued and that the film was going to be this takedown, she told me. The fear is that, I think, sorority systems have been mocked in mainstream media. The perceived hostility that exists toward sororities today is usually seen as progressive: These are institutions that champion exclusivity in a world that idealizes equal opportunity. And the film doesnt shy from a lot of uncomfortable truths about the history of these institutions. While segregation is not something at all unique to Alabamas Greek system, it is shocking to learn that the schools historically white houses admitted to cutting Black pledges as recently as 2013. What Fleit discovers is that the Greek system at Alabama is not some alien cult. Any schools Greek life is often a distillation of the community that surrounds it and the values that community champions in its youth. Likewise, every horrifying thing youll see in Bama Rush is a horror that women can universally relate to: the almost unfazed reaction one woman has to getting drugged at a bar again. The casualness with which sorority members digitally reshape their bodies in photos to look thinner. The automatic way all of these women, to varying degrees, readily devalue themselves. When two Zetas express anxiety over how theyll come across, the exchange is heartbreaking. I just dont want people to hate us, or me, says one. Or us, the other interjects, with a laugh. But youre likable, argues the first, giving us a glimpse of that inner narrative even the women commanding so much envy have running through their heads at all times: You are by default unwanted, unwelcome, unlikable. These are young people who are keenly aware that there is safety in blending in as just another pretty girl among very pretty girls, and that to speak to become a real person, flaws and all is a dangerous prospect. Its not yet clear if any of the women who spoke with Fleit will suffer consequences for doing so, but the threat of such causes at least one of her subjects, Shelby, to ghost the production. After the trailer dropped earlier this month, she posted a TikTok video disavowing her participation. While the fear of what the film will mean for Bamas Greek life is real, it also highlights an irony: This documentary pretty much only exists because the sororities themselves are popular on TikTok, which is also what drives women like Shelby and Isabelle to attend the University of Alabama in the first place. The only tea spilled in Bama Rush is an unfiltered look at the lives of the young women who dance and dress up on TikTok as free advertisements for an extremely large and well-funded university. No one bats an eye at the strangeness of that, because to be a pretty, dancing thing is a role we expect these young women to fill. But it is the only role we expect them to fill. To discover their depth, and to understand their choices, is to admit that we might have made those same choices ourselves in their circumstances. It robs us of the ability to mock them, to roll our eyes, to shrug them off as unserious all the things we do to women we feel a need to devalue, perhaps because they look like people who would do the same to us. These young women were the girls I felt scared of when I was growing up, Fleit told me. After talking to a few of them, I was like, Oh, wow, we look totally different, but we are totally the same underneath it all. Really, underneath the hood of the car, it was just the same kind of engine that was just wanting to belong, to feel loved, to have friends. What I expected to get from Fleits film, a bitter catharsis to soothe my old rush wounds, is not what I came away with. Instead, I was reminded that the sorority I ultimately ended up joining was actually a decent influence on my life. It was an organization that required me to be a good student, to drink responsibly, and to act in a way that wouldnt embarrass my cohort, even if I didnt necessarily listen. The sorority house itself, a bowerlike structure that had no tolerance for boys or booze, was one of the few spaces on campus where I always felt safe. I cant argue that sororities are the best way to provide these things for college students or that I got these things because of the Greek system rather than in spite of it. But what I can say is that not going through rush, or even attending a school without a Greek system, wouldnt have spared me the pain of trying to be liked by strangers as an 18-year-old. That is a ritual no one avoids, even if their version of it is more affordable and involves less dancing. Greek life is unique, however, in the culture of silence it upholds. I kept on saying, I really want to know what its like to be a young woman right now, Fleit said, as she recounted the resistance to her project on campus. It culminated in the sale of f*ck your documentary t-shirts, and her decision to once again wear a wig to avoid being recognized. I would just stop hearing from people. It was interesting because you can dance on TikTok, but you cant talk about your feelings. Sorority women have long been cloistered, ostensibly for their own protection. What anyone who watches Bama Rush will end up wondering is whether todays women are still benefiting from that silence. After all, what kind of community would view the voices of young women as a threat? And is that a community worth protecting? This documentary certainly wont be the end of Greek life as we know it, but it could be the beginning of a different kind of life for the young women who see it, whatever their affiliation. Past Lives is in theaters June 2. Photo: JJ Geiger/ It was the way people were looking at us. In a bright corner of Cafe Mogador in the East Village, the filmmaker Celine Song is remembering the rendezvous at a nearby bar five years ago that inspired her debut film, Past Lives. On paper, the movie is a love triangle formed by Nora (Greta Lee), a Korean Canadian playwright in New York; her childhood sweetheart, Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), who resurfaces in adulthood; and Noras husband, Arthur (John Magaro), a Jewish American writer. Nora and Hae Sung knew each other as kids in Seoul, where Nora went by Na Young, before she emigrated westward with her family. Now an engineer, Hae Sung crosses the world to see her, and they embark on long walks that are rich with tender, curious glances and slow revelations. But Nora is married. In the opening scene, she sits between the two men in the Hopper-esque amber light of a bar. She is turned gently toward Hae Sung, engaging him in conversation in Korean as she swishes her drink, while Arthur, to her left, gives off a hangdog air. In real life, Song found herself at Please Dont Tell, a Manhattan speakeasy. The two men she sat between were an old sweetheart, a Korean engineer in business casual whose name she prefers not to share, and her white husband, the writer Justin Kuritzkes, wearing some shitty shirt. She felt the eyes of patrons on them and imagined their thoughts. Which one is the husband? Is he jealous? She felt any quick answer to the deeper implicit question Who are they to one another? would lack the intricacy of the truth. You can feel the desire to know, she says. And if Im gonna tell you, Im gonna tell you for real. The result, Past Lives, written and directed by Song, premiered at the Sundance Festival and has been called the best debut feature in years a bittersweet, jewel-like love story drawing comparisons to Richard Linklaters Before Sunrise trilogy. Song wrote it in 2018 after a career as an ascendant playwright known for formally unorthodox, confrontational plays about race, violence, and power. At 34, she has an unburdened conviction in her opinions, as her friend and Past Lives co-producer David Hinojosa put it, whether over something as small as what to eat or as large as what to write. Her efficient bob haircut frames an open, sensitive face. Past Lives represents the most public and autofictional flowering of her artistic fixations on the contradictions of a life, particularly her own. Who we are can determine who we love, and vice versa. Noras voyage as an immigrant and artist may seem to demand that she lose her ties to a motherland and to custom. Hae Sung, a middle-class Korean, arrives as an almost fantastical figure: ordinary yet magnetically soulful, a man through whom Nora could perhaps close the gap of displacement. Arthur, a native on the path through the artists life that she seems to choose with her every breath, may represent a future, but his presence can also seem to erase her past. Its an adult love story about people who are trying to be mature, Song says. I wanted the audience to feel there is a very real argument for why she should stay, the way there is a very real argument for Hae Sung. I dont want the arguments to be lopsided. I want them to be even. Greta Lee, John Magaro, and Teo Yoo in Past Lives. Celine was 12 when she made the trip from Seoul to Canada. Her mother, an illustrator, was granted an artist visa for the family on the strength of a portfolio built from hundreds of childrens books. Celines father, Song Neung-han, is a quiet legend in Korean cinema, a writer-director who introduced key performers into the fold, such as Parasites Song Kang-ho one of his earliest roles was in Number 3, a gangster comedy by Celines father. In one part of the world, Im a nepo baby, she jokes. When she returned to Korea to shoot parts of Past Lives, the crew members told her they were excited to see what the daughter of Song Neung-han could do. Her parents ran a crafts and accessories shop in Markham, Ontario, leaving behind their former professions. Celine was an energetic student. Her public high school had a Classics Club for which she wrote plays. By the time she entered Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, she had decided to study psychology and become a therapist. In college, she threw herself into activities, trying to find out what my heart was really in. She was on the editorial staff of half a dozen magazines, some to do with culture, some mental health. Then she saw a production of Bertolt Brechts Drums in the Night at her university. She became enamored with the playwrights impulse toward provocation, how he used fourth-wall-breaking, immersive techniques to implicate the audience and force engagement with the biggest questions of existence. What if you could do something that is harmful to another person, or evil, so that you can feed your child? Can you blame the mother for that? The child? Or the society that makes that a necessity for her to even provide for the child? she poses. Song applied to theater schools and got into Columbia, where she studied under Chuck Mee and Anne Bogart, playwrights who had come up during the experimental heyday of the 1980s where you could make a living as a playwright and also do really form-breaking stuff, Song says. When she arrived in New York in the 2010s, that scene was dying. Spaces that used to show experimental work were closing down every year or becoming corporatized. She describes live theater as a subscriber based medium: You dont want to be confrontational when you have a subscriber base that is old and white. In 2012, Song won a fellowship from the Edward F. Albee Foundation, which is housed in a converted white barn in Montauk where the playwright hosted emerging writers; the experience would change her life. I met Edward there. I met my white husband there too, she wrote in an essay marking Albees death in 2016. Kuritzkes was 22 (A literal baby, literally just started to be able to drink legally); Song was 24. Right away, its so cringey, but we showed each other each others plays, she recalls. Were either going to kill each other or were going to get married. That was the feeling we had. She says Kuritzkes, a novelist and playwright, is a very different writer from herself, a polymathic figure with a surreally funny, pop-oriented bent. His first novel, Famous People, takes the form of a memoir by a pop star. His 2017 play Asshole imagines a doctor obsessed with the smell of his own asshole. But she saw a thread between them. There are a lot of people who are great at writing, but it is harder to be somebody who has an ideology to their work, she says. I knew we were aligned in what we wanted to pursue. In her work, Song hoped to force engagement with existential questions that felt urgent to her. An early play, Family, explores the concept of inherited violence through three half-siblings conversing at the funeral of their father. That play involves incest. Another, The Feast, deals with the nature of desire and diminishing natural resources and involves cannibalism. In 2014, she wrote Beep and Boop Fight Crime, a play about police brutality inspired by the citys stop-and-frisk program; the officers in it wear KKK hoodies and shoot civilians. Her plays landed in boutique studios and theaters, often for meager pay. One show netted her as little as $500 for its entire run. She worked at a matchmaking agency for one six-month stretch. Her clientele were young professional women in New York. Song half-jokes that she was so hooked the experience almost derailed her writing career. She was given psychological insights on a platter candid confessions of racism, for instance. People tell amazing things to a matchmaker, she says. I think you have more access than therapists because they know theyre not there to be judged. She and Kuritzkes married in 2016. By then, she had arrived at a conclusion: She had to leave the theater. There were the financial constraints, and her writing had begun to strain against the racial hierarchies built into the theater world and her own engagement with them. A new play she staged, 2016s Tom & Eliza, was a sendup of the white plays she had felt conscripted into caring about, even while she revered the tradition they represent. It features a classic construct of the genre: two people in a couple work out what went wrong. In her version, Tom hoards books, Eliza burns them. She saw the characters, in part, as manifestations of her conflicted sensibilities toward the written word and the dramatic canon: both overprotective and destructive. The play was meant to be her last, but she was compulsively working on new pages as it went up. She finished with 2019s split-brain, metatextual Endlings. It follows a group of haenyeo, the elderly Korean women who dive into the ocean daily to fish, but the big reveal is a character based on Song herself. Shes represented in scenes set in Manhattan, as a young Korean Canadian playwright alongside her playwright husband, whom she runs ideas through and who wears a placard in the Brechtian mode of representational props, identifying him as WHITE HUSBAND. Song explains to me her belief that because of the demographic makeup of theatergoers, most would experience the plays haenyeo with a ticker tape running through their heads: ASIAN, ASIAN, ASIAN. Why not ID him, too? I decided to write this play because I was trapped, her character says in a monologue. I first told some white people about haenyeo and how amazing they are. And then they were like, Oh my God, thats amazing; you have to write a play about them. She wrote it because she had been bribed by white peoples attention, the playwright character says. Endlings became the highest-profile production of her career, with a premiere at the American Repertory Theater. COVID cut its New York run short, but Song had already started her transition, having joined the Amazon series Wheel of Time as a staff writer. She had also begun the screenplay that would become Past Lives. In 2020, the superproducer Scott Rudin picked it up and brought it to A24. Then, accusations of decades-long workplace abuse led to the severing of his deal with the company. Hinojosa and two other A24 stalwarts, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, came onboard. Song says Rudin ultimately wasnt involved with the production. Songs script is built on the Korean concept of inyun, or destined connection. The term gives shape to the largest and smallest aspects of Korean life the way karma might for Hindus. In its logic, interactions indicate relationships in past lives. Theres bad inyun, Song tells me: We keep facing off with each other, and we dont like that. And theres good: That feeling of, Oh, how amazing we all ended up here, when a meeting feels wonderfully ordained. You may love someone now because you hated them in an earlier life, or the opposite. And lives run thousands deep. If two people get married, they say its because there have been 8,000 layers of inyun over 8,000 lifetimes, Nora explains to Arthur. Hae Sung later asks her, Who do you think we were to each other? Maybe an impossible affair? As they trade hypotheses, Songs elegantly spare dialogue reveals the subtle possibilities contained in the concept. Maybe we were just sitting next to each other on the same train. Maybe we were just a bird and the branch it sat on one morning. In real life, as in the film, Song remet her childhood sweetheart over Skype before she met Kuritzkes. We tried, and of course it was impossible, she recalls. They lost touch, she got married, and two years later, he decided to visit. She was interested to see him, but whatever she felt was platonic now. Their inyun wasnt strong maybe only 7,000 layers, she jokes. Today, he has a girlfriend, she tells me. He knows about the film, and hes proud and excited for her. The characters bear a resemblance to their real-life counterparts, Song says, but are their own people with their own relationships. Unlike in a tidy rom-com, the tension between them cant be easily erased. Longing suffuses Nora and Hae Sungs smallest movements, as if the film were a stylized exploration of that state, an old-fashioned, chaste yet erotic dance. In another story, Song says, they would try to resolve it by sleeping together. Here, they probe through speech. They smile. They are together and say nothing at all. Song told Greta Lee, who plays Nora, to think of herself as a host. She must care for the men to make sure they are okay, as a host does for a guest. Arthur, Noras husband, can seem preternaturally understanding of Hae Sungs arrival. Magaro points to Songs own relationship as his template for the films liberated vision of love. Kuritzkes is an understanding, caring, smart, creative partner, he said. Theres a lot of modern men like that. Without a supportive character like Arthur, you wouldnt be able to facilitate Noras understanding of her past and identity. Song tells me Kuritzkes is the first reader of her writing. And while they have no stated agreement as to how either of them might bring the other into their work, they are in constant communication about it. When I ask whether there were any discussions over Endlings WHITE HUSBAND placard, she seems almost confused. He would have been the first person to point out that its strange if I didnt say WHITE, she explains. Song speaks of the strength of her and Kuritzkess inyun, but she also sees destiny as a featherlight thing floating on the breeze. I mean, hes just somebody I fell in love with when I was 24, she tells me, echoing a line of Arthurs in the movie. What if, Arthur asks Nora as they lie in bed, she had met some other man at a residency whod read all the same books as she and could comment on her work? But, she says, she met him. And thats not how life works. Him being a white Jewish guy does tell the story of what Noras life is, just as Songs own partnership does. When I was a playwright, so much of theater was filled with guys who look like my husband, she says. Thats who they are. I dont think I knew many Korean or Asian American straight men in theater. The culture is white supremacist. And misogynist. So its going to be built into us. Past Lives offers a humane vision of how racial hierarchies can ensnare us. I sometimes talk to younger writers who are in a lot of pain about the fact that they recognize that in themselves, she says. And my thing is you have to not only accept it, but you have to learn to love it not in a celebratory way but in a way you may love all the other parts of yourself you may have complicated feelings about. Song and I make our way to the street where Nora takes her final walk in the movie, away from one man and life toward another. The sun is dropping like coins through the leaves, and I can see all the beauty of a perfect East Village blocka brick-red door, a stone archway. Song tells me she assigned her whole team to find her ideal block. Her instructions were clear on what to look for: It has to feel like nobody has ever given a shit about it. But also it has to feel dreamy. Like the whole film. On the night of filming the walk home, as Song calls it, they had no wind machine, but the wind naturally blew Nora toward one of the men. A crew member asked Song which direction Lee should walk in. The direction would echo her choice in a way. Song told him the direction, then said, as if it were obvious: Of course. And then shell end up right here. Photo: Disney No matter how you might feel about Flounders lip filler, Disneys new live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has at least one thing going for it, and thats the iconic music from the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. The original 1989 film marked the pairs first collaboration with Disney, following their theater success with Little Shop of Horrors. That musical-theater sensibility, with Ashman as lyricist and Menken composing, helped revitalize the studios flailing animation department, and the success of Mermaid ushered in what is now referred to as the Disney Renaissance. The pair continued to work together, making music for Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, until Ashmans untimely death from AIDS in 1991. Three decades after his death, Ashmans impact on Disney animation and the genre as a whole has stood the test of time. One of Ashmans many great contributions to the House of Mouse was introducing the studio to the concept of an I Want song. An I Want song, as he explains in the Disney+ documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty, is a number early in a musical where the leading lady sits down on something and sings about what she wants in life, and the audience falls in love with her and then roots for her to get it for the rest of the night. By expressing this desire in a song, Ashman says, it makes the point impossible to miss. While there are some songs in earlier movies that could be considered I Want songs, like Snow Whites Im Wishing, it was Ashman and The Little Mermaids Part of Your World, in which Ariel sings about her desire to become human, that truly codified what a Disney I Want song sounded like. In the Disney+ documentary Howard, which is about Ashmans life, producer Don Hahn explains just how important Ashman was to Disney as we know it. Howard sat down when he first got there, and using The Little Mermaid, he literally taught us how to tell story with songs. That lesson from Ashman was well taken, with the I Want song becoming an instant staple of the Disney formula and remaining a part of it to this day. Here, we rank every I Want song featured in a Disney animated musical since The Little Mermaid set the standard back in 1989. 14. One Jump Ahead (Reprise) (Aladdin) Aladdin was always Ashmans passion project, but because of his death, Menken wrote this song with lyricist Tim Rice. Interestingly, Ashman did write a more traditional I Want song for Aladdin that ultimately didnt make it into the movie. However, that song, called Proud of Your Boy, in which Aladdin sings about wanting to make his mother proud, did make it into the Broadway adaptation. Had the song made it into the movie, it would have likely jumped ahead (pun intended) a few spots on the list for giving us a deeper look at Aladdins motivations and backstory. 13. Just Around The Riverbend (Pocahantas) The greatest strength of this song is the booming orchestration that perfectly scores the roaring river we see onscreen. Unfortunately, the weakness of the song is that it doesnt necessarily tell us what Pocahontas wants, except the fact that its something. This dilemma was clear in the development, with lyricist Stephen Schwartz feeling stuck on how to begin her journey musically, since her want didnt appear to materialize until the arrival of John Smith. It was Schwartzs wife, Carole, who suggested that her want be for something to happen. The result is reminiscent of Somethings Coming from West Side Story a fitting parallel, as both stories were based on Romeo and Juliet. Still, its hard to get too worked up about an I Want song thats this unspecific. 12. Out There (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) If theres one lesson to be learned from Disney movies, its that people do not like being locked away in towers. Out There starts off as a haunting dialogue between Quasimodo and Frollo in which he calls him ugly, until it eventually builds to a booming plea from Quasimodo, who dreams of being among the outside world that he watches from above even just for a day. Though a perfectly solid, by-the-book I Want song, its not one that has really had a life of its own beyond the film. While many of these songs have become iconic independent of their respective movies, youre probably not hearing Out There quite as much unless youre watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Very apropos of it to be cast aside by society like this. 11. Almost There (The Princess and the Frog) Speaking of being locked away in a tower, thats where Id always assumed Pixar was keeping Randy Newman. But lo and behold, Newman escaped the clutches of the Pixar lamp to also write the music for The Princess and the Frog. In Almost There, Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) sings about wanting to fulfill her fathers dream by opening up her own restaurant. The jazz genre fits the films New Orleans setting, and the animation even switches to an Art Deco look to make the photo of Tianas dream restaurant come to life. What the upbeat song lacks, however, is the emotional appeal that makes the audience invested in Tianas dream. That gut punch instead happens earlier in the film via the scenes between young Tiana and her father. 10. Into the Unknown (Frozen II) Is Into the Unknown an I Want song? Maybe, kinda, sorta? Frozen II subverts Disneys formulas and patterns more than any other film, so its only fitting that its version of an I Want song be just as unconventional. If anything, Into the Unknown might be an I Dont Want song, or at least it starts out that way with Elsa pleading for the voices calling her to stop. She doesnt want to risk losing the happy ending she got at the end of Frozen, but as the song progresses, her temptation to follow the voices into the unknown grows. On musical merit alone, this song and Idina Menzels performance would rank much higher on the list. But, owing to the muddled nature of the I Want element, it sadly gets bumped down a few spots. 9. For the First Time in Forever (Frozen) This song from Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez is unique not only because it covers the wants of two separate characters, but also because their respective wants are so different. While Anna sings an excited, upbeat tune about getting to finally open the palace gates, a brooding Elsa jumps in with her desire to conceal her powers and shut everyone out. The songs conflicting desires catapult the story into action, while also setting up the lyric Why have a ballroom with no balls? That being said, it only just begins to scratch the surface of the sisters desires, which are far more complex than this song alone is able to cover. But to be fair, it is pulling double duty. 8. I Just Cant Wait to Be King (The Lion King) One of the more unconventional I Want songs, I Just Cant Wait To Be King isnt meant to garner sympathy for our protagonist, but rather showcase a fun immaturity that demonstrates how much growth is still required until hes ready for what he wants. The cheeky performance displays Simbas playful innocence, just before the film shatters that innocence with the death of his father. Famously scored by Elton John with Tim Rice as lyricist, the song also makes the case for Rowan Atkinson to get more features put him on any track, you cant go wrong. 7. Waiting on a Miracle (Encanto) Disneys latest entry on this list is also arguably the saddest. After delivering an absolute bop where she quite literally sings her familys praises with The Family Madrigal, Mirabel makes a sharp pivot tonally highlighting the happy facade that she puts up for those around her. In Waiting on a Miracle she sings about being the outsider in her family as the only one without powers and how desperately she wants to fit in. Unlike the other songs in the film, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote this one in triple meter (inspired by the Colombian bambuco genre) to symbolize the disconnect between Mirabel and her family. That disconnect can also be heard in Stephanie Beatrizs deeply emotional performance, which is even more remarkable when considering that she was actually in labor while recording the song. 6. When Will My Life Begin? (Tangled) As youll remember from Out There, Disney already has a song about someone being locked in a tower and wanting out. So how does Tangled approach that scenario without being repetitive? The answer is by adding some complexity to our protagonists perspective and showing Rapunzels evolving feelings on the situation as the song progresses. We slowly see her, seemingly content in her routine at the beginning of the song, begin to question that monotony as it progresses and to flirt with the idea of freedom particularly as it relates to the mysterious lanterns. With a guitar-heavy score from Alan Menken (and lyrics by Glenn Slater), the song hits the perfect balance between the classic Disney sound that Menken is known for and something new and fresh sonically. And by singing about all the ways Rapunzel spends her time in her confinement, it helps the animation be visually active and exciting despite being geographically limited. Bonus points for Mandy Moore because Mandy Moore always warrants bonus points. 5. Go the Distance (Hercules) Has a French horn ever been as rousing as the one in Go the Distance? Those five notes, along with the rest of the instrumental that comes in after, give this song a God-like sound fit for Mount Olympus. Caught between two worlds, a 15-year-old Hercules (with his big ol Baby New Year ears) sings about finding where he belongs. Its the only song in the film that Hercules (Roger Bart) sings, which is a testament to how effective it is at getting the audience invested in his story. Hes a one-hit wonder because one hit was all he needed, and as a bonus, the songs efficiency leaves more room on the soundtrack for the Muses. 4. Reflection (Mulan) After a failed meeting with a matchmaker, Mulan (voiced by Lea Salonga) sings this Matthew WilderandDavid Zippelpenned song about wanting to be her true self without disappointing her family. Staring at her own reflection in the water, Mulan wishes for it to reflect who she feels she really is inside. That message has given Reflection a reputation as a queer and trans anthem, particularly in light of the films gender-identity subject matter. Many also credit the song with launching the career of Christina Aguilera, who recorded a hugely successful cover of it for Disney ahead of her debut album with RCA. She once again covered the song in 2020 for the live-action remake (which, inexplicably, was not a musical). 3. Belle (Reprise) (Beauty and the Beast) Dont discount Beauty and the Beasts I Want song because its merely a reprise. Its one-half of a two-hander, one that tells us everything we need to know about the story when complemented, perfectly, by the preceding opening number. In Belle, were introduced to the poor provincial town that Belle drags to filth for having the same old loaves and bread and not having enough books. And then in the reprise we get to hear what it is that Belle wants instead: adventure in the great wide somewhere. Originally, the film wasnt intended to be a musical, with director Gary Trousdale describing an early reel as uninspired animated masterpiece theater so Ashman and Menken were brought in to work their magic. According to Menken in the documentary Howard, though, after writing Belle, Ashman was reluctant to send it to the studio, telling him, We cant send it, were gonna get laughed at. Who asked for a six-minute opening number? But those six minutes, plus the gorgeously animated reprise in which Belle runs out into a field, Sound of Music style, instantly immerse you in this rich world and make you invested in her story (and also invested in the story of the lady who needs six eggs. Actually, on second thought, maybe this is really her I Want song instead of Belles?). 2. How Far Ill Go (Moana) Before How Far Ill Go, Lin-Manuel Mirandas first draft of Moanas I Want song was a tune called More. Ultimately, durinng the writing process, Miranda realized that there were complexities to Moanas desires that More just didnt cover namely, the fact that shes juggling this want for more with a respect and love for what she already has. So Miranda went back to the drawing board and was eventually able to perfectly capture that sentiment with How Far Ill Go, which conveys the nuance of Moana seeking adventure despite (not because) of what the island has to offer. Her reckoning with those conflicting emotions also translates to the screen, where we see the character tread back and forth between the sea and her island as she tries to suppress her calling and convince herself that shes content. You can even hear that internal back and forth in the music. As she sings about staying on the island, the songs rhythm sounds like an obligatory march forward, but during verses about the sea, the tune effortlessly soars. Without the lyrics themselves ever even saying a bad word about the island, the song is still able to make us root for Moana to pursue that adventure. 1. Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid) Even if it werent top of mind thanks to Halle Baileys stunning rendition of it in the remake, Part of Your World would still rank first by miles. Its the epitome of the genre, setting up the story on every level. It tells us everything we need to know about Ariels fascination with the land and her relationship with her father, and its beautifully sung by Jodi Benson fresh from a Broadway role in Howard Ashmans Smile. Plus we get iconic lyrics like whozits and whatzits galore and whats that word again? like shes Hilaria Baldwin looking at a cucumber. But one of the most surprising parts of the songs history is that it was nearly cut from the film altogether. After what was considered a poor reception of the unfinished sequence during a test screening (which Benson blames on one restless kid spilling his popcorn), Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg became adamant that the song was too boring and had to be cut. Howard Ashman said over my dead body, Ill strangle you, an embarrassed Katzenberg later recounted in Waking Sleeping Beauty. Ultimately he was right. Thankfully, the song survived, becoming not just the gold standard for I Want numbers but one of the most iconic numbers in the Disney songbook. ADEN, Yemen, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni government said on Wednesday that it is facing financing difficulties following a drop in public revenues caused by Houthi attacks on oil export ports. Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik said at a cabinet meeting in the southern port city of Aden that Houthi-launched attacks have caused losses estimated at 1 billion U.S. dollars, according to a statement reported by state-run Saba news agency. He emphasized the financial difficulties the government is currently grappling with in fulfilling its responsibilities, including improving public services and paying salaries across the war-ravaged country. To address the challenges, the prime minister established a committee comprising six ministries and the Central Bank, which will oversee the implementation of an extensive economic, financial, and monetary reform program. Meanwhile, Abdullah Al-Saadi, Yemen's permanent representative to the United Nations, stressed on Wednesday the need to pressure the Houthis to stop targeting vital facilities and infrastructure in the country. Al-Saadi said that "the violations of the Houthis threaten the peace process and cause economic harm to all Yemenis." He called for support in enabling the Yemeni government to resume oil exports to meet urgent financial obligations and address citizens' needs. Over the past few months, the Houthi militia in Yemen conducted drone strikes on government-controlled oil ports in Hadramout and Shabwa provinces. These repeated assaults resulted in the suspension of oil exports, which serve as a vital source of income for the impoverished Arab nation's government. The Houthis have consistently stated that their objective in targeting these ports is to thwart the exploitation of Yemen's "sovereign wealth." Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. Skamokawa News NICE AND BREEZY--This past weekend saw us basking in some sunshine here but thankfully it was not the blistering hot kind and instead, was of the moderate variety with a very good breeze, so I have to admit, it was very much more to my liking than last week. We even got a bit of dampness on Sunday and Monday which I hadnt expected! The week ahead is looking to be sunny for a couple days when youll be reading this and then cloudy for most of the holiday weekend with rain holding off until Tuesday, so that would be nice, as there are many who will be traveling over this three day Memorial weekend. SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from May 25-31 are Elle Britt, Asher Frink, Katie Vegvary, Keil Charles Parker, Devin Helms, Serene Snow, Jeanne Paulsen, Stephanie Prestegard, Albert Bergseng, Patti LaBerge, Mark Schubert, Benjamin McClain, Kobi Robinson, Brooks Olsen, Lisa Marsyla, Denley Bardsley, Steve Howarth, Wes McClain, Tyler Nortrup, Barb Bain, Sharon Hart, Tim Rushing, Brooks Olsen, Willie Johnson, Kelly Hammond, Jeff Vik, Brooklyn Blain, Tiernan Cochran, Julie Black, Lisa Sechler and 67er Linda Holland Toste. Hope you all have wonderful birthdays! Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Bill and Linda Mahitka, Pete and Marja Ringen and Tylor and Chandler Nortrup. Enjoy your celebrations! THIS THURSDAY--The Skamokawa Grange Hall is still the place to be on Thursday from 10 a.m. until noon, so join Season Long and her crew for their community breakfast, as well as the other activities going on there, like things for the kids and massages for the grown ups! MARKET THIS FRIDAY--This Friday, May 26, is the opening day of the Farmers Market at the Elochoman Slough Marina in Cathlamet. These Friday markets will last until Sept. 1 and their hours are from 3 to 6 p.m. If youd like to be a vendor, be sure to call Mackenzie Jones at 360-849-9411 to find out all the particulars. LOOKING GOOD--If youve passed through Skamokawa lately, you will notice the big change in the building that was the former Methodist Church on the corner of SR 4 and Vista Park Road, as it is now the office for Skamokawa Vista Park. The building just got a brand new roof so its looking pretty spiffy, and watching all the work that went into removing the bell tower and laying of the plastic barrier, etc., was pretty interesting. Inside in the main auditorium, there is new carpeting and so there are a lot of improvements going on. I think that having this multi-use SVP/Port 2 office in this highly visible spot is a great addition to the park and our community. NOW OPEN--The Wahkiakum County Historical Society (WCHS) has now opened the museum at 65 River Street, next to the PUD in Cathlamet. It is open on weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. I hope youll take the time to stop by and take a look at things and Im sure youll find lots of things there that you had never seen or heard about. It is always hoped that more folks will show an interest in this historical treasure and maybe volunteer to host a day now and then. If you cant host, maybe you can become a regular donor which would help keep the lights on and the doors open. You can send your donation to the above address, Cathlamet, WA 98612. ICE CREAM SOCIAL--If you happen to be on the west end on June 3, there will be a BBQ potluck at Johnson Park from 2 to 6, meat provided. However, in addition to that, the American Legion Post 111 will have an Ice Cream Social with a nice variety of the creamy, sweet stuff, so they hope youll stop by and help support them while youre enjoying that BBQ! AWESOME VISIT--Coming to our small community this past week from Utah was my grandson Austin Good and son, Kaiden and his Mom, Nicole, so this great grandma was over the moon to share some breakfast with them! The trio had come to WA for a wedding. They came up one day, went to the wedding the next, then came down this way for a visit, which also included his brother, Bryce and bride to be, Lauren, Austin's Mom, Felicitie and Papa Bill, and then they were headed over to Idaho and then home to Utah. Whew, glad they are young, as thats way too much driving for this grandma! At any rate, we sure enjoyed seeing the great grandson, who is growing up so fast, and impressed us with his counting abilities and more at just three years old! We can hardly wait to see him again at their next visit scheduled for August. NEED CORRECT DATES--Many folks announce upcoming events by using the calendar of events that was put out by the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce at the beginning of the year. Those dates were given to the chamber in the winter of the year before however, so there are times when dates need to be changed. However, if you are one of those groups or organizations that had to make a major date change, but its already on this calendar, youll really need to do a massive outreach to the public in order that your event is publicized correctly. Please contact this paper and its reporters and columnists so that we can help get the new/correct dates out there. Please check out the Chamber's calendar today and if you notice something wrong, like the date, or maybe the time is wrong or theres incorrect contact info, please contact the Chamber and the rest of us and lets make sure your event is being correctly advertised! REMINDER--If you want to order those frozen berries being offered by the Wahkiakum Lions Club, just remember, you need to have those orders in by June 12. The 15 pound cases range from 55 to 62 dollars depending on the variety you want. Order forms are around town or call 360-355-0871 for all the info. Please help support the WLC as proceeds are used to help those in need of eye exams and sight conservation needs as well as scholarships. ONLINE AUCTION BEGINS--If you are reading this on Thursday, May 25, then you may want to check out the first day of the Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars Mule Power sponsorship and online auction event! All of you folks who love to have fun and outbid your neighbor, or you just really want a certain item, you can head to this website, where you can check out all the items that were donated for this event. Heres to having some fun and raising some money for these great scholarships for our Wahkiakum High School graduates! Go to https://www.32auctions.com/Mules2023 and bid away! If you arent the online type, but want to send a check to support the kids, make the check out to Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 498, Cathlamet, WA 98612. MEMORIAL WEEKEND--We have seen some horrible accidents recently and many of them are due to excess speed and carelessness, so please dont be one of those in a hurry people who wind up being a statistic and naturally, we need to drive defensively and watch out for those who dont seem to pay any attention to red lights and stop signs. If youre a slower driver, please try to pull over and let people pass you, as its the law for one, but it can also help diffuse a situation which could lead to road rage. So, heres to all of us having a safe and happy holiday weekend; enjoy! DID YOU KNOW?--At this same time in 1993, my phones werent working, and in 2023, they arent working either. Some things never change! The image above features Mary from Burma and Kieri from Ceylon, elephants who were brought to the Hamburg Zoo to train for the circus. At 25 and 35, respectively, they were no young ladies, but still worked hard to help with the reconstruction effort after the Allied bombings during World War II. Elephants are incredibly strong, which made them perfect for this difficult task. While it may not look like much, the wrecked car theyre pulling was full of bricks and used as a barricade during the bombings of Hamburg. This photo was captured in November 1945, and the two animals pulled the vehicle onto a truck bed, so it could be taken away. As can be seen above, Kieri got to work on this strenuous task, while Mary moved on to other things. Supposedly, they were given more food in exchange for their hard work. Despite being an odd sight, this wasnt the first time elephants were used as part of the war effort they had a purpose in Europe and the United Kingdom during the First World War. Farmers were forced to give up their equines, which were sent to fight on the Western Front. Still needing to plow their fields and work their farms, some replaced these livestock with elephants. More from us: These Nurses Had a Front Row Seat to the Battle of Monte Cassino In both world wars, elephants were also used for pulling and moving things, such as artillery, logs and, just like Mary and Kieri, rubble. Their ability to carry these large and heavy loads made them extremely useful, especially because they could often move through terrain that man-made vehicles couldnt. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share An effort by Israels government to weaken the judiciary has provoked divisions so intense the nations president has warned of a possible civil war. The dispute has illuminated an aspect of the country often unappreciated outside of it, which is that Israel is manifestly splintered within. Deep fractures exist over the unresolved question at the heart of the countrys existence: What does it mean to be a Jewish state? Answering it is complicated by multiple demographic splits among the countrys 9.7 million people: between Jews and non-Jews, then further within the Jewish majority between the secular and the religious and especially the ultra-Orthodox, and between those with origins in Europe versus those with roots in the Middle East. 1. Why the rupture now? For most of its 75 years, Israel has been under siege or at war, and the need to band together for survival meant that the internal fissures tended to be papered over. That imperative has lessened. The last two decades have been ones of exceptional prosperity and relative peace. A high-tech focused economy has propelled Israel into the ranks of the worlds wealthiest states, and a number of Arab countries that had shunned it have normalized relations. Advertisement 2. What provoked the rancor? Essentially, a conflict over who gets to shape the countrys nature. Israel was founded by immigrants with a vast array of traditions and ideologies who could never agree on a constitution. Three decades ago, the Supreme Court said the countrys so-called basic laws would serve that role; the justices said they would measure legislation and executive action against these 13 statutes of administrative principles and human rights. As right-wing parties triumphed politically in recent years, the court became increasingly interventionist, issuing rulings supporting the principles of a liberal state. After coming to power at the end of 2022, the most right-wing government in Israels history began moving to curb the courts powers. After massive protests, mostly from the left, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paused the judicial overhaul in March. After winning Parliaments approval for his governments budget May 24, Netanyahu said the plan would be revived through negotiations with the opposition. 3. Whats so complicated about defining a Jewish state? Advertisement For one thing, a fifth of Israels citizens arent Jews. They are Arabs who found themselves, or whose predecessors found themselves, within the countrys borders as defined in 1949 after the war that erupted when Israel declared independence. Over the years, Israels Arab citizens have been somewhat integrated, but the question of what role they should play in the Jewish state remains controversial. Their integration hailed by liberals is often seen as a threat by religious and traditional Jews for whom the point of the country is to give Jews opportunities they were denied elsewhere. One reason the Supreme Court has become a point of tension is that some of its rulings have protected Arab rights. That goes not just for Arabs citizens but for the 5 million Palestinian non-citizens in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, territories Israel conquered in a 1967 war. 4. How is religiosity among Jews an issue? Roughly 41% of Israeli Jews define themselves as secular, the rest as religious or traditional. This affiliation influences where citizens stand on two fundamental issues. Advertisement The first is what role religion should play in the public sphere whether the prohibition against work on the Sabbath should stop buses and trains, for example, and whether marriage and burial should continue to be under the exclusive control of religious authorities. The second is whether Israel should expand its borders to encompass the West Bank. Some religious Jews argue that because the territory was part of the historic homeland of the Jews, Israel should annex it. Some rightists who arent religious also support such a move, and Netanyahus government is committed to it in principle. In the meantime, annexationists support the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, where some 450,000 Israelis already live, along with 220,000 in East Jerusalem. Other Israelis, generally left-leaning secularists, oppose the settlements and want to preserve the possibility that the West Bank will eventually become part of an independent Palestinian state, with a capital in East Jerusalem, coexisting peacefully beside their country, even if negotiations toward that end have failed so far. 5. Whats the issue with the ultra-Orthodox? Advertisement About 13% of Israelis are ultra-Orthodox Jews, also known as Haredim. They are anti-modern, maintaining separate schools with almost no instruction in non-religious subjects. Often, the men study religion indefinitely rather than work, and receive government stipends to do so. Haredi leaders argue that the communitys prayers protect the state. Haredi men enjoy an exemption from compulsory military service, though the high court has ordered an end to it. That and other rulings anger the group, such as one striking down the Haredi practice of separating men and women at public events. Haredi political parties, two of which are in Netanyahus governing coalition, historically focused on assuring government spending for the community, and the new budget is especially generous. But as the rest of society has pushed to shrink Haredi entitlements, the parties have grown more assertive about public policy. Because of their high fertility rate, the Haredim are a growing share of the population, and secular Israelis worry that they will use their clout to shift the country from a modern democracy to a theocracy. 6. How do the geographic roots of Israelis factor in? Part of the animus toward the Supreme Court comes from the fact that its dominated by Jews of European origin, known as Ashkenazim. Zionism, the movement to build a sovereign Jewish state in the face of European antisemitism, was the project of Ashkenazim, and in Israels first decades they dominated the countrys establishment. As Muslim states rejected Israel, the Jews living there, known as Sephardim, migrated to Israel by the hundreds of thousands, making the two groups about equal in number. The newcomers who had a greater attachment to tradition, bigger families, and less wealth and education were bused to new communities, where the housing and job options were inferior. Their children and grandchildren were deprived of many of the opportunities Ashkenazim enjoyed. Though intermarriage rates between the two groups are high, the wound festers still through fierce identity politics. Most supporters of Netanyahus Likud party are Sephardim. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article OTTAWA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Canada and Saudi Arabia have decided to restore diplomatic relations and appoint new ambassadors, Global Affairs Canada, which manages the country's diplomatic and consular relations, said in a statement on Wednesday. "Canada has appointed a new ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jean-Philippe Linteau," said the statement, saying the move was based on mutual respect and common interests. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry made a similar announcement Wednesday. In 2018, Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador after a diplomatic dispute. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share More than 1,000 people have been charged with crimes in connection with the riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. Ten members of two extremist groups were convicted at trial of seditious conspiracy, and four others pleaded guilty to the crime. Considered the most serious offense linked to the Capitol breach, seditious conspiracy has a long and vexed history. 1. What is seditious conspiracy? Its the official name in federal law for sedition the organized encouragement of rebellion or civil disorder against the authority of the state. The rarely used, Civil War-era statute invoked in the Jan. 6 cases requires prosecutors to prove a defendant conspired to use force to oppose US government authority or to prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any US law. The crime carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Advertisement 2. Whats the difference between seditious conspiracy and treason? Treason is more serious, defined in the US Constitution as actively making war against the US or giving aid and comfort to its enemies. Its punishable by death, or, at minimum, five years in prison. It is prosecuted less frequently than sedition. Nobody has been charged with treason over the Jan. 6 siege. 3. Who has been convicted of seditious conspiracy around Jan. 6? Six men convicted at trial of seditious conspiracy, and three more who pleaded guilty to the crime, are members of the Oath Keepers, which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as a large, loosely organized anti-government militia involving many current and former law enforcement officials and military veterans. The groups founder and leader, Stewart Rhodes one of those convicted of seditious conspiracy, for which he was sentenced to 18 years in prison is a Yale Law School graduate who asserts that its members can refuse to carry out orders that they believe violate the Constitution. In addition, four men convicted of seditious conspiracy at a trial in May and one who had pleaded guilty in October are from the Proud Boys, a far-right neo-fascist organization that the SPLC says was started in 2016 by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes to fight political correctness and a White guilt agenda. Advertisement 4. How did prosecutors prove their case? Justice Department prosecutors presented evidence that the militia members plotted to use force to prevent the certification of Joe Bidens election as president. At the Oath Keepers trial, prosecutors cited internal communications among group members showing that they amassed an armed quick reaction force on the outskirts of Washington. At the Proud Boys trial, jurors saw chat messages and videos and heard testimony from two group members who had pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the government. 5. Why is seditious conspiracy a subject of debate? Some of the earliest tests of limits on freedom of speech and press in the US followed the passage in Congress in 1798 of four laws collectively known as the Alien and Sedition Acts, at a time when the fledgling nation was on the brink of war with France. The Sedition Act made it a crime for American citizens to print, utter, or publish any false, scandalous, and malicious writing about the government. Prosecutions prompted a public backlash that contributed to the defeat of the Federalists in the election of 1800, and the acts were repealed or allowed to expire. The passage during World War I of the Sedition Act of 1918 drew criticism about a crackdown on legitimate dissent. The act made it illegal during wartime to say or publish anything disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive about the US government or military. Advertisement 6. How have past seditious conspiracy prosecutions fared? In the 1950s, 17 members of a Puerto Rican nationalist group were charged with seditious conspiracy after four of them stormed the floor of the House of Representatives and shot five members, all of whom survived. Four of the accused pleaded guilty, and the other 13 were convicted at trial. Federal prosecutors also won sedition convictions against the terrorists that masterminded the 1993 World Trade Center attack, including Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind Muslim cleric. But sedition charges brought in 1987 against a group of White supremacists were rejected by a jury. And a sedition case in 2010 against members of a militia group in Michigan was dismissed by a judge who said prosecutors had failed to show that the defendants were seeking to oppose some positive assertion of authority by the US government. --With assistance from David Voreacos and Sabrina Willmer. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Two clashing climatic behemoths, one natural and one with human fingerprints, will square off this summer to determine how quiet or chaotic the Atlantic hurricane season will be. An El Nino is brewing and the natural weather event dramatically dampens hurricane activity. But at the same time record ocean heat is bubbling up in the Atlantic, partly stoked by human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas, and it provides boosts of fuel for storms. Many forecasters arent sure which weather titan will prevail because the scenario hasnt happened before on this scale. Most of them are expecting a near-draw something about average. And that includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, saying theres a 40% chance of a near-normal season, 30% chance of an above-average season (more storms than usual) and a 30% chance of a below-normal season. Advertisement The federal agency Thursday announced its forecast of 12 to 17 named storms, five to nine becoming hurricanes and one to four powering into major hurricanes with winds greater than 110 mph. Normal is 14 named storms, with seven becoming hurricanes and three of them major hurricanes. Its definitely kind of a rare setup for this year. Thats why our probabilities are not 60% or 70%, NOAA lead hurricane seasonal forecaster Matthew Rosencrans said at a Thursday news conference. Theres a lot of uncertainty this year. No matter how many storms brew, forecasters and Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Deanne Criswell reminded U.S. coastal residents from Texas to New England and people in the Caribbean and Central America that it only takes one hurricane to be a catastrophe if it hits you. Advertisement Thats really what it boils down to is: Which is going to win or do they just cancel each other out and you end up with a near-normal season? said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. I respect them both. The two forces couldnt be more opposite. El Nino is a natural temporary warming of the Pacific that happens every few years and changes weather worldwide. Climate models predict as the world warms, El Ninos get stronger. Decades of observation show that generally the Atlantic is quieter with fewer storms during El Nino years. El Ninos warmer waters make warmer air over the Pacific reach higher up in the atmosphere, influencing winds and creating strong upper level winds that can decapitate storms, killing them, Klotzbach said. Its called wind shear. El Ninos effects are not direct and its not as in-your-face as a very warm ocean, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. El Nino and its variations are the single biggest yearly factor in NOAAs forecast, accounting for up to 38% of its prediction, Rosencrans said. Advertisement The Atlantic, especially hugging the African coast to the far east where storms form, is about 1.8 to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 2 degrees Celsius) warmer than the average of the last 30 years and is the warmest it has been for this time of year, Klotzbach said. Warm Atlantic waters not only make storms stronger and more able to withstand El Ninos shear but they create an opposite direction upper level wind that could counterbalance El Nino. Its starting to outpace 2010 by a decent margin, which is sobering because 2010 was stinking hot, Klotzbach said. The anomalously warm ocean temperatures unquestionably have a human fingerprint on them, said former NOAA hurricane scientist Jim Kossin, now of the risk firm The Climate Service. Scientists dont even have past years that look the same to help figure out what will happen, Klotzbach and McNoldy said. Advertisement So which is going to win between El Nino and the hot oceans? I know its not a satisfying answer to say we just dont know, but we dont, said University of Albany atmospheric sciences professor Kristen Corbosiero. The pioneer in the field, Colorado State, is predicting a slightly below normal 13 named storms, six hurricanes with two of them becoming major. All but a handful of nearly two dozen private, university and government forecast teams and models call for a near normal Atlantic hurricane season with between six and eight hurricanes. But they hedge their bets too. AccuWeather is expecting a near normal to slightly below normal season due to the onset of an El Nino, said AccuWeather senior hurricane forecaster Dan Kottlowski, who then added that the warm Atlantic complicates everything. Due to extensive warm water, there is still a higher than normal chance for a high impacting hurricane to affect the U.S. this season. Advertisement The University of Arizona looks at the same two clashing forces and sees a different outcome, predicting a higher-than-normal nine hurricanes, 19 named storms and five major hurricanes because it expects the Atlantic side to be dominant, leading to a very active season, said University of Arizona atmospheric sciences professor Xubin Zeng. Forecasters ran out of names during a record 30 Atlantic named storms in 2020 and with 21 storms in 2021. Last year was normal. Earth had a La Nina for the past three years, which generally increase Atlantic hurricane activity. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. McNoldy said this summer may be quieter in the Caribbean where El Ninos shear can have more sway, but busier in Bermuda and U.S. East Coast north of the Caribbean, where El Nino isnt as potent. Advertisement Random chance plays a big role, Kossin said: Its a bit like rolling dice but with the addition (warm ocean) and subtraction (El Nino) of weights to the dice. The warmer Pacific has forecasters expecting a near-to-above normal hurricane season for waters around Hawaii, said Chris Brenchley, the director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. That amounts to four to seven tropical cyclones in the region, but fewer could actually come ashore in the islands. ___ Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy contributed from Honolulu. ___ Follow APs climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears ___ 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. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share CARLISLE, Pa. The remains of five more Native American children who died at a notorious government-run boarding school in Pennsylvania over a century ago will be disinterred from a small Army cemetery and returned to descendants, authorities said Thursday. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The remains are buried on the grounds of the Carlisle Barracks, home of the U.S. Army War College. The children attended the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and forced to assimilate to white society as a matter of U.S. policy. The Carlisle school put children through harsh conditions that sometimes resulted in their deaths. Founded by an Army officer, the school cut their braids, dressed them in military-style uniforms and punished them for speaking their native languages. European names were forced upon them. Advertisement The Office of Army Cemeteries said the latest disinterment of remains will take place beginning Sept. 11. It will be the sixth such disinterment operation at Carlisle since 2017 as the military transfers remains to living family members for reburial. Twenty-eight children have been returned so far, according to cemetery officials. The remains to be moved this fall include those belonging to 13-year-old Amos LaFromboise, of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe of South Dakota, who died in 1879, only 20 days after his arrival at the school. The tribe had written to the U.S. Armys cemetery office in March to urge a faster return of the boy, who has been described as a son of one of the tribes most celebrated leaders. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate want to bury him next to his father on the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota. The other students to be moved died between 1880 and 1910 while attending the Carlisle school, according to the Office of Army Cemeteries. They are Edward Upright from the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota, Beau Neal from the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, Edward Spott from the Puyallup Tribe of Washington state, and Launy Shorty from the Blackfeet Nation of Montana. Advertisement More than 10,000 children from more than 140 tribes passed through the school between 1879 and 1918, including famous Olympian Jim Thorpe. Starting with the Indian Civilization Act of 1819, the U.S. enacted laws and policies to establish and support Native American boarding schools across the nation. Hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their communities and forced into boarding schools that focused on assimilation. The federal government has been investigating its past oversight of the boarding schools. GiftOutline Gift Article A year into Anthony Albaneses reign, we have witnessed a rare phenomenon. Unlike his most recent predecessors, Albanese has not turned into the incredible shrinking prime minister. He has actually grown in the job. Initially his favourable reception sprung from relief and surprise. He was not Scott Morrison and he performed better than most people expected. Labors honeymoon continues. Credit: Dionne Gain Now, enjoying a seemingly never ending, ever expanding honeymoon (which will eventually expire because political love affairs always do and always badly), Albanese is being judged favourably in his own right as well as in comparison to the alternative Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Dutton and the dominant conservative Liberals have sought refuge on the outer fringes of the right, struggling for relevance as mainstream opponents steal their clothes, their real estate and their supporters. This has left moderates like Simon Birmingham in an excruciating, untenable position, straddling a barbed wire fence, neither condemning nor defending their leader. BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao will hold talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai respectively, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shu Jueting said on Thursday. Wang will hold the talks while attending the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in the United States from May 25 to 26, and exchange views with the U.S. side on China-U.S. economic and trade relations as well as issues of common concern, Shu said at a regular press briefing. McCusker would not say where the man was shot and said the officers involved in the incident were shaken. Willoughby resident Jakelin Troy lives directly behind the house cordoned off by police on Alexander Avenue and said both she and her housemate Mujahid Torwali heard gunshots. This used to be [former NSW premier] Gladys [Berejiklians] electorate, right? Its just a really quiet part of Sydney ... nothing happens around North Willoughby, she said. Its very sad. Torwali said he heard a man yelling threatening phrases before later hearing three or four gunshots. I was just going towards the backyard and there was sort of crying sounds, he said. Torwali said he heard the man shouting Ill kill her, Ill kill you. Then after 10 or 15 minutes there was the firing sound, my son was here and he was asking what was going [on]. Neighbour Mujahid Torwali and his son, Azaan,10, heard the shooting. Credit: Janie Barrett A woman who lives on the street and wishes not to be named for fear of her safety said she did not hear anything but was shocked at what had happened. Its terrible because its such a quiet, friendly neighbourhood. Everybody speaks to everybody, nobody has any problems, she said. Cafe worker Jack Delaney said he saw a lot of commotion on the street while at work, and later found out someone had been shot. Ive lived in Willoughby my whole life and never seen anything like this, he said. Police cordoned off the street on Thursday following the incident. Credit: Janie Barrett Willoughby Public School was briefly put into lockdown as a precaution. Principal Jennifer Simmonds sent an email to parents, saying that police had given the all-clear and students would return to normal lunch and afternoon lessons. Everyone is safe at Willoughby PS, she wrote. Police informed us of an earlier incident at North Willoughby. As a result, we actioned emergency lockdown procedures of the school perimeter. Amanda Karki, who was picking up the children she babysits from St Thomas Primary School, said students had been kept in their classrooms since recess. Karkis friend Catherine Cos, who works nearby, was shocked by the incident. There were several police, he didnt have a gun, Cos said. I kind of wonder how they ended up shooting him. A critical incident team from the State Crime Commands homicide squad will investigate the circumstances of the mans death, including the discharge of a police firearm. The investigation will be subject to an independent review and a report will be prepared for the coroner. Aerial vision of the scene, in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Credit: Nine News It comes after a difficult week for NSW Police and its commissioner, Karen Webb, following the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who was Tasered at a residential care home in Cooma. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said he had confidence in the force and the commissioner, but was concerned the public was not told about the use of a Taser until 50 hours after the incident. Overall, in NSW, the police do a fantastic job. Theyre putting their lives on the line every day to protect us. But mistakes can happen. And incidents can be handled less than ideally, he said. Loading And the difficulty Ive had with the way that police and the police minister [Yasmin Catley] have handled the Cooma incident is the initial lack of transparency and timely disclosure of information to the public. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park also said he was adamant the public still had faith in police. Police do an incredible job every day under very, very difficult circumstances and these are obviously subject now to critical incidents as all of these types of incidents are, he said. A bid to tighten the safeguards on major road and rail projects has been blocked in federal parliament after Labor and the Coalition joined forces against moves by teal independents to reveal more about the $120 billion cost. Calling for more scrutiny of the mammoth spending, the independent MPs sought changes to stamp out pork barrelling and force governments to reveal the costs and benefits of new proposals before sinking taxpayer funds into the projects. Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender proposed the amendment to allow greater transparency. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen But their bid was lost when the major parties used their numbers to defeat the moves, which included an amendment copied from a proposal from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when he was in opposition nine years ago. The debate heightened the tensions between Labor and the crossbench over integrity in government and the priority for vast projects including the rail line to the Western Sydney Airport, the Melbourne Airport Rail, the Inland Rail and competing road-building proposals in every state. Those staff would not be allowed to return to working with the government until PwCs review of the incident had been completed and the department was satisfied with its findings. Loading The department also advised government officials that they must consider past behaviour and ethical conduct of an organisation when tendering for government contracts. When asked by Greens senator Barbara Pocock why PwC was not banned from government work, the Finance Minister said the government could not just ban one organisation from all contracts. The ball is in PwCs court now to assure us that they have done what Finance has directed them to do, Gallagher said. Professor Percy Allan, from the Institute for Public Policy & Governance at University of Technology Sydney, said the new directive to consider past behaviour means officials would have to look at whether firms have been involved in previous scandals or breaches but it would be tricky to find any organisation with a completely clean record. The problem is all these consulting firms have been involved in scandals, theyve all been involved in breaches of the law, Professor Allan said. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Secretary of the Department of Finance Jenny Wilkinson were repeatedly questioned about PwC during a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Wilkinson also told the Senate committee the department first heard about the Tax Practitioners Boards investigation into PwC through media reporting earlier this year, and Finance contacted the firm shortly after it failed to disclose the full extent of the leak. Critically, PwC did not indicate to my department that the issue was broader than what was being published in media reports at that time, Wilkinson said. She said the department later became aware through news reports earlier this month that more than 50 staff had knowledge of the confidential tax information. Loading This additional information raised serious concerns about the broader culture within PwC and undermined our confidence in their earlier engagements with Finance around this matter, Wilkinson said. Labor senator Deborah ONeil asked how the department could trust PwC to remove all the involved staff, given the firms recent interactions with Finance, unless it knew the names of the workers involved. How else do you check, verify what theyve done? she asked. Andrew Jaggers, deputy secretary of the Finance Departments commercial group, said the department has not asked for that at this stage given the impending AFP investigation. Weve indicated that we need assurance and independent assurance around people being stood down off Commonwealth contracts, he said. PwC has said it deeply regrets that we have failed the high standards we set for ourselves as an organisation. We now need to re-earn trust, which is why we have taken appropriate action, including the announcement that we will establish an independent review in relation to our governance, accountability and culture. Other firms are concerned about the building scandal. On Thursday, KPMG sent an email to staff saying there had been significant exposure of the grave issue in past weeks. Loading We can no longer sit by and watch our profession be tarnished by the unethical actions of a few, the email said. KPMG told staff that working with government was a privilege, and acknowledged the firm had in the past got it wrong but had since learnt from past experiences. It urged workers to re-familiarise themselves with the companys code of conduct. Earlier on Thursday AFP deputy commissioner Ian McCartney confirmed police were investigating a person relating to the PwC tax scandal, and said they would look at further people if necessary as the investigation continued. Its now an active investigation, McCartney said. Loading McCartney said the AFP was investigating potential breaches of a federal law, which prohibits the release of confidential information by Commonwealth officers. The offences are punishable by up to two years in prison. The AFP also defended its ability to investigate PwC while retaining millions of dollars worth of contracts with the consulting giant. AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw rejected suggestions he had a conflict of interest because he is friends with former NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller, now a senior PwC employee. There is no suggestion that Mr Fuller was involved in or knew about the leaked information. Greens senator David Shoebridge said it was an impossible conflict of interest for the AFP to investigate the firms conduct while granting it access to its systems as an internal auditor, and pressed the organisation to sever its relationship with PwC. Greens senator David Shoebridge. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The AFP awarded Fuller a contract in his PwC capacity to prepare a report on ACT Policing. According to the parliamentary library, the AFP has six current contracts with PwC worth $6.73 million. Kershaw said he could understand that it might look like the AFP had a conflict of interest because it was investigating a former senior official at the firm while continuing to work with the company. But he said he had confidence in the integrity of the AFPs processes because the organisation was good at compartmentalising its work. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Picture Thailand. No doubt your mind fills with visions of white-sand beaches ringed by resort villas and bungalows. Perhaps you see the enormity of Bangkok, or the bustle of Phuket. You can probably conjure images of spectacular limestone karsts rising from calm, clear waters. Thats fine. Thats great. But what youre thinking of is southern and central Thailand. Theyre understandably popular destinations among travellers who want their hit of culture with a side of affordable, beachy idyll. Turn your gaze north from Bangkok and you find a whole different world. Credit: iStock The south and central regions of Thailand are Bangkok and Phuket, theyre Koh Samui, Koh Pha-Ngan and Koh Phi-Phi. Theyre Krabi, Khao Lak, Koh Tao and Koh Lanta. Theyre all brilliant. But still, theres more to this country. Turn your gaze north from Bangkok and you find a whole different world, one that defies the stereotypes of the traditional Thai holiday. Northern Thailand is a group of 17 provinces, beginning from Nakhon Sawan, about three hours drive north of Bangkok, stretching all the way up to the Golden Triangle at the tip of the Chiang Rai province. Its different up here to the southern and central regions in almost every way: geographically, culturally, linguistically, climatically. The north is a diverse area of lush mountains and rushing rivers, a formerly independent kingdom that has taken influence over millennia from China, Myanmar and Laos, while forging an identity very much its own (and yet still being a heartland for ethnic minority groups such as the Hmong, Karen, Akha and Lisu). Wat Mahathat temple, Sukhothai Historical Park. Credit: iStock Advertisement The pace is different up in the north, its slower. The tourists are fewer, its far easier to get away from it all. The food is sensational, the people are friendly, and history is fascinating and the landscape is nothing short of stunning. Though hotspots such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai attract their fair share of crowds, this is by and large a region that is undiscovered and unappreciated by the masses, and yet one that has so much to offer those prepared to forsake the island bliss of the south. Here, then, Traveller presents what we trust is a compelling case - and an essential guide - for travelling north. The culture This is a little misleading in Northern Thailand its not so much the culture as the cultures. Though predominantly you will be coming into contact with those descended from the Lanna Kingdom, ethnic Thais who share a similar culture across the north, there are plenty of minority groups who call Northern Thailand home. Hmong girls in traditional dress. Credit: iStock For a crash course in many of these cultures, visit Mae Sai Market, a shopping area in the Chiang Rai province right up in the Golden Triangle. Here youll find crafts and other souvenirs made in Myanmar, Thailand and China, with plenty of ethnic minority groups also represented. Advertisement In the Chiang Mai province, Doi Pui is a major base for the Hmong people, while there are similar settlements in Nan, Phrae and Phayao provinces. To come into contact with the Karen people originally from Tibet pay a visit to Mae Hong Son, a remote town in the mountainous far north. The Nan province, meanwhile, was once its own kingdom, and retains a culture distinct from its neighbours. The history As with culture, theres no one history of Northern Thailand. There are, however, plenty of places in which to learn more about the former kingdoms here, particularly the Lanna (with its strong Burmese ties), though also the Sukhothai Kingdom, thought to be Thailands first, the Ayutthaya, Thonburi and Rattanakosin kingdoms. Chiang Mai, of course, is the most famous historic city, with its intact city walls and moat. However, history buffs should certainly visit Sukhothai, home to Sukhothai Historical Park: the extensive ruins of Si Satchanalai and Chaliang, twin cities whose remains will remind many visitors of the Temples of Angkor, though with a fraction the number of visitors. Elsewhere, Kamphaeng Phets ancient walls date back to the Sukhothai Kingdom, while there are several ancient temples and pagodas to view in Phitsanulok. The cities Advertisement Northern Thailand is not really about big-city life. This is a region in which to get away from the endless skyscrapers of Bangkok, and take a break from the touristy rush of the likes of Phuket. Still, there are urban centres here to enjoy, and the largest and best-known of those is Chiang Mai. This 700-year-old city was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, and it retains strong links to that proud history. Loading The sprawling Old Town, still surrounded by a moat and 13th-century city walls, features the perfect mix of old and new Thailand, where wats, or temples, sit near boutique hotels, and traditional markets share city blocks with stylish, modern restaurants. The next city of note in this region is Chiang Rai, an even more laidback version of its etymologically similar neighbour. This is another city with more than 700 years of history, and one that makes a perfect base from which to explore the Chiang Rai province, filled with opportunities for adventure. Elsewhere, Lampang has an excellent food scene (and great coffee), and Phitsanulok is a thriving ancient capital on the Nan River. The towns Advertisement Now were talking. Though the cities of Northern Thailand are well worth experiencing, this is a region in which to explore further than the major centres, to discover the small-town charms of this largely rural area. The most famous town in Northern Thailand, at least among foreign travellers, is surely Pai, once a secret among in-the-know travellers, now a touristy hub in a gorgeous location in Mae Hong Son, the province to the north of Chiang Mai. Pai is a great base for those hoping to do some long-distance hiking through the mountains, or who just want to relax in salubrious surrounds. Stunningly beautiful: Phu Langka. Credit: iStock Elsewhere, Phayao is a lovely lakeside town that also allows access to Phu Langka, a stunningly beautiful area of rice-paddy fields surrounded by rugged mountains. Theres also Mae Sot, a bustling, diverse border town in the Tak province, where youre as likely to find people of Burmese or Hmong background as you are the more familiar Thais. Sukhothai is a former capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom, with a swathe of 13th-century ruins, while Kamphaeng Phet has a similarly rich heritage. The food Forget what you know about Thai cuisine, particularly if youve been eating it in Australia. The Lanna food of the north presents a whole new set of dishes to learn though, the basic Thai passions for incredible amounts of chilli, and balances of sweet, salty, spicy and umami flavours in every bite certainly remain. Advertisement My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes also. Written in a letter by Lakota leader Chief Henry Standing Bear to sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski in 1939, these words started an audacious 75-year project to create the worlds largest mountain carving. Crazy Horse famously refused to have his image taken so its fair to assume he might not have been thrilled to discover hes being immortalised in a 195-metre-long sculpture. Credit: Getty Images At the time, 31-year-old Ziolkowski was working on Mount Rushmore, the iconic memorial to four US presidents, which is located in the Lakotas spiritual heartland, the Black Hills of South Dakota. Standing Bear had already petitioned Mount Rushmores lead sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, to include the revered Lakota leader Crazy Horse in the memorial to no avail. So he figured hed create his own, making use of a majestic granite cliff 27 kilometres to the south-west. Ziolkowski accepted the challenge and devoted the remaining 35 years of his life to the quest. Painstakingly chipping away at the exposed bluff, the aim was to create a striking 172-metre-high image of the great Lakota warrior astride his horse, arm outstretched pointing towards the lands of his people. What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox. Im in Greece on behalf of our sister publication, Traveller, sailing on the Ionian Sea with Greek-Australian Anastasis Kokkinos (I know, its a tough gig, but someones got to do it). Having endured the worlds longest set of pandemic lockdowns in Melbourne, Kokkinos woke up on New Years Day last year and thought Im going to start my own sailing tours of Greece. Gorgeous fine shingle beaches backed by sheer white cliffs are typical of Greek islands on the Ionian Sea. Credit: iStock Im aboard a lovely boat with a bunch of Australians, some on their first trip to Europe, and many on their first overseas jaunt since the pandemic. Its been a treat to see tiny, ancient lesser-known islands and immerse myself in Greeces famed hospitality, food and sea. In an interview published late on Tuesday with Konstantin Dolgov, a pro-Kremlin political strategist, Prigozhin went even further in his criticism, questioning some of Russian President Vladimir Putins rationale for the war. Prigozhin said Russias goal of demilitarising Ukraine had backfired because Kyivs military has become stronger with Western weapons and training. Loading In invading Ukraine, Putin also cited the need to increase Russias security and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Since the war began, Ukraine has applied to join NATO, and cross-border attacks into Russia itself have increased. In Washington, Kirby speculated on Prigozhins motives. And its possible that this could be a sort of morbid way of him ... claiming credit for whatever theyve been able to achieve in Bakhmut, but also trying to publicly embarrass the Ministry of Defence further that the cost was borne in blood and treasure by Wagner, and not by the Russian military. In the interview, Prigozhin also challenged Moscows vehement denials that Russian forces had killed civilians. In what it says is likely a low estimate, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says that from February 2022 until early April 2023, it recorded 22,734 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 8,490 killed and 14,244 injured. Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman with longtime links to Putin, is known for his bluster often spiced with obscenities and has previously made unverifiable claims from which he later backtracked. Earlier this month, his media team published a video of him shouting, swearing and pointing at about 30 uniformed bodies on the ground, saying they were Wagner fighters who died in a single day. He claimed the Russian Defence Ministry had starved his men of ammunition, and he threatened to give up the fight for Bakhmut. Prigozhin has frequently warned of a counter-offensive that Ukrainian officials have said theyre planning, and in the interview, he said that, given continued Western support, Kyivs forces might succeed in pushing Russian troops out of all territory they occupy in southern and eastern Ukraine, as well as annexed Crimea. A pessimistic scenario: the Ukrainians are given missiles, they prepare troops, of course they will continue their offensive, try to counterattack, he said. They will attack Crimea, they will try to blow up the Crimean bridge [to the Russian mainland], cut off [our] supply lines. Therefore we need to prepare for a hard war. Prigozhins admission of heavy losses appears to show the impact of Ukraines strategy. Ukrainian officials have said their goal in Bakhmut was to exhaust and deplete Russian forces, distract them from protecting territory they occupy elsewhere, and buy time for more Western weapons and ammunition supplies to arrive, and for training to be completed. Russias largest state-run and pro-Kremlin media did not report Prigozhins interview, posted in a Telegram channel with only 50,000 followers, making it unlikely to be widely seen in Russia. Nor did Russian military bloggers, whose popular Telegram pages are important sources of information about the war to many Russians, mention it. On the battlefield, the Ukrainian General Staff said heavy fighting was continuing inside Bakhmut, days after Russia claimed it had completely captured the devastated city. Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four Russia illegally annexed last fall and only partially controls. The head of Ukraines ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Kyivs forces are continuing their defensive operation in Bakhmut, with unspecified successes on its outskirts. He didnt elaborate. A Ukrainian commander in Bakhmut told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Ukrainians planned to trap the Russians. Now we dont need to fight in Bakhmut. We need to surround it from flanks and block it, Yevhen Mezhevikin said. Then we should sweep it. This is more appropriate, and thats what we are doing now. Elsewhere, more attacks continued in a border region that Russian officials had claimed had calmed down after one of the most serious incursions since the war began. Russian forces shot down a large number of drones in Russias southern Belgorod region, a local official said Wednesday, a day after Moscow announced that its forces crushed a cross-border raid from Ukraine. The drones were intercepted overnight, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, and another was shot down on Wednesday just outside the regional capital, also called Belgorod. He said no one had been hurt, but property had been damaged. Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. In Moscow, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu vowed to respond promptly and extremely harshly to such attacks. Details of the incident in the rural region, about 80 kilometres north of the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine and far from the wars front lines, are unclear. Moscow blamed the incursion on Ukrainian military saboteurs. Kyiv described it as an uprising against the Kremlin by Russian partisans. It was impossible to reconcile the two versions, to say with certainty who was behind the attack or to ascertain its aims. AMMAN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A cultural salon titled "Tea for Harmony" was held in the Jordanian capital Amman on Wednesday, offering the attendees an opportunity to immerse in the Chinese tea culture. The event, organized by the China Cultural Center in Amman, drew over 100 visitors, including Jordanian officials, Chinese people in Jordan, and local residents. Tea artists from Chengdu, southeast China's Sichuan Province, staged their tea arts during the salon, such as long spout teapot performance, accompanied by melodious ancient Chinese music, and Sichuan opera "Bianlian", also known as face-changing. Layan Mustafa, a Jordanian girl wearing traditional Chinese costume of Hanfu, who studies the Chinese language at a local university, told Xinhua that such events help introduce Jordanian people to stunning Chinese cultures, including tea culture. Introducing the Chinese tea culture to the attendees, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong said that tea culture embodies a core value of the Chinese culture -- Harmony, harmony between people, harmony between people and nature, and harmony between individuals and the society. He expressed his expectations to foster cultural exchanges between the two countries. For her part, Jordanian Princess Dana Firas considered the salon as a "cultural journey to Chinese tea," highlighting the cultural importance of tea as ancient bonds between nations. "With every sip of tea, we celebrate the ancient bonds that tie our countries together; we celebrate the Chinese belief in the harmony between people and nature as well as between peoples; we celebrate the beauty of our shared cultural heritage," she added. Washington: If you want to know what kind of US president Ron DeSantis might be, consider his policy agenda as Floridas governor. Last week, on the globally recognised International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, DeSantis marked the occasion by signing new laws banning gender-affirming care for minors and restricting the use of pronouns in schools. Ron DeSantis, his wife Casey and their children on stage after his win in the midterm elections. Credit: AP Earlier, the Republican firebrand adopted a bill making abortions illegal after six weeks of pregnancy. He also shunned mask mandates at the height of the pandemic, made it easier for people to carry guns without a permit, and picked a fight with Disney over so-called Dont Say Gay laws banning classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to grade three. Now DeSantis has set his sights on the White House, hoping to out-Trump Donald Trump by pushing policies that are often more extreme than the former presidents. As part of its capacity building strategy and under the sponsorship of the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan (CCF-Japan), the WCO has held a national workshop on the Harmonized System for Cambodia Customs. The Workshop took place in Phnom Penh, at the National School of Customs, from 16 to 19 May 2023, and was organized jointly by the WCO and the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE). The workshop was facilitated by two experts from the WCO Secretariat, one WCO accredited expert on HS from Cambodia and one WCO pre-accredited expert on HS from Myanmar. It was attended by 25 officials, who represented a mix of officers who work on tariff classification related areas from various offices, including the Headquarters of Cambodia Customs. The aim of the workshop was to improve classification skills of the participants in specific HS areas and explaining procedures related to the submission of questions to the HSC and active participation in the HSC discussions. The workshop was opened by Mr. Se Sokhorn, Deputy Director General of GDCE, who thanked the WCO for its commitment to supporting Cambodia Customs. He encouraged the participants to take the opportunity to improve the technical works focusing on the uniform interpretation and application of the HS 2022 Nomenclature in Cambodia, as well as on the current classification work model in the country which have direct linkage on revenue collection. The workshop was an opportunity for the preaccredited trainer to give a practical demonstration of her skills and knowledge as expert trainer on the Harmonized System. During the workshop, several cases of tariff classification were analysed in a variety of areas, such as food supplements, medical products, machinery, including high-tech machinery, and vehicles and parts of vehicles. There was also a presentation on the WCO guidance on how to submit a HS change proposal. The participants presented the organizational structure and the various stages and functions involved in the work of tariff classification of goods in Cambodia. In addition, they highlighted the work of coordination that went on among the various departments and units of the GDCE in order to ensure that the HS was properly applied. Mr. Sok Sovithyea, Director of Planning and Technique Department of GDCE, brought the workshop to a close. He again thanked the WCO for its unfailing support to its Members and for its assistance and capacity building activities for Customs officials, in particular in the area of the tariff classification of goods. He emphasized that, along the lines of its actions, the GDCE, following in the footsteps of the WCO, supported all capacity building activities for its officials. The World Customs Organization (WCO) recently organized a regional workshop for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in Amman, Jordan, from 14 to 18 May 2023, with financial support from CCF China. The workshop aimed to emphasize the importance of developing strong leaders capable of effectively navigating the challenges of the digital era and driving successful reforms in Customs operations. The workshop began by highlighting the significance of adopting technological advancements to enhance leadership in customs. Participants explored the transformative potential of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics. By embracing these advancements, Customs leaders can leverage data-driven insights to make informed strategic decisions, enhance operational efficiency, optimize resource allocation, and drive organizational growth. Digital leadership skills were given paramount importance during the workshop. Customs leaders were introduced to the concept of "digital leadership," which entails navigating technological disruptions, fostering innovation, promoting continuous learning, and managing change effectively. Interactive sessions and case studies provided insights into best practices and strategies for developing these essential digital leadership skills. Discussions on the role of leaders in creating an environment conducive to innovation and growth were integral parts of the workshop. Customs leaders explored approaches to inspire and motivate their teams to embrace technological advancements, adapt to change, and foster collaboration across departments and sectors. The workshop also emphasized the value of building strategic partnerships to advance the transformation of Customs using advanced technologies and AI. These partnerships enable Customs leaders to stay up-to-date with the latest technological trends, exchange knowledge and best practices, and access innovative solutions. Participants were encouraged to take an active role in championing the digital transformation of their organizations, advocating for the adoption of advanced technologies, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Socks are displayed at an exhibition area at a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A staff member picks a roll of yarn at a workshop of a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) This aerial photo shows an international intelligent hosiery industrial park in Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A women visits a hosiery museum in Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A staff member works at a workshop of a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A staff member works at a workshop of a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Designers discuss new products at a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Socks are displayed at an exhibition area of a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A staff member promotes products via live streaming at a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A designer works at a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) This photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows the exhibition hall at a hosiery company at Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) This aerial photo shows a hosiery town in Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2023. Datang Subdistrict of Zhuji City is the largest hosiery production base in the world, which produces 25 billion pairs of socks every year, accounting for more than 70% of the output of China and one third of the whole world. At present, there are 201 industrial enterprises above designated size in the subdistrict. The total output value of the subdistrict from January to April this year reached 3.54 billion yuan (about 500 million U.S. dollars), and the self-operated export value in the first quarter exceeded 2 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars), with an increase of 19.64% year-on-year. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Human Resources Management and Development (HRMD) is a strategic priority for the Customs Authority of Serbia (CAS) and of high importance to the top level of the countrys leadership. During a meeting with the WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, in Belgrade in April 2023, the Prime Minister of Serbia, H.E. Ms. Ana Brnabic, pointed out human resource management and organizational aspects as the top priorities of the Customs Authority of Serbia. (WCO web article: WCO Secretary General visits Serbia to enhance cooperation, 20 April 2022). In response, from 15 to 19 May 2023, a WCO People Management and Development Diagnostic (PMDD) mission was undertaken by two WCO HRMD experts at the Customs Authority of Serbia, with the financial support of the WCO Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF) of Germany. This mission aimed, first, to conduct a complete diagnostic of the current HRM system (parts A and B of the WCO People Development Diagnostic Tool), including HRM roles and processes, gender and diversity, integrity, knowledge management, health, safety and security and, second, providing the CAS with the main findings and recommendations to build a modern, competency-based HRM system complying with recognized international best practices - leveraging the WCO guide to implementing Competency-Based HRM system in the Customs environment. Through a series of engagements with multiple stakeholders of the HRM department during the five-day mission, the WCO experts and the CAS HRM team highlighted the CASs leadership and organizational structure, the HR roles, competency-based HRM, performance management, rotation and career development, and staff training and development, pay and benefit, integrity, HR digital transformation, as the key components of the HRMD modernization programme and are instrumental in the successful implementation of the current CAS Strategic Plan. The WCO team of experts provided CAS with tailor-made recommendations that will feed into a comprehensive work plan for future implementation. CAS senior management and the HRM Modernization team expressed their appreciation for the successful and constructive mission, welcomed and affirmed their commitment to the proposed recommendations, and expressed their readiness to cooperate with the WCO in modernizing HRMD for Customs. The WCO looks forward to continuing working with the CAS on designing and implementing a modern, transparent and competency-based HRM system. For more information on this mission and the WCOs people development agenda, please contact: capacity.building@wcoomd.org. ISLAMABAD, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Three policemen were injured in a firing incident in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday, police said. The cops were deployed at the security of polio workers during a door-to-door campaign to administer polio vaccine to kids when they were attacked by unknown gunmen in Khyber district of the province, the Khyber police said in a statement. The polio team remained safe in the attack, and the drive to vaccinate the kids has been temporarily suspended in the area. The injured policemen were shifted to a nearby hospital, whereas a search operation has been kicked off in the area to arrest the fleeing militants. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. A five-day anti-polio drive in 12 districts of the province kicked off on Monday, with an aim to administer vaccines to over 3.5 million children under five years of age. According to a recent report from the World Health Organization, all the new polio cases reported in Pakistan since January 2021 are from seven polio-endemic districts in the southern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. UNITED NATIONS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Wednesday allocated 8.5 million U.S. dollars to aid 335,000 people in the worst-hit areas of storm-battered Madagascar, UN humanitarians said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it is working with the government to continue to aid the island nation's southeast, which was hit by cyclones earlier this year and last year. "We launched humanitarian projects to support 335,000 people in the most vulnerable areas," OCHA said. "These projects have been made possible by an 8.5 million U.S. dollar allocation from our Central Emergency Response Fund, which allows us to tackle crises outside of the global spotlight." The humanitarian office said that back-to-back emergencies hit the communities targeted by the projects. In January, tropical storm Cheneso hit Madagascar. Surprisingly, after traveling the breadth of the Indian Ocean, Cyclone Freddy slammed into the country's southeast, crossing the Mozambique Channel to hit the mainland of Africa only to double back across the strait to strike Madagascar a second time. Last year, tropical cyclones Batsirai and Emnati hit Madagascar. More than 870,000 people in Madagascar need support in the regions impacted by the storms, OCHA said. "This year, in support of the government, we have already reached 439,000 people with food, clean water, sanitation and hygiene support," the humanitarian office said. OCHA also reported that the earlier 215 million U.S. dollar Flash Appeal for Madagascar is only 23 percent funded. WSU announces vice president of new Student Access & Success division May 25, 2023 OGDEN, Utah Weber State Universitys Board of Trustees Executive Committee has approved the selection of Jessica Oyler as the inaugural vice president of Student Access & Success. The new SAS division aligns areas of Enrollment Management & Student Success with areas that fell under the former Student Affairs division. The vice president of SAS position replaces the vice president of Student Affairs and will report dually to the president and provost. SAS will focus on recruiting, retaining and graduating students from all walks of life, while also providing educational experiences outside the classroom. Dr. Oyler is laser-focused on student success, and shes going to bring a passion and fresh perspective to this important new role, said WSU President Brad Mortensen. This job requires taking innovative approaches to how we attract and retain students, and Jessica has a resume that proves shes suited for the task. Starting June 1, Oyler will be charged with simplifying processes for students to navigate the university and to find support through inclusive programs. Im excited for the challenge and the opportunity to bring different areas together with the ultimate goal of providing equitable access to higher education and positively contributing to student success, Oyler said. Oyler hopes to make college understandable for prospective students and their parents from beginning to end enrollment to graduation. For people who have worked in a university setting for many years, certain things make sense to them that dont always make sense to others, she said. We need to do things in a way that makes sense for the students. Theres room to improve and grow when it comes to meeting people where they are. In her new role, Oyler will work closely with stakeholders across campus and the community to create and implement initiatives that address the various needs of WSU, especially in relation to changing demographics and other challenges facing institutions of higher education. Dr. Oyler will work across campus divisions to develop innovative and streamlined approaches to the student experience, said Provost Ravi Krovi. Her relationships, knowledge and proven abilities here will allow her to seamlessly transition into this role. Since arriving at WSU in 2008, Oyler has held numerous leadership roles in Human Resources and Student Affairs. She currently serves as associate provost of Enrollment Management & Student Success, where she oversees over 90 employees in Admissions, Office of the Registrar, High School Dual Enrollment, Financial Aid & Scholarships, and the Student Success Center. Oyler holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah, a masters degree in postsecondary educational leadership from San Diego State University, and a bachelors degree in agricultural food and life sciences from the University of Arkansas. Weber State is a pillar in our community, Oyler said. We provide educational opportunities that promote economic development, social mobility and personal fulfillment and in the coming years we want to see more and more people succeed. As seemingly out of nowhere as Mykhaylo Kadatskikhs detention by Russian forces was, his release by Federal Security Service came about just as suddenly. One moment, he was being held in the basement of a Ukrainian police station, unable to communicate with the outside world and unsure how long he would be apprehended. The next, he was walking away with his mother, Valentina, who had come by as she did every day to drop off his daily meal. No information, no explanation. But after three months in a cell in the Russia-occupied city of Energodar, it was a relief not only for himself, but for his family including relatives 7,000 kilometres away. For Kadatskikhs sister Olga Politova, it feels as though at least one of the daily worries on her shoulders has lifted. I called (my mom) and she was ecstatic, and I (said), I want to talk to him, when can I call? I start texting everybody in the family, said Politova, who immigrated to Canada in 2002 and moved to St. Catharines in 2011. I was so relieved when I heard his voice hes alive. In the evening hours of Dec. 28, Kadatskikh was apprehended after being accused of aiding terrorism and was placed under investigation for assisting in the transfer of information to Ukrainian armed forces. His mother had last seen him, beaten and unable to walk, on Jan. 3 when his apartment had been searched. In the days afterwards, for three months, she would bring him a container of food to the police station. It was the only way she knew her son was alive, said Politova. Until, one day, they told her Mykhaylo was being released. Whatever the reason, they are just happy to have him safe. Hes all white, his hair is white and he looks rough. Very angry. Oh my gosh, its definitely been tough on him, said Politova. Took 10 years out of him. Kadatskikh was released without any documents, phone or keys. He is moving from place to place, unable to get back into his apartment with Russians using the second floor of the building as a watch house. He is required to check in three times a week with FSB (Federal Security Service) to make sure hes not up to something, said his sister, and is asked each time if he is yet willing to co-operate. In the weeks since his release, he has not spoken much about what happened to him. I didnt ask my brother what sort of injuries, hes not talking about it, said Politova. Maybe the time will heal or something, I dont know. What hes experiencing, hes not sharing. Hes quiet about it. Despite his detainment, it is clear he has not lost his spirit and is unwilling to back down, constantly speaking about liberation and how there is no other option than Ukraine getting its country back. Youre not human to (Russians). He said the only goal is for them to just destroy people. They occupied and they have no trust, she said. Definitely, he has PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and is very angry. My mom still worries about him. She said the way hes acting, it seems like hes going to get in trouble again. Politovas mom and brother stayed in Energodar following Russians occupation his wife and children left and are safe in Poland but survival is difficult with no humanitarian aid getting through. Politova is worried about the health of her mom, who has said her vision is declining and it takes about two weeks to get blood work completed. There are only a handful of employees at the local hospital the next closest is in Mariupol, about 280 kilometres away and theyre overwhelmed, she said. The family tries to keep in touch every day, making sure to either send a message or speak on the phone. At times, Politova can hear shots or explosions in the background. On days she cant get through to her mom, Im just holding on until tomorrow or until I hear from her and hoping shes OK, she said. Day to day, from one day to another, every day is a struggle. Read more about: SHARE: Freedom Mobile will offer a $50 monthly plan that includes unlimited calls and texts as well as 40 gigabytes of data usable throughout Canada and the U.S. following its acquisition by Quebecor Inc.s Videotron. The $2.85 billion acquisition was prompted by Rogers Communications Inc.s takeover of Shaw Communications Inc., which agreed last year to sell Freedom Mobile in an attempt to ease competition concerns as a requirement for the merger. As part of conditions laid out by Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne in March, Videotron must offer plans that are at least 20 per cent lower than its competitors and spend $150 million over the next two years to upgrade Freedom Mobiles network. The company said that work is underway, with teams dedicated to upgrading the wireless network to support the upcoming implementation of 5G technology and seamless roaming. But the newly announced plan, which marks Freedoms first offering with national coverage, goes well beyond any of the expectations that were set by Ottawa, telecommunications consultant Mark Goldberg said. This isnt just 20 per cent. Its a unique package, he said. This is a statement by Freedom that theyre going to be establishing themselves in the marketplace. While he said its not the first time a Canadian carrier has offered transborder roaming, its certainly the lowest price Ive seen for it and its showing some aggressive price competition. Earlier this year, Champagne said his approval of the Rogers-Shaw merger would establish Freedom Mobile as a strong fourth national carrier, which would also encourage competition and lower prices in the marketplace. Goldberg expects Freedom, along with Rogers, Bell Canada and Telus Corp. to meet that expectation by offering further incentives to customers. Freedom said it has also introduced enhancements to its services that go beyond Quebecors commitments at the time of the transaction, such as a price freeze guarantee, which applies to all current and future customers for as long as they keep their plans. Earlier this month, Rogers reduced the price per gigabyte of data by 50 per cent on its most popular plan, allowing customers to access 50 gigabytes of data for $85 per month. It also announced new bundled options for Rogers and Shaw customers in B.C., Alberta and other provinces. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023. Companies in this story: (TSX:QBR.B, TSX:RCI.B, TSX:BCE, TSX:T) SHARE: A Virginia woman who left the United States for more than a decade with her child to avoid sharing custody of her daughter with her former partner says her lawyer suggested she flee. In a document filed May 19 in federal court in Vermont as part of a long-running civil case, Lisa Miller outlined what led her to leave the country in September 2009 with her then 7-year-old daughter when it was becoming clear she would lose custody of the girl to her former partner Janet Jenkins of Fair Haven, Vermont. The filing is the latest chapter in a more than two-decade-long legal saga that began in 2000 when Miller and Jenkins were joined in a Vermont civil union, the first statewide legal recognition of same-sex couples. Their daughter, Isabella, was born to Miller in 2002. The couple split up in 2003. The Vermont family court gave custody of Isabella to Miller, but gave Jenkins regular visitation. Over the years Miller wouldnt comply with the court ordered visitations. There were a series of legal decisions as Miller sought full custody that went against her in favor of Jenkins. Miller said in her statement that during a summer 2009 meeting with attorney Rena Lindevaldsen to discuss upcoming appeals in the legal case, Lindevaldsen said something like I am going to take my lawyer hat off now and put on my friend hat. Lindevaldsen then asked Miller about leaving, telling me that if Isabella was her child then she would leave, Miller said in the statement. She pressed the issue, and I told her that I was leaving if plans would solidify but that no date was set. At the end of the meeting Miller said Lindevaldsen offered to take care of her financial needs after she left using proceeds from a book about the case Lindevaldsen was planning to write. The book, Only One Mommy, was published in 2011. Lindevaldsen, who describes herself as a defender of traditional marriage, is a law professor at the Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia. Lindevaldsens biography on the school website says she served as the senior litigation counsel to Liberty Counsel, which had provided legal representation to Miller until her disappearance. The counsel describes itself as a Christian ministry that is known for promoting conservative causes. In September 2009, Miller left the United States by crossing the Peace Bridge at Buffalo, New York. Miller and her daughter were picked up on the Canadian side and taken to the Toronto airport where they flew to Nicaragua. Horatio G. Mihet, who is one of Lindevaldsens attorneys and vice president of legal affairs and chief litigation counsel at Liberty Counsel, denied in an email on Tuesday that the conversation Miller recounted took place. Ms. Lindevaldsen and Liberty Counsel consistently advised Lisa Miller that she had an obligation to comply with the court orders, Mihet said. Lisa Millers decision to leave the country was without the knowledge of Ms. Lindevaldsen or Liberty Counsel. Any suggestion to the contrary is outright false. Millers attorneys didnt respond Wednesday to a request for comment. Sarah Star, the Vermont attorney who represents Jenkins in the civil case, declined comment Wednesday when asked about the filing. The document signed by Miller and submitted to court last week was part of a settlement to a civil case filed against Miller and others by Jenkins in 2012. Miller agreed to outline her version of events that led her to flee the country. The civil suit also names Lindevaldsen, the Liberty Counsel and others. The settlement agreement and the proffer were both signed by Miller on March 21. It was included as part of a motion by Lindevaldsen and the Liberty Counsel on May 19 to have the civil suit against them dismissed. The agreement was marked confidential, but a footnote in the motion to dismiss said Millers attorney provided it to them with Jenkins consent, without any agreement to restrict its use, and without first seeking any protective order. In the proffer, Miller outlined what she would say during an upcoming deposition planned for later this summer. She offered details of her flight that had not previously been made public. In 2009 she was handed a slip of paper during a service at a Virginia church that had a name and a phone number, Miller said. Two days afterward, and before meeting with Lindevaldsen, she called the number and ended up meeting with two men who later helped her flee. Those twomen and a third person eventually served prison sentences for helping Miller. Lisa Miller voluntarily returned to the United States from Nicaragua in January 2021 after her daughter had turned 18. She was arrested on arrival. In February 2022 Miller pleaded guilty to a single charge of international parental kidnapping. She was later sentenced to time served and has since been released. In 2021, Miller indicated in a court filing that Isabella Miller now 21, was living in Virginia and working on a farm north of Charlottesville owned by a Mennonite family. SHARE: ARADE DAM, Portugal (AP) Police searching for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British child who went missing in 2007 in Portugal, were concentrating operations Wednesday in several areas around a dam, including one where media reports say a lead suspect in the case often stayed. The latest search for clues regarding the disappearance started Tuesday following a request by German authorities. Some 30 Portuguese, German and British police are taking part in the operation at the Arade dam, which is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the resort of Praia da Luz, where the 3-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago. In Germany, Braunschweig prosecutor Christian Wolters told German public broadcaster NDR, We have indications that we could find evidence there. I dont want to say what that is exactly, and I also dont want to say where these indications come from. The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesnt come from the suspect so we dont have a confession or anything similar now, or an indication from the suspect of where it would make sense to search, Wolters said, adding that it was other indications that prompted us to conduct this search. But Wolters appeared to calm expectations of what might be found, saying, We never said that the girl disappeared where we are now searching. Police on Tuesday were studying an area where Portuguese and Spanish media say the suspect stayed around the time that Madeleine went missing. Officers could be heard using a motor saw to clear trees and bushes in the zone, which is located on the far side of the reservoir from the base camp that police set up Monday. Police have given no details on the progress of the searches so far, but leading Portuguese daily Expresso said Wednesday that the first day ended with no significant results, adding that police had collected some objects including fabrics and garments. It said that in places where the sniffer dogs signaled, the soil was dug up, possibly indicating that biological traces were also being sought. The search is expected to end Wednesday or Thursday. Detectives from the three countries are still trying to figure out what happened on the night when the toddler disappeared from her bed in the southern Portuguese resort on May 3, 2007. She was in the same room as her twin brother and sister, who were 2 at the time, while her parents had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant. Portuguese media say this is the fourth search for McCann, following the initial one in 2007 in the Algarve area and further efforts in 2013 and 2014. Another search was held in Germany in 2020. In mid-2020, German officials said that a 45-year-old German citizen, identified by media as Christian Brueckner, who was in the Algarve in 2007, was a suspect in the case. Brueckner has denied any involvement. Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005. He is under investigation in the McCann case, but hasnt been charged. He spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz, around the time of Madeleines disappearance. The reservoir is currently less than half full owing to a drought affecting Portugal and neighboring Spain. Much of the area being searched would be below water level in years of normal rainfall. Madeleines parents arent commenting because of the active investigation, according to an email response from the website set up for the search for the child, findmadeleine.com. ___ Ciaran Giles in Madrid, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. SHARE: Game changer is perhaps Doug Fords favourite phrase. Bonnie Crombie is possibly one of the premiers least favourite people. But Crombie, it must be said, is a game changer in Ontario politics today as she prepares to switch playing fields. Crombie made big news last week as the mighty mayor who engineered Mississaugas liberation from Peel Region. Score one for Her Worship, who persuaded the mighty premier to let her people go. She made headlines again Tuesday by announcing a move from Mississauga to Queens Park: Crombie is poised to run for leader of Ontarios fledgling Liberals, while persuading the people of the province to let Ford go. Toppling the premier would make it game, set and match for Crombie. Can she keep her eye on the ball for as long as it takes? Ford is crying foul. How dare Crombie pivot from mayor to premier quite so quickly on his watch? You cant be mayor and running for a leader, Ford complained to reporters, peevishly if not indelicately: You cant put your butt on both sides of the fence. That such visceral imagery is top of mind for our seat-of-the-pants premier is revealing. He cant get Crombie out of his head, nor turn the other cheek. In my opinion, its a real slap in the face to the residents there, he fumed, unable to butt out. Ford has a point when he accuses Crombie of unseemly haste and a daunting juggling act she will retain her mayoral chair while trying to unseat the premier. Yet perhaps its beside the point for one mans overwork is another womans multi-tasking. Crombie first won election as an MP in 2008, but went down to defeat in the federal Liberal drubbing of 2011. Within months, she pivoted to Mississauga as a city councillor, ultimately winning the endorsement of Hazel McCallion to succeed her as mayor in 2014 (she won re-election last year with more than 78 per cent of the vote). Crombie achieved McCallions lifelong dream of independence from Peel. Yet within days of that victory, she was plotting a new path. No columnist is clairvoyant, but its a safe bet Crombie will be a game changer, in Fords parlance, for a Liberal leadership race that has so far fallen flat. More than any rival, she can claim name recognition and fundraising cognition; she is good at governing but also not bad at goading, thanks to her years in opposition. Crombie attracts attention. Which is why Ford is watching her closely, if not obsessively. Not to put words in the premiers mouth, but maybe what he meant to say is that Crombie is keeping a foot in each camp municipal and provincial while biding her time. That said, she is not, by temperament, a fence-sitter. Officially, her campaign claims shes just testing the waters with a campaign that is merely exploratory. But dilatory she is not. Politics, like life, is all about timing not perfect timing, just being in the right place at more or less the right time. Crombie tried but failed to win a delay of game in the Liberal leadership race, which will now be decided in December. There is little time to lose if she wants to win. If she is predestined to triumph in the Liberal leadership race, then it is merely the precursor for the premiership contest. By Fords account, it has been a long time coming: Shes been campaigning for five years, he muttered. Bring it on. But what will the 2026 election campaign bring to the province? For all her name recognition, Crombies political persona remains unknown outside Mississauga. Mayors tend to be more practical than ideological paving potholes or, in her case, blowing up Peel. But the latest clues from Crombie are especially pointed. No more left-leaning Liberal party under her leadership. Centrist, if not centre-right, is the path to power, she insists. Its very important that the Liberal party be brought back to the centre, which is where our roots are, she told the Star. Boasting that she has no baggage from the previous Liberal governments of Kathleen Wynne or Dalton McGuinty, Crombie argued that the party moved too far to the left under their rule. She believes the Liberals leftward drift helped drive voters into Fords arms. But history records that the McGuinty and Wynne Liberals won majority governments when they ate the NDPs lunch with a lurch to the left; perhaps Crombie, like Ford, is less preoccupied by todays New Democratic Party. Indeed, she seems more focused on geography than ideology. Despite her mayoral antecedents, Crombie is mindful of the Liberal partys rural deficit the party has been in a rut outside the big cities since the McGuinty years. She is not well known outside the GTA, but will play up her suburban bona fides across the province. Born in Etobicoke, rooted in Mississauga, Crombie aims to put the 905 back in play while levelling the playing field in the countryside. If successful, her shift diversifying the demography of the Liberal voter pool could be the real game changer in Ontario politics. Win or lose, the only certainty is that Ford wont be at a loss for words as he pivots to the coming Crombie campaign. Read more about: SHARE: Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the opening ceremony of the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2023. The 2023 Zhongguancun Forum kicked off on Thursday at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center in Beijing. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The 2023 Zhongguancun Forum kicked off on Thursday at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center in Beijing. Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, read out a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Ding said the congratulatory letter fully reflects that President Xi attaches great importance to sci-tech innovation and international cooperation. He stressed that China will speed up the implementation of innovation-driven development strategy to provide solid support for the high-quality economic and social development in the country. China is willing to take an active part in global innovation cooperation and share the fruits of innovation development with the rest of the world, Ding said. He put forward a three-point proposal, saying that efforts should be made to improve global innovation governance, promote international sci-tech cooperation, and intensify cooperation on the research of global issues. The large gathering has attracted guests from more than 80 countries and regions, as well as almost 200 international organizations, institutions and foreign government departments. Themed "Open Cooperation for a Shared Future," the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the China Association for Science and Technology, and the municipal government of Beijing. "We are looking forward to engaging in in-depth exchanges and fostering consensus with guests from various sectors, pooling wisdom to enhance international cooperation on sci-tech innovation, and making contributions to global economic prosperity," said Wu Zhaohui, China's vice minister of science and technology. At present, China is embarking on an innovation trajectory that promises it a position among the world's innovation leaders in fields ranging from electric vehicles and battery technology to space, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, said Denis Simon, president of the Alliance of Global Talent Organizations. Zhongguancun was established in 1988 in northwestern Beijing, housing clusters of universities and research institutes. It is China's first national high-tech industrial development zone and is known as "China's Silicon Valley." The Zhongguancun Forum was founded in 2007 and has grown into a national-level open innovation platform and an international forum. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits an exhibition after the opening ceremony of the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2023. The 2023 Zhongguancun Forum kicked off on Thursday at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center in Beijing. Ding attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS - Air Products & Chemicals Inc. plans to invest a half-billion dollars to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen in New York state. - The Trexlertown Chick-Fil-A plans to add a second drive-thru lane as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion. - The Harrisburg-based Mid Penn bank has opened its first full-service branch in the Lehigh Valley in South Whitehall. - The Allentown Planning Commission put off a decision on a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at the site of the former Nostos Greek restaurant. - The former Star Crete concrete plant at the intersection of Farmersville Road and Easton Avenue has been sold for $1.58 million, and that may clear the way for a medical office building. - The local business SuperSets Gym will open its third location in Allentown's South Mall, with no opening date set yet. - The jewelry boutique Versant will close later this year, but the business will be consolidated at Gary Werkheiser's other location in Saucon Valley Square. - The DSW Woodmill Commons has moved to Berkshire West, 1101 Woodland Road in Wyomissing. - Trainer Michael Melendez has opened his new Reading Extreme Boxing Club where PacSun used to operate in the Berkshire Mall. - Frackville NAPA Auto Parts held a grand opening with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Frackville Business & Professional Association. - Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in North Manheim Township held a grand opening, in conjunction with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Business Association. - PDC Machines, a maker of hydrogen compressors, showed off a new plant in Lower Salford. - Maya Capital Partners has acquired Amwell Valley Self Storage, a 265-unit storage business on Route 31 in Ringoes, New Jersey. - Norwescap is buying the former Sullivan's on the Main restaurant in Phillipsburg to renovate the building and then use it for programs to help educate and feed people. Today A mix of sunshine and increasing high clouds. Remaining dry, except areas closer to Maryland and Delaware border where a late day shower is possible. Tonight Partly cloudy overnight; a shower or two from far southern PA to Delaware and far South Jersey. Tomorrow A mix of clouds and sunshine, warm, and mainly dry for Memorial Day. Once more, a shower or two from far southern PA to Delaware and far South Jersey can't entirely be ruled out. READING, Pa. The Berks County Commissioners on Thursday recognized mental health awareness month by welcoming two Wyomissing high school students to speak on the topic of teen mental health. Commissioner Michael S. Rivera said mental health awareness month has been observed during the month of May since 1949. Together, we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the United States affected by mental illness, Rivera said. The Pennsylvania Youth Advocacy Network convenes youth and youth serving organizations from across the state to advocate for mental health systems change. One of the initiatives under the network is the Teen Mental Health Awareness Day (May 23,) in which high school youth draft a statewide proclamation, as well as county proclamations, to recognize and highlight things they feel are important to mental health. And a key component of the day is being able to share their perspectives with elected officials, Rivera added. Wyomissing student Vanessa Aguay told the commissioners that it is vital for high school students to be able to share their perspective as youth to address mental health. The rate of hospital emergency room visits for children's deliberate self-harm rose by 329% between the years of 2007 and 2019, Aguay said. Most children in America do not receive mental health treatment even though they may need it. And children of color are also less likely than their peers to receive mental health treatment when they need it. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania and Berks County are no exception to that, and that is why it is essential and imperative for us to prioritize mental health treatment and to address the mental health stigma for all students and for all youth that are affected by it, she continued. Youth today are exposed to harmful stigma surrounding mental health and a time formative to one's intellectual and emotional development is essential to providing support and to promote the mental health resources available for all youth. It is important to provide, support and promote available mental health resources for youth of all identities and cultures. Aguay went on to state there is currently no legislation that protects teens in Pennsylvania by enabling them to take school excused mental health days to provide rest and recovery. As a working group, we have been working on understanding how different communities are impacted by mental health distinctly through work that includes surveys and pledges, and even meeting with legislators on the type of legislation that is being worked on to address youth mental health, she said. It is important that we understand that stigma does exist; a stigma that does not allow students to be connected to the resources that do exist and a stigma that enables youth to think that their mental health isn't as important as physical health. A second Wyomissing student, Tyler Nolt, noted that 40% of youth feel sad or depressed most days. I've been part of those affected by mental health, and what originally kept me from speaking up and getting the help I needed was the stigma behind it, Nolt said. I'm so proud to be in a county that is recognizing mental health as a key issue. BERN TOWNSHIP, Pa. - READING, Pa - The company behind that iconic purple and orange lettered logo is ready to do more business in Berks. "We're thrilled to see such a large company make such a significant investment in Berks County and do it in such a noticeable way, adjacent to the airport, it really draws attention to all the great assets we have in the county, said executive director of the Berks County Industrial Development Authority, Jeremy Zaborowski. He says FedEx is looking to fill hundreds of positions at its Bern Township center next to the Reading Regional Airport. What does FedEx like about Berks? "Our proximity to population is always key for these types of businesses. Everybody is looking for workforce, Zaborowski said. Everyone's looking for people that can get the job done and do it well. Berks County has a great work ethic." And it doesn't end with FedEx, as Jeremy says more industrial complexes are set to be built. Yes, we have four more lots on this industrial park. The state has awarded us seven million to keep building it out. So we'll see a 240 thousand square foot building break ground in the next three months or so and we have three more lots that will break ground in 2024, Zaborowski said. FedEx's facility will not be like your typical warehouse, with nothing being stored there but rather processed and shipped around the region, all while helping the local economy. "We have a property that's been off the tax rolls for over 80 years not generating one dime of property tax. Now it will be generating 750 to a million a year for all the taxing body and that doesn't even include payroll tax. So, it's a big tax win for the county, said Zaborowski. BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A Maryland man is facing charges. He's accused of stealing artifacts from Bethlehem Steel. Court officials say 33-year-old Dylan Graham broke into the plant's Central Tool Annex last month. The facility at the site of the former steel plant in Bethlehem stores things that are displayed in the National Museum of Industrial History. Graham allegedly stole $4,000 worth of stuff and then tried to sell them on Facebook Marketplace. He's been arraigned on theft charges. HARRISBURG, Pa. - It's been one year since 19 children and two teachers were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Those lost are being honored with vigils, memorials, and other ceremonies. President Joe Biden even spoke about the anniversary from the White House. The shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was a former student at the school. He was killed by police at the scene after taking the lives of the 21 victims. The killings in part sparked Congress to pass the most significant gun safety law in decades, and gun laws continue to be a hot topic. This week the Democrat-led Pennsylvania House passed two-gun control bills. One is a "red flag" law. "That law would allow law enforcement to take a gun away from someone when that individual made a credible threat against others or themselves," said state Rep. Mike Schlossberg. The other would expand background checks. "No matter what happens or where somebody buys a gun, they have to pass a background check," Schlossberg said. Opponents say measures punish law-abiding gun owners. Those bills now bill head to the Pennsylvania Senate. ISLAMABAD, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Six terrorists were killed during a military operation in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said in a statement on Wednesday night. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said that a fire exchange took place between security forces and terrorists in the Kot Azam area of South Waziristan, a district bordering Afghanistan. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists, said the ISPR statement, adding that the killed terrorists remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces as well as killing of innocent citizens and extortion. Sanitization of the area was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists in the area, said the statement. Earlier, four people including three security personnel were killed in a suicide attack at a security check post in the North Waziristan district of the province, according to the military. Allentown, PA (18103) Today A mix of sunshine and increasing high clouds. Remaining dry, except areas closer to Maryland and Delaware border where a late day shower is possible. . Tonight Partly cloudy overnight; a shower or two from far southern PA to Delaware and far South Jersey. LANSFORD, Pa. - "A deep coal mine? This might be one for the record books, definitely top three," Carbon County Detective Jack Soberick said. Soberick says it was a tense and brand-new situation, even for the officials. "Might be the first in the nation," he said, "that you're going in after a barricaded subject in a deep coal mine, two layers underground." Officials say a Carbon County man, identifying himself as David Eisenhower, broke into a coal mine around 4 a.m. It's part of the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum in Lansford. The mine is not active; it is now a tourist attraction. "This is not an area that the mine tours go to," Carbon County Emergency Management Agency Director Mark Nalesnick said. "It's not possible to take them there." Officials say the man seemed to be okay, and standing on his own. More than 12 hours later, he willingly said he would get out of the mine. After crews helped him out, he stepped into an ambulance. Everyone made it out safe, which, according to officials, says a lot, considering the extremely hazardous conditions. It was pitch black and slippery. "He was burning wood in there," Soberick said."You had the CO from that, you had the haze from smoke, you had the possibility of methane gas. There's a lot of things that had to be thought about." Officials say he had shouted out that he had a gun. When they spoke to the media, they hadn't yet found a weapon, but continued sweeping the area after he was out. Lansford police said Eisenhower has several outstanding warrants. Soberick said he'll be detained, as soon as he's released from the hospital. MONROE COUNTY, Pa. - A New York is facing child pornography charges in a case with ties to Monroe County. The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Thursday that 37-year-old Alkayan Khan of Ozone Park, New York was indicted by a federal grand jury for online enticement and the production and attempted production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Officials say the indictment alleges that Khan knowingly enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of capturing or recording photographs and/or video of that activity. The charges stem from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department and the Monroe County District Attorneys Office. The maximum penalty Khan is facing under federal law is life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 15 years. Authorities say this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. GIRARDVILLE, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the public's help as they investigate three cases of arson in Schuylkill County. At around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, the Girardville Fire Department responded to and put out three fires in the borough in the area of B Street, according to a news release from state police. Crews put out a garage fire, a trash receptacle fire, and a brush fire, all in the same area, state police said. All three fires were ruled arson, according to state police. Anyone with information is asked to call PSP Frackville at 570-874-5300. ANTIBES, France (AP) With a guestlist that boasted equal parts wealth, fame and glamour, amfAR returned to the French Riviera Thursday for its Cannes gala to raise money for AIDS research. Queen Latifah hosted the 29th edition with Eva Longoria, Fan Bingbing and Rebel Wilson among the stars walking the red carpet. Also in attendance were models Elsa Hosk, Heidi Klum, Coco Rocha and Winne Harlow. The gala attracts many of the top names attending the nearby Cannes Film Festival. Attendees arrived at the famous Hotel Du Cap, Eden Roc where the evening started with sunset drinks and canapes looking out to a giant super yacht moored up in the bay. This was followed by a dinner of asparagus and truffle starter and seared salmon main course while guests enjoyed a night of performances that Gladys Knight kicked off. Bebe Rexha and Adam Lambert also performed. Im very honored to be singing tonight for this cause and seeing amazing people on the carpet and beautiful fashion all in the name of raising money for HIV, AIDS, research, Lambert said before the gala. Halsey closed the show. The auction featured an array of artwork, diamond jewels, and experiences. The centerpiece was a unique Aston Martin sportscar, the first of its type in the world which was auctioned off by Eva Longoria and sold for 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million). The engine cover is signed by F1 drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso and the car will be presented at a Grand Prix of the buyers choice and then delivered anywhere in the world. Other top lots included a pair of white gold Chopard earrings set with diamonds and emeralds sold for 275,000 euros ($295,000) and a Damien Hirst portrait of Leonardo DiCaprio reached 1.2 million euros ($1.29 million). DiCaprio, an amfAR regular, slipped in undetected by cameras to enjoy the entertainment, but did not come to the stage to present the winning bidder with his prize. The annual runway show curated by Carine Roitfeld was this year dedicated to designer Vivienne Westwood and saw a trail of top fashion models showing off a series of designs on a makeshift catwalk through the diners. Jewelry and accessories are not part of this lot states the catalogue as the whole collection was auctioned off to the highest bidder an impressive 600,000 euros ($644,000) to the sound of Tina Turners The Best. Guests ended the night dancing into the early hours at the afterparty, held by the hotels swimming pool. AmfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $600 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. A Nebraska couple is celebrating their son's college achievements on the biggest platform they could find. Ryan Boyland's parents say they are just so happy for him, as he recently graduated from med school, and they didn't want to contain that excitement. They wanted to do something special and share it with the whole community. So, they had his achievements plastered on a billboard! The billboard was Ryan's mom's idea. Michelle says the spot for it was perfect -- right down the street from their church and the high school Ryan graduated from 10 years ago. Ryan's parents say they are proud of their son and wanted a way to celebrate his achievements, despite Ryan telling them he didn't want to make a big deal about graduating. Ryan's father, Roosevelt, says his son is an academic pioneer, the first doctor in his family. "Ryan was the second Black valedictorian of Bellevue East High School. His brother was the first. So this is a good spot to continue to motivate his peers and young people coming up to let them know that they can aspire to do great things," Roosevelt said. Now that graduation is over, Dr. Boyland is gearing up for his residency at Denver Health focusing on emergency medicine. He says he wants to inspire others to follow their dreams, and that representation is important and he hopes he inspires others to pursue a career in healthcare. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed Thursday that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a convicted criminal and Wagners millionaire owner with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in a video published on Telegram that the handover would be completed by June 1. Russia's Defense Ministry didn't confirm this and it wasn't possible independently to verify whether Wagners pullout from the bombed-out city has begun after a nine-month battle that killed tens of thousands of people. Prigozhin said his troops would now rest in camps, repair equipment and await further orders. Ukraines deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, said Thursday that regular Russian troops had replaced Wagner units in the suburbs but that Wagner fighters remained inside the city. Ukrainian forces maintain a foothold in the southwestern outskirts, she said. Prigozhins Bakhmut triumph delivered a badly needed victory for Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has lost momentum and now faces a Ukrainian counteroffensive using advanced weapons that Kyivs Western allies have provided. According to top Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, that counteroffensive is already underway. He said Thursday that it should not be anticipated as a single event starting at a specific hour of a specific day. Writing on Twitter, Podolyak said that dozens of different actions to destroy Russian occupation forces had already been taking place yesterday, are taking place today and will continue tomorrow." Prigozhin has long feuded with the Russian military leadership, dating back to Wagners creation in 2014. He has also built a reputation for inflammatory and often unverifiable headline-grabbing statements from which he later backtracks. During the 15-month war in Ukraine, he has repeatedly and publicly accused the Russian military leadership of incompetence, failure to properly provision his troops as they spearheaded the battle for Bakhmut, and failure to credit his troops for their successes and sacrifices. Wagner's involvement in the capture of Bakhmut has added to Prigozhins standing, which he has used to set forth his personal views about the war's conduct. Prigozhin is using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said. His frequent critical commentary about Russia's military performance is uncommon in Russias tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin can usually air such criticism. Seth Jones, director of international security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Prigozhin appears to be pressuring the Russian Defense Ministry to take a more active role and responsibility in Bakhmut but he questioned whether regular troops are capable of taking over from Wagner. If you pull those forces out of Bakhmut, you lose your entire sort of first line of offensive and then defensive operations, because the Russians arent going to use havent used -- their seasoned military forces" for major advances, he said. "You dont want to waste well trained capable forces in areas where theyre likely to get killed. So removing them would almost certainly allow the Ukrainians to retake territory." With Russian forces suffering high casualties and their inability to integrate their, forces, he added, they "just they look miserable. Nikolai Petrov, senior Russia and Eurasia research fellow at Chatham House, was skeptical about Prigozhins claim the Russian military will take over. Nobody knows if that will happen, Petrov said, adding that Prigozhin is a populist and hes playing the cards of hatred" against ineffective Russian military commanders. Earlier this week, Prigozhin again broke with the Kremlin line on Ukraine, saying its goal of demilitarizing the country had backfired, acknowledging Russian troops had killed civilians and agreeing with Western estimates that he lost more than 20,000 men in the battle for Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed 36 drones against Kyiv in its 12th nighttime air assault on the Ukrainian capital this month but the citys air defenses shot them all down, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. The Kremlins forces also launched 30 airstrikes and 39 attacks from multiple rocket launchers, as well as artillery and mortar attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said. At least one civilian was killed and 13 others were wounded in Ukraine on Wednesday and overnight, the Ukrainian presidential office said Thursday. In other developments Thursday: Russia attacked a dam on the Vovcha River in Karlivka, 40 kilometres (24 miles) west of Donetsk, destroying it and raising a flooding risk for three villages, Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said. The villages might be evacuated, he said on Telegram. Russia and Belarus signed a deal formalizing deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. Putin had announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. A U.K.-based technology firm says pro-Russia hackers faked the location data to form a giant letter Z a symbol of Russias war in Ukraine in the Black Sea. Geollect says location data for commercial ships has been remotely spoofed so vessels near Crimea appear to form a 65-mile (105-kilometer) long Z on open-source maritime tracking sites. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. The false location data increased the risk of collisions, the firm warned. A total of 106 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released in another major exchange with Russia, chief Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said. The eight officers and 98 soldiers released fought in the battle for Bakhmut. The bodies of two foreigners and a Ukrainian were also returned to Ukraine. Prigozhin posted a video of himself standing next to two wooden coffins, one draped with an American flag and another with a Turkish flag. Prigozhin said the bodies were being handed over to Ukrainian forces and provided the American's name but the State Department couldn't confirm it, pending an investigation and due to privacy concerns. Russian officials confirmed the swap, without providing any details on how many Russians were returned. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that five Swedish diplomats are to be expelled from the country. A statement said the decision is a response to Stockholms openly hostile step to declare five employees of Russian foreign missions in Sweden personae non grata in April. Moscow additionally announced its decision to close its consulate in Goteborg in September, as well as its withdrawal of consent to the activities of the Swedish consulate in St. Petersburg. Russia and Western countries have often expelled each other's diplomats since the war began. Morton reported from London. Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine WELLINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand is providing 7.75 million NZ dollars (4.71 million U.S. dollars) to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Thursday. The Horn of Africa is experiencing its most severe drought in decades, with five consecutive failed rainy seasons. At least 43.3 million people require lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, Mahuta said. New Zealand has made 2 million NZ dollars (1.22 million U.S. dollars) available to six Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) partners to respond to food insecurity in the Horn of Africa. This funding is being mobilized through the New Zealand Disaster Response Partnership, with the NGO partners matching the government's contribution, she said. New Zealand is also contributing a total of 5.75 million NZ dollars (3.5 million U.S. dollars) to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN World Food Programme and the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund to support their responses in Ethiopia and Somalia, the minister said. These partners are providing urgently needed humanitarian protection and assistance, including food rations and income support, and treatment for malnutrition, she added. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) An Indiana board decided Thursday night to reprimand an Indianapolis doctor after finding that she violated patient privacy laws by talking publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from neighboring Ohio. The state Medical Licensing Board voted that Dr. Caitlin Bernard didnt abide by privacy laws when she told a newspaper reporter about the girls treatment in a case that became a flashpoint in the national abortion debate days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. The board, however, rejected accusations from Indianas Republican attorney general that Bernard violated state law by not reporting the child abuse to Indiana authorities. Board members chose to fine Bernard $3,000 for the violations, turning down a request from the attorney generals office to suspend Bernards license. The board issued no restrictions on her practice of medicine. Bernard has consistently defended her actions, and she told the board on Thursday that she followed Indianas reporting requirements and hospital policy by notifying hospital social workers about the child abuse and that the girls rape was already being investigated by Ohio authorities. Bernard's lawyers also said that she didnt release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws. The Indianapolis Star cited the girls case in a July 1 article that sparked a national political uproar in the weeks after last summer's Roe v. Wade decision put into effect an Ohio law that prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Some news outlets and Republican politicians falsely suggested Bernard fabricated the story, until a 27-year-old man was charged with the rape in Columbus, Ohio. During an event at the White House, President Joe Biden nearly shouted his outrage over the case. Medical board President Dr. John Strobel said he believed Bernard went too far in telling a reporter about the girl's pending abortion and that physicians need to be careful about observing patient privacy. I dont think she expected this to go viral," Strobel said of Bernard. "I dont think she expected this attention to be brought to this patient. It did. It happened. Bernard's lawyer Alice Morical told the board Thursday that the doctor reported child abuse of patients many times a year and that a hospital social worker had confirmed with Ohio child protection staffers that it was safe for the girl to leave with her mother. Dr. Bernard could not have anticipated the atypical and intense scrutiny that this story received, Morical said. She did not expect that politicians would say that she made the story up. Amid the wave of attention to the girls case last summer, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who is stridently anti-abortion, told Fox News he would investigate Bernards actions and called her an abortion activist acting as a doctor. Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight argued Thursday that the board needed to address what he called an egregious violation of patient privacy and Bernards failure to notify Indianas Department of Child Services and police about the rape. Theres been no case like this before the board, Voight said. "No physician has been as brazen in pursuit of their own agenda. Voight asked Bernard why she discussed the Ohio girls case with the newspaper reporter and later in other news media interviews rather than using a hypothetical situation. I think that its incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country about abortion, Bernard said. I think its important for people to know what patients will have to go through because of legislation that is being passed, and a hypothetical does not make that impact." Board member Dr. Bharat Barai opposed finding that Bernard violated privacy laws, saying that she released no direct protected identifying information such as the girls name or address. He disagreed with the board majoritys view that the combination of information about the rare instance of a pregnant 10-year-old girl could have exposed her identity. We are trying to suppose that yeah this could have been done and maybe somebody could have discovered it, Barai said. During Thursday's hearing lasting some 13 hours, Rokitas office kept up a running commentary on its official Twitter account, with one post saying: When Bernard talked about the high priority she puts on legislation and speaking to the public, she did so at the expense of her own patient. This shows where her priorities are as an activist rather than a doctor. Bernard objected to Voight saying her choice to publicly discuss the case led to the misconduct allegations. I think if the attorney general, Todd Rokita, had not chosen to make this his political stunt we wouldnt be here today, Bernard said. Lawyers for the attorney generals office repeatedly raised questions about whether the policy of Bernards employer, Indiana University Health, to report suspected child abuse to authorities in the state where the abuse occurred complied with Indiana law. Officials of IU Health, which is the states largest hospital system, testified that the Indiana Department of Child Services has never objected to the hospital policy. The Indiana board with five doctors and one attorney present who were appointed or reappointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb had wide latitude under state law allowing it to issue reprimand letters or suspend, revoke or place on probation a doctors license. Ohios law imposing a near-ban on abortion was in effect for about two months, before being put on hold as a lawsuit against it plays out. Indianas Republican-dominated Legislature approved a statewide abortion ban weeks after the Ohio girls case drew attention, but abortions have continued to be permitted in the state while awaiting an Indiana Supreme Court decision on the bans constitutionality. Bernard unsuccessfully tried to block Rokitas investigation last fall, although an Indianapolis judge wrote that Rokita made clearly unlawful breaches of state confidentiality laws with his public comments about investigating the doctor before filing the medical licensing complaint against her. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) A man in Kentucky's largest city is facing criminal charges after allegedly shooting his roommate during a dispute over a Hot Pocket, authorities say. Clifton Williams, 64, was arrested on assault charges Sunday after he accused his roommate of eating their last Hot Pocket and attacked him, shooting him in the buttocks, Louisville Metro Police Department officials told WLKY-TV. According to police, Williams started throwing tiles at the man after he realized the last microwaveable turnover was gone. He then shot him in the buttocks as he tried to escape, the TV station reported. Williams is prohibited from contacting the victim, who was taken to UofL Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. His bond was set at $7,500. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) The South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted large live-fire drills near the border with North Korea on Thursday, despite the Norths warning that it wont tolerate what it calls an invasion rehearsal on its doorstep. The drills, the first of five rounds of live-fire exercises through mid-June, mark 70 years since the establishment of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea typically reacts to such major South Korean-U.S. exercises with missile and other weapons tests. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles, but none since it fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. It says the tests are a response to expanded military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, but observers say North Korea aims to advance its weapons development and then wrest greater concessions from its rivals in eventual diplomacy. The U.S.-South Korean firing exercises, called Combined annihilation firepower drills, are the biggest of their kind. The drills have been held 11 times since they began in 1977, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The drills involved 2,500 troops and 610 weapons systems such as fighter jets, attack helicopters, drones, tanks and artillery from South Korea and the United States, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The most recent exercises in 2017 drew about 2,000 soldiers and 250 weapons assets from both countries. The drills simulated artillery and aerial strikes on front-line North Korean military facilities in response to an attack. The troops later practiced precision-guided attacks on simulated targets in the rear areas to completely annihilate North Korean military threats, according to a ministry statement. It said South Korea will seek to establish peace through overwhelming strengthen to counter North Korean threats. North Korea didn't immediately respond to the start of the drills. Last Friday, its state media called the drills a typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal," saying it cannot but take a more serious note of the fact" that the exercises are held a few kilometers (miles) from its frontier. The North's Korean Central News Agency said the U.S. and South Korea would face unspecified consequences over their madcap nuclear war racket. Earlier this year, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in five years. The U.S. also sent the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bombers for joint exercises with South Korea. Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said North Korea could use the South Korea-U.S. drills as a pretext to resume testing activities. He said domestic issues such as North Koreas push to increase agricultural production during the rice-planting season could still affect its decision on weapons tests. North Korea cant help feeling some burdens over the South Korea-U.S. joint firepower drills being held for the first time in six years and in the strongest manner, Moon said. In a meeting last month, U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced steps to reinforce their deterrence capabilities such as the periodic docking of U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea, strengthened joint training exercises and establishment of a new nuclear consultative group. Biden also issued a blunt warning that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the Biden-Yoon agreement revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further strengthen her countrys nuclear doctrine, saying, The pipe dream of the U.S. and South Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength. Worries about North Koreas nuclear program grew after the North last year passed a law authorizing preemptive use of nuclear weapons. Many foreign experts say North Korea does not yet possess functioning nuclear-armed missiles. Find more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific They include a new musical based on The Enormous Crocodile Exclusive: The Roald Dahl Story Company has announced three new theatre productions, including a new family musical based on his picture book The Enormous Crocodile. Co-produced with Leeds Playhouse and Regents Park Open Air Theatre, The Enormous Crocodile premieres in Leeds from 2 December 2023 to 6 January 2024, before heading to Regents Park for summer 2024. It will feature a score by composer Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab (who performs under the band name Sinkane), book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra, and additional music and lyrics from Tom Brady. Directed by Emily Lim, the show will include a menagerie of mischievous puppets by leading designer Toby Olie (who also worked on 101 Dalmatians at the Open Air Theatre and who also co-directs). Set and costume design is by Fly Davis. Also announced today is a new theatrical reading of Dahls The Magic Finger, presented for online release for schools and families, co-produced with the Unicorn Theatre. Released next spring, it will be directed by Milli Bhatia and designed by Shankho Chaudhuri. The company has also confirmed a large-scale circus spectacle, that brings together beloved characters from the most popular Roald Dahl stories for the first time is also in development. The shows creative team includes director Polly Findlay, circus outfit Cirque Bijou and Stephen Long and Iain Sharkey the minds behind many of Derren Browns TV and stage illusions. Further details will be announced in due course. The Roald Dahl Story Companys Jenny Worton and Anna Schmitz ( Jon Cartwright) The new productions, which join the previously announced adaptation of The Witches at the National Theatre, have been created and developed by The Roald Dahl Story Companys in-house theatre division, led by artistic director Jenny Worton and executive producer Anna Schmitz. Sign up to our newsletter for more SYDNEY, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A 15-year-old boy was arrested after firing a gun in the car park of a secondary school in Two Rocks in the state of Western Australia on Wednesday. Western Australia Police Force said officers were called to the school on Breakwater Drive following reports that an unknown male had discharged a firearm in the car park. The police attended the scene a short time later and arrested the boy. Commissioner of Police Col Blanch told the press that nobody was injured in the incident, and currently, there is no further threat to the community. "When I heard the report of what happened today, it really shocked me that this occurred in Western Australia," he said. The teenager is accused of firing three shots, one of which hit a school building with people inside. Two firearms, a .234 rifle and a .22 rifle, were seized from a car the teenager is thought to have arrived at the school in. Both guns were licensed to the house where the boy lived. The boy is believed to be a former student. Blanch said the boy was still in custody, and an investigation is ongoing. Momchil Stanishev (1st R), director of the Association for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries, speaks at the launch of a series of events titled "Tea for Harmony" in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 25, 2023. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua) SOFIA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A series of events titled "Tea for Harmony," featuring the tradition of tea making and its rich culture in China, was kicked off at the Chinese Cultural Center here on Thursday. The launch was attended by media representatives, government officials, experts, and locals. An online video call with a teahouse in the east Chinese city of Hangzhou was also part of the event. Guan Xin, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Sofia, said that tea was an integral part of the Chinese culture. With its purely medicinal properties, tea is also very important when communicating with friends, and expressing thoughts and feelings, Guan said. Hong Hai, director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Sofia, said the events, organized globally by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, aim to further promote Chinese tea culture and its exchanges with various cultures around the world. Chinese tea ceremony training and a cultural salon were also among the events, Hong said. Momchil Stanishev, director of the Association for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (APACCCEEC), described tea as "a spiritual mediator between cultures." He said he highly appreciated this series of events related to the promotion of Chinese tea culture in Bulgaria, as well as the increase in the country's import of Chinese tea. People enjoy Chinese tea at the launch of a series of events titled "Tea for Harmony" in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 25, 2023. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua) StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Alpha Pro Tech (NYSE:APT Get Rating) in a research report report published on Monday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the stock. Alpha Pro Tech Stock Down 0.5 % Shares of NYSE APT opened at $3.82 on Monday. Alpha Pro Tech has a 12 month low of $3.80 and a 12 month high of $4.99. The stock has a market cap of $46.57 million, a PE ratio of 20.11 and a beta of -0.77. Get Alpha Pro Tech alerts: Alpha Pro Tech Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Stories Alpha Pro Tech Ltd. engages in the business of protecting people, products and environment. It develops, manufactures and markets disposable and limited use protective apparel products for the industries, clean room, medical and dental markets. The company operates through the Disposable Protective Apparel and Building Supply segments. Receive News & Ratings for Alpha Pro Tech Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alpha Pro Tech and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Central Asia Metals plc (LON:CAML Get Rating) insider David Swan bought 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 201 ($2.50) per share, for a total transaction of 10,050 ($12,500.00). Central Asia Metals Trading Down 2.2 % CAML opened at GBX 196 ($2.44) on Thursday. Central Asia Metals plc has a 1-year low of GBX 190.20 ($2.37) and a 1-year high of GBX 299 ($3.72). The company has a current ratio of 4.17, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The company has a market cap of 355.99 million, a P/E ratio of 1,306.67 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 223.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 247.87. Get Central Asia Metals alerts: Central Asia Metals Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 27th were paid a GBX 10 ($0.12) dividend. This represents a yield of 3.98%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 27th. Central Asia Metalss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 13,333.33%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In About Central Asia Metals CAML has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 320 ($3.98) target price on shares of Central Asia Metals in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 265 ($3.30) price target on shares of Central Asia Metals in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. (Get Rating) Central Asia Metals plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a base metals producer. The company produces copper, zinc, silver, and lead. It owns a 100% interest in the Kounrad solvent extraction- electrowinning operation located near the city of Balkhash in central Kazakhstan; and a 100% interest in the Sasa mine located in north eastern Macedonia. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Central Asia Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Central Asia Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Investment analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of China Yuchai International (NYSE:CYD Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday. The firm set a hold rating on the stock. Separately, Greenridge Global restated a buy rating on shares of China Yuchai International in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Get China Yuchai International alerts: China Yuchai International Stock Performance NYSE CYD opened at $8.12 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $7.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is $7.90. China Yuchai International has a 1 year low of $6.73 and a 1 year high of $11.08. Institutional Trading of China Yuchai International About China Yuchai International A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CYD. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in China Yuchai International by 1,245.3% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 2,777 shares in the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG bought a new position in shares of China Yuchai International during the second quarter valued at $45,000. Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of China Yuchai International during the second quarter valued at $119,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of China Yuchai International by 293.6% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,397 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 2,534 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Shell Asset Management Co. raised its stake in shares of China Yuchai International by 36.8% during the third quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. now owns 14,383 shares of the companys stock valued at $105,000 after acquiring an additional 3,869 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.69% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) China Yuchai International Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the manufacture, assembly, and sale of light, medium, and heavy-duty engines for trucks, buses, passenger vehicles, construction equipment, marine, and agriculture applications. It operates through the following segments: Yuchai, HL Global Enterprises Limited (HLGE), and Corporate. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for China Yuchai International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Yuchai International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund (NYSE:ETV Get Rating)s stock price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $12.45 and traded as low as $12.25. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund shares last traded at $12.26, with a volume of 274,264 shares traded. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Stock Performance The business has a 50 day moving average of $12.44 and a 200-day moving average of $12.73. Get Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund alerts: Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 22nd will be paid a $0.0949 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 19th. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.43%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Company Profile Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 8.2% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 32,726 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $511,000 after buying an additional 2,487 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 4.4% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 30,234 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $472,000 after purchasing an additional 1,262 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund during the first quarter worth $272,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 12.5% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 17,207 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $269,000 after purchasing an additional 1,912 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 5.9% during the first quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 35,307 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $551,000 after purchasing an additional 1,958 shares during the last quarter. (Get Rating) Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It is co-managed by Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS Get Rating) have received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has assigned a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $28.00. EBS has been the subject of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an underweight rating and set a $9.00 target price (down from $23.00) on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a report on Friday, March 17th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Emergent BioSolutions in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. TheStreet cut shares of Emergent BioSolutions from a c- rating to a d rating in a report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Benchmark raised Emergent BioSolutions from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $22.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, April 10th. Get Emergent BioSolutions alerts: Institutional Trading of Emergent BioSolutions Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 156.8% in the first quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 26,731 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $277,000 after purchasing an additional 16,322 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 47.3% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 333,725 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,457,000 after buying an additional 107,237 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Emergent BioSolutions by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 896,454 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $9,287,000 after purchasing an additional 38,040 shares during the last quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Emergent BioSolutions by 12.7% in the first quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 943,660 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $9,776,000 after buying an additional 106,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 35.3% in the first quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 163,713 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,696,000 after purchasing an additional 42,748 shares during the period. 80.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Emergent BioSolutions Trading Down 3.7 % NYSE EBS opened at $8.42 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $9.62 and its 200-day moving average is $11.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $424.79 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.04 and a beta of 0.93. Emergent BioSolutions has a one year low of $7.74 and a one year high of $36.14. Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($3.17) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($1.67) by ($1.50). The company had revenue of $165.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $142.85 million. Emergent BioSolutions had a negative net margin of 41.20% and a negative return on equity of 20.18%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 46.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.18 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Emergent BioSolutions will post -1.33 EPS for the current year. Emergent BioSolutions Company Profile (Get Rating) Emergent BioSolutions Inc engages in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of medical countermeasures. It offers products for civilian and military populations that address accidental, intentional, and naturally occurring public health threats. The firms products include ACAM2000, BioThrax, Raxibacuma, Vaxchora, and VIGIV. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Emergent BioSolutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Emergent BioSolutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MOSCOW, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia will respond quickly and extremely harshly to future incursions, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with senior defense officials on Wednesday. The minister mentioned that "a Ukrainian nationalist formation" that broke into Russia's Belgorod region on Monday was defeated. "Russia will keep responding to such actions of Ukrainian militants promptly and harshly," Shoigu said. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that "more than 70 Ukrainian nationalists were killed during a counter-terrorist operation," and Russian forces were able to push the "remaining nationalists" back into Ukraine, where they were further eliminated. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Russia was "deeply concerned" about the incursion. Ukraine has stated that the incursion was carried out by two anti-government paramilitary groups in Russia, adding that it was not responsible for the incident. Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Wednesday that there had been a large number of drone attacks on the region overnight, adding that most of them were repelled. In a Telegram post, Gladkov said that the attacks damaged residential and administrative buildings, and that no casualties were reported. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Life Storage (NYSE:LSI Get Rating) in a research report released on Sunday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. KeyCorp raised their target price on Life Storage from $136.00 to $154.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Life Storage from $140.00 to $145.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Raymond James lifted their price target on Life Storage from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Citigroup cut Life Storage from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $126.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on Life Storage from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $128.89. Get Life Storage alerts: Life Storage Stock Performance Life Storage stock opened at $129.48 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $11.02 billion, a PE ratio of 30.04 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $133.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $117.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 0.42 and a quick ratio of 0.42. Life Storage has a 12 month low of $94.02 and a 12 month high of $146.66. Life Storage Dividend Announcement Hedge Funds Weigh In On Life Storage The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th were given a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 13th. Life Storages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 111.37%. Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in LSI. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Life Storage by 116.1% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 8,125 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,141,000 after acquiring an additional 4,365 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Life Storage by 23.4% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 4,423 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $621,000 after acquiring an additional 840 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC increased its holdings in shares of Life Storage by 30.1% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 2,834 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $398,000 after acquiring an additional 655 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of Life Storage by 2.9% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 208,609 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $29,266,000 after acquiring an additional 5,831 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its holdings in shares of Life Storage by 2.5% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 348,298 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $48,911,000 after acquiring an additional 8,469 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.61% of the companys stock. Life Storage Company Profile (Get Rating) Life Storage, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the acquisition, ownership, and management of self-storage properties. It offers commercial, vehicle, and wine storage services. The company was founded by Robert J. Attea, David L. Rogers, Kenneth F. Myszka, and Charles E. Lannon in 1982 and is headquartered in Buffalo, NY. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Life Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Life Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Parker-Hannifin (NYSE:PH Get Rating) and Crane NXT (NYSE:CXT Get Rating) are both industrial products companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, risk and analyst recommendations. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Parker-Hannifin and Crane NXTs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Parker-Hannifin alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Parker-Hannifin $18.16 billion 2.28 $1.32 billion $11.55 27.88 Crane NXT $3.37 billion 0.88 $401.10 million $6.50 8.04 Parker-Hannifin has higher revenue and earnings than Crane NXT. Crane NXT is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Parker-Hannifin, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Parker-Hannifin 8.28% 29.14% 9.16% Crane NXT 13.12% 20.86% 9.01% Analyst Recommendations This table compares Parker-Hannifin and Crane NXTs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Parker-Hannifin and Crane NXT, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Parker-Hannifin 0 5 7 0 2.58 Crane NXT 0 0 1 0 3.00 Parker-Hannifin currently has a consensus target price of $378.46, indicating a potential upside of 17.53%. Crane NXT has a consensus target price of $72.00, indicating a potential upside of 37.85%. Given Crane NXTs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Crane NXT is more favorable than Parker-Hannifin. Insider & Institutional Ownership 81.3% of Parker-Hannifin shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 70.8% of Crane NXT shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.4% of Parker-Hannifin shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 2.0% of Crane NXT shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Dividends Parker-Hannifin pays an annual dividend of $5.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. Crane NXT pays an annual dividend of $1.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.6%. Parker-Hannifin pays out 51.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Crane NXT pays out 28.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Parker-Hannifin has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Crane NXT is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Risk and Volatility Parker-Hannifin has a beta of 1.49, meaning that its stock price is 49% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Crane NXT has a beta of 1.49, meaning that its stock price is 49% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Parker-Hannifin beats Crane NXT on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Parker-Hannifin (Get Rating) Parker-Hannifin Corp. engages in the manufacture of motion and control technologies and systems. It operates through Diversified Industrial and Aerospace Systems segments. The Diversified Industrial segment sells products to both original equipment manufacturers and distributors who serve the replacement markets in manufacturing, packaging, processing, transportation, mobile construction, refrigeration and air conditioning, agricultural and military machinery, and equipment industries. The Aerospace Systems segment offers products primarily in the commercial and military aerospace markets to both OEMs and to end users for spares, maintenance, repair, and overhaul. The company was founded by Arthur L. Parker in 1918 and is headquartered in Cleveland, OH. About Crane NXT (Get Rating) Crane NXT Co. engages in the management of a subsidiary, which manufactures aerospace equipment, electronics systems, and flow control systems. The company was founded on December 2, 2021 and is headquartered in Stamford, CT. Receive News & Ratings for Parker-Hannifin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Parker-Hannifin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:PBNNF Get Rating)s share price shot up 1.8% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $0.58 and last traded at $0.58. 2,153 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 19% from the average session volume of 2,670 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.57. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. They set a buy rating on the stock. Get PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk alerts: PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Price Performance The firms fifty day moving average price is $0.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.59. About PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk engages in the provision of general banking services. It operates through the following segments: Corporate, Commercial and Small, Consumer and Retail, Treasury and Financial Institution, Head Office, and Subsidiaries. The Corporate segment comprises loans, deposits, and other transactions and balances with corporate customers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC raised its holdings in Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Get Rating) by 36.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 15,505 shares of the energy companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,140 shares during the quarter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLCs holdings in Devon Energy were worth $954,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Devon Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $364,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Devon Energy during the first quarter worth about $188,000. Blair William & Co. IL increased its holdings in Devon Energy by 52.1% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 99,120 shares of the energy companys stock worth $5,861,000 after buying an additional 33,936 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in Devon Energy by 9.2% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 414,354 shares of the energy companys stock worth $24,500,000 after buying an additional 34,870 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new position in Devon Energy during the first quarter worth about $26,000. 78.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Devon Energy alerts: Devon Energy Stock Performance NYSE DVN traded down $1.22 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $48.45. The stock had a trading volume of 3,886,446 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,320,603. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $50.71 and a 200 day moving average of $57.98. The stock has a market cap of $31.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 2.34. Devon Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $44.03 and a 52-week high of $79.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.09. Devon Energy Cuts Dividend Devon Energy ( NYSE:DVN Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.07. Devon Energy had a return on equity of 47.42% and a net margin of 31.39%. The firm had revenue of $3.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.88 earnings per share. Devon Energys revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Devon Energy Co. will post 6.31 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.94%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Devon Energys payout ratio is presently 8.72%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth DVN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Evercore ISI cut their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $80.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $79.00 to $72.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $67.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $75.00 to $71.00 in a research note on Monday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $70.00 to $59.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $69.53. Insider Buying and Selling at Devon Energy In other Devon Energy news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 8,292 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.97, for a total value of $414,351.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 218,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,914,347.46. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.63% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About Devon Energy (Get Rating) Devon Energy Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties. It develops and operates Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, Heavy Oil, Barnett Shale, STACK, and Rockies Oil. The company was founded by J. Larry Nichols and John W. Nichols in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Devon Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Devon Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer (OTCMKTS:SHWGF Get Rating) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Stock Performance SHWGF stock opened at $1.73 on Monday. Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer has a fifty-two week low of $1.06 and a fifty-two week high of $1.73. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $1.71 and a 200-day moving average of $1.62. Get Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer alerts: Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited engages in the research and development, production, and sale of single-use medical devices in the People's Republic of China. It operates through Medical Device Products, Orthopaedic Products, Interventional Products, Pharma Packaging Products, Blood Management Products, and Others segments. Receive News & Ratings for Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (CVE:SEB Get Rating)s share price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$0.30 and traded as low as C$0.30. Smart Employee Benefits shares last traded at C$0.30, with a volume of 11,100 shares traded. Smart Employee Benefits Stock Performance The stock has a market capitalization of C$52.63 million, a PE ratio of -6.00 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1,180.39, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.43. The businesss fifty day moving average price is C$0.30 and its 200-day moving average price is C$0.26. About Smart Employee Benefits (Get Rating) Smart Employee Benefits Inc, a technology company, provides business process automation and software solutions, and professional services in Canada and internationally. It operates through Benefits and Technology segments. The Benefits segment offers software solutions, services, and products that focuses on managing group benefit and wellness plans for corporate and government clients. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Smart Employee Benefits Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Smart Employee Benefits and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alapocas Investment Partners Inc. lowered its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Rating) by 4.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,672 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 699 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group comprises about 7.3% of Alapocas Investment Partners Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Alapocas Investment Partners Inc.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,779,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. O Dell Group LLC raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 76.9% during the 3rd quarter. O Dell Group LLC now owns 69 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Investors Research Corp grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 51.1% during the 4th quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 71 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares during the period. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 192.3% during the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 76 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. Institutional investors own 86.31% of the companys stock. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Price Performance UNH stock traded down $5.47 during trading on Thursday, reaching $475.36. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,094,111 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,309,092. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $449.70 and a 1 year high of $558.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company has a market capitalization of $442.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.68. The companys fifty day moving average is $489.57 and its 200-day moving average is $499.93. UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.24 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $91.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $89.77 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 27.05% and a net margin of 6.16%. UnitedHealth Groups revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.49 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 21st. Investors of record on Monday, March 13th were given a $1.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 10th. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.39%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 30.18%. Analysts Set New Price Targets UNH has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $617.00 to $627.00 in a report on Monday, April 17th. Stephens restated an overweight rating and issued a $605.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $591.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James restated a strong-buy rating and issued a $630.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $596.00 to $562.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $600.88. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total value of $3,002,938.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares in the company, valued at $42,199,084.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total value of $3,002,938.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,199,084.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $484.58, for a total transaction of $488,456.64. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,019,764.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 8,852 shares of company stock worth $4,313,962. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. UnitedHealth Group Company Profile (Get Rating) UnitedHealth Group, Inc engages in the provision of health care coverage, software, and data consultancy services. It operates through the following segments: UnitedHealthcare, OptumHealth, OptumInsight, and OptumRx. The UnitedHealthcare segment utilizes Optums capabilities to help coordinate patient care, improve affordability of medical care, analyze cost trends, manage pharmacy benefits, work with care providers more effectively, and create a simpler consumer experience. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BERLIN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- German police have conducted a nationwide raid targeting members of climate activist group Last Generation on suspicion of forming or supporting a criminal organization, the Munich State Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday. Following "numerous criminal complaints" from citizens, the prosecutor's office initiated preliminary proceedings against seven suspects aged between 22 and 38, the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (BLKA) said in a statement. The investigators have searched 15 properties throughout the country. Two suspects were also accused of attempting to sabotage the Trieste-Ingolstadt oil pipeline in April 2022, which is part of the critical infrastructure of the state of Bavaria, according to the statement. The authorities also seized two bank accounts and froze one asset. According to the statement, the defendants had organized a fundraising campaign, collecting at least 1.4 million euros (1.5 million U.S. dollars) to finance further crimes on behalf of Last Generation. "The aim of the searches is to find evidence on the membership structure of Last Generation, to further clarify its financing, and to seize assets. No arrests have been made so far," the statement said. Climate activists have repeatedly blocked traffic in German cities by gluing themselves to the asphalt in order to press for tougher action against global warming. To generate as much media coverage as possible, the activists even smeared works of art in museums with color. Major airports in Germany were also targeted. At the end of November, flight operations at the capital's airport were brought to a standstill for around two hours by activists glued to the taxiway. Last Generation has repeatedly stated that its aim was to draw attention to the climate-damaging effects of air traffic. The activists do not appear to find much support among Germans. According to a recent YouGov survey, 60 percent of the population strictly reject Last Generation's disruptive actions. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply criticized the group's activists. "I think it's completely crazy to somehow glue yourself to a painting or to the asphalt," Scholz said on Monday in Brandenburg. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollar) BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) President Xi Jinping on May 23 sent a letter to representatives of the faculty and students of the Macau University of Science and Technology who took part in the research and development of the "Macao Science 1" space exploration satellites, extending congratulations and encouragement. In his reply letter, Xi said: "From between the lines of what you said in your letter, I could feel your enthusiasm and sense of responsibility to devote to the country's development of science and technology and building the country's strength in aerospace. I was very delighted to hear about the successful launch of the 'Macao Science 1' space exploration satellites in which you have put your efforts, and I would like to extend warm congratulations!" Xi noted that the deepening scientific and technological cooperation between Macao and the mainland in areas such as aerospace in recent years has achieved commendable results. Efforts to make China a global leader in science and technology and to advance Chinese modernization have opened up broader prospects for universities in Macao as well as local scientific and technological personnel. Xi expressed the hope that faculty and students of the university would continue to carry forward the fine tradition of loving both the motherland and Macao, integrate their own development into the overall development of the country, actively take part in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and help with Macao's efforts to appropriately diversify its economy so as to make new contributions to the successful practice of "one country, two systems" in Macao. "Macao Science 1" satellites are the first space exploration satellites jointly developed by the mainland and Macao. They are mainly used for the detection and research of the Earth's magnetic field, and were successfully launched on May 21 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Eighteen representatives of the faculty and students who took part in the research and development of the project wrote to President Xi to report the successful launch of the satellites and their feelings about participating in the development of the satellites, expressing their will and determination to actively participate in the scientific research of the motherland. (Source: Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on March 20, 2023 shows the scenery at the Laoniuwan section of the Yellow River in Jungar Banner, Erdos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Xinhua/Peng Yuan] The ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin is a major strategic decision made by the Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and the Chinese civilization. Xi Jinping made the remarks while hearing a report on the work of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and the provincial government, May 17, 2023 Xi and the Yellow River Over the past few years, Xi Jinping has visited all nine provinces and autonomous regions along the Yellow River. An often-used word by Xi in these inspections is "protection." "The Yellow River is our mother river, and conservation is the precondition. We must make unremitting efforts to protect it," said Xi during an inspection visit to the estuary of the Yellow River in east China's Shandong Province in October 2021. "The protection of the Yellow River is critical to the great rejuvenation and sustainable development of the Chinese nation," said Xi while chairing a symposium during his inspection tour to Henan Province in September, 2019. About the Yellow River The Yellow River, the "mother river" of the Chinese nation, is the second-longest river in China, spanning 5,464 kilometers. The river supplies water to 12 percent of China's population in more than 50 cities and irrigates 17 percent of the country's arable land. The Yellow River basin had been the cradle of political, economic, and cultural centers of the country for 3,000 years in the 5,000-year history of the Chinese civilization. Since ancient times, Chinese people have struggled against the flooding of the Yellow River, and conservation of the river has always been high on the country's agenda. Protection of the 'Mother River' The Yellow River basin has seen great improvement in the ecological environment after continuous conservation efforts. The area of soil erosion in the Yellow River basin decreased by 48 percent in 2020, compared with 1990, and that of intense soil erosion was reduced by 83 percent. The Yellow River basin's soil and water conservation rate increased from 41.49 percent in 1990 to 66.94 percent in 2020, and then to 67.37 percent in 2021. The number of bird species in the Yellow River delta national nature reserve has almost doubled from 187 in 1992 to over 370 today. In the Yellow River basin, the proportion of surface water rated at grade I to III in the country's five-tier water quality system reached 87.5 percent in 2022, an increase of 5.6 percentage points from a year earlier. The two large lakes Gyaring and Ngoring in the Yellow River's headwaters region, saw their surface areas increase by 74.6 and 117.4 square km respectively from 2015. The Yellow River Protection Law came into effect in April 2023. As China's second piece of legislation on a specific river basin after the Yangtze River Protection Law, the new law targets key problems of the Yellow River basin, including water shortages, ecological fragility and flooding. The law will strengthen legal protection for the ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. What to Do in the Future China will continue to pursue a green development path featuring harmony between humanity and nature. According to the report to the CPC's 20th National Congress, the country will make concerted efforts to improve aquatic environments, water resources and aquatic ecosystems, strengthen the ecological conservation of major rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and generally eliminate black, malodorous water bodies in cities. China has released a plan for the preservation of aquatic ecosystems in the country's major river basins. The country aims to see a continued decline in its total discharge of main water pollutants by 2025, along with the persistent improvement of its aquatic ecosystems. (Source: Xinhua) MOSCOW, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia has declared five diplomats working at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow persona non grata in a tit-for-tat-move, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The ambassador of Sweden Malena Mard was summoned to the ministry, and was notified that Moscow had decided to expel five Swedish diplomats, including three employees working at the defense attache office at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow, the ministry said. It said the decision was a response to Sweden's expulsion of five Russian diplomats earlier, adding that this hostile move further aggravated the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The five diplomats must leave Russia by the same deadline Sweden sets for the departure of Russian diplomats, according to the ministry. The ambassador was also informed about Russia's decision to terminate the activities of Russia's Consulate General in Gothenburg from Sept. 1, 2023. And also from September 1, 2023, Russia withdraws its consent to the activities of the Swedish Consulate General in St. Petersburg. Sweden expelled five employees working at the Russian Embassy in Sweden on April 25. The Swedish Foreign Ministry said the diplomats engaged in activities that were reportedly "incompatible with their diplomatic status." BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for taking the 30th anniversary of China-Eritrea diplomatic relations as an opportunity to strengthen all-round cooperation and push forward the China-Eritrea strategic partnership to a new level. Xi made the remarks when exchanging congratulatory messages with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to celebrate the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. Xi pointed out that over the past 30 years, China-Eritrea relations have withstood changes in the international landscape, and the two sides have always been sincere and friendly to each other, made progress together, and firmly supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns. Noting that President Isaias paid a successful state visit to China not long ago, Xi said they had an in-depth exchange of views on further deepening bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common interest and reached many important consensuses. Xi stressed that he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral ties and stands ready to work with President Isaias to take the 30th anniversary of China-Eritrea diplomatic relations as an opportunity to consolidate mutual support, strengthen all-round cooperation, and push forward the China-Eritrea strategic partnership to a new level. For his part, Isaias said Eritrea and China enjoy a time-honored friendship, and China had provided moral and material support to the Eritrean people in their struggle for national independence. Eritrea-China relations have continued to develop over the past 30 years, he said, noting that he paid a successful state visit to China not long ago and had in-depth talks with President Xi. Isaias said he is glad to see that the friendly cooperative relations between the two countries have been elevated to a higher level, covering all-round cooperation and coordination in various fields. Isaias stressed that he would like to once again express his firm confidence in and best wishes for the prospects of the Eritrea-China strategic partnership at this festive moment. (Source: Xinhua) Chinese government-backed hackers are likely pursuing cyber capabilities that could be used to disrupt critical communications between the US and the Asia Pacific region. Flags placed in front of Eddyville Courthouse to honor fallen service members for Memorial Day This 2018 photo shows a drag queen reading to children during a drag story hours event at the San Jose Public Library in California. USA: In order to stop famine in the Horn of Africa, which is suffering from the worst drought in decades as a result of rising global temperatures, $2.4 billion was raised at a conference supported by the UN on Wednesday. According to a statement from the UN's OCHA humanitarian agency, the funds will provide assistance to nearly 32 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia that will save their lives. Famine has been avoided in part due to the heroic efforts of local governments, humanitarian organisations, and authorities, as well as the financial assistance of donors, according to OCHA. Also Read: Russia and Belarus sign a document on the stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus However, the amount is significantly lower than the $7 billion that the UN estimates is required to help those impacted by the region's conflicts and drought. Additional resources are urgently needed because the emergency is far from over and a return to the worst-case scenario is not desirable, according to OCHA. The Horn of Africa has experienced its worst drought in forty years since late 2020, affecting Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan. Five unsuccessful rainy seasons have destroyed crops, killed millions of livestock, and left millions of people in need. OCHA estimates that over 23.5 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are experiencing severe levels of food insecurity. According to data from the UN and the Norwegian Refugee Council, 3.8 million people have been driven from their homes due to armed conflict, drought, or floods in Somalia alone, which is also experiencing an Islamist insurgency. Additionally, 6.7 million people are struggling to find food. According to the two organisations, there are more than 500,000 children who are severely undernourished. According to UN officials and scientists, droughts that are made worse by climate change and conflict are to blame for an increase in hunger-related deaths in Africa. According to a report published in April by the World Weather Attribution group, an international team of climate scientists, the devastating drought in the Horn of Africa could not have happened without the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Also Read: UK 'betrayal' following East Africa aid cut The UK's Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said, "We can be anything but complacent. "The threat is still very real, and we need to take action right away to stop further suffering. Millions will benefit from the funding committed today, but we must all work together to end the crisis cycle that is affecting so many states. Earlier this week, a number of NGOs, including Save the Children and Islamic Relief Worldwide, urged donors to fully fund the humanitarian response needed to address "one of the biggest climate injustices of our time." According to the organisations, despite funds being raised to help the area last year, an estimated 43,000 people are expected to pass away from the drought in Somalia alone in 2022. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a plea for "an immediate and major injection of funding" to stop people from dying at the start of the donors' conference, which was put on by Italy, Qatar, the UK, and the United States. He continued, "We must act now to prevent crisis from turning into catastrophe," citing the fact that donor nations provided crucial assistance to 20 million people in the region last year, helping to prevent a famine. People in the area, which Guterres referred to as "the epicentre of one of the worst climate emergencies in history," were "paying an unconscionable price for a climate crisis they did nothing to cause," he said. "We must show them support. We have a duty to help them. And we owe them some measure of future optimism. To ensure their survival, immediate action is required. Additionally, it entails ongoing efforts to support community adaptation and resilience-building efforts in the Horn. Also Read: Three Indian peacekeepers to confer Dag Hammarskjold medal from UN The money pledged on Wednesday, according to OCHA, will enable aid organisations to maintain service pipelines for food, water, health care, nutrition, and protection. Despite praising the pledge, Joyce Msuya, the UN's deputy emergency relief coordinator, added: "We must persist in pushing for stepped-up investments, especially to bolster the resilience of people already bearing the brunt of climate change. Russia to use border incursion to swallow part of Belarusian army 24 May, 07:05 PM Exclusive , 19 2022 (Photo:Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Kremlin via REUTERS) Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko went to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to discuss the protection of the Russian-Ukrainian border by the Belarusian military, military expert and reserve colonel of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Roman Svitan, told Radio NV on May 24. "They will discuss this issue," Svitan argues. Most likely, Putin will put pressure on Lukashenko to transfer part of the army to Russia as part of the Union State. This is not even within the CSTO, but within the Union State. The expert is convinced that the development of the situation will depend on how Lukashenko behaves. Video of day "He will either fall for it or not. He can transfer a part of the Belarusian army to cover the Ukrainian-Russian border. Especially to Bryansk Oblast. It is next to Belarus. That is, they can try to cover at least one region. But this is also not bad." Svitan pointed out that the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, which is fighting against Russia as part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, is "eager" to liberate Belarus. "Therefore, the withdrawal of the Belarusian army from Belarus to Russia can be a positive moment," Svitan explained. We can take advantage of it by giving the Kalinouski regiment a certain opportunity to participate in the liberation of Belarus. That is, Ukrainian troops will not enter Belarus, just as Ukrainian troops are not entering Russia now. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Will a new $1 million report on RI's lack of housing lead to change? Correction: The groups that helped pay for the report has been expanded. A $1-million report commissioned by the Rhode Island Foundation to synthesize the research about the state's housing and homelessness crises has validated what the people who have been working in the arena have said for years, and some express hope that it will bring more political will to bear on solutions. The Rhode Island Foundation, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation Rhode Island, Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island and Partnership for RI paid $500,000 toward the cost of the 182-page report, and the firm that wrote it, the Boston Consulting Group, paid for the other half. In a written statement, Rhode Island Foundation President Neil Steinberg wrote that the report was needed to jump-start action on housing after former RI Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor was named housing secretary at the head of a new housing department. In a written statement, Pryor wrote that the report highlights the state's "severe challenges in the area of housing" and that he will consider the ideas and options put forward, especially the best practices from other states. To make "meaningful progress," everyone in the state, including the 39 cities and towns, will need to "join forces," he wrote. Household formation key driver of housing shortage While the state's population has not risen significantly, up 4.3% between 2010 and 2020, and is shrinking again, down 3,251 people in 2022 from 2021, the household formation rate has been increasing. Census: Rhode Island's population is still shrinking. A look at the latest number. For example, four people living together in a single house equates to one household and one housing unit. If that group splits into two households of two people each, the population stays the same but the number of households has doubled. According to one graphic cited in the report based on U.S. Census Bureau data, the number of households in the state has drastically increased since 2019, at the same time that the rental vacancy rate has fallen. One Neighborhood Builders Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins said there needs to be more attention drawn to the "overhoused," like empty nesters in large houses, who often can't find smaller apartments, condos or age-restricted buildings to downsize into. Page 25 of RI-Foundation-x-BCG-Final-Report-April-2023-vF Page 25 of RI-Foundation-x-BCG-Final-Report-April-2023-vF Contributed to DocumentCloud by Wheeler Cowperthwaite (The Providence Journal) View document or read text The report targeted the short-term rental market and recommended that municipalities be allowed to regulate short-term rentals even though municipalities across the state are already allowed to regulate short-term rentals, including in Providence where they must be owner-occupied in areas zoned for single-family homes. State failure to use $1.3 billion in federal tax credits highlighted The report highlighted a finding by Sen. Samuel Bell, D-Providence, who put out a report at the end of 2021 about the $1.3 billion in federal funding the state has failed to utilize between 2014 and 2020. According to Bell's report, the state spent $171.4 million on affordable housing, mostly to maintain existing properties. The 4% low-income housing tax credits are a big source of money for prospective affordable housing projects, but they are not enough to make projects viable by themselves and require states to chip in. The state has also been issuing tax-exempt private activity bonds, which can trigger an automatic award of low-income housing tax credits, for things that are not housing, and therefore not triggering the automatic award. $1.3 billion left on the table: Rhode Island failed to use more than $1 billion for affordable housing, state senator says The solution is to allocate state funding toward affordable housing production, according to the report. Local Initiatives Support Corporation Executive Director Jeanne Cola said the state hasn't put in enough money to make the 4% tax credit projects feasible, but it's also up to municipalities to pass their own bonds to fund affordable housing that uses the federal subsidies. In an interview, Bell said the state needs to maximize the number of 4% tax credits it can get, which would require projects to not be over-subsidized, which allows nonprofits to offer other services to people in need of affordable housing. Blight reduction or dedensification? Woonsocket's blight fund tore down 30 buildings, but left vacant lots. Is it the best way? "I think the serious problem, the fundamental problem, the problem with volume, is money," he said. Hawkins said it was important that the report highlighted the housing tax credit issue because it validates what people who work on the issue have already been saying. "You can say something until the cows come home but when an objective party says it? That's different," she said. Report skirts single-family zoning rules in many towns Rhode Island is hostile to new building permits, with the Providence-Warwick metro area ranked as the third-most regulated in the country, according to the report. "Our single biggest obstacle in RI is dealing with the permitting process," one anonymous affordable housing developer told the consultants. Nearly nowhere is affordable: Rhode Island trails the rest of the nation in building new housing. What income do you need to live in these towns? Building in the state has drastically declined since 1986, according to data the consultants pulled from HousingWorksRI. At the same town, town planners and mayors bemoaned the lack of knowledgeable staff and the lack of state support. The report did not mention what HousingWorksRI highlighted in its 2022 Housing Fact Book, that in four of the state's seven regions, cities and towns allow multi-family housing by right on just 5% of their unprotected lands. Rhode Island's second-largest city, Warwick, and its fifth largest city, East Providence, do not allow multi-family housing by right. The other largest cities, Providence, Cranston, Woonsocket and Pawtucket, do allow multi-family housing by right, with some caveats, like Pawtucket, which requires 3,000 square feet per unit in a multi-family building, and an additional 1,000 square feet for each unit with four or more bedrooms. HousingWorksRI Director Brenda Clement said the report is nice confirmation for what she has been saying the state needs, for a long time: more housing and higher quality housing. Dangerous living: How to know if your house or apartment in RI contains lead, and what you can do about it "It's a good thing I guess to have all the thoughts together in one document but I really want us to get moving, implementing, experimenting, to build some housing instead of just talking about it," she said. Sharing the burden of housing goals Hawkins said she keyed in on one of the six policy levers available to Pryor setting housing targets for both the state and individual communities. Putting out a specific goal, and then sharing the burden with the 39 municipalities, would create a very tangible goal to work toward, and help with political will. The state needs a culture shift to begin thinking about how everyone in the state can work toward the housing goals, Hawkins said. Political Scene: How a Maryland public housing program could influence Rhode Island The report is a perfect launching point for Pryor as the new housing secretary, Cola said. "Some ideas may work, some may not, but it's really up to the Department of Housing to look at it, move through it, and see what is the low hanging fruit and how they can bite the apply quickly," Cola said. Ending chromic homelessness The consulting group's report focused on both housing and homelessness. Crossroads Rhode Island Executive Director Karen Santilli said the report validated what service providers have been saying since the start of the pandemic about the increase in homelessness, but she is "looking forward." That means figuring out how to build more housing and how to get the state to approve money for supportive housing projects. Public housing: Bill would create $50-million revolving fund to develop public housing Shelter is more expensive than building housing and Santilli said she has projects that are shovel ready, they just need funding, like the $250 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds. While she does want funding for her housing projects, the "vast majority" of the households falling into homelessness aren't living anywhere near the poverty line, or the threshold for federal housing subsidies, 30% of the area median income, $20,300 for a single person, or $29,000 for a family of four. That majority has been pushed out by rising rents which in turn are a function of a lack of housing. Prior to the pandemic, the state was close to having enough supportive housing to eliminate most chronic homelessness, but the recent changes have put that goal out of reach, for now. "I think we're going to need more supportive housing," Santilli said. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer. Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: $1 million housing crisis report looks to other states for solutions In March, the feature-length film Navalny won the Academy Award for Best Documentary. The movie traces the alleged attempt by the Kremlin in 2020 to assassinate Alexei Navalny, a leading figure in Russias misnamed liberal opposition. Directed by Canadian filmmaker Daniel Roher (Once Were Brothers), it has won or been nominated for prizes by the Sundance Film Festival, Critics Choice, Producers Guild of America and so forth. Navalny, released in 2022, is a facile work of political propaganda. Its phony baloney character stems from the rottenness of the individual it features and the filmmakers underlying agendathe demonization of Putin. The documentarys only contribution is to reveal Navalny as a well-to-do and crude dimwit; a right-wing individual willing and eager to do business with anyone. Alexei Navalny in Navalny The documentary opens with Navalny sitting at a table against a darkened background in what appears to be a restaurant. The director, speaking from offscreen, asks Navalny what message he would leave behind to the Russian people in the event he is killed. Oh, come on, Daniel. No. No way! he replies. Like, lets make a thriller out of this movie, adding, In the case I would be killed, lets make a boring movie of memory. In other words, the film starts with a statement by its hero that he, in essence, has nothing to say. This pretty much sums up the next hour and a half, during which a display of Navalnys personal vacuousness combines with second-rate political thrills to substitute for any critical investigation of the man and what he stands for, much less what occurred in 2020. In the early years of his political career, Navalny, a lawyer by training, joined the Yabloko party, which is distinguished by its unabashed embrace of free-market policies. After climbing the ranks of that organization and entering Moscow politics at the city level, Navalny started openly promoting Russian nationalism. He participated in the countrys annual far-right celebration, known as the Russian March, several times between the mid-2000s and 2012. In 2007 he co-founded the National Russian Liberation Movement, an outpost of anti-immigrant chauvinism. After spending time at Yale University in 2010, Navalny entered the national spotlight during the political crisis brought on by Russias 2011 elections, which were widely viewed as fraudulent and provoked mass protests dominated by privileged layers of the urban middle class. Since then, Navalny has styled himself as a political activist and anti-corruption campaigner, running in elections on a pro-democracy program. He does not have a wide base of support outside of better-off layers in Russias major cities, those within the elite with close ties to Washington and NATO. On the basis of various corruption and embezzlement charges, the Kremlin has arrested and prosecuted Navalny on different occasions, driven by the fear that he, having been made the darling of the Wests anti-Russia campaign, could be used to mount a challenge to Putins monopoly on power as part of a US-backed regime change operation. Over the course of Rohers documentary, Navalny says very little about politics. Filmed in a beat-up lot with dilapidated buildings in the background, he declares, Welcome to the Russian ghetto! and jokes about a man urinating against a wall behind him. There are a few shots of the 41-year-old Navalny speaking at rallies at which he denounces corruption in the Kremlin. Putin is a thief!, he yells. At the end of the movie, a blurb reminds the viewer of his expose of Putins palace posted on YouTube. Finally pressed by his interlocutor to come up with something of more substance about his message, Navalny spits out a sentence about human rights and freedom of speech, and declares, in his typically shallow style, We are being oppressed by bad dudes. Anti-corruption is one of the shoddiest of political hands to play. Everyone is against corruption. Across the world one can find opposition politicians incensed by the devious acts of those in power. As a rule, the aggrieved party and those behind him or her are actually not angry about corruption per se, but about the fact that they have been excluded from the opportunities and benefits. Corruptionalways in other countriesis among Washingtons favorite justifications for regime change. In Russia, Navalnya former member of the board of the multi-billion-dollar airline Aeroflotand his backers are angered by what they view to be the excessively tight hand that the Putin government holds over the countrys highly valuable natural and industrial resources. Tax money, Navalny complains in the documentary, is supposed to belong to the local communities and, in Russia, everything is decided in Moscow. So, being a president, he explains, just having this, you know, big pie of my power and I will cut it for the future of Russia. So much for democracy. In the film, Navalny the empty vessel exists alongside Navalny the right-winger. In fact, his vacuousness makes him perfectly suited to serve as a flunky capable of doing whatever it takes, with and for whomever it takes. In the documentary the director makes reference to the fact that Navalny has walked side by side with some pretty nasty nationalists and racists. Roher points to videos Navalny made advocating violence against Chechens and immigrants from Central Asia and their wholesale deportation. Roher poses the question, Had he moved beyond that? The answer is a decisive no. Navalny states that his alliances and positions are correct and necessary, a political strategy for the present and the future, and a major asset. The director provides Navalny with a platform from which he can advertise himself to those seeking a liberal who can work with the far right. Were there not a couple of Sieg Heil-ers at that thing? asks the director, in reference to the ultra-right Russian March. Certainly Sieg Heil-ers are a different category that you would not want to associate with or march beside, Navalny replies. Well, in the normal world, in the normal, political system, of course, I would never be within the same political party with them. ... But we are creating coalition, broader coalition to fight their [Putins] regime, he adds. Just to achieve the situation where everyone can participate in election. A lot of politicians would even be uncomfortable to be associating or being in the same photograph as one of these guys. You're comfortable with that? probes Roher. I'm OK with that and I consider it's my political superpower, I can talk to everyone, replies Navalny. Forced to bring himself up short because of his subjects evident intellectual and political bankruptcy, the documentarian focuses the majority of the film on the Kremlins alleged poisoning of Navalny in 2020. It is part of the attempt to bamboozle the viewer into thinking he is some sort of genuine anti-Putinist. On August 20, 2020, Navalny fell ill on a flight to Moscow from Tomsk in Siberia, where he had been filming another one of his exposes. Removed from the aircraft and sent to a local medical center, he was eventually transferred to a Berlin hospital. Shortly after his arrival, German investigators announced that Navalny had been poisoned by Novichok, the Kremlins signature chemical weapon. The audience is told that this is the handiwork of Putin. Not a single question is raised about the countless inconsistencies in the story concocted by Navalnys team and the bourgeois media at the time. Not a shred of evidence is presented. The official narrative stands. The inconvenient fact that there are many people or institutions who might wish to kill or sicken Navalny with a Russian-made poisonnot the least significant of which is the American stateis not mentioned. The implausible then combines with the vulgar. Navalnys right-hand man, Leonid Volkov, declares that when he told the comatose Navalny that Putin tried to kill him with Novichok, Navalny instantly woke up and said, What the fuck?! That is so stupid! Was this line made up? Or the whole thing? Over the next hour plus of the film, there is a lot of laughing, snickering and WTF-type talk on the part of Navalny and his entourage, who are unable to say a single intelligent thing about what supposedly happened and largely treat the whole episode as a joke. Christo Grozev from the organization Bellingcat now enters the narrative. Presenting himself and his group of investigators as nothing more than fact finders, he explains how he proved that Putin orchestrated Navalnys killing. According to Grozev, he managed, with little money or difficulty, to buy on the dark web the phone records of individuals he argues were members of an FSB team trailing Navalny. Alexei Navalny and Maria Pevchikh in Navalny From there, he, Navalny and Navalny aide Maria Pevchikh set up a ruse. Navalny called the alleged FSB conspirators, pretending to be a higher-up in the Russian security services. After being hung up on a few times, Navalny got one hapless individual, a chemist named Kudryavtsev, to admit the FSBs involvement and provide details of the assassination attempt. Throughout the affair, there is much giggling, like a group of 13-year-olds who have toilet-papered their neighbors house on Halloween. They joke about the fact that the guy they set up is a dead man. The viewer is meant to take all of this at face value, join in the merrymaking, and above all, not question any one of the improbabilities and peculiarities that sustain Navalny: for example, that Navalnys wife did not want photographs of him taken when he was admitted to a Russian hospital; the sudden discovery of a Novichok-laced water bottle in Navalnys hotel room; the fun that the oppositionist seems to have gotten from his brush with death; and, most decisively, the supposedly neutral character of Bellingcat. Bellingcat is a US and European-funded and orchestrated operation with close ties to NATO. It receives its financing from the National Endowment for Democracy (often referred to as the second CIA), the European Council and other non-profits. Bellingcat specializes in producing investigations that always confirm the US governments accusations against Russia or whomever else Washington has in its sights. Navalny is forced to acknowledge the murky character of Bellingcats Grozev, but attempts to gloss over it, as if the fact that he could be a US operative is not too important. The story of this guy who lives in Vienna, but is Bulgarian, but works in Russia, and that he has all of his own money, and he spends it all on investigations in Russian crimes. He just sounded too suspicious. Too good to be true. Too capable. He sounded a bit, you know, made up, observes Navalnys aide. Are you confident that he is not MI6 or CIA?, asks the director. I'm pretty confident, she replies. I wouldn't say I rule it out, but I'm pretty confident that he's not. (!) A rather convenient conclusion. To wrap up the documentary, we see Navalny returning to Russia. He knows the government is planning to arrest him. He goes regardless, flown home on a private jet packed with media. The expected Hollywood drama unfolds. There are protesters. He is detained and imprisoned. His final deep thought for the viewer: Dont give up. Initially sentenced to two and a half years, Navalnys imprisonment has since been extended another nine. Navalny is a film that exists to satisfy the needs of the US State Department, the Western press and those layers of the top 10 percent who love to hate Russia. Washington called and Hollywood delivered. It is worth comparing the treatment of Navalny to that of Julian Assange. The latter has exposed the crimes of the most powerful governments in the worldfrom the slaughter of innocents in Iraq to massive state spying operations to the brutalization of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Unable to set foot outside of the Ecuadorian embassy for seven years for fear of arrest, since 2019 Assange has been wasting away in solitary confinement in Britains most brutal prison, awaiting extradition to the US. He is a journalist and an oppositionist. He is not a man looking for deals with neo-fascists. He is not a prankster. He is not a brainless tool of imperialists. And for this, Assange is hated by every wing of the political establishment. Hollywood plays its part by remaining silent. Published below is the authors introduction to a new World Socialist Web Site pamphlet that is now available from Mehring Books. The pamphlet contains the lecture by Tom Carter, The Ideological Foundations of Critical Race Theory, as well as additional essays that together present a criticism of critical race theory and identity politics from the left. *** The lecture that follows was presented in August 2021 at the summer school of the Socialist Equality Party in the United States and published shortly afterwards on the World Socialist Web Site. Since that time, critical race theory has remained a polarizing topic in official political discourse, despite a generally poor understanding of its essential philosophical, historical, and political content. Critical race theory, as the lecture explains, is a body of academic writing that emerged in the US in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which combines postmodernism and subjective idealist philosophy with historical revisionism, racial sectarianism, and an orientation to the Democratic Party and its satellites. [Photo: WSWS] Since the lecture was given, the Democratic Party and the political forces in its orbit have increased their efforts to impose the reactionary framework of identity politicsand racial politics in particularonto all social, historical, cultural, and political questions. Meanwhile, in the name of combating critical race theory, the Republican Party has doubled down on its fascistic demands for a purge of all unpatriotic teachings from schools and universities. In this context, theoretical and political questions that the lecture addresses are as timely as ever. The two additional essays included in this pamphlet, written after the lecture, return to these questions in light of more recent developments. The lecture presents a critique of critical race theory from the left, overturning the generally accepted misconception that contemporary identity politics is somehow left-wing. It contrasts genuine left-wing thought with the ideological foundations, methods, and trajectory of critical race theory. This critique is based on the historical tradition of Marxism and the independent interests of the international working class in the global struggle against capitalism and for socialism. The lecture speaks, for example, to the issues raised in the wake of the murder of black FedEx worker Tyre Nichols by a squad of black police officers in Memphis, Tennessee in January 2023, after which the practitioners of racial politics tied themselves into knots in an effort to explain this episode of wanton police brutality as a product of white supremacy. By explaining the epidemic of police brutality as the result of generalized and pervasive racism on the part of all white people, the lecture explains, critical race theory shifts the blame from the ruling class and the existing social order onto the mass of working people who are white, who are in no way responsible for police brutality and who themselves frequently fall victim to it. Most prominently, the conceptions associated with critical race theory have found reflection in the New York Times 1619 Project, a tendentious revision of American history that diminishes the progressive content of the American Revolution and Civil War and portrays modern American society as irreconcilably divided between hostile races. [1] The first of the two additional essays included in this pamphlet was prompted by the New York Times full-throated celebration of the pageantry of the British monarchy following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. The essay identifies and explores the many contradictions in which a section of the American political establishment has entangled itself in the course of its desperate pivot to identity politics. It bears emphasizing that the critique of racial politics from the left presented in this pamphlet has nothing in common with the attacks on critical race theory from the right by Republican-controlled state legislatures, such as Floridas Stop Woke Act, which are directed at transforming public schools and universities into centers for flag-waving patriotic indoctrination. In practice, these laws mean that teachers and professors run the risk of persecution not just for teaching critical race theory, but for teaching any of the history of the world that does not conform to the nationalist mythology of the Republican authorities. As the lecture explains, the Democrat-aligned proponents of racial sectarianism and their Republican detractors represent two reactionary camps, each with its own revisionist mythology, with each camp feeding off the popular resentment generated by the other. The America First mythology of the Republicans presents American history as a struggle for the supremacy of Christian fundamentalist theology, unrestricted free market capitalism, and the glorious American military. To this mythology, critical race theory counterposes a mythology premised on a struggle between irreconcilably antagonistic races, in which one race has always fought back alone, in the words of 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones. Neither camp can articulate what was progressive in the American Revolution and Civil War. Neither camp can deal honestly with the past, and neither can deal honestly with the present. Both camps deny and conceal the objective economic and social factors that are central to understanding American and world history as well as the dynamic of the present crisis. The lecture places critical race theory in its historical context. It emerged and took hold in the period of reaction during and after the liquidation of the Soviet Union. This was a period in American academia of capitalist triumphalism, demoralization, and disorientationand a heyday for postmodern anti-Marxism, which rejects the working class and rigorous scientific thought in favor of subjective irrationalism and a personal search for identity. Critical race theory was just one of many variations on these themes. The politics associated with critical race theory fall under the definition of the term pseudo-left, as it has been developed on the World Socialist Web Site. Pseudo-left means politics rooted in the interests of privileged sections of the upper-middle class, which posture as left but are anti-Marxist, anti-socialist, and pro-imperialist. Such politics are not based on the independent interests of the international working class, but on various identities, which serve as levers to access privilege within the framework of capitalism. [2] As a theoretical tendency, the lecture explains, critical race theory is quite compatible with nationalism, capitalism, and the ideological requirements of US imperialism. This assessment of critical race theory and its associated brand of politics is perhaps nowhere more starkly confirmed than by the ease with which the New York Times, following the publication of the 1619 Project, has aligned itself with the far-right racialist ideology of Ukrainian nationalism, a subject taken up by the second additional essay included in this pamphlet. To the essentially reactionary politics of race, the lecture counterposes the history and traditions of the Marxist movement. Socialism, the lecture states, has always stood for equality, and the struggle of scientific socialists for equality around the world stretches back a century and a half before the phrase critical race theory was ever uttered. This pamphlet is being published in the midst of a bloody escalation of the conflict between NATO and Russia over Ukraine, as humanity continues to be ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, ecological catastrophe, and political, economic, social, and cultural dysfunction. But for Marxists, the objective conditions have never been more favorable in history to unite humanity in a progressive and egalitarian global culture, which can work to put an end to war, borders, prejudice, and exploitation. A rough translation of any document into or out of any language is now available with the tap of the thumb. According to recent statistics, 85 percent of the global population of 8 billion has access to a smartphone. From music and dance to politics and history, virtually the whole universe of accumulated human knowledge, experience, and culture is more and more readily accessibleincluding the World Socialist Web Site, which celebrated its 25th year of continuous publication this year. The lecture explains: Socialists around the world are engaged in the complex and challenging struggle to unite the working classincluding people of different nationalities, genders, languages, religions, ages, and customsfor a common struggle for peace, progress, and equality. This certainly involves fighting and exposing prejudice and injustice wherever we encounter it, the lecture continues, but we understand that prejudice survives not because it is fixed eternally in human psychology but because capitalism survives to nourish it. We explain to workers and young people how prejudice is cultivated and exploited to undermine class solidarity, and how overcoming those prejudices is not simply morally right but historically necessary. The role of the practitioners of racial sectarianism aligned with critical race theory, regardless of their individual motives and intentions, is to obstruct and frustrate that historically necessary process of unification. This pamphlet is not the last word from Marxists on these issues, but it is hoped that the lecture and essays presented here will contribute to the work of clarifying the difference between Marxismwhich is based on a scientific appraisal of objective reality, the experiences of the international workers movement, and the interests and progressive historical potential of the entire global working classand the hopeless dead-end of all political perspectives that attempt to base themselves on race. Notes: [1] The World Socialist Web Site subjected the 1619 Project, which was launched in 2019, to a swift and comprehensive rebuttal that attracted broad interest. These critical essays and interviews with leading scholars of American history have been published in the volume The New York Times 1619 Project and the Racialist Falsification of History, edited by David North and Thomas Mackaman. [2] On these subjects, the volume of polemical essays by David North, The Frankfurt School, Postmodernism and the Politics of the Pseudo-Left: A Marxist Critique, is essential reading. You can purchase this pamphlet from Mehring Books. In this article, we will take a look at the 25 most LGBTQ-friendly countries in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 10 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Countries in the World. Economic Costs of LGBTQ Exclusion Homophobia and anti-LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) laws are costing the economy billions of dollars worldwide. North Carolina alone suffers from $3.76 billion in lost businesses due to limitations in LGBT+ protection laws; $31 billion are lost in India, while the rest of the economy shares similar figures. According to the LGBT+ Pride 2021 Global Survey, 4% of Generation Z, 2% of Millennials, 1% of Generation X, and less than 1% of Baby Boomers identify themselves as non-binary, gender-fluid, non-confirming, transgender, or in a way that is other than male or female. Visibility of these non-binary individuals is low, albeit growing at a significant pace since the past decade. A conservative estimate on efforts to change the sexual orientation and gender identities states that the U.S. is losing out more than $9 billion each year. At least 700,000 LGBT adults have been subject to conversion therapies at some point in their lives for gender affirmation. Gender dysphoria, on the other hand, has led more than 80% of non-binary and trans youth to consider suicide, according to data from the US. Economies around the world are losing out on human capital and future economic developments due to the exclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, Open for Business, a global companies coalition formed to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion, notes that more inclusive cities tend to have a higher GDP per capita. Their global ranking based on 500 cities confirms that the most innovative cities in the world, such as London, New York, Toronto, Paris, and even Vienna are more so because they are more LGBTQ-inclusive. Companies that have anti-discrimination laws against sexual orientation and gender identity report greater levels of innovation too. Furthermore, a survey of 60,000 corporations reveals that inclusive companies register 8% more patents and receive 11% more patent citations comparatively. On the other hand, economies that tend to be anti-LGBTQ+ drive talent away from them and suffer from "brain drain." Even a one-standard deviation rise stemming from city immigrant diversity has been associated with a 5.8% rise in productivity, implying the same for economies which attract such talent towards them. Open for Business, and Euro News further discover that economies can raise their levels of Foreign Direct Investment 4.5 times by creating an all-inclusive community. This is because international workforce and investments are generally directed towards countries that are more "tolerant" and "inclusive." Societal acceptance of homosexuality positively correlates with inward FDI flows when correlating PEW Global Attitudes Survey with Foreign Direct Investment data. LGBT and Business Performance Proud Ventures reveals that at least 75% of LGBT founders, along with 79% of investors, hide their sexual orientation and/or identity to avoid discrimination. A report on the economic opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community states that 32% of LGBT individuals have an income of less than $24,000. 44% are either unemployed or under-employed, while they are six times more likely to suffer from food shortages. This community is also more likely to face homelessness as a result of discriminatory behavior demonstrated by governments and the public alike. Consequently, many businesses are embracing equality in the workspace, as reported by Boston Consulting Group. As such, these companies are in a better position to benefit from the increasing spending power of LGBT+ consumers. As of 2019, LGBT capital notes that the purchasing power of this community stood at $3.9 trillion globally. A Credit Suisse study further notes that companies who have open memberships to LGBT+ business networks or were LGBT-leading companies had better performances in global stocks and benchmarks. Since 2010, the LGBT index has outperformed MSCI AWCI by 3%. In this context, many top-rated companies such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), and even Walt Disney have openly pledged support to sexual minorities. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has been donating more than $1.2 million to LGBT organizations from around the world. Meanwhile, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) and The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) regularly donate to such communities and even support same-sex marriages. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) has even released Pride Watch to support the work of LGBT organizations. LGBT-inclusive spaces can also be found on Google Maps and Search, a feature released by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). Similarly, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) has been praised for its anti-discriminatory policies for this community. At least 67 countries, primarily developing economies, have laws that criminalize same-sex marriages and certain forms of gender expression. These countries have their own views and beliefs strongly upheld by most of the population. As such, minority communities can better thrive in more LGBT-friendly countries. 25 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Countries in the World Pixabay/Public Domain Methodology In order to compile the list of the 25 most LGBT-friendly countries in the world, we have adopted the LGBT Equality Index by Equaldex. It combines the scores based on the legal rights and freedoms of people as well as how the general public feels about LGBTQ+ community in each country. Countries are then ranked in ascending order of high scores on their equality index. The scores vary from 1-100, with higher scores implying higher levels of equality for LGBTQ+ community in these countries. 25. Austria Equality Score: 76 Austria started becoming LGBTQ-friendly in 1971 when it passed laws regarding LGBT. Minority groups have become more protected over the years, and the country welcomes this community openly. Vienna, Austria, is a popular destination for gays and lesbians in particular. Wien ist Andersrum (Vienna is Queer) is a cultural festival featuring LGBT artists and topics. 24. South Africa Equality Score: 76 South Africas government outlaws any discrimination made on the basis of sexual orientation. It is a welcoming country with many gay-friendly destinations throughout the country. Cape Town and Johannesburg have both communities and scenes for this minority. Pretoria and Durban are homes to smaller communities as well. 23. Belgium Equality Score: 77 LGBTQ+ rights in Belgium are considered as among the most progressive in comparison to most of the world. The country has jumped to the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights in recent years. Same-sex marriages and adoption are both legal in the country. Brussels even has its own bridge named after the iconic gay rights activist called Suzan Daniel. 22. New Zealand Equality Score: 78 New Zealand boasts some of the most comprehensive LGBTQ+ rights in the world. The country has legalized same-sex marriages and adoption and even has a fertility clinic for lesbian and gay men wanting to have children. 10% of MPs in the country are gay, and the government is categorized as the most rainbow parliament in the world. 21. France Equality Score: 78 France has been pro-LGBT since the 1900s. It has even passed a law that criminalizes conversion therapies that attempt to change the sexual orientations of individuals from LGBT+ community to hetero. Same-sex marriages and adoption are also accepted in the country. However, adoption and artificial insemination are restricted to PACS partners. 20. Switzerland Equality Score: 78 Switzerland is also accepting of the LGBT community, with very few incidents reported of homophobic crime and discrimination. Same-sex marriages have also become legalized as of 2021, along with adoption by same-sex couples and assisted reproduction technology. Moreover, conversion therapy in the country is banned. 19. Mexico Equality Score: 78 Mexico broadly protects LGBTQ+ rights and prohibits any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation. 27 of its 31 states have equal marriage rights and also adoption rights for same-sex couples. Some of the states have introduced laws that permit rights to legal gender recognition. 18. Chile Equality Score: 79 Since March 2022, same-sex marriages and adoption have become legal in Chile. Chile is the 31st country to do so, and the public is generally accepting of the community. 2019 also saw the passing of a comprehensive legal gender recognition laws, and a third sex option is also available for intersex children on birth certificates. 17. Cuba Equality Score: 81 The 21st century saw significant advancements in LGBT+ equality in Cuba. In 2022, Cuba voted to legalize same-sex marriages in a national referendum. 79.5% of the community believes that the LGBT+ community deserves the same civil rights as other individuals. 16. Andorra Equality Score: 81 It is constitutionally banned in Andorra to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Civil unions for same-sex couples have been legalized since 2014; the general public seems tolerant of the community. As a result, more such people are coming out knowing they can associate freely with other citizens. 15. Argentina Equality Score: 82 LGBT+ rights in Argentina are some of the most prominent and comprehensive in the world. Same-sex marriages were legalized in 2010, the same year when same-sex adoption was legalized. The country is now going a step further and introducing a quota for transgender people that hold public sector jobs. 14. Brazil Equality Score: 82 Brazil is also one of the countries that have legalized same-sex marriages and same-sex adoption. This community enjoys legal protection in the country, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity has been criminalized since 2019. 13. Sweden Equality Score: 82 Sweden has been a pioneer of LGBT+ rights. The country has made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Same-sex couples can legally get married as well as adopt children. Many people refer to the country as gay Mecca, considering its openness to the gay community. 12. United Kingdom Equality Score: 82 The rights of the LGBT+ community in the United Kingdom are considered advanced and progressive. Discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation is considered illegal. Gender change is legal. 11. Malta Equality Score: 83 Malta has been the first European country to outlaw conversion therapies. It is by far few of the most advanced countries in terms of LGBT+ rights. Discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation is illegal, and conversion therapies are also banned. Non-binary genders are recognized in the country, while adoption and marriages are legal too. Click to continue reading and see the 10 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Countries in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: none. 25 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. In a vote of 27-19, the Republican-controlled South Carolina Senate voted on Tuesday for a ban on abortions in the state after six weeks of pregnancy. The sweeping attack on fundamental democratic rights, which includes the requirement of two doctor visits and two ultrasounds, essentially ends legal abortion services in South Carolina where there are just three clinics and these have a two- to three-week wait for appointments. South Carolina Rep. Davey Hiott, R-Pickens, presides over the House as Speaker as the chamber begin debating an abortion bill on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Columbia, South Carolina. [AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins] The Senate vote to ban abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, which generally occurs after six weeks, came after a filibuster by the five Senators in the South Carolina body, three Republicans and two Democrats, failed to block it. Republican Governor Henry McMaster is expected to sign the bill into law. The law includes an exception for victims of rape and incest and in the event of fatal fetal abnormalities or where the womans life and health are in danger, abortion is available up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions performed under the rape and incest exceptions must be reported within 24 hours to the county sheriff where the abortion was performed. Physicians must tell the patient they will report the rape before the abortion is performed. Girls under the of age 16 seeking abortions without their parents consent are given six weeks to obtain permission from a judge unless they are rape or incest victims. The bill also requires a biological father to pay child support from conception, a provision that creates the legal basis to declare fetal personhood and will be used by the right-wing antiabortion advocates to enact such laws in other states. Additionally, the law allows the state board of medical examiners to revoke a doctors medical license if they are found to violate it. The law also allows anyone to file a complaint and parents of a minor are permitted to file a civil suit against a doctor who performed an abortion. Anyone who violates the law can be found guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined $10,000, face prison time of up to two years or both. The South Carolina House had three times previously attempted to get the Senate to pass an abortion ban that began at conception, but the Republicans failed to obtain the necessary votes. The five Senators who filibustered the bill offered a ban after 12 weeks or to put the matter to a vote by the public as a ballot proposal. The Republican majority in the state Senate finally secured the 26 votes required to overcome the filibuster after Republican Senator Tom Davis, of the states 46th District that includes Hilton Head Island, changed his vote. After the passage of the measure, Davis said, At some point in time, the right of the state to see the unborn child born does take precedent over the womans right to her body. South Carolina, which had previously permitted abortion up to 21 weeks and 6 days, has been a flashpoint of the attack on reproductive rights, despite the fact that polls show a solid majority of the public supports the right to abortion. In January, the South Carolina Supreme Court temporarily blocked the states Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act, which was passed in 2021, after the US Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wadethe 1973 ruling that declared abortion legal across the countrymade this previous attempt to impose a ban after 6 weeks effective. Responding to the South Carolina legislation with an official statement, Planned Parenthood said: Abortion is already difficult to access in South Carolina, with only three abortion clinics in the state and a range of limitations on access imposed by state lawmakers. South Carolina ranks 43rdin the bottom 10 of all stateswith the highest maternal mortality rates. Women here are three times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than the average U.S. woman. Since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022, 24 US states, many of them in the south and among the poorest states in the country, have moved to outlaw the fundamental right. The decision by the deeply reactionary and illegitimate high court opened up a flood of right-wing measures against abortion rights in blatant opposition to the views of a supermajority of the American public. Other recent developments in the ongoing attacks on abortion rights across the country include: In Nebraska on May 19, legislators voted to restrict access to abortion as part of a bill to block medical care for transgender youth. After Republicans sought to ban most abortions after six weeks, the Democrats made a deal on the transgender legislation that permitted the abortion restrictions to be bundled into the bill. In North Carolina on May 16, Republicans used a supermajority to uphold a 12-week abortion ban, overriding the Democratic governors veto. The measure was adopted by both the state Senate and House in back-to-back sessions which replaced the previous law that made abortion legal up to 20 weeks. on May 16, Republicans used a supermajority to uphold a 12-week abortion ban, overriding the Democratic governors veto. The measure was adopted by both the state Senate and House in back-to-back sessions which replaced the previous law that made abortion legal up to 20 weeks. In April, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill passed previously by the state legislature banning abortion after six weeks. In his first public comments on the more than two-week strike by Clarios workers in Ohio, United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain combined empty promises of support for the striking workers with outright lies aimed at concealing the real role of the UAW bureaucracy in this critical battle for all autoworkers. Fains comments came two days after Clarios workers voted by 76 percent to reject a second pro-company contract, which UAW International and UAW Local 12 officials tried to foist on them in a snap vote Monday morning. Like the first deal, which workers rejected by 98 percent on April 27, the contract included a cut in real wages and sanctioned 12-hour shifts with no overtime payment after eight hours. Shawn Fain in UAW livestream event [Photo: UAW International Facebook] A few minutes into his half-hour Facebook live event Wednesday afternoon, Fain said, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the 500 members of UAW Local 12 who are out on strike in Holland, Ohio, in order to win higher pay and stronger scheduling protections, as well as the 160 members of Local 174 who are out on an unfair labor practice strike against Constellium Automotive. These struggles, Fain said, were reminders that the way workers build power and make gains in bargaining is by having the collective capacity to shut employers down when our employers refuse to treat our members fairly. He made this statement without acknowledging that the UAW officials did everything to prevent the strike in the first place. Ignoring a near unanimous strike vote, the union extended the contract. Then, even after workers voted down the first deal, the UAW kept workers on the job another 11 days, helping the company stockpile batteries before a rank-and-file revolt forced them to call the strike on May 8. I want striking UAW members to know that our 1 million strong stands in solidarity with you in the fight for justice, Fain declared. He added, Your strike is an inspiration, and we are proud to support you. In fact, the rebellion by the Clarios workers has sent shockwaves throughout the UAW bureaucracy because it threatens to spark a broader movement of autoworkers against the demands by the Big Three automakers for massive job and wage cuts to pay for their transition to electric vehicle production. Fain has not made an appearance on the picket lines at the Toledo area plant, even though his office at the UAWs misnamed Solidarity House in Detroit is only an hours drive away. Moreover, the UAW apparatus has done as little as possible to inform, let alone mobilize the 1.1 million members of the union to back the strike. In the meantime, the company has cut off medical insurance, obtained a strikebreaking court injunction limiting pickets to five at a gate and has brought in scabs to keep the factory running and shipping batteries to the Big Three automakers. Although Fain acknowledged that Clarios supplies some of our Big Three plants, he did not raise a ban on the handling of the scab batteries. On the contrary, the UAW bureaucracy is allowing GM, Ford and Stellantis to continue producing vehicles with batteries from the strikebound factory and other Clarios plants, undermining the strike whose outcome will have immense consequences for all autoworkers. Real support means a full ban by UAW members on any handling of the scab batteries that go into Ford F-150s, Ram trucks, Chevy Silverados and other models. This would immensely strengthen the striking workers and deliver a crushing blow to the billionaire owners of Clarios and the Big Three auto executives who are backing their strikebreaking effort. Fain read a comment from a Clarios worker, declaring, We will not agree to a contract until we get our money back, referring to the repeated pay cuts workers have suffered due to the previous UAW contract that essentially froze their wages, plus new pay cuts over the last two years that union officials did nothing to oppose. Fain replied, Amen, adding his stock phrase, And we are behind you 100%. He continued, These workers arent asking for the moon. Theyre asking for a decent wage, and the company is trying to impose a crappy work schedule on them. So, these workers are holding their ground, and were behind them 100%. I know that Director [David] Green, from Region 2B, is behind them 100%, and I know Vice President Boyer from the IPS Group and George Hardy have been working hard to support them every step of the way, so were there with you. This is a flat-out lie. Region 2B Director Green has been the chief author of the two sellout agreements that rank-and-file workers tossed into the garbage. At Mondays meeting, he and Local 12 officials were telling workers this was the best deal they were going to get and maybe they could get a better wage package in the next contract three years from now. Clarios workers outside of union hall after voting down second UAW-backed contract on May 22, 2023 [Photo: WSWS] Although the agreement had been announced three days earlier, the UAW tried to rush through a vote on the same day they released highlights of the deal and increased the signing bonus in hopes that workers would buy it. As one worker told the WSWS, the UAW officials must think were stupid by trying to get us to accept the same contract we voted down before. After the vote, Clarios management expressed its disappointment that workers did not ratify the deal despite the endorsement of the UAW bargaining committee. The Clarios strike has proven that the replacement of former UAW President Ray Curry and his Administrative Caucus with Fain and his pseudo-left supported Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) slate has done nothing to change the character of the corporatist UAW apparatus. This is a warning to GM, Ford and Stellantis workers in the US and Canada whose contracts expire in mid-September. The rhetoric may have changed due to the Labor Notes writers and members of the Democratic Socialists of America who are staffing Fains administration, but the pro-capitalist, nationalist and Democratic Party-aligned program of the UAW bureaucracy remains. Fains contempt for the democratic rights of rank-and-file workers was underscored by his praise Wednesday for the UAWs rigged election process. I am proud we had a democratic election and the membership had a say in this, Fain said of an election run by the bureaucracy, which disenfranchised 90 percent of the membership and installed him in power with about 3 percent of the vote of the rank and file. As the statement of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) explained, the Clarios strike is the first stage in a broader fight, and the outcome of the struggle at Clarios will determine the future course of events. This is especially true for the 150,000 Big Three autoworkers in the US and 23,000 in Canada who face a fight against the ruling elite and governments in both countries that want to force workers to bear the full costs of the transition to electric vehicle production. Workers cannot allow the UAW bureaucracy to isolate the Clarios workers and starve them into submission. Instead, rank-and-file workers must take real solidarity action. As the IWA-RFC statement says, The IWA-RFC urges workers to establish Clarios Strike Support Committees to spread information about the strike, inform workers of what is at stake and ensure that no worker handles scab batteries. This must be discussed by workers at every plant and on every shop floor in connection with preparing rank-and-file organizations throughout the auto industry, well in advance of the Big Three contract expirations. For more information on building rank-and-file committees, fill out the form below. A Norfolk Southern freight train makes it way through Homestead, Pa. on April 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) Class I railroad corporation Norfolk Southern (NS) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have announced a deal to offer five days of paid sick leave to locomotive engineers. The deal will cover 3,300 engineers at NS, following similar deals reached earlier this year at other railroads. However, this is the first such deal in any Class I to include members of train crews, who previously had zero days paid sick leave and are subject to brutal scheduling systems which leave them on call for 24 hours a day. NS says that 98 percent of its workforce now has access to some amount of paid sick time. Additionally, union officials and NS also announced that the paid sick leave would be accompanied by a second agreement with provisions addressing additional preservation of earnings unique to Norfolk Southern engineers, when they use paid sick leave, as well as greater protection for vacation time, further enhancing the paid sick leave deal. The agreement is contingent upon this second deal being ratified by NS engineers. The exact details of this second agreement have not been announced as of this writing. The five days of sick time is one more than other workers were given at NS. However, other sections of railroaders were given the ability to spend three days of regular paid time off as sick leave while engineers were only given the ability to use two, making the deal more or less the same across the board for NS railroaders. NS engineers are the first engineers in the country to receive paid sick leave. Paid sick leave, and scheduling in general, was one of the central issues last year when 120,000 railroaders were pushing for a national strike, before that was pre-emptively banned by Congress last winter. Workers were demanding significantly more time off, the abolishment of the hated Hi-Viz and Precision Scheduled Railroading system that keeps train crew constantly on call 24/7 and penalizes workers for taking time off of work. With the new agreement workers will not be penalized for taking their allotted time off, but the vast majority of quality of life issues remain unresolved. Anger remains high among rail workers about the ban on strike action that had been authorized almost unanimously by the railroaders. It was aided and abetted by the rail union bureaucracy, who stalled for time for months to give Congress the opportunity to outlaw the strike. The next contract negotiations are set to begin in just two years and both the union bureaucracy and the rail company executives have clearly made it a priority to work out minor concessions on paid time off in an effort to stave off unrest within the workforce. The campaign to provide limited sick days is also being used to distract from the strike ban itself, as well as the role played by the union bureaucracy and the Democratic Party. After voting in favor of the strike ban in the House and impose a contract with no sick leave, the Democratic Socialists of America pivoted immediately towards a toothless campaign demanding the railroads voluntarily give up seven days of paid sick leave. Bernie Sanders, who did not vote in favor of the anti-strike bill but who played a key role in the parliamentary maneuvering to ensure its passage, has also been centrally involved. The vast majority of rail crew members, including at the other five of six Class I railroads and even members of the SMART-TD union at Norfolk Southern, still have no paid sick days at all. No doubt a particular motivation of NS to expand limited sick leave to engineers was to stave of rank-and-file unrest and to repair the damage to the companys public image in the aftermath of the derailment of an NS train near East Palestine, Ohio three months ago. A controlled release and burn of chemical tankers involved in the accident spewed catastrophic levels of toxic chemicals into the environment, which are still being found by independent tests, while the working class residents of the town are being left to fend for themselves by the railroad and the government. Following the deal, the union and rail executives fawned over each other and their commitment to partnership. We are proud to be the first to have reached a paid sick leave agreement for our dedicated BLET membership, said Dewayne Dehart, a union general chairman. This trailblazing new deal ensures that engineers finally have access to the time they need and deserve to manage their personal well-being. Jerry Sturdivant, BLET general chairman for NS-Southern Lines added that Our agreement with Norfolk Southern recognizes the critical contributions our members make to keep the railroad and the American economy running. Our members are the hardest-working folks on the railroad, and we thank NS for their collaboration to get this deal done for them. In a Freudian slip, Wai Wong, vice president of Labor Relations at Norfolk Southern referred to BLET officials as our BLET general chairmen (emphasis added) and thanked them for their partnership. Scott Bunten, a BLET general chairman, said that he felt NS was trying to be seen as a better, kinder, gentler railroad. In other words, BLET is consciously using the issue of sick leave to help the company refurbish its image. Alan H. Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern, responded by saying, I deeply appreciate the contributions of our Norfolk Southern engineers and the longstanding partnership weve had with the BLET. This agreement builds on that relationship and continues our industry-leading effort to enhance quality of life as we become the first railroad to reach an engineer sick leave deal. In congressional hearings on the East Palestine disaster, Shaw stonewalled and refused to make even verbal concessions over multi-billion-dollar share buybacks or support for limited safety legislation. He was clearly emboldened by the fact that Washington backed the railroads to the hilt against railroad workers and continues to give the railroads a virtual blank check on derailments, which occur three times a day on average in the US. The sick leave is therefore essentially being held hostage from workers and will only be released upon the condition they ratify additional agreements. As is typical with union backdoor deals, workers may not even see the details until they are given a ballot to vote on it. Some 800 people attended a protest in Sydney yesterday morning demanding the immediate freedom of imprisoned WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange. People came from across New South Wales and from around the country to attend the rally, which was one of the largest demanding Assanges freedom yet, despite being held on a weekday. Stella Assange and Stephen Kenny, Julian Assange's Australian lawyer, leading protest march in Sydney, 24 May, 2023. [Photo: WSWS] Speaking at the demonstration, Stella Assange, Julians wife, declared that the protesters were at the forefront of a global movement for justice. A global movement that converges on one man, but the meaning of which goes far beyond Julians freedom. Its not just Julian who has lost his freedom, but all of us. Because in order to keep Julian in prison, they have had to corrupt their own rules and their own principles. Stella, visiting Australia for the first time, noted that her tour had initially been planned to coincide with a scheduled visit of US President Joe Biden. He had been set down to attend a summit of the warmongering and anti-China Quadrilateral Strategic Dialogue this week in Sydney. Biden cancelled, however Stella proceeded with the visit. She explained the crucial importance of the fight within Australia to securing her husbands freedom. Assange is detained in Britain and faces extradition to the US, where he would be tried on Espionage Act charges carrying 175 years imprisonment for exposing American war crimes. Assange is an Australian citizen. Stella explained: Julians case is a case of global importance. But you guys are at the centre of it because Julian is an Australian, hes a country boy, and hes from this country. That means that the key to securing Julians release lies with you. Assanges supporters in Australia were part of a global movement involving millions of people all over the world, she said. There is a growing recognition, internationally, that hes in prison because he exposed the crimes of others. No decent human being will ever tolerate that. The only people whose interest remains Julians imprisonment, are the ones who are guilty and implicated in those crimes. Stella Assange adressing Free Julian Assange rally in Sydney on 24 May, 2023. [Photo: WSWS] Within Australia, there had been a sea change. Only a few years ago, there had been radio silence on Assanges case. But increasingly it was being discussed in the media, as well as by official politicians. This, Stella stressed, was a consequence of the demands made by ordinary people and a protracted grassroots campaign. This fight had to be deepened, she said. You guys need to shout louder, fight harder, put the pressure on each of your representatives, make Julians situation visible everywhere, every day, on your cars, on your shirts. Every day you tell all your friends, you talk about it with your family Make sure Julian remains top priority until he steps out of that prison. I think were near, we can achieve this together. Stella noted that it was her first time in Australia, but it would not be her last. I will come back here, home with Julian, and our kids who are Australian citizens will come home too. John Shipton, Assanges father, placed the persecution of Assange within a broader context. Brown University, in the United States, had recently published a report showing that there had been 4.5 million deaths in the Middle East following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. An earlier document, from the same institution, estimated that the predatory US-led wars in the region had displaced 38 million people. Speaking of those US interventions Shipton condemned a hegemon standing in a river of blood. He emphasised the striving of ordinary people for justice and humanity, which would ultimately be victorious. Assanges case and the fight for his freedom were integral to this broader struggle. Gabriel Shipton, Julian Assange's brother, speaking in Sydney on 24 May, 2023. [Photo: WSWS] Gabriel Shipton, Assanges brother, said: If anything is to be taken from Julians persecution, it is that it has mobilised people all around the world The fight gives meaning to Julians work. It has brought us all together here to fight for something that is so important to our Western democracies and thats a free press. How can we make decisions about what our governments do in our name if we dont know? Its not possible. David McBride addressed the protest. A former Australian army lawyer, he faces life behind bars for blowing the whistle on Australian war crimes in Afghanistan. They included verified murders of civilians and prisoners and other violations of international law. For these offenses, McBride, the man who exposed them, is the first to face court proceedings. Theres a good chance that even though I reported murders and cover-ups, that Im going to go to jail for the rest of my life Its not something I hang my head about. Its something Im proud of We need to stand up, the future of the planet depends on it. The whistleblower noted the comments of Australian Labor Party Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has made extremely tepid statements expressing concern over Assanges plight. Albanese has said that enough is enough in relation to the Assange case. He claims to have made private representations to the US and British governments on behalf of Assange, but has stopped far short of any public demand for the Australian journalists freedom. David McBride addressing Sydney rally demanding the release of Julian Assange, 24 May, 2023. [Photo: WSWS] McBride responded: I say this to Anthony Albanese. Enough of you saying enough is enough. It means nothing. Imagine if I had witnessed war crimes in Afghanistan, witnessed murder and cover-up and all I said to them is enough is enough. Its not enough. McBride called for Albanese to step up to the plate and secure Assanges unconditional freedom. Stephen Kenny, Assanges Australian lawyer, issued the same demand. Kenny represented Australian citizen David Hicks, who was rendered to the American military prison in Guantanamo Bay as part of the war on terror. Hicks was eventually freed and returned to Australia, as the result of a powerful campaign led by his father Terry Hicks. David Hicks had been compelled to sign a plea deal, despite having committed no crime. Kenny noted the parallels. Like David Hicks, Julian Assange has not committed any crime at all. So why is he in jail? The editors of other major publications, who were involved in WikiLeaks 2010 and 2011 releases, for which Assange is being prosecuted, remain at liberty. This, Kenny explained, made clear that the case against Assange was political and required a political solution. He outlined some of the abuses of the British judiciary. This included placing Assange in a glass box at the back of his courtroom during the first extradition proceedings, denying him the right to participate in his own case. Assanges lawyers, moreover, had filed their latest appeal in November. The British judges merely need to determine whether he has an arguable case, a process which Kenny said should take several days or at most a week. But six months on and this task has not been completed. Albanese has recently hinted at the prospect of a plea deal in the Assange case. Kenny forcefully rejected this course. Is there a Hicks solution? Why should there be? He has not committed any crime. He should not be forced to plead to anything. We need our prime minister to stand up, not just say enough is enough. The rally raised several political issues. Many of the speakers, importantly, emphasised the decisive role of mobilising ordinary people in the fight to free Assange. Inevitably, the statements of Albanese and other Labor representatives have generated some hope within the Assange camp. But there is no indication, whatsoever, that Albanese is fighting for Assanges freedom, behind closed doors or anywhere else. This week he refused to even meet with Stella Assange. Albanese was part of the Gillard Labor government, which in 2010 and 2011, played a central role in the initial stages of the persecution of Assange. Some speakers referenced the special relationship between Australia and the US. This could be leveraged to aid Assanges freedom, they suggested. In fact the US-Australia alliance is an imperialist mechanism, serving the very same war drive exposed by Assange himself. More than a decade on and the militarist program is far advanced, with the US now waging a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and preparing for conflict against China. Labor has placed Australia on the frontlines of these plans for a catastrophic war. This program is incompatible with basic democratic rights. As in the 20th century, war means a turn to dictatorial forms of rule. Speakers implied that if Assange were not freed, it would show that Australia was in a vassal-like relationship with the US. This is also false. Australia is an imperialist power in its own right, which has oppressed and exploited the colonial masses, especially in the South Pacific, for over a century. The Australian ruling elite is supporting the US aggression against China as part of the pursuit of its own predatory interests, which are secured under the umbrella of the American alliance. The war on whistleblowers and publishers is not merely a US phenomenon. As the McBride case demonstrates, Labor is also carrying out a crackdown in line with its miltiarist program. Finally, a word should be said about the MC, former Greens politician Scott Ludlam. Ludlam personifies the bankruptcy of any orientation to parliament to fight war and defend democratic rights. He is a political charlatan, who has traded on fake-left rhetoric for years. But when he was in office, Ludlam, and the Greens effectively went along with the persecution of Assange. They became de facto partners in a coalition with the minority Gillard Labor government, even as it collaborated in the campaign of the US intelligence agencies to destroy Assange and WikiLeaks. When challenged on this by the Socialist Equality Party in 2012, Ludlam indicated that he was not prepared to crash the government, even if it did nothing to get Julian out of trouble. On April 24, the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs filed suit in Washington D.C. federal district court against the District of Columbia on behalf of three inmates incarcerated at the Central Detention Facility and the Correctional Treatment Facility (D.C. Jail). In the United States, both capitalist political parties incessantly rail against Russia, China and other foreign rivals about human rights violations. The US regularly sanctions countries and justifies wars in the name of defending human rights. The conditions of the D.C. correctional facility, located immediately adjacent to the now-defunct RFK Memorial Stadium, and about a five minute drive from the federal government on Capitol Hill, reveal starkly the criminality and hypocrisy which pervades the US governments propaganda. The lawsuit alleges that the Democratic Party-controlled city is deliberately indifferent to its obligation [to provide health care for those in its custody] and the Jails provision of health care is systemically dysfunctional, resulting in people with serious medical needs being unable to access necessary medical, pharmaceutical, and dental care. According to the DC Policy Center, at least 60 percent of the facilitys 1,400 male and female detainees are awaiting trial, or in other words, have not yet been charged with a crime. The three plaintiffs themselves are victims of the correctional facilitys abuse and bring this action on behalf of themselves and all others detained in the Jail. According to the affidavit, plaintiff V.C. suffers from multiple serious medical conditions, including congestive heart failure, prediabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hypertension. These disorders require the individual to use a defibrillator and take nine different medications daily. Despite this, between October 2021 and the present, the facility has failed to provide the medication on time, or at all, on at least 19 occasions, despite some of the medicine being labeled as keep-on-person and having potentially life-threatening consequences if a dose is missed. At times, the abuse is downright sadistic. Plaintiff B.L., the victim of a gunshot wound that has severely damaged his urinary tract, is required to self-catheterize four to six times a day. Despite this known condition, the jail has consistently failed to provide B.L. with the lubricant and proper catheter tubes he needs to self-catheterize, as well as the alcohol wipes he needs to sanitize the insertion site, leading to bleeding and scarring. The facility is operated by Unity Healthcare, the regions largest non-profit health care operator, which has managed health services for inmates at the D.C. department of corrections since 2006. In 2021, Unity Healthcare had revenues of $129,446,729. The government of the District of Columbia office of contracting and procurement awarded Unity Healthcare the Department of Corrections Inmate Comprehensive Medical Services contract in 2019. The facility has been the subject of much scrutiny in the past, and has a history of poor treatment of inmates, many of whom have not even been convicted of a crime. Many inmates at the facility, mostly working class, are being held awaiting trial and cannot afford bail. In 2004, Jonathan Magbie, a 27-year-old quadriplegic man, paralyzed from the neck down, was detained at the jail for possession of a marijuana cigarette. While serving a 10-day sentence, he developed acute pneumonia as a result of the facilitys negligence in providing proper respiratory care, and died. The facility also failed to provide him sufficient nourishment and hydration. The District of Columbia paid out a settlement of $4.6 million to his family as a result of Magbies needless death. In 2021 the facility was sued due to its lack of pandemic safety. The lawsuit alleged violat[ions of] constitutional rights under the Fifth and Eighth Amendments by failing to ensure safe conditions in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, the conditions of the jail came to light when approximately a dozen Republican and Democratic House members visited the facility to expose the truth about the facility, according to recorded statements given by Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene at the time. Lawmakers of both capitalist parties have discovered a newfound interest in the facility because alleged participants of the fascistic coup of January 6, 2021 have been held there awaiting trial. The representatives visited the newer section of the jail that houses the January 6 defendants, yet showed no interest in the plight of the vast majority of inmates. The Democratic representatives, who supposedly toured alongside the fascist Republican delegation in order to be a check on the latters claims, intended to promote the coup participants, made all efforts to paint the prison in rosy colors. Jasmine Crockett, Democrat from Texas, commented that the jail was probably as good as a jail can be. Robert Garcia, Democrat of California, remarked that he was surprised at how much open space there was in the jail. This effort to cover over the deeply inhumane conditions at the jail is of a piece with the Democratic Partys right-wing law and order orientation which it stepped up in the wake of the January 6 coup and has continued to use to promote law enforcement politically in the midst of a deepening social crisis. For her part, the fascist and delusional Greene went so far as to allege that the non-Jan. 6 prisoners have access to educational programs and opportunities that Jan. 6 defendants do not, according to the Washington Post. In fact, the conditions of the jail housing the coup participants are better than those of the prisoners drawn from the citys mostly working class population, whose plight was studiously avoided by the bipartisan delegation. While the United States proceeds to lecture governments across the planet about human rights and democracy, it has the largest percentage of incarcerated citizens in the world. According to World Population Review, in terms of rates of incarceration per 100,000 citizens, the USA stands at 629, with Russia at 326 and China 119, respectively. This facility is only one of many across the United States engaging in such gross violations of its own constitution. Prisons predominantly lock up members of the working class, abuse them, enslave them for cheap labor, and deprive them of their human dignity. Only through a united working class with a socialist perspective can these corrupt institutions of justice be dismantled and replaced with a system that rehabilitates, not tortures and enslaves, its population. A meeting of Pacific Island leaders held in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Monday saw the United States and its imperialist allies ramp up Washingtons confrontation with China in the Indo-Pacific. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fourth left, front row, poses with leaders of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, May 22, 2023. [AP Photo/Press Information Bureau via AP] PNG is deeply impoverished but strategically important and resource rich. It was a key battleground during both world wars and is currently the site of commercial, diplomatic and geo-strategic tussles over Beijings influence. China is a major infrastructure investor in PNG. US President Joe Biden was initially due to stop over in PNG en route to Australia for a meeting of the Quad, the de-facto military alliance involving Australia, India, Japan and the US, following the G7 in Japan. After Bidens late withdrawal from both meetings last week, the US was represented in PNG by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. All 18 Pacific Islands Forum leaders were summoned to Port Moresby, even though Bidens stopover was scheduled for just three hours. The US-led summit was inserted into an India-Pacific forum previously organised by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has adopted a look East strategy to expand the countrys presence in the Pacific. Modis forum, the third since 2014, and the US intervention were called amid their escalating confrontation with China. PNG Prime Minister James Marape effusively introduced Modi as the leader of the Global South and India the third big voice in global politics. He claimed the Pacific would rally behind India. The major outcome of the meetings was the signing of a bilateral US-PNG Defense Cooperation Agreement giving Washington uninhibited access to strategic military and civilian locations, including ports and airports. While issuing assurances that the countrys independence will not be compromised, Marape declared: [A]s we go forward over the next 15 years, we will see US soldiers in our country. We will see US contractors in our country. US military presence is forecast to become the biggest since World War II. The full text of the agreement is yet to be released, but the US is committing an extra $US45 million for various programs and $12.4 million to improve the capacity of the PNG Defence Force, including for domestic security operations. The US Coast Guard will be empowered to operate its Shiprider program alongside PNGs maritime authorities in at-sea operations, ostensibly to control illegal fishing. Marape said the agreement had a clause saying PNG will not be used as a place for launching offensive military operations. Nevertheless, the strategic naval base on Manus Island, which has had multi-million dollar upgrades by the US and Australia, will no doubt become a major military hub. In Port Moresby last August, Australias Defence Minister Richard Marles declared Canberra wanted a greater role for Manus which he described as a strategic asset for countering China. After Bidens cancellation, Australias Prime Minister Albanese absented himself, sending Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy, but Canberra welcomed the US agreement. New Zealands Prime Minister Chris Hipkins attended and gave Wellingtons assent. In a statement reeking of hypocrisy, Hipkins told media: New Zealand doesnt support militarisation of the Pacific. Having said that a military presence doesnt necessarily signify militarisation. Students from four PNG universities organised protests demanding the agreement not be signed. Former prime minister and opposition leader Peter ONeill demagogically accused Marape of having, without consultation, positioned our country at the epicentre of a military storm between China and the USA. Marape declared Tuesday that the agreement was not a treaty and did not need to be ratified by parliament. Beijing issued a scathing response, saying it was hypocritical of the West to criticise China when both the US and Australia were signing defence pacts with PNG. Chinas special envoy to the Pacific, Qian Bo, criticised the US and its allies of deliberately undermining Beijings relations in the region. Qian accused the West of having a Cold War mentality and being blinded by ideological prejudice. No details of the broader discussions at either summit have been released, but an effort was made to smooth diplomatic relations with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who last year signed a security pact with Beijing producing hostile reactions from Washington and its local allies. After a private meeting with Sogavare, Marape declared his support for strengthening cooperation on mutual interests and priorities particularly in socio-economic development, maintaining law and order, peace and security in the Solomons. The two leaders signed an agreement on PNG providing policing deployment in the country, which has previously used police trainers from China. There is ongoing deep concern across the Pacific over the US-led anti-China offensive. Representing the region at the G7, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, called on the US and China to not bring adversarial competition to the Pacific. For us, national security priorities are economic security, they are climate security, Brown declared. Pacific leaders have consistently held that global warming is a greater threat than China. According to the Sydney Morning Herald on May 18, the Albanese government has been warned it must raise its climate goals or risk Australias security ties to the region. It followed a forecast by the World Meteorological Organisation that global warming will almost certainly exceed a temperature increase of 1.5 degrees within the next five years, posing an existential threat to fragile Pacific islands experiencing relentless sea level rises. Opposition has also erupted to Canberras AUKUS agreement with the US and UK, which provides for Australias establishment of a nuclear-propelled submarine fleet. A group of former leaders, the Pacific Elders Voice, has flatly condemned AUKUS as triggering an arms race, by bringing war much closer to home. The new submarines threaten to contravene the Treaty of Rarotonga, signed by Pacific nations including Australia and New Zealand, which in 1985 established a region-wide, nuclear-free zone. Vanuatu is currently seeing domestic divisions over a security agreement with Australia signed last year. Amid claims Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau is moving too close to Canberra, some MPs, including within the government, have been pushing to delay, amend, or even scrap the deal. There appears to be little chance Vanuatu will ratify the pact in the near future. Further resentment is building in the region over failed US promises to deliver funding to countries facing severe financial crises. Island Business this month listed a catalogue of commitments that have not eventuated, often stalled in Congress. They ranged from a proposed $1.7 billion US-led electrification project in PNG, intended to counter Chinas Belt and Road initiative, to climate mitigation funding and support for the South Pacific Tuna Treaty. Washington has, since the end of World War II, regarded the Pacific as an American lake, but largely outsourced oversight to Australia and New Zealand. That period has now come to an end as the Biden administration takes a much firmer, direct hold on the diplomatic, economic and military push against China. The US has opened an embassy in Vanuatu after its Solomon Islands embassy was reopened following a 30-year absence. Embassies are currently being established in Kiribati and Tonga. Washington is meanwhile shoring up support with its northern Pacific neo-colonial possessions. Blinken has announced a $US7 billion boost to its so-called Compact of Free Association nations, deemed critical to US national security goals, while renewing strategic pacts with Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau. In the wake of the PNG summit, Biden has formally invited Pacific leaders to Washington for face-to-face talks later this year, following an initial meeting there last September. The US president bluntly told that gathering: The security of America, quite frankly, and the world depends on your security and the security of the Pacific islands. Introduction Dear colleagues, ladies, and gentlemen, good morning. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the WTO Workshop on Fisheries Subsidies for the Asia region. Let me start by warmly thanking the Government of Malaysia for hosting this event and for the very warm welcome you have extended to all of us today. Thank you also for the excellent collaboration we have had with you and your colleagues in making all of the arrangements for this workshop. Our WTO Technical Workshops on Fisheries Subsidies are aimed at enhancing the participation of developing and least developed country Members of the WTO all over the world in the ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies, and facilitating their implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. This is a very important part of our technical assistance and capacity building activities. The WTO has brought you together here as experts of your respective governments to discuss challenges and opportunities related to fisheries subsidies and to exchange experiences and best practices in this area. This is the last of eight regional workshops on fisheries subsidies that the WTO Secretariat has been conducting in various regions across the globe since November 2022. The sustainability of fisheries is becoming increasingly urgent for nations around the world as deterioration of fish stocks continues unabated. As a continent surrounded by oceans and home to numerous globally important fisheries, as well as many artisanal fishing communities, Asia is responsible for the management and conservation of a significant portion of the world's marine resources. With millions in the region depending directly and indirectly on the marine fishing industry for their livelihoods, it is crucial that we work together toward sustainable management of our ocean resources for the long term. Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Let me now turn to what we what you achieved last June at the WTO's 12 Ministerial Conference (MC12). Your governments worked hard, together with other WTO Members, to successfully conclude the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. This outcome was a landmark for the WTO and for multilateralism. It is the first WTO Agreement with environmental sustainability at its core, and only the second new and binding multilateral agreement reached at the WTO since 1995. The Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is proof that multilateralism and the WTO can deliver consensus-based results even in these times of increased geopolitical tension, especially on pressing issues of the global commons and shared goals, like the SDG target 14.6. Why is this historic deal so important? It is no secret that the worlds ocean faces enormous challenges, one of which is the dramatic decline in global fish stocks, which continues unabated. By some estimates, as many as 50% of assessed global fish stocks are already depleted, with more at risk. Not only does this decline have huge repercussions for marine ecosystems and thus the global environment, it also has grave consequences for millions of vulnerable households around the world including so many in Asia that depend on fishing. What is even more discouraging is that many governments continue to provide fisheries subsidies without regard for their impact on sustainability. Such fisheries subsidies are estimated at USD 35 billion per year globally, of which some USD 22 billion are capacity- and effort-enhancing. These subsidies can enable many fishing fleets to operate longer and farther at sea, to the detriment of marine life. The subsidizing governments thus are investing in the destruction of the natural capital that should instead be paying generous dividends. The new Agreement prohibits certain subsidies with the most harmful effects on the sustainability of fisheries, namely those to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, those concerning overfished stocks, and those to fishing in the unregulated high seas. It is therefore a tangible leap forward in the race to preserve our ocean and its precious living resources. Implementation and ratification Of course, the Agreement's tangible benefits will take hold only when WTO Members implement its provisions. A critical step here is to secure the Agreement's entry into force, which will happen when it has been formally accepted by two-thirds of all WTO Members. One of the primary reasons that I am here in Kuala Lumpur is to urge you to deposit your instruments of acceptance as soon as possible. While previous agreements and amendments have typically taken a few years to enter into force, we are aiming to enter this Agreement into force by our Thirteenth Ministerial Conference next February in Abu Dhabi. This urgency is for the sake of ocean sustainability, which is an urgent matter for all WTO Members, both coastal and landlocked. Indeed, all Members depend on a sustainable source of fish, and generally on a healthy ocean ecosystem. Achieving entry into force by next February will require hard work and determination by your governments and those of other Members. But given the critical importance of this Agreement to all Members, I firmly believe that we can get this done by then. Swift ratification across Asia would be a powerful sign of this region's leadership at the WTO, and of its recognition of what the Agreement stands to deliver for the continent, including its coastal WTO Members. I congratulate Singapore for its leadership in being the first Asian Member to deposit its instrument of acceptance and the second of the seven Members to have done so thus far. I know that many of you have your domestic acceptance processes well under way, and I very much appreciate your efforts. One important aspect of this workshop will be to discuss these processes for formal acceptance and to share experiences and inspiration. And please do not hesitate to reach out to the Secretariat for support over the next few days and afterwards. We are here for you, and our doors are always open. Funding mechanism A second focus of the workshop will be to go through the Agreement's provisions in detail and discuss what it will take for each of your governments to implement and be in compliance with the new accord, and how the Secretariat can be helpful. As you know, Article 7 of the Agreement establishes a dedicated funding mechanism to support developing and LDC Members as they upgrade fisheries management capacity and implement the new disciplines. The fund is up and running, and has already received its first contributions, from Japan, Canada, and Germany, with others to follow shortly. Assistance will be available through the Fund to all WTO developing and LDC Members only once they deposit their instruments of acceptance. Therefore, assuring that you are eligible to receive this support is another important reason to deposit your instruments as quickly as possible. This Fund is evidence that we will be with you every step of the way as you implement. Second wave of negotiations The final issue this workshop will address is the ongoing 'second wave' of negotiations on the questions that Ministers were not able to resolve at MC12. These include curbs on subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, while accommodating the needs of small-scale and artisanal fishers, a priority for many Asian Members. Ministers agreed to conclude these further negotiations by MC13. WTO Members, including Asian Members, have been working very hard in Geneva over the past couple of months to advance work on the second wave of negotiations. I know that you will make the most of the opportunity of this workshop to brainstorm with each other on how best the Asian region can achieve these three objectives, for the sake of the ocean and the people who depend on it. With that, let me wish you a very productive workshop. I look forward to being here and interacting with you for the next two days. Thank you. ReportLinker KEY HIGHLIGHTS. In the African data center construction market, South Africa is the major contributor to the capacity in the region, with more than 50%, followed by Nigeria, Kenya, and other African countries. New York, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Africa Data Center Construction Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06458923/?utm_source=GNW Cloud-based services, smart city developments, and fiber connectivity drive continuous regional data center investments. The regions major global cloud service providers include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google Cloud, Oracle, and Huawei Technologies. For instance, in September 2022, Google Cloud announced its plan to open a new cloud region in Cape Town, South Africa. The cloud region is expected to be operational in the next 23 years. The Africa data center construction market grows continuously in terms of connectivity by deploying new submarine cables such as Africa-1, 2Africa, India Europe Xpress (IEX), Equiano, and Medusa Submarine Cable System SeaMeWe 6, which are expected to be ready for services during the forecast period. MARKET TRENDS Deployment of 5G Technologies The introduction of the 5G network in Africa is likely to generate a substantial amount of data, which will further lead to increasing investments in the African data center construction market. High internet connectivity, bandwidth, and less processing time is the feature of 5G technology. The countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Ethiopia, have witnessed the commercial launch of the 5G network in the region, while the countries like Ghana, Algeria, Tanzania, and Congo were in the initial stages of their development. Vodacom, MTN, Ericsson, Orange, Ethio Telecom, and Rain are the main telecom operators in Africa involved in the commercial deployment of 5G services that partially or entirely cover 5G services in the country. Several pilot 5G projects are underway and expected to be deployed in the forecasted period. Procurement of Renewable Energy Sources Due to the unavailability of proper power infrastructure in the African region, the facilities were forced to develop their renewable energy infrastructure for power generation. I. MTN, a South Africa-based telecom company, operates four data centers in Kenya and other African countries, uses renewable energy to power its facilities, and targets carbon neutrality by 2040. It has introduced the "Project Zero" program. II. In June 2022, Vantage Data Centers signed 20 years Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SolarAfrica in which the company will procure 87 MWp of solar energy that will be used to power its new facility. The African region also has abundant availability of solar energy, like the Middle Eastern region. In contrast, most African countries are undertaking renewable energy strategies & visions to develop renewable energy projects and meet the carbon-neutral goals set by respective governments in the region. I. In July 2022, the Nigerian government made a statement regarding its commitment to the sustainability goal for 2030. The government is planning to generate 30 GW of electricity from renewable sources by generating renewable energy as 30% of its total production. II. Egypt expects to increase the share of electricity produced from renewable sources to 42% by 2035. SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS Data centers are investing in power infrastructure with a minimum of N+1 redundancy. In 2022, UPS systems accounted for a market share of more than 30% of the total electrical infrastructure in data centers. The Africa data center construction market is investing in cooling infrastructure due to the high-temperature climate in some African countries. In 2022, cooling systems service providers invested a share of more than 65% of the total mechanical infrastructure. The region witnessed growth in the deployment of data centers in Tier III and Tier IV certification in the design phase/construction phase of the region. At the same time, most private and public entities (BFSI, education, government) have received Uptime Institutes Tier III/IV certification, either during the design phase or for the constructed facility. SEGMENTS ANALYSIS 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 GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS In the Africa data center construction market, countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria are the developed data center markets in the region. Facilities in the region are developed with government support, which includes incentives for the operation of the data centers. Smart Cities, Special Economic Zones, Free Trade Zones, and governmental incentives and exemptions drive Africa data center construction market growth. South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Ghana are some of the major countries in the region which triggered the smart city investments. For instance, the Lanseria Smart City project, and Nkuna City project in South Africa, and the Eko Atlantic City in Nigeria. Geography Africa o South Africa o Kenya o Nigeria o Egypt o Ethiopia o Other African Countries KEY MARKET PARTICIPANTS INITIATIVES The African data center construction market is witnessing increased demand across industries, and acquisitions & joint ventures enable new players to enter the market, attract customers, and capture a higher market share. I. Equinix expanded its footprint in the region by completing the acquisition of MainOne, including MDX-I, in H1 2022. II. Digital Realty acquired a major stake of around 55% in Teraco. Major Vendors Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers 4energy ABB Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics EATON EVAPCO Enlogic Legrand Master Power Technologies Rittal Rolls-Royce Schneider Electric Siemens STULZ Vertiv Prominent Data Center Construction Contractors Abbeydale Advanced Vision Morocco ARSMAGNA Arup Atkins b2 Architects CAP DC Chess Enterprises Copy Cat Group Eastra Solutions Edarat Group EDS Engineers Egypro H&MV Engineering Ingenium Interkel JLB Architects MWK Engineering Orascom Construction Royal HaskoningDHV Shaker Group Sterling & Wilson Summit Technology Solutions Tri-Star Construction United Egypt Westwood Management Data Center Investors 21st Century Technology Africa Data Centres Digital Parks Africa Galaxy Backbone icolo.io (Digital Realty) IXAfrica MainOne Medallion Communications NTT Global Data Centers Paratus Namibia Rack Centre Raxio Data Centres Telecom Egypt Teraco (Digital Realty) Wingu New Entrants Open Access Data Centres (OADC) Nxtra by Airtel Cloudoon Kasi Cloud Google Vantage Data Center KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 1. How big is the African data center construction market? 2. What is the growth rate of the African data center construction market? 3. What are the significant trends in the African data center construction market? 4. What is the estimated market size in terms of area in the African data center construction market by 2028? 5. Who are the new entrants in the African data center construction market? 6. How much MW of power capacity is expected to reach the African data center construction market by 2028? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06458923/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 The 'AI revolution has begun': Here's how Wall Street is reacting to Nvidia's jaw-dropping earnings report that added $199 billion to its market value The 'AI revolution has begun': Here's how Wall Street is reacting to Nvidia's jaw-dropping earnings report that added $199 billion to its market value Future Publishing via Getty Images Nvidia soared 26% and added $199 billion in market value after its blockbuster first-quarter earnings report. The company pointed to a surge in adoption of artificial intelligence for driving its big guidance raise. Here's how Wall Street analysts are reacting to Nvidia's AI-driven earnings report. Nvidia stock soared 26% on Thursday, adding about $199 billion to its market value and making it a near-$1 trillion company after its first-quarter earnings and second-quarter guidance blew away analyst expectations. Thanks to the growing generative artificial intelligence market, Nvidia increased its second-quarter revenue forecast to $11 billion more than 50% ahead of Wall Street's $7 billion estimate. The company's AI chipsets help drive the technology behind OpenAI's ChatGPT and Alphabet's Bard chatbots. Analysts cheered Nvidia's report, with Wedbush analyst Dan Ives calling it "jaw dropping guidance heard around the world." Here's how Wall Street reacted to Nvidia's earnings report and bullish guidance. Goldman Sachs: 'The inflection in Generative AI development is here.' Rating: Buy, $440 price target, raised from $275. Goldman highlighted that Nvidia's revenue guidance implies a near doubling in its data center business sequentially. "While the natural reaction is to question the sustainability of this strength in Data Center, we believe the proliferation of Generative AI across various verticals coupled with a fully committed (and currently under-utilized) supply chain will support sequential growth in the October and January quarters," Goldman Sachs analyst Toshiya Hari said. And while competition will be on the rise for Nvidia, Hari isn't yet concerned, citing its competitive moat and the urgency of customers developing increasingly complex AI. JPMorgan: 'First massive wave of demand in Generative AI... more to follow.' Rating: Overweight, $500 price target, raised from $250. Nvidia is a "one-stop solution provider," and its data center business should grow sales more than 80% in the July quarter versus the record April quarter, JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur said. "While we were anticipating accelerated demand in its data center business, we were surprised by the significant revenue step-up in the July quarter (and this does NOT include their inferencing chipset solutions, like the H100 NVL, which they will start shipping in volumes in 2H of the year). Moreover given the strong demand for its data center products, the team has extended visibility for the next several quarters and has secured more supply to support continued revenue growth in the 2H of the year," Sur said. CFRA: 'Generative AI and investments in LLMs are driving robust demand.' Rating: Buy, $415 price target, raised from $350. "Generative AI and investments in large language models (LLMs) are driving robust demand, with cloud providers increasingly adopting NVDA's next-gen H100. We believe NVDA's DGX on premise/cloud offerings are seeing strong traction while its Grace CPU is now sampling with customers. Ensuring supply from Taiwan Semi will be critical to sustain demand. While gaming was down 38%, lapping tough comps/peak demand, sales rose sequentially (+22%) for the second consecutive quarter and recovering nicely from a major downturn in CY 22," CFRA analyst Angelo Zino said. Wedbush: The 'AI revolution has begun.' Rating: Neutral, $290 price target. "There is not one better indicator around underlying AI demand going on in the hyperscale/cloud and overall enterprise market than the foundational Nvidia story... The Street was all awaiting last night's Nvidia quarter and guidance to gauge the magnitude of this AI demand story with many skeptics saying an AI bubble was forming and instead Jensen & Co. delivered guidance for the ages," Ives said. "In 22 years of covering tech stocks and large cap we have NEVER seen a guidance range of this magnitude on a large cap tech name and thus speaks to our thesis that the monetization of AI... is well underway." Read the original article on Business Insider Aeterna SINGAPORE CITY, SINGAPORE, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aeterna, an all-in-one blockchain ecosystem designed to provide safety and security for all users, has its token presale hosted on the Pinksale Launchpad platform.With a Certik audited smart contract, Full Core Team KYC by Assure DeFi, and four built-in utilities already developed and ready to go live at launch, Aeterna promises to be the go-to platform for both newcomers and experienced users. Focused on innovation and transparency, Aeterna is proud to have partnered with Certik for its smart contract audit and Assure DeFi for KYC, ensuring that the project is secure and transparent for all investors. Through these partnerships, Aeterna aims to provide an unparalleled level of security for their users by implementing best practices for security and transparency. Certik is a recognized leader in blockchain security auditing, while Assure DeFi specializes in providing KYC solutions for blockchain projects. These firms will ensure that the Aeterna ecosystem is secured from potential hacks and scams, and that all parties involved in the transactions are legitimate. The four utilities that will launch alongside Aeterna are an Escrow System, a BNB Lottery, a Decentralized Coin Exchange (DCE), and Token Staking. Each of these utilities is designed to provide maximum safety and security for users while making transactions fast, easy, and hassle-free. Aeterna's Escrow System ensures that buyers and sellers are protected at all times. The system uses a smart contract to hold funds in escrow until the buyer confirms they have received their goods or services. This eliminates the risk of scams and fraud and provides peace of mind for all parties involved. The BNB Lottery is a fun and exciting way for users to earn tokens. Simply purchase a ticket using Binance Coin (BNB), and you'll be entered into a lottery where the winner takes home a TBA number of tokens. This provides a fun and engaging way for users to get involved with the Aeterna community. The Decentralized Coin Exchange (DCE) is a revolutionary new way to trade coins. Unlike traditional exchanges, which are centralized and therefore vulnerable to hacks and manipulation, the DCE is decentralized, meaning that it cannot be hacked or manipulated. This provides maximum security for users and allows for fast, easy, and hassle-free trading. Staking provides an additional layer of security as it helps to ensure that the network remains stable and secure. The vision behind Aeterna is to create a safe and welcoming ecosystem that welcomes both newcomers and experienced users alike. By providing these utilities that are easy to use and provide maximum security, Aeterna aims to revolutionize the blockchain industry and become the go-to platform for anyone looking to conduct fast, secure transactions. Aeterna's team of developers and advisors have a wealth of experience in the blockchain industry and are dedicated to providing a platform that is safe, reliable, and easy to use. The team is constantly working to improve the platform and add new features that will further enhance the Aeterna experience. Furthermore, Aeterna has also partnered with Astronaut Lounge as part of their AMA tour alongside presenting to several other large communities. During the AMA tour, the team behind Aeterna has shared information about the utilities, project vision and presale, which is currently live. The presale is hosted on the Pinsksale Launchpad platform, providing investors with a seamless and secure way to invest in the project while utilizing the top auditing and KYC firms to ensure its security. During the token presale, investors will be able to purchase Aeterna tokens at a discounted rate. These tokens can be used to take advantage of the built-in utilities, as well as to participate in future offerings on the platform. "We are thrilled to have partnered with Certik and Assure DeFi to ensure that our blockchain project is as secure and transparent for our users as possible," said the Aeterna Team. "We believe that through these partnerships, we can provide our users with the confidence and trust they need to invest in Aeterna. We are also excited to be partnered with the renowned investor group, Astronaut Lounge, and to have shared our vision in our AMA tour which included many other investor groups in the space, where we have been able to discuss our project's plans for the future. We have a lot more ahead, with several more AMAs planned past launch. We hope you can all tune in" In conclusion, Aeterna is an exciting new platform that promises to revolutionize the blockchain industry. With built-in utilities designed to provide maximum security and ease of use, Aeterna is poised to become the go-to platform for anyone looking to conduct fast, secure transactions. The upcoming token presale represents a unique opportunity for investors to get in on the ground floor of this revolutionary new platform. Aeterna presale is currently live on Pinksale: https://www.pinksale.finance/launchpad/0x22Ef2B118c5A7E9b97706704D61F772a628E8781?chain=BSC ------------------- Aeternas Partners: About Certik: Certik is a leading blockchain security provider that offers auditing, smart contract verification, and penetration testing services to ensure the safety and reliability of decentralized systems. For more info, visit: https://www.certik.com/ About Assure DeFi: Assure DeFi is a decentralized insurance platform that enables users to insure their crypto assets against risks such as smart contract vulnerabilities and market volatility, bringing peace of mind to DeFi investors. For more info, visit: https://assuredefi.com/ About Astronaut Lounge: Astronaut Lounge is the premier crypto-focused investor group on Telegram with a strong community of investors and traders who share insights, news, and strategies related to the futures trading, cryptocurrency, and other tips to help investors navigate the volatile world of cryptocurrencies. For more info, visit: https://t.me/AstronautLounge For more information about Aeterna, please visit the telegram group at https://t.me/aeternamain or follow the project on Twitter @Project_Aeterna. Aeterna Ecosystem: Aesir King contact@aeterna.eco https://aeterna.eco/ Certik: Michael mullaney info@certik.com https://www.certik.com/ Assure DeFi: John Myers hester@assuredefi.com https://assuredefi.com/ Astronaut Lounge: https://t.me/AstronautLounge This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. CONTACT: Aesir King Aeterna Ecosystem contact at aeterna.eco Welcome to the website for Charleston Gazette-Mail newspaper, wvgazettemail.com.com (the Site). The Site is an online service owned by HD Media Company, LLC (the Company or us). This Privacy Policy discusses our privacy practices with respect to the Site, online and mobile applications owned by the Company related to the Site or to Herald-Dispatch newspaper, and any other services of the Company that display this Privacy Policy (collectively with the Site and the applications, the Services). We recognize that many visitors to our Site and users of our applications are concerned about the information that they provide to us or that may be collected, and how we treat that information. In order to address those concerns we have developed this Privacy Policy to explain how we collect, use, share, disclose or otherwise process the personal information we hold about you. A. PERSONAL DATA Among other things, this Privacy Policy addresses how we collect, protect and use your personal data, which is information that can be used to directly or indirectly identify a person. For purposes of this Privacy Policy, personal data may include not only your personally identifiable information, such as your name, address, email address, phone number, birthdate, facial photograph, and credit card information; but also online identifiers such as your computers IP (Internet protocol) address, geo-location information, and other information which by itself would not allow us to identify you, but which when combined with personally identifiable information may allow you to be identified. These online identifiers are only considered personal data under this Privacy Policy when they are or may be combined with your personally identifiable information. B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION Registration, Forms, and Other Times You Actively Provide Your Personal Data to Us We collect personal data about you when you actively provide it to us; for example, when you fill in your contact information in a form to open an account with us, submit comments in response to one of our stories (we may require that you include some identifying information with your comments), submit photos or other information to us, sign up to receive information from us, subscribe to the Services, enter a contest, respond to a survey, make a forum submission, email us, send us a text message, purchase something through the Services, or at other times in which we alert you that you must submit personal data. Information from Devices We may also collect personal data automatically from your mobile device, laptop or other device when you use that device to interact with our Site or use our Services. The information we collect from the device may include the IP address and geo-location of the device. It may also include such information as which pages on the Site you accessed using the device, what information is downloaded, what type of device, browser and operating system are being used, which Internet service provider is being used and other information of this general type. We may also collect information from cookies, web beacons, or other trackers placed on your device (see the section on Cookies and Online Tracking in this Privacy Policy for more information about our use of these trackers). We, or third parties that provide or operate services on or through our Services, may also track information about users online activities over time and across different websites. By itself, the information we collect from devices does not allow us to personally identify you (you may not even be using the device you might have loaned it to a friend), but when combined with other personal data, it may allow us to identify you. Social Media Login If you log in to our websites or online services through a third party site, such as Facebook, that site may pass information to us, such as user ID, name associated with the ID, email address and location, plus other information permitted under the privacy policy for that website. Our Services may also return information about you to that social networking site regarding your log in, such as which of our websites or apps you visit and your use of the social media services on those websites and apps. If you log in with or connect to our Services using social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), the social media services use of the shared information will be governed by their privacy policy. If you do not want your personal data shared in this way, please do not connect your social media service account with your account with us, and do not participate in social sharing on our Services. Public Information and Posts Any personal data that you post or submit to our Site or Services, such as when posting comments in response to stories, submitting photos or videos, or engaging in forums or chat rooms, may be collected by us, and may be viewed by other people (including search engines), over whom we have no control. You are responsible for the information you choose to post or otherwise make available in such public areas, and you acknowledge that this information may be collected and used by third parties. Payment Processing If you purchase something through our Services, we may collect your name, address, credit card information, and other personal data in order to process the purchase, deliver the goods or services that you purchased to you, and handle any other issues related to your purchase. If you use third party payment providers, such as PayPal, to pay for or receive payment from us, that site may pass information to us including your name, email address, billing or other address, phone number (if applicable), date of sign-up, the number of payments you have received from verified PayPal users, whether you have been verified to have control of a bank account and any other information you agree they can share. Advertisers and Other Third Parties Several features of the Services, such as advertisements, classified ads, contests or sweepstakes, polls or surveys, and blogs, may be provided or operated by third parties. These third parties may also collect your personal data in order to use their services. For example, when you visit our Site or use our Services, advertisers or advertising intermediaries may select and display advertisements to you on your device. These companies may collect information from your device to help select which advertisements that they believe are more relevant to you. They may also use this information to tell advertisers that the advertisements have been delivered and seen. Please check their privacy policies for information about their privacy practices. You can also find out more about how they collect your information in the Cookies and Online Trackingsection of this Privacy Policy. In some cases these third parties may provide your personal data to us when there is a legitimate interest to do so. Affiliates Our Company has a number of affiliates. A list of them can be found at this link: http://hdmediallc.com. Our affiliates may sometimes share the personal data that they acquire with us when they have consent or there is a legitimate interest in doing so. Other Sources We may also obtain online and offline information about you from other organizations that have your permission or where there is a legitimate interest in sharing your personal data with us or companies like us. We may combine this with information we collect in accordance with this Privacy Policy. C. HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL DATA Provide Products and Services that Are Relevant to You, Improve Your Experience, and Manage our Relationship with You. If you sign up for an account with us (which is required in order to view some content offered through the Services or to make certain submissions) or use Facebook Connect in conjunction with the Services, then we may use your personal data to maintain your account and to correspond with you. We may use your personal data to provide you with products and services you have asked for, including allowing you to interact, comment, and participate in online games and contests. We may use your information to monitor, improve and protect our products, content, services and websites, both online and offline. We may also provide you with help and support where we believe it is required. Personalize Content and Offers. We may use your personal data to send you materials that we think would be of interest to you. We may also use cookies, web beacons, and other technology to help us recognize your computer/device and help us understand where our users go and how much time they spend there. We may also use these technologies, as well as geo-location technologies, to deliver content that is customized to you. If you do not wish to have us collect and use information collected from cookies, you should disable cookies on your computer/device. You should refer to your browsers help menu for up-to-date information on blocking cookies and other technologies. Currently, the Site is not designed to respond to any Do Not Track signals or other similar mechanisms. For more information about our use of cookies and similar technology, please see the Cookies and Online Tracking section of this Privacy Policy. Send You Direct Marketing. We may use your personal data to make decisions about what direct marketing to show you. This may include communications by post, telephone, email, messages (including push notifications from installed apps) to your devices, through social media (such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and on the Site, or on other websites, as you browse the Internet. The communications may contain information about our products, services, events and offers. We may also send you information, offers and promotions from our commercial customers and partners where you have given your consent. To opt-out of direct marketing, please see the instructions in the Access and Control Your Information section of this Privacy Policy. Send You Product-Related and Similar Product and Services Communications. If you email us, submit information to us, or ask to be placed on a mailing list that we maintain, then we may contact you and send information to you. We may send you information, exclusive offers and promotions about similar products and services to those that you have already engaged with or purchased, if you have previously given your consent. We may send you service messages by email, SMS, social media, postal mail, or other methods, containing important information about changes to our services or your account. To opt-out of receiving productrelated and similar product and services communications, please follow the instructions in the communication, change your account settings or email us at privacy@hdmediallc.com. Conduct Market Research and Perform Analytics. We may use your personal data to improve our marketing and promotional efforts, as part of a statistical usage analysis, and/or to improve the features and content of the Services. Specifically and among other methods, we may use Google Analytics, which collects user information using first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookie) or other first-party identifiers and third-party cookies (such as Google advertising cookies) and or other third-party identifiers. For more information about how Google collects and processes your data, please visit: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/. If you wish to opt-out of Google Analytics, we direct you to Googles opt-out mechanism at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/. Gain Audience Insights. We may provide our commercial customers and partners with information about the effectiveness and reach of advertising campaigns that they have planned or carried out. This information will not identify you directly without your consent. For example, we may tell advertisers how many customers their advertisements can reach based on demographic criteria they select or how many times an advertisement was viewed. To opt-out of having your information used for audience insights, please email privacy@hdmediallc.com. Detect Ad Blockers. When you visit the Site, we may check (using cookies, code, script or other technical means) to see if you have an ad blocker installed on your device or if your internet browser settings allow advertisements. If we detect that your device or internet browser is using an ad blocker, we may ask you to whitelist, trust or pause blocking advertisements while you visit the Site. If you continue to use an ad blocker this may have an impact on the content you are able to see on the Site. Allow Third-Party Advertising. In some instances, targeted advertising may be displayed on the Site by third parties. Please be aware that the Companys advertisers, business partners, sponsors, service providers, vendors and third parties accessible through the Services (such as via links from the Site and/or through Facebook Connect) may have their own privacy practices. The Company is not responsible for any actions or policies of such third parties. You should check the applicable privacy policies of the third parties when providing information to them. These third parties may provide your personal data to the Company and may also use the information in accordance with their own privacy practices. Provide Co-Branded Services and Features. We may offer co-branded services or features, such as competitions or other promotions, together with a third party and may share the information you provide with that third party with your consent. These co-branded services may be hosted by the Company or by the third party. In these instances the third party may also be a data controller for your information. In this case, the third partys use of your information will be governed by their privacy policy, which you should always read. To opt-out of sharing your information with such third parties, please email privacy@hdmediallc.com. Disclose Information as Permitted or Required by Law. Your personal data may be disclosed where we are permitted or required by law to do so, such as pursuant to a court order, warrant, subpoena, or discovery request. We may also disclose your personal data where we are allowed by law in cases where we believe in good faith that it is necessary to prevent a crime, an injury or financial loss to ourselves or to third parties. Ensure Services Are Being Used Appropriately. If you engage in disruptive behavior anywhere on the Site or in the Services, including violations of the Terms of Use, we may use your personal data to stop such behavior. This may involve informing and responding to relevant third parties such as law enforcement agencies about the content and your behavior. Sale of Our Business or Bankruptcy. In conjunction with the sale or offering for sale of some or all of the Company or in the event of the Companys bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, or similar financial circumstances, your personal data may be part of the assets disclosed. Sale or License of Personal Data for Targeting Marketing. In order to provide you with ads and other content that may be of interest to you, or in order to provide you with targeted emails or other communications that may be of interest to you, we may sell or license some or all of your personal data to third parties. You may opt-out of this practice by emailing us at privacy@hdmediallc.com or following the procedures set forth in the Access and Control Your Information section of this Privacy Policy. Process Payments and Check Your Identity. Customer personal data will be used to take payment for products and services and may be used to verify credit details related to this payment. Permission to do so is implicit in providing financial details to process payment. Direct debit or continuous payment authority information, including card details, may be retained in accordance with our regulatory requirements, by us or our payment processors for ease of renewal of services. Additionally, we may receive updated payment details from your bank or payment provider from time to time, which we may use to ensure that your details are kept up to date and to allow us to take future payments. Financial institutions, such as those which process credit card orders, are subject to federal privacy laws. If we provide a service to you that is dependent on age or residency, and we have an obligation to verify this information, then we may pass your details to a third party to carry out the verification for us. Ensure Our Products and Services Conform With Industry Standards. We may share your personal data with auditors for the purposes of verifying that we comply with relevant standards. This may require them to access your information in our systems. Share Between Our Affiliates for Analytics, Analysis, Audience Insights, Business Efficiencies, Content Personalization, and Delivery of Relevant Advertising. The Company may rely on our legitimate interests as an advertising-funded organization to share your information with our affiliates to perform analytics and analysis of how you interact with the Site, develop relevant products and services, deliver more relevant advertising and show you relevant affiliate content. To opt-out of sharing your information with such affiliates, please email privacy@hdmediallc.com. Please bear in mind that opting-out will relate to any future sharing and not to information already shared. Disclosure to Our Processors. We may pass your information to our processors companies that we use to provide services on our behalf, for example for home delivery services, prize fulfillment agencies, market research or other purposes mentioned in this Privacy Policy. These processors can only use your information in accordance with our instructions and for no other purpose. D. OUR LEGAL BASES FOR USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA Legal Bases There are a number of legal grounds that enable us to collect and use your personal data. Below are the most relevant: i. With Your Consent (Consent) There are some activities where we process personal data with your consent, such as asking permission to send you marketing materials by email. You can opt-out or withdraw consent at any time. However, if you opt-out or withdraw consent, we may not be able to provide the product or service you have requested. ii. To Fulfill a Contract (Contract) We may process your personal data in order to fulfill a contract we have with you. For example, we would use your information to provide you with access to your digital subscription or other products you have signed up for or to provide information regarding contests you have entered (such as to notify you if you win a prize to which you are entitled). iii. For a legitimate interest (Legitimate Interest) We may use your information where there is a legitimate reason to do so and only if it is fair and lawful. When we rely on legitimate interests as the basis for collecting your information, we will balance our legitimate interests versus your privacy rights. Our legitimate interests include: Support for a free press, including journalist activities of societal importance; Support for the right to receive information; Development, delivery, and maintenance of relevant and engaging products, services, and advertising; Understanding how and when our audience engages and interacts with us and other organizations; Improvement of our ability to serve our audience; Conducting commercial business; and Compliance with industry standards. iv. To Comply with Legal Obligations (Legal Obligation) Under certain circumstances, we may process your personal data to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations or to prosecute or defend claims. Purpose of Processing The specific legal basis for our use will depend on the purpose the information is used for. Please note that we may rely on more than one legal basis for our use. Purpose of Processing Legal Basis Provide products and services that are relevant to you, improve your experience, and manage our relationship with you Consent, Contract, Legitimate Interest, Legal Obligation Personalize content and offers Consent, Contract, Legitimate Interest Send you direct marketing Consent, Legitimate Interest Send you product-related and similar product and services communications Consent, Contract, Legitimate Interest Conduct market research and perform analytics Consent, Legitimate Interest Gain audience insights Consent, Legitimate Interest Detect ad blockers Contract, Legitimate Interest, Legal Obligation Allow third-party advertising Consent, Contract, Legitimate Interest Provide co-branded services and features Consent, Contract, Legitimate Interest Disclose information as permitted or required by law Consent, Contract, Legal Obligation Ensure services are being used appropriately Legitimate Interest, Legal Obligation Sale of our business Legitimate Interest, Legal Obligation Sale or license to third parties for direct marketing Consent, Legitimate Interest Process payments, check your identity Consent, Contract, Legitimate Interest, Legal Obligation Disclosure to processors Consent, Contract, Legitimate Interest, Legal Obligation Share between our affiliates for analytics, analysis, audience insights, business efficiencies, content personalization, and delivery of relevant advertising Consent, Legitimate Interest Ensure our products and services conform with industry standards Legitimate Interest E. ACCESS AND CONTROL YOUR INFORMATION Updating Your Information. Please ensure your personal information is current or tell us of any changes or inaccuracies. You may update this information in your account settings or email us at privacy@hdmediallc.com. Please note that we may seek confirmation of your identity before making any changes to your account. Managing Your Accounts with the Site. You may have several accounts for Services available through this Site. To access or modify your subscription account with the Site, log in at https://www.wvgazettemail.com/account and follow the instructions to change your account settings. For other accounts, such as a newsletter account or classifieds advertisement account, you can manage your account through the account management methodology prescribed by the vendor for that Service or contact us at privacy@hdmediallc.com. Opting Out / Withdrawing Consent for Processing. Under circumstances where we may rely on your consent to process personal data, you may withdraw your consent at any time. You may do this by changing your account settings as described above or by sending the details of your request to privacy@hdmediallc.com (please note that we may seek confirmation of your identity before making any changes to your account). In some instances we may still have an alternative legal basis to continue to process that personal data as set forth in the Purpose of Processing section of this Privacy Policy. If you do withdraw consent, we may not be able to provide the product or service you have requested. Email Promotions. For email promotions, in addition to changing your account settings, you may opt out of receiving commercial email messages from us by following the instructions contained in those email messages. Targeted Advertising. Please see the Cookies and Online Tracking section of this Privacy Policy for information about how to disable cookies and other choices that may be available to you with respect to certain types of targeted advertising. Retention of Personal Data. We will retain your personal data for as long as necessary for the uses set forth in this Privacy Policy, or while there is a legitimate reason for doing so. If you ask us to delete your information before that time, we may not be able to do so due to technical, legal, regulatory or contractual constraints. For example, we would need to retain your name and contact details for suppression purposes if you do not want to receive direct marketing from us. If you ask for your account to be closed, we will do this as soon as is reasonably possible subject to any applicable terms and conditions relating to the account. Some personal data from closed accounts is retained in order to comply with legal obligations, prevent fraud, collect any fees owed and to resolve disputes. Confirmation of Your Identity. Please note that we may seek confirmation of your identity before releasing any personal data to you or making changes to your account. F. EMBEDDED CONTENT AND LINKS TO THIRD-PARTY SITES AND SERVICES Our Services may embed content from, or link to, third-party websites and services, including social media platforms, that are outside of our control. We are not responsible for the security or privacy of any information collected by other websites or other services. This Privacy Policy does not govern these third partys content or services, and we encourage you to review the privacy statements applicable to the third-party websites and services you use. G. OUR COMMITMENT TO SECURITY We have put in place physical, electronic, and managerial procedures that we believe are appropriate to safeguard and help prevent unauthorized access, maintain data security, and correctly use the information we collect online. Please note that we cannot guarantee the security of our databases, Site or Services; nor can we guarantee that information will not be intercepted while being transmitted over the Internet. In order to use some of the features of the Services, you may be required to create an account with us. For your protection, this account will only be accessible by means of a password or similar security measure. If you believe that your password or email address has been compromised, you should change your account with us immediately. If you forget your password for your subscription account with this Site, follow the instructions on the login page at https://www.wvgazettemail.com/users/admin/. H. CHILDREN Collection of Information. The Company does not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 13 through the Services unless such collection is done in accordance with the law. If you are a child under the age of 13 that intends to submit information to the Company through the Services, you must obtain your parents consent prior to making such a submission. In the event that the Company obtains actual knowledge that you are a child under the age of 13, the Company may require that you (and/or your parent) prove to us your prior parental consent. Even if you are 13 or over, we recommend that all children under the age of 18 obtain parental consent prior to the submission or purchase of anything through the Services. To obtain a parental consent form, please contact privacy@hdmediallc.com. Parental Options and Review. Parents of children under the age of 13 have the option to agree to the collection and use of their childs personal data without consenting to the disclosure of the information to third parties (subject to the Companys protection of itself and others, disclosures for legal reasons, and the Companys current technological capabilities). In addition, parents can review the personal data provided by their child under the age of 13, ask to have it deleted and refuse to allow any further collection or use of the childs information (subject to the same items as above). In order to make these requests, parents should email a detailed request to privacy@hdmediallc.com or follow the procedures set forth in the Opting Out / Withdrawing Consent for Processing section of this Privacy Policy. Please note that, while the Services will not require more information from children under 13 than is reasonably necessary to participate in any activity or event, deletion of required information (such as information that would permit the Company to contact the winner of a contest) may result in termination of the childs participation in an event or activity. Parents should also note that the official rules for contests and promotions on the Services may contain additional information related to their childrens privacy and the parents rights and responsibilities. I. GDPR COMPLIANCE Company Does Not Target EU Users. Company does not presently have an office in Europe, accept sales in the currency of an EU country, market in the language of an EU country (other than English, the language of Companys country), provide translation in the language of an EU country, or have a domain suffix for an EU country. Nor does Company actively offer shipping services to an EU country, engage in monitoring the behavior of EU residents, or otherwise actively target customers or consumers in the European Union. Nevertheless, Company has incorporated certain provisions into this Privacy Policy in an effort to comply with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Additional Rights of Users in the EU. If you are an individual in the European Union, you may request a copy of your personal data from the Company and you may have the right to not be profiled. You can also ask us to correct any inaccuracies in your personal data. In some circumstances you may be able to ask us to transfer information you have provided to us to another organization. Similarly, you may be able to transfer your information from another organization to us, but you should check with us first to confirm this is possible. You may also have the right to object, erase, or restrict our processing of your information for example, where we process personal data because this is in our legitimate interests, you may object to this. We will need to carefully consider your request, as there may be circumstances which require us, or allow us, to continue processing your data. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@hdmediallc.com. These rights may be restricted by law, for example we may not be able to provide a copy of your data where the data we hold is also the data of a third party and it is not reasonable to disclose this information. Please note that we may seek confirmation of your identity before releasing any personal data to you or making changes to your account. J. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS California residents are entitled once a year, free of charge, to request and obtain certain information regarding our disclosure, if any, of certain categories of personal data to third parties for their direct marketing purposes in the preceding calendar year. California residents who are registered users of the Services and are under the age of 18 are entitled, in accordance with California law, to request and obtain removal of content and information that they themselves post on the Services. You may request such removal by emailing us at privacy@hdmediallc.com. In your request, please provide a description of the material that you want removed and information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material, and include your name, email address and/or Site user name, year of birth, mailing address (including city, state, and zip code), and the subject line California Removal Request so that we can process your request. Please note that your request does not ensure complete or comprehensive removal of the material. For example, some information that you have posted may be republished or reposted by another user or third party or may be retained for legal reasons. K. COOKIES AND ONLINE TRACKING This section covers our use of cookies and similar technologies, such as web beacons, Local Shared Objects (Flash cookies) and HTML 5 Local Storage. We and third parties that provide content, advertising, or functionality to our Services, or that measure and analyze ad performance on our Services, may use cookies, web beacons, mobile ad identifiers, and similar technologies to facilitate administration and navigation on the Site, to better understand and improve our Services, to determine and/or improve the advertising shown to you on the Site or elsewhere, and to provide you with a customized online experience. Cookies. Cookies are small files that are placed on your computer when you visit a website. Cookies may be used to store a unique identification number tied to your computer or device so that you can be recognized as the same user across one or more browsing sessions, and across one or more sites. Cookies serve many useful purposes. For example: Cookies can remember your sign-in credentials so you do not have to enter those credentials each time you visit a Service. Cookies can help us and third parties understand which parts of our Services are the most popular because they help us see which pages and features visitors access and how much time they spend on the pages. By studying this kind of information, we are better able to adapt our Services and provide you with a better experience. Cookies help us and third parties understand which ads you have seen so that you dont receive the same ad each time you access a Service. Most browsers accept cookies automatically, but can be configured not to do so or to notify the user when a cookie is being sent. If you wish to disable cookies, refer to your browser help menu to learn how to disable cookies. If you disable browser cookies or flash cookies, it may interfere with the proper functioning of the Services. Beacons. We, along with third parties, also may use technologies called beacons (or pixels) that communicate information from your device to a server. Beacons can be embedded in online content, videos, and emails, and can allow a server to read certain types of information from your device, know when you have viewed particular content or a particular email message, determine the time and date on which you viewed the beacon, and the IP address of your device. We and third parties use beacons for a variety of purposes, including to analyze the use of our Services and (in conjunction with cookies) to provide content and ads that are more relevant to you. Local Storage and Other Tracking Technologies. We, along with third parties, may use other kinds of technologies, such as Local Shared Objects (also referred to as Flash cookies) and HTML5 local storage, in connection with our Services. We also may use unique identifiers associated with your device, such as mobile ad identifiers. These technologies are similar to the cookies discussed above in that they are stored on your device and can be used to store certain information about your activities and preferences. However, these technologies may make use of different parts of your device from standard cookies, and so you might not be able to control them using standard browser tools and settings. For HTML5 local storage, the method for disabling HTML5 will vary depending on your browser. For Flash cookies, information about disabling or deleting information contained in Flash cookies can be found at https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/disable-local-shared-objects-flash.html. How to Disable Tracking Technologies. If you wish to disable cookies and other tracking technologies, please refer to your browsers help menu to learn how to disable them. Information about how to disable Flash cookies is set forth above. Some web browsers may transmit do-not-track signals to the websites with which the user communicates. The Services currently do not take action in response to these signals. Please note that disabling cookies and other tracking technologies may interfere with the proper functioning of the Services. L. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY This Privacy Policy may be changed from time to time, so we encourage you to check back with every visit to the Services. If you do not agree to one or more of the changes, you may choose to opt out, using the Opting Out procedures set forth in this Privacy Policy. Once the change has been made, all information collected by the Services after the change will be subject to the new terms of the Privacy Policy. In addition, if you affirm your agreement to this Privacy Policy, such as by clicking I agree when asked if you agree to be subject to this Privacy Policy or the legal terms of the Services, then all information collected prior to the change will also be subject to the new terms. The current version of this Privacy Policy is effective August 1, 2019. M. CONTACT US For privacy concerns, you may contact our Privacy Operator / Data Protection Officer as follows: By email: privacy@hdmediallc.com By postal mail: Website Privacy Issues c/o Jim Heady HD Media Company, LLC 946 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 Company may have several operators collecting or maintaining personal information. The operator listed above, or his/her successor, is responsible for responding to privacy inquiries. Third parties accessible through the Services may have their own such operators. MEXICO CITY, May 25, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of Seguros El Roble, S.A. (El Roble) (Guatemala). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect El Robles balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The stable outlooks reflect AM Bests expectation that El Roble will continue to perform in a profitable manner while it continues to strengthen its capital base. In addition, the stable outlooks recognize the companys strategy to prioritize profitability over market share in a competitive marketplace. El Roble, which was established in 1972, is the largest insurer in Guatemala, with a market share of 22.4%. Its portfolio is composed mainly of non-life products (83%), as of December 2022, with the remainder (17%) tailored for the life insurance market. On a net basis, the accidents and health line of business represents 46% of the companys premium portfolio, with 29% in property/casualty lines and the remaining 25% in life insurance business. Bicapital Corporation, a Panama-based private financial group that has financial services operations, including banking, insurance, and asset management, in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the Bahamas, Panama and the United States, owns El Roble. El Roble ranks No. 1 in accidents and health and auto in Guatemala. AM Best views the companys business profile as neutral, based on El Robles market leadership and its capacity to adjust the terms of its offerings through 2021, while aiming at higher diversification in lines and distribution channels in 2022 and 2023. In addition, El Robles market-leading position has allowed it to outperform market growth rates continuously for the past 10 years while sustaining diversification in products and distribution channels. AM Bests stable market segment outlook on Guatemalas insurance industry recognizes the good growth prospects for the countrys economy given its macroeconomic stability; as of December 2022, Guatemalas USD 1.3 billion insurance market ranked as the third largest in Central America. El Robles balance sheet strength is assessed at the strongest level, as the availability and quality of its capital are well-positioned for the companys risk profile. In 2022, risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), remained stable as the company continued to post positive net results and making dividend payments. Historically, El Robles reinsurance program and ERM capabilities have been effective in protecting its balance sheet. AM Best assesses El Robles operating performance as strong due to its capacity to maintain constant growth in its net income backed by solid underwriting. Strategic adjustments have allowed El Roble to navigate different cycles of the market. AM Best acknowledges that 2023 will be a challenging year with regard to competition, but the company has full capacity to undertake these challenges. Positive rating actions could take place if El Robles balance sheet strength continues to benefit from the consistency in its risk-adjusted capital derived from the companys prudent capital management. Negative rating actions could take place if El Robles operating performance renders negative results, either from deterioration in underwriting quality or market conditions. Negative rating actions also could take place if AM Bests assessment of El Robles balance sheet strength is impacted unfavorably by macroeconomic conditions that affect the company, its parent or Guatemala. 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 specializing 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230525005747/en/ Contacts Eli Sanchez Director, Analytics +52 55 1102 2720, ext. 122 eli.sanchez@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Alfonso Novelo Senior Director, Analytics +52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107 alfonso.novelo@ambest.com Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098 al.slavin@ambest.com Ameriwest Lithium Inc. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ameriwest Lithium Inc. (Ameriwest or the Company) (CSE: AWLI) (OTC: AWLIF) (FSE: 5HV0), a North American lithium exploration and development company, is pleased to provide various updates respecting the Company to its stakeholders. Corporate Update Ameriwest CEO, Mr. David Watkinson, stated Ameriwest transformed into a lithium exploration and development company in 2021. The Company subsequently spun out its non-lithium assets into ISM Resources Corp. in 2022. The Companys focus in 2021 and 2022 was lithium property acquisition, and the Company staked or acquired three lithium brine and one lithium clay properties in Nevada and Arizona and perfected the core land packages associated with each property. The Company became one of the largest lithium mineral claim owners in Nevada, with approximately 50,000 acres of claims under its control. The Company completed initial exploration on these properties which included surface sampling and/or geophysics and now, in 2023, we are transitioning into the drilling phase of the properties. The Companys goal is to drill one or more of these properties in 2023, starting with its Thompson Valley Property in Arizona. The Company has had various discussions with third parties with the view of entertaining possible opportunities to option or joint venture exploration on some of Companys lithium projects while adding value through partnerships. During the past months the Company has been busy executing its plans on a number of fronts in preparation of its 2023 exploration season. These include the completion of a financing, updating or preparing new technical reports on several projects, formulating exploration plans for 2023 and completing a number of corporate changes. Financing Update On May 1st, 2023, the Company announced the closing of a non-brokered private placement for total aggregate gross proceeds of $2,500,000 and the issuance of 12,500,000 units of the Company (each, a Unit), at a subscription price of $0.20 per Unit, consequent thereon (the Private Placement). Each Unit was comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a Share) and one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share of the Company (each, a Warrant Share), at an exercise price of $0.25 per Warrant Share, until May 1, 2025. Funds from the Private Placement are being utilized for the Companys general corporate and working capital purposes during the next 12 months. CFO Appointment The Company is also pleased to announce the recent appointment of Robert Hill as the Companys Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hill is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with approximately 25 years of experience, and is a former Vice President, Finance and Business Development, for Haywood Securities. He has experience in accounting, finance, and senior leadership as a seasoned manager of several private and publicly traded companies. Mr. Hill has a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Hill is replacing Graeme Wright as the Companys CFO who is retiring due to health reasons. Ameriwest would like to thank Mr. Wright for his work over the last several years and his assistance in helping the Company transition into a lithium exploration and development company. In conjunction with his appointment, the Company has now entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Hills services company, and in addition, Mr. Hill has now been awarded a fully vested stock option by the Company (the Stock Option) to acquire up to 250,000 Shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.26 per Share and for an exercise period of five years from the date of grant. Marketing and Advertising Update The Company is further pleased to announce that it has recently entered into an Amended and Restated Marketing Agreement (the Marketing Agreement) with I2I Marketing Group, LLC (I2I), a Florida based company, for the purpose of providing various marketing services to the Company. Under the terms of the Marketing Agreement, I2Is services to the Company will include then creation and distribution of marketing of certain business content for the Company to enhance the Companys exposure. In consideration for providing tis services, the Company will pay a fee to I2I totalling US $210,000 for a period of two months after which the Company may extend the term on a month-to-month basis. The Company will not issue any stock-based compensation to I2I in consideration for the marketing services being provided the Company under the Marketing Agreement. Property/Project Updates Thompson Valley Property, AZ, Update On May 19th, 2023, Ameriwest announced it had completed a Technical Report (the Report) on its 6,900-acre Thompson Valley Property located in west-central Arizona. The Report, prepared under the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 and standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum, summarizes geological test work completed by the Company in 2022 including geologic mapping, surface sampling and geophysics. It identifies six lithium exploration targets with potential to host 200-400 million tonnes (220-440 million tons) of clay deposits, with expected average grade of these deposits ranging from 114 to 842 ppm Li. It recommends the Company proceed with two phases of exploration as the next steps for this property. Phase 1 would consist of additional geophysics and permitting. Phase 2 would consist of drilling and sample analysis to begin the process of defining the deposit and its potential tonnage and grade. No mineral resources or reserves have yet been delineated on the Property. Ameriwest has commenced Phase 1 of the exploration at Thompson Valley. The first step will be to complete permitting of a drill program, with drilling to commence after permits are obtained. Permitting activities will include establishing and marking the boundaries of drill trails and drill sites; obtaining one or more rights of way (ROW) to access the property; legal surveys of the ROWs, roads and drill sites; archaeological and native plant surveys of potentially impacted areas; and completion and approval of a Geological Field Operations Plan (GFOP) with the State of Arizona. This work is expected to take several months to complete. Edwards Creek Valley Property, NV, Update The 22,200 Edward Creek Valley property is located approximately two hours east of Teslas Gigafactory in Nevada. Ameriwest has identified lithium brine and clay exploration targets through geophysics and has secured the majority of the valley through claim staking. On January 31, 2023, Ameriwest announced it had completed a mineral property option agreement with Nova Lithium Corp. (Nova). Nova is required to incur qualifying work expenditure of at least $500,000 on the property over a period of 24 months, including not less than $200,000 during the first 12 months to earn a 51% interest in the property. Upon exercise of the option, a joint venture will form for further exploration and development. Nova is also responsible for claim renewals. Railroad Valley Property, NV, Update Ameriwests Railroad Valley Property is 15,300 acres in size and covers a large gravity low. Work to date on the property includes a gravity survey, magnetotelluric surveys and a seismic data purchase of 94.59 line-miles. Historical drill data from oil and gas exploration was gathered, including wirelines logs, core descriptions, and drill stem tests. A large lithium brine exploration target has been identified. Castillo Geophysical Ltd. (Castillo) was commissioned in late 2022 to do a comprehensive geophysical data processing and interpretation of the available exploration data on the property. Castillos work has recommended four potential drill locations for a discovery drill hole to prove the presence of lithium. Ameriwest is assessing the next steps for the property. Little Smoky Valley Property, NV, Update The Little Smoky Valley property is a 5,800-acre early-stage lithium clay property that was staked by Ameriwest. It surrounds POWR Lithium Corp.s (POWR) ELi Property. As announced in a June 7, 2022, press release, Ameriwests claims cover a sequence of volcanic sedimentary rocks of lower Miocene to Oligocene age including tuffs, mudstones, claystones and siltstones that management believes has the potential to host lithium mineralization. A recent NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled The ELi Sediment-Hosted Lithium Deposit, Eureka and Nye Counties, Nevada: Technical Report was prepared by Robert J. Johansing, BSc Geology, MSc Economic Geology, QP MMSA, effective date January 4, 2022, and is available under POWRs corporate filings at www.sedar.com. That Technical Report summarizes soil sampling results from 133 soil samples on the ELi Property, consisting of 26 mineral claims, with results ranging from 44.5 to 801.7 ppm lithium. Ameriwests geologists have not verified the results reported by POWR but believe the surrounding area, where Ameriwest staked or acquired its 282 claims, has potential for lithium mineralization, subject to exploration success. Ameriwest initially plans to conduct surface soil and rock chip sampling on the property to confirm the presence of lithium. If successful, the Company will conduct further exploration activities such as geophysics and drilling. Work is subject to financing. DME Property, NV Update On March 2, 2023, Ameriwest filed an updated Technical Report on its 7,400-acre Deer Musk East Lithium Property located in Clayton Valley, NV. The Report, prepared under the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 and standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum, summarizes geological test work completed by the Company since the last Technical Report on the Property, dated August 23, 2021, up until June 4, 2022. Work completed includes geologic mapping, surface soil and rock chip sampling and geophysics (gravity, transient electromagnetic, magnetotelluric (MT) and seismic geophysical surveys). It identifies a structural basin on the eastern side of Clayton Valley with a low resistivity potential lithium brine target zone between 300 m 350 m (1,000 ft to 1,400 ft) depth that is open to the south. It recommends the Company proceed with two phases of exploration as the next steps for the property. Phase 1 would consist of additional MT geophysics to the south to define the target to the southern boundary of the property. Phase 2 would consist of drill program design and permitting. A majority of Ameriwests unpatented placer mining claims (an estimated 292 of 371 claims partially or fully overlapping) are located on federal public lands on which another party, Authium LLC, previously recorded certificates of location for unpatented lode mining claims. Ameriwest believes that any brine and sedimentary lithium clay deposits on Ameriwests mining claims are properly located as placer mining claims under US federal law. Ameriwest believes that Authiums claims are improperly staked as lode claims and therefore invalid. Both companies have filed lawsuits against the other which will require the courts to determine the validity of their respective claims, should a settlement not be reached prior to appearing before the courts (see press release dated January 7, 2022, and the Report for additional details). Ameriwest believes the report substantiates its belief the property hosts a brine deposit which, by federal law, must be staked with placer mining claims. Qualified Person Statement David Watkinson, P.Eng., a non-independent qualified person under the NI 43-101 Instrument, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Mr. Watkinson is President and CEO of Ameriwest. About Ameriwest Lithium Inc. Ameriwest Lithium Inc. is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on identifying strategic lithium mineral projects for exploration and resource development. The Company is currently exploring its 6,900-acre Thompson Valley property in Arizona. In addition, it is one of the largest lithium land holders in Nevada exploring its 15,300-acre Railroad Valley property, 22,200-acre Edwards Creek Valley property, 5,800-acre Little Smoky Valley property and 7,600-acre Deer Musk East property. These include three lithium brine properties and two lithium clay properties. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Glenn Collick Chief Operating Officer and director For further information, please contact: Glenn Collick Chief Operating Officer and director (778) 868-2226 The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the matters referenced herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forwardlooking information. Forwardlooking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, plan, estimate, expect, may, will, intend, should, and similar expressions. Forwardlooking 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 forwardlooking information. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forwardlooking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Companys strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forwardlooking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forwardlooking information contained in this news release represents the Companys expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. The AI revolution is in full swing, with OpenAIs ChatGPT app dazzling the crowd. But amidst the cheers and applause, a familiar tech giant quietly rakes in the profits. While Apple may not stand at the forefront of generative AI, it still has a way to take a sizeable bite of the AI pie. OpenAI's venture shifted into high gear with the unveiling of an iPhone app for ChatGPT, which swiftly catapulted to the top of the App Store charts. Within days, the app claimed the title of number one in the free apps category, an accomplishment further highlighted by Apples endorsement as a must-have app under its Essentials category. Enter Apples infamous 30% cut, known among tech insiders as the Apple Tax, on all new subscriptions made through iOS. The fee has drawn a fair share of criticism, especially from crypto users for whom in-app NFT purchases would become an expensive affair. Still, OpenAI chose to abide by Apples terms, opting for its native in-app purchasing system instead of setting up a separate subscription website. This means that for every ChatGPT Plus subscription, Apple takes $6 of the $20 paid monthly by iOS users. Apple's 30% Tax Mandate on iOS Is Illegal, Judge AffirmsAnd That Could Be Good for Crypto, NFTs Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, has voiced his commitment to integrating AI into Apple's products. Yet this does not mean a shift away from the pursuit of profit. Even as data privacy concerns bubble under the surface, ChatGPT remains available on the App Store, significantly bolstering Apples service revenue, which reached a record $20.8 billion in the most recent quarter. Apple's 30% fee, however, has landed the company in hot water. The U.S. federal appeals court ruled that Apple breached Californias Unfair Competition Law by forbidding alternative payment methods. Despite this, OpenAI appears to be sticking with Apple's built-in payment processor, likely favoring its seamless user experience. As reported by Decrypt, Apple recently emerged victorious in an antitrust case filed by Epic Games, but it's now on the verge of permitting third-party app stores in the European Union due to new legislation aimed at leveling the field for developers. As this narrative unfolds, it underscores the intricate dance between AI pioneers, big tech, and regulators. For now, Apple seems to have the upper hand, leveraging the innovative work of others to line its own pockets, even while being tangled in controversies. One thing's for sure: the AI revolution is just getting started, and so is the scramble to capitalize on it. Explore Kentucky's most enticing waterfalls, including the Niagara Falls of the South. Kentucky Tourism There are few things more relaxing than a waterfall. Whether it's just a trickle or a towering cascade, their misty air and soothing sounds offer some of Kentucky's greatest escapes. Some of the state's falls are hidden away, reachable only by hiking trails. But others put it out there for all to see, as brash and bold as you please, like the roaring falls in southeastern Kentucky nicknamed the Niagara of the South. From falls popular among hikers and photographers to lesser known wonders, some of the South's best waterfalls await in the forests and state parks of Kentucky. Creation Falls Kentucky Tourism The famed Red River Gorge is one of Kentuckys most spectacular adventure areas. At Creation Falls near Campton in Wolfe County, outdoor enthusiasts can bask in the shade by clear water and a sandstone beach. The fairly easy 1.5-mile hike makes Creation Falls appealing for families. (Bring bathing suits!) Flat Lick Falls Patrick Jennings/KY Theres something magical about this nearly 30-foot fall located in the Flat Lick Falls Recreational Scenic Area of Daniel Boone National Forest. Maybe its the lush foliage, surrounding caves, and woodland settingor perhaps its the accessibility. A half-mile, walkable loop allows hikers of all skill levels to enjoy the view. Theres even a paved trail to an overlook that includes a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform. Cumberland Falls Kentucky Tourism The Big One. The Niagara of the South. The Great Falls. Call it what you will, but this 125-foot wide cascade plunging over a cliff in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is nothing short of spectacular. The fall is known as the home to the western hemispheres only consistent moonbow, a phenomenon caused when the light from the moon is refracted through water droplets in the air. It's so faint that it's also called a white rainbow. Day or night, the thundering falls and surrounding scenery offer dramatic views. Story continues Eagle Falls Kentucky Tourism At a little more than one third the height of Cumberland Falls, Eagle Falls is also located in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. What it lacks in stature it makes up for in a grand setting: It's located in a gorge with boulders tumbled about, overhanging rocks, and resplendent views of Cumberland Falls. Hike Trail #9 to reach the falls, although it can be challenging with a formidable number of stairs. Honeymoon Falls Kentucky Tourism Located on the 1.35-mile Honeymoon Falls Loop Trail in Kentuckys first state park is Honeymoon Falls. The waterfall is the largest in Pine Mountain State Resort Park. In an area known for commanding views, Honeymoon Falls is a standout. The 25-foot tall fall surrounded by dense pockets of rhododendron and old-growth forest. Princess Falls Kentucky Tourism Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on the boarder of Kentucky and Tennessee is known for its gorges and sandstone bluffs, rivers and streamsand waterfalls. Princess Falls, a curtain of water splashing into Lick Creek, is found along the Sheltowee Trace Trail, an easy, 1.3 mile walk from the Yamacraw Day Use Parking Area off Hwy. 92. Quadrule Falls Kentucky Tourism Hidden within Martins Fork Wildlife Management Area and State Natural Area in Harlan and adjacent to Cumberland Gap National Park, Quadrule Falls splashes 16 feet into the headwaters of Martins Fork below. The four-mile trail to get to the falls is upstream, so it takes some commitment, but its well worth the hike. Dog Slaughter Falls Kentucky Tourism In spite of its graphic name, Dog Slaughter Falls near London in Daniel Boone National Forest has an Instagrammable setting in a sheltered cove framed by enormous, moss-softened boulders. Against a hemlock thicket backdrop, the falls whoosh 15 feet down into the clear waters at the confluence of Dog Slaughter Creek and Cumberland River. Seventy Six Falls Clinton County Tourism/Albany-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce Clinton County is the home of Seventy Six Falls, a sight to behold as it plunges nearly 90 feet into Lake Cumberland. Sheltered in a cove along Indian Creek, it is especially scenic from the lakes shoreline, which is located down a narrow trail from the picnic area. No wonder boaters, houseboaters, swimmers, and paddlers seek it out for lazing blue-sky days away. Fulling Mill Falls Kentucky Tourism In the Nature Preserve at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Fulling Mills Falls offers a relaxation spot (and photo op) like no other. The waterfall splashes and slides down one step to the next, with its lush greenery and moss-shrouded boulders. The falls originally provided water power to operate the machinery of the stone fulling mill at Pleasant Hill built in 1822. Find it on the 6-mile Shawnee Run Trail loop, 20 minutes from the West Trailhead. Cove Springs Waterfalls Kentucky Tourism Within Frankforts Cove Spring Park & Nature Preserve, you can enjoy waterfalls mere miles from the state capitol. Set among forested ravines, wetlands, wildflowers, springs, and streams, the park offers multiple waterfalls. This 240-acre pocket of paradise has picnic facilities, Childrens Memorial, archery range, and walking trails, including the paved Sky Trail overlooking the city and a longer Wetlands Trail for wildlife viewing. Yahoo Falls Kentucky Tourism At Kentuckys tallest waterfall, hikers can walk right up to the base and even slip behind the falls as it splashes 113 feet into the pool below. Yahoo Falls sits in the heart of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Whitley City. It's accessible by a scenic one-mile hike with some steep metal stairs. A seasonal waterfall, it can reduce to a trickle in the summer and shows its best self after a good rain. Tioga Falls Radcliff/Fort Knox Convention & Tourism Commission This scenic cascade drops 130 feet down the steep, sloping face of Muldraugh Hill. Located north of Fort Knox, it lies in an area used for military training (and is subsequently sometimes closed to hikers), making it one of Hardin Countys true hidden treasures. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. A suspect shot and killed two people in Rhode Island before fleeing the scene and being fatally shot by police Wednesday, authorities said. One victim was found in the suspects home and another was found in a neighbors home at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said. They said a domestic and neighborhood dispute sparked the killings, but didnt release the victims names. The shooting took place in Johnston, a town of about 30,000 located 11 miles west of Providence, Rhode Island. After police responded to the initial shooting in a residential area, multiple police departments were involved in a car chase following an SUV toward a nearby highway, authorities said. Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist told reporters James Harrison of Johnston fled in a vehicle and was spotted about 9:30 a.m. by Cranston police. Harrison was shot and killed by police after a car chase in an interaction that involved dozens of gunshots, according to authorities. During the car chase, Harrison drove the wrong way on a major road, swerved at several police vehicles, and struck one, said Winquist. Harrison then jumped the median and struck a rock, disabling his vehicle. 'JUST SO SCARY': As mass shootings increase, House GOP wants to repeal bipartisan gun laws The man emerged from the vehicle brandishing a handgun at police and shots were fired, officials said. No officers were hurt. Rhode Island State Police Col. Darnell Weaver confirmed that the suspect was shot by police and died at the scene.The state attorney generals office is investigating law enforcements use of deadly force, which is standard protocol, an office spokesperson said. According to The Johnston Sunrise, witnesses reported hearing "more than 50 gunshots" after police shot and apprehended the suspect along Plainfield Pike. Russell Thompson, a superintendent at a nearby construction site, said he had been in a trailer that's about 800 to 1000 feet from the overpass where the interaction between police and Harrison took place. Story continues "I heard the shots," said Thompson, 59, estimating that he heard more than 30 shots. Johnston Mayor Joe Polisena told town residents Wednesday morning that the threat to public safety was over after the shooter was "apprehended." "The danger to the public is over," the mayor said on Twitter. Contributing: Mark Reynolds, The Providence Journal; Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Johnston, Rhode Island, shooting: 2 dead; suspect fatally shot 90 Day Fiance stars Nicole Sherbiny and Mahmoud El Sherbiny have reunited in Los Angeles, California, casting new speculation about the status of their relationship. In the video captured by X17 Online on Tuesday, May 23, the Idaho native, 38, is seen running with a poster in hand, as she threw her arms around an arriving Mahmoud, 30 equipped with a backpack and large suitcase at Los Angeles International Airport. In the background, a film crew could be also spotted, seemingly capturing the moment for a future season of the TLC series. Welcome home Mahmoud, Nicoles sign read. My love. Viewers were first introduced to Nicole and Mahmoud on season 4 of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way in January 2023. The pair met by chance on Nicoles last day traveling in Egypt and were immediately smitten. Following her initial trip, she returned to Egypt less than two weeks later and the pair married twice, once at the Justice Department and once with a full wedding party. 90 Day Fiance Nicole Mahmoud Reunite at Airport 0 However just 11 months into their marriage, Nicole decided she wanted to return to America. Citing culture shock and her husbands strict modesty rules, the couple often fought, and Nicole told the Egypt native she wanted a divorce. After returning home, the Los Angeles resident realized she missed him and decided that she wanted to return to Egypt. During season 4 of the spinoff, the series documented Nicole as she moved back to Egypt only to return to the same issues she previously left. Upon her arrival, she and Mahmoud immediately clashed over her wardrobe, where he deemed her shirt too small. By the time the eighth episode of the 90 Day Fiance spinoff came around, Nicole and Mahmouds relationship was at an all-time low. After a fight regarding a full-body swimsuit, worn on Nicoles part, she claimed that all she tried to do was make her husband happy despite his passive aggressive comments. While the fashion student struggled to adjust to life in Egypt, she asked her husband if he would consider moving to the United States. She tried to live here and could not, the Egypt native told his brother, Ahmed, during the May 7 episode. So this is the only solution left to stay together. Alix Earle, a beauty and lifestyle influencer with 5.3 million followers on TikTok, recently shared a harrowing tale about how she and her group of friends got stranded in Italy. In Earles own words, The girls trip took a turn and it was certainly an unexpected one. According to Earle, they showed up for the vacation they had planned together and discovered the scenic villa they had allegedly booked didnt exist, and their car service canceled. They walked out of the airport without their luggage, and security wouldnt let them back in, stranding her group of 11 at midnight in a completely foreign city. We literally dont know where to go, Earle told the camera. Eleven girls stranded in Positano. She also posted a full video breakdown of the entire saga with more details and explained they eventually found a tiny hotel room to share. If you have to end up stranded with 10 girls, Positano might be exactly where youd like that to happen. According to the citys tourism guide, the cliffside village is the most famous and iconic village on the Amalfi Coast and features romantic winding streets filled with charming boutiques and bakeries, breathtaking views and beaches and beloved historical sights. The commenters on Earles video seemed to feel similarly. While they were sympathetic because everyone knows how stressful traveling can be, especially when things go wrong it certainly makes things better if you are a widely popular influencer stranded in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Good thing youre alix earle, one commenter wrote. This is where your influencer money comes in to save the day, remarked another. Influencer or not, Earles TikTok is also a good reminder to triple-check any vacation housing youre staying in. She said their booked house was literally a scam, and if a mega-influencer can fall victim to a housing scam, its probably safe to say anyone can. Earle confirmed in the comments that they had used Booking.com to book their housing, but she didnt specify how it resolved the situation. Story continues The fact that they messed up with the IT girl of the moment, remarked one commenter. Someone is about to get fired lol. Credit: Alix Earle / TikTok A spokesperson for Booking.com told In The Know that Earle's experience was a "very rare instance of an issue such as this." "We are aware of the unfortunate situation, which is not reflective of our usual guest experience, and are investigating further," the representative said. "This is clearly not a situation we would want for anyone using our platform as our primary aim is to enable smooth and enjoyable travel experiences." Many commenters chimed in with similar experiences of housing scams while traveling. Others shared their tips for avoiding falling prey to scams. For instance, some suggested looking at reviews online outside of the booking site, using Google Earth to confirm the house exists, sticking with a reputable site and, if youre traveling internationally, using a travel agent who can verify everything for you. Another solution? Be an influencer who can attract the attention of Airbnb itself because the very top comment on the TikTok was from the booking site, assuring Earle their people would be calling her. Credit: Alix Earle / TikTok But when all is said and done, part of the excitement of traveling is the unexpected twists and turns that make the best memories. As one commenter put it, Earles saga was great for the plot tho tbh, to which the influencer agreed, replying: Thats what I said. Then, on May 24, Earle posted an update and thanked Airbnb in her caption for saving the day. THIS IS NOT REAL LIFE, she wrote alongside the footage of the groups new lodging. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post Alix Earle and friends allegedly scammed into booking fake villa for girls trip to Italy appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: Nordstrom's Memorial Day sale is on now these are the 10 best deals for under $50 Gen Z has a social media and body dysmorphia problem The 17 best jelly sandals that will heal your inner child this summer I'm moving to a new apartment and already have these 14 affordable home decor finds in my cart Insurers flee climate alliance after ESG backlash in the U.S FILE PHOTO: Climate change thaws world's northernmost research station By Tommy Wilkes, Alexander Hubner and Tom Sims LONDON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) -A United Nations-convened climate alliance for insurers suffered at least three more departures on Thursday including the group's chair, as insurance companies take fright in the face of opposition from U.S. Republican politicians. At least seven members of the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA), which launched in 2021, have now left including five of the eight founding signatories. Departures on Thursday included AXA, whose Group Chief Risk Officer Renaud Guidee had chaired the alliance. The French insurer said in a statement it was leaving to "continue its individual sustainability journey." Germany's Allianz and French reinsurer SCOR also quit. NZIA, part of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero set up by U.N. climate envoy Mark Carney, requires members to commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The group has been buffeted by growing political opposition from some Republicans in the United States, who say the group could be violating antitrust laws by working together to reduce clients' carbon emissions. This month 23 U.S. state attorneys general told NZIA members that the group's targets and requirements appeared to violate both federal and state antitrust laws. They gave insurers a month to respond in a May 15 letter - the latest salvo from the Republicans against financial institutions factoring environmental, social and governance-related (ESG) factors into their decision making. NZIA members held talks on Thursday to discuss the alliance's options, sources familiar with the group said. John Neal, CEO of Lloyd's of London, which is a member, told Reuters on Wednesday the alliance needed to make its membership rules less prescriptive or risk falling apart. An NZIA spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. According to the NZIA website, it still has 23 members including Aviva, Lloyd's and Tokio Marine Holdings. Most of those which have left have sizeable U.S. businesses, but so do some of those still in. Story continues "We must wonder whether their ditching of the alliance has more to do with fears of losing business in the U.S. than real legal jeopardy," said Patrick McCully, senior analyst at campaign group Reclaim Finance. "Real climate leaders need to fight climate denial, not cave in to it. What is crucial now is that insurers do not reverse their existing climate pledges. If they cannot act together, they must act alone." While other financial industry alliances including one for banks have not suffered many departures, the exit of so many of the world's biggest insurers is a blow to U.N.-led efforts to harness the power of coalescing financial institutions to try and drive emissions lower. Legal experts have told Reuters it would be difficult to make a legal case using antitrust rules against a company collaborating on tackling climate change through an alliance. The political backlash in parts of the United States had made insurers particularly sensitive to such accusations, they say. Insurers which have left the NZIA, including Swiss Re, Munich Re, Zurich Insurance and Hannover Re, say their exits will not change their individual commitments to addressing climate change. Allianz said in an emailed statement on Thursday it had decided to leave the NZIA, and would stick to its own climate goals. SCOR's new CEO announced its exit at its annual general meeting earlier on Thursday alongside some new climate and energy transition policies. A SCOR spokesman declined to provide any reason for the departure. (Reporting by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes in London and Alexander Huebner and Tom Sims in FrankfurtEditing by Kirsten Donovan, Matthew Lewis and Richard Chang) jenae-shamp-arizona-gop-q-hearing.jpg Arizona State Sen. Janae Shamp at immigration press conference - Credit: Gage Skidmore/ZUMA Arizona Republicans are hosting a two-day, QAnon-inflected, anti-vaccine circus at the statehouse focused on supposed atrocities committed by public health officials in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The hearings, which began this morning, are organized by a new state Senate body, the Novel Coronavirus South Western Intergovernmental Committee. The committees chosen acronym NCSWIC, which has been plastered on posters promoting the hearings offers unusual cross-branding. It shares the abbreviation of an infamous QAnon catchphrase, Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming. More from Rolling Stone QAnon is a dark, catch-all conspiracy theory based around the idea that Democrats are demonic child sex-traffickers who are obedient to a nefarious Deep State that secretly controls the world. In some versions of the conspiracy theory which heavily overlaps with anti-vaxxer beliefs the Deep State has intentionally corrupted our health system to poison and control the populace, either with the pandemic itself, the mRNA vaccines, or both. In QAnon jargon, NCSWIC is a battle cry, referring to the inevitable downfall of the Deep State after MAGA Republicans and brave QAnon sleuths finally succeed in exposing and dismantling its evil ways. The Arizona Senate hearings tout appearances from a murderers row of hard-right federal congressmen, including Reps. Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, and Eli Crane. (The GOP House members did not respond to requests for comment.) The NCSWIC committee will take testimony from a panel of notorious doctors who have touted unproven and discredited treatments for Covid including one doc who preaches that Covid public-health restrictions were, in fact, Satans Wholistic Health Care Plan. Story continues Arizona state Republicans are infamous for putting spectacle above serious governance, including by putting the state through a farcical audit of the 2020 election results that only served to pad Joe Bidens margin of victory in the state. But the NCSWIC hearings mark a new low, turning the state Senate into what resembles a two-day, taxpayer-funded pit stop of the conspiracy-laden Re-Awaken America tour. The NCSWIC hearings will be livestreamed, not just by the government, but by a sponsor of the hearings, The America Project a dark-money activist group founded by Trump-pardoned felon Gen. Michael Flynn and Overstock.com founder Patrick Byrne. Both men are devoted 2020 election deniers, and each is fluent in the language of Deep State conspiracies. (Flynn once filmed a video in which he used the QAnon cry, Where We Go One We Go All!) TAPs national political director Steve Montenegro is also an Arizona state legislator, and will appear at the NCSWIS proceedings. In its billing of the hearings, TAP writes: Covid-19 Handlers To Be Held Accountable! The most detailed agenda of the hearing is posted on TAPs website. The panel titles include: Public Health Incompetence; Death by Protocol; and Medical Extremists: Repression & Oppression. (Neither Montenegro nor TAP responded to requests for comment.) Exactly One Week Away! WATCH LIVE STREAM HERE:https://t.co/z2FQvbNxdh pic.twitter.com/IPXq8Ywcyz The America Project (@TheAmericaProj) May 18, 2023 Other sponsors of the proceedings include Robert F. Kennedys anti-vax nonprofit Childrens Health Defense, and a little-known group calling itself 1,000 Widows, which seeks testimonies from families of Covid victims. Whistleblowers who know the truth about what really happened to our loved ones at the hands of the hospitals carry the greatest responsibility than anyone on earth, says a statement on its website. The hearings are chaired by state Senate president pro tempore T.J. Shope, and fellow Sen. Janae Shamp. In a video previewing the hearings, Shope promised they would expose all the atrocities committed during the pandemic response. Shamp, a former nurse, said she lost her job for refusing to take the jab, insisting that lives and livelihoods were lost for no other reason than horrific government overreach. Shope declined to answer questions about what he meant by atrocities. Shamp also declined to be interviewed, but responded to an Arizona Republic reporter, who called NCSWIC a dog whistle for Q followers, as if she were offended, tweeting: What a goofy accusation! The QAnon conspiracy theory wormed its way from the far-right fever swamps into the heart of the GOP, in large part because it cast Donald Trump as a conquering hero who would slay the Deep State. The conspiracy was originally orchestrated by someone posing as Q a supposed high-level intelligence operative who shared clues and covert signals with avid followers. Those included lawmakers Gosar has spread QAnon clues on Twitter and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who infamously espoused QAnon beliefs before heading to Washington. The conspiracy also has links to Arizona: Ron Watkins, the man widely suspected of posing as Q, ran for the House from the Grand Canyon State, but lost his GOP primary bid. In recent years, QAnon has transcended its origin story, and now lives on as a belief system for nearly anyone who believes that the world is run by nefarious, powerful forces who pose as virtuous, but are actually pure evil, whether they be in government, Big Tech or, specifically, Big Pharma. Kim Quintero, spokesperson for state Senate Republicans, would not answer written questions about the hearing, and suggested Rolling Stones interest revealed a disqualifying bias. Instead of asking: Why the QAnon-cross branding? Quintero wrote as a pro tip to this reporter, You could instead ask, Why is there a conspiracy theory floating around that your committee purposely created QAnon-cross branding? Was this your intent when coming up with the committee name? (Quintero did not actually answer this hypothetical question.) A look at the expert panelists engaged by the committee does not reveal a lineup of overt QAnon proponents. But it shows the NCSWIC committees abiding interest in unproven cures and treatments for Covid, as well as the unhinged belief that public health interventions to curb the pandemic were more harmful than the disease itself, which has killed more than a million Americans. Witness Dr. Pierre Kory, for example, has touted the horse dewormer ivermectin is a covid wonder drug whose efficacy was supposedly covered up by the medical establishment. Similarly, Dr. Richard Urso was a top champion of the malaria med hydroxychloroquine as a covid treatment. Another touted panelist is Dr. Lela Lewis, who bases her objection to Covid vaccines on a message from heaven, and who decries pandemic-era restrictions like mask mandates and bans on large gatherings as serving Satans plan to break Americans relationship with God the ultimate goal being, of course, worshiping the Beast. Appealing directly to the mindset of conspiracy theorists, the NCSWIC hearings promise to reveal hidden truths about the dark reality of the medical establishment, and implore viewers to trust their guts over mainstream scientific evidence. As state Sen. Shope told viewers in his teaser video: Many of our citizens have had an evolution of thought on the pandemic myself included. And that is why I believe its so important for those of you feeling this way to tune in. Youre not alone. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. FUBAR spoilers follow. Arnold Schwarzenegger roars onto screens for his TV debut on Netflix this week in FUBAR, which sees him get in choppers, get out of choppers and say the word "chopper" again and again, in many, many nods to his infamous Predator scene. Schwarzenegger ostensibly stars as CIA veteran Luke Brunner, but in reality plays a version of Arnie sprung from the popular conception of him. Luke is on the verge of retirement when he's pulled back in with the age-old lure of one last job to save another operative, who turns out to be his CIA nepo-baby daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro). Billed as an action-comedy spy series, FUBAR sets up its CIA workplace comedy with gags that hit the humorous heights of a knock-knock joke with the exception of occasional punchlines from Schwarzenegger, which include a Danny DeVito jibe that will drive Twins fans wild. Yet unlike your usual action-comedy fare, the show takes its espionage slightly too seriously, which turns a harmless effort into something queasier when we meet the villains of the piece in the first episode. Netflix Despite telling her dad she had been sourcing fresh water for Colombia, Luke discovers his daughter Emma is in fact deep undercover in Guyana, in the fortified compound of Boro Polania (Gabriel Luna), the son of a paramilitary leader Luke killed 25 years ago on a job questionably named Operation Jungle Book. We're told that despite Luke's investment in Boro receiving a stand-up Western education he has since "dedicated his life to finishing what daddy started" and become a senseless arms dealer with an army of followers. The first episode of FUBAR a military acronym which stands for F**ked Up Beyond All Recognition sees us parachute into Boro's fortress, where Luke and his daughter Emma do enough damage to earn the show its title. Netflix As the two maestro CIA operatives get to another formulaic execution of the genre, the shooting and killing part, this comedy turns decidedly humourless, because their opponents are an undifferentiated mob of Latino men. Story continues We learn Luke has a special ability to slit a man's throat vertically, so it bleeds out faster, which is then practiced on two indeterminate henchmen. Emma and Luke proceed to stab and run over victims in scenes that seem to be going for slapstick and tot up quite a body count, all of whom are dumped in a rice paddy field. These foot soldiers appear to exist only so that FUBAR can hit a perceived punchline or tap into Luke's kill skills. They're intentionally anonymous, bad and dangerous, creating the implication that their often violent murders are justified. When Luke and Emma are rumbled by Boro, their CIA pals Roo (Fortune Feimster) and Aldon (Travis Van Winkle) appear in a chopper another one! and quickly pick off henchmen from the sky with automatic rifles, like kills in a video game. Netflix When the undifferentiated army of Latino jungle fighters are shot down, youre not supposed to feel a twinge of sympathy, because theyre bad guys. Theyre nameless, faceless people the camera doesn't even pay particular attention to. But the imagery becomes inherently questionable given that their good guy killers are a group of white Americans who are often blurting out tired quips as the supposed villains fall to the floor. The casually racist overtones of FUBAR's senseless high body count of non-white men have long beleaguered this genre, but should have long been shaken off by now. It's a similar story for the lynchpin of the operation, Boro, whose motivations beyond some vague fatherly fidelity are never really fleshed out. "I will torture you all! Days of agony! Until I tire of it!" he screams at one point, trying to lend credibility to a campy line. So he just shows up and is bad, as are his followers. Netflix There is certainly no real understanding of why or how Boro came to be where he is from the point Luke last left him, so the machinations behind his current villain status are never developed. Instead, there's a bitter undercurrent in the fact FUBAR doesn't really humanise him, until the final episode showdown, at which point Luke seems to have contracted the show's uninterest toward him and goes nuclear. How to characterise the bad guys has been a long-standing dilemma of action fare on screen, with some exports like Top Gun: Maverick making the enemy purposefully vague to avoid throwing fuel on geopolitical fires or risk a box-office slump in certain countries. However, it is possible to make a show like FUBAR, with a villain and henchmen, but make it much better than this. Bad guys like Gus Fring in Breaking Bad or Homelander in The Boys, who are filled out into believably dark characters, can make a show complicated and interesting. Given that FUBAR is weak on character development across the board, this may have been a bit too much to ask, but it doesnt mean they have to fall back onto formulaic tropes that leave a bad taste in the mouth. FUBAR is available to stream on Netflix. You Might Also Like Bradley fighting vehicle - Staff Sgt. Charles Porter UK defence firm Qinetiq says that surging demand for electric tanks will drive a boost in sales, as armed forces rush to build next-generation fighting vehicles. The appetite for electric drivetrains for the tanks, cyber security products and a range of sophisticated practice targets, used to train military personnel to learn how to shoot down aircraft, will also grow, said Steve Wadey, the companys chief executive. He added that armed forces around the world were spending more to keep their skills sharp in the wake of Russias attack on Ukraine. Qinetiq is working alongside US defence firm Oshkosh and BAE Systems in the UK to provide components for the next generation of electric armoured transports. We're leveraging our electrification technology from the UK into that US programme. We expect that to be a significant contributor going forward, Mr Wadey said. The contractor also expects militaries around the world to buy more of its targets, which mimic warplanes and ships so that troops, sailors, and air crews can hone their skills in taking them down. Steve Wadey - STEWART TURKINGTON You actually present them with these targets as different ways of simulating a real threat. And therefore, government customers are our customers for that, because they need to train, they need to test and be ready operationally, Mr Wadey added. Qinetiq said it remained on the lookout for rivals it can buy to bolster its six main businesses of experimentation and technology, robotics and autonomous systems, engineering services and support, test and evaluation, cyber and information, and training and mission rehearsal. In the UK it has most of these well covered, suggesting it is likely to make more purchases in its other main markets of the US and Australia. A UK defence contractor acquiring foreign competitors would buck a recent trend after many British arms makers have been snapped up, largely by American buyers who have taken advantage of a weak pound. Submarine systems developer Ultra and aircraft parts maker Meggitt have recently been sold to overseas companies. Qinetiq said orders for the financial year increased 41pc to 1.7bn and sales rose 20pc to 1.58bn. Profit after tax rose to 153m from 118m. 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. As Republican senators on Tuesday announce they wont return until June, the Senate floor sits uninhabited. The walkout in Oregon's Senate hit day 15 Tuesday when only two Republicans made an appearance on the floor. As roll call went on in the chamber, Senate Republican leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, released a statement saying the Republican and Independent senators would return the morning of June 25, the last day of the session, to pass "lawful, substantially bipartisan budgets and bills." Knopp went on to accuse Democrat leadership of threatening to "shut down the government if they dont get their way." But a bill the Senate cleared just two days before the walkout began and that the governor signed into law May 16 ensures state agencies will be funded at least through Sept. 15, giving the Legislature some additional time to finalize a budget. For subscribers: Oregon Republicans regularly use walkouts as leverage. Here's what it has accomplished In the statement, Knopp said they guarantee to return before constitutional sine die to address things like homelessness, affordable housing, public safety and education but not to address an "unlawful, uncompromising, and unconstitutional" agenda. The walkout followed the introduction in the Senate of bills that proposed to add gun restrictions, expand abortion protections and address care for transgender individuals. Senate president urges Republicans to return, debate legislation Returning on the final day to pass a budget is a move Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, said last week he would not allow. He recalled a speech given by then-House Speaker Tina Kotek decrying a similar attempt by Senate Republicans in 2020 to return 12 hours before the session deadline. Democrats adjourned before the last day, leaving the Republicans without a quorum and no additional work was done. "The same standard is going to apply here," Wagner said Thursday. On Tuesday in a brief conversation with reporters, Wagner reiterated that he would be consistent in not allowing Republicans to return hours before the set end of session. Story continues "We're here to do the people's work. All the bills should be considered. This is our democracy. People need to show up on the floor," he said. Abortion legislation: What it proposes Wagner urged senators to come to the floor and debate the legislation they object to. "Come tell the voters. Tell your citizens. Tell your constituents," he said. All but three Senate Republicans have now seemingly disqualified themselves from running for another term under Measure 113, racking up more than 10 unexcused absences since the walkout began May 3. Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, has only one unexcused absence while Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, has four. Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, remains excused for medical reasons. It is expected that Republicans will challenge the voter-approved measure in court. Education, other bills could be doomed if walkout doesn't end And with a month left before sine die, dozens of bills could be doomed if Republicans don't return. Kotek has said she would be willing to organize a special session for a budget, but that would mean little for already-introduced legislation that addresses key priorities for Democrats. The House had 123 bills waiting for consideration in the Senate as of Monday, according to the office of the House speaker. "Senate Republicans have made it clear, to them this walkout is about abortion," Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, said in an email to the Statesman. "For Oregonians, this walkout is also about our ability to invest in our kids education, our ability to respond to drought and wildfire, invest in rural infrastructure, and address our housing supply issues, homelessness and behavioral health, and make our communities safer." On Tuesday, Rayfield spoke further about his frustration with the use of "caustic" political maneuvers in the Senate that he said are holding the entire agenda of a Legislature hostage. The walkout is unacceptable, he said, but the House is keeping its head down and continuing work. "Their choice to walkout is a choice to shirk their duty and kill bills that will intimately impact many Oregonians," Rayfield said. Representatives in the House Education Committee released a statement Tuesday morning expressing their disappointment with the stall of "critical education bills." The statement said bills stalled would address educator workforce shortages, protect funding for smaller school districts, increase school safety and more. "Our amazing educators and school faculty show up every day for their students. Senate Republicans need to do the same, said Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, a member of the House Education Committee and a former Reynolds School District school board member. Oregonians sent us to Salem to deliver solutions for our schools. We have the votes. We just need our colleagues to come back and do their jobs." Languishing bills include a proposed $10.2 billion for K-12 schools and $140 million for early literacy, one of the priorities outlined by Kotek. The $10.2 billion is "historic" and would be paired with local property tax revenues to increase current school resources by 12.3%, according to a statement. Other education bills Democrats highlighted in the statement were: Senate Bill 283 : Would direct the Oregon Department of Education to establish a statewide data system on the education workforce in the state. House Bill 3135 : Would preserve funding for small school districts in certain conditions. House Bill 3584 : The School Emergency Notifications Act would direct school districts to provide communication to parents, guardians and staff if there is a safety threat. House Bill 2280 : Would update the statutory definition of sexual harassment in school districts. House Bill 2669 : Would update requirements in school districts to accommodate deaf and hard-of-hearing children and declare that deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind children have the same rights as those who are not. House Bill 2905: Would add requirement in Oregon's Common Curriculum Goals to include Jewish history and individuals. Oregon bills addressing guns, abortion, legal representation at risk Other stalled bills include House Bill 2002 and 2005, which Democratic leaders have said are two bills Republicans have requested they kill in exchange for ending the walkout. The bills would address abortion rights, gender-affirming care and gun safety. The overhaul of Oregon's public defense system is also threatened. Senate Bill 337 is over a year in the making. According to the Oregon Judicial Department dashboard, there are 2,000 unrepresented people in Oregon as of Tuesday. Of those, 265 are in custody. In Marion County, there are 157 unrepresented individuals. On Tuesday, the Oregon House passed bills aimed at improving HVAC systems in public schools and House Bill 2004, which would send the choice for ranked-choice voting in certain elections to Oregon voters. Both bills will join the pile of bills waiting for consideration in the Senate. Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon Republican walkout to continue until last day of session Reps. Tod Ohnstad and Rep. Tip McGuire, left, both Democrats from Kenosha, spoke to reporters Wednesday about a bill a bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing to make it a felony crime for school employees and volunteers to create a hostile environment for students by committing sexual misconduct. MADISON - A bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing to make it a felony crime for school staff or volunteers to create an intimidating or hostile environment by sexually harassing students expanding protections against harassment that exist for public school students to all children who attend private schools. Bill authors Reps. Tod Ohnstad and Tip McGuire, both Democrats from Kenosha, told reporters Wednesday the bill addresses a gap in Wisconsin's criminal statutes that do not cover all variations of sexual misconduct that students have experienced in schools. "Every child has the right to a safe learning environment regardless of what type of school they attend," Ohnstad said in a press conference in the state Capitol in Madison. "Protecting children from sexual misconduct is a shared responsibility of the community, schools and lawmakers." According to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin does not have a law explicitly targeting sexual harassment in schools but federal law prohibits sexual harassment of students in schools that receive federal education funding, which includes all public schools. Title IX protections apply to schools receiving federal funding, which covers all public schools but does not include all private schools, according to the reference bureau. Sex discrimination explicitly includes sexual harassment, defined as unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient's education program or activity. The bill also would require law enforcement officers or public employees to notify the state Department of Public Instruction about the alleged violation. DPI also would be required to automatically revoke a teaching license of a school employee convicted of certain felony crimes against children. Sen. Jesse James of Altoona and Rep. John Spiros of Marshfield, both Republicans, joined McGuire and Ohnstad in authoring the bill. Story continues Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bill would extend sexual harassment rules to private school students The red carpet for Wednesdays premiere of Tran Anh Hungs The Pot au Feu, with Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel, was the scene of a demonstration in support of the land rights of the Indigenous peoples of Brazil. The protest was led by the official delegation of The Buriti Flower, a film showing in the Un Certain Regard sidebar directed by Portugals Joao Salaviza and Renee Nader Messora and sold by Films Boutique. More from Variety Appearing in front of the banks of photographers, the directors along with the actors wearing traditional dress, Francisco Hyjno Kraho, Debora Sodre, Luzia Cruwakwyj Kraho and Henrique Ihjac Kraho, unfurled a large banner with the slogan Nao ao Marco Temporal: The Future of Indigenous Lands in Brazil is Under Threat. One of the main actors, Francisco Hyjno Kraho traveled from his remote village to attend the premiere in Cannes. He explained to Variety the meaning of the Maraca he held at the demonstration: The Maraca represents the world. When we move it, we also make the world keep spinning around. Inside the Maraca are the seeds making noise, and the seeds represent us people. Director Salaviza told Variety: Some of the photographers shouted their support and were very happy. The protest is specifically aimed at a proposed law which would limit the constitutional rights of the indigenous people only to the lands which they had under their ownership on the deadline of Oct. 5, 1988, the date of the promulgation of the Brazilian Constitution, ignoring the fact that under the military dictatorship indigenous peoples were unable to fight for their rights. Supported by conservative deputies from the party of the former President Jair Bolsanaro, the law would severely restrict the ability of indigenous peoples to protect their lands from exploitation. Story continues Shot in the Kraholandia Indigenous Land for over a year, The Buriti Flower tells the story of the Kraho community and their attempt to resist exploitation as well as come to terms with their changing identity in a modern world. In 2018, Salaviza and Messoras The Dead And The Others won the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize. Salaviza is Portuguese and Messora, Brazilian. Messora told Variety: We both have a very, very long relationship with the Kraho people. This is not just a film project: We really have a connection with the community. We are spending long periods of time with them and will continue to develop something. Although protests have been common in Cannes throughout the years, this edition saw a ban on political demonstrations in the area immediately around the Palais in anticipation of possible disruption linked to the pension reforms in France. This has not, however, stopped filmmakers like Salaviza and Messora taking advantage of the media spotlight to highlight their cause. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The parents of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in the familys home state of Pennsylvania in the case of a woman found dead almost a year after she was last seen alive, it has been revealed. CNN first reported the news, citing a source who said that the accused killers mother has already given evidence to the grand jury while his father will appear to testify on Thursday. The information can then be shared with Idaho prosecutors. The investigation is said to be about the disappearance and death of a 45-year-old woman Dana Smithers, reported Eyewitness News. Smithers vanished without a trace in May 2022. Her remains were found last month. The bombshell revelation comes days after Mr Kohberger was arraigned on four counts of murder and one count of burglary in Moscow, Idaho . Mr Kohberger is accused of killing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on 13 November in an attack that rocked the college town of Moscow and sent shockwaves across America. Key points Bryan Kohbergers parents to testify in case of woman found dead in Pennsylvania Families of murdered students prepare to sue University of Idaho Bryan Kohberger is arraigned on murder charges Idaho murders refuses to enter plea, judge enters not guilty plea on behalf Trial date set for October Bryan Kohbergers sister feared he was responsible for killings prior to arrest Who is Bryan Kohberger? The criminology graduate being arraigned over the Idaho college murders 07:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger became a household name across America when police swooped on his parents home in December and arrested him for the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students. But who is he? Who is Bryan Kohberger? Families of slain University of Idaho students prepare to sue college over murders 06:30 , Shweta Sharma The families of two of the four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in an off-campus home are now preparing to sue the college over their brutal murders, it has been revealed. Story continues An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month leaving them open to filing lawsuits within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, protect their rights to sue the University of Idaho, Washington State University the university where accused killer Bryan Kohberger was a student the city of Moscow and Idaho State Police. No lawsuit has been filed at this stage and the notices do not reveal what claim the families may make or how much damages they may seek. Families of slain University of Idaho students prepare to sue college over murders WATCH: Judge enters not guilty plea for Idaho murders suspect 05:50 , Rachel Sharp Who is Dana Smithers, whose mysterious death could be linked to Bryan Kohberger 05:00 , Shweta Sharma Dana Smithers, the mother of three, went missing on 28 May 2022 after she returned from a Happy Hour festival in Stroudsburg with her daughter and her daughters father. After returning, she walked to a neighbours house and left the house after a few minutes. She was reported missing on her way back from the neighbours house. A month later on 27 April, Stroud Area Regional Police Department in Pennsylvania said human remains have been discovered in a wooded area next to Park Avenue in the Borough of Stroudsburg. The autopsy revealed the remains belonged to Smithers. She had three children: a 25-year-old son, a 23-year-old daughter, and a 7-year-old daughter. She was described as a 55 woman with dark eyes and dark hair, who was last seen wearing a burgundy T-shirt and black jeans. Bryan Kohbergers parents to testify in 2022 Dana Smithers case - report 04:33 , Shweta Sharma Bryan Kohbergers parents have been called to testify before a grand jury in Pennsylvania in a case related to Dana Smithers, who went missing in 2022, according to NewsNation. Smithers, a 45-year-old woman, was last seen on 28 May 2022 in Monroe County and her remains were discovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on 27 April, around 30 miles away from Kohbergers home in Albrightsville. However, a source told NewsNation that Mr Bryans alibi proves that he likely wasnt involved in Smithers missing case. But the grand jury has not concluded their proceedings in the case and investigations are ongoing. IN PICTURES: Bryan Kohbergers arraignment 03:50 , Rachel Sharp (Reuters) (Reuters) (Reuters) (Reuters) What we know about the Idaho murders 02:50 , Rachel Sharp The murder of four college students in the quiet town of Moscow, Idaho, last November unravelled a months-long investigation that is now headed to trial. The victims, all students at the University of Idaho, were ambushed in their rooms and stabbed to death with a military-style knife that has yet to be found. Police were called to the gruesome scene at the off-campus residence almost eight hours after the vicious attack. For weeks, only scant details about the carnage were revealed as the community reeled from the tragedy and grappled with fears of a murderer on the loose. That changed with the December arrest of Washington State University student Bryan Kohberger, whose apartment, office and family home were raided and searched for evidence. While more information has become public through the release of search warrants and arrest records in recent months, a gag order in the case remains in place and most aspects of the probe and its findings are still a mystery. The Independent takes a deep dive into the developments in the complex case in the last six months: What we know about the Idaho college murders as Bryan Kohberger faces arraignment Families of slain students prepare to sue college over murders 01:50 , Rachel Sharp The families of two of the four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in an off-campus home are now preparing to sue the college over their brutal murders, it has been revealed. An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month leaving them open to filing lawsuits within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, protect their rights to sue the University of Idaho, Washington State University the university where accused killer Bryan Kohberger was a student the city of Moscow and Idaho State Police. No lawsuit has been filed at this stage and the notices do not reveal what claim the families may make or how much damages they may seek. ICYMI: Bryan Kohberger stands silent and refuses to enter plea in murders of four Idaho college students Thursday 25 May 2023 00:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger refused to enter a plea in the murders of four University of Idaho students who were brutally stabbed to death in a shocking attack that horrified the nation. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student appeared in Latah County Court in Moscow, Idaho, on Monday morning for his arraignment on four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of burglary. His attorney said that he was standing silent on the charges, leaving the judge to enter not guilty pleas on his behalf. Shackled and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit with what appeared to be protective armour underneath, the accused killer entered the courtroom just after 9am PT, giving his attorney Anne Taylor a brief smile as he sat down next to her. Read the story here: Bryan Kohberger stands silent and refuses to enter plea in Idaho college murders Kaylee Goncalves family issues statement about arraignment Wednesday 24 May 2023 23:50 , Rachel Sharp The Goncalves attorney Shannon Gray issued a statement on behalf of the family following Bryan Kohbegrers arraignment. The family would like to thank everyone for continuing to follow this case and keep the memories of Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan alive, they said. They are what is important not the Defendant. We are thankful that the Latah County District Attorneys Office finally took the case to a GJ and came back with an indictment. At the same time we are disappointed that the judicial process has not been more efficient in addressing the Gag order. This is just the beginning of a long journey for all the families and we are thankful for your continued support and coverage. Parents of Idaho university murder suspect Bryan Kohberger subpoenaed by Pennsylvania grand jury Wednesday 24 May 2023 23:23 , Graeme Massie Idaho student murders suspect was arrested by police at family home in Pennsylvania in December. Parents of Idaho university murder suspect subpoenaed by Pennsylvania grand jury There was a glaring mistake at the Idaho murders hearing Wednesday 24 May 2023 22:50 , Rachel Sharp The grieving family of slain University of Idaho Kaylee Goncalves has complained to the court after the judge presiding over their daughters murder case mispronounced her name. Bryan Kohberger, accused of the 13 November stabbings of Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, appeared in Latah County Court in Moscow to enter a plea on Monday (22 May). During the brief hearing, Judge John Judge informed Mr Kohberger of his rights, the charges against him and the penalties including the death penalty if he is convicted. Read more here: There was a glaring mistake at the Idaho murders hearing What evidence do police have against Bryan Kohberger? Wednesday 24 May 2023 21:50 , Rachel Sharp A search warrant was executed at Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman, Washington, the same day he was arrested at his parents home in Pennsylvania. A record of evidence recovered during the apartment search revealed the seizure of 15 items including hairs, receipts, a computer tower, a disposable glove and items with peculiar stains. In the search warrant record, investigators list several items with stains, including cuttings of a mattress cover, a reddish/brown stain on an uncovered pillow and a collection of dark red spot. Court documents, released by Washington authorities on 4 May showed that multiple items taken from Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman had been tested for the presence of blood. While most items came back negative, two items the pillow and mattress cover were positive. Another item included on the list of seizures was a possible animal hair strand. While Mr Kohberger is not believed to have a pet, one of the victims he is accused of killing, Goncalves, had a dog that was at home at the time of the murders and was later found by police responding to the scene. The possible animal hair theyll try to connect that to the dog left at the scene, according to Dr Miller. If theres a root on that, if there is any skin on that hair, they could do a DNA test with that dog. If its just a hair thats been shed and there is no skin, they would still be able to do a microscopical comparison and exclude most dogs but they wouldnt be able to connect it necessarily to that dog. Mr Kohberger was also linked to the crime through cellphone records and his white Hyundai Elantra, a similar model of the car seen near the murder home around the time of the murders. Mr Kohberger changed the license plates on his Hyundai Elantra just days after the murders. The suspects car had Pennsylvania plates when it was pulled over by police in Moscow, in August 2022, according to a citation from the Latah County Sheriffs Office. A review of documents on CarFax by Newsweek showed that Mr Kohberger changed the registration from Pennsylvania to Washington on 18 November, five days after four students were found stabbed to death in a Moscow home. Bryan Kohbergers sister searched his car for evidence before police swooped in Wednesday 24 May 2023 20:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohbergers sister feared that her brother was involved in the stabbings of four University of Idaho students before police swooped on their parents home and arrested him for murder, according to a bombshell report. Sources told NBCs Dateline that one of the accused killers older siblings grew increasingly suspicious of her brother and his behaviour when the family gathered to spend the holidays together. Her suspicions were so great that at one point several family members searched Mr Kohbergers white Hyundai Elantra for possible evidence of the crime, they said. Read the story here: Bryan Kohbergers sister feared he was involved in Idaho murders WATCH: Bodycam shows Bryan Kohberger being pulled over by police one month before murders Wednesday 24 May 2023 19:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger allegedly broke into female students home and spied on her months before Idaho murders Wednesday 24 May 2023 18:50 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger is believed to have broken into the home of a female student and then installed security cameras to spy on her in the months before he allegedly killed four other students in a horror attack in Moscow, Idaho. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student had befriended the woman after he moved to Pullman, Washington state, to begin a graduate program in criminal justice at Washington State University (WSU), according to a source. One day, the woman returned to her apartment and found that someone had broken in and moved items around the home but that nothing was missing. Read the full story: Bryan Kohberger allegedly broke into students home before Idaho murders Who are the victims? Wednesday 24 May 2023 17:51 , Rachel Sharp Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, were seniors at the University of Idaho and were expected to graduate this year. At a vigil weeks after the murders, Goncalves father Mr Goncalves told how the two absolutely beautiful young women first met in sixth grade and became inseparable. They just found each other and every day they did homework together, they came to our house together, they shared everything, he said at the time. Then they started looking at colleges, they came here together. They eventually get into the same apartment together. And in the end, they died together, in the same room, in the same bed. Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were juniors at the college and had begun dating months before their deaths. The couple of 20-year-olds is believed to have been awake at the time the stabbings were carried out. Six months after the stabbings, the families of the slain students accepted posthumous awards for their achievements. Mogen and Goncalves relatives walked across the stage for their degrees in an emotional ceremony on 13 May. Kernodles family also accepted her certificate in marketing at a separate ceremony while Chapins award in sports, recreation and management was mailed to his parents. Kernodles family accepted her certificate in marketing at a private ceremony last week while Chapins award in sports, recreation and management will be mailed to his parents this week. Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, took this photo together hours before they died (Instagram/Kaylee Goncalves) Kaylee Goncalves father reveals reaction when he saw Bryan Kohberger in court Wednesday 24 May 2023 16:03 , Rachel Sharp Kaylee Goncalves father has spoken out about the momeny that he came face to face with his daughters accused killer in court. Steve Goncalves attended the arraignment of Bryan Kohberger in Latah County Court on Monday. In the hearing, Mr Kohberger refused to enter a plea on four counts of murder and one count of burglary. The judge entered not guilty pleas on his behalf Mr Goncalves told CNN he felt rage in the courtroom. You go through all kinds of emotions, but rage is definitely, probably, the primary emotion that you have, he told CNN. Families of slain University of Idaho students prepare to sue college over murders Wednesday 24 May 2023 15:00 , Rachel Sharp The families of two of the four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in an off-campus home are now preparing to sue the college over their brutal murders, it has been revealed. An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month leaving them open to filing lawsuits within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, protect their rights to sue the University of Idaho, Washington State University the university where accused killer Bryan Kohberger was a student the city of Moscow and Idaho State Police. The Independents Rachel Sharp has the story: Families of slain University of Idaho students prepare to sue college over murders WATCH: Idaho student murders suspect stands silent after hearing charges during arraignment Wednesday 24 May 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco Its been six months since four University of Idaho students were murdered. How has the investigation unfolded? Wednesday 24 May 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco Bryan Kohberger has refused to enter a plea on four murder charges, prompting the judge to make one on his behalf and effectively moving the case to trial. The Independents Io Dodds reports: Idaho murders case timeline Items seized from Bryan Kohbergers home have tested positive for blood Wednesday 24 May 2023 12:00 , Andrea Blanco At least two items seized from the home of accused killer Bryan Kohberger tested positive for blood, it has been revealed. Court documents, released by Washington authorities on Thursday, show that multiple items taken from the 28-year-old Washington State University criminology PhD students apartment in Pullman had been tested for the presence of blood. While most items came back negative, two items were positive. Those items were a mattress cover on the bed and an uncased pillow, both of which were described as having visible reddish brown stains. The documents do not reveal who the blood belongs to. The items were all seized when police executed a search warrant at Mr Kohbergers address on 30 December the day that he was arrested for the murders of University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. Kaylee Goncalves father thanks roommates who survived Idaho murders for helping in Bryan Kohberger case Wednesday 24 May 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco The father of slain University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves has expressed his support for the young women who survived the attack in which his daughter was killed. Dylan Mortensen and Brittany Funke were inside their off-campus home in Moscow when roommates Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Kernodles boyfriend Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death in the early morning hours of 13 November. According to an affidavit released earlier this year, Ms Mortensen told investigators that on the night of the murders, she saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask that covered the persons mouth and nose walking towards her. Ms Mortensen and Ms Funke faced online harassment as speculation grew and questions were raised over the eight hours that passed between the attack and the time police were called. They were never considered suspects and authorities have described them as survivors since the early stages of the probe. In an interview with NewsNations Ashleigh Banfield aired on Wednesday, Goncalves father Steve Goncalves thanked Ms Funke and Ms Mortensen for their cooperation with the investigation, which he called critical to build a strong case against suspect Bryan Kohberger. Theyre going through a lot; I appreciate what theyve done for the case and all the information that theyve provided, Mr Goncalves said. I wish they wouldnt have to go through it but its critical, its absolutely going to make the case so I commend them for their courage and to go through this and to know I cant fix it for them. Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogens families prepare to sue UI Wednesday 24 May 2023 10:30 , Rachel Sharp The families of two of the slain University of Idaho students are preparing to sue the university, Bryan Kohbergers university Washington State University and the city of Moscow over their murders, it has been revealed. An attorney representing the families of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, filed tort notices this month protecting their rights to sue within the next two years. The notices, obtained by ABC News, do not reveal what claim the families may make and no lawsuit has been filed at this stage. The revelation comes after their accused killer Mr Kohberger appeared in court for his arraignment in Latah County Court in Moscow, Idaho, on Monday. Moment Idaho student murders suspect arrives in court for arraignment Wednesday 24 May 2023 10:00 , Andrea Blanco Kaylee Goncalves father shares stark warning to alleged killer: Hes gonna realize Wednesday 24 May 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco On Friday (19 May), Steve Goncalves told ABC News: I cant wait to see the evidence And then Im gonna bring it. And hes gonna realize that this... is the family thats gonna make sure he doesnt get away with it, he added. Kaylees mother Kristi Goncalves said the family had given a lot of thought as to whether there was any connection between their daughter and her alleged killer. Weve talked as a family, you know, weve done a lot of research on whats out there... None of it makes sense, she told ABC News . Describing her reaction when she saw Mr Kohberger for the first time at an initial court appearance, she said: I was completely overwhelmed. I actually almost thought I was gonna pass out. My daughter saw him face-to-face and in a very different light than we saw him, sitting there, looking very meek, she said. Four students stabbed to death, a weeks-long manhunt and still no motive Wednesday 24 May 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco As the sole suspect in the stabbings of four Idaho students on murder charges heads to trial, The Independents Andrea Blanco, Rachel Sharp and Sheila Flynn report on the case in small-town Idaho that has shocked America: What we know about the Idaho college murders as Bryan Kohberger faces arraignment Bryan Kohberger allegedly broke into female students home and spied on her months before Idaho murders Wednesday 24 May 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco Bryan Kohberger is believed to have broken into the home of a female student and then installed security cameras to spy on her in the months before he allegedly killed four other students in a horror attack in Moscow, Idaho. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student had befriended the woman after he moved to Pullman, Washington state, to begin a graduate program in criminal justice at Washington State University (WSU), according to a source. One day, the woman returned to her apartment and found that someone had broken in and moved items around the home but that nothing was missing. Since nothing was taken, the woman decided not to call the police but instead called her new friend Mr Kohberger and asked him to come over. Mr Kohberger allegedly offered to install a video security system inside her home and the woman agreed. What comes after Bryan Kohbergers not-guilty plea? Wednesday 24 May 2023 06:00 , Andrea Blanco A preliminary hearing, where prosecutors had to show a judge that there is enough evidence to justify moving forward with charges of burglary and four counts of murder, was previously scheduled for 26 June. However, on 16 May, a grand jury indicted Mr Kohberger on the same charges, effectively rerouting the case directly to the states felony court level and allowing prosecutors to skip the preliminary hearing process, the Associated Press reported. The former Washington State University PhD student is now expected to appear for his arraignment at the Latah County District Court at 9am on Monday to enter a plea. According to the indictment, Mr Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in the first degree and one count of burglary. Each murder count states that he did wilfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and with malice aforethought, kill and murder each of the victims by stabbing. The list of witnesses who testified before the grand jury is sealed. Mr Kohbergers indictment means that the jurors empanelled on the grand jury believed there was enough evidence against him for the case to proceed to trial. Mr Kohberger said through a public defender earlier this year that he was eager to be exonerated. He is being represented by Ann Taylor, one of thirteen public defence attorneys in the state who can work in cases where the prosecution requests capital punishment. Prosecutors in the Idaho murders case have not publicly addressed whether they plan to make that request A tentative trial date has been set for 2 October. WATCH: Father of Idaho murder victim Kaylee Goncalves confirms he has spoken with survivor Wednesday 24 May 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco If you ever need some date inspiration, take notes. Dave Benett/Getty Images for Aston Martin This year's Cannes Film Festival is proving to be about so much more than just the movies on the silver screen. In addition to arriving at the fest and making the red carpet a family affair by bringing along her husband, Michael Douglas, and daughter Carys Zeta Douglas, superstar Catherine Zeta-Jones is using the French getaway for some quality time, too. CZJ and her dashing husband had an elegant and very glamorous date night in the city by the sea, and for anyone stumped when it comes to wining and dining their S.O., consider this the blueprint for a Hollywood-approved night out. Zeta-Jones wore a plunging, sequined minidress with long sleeves for the night, which included attending the unveiling of the brand-new Aston Martin DB12 at the legendary Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, just a quick half-hour jaunt from the main event in Cannes. Douglas wore a tailored suit for the occasion, which also included photo ops with the Mediterranean as a backdrop. Expensive cars and sweeping European vistas? It doesn't get any better than that. Well, it does if you're Michael Douglas, because he was honored this year with the prestigious Palme dOr, putting him in good company. People notes that Forest Whitaker and Jodie Foster have also received the distinction. Stefanie Rex/picture alliance via Getty Images Related: Catherine Zeta-Jones Matched the Red Carpet in a Plunging Fiery Gown and Cape "I enjoy every minute with this guy. Well, he's a good son. It's just the best," Zeta-Jones told People. In addition to daughter Carys, the couple shares a 23-year-old son, Dylan. Douglas also has a 44-year-old son, Cameron, from a previous relationship. "I mean, each year gets better and better and with such good friends, I think, in our family, which is great." While she was promoting her Netflix series, Wednesday, Zeta-Jones called her life as a mom and an actress "blessed." Story continues "Both my daughter and Dylan have been so incredibly supportive to me, not just as an actor, but just me, you know," Zeta-Jones said. "I've been extremely blessed to be able to have both in my life." For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on InStyle. CNN will shift the bulk of its operations behind its Spanish-language efforts to Mexico City, scaling back production of content for linear television in favor of work aimed at reaching a younger audience that favors mobile video. The move is likely to mean the elimination of jobs in Miami and Atlanta, but will also result in a ramp-up of jobs in Mexico and Los Angeles, where CNN will aim to add more than staffers, according to a person familiar with the plans, which were disclosed to employees Thursday afternoon. CNN CEO Chris Licht had nodded to the future of the Spanish-language network in November at a town-hall meeting. More from Variety At issue is how to maintain outreach to Spanish-speaking viewers at a time when the economics of big media companies are under intense scrutiny. CNN and its corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, have already cut operations, but the question of how to keep CNN en Espanol under such conditions has been under debate for some time. In the past, discussions had been underway to shut down the cable network, which has only limited distribution of around nine million in the United States. There have been a lot of questions about its location, and frankly, CNNE as a brand. I did not agree with CNNs previous plans to shut down CNNEs linear network, so Ive changed that strategy to ensure that CNNE can thrive in the future, Licht said in November. I believe in CNNE, and more broadly, our presence in LatAm. And I know we can be an even bigger player in the region. CNN en Espanol is seen across the globe, and is distributed in Argentina, Spain and Colombia, among other nations. Executives believe focusing more intently on content for digital viewers will help keep the outlet relevant to a demographic that skews younger than the traditional TV audience. CNN has invested in new studio operations in Mexico City, just as it has recently in Abu Dhabi. Senior executives for CNN en Espanol are likely to remain based in New York. Story continues Still, programming earmarked expressly for linear distribution will be scaled back, though correspondents will remain on the ground in the U.S. and elsewhere, according to the person familiar with the matter, and coverage of breaking news for audiences will remain intact. Staffers were told Thursday in a memo from Cynthia Darr Hudson, a senior vice president who oversees Hispanic programming strategy in the U.S., that CNN en Espanol will be streamlining our linear news output, shifting production to our Mexico City bureau and introducing new cross-platform programming. We will also be investing in CNNEs digital platform, safeguarding CNNEs newsgathering strength in the U.S. and utilizing our network-wide investments in content management to create a greatly enhanced digital user experience. This afternoon I informed the CNN en Espanol team about these changes, which will impact some of our colleagues. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The crime sounded like the plot to a movie. At the secure private library of the Vatican, home to countless ancient treasures, a forger was afoot. The same was true in the centuries-old Riccardiana Library in Florence, at the National Library of Catalonia in Barcelona, at the Marciana National Library in Venice. In daring burglaries dating back to at least the 1980s, a sophisticated thief had lifted priceless 15th-century bound editions of letters Christopher Columbus had sent from the New World, and replaced them with clever fakes forgeries left undiscovered for decades, and left on display for the world to believe in. The mystery turned out to involve an antiquarian with an extraordinary memory, a South American art collector, and telltale clues offered by centuries-old bookbindings. But unlike in the movies, those rare monuments to history werent chased down by some suave but unorthodox Interpol agent with a cultivated mustache, or a reckless archaeologist with a yen for conspiracy theories. The mystery was solved, instead, in Delaware. Specifically, it was solved out of a little suite on the ground floor of a poured-concrete Wilmington office tower, originally designed for an insurance company. Wilmington is hardly a glamorous nerve center for the international art scene, even as many great works do come here to be sheltered from taxes in anonymous warehouses. But when it comes to solving transnational art crime, Delaware is known to agents all over the country and, in some cases, the world. More: Delaware provides tax shelter for multimillion-dollar masterpieces More: Stolen 40 years ago, rare Christopher Columbus letter recovered by Delaware investigators In the past decade or so the small Wilmington office of Homeland Security Investigations, home base for fewer than 10 agents, has helped repatriate ancient historical artifacts to countries from South America to the cultural centers of the Old World. The diaries of a Nazi collaborator. Religious paintings from old Cuzco in Peru. Roman manuscripts dating back to the 9th century. And of course those priceless letters from Columbus which, technically, did have a price, going for around a million dollars. Story continues Just last month, the island nation of Cyprus declared itself grateful for the return of two coins dating back millennia. Courtesy, also, of agents in Wilmington and Philadelphia. What these cases have in common is a soft-spoken special agent named Mark Olexa who sports dark suits, tightly cropped brown hair and a look of visible discomfort when receiving praise. He receives praise reasonably often. While international hubs such as New York and Washington remain busier sites for artifact smuggling and prosecutions, Wilmington pulls far above its weight. Olexa is one of few special agents who has made a perhaps unintentional specialty out of finding the long-lost and the irreplaceable pieces of the ancient world and helping send them home. And so when federal agents and U.S. attorneys from Philadelphia or San Antonio come across purloined Peruvian artifacts or a mislaid Roman coin, Olexa is often the person they call. "Success breeds more success," said Kenneth Krauss, Wilmington's resident agent in charge. And more success breeds even more. When asked about the reasons for that success, Olexa points to a long line of U.S. attorneys in Delaware and Philadelphia whove been diligent in doing the intricate research and legal wrangling required to close a cultural artifact case often unique challenges that involve sealed warrants, wealthy collectors who stay forever anonymous and archaeological forensics. A stolen kris dagger, once given as a gift to naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry, was repatriated from Canada in 2019 and given to the U.S. Naval Academy Museum. The case was handled by Homeland Security Investigations in Delaware. He credits also the agents at other offices who bring in cases, and a parent office in Philadelphia willing to offer its resources for quixotic quests that might send agents to Florentine libraries or the home of a cagey Buffalo book collector. But when you ask the head of the Wilmington office, he instead points to Mark Olexa. "The main reason why we have such success is sitting right here next to me," said Kraiss, the agent in charge. "It's agent Olexa. We always say, it's all about our people, all about the agents and how they work. And it's a testament to Mark, why Delaware is so successful." How the forged million-dollar Columbus letters landed in Wilmington Art crime is far from where special agent Olexa started his career. Its also a small portion of the cases handled by HSI, the perhaps lesser-known wing of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Philadelphia HSI office, which oversees Delaware, devotes the lion's share of its resources to tracing the movements of drugs and weapons, to human trafficking and to the many shadowy things that might happen on the internet. In the mid-2000s, Olexa was part of an HSI team working to uncover arms procurement for Hezbollah in an investigation called Operation Phone Flash. He also worked on a case investigating six men who planned an armed assault on New Jerseys Fort Dix beginning in 2006. But in 2011 after coming to Wilmington, Olexa fielded a tip that seemed too strange to be real. A tip that would change the course of his law enforcement career. A book dealer in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, named Jay Dillon whose resume includes selling the first book to visit the moon and an Egyptian Book of the Dead had begun to notice something askew. While surfing on his computer, Dillon saw a digital image of a bound 1493 letter from Christopher Columbus owned by the National Library of Catalonia, one of only 30 or so copies known to still exist. Columbus' letter was among the world's first bestsellers, detailing his epochal landfall in a New World with many islands inhabited by numerous people. The residents did not resist, Columbus crowed, when he issued a proclamation and thus took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King. But in that letter, Dillon saw something that unnerved him. He recognized the markings and imperfections on the Barcelona letter as the same ones he'd previously seen on a copy offered by a dealer a feat of memory that boggles Paul Needham, a 15th-century book expert and former Princeton University librarian who consulted on the case. Im still amazed that he spotted this, Needham said. He matched them up, from photographs in a dealers catalog. The probability would be infinitesimal that two copies would have tiny dirt spots on the leaves in exactly the same places between different copies. It was a brilliant discovery. Suspicious of forgeries, Dillon traveled to Barcelona and to other European libraries to examine their bound copies of Columbus letters. And then he walked those suspicions to the desk of special agent Mark Olexa. Someone has been stealing Christopher Columbus letters and leaving reproduced forgeries in their place, he told Olexa. He arrived with troves of corroborating evidence. I just remember filling up a notebook with all this information that was being conveyed, and it was a bit overwhelming, Olexa said now. Prior to that, I didn't even know what a Columbus letter was. That meeting was the beginning of an investigation that would span at leeast three continents, four countries and 13 years a case that made Olexas reputation as an agent who would know what to do with stolen historical documents, and that kicked off a long run of cultural artifacts recovered by Delaware's HSI office. Heres some of the more significant cultural artifacts retrieved with the help of HSI Delaware in the past decade. 2011-today: four letters from Christopher Columbus A reprinted copy of Christopher Columbus original letter written in 1493 about the discovery of the New World is displayed during a press conference in Rome, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. The United States has returned to Italy a letter written by Christopher Columbus in 1493 about his discovery of the New World that was stolen from a Florence library and unwittingly acquired by the Library of Congress. After Dillons visit, and an improbable-seeming theory, agent Olexa went to Princeton to ask Needham, a world-renowned expert, for a second opinion. He was gobsmacked to find that Needham backed up Dillons suspicions, and his research. At that point, trust and verify, Olexa said. So Olexa asked Needham to join him on a trip to the European libraries to analyze the purported forgeries. Librarians at the old libraries were reluctant to believe such thefts were possible certainly not on their watch! but the pages in the European collections were indeed reproduced forgeries, sewn back into the original book bindings. Once we start piecing together that these are forgeries in these libraries, well... where did the originals potentially go? Olexa said. The world of rare book collectors is small. It is complicated and pretty secretive, Needham said. But it is also a world that keeps quite detailed records, to verify the provenance of each rare book. Using the little markings and imperfections on each Columbus letter as their guide and also the way in which each page was bound Olexa and Needham were able to track each of the pilfered originals and verify their source. The book from Barcelona had ended up in the hands of a South American collector. The one from the Vatican turned up in Atlanta. And the Florentine letter? It had been given as a gift to the U.S. Library of Congress. A fourth pilfered letter, from the Venice library, turned up in Texas. More: Stolen 40 years ago, rare Christopher Columbus letter recovered by Delaware investigators The whole process, from the initial search to the legal process, took years for each stolen letter. But eventually each owner, including the Library of Congress, was persuaded that it was in their best interests to hand over the stolen pieces of history. Three of the four have already been repatriated. Asked whether the pope was aware of the theft and recovery of the Vatican's letter, the librarys vice prefect concurred. Yes, he was informed, Ambrogio Piazzoni told CBS news show "60 Minutes" in 2020. He was very pleased with this return. The fourth Columbus letter, due in Venice, was scheduled to be sent home in spring 2020. But fate, and a worldwide pandemic, intervened. The historic letter still awaits its homecoming. We expect that to happen in the near term, Olexa said. 2013: Finding the stolen diaries of Nazi theorist Alfred Rosenberg By November 2012, the Wilmington HSI office had made substantial progress in the Columbus letter case. Once you have a reputation that youre capable of bringing together a complex case like that, it has a snowball effect, Olexa said. Referrals begin to come in including some cases he cant talk about yet, he said. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum contacted the Wilmington office about another stolen document: This one was the personal diaries of a Nazi intellectual named Alfred Rosenberg, whose musings were thought to detail Hitlers early plans to dominate the Soviet Union. The museum already hired a private investigator to track down the diaries, which had long ago been "improperly" taken from U.S. possession by a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials, who'd since died in Pennsylvania. The museum's investigator had suspicions that a person in the Buffalo area now had possession. But suspicions arent proof. And the museum had hit a dead end. Could the Wilmington office, and the Delaware U.S. attorney, offer some help? As it turned out, all that was needed was a little persuasion. (We) made a point of going out and conducting a very important interview with the person that was suspected of last having possession I think he was made aware of the potential consequences, the legal implications and consequences, for him to possess property that belonged to the U.S. government, Olexa said. This is not a legal burden you want to pass on to your children, Olexa told the person, whose name has not been released. The agents then left, not knowing whether the conversation had been successful. But a month or so later, after consulting some lawyers, that person contacted HSI saying they might be able to get hold of that Rosenberg diary the government seemed to be looking for. On June 13, 2013, the diary was entered into the collection of the Holocaust Museum, where it remains. Having material that documents the actions of both perpetrators and victims is crucial to helping scholars understand how and why the Holocaust happened," said museum director Sara J. Bloomfield at the time. "The story of this diary demonstrates how much material remains to be collected. 2012-2014: Stolen Peruvian paintings and cultural artifacts In 2012, the Delaware U.S. Attorneys office, and HSI Wilmington, recovered multiple Peruvian artifacts, in particular a millennium-old jar and a pre-Columbian bronze blade, an investigation that began and ended in Delaware. But the more interesting story, said Olexa, is how four Cuzco paintings also found their way back to Peru. Olexa had been invited to a training seminar on the subject of cultural repatriation. While there, he was approached by a HSI agent from San Antonio. After a tip in 2009, agents from the parent HSI Austin office investigated and eventually located what they believed to be four Colonial-era devotional paintings stolen from Peruvian churches, painted in the Cuzco style thought to be the first European-influenced school of painting to flourish in the Western Hemisphere. But the Texas agents had run aground on the last crucial step of the legal process: obtaining a seizure warrant to get the objects into the governments possession. So they enlisted Olexa to help bring it home; Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hall was able to issue a seizure warrant out of Delaware after analysis by a subject matter expert. I was the one that ended up swearing out the seizure warrant, Olexa said. But ultimately (the case) was Austin's. It was theirs, they were the lead. I think it goes to show you that there's really no egos in this. You just get the job done. The four paintings were returned to Peru in a pair of ceremonies, in 2012 and then in 2014. 2019: Return of 9th-century Roman manuscripts and Contorniato coin Two 9th century Roman manuscripts, describing the sale of lands and vineyards, were repatriated to Italy in 2019 after an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia and Delaware. In 2019, another batch of ancient artifacts returned to Italy. These cases originated in Philadelphia, Olexa said, but the Delaware office was again brought in on the case because of Wilmington offices ever-growing history with investigating cultural artifacts. Two 9th century manuscripts from Benevento, Italy, detailing the sale of lands and vineyards, had been given to the University of Pennsylvania as a gift in 2010. Meanwhile, a nearly two-millennium-old Roman Contorniato di Traiano coin came into the possession of a Pennsylvania auction house upon the death of its previous possessor. Both of these turned out to have been stolen from museums in Italy. In both cases, the owners surrendered the objects willingly after a long investigation. 2023: Repatriation of 4th century B.C. Cypriot coins One of two 4th century Cypriot coins repatriated to the Republic of Cyprus in a ceremony January 2023, after a seven-year investigation by Homeland Security Investigations in Delaware and Philadelphia. Depicted on the front og the coin is Hercules. The Republic of Cyprus, a small nation near Turkey, sent a tip to the Philadelphia HSI office in late 2016, Olexa said. Two 4th century B.C. Cypriot coins had just been smuggled to the United States: one depicting Hercules, one with lions on each side. But though the initial information arrived quickly, Olexa said, the investigation was both lengthy and complex eventually comprising nearly seven years and involving the forensics team at the Smithsonian Institute. The coins finally arrived home, along with several other repatriated antiquities, in April of this year. We got the tip in 16, and the repatriation happened in 2023," Olexa said. We will go to great lengths. Because if the roles were reversed, and we were asking them for something, we would hope they would take the same amount of time, effort and diligence. Other cases worked by the Delaware office during the same period include a kris dagger once owned by Oliver Hazard Perry, repatriated to the U.S. Naval academy Museum in 2019 from Canada; ancient feline ceramics from Costa Rica repatriated in 2022; and multiple other cases involving rare books. The repatriation ceremonies for those books have yet to occur, Olexa said, and so he can't yet comment. But those cases, like many others, came in because of his previous investigation of the Columbus letters, he said. "Once you start finding these things," said Olexa, "other things kind of find their way to you as well." Matthew Korfhage is a Philadelphia-based reporter for USA Today Network. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Nazi diaries, Columbus letters: Delaware known for solving art crimes My travels have taken me to all 50 of our United States. Nothing against Cincinnati or Wichita, but Im especially drawn to the corners, the edges, the places where the road runs out. Ive admired the sunset in Key West, the sunrise at the Outer Banks, crossed the border from Quebec into rural Maine, observed whales in Puget Sound, Washington. On a long-ago Sun Bowl trip, I strolled across the bridge from El Paso to Juarez, Mexico. One Fourth of July by the locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, I watched fireworks launched across the river in Canada. All of the above were a piece of cake compared to this latest edge of America. Getting there isnt easy but Channel Islands National Park off the California coast offers untamed beauty. On a recent morning, a bus picked up my group at our hotel in Ventura, California, for the drive to the harbor. Charlie, the eldest in our elderly gaggle of veteran travelers, was passing out Dramamine. Not a good sign. Our destination was Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. But there were 19 miles of Pacific Ocean to navigate. Pacific in a dictionary means peaceful in character or intent. There was nothing peaceful about the ocean this morning. As we chugged out of the harbor, the crew announced that there was no shame in getting seasick and offering your breakfast to the fish just dont do it inside the cabin. I had no history of seasickness, but was thankful for Charlies Dramamine. Soon we were bucking the waves. Within 20 minutes, Patty from Fresno, looking ashen, had staggered to the rail just outside my window. Minutes later, there was a commotion up front in the cabin. An unfortunate 30ish fellow had, in spectacular fashion, offered his breakfast to the floor, seats, windows and the clothing and shoes of several fellow passengers. He, too, posted up on the rail outside my window, looking thoroughly horrified and miserable. Up and down we bounced, up and down. The coastline vanished in the mist behind us. Wasnt this the premise for Gilligans Island, I thought? The entrance at the dock on Santa Cruz Island was a welcome sight after a rough 19-mile voyage from Ventura harbor. By the time our 90-minute voyage reached Santa Cruz, at least a half-dozen others had succumbed. A crew member on cleanup duty told me that on the previous days trip about half of a group of 80 schoolkids heaved. Story continues I concentrated on the horizon and nibbled the crackers and ginger offered as antidotes. My breakfast never reappeared. Kathleen from Kansas gave in literally as we eased to the dock. I told her she drove the ball all the way down the field. And then fumbled at the 1, she replied, finishing my thought. Preparing for a hike at Channel Islands National Park. The Channel Islands, for thousands of years home to indigenous people and more recently cattle and sheep ranches, are uninhabited these days. A hike to a bluff offered gorgeous vistas. We lunched on sandwiches brought from the mainland. During our four-hour stay, the voyage home loomed. I overheard several conversations wondering how to summon a helicopter. To our universal relief, the ride home was quicker and gentler. The wind and current were at our backs. Later, as I enjoyed an IPA at MadeWest Brewing on the city pier, I tried to put the day into context. Sure, we could have found a hike with a nice view on the hills above Ventura and skipped the traumatic voyage. Still, I was glad to have endured the crossing. It was worth it to experience a unique place. The Channel Islands are truly a wild and unspoiled edge of America. Getting there can be a little wild, too. Mike Strange is a former writer for the News Sentinel. He currently writes a weekly sports column for Shopper News. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Channel Islands a wild and unspoiled edge of America. access to medical care: wall-mounted medical diagnostic equipment beside standard patient examination chair Credit - Getty Images The Louisiana state legislature shot down two bills last week that aimed to clarify the legality of abortion and miscarriage care in pregnancies with complications. The existing laws in Louisiana allow for abortions in certain cases when a pregnant patients life or health may be at risk, but physicians have criticized the texts for being confusing and limiting their ability to provide essential medical care. Just like health care providers in other states, theyve grappled with the issue since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last yearin Louisianas case, Governor John Bel Edwards signed laws banning elective abortions and criminalizing providing them soon after the decision. Currently, there are 14 states where most abortions are banned. Its impossible to spell [out] every single presentation that a patient [with a nonviable pregnancy] might have in law, Dr. Jennifer Avegno, New Orleans Health Department director and an emergency physician, tells TIME. I use my good faith medical judgment and as long as thats in accordance with the medical standard of care, then you really shouldnt question that right. Avegno testified in front of the Louisiana House in support of one of the bills, saying she spoke on behalf of countless colleagues throughout the southeast whove had to navigate a perplexing and constantly shifting legal landscape. Heres what to know: Debates in Louisiana Louisianas near-total abortion ban allows for few exceptions in circumstances where a pregnant patients life or essential organ is at risk, or when the fetus is deemed medically futile and unable to survive outside the womb. But the law doesnt use very much medical terminology, physicians say. The initial law tried to clarify, Lets name all the conditions we can possibly name and those will be okay. The list compiles just over two dozen conditions, but, says Avegno, as any practicing physician will tell you, there are always going to be new ones or ones you havent thought of. Story continues Republican Rep. Mary DuBuisson proposed House Bill 461 in March, which would ammend the law to allow for abortion procedures to be legal for any treat patients who have been diagnosed in good faith medical judgment as having pregnancies that have ended, are in the process of ending, or that entail complications that render them nonviable. In other words, it removes the requirement of the diagnosis of a few specific conditions. At the bills hearing, DuBuisson emphasized that she does not support abortion broadly, but under the current state law we are not protecting mothers, she said. We are leaving them to hemorrhage and carry a dead child until they can die naturally. A second bill, HB 598, introduced by Rep. Candace Newell, would expand treatment for ectopic pregnancies, clarify that molar pregnancies could be treated, and permit abortions for cancer patients. Other Republican lawmakers at the hearing responded that the law appeared clear to them and that they hadnt received complaints from doctors in their constituencies. Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, a major anti-abortion group in the state, also testified calling the bills pro-abortion, claiming that they would make it easier to perform elective abortions. The legislatures criminal justice committee oversaw the hearings and ultimately rejected both bills. And two weeks ago, the Louisiana legislature shot down other proposals to allow for abortion exceptions in cases of rape and incest. Physicians confusion In Louisiana, abortion providers who violate the abortion-ban law face up to 15 years in prison and $5,000-$200,000 fines. Physicians have reported feeling fearful of providing pregnancy care that they would have in the past. Its so critical that physicians feel that they have the ability to make the judgment that is best for their patients without fear of misinterpretation and real consequences, Avegno says. In October, Stephen Russo, lead attorney for the Louisiana Department of Health, told doctors that with the new statute, abortion is more of a criminal nature and really it isnt something that the [health] department has the authority to police, the Louisiana Illuminator reported at the time. Russo said his agency wasnt responsible for addressing physician confusion and that the state attorney generals office would be better suited. But, notes Avegno, thats not practical. No ones going to call the lawmakers and say, Oh, this was kind of a scary one. I didnt know what to do, Avegno says. These are the same lawmakers that want to throw physicians in jail. Dr. Michele Heisler, medical director for the nonprofit, Physicians for Human Rights, and a professor at the University of Michigan points out the insurance dilemma. With only a handful of conditions listed, insurance and Medicaid may not cover treatment for pregnancy complications outside of the list. Patients could be asked to pay thousands of dollars up front before receiving any treatment. It can prevent many low-income women from having the option of not carrying a pregnancy to term, Heisner says. Knowing that their babys going to die is just incredible psychological trauma. Avegno says confusion trickles down to patients. With misoprostol, for examplea medication that can be for abortions, but also to manage miscarriages or induce laborthere have been women trying to get them filled at the pharmacy and being told incorrectly, Oh, no, thats illegal, she says. Misoprostol is legal, but Avegno adds that such misinformation spreads quickly. Physicians in Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, Utah, and Oklahoma have faced similar confusion to those in Louisiana. In April, Heisler co-authored a report in which researchers posed as prospective patients seeking emergency pregnancy care and contacted 34 Oklahoma hospitals. The study concluded that none of the hospitals could articulate clear and consistent policies and 22 hospitals were unable to provide information about abortion procedures when a pregnant patients life is threatened. Heisler says ambiguity in these laws has left hospitals and other institutions to interpret things differently. The care youll get as a patient, and the options that you may not even know about really vary widely, she says. If a pregnant patient isnt going to die, but would have to spend the rest of their life on dialysis, face liver failure, or permanent infertility, those are not currently cases that justify termination in some states, Heisler says. Every medical situation is different. Theres no way to practice good medicine under a list. Aderrien Murry, 11, was shot by police after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance (Murry family / CNN) The family of an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by police after his mother asked him to call 911 to report a domestic incident are calling for the officer to be fired. Aderrien Murry is recovering at home after he was shot in the chest by an Indianola Police Department officer early on Saturday morning. His mother, Nakala Murry, told a news conference tjhat she asked Aderrien to call police after the father of one of her other children allegedly showed up at her home at 4am in an irate mood. Ms Murry said that an officer arrived at the house with his gun drawn, and called on everyone inside to come out. She said her son had just walked around a hallway corner and into the living room when he was shot. Aderrien kept asking Why did he shoot me? What did I do wrong?, Ms Murry said during Mondays press conference. She said she applied pressure to the wounds until first responders arrived. The 11-year-old was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he was found to have suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. He was released from hospital on Wednesday, his mother told CNN. Two other children were inside the home at the time of the shooting, she said. Aderrien Murry, 11, was shot by police after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance (Murry family) The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation confirmed in a statement to The Independent it was investigating the shooting. Spokesman Baily Martin said agents would turn over the findings to the Attorney Generals office upon completion of the probe. The Indianola Police Department is yet to release the bodycam footage from the incident. It confirmed to CNN that the officer involved in the shooting was Greg Capers, who was previously named the departments best officer. The Independent did not immediately hear back after contacting the Indianola mayor and police to confirm the officers identity. This cannot keep happening. This is not OK, Ms Murry said during Mondays news conference. Carlos Moore, the familys attorney, said Mr Capers had been suspended on Tuesday. Story continues The family believes this is a step in the right direction but still demands that he be terminated, Mr Moore said. The family plans to hold a protest at the Indianola City Hall on Thursday. Indianola is a small town of about 15,000 residents that lies about 100 miles north of Jackson. WASHINGTON AeroVironment, an early provider of Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems to the U.S. Army, has been eliminated from the services competition for the next increment of the system. The Army has long been working to select a Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft System, meant to replace its Shadow UAS fleet. In 2022, after a roughly four-year competition, the service awarded AeroVironment an $8 million contract to provide its Jump 20 system as an interim FTUAS capability for a single brigade. AeroVironment purchased Jump 20s developer Arcturus in 2021. An undisclosed number of Jump 20s have been provided through U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. AeroVironment declined a request for comment. The Army wants its FTUAS to be a vertical take-off and landing aircraft, so it can be runway independent. Additionally, the service wants the system to offer improved maneuverability and the capability to be controlled on the move. Other planned attributes include a reduced transportation and logistics footprint and a quieter system than is offered today to avoid enemy detection. The service in fall 2021 opened competition for a permanent system and, earlier this year, the Army selected five companies, including AeroVironment, to build prototypes. Now, the Army is awarding contracts to move into the design phase to Griffon Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada and Textron Systems all of the competitors except AeroVironment. The Army did not disclose the value of each contract awarded in a May 24 statement. Since late February, the Army has evaluated the five submissions performance, cost, schedule, risk and modular open systems approaches, according to the services statement. The effort going forward will include a series of design reviews. Then, competitors will be chosen to demonstrate capabilities in actual flight and will go through third-party verification of modular open system architectures. If competitors pass through those gauntlets, each team will provide air vehicles, mission systems packages, payloads and ground controllers among other tools and manuals in order to go through qualification testing and operational assessments, the Army stated earlier in the competition. The system is scheduled to enter full-rate production in the second quarter of FY26. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper watched a classroom of fourth grade students at Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School take on an engineering challenge Wednesday. The youngsters tried to build the tallest tower possible using materials their teacher provided. It was a fitting activity for Coopers visit, considering hes facing similar colossal obstacles in trying to stop Republican-proposed legislation that he says will dismantle public education in North Carolina, worsen the states teacher shortage and provide veteran teachers with only $250 in salary increases over two years. Our public schools have meant a lot to our state, Cooper said, and I want future generations to benefit from public schools. Coopers visit to Huntingtowne Farms Elementary in south Charlotte was part of his state tour speaking out against education legislation from the Republican-controlled General Assembly. It comes days after he declared public education in North Carolina is facing a state of emergency. GOP lawmakers want to increase funding for private school vouchers so that any family, regardless of its income, would qualify to apply for vouchers to attend a K-12 private school. There is a private school voucher scheme thats going to siphon a little over $3 billion from the general fund and it will directly affect a number of public schools throughout North Carolina, Cooper said. This is private school vouchers on steroids. Anybody at any income level can get money to send their children to private school. Cooper also called Republicans proposed salary increases for teachers paltry and woefully inadequate and warned they would worsen the teacher shortage in a state that has more than 5,000 teacher vacancies. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has 506 as of May 19. Its really disheartening to see our legislators funnel millions of dollars away from public schools, Lorin Bent, who serves on Huntingtowne Farms PTA, told The Charlotte Observer. Its really sad, and we are getting a coalition together to fight it. Story continues Gov. Roy Cooper watches as students at Huntingtowne Farms build towers out of materials provided by their teacher. Sounding the alarm Cooper told CMS officials Wednesday that the state has the money to raise teacher salaries substantially, but legislators have proposed giving greater pay raises to other state employee classes and intentionally put teachers at the bottom. A millionaire is going to get $5,300 to send his or her kid to a private school, while a veteran public school teacher gets $250, Cooper said. Thats what were talking about here. Coopers $5,300 figure was inaccurate. Proposed legislation Cooper was referring to would give veteran teachers $250 raises across two years. Under the voucher bill, highest-income earners would get $6,492 to help send their child to a private school over that same two years. CMS teacher Justin Parmenter serves on the advisory boards of Public Schools First NC and Red 4 Ed NC and was elected NCAE Region 3 Director in April 2020. He writes about public education in North Carolina in his Notes from the Chalkboard. Parmenter says many public schools are struggling with the impacts of poverty and the loss of good teachers due to unreasonable workloads, inadequate resources and low pay. Rather than painting those schools as failures and luring families away, Parmenter said, state legislators need to focus on ensuring our students and teachers have what they need. Cooper declared Monday that public education in North Carolina is facing a state of emergency in the face of extreme legislation from Republican state lawmakers. He also said the Republican legislature is aiming to choke the life out of public education. On Wednesday in the media center of Huntingtowne Farms, Cooper said the vast majority of North Carolinians support public schools. He said some legislators have given up on public schools and thats unacceptable. And he reiterated hes sounding the alarm with those same words its a state of emergency. No, its not an executive order like during the pandemic or for a hurricane, but it is an emergency, he said. Its time for people to respond. The legislatures agenda for the coming weeks includes passing a state budget for the year starting July 1. North Carolina U.S. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis issued a statement shortly after Coopers visit ended Wednesday. Through his partisan temper tantrums, its clear that Cooper isnt handling being a lame duck governor very well, Tillis said. Gov. Cooper created a phony state of emergency in a desperate attempt to block bipartisan, fiscally responsible legislation that will cut taxes for hardworking families, provide pay raises for teachers, more educational opportunities for students, and fund Medicaid expansion. Parmenter, who teaches at CMS South Academy of International Languages, said Rep. Tricia Cothams recent party switch from Democrat to Republican will make it difficult to stop bad policy in the state. I am grateful that Gov. Cooper is getting the word out about the harm this massive expansion of school vouchers will do to public education, he said. Gov. Roy Cooper said of his state of emergency declaration of public education in North Carolina: No, its not an executive order like during the pandemic or for a hurricane, but it is an emergency. Its time for people to respond. Declaration ridiculous Cotham, of Mecklenburg County, in a tweet Monday afternoon, called Coopers public education campaign political theater. The Governor is advocating for systems rather than students themselves, Cotham wrote. Education is not one-size-fits-all and NC families should have the freedom to determine what kind of education is best for them. My bill to expand the NC Opportunity Scholarship program, to allow all NC families to make that choice, will soon be on his desk, waiting on his signature. Brooke Weiss, the chapter chair of Moms for Liberty - Mecklenburg County, was on Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning to discuss Coopers ridiculous declaration of a state of emergency, Weiss told the Observer. Weiss says her local Moms for Liberty chapter supports the private school voucher legislation, although we dont take an official stand on school choice. Families are finally going to get an opportunity to get their children out of a failing system, Weiss said on Fox & Friends. In CMS, 34.5% of CMS students achieved proficiency in fourth grade math, according to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nations report card. For fourth grade reading, 32.8% of CMS students achieved proficiency. More resources for private schools means fewer resources for public schools, at a time when we already dont have what we need, said Parmenter, the Charlotte teacher. Also, the majority of voucher recipients are white, a trend which will certainly persist with the voucher income eligibility requirement being scrapped. That means racial and economic segregation in our traditional public schools will continue to increase. Editors note: This story was updated on May 25 to provide more accurate numbers than Cooper gave about how much the wealthiest stand to receive from expanded vouchers. Nas A new exhibit at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands has sparked a fierce international debate about race in ancient Egypt. At the center of the scuffle is a statue inspired by the album cover for Nas 1999 LP, I Am where the Queens-bred rapper was depicted similarly to King Tut. Kemet: Egypt in Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul, and Funk examines the legacy of Egyptian history in the African diaspora, and specifically music rooted in the African diaspora. Artist David Cortes statue titled I Am Hip Hop led Egyptian antiquities expert Abd al-Rahim Rihan to blast the creation for portraying Tutankhamun as Black, according to Egypt Independent. It also led to backlash on social media for allegedly promoting an ahistorical view of ancient Egypt. The institution responded with a statement breaking down its reasoning. [The exhibit] explores music by Black artists whose work refers to ancient Egypt and Nubia: music videos, record album covers, photographs, and contemporary artworks. This music often reflects on experiences of Black people in the West and tells stories about the African diaspora and pre-colonial Africa, including ancient Egypt as part of the African continent, it read. The exhibition explains why ancient Egypt is important to these artists and musicians and from which cultural and intellectual movements the music emerged. As for the statue, the museum pointed out that the work wasnt meant to actually portray King Tut, but the Grammy-winning Ether MC. This is not a replica of Tutankhamuns mask but a contemporary artwork made in 2019 by an artist based on the cover of a 1999 record album by [Nas], it contended. Daniel Soliman, the museums Egyptian and Nubian curator, shared his reasoning for the choice in The Art Newspaper. This is a very difficult topic and that is the thing with this exhibition: I think you really have to give it a chance, he said. There are Egyptians, or Egyptians in the diaspora, who believe that the pharaonic heritage is exclusively their own. The topic of the imagination of ancient Egypt in music, predominantly from the African diaspora, Black artists in different styles, jazz, soul, funk, [and] hip hop, had long been ignored. Story continues Its not the first time in recent weeks that the race of ancient leaders from that part of the world have come into question. Following the debut of Netflixs African Queens series on Cleopatra, one Egyptian lawyer even sued the streamer for casting a Black woman in the role. Trending Stories [Source] Jeopardy!" fans were outraged after contestant Ben Chan lost his nine-day winning streak on the show over a spelling mistake. Chan, an assistant professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, saw his winning streak end on Tuesday night after a judgment call ruled that he had misspelled the name of a character in William Shakespeares 16th-century play Much Ado About Nothing. During the Final Jeopardy! round on Tuesday, Chan, Danny Leserman and Lynn Di Vito played the category Shakespeare's Characters. Both of the names of these two lovers in a Shakespeare play come from Latin words for 'blessed, the contestants were told. More from NextShark: KCON to return as in-person event for its 10th anniversary after 2 years of being solely virtual Confident in his answer, Chan bet $12,201, writing: Who are Beatrice and Benedict. However, he misspelled the latters name, which is actually Benedick. This error cost Chan his winning streak. His fellow contestants incorrectly answered with "Romeo and Juliet." Di Vito ultimately won with a total of $11,800, having only bet $3,000 on the "Final Jeopardy!" round. Meanwhile, Chan ended up with $5,199 and Leserman left the show with $1,000. More from NextShark: 'Do you like some peanuts?': Viral TikToker attempts to teach students 'how to speak like an American' Following Chans defeat, show producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss informed him that he is the "first and only champion" in Jeopardy! history whose first nine wins were considered "runaway" victories. These victories are determined when a contestants winnings are so large that no other players can catch up to them. Commenting on his spelling mistake, Chan told Foss, Its a very memorable miss. If youre going to go out on a miss, go out on a memorable miss. Several fans who were rooting for Chan did not take his defeat well, with some arguing that his loss was only attributed to technicalities that fell on a judgment call. More from NextShark: Ke Huy Quan lost his health insurance while waiting on EEAO release: 'I could not get a single job' According to one of the five Jeopardy! rules, spelling is never important when it comes to a contestants answer in Final Jeopardy! unless it is specified in the category. The only caveat is that the answer must be phonetically correct and not add or subtract any extraneous sounds or syllables. Story continues If a contestant misspells a word, the decision comes down to a judgment call, which was what happened in Chans case. Lynn doesnt finish spelling 'Juliet' yet its ruled as a complete (albeit incorrect) response, and Ben misspells Benedick by one letter and is ruled incorrect. Clearly they knew what he was going for and yet ended his run on a terrible technicality, one Twitter user wrote. More from NextShark: Anya cosplayers swarm Tokyo after release of latest Spy x Family episode Benedict is a variant of Benedick, one of the characters in Much Ado About Nothing and thus should have been an acceptable answer in Final Jeopardy, another user tweeted. I am beyond disgusted with @Jeopardy!! Theyve never penalized anyone for wrong spelling, yet they chose to penalize 9 game winner Ben Chan in Final Jeopardy and cost him the game..He missed ONE LETTER!! This is so wrong, an appalled user said. An illustration of the saber-toothed predator Inostrancevia standing above its dead prey with its jaws wide open and large canines on display. An illustration of the saber-toothed predator Inostrancevia standing above its dead prey with its jaws wide open and large canines on display. At the dawn of the most devastating mass extinction in Earth's history 252 million years ago, species fought tooth and nail to survive in the changing environment. Ancient predators in particular, struggled ruthlessly to stay at the top of the food chain. Now, scientists have discovered that a tiger-size, saber-toothed beast called Inostrancevia briefly dominated southern ecosystems after migrating across the supercontinent Pangaea from what is now Russia to South Africa. Inostrancevia belonged to an ancient group of mammals called the gorgonopsians that went extinct during the Great Dying, also known as the Permian-Triassic or late-Permian mass extinction . The fearsome carnivore had tough skin like an elephant or rhinoceros and looked somewhat reptilian. "All the big top predators in the late Permian in South Africa went extinct well before the end-Permian mass extinction," Pia Viglietti , a research scientist at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago who participated in the discovery, said in a statement . "We learned that this vacancy in the niche was occupied, for a brief period, by Inostrancevia." Based on previous fossil discoveries, researchers thought that this saber-toothed giant was endemic to Laurasia the northern continental mass of Pangaea. Today this encompasses North America, Greenland, Europe and northern Asia. But in 2010 and 2011, paleontologists unearthed two gigantic skulls and a skeleton in South Africa's Karoo Basin that looked different to those normally found in the region. "The fossils themselves were quite unexpected," Viglietti said. Related: Ancient saber-toothed 'gorgons' bit each other in ritualized combat In a study published Monday (May 22) in the journal Current Biology , the researchers found that the remains discovered in South Africa belong to Inostrancevia and that the creature traveled around 7,000 miles (11,300 kilometers) south during the late Permian . Story continues Once there, it replaced a group of endemic predators called the rubidgeines a subset of gorgonopsians that had a large snout and blade-like canines. The local carnivores of Karoo went extinct "quite a bit" before the Great Dying truly set in, Viglietti said. It's unclear how and over what timescales Inostrancevia crossed Pangaea, but it appears that the carnivore filled a gap in ecosystems that had lost their top predators. Its reign was short-lived, however: The team found no evidence that Inostrancevia survived into the Triassic (252 million to 201 million years ago). Massive volcanic eruptions towards the end of the Permian triggered catastrophic climate change, wiping out nine out of 10 species on the planet. Some gorgonopsians persisted, but they didn't survive for long and have been referred to as a "dead clade walking." Due to their large body sizes, slow maturation rates and low population densities, top predators are often some of the first species to disappear during mass extinction events. "Apex predators in modern environments tend to show high extinction risk," study lead author Christian Kammerer , a paleontologist at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, said in the statement. "We should expect that ancient apex predators would have had similar vulnerabilities." RELATED STORIES Ancient marsupial sabertooth had eyes like no other mammal predator Mysterious 'hypercarnivore' with blade-like teeth roamed California 42 million years ago My, what sharp teeth! 12 living and extinct saber-toothed animals When it went extinct at the end of the Permian, Inostrancevia left a gap at the top of the food chain that other predators, called therocephalians, rapidly filled before themselves going extinct. Therocephalians are thought to have originated in what is now southern Africa and spread to Russia, China and Antarctica, where fossils have also been found. We have shown that the shift in which groups of animals occupied apex predator roles occurred four times over less than two million years around the Permian-Triassic mass extinction," Kammerer said. "This underlines how extreme this crisis was. The discovery suggests that top predators were "canaries in the coal mine" for the mass extinction and sheds light on the great die-out thats unfolding today. "The Permo-Triassic mass extinction event represents one of the best examples of what we could experience with our climate crisis and extinctions," Viglietti said. The post Foo Fighters Kick Off 2023 Comeback Tour: Setlist + Video appeared first on Consequence. Foo Fighters played their first full-band concert of 2023 at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook in Gilford, NH on Wednesday. The show served as a sort-of warm-up ahead of the bands run of summer festival appearances. It also marked Foo Fighters first public gig with new live drummer Josh Freese, who has stepped in for the late Taylor Hawkins. The setlist spanned a total of 21 songs, kicking off with Rescued, the lead single from their new album, But Here We Are. They further previewed the album with performances of Under You, Nothing At All, and the albums title track. During the show, Dave Grohl also paid tribute to Hawkins with an emotional solo rendition of Cold Day in the Sun, which marked the first live performance of the song in five years. This is something I never thought Id have to do, Grohl said prior to the performance. Taylor wrote this song, we used to sing it together. Im gonna do it for him tonight. Other notable song selections included Shame Shame with Violet Grohl on vocals, and a set closing one-two-three punch of Best of You, Aurora, and Everlong. See the full setlist and fan-captured footage below. Foo Fighters will next head to Boston to headline Boston Calling this weekend. Theyre also scheduled to appear at Bonnaroo, Louder Than Life, Austin City Limits, and Riot Fest, as well as play headlining dates with support from The Breeders. Tickets to all of their shows are on sale now here. But Here We Are is set for release on June 2nd. Foo Fighters Setlist: Rescued (Live Debut) Walk No Son of Mine Learn to Fly Under You (Live Debut) The Pretender But Here We Are (Live Debut) Breakout The Sky Is a Neighborhood My Hero This Is a Call All My Life Nothing at All (Live Debut) Shame Shame (with Violet Grohl on vocals) These Days Cold Day in the Sun Monkey Wrench Best of You Aurora Everlong Story continues Foo Fighters Kick Off 2023 Comeback Tour: Setlist + Video Scoop Harrison Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. Foo Fighters standing together outside at night Foo Fighters have released the atmospheric new single, Show Me How, lifted from their forthcoming album But Here We Are, due out on June 2 Roswell Records/RCA Records. Show Me How is the third single to arrive from the upcoming project, following on from Rescued and Under You, and features guest vocals from Dave Grohl's daughter Violet. The track itself shimmers with dream-pop-style vocal melodies, serene guitars and moving lyrics about learning to navigate life without the guidance of someone who has recently passed: 'Where are you now? Who will show me how?...You need not say anything to me, I hear you loud and clear...I'll take care of everything from now on'. Peaceful and resolute, it sees the father and daughter duo try to come to terms with their grief after losing two loved ones in 2022; Grohl's mother Virginia and longtime Foos drummer and friend, Taylor Hawkins. Accompanying the track is a visualiser directed by Tim Kellner, which displays fog-heavy landscapes of dark woodlands and crashing ocean waves. Listen to the track below: Yesterday (May 24) the Foos played their first headline show since Taylor Hawkins' passing. The show took place at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford, NH, and saw the rockers serve up live premieres of four songs from their upcoming But Here We Are album. Replacing Hawkins behind the kit was Josh Freese, who was announced as the band's new touring drummer earlier this week. Festival Pa'l Norte 2021 - Day 1 - Credit: Medios y Media/Getty Images Hours after Foo Fighters returned to the stage for their first concert with new drummer Josh Freese, the band released Show Me How, the latest single off their upcoming album But Here We Are. The atmospheric, shoegaze-inspired track almost serves as a duet between Dave Grohl and his daughter Violet Grohl, whose vocals feature prominently throughout and take centerstage on the outro. More from Rolling Stone Where have you gone? / I walk in circles / Back to square one / Made it through yesterday, Grohl sings on the opening verse. Spilling wine, thinking of the time / I wrote you a melody. Later on in the choruses, Grohl contemplates, Where are you now? Who will show me how? After officially introducing Freese as their new drummer in a livestream rehearsal, Foo Fighters performed their first full concert with the veteran musician Wednesday in Gilford, New Hampshire. The gig featured the live debut of four But Here We Are songs (but not Show Me How): First single Rescued, Under You, Nothing at All, and the title track. Grohl also paid tribute to the late Taylor Hawkins with a solo acoustic rendition of the drummers Cold Day in the Sun, with Grohl on lead vocals. Taylor wrote this song, we used to sing it together. Im gonna do it for him tonight, Grohl told the audience. But Here We Are arrives June 2nd. The 10-song LP was co-produced by the band and Greg Kurstin, who also produced the Foos last album, 2021s Medicine at Midnight. Following the New Hampshire show, the band has a plethora of headlining concerts planned, as well as a bunch of festivals, such as Riot Fest, Austin City Limits Fest, Ohana Fest, and Outside Lands. Thank you so much for coming. Weve missed you. pic.twitter.com/t0oqqQoCwm Foo Fighters (@foofighters) May 25, 2023 Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, center, talks with Speaker of the House Jon Burns, right, and Carter Infinger, JDA chairman, before signing two bills on Friday, May 5, 2023 at the future site of the Hyundai Meta Plant in Ellabell, Georgia. Another Hyundai supplier is coming soon to the Savannah area. On Tuesday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps office announced Hanon Systems, which specializes in automotive climate control systems, will invest more than $40 million for a manufacturing facility in Bulloch County. The move is expected to create 160 jobs. Georgias automotive and e-mobility industries continue to grow as we proudly welcome Hanon Systems to Georgia, said Kemp. As our state furthers its position as the EV capital of America, new jobs and opportunities like these are coming to hardworking Georgians all over the state and will continue to do so. The facility will be located at Gateway Regional Industrial Park and is expected to open in May 2024. Hyundai's EV assembly plant and battery manufacturing facility, under construction near Ellabell in Bryan County, will open in late 2024. More: New Hyundai supplier to invest millions, add more than 400 jobs in Savannah More: Hyundai is bringing jobs to Savannah. So are Hyundai suppliers. Here is who is coming. More: Hyundai supplier Sewon America to bring more than 700 jobs to Effingham County Statesboro-Bulloch County is honored by Hanon Systems decision to locate its new facility here, said Billy Allen, chair of the Development Authority of Bulloch County. We are excited to welcome another automotive supplier to our community, particularly one that will be working closely with the Hyundai Metaplant and the electric vehicle industry. This decision is another example of the resources offered by our community and region to help companies succeed. This is the third supplier to plant roots in Bulloch County. Joon Georgia Inc. is investing $317 million into a facility that will manufacture the frame for Hyundai vehicles. Ecoplastic will invest more than $200 million for a facility that will make consoles, bumpers and more. The auto parts manufacturer will bring more than 450 jobs to the area. Ecoplastic, a Korean-based auto parts manufacturer, is investing $205 million into a manufacturing facility in Bulloch County. In Georgia, suppliers like Hanon Systems are able to successfully support larger industry ecosystems, thanks to partnership-driven solutions ranging from workforce training to logistics systems efficiencies, said Pat Wilson, commissioner for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Bulloch County, as part of the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority, has been a part of this growing success story from the beginning. Its rewarding to see how Georgias history of partnership continues to create opportunity for current and future generations. Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Hanon Systems to bring 160 jobs to Bulloch County Don't forget your sunscreen! Though summer doesnt officially start until June 21, the season begins at the Delaware beaches on Memorial Day weekend. Millions of people will descend upon Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany and Fenwick this summer, all to experience Delawares brand of sun, surf and relaxation. Maybe youre one of them, or maybe youre a hardened local who seesaws between tourist traffic rage and toes-in-the-sand-every-weekend bliss. Regardless, Delaware Online/The News Journal will offer this handy guide to the Delaware beaches every weekend this summer, with information on everything from weather to beach closures to things to do. More: 5 must-try places in Rehoboth Beach for French food, fancy fritters and ice cream for Fido The Delaware beaches have steadied after all the instability caused by COVID-19 and the record-breaking number of tourists that came after (or, at least, after restrictions were lifted). Following a couple of challenging years, Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany and Fenwick all reported having plenty of lifeguards ready to take their perches on the beach. The rental market has some availability right now, according to Coldwell Banker Premieres Kathy Newcomb, but once July hits, most places are already booked. The Boardwalk Plaza Hotels reservations are on par with previous years, spokesperson Jennifer Zerby said. More: Ready to beach? Here are 5 new spots for nightlife & bites at Delaware beaches this summer Chris Darr, personnel manager at Funland in Rehoboth Beach, said he thinks this season will be at least as busy as the 2022 season, which was the busiest season the amusement park has ever had. The Starboard's Steve Montgomery also believes business will be on par with or better than last year. He's opening three new restaurants over the new few weeks: Starboard Claw and Starboard Sauced, both in Dewey Beach, and Downtown Blues in Rehoboth Beach. Bottom line: A busy summer is expected. In addition to sunscreen don't forget your patience. It's the beach, after all. Story continues Memorial Day weekend in Rehoboth Beach brought big crowds to the town's boardwalk and beach on Sunday, May 29, 2022. Memorial Day weekend forecast The weather starts out most optimal this weekend. Saturday is forecast to be around 70 degrees and partly sunny, according to the National Weather Service forecast. The temperature will hover around 70 degree all weekend, but Sunday and Monday will be more cloudy. There's a chance of rain on Sunday (30%), but it's most likely on Monday (40%). Weather predictions, of course, are subject to change, so before you make or cancel any plans, get the most up-to-date forecast. What to know about parking Parking fees are in effect in all Delaware beach towns, so be prepared to use your ParkMobil app. Parking prices and rules differ for each beach town. We recommend you arrive early, unless you don't mind looping around town waiting for a spot to open up. The Delaware Department of Transportation's Park and Ride program is an excellent alternative to paying for parking at the beach. You can park your car for free in one of two lots, at 20055 Shuttle Road in Rehoboth or at 17616 Coastal Highway in Lewes. The bus fare is $2 per trip, $4 daily, $16 weekly for $60 for 30 days. Buses stop at the lots and the beaches multiple times per hour. Sunday, May 29th of Memorial Day Weekend in Rehoboth Beach brought big crowds to the Boardwalk and Beach. Parking was at a premium in downtown as visitors flocked to the beach on another great day to kick off the Summer Season. What to know about beach replenishment The Delaware beaches are in the midst of getting some much-needed nourishment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but operations will shut down over Memorial Day weekend. Theres no sand you cant occupy in Delaware beach towns, but there may be more in some places than others. Rehoboth Beachs replenishment was finished last week and work has begun in Dewey Beach, estimated to be completed in late May or early June. Dredging is also underway in Fenwick Island, slated for completion in early- to mid-June, according to Corps spokesman Stephen Rochette. Work is expected to begin in both Bethany Beach and South Bethany in early June and be completed later that month. More on beach replenishment: Rehoboth Beach sand is ready for Memorial Day beachgoers. See the replenished beach Surf-fishing changes You can always simply walk-on to Delaware state park beaches to surf-fish all you need is a fishing license. If you want to drive-on, however, you need to plan ahead. Surf-fishers Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Keybox Road Beach in Delaware Seashore State Park. Youll need a surf-fishing permit, which also counts as a fishing license. You can get one at most state park offices (it takes a few weeks for them to be mailed if you order one online). New this year, if you want to drive on state park beaches on a weekend or holiday, you'll also need a $4 reservation. As of Thursday, Cape Henlopen State Park's drive-on beaches were booked up for Saturday and Sunday, but other drive-on beaches still had availability. All beaches still had availability for Monday. What to do this weekend The Rehoboth Beach bandstand will come to life this weekend with live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Music doesnt start until June in Lewes and Bethany. There are a couple of festivals to choose from Saturday, both in Milton. SpringFest will take place at Hudson Fields on Saturday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a car show, a cornhole tournament, live music, kids activities and vendors. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival at Milton Memorial Park. It features vendors, kids' activities and plenty of marine wildlife-related educational exhibits, all on the shore of the Broadkill River. In need of some fresh produce, meats or flowers, or just want to see what the locals have to offer? Check out the Lewes Farmers Market at George H.P. Smith Park from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What to know if you're coming to Delaware beaches Memorial Day weekend Memorial Day services and parades around the area: Sunday Blissfield Cemetery Memorial Day Services will be held at the Blissfield Cemetery, just off state Route 60 south of the Holmes-Coshocton County line, at 2 p.m. Marine Corps veteran Alan Artman of Millersburg will be the speaker. More: Holmes County villages and towns share Memorial Day program plans Newkirk Cemetery The Memorial Day service will be held at 9 a.m. Shreve American Legion color guard will present the colors. The speaker will be Tom Ballinger, an Army veteran who was deployed in Iraq. He is a detective with the Copley Police Department, having started his law enforcement career at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Flags will be placed on veterans' graves. Monday Killbuck Killbucks parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the VFW and proceeds to Killbuck Cemetery. Glenmont Glenmonts parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Glenmont School Building. Creston, Canaan Township Services will be held at several Canaan Township cemeteries led by American Legion Post 497. At 9:30 a.m., the Legion will be at Burbank Village cemetery and at 11 a.m. it will be at the Creston Village Memorial Day parade. The parade will begin at the former grade school on South Main Street and proceed to the Maple Mound Cemetery where services will be held. Doylestown The Doylestown Memorial Day parade will begin 9 a.m. at Village Square. More: Here's why you should subscribe to the Wooster Daily Record Millersburg American Legion Post 192 will hold a service at 8:30 a.m. at Clay Street Park to honor the grave of Peter Meyers, hero of three wars. The parade to Oak Hill Cemetery will form at 9 a.m. at the Holmes County Courthouse. The speaker for the service will be William ODonnell, Army Corp of Engineers. Fryberg Cemetery and Berlin The Millersburg American Legion Post will hold a ceremony at Fryburg Cemetery at 10:15 a.m. At 11 a.m. the Legion will lead the parade in Berlin, William ODonnell, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, will be the speaker. Story continues Sugarcreek The Sugarcreek American Legion will begin ceremonies 7:45 a.m. at the Veterans' Memorial in Walnut Creek, followed by one at Dundee Cemetery at approximately 8:30 a.m. Sugarcreek ceremonies will be at Eastlawn Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. There will be a short ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at Union Hill Cemetery, at the grave of Homer Weiss, to honor all veterans buried there. Post 494 will then go to Ragersville Cemetery. A service will also be held in Baltic at 10:30 a.m. Winesburg The parade begins at 9:15 a.m. at the water tower and will travel through Winesburg to the Westlawn Cemetery where the memorial service will be held. North Lawrence The parade forms on Lawmont St. east of Alabama Ave. 9 a.m. Joined by the Tuslaw High School Band and Tuslaw BSA Troop 933, the parade goes north on Alabama Avenue, stopping at the North Lawrence Fire Station for a ceremony at the Memorial of Honor at 9:30 a.m. The parade will then continue to the Newmans Creek Cemetery located behind Chapel of the Cross United Methodist Church where a memorial service will be held. More: Air Force major to deliver Winesburg Memorial Day address; parade forms at 9 a.m. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Memorial Day 2023 services and parades in and around Wayne, Holmes (Bloomberg) -- A consortium led by billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes that includes Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners is in final discussions to acquire collapsed solar megaproject Sun Cable Pty Ltd., people with knowledge of the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg The technology tycoons family office, Grok Ventures, is nearing a deal with FTI Consulting, administrators for Sun Cable, after vying for the asset against Squadron Energy, according to the people. Deliberations are ongoing and theres no certainty theyll result in a deal, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Representatives for Grok and Quinbrook declined to comment, while spokespeople for Squadron and FTI didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. News of the talks were reported earlier on Thursday by The Australian. Sun Cable is a A$30 billion ($19.6 billion) project to build Australias largest solar farm and transmit the power by subsea cable to Singapore. Both Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest, a mining billionaire who owns Squadron, had invested in the startup. But Sun Cable entered into voluntary administration in January after its shareholders failed to reach consensus on its future direction and funding. FTI appointed MA Moelis Australia as an adviser soon after as it planned to take to take binding offers for a recapitalization of the firm. The collapse of Sun Cable has become a turning point for Cannon-Brookes and Forrest, former allies who are now backing different approaches to Australias green energy transition. Forrest, founder of iron-ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., assembled Australias largest renewables platform with Squadron after purchasing developer CWP Renewables Pty late last year. Cannon-Brookes, founder of software firm Atlassian Corp., has turned to shareholder activism, haranguing utility AGL Energy Ltd. over its plans to exit coal power. Forrest is a proponent of developing an export industry for green hydrogen from Australia to energy-hungry Asian countries, while Cannon-Brookes continues to believe in the viability of Sun Cables plan to use undersea cabling to transmit solar power. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. In about a month, a recreational marijuana dispensary will open less than an hour from Evansville. Cannabis retailer Terrabis announced in a news release Wednesday that it will have the grand opening for its Grayville, Illinois location on June 17. The store will set off exit 130 of Interstate 64, just over the Indiana / Illinois border, at 105 Koehler Road. That will make it the closest dispensary to the Evansville area: roughly 45 minutes away. The store will be housed in a 10,000-square-foot building and offer the usual dispensary array: pre-rolls; edibles; flower and more. According to its website, it will only sell recreational cannabis, not medicinal. Customers must be 21 or older. More: A cannabis head shop less than an hour from Evansville is thriving in 'one-horse town' Recreational cannabis officially became legal in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2020, and since then the state has made buckets of money off in-state and out-of-state sales. This March alone, the state raked in almost $34 million in out-of-state purchases and more than $101 million from Illinois residents themselves. Indiana, however, remains among the diminishing number of states that has yet to legalize cannabis in any form. During this year's legislative session, state lawmakers drafted 10 marijuana-related bills, ranging from full-on calls for legalization to minor efforts to decriminalize possession of small amounts. All of them failed. Terrabis' grand opening will feature food trucks, local vendors, sales specials, and music from the Evansville-area band The Smoke Rings. The festivities will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Here's when a marijuana dispensary will open near Evansville If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. Hollywood stars are no strangers to the power of comfortable shoes on the red carpet. Take it from Jennifer Lawrence, who recently stepped out at the Cannes Film Festival in a dreamy red Christian Dior gown with (drum roll, please) black flip-flops. More from The Hollywood Reporter The Oscar-winning actress attended the premiere of the French film, Anataomie Dune Chute, and originally arrived in the haute couture silk crepe dress and matching red heels (also by Dior), and changed into more stair-friendly steppers. The Hunger Games star was also there to support Bread and Roses, the Sahra Mani-directed documentary she produced that intimately documents life for the women of Afghanistan after the Taliban seized Kabul in 2021. Related: The Best Memorial Day Designer Fashion Sales to Shop Right Now Its not the first time that an A-list star ditched stilettos in favor of comfy feet at Cannes. Dame Helen Mirren sported Cariumas eco-conscious kicks at the film fest in 2021, and Kristen Stewart kicked off her Christian Louboutin heels and went barefoot there in 2018 (shes also been known to wear pair mini dresses with Converse sneakers). Elsewhere, Chloe Zhao wore a head-to-toe Hermes look (which included white sneakers) to the Oscars for her historic win for best director, and Questlove has worn Crocs to the Grammys and the Academy Awards. In the spirit of stars who prefer function over toe-blistering fashion, check out some of the best black sandals for summer designer gown optional. For those who dont like the feel of thongs between their toes, weve also rounded up the best womens slides and other open-toed options, including many that are on sale during Memorial Day weekend. Whether youre pairing them with white tees and wide-leg jeans for errands or with a summer dress for casual weddings, see our top picks ranging from Havaianas beach-ready flip-flops to The Rows Ginza thongs and everything in between. Story continues Havaianas Slim Flip Flops Theres a reason why Havaianas is considered one of the best flip-flop brands. The Brazilian sandal labels best-selling Slim style has a cushioned footbed with a textured rice pattern to keep your feet from sliding. (The label has spotted on everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Reese Witherspoon to Ana de Armas and Mary-Kate Olsen.) Havaianas Slim Flip Flops Havaianas Slim Flip Flops Price: $30 Buy Now Fitflop F-Mode Luxe Leather Flatform Often dubbed one of the best dupes of The Rows Ginza sandals, Fitflops F-Mode luxe leather platforms have the same minimalist Japanese-inspired silhouette and comfort for a fraction of the price. Fitflop F-Mode Luxe Leather Flatform Fitflop F-Mode Luxe Leather Flatform Price: $130 Buy Now Teva Original Universal Sandal Label lovers might be tempted to splurge on Teva x Chloes luxe collab, but one option that wont break the bank is the outdoorsy footwear brands Original Universal Velcro strap sandals. Teva Original Universal Sandal Teva Original Universal Sandal Price: $55 Buy Now Vince Camuto Jicarlie Jelly Slide Sandal Vince Camutos sculptural jelly slide sandals add edge to summer looks. Vince Camuto Jicarlie Jelly Slide Sandal Vince Camuto Jicarlie Jelly Slide Sandal Price: $59 Buy Now Skims Molded Sandal These waterproof molded thong sandals from Kim Kardashians Skims have a cool chunky sole and comfy thick straps. Skims Molded Sandal Skims Molded Sandal Price: $68 Buy Now Birkenstock Essentials Arizona Waterproof Slide Sandal Hollywood-loved gorp-core brand Birkenstocks classic Arizona slides get a waterproof (and pool-ready) update in these cushioned EVA foam sandals with a contoured footbed. Birkenstock Essentials Arizona Waterproof Slide Sandal Birkenstock Essentials Arizona Waterproof Slide Sandal Price: $68 Buy Now Vince Gemini Slingback Sandal Vinces pillowy patent leather Gemini slingbacks look luxe enough for a red carpet, but feel comfortable for everyday errands. Vince Gemini Slingback Sandal Vince Gemini Slingback Sandal Price: $175 Buy Now Melissa x Collina Strada Puff Sandals For the ultimate open-toed statement, these chunky Puff hiking sandals from Melissa and Collina Stradas collaboration offer pure joy (and cloud-like comfort). Theyre also made of vegan and recyclable materials. Melissa x Collina Strada Puff Sandals Melissa x Collina Strada Puff Sandals (reg. $179) Price: $125 Buy Now Archies Arch Support Flip Flops Designed by a physiotherapist, Archies Arch Support Flip Flops live up to their name with their supportive orthotic footbed that molds to your feet. The tight strap keeps you from toe-clawing and the plug-free design means a durable, strong fit. Archies Arch Support Flip Flops Archies Arch Support Flip Flops Price: $40.00 Buy On Amazon Everlane The Day Crossover Sandal Angelina Jolie, Meghan Markle and Gigi Hadid have been spotted in Everlanes minimalist pieces. The brands buttery leather Day Crossover sandals are among the best flip-flops for summer, thanks to their versatile style that goes with practically everything. Everlane the Day Crossover Sandal Everlane The Day Crossover Sandal Price: $85 Buy Now Staud Rio Sandals Both simple and playful, Stauds Rio sandals are made of 100 percent leather and theyre on sale for 60 percent off. Staud Rio Sandals The Row Ginza Leather Thong Sandal If you prefer to splurge on a simple and classic silhouette, The Rows minimalist-chic Ginza thong sandals (inspired by the stylish Tokyo district) are the way to go. Made in Italy of luxe leather, they feature a sturdy rubber sole and also come in brown. The Row Ginza Leather Thong Sandal The Row Ginza Leather Thong Sandal Price: $970 Buy Now Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. Josh Powell swore he was a father who always put his children first. I love my sons more than anything. I put them first. I put my family first, Powell told Dateline: Secrets Uncovered in a December 2011 interview. In just a couple of months, it became clear just how eerie those words would be. At the time, Powell was a suspect in his wife Susan Cox Powells mysterious disappearance two years earlier. He denied having anything to do with it. On Feb. 5, 2012, however, his family's story took another tragic turn: he locked his two children inside the house he'd been renting and, as an anguished social worker was trapped outside, blew up the home, killing himself and his two young sons. RELATED: A Convicted Killer Tells Psychologist He Murdered More Victims Than Previously Thought He just exploded the house, the frantic social worker told a 911 dispatcher. It was a shocking and heartbreaking end to a disturbing case filled with obsession, deception and lingering unanswered questions about what happened to a devoted Utah mom. Susan Cox Powell Susan Cox Powell Photo: Courtesy of West Valley City Police Department What was Susan Cox and Josh Powell's Relationship like? Outgoing Susan believed she had met the perfect complement when she began dating the much quieter Josh. But Susans parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, never liked the pairing and Judy admitted she got a very bad feeling every time Josh was around. I think she felt sorry for him. He didnt have many friends and I think she felt she could make him happy and that he would change, Judy said of her daughter. Despite her mothers concerns, Susan remained committed to the relationship and officially tied the knot with Josh in the Mormon church before the newlyweds moved in with Joshs sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Kirk Graves. RELATED: Minnesota Officials Bring Top Prosecutor out of Retirement To Help in Madeline Kingsbury's Missing Persons Case From the start, Jennifer told Datelines Keith Morrison the marriage seemed a little rough. Story continues She would kind of order him around a little bit and he wanted to control her and not let her go to some activities with me, she recalled. Who is Josh Powell's father, Steven? According to Jennifer, there was also another element at play as the couple settled in their own Utah home. Josh was growing increasingly close to his father, Steven Powell, a man she described as wacko and not on a good trajectory in life. Susan Cox Powell Susan Cox Powell Photo: Denise Cox Josh started talking on the phone with my dad a lot, he would spend multiple hours, multiple times a week on the phone with him and Susan would complain to me about how Josh would just become unbearable to live with, Jennifer said. Although Steven would later claim that Susan had been the one who was aggressive with men and seemed to flirt with him, investigators would later discover a disturbing set of videos Steven had secretly captured where he appeared to be lusting after his daughter-in-law. There are some videos and pictures of Susan that were obviously taken without her consent or her knowledge. Somebody was hiding and taking or shooting through curtains and doors and taking pictures of her, said Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. We know even though he said that she was interested in him, we believe thats all one big fantasy and she absolutely despised him. RELATED: Judge Enters Not Guilty Pleas for Suspect in Stabbing Deaths Of 4 University of Idaho Students Susan told Jennifer and her friends before she disappeared that she had been unsettled by her father-in-laws creepy behavior. Trouble also continued to brew in her marriage. When Susan went into labor with the couples first son, Charlie, Josh was too busy to take her to the hospital and her parents said they drove her instead. The couple had their second son Braden two years later, but the marriage continued to struggle. Susan lamented about the state of her relationship in an email to Jennifer, writing that she had tried the dates thing with him but that it goes negative or fails to produce any conversation. Susan Cox Powell Susan Cox Powell Photo: Courtesy of West Valley City Police Department Or its (sic) an obligation to him that he seems to hate, she wrote. In another email, Susan hinted that she felt trapped in the spiraling relationship. Every moment I step back and take stock of what Im dealing with, it feels like a never ending cycle but Im too afraid of the consequences, losing my kids, him kidnapping, divorce or actions worse on his part, she wrote in what now seems like a disturbing premonition. How did Susan Cox Powell disappear? Then on Dec. 7, 2009, neither Josh nor Susan showed up to work and their children never arrived at daycare. Jennifer was immediately concerned and drove to the couples house but found no sign of either one, RELATED: What Really Happened During the Osage Murders in Oklahoma The feeling hit me really strong that Josh had done something to her, she told Morrison. What Happened to Susan Cox Powell? That feeling of dread only deepened when Josh returned later that afternoon with a bizarre claim that he had spontaneously decided to take his two young sons camping around midnight the night before, driving almost 100 miles, despite the frigid temperatures. He told the family he came home that next afternoon to find that Susan had vanished. When he came up with that story about going camping, I says no, and got a really sick feeling that no, this is not good, her dad Chuck recalled. It didnt take long for Josh to be named a person of interest in his wifes disappearance by police. But as her family was frantically searching for her, Josh moved to Washington with his sons to live with his father. A photo of Susan Cox Powell and her sons Charlie Powell (R) and Braden Powell (L) displayed at Charlie and Braden's funeral A photo of Susan Cox Powell and her sons Charlie Powell (R) and Braden Powell (L) is displayed as a children's choir performs during a funeral service for Charlie and Braden, February 11, 2012 in Tacoma, Washington. Photo: Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images Steven Powell insisted to Dateline in 2011 that he interrogated his son after he arrived, telling him things like you know the most abusive thing that a father could ever do is murder his wife, but after talking to his son he concluded that Josh played no role in her disappearance. I wanted to see his reaction to this kind of stuff and it was good, Steven said. I was totally satisfied with it. I mean, to me, he passed with flying colors. RELATED: Alleged Drunk Driver Bemoaned Her "Whole Life" Was "Over" in Jailhouse Call after Crash That Killed New Bride Steven once again referred to his unfounded claims that Susan had been open with men and guessed she may have simply run off with someone else. Its a theory Josh seemingly embraced himself, telling Morrison in his final interview that his wife had been flirtatious and may have just given up on the marriage the day she disappeared. I think that Susan simply left, an emotionless Josh said. I dont know whats happened to her. I dont know where she is. He insisted that he never hurt his wife. Susan Cox Powell with her husband Joshua But as Josh was giving his final interview, the world began to close in on the Powell family. Investigators searched his fathers home and found those videos of Susan, along with something else disturbing. There was some child pornography in there and some voyeuristic videos, Troyer said. Pictures and video that were taken from his house into the neighbors house of little girls using bathroom showers shot right from his own window. Steven was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and investigators removed Joshs children from the home while the investigation continued. The boys went to live with Susans parents and although Josh tried to fight the temporary decision, he continued to lose the battles in court. In his final court appearance, the judge ordered that Josh undergo a lie detector test and psychosexual evaluation. Investigators were also still looking into Susans disappearance and her sons had allegedly made some disturbing comments to their grandparents, telling them they hoped mommy knew how to camp because she was somewhere shed need to camp. How did Josh Powell kill his two sons? Feeling trapped, on February 5, 2012 Josh made a desperate decision. During what was supposed to be a court ordered visit with his children, Josh grabbed his sons and pulled them into the rental home, pushing the social worker out and locking the door. Susan Cox Powell with Powell family. At 12:08 p.m. the social worker made her first call to 911 but it was labeled a routine call and authorities wouldnt arrive until the house had already exploded. Investigators now believe Josh killed his children with an ax and then lit the place on fire. I am not able to live without my sons and Im not able to go on anymore, Josh said in a final voice message to his sister Alina. Im sorry to everyone Ive hurt. Goodbye. Years later, what happened to Susan all those years ago remains a mystery. While Steven may have held some answers, he died of a heart attack in 2018 after being paroled from his child pornography conviction a year earlier, taking whatever secrets he may have known to his grave. The case remains unsolved. United Airlines just added dozens of new flights and six new routes including one to Puerto Rico at Denver airport. Robert Alexander/Getty Images United Airlines added dozens of new flights this week out of its hub in Denver, including six brand-new routes. The airline added 35 flights from Denver International Airport, offering more capacity from the Colorado airport than the carrier ever has before, United told Travel + Leisure. As part of its expansion, the airline added new nonstop flights to six destinations: Dayton, OH, Greensboro, NC, Lexington, KY, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and as the Mile High Citys most flown airline, its essential that we maintain the most modern infrastructure and fleet to support our local employees and customers and deliver a great experience, United CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement provided to T+L. Our expansion in Denver will further enable us to connect our customers to destinations across the globe and revitalize our presence at the airport with modern, customer friendly offerings. In addition to the new flights, United said it will open 12 more gates at the Denver airport next year, adding to the 20 it opened last year across the A and B concourses. Overall, United said it will fly to more than 150 destinations from Denver this summer, including nonstop to Hawaii and to more than a dozen international destinations like Tokyo and London. The expansion in Denver comes as international travel is picking up for summer. In fact, United told T+L it has seen a 16 percent increase in demand for international travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend compared to last year, and a 10 percent increase compared to pre-pandemic in 2019. Of Uniteds hubs, Newark, Chicago OHare, and Denver are expected to be the busiest over the holiday weekend. Travel to Europe and Asia is also on track to be the most expensive destinations for summer, driven by a combination of lower supply, high fuel costs, and high demand, according to a recent Hopper report. In fact, the price of a plane ticket to Asia is currently 60 percent higher than pre-pandemic and the cost of a flight to Europe is 24 percent higher compared to the same time period. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. For reasons not yet clear, more than one staff member at Sussex Central High School in Georgetown has been placed on administrative leave. Indian River School District spokesperson Jennifer Troublefield sent the following statement Wednesday. Members of the Sussex Central High School staff were placed on administrative leave by the Indian River School District on Monday. This is an ongoing investigation, and state and federal laws protecting the privacy rights of employees prevent the district from commenting further at this time." Sussex Central High School Delaware State Police spokesman Leonard DeMalto said Wednesday police "may have more details" later that day, but no new information was released. On Friday, Indian River spokesperson David Maull released another statement. "It is a regular practice of the Indian River School District to place employees on paid leave in many circumstances, including when there is an allegation, investigation, complaint, threat against the employee, or other instance warranting paid leave. When an employee is placed on paid leave, this should never be construed as expressing or implying that an employee will face employment action or that an employee may have engaged in any wrongful conduct (of any severity). The District will not provide further comment on this issue. This is a developing story and will be updated. Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Multiple staff members at Sussex Central High School placed on leave Marjorie Taylor Greene spent $100,000 on some cherry chapstick used by Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a short fundraising auction held at the House GOPs weekly meeting. The auction lasted about 15 minutes on Tuesday, according to Politico. The Georgia congresswoman wasnt the only one to bid on the chapstick. As the bidding continued, Mr McCarthy reportedly added things to the pot, such as agreeing to attend a dinner with donors and supporters for the auction winner. A spokesperson for Ms Greene confirmed the events to Politico and The Independent. The chapstick came from the campaign of Florida Republican Representative Aaron Bean, who also served as the auctioneer a role previously held by former Missouri GOP Republican Representative Billy Long, who left the chamber to run to campaign for the Senate, an effort which was ultimately unsuccessful. Ms Greene didnt start bidding for the chapstick until Mr McCarthy announced that he would attend the dinner, according to Politico. The funds from the auction will go to the Republicans campaign efforts. Others who bid on the chapstick included Washington Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Oklahomas Stephanie Bice, and Jason Smith of Missouri. Im honored to be able to donate $100,000 to the [National Republican Congressional Committee] to help Republicans increase our majority in 2024 and defeat the Democrats. My constituents will be honored to host a visit with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who we all think is doing a great job, Ms Greene told the outlet in a statement. The Independent has reached out to the office of the speaker for comment. Mr McCarthy is still far from agreeing to a deal with President Joe Biden on the debt ceiling, with just a few days left to the deadline set by the Treasury for when the US is at risk of defaulting on its financial obligations. As the auction suggests, Republicans remain behind Mr McCarthy as he tries to get Mr Biden to agree to substantial spending cuts. Story continues Democrats slammed the auction, seemingly concerned at the way the GOP is behaving amid the economic turmoil. They doing this insane chapstick s*** while the country teeters on default. Wild, Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar tweeted. Spending $100,000 on chapstick while working overtime to gut the programs that working families rely on. GOP priorities in a nutshell, New York Representative Nydia Velazquez added. Following the auction and the requests for donations to the NRCC, the House GOP spent the meeting discussing the debt ceiling as they shared their doubts about the 1 June deadline proposed by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Florida Representative Matt Gaetz argued that Ms Yellen should be called to testify about the estimated deadline in front of the House Financial Services Committee before 1 June, according to Politico. So far, shes been the Obi-Wan Kenobi of wrong answers on the economy, he told the outlet after the meeting on Tuesday. He claimed that Ms Yellen is taking pointers from the White House to increase the worries about a debt default. Mr Gaetz claimed that Ms Yellen has less evidence for her estimate than a student doing a typical eighth-grade algebra assignment. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana said, Wed like to see more transparency on how the estimate was made. The treasury said again on Monday that the US may be unable to pay all its obligations by next week. Mr McCarthy told the press that I believe we can still get there on a deal on the debt, and get there before June 1. Longtime Lane Memorial Gardens funeral director Dee Harbison in 2021 leads a crew of volunteers in placing United States flags on the graves of service members in honor of Memorial Day. Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It is observed on the last Monday of May and falls this year on May 29. The holiday originally was known as Decoration Day in the years following the Civil War, which claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and led to the first national cemeteries. Americans in various communities began holding tributes to fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers.In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday. Many Americans today observe the holiday by visiting cemeteries or memorials, and local veterans' groups around the Mid-Valley host patriotic programs. Here are some events in the Eugene area to mark the day: Pioneer Cemetery: Memorial Day Observance At 11 a.m. Monday, veterans will be recognized during a ceremony at Pioneer Cemetery, which is adjacent to the campus of the University of Oregon at 1001 E. 18th Ave. At Pioneer Cemetery, 10% of the graves are those of veterans, including 145 Civil War veterans. The heart of the cemetery is the Grand Army of the Republic, which contains 51 Civil War veterans. The ceremony will feature performances from the Shasta Middle School Choir, a black powder rifle salute, a performance by the Eugene-Springfield Fire Department bagpipe band and remarks from veterans and community members. It will close with a retiring of the colors presented by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Eugene Masonic Cemetery: Art in the Cemetery On Sunday and Monday, flags will fly over veterans' graves in honor of Memorial Day at the Eugene Masonic Cemetery at East 25th Avenue and University Street. On both days, a solitary bugler or trumpeter will perform "Taps" at noon in the public square. Following the performance, a cemetery tour will begin at 12:30 p.m. in front of Hope Abbey Mausoleum, which will be open all day. This year's Art in the Cemetery will feature works by six local artists, Patti McNutt, Suma Elan, Margaret Plumb, John Holdway, Tara Kemp and Helen Kauffman. The Hope Abbey Mausoleum will feature displays that illustrate the cemeterys history and serve coffee and cake. History hunts for children and families will be offered all day with prizes for those who complete them. Story continues There will also be a concert by Blugene Brass in the public square at 6 p.m. Sunday. All events are free and open to the public. Eugene Scottish Festival On Saturday, the 21st annual Eugene Scottish Festival takes place, with a special invitation to Vietnam War veterans to be honored for their service during a presentation at 10:35 a.m. It will be held at Irving Grange, 1011 Irvington Road. Adult tickets for the festival are $5, children 12 and under enter for free. Group family tickets for up to six individuals cost $20. Reporter Capi Lynn contributed to this article. Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Memorial Day 2023: Where to go in Eugene to honor the fallen North Carolina leaders continue to sound the alarm over the growing vacancy rate among state employees as lawmakers negotiate a final budget that could alleviate the problem. Democrats are generally the party that pushes for the highest pay, but lately it has been some Republicans calling for better salaries to keep rank and file state employees, and teachers, on the job. Four state agencies led by Republicans who were elected statewide are again advocating for better pay. The most emphatic of them Wednesday was Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, a former House member who is not running for reelection to his current role. To be candid, there is no substitute for money, Dobson told reporters at a news conference Wednesday in downtown Raleighs Legislative Building. Dobson supports the State Employees Association of North Carolinas push for a 10% pay raise for state employees over the next two years, as well as a bonus. My hope is is that the 7.5% (in the House budget) is a starting point, he said. And I would really like to see the 10% increase that has been advocated for here today. I want to do all I can to support our employees at the Department of Labor, support the governor and the General Assembly in any way I can to make sure we get the most we can possible for the employees at the Department of Labor and for all state employees, because its too important not to. North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, a Republican and former state House member, talks about the state employees vacancy rate and his support for 10% raises for state employees during a news conference May 24, 2023 at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. Dobson joined state Rep. Donna McDowell White, a Johnston County Republican who is a retired state employee, as well at leadership from the Department of Insurance and Department of Agriculture to urge lawmakers to solve the crisis. We are in a mess, White said. She said while theres a workforce shortage across the state, the state employees shortage impacts services for North Carolinians. Its very, very concerning about whats happening or not happening to address the issues of the state workers, White said. The House budget proposed 7.5% raises over two years for state employees, which is almost as much as Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers budget proposal of 8%. The Senate budget passed earlier this month would give state employees a 4.5% raise over two years. Story continues None of those proposals are enough to solve the state government jobs crisis, according to Ardis Watkins, executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina. She said the shortage is truly a crisis. If it doesnt happen, if we dont get a higher raise than whats been proposed, the crisis will get worse. Mark Tyler, chief operating officer for the Department of Insurance, said vacancy rates at the department have fluctuated between 17% and 22%, and the agency is not getting the job applications they need. Tyler said its challenging to hire actuaries, engineers and CPAs. Those already working there are dealing with higher workloads, he said. As much as a pay raise as possible is what (Insurance Commissioner Mike) Causey wants, Tyler said, so they can operate at a full staffing level. Causey is also a Republican, as is Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, who has previously said the state doesnt offer competitive salaries. David Smith, the deputy agriculture commissioner, said that some positions do not get a single applicant. Smith has worked for the Department of Agriculture for 50 years and said he has never seen it this bad. Turnover rate is also high Salary is a primary reason for the vacancy rate, according to Smith, who said its now at 17% with a 19% turnover rate. He said the workload continues to grow, and the vacancy and turnover rates mean that inspections are not happening, there are delays in sample testing, there are delays in meeting with farmers. State jobs have become a training ground for private sector, Smith said, with employees leaving for better paying jobs. Those that stay are forced to deal with an increased workload. Smith offered solutions in addition to pay increases, such as better family health insurance, clear paths for advancement and rewards for excellent work. He also said recruitment and retention hurdles include an uneven work schedule for those who work in person or at home. Many of our employees cannot work remotely ... yet the pay is the same, he said. I dont think thats fair. Ardis Watkins, executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, talks about the need for raises amid high vacancy rates for state employees, at a press conference on May 24, 2023 at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. If the state keeps losing people, terrible things will continue to happen, Watkins said, with delayed inspections from elevators to bridges. Weve got issues that are going to lead to tragedy, she said. Elevator inspectors needed at Labor Dobson said that elevator inspectors a job often tied to the Department of Labors image because the inspections are posted in every elevator are one of the hardest jobs to fill in his agency. He told The News & Observer Wednesday that elevator inspections may be delayed because of job vacancies. Theyre supposed to be inspected annually, but thats not always the case because we have 32 individuals trying to do what 39 are supposed to be doing. We have those many vacancies, he said. But then in addition to that, the strain that it puts on those that are trying to get into the facilities to inspect these elevators, its a strain on the ones that stick with us, Dobson added. Elevator inspections is serious work that those men and women do every day for the safety of North Carolinians, because everybody rides an elevator, he said. Coopers push for education funding Democrats often advocate for higher raises for state employees and teachers than Republicans have in the past. But with Republicans having a veto-proof supermajority in both the House and Senate, budget negotiations hinge on inter-chamber decisions within the one political party. Since the Senates budget bill passed with seven Democrats support, the governor has focused most of his attention on public school funding, including teacher pay. Cooper, who declared an actual state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic, said Monday in a video recording that there is also a state of emergency in public education funding. He focused on taxypayer money Republicans want to give to private schools through the Opportunity Scholarship Program. The program is in the Senate budget and a House bill. Cooper has visited elementary schools in Raleigh and Charlotte this week to highlight the need for public education funding in the budget. His budget proposal this year called for 18% raises for teachers and 8% for state employees. In a statement to reporters Wednesday, Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt, a Republican, said that increasing pay would help reduce the vacancy rate and turnover for both state employees and teachers. Truitt said the work of state employees at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction makes the agency better equipped to raise the quality of education in North Carolina for all K-12 learners, and that recruitment and retention efforts must be prioritized. I remain optimistic about the forthcoming conference budge and believe that increasing compensation for state employees, including teachers, would greatly help to reduce vacancy rates and first year turnover, Truitt said. A meaningful investment in the states workforce now both for state employees and teachers would produce tangible benefits for decades to come. Dobson is not seeking reelection, nor running for another office in 2024. He said he has no political agenda for pushing for state employee raises, but just wants to support state employees at his agency and others who work hard every single day. Now, Ive been in the room (as a House member) when the budget decisions are being made, Dobson said. So I know what a tough job it is to have a lot of competing interests. I appreciate the work the House and the Senate have done so far, and Im confident and hopeful that they will come together to do what they can for all hardworking state employees. The compromise budget, which will have the final say on raises, is expected by mid-June. LANSING House Democrats this week introduced legislation to create a state-backed trust fund for local communities designed to support spending on public safety and violence prevention initiatives. The plan would use state sales tax revenue to create the fund. Funding would be distributed proportionately, based on three years' worth of annual violent crime statistics, although a single community could not receive more than 25% of the total funding distributed in a given month. State Reps. Nate Shannon, D-Sterling Heights, and Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, introduced House Bills 4605 and 4606. The lawmakers were joined by House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit Police Chief James White and Grand Rapids Police Deputy Chief Joe Trigg during a news conference at the Capitol Wednesday announcing the plan. Lawmakers say creating a targeted fund would address violent crime in areas where a response is needed most. "We know our local partners are stretching available dollars to help keep neighborhoods safe and prevent escalation of violence, but they need more support from our state," Tate said. Duggan and White said the added funding would help Detroit police hire more "neighborhood" officers who would work to establish relationships with community members, particularly in areas where more crime tends to take place, to have a more proactive response to crime rather than reacting after it's already taken place. Additionally, White said the fund would allow police in Detroit to expand a mental health response unit, which currently consists of 90 officers and medical professionals. Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, speaks during a press conference to announce new legislation to create a $100 million state fund for community public safety spending on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. More: 'One Detroit' initiative announced to help prevent violent crime More: A year after Patrick Lyoya's killing, residents say Grand Rapids police have to earn trust In Grand Rapids, where residents have called for more visible and community-centric policing, Trigg said the fund would allow the city's police department to more aggressively recruit officers, particularly as it aims to fill around 30 vacant positions for which it's budgeted. Story continues As for the funding, HB 4605 would direct the state Department of Treasury to deposit a portion of sales tax revenue into the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund each month. HB 4606 spells out how the funds would be distributed and contains language prohibiting communities from using dollars disbursed from the fund to replace existing expenses. Tate said the proposal builds off public safety initiatives already passed and signed into law, namely a trio of gun safety proposals that create new laws for weapon storage, background checks on firearm purchases and extreme risk protection orders which allow a court to temporarily confiscate a gun if the owner is deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bills have been referred to the House Committee on Local Government and Municipal Finance. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo. Become a subscriber today. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan lawmakers want to create a state public safety fund WASHINGTON The House select committee on the Chinese Communist Party led by U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher on Wednesday released its first set of policy recommendations that deal largely with addressing human rights abuses from China and attempting to deter a potential invasion of Taiwan. The recommendations, detailed in two reports, follow the select committees first three hearings in which it laid out the threat posed by China and highlighted the ongoing abuses against the Uyghur ethnic minority in Chinas Xinjiang region. One report suggests a blueprint for Congressional action for the U.S. to hold China accountable for its crimes against Uyghurs, which include reports of forced sterilization and mass internment, in part through sanctions. The other report, titled Ten For Taiwan, puts an emphasis on enhancing military capabilities to keep peace in the Indo-Pacific. These are our first attempts at a policy process, Gallagher said during a committee meeting Wednesday. They do not represent the last word on either of these issues We will continue to discuss these issues. Theyre very complex. Here are some takeaways from the meeting and the reports: Committee puts initial focus on military efforts to deter an invasion of Taiwan Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., presides over the first hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, in the Cannon House Office Building on February 28, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee is investigating economic, technological and security competition between the U.S. and China. Most of the 10 recommendations on deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan focused on enhancing the military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. They included a call for the U.S. to rapidly increase its own procurement of long-range missile systems, like the anti-ship Harpoon missiles, torpedos and anti-radiation weapons, and a push to clear the $19 million backlog in weapons and military equipment Congress already approved for Taiwan an issue on which Gallagher has been vocal. The Taiwan report also urged combined military training between the U.S. and Taiwan and said Congress should enforce policies that seek to establish a task force or headquarters to better define and coordinate the countrys operational command structure around Taiwan. Story continues I know theres some concern from commentators that examining our deterrence posture out in the open, as the committee did, was too provocative, Gallagher said Wednesday. By showing that we are taking deterrence seriously, however, we are actually demonstrating an unwavering interest in peace. That deters aggression. The recommendations, the committee noted, were developed following expert testimony at hearings, a tabletop war gaming exercise the panel conducted last month simulating a Chinese invasion of Taiwan and a classified briefing from the Biden administration earlier this month. Pushback from some Democrats on a lack of economic recommendations While the panel unanimously approved the Uyghur report, some Democrats on Wednesday appeared to take issue with the panels outsized focus on military-related measures when it comes to supporting Taiwan. U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat and the lone committee member to vote against adopting the Taiwan policies, said he supported a number of the recommendations in the report but contended the report didnt take into account the kind of comprehensive approach that we can be doing on the committee. Kim noted that nine out of the 10 recommendations were security-focused and argued that having the ability to speak with the Department of State and explore other aspects of maintaining peace in Taiwan would have allowed the committee to dive deeper into the issue. Theres so much more to unpack, Kim said in brief remarks. Framing this document as sort of across-the-board recommendations for Taiwan, not just narrowly the security side, I think, gives the impression that these are sort of the top recommendations writ large, he added. It doesnt go into enough of what we could be doing in terms of economic deterrence, diplomatic deterrence and other capacities that we know are so important in building that global coalition. Gallagher said he invited State Department officials to testify before the committee and would like to have representatives from the Biden administrations cabinet testify about the non-military aspect of this competition. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat who also sits on the Armed Services Committee, called the Taiwan recommendations very important but noted economic, diplomatic and informational deterrence in addition to military deterrence will also play a role in the competition with China. It is really important that as we strive to having a comprehensive China strategy, which I think is what's really lacking and in many ways (is) why this committee exists, that we fill up those other three components, Moulton said. So thats work ahead of us. And Raja Krishnamoorthi, the top Democrat on the committee, singled out as "very important" the Taiwan reports second recommendation, which calls for the development of joint plans with allies and partners to enact severe diplomatic and economic costs on the CCP in the event that it engages in military aggression against Taiwan. That point included the recommendation that Congress support increased economic engagement with Taiwan, including a a tax reduction agreement between the countries. The committee aims to implement some of the recommendations this Congress Committee leaders on Wednesday said the reports were focused on policy recommendations that could be passed during this Congress and, in some cases, incorporated into the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act. Certain aspects of the Taiwan report, including recommendations for a better-defined command structure in the Indo-Pacific and the procurement of more long-range missile capabilities, Gallagher said, could be tucked into the fiscal year 2024 NDAA, which could be marked up as soon as next month. Weve identified a pathway for most of the recommendations, Gallagher said. And in some cases, weve endorsed legislation that already exists and is already ready for an NDAA amendment. We put together 10 policy recommendations that can enhance deterrence now and can pass this Congress, he added. This is not a comprehensive list everything we need to do. This is what I believe and the ranking member believes is achievable in this Congress that can make a very real impact. A focus on abuses against Uyghurs The committee recommended putting sanctions on Chinese companies that are found to be complicit in the abuses against Uyghurs and said Congress should call on the Biden administration to further crack down on companies that use forced Uyghur labor. Human rights groups have accused China of imprisoning upwards of 1 million Uyghurs, a predominately Muslim minority, in the country's Xinjiang region. China has pushed back on those claims, framing the internments as "vocational training" centers. The panel in its report said the U.S. should encourage other democratic countries to ban the importation of goods made through Uyghur forced labor and suggested the U.S. should take the lead in raising awareness about reported atrocities against Uyghurs. It leaned on previously introduced legislation, like the Uyghur Policy Act, the Uyghur Human Rights Sanctions Review Act and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, as frameworks. A warning about the looming debt ceiling crisis The panels meeting came as Congress is consumed by a looming debt ceiling crisis. The White House and House Republicans continued negotiations Wednesday, but it was not yet clear when a deal might be reached as Congress stares down a potential default that could occur as early as June 1. Krishnamoorthi on Wednesday told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was concerned the spending cuts to non-defense discretionary spending proposed by Republicans could impact the countrys research and development efforts and, in turn, its ability to compete with China. There cant be cuts, there cannot be cuts in those particular areas if we hope to outcompete the CCP in this global competition, Krishnamoorthi said after the panels meeting So we gotta get our act together and handle this particular situation in an appropriate and bipartisan fashion ASAP. He added: I think that would be totally counterproductive to everything were trying to achieve with this committee and trying to outcompete the CCP. So this is absolutely a bad idea. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mike Gallagher-led China select committee releases recommendations (Bloomberg) -- Some Senate Democrats are pushing the Biden administration to impose tough limits on hydrogen tax credits they say will ensure the fuel lives up to its climate-fighting potential. Hydrogen advocates warn that could end up stifling the nascent industry instead. Most Read from Bloomberg The campaign is aimed at the US Treasury Department, which is writing rules for claiming the tax credit worth as much as $3 for every kilogram of hydrogen produced over a decade. The Biden administration is counting on the fuel to decarbonize power plants, clean up heavy industry and meet climate targets. And the incentive created in last years landmark climate law is essential to driving tens of billions of dollars in spending on hydrogen production and manufacturing electrolyzers to extract the gas from water. Without rigorous guardrails, the resulting investment could spur a net increase in US greenhouse gas emissions, Senator Jeff Merkley warns the Internal Revenue Service in a drafted letter seen by Bloomberg News that a handful of other Democrats are expected to sign. The IRS must ensure that the billions of dollars at stake are used to promote truly low- and zero-carbon hydrogen production and infrastructure. The lawmakers along with a coalition of environmental groups want the full credit available only for hydrogen ventures offset by new, clean electricity supplies located in the same region and operating during the same hours. Otherwise, they argue, surging energy-intensive hydrogen production might spur more generation of fossil fuel-based electricity to fill the gap boosting carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 26 new coal plants each year. Proponents have outlined options for some existing power resources to qualify as new, clean supplies such as nuclear plants operating at night or recently built renewable facilities. Hydrogen advocates say the restrictions would decimate the industrys potential value and stop some planned projects in their tracks. You are putting brakes on the intent of the IRA in a way that will definitely stifle the growth of the industry and the decarbonization benefits, said Frank Wolak, president of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, whose members include Amazon.com Inc., Southern Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Plug Power Inc. The potential limits are a particular threat to nuclear- and hydro-powered projects. While some companies are eyeing new nuclear-powered hydrogen production operations, none envision building a nuclear plant. With a requirement for new generation, capacity increases or off-peak power, nuclear advocates say many ventures wouldnt pan out. I cant see a world where we have anywhere near the level of hydrogen production from nuclear that we would, said Benton Arnett, director of markets and policy at the Nuclear Energy Institute. A strict mandate for new, clean electricity would pretty much take most nuclear off the table. Congress reserved the highest tax credit value for the most cleanly produced hydrogen and gave the Treasury Department discretion in how to estimate emissions. Hydrogen supporters argue similar limits arent imposed on tax credits for electric vehicles and other technologies that also could boost demand for coal and gas power. The department is on track to outline its approach by mid-August. Analysts say a rapid hydrogen scale-up is critical to cutting emissions in coming decades as US power grids grow cleaner. When assessing trade-offs of policy implementation, its important to understand the balance of considerable long-term emissions reduction benefits versus short-term impacts, according to Rhodium Group research. While increased electricity generation to fuel electrolyzers could boost greenhouse gas emissions an estimated 34 million to 58 million metric tons in 2030, Rhodium stressed, the Energy Department estimates potential reductions from clean hydrogen could amount to nearly 20 times that in 2050. Rachel Fakhry, a policy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, says the governments decision will dictate hydrogens potential as a climate savior or villain. The goal has to be preventing emissions increases and increased fossil fuel generation on the grid, she said. Otherwise, its completely contrary to the trajectory we should be on. (Updates with Rhodium Group analysis in 12th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Editors note: The writer is a retired UNC System vice president who recently helped form the Friends of Public Education Steering Committee. Seven other committee members signed on to this op-ed. The North Carolina General Assembly is proposing to divert millions of taxpayer dollars, in an arguably unconstitutional manner, away from the public schools and into the hands of private and parochial schools with none of the transparency and accountability required of the public schools. We are a group of mostly retired educators from across North Carolina who have come together in recent weeks out of alarm over what the legislature is proposing to do. Senate Bill 406 and House Bill 823 will use tax dollars to support Opportunity Scholarships for the private education of children, not just from low-wealth families, but for the first time, to wealthy families and those already enrolled in private schools. Senate Bill 406 would provide over $2.2 billion of taxpayer money for private school vouchers over the next 10 years. Egregiously, the N.C. General Assembly is allowing these private and religious schools to discriminate against the children of the state based on religious beliefs and the personal characteristics of voucher applicants. Private and parochial schools can pick and choose students who align with their beliefs and reject others. The public schools are open to all regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation and religious or political beliefs. Charles R. Coble It was the genius of the 1868 N.C. Constitution which, in Article 9, made clear that a responsibility of state government was to provide for a free public education for all the children of the state, including children who were historically denied that opportunity due to race, religion or financial resources. The state constitution did not include provisions for financing private and religious education with public tax dollars. North Carolinas Republican and Democrat governors and enlightened leaders of the General Assembly have long championed, if not always well-financed, public education in North Carolina. Rather than divert millions of our tax dollars to unaccountable private and often discriminatory schools, the General Assembly should address the unmet needs of the public schools (mostly rural) across North Carolina, as documented in the long-standing Leandro case. Story continues Embarrassingly, North Carolina now ranks 50th in school funding effort and 48th in overall funding level according to the most recent Making the Grade report by the Education Law Center. Beginning teacher pay in North Carolina is now below every state in the Southeast, except West Virginia. North Carolina is now nearly $12,000 below the national average for teacher pay. Mississippians can now say, Thank God for NC. The ideology driving these twin bills is intended to degrade public education. They shift the scales of responsibility from doing what is best for the common good of the people of North Carolina to a self-serving whats in it for me at taxpayer expense. The great majority of North Carolinians love and support their local public schools and teachers. They also know that a well-educated, civically engaged public is key to creating and sustaining a flourishing state in which to live. We understand what our nations Founding Fathers understood, that public education is essential to maintaining a democracy. The diversion of public money to private and religious education not only undermines our public schools, but it also undermines our free and democratic society. We urge the N.C. General Assembly to reject SB 406 and HB 823. Charles R. Coble is a former vice president for the UNC System and D ean of the School of Education at East Carolina University. He lives in Chapel Hill. Members of the Friends of Public Education Steering Committee who signed on to this op-ed include Larry Coble, Janice Davis, Nancy Farmer, Bill Harrison, Dick Jones, Larry Mabe and Michael D. Priddy. FLEMINGTON A Pennsylvania man was sentenced Friday to seven years in state prison on three counts of second-degree sexual assault while serving as a counselor at Camp Bernie in the Port Murray section of Lebanon Township. Joshua F. Daranijo, 24, of Levittown, pleaded guilty Jan. 25 before Superior Court Judge Angela F. Borkowski to three counts of second-degree sexual assault by contact and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for knowingly possessing items depicting the sexual exploitation of a child, according to Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renee M. Robeson. Daranijo had openly admitted in court to sexual contact with three children under the age of 13, and to possessing child sexual abuse material, while a counselor at the YMCA camp. Under the state's No Early Release Act, he must serve 85 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole. Upon his release, Daranijo will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law and be subject to parole supervision for life. Daranijo was charged after an investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Offices Special Victims Unit. More: Former Rutgers Prep teacher and coach avoids jail time in sexual assault case Borkowski has also sentenced Mattheu Goncalves, 24, of Clinton Township, to six years at the state's Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center for sex offender treatment on a charge of second-degree possession of child pornography. Goncalves, who pleaded guilty on Oct. 21, 2022, will be required to register as a sex offender under Megans Law and be subject to parole supervision for life. Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Camp Bernie former counselor gets 7 years for child sex assaults KENNEBUNK, Maine A man is facing charges after admitting that he fired BBs at two occupied vehicles parked alongside the beach on the night of May 17, according to the Kennebunk Police Department. Rami Bjotvedt, 20, of Arundel, has been issued a summons for reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, Kennebunk Deputy Police Chief Eric OBrien said on May 23. The charge is a Class C felony. According to OBrien, a woman sitting in her vehicle on Beach Avenue reported to police that a rock had been thrown through her car window at approximately 11:30 p.m. While officers were at the scene, they were approached by a second woman who said her vehicle had been hit with something while she was sitting in it at Mothers Beach. Rami Bjotvedt, 20, of Arundel, is facing charges after admitting that he fired BBs at two occupied vehicles parked alongside the beach May 17. After some investigation, police determined that pellets from a BB rifle had actually been fired at both vehicles, smashing the window of one and denting the door of the other. The second woman told police that an individual in a Nissan Rogue had been driving by her vehicle at the moment of the incident, according to OBrien. Neither woman was injured in the incident. Maine private beaches: Group asks court to rule on public access OBrien added that good police work led authorities to Bjotvedts residence at 44 Arundel Road in Arundel less than an hour later. Officers in the area had been doing checks on the license plates of passing vehicles and the Nissan Rogues had been among them. OBrien said Bjotvedt confessed to shooting the BBs at the vehicles. He admitted to it and wrote out a confession, and everything, OBrien said. Bjotvedt is due in court for the reckless conduct charge on July 11. OBrien said the Police Department also will be seeking charges of aggravated criminal mischief against Bjotvedt. Attempts to reach Bjotvedt to determine whether he has hired a lawyer were unsuccessful. Seafood with magical views: Ultramar, Casa 77 take over Cape Porpoise spot OBrien said police also are investigating a third BB-related incident in which a pellet was fired at the window of a local home. Police received a report of that incident on May 13. Story continues Since the investigation is still open, O'Brien could not comment on whether this incident was related to the ones involving the two vehicles at the beach. OBrien encouraged members of the public to stay alert, even as they seek out relaxation at the beach. Always be aware of your surroundings, of whos around you and whats going on, he said. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kennebunk police: Man admits to firing BBs at cars parked at Mother's Beach Molly the rescue dog and her puppies are recuperating from the eventful birth at the Arizona Humane Society Arizona Humane Society Molly the dog is an unstoppable mom. The rescue pooch is recuperating at the Arizona Humane Society's Mutternity Suites a "medically supervised area for pregnant and nursing dogs to give birth and care for their puppies" after a harrowing birth experience, according to the rescue. Arizona Humane Society (AHS) first learned about Molly from a local emergency animal clinic, which took in the heavily pregnant homeless animal after a rattlesnake bit the canine. By the time AHS's Emergency Animal Medical Technicians (EAMT) arrived at the clinic to assist Molly, the dog had received antivenom treatment and given birth to three puppies. Related: Rescue Saves 24 Dogs and Names Pups After Taylor Swift to Celebrate Singer's N.Y.C. Shows The EAMTs put 1-year-old Molly and her new pups in their pet ambulance and rushed the family to AHS' trauma hospital for further care. During the journey to the hospital, Molly welcomed two more puppies, but the mother dog wasn't done yet. Arizona Humane Society Molly and her five puppies received medical exams after reaching the hospital and then were placed in AHS' Mutternity Suites, where Molly gave birth to two more puppies. The family of eight is now resting up and getting time to bond at the Mutternity Suites. Molly and her 1-week-old puppies are doing well following Molly's rattlesnake run-in and eventful birth. All of the dogs will remain at the Mutternity Suites, receiving on-site care until they are ready to move into a foster home. Related: Dog Digs His Way to Safety After 3 Days Trapped Underground Molly isn't the only mom getting some well-deserved rest and relaxation at the Mutternity Suites; she is sharing the space with two other new moms. Together the trio is caring for 22 puppies in total. Arizona Humane Society All of the families are searching for foster homes. Animal lovers who want to open their homes to the dogs can learn more about fostering at AHS's website. Story continues 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 Once a mother and her pups leave AHS's Mutternity Suites, they make room for a new rescue dog mom looking for a helping hand. AHS anticipates assisting upwards of 500 mom dogs and puppies at their Mutternity Suites this year. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Last week, Quentin Tarantino announced that Rick Dalton (apocryphal hero of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood played by an Oscar-nominated Leonardo DiCaprio) had passed away at the age of 90 in his Hawaii home. The unfortunate news was confirmed on Twitter through The Video Archives, a cinephile podcast hosted by Tarantino and his Pulp Fiction co-writer, Roger Avery. Buckle up, things are about to get meta. As a purely speculative exercise, yours truly took to social media to wonder aloud what film roles Dalton might have landed after preventing the infamous TateLaBianca murders in that fateful summer of 1969. Stuart Cohen producer of John Carpenter's The Thing was kind enough to play along, recounting how he and Carpenter pursued the star of Bounty Law and The 14 Fists of McCluskey for the role of Garry (the Outpost 31 station chief ultimately portrayed by the late Donald Moffat). RELATED: Iconic Dog Creature from John Carpenter's The Thing Transforming into an Action Figure "Their meeting at Tail 'O The Cock didn't go well," Cohen wrote. "[Rick] hated snow, he said, and didn't want to play 'second fiddle to a monster,' as he put it. We looked elsewhere..." A true shame Rick's prowess with a flamethrower would've come in handy against the movie's fire-averse antagonist. Funnily enough, the whole "second fiddle to a monster" thing was a genuine concern of agents throughout the movie's casting stage. "We had difficulty securing the people we wanted to initially meet and it was only when I got them to read the script that they began to understand what we were up to and how well the characters were developed," Cohen notes in SYFY WIRE's massive oral history celebrating the 40th anniversary of the sci-fi/horror masterpiece. Okay, here's where things get really cool: Cohen ended up sharing the fictional anecdote above with Tarantino, who made it a part of the latest episode Video Archives, which takes an extensive and sincere deep dive into Dalton's official career history. "I also heard that Rick wanted the Donald Moffat part in The Thing," Avery says. "He didn't get it." Story continues "Oh, wow. That would've been amazing," chimes in Tarantino. "I can't even imagine how awesome that would be." "And you know I love Donald Moffat, he was my neighbor," Avery continues. "But I actually thing Rick Dalton would've brought something really cool to that." Happy to have provided this anecdote for Quentin Tarantino's extensive eulogy of Rick Dalton. R.I.P. to a legend... https://t.co/64DMZ1VKwq stuart cohen (@CohenStuart) May 23, 2023 On May 19, 2023, actor Rick Dalton passed away peacefully in his home in Honolulu, Hawaii. On part one of our memorial episode, we discuss some of his television work along with segments of an interview conducted by Quentin at @HIFF. LISTEN NOW: https://t.co/hBbtC60Xen pic.twitter.com/DqtIqEOELh The Video Archives Podcast (@VideoArchives) May 23, 2023 Upon learning that your humble author had unintentionally inspired a small corner of Rick Dalton's Hollywood tenure, I reached out to Mr. Cohen for more intel. The producer once again proved himself more than happy to oblige, reaching back through his multiversal memories. Carpenter "was disappointed" by Rick's decision to pass on the now-seminal project," Cohen told me over email. "He'd seen the actor's Italian Westerns growing up in Bowling Green and thought him a more believable protagonist than Clint Eastwood the films themselves becoming a formative influence. 'Horror found me,' [John] would say. I got into the movie business to make Westerns.' I know John hoped to cast Rick in Somebody's Watching Me! (the role eventually played by Charles Cyphers) but was dissuaded by studio brass who didn't want 'that cowboy actor,' as they put it, in the part. Here, John thought, Garry was the best role Rick had seen in some time and was prepared to expand it, but was taken aback by the actor's response to the rugged working conditions everyone would face. John needed someone who would be in one hundred percent with no questions asked and in Rick's parting 'All in all, John, I'd rather spend December in Hawaii,' we knew it wouldn't work. A missed opportunity for us. R.I.P. to a legend." In a follow-up email, Cohen who also debunked longstanding rumors that Dalton shot test footage for The Thing clarified that Carpenter "did work with Rick in a way" during the filmmaker's days as a student at USC film school in the late '60s and early '70s. "One exercise in Cinema 325 had each editing student receiving 16mm dailies of a gunfight scene from Bounty Law (courtesy of the Editors Guild), which he or she would assemble in their own way. The results would then be screened and critiqued." EDITOR'S NOTE: the Cinema 325 in our reality utilized episodes of Gunsmoke. The Thing (along with its divisive 2011 prequel) is available to purchase from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. In the mood for more creature features? Terror of Mechagodzilla, Jumanji, King Kong, and Cocaine Bear are all streaming on Peacock. Reps. Thomas Massie and Chip Roy were among the earliest backers of DeSantis campaign. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call; Scott Olson/Getty Images; Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to announce his presidential campaign on Wednesday. He already has the support of a handful of members of Congress. But most GOP members of Florida's congressional delegation have already endorsed Trump. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to announce his 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday evening. The most formidable challenger yet to former President Donald Trump, DeSantis is starting his campaign with the endorsement of a handful of Republicans on Capitol Hill. Nonetheless, Trump over the last two months has locked up the support of most of the Republican House members from Florida and he's garnered far more endorsements overall than DeSantis. But the Florida governor has his admirers on Capitol Hill. Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, who has said she plans to remain neutral in the primary for now, declared DeSantis to be the "leader" of the GOP after the 2022 midterm elections. And for many Republicans, DeSantis represents the best shot at dislodging Trump as the party's standard-bearer after several disappointing election cycles. Here are all of the prominent Republicans who have expressed support for DeSantis' 2024 campaign: Five House members Bob Good the Virginia congressman, who refused to back Kevin McCarthy's speakership bid in January, endorsed DeSantis in a statement in early May, saying "strength in the face of adversity is needed more today than ever before." Laurel Lee the Florida congresswoman endorsed DeSantis in April, saying she "had the honor of witnessing firsthand his unparalleled leadership under pressure" when she served under DeSantis as Florida's Secretary of State. Thomas Massie the Kentucky congressman and outspoken libertarian endorsed DeSantis in April, saying he's been "honored to call Ron DeSantis a friend for over a decade." Rich McCormick the Georgia congressman endorsed DeSantis in May, saying in a Twitter video that the 2024 "election is about winning" and "who can earn victory in Georgia." Story continues Chip Roy the Texas congressman and House Freedom Caucus member endorsed DeSantis in an email to supporters in March, over two months before DeSantis announced, saying it's "time for younger, but proven, leadership to offer America eight solid years of transformational change." This list is periodically updated as more Republican elected officials endorse DeSantis. Read the original article on Business Insider South African digital banking platform TymeBank has raised $77.8 million in a pre-Series C round led by African-focused growth-stage fund Norrsken22 and Swiss global impact investment firm Blue Earth Capital. TymeBank expects to close its Series C round later this year, it said in a statement. Tencent, the lead investor in the fintechs $70 million Series B extension raise in December 2021, participated in this pre-Series C round and increased its stake to become TymeBanks third-largest shareholder. TymeBank is majority owned by Patrice Motsepes African Rainbow Capital (ARC); the South African fintech is backed by other investors, including the British International Investment (BII), Apis Growth Fund II, JG Summit Holdings (JG Summit), African Fig Tree (AFT) and the Ethos AI Fund. TymeBank isnt indigenously South African, though. It is a member of the Tyme Group of companies headquartered in Singapore. The holding company, Tyme, focuses on designing, building and operating digital banks for emerging markets. Tymes brand in South Africa is TymeBank -- and GoTyme in the Philippines, its first market in Asia, which the fintech launched last October in partnership with the Gokongwei Group. Launched in February 2019, TymeBank employs a hybrid digital banking and physical service operations model. It offers a transactional bank account with zero or low monthly fees and a savings product to its customers, most of whom are onboarded via physical locations, including national retailers Pick n Pay and Boxer, top fashion retailer The Foschini Group (TFG) and one of the largest churches in South Africa, the Zion Christian Church. The challenger bank has also seen many accounts opened online and a shift from cash deposits to electronic transfers. Some of its competitors include Bank Zero and Lula. In early February 2021, when we covered Tyme Banks first tranche of its Series B at $110 million, the fintech, founded by Coen Jonker, was on track to reach 3 million customers. The company has now hit a 7 million customer milestone this month (in South Africa alone), the company said in a statement. Those numbers are set to increase as the fintech, last year, moved into business banking, acquiring Retail Capital, a fintech that has provided over R5 billion in working capital to more than 43,000 business owners in South Africa. Story continues Tyme has continually pushed forward the evolution of banking. Tyme was the first bank in South Africa to be operated fully off a cloud-based infrastructure network and now makes it possible to open a fully regulated bank account in less than five minutes, which can be done online or from a TymeBank kiosk. It also takes nine seconds to send money to any cellphone in South Africa using TymeBanks SendMoney app, the statement added. TymeBank claims to be recording a revenue run rate of over $100 million annually as its business across South Africa and the Philippines is growing at 300,000 new customers monthly. The company says the exponential growth in customer numbers shows how it is truly serving consumers needs and having entered as a disruptor in the industry, it is now entrenched as the credible alternative to legacy banks in the country. TymeBank intends to use this new capital, which takes its total money raised to over $260 million, to further operations in South Africa and the Philippines and for future expansion in Southeast Asia. Tymes global footprint includes its product development and engineering hub in Vietnam and its headquarters in Singapore, leading strategy, business development, data, analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) functions. We are delighted to invest in Tyme. The company offers a unique product with huge customer appeal, which has led to fast and sustained growth. We have analyzed a lot of fintechs from across the continent, and Tyme set itself apart with its impressive growth, its differentiated product, and its unique ability to reach and serve new customer groups, said Natalie Kolbe, the managing partner at Norrsken22, on the investment. The exceptional management team have already built one of the largest challenger banks in the world, and we are looking forward to being part of the next phase of their journey. A Swansea-based yoga studio plans to open a location in Edwardsville this year. Go Yoga! Express, at 216-5 Frank Scott Parkway East in Swansea, offers yoga and hot yoga classes, infrared sauna and halotherapy, yoga teacher training and life coaching. Owner Kellie Mathes said the second location will be in Edwardsvilles Whispering Heights community at 1010 Enclave Blvd. and open this fall. Mathes said she and her family went to 1818 Chophouse for her sons birthday in November. She really fell in love with the area and came up with the idea to have a studio there. Mathes said she has several students who moved to Edwardsville, so shes glad to be able to offer classes and expand services there. This seating area is where Go Yoga! Express life coaching sessions are held. The infrared sauna is behind the wooden partition. The new studio will have a similar floor plan and elements as Swansea, she said, adding that rooftop yoga classes will be held for the residents at Whispering Heights. Yoga on the rooftop is just one of the multiple locations Go Yoga! Express holds yoga events. Recent events include Yoga & Coffee at LongStory Coffee in Belleville, Yoga Then Mimosas at 1818 Chophouse in Edwardsville and Pups, Poses & Pints at Eckerts Cider Shed in Belleville. Later this year, Go Yoga! Express will hold yoga retreats in Belize, Mexico and Italy (Mathes is currently learning Italian). She said through these events, the idea is to bring yoga into the forefront of the community and share the benefits of the practice. The studio at Go Yoga! Express can accommodate up to 60 students (five rows of 12), according to owner Kellie Mathes. This recent photo provided by Mathes shows a typical class at Go Yoga! Express. Mathes started practicing yoga in 2007 and has done hot yoga for 13 years. In late 2011, she co-founded Yoga Core and More in OFallon as a way to bring hot yoga to the metro-east. Prior to opening that business, Mathes and her then partners, Theresa Blomberg and Michele Taylor, drove to St. Louis to do hot yoga. I was the yoga teacher, and Michele and Therese were students, Mathes told the BND in 2015. Michelle decided that we needed hot yoga in the metro-east. So the three of us had been traveling to St. Louis about four times a week, about 50 miles round trip doing hot yoga, and we didnt have any hot yoga available in the area. So we decided to open a hot yoga studio. Story continues Mathes said she sold her share of Yoga Core and More to open Go Yoga! Express. Go Yoga! Express opened in April 2017. Go Yoga! Express in Swansea is located at 216-5 Frank Scott Parkway East. Hours of operation vary. Class descriptions and schedules are available online at goyogaexpress.com. For more info, call 618-416-5199 or visit the website or Facebook page. Ice Spice, left, and Taylor Swift seen at this year's iHeartRadio Music Awards will collaborate on the song "Karma" for the deluxe edition of Swift's "Midnights." (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press) Taylor Swift's surprise Ice Spice collaboration on the deluxe version of her "Midnights" album is raising some eyebrows. Following Wednesday's announcement that the "Munch" rapper would be featured on Swift's "Karma," fans of both artists criticized the collaboration. That's because of Swift's association with Matty Healy, the frontman of English band the 1975. In January, Healy disparaged Ice Spice while he was a guest on a podcast. Healy has been romantically linked to Swift since early May and has made many appearances at her Eras tour, including one onstage. Neither has confirmed a romantic relationship. Healy mocked Ice Spice's ethnicity on "The Adam Friedland Show," laughing at the hosts' jokes speculating about the New York rapper's ethnicity. Nick Mullen and Friedland, who are both comics, called her an "Inuit spice girl" and a "chubby Chinese lady" and imitated Hawaiian and Chinese accents. (Ice Spice is Nigerian and Dominican.) In the same podcast, Healy egged on jokes about Japanese incarceration during World War II by encouraging the hosts to mock Japanese accents before joining in and joking about masturbating to a video of a woman "getting, like, brutalized" on a porn website that prominently features Black women. In April, Healy (kind of) apologized to Ice Spice during the band's performance in Auckland, New Zealand, saying his apology was "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." Fans were quick to note that Ice Spice will be the first Black woman on one of Swift's songs. "first collab with a black woman ever because your man a racist who used racist terminology in reference to the person you're collaborating with... very [calculated] miss swift," @CTRLZA tweeted. Story continues Swift's fans had been speaking up in opposition to her involvement with the frontman's recent behavior. Swift tweeted Wednesday that she was "so delighted" to have Ice Spice on the track and that she is "a massive fan of this brilliant artist and after getting to know her I can confirm: she is THE ONE to watch." Spice, born Isis Naija Gaston, quote tweeted in response, saying, "sweetest person ever thank u sm i love yuuuu," punctuated with a heart-eye emoji, purple heart emoji and heart-hands emoji. "Not Taylor Swift teaming up with Ice Spice for a collab gotta get that damage control in for Matty Healy, " Twitter user @emilyjslade wrote. A week ago, the now-deleted account, @SpeakUpNow_13, wrote a statement on behalf of concerned fans about Swift's association with Healy, 34. The statement calls on Swift to: "Use your platform responsibly and intentionally. Advocate for inclusivity, celebrate diversity, and promote empathy and understanding." "#SpeakUpNow, " the hashtag associated with the statement, has been tagged in more than 1 million videos on TikTok. The tweet comes nearly two weeks after Swift announced the release of "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" and uses the same font, color and style of the card she posted to social media. Citing "racist remarks, making offensive jokes, and admitting to watching degrading pornography," the post says Healy and, by proxy, Swift "contribute to the perpetuation of hate, stereotypes and objectification which targets and hurts" Swifties of marginalized backgrounds, "including Jewish, Black, Chinese, Hawaiian, Inuit, LGBTQ+ communities and women." In January, Healy faced backlash for doing a Nazi salute during a live performance of the 1975's song "Love It If We Made It." Over the weekend, Swift told concertgoers in Foxborough, Mass., that she's "never been this happy ... before" prompting some to speculate that the source of her newfound happiness is her alleged romance with Healy, who has been dubbed "Ratty Healy" by his detractors. "Its not just the tour," Swift told the audience. "My life finally feels like it makes sense. Fans were quick to react. "the fact that shes openly saying this, while simultaneously sidelining her POCs fans with her association with that man is a choice," @ynkookgo tweeted. "honest to god. what is wrong with her? "It's heartbreaking to see such kind of emotionless cruel behaviour," @s13561835 tweeted. "it's now proved Taylor swift is privileged white woman who don't care about other emotions, for such people racism and such issues are little how cruel. She is now showing her true face." Taylor Swift did not respond immediately to The Times' request for comment. Times staff writers Christi Carras and Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The tiger conservation efforts in Asia have been so successful that they had an unintended -- and equally beneficial -- consequence of preventing further some greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere, a new study finds. Enhanced protection of Indian forests for tiger conservation has prevented 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions as a result of averted forest loss, according to a paper published Thursday in Nature Ecology & Evolution. MORE: International Tiger Day: As tiger populations increase, so do conflicts with humans The highest proportion of the world's wild tigers -- Panthera tigris -- live in India. When the Indian National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in 2005 to rehabilitate the country's dwindling tiger population, many of the tiger reserves were designated in the subsequent years, with the most recent ones being established in 2022, according to the researchers. While the sites were already considered protected areas, the designation as tiger reserves resulted in enhanced monitoring and enforcement of forest protection. In addition, the tiger reserves were required to prepare a conservation plan that regulates forest product extraction, reduces deforestation drivers and encourages sustainable livelihoods for communities within the reserves. PHOTO: FILE - A young male tiger in Bandhavgarh National Park, the former home of the Royal family of Rawa and now a tiger sanctuary with the highest concentrations of tigers in India. (Leisa Tyler/LightRocket via Getty Images, FILE) Researchers compared rates of deforestation in tiger reserves to protected areas without the additional tiger protection and calculated that there was "significantly" less deforestation than what would have occurred without the enhanced protection in 11 of the 45 studied tiger reserves, according to the paper. This forest conservation amounted to 5,802 hectares -- or more than 14,000 acres -- of net averted forest loss from 2007 to 2020, which the researchers estimate corresponds to net avoided carbon emissions of about 1.08 million metric tons. India, the third-largest emitter in the world behind China and the U.S., released 2,442 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide emissions produced in 2020, according to the Global Carbon Atlas. In comparison, the amount of avoided carbon emissions from tiger conservation is "not massive," but is still significant, Aakash Lamba, a conservation scientist at the National University of Singapore's Center for Nature-based Climate Solutions and lead researcher of the paper, told ABC News. Story continues The avoided deforestation could be worth about $6.24 million in carbon offsets and could represent about $92 million in ecosystem services from the avoided social cost of emissions in India, the researchers said. MORE: Tiger on loose in Houston for nearly a week moved to animal sanctuary Among the noteworthy results of the study was the finding that tiger conservation essentially pays for itself in terms of the avoided damages from climate change-related impacts, especially because India is one of the most vulnerable countries when it comes to the social cost of carbon, Lamba said. Over the study period, more than a quarter of the annual expenditure on tiger conservation was paid back every year, in terms of avoided climate change impacts, the researchers found. "Every additional tonne of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions leads to about $86 [U.S.] in damages to the Indian economy," Lamba told ABC News. PHOTO: FILE - A Royal Bengal Tiger pauses in a jungle clearing in Kaziranga National Park, India, Dec. 21, 2014. (AFP via Getty Images, FILE) One of the reasons why tigers have flourished in Asian countries like Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is because these cultures tend to revere big cats, experts told ABC News last year. In addition to the mythology, local communities, who tend of be the "custodians" of the tiger habitats, have emerged as key stakeholders in the conservation of the species, and are beginning to benefit from the ecotourism that has grown since the programs began. The conservation has become an "important way to enhance the livelihoods of the people who share their space with wild tigers," Lamba said. MORE: Man charged with mistreating tiger cub he kept at his Los Angeles home, authorities say Growing up in India, Lamba was "fascinated" by the big cat, he said. "The tiger is one of the most charismatic and highly protected wild species in India," the paper states. PHOTO: Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (Via Getty Images) The findings show how protecting biodiversity on the planet with effective monitoring and management can benefit both species conservation and climate targets. Traditionally, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation have been been addressed as "fairly separate issues, but they're quite intimately linked," Lamba said. Researchers are continuing to gather empirical evidence to establish that link, Lamba added. How tiger conservation in India may be helping to mitigate climate change originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Gripas Yuri/ABACA/Shutterstock / Gripas Yuri/ABACA/Shutterstock President Joe Bidens student loan forgiveness plan ran into another potential roadblock this week after the U.S. House voted to pass a resolution that would block the plan from being implemented and also end the pause on student loan repayments. Student Loan Payments: Heres the Official Date You Need To Start Paying Again Learn: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch Whether the resolution makes it into law is another story. Biden has pledged to veto it if it passes in both the House and Senate, CNN reported. But the fact that it might hit his desk at all underscores just how deeply divided lawmakers are on the merits of loan forgiveness. As GOBankingRates previously reported, Senate Republicans in late March introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the forgiveness plan. The CRA would also end the pause on student loan payments. One advantage of using the CRA is that it lets Congress roll back regulations from the executive branch without having to clear the 60-vote threshold in the Senate needed for most legislation, CNN reported. As of May 24, the Senate had yet to schedule a vote on the resolution. However, nearly all Republican senators have signed on as sponsors. Although the forgiveness plan has faced pushback almost from the moment it was unveiled last summer, White House officials have not backed down from their support of it. If implemented, it would cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt per borrower. The presidents plan is a good one. Its a popular one. And it will help prevent borrowers from default when loan payments restart this summer, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement on Wednesday. Even if the House proposal is struck down, theres no guarantee the forgiveness plan will ever see the light of day. It is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, and many legal experts expect the conservative-leaning SCOTUS to strike the plan down on legal grounds. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have made clear that they will do everything in their power to kill the plan if the Supreme Court doesnt. President Bidens so-called student loan forgiveness programs do not make the debt go away, but merely transfer the costs from student loan borrowers onto taxpayers to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, U.S. Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), said in a March statement. Take Our Poll: Who Has Given You the Best Money Advice You Have Ever Received? New Student Loan Problems: Prepare for Lost Payments, Surprise Late Fees as Contracts Change Hands Their opposition doesnt end with loan forgiveness. They also oppose any attempts to further extend the payment pause that went into effect in March 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since been extended eight times. The latest extension is set to expire 60 days after either June 30, or whenever the Supreme Court decides on the loan forgiveness plan. Based on that deadline, payments are likely to resume sometime in late August 2023. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Bidens Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Under Attack, Debt Relief for Millions at Risk MEPs in the European Parliament had the opportunity of a rare in-person appearance by Ireland's data protection commissioner, Helen Dixon, to criticize the bloc's lead privacy regulator for most of Big Tech over how long it's taking to investigate the video-sharing social media platform TikTok. This concern is the latest expression of wider worries about enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) not keeping pace with usage of major digital platforms. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) opened two inquiries into aspects of TikTok's business back in September 2021: One focused on its handling of children's data, and another looked at data transfers to China, where the platform's parent company is based. Neither has yet concluded. Although the kids' data inquiry looks relatively advanced along the GDPR enforcement rail at this stage -- with Ireland having submitted it to other EU regulators for review in September last year. Per Dixon, a final decision on the TikTok kids' data case should arrive later this year. The U.K.'s data protection watchdog -- which now operates outside the EU -- has taken some enforcement action in this area already, putting out a provisional finding that TikTok misused children's data last fall. The ICO went on to issue its final decision on the investigation last month, when it levied a fine of around $15.7 million. (Albeit, it's worth noting it shrunk the size of the fine imposed and narrowed the scope of the final decision, dropping a provisional finding that TikTok had unlawfully used special category data -- blaming resource limitations for downgrading the scope of its investigation.) In remarks to the European Parliament's civil liberties committee (LIBE) today, which had invited Ireland's data protection commissioner to talk about TikTok specifically, Dixon signaled an expectation that a decision on the TikTok children's data probe would be coming this year, making a reference to the company as she told MEPs: "2023 is going to be an even bigger year for GDPR enforcement on foot of DPC large scale investigations." Story continues Other large-scale cases she suggested will result in decisions being handed down this year include a very long-running probe of (TechCrunch's parent company) Yahoo (nee Oath), which was opened by the DPC back in August 2019 -- and which she noted is also currently at the Article 60 stage. She added that there are "many further large scale inquiries travelling closely behind" without offering any detail on which cases she was referring to. Plenty of Big Tech investigations remain undecided by Ireland -- not least major probes into Google's adtech (opened May 2019) and location tracking (February 2020), to name two. (The former of which has led to the DPC being sued for inaction.) Neither case merited a name-check by Dixon today so presumably -- and luckily for Google -- aren't on the slate for completion this year. Ireland holds an outsized enforcement role for the GDPR on Big Tech owing to how many multinational tech firms choose to locate their regional headquarters in the country (which also offers a corporate tax rate that undercuts those applied by many other EU member states). Hence why parliamentarians were so keen to hear from Dixon and get her response to concerns that enforcement of the regulation isn't holding platform giants to account in any kind of effective timeframe. One thing was clear from today's performance: Ireland's data protection commissioner did not come to appease her critics. Instead Dixon directed a large chunk of the time allocated to her for opening remarks to mount a robust defense of the DPC's "busy GDPR enforcement," as she couched it -- rejecting attacks on its enforcement record by claiming, contrary to years of critical analysis (by rights groups such as noyb, BEUC and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties), that its legal analysis and infringement findings are "generally accepted in all cases" by fellow regulators who review its draft decisions. "Differences between the DPC and its fellow supervisory authorities [are] largely confined to marginal issues around the fringes," she also argued -- taking another swipe at what she couched as a "narrative promulgated by some commentators that in many of the cross border cases in which high value fines were levied the DPC was forced to take tougher enforcement action by its fellow supervisory authorities across the EU" that she claimed is "inaccurate." Back on the day's topic of TikTok, she gave MEPs a status update on the data transfers decision -- revealing that "a preliminary draft of the draft decision" is now with the company to make its "final submissions." The GDPR's procedural track means Ireland must submit its draft decision to other concerned data protection authorities for review (and the chance to raise objections). So there could still be considerable mileage before a final decision lands in this inquiry. Dixon did not indicate how long it would take the TikTok data transfers inquiry to progress to the next step (aka Article 60), which fires up a cooperation mechanism baked into the GDPR that can itself add many more months to investigation timelines. But it's worth noting the DPC is trailing a little behind its own recent expectation for the draft decision timeline -- back in November, it told TechCrunch it expected to send a draft decision to Article 60 in the first quarter of 2023. Exports of European users' data to so-called third countries (outside the bloc), which lack a high-level data adequacy agreement with the EU, have been under increased scrutiny since a landmark ruling by the Court of Justice back in July 2020. At that time, as well as striking down a flagship EU-U.S. data transfer deal, EU judges made it clear data protection authorities must scrutinize use of another mechanism, called Standard Contractual Clauses, for transfers to third countries on a case-by-case basis -- meaning no such data export could be assumed as safe. And, just yesterday, a major GDPR data transfer decision did finally emerge out of Ireland -- possibly offering a taster of the sort of enforcement that could be coming down the pipe for TikTok's data transfers in the EU -- with Facebook being found to have infringed requirements that Europeans' information be protected to the same standard as under EU law when exported outside the bloc. Facebook's parent company Meta was ordered to suspend unlawful data flows within six months and also issued with a record penalty of 1.2 billion for systematic breaches of the rulebook. The company has said it will appeal the decision and seek a stay on implementation of the suspension order. It's anyone's guess when such a decision might land for TikTok's data transfers to China -- a location where digital surveillance concerns are certainly no less alive than they are for the U.S. -- but MEP Moritz Korner, of the Free Democratic Party, was one of several LIBE committee MEPs taking issue with the length of time it's taking for the GDPR to be enforced against another data-mining, data transferring adtech giant. "It's good to hear today that you are in the final stage of your [TikTok] investigation but more than four years have gone by!" he emphasized in questions to the Irish commissioner. "And this is an app which millions of our citizens are using -- including children and young people... So my question would be does data protection in Europe move quickly enough and what has happened over the past four years?" Pirate party MEP, Patrick Breyer, had even more pointed remarks for Dixon. He kicked off by calling out her refusal to meet the committee last year -- when she had reportedly objected to being asked to appear at a session alongside privacy campaigner, Max Schrems, who had a live legal action open against the DPC related to its procedures around his complaint about Meta's data transfers -- which he suggested would have been the appropriate forum for her defense of the DPC's enforcement record, not a hearing on TikTok specifically. He then went on to hit out at the narrow scoping of the DPC's investigations into TikTok's operations -- raising broader questions than the regulator is apparently inquiring into, such as the legality of TikTok's tracking and profiling of users. "Hearing that what you are investigating in relation to TikTok is only children's data and data transfers to China -- this addresses only a fraction of what is being criticized and debated about the service and this app," he argued. "For one thing using TikTok comes with pervasive first party and third party tracking of our every action or every click based on forced consent, which is not necessary for using the service and for providing it. This pervasive tracking has been found to be both a risk to our privacy but also to national security in the case of certain officials. And do you consider this content freely given and valid?" "Secondly, the app reportedly uses excessive permissions and device information collection, including hourly checking of our location, device mapping, external storage access, access to our contacts, third party apps data collection, none of which is necessary for the app to function. Will you act to protect us from these violations of our privacy?" Breyer continued. "If you remain as inactive as this, as you have been for years, you know this will continue to call into question your competence for [overseeing] the social media companies in Ireland and it will result in more outright bans [by governments on services like TikTok] which is not in the interest of industry either. So I call on you to expand your investigations and to speed them up and cover all these issues of pervasive tracking and excessive surveillance." Another MEP, Karolin Braunsberger-Reinhold of the Christian Democratic Union, also touched on the issue of TikTok bans -- such as one imposed by the Indian government, back in 2020 -- but with apparently less concern about the prospect of a regional ban on the platform than Breyer since she wanted to know what the Dixon was considering "beyond fines." "Data protection is very important in the European Union so why are we allowing TikTok to send data back to China when we have no information on how that data is being dealt with once it goes back there?" she wondered. MEPs on the LIBE committee also queried Dixon about what had happened with a TikTok task force set up at the start of 2020, by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), following earlier concerns raised about privacy and security issues linked to its data collection practices. Such task forces are typically focused on harmonizing the application of the GDPR in cases where a data processor is not main established in an EU member state. But TikTok went on -- by December 2020 -- to be granted main establishment status in Ireland, which meant data protection investigations would now be funneled via Ireland as its lead authority for the GDPR. This revised oversight structure most likely led to a disbanding of the EDPB TikTok task force, since the GDPR contains an established mechanism for cooperation, although Dixon did not provide an obvious response to MEPs on this point. The clear message from the LIBE committee to Ireland today, in its capacity as TikTok's lead privacy regulator in the EU, boiled down a simple question: Where is the enforcement? For her part, Dixon sought to dodge the latest flurry of critical barbs -- rejecting accusations (and insinuations) of inaction by arguing that the length of time the DPC is taking to work through the TikTok inquiries is necessary given how much material it's examining. She also sought to characterize cross-border GDPR enforcement as "shared" decision-making, as a result of the structure imposed through the regulation's one-stop-shop mechanism looping concerned authorities into reviewing a lead authority's draft decisions -- also referring to this process as "decision making by committee." Her point there being that group decision-making inevitably takes longer. "I do want to assure you we're working as quickly as we can," she told MEPs at one point during the session. "We have well over 200 expert staff at the Irish Data Protection Commission. We're recruiting more. We're conscious of turning these decisions around... We transmitted that draft decision last October to our concerned authorities. It will be almost a year later now before we have the final decision. That is the form of decision making by committee that the GDPR lays down and it does take time." In the case of the TikTok data transfers probe, Dixon leaned on the requirement handed down by the CJEU that regulators examine legality on a case by case basis as justifying what she implied was a careful, fact-sifting approach. "The Court of Justice has obliged us to look at the specific circumstances and the factual backdrop of any specific set of of transfers before we can conclude and so while to some people the answers all seem obvious that's not the process in which we must engage. We must step, case by case, through on the specifics. And that's what we have done now and submitted a preliminary draft of our decision to TikTok for submissions," she argued. "As I said in my opening statement, we're far from inactive," she also asserted, before mounting another fierce defense of the DPC's record -- claiming: "We are by any measure the most active enforcer of data protection law in the EU. Two thirds of all enforcement delivered across the EU/EEA and UK last year was delivered by the Irish Data Protection Commission and that's verifiable facts." Responding to another question from the committee, regarding what sanctions the DPC is looking at if it finds TikTok has infringed the GDPR, Dixon emphasized it has "a whole range of corrective measures up to bans on data processing that we can apply," not just fines. "In any investigation we're open minded in relation to what the applicable and effective measures will be when we conclude an investigation with infringement -- so, I can assure you, where we have considered in the [TikTok] case that we've already concluded -- the children's data that's now with our fellow authorities -- we have looked across the range of measures available to us in relation to that investigation," she told MEPs. The issue of fines that the DPC may (or may not) choose to impose for GDPR breaches is particularly topical -- given it's emerged as a key detail in the aforementioned Meta data transfers enforcement. In the Meta transfers case, Dixon and the DPC had not wanted to levy any financial penalty on the tech giant for a multi-year breach affecting hundreds of millions of Europeans. However, it was forced to include a fine in the final decision in order to implement a binding decision by the EDPB -- which had ordered it to impose a fine of between 20% and 100% of the maximum possible under the GDPR (which is 4% of annual revenue). In the event Ireland opted for the lower bar -- setting the penalty at around 1% of Meta's annual revenue. In her remarks to MEPs today, Dixon defended the DPC's decision not to propose fining Meta for its illegal transfers -- however, she offered no substantial argument for why it took such a position. "As I'm sure you'll be aware, the DPC respectfully disagreed with the proposal to apply a fine. In our view, a meaningful change, if it was to be delivered, in this area required the suspension of transfers. No administrative fine could guarantee the kind of change required," she told MEPs, offering a straw man argument in defense of wanting to let Meta go without any financial sanction, which seems to imply there's an either/or equation for GDPR enforcement -- that is, corrective measures or punishment -- when, very clearly, the regulation allows for both (and, indeed, intends that enforcement is dissuasive against future law breaking). Hence the EDPB's binding decision requiring Ireland to impose a substantial fine on Meta for such a systematic and sustained infringement of the GDPR. Instead of elaborating on the rationale for choosing not to fine Meta, Dixon switched gears into a swipe of her own -- directed at the EDPB -- by making an observation that "all" the Board's binding decisions in cases in which the DPC had acted as lead supervisory authority are subject to annulment proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union, before adding (somewhat acidly): "As such the CJEU, rather than the EDPB, will have the final say on the correct interpretation and application of the law." In questions to Dixon, social democrat MEP, Birgit Sippel, picked her up on what she implied was a repeated lack of clarity emanating from the DPC on fines -- also flagging a lack of "clear answers" from the Irish commissioner in her remarks to the committee today on why it had failed to propose any penalty at all for Meta's illegal data transfers. There was no comeback from Dixon to that point. In her questioning, Sippel also wondered whether TikTok was cooperating with the DPC's investigations -- or whether the DPC had adequate access to information from it in order to conduct proper oversight. On this Dixon said the company is cooperating with the two investigations, while noting TikTok has "from time to time" been asking for extensions to submission deadlines, which she implied were typically granted as she considered they were merited on account of the amount of volume of material involved -- providing a small glimpse of GDPR enforcement timeline creep in action. Asked for a response to views expressed by MEPs during the LIBE committee hearing, a TikTok spokesperson told us: "We welcome the Data Protection Commissioner's acknowledgement that TikTok has been cooperative and responsive with the regulator. As a company we are readily available to meet with lawmakers and regulators to address any concerns." In a press release about Dixon's appearance in front of the committee today, the DPC wrote: Tom Hanks urged Harvard University graduates to 'do the work of creating a more perfect union' as he gave the school's 2023 commencement address Jay Connor / SplashNews.com Tom Hanks is an (honorary) Harvard graduate! Hanks, 66, appeared at Harvard University to deliver a commencement address to graduating students in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Thursday. The Ivy League school conferred an honorary doctorate of arts upon the actor as he joked that he had received the degree "without having done a lick of work, without having spent any time in class, without once walking into that library." "I don't know much about Latin, I have no real passion for enzymes, and public global policy is something I scan in the newspaper just before I do the Wordle," he joked to graduates as he spoke at Harvard Yard's Tercentenary Theatre, before urging students to stand up against the "indifference of a people who have been made weary by struggle." Jay Connor / SplashNews.com Indifference makes citizens into indentured servants held in labor by the despots and tyrants whose default setting is cynicism, who outlawed dissent and ban art and dialogue and books," Hanks said, during a speech filled with references to Superman and other superheroes. Every day, every year, and for every graduating class, there is a choice to be made," Hanks told the graduating class. "Its the same option for all grown-ups who have to decide to be one of three types of Americans: those who embrace liberty and freedom for all, those who wont or those who are indifferent. Only the first do the work of creating a more perfect union, a nation indivisible. The others get in the way. Related: Tom Hanks Reveals He Questioned Whether Anyone Was 'Going to Care' About 'Goofy' Forrest Gump Jay Connor / SplashNews.com During Hanks' appearance at the university, Harvard also gave him a Harvard-branded volleyball in reference to his 2000 movie Cast Away. Students from the school's theatrical group Hasty Pudding performed a number detailing the actor's significant film credits prior to his speech. Story continues 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. Harvard previously announced Hanks as its 2023 commencement speaker back in March, with university president Larry Bacow saying in a statement at the time that the actor has "contributed to our national culture and expanded our ability to appreciate stories and histories that have been previously unexamined." Related: Tom Hanks Says He Could Still Star in Movies After His Death, Thanks to AI Jay Connor / SplashNews.com Hanks and his wife of 35 years, producer and actress Rita Wilson, appeared at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday for the world premiere of the new movie Asteroid City, in which they both appear. The film, directed by Wes Anderson, received a nearly six-minute long standing ovation following its premiere at the international film festival. Hanks himself studied theater at Chabot College and later graduated from California State University in Sacramento, Calif., before embarking on an acting career that has since spanned more than 40 years and two Academy Award wins. Asteroid City releases in select theaters June 16 before it goes nationwide June 23. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The nastiness isn't the only reason a 2024 Republican ticket with Florida men Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis looks unlikely. There's also the U.S. Constitution. Or, specifically the 12th Amendment. We'll get to that in a minute. The Trump-DeSantis rivalry has gotten particularly ugly over the past six months, what with Trump slinging nicknames and airing pointed attack ads aimed at everything from the governor's congressional voting record to his disloyalty to his reported pudding-eating habits. And all that was before DeSantis even became a declared candidate, which he did Wednesday night. Nonetheless, polls show the former president and Florida's governor remain the most popular White House suitors among GOP primary voters by far. It's why many in the MAGA universe have long-held hope that the two Florida GOP favorite sons would run as a ticket next year. Read The Palm Beach Post story on how the Trump-DeSantis presidential rivalry has turned bitingly personal. One and done? A second Trump administration would be limited to one term, says U.S. Constitution Trump-DeSantis 'pudding fingers' ad: Social Security, Medicare cuts sparked memes, jokes Some GOPers think Trump-DeSantis would make an unbeatable duo Surveys of Republican primary voters show Trump with widening, double-digit percentage leads over his erstwhile ally. But those polls often also show DeSantis with double-digit percentage leads over other candidates, such as former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and current South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott. That's why a Trump-DeSantis ticket has been so appealing to GOPers over the past couple of years. In November, for example, even as the Trump-DeSantis feud was going public, attendees at GOP rallies, such as Debbie Macchia at a Boynton Beach event, dismissed the tension as "all political" and insisted the two men would make an unbeatable duo. Story continues "The whole country will go red," Macchia said confidently. "I think Trump is going to put him on the ticket with him." Even Trump adviser and political strategist Roger Stone, among DeSantis' harshest critics within the MAGA universe, recently stopped short of saying bridges have been completely torched. In this together? The U.S. Constitution would make it costly for Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis to run on a ticket next year as long as they are both Florida residents. "Trump has a long history of reconciling with people that he breaks with," Stone said. "So, it's impossible to say what the future might hold." However, on May 19, Trump posted DeSantis has "ZERO chance" of winning and, ominously, that "MAGA will never forget!" Then there's the 12th Amendment. 12th Amendment sort of bans presidential and VP candidates from same state The amendment, titled Electing the President and Vice President, says this in regard to the presidential and vice presidential candidates on a ticket: "one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves." Kevin Wagner, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, said the amendment doesn't exactly bar candidates from the same state from being on the same ticket. But there is a very significant "limitation" they essentially would forfeit the electoral votes from that state. Florida may not be a swing state anymore, but it's a major electoral vote prize with 30 crucial ballots. You can read the explanation FAU's Kevin Wagner wrote for The Palm Beach Post here. The Civics Project: No prohibition against President, VP candidates from the same state The Bush-Cheney ticket in 2000 could have been problematic ... The last time the 219-year-old amendment was applied was the infamous presidential election of 2000. By the summer of that year, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who was running for president, wanted fellow Texan Richard "Dick" Cheney to be his vice presidential candidate. But Cheney, who was chairman and CEO of the Halliburton conglomerate, was a fellow Lone Star resident. However, Cheney also owned property in Wyoming and boasted significant ties to the state. Prior to the Halliburton gig, Cheney was a member of the House from Wyoming, serving five terms from 1979 to 1989. All of that gave Cheney a legitimate reason to quickly change his residency status from Texas to Wyoming before that year's presidential election. The Bush-Cheney ticket won the election, which dragged on for a month as officials counted ballots (with some hanging, some dangling chads) that ultimately gave Republicans a 537-vote margin. The duo was re-elected in 2004. Manual recounts were done in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Broward and Volusia counties. Trump, of course, could follow a similar course and change his residency back to New York. He officially listed Florida as his main residence in 2019. So says U.S. Constitution: A second Trump administration would be limited to one term But New York also is where his company was found guilty of fraud last year, where he has been criminally charged in a case related to hush money payment to a porn star and where a jury found him liable of sexually assaulting and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has had unkind things to say about officials in his ex-home state, as well as the status of things in New York overall. After the verdict in the sex assault case, Trump called New York "the worst place in the U.S. for me to get a 'fair trial.'" Constitution would also limit Trump to a single term should he win in 2024 While we are focused on the country's law of the land, we should also note the 22nd Amendment would bar Trump from running for re-election in 2028 if he were to win next year. "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once," the amendment flatly states. 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. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has followed the White House at every step in the fight against the coronavirus. Now, with Trumps days in office waning, that loyalty may cost DeSantis some support. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump-DeSantis ticket in 2024 will not happen. Constitution says so. Utah police identify person of interest after 2-year-old shot while playing outside at day care Utah police have identified a person of interest after a toddler was wounded in the head with a stray air rifle bullet outside a day care this week, authorities said Wednesday. The 2-year-old boy was playing outside with other children at Leap Ahead Daycare's Spanish Fork facility, about 52 miles south of Salt Lake City, when an employee near the child noticed him stumbling and bleeding from his head on Monday afternoon. "The daycare notified the parents of the 2-year-old child who responded and took their child to the hospital for treatment. It was not until at the hospital that doctors discovered through scans that the child had a small caliber bullet lodged in its head," said Spanish Fork Police Department in a statement Tuesday. In an update Wednesday, police said they identified a man who was shooting birds with a .22-caliber air rifle west of the day care. The man is cooperating with the investigators and will not be named unless formal charges are filed. The child is recovering and is in stabile condition, the Spanish Fork Police Department said. Michigan child shoots self: 2-year-old fatally shoots self in Michigan, mother's boyfriend charged with manslaughter Bullet went through day care fence Lane Mugleston, the owner of Leap Ahead Daycare, confirmed Tuesday that the shooting happened at his facility in Spanish Fork, a suburb with a population of nearly 44,000. Mugleston said two employees were with the children as they played in an outdoor fenced-in area of the day care on Monday afternoon. One employee near the toddler noticed him suddenly stumble, bleeding from his head. After observing the toddler's injuries, employees contacted the toddler's parents who took him to a local hospital, according to Mugleston. When doctors saw a small-caliber bullet lodged in the child's head on brain scans later in the evening, they called authorities. The young child was then transported to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, police said. NBC News affiliate KSL reported doctors decided to leave the bullet in the toddler's head due to fears of causing further damage. Story continues I still feel like Im in shock, Mugleston, who owns Leap Ahead Daycare with his wife, told KSL. We are absolutely surprised. We are dumbfounded that this would happen in Spanish Fork. Mugleston said no one at the facility heard the shots but a hole from the suspected air gun pellet could be seen through the vinyl fence that wraps around the outdoor play area. He noted that it's often hard to hear things at the day care due to its close proximity to an airport and location in a light industrial area. "It appears this was a tragic accident. Open fields are directly west of the day care and it is believed the round may have come from that area," police said in a statement Tuesday. Massachusetts school hoax shooting: Hoax shooting at Massachusetts school caused chaos. Then a cop mistakenly fired a gun. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah toddler shot by stray bullet: Police identify person of interest The mother of Emma Grace Cole, the 3-year-old girl whose charred remains were found in a Smyrna softball field in September 2019, had pleaded guilty to murder, though the Delaware Department of Justice did not notify numerous family members ahead of the plea. Tanya Axsom, who cared for Emma Grace for much of her life before an Indiana judge remanded the toddler back to Kristie Cole Haas' custody, said she learned of the Thursday morning plea through an acquaintance. She said she was shocked and angry. "I feel like I'm being hit by a bus all over again," she told Delaware Online/The News Journal. "I am so mad that they didn't even bother to say a damn thing to any of us." OUR COVERAGE: She was known only as a toddler found dead in a ball field. A year later, someone recognized this sketch She added that given she is Emma Grace's great aunt and that she was the little girl's legal guardian for a little more than a year, she feels "we should have had the right to know, in case we wanted to be there." Emma Grace Cole Similarly, Emma Grace's grandfather the father of Kristie Cole Haas said he was shocked to learn of the plea. He was informed of the news by a Delaware Online/News Journal reporter. He said Kristie Cole Haas' sister Kelsey Cole Navarro, was also not informed until after the plea occurred. The Delaware Department of Justice said the case has been under a "still-active gag order that limits the states ability to discuss sensitive elements of the case, including the existence of a possible plea, with anyone who is not next of kin as defined in the Victims Bill of Rights." Kristie Cole Haas' mother and Emma Grace's grandmother, Belinda Johnson-Hurtado, is considered next of kin. She has custody of Kristie's other three children. While It remains unclear if Johnson-Hurtado was informed of the plea ahead of time, the Justice Department said it has "been in touch with next-of-kin throughout the case including about a just result." Story continues "Any tragedy such as this involves complex family dynamics, and as will eventually become public, the Defendants family in this case is no different," DOJ said. Kelsey and her father, as well as Axsom, have had little contact with Johnson-Hurtado since Emma Grace's remains were found. More details about the case and how the plea came about are expected to be made public at sentencing. What happened? Emma Grace's burned remains were found by a dog walker in Smyrna's Little Lass softball fields on Sept. 13, 2019. For about a year, no one knew who she was until James Cole came across a forensic sketch on the Smyrna Police Department's website. REMEMBERING EMMA GRACE: A passion for Paw Patrol and a persuasive smile He previously told Delaware Online/The News Journal he began looking at police websites in September 2020 after Kelsey called him to report a strange conversation she had with her mother, then sister, about Emma Grace. Concerned about Kristie Cole Haas' lack of communication with him and armed with this new information, James Cole began searching Delaware obituaries, thinking perhaps Emma Grace died and Kristie Cole Haas was too embarrassed to tell anyone. After having no luck, he began searching Delaware police websites to look for missing persons. After finding the sketch, he reached out to the Smyrna detective assigned to the case, who followed up on the lead. The funeral program of Emma Grace Cole sits on an ottoman Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, inside the home of Tanya Axsom in Bloomington, Ind. On Sept. 20, 2020, the FBI set up surveillance outside the Comfort Inn and Suites on Baltimore Pike in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where Kristie Cole Haas, husband Brandon Haas who is not Emma Grace's father and her children were staying. Kristie was seen leaving the hotel with her son and dropped several items of trash in the hotel dumpster, which police collected for possible DNA. MORE: The life and death of Emma Grace Cole: A timeline and what's next About a week later, the Delaware Division of Forensic Sciences contacted law enforcement and said DNA taken from a straw Kristie threw out on Sept. 23 was similar to DNA taken from Emma Graces rib. Kristie Cole Haas and Brandon Haas were arrested soon after and later charged with murder. What did Kristie plea to? In a last-minute Thursday hearing, Kristie Cole Haas pleaded guilty to murder by abuse or neglect, as well as endangering the welfare of a child and abuse of a corpse. HOW KRISTIE GOT CUSTODY: How a judges decision, a parents will and a legal presumption failed Emma Grace Cole While sentencing will occur at a later-determined date, the plea agreement with the state is that she spends 30 years behind bars before being eligible for release. A judge can, however, give her up to life in prison. It was not immediately known what the status of Brandon Haas' charges are. He had been out on bail. Tanya Axsom and Emma Grace Cole Axsom told Delaware Online/The News Journal that while she "knows (she) should be happy that Kristie pled guilty," she wants the woman to spend the rest of her life behind bars. "(Emma Grace) was one of the biggest parts of my life, and my life has been so (expletive) since the day they took her away," Axsom said. "I have not been, and will never be, the same." Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Mother of Emma Grace Cole found dead in Smyrna pleads guilty to murder When it came time to return to the office, Elle Cayabyab Gitlin didn't really see the point. A 44-year-old technologist living in Southwest D.C., Cayabyab Gitlin felt that she had been doing just fine working from home, nor was she keen on schlepping all the way to Tysons Corner in Virginia once a week. That is, until she learned about the new pellet ice dispenser in the kitchen. Soft, chewable ice. That "mind-blowing" ice she first had at a Sonic in South Texas as a teen, and which she has been obsessed with ever since. It was the kind of ice worth making an hour-long train commute for. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. "I was like, I can make this work," said Cayabyab Gitlin. Our national obsession with iced beverages is nothing new, and we're far from chill about it. Be it the pellet ice that extends the pleasure of a drive-through cherry limeade, the clear, twinkling globules sitting in a glass of whiskey, or the immaculately organized ice drawers on TikTok, Americans are always searching for better ways to cool our drinks. Now Starbucks has entered the fray. Last week, the world's largest coffeehouse chain announced that it would start rolling out new ice machines to make its drinks. Bulky cubes will now be replaced with "nugget ice" that is softer and more compressed, the same pellet-shaped ice you can find in hospitals, Chick-fil-A or Sonic. Starbucks said it would be introducing the ice over the next few years, starting with stores that have a high volume of cold drink orders. The new machines would also use less water. (Iced handcrafted drinks make up about 75 percent of all Starbucks sales and have propelled the coffee giant to record revenue in recent years.) "Customers who have tried the nugget ice in our handcrafted iced beverages during testing had a resoundingly positive response," the company said in a statement. Story continues Cayabyab Gitlin was delighted by the news: "If it is available to me, I will avail myself of it." Other customers weren't so enthusiastic. Some Reddit users worried that the new ice would melt faster than the current cubes. (Starbucks said its own tests confirmed that this is not true.) "Lemme eat it all day," another responded, "But not in my coffee." Camper English, a cocktail and spirits writer, has been thinking seriously about ice for the last 14 years, when he began experimenting with ways to make bigger, clearer versions of it. When Starbucks announced its decision, "I knew that were going to be victims of an insufferable period of commentary," he said. To English, the author of "The Ice Book: Cool Cubes, Clear Spheres and Other Chill Cocktail Crafts," ice is both a tool and a garnish, capable of exacting different sensations. Pebble ice and pellet ice, for example, are different - though they look similar, English notes. The latter is softer and more absorbent, made from flaky ice that is compressed into a pellet shape. When you pair it with a soda (or, perhaps, coffee), you'll still be able to get more of the drink's flavor from the ice itself. Pebble ice, on the other hand, are cobblestone-sized pieces of ice broken off from a large ice block. It's clearer than pellet ice, meaning it's harder and melts slower. But once your drink is done, your ice will melt down into water. This kind of ice is ideal for certain cocktails, such as one of English's favorites, a sherry cobbler. Then, there's crushed ice (ideal for mint juleps), shaved ice and those clinky, large slow-melting cubes or spheres that open up the flavor of a high-proof spirit by teasing out it's aromas. For something so simple, it quickly gets complicated. But iced drinks are also a uniquely American obsession. "It's one of the most distinguishing features of American drinks," English said. For most of history, ice was used on the outside of the vessel to cool the drink, English explains. But that changed for Americans in the 1800s, when American entrepreneur Frederic "The Ice King" Tudor stared cutting up clean lake ice from New England, eventually selling it domestically and abroad - as far as India and Martinique. It was around this time that Americans had the audacity to start putting ice inside our drinks and, as any European barista or bartender knows, we haven't shut up about it since. There may be no one who understands this better than Helen Rosner, a New Yorker staff writer who evangelized "the good ice," before the masses of influencers on TikTok began flexing their G.E. Opal ice machines (which retail for about $400). Rosner purchased the countertop pellet ice appliance in 2020, and hasn't looked back. By her estimation, Rosner runs her ice machine at least a couple times a week. The appliance itself is a fun party centerpiece, she said, but it also creates a special vibe for coffees and seltzers, especially when paired with a glass straw. "You have the gentle, almost musical clink of the tiny little ice pellets in the glass and the straw itself," she said. In a way, to know your ice preferences - the soft and chewy, the globular and dramatic, the classic and cubic - is to know yourself, to know "the fastest route of happiness for you," said Rosner. "Maybe this is high-minded of me, but there's something, I think, very human and very wonderful about having opinions and preferences and ways to derive joy from even the smallest parts in our lives." Related Content A year after Uvalde, officers who botched response face few consequences Objection to sexual, LGBTQ content propels spike in book challenges WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with a couple who have been battling the Environmental Protection Agency for more than a decade over a plan to develop a property in the Idaho panhandle, a decision with potentially sweeping national ramifications for water quality, agriculture and development. The case, which was centered on the scope of the 1972 Clean Water Act, was arguably the most important environmental decision the Supreme Court has handed down since a majority last year invalidated an EPA effort to regulate power plant emissions. The plaintiffs asked the court to provide a clearer definition for what the law meant when it gave the agency power to regulate the "waters of the United States." In an opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito and joined by four other conservative justices, the court limited the scope of the EPA's ability to control wetland pollution. That's important because, in addition to the wetlands themselves, the water at issue often feeds into the rivers and lakes that are more clearly covered by federal pollution controls. President Joe Biden predicted the decision would "take our country backwards." Several congressional Republicans praised the ruling, including Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who described it as "an important check on executive overreach." What did the Supreme Court rule in the EPA case? Majority: A majority of the court said that the lack of clarity about what types of waters are covered by the Clean Water Act was difficult for property owners to understand. What Alito wrote: A "staggering array of landowners," Alito wrote, "are at risk of criminal prosecution" if they don't realize their property is subject to federal environmental rules. Alito's opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett all Republican appointees . Kavanaugh warns of repercussions: Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by three liberal justices, said that while he sided with the plaintiffs and against the EPA, he disagreed with the court's definition of what types of waters should be subject to government regulation. The court's ruling, Kavanaugh warned, would have "significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States." Kavanaugh, a Republican appointee, was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, all Democratic appointees. Bottom line: The court's opinion adopts a new, more narrow standard that will limit how much water the EPA may regulate. That's a win for developers and a loss for environmentalists. Story continues Air: Supreme Court rules against EPA effort to regulate power plant emissions Water: Supreme Court kicks off a new term with controversial cases How did the EPA case arrive at the Supreme Court? Michael and Chantell Sackett purchased a vacant lot in a residential subdivision in Idaho in 2004. The couple obtained the county permits needed to develop the site but were informed by the EPA shortly after they began construction that the agency viewed the land as subject to its review because it contained wetlands about 300 feet from Priest Lake. During oral arguments in October, several members of the court's conservative majority questioned the standard the EPA uses to determine if a wetland is subject to federal permitting requirements and oversight. Chief Justice John Roberts summed up the challenge facing the court by noting that water often flows underground in ways that are difficult to predict or measure: "Water goes everywhere, eventually." The Supreme Court on Feb. 21, 2023. The Sacketts' suit was on its second ride at the Supreme Court. In 2012, a unanimous court held that the couple could file their lawsuit even though the EPA asserted it had not taken a final action in the dispute. As the litigation wound its way through lower courts again, the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for 9th Circuit sided with the EPA and upheld the agency's order against the Sacketts. What is the potential impact of the EPA decision? In its decision Thursday, the Supreme Court not only overturned the 9th Circuit, it a set a new standard for what types of water is covered by the Clean Water Act. The court's opinion means that the EPA will have the ability to regulate only wetlands with a "continuous surface connection" to a larger body of water in a way that makes them "indistinguishable" from those large bodies. That's a departure from a more encompassing standard that required the EPA and landowners to consider the chemical and biological connection between the wetland and the larger body of water. The case has been closely watched by environmentalists, developers and farming groups who have long fought over how far the EPA's reach extends beyond navigable lakes and rivers and smaller streams and wetlands that feed into and pollute those larger bodies of water. What are they saying about the Supreme Court's wetlands decision? Environmental groups and Democrats, including Biden, slammed the decision. "The Sackett decision undoes a half-century of progress generated by the Clean Water Act," said Sam Sankar, vice president of programs at Earthjustice. "Almost 90 million acres of formerly protected wetlands now face an existential threat from polluters and developers." But those supporting the Sacketts said the decision would make it easier for property owners to know where they stand with the EPA. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, described the decision as a "big win in our fight to stop federal overreach and protect Americans private property rights." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clean Water Act: Supreme Court rules against EPA in years-old dispute Kick off the summer reading season with our selection of plot-twisting page-turners you won't be able to put down. These new mystery novels range from fun, quick reads to pulse-pounding and perhaps panic-inducing (in the best way) experiences. If youre here, your reading preferences likely skew toward the macabresomething psychologically messed up, maybe a serial killer or two, a supernatural haunting, disturbing mystery, twisty turns, a rollercoaster of emotion, mayhem and enough suspense to keep you up all night. Sound like your kind of book? Good. This summer has you covered with a long and seriously impressive list of new releases. Lock your doors. Here at Parade.com, we're all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned. Related: 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers 13 New Mystery Novels 1. Moorewood Family Rules by HelenKay Dimon Jillian Moorewood has always been the responsible one in her family of con artistseven going to prison to protect them. After more than three years away, shes returned to the familys compound with an ultimatum: The scamming Moorewoods can either go straight or be cut off from the family coffers. Her crooked cousins and uncle respond with a series of escalating attacks that Jillian and her new, hunky bodyguard work together to outsmart. Oceans 8 fans will love the fun and fast pace of Moorewood Family Rules (Avon). $17, amazon.com 2. Where are the Children Now? by Alafair Burke and Mary Higgins Clark In 1975, Mary Higgins Clark captivated readers with her bestseller, Where Are the Children?a gripping tale about a mother wrongfully accused of harming her children, Mike and Melissa. Forty years later, the sequel, Where Are the Children Now? (Simon & Schuster), follows the now-grown siblings attempting to find Melissas missing stepdaughter. To survive, theyll need to draw on the experience of their own abduction and finally acknowledge the trauma they survived. A powerful and worthy successor to the original. $20, amazon.com Story continues 3. The Night Flowers by Sara Herchenroether Seeking a distraction from her breast cancer treatments, librarian Laura MacDonald teams up with Jean Martinez, a veteran detective, to solve a cold case in The Night Flowers (Tin House). Thirty years earlier, in 1983, the bodies of a young woman and two children were found in New Mexicos Gila National Forest. Drawing on a thin case file, the unlikely pair set out to finally get justice for the victims in a book thats pulse-pounding and poignant. $24, amazon.com 4. The Senators Wife by Liv Constantine Anyone who still misses watching Kerry Washington in Scandal wont want to miss Constantines The Senators Wife (May 23, Bantam), a delicious concoction of political intrigue, medical mystery and psychological suspense. The titular senators wife, D.C. philanthropist Sloane Chase, becomes convinced that the in-home nurse her husband hired to assist after hip surgery is trying to steal her life. Be prepared: Youll be tempted to finish this one in a single sitting. $26, amazon.com 5. Central Park West by James Comey Former FBI director Comey draws on his experience prosecuting mobsters in this fiction debut (May 30, Mysterious Press). U.S. attorney Nora Carleton is on the cusp of finally sending a notorious mobster to jail when her star witness claims the crime family was responsible for the recent murder of a disgraced former governor, Tony Burke. The accusation derails plans to prosecute Burkes ex-wife and sparks a battle between the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Manhattan District Attorney and the NYPD. Equal parts political thriller, legal suspense and police procedural, Central Park West will keep readers turning pages late into the night. $26, amazon.com 6. A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao Its 1914, and Indian police sergeant Akal Singh has been sent to Fiji after making an embarrassing professional mistake. When an indentured Indian woman disappears from a plantation, Akal recognizes it as a chance to redeem his reputation, but his superiors urge him to conduct a cursory investigation. Combining a tightly plotted mystery with a thoughtful critique of colonialism, A Disappearance in Fiji (June 6, Soho) establishes debut author Rao as a writer to watch. $26, amazon.com 7. All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby Cosby reminds us all hes the reigning king of Southern noir with this latest thriller (June 6, Flatiron). A year after former FBI agent Titus Crown became the first Black sheriff in the history of his hometown, a young Black man is fatally shot by one of his deputies. Titus vows to complete a thorough investigation and uncovers a serial killer lurking in the community, launching a gripping cat-and-mouse game between the sheriff and a murderer. $24, amazon.com 8. Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow The second installment of Chows cozy mystery series set at a California market, Hot Pot Murder (June 6, Berkley) is as charming and delightful as the first. The food stall cousins Yale and Celine Yee run is so successful theyve been invited to attend an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. Unfortunately, their celebration is cut short by the murder of the groups president. When suspicion falls on the cousins good friend, they set out to find the real murderer. Spending time with these characters is a treat, butfull warningthis book will make you hungry. $9, amazon.com 9. Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding On New Years Eve 1999, seven women are gathered in a hotel roomwith the severed head of a man they all had reason to kill. Each woman denies she committed the murder, but they agree to work together to uncover the truth. Speak of the Devil (June 13, Minotaur) is told from alternating perspectives, giving each suspect a chance to reveal her secrets and possible motive. With seven unreliable narrators, the twists in this one will keep readers guessing. $28, amazon.com 10. You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard Heards You Can Trust Me (June 13, Bantam) follows two best friendsand con women. For five years, Summer and Leo scammed Californians up and down the coast. When Leo meets billionaire Michael Forrester, the pair thinks their future is set, until she goes missing on his private island. Summer quickly cons one of Michaels friends and earns a coveted invite to the isle. Once shes thereand learns theres no way to leaveshe uncovers a series of deadly secrets. Its a propulsive cross between The Talented Mr. Ripley and And Then There Where None, with a feminist twist. $28, amazon.com 11. To Have and To Heist by Sara Desai Why choose between a heist book and a romance novel when To Have and to Heist (July 18, Berkley) offers both? When down-on-her-luck Simi Chopra receives a phone callnot a textfrom her best friend Chloe, she knows its serious. Just how serious? Chloes been set up for the theft of a $25 million necklace. After Simis rescue attempt fails spectacularly, a mysterious criminal, Jack, suggests they team up to steal the necklace from the real thief, thereby clearing Chloes name and making millions in one move. Come for the crime; stay for the sizzling chemistry. $17, amazon.com 12. The Stolen Coast by Dwyer Murphy Jack Betancourt runs the family business, helping people with powerful enemies disappear. The arrival of his ex-girlfriend, Elena, in his sleepy Massachusetts beach town upsets his routine. A longtime swindler, Elena explains her plans to steal millions in diamonds from a colleagues safe. Jack becomes entangled in his exs plan, and the pair launch a complex plot. Atmospheric and transportive, fans of classic hard-boiled noir will want to put The Stolen Coast (July 18, Viking) on the top of their to-be-read lists. $27, amazon.com 13. How Can I Help You by Laura Sims A book lovers dream, How Can I Help You (July 18, Putnam), is a taut, high-stakes thriller set in a library. None of Margos colleagues or patrons at the library know her real name or that she spent years as a murderous nurse who killed her patients. But Patricia, her new co-worker, senses Margo is hiding something. After a patron is found dead in the librarys bathroom, Patricia becomes obsessed with findingand exposingher colleagues secret, a fixation that culminates in a shocking climax. $27, amazon.com Next up, Want to Crack the Case? These Are The 101 Best Mystery Books of All Time Two former Jackson Police officers have been indicted on murder charges and a third officer on a manslaughter charge in connection to the Dec. 31 death of Keith Murriel, who died while in custody of the three officers, City of Jackson officials announced during a Wednesday afternoon news conference. Former officers Kenya McCarty and Avery Willis were indicted by a grand jury last week on second degree murder charges, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens said Wednesday, while James Land was indicted on a manslaughter homicide charge. In a move coinciding with the news conference, the city released hours of unedited body camera footage which showed the officers repeatedly using at least one stun gun on the 41-year-old. Murriel was Black, as is at least one of the officers charged with murder. The Clarion Ledger's review of the footage is ongoing. However, video shows Murriel being stunned 13 times in the first 5 minutes of one of the videos. This image provided by the Jackson (Miss.) Police Department shows Keith Murriel. A Mississippi grand jury has indicted two former police officers on murder charges and another ex-officer on a manslaughter charge in the death of Murriel, a Black man seen on video being pinned down and repeatedly shocked with stun guns during a New Year's eve arrest. Officials in the state capital of Jackson released body camera footage Wednesday, May 25, 2023 that showed then-officers Avery Willis, Kenya McCarty and James Land struggling to handcuff Keith Murriel as he was apparently stunned numerous times over 10 minutes. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba characterized actions taken by officers in the video as "excessive, disheartening and tragic." The incident happened starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at an extended stay hotel on Beasley Road in Jackson when officers took a man into custody. Then-JPD Chief James E. Davis later released a statement saying that Murriel's death was the result of a health emergency, only for Lumumba to publicly disagree with the chief about a month later. Davis abruptly announced his retirement Friday. Interim Chief Joseph Wade, who was the department's assistant chief until last week, spoke at the news conference. Wade offered condolences and prayers to the Murriel family. "We strive at the Jackson Police Department to create community trust. When we fail, we create community distrust," Wade said. "I would ask of the citizens of Jackson to continue to support the dedicated hardworking men and women of the Jackson Police Department, who put their lives on the line every single day." Story continues Wade promised continued transparency and accountability. During the news conference Wednesday, Lumumba said though he and Davis had a "different take" on the video at the time, it was not the cause of his departure. "That had nothing to do with his decision to retire and my decision to accept his retirement," Lumumba said. After offering his condolences to the Murriel family, Lumumba said it was important to him and leadership at JPD to release the video as soon as it was possible to do so without interfering in the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. "That has been this administration's position and the Jackson Police Department's position from the very beginning," Lumumba said. "At the time of the events and the subsequent investigation, the investigation was conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and so we chose not to release the video at that time because we did not want to compromise the ongoing investigation, but consistent with the position that we believed that this needed to be released, we not only stated publicly, but we also wrote correspondence to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation acknowledging that we believed that this needed to be released." Story December death: Officers placed on administrative leave after man dies in police custody. Owens said his office's prosecution of the three former JPD officers should not be construed as an indictment of the department as a whole. "The District Attorney's Office would like to acknowledge the brave actions of the entire Jackson Police Department, and we do not think the actions of a few represent the bravery of so many," Owens said. "We'd also like to acknowledge the transparency of the mayor of Jackson and the willingness today to release sensitive footage. That speaks to transparency and openness in how we police and protect the people." Lumumba said that the videos were shared with the Murriel family prior to being released to the media. "We are on the side of justice and want to see justice take place," Lumumba said. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson Police Department officers indicted over in-custody death (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Jaime Gilinski reached an agreement that will give him control of Colombias largest food maker in exchange for his stake in the financial conglomerate Grupo Sura. Gilinski, in partnership with the royal family of Abu Dhabi, will increase his stake in Grupo Nutresa to at least 87%, according to a regulatory filing. In exchange, Gilinski will swap his stake in Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana, or Grupo Sura as its known, according to a person familiar with the transaction. The all-stock agreement was reached Wednesday, the person said. The value of the transaction was not disclosed. Nutresas market capitalization is about $6 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The deal brings to an end an 18-month saga in which Gilinski spent roughly $2.7 billion buying up stock in Nutresa and Sura, two of the companies that make up Colombias largest business group. The Medellin-based Grupo Empresarial Antioqueno, or GEA, used a web of cross-holdings to protect the companies from takeover bids. Gilinski, who made his fortune in banking, including as owner of the bank GNB Sudameris, never gained outright control of the companies through the stock purchases. But the deal struck Wednesday, gives him ownership of a producer of snacks, chocolates and coffee that has interests in restaurant chains. Trading Halted Gilinski achieved his objective, said Luis Carlos Bravo, a professor of finance at Colombian business school INALDE. The GEA, though, loses Nutresa. In the end, they sold it and that wasnt what they wanted. Under the agreement, the GEA agreed to give up its investments in Nutresa. Gilinski, in turn, will not invest in Sura or infrastructure and cement conglomerate Grupo Argos SA, the third pillar of the GEA. Trading in Nutresa, Grupo Sura and Grupo Argos will be halted in Bogota through June 15, according to a separate regulatory filing. The move may help improve trading volumes in the Colombian market, which are low, Credicorp Capital analyst Steffania Mosquera wrote in a note. It may also help simplify the structure of Grupo Argos and Grupo Sura, which could be seen as positive by investors, she wrote. --With assistance from Oscar Medina. (Adds trading halted in seventh paragraph, comment starting in eighth.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Utah police have identified the man who allegedly shot the stray bullet that struck a 2-year-old boy in the head. On Wednesday the Spanish Fork Police Department announced they located a person of interest who shot a .22 caliber air rifle near a fenced daycare located in West Spanish Fork, Utah, striking a toddler. Police said the man was shooting at birds in the area west of the daycare when the child was injured. The toddler remains at a local hospital "in stable condition and improving." According to police, the person of interest, who will remain unidentified unless formally charged, is cooperating with authorities as the investigation into the case continues. When the investigation is concluded the case will be passed to prosecutors to decide if any charges are to be filed, police said. On Monday, Spanish Forks police were contacted by a local police department about a 2-year-old admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center with a small caliber bullet wound to the head. Detectives learned that several children were playing in the vinyl-fenced area of a daycare with two adults when at one point a child appeared to stumble and bleed from the face, police said. "The daycare notified the parents of the 2-year-old child who responded and took their child to the hospital for treatment," police said. "It was not until at the hospital that doctors discovered through scans that the child had a small caliber bullet lodged in its head." Saturday Sessions: Brandy Clark performs "Tell Her You Don't Love Her" Saturday Sessions: Brandy Clark performs "Northwest" Saturday Sessions: Brandy Clark performs "Ain't Enough Rocks" Surfing can be scary when youre just starting out. The ocean is a powerful place, which can spark fear. Theres other surfers, who can be intimidating in the lineup. And then, theres all the critters that live in the sea, too. So, its understandable that this five-year-old surfer was a bit spooked after catching a wave, and seeing a shark beneath the surface as he rode towards shore. The clip comes from The Bucket List Family, a family of five who decided to sell everything and leave home for a journey around the world together. Theyve since set up a homebase in Hawaii, but continue to travel the world91 countries and counting. Anyway, back to the shark. In the video, Papa Bucket List (Garret) pushed his five-year-old son (Cali) into a wave near their home in Hawaii, and heres the description of what happened next: Garrett was surfing our backyard with our 5yr old, Cali. Little Cali was on an awesome jackpot wave when he surfed right next to a SHARK!! Garrett didnt believe Cali at first because its very rare to see sharks so close to shore behind our house but then our neighbor yelled to them: I just saw a shark near you! You can see in this video that when Garrett realizes there is truly a shark nearby he does his best to stay calm (after letting out a nervous laugh;) and keep Cali calm as he paddles them both out of the area and then back to shore. Our family loves sharks but this situation seemed out of the ordinary and out of Garretts control. As soon as they were safely out of the water Garrett and Cali checked back from a ledge above and in fact saw the shark swimming below. Spooky stuff. But were glad everyones okay. *** Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos. Courtesy Hotels "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Want to visit a city that is both wonderfully old and absolutely exploding with new? Book a ticket to Charleston. The South Carolina city has been doing its thing since the late 1600sthe uneven cobblestone streets won't let you forget itbut in recent years, it's seen a huge influx of, well, everything. People, for one, but also restaurants, shops, houses, and hotels. You can't find a bad meal in this town, it's true, and after the past few years, the competition over the best place to stay has grown equally tough. The real winner? You, who suddenly has plenty of enviable options and a wide range of prices. From charming boutique lodgings to grand, pastel-hued affairs, these are our six favorite new(ish) hotels in the Holy City. The Pinch The past few years have seen a dizzying number of openings of new hotels in Charleston. But especially deserving of a highlight this year is the Pinch. Nestled on a picturesque alley right off King Streetwhich is to say right where you want to beyoull find this even-more-attractive-than-its-surroundings boutique hotel. Rooms are huge and complete with kitchenettes (a boon to those traveling with children), and the attached oyster bar, the Quinte, is about as good a place to end a day of sightseeing as youll find. (A full-service French-Lowcountry fusion restaurant called Lowland opens later this spring.) Oh, before I go, dont let the name fool you; this isnt a place where you stay when the rest of the town is booked or your trip is thrown together last minute. The Pinch is a treat, through and through. Rooms from $595. Hotel Emeline Emeline opened its doors back in 2020, but the sheen hasnt worn off. Unlike many of its pastel-hued neighbors, the rooms and lobby favor rich velvets and dark woods, and each area has its own distinct soundtrack. She is a noble lady, certainly, but theres nothing stuffy about the 212-room property. Staying and relaxing, instead, are highly encouragedin Clerks Coffee Shop in the morning, the open-air courtyard all day, or the indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar, Frannie & the Fox, into the night. Rooms from $349. Story continues The Loutrel If we lived in a perfect world, I would own a house with a foyer as bright and big and welcoming as the lobby of the Loutrel. A massive daybed-style porch swing right inside? Big clear windows? Amazing(ly tall) drapes? A custom scent wafting through the air? Absolutely all on my bingo card. The world, as it so loves to remind us, is not perfect, and such a home is almost certainly not in my future. This reality is placated only by the fact that I canand willreturn to 50-room property just a few blocks off King Street time and again. Rooms are airy and spacious, the bar buzzes, and an all day lounge with complimentary drinks and snacks seals the deal. Need more? Okay, fine, theres also a rooftop terrace! Rooms from $349. The Ryder Charleston is a city with a great many great things. Lively oyster bars. A new, impossible-to-get-into restaurant every week. Harbor views. If it ever lacked much at all, really, it was perhaps quirkiness. That changed in the spring of 2021, when the Ryder hotel opened its doors. Vibrant and eclecticthe 91-room property takes its name from Jack Kerouacs Dharma Bums hero, Japhy Ryderthis is no quiet, traditional southern outpost. Here, the lobby is small but bright, the rooms spacious and welcoming, and the location unmatched. But Little Palm, the poolside bar and restaurant, is why you come back. The indoor/outdoor craft-cocktail haven isnt just hopping nightlyits the talk of the town. Rooms from $329. Hotel Bennett So you want to feel like a royalor at least an aristocratwhile you're in town. Who doesn't! Book at Hotel Bennett, an exquisite 50-room property on the north end of King Street where old world opulence and incredible service meet seamlessly. If you can pull yourself out of your well-appointed room (no judgement if not!) you'll find a great street-level lounge, a killer lobby restaurant, and a perfect little coffee shop. There's also a decadent, all-pink (literally) lobby champagne bar that begs for an extended visit. Rooms from $499. The Dewberry Shop Now I love The Dewberry. The building, lobby, and rooms are statelysumptuous fabrics, deep colored wood, wide marbled floorsbut the energy is relaxed. Welcoming. A standout level of friendly in a region literally famous for being friendly. Of course, the crown jewel of the property is the Citrus Club, the hotel's expansive rooftop bar. Stretching across nearly a full city block, you can't beat the views or the tunes, but don't discount the cookies and milk dessert downstairs in the ground floor Living Room restaurant. An absolute must. Rooms from $500. You Might Also Like Looking to take a surf trip this summer? Well, Nic Von Rupps got you covered. The Portuguese pro surfer has traveled the world in search of waves, so he knows a thing or two about where and when to score. Below, check out NVRs top summer surf trip destinations. First up, Portugal. Von Rupp might be a little biased, since he grew up in Portugal, but he still recommends it as a great destination for a summer surf trip. Summertime is a little smaller [in Portugal], he says, but theres some great beach towns with some great waves. And Von Rupp goes on to describe a few of the lesser-known surf towns in Portugal, the ones off the beaten path and that some surfers might not have heard of. Next, France. Keeping the euro theme going, NVR suggests the famed beachbreaks of Hossegor: The water heats up, and this beautiful stretch of coastline with white sand and little peaks everywherethe area of Hossegor is amazing. Then, Spain. Still in Europe, NVR says: The little town of Zarautz is really cool. Its a surfing town with the best heritage and culture. Theres a really nice beachbreak there to cater to all the surfers that are coming there. Okay, done with Europe. Whatre Nics proposals for non-Europe surf trips? Indonesia. Specifically, the Mentawais. Its one of the most amazing places you can go, says Nic. There are some incredible waves. Theres so much variety in Indonesiaif you want to go out and find a wave by yourself, you can do that very easily. Shifting gears (and continents), Nic suggests Costa Rica. Completely different vibe, he says. Maybe not as high in terms of quality of waves as Indonesia, but the vibe is incredible. Following it up, Mexico. Its high on the list for summer surf travel. Mexico is one of those places where you can find some secret spots with not many people around. Not far away, theres El Salvador. There are amazing pointbreaks up and down the coast. El Salvador should definitely be on your list if you want to surf some perfect righthand pointbreaks. Story continues To the south, theres Nicaragua: Theres left and right peaks all over the place; I highly advise it. Even further south, theres Chile. If youre looking for a very unique trip that you will remember for the rest of your life, and youre not afraid of cold water, says Nic, I would definitely go to Chile. And finally, Nics last recommendation is a bit of a curveballSwitzerland. No, theres no ocean in landlocked Switzerland, but there is a wavepool: Alaia Bay. One of the coolest surf experiences I had this year, Nic says. So, now you know the spots; time to book that ticket. *** Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos. A newborn bison calf in Yellowstone National Park was euthanised after an attempted rescue effort by a tourist caused it to be rejected by the herd. The National Park Service (NPS) has appealed for help to identify the tourist after the unfortunate incident at the junction of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek on Saturday. The man approached the calf after it became separated from its mother when the bison herd crossed the swollen Lamar River in the northeastern corner of the Wyoming park, the NPS said. He then pushed the struggling calf up a river bank and onto a roadway. Witnesses said the man and other tourists patted the noticeably distressed and shivering baby bison, the Cowboy State Daily reported. The calf and mother were seen calling out to each other from opposite sides of the river, the news site reported. Park rangers attempts to reunite the calf with the herd were unsuccessful, and the calf was euthanised after it caused a hazardous situation by following cars and visitors, the NPS said. Authorities are appealing for information to identify a tourist who attempted to rescue a newborn bison calf in Yellowstone National Park (National Park Service) Yellowstone regulations state that visitors must remain at least 25 yards (23m) away from all wildlife including bison, elk and deer, and at least 100 yards (91m) away from wolves and bears. Park rangers recently appealed to tourists to stay clear of wild animals after several documented incidents of bison being approached for selfies or pets. Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in this case, their survival, an NPS spokesperson said. The tourist is described as a white male in their 40s or 50s, who was wearing a blue shirt and black pants. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Yellowstone National Park Tip Line at 307-344-2132 or email YELL_Tip@nps.gov. A proposal that supporters say would cut regulations on the states largest health insurer, allowing it to compete, and detractors say will allow the insurer to move billions of policyholder money to a new deregulated company, took a step forward in the North Carolina Senate on Wednesday. House Bill 346 would allow Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, classified in the state as a nonprofit medical service corporation, to transfer assets into a holding company which would become the ultimate controlling company. This holding company would be exempt from many regulations, allowing it and any subsidiaries created to move assets, invest and spend with much greater flexibility than allowed under the current structure. Critics of the bill say it would allow the insurer to move its assets out of the flagship company and, with the new holding company, cut deals with for-profits, buy out companies and transfer nonprofit value to for-profit use with little supervision. The insurer would also skirt the states 1998 conversion law, critics say. That law requires Blue Cross, if it ever went for-profit, to leave its value in a nonprofit charitable foundation created to promote the health of North Carolinians. Republican Rep. John Bradford, a primary bill sponsor, said Wednesday that the proposal is really a business regulatory reform bill that just works to level the playing field for our two hospital service corporations in North Carolina. Delta Dental of North Carolina is also classified as a nonprofit medical service corporation, though it hasnt been actively involved in bill debates. These companies dont have the same flexibility as other companies in their space, both for-profit companies and even other not-for-profit organizations, such as hospitals, Bradford said. Obviously, health care is a very competitive space. Its changing quickly. And this bill really just attempts to give them a chance to be able to make investments and create jobs here in North Carolina. Story continues It passed the Senate Commerce and Insurance committee Wednesday on a voice vote, with some audible no votes. The bill, a priority for the states largest health insurer, previously passed the House in late April by a margin of 86-26, with bipartisan support. Of those who voted in opposition, 11 were Republicans and 15 were Democrats. NC insurance commissioner vs. Blue Cross While the bill has drawn support in the legislature, top state officials arent all on board. Republican state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who is running for reelection and who has been adamantly against the bill throughout its progress through the legislature, told The News & Observer that Blue Cross NC should first address their customer service problems rather than trying to force this legislation through the General Assembly thats going to, I believe, further erode the rights of patients. He also said a big difference between Blue Cross NC and its competitors, such as United Healthcare and CVS Health Corporation, is that those companies use stockholder or private-equity money, while Blue Cross NC uses money from state policyholder premiums. According to Causey, as a nonprofit, Blue Cross NCs $7.7 billion in assets and $4.6 billion surplus is, either directly or indirectly, North Carolina policyholder money. You can argue well, they made some investment returns right? They have some federal tax dollars in the mix. Primarily they have earned their assets over the years with people paying their hard-earned premium dollars every month, to pay those monthly health insurance premiums, and people really struggle to do that, he said. Under the bill, Causey said policyholders may see premiums increase, as assets from the flagship insurance company, moved to the holding company, would no longer be available as investment income. Blue Cross NC has said that the bill would not increase premiums and that insurance rates are approved by the Department of Insurance. Causey told The N&O he has limited authority on his approval of health insurance rates. He also said funds in the deregulated holding corporation may be invested out-of-state. Blue Cross NC has also parried this point. The current bill version says that the net worth of the holding corporation shall be invested in insurance companies or other affiliates or subsidiaries that contribute to the health needs of customers, subscribers, or the people of this State, including those in rural communities of this State, or promote affordability, access, better health, or customer experience. During the committee, Chris Evans, vice president of public affairs with Blue Cross NC, said they did not take for granted that in an increasingly competitive market, North Carolinians have other options that they can choose their health insurance. Evans said the bill would provide BCBS more flexibility and that it is in direct support of our goals for affordability and access which are at the center of everything we do. Any claims to the contrary are just patently false. She also highlighted that under the bill the holding company must report the types of investments made, as well as as report the compensation for its highest-paid executives. David Wheeler, a Democratic contender for insurance commissioner, told The N&O he supported the legislation and that Blue Cross NC will still have some oversight by its own management and board, which are accountable under the law. My feeling is, I trust Blue Cross and Blue Shield to do the right thing, Wheeler said. They have done well in this state, during the decades that theyve been in North Carolina. And why would we regulate or overregulate an organization thats doing great things in North Carolina and is looking for a little more flexibility on how they run their organization. Candidates for governor weigh in Democratic Attorney General Stein, who is running for governor, issued a statement Tuesday saying that his top priority is always to protect North Carolinians including their health care. I had serious reservations about early drafts of this bill and raised them both with BCBS and legislators. I appreciate BCBSs willingness to work with my office to improve the legislation to better protect the people of North Carolina. Last week, my office reached agreement with BCBS on a series of amendments to HB 346 that, if passed, would enable me to support the amended legislation, he wrote. The amendments, Stein wrote, would maintain the states conversion law, protect policyholders and preserve the insurance commissioners authority. Republican State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who is also running for governor, said he trusted Causey and not Stein to protect the consumers of this state, and keep premiums low. The reorganization bill came after Blue Cross NC lost its state contract as administrator of North Carolinas State Health Plan to one of those national insurance companies, Aetna. Folwell, whose office oversees the health plan, said any notion that this legislation is necessary because they lost the State Health Plan business after 44 years is inaccurate. They lost the business like theyre losing other businesses across the state because of customer service and peoples frustration with their computer system. Asked by The N&O about Steins proposed amendments, Bradford said he hasnt heard from the AGs office about any changes. Its not to say that theyre not talking to other folks. The primary sponsors of the bipartisan House version of the bill include the majority and minority leaders of the chamber, Reps. John Bell and Robert Reives. The Senate versions primary sponsors are Republicans. illustration of a spiral shaped bacterium against a black background illustration of a spiral shaped bacterium against a black background State and federal health officials are investigating the cause of a "cluster of illnesses" in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Early analyses have ruled out the freshwater-residing "brain-eating amoeba" Naegleria fowleri, known for causing a rare but nearly always fatal brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), as a potential cause, Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) officials told Live Science in an emailed statement. "What we know at this time is a few individuals have presented to healthcare providers with varying symptoms," and tests for PAM caused by N. fowleri have been negative, the statement reads. The OSDH is currently investigating the reports and working alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct further tests. The OSDH statement does not provide more information about the cases, but according to FOX 23 , several affected individuals reportedly got sick after swimming in Copan Lake or the Caney River, and at least one child is reportedly being treated in the hospital for suspected bacterial meningitis. The OSDH has advised residents that public drinking water is safe and that it is tested daily to ensure federal and state quality standards are met. Related: 'Brain-eating' amoebas are a new concern in northern US states, health officials advise Meningitis is the inflammation of the layer covering the brain; it leads to symptoms such as headache, stiff neck and light sensitivity, and severe cases can cause seizures, coma and death. Meningitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses or amoebas like N. fowleri infecting the central nervous system ; severe cases tend to be caused by bacteria or amoebas rather than by viruses. It is uncommon to contract meningitis from freshwater. When it does happen, N. fowleri is usually the culprit and, on average, two to three cases of PAM are reported in the U.S. each year. In those cases, patients have usually come into contact with the amoeba after inhaling contaminated water through their noses. Story continues With N. fowleri ruled out as a possible cause of the recent illnesses in Bartlesville, what else could cause meningitis following exposure to freshwater? According to Dr. Thomas Russo , a professor and chief of infectious diseases in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, the most likely culprit behind the recent cluster of illnesses is bacteria in the genus Leptospira. Exposure to this pathogen can cause an infection called leptospirosis, which can lead to meningitis. According to the CDC, the urine of infected animals can enter water sources, where the bacteria can then linger for months. Swallowing or bathing with an open wound in water contaminated with Leptospira gives the pathogen an entry point into the body. In the U.S., around 100 to 150 cases of leptospirosis are reported each year, although some of these are caused by contact with infectious urine or consumption of contaminated food. Enteroviruses present another plausible cause. These are "a group of viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses, which are usually mild," Russo told Live Science. For example, enteroviruses can cause the common cold and various gastrointestinal symptoms. Enteroviruses can enter freshwater sources via fecal runoff contamination. "If the water was contaminated with an enterovirus and was ingested, it could potentially cause a meningitis syndrome," Russo said. Infections with enteroviruses are fairly common, but most people who come into contact with an enterovirus don't develop a clinical disease; illnesses that do arise tend to resolve on their own . Listeria bacteria, a rare but sometimes fatal cause of food poisoning , can also result in meningitis. These bacteria can be found in moist environments, soil, water and animal feces. Certain groups are at a greater risk of illness from exposure to Listeria, including children 6 months old or younger, pregnant people, and people with compromised immune systems. Balamuthia mandrillaris, an amoeba that is common in freshwater , soil, dust, sewage, swimming pools, water storage, and humidifiers, can cause a rare but serious brain infection called granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) . The amoeba can enter the body through broken skin or via inhalation through the nose. Since its discovery in 1896, only 200 cases have been confirmed worldwide, although half of these occurred in the U.S. RELATED STORIES Fatal 'brain-eating' amoeba successfully treated with repurposed UTI drug Dead tapeworm in man's brain caused him to speak 'gibberish' and have seizures 'It was just dead brain tissue': Seattle woman dies from extremely unusual infection Another amoeba, Acanthamoeba , can also cause GAE, although fewer than 50 such cases of GAE have been reported in the literature. The amoeba can be found in swimming pools, lakes, tap water , and heating and air conditioning units. While most people will be exposed to the pathogen at some point in their life, very few will develop an illness those with a compromised immune system are at most risk of falling ill. It is also possible for an unknown pathogen to cause meningitis following contact with water, Russo said, and there's a chance that the cases reported in Bartlesville are not related to one another or to the individuals' recent swimming history. So far, limited information has been made publicly available regarding the number of cases and the symptoms or diagnoses of those afflicted. Therefore, it is not possible to conclude the cause of the illnesses, Russo said. Because of their increased risk of illness when exposed to pathogens, people who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems should consider avoiding swimming in freshwater, according to Russo. Anyone swimming in freshwater should also avoid swallowing the water or allowing it to enter their nose. Netflix has acquired Todd Haynes Cannes Film Festival competition entry May December, which made an impression on the Croisette, earning a six-minute standing ovation during its Saturday evening premiere. The film stars Natalie Portman as a Hollywood actress who travels to Georgia to research the life of Gracie (Julianne Moore, teaming with Haynes for the fourth time), who became tabloid fodder after she started a May-December relationship with Joe (Charles Melton), a man 23 years her junior. While preparing for the film about the couples past, Elizabeth observes Gracie and Joes marriage 20 years after their relationship was national news, a time when they are about to become empty nesters. More from The Hollywood Reporter The Hollywood Reporters review called May December a complex drama thats intrinsically intimate and yet also detached, at times almost clinical. Haynes told THR that the screenplay for the movie came to him from Natalie and her producing team during the COVID pandemic. Rarely do you get scripts that feature such compelling female characters at their center, he said. The logline reads: Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under the pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past. The film, which has been sold in the U.S. by CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group, was written by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik, with a producing team that includes Killer Films Christine Vachon and Will Ferrell. Lee Broda, Alex Brown, Samy Burch, Madeleine Rudin Johnson, Jonathan Montepare, Jeff Rice, Thomas K Richards and Thorsten Schumacher executive produce. And, along with Vachon and Ferrell, producers include Jessica Elbaum, Grant S. Johnson, Pamela Koffler, Tyler W. Konney, Sophie Mas and Portman. Story continues Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. An open lock depicting a data breach Unlike with a cyberattack, you can get caught up in the fallout of a data breach even if you did nothing wrong. This is the case for 1.1 million Americans who may have had their financial data exposed following a recent breach at a major debt collector. As reported by Cybernews , the US-based debt collector NCB Management Services has begun sending out data breach notification letters to users as the result of a breach that occurred back in February. NCB claims that at the beginning of February, hackers gained access to its systems. Unfortunately though, it took the company three days to realize it had been breached. Following an internal investigation, NCB submitted a data breach notification to the Maine Attorney General explaining that the hackers responsible accessed financial account numbers or payment card numbers along with security and access codes, passwords or PINs for the accounts of affected users. This amount of financial information being exposed is quite concerning as users credit cards could end up for sale on the dark web. From here, hackers could use them to commit fraud or even identity theft if other sensitive data on affected users is also available online. Banks are also caught up in the fallout As NCB is a debt collection agency after all, its used by banks to collect any outstanding amounts owed. So far, it looks like both TD Bank and Bank of America have been indirectly affected by this data breach as well. In a recent report on the matter, the legal advice site JD Supra explained that TD Bank customers could be affected from the NCB data breach as well. This is based on an official filing the Toronto-based bank also made with the Main Attorney General explaining that the hackers responsible gained access to the names, addresses, account numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of its customers. you want to be on the lookout for a data breach notification letter in your mailbox Just like NCB did, TD Bank has also sent out data breach notification letters to customers who were impacted as a result of this data breach. Story continues In a sample notice letter (PDF) submitted to the Maine Attorney General which was sent out to impacted users, NCB revealed that Bank of America customers may also be affected. According to the letter, hackers may have accessed their first and last names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, date of birth, employment position, pay amount, drivers license numbers, Social Security numbers, account numbers, credit card numbers, routing numbers and other sensitive info during the breach on NCB. How to tell if youre affected and what to do next A shocked couple realizing they've been scammed If youve been contacted by NCB regarding debt collection before or are a Bank of America or TD Bank customer, you want to be on the lookout for a data breach notification letter in your mailbox. You may also receive an alert via your banking app or if you log into your account from your browser. Although we dont yet know if TD Bank is offering customers free access to the best identity theft protection services , Bank of America has said that it will provide affected customers with a two-year subscription to Experian IdentityWorks. You can find all of the details on how to activate the subscription in the data breach notification sent out by NCB if you received it. Going forward, users caught up in this data breach should carefully review their credit reports and account statements for the next 12 to 24 months to look for any signs of suspicious activity. As for which group of hackers is responsible for the breach, NCB has said that it is working with federal law enforcement agencies to get to the bottom of things. However, the company could end up paying a fine due to the fact that hackers had access to its systems for several days without being detected. An EMT sexually assaulted a woman with Parkinsons disease while she was strapped to a gurney in the back of an ambulance, a California lawsuit says. The lawsuit, filed on May 19, says that the company that employed the paramedic, American Medical Response, engaged in a pattern of negligent hiring, supervision and lack of oversight and enabled predators. On Dec. 23, an 82-year-old woman, who is not named in the lawsuit, fell at an assisted living home in San Mateo County. Miguel Nieblas Ontiveros, a paramedic with American Medical Response, responded in an ambulance with another EMT, according to the lawsuit. The paramedics picked up the woman, who has Parkinsons disease, and took her to a medical center about a half-hour drive from the assisted living home, according to the lawsuit. During the transport, Ontiveros stayed in the back of the ambulance with the patient while the other paramedic drove, according to the lawsuit. The patient was strapped into a stretcher and was wearing a neck immobilizer. Ontiveros turned off the lights in the back of the ambulance, blindfolded the woman and sexually assaulted her, the lawsuit says. The ambulance driver later told investigators she didnt see the assault happen, but after arriving at the hospital, she went to the back of the ambulance and saw Ontiveros pulling up his pants, the lawsuit says. The patient, who only speaks Cantonese, later told investigators through her daughter-in-law, who served as a translator, that a bad man did horrible things to her, the lawsuit says. Ontiveros was charged on April 21 with two counts of forcible oral copulation, according to the lawsuit. American Medical Response, which provides ambulance services around the country, said in a statement that it does not comment on pending litigation. The company also said that Ontiveros was terminated after his arrest, and they are cooperating with law enforcement. Ontiveross attorney did not respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News. Story continues He pleaded not guilty to the charges on May 2, according to San Mateo County court records. Ontiveros was unfit for service, the lawsuit says American Medical Response knew or should have known that Ontiveros was unfit for service before hiring him, according to the lawsuit. He was dismissed from the South San Francisco Fire Department in July 2020 after he was accused of submitting fraudulent time cards and receiving $15,000 for hours he didnt work, the lawsuit says. He was charged with five counts of grand theft by a servant, agent or employee of $950 or more on Dec. 24, 2020, according to San Mateo County court records. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. While working for American Medical Response, he was accused of assaulting an 80-year-old woman in an ambulance on May 21, 2022, according to the lawsuit. Despite the accusations, the company allowed Ontiveros to continue working and to be alone with patients in the back of ambulances. (American Medical Response) allowed a sexual predator to roam free and prey on the elderly, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit accuses the company of keeping Ontiveros employed because it had a staff shortage and just needed warm bodies to work in ambulances. Trauma will last the rest of her life, the lawsuit says The 82-year-old woman, who lives at an assisted living home in Colma, about 10 miles south of San Francisco, has two daughters and a daughter-in-law who visit her often, according to the lawsuit. She loved to spend time with family and friends and was a fierce player of Mahjong, a Chinese game played with tiles. But since the assault, she has been prevented from performing daily activities and obtaining the full enjoyment of life, the lawsuit says. She has also suffered severe emotional distress and trauma that will in all likelihood last the rest of her life, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks damages of an unspecified amount for her pain and suffering, medical expenses and costs of psychological treatment, the lawsuit says. Nursing home staff gave man contaminated sandwich that killed him, CA lawsuit says Restaurant manager touched young female workers, asked them to sleep over, CA suit says 22-year-old collapses leaving court, found dead next day in jail cell, CA lawsuit says By Andrew Mills DOHA (Reuters) - A U.S. government default would trigger an initial pull-back from crypto currencies followed by a "push upward" the CEO of London-based crypto firm Blockchain.com said on Thursday. The U.S. government could fall behind on its bills next month - and even default on its debt - if Congress does not raise a $31.4 trillion cap on government borrowing, a failure that could trigger economic calamity and panic on global financial markets. In the short term, "a U.S. default or a U.S. recession are probably bad for crypto. These are risk assets, and you want to take risk off," Blockchain.com CEO Peter Smith said at the Qatar Economic Forum, organised by Bloomberg. "On a long horizon, these are probably good for crypto...If the U.S. government defaults, we'll probably see a quick pull-back and then a very strong push upward in the crypto market." The crypto currency market has followed cyclical patterns and while 2022 was "quite painful", it is recovering this year and 2024 will be "another exponential year", Smith said. Blockchain.com, which offers users a crypto wallet and is also a crypto exchange, is considering an expansion of its small Middle Eastern office in commercial centre Dubai. "The (Dubai) government's in a very healthy, consultative process with the industry and about regulations...I think so long as those end up where we think they will, we'll probably be investing heavily in Dubai," he said. Last September, Blockchain.com signed an agreement with Dubai's crypto regulator Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and has since opened an office and hired staff. Currently, the company is investing most heavily to shore up operations in Singapore and Europe, Smith said. (Reporting by Andrew Mills; writing by Andrew Mills and Tala Ramadan; editing by Jason Neely) If you have kept up with the Natural Selection Tour for the past couple of years, you can probably tell that it is an all in type of event. The riders really dedicate a lot of their time, effort, energy, and physical and mental bandwidth to the Natural Selection Tour. So... what happens when it is over? Well, they gave us the courtesy of filling us in, and the answer is a heart-warming one. Full caption: "What happens when the tour wraps?Four riders headed over to Hemsedal, Norway to decompress at the 6th annual Bang Slalom. @ben_ferguson, @big_air_jare, @ulrikbadertscher and event mastermind, @mikkel_bang competed alongside other industry players Mark Sollors, Stale Sandbech, Andrew Marriner, Stan Leveille and Sam Taxwood, only to be mercilessly taken out by local norse dark horse, Brage RichenbergSeemingly one of the last remaining snowboard events unmarred by the burden of having to be anything other than a good time, the Bang Slalom is a salt of the earth answer to why snowboarding" We are always on the lookout for amusing, interesting, and engaging snow-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you are a professional rider or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SNOWBOARDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality snowboarding videos. Do not miss another headline from SNOWBOARDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of snowboarding. Plums, peaches, apricots, and cherries anchor Sarah Copeland's summers with family in central Hungary. Aubrie Pick Stone fruit. When I think of Hungary, my husband s homeland, I think of the stone fruits that bookend our late-summer trips to the village of his childhood. Here, on the plains of central Hungary at the foot of the Bakony Mountains, fruit is the song of our summers. Platters of dinnye (melon) and clusters of szolo (wine grapes) are the melody that carries through a decade-long renovation of our 300-year-old house, next door to my in-laws. Last summer, we came to finish the guesthouse and to tame the wild plum trees, whose branches are so heavy they scrape the soil. We harvested inky blackberries and tended land nourished by millennia of livestock. We ate stone fruit raw by the fistful: meggyes, luscious Balaton cherries; oszibarack, fist-sized peaches; szilva, sour plums in every shape and size (small and yellow, firm and blushed, deep purple and tender a prune in the making); and ribizli, red currants, the scarlet orbs dangling from tiny stems. My children love to pull them off one by one with their lips. Aubrie Pick Sarah Copeland with her orchard haul. Every year, fruit is also the muse of our summer kitchen. We cook apricots low and slow into a tender pulp called lekvar, a fruit butter to spread on rolled pancakes. We sprinkle plums into thick, earthy tortes laced with poppy seeds. To me, these tortes offer the taste of perseverance; the story of shifting borders, world wars, communist rule, and the 1956 revolution all baked in a humble cake. Its the food of the village folk, of our family, that I crave on the long stretches between trips. Like the people themselves, it is modest but remarkable. When I first met my husband, Andras, 16 years ago, his native tongue was beyond my recognition. Magyar (Hungarian) is renowned for its complexity, influenced by centuries of nomadic history. (The Magyars are thought to have settled in the region around 900 A.D.) On visits, I would get by on small bits of German, the second language of our village, but it was fruit that gave me an inroad: walking the orchard with Andras father, learning to tame the gnarled limbs; perching atop pots full of stone fruit with his mother, mimicking the movements of her small but discerning knife, trimming away only the largest offenses. Here, perfect fruit is suspect; most villagers, like my in-laws, still use sustainable growing practices. The result: boastful flavor, and sometimes-spotted fruit that expresses its exceptional terroir. Story continues Aubrie Pick A view from the Bakony hills down to one of the region's many small villages. Related: This Spice Paste Is the Secret to Hungarian Cooking Three weeks into our months-long stay every summer, Andras mother rolls palacsinta thin pancakes spread with apricot lekvar. Stacks of them wait in a warm oven, covered to stay moist, ours for the taking between hauling branches and taking hikes up the Bakonys gentle slope. My mother-in-law lavishes jewel-toned gyumolcsleves, a tart fruit soup, into shallow bowls and humors me if I whisk a ladleful away to our wedding porcelain, from nearby Herend, for a photo. The rest goes into jelly jars, to be chilled in the fridge for the next days trip to the beach at Lake Balaton, Central Europes playground, an hour south. There, we eat langos, fried dough slathered with garlic and sour cream. Black and pink currants float in the iced lemonade we drink in the warmth. We feast on fagyi, or ice cream, in every flavor, from bodzavirag (elderflower) to fekete szeder (blackberry). Aubrie Pick Copeland and her son, Matyas, adding sugar to fresh local apricots to cook down into sArgabarack lekvAr. Our last days of the summer every year are spent moving soil and plotting our small orchard. Its taxing work, but work that lends an intimacy to the land. Were shaping next years crop, growing a legacy that will feed our children for decades to come. Recipes Aubrie Pick Inspired by the flavor of Hungarys popular meat stew, this summery chicken dish gets bold flavor from Copelands pickle and paprika paste marinade. Peaches, plums, and sliced fennel in the salad offer a fresh, sweet contrast to the chicken along with another hit of ground paprika in the dressing. You can also use this versatile, easy-to-make marinade for shrimp, firm whitefish, or pork. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick Set atop the batter, fresh plums settle into this cake as it bakes and help keep the crumb moist. Copeland describes this Hungarian country-style cake as a wholesome treat thats often served at tiez hora (10 oclock meal break) or during uzsonna (afternoon snack) with tea or coffee. She puts her own spin on this classicincluding brown sugar in the batter for a bit of deep molasses flavor. Use firm but ripe plums so that they keep their shape during baking. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick A mix of tart cherries, apples, and berries picks up a mild cinnamon spice as it simmers in this chilled soup. Copeland follows her mother-in-laws fruit soup style, which aims for a tangy, sour profile. This refreshing dish is often served as a first course or digestive following a heavy meat dish. Cornstarch gives the fruity broth delicate body. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick Tender and light, these thin pancakes are rolled up with simple homemade apricot preserves. The pancake batter has no added sugarCopeland says a hallmark of Hungarian sweets and treats is that they arent overtly sweet. If you dont have homemade apricot lekvar on hand, substitute good-quality preserves or fruit spread. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick Copeland describes lekvar as a cross between preserves and fruit butter spreadable, with soft chunks of fruit throughout. She serves it on palacsinta (Hungarian pancakes) and says the sweet and tangy apricot butter is also often given as a treasured gift to dear friends and neighbors. Get the Recipe Aubrie Pick This refreshing ice cream gets mild tang and tartness from creme fraiche and notes of raspberry and rhubarb from red currants. Inspired by the passionate summer ice cream culture at Lake Balaton, Copeland opts for currants, which are abundant at Hungarian markets during peak season but not often used for ice cream. Get the Recipe For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. Zeeko Zaki is engaged! The FBI actor shared a sweet video of the moment he proposed to his now-fiancee, Renee Monaco, while on vacation in Morocco on Instagram late last night, May 23. The two appeared to be taking a break from a camel ride in the desert when it happened, with someone standing by recording the whole thing. "Habibi its all for you now" he wrote in the caption of the post, which included a screenshot from the second slide, showing the actor walking over to where his girlfriend stood with the camels, the wind whipping loudly in the background. When he reached her side, he turned to look at someone off-screen, telling them, "You can do a video," before turning back. He pulled her aside and kissed her before dropping to one knee, clearly startling her. His words are inaudible, but her initial gasp and several comments could be heard over the noise. "I'm crying. I can't breathe. Oh my god, It's so pretty. It's so big!" she said. "You stud you! So happy for you guys!" actor Kellan Lutz congratulated the couple in the comments. "I am so so happy for you both huge congratulations," costar Missy Peregrym wrote, adding, "But did you bring me home a camel? YOU KNOW TOMS SPIRIT ANIMAL IS A CAMEL." "Congratulations!!!!" Chicago PD star Tracy Spiridakos added. Monaco gave a sneak peek at the ring on her own Instagram account, uploading a montage of footage that included Zaki opening the box for the camera while riding his camel right behind her. Congratulations to the happy couple! A Ukrainian flag was placed in the hand of Michelangelo's David in 2022. MATTHIAS RIETSCHEL/Reuters A Florida principal was forced to resign in March after showing middle schoolers images of Michelangelo's David. Hope Carrasquilla said the Leon County School Board gave her an ultimatum to resign or be fired. Carrasquilla and her family got to see David in person in Florence, Italy on Friday. A Florida principal who was forced to resign after parents complained that the images she showed to sixth graders of Michelangelo's David were "pornographic," got to see the sculpture for herself in Italy this week. Hope Carrasquilla resigned from her position as principal at Tallahassee Classical School in March. She said the Leon County School Board gave her an ultimatum to resign or be fired, according to The Washington Post. School board chair Barney Bishop told the outlet that three parents had filed complaints regarding the lesson. "She wasn't let go because of the artistic nude pictures. We show it every year to our students," Bishop told The Post. "The problem with this particular issue was the lack of follow-through on the process." In the aftermath of the viral story, the mayor of Florence where David is now on display invited the ousted teacher and her students to visit. Now free from the constraints of a middle school schedule, Carrasquilla took them up on the invite. She saw the iconic David statue in person on Friday. Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Accademia Gallery, said that Carrasquilla and her family were an "immense pleasure" to host. "I am happy to be able to welcome her and introduce her to the beauties of our museum, besides showing her the David, a sculpture that, I repeat as I have said, has nothing to do with pornography, Hollberg said in a statement. "It's a masterpiece, it represents a religious symbol of purity and innocence, the victory of good over evil." The gallery did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Saturday. Story continues Hollberg added that more than 50% of the gallery's visitors come from the United States and that David's nudity "is a clear expression of the Renaissance, which puts man at the center of attention." "I am sure that Mrs. Carrasquilla will find here, in Florence, the welcome and the solidarity that she deserves, Hollberg said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read the original article on Insider Brian Carroll, a former executive at Southeastern University, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for wire fraud committed while he worked for the Lakeland school. U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell issued the sentence to Carroll, 47, the Department of Justice said in a news release Thursday afternoon. Carroll, who now lives in New Market, Tennessee, had entered a guilty plea in January to culminate a case dating to 2017. Carroll was serving as executive vice president at Southeastern when he took on a project to redesign the website and digital brand of the universitys president, Kent Ingle, according to court records. Carroll then created a scheme to enrich himself by establishing an anonymous company based in New Mexico and creating a bank account for the company, both of which he controlled, the release said. Previously Brian Carroll, former exec at Southeastern University, takes plea deal in fraud case From 2017 FBI, LPD investigating former Southeastern VP Brian Carroll in theft of hundreds of thousands The DOJ statement said that neither Ingle nor the Southeastern board of directors was aware of Carrolls connection to the limited liability corporation. The company submitted a bid to perform the web rebranding project for $185,000, and Carroll recommended and promoted the acceptance of the contract, the DOJ said. Southeastern made a series of wire payments to the company for work done on the project. The indictment from August 2021 lists five wire transfers totaling $114,500. Meanwhile, Carroll contracted with an unrelated company based in New York to do the actual work and create the new website, the release said. The New York company charged Carrolls company $30,000 for its work, meaning that Carroll attempted to defraud Southeastern out of approximately $155,000, the DOJ said. Southeastern University discovered Carrolls connection to the New Mexico company, and its board of directors suspended him and soon fired him in early 2017. The school did not publicly give a reason for his departure. Story continues The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Lakeland Police Department, the release said. Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer led the prosecution. In addition to the 15-month sentence, Judge Honeywell ordered Carroll to forfeit $42,000, representing the proceeds of the one count of wire fraud for which he pled guilty under an agreement with prosecutors. Methodist split Florida Methodist Conference votes to let 55 churches leave over fears of gay marriage, clergy What's in its future? RP Funding Center loses the Magic, Tropics and now its director Lake Wales Company holds town hall to discuss plans for pipe manufacturing plant The payment was a federal crime because all of the wire transfers went through computer servers in Texas or Virginia, according to court records. Since December 2016 when Southeastern University reported Brian Carrolls criminal activity to law enforcement, the university has worked with federal authorities to bring this matter to a conclusion, SEU spokesperson Dana Davis said in an emailed statement. The university thanks law enforcement at all levels for their handling of this case. With Mr. Carrolls guilty plea and the prison sentence and order of restitution imposed by the Federal District Judge, Southeastern is pleased that this matter has now been appropriately resolved. Carrolls lawyer, John Liguori of Bartow, said in January that he didnt believe Carroll deserved to be incarcerated for what he called a classic civil dispute. Before joining Southeastern in 2011, Carroll was chief operating officer of Carroll Construction Company and chief executive officer of The Carroll Group in Bartow. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Former exec at Southeastern Univ. in Lakeland sentenced for fraud Former Alachua County superintendent Carlee Simon has landed a new gig where she will continue to work in education but in a town far, far away. In fact, its almost the farthest possible location in the U.S. Simon, 46, announced on Facebook that she has accepted a job as interim dean for the University of Alaska Southeasts School of Education. The position comes with a two-year contract that will allow the former district leader to reassess her options and apply for the permanent role if she chooses. In her role, she will work on accreditation and recruit teachers, among other tasks. I'm very pleased to be able to continue to be in the education field, she said. I met the community in Juneau, Alaska and they're very proud of their education in K-12 and higher ed. I'm glad I have the opportunity to continue this work because I think its very purpose driven. Carlee Simon, former superintendent of Alachua County Public Schools, poses for a photo in her office in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 9, 2021. More: Alachua school officials discuss findings of 'alarming' Camp Crystal Lake investigation Opinion: Keep Carlee Simon as superintendent of Alachua County Public Schools Working in Alachua Simon was tapped for Alachua County's interim superintendent job in December 2020 before being named to the permanent position. During her tenure, the Eastside High graduate was instrumental in establishing a districtwide early literacy program with the University of Florida, known as UFLI. During its first year, the program showed progress in students learning. She was also the leader behind the districts rezoning efforts and forming a strategic plan to better address the achievement gap between white and minority students. Much of that work, however, has largely stalled following her termination as superintendent from the previous, more conservative school board. Carlee Simon, the former superintendent of Alachua County Public Schools, poses for a photo outside the school district office, in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 9, 2021. Simons toughest challenge came in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, as she and other educators tried to keep families and students safe from a deadly virus while still learning. Her stance on requiring masks in schools made her a target for local Republicans, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Board of Education. Story continues It was an enormous challenge, but Im proud of that, she said. She was a leader of accountability as head of the district, a skillset not widely seen in years prior to or since her tenure. Simon brought to light a questionable land deal orchestrated by other district employees and led the charge for better financial control and management of Camp Crystal Lake. The two causes drew pushback from some longtime board members and played a role in her ultimate termination. Florida's political attack on schools The landscape of education drastically changed following the pandemic. The state began targeting critical race theory, banning textbooks, library books and removing teachers who spoke out or didnt heed the states demands. Simon said she cares for the district but is scared for students, educators and future potential teachers. Its a hostile work environment for education in Florida right now, she said. Im very concerned about whats happening around the state. I hope theres a way out of this. The room was full as the Alachua County School Board meets to takes up a motion to terminate the contract of school superintendent Carlee Simon, during a meeting at the school board headquarters in Gainesville, March 1, 2022. Simon said she plans to recruit teachers from Florida to Alaska, hoping to capitalize on some of those concerns. Also while in Alachua County, Simons created a political committee called Families Deserve Inclusive Schools, which aims to support candidates who believe in public education. Simon has been vocal about protecting education in Florida throughout her time in office and after and has pushed back against conservative groups like Moms for Liberty. She hopes the PAC will further deter the groups efforts come 2024. We dont believe in banning books and we believe in teaching all of history, she said. Moving on There is a bittersweet farewell that comes with Simons new role, she says. I value the time I had serving our district as superintendent, she wrote on Facebook. I learned so much about myself and about people. We had a strong team and were moving forward. It was painful and joyous at the same time. I am stronger, more resilient, and more compassionate for all the families I served, even the ones that disagreed with my choices. I also saw the savagery of politics and the stooges involved. Carlee Simon, the former superintendent of Alachua County Public Schools, poses for a photo in the recreated historical classroom at the school district main office, in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 9, 2021. I've told many people about my feeling of fulfillment in the superintendency position. The job was exceptionally hard but also the most fulfilling and purposeful position I ever had. When I lost that position I felt rudderless. She said she will miss being close to lakes and people who she has known almost her entire life. The August heat, however, is one thing she wont miss. Simon said she doesnt know what the future holds for her or her family and hasnt entirely ruled out coming back to the Sunshine State. My successes in life have always come from my willingness to embrace change, she wrote. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Carlee Simon lands job at University of Alaska Southeast For many queer men, donating blood has been an impossible dream until now. (Illustration by Aisha Yousaf for Yahoo/Getty Images) Jeffrey Marks, a 62-year-old writer living in Cincinnati has bittersweet feelings about the Food and Drug Administrations recent decision to ease restrictions on queer men donating blood. When a close friend fell ill many years ago, Marks had tried donating blood at the friend's request but he was turned away from performing the potentially life saving act because he was gay, despite having been in a long-term monogamous relationship with a man for years. Ultimately, the friend died from his illness. Now, as Marks prepares to donate blood for the first time in his life, it feels like a full-circle moment. "Ill be a little emotional thinking about him and being able to finally help people," he tells Yahoo Life. "Ive already created a blood bank account." The decades-long FDA ban on queer men donating, begun in 1983, was in direct response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, which disproportionately affected gay and bisexual men. It started as a lifetime ban that lasted until 2015, when the requirements were reduced to a 12-month celibacy period. Later, in 2020, it became a three-month period, due to an increased need for donations in the early days of COVID. Then, on May 11, the FDA enacted a plan to lift all restrictions that directly target gay and bisexual men, choosing instead to assess all donors equally, regardless of their gender or sexual identity. Still, the impact of those changes won't be seen for about four to five months, notes Dr. Jed Gorlin, chief medical officer at Americas Blood Centers, which provides 60% of the nations blood supply. First, community blood banks must undergo a transition process involving computer system updates, form revisions and staff trainings. But when the time comes, Tanmoy Das Lala, a 33-year-old New York City doctoral student and queer-health activist, will be ready. He has wanted to donate blood for years but never could because he is gay. Now, he and his husband plan to donate for the first time, together, as soon as they're able. Story continues From being called a F*GGOT to my face on the #subway, to receiving "no one wants your AIDS blood" DMs, the toxic rhetoric continues. But I'm focused on tuning out the noise and looking forward to donating (for the FIRST time!!) and help save lives. @US_FDA pic.twitter.com/RYqKjGb5PA tanmoy das lala (@TanmoyDasLala) May 11, 2023 I imagine it will feel very emotional as the weight of the moment sinks in, he tells Yahoo Life, noting that while not everything about the new policy is perfect, it feels more inclusive than before. Cole Williams, the 22-year-old founder of the student-led Pride & Plasma campaign, agrees. For years, the Chicago resident has fought alongside his peers to eliminate the stigma of queer men donating blood, and when he heard about the FDA lifting its ban, he says he was at a loss for words. "Oh, I cried," he tells Yahoo Life. Like many other men, he's "looking forward" to donating blood as soon as possible. Giving blood is a selfless way to pay it forward. The change in the rules reflects a wider trend and viewpoint shift in the public, and demonstrates how far queer acceptance has come. These rule changes are part of a larger trend happening around the world, including in the United Kingdom and Canada, both of which implemented similar changes last year. And for Callum French, a 21-year-old biotech student in Canada, the eased restrictions allowed him the opportunity to donate blood for the first time in his life, which he did in February. Giving blood is a selfless way to pay it forward in your community, he tells Yahoo Life. What the blood-ban changes mean The FDA's new changes eliminate all gendered language previously targeting queer men. Now, donors will be assessed by their own "individual risk" of contracting HIV, based on various questions relating to their most recent sexual history regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Anyone whos had a new sexual partner (not a monogamous long-term partner) or has had anal sex in the last three months with a new partner is prohibited from donating blood. Still banned from donating will be people living with HIV (even those who are "undetectable" and cannot transmit the virus through sexual intercourse), as well as those taking PrEP, a daily pill that, when taken as prescribed, makes it virtually impossible to contract HIV during sex. Also, some cancer survivors and those living with specific chronic infections are also banned. Why some still aren't happy As a PrEP user, Calif. state Sen. Scott Wiener, a representative from San Francisco, is unable to donate blood. The concern among experts, he explains, is that some users may not be taking the daily medication as prescribed because they're "rationing" or "skipping doses" for various reasons. During these lapses, the risk of contracting HIV may increase. But he offers a simple solution. "The way to address that is by adding questions that assess PrEP adherence, whether someone is taking PrEP as directed not through a blanket ban on the people most engaged in HIV prevention," he tells Yahoo Life. "There is no reason someone taking PrEP as prescribed should be banned from donating blood, even if theyre having anal sex with more than one partner." Tony Morrison, senior director of communications at GLAAD, a leading LGBTQ media advocacy group that placed pressure on the FDA to implement the changes, calls the policy shift a "monumental step" in the fight for equality. Yet, as someone living with HIV and who's been undetectable for nearly 10 years, he may never have the chance to donate blood in his lifetime. According to the FDA, while "HIV is not transmitted sexually" by those who are undetectable, that's not the case with blood transfusions, which are administered intravenously and involve a larger volume of blood (1 pint) compared to any amount that could be exposed during sexual contact. "The best thing queer men can do right now is to physically show up in their communities to seek out their nearest blood donation facility to see how they can help," Morrison tells Yahoo Life. "Blood banks and donor locations operate at the mercy of FDA guidelines. Reach out and see how you can work together on a local level to create meaningful relationships that will impact your community." To that end, Gorlin says part of his work at America's Blood Centers is to help engage the next generation to be volunteer blood donors. "We do that by inclusivity," he notes of the policy change. "But we must also make sure that we are maintaining an incredibly safe blood supply." Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. In a matter of days, state officials will need to provide a concrete answer to a tough question: Where will Rhode Island shelter the crowds of unhoused people who have sought refuge at the Cranston Street Armory? So far, the public has no certainty. All the state knows is that the armory may be turned into offices and a soccer complex as part of what it has called an "exciting plan." As of this week, the state said it was searching for new properties to house the homeless, calling it an "ongoing process" about which it hopes "to have updates soon." Two properties have been mentioned as possibilities a three-story office building at 1144 Eddy St. and a former church at 1860 Westminster St., which was discussed late Wednesday at a community meeting even though the church had already been taken out of play. That night, the Department of Housing said it decided last week "not to proceed with this location because of feasibility, cost and consultation with the city." Even after that decision was made, businesses raised opposition to the church site, writing in a letter that it was too small and decrepit and lacks serious management perhaps a sign that not everyone will be a welcoming neighbor to the armory's current residents. For now, where the unsheltered will go is anyone's guess. Providence council president had almost no notice before shelter was announced Now that the shelter is nearing its end, it's clear it wasn't exactly what it was supposed to be. At least according to City Council President Rachel Miller. Miller, who said the state notified her only about an hour before it announced it would open the site as a warming center, said "the initial plans were very different from what actually happened." At first, it was expected to shelter about 60 people a number that ballooned into an average of nearly 200 per day. "There never really was an opportunity to have a full conversation with state leadership about how the armory was operating," Miller said. Story continues Eventually, certain vocal neighbors became irate and anxious about the newcomers. "Theres been concerns really since the armory opened as a warming center," Miller said. "Theres also been a lot of welcome from the neighborhood." Homeless numbers: Armory warming center closes in a month, Providence City Council is reminded in grim report 'The situation is not under control,' says Board of Licenses head The warming center at the Cranston Street Armory in Providence has reduced its hours to overnights, and the homeless people staying there often head to the adjacent Dexter Park during the day. Some neighbors aren't happy about that. Miller confirmed that there were considerations for using the armory as a cooling site, but those discussions eventually fizzled out. Already, the facility's operating hours have changed, forcing residents to leave during the day and spend their idle hours outside before returning to the shelter to sleep at night. "That means that theres not a lot of options for people," Miller said. "So there are groups of people in Dexter Park. By in large, theyre just in Dexter Park, and thats fine. I definitely have heard from both police and neighbors about concerns about drug use and thats being followed closely." Dylan Conley, head of the city's Board of Licenses, feels the situation is more dire than that, describing a "parade of ambulances, fire trucks and police" in the neighborhood. Conley, a Dexter Street resident, said earlier this month that someone came by his home to drop off Narcan, the overdose reversal drug, though Conley said he did not know who the individual was. He was, however, troubled by the gesture. "When you get to the point that youre asking neighbors to be emergency health care professionals its clear that the situation is not under control," Conley said. However, during a Providence Journal reporter's recent visit to the armory, a security guard and a National Guard member didn't raise issues with drug use or unruly behavior, but the latter said neighbors sometimes call police. The Journal has submitted public-records requests for logs of 911 calls and awaits a response. Medicaid fraud: Substance treatment provider accused of faking records and stealing millions from Medicaid City says armory isn't the right place for a shelter, yet state has put out no plan Mayor Brett Smiley's spokesman, Josh Estrella, said the city feels the armory isn't the right place for a shelter "as it lacks the infrastructure and features necessary to keep people long-term," but no alternatives have been announced. "While this is a state-run facility and they are in the process of coordinating many of these details, we are working closely with the state to connect these individuals to other community providers that offer shelter and or wrap around services," Estrella said. Still, there are no specifics on where the armory's residents will be housed next. There also isn't a clear closure date. The state has said the armory would close at the end of April, after pushing the date ahead a couple weeks, yet with April's end days away, the state still hasn't said when it will close. What's future of Cranston Street Armory? Here's what a consultant thinks Rhode Island Department of Housing spokesman Joseph Lindstrom said the state is working with the National Guard, the city and Amos House the shelter's operator "regarding the final plan and completion date." "We have been searching for properties and seeking service providers for the purpose of creating new opportunities for these individuals as well as other unsheltered Rhode Islanders," Lindstrom said in a similarly vague reply. By the time this article went to print, four days before the end of the month, Amos House had provided no comment to The Journal on the armory. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cranston Street Armory: What's the plan for when the shelter closes? WASHINGTON, D.C. Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted April 21 through April 27. Along with the week's roll call votes, the Senate also passed: the Justice for Jana Elementary Act (S. 418), to provide financial assistance to schools impacted by radioactive contaminants, and a resolution (S. Res. 175) recognizing the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. House House Vote 1:RELATIONS WITH CHINA: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 90), sponsored by Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, to demand that China's government immediately release from prison Mark Swidan, a U.S. citizen whom China sentenced to death in 2012 after being convicted of drug trafficking charges. Cloud said Swidan has been severely mistreated while in prison and that "no drugs were ever found on Swidan or in his hotel room, and the prosecution did not produce any evidence tying him to the drugs." The vote, on April 25, was unanimous with 418 yeas.YEAS: Jim Jordan R-OH (4th), Bob Latta R-OH (5th) Rep. Jim Jordan House Vote 2:MIDDLE EAST DIPLOMACY: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 311), sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., to encourage Middle East countries to join the Abraham Accords for improving relations between Israel and neighboring countries. Wagner said: "Israel is a force for peace and a beacon of democracy in a challenging region. At a time of heightened anti-Semitism across the globe, it is more important than ever that we maintain our strong connection to this very key ally." The vote, on April 25, was 401 yeas to 19 nays.YEAS: Jordan R-OH (4th), Latta R-OH (5th) House Vote 3:EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS: The House has passed the Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act (H.R. 1353), sponsored by Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio. The bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take measures to improve emergency communications services, such as 9-1-1 calls, in areas of the country that lack adequate services. Johnson said the bill would help "ensure everyone has access to critical lifesaving emergency services regardless of where they live or travel." The vote, on April 26, was 422 yeas to 1 nay.YEAS: Jordan R-OH (4th), Latta R-OH (5th) Story continues House Vote 4:BUDGET CHANGES: The House has passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act (H.R. 2811), sponsored by Rep. Jodey C. Arrington, R-Texas. The bill would suspend the federal debt limit until spring 2024 and make numerous spending and policy changes, including rescinding unobligated funding for COVID and Internal Revenue Service programs, establishing work requirements for Medicaid and food stamp programs, and reducing subsidies for electric vehicles and energy efficiency and renewable energy. Arrington called the bill's $4.8-trillion spending cut "an important first step to getting our fiscal house in order and a good faith effort to bring the president to the negotiating table" for budget talks. An opponent, Rep. Brendan F. Boyle, D-Pa., said the bill made risky cuts to public safety, health and food programs and represented "reckless brinkmanship" by raising doubts about whether the U.S. will pay its debt obligations. The vote, on April 26, was 217 yeas to 215 nays.YEAS: Jordan R-OH (4th), Latta R-OH (5th) House Vote 5:FCC AND PRECISION AGRICULTURE: The House has passed the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (H.R. 1339), sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, to require the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate potential changes to its rules governing the use of satellites to enable precision agriculture practices. Latta said of the benefit of such changes: "Farmers use information in real time to make smarter decisions on how to optimize inputs and whether and when to plant or harvest. When terrestrial or cellular networks are not available, satellite broadband steps in to make these technologies work." The vote, on April 26, was 409 yeas to 11 nays.YEAS: Jordan R-OH (4th), Latta R-OH (5th) House Vote 6:WITHDRAWAL FROM SOMALIA: The House has rejected a resolution (H. Con. Res. 30), sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that would have ordered the removal of U.S. soldiers stationed in Somalia within 1 year. Gaetz said "I have yet to see the evidence that U.S. troops are the essential element to fusing relationships among warring African warlords, clans and tribes" and succeed in stabilizing Somalia. An opponent, Rep. Richard McCormick, R-Ga., voiced concerns that if the U.S. military leaves Somalia, "we will have an increase in terrorist activities" and therefore an increased threat to U.S. security. The vote, on April 27, was 102 yeas to 321 nays.YEAS: Jordan R-OH (4th)NAYS: Latta R-OH (5th) Senate Senate Vote 1:VETERANS' BENEFITS: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Joshua David Jacobs to be the Veterans Affairs Department's under secretary for benefits. Jacobs is currently a senior benefits management advisory official at the VA, and was in a similar role at the VA during the Obama administration. A supporter, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Jacobs' experience at the VA "shows his deep commitment to serving those who served our nation and why he is such a strong fit and trusted choice for this role." The vote, on April 26, was 74 yeas to 25 nays.YEAS: Sherrod Brown D-OHNAYS: J.D. Vance R-OH Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) Senate Vote 2:REGULATING VEHICLE EMISSIONS: The Senate has passed a resolution (S.J. Res. 11), sponsored by Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., to disapprove of and void an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting nitrogen oxide air emissions from heavy-duty engines. Fischer said: "The technology required to meet this new rule's standards will cost between approximately $2,500 and $8,500 per vehicle. This means that many truckers will choose to keep their old heavy-duty vehicles, which do have higher rates of emissions, instead of buying vehicles that are both affordable and more climate-conscious." A resolution opponent, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said: "For the sake of clean air, for the sake of our environment, and for the sake of the health of all communities across the country, I urge you to oppose this repeal." The vote, on April 26, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.NAYS: Brown D-OHYEAS: Vance R-OH This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Votes cast by area members of Congress April 21-27 Hong Sang-soos latest film In Our Day, which will premiere on closing night of Cannes Directors Fortnight, has been acquired by Cinema Guild for North America. Cinema Guild will release the film in theaters following its North American festival premiere later this year. More from Variety In Our Day stars Kim Minhee as Sangwon, an actress who has recently returned to South Korea and is temporarily staying with her friend, Jungsoo (Song Sunmi), and her cat, Us. Elsewhere in the city, the aging poet Uiju (Ki Joobong) lives alone, his cat having recently passed away. On this ordinary day, each of them has a visitor: Sangwon is visited by her cousin, Jisoo (Park Miso) and Uiju, by a young actor, Jaewon (Ha Seongguk). Each of them wants to learn about a career in the arts, but they also have bigger questions. Hongs 30th feature outing, In Our Day demonstrates a new level of mastery of his art, using long and elaborate shots to articulate the simplest of pleasures: an inter-species encounter, the discovery of a new drink, a game of rock paper scissors. Kim and Ki lead an outstanding cast of the most natural of performers. Adding to the rich tableau of his work, Hong Sangsoos In Our Day not only makes uslaugh, it makes us think about what it means to be alive, said Cinema Guild president Peter Kelly. Its a gift that we hope continues and continues. The deal was negotiated by Peter Kelly of Cinema Guild with Youngjoo Suh of Finecut. It marks Hongs 12th film to premiere at Cannes, where he most unveiled In Front of Your Face at Cannes Premiere in 2021. Cinema Guild now handles 20 films by the director. Their first collaboration was The Day He Arrives, which premiered at Un Certain Regard in 2011 and will be released for the first time on Blu-ray later this year. Story continues Cinema Guild, which focuses on world cinema, independent films and documentaries, will next release Claire Simons Our Body and Angela Schanelecs Music. Recent titles include Hong Sangsoos Walk Up, Helena Wittmanns Human Flowers of Flesh and Laura Citarellas Trenque Lauquen. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. BofA to Ask About 40 Bankers in Asia to Find Jobs in Other Units (Bloomberg) -- Bank of America Corp. plans to ask about 40 bankers in Asia to look for jobs in other divisions as it looks to manage the industry-wide decline in dealmaking while trying to avoid headcount reduction, a person familiar with the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg About half of these client-facing roles are based out of Hong Kong with a focus on China, and the majority of the affected employees are in junior positions, the person said, asking not to be identified because the matter is confidential. A few positions in global markets may also be affected, the person said. Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America is one of the few major Wall Street banks to have avoided job cuts in recent months, instead choosing to move bankers into busier areas. The latest redeployment is designed to offer a temporary solution to the dealmaking drought in China and a dramatic slowdown in the worlds second-biggest economy. A Hong Kong-based spokesperson at the bank declined to comment. While some Wall Street banks are eyeing more rounds of job cuts in Asia this year, Bank of America is under less pressure to reduce headcount because it operates its China investment banking and equities business offshore without a domestic operation on the mainland. Several global banks have spent billions in recent years ramping up in the country, acquiring controlling stakes in securities and asset-management ventures. Capital markets businesses for China have been hard hit because global investors, the biggest buyers of Chinese stocks, are shying away from the country due to escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and China. Bank of America has already encouraged some bankers to consider new roles serving middle-market clients with annual revenue of $50 million to $2 billion as it seeks to beef up its business in the growing sector to meet client demand. For years, the company has relied on attrition as a way to manage headcount. --With assistance from Dong Cao. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Over the past few days, a deluge of Colorado Buffaloes has entered the transfer portal. A total of nine offensive linemen have left this offseason, leaving quite the hole for Deion Sanders to fill in the portal. Six OL have transferred in and on Wednesday, On3s Matt Zenitz reported that Houston offensive linemen CamRon Johnson and Trevonte Sylvester are slated to visit Colorado this weekend. Johnson received a transfer grade of 89 (per 247Sports), just outside of the four-star range. Additionally, Johnson received first-team All-AAC accolades in 2022 and would provide a boost to Colorados offensive line. Along with Colorado, Johnson is also interested in USC and Missouri and has visited both schools. Colorado is set to get visits this weekend from Houston offensive line transfers Cam'Ron Johnson and Trevonte Sylvester, sources tell @on3sports. Johnson was a 2022 first-team All-AAC selection. Sylvester was Houstons backup left tackle last year.https://t.co/FFsszJrBoB Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) April 26, 2023 USC received a commitment from Wyoming offensive guard transfer Emmanuel Pregnon on Wednesday, likely leaving Johnson down to the Tigers and Buffaloes as options. As for Sylvester, he appeared in 12 games for Houston as a redshirt freshman in 2022 as a backup left tackle. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions. More Football! Colorado's spring game draws over half a million viewers on ESPN Montana Lemonious-Craig drawing plenty of interest in transfer portal Colorado picks up former Florida State defender Brendan Gant Story originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire Icelandair just launched a new seasonal flight from Detroit, Michigan to Reykjavik, Iceland. Urbanandsport/Getty Images Travelers looking for a European or Icelandic getaway just got a new option with some flights are under $600. Icelandair launched a new seasonal flights from Detroit, Michigan to Reykjavik, Iceland, giving travelers new options to connect to Europe from the Motor City. The six hour flight from Detroit to Iceland will operate four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) throughout October. Once in Iceland, passengers can connect on Icelandair to various destinations including London, Dublin, Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, Oslo, Rome, and more. One of the additional value propositions of the Icelandair flights is that passengers can have a 7 night stopover in Iceland for no additional cost. This means a passenger can fly from Detroit to Iceland, stay for a few nights to enjoy the scenery and culture, and then get back on a plane to Paris - without incurring any additional airfare cost. These new flights will open the doors for inbound and outbound travelers to make Detroit a relevant gateway in our network, boosting tourism and trade to and from the Motor City. We are excited to help bridge Motown with Europe and look forward to welcoming Detroit aboard, Icelandairs President & CEO Bogi Nils Bogason said in a statement. Travel + Leisure found airfares as low as $594 roundtrip between Detroit and Iceland on Icelandair for travel in August 2023, and as low as $537 for roundtrips in September 2023. Iceland welcomed over 1.2 million air travelers in 2022, a 192% increase from 2021, according to tourism data. Icelands tourism department recently spotlighted unique activities travelers can only do during the summertime, such as watching Puffin seabirds, river rafting, and unique hikes For travelers looking to enjoy a stopover in Iceland, T+L has previously spotlighted how Iceland is the perfect three-day weekend. Story continues For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Honestly, Canada is so nice we weren't sure if it even had Volcanoes in it. But one look at the Holy Bowly set up at Sunshine Village earlier this month, and we counted over 8 immediately! Casey Flipsen made quick work of the setup, as did plenty of other snowboarders that went up for the annual event held by Snowboy Productions. Obviously these are just snow volcanoes, but we did a littler research and turns out our neighbors to the north have a few active mountains of their own. View the original article to see embedded media. Canada is home to several volcanoes primarily located in the western provinces of British Columbia and Yukon. Mount Garibaldi is a dormant stratovolcano located in southwestern British Columbia. Mount Baker, although primarily located in the United States, crosses over the border into British Columbia and is an active stratovolcano known for its scenic beauty. Mount Meager, also in southwestern British Columbia is a complex volcanic system with a history of major eruptions. Wells Gray-Clearwater Volcanic Field, located in east-central British Columbia, is also an active area with numerous volcanic cones and lava flows. There are a few more, including Hoodoo Mountain, an isolated volcanic cone with a well-preserved crater, but none of them provide the quick hits for snowboarding like the ones hand shaped for the contest earlier this month. Call us crazy, but we prefer those. We are always on the lookout for amusing, interesting, and engaging snow-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you are a professional rider or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SNOWBOARDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality snowboarding videos. Do not miss another headline from SNOWBOARDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of snowboarding. The beautiful, yet deadly mud flats of Alaska's Turnagain Arm tragically claimed another victim this week, after a 20-year-old man became stuck waist deep and drowned with the incoming tide. Zachary Porter of Lake Bluff, Illinois was walking near the flats with three friends when he became trapped in the mud at approximately 5:52 p.m. on Sunday. And although his friends quickly called 911, by the time rescue efforts were able to mobilize he had already drown. Porter's body wasn't recovered until the following Monday when the tide water receded. The mud flats of Turnagain Arm, a waterway into the northwestern part of the Gulf of Alaska that runs parallel to Seward Highway, have claimed a number of victims over the years, including a pair of newlyweds who were gold dredging in 1988. Just two weeks before Porter died, a man fishing was successfully rescued after one leg became stuck and he also sank waist deep. "Its big, its amazing, its beautiful, and its overwhelming, Kristy Peterson, the administrator and lead EMT for the Hope-Sunrise Volunteer Fire Department, told the Associated Press. But you have to remember that its Mother Nature, and she has no mercy for humanity. "When we respond, we respond with the utmost of good intentions and as mothers and fathers and uncles and brothers, Peterson continued. We respond with as much passion and vigor as we can. The mud flats are unique yet similar to quicksand in the way the surface appears to be solid. When the tide comes in, the silt gets wet from the bottom, then loosens up and creates a vacuum that can quickly suck in those unsuspecting enough to walk on it. "The grains are highly angular. When theyre deposited, theyre in contact with each other in a delicate balance," a geologist explained to the Anchorage Daily News in 1988. "When you step on it, you cause it to become more mobile. Then, when it resettles after youve disturbed it, it tends to be more compacted around your foot. The grains are so angular that theyre just locked together." Because the tide comes so fast, Peterson advises people to call 911 as soon as possible, before it's too late. "Ive really got to warn people against playing the mud," she added. "Its dangerous." MARTIN COUNTY Deputy Superintendent Michael Maine becomes the acting superintendent immediately to replace John Millay, the School Board decided Tuesday. Millay will continue as a consultant until the end of the school year. What happened: The School Board approved Maine's four-year $235,000 contract. In addition to benefits, Maine receives a district car to use and $15,000 for moving expenses to relocate to Martin County within six months. Why it matters: Maine replaces Millay, who resigned in February after about 2 years with the district. Millay was paid $170,000 a year. Maine, 42, becomes the district's second appointed superintendent after Martin voters decided in 2018 to move from an elected official in the position. The board decided unanimously last month to promote from within, forgoing an outside search for its new superintendent. Vote: Unanimous Proponents: School Board members said they wanted a smooth transition, giving Maine time to build his leadership team while having guidance from Millay. Michael Maine Notable statements: "(Maine) needs to have that authority to make those decisions," board Chair Marsha Powers said about making Maine acting superintendent immediately. Both Millay and Maine should attend high school graduation ceremonies, board members said. "This is a time for (Millay) to celebrate all the things he's accomplished while he was here and to share that with the community," Powers said. Maine agreed that having Millay as a consultant would be beneficial. "We have had a wonderful working relationship," Maine said. "It's been a blessing to have this type of situation." Martin County picks Deputy Superintendent Michael Maine as district's new superintendent Martin County school Superintendent John Millay resigns, will work through June 30 More information: Maine has been with the Martin County district for about 2 years. He was executive director of principals and professional standards before he was promoted in June to his current position. Maine previously worked in Hernando County as a principal and teacher. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Martin County School Board OKs $235,000 contract for new superintendent The North Carolina House will consider a medical marijuana legalization proposal on Tuesday morning, more than 12 weeks after the Senate passed the bill with bipartisan support. On Wednesday, the Compassionate Care Act, the very first bill filed in the N.C. Senate this session, was added to the Houses calendar for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30. It is set for discussion only, meaning no votes will be taken that day. The bill allows medical marijuana use statewide for people who have cancer, ALS, Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments. It does not allow recreational use and does not cover ailments such as chronic pain. It also has limited permits and new regulations. Last year, the bill passed the Senate but died in the House. This made its future this session uncertain, accentuated recently by the lack of movement in the House, where it has not yet been heard in any committees or gotten any votes and previously had not been placed on any calendar. Earlier this year, House Speaker Tim Moore said that the Senates medical marijuana bill had decent prospects of passage and that there had been a shift in opinion in the House. Last year when we didnt take it up, it was overwhelmingly opposed by most of the caucus, Moore said. This year, he said, with many new House members, attitudes have changed, and I think some folks have had an opportunity, once they were back home and met with folks, to see that theres some potentially legitimate uses for this, such as the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Moore said for a bill to pass there would need to be reasonable controls and a balance of having enough distributors of marijuana to avoid a monopoly but at the same time, not just throwing the door wide open where you have these things literally on every street corner. Republicans control both chambers of the General Assembly. Republican Sens. Bill Rabon and Michael Lee, as well as Democratic Sen. Paul Lowe, sponsored the bill, which they say will help North Carolinians who need access to the drug while also protecting public safety through regulations. Unsplash A strange throughline that biologists see among the different species of the world is that animals that tend to require fewer breaths per minute live longer. Tortoises can live up to 150 years, and only take three or four breaths a minute. By contrast, humans 12 to 16 breaths per minute, and the average American has an average lifespan between 76 and 77 years. So in the quest to hack our bodies to make them live longer, many people are starting to tout the effects of oxygen restrictionbetter known as hypoxiaas a potential solution. While this has been mostly relegated to new age circles, clinical researchers are finally starting to take these investigations into the lab. With the effects of calorie restriction on increased lifespan well documented by new research these days, scientists are eager to see if other limitations actually end up boosting longevity as well. Scientists at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have published what seems to be the first ever study that demonstrates how hypoxia can lead to long lifespans in mammals. The new findings were published Tuesday in PLOS Biology. This May Be Our Best Chance to Find the Secret to Longevity We have long been excited by the possibility that hypoxia could be beneficial and wanted to rigorously test this hypothesis, Robert Rogers, a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-author of the new study, told The Daily Beast. But we had no assumptions that it would actually work. The study builds off previous research led by co-author Vamsi Mootha, a molecular biologist at Harvard Medical School, who had been studying the effects of oxygen restriction in mice for over a decade. Ambient oxygen levels for most life on Earth is around 21 percent. Moothas lab first found that restricting oxygen to about 11 percent helped extend lifespan and delayed degeneration of brain cells in mice afflicted by Leigh syndrome (a severe neurological disorder) in 2016, and in mice afflicted by Friedreich's ataxia (a genetic disorder affecting the nerves) in 2019. Story continues Living to 150 May Be Possible. But Is Society Ready for It? Based on those observations as well as whats been observed in more primitive organisms like yeast and roundworms, the team wanted to see what chronic hypoxia could do for healthy mammals. As part of the study, Rogers, Mootha, and their colleagues bred mice in environments of normal oxygen levels (21 percent), and compared their lifespans to mice who at 4 weeks of age were moved to environments with reduced oxygen (about 11 percentsimilar to an altitude of about a little over 3 miles). The mice in reduced oxygen environments lived a whopping 50 percent longer, with media lifespans of 23.6 weeks compared to the other cohorts 15.7 weeks. In addition, hypoxia seemed to also delay the onset of age-associated neurological impairments. Could Colder Temperatures Increase Human Lifespans? At present we do not know the mechanism by which hypoxia extends lifespan in these mice, Rogers admitted. Though caloric restriction has a longer body of research behind it, oxygen restriction is still a new space, and more research will be necessary to really pinpoint the mechanisms that allow hypoxia to increase lifespan in animals. In fact, what probably ends up coming out from these investigations will be a better sense of how to emulate what happens in the body in order to increase healthy agingand not a straight up prescription to hook people up to tanks of reduced oxygen. Moreover, Rogers cautioned against trying to speculate what the results could mean for human aging. He did highlight an interesting tidbit of research from the 1960s and 70s, when Indian Army soldiers assigned to serve three years at altitudes higher than three miles saw decreased incidence of age-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease. So the new findings seem to fall in line with the little weve observed in humans so far. We view this initial report as laying the foundation for this important line of future research, said Rogers. That doesnt mean you should start looking for ways to take in more oxygen in a foolish attempt to live longer. Oxygen is essential to survival, and deprivation can do incredible damage to the body and its organsoften permanently. So leave the lifespan hacks to the researchers for now. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Multiple schemes involving the resale of Trappist beer at sky-high prices have forced a centuries-old Belgian monastery to take action. Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP via Getty Images Some of the worlds highest-quality beers are a product of monasteries in Europe. Brewed by Trappist monks (cloistered monks belonging to a Catholic religious order), Trappist beer is produced by traditional methods using natural ingredients and classified by strict guidelines. These small-batch beers are made using an infusion brew method, thus the rarity and demand of these beers has spawned a resale industry with inflated prices, particularly in Belgium and the Netherlands. In a practice dating back to the Middle Ages, monks brewed beer to feed their local communities. Now, Trappist monks sell their beers to fund charitable and religious causes. Only 10 breweries currently meet the International Trappist Associations strict criteria, which involves the following: Brewing must occur within the walls of a Trappist monastery Brewing must be done by, or under the supervision of, Trappist monks Brewing should adhere to the monastic way of life, using only natural ingredients Brewing is not for profit The Westvleteren Abbey, also known as the Trappist Abbey, in the Belgian Province of West Flanders decided to take a stand when they discovered their beers, available on site for 2 per bottle, were being sold by unauthorized retailers for more than 10 per bottle. These usurious practises are diametrically opposed to the values of the community, the Abbey stated to local reporters. The brothers want as many people as possible to enjoy their Trappist beers at a normal, fair price. Related: Life-Changing Kitchen Wisdom from Monasteries Around the World The Trappist Westvleteren are known for unfiltered and unpasteurized beers, all of which undergo a secondary fermentation in the bottle, and are some of the rarest Trappist Beers to come by. To prevent the resale issue, the brothers of the Abbey will sell the three beers Blond, 8, and 12 to independent Dutch liquor stores for a year-long trial period. The Abbeys beers will also be distributed across the Netherlands by an importer. Story continues This trial marks a big change at an interesting time for Trappist Beer, as its future becomes increasingly uncertain with far fewer people opting to become monks. On a similar note, earlier this year, the monks who make the liqueur Chartreuse announced that, despite demand, they would not be increasing production. For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. Catherine, Princess of Wales, embodied spring while out for an engagement in London this morning. The royal is continuing her work with early childhood, and today visited the Foundling Museum to talk about the importance of having loving relationships as children. The museum showcases the story of the Foundling Hospital, the United Kingdom's first children's charity, which initially opened in 1739 as a home for children at risk of abandonment. Princess Kate has served as patron of the institution since 2019. Neil Mockford - Getty Images Today, the museum offers programs, such as mentoring and therapeutic art and writing classes, to support young people. While there, Kate met with adoptive and foster parents and discussed how nurturing a childand being nurtured as a childcan impact one's life. For the meaningful occasion, Princess Kate looked lovely in a monochrome business look. It consisted of a structured baby pink suitmade up of a fitted blazer and tailored pantslayered over a V-neck blouse in the same soft shade. The stylish royal paired the statement suit with chic white pieces, including pointed-toe pumps, a leather belt embellished with a faux pearl buckle with golden accents, and small gold hoop earrings with drop pearls. Her hair was down in smooth waves and she wore her signature subtle smoky eye and pink lip. Karwai Tang - Getty Images The brilliant @kinshipcharity helps families across the UK where grandparents, relatives or friends raise someone else's child. Spending quality time with these families today has been wonderful. pic.twitter.com/0btALGJlxe The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 25, 2023 The Princess of Wales is helping raise funds to secure the long-term future of the Foundling Museum. In a statement yesterday, she said the institution's "ground-breaking work to support each care-experienced young person to fundamentally change the future direction of their lives is one that means the world to me. Importantly, it shows that it is never too late to make a difference, and that by providing the right support, we can enable those who have faced real difficulties to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals." Story continues Every day @FoundlingMuseum's ground-breaking work supports care-experienced young people to fundamentally change the future direction of their lives. All the support and care we can offer those who have faced real difficulties early in life has such a positive impact on pic.twitter.com/49VxuyTND8 The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 25, 2023 You Might Also Like $100 bills SOPA Images/Getty Images A North Carolina man plans to give his fiancee her dream wedding after a big lottery win. Alfred Harrell recently won $150,000 from a scratch-off game. He purchased the winning ticket from a gas station in Cary, North Carolina. Wedding bells are ringing for Alfred Harrell and his fiancee. Harrell, who is from North Carolina, made his fiancee a promise last year to host their dream wedding. Now he can fulfill that promise after winning $150,000 from a lottery scratch-off, the North Carolina Education Lottery said in a press release. Harrell purchased the $5 Super Loteria winning ticket from a Circle K gas station in Cary, about 12 miles from Raleigh, according to the state lottery. He said he's "still trying to process" winning the big bucks. "If I went the other direction and didn't get gas there, I wouldn't have won," Harrell told lottery officials. Harrell met his significant other in May two years ago and vowed that he would give her a huge celebration for their nuptials, per the press release. NC Education Lottery (@nclottery) May 18, 2023 "We are looking at parks all around the area," he said, according to the press release. "It will be a big family celebration." "May has definitely been good for us," he added. He arrived at lottery headquarters last week and left with $106,876 after taxes. Earlier this year, a Maryland couple who have been married for 58 years said that they can finally go on their honeymoon after winning $50,000 from a $5 scratch-off. Read the original article on Insider (Bloomberg) -- California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state is on track to meet its ambitious clean energy targets already producing more than half of the states electricity from zero-carbon sources. Most Read from Bloomberg Speaking outside the headquarters of a startup making electric generators in Contra Costa County, east of San Francisco on Thursday, Newsom said 59% of the states retail electricity sales came from clean sources, which include nuclear and hydroelectric power. We are mindful that were going to live in a fossil free future, Newsom said. No state is doing more to support that transition. Newsom released a new road map on how the state plans to decarbonize its power supply as it transitions to renewable energy and phases out the use of planet-warming fossil fuels. Read More: Californias Newsom Tries to Jolt Slow Infrastructure Creation Since 2020, California has added 9,000 megawatts of new clean energy sources, according to officials. One megawatt is enough to power 750 California homes. Currently, 37.2% of the states electricity comes from renewables such as solar and wind, an increase of about 2% from 2020, according to the California Energy Commission. By 2030, California is required to produce at least 60% of its electricity from renewables, until meeting 100% clean energy by 2045. The state needs to build 148,000 megawatts to support a carbon-free grid by 2045 a 400% increase from today, according to the plan. State officials say they are more confident of meeting those goals, even as extreme heat and wildfires driven by climate change still pose threats to Californias fragile power grid. While we face real challenges, we also remain optimistic about meeting the targets and goals for energy in the long-term, said Siva Gunda, Vice Chair of the California Energy Commission. Read More: California Sees Less Risk of Summer Blackouts With Power Surplus In a sharp reversal from last year when the power grid reached the brink of collapse, officials also said California is unlikely to face electricity shortfalls this summer. New battery storage and ample hydroelectric power after winter storms have improved supply and reliability. The combination of new battery energy storage and 1,300 more megawatts of hydroelectric production boosted by a historic series of atmospheric rivers earlier this year is expected to help the state meet peak demand during hot summer evenings, when air conditioners tend to go on and renewable resources like solar go off line. California has also made strides in deploying new battery energy storage, increasing its storage supply almost 20-fold since 2019, from 250 megawatts to 5,000 megawatts. Current storage resources can capture enough electricity to power as many as 5 million California homes. Within the next few decades, the California Independent Systems Operator expects those resources to increase tenfold to reach 52,000 megawatts. The announcement comes after Newsom last week unveiled a $180 billion infrastructure plan to modify the states longtime environmental law the California Environmental Quality Act intended to reduce permitting delays and expedite new projects such as power lines, water works, bridges and other construction. --With assistance from Mark Chediak. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Fresh from telling US lawmakers he's a fan of regulation and laws are needed to mitigate the risks around artificial intelligence -- and, indeed, calling for an international regulatory body for AI -- OpenAI CEO's Sam Altman is on a tour of Europe this week to meet European regulators and warn against, er, too much regulation of AI. This is a familiar dance. Big Tech CEOs love to claim they support regulation -- but, goodness, just not that regulation. The only rules they're happy to take are the rules they suggest themselves. So it turns out that shiny new tech giants with babyfaced CEOs are much like the old, tarnished platform giants in this regard. But onward to Altman's tour... So far, OpenAI's CEO's dash around European capitals has produced a string of flesh-pressing photo ops with heads of government in Spain, Poland, France and the UK. Why did Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, get to be first on Altman's charm offensive/hit list? The salient detail here is the Southern European nation takes up the rotating six-month presidency of the European Council this summer, which will give it a lot of leeway to shape discussions at a crucial time in negotiations over the bloc's AI rulebook. Spain has also said it's eager to get the file over the line during its tenure. Alongside this high profile flesh-pressing parade, Altman has been sounding off in public and his tour has duly generated a bunch of headlines warning that OpenAI could shut up shop in the region because of European regulation. So, er, nil points for subtlety. Here's the first bit, in tweet digest form... Me he reunido con Sam Altman @sama, cofundador de @OpenAI, con quien he compartido que la Inteligencia Artificial es una enorme oportunidad para modernizar nuestras sociedades. Pero es imprescindible que su desarrollo respete los derechos y los valores democraticos. pic.twitter.com/o2jBlNMYRt Pedro Sanchez (@sanchezcastejon) May 22, 2023 Premier @MorawieckiM spotka sie z prezesem @OpenAI @sama oraz jego wspopracownikami. W zespole @OpenAI wazna role odgrywaja Polacy Gownymi tematami rozmow byy m. in: rozwoj sztucznej inteligencji oraz mozliwosci udziau polskich firm w tym procesie, wpyw pic.twitter.com/ai3ZPnudmp Piotr Muller (@PiotrMuller) May 23, 2023 Developing talents and technologies in France, acting for regulation at the French, European and global levels, these are our priorities in terms of artificial intelligence. We discussed this with Sam Altman, the creator of ChatGPT. pic.twitter.com/GES0hWv9SY Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 23, 2023 Done safely and securely, AI has the potential to be transformational and grow the economy. This evening I met with @sama, @demishassabis and @AnthropicAI's Dario Amodei to discuss how the UK can provide international leadership on AI. pic.twitter.com/8x8NfCbCbG Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 24, 2023 Tech watchers may recall similar such whistlestop tours in recent years, undertaken by Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, as last season's tech giants sought to lobby heads of government on major pieces of EU digital policy, such as the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. Story continues So OpenAI is reaching for the familiar Big Tech playbook here. Albeit it's repeating the EU lobbying pattern on what's -- apparently -- a relatively shoestring budget* vs the multiple millions of dollars tech giants like Google and Meta routinely spend annually on lobbying Brussels. Altman also appears to have gone for a bit of a two track approach. As well as schmoozing regional heads of government who -- in the case of France, Poland and Spain -- have influence over the final shape of the EU's AI rulebook via the European Council, he's been lobbying loudly in public too: Taking part in a discussion event at University College London where he used an on-stage interview to discuss his preference for regulation that was something between the traditional European approach and the traditional U.S. approach, per a write up in Time. He also spilled more feels to attendant members of the press, telling Time and Reuters that his company might just stop operating in Europe if it could not comply with incoming rules for AI. "We're gonna try to comply," Time reported Altman telling it. But he griped he had "a lot" of criticisms of the wording of the EU AI Act -- which presumably means he's unhappy with amendments recently proposed by lawmakers in the European Parliament. Earlier this month, Members of the European Parliament on two key committees backed a series of amendments to the Commission's original (April 2021) proposal for a risk-based framework for regulating AI that aim to ensure general purpose AI, foundational models and generative AI do not fall outside the rules. As we reported at the time, MEPs backed obligations on providers of foundational models to apply safety checks, data governance measures and risk mitigations prior to putting their models on the market including obligating them to consider foreseeable risks to health, safety, fundamental rights, the environment and democracy and the rule of law. The amendments would also commit foundational model makers to reduce energy consumption and resource use of their systems and register them in an EU database that will be established by the regulation. While providers of generative AI technologies (such as OpenAI's ChatGPT) would get transparency obligations -- meaning they must ensure users are informed content is machine generated; apply adequate safeguards in relation to content their systems generate; and provide a summary of any copyrighted materials used to train their AIs. So Altman appears to be taking issue with all that. (We've reached out to OpenAI about its position on the EU AI Act and will update this report with any response.) In further remarks to Reuters, Altman also said: "The current draft of the EU AI Act would be over-regulating but we have heard it's going to get pulled back" -- which, again, appears to be a reference to the parliament's proposed amendments. And sounds like an attempt to lobby the Council, a body composed of representatives of EU Member States' governments, to push back in the upcoming trilogue discussions with MEPs in order that the amendments "get pulled back". I mean, it's a safe bet that Altman was repeating his concerns about EU "over-regulation" to Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez, Poland's prime minister Mateusz Jakub Morawieck and France's president Emmanuel Macron in his facetime with them this week. Helpfully, Poland's government's tweet to mark the visit confirms that "issues related to legal regulations regarding the use of AI" were on the discussion agenda in Warsaw -- alongside talk of "opportunities for Polish companies to participate" in the development of AI... (So, er, quid pro quo guys! Do you want those OpenAI AI engineer jobs or not?!) Given the timing of Altman's trip to Europe, OpenAI may also have its eye on a plenary vote in parliament which is expected early next month -- a step that will confirm MEPs' negotiating mandate with the Council on the AI Act file. It may therefore be hoping its lobbying of heads of governments will translate into pressure on certain political factions in the parliament to vote against the amendments backed by the two key committees. This, friends, is how the EU legislative sausage gets made! great meetings today in warsaw, paris, and london. andsince i was out of the US, i finally got signed up for worldcoin! pic.twitter.com/VUouPyYDpa Sam Altman (@sama) May 23, 2023 Altman's tour probably won't end here either. We're told the EU's internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton, is expecting to meet with Altman in the coming weeks. But why is OpenAI's CEO taking time out from his eyeball-taxing tour of EU Member State government bigwigs to meet with UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak -- in a meeting that took place alongside execs at a couple of AI rivals (Google-DeepMind's Demis Hassabis and Anthropic's Dario Amodei)? The UK does of course remain a major economy in Europe. Plus there have been some rumors OpenAI has been considering setting up a local HQ in the country. While Anthropic has just announced its own London office. But -- on the regulatory side at least -- it is no longer a member of the EU, which means it has no lawmakers in Brussels who can shape the EU's AI Act. So it's a relative minnow in AI rule-making terms. Add to that, Sunak's government has signalled it's not planning any new domestic legislation to regulate AI. A recent government white paper laid out in its preferred approach of relying upon existing regulatory bodies, such as the competition authority and privacy watchdog, to provide guidance on safe development of AI -- rather than legislating bespoke guardrails to regulate uses of the technology. So this meeting is certainly the odd one out for Altman. Also because he was not the only AI CEO in the room. Sunak's tweet about the meeting offers only a self-serving observation that discussions focused on "how the UK can provide international leadership on AI". (We've reached out to Number 10 Downing Street with questions and will update this report with any response.) DeepMind's Hassabis also tweeted about having a "good conversation" on "developing AI responsibly", before offering the usual technosolutionist promo claim that: "AI has the potential to improve life dramatically, transform industries, deliver scientific and medical breakthroughs if government and industry work together." (Asked about the meeting, Google declined public comment but in background remarks it suggested the participants shared a strong conviction on the promise of AI and important challenges that will require international action, adding that it expects more dialogue as things move forward.) Sunak's meeting with AI CEOs may offer a hint of a third strategic track for these tech exes' lobbying of governments and regulators -- one that's focused on trying to defer and dazzle lawmakers with talk of flashy potential and big future fears, while pandering to political self interest (local jobs!) and provincial self importance. The goal is to reframe what responsible AI development means -- by zooming attention out, not in -- onto talk of achieving consensus on some broad-brush international principles/standards, rather than having lots of prescriptive local rules. And doing that at the same time as distracting lawmakers (and the media) with talk of "superintelligent" AIs that don't actually exist. (To wit: Time's report of Altman's London talk covers a "handful" of protestors who are photographed holding signs outside the venue apparently protesting such hypothetical superintelligence.) So the strategy is really about drawing lawmakers' attention away from harms that already exist and are demonstrably flowing from use of current AI systems -- whether that's mass copyright infringement, supercharged disinformation, systematic privacy abuse, speech and safety issues or indeed economic concerns related to the impact of generative automation on all sorts of jobs -- with specious talk of existential risks to human civilization posed by non-existent AGI (artificial general intelligence) so that regulators expend their (limited) bandwidth chasing AI ghosts. Earlier this week, OpenAI published a blog post entitled "Governance of superintelligence" in which current gen AI risks (i.e. the ones which do actually exist) were framed as a secondary concern -- whereas the company pressed for the spotlight to be trained on risks that are entirely theoretical, writing: "We must mitigate the risks of todays AI technology too but superintelligence will require special treatment and coordination." It's notable that across tens of blog posts OpenAI has penned over the years it hasn't found time to write an equivalent post setting out how it thinks (actual) AI should be governed. (The closest it's come are a blog post from last June, about "best practices" for deploying large language models, which talks about a "preliminary set of best practices" to "mitigate unintentional harm" and "prohibit misuse"; and a blog post from last month on "safety" which was published in response to a regulator intervention in the EU -- after Italy's data protection watchdog ordered the service suspended over a raft of suspended infringements of the General Data Protection Regulation.) While, asked by a US senate committee earlier this month to take a stab at defining how AI should be regulated, Altman offered compute power or model capability as one way lawmakers might draw a line for where AI systems should be licensed. But his overall remarks suggested a view -- far from all the headlines which duly reported him calling for regulation -- that most AI systems should get a carve out from the rules. "I think there are very different levels here," he suggested. "And I think it's important that any new approach, any new law does not stop the innovation from happening." The problem for Altman and other AI CEOs in the room who want the kind of general free licence that existed for social media firms when they were scaling into platform giants without prescriptive rules cramping their style, is that the EU is far ahead down the path of regulating AI -- and doing so in a way that looks set to bring in far more specific rules for existing technologies than the tech bros are comfortable with. Add to that, if Brussels gets its risk-based AI framework in place first, it could end up setting the defacto rulebook for the rest of the world on AI. And Altman at least looks keen to avoid the fabled "Brussels effect" setting the tone at his AI party. So in meeting Sunak, most likely, the OpenAI CEO is seeking to drive a bigger wedge between the UK and the EU on AI regulation -- by encouraging the former towards support for some less prescriptive (fuzzier) international standards which can be scoped by the AI companies themselves. As such, the meeting may also represent a third strand of how the company is trying to apply pressure on EU lawmakers at a key point in the bloc's co-legislative process. Since, if one major European economy (the UK) is seen to be taking a different direction and backing looser international 'standards' vs specific rules, it might cause EU lawmakers to have second thoughts and doubt the full-frame approach before the file is sealed. (And as they say in Brussels, nothing is decided until everything is decided. So there's plenty still to play for.) If this is indeed his game, Altman should be aware that EU lawmakers are a wily lot. Nor do they let the grass grow on their patch. So of course the bloc's leaders have already involved themselves in international standards-making for AI -- including announcing, earlier this week, an initiative joined by Google, to create an "AI Pact" to act as a stop-gap before the full-fat AI rules come in. The EU's digital strategy chief, Margrethe Vestager, has also pressed for G7 nations to back internationally agreed guardrails, seemingly with some success -- in light of the leaders agreeing last weekend to launch the "Hiroshima AI Process" and work towards devising AI guardrails, including for generative AI. They also called for the development and adoption of technical standards to keep artificial intelligence "trustworthy" (a choice of term that explicitly echoes the EU's long-standing language on regulating AI). So, well, expect any future meeting between Altman and the European Commission to entail Brussels urging OpenAI's CEO to commit the company to a set of international standards the bloc is already involving itself in shaping. Update: In the last few hours commissioner Breton has weighed in publicly on Altman's big European tour -- by tweeting a little warning of his own. "There is no point in attempting blackmail," the EU's internal market commissioner wrote, hitting out at OpenAI's suggestion that "crafting a clear framework Europe is holding up the rollout of generative AI". "To the contrary! With the 'AI Pact' I proposed, we aim to assist companies in their preparation to EU AI Act." There is no point in attempting blackmail claiming that by crafting a clear framework, Europe is holding up the rollout of generative #AI. To the contrary! With the AI Pact I proposed, we aim to assist companies in their preparation to EU AI Act https://t.co/gHsV69L81S pic.twitter.com/N5r83yWtIe Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) May 25, 2023 Update 2: Following Breton's shot across the bows, Altman has tweeted to withdraw the threat to leave Europe -- writing: "Very productive week of conversation in Europe about how best to regulate AI! We are exited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave." very productive week of conversations in europe about how to best regulate AI! we are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave. Sam Altman (@sama) May 26, 2023 *Per OpenAI's entry in the European Transparency Register, where it has only been a registered lobbyist of the EU since June last year, it has allocated a tiny budget to push its positions in Brussels -- disclosing an annual spend on EU lobbying activities of just 10,000-24,999. Which pales in comparison beside the multiple-millions-apiece routinely spent by the likes of Google and Meta on trying to bend EU lawmakers to their will, per lobby watchers analysis of annual spend. OpenAI's entry in the register also states that it has so far only lobbied on the AI Act -- further stipulating: To date, we have met with Washington-based and Brussels-based EU representatives. We have hosted one roundtable with 20 EU diplomats to date and visited 3 embassies. We have also engaged EU representatives in Brussels from time to time starting last summer. (Note: The EU transparency register is not the place where OpenAI's heads-of-government focused charm offensive would likely be recorded -- EU lobby watchers routinely criticize an ongoing lack of transparency vis-a-vis lobbying that's directed at EU Member States and their delegations.) The empire-building debacle of the nearly 20-year American occupation of Afghanistan is a lesson unlearned by the government. This disaster began when President George W. Bush stung deeply by the intelligence that he failed to heed, thus enabling the attacks of 9/11 to take place unimpeded convinced the American people and Congress and most of our allies that the folks who ran Afghanistan in the early part of this century needed to be taught a lesson, whether they personally enabled or facilitated the 9/11 attacks or not. This moral monstrosity was executed in the name of retaliation, deterrence and liberation, but in reality, it was American hubris. It is repeating itself in Ukraine. Here is the backstory. Bush knowing days after the 9/11 attacks that they had been perpetrated and paid for by his friends, the Saudis believed that by blaming the attacks on hapless Afghanistan, destroying much of that country and causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocents, he would somehow teach the world that no one could mess with us without severe consequences. His knee-jerk reaction, and exploitation of raw American fear in the weeks following 9/11, set in motion a series of events that culminated in the triumph in Afghanistan of the very mindset Bush and his military, and his 2 trillion borrowed American dollars, tried to destroy. To amass the international consents needed to produce the invasion he wanted, Bush also vowed channeling his inner Woodrow Wilson, who killed innocents in World War I in order to make the world safe for democracy to defy history by installing a Western-style democracy in Afghanistan. President Joe Biden speaks during a ceremony honoring the Council of Chief State School Officers' Teachers of the Year on April 24, 2023, at the White House. Did he not know that tens of thousands of British troops in the 19th century and more than 100,000 Soviet troops in the 20th century had failed to bend the culture and the will of this rugged and wretched country? This gambit born of Bushs incompetence and later nurtured by President Barack Obamas arrogance was one of the worst foreign policy errors in modern American history. Story continues During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump split with his own party to denounce the forever war in Afghanistan and vowed to bring the troops home. Trumps heart was in the right place he was sick and tired of war but his head was not. In early 2020, thinking hed be reelected president later that year, Trump dispatched his secretary of state to negotiate directly with the Taliban for a peaceful withdrawal of nearly all U.S. forces and a total end to the U.S. occupation. Trumps diplomats did not negotiate with the Bush-installed government of Afghanistan but with the government-in-waiting, the Taliban. The deal they struck required the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters from its jails and the U.S. to complete its military departure by May 2021. By the time Joe Biden became president, he was faced with the May 2021 deadline and the realization that 5,000 Taliban ex-prisoners more than the number of American troops there had already been freed and were now armed. We all know what happened when Biden pulled the plug and the Taliban took control of the government in no time. Bidens head was in the right place, but his heart was not. He knew most Americans were, like Trump, sick and tired of that war, but he failed to comprehend fully the grave situation present in the Afghan streets and triggered by the sudden American departure. Now, back to the moral monstrosity that Bush created. When Bush determined to attack Afghanistan, he did not ask Congress for a declaration of war, as even he recognized that the then-existing Afghan government did not attack the U.S. He asked for and received instead a statute called the Authorization for Use of Military Force, or AUMF. This creature is unknown to the Constitution, as it purported to authorize war without end. Congressional declarations of war historically established that once the war had been fought and the target destroyed or surrendered, the declaration no longer authorized the war. Not so with the AUMF, as its wording was so expansive and ambiguous, it authorized any president to use military force at any time against any person or entity who perpetrated, facilitated or supported the 9/11 attacks. Can presidents kill whomever they wish in the name of national security or empire building? In a word: No. But American presidents have had their hearts set on empire building since Thomas Jefferson engineered the Louisiana Purchase. Yet, unlike Wilson or Bush or Biden, Jefferson did so without violence or bloodshed. But the modern American empire builders surely think that they can kill any foe real or imagined. Bush claimed that he had powers from some source other than the Constitution. And he also claimed he could strip Americans of their natural and constitutional rights all for empire. Biden is now fighting an undeclared war against Russia not the Taliban, but a nuclear power a war Bidens military believes is unwinnable. Without congressional authorization and without a national commitment, American boys in Ukraine are firing American ammunition at Russian boys. The U.S. was unable to defeat a ragtag gaggle of herdsmen in 20 years and now it is challenging the mightiest army on earth, 5,000 miles from Washington, D.C. For what? For empire. For empire it engineered a coup in Ukraine in 2014. For empire it kills in Ukraine in 2023. Non-defensive killing defies the natural law, which teaches that non-defensive violence is illicit because every person American or not enjoys the inviolable right to live. The lesson of Afghanistan is a warning that Biden has ignored. Like Bush, he doesnt care about spilling blood and wasting assets. He wants to build empire to get reelected. So did Bush, and his reputation is in the dustbin of history. Old Joe is aiming to join him. Andrew P. Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court Judge, has published nine books on the U.S. Constitution. Andrew P. Napolitano This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Vladimir Putin Ukraine lessons from Afghanistan Napolitano Here we see an ancient leather saddle against a white background. It is brown and kind of heart shaped and looks like a pillow with hand stitching. Image 1 of 2 The leather horse saddle from the tomb at Yanghai in northwest China is dated to roughly between 700 and 400 B.C. and may be the oldest ever found. Image 2 of 2 The leather horse saddle from the tomb at Yanghai in northwest China is dated to roughly between 700 and 400 B.C. and may be the oldest ever found. Archaeologists have unearthed an elaborate leather horse saddle possibly the oldest ever found from a grave in northwestern China, according to a new study. The saddle, preserved for up to 2,700 years in the arid desert, was discovered in the tomb of a woman at a cemetery in Yanghai, in the Turpan Basin of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The woman was dressed in a hide coat, woolen pants and short leather boots, and had a "leather saddle placed on her buttocks as if she was seated on it," according to the study, published Tuesday (May 23) in the journal Archaeological Research in Asia . The saddle two cowhide cushions filled with a mixture of straw and deer and camel hair was made between 724 and 396 B.C., according to radiocarbon dating. It may predate saddles known from the Scythians nomadic, warlike horse riders from the western and central Eurasian Steppe who interacted with the ancient Greeks and Romans. The earliest Sythian saddles seem to date from between the fifth and the third centuries B.C. and have been found in the Altai Mountains region of Russian Siberia and in eastern Kazakhstan. Here we see flat desert land with a building in between two mountains in the far off distance. "This places the Yanghai saddle at the beginning of the history of saddle making," study lead author Patrick Wertmann , an archaeologist at the University of Zurich, told Live Science. The tombs at Yanghai are thought to be from people of the Subeixi culture , who occupied the Turpan Basin from about 3,000 years ago. The culture is named after another graveyard of tombs near the modern town of Subeixi, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Yanghai. Related: Indigenous people of the American West used 'sacred' horses a half-century earlier than previously thought Horse herds We see a leather saddle with many leather rope-like pieces coming out of it. Archaeologists now think horses were domesticated as herd animals up to 6,000 years ago . But the earliest evidence suggests they were kept for their milk and meat; horse-riding may not have started until up to 1,000 years later . Story continues The first riders used mats secured to the backs of horses with straps; carvings show Assyrian cavalrymen with such horse-gear in the seventh century B.C. Archaeologists don't know exactly when true saddles were invented, but they likely were developed by horse-riders in Central Asia about the mid-first millennium B.C., which would make the Yanghai saddle among the oldest, Wertmann said. The development of saddles began "when riders began to care more about comfort and safety, and also the health of the horses," he told Live Science in an email. "Saddles helped people to ride longer distances, hence leading to more interaction between different peoples." The early Scythian saddles and the Yanghai saddle both have distinct supports, which help riders maintain a firm position and raise themselves in the saddle, such as when shooting an arrow. The first saddles also had no stirrups, Wertmann said. Female riders The saddle was found in the tomb of a woman from the pastoralist Subeixi culture; it was positioned so that she seemed to be riding the saddle. The Subeixi had similar weaponry, horse gear and garments to the Scythians and may have had contact with them in the Altai Mountains region, the study authors wrote. But while the Scythians were nomads, the Subeixi horse-riders were likely pastoralists who looked after herds of animals within the Turpan Basin. University of Zurich biomolecular archaeologist Shevan Wilkin , who was not involved in the study, told Live Science that the extraordinary level of preservation of the Yanghai saddle suggests other, potentially older saddles, may be found nearby. "Usually for something organic that's this old, like leather, then we wouldn't have any remnants of it, or very little," she said. Related stories This 3,000-year-old horse got a human-style burial 'Ice age' horse skeleton found in Utah backyard isn't what we thought Why do horses wear shoes? The seated position of the buried woman on the saddle suggests she was a rider. "This really shifts our ideas about who was riding horses," Wilkin said. Birgit Buhler , an archaeologist at the University of Vienna, who also wasn't involved with the study, told Live Science in an email that the discovery in an ordinary tomb is "strong evidence for women participating in the day-to-day activities of mounted pastoralists, which included herding and travelling." The find contradicts traditionalist historical narratives associating horse-riding with warfare by elite men, she said. Adam Driver has a name tailor-made for the Indy 500, and that alone makes the actor an obvious choice to wave the green flag. But add in his Hoosier roots and military service for the Memorial Day weekend race, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway has found an honorary starter who's pitch-perfect for the role. The star has been a constant on screens large and small for more than a decade, building his reputation on playing a wide range of characters. But before Driver's household name status, he was a talented student performing in his northern Indiana high school plays and then a member of the Marines. Indy 500 2023: Celebrities to expect at the race Here are five things to know about the actor: The Adam Driver movies that have made a big splash Driver's famous turn as Kylo Ren in "Star Wars" has fans questioning whether he'll wave a green lightsaber instead of a green flag Sunday, though his dark-side character would not approve. Other major film credits include "Marriage Story" and "BlacKkKlansman" for which he received Oscar nominations as well as "House of Gucci" and "White Noise." MILAN, ITALY - MARCH 10: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Lady Gaga and Adam Driver are seen filming 'House of Gucci' on March 10, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Most importantly for the 500, Driver has delved into the motorsports world. In 2017's "Logan Lucky," he played one of the brothers planning a heist at a North Carolina NASCAR race. And he plays Enzo Ferrari in the upcoming film about the Italian entrepreneur. His Indiana and Indianapolis ties Driver was born in San Diego and moved to Mishawaka with his mother. At Mishawaka High School, he joined thespian and drama groups, acting in productions that included "Into The Woods" and "Guys and Dolls." "He was just one of those kids," retired Mishawaka biology teacher John L. Manuszak told the South Bend Tribune in 2014. "It's amazing that now he's into all the Hollywood stuff. You would never have thought he would be into something like that, because he was a kid who would fall behind the cracks. He was not really showy." Story continues Driver graduated in 2001 and, after his first audition to the Juilliard School didn't pan out, he set out for California to pursue acting. But car repairs claimed his funds, sending him back to the Hoosier state. "I'd made a big production about saying goodbye to everybody in Indiana," he said in a video for Rolling Stone in 2019. "I'm like, 'Goodbye, girlfriend. Who knows when we'll see each other again,' and then I was back like a week later." He attended the University of Indianapolis during the 2004-2005 academic year, taking roles in "Pippin" and "Endgame," the school's news service reported in 2015. Adam Driver, high school junior, in the lunch room in 2000 at Mishawaka High School. "He had a real desire, a real passion for acting," UIndy alum Jeffrey Barnes, who served as a technical director, said in an interview with the school. "Immediately, we realized he was incredibly talented, and if he made up his mind to, he would no doubt be successful." Driver was later accepted into Juilliard and graduated in 2009. Driver served as a U.S. Marine After his quick California stay, Driver returned to his parents' Mishawaka home, paying rent to live there and making a living by selling vacuums, in telemarking and mowing grass, the actor shared in a 2015 TED talk. Just a few months after 9/11, he joined the Marine Corps, where he found his place among a diverse set of people from across the country. I loved being in the Marines. Its one of the things Im most proud of having done in my life, he said in the 2015 talk. Firing weapons was cool, driving and detonating expensive things was great, but I found I loved the Marine Corps the most for the thing I was looking for the least when I joined, which was the people. Driver served until a sternum injury from an off-hours mountain biking accident forced him to stop shortly before he was to be deployed to the Middle East. May the Force be with us: Fans wonder if Adam Driver, Indy 500 starter, will wave a green lightsaber instead of flag How Driver's military experience influenced his acting As a new student at Juilliard, Driver found himself making a complex transition from military to civilian life. He found ways to put words to his emotions from the plays and characters he was studying for the first time, he said in his 2015 TED talk. Then Driver saw the similarities between the the military and theater communities. You have a group of people trying to accomplish a mission greater than themselves," he said. "Its not about you. You have a role. You have to know your role within that team. From that realization came Arts in the Armed Forces, a nonprofit that brought trained actors to perform for service members. Over 14 years, the organization served more than 18,000 military members before announcing it would fold, Stars & Stripes reported. The board will look for ways to continue some programs, according to the report. At the race: Adam Driver named Indy 500 honorary starter, will wave green flag What Hollywood has said about Driver The actor earned widespread prominence and an Emmy nomination playing the often-shirtless Adam Sackler on the series "Girls." He also garnered the respect of his colleagues. "I really want to say a special thank you to Adam Driver, who basically made me feel not like a cartoon character but like a person who could express emotions," creator and lead actor Lena Dunham said in a speech accepting her Golden Globe award. "I don't think you know how meaningful it's been to work with you." The chemistry was mutual, the South Bend Tribune reported. "For her to mention me in front of a room full of people I grew up watching was the biggest honor," Driver told the newspaper in 2013. "It meant a great deal to me. For her to acknowledge our collaboration in the way she did was pretty special." From there, Driver has continued to ascend, unlocking a new level of star status in 2019 when famed director and producer Martin Scorsese christened the actor as "one of the finest, if not the finest, of his generation" at the Telluride film festival. Director and screenwriter Noah Baumbach, who worked with Driver on projects including "Marriage Story," told Rolling Stone he reminded him of character actors-turned-stars in the 1970s like Al Pacino. "I don't think there's like anyone who freaks me out in the best way ever as much as Adam Driver," said Drew Barrymore on her eponymous show in 2021. "He's just got that charisma. There's like an animalistic, charming, sexy, compelling, cool-looking, tall, amazing." Looking for things to do? Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more and the stories behind them Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Adam Driver: A name and background made for the Indy 500 Another longtime Central Valley-born brand has been sold. But this time the sale is only a small part of its parent business. Boyett Petroleum, a Modesto presence in the fuel business since 1940, has sold its Cruisers convenience stores to a Southern California company. The sale was part of a deal that included Boyett purchasing 200 distribution stations from United Pacific, a Long Beach-based company known for running the Rocket brand of gas-station retail stores. The 10 Cruisers stations operated by Boyett, which range from Modesto to Manteca and as far away as Arnold, all are being converted into Rocket stations. Customers already have began noticing the new name on their gas station receipts, and new signs should be going up soon. Rocket has some 500 stores across the Western United States, with most in Southern California. Third-generation Boyett Petroleum owner and CEO Dale Boyett said the sale will help expand the companys much larger fuel distribution business, which has been and continues to be the core of its company. The independent wholesale supplier, whose headquarters are on McHenry Avenue, now delivers its wholesale gas to some 700 to 800 stations from California to Oklahoma. The decision to sell their Cruisers stores and acquire more distribution sites made sense for both companies, Boyett said. It feels a little weird to not have these stores anymore, Boyett said in a phone interview about the sales this week. But it was the right thing to do. Our wholesale business has been growing for a long time. Our retail has, too, but not as fast. Deals swap gas station stores for distribution sites He said United Pacific specializes in operating its Rocket convenience stores and can get more competitive prices on merchandise and inventory. With both businesses playing to their strengths, he said, Valley customers should benefit. Ultimately, this is a Class-A organization that has bought (Cruisers). Theyre still the best corners and still the best sites, he said. They certainly didnt buy (the stores) to run them into the ground. Story continues The acquisitions came with swapping of employees, too. The about 100 retail employees working at the Cruisers sites all were offered jobs with Rocket, with the vast majority transferring. Boyett in turn has acquired eight employees from United Pacific. The corporate staff working on the Modesto companys retail side have been retained and reassigned as well, Boyett said. Boyett Petroleum now has about 110 employees. The Modesto company also is keeping its Cruise Americard fleet business, which allows employees from other businesses to fuel up at its stations. The company still has about 70 gas-only sites, including the high-profile corner at Ninth and D streets in downtown Modesto. Boyett said they have about 1,500 of the fleet business-to-business accounts, working with private companies and municipalities across the region. The namesake Modesto company was started by Stan and Carol Boyett, Dale Boyetts grandparents, in 1940. They opened their first gas stations in the region in 1948. They were succeeded by their son Carl Boyett, who passed away in 2015 at age 70. The Cruisers brand was launched in 2007. Since last year, a handful of longtime Central Valley-based brands have been sold after decades of family ownership. Modesto-born Save Mart Supermarkets was acquired by Los Angeles-based private equity firm in March 2022, ending 70 years of family ownership. That was followed in June that same year by the sale of Livingston-based poultry processing giant Foster Farms to Connecticut holding company, which ended 83 years of family ownership. Victors over 300 miles of the turbulent Colorado River, the six members of the Nevills expedition as they arrived safely at Leeis Ferry, Arizona, July 8, 1938. Left to right: Dr. Elzada Clover, Lois Jotter, Eugene Atkinson, Don Harris, Norman D. Nevills, W.C. Gibson (behind Nevills, wearing bandanna) and an unidentified man, not a member of the expedition. Melissa Sevigny's new book, published Tuesday, will make readers yearn for the adventure and natural beauty of a Colorado River rafting trip at the same time that it fires them up over sexism in science and media. Drawing on the detailed diaries of two botanists who became the first white women to "Brave the Wild River," as the book is titled, the Flagstaff-based author guides us through the rough waters and peaceful moments of a story about facing fears and bucking norms to pursue scientific passions for the benefit of future generations. At a time when the Colorado River is making headlines like never before, due to drought conditions and tense negotiations between states over dividing up the fluctuating water supply, Sevigny takes us back. Back before the Colorado River Basin's water needs for agriculture and a growing population exceeded its flows. Back before the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam and the existence of Lake Powell. Back before scientists worried much about how that dam would affect the Grand Canyon ecosystem. Back even before the term "ecosystem" was in common use, but when two Michigan-based botanists nevertheless understood the value of documenting the species of plants eking out a living in this harsh and turbulent river corridor. The book cover of Melissa Sevigny's 2023 "Brave the Wild River," published by W. W. Norton & Company. The story Sevigny tells takes place mostly in 1938, when an unlikely crew of two female scientists new to river trips joined forces with a would-be commercial boater determined to invent that industry and a rotating cast of oarsmen trying their luck through seldom-run rapids. They built their own boats out of wood and screws, cooked their own meals (the women were expected to do that) and scouted their own rapids in rocky waters known to have claimed the lives of white adventurers who had tried before. (Sevigny is careful to note throughout the book that the Indigenous peoples who call the region home were the first to accomplish many of the feats later hailed as novel achievements by white explorers.) Story continues The 43-day-long summer journey featured sweltering temperatures, group discord and a range of mishaps including a runaway boat and some unintentional swimming. All along the way, the women "worked well past sundown," Sevigny writes, to document via their journals and plant vouchers how the botany changed as they progressed down river, filleting cactus pads and scooping out sticky flesh to press the spiky remains between sheets of newspaper for transport to herbaria collections. They slept on flat rocks in homemade bedrolls along the river banks, then woke before the rest of the crew to prepare breakfast for them daily, "moving quietly among their sleeping companions and fumbling at the dishware with cold fingers while dawn pinked the tops of the cliffs and painted them blush and rouge." The hard work of career scientists Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter went largely unrecognized by the journalists who covered the expedition at the time. Most accounts failed to even mention the word 'botany' or acknowledge the research merits of the trip, framing it instead as a thrill-seeking jaunt these reckless women had no business participating in. As a science journalist herself stepping into the story 85 years later, Sevigny rights this wrong. By relying on the journals and scientific legacies left by these women, she reframes the story, often in their own words. The 257-page account is one of two courageous and dedicated botanists who overcame their own fears and the many sexist barriers that 1930s society had constructed for career-oriented women. These two individuals were willing to trade ruffled skirts for overalls and decorum for scientific achievement and produced, as a result, ecological findings of lasting value. "There was simply no other comprehensive plant list published prior to the closure of Glen Canyon Dam," Sevigny writes. "Anyone who wanted to understand how the vegetation had changed because of dams, exotic species, or any of the other human and natural influences at work on ecosystems in the past half-century had to refer to Clover and Jotter's work." More: As climate disasters force people to flee, a new book examines the modern migrant quandary Change on the river is a theme of the book. Since the construction of Glen Canyon Dam in the 1960s, environmental activists have mourned the drowning of sites upstream as well as the loss of sediment carried by a natural flood cycle that once built up beaches downstream and created habitat for native plants and wildlife. The flora has changed as a result, with invasive species filling in the new, more calm spaces where only plants that could reestablish after chaotic floods existed before. Climate change, too, is taking a toll on the river by redefining which plants and animals can survive in these places with rising temperatures and a decades-deep drought. River rafting culture has changed swiftly. In 1938, the Grand Canyon National Park discouraged travel by river, not wanting to spend resources on rescue efforts. Now rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is a major commercial endeavor and a hallmark of the park experience for adventurous tourists (though modern rafting trips have luxuries Clover and Jotter could not have imagined). River runners no longer paint their names on the rock walls of the canyon, but the environment is forever changed by the modern impact of 27,000 annual rafters. Read the climate series: The latest from Joan Meiners at azcentral, a column on climate change that publishes weekly The book also highlights aspects of the 1938 trip that remain woefully unchanged. Many of the undertones of sexism in science and outdoor exploration Sevigny chronicled echo situations still experienced by female researchers and adventurers today. Clover and Jotter felt that their work was not taken seriously in their time. Female scientists today receive less recognition for their work than their male colleagues, as evidenced by fewer authorship opportunities and lower citation rates for the same type of work. Sexual harassment is also still a major concern for women working in national parks though, thankfully, that was not something the 1938 botanists dealt with. Overall, the book's tone is triumphant, celebrating the adventurous spirits and scientific accomplishments of these women and their companions. It's a story so relevant to modern discussions about water resources, climate change, science, sexism and the impacts of recreation as to likely feel shocking to many readers that they have not heard much about these trailblazers before. By telling the tale of the 1938 expedition now, Sevigny brings to light many important themes of the modern era that will be relevant discussion points in ecosystem management for years to come. With experience as a poet, she also artfully bridges a gap of nearly 100 years to shape the timeless story of a shared human experience with nature. "What does 'wild' mean, anyway?" Sevigny asks in the final chapter. "Not untouched by human presence, for even the plants especially the plants show how the canyonland's first inhabitants tended agave and prickly pear, coaxing them into new shapes. A wild place isn't one unchanged by humans. It's a place that changes us." Joan Meiners is the climate news and storytelling reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in ecology. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com. Read more of her coverage at environment.azcentral.com. Support climate coverage and local journalism by subscribing to azcentral.com at this link. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: "Brave the Wild River" takes us down the Colorado River of 1938 Police car A Georgia family is taking the next step toward seeking justice for their loved one after she died during a police encounter last year. Today (May 24), the family of Brianna Grier, 28, announced they have filed a $100 million civil lawsuit over her death. According to Fox 5, the suit is led by civil rights attorney Ben Crump. On July 15, 2022, city police responded to a call at Griers home in Sparta, Georgia. At the time, she reportedly experienced a schizophrenic episode. Later, bodycam footage showed deputies struggling briefly with Grier, who appeared distraught. Officers were viewed carrying the 28-year-old out of her home in handcuffs. In the video, Grier told police she was not drunk and repeatedly offered to take a breathalyzer. The young mother was also heard threatening her own life. After deputies placed Grier in the patrol car without a seat belt, they drove away. Within a minute of the drive, Grier fell from the unsecured vehicle. The car then stopped. An officer got out and walked a few feet back up the road to where Grier could be seen on the ground. Grier was transported to a hospital with a fatal brain injury that left her in a coma. She passed away six days later. The familys attorney said an autopsy revealed she suffered multiple skull fractures and severe brain swelling. Afterward, Griers loved ones demanded full accountability for her death. However, Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney T. Wright Barksdale declined to bring the case to a civil or criminal grand jury. In the lawsuit, two deputies and the Hancock County Sheriffs Office are listed. The suit claims they participated in gross negligence, resulting in Griers wrongful death. We call for change in Georgia, Attorney Gerald Griggs said at the news conference. What happened to Brianna Grier should never have happened. Trending Stories MUNCIE, Ind. A veteran Muncie firefighter's career appears to be in jeopardy in the wake of a cheating scandal involving testing for EMT certification. A recently completed investigation by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security concluded that Troy Dulaney, a Muncie Fire Department captain, distributed questions and answers from an exam to candidates hoping to become emergency medical technicians. In an unsolicited group text message to eight MFD recruits, the report concluded, Dulaney also allegedly asked the recipients to provide him with information about the questions they were posed on their own EMT exams, according to Homeland Security documents obtained by WTHR-TV. In response, Kraig Kenney, Indiana's state emergency medical services director, has rescinded Dulaney's EMS certifications for the next seven years. The eight recruits, meanwhile, received a censure from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, were placed on probation for two years and will be required to take the national EMS test again. "All students were placed in a challenging position when Dulaney, a high-ranking officer in their fire department, involved the students in a cheating scheme," according to a "findings and order" document issued by the Department of Homeland Security. "The cheating was initiated by Dulaney, and the students did not ask to be involved in it. However, the students still cooperated by not reporting the misconduct and by offering return information to Captain Dulaney." The actions by state officials will not go into effect until June 5 to give Dulaney and the MFD recruits time should they chose to appeal. In a statement released this week, Mayor Dan Ridenour said, "One firefighter has clearly been implicated in offering to facilitate EMT trainees in violating ethical test-taking standards." Ridenour said he had conferred with Fire Chief Robert Mead and agreed "wholeheartedly that this behavior is completely unacceptable, Story continues "We are pursuing disciplinary action up to and including termination. Maintaining the integrity of our fire department and EMT program is paramount to the safety of our citizens, and my administration will not tolerate corrupt and dishonest conduct." Dulaney was hired by the fire department in 2004 and has been a captain since 2021. He is also a target of a federal lawsuit, along with two EMTs, filed May 15 by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis refers to a "years-long scheme... of cheating on NREMT's examinations that was facilitated by defendant Dulaney." It alleges "materials from NREMET's examinations" were made available "to individuals before they took the examination, thereby giving them an improper advantage on the test and endangering the public whom these prospective emergency medical technicians were to serve." EMTs Jacob Sutton and Adam Burk are accused in the lawsuit of memorizing questions on NREMT exams they took and disclosing them to Dulaney, The suit seeks damages for copyright infringement, breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation. According to the lawsuit, "an anonymous whistleblower claiming to be an employee of the Muncie Fire Department" told NREMT officials about Dulaney's alleged involvement in a cheating scheme in a March 11 email. That message expressed "fear for the lives of the citizens of Muncie who expect the highest level of care from (the Muncie Fire Department)," and said one MFD employee recently passed the NREMT exam "without ever attending a training class, but instead simply memorized hundreds of test questions provided to him or her by Dulaney." The lawsuit said eight MFD recruits who took the NREMT exam in February had all passed. In 2022, only 56 percent of those taking the exam on a statewide basis passed it on their first try. In an April 27 letter to a Chicago attorney representing NREMT, Dulaney said he continued to "deny the veracity of the allegations presented," but said he did "hereby apologize for even the semblance of wrongdoing." Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Cheating scandal puts Muncie Fire Department captain's career in jeopardy Arson is suspected at this mobile home where two people and a dog were rescued by construction crew members in Michigan City. MICHIGAN CITY The quick actions of a construction crew pouring cement driveways nearby may have saved the lives of a woman, a 4-year-old boy and a dog inside a mobile home set ablaze in what police suspect was arson. Still, 67-year-old construction worker Pat OBrien of Michigan City said he doesnt consider himself or his colleagues heroes. I dont know about that," he said. "I think instinct takes over. We just did whatever we had to do. Cuteness alert: Mishawaka firefighters rescue 8 ducklings from storm drain. Here's video. Michigan City Fire Department spokesperson Tia Free said firefighters responded about 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday to Dunewood Village Mobile Home Community along Indiana 212 on the citys far east side. A caller had reported a residence on fire. Pat O'Brien and two members of his construction crew pulled a woman, a child and a dog out of a burning mobile home in Michigan City. Before firefighters arrived, OBrien said he and two crew members were pouring cement and heard glass breaking then saw smoke and flames coming from the single-wide mobile home. He said they ran over and started yelling in hopes of drawing the attention of anyone who might be inside. They also opened the front door to try to go inside, he said, but were driven away by intense heat and heavy smoke. OBrien said they started breaking windows out of the home and continued to scream when they heard what sounded like someone inside the dwelling. He said about half of the home was on fire, with flames reaching about 10 feet high when, suddenly, a woman approached one of the broken windows. The men reached in and grabbed her then carried the woman out through the broken window at the rear of the home. Moments later, OBrien said, a very frightened-looking boy with soot on his face came to another broken window a short distance away. The workers also guided him through the opening in the window frame. After the boy nodded his head that he was thirsty, OBrien said, he ran to his truck and grabbed a bottle of water for him to drink. He was in shock, Im sure," O'Brien said. "He was shaking pretty good." Story continues The dog was also rescued through a broken window, according to O'Brien. Firefighters arrived a short time later. If we had waited for the fire department, I dont think they would have made it, OBrien said. Free said the 77-year old woman, Sandra Root, was airlifted from Franciscan Health in Michigan City to a burn unit in Fort Wayne. She suffered burns to the inside of her throat from breathing heated air, Free said. Free said the boy was treated at a local hospital for undisclosed minor injuries and later released. The name of the boy was not released. Authorities said the unharmed dog was placed into the custody of Michigan City Animal Control. The mobile home was considered a total loss. Theres not much left inside of it," Free said. "It was pretty far gone when we got there. According to police, the initial findings of the ongoing investigation revealed the fire was intentionally set. Police did not shed light on exactly how they believe the fire was started. Local law enforcement detectives and investigators from the fire department are working together on the case, police said. The Michigan City Police Department is asking residents in the area to check their home surveillance cameras for any footage of the suspect or suspicious activity. The timeframe on video to check would be from about 7 a.m. that morning until the fire was reported. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Melissa Sopher at (219) 874-3221 Ext. 1049 or email her at msopher@emichigancity.com. Police can also be contacted on Facebook Messenger and the departments crime tip hotline at (219) 873-1488. You can always request to remain anonymous, said Lt. Steve Westphal, Commander of the Division of Professional Standards at the department. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Workers save woman, child, dog from fire, investigators suspect arson Key Insights The projected fair value for Canadian National Railway is CA$116 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Canadian National Railway is estimated to be 33% overvalued based on current share price of CA$154 Our fair value estimate is 35% lower than Canadian National Railway's analyst price target of CA$177 Does the May share price for Canadian National Railway Company (TSE:CNR) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. See our latest analysis for Canadian National Railway The Model We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (CA$, Millions) CA$4.29b CA$4.52b CA$4.58b CA$4.69b CA$4.94b CA$5.07b CA$5.19b CA$5.31b CA$5.42b CA$5.52b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x13 Analyst x13 Analyst x8 Analyst x5 Analyst x1 Est @ 2.61% Est @ 2.36% Est @ 2.19% Est @ 2.08% Est @ 1.99% Present Value (CA$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.8% CA$4.0k CA$3.9k CA$3.7k CA$3.5k CA$3.4k CA$3.2k CA$3.1k CA$2.9k CA$2.8k CA$2.6k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CA$33b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.8%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.8%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = CA$5.5b (1 + 1.8%) (7.8% 1.8%) = CA$93b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CA$93b ( 1 + 7.8%)10= CA$44b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is CA$77b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of CA$154, the company appears reasonably expensive at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Canadian National Railway as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.014. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Canadian National Railway Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Transportation market. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Canadian market. Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Significant insider buying over the past 3 months. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Canadian market. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For Canadian National Railway, we've compiled three relevant aspects you should assess: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Canadian National Railway . Future Earnings: How does CNR's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the TSX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here MIAMI Ron DeSantis top political advisers on Thursday detailed the path forward for the Florida governor in the Republican presidential primary and brushed aside bad headlines surrounding his rocky campaign launch the night before. Appearing before a private gathering of around 150 donors at the Four Seasons Hotel, three top DeSantis lieutenants Ryan Tyson, Sam Cooper and Jason Johnson argued that the governor remained poised throughout a malfunction-plagued appearance on Twitter Spaces, where he unveiled his candidacy in a conversation with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. They said DeSantis had a clear path to defeat former President Donald Trump, and added their belief that Florida would emerge as a key state that could help to determine the outcome of the nomination contest, according to two people present for the presentation. The group of DeSantis advisers also walked through polling in four early primary states Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada and made the case that the governor was viewed more favorably than Trump in each. They made the case that Trumps current polling lead was being inflated by sympathy from Republican voters over his indictment in New York over a case involving hush money payments to a pornstar and would diminish over time. They conceded that the former president would likely not go below roughly 35 percent support in a primary but that such a floor allowed for DeSantis, his strongest rival, to take a larger share of the remaining 65 percent of the vote. According to those two people present, the DeSantis team pointed out that Florida was a winner take-all-state, with its large share of delegates being solely distributed to whoever finishes first in the primary. Depending on the states outcome, there could be a clear primary winner or a contested convention where candidates had to engage in a delegate fight. They contended that DeSantis' fundraising strength a super PAC supporting his candidacy has already boasted raising some $30 million would ensure that the governor would have the financial wherewithal to remain in the race through the early nomination states and into later delegate-rich contests, such as Florida. Story continues Should DeSantis make it to Florida, it could set the stage for a dramatic showdown with Trump, a fellow resident of the state. The three-day retreat which kicked off Wednesday, just hours before DeSantis launched his campaign is being dubbed by organizers as Ron-o-Rama. The event has drawn an array of Republican Party bundlers, who spent much of Thursday reaching out by phone to fellow donors to ask for contributions. It is also being attended by some of the governors closest allies, including former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who is helping to oversee the pro-DeSantis super PAC. Attendees on Wednesday huddled together in the hotel to listen to DeSantis Twitter event with Musk and David Sacks, a Silicon Valley investor and supporter of the governor. Many of them were spotted in the hallways sporting DeSantis for President swag. The governor made a personal appearance at the retreat on Thursday, hanging out with donors and making calls himself. Those present said the governor who has been criticized for being aloof personally took the time to work the room and shake hands with the bundlers. The governor is also expected to be present at an evening reception. DeSantis team has tried to deflect attention from the Twitter snafu by highlighting his fundraising haul since he announced. On Thursday evening, the campaign announced it had raised $8.2 million in the 24 hours following his launch. Many attendees dismissed concerns over DeSantis fumbled launch and polls showing the governor trailing by large margins nationally and in early nominating states. Polls right now really mean nothing. It's you know, who can continue to raise money to stay in the race, to stay in these primaries. And I believe, you know, I believe the polls right now will not reflect what they'll look like months from now, said former Pennsylvania Rep. Lou Barletta, who has endorsed DeSantis. Organizers are using the event to spotlight the governors support from former Trump backers. Among the attendees is Hossein Khorram, a major Trump donor who helped to lead the former presidents finance efforts during the 2020 campaign. Khorram, a Washington State-based real estate developer, said he had dined with DeSantis recently and came away impressed. He said he had made the difficult decision to defect to the governor after concluding that he would have an easier path to victory in a general election. I'm heartbroken, he said, to walk away from President Trump. Climate change is expediting spring snowmelt and replacing snow with rainfall in the Mountain West making an already arid region increasingly at risk of summer water scarcity, a new study has found. From 1950 to 2013, the amount of water stored in snowpack plunged in more than 25 percent of the mountainous areas of the Western North America, according to the study, published on Monday in Nature Communications Earth & Environment. This decline has occurred in part because more snow is melting during winter and spring, blurring the boundaries between seasons, per the study. On average and in every mountainous region that we looked at, snow melt is occurring closer in time to when it fell, lead author Kate Hale, who conducted the research as a University of Colorado Boulder graduate student, said in a statement. The timing of water availability is shifting toward earlier in the springtime, with less snow melt and water availability later in the summertime, added Hale, who is now a postdoctoral associate at the University of Vermont. The Western U.S. and Canada rely on snow for most of their water meaning that the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevadas and other mountain ranges have essentially served as water towers for this region, according to the authors. By storing water throughout the winter, the mountains provide water, via snowmelt, in spring and summer, the researchers stated. State and regional water managers use a metric known as snow water equivalent the amount of water contained in snow every April 1 to forecast water availability for that year, Hale explained. But Hale and her colleagues felt that having just the April 1 snapshot was insufficient, as it doesnt demonstrate whether snow slowly accumulated over the previous six months or if it fell in one lump sum just days prior to the measurement. To broaden their understanding, the researchers used two publicly available data sources to develop a new measurement called the snow storage index. Story continues This index incorporates both the timing and the amount of snowfall, as well as snowmelt, before and after April 1, according to the study. The snow storage index allows us to look at snow water storage, not just in the context of how much is there at any given time, but the duration of that storage on the ground, senior author Noah Molotch, an associate professor of geography at the University of Colorado Boulder, said in a statement. High scores on the snow storage index a number as close to 1.0 as possible occurred in places where snowfall is very seasonal, such as in the Cascades, the researchers found. But in Colorados Rocky Mountains, the scores were lower between 0 and 0.5 indicating that snow both accumulates and melts throughout the colder half of the year, according to the study. The good news, however, is that because the Rockies and Colorados Front Range are already used to enduring an alternating pattern of snowfall and snowmelt during winter and spring, the region might adapt easier to shifts in snowpack storage, the authors noted. Nonetheless, they warned that the mountain regions of the West Coast, which are highly dependent on snowpack meltwater in spring and summer, could endure a painful adjustment. The snowpack is eroding and disappearing before our eyes, Molotch said. Thats going to present challenges in terms of managing the infrastructure thats allowed the Western United States to flourish over the last 100 years, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The militarys top general cautioned Thursday that F-16s wont act as a magic weapon for Ukraine, but the U.S. is fully behind a group of NATO allies taking the lead on training and potentially transferring the jets to Kyiv. The Russians have 1,000 fourth-generation fighters, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley told reporters at the Pentagon following a virtual meeting of the multinational Ukraine Defense Contact Group. If you're gonna contest Russia in the air, you're gonna need a substantial amount of fourth and fifth generation fighters, so if you look at the cost curve and do the analysis, the smartest thing to have done is exactly what we did do, which is provide a significant amount of integrated air defenses to cover the battlespace and deny the Russians the airspace. Milleys comments followed similar points made this week by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who said the jets are not going to be a dramatic game-changer for Ukraine, though its something that makes sense for them. Its going to help them in the long run. Fighter jets are vastly more expensive than artillery rounds and ground vehicles, which Western allies have focused on flooding into Ukraine to help push Russian forces back in the south. Spending the money on those near-term weapons, as opposed to expensive warplanes with their complex logistical needs, has been worthwhile, Milley said. If you look at the F-16, 10 F-16s [cost] a billion dollars, the sustainment cost another billion dollars, so you're talking about $2 billion for 10 aircraft, Milley said, adding that if the planes had been sent sooner, they would have eaten up the funding for those other capabilities that have put Ukraine on their front foot. There are no magic weapons in war, F-16s are not and neither is anything else, he said. Also Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that Denmark and the Netherlands are taking the lead in the joint coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on modern fighter jets. He said Norway, Belgium, Poland and Portugal have also pledged to take part in the training. Story continues The coalition plans to train roughly 20 Ukrainian pilots initially, although the exact number will depend on the countries capacity to support the project, according to a UK government spokesperson, who was granted anonymity to discuss details ahead of an announcement. Ukraine will require a pipeline of pilots to learn the fundamentals of flying who can then move up to jets, the spokesperson said. To that end, the first stage of instruction will focus on ground-based basic training of Ukrainian pilots, who will then be ready to learn specific airframes, such as the F-16 and others. The F-16 training will take place at a site in Europe, Defense Department officials have said. Left unanswered were questions over who will send their F-16s or other jets to Kyiv once that training is over, and what role the U.S. will play other than greenlighting the transfer of the aircraft from third-party countries to Ukraine. The F-16 effort is only now getting underway after President Joe Biden last week said the U.S. would support training Ukrainians on the aircraft, a dramatic reversal from the administrations previous refusal to address the issue, saying it was a lower priority. But with much of the aid meant to support Ukraines planned counteroffensive having been delivered, and with increasing missile strikes on civilian targets in Kyiv, Ukrainian leaders launched a new public pressure campaign in recent weeks, insisting that the jets would be invaluable in air defense missions. Dozens of F-16s are in various configurations and in different states of readiness across the U.S. and Europe. As several NATO countries buy more F-35s, the older jets will become available, though they will likely need upgrades and some country-specific technologies will need to be removed, according to R. Clarke Cooper, a former head of Political-Military Affairs at the State Department and now a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Based on precedent it should not be too difficult for the individual countries, he added, since several of them have sold off their older F-16s already with Washingtons blessing. The big question now for the NATO alliance is who has transferable planes in their squadrons or hangars that can be sent to Ukraine. As fleets age and F-35s begin arriving in greater numbers, countries around the globe have been lining up to snap up the older F-16s. While there are jets available for Ukraine, several big potential transfers indicate theres plenty of appetite outside of Kyiv for the fighter. Norway recently sold 32 of its F-16s to Romania, and is waiting for Washington's OK to sell a dozen more to Draken, a private company that contracts with the Pentagon to fly training missions. Denmark has also sold its F-16s abroad, most recently working on a deal with Colombia, and is considering doing the same with Argentina, a process that has caught the eye of Congress. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with Air Force leaders this month, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said there is a danger of Argentina buying Chinese fighter planes if the U.S. doesnt approve the potential Danish sale of F-16s. I think we need to be very vigilant on this, Kelly warned. We can counter their pitch here by facilitating the transfer of Danish F-16s to Argentina. That's a possibility. This is not just a transfer of aircraft. It has real geopolitical and strategic importance. Kendall replied he was aware of the issue and it's working its way through the interagency process right now. But I think there is an understanding of the importance of it for the reasons that you said. The decades-old planes, while expensive, are in high demand around the globe. The F-16 remains a workhorse, Cooper said. Not only for NATO but globally, so it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Joe Gould and Lara Seligman contributed to this report. Its not quite the Boston Tea Party, but Im cheering on Joe Pakuris, a Pawtucket businessman who couldnt take it anymore, and I dont blame him. What he did was actually more dramatic than dumping tea. He put up billboards on Interstate 95 telling the world to come to his cannabis dispensary, the biggest in the state. Why is this a defiant act? Because there's a weed ad ban here. For some hare-brained reason, the state allowed cannabis sales but didnt allow stores to promote themselves. Yet dispensaries in Massachusetts and Connecticut can. In fact, every day, from his Mother Earth Wellness dispensary, Joe Pakuris looks at an Interstate 95 billboard for a Massachusetts cannabis store and wonders how many cars are zipping by his place to buy across the border. Despite a frustrating cannabis ad ban, Mother Earth Wellness, the state's biggest marijuana dispensary, put up a billboard on its building in Pawtucket, but the owners insist it's not a violation. So, a few days ago, he finally put up his own billboard, on his property, which borders the highway. Mother Wellness, it says. 21+. Next Exit. Dispensary. If state regulatory folks think he has violated the no-advertising rule, Joe insists hes done no such thing. His new billboard, he says, is not advertising at all. Its just another store sign, no different, he says, than the one above his entrance. Advertising, he explains, would say I have the cheapest price or best quality. All Im doing is what Ive already done the same thing thats on my building. But he wont deny hes frustrated at the no-ad ban. He and others have been begging the state to allow advertising. So far, no go. Legal cannabis in RI: The 'pot pie' of recreational marijuana is not as plump as those in the business had hoped The result? Joe says that every day, many folks come into Mother Earth saying they hadnt realized recreational cannabis was for sale in Rhode Island until friends told them. Theyd been going to Massachusetts instead. Joe guesses business for the states seven dispensaries and many suppliers could improve by a significant 30% if ads were permitted. Two weeks ago, the House passed a bill allowing weed ads, but its not law yet. And last week, a full year after recreational dispensaries were approved, the governor at last nominated three members to form a Cannabis Regulatory Board, needed before ads can happen. Story continues But the nominees are yet to be ratified. Joe, 42, is a working-class guy who for years ran Kitchen & Countertop Center of New England in a Pawtucket mill with his co-owner Ed Keegan, also 42. The latest: Could RI pot shops soon advertise on billboards? Bill allowing it clears House The two beat out other applicants for the areas single cannabis dispensary license because their mill was perfect, with 35,000 extra square feet for a full vertical business, meaning they grow it, create it and sell it. Its an impressive operation, with growing rooms, a Breaking Bad extraction lab and a gourmet kitchen making edibles. The store itself is striking, with marble display counters, waterfalls over glass, huge flatscreens and cool lighting on high brick walls. But the ad ban, Joe says, is hurting badly. He knows it will eventually happen, but he feels its nuts how long its taking the government to get it done. As for the states side? I tried to ask them to explain themselves, but they wouldnt talk to me. I called the office of the Deputy Director of the Department of Business Regulation Matt Santacroce, who among other things oversees the Office of Cannabis Regulation. When DBR spokesman Matt Touchette got back to me, I told him candidly I wanted to press Santacroce on how to speed up the cannabis advertising thing. Gone to pot: A still-paranoid '70s guy visits a RI cannabis store and finds a brave new world Touchette understood, then asked me to email questions and hed get them answered. I wrote back saying Id prefer getting Santacroces response in a live or phone interview, and maybe hold his feet to the fire on this. Big mistake. I think that scared them. DBR respectfully declines this interview request, Touchette wrote back. Oh well. I tried. Let the record show Joe Pakuris insists hes not violating the ad ban the billboard in his eyes is just a big sign on his property stating the name of his business. Still, I think there should be consequences. But not against Joe Pakuris of Mother Earth Wellness. Hes doing a favor for Rhode Island by trying to help a taxpaying industry compete. The consequences should be for the state officials still getting in the way of that. mpatinki@providencejournal.com This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Mother's Earth Dispensary owner advertises on building despite RI ban FENNVILLE Three candidates are advancing to a second round of interviews as Fennville Public Schools searches for its next superintendent. The FPS school board held first-round interviews with five candidates Monday and Tuesday, May 22-23, before narrowing the search to three candidates. More: Fennville school board chooses five candidates to interview for superintendent role More: Fennville Public Schools Superintendent Jim Greydanus retiring this summer Those invited back for a second interview are Carlos de la Barrera, Nicole Reyherme and Doug Greer. Their second interviews will take place Wednesday, May 31, with de la Barrera at 4 p.m., Reyherme at 5:15 p.m. and Greer at 6:30 p.m. Interviews will take place at the Fennville High School library and media center at 4 S. Memorial Drive in Fennville. The interviews are public and members of the community are strongly encouraged to attend, FPS said. Three candidates are advancing to a second round of interviews as Fennville Public Schools searches for its next superintendent. Candidates will tour the district prior to the final interviews, the district said. Reyherme is the director of secondary education and technology at Mill Valley School District in Mill Valley, California. She was previously the director of innovation and technology at Winters School District in California from 2016-20. De la Barrera is the executive principal at North Windham Elementary School and Windham Middle School in Windham, Connecticut. Prior to that, he was a principal at Grand Rapids Public Schools from 2017-21. Greer is the director of school improvement at the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, a role hes held since 2011. He was previously a principal and curriculum director with Kent City Public Schools. Greer was a finalist for the Hamilton Community Schools superintendent job last spring. Other candidates who received first-round interviews were Amy Mielke, principal at Hopkins Elementary School and Jason Stowe, retired superintendent of Leland Public Schools. The five candidates brought in for interviews were selected from among 15 applicants. Story continues Subscribe: Receive unlimited access to your local news coverage The district is searching for a new leader after current superintendent Jim Greydanus announced his retirement, effective June 30, earlier this year. Greydanus has been superintendent at FPS since September 2017 and was the principal at Fennville High School for more than four years prior to that. Fennville's superintendent search is being led by the Michigan Leadership Institute. Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Three advance for second interview in Fennville superintendent search Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty The parent who got a Florida school to ban Amanda Gormans inauguration poem has ties to the far-right Proud Boys and conservative firebrands Moms For Liberty, The Daily Beast has confirmed. The links, first highlighted by the Twitter account Miami Against Fascism, follow an expose on Florida mom Daily Salinas by the Miami Herald. In an interview with the Herald, Salinas said she is not for eliminating or censoring any books, but wants materials to be appropriate and for students to know the truth about Cuba. Salinas complaints led a Florida school to restrict access to The Hill We Climb, a book adaptation of the poem Gorman recited at President Joe Bidens inauguration. The Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, Florida also pulled two other titlesThe ABCs of Black History, and Love to Langstonfrom its elementary school section after a single complaint from Salinas, who has two children at the school, the Miami Herald first reported. The complaints, reviewed by The Daily Beast, reveal that Salinas reported the books for things like CRT and gender idiology [sic], and indoctrination. Moms for Liberty Leader Allegedly Hijacked Dead Womans Facebook Page to Harass Foes Is not educational and have indirectly hate messages, Salinas wrote of The Hill We Climb, which she incorrectly described as being authored by Oprah Winfrey (the book features a foreword by Winfrey). One of the pages Salinas complained about reads: Somehow, weve weathered and witnessed / A nation that isnt broken, but simply unfinished. A committee at the school decided to reshelve the books in the librarys middle school section, according to meeting minutes viewed by The Daily Beast, despite the books being recommended for younger readers. Salinas, who filed complaints against five books, appears to be connected to multiple far-right organizations, attending events with Moms for Liberty and the Proud Boys. Salinas did not return requests for comment. The Miami-Dade Moms for Liberty chapter did not immediately return a request for comment. Story continues Salinas was removed by security from a Miami-Dade school board meeting in July 2022, according to video of the event, during an intervention by Moms For Liberty. The group disrupted the meeting to protest two sex education textbooks that had been previously approved by the board. Following petitions from parents, the board voted 5-4 to remove the books, effectively leaving the district without instruction materials for sex education. Two women who spoke against the sex ed textbooks began yelling over school board members as they were deliberating. The two women were escorted out of the building by police, as was a man who was sitting elsewhere in the auditorium. pic.twitter.com/VrFyHdzklr Kate Payne (@hellokatepayne) July 20, 2022 An avid supporter of Ron DeSantis, Salinas worked as a volunteer on his Education Agenda Tour in August 2022, according to social media posts reviewed by The Daily Beast. That summer, DeSantis traveled the state boosting conservative candidates in school board elections and lambasting schools indoctrinating children. However, Salinas politics appear to have gone beyond the right wing of the Republican party, veering into extremism and antisemitism. In March of this year, Salinas shared a Facebook post entitled The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, which included a series of anti-Semitic tropes about an alleged Jewish conspiracy to control the world. Salinas appears to have deleted the post on Wednesday, after it was flagged by the group Miami Against Fascism on Twitter. After the deletion, she posted a picture of an armed Israeli Defense Force soldier in front of a tank, with the words, People never seen this.I love my Jewish people. Salinas, a registered Republican, appeared to become more politically active during the COVID pandemic, according to a review of her social media. In October 2020, Salinas was interviewed briefly on a segment by PBS Newshour about Florida voters. My biggest fear is, they talk about the Democratic Party. They talk about socialism, socialism and communism going in the same way, Salinas said. She told PBS she had fled Cuba for the United States when she was 21 years old. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4337208419679816&set=pb.100001721011207.-2207520000.&type=3 The reason why we came here, I remember, I was little, and I say I need to live. Its too much oppression and the dictator. So I dont want this for my kids. I want my kids [to] keep their freedom, she told the program. In August 2021, Salinas attended a protest against masks in Miami-Dade schools, where she was photographed standing next to Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys. Tarrio had already been implicated in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, for which he was later convicted of seditious conspiracy. (Salinas has shared posts indicating she believes Jan. 6 defendants are political prisoners.) Just over a year later, Salinas attended another rally organized by the Proud Boys in support of Christoper Morzon, a far-right extremist nicknamed the Cuban Confederate. At the protest in November, 2022, Salinas can be seen wearing a Ron DeSantis T-shirt and hat. A month earlier, Morzon was physically assaulted in Hialeah, Florida, ending up in hospital. Immediately afterwards, Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted that the attack was politically motivated and that Morzon had been out canvassing for Rubios campaign. However, an incident report from the Hialeah Police Department made no mention of a political motive. Nonetheless, right-wing groups rallied around Morzon, despite his history of racist and white supremacist beliefs. Morzon took part in the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which ended in the death of an anti-fascist protester. He was previously a member of the League of the South, a designated hate group, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. (Morzon claimed to have resigned from the group in 2021 and disavowed his former views.) Salinas was also part of a select group of right-wing activists pictured with Morzon shortly after his release from hospital. Not only did Daily Salinas attend the Proud Boy organized rally in support of Rubio canvasser Christopher Monzon, previously arrested for attacking protesters with a confederate flag, she was also captured alongside his close supporters when he was released from the hospital. 5/ https://t.co/q0bqd713WB Miami Against Fascism (@MIAagainstFash) May 23, 2023 A review of Salinas social media posts reveal her involvement in other right-wing campaigns. In October 2022, she took part in a rally outside the Miami-Dade School Board offices with Citizens Defending Freedom (CCDF), a conservative advocacy group described by its critics as Christian nationalist. CCDF is linked to the Turning Point USA and Alliance Defending Freedom, the right-wing group beyond numerous anti-LGBT bills across the U.S. Salinas attended the protest wearing a black t-shirt with the words American Patriot emblazoned across it. Salinas complaints against Gormans book are characteristic of a wave of attempted book bans across the country, spearheaded by conservative groups and a cohort of hyper-zealous activists; a May analysis by the Washington Post of 1,000 book challenges found that 11 people were responsible for most of the complaints. Despite her disdain for Gorman and Langston Hughes poetry, there is one book for children that Salinas promotes on her social media: The Kids Guide to Ron DeSantis by Mike Huckabeeavailable for just $1. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. There hasn't been much consistency in gas prices around Memorial Day weekend over the past few years. And that trend continues in 2023. But if you're about to fill up before hitting the roads this year, you'll be happy to see that gas prices are down significantly from a year ago when there were record prices across Wisconsin and the country. But they're still well above the $1.89 from 2020 and $2.86 in 2021, as prices plummeted during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and demand dropped. While the average price in Wisconsin has crept up from a month ago, it's still no where near the levels from 2022 when gas totals soared following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the issue of U.S. sanctions on Russian crude oil became a national talking point. Here's what you should know about gas prices in Wisconsin. Figures are from AAA unless otherwise indicated. What is the average price for a gallon of gas in Wisconsin? Regular: $3.57 Mid-grade: $3.95 Premium: $4.42 Gas prices have increased heading into Memorial Day weekend across Wisconsin, but they are still significantly lower than last year at this time. How do the gas prices compare to this time in Wisconsin in 2022? Last year at this time, prices were much higher as Wisconsin was setting nearly daily records on the average price of gas. Regular: $4.34 Mid-grade: $4.69 Premium: $5.09 What were the average gas prices a month ago in Wisconsin? You'll notice that prices have increased a bit since the end of April, though that's not out of the norm before a holiday weekend and as the summer travel season begins. Regular: $3.44 Mid-grade: $3.87 Premium: $4.29 How does Wisconsin compare to the national average? Wisconsin falls in line with the national average for a gallon of regular gas. National average : $3.574 Wisconsin average: $3.566 Where can I find the lowest-priced gas in Wisconsin? Fond du Lac County has the cheapest average price for a gallon of regular gas at $3.42. Door and Sauk counties are next with an an average price of $3.45. What is the average price of gas in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and other southeast Wisconsin counties? Southeast Wisconsin has some of the highest prices across the state. Story continues In Ozaukee County it's at $3.77, Washington County $3.74, Kenosha County $3.71, Waukesha County $3.68, Racine County $3.66 and Milwaukee County $3.63. Plain and Oshkosh offer cheap gas prices in Wisconsin According to GasBuddy.com, a tracker of gas prices and trends, there are two gas stations in the village of Plain in Sauk County that offers the cheapest. Cenex, 1125 Wachter Ave., has a gallon at $3.14 and Shell, 995 Wachter Ave., is at $3.15. A Kwik Trip, 1090 N. Washburn St., in Oshkosh comes in at $3.16. Appleton, Waukesha, Green Bay and Stevens Point offer cheap gas Countryside Coop, 36537 Main St., Whitehall, $3.18 Costco, 2355 Costco Way, Bellevue, $3.19 Costco, 5401 W. Integrity Way, Appleton, $3.19 BP 24/7 Petroleum, 1605 Summit Ave., Waukesha, $3.19 Woodmans, 2400 Dousman St., Green Bay, $3.19 Fleet Farm, 5590 US-10 E, Stevens Point, $3.19 Costco, 443 Pewaukee Road, Pewaukee, $3.24 If I'm traveling to Illinois, what will gas prices be like there? You'll likely have to pay a bit more. The average price of gas in Illinois is just under $4 on Thursday at $3.98. More: Gas prices are down but projected to rise again. How much will gas cost in 2023? More: Why are gas prices rising? 2023 has seen a spike in costs at the pump. Here's what it means Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are gas prices in Wisconsin right now ahead of Memorial Day? The sun sets on the Spiral Jetty on the Great Salt Lake on March 16. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox nominated Brian Steed to serve as Utahs first-ever Great Salt Lake commissioner last week. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Brian Steed is still piecing together what his next job will entail, but he already has at least one goal in mind before becoming the state's first-ever Great Salt Lake commissioner. He wants to make sure Utahns are still engaged in the process of helping the lake's recovery, because it's not going to happen overnight. This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake and what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. Read all of our stories at greatsaltlakenews.org. "I think we all have to avoid Great Salt Lake fatigue," said Steed as he spoke with members of the Great Salt Lake Collaborative Tuesday, after expressing his concern that people may revert back to practices that helped drain the Great Salt Lake over the past few decades. "I think that those kinds of small changes and choices (in water use) can make a big impact, collectively." Utah Gov. Spencer Cox nominated Steed, the executive director of Utah State University's Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air, to be the state's first-ever Great Salt Lake commissioner last week, pending confirmation by the Utah Legislature. It's unclear when that confirmation will take place, but Steed could begin his new job while retaining his current job as early as July 1. If and when he is confirmed, he's ready to hit the ground running because his team will have to put together an initial report for Utah leaders by November. What does a Great Salt Lake commissioner do? The Utah Legislature approved a bill that created the role of Great Salt Lake commissioner this year. The commissioner is tasked with meeting various agencies that study the lake and with Utah government leaders, as well as preparing "an approved strategic plan for the long-term health" of the lake, according to HB491. Story continues That's sort of what Steed was already doing. He, his USU colleagues, members of the University of Utah and three state agencies joined forces to create the Great Salt Lake Strike Team, a coalition of some of the state's top research minds together to come up with solutions to the drying lake. The team issued a report earlier this year that offered lawmakers a look at what happened to the Great Salt Lake and what they can do to help fix the problem. The new job comes with at least some level of policy power, though. Cox explained that the new position comes with a "lot of authority" to bring all the governor's cabinet members and the state's water managers together, when he was asked about this during his monthly meeting with Utah journalists last week. The commissioner also reports directly to the governor and legislative leaders on issues about the Great Salt Lake, making this leadership the "significant authority and leverage" with the job. "This position is really unprecedented. We've never had a position like this," Cox said. Brian Steed, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox's pick to be the Great Salt Lake commissioner, speaks with members of the Great Salt Lake Collaborative in an online meeting Tuesday. If confirmed, he could start as early as July 1. | Great Salt Lake Collaborative The job is also more of a "coordinational role" than any sort of regulatory role, Steed explained. A large part of the job is tracking Great Salt Lake data and identifying what is and isn't working at the moment so solutions can be discovered. But he said having the ear of the governor and legislative leaders likely gives the position a "large policy lever to pull," especially when state agencies and water managers are able to find something that needs to be addressed from a legislative standpoint. "Brian gets to walk into a room now with the full backing of legislative leadership, as well as the executive branch," Cox pointed out. "That's a pretty big deal." The work continues The Great Salt Lake is continuing to rise as a result of this year's record snowpack. The Great Salt Lake's Saltair Boat Harbor site is now up to 4,193.4 feet elevation more than 5 feet above its estimated lowest point in November, according to U.S. Geological Survey data. Yet, Steed points out that the primary factors that contributed to the Great Salt Lake's decline, such as water overconsumption, "have not changed" much over the past six months. The Great Salt Lake Strike Team's report found that between 67% and 73% of the lake's water is lost to "natural and human consumptive use." In addition, some of the lake's toxic dust is still blowing into Utah communities during storm events even after all the water the lake has received this spring. "My guess is we're going to see continued challenges on the Great Salt Lake ecosystem over longer time horizons," Steed said. "So while, yes, we're all very heartened by the recent year we've had, we still have great cause for concern." The railroad causeway is breached on the Great Salt Lake on May 3. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News This is why Utah leaders continue to expand their messaging around reducing water even after such a prolific winter, offering a new turf grass buyback program and launching a new public service announcement promoting the removal of ornamental grass lawns. The report outlined other possible solutions, noting that programs to optimize agricultural water use and for water rights holders to lease their water to temporarily go directly to the lake are likely the state's best bang-for-your-buck options. It estimates that Utah could send 180,000 acre-feet of additional water to the Great Salt Lake just by reducing agricultural consumption by 15%, while the state's leasing program could net an additional 200,000 to 300,000 acre-feet of water. These options are already in motion. Steed said he's eager to help negotiate potential leases, which could be similar to water donations made by The Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints and Rio Tinto Kennecott over the past few years. He added that the strike team report is a "good first start" when it comes to future policy, clarifying that the report offered a slew of options to consider more than it provided guidance. The team is already set to issue a follow-up report later this year, but he believes his role is to come up with a game plan for the lake. "Quite candidly, I think there's really good information in (the report) and I think it would be foolish to put that aside," he said. "There's lots of good information out there. Part of what I think we need to do is to synthesize that into something more actionable." Fighting lake 'fatigue' Every dataset right now points to 4,198 feet elevation as being the Great Salt Lake level objective at the moment. Researchers say that it's the minimum level for the lake to still be considered healthy. It's not exactly clear how quickly the lake can return to those levels unless there's another record winter or Utahns drastically change the way they view water, Steed said. This uncertainty means that the same message about saving water will continue to play out for a long, long time. Steed said he's hopeful that it becomes a message that Utahns ingrain in their daily habits, much like residents have in other dry places across the globe like Israel. The ultimate goal is to avoid the toughest possible conversation, which could be whether Utah should spend billions of dollars on a pipeline to bring water to the Great Salt Lake or spend billions to mitigate all the dust from the dried-out lake. Avoiding that debate will likely require ways to keep people engaged in the process, which could be simply reflecting back at the "successes" made in the long journey to protect the lake, Steed says. One of the early wins so far is acknowledging the importance of the lake and finding ways to try and save it. "I think there's this fear we're all looking at Sisyphus pushing this rock up the hill and it's just exhausting ... and no one ever stops to look and say 'we've actually made some effort in pushing the rock up the hill," he said. "We've made some gains and those choices, those changes have made an impact." In April 2010, Patricia Davis and her husband Tony Davis got some news no parent ever wants to hear. Their son, Army Sgt. Anthony Magee was dead. The 29-year-old from Hattiesburg was killed when his unit was ambushed in Iskandariyah, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Magee was serving his second tour in Iraq when he was hit in the head with shrapnel. Other soldiers in his unit carried him to safety and bandaged his wounds with the shirts off their backs. Despite their efforts to save him, Magee later died at a hospital in Germany. The Davises thought their son had been forgotten after 13 years, so were surprised when the annual PBS National Memorial Day concert organizers reached out to them, wanting to tell Magee's story. "You would think people would realize he was a human being, but nobody says anything anymore," Tony Davis said. They felt like their son, who had made the ultimate sacrifice, had been forgotten. "That's all you can give," Tony Davis said. "That's all you've got." Tony and Patricia Davis pose with a photo of son Anthony Magee, and Magee's son Kameron. A camera crew from the concert organizers came to Hattiesburg to talk with the Magee-Davis family about their loss for a segment that will air during the televised program. "It was awesome to see my children get a chance to talk about their brother," Tony Davis said. "It was quite an honor. I think everybody is going to enjoy it. They're going to laugh a little, cry a little bit and get to see a snippet of who Anthony is. "We are so excited." The program will feature three generations of Anthony Magee's family, including his parents, siblings and Magee's son, Kameron, who was just 5 years old when his father was killed. Magee is one of two Mississippians who will be honored during the 34th annual concert, which will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and other PBS stations. The concert also will be livestreamed on YouTube and at pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert. Story continues War on Terror: 7 years after son died at war, Tony and Patricia Davis feel he has been 'forgotten' He was a POW in Hanoi Hilton: How Mississippi man's 'tap code' helped them survive The other Mississippi honoree is 94-year-old Carlyle "Smitty" Harris of Tupelo, who was a prisoner in the Vietnam War and retired as a colonel from the Air Force. He was taken prisoner in April 1965, when his plane was shot down. Harris spent nearly eight years at the Hoa Lo prison, better known as the Hanoi Hilton, where U.S. soldiers, including the late Sen. John McCain, were starved and tortured during the war. This year's concert will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the return of U.S. soldiers such as Harris, who were held prisoner during the war in Vietnam. More than 58,000 Americans lost their lives in the Vietnam War. Nearly 1,600 remain missing and unaccounted for from the war. Vietnam War POW Carlyle "Smitty" Harris of Tupelo and his wife Louise are pictured in this 2018 photo. Another segment of the show will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice in honor of the more than 36,000 Americans who lost their lives and the many veterans who fought in that war and were able to return home to their families. There also will be a World War II remembrance for the 16 million Americans in uniform who served, including the more than 400,000 who died and hundreds of thousands who were wounded. Concert hosts Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise will lead the program, which will include appearances by Trace Adkins, S. Epatha Merkerson, John Slattery, Dule Hill, Yolanda Adams, Mary McCormack, Jo Dee Messina, The War And Treaty, Chosen Jacobs, Phillip Phillips, Megan Hilty and the National Symphony Orchestra. The show will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, celebrating the nation's men and women in uniform and their families. We are proud to continue this national tradition on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol that brings us together as one family of Americans to support our heroes and remember the more than one million Americans who have given their lives for our country since the dawn of the republic, Capital Concerts Executive Producer Michael Colbert said in a news release. Hattiesburg area Memorial Day events 10 a.m. Friday: The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum will hold its annual program at the Camp Shelby-based facility. 8 a.m. Monday: The Commiskey-Wheat Marines Detachment 1073 will honor Medal of Honor recipients Henry Commiskey, Jack Lucas and Roy Wheat at Highland Cemetery, where Lucas and Commiskey are buried. Wheat is buried in Eastabuchie Cemetery. 10 a.m. Monday: The city of Hattiesburg's 40th annual Memorial Day program will be at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Hattiesburg. 10 a.m. Monday: The Laurel Veterans Memorial Museum will hold a time of remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge. This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Hattiesburg, Tupelo families will be honored at Memorial Day concert The unsolved murder of CBS News journalist George Polk in May 1948 has all the elements of a cover-up. The Fort Worth natives sudden disappearance from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, a few days before he was scheduled to return to the United States. The discovery of Polks body by a fisherman one week later. The coroners report which revealed someone shot Polk in the back of the head, bound his hands and feet with rope, and threw him into the Aegean Sea while still alive. Seventy-five years later, CBS White House correspondent Steven Portnoy investigates the mystery behind the newsmans murder. The three-hour documentary Who Killed George Polk? will air on radio stations nationwide over the Memorial Day weekend, according to a CBS news release. Our @CBSNewsRadio special, Who Killed George Polk? airs next weekend on radio stations nationwide, and Memorial Day from 6p-9pET on @SXMPOTUS Ch 124. pic.twitter.com/lCRateOMNm Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) May 18, 2023 Polk was covering the Greek Civil War at the time of his death. The Greek Communist Party was trying to gain control of the country, and the U.S. stepped in to provide millions of dollars in economic and military aid to the right-wing Greek government. Polk irritated both the U.S. and Greek government with his reporting protesting the Greek governments strong-arm tactics to silence dissension and insisting U.S. money would only serve to line the pockets of corrupt authorities. Polk said in his last letter to CBS official Edward Murrow that he wanted to report both sides of the civil war story. He was trying to arrange an interview with the leader of the Communist guerrillas the day he died. Story continues In Who Killed George Polk, Portnoy digs into CBS archives, interviews experts and talks to surviving members of Polks family, including a niece who still lives in Fort Worth. The documentary also cites formerly classified documents that detail how U.S. government officials actively sought to suppress doubts about the innocence of the only man to face trial in Polks killing, a Greek reporter who was tortured into making a false confession, CBS said in the release. Craig Swagler, the programs executive producer, said the documentary shows the important role a free press plays in democracies. Stevens incisive reporting is also timely, Swagler said in the press release. Never before have we seen threats with such frequency to reporters lives, both foreign and domestic, as they attempt to discover and report the truth. Who Killed George Polk? will air locally Monday on KRLD AM 1080 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. CDT. It will also post Friday on the CBS News website. By Farah Master HONG KONG (Reuters) -Cathay Pacific needs to address staff and resource shortages and raise pay to boost morale, its flight attendant union said, after three staff were fired for allegedly mocking passengers who could not speak English. A passenger on the CX987 flight from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu to Hong Kong on Sunday wrote in an online post that flight attendants had made fun of passengers for asking for a carpet instead of a blanket in English. The incident, which went viral on mainland Chinese social media platforms, prompted a torrent of criticism by Chinese state media and Hong Kong government officials including leader John Lee. "Nothing comes from nothing. The Union urges the company to address the problem at its root cause, rebuild a reasonable and safe work environment, and hence to improve employee morale," the union said in a statement late on Wednesday. It said it expressed deepest regret regarding the "recent unpleasant incident" and that Cathay's cabin crew members have always respected and treated all passengers from different countries equally. Following the COVID-19 pandemic the number of passengers has increased as flights resumed but frontline aviation workers are facing a shortage of both manpower and resources, a significant increase in workload and low salaries, it said. "The company ignores these problems, as a result the morale of colleagues is extremely low, and complaints regarding cabin service have arisen." Mandy Ng, Cathay's director for service delivery, said the carrier would continue to listen to and act upon feedback from its crew directly, adding that the union did not represent the company. "We want to make it clear that the company does not condone, support or agree with the flight attendants union's position on this matter." The carrier has apologised several times since the incident and CEO Ronald Lam said Cathay takes a "zero tolerance" approach to violations of company's rules and ethics. The passenger on CX987 on Sunday wrote that flight attendants complained about passengers amongst themselves in English and Cantonese. "If you cannot say blanket in English, you cannot have it ... Carpet is on the floor. Feel free if you want to lie on it," a flight attendant said, according to a recording that was circulated widely online. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the clip, which triggered criticism on social media. (Additional reporting by Jessie Pang and Twinnie Siu; Editing by Sonali Paul) Community members gather at Town Creek Community Center in Winnabow on Thursday, May 25, for a special-called meeting of the Classical Charter Schools of America Board of Trustees. After weeks of demanding change, parents and community members were disappointed Thursday when the Classical Charter Schools of America Board of Trustees opted to slightly change the wording of its grooming policy. The board met in a special-called meeting Thursday afternoon to finally respond to the ongoing controversy sparked in February when staff at the school's Leland location told the parents of a first-grade student that he would have to cut his hair to comply with the school's grooming policy. The student, Logan Lomboy -- a member of the Waccamaw Siouan tribe, one of eight state-recognized Native American tribes -- had been styling his long hair in a bun. The charter school's grooming policy states "distracting, extreme, radical, or faddish haircuts, hair styles, and colors are not allowed." Ashley Lomboy, Logan's mother, said school administration told her a manbun is considered a faddish hairstyle. Another part of the policy stated boys hair, specifically, "must be neatly trimmed and off the collar, above the eyebrows, not below the top of the ears or eyebrows, and not an excessive height." The 6-year-old's parents, as well as community members and the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, said the policy and demand were discriminatory and violated his religious freedoms. Ashley Lomboy said hair is an important part of their Native American heritage, holding religious and cultural significance. Logan Lomboy, a first-grader at Classical Charter Schools of Leland, was asked to cut his long hair to comply with the school's grooming policies. His mother says the alleged demand infringes on his religious and cultural rights. On Thursday, the school's board of trustees voted to change the wording in part of the policy -- changing the word "trimmed" to "clean." While the change would seemingly allow a male student to wear their hair up and off their collar, it does not clarify if that "manbun" style would violate the policy's prohibition of "faddish haircuts." "I'm glad that the school board decided to meet," Lomboy said following the meeting. "I think it was a step of acknowledging that there are some changes that need to be made but did not go far enough to make us feel welcomed at the school." Story continues Lomboy said the last few months have been "completely draining." "I wouldn't have thought that I would need to be fighting this hard to educate and to have my children and other children be included in a public school system," she said. Ashley Lomboy speaks following the Classical Charter Board of Trustees meeting on April 27, 2023. In March, the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina sent a letter to the school's board of trustees, claiming the policy and its enforcement discriminates against Logan and other Native American students. The ACLU claims enforcing hair rules for boys that prohibit them from wearing hairstyles that are allowed for girls also constitutes sex discrimination. Lomboy said she likely would not enroll Logan at the school for his second-grade year next fall. Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Leland charter school changes controversial hair policy Nichole Schmidt, mother of Gabby Petito, wipes tears during arguments at a hearing Wednesday at the South County Courthouse in Venice. A letter written by Roberta Laundrie to her late son Brian Laundrie can be used by the attorney for Gabby Petito's parents in preparation for their negligence lawsuit filed against Laundries parents and their New York-based attorney in their high-profile case involving Petito's death. Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Danielle Brewer declined to issue an order on Wednesday that would have restricted use of the letter in the case. The Laundries filed a motion in March to keep Roberta Laundrie's letter out of the case, saying she wrote it to her son during a difficult period in their relationship before a 2021 cross-country trip. Keep reading: New trial date set in Petito-Laundrie case for May 2024 after attorney added as defendant More: Gabby Petito's family awarded $3 million in wrongful death lawsuit against Brian Laundrie's estate Petito and Laundrie were engaged in July 2020 and a year later set off on a cross-country van trip starting in New York. During the trip, Petito stopped communicating with her family, whom she had contacted almost daily, which caused her family to become concerned. Petito was later found dead from blunt force trauma near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in September 2021. Laundrie returned home to Florida before disappearing. His remains were found Oct. 20, 2021, in Myakkahatcchee Creek Park in North Port. He died by suicide, leaving a note confessing to killing Petito. In an affidavit Roberta Laundrie said she used phrases and language in the letter stemming from the mother and son's love of stories, and that the letter wasn't meant to be read by anyone but her son, which is why she wrote "Burn After Reading" on the envelope. Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt stated in a response that Roberta Laundrie doesn't deny the letter was written and that it's undated, adding that the motion for a protective order to bar the letter from the case based on Roberta Laundrie's affidavit arguing the letter isn't relevant is flawed. Story continues Following a hearing Wednesday in Venice, Attorney Patrick Reilly, representing the parents of Gabby Petito, examines a photo copy of a letter he had just received, that Roberta Laundrie wrote to her son, Brian Laundrie. Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Danielle Brewer ruled the Petito should be able to use the letter in their lawsuit against the Laundries. "The affidavit is a self-serving document written by an adverse party, one with a bias and personal stake in the outcome, who seeks to withhold a key piece of evidence," the response states. Petito's parents said they haven't had the opportunity to question Roberta Laundrie about the letter and that it is up to a jury to evaluate the credibility of a witness. Additionally, while Petito's parents agree that the letter couldn't have caused them emotional distress since it wasn't published publicly, their claim against the Laundries is based on the Laundries' lawyer's statements made on their behalf. The letter also references a "shovel to help bury a body" and "baking a cake with a file" for Brian Laundrie if he went to prison. Petito's parents argued a reasonable inference could be that the letter was written at the time of Gabby Petito's murder. If a jury were to find the letter was written after the murder, it would be further proof the Laundries and their lawyer knew Gabby Petito was dead at the time the lawyer's statements were made, which are at the heart of the case, according to the Petito parents' court document. The bulk of a three-plus hour hearing Wednesday was taken up by arguments on a motion to dismiss a complaint that included Steven Bertolino, who represented the Laundries as part of the suit, based on public statements he made around the time a search was organized for Petito at Grand Teton National Park, and then when her remains were found a few days later. After hearing arguments from the Laundries' attorney, Matthew Luka, Bertolinos attorney Charles Meltz and attorney Patrick Reilly, representing Petito's parents, the judge postponed deciding the dismissal issue. She did the same for a motion to dismiss the overall case against Richard and Roberta Laundrie. Both Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt attended the hearing at the South Sarasota County Courthouse, while the Laundries did not. Only the three attorneys spoke at Wednesdays court proceeding. An unfortunate choice of words In early December, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt sought to change their original lawsuit against the Laundries to include two counts against Bertolino, who represented the Laundries at the time of Gabby Petito's disappearance and death. Brewer granted the motion in January. Bertolino argued that they had not established a "viable cause of action" against him as his alleged conduct and statements made on behalf of the Laundries in September 2021 were not outrageous. The two statements, made Sept. 14 and Sept. 19, were addressed to the public at large and not directly to Gabby Petito's parents, he contended. In his argument to protect the contents of Roberta Laundries letter, Luka reiterated his earlier contention that she wrote the letter prior to her sons departure on the cross-country trip. Her choice of words, in hindsight, are unfortunate but that doesnt mean the letter is relevant, Luka said. This was a private note between a mother and a son, they would be the only people who would know the circumstances of its creation." Attorney Matthew Luka, representing parents of Brian Laundrie, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, presents his argument for dismissal of the complaint against their attorney Steven Bertolino in court on Wednesday. The parents of Gabby Petito, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, have filed a negligence lawsuit against the Laundries. Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Danielle Brewer said she will issue her decision soon on the motion. He argued that the letter could cause Roberta Laundrie embarrassment. Luka later added that since Petitos parents had not seen the letter, it has never caused them any emotional distress, and had no connection to Bertolinos public statements. Reilly countered that a jury should decide when the letter was written and it was significant because it was in her handwriting. Brewer asked about a middle ground, where she could issue a protective order that did not bar Reillys use in discovery but prevented its dissemination. Luka at first said that could work but later added that the most damaging aspects of its contests had been mentioned in an open hearing, Attorney Patrick Reilly, representing Gabby Petito's parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, hold up two children's books that Roberta Laundrie's attorneys say were referenced in a letter Roberta wrote to her son, Brian Laundrie. Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Danielle Brewer ruled against the protection order the Laundries were seeking to prevent to the letter from being subject to discovery in the case. The argument to have Bertolino removed as a defendant from the case was based on the assertion that he was making a public statement on behalf of his clients. Meltz also argued that Petitos parents were already subject to a level of distress that predates any conduct of Mr. Bertolino in this case. Luka contended that Bertolino was acting both as the Laundries attorney and their spokesman. Had they just kept quiet, we wouldnt be here, he said. Instead, he alleged, Bertolinos statements on his clients behalf were subjectively interpreted as a statement of hope that subsequently caused further emotional distress. The case is expected to go to trial in May 2024 after being pushed back two months ago. Court documents indicate that a mediation deadline is set for March 22, 2024. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Judge rules letter written by Roberta Laundrie can be used in lawsuit VIOLET TOWNSHIP Local farmer David Brandt was an agricultural advocate who stood up for soil conservation. That's how Ohio State University Extension office program assistant Stan Smith described him. Brandt was killed in a motor vehicle crash in Illinois last weekend. Smith said Brandt was on a trip selling seed when he died. The two knew each other for about 50 years since Brandt came back from the military in the early 1970s. Dave Brandt Brandt was also known for the meme of him saying about farming, "It ain't much, but it's honest work." Smith said he didn't know exactly how the meme started, but that Brandt was known for it. Brandt was a Marine Corps veteran who saw combat in Vietnam before coming home to take over the family farm in the early 1970s, according to an online biography. As agriculture in the Midwest became increasingly mechanized and chemical-dependent, Brandt took a different approach. He began no-till farming which involves planting cover crops like hairy vetch or cereal rye, and fostering habitat for invertebrates to promote soil health in 1971. He was the longest-term, no-till farmer in Ohio, according to Understanding Ag, a sustainable farming consulting firm that he helped found. "He spent a lot of time while he was farming advocating for no-till, reduced tillage of the planting process of corn and soybeans and those types of crops," Smith said. "And also, he was an advocate for using cover crops at times when crops like corn and soybeans weren't actively growing." He said farmers plant cover crops in the off-season to keep the soil active before the spring planting season returns. "He was a big proponent of that and he was throughout his lifetime," Smith said. "Not just an advocate for doing it, but he was in a place where he worked with different entities to promote the use of cover crops. He had an affiliation with some folks that advocated for that and he was a spokesperson for the use of cover crops." Story continues The meme that Brandt became Internet-famous for. He said Brandt didn't deviate from his advocacy throughout his life. "He was a very strong proponent of those management practices and worked real hard to make them work," Smith said. "And sharing his knowledge of them with others." Columbus Dispatch reporter Peter Gill contributed to this story. jbarron@gannett.com 740-681-4340 Twitter: @JeffDBarron This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Long-time farming advocate David Brandt dies in Illinois vehicle crash Prosecutors contend Nicole Jones' body was thrown in a dumpster and ended up in a Michigan landfill as search efforts for the missing Toledo-area woman continue. "We believe we know where she is. The efforts to try and retrieve her body are ongoing," said Andy Lastra, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, on Monday. Kaitlyn Coones, 17, a runaway teen living in a foster home in Canton, has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence in the death of the 53-year-old woman from Sylvania Township, a suburb of Toledo. From Canton to Mexico: What to know about the search for Kaitlyn Coones & Jonathan Jones Coones was arraigned last week in Lucas County Juvenile Court on the charges. Lastra said they are looking to try the teenager as an adult. She remains in a juvenile detention center in Toledo. Ankle monitor stayed active Nicole Jones is the mother of 33-year-old Jonathan R. Jones, a fugitive found in Mexico with Coones after a national manhunt earlier this month, investigators said. Her body has not been found and the manner of her death has not be released. "She was placed in a dumpster by these two," Lastra said, adding there are no other victims. Deputy Chief Jim Rettig of Sylvania Township Police Department on Friday said the homicide case remains under investigation. He did not release any details on Nicole Jones' slaying. Her son Jonathan Jones remains in an El Paso, Texas, detention facility, where he awaits extradition back to Ohio. He was awaiting sentencing on May 4 in another criminal case in Wood County when he skipped town with Coones. Jones and Coones, last seen in his mother's car, were found in Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico, on May 6 after an international manhunt. Lastra said Jones never disarmed an ankle monitor he was wearing, which helped authorities track the two. "(Jones) will be brought back in the next couple of weeks," said Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn wrote in an email. Story continues Coones returns to court June 1 Coones, considered a missing juvenile at that time, was brought back to Ohio. The case took a turn on May 13 when charges were filed against her in the Lucas County homicide and for a juvenile count of felony obstruction in Stark County. Police in Canton alleged Coones misled investigators during their search. She was initially booked into the Multi-County Juvenile Attention Center in Canton Township. She was moved to Lucas County on Wednesday, appearing in a Lucas County juvenile courtroom on Thursday. Her next court date is June 1. Lastra said the case is currently going through the juvenile court system. It will move to adult criminal court if she's tried as an adult. Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP This article originally appeared on The Repository: Prosecutors: Nicole Jones' body in landfill, Kaitlyn Coones charged Dana Rynk, a Mecklenburg County Public Health nurse, prepares a needle with the monkeypox vaccine at a vaccination clinic in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. Before the appearance of COVID-19, most parents may not have thought much about pandemics and their effects on our personal and public health. But consider this: Even as society learns to live with this new coronavirus, other infections have been creeping into the headlines, including measles, mpox (previously called monkeypox) and Marburg virus disease. Medical providers and the community alike are asking: "Are we seeing more emerging infections? And what can we do to stop future outbreaks?" Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic can be applied to other infectious threats: Stay home from work, school, or daycare when sick. A mild respiratory infection for you or your child, even if not COVID-19, can be a life-threatening illness for someone else. Keep vaccines up to date. Vaccination is a cornerstone for preventing infectious outbreaks. Consider participating in a vaccine trial to help advance the science. In higher-risk settings like a medical waiting room or an airplane, wear a face mask especially during surges of different infections. Louis, 7, gets a COVID-19 vaccine at a Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center clinic. What is contributing to these infectious outbreaks? Early in the pandemic, many families were unable to easily access preventive medical care. Childhood vaccines essential to preventing outbreaks were delayed by some families. And with rampant misinformation online about vaccine safety and efficacy, others became hesitant to proceed with previously well-accepted immunizations. For example, measles vaccination rates in Ohio kindergartners dropped from 96.2% in 2014 to 89.6% in 2021, which is below the 95% uptake required for herd immunity and prevention of outbreaks. This has been reflected by three unrelated measles clusters in unvaccinated individuals in the Akron and Columbus areas of Ohio as well as Jessamine County in Kentucky over the past year. Dozens of children got so sick they had to be hospitalized with an infection that can be prevented with a vaccine! The good news is technological advances amid the COVID-19 pandemic led to improvement in identification and monitoring of outbreaks. For example, scientists have implemented wastewater monitoring for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which gives us an early signal for when we might see surges in COVID-19 infections. Enhanced surveillance will result in more reports of outbreaks like polio detected in New York waterways in 2022. Early detection can identify and stop outbreaks before they become widespread. Story continues The pandemic emergency is over. What does that mean for hands and elbows, vaccines, more? As the world population grows, humans and nature interact more and that provides opportunities for pathogens to jump from animals to people and cause new infections. Deforestation forces animals into urban settings. Urbanization can overcrowd neighborhoods, and as a result viruses and bacteria spread more easily. The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa in 2014-16 was likely widespread because people lived in cities with poor sanitation, which amplified transmission. Continued expansion of air travel brings new infections to other parts of the world in a few hours. The mpox outbreak of 2022 spread to 110 countries within weeks as travelers to endemic regions brought the virus home. Temperature instability from climate change allows pathogens to spread geographically. Lyme disease, a tickborne infection, used to be rare in southern Ohio but has been rising since the 1990s as fewer ticks die during our increasingly warm winters. While infectious outbreaks are occurring more frequently based on factors such as climate change, decreased vaccination rates, and globalization, how much that impacts Cincinnatians will be variable. Experts suggest we will experience other emerging or reemerging infections in our community during our lifetimes, but those might not be as largescale as the COVID-19 pandemic. As parents, we can protect our families by keeping kids home when sick, ensuring they get vaccinated, and reminding them to wash their hands. Dr. Felicia Scaggs Huang, a pediatrician, is Cincinnati Childrens director for Infection Prevention & Control. Felicia Scaggs Huang This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Drop in vaccinations related to more infectious outbreaks | Opinion Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It is observed the last Monday of May and falls this year on May 29. The holiday originally was known as Decoration Day in the years following the Civil War, which claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and led to the first national cemeteries. Americans in various communities began holding tributes to fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers.In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday. Many Americans today observe the holiday by visiting cemeteries or memorials, and local veterans' groups around the Mid-Valley host patriotic programs. F-15 Eagle fighter jets from the Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Wing are scheduled to conduct flyovers for ceremonies at locations throughout northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, including Mt. Angel's Calvary Cemetery at or around 10:53 a.m., Salem's City View Cemetery at or around 11:20 a.m. and Silverton's Paradis Vineyards at or around 11:22 a.m. Here are some events around the Mid-Valley that recognize the day: Oregon World War II Memorial, Salem The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs is hosting the annual statewide Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Oregon World War II Memorial on the corner of Court and Cottage streets NE near the State Capitol. The program will include guest speakers who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, with special remembrance for the fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, airwomen, Marines and Coast Guard members who did not return home to Oregon. This year observes the 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. The ceremony also will include a color guard ceremony, the national anthem, and the laying of a wreath followed by the playing of "Taps." Limited seating will be available. Attendees are welcome to bring their own seating. The event will also be live streamed on ODVA's Facebook page, facebook.com/odvavet. Story continues City View Cemetery, Salem The Greater Salem Area Veterans Organization sponsors an annual program at City View Cemetery, 390 Hoyt St. S. The 11 a.m. event includes speakers, a wreath presentation, special music, bagpipes and an echo 21-gun salute. The cemetery features the Avenue of Flags display during the weekend. The more than 200 flags were donated by veterans' families and also line the cemetery roads on Flag Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day. Dallas Cemetery American Legion Post 20 hosts its annual Avenue of Flags ceremony at noon at Dallas Cemetery, 2065 SW Fairview Ave. About 800 American flags line the quiet lanes of the cemetery for about a week each year leading up to and after Memorial Day. Each is marked with a deceased veteran's name and donated by the veteran's family. Organizers report 34 new "fallen warriors" added since last year, bringing this year's total of flags to 821. Several individuals will speak during the ceremony, with seating for about 300 people. American Legion and Auxiliary members will lead traditional tributes, including presenting the colors, folding the flag and playing "Taps." The Dallas High School choir will also perform. Nearly 800 flags in memory of fallen service members are displayed throughout Dallas Cemetery each Memorial Day. Calvary Cemetery, Mt. Angel American Legion Post 89 hosts its annual ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery, 1015 N. Main St. Activities include a patriotic music concert by the Marion County Citizens Band; veterans' march and presentation of colors; celebration of Mass and liturgical music by St. Mary Catholic Parish; POW/MIA remembrance; reading the names of the fallen; placement of memorial wreath; three-volley salute by the Legion Honor Guard; and sounding of "Taps." Attendees are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. In the event of inclement weather, the service will take place in St. Mary Church. Military flyovers, Oregon F-15 Eagle fighter jets from the 142nd Wing are scheduled to conduct Memorial Day flyovers at nine locations in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. All passes will be approximately 1,000 feet above ground level and about 400 mph airspeed. Flights could be canceled or times changed due to inclement weather or operational contingencies. The designated times and locations, according to a press release from the Oregon Military Department, are: 10:45 a.m. Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. 10:49 a.m. Mountain View Cemetery, Oregon City. 10:53 a.m. Calvary Cemetery, Mt. Angel. 11 a.m. North Plains Veterans Park, North Plains. 11:10 a.m. Veterans Memorial Park, Beaverton. 11:14 a.m. Forest View Cemetery, Forest Grove. 11:20 a.m. City View Cemetery, Salem. 11:22 a.m. Paradis Vineyards, Silverton. 11:30 a.m. Touchmark Home Health & Home Care, Vancouver, Wash. Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6710. Follow her work on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Memorial Day: Where to go to honor fallen in Salem, Oregon A 21-gun salute was carried out during the Monroe Street Bridge ceremony that followed the Memorial Day Parade in downtown Monroe in 2018. This year's Monroe Memorial Day Parade is Monday. Several parades and services will take place Monday, Memorial Day. Monroe Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will host its annual Memorial Day parade through downtown Monroe at 2 p.m. Monday. Lineup will begin at 1 p.m. at the city of Monroes Department of Public Services building on Jones Avenue. The parade will travel north on Monroe Street. Monroe Street will be closed from Jones to Elm avenues from approximately 2 to 3 p.m. The parade will stop at the Monroe Street Bridge for a brief ceremony and rifle volley to honor those who died at sea. Monroe Post 1138, VFW, also is hosting several Memorial Day services on Monday. A sunrise memorial ceremony will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Heck Park/Vietnam Memorial Park. A memorial service will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Monroe Post 1138, VFW hall on Jones Avenue. The posts Ritual Team will then split up and conduct services at several cemeteries and other locations. Services will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery, the Old Burial Ground, Kentucky Cemetery and Woodlawn Cemetery. Services will begin at 10 a.m. at LaSalle Cemetery and at 10:30 a.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle. A service at Veterans Park will start at 11:45 a.m. Erie Gawecki Sancrant Members of Erie Post 3925, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and its auxiliary will hold a Memorial Day service at Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle Monday morning followed by a community picnic at the post home in Erie. The public is invited to both events. The service will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the graves of Edward Finley Sr. and Edward Finley Jr. located near the white marble monument to veterans at the northwest corner of the cemetery. Tom Sancrant, post commander, will lead the traditional ceremony of members placing floral tributes, reading of prayers, holding a rifle salute and the playing of taps. Tom Merce will lead the ritual team, and Dan Dusseau, president of the auxiliary, will place a tribute as part of the joint service. Story continues Edward Finley Sr. was an Army prisoner of war during World War II after being captured at the Battle of Bulge, said his grandson, Bryan Gawecki, a Marine Corps veteran, post member and chairman of the service. Finley served in the infantry and earned multiple commendations for his service, including two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a POW medal. Edward Finley Jr. served as an Army helicopter medic and served four different tours in the Vietnam War, Gawecki said. His uncle earned a Good Conduct Medal and Vietnam Service Medal with four stars. Gawecki, 48, also serves on the State VFW Honor Guard and as district adjutant. After the service, participants and citizens are invited back to the post at 1944 Erie Road for a potluck luncheon, social and live music from noon to 4 p.m. with eating inside or outside on the covered patio. Visitors are asked to bring a dish to pass. David Toepfer, a post member, will grill hot dogs, and music will be provided by Muzical Mayhem, Celestial Blues and guitarists Greg Hayes and Curt Wolf and son. Instructors from Guitars for Veterans in Ann Arbor also will give free lessons. Jamie Paxton, an Air Force veteran and member of the post, will bring ponies from the Little Blessings Farm in Ottawa Lake to provide pony rides for children. She is director of the farm. Flat Rock The annual Memorial Day parade will take place Monday in Flat Rock. The event, hosted by the Flat Rock American Legion post, will begin at 10 a.m. at the post home, 28614 Division St. The parade will proceed along Gibraltar Road to the Veterans Memorial at Flat Rock City Hall, Gibraltar Road at Evergreen Street. Children are encouraged to decorate their bicycles and ride in the parade. Cindy Treharne, a lifelong Dundee resident and member of the Military Moms, pulls her granddaughter, Brooklynn, then 4, while some of her other grandchildren walk along during the annual Memorial Day Parade through downtown Dundee in 2019. Dundees Memorial Day Parade is Monday. Dundee Dundee Veterans Memorial Corporation will hold its annual Memorial Day observance at 10 a.m. Monday at Wolverine Park, behind the Old Mill Museum. The parade to the park will form at the Dundee High School parking lot and proceed to Wolverine Park, via Barnum Street. Everyone is welcome to participate in the parade and should be at the school by 9:30 a.m. The parade will begin at 9:45 a.m. Our program at Wolverine Park will pay tribute to those who have given their lives while serving in the armed forces of our nation, Larry Cymbola, commander of Post 6462, Veterans of Foreign Wars, said. The Dundee High School Marching Band will take part in the ceremony. Cymbola will offer the welcome at the park. The guest speaker is Navy Cmdr. Mickey Ellison. He will reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day and pay tribute to those who lost their lives while serving in the military, Cymbola said. The colors also will be presented. The DHS band will play the national anthem and the Navy Hymn. The Legion Auxiliary to Post 72, American Legion, will offer a tribute to those buried at sea. Lucy Gerber will read the opening and closing poems. Ed Chirmira will give the opening and closing prayers. A firing squad salute will begin when the wreath hits the river. Taps will be played after the third rifle volley is fired. After the ceremony, the Veterans Honor Guard will be go to Oak Grove, Maple Grove, Leib and Azalia cemeteries to conduct services. The Veterans Club will hold an open house at 1 p.m. at Veterans Hall. Festivities will begin with a tribute to POW/MIAs. An open house will follow. The public is welcome. Monday's events are offered by Post 6462, VFW; Post 72, AL; Post 42, Disabled American Veterans; and Post 72, Sons of the American Legion. Milan American Legion Post 268 in Milan is holding a Memorial Day ceremony and parade Monday at Marble Park Cemetery. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and will include an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the American Heritage Girls. The Milan High School Band will sing the national anthem. Andrew Cummings, first vice chair of the legion, will give opening comments and serve as the event's emcee. The ceremony's guest speaker will be John R. Racon, retired Army colonel. Cummings will read the names, branches and ranks of Milan residents who died this year. A memorial bell will be rung for each person. Bells also will be rung for POW/MIAs. Members of the American Legion Auxiliary will place a wreath at the memorial. The American Legion Rifle Detail will give a 21-gun salute, and the Milan High School Band will play taps. A parade will then travel to the Wilson Park's Milan Veterans Wall for a ceremony. Carrying the flag in the parade will be Angela Jaworski, who was elected American Legion commander May 17. She is the first female commander of the post. Jaworski served in the Army from 1988-90. The parade grand marshals are Rick Wilson and Tom Publiski. The American Heritage Girls will again lead the Pledge of Allegiance and the MHS Band will sing the national anthem. The American Legion Auxiliary will place a wreath at the wall and then go across the street to place a wreath on Ford Lake. The MHS Band will play the service songs of all military branches. The American Heritage Girls will sing "God Bless America." Mackenzie (left), then 6, and Grayson Rule, then 8, both of Monroe, show their patriotism during the 2019 Memorial Day Parade in Monroe. Carleton The annual Carleton Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday. The parade will step off from Monroe Street, near Tiffanys Pizza, and will end at Carleton Cemetery, Ash Street, where a ceremony will take place. Participating will be the Airport High School Marching Band, Boy Scouts, Carleton Police, Ash Township Fire Department and a color guard from Carleton Post 4093, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The annual Memorial Day service will follow at Carleton Cemetery. The guest speaker will be Laszlo Szalay of Brighton, a retired Navy SEAL. Arnold Lewandowski, Carleton Post 4093, VFW commander, will be the master of ceremony. After the ceremony, the community is invited to the post home for a meal of hot dogs and drinks. A live band will play patriotic music, starting at 1 p.m. Mass in Monroe A Memorial Day Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Monday in the mausoleum at St. Joseph Cemetery, 909 N. Monroe St. A ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Catholic Mass will honor fallen soldiers. The Rev. David Burgard from Sts. Mary and John Catholic churches will preside. We will come together to pray for the souls of the departed and offer our gratitude for their service and sacrifice, the cemetery said in a written release. Free flowers and flags will be available. All are welcome. Dean Cousino contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Memorial Day parades, services set for Monroe County HAMPTON BEACH At 3:15 a.m. on June 3, 1969, two New Hampshire natives were lost at sea along with 72 of their shipmates in a tragic accident. The USS Frank E. Evans was cut in half by an Australian aircraft carrier during naval exercises in the South China Sea. Fifty-four years later, at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, their names, Radarman Second Class Ronald Thibodeau and Quartermaster Third Class Gary Vigue, will be added to the New Hampshire Marine Memorial at Hampton Beach. Known locally as the Lady of the Sea, the monument holds the names of 291 military men whose bodies were never recovered after being lost at sea. We hope the public will join us to honor these two U.S. Navy sailors, said American Legion Post 35 Commander Berk Bennett. I read two books on what happened. It was a terrible tragedy. Two New Hampshire natives were lost at sea in a tragic accident when the USS Frank E. Evans was cut in half by an Australian aircraft carrier during naval exercises in the South China Sea in 1969. Born in Manchester, Thibodeaus family had moved to California by 1969. Vigue was born nearby in Dover, graduating from Farmington High School. Both men were in the bow of the destroyer when it sank after the collision. Both were married and both left behind young children. Thibodeaus son, Tim Wendler, is coming from California to speak at the ceremony, Bennett said, and other members of the two families are also expected to attend. The story of the USS Frank E. Evans The ship was commissioned in February 1945, serving in World War II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War. In 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans, according to published reports, had just left the gun line off Vietnam before she engaged in her final mission. We were out of bullets and out of supplies, said Terry Vejr, an Evans survivor. We put into the Philippines to replenish our stores, and were ordered to take part in the Operation Sea Spirit exercises. The destroyer joined the naval exercises along with dozens of other ships from South East Asia Treaty Organization nations. Ronald Thibodeau The Evans was in escort to the Australian light aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, Vejr said, and with other ships was engaged in anti-submarine training exercises. In the early morning hours of June 3, at around 3 a.m., intending to launch aircraft, the Melbourne instructed the Evans to take a new position, or escort station. Story continues According to Bennett, a former Navy pilot, the Evans intended to move behind the Melbourne, in position to rescue pilots from the sea on the carrier. However, there was confusion on the Evans bridge as to the ships position in relation to the Melbourne. That resulted in the Evans, according to reports, heading starboard (to the right), turning towards the carriers bow. The Melbourne warned the destroyer and took evasive action, but the Evans course put her in front of the Melbournes bow. Gary Vigue By 3:15 a.m., the aircraft carrier hit the smaller destroyer, Vejr said, slicing it in two. The bow sank in three minutes and 74 of the 273 crew were lost, most trapped below deck in their berths. The Melbourne stopped immediately, Vejr said, and crews from both ships lashed the Evans floating stern to the aircraft carrier, while others rescued sailors from the sea. The Melbournes crew threw cargo nets and ladders over the side, so we could evacuate, Vejr said, It was a long way up. I didnt know if I could make it. Simultaneously, life rafts were launched and helicopters searched the seas, Vejr said. Some Melbourne sailors dove off the aircraft carrier to rescue Evans mates swimming nearby, he said. According to published reports, all survivors were rescued within half an hour, but the search continued for 15 hours. I survived because I was on watch on deck in the stern after-steering room, Vejr said. As horrible as the collision was, a strong bond developed between these seafarers from two nations, Vejr said, and before the Americans were transferred to the USS Kearsarge for the trip home, the Evans captain pulled his crew together to give three cheers, for the Australians, whod worked to save their lives. Controversy haunts the crew of the USS Frank E. Evans Decades after the 1969 collision, however, a Department of Defense rule added insult to injury for the men of the Evans. DOD determined the names of the Lost 74" wouldnt be on the Vietnam War Memorial because they were outside the combat zone when they died. The ruling was devastating, Vejr said, for his shipmates had served during the Vietnam War era, fought in Vietnam waters before the sea exercises and expected to return there afterwards. Every other American ship involved in Operation Sea Spirit returned to the Vietnam combat zone, Vejr said. Im sure we would have, too. Two New Hampshire natives were lost at sea in a tragic accident when the USS Frank E. Evans was cut in half by an Australian aircraft carrier during naval exercises in the South China Sea in 1969. Bennett said the issue stems from the fact the Evans sank 225 miles from the Vietnam coast, which was 125 miles outside the DODs designated Vietnam combat zone. 2019 story: Fighting for the Lost 74: Movement seeks add sailors lost aboard USS Evans in 1969 to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vejr said the USS Frank E. Evans Association works to change the DOD combat zone requirement so the Lost 74" can be added to the Vietnam Wall. Annually, the association asks Congress to pass a bill to that effect, he said. So far, however, the bills have failed. To memorialize their shipmates, the association works to establish memorials in their home states. Remembered forever on Lady of the Sea Oddly, it is the bond created between the two crews five decades ago that led indirectly to Thibodeaus and Vigues names being added to the Lady of the Sea. That and a Granite State Navy veteran. The crews have annual reunions; last years was in Portland, Maine, Vejr said. We were sitting in the lounge of the hotel, all wearing our Frank E. Evans hats, and a man named Rob Biron walked over to ask us why we were there. I was on a ship in the Indian Ocean during the Persian Gulf War, said Biron, a lieutenant with the Manchester Fire Department. We have reunions, too, but they had an amazing turnout. Known locally as the Lady of the Sea, the monument holds the names of 291 military men whose bodies were never recovered after being lost at sea. Biron said the story of the Evans sinking was horrible, and when he heard the sailors who died werent on the Vietnam Wall, he was outraged and wanted to help. Although he didnt have luck on a federal level, after many, many, many calls, he was able to touch base with Hamptons American Legion Post 35, resulting in a successful outcome in New Hampshire. If it hadnt been for that reunion and Rob, this never would be happening, said Vejr, whos attending the June 3 ceremony along with Biron. We thank them for bringing this to our attention, Bennett said. We are very glad to be able to get these names on the monument, so theyll be remembered forever. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Two NH natives lost at sea to be added to Hampton Beach monument WASHINGTON One man's loss is another man's gain. Or so GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson hopes. Sitting in a Washington, D.C. cafe the morning after Ron DeSantis launched his 2024 bid, Hutchinson calls attention to the Florida governor's "faltering" poll numbers and "rocky" entry into the Republican presidential primary. "He's dropped significantly. He has actually encouraged others to look at the race," Hutchinson said of his newest opponent in an interview with USA TODAY. "It's wide open, in terms of who's really going to be the next best alternative to Donald Trump as a nominee." Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is surrounded by family members after formally announcing his Republican campaign for president, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Bentonville, Ark. Hutchinson is in the low single digits in national polling. But then again, most of the rest of the field is, too. Only Trump and DeSantis have significant support in the presidential primary that could prove to be unusually volatile. A month after joining the race, Hutchinson sees a wide-open contest with an undeveloped field in which he could still attract surprise competition. The former Arkansas governor said he has the funds he needs to place well enough in the early voting states and remain in the race until Super Tuesday, where he'll be on more fertile ground. "It's not a two-man race," Hutchinson said. DeSantis has seen his support collapse over the last two months, dropping from 33 percent in late March in a Quinnipiac University poll to 25 percent on the day he launched his campaign in a glitch-filled, audio-only conversation on Twitter with proprietor Elon Musk. Trump has been the beneficiary of the Republican's demise in polling. He improved his standing in the Quinnipiac poll by nine points to 56%. The survey had him winning 47 percent of potential Republican primary voters before. Technical difficulty: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential announcement on Twitter plagued by problems Hutchinson said he believes Trump's numbers are inflated and could subside. Trump's support was lower in November, immediately after the midterms, when he was being blamed for costing Republicans seats in Congress. Story continues Trump's backing in surveys of GOP voters increased after a grand jury indicted him in New York. "People perceived him as being picked on and being the victim and so his numbers go up. I think that's evidence that they're artificially high. We will see. But I think that is an indication of it," Hutchinson said. Hutchinson will have an opportunity to test his theory next month in Georgia where Trump is under investigation for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. Both men are scheduled to appear at the Georgia Republican Party's convention in June. He said he does not intend to lead with criticisms of Trump over his conduct before and after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol but will not shy away from stating his opinion if asked for it by a voter during the campaign visit. "I think we make a mistake whenever we make that the definitive issue," Hutchinson said. "It is very important, and candidates need to be honest about that, but voters might come to different conclusions on that. I will disagree with them on that but they might agree with me on 80% of the other issues, and they actually want to focus on problems, too." Hutchinson said that in the same way he believes Trump is hyper-focused on the past, it would be an error for him to spend too much time reflecting on the former president's 2020 election loss. It's a politically-calculated distinction the Republican, who is trying to win over a primary electorate that agrees with Trump, is attempting to make without costing himself support down the line from Trump-hating moderates. Taking on Trump: GOP ex-Gov. Asa Hutchinson jumps into 2024 presidential race, brands himself 'non-Trump' candidate GOP field comes into focus heading into 2024 election The former Homeland Security and Drug Enforcement Administration official would rather fight Trump and DeSantis in the policy arena, especially when it comes to foreign policy. "I would have never called it a territorial dispute," he said, referring a comment DeSantis made about Russia's war in Ukraine. "I would never give that response. It's wrong." Turning to Trump, who declined to say in a town hall whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war, Hutchinson said, "Whenever he talks about spending too much there, I mean, he clearly has a more isolationist view of America. And I think that's the wrong direction for us." DeSantis' remarks on Ukraine, which he later amended, preceded a steep dropoff in support. With announced and unannounced candidates such as Hutchinson, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence failing to take off in the wake of the comments and Trump's legal challenges, Republican politicians from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have signaled renewed interest in competing for the GOP nomination. The addition of more candidates to the race could make it harder for any one of them to consolidate support and topple Trump. Hutchinson said that in his view, it's time to move to the "second stage" of the competition, where the policy differences between candidates come into focus. "And you know, as a candidate, I hope they all make the decision that they shouldn't get in," Hutchinson said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republican Asa Hutchison knocks 2024 rival Ron DeSantis' rocky rollout New York City Mayor Eric Adams plan to address retail theft, unveiled last week, will combine increased law enforcement efforts with expanded social service programming and resources. Retail theft complaints in the nations most populous city rose 45 percent last year, according to data from New York Citys Retail Theft Report. Compared to five years ago, complaints are up 77 percent. More from Sourcing Journal Last year alone, 327 repeat offenders were responsible for 30 percent of the more than 22,000 retail thefts across our city, Adams said in a statement. This hurt our businesses, our workers, our customers, and our city. This plan will help us invest in diversion programs and in underlying factors leading to retail theft, works upstream to stop some of the factors leading to a crime before one takes place, trains retail workers in de-escalation tactics and security best practices, and takes numerous actions to increase necessary enforcement against repeat shoplifters and deter organized crime rings perpetrating these thefts. Most importantly, this plan aims to reassure our store owners that we know they are essential to our city, and we have their backs. Cities across the United States have witnessed increased retail thefts since the pandemic. Last week, police in Franklin, Tenn., stopped two women who had walked out of a Kohls store with nearly $15,000 in makeup and other merchandise hidden under their skirts, a local Fox station reported. Officers found an additional $19,500 in merchandise from other Kohls locations in their cars. In Blue Springs, Mo., local police conducted an operation with extra loss prevention officers last week that resulted in 24 shoplifting arrests and 12 warrant arrests, recovering nearly $4,000 in property and solving open cases with more than $10,000 in loss. Earlier this month, two assailants sent a Los Angeles clothing store owner to the hospital. The suspects only stole what was on the owner, an ABC affiliate reported. In Boise, Idaho, IdahoNews reported last week that retail thefts in the first quarter rose for the third year in a row, though they remain well below pre-pandemic 2019 and 2020 numbers. Story continues Retailers are citing the increase in thefts as they announce store closures in city centers. Earlier this month, Nordstrom announced it would close its last two San Francisco stores considering the dynamic of the downtown San Francisco market. A joint statement released by the Westfield mall, the site of Nordstroms San Francisco anchor location, blamed shoplifting and deviant customer behavior specifically. In April REI Co-op said it would close its only Portland, Ore., store in February due to a wave of break-ins and thefts. Last week, Target said it expected shrink to reduce this years profitability by more than $500 million compared to last year. While there are many potential sources of inventory shrink, theft and organized retail crime are increasingly important drivers of the issue, CEO and chair Brian Cornell said. This past weekend, a state trooper arrested a Delaware woman for attempting to stealwith the help of another woman who escapedmerchandise valued at more than $2,300. Across the country, in San Ramon, Calif., police arrested a man who they determined stole more than $3,000 in merchandise from a local Target, a CBS News affiliate reported last week. In New York City, Adams plan will create a Precision Repeat Offender Program (PROP) in which retailers can submit security incident reports to the New York Police Department to identify and track repeat offenders and facilitate stronger prosecutions, the Mayors Office said. It will establish a neighborhood retail watch for businesses located near each other for sharing real-time intelligence with each other and law enforcement in the event of a theft. The city will also advocate at the state and federal level for additional online authentication procedures to build upon the federal Integrity, Notification and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces (INFORM) for Consumers Act, which goes into effect in June. Additionally, the plan will establish a New York City Organized Retail Theft Task Force comprised of retailers, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to respond to retail theft trends. The plan includes several prevention and intervention strategies as well. It establishes two diversion programsSecond Chance, and Re-Engaging Store Theft Offenders and Retail Establishments (RESTORE)that allow non-violent offenders to avoid prosecution or incarceration by engaging with services to help address underlying factors that lead to shoplifting. It also introduces an employee support program to train retail workers in de-escalation tactics, anti-theft tools and security best practices. The city intends to install resource kiosks in stores to connect individuals with government resources and social services, as well. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg noted that he has seen encouraging news this year with retail theft beginning to decline in Manhattan for the first time since the pandemic. Year to date, petit larcenies are down 8 percent and robberies down 5 percent. In the first quarter, retail theft complaints fell 11 percent year over year. While we have more work to do, we believe our partnership with the NYPD and mayors office, and 5-point plan developed with the Small Business Alliance, is beginning to turn the tide, Bragg said in a statement. Click here to read the full article. By Mimosa Spencer PARIS (Reuters) - Chanel sales in the United States, one of the luxury label's top three markets, have slowed to a single-digit growth rate over the past six months, it said on Thursday, adding to evidence that the post-pandemic spending splurge in the country has tapered off. "Clearly the trend has softened since November," Chanel's chief financial officer Philippe Blondiaux said of U.S. sales, adding that the U.S. market had enjoyed double-digit growth in 2022 but without providing a precise figure. The increase of sales with Chinese shoppers, in mainland China and as they resume travelling, is "more than enough to compensate the temporary softness in the U.S.," said Blondiaux. Known for its tweed suits, quilted handbags and No.5 perfume, the privately held brand - the world's second biggest beyond Louis Vuitton - makes 50% of its sales in Asia. It did not break down the proportion of U.S. sales, which accounted for 27% of revenues last year at rival LVMH and Kering, and 18% at Hermes. Leading luxury stocks in Europe dropped to seven-week lows this week, a selloff prompted by concerns about the U.S. market, where younger and more aspirational shoppers are holding off on luxury purchases due to a rising cost of living and economic uncertainty. "This Q2, ongoing sluggishness in the U.S. market is shaping up to be the key focus point," analysts at HSBC said in a note on Thursday, after hosting a luxury conference with 21 companies in Paris. Most of the companies said U.S. trends had not improved since the first quarter, while some signalled "somewhat of a deterioration," the analysts said. Blondiaux said Chanel was continuing to invest in the United States, where it recently opened a new store on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles and sponsored the Karl Lagerfeld exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The company, which has over 32,000 employees, plans to accelerate hiring this year, growing headcount by around 16% after an increase of 12% in 2022, with the bulk of new positions in retail networks. Chanel is also expanding its global headquarters in London, where it moved from New York in 2018. Many luxury brands are moving further upmarket and catering to their wealthiest clients who are more immune to economic turbulence. Chanel, which increased prices aggressively throughout the pandemic, said it is also focusing on younger consumers as it invests in stores and digital tools, including ones for trying on jewelry virtually. "We are seeing younger consumers and we want to make sure we are supporting them in a way when you see the reasons for why the young are buying, they buy less and buy better, they buy to invest," said chief executive officer Leena Nair, a former Unilever executive, who took the helm in January 2022. The group, owned by French billionaire brothers Alain Wertheimer and Gerard Wertheimer, posted $17.2 billion in sales 2022, a 17% rise on a comparable basis, with double digit growth in all regions and all of its products, it said. (Reporting by Mimosa Spencer, editing by Silvia Aloisi) Members of the Marion County Federation of Women's Clubs, Inc. send up a cheer following the unveiling of an Ohio Historical Marker on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The marker is located on the front lawn of the Women's Club Home, located at 1126 E. Center St. in Marion. The Women's Club teamed up with the Marion Rotary Club to celebrate the occasion. Members of the Marion County Federation of Women's Clubs, Inc. celebrated the organization's legacy of empowering, enriching, and preserving the achievements of local women during the unveiling of an Ohio Historical Marker this week. The marker, which is the 17th Ohio Historical Marker to be located in Marion County, sets on the front lawn of the historic Women's Club Home at 1126 E. Center St. in Marion. A representative of the Ohio History Connection and members of the Marion Rotary Club and other local residents joined in the celebration on Tuesday afternoon. Club President Valerie Wigton led the crowd in a cheer after the marker was unveiled for the first time. She then shared a quotation from former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. "'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,'" Wigton recited. Dreams of women taking an active role in the Marion community became a reality thanks to the vision of many ambitious women who helped to develop the women's club in its early days. Among the early leaders was Ida Barlow, who, along with her husband Shauck Barlow, were deeply involved in serving the community. Shauck and Ida Barlow made provisions to bequeath their three-story Colonial Revival home to the Marion Women's Club to serve as its headquarters. That occurred in 1945 following the death of Mrs. Barlow. Ida Barlow was an active member of the club for many years. Mr. Barlow was the president of Huber Manufacturing Co. in Marion. From left, Marion Women's Club Past President Sharol Herr, Immediate Past President Nancy Hafer, and current President Valerie Wigton along with Rep. Tracy Richardson and former U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow listen to a representative of the Ohio History Connection speak during the dedication of an Ohio Historical Marker on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Dubbed "Waldheim" by the Barlows, the home has been a landmark on the east side of Marion since it was built in 1903. The Marion Women's Club began meeting at the home in 1905. Mrs. Barlow was president of the club at that time. Nancy Hafer, immediate past president of the Marion Women's Club, said the organization is in the process of converting the carriage house behind the home into the Women's History Resource Center that will be used to store the club's archives and other records. Next on the agenda, Hafer said, is converting the home itself into a museum. Story continues "We want this beautiful home to stay for years and years and years so we can share those stories of women's activism with the next generation or two, at least," Hafer said. "We are just so proud at this point in our lives to be a part of this because this is something that doesn't come along every day." State Rep. Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville, presented the club with a commendation from the Ohio General Assembly to commemorate the placement of the Ohio Historical Marker on the front lawn of the Marion Women's Club Home. "On this historic day, we dedicate a permanent reminder of a legacy," Richardson said. "We believe that for years to come, the women residing in Marion will know the proud history of this landmark and embrace its promise of hope for our future. Ladies of the club, it is your legacy we celebrate today. Congratulations." Rep. Tracy Richardson, left, R-Marysville, presents a commendation from the Ohio General Assembly to Marion Women's Club President Valerie Wigton during a ceremony to dedicate an Ohio Historical Marker on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at the Women's Club Home on East Center Street in Marion. Lauren Barber from the Ohio History Connection attended the ceremony and presented club leaders with documents celebrating the occasion, including one from Gov. Mike DeWine. In 1962, the Abigail Harding Lewis Auditorium was built on the east side of the home to allow for more events and programs to be held there. The auditorium is named in honor of the sister of President Warren G. Harding. She was a club member and a local teacher. The Marion Women's Club Home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019, joining 17 other sites in the county that are on the registry. That list includes the Marion Palace Theatre, the Harding Centre (formerly known as the Hotel Harding), the Warren G. Harding Home, the Caledonia Bowstring Bridge, the Harding Tomb, and the Marion County Courthouse. For information about the Marion County Federation of Women's Clubs, Inc. and the Marion Women's Club Home, go to the organization's website marioncountyfederationofwomensclubs.com or its Facebook page. Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Ohio Historical Marker unveiled at Marion Women's Club Home Demonstrators wait to enter the Ohio Statehouse on May 3 to protest SJR 2, which would require a 60% vote to approve any constitutional amendment. Opponents of an effort to make it harder to amend Ohio's Constitution are suing the state Ballot Board, contending officials approved misleading ballot language that will confuse voters. The lawsuit accuses Secretary of State Frank LaRose and other Ballot Board members of adopting language that omits key details and improperly favors the issue. The proposal, if approved in August, would require 60% of voters to enact new constitutional amendments, instead of a simple majority of 50% plus one. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday that he would vote for it. Echoing complaints raised by some business organizations, DeWine told reporters: "The concern is that people can come in, outside forces, outside the state of Ohio and spend a ton of money to try to impact that. The better process is frankly, through the legislative process." Wednesday marked the first time DeWine had weighed in on the proposed change, which was debated in the Ohio Legislature over several months. The new lawsuit was brought by three Ohio voters and the One Person One Vote coalition, which is also suing LaRose over the legality of the August special election. "Rife with material omissions and misleading statements, LaRose is apparently not sure that an illegal, summer special election for special interests will be enough, so they are resorting to misleading voters," said Dennis Willard, a spokesperson for the coalition. Democrats first raised concerns about the language during last week's Ballot Board meeting. Attorney Don McTigue, who is representing the coalition, offered an alternative proposal that Republicans on the board ultimately rejected. LaRose defended the approved language last week, saying it's accurate and to the point. "Putting a ton of words on the actual ballot is confusing to people in and of itself," LaRose told reporters. "So we provided an explanation of what's changing. We didn't provide an explanation of the way it currently is." Story continues Why opponents oppose Issue 1 ballot language Wednesday's lawsuit is another escalation in what will be a months-long battle over the proposal, now known as Issue 1. Proponents pushed for an August election to get ahead of a potential November ballot question that would enshrine abortion access in Ohio. They contend the changes would prevent special interests from co-opting the state's constitution. Critics, meanwhile, say it will hamstring citizens and ensure only well-funded outside groups can amend the document. In addition to raising the voter threshold, Issue 1 would make changes to the signature-gathering process for proposed amendments. Starting Jan. 1, citizen groups would need signatures from at least 5% of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 counties, instead of 44. It also would eliminate a 10-day window that allows petitioners to replace any ineligible signatures. The lawsuit takes issue with the explanation of those provisions in the approved ballot language. For example, it states that groups need signatures from 5% of "eligible voters" in each county instead of specifying the numbers from the past governor's election. More broadly, the language doesn't mention the current voter threshold for approving amendments. Opponents also criticized Issue 1's title, which says it's "elevating the standards" of Ohio's Constitution. "Secretary LaRose had several far more impartial options available to him such as 'change' or 'modify' yet settled on a title that will strongly suggest that the Amendment is desirable to at least some voters," the complaint states. Read the ballot language here: Ballot language approved fo... by Jessie Balmert Reporter Jessie Balmert contributed to this article. Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mike DeWine says he'd vote for State Issue 1 to change constitution The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations this week to Nationwide Children's Hospital after an investigation into accusations that it failed to protect employees from patient assaults. The U.S. Department of Labor agency opened the investigation in November at the Columbus hospital's Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion after a complaint alleging unsafe working conditions, the Labor Department announced Thursday. It inspected the facility multiple times from Nov. 25 to May 19, before issuing the two citations Monday. OSHA proposes fines of more than $18,000, plus interest and administrative costs, and wants the hospital to implement specific changes by June 26 to prevent future violations. Youth mental health in Ohio: Mental health issues, suicides, bullying among Ohio youth remains a challenge, experts say Medicaid coverage: What to know as deadline looms in Anthem Medicaid dispute with Nationwide Children's Nationwide Children's has 15 business days to comply, request an informal meeting with OSHA Area Director Larry Johnson or contest the agency's findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. In a statement to The Dispatch, Nationwide Children's said Thursday it is reviewing OSHA's findings and working with the agency directly about its concerns. "The youth mental health crisis has highlighted the complex challenges for behavioral health providers," according to the statement. "Our priority is to provide the highest quality care for the children we serve in the safest possible environment for our employees, patients, and families. "Nationwide Childrens has extensive safety policies, processes, and procedures in place, and our team continually reviews and updates these safety practices." Investigators determined nurses and mental health specialists were exposed to "sexual and physical assaults such as, groping, biting, kicking, punching, head-butting and scratching that resulted in serious physical injuries such as, lacerations, contusions, sprains, strains, headaches, and concussions," the federal agency alleged in one citation. Story continues The hospital also "failed to keep proper records of employee injuries as required," OSHA alleged in another citation, which outlined 42 times, from Jan. 3 to March 11, that an injury and illness incident report was incomplete. Most commonly, the reports failed to list the provider's name, whether the employee was treated in an emergency room or hospitalized overnight, what happened leading up to and during the incident that caused the injury and the name of the person who completed the report, the agency alleged in the citation. "Behavioral healthcare workers can be exposed to risks when treating patients who suffer with conditions that can lead to violent outbursts," Johnson said in a statement. "Unfortunately, Nationwide Children's Hospital failed to take the necessary precautions that could have prevented their employees from being injured." Nationwide Children's is the second-largest pediatric hospital in the United States and accepts more than 1.5 million patient visits each year at 68 facilities across Ohio and around the world, according to the Labor Department. nshuda@dispatch.com @NathanielShuda This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSHA cites Nationwide Children's for not protecting employees 11 astronauts packed together on the international space station The crew of Axiom Space's second private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) arrived at the orbiting lab on Monday (May 22) to a warm welcome from the station's current crew. The mission, known as Ax-2, launched Sunday evening (May 21), carrying commander Peggy Whitson, pilot John Shoffner and mission specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, both of whom are members of Saudi Arabia's first astronaut class. Ax-2 caught up to the ISS overnight, docking to the dorsal port of the station's Harmony module on Monday at 9:12 a.m. EDT (1312 GMT). At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), crews opened the hatches between Ax-2's Crew Dragon capsule, named Freedom, and the ISS, and the seven astronauts of Expedition 69 warmly ushered the Ax-2 crew aboard. Related: SpaceX launches Ax-2 private astronaut mission to station, 1st Saudi woman in space on board (video) Read more: Axiom Space Ax-2 private spaceflight with SpaceX: Live updates A welcome ceremony was held for the Ax-2 crew , with station commander Sergey Prokopyev of Russia's federal space agency Roscosmos providing some opening remarks. He congratulated the Ax-2 astronauts on their arrival and hailed SpaceX for a successful launch and landing of the company's Falcon 9 rocket. Addressing Alqarni and Barnawi the first Saudi astronauts ever to reach the ISS Prokopyev said, "My big congratulations [to the] Saudi Space Commission. I'm sure you will have a great achievement in the future in your space exploration." Barnawi is making more history on Ax-2 as well: She's the first woman from Saudi Arabia to fly to the final frontier. So it's appropriate that Barnawi is flying with Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who has spent more time in space than any other American and any other woman. That tally stood at 665 days before Ax-2 lifted off. "It's an honor to work next to Peggy Whitson , the most experienced and decorated astronaut in the U.S. astronaut corps," Prokopyev said during the ceremony. Story continues He passed Whitson the mic after his opening remarks. "It's a lot of fun to be here and to see this place again. It means so much to me," Whitson said. She then allowed the remaining three Ax-2 crew members to introduce themselves and say some words of their own. "I'd like to thank NASA for creating the opportunity in opening the doors for private and commercial space exploration, and also the ingenuity of SpaceX and Axiom to develop the next level of space platforms and space access for everyone," said Shoffner, a paying customer on this mission, adding that flying in space fulfills a lifelong dream for him. Shoffner added that he and his Ax-2 crewmates are eager for the research the group will get to conduct in orbit. In total, Ax-2 will participate in over 20 projects while aboard the space station. "We look forward to some great work for STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] education outreach and some amazing science that we have going on up here, and I hope you guys will follow us," Shoffner said. RELATED STORIES: SpaceX launch of private Ax-2 astronauts just put the 600th person in orbit SpaceX's Ax-2 mission for Axiom Space in photos (gallery) Building a private space station: Q&A with Axiom Space CTO Matt Ondler AlQarni and Barnawi both began their remarks in Arabic and provided English translations following their initial statements. AlQarni thanked the Saudi king and crown prince and encouraged the people of his country to "dream big." Barnawi echoed those sentiments. "This shows how space brings everyone together," Barnawi said. "It brings even different backgrounds. Some of us are doctors, some of us are researchers, engineers and so on. I'm very happy to be here representing the dreams and hopes of everyone back home I'm gonna live this experience to the max." Whitson closed the ceremony by pinning astronaut pins on Shoffner, AlQarni and Barnawi. "John is the 598th astronaut," she said, securing the pin to his flight suit. "Ali is the 599th astronaut, and our little 'Ray' is 600," Whitson said. "Thanks for inviting all of us up here and welcoming three new astronauts." Shells elevated flare seen over Potter Township on Feb. 13, 2023. POTTER TWP. Shell will pay nearly $10 million to Pennsylvanias Department of Environmental Protection and western Pennsylvania neighborhoods for repeated air permit violations at the companys Beaver County petrochemical complex. Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday said Shell agreed to pay a $4.9 million civil penalty to the DEP and an additional $5 million to area environmental projects to resolve months of pollution exceedances. Shell will pay additional monthly civil penalties for any further exceedances reported during the remainder of 2023. Crews planned to restart operations at the facility Wednesday following a rocky startup and two-month shutdown for repairs and maintenance at the Potter Township ethane cracker plant. We have worked in conjunction with the DEP to fix plant issues that led to prior violations," Shell leadership said Wednesday. "After making significant improvements that will help us operate more effectively and safely, the (cracker plant) is resuming production. Weve learned from previous issues and pledge to be the safe environmental steward, good neighbor and business partner this region wants and deserves. A full moon rises behind the Shell Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex, an ethylene cracker plant located in Potter Township, Pennsylvania, on the shore of the Ohio River on March 17, 2022. Shell formally acknowledged the company exceeded total emission limitations for air contaminants, and agreed to make repairs to reduce future exceedances, according to the consent order and agreement. As required by the amended Air Pollution Control Act, 25% of the civil penalty will be directed to local communities in addition to the $5 million; a total of $6.2 million will go to projects benefiting "the environment, health and quality of life of the community near the facility, Shapiro said. The DEPs Office of Environmental Justice will assist with these efforts. Shell exceeded its rolling 12-month emissions limit on volatile organic compounds from October 2022 through last month, and exceeded rolling limits of nitrogen oxides and hazardous air pollutants from December 2022 through last month. State regulators have cited Shell multiple times for flaring and malodor violations in the past year. Story continues Most recently, air monitors at the plant detected elevated levels of benzene following a mid-April malfunction at the sites wastewater treatment plant. Shell reported a release of hydrocarbons as crews drained a tank in preparation for maintenance. Those near the petrochemical complex reported a strong chemical scent causing watering, burning eyes, headaches, nausea and other respiratory issues. Shell's ethane cracker plant in March 2023. Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, and my administration will hold all companies no matter how big or small accountable when they violate the laws and regulations protecting our air and water, Shapiro said in a statement. Shell recognizes that as a company, it must do better this $6.2 million commitment to the people of western Pennsylvania is a down payment on that progress. The company in late March suspended production for repairs, including maintenance on its flaring system. The agreement requires Shell to get approvals to repair the complexs enclosed ground flares and seek an engineering evaluation on the efficacy of pollution controls. Results of recent simulations showed that adequate steam can be provided to the elevated flare prior to restarting operations in order to prevent unlawful smoke emissions, read a Shapiro news release. Shell is expected to renew the compliance guarantee monthly until the flares are repaired and provide a detailed simulation report on the steam system. More: Environmental groups sue Shell for repeated air pollution violations at cracker plant We know that Shell can operate a state-of-the-art facility that helps grow our economy without harming the environment, and we are going to hold them to the requirements laid out in their permits, said acting DEP Secretary Rich Negrin. The Environmental Integrity Project and Clean Air Council earlier this month filed a lawsuit against Shell in federal court for repeated permit violations, alleging elevated levels of air contaminants are harming public health and regulators have taken no meaningful action to rectify the conditions. The multi-billion-dollar plant went online about seven months ago. Shell CEO Wael Sawan said during a May 8 earnings call that the startup of the Potter Township plant has been slower than expected, but the team is doing a great job battling with some of the obvious technical niggles that startups typically have. Companywide, oil giant Shell reported a record $40 billion profit in 2022, and the Beaver County factory alone is expected to contribute about $1 billion annually to company earnings. More: With Pa. plastics plant poised to open, residents decide: Stay or go? The Breathe Project on Wednesday criticized the penalty; executive director Matthew Mehalik noted $10 million is a small fraction of Shell's $9.6 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2023" and amounts to less than one-tenth of one percent of Shell's profits. He likened it to asking a Beaver County household with a quarterly income of $14,735 to pay a $14.75 fine, about the price of a parking ticket. We cannot allow another entity to engage in pay-to-pollute behavior that comes at the expense of our region's residents and allow the fines to be perceived as charitable donations to our communities, Mehalik said. Many of us in the Breathe Project network have spent countless hours trying to steer our region away from harmful economic development entities whose business model involves paying fines when they predictably exceed their (overly generous) permits. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Shell to pay $10 million for air violations and restart cracker plant production Former National Director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest David Clohessy speaks in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday, May 24, 2023. A member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) urged Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki to provide full assignment records for credibly accused priests living in or who previously served in the diocese that covers central Illinois. David Clohessy, the former national director of SNAP from St. Louis and a clerical abuse survivor, also urged Paprocki to post the names of at least nine alleged child-molesting clerics who are missing from the Springfield dioceses predator list. The nine were mentioned by name in an exhaustive report released by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Tuesday. More: Report: Nearly 2,000 children abused by more than 450 Catholic leaders in Illinois Between them, they are on at least 25 church-sponsored credibly accused lists all over the country and some are on multiple lists, Clohessy claimed. Members and supporters of SNAP gathered outside of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday afternoon. Clohessy, who now directs SNAP volunteers in Missouri, also made his case in a letter to Paprocki Wednesday. Clohessy said Paprocki is the only one of the Illinois bishops who refuses to reveal the parishes and other sites where child molesting clerics have served. The AG investigation, started in 2018, found 451 Catholic priests and religious brothers abused nearly 2,000 children in the state's six diocese over seven decades. Before the investigation, dioceses publicly listed only 103 substantiated child sex abusers, Raoul said. Raoul criticized church leaders for allowing those abusers to hide "in plain sight." Listing parishes where abusers have served, Clohessy rationalized, is "information that law enforcement should have, parents should have, parishioners should have. Why split hairs? Why conceal the information? Why not just come clean for the sake of wounded victims, for the sake of vulnerable kids, for the sake of law enforcement?" Story continues Clohessy further called on Springfield Catholic officials to disclose the names of every single child-molesting cleric who was or is in the diocese, "whether they were here for 20 years or 20 days, whether they were ordained here or somewhere else, whether Bishop Paprocki signs their paycheck or another church official signs their paycheck, whether they're alive or dead." Springfield Bishop Thomas John Paprocki speaks during the march for life mass at the University of Illinois Springfield on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Illinois lawmakers should "show some spine" and come up with measures that will make it easier in the future to prevent abuse by prosecuting and suing child abuse perpetrators, Clohessy said. No bishop in Illinois was "more severely criticized than Paprocki (in the report) and I think the attorney general is absolutely on target when calls out this particularly callous and insensitive man," Clohessy said, standing at the corner of Sixth Street and Lawrence Avenue. "It's crystal clear, I think, and even more clear now in the wake of the AG's report, that Paprocki puts his reputation, his career and his comfort ahead of the safety of kids and the well-being of victims." Andrew Hansen, a spokesman for the Springfield diocese, said "countless hours were spent by our team working with the attorney generals team to go through all the historical files to address any and all questions. All the pertinent details are now summarized in the report." Hansen did not directly answer questions about why the diocese doesn't provide full assignment records for all predator priests or why it wouldn't post the names of nine clerics who have been deemed "credibly accused" of abuse by other church officials. Paprocki has owned up to the fact, Hansen added, that some priests and leaders of the Catholic Church in the past failed. The Attorney Generals inquiry into the history of clergy sexual abuse of minors in this diocese has served as a reminder that some clergy in the church committed shameful and disgraceful sins against innocent victim survivors and did damage that simply cannot be undone," Paprocki said in a statement Tuesday. "As bishop of this diocese, I cannot undo the damages of the past, but I have been and continue to be fully committed to ensuring we do all we can to prevent abuse from happening again. The changes our diocese enacted have proven to be effective as we are not aware of a single incident of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy alleged to have occurred in this diocese in nearly 20 years. David Clohessy Clohessy countered that it was "disingenuous and frankly dangerous for Paprocki to claim, 'Oh, gee, none of this has happened recently.' He doesn't know. He can't know and the only responsible thing to do, is to assume what logic and history and psychology tell us which is that there are still more predator priests out. They are still dangerous. Some are molesting today, and we will not know for years and decades who they are. This is a time for vigilance, not complacency, not deception." The "sad, simple truth," Clohessy said, is that victims "always have and always will" report abuse decades down the road. "If you go to Arizona today and you ask every single person who got their roof repaired, 'Did the contractor do a good job,' they're not going to know," he said. "Six months from now, it will rain, and the roof will leak and that's when they'll call the AG. Men like Paprocki, who are fond of splitting hairs and dodging blame, they will say, 'The roof was fixed six months ago. Why didn't you call the AG then?' "The crimes (committed) may be old. The cover-up continues, the risk to kids today around these undisclosed predators continues and the devastating harm continues, day-in and day-out." Illinois State Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, center, in a 2021 file photo. Also in Springfield for an extended spring session, state lawmakers addressed the AG report Wednesday morning. Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, thanked the survivors for their testimony provided to investigators and recognized SNAPs late founder, Barbara Ann Blaine. We are grateful for your efforts to release the shame and secrecy that have plagued the church for decades on the issue, she said on the House floor. Blaine founded SNAP in 1988 and served as its president until February 2017, just months before she passed away. Reporter Patrick Keck of The State Journal-Register contributed to this report. Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: SNAP wants fuller transparency from Springfield Bishop Paprocki SpaceX's first integrated Starship and Super Heavy launch into the sky from Starbase at Boca Chica, Texas on April 20, 2023. SpaceX is joining the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fight a lawsuit brought by environmental groups, according to media reports. That suit, which was filed on May 1, claims that the FAA didn't properly assess the damage that SpaceX's giant Starship rocket could cause to the environmentally sensitive lands surrounding its South Texas launch site. The FAA approved 20 Starship launches annually for the next five years from Starbase, SpaceX's facility near Boca Chica Beach on Texas' Gulf Coast. The first of those flights lifted off on April 20, aiming to send Starship's upper stage most of the way around our planet, with a return to Earth in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. That didn't happen. The 394-foot-tall (120 meters) Starship the most powerful rocket ever built notched a number of important milestones on the debut launch, eventually reaching a maximum altitude of 24 miles (39 kilometers). But it suffered several problems that impelled SpaceX to send a self-destruct command, and the rocket exploded high over the Gulf of Mexico about four minutes after liftoff. Related: Relive SpaceX's explosive 1st Starship test in incredible launch photos Have Your Own Starship SpaceX Starship Desktop Rocket Model You can have a Starship of your own with this desktop rocket model. Standing at 12.5 inches (32 cm), this is a 1:375 ratio. See our roundup of awesome Starship gear. The 33 Raptor engines on Starship's first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, kicked up a huge cloud of dust and other debris during the launch. Some of that material rained down on the surrounding area, noted the lawsuit, which was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, the Surfrider Foundation, Save RGV and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas. And that wasn't the only impact to the Boca Chica area, which is important to the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation and provides "important habitat for imperiled wildlife, including piping plovers, northern aplomado falcons, Gulf Coast jaguarundi, ocelots and critically endangered sea turtles," the Center for Biological Diversity wrote in a statement on May 1. Story continues "Rocket launches and explosions cause significant harm through increased vehicle traffic and the intense heat, noise, and light pollution from construction and launch activities," the Arizona-based nonprofit wrote. "Rocket explosions spread debris across surrounding habitat and have caused brush fires." The FAA required SpaceX to perform more than 75 "mitigating" actions in order to launch Starship from Starbase but did not file a full environmental impact statement (EIS). The lawsuit, which you can read here, calls on the FAA to perform that more complete review. Video: Every SpaceX Starship explosion and what we learned from them But requiring such a step would likely be harmful to SpaceX, according to the company, which filed a motion on Friday (May 19) requesting to join the FAA as a defendant in the lawsuit. "If the Court were to rule in Plaintiffs' favor, the FAA's decision could be set aside, and further licensing of the Starship/Super Heavy Program could be significantly delayed, causing severe injury to SpaceX's business," SpaceX wrote in the filing, CNBC reported on Monday (May 22). SpaceX's filing also highlighted the potential damage to the "national interest" should the plaintiffs win, according to CNBC. For example, Starship is a key part of the United States' path back to the moon: NASA selected the huge vehicle as the first crewed lunar lander for its Artemis moon program. If all goes according to plan, Starship will put astronauts down near the moon's south pole in 2025 or thereabouts, on the Artemis 3 mission. Related stories: Starship and Super Heavy: SpaceX's Mars-colonizing transportation system Elon Musk says SpaceX could launch a Starship to the moon 'probably sooner' than 2024: report SpaceX's 1st orbital Starship looks supercool in these fueling test photos SpaceX has already invested more than $3 billion in the Starship program and Starbase facility since 2014, the company's chief financial officer, Bret Johnsen, wrote in a declaration submitted along with the SpaceX motion, according to CNBC. Johnsen also noted that Starship is vital to the company's plans for its Starlink satellite-internet constellation, which already serves about 1.5 million people around the world. Starship will be needed to launch the larger, more powerful Starlink "V2" spacecraft, as company founder and CEO Elon Musk has said. You can read more about SpaceX's filing in the CNBC story here. In a certainly unforeseen turn of events, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a temporary stay of execution to allow psychiatrists to assess the sanity of Duane Owen, who was scheduled to die by lethal injection on June 15. The governors original signing of Owens death warrant came just days after he signed into law a bill that allows for the death penalty for perpetrators of sexual violence against children in Florida. Cantor Michael Zoosman We, the thousands of members of L'chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty, join countless others who believe this law is wrong and who also believe it would be wrong to eventually execute Duane Owen. Our group has periodically corresponded with Duane, who was sent to death row at the age of 23. Duane was born to alcoholic parents. His mother died of cancer; shortly thereafter, his father committed suicide when Duane was just nine. Death row inmate Duane Owen looks back at the courtroom observers before being led away August 11, 2006 at the Palm Beach Courthouse. Duane was then sent to an orphanage where he was sexually and physically abused, including by those who were supposed to protect him. The sexual trauma that Duane Owen experienced as a child left an indelible impact that led him to a life of crime. This culminated in the heinous rape and murder of Karen Slattery (who was 14 years old) and Georgianna Worden (who was the mother of two children). May their memories be everlasting blessings. Initially, DeSantis chose to respond to this chronology of horrors with the scheduling of yet further killing, this time by the state. We respectfully submit that this approach fits the well-known definition of insanity that has often been attributed to Albert Einstein (a prominent Jewish figure who also opposed the death penalty): "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In signing the death warrant for Duane Owen, DeSantis sought to perpetuate very same cycle of violence and death that he claims to hope to end through the wanton political pursuit of barbaric laws allowing for state-sanctioned murder. Story continues The death penalty demonstrably has failed to deter crime. Instead, it continues to create new victims, including the executed, their loved ones and the executioners forced to carry out the killings. We at Lchaim are keenly aware of this reality and oppose every execution without exception. This includes the case of Robert Bowers, who has been charged with the October 2018 shooting deaths of 11 Jewish worshipers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Together with our partners at Death Penalty Action, we fight against each execution in the United States, and we also vociferously advocate against the increasing calls for executions in Israel. Our opposition to state murder is grounded in the fact that, like one of our co-founders, many of us at Lchaim are direct descendants of Holocaust survivors. Among those who survived was Elie Wiesel, the celebrated writer and Nobel Prize winner and the following words by Wiesel are what guide us at L'chaim: With every cell of my being and with every fiber of my memory I oppose the death penalty in all forms. I do not believe any civilized society should be at the service of death. I dont think its human to become an agent of the angel of death. We also follow in the footsteps of renowned Jewish theologian Martin Buber and other Jewish human rights luminaries who opposed the execution of the Nazi mass murderer Adolf Eichmann. Our Jewish tradition teaches us the following: Whoever destroys a life, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world. (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5) If the state of Florida professes to be pro-life, then the planned, state-sponsored killing of any defenseless human being should be anathema and that should apply to the life of Duane Owen. Lchaim to Life! Cantor Michael Zoosman is an ordained member of the Jewish clergy in Maryland. He is a co-founder of the group Lchaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gov. DeSantis should not allow Duane Owen to be executed This article was originally published by Source New Mexico. CIUDAD JUAREZ - The sun beats down on the houses of Pan De Vida, a shelter for migrants in Rancho Anapra, a barrio of Ciudad Juarez. In between white houses trimmed with blue, kids whizz by on bikes, shouts ringing out over the dust settling across the courtyard. Dogs recline in the shade, tongues lolling. At the house on the corner, overlooking the yard, is the temporary home of 11 Hondurans, who fled some just children towards the United States. After months of travel, thousands of miles, they landed here. Inside, the walls are painted a light pink, the cabinets and trim a bright seafoam green, the air thick with heat. Although the restrictions to immediately expel people seeking asylum at the border nicknamed Title 42 ended on May 11, uncertainty remains in its wake. Gathered around the teal table, the 11 Hondurans shared their story, one of hope and faith intertwined with pain and fear. All of us who are here have been waiting, constantly for them to take Title 42 away, said Keily Dubon Hernandez. I believe that all of us still hold on to that hope. But the logistics feel overwhelming. Olga Maldonado, 40, is staying now with her nieces Yulisa and Marcela, their four children, and Marcelas partner, Kevin. Theyre joined by three other women who traveled alone, also from Honduras: Kimberlee Guadalupe Paz. Gladis Mejia Moreno, and Keily. Olga is concerned the family of eight will not receive a CBP One appointment, which she has been trying daily to schedule for the past two months. Between glitches and app crashes, she said the daily 1,000 slots fill up so fast she cant get a spot. Since the update, Olga and others reported the app will fail to input information. Very frustrating, Olga called her experience with the app. You go on and sometimes its blocked, the appointments are full. Olga and the others said they expect a harder time seeking asylum since the end of Title 42, and are concerned that if CBP One continues to fail, theyll have to consider seeking asylum in one of the countries they passed through. Story continues Just imagine having to go back through all of those places and ask for asylum, Keily said. All of us do not have the resources to be able to go back, and then return here again. A 3-year-old Honduran boy chases after a ball in the migrant shelter where he stays with his family. The uncertainty kills people Jeremy Slack, a professor in geography at the University of Texas at El Paso, has been researching the border and migration for two decades and spent the past nine years in El Paso. He said the CBP One app could be an opportunity to build a real system that could be orderly, and work at the ports of entry and make sense to people trying to seek asylum. However, that could break down if the bugs continue or if it seems like a lottery system. If youre here and youre just sort of desperate, you have no appointment, the pages crashing all the time. You might be waiting a week, you might be waiting a year. That uncertainty kills people. In a very literal way, he said. Uncertainty is what drives people to take risks, hire traffickers or try and rush across the border, he said, which is a boon to the black market and puts peoples lives at stake. The more you go after the immigrants, the more you help organized crime, Slack said. In post-deportation surveys, he has seen what happens when people are removed including the higher rates of violence from extortion, to sexual assault, kidnapping and murder. Theres a real problem with making people wait in Mexico, its dangerous, super dangerous, he said. Closing the border to asylum seekers without appointments raises Slacks concern for people in Mexico fleeing persecution. He said hes concerned about a creeping rollback to protect people from imminent violence. That is the heart and soul of asylum, so if you take that away, I dont know what were left with, he said. Texas National Guard, stationed at the El Paso - Cd. Juarez border under Operation Lone Star, work to extend concertina wire barriers westward to the state line with New Mexico on May 12, the day after the expiration of Title 42. Theyll kill you if you dont flee The Hondurans described feeling daunted by the process of potentially asking for asylum in Mexico, after describing kidnapping, extortion and other violence. Yulisa Maldonado, 25, fled San Pedro Sula about a year ago. She lived in La Colonia Rivera Hernandez, selling food to try and pay for her sons medical operation. Gangs issued death threats and extorted money from the stand. The gangs knocked down the business, warning her she had 24 hours to get the money. She described fleeing at midnight, I left that day, by five in the morning, I was getting on a bus at the terminal to come (here). Yulisa said she was kidnapped in Southern Mexico, along with her 5- and 6-year-old children. They took (the kids) to a separate room. They were crying because they couldnt see me. But I had to do other things so that the (kidnappers) would not do anything to them or hurt them, she recounted. Yulisa Maldonado, a 25-year-old mother of two, owned a small business in Honduras but was driven away by extortion and threats against her life. When she made it to Ciudad Juarez, she was able, with the help of the shelter, to see a psychologist for herself and the children, who were too scared to eat or go outside of the house after they first arrived. I am afraid to be in Mexico, because throughout the country, we as migrants are like merchandise, she said. We cannot go out, not even out of this compound because we are afraid. But, even if Yulisa had stayed, I wouldnt be alive anymore and neither would my kids. Thank God whatever we had to go through, we are alive, she said. Her sister Marcela, 21, followed with Kevin, two children, aunt Olga and her 10-year-old daughter, citing the death threats. Marcela and Yulisa left behind their mother, who has a leg condition and would not be able to survive the trip. If you try to move they already have your information and everything. If possible, they chase you down, she said. Theyll kill you if you dont flee. There, you pay or you pay (with your life). Kevin Hernandez, 22, is overcome with tears as he attempts to tell the story of extortion and threats that drove him and his partner, Marcela, to flee Honduras with their child. Kevin, 22, described the little clothes stand that they used to support the family, but tears slipped down his cheeks and he began to cry as he said: We survived, but the gang came and extorted us. In Hidalgo, Mexico, the state to the north of Mexico City, immigration officials caught them, riding on a bus. Olga said they were held in detention without water for hours. Police extorted them for 1,200 pesos to release the family. We paid them and they left us in the middle of the forest, so we wouldnt know where we were, she said. They made us walk, and sometimes they would terrorize us by shouting, Here comes immigration! and we would hide. Marcela and Olga described finding some peace at the shelter. Pastor Ismael Martinez gets cake for the childrens birthdays, or puts on Easter celebrations. Marcela said it was good to see her kids smile again, to play, since the journey has been so hard on them. Olga Maldonado left an abusive relationship in Honduras and traveled through Mexico with her niece, who was also fleeing threats. It is hard to watch your children suffer. They have to bear hunger, the sun, fear more than anything, she said. But you have that hope that you are going to take this risk in order to gain something, rather than staying behind where they can take them from you or take their lives. In 2019, Kimberlee and her young daughter entered the U.S., but were deported. After immigration officials returned her to Honduras, her 14-year old cousin was murdered in October 2022, followed by her aunt in January. I saw them kill (my cousin) so I reported them, and they found out and threatened me. I had to leave my country, she said, adding her mother and siblings also received death threats. Her cousin and aunts murders were a part of a pervasive pattern of violence against women and girls. Honduras has one of the highest rates of femicide in Latin America, even as the government has taken recent strides to raise awareness. Kimberlee Paz, a Honduran woman who lives at a migrant shelter in Anapra, fled her country after witnessing the murder of her 14-year-old cousin and then receiving death threats. I know that they wanted my cousin to be the wife of one of them, and she didnt want to, Kimberlee said. They killed her mother the same way. With her deportation, Kimberlee will not be able to seek asylum for 10 years from the date of the order. There are a few other avenues to stay removal orders, but they require much higher burdens of proof from the people seeking them, and can mean sending people outside of the U.S. Another, often more expensive option, is to retain an immigration lawyer to reopen the deportation case. When asked why she will try to go to the U.S., even with the high stakes around her deportation, Kimberlee responded: Because I have faith, that for God, nothing is impossible. A bicycle rests against a wall in the living area of one apartment within a migrant shelter in Anapra. Several families and single women live within this apartment at a migrant shelter in Anapra. Children play on a swingset at a migrant shelter in Anapra, just across the border from Sunland Park, on May 12. Danielle Prokop covers the environment and local government in Southern New Mexico for Source New Mexico. Corrie Boudreaux contributed to the reporting of this article. Others are reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Still in Mexico: New concerns in the wake of asylum restrictions Jack Greiner, partner of Faruki PLL In 2017, Abdulkadir Masharipov carried out a terrorist attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Masharipov killed Nawras Alassaf and 38 others. Alassaf's family then brought this under the federal suit under the Antiterrorism Act (ATA). That statute permits U. S. nationals who have been "injured . . . by reason of an act of international terrorism" to file a civil suit for damages. But instead of suing ISIS directly, Alassaf's family sued three of the largest social media companies in the worldFacebook, Twitter and Google (which owns YouTube)for aiding and abetting ISIS. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court this week reversed the Ninth Circuit ruling, holding that the social media companies did not "aid and abet" the attack under the terms of the statute. In reaching its decision, the Supreme Court first focused on the meaning of the phrase "aids and abets." In its view, the phrase "refers to a conscious, voluntary, and culpable participation in another's wrongdoing." Alassaf's family argued that merely aiding ISIS generally satisfied the statute. The social media companies argued that the statute required that they aid and abet the actual wrongful act here, the Reina attack. The Supreme Court agreed with the social media companies. This meant the "key question, therefore, is whether defendants gave such knowing and substantial assistance to ISIS that they culpably participated in the Reina attack." In the Supreme Court's view, Alassaf's family fell short on its proof. As it noted, Alassaf's family "never allege that, after defendants established their platforms, they gave ISIS any special treatment or words of encouragement. Nor is there reason to think that defendants selected or took any action at all with respect to ISIS' content (except, perhaps, blocking some of it)." . . . The mere creation of those platforms, however, is not culpable. To be sure, it might be that bad actors like ISIS are able to use platforms like defendants' for illegaland sometimes terribleends. But the same could be said of cell phones, email, or the internet generally. Yet, we generally do not think that internet or cell service providers incur culpability merely for providing their services to the public writ large. Nor do we think that such providers would normally be described as aiding and abetting, for example, illegal drug deals brokered over cell phoneseven if the provider's conference-call or video-call features made the sale easier." Story continues In the Court's view, "defendants at most allegedly stood back and watched; they are not alleged to have taken any further action with respect to ISIS." The Court ultimately ruled that Alassaf's family rested their claim "less on affirmative misconduct and more on an alleged failure to stop ISIS from using its platforms." But courts do not typically impose aider and abetting liability for "mere passive nonfeasance." In the Court's view, "defendants' relationship with ISIS and its supporters appears to have been the same as their relationship with their billion-plus other users: arm's length, passive, and largely indifferent. And their relationship with the Reina attack is even further removed, given the lack of allegations connecting the Reina attack with ISIS' use of these platforms." There was some concern that this case would have terrible implications for the Internet had the Court ruled against the social media defendants. As it turns out, the Court's ruling effectively upholds the status quo. Readers can decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Jack Greiner is a partner at Faruki PLL law firm in Cincinnati. He represents Enquirer Media in First Amendment and media issues This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Court's ruling upholds status quo against social media defendants. (Bloomberg) -- Chinese stocks in Hong Kong plunged as a weakening currency, disappointing earnings and worries over the US debt-ceiling deadlock saw traders trim positions ahead of a long weekend. Most Read from Bloomberg The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index closed 2.2% lower on Thursday, capping its worst seek since March before markets close Friday for a holiday. XPeng Inc. fell the most following an earnings miss. The gauge has fallen more than 18% since this years high and has erased about half of its gains seen during the strong China reopening rally between November and January. We are seeing a bit of a capitulation, said Marvin Chen, a Bloomberg Intelligence strategist. Investors may be rotating away from China to other tech heavy markets such as Korea and Taiwan which have tailwinds from AI demand. READ: AI Frenzy Helps Asia Tech Exporters Shares Beat US Growth Woes The intensifying selloff in Chinese stocks suggests investors are losing hopes of a rebound. Evidence is building that the economys recovery is sputtering, the property market remains in a dire state, and few believe the US-China tensions will have an easy way out. The yuans weakness has dealt another blow with foreign outflows from mainland stocks accelerating. READ: China Warnings Flash Across Global Markets as Growth Disappoints Overseas funds were net sellers of onshore stocks for a third straight day on Thursday, offloading more than $3 billion during the period. The CSI 300 benchmark of mainland shares fell 0.2% after erasing all its gains for the year on Wednesday. Hong Kongs benchmark Hang Seng Index slid 1.9%, while a Bloomberg Intelligence gauge of builders shares was down for a 12th day in its longest run of losses since 2016. Sentiment is extremely weak, driven by the dual effect of the depreciating yuan and a loss of hope for the property sector, said Wang Mingli, executive director at Shanghai Youpu Investment Co. Funds are starting to lose their calm as northbound selling continues, and it looks like its going to be a tough period for the economy. READ: Hong Kong Downside Accelerates as Bull/Bear Strategies Exposed An investor favorite until just a few months back, Chinese shares are now among the years worst performers in Asia. Key gauges for Hong Kong and mainland stocks are in the red compared to double digit gains in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. With regards to mainland China exposure, it is back to where we were in October 2022, HSBC Holdings Plc strategists including Herald van der Linde wrote in a note. Global funds remain significantly underweight mainland China and Asia funds now move to a small underweight as well. Sentiment also worsened as the US debt-ceiling negotiations hit a fresh impasse. Negotiators were far apart on key issues, especially the spending cuts demanded by Republicans, spurring risk-off sentiment. The weakness in Hong Kong stocks recently is mainly due to worries over the US debt ceiling, said Hayman Chiu, an analyst at Cinda International Holdings. The market has been correcting from the second quarter following disappointing economic data and the US debt ceiling negotiations would be key to watch. --With assistance from April Ma, Mengchen Lu, Ishika Mookerjee and Xiao Zibang. (Corrects currency name in the second deckhead of story published on May 25th.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. 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@charlotteobserver.com. Vaping: Fix this federal loophole The writer was a Democratic member of Congress from N.C., 2007-13. Napoleon supposedly warned that if you start taking Vienna, you need to finish the job and actually take Vienna. Well, North Carolina has started cracking down on flavored vape companies that continue to target the states youth. The federal government should finish the job by doing whatever it takes to keep these products out of minors hands. Instead, it is inadvertently encouraging young people to vape by allowing disposable e-cigarettes to remain available. The 2019 North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey found that more than one-fifth of N.C. high school students use e-cigarettes, with usage ballooning by 1,129% between 2011 and 2019. This isnt supposed to be the case. Three years ago, the FDA took action to ban flavored e-cigarettes. However, the process didnt go far enough. FDA has continued to allow flavored disposable vaping products, and minors have continued to use them. A recent government study found that over 2.5 million adolescents are using e-cigarettes today, with most using flavored, disposable products. North Carolina is feeling the pain. Stories of abuse and overdose are becoming all too commonplace. The federal government can help extinguish this youth smoking problem effortlessly with the stroke of a pen by adding flavored disposable vapes to its 2020 administrative guidance. Why wouldnt it? Americas public health experts have been clear on how significantly this loophole has affected minors in our state. Mark Schoeberl, an American Heart Association vice president, says its critical to close the disposable e-cigarette loophole, which has kept dangerous products with kid-friendly flavors on the market and easily accessible to our nations youth. Story continues I couldnt agree more. It is time to finally take Vienna. Doing so would mark a significant win for President Biden, who has made his desire to end the youth smoking crisis clear. Its a move that parents, educators and lawmakers in this state wont soon forget. Heath Shuler, Asheville Get to know your AAIP neighbors On Jan. 11, 2023, the number of Asian-American state legislators increased from three to five in North Carolina when Rep. Maria Cervania and I joined Sens. Jay Chaudhuri, Michael Lee, and Mujtaba Mohammed in the General Assembly. We now have two South Asian Americans, one Chinese American, one Taiwanese American, and one Filipino American representing one of the fastest-growing demographics in the state. As one of the first Asian American women elected to the legislature, it was humbling and surreal to see an Asian last name on the voting board. According to the 2020 census, there are 441,478 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders living in North Carolina, 4.1% of our total population. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAIP) Heritage Month. As we pull out of the pandemic, let us not forget that hate crimes against Asian Americans surged in the U.S. during COVID, with more than 2,100 anti-Asian American hate incidents reported between March and June 2020, including incidents in the Triangle area. A local Chinese American doctor faced verbal attacks and was asked why he brought the virus here by the very patient he was attending. Other AAPI healthcare workers endured verbal and physical attacks while risking their lives to save patients. Despite all of this, the Chinese American community showed incredible kindness during the pandemic. In spring 2020, our state experienced a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the peak of the pandemic. The Chinese American community and related organizations donated $500,000 worth of PPE to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Chinese international students at UNC Chapel Hill and their parents donated 100,000 medical masks to UNC hospital, Duke Hospital, Cary police, Cary firefighters and several senior homes in Cary. Stories and contributions of Asian Americans are not often highlighted by mainstream media. I encourage you to make efforts to get to know your Asian American neighbors and friends. Ask about their cultures and heritage this month and every month. Rep. Ya Liu, Raleigh Officials in Northern Kentucky and Butler County say the man accused of killing a deputy during a traffic stop Monday near Georgetown, Kentucky, is connected to crimes in their communities. Scott County Deputy Caleb Conley was shot and killed around 5 p.m. May 22 during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 near Georgetown. Steven Sheangshang, the accused shooter, was arrested and faces several charges in both Fayette and Scott counties, including the murder of a police officer, according to Major Matt LeMonds, spokesperson for the Lexington Division of Community Corrections. Scott County Deputy Caleb Conley was shot and killed May 22 during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 near Georgetown, Kentucky. At Tuesday night's West Chester Township trustees meeting, Trustee Lee Wong said the deputy pulled over Sheangshang because West Chester police were trying to track him down in connection with a series of car and garage robberies in the Beckett Ridge area. Police Chief Joel Herzog told trustees the department tracked the suspect using the township's Flock camera license plate readers in their investigation. He said Sheangshang was also connected to incidents in western Hamilton County. "This officer died in the line of duty for some property items that weren't secure," Wong said. "He paid the ultimate price for us, for protecting our residents." Funeral arrangements A public visitation for Conley will be held Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Scott County High School gymnasium on Cardinal Drive in Georgetown, Kentucky. Funeral services for Conley will be held the following day, June 1, at 11 a.m. at the school. Burial will be at Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana, Kentucky, following services. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made at Field and Main Bank to help Conley's family. Donations labeled In Memory of Caleb Conley can be mailed or dropped off at the bank at 103 E Bridge St., Cynthiana, KY 41031. Suspect also faces charges in Northern Kentucky Sheangshang also is facing burglary charges in Northern Kentucky for a separate crime committed in Fort Mitchell. Court documents say Sheangshang was recognized on a May 17 security video stealing a portable generator from a home on Fortside Drive. Story continues Enquirer Media partner Fox 19 reports Kenton County Commonwealths Attorney Rob Sanders said after Sheangshangs arrest, his photograph was released and officials realized that he also matched video of the burglar in Fort Mitchell. The documents state Sheangshang pawned the stolen generator in Cincinnati about an hour after the burglary occurred. Sheangshang is scheduled for arraignment on burglary charges in Kenton County on June 30. Prior convictions In 2009 and 2010, Sheangshang was convicted in Hamilton County on aggravated robbery and kidnapping charges as well as additional theft charges in Kentucky. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. In March 2022, authorities in Kentucky issued an alert to authorities in Ohio saying Sheangshang was wanted on a probation violation. Enquirer media partner Fox 19 and Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Slain deputy Caleb Conley stopped West Chester burglary suspect TikTok could soon have a new way for users to discover content. The company is in the early stages of testing an AI-powered chatbot, called Tako, which will be able to recommend videos and respond to queries about what users are watching. The bot, which was first reported by TechCrunch, is currently being tested in the Philippines, TikTok said in a statement. Tako is powered by a third-party chat assistant and is designed to help make it easier to discover entertaining and inspiring content on TikTok, the company said. Despite being in an early phase of testing, TikTok is apparently featuring Tako fairly prominently in the app. A shortcut to the assistant sits in the main right-hand menu alongside shortcuts for bookmarks, and likes, according to TechCrunch, which got a peek at the feature. Thats similar to the prominence Snap gave its chatbot, My AI , in its app, pushing it to the top of users chats. But unlike My AI, it seems TikTok is positioning Tako as a way to find new content and learn more about whats being discussed in the clips. Users should feel free to ask me anything and Ill do my best to help you find what youre looking for, the bot says in a screenshot of the chat interface. Donald-Trump-1 - Credit: (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Donald Trumps legal team is requesting an in-person meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland to discuss the special counsel investigation into the former president. Trump posted the letter addressed to Garland and signed by attorneys John Rowley and James Trusty to Truth Social on Tuesday night. Unlike President Biden, his son Hunter, and the Biden family, President Trump is being treated unfairly, the letter reads. No President of the United States has ever, in the history of our country, been baselessly investigated in such an outrageous and unlawful fashion. We request a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his prosecutors. More from Rolling Stone Per a letter he posted on Truth Social, Trump's attorneys John Rowley & James Trusty have written to Attorney General Garland requesting a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his pic.twitter.com/dWMxLIKTg4 Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 24, 2023 Garland appointed Jack Smith special counsel last November, tasking him with overseeing the Justice Departments investigations into Trumps role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and whether Trump illegally hoarded classified government documents at Mar-a-Lago. Smith is reportedly wrapping up his work on the latter probe, for which Smith has secured testimony from several figures close to the former president including Evan Corcoran, the attorney who wrote a letter last summer claiming, falsely, there was no more classified material at Mar-a-Lago. Trump has repeatedly attacked Smiths investigation, as well as the Justice Department at large, alleging its all part of a Democratic scheme to prevent him from retaking the White House in 2024. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!! the former president wrote Monday morning. Trumps legal trouble extends well beyond the Justice Department probes. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has long been investigating whether he tampered with Georgias 2020 election results. Willis signaled last week that indictments could be coming in August. Theres also New York, where Trump has already been charged with several felony counts of falsifying business records. Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday slated that trial to begin next March. Very unfair, but this is exactly what the Radical Left Democrats wanted, Trump griped on Truth Social. Its called ELECTION INTERFERENCE, and nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before!!! Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. At least one person was killed and 15 wounded in a Russian missile strike on a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said. He denounced the attack as a crime against humanity, and the Ukrainian Defence Ministry called it a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which set out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. Pictures show a devastated building with smoke pouring out of it and rescue workers looking on. Much of the upper floor of what appeared to be a three-storey building had been badly damaged, as had cars parked nearby. Another (Russian) missile attack, another crime against humanity, Zelensky wrote on Twitter. The buildings of a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic in the city of Dnipro were destroyed. As of now, one person was killed and 15 were wounded. Russia has denied repeated accusations that its soldiers have committed war crimes in Ukraine. Key Points One killed, 15 wounded in Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic Putin ally says Ukraine war could last 'decades Wagner starts handing Bakhmut to regular Russian troops Vladimir Putin signs deal for Belarus to station its tactical nuclear weapons One killed, 15 wounded in Russian attack on Ukrainian clinic 10:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain At least one person was killed and 15 wounded in a Russian missile strike on a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. He denounced the attack as a crime against humanity, and the Ukrainian Defence Ministry called it a serious war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which set out how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war. Video footage showed a devastated building with smoke pouring out of it and rescue workers looking on. Much of the upper floor of what appeared to be a three-storey building had been badly damaged, as had cars parked nearby. Another (Russian) missile attack, another crime against humanity, Zelensky wrote on Twitter. Story continues The buildings of a psychological clinic and a veterinary clinic in the city of Dnipro were destroyed. As of now, one person was killed and 15 were wounded. Russia has denied repeated accusations that its soldiers have committed war crimes in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said earlier on Friday that air defences had shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on the capital Kyiv, Dnipro and eastern regions. Reuters was unable to verify the reports. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago, did not immediately comment on the reported air strikes but said Ukraine had struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone. (via REUTERS) One killed in Russian attack on clinic in Ukraines Dnipro- Zelensky 10:11 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain At least one person was killed and 15 wounded in a Russian missile strike on a clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. In an online post under video footage of a badly damaged building with smoke pouring out of it, he said rescue efforts were under way. Russian terrorists once again confirm their status of fighters against everything humane and honest, Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app. A rocket attack on a clinic in the city of Dnipro. As of now, one person was killed and 15 were wounded. The shelling aftermath is being eliminated and the victims are being rescued. Ukrainian officials said earlier on Friday that air defences had shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on the capital Kyiv, Dnipro and eastern regions. Reuters was unable to verify the reports. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago, did not immediately comment on the reported air strikes but said Ukraine had struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone. Firefighters work at a facility of a transport company damaged by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro (via REUTERS) Hospital in Ukrainian city of Dnipro hit in Russian attack - governor 09:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A hospital in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro was hit on Friday in a Russian missile attack, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said. Missile attack on Dnipro. Rashist bastards attacked a medical facility. There are victims, Lysak said on the Telegram messaging app, using a derogatory term for Russians. China says it hopes Black Sea grain deal can be done in balanced, comprehensive manner 09:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain China hopes the Black Sea grain deal can be implemented in a balanced and comprehensive manner, and wants to cooperate on global food security, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. Russia signaled on Thursday that if demands to improve its grain and fertilizer exports are not met then it will not extend the deal beyond July 17. Russia's Medvedev warns West is underestimating risks of nuclear escalation over Ukraine 08:37 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that the West was seriously underestimating the risk of a nuclear war over Ukraine, cautioning that Russia would launch a pre-emptive strike if Ukraine gets nuclear weapons. Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine has triggered the deadliest European conflict since World War Two and the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Russia, which has more nuclear weapons than any other state, has repeatedly said the West is engaged in a proxy war with Russia over Ukraine that could escalate into a much bigger conflict. There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Allowing Ukraine nuclear weapons, a step no Western state has publicly proposed, would mean a missile with a nuclear charge coming to them, Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012, was quoted as saying. The Anglo-Saxons do not fully realise this and believe that it will not come to this, Medvedev said. It will under certain conditions. Medvedev, who once cast himself as a liberal moderniser, now presents himself as a fiercely anti-Western Kremlin hawk. Diplomats say his views give an indication of thinking at the top levels of the Kremlin elite. The West says it wants to help Ukraine defeat Russia but U.S. President Joe Biden has cautioned that a direct confrontation between the U.S.-backed NATO military alliance and Russia would result in World War Three. Russia says Washington would never allow Russia to arm a country bordering the United States, and the Kremlin says the West is already essentially fighting an undeclared war with Russia. When Ukraine gained independence after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, it hosted thousands of nuclear weapons. It handed these to Russia under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in return for guarantees of its security and sovereignty from Russia, the United States and Britain. (AP) Dnipro has suffered,' regional governor says 08:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia attacked the city of Dnipro with missiles and drones overnight. It was a very difficult night. It was loud - the enemy launched a mass attack on the region with missiles and drones, Serhiy Lysak, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor, said on the Telegram messaging app. Dnipro has suffered. Lysak said several houses, cars, and private companies, including a transport company and a gas station, had been damaged. Officials in Kyiv said the roof of a shopping mall, a private house and several cars had been damaged. The governor of the Kharkiv region also reported damage to several private houses and industrial facilities. Russia, which began its full-scale invasion 15 months ago, has launched hundreds of missile attacks since last October, seeking to destroy critical infrastructure and power facilities. It has shifted the focus of its missile strikes to try to disrupt preparation for a Ukrainian counterattack, military officials have said. A rescuer is seen at a compound of a petrol station damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro (via REUTERS) Firefighters work at a facility of a transport company damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro (via REUTERS) Ukraine shoots down 10 missiles, over 20 drones in Russian attacks 07:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine shot down 10 missiles and over 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks on the capital Kyiv, the city of Dnipro and eastern regions, Ukrainian officials said on Friday. Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukraine this month, mainly attacking logistics and infrastructure facilities before an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 10 missiles fired from the Caspian Sea, 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two reconnaissance drones. It said a total of 17 missiles and 31 drones had been launched during the attacks, which started at around 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Thursday and continued until 5:00 a.m. on Friday. Several drones and several missiles hit targets in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, officials said. There was no immediate word of any deaths. A view shows a residential house damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro (via REUTERS) Russia's Medvedev says pre-emptive strike needed if Ukraine receives nuclear weapons 07:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia will have to launch a pre-emptive strike if the West gives Ukraine nuclear weapons, Russian news agencies quoted Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman, former president Dmitry Medvedev, as saying on Friday. There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike, Medvedev said. Russian president Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev (AFP via Getty Images) The Russians out for revenge on Putin: Well begin to liberate Russia 06:45 , Arpan Rai The fighters are exuberant after their cross-border mission, showing off a captured BRT armoured car and machine guns among their battle trophies, while vowing further attacks in a long campaign and predicting Vladimir Putins downfall. They have not invaded Russia on Ukraines behalf, but started a war of liberation, declares Denis Kapustin, the head of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) at a camp in northeastern Ukraine. We went back to our homeland. There were no Ukrainian soldiers with us; they will not appear in the territory of the Russian Federation. This is our internal problem, he insists. Kim Sengupta reports The Russians out for revenge on Putin Ukraine releases 106 Bakhmut soldiers from Russian captivity 06:29 , Arpan Rai Volodymyr Zelensky announced the return of over a hundred Ukrainian soldiers, initially considered missing in the battlefield, who fought in the grinding battle of Bakhmut last night. Today we have another positive result from our team working on exchanges. We have returned 106 more of our warriors from Russian captivity - they fought in the Bakhmut sector, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address. He added: It is very important that there was no information about many of these 106 people at all they were considered missing. But we found them. We brought them back home. 8 officers, 98 soldiers and sergeants Putins ally threatens pre-emptive strike: Irreversible laws of war' 06:19 , Arpan Rai Russia will need to launch a pre-emptive strike if the West gives nuclear weapons to Ukraine, one of the Russian presidents closest aides has said. There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike, former Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said, according to Russian state media. As the Ukraine war spills into Russia, a dangerous new front is about to explode 05:45 , Arpan Rai At the start of this week, an unknown number of paramilitaries entered the Russian region of Belgorod from Ukraine. The details are both unclear and contested, but what appears to have happened is essentially this: they took over a border post, attacked a few villages on the Russian side of the border north of Ukraines second city, Kharkiv, and advanced several dozen kilometres further into Russia before being beaten back by Russian troops. Russia claims they killed 70, but there is no corroboration. Ukraine says it was a couple of Russian volunteer groups opposed to President Putin, operating independently of the Kyiv government; Russia says it was Ukrainian saboteurs and terrorists operating with the full knowledge and support of Kyiv. But whoever was behind this raid is a secondary detail to the fact that it happened. Read the full story here: As the Ukraine war spills into Russia, a new front is set to explode | Mary Dejevsky I thank everyone who gave this result - Zelensky 05:00 , William Mata Ukraine is celebrating the return of more than 100 soldiers from captivity. Today we have another positive result from our team working on exchanges, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter. We have returned 106 more of warriors from captivity - they fought in the Bakhmut sector. It is very important that there was no information about many of these 106 people at all - they were considered missing. But we found them. We brought them back home. 8 officers, 98 soldiers and sergeants... I thank everyone who gave this result. Today we have another positive result from our team working on exchanges. We have returned 106 more of warriors from captivity - they fought in the Bakhmut sector. It is very important that there was no information about many of these 106 people at all - they were pic.twitter.com/DgZlNaMulk (@ZelenskyyUa) May 25, 2023 Wagner starts handing Bakhmut to regular Russian troops 04:55 , Arpan Rai Russias Wagner private army started handing over its positions in Bakhmut to regular Russian troops yesterday, five days after announcing complete capture of the devastated eastern Ukrainian city following the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the (Wagner) units will rebase to camps in the rear, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prighozin said in a video. The mercenary groups leader was wearing battle gear and standing beside a war-damaged residential block. However, Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said Wagner has only handed over positions on the citys outskirts but inside the city itself Wagner fighters remain. Prigozhin has said his fighting unit would be ready to return to the city if needed. Putin ally says Ukraine war could last 'decades 04:09 , Arpan Rai One of Russian president Vladimir Putins top aides has said the war in Ukraine could last for decades, with long periods of fighting interspersed by truces, a state news agency reported today. This conflict will last a very long time, most likely decades, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said. As long as there is such a power in place, there will be, say, three years of truce, two years of conflict, and everything will be repeated, he continued, reiterating Moscows claim that Ukraine is a Nazi state. The remarks by the deputy chairman of Putins powerful security council were made during a visit to Vietnam, reported RIA news agency. He had described the Ukrainian authorities as an infection. Pictures: May 25 in Ukraine 04:00 , William Mata A Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW) receives a medical aid after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine (via REUTERS) Ihor Medunov walks next to a police boat on a flooded island which locals and officials say is caused by Russias chaotic control of the Kakhovka dam downstream, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, near Zaporizhzhia (REUTERS) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the graduating class of Johns Hopkins University via livestream from Ukraine, (AP) This picture taken with a smartphone shows an elderly woman gesturing to a crow as they sit on a bench during a warm spring day, in the centre of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images) Ukraine warns of increased danger from missile strikes this morning 03:49 , Arpan Rai Military authorities in Kyiv warned of an increased danger of Russian missile strikes in the early hours today, adding that the anti-aircraft defences were working. Increased missile danger! Air defences are working in the region, the Kyiv regional military administration said in a message on Telegram. Russia has targeted all of Ukraine and especially Kyiv in the recent months with early morning combined strikes of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles in a bid to overwhelm Ukraines air defences. However, Kyiv says it has knocked out most of the Russian missiles headed towards Ukrainian cities with a high rate of success since April. No details of possible damage were immediately available. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers surprise commencement speech to Johns Hopkins 03:00 , William Mata During a surprise commencement address to graduates of Johns Hopkins University on Thursday morning, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told them to take advantage of the time and resources they have to pursue their passions and uphold the democratic values at stake in his countrys war against Russia. He spoke via livestream from Ukraine, where the ongoing conflict has impacted the futures of countless young Ukrainians, robbing them of opportunities and loved ones, Mr Zelensky said. He told Hopkins graduates to make the most of every moment. Time is the most valuable resource on the planet, he said. Some people realize this sooner, and these are the lucky ones. Others realize it too late, when they lose someone or something. He also thanked US leaders for their support since the Russian invasion, including significant investments in humanitarian and military aid. Volodymyr Zelensky speaking at the G7 conference (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan speak of peace progress while arguing in front of Putin 02:00 , Reuters Nagorno-Karabakh region (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia on Thursday both spoke of progress towards ending their decades-old conflict over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, even as they argued openly in front of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan, has been a source of conflict between the two Caucasus neighbours since the years leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and between ethnic Armenians and Turkic Azeris for well over a century. In 2020, Azerbaijan seized control of areas that had been controlled by ethnic Armenians in and around the mountain enclave, and since then it has periodically restricted access to the only access road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, on which the enclave relies for financial and military support. At a meeting in Moscow, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of causing a humanitarian crisis by blocking the only land route from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. He called it a direct violation of a 2020 ceasefire that ended the six-week war between the two countries, and called for an international mission to be sent to evaluate the situation. US senator hopes Serbia adopts Russia sanctions as Serb spy chief travels to Moscow 01:00 , AP Senator Chris Murphy (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A US senator on Thursday said he hopes Serbia would adopt Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, telling the Balkan country that "there is no future" in an alliance with Moscow. Russia's invasion has been an absolute disaster and my belief is that Russia is ultimately going to lose this conflict," Senator Chris Murphy told reporters in the Serbian capital Belgrade. Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed any sanctions on Russia. The future for Serbia is with the European Union and with the United States not with Russia," Mr Murphy said. There is no future with Russia. They (Russia) are going to be devastated, a permanent pariah internationally after this invasion. Though Serbia is formally seeking EU membership and has condemned the invasion at the United Nations, Belgrade has maintained its historically friendly relations with Moscow. Swedish minister for defence tweets about visit Friday 26 May 2023 00:00 , William Mata Visiting Kiev together with the minister for civil defence @CarlOskar. Met my friend and colleague @oleksiireznikov to discuss continued Swedish support for Ukraine. Impressed by the performance of the armed forces and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. pic.twitter.com/LFcL607Dsc Pal Jonson (@PlJonson) May 25, 2023 Pal Jonson, Swedens minister for defence, has been in talks with Ukraine counterparts over what support the Scandinavian country can bring. Mr Jonson was joined by his party colleague Carl-Oskar Bohlin for the visit on Thursday. The minister for defence tweeted: Impressed by the performance of the Ukrainian armed forces and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine secures release of 106 'hero' soldiers in swap with Russia - Kyiv Thursday 25 May 2023 23:00 , William Mata Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk attend a ceremony (REUTERS) Ukraine secured the release of 106 captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday, president Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff said. The soldiers, including eight officers, were captured fighting in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut that Russia says it has captured, but where Kyivs forces say they still have a small foothold. Every one of them is a hero of our state. Many of the ones we are returning from captivity were considered missing. The relatives of these people have gone through a difficult time, the senior official, Andriy Yermak, said. Tatiana Moskalkova, Russias human rights ombudsman, confirmed Russias Wagner private military unit took part in an exchange of fighters on Thursday, but gave no further details. Wagner played a key role in Russias months-long onslaught on the city of Bakhmut where both sides likened the ferocious fighting to a meatgrinder. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Ukrainian military intelligence says that 2,430 Ukrainians have been freed in prisoner swaps, including 139 civilians. Ukraine to open more embassies in Africa Thursday 25 May 2023 22:00 , William Mata Dmytro Kuleba in Africa (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Ukraine leaders said on Thursday they would consider opening more embassies in Africa and hold a summit between the country and continent. The Guardian reported Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines foreign minister, said: We have recently adopted our first African strategy and intensified our political dialogue with many countries on the continent. This year, we are going to establish new embassies in different parts of the continent and plan to hold the first Ukraine-Africa Summit. Sweden considers letting Ukrainian pilots try out Gripen fighter jets Thursday 25 May 2023 21:00 , William Mata Swedens defense minister says the Nordic country is considering whether to let Ukrainian pilots test its JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. So far, Sweden has ruled out sending any Gripen fighters to Ukraine, saying it needs them for its own territorial defense. But defence minister Pal Jonsson told Swedish broadcaster TV4 that Sweden was looking with a positive spirit on a Ukrainian request to allow its pilots to try out the Swedish plane. That could, for example, mean test flights, using simulators, learning more about the extensive ground system that is part of the Gripen system, he said. Ukraine has long asked for Western fighter jets to help it resist the full-scale Russian invasion, now in its second year. Initially reluctant, the U.S. and other NATO countries recently agreed to allow Ukrainian pilots to receive training to fly F-16 fighters, though none has yet committed to hand over any planes. The JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets (Agency) MPs vote to recognise famine as genocide Thursday 25 May 2023 20:00 , William Mata The Houses of Parliament (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) MPs have voted in favour of recognising a famine that engulfed Ukraine in the 1930s as a genocide against the countrys people. The House of Commons unanimously supported a motion to recognise the Holodomor as a genocide. The famine is widely agreed to be man-made, and occurred between 1932 and 1933, killing millions of Ukrainians. A growing number of countries have recognised the Holodomor as a genocide, as they consider it a purposeful attempt by the Soviet government to kill Ukrainians. The backbench motion, tabled by Conservative MP Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire), is non-binding. But Ms Latham urged MPs to support it as a means of sending a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin about his invasion of Ukraine. Sweden could allow Ukrainian pilots to test fly its Gripen fighter jets Thursday 25 May 2023 18:50 , Andy Gregory Sweden may allow a few Ukrainian fighter jet pilots to test fly the Nordic countrys Gripen aircraft, Stockholms defence minister has said. But in his comments to broadcaster TV4 on Thursday, Pal Jonson repeated earlier insistences that Sweden has no plans to send any of its Gripen to Ukraine, as all six divisions are required for the defence of Swedens territory. This concerns the Ukrainians putting in inquiries about various kinds of aviation systems it can be Tornados, F-16s or Gripens so that they can test the kinds of platforms and systems that we and other countries operate, Jonson said. We are now looking at the possibility that the Ukrainians can test the Gripen. Such an initiative could involve test flights, trying simulators and learning about the fighter jets ground support system that, he said, adding: Some decisions remain, both on the Ukrainian and the Swedish side. Russian prosecutor asks court to recognise Nazi crimes around Moscow as genocide Thursday 25 May 2023 18:14 , Reuters Russian prosecutors have asked a court to recognise crimes committed by Nazi Germany in the Moscow region as genocide and claim to believe that around 6.4 trillion roubles (66.8 trillion) in damage was caused. It was unclear whether the move was a prelude to a new financial compensation claim from Russia to modern Germany, with which relations have soured badly over Moscows war in Ukraine. But the statement, which cited the need to defend Russias national interests while restoring historical justice, appeared part of a wider effort by Russia to gird its citizens for what it says is an existential war with the West, which some Russian officials have likened to the one fought by the Soviet Union against the Nazis. The prosecutors asked a Moscow regional court to recognise as war crimes and crimes against humanity, and as genocide against the Soviet people, the established and newly revealed crimes committed by the German fascist invaders in the Moscow region between October 1941 and January 1942. More than 26,000 people were killed in the region during that time, they said in a statement, with Soviet citizens subjected to torture, robbery, forced labour and expulsions. It was not clear how soon the court would rule on the request. Watch: Asked about Ukraine, US presidential hopeful gives rambling answer about trans people Thursday 25 May 2023 17:44 , Andy Gregory Russia summons German, Swedish and Danish ambassadors over Nord Stream probe Thursday 25 May 2023 17:12 , Andy Gregory Russia has summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Sweden and Denmark in protest over what it said was the complete lack of results in an investigation into who blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The underwater blasts last September occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark, and the two countries are investigating the explosions which they say were deliberate alongside Germany. In a new statement, Russias foreign ministry claimed: It has been noted that these countries are not interested in establishing the true circumstances of this sabotage. On the contrary, they are delaying their efforts and trying to conceal the tracks and the true perpetrators of the crime behind which we believe are well-known countries. It is no coincidence that leaked improbable versions [of what happened] are dumped in the media to try to muddy the waters, the ministry said. The Danish foreign ministry confirmed that its ambassador had been summoned, and said authorities in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden were continuing their investigations. Denmark has been providing ongoing updates to Russia regarding the investigations progress and responding to their inquiries. We will continue to do so, the ministry told Reuters. Relocation of nuclear warheads to Belarus has already started, claims Lukashenko Thursday 25 May 2023 16:40 , Andy Gregory Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that the relocation of some of Russias tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus has already started, state news agency Tass reports. Russia signed a deal with its close ally Belarus earlier on Thursday about the storage of the warheads at a special facility, which it claims should be completed in just over a months time. EU tells China to play constructive role towards peace in Ukraine Thursday 25 May 2023 15:54 , Reuters The European Commission has repeated calls for China to play a constructive role in establishing peace in Ukraine, after a top EU diplomat met Li Hui, Chinas special representative for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Russia. The EU expects China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to play a constructive role ... and to recall the necessity to respect the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity ... by unconditionally withdrawing all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, the EU said in a statement. Last week, Li Hui visited Ukraine and met president Volodymyr Zelensky in a European tour that Beijing billed as its effort to promote peace talks and a political settlement. He is set to visit Russia on Friday. Cyprus upholding sanctions on Russia, EU must support sectors hit Thursday 25 May 2023 15:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Cyprus said on Thursday it was committed to upholding European Union sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and urged the bloc to support sectors, such as shipping, that have felt the impact of EU decision. Right from the start, Cyprus has been implementing all the sanctions related to the Russian invasion to Ukraine, President Nikos Christodoulides said after meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. Were on the right side of history and we will continue in the same direction. Where there is a cost for the European industries due to the decisions that we take - the right decisions that we take - the European Union should intervene to support those sectors. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus Thursday 25 May 2023 14:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday formalizing the procedure for deploying Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Control of the weapons will remain with Moscow. The move formalized the deal agreed on earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Putin previously announced in March that his country planned to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. The inking of the deal comes as Russia braces for Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive. Both Russian and Belarusian officials framed the step as driven by hostility from the West. Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus Russia expels five Swedish diplomats, says ties at "unprecedented low" Thursday 25 May 2023 14:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia said on Thursday it would expel five Swedish diplomats in what it said was a retaliatory measure for Swedens confrontational course in relations with Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was responding to the expulsion of five of its diplomatic staff from Sweden last month, which it called an openly hostile step. Relations between the two countries have worsened since Sweden last year announced its intention to join NATO following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Russian statement said ties had reached an unprecedented low. Russia summons Germany, Denmark, Sweden envoys over 'stalled' Nord Stream investigation Thursday 25 May 2023 13:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it had summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Sweden and Denmark to protest over what it said was the complete lack of results in an investigation to identify who blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year. Several unexplained underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and newly-built Nord Stream 2 pipelines that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea in September 2022. The blasts occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark and both countries say the explosions were deliberate, but have yet to determine who was responsible. The two countries and Germany are investigating the incident. Russias Foreign Ministry in a statement accused all three of deliberately dragging their feet and of trying to conceal who was behind the blasts. It said it was unhappy about what it called the opaque nature of the investigation and its refusal to engage with Russia. It has been noted that these countries are not interested in establishing the true circumstances of this sabotage. On the contrary, they are delaying their efforts and trying to conceal the tracks and the true perpetrators of the crime behind which we believe are well-known countries, it said. It is no coincidence that leaked improbable versions (of what happened) are dumped in the media to try to muddy the waters. The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have called the incident an act of sabotage. Moscow has blamed the West. Neither side has provided evidence. The ministry said Moscow would keep trying to ensure that Germany, Denmark and Sweden conducted what it called an objective investigation with Russia participating too. Live: Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin speaks at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Thursday 25 May 2023 13:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Watch live as US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin delivers opening remarks at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Live: Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin speaks at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over Thursday 25 May 2023 13:03 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine will not be able to join Nato as long as Russias invasion continues, the head of the alliance has said. To become a member in the midst of a war is not on the agenda, Jens Stoltenberg said. The issue is what happens when the war ends. Last September, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced a bid for fast-track membership of Nato after Russias president Vladimir Putin proclaimed four partially-occupied regions of Ukraine as annexed Russian land as part of Moscows invasion. Since then, there have been plenty of platitudes from Nato members about how Ukraine belongs in the alliance, but little concrete action, with some Western allies of Kyiv wary of moves that could push Nato towards an active war with Russia. At an event organised by think tank German Marshall Fund of The United States in Brussels, Mr Stoltenberg acknowledged there were differences among the alliance over how to address Kyivs membership ambitions. Nato chief says Ukraine should not join alliance until Russias invasion is over Watch: Wagner leader says Russian forces withdrawing from Bakhmut Thursday 25 May 2023 12:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine says Russian soldiers replace Wagner units in Bakhmut outskirts Thursday 25 May 2023 11:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia has replaced its Wagner private military units with regular soldiers in the outskirts of Bakhmut but the groups fighters remain inside the devastated city, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Thursday. Her comments appeared at least partially to confirm an announcement by Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin that his group had started withdrawing its forces from Bakhmut in east Ukraine and handing over its positions to regular Russian troops. Russia shuts Swedish consulate, expels diplomats in tit-for-tat move Thursday 25 May 2023 11:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia said on Thursday it would shut Swedens consulate in St Petersburg and its own mission in Swedens second-biggest city Gothenburg, and expelled five Swedish diplomats in a tit-for-tat move after Stockholm expelled five Russians last month. Stockholm said last month it had expelled the diplomats over espionage concerns. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the expulsions an openly hostile step. It said it had withdrawn its consent for the Swedish consulate in St Petersburg from September. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in a statement the news was very regrettable and further confirmation of the negative political development in Russia and the countrys international isolation. Russia has chosen to expel Swedish diplomats who acted within the framework of the Vienna Convention and conducted customary diplomatic activities in Russia. We also deeply regret the Russian announcement about the Consulate General in St Petersburg, he said. Relations between the two countries have worsened since Sweden last year announced its intention to join NATO following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Russian statement said ties had reached an unprecedented low. Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, says they stay under its control Thursday 25 May 2023 10:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday to formalise the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles on Belarusian territory, a step Moscow said was driven by rising tensions with the West. In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere, TASS news agency quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying. The deployment of the missiles was first announced by President Vladimir Putin in March. Since invading Ukraine last year, Putin has said repeatedly that Russia would be ready to use nuclear weapons if needed to defend its territorial integrity. NATO said at the time it did not see any need to adjust its own nuclear posture, though it said Putins nuclear rhetoric was dangerous and irresponsible. Ukraine said Russias ally Belarus had been taken hostage by Moscow. Moscow will retain control over the weapons and any decisions on their use, Shoigu said. TASS quoted him as saying that Iskander-M missiles, which can carry conventional or nuclear warheads, had been handed to the Belarusian armed forces, and some Su-25 aircraft had been converted for the possible use of nuclear weapons. Belarusian servicemen have received the necessary training in Russian training centres, Shoigu was quoted as saying. He added that the agreements signed with his Belarusian counterpart covered the procedure for establishing a special storage facility for nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Tactical nuclear weapons refer to lower-yield weapons designed for battlefield use, as opposed to strategic ones capable of wiping out entire cities. Russia has not disclosed how many tactical nuclear weapons it has. Russia's Wagner starts withdrawing units from Bakhmut Thursday 25 May 2023 10:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias Wagner mercenary group has started withdrawing its forces from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and transferring its positions there to regular Russian troops, its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video published on Thursday. We are withdrawing the units from Bakhmut. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the units will rebase to camps in the rear. We are handing our positions to the military, he said. The video was posted on Telegram by his press service, and showed Prigozhin dressed in battle gear and standing beside a war-damaged residential block. Prigozhin announced the capture of Bakhmut on Saturday after the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. In the latest video Prigozhin, who has repeatedly voiced public criticism of senior Russian defence officials, said his forces would be ready to return to Bakhmut if the regular army was unable to manage the situation. An unexploded missile next to a house near Mykolaiv, close to the Black Sea, in August 2022. Alex Chan Tsz Yuk/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Longstanding tensions around the Black Sea have only increased since Russia attacked Ukraine. In April, Ukraine's foreign minister said Kyiv and NATO should integrate air defenses in the region. Doing so would help turn the Black Sea into another "sea of NATO," the foreign minister said. At the Black Sea Security Conference in April, Ukraine's foreign minister called for NATO to extend its presence around one of Europe's most important bodies of water. "It's time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, a sea of NATO," Dmytro Kuleba said. The Baltic Sea has long been a vital avenue for Russia, allowing its military and commercial traffic to reach the Atlantic, but the admission of Finland and expected admission of Sweden to the alliance has further isolated Moscow. The Black Sea is similarly important, providing the countries around it all of which, besides Russia, are NATO members or partners access to the Mediterranean Sea and the oceans beyond. It also has some of Russia's only warm-water ports and is home to its Black Sea Fleet. The sea's strategic importance has only been underlined by the war in Ukraine and tensions there remain high in April, Russian jets downed a US drone over the sea. "The Black Sea can never be a NATO sea," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to Kuleba's comments. "This is a shared sea, it must be a sea of cooperation, interaction and security for all its littoral states. And this security is indivisible." A sea of trouble A Russian Su-27 sprays jet fuel near a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea in March. US European Command via Getty Images Russia has long used its dominant position in the Black Sea to protect its southwestern flank. Its presence there also gives Moscow "a springboard" to project power into the wider region, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said at the conference in April. When Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, it initially aimed to capture Ukraine's Black Sea coastline, but its advance was soon halted. Russia has also sought to blockade Ukraine and cut off its grain exports. A deal brokered by the UN and Turkey allowed those exports to resume, but commercial traffic in the sea is still being affected. Story continues Some of the most high-profile operations in the sea have been Russian losses. In the battle over Snake Island, Russia ultimately withdrew, and Ukraine's sinking of the cruiser Moskva, the Black Sea Fleet flagship, was an embarrassing defeat. Ukrainian navy ships during an exercise in the Black Sea in July 2020. US Navy/Courtesy of Ukrainian Navy Russia's focus on the Black Sea hasn't shifted even if its capabilities are limited, according to Volodymyr Dubovyk, a professor at Ukraine's Odesa Mechnikov University. After the sinking of Moskva, Russia has "discovered that it can do much less with what it has" in the Black Sea and that its naval advantage over Ukraine does not give it a decisive edge, Dubovyk told Insider. Ukraine has strengthened its coastal defenses and deployed US-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles, making Russia's naval operations more difficult and limiting its ability to enforce its blockade. Many Russian warships "have become sitting ducks for the Ukrainian anti-ship missiles, aerial and naval drones. So they limit their function to launching missiles, but one does not need to use ships to do that as such," said Dubovyk, who is also a visiting professor at Tufts University. Limiting Russian presence A Hawk surface-to-air missile system at the Black Sea Defense and Aerospace Exhibition in Romania in May 2022. Cristian Cristel/Xinhua via Getty Images NATO increased its attention on the region following Russia's seizure of Crimea in 2014. The Black Sea region is "a strategically important area for Euro-Atlantic security," Geoana said in April. Last year, following Russia's invasion, NATO set up four more battlegroups in its southeastern flank, including in Romania and Bulgaria. While those countries have modest militaries, they are beefing up their forces. Romania recently announced plans to buy two submarines and two mine-hunting ships as part of a larger military modernization program. At the conference in April, Romania's foreign minister said a strong NATO presence in the Black Sea was a "must." The US has also increased its presence in the region. Its warships haven't been able to enter the Black Sea since the war started, but US forces continue to train with nearby countries. US lawmakers have also called on the Biden administration to develop an official Black Sea strategy. As part of his call for greater NATO presence in the region, Kuleba said he supported the integration of Ukrainian air- and missile-defense systems with those of NATO members around the Baltic and Black seas. US Army Patriot missile-defense systems in Romania in November 2016. US Defense Department/Tech. Sgt. Brian Kimball While Ukraine has defended its airspace from Russian aircraft, its systems can only do so much on their own. "All air-defense systems, no matter how good, are limited by line of sight when operating without other networked assets," Alex Hollings, an aviation journalist and editor-in-chief of Sandboxx News, told Insider. Linking different systems together increases their effective detection range and "creates more time and opportunity to track targets and assess a trajectory for intercept," which in turn "creates a blanket of awareness over a huge swath of airspace and reduces the chances of any missiles making it through unchecked," Hollings said. Ukraine is not in NATO though alliance leaders have long said it will join which is likely to limit how closely they can integrate their air defenses. The war is also likely to limit what NATO can do around the Black Sea. "It is hard to envision that NATO will be able and willing to step up its presence in the Black Sea region substantially now, during the ongoing stage of the Russia-Ukraine war, especially as it concerns naval presence," Dubovyk told Insider. NATO could continue increasing its presence on land, although that may not have a direct impact on the war. "Continuing to support Ukraine directly" is the best way to help, Dubovyk said. Constantine Atlamazoglou works on transatlantic and European security. He holds a master's degree in security studies and European affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. You can contact him on LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, unveiled bipartisan border legislation Tuesday that would offer a legal pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants while investing in security measures along the borders with Mexico and Canada. The bill, dubbed the Dignity Act, is the latest effort in Congress to address humanitarian and economic concerns at the border and the first package of its scale this year to be presented with bipartisan support. It comes shortly after the House GOP, building on a plan crafted by Texas Republicans, passed a border bill that immigrant rights activists and Democrats decried as punitive and politically unviable. Escobar joined with Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida to lead the effort, with the support of Democrats Kathy Manning of North Carolina and Hillary Scholten of Michigan and Republicans Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico and Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, has been one of President Joe Bidens top foreign policy allies in Congress and said in a statement that he would champion the bill in the Senate. Congress has tried and failed for decades to pass comprehensive border and immigration legislation. Pressure increased last year as federal agents apprehended a record number of migrants and protections for Dreamers migrants who arrived illegally as children came under legal threat. A pandemic-era provision that let federal forces expel asylum-seekers also expired this month. President Biden followed by U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso land at El Paso International Airport aboard Air Force One. Biden will address new border enforcement operations and humanitarian efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border during visit Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. The Dignity Act would boost funding for Border Patrol and border barriers while shortening wait times for asylum-seekers who are making their case to legally remain in the United States. Asylum-seekers currently can wait for months or years for their cases to be adjudicated. The bill also includes a Dignity Program that would give undocumented immigrants legal status if they pay taxes and undergo a criminal background check. The program could give up to 11 million people already in the country the right to work and travel in the United States, including more than a million who live in Texas. It would also require employers to eventually use E-Verify, an electronic service that checks employees immigration status. Story continues More: One-way ticket home: Biden administration highlights migrant removal, deportation flights The bill would also create processing centers for migrants in Mexico, Central America and South America, where they could be screened in advance for asylum eligibility. Unlike Republican border efforts, migrants wouldnt be required to wait out their asylum cases in Mexico. The package allows migrants a 72-hour period after arriving in the U.S. to rest and seek legal counsel before seeing an asylum case official. The contours of the bill contain parallels to other border and immigration proposals recently floating on Capitol Hill. The bill includes the Dream and Promise Act, a bill passed out of the then-Democrat-run House in 2021 that would allow recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to apply for citizenship. More than 100,000 DACA recipients, who were brought into the United States illegally as children, live in Texas. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona, and Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, crafted a bipartisan border framework late last year that would pair a path to citizenship for migrants who arrived as children and reductions in work visa backlogs with greater funding for border enforcement and extended expulsion authority for asylum-seekers. Sinema expressed openness to Escobar and Salazar's bill. Congresswomen Salazar and Escobars legislation presents another opportunity to help us find lasting, non partisan solutions that secure the border, keep Arizona communities safe, and ensure the fair and humane treatment of migrants," Sinema said in a statement. Escobar and her partners had kept their legislation close to the chest and will need to recruit additional support if the bill is to have a chance of passage in the House. But Republicans have been adamant in several of their more punitive border policies, and far-right members also gained the ability to unseat McCarthy as part of their deal for the Californian to become speaker, increasing the political stakes for any bipartisan legislation. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Escobar said she and Salazar shared their plan with a bipartisan group of senators on the flight home from a recent congressional trip to Mexico City. She said senators including Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, were receptive and have kept in touch with her as it was written. Cornyn has said for months that he would be open to a bipartisan border and immigration bill and cautioned his fellow Republicans in the House to write legislation that would gain support among Senate Democrats. Escobar said now that the Republican border bill passed the House, I hope it frees up a lot of moderate Republicans to say, you know, I voted for what House leadership presented to us, but it's not going to go anywhere in the Senate. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, traveled with President Biden on Air Force 1 to El Paso. Escobar and Salazar acknowledged that there were difficult compromises made to reach a bipartisan package with chances of survival in a closely divided Congress. Escobar said she had reached out to members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, adding that recruiting support will continue. This is not a perfect bill. It is not everything that Democrats want. It's not everything that Republicans want. It is a breakthrough, a compromise, Escobar said. So there will be a lot of conversations, also with outside groups, of course, to talk through the aspects of the bill that I hope appeals to them, and to talk through those aspects of the bill that they are uncomfortable with. Escobar said she had reservations at first about asylum seekers not having access to due process at the border if their hearings were expedited, saying she hoped to address the concern by offering loan forgiveness for legal representation for migrants. The inclusion of E-Verify was a major point of contention among Republicans when they wrote their own border bill. Many in the party said it was an important tool to protect American workers, while others said it would harm small business and agriculture interests that rely on undocumented labor. Progressives are also largely opposed to mandating E-Verify, saying it shuts undocumented immigrants out of the work force. Escobar and Salazar said the Dignity Program will give undocumented workers the chance to work legally in the country and that the E-Verify mandate would take time to implement. Democrats are also largely opposed to the construction of a border wall, citing humanitarian and ecological concerns. It was one of the key priorities of former President Donald Trump and is politically toxic for much of the left. Republicans Secure the Border Act included a provision to resume construction of a border wall. Escobars office denied inclusion of border wall funding in the bill, but it does require the Department of Homeland Security to create barriers and detection technology in critical sections of the border. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a border Democrat who has worked with Sinema and Tillis on border issues, said those barriers were just the border wall under a different name. Fencing is the wall, he said. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: US Rep. Veronica Escobar unveils bipartisan immigration plan Ford Norway carrier The U.S. Navys newest supercarrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), arrived in Oslo, Norway today for a scheduled port visit. While American carriers do operate off of Norway, this marks the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited Norway in 65 years, following USS Intrepid's (CVA-11) visit to Oslo in July 1958. The visit is also a significant moment for the Ford, which is currently on its first full-length cruise after years of technical problems and other setbacks since it was officially delivered to the Navy four years ago. The visit comes amid growing U.S.-Norwegian military co-operation in recent years given growing military pressure from Russia in the Arctic Circle. Fords Oslo visit marks the ships first stop while deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) area of operations, according to a Navy press release dated May 24. This is not, however, the vessel's first port visit outside the United States of late having visited the port at Halifax, Nova Scotia last year. https://twitter.com/USNavyEurope/status/1661371220783185921?s=20 Footage of the carrier transiting the Oslofjord, an inlet connecting Oslo with the North Sea, has been circulating on social media from both official and unofficial accounts, which you can see below. https://twitter.com/Forsvaret_no/status/1661345681783521280?s=20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wj8Holj2bo On the banks and hillsides surrounding the Oslofjord, dozens of Norwegians gathered to watch the impressive sight of the Ford venturing towards the countrys capital, guided by tugboats. Ford measures roughly 1,092 feet (333 meters) long, with a beam of 256 feet (78 meters) at its flight deck, and a height of 250 feet (76 meters). What's more, the carrier's draft of nearly eight meters up to 13 meters, depending on the source, proved significant when transiting the Oslofjord. At its lowest point through Drbaksundet, the Olofjord measures just 19 meters deep, Norway's NRK media outlet reports. Story continues https://twitter.com/fralundh/status/1661275997415645190?s=20 During the visit to Oslo, Ford will host local officials and key leaders for a reception to enhance the U.S.-Norwegian partnership. In addition, sailors will have the opportunity to visit some of the citys most significant historical and cultural landmarks. Ford is expected to stay at Oslo until next Tuesday, The Associated Press reports, after which it will likely take part in drills with the Norwegian armed forces, possibly in the Arctic. "This visit is an important signal of the close bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Norway and a signal of the credibility of collective defence and deterrence," said Jonny Karlsen, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, the operational command centre of the military, AP reports. Photo by JAVAD PARSA/NTB/AFP via Getty Images Capt. Rick Burgess, Gerald R. Fords commanding officer, said the following of the deployment according to the Navys recent press release. It is an honor, joy, and thrill to visit Oslo and show our cherished partner the Navys newest class of aircraft carriers. The crew is beyond excited for this opportunity to serve on the first U.S. aircraft carrier to make this historic visit to Norway in 65 years. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the Oslo fjord for its first port call in Oslo, Norway, May 24, 2023. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Glunt The importance of the Oslo visit cant be overstated for Ford. Although the vessel conducted a brief operational deployment in the Atlantic last year, including exercises with strategic allies, this was, by the Navys own admission, more of a stress-test for the ship. Ford has struggled to reach a state of true operational readiness since it was delivered to the Navy in 2019, suffering a series of issues with its advanced electromagnetic aircraft catapults and arresting gear, radars, weapon elevators, and other systems. Sailors aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), May 24, 2023. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Glunt Three Norwegian military helicopters perform a fly-by of the flagship USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) as the ship transits the Oslo fjord for its first port call in Oslo, Norway, May 24, 2023. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Glunt As The War Zone has noted previously, issues surrounding the catapults and arresting gear have proved significant for the carrier, owing to the fact that the Navy has argued these provide Ford class carriers with increased sortie generation rates over their Nimitz class predecessors. The overall cost of the Ford has also mushroomed in recent years, with the Navy capping its cost ceiling at $13.2 billion. This photograph taken on May 24, 2023 shows the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford cruising near Jeloya island, in Moss, south of Oslo. Photo by TERJE PEDERSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images The port visit to Oslo comes after Fords departure from its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia on May 2. As we reported at the time, it was anticipated that the vessel would take the place of the Nimitz class carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), which returned to Norfolk earlier this month after an eight-month cruise around Europe and the Middle East. According to Navy Capt. Brian Metcalf, head of the Ford class carrier program office, Fords deployment is expected to last at least six months. Ford begins to move away from the pier on May 2 as it sets out on its first real operational deployment. USN The Ford is currently in the region as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), which is conducting a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operation. This follows GRFCSGs completion of Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) on April 3, designed to stress-test the defensive capabilities of carrier strike groups before upcoming deployments. According to the Navys recent press release, GRFCSG consists of Carrier Strike Group 12, Carrier Air Wing 8, and Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2). Participating escorts include the Arleigh Burke class destroyers USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116). While it was previously unclear if the Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) would also accompany the carrier strike group, images released by the Navy have subsequently confirmed Normandys presence in European waters. Typically, carrier strike groups are also accompanied by one or more nuclear fast attack submarines. You can read more about the listed elements and squadrons within GRFCSG here, and find out what it was like to train with carrier strike groups around Norway during the Cold War here. Prior to arriving at Oslo today, the carrier strike group integrated His Norwegian Majestys Ship (HNoMS) Roald Amundsen (F311) as the GRFCSG Surface Warfare Commander. On May 22, Vice Adm. Thomas E. Ishee, commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) embarked Ford in the North Sea. Ishee was joined aboard Ford by the U.S. Ambassador to Norway Marc Nathanson, Norwegian Chief of Defense Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, the Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy Rear Adm. Rune Andersen, and members of the Kingdom of Norway's government and military. https://twitter.com/USNavyEurope/status/1660763534878208003?s=20 More broadly, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has been participating in NATO exercises in European waters this month, recently sailing in formation during a passing exercise with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. This comes as U.S. Sixth Fleet and STRIKFORNATO execute Exercise Formidable Shield, an interoperability exercise from the High North and North Atlantic Ocean that runs from May 8-26. https://twitter.com/NATO_MARCOM/status/1660917268627193858?s=20 Of course, this all comes amid greater interoperability between U.S. and Norwegian forces in recent years, owing to the strategic and geographical significance of Norway. As well as being a NATO member, Norway also shares a 198-kilometer-long (123-mile-long) border with Russia. It also sits on the highly strategic GIUK gap that is a bottleneck for Russian submarines activity. Its coast also expands across the increasingly important arctic region. U.S.-Norwegian interoperability has extended beyond the naval realm of late, it should be noted, with U.S. bombers recently using a Norwegian Air Base above the Arctic Circle for the first time. These interoperability exercises, alongside Fords visit to Norwegian waters, cements the U.S.s commitment to its European partners in a region broadly currently experiencing the turmoil of Russias all out war against Ukraine. They also demonstrate unity in the aforementioned highly strategic Arctic region, which Russia has increasingly looked to expand its contorl over. Moreover, the entire Nordic region has grown in significance as of late owing to Finland's joining NATO in April and Sweden's move to do the same. There's been an uptick in co-operation in the region of late, particularly amongst local air powers in response to the Russian threat. Norway is a strategic partner in the continued efforts to maintain a secure and stable Arctic and North Atlantic region that benefits global order, said Rear Adm. Erik J. Eslich, commander of Carrier Strike Group 12, according to the Navys recent press release. We are committed to our NATO Ally and fostering our strong relationship built on a foundation of shared values, experiences, and vision. On the prospect of joint U.S.-Norwegian military training exercises in the Arctic following Fords Oslo visit, the Russian embassy in Oslo stated that, there are no questions in the (Arctic) north that require a military solution, nor topics where outside intervention is needed, Reuters reports. All in all, Fords Oslo visit marks a welcome change of fortunes for the vessel and marks the first port visit on the highly anticipated ship's first true deployment. Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com The News LAGOS Sam Altman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, visited Nigeria last week and met with tech entrepreneurs, government representatives, and students in Lagos. It was the only scheduled Africa stop on a 17-city global listening tour to engage with local users of ChatGPT, OpenAIs signature product. Days before the event, Altman appeared at a U.S. congressional hearing on the dangers and opportunities for artificial intelligence, calling for regulation. Know More Nigeria receives the largest share of tech investment into Africa, and Lagos was Altmans fourth stop in the first week of his tour, after Toronto, Washington DC, and Rio de Janeiro. There arent many examples of African startups creating AI tools on the scale that OpenAI operates. Earlier this year, a London-based AI startup InstaDeep founded by a Tunisian was acquired by German vaccine producer BioNTech for over $600 million but that is an exception. Indeed, the more current link between Africa and AI has been controversial: moderators in Kenya employed to review Metas products for harmful content under questionable work conditions were reportedly paid meager wages to make ChatGPT less toxic. OpenAI presents itself as being governed by the opposite of the move fast and break things ethos that spurred Facebook in years past, by devising policies that constrain how licensees can use its models. This month, it told FiscalNote, a company that provides data to Washington lobbyists and policy advocates, that it cannot advertise using ChatGPT for politics. Step Back As with other stops elsewhere, OpenAI did not invite the press for Altmans visit to Nigeria, though journalists were not prevented from attending. It was a very quiet affair compared to previous visits by Silicon Valley leaders, notably Mark Zuckerberg in 2016, and Jack Dorsey in 2019. Maybe that underscores the changing narrative around tech founders as rockstars, prompting a humbler tone for engaging stakeholders. Story continues Altman "needs players on the continent to see OpenAI as more than just a company that traumatizes their labor force," says my colleague Louise Matsakis who covers tech for Semafor. "Sam has huge some say delusional ambitions for what OpenAI will achieve, and I think he realizes that governments everywhere could be a roadblock to that." Notable (Bloomberg) -- Chinas muted economic rebound and Beijings reluctance to deploy large-scale stimulus are reverberating around the globe, crushing commodity prices and weakening equity markets. Most Read from Bloomberg Investors are pegging back their expectations for the worlds second-biggest economy as worries mount that its recovery from pandemic restrictions has lost momentum. Recent data suggest gross domestic product growth this year will be closer to the governments target of about 5%, contrary to expectations of a large overshoot formed earlier in the year. The figures also show a lopsided rebound thats being led by consumer services, while industrial activity lags far behind. People are adjusting their China recovery expectations lower, said Chaohui Guo, an analyst at Beijing-based investment bank China International Capital Corp. In equity markets, the CSI 300 Index has given up about half its gains from the so-called reopening trade that started in November, while the yuan is signaling an economy in distress after breaking through the closely-watched 7-per-dollar level. In the crisis-ridden property market, sales are slowing after an initial rebound. Combined with the persistent financial troubles of real estate developers, thats hampering new projects in a sector which accounts for about 20% of Chinas GDP after including related sectors. Infrastructure spending is being constrained by the hefty debt loads of local governments, symbolized this week by an 11th hour bond repayment by a state-owned firm. Disappointing construction activity is weighing heavily on many commodities markets. Copper long considered a barometer of an economys health because of its wide range of uses has dived below $8,000 a ton while iron ore has breached $100, unwinding all of the gains made after Beijing called time on its Covid Zero policies late last year. China is the worlds biggest buyer of items like crude oil and copper, and its vast steel industry accounts for well over half of global iron ore demand. Reflecting Chinas services-led recovery, oil prices have fared better after Beijing abandoned its restrictions on travel. But other energy products keyed to industrial activity are feeling the pinch. The price of coal, Chinas mainstay fuel that underpins its industrial base, has dropped 18% since the beginning of the year. Flagging demand in the US and Europe is partly to blame, weighing on Chinas exports of manufactured goods. There was a lot of expectation that you would see quite a strong year in China, said Neil Beveridge, a senior analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein. What were seeing right now is fairly weak China recovery in terms of industrial production. We havent seen domestic consumption really come through and exports have been a problem. Among equities, the worst performers this year are stocks tied to consumer spending, reflecting concerns over the fragility of the consumption-led recovery. Fears over Chinas growth have also contributed to a rout in European luxury stocks including LVMH and Gucci-owner Kering SA wiping about $60 billion from the sector over two days this week. International investors are also selling mainland equities, with outflows exceeding $1 billion on one day alone. The growth story is not what people thought it would be, said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia Pacific economist at Natixis SA. There was too much optimism about households spending down their excess savings in particular, she said. In China, its fear-related excess savings, and that fear has not changed. Chinas flagging growth, particularly since a tepid set of April activity figures released earlier this month, have amped up calls for more central bank and fiscal support to bolster the economy. But Beijing is likely to take a longer view and resist adding any large-scale stimulus now, preferring to save its fiscal ammunition for next year, Garcia Herrero said. In addition, base effects from last years extended lockdown of Shanghai should be highly favorable to growth rates in the second quarter, further reducing the need for action. That low base could ultimately shape Chinas response, irrespective of how markets are responding to its economic woes. We dont expect policymakers to unleash major stimulus, as the 5% GDP growth target is still well within reach, economists at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said in a note. How the recovery fares in the second half hinges on whether consumer, business, and investor confidence can be rebuilt in time, as a persistent lack of confidence could eventually trigger a negative feedback loop that results in more prolonged weakness, they added. --With assistance from Dan Murtaugh, Stephen Stapczynski, Sarah Chen and Jason Rogers. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks prior to signing the budget at a ceremony at a grocery store June 21, 2022, in Richmond, Va. Youngkin is reportedly reconsidering plans to run for president in 2024. | Steve Helber, Associated Press Back in April, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin thought he had put speculation on a possible presidential campaign to rest. I am wholly focused on the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Im looking forward to these elections, he said. But the latest reports throw his plans into question. After he released a campaign-style video, a close source told Axios that a push from GOP donors, who are concerned about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has led the governor to rethink his moves for 2024. Hes reconsidering, the source said. Hed be in his own lane: Hes not never-Trump, and hes not Trump-light. Youngkin denied the speculation surrounding a possible campaign. It is so humbling that there is an expectation that I might do this, he said Wednesday, adding, And it is also encouraging that they like what were doing in Virginia. But Im going to continue to focus on Virginia, Youngkin said. This news coincides with DeSantis anticipated announcement for 2024 on Wednesday. In polls, DeSantis continues to trail behind former President Donald Trump, who remains the favorite Republican primary candidate. Related As for Youngkin, if he does decide to run, he might wait until after Virginia state legislative elections in November to jump into the race. Despite the rumors, the governors senior adviser, Dave Rexrode, said that Youngkins attention was on Virginia and not the presidential race. Governor @GlennYoungkin is focused on Virginia. Anyone who anonymously says otherwise probably isnt as close to the Governor as they want people to think, said Rexrode in a tweet. During the gubernatorial election in 2021, Youngkin helped reestablish the GOP majority in the state House of Representatives by campaigning on promises to end COVID-19 restrictions, cut taxes, banish perceived wokeness from public institutions and elevate the role of parents in K-12 schools, as the Virginia Mercury reported. Story continues Governor @GlennYoungkin is focused on Virginia. Anyone who anonymously says otherwise probably isnt as close to the Governor as they want people to think. Dave Rexrode (@DRexrode) May 23, 2023 The chatter about him launching a bid this year intensified last week when Youngkin tweeted a one-minute-long campaign-style video. We can usher in a new era of American values. President Ronald Reagan changed lives and now its our turn, he says in the video. A time to choose life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness over oppression and dictatorial rule. The clip, paid for by Spirit of Virginia, Youngkins super PAC, is from his appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, in early May. Its time to usher in a new era of American values. Its our turn to choose life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. pic.twitter.com/IH8enVaL5B Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) May 18, 2023 A political expert told an NBC affiliate that the clip looked like a presidential ad. It has nothing to do with Virginia, said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. In fact, Youngkin doesnt mention his state even once. Rexrode, Youngkins senior adviser, denied the claim and reaffirmed Virginia as the governors sole focus. But Sabato said that Youngkin can still enter the race by the end of this year, around when voters might be looking for a fresh face. Although, waiting past the summer could put him behind other candidates in fundraising and voter outreach, but he could receive a boost if he manages to have a big influence on Virginias fall state legislative elections. 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. Business Reporter Joel Donofrio is the business reporter for the Yakima Herald. He was born and raised in the Chicago area, but he and his wife, Cathy, fell in love with the beauty (and low humidity) of the West and moved here in 2009, eventually relocating to Yakima in September 2021. They have two young adult children, Anthony and Joanna, and a dog, Molly. When he is not taking photos of construction sites, tracking down new and relocating businesses or catching up on agricultural trends, Joel enjoys playing guitar, singing, listening to music and playing and watching sports. RFA/Latino Community and Lower Valley Reporter Heyo, Im Jasper. Nice to meet you. I cover a wide variety of news, but I try to focus on the Latino community and the Lower Yakima Valley. I want to sharestories and perspectives from the Yakima Valley. Im interested in economics, labor, geography and the environment, but the most important issues will always be the ones the community cares about. If you have something worth saying, Ill listen and try to write it down. Im a gosei from Northeast Los Angeles and I got my start as a student journalist and editor covering sports in the Bay Area. Im a massive soccer fan and I still love to play. I also love water in all its forms, the word copacetic and trying new things. I want to read more, and I like to cook, but Im not great at either. Have fun out there! At 16, she took a bullet to the head. Now Tacoma teen wants to help young people heal Tribes ramp up pressure on WA over gas prices as climate laws take hold FILE - A group of Arab refugees walks along a road from Jerusalem to Lebanon, carrying their belongings with them on Nov. 9, 1948. The group was driven from their homes by attacks in Galilee. For the first time, the United Nations will officially commemorate the flight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from what is now Israel on the 75th anniversary of their exodus, an action stemming from the U.N.s partition of British-ruled Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. Chinese brokerage firms are bracing for more pain as a tepid economic recovery and a brutal stock market sell-off could inflict further damage to the financials of the 11 trillion yuan (US$1.56 trillion) sector. These concerns swirl even as a wave of job cuts and shutdowns has whipsawed the sector in the year to date. The industry whose top players include China International Capital Corp (CICC) and Citic Securities, is being closely monitored amid media reports that Zhongtai Securities, a medium-size brokerage firm, has shuttered its proprietary trading department following massive losses. The Hong Kong subsidiary of Orient Securities has also reduced staff because of the sluggish business performance, a source familiar with the matter told The Post. The cost cutting campaign has not spared even the employees who have retained their jobs. Bloomberg reported CICC told some senior bankers this week that their bonus compensation for 2022 will be cut by more than 40 per cent. 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. The decline in the sector's financial performance is a harbinger of further shocks in the form of more lay-offs, downsizing and additional cost-cutting exercises. The outcome is inevitable after hiring sprees by brokerages such as CICC and Citic Securities that increased staff strength by more than 8 per cent last year coincided with a sharp decline in profits. Combined profits for listed Chinese brokerages dropped 34 per cent in 2022, as decreased turnover reduced commission incomes and eroded investment returns, according to data from Kaiyuan Securities. A pedestrian passes a China International Capital Corp. (CICC) securities brokerage branch in Beijing in 2016. Photo: Bloomberg alt=A pedestrian passes a China International Capital Corp. (CICC) securities brokerage branch in Beijing in 2016. Photo: Bloomberg> "It's a highly competitive industry and if you cannot meet the company's target by the end of the year, it will be time for you to leave," said Dai Ming, a fund manager at Huichen Asset Management in Shanghai. "That's how the rules of the brokerage industry play. Given the recent performance of the stock markets, we may see more such cases [of lay-offs]." China's benchmark CSI 300 Index tumbled 22 per cent last year for the worst annual performance in four year, as a two-month lockdown in Shanghai and frayed ties between Beijing and Washington spooked investors. While China's reopening of the economy spurred a rally in stocks in late 2022, the momentum has waned since China reported a disappointing set of economic numbers last month which has slashed stock market capitalisation by over half a trillion dollars. The CSI 300 has erased the year's 8.5 per cent gain now. The economic slowdown and market decline are not the only setbacks brokerages have to deal with in the coming months. Analysts say commission rates for institutional investors like mutual funds could potentially be cut, probably in response to the State Council's guideline in September that encouraged brokerages and mutual funds to further cut service fees. "If this materialises, we believe it could negatively impact the securities brokerage revenue of the Chinese brokers, as institutional brokerage fee income accounted for 17% of the net brokerage fee income of the broker sector in 2022," HSBC analysts said in a report. Brokerages have already started eliminating jobs amid the gloomy business environment. Zhongtai Securities, which is based in the eastern Shandong province, sacked four senior executives in charge of the proprietary trading department that incurred a loss of 351 million yuan last year, according to the 21st Century Business Herald, citing a notice circulating on the internet. The investment loss was the main drag on Zhongtai's full-year 82 per cent profit decline, prompting complaints from the management that eventually made the firing decision, the report said. Zhongtai Securities has not responded to a request by the Post for comment. The company is ranked 12th among the publicly traded brokerages in terms of reported profits, according to DZH. It had 9,766 employees at the end of last year, a 30 per cent increase from the preceding year, the annual results showed. "Over the past decade, we've seen a rapid expansion of the brokerage industry in either the business scale or the number of employees in line with the development of China's capital market," said Wang Chen, a partner at Xufunds Investment Management in Shanghai. "But now the development has been slowing down and most brokerages cannot afford such a big staff force. A round of lay-offs is something that is very likely to happen." The lay-off threat accompanies the public perception of higher-than-average salaries. China's top five securities companies had to take pay cuts ranging from 5.9 per cent to 47 per cent last year after the wife of a young CICC trader flaunted her husband's monthly salary on social media, drawing public ire and attracting the attention of policymakers. The Communist Party's disciplinary commission ran an article in February that mobilised a prolonged war against corruption, calling for bankers to ditch the financial elite theory and the pursuit of extravagant ways of life. The industry has experienced job cuts in the past. In 2012, CICC axed positions at its investment banking unit in 2012 after the CSI 300 dropped 25 per cent a year earlier and Guosen Securities cut jobs at its Guangzhou branch in 2014 after an almost 8 per cent drop on the benchmark for the preceding year. Still, some analysts see the current bout of lay-offs as a sign of an industry turnaround. Zheshang Securities said brokerages' profitability could improve this year driven by a rising demand for stocks amid expectations of further monetary policy loosening. Shares of Zhongtai Securities have risen almost 10 per cent in Shanghai this year, outperforming a 5.3 per cent gain in a gauge tracking mainland-listed brokerages compiled by Shanghai DZH. Citic Securities has climbed 1.9 per cent so far in 2023 and CICC has advanced 9.7 per cent in the period. Some indicators predict industry fortunes are about to reverse, analysts say. A gauge of 25 mainland-traded brokerages is trading at an average 10 per cent premium to the book value, compared with 90 per cent over the past decade, according to Bloomberg data. "Job cuts may be unavoidable as the general industry environment has soured," said Dai at Huichen Asset. "But on the other hand, that means the industry is pretty close to bottoming out and that creates a buying opportunity. The stocks are cheap." 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. Hackers codenamed Volt Typhoon targeted important infrastructure organisations on the island of Guam - APFootage/Alamy Stock Photo Chinese state-backed hackers have infiltrated US communication systems in the Pacific, prompting fears that Beijing could cut off American military channels during an invasion of Taiwan. Security researchers at Microsoft said hackers codenamed Volt Typhoon were caught infiltrating critical national infrastructure on the Pacific island of Guam, which acts as a crucial military staging post for the US in the region. Microsoft said the stealthy and targeted campaign had been ongoing since at least 2021 and has targeted critical infrastructure organisations in Guam and elsewhere in the United States. In this campaign, the affected organisations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors," researchers said. Hackers appear to be using their access to spy on US operations but Microsoft warned that the group was pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises. The discovery of the Volt Typhoon operation will raise fears that China might try to cut off US communications in the region during an invasion of Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping believes Taiwan is rightfully part of his country and has vowed to take control of the island. Guam, a military staging post for the US in western Pacific, will play an important role in the event of a Chinese evasion - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images AsiaPac Taiwan has long been an ally of the US and President Joe Biden has repeatedly pledged to come to the nations military aid if it is threatened by Beijing. Guam is a major staging post for the US military in the western Pacific. The US island territory, which is less than 2,000 miles from Taiwan, would play a significant part in Americas response to a Chinese invasion. Guam also hosts critical communications infrastructure in the region. A major telecoms cable linking Japan and Australia runs through the island, while another connects Taiwan and Singapore to Tokyo. The discovery of the Chinese state hacker gang triggered a worldwide alert by the Five Eyes espionage alliance. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said: Private sector partners have identified that this activity affects networks across US critical infrastructure sectors. Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand all echoed the US warning, cautioning providers of services such as telecoms, energy, ports and pipelines to be on red alert for further Chinese intrusions. Paul Chichester, director of operations at the National Cyber Security Centre, GCHQs defensive arm, said: It is vital that operators of critical national infrastructure take action to prevent attackers hiding on their systems. Marc Burnard, lead China researcher with cyber security company Secureworks, said the Chinese spies had worked exceptionally hard to cover their tracks. Hackers had disguised themselves unusually well by only using tools built into Microsoft Windows to carry out their spying. Typically, state-backed hackers deploy custom-written software to achieve their aims. This malicious software, or malware, almost always leaves traces that allow security personnel to track down the spies. US officials have been stepping up investigation into alleged spying by Chinese nationals in recent years amid mounting tensions between the two countries. The US Department of Justice handed down indictments in 2020 and 2021 linked to alleged cyber spying and hacking. Mandatory Credit: Photo by RICK D'ELIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (13652704a) US President Joe Biden delivers remarks at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 06 December 2022. Biden visited the facility in an effort to show that his economic plan is creating jobs. US President Joe Biden delivers remarks in Phoenix, USA - 06 Dec 2022 - RICK D'ELIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Mr Burnard said: These tradecraft developments have likely been driven by a series of high-profile US Department of Justice indictments of Chinese nationals allegedly involved in cyberespionage activity. Jamie McColl, a research fellow with the Royal United Services Institute think-tank specialising in cyber security, said the Volt Typhoon campaign signalled a shift in Chinese activity, which has historically not been concerned about being detected. Its not that often you see these joint attributions across every Five Eyes member, particularly with China so this is quite notable. John Hultquist, chief analyst of Google-owned cyber security company Mandiant, said: China's attack capability has been very opaque and very difficult to find, frankly [before now] they havent really shown us what theyre capable of. Don Smith, Secureworks vice president of threat research, said: Being caught is the worst possible thing if you're a hostile state actor, because that can then be used for either covert or overt diplomatic embarrassment - like today. China rejected the US-led accusations on Thursday, claiming they were part of a collective disinformation campaign. Official spokesman Mao Ning told Reuters: The United States is the empire of hacking. 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. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Securitatea economica, strategie cruciala Bunastarea comunitatilor si a tarilor depinde in mod critic de securitatea economica. Aceasta acopera o serie de subiecte, cum ar fi accesul la bunuri de prima necesitate, oportunitati de munca si venituri stabile. Datorita securitatii economice, oamenii se pot recupera si o pot lua de la capat dupa socuri grave, [citeste mai departe] Colombia Studies Need for New Oil and Gas Exploration as Reserves Dwindle, Minister Says (Bloomberg) -- Colombia is studying the need for more exploration contracts after a report showed oil and gas reserves dropping, according to a senior minister. Most Read from Bloomberg The government wants to lead a transition away from fossil fuels while limiting any negative impact on the economy, Trade Minister German Umana said Thursday in a phone interview. Well certainly take measures to ensure environmental sustainability, but also economic sustainability, Umana said, speaking from Washington where he was meeting with US officials to discuss the trend toward growing global protectionism. Gustavo Petro won the presidency last year pledging to phase out oil and coal. So far his administration has refused to issue any new exploration licenses, though some of his ministers have hinted that this policy could be modified. Read more: Colombia Oil, Gas Reserves Drop Amid Petro Clean Energy Push Colombia needs to take into account the importance that oil and gas still have for the balance of payments and the fiscal accounts, Umana said. Oil and coal represented about half of Colombian exports in 2022. The government also needs to consider how sectors such as tourism are performing, to gauge how quickly Colombia can manage the transition, he added. Period of Hostility Trade with Venezuela is expected to rise to $1.2 billion this year from around $700 million in 2022, Umana said. Business between the two neighbors is growing rapidly after Petro reestablished diplomatic relations as soon as he took office last year, ending a long period of hostility between Bogota and Caracas. Venezuela was formerly a top export market for Colombian goods, receiving some $6 billion of products in 2008. But bilateral trade slumped as relations soured. Umana says trade could gradually increase to about $4.2 billion by 2026. The biggest obstacle to the growth of exports is the demand capacity of Venezuela, he said. As long as Venezuelas economy continues to grow, Colombia could boost exports toward the pharmaceutical, agriculture, auto, as well as metalworking and steel sectors, which are vital for recovering Venezuelas oil sector, he said. Import Tariffs Colombia needs to protect some sectors against anti-competitive practices in developed nations, such as production subsidies, that make it difficult for Colombian products to compete, Umana said. He didnt say which sectors need protection, though Petro has often argued for measures to protect Colombian agriculture. In December, the nation imposed a 40% import tariff on clothing to protect its textile industry. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. andresr / Getty Images Over 28,000 individuals whose information was compromised in a 2020 Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc. data breach could be owed up to $5,000 in damages but those affected need to act before July 24 to claim their settlement payment. See: Why Stealth Wealth Is the Best Way To Handle Your Money Find: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch Maxim Healthcare Services a home healthcare services company that offers nationwide staffing, rehabilitation services and care for people with chronic and acute illnesses and disabilities hasnt admitted any wrongdoing but has agreed to a lawsuit settlement, per The Sun. The breach announced by Maxim at the beginning of November 2021 resulted in cyber criminals gaining access to personal and health information from Maxims email database. The lawsuit asserted that the healthcare company failed to protect patient data by employing inadequate data security controls. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? According to the lawsuit website, the offenders managed to get hold of at least 28,425 members names, addresses, dates of birth, contact information, medical history, medical condition or treatment information, medical record number, diagnosis code, patient account number, Medicare/Medicaid number, username/password, and Social Security numbers (SSNs). Who Is Eligible? Individuals who were affected by the breach were sent a notice letter by Maxim in Nov. 2021 after the data breach was identified on Dec. 4, 2020. The letter claims that unusual activity and the breaching of email accounts happened between Oct. 1 and Dec. 4, 2020. The settlement provides reimbursement of up to $5,000 for extraordinary expenses incurred as a result of the breach and lost time expenses for up to three hours at $20 per hour, for a maximum of $60, per Top Class Actions. Additionally, the settlement further provides for a flat payment of approximately $100 to Settlement Class Members who were residents of California between Oct. 1 and Dec. 4, 2020. This amount can be combined with an extraordinary expenses claim not with a lost time expense reimbursement. As part of the settlement, free Financial Shield protection by Pango will be provided for 12 months without the need to submit a settlement claim. A notice sent by the claim administrator to eligible beneficiaries contained a link to redeem this identity theft protection. A claim form must be submitted to receive a payment. This form can be submitted through the settlement website or downloaded and sent to the Kroll Settlement Administration LLCs address on the site. To request a claim form, call 1-833-630-8181. The final hearing for Wilson, et al. v. Maxim Healthcare Services Inc. will take place on July 28, but the claim form deadline is July 24. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: You Could Be Owed $5,000 After 2020 Data Breach The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below. You can see the new edition of the Xpat E-Magazine here: https://xpatloop.com/newsletters/2023/25-may.html 1. In focus are fresh Interviews with interesting expats you may know, or want to know: * Andrew Woods, Chief Technology Architect, S3 Entertainment Europe, * Matthew Hayes, Organic Farmer & Owner of Zsamboki Biokert, * Gustavo Dominguez, Winemaker, Koch Winery Hungary, * James Carcass, Glassblower & Wood Carver, * Hiroko Ishimoto, Pianist & Feminist. 2. Next up, you can see example events happening these days below and in Xpat Calendar: E.g. Charity Fashion Show, Wine & Champers Fest, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Budapest Beer Week. 3. Also included for interest are new Movies & Specials, plus fresh News, Info & Inspiration: E.g. Madame Tussauds Opens, Massive Loan Keeps BKK Running, Exploring Sopron Region. We hope you like what's in it for you. Best wishes from Team XpatLoop.com Hungary has taken all necessary and possible measures since the coronavirus pandemic to be prepared for another potential health crisis and be able to protect peoples lives, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in Geneva. The ministry cited Szijjarto telling the World Health Organisation (WHO) general assembly that the past three years had involved several challenges and one of the most serious ones was the coronavirus pandemic. The most important task of the international community would be to prepare for potential future challenges, he said, adding that over-politicising international health care should be avoided. He added that politics and ideology had nothing to do with saving peoples lives and if geopolitics are mixed up with health issues, it will cost many lives. The lesson learnt from Hungarys successful epidemic management was that taking geopolitical issues into consideration would have resulted in many more victims. Had Hungary waited for the European Commissions president to place orders for vaccines by text message, much fewer lives could have been saved, he added. The government took action instead, and purchased Eastern vaccines whose effectiveness was tested by Hungarian experts, he said. As a result, Hungary was able to launch the fastest vaccination campaign in the European Union and was able to lift restrictions as the first member state, he said. Hungary was even able to offer 8.6 million doses of vaccine to countries in need, he added. The pandemic has made it clear that it is vitally important to set up strategic reserves even if they are considered unnecessary or too expensive under normal circumstances, he said. Szijjarto said Hungary had taken all necessary measures to be prepared for the next potential health crisis, citing the purchase of cargo aircraft, building a national vaccine plant and ventilator production plant, and being ready to produce protective masks and gloves. Aviation regulator DGCA will conduct an audit of Go First's preparedness before approving the resumption of flights, the crisis-hit airline's head of operations has told its staff. Cash-strapped Go First stopped flying on May 3 and is undergoing voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings. On Tuesday, a senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the airline has submitted its response to the regulator's show cause notice, indicating that it is working on the details of a plan to resume flights at the earliest. In a communication to the staff on Tuesday, the airline said, "DGCA will be conducting an audit to check our preparedness in the coming days. Once approved by the regulator, we would be soon commencing operations". The government has been very supportive and has asked the airline to commence operations as soon as possible, it added. The communication was sent out by Go First's Head of Operations Rajit Ranjan. To a query on the resumption of flights by Go First, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said, "We have not received anything from Go First yet... When we do receive (the plan for restarting flights), the DGCA will certainly apply its mind, look at the safety protocols and based on that take a decision". He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of industry body CII's annual session in the national capital. Meanwhile, the airline's communication to the staff also said the CEO has assured that salaries for April will be credited to their accounts before the commencement of operations. "Further, from the coming month, the salary will be paid in the 1st week of every month," it added. On May 8, DGCA issued a show cause notice to the budget carrier under the relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, for its failure to continue the operation of the service in a safe, efficient and reliable manner. The airline has submitted its reply to the show cause notice. Go First, on May 2, announced filing the plea for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings as well as suspension of flights, initially for two days -- May 3 and 4. At that time also, DGCA had issued a show cause notice to Go First for cancelling flights for May 3 and 4 "without any prior intimation". The airline has cancelled all its flights till May 26. On Monday, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld NCLT's decision to admit Go First's plea for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings. The ruling had come on petitions filed by four lessors opposing the insolvency resolution proceedings of the airline. GSEB SSC Result 2023: The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Education Board (GSEB) will release the results of Class 10 2023 SSC board exams on May 25 at 8 a.m. Students can view the results at gseb.org, the official website.The examinations were held this year between March 14 and March 28. Around 9.56 lakh students registered for the Class 10 exams, with 101 prison convicts taking the SSC Class 10 exam as well. GSEB Class 10th Result 2023: Heres how to download scorecards Visit the official website - gseb.org. On the homepage, click on the GSEB SSC 10th result link. Enter seat number and other details on the login page. Submit and download GSEB Class 10 SSC result. Last year trends 50,3726 out of a total of 7,72,771 students who took the GSHSEB SSC exam in 2022 passed it. Girls outperformed boys in terms of the total number of students who passed the SSC exam administered by the Gujarat board. Boys pass with a pass rate of 84.67 per cent, while girls pass with an average rate of 89.23 per cent. GSEB SSC HSC Result 2023: The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) announceed the GSEB Class 10 results 2023 today, May 25, at 8 AM. Students who appeared in the exam held from March 14 to March 28 can enter their seat number on the GSEB SSC result link 2023 on the official website, gseb.org to download the provisional mark sheet. This year the GSEB 10th result overall pass percentage was at 64.62 percent. The topper of Gujarat SSC exam, Rudra Gami from Rajkot has scored a 99.9 percent in the exams. GSEB has already declared the Gujarat Board 12th Science Result and GUJCET Results on May 2, 2023. For the Gujarat HSC Science Result, the total pass percentage was recorded at 65.58 percent. The overall pass percentage for Group A was 72.27 percent and Group B was 61.71 percent. In 2023, over 8 lakh students appeared for the GSEB class 10th examinations which were conducted from March 14 to March 28, 2023. GSEB Board HSC Class 10th Result 2023: Grade-wise results Students with grade: A1- 91 to 100 Marks: 6,111 B1- 71 to 80 Marks: 86,611 B2- 61 to 70 Marks: 1,27,652 C1- 51 to 60 Makrs: 1,39,242 C2- 41 to 50 Marks: 67,373 The overall pass percentage this year in the GSEB Class 10 result is 64.62% with a total number of students who appeared as 7,34,898 out of which 4,74,893 students passed. The pass percentage has dropped by 0.56 percent points this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre will complete its 9 years on May 30, 2023, since its first came to power by winning a massive mandate in the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. In all these years, the Narendra Modi-led BJP dispensation has taken several initiatives for the upliftment of the downtrodden and the marginalized sections of society including farmers and women - one of the key factors that possibly helped the BJP win a much bigger mandate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It is beyond doubt that PM Narendra Modis idea of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas, has transformed India into one of the fastest-growing economies of the world today. In line with PM Modis vision that mere good governance is not enough, it has to be pro-people and pro-active,' the BJP regime has incorporated the philosophy of maximum governance and minimum government at the centre of the development process. In the past nine years, the Narendra Modi government has remained committed to ensuring social justice, equality, respect, and equal opportunities for all Indian citizens. Prime Minister Narendra Modis campaigns, rallies, his governments policies, and welfare schemes have largely focused on empowering every Indian citizen, making India a corruption-free, poverty-free and self-reliant nation and a society driven by social values. Having recently lost the assembly elections in its southern citadel - Karnataka, the Modi-powered BJP has shifted the spotlight back on the "second order impact" of its various pro-poor schemes in order to keep the narrative about its welfare initiatives alive before the high-stakes assembly elections in several states and the upcoming General Elections in 2024. As part of its ninth-anniversary celebrations, various events planned by the ruling BJP will showcase how several welfare measures taken by the Narendra Modi government have accrued a host of direct and indirect benefits to millions of Indians, how these schemes have impacted their lives and elevated their standards of living. While BJPs blueprint for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha poll campaign is being drawn, it will undoubtedly revolve around several flagships schemes of the Narendra Modi government like 'The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana - that has benefited millions of Indian women and also prevented them from getting sick by providing them with smoke-free and safe fuel, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) - under which the government constructed more than 3 crore houses and provided them at an affordable price to the deprived section of the country. Due to women-centric schemes launched by the Modi government, women, especially in rural India, need not go to faraway places to collect firewood which also saves them a lot of time that can be utilised for gainful employment. Similarly, the BJP dispensation at the Centre has built crores of toilets across the country to promote cleanliness and prevent ordinary Indian citizens from falling prey to various diseases caused by unhygienic conditions. The presence of children in schools has also increased due to the construction of toilets or Izzat Ghar and the drop-out rate has declined significantly. It was PM Modi who first promoted the idea that having a toilet in the house of the poor means ensuring a dignified life to them. With initiatives like 'Nal Se Jal', the Union government ensured that millions of households get access to clean drinking water. As part of its policy to help the underprivileged, farmers and the poor, the Union government has announced a 10% Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (General Category), it has directly transferred Rs 22.6 lakh crore to the beneficiaries under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and accorded constitutional status to the OBC Commission. With flagship schemes like the Swachh Bharat Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Make In India, Digital India, Skill India among others, the saffron party has been able to project itself as a pro-poor' and 'pro-farmer' party. With special emphasis on the financial inclusion of Indian citizens, PM Modi announced the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the biggest financial inclusion initiative in the world, on 15th August 2014 from the ramparts of the Red Fort. While launching the Yojana, PM Modi hailed the occasion as a festival to celebrate the ''liberation of the poor from a vicious cycle.'' Under PMJDY, more than 45 crore bank accounts have been opened so far. The Modi government also built more than 10.9 crore toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, whereas more than 3 crore urban and rural houses have been constructed under the PM Awas Yojana. Apart from these, the Modi government also launched several other welfare schemes aimed at improving the livelihood of people and providing them with basic amenities, better facilities, skills and opportunities. In order to provide insurance coverage accessible to ordinary Indians, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana were launched in 2015. The Narendra Modi-led NDA government went a step further by launching the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana - a national public health insurance scheme of the Government of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for the low-income groups in the country. Nearly, 50% of the countrys population qualifies for this scheme. Those registered under this scheme access their own primary care services from a family doctor and when anyone needs additional care, PM-JAY provides free secondary health care for those needing specialist treatment and tertiary health care for those requiring hospitalization. Another public welfare scheme, PM Garib Kalyan Yojana that was launched during 1st wave of Covid-19 provided more than 80 crore people free foodgrains, thereby ensuring food security to millions of people. The scheme was extended during the second Covid-19 wave in the country. During the past nine years of PM Modis tenure, the BJP government has also launched several women-centric schemes aimed at empowering women and making them socially and financially self-reliant. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao - one of the most talked about schemes of the Modi government - was launched in 2015 with the sole objective of curbing the declining sex ratio in the country, creating social awareness and enhancing opportunities for girls. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is another significant scheme for the upliftment of women that was launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Under the scheme, the government provided free LPG connections to women Below Poverty Line (BPL). Ujjwala Yojana was launched in 2016. With the launch of Ujjwala 2.0, the scheme was extended to encompass more people into its radius. Using the 'Nirbhaya' fund, the Union government also introduced a one-stop centre - 'Sakhi'. These centres, located across the country, provide refuge to victims of violence and abuse with legal, medical and counselling services. The 24x7 helpline offers all services to victims under one roof. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and Poshan Abhiyaan are some other key women-centric initiatives of the Modi regime. While the Narendra Modi government withdrew the three Central farm laws after massive protests by the farmers, it also undertook several good initiatives that were very helpful for farmers during the Covid-19 pandemic as it provided financial assistance in the form of cash and subsidy. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is one such initiative of the Modi government wherein farmers get Rs 6,000 per year as minimum income support. Under the PM-Kisan scheme, which is operational since December 2018, beneficiaries get financial benefits in three instalments of Rs 2000 each. PM Modi also launched Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana - a pension scheme for the small & marginal farmers of India in September 2019. Under this yojana, farmers in India get a minimum pension of Rs 3000 / month upon attaining the age of 60. However, those who fall in the age group of 18 to 40 years can apply for the scheme. With an objective to support production in agriculture by providing affordable crop insurance to guarantee comprehensive risk cover for farmers crops against all non-preventable natural disasters, the Union government launched the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in 2016. PM Modis dynamic leadership and his selfless service to Mother India has played a vital role in strengthening the social fabric, in the upliftment of poor people, empowering the women, helping the farmers, creating job opportunities for the youth, upskilling people and ushering India on the path of growth and prosperity. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged the non-BJP parties to unite and defeat in the Rajya Sabha the bill related to the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor was addressing a press conference after meeting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who assured to support the former in his party's fight against the ordinance. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray have assured their support to Kejriwal in this matter. The Delhi CM said he will seek time on Friday for a meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss the issue. "If all non-BJP parties unite, the bill can be defeated in the Rajya Sabha as no party enjoys majority in the Upper House of Parliament," he said. "The ordinance has affected the federal structure of the country. Elected governments not being allowed to work by using ordinances is not good for the country," Kejriwal added. Pawar, who was present at the press conference, said the right of elected governments to govern needs to be protected and said all non-BJP parties should support the AAP in this matter. "Kejriwal should also meet all non-BJP parties to convince them. It is our responsibility to persuade everyone - be it Congress or Biju Janata Dal (BJD)," he suggested. Describing national interest as a matter of priority, the former Union minister called for the need to have a dialogue between all non-BJP parties to provide a stable and progressive government when the time comes. Parliamentary democracy needs to be saved, Pawar said, adding that the NCP will support the AAP in this matter. Calling Pawar one of the tallest leaders in the country, Kejriwal thanked him for backing the AAP in its fight against the ordinance. Kejriwal slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and alleged that if people vote for a non-BJP government, then the party resorts to three methods (in order to topple that government) - purchase MLAs from the ruling side, show fear of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or promulgate an ordinance to ensure the elected government is unable to function. "Defeating the Centre's ordinance is not a matter of politics but that of the country and all parties who love the country should come together," the AAP leader said. Pawar said, "I have been a parliamentarian for 56 years. This is not a matter of Delhi or AAP but of saving parliamentary democracy." "When a Parliament building already exists in the country, whether there is any need for a new one is a matter of debate. When we get an opportunity, we will speak in Parliament," Pawar said on a query regarding the opposition parties deciding to skip the inauguration of the new Parliament complex on May 28 at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Replying to a question on the PM candidate, the former Union minister said instead of projecting anyone as a PM candidate, it was important to have a dialogue between non-BJP parties to provide a stable and progressive government. "But we haven't spoken yet either with Congress or with Arvind Kejriwal. When time comes, we will talk. National interest is a priority for us," he said. On seat-sharing among the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies in Maharashtra for the upcoming elections, Pawar said it has been decided that all three partners will depute their respective leaders for talks. "The process has not started yet, but we will find a solution," he said. Kejriwal, who has been on a visit to Mumbai, was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during his meeting with Pawar at Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai. The top AAP leader on Wednesday met former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's Bandra residence to seek support over the ordinance issue. On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Mann met their West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance. The Centre last Friday promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court. New Delhi: A minor mishap in the washroom of Tihar Jail landed the imprisoned AAP leader and former Delhi Health Minister, Satyendar Jain in the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, news agency IANS quoted an official as saying. The official said that the undertrial prisoner tripped in the bathroom of the hospital at central jail No. 7 around 6 a.m. on Thursday, where he was under observation for general weakness. "Then he was checked by the doctors. Vitals were normal. He was further taken to the DDU Hospital as he felt pain in back, left leg and shoulder, IANS quoted prison officials as saying further. On Monday, the former AAP minister Jain was taken to Safdarjung Hospital after he complained of health issues. AAP has claimed that Jain suffers from acute lumbar pain, causing vertigo and chronic lower back pain due to a slipped disc. The pain radiates throughout his lower limbs, leaving him with a constant tingling sensation and decreased mobility, the party said. A recent MRI conducted on May 3 demonstrates degeneration in all intervertebral discs of Satyendar Jain leading the doctors to advise urgent spinal/vertebral surgery and proper post-operative care, read the AAP statement. However, the AAP said, Jain has been placed as No 416 on a waiting list by Jail authorities and is expected to be able to undergo the surgery only after a further five months. Also Read: 'I've Become A Skeleton Now': AAP's Satyendar Jain Seeks Bail In Money Laundering Case Earlier this month, on May 15, Jain had moved a plea in the Supreme Court, seeking bail in the alleged money laundering case against him. He has challenged the Delhi High Court's order dismissing his bail plea in the alleged case. Jain was arrested on May 30, 2022, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by Enforcement Directorate and is presently in Judicial Custody in the case. Also Read: Satyendar Jain Examined For Spine Problem At Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital The ED case is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint registered on the allegation that Satyender Jain had acquired movable properties in the name of various persons from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, which he could not satisfactorily account for. New Delhi: AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, who has been in Tihar Jail since May last year, was hospitalised and put on oxygen support on Thursday after he collapsed at the prison due to dizziness, the party said. The Aam Aadmi Party said Jain was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and later, shifted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems. Jain has been in prison since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May last year. "Satyendar Jain has been admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. He collapsed due to dizziness in bathroom of Tihar Jail. Even before this, Satyendar Jain had fallen in the bathroom and had a serious spinal injury," the Aam Aadmi Party said. Wishing speedy recovery to Jain, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances." Also Read: 'I've Become A Skeleton Now': AAP's Satyendar Jain Seeks Bail In Money Laundering Case "A dictator is adamant to punish the person who worked day and night to provide good treatment and good health to the public. God is watching and will serve justice to all. I pray for Satyendra Jain's speedy recovery. May God give him the strength to fight against these adverse circumstances," Kejriwal wrote on Twitter. Also Read: Satyendar Jain Examined For Spine Problem At Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital A senior jail official said that around 6 am on Thursday, undertrial prisoner Satyendar Jain slipped in the bathroom of MI room of the hospital of central jail number-7, where he was kept under observation for general weakness. He was examined by doctors and his vitals were found normal. Jain was referred to the DDU Hospital as he complained of pain in his back, left leg and shoulder, the official said. On Monday, Jain was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital as he was feeling unwell. A study from the Center for Global Development, In-Group Bias in the Indian Judiciary (2023) examined bias in India's courts, investigating whether judges deliver more favourable treatment to defendants with similar backgrounds or identities. This issue has yet to be widely studied in the courts of lower-income countries. The research group focused on gender, religion, and caste in India's lower courts, examining whether unequal representation has a direct effect on the judicial outcomes of women, Muslims, and lower castes in an anonymised dataset of 5 million criminal court cases from 2010 to 2018. Method of analysis The eCourts platform does not provide demographic metadata on judges and defendants, but the research group was able to determine the characteristics of interest, namely gender and religion, from their names. In order to conduct the analysis, the research group trained a neural net classifier to assign gender and religion based on the text of names and apply it to our case dataset to assign identity characteristics to judges, defendants, and victims. They use two databases of names with associated demographic labels to classify gender and religion (Muslim and non-Muslim). They then trained a neural net classifier to predict the associated identity label for pre-processed name strings using a bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model. The LSTM classifier was able to understand a text fragment within context, which improves accuracy over standard fuzzy string matching methods. For instance, the LSTM classifier can accurately identify the religious classification of a name based on the context of the word. The LSTM classifiers were trained for gender and religion using labelled databases, and the trained classifiers were applied to eCourts case records. The judge and defendant names were then pre-processed and applied to the trained classifier to form a predicted probability for gender and religion. The results were 97% accurate. Caste identity is one of the most important social distinctions in India, so it is vital to explore how bias impacts different groups. Unfortunately, caste is also very complex and hierarchical, making it difficult to specify binary in-groups and out-groups. Consequently, identifying caste based on names is quite the challenge, and the researchers were not able to develop a correspondence between names and specific castes. This is because, according to the researchers, individual names do not identify caste as precisely as they identify religious or gender identity; the caste significance of names can also vary across regions. Thus, the research group decided to define a caste identity match as a case where the defendant's last name would match the judge's last name, examining whether judges deliver more favourable outcomes to defendants who share their last name. Results The study found no gender-based or religion-based bias in criminal cases in India, but they found some in-group bias among social groups with shared uncommon last names. They also found no evidence of in-group bias among judges in terms of race/ethnicity, gender, or religion. This is in contrast with studies in other jurisdictions, where researchers have tended to find large effects. For caste bias, even considering the difficulties of analysing it, the report found that a judge-defendant name match increases the likelihood of acquittal by 1.2-1.4 percentage points. This result suggests that there is caste-based in-group bias in groups made of individuals with less common names. Namsor launches new software for classifying Indian names This report shows the relevance of name analysis to analyse bias in situations where sensitive data such as gender, caste, and religion are not provided. While Namsor was not used in the academic study In-Group Bias in the Indian Judiciary (2023), which involved training a custom AI model, Namsor used a similar approach and launched an AI model for Indian name classification by geography (state or union territory), by religion and by caste group. One benefit of the model is that it can be applied to any state or union territory of India, not just Delhi. Namsor could not assign names to specific castes but was able to train a model to recognise caste groups (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, General). One significant use case for the technology is to measure biases in other AI algorithms. (Above mentioned article is a consumer connect initiative, This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of IDPL, and IDPL claims no responsibility whatsoever.) (Bloomberg) -- The economic impact of a deal on the debt ceiling will have ripple effects for presidential candidates in 2024 and 2028. Most Read from Bloomberg Negotiators for House Republicans and the White House have been haggling over proposals that could include multi-year spending cuts and possibly trigger or exacerbate a recession in 2024, according to Bloomberg Economics. Such a scenario would weigh down a reelection campaign by President Joe Biden thats already beset by low approval ratings and concerns over the 80-year-olds fitness for office. In addition, those spending caps, depending on the details and if House Republicans and the White House end up reaching a deal, would likely be lifted some time after the next presidential election. That would promote a strong economic recovery, amounting to a tailwind for whomever is president at that time. The contour of the economic impact of a spending cut deal is such that most of the hit will happen in 2024, Anna Wong, the chief US economist for Bloomberg Economics, said. When the cap is removed if thats 2026 or 2025 then whoever wins the 2024 election will likely have a strong recovery in that administration. That means, if Republicans are extremely strategic or just plain lucky this debt ceiling negotiation could help them create the economic conditions to defeat Biden in 2024 and win the presidency again in 2028. Capping spending for three to five years would mean an additional 340,000 job losses by the end 2024 and a decrease in gross domestic product of up to 0.3%, according to Bloomberg Economics. That would be on top of a predicted recession that could come as soon as the second half of this year. The timing and depth of the recession matters, but voters tend to hold presidents responsible for the health of the economy. The last three one-term presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Donald Trump have all had their reelection hopes fatally injured by the lingering effects of a recession. Days after launching his 2024 reelection bid in April, Biden registered the lowest approval rating of his presidency in Gallups monthly poll. Just 37% said they approved of his job performance, with 59% saying they disapproved. When it comes to the debt ceiling specifically, polls indicate that voters blame Republicans and Democrats equally for the standoff. A Quinnipiac poll Wednesday showed Americans laying responsibility with Biden over House Republicans 38% to 37%. A Marist poll released Tuesday showed that 45% of Americans would blame Republicans for a default, while 43% would blame Biden. Both polls are within the margin of error. Read more: US Voters Assign Equal Blame to Both Sides in Debt-Limit Fight Polls also show general agreement that a default would be bad. The Monmouth survey found that 42% of adults agree that the US would suffer significant economic problems if the $31 trillion debt limit isnt lifted and there is a default, while 30% say thats an exaggerated claim and 28% said they have no opinion. Under Pressure Its possible that the bigger-picture economic effects havent been considered by either Republicans or Democrats as both have been under intense political pressure to cut a deal to prevent a federal default that could occur as soon as June 1. The two sides are still wrangling over details related to the size and scope of budget constraints, additional requirements for social programs and whether to address energy permitting issues. While House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said negotiators are moving closer to a deal, no agreement has yet been reached. McCarthy said Republicans will not approve any deal that doesnt include cuts to federal spending. Democrats continue to push against spending cuts. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday that Republicans are pushing devastating cuts to education, Medicaid, public, safety and veterans. The best way to avoid a recession would be to raise the debt ceiling with no conditions, Wong said. That had been the mantra from Democrats for months, but a Republican-controlled House and a narrow majority in the Senate meant that Democrats didnt have the support to pass a clean debt ceiling hike. The risks of not cutting a deal are even greater. Defaulting would mean a much deeper recession and widespread job losses. --With assistance from Gregory Korte. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. New Delhi: Concluding his three-nation visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning arrived in Delhi and said, today the world wants to know what India is thinking. While addressing the public gathered to welcome him, PM Modi said, "The people here asked me why I gave the vaccines to the world. I want to say that this is the land of Buddha, Gandhi. We care even for our enemies... Today the world wants to know what India is thinking." "When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi," he said. PM Modi further talked about the release of the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea and said, "Tamil language is our language. It is the language of every Indian. It is the oldest language in the world. I had the opportunity to release the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea." Earlier in the morning, PM Modi arrived at Palam airport in Delhi after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Prime Minister Modi was garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at the airport. Nadda reached Delhi's Palam airport early on Thursday morning to welcome PM Modi on his arrival. Also Read: PM Narendra Modi Discusses Boosting Trade, Defence With Australian Counterpart Appreciating PM Modi, BJP national President said, "The world appreciates your governance model. US President Joe Biden asked for your autograph, this shows how the world is seeing India under your leadership." "The way the PM of Papua New Guinea touched your feet, shows how much respect you have there. The people of India feel proud when they see that our Prime Minister is being welcomed like this," he said. A large number of BJP workers and supporters also gathered outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." Also Read: India 'Most Critical' Partner To Counter China: US Lawmakers Ahead Of PM Modi's State Visit During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. New Delhi: Indian television industry has been hit by not one but three unfortunate losses in the last few days. Fans woke up to the shocking news of actor-model Aditya Singh Rajput's sudden death on May 22, 2023. He reportedly collapsed and died in the bathroom of his apartment in suburban Andheri, Mumbai. Reacting to his shocking death news, many of his colleagues, friends and fans extended condolences and prayed for his family in his hour of grief. Social media influencer Faizan Ansari believes that the case should be investigated as Aditya was found dead in his apartment bathroom. Talking about Aditya, Faizan said, "Aditya was a very kind and humble soul, he was a very down-to-earth person and would always welcome people with open arms, in fact, we, recently met at a club, we danced, and he seemed happy, I mean he loved partying, so we would often go clubbing a lot, dance and have fun. It's sad that he isnt with us anymore." Aditya Singh Rajput started his career at the age of 17 as a model, actor and was involved with the production work as well. Born and brought up in Delhi, he hailed from Uttarakhand. He started his journey as a ramp model and later was seen in many commercials as well. He also starred in films like U Me Aur Hum, Krantiveer and Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara. Faizan Ansari added that Aditya's WhatsApp list should be investigated, and the people with whom he had recent chats shall be asked around so that the truth comes out. Whoever is responsible should be behind bars. "We lost one more pure soul because of unknown reasons, and if theres anything wrong, Aditya's culprit must be behind bars as soon as possible. Aditya must get justice, " he said. According to the police, Rajput (33) collapsed in the bathroom of his apartment in the Oshiwara area of Andheri on Monday afternoon and was found by his maid. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead. "The actor's viscera sample was sent for examination and we are awaiting the report. If anything is found in the report, the investigation will move ahead in that direction, but till now nothing suspicious has been found," the official from Oshiwara police station told PTI. The medical report will make it clear if Rajput had consumed alcohol or any other substance, he said. The postmortem was performed at a hospital in Goregaon and the body will be handed over to the actor's family for last rites, the official added. Aditya Singh Rajput was also seen in the popular reality show Splitsvilla Season 9. New Delhi: Bollywood sensation Surveen Chawla took the Cannes Film Festival by storm leaving the crowd in awe of her show-stopping moment. Capturing hearts in a breathtaking yellow Seema Gujral ensemble, Surveen was quite the ray of sunshine walking the red carpet. Radiating pure elegance, Surveen Chawla once again proves why she is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world. The second-time attendee made her debut at Cannes for her powerhouse performance in Rana Naidu. Known for her innate fashion flair and trendsetting choices, Surveen Chawla once again stole the spotlight. The Seema Gujral creation she wore effortlessly merged classic elements with contemporary allure. The vibrant yellow hue perfectly complemented her glowing personality. Speaking of her experience Surveen said, "I am thrilled to be back at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and I couldn't be happier to be here. Cannes is the perfect platform for artists to express themselves, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to showcase my style and represent Indian cinema. This year, I wanted to make a statement with my fashion choice, and Seema Gujral design allowed me to do just that. The fusion of classic and contemporary elements in the design perfectly aligned with my personal style. Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this incredible journey." Surveen Chawla's journey at Cannes is a testament to her evolving style and her ability to leave a lasting impression. With another glamorous look recorded in the fashion books, we cant wait to see more from this gorgeous actress. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived at Palam airport in Delhi after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Prime Minister Modi was garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at the airport. Nadda reached Delhi's Palam airport early on Thursday morning to welcome PM Modi on his arrival to India post concluding his three-nation visit. The BJP National President was accompanied by Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi MP Ramesh Vidhuri, Hans Raj Hans, and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. A large number of BJP workers and supporters also gathered outside Palam airport to welcome PM Modi. Speaking to ANI, BJP workers said, "People are here to welcome PM Modi as he has made us and the whole nation proud." "At midnight we are here to welcome PM Modi as he had made everyone proud," another worker said. Visuals showed BJP workers eagerly waiting for the PM's arrival while holding placards and national flags. They can be seen dancing to drum beats amid tight security prior to the PM's arrival. #WATCH | BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi and other party leaders and workers welcome PM Narendra Modi at Delhi's Palam airport PM Modi arrived here after concluding his three-nation visit. pic.twitter.com/NDIMbz7MOS ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will "boost the friendship between Australia and India," and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a "vibrant India-Australia friendship," which is also in the "interest of global good." #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi being garlanded by BJP National President JP Nadda and party members on his arrival at Palam airport after concluding his three-nation visit pic.twitter.com/6K7klH2FQR May 25, 2023 During his three-day visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians, many of whom flew in a special "Modi Airways" to attend PM Modi's address in Australia. At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss." As his Australia visit comes to an end, PM Modi tweeted, "From productive talks with PM @AlboMP to a historic community programme, from meeting business leaders to eminent Australians from different walks of life, it's been an important visit which will boost the friendship between Australia and India." During his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi co-chaired the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape on Monday this week. PM Modi's visit holds importance in many respects. Historically, it marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island and strategically, it lays the foundation of what could possibly be one of the most significant bilateral partnerships of India in the context of the Indo-Pacific, as per Global Order. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea. Earlier, he visited Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The Quad Summit was also held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. After installing napkin vending machines in government schools of the state, the Tamil Nadu government is embarking on a project to install the machines in all government arts and science colleges in the state. The higher education department officials told IANS that there are presently only a few government colleges that have napkin vending machines and incinerators in the state. As per a study conducted by the department of higher education, there is a fall in attendance of girls in the government colleges in rural areas of the state during particular dates. The study found that many students were not reaching colleges during their menstrual cycle due to pain and ill- health. This has led to the department of higher education mulling the possibility of installing napkin vending machines and incinerators in all government colleges. The department will float tenders for installation of the machines and incinerators and will be installed before the commencement of the new academic year. According to a senior official of the department of higher education, the funds will be scouted through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. The vending machines and incinerators will be installed based on the strength of girl students and teaching and non-teaching staff in each college. Support staff in the colleges will be responsible for maintaining the machines and incinerators. New Delhi: The Sunshine girl Jacqueline Fernandez, who enjoys a huge fan base across the globe, was spotted at Mumbai airport Today heading to Abu Dhabi for the IIFA awards. Dressed in a full black attire along with an olive color jacket and a mandatory mask, the actress donned a perfect airport look as always. Jacqueline Fernandez has always stolen the show with her electrifying performances. Making headlines with her recent performances at the Filmfare Awards and Dabangg Tour in Kolkata, the actress is ready to set the stage ablaze with her much-anticipated performance on her popular songs at the IIFA Awards. Unquestionably, Jacqueline is a sartorial force to be reckoned with. The actress makes it tough for the audience to look away with her gorgeous appearance and outstanding dancing abilities. Her fans are eagerly anticipating her to set the stage apart with her sensual moves and fiery act. On the work front, Jacqueline will be next seen in Fateh alongside Sonu Sood and Crakk opposite Arjun Rampal and Vidyut Jammwal. Prime Minister Narendra on Thursday will flag off the indigenously built Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi via video conferencing, equipped with advanced safety features including the Kavach technology, stated an official release. This will be the first Vande Bharat to be introduced in Uttarakhand. With world-class amenities, it will herald a new era of comfortable travel experiences, especially for tourists travelling to the state, read Prime Minister's Office press release. "Uttarakhand's connectivity is all set to get a big boost. At 11 AM today, I will be flagging off the Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun. Making the occasion even more special is the feat of 100 per cent electrification of Uttarakhand's rail tracks. Do join the programme," tweeted Narendra Modi. With this, the state will have its entire rail route 100 per cent electrified. Trains run by electric traction on the electrified sections will result in an increase in the speed of trains and enhance haulage capacity. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Moradabad Railway Division, Sudhir Singh said that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will also be present at the Dehradun railway station during the inaugural event of the state's first Vande Bharat Express train. Elitsa Deykova / Getty Images There are endless ways to score freebies, and they're all accessible through simple online searches. You can get free stuff in exchange for reviews, filling out forms, by participating in a focus group, doing product testing and more. Zelle Scams on Facebook Marketplace: How To Recognize and Avoid Them Find Out: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch But how dedicated do you have to be to score thousands of dollars in free stuff? "Pretty darn dedicated," said Mara Sweet, blogger-in-chief of Bargain Babe, a website dedicated to saving money through coupons, freebies and financial tips. There are dozens of websites cultivating leads to score free products and services -- and they're totally legitimate. Websites like Bargain Babe, Freebies.org, Just Free Stuff and Totally Free Stuff, among others, offer directories of free deals updated frequently. Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't scams out there. Free trials might require a credit card to get the deal, so be extra careful with those, and only sign on with legitimate companies. Also, steer clear of websites that contain a lot of Google ads, pop-ups, spelling or grammatical errors or if they generally look unprofessional. Basically, if it looks like a scam site, it probably is, according to Freebies.org. As for the legit offers, here are eight ways to find them. Courtney Hale / iStock.com Use Coupons One of the easiest ways to score freebies is to find coupons that you can print, download or get mailed to your home that allow you to score a free product in a store. Freebie sites curate lists of these coupons and update them frequently. $2,000 Quarter? Check Your Pockets Before You Use This 2004 Coin Cash App Borrow: How To Borrow Money on Cash App Extreme couponers can also rack up high-value freebies very quickly, Sweet said. "However, that takes a lot of time and organization, and you have to factor in the value of your time," she added. "I personally have never been able to make that kind of commitment." Delmaine Donson / iStock.com Collect Free Samples Samples can be a great source of freebies, but sample-seekers beware: The experts agreed these are often hit-or-miss, especially with smaller companies. "This is very common among smaller companies that offer free samples online," Sweet said. "Most of them grossly underestimate the response -- people seriously love freebies -- and run out of inventory before they take down the sign-up form. By then, you have given them your contact info for free. You have to decide if that's a worthwhile risk to take." Increase your odds of getting free samples by requesting early. I'm a Financial Advisor: These Are the Worst Money Mistakes I See People Make electravk / Getty Images Review Products If you're a prolific reviewer, you have a strong social media following or you own a popular blog, you can often score free products in exchange for a review. The more powerful your audience, the more likely a company is to strike a deal and ship you some free products to review. The best part is that you can often pick and choose which products you want, as long as the company sees the value in sharing their products for free with you. There are also companies that offer free products in exchange for reviews on major sites. Again, it helps to be kind of a big deal. Amazon has its own invite-only program called Amazon Vine that it offers to top reviewers only. But other sites, such as AMZ Review Trader, connect reviewers with brands willing to make this trade. Participate in Survey Panels or Product Testing You can score free products by testing them out or taking part in a survey panel. Usually, you can find these through survey companies. James Barton, owner of freebie site JustFreeStuff.com, recommended scoping these companies out through SurveyPolice.com. "Pinecone Research and Nielsen are probably the best two out there," he said. "They pay the user in either cash or points for completing surveys, and they send products to test from time to time. People won't get rich, but it does add up over time." Drs Producoes / iStock.com Sign Up for Freebies Another great way to get freebies is to just fill out a form or register with a company's website, Barton said. This includes creating accounts at company and product websites, signing up for newsletters, signing up for birthday rewards and following brands on social media. Often, you can score freebies by simply filling out forms. If you can't find any information about freebies online, Barton recommended sending a message to the brand and asking. Sweet agreed. "My family recently stayed in an airport hotel on the airline's dime after flight delays resulted in our missing a connecting flight," she said. "The hotel gave us several bottles of water and bags of trail mix -- the exact same items they were selling at exorbitant prices in their gift shop -- when we nicely asked if they could offer us any extra amenities. It never hurts to inquire about extras that might not be advertised." Bonus tip: For potential free birthday meals, try FavoriteCandle.com, Barton said. Advice: Never Use Autopay for These Bills, According To Financial Experts hocus-focus / Getty Images Sign Up for Free Trials Free trials are a great way to test something out, but the key is remembering to cancel. The first thing you should do is set up a calendar reminder to cancel before you get charged -- to that end, make sure you know when that is. Make sure the site you're checking out a free trial from follows the rules of not having too many pop-ups, and being a reputable business. Often, you'll have to enter in your credit card information before you sign up, so you want to make sure the site you're giving it to is secure. iStock.com Join Subscription Services There are plenty of subscription services that will offer freebies or free samples on a regular basis, though sometimes you have to pay a small fee or pay for shipping, depending on the service. Sweet recommended looking into services like Pinchme or SampleSource to subscribe your way to free stuff. Subscription box companies like Rocksbox, which ships you a box of handpicked jewelry based on your preferences, offers a free trial as well. Once again, just remember to set a reminder to cancel it. Shutterstock.com Get Free Downloads Many companies offer free downloads, especially music and video games -- and some offer them regularly. Every month, Playstation and Xbox give out two or more free games, Barton said. Google Play also frequently makes certain albums free, temporarily, and Amazon Prime sometimes makes certain movies free to download. More From GOBankingRates Sam DiSalvo contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Easy Ways You Can Score Thousands of Dollars in Free Stuff By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. company Viasat has won unconditional EU antitrust approval to acquire British satellite rival Inmarsat for $7.3 billion, the European Commission announced on Thursday, adding that the merger would not raise competition concerns. The companies, which compete with market leaders Panasonic and Intelsat in the market for wi-fi on long-haul flights, said in a statement that they expect the transaction to close by the end of this month. The Commission opened an investigation into the deal in February, voicing concerns about the companies' status as close competitors in Europe and globally for the supply of broadband inflight connectivity (IFC) services to commercial airlines. Viasat owns and operates four geostationary earth orbit satellites while Inmarsat has 15. The deal has already received the green light from the UK and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, additional reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Jan Harvey, Kirsten Donovan) (Bloomberg) -- A former broker must pay more than $15 million for using over a dozen accounts to influence the prices of some 2,000 exchange-traded securities as part of an alleged market manipulation scheme the judge called egregious. Most Read from Bloomberg US District Judge Denise Cote on Thursday ordered James David OBrien to disgorge more than $5 million and pay civil penalties of more than $10 million for the alleged scheme. His scheme was complex, required careful planning to execute, and consisted of over 18,000 discrete events of coordinated trading, the judge wrote, citing facts she said showed his intent to defraud was palpable. The SEC sued OBrien in November 2021 and accused him of using at least 18 accounts at 14 firms, including some in his wifes name. The agency said he coordinated trades to create the appearance of trading interest and made more than $9.6 million in net profits through the deception. OBrien settled with the agency in February, a month before his trial was set to begin, agreeing to have the court determine how much he would have to pay. Witch Hunt He contended in his arguments against the agencys request for monetary relief that his activities werent illegal and that the SEC had conducted a witch hunt to find him liable for securities fraud. John Hanamirian, a lawyer for OBrien, said in an email that he hasnt had a chance to digest the judges opinion yet and has a tremendous amount of respect for the trial court. Still, he said, he expected he would probably have to argue his clients claims in appeals court given the recency of a 2020 US Supreme Court opinion limiting the power of the SEC. The SEC claimed that OBrien executed more than 18,000 trades in the accounts between 2015 and 2020 so he could buy stocks at artificially low prices and then quickly sell them at artificially high prices accumulating larger positions in winner accounts at one firm while placing smaller positions in helper accounts at another. The agency alleged that he reaped the $9.6 million in net profits from trades that were successfully coordinated and $5.8 million from his trades overall. It sought $5.24 million in disgorgement based on calculations from its expert. OBrien contended the maximum was $110,909. Warnings From Brokerages Several of the firms OBrien used for his scheme identified his behavior as potentially manipulative trading and warned him against it, and some closed his accounts, Cote wrote in her ruling. But he never disclosed his coordinated trading to brokerages and would open new accounts in his or his wifes name when others were shut down, she said, calling the conduct egregious. OBrien agreed to conceal the coordinated trading by using multiple accounts at different firms, disregarded the warnings of several brokerage firms, and obfuscated their attempts to understand his trading methods, she said. OBrien, of Gibbsboro, New Jersey, has described himself as a trader or as self-employed on account-opening documents since 2013, according to the SEC. He was previously employed at a number of brokerage firms starting in 1994, most recently at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC in Philadelphia from April 2006 to March 2013, according to Finras BrokerCheck. The case is Securities and Exchange Commission v. OBrien, 21-cv-9575, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Icahn poised to win at least one seat on Illumina's board - sources Billionaire activist-investor Carl Icahn gives an interview on FOX Business Network's Neil Cavuto show in New York, U.S. on February 11, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) -Activist investor Carl Icahn is set to win enough Illumina Inc (ILMN) shareholder support to install at least one of his three nominees to the gene sequencing machine maker's board, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. A preliminary vote tally shows that Icahn nominee Andrew Teno has won enough shareholder support to get on Illumina's board, the sources said. The sources added that the tally has not been finalised and Illumina shareholders can change their votes until the company's annual shareholder meeting starts on Thursday. The sources asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. Icahn and Illumina spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Icahn's challenge against Illumina, whose market value of $33 billion makes it this year's biggest board fight, offers the 87-year-old corporate raider a chance to reassert his investment acumen. This month, he faced his own investor challenge after short seller Hindenburg Research issued a report saying his investment firm Icahn Enterprises LP artificially inflated its dividend yield and the value of its assets. Icahn, who owns 1.4% of Illumina, put forward three director candidates, a move that could result in the ouster of Chief Executive Officer Francis deSouza and Chairman John Thompson from Illumina's nine-member board. The investor has accused Illumina's board of poor oversight, especially with regards to the company's $7.1 billion acquisition of cancer test maker Grail. Illumina completed the deal despite opposition from U.S. and European antitrust regulators, who are now trying to force it to unwind it. Icahn has blamed the Grail deal for Illumina losing $50 billion in market value. Earlier this month, proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services recommended Illumina shareholders back Teno, arguing he would be an adequate replacement for Thompson. Two days earlier, proxy adviser Glass Lewis said Illumina shareholders should vote for two of Carl Icahn's nominees to replace deSouza and Thompson. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Christopher Cushing) Paris - France has passed a law banning some domestic flights and encouraging travelers to take the train instead. Under the new law, flights that can be replaced by a train journey of under two-and-a-half hours should be scrapped. The ban on short-hop flights became law on Tuesday. However, France's national airline had already canceled three routes that were deemed too high on carbon emissions. All three went from Paris' second airport, Orly, serving Bordeaux, Lyon and Nantes. Those three cities are all on the country's extensive high-speed rail network, and taking the train is also far faster than flying there. Air France agreed to drop those direct routes in return for coronavirus financial assistance from the government in 2020. Critics say the ban will have a negligible effect on carbon emissions. Laurent Donceel, interim head of industry group Airlines for Europe, which represents several airlines including Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Ryanair, dismissed the law as a "symbolic ban." He told the Agence France-Presse news service that governments should instead support "real and significant solutions" to airline emissions. While the ban sounds like a good idea to help combat climate change, in fact there are a number of caveats that severely limit its scope. The replacement train service must be frequent, timely and allow travelers to get to and from their starting point in the same day while allowing them a full eight hours at their destination. The choice of train station designated as the departure point has also strangled plans to limit short-haul flights from Paris' main airport, Charles de Gaulle. The comparative train station is the one at the airport which has a much more limited service than the seven mainline stations in Paris itself. That has meant that while you can't fly from Orly to Bordeaux direct, you can fly to the southwestern wine city from CDG. In fact, the only routes that will be affected by the ban are the three from Orly that no longer operate. An Air France Airbus aircraft lands at Athens International Airport on July 15, 2019. / Credit: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images An exception in the ban allows flights with a transfer to continue to operate, and that has led to some convoluted routes that take much longer than a direct flight or a train and mean even more harmful emissions in takeoff and landing. For example, the direct route from Paris to Lyon in eastern France, capital of gastronomy and a business hub, used to take under an hour from Orly. That route has been canceled as it was considered wasteful. You can still fly from Orly to Lyon but you have to fly via Nice, in the south, changing planes to hop back up to Lyon, for a flight time of three hours, 15 minutes. By contrast, a high-speed train from Paris will have you in central Lyon in just two hours. Or you can still fly direct in over an hour from de Gaulle. However, the total journey takes considerably longer when you add in the trip to and from the airports, checking in and going through security checkpoints. The quest for lower emissions has led European airlines to examine a number of options. Air France recently announced plans to renew its fleet in an effort to cut carbon emissions. It says it will also increase its use of sustainable aviation fuel. The airline already has a train and air partnership with France's national rail company SNCF in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. It allows travelers to combine plane and train reservations in one booking, essentially allowing people to quickly and easily compare methods of travel. Aviation news website Runway Girl Network reports that Spanish airline Iberia is currently expanding its flight and train combination offer. Dutch airline KLM is buying up seats on high-speed trains from Schipol airport in Amsterdam to Brussels in a move to drop one of its daily flights between the two cities. When the ban was first raised as part of France's 2021 Climate Act, Transport Minister Clement Beaune called it "a major step forward in the policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions." "I am proud that France is a pioneer in this area," he added. In a new court filing in support of the ongoing legal action against the U.S. Department of Treasury, individuals seeking to overturn the decision to sanction Ethereum mixing service Tornado Cash presented key arguments for the case. Per the plaintiffs, this case is not about carving out special rules for new technology, but rather holding the Treasury to the basic requirements of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Taking to Twitter, Coinbase's chief legal officer Paul Grewal summarized the arguments, stating that they all come down to the same problem, that the Government is attempting to ban open-source software using a property sanctions statute. Because this isnt what the law was meant to do, [the Government] cant make the law fit this case, argues Grewal. The plaintiffs make 4 points here, but they all come down to the same problem. The Govt. is trying to ban the use of an open-source software using a property sanctions statute. Because this isnt what the law was meant to do, they cant make the law fit this case. 2/7 paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) May 24, 2023 Tornado Cash is a privacy-focused service that allows people to transact anonymously on the Ethereum blockchain by mixing users transactions to make it difficult to identify individual senders or receivers. The Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) controversially added the mixer to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDC) list in August 2022, thereby sanctioning Ethereum wallets associated with the service. An official statement from U.S. regulators alleges Tornado Cash has helped launder more than $7 billion dollars since its inception in 2019, citing North Korean hackers and other malicious actors. A lawsuit against the Treasury, which is backed by Coinbase and also named Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and OFAC Director Andrea Gacki, was filed shortly after, with the sanctions against Tornado Cash contested on four main points. Coinbase Backs Tornado Cash Lawsuit Against U.S. Treasury First, the plaintiffs contend that the Treasury defined Tornado Cash to include anyone who holds a digital token TORN, even though that is not an unincorporated association under the Departments own test. Commenting on this point, Grewal said that sanctions depend on assuming that anyone who happens to hold a digital token (TORN) is a member of a legally-recognized entity called 'Tornado Cash.' Thats novel as a legal theory, and its wrong as a factual matter. The second argument centers on the Departments failure to explain how the immutable, open-source smart contracts listed in the designationwhich no one can own or controlare sanctionable property. As explained by Grewal, the legal definition of property is something that can be owned. But the open-source, immutable smart contracts at the heart of this privacy software cannot be owned, controlled, or changed by anyone. Treasury Dodges Questions From Congressman Over Tornado Cash Consequently, the third challenge is that no one, including the creators, developers, or owners of TORN tokens, has a "property interest" in these smart contracts, according to Grewal. In seeking to find such an interest, the Department relies only on allegations that the purported Tornado Cash entity has interests in something other than the immutable smart contracts or would tend to profit from increased use of the immutable smart contracts. Neither one is an interest in property in the immutable smart contracts, as IEEPA requires, reads the filing. First Amendment Violation The fourth argument refers to what the plaintiffs say is the violation of the First Amendment, which broadly protects the rights of free speech. Sanctioning Tornado Cash unconstitutionally burdened speech under the First Amendment, said Grewal. Plaintiffs used the software to protect their privacy while engaging in core 1A speech like important donations." According to Coinbases chief legal officer, the Governments response is worrisome as it basically tells people go speak somewhere else. But the 1A is stronger than that. The Govt. cant simply tell law-abiding Americans to go exercise their freedom in some other venue with far fewer personal protections, added Grewal. Argument #4: Sanctioning Tornado Cash unconstitutionally burdened speech under the First Amendment. Plaintiffs used the software to protect their privacy while engaging in core 1A speech like important donations. The Govts answer is worrisome. Basically, it is go speak paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) May 24, 2023 The legal battle comes as the Dutch court on Wednesday granted Alexey Pertsev, the creator of Tornado Cash, permission to question blockchain analytics company Chainalysis in his ongoing money laundering trial. According to Chainalysis January report, 34% of all funds sent to Tornado Cash came from illicit sources, with the bulk of activity concentrated on two forms of cybercrime: crypto hacks and scams. Pertsevs lawyers now want to question the firm because of the role its data played in the developers arrest in August last year. Grab co-founder Tan Hooi Ling to step down from operational roles Grab's co-founder Tan Hooi Ling speaks during Grab's fifth anniversary news conference in Singapore By Maria Ponnezhath (Reuters) - Singapore-based Grab Holdings Ltd said on Thursday that its co-founder Tan Hooi Ling will step down from her operating roles at the ride-hailing company by the end of this year. Hooi Ling, who co-founded Grab with CEO Anthony Tan in 2012, will transition into an advisory role, the company said. Her succession plan has been in place for a while, Tan wrote in an internal memo to employees, adding that Hooi Ling will also give up her board directorship. Tan and Hooi Ling developed Southeast Asia's biggest ride-hailing and food delivery firm from an idea for a Harvard Business School venture competition in 2011. In the memo, CEO Tan said that Hooi Ling will not be replaced immediately. The nominating committee will consider candidates to supplement the board only later this year. She currently leads Grab's technology division and has served as a board member since its public listing in December 2021. (Reporting by Maria Ponnezhath in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur) I used to brag about my Confederate heritage because I thought it represented my taste for independence. Historical research and deeper reflection have changed my mind. Many people including aging Confederates from the 1920s maintain the South was fighting for state's rights. Well, yeah, but if you read the original documents, where southern states withdrew from the Union, you'll see that the right they were most concerned about was their ability to own fellow human beings. But it got worse if that's possible once I began doing genealogy. The ugly truth is that my great-great-grandfather was probably a war criminal. On April 18, 1864, his cavalry unit fought in the Battle of Poison Springs in Arkansas, which was infamous for the slaughter and mutilation of Black prisoners of war from the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry. Local life: Here are 8 things to do this weekend in the Evansville area A consolation is that my great-great-grandfather on my mother's side died in Missouri fighting to preserve the Union. So, like our great country's history, my family history is a mixture of good and bad. The thin gray line of local Confederate veterans was growing thinner as the 1920s progressed, and Spalding Trafton romanticized Capt. Paul Jones Marrs in The Gleaner after he died June 4, 1923. That's not surprising, considering Traftons father served with Marrs on the staff of Gen. Adam R. "Stovepipe" Johnson, Henderson County's most famous Confederate. More about Marrs in a moment. I suspect other Confederate stories in The Gleaner during the first half of 1923 were also written by Trafton because they shine the same golden haze around the "Lost Cause." Capt. Paul J. Marrs of Henderson was a prisoner of war at Johnson's Island near Sandusky, Ohio, before being exchanged. This pen and ink drawing of the prison compound was done by a POW identified only as "M" and was sent to Ann Frederick Pope of Bardstown on Oct. 20, 1864. The first story appeared March 6 about a man known as George W. Walton, who was reputed to be the oldest man in the county. He would have been 100 if he had lasted another month. But that wasn't his only claim to fame. He was also a veteran of the Mexican War, which is probably why Confederate veteran Virginius Hutchen in writing in the Aug. 10, 1909, Henderson Twice-A-Week Journal about Kentucky's Orphan Brigade -- called him a "very useful man." I suspect he learned the basics of artillery during the Mexican War, because he spent most of the Civil War in artillery units. He also spent several months in a hospital after a Union soldier ran a bayonet through Walton's shoulder. It wasn't until March 18, 1923, that Henderson residents learned George W. Walton wasn't his real name. His friend, Sen. Henry Dixon, had mailed copies of The Gleaner's story about his death to his sole surviving niece in Maryland, which prompted a story to be published in the March 13 issue of The Sun in Frederick, Maryland. That story was then mailed back to Dixon, who shared it in the March 18 Gleaner. As it turned out, the tough old veteran's real name was Ezra Mantz. He assumed a new identity when he ran off from his apprenticeship as a hatmaker to fight in the Mexican War. The stories about James W. Burns ran April 20 and May 6. The first was about his recent return from a Confederate reunion in New Orleans. The second was about him reminiscing on the porch of his house on Letcher Street. Burns was born Feb. 16, 1842, in Livingston County and died April 15, 1926. He and 117 other men formed the 3rd Kentucky Co. C in July 1863 at Clarksville, Tennessee. Only six of them survived the war. As of 1923 only two of the original soldiers remained. The war was mostly hardship, he said, noting he fought in 10 battles and nearly 50 skirmishes. "He declared he had walked forty and fifty miles a day without anything to eat, and that he lived almost without eating." One time he nearly lost his life trying to scavenge sugar from hogsheads along a riverbank. He kept a sharp eye out downriver but wasn't expecting company from upstream. He saw the gunboat just in time to scurry up the bank and hug the dirt. The grapeshot "seemed to cut a swath through the underbrush," he said. Local life: Love the birds in your yard? Here are 4 things to avoid so you can keep them healthy "He laughed heartily at what he regarded as a joke on himself, but at the time it happened he did not have time to see the funny part of it." Two stories were also written about Capt. Paul Jones Marrs, the first on June 5, the day after he died, which was brief, and the second June 24, which was not. He was born Feb. 28, 1838, in Posey County but moved to Henderson at age 6 after his father died. He began work in a local dry goods store while in his early teens but mostly worked in drug stores before the war. He sold his business interests when the war began and enlisted as a private under Stovepipe Johnson, who was a colonel at that point. Before long he was a captain and quartermaster of a regiment, which raided West Franklin, Indiana, and captured guns, ammunition and horses from the home guards there. A Union force out of Henderson responded to the raid and captured Marrs and others. They were at first imprisoned in the Henderson courthouse before being moved to Evansville, then to Indianapolis and finally to the Federal prison on Johnson's Island near Sandusky, Ohio. Marrs and others were exchanged in mid-1863 for prisoners the Confederates were holding. That resulted in Marrs retrieving the horse he had rode to war on, according to Marrs' contribution to Johnsons book, "Partisan Rangers." Archibald Dixon bought the horse at a government auction and when Marrs was released he sent word that Marrs could get the horse at his convenience. Marrs did just that and rode it throughout the rest of the war. When the war was over, he returned the horse to Dixon, and it ended its days pulling a buggy. The war also left Marrs with a little quirk: He always had a buckeye in his pocket. He told Trafton that his company once stopped under a buckeye tree, and everyone picked up a buckeye nut for luck. Four men did not despite the warnings of the others. "Later on, we had a considerable skirmish, and three of the men who had no buckeyes were killed, and the other one wounded. Therefore, I carry a buckeye." Since I'm writing about the Civil War, I should include some information about a current exhibit at the Henderson County Public Library and associated events in June. The display in the Genealogy and Local History Department focuses on the career of the Rev. Paul Horace Kennedy, who was 15 in 1863 when he escaped slavery to join the Union Army. He walked from Elizabethtown to Louisville to join the 109th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops as a musician. He got himself an education after the war a doctorate, no less and began his life as a minister. He arrived in Henderson Jan. 1, 1881, to pastor First Missionary Baptist Church, which with the library is co-sponsoring the events. He found the congregation "worshipping in the basement of an unfinished building," according to Maralea Arnetts "Annals and Scandals" book. From then until he died in 1921 very little of importance in the Black community happened without him at the forefront. Kennedy's cleaned up military tombstone will be rededicated at 11 a.m. June 17 at Fernwood Cemetery. A reception, which some of his descendants from Detroit are expected to attend, will take place the same day at 2 p.m. at the library's exhibit. 75 YEARS AGO Worsham Post 40 of the American Legion was asking relatives or friends of veterans who had died since May 1947 to notify the legion so a cross could be prepared to install in Central Park on Memorial Day, according to The Gleaner of May 4, 1948. In 1947 the display in the park featured 565 crosses. 50 YEARS AGO The Gleaner of May 2, 1973, announced the Henderson City-County Human Rights Commission was being reorganized after a hiatus of two years. The local Human Rights Commission began as the Mayor's Bi-Racial Committee, which was originally formed June 22, 1961. That was a mere 12 days after two dozen people had attempted to integrate Ken's Korner restaurant at Center and Green streets. The mayor's committee morphed into the Human Rights Commission by late 1962, but it apparently fizzled out. The Gleaner of March 2, 1967, reported it was being revived. 25 YEARS AGO The Kentucky Department of Parks made it official, according to The Gleaner of May 1, 1998. There would be no more swimming at the 28-acre lake in Audubon State Park because of a muddy lake bottom, vandalism, and a growing problem with parents of young children leaving them there unattended. The park attempted to limit swimming to residents of the park cabins during the 1997 swimming season, but that didnt quite conform to legal niceties and caused controversy at the time. Readers of The Gleaner can reach Frank Boyett at YesNews42@yahoo.com or on Twitter at @BoyettFrank. This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Henderson history: Last local Confederate veterans were dying in the 1920s China Central Television (CCTV), the countrys largest national broadcaster, shone a light on Hong Kongs cryptocurrency sector Tuesday when it reported on the regions incoming virtual asset regulations. The move caught the attention of analysts and crypto heavyweights alike. Changpeng Zhao, CEO of the worlds largest crypto exchange Binance, commented that the unexpected focus on the Hong Kong crypto space could signal the start of a bull run. See related article: Hong Kong? Singapore? Tokyo? Seoul? Dubai? The race is on for the Web3 hub of Asia | Part 1 During the Tuesday evening coverage, CCTV reported that the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong a special administrative region of China has finalized its licensing regime for virtual asset service providers, which will come into effect on June 1. The new rules will allow licensed virtual asset trading platforms to sell certain large market cap cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ether, to retail investors in Hong Kong. The existing trading platforms serving Hong Kong customers are required to apply for a license from the SFC within 6 months following the June 1 kick-off date. Companies that fail to do so will be required to leave the Hong Kong market. CCTV interviewed Keith Choy, the Interim Head of Intermediaries at the Hong Kong SFC, who highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and customer asset protection related to virtual asset trading platforms. We have seen from previous incidents that network security remains a major challenge in the sector, Choy told CCTV. It is not uncommon for CCTV which enjoys an estimated total viewership of over 1 billion to cover the crypto space. It tracked the collapse of FTX in late 2022 and the MiCA (markets in crypto assets) regulatory developments in Europe in April. However, some business insiders noticed a change of narrative in CCTVs latest report on the developments in Hong Kong. It was, they said, less critical than previous coverage of the crypto space. The housing market only offers 4 major cities where it's cheaper to buy a home than rent Homes are seen for sale in the northwest area of Portland Reuters Nationwide, the typical home has a monthly mortgage cost that's about 25% more than rent, according to Redfin. However, buying is actually more affordable in Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Houston. California's Bay Area has the biggest premium on owning a home. In the US, it's about 25% more expensive to buy a home than rent it, but in four metro areas ownership is cheaper, according to Redfin. An analysis of single-family homes and townhouses found that estimated monthly mortgage costs are lower than monthly rental costs in Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Houston. In Detroit, the typical home is 24% less expensive to buy than rent the largest percentage discount among the 50 most populous metros, Redfin said in a report Friday. The median mortgage payment for homebuyers there is $1,296, while the average estimated rent hovers at $1,697. Philadelphia offers a 7% discount, and it's followed by Cleveland (4% discount) and then Houston (1% discount). Property values in these four locations have stagnated relative to the rest of the country, Taylor Marr, Redfin's deputy chief economist, explained in the report. If Americans looking to buy a home can't build equity, they have less incentive to pay a premium to own. Meanwhile, California's Bay Area features the largest premium to homeownership in the US. It's twice as expensive to own than rent in cities including San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland. "Buying a home often makes more financial sense than renting if you can afford a down payment and monthly mortgage because you're building equity," Marr said. "When you own your home, your home pays you; when you rent, you and your home pay your landlord." Still, buying isn't always the best option, as some people move often so renting makes more sense. Others simply don't have enough money to make a down payment on a property, Marr noted, and that's become increasingly common as mortgage rates climb and affordability drops. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage just topped 7% for the first time since March, Bankrate data showed Wednesday. It's worth noting, too, that while home values in Cleveland and Detroit haven't climbed in the same way as pandemic boom-towns like Phoenix and Miami where there are virtually zero homes that are cheaper to buy than rent that means they also won't see the same crashes, Redfin noted. Redfin "I wouldn't encourage people to squeeze their budgets in order to buy a home when prices are falling and we're teetering on a recession," Marr said. "In the years leading up to the pandemic, it made sense for some homebuyers to break the rule that says not to spend more than 30% of your income on monthly housing costs, but these times are more risky, so it makes sense to be a little more conservative." Read the original article on Business Insider FILE PHOTO: A banh mi sandwich made with a plant-based Impossible Pork patty at the Impossible Foods headquarters in Silicon Valley By Blake Brittain (Reuters) - Motif Foodworks told a Delaware federal court that plant-based meat rival Impossible Foods improperly hired private investigators who donned fake identities to solicit information about Motif's products during their patent dispute. In documents unsealed on Tuesday, Motif said investigators who falsely claimed to represent potential partners started approaching them to obtain samples and other information about its meat substitute shortly after Impossible Foods filed a lawsuit accusing Motif of patent infringement. Motif said in one of the filings that Impossible's use of "false pretenses" to gain information was "alarming" and "unethical." A Motif spokesperson said on Thursday that the filings "speak for themselves." The company has denied Impossible's infringement claims. Representatives for Impossible did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. The company told the court that Motif's filings included "exaggerated rhetoric" and were "nothing more than an attempt by Motif to distract from its blatant patent infringement." "It is common, and ethical, for patent owners to obtain and evaluate infringing products such as Motif's in the marketplace," Impossible said. Redwood City, California-based Impossible sued Motif, a Boston-based spinoff of biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks, last year. The lawsuit said the "Hemami" ingredient in Motif's burgers infringes Impossible patents related to a "beef replica" product that also uses a heme protein. A Delaware judge denied Motif's motion to dismiss most of the claims last year. Motif employees told the court that they were approached by people claiming to work for a fast-food supplier and meal-kit service interested in its product. A Motif employee said in a filing that a women claiming to represent the meal-kit service, Sarah Jamil, appeared with the name "Sarah Nasir" on a video call before changing her name during it. The employee said she later found a Sarah Nasir on LinkedIn who is the managing partner of a private investigation firm called Integrity One Solutions. The Motif employee also said the website for the supposed meal-kit company, Food4Thought, was "very rudimentary" and did not identify the people who claimed to represent it. Integrity One and Food4Thought did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations. Another Motif employee said she was approached at a trade show in San Francisco by a man named Lindon Lilly who claimed to source plant-based food for an undisclosed fast-food chain. The employee said she later found Lilly's LinkedIn profile named him as the president of "California Active Shooter Academy LLC" and did not disclose any link to food industries. A San Francisco-based company called Rhino Investigation founded by a man named Lindon Lilly did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations. Motif asked the court to order Impossible to reveal additional communications and requested a protective order for its own information. The case is Impossible Foods Inc v. Motif Foodworks Inc, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:22-cv-00311. For Impossible: Matthew Reed, Wendy Devine and Lori Westin of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati For Motif: Joseph Paunovich, Sandra Haberny, Ryan Landes and Stephen Wood of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington) The main aim of stock picking is to find the market-beating stocks. 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 Arbonia AG (VTX:ARBN), since the last five years saw the share price fall 41%. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 32%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 18% in the last 90 days. Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns. Check out our latest analysis for Arbonia 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...' By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During the five years over which the share price declined, Arbonia's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 11% each year. This change in EPS is reasonably close to the 10% average annual decrease in the share price. That suggests that the market sentiment around the company hasn't changed much over that time. Rather, the share price change has reflected changes in earnings per share. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). Dive deeper into Arbonia's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Arbonia'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. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Arbonia the TSR over the last 5 years was -36%, 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 1.9% in the last year, Arbonia shareholders lost 30% (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 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. 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. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Arbonia you should know about. 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 Swiss exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 11% in the last quarter. But over three years, the returns would have left most investors smiling In the last three years the share price is up, 87%: better than the market. So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. See our latest analysis for Archer-Daniels-Midland In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During three years of share price growth, Archer-Daniels-Midland achieved compound earnings per share growth of 44% per year. The average annual share price increase of 23% is actually lower than the EPS growth. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time. We'd venture the lowish P/E ratio of 8.90 also reflects the negative sentiment around the stock. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We know that Archer-Daniels-Midland has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? Take a more thorough look at Archer-Daniels-Midland's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet. 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. As it happens, Archer-Daniels-Midland's TSR for the last 3 years was 100%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective Investors in Archer-Daniels-Midland had a tough year, with a total loss of 16% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 1.7%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 14%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. 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 Archer-Daniels-Midland you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Key Insights Magnum Berhad's estimated fair value is RM1.05 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of RM1.01 suggests Magnum Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value Analyst price target for MAGNUM is RM1.17, which is 12% above our fair value estimate Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Magnum Berhad (KLSE:MAGNUM) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Magnum Berhad What's The Estimated Valuation? We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM120.7m RM168.5m RM172.7m RM178.0m RM187.0m RM193.5m RM200.3m RM207.4m RM214.7m RM222.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.49% Est @ 3.51% Est @ 3.53% Est @ 3.54% Est @ 3.55% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 14% RM106 RM130 RM116 RM105 RM96.8 RM87.9 RM79.7 RM72.4 RM65.7 RM59.6 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM919m We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 14%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = RM222m (1 + 3.6%) (14% 3.6%) = RM2.2b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM2.2b ( 1 + 14%)10= RM589m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM1.5b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM1.0, the company appears about fair value at a 3.7% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Magnum Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 14%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.310. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Magnum Berhad Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Hospitality market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Malaysian market. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Magnum Berhad, we've compiled three important aspects you should further examine: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Magnum Berhad . Future Earnings: How does MAGNUM's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Feverpitched / Getty Images/iStockphoto As a seller, you want to make every move possible to get your home sold quickly and for the highest amount of money. But you could be unknowingly sabotaging your chances of getting the best price for your home in the shortest time frame. See: 5 Expensive Renovations Homeowners Always Regret Learn: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch GOBankingRates spoke with real estate agents who have seen firsthand the mistakes sellers make when preparing to sell their homes -- here are the most common ones. imagedepotpro / Getty Images/iStockphoto Neglecting Repairs Bailey Moran, Realtor and COO of Austin TX Realty, said that this is one of the biggest mistakes she sees. "Many sellers believe that they can list their home as-is and buyers will be willing to make the repairs themselves. However, this is not the case," she said. "Buyers are more likely to purchase a home that is move-in ready and will shy away from homes that require too much work. Additionally, buyers may use the need for repairs as leverage to negotiate a lower price. From my experience, it is always best to make the necessary repairs prior to listing the home to avoid any potential issues down the road." Check Out: 15 Cities Where Houses Are the Best Bargains Right Now Florida's Retirees Are Fleeing: Here's Where They're Going Instead AlenaMozhjer / Getty Images/iStockphoto Pricing Too High or Too Low "Another mistake that sellers make is listing their home too high or too low," Moran said. "It is important to price the home correctly from the start so that it is competitive with the other homes on the market. "If the home is priced too high, it will sit on the market for too long and buyers will begin to wonder what is wrong with it," she continued. "On the other hand, if it is priced too low, the seller may miss out on potential profits. It is important to take the time to research the market and find an appropriate price point that is both competitive and profitable." I'm a Real Estate Agent: Here Are the 6 Cities Where You Should Avoid Buying a Home This Summer Feng Yu / Shutterstock.com Listing at the Wrong Time Moran said that it's important to be strategic about when you list your home. "Sellers often make the mistake of listing their home at the wrong time," she said. "For example, if a home is listed in the winter, it may not get as much attention as it would in the spring or summer. It is important to take the time to research the market and determine the best time to list the home. This could be during the spring, when buyers are actively searching for homes, or during the fall, when there is less competition." jacoblund / Getty Images/iStockphoto Not Working With an Agent It may seem counterintuitive, but selling your home without the use of a real estate professional can actually end up costing you more, according to Daniel Pitner, a real estate agent based in Glendale, Arizona. "As a real estate agent, I understand I am biased. However, sellers who choose to sell for sale by owner tend to receive 10%-15% less on their home than listing with a real estate agent," he said. "With these numbers in mind, it is worth paying the 4%-6% to an agent to list your home professionally." NoSystem images / Getty Images Not Taking Professional Photos Pitner said that this is another cost-cutting measure that ends up costing the seller more in the end. "I can't tell you how many times I've seen sellers try to save a few hundred dollars by taking pictures with their shaky iPhones. On average, these homes sit on the market for much longer and receive a much lower sales price," he said. "Spending a few hundred on professional real estate photography could equate to getting thousands more in your purchase price. It's a worthwhile investment." Look: These Are the 10 Most Overpriced Housing Markets in the US -- 5 Are in Florida Shutterstock.com Lighting Candles During Showings "I know this sounds trivial but if you light candles all throughout your home in an attempt to make it smell better, or worse, cover up smells, this is an immediate red flag," Pitner said. "Most real estate agents who are working with their buyers will notice this as an immediate red flag and warn their buyers to do some more research and due diligence. Instead of candles to mask the scent, I suggest paying for a company to run an ozone machine to get rid of the odor." Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock.com Insufficient or Ineffective Marketing Carmelo Carrasco, realtor and co-founder of Axel Property Management, said that neglecting to properly market a property is a common mistake sellers make. "Without proper marketing, it is very difficult for buyers to find out about the property and come to view it," he said. "I would recommend enlisting the services of a reputable real estate agent in order to ensure that your property receives maximum exposure." In addition, it's important to highlight the right features when you market your property, he added. "Sellers often forget to showcase the best features of their home when marketing it. They might not emphasize certain amenities that could be attractive to buyers, such as a large backyard, proximity to a desirable school district or an efficient energy-saving system." Housing Market: Should Older Americans Rent in Retirement Instead of Paying a Mortgage? RobertCrum / Getty Images/iStockphoto Neglecting the Curb Appeal Sellers only have one chance to make a first impression, and since the exterior is the first thing buyers see, not doing some basic maintenance can be a major mistake, Carrasco said. "Before listing your home, it's important to consider its curb appeal," he said. "Many buyers make a decision on whether or not they will even enter the home based on its exterior. If the outside looks unkempt or rundown, it could be a turn-off and result in no offers. I would recommend in this case to do some low-cost improvements such as power washing the driveway, planting some flowers and making sure that everything looks neat and tidy." CreativaStudio / Getty Images Not Staging the Property Matt Teifke, founder and principal broker at Teifke Real Estate, said that it's important to present a home that buyers can picture themselves living in. "Staging helps create a desirable atmosphere in each room that can attract more potential buyers, while depersonalizing allows viewers to envision themselves living in the space," he said. "Not doing these things can turn off potential buyers and prevent them from making an offer. Customers need to visualize themselves living on the property, and personal items can be a distraction." KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images/iStockphoto Lack of Showing Availability Brady Bridges, broker/owner at Reside Real Estate, said that some sellers don't offer enough availability for showings to prospective buyers. "If potential buyers can't see your home, it won't sell," he said. "Buyers that are serious about purchasing the home may prefer to view it during odd hours. The ability to be flexible in the selling process is an important consideration for motivated sellers. If you're a seller, your odds of finding a buyer increase proportionally with the number of people that visit your house." More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Real Estate Agent: Here Are the 10 Mistakes Sellers Make When Preparing For a Sale Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:MA) is a blue-chip stock that many investors like as the company due to its dominant position in the global payments network. Economies of scale and built-in inflation protection have done wonders for the comapny's long-term growth. The first quarter 2023 earnings report was another strong one, with key metrics showing growth in the payments network. Mastercard: A Strong Business at a Too-High Price MA Data by GuruFocus However, there are two major details that make be believe the stock is not attractive at this time: namely, the valuation is very rich and there is a lot of debt to consider. First-quarter 2023 earnings review In the first quarter of 2023, Mastercard reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.80, beating estimates by $0.09. GAAP EPS was $2.47, a miss of $0.24 compared to estimates, and revenue of $5.75 billion beat expectations by $109.24 million. The company showed momentum and a solid business model as measured by four key metrics related to the payment network. Year-over-year domestic assessments increased by 7%, cross-border assessments increased by 33%, transaction processing assessments grew by 12% and other network assessments increased by 26%. Key advantages of digital payments Mastercard continues to benefit from the global transition from cash-based transactions to digital payments. Digital payments provide a high level of convenience for both consumers and businesses. With just a few taps on a smartphone or clicks on a computer, payments can be made instantly, anytime and anywhere. There's no need to carry cash or visit physical stores or banks. Digital payment systems have improved financial inclusion by enabling individuals without access to traditional banking services to participate in the economy. Mobile wallets and digital payment platforms have made it easier for people to send and receive money, even in remote areas. Digital payments offer enhanced security compared to carrying cash. Encryption, authentication methods and tokenization protect sensitive financial information and minimize the risk of theft or fraud. Additionally, digital transactions leave a digital trail, which can help resolve any disputes. Digital payments can be more cost-effective for both consumers and businesses. Cash handling, storage and transportation costs are eliminated, and there is no need for fully digital businesses to invest in cash registers or secure cash management systems. Some digital payment methods also offer lower transaction fees compared to traditional payment methods, even if it may not seem like it at first glance. Digital payments are significantly faster than traditional payment methods. Transactions can be completed within seconds, allowing for quicker and more efficient checkout processes, thus increasing the likelihood of a sale. Digital payments also generate electronic records, providing easy access to transaction history for consumers and businesses. This facilitates budgeting, expense tracking and financial planning. For businesses, analyzing payment data can provide insights into customer behavior and preferences, enabling them to make more informed decisions. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital payments gained popularity due to their contactless nature. Contactless payment methods, such as mobile wallets or NFC-enabled cards, minimize physical contact between individuals, reducing the potential spread of germs. Furthermore, digital payment systems can integrate with other financial services, such as budgeting tools, loyalty programs and financial management apps. This integration simplifies financial management for individuals and offers additional benefits and rewards for users. Mastercard is one of the top players in global digital payments As one of the first-movers, Mastercard has been able to build very strong brand recognition that is incredibly difficult for newer players to emulate. Mastercard has established a vast network of merchants and financial institutions worldwide. Its cards are widely accepted in numerous countries, making it convenient for consumers to use Mastercard for transactions both domestically and internationally. The company has formed strategic partnerships with a wide range of financial institutions, including banks, credit unions and payment processors. These partnerships facilitate the issuance of Mastercard-branded cards, further expanding the reach and acceptance of Mastercard in the market. Mastercard has consistently invested in technological advancements to enhance its payment infrastructure. It has developed robust payment processing systems, security measures and innovative payment solutions. By staying at the forefront of technological innovation, Mastercard has maintained its competitiveness and relevance in the payments industry. Mastercard prioritizes security in its payment network. It has implemented various security features, such as tokenization, encryption and fraud detection systems, to protect cardholder data and prevent unauthorized transactions. This emphasis on security has helped build trust among consumers and businesses, further solidifying Mastercard's position in the market. Consumer benefits are vital to marketing success, as Mastercard offers various benefits to both merchants and consumers. Merchants benefit from streamlined payment processing, reliable transaction settlement and access to Mastercard's extensive customer base. Consumers enjoy features such as reward programs, cashback offers and secure payment experiences, incentivizing the use of Mastercard for transactions. Mastercard consistently seeks to innovate and diversify its offerings. It has expanded beyond traditional credit and debit cards to include prepaid cards, mobile payments and contactless payments. By embracing emerging payment technologies and exploring new market segments, Mastercard stays ahead of the curve and sustains its dominant position. Now for the bad news Mastercard may have been one of the premier stocks to own historically, but that may have changed in my opinion due to high debt and an overly rich valuation. For the three months ending March 31, the debt-to-equity ratio was 2.84. The company has been growing its long-term debt since 2014, and as a result, the debt has weighed more and more on the company. Mastercard: A Strong Business at a Too-High Price Next, the valuation is too high on a relative basis. The forward enterprise-value-to-Ebitda ratio for Mastercard is 24.52 versus the sector median of 10.96, while its forward price-sales ratio is 13.87 versus a sector median of 2.08. Forward estimates are based on my own personal projections. Undoubtedly, Mastercard has bright business prospects, but I just can't see the shares as attractive at this time. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Fans of 'Sisters' are Disordered NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights May 25, 2023 NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Most Americans are opposed to bigotry, against any demographic group. Anti-Catholicism, however, which is often called America's oldest prejudice, is one of the few exceptions to the rule. As the Los Angeles Dodgers have proven, by reinviting the anti-Catholic hate group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the animus against Catholics is alive and well. As the report we issued on the "Sisters" shows, these homosexual men dressed as nuns are a sick group. The Catholic Church accepts homosexuals as children of God, but it also says that homosexual inclinations are "objectively disordered" and that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered." The "Sisters" are living proof of just how disordered these men are. As has been widely reported, the Dodgers reinvited the "Sisters," after they previously disinvited them from Pride Night, June 16. But they did more than that. They issued an apology for disinviting them in the first place. No apology, or outreach, was extended to Catholics. Thus did the Dodgers put their official stamp of approval on anti-Catholicism. How many queers hate Catholics? It's hard to say, but it is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that many gays and trans persons in the Los Angeles area do. That is why it was reported that many "Los Angeles LGBTQ organizations" support the reinstatement of the "Sisters." This includes LA Pride and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Local government officials also hate Catholics. Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat, said the decision to disinvite the "Sisters" was "shameful" and done to "divide and separate our community." Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a Democrat, said he strongly supports them. Ashleigh Aitken, a Democrat, the mayor of Anaheim, is another big fan. The ACLU of Southern California, a proverbial hater of Catholics, also sided with the "Sisters." No one in the media spilled more vitriol against Catholics than Mike Freeman of USA Today. He defended the "Sisters," accusing Sen. Marco Rubio and menot the bigoted drag queensof promoting hate. As we previously stated, we are asking Catholics in the Los Angeles area not to attend the June 16 game where the "Sisters" will be honored. Next week we will announce the next round of Catholics whom we will be contacting to boycott this game. SOURCE Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights CONTACT: 212-371-3191, pr@catholicleague.org Max Resource Discovers New Copper-Silver Zone at the AM District CESAR Project Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2023) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC PINK: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report the discovery of a significant copper-silver system, called AM-7, which is located on 1 of 6 new Application for Mining Concessions. All six concessions lie within the AM District of Max's wholly owned CESAR Copper Silver Project in northeastern Colombia (refer to Figures 1 to 9). Highlights The AM-7 Target is the 7 th discovery by Max in the AM District. The total number of copper-silver targets at the CESAR Project now stands at 21. The AM-7 mineralized horizon is a tabular body that ranges from 0.3m to 2m in width, extends over 1600m along strike and is open in all directions. AM-7 encompasses five historic open cut copper workings extending over 700m (refer to Figures 3 to 7). The primary copper mineral is Chalcocite (80% by weight copper) with minor malachite. Rock chip and channel samples have been collected across the outcroppings and results are pending. Six new Application for Mining Concessions were approved this year. "AM-7 appears to be a significant discovery with potential for multiple stacked mineralized horizons across an impressive strike length of at least 1,600m and is open in all directions. To date, Max has identified 21 copper silver targets through three districts that span over 90-km of the Cesar Copper Rich Basin: AM, URU and Conejo," commented Max CEO, Brett Matich. "The significant AM-7 discovery underscores the potential of the Cesar Basin to host multiple depositional models as our skilled exploration team continues to make significant copper-silver discoveries," he continued. Max is one of the first companies to recognize this part of Colombia is underexplored for copper, and our persistence and patience continues to be rewarded as evidenced by the AM-7 discovery," he concluded. Figure 1. CESAR Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_001full.jpg Figure 2. AM District copper silver targets, AM-1 to 7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_002full.jpg Figure 3. Pit 1, AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_003full.jpg Pit 1, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LBvWmxyitI Figure 4. Pit 2, AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_004full.jpg Pit 2, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKoSWVBrh5k Figure 5. Pit 3, AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_005full.jpg Pit 3, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GiQtoKf2JU Figure 6. Pit 4, AM-7. view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_006full.jpg Pit 4, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM0BRNP1R_U Figure 7. Pit 5, AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_007full.jpg Pit 5, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awqroeL_iWU The AM-7 Target represents classic stratiform copper-silver mineralization hosted in interbedded mudstone, siltstone and fine grained cross bedded red-bed sandstone of the La Quinta Formation. The mineralized horizon is a tabular body that ranges from 0.3m to 2m wide and extends for over 1600m meters along strike. The mineralized 'reduced beds' are bleached (clay-sericite-calcite-limonite altered) and lie between shallow water red-bed sediments, typically arkose fine grained sandstone (refer to Figure 8). Figure 8. Copper Mineralization at AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_008full.jpg Figure 9. Mineralized Sedimentary Rocks at AM-7. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/167432_1b381a4284d8787e_009full.jpg Chalcocite is the main copperbearing mineral in the prospect and is concentrated along stratigraphic laminations, and as disseminated grains. Malachite and azurite have also been observed. Carbonaceous material was associated with all mineralized beds (refer to Figure 9). Channel and chip samples across AM-7 were collected at intervals over the length of the exposed mineralization. Assays are expected in the coming weeks and will help to define next steps in the evaluation of the AM-7 Target. Target Evaluation Max is evaluating the each of the 21 targets it has identified at Cesar for potential drill testing. Assessing each target area includes the following field activities: Systematic chip and channel sampling of the mineralized outcrops. Detailed geological and structural mapping of each showing. Trenching where possible to expose additional mineralization. Target scale prospecting and soil sampling. Ground geophysical surveys. The information gathered during this process will allow the Company to select several of the highest priority targets for testing during the next drill campaign. Background Max's CESAR Project lies along the copper silver rich Cesar basin in NE Colombia. This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's twenty mining concessions collectively span over 188-km (refer to Figure 1). In 2022, Max executed a 2-year co-operation agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp., which assists Max to significantly expand its 100% owned landholdings at CESAR, Endeavour will hold an underlying 0.5% NSR. Starting in the far north of the Jurassic basin, classic stacked red bed outcrops with extensive lateral continuity have been rock sampled over many kilometres within the AM District. Highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver have been documented in the sedimentary red bed sequences. The Conejo District, midway south, demonstrates mineralization at the contact of intermediate and felsic volcanics which outcrops over 3.7-km. The average of surface samples over a 2.0% cut-off come in at 4.9% copper. To the far south, the 2022 inaugural drilling was initiated at two mineralized surface exposures, each located 0.75-km apart and lie within the URU District's 20-km-long, 2-km wide mineralized target area. The drill program at URU-C and URU-CE was the first opportunity to test continuity of the structurally controlled copper silver mineralization within the volcanic host rocks in the sub-basinal environment of the Cesar sedimentary basin. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource advisory board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale CESAR copper-silver project. The wholly owned CESAR project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron). In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0-metres. Max is proactive, with the corporate goal of transitioning the CESAR basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for Colombia's transition to clean energy. The safety of our people and the communities where we operate is most important. We conduct exploration in a manner which supports protection of ecosystems through responsible environmental stewardship. Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Tim McNulty E: info@maxresource.com T: (604) 290-8100 Rahim Lakha E. rahim@bluesailcapital.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. 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. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/167432 (Bloomberg) -- House Speaker Kevin McCarthys optimism that White House and Republican negotiators would reach a deal in time to avert a potentially catastrophic default didnt mollify analysts as the US was put on a sovereign ratings watch. Most Read from Bloomberg The California lawmaker said Wednesday after a four-hour meeting between his and President Joe Bidens hand-picked negotiators that a deal was possible before June the date by which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the US could run out of money to pay its bills. I still think we have time to get an agreement, and get it done, McCarthy said after the meeting concluded. Hours later, Fitch Ratings placed the AAA credit rating for the US on watch, a sign of growing unease about the countrys ability to avert a first-ever default. The US received a credit downgrade during similar turmoil in 2011. Fitch still expects a resolution to the debt limit before the June 1 so-called X-date. Another firm, DBRS Morningstar, took similar action Thursday, putting the AAA grade for the US under review with negative implications, while still anticipating Congress to act in time. Read More: US Credit Rating at Risk of Fitch Cut on Debt-Limit Impasse US stock futures climbed Thursday morning, aided by positive earnings news, but other areas of markets signaled worry. A key money-market rate jumped, as lenders of cash appeared more skittish about making overnight loans backed by Treasury securities. A White House spokesperson said late Wednesday the Fitch report demonstrated the urgency of reaching a speedy resolution to the debt ceiling standoff. And a Treasury Department spokesperson, Lily Adams, said in a statement that tonights warning underscores the need for swift bipartisan action by Congress to raise or suspend the debt limit and avoid a manufactured crisis for our economy. On Capitol Hill, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark blamed Republican hostage-taking for risking the US credit rating. Economic Problems Even the ratings watch is going to cause economic problems, she told reporters at the Capitol Wednesday night. This is the beginning. Representative Pramila Jayapal, chairwoman of the progressive caucus, said This is the reality of what Republicans are driving us to, crashing the economy. McCarthys office had no response on Wednesday night to a request for comment on Fitchs action. Representatives for Biden and House Republicans began meeting about noon in White House Budget Director Shalanda Youngs office suite. The change in locale came a day after Republican Patrick McHenry, one of McCarthys negotiators, bragged that the talks have all been held in the Capitol because, in his view, the GOP has the upper hand. Yellen said earlier Wednesday that the world is just seeing the beginnings of the potential market stress if the debt crisis continues. Read more: Any Debt Deal Still Faces Time-Consuming Hurdles in Congress JPMorgan Chase & Co. chief US economist Michael Feroli wrote to clients Wednesday warning that his team now puts the odds of hitting the June 1 X-date without a deal at around 25% and rising. Yellen said the Biden administrations focus is on completing a debt-limit deal rather than contingency planning for a default. She declined to specify what might be possible in terms of prioritizing some payments over others in the event the Treasury runs out of sufficient cash for all federal obligations. Read more: Social Security Looms as Ultimate Enforcer of Debt-Limit Deal We are committed to not having missed payments and raising the debt ceiling, Yellen said Wednesday via video conference to a Wall Street Journal event in London. House Republicans have escalated their accusations that Biden lacks urgency in negotiations, while a Democratic aide called McCarthy unwilling to compromise across a wide spectrum of disputed points, threatening the legislative prospects of a deal. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries drew his own red line and said Democrats would only support a two year spending cap deal if the debt ceiling increases was two years. It is not unusual for Congress to strike budget deals at the last minute when the pressure becomes great enough to force negotiators to make painful choices. House lawmakers are expected to leave town on Thursday for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Republican leaders have asked that they be able to return on 24 hours notice, if a vote is called. If a default did occur, economists project it could send the US into a recession, with widespread job losses and higher consumer borrowing costs spilling into the coming election year. The current standoff over the US debt ceiling has the potential to wreak more havoc on the economy than any previous go-around, wrote Bloomberg Economics chief economist Anna Wong. --With assistance from Anna Edgerton, Matthew Boesler, Steven T. Dennis and Jarrell Dillard. (Updates with additional firms warning in fifth paragraph and refreshes markets action in sixth.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Casey Hall SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Chinese food delivery giant Meituan on Thursday returned to net profit in the first quarter on forecast-beating revenue as it fended off competition from rivals such as Alibaba-backed Ele.me and ByteDance unit Douyin. Meituan, whose app provides services including bike-sharing, ticket-booking and maps, made net profit of 3.36 billion yuan ($486 million) versus a loss of 5.7 billion yuan a year earlier. Revenue jumped 26.7% to 58.62 billion yuan, up from 46.27 billion a year earlier. That beat the 56.48 billion yuan average estimate of 14 analysts, according to Refinitiv. CEO Wang Xing said on a call with analysts that the company would continue to invest in new technologies to chase further growth, with AI and autonomous delivery of particular importance. "We are very excited about AI. There are so many ways we can use AI. It will change how people produce and generate content and will impact our business," Wang said, adding that an internal team at Meituan was working on models and applications for the technology, though they "don't have anything to share" at this point. On Monday, Meituan expanded into Hong Kong with new food delivery business KeeTa. It initially launched in Mong Kok and Tai Kok Tsui, but said it expects the service to be available across Hong Kong by year-end. The business, which marks Meituan's first foray outside of mainland China, could be a stepping stone to further international expansion, Wang said in March. The expansion comes as Meituan faces competition from long-time competitor Ele.me, as well as ByteDance, the owner of TikTok and Chinese sister platform Douyin, which branched out into food delivery in February. CEO Wang previously predicted Douyin's entry into food delivery would have "a limited impact" on Meituan. Wang's platform has also made moves into Douyin's stronghold of live-streamed and short-form video in recent months, with pilot programs launched in Shenzhen and Beijing that allow merchants to use video content on Meituan to direct traffic to products they want to promote. Analysts said Meituan had a competitive edge in the food delivery space with its lower commission rates. "After the Lunar New Year, Douyin's in-store GMV (gross merchandise value) growth slowed down, as it faced increasing competition from Meituan's lower commission rate and marketing dollar rebate for large merchants," said Daiwa Capital Markets analyst John Choi. "We believe that Meituan's low commission rate and rebate will likely continue for the rest of 2023." Meituan remains China's biggest delivery platform, with a 69% share of the 1 trillion yuan market, data from researcher ChinaIRN showed. Revenue from core local commerce, which includes food delivery and non-food delivery service Meituan Instashopping, rose 25.5% to 42.9 billion yuan in the January to March quarter. Operating profit for the segment jumped 100.7% on a year-over-year basis to 9.4 billion yuan. Quarterly revenue from Meituan's in-store, hotel booking, and travel sector businesses "grew robustly" compared to the first quarter of last year, which was impacted by COVID-19 curbs in China, the company said in its earnings report. ($1 = 6.9121 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Casey Hall; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Jan Harvey, Emelia Sithole-Matarise & Simon Cameron-Moore and Sharon Singleton) (Bloomberg) -- Meituans revenue jumped a faster-than-anticipated 27% after a gradually stabilizing Chinese economy drove meal delivery and travel nationwide. Most Read from Bloomberg Operating profit in its core commerce business more than doubled, while room nights booked during the key Lunar New Year holiday travel season jumped over 40%. That helped Meituans results beat estimates. Sales rose to 58.6 billion yuan ($8.3 billion) in the quarter ended March, against an average projection for 57.5 billion yuan. Like many of its internet peers, Meituan benefited from heightened consumer spending on meals, travel and tickets after Chinas post-Covid reopening. But the bounce-back remains uneven, with pockets of the economy falling short of initial expectations for resurgent growth. Official data last week showed retail sales grew at a much slower pace than expected in April. Going ahead to the second quarter, we will continue to ride consumption recovering, Meituan founder Wang Xing told analysts on a conference call. We remain confident in the long term growth and the long term operating margin of our in-store, hotel and travel business. That rebound is complicated by new entrants on Meituans turf such as ByteDance Ltd. ByteDances Douyin TikToks cousin in China is testing a grocery and food delivery service in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu and is looking to gain ground against both Meituan and No. 2 Ele.me, owned by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Read more: Meituan Debuts in Hong Kong Monday in First Overseas Step What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Meituans on-demand deliveries could beat consensus expectations for 2023 profitability after posting stronger-than-expected growth in non-food transactions in 1Q. The firms Instashopping transactions rose 35% year-over-year vs. 14% in 4Q, and an expansion of the segment through December should help generate more savings from economies of scale as well as lift margins, we believe. Analysts expect a one-percentage-point drop in the segments 2023 profitability. - Catherine Lim and Trini Tan, analysts Click here for the research. Meituan is fending off rivals in part by hiring aggressively to keep its lead in the $145 billion Chinese food arena. It reported net income of 3.36 billion yuan, compared with estimates of a 210.4 million yuan loss. That was partly boosted by a gain of more than 1.3 billion yuan on treasury investments. And this month, the company launch a sister app in Hong Kong on Monday, taking the worlds largest food delivery service beyond mainland China for the first time. In doing so, it will seek to challenge the likes of Deliveroo Plc and Delivery Hero SEs Foodpanda. It will rely on a familiar subsidy-heavy strategy to draw in users and delivery people alike, distributing HK$1 billion ($128 million) of user incentives in the city with each newly registered user getting a coupon package valued at HK$300. The companys longer-term prospects hinge on its ability to navigate demand swings in a post-pandemic market and its success in new arenas and overseas, as longstanding backer Tencent Holdings Ltd. unwinds its shareholding. (Updates with comments from the fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A sign welcomes visitors to Zion National Park in Utah. Park officials are urging travelers to be prepared for crowds and some delays if they visit over the busy Memorial Day weekend. If youre planning on visiting Zion National Park this Memorial Day weekend, expect large crowds and long lines. Zion National Park officials expect a busy weekend and for the crowds to bleed into the weekdays as well. In 2022, an estimated 82,000 visitors were at the park on Memorial Day weekend from Friday through Monday, according to a release from the National Park Service. Parking typically fills by 9 a.m., so visitors entering later should plan on parking in Springdale and walking or taking the free town shuttle to the Pedestrian Entrance walk-in gate. Park officials said they anticipate long waits at the entrances, trailheads, and visitor centers. Springdale, the gateway town located just outside the park's main entrance, will be heavy with traffic throughout the week and visitors should expect long lines getting into the park. They can also expect long wait times for shuttles and intermittent closures at the park's east and south vehicle entrances. "Pack your patience," said Jonathan Shafer, a park spokesperson. "We want you to enjoy your visit, and we want to be realistic about what you can expect this year. Be prepared to see lots of other people, be aware that parking usually fills early in the day. We may temporarily limit vehicle entry to reduce crowding and traffic congestion, but the park pedestrian and bicycle entrance will remain open throughout the weekend." During entrance closures, vehicles will not be able to go through the park and the NPS suggests alternate routes for those who are not planning to stop and recreate. Utah 20 Utah 14 US 89 - Arizona 389 - Utah 59 Tips to have a good weekend Visitors to Zion National Park should expect long lines like these during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Visitors who can be flexible with their schedule are encouraged to visit Monday rather than Saturday or Sunday, as well as consider arriving early or starting their visit after 3 p.m. to avoid the greatest crowding. The trail bridge over the Virgin River at Zion Lodge (Shuttle Stop #5) is closed. Hikers can still visit Emerald Pools from the Grotto (Shuttle Stop #6). Check a map before you start your hike to plan accordingly. Due to high water, the Narrows have been closed since mid-April. Hikers should not enter the Virgin River. To keep up with any changes or closures to the park visit www.nps.gov/zion. This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Visiting Zion National Park for Memorial Day weekend? Expect crowds (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. is calling for a new US agency to regulate artificial intelligence and licensing requirements to operate the most powerful AI tools, company President Brad Smith said Thursday. Most Read from Bloomberg Smith compared AI to the printing press, elevators and food safety for both the transformative power of a new technology and the regulatory need to protect against the greatest potential harms. His call for a new agency echoes proposals from OpenAI, the startup behind the wildly popular ChatGPT, which received a $10 billion investment from Microsoft. We would benefit from a new agency, Smith said in a speech in Washington. That is how we will ensure that humanity remains in control of technology. The idea for a government agency with responsibility to set the ground rules for AI gained attention last week in a Senate hearing with Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI. Altman and many of the senators questioning him agreed that the legislative process is too slow and partisan to keep pace with AI capabilities and potential applications, and an agency would be better-positioned to set rules to protect users. Although that proposal has sparked conversations on Capitol Hill, it is still far from being turned into legislation. Calls in recent years to regulate social media went nowhere in Congress. Read more: When Altman Went to Washington and Asked for AI Rules Critical Infrastructure Smith also said that rapidly developing AI technology must be transparent, with developers partnering with government and academic researchers to address societal challenges that will emerge. He proposed safety brakes for AI technology used in high-risk applications such as critical infrastructure. New laws would require operators of these systems to build safety brakes into high-risk AI systems by design, Smith said in a blog post accompanying his speech. The government would then ensure that operators test high-risk systems regularly to ensure that the system safety measures are effective. The Biden administration has released several non-binding guides for developing and using AI products, although the US lags far behind Europes regulatory efforts. The EUs AI Act was in the final stages of debate when the release of ChatGPT and other generative AI applications cast doubt on rules that focus on how the technology is used, rather than how it is initially developed. European Conflict Altman told reporters in London Wednesday that OpenAI could pull its products from Europe if it cant comply with new rules that have been proposed for general-purpose AI. In a tweet Thursday, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton accused Altman of attempting blackmail. Read more: OpenAIs Altman Clashes With EU Commissioner Over AI Regulation Asked about Altmans threat, Smith said its important for the tech industry to explain how proposed regulation would work in practice. He said hes optimistic that reason will prevail in the final version of Europes AI Act. The legislative process in every democratic country inevitably has its twist and turns, Smith said in Washington after his speech. There are days when those of us who might know more about a technical field get up and see something that we quite rightly would want to point out is not likely to work the way that people who wrote it actually intended. US tech companies have praised a framework released in January by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is focused on how AI technology is used and the risk level of that application rather than how its developed. Smith held that model up in his speech as a new intellectual discipline for artificial intelligence to help measure and manage this technology. Smiths speech was attended by several members of Congress. When Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres of New York asked how Congress should balance regulation with innovating to keep ahead of China, Smith urged western democracies to stick together to set a global standard for AI regulation. I do share the concern that there may be other parts of the world that dont adopt the same kinds of guardrails that we do, Smith said. Its so important to bring the European Union and the United Kingdom and the United States and other countries together to say, here is a model, here is a model that not only promotes innovation but protects people, protects humanity, preserves fundamental rights. Microsofts push into artificial intelligence, including its support for OpenAI, has pressured competitors such as Alphabet Inc.s Google to more quickly release their own AI applications and integrate the technology into existing products. Last week, Google published its own policy recommendations for responsible development of AI that it said would take advantage of its economic potential while curbing some of the risks to society. (Updates with more on policy proposals and Altman in Europe beginning in sixth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. President of Microsoft Brad Smith reacts during an interview with Reuters at the Web Summit, in Lisbon By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Microsoft President Brad Smith said Thursday that his biggest concern around artificial intelligence was deep fakes, realistic looking but false content. In a speech in Washington aimed at addressing the issue of how best to regulate AI, which went from wonky to widespread with the arrival of OpenAI's ChatGPT, Smith called for steps to ensure that people know when a photo or video is real and when it is generated by AI, potentially for nefarious purposes. "We're going have to address the issues around deep fakes. We're going to have to address in particular what we worry about most foreign cyber influence operations, the kinds of activities that are already taking place by the Russian government, the Chinese, the Iranians," he said. "We need to take steps to protect against the alteration of legitimate content with an intent to deceive or defraud people through the use of AI." Smith also called for licensing for the most critical forms of AI with "obligations to protect security, physical security, cybersecurity, national security." "We will need a new generation of export controls, at least the evolution of the export controls we have, to ensure that these models are not stolen or not used in ways that would violate the country's export control requirements," he said. For weeks, lawmakers in Washington have struggled with what laws to pass to control AI even as companies large and small have raced to bring increasingly versatile AI to market. Last week, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT, told a Senate panel in his first appearance before Congress that use of AI interfere with election integrity is a "significant area of concern", adding that it needs regulation. Altman, whose OpenAI is backed by Microsoft, also called for global cooperation on AI and incentives for safety compliance. Smith also argued in the speech, and in a blog post issued on Thursday, that people needed to be held accountable for any problems caused by AI and he urged lawmakers to ensure that safety brakes be put on AI used to control the electric grid, water supply and other critical infrastructure so that humans remain in control. He urged use of a "Know Your Customer"-style system for developers of powerful AI models to keep tabs on how their technology is used and to inform the public of what content AI is creating so they can identify faked videos. Some proposals being considered on Capitol Hill would focus on AI that may put people's lives or livelihoods at risk, like in medicine and finance. Others are pushing for rules to ensure AI is not used to discriminate or violate civil rights. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by David Gregorio and Nick Zieminski) ReportLinker KEY HIGHLIGHTS. The regions major global cloud service providers include Amazon Web Services, Tencent Cloud, Microsoft, Google Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, Oracle, and Huawei Technologies. New York, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Middle East & Africa Data Center Construction Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06458933/?utm_source=GNW For instance, Microsoft announced its intention to open a cloud region in Saudi Arabia. The Middle East and Africa data center construction market grows continuously in terms of connectivity by deploying new submarine cables such as Africa-1, 2Africa, India Europe Xpress (IEX), Raman, Saudi Vision, Blue, Equiano, Medusa Submarine Cable System, and SeaMeWe 6, which are expected to be ready for services during the forecast period. The introduction of the 5G network in the Middle East & Africa is likely to generate a substantial amount of data, which will further lead to increasing investments in data centers. High internet connectivity, bandwidth, and less processing time is the feature of 5G technology. The countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Kenya, Nigeria, and Qatar commercially deployed 5G network services. Turkey, Israel, Ethiopia, Algeria, Ghana, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran are other countries in 5G planning and are yet to deploy commercial services during the forecast period. SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS Most facilities are being developed to operate at a PUE of less than 1.5. In contrast, few facilities in countries like Turkey that adopt partial free cooling during peak winters aim to operate at a PUE of less than 1.3. Data centers are investing in power infrastructure with a minimum of N+1 redundancy. In 2022, UPS systems accounted for a market share of more than 30% of the total electrical infrastructure in data centers. The Middle East and Africa data center construction market is investing in cooling infrastructure due to the high-temperature climate in some countries. In 2022, cooling systems service providers invested a share of more than 65% of the total mechanical infrastructure. SEGMENTS ANALYSIS 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 MARKET TRENDS Rise in the Procurement of Renewable Energy Sources The Middle East and Africa have an abundance of availability of solar energy, where most of the countries in the region are undertaking renewable energy strategies & visions to develop renewable energy projects and meet the regions carbon-neutral goals set by respective governments. I. In the UAE, the Energy Strategy 2050 aims to increase the share of renewable energy from 25% to 50% in the total energy mix by 2050. II. Saudi Arabia has launched The National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) under Vision 2030, where 13 projects will generate over 4.8 GW of renewable energy. In addition, Bahrain plans to generate around 280 MW of electricity from renewable sources by 2025, increasing to around 700 MW by 2030 to attain national renewable energy targets. III. In July 2022, the Nigerian government made a statement regarding its commitment to the sustainability goal for 2030. The government is planning to generate 30 GW of electricity from renewable sources by generating renewable energy as 30% of its total production. In December 2022, Saudi Arabia announced the development of 10 renewable energy projects with a power capacity of 7 GW, which is part of the Kingdoms 2030 Vision. In June 2022, Vantage Data Centers signed 20 years Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SolarAfrica in which the company will procure 87 MWp of solar energy that will be used to power its new facility. Increasing Cloud Investments The increase in digitalization and the shift of workloads to cloud platforms from on-premises facilities to make their operations more efficient and scalable witnessed the increase in investments by cloud service providers in the Middle East and Africa over the last few years. I. Amazon Web Services aims to develop the infrastructure region in Tel Aviv, Israel, which will likely be operational in 2023. II. In September 2022, Google Cloud announced its plan to open a new cloud region in Cape Town, South Africa. The cloud region is expected to be operational in the next 23 years. III. In 2022, Google Cloud launched its first local cloud region in Israel. Further, Amazon outpost cloud services were deployed for the first time in Oman in the Oman Data Park, and Microsoft Azure established its first global data center region in Qatar. GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS UAE dominates the regional market in terms of data center developments. In addition, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Israel, Kenya, and Oman are among the major contributors to high data center development activities in the Middle East and Africa data center construction market. Qatar, Nigeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Kuwait are emerging markets that witness significant growth due to digitalization and growth in connectivity. In the Middle East & Africa, the presence of smart cities in the region also drives data center investments. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Ghana are some of the major countries in the region which triggered the smart city investments. For instance, the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia is under development as a part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans Vision 2030, which will also comprise the data center development under a joint venture firm ZeroPoint DC. Geography Middle East o UAE o Saudi Arabia o Bahrain o Oman o Kuwait o Qatar o Israel o Jordan o Other Middle Eastern Countries Africa o South Africa o Kenya o Nigeria o Egypt o Ethiopia o Other African Countries KEY MARKET PARTICIPANTS INITIATIVES The surge in data center activities across the region will be a major source of revenue for construction contractors. Some prominent local and global construction contractors in the Middle East and Africa data center construction market include AECOM, Laing ORourke, Dar Group, Mercury Engineering, Deerns, Anel Group, Linesight, M+W, McLaren Construction, Atkins, B2 Architects, ENMAR Engineering, Arup, DC Pro Engineering, Edarat, Sterling & Wilson, United Egypt, Westwood Management, HHM Building Contracting, Red Engineering, and Turner & Townsend. For instance, Laing ORourke is selected by Khazna Data Centres to design and build a facility and office space in Dubai Design District. 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 INTLTEC ISG JLB Architects Laing ORourke 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 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 KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 1. How big is the Middle East and Africa data center construction market? 2. What is the growth rate of the Middle East and Africa data center construction market? 3. What is the estimated market size in terms of area in the Middle East and Africa data center construction market by 2028? 4. Who are the new entrants in the Middle East and Africa data center construction market? 5. How many MW of power capacity is expected to reach the Middle East and Africa data center construction market by 2028? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06458933/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 DHAKA, Bangladesh, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanvir A Mishuk, founder and managing director of Nagad Limited, a disruptive mobile financial service in Bangladesh, has been conferred the Kotler Iconic Achiever of the Year-2023 Award in recognition of his innovative approaches to business management and exceptional performance in marketing systems. Kotler Awards, which are named after Dr Philip Kotler, a celebrated marketing and management guru, have formally been introduced in Bangladesh from this year to recognise outstanding marketing campaigns, initiatives, and professionals who have contributed excellently to advance the marketing landscape in the country. Planning minister of the country MA Mannan handed over the prestigious Kotler Award to Tanvir A Mishuk at a gala event during the Modern Marketing Summit 2023 in Dhaka, recently. Honorable Prime Minister's economic adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman also accompanied the planning minister at the event as a distinguished guest. The event was organised by Kotler Impact Inc., a leading marketing consultancy firm with partnership with a local organisation Northern Education Group. After receiving the prestigious award Tanvir A Mishuk said, "Receiving recognition from any organisation related with Kotler is very special to me." "Not 160 million people of Bangladesh alone, there is now no expatriate Bangladeshi anywhere in the world who does not know the name of Nagad. From the beginning, I have done only one thing that I have spoken the language that people can pick up easily. I worked in such a way that a farmer, a laborer could easily understand what we offered them. In that case, I did not follow brand guidelines, colours or any old rules," he noted. Tanvir, a changemaker of the country's digital financial service, has become an icon among young entrepreneurs in Bangladesh by establishing several other digital companies including Nagad. Only in four years of its journey, Tanvir made Nagad the fastest-growing financial service in the globe by acquiring 77 million users. The average transactions reached $1 million a day. He previously received numerous international accolades, including the "Fintech Personality of the Year 2022" award by the UK-based Global Brands Magazine. Earlier, the cover of the Bangladesh edition of the book titled "Essentials of Modern Marketing", written by Professor Philip Kotler was unveiled at the programme. Nagad has been featured as a case study in the book, while Tanvir A Mishuk, played his role as a case co-author. Dr Fahim Kibria, chief marketing officer of Kotlar Impact Inc, and Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, vice-chancellor of Northern University, were also present at the event. About Nagad Ltd (https://www.nagad.com.bd/) Nagad Limited, a leading MFS in the payment industry of Bangladesh, has more than 72 million registered customers with an average daily transaction amounting to about USD 80 million. Inaugurated in 2019 by Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the digital payment platform is known as a successful public-private partnership between the Bangladesh Postal Department and the private sector. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/nagad-md-wins-kotler-iconic-achiever-award-2023-301833468.html SOURCE Nagad Limited By Yuka Obayashi and Mayu Sakoda TOKYO (Reuters) -Nippon Steel Corp is still in talks with Teck Resources, despite Glencore's bid for the Canadian miner, as Japan's top steelmaker remains eager to take a stake in Teck's high-grade coking coal asset, a senior executive said. "We are still negotiating with Teck toward making an equity investment in coal assets," executive vice president Takahiro Mori told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. "The amount of our investment may need to be lifted due to Glencore's bid, but we are determined to take 15% or more stake in the coal asset so that we can make it an affiliate unit," he said. Nippon Steel said in February it will spend around 1.15 billion Canadian dollars ($860 million) to buy a 10% stake in Elk Valley Resources Ltd (EVR), the coking coal unit to be spun off from Teck, with a right to raise its stake to maximum 17.5%. But Teck last month withdrew its plan to split its coal and metals business after it failed to receive shareholders' approval. The company's board rejected the offer from Glencore and said it will come up with a new simplified plan of separation. Nippon Steel, the world's fourth largest steelmaker, wants to invest in Teck's high-quality coking coal to secure a stable supply of the key steelmaking ingredient and to gain profits from the asset, Mori said. Nippon Steel has said it plans to buy more stakes in coking coal and iron ore mines to hedge against volatility in the price for the raw materials. Currently, 20% of Nippon Steel's annual coking coal imports of 27 million tonnes are supplied by mines in which it holds stakes. Asked whether Nippon Steel would invest in the coal asset if Glencore buys Teck, Mori said: "there could be a different decision if thermal coal and coking coal are integrated," pointing to a negative implication in terms of climate action. CHINA DEMAND Steel prices in Asia have been under pressure in recent months amid patchy economic recovery in top consumer China. The outlook for demand in China has deteriorated compared to three months ago and a recovery could be delayed till next year, Mori said. "Demand is expected to stay weak for a long time, with no firm economic stimulus policy in place and the real estate market remaining sluggish," Mori said. To cut carbon dioxide emissions, Nippon Steel is considering shifting to electric arc furnaces from blast furnaces at two of its domestic steelmaking plants. "If we decide to do it, it must be done by 2030," Mori said. ($1 = 1.3372 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi, Mayu Sakoda in Tokyo and Clara Denina in London; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Christopher Cushing) FILE PHOTO: The logo of technology company Nvidia is seen at its headquarters in Santa Clara By Chavi Mehta and Stephen Nellis (Reuters) -Nvidia Corp on Wednesday forecast second-quarter revenue more than 50% above Wall Street estimates, and said it is boosting supply to meet surging demand for its artificial-intelligence chips, which are used to power ChatGPT and many similar services. Shares of Nvidia, the world's most valuable listed semiconductor company, rocketed as much as 28% after the bell to trade at $391.50, a record high. The gain increased Nvidia's stock market value by about $200 billion to over $950 billion, extending the Silicon Valley company's lead as the world's most valuable chipmaker and Wall Street's fifth-most-valuable company. Nvidia has strained to meet demand for its AI chips, with Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, who is reportedly building out an artificial-intelligence startup, earlier this week telling an interviewer that the graphics processing units (GPUs) are "considerably harder to get than drugs." But Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday that the company had started full production of its latest AI chips in August last year, which gave it some buffer for supplies when chatbot apps exploded in popularity. "In January, the new demand was incredibly steep," Huang said. "We had to place additional orders, and we procured substantially more supply for the second half" of 2023. Nvidia forecast current-quarter revenue of $11 billion, plus or minus 2%. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had forecast revenue of $7.15 billion. "Given the generative AI gold rush taking place, this should fuel demand for Nvidia's chips for the remainder of the year," said Edward Jones analyst Logan Purk. Adjusted revenue for the quarter ended April 30 was $7.19 billion. Analysts polled by Refinitiv were expecting revenue of $6.52 billion. The company's data center chip sales hit $4.28 billion, beating analyst estimates of $3.89 billion, according to segment data from FactSet. Nvidia faces competition in AI chips from traditional rivals like Advanced Micron Devices Inc and Intel Corp , as well as from startups such as Cerebras Systems and the in-house AI chip efforts at companies like Alphabet Inc's Google and Amazon.com . But Huang said Nvidia has shifted toward selling entire AI supercomputing systems, rather than just chips, to large companies that want to own - and are willing to pay for Nvidia's prices and gross margins - AI expertise comparable to Silicon Valley's tech giants. "No company can build a state-of-the-art AI datacenter without the technology and all the software of a (cloud computing provider), but we have all that capability," Huang said. "The enterprise is a very, very different market." Gaming chip revenue beat Wall Street expectations at $2.24 billion versus estimates of $1.97 billion, according to FactSet data. Net income rose to $2.04 billion, or 82 cents per share, from $1.62 billion, or 64 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, the company earned $1.09 per share in the first quarter, beating estimates of 92 cents. (Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru, Stephen Nellis in San Francisco and Jane Lanhee Lee and Noel Randewich in Oakland, CaliforniaEditing by Sayantani Ghosh, Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler) (Bloomberg) -- Nvidia Corp.s forecast for surging revenue surprised even the most bullish analysts on Wall Street, propelling the chipmaker to the cusp of a $1 trillion market capitalization and igniting a global jump in stocks linked to artificial intelligence. Most Read from Bloomberg The Santa Clara, California-based company gained as much as 26%, hitting an intraday record, after saying it expects about $11 billion of sales in the three months ending July. Analysts had estimated that figure was going to be roughly $7.2 billion. Susquehanna Financial Group wrote that Nvidias report could represent the greatest beat of all time as generative AI and accelerated computing inflect. It looks like the new gold rush is upon us, and Nvidia is selling all the picks and shovels, wrote analyst Christopher Rolland, who added that this massive beat will have both bulls and bears questioning the limits of valuation and multiples. Nvidia, the biggest maker of the advanced chips required to train a new generation of AI services, added to expectations for a burgeoning technology. Rival chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. jumped 11%, while suppliers from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to Advantest Corp. also climbed. Along with memory chipmaker SK Hynix Inc. and Europes ASML Holding NV, ASM International NV, BE Semiconductor Industries NV, VAT Group AG and Soitec, they collectively added $215 billion of value in a market otherwise preoccupied with concerns about the US debt limit and Chinas economic slowdown. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index jumped as much as 5.1%, its biggest one-day advance since February. The move was not limited to chipmakers, as AI-related software stocks also surged. Among notable movers, C3.ai Inc. gained 6.4%, BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. advanced 8.9%, Guardforce AI Co Ltd surged 11%, and SoundHound AI Inc. added 8.3%. In addition, Super Micro Computer Inc. jumped 20%, and Palantir Technologies Inc. rose 6.5%. AI is going to fuel growth in tech at a time when people were starting to wonder about the potential for this extraordinary growth that tech companies have had in the past 10 years to continue going forward, said Raphael Thuin, head of capital markets at Tikehau Capital. Investors this year have doubled down on wagers that the viral success of OpenAIs ChatGPT and other bots will usher in a new era of spending on the technology that underpins AI. Nvidias chips excel at parallel processing, making them well suited for training software by bombarding it with data. The market exuberance drove home growing anticipation around the advent of next-generation AI, which executives around the world have variously likened to the emergence of the internet and the iPhone. ChatGPTs viral debut in November touched off a global race to develop similar services that can generate content everything from poems to algorithms and pictures with a few user prompts. While the jury is out on which AI service will eventually end up on top, many investors are betting that a splurge on research will drive the companies that provide components essential to AI development and hosting. TSMC, which manufactures Nvidias chips, rose 9.4% in US trading. Equipment supplier Advantest surged as much as 20% to an all-time high in Tokyo, while Hynix advanced up to 6.8% in Seoul. In Europe, semiconductor equipment maker ASML jumped 5%, and BE Semiconductor Industries nearly 8%. Under Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Jensen Huang, Nvidia has positioned itself as the top provider of components for training AI software. Thats helped it weather a broader slowdown in technology spending. Investors were looking to the company for evidence that the surge in interest in AI this year is resulting in higher sales of chips that provide the computing power. The semiconductor maker delivered that with a revenue forecast for the current quarter that dwarfed the average analyst estimate. The transformational surge in AI spending is paying off much earlier than expected, Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore wrote in a note. We simply have no historical precedent for the magnitude of this step function. Nvidias Huang argued that the use of the technology is only in its infancy and more tailored products for specific industries are needed. Hes built online services and software tools to help encourage the broader adoption of AI outside of his big customers cloud providers like Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc.s AWS. Orders for Nvidias A100 and H100 AI chips are truly spectacular, said Amir Anvarzadeh, a strategist at Asymmetric Advisors Ltd. in Singapore. More importantly for Asian equity investors, they point out that all the orders are being passed on to TSMC, which has more than adequate capacity to fill the orders. --With assistance from Winnie Hsu, Michael Msika, Kit Rees and Ksenia Galouchko. (Updates to market open, adds analyst comments.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Nvidia Corp. has a knack for riding tech trends selling graphics chips that powered everything from the video game boom to the rise of cryptocurrency and the industrys big bet on the metaverse. Most Read from Bloomberg But arguably no trend stands to benefit the worlds most valuable chip company more than the rise of artificial intelligence. Nvidias 24% surge on Thursday pushed it within grasp of a $1 trillion market capitalization, a level that would rank it among the tech elite including Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc. Id be reluctant to say it has won the race, but it is winning right now, said Zeno Mercer, senior research analyst at ROBO Global. Following an AI-fueled sales forecast this week that blew Wall Street targets out of the water, Nvidias value grew $184 billion on Thursday. That was the third-biggest one-day gain in market capitalization in the US ever. Nvidia climbed an additional 2.5% on Friday, putting its valuation at $963.2 billion. Nvidia was co-founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, who still runs the company. It proved more successful than its peers at developing chips that turn computer code into the realistic images that computer gamers love, and rode out a wave of consolidation that saw its rivals acquired, bankrupted or merged into larger companies. Under Huang, the company then pushed its technology into new markets, such as data center servers and artificial intelligence processing a move thats proving prescient today. In less than a decade, Nvidias data center business has grown from $300 million in annual revenue to $15 billion. The chipmaker has won orders to equip giant computing factories by successfully arguing that graphics chips can handle AI workloads better than more standard processors. The companys latest forecast spotlighted that progress. Sales in the three months ending in July will be about $11 billion, Nvidia said late on Wednesday, shattering an average analyst estimate of $7.18 billion. Read More: Nvidias Blowout Forecast Sparks Huge Rally in All Things AI Were seeing incredible orders to retool the worlds data centers, Huang told analysts on a conference call. A trillion dollars of data center infrastructure will be upgraded to handle so-called accelerated computing, he said, letting them run generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. The budget of a data center will shift very strongly to accelerated computing. Its become common for tech companies to talk up their artificial intelligence prospects during earnings conference calls. References to AI soared after the launch of ChatGPT in November, and they dont always spark a stock rally. But Nvidia has now become the model of a company thats actually making money from AI. Its the seller of picks and shovels in the gold-rush analogy. And thats brought it to a historic threshold: Crossing $1 trillion valuation would be a first for the semiconductor industry. Even Intel Corp., a Silicon Valley pioneer and the company most synonymous with computer chips, never came close. Nvidia eclipsed Intel in market capitalization in 2020, and the companies have only grown further apart. Nvidias current valuation is eight times that of Intel, despite the company having far less revenue. Nvidias success has made investors even gloomier about Intel. While many chipmakers saw their stocks gain in the wake of Nvidias blockbuster earnings report this week, Intel actually fell. Read More: ASML, Europes Most Valuable Tech Firm, Defines Global Chip War Nvidia is also benefiting from a broader rebound in technology spending. The chip industry is recovering from one of its periodic slumps, and many companies even Intel are looking for demand to improve in the second half. But the swing will be particularly dramatic for Nvidia. Its poised to go from flat sales in the current fiscal year to a 45% gain in 2024. They may be in a unique position, Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said on Bloomberg Television. Is it a one-time thing or is this the new normal? I dont know. Read More: Nvidias $184 Billion Jump in Five Charts Huang, 60, is the longest-serving CEO of a major tech company but runs the business like a startup. He is known for making snap decisions and demanding rapid execution. His big bets havent always worked out. Nvidia announced plans in 2020 to acquire Arm Ltd. for $40 billion, aiming to take control of chip technology thats used in phones, factory machines and a wide range of other equipment. Huang had hoped to use Arm to bring AI to everything that has an on-off switch. But Arms customers opposed the deal, which would have been the largest-ever in the chip industry, fearing it would compromise the British companys neutrality. The US Federal Trade Commission sued to block the transaction in late 2021, prompting to Nvidia to walk away from the purchase in February 2022. Now, that failed deal is a distant memory for Nvidia investors. The key question these days is how quickly Nvidias peers can cut its lead in AI. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. is working with Microsoft Corp., for instance, to ramp up its AI chip efforts. There is a broader AI ecosystem, said ROBO Globals Mercer. While Nvidia will likely remain highly valued, the rest of the system will catch up. (Updates shares starting in fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Nvidia shares soared 27.6% in extended trading yesterday, catapulting the company towards a $1 trillion market cap. The shares rose dramatically following Nvidias first-quarter report, which highlighted a 19% quarter-on-quarter increase in revenue, significantly surpassing expectations Nvidia is a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge chips essential for the training of AI services, a sector thats seen a tsunami of investment fueled by the buzz around OpenAI's ChatGPT and similar AI-powered tools. AI Will Exceed Expert Skill Level in Most Domains in 10 Years: OpenAI Two simultaneous transitionsaccelerated computing and generative AI, said the firms founder and CEO Jensen Huang. A trillion dollars of installed global data center infrastructure will transition from general-purpose to accelerated computing as companies race to apply generative AI into every product, service, and business process, he said in the firms latest quarterly report. Huang also revealed that the firm had commenced full-scale production of its latest AI chips as early as August last year. This foresight gave them a safety net when the popularity of chatbot applications surged unexpectedly. "In January, the new demand was incredibly steep," said Huang, adding that the firm had to place additional orders, and we procured substantially more supply for the second half" of 2023. AI around the market The strong performance not only lifted Nvidia's own stocks but also fueled the growth of shares in other AI-related firms. These include competitor chip manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices, generative AI advocates Microsoft and Google, AI software creator C3.ai, and Palantir Technologies, among others. The esteemed trillion-dollar club consists of only five members: Apple, Saudi Aramco, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon. Both Tesla and Meta briefly enjoyed membership in 2021, until falling off early last year. Apple Takes Its 30% Bite From AI Innovation, Costing OpenAI Millions Should these gains hold at market open today, Nvidia stands to expand its existing $755 billion market capitalization by an additional $219 billion in a single day. This would exceed Amazons record-setting $191.2 billion increase on February 4, 2022. (Bloomberg) -- Antonio Brufau, the oil industrys longest serving chairman, will keep going despite an earlier pledge to step down from his position at Repsol SA. Most Read from Bloomberg Brufau was reelected by a majority of votes at the Madrid-based oil producers annual shareholders meeting on Thursday, granting him four more years overseeing a company that has undergone a sweeping transformation during his tenure. The exact amount of shareholders who backed him will be made public later. Since his appointment in 2004, the former refining monopoly has fought off a takeover attempt, weathered the fallout from the nationalization of assets in South America and announced a major push into green energy. Repsol said in 2019 that Brufau, 75, wanted the current four-year term to be his last. But widespread changes over the past 18 months among the companys top ranks including the departures of the head of upstream, the head of clean energy, and the head of communications and regulation prompted a rethink. With a much younger executive committee running the company, the board decided to recommend that Brufau should stay on. Brufaus 18-year term makes him the third-longest serving chairman among 37 publicly-listed oil and gas companies that pump the equivalent of at least 100,000 barrels a day, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Only the chairmen of Russias Gazprom PJSC and Novatek PJSC, both major gas producers, have held their positions for longer. The most notable moments of Brufaus tenure include the successful 2011 defense against an attempt by a Spanish construction tycoon Luis del Rivero and Mexican state-owned crude producer Pemex to unseat him and take control of Repsol. The 2012 nationalization of YPF SA by Argentina was more of a setback for Brufau, who at the time was the executive chairman and chief executive officer. He had spent years trying to win over the left-leaning government in Buenos Aires, even agreeing to sell 25% of YPF to local businessmen. But in 2012 the state seized YPF and its Spanish management had to leave the country. When Argentina compensated Repsol in 2014 for the nationalization, Brufau used the funds to acquire a Canadian oil firm and gain access to shale fields in the US and oil-sands resources in Canada. After handing over the CEO position to Josu Jon Imaz in 2014, Brufau still played a big part in the companys 2019 decision to write down the book value of its oil assets by 4.8 billion ($5.2 billion) as it announced a stronger focus on the transition to clean energy and net-zero emissions. Repsol was the first big oil company to announce such a move, even though several of its larger peers have since surpassed its initial pledges. (Updates with to reflect result of vote in headline, top two paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Martin Coulter and Supantha Mukherjee LONDON/STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -For months, Sam Altman, CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI has urged lawmakers around the world to draw up new rules governing the technology. On Wednesday, he threatened the ChatGPT maker may leave the EU if the bloc "overregulated". Altman has spent the past week crisscrossing Europe, meeting top politicians in France, Spain, Poland, Germany and the UK to discuss the future of AI, and progress of ChatGPT. More than six months after OpenAI unveiled its AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT to the world, fears around its potential have provoked excitement and alarm and brought it into conflict with regulators. One place Altman didn't get to this week was Brussels, where EU regulators are working on the long-awaited EU AI Act, which could be the first set of rules globally to govern AI. Altman cancelled a scheduled visit to Brussels, two sources familiar with the matter said. OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment. "The current draft of the EU AI Act would be over-regulating, but we have heard it's going to get pulled back," Altman said in London on Wednesday. EU lawmakers responsible for shaping the AI Act disputed Altman's claims. "I don't see any dilution happening anytime soon," Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament who is leading the drafting of EU proposals, told Reuters. "We are nevertheless happy to invite Mr. Altman to Parliament so he can voice his concerns and hear European lawmakers' thoughts on these issues," he said. EU industry chief Thierry Breton also criticised the threat, saying the draft rules are not for negotiation. On Thursday, OpenAI is expected to discuss in more detail how AI should be regulated, amid Altman's busy schedule of meetings with world leaders such as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron. LAWMAKERS WON'T BE 'BLACKMAILED' Dutch MEP Kim van Sparrentak, who has also worked on the draft EU law, said she and her colleagues shouldnt let ourselves be blackmailed by American companies. If OpenAI cant comply with basic data governance, transparency, safety and security requirements, then their systems arent fit for the European market, she said. By February, ChatGPT set a record for the fastest growing user base of any consumer application app in history. OpenAI first clashed with regulators in March, when Italian data regulator Garante shut the app down domestically, accusing OpenAI of flouting European privacy rules. ChatGPT came back online after the company instituted new privacy measures for users. Meanwhile, EU lawmakers added new proposals to the blocs AI Act, forcing any company using generative tools, like ChatGPT, to disclose any copyrighted material used to train its systems. EU parliamentarians agreed on the draft of the act earlier this month. Member states, the European Commission and Parliament will thrash out the final details of the bill. Through the Council of Europe, individual member states like France or Poland can also seek amendments before the bill is passed potentially later this year. PLANS IN 'FULL SWING' While the legislation has been in the works for several years, new provisions specifically targeting generative tools were drawn up only weeks ahead of a crunch vote on the proposals. Reuters earlier reported some lawmakers had initially proposed banning copyrighted material being used to train generative AI models altogether, but this was abandoned in favour of stronger transparency requirements. These provisions relate mainly to transparency, which ensures the AI and the company building it are trustworthy. I don't see a reason why any company would shy away from transparency," Tudorache said. Nils Rauer, a technology partner at law firm Pinsent Masons, said it was "no surprise" Altman had made his comments as lawmakers worked through their proposals. "It is unlikely OpenAI will turn its back on Europe. The EU is economically too important," he said. "You cannot carve out the single market, with close to 500 million people and a 15-trillion-euro ($16.51 trillion) economy." Altman was in Munich, Germany, on Thursday where he said he had met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Sergey Lagodinsky, a German MEP who also worked on the legislation, said that while Altman may be trying to push his agenda among individual countries, Brussels' plans to regulate the technology were "in full swing." There may be some amendments, of course, he said. But I doubt they will change the overall trajectory. ($1 = 0.9084 euros) (Reporting by Martin Coulter and Supantha Mukherjee; additional reporting by Alexander Huebner in Munich and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Editing by Susan Fenton) Pratt & Whitney says India's Go First has no right over engines FILE PHOTO: The tail fins of Go First airline, formerly known as GoAir, passenger aircrafts are seen parked on the tarmac at the airport in New Delhi By Aditya Kalra and Arpan Chaturvedi NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Pratt & Whitney has no engines currently available for India's Go First airline, which also has no rights over them, the counsel for the U.S. firm told a Delaware court on Thursday as the two companies engaged in a raging dispute over the supplies. The Indian airline has approached the Delaware court to enforce an arbitration order it won in Singapore against Pratt & Whitney, which it blames for its financial troubles and argues the U.S. firm failed to supply engines on time. Pratt says those claims are without merit. Go First has been granted bankruptcy protection in India with a court-appointed administrator trying to revive the airline. This has also sparked a bitter tussle with many of Go First's lessors as they have terminated their lease agreements and are trying to repossess the planes. During a court hearing on Thursday, which Reuters accessed via a court-assigned teleconferencing system, a lawyer for Pratt argued Go First no more has a right over the engines after termination of leases. "There are no engines available to be sent to Go First ... these leases have been terminated and they (engines) cannot be sent because Go First has no right to them," said the Pratt & Whitney counsel. Go First counsel argued that position was incorrect, saying the bankruptcy process in India provides a freeze on any repossession of planes by any lessor, and so it continues to have a right over them and the engines. The Indian airline's counsel added the engines were critical to its revival. The Singapore arbitrator on March 30 had ordered Pratt to assist Go First and supply serviceable spare engines to the airline, which has said it grounded half of its 54 Airbus A320neo planes due to engine issues. Pratt argues the arbitration order is not enforceable. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Arpan Chaturvedi; Editing by David Gregorio) With a potential U.S. debt default just over a week away, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said late Wednesday that negotiators were making progress toward a deal to raise the federal borrowing limit. But negotiators have offered little indication that they are nearing a deal. I think things are going a little better, he told Fox Business after staff-level talks had concluded at the White House for the day, adding that spending levels remain a stumbling block. McCarthy earlier told reporters that the two sides remain far apart and that fundamental differences over federal spending remained unresolved, even after days of direct negotiations. The Republican leader has continued to insist that spending levels must come down. You have to spend less than you spent last year, he said. That is not that difficult to do. But in Washington, somehow that is a problem. Biden said early this week that House Republicans would need to move off their extreme positions for there to be progress in talks over raising the nations debt limit. Its time for Republicans to accept that there is no bipartisan deal to be made solely, solely, on their partisan terms, Biden said at a news conference following the G7 Summit in Japan. McCarthy and his fellow Republicans appear to disagree, publicly refusing to budge on any of their demands. Biden has reportedly offered to freeze spending at 2023 levels, cap spending for two years and rescind unspent Covid funds. Republicans have insisted that spending must be cut in any deal to raise the debt limit. And they have repeatedly sought to pressure Biden to accept most of their demands without offering any concessions beyond a debt-ceiling hike. When McCarthy was asked Tuesday what concessions hes making his response was telling: Were going to raise the debt ceiling. Republican Reps. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and Garret Graves of Louisiana, two of McCarthys negotiators, also said Tuesday that the GOP concession was raising the debt limit. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that avoiding default should not count as a concession: Weve also heard some House Republicans refer to preventing default as the only concession they are willing to make. But preventing a catastrophic default is not a concession. Its their job. Period. McCarthys stance also reflects the continued pressure he faces from his members, any one of whom can call for his ouster. The House Freedom Caucus has urged Republican leaders to hold fast in negotiations and push for everything in the GOP bill. It's time for President Biden and Senate Democrats to do theirs and pass the Limit, Save, Grow Act, the group tweeted last week. No more discussion on watering it down. Period. And Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the Freedom Caucus, on Wednesday warned Republicans against making concessions in a four-page memo laying out conservative talking points. Roy wrote that the GOP agenda items are all critical and none should be abandoned solely for the quest of a deal. Democrats worry theyre losing the PR battle: Its no mystery why Republicans keep hammering the same points and pressing for their priorities. They are clearly feeling their oats, confident that they have the upper hand and can both set the media narrative and dictate the terms of the talks. McHenry has told reporters that the White House made a strategic mistake by not negotiating earlier. McCarthy is speaking to reporters a half-dozen times per day. Graves and McHenry are accessible. The White House negotiators havent spoken once to reporters outside the daily briefing, Punchbowl News noted this morning. Some Democrats are reportedly frustrated by the White Houses messaging on the talks, or lack of it. For its part, the White House on Wednesday argued again that this is a manufactured crisis and pointed to comments by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida as proof of the GOPs culpability. I think my conservative colleagues for the most part support Limit, Save, Grow, and they dont feel like we should negotiate with our hostage, Gaetz told Semafor on Tuesday, referring to the legislation passed by the House. The White House used that remark to accuse House Republican leaders of kowtowing to their far-right members. Theyre saying the quiet thing out loud, referring to the full faith and credit of the United States as a hostage, Jean-Pierre said. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the 102-member Congressional Progressive Caucus, lashed out at Republicans Wednesday at a Capitol Hill news conference. Jayapal argued that only McCarthy would be to blame if the country defaults. She suggested, as Biden and other Democrats have as well, that some in the GOP expect to gain politically from tanking the economy. Today the United States is closer to default than we have ever been in our history for one reason and one reason only: that is, extreme Republican recklessness that will crash our economy, she said. And let me be clear: Republicans have no interest in cutting the deficit. They are willing to crash the economy because they want to continue their extreme tax cuts for the wealthiest corporations and billionaires across the country. And guess what? They want you, working people, to finance those tax cuts for the wealthiest. Jayapal said the White House had told her that Republicans rejected policy proposals that would have cut the deficit by $3 trillion, including ending $31 billion in tax subsidies to big oil and closing tax loopholes to raise more than $60 billion. Jayapal said the GOP also shot down other tax proposals and rejected raising the number of prescription drugs subject to Medicare price negotiations, which the administration says would save $200 billion. There is going to be a moment here, and its coming very, very soon, where they will have to make a choice between their constituents and their country and an extreme MAGA Republican hostage-taking that their speaker is leading them into, Jayapal said of Republicans. She argued that it would only take a handful of Republicans signing on to Democrats discharge petition to force a floor vote on a debt-limit increase. House Democrats announced Wednesday that all 213 of their members had signed. A big fight over a relatively small part of the budget: Jim Tankersley of The New York Times notes that the fight has centered on non-defense discretionary spending, which accounts for less than 15% of the $6.3 trillion that the federal government is expected to spend this year. It is not outsized, by historical standards. It is already projected to shrink, as a share of the economy, over the next decade, Tankersley writes. And it has nothing to do with the big drivers of projected spending growth in the coming years: the safety-net programs Social Security and Medicare, which are facing increasingly large payouts as the American population ages. The fight, in other words, is almost certain not to produce any agreement with Mr. Biden that would dramatically alter the course of federal spending in the next decade, Tankersley says. Whats next: The House will recess after its votes on Thursday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, and members will get 24 hours notice to return if a debt ceiling deal is reached over the weekend or next week. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Elon Musks heart-to-heart with Republican presidential nominee and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis culminated with a focus on digital assetstouching on Bitcoin and the digital dollar, with a Dogecoin reference thrown in for good measure. The conversation between Musk and DeSantis, which was moderated by entrepreneur David Sacks, didnt achieve liftoff until more than thirty minutes after its scheduled start time, with hundreds of thousands of Twitter users finding their apps crashing and the audio stream glitching. But the chat eventually got underway, and toward the talks tail end, DeSantis leaned into his position as an advocate of cryptos largest coin. The Florida governor portrayed his support of Bitcoin as a matter of civil liberties, and attempts to restrict crypto by his opponents as government overreach. You have every right to do Bitcoin, DeSantis said. The only reason these people in Washington dont like it is because they dont control it. Ron DeSantis Twitter Spaces Event Experiences 'Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly' As the 2024 election season gets underway, DeSantis remarks mirror those of Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who heralded Bitcoin last week as an example of democracy and anathema to authoritarians. On Wednesday, DeSantis touched on the uptick in regulatory enforcement actions that the digital assets industry has confronted so far this year, accusing the government of trying to purge digital assets to preserve the reign of those in power. Bitcoin represents a threat to them, DeSantis said. Theyre trying to regulate it out of existence. DeSantis pledged that if Congress ever tried to institute a ban on things like Bitcoin by passing new legislation, that he would vehemently oppose it. He also said that the current administration could snuff out Bitcoin if Biden is reelected. The current regime, clearly, they have it out for Bitcoin, DeSantis said. And if it continues for another four years, theyll probably end up killing it. Addressing the political conversations shift toward a focus on crypto, David Sacks noted theres a big crypto audience on Twitter. Musk interjected to say theres one for Dogecoin too. DeSantis has incorporated remarks against central bank digital currency into his platform over time, echoing statements made by representatives like Tom Emmer and pursuing a ban against government-backed cryptocurrencies in Florida. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wades Further Into Crypto Following Anti-CBDC Remarks Central bank digital currencies (CBDC) are similar to assets like stablecoins that are pegged to the price of a sovereign currency like the greenback. But instead of being issued by private companies on public networks, they are managed by their respective governments or central banks. In the case of the Federal Reserve, Chairman Jerome Powell has said a CBDC would ideally receive written approval from Congress. But DeSantis said theres no wiggle room in terms of that, and it wont happen on his watch. You must get authorization from Congress, DeSantis said of a CBDC. I can tell you, if Im president, we are not doing a central bank digital currency. DeSantis underscored his message that a CBDC could be used to curtail purchases deemed politically unfavorable in the eyes of those who control the tech, possibly pushing environmental issues or preventing firearm sales. I see it as a massive transfer of power from individual consumers to a central authority, and I dont think thats good for a free society, he said. Im a no on [a] central bank digital currency. It hasn't been the best quarter for RPC, Inc. (NYSE:RES) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 15% in that time. But in three years the returns have been great. Indeed, the share price is up a very strong 127% in that time. It's not uncommon to see a share price retrace a bit, after a big gain. The thing to consider is whether the underlying business is doing well enough to support the current price. Since the stock has added US$53m to its market cap in the past week alone, let's see if underlying performance has been driving long-term returns. See our latest analysis for RPC While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During three years of share price growth, RPC moved from a loss to profitability. Given the importance of this milestone, it's not overly surprising that the share price has increased strongly. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on RPC's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of RPC, it has a TSR of 130% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective RPC shareholders are down 17% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 1.7%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. 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. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Even so, be aware that RPC is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , you should know about... 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. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Russia is the real threat to Saudi Arabia as Moscow targets key oil market, veteran analyst says Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images Russian oil exports to Asia are a real threat to Saudi Arabia, said veteran analyst Paul Sankey. That's despite Saudi Arabia's recent focus on short sellers in the oil market. "The real issue is can the Saudis corral Russia?" Sankey told Bloomberg TV. Russian oil exports to Asian markets are a real threat to Saudi Arabia, which is seeing its price premiums eroded by competition, according to long-time industry analyst Paul Sankey. Meanwhile, he gave little credence to Saudi Arabia's claims that market short sellers were behind underwhelming oil prices. "Frankly, I don't know why they're so obsessed with speculators. I mean, you can squeeze speculators on a short-term basis. But the real problem is the overall oil balance," Sankey told Bloomberg TV on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman cautioned short-sellers to beware of economic pain just days ahead of an OPEC+ meeting, though he did not outline specific actions. The warning helped oil prices rally. But to Sankey, Saudi Arabia should be more focused on Russia than short-sellers. "The real issue is can the Saudis corral Russia? Russia is a threat to Saudi, because what Russia is doing is it's sending its oil to Asia, and it's cutting the traditional long-term Saudi premium for selling oil to Asia," he said. "That's a much bigger deal than people appreciate between Russia and Saudi in terms of market share and competition." And while Russian President Vladimir Putin and de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appear to have good relations, it's not clear the same can be said about their respective oil ministers, Sankey added. Potential tensions between the two oil giants, who have coordinated production in recent years, comes as Russia has had to find alternatives for its energy exports after sanctions largely shut Moscow out of European markets. Earlier this year, Russia's oil exports surpassed the volumes hit before its invasion of Ukraine, with China and India accounting for roughly 90% of its seaborne crude shipments. And there's little sign that Russia will lessen its reliance on Asia. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak indicated this week that Moscow could supply 40% of China's energy needs. Read the original article on Business Insider Russia says trade with China will hit a record $200 billion this year as Moscow and Beijing deepen economic ties Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP Russia's trade with China will hit $200 billion this year, Russia's prime minister said. Meeting that target would take trade between the two countries to a new record. Russia could supply up to 40% of China's energy this year, according to the Kremlin. Russia's trade with China is going to boom to a new record this year, according to the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. At a Shanghai forum on Tuesday, Mishustin said he believed Russia and China would be able to raise their total trade volume to $200 billion this year, per a report from the Global Times, a Chinese state-run news outlet. Meeting that target would bring total trade between Russia and China to its highest level ever, surpassing the previous record of $190 billion notched in 2022. "The governments of Russia and China have begun a coordinated effort to implement the agreements reached at the supreme level," Mishustin said, according to state-run Tass. Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Moscow has relied more on China, especially as a market for its crude oil exports, after Western countries imposed sanctions. This year, Russia could supply up to 40% of China's energy, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at the forum. Additionally, around 70% of the trade between China and Russia are denominated in China's yuan or Russia's ruble, per an estimate from Andrey Kostin, the chief executive of one of Russia's state-run banks. Meanwhile, China's premier Li Qiang told Mishustin in a meeting on Wednesday that the government was willing to take their partnership to a "new level," Reuters reported. Russia and China have made particular efforts to strengthen economic ties over the past year, and the two nations have joined forces in shunning the use of the US dollar. In April, Russia had around $45 billion in yuan reserves that it began using to cover its budget deficit, and it's now creating a new reserve currency with China and other BRICS nations that could potentially challenge the greenback. Read the original article on Business Insider Russia's economy needs a 6-day work week to help navigate sanctions, business group says Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sputnik/Mikhail Klementyev/Kremlin Russian business leaders have called on Moscow to consider a six-day work week. The Russian economy is feeling the weight of Western sanctions amid war in Ukraine. A letter to Russia's labor minister said "the need of our financial and economic system for additional investments remains." Russian business leaders have asked the Kremlin to consider implementing a six-day work week to help the economy navigate Western sanctions, according to a report from Russian media outlet Izvestia cited by Politico. "Thanks to the clear actions of the government and the central bank, the economy and the national currency of Russia not only withstood the blow, but also demonstrated resistance to stress. Nevertheless, at present, the need of our financial and economic system for additional investments remains," the Avanti business club wrote in a letter to Russia's labor minister. The group includes Russian business leaders, as well as several Russian members of parliament, per its website. Before the first series of sanctions hit in 2014, when Russia invaded Crimea, the economy had steadily grown to stand among the five largest in the world, but amid increasing financial stress, more must be done, the business group wrote. A longer work week, the authors said, would help the workforce achieve President Vladimir Putin's goals set for 2023, as well as better position the country for a technological and industrial breakthrough while reducing dependence on other countries. The letter comes as Russia is experiencing a record labor shortage, with employers reporting the lowest level of worker availability since data began in 1998. The Ukraine war has led to an exodus of citizens, in addition to the mobilization of 300,000 troops. Meanwhile, European Union nations are now in talks for an 11th round of sanctions on Russia, after Europe's imports of Russian energy supplies saw particularly steep declines. Sanctions banned Russian coal in August 2022, crude oil in December 2022, then refined oil products this February. Over the last year, Russia has grown increasingly reliant on trade with Asian buyers, namely China and India, to keep its export business afloat. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Tuesday that trade with China will hit a new record this year. He believes total trade volume could reach $200 billion in 2023. That would surpass the prior record of $190 billion reached last year. "The governments of Russia and China have begun a coordinated effort to implement the agreements reached at the supreme level," Mishustin said, according to state-run Tass. Read the original article on Business Insider NOGALES Sen. Kyrsten Sinema toured the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry on Wednesday, several feet away from roughly 100 asylum seekers enduring a dayslong wait to be processed into the building . Clothes hung on metal poles and benches as a camping tent was propped up on the sidewalk outside of the port of entry. Many asylum seekers, desperate in their efforts to claim a CBP One appointment, have been waiting for more than a week to request asylum without the glitchy mobile app. Many have been trying to book an appointment for months. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and James Lankford, R-Okla., speak outside of the Morely gate after touring the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. The line has dwindled by about 100 people since it first began in the days after the Title 42 border restriction was lifted May 11. Anywhere from five to 13 people without appointments are processed each day, migrants say. People in line reflected an increased sense of hope and optimism as they saw others getting admitted and processed. Despite the number of people, the line was calm and orderly. Sinema, I-Ariz., and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., continued their two-day visit of southern Arizona in Nogales, touring the port of entry and parts of the border wall. Sinema emphasized how Border Patrol agents are too busy processing asylum seekers to fully perform their field duties in intercepting drugs and apprehending people evading detection. Sinema said that there was an almost unfettered flow of drugs coming into the country because agents were being pulled away to process asylum applications. Sinema erroneously claimed that the U.S. Customs and Border Protections Tucson Sector is the only sector along the southern border where more drugs, particularly fentanyl, are interdicted in between ports of entry, instead of at ports. One thing we know about the Tucson sector is that this is the only sector of the US-Mexico border where more drugs, fentanyl in particular, are interdicted outside of the ports of entry than at the ports of entry, Sinema said. U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and James Lankford, R-Okla., meet with Tucson nonprofit and local leaders during a roundtable discussion to talk about the end of Title 42 at the Pima County Historic Courthouse on May 23, 2023. The vast majority of all drugs in CBPs Tucson Sector, however, are intercepted at ports of entry, according to CBP data. More than 96% of fentanyl in the Tucson Sector was seized by CBPs Office of Field Operations at ports of entry so far in fiscal year 2023, per CBP data. More than 78% of all drugs were seized at ports in the Tucson Sector thus far in fiscal year 2023, according to CBP data. Sinema visits Tucson: Sinema talks to Tucson nonprofits, local leaders about post-Title 42 border situation The numbers follow nationwide trends where more than 91% of fentanyl intercepted nationwide was seized at ports of entry so far in fiscal year 2023, per CBP data. Pablo Sierra-Carmona, a spokesperson for Sinema, later clarified that Sinema was referring to a majority of fentanyl being seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration in the interior of the country and not at ports of entry along the border in 2022. Sinema previously claimed, during a Tucson event on Tuesday, that the amount of fentanyl being smuggled by cartels in between ports of entry in the Tucson Sector exceeds the amount of fentanyl intercepted at ports of entry. "The amount of fentanyl that's coming in between ports of entry that's being smuggled in by the cartels exceeds what is being caught at the port of entry in the Tucson sector," Sinema said Tuesday. On May 2, the Biden administration announced that it was sending 1,500 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in order to help Border Patrol agents return to fully conducting their field work. The troops, who were primarily deployed to Texas, were tasked with performing administrative work to free up agents ahead of the lifting of Title 42. No troops came to Arizona. The visit is the third time that Sinema has brought a congressional delegation to the Arizona-Mexico border this year. During her remarks, Sinema called for the hiring of more Border Patrol agents and for the completion of the remaining border wall gap projects. Family endures eight-day wait at port of entry Edgar Ayala Rodriguez and his family have been waiting outside of the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry for eight days. The family left their home in Guerrero, Mexico, on May 15 and arrived directly at the port on May 16. The family left because of threats from organized crime. The southern Mexican state has been plagued with violence for years due to fighting from rival drug cartels. Organized crime has infiltrated the everyday lives of many residents in the state. About 200 asylum seekers wait in line outside of the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Sonora, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. If the line didnt move and Rodriguez couldnt see any hope in requesting asylum without an appointment, the family would return to Guerrero, he said. With no other place to go, the return to Guerrero would mean starting from scratch as the family had spent their savings on getting to the border. Initial reporting: 200 asylum seekers in line outside Nogales port of entry days after Title 42's end The Kino Border Initiative, a binational humanitarian nonprofit, has been providing asylum seekers with breakfast, lunch and mattress pads to sleep on. The migrant shelter has seen lower numbers of people in the days following Title 42s end, according to Gia Del Pino, communications director for the Kino Border Initiative. Many migrants are choosing instead to arrive directly to the port of entry and get in line, she added. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema tours Nogales port as migrants line up outside FILE PHOTO: Logo of Seven & I Holdings is seen at its headquarters in Tokyo By Makiko Yamazaki and Mayu Sakoda TOKYO (Reuters) -Shareholders of Japan's Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd on Thursday voted down all four of the board candidates nominated by ValueAct Capital, dismissing the U.S. investment firm's attempt to shake up the retail giant's board. ValueAct, long critical of the 7-Eleven convenience store operator's conglomerate structure, called for President Ryuichi Isaka to be among those replaced with its candidates. Isaka and other candidates backed by the company were all elected at its annual shareholders meeting. The proxy fight had intensified in the run-up to the shareholders meeting as both sides launched public campaigns - a rare move for ValueAct as it is better known for working quietly behind the scenes with management of target companies. According to vote results released by the company, Isaka received support from 76.36% of shareholders, while support for ValueAct candidates ranged 25.52% to 34.13%. A large portion - about 10% - of the company is still owned by the founding family and the presence of activist investors is small. As such, support of more than 30% for ValueAct candidates would be significant, investors have said. ValueAct, which owns 4.4% of the company, said many of the world's largest institutional investors had voted for new leadership and "a more decisive growth strategy". "We look forward to engaging constructively with Seven & i representatives and our fellow shareholders to discuss next steps in response to these strong signals," ValueAct said in a statement released after the poll. ValueAct had urged the company to undertake a strategic review and consider spinning off its 7-Eleven chain or selling the entire company. The company in response elected to close additional supermarket stores in Japan and fully exit its apparel business. However it has resisted a spin-off of 7-Eleven, saying that would jeopardise the convenience store chain's future growth by cutting it off from its parent's strength in the food business. "We believe synergies between our supermarket and convenience store businesses will be even stronger from now on," Isaka told shareholders at the meeting. ValueAct fund has built its image as a constructive activist following successful engagement at medical equipment maker Olympus Corp and chip materials maker JSR Corp. (Editing by David Dolan, Chang-Ran Kim and Sonali Paul) When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in National Express Group PLC's (LON:NEX) instance, it's good news for shareholders. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. Check out our latest analysis for National Express Group The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At National Express Group Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Group General Counsel & Company Secretary Simon Callander for UK94k worth of shares, at about UK1.89 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK1.14 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 105.00k shares worth UK189k. On the other hand they divested 5.62k shares, for UK13k. In total, National Express Group insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! National Express Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Does National Express Group Boast High Insider Ownership? Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Our information indicates that National Express Group insiders own about UK398k worth of shares. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. We might be missing something but that seems like very low insider ownership. So What Do The National Express Group Insider Transactions Indicate? The fact that there have been no National Express Group insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think National Express Group insiders are doubting the company. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for National Express Group (of which 1 doesn't sit too well with us!) you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in Visioneering Technologies, Inc.'s (ASX:VTI) instance, it's good news for shareholders. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. See our latest analysis for Visioneering Technologies Visioneering Technologies Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Paul Cozzi for AU$686k worth of shares, at about AU$0.97 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.22). While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. While Visioneering Technologies insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Visioneering Technologies is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Of Visioneering Technologies Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 21% of Visioneering Technologies shares, worth about AU$1.4m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At Visioneering Technologies Tell Us? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders own shares in Visioneering Technologies and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Visioneering Technologies. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Visioneering Technologies (including 2 which don't sit too well with us). Of course Visioneering Technologies may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Shale R&D cuts cast shadow on future of US oil production Drilling rigs operate at sunset in Midland By Liz Hampton (Reuters) - Shale technology advances that propelled the U.S. to the top global oil producer spot with world-beating growth rates are falling fewer and farther between as drilling budgets shrink and with them, the research and development that might deliver the next great leap. Inventions, such as directional drilling and hydraulic fracking, spurred U.S. oil production to the world's highest in 2018, and boosted its shale production to over 8 million barrels per day last year, from 2.6 million bpd a decade earlier. Output gains, however, have dwindled as tight-fisted producers spend only enough to maintain output amid rising costs, while favoring giving cash to shareholders as dividends and stock buybacks. The lack of investment has oil growth slowing as some of the most productive areas tap out. The best shale sites have been drilled and executives and analysts worry there is not enough high-quality inventory to last another decade. Oil service firms, also paying down debt and shareholders, are shifting investments to less-polluting electric drilling rigs and fracking equipment, and technology like carbon-sequestration. That leaves less money for developing the tricks that could turn secondary properties into big producers. "The technology interests are in new frontiers of geothermal and hydrogen, and biofuels," said Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning oil historian and vice chairperson of S&P Global. "I dont see any other transformative technology at this time that is really going to change the global market." Producers are turning to acquisitions to expand future production. On Monday, Chevron Corp agreed to pay $7.6 billion in stock and acquired debt for smaller rival PDC Energy Inc, a move that will add 10% to its oil and gas reserves. Chevron slashed its R&D to $268 million last year from $435 million in 2020. WITHER R&D SPENDING? SLB , the world's largest oilfield services firm and historically a major innovator, spent an average of 3% of revenues on research and engineering in the 10 years to 2017, according to a Reuters analysis of its financial filings. That spending topped out at 3.6% of revenue in 2016. Since then, SLB's R&D spending dropped to an average of 2.3% of revenues with some of that funneled into a New Energies group that focuses on developing lower-carbon forms of energy for its oil clients. "Who spends on the effort to make a tier 2 oil property into a tier 1?" asks Arjun Murti, a partner at energy consultancy Veriten and a former Goldman Sachs analyst. His answer: "No one." SLB did not provide a comment on its research and development spending. Richard Spears, who sits on the boards of several oilfield services firms, said most are allocating their limited cash to make their tools more rugged, funding international growth, or paying down debt. "This is not technology development," he said. "Buyers are valuing tomorrow's technology at zero or even at a negative because full commercial development takes capital and the return of that capital is in doubt," Spears added. The lack of new technology is apparent in production forecasts. The Permian - the largest U.S. shale basin and oilfield - will expand output by 400,000 bpd this year, as new-well productivity ebbs, estimates energy technology firm Enervus. That compares to an increase of about 1.1 million bpd in 2018. "That combination of horizontal drilling plus fracking and completions that took shale to global prominence was unique. Outside of digital tools, there may never be another industry advancement like that in our lifetime," said David Forsberg, founder of energy venture fund Ascent Energy Ventures. The absence of new breakthroughs has companies looking to old tricks to squeeze more oil out of their properties. Pioneer Natural Resources Co , once the fastest growing shale oil producer, is testing out enhanced oil recovery - a technique that has been around for decades - that pumps water or gas into a well to push out more oil. Scott Sheffield, Pioneer Natural's CEO, views it as a way of addressing the oil that is often left behind. With companies getting only about 6% of oil out of the ground in the Permian, squeezing out more will prolong the shale field. "There are always little things, whether it is re-fracs or enhanced oil recovery on shale wells," said Dane Gregoris, managing director for Enverus. "But that is not going to give you growth. It's not scalable enough to reverse the growth declines that the U.S. will begin to experience." (Reporting by Liz Hampton in Denver; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Passive investing in an index fund is a good way to ensure your own returns roughly match the overall market. While individual stocks can be big winners, plenty more fail to generate satisfactory returns. Investors in Helical plc (LON:HLCL) have tasted that bitter downside in the last year, as the share price dropped 32%. That contrasts poorly with the market decline of 0.8%. However, the longer term returns haven't been so bad, with the stock down 16% in the last three years. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 22% 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. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. See our latest analysis for Helical 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. 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 the last year Helical saw its earnings per share drop below zero. Some investors no doubt dumped the stock as a result. However, there may be an opportunity for investors if the company can recover. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). This free interactive report on Helical's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Helical's TSR for the last 1 year was -30%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective Investors in Helical had a tough year, with a total loss of 30% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 0.8%. 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 3% 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 instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Helical that you should be aware of. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- The Singaporean dollar surged to the strongest level on record against the Malaysian ringgit, with the latter suffering more from weakening confidence in Chinas economic recovery. Most Read from Bloomberg Singapores currency climbed 1.3% in the past four sessions against the ringgit, posting its best weekly advance in more than three months, as the island countrys dollar benefited from successive policy tightening and capital inflows. In contrast, ringgit has been impacted by a weaker China economic outlook weighing on exports growth as well as sluggish oil prices. Historical ringgit volatility is picking up again, and I think that the main driver is the markets incrementally more bearish views on China, said Galvin Chia, a currency strategist at NatWest Markets. Recent worries about the sustainability of Chinas economic recovery and the potential disruption to the consumer sector from another Covid wave poses new headwinds, he added. Reports of Chinas lackluster retail sales and manufacturing data are undermining the once red-hot reopening trade, which helped push a gauge of emerging-market currencies lower for a third straight week. The dimming outlook is weighing on Malaysias trade balance, with Aprils export growth contracting at the quickest pace in three years. On top of that, the ringgit is also dragged down by the near 40% drop in Brent oil prices from a peak in 2022. Meanwhile in Singapore, the local dollar has been boosted by five rounds of policy tightening since October 2021, before the central bank chose to pause in April. Also, the currency is benefiting from an influx of Chinese tourists after the mainland rescinded most of its Covid controls. The Singaporean dollar-ringgit pair is keenly followed by the market, given the two countries share close trade ties and the land border between them is one of the busiest crossings in the world. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Singapore is confident that a rebound in travel thats boosting the services sector will help the islands economy avoid a recession this year despite a darkening global outlook. Most Read from Bloomberg Authorities retained their forecast for gross domestic product growth to range between 0.5% and 2.5%, with the actual expansion seen likely coming in at the midpoint. The Ministry of Trade and Industry also published on Thursday final estimates for the first quarter, which showed GDP declined an annualized 0.4% from the previous three months, better than the 0.7% drop estimated earlier. We do not expect technical recession this year, said Yong Yik Wei, MTIs chief economist. Given the downside risks and the weakening outlook, we cannot rule out the possibility that there could be some quarters of negative Q-o-Q growth this year. But again, thats not our baseline, she said, referring to the sequential performance. The Singapore dollar traded 0.1% lower against the greenback, as the local currency looked past the marginally better-than-expected final first quarter GDP figure. While the ministry acknowledged that downside risks in the global economy have risen and they could weigh more heavily on consumption and business investments, Yong said the services sector continues to be resilient and should lend some support to growth as well as to employment. The outlook for aviation and tourism sectors remains sanguine, boosting transport, hotels, entertainment and recreation, the ministry said. The growth view comes despite a deteriorating global demand outlook, with the US economy exposed to potential strain from a standoff in debt ceiling talks that prompted a rare negative rating watch on the worlds largest economy by Fitch Ratings. Also, weaker-than-expected economic data from China have meant that the growth boost expected from the reopening of the worlds No. 2 economy are yet to fully materialize. Singapores economy relies heavily on trade and is vulnerable to shocks resulting from disruptions in commerce, especially involving China, the city-states No. 1 trading partner. In a separate statement Thursday, Enterprise Singapore said it expects non-oil domestic exports to decline between 8%-10% in 2023. That downgrade to the forecast takes into account the worse-than-expected exports performance, with outbound shipments recording a contraction every month so far this year. Year-on-year, the economy grew 0.4% in the first quarter, compared with an earlier estimate of a 0.1% expansion, data from MTI showed. Even if the Singapore economy were to slip into a technical recession, it is really very much manufacturing- and trade-led, said MTIs Yong. --With assistance from Kevin Varley, Tomoko Sato and Marcus Wong. (Updates with details throughout.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Andrew Griffith, UK financial secretary to the treasury, speaks at the IFGS 2023 summit at the Guildhall in London, UK, on Monday, April 17, 2023. Innovate Finance's Global Summit -- part of U.K. Fintech Week -- runs until Tuesday. - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Pension funds have been urged by the City minister to embrace a culture of risk-taking as the Treasury draws up plans to bolster returns for savers using an industry lifeboat. Andrew Griffith said pension schemes must be willing to take a greater degree of risk in their investments, amid fears that a reluctance to put money in the stock market is holding the economy back. Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: We are working on removing points of friction, streamlining our regulations and encouraging a greater culture of risk-taking. Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, is understood to be considering plans to hand control of underperforming schemes to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF), which currently protects people in retirement schemes when their employer goes bust. Officials are considering how they can encourage small, poorly-performing defined benefit (DB) funds old-style pension plans sponsored by an employer, which pay out a guaranteed proportion of a worker's income when they retire to fold into the PPF, creating a superfund that can invest in a broader range of UK high growth assets. Treasury sources said the idea was one of several options under consideration, but it is understood that altering the PPF's powers would require complex changes in the law and could not be rolled out before the next election. The government-backed body already manages almost 40bn and was forced to step in and run the schemes of Carillion and BHS when the companies collapsed. It is understood that Mr Hunt and his advisers are against forcing pension funds to invest in UK assets in contrast to the shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, who has suggested they could be ordered to pay into a 50bn growth fund. A Whitehall source said: Under no circumstances should we be mandating. A Treasury spokesman declined to comment. The Tony Blair Institute will recommend in a report next week that sponsors of the smallest 4,500 DB schemes should be allowed the option of transferring to the PPF. It will point out that although the UK has the third largest pension market in the world, no individual fund is in the global top 40. The institute believes consolidation could transform the PPF into a superfund of around 400bn, making it one of the biggest in the world. Mr Griffith said that pension fund managers are not currently being incentivised to deliver higher returns. He said: [We have to] move the emphasis away from funds running themselves for the minimum cost to funds looking properly at performance and that is what matters here because it is about making sure long-term savers get the most prosperous retirement that they can. His comments came after City heavyweights warned earlier this week that London was falling behind rival financial centres owing to its risk-averse pensions industry. Sir Nigel Wilson, chief executive of Legal & General, said Britains pension schemes were failing to support growth industries such as bioscience and risked holding back the economy. In a sign of a change of direction, the boss of The Pensions Regulator also pledged to go after the trustees of struggling funds that are letting down their members. Mr Hunt will on Friday announce plans to earmark 250m of taxpayer cash for the Treasury's Long-Term Investment for Technology and Science (Lifts) initiative, intended to spur the creation of new investment vehicles for pension schemes to back British science and technology. Mr Griffith said: The 250m will be used to seed a new vehicle aimed at defined contribution pension schemes, allowing them to invest in scaling up some of the UKs most innovative companies. The Treasury will launch a call for proposals alongside the announcement. Baroness Altmann, a former pension minister, welcomed the move, adding: This Lifts fund is just a small story, but there are billions of pounds of pension money that could and should be directed to benefit Britain. By offering new investment ideas and long term growth projects for new companies, or desperately needed social housing and infrastructure, pension funds could enhance returns. Earlier this week, The Telegraph reported that thousands of poorly-performing pension funds were causing savers to miss out on nearly 70,000 in lost investment returns. There is growing concern that pension funds are increasingly pulling back from stocks and investing instead in safer but less lucrative assets such as bonds, in a growing problem known as de-equitisation. Mr Griffith said: De-equitisation is a long-standing feature of the market and its been a concern for some time, its not new. People have alighted on it more recently but in policy circles and in the Treasury, this has been a concern. Its fully one of the things we are focused on when we think about the reforms to the financial services sector generally and pools of trapped capital whether they be in peoples private savings, in institutional capital such as the work weve done on Solvency 2 and to pension funds themselves. Its a combination of changing the culture of risk, removing some of the frictions at pace... and bringing forward new vehicles for investment in equities or high growth sectors such as Lifts. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Sony Group Corp. plans to buy more land near its image sensor factory in Japans Kumamoto prefecture to expand its market share in the growing business of powering camera smartphones. Most Read from Bloomberg The Tokyo-based company, which supplies devices including Apple Inc.s iPhones, said Thursday its in talks to acquire 27 hectares of land for expansion in Koshi, Kumamoto, to the northwest of Sonys existing factory. It could invest several hundred billion yen on a second factory at the new site, local newspaper Kumamoto Nichinichi reported earlier. The company now expects its share of the global image sensor market to hit 60% by the business year starting April 2025, the head of Sonys chip business, Terushi Shimizu, said at an investors relations event. It commands a little over half the markets revenues now. Thats despite a tougher market environment this fiscal year for image sensors, Shimizu said. The bulk of Sonys sensors are used in smartphones, which has suffered double-digit declines particularly in China, the worlds biggest mobile market. While we are keeping future uncertainties in mind, we are preparing for the long term, to ensure we can capture growth opportunities when the market recovers in the future, Shimizu said. Sony is also chasing growing demand for automotive image sensors, whose ability to capture images for analysis are essential for self-driving cars. The company expects revenue for car sensors to double in the year to March, and aims for profitability in one to two years, Shimizu said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. South Africas Crypto Firms Will Soon Need to Apply for Registration or Face a Heavy Fine Crypto companies looking to operate in South Africa will need to apply for a license from the countrys Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in the six months starting June 1. While South African crypto companies have welcomed the new licensing regime, they worry the fine waiting for those that fail to register in time may sink smaller companies or drive away firms that want to enter the market after the deadline has passed. South Africa ranked 30 on Chainalysis global adoption index last year, and is behind other African countries like Nigeria and Kenya in terms of crypto use. But regulators in the country, like those elsewhere, have been trying to supervise the sector, which hit close to $3 trillion in global market capitalization in 2021 before crashing spectacularly in 2022. In November 2020, South Africas FSCA proposed crypto should be treated like financial products, and that firms offering crypto-related services must apply for a license. Following a consultation on the drafted legislation, on October 19, 2022, the FSCA published the final declaration on the licensing requirement. "This is an extremely positive step for both the crypto industry and South Africans, said Nick Taylor, head of public policy at Luno for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Luno, like CoinDesk, is owned by the Digital Currency Group. The licensing requirements that will flow from the FSCAs classification will drive up standards, protect consumers, and give businesses the certainty to invest, innovate and create jobs, Taylor added. The regime is being set up to protect consumers and that is really important, Mpumelelo Ndamane, CEO of South Africa-based crypto wallet provider Nuud Money, told CoinDesk. Instead of enforcing the requirement immediately following the declaration, South African regulators set the start date for seeking approval on June 1. Firms that apply for registration in the designated six months will be allowed to continue operating while regulators make a decision on approval. To continue operating, firms will have to show they comply with the country's norms for financial service providers, including conditions that firms should operate with integrity, be diligent and provide the FSCA with information they request. However, crypto derivatives services providers do not qualify for the exemption, which allows companies to keep operating while applications are being processed, the declaration said. The cost of not applying It's not yet clear exactly how much crypto companies have to pay to register with the FSCA but the application fees that companies usually pay the regulator usually range from 2,544 South African rand ($132) to 46,251 ($2,395), depending on the category firms fall under. Crypto companies will likely fall under category one, which has the lowest fee, and is for firms that don't fit into any of the other categories. But if applicants fall under multiple categories, they may have to do several applications, Meiran Shtibel, associate general counsel at crypto custody platform Fireblocks said. The cost of not applying is much heavier. If crypto companies do not apply to register, but continue operating after the November deadline, they could face a fine of 10 million South African rand ($510,000), up to 10 years in prison, or both, the declaration said. Nuud Money is raising a seed round of $350,000, and a $510,000 fine would be unfeasible for it to pay, Ndamane said. A 10 million South African rand fine may be a slap on the wrist for other capital-rich financial sectors, but for a new industry like crypto in an emerging market, a fine like that could "sink the entire operation," Shadrack Kubyane co-founder of South Africa-based blockchain company Coronet told CoinDesk. The fines are not specific to crypto and are a part of the existing penalties under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS), which also applies to other financial firms, Shtibel said, adding the fact that theyre not tailored to the crypto sector may be part of the problem. However, the regulations' benefit to the financial services industry outweighs the potential cost implications, the FSCA said in the declaration. Timing Some companies felt that the timeframe allocated to prepare for the regime was not enough. Crypto companies had actually asked for the application period to be between eight months to up to two years, but the FSCA settled for a six month time frame instead because two years could not be justified, the declaration said. Companies should still be able to apply to register after November, but they will not be able to operate until they have been approved by the regulator, Shtibel said. In countries like the U.K., this approach, where companies have to register before they can operate in the country, has driven firms out of the market in search of more lenient regimes. For those who choose to set up closer to the deadline, it may feel near impossible to get themselves ready in time to be able to fill out the paperwork properly, Ndamane said. When it comes to applying, insufficient time "might just be the barrier," as it could take some firms time to be able to properly comply, Kubyane said. Crypto companies wishing to get licensed will need to fill out forms asking for information on business activities and shareholders, as well as the financial soundness of the business, the declaration said. Digital asset companies that have applied within the allocated time will only have to cease operating if they get rejected, the declaration said. The FAIS act is unclear about whether or not companies can apply again if they are rejected, but they can file an application for reconsideration under existing regulations. Eventually, crypto asset-related financial services will fall under the Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI) bill once this comes into law, instead of the FAIS Act, which is an interim measure, the declaration said. The COFI bill sets out protections for consumers. Non-fungible token providers will not need to register at this stage and will be considered in a future framework, the declaration said. Mining nodes and node operators would also not be considered. Kubyane said he wants regulators to continue to work with the industry to develop appropriate measures for all crypto players, not just big ones. The FSCA did not respond to a CoinDesk request for comment by press time. Read more: South Africa Adds Crypto Businesses to List of Accountable Institutions ReportLinker The Southeast Asia warehouse automation market is expected to register a CAGR of approximately 15.5% throughout the forecast period. Over the projected period, the market in Southeast Asia will be driven by rising production complexity, technological advancement, and the rapid rise of the e-commerce industry. New York, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "South East Asia Warehouse Automation Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06459663/?utm_source=GNW Furthermore, the emergence of several startup firms with strong technological capabilities and financial backups supports the studied markets growth. Key Highlights As investments in automation are prevalent across all industrial markets, warehouse operators are increasingly adopting automation technologies to boost operational efficiency and productivity and minimize handling time. With a range of investment and value-creation opportunities, the studied market is expected to witness steady growth in the next few years. The increased volume of e-commerce will drive the industry ahead. Warehouse automation is increasingly establishing the trump card for companies pursuing a competitive edge, especially in the competitive e-grocery market, as traders struggle to keep up with the expanding number of transactions and related last-mile shipping needs. According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), the e-commerce market in Singapore is expected to reach USD 10 billion by 2026. Furthermore, Thailands usage of autonomous guide vehicles in industries and warehouses, especially healthcare, is expected to increase by 60% per annum to over 700,000 units by 2022, according to the International Federation of Robotics, and is expected to increase in the coming years. During the forecast period, the growth of the studied market should be helped by the fact that robotic technology is being used more and more in different industries. However, obstacles such as a shortage of experienced workers, high investment, and technical problems associated with warehouse robotics are expected to restrain the Southeast Asia warehouse automation market over the forecast period. The COVID-19 outbreak hastened the shift to e-commerce, resulting in a shift in customer behavior. A variety of payment options has also contributed to the online purchase. Following the pandemic, the most significant and rising developments have included micro-fulfillment centers, e-grocery expansion, dark stores, and automated cold storage. Increasing investments by players in these sectors are expected to propel market expansion in the post-covid period. Tee Yih Jia Food Manufacturing Pte Ltd and SSI Schafer, for example, announced in February 2022 the opening of Singapores largest automation rack-clad high bay warehouse, storing capacity at Tee Yih Jias newest USD 450 million production plant in Senoko. South East Asia Warehouse Automation Market Trends Manufacturing Sector to Hold a Significant Market Share The manufacturing industry has been gaining momentum in several southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, etc. Electronics, textiles and apparel, automotive, and food and beverage are among the major industries flourishing across the region. For example, the Office of Industrial Economics (Thailand) said that electrical appliances made up a big part of the countrys total industrial production. Products like fan coil units for air conditioners (1,103.74 thousand units) and air conditioner condensers (1,031.56 thousand units) were among the most important electrical products made in the country. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore) says that in 2021, the manufacturing sector in Singapore added 13.2% to GDP growth.As the manufacturing industry needs warehouses for things like storing raw materials, storing finished goods, managing inventory, and distributing goods, these trends are driving the demand for warehouses and advanced warehouse management solutions like automation. South East Asias storage business is experiencing a significant transition to meet up with the regions expanding industrial sector and enormous logistics industry, attracting new players into the market. For instance, in October 2021, DHL opened the Asia Pacific Innovation Center in Singapore as a display for new exhibits displaying a cutting-edge, automated, and integrated e-commerce system. Geek+ established a collaboration with DHL to demonstrate several of the companys most notable ideas at the Asia Pacific Innovation Center. Geek+ and DHL will showcase warehouse robot intelligence in the future. AGVs are widely used in the manufacturing industry because of their various advantages, including lower labor costs, less product damage, higher productivity, and the ability to expand to accommodate automated operations. Increasing technology advancement for AGVs is expected to increase adoption in several industries. For instance, in September 2022, Durapower Holdings Pte. Ltd. revealed that its lithium-ion batteries would operate up to 60% of PSA Singapores AGV fleets at its Tuas Port. According to the business, this number does not represent new fleets purchased as a component of the expanding port infrastructure. Also, the growing awareness of the market and the vendors willingness to expand outside of the region are driving investments in advanced solutions like warehouse automation. This is expected to create a good market situation for the growth of the studied market in Southeast Asia over the next few years. Singapore is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Singapore, according to the International Trade Organization, is considered a significant market in Southeast Asia. More than 3 million people shop online in the city-state. Singapore has a 98% internet penetration rate, a 93% smartphone adoption rate, and a 58% proportion of citizens who make online transactions. Thus, the high growth of these variables across the country is expected to create opportunities for market growth, especially in the e-commerce segment. According to the International Trade Administration, the value of the e-commerce market in Singapore is expected to reach USD 10 billion by 2026. The increasing demand for one-day delivery across the e-commerce sector is expected to propel the adoption of robotics in warehouses. For instance, In November 2021, Lazada, one of Singapores biggest e-commerce platforms, established a strategic agreement with Grab to offer same-day delivery solutions to online consumers. Over 50 Lazada merchants had access to same-day shipping as of November 2021. Furthermore, the growth of industries such as manufacturing, logistics, automotive, etc., are also driving the demand for warehouses in the country, creating opportunities for the growth of the studied market. For instance, According to Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), in the 4th quarter of 2022, the general manufacturing and transport engineering sectors were forecasted to grow by 11% and 14%, respectively. Such trends are attracting new players in the country. For instance, in April 2022, AutoStore, a prominent warehouse automation provider, announced the launch of a new office in Singapore. The site will act as AutoStores Asia-Pacific regional headquarters as the firm positions itself to service local partnerships and clients while adjusting to satisfy the regions demand for Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems. South East Asia Warehouse Automation Industry Overview The Southeast Asia warehouse automation market is fragmented, with the presence of numerous regional and global players such as ALS Logistic Solutions, Dematic, DF Automation & Robotics Sdn. Bhd., Daifuku Co., Ltd., and Swisslog Holding AG, among others. These players continuously engage in strategic developments such as product launches, collaborations, partnerships, and mergers to gain market share and expand their business footprint. In September 2022, Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. and xSQUARE, a Singapore-based smart warehousing services firm, formed a collaboration to develop automated guided vehicles and expand the distribution of xSQUAREs warehousing systems. The additional AGVs will be constructed on Logisnext forklifts, and xSQUAREs warehousing technology will be distributed across Asia, Oceania, and South Africa via MLAPs distribution network. In May 2022, Lineage Logistics, a provider of temperature-controlled industrial REITs and logistics solutions, acquired Mandai Link Logistics, signaling the companys entrance into the Singapore market. According to the company, Lineages long-term business objective has been to expand its reach in Asia through Singapore, a significant trade hub. Additional Benefits: The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format 3 months of analyst support Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06459663/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Southern Alliance Mining Ltd.'s (Catalist:QNS ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. View our latest analysis for Southern Alliance Mining Southern Alliance Mining Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by MD & Executive Director Kok Sam Pek for S$663k worth of shares, at about S$0.41 per share. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of S$0.74. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Southern Alliance Mining is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Of Southern Alliance Mining Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Southern Alliance Mining insiders own 78% of the company, currently worth about S$282m based on the recent share price. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At Southern Alliance Mining Tell Us? The fact that there have been no Southern Alliance Mining insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like Southern Alliance Mining insiders think the business has merit. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Southern Alliance Mining. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Southern Alliance Mining (of which 1 is potentially serious!) you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Two Oregon State Police troopers investigate a three-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of at least seven adults on Interstate 5 just north of the Santiam River Rest Area on May 18. Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been updated to clarify PCUNs role in fundraising efforts. The aftermath of seven farmworkers killed May 18 in one of the deadliest highway crashes in recent Oregon history has highlighted a network willing and able to rally support for its more vulnerable members. But the unique challenges the farmworker community faces when tragedy strikes also have been accentuated. A van carrying 11 passengers, all contract farmworkers, was struck by a semitruck traveling north on Interstate 5 near Albany. Six people were killed on-site; a seventh died on the way to a regional hospital. The other four passengers were injured, some severely. The truck's driver, 52-year-old Lincoln Smith of California, was arrested for manslaughter, DUII, assault and reckless driving. It didn't take long for farmworker advocates, food banks and other service-based organizations to jump into action. PCUN, Oregon's farmworker union, made contact with some families of the victims within 24 hours of the crash. Oregon Human Development Corporation (OHDC) hosted a meeting Monday afternoon with local organizations to unify support efforts. The agriculture community at-large also swiftly swept in to help. The Oregon Farm Bureau partnered with PODER and other organizations to create a unified GoFundMe, the proceeds of which will help survivors and families cover basic life expenses while they recover and grieve. PCUN also created its own fund through its foundation. But the road to recovery will be long, OHDC regional supervisor Frances Alvarado told the group gathered in her Woodburn office Monday. Logistical hurdles and gruesome facts of the crash have delayed basic processes like notifying families and connecting with survivors. And, Alvarado said, survivors and their families will need support long after public attention on the case has faded. "It's not going to happen overnight," she said. "This is going to be a process." Identification delayed; bureaucratic hurdles Oregon State Police released the names of the seven victims, as well as the names of the four people injured, Monday afternoon, four days after the crash. Some names released by state police did not match the victims' names in court documents. It took time to identify and confirm each person, police said, due to both the nature of the crash and lack of identifiable information present on-scene. Police said some of the victims were not carrying identification at the time of the crash and others used nicknames. The names released Monday were the most current state police had. OSP identified the victims as: Eduardo Lopez, 31, of Gervais; Alejandro Jimenez Hernandez, 36, of Gervais; Josue Garcia Garcia, 30, of Salem; Luis Enrique Gomez Reyes, 30, of Woodburn; Javier Suarez, 58, of Woodburn; Alejandra Espinoza Carpio, 39; and Juan Carlos Leyva Carrillo, 37, of Woodburn. But the Mexican Consulate in Portland said its work identifying victims and notifying families is not done. It is working closely with state police, but it could still be several days before all identities are confirmed and notices given, said Consul General Carlos Quesnel. "We have to be very careful," Quesnel said. "It's going to take a long time." Quesnel said the Consulate also is helping repatriate victims' remains to their families in Mexico, but some remain stuck in bureaucratic limbo. It is not yet clear where each victim called home. Quesnel said he is fairly certain the 11 passengers in the Ford Econoline van are Mexican nationals or have ties to Mexico, but even that was "not 100%" as of Tuesday afternoon. The Consulate's main priority is legal protection and supporting the victims and survivors, Quesnel said. It's work that will take months, even years, of follow-up. "In my two and a half years here, I've never had something like this," Quesnel said. Each logistical and bureaucratic hurdle also is a roadblock for the people organizing support efforts. But organizers said they're in it for the long haul. Willamette Valley organizations rush to support Anthony Veliz, chief marketing officer and co-founder of OYEN Emotional Wellness Center in Woodburn. Despite limited and evolving information, Willamette Valley organizations have acted swiftly to support the victims and their families. The biggest priorities right now, representatives said, are emotional and financial support. OYEN Emotional Wellness Center is offering free counseling to survivors and loved ones for as long as they need it, said co-founder Anthony Veliz. The counseling center already has scheduled several appointments. "In these trying times, our compassion and shared sense of humanity guide our actions," Veliz said. SAIF, Oregon's worker's compensation agency, will cover funeral costs and repatriation. Spokesperson Lauren Casler said she could not comment on specific claims, but SAIF's general policy is to pay for funeral and burial costs and extend benefits to surviving family members. Injured parties are eligible for worker's compensation benefits. "Our hearts go out the families, friends, and co-workers of the victims of this terrible crash, as well as the survivors," Casler said. The AWARE Food Bank in Woodburn is prepared to donate food to all impacted families. The GoFundMe is live. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to surviving workers and families. "The loss of these hardworking individuals has undoubtedly created a void in the lives of their loved ones and our community," said Oregon Farm Bureau Executive Director Greg Addington. "Their unwavering spirit to provide for their families and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our state was evident. Individually and as an organization, we extend our unwavering support as we mourn the lives of these individuals." Anyone who wants to donate can visit gofundme.com/f/OFB-farmworker-families. Shannon Sollitt covers agricultural workers through Report for America, a program that aims to support local journalism and democracy by reporting on under-covered issues and communities. Send tips, questions and comments to ssollitt@statesmanjournal.com. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon highway crash: Support surges for farmworkers killed Some investors rely on dividends for growing their wealth, and if you're one of those dividend sleuths, you might be intrigued to know that GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF) is about to go ex-dividend in just 4 days. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend. Accordingly, GrafTech International investors that purchase the stock on or after the 30th of May will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 30th of June. The company's upcoming dividend is US$0.01 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$0.04 per share to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that GrafTech International has a trailing yield of 0.9% on the current share price of $4.3. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing. View our latest analysis for GrafTech International Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. GrafTech International is paying out just 4.1% of its profit after tax, which is comfortably low and leaves plenty of breathing room in the case of adverse events. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether GrafTech International generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. What's good is that dividends were well covered by free cash flow, with the company paying out 8.4% of its cash flow last year. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. That's why it's comforting to see GrafTech International's earnings have been skyrocketing, up 84% per annum for the past five years. GrafTech International earnings per share have been sprinting ahead like the Road Runner at a track and field day; scarcely stopping even for a cheeky "beep-beep". We also like that it is reinvesting most of its profits in its business.' Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. GrafTech International has seen its dividend decline 35% per annum on average over the past five years, which is not great to see. It's unusual to see earnings per share increasing at the same time as dividends per share have been in decline. We'd hope it's because the company is reinvesting heavily in its business, but it could also suggest business is lumpy. The Bottom Line Should investors buy GrafTech International for the upcoming dividend? GrafTech International has grown its earnings per share while simultaneously reinvesting in the business. Unfortunately it's cut the dividend at least once in the past five years, but the conservative payout ratio makes the current dividend look sustainable. It's a promising combination that should mark this company worthy of closer attention. So while GrafTech International looks good from a dividend perspective, it's always worthwhile being up to date with the risks involved in this stock. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with GrafTech International and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you're in the market for strong dividend payers, we recommend checking our selection of top dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here While Standard Bank Group Limited (JSE:SBK) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 17% in the last quarter. But we wouldn't complain about the gain over the last three years. It beat the market return of 53% in that time, gaining 59%. 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. View our latest analysis for Standard Bank 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). Standard Bank Group was able to grow its EPS at 9.7% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. In comparison, the 17% per year gain in the share price outpaces the EPS growth. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did three years ago. It is quite common to see investors become enamoured with a business, after a few years of solid progress. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Standard Bank Group, it has a TSR of 85% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective It's good to see that Standard Bank Group has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 6.1% in the last twelve months. That's including the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 0.4%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Standard Bank Group , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. 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 South African exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- TikTok is the latest app to jump on the generative artificial intelligence bandwagon. Most Read from Bloomberg The social networking service is testing out a chatbot named Tako, which can answer questions and have conversations with users of the app, according to screenshots seen by Bloomberg. When asked about the feature, a representative said it was trying new ways to power search and discovery on TikTok in select markets. Were always exploring new technologies that add value to our community, the spokesperson said in a statement. We look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity and drives culture. TikTok follows tech peers such as Snap Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Google in developing chatbots and other generative AI tools the buzziest technology to sweep the internet in recent years. The Tako test is currently available to a small number of employees, according to Daniel Buchuk, an analyst at Watchful, a company that tracks apps development testing for competitors. TikTok, owned by Chinas ByteDance Ltd., is making the push into AI at a contentious time. Policymakers in the US and Europe are looking to crack down on the app, fearing that data could be used by the Chinese government. This month, Montana became the first US state to approve a measure banning TikTok legislation that faces legal challenges. For now, Tako appears as a small ghost-like icon on the top right of the apps screen. After tapping that icon, users are taken to an instant messenger, where they can ask questions. Buchuk told Bloomberg that Tako can also provide recommendations for content based on users interests and preferences. Tako is an experimental chatbot, reads a screen on one of the screenshots shared with Bloomberg. It can answer questions, and have conversations with you. Despite having an in-house AI team, any information users put into Tako is collected and shared with unnamed third-party service providers in order to provide you with answers to your questions, according to the features privacy terms. Tako is only available to TikTok users over 18, Buchuk added. Users can choose to delete their data, but are warned not to share any personal information with the chatbot. Theyre also advised not to rely solely on the bot for its medical, legal or financial advice because feedback from Tako is AI generated and may not be true or accurate. Overall, Tako will allow TikTok to obtain ever more precise data to deliver personalized and highly targeted content to individual users, Buchuk said, adding that it had the potential to revolutionize how people use TikTok. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Trask, a digital solutions leader in financial services is expanding in the United States and Canada NEW YORK, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trask, a leading European digital solutions integrator, is pleased to announce its expanded entry into the North American market. Trask is headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, with locations across the UKI and Europe, and is one of the fastest-growing technology consultancies in the region. Trask Solutions Today, Trask principally services financial services, industrial products, automotive industries, telecommunication, energy, and manufacturing industries. To support its plans for expansion in North America, Trask has multiple European technology delivery centers and will build additional centers in the US and Canada. Trask's initial focus in the North American market will be on the financial services industry, specifically banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance, private markets, and the fintech segments. Trask's expertise spans digital change, process optimization, cloud infrastructure, data, cybersecurity, as well as regulation and compliance. Trask brings business issue-centered digital solutions that drive value for clients across the entire digital ecosystem. Trask differentiates its services through its execution-first focus, leveraging its market-leading solution architecture and technology engineering capabilities. Trask will provide its North American clients access to its solution assets in areas such as payments, open banking, client onboarding, regulatory compliance, intelligent automation, and other adjacent areas. Pavel Riegger, Trask CEO, commented, "We at Trask are confident in the prospects of continuing to expand our client services and bring our unique solution delivery approach and experience to North America. This effort is critical for Trask to continue its market-leading growth and to create value for its clients, their customers, and our associates." The Trask Board asked industry veteran John Weisel, of New York, to lead its expansion into the North American professional services market. Pavel says, "John brings unparalleled global market knowledge and experience from decades of leadership in the business and technology services industry from several of the largest global services providers. We at Trask fully expect rapid adoption of our unique digital solution engineering and delivery approach." Trask has also added leadership in Canada and across multiple industry sectors and solution domains. John Weisel commented, "The state of the professional services market has changed forever, with client intimacy and solution centricity the keys to delivering value to clients. The mandate is to move beyond power point and to deliver digital business outcomes. I am confident Trask's differentiated approach will continue to set it apart from the field." Trask Holdings a.s. is the holding company for the various Trask digital solution services businesses. Trask is engaged in helping its clients design, plan, and implement market-leading digital solutions. Trask was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic. Today it has approximately 2,000 professionals operating from solution delivery centers in the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Slovakia. Clients are served from principal metro locations in the EU, UKI, and North America. Trask has served over 200 clients since its founding and is most experienced in the financial services, automotive and industrial products, telecommunication, energy, and manufacturing industries. Trask Holding a.s. is privately held. For further information please contact: Pavel Riegger Chief Executive Officer priegger@thetrask.com Mobile +(420) 603 577 914 John Weisel North American Leader jweisel@thetrask.com Mobile +(1) 480 255 4954 Mansour Lenka Director of Marketing and Media Relations lmansour@thetrask.com Mobile +(420) 724 662 449 www.thetrask.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trask-solutions-announces-north-american-expansion-301833836.html SOURCE Trask Solutions Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. The homebuilder takes top honors in eight overall merchandising categories, including best design center and best community sales pavilion and amenity feature Tri Pointe Homes The Tri Pointe Homes Arizona team celebrates its win as Builder of the Year at the 2023 MAME Awards. In 2022, the homebuilder opened nine new neighborhoods, including 18 models and two standalone sales pavilions, and achieved 487 sales across 13 Phoenix metro neighborhoods. Waterston North Tri Pointe Homes seven-acre Central Park at Waterston North won Best Community Amenity Feature at the 2023 MAME Awards with its great lawn, pool, clubhouse and grand ramada positioned around a picturesque lake. It was one of four awards the 485-home gated planned community in Gilbert, AZ took home this year. Tri Pointe Homes Design Studio At Tri Pointes Design Studio in south Scottsdale, AZ, professional design consultants help customers select from a wide variety of carefully curated styles and finishes including flooring, counters, cabinets, lighting, fixtures, appliances, interior paint, stair railing systems and electrical options. It earned Best Design Center at the 2023 MAME Awards. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE: TPH), one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., has won Builder of the Year among eight total awards at the 2023 Phoenix Metro MAME (Major Achievements in Merchandising Excellence) Awards. The homebuilder took home four awards for its Waterston North community in addition to Best Design Center, Online Sales Team and Rising Star of the Year. Tri Pointe Homes was also a seven-time awards finalist in eight categories at the annual event hosted by the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA). Builder of the Year is an absolutely wonderful honor, made all the sweeter by being able to share in the celebration with our top team, said Tri Pointe Homes Division President James Attwood. The way our team members responded to the considerable economic and industry-wide challenges of 2022 to drive exceptional results was outstanding, making them truly worthy of the special distinction of these eight MAME awards. During a year when more than 20 builders participated in 60-plus MAME categories, Tri Pointe Homes was named Builder of the Year in the Production Builder over 250 Closings category. In 2022, the homebuilder opened nine new neighborhoods, including 18 models and two standalone sales pavilions, and achieved 487 sales across 13 Phoenix metro neighborhoods, earning the division the top spot among all Tri Pointe divisions for 2022 sales. The year also marked the grand opening of Tri Pointe Arizonas brand-new Phoenix Design Studio, which wasted no time in achieving top billing at the next MAME Awards. Tri Pointe Homes Waterston North, a 485-home gated community in Gilbert, accounted for four of the companys MAME awards. Its seven-acre Central Park, the community focal point and a nature lovers dream, won Best Community Amenity Feature with its great lawn, pool, clubhouse and grand ramada positioned around a picturesque lake. Near Central Park and its deluxe amenity components is the spacious and uniquely designed Waterston North New Home Gallery, the MAME award recipient for Best Community Sales Pavilion. The Gallery follows the model home theme by showcasing an exquisite interior appeal designed to bring out the vibrance of selections and visualizations for potential homebuyers. Waterston North also won for Best Model Complex Landscape Design and Best Media for a virtual VIP grand opening video that received over 2,000 views and fantastic feedback. The Online Sales Team of the Year, led by Irina Tracy and Jacqueline Lara, played a vital role in converting Tri Pointes website traffic into new home orders. Their efforts resulted in more than 2,000 kept appointments in 2022 with 65 percent of those new home orders coming from appointments Tracy and Lara generated. The MAME Rising Star of the Year, lead construction manager CindyAnn Lucas started and completed seven out of 14 model homes and assisted with the completion of a second set of seven model homes at Waterston North, a planned community with 6 different product series. The MAME Awards recognize the exemplary efforts of builders and land developers, interior designers and architects, and building professionals and sales associates who make the home building industry in the Valley one of the nations leaders. The 37th annual awards ceremony took place on May 13. For more information, please visit www.tripointehomes.com . About Tri Pointe Homes One of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE: TPH) is a publicly traded company and a recognized leader in customer experience, innovative design, and environmentally responsible business practices. The company builds premium homes and communities in 10 states, with deep ties to the communities it servessome for as long as a century. Tri Pointe Homes combines the financial resources, technology platforms and proven leadership of a national organization with the regional insights, longstanding community connections and agility of empowered local teams. Tri Pointe has won multiple Builder of the Year awards, was named one of the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, and made Fortune magazines 2017 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list. The company was also named as a Great Place to Work-Certified company in both 2021 and 2022 and was named on several Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists in 2022. Building upon the legacy that was established more than 30 years ago under the name Maracay, Tri Pointe Homes is an award-winning leader in the Arizona real estate sector. For more information, please visit TriPointeHomes.com . Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4da47c6b-bf82-4efa-bd6a-4e1425918b88 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/88cf7893-17a2-4c5b-80c2-dafd333de8b3 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f2ad236-b793-4922-9c31-e97be2ed34f7 CONTACT: CONTACT: Katy Biggerstaff kbiggerstaff@newgroundco.com / 562.761.6338 This article originally appeared on Backpacker Two hikers found deceased in a popular Utah slot canyon over the weekend likely died in a flash flood, the Kane County Sheriff's Office says. Around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 21, a member of the Kane County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team informed authorities that a group hiking from the White House trailhead to Lee's Ferry in Paria Canyon had messaged him saying they had encountered a "deceased male individual" about a half-mile across the border into Arizona and south of the rivers junction with popular slot Buckskin Gulch, the sheriff's office wrote in a statement posted to Facebook. A helicopter from the Utah Department of Public Safety transported members of Arizona's Coconino County Sheriff's Office to the scene, where they recovered the body. Authorities were only able to identify the body on Monday morning, when Kane County received a call from the West Chester, Ohio, police department. Family members had reported two local residents missing after they had embarked on a planned hike in Buckskin Gulch on Saturday afternoon. "The men indicated they were going to hike about 5 miles into Wire Pass and the Buckskin Gulch," the Kane County Sheriff's Office wrote. "The family had not heard from them since." With the help of a picture provided by the family, authorities identified the body as 65-year-old Gary York. Armed with this new information, search and rescue teams headed back to the area in search of the second missing hiker. After an extensive search beginning at the Middle Route trailhead, they located the body of John Walter, 72. In its release, Kane County said evidence suggested that Walter and York had drowned when a flash flood took them by surprise in the canyon and swept them both away. Searchers located Walter 7 to 8 miles downstream from where officials believe the water caught them; York was more than 10 miles downstream. Buckskin Gulch draws hikers from around the world with its sculpted sandstone walls and otherworldly light, but when the canyon floods, it can be dangerous: At no more than 10 feet wide in most spots and up to 400 feet deep at its junction with the Paria River, escape from rising waters can be difficult to impossible. This is the second double fatality in Buckskin Gulch this spring. In mid-March, Bill Romaniello and Jeff Watson passed away in a flash flood there, while authorities had to rescue their companion by helicopter. At least 10 other hikers have required rescue due to flooding caused by a high snowpack and an unusually wet spring. In the wake of March's incident, Lt. Alan Alldredge of the Kane County Sheriff's Office told Salt Lake City's KSL that he expected conditions in the canyon to be more hazardous than normal for "a couple of months." For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. Once again warning that the nation faces serious risks from a debt default, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Wednesday that it was almost certain that the U.S. would be unable to meet its financial obligations past early June if the debt limit is not raised or suspended in the very near future. Treasury and President Biden will face very tough choices if Congress doesnt act to raise the debt ceiling and if we hit the so-called X-date without that occurring, Yellen said. There will be some obligations that we will be unable to pay. Yellen also said that prioritizing payments, which some Republican lawmakers say the Treasury can do easily enough to avoid defaulting on debt payments, would be difficult. Prioritization is not really something that is operationally feasible, she said, noting that the Treasury system is set up to make payments on time, not to pick and choose which ones to make. Credit rating threat: If Treasury is forced to make those prioritization decisions, the missed payments could damage the U.S. credit rating and for a very long time, as The New York Timess Joe Rennison reports. Officials at Moodys told Rennison that a default would alter their opinion of the risk inherent in U.S. debt. Our view is that we would need to reflect that permanently in the rating, said William Foster, the lead analyst for the United States at Moodys. S&P Global Ratings one of the three major credit ratings agencies, which include Moodys and Fitch Ratings lowered the U.S. rating in 2011, during another Republican-led showdown over raising the debt limit, knocking the country down to AA+, even though a default was avoided. John Chambers, who was on the S&P ratings team in 2011, told the Times that the threat of a politically-driven default remains in place. The thing that was most powerful in the 2011 decision was the political setting and that you had a very clear path to default. And its still there, he said. The current debate validates S&Ps decision to cut the rating and leave it there. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - UBS on Thursday won unconditional EU antitrust approval to acquire Credit Suisse as part of a government-orchestrated rescue of its Swiss rival. The European Commission said the deal would not raise competition concerns in Europe, confirming a Reuters story earlier this month. "The combined entity will continue facing significant competitive pressure from a wide range of competitors in all of those markets, including several major global banks as well as specialist providers and strong local players," the EU competition watchdog said in a statement. UBS, which is twice as big as Credit Suisse by assets, agreed to buy its competitor for 3 billion Swiss francs in stock and to assume up to 5 billion francs in losses in March, in a shotgun merger engineered by Swiss authorities to avert contagion in global banking. Both UBS and Credit Suisse are in a group of the 30 global systematically important banks watched closely by regulators, and Credit Suisse's failure would ripple throughout the entire financial system. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee) While European lawmakers continue to take steps toward finalizing the Western worlds first set of artificial intelligence (AI) rules, theres still a lot of work to be done. Educational leaders in U.K. schools continue to express their concerns over AIs ultra-fast growth. Don't Miss: Why Jason Calacanis and Other Silicon Valley Elites Are Betting On This Startups Vision For Re-Uniting American Families Rather than wait for new laws to be put into effect, these educational leaders are taking matters into their own hands by forming an advisory board on AI and the risks it poses to schools. AI: A Growing Concern In Schools Since the release of ChatGPT last year, students around the world not just in the U.K. have found ways to use the technology to complete coursework. This includes everything from researching and writing term papers to answering complex math equations. Earlier this month in a letter to The Times of London, eight leading educators including chiefs of preparatory schools such as Epsom College, Magdalen College School and Wellington College expressed concerns about the risks of AI in educational settings as well as the potential for the technology to be useful to both students and teachers. To stay updated with top startup news and investments, sign up for Benzingas Startup Investing & Equity Crowdfunding Newsletter "As leaders in state and independent schools, we regard AI as the greatest threat but also potentially the greatest benefit to our students, staff and schools. Schools are bewildered by the very fast rate of change in AI and seek secure guidance on the best way forward, but whose advice can we trust?" the teachers wrote in the letter to The Times. The group also explained that they dont have confidence that large digital companies will regulate themselves with the best interests of schools in mind. Thats in addition to a government that hasnt always been willing to take the necessary action. "We are thus announcing today our own cross-sector body composed of leading teachers in our schools, guided by a panel of independent digital and AI experts, to advise schools on which AI developments are likely to be beneficial and which damaging," the teachers added. In the near future, this group of educators will launch a website to provide guides on the potential positive and negative impacts of AI on the future of education. See more on startup investing from Benzinga. Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article UK Teachers Step Up To Tackle AI Concerns originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. (Bloomberg) -- The tension around the US debt-limit negotiations ratcheted up after Fitch Ratings warned the nations AAA rating was under threat from a political standoff thats preventing a deal. Most Read from Bloomberg Fitch may downgrade its assessment to reflect the increased partisanship that is hindering a resolution despite the fast-approaching so-called X date, it said, referring to the point at which Washington runs out of cash. It moved the US to rating watch negative under its classification. Meantime, DBRS Morningstar placed the US ratings of AAA under review with negative implications. Markets have been showing increasing nervousness over the standoff, with Treasury-bill yields slated to mature early next month surging past 7%, while the S&P 500 Index has declined for two days. Economists project a US default could trigger a recession, with widespread job losses and a surge in borrowing costs. Fitchs warning underscores the need for swift bipartisan action by Congress to raise or suspend the debt limit and avoid a manufactured crisis for our economy, said Lily Adams, a spokesperson from Treasury. The DBRS Morningstar adjustment reflects the risk of Congress failing to increase or suspend the debt ceiling in a timely manner, the statement said. If Congress does not act, the US federal government will not be able to pay all of its obligations, they said. US AAA Ratings on Review With Negative Implications at DBRS The cost of insuring US sovereign debt against default with derivatives has risen, and Fitchs statement also casts the spotlight on other rating agencies to see how they might react. A White House spokesperson said the report demonstrated the urgency of reaching a speedy resolution. The worstcase scenario would be if the showdown leads to the government missing a debt payment for the first time, which might result in a widespread or lasting downgrade to the credit rating of US Treasuries, said Nikolaj Schmidt, chief global economist at T. Rowe Price. So many assets are priced in direct relation to US Treasuries that the turbulence from a more pronounced downgrade would be felt in markets worldwide. In 2011, S&P Global Ratings drew fire for downgrading the US from AAA after a similar brush with default. That spurred a selloff in risk assets like equities around the world, but ironically boosted Treasuries as investors sought out havens. Strategists at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley have warned that an impasse threatens the outlook for equity markets, while traders have also piled into swaps and options for major currencies to hedge their portfolios. PGIM Fixed Income says the US will find itself in a similar impasse all over again, and has has bought long-dated credit default swaps on that basis. The yen, a traditional haven currency, spiked as traders reacted to the Fitch news before reversing gains. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields hovered around their highest in more than two months on expectations that interest rates may continue to rise even as the debt ceiling issue drags on. The hawkish repricing of Fed rate hike expectations has not been interrupted in recent days by the lack of progress made by US officials over raising the debt ceiling, Lee Hardman, a currency strategist at MUFG Bank Ltd., wrote in a note. Read: Prior Debt-Ceiling Standoff Saw Treasuries, Gold Rise After Deal Still, its not unusual for Congress to strike deals at the last minute when the pressure becomes big enough to force negotiators to make painful choices. We believe risks have risen that the debt limit will not be raised or suspended before the X-date and consequently that the government could begin to miss payments on some of its obligations, Fitch said. Prioritization of debt securities over other due payments after the X-date would avoid a default. The company said it still expected a resolution. Failure leading to a debt default would however lead Fitch to cut affected debt securities to a D rating, with others downgraded to CCC and C. Debt-Ceiling Anxiety Tracker: T-Bill Yields Top 7%, Fear Spreads House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed optimism Wednesday that White House and GOP negotiators would reach a deal in time to avert a potentially catastrophic default. He said on Thursday that there were still a couple of issues remaining and negotiators will need to work 24/7 to get a deal done. The California Republicans comments came after a four-hour meeting between his and President Joe Bidens hand-picked negotiators, fueling optimism Congress will act before June 1, the date by which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the US could run out of money to pay its bills. Moodys Investors Service, which has the US at a AAA rating with a stable outlook, hasnt made any adjustments in wake of the wrangling in Washington to lift the nations borrowing capacity. The firms base case is also that a deal will be made before the x-date. US Default Scenarios Span From Localized Pain to Dimons Panic S&P has also retained a stable outlook on the rating during the latest fracas, long anticipating that Congress would ultimately raise the debt ceiling before the Treasury lost its ability to fully fund the government. The firm continues to stand by that view as last presented in a March 16 report, a spokesperson said on Thursday. The Fitch warning is certainly very symbolic, and in a way it may force Moodys to follow suit, said Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank Ltd. in Singapore. It will also place more scrutiny on the dollar and Treasuries as havens and its risk-free rate qualities. --With assistance from Margaret Collins, Michael Mackenzie, Matthew Burgess, Naomi Tajitsu, Aline Oyamada, Liz Capo McCormick and Rita Nazareth. (Adds more details on Moodys and S&P Globals rating in paragraphs 16, 17, 18 and adds comment made on Thursday by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the 15th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The House select committee on China released its first set of policy recommendations on Wednesday - intent on acting against the "ongoing genocide" in Xinjiang and deterring Beijing's military aggression in the Taiwan Strait. The recommendations - which range from sanctions on Chinese tech companies to improving military coordination with Taiwan - formed the core of two reports, both of which were approved Wednesday by the committee to send to the House. The first - "The Chinese Communist Party's Ongoing Uygur Genocide: Policy Recommendations" - was adopted unanimously by voice vote. 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. The second, "10 for Taiwan: Policy Recommendations to Preserve Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait", was adopted with one "nay" vote, from Representative Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey. The panel, whose formal name is the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, was formed in January and has no authority to draft or amend laws. US Representative Mike Gallagher, Republican of Wisconsin, the chairman of the select committee, said the recommendations came after "difficult compromise" by the panel's members. Photo: Reuters alt=US Representative Mike Gallagher, Republican of Wisconsin, the chairman of the select committee, said the recommendations came after "difficult compromise" by the panel's members. Photo: Reuters> But it is tasked with making recommendations to legislative committees before the end of the year. Its members - 13 Republican and 11 Democratic representatives - sit on various House committees with jurisdiction over the recommendations, including armed services and foreign affairs. On Xinjiang, proposals include restricting US-based retirement and pension funds from investing in sanctioned Chinese companies; sanctioning tech companies used by Beijing "to commit genocide against Uygurs"; strengthening government programmes like Radio Free Asia to promote awareness of China's human rights abuses; and reducing the "de minimis" threshold for duty-free shipments to the US, which the committee believes may allow companies to circumvent the Uygur Forced Labor Prevention Act. De minimis provisions exempt products from customs scrutiny if their value is below a certain amount. Closing the "loophole" would be a "big deal," Representative Mike Gallagher, the Wisconsin Republican who is the committee's chairman, said. "We are committed to deterrence in the Taiwan Strait" and "won't turn a blind eye as the CCP commits genocide, 'the crime above all crimes', against the Uygur people," he said. The committee's Taiwan proposals concerned enacting the current version of Congress's primary defence bill - the National Defence Authorisation Act - and legislation that can be incorporated into its next iteration. The NDAA is an annual "must-pass" bill because its enactment is required for military service members to receive their pay and benefits on time. The 2024 version was supposed to go into mark-up in the House earlier this month but has been delayed due to the legislative impasse over raising the debt limit. On Taiwan, proposals included: increasing sales and stockpiling of critical munitions to Taipei to present the People's Liberation Army with "a more challenging and complex threat environment"; reducing the backlog of missiles and weapons systems approved for sale to Taiwan; developing a joint plan with allies to boost economic engagement with Taiwan; and establishing a planning group between US and Taiwanese forces. Kim, who serves on the foreign affairs and armed services committees, said he felt the Taiwan recommendations focused too much on security issues and not on "the kind of comprehensive approach that we can be doing", including on economic and diplomatic fronts as well as "other capacities". Representative Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey, voted against the recommendations on Taiwan because he said he thought they focused too heavily on security issues. Photo: AFP alt=Representative Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey, voted against the recommendations on Taiwan because he said he thought they focused too heavily on security issues. Photo: AFP> Gallagher said that the proposals were the result of extensive expert testimony and "difficult compromise". "Like any bipartisan report, particularly the current environment we're in, nobody gets 100 per cent of what they want," he said. He emphasised that the reports were "first attempts at our policy process" and "do not represent the last word on either of these issues". After the committee's first prime-time hearing in February - when it outlined a wide range of ideas to counter Beijing - it recently held two others, one on Xinjiang, the other on countering Beijing's "economic aggression". In April - weeks after committee members met Taiwanese President Tsai-ing Wen in California - the committee held a closed-door simulation of a 2027 Chinese invasion of Taiwan. 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. The US is losing the bitcoin movement because of regulation, Cathie Wood says ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images The US is losing out on the bitcoin movement, according to Ark Invest's Cathie Wood. The vocal bull on bitcoin pointed to US regulators driving firms to operate in other countries. "And, very interestingly, it took another two crises within the last year to prove the concept." The US is losing its grasp over the bitcoin movement, thanks to regulators pushing major firms in the industry to operate in other countries, according to ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood. "It would be nice if the US were leading this movement, but we're losing it because of our regulatory system," Wood said last week at the Fortune Most Powerful Next Gen Conference, referring to crypto firms that have begun to shift their operations outside of the US. That's largely due to US regulators, Wood said, which have begun to tighten the screws on the crypto industry after the implosion of FTX in late 2022. She pointed, for instance, to Coinbase, which recently received approval to operate in Bermuda while the firm is being investigated in the US by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Wood also said the collapse of FTX as well as regional lenders like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank backed up the case for bitcoin. "The reason it's adopted is, first of all, many people like the idea of a decentralized, transparent, auditable monetary system. It was born out of the 2008/2009 crisis, when people just lost all trust in financial services," she said, according to CoinDesk. "And, very interestingly, it took another two crises within the last year to prove the concept. FTX failed because it was centralized, opaque, and not auditable." Wood, for her part, has scooped up large volumes of Coinbase in investment arm, Ark Invest, over the past year. The crypto firm is now the fourth largest holding in Ark's overall portfolio, with $647 million worth of shares split among its exchange traded funds. She has also been a vocal bull on bitcoin, and predicted earlier this year that the cryptocurrency could rally to $1.5 million by 2030, implying around a 5500% increase from the current price. Bitcoin traded $26,295 on Thursday, having rebounded 59% since the start of the year. Its price is still well below its all-time-high of $64,000 reached in late 2021. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) With investor attention on the US sovereign credit rating rising as the federal government gets ever closer to running out of cash, Moodys Investors Service says that a mid-June payment of interest on Treasuries will be critical for maintaining the top, AAA grade. Most Read from Bloomberg On June 15, the Treasury Department is due for about $2 billion in interest payments. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Sunday on NBC that the odds of reaching June 15th, while being able to pay all of our bills, is quite low if Congress doesnt raise the debt limit. Thats a really important date for us, William Foster, a senior vice president at Moodys, said in an interview Wednesday. While the interest payment is relatively small, if it was missed, thats a default. Wed downgrade the rating by one notch from AAA to AA1, he said. Foster emphasized that Moodys does anticipate that Congress and the White House will strike a deal to raise or suspend the debt limit before the Treasury exhausts its special accounting measures to keep within the ceiling. Yellen has advised the Treasury risks running out of cash as soon as June 1. While Fitch Ratings also has that expectation, late Wednesday it placed its AAA credit rating for the US on watch for a potential downgrade. Moodys currently has a stable outlook on its AAA rating. Restoration Hurdle The AAA rating at Moodys wouldnt be restored unless Congress overhauled the current debt-limit legislation, according to Moodys. At that point, the debt limit is no longer a frustration of fiscal policymaking that leads to brinksmanship it resulted in a default, Foster said. And wed need to reflect that permanently in the rating. To bring it back to AAA, there would have to be significant reform of the debt-limit rule so that its no longer a material risk to default going forward or axing the rule, he said. The issue is a focus for investors given the history of 2011, when Washington was in a similar partisan battle over raising the debt limit. S&P Global Ratings cut the US from AAA, in a move that roiled financial markets round the world. For Moodys, the key issue is whether the Treasury if it does go past the so-called X-date when it runs out of sufficient cash keeps up with its servicing of Treasury securities. Prioritization Question Yellen at an event on Wednesday said, Im not going to get into what exactly is possible and what is not possible with regard to paying some things instead of others. Even so, the expectation at Moodys and across Wall Street is that the Treasury would indeed prioritize federal debt servicing. We consider a default to be a missed interest or principal payment, Foster said. After a downgrade following any June 15 failure to pay interest, the firm would keep the rating under review for further downgrade until the default is cured. Fitch has indicated that failure to pay other federal obligations, besides Treasuries, would be incompatible with a AAA rating. As for S&P, it has also been anticipating that Congress would ultimately raise the debt ceiling before the Treasury lost its ability to fully fund the government. As of a March report, it continued to rate the US at AA+ with a stable long-term outlook. An S&P spokesperson Thursday confirmed that report continues to be the firms most current views. Another firm, DBRS Morningstar, took similar action to Fitch on Thursday, putting the AAA grade for the US under review with negative implications, while still anticipating Congress to act in time. Principal payments are less of a concern for observers, because the Treasury sells fresh debt to pay off maturing. Only if it ran into trouble with investors fleeing its auctions would that then become an issue. If the Treasury did miss the June 15 payment, wed expect the default to be cured within a few days because the political and financial market fallout would then force Congress to act, Foster said. And at the same time, wed expect the debt limit issue to be resolved prior to the next interest payment, which is due June 30, he noted. In that case, wed stabilize the outlook and the rating would be AA1. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The head of a new US State Department unit tasked to coordinate efforts aimed at countering Beijing plans to step down next month, the department's second high-ranking official with a China portfolio to announce a departure in less than two weeks. Rick Waters, head of the State Department's recently created Office of China Coordination, and known informally as its "China House", will leave the position just six months after it was established to manage what Secretary of State Antony Blinken called "the scale and the scope of the challenge" posed by the country. The career State Department official will "rotate out" of the unit and the Office of Taiwan Coordination on June 23 "as part of the Department's normal summer transition process," according to a State Department spokesman. 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. "He will remain a member of the senior foreign service, but we have no details on his next assignment at this time," the spokesman added. US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman speaks in Washington in August 2021. Photo: AP alt=US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman speaks in Washington in August 2021. Photo: AP> Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, weighed in on the move, asserting that "China House is already strengthening the [Biden] administration's work to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and out-compete China". "Rick is a strategic thinker who has skillfully advanced US policy on China, and I am profoundly grateful for his service to our country," he said. "We are in the process of selecting Rick's successor and hope to have an announcement as soon as possible." The announcement about Waters followed news of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's retirement earlier this month. Sherman, the highest-ranking State Department official from the Biden administration to have travelled to China, has been an instrumental member of US President Joe Biden's efforts to build an Indo-Pacific strategy that offers an alternative to China's economic influence and expanding military presence there. Laura Rosenberger left her post as special assistant to Biden and the National Security Council's senior director for China and Taiwan to become chair of The American Institute in Taiwan - Washington's de facto embassy on the self-ruled island - just two months ago. The departures come amid a revival of high-level talks between US and Chinese officials after a suspected spy balloon from China entered US airspace and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California earlier this year all but cut off such engagements. Blinken postponed a planned trip to Beijing days before his departure in response to the balloon incident and China appeared to rebuff overtures from officials including US ambassador to Beijing Nicholas Burns and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to reestablish talks. Xie Feng, China's new ambassador to the US, addresses the media as he arrives at JFK airport in New York on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters alt=Xie Feng, China's new ambassador to the US, addresses the media as he arrives at JFK airport in New York on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters> However, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China's top diplomat Wang Yi unexpectedly announced that they held "candid" talks while in Vienna on Taiwan and the Russian war in Ukraine, the highest-level US-China engagement since presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden met last year. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in an interview on Wednesday that she expects to meet with China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial meeting in Detroit later this week. The arrival in the US of China's new ambassador to Washington, Xie Feng, may further bolster bilateral engagement, although Xie's predecessor Qin Gang faced difficulties engaging with policymakers in Washington. Xie, who oversaw the US portfolio in Beijing, had in recent months been flagged as the top candidate for the position, which had been vacant for almost five months. 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. W&T Offshore, Inc. HOUSTON, May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- W&T Offshore, Inc. (NYSE: WTI) (W&T or the Company) today announced that the Company will be participating at the following upcoming investor events: Louisiana Energy Conference 2023 New Orleans Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tracy W. Krohn will participate in a Gulf of Mexico-focused panel discussion on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 and management will host one-on-one meetings with investors during the event. Bank of America Securities 2023 Energy Credit Conference New York City Management will host one-on-one meetings with investors during the event on June 7-8, 2023. Updated investor handouts for each of the aforementioned events will be available on the Companys website under Presentations on the morning of each event. Neither event is web cast. About W&T Offshore W&T Offshore, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas producer with operations offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and has grown through acquisitions, exploration, and development. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had working interests in 47 fields in federal and state waters (46 fields producing and one field capable of producing, which include 39 fields in federal waters and eight in state waters). The Company has under lease approximately 625,000 gross acres (457,000 net acres) spanning across the outer continental shelf off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, with approximately 8,000 gross acres in Alabama State waters, 457,500 gross acres on the conventional shelf and approximately 159,000 gross acres in the deepwater. A majority of the Companys daily production is derived from wells it operates. For more information on W&T, please visit the Companys website at www.wtoffshore.com. CONTACT: Al Petrie Trey Hartman Investor Relations Coordinator Interim CFO and VP CAO investorrelations@wtoffshore.com thartman@wtoffshore.com 713-297-8024 713-624-7224 Adela Loconte/Shutterstock / Adela Loconte/Shutterstock Mandi Woodruff-Santos is the founder and face of MandiMoney. She is a financial expert who aims to help women of color achieve their financial goals. Woodruff-Santos is a regular contributor to Yahoo Finance Live and has been featured on The Dr. Phil Show, The New York Times, CNBC, CNN, Business Insider, Essence and Teen Vogue. See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts Learn: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch Recognized by GOBankingRates as a Top Money Expert, here she shares career tips and tricks for anyone stuck in their career or looking for a change. Want to vote for Woodruff-Santos as your favorite money expert? Click here to go to her page. Whats the one piece of career advice you wish everyone would follow? The sooner you stop relying on a single job or company to provide financial and professional stability, the better. Start investing in your own resilience as a professional, so that no matter what happens to you over the course of your career you always have a strong foundation to bounce back from. Invest time in your skills and in your own development in your industry and do not sleep on those personal relationships. Go through your career expecting every single person you encounter to be a potential light in the darkness if things dont go your way down the line. You never know where people are going to end up or how they may be able to help you when you are looking for a new opportunity. Take Our Poll: What Are You Worth to Your Company? What traditional career advice do you believe is not worth following and why? Traditionally, theres an expectation that you need to suffer and grind yourself to death early in your career to be worthy of new opportunities down the line. Unfortunately, this tradition still shows up in many professions, but I think that its time to start teaching young professionals to expect a lot more. I want young professionals today to go into their careers expecting to get what they give and to look for opportunities at companies that value their development and their growth and dont just expect them to be a cog in a wheel. Its not about quiet quitting or showing up and doing the bare minimum its about giving your best effort only for companies that support and value you and see you as a full individual, not a robot without a personal life or other interests. Whats the No. 1 thing everyone should do to boost their income and/or earning potential? Dont get complacent with where youre at and always be looking for new opportunities to grow. Always stay open to new career opportunities and practice your negotiation skills. Theres just no better opportunity to negotiate higher compensation than when you were leaving one job for a new one, and you may hold yourself back financially if you stay too loyal to one employer. As far as increasing your earning potential, you need to be a couple steps ahead of yourself, always thinking of where your industry is heading and how you can start to acquire specific skill sets that match. Theres a time about 5 to 10 years into your career when its also a great moment to start specializing or niching down so that you become the go-to person and a specific aspect of your work. The more unique and in demand your skill set is, the more resilient youll be as a professional. Jaime Catmull contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Want To Make More Money? Career Expert Mandi Woodruff-Santos Shares How To Boost Your Earning Potential Even financial gurus like Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., are not immune to making mistakes or bad investments. Buffett has acknowledged a costly mistake that impacted the conglomerates financials. Despite earning $42.5 billion in 2020, Buffett revealed in his annual letter to shareholders that the company had incurred a substantial loss of $11 billion because of an ill-fated acquisition. Don't Miss: Why Jason Calacanis and Other Silicon Valley Elites Are Betting On This Startups Vision For Re-Uniting American Families While Buffet's investment philosophy emphasizes long-term value, many of his investments deal with mergers and acquisitions, private equity and other risky bets. While Buffett, like any investor, has his losers, the winners often make up for themselves in the long run. These strategies are even starting to get replicated by retail investors on platforms like StartEngine. In 2016, Berkshire Hathaway acquired aerospace manufacturer Precision Castparts Corp. for $32 billion. Buffett acknowledged that his initial optimism clouded his judgment, leading to an overvaluation of the aerospace manufacturing company. Buffett took full responsibility for the error, saying, "I paid too much for the company. No one misled me in any way I was simply too optimistic about PCC's normalized profit potential." The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded the situation, as the aerospace industry faced severe disruptions with reduced air travel. Buffett acknowledged this, stating, Last year, my miscalculation was laid bare by adverse developments throughout the aerospace industry, PCC's most important source of customers. To stay updated with top startup news and investments, sign up for Benzingas Startup Investing & Equity Crowdfunding Newsletter Despite the setback, Buffett maintained his faith in the long-term prospects of Precision Castparts, believing it would eventually yield favorable returns. I was wrong, however, in judging the average amount of future earnings and, consequently, wrong in my calculation of the proper price to pay for the business, he said. PCC is far from my first error of that sort. But it's a big one. Precision Castparts continues to build its global workforce. The company employed 23,164 workers in 2022, a significant increase from the previous year. While the local workforce in the Portland, Oregon, metro area stood at approximately 2,700, the companys presence extends beyond the region, as it maintains a global presence. With a strong foundation, ongoing improvements and long-term industry forecasts projecting growth and demand for air travel and aerospace products, Precision Castparts aims to overcome the challenges and capitalize on opportunities. See more on startup investing from Benzinga. Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article Warren Buffett Makes Mistakes Too This One Cost $11 Billion originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Russia's Progress 82 spacecraft with two rectangular solar wings deployed in the black of space. A robotic Russian cargo craft arrived at the International Space Station today (May 24) after a speedy launch to deliver more than 2 tons of fresh supplies for astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory. The Progress 84 freighter docked at the space station at 12:19 p.m. EDT (1619 GMT) just over three hours after launching into orbit from the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. "A perfect journey from launch to docking, delivering 2.7 tons of supplies to the International Space Station," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said during live commentary. Related: How Russia's Progress spaceships work (infographic) Russia's Progress 82 spacecraft with two rectangular solar wings deployed in the black of space. The cargo ship's linked up with the space station's Russian-built Poisk module to complete its journey to the International Space Station will lasted less than 3.5 hours as the spacecraft made two orbits around Earth. Progress 84 is packed with 5,492 pounds (2,491 kilograms) of food, water, propellant, cosmonaut clothing and other supplies, Navias said ahead of launch during live commentary. That cargo includes 3,399 pounds (1,542 kg) of dry cargo, 1,080 pounds (490 kg) of propellant, 926 pounds (420 kg) of water and 88 pounds (40 kg) of nitrogen. A white and green Soyuz rocket lifts off from Baikonur Cosmodrome on a cloudy evening on May 24, 2023 Related stories: Soyuz rocket: Russia's venerable booster International Space Station Everything you need to know Russian Progress cargo craft at space station springs a leak The freighter is also carrying a variety of scientific gear, including "a launch device with a nanosatellite intended for the Parus-MGTU experiment (conducted by the N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University). Cosmonauts will launch it to test the technology of deploying a solar sail," EverydayAstronaut.com wrote. The Progress vehicle, which began flying in 1978, is one of three robotic spacecraft that currently deliver cargo to the space station. The other two are private American vehicles SpaceX's Dragon capsule and Northop Grumman's Cygnus spaceraft. Progress and Cygnus are expendable, burning up in Earth's atmosphere when their time in orbit is up. Dragon, however, is reusable, coming back down in soft, parachute-aided ocean splashdowns. Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect the successful launch and docking of Progress 84 on its Soyuz 2.1a rocket. Insiders were net buyers of Watches of Switzerland Group plc's (LON:WOSG ) stock during the past year. That is, insiders bought more stock than they sold. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. See our latest analysis for Watches of Switzerland Group The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Watches of Switzerland Group Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Non-Executive Chairman Ian Carter for UK198k worth of shares, at about UK7.65 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of UK6.77. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Ian Carter was the only individual insider to buy during the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Does Watches of Switzerland Group Boast High Insider Ownership? Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 3.3% of Watches of Switzerland Group shares, worth about UK53m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. So What Does This Data Suggest About Watches of Switzerland Group Insiders? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders do have a stake in Watches of Switzerland Group and their transactions don't cause us concern. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Watches of Switzerland Group, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. But note: Watches of Switzerland Group may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here In the first quarter of 2023, eight investing gurus bought shares of Waters Corp. (NYSE:WAT), and only one sold. Why all that interest? Was it driven by an expectation that the share price might begin to recover? It has been on a steady slide since late August of 2021. And it is now just 2% above its 52-week low. Could it reflect the overall price stagnation in the medical diagnostics and research industry, which began slipping in September 2021? No doubt price is a factor in their decisions, but it is also possible they might be impressed by Waters excellent fundamentals: an enviable 97 out of 100 on the GF Score. Waters: A Solid Medical Devices Company What does the company do? According to the 10-K for 2022, Waters has provided high-value analytical technologies and industry leading scientific expertise, with solutions that serve life, materials and food sciences. More specifically, it designs, manufactures and sells tools for liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis. However, it has a relatively diverse set of revenue generators within its niche. Waters: A Solid Medical Devices Company The original company was formed by Jim Waters in 1958. Organically and through acquisitions, it has grown into a $15.26 billion company, with 2022 revenue of $2.97 billion. One starting point for examining the strength of its fundamentals would be its margins. They have been relatively high and consistent, with one exception in 2018. Waters: A Solid Medical Devices Company Those margins also support net income and help provide funding for share repurchases. Combining higher net income and fewer shares leads to greater earnings per share. Waters: A Solid Medical Devices Company High levels of profitability should also generate free cash flow, which can then be invested for more growth in the future. Unfortunately, FCF has fallen in four of the past five years. Waters: A Solid Medical Devices Company Waters' annual filing for 2022 had an explanation for the pullback: The Company generated $612 million, $747 million and $791 million of net cash flows provided by operating activities in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in 2022 operating cash flow was primarily a result of higher inventory levels, slower cash collections and higher incentive compensation payments in 2022 compared to 2021. The filing for 2021 provided this information for that year: The decrease in operating cash flow in 2021 was primarily a result of the $100 million of 2020 cost actions and working capital improvements implemented being reinstated once customer demand increased. So it does not seem that the slower cash flow is the result of some deep-seated problem; instead, it is more like the meat and potatoes of running a business in turbulent times. Theoretically, that still leaves a hefty amount of cash available for organic growth, since it does not pay a dividend. However, Waters board of directors had other ideas. It noted, During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company repurchased $616 million and $640 million of the Companys outstanding common stock, respectively, under authorized share repurchase programs. From a financial strength perspective, it carries a modest debt load. That produces a comfortable interest coverage ratio of 16.33 and a high Altman Z-Score of 9.26. What is most striking about its financial metrics is the return on invested capital versus the weighted average cost of capital relationship. Waters is clearly a value creator: Waters: A Solid Medical Devices Company For 2022, the WACC was 8.77% and the ROIC was 30.19%. Its growth rates are not particularly high, but they are sufficient for most investors. Over the past three years, revenue grew by an average of 11.70% per year, Ebitda increased by an average of 11.40% and earnings per share without NRI averaged growth of 10.50% per year. The company has been able to grow both its revenue and Ebitda quite consistently. That has resulted in a high predictability ranking of 4.5 out of five stars. As noted, Waters has aggressively bought back its own shares, and over the past 10 years that has worked out to an average of just under 3% per year. Thats good for shareholdersand makes it easier for management to grow earnings per share. Turning to valuation, the GF Value Line considers the company to be modestly undervalued. It sees an intrinsic value of $352.77, while the closing price on May 24 was $256.99. That is a $95.78 difference, or a 37% margin of safety. Waters: A Solid Medical Devices Company Waters has a price-earnings multiple of 22.33, which is very close to the industry median of 23.10. The PEG ratio, based on a five-year Ebitda growth rate of 11.50% per year, works out to 1.94. Thats near the top end of the fair valuation range. The discounted cash flow calculator comes to a bearish conclusion. Based on an initial growth rate of 9.20%, which is the 10-year average for earnings per share without NRI, it puts the fair value at $190.21. Thats $66.78 below the current price, and indicates a negative margin of safety of 35.11%. If we put a trendline on a 10-year chart, we end up with a price that is very close to the GF Value price: Waters: A Solid Medical Devices Company Potential investors will need to pick the optimistic, pessimistic or current value option when they assess the company. Eight of the guru investors added to or set up new Waters holdings in the first quarter of this year. One reduced its holding and two others made no changes, according to 13F filings. The top three investors as of March 31 were the Vanguard Health Care Fund (Trades, Portfolio) (811,122 shares), PRIMECAP Management (Trades, Portfolio) (77,844 shares) and Baillie Gifford (Trades, Portfolio) with 55,543 shares. Institutional investors have a solid position in the company, holding 69.03% of the shares outstanding. Insiders accounted for another 4.94%. The largest single shareholder among the insiders is Edward Conrad, a former director, who held 74,542 shares at the end of March. Dr. Udit Batra, the president and CEO, has a relatively small investment of 8,523 shares. Investors should be aware 13F filings do not give a complete picture of a firms holdings as the reports only include its positions in U.S. stocks and American depository receipts, but they can still provide valuable information. Further, the reports only reflect trades and holdings as of the most-recent portfolio filing date, which may or may not be held by the reporting firm today or even when this article was published. In conclusion, Waters is a solid company with a fair to depressed share price (I'm an optimist). It is a reasonable candidate for investors who want capital gains, especially when the size of the gains may be helped along by share repurchases. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Watkin Jones (LON:WJG) First Half 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: UK153.9m (down 20% from 1H 2022). Net loss: UK593.0k (loss narrowed by 96% from 1H 2022). UK0.002 loss per share (improved from UK0.052 loss in 1H 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Watkin Jones Earnings Insights Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 24% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 2.5% decline forecast for the Real Estate industry in the United Kingdom. Performance of the British Real Estate industry. The company's shares are down 27% from a week ago. Risk Analysis Before we wrap up, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Watkin Jones that you should be aware of. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Key Insights Significant control over Singapore Exchange by individual investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions 45% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders Institutions own 26% of Singapore Exchange Every investor in Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX:S68) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that individual investors own the lion's share in the company with 50% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). And institutions on the other hand have a 26% ownership in the company. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Singapore Exchange, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Singapore Exchange What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Singapore Exchange? 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. Singapore Exchange 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 Singapore Exchange's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Singapore Exchange is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, with ownership of 23%. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 2.9% and 2.8%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. 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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Singapore Exchange The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. 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 Singapore Exchange Limited insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around S$45m 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 The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a substantial 50% stake in Singapore Exchange, suggesting it is a fairly popular stock. This size of ownership gives investors from the general public some collective power. They can and probably do influence decisions on executive compensation, dividend policies and proposed business acquisitions. Private Equity Ownership Private equity firms hold a 23% stake in Singapore Exchange. This suggests they can be influential in key policy decisions. Sometimes we see private equity stick around for the long term, but generally speaking they have a shorter investment horizon and -- as the name suggests -- don't invest in public companies much. After some time they may look to sell and redeploy capital elsewhere. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Key Insights Fuller Smith & Turner's significant individual investors ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 44% ownership 41% of Fuller Smith & Turner is held by Institutions If you want to know who really controls Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C. (LON:FSTA), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 49% to be precise, is individual investors. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Institutions, on the other hand, account for 41% of the company's stockholders. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Fuller Smith & Turner. Check out our latest analysis for Fuller Smith & Turner What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Fuller Smith & Turner? 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. Fuller Smith & Turner 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. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Fuller Smith & Turner's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. It looks like hedge funds own 6.1% of Fuller Smith & Turner shares. That catches my attention because hedge funds sometimes try to influence management, or bring about changes that will create near term value for shareholders. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 6.8% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 6.1% and 3.0%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest. 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 Fuller Smith & Turner The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.. In their own names, insiders own UK7.7m worth of stock in the UK328m company. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 49% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Fuller Smith & Turner better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Fuller Smith & Turner you should know about. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Woodland man dies and three others injured in Yolo County head-on crash, CHP says A Woodland man died and three Shasta County residents were injured early Wednesday after their vehicles collided in a head-on crash on a rural Yolo County road, the California Highway Patrol reported. The fatal crash was reported shortly after 6 a.m. on Old River Road, just north of County Road 124, the CHP Woodland office announced in a news release. The CHP said the Woodland man was driving a 2017 white Volkswagen sedan north on Old River Road as a 2023 white Ford pickup with three men from Cottonwood was heading in the opposite direction on the same road. For unknown reasons, the two vehicles collided head-on, the CHP said. Both vehicles sustained major front-end damage. Authorities closed the road for about three hours as investigators worked at the scene. The Volkswagen driver died from his injuries. The CHP said the three men in the Ford pickup suffered minor injuries in the crash and were taken by ambulance to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. The ages of those involved in the crash were not available Wednesday. The Yolo County Coroners Office will release the Woodland mans name after his family has been notified. Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the fatal crash, which remained under investigation.. Officers asked anyone with information about this crash to call CHP Woodland office at 530-662-4685. (Bloomberg) -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping has used policy, capital and outright decree to mold the world's No. 2 economy in his own image. After over a decade in power, an intensifying struggle for tech leadership with the US and a sputtering domestic economy suggest he'll have to once again recalibrate the country's giant internet and manufacturing sectors. Most Read from Bloomberg The 69-year-old leader has a complex relationship with his domestic tech sector. Xi has made science and technology pillars of his long-term vision for China's national wellbeing, and he's placed a priority on researching homegrown alternatives to foreign-made semiconductors to ensure reliable supply. The latest salvo: Beijing this week barred Micron Technology Inc. memory chips from sensitive infrastructure applications. But under his watch, China's internet sector has also been put through a punishing, two-year crackdown curbing the excesses of so-called disorderly growth of capital. A dichotomy has emerged in his treatment of hardware manufacturing and online services. Now the focus is shifting to artificial intelligence something experts on both sides of the Pacific equate in game-changing significance to the introduction of the internet and the iPhone. To see if there are any clues for investors looking to stay ahead, weve analyzed listed companies with no less than $1 billion in market cap during each year of his reign to see just how Xi has reshaped the contours of Chinas sprawling tech sector. Show Us the Money One of the starkest transformations can be seen in the wealth of Chinese hardware makers a testament to Xis express intention of maintaining Chinas lead in worldwide electronics manufacturing. These are mostly state-backed firms that make servers, PCs, phones and networking equipment and concentrate on local markets. The combined cash load of the most valuable hardware companies ballooned from around $20 billion in 2013 when Xi first became president to more than $100 billion today, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News. Somewhat surprisingly, the highly touted semiconductor sector hasnt seen anything like the same explosion of cash reserves. Thats because many domestic chipmakers focused on lower-margin, more mature arenas and their coffers only began growing in earnest after the global semiconductor shortages of 2020 buoyed prices. In contrast, internet companies from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to Tencent Holdings Ltd. accumulated wealth at a rapid clip through their control of booming spheres of business from online retail to social media. Their growth went into hyperdrive after Alibabas then-record 2014 IPO attracted the attention of global investors. That went on until Beijing in 2020 pulled the plug on a very similar debut that of Jack Mas Ant Group Co. and the now-infamous Covid Zero nationwide lockdown the year after hurt their businesses. Still, by dint of years of free-wheeling expansion, Alibaba and Tencent continue to have the deepest pockets of all, piling up roughly $28 billion and $23 billion, respectively each more than the first two hardware firms BOE Technology Group Co. and Foxconn Industrial Internet Co. combined. Regulatory risks in China have eased with the government prioritizing economic growth, said Cecilia Chan, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Intense competition might lead to higher marketing costs, but they should be able to defend their strong market position with their large user and merchant bases, better tech capabilities and competitive advantages, amid the gradual consumption recovery. Breeding Unicorns When it comes to the number of companies that exceed the magical (if somewhat arbitrary) $1 billion valuation threshold, its again the hardware sector thats sitting pretty. Listed hardware and semiconductor unicorns have increased seven-fold in the past decade, making the sector the biggest source of tech giants. Software and tech services have also grown notably as natural corollaries to hardware proliferation just not as much while the media sector rode a boom in gaming and business such as live-streaming in the Netflix era. The retail sector failed to spark as many large firms and remains dominated by Alibaba. Years of state investment in the semiconductor industry havent yielded a huge increase in the number of listed unicorns. That highlights the challenges of developing, funding and building chipmaking capabilities. But it also reflects the way many of Chinas most advanced, state-backed semiconductor players such as Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. or AI chipmaker Biren Technology have shunned IPOs and the scrutiny they command. Brass Tacks: Valuation Ultimately, investors care about the price tags of what they buy (or shun). The hardware-internet dichotomy is again quite apparent in the market valuations of both segments. Despite initial ebullience around Chinas post-Covid reopening and incessant pledges of support from Xi and his cadres, the total market cap for industries dominated by the internet giants has barely regained its pre-crackdown, pre-pandemic 2019 level. Tech hardware and chips, on the other hand, continue to scale new heights with one important caveat. The semiconductor industry cratered around 2021, bogged down by a combination of Covid controls, a growing surplus of certain chips such as memory, and escalating US efforts to choke off Chinese access to the technology, tools and software it desperately needed. The US could add more AI-related Chinese companies to the sanction list, Jefferies analyst Edison Lee wrote in a recent note to clients. We also expect the US Congress (esp. the Republicans) to come up with more aggressive bills against China in the next two quarters. Buyer, beware. Back to the Science To many, its the contours of research and development thats been the defining change during Xis tenure, when Beijing repeatedly hammered home the need for basic scientific innovation to really get ahead of the US. Its all part of a national self-reliance drive, an urgent need (from Chinas perspective) to develop alternatives to American technology that can finally sever its dependence on the West. The hefty research spending of Chinese telecom gear mammoth Huawei Technologies Co. wasn't included because it's a privately-held company. It spent more than 160 billion yuan ($22.7 billion) in R&D last year despite the harm that US blacklisting did to its sales. On the surface, the right conditions are in place for China to rally its engineering and manufacturing industries. Hardware companies led all sectors in total research expenditure. ZTE Corp., Xiaomi Corp. and BOE are among the biggest spenders as they expand in 5G gear, smartphones, EVs and next-generation display technologies, respectively. Thats not to say internet firms are slouches when it comes to the lab. Despite government probes, the biggest of the big internet companies remain standout spenders: Tencent and Alibaba both spend annually over $8 billion a piece, easily dwarfing No.3 Baidu, which spent about $3.5 billion on research. Other names including Kuaishou and Meituan also outspent rivals after hiring large numbers of developers for live streaming, AI and food delivery algorithms. This may be what it boils down to. Over Xis next term or terms fundamental research could mark the frontlines of Chinas ever-expanding tech war with the US. As Xi himself said at the October opening of the Communist Partys twice-a-decade congress in Beijing the one at which his reign was extended: We will focus on national strategic needs, gather strength to carry out indigenous and leading scientific and technological research, and resolutely win the battle in key core technologies. MethodologyBloomberg News analyzed four industry group classifications which capture different aspects of Chinas technology universe: Discretionary retail and wholesale (which while it captures some non-tech-focused retailers also includes major internet operators like Alibaba), media (which includes app giant Tencent), technology hardware and semiconductors, and software and tech services. We restricted our analysis to companies domiciled in China and with market capitalizations of at least $1 billion on each anniversary of Xis elevation. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The yen weakened beyond 140 per dollar for the first time since November as traders moved to price in another Federal Reserve interest-rate increase, underscoring diverging expectations of monetary policy in Japan and the US. Most Read from Bloomberg Japans currency fell to 140.23 on Thursday, the weakest level since Nov. 23, before paring some losses and traded 0.2% stronger at 139.82 on Friday. The yen has declined 6.2% this year against the dollar. When dollar-yen moves, it always moves big, said Brad Bechtel, a foreign-exchange strategist at Jefferies. So well see, maybe well be at 143 next week. Traders fully priced in another quarter-point rate increase by the Fed within the next two policy meetings and a more than one-in-two chance that a hike could come as soon as next month. That contrasts with the Bank of Japans policy as Governor Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly said he will patiently continue with monetary easing. Ueda indicated his desire to hold on to policy flexibility by playing down the importance of wages or any single economic dataset as a trigger for change. He did not rule out a policy shift even if inflation is below 2%. The latest string of remarks did not present anything new, Barclays chief yen rates strategist Shinji Ebihara writes in note. We still believe the latest remarks as a whole suggest the BOJ is unlikely to make early policy revisions. In the US, the yield on the two-year note surged 16 basis points to 4.53% on Thursday before trading little changed in Asia trading Friday. The yield on similar-maturity Japanese bond fell 0.5 basis points on Thursday to -0.070%, while the 10-year yield rose two basis points to 0.455%. The move also came on hints of optimism about a potential debt-ceiling deal and economic data suggesting resilience. US officials have failed to resolve their debt-cap impasse even after Fitch Ratings warned that the nations AAA rating was under threat from the standoff. The move to 140 is really a dollar story, not a yen story, said Bipan Rai, a currency strategist at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. --With assistance from Michael G. Wilson, Ruth Carson, Matthew Burgess and Masaki Kondo. (Adds strategist comment in the sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. More than 100 times in the last four years, the lives of people like George and Brenda Ford have been changed by an act of kindness along with the skillful placement of a truckload of boards. Local volunteers with an organization called SAWs-Virginia heard that George Ford, 87, was unable to get out of his home after he had a stroke in September 2021. His wife had to arrange with two family members to help carry him and his wheelchair out of the house when he needed to go to physical therapy or doctors appointments, but she felt very bad knowing it disrupted their schedules. Then, last month, SAWs, which stands for Servants at Work, built an 83-foot ramp that starts outside the front door of their Spotsylvania County home, takes a sharp left and runs down a graded slope in front of the porch, then turns left again and ends in the paved driveway. Suddenly, the couple had their freedom again. Having this ramp is a lifesaver, said Brenda Ford. We dont have to depend on anybody and mess up their schedule. This has made us very independent, so thank you so much. Even though his speech is somewhat slurred after the stroke, George Ford smiled at the wooden platform around him and thanked everybody for building this beautiful ramp. Men and women in neon green shirts, as well as others in businesscasual attire, gathered in the Fords front yard Wednesday morning to celebrate the 100th wheelchair ramp built since the local SAWs chapter began in May 2019. The volunteers actually hit the 100-mark in January, but Charlie Russell, executive director, didnt think that was the best time for an outdoor celebration. His group invited many of those who have supported the effort, with donations, prayers and sweat equity, to share the fruits of their labor on Wednesday and some of the 100 cupcakes provided by the Blue Star Mothers of Fredericksburg as part of the celebration. The Fords watched the activities from their shaded perch on the porch. Neither expected a ramp as humongous as this one, she said. But SAWs sent engineers over twice, part of various teams who help design the ramps or put 8-foot sections together off-site, then assemble them during a six-hour or so effort on the property. The Ford ramp had to be that long because of the slope and design of the front yard. Workers had to thread the needle, Russell said, building it between an existing flagpole on one side and lantern on the other. This one was particularly problematic, said Ben Raterman, a retired engineer from the Dahlgren Navy base who worked on the design. But the team figured it out, as theyve done more than 100 times for veterans, elderly residents, the disabled or those in financial need in Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford. Russell came to Rev. Joseph Hensley Jr. of St. Georges Episcopal Church in 2018, a few months after moving to the area, and told him there was a need for such a ministry locally. Russell had worked with the national SAWs organization in Indiana and said he couldnt be the one to run the Fredericksburg-based group. We see how that worked, Russell said on Wednesday. Hes hoping to step down this year, saying that the organization has outgrown him, and speakers at Wednesdays event praised his efforts. Jim and Vicki Lewis, members of the Fredericksburg Rotary Club, encouraged their organization to support SAWs, and Jim Lewis initially served on the board of directors. From there on, its grown unbelievably, he said. I cant say enough for Charlie, hes thrown his heart into this and sacrificed a lot of time. I wish him well finding a replacement because replacing hims gonna be pretty hard. SAWs also has gotten support from The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, where Casey Hu, donor services manager, is constantly looking for grants to help pay for ramps and materials, Russell said. Mary Washington Hospital Foundation, led by Xavier Richardson, also has donated funds, given that one of its top community priorities is making sure people have access to health care, said Richardson. There are many people in our community who are not fortunate enough to have persons who can transport them, or sometimes they may be limited by their inability to get out of their own homes, Richardson said. These ramps increase their accessibility. SAWs also has worked with Margaret Kenerly, a social worker with Mary Washington Home Health. Shes referred clients to Russell who were like the Fords, basically trapped in their homes after an injury or illness. Ramps are such a simple fix but they can be expensive and cost-prohibitive, she said. Turning to the green shirts in the audience, Kenerly said a ramp does more than let a homeowner get out of the house again. Its improving our patients medical, physical and mental health, she said. Thank you to all the volunteers that build that lifeline. Your clients that I meet in the home really appreciate it. One of the best parts about the SAWs ramps is that theyre built to be movable, said Sandy Wiseman, one of several project managers for the group. Already, the organization has removed some of the first ramps built, because they were no longer needed for various reasons, and reinstalled them elsewhere, Raterman said. Hensley saw parallels between that and SAWs itself. SAWs is about giving people access, the freedom to move in and out of their homes and responding to the need at the time, he said. Like most organizations these days, SAWs needs more volunteers, Russell said. More information about their mission and opportunities to help is available on Facebook, by email at Virginia@SAWsRamps.org or by phone at 540/646-0896. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Transportation topics and projects dominated Tuesday nights Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors meeting, from making a ford on one county road more passible to a State Route 3 study. One issue involves Hams Ford Road, which crosses a ford from the Mattaponi River in the Thornburg area of Spotsylvania. The rural road runs parallel to U.S. 1 and Interstate 95, and sometimes serves as an outlet for traffic when problems arise on those major roadways. The countys transportation planning head, Paul Agnello, said at Tuesdays meeting that water at the ford often gets too deep for many vehicles, which can create dangerous situations. Agnello noted that Hams Ford Road not only serves as a backup route for motorists on the interstate or U.S. 1, but it is also likely to see more traffic after the Kalahari water park resort and more residential developments are built in the area. The road, he said, is kind of roughly parallel to the section of Route 1 near Kalahari and just where a lot of the Thornburg development is going into place. This can be a valuable connection for local residents to get north and south. One possible solution is an articulated concrete block system. This technology has been used in the U.S. for 30 years and can last 50 to 75 years, Agnello said. The National Concrete Masonry Association describes the ACB design as a matrix of individual concrete blocks placed together to form an erosion-resistant overlay with specific hydraulic performance characteristics. The associations list of uses for the system includes low-water crossings, lake shorelines, boat ramps, coastal shorelines and bridge abutments. Agnello said the Hams Ford articulated concrete block mat crossing would need to be about 30 feet wide with markers designating its location. The mat crossing would raise the road bed by about 1 foot. The project would cost an estimated $971,000. The countys portion would total a maximum of $300,000, with the Virginia Department of Transportation covering the rest. Old Plank Road roundabouts Agnello also provided an update on a pair of roundabout projects planned for Old Plank Road. One roundabout will be built at Chancellor Drive. The $3.2 million project is fully funded and work could start later this year. It would take four to five years to complete the project. The other roundabout will be built at Andora Drive and is estimated to cost about $5 million. Work could start in the summer and be completed next year. The board will vote on the project contracts in June or July. Hood Drive conversion Work on Hood Drive will require the road to be converted to one-way traffic for the next year. The $6 million project calls for widening the road to add right- and left-turn lanes for the under-construction U.S. Veterans Affairs clinic, which is expected to open in 2024. Hood Drive will be converted to one lane during the work, from this August through next June, carrying only traffic heading from U.S. 1 to Route 208, Bates said. New commuter lot Spotsylvania is set to mark the opening of a new commuter lot along U.S. 1 in the Massaponax area on June 5. The new lot, at Commonwealth Drive south of Cosners Corner, has 683 spaces. Work on the $16.5 million parking lot started in late 2021. Route 3 corridor study During an update on county road work, VDOT Fredericksburg residency engineer Kyle Bates told the board that VDOT has started a pipeline study for the section of State Route 3 from the I95 interchange to Taskforce Drive. The study will target at least eight intersections along that stretch of the highway, the most congested area of Route 3, where intersections are close and the road buttressed by stores and restaurants. Bates said the study is looking at different ways to move traffic through this corridor. Intersection project public hearing If the project is approved, work wouldnt start until 2027, but a public hearing for the proposal is scheduled for June 15, from 57 p.m., at the Salem Church Library. The estimated $10.3 million proposal calls for two new eastbound through-lanes on Harrison Road running through the intersection, along with a sidewalk on the south side of the road. Also, 10-foot-wide paths would be built on the north side of Harrison Road west of the intersection as well as on the west side of Salem Church Road, between the former trailhead to the Virginia Central Railway Trail and Harrison Road. America got older, faster during the decade ended in 2020. New census figures released Thursday show the share of U.S. residents age 65 or older ballooned by more than a third from 2010 through 2020, while the share of children declined, particularly those under age 5. Aging was propelled by the two largest cohorts in the U.S.: more baby boomers turning 65 or older and millennials moving into their 20s and 30s. Also, fewer children were born between 2010 and 2020. The most recent census was the first since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. Same-sex households made up 1.7% of households that included couples. The nation's median age is 38.8. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Gov. Jim Pillen announced Wednesday that he has authorized the deployment of 10 state troopers to Texas to "help stop the influx of illegal immigration at our southern border." All of the Nebraska State Patrol troopers who have volunteered for the mission are experienced drone operators and they will be deployed there for two weeks. Pillen visited Texas on Monday and met with Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Republican governors to "discuss how Nebraska can assist Texas during this (border) crisis," he said. "Our team of drone operators will provide valuable assistance to our law enforcement partners in Texas as they work to keep communities safe at the border," Col. John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said. "Our team is eager to join troopers from several other states answering Texas' call for assistance," he said. Pillen said the deployment comes in response to a request for assistance from Texas and follows the governor's promise to support the state and Abbott "in their fight to protect the southern border from illegal immigrants and dangerous drugs entering the country." Nebraska, Pillen said, is "committed to using every tool in its tool box to help stop the influx of illegal immigration at our southern border." The state will not be reimbursed for costs of the deployment, which can be met within the existing Nebraska State Patrol budget, the governor's office said. "Our nation has a serious and unchecked threat on its hands following President Biden's decision to end Title 42," Pillen said. That was the pandemic-prompted policy that had shut down virtually all opportunities for migrants to seek asylum in the United States. Idaho and Florida have also responded to the most recent request from Texas for assistance. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Ed Faltin was just 20 years old when he was ordered to crawl up Heartbreak Ridge during the Korean War. It was September 1951, and U.S. forces were advancing against North Korean and Chinese soldiers in what would be a bloody, month-long battle. An enemy machine gun nest, posted at the top of the steep, rocky ridge had immobilized American fighters below. The former Scribner resident was ordered to crawl around to the enemy bunkers side and take it out with a grenade. When he got within 8 feet of it, Faltin threw the grenade before enemy soldiers spotted him. Then they hurled a grenade at him. One thing about a Korean grenade, they sparkled like a kids sparkler. I could see it coming and started rolling away, Faltin said in a 2010 Tribune article. Faltin destroyed the bunker, but the Fremont man still carries the shrapnel from that night. On Monday, those who attend a Memorial Day service in Fremont can learn more about Faltin and other local veterans who served their county. The public is invited to the annual event, which starts at 11 a.m. Monday, May 29. It will take place in Fremont Veterans Park, which is in front of Sidner Ice Arena at 1558 E. Military Ave. Those wishing to attend need to enter from the east side of Military Avenue as work is taking place on that street, said Al Crook, past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 854. The intersection of Military Avenue and Bell Street is blocked off. Crook, a Vietnam veteran, will serve as moderator for the Memorial Day service, welcoming guests and giving closing remarks. He also will read a summary of Faltins experiences during the Korean War. U.S. Army Veteran Dale Finney of Fremont will say a few words about his experiences while serving in Vietnam. Chris Madsen, chairman of the Veterans Park committee and co-chairman of the Avenue of Flags, will provide brief comments about progress at the park. He also will provide an update on the Avenue of Flags and will give commands for the placing of the wreaths at the Eternal Flame, Crook said. Wreaths are laid in honor of different branches of the military. The Fremont Honor Guard will present the colors and the Three Volley Salute. Crook said Prisoners of War (P.O.W) and those Missing in Action (M.I.A.) will be honored. Master Sgt. Samantha Renner of the U.S. Air Force will sing the National Anthem. Taps will be played. After the Memorial Day service, lunch will be served at the Fremont Eagles Club, 649 N. Main St. The lunch is free to veterans. A small donation is appreciated from others who attend. Crook encourages the public to attend the Memorial Day service. We hold this ceremony each year to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for freedom to keep the United States of America free and to help other countries that are trying to maintain their freedom, Crook said. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. It will be a much-appreciated milestone. On Friday, Camp Fontanelle will have a ribbon-cutting for the new Olson Lodge. The public is invited to the event which celebrates construction of the new 11,000-square-foot building, which will include suites with bunk beds for campers, office space and meeting rooms. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled from 9-10 a.m. Friday, May 26, at the camp at 9677 County Road 3, Fontanelle. The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce and Washington County Chamber of Commerce will preside at the opening. Attendees will be able to see a PowerPoint presentation and walk through the new building. The ribbon cutting will take place at 9:30 a.m. and refreshments will be served, said Jane Van Horn, assistant director. The new lodge is named for Dale and the late Fern Olson of Fremont. Now retired, Dale Olson was one of the founders of Valmont Industries and is a longtime volunteer at the camp. He was part of the barbecue crew in the 1960s, Van Horn said. Hes been involved with the camp for many years. The camps offices were moved to the new lodge, which has five suites for a total of 80 beds. Each suite has eight bunk beds (16 total beds). The beds can be un-bunked. Each suite also has a kitchenette and a bathroom that has two showers, toilets and sinks. The bathrooms are handicap accessible. Van Horn said the lodge has a large meeting space area and two family bathrooms. The building has a total of 12 showers. This is the first building that has been built since 1967 that actually has beds with a bathroom. Weve added beds over the years, but we havent added the ability for someone to stay in the same building (as a bathroom) if they need to get up in the middle of the night, she said. Its been over 50 years that weve had a building that provided all of those amenities that are important for people. The Olson Lodge is next to the camps Riverview Lodge, which houses the camp kitchen and dining hall. The new lodge also is near a pioneer cemetery, where at least one of the founders of Fontanelle is buried. It (the cemetery) was deeded to us in the 60s or 70s, Van Horn said. We have perpetual care of the cemetery. The church camp, itself, has a long history that dates back to 1959. The camp consists of 183 acres of property and serves people of all ages. Our main job is providing a summer camp ministry, Van Horn said. Even though were affiliated with the United Methodist Church, we serve people from all Christian faiths and people who dont have a faith, because they enjoy coming to camp. In the fall, the camp hosts a corn maze and pumpkin patch for the general public. It hosts retreat groups. People come here for day, overnight and weekend retreats. The camp offers outdoor activities including a zip line, rock climbing wall and 5 miles of hiking trails. The thing that weve been told is that were like the best-kept secret, Van Horn said. So we really want people to understand that we are here. Weve been here for a long time. We understand the importance of community support so we try to support the communities which we serve. Van Horn said the camp offers many opportunities and people need not drive far to find them. We want to have people learn about us, because we are close to both Fremont and Blair, Van Horn said. The camp now has meeting space for businesses that want to have a retreat at the camp. And if attendees want to take a break to have fun they can take a ride on the zip line or take a hike or play gaga ball. We have the opportunity to be able to host businesses and family groups and things like that, she said. More information is available at campfontanelle.com. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The seven members of the newly formed Fremont Municipal Inland Port Authority Board hosted their second meeting on Wednesday, May 24, and heard detailed reports on the massive project from numerous officials and consultants. The all-day seminar began at 9 a.m. and was scheduled to go until at least 3 p.m. The Tribune attended most of the pre-lunch seminars, which were hosted inside the First State Bank conference center at 1005 E. 23rd St. Among the attendees were Fremont City Administrator Jody Sanders, the citys planning director Jennifer Dam and Jeff Shanahan, director of the citys Department of Utilities. Megan Skiles, executive of the Greater Fremont Development Foundation, was also on hand, along with representatives from nationally renowned site planning engineering firm Burns McDonnell. Presentations were given on the zoning of the land; utility access; grants available to assist funding; rail site development, site development and master planning; port authorities and their role in the national supply chain; the Nebraska Open Meetings Act; and an overview of the Nebraska Department of Transportation system. Former Nebraska governor Dave Heineman, chairman of the new board, said the opportunities presented by the new inland port are many, noting that the 1,500-acre parcel of land tabbed for the inland port is very unique to Fremont and Dodge County a part of Eastern Nebraska that has open, developable land. One advantage we have here in Fremont and Dodge County is we have a lot of land. Omaha doesnt have this amount of land to develop, Heineman said during a break from the morning session of the board. What we want to do is get everything in place so we can be a player. The 1,500-acre plot of land currently tabbed for the new inland port lies immediately east of U.S. Highway 275 with the southwest corner of the land near the on-ramp from Morningside Road onto the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 275. The land extends north and east, and currently has an estimated five to six residences within its boundaries. On April 27, the governing board of the Fremont Inland Port Authority elected officers. All seven members were jointly chosen and appointed by Mayor Joey Spellerberg and the Fremont City Council; along with Dodge County Supervisor Bob Missel and the Dodge County Board of Supervisors in late March and early April. Joining Heineman on the board are: Fred Mytty, secretary; Paul Vaughan, vice-chairman; and Steve Pribnow, treasurer; Christy Fiala, Joe Sajevic and Jennifer Greunke are also on the board. Port Authority board under Open Meetings ActAt the start of the Wednesday meeting, board vice chairman Paul Vaughan gave a presentation on the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, and explained that the Inland Port Authority Board is subject to the law and all its legal interpretations. Vaughan said the boards meeting notice and agenda will be posted inside the Fremont city Municipal Building and the Dodge County Courthouse three days prior to each meeting; and it will be advertised in the Fremont Tribune. The meetings will all be open to the public, he added. We will not do things in secret because the public has a right to know what we are doing. Because we were appointed by the mayor and the county, we fall under the Open Meetings Act, he explained. We do have to allow public participation, but not public comment all the time. The board will also have the minutes or record of proceedings maintained by board Secretary Fred Mytty, who will compile them after each meeting and make them available to the public in the future. Vaughan also warned the board members that adherence to the Open Meetings Act is not an option, and is mandatory. Violations of the law could lead to complaints from members of the public, which if found to be valid, could possibly lead a judge to invalidate decisions made outside the parameters of the law. If we dont comply with the law, members of the public can appeal any action we take. It is really important everything we do is public, Vaughan said. We cannot meet in secret, we cant meet outside of regular meetings and make decisions. Rezoning of land still in worksFremont Planning Director Jennifer Dam updated the board and meeting attendees on the status of proposed zoning changes that will allow the inland ports 1,500 acres to be better prepared for possible incoming companies and development. Dam told attendees that portions of the proposed changes to the land use zoning for 1,500 acres of land were partially approved by the Fremont City Council on Tuesday, May 9, with the remainder of the changes to be discussed on May 30. Two items related to the new Inland Port Authority land on the May 9 agenda included an ordinance to change the wording and text of the citys Unified Development Code to establish a Port Authority Zoning District; and an ordinance changing the zoning in the 1,500-acre area from rural to port authority zoning. The agenda item to change the Unified Development Code wording was approved in a first reading in a unanimous 8-0 vote. However, because the May 9 meeting was already four hours long, at about 11:10 p.m., Ward 3 Council Member James Vaughan made a motion to end the meeting due to him being tired and continue the items left on the agenda to the Tuesday, May 30, meeting. Dam said the second zoning agenda item for the Inland Port land, to rezone the land is scheduled to be addressed and possibly voted on for a first reading by the city council on May 30. The immediate goal for the city and the port authority board, Dam explained, was to get a head start on the planning of the area by rezoning it now. She told attendees and board members that some residents of the 1,500-acre zone had expressed opposition to the zoning changes, calling them premature. Heineman assured board members and attendees that he and Spellerberg had made efforts to reach out to residents in the area, assuring those landowners that the Inland Port Authority has no power of eminent domain and there are no plans to, take land. The mayor and I were at the planning commission meeting (in April) and we met some of the residents to try to alleviate their concerns. I understand where they are coming from. (We) have talked to several homeowners to assure them of our intentions, Heineman explained. They will eventually have to make a decision whether or not they want to remain (in the area). We have no intention of forcing them to move out. Heineman also admitted that for some of the landowners in the 1,500-acre area, the news of the inland port is somewhat new and surprising despite the project having been discussed vigorously for at least two years. In all fairness to the homeowners, something like this has been going on for the past two years, he said of planning discussions. Not everyone is aware of everything the government does. The recent activity is the first time theyve become aware of this. Site preparation, master plan key stepsDue to the high expectations from city officials and elected leaders in Fremont and Dodge County, the pre-planning, site preparation and master planning for the inland port is an extremely critical phase of the eight- to 15-year project. Courtney Dunbar, a planning expert who is the director of site selection for engineering consulting firm Burns McDonnell, gave a lengthy and in-depth presentation on how important it is for local officials and the inland port authority board to act quickly on a wide-ranging list of critical questions and infrastructure needs. Dunbar told attendees that to attract large corporations, big firms and other developers to the inland port project, they must act quickly to lay the groundwork of utilities, permitting and zoning so those businesses can make decisions about locating to the site. We cannot develop sites if we do not have information sufficient to determine if the site can be viable for development, Dunbar said. We want to be prudent, responsible and get to the stage where we can play. Master planning is the most important thing we need to do with this project. Master planning allows us to refine the target (businesses). How to achieve that preparedness, Dunbar explained, includes getting information ready for potential investor companies and firms regarding the zoning of the land; the current and future utility connectivity of the site to electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater treatment; permitting assurances and also access to transportation infrastructure such as rail, highways and possibly airports. Permits are no joke. Never assume you can achieve permitting, she added. Were also going to possibly have flood plan (issues) and wetlands (issues). I am not in favor of pre-mature platting the land. It needs to be flexible. What types of industry land in the inland port zone is still unknown, but Dunbar said the area at the moment appears to favor logistics and warehouse facilities as opposed to large manufacturing facilities. Utilities access a major issueJeff Shanahan, Fremonts director of utilities, followed Dunbars presentation and gave extensive details on the current utilities capabilities Fremont can offer as well as what might be needed to develop the inland port land into usable sites for industry. Shanahan said providing electricity to the inland port will be a challenge in large part due to the reality that the proposed businesses, which are preliminarily examining the land for use would need electrical capacity and natural gas equal to the entire usage for the whole city of Fremont each day. The inland port land is also not sufficiently connected with electrical delivery infrastructure to the citys power generation apparatus and facilities, which he noted will require the Omaha Public Power District to provide 90% of the electricity to the inland port. There is currently limited availability of electricity into the inland port. Thatll all need to be worked out as we learn more. OPPD is going to have a major impact on the electrical service to the port authority, he explained. These people (investors) are coming in asking for 100 megawatts (per day) just for themselves. Thats as much as the entire city uses at peak use. Aside from electrical connectivity, Shanahan said providing water to the site will also be challenging and require additional infrastructure to be constructed to provide that water, as well as get wastewater out of the site to the citys treatment facility. Shanahan said the city currently pumps 13.5 million gallons of water per day with a maximum capacity to pump 22 million gallons per day. The city is permitted under state regulations to pump as much as 50 million gallons a day, but does not have the ability to do that at this time. The city would need to install a new horizontal spider-web well in the future to accommodate water needs for the inland port, as well as construct an additional water treatment and filtration facility for the new well. We are good for now (with water), but with development, there are going to be significant demands on our system. The port authority has extreme water needs, he said. But, we have a lot of room to grow. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Gov. Jim Pillen announced Wednesday that he had vetoed millions of dollars out of the two-year budget package passed by the Legislature last week. In a message to the Legislature, Pillen said the cuts were needed to provide for the transformative tax relief measures that lawmakers have pending. He said Nebraska taxpayers are demanding their money back. We must continue to fight against excessive governmental spending to deliver dollars back into the pockets of Nebraskans, he said. Lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on final passage of major income tax cut and property tax relief bills, along with a bill providing more state aid to Nebraska schools. The three bills were introduced on behalf of the governor. Even without the governors budget vetoes and with passage of all bills at the second and third stages of consideration, the state was projected to remain in the black through June 30, 2025, the end of the two-year budget period. However, projections suggest that it would slip into the red during the next two-year period. Pillens largest budget vetoes were to the payment rates for hospitals, nursing homes, child welfare providers and other health and human services providers. He let stand a 3% increase in rates for the first year of the budget period but eliminated the 2% increase that lawmakers had approved for the second year. He said funding for higher reimbursement rates would not address any of the systemic workforce shortages affecting hospitals and will only provide a Band-aid to hospitals bottom line, without providing any relief for health care costs paid by everyday Nebraskans. For child welfare providers, he said the second year of the rate increases would be replacing federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. He said it would be a harmful practice for the state to replace temporary federal dollars with state funds. The Appropriations Committee initially had used state dollars for both years of the rate increases but tapped unused federal money to reduce state spending. Pillen also eliminated funding for a pilot program to work with children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because of their exposure to gun violence. He explained the cut by saying that the state already has devoted more than $500 million to economic recovery projects, of which most were focused in North and South Omaha. The governor eliminated money to expand home visitation for families of young children and to expand aid for court-appointed special advocates, who advocate for children in the foster care system. He also eliminated money aimed at helping a Cedars, a Lincoln child welfare provider, to offer housing for homeless youths who are pregnant or parenting. Pillen also vetoed money for the Rural Workforce Housing and Middle Income Housing programs, which was to have come from the states cash reserve fund. He said the vetoes would protect the cash reserve and avoid flooding the housing market with government subsidization. He cut $10 million earmarked to help Kimball with the infrastructure needed to handle an influx of workers replacing Minuteman missiles in the area and $7 million earmarked to help with a rural drinking water project in Cedar and Knox counties. In the first instance, he said, he would help Kimball get money from the federal government for those costs. In the second case, he said, the state already had put significant money into the project. Members of the Appropriations Committee are slated to meet Thursday morning to decide whether to recommend any overrides of the line-item vetoes. Pillens budget announcement came one day after lawmakers voted to reduce the cost of a tax omnibus measure. LB727 includes 27 tax-related measures, which were combined by the Revenue Committee as a way to bypass the session-long filibuster mounted by opponents of a proposed ban on transgender health care for minors. As advanced from first-round debate, the bill would have reduced state general fund revenues by more than $194 million over four years. Changes made during second-round consideration brought the price tag down by nearly $100 million over four years. The changes included eliminating a contentious provision that would have allowed people to use state-sponsored, tax-deductible college savings plans to pay for K-12 tuition and pushing back the start date for a bill allowing contractors to buy products tax-free based on the tax-exempt status of the entity that hired them. Other changes included putting lower caps on tax credits for biodiesel retailers, rural development projects and renovation of historically significant buildings. The amended bill would allow tax credits for research and development expenses in the future, but credits would not be allowed for prior years. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session 010523-owh-new-lege-em01.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em02.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em04.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em05.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em06.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em65 010523-owh-new-lege-em37 010523-owh-new-lege-em38 010523-owh-new-lege-em49 010523-owh-new-lege-em60 010523-owh-new-lege-em45 010523-owh-new-lege-em39 010523-owh-new-lege-em48 010523-owh-new-lege-em55 010523-owh-new-lege-em59 010523-owh-new-lege-em43 010523-owh-new-lege-em42 010523-owh-new-lege-em50 010523-owh-new-lege-em53 010523-owh-new-lege-em46 010523-owh-new-lege-em40 010523-owh-new-lege-em47 010523-owh-new-lege-em51 010523-owh-new-lege-em61 010523-owh-new-lege-em64 010523-owh-new-lege-em52 010523-owh-new-lege-em56 010523-owh-new-lege-em62 010523-owh-new-lege-em63 010523-owh-new-lege-em58 010523-owh-new-lege-em44 010523-owh-new-lege-em41 010523-owh-new-lege-em54 010523-owh-new-lege-em36 010523-owh-new-lege-em31 010523-owh-new-lege-em30 010523-owh-new-lege-em32 010523-owh-new-lege-em33 010523-owh-new-lege-em35 010523-owh-new-lege-em34 010523-owh-new-lege-em24 010523-owh-new-lege-em27 010523-owh-new-lege-em26 010523-owh-new-lege-em28 010523-owh-new-lege-em25 010523-owh-new-lege-em29 010523-owh-new-lege-em23 010523-owh-new-lege-em18 010523-owh-new-lege-em21 010523-owh-new-lege-em15 010523-owh-new-lege-em17 010523-owh-new-lege-em22 010523-owh-new-lege-em19 010523-owh-new-lege-em16 010523-owh-new-lege-em20 010523-owh-new-lege-em12 010523-owh-new-lege-em09 010523-owh-new-lege-em14 010523-owh-new-lege-em13 010523-owh-new-lege-em07 010523-owh-new-lege-em11 010523-owh-new-lege-em08 010523-owh-new-lege-em03 010523-owh-new-lege-em10 010523-owh-new-lege-em03.jpg Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Episode 91: Nearly everyone, it seems, has a smartphone with them at all times. Its hard to overstate how truly incredible it is that we can carry around nearly all of the worlds knowledge in our pockets, but we shouldnt be surprised that such devices can lead to distraction and sometimes addiction. Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss whether our lives are actually better today because of the invention and pervasiveness of smartphones? Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Surgeon general warns against social media use for children, calls for 'immediate action to protect kids now', by Barbara Ortutay, The Associated Press Garth Brooks has a no-phone policy at his new Vegas show, by Scripps News Young Dillon Reeves stepped in to save the day when his school bus driver became incapacitated following a medical emergency, Steve Hartman, CBS News About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the fervent protests that erupted around the world, looked to many observers like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. For more than nine minutes, a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of Floyd, a Black man, who gasped, I cant breathe, echoing Eric Garner's last words in 2014. Video footage of Floyd's May 25, 2020, murder was so agonizing to watch that demands for change came from across the country. But in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, economic uncertainty and a divisive U.S. presidential election, 2020 ended without the kind of major police reforms that many hoped, and others feared, would come. Then, 2021 and 2022 also failed to yield much progress. Now, three years since Floyds murder, proponents of federal actions such as banning chokeholds and changing the so-called qualified immunity protections for law enforcement still await meaningful signs of change. The beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers in early January underscored just how long it could take. Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, of Massachusetts, said during a recent press conference convened by a Black Lives Matter collective that she sees no evidence of a racial reckoning. I dont play with words like reckoning, Pressley said. That needs to be something of epic proportion. And we certainly have not seen a response to the lynching, the choking, the brutality, (and) the murder of Black lives. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS? Soon after Floyds murder, Minneapolis adopted a number of changes, including bans on chokeholds and neck restraints, and requirements that police try to stop fellow officers from using improper force. Minnesota lawmakers approved statewide police accountability packages in 2020 and in 2021, as well as tight restrictions on no-knock warrants this month. The city is still awaiting the results of a federal investigation into whether its police engaged in a "pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. A similar investigation by the state Department of Human Rights led to what it called a court-enforceable settlement agreement in March to revamp policing in the city. The federal investigation could lead to a similar but separate agreement with the city. Police in several other cities already operate under such oversight for civil rights violations. We are shifting the culture of our police department to ensure that our officers strengthen and hold the trust of our entire community, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement Thursday. There were immediate cries after Floyd's murder to defund the police and instead fund public housing and other services. But a ballot measure that had roots in that movement failed, even in some heavily Black neighborhoods. An AP review of police funding found that some municipalities elsewhere made modest cuts that fell far short of activists calls. WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNEAPOLIS THIS WEEK? More than 100 people gathered Thursday night at George Floyd Square, the corner where Floyd died. The event to remember Floyd included music and dancing, and a candlelight vigil was planned. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara stopped by and talked with people in the crowd at one point, raising his fist in solidarity. Earlier in the day, hundreds of flowers and signs swayed in the wind between towering statues of fists at the square. Kendrick White and Georgio Wright, two Black men, said they visit the site every day and lead pilgrimage guides or tours to spread awareness about what happened. About 20 high school students and teachers from California were in their group Thursday. Lee Fertig, head of school at The Nueva School in the Bay area community of San Mateo, said they wanted to see how the community is rebuilding. Gov. Tim Walz declared Thursday George Floyd Remembrance Day in Minnesota, proclaiming, "True justice for George Floyd will come only through real, systemic change to prevent acts like this from happening again." WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OFFICERS? Derek Chauvin, the white officer who killed Floyd, and the three other officers who failed to stop him, are all in prison. Chauvin was sentenced in state court to 22 1/2 years for second-degree murder. Two of the three other officers pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter and received shorter terms, while the third was convicted of that count by a judge and awaits sentencing. All four of the officers were also convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER PROTESTS? Around the world, protests against racial violence and police brutality erupted after Floyd's murder, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement. Videos circulated on social media of U.S. police using tear gas and less-lethal munitions like rubber bullets, fueling calls for accountability, which so far has largely come in the form of civil settlements. New York City found 146 officers had committed misconduct at protests, including one officer who drove a car into protesters. Independent reviews in Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Los Angeles also found those departments had mishandled their responses. In some cities, a handful of officers were fired. Some faced criminal charges: In Austin, Texas, 19 officers were indicted. Few have been convicted. Minneapolis has agreed to millions of dollars in settlements with people who alleged they were victims of excessive police force during unrest that followed Floyds killing, which included the burning of a police station. Few officers were disciplined. WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL? In 2020, federal legislation called the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act showed signs of promise. It would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, like the one that enabled Louisville police to kill Breonna Taylor. It would also create a database listing officers who were disciplined for gross misconduct, among other measures. The House passed it in 2021. But the Senate failed to reach a consensus. Last year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that applied key elements of the bill to federal law officers. On Thursday, Biden renewed his call for Congress to act to bring real and lasting change at the state and local levels. I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it, he said in a statement, adding that he will fight for police accountability and work with both parties to reach solutions. Meanwhile, Pressley, the Massachusetts congresswoman, has been promoting the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, a measure she has reintroduced every year since 2020. WHAT ABOUT THE FLOYD FAMILY? Over the last three years, George Floyd's family members have appeared at rallies and spoken out against police violence. Within days of his brother's death, Philonise Floyd testified at a congressional hearing about police reform. While relatives and reform advocates called for legislation changes, George Floyds youngest daughter, Gianna Floyd, met Biden at the White House in 2021. A photo of a Marine holding the door for the 7-year-old went viral. New York City-based Terrence Floyd, who became an activist after his brother's murder, planned to hold the third-annual memorial event at a Harlem church on Thursday evening. He has supported get-out-the-vote efforts and promoted music paying tribute to his brother. You have to have the faith that it will happen, because it didnt happen overnight for Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. It didnt happen overnight for Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson," he said about meaningful social change. You can't expect it to happen overnight for us, but it will happen. Air Force Academy senior Madison Marsh doesnt know the meaning of down time. When shes not fulfilling her duties as the reigning Miss Academy, shes busy preparing to compete in the upcoming Miss Colorado pageant. Or running the Whitney Marsh Foundation, the nonprofit she founded in 2019. Or conducting research with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Or lobbying members of Congress for increased funding for pancreatic cancer research. Or preparing to graduate from the Air Force Academy with a degree in physics. Its a lot of work, but I think doing all this is what really fills my cup, Marsh said. Asked when she finds time to sleep, she laughed and said, I manage. Marsh attacks her many roles with a passion born of tragedy and heartache. In 2018, Marshs mother, Whitney, died of pancreatic cancer. The diagnosis came out of nowhere, and the aggressive disease left Marsh without a mother at 17. She was only 41 years old. She didnt show any signs of illness, she said. She was very healthy, she was a runner, she didnt smoke, didnt have any risk factors. She only lasted nine months after her diagnosis. Marsh lost her mother to one of the deadliest and sneakiest forms of cancer. Because the pancreas is located in the abdomen, behind other organs, the disease is extremely difficult to diagnose. By the time it is identified, it is often too late for surgery to do any good. In the U.S., the five-year relative survival rate is about 12%, according to data from the American Cancer Society. Marsh is hoping to change that. Early detection is what keeps a pancreatic cancer diagnosis from being a death sentence, she said. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. As Marsh continues to immerse herself in the nuances of the disease, she has learned that early detection is possible if you know what to look for. Imaging and blood tests can detect the malady in its early stages, and seemingly unrelated symptoms like muscle loss can be an early indicator of the disease, she said. Since its 2019 inception, the Whitney Marsh Foundation has raised more than $230,000, according to its website. The nonprofit has launched a preliminary testing program for families in her hometown of Fort Smith, Ark., who are struggling financially. An annual 5K/10K fundraiser, called Whitneys Race, raises money for research, testing programs, and detection equipment. Pageantry has become an extension of Marshs advocacy. As the reigning Miss Academy, she has a unique platform from which to broaden awareness, and she has done her best to maximize it, she said. School work, and preparing for the military, is a focus on my own success, she said. But pageantry allows me to focus on other peoples success. Thats where I feel a sort of release, and happiness helping other people. After she graduates in June, Marsh plans to attend graduate school at Harvard University. When thats done, she intends to go through pilot training. But before any of that, the future Air Force officer will go up against about 20 other contestants in the Miss Colorado competition, which begins Friday. For the talent portion of the contest, Marsh plans to do a monologue about her very first solo flight. If she wins, Marsh would be the Miss America organizations first active-duty military officer, she said. There have been active-duty enlisted women, but never an officer, she said. For me, that would be a really exciting opportunity to represent an entire group of women, to open some doors, and to leave them open for all the women behind me. That would be really cool. Fingers crossed well see! Two bereaved Colorado Springs-area families will receive the gift of a fully paid mortgage, thanks to the efforts of a national organization dedicated to supporting the families of fallen service members and first responders. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit, is observing Memorial Day by gifting mortgage-free homes or mortgage payoffs to 30 families of fallen service members or first-responders with prior military service across the U.S., including the families of Micah Walker and Julian Becerra. We cant give them back their loved ones. Thats impossible, said John Huvane, Tunnel to Towers engagement coordinator. So what we try to do is take their biggest financial burden, and we pay that off for them. Its bad enough to have to grow up without a parent, or face the future without your spouse. But having to move out of your house because you cant pay your mortgage makes it so much worse. Initially a grassroots effort launched in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Tunnel to Towers has grown exponentially in the 22 years since its inception and has provided about 1,000 homes to families across the country, officials said. The nonprofit also supports service members who have survived catastrophic line-of-duty injuries, including local wounded warrior Israel Del Toro, a retired Air Force senior master sergeant who was badly injured in an explosion while deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. Tunnel to Towers provided Del Toro and his family with a fully equipped and furnished smart home in October. If youre in the military or a first responder, and you dont make it home, were going to make sure your mortgage is paid, said Huvane, a retired New York police detective. Thats what were doing for the families of heroes like Staff Sgt. Walker and Officer Becerra. Their backstories are unbelievable. Army Staff Sgt. Micah Walker of Peyton spent six years as a missionary in South Africa before joining the Army and becoming a Green Beret medic. Walker died on July 27, 2021 in a training incident while attending the Army Combat Diver Qualification Course in Key West. He is survived by his wife, Cori, and their three children. Julian Becerra spent eight years in the Air Force before joining the Fountain Police Department in 2018. On Feb. 2, Becerra sustained multiple injuries after falling from a bridge while chasing carjacking suspects. He died nine days later, leaving behind his wife, Katie, and their two children. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Because Becerra was an organ donor, he "continued to save lives even in his death," officials said. According to Huvane, the Walker family purchased their home just a few months before he died. Now, thanks to T2Ts gift, they will be able to keep the house. Our home has always been a safe haven, especially these past two years, Cori Walker said. As I found out the news of our mortgage being paid for I was watching our children laughing and playing in our yard. What a balm to the soul knowing this home is fully ours. In a statement, Katie Alderman, Becerras widow, called the mortgage payment a life-changer. Its hard to put into words just how much this gift truly means, she said. Receiving support from Tunnel to Towers has changed our lives. T2T plans to provide for at least 100 families in the remaining months of 2023, Huvane said. Unfortunately, the list (of fallen heroes) is long, Huvane said. But we want to provide peace of mind for as many of these families as we can. Thats our mission. A New York woman faces federal hate crime charges in Colorado for making threatening calls to LGBTQ businesses in Denver and Glendale, allegedly threatening they would be "shot up like Club Q." Sharon Robinson, 40, made several calls with threats and slurs a few weeks after the Club Q massacre in Colorado Springs that killed five people, according to a Wednesday news release from the FBI. "The Grand Jury made a special finding that the defendant intentionally selected her victims because of their actual and perceived sexual orientation," according to the release, noting that hate crimes can carry higher possible sentences according to federal guidelines. Robinson made her first court appearance in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday. The FBI, Denver Police Department and Glendale Police Department have worked together on the investigation. An El Paso County judge has dismissed a restraining order filed by one Manitou Incline hiker against another. Early this spring, Noelia Sanchez had been granted a temporary restraining order over claims of verbal and physical abuse and stalking by Chasidey Geissler. Sanchez has been among a surge of regulars pushing the limits on the vertical, mountainside set of steps, while Geissler at the time was on her way to setting the women's record for most laps in a calendar year; she finished with a reported 1,222 at the end of March. In previous Gazette interviews, the women explained how their ideas of friendly competition took a drastic turn during their efforts. Sanchez said she felt "scared" by Geissler, while Geissler suggested she herself was the victim of a "bizarre" social setting and a "mob mentality" of other regulars who pitted Sanchez against her. Supporters on either side testified in recent hearings that ended with a judge closing the case for a permanent restraining order, as reported by KRDO. In an interview with The Gazette, Geissler said she was not exactly relieved. "I still feel that they tried to take my life apart in so many different ways," she said. "This is the start of rebuilding my life, and I have many more steps to go." Immediately after the court decision, Geissler was recorded reading a statement calling out Sanchez and her "gang," accusing them of cyberbullying, spreading "vicious rumors," using her nursing license as a "weapon" Geissler is an intensive care unit nurse at UCHealth Memorial Central and "abusing" the legal system. Sanchez told The Gazette she felt the legal system was her last resort. "We had to do that, we had to spend time and energy and money and everything else to be able to send her a message through the legal system," Sanchez said. Sanchez said she, too, did not feel relieved. "I don't feel safe yet," she said. "I don't know until I see that these people that associate with Ms. Geissler behave like adults and they don't continue on social media to talk bad about me and say that I'm lying." Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The statement Geissler read outside the courtroom, as seen on video posted to Facebook, was "boastful and antagonizing," Sanchez said. Asked if she intended to have any contact with Sanchez, Geissler said "absolutely not." She was also still seeing social media posts she found troubling, most recently some comparing her to the man arrested Tuesday for allegedly stabbing a man near the base of the Manitou Incline in an unrelated occurrence. Geissler called her ordeal "outrageous." She claimed the "bullying" toward her mirrored a situation last year, when tensions flared and the Incline community was split over a record-going man found to be cheating. In a previous interview, the man described himself as fearful of record gatekeepers. "The difference is I didn't cheat, but we're talking about a stupid set of stairs," Geissler said. "I don't understand why they are so set on blowing up people's lives over a stupid set of stairs." Sanchez said she wondered the same about Geissler and her camp. "Nothing good came out of this," Sanchez said. "Only that we publicly made it a subject, and now everyone knows how things are going in the Incline community. Because that's the reality. That's what happens here." Sanchez's was the third temporary restraining order filed over Incline-related disputes since November of last year. The two others involved a supporter of Geissler's, Jill Suarez, and were dismissed or settled out of court. While some say the recent controversy is indicative of a cultural problem on the Incline, several others say these are merely isolated incidents involving certain personalities on the iconic attraction that has long inspired stories of healing, friendship and camaraderie. In a statement in March, stewarding nonprofit Incline Friends said it "decries the recent negativity that has cast a cloud over what is otherwise a very positive and healthy outdoor pursuit," citing physical and mental benefits. The group expressed its hope "that people focus on these beneficial aspects the Incline offers and that the majority who use it will continue to do so in the spirit of good sportsmanship." Sanchez said she shared that hope. She said she worried. "Records and PRs and that sort of thing, it can be a really healthy thing, and it can also turn into a dangerous act," she said. An undercover investigation into subjects exploiting minors on the internet led Colorado Springs police to arrest a man who has been messaging an online undercover account posing as a 14-year-old girl. Garry Henderson, 38, allegedly made contact with the account in April and chatted for approximately one month with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. But on the other end of that communication were detectives with CSPD's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. Police arrested Henderson in Colorado Springs Wednesday after he showed up under the pretenses of meeting the child for sex, according to police. The arrest happened in the 400 block of E. Platte Ave., which is near the Palmer High School Gym. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Henderson was booked into the El Paso County jail on suspicion of internet luring of a child. The undercover operation began in April and is conducted by the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, for which CSPD is the lead agency. The task force, which is comprised of approximately 98 affiliate law enforcement agencies in Colorado, investigates subjects who sexually exploit and lure vulnerable victims. Middle school students took to the red carpet Wednesday in celebration of their big screen debut, flanked by an entourage of adoring fans and with paparazzi in tow. The eighth annual GeekThink Films premiere marked the culmination of a collaborative eight-month effort at the Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning, a charter school for gifted and talented students in Colorado Springs School District 11. Each year students in Anthony Szpaks language arts class work together to write, produce, direct, shoot and edit a short film on a topic of their choosing. After plenty of tweaks and rewrites, friends and family gather in support of their loved ones hard work in a makeshift Hollywood premiere event. Who are you wearing? Is that Armani? shouted Sonya Gazdik as the first batch of students made their way from a luxury vehicle and up the schools front walkway. Gazdik drove all the way from Florida for her granddaughter, Melfina Cosmato, who worked graphic design on the project. Past installments of GeekThink Films which is the nations first fully integrated film program in a middle school have told fictional tales of youth homelessness and bullying and captured real-life stories of the city's senior citizens and the socially distanced. This years film, titled Red and Yellow, explores conformity through the lens of one yellow-clad girl who arrives at a school where everyone else is wearing red. Mocked for her differences, the girl changes in order to fit in, but it isnt long before her true colors start to resurface. Its really about how difficult it is to really stay true to who you are when youre in a big group of people, and once you lose your identity by transforming to be what others want, how much it breaks you just as a human being, Szpak said. The best thing is that (the students) havent been inundated with schooling or the rules of filmmaking, so they get to break a ton of things without having to be convinced to take risks. For the year-long lesson on storytelling, speech and collaboration, Szpak draws on his professional background as a former Los Angeles-based script writer. His class is the highest-level language arts offering at Academy ACL, which serves K-8 students who often work at high school and college levels. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Given their advanced skills, finding schoolwork that pushes students to build perseverance can sometimes prove a challenge, according to school Director Nikki Myers. But unlike a worksheet, the film cant be produced in a single day. We find it so good for them to see how many months of work go into just a few minutes of film, said Myers, whose daughter was a part of the inaugural GeekThink Films project before going on to major in theater at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Theyve had to persevere. Something always breaks. Something always doesnt work right We love that piece of how they cant just have a product and whip it out and be done. They have to keep working at it for so long. Director Ella Hefner and lead actress and producer River Merrell agree. The story took several creative departures from its initial conception, the students said. Lines of dialogue were added. New scenes were created. Shots were adjusted after watching them play out in person. Were a ton of 13-year-olds who are trying to make a movie. Its not gonna be as easy as we think, Merrell said. I learned a lot about having to trust the process. As audience members settled into their seats and students shook off their premiere day jitters, the short film rolled on the projector overhead. It was showtime. The kids have fought with each other, theyve fought back against me, theyve disagreed, theyve stood up on things that they really believe in, Szpak said. The truth is, its the full year of watching how they learned to deal with conflict management, how to be able to deal with their own emotions and deal with deadlines and pressure. Im just really proud. Previous films can be streamed at geekthinkfilms.org. Red and Yellow will be uploaded to the website at a future date for the community to watch at its leisure. Starting teachers at Colorado Springs School District 11 will be among the highest-paid in the region at $50,000, the district announced in a news release Thursday. They join all other district employee groups in receiving pay raises for the upcoming school year. The school board of education approved contracts following successful negotiations between district administrators and the respective employee groups. This has been the most collaborative process we have had so far, outgoing Education Support Professionals President Brenda McKinney said in the release. Starting teacher salary makes for a 20% pay bump over the previous year. All employee groups will receive pay raises starting July 1. On average, percent increases in salary amount to 15.99% for teachers, 23.04% for education support professionals and 13.58% for executive professionals. Those increases account for both recurring, or pay increases that will return each year, and non-recurring, or one-time bonus, benefits. The compensation packages represent the greatest investment in D-11 employees in the past 20 years. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The Board is collectively committed to student success and staff investment priorities. These historic raises not only serve as a testament to the appreciation for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our exceptional employees but also serve to attract talented staff to our district, board President Parth Melpakam said in the release. The contracts follow months of bargaining with school administration. The teachers union, Colorado Springs Education Association, held out the longest in its push for higher pay as it fought back against a poorly received change in pay schedule. The change, which would have incorporated aspects of teacher performance into its salary formula, was tabled for next year after a task force can lay out details on how this model might work. The CSEA Bargaining Team appreciates the overwhelming demonstration of support from hundreds and hundreds of teachers that made clear to the district their dedication to professionalism and their expectation of appropriate compensation on which to build careers as educators. We are glad that the district heard teachers' voices and agreed to the financial package and valuable adjustments to issues in the workplace, CSEA President Joe Schott said in the release. Colorado Springs police are asking for the publics help in locating 15-year-old Samuel Nugent from north Colorado Springs, according to a Wednesday news release. According to the release, Nugent was last seen at his home on Dillon Circle on May 10, nearly two weeks back. His family said he is at risk, with some health issues and requires daily medication. Today, detectives with Metro Vice received information from an acquaintance that raised the level of concern for Samuels safety, the release said. Nugent is approximately 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds. He was last seen in a black hoodie, gray sweatpants and black Nike shoes, wearing a black under armor backpack and riding a white mountain bike with red headlights. The press release describes the bike as being a few years old. Authorities are asking for anyone with information regarding Nugents whereabouts to call CSPD at (719) 444-7000, or to leave an anonymous tip with the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP. By James Oliphant and Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - If Ron DeSantis hopes to defeat Donald Trump and win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, he will ultimately have to bring every possible anti-Trump voter he can into the fold. But even that likely will not be enough, political analysts say. DeSantis will also have to pull some supporters away from Trump and that could make for a tricky balancing act that DeSantis is already struggling with. "You can't court MAGA while courting the rest of the party," said Chris Stirewalt, a Republican analyst with the American Enterprise Institute, referring to Trump's diehard supporters in his Make America Great Again movement. "That's a difficult decision he is going to have to make." The Florida governor announced his bid on Wednesday after months of speculation. With deep financial resources and a growing national profile, DeSantis will quickly become Trump's top rival in the race. But he will have much work to do: Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted this month showed Trump backed by 49% of Republicans and DeSantis 19%. DeSantis' initial challenge is that the anti-Trump field is fractured. Nikki Haley, Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations, and Tim Scott, a U.S. senator from South Carolina, among others, are already in the race, with more candidates such as Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, perhaps to follow. DeSantis' campaign will have to figure out how to appeal to mainstream Republicans turned off by Trump while also finding ways to attract conservative voters who may be unsure about supporting Trump in 2024 even if they have backed him before. "He can't win the nomination with only non-Trump votes," said Sarah Isgur, a veteran of several Republican presidential campaigns. "He has to peel voters away from Trump." A longtime Republican pollster, Whit Ayres, argues that the Republican electorate is divided into three segments, with Trump die-hards comprising about 30-35% of the party, anti-Trump voters making up about 10% and the rest somewhere in between - what he calls "maybe-Trumpers." "It looks to me like DeSantis is going after the always-Trumpers rather than the maybe-Trumpers," Ayres said. That's a waste of time, Ayres said. Instead, DeSantis' mission should be to convince "voters looking for an alternative to Trump that he's the right guy." Stirewalt agrees, saying DeSantis needs to first build a strong base within the segment of the party not aligned with Trump before he can try to broaden his appeal. "He needs a launchpad," Stirewalt said. DeSantis appears, however, to have chosen to court the party's most conservative voters - and those most likely to stay with Trump - to the dismay of some potential donors and supporters. As governor, he signed one of the most restrictive abortion bills in the nation earlier this year, and made it easier for residents to carry concealed weapons. He suggested supporting Ukraine was not in the national interest before backtracking under a fire storm of criticism. And his continued feud with Walt Disney Co., one of the largest employers in Florida, has baffled some traditional Republicans who prefer a hands-off approach to corporate governance. DeSantis' political team did not respond to a request for comment. In a telephone call with donors last week, DeSantis said Trump would not be able to beat Democratic President Joe Biden and that he was the only one capable of winning both the Republican primary and the general election, according to the New York Times, which listened to the call. An analysis of recent Reuters/Ipsos polling data shows that the core DeSantis voter is more likely to be an older college graduate who lives in the suburbs and drives an SUV. Trump's strength is pronounced among younger, less educated voters who are more likely to live in rural areas and drive pick-up trucks. In Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted this month, Trump garnered 36% of Republicans with a college degree, and DeSantis 26%. The poll showed Trump dominating among rural Republicans 53% to 19%. But the gap narrows in the suburbs, where Trump has 44% of Republican support to DeSantis' 21%, the poll found. A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll in March found 43% of DeSantis supporters said they drove SUVs, compared to 31% of Trump supporters. A DeSantis voter is also more likely to want the United States to strongly support Ukraine in its war with Russia, to not believe the 2020 election was riddled by fraud, and to be strongly opposed to progressive policies such as affirmative action and the teaching in schools of so-called Critical Race Theory, the argument that the U.S. is riven by systemic racism. Trump's own prospects are clouded by his ongoing legal problems, including being indicted for a hush-money scheme involving a porn star, a recent finding by a New York jury that he committed sexual abuse, and the potential for charges stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Isgur said DeSantis has time to build a winning coalition, arguing that non-Trump voters are likely to forgive the Florida governor for tacking hard to the right to chase some Trump supporters if it helps him secure the nomination. But can DeSantis pull it off? Isgur has her doubts, given Trump's strength. "I'm just not sure it's possible," she said. (Reporting by James Oliphant and Jason Lange, Editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell) By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden has picked U.S. Air Force chief General Charles Q. Brown as the top U.S. military officer, the White House said on Wednesday, elevating a former fighter pilot with experience in the Pacific at a time of rising tension with China. Brown, whose long-anticipated appointment is subject to Senate confirmation, would be only the second Black officer to become chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after Colin Powell two decades ago. Biden's official schedule for Wednesday said: "In the afternoon, the president will announce his intent to nominate General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." The move follows Biden's appointment of Lloyd Austin to become the first Black U.S. secretary of defense, the top civilian position at the Pentagon. A senior Biden administration official said Biden had accepted Austin's recommendation to pick Brown for the position, believing he "understands the strategic challenges the United States faces around the world." "He helped build and lead the air campaign against ISIS. He is deeply versed in the challenges posed by the PRC (Peoples Republic of China). And he has a strong understanding of our NATO allies perspectives and capabilities," the official said. Upon Brown's confirmation, Black Americans would hold the top two positions at the Pentagon for the first time - a major milestone for an institution that is diverse in its lower ranks but largely white and male at the top. Brown is a self-described introvert whose public persona contrasts sharply with the outgoing chair, Army General Mark Milley, a loquacious Boston native whose tenure included both the Trump and Biden administrations. Last year, speaking at a security forum, Brown joked that his wife would ask: "Did you use all your words at work today?" In the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by Minneapolis police, Brown recounted his experiences in an emotional video posted online. He said how, during his Air Force career, he was "often the only African American in my squadron or, as a senior officer, the only African American in the room" and of wearing the same flight suit as his squadron with wings pinned on his chest yet being asked if he was a pilot. Known by colleagues as "CQ," Brown's experiences include overseeing coalition air operations against Islamic State from the Air Force's top base in the Middle East. But it's his experiences as commander of the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific from 2018 to 2020 that gave him a primer on tensions with China's rapidly strengthening military, an issue likely to loom large over his four-year term as chair. Heather Wilson, who was secretary of the Air Force at the time, praised Brown's leadership style and experience in the Pacific. "He's thoughtful, respected by his peers and subordinates, and will provide steady leadership and good advice for the country," she told Reuters. Although widely respected, it is unclear how quickly Brown would be confirmed by the Senate. Senator Tommy Tuberville has been blocking military nominations from moving forward since February because he believes the Pentagon is improperly using funding to cover travel costs for abortions of service members. The White House on Wednesday urged Tuberville to release his hold on Pentagon nominees, saying he is threatening national security. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Steve Holland;Editing by Don Durfee, Lisa Shumaker and Leslie Adler) Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) presidential campaign team will feature a group of seasoned staffers with ties to various high-profile Republicans, including his soon-to-be biggest primary rival, former President Donald Trump. CAMPAIGN MANAGER The Florida Republican's campaign will be led by Generra Peck in the role of campaign manager, the Washington Examiner has learned. Peck served in the same position for DeSantis's 2022 landslide reelection to governor of Florida over his Democratic challenger. The victory presented a strong contrast to Republican results across the rest of the country, which saw the GOP fall short of projections. FOOD STAMPS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW SNAP CHANGES IN 2023 POLICY DIRECTOR DeSantis has shown his ability to appeal to those who voted for Trump in past elections, and this apparently extends to his staff as well. Dustin Carmack, who served as chief of staff for the director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, will be his policy director in the campaign. The campaign will further put to use the experience of members who are alumni of several other big-name Republicans. MESSAGING AND PAID MEDIA DeSantis's messaging and paid media initiatives will fall under the authority of David Abrams, who once served as communications director for Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) and worked for former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's 2016 White House campaign. Notably, both Sununu and Christie are mulling over possible 2024 bids. Yard signs promoting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024, financed by the super PAC promoting DeSantis for president, line the street leading up to a Republican congressional fundraiser on May 13. 2023, in Sioux Center, Iowa. The super PAC, Never Back Down, is taking on the labor-intensive task of organizing support in the 2024 Iowa caucuses for DeSantis, though barred by law from coordinating with the candidate. (AP Photo/Tom Beaumont) Tom Beaumont/AP SENIOR ADVISER A former adviser to Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) and previous staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-TX) presidential bids, Jason Johnson will be a senior adviser to DeSantis. FINANCES Lauren Lifstrom also participated in Cruz's 2016 campaign effort, handling his finances. Now, she will direct finances on the Florida governor's campaign. SENIOR ADVISER Florida pollster Ryan Tyson will also take on a senior advisory role. Tyson has long been apart of DeSantis's closest allies, taking on advisory and polling roles as well as keeping top donors updated. PRESS SECRETARY Bryan Griffin, who served as the governor's press secretary up until last week, will be taking on the same position but on DeSantis's campaign team. CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER The campaign's chief technology officer, Carl Sceusa, is credited with assisting in establishing WinRed, the digital fundraising platform that has amassed more than $1 billion in donations for Republican candidates in 2020 alone. DeSantis is expected to announce his 2024 bid for the White House on a Twitter Space with owner Elon Musk at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The governor has been traveling to several key early primary states over the last few weeks, igniting speculation that he might run for president. However, DeSantis has remained tight-lipped about a campaign. Support for a possible DeSantis White House bid skyrocketed after the 2022 midterm elections, in which candidates endorsed by Trump lost in key races and the predicted "red wave" did not manifest anywhere but Florida. After the election, he enjoyed the support of about one-third of potential Republican primary voters. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER However, that number has steadily dropped in the months following. Currently, 20% support DeSantis in a hypothetical 2024 Republican primary race, per Morning Consult. Trump leads the pack, with 58% supporting the former president. Trump announced his campaign shortly after the midterm elections last year. Original Location: DeSantis debuts campaign team dominated by seasoned GOP veterans ahead of announcement Washington Examiner Videos Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said he would not keep FBI Director Christopher Wray in his job if elected president in 2024. DeSantis, who announced his presidential candidacy on Wednesday night, made the comments in an interview on Fox News in the aftermath of special counsel John Durham's report on FBI misconduct in the investigation of former President Donald Trump and Russia. BIDEN'S OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS: STUDENT LOANS CANCELLATION IN LIMBO "No, I would not keep Chris Wray as director of the FBI," DeSantis said in response to a question from former Rep. Trey Gowdy, the South Carolina Republican who was hosting the show. "There would be a new one on day one." Gowdy and DeSantis both served on the House Judiciary Committee while in Congress. Wray was originally appointed in 2017 by Trump to replace former FBI Director James Comey. Congressional Republicans have become increasingly critical of his tenure. Wray has four years left on his term but can be fired by the president. "I think that's very important," DeSantis said of replacing Wray. The Florida governor also pledged to appoint an attorney general with a "really strong backbone." Republican questions about the Justice Department and the FBI have intensified since the release of Durham's report, which outlined what the special counsel described as systemic problems. The Trump-Russia investigation consumed much of the last Republican president's term. Trump is DeSantis's main rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Trump sparred with both Attorneys General Jeff Sessions and William Barr. DeSantis is presenting himself as a more effective leader than Trump. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "I think the DOJ and the FBI have lost their way," DeSantis said. "I think that they've been weaponized against Americans who think like me and you. And I think that they've become very partisan." DeSantis earlier said that if nominated, he would win the presidency. Original Location: DeSantis says he would fire Wray as FBI director if elected president Washington Examiner Videos By James Oliphant and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' fledgling presidential campaign was looking to push forward on Thursday after a troubled online launch event drew mockery from his rivals and renewed doubts about his viability as a national candidate. DeSantis plans to barnstorm the early nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina next week in his first series of public events since joining the 2024 race for the Republican nomination on Wednesday. The Florida governor will make speeches and hold chats in a four-day swing across 12 cities and towns from May 30 to June 2, his campaign said. A "campaign kickoff" event will be held on Tuesday in Iowa, a state that may be critical to his presidential hopes. Its sizeable evangelical voting bloc at times has been cool on former Republican President Donald Trump, helping to hand him a defeat in 2016 in party caucuses. "Our campaign is committed to putting in the time to win these early nominating states," said DeSantis campaign manager Generra Peck. "No one will work harder than Governor DeSantis to share his vision with the country." DeSantis' campaign was working in the meantime to try and put his glitch-marred launch event with billionaire Elon Musk on Twitter in the best light possible. The much-hyped forum featuring Musk, Twitter's owner, and others was beset with audio and connection woes. In a radio interview on Thursday with conservative commentator Erick Erickson, DeSantis said the livestream of the event had now drawn more than five million listeners and that it had succeeded in creating "buzz" around his candidacy. "I think it was the biggest story in the world yesterday, and so hopefully, we'll get some people interested in our campaign who may not have been otherwise," DeSantis said. His campaign said he raised $1 million within an hour of his presidential announcement, and $8.2 million in the 24 hours after his campaign launch. DeSantis spent much of Thursday doing interviews with media in the early voting states. As governor, DeSantis has signed a number of state bills targeting reproductive rights and teachers unions and imposing restrictions on immigrants lacking permanent legal status, LGBTQ expression, diversity and equity programs in schools, and pension funds considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) provisions in their investment decisions. His entrance into the Republican contest sets up a showdown with Trump, his one-time ally, who lost the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden. Polls show Trump with a commanding lead over DeSantis. In a telephone discussion with conservative media on Wednesday, DeSantis took some of his strongest shots at Trump to date, suggesting that Trump helped balloon the federal budget deficit while president and supported legislation in 2018 that DeSantis says would have provided "amnesty" to immigrants who cross the border unauthorized. In a later TV interview on the conservative Newsmax network, DeSantis said he was more electable than Trump in a general election. "I do believe that there's a limit to the number of voters that would consider the former president at this point. I think my ceiling is higher in a general election," DeSantis said. Trump and others were quick to pounce on DeSantis' missteps. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump called the launch a "disaster" and "fatal." Biden's campaign also took a swipe with an email titled "This Link Works," providing a link for online donations to the Democrat's re-election effort. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, another 2024 Republican candidate who was Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, issued a campaign ad that took a swipe at both rivals, mocking DeSantis as a "pit bull defender" of the former president. "America deserves a choice not an echo," it said. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and James Oliphant. Additional reporting by Tim Reid. Editing by Ross Colvin, Chizu Nomiyama and Aurora Ellis) Justice Elena Kagan's recent recusal from acting on a petition before the Supreme Court gave a subtle indication of how the justices might approach transparency amid a period of heightened ethics scrutiny and low approval ratings. Just two days before Chief Justice John Roberts said publicly that the justices are "committed" to maintaining ethics standards amid a series of scandals plaguing the Supreme Court, Kagan took a step toward greater transparency, a move legal experts suggest might preview the changes the court could make to rebuild trust in the institution. BIDEN'S OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS: STUDENT LOANS CANCELLATION IN LIMBO U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan participates in a panel discussion with Hari Osofsky, dean of the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, in the Law School's Thorne Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) Ashlee Rezin/AP The May 22 orders list from the court saw hundreds of petitions denied, but one rejection in the capital case, Holland v. Florida, came with a unique line. "The petition for rehearing is denied. Justice Kagan took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition. See 28 U.S.C. 455(b) (3) and Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges, Canon 3C(1) (e) (prior government employment)," according to the orders list, which cited the section of U.S. code governing conflicts of interest. Kagan's citation indicated her rationale to recuse concerned her status as a former government employee. She was previously the U.S. solicitor general when the capital defendant came before the court several years later. Her decision also comes as public trust in the Supreme Court has dipped to just 41%. That's down even further from January when 47% of people approved of the court and coincides with a recent string of reports raising transparency complaints about affluent Republican donor-paid trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas. The Washington Examiner spoke to several legal experts who offered a range of interpretations from the brief note, some suggesting that the inclusion could signal a new pattern from the justices while others surmising that it was more detailed compared to typical recusal notices. "It might indicate a new practice," Case Western Reserve University law professor Jonathan Adler told the Washington Examiner. Adler mentioned if the note does amount to a new practice, it's because the possibility of noting the basis for a recusal "was anticipated" in a statement of principles the justices signed that were attached to Roberts's letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee last month. "Note, however, that statement indicates disclosure of the reason for recusal is not always appropriate," Adler said. Philip Allen Lacovara, the former U.S. deputy solicitor general, wrote an op-ed stating that Kagan's explanation for her recusal referenced the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, noting the "code applies by its terms only to judges below the Supreme Court." "While court reform groups have pressed the Supreme Court to adopt it or something like it for the justices themselves, they have stubbornly refused to do so. Kagan's action suggests a crack in the obstinacy," Lacovara said. Brookings Institution senior fellow Russell Wheeler said the recusal note was a "helpful nod" but contended it could add confusion to the standards the justices are expected to abide by. Wheeler said simply referencing the code of conduct could create confusion and inspire misleading notions that applying the rules for lower court judges is a "cure-all for [the] Court's ethical challenges." Meanwhile, other legal experts, such as University of Richmond Law School professor Carl Tobias, said Kagan at least deserved "substantial credit and thanks" for attempting to push for more transparency. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Another Case Western professor, Jonathan Entin, agreed Kagan's action was a positive step but contended her decision can only go so far for the high court's critics. "Beyond that, though, people who are skeptical of the Court's approach to ethics will emphasize that their principal concern is that justices are not recusing in cases where the critics think they should recuse rather than that justices are not explaining why they do recuse when they decline to participate in cases," Entin said. Original Location: Justice Kagan's recusal could signal 'new practice' for Supreme Court transparency Washington Examiner Videos The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday it had summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Sweden, and Denmark to protest what it described as a "complete lack of results" over the investigations into the ruptured Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines. The twin Nord Stream natural gas pipelines linking Russia to Germany were hit by four undersea blasts in September. Western leaders have all described the blasts as an act of "sabotage," though no one has said who was responsible for carrying out the explosions. BIDEN AND REPUBLICANS BLAME EACH OTHER FOR DEFAULT THEY INSIST WON'T HAPPEN In a statement Thursday, Russia's Foreign Ministry accused all three countries of deliberately moving slowly in the investigations in an effort to conceal who was responsible for the blasts. "It has been noted that these countries are not interested in establishing the true circumstances of this sabotage. On the contrary, they are delaying their efforts and trying to conceal the tracks and the true perpetrators of the crime behind which we believe are well-known countries," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in the statement. "It is no coincidence that 'leaked' improbable versions [of what happened] are dumped in the media to try to muddy the waters," it said. Swedish, Danish, and German authorities have each been separately investigating the Nord Stream explosions, which were carried out in Sweden and Denmark's exclusive economic zones. All investigations are underway. Danish and Swedish authorities have each rejected Russia's request to join its investigation or share classified information with Moscow, prompting Russia to lash out earlier this year and suggest they might have "something to hide." Russia has repeatedly attempted to blame the West for shielding information, and Kremlin officials complained to the United Nations in March about the lack of information shared by the countries tasked with investigating the blasts. Thursday's complaint also follows a long string of finger-pointing and unofficial suggestions as to who might be behind the Nord Stream explosions. Kremlin officials have blamed "Anglo-Saxons" for carrying out the attacks, and Russia also suggested without evidence earlier this year that the United States or the United Kingdom could be behind the attacks. Meanwhile, in March, the New York Times reported that a pro-Ukrainian group of either Ukrainian or Russian nationals had exploded the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, citing intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The intelligence reviewed suggested that the group opposed Russian President Vladimir Putin, but did not specify members of the group or say who had directed or paid for the operation. Ukraine, for its part, swiftly denied any involvement in the explosions. Original Location: Russia summons Germany, Denmark, and Sweden over 'stalled' Nord Stream blast investigation Washington Examiner Videos By Soo-hyang Choi and Daewoung Kim SEOUL/POCHEON, South Korea (Reuters) -South Korean and U.S. forces began live-fire exercises simulating a "full-scale attack" from North Korea on Thursday in what they said were the biggest such drills to demonstrate their "overwhelming" military capability against the North's threats. Howitzers pounded into a mountainside in Pocheon near the fortified border with North Korea, while battle tanks manoeuvred and fired their guns at targets, sending smoke, dust and shockwaves across the valley. Some 2,500 troops from the South and the United States took part in the exercises, which will be held four more times from now until mid-June, South Korea's defence ministry said. "The exercise demonstrated our military's capability and readiness to strongly respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and to a full-scale attack," the ministry said in a news release, vowing to maintain "peace through overwhelming strength". Last week, North Korea's state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un had approved final preparations for the launch of the North's first military spy satellite. Kim has said it is necessary to counter threats from the U.S. and South Korea. Analysts say the satellite will improve North Korea's surveillance capability, enabling it to strike targets more accurately in the event of war. Recent commercial satellite imagery showed progress on a new launch pad in the North's satellite launching station, with activity at a "new level of urgency," most likely in preparation for the launch, the U.S.-based monitoring group 38 North said. U.S. and South Korean forces have been carrying out various training exercises in recent months, including air and sea drills involving U.S. B-1B bombers, after many drills were scaled back amid hopes for diplomatic efforts and COVID-19 restrictions. North Korea has reacted angrily to the drills, which it characterises as preparation by U.S. and South Korean forces for an invasion. (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi in Seoul and Daewoung Kim in PocheonEditing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Robert Birsel and Frances Kerry) The designer behind one of Target's brand partnerships for Pride month was revealed to have an affinity for Satanism. Abprallen, a brand out of the United Kingdom and headed by a self-proclaimed gay, transgender man known as Erik, per the website, has had a collaboration in the works with the retailer for roughly a year. The collection includes a sweatshirt that reads "cure transphobia not trans people," a tote bag that reads "too queer for here," and a messenger pack that reads "we belong everywhere." ZELENSKY DISPUTES RUSSIAN CLAIM IT HAS CAPTURED BAKHMUT: 'THERE'S NOTHING' Among Abprallen's other apparel are images of pentagrams, horned skulls, and references to devils. "Satan respects pronouns," reads one previous design, featured on T-shirts and pins. These items have even been known to be sold at London's Satanic Flea Market during December, which the brand promoted on its social media. Target did not respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment. "Being called a demon is something I can cope with, and the idea of a trans demon is pretty damn cool, most of my work focusses [sic] on gothic or dark and satanic imagery juxtaposed with bright colours and LGBT+ positive messages," Erik wrote on the brand's Instagram last year. The designer claims that the brand was approached by Target for the collaboration while also acknowledging that the designs have already made "transphobes infuriated with me." "I wanted to ensure that any young people who saw Abprallen in Target would know that who they are is beautiful, purposeful, and worth expressing," Erik wrote in a statement. "I imagined what it would be like for a younger version of myself to see something more specific, more tailor made than a lacklustre rainbow flag. I wanted to create a range that would embrace younger me and tell him that who he is is more than OK, that being trans is special and wonderful and that the closet is not made for him to thrive in." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Target has had annual pride collections since 2012. Original Location: Target Pride Month partner boasts about satanism: 'Satan Respects Pronouns' Washington Examiner Videos By Michael Martina and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department's top China policy official Rick Waters is set to step down at a time of fraught relations between Washington and Beijing. Waters, deputy assistant secretary of State for China and Taiwan who leads the department's recently created China House policy division, will leave his role on June 23 and remain a member of the senior foreign service, according to a State Department spokesperson. Waters announced his intention to leave his post at a staff meeting earlier on Wednesday, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. "We thank him for his two years of skillful service on China and Taiwan issues, to include his standing up the Office of China Coordination and his leadership over the Office of Taiwan Coordination," the spokesperson said in a statement. Waters did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters reported two weeks ago that the State Department delayed human rights-related sanctions, export controls and other sensitive action to try to limit damage to the U.S.-China relationship after an alleged Chinese spy balloon traversed the United States in February. The report referenced an email Waters sent to staff that relayed instructions to postpone some actions so the department could focus on a "symmetric and calibrated response" to the balloon. Relations between the world's two largest economies are at their worst in decades, according to many analysts, as the strategic rivals clash over issues ranging from Taiwan to trade. "China House is already strengthening the administrations work to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and out-compete China," said Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink. "There are few people in the U.S. government who understand the PRC (People's Republic of China) better than Rick Waters, and standing up China House under his leadership will be a lasting legacy. Rick is a strategic thinker who has skillfully advanced U.S. policy on China," said Kritenbrink, adding that the State Department is in the process of choosing Waters' successor. President Joe Biden's administration has sought high-level meetings with China in an effort to keep ties from veering toward conflict, particularly since the diplomatic crisis over the balloon's flight past sensitive U.S. military sites. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a planned February trip to China after the balloon incident, but the White House has said efforts are continuing to facilitate visits by Blinken, as well as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Waters has led China House officially the Office of China Coordination since it was launched in December as a reorganization of the department's China desk to sharpen policies. He has served as deputy assistant secretary for about two years. Some Biden administration critics have questioned U.S. overtures to China, arguing that past decades of engagement have failed to change its line on a range of trade, security and human rights issues. Congressman Mike McCaul, the Republican chair of the House of Representative's Foreign Affairs Committee, cited the Reuters report in a letter he sent to Blinken dated May 19, demanding information related to actions toward China. "For the U.S. to succeed in its strategic competition with the PRC, it is essential that it be willing to unflinchingly hold the PRC accountable for its aggression and malfeasance, and that it be well-organized and effective in doing so," McCaul wrote. The Biden administration has recently seen other changes among senior officials focused on China. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who has driven much of the department's approach toward China, announced on May 12 that she is retiring. And a former top official for China on Biden's National Security Council, Laura Rosenberger, stepped down this year to head a U.S. government-run nonprofit that manages unofficial relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. (Reporting by Michael Martina and Humeyra PamukEditing by Don Durfee and Lisa Shumaker) White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre singled out a number of Republican lawmakers by name Wednesday for their actions during the debt ceiling negotiations between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The White House hosted the Republican team, Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Patrick McHenry (R-NC), for another round of negotiations Wednesday afternoon, but Jean-Pierre opened Wednesday's briefing attacking Republicans for holding a vote to block Biden's student loan cancellation despite the current economic situation. BIDEN'S OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS: STUDENT LOANS CANCELLATION IN LIMBO She also alluded to comments made by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) about holding Democrats "hostage" throughout the debt proceedings. "Just listen to members of the House Freedom Caucus. They've been very honest about this, and are now, openly, they're saying the quiet thing out loud, referring to the full faith and credit of the United States as a hostage," she stated while the White House displayed a graphic of Gaetz's comments behind her. "I do want to be clear here averting default is the responsibility of every single member of Congress." "If I've left you with any doubt about House Republicans' priorities, in just a few hours, all you've got to do is check it yourself, House Republicans will vote on a resolution to block President Biden's plan to provide up to $20,000 in student debt relief to borrowers who most of whom make less than $75,000 a year. The president's plan is a good one. It's a popular one, and it will help prevent borrowers from default when loan payments restart this summer. She singled out Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) for having business loans forgiven, all while reportedly voting yes on the deal. The White House also displayed a graphic outlining business loans forgiven for Gaetz and Reps. Kevin Hern (R-OK) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY). CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER You can watch Wednesday's briefing in full below. Original Location: White House grills GOP lawmakers for holding debt ceiling and student loan relief 'hostage' Washington Examiner Videos It is OK to steal in Colorado. That is the message that is being fostered by state government and private business throughout our state. It is a subtle attack on private property rights, and a rewriting of personal accountability and a basic understanding of right and wrong. Right now, in our state, theft remains a low- or no-bond charge and is probation-eligible no matter how much is stolen. Whether the theft takes the form of a white-collar thug embezzling millions of dollars from investors, unscrupulous predators who target the elderly and disabled, or brazen and recalcitrant shoplifters, theft in Colorado is nearly meaningless. This year, numerous members of the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives in Americas No. 1 state for motor vehicle theft voted against elevating car theft that obvious, wrong-every-time crime to a felony. Those who argued for keeping the theft of working-class Coloradans cars a mere misdemeanor made numerous excuses for why accountability and punishment should remain at the lowest level in our system. The message to victims and offenders alike is clear: It is JUST a property crime. Certainly, insurance will cover it, right? King Soopers decision to fire five employees, including a 32-year veteran of the store, who proactively attempted to apprehend a shoplifter-turned-violent-resister-of-apprehension (armed with a box cutter) is only the most recent and most publicized example of apathy toward property crimes by corporate victims. Parent company Krogers stated excuse is that its policy is based on a desire to protect the employees. The plain concern is for its money. Workers comp and liability to the offender who might sue are its focus, not right or wrong. Yet the decision sends a strong message to our community. They do not care about theft. Imagine what message is received by children shopping with their parents when they watch a crook brazenly steal in front of everyone and then simply walk out of the store without so much as a, Hey, you, stop or well stand here and watch you leave. King Soopers policy and its firing of five decent employees frustrates efforts to instill in our children a basic understanding of right and wrong, lawful and illegal. Kroger wants your kids to know that stealing is wrong, but it will never stop someone from doing it. My best guess is that it rarely reports theft to law enforcement. It writes it off, seek insurance coverage, or more likely just treat it is a cost of business and pass the cost of that selfish, liability-first policy onto law-abiding citizens. It is not alone. Most businesses do the same thing. It might be good business, but it is appalling. I want to shop in a store that proudly promotes its vigorous approach to capturing thieves and seeing them held accountable. Where are they? For those who attribute every criminal act to a failure of society, let us dispense with the mythical and unsupported notion that theft is the product of desperate need. Theft is every time about greed and a disrespect for a fundamental assumption of a free society: that property rights matter. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. In only 28 years of practicing as an attorney in the criminal justice system at the municipal, state, military, and federal levels, I have never once encountered the fabled unicorn of the left someone stealing a loaf of bread to feed their hungry kids. Never. That is not to say it has not happened, but not in my experience. Ever. People steal because they are greedy or lazy or both. Thieves of all stripes lack respect for their fellow Coloradans and elevate their desires above all else, including the law. There is an obvious fix, but one we have not tried in earnest during my lifetime. Theft is a repugnant and liberty-hating act. It is dangerous to a free people and those who steal should be dealt with swiftly, consistently and with predictable, certain punishments. Jail. At a minimum. Every time. Including first offense. Not, in many cases, for a long time. But every theft of any amount should involve a loss of some period of liberty. First-time shoplifting or theft of internet services? Spend the weekend in jail. Steal a car? You lose at least one month. Defraud the elderly? No less than one year in jail. Repeat offender? You get the idea. Jail, not prison, for first offenses and many subsequent offenses. Why? Because our Department of Corrections (prisons) and parole system are broken. A three-year prison sentence for felony theft means that the thief likely would be transitioned to community corrections in about 15 minutes and paroled in several hours. In Colorado, the truth is there is no truth in sentencing. Nobody on the planet can say the minimum amount of time a convicted thief will spend incarcerated in prison in Colorado. That is ridiculous. Good news: DOC and parole have zero authority to regulate county jail sentences. It is not OK to steal in Aurora. Early indications are that Auroras mandatory jail sentences for car theft are having a positive impact on car theft rates in Colorados third-largest city. Imagine that; when there are predictable, punitive consequences for theft, there is less theft. Weird. George Brauchler is the former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District. He also is an Owens Early Criminal Justice Fellow at the Common Sense Institute and president of the Advance Colorado Academy, which identifies, trains and connects conservative leaders in Colorado. He hosts The George Brauchler Show on 710KNUS Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow him on Twitter: @GeorgeBrauchler. Countys GOP dumpster fi re The column by Dick Wadhams (Monday) regarding the El Paso County GOP is spot-on. Many voters are turned off by the GOP chairs ridiculous contrived war on fellow Republicans. Wadhams is also right that the voting public has changed greatly especially since U.S. Sen. Hank Browns campaign of 1990. I know, because I was Hank Browns El Paso County chair. Thirty-plus years ago, voters were discerning, curious, attentive, and they cared about the decisions they made. They sought the facts of current events. Today, many voters dont want to be educated, or lectured on how government really works, or hard facts, nor do they want to have to figure out what is real and what is not. They want campaign positions that are 140 characters or less. They want trite meaningless platitudes to soothe them. A quick analysis of communication styles between Wayne Williams and Yemi Mobolade is telling. Williams is clearly very intelligent and can articulate about a wide variety of topics and lays out his positions plainly & logically. He says what he means. Mobolade articulates his vision of the future with the expedient phrases of the day never really saying what his positions are, but leaves the voters thinking he has. He speaks with word salad aka platitudes. Democrat candidates are masters at soothing voters queue Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Jared Polis. Republican Ronald Reagan was also a master of soothing communications. Many Republicans still hold him in high regard and can quote some of his words. But too few have learned from his communication style. The El Paso County GOP takes a whole other approach of negative demeaning rants about Republicans they dont like a major turnoff to all voters (except the Democrats). The El Paso County GOP dumpster fire will become a long cold nuclear winter if they continue to berate their own as an esoteric campaign to a shrinking audience. I hope they soon learn from the spate of Democrat winners. Suzanne Brannon Colorado Springs Trim bushes near turns The city needs to trim bushes near turns! My mom was crossing the street crosswalk, and a vehicle turned and hit her because they couldnt see past the overgrown bushes. Before she was hit by the vehicle, my dad and grandparents filed a few requests for the city to trim the bushes. The city ignored our first request and didnt reply. The city said no to our second request. After my mom got hit, they said they didnt know when they could cut the bushes. Since the incident, my mom suffers from anxiety when walking with our family to the park from our house. I just want to feel safe crossing the street in my neighborhood, and this can be easily fixed if the city would trim the bushes or remove the bushes if the city is not able to maintain them. Kai Trunkhill Colorado Springs Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Difference between refugees, migrants Regarding your editorial regarding Refugees bused to Denver: These folks are immigrants, not refugees. Id of thought the Gazette would know the difference. The main difference is choice. Simply speaking, a migrant is someone who chooses to move, and a refugee is someone who has been forced from their home. Refugees, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, are people who are fleeing armed conflict or persecution and for whom denial of asylum has potentially deadly consequences. Refugees leave their home countries because it is dangerous for them to stay. Turning refugees away could mean sentencing them to death. They often arrive without their personal belongings, sometimes without preplanning. Migrants, on the other hand, might move for any number of reasons. Some of them move to be with family or for economic reasons. Others move for education. Many of them return to their home countries after a few years. They are often able to plan their own travel and bring or sell their belongings. Does this mean that all migrants are moving from good situations to better ones? Unfortunately, no. Many people migrate because their homes have become dangerous or difficult to live in. They might be fleeing from unrest, famine, drought, or economic collapse. But unless they are in danger of conflict or persecution, they are not considered refugees. The distinction is an important one, because an international convention in 1951 outlined certain rights for people deemed refugees, whereas migrants have no such rights. Refugees are protected from being deported or returned to situations that might threaten their lives. They are to be given access to social services and to be integrated into their new countrys society. Richard Lawson Colorado Springs Honoring the fallen With Memorial Day approaching, a lasting and rewarding way to pay tribute to our war dead would be to volunteer to support the nationwide Stories Behind the Stars project. Its objective is to write and preserve online a short story honoring each of the 421,000+ American World War II men and women who gave their lives so that we could celebrate this Memorial Day in peace. Smartphone apps will allow the stories of the fallen to be read at any gravesite or any other location. You can join volunteers from across the country who have written more than 22,000 tribute stories. A good place to start might be to write about the 4,242 Coloradans who were killed in action in WWII, which include 141 fallen Army and Air Force in El Paso County or the 52 who attended Colorado College. John E Melde Colorado Springs We asked Colorado's governor and the General Assembly's leaders their thoughts on the conclusion of this year's legislative session, including lessons they learned, strategies they deploy next year and relationships they've come to cherish. Would you consider this session successful? Why or why not? Senate President Steve Fenberg: I am proud to say this was an incredibly successful legislative session that saw real results for our state. Coloradans demanded bold action on the issues that matter most to them, and we delivered. From passing landmark gun violence prevention laws and working to lower your energy bills, to improving our gold standard elections and taking action to lower property tax bills for families and businesses, we fought tirelessly this session to make a real difference in our communities and for the people who make this state great, and I am proud of all we accomplished for the people of Colorado. House Minority Leader Mike Lynch: It was successful in certain aspects from our standpoint but a failure in general for Coloradans. The majority caucus spent far too much time on ideological policies, like a state takeover of property rights, banning semi-automatic weapons, and stripping our Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. At the end of the session, the issues most Coloradans care about, such as fixing our roads, addressing skyrocketing energy costs, and crime, still weren't addressed. House Speaker Julie McCluskie: Democrats in the legislature delivered real results on the issues that matter most to Coloradans. From reducing health care premiums and the cost of prescription drugs to boosting our wildfire fighting capabilities and significantly increasing K-12 public school funding, this was a historic session for Colorado families. Im especially proud of new laws that will boost our workforce with free pathways to degrees in growing industries, reduce housing costs, and put $170 million directly into the pockets of lower-and middle income Coloradans by increasing the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits. We also took historic action to improve public safety by reducing gun violence and protected our freedoms and rights by securing access to reproductive health care and abortion. Gov. Jared Polis: This session was very successful in delivering real results for Coloradans, with exciting investments to propel our state even closer to 100% renewable energy by 2040, boost math achievement for all Colorado students, save people money on health care, and fill in-demand jobs while building the workforce for the future. What is the one proposal, if any, that should have passed this session but didnt? Fenberg: Like any session, dozens of proposals this year didnt make it across the finish line. But that doesnt mean those concepts will never become law it just means we need more time to have the necessary conversations to make them happen. As Senate President, its my job to help our caucus see their ideas come to fruition, and I look forward to working closely with my colleagues to close those gaps and find consensus so important ideas, like expanding our housing stock and securing the future of Colorados water supply, can move forward next session. Lynch: A bipartisan bill I sponsored, SB23-109, Criminal Penalty Controlled Substance Supplier, was legislation that would have created a Level 1 drug felony for controlled substance distribution that results in death. The majority delayed the bill until the final days of session, and it was killed in committee in the dark of night. Senate Bill 109 was a commonsense way to enact harsher penalties for drug dealers who are selling poison and taking advantage of the most vulnerable members of our communities. McCluskie: Water! I wanted to bring legislation this year to take bold steps to secure our water future. While we didnt come to an agreement this year on the policy, the Colorado River Drought Task Force is a big and necessary step forward that recognizes the threats to our water and brings us closer to developing the collaborative solutions we need. Polis: As we look to the future, we are deeply committed to continuing the fight to protect the property rights of homeowners, make Colorado more affordable to purchase or rent homes and continue to save people money. Changing the status quo isnt easy I am committed to addressing the higher and higher costs facing hardworking Coloradans across our state. What is the one thing you would do differently next session? Fenberg: Next session will be my last serving in the legislature. During the heat of session, its often hard to stop and truly enjoy the amazing opportunity weve been given to serve. So, next session, I intend to take more time to intentionally appreciate the relationships Ive built, and to reflect on the memories Ive made during my time here. I hope to use that intentional time to prioritize the Senate as an institution, and make sure I leave it better than I found it. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Lynch: I think the more public engagement the better on important issues. I will work harder and more impactful to ensure the people of Colorado better understand the massive impact on their lives this building can have on them. McCluskie: One of the areas that worked well this year was communication between our leadership teams, but I do think there is room to spend more time communicating with individual members more broadly. As Speaker of the entire House, my goal is to help all members be successful when I can. Id like to spend more time with members next year to foster their success and ensure we are creating an environment where they can effectively serve their districts and their communities. Polis: I would work on my penmanship to be ready for future math investments we make! What lesson, if any, did you learn from a member of the opposing party that you would like to use next year? Fenberg: I think most folks would be surprised to find that, despite how polarized our politics can seem, a vast majority of the legislation we pass is bipartisan in nature. As part of that process, I learn constantly from my colleagues across the aisle, but Sen. Cleave Simpson stands out as a member who has taught me a great deal about how to advocate effectively for change you truly believe in, and how to forge consensus and get things done. Sen. Simpson consistently chooses to take on the fights that he thinks matters, no matter whether his party agrees with him or not, and he isnt afraid to roll up his sleeves to do the hard work. Whether its water or ag or even criminal justice reform, Sen. Simpson isnt afraid to do what he believes is right, and always remains focused on solving the challenges facing Colorado. Lynch: I learned a lesson on how a bill gets killed through scheduling. Next year, I will work to ensure important pieces of legislation get the attention necessary outside the building to apply the appropriate pressure on the majority to ensure this doesn't happen again. McCluskie: One lesson I learned is that nothing brings the chamber together like Rep. Weinbergs burgers, hotdogs, and carne asada. Some of our most joyful and collaborative moments in the House came when we were enjoying each other's company and sharing meals together. Im grateful to Majority Leader (Monica) Duran for donating her late husbands grill for our use on the House balcony, and I much enjoyed Rep. Weinbergs excellent cooking throughout the session. I look forward to him firing it up again next year! Polis: I am always open to good ideas from the left, right, center, green, purple or across the political and policy spectrum, and this year it was great to work with bipartisan legislators, including Senator (Paul) Lundeen and Minority Leader (Rose) Pugliese to pass transformative legislation to boost math achievement for Colorado students. I look forward to continuing these partnerships in the future. Dan Williams, Teller County Commissioner and former city planner, provided an important perspective in support of land use reform and we look forward to working with him on that issue. What relationship, new or old, that you would cherish after this years session? Fenberg: Legislative sessions involve many long days, and more than a few long nights. So, first and foremost, this session made me really miss time with my two daughters, and Im looking forward to spending a lot of time with them this summer. However, theres one person I really will cherish and miss after this year and thats Senate Secretary Cindi Markwell. Cindi has put so much love into this institution and her investment will pay off for generations to come. Ive learned an immense amount from her and the state of Colorado is lucky to have had her as a caretaker of the Senate. Lynch: Through this session, I became close to the Majority Leader as a result of my role. Though we don't agree much on ideologies, I always found her to be a fair woman of her word and trustworthy in her dealings. In addition, she's just a good person with good family values. I am certain we will remain friends for life. McCluskie: I truly value the relationships among the Western Slope lawmakers. We have always worked together to deliver results and put policy above partisanship to serve our communities. I will always cherish my relationship with Rep. (Marc) Catlin and his frequent visits. He is a good person and a man of integrity who is dedicated to his district and his constituents. Our work on wolves, water and so much more proved once again that politics doesn't have to get in the way of good policy. Polis: This year, about a third of legislators were new to the General Assembly, so at first I needed flashcards to keep track of everyone. All kidding aside, our team was thrilled to work with new legislators and those who were elected alongside me this November on key priorities, like saving people money energy, creating jobs and supporting our workforce. This week, I was in Alamosa to sign SB23-205 with Rep. (Matthew) Martinez at his alma mater (Adams State University) to give $1,500 scholarships to graduating students in the class of 2024. I am also impressed with first-year Reps. Ruby Dickson and Rose Pugliese, who I think will both contribute a lot to our state. The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday it will decide whether a person's belief that racial bias exists in policing is an acceptable reason to remove them from a jury, or whether doing so violates the longstanding prohibition against race discrimination in jury selection. At least three of the court's seven members must consent to hear a case on appeal. The justices also agreed to review two other appeals each involving a divided ruling from the state's second-highest court about procedural hurdles for plaintiffs looking to sue. Specifically, the Supreme Court will examine how much time children who are injured in car accidents have to file a civil claim, and whether a desire to avoid the logistical headache of multiple trials is sufficient grounds for appellate judges to decide a case. Race, policing and jury selection Nearly four decades ago, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Batson v. Kentucky that purposeful racial discrimination in jury selection is unconstitutional. Now, defendants may make a "Batson challenge" if they believe prosecutors are attempting to remove, or strike, people of color from jury pools due to their race. Although "peremptory strikes" during jury selection do not typically require an explanation, a Batson challenge forces the prosecution to give a non-racial reason for removing a particular juror. Whether an explanation is rooted in race, however, is often a disputed issue. An Arapahoe County jury convicted Raeaje Resshaud Johnson of multiple domestic-violence related offenses. During jury selection, the prosecutor attempted to strike Juror M, the only Black person. On her questionnaire, Juror M indicated she had a bad experience with police, indicating there were "Many cases where cops are disrespectful due to certain racial identities." She also conceded she would "wonder" about the context of Johnson's domestic violence case, even after hearing the evidence. When Johnson raised a Batson challenge, the prosecutor provided two "race-neutral" reasons for striking Juror M. First, Juror M "talked about how people of different races were treated differently in her experience with law enforcement." Second, Juror M indicated she would wonder about the defendant's domestic violence history. The defense argued the prosecution's first reason stemmed from Juror M's race. "Its clear based on her questionnaire that shes experienced racism in the past," said Johnson's attorney. "I believe shes experiencing racism as a juror by taking her off this panel for Mr. Johnson, who is an African-American male." District Court Judge Ben L. Leutwyler denied the Batson challenge, saying the prosecution's reasons were race-neutral. In October, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals reversed Johnson's convictions based on the prosecutor's actions. The panel reached two main conclusions. First, "a Black jurors personal experience with law enforcement that is race based is not, on its face, a race-neutral explanation and, instead, constitutes a race-based explanation," wrote Judge Rebecca R. Freyre. Consequently, it was a constitutional violation to strike Juror M for her negative experience with law enforcement because it had some connection to her race. Second, the panel adopted a new method for evaluating Batson challenges. If a prosecutor gives both a race-based reason and a race-neutral reason for striking a juror as Johnson's prosecutor did the trial judge must nevertheless grant the challenge because the unconstitutional reason "taints the entire jury selection process." Then-Judge Michael H. Berger dissented. Although he agreed with the "tainted" approach and also believed Leutwyler's analysis of the Batson challenge was wrong or insufficient at times, Berger worried that jurors will now become "immune" to dismissal once they state their view that police treat people differently based on race. The prosecution appealed to the state Supreme Court, blasting the ruling for taking away discretion from trial judges to evaluate race-neutral explanations. "Striking a potential juror because they have had negative experiences with police," wrote First Assistant Attorney General John T. Lee, "is not race-based discrimination because people of any race can have negative experiences with police that bias them against law enforcement witnesses and, logically, the prosecution." The Supreme Court will review the Court of Appeals' conclusions. The case is People v. Johnson. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Personal injury cases involving children In November 2015, Mark Kinslow hit 16-year-old Daniala Mohammadi with his vehicle while she was crossing the street in Aurora. Mohammadi filed a lawsuit against Kinslow on Dec. 30, 2019, more than four years after the collision. Kinslow sought to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that Mohammadi filed it outside of the window outlined in state law. An Arapahoe County judge agreed with him and tossed the suit. Last year, a panel of the Court of Appeals decided, 2-1, to reinstate the lawsuit. The ruling hinged on the legal significance of Mohammadi turning 18 on Jan. 1, 2017. Colorado law gives people three years to file a civil claim after they are injured in a motor vehicle accident. For Mohammadi, her statute of limitations would have expired in November 2018. However, if the injured party is under 18, as Mohammadi was, the law allows them to file suit within that statute of limitations or within two years after turning 18, whichever is later. Under that interpretation, Mohammadi had until January 2019, two years after turning 18, to sue Kinslow. The Court of Appeals' majority acknowledged such a reading of the law made sense. On the other hand, the Colorado Supreme Court has indicated in the past that the statute of limitations is "tolled," or paused, when someone is under 18. Given that directive, Mohammadi's clock actually started on Jan. 1, 2017. "Consequently, as she argued, Mohammadi had until January 1, 2020 three years from her eighteenth birthday to file her action," wrote Judge David H. Yun. Judge Craig R. Welling disagreed, arguing the Supreme Court's prior cases did not address this exact situation. The Supreme Court accepted Kinslow's appeal and will clarify the timeline injured children have to sue. The case is Kinslow v. Mohammadi. Final or not final? Daniel Wolf, Michael J. Brenneman and Jeffrey B. Selby were involved in the development of a Four Seasons Hotel and residential tower in Denver. Eventually, Brenneman and Selby suspected Wolf of misappropriating funds and made accusations to Denver prosecutors and a grand jury that Wolf claimed were false. The men also made statements to Westword that Wolf "steals from us." A jury acquitted Wolf. Wolf then sued Brenneman and Selby for their role in his prosecution. In August 2020, then-District Court Judge Michael J. Vallejos dismissed most of Wolf's claims, finding the defendants were immune for their participation in the legal process. Vallejos allowed Wolf's defamation claim over the Westword comments to proceed. Vallejos clarified that his order was "final," meaning the Court of Appeals could review whether he properly dismissed large parts of the case. He reasoned that it made sense for all of Wolf's claims to be tried together, so the Court of Appeals should decide whether to reinstate any of the dismissed allegations before a trial begins. By 2-1, the appellate panel threw out the appeal. Relying on one of its own prior decisions Allison v. Engel, the majority pointed out that trial judges can only certify rulings as final when there is "no just reason to delay an appeal." Avoiding a headache from having one trial on the defamation claim, and possibly another trial if the dismissed claims get reinstated, is not a "just reason," the majority concluded. Berger, who was one of the judges who decided the Allison case, disagreed. He expressed regret that the Allison decision was so inflexible and believed the panel should have decided the appeal to avoid the specter of multiple trials. Turning to the Supreme Court, both Wolf and the defendants unusually agreed on the main issue: that the Court of Appeals should have issued an opinion deciding their case. The Supreme Court will now review that question. The case is Wolf v. Brenneman et al. Although she previously found a jury should decide whether Colorado Springs police officers and the city itself are liable for tasing a man to death, a federal judge has declined to forge ahead with a trial while the defendants appeal her ruling. In March, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Christine M. Arguello determined a jury could conclude Officers Daniel Patterson and Joshua Archer used excessive force when they tased Jeffrey Melvin eight times in two minutes, seemingly without reasonable suspicion that Melvin committed a crime. She denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment, which would have ended the case in Colorado Springs' favor without a jury trial. The defendants then appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Although such mid-case, or "interlocutory," appeals are generally not allowed, there is an exception when the appeal implicates qualified immunity a judicial doctrine that can shield government employees from civil liability. Even then, an interlocutory appeal is improper when it challenges facts, rather than a judge's application of the law. The plaintiff, Melvin's estate, insisted the defendants were improperly appealing Arguello's order to delay the case further, and asked the judge to declare the appeal "frivolous." The effect of doing so would allow Arguello to retain jurisdiction, rather than wait for the 10th Circuit to resolve the appeal. However, Arguello ultimately agreed to relinquish jurisdiction of the case to the appeals court. "The Court stands by its Order Denying Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment and reiterates that this case should proceed to trial," she wrote on May 12. "The Court is also mindful that this case has been pending for a very long time and that Plaintiff and the public have a strong interest in resolving the matter promptly and efficiently." Nevertheless, she was "not convinced that Defendants appeal utterly lacks legal support." As described in the parties' court filings, after midnight on April 26, 2018, Patterson and Archer responded to a report of a disturbance in an apartment building on the 3300 block of East Fountain Blvd. Melvin let them into the building as he was leaving and the officers went to apartment 211. Jordan Bruno, who answered the door, acknowledged there was a fight earlier, but the combatants had left. Inside apartment 211 were an adult woman and a 16-year-old girl, identified as A.S. Both of them said they were fine, but the officers were suspicious of A.S.'s presence. She denied being a runaway and called her uncle to request that he pick her up. Patterson stepped outside to talk on the phone, but then Melvin returned. Allegedly, Patterson asked if Melvin was going into apartment 211. Melvin reportedly said no, but ran inside and slammed the door a sequence of events not captured on Patterson's body-worn camera. The officers then attempted to detain Melvin, prompting a struggle. Between the two of them, Patterson and Archer tased Melvin eight times in two minutes. Melvin yelled for Bruno to help him, but Patterson pepper sprayed Bruno. Melvin ran from the apartment before collapsing in the street. "Youre killing me. Youre honestly killing me," Melvin told the officers. "I cant breathe." Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Melvin, 27, died days later. His estate then brought an excessive force lawsuit against the two officers, and also argued the city was liable for failing to train on the proper use of force. "Mr. Melvin did not comply with the Officers commands," responded Assistant City Attorney Anne H. Turner. "Mr. Melvin was erratic and irrational and possessed super-human strength and stamina, which the Officers interpreted as signs of drug use." Melvin had no illicit drugs in his system the morning of his arrest. Arguello refused to grant summary judgment in the defendants' favor, which is possible when the key, undisputed facts lead to only one conclusion under the law. She noted the officers had no reason to suspect Melvin of any crime involving the earlier fight or A.S. "The Court notes that the Officers became 'hands on' with Mr. Melvin almost immediately after he entered the apartment," she wrote. "Defendants concede that Mr. Melvin did not initiate any physical contact; he never attempted to hit, kick, bite, or spit at the Officers; and he never threatened anyone." A jury, looking at the facts, could find the officers acted unreasonably by tasing Melvin so much in so little time, Arguello added, which clearly violated Melvin's constitutional rights. As for the city, the officers suggested they acted in accordance with their training, in which case a jury could find the training constitutionally deficient. The defendants appealed to the 10th Circuit, prompting Melvin's estate to urge Arguello to declare it frivolous, alleging the appeals court lacked jurisdiction to review Arguello's order in the first place. "Defendants have already succeeded in delaying this action for years, and now propose to kick it down the calendar in hopes of avoiding trial until 2025," wrote the plaintiffs' lawyers. "This Court has the power to more swiftly and efficiently administer justice." The defendants justified their appeal by pointing to another recent case under similar circumstances. In 2021, U.S. District Court Senior Judge William J. Martinez found an appeal frivolous in an excessive force case out of Fort Collins, calling it a "a thinly-veiled and poorly-reasoned attempt" to undermine his reading of the facts. However, Martinez ultimately backed down and vacated the trial date. Shortly afterward, the 10th Circuit reversed his decision. "To proceed to trial now, when the Tenth Circuit is considering reversing the denial of summary judgment," wrote attorneys for Colorado Springs, "could waste the Courts and the parties time and resources." Arguello conceded the 10th Circuit could, likewise, choose to review her conclusions that Patterson and Archer may have committed a clear constitutional violation. She declined to label the appeal frivolous. The case is Estate of Jeffrey Melvin v. City of Colorado Springs et al. Big promotions for F5 Yourself with Yoga in Hanoi People who buy tickets to attend the F5 Yourself with Yoga event by the end of this month will enjoy massive discounts. F5 Yourself with Yoga will be jointly hosted by Dantri/DTiNews and Thu Cuc Medical System TCI at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanois Nam Tu Liem District at 5:30 - 8:30 am on August 12. The basic package will be reduced to just VND240,000 (USD10.21), while the premium package is VND1.05 million, providing 50 percent and 42 percent discounts respectively. The promotion will be offered to 1,000 people who register for the super early bird first from May 12 to May 31 The basic package includes one ticket to participate in the F5 Yourself with Yoga event and kit worth VND500,000. The kit includes an exclusively-designed outfit, yoga mat, bottle of mineral water, a certificate and an opportunity to interact with famous celebrities and top health experts at the event. The premium package will also include all the features of the basic package along with a VND4.26-million health examination card with the Thu Cuc Medical System TCI. This is the first event of its kind to be jointly organised by Dantri/DTiNews and Thu Cuc Medical System TCI. The event will promote the benefits of yoga, highlight healthy lifestyles and provide an opportunity for yoga lovers nationwide to build their community," said a representative from the organising board. Registration and more information about the event can be found at: https://ticketbox.vn/event/f5-yourself-with-yoga-87049. The event is the first such large-scale yoga activity in the capital. The highlight of the event will be a yoga performance with 5,000 participants at 5:3 0-8:3 0 am on August 12. The scale of the event could see it achieve a Vietnamese Guinness Record. The performance is intricately designed by the Vietnam Yoga Association under the guidance of senior yoga instructors. The highlight of the event will be a yoga performance with 5,000 participants Following the performance will be a talk show about healthcare and joint problems with the participation of doctors from Thu Cuc Medical System TCI and international yoga experts and beauty specialists. Attendees can make full use of the free check-in booths designed with various yoga-themed settings. The event is sponsored by Wyndham Lynn Times Thanh Thuy, the partnership of TuArt Wedding, and MOD Productions. Gov. Jared Polis handed out his fourth, fifth and sixth vetoes from the 2023 session Tuesday. The vetoes cover two controversial measures, one in which House Democrats complained loudly that a House Republican had violated the rules in changing his vote on a gambling measure. The other, on tax increment financing, is tied to just one mixed-use development near Loveland. Senate Bill 23-273 would have amended the Urban Renewal Law and updated one of five exemptions related to agricultural land, Polis noted in his veto letter. The bill was intended to fix a "perceived loophole" from a 2010 law that also dealt with agricultural lands in urban areas. But SB 273 was intended to target a single urban renewal plan, and while the plan has now been approved, "we must also carefully consider the ramifications that retroactively altering existing statute could have on planned development proposals and future urban renewal plans," Polis wrote. "Passing a law that retroactively changes the playing field would create greater uncertainty across our state and discourage investment in housing," the governor said. Polis also vetoed a bill that drew consternation from House Democrats over what they claimed was a violation of House rules. Senate Bill 23-259 would allow those licensed by the Colorado Limited Gaming Act to extend credit of at least $1,000 to patrons under certain criteria. SB 259 lost on a 31 to 34 vote on May 6, with one of the "no' votes coming from Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, who had spoken against the bill. After the vote, he briefly left the House floor and then returned to ask for a reconsideration and changed his vote from a "no" to a "yes." The measure then passed, 33 to 32. House Democrats claimed he left the House chamber to talk to a lobbyist for the gaming association. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. In a formal letter of protest on May 8, Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, pointed out that, in the last three days of the session, under rule 35(b), a motion for reconsideration of a vote must receive a two-thirds majority vote. That didn't happen, Marshall said. In his veto letter, Polis said the measure raised concerns around whether people with gambling disorders can "meaningfully consent to a transaction," and about issues "regarding the ability of a person with a gambling disorder to freely consent to a loan while on a gambling spree." The bill's intended target was out-of-state "high-rollers," the governor wrote, but the bill was not tailored that way. The third bill Polis vetoed is House Bill 23-1146, which would have prohibited certain employers from taking adverse action against an employee who accepts a cash tip offered by a patron of the business. The bill carved out exceptions for gaming, health care, and services to the elderly. "This is not an appropriate area for state regulation," Polis wrote in his veto letter. Businesses cite concerns that tipping can lead to unequal treatment of patrons and employees and instead choose to prohibit tipping while paying a higher base wage, which he called a legitimate business choice for an employer. The exceptions, he wrote, appear to be arbitrary. "At its best, tipping can encourage service excellence and provide additional income for workers. At its worst, tipping can lead to preferential treatment for some patrons, less income for unlucky workers, or even unscrupulous behavior. The balance of whether to allow tipping is best left to the private sector and the free market of employers and employees," the governor said. Polis has until June 7 to finish signing bills sent to him by the legislature. The allegations: harassment, stalking, verbal and physical abuse. The scene: the Manitou Incline. It's a case calling the accuser and accused along with other regulars of the iconic trail to an El Paso County courtroom Monday. A scheduled hearing regards a temporary restraining order. The alleged victim says she wants it to be permanent. The accuser: Noelia Sanchez, who in recent months has been among a wave of people pushing numbers on the mountain, racking up laps up and down the brutal, vertical set of stairs. The accused: Chasidey Geissler, who has been building on a record set last month. She became the fifth person credited with 1,000 Incline laps in a calendar year, besting the all-time womens mark set in January by Rachel Jones. For as long as the former railway has been a fitness phenomenon dating back to the railway's closure in 1990 competition has been core to the Incline culture. Regulars have long considered that competition as friendly. They've considered it part of the Incline's special camaraderie, where people have bonded over the burn, where they have tested their limits and found kinship and redemption along the way. The steps gaining 2,000-plus vertical feet in less than a mile have inspired stories of overcoming trauma, loss and addiction. Sanchez says it was that kind of inspiring, encouraging environment that led her to setting a goal of 500 laps in a calendar year, an increasingly popular goal for others. "I had no idea what I was getting into," Sanchez says. "It was supposed to be a fun thing." That was until she says she started feeling uncomfortable and soon "scared" around Geissler. In court filings, Sanchez alleges Geissler early this month "yelled in my face in front of a crowd saying that she wants me to break my f--king neck, and I better watch my back and be careful she doesn't push me down the Incline stairs." Sanchez went on to claim Geissler acted on those alleged threats, saying Geissler "hit me in the back and caused me to lose my balance and nearly fall down the cliff edge of the stairs." Sanchez added that she was being "stalked and followed in Manitou Springs along the local trails." A judge granted Sanchez a temporary restraining order, signed on the basis of Sanchez's claims "constitut(ing) a credible threat, that an imminent danger exists." Geissler denies the claims. On the contrary, she says she's been the victim of a "bizarre" social setting built around the Incline. Geissler expressed a sentiment similar to one of her accuser. "Had I known what I would go through this year, I don't know if I would have done" the 1,000 challenge, Geissler says. "I had no idea. I thought this was a pure, supportive place. And then the better I got at (the Incline), the worse I was treated." Several close to the situation say it is the latest in a series of events that has cracked the foundation of one of this region's most beloved, symbolic attractions. They describe the past year and a half on the Incline as "heartbreaking" and "totally nuts" and "all kinds of ridiculous." "Mind-boggling," says Fred Baxter, one of the Incline's oldest ambassadors going back to the '90s. "I can't believe this is going on." He calls himself a friend of Geissler's, saying he has felt forced to speak out and pick a side in what has been a time of division, dating to before the Sanchez-Geissler dispute. This is not the first restraining order filed in recent months from Incline happenings. "It's tearing people apart," says Roger Austin, a record holder who says he has followed developments from afar from friends more active on the Incline today and from Facebook, where tensions have regularly flared. Austin says he has no loyalties but to the Incline itself. "It's really sad," he says. "The Incline used to be this happy place." Forming the clubs Records show Jill Suarez filed for a restraining order against Greg Cummings on Nov. 7 last year. Suarez has been regarded as the Incline Queen for her decades-long presence, while Cummings was hailed the Incline King in 2020 upon his record 1,825 laps logged in a calendar year. Suarez's request was dismissed. Later, on Jan. 4, records show a temporary restraining order was placed on Suarez by Trevor Becker. An agreement was reached out of court between the two neighbors living near the Incline's base. One dispute between Becker and Suarez was captured in a video in which Becker recorded his neighbor at a doorstep. In what appears to be a boiling point, the two go back and forth with accusations of harassment, including Becker saying Suarez was yelling at people on the Incline. "There's actually a reason behind all that," Suarez counters. "You think everybody needs to fall in line with you guys. No, people don't. They don't." She was referring to a committee that Cummings formed in 2022. The five-person committee which does not include Becker, who is a supporter with the nonprofit Incline Friends was formed to set rules and expectations for people seeking membership in the "500 Club" and "1,000 Club." The decision-making committee and policies, outlined in paperwork to be signed by prospective members, would be housed in a limited-liability company Cummings created called Colorado Incline. To be "officially" recognized in records posted and maintained by Becker at the base, to be listed in record sheets posted on Facebook's extremely popular Official Manitou Incline Page that Becker also maintains, the paperwork must be signed. "That has ticked off a lot of the old-timers," says Ann Labosky, an Incline regular who has counted Cummings a friend for 30-plus years. "They're wondering, like me, 'What in the heck are you trying to do?' You know, I told Greg, People on the Incline are doing it for a good, hard workout. They dont need anybody else to track their numbers.'" It's simple, Cummings says. He says he's trying to uphold the integrity of Incline achievements, to respect the pain and sacrifice those achievements require. He knows the requirement all too well. In his daily and nightly push to 1,825 laps, he told of a strained relationship with family and of near-death experiences on the Incline, passing out on multiple occasions due to complications from Type 1 diabetes. "It's something that I admire in individuals who do it, and I'm proud of it," Cummings says. He has shown that admiration by awarding plaques to new 500 and 1,000 club members what has become something of a celebratory ritual atop the mountain, the king bestowing honor. The paperwork is simple, Cummings says. It details standards not so unlike standards of Fastest Known Time, the online clearinghouse for obscure, outdoor records. For Incline records, one is expected to declare intent, use a tracking app like Strava and, in a wrinkle, take selfies at the top and bottom of each lap, as Cummings did for his records. Another wrinkle in the club contract: a code of conduct section calling for record-goers to "treat others with dignity, respect, empathy, kindness, and be encouraging and polite to all." The contract adds that "public degradation of the club, a member, or a potential member is unacceptable and grounds for dismissal from the club(s)." Respect, empathy, kindness that all might sound good to a pastor like Wade Gardner. But Gardner, a devout Incliner and record holder since 2004, does not like what he sees in Cummings' group. Nor did Gardner agree with Suarez's behavior at the center of past restraining order cases. But he agreed with her concerns about "falling in line." (Suarez could not be reached for this article.) "I grew up in a cult, another part of my story," Gardner says. "And I so see cult behavior in Greg's power plays, rules on silence, search for control and power. I never signed the paper." Role models at odds Cummings denies the label. "This is not some strange, religious cult," he says. "If people don't want to be part of the club, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that." But if they do, they have to be nice. And what's wrong with that? Becker asks. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "I think the Incline 500 Club and 1,000 Club members are role models of our community," he says. "They're on the Incline more than anybody else, talk to tourists more than anybody else. I think they have an ethical and moral responsibility." That has repeatedly been broken by Geissler, Becker and Cummings say. Rachel Jones, the womens record holder before Geissler, has also rallied around Sanchez. Behind her quiet, humble demeanor, Sanchez is a fierce hiker, Jones says. Jones says that explains why Geissler has targeted her friend. Geissler "seems to be aggressive towards women who may challenge her record," Jones says. Both Geissler and Jones say their own relationship took a turn somewhere along their ways to 1,000 laps on the Incline. Geissler says Jones' push "did speed me up," while Jones says "I made it clear that I was not in competition with her." Geissler says she has observed otherwise from Jones. Geissler says her passing questions to Sanchez about laps and progress common banter among regulars "were somehow taken as harassment." It's gone far beyond those questions, says Jones, who claims she herself has "been slandered, flipped off on the trail multiple times and physically ran into." Gardner, the pastor, says he offered to mediate a conversation between Geissler and Jones, both of whom he considers friends. He says Geissler reluctantly agreed to sit down, while Jones declined. Jones says her attempts to resolve the situation have been through Cummings and the committee. She's one of the five who sits on that committee. Separate from the club's code of conduct form, a document was prepared for Geissler to sign, agreeing to no contact with Sanchez. Jones says Geissler broke the agreement soon after. "We all just want her to leave so things can go back to normal," Jones says. The case of Mr. X That's what some say this is about. "They're just trying to drive (Geissler) away from the Incline," Gardner says. "I'm like, Are you kidding me? You're solving problems by creating more problems." Some see this as mirroring a situation from last year involving a man Cummings has referred to as Mr. X. In a phone call with The Gazette, the man requested continued anonymity, stating fear of retribution and hinting at deeper hostilities. "I'd be scared," Mr. X said. These people are crazy, man. Its sad. Publicly last year, Mr. X had been reticent about what some saw as a bold effort to top Cummings' all-time record on the Incline. That reticence, Cummings later suggested, could be drawn from the man secretly cheating. It was a suggestion from a nearly 5,000-word diatribe Cummings posted to Facebook last October. Cummings wrote of an initial encounter with Mr. X, who expressed interest in the 500 Club but lacked what Cummings said was the necessary evidence of progress. Cummings called himself "overly sympathetic" of the man's situation. Cummings described himself as maintaining sympathy, while rumors flew about him trying to discredit Mr. X. This was while Cummings embarked on a lengthy investigation into Mr. X's record attempt. It included nights of camping on the Incline, "a huge amount of time away from family," Cummings wrote, "lots of inconvenience and a significant amount of money." Baxter, the long-going Incline ambassador, says he asked Cummings to stop the investigation. "All it did was create sides," Baxter says, with some defending Mr. X's record claim and others supporting Cummings. In the end, people were left bitter. In the Facebook post, Cummings wrote of a conversation in which Mr. X asked for forgiveness and Cummings tried consoling him. Mr. X told The Gazette that he felt manipulated. "When I read that (Facebook post) I couldn't finish reading it," he said. "My heart was broken." Also, Cummings wrote of ugly comments made by Suarez and her "coddling" of Mr. X. Clear, too, at the time was Suarez's and Geissler's friendship. Later on Facebook, Suarez praised Geissler's record push on the Incline while Cummings and others criticized her for simultaneously taking shots at Jones. Suarez isn't around much anymore. Neither is Mr. X, Geissler says. "When he is, it's in the middle of the night." 'It breeds itself' Sanchez and Geissler crossed steps amid what could be called a fast and furious couple of years on the Incline. Just look at those record sheets on the Official Manitou Incline page. Of the 26 names listed in the all-time 500 Club Cummings was the first from 2011 half were added between 2021 and 2022. The same time has seen three of the five names added to the 1,000 Club. Other records have been logged in the past year: most climbs in a day; most climbs in a week; most climbs in a month; and the most "Inclinathons," a mark set by Jones, with 13 ascents in a row on 10 separate occasions in 2022. Cummings says his investigation into cheating last year was the catalyst for the committee. These years of ramped-up record chasing required some oversight and regulation, supporters say. Roger Austin disagrees. He's been listed in the 500 Club and 1,000 Club, recalling years he and Cummings traded records before Cummings settled the score with his 1,825 laps. That was the kind of friendly competition that some see as eroding on the Incline. "I messaged Greg," Austin says. "I said, 'I don't want to be in your 500 Club or your 1,000 Club or your Inclinathon Club, none of it. It's causing too many problems." Baxter says he declined Cummings' request to join the committee. "I could see where it was going," Baxter says. Competition can be healthy until it's not. It can be like a "snowball," building and rolling toward unintended consequences, explained a University of Colorado-Colorado Springs specialist last year as he observed the Incline record chasing. Said Dr. Andrew Subudhi, a self-described "recovering addict" of ultra running and chair of the school's Human Physiology and Nutrition Department: "You get involved with a group of people, and they're your friends and family, and your whole life revolves around these types of events. And it breeds itself." Some say Cummings needs to let go. "He has delusions of grandeur at times, and sometimes he thinks things are bigger than what they are," one longtime friend says. Says another, Gardner: "That club is an insiders and outsiders club. And if he tries to keep it running, it's going to continue to create these problems." Austin says he has his doubts. "He wants to be the Incline King." Cummings says nothing could be more foolish," adding: "We love having records broken. When the cheater took my record, I was all about congratulating him. Then I found out it was a bunch of falsehood. Finding things out has been a burden, he says. I have spent literally hundreds, hundreds of hours investigating each of these individuals and having conversations with people and meetings and on and on. And for what? I get headaches and people saying Im not fair and Im being mean and this and that. I am doing my absolute best at trying to keep this club solid and to keep the individuals in it as being the kind of individuals we want to be in it. All Cummings wants, he insists, is for things to go back to normal. He says he wants the Incline to be the happy, supportive place people have known it to be. And that's what it will be, he promises, when this Geissler and Sanchez situation is settled. But no matter what comes from court, the accuser and accused have individually spoken of a similar path forward. Similarly, they say, the Incline was a place of purpose and growth before it was a place of personal ruin. And both say they're thinking of leaving it behind. The Gazette's Zachary Dupont contributed to this report. The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a tornado warning for northwestern Crowley County and southeastern Pueblo County until 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. A severe thunderstorm was moving northeast and capable of producing a tornado. The storm was detected approximately 38 miles northeast of Pueblo, according to the Weather Service. The alert said radar for the storm indicated rotation. People were advised to take cover by moving to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoiding windows. Anyone outside or in a mobile home was advised to move to the closest substantial shelter and protect themself from flying debris. Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of El Paso, Pueblo and Crowley counties until 6:30 p.m. A flash flood warning for Pueblo County north of Pueblo remains in effect after local law enforcement reported street flooding and water rescues in areas with heavy rainfall due to thunderstorms. A hazardous weather outlook was issued at the start of Wednesday for Colorado Springs and surrounding areas due to the chances of hail, high winds, heavy rainfall, and the presence of dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning. A strong chance of showers and thunderstorms continues into Wednesday night and Thursday, mainly in the afternoon. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Lawyers are collecting sworn testimony in a federal discrimination and retaliation lawsuit that alleges Benton County violated the constitutional rights of a former health department employee. Libertad Equivel-Figueroa asserts the county violated the 14th Amendment when supervisors called them hypersensitive to gender issues, blocking them from a job and income, according to the lawsuit filed Oct. 14 in federal court in Eugene. Equivel-Figueroa began using they/them pronouns at some point after they were hired in September 2020 and legally changed their name by June of 2022, notifying Benton County. In their role, Equivel-Figueroa worked at sites helping clients test for COVID-19. The lawsuit also alleges the work environment was unsafe. Equivel-Figueroa complained to supervisors about ill-fitting protective equipment, arguing the county didnt have coverings and masks for bodies of all sizes, including theirs. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. The county also had Equivel-Figueroa working in an unventilated room at the height of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, according to the documents in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. They also complained about inclusivity, telling a supervisor the work environment could be more inclusive of queer history and people who speak Spanish. "Numerous employees" have complained to the county about discrimination against transgender employees and clients, the suit asserts. Benton County had never hired someone before Equivel-Figueroa, who is openly non-binary, according to court documents. The complaint alleges Lizdaly Cancel, a supervisor in the countys health clinics system, and Clinic Operations Deputy Director Carla Jones retaliated. Equivel-Figueroa's limited-term job was set to end in September 2022, according to court documents. Over the next two years, they applied to and were denied "numerous" other jobs at Benton County. In the complaint, attorneys for Equivel-Figueroa say Cancel in June 2022 moved to cancel or reschedule interviews for a health navigator position apparently in hopes the county wouldnt have to interview Equivel-Figueroa. Cancel reportedly told a hiring supervisor that Equivel-Figueroa will backstab you and say one thing to your face and something completely different behind your back, according to the complaint. They are going to cause a lot of problems, the plaintiff attorneys wrote in quoting Cancel. The hiring supervisor, Aron Rosenthal, was alarmed after Cancel said she would design second-round interview questions that would effectively disqualify Esquivel-Figueroa, according to the suit. Jones reportedly told Rosenthal that Equivel-Figueroa was someone who created conflicts where conflicts did not need to exist and that the county was very friendly to a diversity of employees, the complaint asserts. The document says Jones called Equivel-Figueroas employment disastrous and that they were hypersensitive to gender issues. Equivel-Figueroa is claiming Benton County, Cancel and Jones violated the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. "Plaintiff had a clearly established right to be free from unlawful discrimination based on gender identity, sex, and/or gender," the complaint reads. Equivel-Figueroa is seeking money to be determined by a jury for lost wages and to punish those named in the suit for humiliation, loss of dignity and self-esteem, and depression. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correctly identify who allegedly called Equivel-Figueroa's employment disastrous and said that they were hypersensitive to gender issues. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. "To bee or not to bee?" That's how one resident of dozens who showed up at the Brownsville City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 23 put it. Last month, Brownsville was "not to bee" when it enacted an emergency ordinance banning not only beekeeping within city limits but the social insects themselves. "Bees and beekeeping are not permitted in city limits," was the language presented in April. The council passed the prohibition, 5-1-1, with Councilor Trapper Solberg voting no. Though not obvious at the time, Councilor Dave Hansen clarified that he had abstained. But by the end of Tuesday's standing-room-only meeting, Brownsville leaders were once again Team "To Bee," rescinding the ordinance in response to overwhelming criticism. It was not on the agenda. Why the buzz? Last month, City Administrator Scott McDowell presented a proposed modification to the local farm animals law that would ban beekeeping because "we have people in our town who are deathly allergic to bees." He also noted that because many of the lots in Brownsville are so tiny, residential beekeepers could place the hives uncomfortably close to allergic neighbors. "It's a sticky wicket," he said. One that doesn't have much of a paper trail. A retired Brownsville employee, who had served in code enforcement and as city attorney and city planner, said he asked for any public records of bee complaints. Bill Sattler said he never heard any beef about bees when he was on duty. Speaking from the podium, Sattler told the councilors his records request came up empty, that McDowell had told him there was nothing in writing besides the sparse material included in the previous month's agenda packet. Earlier in the evening, McDowell said the requests to ban beekeeping were made in person. He added that just because the city has enacted a ban doesn't mean it intends to enforce it. "Alcohol is prohibited in the park. Is that a strict prohibition of alcohol in the park? Absolutely not," he said, citing weddings, anniversaries and romantic cheese-and-wine outings that may take place in city parks. "If they're firing up the grill and have a brew, great," McDowell said. The city would enforce the laws only if the behavior becomes disruptive. Swarming the chambers That wasn't reassurance enough for those who came to lodge their complaint about the ban. The sign on the door advises the council chambers' capacity is 49. Typically, the local government meetings attract an audience of 10, or 20 at best. Tuesday's crowd was around 60, bringing the total with councilors, city staff and media to some 70 people. Ralph Rodia, residential beekeeping liaison to the Oregon State Beekeepers Association, drove from Salem to urge the council to reconsider, especially in light of a state law passed in 2015. While it doesn't prevent beekeeping bans, the law encourages cities and counties to review their rules in accordance with beekeeping "best practices," as set forth by Oregon State University, the state's Department of Agriculture and beekeeping organizations, Rodia said. He urged Brownsville to follow in the steps of similarly-sized Hubbard in Marion County, which adopted the state guidelines. He also said the fear of bee stings is overstated. Yellow jackets and hornets are the ones attracted to human food and, because of their aggressive nature, are much more likely to sting. "Honeybees do not sting beekeepers or anyone else unless they are threatened," he said. Hive mentality? Resident Gary Shepherd was the only one who spoke in favor of the ban. He said he was speaking for a friend who could die if stung. He once was found prone in his yard after a sting, and now his heart is damaged. "He wants to stay living. He can really give a damn about the bees," Shepherd said. But others noted the council is acting like a big-government state or federal agency the council passed in December 2021 a resolution announcing it would resist any COVID-19-related mandates placed on employees by restricting the liberties of everyone in the name of health. Resident Steve Van Sandt reminded councilors of the "public's disgust of the authoritarian dictates of Salem." "It saddens me," said Jeana Graham, expressing similar thoughts, "that our little town has turned into a war zone. We all need the work of the honeybee." Nan Van Sandt took a turn at the podium, placing a jar of honey and some beeswax on it for all to see. She said God provided the earth and the bees for people to be good stewards of them. "Now I'm standing up for the bees. I don't want to lose them. Fear is a powerful motivator. We saw that during COVID," she said, adding that cats and dogs injure humans far more than bees, and no one is suggesting banning pets. A final sting Sattler, the former employee, was given extra time to address the council. Besides a lack of a paper trail leading up to the bee ban, he laid out several other concerns, including a potential violation of the city's charter. The charter says in order for an emergency ordinance to pass and by-pass the regular two-vote requirement, it needs to be unanimous, which didn't happen with the bee ban and other emergency motions. "This creates a huge potential legal liability for the city," Sattler said. "If I were charged under Ordinance 800 for aiding and abetting the presence of illegal bees in Brownsville and went to trial, only to find that the law didn't actually exist, I can assure you that the city's insurance company would be writing me a large check for damages. How many other ordinances are invalid?" Reached for comment on Wednesday, McDowell said he has not yet had a chance to consider Sattler's allegation. Editor's note: This article was edited to correct Councilor Dave Hansen's name. Related stories: Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Oregons environmental regulator has fined the state Department of Fish and Wildlife nearly $17,000 after managers at a fish hatchery in Benton County made no effort to keep silt from entering the North Fork Alsea River. The pollution came from work to stabilize stream banks. The state Department of Environmental Quality asserts that workers near Alsea Hatchery in August 2022 didnt deploy floating booms and in-stream curtains to contain sediment kicked up in the stabilization project, about .25 miles upstream from the hatchery that would've kept the river clear. Someone filed a complaint with the state environmental agency around two weeks later, on Aug. 26, 2022, about increased cloudiness in the water near Alsea Hatchery, according to an April 11 civil penalty order. The fish and wildlife agency was supposed to install large, heavy bags in the Alsea River to temporarily dam off targeted stream banks and isolate work from the active flowing stream. By failing to install a cofferdam, respondent avoided spending approximately $11,870 on sand bags, an environmental compliance official wrote in the order. Stabilization work at a second site was to be done in dry conditions, in line with a project plan put in place to comply with the U.S. Clean Water Act. In its certification of the project, Department of Environmental Quality stipulated the Department of Fish and Wildlife had to isolate in-water work and monitor the river every two hours while working for turbidity, or how loaded with sediment the water is, which determines how clear the water is. Hatchery crews were to log turbidity, otherwise any work was prohibited if it caused the river to exceed 10% more turbidity than normal. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. In September 2022, the environment department asked for the wildlife departments daily turbidity logs. But Fish and Wildlife did not measure or record turbidity data. The department instead provided a written summary that explained crews did stabilization work in-water, without barriers. DEQ fined Fish and Wildlife $3,000 for twice breaking certification conditions, each a Class I violation of the Clean Water Act under state law. Another $12,030 was levied for the estimated costs saved by flouting rules. Oregon constructed Alsea Hatchery in 1936, where the state incubates and rears rainbow and steelhead trout. A voicemail left for hatchery manager Matt Frank, named as a respondent in the penalty order, was not returned by deadline. Related stories: Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SIOUX CITY Two days after declaring his 2024 candidacy for president, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott was in Sioux City on Wednesday morning for his first official campaign stop in Iowa. A Republican in his third term, Scott visited Siouxland Christian on Gordon Drive and toured the facilities with school faculty before holding a roundtable discussion with the staff about school safety, educational savings accounts, his own upbringing and systemic racism. Scott arrived just before 9:30 a.m. and started off talking with Siouxland Christian Principal Katie Trimble and others about the "great job" Gov. Kim Reynolds has done when it comes to education. Later, during the chat with staffers, the 57-year-old Charleston Southern University grad, talked about Iowa as a leader on "school choice" and said an overhaul of the country's educational system has been a long time coming. "For the school choice movement, the seeds have been planted over years and years and years," he said. "It's going to be fun to watch how the country changes because of quality education." The education section of Scott's 2024 campaign website mentions his work on the "CHOICE Act" which he has said would ensure "parents have the tools to find a school that can effectively serve their childs needs and grants flexibility and support to parents with disabled children." That portion of the site is headlined "Education, not indoctrination" and says "Extreme liberals are letting big labor bosses trap millions of kids in failing systems." (A 2019 study by Eunice S. Han and Thomas N. Maloney in the "Labor Studies Journal" found that there is a positive relationship between teachers unions and student test scores.) To bring more teachers to understaffed schools, Scott said one possible solution may be to have some measure of student loan debt forgiveness for those entering the educational workforce. However, Scott said he was not in favor of President Joe Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 of debt for tens of millions of Americans and then accused the federal government of not thinking about outcomes and only focusing on doling out money. "If we're thinking about outcomes, we're probably on the right track," he said. In the same portion of the chat, Siouxland Christian Superintendent Lindsay Laurich said "I think it's going to take an innovative mindset to solve some of these problems." Safety and Education Secretary While chatting with Laurich, Trimble, and other school personnel, Scott was asked about his work on school safety. "After Uvalde, (we) put together legislation that would provide around $38 billion of additional resources to make sure we have safer schools, safer kids, safer communities," Scott said. "Focusing on the tragedies around the country and responding to them effectively and positively, by providing the resources for communities to make the best decisions that they can to protect their kids, not having a one-size-fits-all (approach) come down from the federal government." In the wake of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which happened on May 24, 2022 and left 22 dead, Congress passed a "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" to "toughen background checks for the youngest gun buyers, keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people adjudicated to be dangerous" (according to the Associated Press). Scott was not one of the 15 Republicans to vote "yea" on the bill. When asked what he would look for in a potential Secretary of Education for his presidential administration, Scott said he'd like to see a person who doesn't "target" charter schools and advocates for students rather than "indoctrinates" them. "Indoctrination" and discrimination The notion of young people being "indoctrinated" or led toward certain beliefs came up more than once in Scott's time at the Siouxland Christian campus. Early in his remarks, he said "If we don't start teaching kids that all things are possible, don't be surprised when they buy into the drug of victimhood." Though he didn't officially take questions from the press, as the chat was drawing to a close, Scott was asked by a media member if he had a comment on Joy Behar of "The View" saying he didn't understand systemic racism. "I've been discriminated against, without any question, though America is not a racist country," said Scott, who is the first Black senator from South Carolina in the state's history and the first Black American to win a U.S. Senate race in the South since 1881. "What I will say though is: What is insane and dangerous are the liberal elites making millions of dollars a year trying to indoctrinate our kids that the only way to be successful in this country as a child of color is to be the exception. That is a lie, without any question, and it's a dangerous lie." That's magic To kick off the chat in the first grade classroom at Siouxland Christian, Scott talked about how important education was to him. "The closest thing to magic in America is a quality education. As a kid, I attended four different elementary schools by the fourth grade. And being raised in a single-parent household, mired in poverty, the one thing I can tell you is that finding the right place for your kid is really hard when you're moving a lot," Scott said. "As that kid, without a father around, the pain, the misery and the distractions outside of the classroom, sometimes you have to build boundaries and borders within the classroom to help a kid have a very health experience. Walking through this school and looking at that stage in the multipurpose gymnasium room, I'm just remembering the teachers that had incredible impact on my life." At 6:30 p.m., Scott held an event at Novelty Machine & Supply Co. (1635 Zenith Drive) in Sioux City. Scott's visit came the same day as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officially filed paperwork to launch his 2024 bid for the White House. As of now, in national polls for the Republican primary, Scott is behind DeSantis, as well as former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. On Saturday, May 13, DeSantis made a stop at the Dean Classic Car Museum in Sioux Center, Iowa as the keynote speaker for the third annual Feenstra Family Picnic. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Minnesota man pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual abuse in Winnebago County District Court last week. According to court records, 18-year-old Kody Walter Roth of Bricelyn, Minn., is facing up to 50 years in prison. The plea agreement calls for the state to recommend an indeterminate prison term not to exceed 25 years on each count to run consecutive to one another. The state will also agree to not recommend a mandatory minimum sentence. The charges stem from the accusation Roth abused a 10-year-old child in Rake, Iowa, when he was around 15 years old. According to the plea agreement document, the abuse allegedly took place from 2019 and 2020. An interview with Roth and the alleged victim's Child Protective Services interview recollection of the incidents matched, according to the original affidavit. Roth was originally charged with seven counts of second-degree sex abuse. A sentencing hearing has been set for July 18. The court is not required to follow the sentencing recommendations filed in the plea agreement. North Iowa History: The kids are all right Cheerleaders Caps and gowns Central School marble play Cheerleaders Comic burning Commercial class Driving instruction Grant Valentines Gym class Harding School hobbies Hooverkinder High school sales course High School students Industrial class Knitting hoover kids first day of school High School car check NIACC biology lab NIACC building. Madison Art for Leisure Time Madison art objects. School bus in car wash. Kids jump rope Roosevelt Elementary, kids make jelly Tetherball Madison Madison 6th MCHS LIBRARY McKinley 1st grade McKinley classroom McKinley Play Playground2 McKinley School child McKinley war stamps Monroe Cafe Monroe classroom Monroe manual arts Monroe pool Monroe teacher Playground Act Safety Patrol School board School nurse Sewing class Vaccinations Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DES MOINES, Iowa Footage from body cameras Des Moines police officers were wearing when they shot and killed a 16-year-old boy will not be made public, a state panel has ruled. The Iowa Public Information Board ruled May 18 that video of the shooting should be withheld, dismissing a complaint filed by Des Moines TV station KCCI that sought to have the video released. Trevontay Jenkins was killed in the Dec. 26 shooting in an apartment. Prosecutors have linked his death to a Jan. 23 shooting at the Starts Right Here alternative school in Des Moines that left two teenagers dead and the programs founder injured. Disparaging comments about Jenkins surfaced online following the police shooting, which prosecutors say led Jenkin's half brother and another teen to kill 16-year-old Rashad Carr and 18-year-old Gionni Dameron. Bravon Tukes, 19, and Preston Walls, 18, have been charged with first-degree murder and other counts for the killings. The two will be tried separately later this year. The Iowa Public Information board dismissed the complaint filed by KCCI-TV reporter James Stratton on the basis of Iowas juvenile records law, according to the station. City attorneys had previously denied the stations records request filed with the Des Moines Police Department. Stratton argued the video should be released because Jenkins did not enter the criminal justice system, and said the department could remove identifying information from the video, according to the Des Moines Register. Three police officers fired more than a dozen times after the boy allegedly pointed a gun at them. Officers were dispatched to the home to respond to a domestic dispute and have said they tried unsuccessfully to de-escalate the situation. The Iowa Attorney Generals office determined the officers acted with legal justification. In the United States, adults who don't graduate high school earn on average 35% less than adults who do graduate high school. No other industrialized nation has such a severe earnings gap; adults without a HS diploma typically earn about 80 percent of the salaries earned by high school graduates in nations across Asia, Europe and elsewhere. These figures clearly indicate that American high schools are the world's best at teaching advanced skills to their students.Each of the following statements, if true, weaken the author's claim EXCEPT:A. Of all the industrialized nations, the United States has the lowest proportion of specialized tradesmen, people who often lack high school diplomas yet earn high salaries for their skills.B. Due to recent global changes, in many newly industrialized nations advances in education precede advances in business infrastructure, resulting in a disparity between skilled employees and the jobs which would require these skills.C. Unlike in the United States, in certain other industrialized nations it is possible for a student to attend a university without earning a high school diploma.D. A survey of sixth graders around the world revealed that children in North America spend, on average, fewer hours per week studying than do their counterparts in Europe.E. The unemployment rate for adults in the United States who didn't finish high school is significantly higher than the rate for their counterparts in most other industrialized nations._________________ Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A Blue Ridge PBS television series recorded in Danville has been nominated for an Emmy award. Brandon Adams, who executive produces The Life of A Musician with his wife Mindy, will head to Bethesda, Maryland, next month for the ceremony that will be held June 24. The shows first season, which was recorded at various homes and businesses last year, included 13 episodes and debuted last fall. Adams, a musician who hosts the series and performs with artists on the show, found out it was nominated when he received a call from its director, Jacob Dellinger, the night of May 18. Adams couldnt believe what he heard. It was just kind of surreal, like this isnt real, he said Tuesday afternoon. Like someones pranking you. The show has been nominated in the Best Interview and Content Series category, he said. Adams, his wife Mindy and his step-daughter will be attending the Emmy Awards ceremony, he said. Were stoked, Adams said. I can always say for the rest of my life, at least Im an Emmy nominee. The locations where the episodes were recorded made the show cool, he said. The television series takes viewers behind the scenes for conversations and stories from musical artists known around the world. It features songs performed live on the show. Episodes from season one were recorded in historic homes, a historically renovated hotel The Bee Hotel at South Union Street downtown and other businesses including Crema & Vine coffee shop and wine bar and The Dog-Eared Page bookstore. Emmys are awarded for artistic and technical achievements in television. A second season of The Life of A Musician is being recorded in Danville. The first seasons episodes can be viewed at www.thelifeofamusician.com. The series also has pages on Facebook and Instagram. Episodes feature performers including John Jorgenson, Sammy Shelor, Larry Cordle, Kristy Cox and other musicians. The second season will air weekly on Blue Ridge Public Television in the region starting sometime in October and end in March. Musical artists to be featured for the second season include Jenee Fleenor, Lauren Mascitti, Roy Book Binder, Redd Volkaert, Aoife ODonovan, Darren and Brooke Aldridge, Zach Top, Tim OBrien and John Cowan. Film Fund Luxembourg and Screen Ireland the national agency for the development, production and distribution of Irish film are delighted to open applications for the Ireland/Luxembourg Co-Development Fund at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Originally announced in 2019, the Co-Development Fund is an incentive for feature film and television projects written and/or directed by filmmakers who identify as female or non-binary. Film Fund Luxembourg (from left to right) Eimear Markey, Development Manager at Screen Ireland ; Guy Daleiden, CEO Film Fund Luxembourg Film Fund Luxembourg (from left to right) Eimear Markey, Development Manager at Screen Ireland ; Guy Daleiden, CEO Film Fund Luxembourg Film Fund Luxembourg Irish and Luxembourgish audiovisual professionals during the event The initiative aims to improve the representation of female and non-binary filmmakers across the screen industry, in both Ireland and Luxembourg. 120.000 will be allocated to the fund for 2023 on a 50/50 basis from both funding bodies. Eimear Markey, Development Manager at Screen Ireland, said: "At Screen Ireland, along with our partners in Film Fund Luxembourg, we're delighted to open applications for the Ireland/Luxembourg Co-Development Fund. The Cannes Film Festival was where we announced plans for this collaboration back in 2019 and we're delighted that applications are now open. The fund is an important initiative in continuing to support European partnerships, and we especially hope this ensures both female and non-binary voices from both Ireland and Luxembourg are given a fresh opportunity to tell authentic and original stories close to their hearts." For the 2023 iteration of this scheme, applications are encouraged from projects that engage with new, emerging, and underrepresented voices. In addition, the incentive will continue to foster co-operation, strengthen production ties and build on the success of recent co-productions between Luxembourg and Ireland, including feature films Mammal, A Greyhound of a Girl, Never Grow Old, Wolfwalkers and Two by Two: Overboard! Guy Daleiden, CEO at Film Fund Luxembourg: "Film Fund Luxembourg is delighted to renew this call for projects with our long-standing partners at Screen Ireland. We strongly believe that by focusing on collaboration at development stage we can nurture strong professional relations between Luxembourg and Ireland that will benefit both our industries in the long term. The co-development fund also ties in with our objective to make our industry more diverse and strive for good balance and representation in the international co-productions we support." The fund is part of Screen Ireland and Film Fund Luxembourg's ongoing commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion, with particular support for female filmmakers and improving gender equity across key creative roles in the industry. Screen Ireland has previously launched schemes for female filmmakers, including POV, which has supported feature films from female creative teams that has seen success at the Toronto International Film Festival, SXSW and the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards in recent years. Screen Ireland and Film Fund Luxembourg also both contribute to the New Dawn international co-production fund to improve representation in the industry. The Ireland/Luxembourg Co-Development Scheme will support projects with a maximum combined contribution of 40.000 per project involving producers from Ireland and Luxembourg and allow them to access development funding in both countries. A selection committee, composed of representatives from Film Fund Luxembourg and Screen Ireland and potential external experts, will assess the submitted projects. Applications are now open, and the closing date to submit projects is Monday, 2nd October, 2023. Press release by Film Fund Luxembourg and Screen Ireland Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. GREENSBORO Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont hosted an annual meeting in late April where volunteer Tyffany Fugitt of Eden received the national Appreciation Award. The Appreciation Award recognizes a registered Girl Scout adult who has delivered outstanding service to at least one geographic area or program delivery audience. Fugitt has served as a Girl Scout volunteer in the Rockingham/Caswell area for two years. As the Service Unit Specialist, Fugitt makes sure that both girls and adults are engaged in the Girl Scout program. Scout leaders said her ability to get girls involved in the planning of events and programs makes her area girl-led and welcoming for other members to join the organization. Our volunteers play a critical part in delivering our mission to the girls throughout our council area, said CEO of GSCP2P, Jennifer Wilcox. With their dedication and leadership, they are helping us teach girls lifelong skills, building their confidence to try new things and instilling in them a desire to serve others and their communities. And the same can be said of the volunteers- they also grow so much by being a part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. To learn more about GSCP2P, you can visit www.girlscoutsp2p.org. Questions about volunteering or Girl Scouting in your local area can be directed to info@girlscoutsp2p.org or 800-672-2148. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. RALEIGHInsurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey recently announced that the Northwest Rockingham County Fire Protection Association, Inc., was awarded a $25,383.92 grant through the states 2023 Volunteer Fire Department Fund. The funds will be used by Fire Chief Thomas M. Cardwell and his department to purchase needed equipment, the insurance department said in a news release. The department will also use matching funds for large equipment purchases. Matching funds must be approved by the Department of Insurance Office of the State Fire Marshal. Fire and rescue organizations protect our communities large and small across North Carolina, but sometimes their budgets dont grow with their responsibilities, Causey said. Our emergency service personnel should be supported with the best equipment and supplies needed to do their jobs correctly and safely. I know the Northwest Rockingham County Fire Protection Association, Inc., will use this money to serve their community even better, Causey said. Thank you, Chief Thomas M Cardwell, for all of your hard work and thanks to your dedicated staff. Northwest Rockingham County Fire Protection Association, Inc. has received a total of $342,204.29 from the Volunteer Fire Department Fund in the past 35 years since the program began. The General Assembly created the fund in 1988 to help volunteer units raise money for equipment and supplies. The grant funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar for an amount approved for up to $30,000, unless the department receives less than $50,000 per year from municipal and county funding. In that case the applicant shall match $1 for each $3 of grant funds up to $30,000. Since the programs inception, the Department of Insurance has distributed $167,334,075.94 to volunteer fire departments across North Carolina. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Rockingham Community College presented its highest award, the Outstanding Student Award, to Kylee Rieger during the colleges May 12 graduation ceremony. Each year, faculty nominate students for the award who have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.25. A committee of faculty then selects and interviews finalists, with the recipient chosen after careful consideration. Kylees nominations, including my own, highlighted her ability to maintain a 4.0 grade point average all the while taking on a host of leadership roles on campus including serving as president of RCCs Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter, vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA), and president of RCCs Book Club. When I asked Kylee about her initial reactions surrounding the award she said, It was disbelief almostI tried not to get my hopes up too much, but when I found out, I was beyond excited! Those who have been fortunate enough to meet Kylee at RCC share in her excitement. Before coming to RCC, a life in academia was not one she had planned to pursue. From the age of 3 to 17, Kylee trained to be a professional ballet dancer, spending her last two years of study at the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. After COVID-19 swept through 2020, her dance career ended. In her words, The magic of dance was gone, having danced on Zoom for a year. I tried so many things even skateboarding! I thought I was better at the physical things. As it turns out, Kylee is good at many things. Kylees mom suggested trying courses at RCC. As a Greensboro resident, Kylee had access to several schools but RCC seemed like the best fit. I often wonder what would have happened if I had not gone to RCC, Kylee said. I think that I wouldnt be as confident in my studies as I am, for sure. Having taught Kylee in two literature courses at RCC, its hard for me to believe she would ever struggle with confidence and self-doubt. I first met Kylee in Spring of 2022 at the start of her internship in Technology Support Services an internship she earned after winning first place in the 2021 RCC Student Essay Competition. She had come to my office to connect my computer to the network printer. Right away, she introduced herself and said that she looked forward to studying literature with me during her tenure at RCC. A year later in my classes she excelled, conducting graduate-level research and literary analyses through complex critical lenses. When we discussed her experiences in American, English, and Spanish Literature, Kylee said, Once I started taking literature I learned how to approach texts how to examine imagery and social and cultural contexts. Everyone is made up of experiences the people they meet and the things they have done. All the lessons I have learned in my literature classes I will use forever. I truly admire Kylees approach to learning and her drive to succeed, and I am not alone. She is well-respected around campus. Asked to reflect on any challenges she faced at RCC, she said, I went to office hours, I asked lots of questions. I had to get over the imposter syndrome that I was just a dancer. Getting over that and fighting off the voices in my head telling me to doubt myself was the biggest challenge but theres so much encouragement here and support that its really hard to listen to it. For all the encouragement Kylee has received at RCC, she has given back tenfold. Apart from internship and leadership roles on campus she also worked as a writing tutor, helping others to find joy in the writing process. For Kylee, tutoring a student over eight weeks during RCCs summer semester was what really solidified her future plans to pursue English Literature in higher education: After I helped her on her final paper, I really wanted to know how it wentI was so curious. I just happened to run into her on campus in Fall and she told me that she got an A. That was a special moment and I felt like it was a win for both of us. The impact Kylee has had on the campus community will endure she leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire others. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Maverik Inc. has been issued a permit to build a $4.9 million convenience store and gasoline station in south Helena, according to city records. According to the company's website it appears Helena would be Maveriks first Montana store. The Maverik Convenience Store and Gas Station is proposed for 4.6 acres at 3196 Colonial Drive, near the roundabout at Colonial and Saddle drives and by the South Helena interchange at Interstate 15. Plans filed with the city of Helena call for a building area of 5,951 square feet and 15 gasoline pumps. Maverik officials did not return queries seeking comment. The permit was issued April 21, according to the city of Helenas website. The job value was listed as $4,948,975. Elizabeth Sorenson, permitting project manager at Maverik Inc., was the applicant. Crew General Contractors was listed as the builder. It was not immediately known if or when construction would start. They are ready to go as far as we are concerned, Kimberley Mack, chief building official in the city of Helenas Community Development Departments building division. They have been through all of its reviews so when they start is kind of up to them, she said. Salt Lake City-based Maverik has more than 400 locations across 12 western states, making it the largest independent fuel marketer in the Intermountain West, the company says on its website. Those states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The company started in 1928, when 20-year-old Reuel Call opened a two-pump gas station in Afton, Wyoming, with money he earned from renting roller skates. Chuck Maggelet is listed on the website as president and "Chief Adventure Guide." The website states the company is "family-owned, financed, and operated (no franchising)" and "is a generous community partner proud to give back, currently focused on impacting local huger, education, and outdoor enrichment." Maverik stores closest to Helena are Cody, Sheridan and Gillette, Wyoming, and Coeur dAlene in Idaho, according to the company website. The building permit issued to Maverik comes in the wake of reports of Butte-based Town Pump expanding its presence with its gasoline stations, convenience stores and casinos in Helena and East Helena. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Per a January resolution, Lake County was set to withdraw from a law enforcement agreement between the state and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on Friday. However, due to a pending lawsuit and after the governor vetoed key legislation, county commissioners on Thursday voted unanimously to extend the effective date of the withdrawal, essentially leaving the question of who is responsible for funding the agreement up to the court to decide. What is this about? Since 1963, Lake County law enforcement has collaborated with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes under Public Law 280. Lake County has alleged that the state has never reimbursed the county for providing criminal jurisdiction on the Flathead Reservation, and citing concerns from taxpayers, who voted to withdraw from the agreement in January. The withdrawal was set to take effect May 25, which commissioners said they hoped would give the Legislature time to find a solution. Several bills this session aimed to provide solutions to the problem, but two died and Gov. Greg Gianforte last week vetoed one that wouldve reimbursed the county. If the county were to withdraw from the agreement on Friday, the governor would have six months to issue a proclamation acknowledging it. The withdrawal would have consequences for the state, county and tribes. If the county were to leave the agreement, the state would assume jurisdiction over the Flathead Reservation and would likely need to provide a police force, detention center and court facilities, which Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, estimated could cost the state more than $100 million. While the governors veto frustrated commissioners, they made clear in their Thursday meeting that an ongoing lawsuit may provide the best path forward. Lake County in July sued the state, alleging the state should reimburse the county and pay for past services rendered. Attorneys for the state of Montana in December submitted a motion to dismiss, alleging the countys claim fails, in part, because Montana law authorizes the requirement that Lake County be responsible for the costs it now seeks to avoid. And earlier this month, the court issued an order in response, denying one count of the states motion to dismiss. There will be an in-chambers rule on July 19 at 8:30 a.m. at the Flathead County Courthouse. The tribes have not officially taken a stance on the issue. What happened at the commission meeting? Commissioners in the meeting approved a resolution that would delay the withdrawal until a decision is made in court. Lance Jasper, an attorney representing the county, said the lawsuit is needed because ultimately, we still need to know the answer of who is financially responsible for carrying out Public Law 280. Several in the meeting expressed frustration with the governor. Jasper said by vetoing a bill that wouldve reimbursed the county, Gianforte overrides our hard work. Im disappointed, yes, Jasper said. Surprised? Not really. Lake County Sheriff Don Bell spoke highly of the local law enforcement and said Public Law 280 works well when funded properly. We dont want to get rid of Public Law 280, he said, adding that if the county were to prematurely withdraw from the agreement, the county could experience lawlessness. Some who spoke during the public comment period expressed skepticism that Public Law 280 is effective and were hesitant to leave the situation at the mercy of the court. Jasper explained that if the county were to withdraw now, the state could re-raise a motion to dismiss for lack of standing. And thats what we dont want, he said. We want to make sure we get a legal decision. Commissioners explained that if the judge ultimately rules that the state is not required to reimburse Lake County, then the county will send a letter to the governor formally withdrawing from the agreement. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Snowmelt causes soggy start to summer; sites remain closed Memorial Day weekend typically coincides with the opening of many of campgrounds and day use areas across the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. This year, rapid snowmelt caused a few sites to go underwater. Deep Creek Picnic Area experienced substantial damage from a spring runoff event that pushed river debris all the way out to the access road, District Ranger Aaron Webber said. We now have a closure order in place for it and will reopen it as soon as it is safe to do so, he said. A copy of the closure order for Deep Creek Picnic Area is available on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest under alerts and notices. Other sites impacted by water include Moose Creek and Jumping Creek campgrounds that will both be opened once the water recedes. Visitors traveling to the forest this summer can get the latest information on the status of campgrounds, trails and other developed recreational sites by calling our front offices. Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/hlcnf/about-forest/contactus to find a list of our offices. Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/hlcnf/recreation for the most up-to-date information about our campground and developed rec-site statues. Follow us on Facebook @HLCNF or Twitter @LewisandClarkNF for the latest updates. -- Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Montana trail grant awards out for 2023 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said 31 trail organizations, communities and various land-managing agencies throughout the state will receive Montana Trail Stewardship Grant Program (MTSGP) grant awards for their projects in 2023. Fifty-one MTSGP applications were received this year. Applicants included federal and state agencies, towns, cities, counties, private clubs and nonprofit organizations. The MTSGP current awards nearly $955,000 in state funds. Grants funds are allocated to the highest-scoring projects based upon their relative scores and State Trails Advisory Committee (STAC) recommendations. FWP administers the MTSGP, a program funded through a portion of Montanas light motor vehicle registration fee and from the taxation of recreational marijuana. The program provides grant funding for trail and trail-related projects across the state. Eligible projects include development and rehabilitation work on urban, rural and backcountry trails; construction of community trails; and snowmobile and cross-country ski trail maintenance and grooming operations. A list of the successful 2023 MTSGP grant recipients is available at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/grant-programs/trail-stewardship; click on 2023 Grant Application Cycle. For more information, contact FWP recreation and trails coordinator Tom Lang, tom.lang@mt.gov. -- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Great Falls Family Fishing Day is June 3 Families can kick off their summer of outdoor activities by attending the Great Falls Family Fishing Day event scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon June 3, at Wadsworth Pond Park in Great Falls. The event is typically the largest fishing clinic in the state and features short educational stations on fish identification, knot tying, casting, and fly tying, followed by open fishing for all who attend. Youth who take part and complete all education stations are eligible for a rod/reel fishing outfit donated by the Great Falls Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited (limited supplies). After the event ends, youth and adults may stay at the pond and continue to fish until sunset on June 4 without a fishing license, as a condition of the educational license exemption provided for the event by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Family Fishing Day is a cooperative effort to teach basic fishing skills and encourage participation in the outdoors by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks along with volunteers and support from Montana Walleyes Unlimited, Montana Trout Unlimited, Sun River Watershed Group, City of Great Falls Parks and Recreation Department, and Red Horse Squadron at Malmstrom AFB. For more information, contact the Great Falls FWP Region 4 Office at 406-454-5840. -- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Public land panel to meet June 1 The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee will meet 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 1 at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks headquarters and via Zoom. The 13-member advisory committee, appointed by the governor, is charged with reviewing FWPs access programs and offering recommendations to help achieve program goals and maintaining good relations between hunters and landowners. The meeting will be streamed live on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/plpw, where you can also find more information on the committee and a full agenda. A Zoom link will be posted closer to the date of the meeting. To make a public comment via Zoom, you must register on the FWP website by noon on May 31. FWP headquarters is at 1420 E. 6th Ave. in Helena. -- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Glacier National Park, FWP looking at grizzly bear trends Glacier National Park is participating in an interagency effort led by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to monitor grizzly bear population trends in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem using bait stations, automated cameras, and traps to capture and monitor grizzly bears inside the park. The park attempts to maintain a sample of up to 10 radio-marked female grizzly bears of an estimated population of 300 grizzly bears living in the park. Trapping efforts will continue at various locations throughout Glacier National Park May-October. Bait stations and trap sites will be marked with brightly colored warning signs. Visitors are urged to heed these signs and not enter areas closed for baiting or trapping. In 2010, a man was killed by a grizzly east of Yellowstone National Park after he wandered into a capture site. The warning signs are for visitors protection to avoid dangerous human-bear interactions. -- Glacier National Park Celebrate Trails Day by volunteering Celebrate National Trails Day by volunteering at a pair of local state parks in early June. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is hosting a pair of events on Saturday, June 3. Teams will tackle trail maintenance activities, including pulling noxious weeds and fixing damaged sections of trails, at Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell and the Wild Horse Island Unit of Flathead Lake State Park. Tools will be provided. Registration is required for each event. For more information and to register for the Wild Horse Island event, call (406) 837-3041, Ext. 0. For more info and to register for the Lone Pine event, call (406) 755-2706, Ext. 4, or email miranda.boyd@mt.gov. Lunch will be provided by the Kalispell Daybreak Rotary at the Lone Pine event, which is co-hosted by Foy's to Blacktail Trails. A ride to Wild Horse Island will be provided to volunteers. National Trails Days is on the first Saturday in June each year to celebrate trails. -- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Glacier National Park taking comment on trout Glacier National Park is seeking public comment by June 14 on an environmental assessment proposing westslope cutthroat and bull trout preservation in Gunsight Lake. The EA is available for public review and comment for 30 days on the National Park Service (NPS) Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/GunsightLake. Glacier National Park is proposing to remove non-native rainbow trout from Gunsight Lake and establish the lake as secure habitat for native westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout. Action is needed to remove the risk of hybridization to downstream native westslope cutthroat trout, provide westslope cutthroat and bull trout with habitat that is secure from the threats of hybridization and climate change, and support native trout genetics throughout the St. Mary River drainage. Under the proposal, non-native rainbow trout would be removed from Gunsight Lake using an EPA registered and approved fish toxicant, rotenone. While rotenone degrades naturally with sunlight and water movement, detoxification would be hastened with a neutralizing agent. The neutralizing agent, potassium permanganate, is widely used for the treatment of municipal drinking water and wastewater. Both rotenone and potassium permanganate would dissipate with no detectable long-term changes to water quality. Project activities would begin early September with application in late summer or early fall to reduce the likelihood of non-target organisms being present. Native fish, including westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout, are not currently present in Gunsight Lake. The treatment area and Gunsight Pass Trail would be temporarily closed to the public during rotenone application. The Gunsight Lake wilderness campground would be closed to camping Sept. 1 until spring. Following the removal of the non-native rainbow trout, genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout would be translocated into Gunsight Lake, likely by helicopter. In 2019, Glacier National Park in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Glacier National Park Conservancy undertook a similar project in the Camas Creek drainage removing non-native Yellowstone cutthroat trout from Camas and Evangeline Lakes and translocating native westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout to both lakes. The EA evaluates impacts to westslope cutthroat trout; bull trout; amphibians; aquatic macroinvertebrates; zooplankton; grizzly bears; common loons and other water birds; water quality; recommended wilderness; natural soundscapes; and visitor use and experience. Comments can be posted on the NPS PEPC website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/GunsightLake or sent by mail to Superintendent, Glacier National Park, Attn: Gunsight Lake EA, P.O. Box 128, West Glacier, Montana, 59936. -- Glacier National Park Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DECATUR The Decatur Area Habitat for Humanity organization believes housing is the gift that keeps on giving. And it was hard to argue the point on Wednesday afternoon in the 1600 block of East Cantrell Street at a ground-breaking ceremony for what will become Habitats 70th house built in the city. Jim Romano, the founder and CEO of construction firm Romano Company, built an existing Habitat house next door in the same neighborhood, a gift worth more than $100,000. That earned him a $50,000 tax credit which he gave right back to Habitat as the seed money for what will become the 70th home. The rest of the cost needed to make it happen $50,000 was kicked with $25,000 donations each from United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois and the Community Foundation of Macon County, the first time those two organizations have supported a joint project together. The 70th Habitat house, covering 1,100 square feet with three bedrooms and 1 baths, should be all done six months from now. It will welcome a needy family willing to kick in 300 hours of sweat equity to help build the home and that family will pay off a no interest mortgage to make it their own. Decatur Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Ed Smith said sometimes he meets would-be donors who say why give to a group that only manages to build one house at a time? His answer is that the creation of a permanent, comfortable and safe place to call home pays community benefits that keep building and building. Almost any study you look at will tell you that housing is the best thing to combat food insecurity, safety issues and to promote good outcomes for educational purposes for families, Smith said. Housing is the number one factor in all of that and what we do at Habitat is to provide families an opportunity for home ownership. He said another question potential donors ask is whether Habitat ends up having to take its houses back from people who cant make the payments. The answer, he said, is nearly always no. He said hes been with Habitat for seven years and seen 20 mortgages paid off in just that time. Our clients become homeowners, they are invested and they are normally hard-working and paying off their houses is their goal in life, he added. Phil Romano, Jim Romanos son and Decatur Area Habitat for Humanity Board president, said he followed the lead of his father, who realized that Habitat was building a solid future for all the community. My father has been very good about donating to specific causes and Habitat is one that hes gotten very involved with and hes just wanted to stay involved, Romano said. Photos: Habitat for Humanity's 1st 3D-printed home Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DECATUR The Decatur Public Schools Board of Education is moving forward with an administrator transfer after an attempt to rescind it by two board members. An action item to rescind the boards previous vote approving the transfer of an assistant principal from Hope Academy to Montessori Academy for Peace was requested by board members Kevin Collins-Brown and Al Scheider. The assistant principal in question was later identified by Collins-Brown as Benjamin West. His transfer was approved by a majority of members after heated discussion during the May 9 board meeting. That particular person, Ben West, did reach out to me personally prior to the meeting last week, begging not to be moved, as did several teachers, as Al (Scheider) said, said Collins-Brown. And so that's why we had asked to rescind this. Both Collins-Brown and Scheider asked the board to rescind the vote and discuss the potential transfer further at a future meeting. I've never seen such a strong support from staff for administrators that they would like to keep working with, said Scheider. And when you have a significant number of staff who worked with that assistant principal, you know, practically begging us to keep them working with them, they feel they've got a really strong K-2 program really progressing in a school that has struggled. I don't see how we can ignore their pleas for help. But board Vice President Jason Dion said the administrator was already given the chance to turn down his transfer. This person is moving to the school because they accepted a job offer, right? Dion asked Superintendent Rochelle Clark. Clark said that was correct, and added that the administrator was given three separate opportunities to say yes or no to the offer. And it would be, obviously, safe to assume that if they said yes three times that they did want to leave, Dion said. Despite what was at times heated discussion, the motion to rescind the vote ultimately failed. Bill Clevenger, Alana Banks, Mark Reynolds and Dion voted against the rescission. Only Collins-Brown and Scheider voted in favor of it. Will Wetzel abstained. The board later approved two measures allowing the district to send principals and assistant principals to two professional development conferences this year. The measures faced some pushback and failed to pass during the May 9 meeting. Costs to send 10 administrators to each conference would be between $44,000 to $83,000 for one and $39,000 for the other. The expenses will be covered by carryover grant money that will have to be returned to the state if not used by Aug. 31. Board President Clevenger said the trainings will prove beneficial for the districts administrations. It's an opportunity for our staff to attend a training at Harvard. And let's stress Harvard University, Clevenger said. I think these, at least one of these trainings that we're going to talk about is an opportunity for our staff to engage with urban directors from all across the United States and build these relationships with other organizations that they can share information with, share best practices with. The measures passed nearly unanimously, with all board members but Scheider voting in favor. Scheider said he would be voting no because he asked for information that I've not received. Clark disputed this, leading to a brief disagreement between the two. The two conferences will take place from July 9 to July 14 and from July 24 to July 28. Clark said a presentation will be brought to board members following the conferences. Photos: Eisenhower High School Class of 2023 Commencement Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. DECATUR The Governor Richard J. Oglesby Mansion will be hosting an open house on Sunday, May 28. The home, located at 421 W. William St., will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. Members of the board of directors and community volunteers will act as docents during the tours. A $2 per person donation is requested. Oglesby is recognized as one of Decaturs most distinguished citizens. He served as a U.S. senator, Union general during the Civil War, a three-term governor of Illinois and was a close friend and colleague of Abraham Lincoln. The 1876 house was built in the Italianate style with a low pitched roof and a widows walk. 7 of Decatur's most historic homes John H. Culver home Linn House Oglesby Mansion A.E. Staley Residence Eli Ulery house James Millikin Home Powers Mansion Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CHICAGO Far Northwest Side neighbors bitterly shouted down city officials and each other during a divisive meeting convened Tuesday on a plan to house hundreds of migrants at Wilbur Wright College. The nearly two-hour long session hosted inside the same Wright College gymnasium into which the citys asylum seekers could be moved as early as Saturday began as standing-room only, after residents from Dunning, Portage Park and other nearby communities packed the bleachers and rows of fold-out chairs to pose questions and vent opposition. Before the meeting kicked off, the crowds polarization was already reflected in the presence of pro-law enforcement Blue Lives Matter flags as well as rainbow posters reading: A better Chicago starts with US! City officials then began their briefing on the temporary shelter but were often drowned out by alternating waves of boos and applause. Lastly, a question-and-answer portion saw residents verbally clash over purported safety and public health concerns and whether Chicago is living up to its ideal as a sanctuary city. Its the latest in a series of conflicts over how the city can absorb the recent influx of migrants, a crisis that has seen nearly 10,000 new arrivals in Chicago since Aug 31, 2022, mostly from Central and South America, according to figures presented by city officials Tuesday evening. One of the most contentious moments unfolded when a man approached the microphone and baldly stated, They dont belong here. Theyll be bringing disease into the neighborhood. Nicholas Sposato, the 38th Ward alderman who said he arranged the meeting to inform his constituents, tried to tamp down the flustered audience with a plea to be respectful. But the next speaker raised fears over what would happen if the migrants who were to arrive at Wright College didnt return at night. They can just be roaming the neighborhood, the woman said. We have seniors, children, disabled and vulnerable women. Do all these people have background checks? One audience member shouted in response: Concealed carry. Under U.S. law, migrants have the right to seek asylum at the port-of-entries along the countrys border and must cooperate with background checks when they seek official protective status. But with the federal government lagging at processing those applications for months now, one of the major stressors in Chicago is that more than 700 new arrivals many bused or flown from the Texas border are now sleeping on the floors of various police stations, most of them families with children, officials said. The Chicago polices 16th District located in the Jefferson Park neighborhood is no exception, with up to 40 migrants huddled inside there per day since late April, the city said. Moving asylum seekers to the college is intended to address that issue. City officials said the plan is to move up to 400 people families only; no single adults to the college through Aug. 1. No visitors, drugs, alcohol or smoking would be allowed. An 11 p.m. curfew would be in place, and residents would have to sign in and out. But such provisions appeared to do little to mollify some in the audience. City Colleges Chancellor Juan Salgado endured the first round of boos when he said told the crowd the was confident that this will go well. Sposato tried to calm them down with a Were better than this, but some in the crowd kept yelling, Bulls---. Jesus A. Del Toro, project manager from the citys Office of New Americans, was also heckled by some in the crowd when he noted Italians and Poles too were immigrants fleeing political suppression and poverty and for the most part, the Venezuelans are coming here for similar reasons. More boos, but also some cheers, arose when Matthew Doughtie, an emergency coordinator with the citys Office of Emergency Management and Communications said, Right now, Wright College is the solution that we need. Still, a sizable portion of the crowd bellowed their support for migrants too. Neighbors walked up and said the fault lies with Republican governors of border states who started the initiative to shepherd asylum seekers to Chicago and other major cities up north. One woman who said shes been a resident of the ward for 15 years added, We taught our children to have compassion and to have empathy, and Im very sad that we are not showing compassion and empathy to these families. Audience members expressed more cynical comments too, such as one noting the expense of providing water to the migrants. Some antagonized each other; a woman inquiring how Chicagoans can help the asylum seekers was met with someone in the crowd yelling at her to Give them the keys to your house. One person challenged the citys commitment to move the migrants out by Aug. 1, asking, Where do they go? When asked about the plans ahead of Tuesdays meeting, Sposato said, Well, I dont not support it. He noted the new shelter would provide immediate relief to the 16th District Chicago police station but would not solve the overall heartwrenching crisis that has gone on since last August. The alternative is they stay in the police stations, which I know nobody wants to see that, Sposato said. This is a strong police-supporting community. The alderman said he doesnt expect all his constituents to be happy, listing anxieties over the vetting process of their backgrounds: I would guess the fear of the unknown is the biggest concern of people. The strain on local social services reached a fever pitch in May when former Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared a state of emergency over the situation while city budget officials continued scrambling to find the funds to keep shelter operations afloat past June. The roots of the humanitarian crisis go back to late last summer, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, sent the first busloads of migrants north from mainly Central and South America, arguing border towns had run out of room and resources to shelter migrants and said sanctuary cities such as Chicago should accept them. Lightfoot, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and current Mayor Brandon Johnson have derided Abbotts action as a cruel political stunt, but Abbott maintains his actions are a cry for help from President Joe Biden and other Democrats to fix the escalating crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Federal border restrictions that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic also expired this month, potentially spelling a new era of record migration. Some communities have become more accepting of migrant shelters locating in their neighborhoods after initial resistance. But most of the solutions are temporary, with the strain on the citys budget continuous and growing. To that end, the City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on allocating $51 million in surpluses to keep shelter and food operations running through next month. Sposato voted no in committee because he said it was unfair to designate city funds for migrants and deny existing homeless Chicagoans that same aid. His concerns have been echoed by some Black aldermen from the South and West sides, who said their communities havent seen investment in decades. Still, one longtime resident of Dunning told the Tribune he walked away from Tuesdays meeting feeling more questions were answered than not, especially with respect to public safety. It says a lot about the divisiveness thats going on ... across the country, Daniel Aviles, 45, said. But when it comes to something like this, we have to find common ground. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 We, the undersigned members of the Illinois General Assembly, are expressing our support of the extension of the "Invest in Kids" scholarship fund. This is a shared priority of both caucuses which benefits the education of underprivileged children. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ABINGDON, Va. Washington County Commissioner of Revenue Mark Matney is getting a raise. But not all on the Washington County Board of Supervisors voted for it during Tuesdays meeting. Matney, who is running for re-election as an independent candidate in Novembers election, had requested a raise in recognition of achieving accreditation as a master commissioner of revenue. On Tuesday, the board voted 5-2 to award Matney with a 9.3 percent raise. Supervisor Charlie Hargis made a motion to grant Matney the raise, seconded by Supervisor Wayne Stevens. In turn, supervisors Dwayne Ball and Phil McCall both voted against the motion. Matney had asked for the raise to be retroactive to Jan. 1, but that request was not favored by the countys personnel committee, which instead suggested Matneys raise should begin on June 1. Still, for the first month, totaling $917, the Board of Supervisors voted for Matney to pull that money from his offices existing budget in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Theres going to be carryovers in his overall budget, said Board of Supervisors Chairman Saul Hernandez. As an elected constitutional officer, Matneys pay is largely derived from the Commonwealth of Virginias Compensation Board. For this raise, however, the comp board ran out of money to compensate Matney with the raise effective July 1 at the beginning of the next fiscal year, said Kathy Johnson, the countys director of human resources. They go up to him and they ran out of money, Johnson said. He just wanted to be treated as fairly as anyone else. Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors voted to give Matney $11,004 from the next fiscal years contingency fund to cover the raise in 2023-2024. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. An independent streak a key element of Appalachian Mountain Brewerys founding in 2011 has inspired its co-founders to take the rare step of buying their freedom from a global conglomerate. Nathan Kelischek and Chris Zieber have bought the ownership stake of the Boone company from Anheuser-Busch for an undisclosed price. Kelischek and Zieber, cousins from Asheville, became the first craft brewers to ever buy themselves back from Anheuser-Busch, said Hannah Kaminer, a contracted spokeswoman for AMB. Zieber is head brewer and Kelischek as brewmaster. The repurchase comes as AMB plans a taproom in Mills River, near Asheville, this summer. Were grateful to have spent the last two years as active founders within A-Bs craft portfolio and want to thank the people at A-B, including our fellow craft brewery founders, for the support, collaboration and friendship that weve enjoyed during our time together, Kelischek and Zieber said. We will be shifting our focus immediately on growing our local team, opening our new taproom and continuing our investment in sustainability and philanthropy efforts that make a difference in our North Carolina communities. This all hinges on producing the highest quality products and delivering a unique experience for our customers. Kaminer said with just a smidge of hyperbole that this story is causing shock waves across the craft brewing industry. For example, VinePair.com said in a posting that its surprising to see a small brewery purchase its brand back from a beer giant especially in todays craft beer market. Acquisitions of craft brands have slowed in the past five years, as large corps find less success in sales. Kelischek and Zieber didnt divulge their reasoning for purchasing the brand back from A-B, but its a strategy that stands out among a sea of corporation-held craft beer portfolios. AMB has been known for its Long Leaf IPA, Boone Creek Blonde, Mystic Dragon Cider, Spoaty Oaty Pale Ale and Porter brands. Its also known for its charitable and community initiatives. For example, AMB has teamed up with several local farms to donate spent grain for the cattle feed. This helps us to divert grain from ending up at landfills, and helps local farmers make ends meet saving up to 50-plus tons of feed per year. Earlier in May, AMB brought home two medals from at the 2023 World Beer Cup: a gold medal in the Golden or Blonde Ale category for Boone Creek Blonde Ale; and a silver in American-Style Lager category for their Down South Lager. Background AMBs original taproom opened in 2013 and quickly became known for their hospitality and producing balanced crafts with their own Southern twist. Kelischek is a 2011 graduate of Appalachian State University majoring in environmental science with a minor in chemistry and geology. Zieber graduated with a degree in environmental science from UNC Chapel Hill in 2011. Craft Brew Alliance Inc. and AMB reached an agreement in April 2015 that gave AMB access to Craft Brews distribution channels in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. That distribution became a major portion of AMBs revenue stream. In October 2018, Craft Brew acquired AMB. Brewbound, a publication focused on the craft beer industry, estimated Craft Brew spent a combined $45 million to buy Appalachian, Wynwood Brewing Co. of Miami, and Cisco Brewers of Nantucket, Mass., during that time frame. In 2020, Craft Brew Alliance sold to Anheuser-Busch the remaining 68.8% of Craft Brew that it had not already owned for $221 million. The vast majority of Craft Brews brands are distributed through A-Bs network of independent wholesalers per the companies commercial agreement. AMB said it will continues to distribute their beers and ciders throughout the Carolinas with their same wholesale partners and retailers. In March, AMB helped launch Bojangles into the alcohol business but not at its restaurants. They are partnering on Bojangles Hard Sweet Tea, which is distributed through retail supermarkets and convenience stores such as Circle K, QT, Sheetz, Spinx, Harris Teeter, Ingles, Lowes, Walmart, Food Lion and others in the Carolinas. Bojangles, based in Charlotte, now has about 800 restaurants known for its fried chicken, biscuits and sweet tea. The hard tea is sold in individual 16-ounce cans and in 12-packs of 12-ounce cans. Spiegelman in 2014 speaks about AMB being publicly traded Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. In March, I had the great opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to chaperone my daughters eighth-grade field trip. I have read and talked a lot about the nations capital over the years but had not visited in some time. It was a well-planned and purposeful week. I believe each of the students and adult chaperones received some things from it. One afternoon, we visited Arlington National Cemetery. After being screened at the visitors center, we began the walk up the series of hills to the restored plantation house belonging to the Lee Family. While walking, I noticed soldiers in their dress uniforms. People often forget Arlington is a working cemetery each day. My group journeyed first to the grave of President John F. Kennedy. The hills are steep and plotted with graves in every direction. I looked to my left and saw a gleaming white horse off in the distance. It seemed like something out of a fairy tale until I noticed the caisson attached to the animal and some troops with a family processing not far behind. As we toured, a funeral was just beginning. It was simply a beautiful spring day for someone to come home to their final resting place. The moment provided a respectful pause. I certainly did not know the individual, but I have examined war and conflict with my students over the years. I have interviewed veterans and taught several in various courses. I confess that I do not know enough about their struggles. The funeral procession, done with honor and dignity, put a lump in my throat. It was an honor to be present; watching someones final ride. My group finished our time at the Eternal Flame with President Kennedy and walked down past the graves of his brothers. We continued up the hill towards the mansion. As with tours, we were crunched for time and needed to be at the top of another hill at the Veterans Amphitheater for the ceremonial changing of the guard. Yet, as we walked, I began to hear sounds of gunfire. The funeral was finishing with the gun salute and, soon after, the sound of Taps waffled through the breeze. I stopped to honor the individual and the family as tourists walked back and forth. Out of respect, I stayed in my spot in the middle of the road until the trumpet finished. All across the country this weekend, people will remember. Memorial Day is for the living to remember the individuals who willingly sacrificed their lives so the rest of us can continue to sleep safe at night in a free county. Their service and sacrifice remains emblematic of a country where rights and choices matter. Walking Arlington National Cemetery is a constant reminder about freedom not being free. Liberty constantly costs the lives of people who willingly choose to preserve it for the rest of us. Freedom costs families who lose loved ones in defense of their communities and country. Lincolns note of these honored dead rings constantly true from his Gettysburg Address. There are not many other words to properly describe the commitment and sacrifice of a warrior. I stood there on the famous hill listening to Taps and those things were not lost on me. Here was another warrior, or a warriors spouse, going the final distance. Yes, I felt pride just thinking about the many commitments the individual must have made. He or she gave things up in their acts of service. They measured the costs of their actions. They battled other situations which came up in the courses of their journey. They must have loved. Judging from the family walking behind the caisson, they were loved well. American soldiers are honored all over the world in American cemeteries in places from the Philippines to North Africa. This weekend, their graves will definitely be decorated and visitors will pass by their markers and be reminded of how special each of them are. We do not just remember them for their sacrifice, we remember them as people with a heart, a brain, and dreams with some measure of honor and valor. Their lives were taken from them in defense of some greater things. As taps lingered off over the hills, I mourned, but I kept moving. I knew I had more journeys to take because the individual down below made some of my journeys possible by defending me in some way. The funeral became a solemn act for many reasons. That life was a testament to service. As people kept moving among the funeral, I wondered how many of them were thinking the way I was. I hope they were thinking similar things. Because we must never forget. The Critical Infrastructure Information and Sharing Analysis Centre has set up shop in Maroochydore in Queensland. Photo: Shutterstock Australias more than 11,000 critical infrastructure (CI) operators have new ways of defending against cyber attacks after the launch of a new centre of excellence (CoE) on Queenslands Sunshine Coast, dedicated to protecting CI. A team of 18 volunteers is bootstrapping the new Critical Infrastructure Information and Sharing Analysis Centre (CI-ISAC), which has launched an internship program and is looking to hire permanent staff as it ramps up its role to support the organisations covered by the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) Act 2018. By expanding the definition of critical infrastructure from four to eleven industry sectors including data storage and processing, healthcare, transport and other key areas the SOCI Act has increased the urgency for companies in those sectors to strengthen their cyber security protections. Among its mandates is a requirement that CI operators report cyber incidents to government authorities within 12 hours of the attacks discovery which has forced such organisations to become far more proactive in monitoring and responding to cyber incidents. Designed as a member-driven, community-first not for profit, the Maroochydore based CI-ISAC will support CI operators that are rushing to meet SOCI Act obligations. Whereas existing Information Sharing & Analysis Centres (ISACs) are focused on specific sectors, CI-ISACs approach to threat information sharing has been designed to help the many CI public and private sector companies that are, the organisation notes, lacking the knowledge, resources or capabilities to effectively participate. The strength of the CI-ISAC model comes through the knowledge that cyber criminals often use the same techniques to not only target organisations within a specific industry sector, but across other sectors, said co-founder Dr Scott Flower, calling the new facility the worlds first ISAC designed to operate across many sectors. A real challenge for business leaders in these critical sectors is knowing how best to invest in appropriate cyber defences, he continued. By joining CI-ISAC they will gain access to knowledge and practical advice that can prevent them becoming the latest statistic in the never-ending war against cyber criminals. Assessing the latest casualties Better support for critical infrastructure operators will be invaluable for Australian businesses that have felt the brunt of the ongoing surge in cyber criminal activity with healthcare organisations, one of the sectors designated as critical infrastructure operators in the SOCI Act overhaul, particularly targeted. Western Sydneys Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, located within the Westmead Hospital, became the latest in a string of healthcare facilities to be targeted by attackers as cyber criminals reportedly part of the Medusa cyber extortion gang demanded a ransom to prevent the release of confidential medical records within days. Last week, Medusa published 100GB of confidential data including students psychological reports, details of special needs students, and documented abuse allegations after its ransomware compromise of the Minneapolis Public School District. The frequency and severity of the attacks has driven a crisis of confidence in the healthcare sector, according to a new Trellix survey of 1,000 Australian cybersecurity professionals that found 83 per cent of healthcare respondents dont feel their organisation can quickly adapt to new cyber threats. Fully 60 per cent of respondents feel like theyre losing the battle against cybercriminals, the survey found, with 42 per cent acknowledging the existence of blind spots in their cyber security defences even as healthcare organisations are pummelled with nearly 50 cyber security incidents every day. Some 71 data breaches involving health service providers were reported during the second half of 2022 alone, according to Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) statistics that showed financial services (68 breaches) and insurance (42 breaches) remain the most frequently hit by breaches. The frequency of malicious or criminal attacks increased by 41 per cent over the first half of last year, the OAIC said, with 46 such attacks against financial services companies and 37 against health service providers. The decision to pay or not to pay the ransom is nuanced, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the healthcare industry, said Palo Alto Networks field chief security officer APAC Alex Nehmy. Patients medical data, and in some cases their access to life-saving medical care, need to be considered and will likely take precedence. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SALISBURY A joint investigation with several agencies has resulted in charges against a drug trafficking suspect, recovery of a stolen guns and seizure of cash, according to a news release from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office (RCSO). The sheriffs office said on Thursday, May 18, warrants for arrest were issued for Aaron Dominique Wilks charging him with trafficking in opium/heroin, felony conspiracy, possession with intent to sell/deliver a Schedule I controlled substance, and two counts of maintaining a vehicle/dwelling to keep/store a controlled substance. The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the Rowan County Sheriffs Office with the assistance of the Salisbury Police Department, State Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. On Tuesday, May 23, Wilks was located and apprehended at his residence in Charlotte, the RCSO said. The arrest was made by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT), the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) and the Rowan County Sheriffs Office Criminal Apprehension Team (SOCAT). Wilks was transported to the Rowan County Magistrates Office where he was placed under a $250,000 secured bond which he made. Following Wilkes arrest, personnel from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office obtained a search warrant for the Wilks residence. During the crime scene search conducted by the Rowan County Sheriffs Office Special Investigation Unit and SOCAT, $16,949 of United States Currency, a small amount of marijuana, a loaded handgun magazine and cellular telephones were seized. During a court hearing in Rowan County District Court on Wednesday, May 24, Wilks bond was revoked. He was placed under a $1 million secured bond and is currently being held in the Rowan County Detention Center. During a related investigation conducted by the Salisbury Police Department on Tuesday, May 23, a search warrant was executed in a rental unit at Public Storage at 1730 Jake Alexander Blvd., West in Salisbury, and eight firearms were recovered. There were four handguns, three rifles and one shotgun found in the storage unit. The shotgun was reported stolen from a breaking and entering that took place on May 24, 2022, at the Ammo Shack Hunting and Shooting store in Rockingham, North Carolina. One handgun was also reported as stolen from Rowan County on Nov. 26, 2021. The joint investigations are continuing. Semiconductor firm Nvidia has bounced back in the second quarter, which ended on 30 April, announcing a 19% rise in quarterly revenue to US$7.19 billion (A$10.98 billion). The company said its data centre revenue came in at a record US$4.28 billion, and announced a second-quarter fiscal revenue outlook of US$11 billion. Chief executive and founder Jensen Huang said: The computer industry is going through two simultaneous transitions accelerated computing and generative AI. A trillion dollars of installed global data centre infrastructure will transition from general purpose to accelerated computing as companies race to apply generative AI into every product, service and business process. Our entire data centre family of products H100, Grace CPU, Grace Hopper Superchip, NVLink, Quantum 400 InfiniBand and BlueField-3 DPU is in production. We are significantly increasing our supply to meet surging demand for them." Nvidia was hit by US measures in October 2022 to restrict sales of semiconductors in China, which the government claimed were meant "to protect US national security and foreign policy interests". The company sought to get around this by creating a new advanced chip in China that conformed to the export control rules laid down by the US administration. Huang told the Financial Times in an interview recently that the US export controls had left his company with our hands tied behind our back. And he warned of adverse effects from these controls. If [China] cant buy from... the United States, theyll just build it themselves, he said. So the US has to be careful. China is a very important market for the technology industry. China has hit back in recent days, announcing a ban on sales of memory made by US firm Micron to operators of key infrastructure in China. GUEST OPINION: There are a lot of things you'll need to know about getting your phone service in Spain. Whether you're looking to make calls to your family back home or you're looking to keep in touch with friends and colleagues while abroad, several things are essential for you to be aware of. SIM cards For calling Spain from abroad, buy a prepaid SIM. Prepaid SIM cards are easy to obtain and cheap to use. They are only paying for the amount you use. They are also the easiest way to find a local number in Spain. A Spanish SIM card can be purchased from four leading mobile network operators. These providers offer a wide range of prepaid plans. They are usually cheaper than international plans and include allowances for mobile data. Getting a Spanish SIM card If you're going to be travelling to Spain, you're likely wondering how to get a Spanish SIM card. Fortunately, it's not complicated. And it's cheaper than you may think. The first thing you'll need is an unlocked GSM cell phone. You can purchase an unlock code from a carrier if you have an iPhone. Otherwise, you'll have to buy a prepaid or phone contract. Prepaid SIMs are ideal if you're visiting, as they don't require paperwork. You'll want to find a deal with a local Spanish operator. It is crucial since international plans can be expensive for anyone staying in Spain for more than a few months. Calling the US from Spain It can be challenging to call the US collect from Spain. In addition to the cost and hassle of reaching an international number, you must also determine if it's the right time to call. There are many different ways to make a call to the US from Spain. One of the most convenient ways is through a VoIP phone number. While traditional telephone companies charge hundreds of dollars per hour, a VoIP service can be much cheaper. You can also use Skype to call Spain. However, you will need a computer and an Internet connection to use the service. Viber Out Viber Out is a service that allows users to make cheap international calls. You can call anyone worldwide for only a few cents a minute. Viber Out is a voice-over-IP service that can make a low-cost call to Spain, Mexico, and other countries. You will need a smartphone and an action plan. The rates are based on your location and the type of phone you have. Unlike Skype, Viber does not charge connection fees. However, you should be aware of roaming charges. The main benefit of using Viber Out is that you can save a lot of money on your monthly phone bill. The company also offers a variety of plans to fit your needs. You can select a 30-day program, a 60-day plan, or a monthly membership plan based on your financial situation. There are many characteristics offered with each choice. WhatsApp Consider using WhatsApp to make your calls if you are preparing a trip to Spain. It's free and easy. Plus, you can use your mobile data to connect to the web and call other WhatsApp users. First, you need to download the app. You can do this from the App Store or Play Store. To ensure your call goes through, you'll need to enable the microphone and camera on your device. Next, you'll need to choose a contact you plan to call. The process is the same as for domestic calls. After selecting your communication, you'll need to add a country code to the end of the number. Vodaphone If you're planning to travel to Spain, you can use a Vodafone SIM card. It is an ideal way to make international calls and lets you keep in touch with your family and friends back home. You can buy a SIM card in many locations in Spain, including supermarkets and shopping malls. There are also several stands at significant airports. It's easy to top up a Vodafone SIM card, either with a POS system or by using an international credit card. For the best service, a prepaid plan is the best option. A prepaid plan provides you with a monthly allowance, which you can top up with extra data. Pay As You Go bundles are also a good choice, providing flexibility. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> The Palm Beach Kennel Club opened a parlor with 500 TVs for betters to watch the greyhound racing where it's still legal in Alabama, Texas, Iowa, Arkansas and West Virginia. The sport must accommodate today's culture. Last week, a Cheetah identified as a dog and set a new track speed record. Target hastily moved transgender merchandise to the back of store after customers revolted over the tuck-friendly female bathing suits on June Pride month displayed up front. Dear comedy audience, if I'm ever shot and killed in a Target store, please drag my body to Nordstrom's. Let me die with dignity. The Betty Ford Center broke ground on a construction project to build added treatment facilities for alcoholism, drug addiction and food disorders. The biggest surprise of my life was all the fun I've had in recovery. I went to a bulimic's birthday party last weekend and the cake jumped out of the girl. The House voted to end Biden's burdensome emissions regulations on trucks Monday following a vote in the U.S. Senate. It came hours after a U-Haul truck rammed into a White House gate. To be fair there are so many U-Hauls leaving California and heading East, it probably needed the parking spot. Capitol Police arrested a teenager of India heritage who drove a U-Haul into a White House gate and labeled the kid a white supremacist. It's all the rage. Last week Chicago Police issued a bulletin saying they're looking for a young white male with ties to a racist militia, and they got 300 job applicants. Hunter College in New York fired a woke female professor whose violent rage was all caught on camera Monday. She trashed a student activity table handing out pro-life literature and then held a machete to the throat of a New York Post reporter. CNN just hired her to host the next Trump town hall. GOP Senator Tim Scott began campaigning after announcing for president on Monday. He'd make history. Tim would be the first bachelor to live in the White House since James Buchanan, and the third president to live like a bachelor in the White House since Jack Kennedy and Bill Clinton. GET ARGUS' DAILY SMILES TO YOUR INBOX. SIGN UP FOR THE JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Donald Trump was sued again by Jean Carroll saying he defamed her by calling her a whack job at his Town Hall. The first trial made her a public figure. If public figures could collect damages for being called a whack job, Trump would own CNN, MSNBC the Washington Post, the FBI and the CIA. Hillary Clinton floated her own 2024 trial balloon Saturday telling the Financial Times that Joe Biden's age is naturally a concern. Right now Hillary is busily engaged on the banquet circuit where her speaking fee per event is one hundred thousand dollars. Her topic is The Importance of Free Speech. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was scheduled to announce his run for presidency Wednesday in an interview on Twitter with Elon Musk. That's something Musk thinks he could never do. Elon is still guided by the silly outworn notion that you can't run for U.S. president if you were born in Africa. The Arizona Republic reports that a fifteen year old boy in Phoenix faces felony charges after he was caught trying to smuggle an AR-15 automatic rifle into the school. The teenager tried to conceal the AR-15 inside his lunchbox. Only in America could a kid have access to a lunchbox that size. California Governor Gavin Newsom touted his environmental record while releasing his revised budget Friday. A new state law just enacted allows for human remains to be ground up, sifted and used in compost. The law passed with the full support of environmentalists and the Los Angeles Mafia. (COMMENT, BELOW) Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CHARLESTON A statewide pilot scholarship program, with Charleston ties, designed to help keep the best and brightest students in Illinois could soon become permanent. The Illinois Senate has passed legislation co-sponsored by state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet and a Charleston native, to expand the Aim High program and make it permanent. This legislation, House Bill 301, has passed both chambers of the General Assembly and awaits the signature of the governor to become law. Rose said in a press release that the program and its expansion are results of bipartisan and bicameral cooperation between the members of the higher education working group, of which he is a member. Before Aim High, our universities had been at an extreme disadvantage in terms of keeping Illinois top graduating high school seniors in Illinois," Rose said. "Aim High offers them an important recruiting and retention tool, and it also helps to stem the ongoing brain drain caused by top-tier students leaving the state. Josh Norman, associate vice president for enrollment management at Eastern Illinois University, said the Aim High scholarship program has helped EIU and the entirety of Illinois by helping keep the best and brightest students in the state for their higher education experience. The initial Aim High program was conceived in response to state universities increasingly losing out on many top students to out-of-state schools that were able to offer better scholarships. The program's name was inspired by Roses Charleston High School principal, Dean Tucker, whose license plate said, Aim High. Aim High was passed as a pilot program after Rose originally proposed the concept a few years earlier and it was set to expire in 2024. House Bill 301 makes the program permanent, expands opportunities by increasing matching levels for universities, and updates rules to help improve and grow the program. To see my dream not just come to reality, but now be made permanent and be expanded to serve even more Illinois students and families, is a pretty special moment for me," Rose said. "College costs are way too high, and we are losing too many kids out of state. Aim High will, at least, add one more arrow to our public four-year universities quivers to attract and retain students here in Illinois." Close Director Juliane Sharp watches the Maximum Forte choral group rehearse at Charleston High School on March 10. The group will compete Saturday in the ICHSA Midwest Semifinal. Exchange students Ayazhan Kaliyeva of Kazakhstan and senior Tunchanok Sonthisawat of Thailand stand Thursday afternoon in Charleston High School's newly renovated Swickard Auditorium, where they will perform in the annual International Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday. Charleston High School senior Jeremiah Hayes works on a wall for a storage shed Thursday morning in the newly renovated Trojan Agriculture & Manufacturing Center as part of a career and technical program internship through the school. Charleston High School students Marcellx Boling, Ben Coffey and Avery Beals tend to plants Thursday morning in the new greenhouse addition at the Trojan Agriculture & Manufacturing Center. Distress Bandanna CEO John Anderson demonstrates how to use one of these emergency flags as a tourniquet with the help of driver's education student Addison Daugherty on Friday at Charleston High School. Charleston High School students Ciarra Swearingen, Sophia Smith and Ila Richter work on a lab project Friday morning as part of an AP biology class led by teacher Chelsie Doughty. Charleston High School senior Landon Ames, left, and freshmen Brock Johnson and Preston Pollard grill hamburgers on Thursday during the FFA chapter's drive-thru for farmers at the Total Grain Marketing elevator in Ashmore. Lead snare drummer Jacob Reeley, at center in the foreground, performs with the Charleston High School Marching Trojans band Saturday morning on the courthouse square during Eastern Illinois University's annual homecoming parade. The Charleston High School boys and girls cross country teams take part in the 2022 Run for the Fallen on Saturday at the school's Trojan Hill football and track complex. Charleston high School, 2022-2023 This collection of photos shows highlights from coverage of the 2022-23 academic year at Charleston High School Director Juliane Sharp watches the Maximum Forte choral group rehearse at Charleston High School on March 10. The group will compete Saturday in the ICHSA Midwest Semifinal. Exchange students Ayazhan Kaliyeva of Kazakhstan and senior Tunchanok Sonthisawat of Thailand stand Thursday afternoon in Charleston High School's newly renovated Swickard Auditorium, where they will perform in the annual International Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday. Charleston High School senior Jeremiah Hayes works on a wall for a storage shed Thursday morning in the newly renovated Trojan Agriculture & Manufacturing Center as part of a career and technical program internship through the school. Charleston High School students Marcellx Boling, Ben Coffey and Avery Beals tend to plants Thursday morning in the new greenhouse addition at the Trojan Agriculture & Manufacturing Center. Distress Bandanna CEO John Anderson demonstrates how to use one of these emergency flags as a tourniquet with the help of driver's education student Addison Daugherty on Friday at Charleston High School. Charleston High School students Ciarra Swearingen, Sophia Smith and Ila Richter work on a lab project Friday morning as part of an AP biology class led by teacher Chelsie Doughty. Charleston High School senior Landon Ames, left, and freshmen Brock Johnson and Preston Pollard grill hamburgers on Thursday during the FFA chapter's drive-thru for farmers at the Total Grain Marketing elevator in Ashmore. Lead snare drummer Jacob Reeley, at center in the foreground, performs with the Charleston High School Marching Trojans band Saturday morning on the courthouse square during Eastern Illinois University's annual homecoming parade. The Charleston High School boys and girls cross country teams take part in the 2022 Run for the Fallen on Saturday at the school's Trojan Hill football and track complex. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Wake Forest University School of Law has selected Andrew Klein as its new dean, a peer from the Indiana University System. Klein will start as dean on July 1, replacing Neil Newton who served as interim dean after former dean Jane Aiken stepped down in July. Klein comes to Wake Forest after serving as interim chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and as an executive vice president of Indiana University. Klein served as dean of Indiana Universitys McKinney School of Law from 2013 to 2020. Professor Kleins exemplary legal and administrative career, along with his demonstrated commitment to service and teaching, have prepared him well to lead Wake Forest Law at this important time, Wake Forest president Susan Wente said in a statement. He will bring the vision and experience necessary to keep the law school at the forefront of legal education. Klein said he was drawn to Wake Forests history, as well as its commitment to innovation. I could not be more excited about becoming part of a place with such a long and distinguished record of training excellent lawyers and outstanding leaders, Klein said. I look forward to honoring the schools best traditions, building on its successes and ensuring a future as bright as its past. Kleins teaching focus has been on tort and environmental law. He has won numerous awards, including 10 teaching awards from students, three faculty leadership awards, two outstanding administrator awards and the Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award. Klein was honored with an IU Bicentennial Medal in 2019 and a Chancellors Medallion in 2021. Michele Gillespie, the Wake Forest provost who led the search committee, said the group was impressed with Professor Kleins unwavering commitment to student, faculty and staff success, as well as his passion for preparing ethical leaders to work in the legal profession. Klein and his IU colleagues partnered with The American Bar Association to launch the Pathway to the Law online program, designed to expose college students from diverse backgrounds to the possibility of pursuing a legal education. He also secured a pioneering $4 million gift for the School of Law in support of LGBTQ rights and diversity. Klein earned his bachelor of arts from the University of Wisconsin and his J.D. from Emory University School of Law, where he studied as a Robert W. Woodruff Fellow in Law and was editor-in-chief of the Emory Law Journal. When Aiken stepped down in July, she took a research leave to work on issues regarding reproductive rights as a consulting counsel with National Advocates for Pregnant Women, a nonprofit organization in New York City. Following her research leave, Aiken plans to return to the Wake Forest faculty as a university professor. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The Surry County Tourism Authority has created the Surry Ground Steak Trail to honor the local tradition of ground-steak sandwiches. A festival is planned for June 10. A ground-steak sandwich is ground beef seasoned with salt and pepper and cooked with some flour to help it hold together, then served on a bun with mayonnaise, slaw and tomato. Some places serve it on a plate without the bun. Others serve it for breakfast on a biscuit in place of the bun. The sandwich, similar to the loose-meat sandwich of the Midwest, is believed to have originated during the Great Depression. It was an affordable sandwich for blue-collar workers. It quickly spread, and people around the county started enjoying ground steak, said Travis Frye, the coordinator tourism authority, who came up with the idea of honoring the sandwich with a trail of all the places that still make it. The trail includes 11 restaurants where people can get the sandwich. In Mount Airy, those places are Aunt Beas BBQ, Dairy Center, Martha Sues, Snappy Lunch and Speedy Chef. Pilot Mountain has three: All Sauced Up BBQ, Aunt Beas BBQ and Cousin Garys. Dobson has Central Cafe and Rockford General Store, and Elkin has Speedy Chef. Its a soft, tender type of meat, and it does kind of melt in your mouth, said Freddy Hiatt, who bought the Dairy Center in the 1990s. Hiatt learned to make the sandwich from Gene Fleming, who opened the Dairy Center in 1954. You can eat it without a lot of heavy chewing, Hiatt said. Some people use ground chuck. We use the ground beef with higher fat to get a better flavor, a better taste. Thats what weve done all the years Ive been here, and Gene did the same. The North Carolina Ground Steak Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 10 in downtown Dobson. For the festival, Dobsons Central Cafe and the Flat Rock Ruritan Club will prepare ground steak sandwiches. The festival also will include live bluegrass and old-time string music, childrens games and activities, and more than 50 artisans and craft vendors. For more information, visit www.GroundSteakTrail.org. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and Forsyth Technical Community College have agreed to improve communication following two high-profile incidents that involved high school students on Forsyth Techs campus. In the first incident, a student from Winston-Salem Prep on a field trip to the college shot himself in the hand, leading to an hours long lockdown of the campus and a massive law enforcement response. In the second, a drag performer at a Pride event on campus was seen on video briefly straddling a high school student. WS/FCSs Early College and Middle College are based at Forsyth Tech, giving students access to its facilities. The video of the drag performance was circulated widely on TikTok. The school district released a statement apologizing that its students were exposed to an inappropriate dance. On Tuesday, the school board approved updates to its memorandum of agreement with Forsyth Tech. In essence, both schools have agreed to talk regularly with one another about events happening at the school, and if they are deemed inappropriate for high school students on campus, both sides will figure out how to limit access to that part of campus. In regards to student safety, Forsyth Tech will allow the school districts security team access to security cameras in the Forsyth Tech buildings used primarily by the Early and Middle colleges. Though parents and students may sign up to receive alerts from Forsyth Tech, the school district will have primary authority to communicate with WS/FCS families regarding an emergency that directly impacts its students. Nearly all of the public comments at Tuesdays meeting were about the drag performance, with some calling for the school district to do more. Specifically, they said that school district staff members who were at the drag performance should be disciplined for what some termed a sexual assault on a minor. Colleen Lupina said the school district needs to make sure that students are never exposed to such a performance again. Its time for the school district to stop pushing a sexual agenda on our children, she said. Dare Luck thanked the school board for their action and then switched gears to criticize Glenn High Schools recent production of Mean Girls, which she said contained language and sexual performances that were more vulgar than the movie. She told the school board that they should request copies of the performance. Jenn McGarvey, the mother of two children in the school district, told the district: I urge you to remember that Pride events are not the No. 1 killer of kids in the U.S. Gun violence is. Police investigated the incident with the drag performer and no charges were filed, Winston-Salem Police Capt. David Rose said in April. Dionne Jenkins, the school districts general counsel, said on Tuesday that the District Attorneys office is reviewing the incident. Board member Robert Barr asked Jenkins if staff members witnessed the dance. Jenkins answered that she cant comment on personnel matters. In voting for updates to the agreement, board member Steve Wood said: While this is probably not a panacea for every conceivable situation, I do think its a step in the right direction. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Wildfire season in the Triad has lengthened more over the past half-century than in any other area in the eastern United States, according to a new analysis of national weather data. The average number of days at Piedmont Triad Airport when weather conditions are optimal for sparking and spreading outdoor fires has increased by the equivalent of nearly two weeks since 1973, Climate Central, a research and communications organization based in Princeton, New Jersey, found in its report released Wednesday. The study used data from 476 weather stations to assess trends in 245 areas spanning all 48 contiguous U.S. states from 1973 to 2022. The Triads 13-day annual increase in so-called fire weather days was three more than the next-closest Eastern areas: the Central Coastal Plain of North Carolina, as well as regions in New York, New Jersey and Louisiana. In 2022, the Triad had 19 days when the right combination of relatively warm temperatures, low humidity and high winds combined to create optimal conditions for wildfires, Climate Central found. That total and the areas half-century hike in the number of fire weather days is a fraction of those experienced in many Western areas, where blazes are larger and more frequent. But even these smaller increases can be impactful in the densely populated East, where more people and property could be exposed, the report cautioned. Thats largely because population growth continues to push new residential communities into previously undeveloped land bounded by forests and fields that can fuel flames. These areas are considered part of what is known as the wildland urban interface. North Carolina has nearly 52,000 acres within the WUI, the most of any state. North Carolinas more than 2.1 million homes in the WUI ranks fourth nationally. The fire risk for the states residents is expanding along with the population because there is little control over where people go, explained Robert Scheller, a professor of landscape ecology at N.C. State University who researches climate adaption in forestry. About 83% of North Carolinas land is privately owned, so there is not the kind of expansive legal land-use network that some states largely in the West, where wide swaths are government owned use to protect communities, farmland and tourist amenities from fire, The South is famous for its lack of land planning, said Scheller, who was not involved in the Climate Central report. The sprawl is everywhere. Cause and effect Warming caused by heat-trapping pollution is a primary contributor to weather conditions that increase the risk of wildfires. Long-term warming trends are drying out forests, grasslands, and other landscapes helping fires spread and hindering opportunities to fight and prevent them, Climate Central said in its analysis. As temperatures rise, humidity levels drop. The dry air draws moisture from the land, leaving vegetation parched and prone to burning. And humidity is typically lowest in the afternoon, when air temperatures are highest. Warmer conditions also have a direct influence on fire behavior. Cooler nighttime temperatures have historically meant lower risks of wildfires growing and spreading overnight, Climate Central noted. But as climate change brings warmer nighttime temperatures, fire weather conditions can extend into more hours of the day. Wind is the third major factor in wildfire risk. When it blows, wind supplies oxygen to a fire, causing the flames to grow and spread. Wind also increases evaporation and helps to dry out the land, which provides more ready fuel for the fire. The majority of fire weather days in the Triad and most of the Eastern U.S. are occurring in springtime. You still have a lot of (leaf) litter on the ground, N.C. States Scheller said of spring. The humidity also tends to be lower and things havent greened up yet. Once things really green up, its a natural fire barrier. As humidity generally rises with the approach of summer, the overall risk of wildfire diminishes until consistently drier air returns in the fall. No doubt A recent example of the vulnerability of natures-edge communities in the Southeast was a wildfire that swept through the tourist town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on Nov. 28, 2016, leaving 16 people dead and close to 2,500 structures damaged or destroyed. If the blaze itself the Smoky Mountains worst in a century wasnt frightening enough, it came when weather-related fire conditions werent even at their worst. That wasnt a huge, long, dry year but you had a short period of really intense dryness, Scheller said. So-called flash droughts are another symptom of climate change, as higher temperatures intensify evaporation. Fallen leaves and dormant plants dry out faster in those conditions, creating fuel just waiting for a spark and wind to fan the flames. It was really unusual, Scheller said of the ferocity of the Gatlinburg fire in relation to the conditions at the time. But wildfire destruction of Appalachian Mountain communities wont be such a surprise for long, according to predictive modeling by Scheller and researchers based on expected weather trends. Its going to become more common in the future with climate change, he said. No doubt about it. Triad impact Humans caused nine out of every 10 wildfires in the U.S. between 2018 and 2022, Climate Central notes in its report. That was the case in the Triads most-visible fire in recent history. A week-long blaze consumed more 1,000 acres at Pilot Mountain State Spark after being sparked by a campfire in an unauthorized area on Nov. 27, 2021 almost five year to the day after the Gatlinburg fire. There were no injuries or building damage from the Pilot Mountain fire, which was contained inside the park with as many as 80 firefighters working at times and at a cost of more than a half-million dollars. But there were similarities between the Gatlinburg and Pilot Mountain fires in that they were both in the fall and occurred when the fire risks werent at extreme levels another reminder of the regions vulnerability. Even if the days (around the time of the Pilot Mountain fire) didnt meet the all criteria for fire weather, as defined by this report, conditions stayed dry and winds picked up, said Peter Girard, a Climate Central spokesman. Assuming the conditions at the fire were similar to those at the (PTI) weather station, the weather may well have helped the fire spread. Also in November 2021, blaze consumed 40 acres at Sauratown Mountain in Stokes County. Four months later, a fire destroyed 200 acres in Lowgap in Surry County. There also were no injuries or structure damage in those fires. Continued climate change is expected to lead to more such fires, some of which could threaten homes within wildland urban interface areas, including in the Triad. As fire weather becomes more prevalent, there are more days when extreme conditions can blow up small blazes into big ones, or fuel the continued growth of large wildfires, Climate Central warned In the United States in 2020, an estimated 45,979 people died by suicide and 24,576 by homicide.1,2 Some healthcare workers' deaths are attributable to both types of violence. Concerns about burnout, depression, and suicide among healthcare professionals have garnered increasing attention.3,4 Healthcare workplace violence also has received increasing attention and is a major safety concern in healthcare settings.5,6 The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has warned of the public health challenges of increasing violence in healthcare.7 Violence in the workplace takes many forms, including fatal attacks on health professionals.8 Increasingly comprehensive data have been emerging about the violent deaths of healthcare personnel since the CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) was created in 2003. Its database of deaths by suicide and homicide has been interrogated for deaths of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals.9-14 Studies have summarized decedents' demographics, methods of suicide, and homicide victims' relationships with assailants. The incidence of healthcare professionals who die by suicide has been estimated by some researchers to exceed rates in the general population.9 Consistent with patterns of violent death in the general population, healthcare workers are more likely to die by suicide than homicide.15 A systematic review revealed that physicians are at risk for death by suicide and emphasized the need to implement studies investigating death by suicide in other healthcare professionals.16 The rate of homicides of healthcare professionals also is alarming. NVDRS data between 2003 and 2018 revealed that 56 physicians and 13 psychologists died by homicide.12,13 Robiner and colleagues analyzed NVDRS homicide data for 10 types of healthcare professionals, summarizing demographic data and calculating homicide rates in those professions' workforces.17 Homicides of healthcare professionals are not limited to the United States. For example, more than half of 21 physician homicides in Italy were perpetrated by patients and their relatives.18 Such reports raise questions about the extent and characteristics of violent deaths of physician associates/assistants (PAs). Burnout, depression, and suicidal ideation have been reported in PA trainees and faculty.19,20 PA students have reported higher anxiety and depression than the general population.21 Our literature search using the terms physician assistant, homicide, suicide, kill, murder, and death identified no previous studies of PAs' violent deaths. However, PA homicides have been reported in the media.22,23 To bridge this gap in the literature, enhance understanding of the epidemiology of PAs' violent deaths, and raise awareness about them, we analyzed NVDRS data on PAs who died by suicide or homicide. This study sought to delineate the incidence of PAs' violent deaths, their demographics and associated characteristics, and to establish a baseline for future longitudinal research. METHODS The NVDRS was developed by the CDC in 2003 and incorporates data from coroners' reports, police reports, and death certificates. Researchers can use these data to develop initiatives to prevent violent deaths and to assess the effects of those initiatives. The system provides demographic data and other information about decedents (for example, factors involved in incidents, toxicology reports, methods of attack, history of personal problems) and, where known, about their relationships with assailants. The number of jurisdictions participating in the NVDRS has increased from 7 states to 50 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, but only 48 provided sufficient data to be included in the 2020 NVDRS dataset. Figure 1 presents the number of states reporting to the NVDRS. Incomplete data in two states in 2020 and other states in other years limited reporting. Using US Census Bureau data, we determined that the incomplete 2020 NVDRS data captured 85% of the US population.24 Assuming that reporting and nonreporting areas had similar rates of suicide and homicide allowed calculation of extrapolated national estimates of PA deaths by suicide or homicide for 2020. These in turn were compared with BLS estimates of the PA workforce to derive estimated rates of suicide and homicide among PAs in 2020.25 FIGURE 1.: Cumulative PA homicides and suicides and state participation in the NVDRS The completeness of data varied over years as the NVDRS evolved. Enrollment in the program was staggered, and some states submitted incomplete records at times. For example, in some years, Illinois and Pennsylvania collected data in a subset of counties representing only a portion of violent deaths in those states. Other examples include New York's exclusion in 2019 and Hawaii's exclusion for 3 years due to incomplete reporting. California only participated for 4 years, and in those years, only some counties participated; Texas participated only in 2020, reporting data for four participating counties. Florida has only recently participated, but data have not been sufficient for inclusion in the dataset. Consequently, the numbers presented underestimate the true incidence of violent deaths. The NVDRS was queried for anonymized demographic and situational data about PA deaths by suicide and homicide between 2003 and 2020. Tables were created based on descriptive data in electronic spreadsheets. For the purpose of this study, both death by suicide and death by suicide following homicide committed by the PA were coded as suicide. Both authors reviewed recorded occupational classifications and the narratives of law enforcement and health departments provided in the NVDRS data to reach consensus in identifying PAs using the search terms physician assistant and physician asst. The study was deemed exempt by the University of Minnesota institutional review board. RESULTS Violent deaths of PAs were reported every year since 2004, the second year of the database, totaling 102 through 2020. Figure 1 presents the cumulative numbers of PA suicides and homicides. The 93 suicides and 9 homicides reveal an incidence of suicide nearly 10 times that of homicide (Figure 2). Three PAs died by suicide after having committed homicides. One death by suicide followed the PA's partner's death by suicide. FIGURE 2.: PA deaths by suicide or homicide , NVDRS 2003-2020 Table 1 summarizes demographics of PAs who died violent deaths. Overall, modal age range was 50 to 59 years. The 67 males' age (M = 52.8 years) exceeded the 35 females' age (M = 43.7 years). Most (n = 91; 89.2%) were White, non-Hispanic; Black and Asian PAs accounted for 3.9% and 4.9%, respectively. Most (n = 61; 59.9%) were married at the time of their death, 18 were divorced, 18 had never married, and 5 were widowed. TABLE 1. - Demographics of PAs who died by suicide or homicide Demographics of PAs who died byor Totals may not equal 100% because of rounding. Suicide Homicide Combined Demographic Male (n = 63) Female (n = 30) Total (N = 93) Male (n = 4) Female (n = 5) Total (N = 9) Male (n = 67) Female (n = 35) Total (N = 102) M SD M SD M SD M SD M SD M SD M SD M SD M SD Age 52.7 11.4 43.6 12.5 49.8 12.4 55 6.2 45.5 11.5 48.7 10.7 52.8 11.1 43.7 12.3 49.7 12.2 Age range (years) n % n % N % n % n % N % n % n % N % 20-29 1 1.6 4 13.3 5 5.4 0 0 1 20 1 11.1 1 1.5 5 14.3 6 5.8 30-39 8 12.7 6 20 14 15.1 0 0 1 20 1 11.1 8 11.9 7 20 15 14.6 40-49 14 22.2 12 40 26 28 1 25 1 20 2 22.2 15 22.4 13 37.1 28 27.2 50-59 23 36.5 6 20 29 31.2 2 50 2 40 4 44.4 25 37.3 8 22.9 33 32 60-69 12 19 0 0 12 12.9 1 25 0 0 1 11.1 13 19.4 0 0 13 12.6 70 and older 5 7.9 2 6.7 7 7.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 7.5 2 5.7 7 7.8 Marital status Married/civil union/domestic partnership 45 71.4 10 33.3 55 59.1 3 75 3 60 6 66.6 48 71.6 13 37.1 61 59.9 Divorced 10 15.9 7 23.3 17 18.3 1 25 0 0 1 11.1 11 16.4 7 20 18 17.6 Never married 4 6.3 12 40 16 17.2 0 0 2 40 2 22.2 4 6 14 40 18 17.6 Widowed 4 6.3 1 3.3 5 5.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 1 2.9 5 4.9 Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 61 96.8 26 86.7 87 93.5 3 75 1 20 4 44.4 64 95.5 27 77.1 91 89.2 Black, non-Hispanic 0 0 1 3.3 1 1.1 1 25 2 40 3 33.3 1 1.5 3 8.6 4 3.9 Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic 1 1.6 3 10 4 4.3 0 0 1 20 1 11.1 1 1.5 4 11.4 5 4.9 Other 1 1.6 0 0 1 1.1 0 0 1 20 1 11.1 1 1.5 1 2.9 2 2 Suicide Deaths by suicide were identified all years except 2003 and 2013, with the greatest number in recent years: 8 in 2017, 7 in 2018, 17 in 2019, and 10 in 2020. Men (67.7%) accounted for more than twice the number of deaths by suicide compared with women (32.3%). PAs who died by suicide were predominantly White (93.5%); 4.3% were Asian, 1.1% Black, and 1.1% other race or ethnicity. The mean age of men who died by suicide (M = 52.7 years, SD = 11.4) was a decade older than that of women (M = 43.6 years, SD = 12.5; t(93) = 3.52, P < .001). Most men had partners; the modal relationship status of women who died by suicide was never married (40%). Men were more than twice as likely as women to have partners. Smaller percentages of women (23.3%) and men (15.9%) were divorced. More men (n = 4) than women (n = 1) were widowed. Most were still working as PAs; however, at least two were unemployed and one was retired. Homicides Nine PA homicides were reported, five women (55.6%) and four men (44.4%). Homicides were reported in fewer than half (n = 7; 38.9%) of the years but had occurred in three of the five most recent years. The age distribution was wider in women than men. All men were over age 40 years (M = 55 years, SD = 6.2) and on average were 9.5 years older than women (M = 45.5 years, SD = 11.5). Nearly half (n = 4; 44.4%) of PA homicide victims were White, three (33.3%) were Black, and one (11.1%) was Asian, and the race/ethnicity of the last victim was not identified. More than half of the women and all but one man were married. Regions of violent deaths A plurality of PAs who died by suicide (43%) and a majority of those who died by homicide (77.8%) were in the South (Table 2). A quarter (24.7%) of the PAs who died by suicide, but none who died by homicide, were in the West. The Midwest and Northeast had fewer incidents, accounting collectively for nearly a third (31.4%) of PA violent deaths. TABLE 2. - PAs' violent deaths by US region PAs' violent deaths by US region Totals may not equal 100% because of rounding. Suicide Homicide Total Region n % n % N % South 40 43 7 77.8 47 46.1 West 23 24.7 0 0 23 22.5 Midwest 15 16.1 1 11.1 16 15.7 Northeast 15 16.1 1 11.1 16 15.7 Total 93 99.9 9 100 102 100 Location of death Most (72.5%) violent deaths were in PAs' homes including 55.6% of the deaths by homicide and 74.2% of those by suicide (Table 3). No homicides were in work settings; however, at least four deaths by suicide were in work settings. Locations were not reported for four deaths by suicide. TABLE 3. - Location of PAs' violent deaths Location of PAs' violent deaths Totals may not equal 100% because of rounding. Suicide Homicide Total n % n % N % Victim's home 69 74.2 5 55.6 74 72.5 Public/in vehicle 11 11.8 2 22.2 13 12.7 Other/remote area 5 5.4 1 11.1 6 5.9 Institution property (hospital, clinic, etc.) 4 4.3 0 0 5 4.9 Unknown 4 4.3 1 11.1 4 3.9 Total 93 100 9 100 102 99.9 Method of death A plurality (n = 42; 41.2%) of deaths involved firearms (Table 4). Guns were involved in a greater proportion of deaths by suicide (n = 40; 43%) than homicide (n = 2; 22.2%). The frequency of gun-mediated death by suicide was 38% greater than the next most common method, overdose or intoxication (26.9%). Half (n = 32, 50.8%) of men who died by suicide used firearms, compared with about a quarter (n = 8, 26.7%) of women. TABLE 4. - Causes of PA violent deaths Causes ofviolent deaths Suicide Homicide Combined Male (n = 63) Female (n = 30) Total (N = 93) Male (n = 4) Female (n = 5) Total (N = 9) Male (n = 67) Female (n = 35) Combined (N = 102) Method n % n % N % n % n % N % n % n % N % Firearm 32 50.8 8 26.7 40 43 2 50 0 0 2 22.2 34 50.7 8 22.9 42 41.2 Overdose/intoxication 13 20.6 16 53.3 29 26.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 19.4 16 45.7 29 28.4 Hanging/ strangulation/ suffocation 8 12.7 4 13.3 12 12.9 1 25 0 0 2 22.2 9 13.4 4 11.4 13 12.7 Laceration 4 6.3 1 3.3 5 5.4 1 25 2 40 2 22.2 5 7.5 3 8.6 8 7.8 Blunt impact 3 4.8 0 0 3 3.2 0 0 3 60 3 33.3 3 4.5 3 8.6 6 5.9 Carbon monoxide poisoning 3 4.8 1 3.3 4 8.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4.5 1 2.9 4 3.9 The most common homicide method was blunt impact (n = 3; 33.3%) using a blunt instrument or a car. Firearms, laceration, and asphyxia each accounted for 22.2% of homicides. Most homicides were single-victim incidents (55.6%). Factors associated with PA deaths by suicide Two-thirds (66.7%) of female PAs who died by suicide were described as having mental health problems, including depressed mood (43.3%); fewer (36.6%) were receiving mental health treatment (Table 5). A third of these women had a history of previous suicide attempts. TABLE 5. - Factors associated with PA deaths by suicide Factors associated withdeaths by Male (n = 63) Female (n = 30) Total (N = 93) n % n % N % Known mental health problem 22 34.9 20 66.7 42 45.2 Known depressed mood 21 33.3 13 43.3 34 36.6 Receiving mental health treatment 17 27.0 17 56.7 34 36.6 Intimate partner problem 20 31.7 10 33.3 30 32.3 Previous suicide attempt 12 19 10 33.3 22 23.7 Alcohol/other drug problem 15 23.8 5 16.7 20 21.5 Physical or health problem 15 24 2 6.7 17 18.3 Job problem 11 17.5 3 10 14 15.1 Death or recent suicide of a friend or family member 5 7.9 3 10 8 8.6 Financial problem 1 1.6 3 10 4 4.3 A smaller proportion of men (34.9%) had known mental health problems, including depressed mood (33.3%); fewer were receiving treatment (27%). Men had higher incidence (23.8%) of alcohol or other drug problems compared with women (16.7%) and lower incidence of previous suicide attempts (n = 12; 19%) than women (n = 10; 33.3%). Physical health problems were noted in 24% of men who died by suicide but were less common in women (6.7%). Similar proportions of men (31.7%) and women (33.3%) had intimate partner problems. Job problems were noted in relatively small proportions of men (17.5%) and women (14%). Recent death or suicide of a friend or family member were experienced by eight PAs who died by suicide; financial problems were noted for four. Suspected assailants of PA homicide victims Most (n = 7; 77.8%) victims were known to have had some type of relationship with the known or suspected assailant (Table 6). Relatives (sons or stepsons) (n = 3; 33.3%) and spouses/intimate partners (n = 2; 22.2%) accounted for more than half of assailants. Other assailants were friends or acquaintances (n = 2; 22.2%) or strangers/unknown (n = 2; 22.2%). No patients or family members of patients were identified as assailants. Most suspects were male (n = 8; 88.9%); one was female (n = 1; 11.1%). TABLE 6. - Primary suspect relationship to PA victim (N=9) by sex Primary suspect relationship tovictim (N=9) by sex Totals may not equal 100% because of rounding. Total Male suspect Female suspect Relationship to PA N % n % n % Relative or step-relative (sibling, parent, stepparent) 3 33.3 3 33.3 0 0 Spouse/intimate partner 2 22.2 2 22.2 0 0 Friend/acquaintance 2 22.2 2 22.2 0 0 Stranger/unknown relationship 2 22.2 1 11.1 1 11.1 Extrapolated estimates and rates of PA death by suicide or homicide in 2020 At the time this research was conducted, NVDRS data was available through 2020, which had the highest number of participating states and covered regions in which an estimated 85% of the US population dwelled. In 2020, 10 PAs were reported to have died by suicide and 1 by homicide. Dividing these by 0.85 yielded a national extrapolated estimate of 11.76 PA deaths by suicide and 1.18 by homicide. These estimates were then divided by the BLS estimate of the US workforce of 139,100 PAs.25 Multiplying those numbers by 100,000 derived estimated rates of 8.45 deaths by suicide and 0.85 by homicide per 100,000 PAs that year. DISCUSSION PAs are a critical, growing health profession, of whom 67.1% are women.26 By virtue of their increasing numbers in the United Statesa country with a history and current mounting reality, of violencesome PAs experience violent deaths. The 102 PA deaths reported in the NVDRS between 2003 and 2020 confirm that PAs, like other healthcare professionals, are susceptible to this violence. All deaths are lamentable losses for family and friends, and the premature, violent deaths of PAs are particularly challenging for colleagues, the profession, healthcare system, and society. The increasing number of states reporting to the NVDRS over time offers increasingly comprehensive preliminary national estimates of PAs' violent deaths. These can be put in perspective by comparing them with US population data. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported 7.5 deaths by homicide and 14 deaths by suicide per 100,000 population for 2020, based on data across all age groups.27 The respective denominators of the full population differ from the workforce of PAs in terms of age range and other demographics that may limit their comparability. However, estimated PA deaths by suicide or homicide in 2020 were remarkably lower relative to the workforce of PAs than the NCHS findings for the US population: The rate of PA deaths by suicide relative to the PA workforce was about 58% the rate of homicides in the general population. The rate of PA homicide deaths relative to the PA workforce was lower, about one-tenth of the rate of homicides in the general population. The demographics of PAs who died by suicide or homicide provide insights into patterns and potential risks of their violent deaths. Age is a factor: although the range was 25 to 78 years for deaths by suicide and 29 to 60 years for homicides, most PAs who died by suicide or homicide were middle-aged. PAs who died by suicide generally were older, consistent with findings from a systematic review that older age is a risk factor for suicide in physicians and with national findings that nearly half of US deaths by suicide are in people of middle age.28,29 PAs who died by homicide generally were older than other US homicide victims.30 The age variation suggests that it is particularly important for suicide prevention efforts in the profession to include outreach to demographic subgroups that may be at highest risk. Race and ethnicity data of PAs who died violent deaths can be compared with the demographics of the PA workforce, overall US violent death statistics, and population statistics. The differential incidence may reflect under- and overrepresentation of some groups in the workforce. The proportion of White (89.2%), Black (3.9%), and Asian (4.9%) PAs who died violent deaths grossly approximates population demographics, with variable resemblance to the racial composition of the workforce and racial breakdown of violent deaths in the general population. In the United States, 73.7% of PAs are White, 9.07% are Asian, and 6.13% are Black.26 Among all people in the United States who died by suicide, 77.1% were White, 9.9% were Hispanic, 7.2% were Black, and 2.8% were Asian.1 The US Census Bureau estimates that the US population is 75% White, 13% Black, and 6.7% Asian/Pacific Islander.31 White PAs (93.5%) accounted for a greater proportion of PA deaths by suicide than their share of the PA workforce and of all US deaths by suicide. Black PAs accounted for a relatively smaller proportion (1.1%) of all PA deaths by suicide than their proportion of the PA workforce and of all US deaths by suicide. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander PAs who died by suicide was lower than their representation in the PA workforce and consistent with relatively lower US suicide incidence for Asian/Pacific Islander people.32 A different picture emerges for homicides. White PAs accounted for a lower percentage (44.4%) of PA homicides than their share of the PA workforce, their proportion of all US homicides (41.1%), and of the US population (75%).31,33 Black PAs accounted for a higher (33.3%) proportion of PA homicides than they did of the PA workforce (6.13%) and of the US population (13%).26,31 A disproportionally high percentage (53.7%) of US homicide victims are Black.33 More Black female PAs than Black male PAs died by homicide, a pattern contrasting sharply with US homicide statistics, in which Black male victims (86.1%) vastly outnumber Black female victims (13.9%).34 The single homicide of an Asian/Pacific Islander PA was consistent with CDC findings of lower homicide rates for this group.34 The relatively low number of homicides suggests that interpretations about race or ethnicity be considered cautiously. Region and location of deaths The greatest proportion (46.1%) of PA deaths by suicide or homicide were in the South. The West experienced fewer violent deaths. The Northeast and Midwest had comparable, relatively lower rates. The regional pattern for death by suicide mostly is consistent with the CDC's general population suicide statistics for the South (38%), West (25%), Midwest (21%), and Northeast (14%).34 The South also had the most homicides, followed by the Midwest, Northeast, and West. This pattern is somewhat less consistent with US homicides in 2018-2019, in which homicides per 100,00 population were 6.1 in the South, 5.3 in the Midwest, 4.2 in the West, and 3.4 in the Northeast.35 Here, too, caution is advised against interpreting regional variation because of the small numbers. Other factors Despite the disquieting incidence of violence in healthcare, violent deaths of healthcare professionals appear to be relatively rare in healthcare settings such as hospitals and clinics.6,8,13,17 No PAs died by homicide in clinical settings. This is a partially reassuring bright spot in an otherwise sorrowful accounting. How much it may correspond to findings for other healthcare professions, reflect privilege and socioeconomic factors, the partial effectiveness of medical settings' safeguards and security measures, or might be a function of the low absolute numbers or other factors, is not known. The modest number of PA deaths by homicide may indicate that some features of PAs' work, which were not identified by these data, may create fewer sources of conflict with patients that might otherwise escalate to homicide, as has been reported for physicians.12,18 This may be a fruitful focus for future research. The finding of zero job-related PA homicides should not be taken for granted and does not argue for minimizing security measures in healthcare settings. The overall high level of violence against healthcare workers in healthcare settings warrants sufficient security measures to mitigate all violence, not just fatal violence. As recognized for prevention efforts in general, the true effect of healthcare security measures and resources in preventing fatalities cannot be fully known. Two of the four PAs who died by suicide on healthcare premises reportedly had job problems. They, and the other PAs who died by suicide, point to the need for violence prevention efforts including effective prevention, education, and other interventional measures to identify and support vulnerable clinicians and lessen potentially contributory work-related stresses to mitigate suicide risk. Firearms and other methods Consistent with other effects of US gun violence, firearms were the most frequent method for PAs who died by suicide.36-38 Firearms were used in 41.2% of deaths by suicide, by half of men and more than a quarter of women. About a quarter of PA deaths by suicide were due to overdose or intoxication, and an eighth involved asphyxia. This pattern differs from overall US suicide statistics, which were respectively higher for firearms (51%) and asphyxia (24%) and lower for overdose or poisoning (16%).39 The basis of the relatively larger proportion of PAs whose deaths by suicide were caused by overdose is unknown, but may reflect, in part, PAs' readier access to potentially lethal drugs. Mental health Additional factors included depression, seen in at least a third of PA deaths by suicide. Women had nearly twice the incidence of known mental health problems compared with men. About a quarter of the men and more than half the women were receiving mental health treatment. Male PAs' more frequent use of firearms demonstrated the lethality of firearms compared with other less lethal and more rescuable approaches, likely contributing to men's high proportion (67.7%) of death by suicide. This pattern accords with research suggesting men who die by suicide are less likely to have known mental health problems, a pattern also seen in other healthcare professionals.10,11,40 Little information about why PAs died by suicide is available, in part because follow-up inquiries are not possible. Various motives and drivers may be contributory. For example, physical or health problems (18.3%) or job problems (15.1%) were noted in a subset; the extent of their effect relative to other potential factors is not known. As has been discussed for other healthcare professionals, the stigma associated with mental health problems may deter some PAs from acknowledging or seeking help for mental health issues.9,41 Initiatives to promote help-seeking and enhance collegial or system supports may prevent some problems from escalating to suicide. Assailants Nearly all suspected killers of PAs were male, consistent with national patterns showing that men perpetrate most homicides (88.8%).42 Relatives and current or former intimate partners accounted for most homicides. This accords grossly with FBI findings that in more than half of homicides, the assailant is a friend or acquaintance of the victim, and that family and intimate partners account for another quarter of the cases in which the perpetrators are known.43 Effect PAs' violent deaths are heartrending for their families, patients, colleagues, and others whose lives they touched. Because PAs are critical to the functioning of the healthcare system, the effect of their violent deaths is broad, affecting access to and continuity of care as well as the healthcare outcomes of the communities they serve. These sobering findings emerge within a broader context of the relatively more extensive violent deaths in other healthcare professionals. The incidence of death by suicide reveals it to be a problem vexing the field, as it does for other healthcare professions.9-11,44 In 2018, PAs had the lowest numbers and rates of death by suicide and in 2020 had among the lowest for homicide relative to nine other types of healthcare professionals.11,17 The comparatively small number of homicides is both a source of reassurance that PAs' work is relatively safe and of concern that broader societal problems, such as gun and domestic violence, contribute to shortening some PAs' lives. LIMITATIONS Because this is the first study examining violent deaths of PAs, the findings should be considered preliminary. Although the objective was to obtain a truly national sample, the study was limited by the heterogeneous participation of states in the NVDRS during the observation period and likely underestimates true incidence. As state participation increased over time, tallies of deaths also increased. Variation in the number of participating states precludes discerning the extent to which increasing deaths reflect longitudinal variation in suicides and homicides or the greater number of participating states. Until full participation of all states (and all counties in them) is achieved and sustained, NVDRS data will not be able to provide a full accounting of PAs' violent deaths. The degree to which reports to the NVDRS underestimate the magnitude of the phenomenon is not known. As the profession grows and the demographics of the workforce evolve, changes in the epidemiology of these phenomena can be anticipated. Future reports based on more comprehensive data will paint a clearer picture of PAs' violent deaths. Such data may contribute to the health and safety of PAs by leading to more targeted strategies for identifying PAs who may be at higher risk. CONCLUSIONS Mitigation of violent deaths requires recognizing them and taking effective action. Other healthcare professions' national organizations (such as the American Medical Association and American Nurses Association) are addressing their constituents' burnout and suicide risks. Similarly, the American Academy of Physician Associates' Blueprint for Addressing Physician Assistant Well-being and Burnout is a model resource addressing factors, such as mental health problems, that can contribute to PAs' violent deaths.45 Programs are needed to address patient and healthcare professional safety and to mitigate stress related to healthcare professionals' work by streamlining workflow, improving service delivery, setting realistic performance expectations, enhancing support for workers, and promoting culture change. Self-assessments and resources to address burnout and psychosocial problems also are needed, as are programs to support survivors of colleague death by suicide or homicide. Multitiered national, regional, local, and institutional approaches can be envisioned with primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive programming and resources to attenuate the incidence of, and respond to, future violent deaths of PAs. For suicide prevention, more systematic publicizing of resources such as the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention may help prevent some deaths by suicide of PAs and their patients. Most PAs' deaths reported in the NVDRS did not appear to be related to PAs' work in healthcare. Consequently, in addition to wellness-promoting efforts in healthcare professions and healthcare organizations, and enhanced security measures in the organizations that employ them, it is perhaps even more essential to confront the means and drivers that contribute to violence, including excessive availability of guns, domestic violence, and substance use disorders. Advocacy addressing a range of societal factors, including promoting violence-reducing policies and increasing resources to detect and mitigate risk, is needed to reduce violence affecting PAs, their patients, their colleagues in other healthcare professions, and their communities. I've sent a number of patients to you over the years, I say. Nearly all of themactually, I would say all of themmost likely came to you indirectly by way of the only pediatric dermatologist who was practicing in the region back then. I drop the mutual colleague's name, and the surgeon nods his head. I close my eyes against the intense brightness of the overhead light and bring to mind the round face of an olive-skinned dark-eyed toddler. Silently, I sift through the memory banks of my mind, searching for her name. I can't recall the year, but it must have been more than a decade agoyes, at least that long. I remember one patient in particular, I say, a little girl, just a toddler, who presented with a lesion on the calf of one leg. There was no significant family history, but just the same, I was concerned. I suggested a consult with the pediatric dermatologist, but the mother pushed back. In the end she elected watchful waiting; I agreed to see the child back in a couple of months. I really didn't like the look of it at the follow-up visit, I ramble on. I finally convinced the mother to take the girl for the consultation. That's when the dermatologist referred the child to you for an excisional biopsy. As I recall, the pathology report showed melanotic spindle cells, and Wait, I remember this kid, the surgeon says. Yes, I remember. She had an older brother as well, right? This was such a difficult family to work with. Initially, the mother didn't want to have the biopsy done; then, she fought the wide excisional follow-up surgery. That's when I found out the backstory. It was the father. He was a big, imposing man; very abrupt, very curt. I remember how uncomfortable I was meeting him. He challenged everything I said. In the end I sent the biopsy specimen to an outside dermatopathology lab in New York for a confirmatory diagnosis. I even wrote lettersto the family, to the insurance company, to everybody involved. He pulls back and straightens up a bit. Now that I think of it, you and I must have talked over the phone at some point about this kid. I'm sure we did. While you were working on things from your end, I was doing my best to educate the parents on my end. I do remember meeting the fathervery imposing, as you said. Finally, after a lengthy discussion, I told the mother that the little girl's chances were guarded if she didn't follow through with the surgery. The surgeon leans back on his stool. Did you know that we had to make arrangements for the mother to bring the child in secretly for the final procedure? The father didn't find out until after the fact. I was actually worried for the mother's safety. Thankfully, the wound margins were clear. I guess it all must've worked out, because I never saw them again. Well, I did. The mother brought the girl back to our office for her 2-year well-child check. The wound was well healed by then. There was the scar, of course; but that couldn't be helped. At least the cancer was removed before it had a chance to metastasize. And she went on to do well? the surgeon asks. Yes. The mother brought her back for regular checkups and sick visits. Eventually, the family moved away. I believe that they may have returned to their country of origin; I'm not sure. Turn your head a bit more to the left, the surgeon says. Good. Now, stay still as a statue. He leans in, and I hear the repetitive metallic click of the needle holders. Shortly, he's finished: the skin graft is done. My assistant will go over wound care for the donor and the graft sites with you. I'll see you back in 2 weeks to check them. They should be fully healed by then. The assistant pulls the surgical drape from my eyes. I blink in the light, then focus on the surgeon's face. Thank you for your attentive careand for your kindness, I say. The outer edges of his eyes crinkle above his surgical mask. Oh, you're very welcome, he says. Then, with a hand on the door of the surgical suite, he turns momentarily, and our eyes meet. I really admire you guys who work in pediatrics, he says. You've got to have the skill set to treat the family as well as the child. Not everybody does. And, he adds, you've also got to have the patience of Job. As I look back on my four decades of clinical pediatric practice, his words feel like a small benediction. In a cheerful tune, I hear the residents of the memory care unit singing, Puff, the magic dragon / Lived by the sea / And frolicked in the autumn mist / In a land called Honali, as it chimes on the jukebox this afternoon. I'm sitting next to one of the residents, Pearl, and as soon as the song ends we begin making small talk with each other. What are you going to school for? Pearl asks. I'm attending school to become a physician assistant, I say. Pearl probes further: Do you think you will ever become a doctor? Actually, physician assistants study medicine on a separate track from doctors. We learn to diagnose and treat patients, but we aren't called doctors, because we haven't gone to medical school. Pearl nods her head in understanding. Three minutes go by. Then, Pearl asks, What are you going to school for? Maybe my explanation wasn't clear enough, I surmise. I explained it again: Physician assistants study medicine on a separate track from doctors. We learn to diagnose and treat patients, but we aren't called doctors, because we haven't gone to medical school. Once more Pearl nods her head in understanding. A minute or two later, she asks, So, what are you going to school for? I look into her eyes, the eyes of innocence and genuine curiosity. I search them for a hint of understanding but find none. In the next 20 minutes, Pearl asks me the same set of questions four more times. I reason that it may be better if I ask about her life. I inquire, Do you have any children? Pearl is lost deep in thought for a few seconds, and then with an attitude of defeat shrugs her shoulders and says, I don't know. A surge of empathy and embarrassment comes over me for raising this topic. A nurse eavesdropping nearby says, Pearl, you have two sons, Chad and Joseph; they come by every Sunday. The corners of Pearl's mouth turn up into a small smile, and after a brief pause, she probes, Are they nice? The nurse replies, Yes, they are very nice and complete gentlemen. Pearl says nothing, but a wave of relief promptly washes over her body. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The state removed at least four juveniles from the Lancaster County Youth Services Center on Wednesday over a dispute about the daily rate the state pays to house them, and others are likely to be moved in the coming days. Lancaster County officials said they were disappointed and saddened by the recent drastic and rash decision to remove the young people and house them farther away from their families, services, attorneys and the court system. Probations decision today threatens to unravel the years of progress made to improve the juvenile justice system, the county said in a statement. Nebraska State Probation pays the Youth Services Center to house young people who have been adjudicated through the juvenile court system and are awaiting final placement, as well as those who have been detained because theyve violated their probation. The rate issue isnt new: County officials have said for years the state's per diem rate doesnt fully cover the cost to house the young people, and that taxpayers shouldn't have to subsidize a cost the state is mandated to pay. We always try to renegotiate the rate because that rate has never covered what it costs to house these youths, said Lancaster County Board Chairwoman Christa Yoakum. State Court Administrator Corey Steel said State Probation was blindsided on March 23 when the countys chief administrative officer notified probation the county was going to cancel the longstanding contract effective Monday. Several meetings followed, and the county hasnt accepted the compensation rate, which is based on funding approved by the Legislature, Steel said. County officials said the current cost to house a youth is $399 per day and thats projected to increase to $465 a day for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The current contract dates back to 2017, Steel said, and was amended in May 2021. The state had been paying $278 a day until May 1, when it increased the rate to $315 a day. Steel said when the county notified the state it would bill the state the higher rate and charge 16% interest on any unpaid balance after 30 days, state officials decided to find other placements. The notice from the county when the Legislature already was in session and Probation's budget request had been submitted meant asking for more money at that point wasnt an option, Steel said. Probation officials are asking judges that handled the cases to approve other housing, a process that's ongoing. On Wednesday, the state was paying the county to house 14 young people. By Thursday afternoon, four of them had been moved to other facilities. Steel said the goal is to have all 14 moved by the end of the week. The number of youth at the Youth Services Center under the purview of Probation changes daily, but on Tuesday comprised more than half of the Youth Services Centers 25 young people detained there. While about 60% of the centers budget comes from property tax revenue, losing the state payments and the young people housed there would have a significant impact on the operations of the facility, said Dennis Meyer, the county's budget and fiscal officer. Similar discussions are happening in Douglas County, which also gave the state a 30-day notice on its contract, but negotiations are ongoing and no young people have been removed, Steel said. Lancaster County officials said they had no notice that Probation was planning to move their charges. Probation has recklessly escalated a discussion about billing by suddenly and dangerously disrupting the lives of vulnerable youth and their families, compromising its own mission to serve youth in our community and ensure public safety, county officials said in a statement. Both sides say they werent the ones who stopped negotiations and that theyre willing to come back to the table to find a solution. Lancaster County officials said they want to be clear that theyre available and willing to house young people in the state probation system and have the services the young people need. We just want to be paid for it, Yoakum said. Top Journal Star photos for May 2023 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. SAN FRANCISCO Jack Sweeney, the 20-year-old college student who was once banned from Twitter for posting the real-time movements of Elon Musks jet, has a new aircraft in his sights: that of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. On Monday, Sweeney posted his first tweet on the account @DeSantisJet, which follows the movements of the official Florida jet DeSantis uses for state business. The tracker, like the one he created to follow Musk's private jet, uses public flight information required by aviation authorities. In an interview, Sweeney said he also plans to track DeSantis flights on other private aircraft once he can identify them. DeSantis, a Republican, announced Monday that he is running for president. Like Sweeneys revamped version of his Musk tracker @elonjet, the DeSantis Twitter tracker reports movements with a 24-hour delay. That delay complies with a Twitter rule change imposed shortly after the company suspended Sweeney's original Musk tracking account in December. That came not long after the Tesla CEO bought the social media platform for $44 billion. Sweeney's Twitter account was later restored. By relying on public data, Sweeney's tracker also sidesteps a Florida law signed by DeSantis on May 11 that requires state law enforcement agencies to keep the governor's travel records secret. Sweeney, who is a student at the University of Central Florida, tracks a variety of other private jets used by politicians, technology tycoons and celebrities. That list includes former President Donald Trump; Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg; and Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian. Like his other tracking accounts, Sweeney's DeSantis tracker appears on a variety of social platforms ranging from Facebook and Instagram to smaller sites such as Telegram, Mastodon, and Nostr. His Musk tracker also uses accounts on BlueSky, a nascent Twitter alternative, and Truth, a Trump-founded social network. Only the Twitter-based trackers feature the 24-hour delay. Sweeney said DeSantis is just becoming someone that people want to know about. The Florida Republican has long given signs of gearing up to run for president in the 2024 election, where he would contend with Trump and several other announced candidates. The 2024 presidential field, in the order they've announced Donald Trump, Republican Nikki Haley, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican Marianne Williamson, Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Democrat Larry Elder, Republican President Joe Biden, Democrat Asa Hutchinson, Republican Tim Scott, Republican Ron DeSantis, Republican Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday hailed enactment of legislation that will extend mental health and behavioral health services throughout the state as a transformational improvement in health care services in Nebraska. "We have to do more for mental health," Pillen said as he applied his signature to a bill (LB276) sponsored by Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, that cleared the Legislature on a 46-0 vote. Joining the governor at a bill-signing ceremony, Wishart said the legislation will "do a lot of good for a lot of people" and she thanked the governor for his support, which included testifying before the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee. The new program is scheduled to be launched in the 2025-26 fiscal year with up to $4.5 million in state general fund support. Dannette Smith, CEO of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said the bill will "increase mental health access, care and services" statewide with a focus on "a community-based perspective." Pillen said the state will "convene an advocacy cabinet" this summer to make sure Nebraskans are aware of access to extended services. "We want a major breakthrough for mental health," the governor said. "We can help (and) there's a need," he said. Topher Hansen, president and CEO of CenterPointe in Lincoln, a nonprofit that specializes in mental health and addiction treatment for low-income and homeless people, praised Pillen for his support. "No governor in 50 states did what you did," Hansen said. The new legislation clears a path for certification of community behavioral health clinics that would provide increased access to medication-assisted treatment while expanding community partnerships with law enforcement, the justice system and schools. In the process, the proposal could fill gaps in communities where access to care is lacking while providing more holistic care. "We need to help each other," Pillen said. In an answer to questions on another topic, the governor said his veto of millions of dollars of appropriations approved by the Legislature in its two-year state government budget package expresses his conservative political beliefs. "I'm a fiscal conservative," he said. "I don't just talk it; I walk it. "If I was a politician, I would have signed it," Pillen said, without any objections. State government needs to embrace "fiscal restraints," the governor said, and "quit chasing our kids and our grandparents away" from Nebraska. Photos: Nebraska Gov. Pillen signs bill limiting abortion, transgender health care Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. CALEDONIA The Hoy Audubon Society of Kenosha and Racine Counties is hosting the program Cranes Over Wisconsin, presented by members of the International Crane Foundation. The free program is 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at the River Bend Nature Center, 3600 N. Green Bay Road. The International Crane Foundation will provide an interactive and engaging presentation in which you will learn how to identify the two species of cranes in Wisconsin, their history, the threats they face, the habitats they use and the whooping crane reintroduction program going on in our own backyard, program organizers said. Wisconsins wetlands are home to the sandhill crane and the endangered whooping cranes. Stephanie Schmidt, whooping crane outreach coordinator for the International Crane Foundation, will present the program, designed to help people learn the history of the cranes of Wisconsin and how you can help safeguard their future. After the presentation, participants will be able to identify sandhill cranes and whooping cranes, know the history of both crane species, understand the current work crane conservation partners are doing to protect cranes in Wisconsin and throughout their flyways, and find out how you can be an ambassador for cranes in Wisconsin as a volunteer and citizen scientist, organizers said. In the not-so-distant past, both sandhill cranes and whooping cranes faced near extinction throughout North America as they battled with increasing threats of unregulated hunting and habitat loss, organizers said. Thanks to widespread conservation efforts, sandhill cranes are now one of the most populous crane species in the world and whooping crane populations, while still endangered, are slowly growing. Today Wisconsin residents see around 20,000 sandhill cranes and 76 whooping cranes each year. Unfortunately, both species continue to face threats in Wisconsin and across their flyway. This event is free of charge, and no reservations are required. For more information about River Bend Nature Center and its programs, visit RiverBendRacine.org or call 262-639-1515. Who was arrested over the past weekend? Here are the Kenosha County Jail booking photos for people facing possible felony charges who were boo Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. MOUNT PLEASANT The purchase agreement between the Village of Mount Pleasant and Microsoft is now complete. The Village, Racine County, Racine County Economic Development Corp., Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and Milwaukee 7 announced the closing of the tech giants $50 million purchase of a 315-acre parcel of land in the village Thursday. Microsoft intends to build a data center on the property. This is an exciting next step in the process of welcoming Microsofts new data center development to Racine County, said Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave. This project offers an incredible growth opportunity for our community. Microsoft purchased the land in the east section of Area III of Tax Increment District No. 5 from the Village of Mount Pleasant. It was a part of the Foxconn development. The announcement of the intended sale was made in late March, with a unanimous vote of approval from the Mount Pleasant Village Board on March 30. The Racine County Board of Supervisors voted 18-1 to approve the purchase in April. We are proud to move forward with this highly anticipated development, said Village of Mount Pleasant President David DeGroot. The purchase of this land, which has been transformed in recent years, is a win for taxpayers and residents alike. Microsoft says it plans to spend $1 billion developing the data center campus. Pending approvals, work to prepare the site for construction could start as soon as later this year, according to a news release. Photos: Google gives search engine an AI makeover 1. Yes. Other area cities dont restrict the discussion topic. Killeen should relax the rules. 2. Yes. Restricting comments goes against free speech and discourages public discourse. 3. No. Opening up meetings to any topic would be a free-for-all and a waste of time. 4. No. Residents can sign up for the Citizen Petition option and speak on any topic they want. 5. Unsure. Limiting topics makes meetings more efficient, but it may be too restrictive. Vote View Results Killeen, TX (76540) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. KEARNEY Fire crews responded to an industrial fire at Eaton Corporation Wednesday evening. According to a city of Kearney press release, upon arrival at Eaton Corp., 4200 East Highway 30, Kearney Volunteer Fire Department crews found heavy black smoke coming from the roof and exterior doors of the west side of the facility. The first arriving fire engine established a water supply, and the crew pulled handlines and entered the facility. The crews began attacking the fire and searching the building. The fire was found and extinguished. Another crew gained access to the roof with a ladder truck and found that the fire had not extended to the roof. Eaton's management and maintenance personnel assisted KVFD in identifying and isolating the power to the affected area and shutting down the sprinkler system, which had been activated by the fire. Employees evacuated the fire safely and were all accounted for by Eaton's management. Prior to KVFD's arrival, Eaton employees attempted to extinguish the fire, but they were forced to evacuate when conditions deteriorated. Two Eaton employees were evaluated by Good Samaritan EMS for smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported and no one was transported to the hospital. The fire origin and cause remain under investigation. However, the initial investigation indicates that the fire started in a seat grinder and spread to a mist collector. The fire was mostly contained to the area of those two machines. Good Samaritan EMS, Buffalo County Sheriff's Office and Nebraska Public Power District assisted KVFD at the scene of the fire. LINCOLN Twenty-one Nebraska State Patrol troopers were honored for their efforts to remove impaired drivers from the road during the annual MADD Heroes Awards Tuesday in Lincoln. Each year, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) honors troopers, officers, deputies and advocates for their work to prevent drunk driving through enforcement of education efforts. Impaired driving enforcement is a key aspect of the Nebraska State Patrol mission to keep our roadways safe, said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. These troopers have done excellent work across our state. We look forward to a safe summer and urge all motorists to always have a sober driver. Thank you to MADD for their important work. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. RACINE Composer Lawrence McDonald wrote "Scenes from Sheridan Road" almost 30 years ago. When he heard it performed Monday night during a Racine Concert Band rehearsal, "I recalled parts of the writing process I had forgotten earlier," he said. "It was nice to hear again." "When you create a piece of music, it's like raising a teenager" he explained. "You have to set it loose into the world, and it becomes its own thing. In the hands of a capable conductor like Mark Eichner, it becomes its own person. A good conductor knows how to bring more out of the music. Mark came to me with a few questions, and I thought 'why didn't I think of that?'" When he composed "Sheridan Road" in 1994, McDonald was teaching music theory and composition at UW-Parkside and living near Lake Michigan. The school commissioned the piece as part of its 25th anniversary celebration. "Sheridan Road" has three movements Sheridan Morning, Sheridan Night and Sheridan Day that together capture the calm of early morning, the bustling manufacturing industry and the night-time scenes. "I flipped the order of the day in the piece, putting the night in the middle, because I wanted to end with something fast," McDonald said. When writing the piece, McDonald was inspired, in part, by Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring." "We had a snowstorm, a pretty big one, and I was watching the sun come up over Lake Michigan in the ice and cold," he said of "Sheridan Morning." "I visualized that when writing the music." The "Sheridan Day" section involves "trying to imagine what Downtown Racine and Kenosha were like during the heyday of the auto industry. It pays homage to the blue collar workers." McDonald is a graduate of UW-Parkside and earned his master and doctor of music degrees from UW-Madison. He is chairman of the Waukesha County Conservatory of Music/Royal Conservatory. "Sheridan Road" premiered in May of 1994 at UW-Parkside and was recorded by the Waukesha Symphonic Band. The piece is dedicated to the late August Wagner, who "taught me composition when I was a Parkside student," McDonald said. "Augie Wagner wasn't only a really fine teacher, but a fine guy, too. He continued to support me after I graduated and came to any performance of my pieces. He was the only professor of mine who did that." Wegner, a UW-Parkside music professor, pianist and composer, died in November 1993 at age 52 when he apparently suffered a heart attack during an afternoon rehearsal. Wegner joined the university in September 1972, teaching music theory, composition, jazz fundamentals and music fundamentals. McDonald complete "Sheridan Road" in "about a month. It was going pretty fast," he said. After that piece, he "turned to choral music writing. I was interested in setting the written word to music. That's inspiring to me." McDonald was awarded the 1994 Choral Music Prize by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association for his work "I Am Music." His "Magnificat" premiered in Italy at the 1997 Spoleto Festival by the Bel Canto Chorus, and his "Missa brevis" debuted at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, also by the Bel Canto chorus. The Racine Concert Band is also performing Norman Dello Joio's "Concertante" and Leonard Bernstein's "Slava!" The Case High School bands, directed by Max Feiler, will perform George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and Michael Giacchino's "Main Theme from The Incredibles." Eichner will lead the combined bands in a grand finale performance of "As the Stars Forever," by Warner Hutchison. ------------------- Who: Racine Concert Band and the J.I. Case High School bands When: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25 Where: Case High School, 7345 Washington Ave. in Racine Admission: $5 for adults, $4 for students and $3 for senior citizens Program: The Racine Concert Band, directed by Mark Eichner, is performing "Concertante" by Norman Dello Joio, "Slava!" by Leonard Bernstein, "Marche Caprice" by Frederick Delius and "Soirees Musicales" by Gioachino Rossini. A highlight of the band's program is "Scenes from Sheridan Road" by UW-Parkside graduate Lawrence McDonald. The Case High School bands, directed by Max Feiler, will perform George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and Michael Giacchino's "Main Theme from The Incredibles." The two bands will join together for the finale, "As the Stars Forever" by Warner Hutchison. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Torrie Spath-Berg is getting ready to graduate from Chippewa Falls High School on Friday. But its taken a lot of work for the 18-year-old to get here. In 2019, Torrie survived a car accident that claimed the life of her 34-year-old mother, Kayla (Spath) Berg. It was right before I started high school and we got into an accident in Eau Claire, she said. I had broken bones pretty much all along the right side of my face and a severe concussion. The recovery process was a couple surgeries, I think, Torrie said. Torrie doesnt remember much from when she was hospitalized, but she does recall having to go to therapy and physical therapy once she was on her feet. Torrie said despite the loss of her mom, her freshman year was a great time but I did a lot of growing up that year, for sure. I learned so much. If you go What: Chippewa Falls High School commencement ceremony When: 6 p.m. Friday, May 26 Where: Graduation parade begins at Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, 225 Edward St., Chippewa Falls The car accident, and her mothers death, happened seven months before COVID-19 hit. Torrie belongs to a generation that spent about half its high school days confined to home while the pandemic raged and learning went online. Though Torrie said she didnt participate in many school activities during her four years of high school, she still managed to make friends. Freshman year I definitely lived life to the fullest. I went to everything, she said. But I think after what I went through with COVID and everything, it was kind of just more, Im just gonna go to school, do the school stuff. Then do whatever in my free time. Laney Rands, another Chippewa Falls High School senior about to graduate, said she and Torrie have a special friendship that dates back to elementary school. Weve been friends for a long time, Rands said. I remember hearing about the accident from my mom, who picked me up from middle school. I remember I was trying to get a hold of Torrie, like I was texting her and she wasnt getting back to me. Then my mom had told me what happened and I was like, Oh my god. Rands said she is 100% certain she and Torrie will remain friends for decades to come. I feel like weve been doing a lot of things together and I feel like were both stubborn. So its kind of like even if something happened, like a fight, well get over it and well move on, Rands said. Despite her friendships with fellow students like Rands, Torrie said feels she often has had better relationships with teachers than peers. I feel like I related to them a lot more. I got along with them better, she said. Maybe its just because Im older and I take on a lot of responsibility. One of those teachers, American government and social studies teacher John Kinville, used to live next door to Torrie and her family. Kayla (Spath) Berg, Torries mom, was a student of Kinvilles the first year he worked as a teacher. Kayla was a Chippewa Falls graduate in 2003. So I had Torries mom for what I want to say was Wisconsin history. And her mom was just kind of a cool, cool young lady. I mean, she was just vibrant, full of life, not afraid to ask questions or to make a comment. I got along with Torries mom really, really well, Kinville said. We all ended up living next door to each other in Lafayette. Kinville said he first met Torrie when she was born. I kind of watched Torrie grow up from a neighbors standpoint and was always just impressed with who she was as a young lady, Kinville said. Kinville said that sometimes when a tragedy hits a child, the aftermath can go in numerous directions and a lot of those directions arent positive, because of trauma. However, during her freshman year, Torrie approached Kinville to introduce herself. The two hadnt been neighbors in many years. Here was this young lady who was somebody who had witnessed this tragedy firsthand, being in the vehicle. She sustained injuries herself. She had so many reasons to be mad at the world, to be frustrated, to check out (and) to possibly go down the wrong path, Kinville said. I was blown away. It felt like, well of course this is Torrie an older version of the young, little girl that I knew. I was just so grateful, thankful and proud that she was living her best life. Torrie said shes worked diligently to be there for her two younger siblings, Jakob and Kaitlyn. She began to take up more responsibilities at home after her mother passed, she said. Im older. I feel like I have to take on more of a parental role with them because they dont have our mom anymore. So I kind of have to take on that role to help out, she said. Torrie said that acting in a parental/sibling role can be difficult especially when her siblings act out. Theyll say something or just be rude, and its like, OK, how do you fix it? And I feel like thats a reason I would love to go into teaching because I already know how to deal with them, she said. Torrie said that shes thinking about taking a gap year before college but shes interested in pursuing teaching or writing, or both. But for the people who know Torrie, Fridays graduation means the world because she never gave up and never lost her personal compass, Kinville said. She treats everybody like they matter. Shes just very mature beyond her years, Kinville said. She was dealt some very serious blows and she realizes just how precious and wonderful that this world can be, despite its challenges. And shes one of my heroes. Honoring fallen soldier Martin A. Treptow Taps 21-gun salute Bullets from 21-gun salute Jesse James Lana Kopplin Russ Wozniak Treptows Pledge Distant memories Martin A. Treptow American Legion Post 295 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. La Crosse Central High School will host its 101st annual Memorial Day program at 9:20 a.m. Friday, May 26. The observance will be held in front of Central High School on the Losey Boulevard side of the building. By understanding the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who laid down their lives to protect our nation, we instill in the next generation a profound sense of gratitude, empathy, and respect, said Central High School Principal Jeff Axness. It empowers our students to cherish the values of liberty, honor the memory of fallen heroes, and actively engage in preserving the legacy of those who have selflessly served our country. Memorial Day education for high school students fosters a deep appreciation for our past and shapes their future as responsible citizens. The ceremony will include Central High Schools Color Guard and Flag Corps with music performed by the Central Robed Choir. The programs main address will be given by School Superintendent Aaron Engel. Engel has served in the military for 20 years and is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. He started his career as an enlisted soldier in Civil Affairs and received his commission through ROTC at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as a medical service corps officer. He has served in a variety of leadership roles in the National Guard, including platoon leader, executive officer, training officer, human resources officer, patient administration officer, and deputy state surgeon. He is currently the battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 426th Regional Training Institute located at Fort McCoy. Central High School has hosted the annual program since the schools opening in 1923. To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest-running high school Memorial Day observance in the nation, said Axness. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Each May, during National Historic Preservation Month, the city of La Crosses Heritage Preservation Commission releases its updated list of La Crosses 10 most endangered historic properties. This annual initiative intends to raise awareness and encourage the preservation of structures potentially at risk of irreparable damage or demolition due to neglect, natural disaster or redevelopment. This year, Hogan and Lincoln schools were added to the list. The School District of La Crosse announced Lincolns closure, as part of a city-wide consolidation plan, in January 2023. And, back in October 2021, the district publicly announced that at a minimum, were going to be closing Hogan. This leaves the question, what will become of these historic buildings? Moreover, the fate of the districts other buildings is also currently undetermined, as it is still investigating the future of all its facilities. In April, the district formed a Facilities Advisory Committee that is, in part, tasked with exploring, evaluating and refining potential elementary school arrangement and facilities consolidation options. That committee is slated to release a final report summarizing findings and advisory recommendations to the administration and school board by December 2023. Lincoln and Hogan are both well-preserved examples of Neoclassical/Beaux-Arts style educational facilities designed by renowned local architect Otto Merman. As such, their architectural significance makes them potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The current Hogan is actually the second building to bear that name in that location. The first Hogan, which opened in 1900, was struck by lightning at 2 a.m. on June 9, 1920, and destroyed in a subsequent fire that injured three firefighters. As a result, throughout fall 1920, and into 1921, 240 children attended classes in temporary, military-style barracks while a new Hogan was constructed. Named after pioneer business owner and one-time La Crosse Mayor J.J. Hogan, who donated the land for the school, it was architect Otto Merman who suggested erecting the new Hogan directly on the stone foundation of the original one. Mermans watercolor proposal for the structure appeared in the La Crosse Tribune on Oct. 3, 1920. The buff-colored brick and limestone building was described to be of fireproof construction, with mastic floors built on a cement foundation. Over the years, Hogan had to adjust to changing demographics and other challenges. Additions to the north and south sides of the structure opened in 1950 to account for the baby boom following the Second World War. Since 1980, though, Hogan has been the home of the School District of La Crosse Administrative Offices. Merman once again designed in the Neoclassical/Beaux-Arts style for Lincoln in 1924, creating visual cohesion with Hogan. The building is named in honor of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The Aug. 31, 1924, edition of the La Crosse Tribune described Lincoln with the headline, Handsome Building Now Marks Site of First School Here, referring to La Crosses first dedicated public educational facility, the Third Ward School, built circa 1854, near Seventh and Division streets. This makes Lincoln the oldest, continuous school location in the entire city. The two buildings that existed there prior to this one were both replaced due to overcrowding and dangerously unsafe conditions, which included fear of collapse, fire and sanitary issues. Like Hogan, the new Lincoln was also of fireproof construction and described as having exceptional educational facilities. It is clear from the local press headlines that these schools were considered a source of pride for the community. Architecturally unsympathetic additions were added to Lincoln in 1959, 1973 and 1997. From 1983 to 1988, the entire school was completely renovated with new mechanicals, windows, lights, ceilings, bathrooms and more, and all asbestos was removed. With the vote to close Lincoln at the end of August 2023, the School District of La Crosse hired the firm ISG. In the coming weeks, ISG will lead an engagement effort to better understand how the community would like to see the Lincoln used in the future. We appreciate the School District of La Crosses effort to engage the community, so together we can envision a new use for this unique building. Visit lacrosseschools.org for more information and details on upcoming workshops. Since the school is not currently on the Local Register of Historic Places, nothing prevents a buyer from purchasing and demolishing it. If it were nominated and put on the register, any potential buyer would then have to apply for a certificate of appropriateness for demolition that HPC must approve. Anyone is able to nominate Lincoln, Hogan or any other property in La Crosse to the Local Register of Historic Places. The application to do so is here: www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/planning-economic-development/heritage-preservation/local-register-of-historic-places. No one likes the loss of long-standing neighborhood schools and the uncertainty and unease it creates. However, when it happens, local citizens, historic preservationists and environmentalists alike generally hope that the closed building is treated with the honor, dignity and respect it deserves, and ultimately repurposed to meet other needs in the city. Lincoln is an anchor in the neighborhood and a gathering place for citizens, and its closure will have a far-reaching impact on many. For multiple generations, both Lincoln and Hogan have provided a place of stability and certainty for families and children. These buildings represent a site of hope and opportunity, where parents and teachers have watched generations of children learn and grow, becoming engaged citizens prepared for a successful future. It is important to recognize the historic and financial value of these buildings. They are public assets and will continue to provide value to the community if repurposed, much like Roosevelt School was for needed housing. Additionally, ensuring that these beautiful and well-built structures do not end up in a landfill is both an environmentally and fiscally sound plan, as the waste from one of them alone would be substantial, and thus, quite expensive to demolish and haul away. Not to mention that it would be nearly impossible for any new construction to even come close to matching the quality of the old due to how much it would cost in todays world. It is the hope of HPC that everything possible is done to ensure that these two wonderful schools are saved from demolition and repurposed, so they can continue to serve the community for many more years to come. The entire 2023 Most Endangered Historic Properties list, as well as former years lists, can be found on the citys heritage preservation website at www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/planning-economic-development/heritage-preservation. Anyone seeking more information regarding this project or wanting to nominate endangered historic properties for future lists can contact Tim Acklin in the City Planning Department at acklint@cityoflacrosse.org or 608-789-7391. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. UNITED NATIONS Over the past 75 years, the United Nations has sent more than 2 million peacekeepers to help countries move away from conflict, with successes from Liberia to Cambodia and major failures in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Today, it faces new challenges in the dozen hotspots where U.N. peacekeeping has operations, including more violent environments, fake news campaigns and a divided world that is preventing its ultimate goal: successfully restoring stable governments. The organization marked the 75th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping and observed the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Thursday with a solemn ceremony honoring the more than 4,200 peacekeepers who have died since 1948, when a historic decision was made by the U.N. Security Council to send military observers to the Middle East to supervise implementation of Israeli-Arab armistice agreements. For the 103 peacekeepers added to the list in 2022, medals were accepted by ambassadors from their 39 home countries. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the hundreds of uniformed military officers and diplomats at the ceremony to stand for a moment of silence in their memory. And at the start of a U.N. Security Council meeting on peace in Africa, all those in the chamber stood in silent tribute to the fallen peacekeepers. The secretary-general told the ceremony after laying a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial that what began 75 years ago as a bold experiment in the Mideast is now a flagship enterprise of our organization. For civilians caught in conflict, he said, peacekeepers are a beacon of hope and protection. U.N. peacekeeping operations have grown dramatically. At the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, there were 11,000 U.N. peacekeepers. By 2014, there were 130,000 in 16 far-flung peacekeeping operations. Today, 87,000 men and women serve in 12 conflict areas in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. There have been two kinds of successes, U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said Wednesday. Those are the long list of countries that have returned to a reasonable degree of stability with the support of U.N. peacekeeping, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Angola and Cambodia, and the countries where peacekeepers are not only monitoring but preserving cease-fires like in southern Lebanon and Cyprus. As for failures, he pointed to the failure of U.N. peacekeepers to prevent the 1994 Rwanda genocide, which killed at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutus, and the 1995 massacre of at least 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica during the war in Bosnia, Europes only acknowledged genocide since the Holocaust during World War II. The U.N.s reputation has also been tarnished by numerous allegations that peacekeepers charged with protecting civilians sexually abused women and children, including in Central African Republic and Congo. Another high-profile blunder was the cholera epidemic in Haiti that began in 2010 after U.N. peacekeepers introduced the bacteria into the countrys largest river by sewage runoff from their base. Despite that, Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Groups U.N. director, said U.N. peacekeeping has a surprisingly decent track record. While many people understandably focus on the Rwanda and Srebrenica disasters, he said, the U.N. has done a good job of tamping down crises, protecting civilians and rebuilding broken states in cases from the Suez crisis in the 1950s to Liberia in the 2000s. Looking ahead, the U.N.s Lacroix said the major challenge peacekeeping is facing is the divided international community and especially divisions in the U.N. Security Council, which must approve its missions. Lacroix pointed to other challenges peacekeepers are facing: The environment in which they are operating is more violent and dangerous and attacks are more sophisticated. Fake news and disinformation is a massive threat to the population and the peacekeepers. And old and new drivers of conflict including transnational criminal activities, trafficking, drugs, weapons, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the impact of climate change exacerbating competition between herders and farmers are also having an absolutely massive influence. The U.N. needs to better address all the challenges, he said. And it needs to keep improving the impact of peacekeeping and implement its initiatives on performance, combating fake news, improving safety and security, and recruiting more women to be peacekeepers. The Crisis Groups Gowan told AP its pretty clear that the U.N. is trapped in some countries like Mali and Congo where there arent enough peacekeepers to halt recurring cycles of violence. I think we should be wary of dumping U.N. operations outright, Gowan said. We have learned the hard way in cases like Afghanistan that even heavily armed Western forces cannot impose peace. The U.N.s track record may not be perfect, but nobody else is much better at building stability in turbulent states. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's life in photos June 15, 1993 Feb. 21, 1994 May 27, 1995 Nov. 3, 1995 Nov 28, 1995 Dec. 12, 1996 Dec. 17, 1996 Dec. 18, 1996 Jan. 7, 1997 Jan. 9, 1997 Jan. 23, 1997 Sept. 23, 2003 Sept. 21, 2004 Oct. 19, 2004 March 21, 2005 March 29, 2005 April 13, 2005 May 2, 2005 May 14, 2006 July 22, 2007 Oct. 14, 2010 Aug. 2, 2012 April 19, 2017 Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Heavy spring rains, phosphorus runoff, warm days and calm winds have created an early mess on the Yahara River chain of lakes. A massive and toxic blue-green algae bloom is underway on Lake Mendota. Monona Bay, an offshoot of Lake Monona, is already choked with weeds. There are conditions throughout the five-lake chain normally seen in July and August. Only were on the cusp of Memorial Day weekend and already anglers, boaters, skiers and swimmers have been subjected to floating mats and globules of blue-green algae that can interrupt recreational plans and be harmful to both humans and pets if ingested. Stiff winds coupled with cooler temperatures on Wednesday helped break up the surface and floating mats, but the algae and the conditions for more visible blooms remain. This is sort of the classic scenario, said Emily Stanley, interim director of the Center for Limnology at UW-Madison, who has been studying Lake Mendota for 25 years. Its hard for me to remember a bloom this impressive this early in the year. I dont remember a May bloom. Its weird, frankly. On Wednesday, Public Health Madison and Dane County closed Lake Mendotas Spring Harbor Beach to swimmers due to blue-green algae, a group of bacteria known as cyanobacteria. Contact with the toxins can cause upset stomach, rashes and respiratory irritation. Dogs who ingest harmful algal blooms can also get sick and sometimes die. The closure comes as Public Health staff begin their annual water quality monitoring at local beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Clean Lakes Alliance on Thursday will launch its 10th consecutive season of monitoring the lakes with a team of more than 80 trained volunteer citizen scientists who collect water samples twice a week and upload their data and visual observations into the free LakeForecast app. They are essentially a first line of defense. They are going to spot it quicker than anybody else, Adam Sodersten, a spokesperson for the Clean Lakes Alliance, said Wednesday. Its really important for people to understand how dynamic our lakes are. So while there may be a cyanobacteria bloom that means you cant use the beaches on the south end of Lake Mendota, it could be completely different on the north side of Lake Monona. Conducive conditions Like algae, weeds can also be tough to tame, thanks to the same conditions that help fuel algae blooms. The Dane County Land & Water Resources Department manages an aquatic plant harvesting program that uses 12 mechanical weed cutters to harvest Eurasian water milfoil and other invasives that are hauled by truck to remote compost sites. Monona Bay is among one of the most challenging and visible spots for the weed cutters to operate, all in an effort allow boaters, anglers and paddlers better access and conditions. On Wednesday afternoon, two of the harvesters plowed their way across the bays surface, while some homeowners used pitchforks to remove weeds in shallow areas. Its nutrients and warm weather, Stanley said of the weed growth. Monona Bay just has a very healthy population of plants, and they are running the show there instead of the blue-greens. The Yahara chain of lakes which includes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa and Kegonsa is primarily fed by the Yahara River and the 72,093-acre Lake Mendota watershed that stretches north into Columbia County. And while Dane County bans the use of lawn fertilizers that contain phosphorus, a key fuel to weed and algae growth, the Lake Mendota watershed is largely farmland where phosphorus is allowed to be spread on fields. Theres a long history of farming there and a lot of phosphorous in the soil from fertilizer and manure being applied, Stanley said. Its a large bank account, and when you get a lot of those rains, especially in the spring before the plants have started growing, the phosphorus comes in and its the phosphorous thats fueling the blooms. Every little bit of phosphorus reduction helps, but most phosphorus is upstream in that agricultural area. Altered rhythm For more than a week, floating globs of blue-green algae covered much of Lake Mendota. On Saturday evening, there was little blue-green algae visible in University Bay. But by Monday night, the conditions had dramatically changed with the west and south side of the bay covered with mats of blue-green algae as the population grew in size, needed more light and began to shade themselves out, Stanley said. What you didnt necessarily see on Saturday is that this particular blue-green algae starts cooking at a lower depth, Stanley said. So they have the ability to rise up in the water column, and thats when you start seeing them. So it seems like its really fast, but you dont see whats been going on under the water for the past couple of days. Stanley and her staff at Limnology have a prime perch to monitor the conditions of the 9,781-acre lake, the largest and deepest lake in the Yahara chain. The Centers Hasler Lab is located just west of Memorial Union and provides an ideal spot for research. Grace Wilkinson, a limnologist and assistant professor in the lab, laid on her stomach Wednesday on the pier just steps from her office to gather a sample of lake water. Moments later she was peering through a microscope explaining colonies of aphanizomenon that when magnified look like strands of grass. In reality, they can form threads and then ultimately rafts of blue-green algae as lake temperatures warm and winds calm. Seasonal changes, particularly in the spring and fall, with warmer temperatures and more frequent and intense storms, is leading to earlier and more pronounced algae blooms, Wilkinson said. The lakes rhythm is being altered, said Wilkinson, a Minnesota native who joined the lab in 2021 after a three-year stint at Iowa State University. So thats making it even less predictable. And thats the biggest question for us in trying to understand how Lake Mendota is changing in response to these changes. Photos: The Northern Lights appear over Madison Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota workers will be entitled to paid time off when they're seriously ill or to care for newborns and loved ones starting in 2026 under a bill that Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed Thursday, making his state the 12th to require those benefits. The paid family and medical leave program will allow Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks a year off with partial pay to care for a newborn or a sick family member, and up to 12 weeks to recover from their own serious illness. Benefits will be capped at 20 weeks a year for employees who take advantage of both. Business groups fought to block the proposal, warning that it would impose heavy costs and regulatory burdens on employers and aggravate their staffing problems. But it was hailed by supporters who said it would bring equality and fairness to the workplace. Everyone deserves paid time away from work, to heal, to grow, and to live, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said at the signing ceremony. This time is not optional. Its not a nice-to-have. Its a must-have if we truly are going to be the best state in the country to raise a family. The program will operate similarly to unemployment insurance. It will be funded by a new 0.7% payroll tax on employers that will take effect in 2026. Employers can deduct half of their premiums from workers' wages. The law contains protections against retaliation for workers who take the time off. It also includes premium relief for smaller companies. Paid family and medical leave will dovetail with the state's new earned sick and safe time program that takes effect on Jan. 1 to provide shorter-term relief. Employees will earn one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours a year, unless the employer agrees to more. Minnesota will become the 12th state plus the District of Columbia that have some form of a paid family and medical leave program. Walz said the legislators, activists and administration officials who developed it have worked closely with those states to learn from their programs and how to improve on them. Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, said Minnesota will end up with one of the strongest programs in the country. A national paid leave program was part of President Joe Biden's original Build Back Better agenda and passed the U.S. House but didn't make it into law. Frye said her group hopes Minnesota's adoption will add to the impetus for national program someday. But she acknowleded that that will be difficult with the current divided Congress. Like so many issues, what happens in the states influences whether Congress takes up issues across the board, and paid family and medical leave is no exception," she said. But John Reynolds, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business in Minnesota, called it a deeply flawed proposal that will cost much more than expected and make it harder for small businesses to keep their doors open. Doug Loon, president and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, said the program could become the largest mandate on employers in state history. This massive policy will bring fundamental changes to every employer and employee in the state from $1.5 billion or more in annual payroll taxes, unwarranted shifts in benefits, to state approved leave for employees," Loon said in a statement. But supporters said Minnesota needs to consider the costs of not offering paid leave. They said programs elsewhere have reduced infant and maternal mortality, made it easier for mothers to go back to work after giving birth and reduced reliance on social service programs. This is going to be a huge equalizer to address the deep and persistent disparities that exist in Minnesota," said the lead House author, Rep. Ruth Richardson, of Mendota Heights. "This is going to ensure people who have been left out of paid leave programs will for the first time have the ability to care for themselves and not choose between a paycheck and their loved ones. A unanimous Supreme Court has given a 94-year-old Minneapolis woman a new chance to recoup some money after the county kept the entire $40,000 when it sold her condominium over a small unpaid tax bill. The justices ruled Thursday that Hennepin County, Minnesota violated the constitutional rights of the woman, Geraldine Tyler, by taking her property without paying just compensation. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court that the county "could not use the toehold of the tax debt to confiscate more property than was due. Tyler, who now lives in an apartment building for older people, owed $2,300 in unpaid taxes, plus interest and penalties totalling $15,000. Minnesota is among roughly a dozen states that allow local jurisdictions to keep the excess money. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. A bill that would require Hmong and Asian American history lessons in K-12 schools received a public hearing Thursday, the first hearing for the measure in the three legislative sessions in which it has been introduced with bipartisan support. The occasion brought dozens of Asian Wisconsinites from Oshkosh, Eau Claire, the Milwaukee area and other regions around the state to a packed room in the Capitol, where many said the bill would provide Wisconsin students with critical lessons that they themselves lacked in school, making them feel excluded. One must know ones roots to be able to thrive, and we must nourish our roots, said Zon Moua, who works for the Madison-based social justice organization Freedom Inc. This is why the passing of (the bill) is so important. Its going to make it possible for hundreds of Hmong students to learn about their history and celebrate the heroes in our community. Many supporters also spoke of the bills urgency: There were around 11,000 documented hate crimes against Asian Americans between March 2020 and December 2021, according to a report by Stop AAPI Hate, a group that tracks and responds to hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This staggering statistic highlights the urgent need for visibility of the Asian American community as valued members of our community and vital contributors to our shared history, said Kabby Hong, a Verona teacher who represented Wisconsin in the 2022 National Teacher of the Year Program. Asian American history is American history, Hong continued, highlighting an Asian American World War II regiment that was the most decorated in U.S. history and former U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, the first Asian American woman elected to Congress. You cant tell the story of this great nation without the contributions of the AAPI community. Growing community Wisconsin has around 200,000 people of Asian descent, an 80% increase since 2000, the organization Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote found. Over a quarter of Asian Wisconsinites are Hmong, making it the third-largest Hmong population in the U.S. after Minnesota and California. Yet, many Asian speakers Thursday said they didnt feel comfortable in their surroundings. A seventh grader, Rayyang Gorman, said he had wanted to change his name because his peers and teachers couldnt pronounce it correctly. But when he read the legislation, he said, I realized that I have to embrace my culture and my beautiful name. The bill, AB 232, would amend an existing state law, which requires schools to teach students about American Indians, Black Americans and Hispanics, to also teach youth about Hmong Americans and Asian Americans. A number of states, including Florida, Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey, have passed legislation to ensure Asian American history is taught in K-12 schools, while other state legislatures, including California and New York, have introduced similar initiatives. I didnt learn in school the heritage of my Hmong friends, whose elders fought for our democracy, Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, who has fought for the bills passage for years but wasnt present at Thursdays hearing, said in written testimony. And I couldnt tell you as a young student why the month of May is Asian American Heritage Month, or who Vincent Chin was. With AB 232, we are taking a critical step in remedying these gaps in our education system. Bipartisan bill In his testimony in support of the proposal, bill author Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Schofield, highlighted Hmong soldiers support for Americans in the Vietnam War. Each year fewer Hmong veterans remain to tell this important story, which is one of many reasons that I think AB 232 is important it is essential that this story is relayed to future generations, he said. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who previously urged the bills passage, would almost certainly sign it into law. A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, didnt respond to a request for comment on whether hed give the measure a floor vote. Several groups, including the ACLU of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Education Association Council, registered in favor of the bill. No groups registered against it. Past opposition to the bill came primarily from Republicans who did not want to mandate more courses in school. The Republican former representative who chaired the Assembly Education Committee, Jeremy Thiesfeldt, said last year it was burdensome to mandate small courses. The committee has, however, recently passed several measures requiring different courses in school. On Thursday, the committee approved AB 109, which would require high schoolers to take a half-credit personal financial literacy course to graduate. Additionally, Snyder previously told the Wisconsin State Journal that some legislators opposed continuing to increase the number of ethnic and religious groups students are required to learn about. I want to more than anything, to extend my thanks that this bill was brought to a public hearing, Hong said in her testimony. Today is the history itself that I hope my son gets to learn in school. And I hope this session will finally be the one where we can make that happen. Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, said hes hopeful the bill will get passed by the Legislature this session. He said he hasnt spoken to Vos about the bill yet. I think it was a big deal for them to get a hearing, Kitchens said about the bill supporters. Theyve been asking for it for a long time. Im not sure why the previous chairman would never give it a hearing. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. TITLE: Dove on a Barbed Wire AUTHOR: Deborah Steiner-van Rooyen Who is the dove on the wire? Deborah journeyed to Israel in 1969 to find roots of the Steiner family. She lived there for three years and during that time she located some family members including Yonah. How did she locate lost family members? How did Yonah survive Hitler? What was his life like in the military under German rules? She learned her family had been rich landowners, horse traders, and cattlemen until they moved to Poland during World War I. This is Yonah's story: His father Simon served four years as a Polish soldier in Russia and when he returned home he built a log home for his growing family and they lacked for nothing. Being Jewish living in Poland caused a lot of problems because they were looked upon as the enemy. What kind of problems? How did the family handle it? Yonah's mother was murdered at the age of 47. Why? By whom? Her wish had been to move to Palestine but Father refused. Would the move have saved her? Yonah disliked school and was in lots of trouble there for bad behavior which led to severe beatings at home from his father. Spankings were common and often for Yonah and one was so bad he couldn't sit down for a week without pain. He was abducted walking home from school one day and for the next five years he lived in concentration camps and because of his size and strength he was assigned hard labor. Sometimes he had a short stay at a camp and then moved to another but all of them were described in detail for the bad living conditions, punishments given, and failed escapes. One escape gave him two months of freedom only but he was determined to fight for complete freedom with help from other prisoners. He learned to survive on nothing. A German supervisor sent him to school to learn airplane construction, but that didn't improve living conditions. How did he learn two of his brothers might be alive? Were they? Yonah traveled a lot when he escaped the final time and his uncle in United States sent passage papers for him to come to America. Why didn't he go? Why was it important for him to go to Italy and Czechoslovakia? How did he meet his future wife? He was Jewish but she was not so his uncle turned on him. Who was Paul? Would Yonah and his wife reach Palestine and be safe? Did he regret not coming to America? In 1999 21 members of the Steiner family traveled to Poland to see where he had been born, their home, and the location of his abduction. Their home place was now home to a former field hand and her family. Yonah died in 2009 from lung, stomach, and bone cancer, but his story contains an abundance of memories of his childhood and his five years in the concentration camps. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. The sentencing of the Illinois murder suspect who fired at Kenosha County sheriffs deputies and shot K-9 deputy Riggs while attempting to flee from them in Bristol was delayed Thursday. Allan M. Brown, 35, was found guilty earlier this year by a Kenosha County jury of numerous felonies including three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by an out-of-state felon, firing at an animal with a dangerous weapon and causing injury, and mistreatment of a law enforcement animal with a dangerous weapon, among others. On the morning of Oct. 21, 2021, Brown fired at deputies and non-fatally shot Riggs in the head at a convenience store/gas station as they tried to take him into custody on behalf of Chicago police. Deputies had been alerted by Chicago police earlier that morning that Brown was being sought in connection with two homicides there. Brown, who faces over 70 years in prison on the charged he was convicted of, refused to cooperate with deputies ahead of his sentencing before Judge Anthony Milisauskas Thursday morning. Browns mental health has reportedly severely deteriorated since his March conviction and he reportedly has stopped taking his medications. Defense attorney Addison Kuhn raised the issue of competency and asked for the sentencing not to proceed Wednesday. He is no longer on his mental health medication, which I think is part of the problem, Kuhn said. To me his mental health has severely deteriorated since the last time I spoke with him. I do have concerns that he doesnt understand where we are or what we are doing. Milisauskus scheduled a competency hearing for July 10 because he could not proceed with the sentencing Thursday because it could cause legal problems in the future. Obviously, hes been found guilty by a jury already and we know what the charges are, Milisauskus said. We need an examination then in custody by a licensed psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist and that report to be provided to the court and the attorneys within 30 days. Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner said multiple attempts were made to bring Brown to court. Although frustrating I understand the judges decision, Zoerner said. Riggss handler Deputy Terry Tifft said its frustrating having to wait for the sentencing but he respects the process. You got to respect the system and everything, Tifft said. Its just frustrating. I want to get this over and put it behind me. Faces homicide charges Brown, of Countryside, Ill., a Cook County suburb, still faces two homicide charges against him in Illinois and a handful of felony charges he racked up while being held in the Racine County Jail on a $1 million bond. Brown is still accused of, in the very early morning hours of Oct. 21, 2021, fatally shooting a 25-year-old man he had argued with at a bus stop in Chicago and then shooting and killing a 41-year-old man and stealing his vehicle before fleeing over the state border to Kenosha County. The stolen vehicle Brown was driving was eventually tracked to Bristol via a GPS device and located at the convenience store/gas station at 2000 75th St. (Highway 50). Brown fled on foot and fired at three deputies, striking Riggs in the head, before being taken into custody. Brown was transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening wounds he sustained when deputies returned fire. The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Smathers, called numerous witnesses throughout the four-day trial including Kenosha County deputies, Racine County deputies, Chicago detectives, a state crime analyst and a veterinarian, among others. Jurors were also shown body camera footage and squad car footage showing the moments before, during and after Brown fired at deputies and Riggs. Riggs also made a brief appearance in court so prosecutors could show the jury where the bullet entered and exited his head. In December 2021, Riggs was honored with both a Purple Heart and a Silver Star, which are the fourth- and second-highest awards, respectively, presented by the Sheriffs Department. Riggs, now 10, has since returned to active duty with his partner and handler. Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. Marking a very special day ... to recognize citizenship, work and dedication, the Geneva Lake West Rotary Club honored 32 Big Foot Union High School Class of 2023 seniors with Rotary Diploma Endorsement Program awards at a May 18 noon recognition luncheon held in their honor at Abbey Springs Country Club in Fontana. A longstanding tradition for both the Geneva Lake West Rotary Club and Big Foot High School, the clubs Diploma Endorsement Program dates back more than 35 years. Student honorees enjoyed a linen tablecloth luncheon featuring chicken piccata, roast potatoes, roast asparagus, Caesar salad, dinner rolls with butter, and dessert choices of chocolate chip cookies or two varieties of cheesecake. Diploma endorsements Receiving diploma endorsement certificates and special scarlet and grey Rotary honor cords to wear at their upcoming Sunday, June 4 commencement were Emma Ahrens, Chloe Amann, Emily Barth, Alexa Clary, Ciara Connelly, Nicole Coco Counter, Gannon Emmerich, Kattie Garlick, Scarlett Georges, Elijah Gerdes, Jameson Gregory, Grace Hanson, Kaylie Hernandez, Clayton Holt, Katherine Kammermeier, Evan Langelund, Ashley Miller, Claire Miller, Maya Morand, Olivia Nordmeyer, Olivia Patek, Evan Penniman, Trent Peterson, Aaron Rowland, Itzel Ruiz Hernandez, Shaelyn Todd, Henry Walters Koerner, Nicole Wardlow, Chloe Weborg, Sydney Wilson and Victoria Zaraza. Presenting the Rotary recognitions were Geneva Lake West Rotary Club President Phill Klamm, Big Foot Principal Jeremy Andersen, Big Foot Diploma Endorsement Advisor Jill Connley, and retired Big Foot Union High School Principal Michael J. Hinske, past club president and current board member of the Geneva Lake West Rotary Club. Hinkske oversees the clubs Diploma Endorsement Program. Were very proud of you, Klamm told the Rotary Diploma Endorsement Program honorees. Were excited to recognize you today. Among those in attendance for the program was Big Foot Union High School District Administrator and Rotarian Doug Parker. This is, and has always been, a very special event for me, both as a Rotarian, and as a teacher and principal, Hinske said in his keynote recognition program address to Big Foot honorees. Today represents one of those special events that are provided to you in recognition of your work at Big Foot. We recognize those of you who have not only excelled in the classroom, but also who have shown habits consistent with being productive members of our society. The Diploma Endorsement Award is not just given to anyone. It is given to those who exemplify the service-related values of Rotary and society in general. This award is unique, as it recognizes other aspects of education and work and not simply grades. Each of you today is being recognized for your efforts above and beyond the awarding of grades. You are being recognized today because you possess those critical skills that society values in its students and workers. You, by your inclusion here today, represent the very best of the graduating senior class. Hinke noted that the Diploma Endorsement Program honorees had been evaluated since their freshman year by teachers on skills consistent with being a productive worker and member of society including effort, attitude, responsibility, cooperative work skills and quality of work As adults, community members and Rotarians, we recognize the importance of these skills in the development of future leaders of our communities and country, Hinske said, noting the graduating senior Diploma Award Program honorees have exemplified the ideals of the school and our community. In his address, Hinske stressed the values of Rotary International, as embodied in its foundational Four-Way Test Is it the truth? Is if fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? These values, we believe, are central to the betterment of our society and communities, Hinske said. As you move forward in your lives, we as Rotarians hope that you think back to your experiences in high school and here today and ask yourself the four questions from the Four-Way Test ... We, as Rotarians, believe that by your outstanding accomplishments as students and citizens that you will take your lessons learned and apply them to the remainder of your life. I, and all of our Rotarians, congratulate you on your record of accomplishments and offer our best wishes for a successful future. About Rotary Based in Evanston, Ill. in north suburban Chicago, Rotary International, founded in 1905, encompasses more than 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs around the world. Rotary is a humanitarian service organization bringing together business and professional leaders to provide community service, promote integrity, and advance goodwill, peace and understanding in the world. For more information, visit https://www.rotary.org. Information about the Geneva Lake West Rotary Club is available at https://rotary6270.org/clubinfo/geneva-lake-west-rotary or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GLWRClub/. In 19 Photos: 2022 Big Foot High School Homecoming Parade Big Foot High School eSports Teams Homecoming royalty Big Foot High School Homecoming Junior Reps A.J. Hartmann and Lishi Palmer Big Foot High School Homecoming Sophomore Reps Jake DeMarco and Eden Harvey Big Foot High School Freshman Class of 2026 Homecoming Float Big Foot High School Homecoming Freshman Reps Michael Alfano and Haylie Wanat Big Foot-Williams Bay Cross-Country Team Big Foot-Williams Bay Tennis Team Big Foot Recreation District Sharon Community School Band Big Foot High School "United We Stand" volunteer and culture club Sharon Community School Virtual Academy of Agriculture, Science and Technology charter school Big Foot High School Volleyball Team 1 Big Foot High School Volleyball Team 2 Walworth Middle School Marching Band Big Foot Wolves Youth Football & Cheerleading Reek School Band Geneva Lakes RUSH SoccerClub Fontana Falcons Marching Band performs in the 2022 Big Foot High School homecoming parade Big Foot High School Sophomore Class of 2025 homecoming float Gift this article Share this article paywall-free. School employees and volunteers would be explicitly prohibited from sexual harassment of a student under a proposed bill that its sponsors say seeks to close a loophole in state law and expand protections to students in private schools. Its time Wisconsin establishes strong legal protections against sexual misconduct in Wisconsin schools for all students," Rep. Tod Ohnstad, D-Kenosha, told reporters Wednesday. "If there ever was a bipartisan issue, this is it. Sexual contact with a minor is already illegal under Wisconsin law. But the new proposal introduced by Ohnstad and Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha; Rep. John Spiros, R-Marshfield; and Sen. Jesse James, R-Altoona would bar sexual misconduct by school staff members or volunteers. The bill defines sexual misconduct as sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or physical contact of a sexual nature that interfere with a pupil's academic performance or create an intimidating, hostile or offensive school environment. Law enforcement or county agency officials informed of instances of sexual misconduct would be required to report the situation to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Any school employee found guilty of the new law would automatically lose their educator license for at least six years. We can no longer allow those who commit crimes against children the opportunity to be reinstated or volunteer, no matter the amount of time that has passed since the committed crime," Ohnstad said. A memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau notes that Wisconsin does not have existing law explicitly targeting sexual harassment in schools. Title IX, a federal law, prohibits discrimination against students on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment. However, the law only applies to schools that receive federal funding, which includes public schools, but not all private schools. Currently, Wisconsin has prohibitions on sexual contact with a minor, and separately, prohibitions on sexual harassment in the workplace, the bill's authors wrote in a cosponsorship memo. However, if a teacher engages in sexual misconduct at their workplace towards a pupil, based on reports from law enforcement in these kinds of situations, there is not a crime that can be charged. Minnesota and Illinois have expanded laws prohibiting discrimination in schools to also include sexual harassment. Those laws cover both private and public schools. Putin at the Eurasian Economic Forum Plenary on Eurasias Great Potential May 24, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)In his speech today to the Plenary session of the Eurasian Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin provided a useful overview of the achievements of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the success of Eurasian economies. The broad participation at the Forum, he said, shows that the role of our association is increasing ... the successful development of Eurasian integration, and the growing interest that our organization creates abroad. Putin pointed to the profound changes taking place on the global stage, as more and more nations are taking a course towards national sovereignty, pursuing an independent domestic and foreign policy, and adhering to their own development model. All of them are in favor of building a new, more equitable architecture of international economic relations. Partnerships are expanding, based on mutual benefit, respect and consideration of each others interests. Putin emphasized the importance of cooperation among international associations, such as the BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, and many others. The Russian Federation shares this approach, as do other partners in the EAEU. But, what about those that dont share that view? Bluntly, Putin asserted that they are shooting themselves in the foot and the foot of those who are still forced to obey their dictates. And note, he added, by ignoring this positive approach, Western forces are only strengthening the downward trend of their own development, and this is something that international experts, including experts from the United States, have been bluntly warning. Look at the energy crisis in Western Europe, Putin stated. Who is to blame for this? The Nord Stream pipelines were blown up, Poland closed the Yamal-Europe gas route via its territory, Ukraine closed one of two pipelines passing through its territory. Two other points that Putin emphasized are the EAEUs focus on transport and logistics infrastructure and on the sweeping changes underway in international finance, in the development of a new and decentralized global financial system, based on trade in national currencies On transport and logistics, he underscored that building new and sustainable logistics and chains and developing international corridors, which are being built at an expedited pace, are crucial both for the EAEU and beyond it, the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC). He pointed to the agreement with Iran on laying the Resht-Astara railway, that will allow for linking Russian ports on the Baltic with Iranian ports on the coast of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. We are closely cooperating with Azerbaijan in the context of this corridor. The railway will facilitate new regional transport hubs and production centers through Eurasia. On the new financial system, he reported that Russia is pursuing a policy of reducing the share of unfriendly countries currencies in mutual transactions and planning to expand our activities with our partners around the world, including the EAEU, in order to complete the transition to national currencies. India, China, Latin American countries are already switching to national currencies in their foreign trade settlements, he pointed out. It is important to coordinate our efforts to create a new and decentralized global financial system. Putin placed special emphasis on the importance of achieving technological sovereignty. The EAEU countries possess great scientific, human resources and industrial potential to produce high-quality high-tech products that can compete in global markets. We fully realize that this is probably one of the most important aspects today, because ensuring technological independence, in fact, lies at the heart of economic, and, therefore, political independence. As a final point, Putin reported that the EAEU supports other initiatives intended to promote growth throughout Eurasia. Of great importance is the work with China, to align the integration processes, which are unfolding within the EAEU and the Belt and Road Initiative advanced by our Chinese friends. This is our way of consistently implementing the ambitious idea of building a major Eurasian partnership. Moreover, efforts are underway to expand friendly ties with other countries in Asia, India, the Southwest Asia, Africa and Latin America which represent the absolute majority of the worlds population and drive global growth. Today, these global economic growth drivers represent key investment attraction points and new transport route hubs. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY MAY 25, 2023 City of London Admits It Has a Major Strategic Problem with the Global South May 24, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Its often a good idea to look at the world through your enemys eyes, to see what he seesand what he fails to see. A Financial Times Editorial Board statement published on May 22 under the headline Taking Stock of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, provides a useful birds-eye-view of the global strategic situation from the standpoint of the thoroughly bankrupt City of London and Wall Street financial interests. A fair summary would be: Things are going ok for us in the West with our gameplan of orchestrating a showdown with Russia and China, but we have a huge problem with the Global South. They are not on board with that policy, at all, and wed better come up with something to deal with that. However, the something that the Financial Times proposessignificant investment in the nations of the Southis not achievable under todays trans-Atlantic financial system. The subhead on the editorial identifies the problem: Show of unity on Russia and China needs to be followed up with concrete actions. They note that the G7 summit had some notable achievements.... The summit made a welcome effort at broadening international support for Ukraine. The meeting also gave Zelenskyy a global platform.... The U.S. decision to back allies in supplying F-16 fighter jets and help train Ukrainian pilots, alongside a new $375 million military aid package from Washington, was a particular boost for Kiev too. But, but, but... Garnering support from the so-called global south will however continue to be a major challenge for the G7. Economic ties between these nations and Russia and China are a barrier. Indeed, India has been gorging on cheap Russian oil, and bilateral trade between Brazil and China has surged. With China also building ports and doling out billions in aid and investment across Latin America, Africa, and South East Asia, stronger dialogue will only go so far. The editorial concludes that the G7 will need to follow through on promises to support developing nations with investment and climate finance. But that is precisely what the G7 nationsall today under the thumb of the bankrupt City of London and Wall Street financial interestscannot do. On the other hand, China, Russia, and the emerging bloc of the BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and Eurasian Economic Union can. The two-day Eurasian Economic Forum summit underway in Moscow is exemplary, as are the groundbreaking meeting of the heads of state of Iran and Indonesia, and the visit of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to Chinaincluding a meeting with the new president of the BRICS New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff. With that wind in their sails, there is an unrelenting campaign for a negotiated solution in Ukraine being carried out by a diversity of forces, both singly and jointly: the Vatican, Brazilian President Lula, China, and a half-dozen African heads of state. This, despite the adamant refusal of London, Washington, and their Kiev puppet government to do anything but escalate the war, up to and including a direct thermonuclear showdown with Russia. The crucial swing factor in this entire strategic equation is the voice of those sane political forces in the United States and in Europe who understand the urgency of avoiding a nuclear confrontation with Russia, and who realize that their objectives and those of the Global South are fully consonant. Their voice is that of President John F. Kennedy, and his historic American University speech on June 10, 1963, which the Schiller Institute will recall and revive through an international videoconference on June 10, 2023.